March 28, 2006
- Sadler vs. Hammond: NASCAR and wrestling fans will join together this Saturday night in Martinsville as TNA Wrestling comes to the Old Lowes Building across the street from the Martinsville Speedway after the Truck Series race. In addition to the TNA Superstars, NASCAR will be well represented in a 8 man tag team “Lumberjack” match that will feature NASCAR on Fox’s Jeff Hammond and driver Hermie Sadler teaming with Team 3-D (formerly the Dudley Boys) to take on 5 time NWA Champion Jeff Jarrett, Americas Most Wanted, and “Showtime” Eric Young.(3-28-2006)
- Spencer to drive the #49 at Martinsville: Jimmy Spencer will drive the #49 Dodge Charger for BAM Racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Spencer will join BAM Racing as an advisor for the team and mentor for rookie driver Brent Sherman. Spencer may run several additional races with BAM Racing this season, either in the #49 Dodge or another car. “I enjoy working with young drivers as they progress through the ranks of NASCAR,” said Spencer. “Brent has the determination and support it takes to compete at this level. I hope to be able to help him make a successful transition to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.”
“The team has made this decision due to the fact that NASCAR will not allow rookie drivers any test sessions at Martinsville,” commented team general manager Eddie Jones. “Brent has never been to Martinsville before and our hope is that Jimmy will be able to provide him with the guidance it takes to compete at short tracks.”
“I believe the team is being fair in its decision for this weekend,” said Sherman. “Although I am not currently in a championship race, the team is in a points race. I always welcome opportunities that are presented to me, and to work with a veteran like Jimmy Spencer is a great opportunity. I hope that this decision will not only benefit me, but the team as well.” Sherman will return to driving duties for the #49 Dodge Charger for the upcoming race at Texas Motor Speedway.(BAM Racing PR)(3-28-2006)
- Jeff Gordon Fined by NASCAR as a Result of Bristol Infraction: NASCAR announced today that Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, has been fined $10,000 as a result of his involvement in an altercation on pit road [he pushed #17-Matt Kenseth] after the completion of Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon has also been placed on probation until Aug. 30, 2006. Gordon was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup rule book.(NASCAR PR)(3-28-2006)
- Stremme to run Truck race at Martinsville: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced NEXTEL Cup Series rookie #40-David Stremme will drive the #04 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge in the Truck Series event on Saturday, April 1 at Martinsville Speedway. Scott Lagasse Jr. will resume driving duties of the #04 Dodge at Gateway International Raceway on April 29.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(3-28-2006)
- Dodge files responses in BDR case: Dodge has filed its responses to Bill Davis Racing’s motions that ask a federal judge to reconsider a $6.5 million jury verdict levied in February against the race team. Dodge asks the judge not to change the verdict or grant BDR a new trial in the case, where the jury found the team guilty of giving confidential Dodge information to Toyota while building Toyota products for the Craftsman Truck Series. In May 2003, Dodge terminated its six-year, $18.425-million contract with BDR signed in 2000 and filed suit against the race team. Dodge also indicates that it will ask BDR for attorneys’ fees for the trial, which could raise the total amount due to the manufacturer. BDR contends the verdict should be overturned for what it terms improper jury instructions and issues dealing with the way Dodge compiled its amount of damages. Dodge says the jury instructions were valid and that it compiled the amount of damages fairly. “BDR’s issues in its motion for new trial are frivolous, improper and in bad faith,” the Dodge brief states. Judge George Caram Steeh has not indicated when he would rule on the motions. If BDR loses, the team has said it would take the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals.(SceneDaily.com)(3-28-2006)
- Rookie News and Notes – Post-Bristol/Pre-Martinsville: Denny Hamlin was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 26 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hamlin finished 14th and took top Raybestos Rookie honors for the second time this season. He was the only Raybestos Rookie to finish on the lead lap at Bristol. Clint Bowyer holds a six-point advantage over Hamlin and J.J. Yeley (52-46) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the April 2 DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Morgan Shepherd is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the DirecTV 500 (since 1975). Shepherd won the 1981 event, outlasting the late Neil Bonnett to score his first NEXTEL Cup Series win. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish in the spring race at Martinsville is Dick Trickle. Trickle finished third in 1989, the best finish by a first-year driver since Morgan Shepherd won the 1981 Advance Auto Parts 500. Trickle also led the race once for seven laps. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 finish in the Advance Auto Parts 500 is Jeff Gordon, who placed eighth in 1993.(Raybestos PR), see the full report/notes on my Rookie Page.(3-28-2006)
- Bristol Penalties Announced: NASCAR announced today that fines have been issued to two Busch Series teams, as a result of rule violations this past weekend at Bristol. Stewart Cooper, crew chief for the #27 Ford driven by David Green, has been fined $2,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.1A(8) (unapproved jacking bolts, hollow bolts) of the NASCAR rule book. The violation was discovered during pre-qualifying inspection. Ronnie Griffin, crew chief for the #23 Chevrolet driven by Chris Wimmer, has been fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A; 12-4-Q and 20A-12.1A(8). The violation was discovered during pre-qualifying inspection.(NASCAR PR)(3-28-2006)
