April 7, 2006
- Stewart wins IROC Race at Texas: #20-Tony Stewart won the Crown Royal IROC Race at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, with Ryan Newman finishing 2nd, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth. Stewart climed the flag stand after his first ever win in any series at Texas Motor Speedway. It is Stewart’s third career IROC win. More info later. Kenseth’s points lead is now 9 over Stewart [43-34], then Newman, Truex Jr. and Kimmel. See more and results on my IROC page.(4-7-2006)
- Smaller fuel cells at LMS and road courses? UPDATE 2: hearing that NASCAR is looking at putting the smaller fuel cells in the cars at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to force cars to pit somewhere between 35-40 laps, due to the tire wear with the new surface. NASCAR may also due this in the future at all road races to break up the pit strategies and could also use the smaller fuel cells when they return to Atlanta in the Fall.(4-1-2006)
UPDATE: Smaller fuel tanks might be a way to deal with excessive tire wear at tracks like Atlanta Motor Speedway and the newly paved Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The idea is that if drivers ran out of fuel after 30 laps or so, they’d make pit stops before tires could wear to a dangerous point. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said it’s too soon to tell whether the smaller tanks, which are used at Daytona and Talladega to add pit stops and therefore break up big packs of cars, will be used elsewhere. “Our primary focus in preparing for the upcoming races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May is testing the tires and getting them right,” he said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(4-2-2006)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR will require cars to use a smaller fuel cell at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May, NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton said April 7. The move is designed to make teams pit more frequently and give them a chance to check tire wear on the newly repaved surface on the 1.5-mile track outside Charlotte. Pemberton said the tire Goodyear has decided to use “is a great tire,” but NASCAR wanted to enter the first weekend on the new surface cautiously. The fuel cell will be about 13 gallons, compared to the usual 22-gallon cell. Teams will be able to go about 35-40 laps on fuel instead of 60-70 with the bigger cell. Nextel Cup teams will test at the track May 1-3, and Busch Series teams will test there May 8-10.(SceneDaily.com)(4-7-2006) - Little League Baseball scheme for #16 IMAGE: This weekend the #16 National Guard Ford of Greg Biffle will run a special Subway/Little League Baseball paint scheme. Subway is a proud sponsor of Little League Baseball.(Roush Racing)(4-5-2006)
IMAGE: see an image of the scheme on my #16 Team Schemes page.(4-7-2006) - Kahne wins pole at Texas: #9-Kasey Kahne won the Budweiser Pole for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 2nd lap of 2006 and 8th of his career. He won the pole and race at Atlanta a few weeks ago. Kahne ran a lap of 190.315mph, the only driver over 190. Starting 2nd is #18-J.J. Yeley, then #6-Mark Martin, #66-David Green and #16-Greg Biffle. The fastest of the non-top 35 teams/driver is #43-Bobby Labonte, who will start 10th. Missing the race were: #49-Sherman, #92-Blount, #78-Wallace, #34-Chaffin and #95-Barrett. #74-Derrike Cope make his first start of 2006. See the qualifying results below.
