April 3, 2007
- Congrats: Phil Holmer, Goodyear’s Marketing Manager since 1976, recieved the H. Clay Earles Award at Martinsville last week.(4-3-2007)
- 2007 Dale Earnhardt Day Announced: Dale Earnhardt Inc.[DEI] announced plans for the sixth annual Dale Earnhardt Day. The event will be held on Sunday, April 29th from 11:00am – 6:00pm/et. The celebration of the seven – time NASCAR Champion’s career will highlight the events and stories of Earnhardt’s life as seen in the 2007 film, DALE. Personal possessions, memorabilia and vehicles seen in the movie will be on display, in addition to some never before seen photos of the legendary driver. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation will also be providing a silent auction and raffle throughout the day for both race related and DALE the movie memorabilia. The winners of the 2007 Legend Leadership Award will also be announced. Bass Pro Shops will be operating an exciting outdoor activity area for children, in addition to providing one lucky fan the opportunity to win a fishing trip with Kerry Earnhardt. More info/directions at DaleEarnhardtInc.com.(DEI PR)(4-3-2007)
- NASCAR to go over installation of door foam at RIR test UPDATE: NASCAR officials will reinforce to teams the importance of properly installing the safety foam inside the frame of the right door of the Car of Tomorrow during Tuesday’s test at Richmond International Raceway #29-Kevin Harvick had a situation during Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway where the foam in his right door became so hot from heat from the tailpipe that it completely melted. The electrical wires from the in-car television also melted, forcing Harvick to get out of the car while safety crew members sprayed the door with fire extinguishers. “We want to reiterate and review how you put the foam in the car,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. “What we need to make sure of is they’re allowing for more air to circulate.” Tharp said Harvick’s car, which was looked at on Monday by NASCAR officials, was the only one that had that problem at Martinsville after several had it at Bristol. “It’s a whole new car,” Tharp said. “Thankfully, we are able to make adjustments. It’s a situation that can be correct.” Tharp added that the cars of race winner #48-Jimmie Johnson and #26-Jamie McMurray, which were taken to NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., checked out perfectly. Both cars have been returned to the teams.(ESPN.com)(4-3-2007)
UPDATE: NASCAR will allow teams to eliminate part of the square block of foam that sits inside the right door of the new Nextel Cup car of tomorrow in order to keep it from melting, according to teams at Richmond International Raceway for testing Tuesday. Instead of having a square piece, teams can shape the foam, with a rectangular portion in the bottom left corner cut away from above the exhaust pipes. Teams were given a new graphic of how the foam can be installed. The foam doesn’t burn as much as it smolders. NASCAR says the fumes are not toxic.(SceneDaily.com)(4-3-2007)
- Richmond Testing: 51 drivers in 68 cars took to the track Tuesday, April 3rd for the first day [of 2] of testing at Richmond International Speedway, the teams are testing the COT. Fastest were #16A-Biffle (Ford) at 121.545 [track record is 129.963mph set in 5/2004 by Kasey Kahne, in the two 2006 races the top qualfying speeds were 127.385 in May and 127.986 in Sept.], followed by #07B-Bowyer (Chevy), #41X-Sorenson (Dodge), #24A-Gordon and #10A-Riggs. The fastest Toyota was #22A-Blaney who was 11th. For the first session speeds, see my Richmond Testing page for more, driver list and speeds.(4-3-2007)
- Richmond Testing – Day 1 evening: 51 drivers in 68 cars tested at Richmond International Speedway in the 2nd session on Tuesday night. The fastest was #78A-Kenny Wallace (Chevy) at 122.416mph, followed by #07B-Bowyer (Chevy), #24A-Gordon (Chevy), #22A-Blaney (Toyota) and #17B-Kenseth (Ford). The fastest Dodge was #2A-Busch who was 8th. The slowest car was #43B-Labonte at 115.706mph [Labonte’s #43A car was 61st].
SceneDaily.com reports: Two drivers crashed during the evening test session: Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Riggs. Montoya brushed the wall and was able to drive away but Riggs could not from his impact. Riggs was taken the infield care center, evaluated and released.
