April 5, 2007
- Arrest Made in Murder of Team Red Bull member: A Taylorsville man was charged with the Saturday slaying of James Sprinkle, a NASCAR mechanic for Team Red Bull, according to the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office. Earl Wayne Flowers, 51, of Gravel Hill Court, was arrested at about 3 p.m. Thursday. He received no bond and was in the Alexander County Detention Center Thursday, charged with one count of murder.(Charlotte Observer)(4-5-2007), for more information on this story see my #83 Team Page.
- No driver yet for #45 when Petty does TV UPDATE: Kyle Petty comments about a driver during his TNT Sabbatical: “A couple of guys are really good choices, and guys are calling and wanting to know what we’re going to do and we really don’t know yet. That was kind of the way we planned it. Just like I said at Daytona, there might be guys out here in the garage area that are fired by the time we get there that would be great for two races or one race or five races. We’re really not any closer to that than we were.”(Clear!Blue/Dodge Motorsports PR)(4-1-2007)
UPDATE: John Andretti, Jon Wood and Ken Schrader have emerged as possible candidates to fill in for Kyle Petty in June and July when he takes a break from driving to be an analyst for TNT’s Nextel Cup broadcasts. Petty, whose previous television work has been widely praised, plans to work with the TNT crew for five races. Petty Enterprises Vice President Robbie Loomis said the team continues to evaluate choices. “A lot of questions come into play,” he said. “Do you go with a guy like Bill Elliott or a guy who’s been in Busch or truck? He [Jon Wood] is somebody we’ve talked about. Our relationship with the Wood guys has always been good, but the bottom line is we have to see some results on the track from these guys.”(SceneDaily.com)(4-5-2007)
- Dale Jr. happy TMS fixed dip: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that he’s excited that Texas Motor Speedway has repaired the dip that Earnhardt complained about in the week leading up to the Dickies 500 in November. Earnhardt won’t know how that area between Turns 1 and 2 feels until he practices next Friday in preparation for the Samsung 500. “I told them if they could fix that they’d have a better racetrack,” said Earnhardt, on a conference call after testing the Car of Tomorrow in Richmond. “[TMS president Eddie Gossage] was upset I used the media to tell him that, but sometimes you guys got the loudest microphone.”(Dallas Morning News)(4-5-2007)
- Next race for Chevy engine at Texas UPDATE six teams at Texas: Richard Childress Racing likely won’t attempt to run the new Chevrolet engine until next month at Texas. #33-Scott Wimmer failed to qualify using that motor at Atlanta last week. The team plans an endurance test of at least 500 miles on the engine at Kentucky Speedway before Texas.(Roanoke Times)(3-24-2007)
UPDATE: #25-Casey Mears will be one of at least six Chevrolets with the new Chevrolet R07 engine, which was in #33-Scott Wimmer’s Richard Childress Racing car that failed to qualify at Atlanta Motor Speedway last month. Mears and Hendrick Motorsports teammate #5-Kyle Busch, along with all three Joe Gibbs Racing [#20-Tony Stewart, #11-Denny Hamlin, #18-J.J. Yeley] cars and Wimmer (in a fourth RCR car) will have the new engine for the race weekend. #24-Jeff Gordon tested the engine during a tire test at Darlington last month, where Gordon ran 500 laps with no issues. The new engine is designed to use more modern parts and be more durable. It also has a different plumbing system. As far as horsepower, it is believed that the potential is for more.(SceneDaily.com)(4-5-2007)
- Ten Drivers Unite for American Heroes Memorial Day Tribute at LMS: The stars of NASCAR will, on Tuesday, May 8th, announce the American Heroes Memorial Day Tribute and unveil the participants and paint schemes on in the spectacular salute set for Memorial Day weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The program will raise funds for four major military support organizations and the soldiers and their families of America’s Armed Forces. Sprint Nextel and Motorsports Authentics will support the program with a fundraising effort designed to raise more than $1 million for U.S. troops and their families.(ClearBlue PR), have images of some of the schemes, including: #48-Johnson/USO/Power of Pride; #11-Hamlin/U.S. Marine Corp; #21-Wood/Air Force; #4-Burton/Air Force 60th Anniversary; #01-Martin/US Army American Heroes; #24-Gordon/Department of Defense; #25-Mears/National Guard [no image]; plus #16 Coast Guard in the Busch Series race.(Clear!Blue PR)(4-5-2007)
