March 20, 2004
- Gordon, Pearson, Yarborough to test the Darlington lights – Aug 24th: Darlington Raceway’s new lighting system won’t be used for a race until November. But it will be christened this summer in an exhibition highlighted by Jeff Gordon, who has won six races at the 54-year-old track. Raceway president Andrew Gurtis announced Friday night that Gordon, all-time Darlington winner David Pearson, and area native Cale Yarborough will take laps under the lights Aug. 24 in an event designed to show off the new system. The 72 exterior light poles are already up, and crews will return after Sunday’s Carolina Dodge Dealers 500 to install infield fixtures and the power system. Construction is expected to be finished by late June. The Aug. 24 exhibition promises to be similar to one held at Daytona International Speedway, when the late Dale Earnhardt took laps under the lights shortly after that track’s system was installed in 1998.(Charleston Post and Courier)(3-20-2004)
- Some Cup Drivers to race at Nashville on Cup off weekend: Making the decision to host the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Easter Weekend April 9-10 – an off-NEXTEL Cup weekend – is reaping big benefits for Nashville Superspeedway ticket holders. NEXTEL Cup driver Michael Waltrip has announced he will join the growing list of NEXTEL Cup drivers to participate in the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race. Waltrip will join Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Johnny Sauter competing for Victory Lane and the coveted Gibson Les Paul guitar trophy. Waltrip, an Owensboro, KY native and brother of Middle Tennessee’s Darrell Waltrip, will compete in the #99 Aaron’s Rent Chevy. Race weekend will feature the PFG Lester 150 ARCA RE/MAX Series on Friday night, April 9 and the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series on Saturday, April 10. The Pepsi 300 will feature the Bunny Bread Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. and the Grammy-nominated Newsboys perform in concert on the front stretch at 1 p.m. Pre race activities begin at 2 p.m. – the Pepsi 300 green flag waves at 3:00pm. Tickets are available by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.
AND Nashville Superspeedway 2004 Season Ticket holders will have the first (and rare) opportunity to drive their own vehicles around the 1.33-mile “D” shaped oval concrete track. This “Drive the Track” promotion is to award season ticket holders and promote the upcoming Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series weekend April 9-10. The “Drive the Track” promotion will be this Saturday, March 20 from 1 to 3 p.m.(Nashville Superspeedway Site)(3-20-2004) - RCR Adds Design Technology: Blue Ridge Numerics announced that Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in Welcome, NC, has selected CFdesign for virtual prototyping fluid flow and heat transfer performance of automotive components and systems built in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. On their first project, the RCR engineering team used CFdesign to identify a significantly improved design of the fuel delivery system used to refuel cars during pit stops. Recognized as a one of the heavyweights of NASCAR, RCR has a reputation for finding engineering innovations that help current drivers Kevin Harvick, Johnny Sauter, Robby Gordon, Ron Hornaday, and Clint Bowyer cross the finish line first in Nextel Cup and Busch Series races across the country. RCR saw the benefit of CFdesign with the very first project. Always looking for an edge in a competition where a fraction of a second determines winners and losers, CFdesign helped improve the fuel delivery system used by pit crews to refuel the car. Holden says the improvement achieved with CFdesign is a gain that will show up on the racetrack.(tenlinks.com via Insider Racing News)(3-20-2004)
- More on Cursing; NASCAR won’t police scanners: Inquiring NASCAR fans yearn to know why Nextel Cup Series rookie Johnny Sauter can be penalized for using the “s” word and most popular driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. can use the word “damn” without repercussion. According to NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter, the two words aren’t comparable. “Our president, Mike Helton, when he first addressed this issue at Rockingham, made it a point to say hell or damn, depending on the context in which it’s used, is sort of acceptable,” Hunter said. “Those two words appear in different forms as a means of expression. Those are subjective. (They’re okay) as long as they don’t use them in a demeaning or scathing fashion. The other word is simply not acceptable.” Both drivers used profanity in post-race interviews. But Sauter’s comment following the Las Vegas Busch Series race that Michael Waltrip was “three-wide, doing stupid (expletive),” was considered demeaning. Conversely, Earnhardt’s comment after winning the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta — “I don’t care if I don’t see my own bed for two damn months” — was not. Hunter also said Friday that NASCAR has no intent of policing profanity on race scanners, a recent burning question stemming from the crackdown on profanity by the Federal Communications Commission. NASCAR’s focus is to assure drivers refrain from cursing on live television and/or radio. “The scanner issue is a separate issue,” Hunter said. “People have a choice on whether to tune in on a scanner or not. We’re cautioning our guys to be mindful, but scanners are a fun part of this sport, and they’re big boys. They know what’s going on.” “We don’t want our network partners to be put in a position of getting a huge fine for something one of our guys say,” Hunter said.(NASCAR.com)(3-20-2004)
