April 15, 2007
- Sad News – “Budman” Kircher: Scott “Budman” Kircher, a team member for Ginn Racing, passed away Saturday (April 14) at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte as a result of a motorcycle accident Friday in Mooresville, N.C. A resident of Mooresville, Kircher, 45, was one of the transport drivers for the #4 team. He is survived by his wife Lani and daughters Katie (21) and Lacey (14). The funeral will be held Thursday in Kircher’s hometown of Peoria, Ill. Prior to joining Ginn Racing for the 2007 season, Kircher worked at ppc Racing for six years. A trust fund has been established in the name of Scott’s daughters — Katie and Lacey. A donation can be made at any Bank of America. Donations can also be made to the Transporter Drivers of Motorsports Association, P.O. Box 5478, Mooresville, N.C. 28117.(Ginn Racing PR)(4-15-2007)
- Jeff Burton wins at Texas: #31-Jeff Burton won the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 1st win of the 2007 season, 19th career win and first since Dover in Sept 2006. Burton is the first driver in 13 Nextel Cup races to repeat as a winner at TMS. Burton passed #17-Matt Kenseth on the final lap to win, leading only the most important lap, the final one, Kenseth held on to 2nd, followed by #01-Martin, #24-Gordon [led the most laps], #26-McMurray, #16-Biffle, #1-Truex Jr., #42-Montoya, #11-Hamlin and #40-David Stremme scored his first ever top-10 finish. #8-Earnhardt Jr, was leading when he slowed for #20-Tony Stewart’s spin, #5-Kyle Busch couldn’t see and rammed into Earnhardt Jr. who spun and had serious rear-end damage. Busch declined comment and left the track, but the team fixed the car, and ironically Dale Jr. jumped in the car and picked up a spot for the #5 team, passing #48-Jimmie Johnson, who had retired the #48 late in the race. Jeff Gordon maintains the points lead, but only 8 points over Jeff Burton and even after missing two races, #01-Mark Martin is still 11th in the points chase. There were 7 cautions for 32 laps and 9 drivers lead the race with 13 lead changes.
Race Results on my Texas Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Texas page
Race Rundown: see my Texas Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(4-15-2007) - Unofficial Driver Points Top-12 Standing after Texas [7 of 36 races]:
#24-Jeff Gordon 1136
#31-Jeff Burton 1128 -8
#17-Matt Kenseth 1011 -125
#48-Jimmie Johnson 955 -181
#11-Denny Hamlin 914 -222
#07-Clint Bowyer 866 -270
#5-Kyle Busch 856 -280
#99-Carl Edwards 837 -299
#20-Tony Stewart 814 -322
#26-Jamie McMurray 805 -331
#01-Mark Martin 794 -342
#40-David Stremme 779 -357
some noteables:
#42-Juan Montoya is 13th
#29-Kevin Harvick is 14th
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 18th
#9-Kasey Kahne is 33rd
For drivers/owners points, see my Jayski’s Drivers/Owners Points Page.(4-15-2007) - Rumblings – Texas Race Notes: We had a good old-fashioned Texas Shootout today for the final 20 laps or so, and Jeff Burton prevailed over Matt Kenseth to take the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Burton passed Kenseth in turn two on the final lap (the only one he led today, btw) and held on for his first win of the season and 19th of his Nextel Cup career. He’s now tied for 32nd on the all-time win list with Davey Allison, Buddy Baker, and Fonty Flock. Burton is the fifth different winner this season, the first repeater at TMS, and this was win #85 for RCR. He also gets a tidy $526,766 from the over $7.2M in posted awards.
Jamie McMurray (5th) had his best finish since he was 3rd at Watkins Glen last August.
Martin Truex Jr (7th) had his best finish since he was runner-up at Homestead last November.
David Stremme (10th) had his career-best finish today. He’d been 11th three times….at Daytona in February, at Homestead last November, and at Loudon last July.
Tony Raines (13th) had his best finish since he was 7th at Lowe’s last October.
Paul Menard (15th) had his best finish since he was 14th at Lowes last May.
Dave Blaney (21st) had his best finish since he was 18th at Atlanta last October.
STREAKIN….Mark Martin has 5 Top-10’s in a row.
Jeff Burton has 6 Top-10’s in the last 7 races.
Jeff Gordon has 6 Top-10’s in the last 7 races.
Matt Kenseth has 5 Top-10’s in the last 6 races.