- Earnhardt Elledge to ‘get back to work’ soon: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. says his sister and business manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, continues to recuperate from recent surgery and should be back to form soon. Earnhardt Jr. has put his contract negotiations on hold until his sister is once more well enough to participate in the process. She underwent surgery March 23. “She’s doing a whole lot better,” he said Tuesday during testing at Richmond International Raceway. “She’s going to be sore and she can’t lift anything for several weeks but she’s doing really, really good. She’s out of the woods, so to speak, and we’re all really, really happy about that. She’ll start carrying out here typical duties and she’s starting to phase back in to what’s been going on over the last six to eight months and get back to work.”(SceneDaily.com)(4-5-2007)
- Team owner wants IRL to be a support event to-NASCAR: One of the IRL’s longtime team owners is pushing the idea of IRL-NASCAR Nextel Cup combined events. John Barnes, an owner and the general manager of Panther Racing, thinks that even if the IRL event was positioned as a support race, Indy-style racing would benefit. “We would make it where we would race on Saturday to replace a Busch or ARCA race, and they would race on Sunday,” he said. “I have no problem being second fiddle to them, I just want to get in front of their fans and show them what real racing is all about.” Terry Angstadt, the IRL’s new president of its commercial division, said the IRL would not allow itself to be presented as a support race.(Tampa Tribune)(4-5-2007)
- Pettys, Rudd Favor NASCAR Franchising: As a car owner whose teams are struggling to keep up with multicar megateams, seven-time champion Richard Petty has a solution to guarantee those who built NASCAR stick around: franchising. “I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to see it or not, but it will probably happen someday,” said the man still widely referred to as ‘The King.’ “I think the only thing in my mind that keeps NASCAR from becoming a completely legitimate, major league with golfing or football or baseball or whatever is being franchised.” He’s not alone. Son Kyle, who runs the two-car Petty Enterprises entry in the Nextel Cup series and drives one of the cars, and veteran Ricky Rudd said it’s time NASCAR give back to its teams. NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations, Steve O’Donnell, said the governing body has considered franchising and discussed it with team owners. “The challenge is ‘what does a franchise mean?’ in our sport and how can it benefit everyone?” O’Donnell said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.(see the full article at the Associated Press site)(4-5-2007)
- Crocker back in a race car: After a foray into the Craftsman Truck Series, Erin Crocker, 26, is starting back at square one with a limited ARCA schedule. “Part of me is upset because I don’t have a big schedule, but at least I’m getting to race,” she said. “I’ve had the big hype. What I need now are positive results.” Team manager Keith Barnwell has been Crocker’s spotter for the past two seasons. Barnwell, who worked with NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin years ago, sees potential in Crocker. “She’s very personable and down-to-earth and that’s a good start,” Barnwell said. “Everybody on the team likes her and wants to do all we can to help her succeed. She’s intelligent, she knows the sport and she’s not afraid to go fast.” Moving too fast? “She’s a great qualifier,” Barnwell said, noting Crocker’s four ARCA poles, “but it’s taken her time to get used to running around other cars in close quarters. Last year (in the truck series) was a whole new world for her. There’s no margin for error. You could see her frustration, but she bounces back.” Her best ARCA finishes are a pair of seconds at Kentucky Speedway and at Kansas Speedway. That ties her with Shawna Robinson as the highest-finishing woman driver in the series’ history. Crocker admitted “maybe I was pushed too fast,” and said team owner Ray Evernham has been supportive and encouraging. “He’s understanding and he believes I can do it,” she said. “It’s been more difficult than I thought it would be, but I’m determined to succeed in this sport.”(Tennesean) and Crocker has a four-race sponsor in ARCA with Mac Tools.(Evernham Motorsports PR)(4-5-2007)
- It’s NASCAR 101 for Virginia State students: Students from Virginia State University got a taste Tuesday of what goes on behind the scenes of NASCAR. The tour was part of a new class at VSU called the Business and Marketing of NASCAR. Taught by Keith Green, director of public relations for RIR, the intent is to attract minorities to the sport. The class has “opened up some eyes to how big the sport is and how powerful it is, and also about the possibilities of inviting more minorities into the sport,” Green said. They got to interview Jimmie Johnson, trudge through Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hauler and wander the garage area of Richmond International Raceway as racing superstars and their crews tested the cars. Students spent a few minutes watching the cars speed around the track during testing, which was to run through Wednesday. They sat in on news conferences with drivers Ward Burton, Ricky Rudd and Johnson, and had a minute to ask Johnson questions. They talked to NASCAR official Kenneth Scott, an African-American. He led them though what’s considered sacred ground to millions of fans _ the hauler that transports Earnhardt Jr.’s cars _ and spoke about his job and how he got there. He encouraged the students to pursue a NASCAR job.(more at the Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-5-2007)
