March 24, 2004
- Darlington AND Rockingham to lose races? Alternating ONE racedate? Texas and Vegas get the dates? UPDATE 2 Darlington expects to get two dates in 2005:
Settlement negotiations in a lawsuit over a second Nextel Cup date for Texas Motor Speedway have potentially major ramifications for two tracks in the Carolinas, The Observer has learned. A source close to talks in a suit against NASCAR by two Speedway Motorsports Inc. [SMI] shareholders said Monday a settlement could result in International Speedway Corp. selling both North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham and Darlington Raceway to SMI. If such a deal were made, two of three remaining Cup dates from Rockingham and Darlington would move – one to Texas Motor Speedway and the other to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, giving those SMI-owned tracks two dates each per season. The other date would alternate between Rockingham and Darlington, with the Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck series racing at Rockingham one year then at Darlington the next [so much for lights and SAFER]. “I am aware of the (settlement) talks,” SMI chairman Bruton Smith said Monday. “I think that they have been going on for about two months, and they’re further down the road than they ever have been. But there will have to be a written agreement among all of the attorneys before there’s any done deal.” Smith said that in his mind any settlement of the suit would have to include a second Cup date for Texas. “That’s certainly the key to it, that’s why it was filed,” he said.(more at ThatsRacin.com), see past news about this on my lawsuit page.(3-23-2004)
UPDATE: After attracting the largest crowd in the 45-year history of Darlington Raceway’s spring Nextel Cup event, track officials are feeling good about their chances of keeping two races for 2005. How good? “I feel confident we’ll host two races next year. Frankly, I can’t see it any other way,” raceway president Andrew Gurtis said Tuesday. “As the promoter at Darlington Raceway, look at the last two races we’ve had here. We’ve had a sellout for the Mountain Dew Southern 500, and a record crowd for the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. We have two strong sponsors on our Cup races, and great racing. Things are just stacking up.” But sources have indicated to The Post and Courier that the millions of dollars ISC has spent to add the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier and a lighting system at Darlington guarantee that the Pee Dee track will have at least one annual event on the Nextel Cup schedule.(Chareslton Post and Courier)
BUT Could a settlement be imminent in the battle to bring a second Nextel Cup race to Texas Motor Speedway? According to several media outlets, yes. But spokesmen for the opposing camps said they are simply following court orders in a mediation process. According to The Associated Press, Samuel Cherry, the attorney for a TMS shareholder who sued NASCAR over its refusal to award a second event, said Tuesday that progress is being made in settlement talks. Cherry said the plaintiffs and NASCAR have agreed not to discuss specifics of the 2-year-old suit. Spokespersons from both racing entities contend that no settlement is about to materialize. “(The suit) is based on the false presumption that NASCAR promised Texas Motor Speedway a second date, which NASCAR did not,” NASCAR vice president of communications Jim Hunter said. “No settlement has been reached, to my knowledge.” Lauri Wilks, Hunter’s counterpart at SMI didn’t know anything more. “Not as far as I know,” Wilks said. “I don’t have an official word of anything.” Apparently, there is no agreement — at least not in written form — on the table. “Obviously, as everyone knows, it’s in the best interest of the sport to put this thing behind us,” Hunter said. “We’re not at liberty to discuss any of the particulars. There is no timeline. In the meantime, we’ve got to get on with the business of running the races.”(in part from the Daytona Beach News Journal/AP)(3-24-2004) - SAFER causing remeasuring of tracks? Size does matter — especially when it comes to racetracks. And with the SAFER barriers installed at many NASCAR tracks, the dimensions of the circuits have changed. “We’re going to have to remeasure all the tracks where we’ve put in the SAFER wall,” says Jim Hunter, V.P. of corporate communications. “I don’t have any idea how it will affect it, but I’m sure it will affect it to some degree.” The SAFER walls at Darlington come out 30 inches from the outer wall. NASCAR measures tracks 15 feet in from the outer wall, but it doesn’t expect changes in dimensions to be significant enough to affect records.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(3-24-2004)
- Belmont Comments on USA Today article: Andy Belmont [field-filler.com] comments to XM Satellite – NASCAR Radio’s Clarie B. Lang [CBL] on Tuesday concering a USA Today article: ‘Field filler’ Belmont’s online openness an eye-opener by Chris Jenkins.