This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week is Paul Menard (+27), followed by Brian Vickers (+22). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Jimmie Johnson (-35), followed by Kyle Busch (-32), J. J. Yeley (-25), Dale Earnhardt Jr (-24), and David Ragan (-20). A couple of firsters at both ends of the “Shaft” this week. No changes in the Top-35 Owner Points this week, but it’s getting a little tighter. 35th to 40th is now separated by only 65 points. Jeff Gordon retains the points lead, but Jeff Burton shaved 20 markers from it….it’s now down to just 8 points. Mark Martin and David Stremme move above the “Stayin’ Alive” line while Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. drop back. Martin Truex Jr (24th to 19th) made the best move forward today, while teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr (11th to 18th) lost the most spots.(Stock Car Fans)(4-15-2007) - Special Helmet Scheme for Sadler for month of April: In an effort to promote Autism Awareness Month, #19-Elliott Sadler will be wearing a special autism helmet at the remaining races throughout the month of April. It will then be auctioned online to benefit the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Charitable Foundation. The helmet, which was donated by Impact Racing, will sport the multi-colored puzzle piece logo of the Autism Society. The complex design was painted by Ryan Young of Indocil Art, who handles the majority of helmet paintings for Evernham Motorsports. Sadler will be sporting the new helmet starting with the April 15 race at Texas Motor Speedway, then Phoenix Int’l Raceway and finally at Talladega Superspeedway. On April 30th, Sadler’s 32nd birthday, the helmet will be put up for bid on an online auction site. Fans can look for Sadler on “Trackside” at Talladega on the SPEED Channel where he will announce which website will host the online helmet auction. The Hermie and Elliott Sadler Charitable Foundation is dedicated to raising autism awareness and promoting research for a cure while also supporting initiatives that improve educational opportunities for children and their families.(Clear!Blue PR)(4-15-2007)
- After 6 races in 2004-2006 worst spot a future chaser was? with #9-Kasey Kahne, 34th in drivers championships points after 6 races, the question has been, after 6 races in the three previous Chase’s, what was the worst spot a future Chaser [in that season] was in after that 6th race? In 2006 after the 6th race, #11-Denny Hamlin was 23rd in drivers points, in 2005 it was #17-Matt Kenseth who was 21st after 6 races and in the first year of the Chase, 2004, #6-Mark Martin was 15th. The three drivers who won the last three Nextel Cup Championships were no deeper then 5th, that being #20-Tony Stewart, in 2006 #48-Jimmie Johnson was 1st and in 2004, #97-now #2]-Kurt Busch was 2nd after 6 races.(4-15-2007)
- New Chevy engine; subtract Busch and Wimmer, add Raines: Kyle Busch, #5 Cheez-It/CARQUEST Monte Carlo SS, was involved in a single-car incident during the morning practice session. Busch, who was uninjured in the incident, was forced to his backup car. As a result, the current Chevrolet SB2 engine will now power Busch’s Monte Carlo SS in tomorrow’s Samsung 500. He was one of six drivers scheduled to start the Samsung 500 in the newly introduced Chevrolet R07 engine. #20-Tony Stewart, #11-Denny Hamlin, #18-J.J. Yeley, #25-Casey Mears and #96-Tony Raines will start the 334-lap/501-mile race with the R07. #33-Scott Wimmer was scheduled to run the engine but didn’t make the race when qualifying was cancelled.(GM Racing PR)(4-15-2007)
- Hendrick Motorsports After Fifth Consecutive Victory: With #48-Jimmie Johnson seeking his fourth win this season and #24-Jeff Gordon atop the Nextel Cup standings, Hendrick Motorsports holds the series’ hottest hands. And though streaks are difficult to maintain at the sport’s highest level, owner Rick Hendrick’s stable is working on one with potentially historic ramifications. Johnson has back-to-back wins once already – at Las Vegas and Atlanta. He’s also the series most recent victor – at Martinsville. Should he or any teammate triumph at Texas, Hendrick Motorsports would become the first team since Petty Enterprises in 1971 to win five consecutive races. That’s a feat accomplished only five times previously – four times by Petty Enterprises with seven-time series champion Richard Petty. Hendrick Motorsports’ current four-in-a-row includes Johnson’s three wins and teammate Kyle Busch’s Bristol victory three weeks ago. If the team goes five-for-five, next up is six consecutive wins, accomplished twice by Petty in 1962 and ’63. Petty also won 10 consecutive races in 1967; the all-time record is 16 [for a team], by [car owner] Carl Kiekhafer in 1956.(NASCAR PR)(4-13-2007)
MORE: Hendrick Motorsports can accomplish a feat this Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway that hasn’t been achieved in over 30 years and has happened only five times — five consecutive wins by a team. The last time that happened was 1971, by Petty Enterprises. Here’s the list:
