April 9, 2009
- NASCAR to host Touring and Weekly Series banquets in Charlotte: NASCAR announced that its “stars of tomorrow” and short track veterans will gather in the greater Charlotte area for two special year-end celebrations. NASCAR will host a special week of activities culminating in the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) Awards Banquet on Friday, November 13, and the new NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala on Saturday, November 14. Both season-end awards banquets will be held in the recently-completed Embassy Suites Hotel Concord Convention Center which is located near the NASCAR Research & Development Center, in proximity to the future NASCAR Hall of Fame complex, as well as the home bases of many of today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams. Moving the banquets to the Charlotte area compliments the commitment the community has made to the business of NASCAR and the development of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The NWAAS Awards Banquet will feature weekly racing drivers from top short tracks across the United States and Canada. Invited attendees will include the 2009 NWAAS National Champion, NWAAS State and Provincial Champions, all 58 track champions, the national/ state/provincial Rookies of the Year, the 2009 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award winner, and many others. The NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Gala will feature the champions and top drivers from all of NASCAR’s North American regional touring series including invitees from the NASCAR Camping World Series East, the NASCAR Camping World Series West, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.(NASCAR PR)(4-9-2009)
- Jeff Gordon involved in Niagara Race Track: UPDATE: New details surrounding a proposed $200-million, 65,000-seat international motor speedway in Fort Erie [Ontario, Canada] have surfaced. An article published in the inaugural edition of Professional Motorsport Circuit, an international trade journal, says NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is involved with the project. Gordon’s name has been tagged with a signature speedway and a driving school that’s part of the proposal. The article was written by Azhar Mohammad – executive director of Emirates Consulting, a Toronto-based subsidiary of Kuwaiti-based investment bank Bayt Al Mal Investment Co., that is financially backing the project. Mohammad could not be reached for comment Tuesday. “After carefully studying the pitfalls and successes of motor-sport initiatives in the North American market for almost two years, (Bayt Al Mal Investment Co.) assembled a high-profile team,” the article states. “The team was spearheaded by multi-NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, flanked by Paxton Waters Architecture, Derek Daly Design, and Philips Engineering, and supported by a host of local and international strategic partners.” Last October, plans were announced for a motor speedway on lands near the QEW, between Gilmore Road and Bowen Road. Bayt Al Mal, which has been assembling more than 600 acres of land for the project, has done numerous environmental, planning and engineering studies to support its application and has invested several million dollars. The proposal is working its way through the Town of Fort Erie’s planning department. Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin confirmed there has been talks with Gordon’s representatives. “We have met with them at the region, they have been here,” Martin said Tuesday. “Through the proposal that’s obviously coming on, we were aware that (Bayt Al Mal) were in talks with Jeff Gordon’s (people).”(Niagara Falls Review)(4-8-2009)
UPDATE: John Bickford, vice president and general manager of Jeff Gordon Inc., verified to The Buffalo News on Wednesday that Gordon is involved in the project. Bickford — who is also Gordon’s stepfather — stated via e-mail that while there is a letter of understanding between the parties, there is no signed agreement at this time. Gordon was not available to comment.(Buffalo News)(4-9-2009) - Biffle to tackle desert in new Ford Truck: #16-Greg Biffle is a racer’s racer who will drive anything – anytime, anyplace – and that includes the new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R at next week’s Best in the Desert Terrible’s 250 at Primm [NV]. Biffle agreed to drive the F-150 SVT Raptor a couple months ago when Ford engineers were looking for some professional feedback. “When I think of Raptor the first thing that comes to mind is a proven off-road piece with its finish in the Baja 1000, and I think it’s a long-time overdue, if you want my opinion,” said Biffle, who is participating in the event’s Fun Run on Thursday, April 16, before heading to Phoenix for Saturday night’s NASCAR event. “Up to this point, no manufacturer has built a truck like this. People had to do it themselves, so there’s a definite market out there and I’m excited about it. I’ve been paying attention and watching some of the desert testing that they’ve done and I can’t wait.” Biffle will be driving the F-150 SVT Raptor R being campaigned by former Ford Rough Riders Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges in all five Best in the Desert races this year. “I’ve never pre-run Baja or anything like that, and I might do that this year, but I’ve never really been in a specific off-road. I’ve watched the stuff on Speed a lot. It looks fun and it looks exciting to do, so I’d like to mess with it a little bit.(Ford Racing PR)(4-9-2009)
