April 9, 2008
- Firestone interested in NASCAR: If Goodyear were to leave NASCAR, the executive director of Firestone Racing says his company would be interested. Goodyear is NASCAR’s exclusive supplier through 2012. “There’s a lot of people in our organization that would love to be running NASCAR,” Firestone’s Al Speyer says. “Our engineers can do a very good job there.” Although Firestone has been the exclusive supplier of Indy car racing for several years, stock cars are part of its history. Speyer says the company won many races in NASCAR’s first decade (1948-58) before leaving the sport in the late 1960s.(USA Today)(4-9-2008)
- Season In Review – Week 8: Five different drivers have posted victories in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008, led by #99-Carl Edwards with three (California, Las Vegas and Texas). #12-Ryan Newman (Daytona), #18-Kyle Busch (Atlanta), 331-Jeff Burton (Bristol) and #11-Denny Hamlin (Martinsville) are the other race winners. Three drivers lead all others with five top-10 finishes: Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. 27 different drivers have posted at least one top-10 finish in 2008. Jeff Gordon leads all other drivers with three DNFs in seven races in 2008. 61 drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one Sprint Cup Series race this season. 49 drivers have qualified for at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this season. There have been four different pole winners in 2008: Jeff Gordon (two), Jimmie Johnson (one), Kyle Busch (one) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one). Qualifying was canceled due to weather at the Auto Club Speedway and Bristol. Jeff Gordon won the pole at Atlanta – making this his 16th consecutive year with a pole. Gordon is third on the all-time list for consecutive years with a pole, behind David Pearson (20) and Richard Petty (17). 30 different drivers have posted at least one top-10 start. Jeff Gordon is the only driver to start from the top 10 in six of the seven races. Only one driver has completed every lap raced this season: Jeff Burton. 29 drivers have led at least one lap this season. No one has led in every race. Ford leads the manufacturer point standings with 44 points. Chevrolet has 43, Toyota 39 and Dodge has 28. Ford has three victories this season. Toyota has two while Chevrolet and Dodge each have one.(NASCAR PR)(4-9-2008)
- #8 scheme to pay tribute to U.S. Army Reserve at Phoenix: Mark Martin’s #8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy will pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the United States Army Reserve in this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The hood on Martin’s Impala SS will be covered with the Army Reserve’s 100th anniversary logo and tag line — Army Reserve, 100 Years Strong. The history of the Army Reserve dates back to April 23, 1908 when Congress established the Army’s first federal reserve force. The Army Reserve began as a small force of approximately 160 medical professionals. Today, the Army Reserve consists of 205,000 soldiers and is an operational, expeditionary and domestic force that is an essential piece of the U.S. Army. Joining the Army Reserve contingent for Saturday night’s Cup race will be a local hero — Staff Sgt. Christopher Cruse, a Phoenix native who received multiple honors for his service in Iraq, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal. Cruse was severely injured when his humvee was struck by an anti-tank mine on July 25, 2004. He is currently back in Phoenix, serving as an Army Recruiter in the Glendale area. Taking into account how Martin has performed in Phoenix, there’s a good chance the Army Reserve car will run up front. In 22 races at the one-mile oval, Martin has one win, eight top fives and 14 top 10s. In addition, the veteran has led a track-high 608 laps, including 137 in the last three races.(DEI), see an image of the scheme on my #8 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)
- Bill France Sr. To Be Inducted Into U.S. Business Hall of Fame:NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. will be inducted posthumously into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame on Wednesday night in Nashville, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. France, who died in 1992, founded NASCAR in 1947 and was the sanctioning body’s first president, serving in that capacity until 1972 when he was followed by his son Bill France Jr. France is part of an illustrious 2008 class of inductees that also includes: USA Today founder Al Neuharth; Thomas Frist, Jr., M.D. Chairman Emeritus, Hospital Corporation of America; Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of the RLJ Companies and the Black Entertainment Network; John E. Pepper Jr., retired chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble; and Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay. France’s grandson, J.C. France – who races Daytona Prototypes in the Rolex Sports Car Series – will accept the induction honor on behalf of the France family. J.C. France is the son of NASCAR vice chairman and executive vice president Jim France.(NASCAR PR)(4-9-2008)
