April 6, 2005
- Plans for NEXTEL All-Star Challenge to be announced Today UPDATE: Nextel, NASCAR, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Local Organizing Committee will collectively announce plans for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Wednesday, April 6th, where the best of NASCAR will battle it out on May 21. During the press conference, several new enhancements to the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge week of activities will be announced.(LMS)(4-6-2005)
UPDATE: Nextel Communications, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, NASCAR and the North Carolina Local Organizing Committee (LOC) today announced the events taking place during the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, the week of May 21 in Charlotte, N.C. The NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge, the first event of its kind to be officially sanctioned by NASCAR, the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge Trophy Tour and more ways for fans to vote in the Nextel All-Star Challenge Sweepstakes have all been added to the 2005 agenda in a collaborative effort by these parties to create a one-of-a-kind all-star experience. The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge is the marquee event of the week and is a race between drivers who have won a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points race in the 2004 or 2005 seasons, as well as previous event champions who remain active in the series. The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge activities will include:
NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge Presented by Motorola The first NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge presented by Motorola will take place at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 19, at the Charlotte Coliseum. The only event of its kind officially sanctioned by NASCAR, this inaugural contest will pit the nation’s favorite over-the-wall athletes against each other in seven head-to-head skills competitions designed to showcase the talents of NASCAR’s top crew members and identify the top pit crew specialists and overall pit crew. Components of the competition include individual and team contests for tire men, gas men and jack men, and the winners will earn more than $200,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes. Tickets for the event are available for $10 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster, Lowe’s Motor Speedway ticket office, at each stop of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge Trophy Tour or by calling 1-800-455-FANS. At the event, charitable contributions can be made to NASCAR Day, a celebration of NASCAR spirit that benefits Victory Junction Gang Camp, Speediatrics and Speedway Children’s Charities.
The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge field consists of drivers who have won a points race in 2004 or 2005, and former NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge Champions who remain active. Fans will have five ways to vote in one driver among the top 50 in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver points standings who is not already in the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
Voting locations include: • Trackside at The Nextel Experience
• Participating Nextel retail locations
• The Nextel Racing Experience Events • Online at www.Nextel.com/allstar
• Through their Nextel phones by texting “STAR” to 7827
For more information about the sweepstakes, see the official rules at www.Nextel.com/allstar.(LMS)
Purse and format announced, see my 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge for the minor changes and who is eligible.(4-6-2005)
- Crown Royal Regular Season Debut at Martinsville: Crown Royal will make its regular season debut as a primary sponsor of Kurt Busch’s #97 Ford this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. This will be the first of five races that the #97 will exhibit the Crown Royal colors. Previously, Busch drove the Crown Royal car to a sixth place finish in the non-points Shootout race during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. This week Kurt Busch participated in a broadcast television Public Service Announcement (PSA) on responsible drinking. The PSA is part of Crown Royal’s commitment to promote responsible drinking with millions of NASCAR’s adult fans through its “Be a Champion. Drink Responsibly.” campaign. The PSA is scheduled to air throughout the summer and fall months. Crown Royal has unveiled a national television commercial starring the #97 Ford Taurus. Titled “Pace Car,” the execution features the #97 racecar leading a fleet of automobiles in pace car formation through winding rural, suburban and city streets, eventually ending at a racetrack. The ad is punctuated with a voice over declaring, “Pacing is everything, especially when drinking,” and closes with the brand’s social responsibility tagline, “Be a Champion. Drink Responsibly.” This marked the very first spirits ad since NASCAR announced it was allowing spirits companies to sponsor race teams.(Alan Taylor Communications), see image of the car on my #97 Team Schemes page.(4-6-2005)
- Testing at Darlington: The following drivers are currently scheduled to test at Darlington Raceway. Please remember that the testing schedule is tentative and subject to change.