For qualifying speed, starting lineup, pole progression and more, see my Texas Starting Grid/Qualifying Page.(4-7-2006) - Rookie News and Notes – Post-Martinsville/Pre-Texas: Reed Sorenson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the April 2 DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Sorenson finished 12th and took top Raybestos Rookie honors for the second time this season and twice in the last three races. J.J. Yeley led the Martinsville race once for one lap. He is first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the spring race at Martinsville since Kasey Kahne in 2004. Yeley is the only first-year driver to lead a lap in two short-track races this season. Clint Bowyer holds a five-point advantage over Yeley (60-55) in the Raybestos Rookie standings. Only once in 10 races at Texas has a Raybestos Rookie won the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored his first career NEXTEL Cup Series win by 5.920 seconds over Jeff Burton in 2000. Earnhardt Jr. led six times for 106 laps, more than any other driver. Two or more Raybestos Rookies have led the same Texas race just once: (Earnhardt Jr. and Scott Pruett in 2000). The best start by a Raybestos Rookie at Texas is third by Kahne in 2004.(Raybestos PR), see more and standings on my Rookies Page.(4-7-2006)
- Goodyear Tire Notes: This is the first time Goodyear has brought this right-side tire code (D-4014) to the track, and Texas is the only track at which it is scheduled to be run in 2006 . . . this left-side code (D-4008) was run previously at California and will be run again at Dover, Michigan and Chicagoland . . . Nextel Cup and Busch Series teams will run the same tire set-up this weekend . . . as on all ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . the inflation in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. Estimated Pit Window: Every 60-65 laps, based on fuel mileage.(Goodyear PR), see the full facts report on my Texas Race Info/Rundown Page. (4-7-2006)
- Food Lion AutoFair at LMS: The Food Lion AutoFair runs Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Food Lion Pavilion features several unusual vehicles with land, sea, and air capabilities, including The Flying Red Baron from “Monster Garage,” Steve Green’s Tornado Attacker and an amphicar. Other attractions include unique cars from the Lane Motor Museum, the “Globe of Death” motorcycle stunt show, a tribute to the Turbocharger, collector car auction conducted by Tom Mack Classics on Friday and Saturday and a concert by The Marshall Tucker Band on Sunday.
Garry Hill Automotive Fine Art, Inc. will be exhibiting at the Food Lion Auto Fair at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Busch Garage April 6th-9th. The show will feature many driver autographed art prints documenting the greatest races and greatest driver moments with a focus on the history of stock car racing. For a complete overview of the Food Lion AutoFair click here.(4-7-2006) - Texas Qualifying Notes:
* Kasey Kahne won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Samsung/RadioShack 500, lapping Texas Motor Speedway in 28.374 seconds at 190.315 mph. Bill Elliott holds the track-qualifying record of 27.803 seconds, 194.224 mph, set in April 2002.
* This is Kahne’s eighth career Bud Pole in 79 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
* This is his second Bud Pole and fifth top-10 start in 2006.
* This is Kahne’s first Bud Pole and third top-10 start, all top-threes – in four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. He became the eighth different Bud Pole winner at Texas.
* J.J. Yeley posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 28.515 seconds, 189.374 mph and will join Kahne on the front row for the Samsung/RadioShack 500. Yeley posted his career-best start in his 13th race. It is his fourth career top-10 start and his third in 2006.
* This is the third Bud Pole for Dodge in 2006. Chevrolet has two Bud Poles and Ford has one. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol.
* Mark Martin (third) posted his fourth top-10 starts in 2006 and his eighth in 11 races at Texas. This is his best starting position since he started second at California in September 2005.
* Jeff Green (fourth) posted his first start better than 14th this season and also his first better than 14th in six races at Texas. It is his best since he started third at Richmond in May 2004.
* Greg Biffle (fifth) posted his sixth top-10 start of the 2006 season, more than any other driver. It is his fourth top-10 start in five races at Texas.
* Ryan Newman (14th) has gone nine races without a Bud Pole, just the fourth time in his career that he has gone more than eight races without a Bud Pole.
* Brothers Bobby (10th) and Terry Labonte (30th), both had the possibility of using the past champion provisional but made the question moot when both made the race on time.
* Derrike Cope (38th) qualified for his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race since Martinsville in October 2005, and just his second since 2004. He will be the 54th driver to compete in at least one race this season.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(4-7-2006) - Ramblings – Texas: Kasey Kahne went out late today and snatched the Bud Pole away from J. J. Yeley for Sunday’s Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Kasey blistered a lap of 28.374 (190.315 mph) to become our first two-timer of the season (pole-wise) and take down his 8th career NEXTEL Cup top-spot.
J. J. Yeley (2nd) grabbed his career-best starting spot today. His previous best was 4th at California this past February.