What’s about the stuff in your words on your web site about Ephedra:
“Pretty simple. I want people to read my stuff…it’s that simple”
are you using ephedra:
“Heck no..no I can’t take that with my blood pressure medicine, my doctor would shoot me. I just…I’m a seat of the pants kind of guy and I don’t take anything in life seriously and you know ephedra is illegal after April 12th in this country so….to be candid with you I didn’t know it’ was illegal under the NASCAR substance abuse policy but I wouldn’t use it anyway because of my blood pressure medicine so it’s not an issue.”
And NASCAR hasn’t contact you or anything (after the media regarding your statements on your web site)
“No, nobody’s said a word.”
What about the statements regarding the minimum speed(s)
“Well, that was taken out of context. The minimum speed was 32.50 and we were going 32.40’s so how that was…In other words when I’m saying I was under the speed I was under the 34.50, we were running 32.40’s.”
Other statements from Belmont to CBL:
“I’m just a hard working guy like everybody else out there trying to make it. And if showing your checking account balance is going to be a requirement to qualify, you know we got real problems. If you cut out what it is that the average Saturday night guy, which is what I am,I am just Joe average, trying to chase a dream and if you take that away so that the only way a guy can actually ever make it is to be one of the chosen few that a major car owner calls…that’s a disastrous situation about to unfold. I mean that’s what happened to CART.”
“……As we sit here speaking we all met the criteria and we’re playing by the rules that are given to us. If they want to change the rules that’s NASCAR’s object. I don’t see Rick Hendrick answering my calls when I’m trying to get an engine. I don’t see…you know I got a call into Jimmie Johnson to see if I can work something out on..you know I can’t afford to buy a $70,000 motor being an independent. But if they could help me out and take a cut of my winnings or do something along those lines or give me engines that are experimental stuff that maybe they don’t want to try in cars that they have on the race track. It don’t matter who you go to – me Hillenburg whatever we would all do that to try to be faster to try to be respectable. When I was racing Cup in ’92 Larry McReynolds gave me some weird stuff to put up under the car chassis wise because they didn’t want Davey running it till they figured out what it was going to do. But those opportunities don’t seem to be there any more because all those teams have their very own test teams and all that. So what are you going to do?” Do you feel that now because of your off-handed comments on your web site that NASCAR will have reasonable suspicion to test you?
“They have the right..those are the rules we play by. If they want to check me have at it. I got nothing to hide and the reality of it is, I’ll probably test positive because of my blood pressure medicine. You know what I mean? I had to fill it out on the physical form. You know. Le’Let’s call a spade a spade. It’s their ball and jacks. If they don’t want us there bad enough they will figure out how to get rid of us and it won’t be anything we’ve done. It’s what they’ve created to get rid of us. I’m trying to make it Claire just like anybody else out there that has a dream.”(XM Satellite – NASCAR Radio 144)(3-24-2004) - No Redneckjunk.com on the #50: during an interview on XM Satellite – NASCAR Radio 144 with Chris McLain, #50 driver, Derrike Cope was asked about the sponsorship of Redneckjunk.com [RJunk.com] and said that was in the past and that Redneckjunk.com [RJunk.com] would not be on the car and the team has moved on, looking for a new sponsor. Past News on my #50 Team News and Links page.(3-24-2004)
- Hawk to NASCAR’s Diversity Program? hearing that NASCAR is going to or has hired Don Hawk to help with its diversity programs. Hawk is President of Hawk Sports Management which provides consultative services in the area of endorsements, product licensing, sport celebrity appearances, marketing concepts, and sponsorship programs to a diverse client base including NASCAR drivers, teams, race tracks, various racing entities, Professional Golfers and Tournaments and Licensing and Marketing Companies. The first two clients added on February 19, 2000 were Dale Earnhardt and NASCAR. Since that time, Hawk Sports Management has added to its list of clientele and grown into a diverse sports management company. Hawk was also General Manager for Alan Kulwicki Racing and President of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., More info at www.hawk-sports.com.(3-24-2004)
