April 2, 2010
- Rain causes TV Rating tumble: NASCAR ON FOX was wiped out this weekend when wet weather forced postponement of racing from Martinsville Speedway. The race was made up on Monday afternoon and aired nationally on FOX affiliates. Because the race aired on a weekday afternoon, no national rating will be released until next Thursday. The overnight rating for the race was a 2.1/6. The last FOX race to be rained out and made up on a Monday was last year’s Coca-Cola 600, but that’s not really a fair comparison because the make-up date was the memorial Day holiday, and as a result the make-up earned a 3.3/8 in the metered markets. The better comparison is to the 2008 Auto Club Speedway race, which was made up on a normal Monday and earned an overnight rating of 2.3/7. In 2009 the final Martinsville Ratings were 4.6/10 [with an overnight of 4.1/9*] and 7.4 million viewers. The Martinsville race is excluded from FOX’s season-to-date total, which remains a 5.6/12 (9.3 million viewers). However, last year’s Martinsville race stays in the 2009 average, and because it was a mediocre rating FOX’s year-to-year comparison has improved since last week without actually running a race. FOX’s 5.6/12 for the season is now down -7% compared to last year’s final 6.0/12 for FOX. Last weeks final TV Ratings for Bristol were flat vs. 2010 with a 4.4 rating and a 10 share [was 4.5/10 in 2009]. See Bristol TV Ratings [no news item] and past TV Ratings news on my 2010 TV Ratings page (4-2-2010)
- Ash hopes to make 2010 debut at Phoenix: The Brandon Ash Racing Sprint Cup #02 team plans to attempt to make the Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Racewat next weekend. The team has a new primary sponsor, Start Natural Energy Drink.(BAR)(4-2-2010)
- Who’s Your Daddy settle’s lawsuit with Greg Sacks: Who’s Your Daddy, Inc. has entered into a Settlement Agreement with Sacks Motor Sports Inc. and [former NASCAR Driver] Greg Sacks, to mitigate $1.8 million in debt. In total over the last 90 days the Company’s management has compromised over $3,296,000 in debt prior to liquidating 2,044,428 of common stock provided by two former officers. The Company will immediately begin the process of changing its corporate name to FITT Energy, Inc. and will apply for a new trading symbol to properly reflect its innovative marketing direction. See Full article at marketwatch.com.(4-2-2010)
- Catch Can Gig Going away? At the start of the 2010 season, NASCAR introduced a new style fuel can for the Truck Series that eliminated the need for a catch can guy. Because of this new can, NASCAR limited the number of over-the-wall crew members in the Truck Series to six: two tire changers, two tire carriers, a jackman, and a fueler. Teams could still technically use a catch can guy, they would just have to eliminate one of the other positions. NASCAR Insiders are hearing now that NASCAR is seriously considering bringing this new style fuel can to both the Nationwide and Cup Series for the 2011 season. If this happens, it would mean the elimination of the catch can man for both of these two series as well.(NASCAR Insiders)(4-2-2010)
- SFI files lawsuit against Impact Racing: SFI Foundation Inc. has filed a lawsuit and sought a restraining order against Bill Simpson’s Impact Racing LLC to ban the sale of fire suits, seat belts and other uncertified Impact gear it says bear counterfeit SFI labels or patches. A federal judge in Indianapolis on Thursday issued an order granting much of what SFI wanted, said Peter Yarbrough, an attorney for the not-for-profit. Yarbrough did not immediately have details of the order available and it did not appear in the court’s online docket Thursday. California-based SFI sets standards for several racing organizations, including NASCAR, the National Hot Rod Association and the Indy Racing League. The lawsuit alleges that between November 2005 and August 2008, Simpson instructed an Impact employee to have an Asian vendor produce counterfeit SFI labels that were affixed to various products, including seat belts, arm restraints, fire suits, head socks, gloves and boots. SFI plans to decertify those Impact products made during that time, Yarbrough said. The sale of conformance labels to manufacturers is SFI’s main source of income and its loss would cause a “severe financial hardship,” SFI said in its lawsuit. SFI and Impact issued a joint statement Thursday night saying Impact had provided sworn testimony that no counterfeit SFI labels have been used on company products made in 2009 and 2010. SFI said it will not decertify Impact products made in those years. The complaint accuses Impact of counterfeiting, fraud and misrepresentation, unfair competition, unfair and deceptive trade practices and breach of contract and seeks unspecified damages. An Impact Racing employee who answered the phone Thursday said Simpson was not available for comment. A phone message also was left at the office of Impact Racing’s Indianapolis attorney, Edward Harris III.(Associated Press)(4-2-2010)