For the 1st day of speeds, 2 sessions, see my Richmond Testing page for more, driver list and speeds.(4-3-2007)
- COT Test at Richmond open to public REPOST – Sched change: Fans will have an opportunity to catch virtually all of the Busch and Nextel Cup Series drivers at Richmond International Raceway March 27-28 and April 3-4 during official test sessions-which are free and open to the public-in preparation for the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI (Friday, May 4) and The Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 (Saturday, May 5) at America’s Premier Short Track. For Busch Series fans, their favorite drivers from America’s number two motorsports series will test on Tuesday, March 27 and Wednesday, March 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The following week, Nextel Cup Series drivers will test the Car of Tomorrow [by then it will be the Car of Today] on Tuesday, April 3 and Wednesday, April 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Nextel Cup Series test will be the drivers’ first official opportunity to drive the Car of Tomorrow (COT) at Richmond International Raceway. Both 2007 Nextel Cup Series races at America’s Premier Short Track-the Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 and Chevy Rock & Roll 400-will feature the Car of Tomorrow. The Grandstands will be open all four days from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. While these test sessions are open and free to the public, tickets are still available for both NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway May 4-5. A limited amount of tickets remain for the Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 Nextel Cup Series race (Saturday, May 5) and the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI NASCAR Busch Series race (Friday, May 4)-both “under the lights.” For tickets and information, please call 1-866-455-7223 or visit www.rir.com(RIR PR)(3-15/4-2-2007)
Sched change for Weds testing at Richmond: Due to the possibility of inclement weather on Wednesday, the Nextel Cup Series Car of Tomorrow test at Richmond International Raceway on Wednesday, April 4 has been changed from 1:00pm/et to 9:00pm/et to 9:00am/et to 5:00pm/et. The grandstand gates will open at 9:00am/et on Wednesday for fans. Testing is free and open to the public. Tuesday’s schedule remains the same, with testing still scheduled from 1:00 to 9:00pm/et. Grandstand gates will open at Noon for fans.(RIR PR), see my Richmond Testing page for more, driver list and speeds when available.(4-3-2007)
- Petty to Trade Paint on SPEED starting at Texas: SPEED will add NASCAR veteran #45-Kyle Petty to its popular weekly program Tradin’ Paint, beginning April 14 at 7:30pm/et. “Adding Kyle as a regular panelist gives SPEED yet another credible voice in our coverage of NASCAR,” said Frank Wilson, SPEED VP of Production. “Tradin’ Paint is still a relatively new show and having Kyle on board is the next step in the program’s growth.” Hosted by John Roberts, Tradin’ Paint is a 30-minute, weekly live-audience program from the site of each week’s Nextel Cup Series race, where NASCAR drivers discuss hot topics with members of the motor sports media. “I speak with the members of the media every week,” said Petty, whose broadcast roles include working as a race analyst for TNT’s 2006 Busch Series coverage, as well as the network’s upcoming six Nextel Cup Series races in 2007 [including one from the car while racing]. “This is a great opportunity to bring those discussions from behind closed doors to the public. Tradin’ Paint is a great program that allows the fans and viewers a chance to witness the great debates and news topics that encompass our sport on a daily basis. I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m thankful to SPEED for giving me the opportunity to discuss our sport on a fast-growing program like Tradin’ Paint.”(SPEED PR), Michael Waltrip had been the regular panelist until recently, the past two shows Carl Edwards and Kenny Wallaces were the drivers on the show.(4-3-2007)
- Sad News: Red Bull Team Member Killed UPDATE: A member of a NASCAR team was shot to death outside his home in Alexander County [NC] late Saturday. Jimmy Sprinkle, 44, was a mechanic for the Red Bull racing team. He had been a member of the test team crew for about a year. Sprinkle lived on a farm in northeast Alexander County north of Hiddenite. He spent the afternoon working on his yard, then saw someone coming down his long gravel driveway around 10:30pm. Saturday and went out to investigate. That’s when the person shot him once in the chest and died at Iredell Memorial Office. Alexander County investigators and State Bureau of Investigation agents believe they’ve found the shooter’s vehicle, a white 1980s model Monte Carlo with a dark blue top. They are not commenting on a motive in the case.(wsoctv.com.(4-2-2007)