Mark Martin (3rd) has his best starting spot since he had the outside pole at California last September.
Jeff Green (4th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 3rd at Richmond in May of 2004!
Matt Kenseth (6th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 3rd when we were here last November.
Martin Truex Jr (9th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 8th at Atlanta last October.
Clint Bowyer(12th) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. His previous best was 16th at Atlanta last month.
Reed Sorenson (13th) also has his career-best starting spot for Sunday. His previous best starts were 15th at Atlanta last month and at Homestead last November.
Mike Garvey (23rd) has his career-best starting spot this weekend as well. His previous best was 32nd at Pocono last July.
Terry Labonte (30th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 20th at Michigan last August.
Welcome Back Derrike Cope (38th). This is Derrike’s first start since Martinsville last October…..the only Cup race he qualified for last year.
STREAKIN…..Greg Biffle has 6 Top-10 starts in a row.
Kurt Busch has 6 Top-10 starts in a row.
Kasey Kahne has 4 Top-5 starts in the last 5 races.
In 10 races at Bruton’s “Palace on the Prairie” we’ve had no repeat winners, but you can look for that to end on Sunday. With the Roush Fords running so good and with 7 of the previous wins here belonging to the Blue Oval guys, they’ve gotta be considered your favorite going in.(Stock Car Fans)(4-7-2006) - Nemechek to a backup car: On the first lap of today’s practice session at Texas Motor Speedway, Joe Nemechek spun and hit the concrete wall, forcing the #01 U.S. Army team to go with a backup Chevrolet for the rest of the weekend, including today’s qualifying session. Nemechek did manage to make a few practice laps in the backup car and was 29th fastest out of the 48 cars entered for Sunday’s Samsung/RadioShack 500. After the practice session, the #01 team put the engine from the primary car into the backup car. “Once we get the primary engine in the backup (car), we should be fast,” said Nemechek, who has qualified in the top 10 at the last four Texas races. “I am not really sure why the (primary) car did what it did. I was down low and the car was sticking, and then all of a sudden it was headed to the wall.”(MB2 Motorsports PR)(4-7-2006)
- Martinsville final TV Ratings up 21%: Fox’s broadcast of last Sunday’s DirectTV 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race from Martinsville Speedway earned a final 6.2 Nielsen Media Research rating and a 15 share, Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports. The rating is 21.6% higher than the 5.1 the race drew last year, when it was aired on the same weekend as the Masters, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments.(SceneDaily.com)(4-7-2006)
- Texas Terry back in the #44: Driving a #44 Chevy with a familiar Kellogg’s Corn Flakes paint scheme, Terry Labonte will make his 2006 Hendrick Motorsports debut Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. The event will mark the first of 10 NEXTEL Cup races the two-time champion will run for Hendrick in his final season of competition.(Hendrick Motorsports)(4-7-2006)
- Red Bull hires Elton Sawyer: Elton Sawyer, who was working with Evernham Motorsports in its driver development program, has been hired by Red Bull Racing as its Director of Competition, a team spokesman confirmed Thursday. Sawyer is third all-time in Busch Series starts with 392. He finished fifth in points three times in the series. He also had 29 Cup starts. Red Bull Racing will field two teams as part of Toyota’s Nextel Cup effort next season. The team is owned by the energy drink company.(SceneDaily.com)(4-7-2006)
- McLean Retiring as Executive Director of NCMA and NCMF: In a joint announcement the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) and the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation (NCMF) today announced that Ed McLean, their founding executive director, is retiring from management of the organizations and will resume management of his McLean Marketing Group. McLean shepherded the organizations through their first four years of growth and directed their efforts to bring the business of motorsports in the North Carolina to the attention of the citizens of the state, the government and the business community. “Ed has contributed greatly to the entire North Carolina motorsports community during his tenure as director,” said NCMA chairman Richard Petty. McLean will be available to both the NCMA and NCMF to assist in the transition to a new executive director for the organizations. Ed has been awarded a lifetime membership in the NCMA through his McLean Marketing Group and will continue to be a part of the NCMA.(NCMA PR)(4-7-2006)