- Red Farmer to be honored: Alabama Gang legend Red Farmer will be honored at the track where he still races at age 77. Talladega Short Track will host the Red Farmer Classic on May 15 at the dirt track in Eastaboga across from Talladega Superspeedway. In honor of Farmer’s number — 97 — the super late model race will be 97 laps and will pay $9,700 to win.(Alabama Live)(4-2-2010)
- Cassill to drive #7 for 4 races: JR Motorsports has named Landon Cassill the driver of its #7 Chevys for four consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races starting next week at Phoenix International Raceway. Cassill will drive a GoDaddy.com-sponsored Chevy in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at PIR, which is the home track to GoDaddy.com headquarters in nearby Scottsdale, Ariz. Sponsorship for Cassill’s ensuing three races at Texas Motor Speedway (April 17), Talladega Superspeedway (April 24), and Richmond International Raceway (April 30) is still to be determined. Cassill drove for JR Motorsports in 2008, winning the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year Award in the Nationwide Series despite competing in a limited number of races. In 19 starts in 2008 – 16 for JR Motorsports – Cassill scored five top-five finishes and a pole award at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(JR Motorsports PR) (4-2-2010)
- Shane Hmiel would like to return to NASCAR, but doesn’t expect to: When Shane Hmiel first failed a NASCAR drug test in 2003 for using marijuana, NASCAR had a simple response. Hmiel was required to go to a series of one-hour classes about the dangers of drug use while suspended for the final eight Busch Series races of 2003. After completing the classes, he was allowed back onto the track in 2004. Hmiel stopped using drugs for a brief period and was back to racing. But he soon found a way to beat NASCAR’s drug tests. Hmiel couldn’t hide it for long. In May 2005, NASCAR busted him again – this time for marijuana and cocaine. He failed another test during his indefinite suspension and was suspended for life. Hmiel says he has been clean for more than three years but isn’t asking NASCAR to lift his suspension and allow him to race in NASCAR again. He would like another opportunity, he says, but he’s not asking for it. Hmiel would be happy enough if he could just go to a Saturday night short-track race sanctioned by NASCAR so he could see his friends. As of right now, he can’t go into the garage at any NASCAR event.(Scene Daily) (4-2-2010)
- Gonzalez to drive #05 at Phoenix, Road America: Victor Gonzalez Jr. will return to the Nationwide Series to compete in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 on April 9th at Phoenix International Raceway and the Bucyrus 200 on June 19th at Road America. Gonzalez will drive the #05 Day Racing Ford in both events. Gonzalez made history on Aug. 30, 2009 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal when he became the first Puerto Rican driver to compete in the Nationwide Series. He finished 14th at Montreal, a race that featured heavy rain and slick track conditions.(Gonzales PR)(4-2-2010)
- Jason Aldean Album Cover on the #43: IMAGE The cover of country music sensation Jason Aldean’s platinum album WIDE OPEN will adorn the hood of Scott Lagasse Jr’s #43 Ford in the Nationwide Series this weekend in Nashville and again next weekend in Phoenix. In addition, Aldean’s record label, Broken Bow Records, will be an associate sponsor. WIDE OPEN has already produced three multi-week No. one singles and his current single “Crazy Town” is currently climbing the charts.(Baker Curb PR), see an image of the car on the #43 Nationwide Series paint scheme page.(4-2-2010)
- Gill & Fenton part ways: During the pre-race setup on SPEEDtv, Ray Dunlap reported that following the qualifying session, when Fenton failed to qualify the #95 Dodge, that Danny Gill and Lance Fenton have officially parted ways.(4-2-2010)
- Green performing pre-race concert at Kansas: In 2003, Pat Green hit the country music scene with his breakout hit “Wave on Wave.” On Sunday, May 2, Green will hit the stage at Kansas Speedway for the first time prior to the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250. “We look forward to having Pat Green perform prior to the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race,” said Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren. “This concert is just another added entertainment element for our fans and with individual tickets available, fans can enjoy the concert and an exciting truck series race.” The Texas native released his most recent album “What I’m For” in January, which begins with a powerful song called “Footsteps of Our Fathers” and is the stirring sound of Green arriving as a major American singer-songwriter who has managed to make his own way in country music and beyond.(Kansas Speedway PR)(4-2-2010)