UPDATE: Police say they have identified a suspect in the shooting death of James “Jimmy” Sprinkle, a NASCAR crew team member and Hiddenite resident, but they are not naming names just yet. And no charges have been filed. Sprinkle, of Center Church Road, died Saturday at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville. Sprinkle, was shot once in the chest about 10:30pm/et at his home. Authorities located a vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting. They spent much of Monday combing the car for evidence. “We are making substantial progress in the case, and hope to make an arrest soon,” Capt. Keith Warren of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office said. The shooting stunned Sprinkle’s friend, Phil Keever. “It’s beyond me,” Keever said. “This came from left field.” Keever was with Sprinkle shortly before he was killed. “He was helping me fertilize my pasture,” Keever, 48, said. “We were going to borrow his flatbed truck to load golf carts so my dad could take them to Virginia. “I dropped Jimmy off at his house about 7:30 p.m.” Sprinkle tested race cars for Team Red Bull, a Nextel Cup team based in Mooresville. He previously worked for Evernham Motorsports Marty Gaunt, vice president and general manager of Team Red Bull, issued this statement: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of Jimmy Sprinkle’s life. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy’s family and friends. Jimmy was one of those hard-working crew guys with great personality that don’t come around very often. Jimmy will be sorely missed at the race shop and at the track.”(Hickory Record)
Survivors include: his wife, Sylvia Dyson Sprinkle, of the home; his step-father, Willie Feimster of Taylorsville; a sister, Susan McLain and husband, Marty, of Hiddenite; a step-sister, Diana and husband, Shaun Cory, of Banner Elk; a step-brother, Chuck Feimster, of Waxhaw; two nephews, Darren and Kelly McLain of Hiddenite. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitiation is scheduled for today: Adams Funeral Home, 307 Main Avenue Drive, Taylorsville, NC. Tuesday, April 3 from 4:00-8:00pm/et. The funeral will be conducted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at Fairview Baptist Church by the Revs. Tony Dyson and Ruel Fox. Memorials may be given to Motor Racing Outreach, 5555 Concord Parkway S., Suite 405, Concord, N.C. 28027.(4-3-2007) - Jason Keller to Drive for Brewco at Nashville with Special Paint Scheme: Jason Keller will drive the #27 Cottonelle Aloe & E Ford Fusion in the Pepsi 300 this weekend. It will be the first of five Busch Series events for Keller in the #27 this season. Brewco Motorsports will display a custom paint scheme for the Pepsi 300. The #27 Cottonelle Aloe & E Ford will race at Nashville, Texas, and Talladega.(Brewco PR), see an image of the car on my Busch Series Paint Schemes Page.(4-3-2007)
- Blaney to Make 100th Busch Start: Dave Blaney will hit a major milestone in his career this weekend. He will post his 100th Busch Series start in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville.(Braun Racing PR)(4-3-2007)
- Benson testing at Richmond: UPDATE Johnny Benson is listed among the 51-drivers scheduled to participate in the Nextel Cup Series test on April 3-4, 2007 at Richmond Int’l Raceway. Benson will be testing the COT #46-Toyota owned by Wyler Racing. Which races Benson will run have yet to be determined, but hearing if they run well, it may be either one or both Richmond races.(4-3-2007)
UPDATE: “Johnny right now is strictly our test driver,” team president David Wyler said Tuesday afternoon. “He drove our COT down at Homestead this past year. [Team manager] Tony [Furr] is real comfortable with the feedback Johnny gave him at Homestead, so that’s why we’re bringing him here.” Wyler Racing currently fields a truck for Jack Sprague. Benson also drives for Toyota in trucks as part of the Bill Davis Racing stable. “There’s a lot of guys in the Toyota camp that would be a possibility [as a driver],” Wyler said. “We haven’t really focused on that. yet. Until we focus on our debut, then we’ll make that determination.” That debut date is still to be determined. “We haven’t determined when our [debut] is going to be,” Wyler said. “This is one of the steps to prepare us. We’ll know a lot more come tomorrow evening. Our main focus is running competitive. “We could go out there and run the next COT race, but I’m not going to do that unless we can be competitive. Until we get to that point, we’ll continue to test.” (Scene Daily)(4-3-2007)
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997