April 13, 2004
- Featherlite back as sponsor of the #4 at Martinsville: Morgan-McClure Motorsports announced Featherlite, Inc. returning as the primary sponsor of the #4 NEXTEL Cup Series Chevrolet for the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Jimmy Spencer will pilot the Monte Carlo. Featherlite, Inc. (www.fthr.com), the “Official Trailer” and “Official Luxury Coach” of NASCAR, debuted its primary sponsorship of the #4 at Texas Motor Speedway with Jimmy Spencer behind the wheel. A premium line of NEXTEL Cup licensed Featherlite Car Care products is available at automotive stores and www.featherlitecarcare.com.
Larry McClure Quotes: “We are extremely happy to have Featherlite return as the primary sponsor of the No. 4 Chevrolet for Martinsville. The team tested at Martinsville last week. The test will give Jimmy Spencer more input on racing with our cars and the new tires. We are looking forward to racing at Martinsville with the successful combination of Featherlite and Spencer.”(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(4-13-2004) - Bodine Announcement this week? UPDATE 2: hearing Brett Bodine will be making some sort of an announcement this week concerning his NASCAR future.(4-12-2004)
UPDATE: Fox Sports Net’s Totally NASCAR show reports that Bodine will go to work for the NASCAR R^D Center in Concord, NC.
UPDATE 2: The newest member of NASCAR’s Research & Development team knows his sport well from behind the wheel. Now, he gets the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes. NASCAR president Mike Helton announced today that veteran driver Brett Bodine has joined NASCAR’s R&D staff as special project engineer. Bodine, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Alfred, will tackle several assignments. One project with priority is the “Car of the Future,” where Bodine will work on cost-saving initiatives. Operating out of NASCAR’s Concord, N.C.-based R&D Center, Bodine will work with Gary Nelson, NASCAR’s managing director of research and development. A native of Chemung, N.Y., Bodine, 45, competed at NASCAR’s highest level for nearly 20 years. He has one win (1990 at North Wilkesboro) and five poles in 480 career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starts. His career-high finish of 12th in the point standings also came in 1990. Bodine was a driver/owner from 1996-2003. He became an owner in 1996, buying the renowned #11 team from Junior Johnson prior to that season. His last on-track action came in June, 2003, when he qualified for the June 15 event at Michigan. Prior to 2003, Bodine had been a fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitor for 15 consecutive seasons (1988-2003). During his career, he drove for some of NASCAR’s most successful owners, including Bud Moore (1988-89), Kenny Bernstein (1990-1994) and Junior Johnson (1995). Bodine’s first race in NASCAR’s premier series came in 1986 for owner Rick Hendrick (his only start that year). He drove 14 races for Hoss Ellington in 1987 before beginning his fulltime career in 1988. “We’re delighted to have Brett on board,” Helton said. “He’s been such a steadfast member of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garage over the years, and he’s done it all – he’s built race cars, he’s worked on race cars and he’s driven race cars. He brings a new perspective that we’re glad to tap into.”
Bodine’s experience also extends back to the NASCAR Busch Series, where he was the series runner-up in 1986. Before that, he enjoyed success in northeastern modified circles, finishing second in the 1984 track championship at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, and winning the 1985 Modified Race of Champions at Pocono Raceway. Overall, he has three career victories in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series. In 1998, he was named one of the Top-50 Modified drivers of all time.(NASCAR PR)(4-13-2004) - NASCAR and Reader’s Digest Form Partnership to Publish Kid’s Racing Books: Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing announced an agreement to publish and distribute books in the United States and Canada based on the popular NASCAR auto racing brand, bringing the exciting world of NASCAR racing to younger fans.”We are delighted that we will be creating books based on America’s second most-watched spectator sport,” said Harold Clarke, vice president and publisher, Trade Publishing, for the Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. “With 75 million fans, NASCAR is a hit with both children and adults and fits well into our strategy of developing book products ‘driven’ by America’s strongest brands.” Beginning in June 2004, Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing will release the initial three NASCAR-related titles:
NASCAR CarryAlong(r) Book: Cars * Drivers * Races ($14.99) NASCAR Middle Grade Books: Speedway Superstars and The Greatest Races ($4.99):(NASCAR PR)
For the full PR and more info and some Book Signings coming up for other books [Bobby Allison] see my Racing Bookstore page.(4-13-2004) - New Mark Martin Book: The much anticipated Mark Martin book will be released this May, Mark Martin: Mark of Excellence – click here is the fully authorized biography of Mark Martin written by Larry Woody. Look for it on shelves in May or you can reserve a copy today at www.sportspublishingllc.com.(4-13-2004)
- Third Annual Dale Earnhardt Day April 29th: For the third time in as many years, Dale Earnhardt Day will be celebrated on April 29. DE Day is hosted by Teresa Earnhardt at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a birthday celebration for the seven-time NASCAR champion, Dale Earnhardt. This year’s theme will center around Dale’s Legacy at Daytona; his track record of 34 victories, his almost wins and the 1998 Daytona 500 trip to Victory Lane. For the first time since Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has opened its doors, Dale’s 1998 Daytona 500 winning trophy will be on display. Also, the helmet he wore that day, which is signed by his entire crew, will be shown. Throughout the day, various videos with fan interviews, Dale’s winning moments – and his almost wins – at Daytona will be shown to the gathered crowd. Teresa Earnhardt will be on hand and address the fans on the lawn of the DEI headquarters. Fans will once again be allowed behind the walls of the DEI facility to view various race cars, photos and displays in the Interior Showroom of DEI. Doors will open at 8:00am/et and the event is set to wind down at 8:00pm/et. There will be a free shuttle between area hotels and our headquarters throughout the day. For more information, log onto www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com and click on the Legacy Section to get the latest updates and event additions.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-13-2004)