- West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame announces inductees: The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame has announced 10 new members for induction in ceremonies to be held July 3 at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California. The 2009 class is the sixth in the history of the Hall which inducted its first members in 2002. The Hall, founded in 2001, memorializes significant contributors to the sport’s development and history — including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media. The latest group brings the Hall’s membership to 83. The nomination process began earlier this year followed by a final vote by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. Elected in the Historic category (1930 through 1969) are Ben Gregory, brothers Joe and John Fernandez, Bert Letner, Chuck Meekins, Dick Rathman and Art Watts. Inductees from the Modern era (1970 to present) are Chuck Bown, Rick Carelli, Doug George and Wayne Spears.(NASCAR.com)(4-9-2009)
- Kenny Wallace to run Cup race? hearing Kenny Wallace and Jay Robinson Racing [#28 in Nationwide Series] has a Sprint Cup car and could run the Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway in May.(4-9-2009)
- Ryan Truex Pairs with MWR: At 17 years of age, Ryan Truex has a career action plan and one of his long-term career goals includes following his NASCAR NNS champion brother Martin Truex Jr. to the Sprint Cup Series level. Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced a partnership that will field a full-time NASCAR Camping World East program for the young Truex as he takes the next step towards fulfilling that lifelong dream. The season-opener is this weekend at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Last season, Truex finished 11th at Stafford Speedway in his CW East debut and only career start while driving a car prepared by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Now, he is ready for his first race with Michael Waltrip Racing. Truex started four years ago racing a Bandolero at Wall Township Speedway in Wall, New Jersey that has been hosting racing event for 54 years. He graduated to Legends and quickly won a speedway championship at the track in 2007. Last season, Truex raced a family-owned Late Model at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.(MWR PR)(4-9-2009)
- Testing at the Rock: Dennis Setzer tested a Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports on Rockingham Speedway’s ‘Little Rock’ on Wednesday while three ARCA teams tested on the 1 mile track.(4-9-209)
- Steve Park Ready To Get Rolling: Steve Park’s long and successful racing career has taken him all over the map – from his days running the short tracks of the northeast to racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Dale Earnhardt Sr. The winding road has had its up and downs, and it has taken him back to the beginning, as he prepares to enter his second season of his second go-around in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. When he first came through the series back in 1996, it was known as the NASCAR Busch North Series and primarily based in the New England and New York. Park took on the likes of Dave Dion, Kelly Moore, and the late Stub Fadden – guys who have made their careers on the bullrings around the region. Fast forward more than a decade later. The series has evolved, stretching from its New England roots down the Atlantic Coast to South Carolina — where the 2009 season will kick off with Saturday’s season opener at the historic Greenville Pickens Speedway. The faces behind the wheel have changed to, as a fresh crop of development drivers look to replace the likes of Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne and Austin Dillon as stars-of-tomorrow who made their mark in the series and are now looking to establish themselves in one of NASCAR’s three national series.(NASCARHomeTracks.com)(4-9-2009)
- EGR’s #8 car parked UPDATE: The #8 Sprint Cup Chevy, the centerpiece of Dale Earnhardt Inc. before its merger with Chip Ganassi Racing, is the latest casualty of the economy. Sources close to the situation said officials at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates are parking the car driven by Aric Almirola until sponsorship is found. An announcement could come in the next 24 hours. EGR officials were not available for comment, but sources said a handful of employees have been let go, and that number could grow to 40 to 50 before all is said and done. Almirola ranks 37th in owner points heading into next week’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. He is 59 points behind rookie Joey Logano, who occupies the final spot for the top 35 guaranteed a position in each race. Almirola has an average finish of 32.9 this season, finishing no better than 21st in seven races and no better than 33rd the past three. Parking that car leaves EGR with two full-time drivers in Martin Truex Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya. Sources deny a report that Truex has a clause in his contract that would free him and primary sponsor Bass Pro Shops if he doesn’t have at least two fulltime teammates.(ESPN.com)(4-7-2009)