- Texas Lawsuit to be Settled Soon? Officials from Texas Motor Speedway and from NASCAR indicate that a settlement of the so-called Ferko suit could come sooner rather than later. The suit, in U.S. District Court in Sherman, Texas, was brought by a shareholder in Speedway Motorsports and contends that NASCAR promised a race date to the Texas track which was not delivered. NASCAR has denied making such a promise. As is usual in such proceedings, the sides are given time to attempt to reach agreement before the case goes to trial. The trial in the case was due to begin sometime in early summer. Attorneys and officials from both sides have been negotiating a possible agreement in the matter. No timetable was indicated, nor was any idea given of what might be negotiable. “The process is in place,” NASCAR vp/communications Jim Hunter said Friday. “There are some things on the table, and we’d all like to get this behind us. We have other things to do.” There is much speculation as to what might be in play in the settlement talks. Many believe NASCAR could conclude the matter by creating or transferring a date or dates to Texas and/or Las Vegas. Both tracks have proved to be popular and profitable venues for the sanction.(Speed Channel), for past news on this, see my Lawsuit Page.(3-20-2004)
- #50 Gets Pit Crew: Again this week Team CLR will be going over the wall on Sunday for Arnold Motor Sports #50 car driven by Derrike Cope. Cope will be competing in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series Dodge Dealers 400. Plans are now that Team CLR will continue to pit for the #50 for all of the Nextel Cup races through the remaining of the season unless Team CLR competes in NASCAR’s elite series themselves. Team CLR has the team members, cars, equipment, skills and several interested drivers ready to compete when given the chance. They like many teams are waiting for a sponsorship deal to come their way. Team CLR also hung the body on Derrike Cope’s car that he shocked fellow competitors with by qualifying 5th for The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in Darlington. Team CLR keeps busy in their shop during the week by continuing to build new 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo’s, Ford’s and Dodge’s for other Nextel Cup teams as well as themselves. For inquires about sponsorship or putting Team CLR’s skills to work for you please visit OTWracing for further information.(PR)(3-20-2004)
- Rent-A-Center on the #21 at Bristol: After making its inaugural NASCAR appearance in 2003, Rent-A-Center, Inc. returns as a proud sponsor of Ricky Rudd’s #21 team and Wood Brothers Racing for the second year. Rent-A-Center has long been the leading rent-to-own retailer in the nation, with more than 2,600 stores in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Now NASCAR fans nationwide can watch the Rent-A-Center car in its first 2004 race on March 28, in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition to the race in Bristol, Ricky Rudd is scheduled to appear at a Rent-A-Center store in Bristol Thursday, March 25. Racing fans will have the opportunity to get autographed photos and take pictures with Rudd. The store is located at 1326 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol. Fans can also purchase exclusive RAC Racing/Ricky Rudd T-shirts, caps and other souvenir merchandise at any Rent-A-Center location. For more information about Rent-A-Center, see their Web site at www.rentacenter.com.(Campbell Co PR)(3-20-2004)
- Kahne Sets Another Mark: #9-Kasey Kahne set another mark in winning the Bud Pole for the 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway. Kahne scored his second Bud pole in just five career starts and became just one of five drivers in NASCAR history to do so. No driver has won more than two. He joins the following drivers:
Martin, Mark (2) – 7/11/81 Nashville International Raceway; 9/13/81 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway
Hutcherson, Dick (2) – 3/28/64 Greenville-Pickens Speedway; 4/14/64 Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds
Burdick, Bob (2) – 5/17/59 Trenton Speedway; 6/18/59 Columbia Speedway
Kieper, John (2) – 5/27/56 Portland Speedway; 5/30/56 Eureka Speedway
Kahne, Kasey (2) – 3/5/04 Las Vegas; 3/19/04 Darlington (NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-20-2004)
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