- Ultimate NASCAR Road Trip Guide released: The new Ultimate NASCAR Road Trip Guide from Rand McNally blends 160 pages of reliable Rand McNally maps with 200 pages of in-depth travel information and visitor tips for each of the 31 NASCAR-sanctioned tracks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Available now at RandMcNally.com and this spring at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Wal-Mart stores and Amazon.com, the 8.5 x 11-inch Ultimate NASCAR Road Trip Guide has a suggested retail price of $14.95. To enhance fans’ NASCAR experience, the guide spotlights lesser-known racetrack amenities, speedway history, track tour information, local racing schools and opportunities to meet drivers. It also highlights a scenic “Don’t Miss Drive” nearby each racetrack. Part of the NASCAR Library Collection the Ultimate NASCAR Road Trip Guide includes: a full calendar of NASCAR races, 10 great moments in NASCAR history, a raceway flags key, driving times and distances between North American cities and speedways, border crossing information and cell phone emergency numbers. For more information, visit www.randmcnally.com.(4-5-2007)
- Eury Jr.’s leadership earns him Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: Tony Eury Jr., crew chief for the #8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. team, demonstrated solid leadership, while staying calm and in complete control throughout the running of the Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. With a less than impressive start to the season, the #8 Budweiser Chevy crew was looking for another solid performance to backup their first top-10 in Bristol last week. Eury Jr. provided the leadership and direction the team needed to post a top-five finish and keep his driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., at the front of the pack, leading more laps throughout the race than any other driver. For his precise direction and rock solid performance, Eury Jr. was awarded the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. A panel of voters, including a member of the local media, Robbie Reiser, Kenny Francis and a Wypall Wipers representative, judged Eury Jr.’s efforts and leadership at Martinsville, as worthy of crew chief of the race honors. As the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race, Eury Jr. received $1,000. Earning his first crew chief of the race award puts Eury Jr. level with Alan Gustafson, Chip Bolin, Chad Knaus, Ryan Pemberton and Donnie Wingo, also each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000 and be crowned Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. For more information on Wypall Wipers or the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge, visit www.Wypall.com.(Wypall PR)(4-5-2007)
- Federated Auto Parts Joins Brewco: Federated Auto Parts Distributors has announced a multi-faceted sponsorship agreement with Brewco Motorsports for the 2007 Busch Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series seasons. Federated Auto Parts Distributors will team with Brewco to serve as the following: Primary Sponsor of Brewco’s #27 Ford for the Federated Auto Parts 300 Busch race at Nashville on June 9, 2007 with Bobby East driving; Associate Sponsor on the #27 NBS Ford, with Ward Burton and Jason Keller behind the wheel, for the remaining Busch Series races in 2007; Associate Sponsor on Brewco’s #47 SI Performance Ford during the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season, with Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Phillip McGilton behind the wheel.(Brewco PR)(4-5-2007)
- Crocker gets four race sponsor for ARCA Series: Evernham Motorsports has announced that Mac Tools will be the primary sponsor of the #98 Mac Tools/Mac Card Dodge Charger driven by Erin Crocker in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for four races. The four race primary sponsorship will begin with the April 27th race at Kansas Speedway and continue at Kentucky Speedway on May 12th, Pocono Raceway on June 9th and Michigan International Speedway on June 15th.(Evernham Motorsports PR)(4-5-2007)
- Benson testing at Richmond: UPDATE 3: Day Two Test: 2nd fastest in am 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)
UPDATE 2: Benson was 17th fastest in Day 1 testing at Richmond with a speed of 120.719.(4-4-2007)
UPDATE 3: On the final day of testing at Richmond, Johnny Benson ran the second fastest speed in the am session at 123.136 in the #46A-Wyler Racing Toyota. PM session – 42nd fastest with a speed of 119.745.(4-5-2007)
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