- Dodson Grant at over $40k: Friends and colleagues of Barry Dodson, a Mooresville resident and a familiar figure in NASCAR, have given more than $40,000 to establish athletic scholarships at Wake Forest University in honor of his children, Trey and Tia, who were killed in 1994. “Losing a son and daughter is like a free fall; you never get settled back,” Dodson said. “I donít think you ever learn to deal with it. But this has made it easier when I thought nothing ever would. It has put life back into the entire family.” Trey, Tia and one of their high school friends were killed in a car accident near Darlington, S.C., where they lived with their mother, Jan. Trey was 17 and Tia was 16. Dodson has supported Wake Forest’s athletic program for years and attended many events with his children. For more info, see my Racing Charities page.(4-7-2006)
- #12 to run blue and purple scheme? got images from Penske Racing in Mooresville, NC from a reader in which the nose and smaller parts of the #12 Alltel Dodge of Ryan Newman is painted purple. See my #12 Team Schemes page.(4-6-2006)
UPDATE: hearing this scheme could run at Phoenix on April 22.(4-7-2006) - IROC at Texas: The Crown Royal International Race of Champions team hit the pavement at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday in preparation for round-two of the 30th Anniversary season of Crown Royal IROC racing. For the third-consecutive year “The Great American Speedway” will host the second race of the Crown Royal IROC season, which will take place on Friday, April 7 at 7:00pm/et, broadcast live on SPEED Channel and PRN Radio. Crown Royal IROC test drivers, Dave Marcis, David Donohue, Jim and Jay Sauter recently tested the cars, collecting initial test data on all of the Crown Royal IROC race cars. IROC President, Jay Signore said, “We’re off to a good start here at Texas Motor Speedway. We’re all getting re-acclimated to the racetrack and to the Goodyear Eagle Radial race tires, which is a different compound for us this year. The tires seem to have a lot of grip, especially with the track being as green as it is and out of the box the feedback on the race cars is all good. “ David Donohue is new to the IROC test team this year, and the IROC experience at Texas Motor Speedway is completely new to him. “This is my first time in the IROC cars at Texas Motor Speedway and I didn’t have any problem getting comfortable, so I would have to say it should be a comfortable situation for the drivers who don’t do this everyday.” Although new to the test team, Donohue is not new to IROC as his father, the late Mark Donohue was an integral part of the development team that created the series and also the inaugural IROC champion in 1974. For race ticket information, call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket hotline at (817) 215-8500 or log on to texasmotorspeedway.com.(IROCRacing.com and see my IROC page for more)(4-7-2006)
- Matt Kenseth Educates, Paints with Dallas Area Kids: #17-Matt Kenseth took time out of his work schedule on Thursday morning at Texas Motor Speedway to visit with teenagers from Dallas / Ft. Worth area middle schools and after-school programs to teach them about teamwork, achievement, and the importance of making a difference in their community. The national educational initiative called ‘Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Youth Program’ is a partnership between Ameriquest Mortgage Company, non-profit organization Portraits of Hope and Roush Racing that bring together youth from schools, hospitals and after-school programs to explore personal goals and societal issues through education and art. Portraits of Hope is an organization that develops creative projects merging the healing arts with inspirational public art. Middle schoolers from Boles Jr. High School (Arlington), Dunbar 6th Grade Middle School (Ft. Worth) and Girl’s Inc., a non-profit youth organization based in Arlington, participated in the program. As part of the interactive workshop, teens and Kenseth shared their creative expressions by creating murals replicating the shapes and colors depicted on Kenseth’s #17 Ameriquest Soaring Dreams race car that he will drive in Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the second of four Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshops and paint schemes this year. Last month in Bristol, Kenseth’s teammate, Carl Edwards, participated in the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams workshop with a local high school. Mark Martin will do so later this month in Phoenix (Apr. 20) and Greg Biffle at Dover (May 30). Ameriquest Mortgage Company is the primary sponsor of four of Roush Racing’s NBS teams in 2006, which includes Kenseth, Edwards, Martin and Biffle.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-7-2006)