- Donohue to Indy 500 Hall of Fame: Five legendary names from the Indianapolis 500 will assume their place among racing legends May 21 at the 2004 Auto Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The event is taking place at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown in conjunction with the annual “500” Oldtimers’ Club Banquet. Indianapolis 500-winning drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Tom Sneva, and team owner John Zink are expected to attend the ceremony, while driver Mark Donohue [click here to see Jayski’s tribute] and team owner Lindsey Hopkins will be inducted posthumously.(IMS Site)(3-24-2004)
- Foyt at Bristol and Texas UPDATE: #14-Larry Foyt will attempt to make the Nextel Cup races at Bristol and Texas. The team is still looking for a sponosr for both races.(3-23-2004)
UPDATE: After nearly a month off, Larry Foyt returned to the cockpit of the A.J. Foyt Racing Dodge when he tested March 16th and 17th at Texas Motor Speedway. Foyt plans to compete in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend and the Samsung/RadioShack 500 on April 4th. “Our test at Texas went pretty decent,” Foyt said. “We weren’t the fastest car there but we were only two to three tenths off guys like Bill Elliott and Dale Earnhardt Jr. We didn’t do any qualifying runs, we were in race trim the whole time. On the second day, the wind came up in the afternoon so we quit early. We only had the one car and we were happy with where we were running so I didn’t want to take any chances.” Foyt is running a limited schedule this year because the team is without primary sponsorship. “We’ve been looking but it’s been a challenge in this economy,” said team owner A.J. Foyt. “Right now I’m running Larry out of my pocket basically, so we have to pick and choose our races. I hope we can find a major sponsor soon.” Foyt’s son competed in his first Daytona 500 in February and finished 28th. He started 41st and had quickly moved into the top 25 but then he had to pit with a misfire in the power plant. The team’s engine specialist diagnosed the problem as a loose spark plug wire which was fixed and Foyt returned to the race. He competed in the next race at Rockingham, N.C. and finished 32nd after struggling with the car’s handling. “It was a tough weekend but we brought the car home in one piece.” Foyt is currently 43rd in the driver standings after competing in just two of the five races run to date.(Foyt Racing PR)(3-24-2004) - Mr. Kenseth Goes to Washington: [a day old and already happened but….] Matt Kenseth is slated to make a trip to the nation’s capital tomorrow [actually Tuesday], as he will be attending the 2004 March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. At the invitation of NASCAR, Kenseth and invited guests Jack Roush, Richard and Lynda Petty and Mike Joy will all participate in this year’s festivities at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Other honored guests attending the gala will be Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina. Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, the President and CEO of the March of Dimes will be the keynote speaker with Mike Joy filling in as the emcee. The gala is a dinner of sorts, with a cocktail reception and regional specialties of food. Just before the sit down dinner, Kenseth will sign a few autographs near the No. 17 DEWALT Tools Ford show car for dignitaries and large donors. The next day, NASCAR representatives will make a breakfast presentation on Capital Hill about stock car racing, its popularity, competitiveness and its national appeal. A question and answer session will follow. Kenseth will only appear at the previous evening’s festivities, as he will be traveling to Texas that same evening to attend a “Winner’s Circle” appearance on behalf of Texas Motor Speedway. Kenseth is slated to visit over a dozen television and radio outlets in Texas to promote the upcoming Samsung-Radio Shack 500 on April 4th.(DeWalt Site)(3-24-2004)