- Mayfield out of the #70 ride UPDATE 2: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway is reporting that Jeremy Mayfield is out as driver of the #70 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet, and will be replaced by former Haas CNC driver Johnny Sauter, effective immediately.(4-7-2008)
UPDATE: Haas CNC Racing announced today that the team and Jeremy Mayfield have mutually agreed to part ways. The team is exploring several scenarios regarding a replacement driver. “Jeremy’s proven resume behind the wheel of a Cup car was a real benefit to our team,” team general manager Joe Custer said. “He stepped into the seat and did everything we asked him to and more. Ultimately, we were unable to provide him with the right balance, handling and speed he needed to be successful,” he added. “We wish Jeremy nothing but the best for his future.”(Haas CNC Racing)(4-8-2008)
UPDATE 2: Johnny Sauter told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway Tuesday that he is signed to drive the #70 only this weekend in Phoenix, but hopes to land the ride full-time. “We’ve got a week off after Phoenix,” said Sauter, “so they’ve got a little time to look around and figure out what they want to do down the road.”(4-9-2008) - Special FedEx Kinko’s/March of Dimes for Hamlin at Phoenix: Denny Hamlin, FedEx Kinko’s and the March of Dimes will race a very special FedEx Kinko’s/March of Dimes #11 Toyota Camry in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The car focuses attention on the March of Dimes and the annual March for Babies walk – an organization and event FedEx has long supported at both the local and national level. As part of the car unveiling event, Hamlin was presented with a specially designed helmet by five year-old Dallas native Tiffany Bell-Nunez. Bell-Nunez was born eleven weeks premature and weighed only 2 lbs 13 oz. and much of the care that led to a successful recovery for Tiffany was aided by research funded by March of Dimes. Tiffany is now a very healthy five year-old and her mother Vicki, a FedEx Kinko’s employee, remains an active advocate for March for Dimes. In an additional show of support, FedEx has set up a special portal on fedexracing.com for those interested in supporting the charity and FedEx Racing in the upcoming March for Babies.(FedEx Racing/Weber Shandwick), see an image of the scheme on my #11 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)
- Newman’s car too high UPDATE 2: Penske Racing’s #12-Ryan Newman finished fourth in Sunday’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but his Dodge did not clear postrace inspection. According to Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby, the right rear of the car was too high following the Sprint Cup Series race. The car was one-eighth of an inch beyond the allotted half-inch tolerance. Any potential penalties will be announced Tuesday.(SceneDaily.com)(4-6-2008)
UPDATE – Penalty: NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the #12 team that competes in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. The #12 car driven by Ryan Newman was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 12.8.1C (right rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specification; too high in post race inspection) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. As a result, Newman and car owner Roger Penske have been penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points, respectively. Crew chief Roy McCauley has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)(4-8-2008)
STATEMENT: Michael Nelson’s, Vice President of Operations for Penske Racing South, statement on the penalty given to the #12 team following Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Texas. “We had an issue in post-race inspection on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. It is always our intention to follow NASCAR’s rules, and we regret this mistake. We look forward to getting back to the track this week and are focused on having a strong run in the #12 Alltel Dodge at Phoenix International Raceway.”(Penske Racing)(4-9-2008) - BDR sues former sponsor: Bill Davis Racing alleges that Rockford-Montgomery Labs has paid only $25,000 of the $14 million it was supposed to pay for sponsorship of the #36 Cup entry last season, according to a lawsuit filed April 2 in North Carolina Superior Court in Winston Salem, N.C. RML is the maker of 360 OTC, a line of hangover and headache medicine. The sponsorship was a three-year deal that was scheduled to increase to $14.5 million in 2008 and $15 million in 2009. There was a sponsor’s option for 2010 for $15.5 million. According to the lawsuit, RML also did not pay any of the $3 million it owed as a primary sponsor for the #36 truck and $1 million it owed to be primary sponsor for 10 races of the #23 truck. This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against RML, which has been sued by Just Marketing, which was handling the NASCAR sponsorship, as well as by the World of Outlaws and World Wrestling Entertainment. An attorney who represents RML in the World of Outlaws and the WWE case did not immediately return a request for comment.(see full story at SceneDaily)(4-9-2008)