#77-Travis Kvapil on Wednesday, April 6th
and on Tuesday, April 26th #9-Kasey Kahne, #25-Brian Vickers, #38-Elliott Sadler, #40-Sterling Marlin and #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports.(Darlington Raceway)(4-6-2005)
- Kvapil tests at the Rock: #77-Travis Kvapil spent Tuesday, April 5th testing at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, NC.(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-6-2005)
- Motorsports Day and testing at Richmond: Join Richmond International Raceway at the Capitol to celebrate Motorsports Day at the Capitol. Governor Mark R. Warner and Richmond International Raceway president, Doug Fritz, will speak on behalf of Virginians Racing for The Hall of Fame. Then folks can go out to the track as NASCAR Busch Series teams make the first laps of 2005 around Richmond International Raceway. The public is invited to watch testing from the grandstands. Admission is free. #44-Justin Labonte, #10-Michel Jourdain, #22-Kenny Wallace and #32-Shane Hmiel will test their Busch Series cars.(Richmond International Raceway)(4-6-2005)
- Congress not investigating NASCAR about drugs…yet: The House Committee on Government Reform, which is investigating performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, sent letters Tuesday to seven sports organizations requesting information on their testing policies. One sport won’t be getting a letter right away: NASCAR. Robert White, spokesman for committee chairman Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., said the committee has not decided whether to ask to review NASCAR’s drug testing policy. “We’re looking to see whether it makes sense for us to take a closer look at them,” White said. “At this point, we don’t know if it’s something we want to do.” The committee sent a letter to the NFL last week requesting its drug testing policy after a report that three Carolina Panthers got steroids from a South Carolina doctor. Tuesday, the committee sent letters to the NBA, NHL, Major League Soccer, U.S. Soccer Federation, U.S. Tennis Association, USA Track and Field and USA Cycling.(News and Record)(4-6-2005)
- Rusty’s First win…19 years ago..today: April 6 marks the anniversary of #2-Rusty Wallace’s first career win – coming on 4/6/1986 at Bristol – started 6th, led 3 times for 174 laps and cruised to victory in his 72nd career start.(Tom Roberts PR)(4-6-2005)
- Bobby Labonte to run Alabama Grand Am race: #18-Bobby Labonte has added the July 29-31 [an off Cup weekend – the last one of the season] Grand American Rolex Series race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., to his 2005 Grand American Rolex Series race schedule. Barring unforeseen circumstances it will be Labonte’s third race start — two in a span of just one month — of the four now-scheduled 2005 races in the #44 Pontiac-powered Doran JE4 Daytona Prototype. He will also have raced the car the previous month in the Paul Revere 250 at Daytona International Speedway with brother Terry Labonte during the Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race weekend. An Aug. 12 Rolex Series race, part of NASCAR’s Aug. 14 Sirius at the Glen weekend, also is on the brotherly duo’s Rolex Series’ schedule. Terry Labonte, with whom Bobby will pair for the other two remaining scheduled Rolex Series races, is expected to be with son Justin Labonte for a Busch Series race scheduled for the same weekend. Also, word has it that Bobby Labonte will take a demonstration spin in the #44 Pontiac-Doran in pre-race ceremonies at the May 1 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Motor Speedway. However, his tight, pre-race schedule must first be massaged to allow him to undertake it.(Motorsport.com)(4-6-2005)
- Bruton looks to buy the NHRA UPDATE: Bruton Smith, president and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, said last week he wants to acquire the National Hot Rod Association, a California-based drag race sanctioning organization. The association presents 23 national drag racing events, including the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. It also conducts a racing series for import cars and 47 regional races, and it sanctions more than 100 drag strips across the country. “This is something I’m very interested in,” Smith said. “If the powers that be decide we can buy it, we want to buy it. I’ve gotten a lot of phone calls from racers who said they would appreciate it if we did that, and I think it fits with what we do.” When asked about a sale, NHRA’s vice president of public relations and communications, Jerry Archambeault, read a brief statement in which he denied the association was talking to Smith. But Smith said he recently talked about a deal with Wally Parks, the organization’s founder and a member of its board of directors. Smith said he also discussed the possibility with association President Tom Compton last year. In addition to Bristol Dragway, Speedway Motorsports owns NHRA drag strips in Las Vegas and Sonoma, Calif. NHRA owns and operates drag strips in Gainesville, Fla.; Pomona, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis and Atlanta. Any purchase would include the tracks, all racing series, sanctioning agreements and a television agreement with ESPN.(Bristol Herald Courier)(4-3-2005)
UPDATE: A source close to the scene, who preferred to remain anonymous, gave Racing Milestones a little background: “Smith won’t be building any more tracks for NASCAR competition. If any are built, it will be ISC doing it. So that leaves SMI with no growth opportunity. That means there’s nothing to spike the stock, not a good position if you want to grow.” Racing Milestones source went on. “So what’s the next best option? NHRA. Why? Because Smith not only would get NHRA, but their tracks, too. I don’t see a sale of NHRA, but the sanctioning body might unload a couple of tracks in a hurry.” How many millions will he have to part with for NHRA? Who knows? A little history. When former racer and track owner Billy Meyer bought IHRA from Larry Carrier back in 1988, all he got was contracts for the various races and Drag Review. There were no tracks included in the sale. Then Meyer became interested in obtaining NHRA or merging the two sanctioning bodies. So maybe if Smith wants to learn the obstacles he faces in obtaining a non-profit sanctioning body such as NHRA and turning it into a for-profit deal, he might contact Meyer. And what does NHRA have to say about all this? It’s probably best explained in a release by Jerry Archambeault, the sanctioning body’s vice president of communications and public relations, which is simply: “NHRA is not in discussions with Bruton Smith regarding the purchase of NHRA.”(Racing Milestones)(4-6-2005)
- New NBC Hire: Alana Russo, previously Manager of Communications at MSNBC, was today named Manager, Communications, NBC Sports. The announcement was made by Mike McCarley, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics. Russo will develop and execute strategic communications plans for NBC Sports and promote NBC’s sports broadcast partnerships. She will be the primary media contact for horse racing and NASCAR, among other NBC Sports properties. Russo joins NBC Sports from MSNBC, where she oversaw national publicity efforts for “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” and events and specials, including MSNBC’s coverage of the 2004 Presidential Election and “JFK: The Day That Changed America.” Russo joined MSNBC as a publicist in 2002. Previously, she was a communications assistant at FOX Sports.(NBC)(4-6-2005)
- Hmiel and others penalized for actions at Bristol: NASCAR announced Wednesday that Shane Hmiel, driver of the #32 WinFuel Chevrolet, has been penalized and fined after a rule violation Monday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Additionally, five other NASCAR Busch Series teams were penalized following rule infractions at Bristol.