UPDATE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing president Steve Lauletta is optimistic the #8 car made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to the track one day, but not until sponsorship is found. Lauletta confirmed on Wednesday an ESPN.com report that operations for the car driven by Aric Almirola has been suspended until sponsorship is found. Lauletta would not confirm how many employees were released, but sources said the total would be between 40 and 50. “The plan was to run the 8 all season,” Lauletta said. “We worked really hard to get a few sponsors. We’re working really hard to continue to get it back on the track. But when you’re in the position we’re in where you don’t know what sponsor goes on a car a couple of weeks out, how the team is going to progress in order to race two and three weeks out, it takes a lot of focus away from everybody at the shop.”(ESPN)(4-9-2009) - ‘Racing Dreams’ to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival: ‘Racing Dreams,’ a documentary focusing on kids who dream of one day racing for NASCAR, will be screened at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Racing Dreams, directed by Marshall Curry, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2005 documentary, ‘Street Fight,’ will follow three young drivers, aged 11-13, who race extreme karts in the World Karting Association’s National Pavement Series. With races at speeds of 60-70 miles per hour, the series is widely seen as the first step in a career racing for NASCAR. The film will chronicle the young drivers’ successes and frustrations, their relationships and their dreams, shedding light on the vast segment of America that is passionate about racing. The three drivers are Joshua Hobson, Brandon Warren and Annabeth Barnes. Barnes has been part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. “The motivation and talent these kids demonstrate is incredible, and this is an inspiring look at their passion and drive,” said Ben Goldhirsh, Founder and CEO of GOOD, the production company. “The opportunity to work with like-minded individuals like Marshall Curry, allows us to create relevant, entertaining and stimulating content for a broader audience.”(Newsday)(4-9-2009)
- USfidelis on the #62: Saturday’s event marks the first of a ten-race commitment by USfidelis to serve as primary sponsor of the #62 Chevy, driven by eighth-ranked Brendan Gaughan. For this weekend’s event at Nashville, as well as in USfidelis’s “hometown” event later this year at Gateway, both RWR entries will sport USfidelis colors.(RWI PR)(4-9-2009)
- Crew Chief Doug George to be inducted in West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame: Billy Ballew Motorsports NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Crew Chief, Doug George will be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame July 3, 2009 at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California. George is a native of Atwater, California and won the 1990 NASCAR Southwest Tour title, posting nine victories. He also won the 1995 NASCAR Camping World Series West Series title. George has two starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Sonoma and Phoenix, 1995) and 56 starts in the Camping World Truck Series Career before moving into a crew chief position. George has been with Billy Ballew Motorsports since early spring 2007 as the crew chief on the No. #15 Toyota Tundra. In 2009, George moved to the #51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra driven by Kyle “Rowdy” Busch. In just his second race at the helm, Busch gave George his first win as a crew chief in Fontana, California. The team went on to repeat the win at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks later.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(4-9-2009)
- The Harvicks & Hornaday visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Kevin Harvick Inc. co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick along with three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday paid a special visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Tuesday, April 7th. The Harvicks and Hornaday were greeted by Walter Reed’s commander general, Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, upon arrival. Being accompanied by VFW National Commander Glen Gardener the group participated in a tour of the hospital, visiting injured soldiers, signing autographs and experiencing the services provided by proud KHI sponsor Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “This is an opportunity very few people get to experience,” said Kevin Harvick. “I am very proud of our affiliation with the VFW and all of the programs they offer to our veterans and their families. I was able to personally say thank you to some of our country’s finest men and women who have given so much for all of us. This visit was an eye-opening experience at how far medical research has come and it was truly an honor to be able to meet and talk with these brave men and women.” The Army also used yesterday’s visit to present Hornaday and the Harvicks with Freedom Team Salute commendations in recognition of their strong support of soldiers. The commendations, which are signed by Army Secretary Pete Geren and Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., is part of a program established in 2005 to formally recognize individuals within the civilian and military communities who actively support the Army and its soldiers.(KHI PR)(4-9-2009)
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