- Orange colors for Harvick at Phoenix: Reese’s, a major associate sponsor of RCR’s #29 Chevy, kicks into high gear this weekend in Phoenix as Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet into a bright orange Reese’s racing machine for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are peanut butter-filled chocolate cups. They were created in 1928 by H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and foreman for Milton S. Hershey. The H.B. Reese Candy Co., established in the basement of Reese’s house in Hershey, Pa., went on to merge with The Hershey Company in 1963 due to the popularity of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Today, Reese’s has become the No. 1 selling candy bar in the United States and the Reese’s brand is the most successful brand owned by The Hershey Company.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)
- DIRECTV colors for Bowyer at Phoenix: Clint Bowyer’s #07 Chevy will feature a blue and white DIRECTV paint scheme this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). Jack Daniel’s, Bowyer’s traditional primary sponsor, will be featured on the car’s deck lid and lower-rear quarter panels. DIRECTV will strategically place four Mobile Pit Boxes throughout the PIR concourse and display area for fans to enjoy a free preview of NASCAR HotPass Only on DIRECTV. At the Mobile Pit Boxes, fans also have the opportunity to play DIRECTV’s Spin to Win game. With one spin of the prize wheel, fans will win one of five great prizes: a DIRECTV Hat, a DIRECTV Diecast Replica Car, a free Fanview rental for the weekend – an exclusive DIRECTV offer, or the chance for an instant seat upgrade to the DIRECTV Zone. Winner’s who are upgraded to the DIRECTV Zone will enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the track from outside turn three, complete with catering, the chance to meet Bowyer, and watch NASCAR HotPass Only on DIRECTV on one of nine flat screen High Definition TVs at the Zone.(RCR), see images of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)
- Teams testing at Pocono during off-week: During this week off from racing, several teams were testing at Pocono Raceway over the past two days. Participating were the Germain Racing teams of #9-Justin Marks, #30-Todd Bodine, & #03-Chrissy Wallace; Circle Bar Racing with #10-Brendan Gaughan & #14 with Tony Raines subbing for Rick Crawford, [Crawford was attending a Ford Event in Las Vegas]; Red Horse Racing, #11-David Starr; HT Motorsports, #59-Ted Musgrave; and BHR-Virginia with #4-Stacy Compton & #18-Dennis Setzer.(Pocono Raceway PR)(4-9-2008)
- Former racer Fike admits using heroin on race days: Suspended NASCAR driver Aaron Fike now admits that he not only secretly struggled with drug addiction for years but also shot up heroin on some race days. In his first in-depth interview since being arrested for heroin possession last summer, the 25-year-old said he had been using heroin for eight months and suffered from a dependency on painkillers for six years before that. In the weeks prior to his arrest, his once-a-week experiment with heroin had become a daily routine, including the days he was competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. NASCAR officials, when informed of Fike’s admission, said the league has kept an eye on the more proactive random drug testing policies recently ramped up by the “Big Four” major league sports but point to the list of recent suspensions as proof that the current policy is working. “No system is perfect,” said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of corporate communications. “Our current policy has served us extremely well. We do have discussions from time to time regarding possible alternatives, so I wouldn’t rule those out. But I think what our policy has allowed us to do up to this certain point in time, it has served us well.” Fike said he hopes that his admissions will force NASCAR officials to rethink their current drug testing policy. Fike has returned to USAC’s Midget series, where he is tested upon arrival at the track. He is currently serving a two-year probation and continues rehabilitation and counseling. Later this month he will launch www.onthewinningtrack.com as part of his court-agreed youth drug education program. He has also talked briefly with NASCAR officials about beginning the arduous reinstatement process, but realizes that his once-promising stock car career may be over.(ESPN)(4-9-2008)
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