- Papers Drop Autopsy Photo Challenge: Two Florida newspapers dropped their challenge Monday to a state law restricting access to autopsy photos that passed after the death of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. The papers sued in Broward County after a medical examiner refused to release the photos, saying the restriction violated the state constitution. Newspapers sought access to the photos as questions arose over how Earnhardt died in the 2001 crash and whether better safety equipment might have saved him. The papers voluntarily dismissed the case Monday, weeks before the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach was scheduled to hear the case. The papers decided to drop the case because it would be difficult to win after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a separate case about photographs of former deputy White House counsel Vince Foster. The court decided the pictures should remain sealed, citing privacy concerns of the family. The Foster and Earnhardt cases have the same legal logic, said University of Florida law Professor Jon Mills, who filed a brief on behalf of the driver’s widow, Teresa Earnhardt, in the U.S. Supreme Court case.(Daytona Beach News Journal/AP), past news about the case on my Dale Earnhardt tribute site – reactions/autopsy photos page.(4-13-2004)
- Ward in a traffic accident UPDATE 2: Nextel driver #0-Ward Burton was involved in a car accident south of Danville, VA. The accident happened near U.S 29 and N.C. 700 in Caswell County about 7:30am/et. Burton received a bump to his head, according the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
UPDATE: Ward Burton fell asleep at the wheel of his 2004 Chevrolet Suburban on U.S. 29 on Monday morning, causing him to strike a guard rail and totaling the $60,000 vehicle, according to North Carolina State Trooper S.M. Mangum. Burton told Mangum that his baby was up four or five times through the night, causing fatigue to the NASCAR Nextel Cup driver. Burton’s wife picked him up at the scene and took him for treatment for a bump on the head. Mangum did not know where Burton was being treated. Neither alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. Mangum estimated he was traveling about 60 miles per hour in a 65 mile-per-hour zone.(Danville Register and Bee)(4-12-2004)
UPDATE 2: Ward Burton is resting at his Virginia home following a Monday morning single-vehicle traffic accident in which he totaled a brand new 60-thousand dollar Chevy Suburban. The driver of the #0-NetZero Monte Carlo fell asleep behind the wheel, hit the end of a guardrail and rolled the SUV. He was heading to the Haas/CNC shop near Charlotte to be fitted for a new seat before a planned test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday. Crew Chief Tony Furr said Burton called him and said “I wrecked our free car!” Furr isn’t sure the team will make the test depending on how Burton feels. Furr said Burton told him he’s okay and that the air bag burned his face slightly and he also has a bump on his head. Burton also told Furr he was going to stop for coffee about 10 minutes before the accident occurred, but didn’t.(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-13-2004) - NASCAR Reorganizes: NASCAR announced a reorganization designed to increase the emphasis on the sanctioning body’s regional touring and weekly competitions, and further develop public relations efforts overall. Jim Hunter, formerly Vice President of Corporate Communications, has been given the new title of Vice President of Corporate Communications/Regional Touring/NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Returning to an area where he has worked earlier in his career, Hunter will work closely with new employee Don Hawk, who has been named Director of Regional Racing Development, and Chris Boals, who remains the Director of Regional Touring/NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Hunter’s return to regional touring and weekly competition duties drew favorable response from short-track operators. In a move that will complement Hunter’s increased responsibilities, public relations veteran Ramsey Poston is joining the communications department as the new Managing Director of Consumer and Corporate Communications. Hawk, Boals and Poston all will report to Hunter. Hawk, 48, has been involved in every aspect of short-track racing and is widely known and respected in the motorsports industry. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University. Hawk is perhaps best known within the industry for his long association with the late seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt. From 1993-2000, Hawk advanced through the ranks of Dale Earnhardt Inc., eventually becoming the organization’s president. Prior to joining DEI, Hawk was general business manger for Alan Kulwicki Racing. He continues to handle Kulwicki’s estate for the family of the 1992 NASCAR champion who died in a 1993 plane crash. Hawk also is considered one of the pioneers in the NASCAR-related memorabilia business. He will be based at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. Poston, 37, comes to NASCAR from Powell Tate, a communication/consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Poston has been a Senior Vice President/Management Supervisor with the firm, where he has worked since 1997. A graduate of Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., Poston will assist Hunter in managing the communications department and will especially concentrate on public relations initiatives in the country’s top 20 media markets, and those involving non-traditional media outlets.(NASCAR PR)(4-13-2004)
- Modern Era Milestone Ahead: Baring unforeseen changes in the schedule, the MBNA America 400 at Dover in June will be the 1000th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Modern Era race. It will be the 2,042nd points race for NASCAR’s premier division.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(4-13-2004)
- Kyle Busch testing at Gateway: Kyle Busch and the #5 Team Lowe’s Racing Hendrick Motorsports crew are testing at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis today and tomorrow, April 13-14, in preparation for the May 8 NASCAR Busch Series event at that facility.(Golin/Harris International PR)(4-13-2004)
- Smith to fill in for Kahne: Akins Motorsports announced Monday that Regan Smith will practice and qualify the #38 Great Clips Busch car for the rest of the season when scheduling conflicts keep regular driver Kasey Kahne from doing so. Kahne is running full-time in both Busch and Nextel Cup.(Fox Sports Net’s Totally NASCAR)(4-13-2004)
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