Hmiel was penalized 25 driver points and fined $10,000 for an inappropriate gesture, violating Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing). Hmiel has also been placed on probation until August 31, 2005. The points deduction will not alter Hmiel’s ninth-place ranking in the standings. In addition, Hmiel’s car owner, Todd Braun, was penalized 25 owner points.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #20 Chevrolet, was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until August 31, 2005 for hitting another competitor’s car after the completion of the race, a violation of 12-4-A.
Additionally, four crew chiefs received fines after being found in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules).
Brian Pattie, crew chief of the #41 Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson, was fined $2,000 for unapproved lug nuts on all four (4) wheels. Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the #64 Dodge driven by Jeremy Mayfield, was fined $500 for unapproved lug nuts on one (1) wheel. Also, Todd Gordon, crew chief for the #10 Ford driven by Michel Jourdain Jr. and James Ward, crew chief of the #22 Ford of Kenny Wallace, were each fined $500 due to not having a rear bumper reinforcement bar.(NASCAR PR)
NOTE: a few readers and myself wonder……what happened to the 7-second delay for the Fox/FX broadcast of the race? While I don’t condone Hmiel’s action, couldn’t they had cut away since they had the delay option?
ANSWER: Fox does’t use any delay at all and has no plans to do so…..(4-6-2005)
- Geoffrey Bodine picks up full-time gig with #72: NASCAR Veteran driver, Geoffrey Bodine, will be driving the #72 MacDonald Motorsports Chevy for the remainder of the 2005 Busch Series season. Jim Daly, who worked with Bodine at Bristil, was recently hired their new crew chief. The team is still looking for sponsorship help.(MacDonald Motorsports)(4-6-2005)
- Motorsports Day and testing at Richmond: Join Richmond International Raceway at the Capitol to celebrate Motorsports Day at the Capitol. Governor Mark R. Warner and Richmond International Raceway president, Doug Fritz, will speak on behalf of Virginians Racing for The Hall of Fame. Then folks can go out to the track as NASCAR Busch Series teams make the first laps of 2005 around Richmond International Raceway. The public is invited to watch testing from the grandstands. Admission is free. #44-Justin Labonte, #10-Michel Jourdain, #22-Kenny Wallace and #32-Shane Hmiel will test their Busch Series cars.(Richmond International Raceway)(4-6-2005)
- Grand Marshal Named for Truck Race: Martinsville Speedway says actor Anthony Edwards, best known for his roles as Dr. Mark Greene on “ER” and Goose Bradshaw in “Top Gun,” will be the honorary grand marshal for Saturday’s Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race. Edwards will appear in his role as ambassador for the Cure Autism Now Foundation. The track says Clean Line Motorsports’ entry for Brandon Whitt will carry a Cure Autism Now paint scheme in the race.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-6-2005)
- Driver set to debut: Casey Kingsland, a 20-year-old Las Vegas native, will take his third shot at making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway. Each of the past two seasons, Kingsland attempted the Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In 2003, he just missed making the field despite receiving only limited practice time. Last year, Kingsland was unable to make a qualifying run because of mechanical problems. This time, Kingsland virtually is guaranteed to make the starting field for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway because the truck he will be driving is 30th in owner points and is guaranteed a spot in the 36-truck field [actually stil using 2005 owners points, the truck is listed with Alex Meshkin as the owner, even thou he is out of the sport]. “We’ve been in that situation a couple of times but this time they say (we’re guaranteed to start the race),” Kingsland said Monday. “We haven’t done too much preparation — we haven’t practiced any.”
Kingsland will drive the #24 Speed Zone Energy Drink Dodge Ram, which is being fielded by TommyRaz Motorsports in partnership with Mighty Motorsports. Wayne Edwards piloted the truck in the first three races of the season and finished ninth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. “I went to the Atlanta race and I watched them race and I watched how they worked together, so I’ve kind of got a head start there,” Kingsland said. “I won’t be meeting them for the first time when I get to Martinsville. I’ve been real worried about having no practice … but they told me if I pass one guy, they’ll be happy so I can’t ask too much more than that. They just told me to go out there and get some exposure and some seat time.” Tom Ramirez, who formed TommyRaz Motorsports with Kingsland’s father, Roger, said he would give Kingsland time in the truck to develop as a driver. Roger Kingsland said the plan is for Casey to compete in the truck races at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on April 30 and Mansfield Motorsports Speedway in Ohio on May 15 following this weekend’s race. Kingsland also will attempt to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut April 22 at Phoenix International Raceway [no team mentioned](Las Vegas Sun)(4-6-2005)
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