- Kyle Petty Returns to Rolex Series for Phoenix 250: Kyle Petty announced that he will return to the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series next month, competing in the Phoenix 250 at Phoenix International Raceway, April 10 [off weekend for Nextel Cup]. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver will rejoin Gunnar Racing, this time at the wheel of the No. 45 Porsche GT3 RS. Petty kicked off his 2004 racing season by competing in his fifth Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this year, teaming with famed-actor Paul Newman, Gunnar Jeannette and Michael Brockman in the Gunnar Racing entry. Jeannette and Petty will team back up in the No. 45 Porsche for the Phoenix 250. Petty is no stranger to the Rolex Sports Car Series, competing in seven races over the last three seasons. He teamed with John Andretti for the GT victory at Watkins Glen International in 2001 and has scored five class podium finishes, including a second-place finish with Jeannette and Newman in the GTS class at Watkins Glen last season. Petty’s No. 45 Porsche is one of 40 race cars on the pre-entry list for the Phoenix 250 announced earlier this week. Tickets to the Phoenix 250, round three of the Rolex Series, are available at www.phoneixraceway.com. The Phoenix 250 will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED Channel, April 10 at 9 p.m. ET. For additional information on the Rolex Sports Car Series, visit www.grandamerican.com.(Phoenix International Raceway PR)(3-24-2004)
- Some Tix Still Avialable for Race for Hope: Ticket sales for Elliott Sadler’s Race for Hope are off to a great start. According to a spokesperson for the NASCAR SpeedPark, the VIP Dinner packages have sold out. All proceeds from the venue will benefit the Autism Society of America and The Victory Junction Gang Camp. Although the effort has recently reached the halfway point of its fundraising goal, a few packages are still available for fans to obtain autographs, and race against NASCAR NEXTEL and NASCAR Busch Series Stars, more info on my Racing Charities Page.(3-23-2004)
UPDATE: The scheduled lineup of drivers for Elliott Sadler’s Race for Hope has changed. Due to a conflict with a recently scheduled test at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Petty will not be in attendance for the May 25th event. Standing in for Petty will be his seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion father, Richard Petty. The logistics of the change are minor as fans who have already purchased tickets for Kyle Petty will now have the opportunity to meet Richard, NASCAR’s all time wins leader. There are still over 100 tickets available for the Richard Petty autograph session through the NASCAR SpeedPark ticket office at 1-877-626-8725. All proceeds from the event will go to The Autism Society of America and The Victory Junction Gang Camp.(3-24-2004) - Raines in the #74 at Bristol: #74 driver Damon Lusk will take a hiatus from the Outdoor Channel Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. Tony Raines returns to the helm of the BACE Busch Series entry at the same race where he posted a career best finish (2nd), just one year ago. Lusk will return to the seat next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
“This is an opportunity to maximize the performance assets available to us at BACE,” said team owner Bill Baumgardner. “First and foremost, our goal is to make sure that we continue to advance our Busch Series program, and Tony’s experience at a track like Bristol is something you just can’t set aside. We’re committed to the investment that we’ve made in Damon as an aggressive young racer and future star that we’re pleased to have in our family,” Baumgardner added. “However, having Tony behind the wheel this weekend will allow us to address some baseline issues that will benefit Damon and facilitate his growth at BACE.”
“I’m a racer,” Lusk said, “and, by nature, I’m an extremely competitive person. As a driver, I’m not thrilled at the prospect of not being behind the wheel in Bristol. But as a member of this team, I stand by our decision to take advantage of every asset available to making our team as competitive as it can possibly be.”
“I’m excited to return to the Outdoor Channel team at Bristol,” Raines said. “It’s my opportunity to take care of some unfinished business. Our car was strong at both Bristol races last year but we weren’t able to close the deal. Our main goal for this weekend is to put BACE back in Victory Lane on Saturday.”(BACE Motorsports PR)(3-24-2004)
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