- Nashville Predators to Sponsor Mark Green at Nashville: Biagi Bros. Racing announced today that the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators will support Mark Green’s efforts next weekend when the NASCAR Busch Series hits Music City, USA. In an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and ticket sales for the Nashville Predators, the #4 Dodge will carry a special paint scheme complete with the Predators saber-toothed tiger on the hood and the Predators navy blue, white, and yellow colors emblazoned down the sides of the #4 Dodge Charger.(Biagi Bros. PR)(4-7-2006)
- Fedewa Now Spotting for Bowyer: Driver Tim Fedewa has been looking for a ride, but for now, he is working as Clint Bowyer’s spotter. Fedewa has been a spotter for Michael Waltrip in the Busch Series and a part-time spotter for Bill Elliott in Nextel Cup, but the Bowyer job will allow him to do both races each weekend.(NASCAR Scene Daily)(4-7-2006)
- Musgrave Heads to Texas for the second round of IROC: UPDATE As he comes off of his second place finish in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville, Ted Musgrave heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the second round of racing in the Crown Royal IROC racing series. This marks the 30th Anniversary of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions racing series. This weekend’s race in Texas will be Musgrave’s second IROC Series career start.(germainracing.com)(4-6-2006)
UPDATE: Ted Musgrave finished 9th in the 2nd IROC race of the season. Tony Stewart was the winner; his first win at Texas Motor Speedway.(germainracing.com)(4-7-2006) - Mansfield tickets still available – for now: Mansfield Motorsports Speedway still has a limited number of good seats available for its upcoming Truck Series race, scheduled for May 26-27. “Ticket sales have been very good for the return of the Truck Series,” said MMS president and general manager Chris Mize. “I encourage everyone that wants to come to this race to get their tickets soon, because race weekend will be here before you know it and we expect it to be a complete sellout again this year. Mize suggests that fans wanting to attend this year’s Mansfield 250 either call the speedway ticket office (419-525-7223) or log on to the track’s newly updated website.(Mansfield-speedway.com)(4-7-2006)
- DeLoach to appear on Good Morning America Weekend Edition: Red Horse Racing team owner Tom DeLoach celebrated a victory in the Truck Series last weekend with his #11 Red Horse Racing Toyota and driver David Starr at Martinsville. This weekend, DeLoach’s other racing endeavor – PIT Instruction and Training – will celebrate a victory in its own right as the school will be featured on ‘Good Morning America Weekend Edition’ on Sunday morning. On Saturday morning, five pit crew members (which include three team members from Red Horse Racing) will train the Good Morning America anchors on what to do during a pit stop. They will then perform a live pit stop on the Sunday morning broadcast. Check your local listings for viewing information in your area.(redhorseracing.net)(4-7-2006)
- Even with cancer battle, Hamilton still has grit: Race drivers show their mettle every time they go out on the track. But as Marty Smith writes, Bobby Hamilton’s battle with cancer requires a different kind of courage. An excerpt: Bobby Hamilton stood anxiously on pit road at Atlanta Motor Speedway a couple weeks back, set to strap into the #18 Dodge truck for the final time for the foreseeable future, when Mark Martin strode by with a message. “Kick its ass,” Martin said. “I will,” Hamilton nodded. “See ya later,” Martin said. With that, he was gone. “I’ll probably never talk to Mark Martin again, but [that shows] Mark cares,” Hamilton said. “That’s just how we [drivers] are.” Hamilton has cancer. It forced him from the seat. The very thought of it terrifies his colleagues. Drivers are apt to ignore such things. For the rest of Marty’s article please visit: (nascar.com)(4-7-2006)
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