1971 – Petty Enterprises – 5 wins in a row from 7/14 to 8/1
1967 – Petty Enterprises – 10 in a row from 8/12 to 10/1
1963 – Petty Enterprises – 6 in a row from 4/14 to 5/5
1962 – Petty Enterprises – 6 in a row from 8/5 to 8/21
1956 – Carl Kiekhafer – 16 in a row from 3/25 to 6/3
(NASCAR)(4-15-2007) - Free Arby’s Fries: Matt Kenseth’s victory in Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 means Arby’s, his primary Busch sponsor, will give away free medium curly fries to all customers on Monday. Customers must bring in a printed copy of the official race results from a newspaper or Web site as their coupon to participating Arby’s on “Matt’s Monday” to receive the free fries. The promotion is only on the Mondays following a Kenseth Busch or Cup win and is limited to one order per customer.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2007)
- Special Helmet Scheme for Raines: #96-Tony Raines will wear a special military-themed helmet today [in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway] that was painted by artist David Arrigo. The helmet was to be auctioned off Saturday night at the Speedway Children’s Charity Auction at TMS. The winner will get the helmet after Raines wears it today. Raines, Arrigo and Hall of Fame Racing owners Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach will sign it. Staubach graduated from the Navel Academy, and Raines’ father was in the Air Force.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2007)
- Free Fries From Arby’s on Monday: Matt Kenseth’s victory in Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 means Arby’s, his primary Busch sponsor, will give away free medium curly fries to all customers on Monday. Customers must bring in a printed copy of the official race results from a newspaper or Web site as their coupon to participating Arby’s on “Matt’s Monday” to receive the free fries. The promotion is only on the Mondays following a Kenseth Busch or Cup win and is limited to one order per customer.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2007)
- Texas Busch sponsor re-ups: O’Reilly Auto Parts has signed a four-year contract extension with TMS to continue as title sponsor of both Busch Series races. Under terms that run from 2009-12, O’Reilly also will remain the speedway’s “Official Auto Parts Store.” The O’Reilly 300 will continue to be run in the spring and the O’Reilly Challenge will remain part of TMS’ fall schedule. The renewal was announced by TMS president Eddie Gossage and Ron Byerly, O’Reilly’s vice president of advertising and marketing. No financial terms were disclosed..(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-15-2007)
- Bodine, Skinner among drivers for Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race: UPDATE 2: Skinner wins Pro Category: An unprecedented number of female stars of film, television and sports will be donning their helmets and strapping their seatbelts in race-ready Toyota Scion tCs for this year’s Toyota/Pro Celebrity Race on Saturday, April 14, as part of the 33rd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. As the winner of the 2006 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, professional skateboarder and X Games Gold Medalist Bucky Lasek returns in the “Pro” category in 2007. Lasek joins three other drivers in the “Pro” category including NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pro Champions Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine and NHRA Champion Scott Kelley. Toyota will donate $5,000 to “Racing for Kids” in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Finally, a $15,000 donation is made in conjunction with the annual “PEOPLE Pole Award.” Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 13.(Earth Times)(3-6-2007)
UPDATE: Mike Skinner recently traveled to Willow Springs International Motorsports Park in Rosamond, Calif., for a training session with the celebrities, who will compete in identically prepared Toyota Scions. Reigning Truck Series champ Todd Bodine was originally scheduled to participate but had to cancel his appearance.(Scene Daily)(4-13-2007)
UPDATE 2: Skinner first in Pro Category: BMX champion Dave Mirra won Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, crossing the finish line ahead of former tennis star Martina Navratilova. Actor Joshua Morrow, star of “The Young & The Restless,” came in third. Truck Series champion Mike Skinner finished first in the Pro category and fourth overall.(cbs2.com)(4-15-2007) - Mac Tools official product sponsor for Wyler Racing: Wyler Racing is pleased to announce that Mac Tools, the nations leader in quality, professional hand tools, has come onboard as the official product sponsor of Wyler Racing and the #60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra driven by three-time Craftsman Truck Series’ Champion, Jack Sprague. Mac Tools is a division of The Stanley Works and has been involved in NASCAR and other forms of motorsports for many years.(Wyler Racing PR)(4-15-2007)
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