- Buescher’s next race, Kansas with Turner Motorsports: During the race broadcast on SPEEDtv, Phil Parsons reported that Buescher will be making his first start with Turner Motorsports beginning at Kansas Speedway..[At Nashville, Buescher drove the #90 Toyota for Stringer Motorsports.] Buescher said the plan is to run most of the remaining truck races this season with his Turner Motorsports ride.(4-2-2010)
- India’s Karthikeyan makes series debut: UPDATE 2 next race Kansas; plus European racing: Starbeast Motorsports Founder Miguel Abaroa is pleased to announce that driver Narain Karthikeyan will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on March 27 in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Karthikeyan, who is India’s first NASCAR driver, will drive the Wyler Racing #60 SafeAuto Chevrolet Silverado. Karthikeyan previously tested an ARCA car at Daytona International Speedway in December and brings 22 seasons of experience in open wheel racing including Formula 1 and the Le Mans Series. Starbeast Motorsports and Karthikeyan have entered into an agreement with Wyler Racing for the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Karthikeyan will race the #60 in select races to be announced at a later date. SafeAuto Insurance will serve as the primary sponsor after signing a multi-year agreement with Wyler Racing and driver Stacy Compton in 2009. “We have always had a desire to work with drivers to help with their transition into NASCAR,” said Stacy Compton, who has driven in 27 events for Wyler Racing since partnering with the team last year. Compton will serve as a driver coach to help assist Karthikeyan as he makes the transition from open wheel racing to NASCAR.(Wyler Racing PR)(3-17-2010)
UPDATE: Karthikeyan will race in at least nine more NASCAR truck races this season with his next race being on May 2 at Kansas Speedway. The Kansas race will be shown in India on NEO Sports and in the USA on Speed Channel(Starbeast Motorsports PR)(3-28-2010)
UPDATE 2: After making his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series late last month in the USA, India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan will now race for the Dutch squad PSV Eindhoven in the 2010 summer racing season in the Superleague Formula series. PSV Team Principal Jan Lammers, a former Formula One and Le Mans 24-hour racer, confirmed the 33-year-old Indian will be at the wheel for the Dutch team starting this weekend at Silverstone. The other races will be held at famous tracks in Assen (the Netherlands), Magny-Cours (France), Nurburgring (Germany), Brands Hatch (UK) among others.(IndianInfo.com)(4-2-2010)
- Rose returns to NASCAR with RWR UPDATE TrueView Live to sponsor: Bowling Green, Kentucky native Brian Rose is gearing up and making his final preparations to return to NASCAR which is set to re-ignite this week at Nashville Superspeedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Rick Ware Racing in the #6 Chevy. Rose will make a humble return to NASCAR since being suspended back in 2003 for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Now, nearly seven years later Rose is drug-free and ready to get back behind the wheel and gain the trust and support that he once embraced. Rose is planning on running a limited NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule to readapt to the trucks, cars and tracks before making a decision on which direction he’ll take for a hopeful full-schedule in 2011. From 2001-2003 Brian Rose competed in 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events driving for car owners such as the late Bobby Hamilton Sr., Billy Ballew and Ware.(Rick Ware Racing PR)(3-29-2010)
UPDATE: Today, officials from Brian Rose Racing and TrueView Live announce-that TVL will enter the world of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by sponsoring Bowling Green, Kentucky native Brian Rose in tonight’s Nashville 200 from Nashville Superspeedway. TrueView Live delivered via the internet, offers the highest quality viewing experience, drastically longer viewing times than flash, efficiently more accurate reporting than any other streaming provider in between.(Brian Rose Racing PR)(4-2-2010)
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