- Circuit City Sponsoring Richmond Race: Richmond International Raceway officials say the track’s May 5 Busch Series race will be called the the Circuit City 250 under terms of an agreement with the Richmond-based retail chain.(NASCAR Scene)(3-28-2006)
- Martin adds seven more races to schedule: Mark Martin and Roush Racing have decided to add an additional seven races to Martin’s 2006 Truck Series schedule. Martin, who boasts two victories in the first three races of the season, will now run a total of 14 races in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford this season. Martin was originally scheduled to run only seven events in the truck, but will now add races at both Martinsville events, Dover, Bristol, Loudon, Talladega and Phoenix, bringing his total to 14. Roush newcomer David Ragan will also increase his schedule, adding events in the #50 Ford. Ragan will drive the # 6 Scotts Ford in the other 11 races of 2006, when Martin is not competing. Roush will enter Ragan in additional events to allow him more seat time and experience. Ragan made his first start of 2006 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and will compete in the #50 again at Martinsville Speedway on April 1.(Roush Racing PR)(3-28-2006)
- Dollar General launches Operation Big Chance: Dollar General’s Operation Big Chance is giving a 2006 competitor at Nashville’s Music City Motorplex the opportunity to be a part of the Dollar General/ KHI truck effort at the Martinsville, Va. race in spring 2007. The Music City Motorplex season gets underway on Friday, March 31st with a Dodge Weekly Racing event. The driver who earns the highest points in either the Late Model or Super Truck divisions at the Music City Motorplex at the end of the 2006 race season will get a chance to test with the Dollar General/KHI Truck Series team and a chance to qualify and race at Martinsville next spring. As is the case with all new drivers, NASCAR must issue final approval for participation in the race.(Music City Motorplex PR)(3-28-2006)
- Kinser gets sponsorship for Martinsville UPDATE: MB2 Motorsports announced that Ginn Clubs & Resorts has agreed to be a primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin’s #14 Chevy for three Nextel Cup races and Kraig Kinser’s Silverado for one Truck Series race. The sponsorship package kicks off this weekend at Martinsville Speedway with Ginn Clubs & Resorts being the primary sponsor on Marlin’s #14 entry for Sunday’s Cup race and Kinser’s #29 [not #47?] entry for Saturday’s truck race. Kinser, an MB2 Motorsports development driver, is part of the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports truck team. Being told that the number change is not permanent.(MB2 PR)(3-27-2006)
UPDATE: Kraig Kinser will run one more race as #29 because the #47 Morgan Dollar Silverado team ran only a part-time schedule in 2005 and did not have enough owner’s point to guarantee the truck a starting spot the beginning of this season. Morgan Dollar Motorsports made a deal with the #29 team owned by the Keselowski family to guarantee Kinser a starting spot to ensure the NCTS Rookie of the Year contender laps and races under his belt. The arrangement was blessed by NASCAR but the team has to run the #29 through Martinsville. After Martinsville, the truck will go back to the #47. The #29 points will convert to the #47 after Martinsville. So theoretically, the #47 will be in the top 30 after Martinsville. Wherever the #29 is after Martinsville is where the #47 will be at St. Louis. It’s the same deal that the #98 worked with the #2 and the #25 did with the #62, using points and changing #s, only this deal happened a few races into the year and those did at the beginning.(3-28-2006)
- Stremme to drive #04 at Martinsville: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has announced that Cup Series rookie David Stremme will drive the #04 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge in the Truck Series event on Saturday, April 1 at Martinsville Speedway. Scott Lagasse Jr. will resume driving duties for the #04 Dodge at Gateway International Raceway on April 29. (Ganassi PR)(3-28-2006)
- Raybestos Rookie contenders news & notes: Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 17 John Deere 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Darnell finished eighth, his second top-10 finish in three career Truck Series starts. He has claimed top rookie honors in all three races this season and is the only Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 finish. Darnell enjoys a 16-point lead (41-25) over Kyle Krisiloff in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the April 1 Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Todd Kluever was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2005 Kroger 250 at Martinsville, claiming a 16th-place finish. Two Raybestos Rookies have won a pole at Martinsville in the Truck Series: Greg Biffle (1998) and Carl Edwards (2003). The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at Martinsville Speedway is second, shared by Travis Kvapil (2001 spring race), Carl Edwards (2003 fall race) and Kluever (2005 fall race). Point standings #99-Erik Darnell 41, #15-Kyle Krisiloff 25, #75-Aric Almirola 21, #99-Erin Crocker 19, #13-Kerry Earnhardt 16, #1-Robert Richardson 16, #12-Joey Miller 15, #06-Chad McCumbee 13, #25-Boston Reid 11, #47-Kraig Kinser 10, #07-Sean Murphy 10, #21-Bobby East 8, #04-Scott Lagasse Jr., #63-J.R. Patton.(Raybestos PR) (3-28-2006)
- Adam Crawford to make Late Model start: Rick Crawford’s son, Adam, will make his first Late Model start at Mobile International Speedway this weekend. The Circle Bar race team will be will be doing double duty with part of the team helping out in Mobile. The crew will be led by former crew chief, Ray Stonkus.(Circle Bar PR)(3-28-2006)
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