April 15, 2005
- Evernham Chopper to be auctioned off for Charity: Ray Evernham [#9,#19, #91 team owner] has combined his love of motorcycles with his charitable outreach effort, Racing for a Reason, and his commitment to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support a program that will raise money for the life-saving work of this charity. Evernham teamed up with legendary bike builder Dave Perewitz and PPG Automotive Refinish to design and build a custom chopper. The Charity Chopper features a fabulous finish from the PPG Vibrance Collection TM with a Liquid Crystal Orange topcoat and classic Perewitz flames. The Charity Chopper will appear with the PPG Show Truck at custom car and bike shows around the country. Evernham, Perewitz and PPG are teamed up with eBay, The World’s Online Marketplace,, for monthly charity auctions of collectible items to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In the fall, The Charity Chopper will be up for bid on eBay beginning on September 30 and will end on October 9. Delivery will take place at the Texas Motor Speedway during the November race weekend where the winning bidder will be presented the bike by Ray Evernham and PPG representatives. For more information log on to www.ebay.com/charitychopper (Check back soon as site will be going live in the next few days). For more information about the The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org.(Clear!Blue)(4-15-2005)
- Irwin Tools back on the #97, first time in 2005: Kurt Busch’s #97 Ford Taurus sports the colors of IRWIN Industrial Tools at Texas for the first time this season. The IRWIN car will run the next six events through the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte on May 21st.(Roush Racing)(4-15-2005)
- Fans to Decide First All-Time IROC Team After nearly three decades of legendary racing, the International Race of Champions (IROC) has partnered with title sponsor Crown Royal to give fans the opportunity to become part of racing history in selecting the first ever all-time IROC Team. Crown Royal and IROC today unveiled the program that will honor IROC’s all-time great champions. Dubbed Crown Royal’s Legends of Victory Lane, the program will represent the first all-time team in IROC history selected by the fans. Twelve finalists for this prestigious all-time team have been selected by an esteemed media panel, which has covered motorsports for a combined 100 plus years. Finalists were determined by panel nominations based primarily on drivers’ IROC career performance.
Starting this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, fans legal drinking age and above will have the opportunity to vote at IROC and NASCAR races across the country for the four drivers whom they consider the Legends of Victory Lane. Voting kiosks will be stationed at the Crown Royal Experience, an interactive racing exhibit for fans at track, or via the Internet at www.crownroyalracing.com. The final team will consist of four all-time legends, and will be honored at the final IROC race of the season in Atlanta in October. The finalists represent the three main racing disciplines of IROC racing – stock car, open-wheel and road racing – and include: Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue, Dale Earnhardt, Hurley Haywood, Tom Kendall, Steve Kinser, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Scott Pruett, Al Unser Jr., Bobby Unser and Cale Yarborough.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-15-2005) - NASCAR HOF tops Charlotte’s ‘must-have’ list: The proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame has zoomed to the top of Charlotte’s must-have list, racing past the long-simmering push for new museums and theaters. Led by a self-described “checkered flag team” of elected officials and private-sector power brokers, the NASCAR building has attracted a near-unanimous consensus, big-name architects and, most important, urgency. “It has huge momentum, compared with anything else,” said Charlotte City Council member John Tabor, a Republican. The arts package, he said, was already in limbo anyway. With public budgets tight again, and thus limited money available for uptown tourist attractions, where does that leave the arts projects? Will this be a tortoise-hare matchup where everyone reaches the finish line eventually? Or will the arts projects eat NASCAR’s dust? The next few months should be telling, as the city, county and state governments set their budgets and priorities for 2005-06. In the race for public and private cash, the hall of fame took the lead this spring, thanks to a May 31 deadline imposed by NASCAR. Charlotte and five other regions are competing for the tourist magnet, which could cost more than $100 million. Earlier this week, organizers announced they had selected a preferred city-owned site near the Charlotte Convention Center and hired the architectural firm founded by I.M. Pei, which designed the pyramid at the Louvre in Paris and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. NASCAR also has several other advantages. Organizers estimate that the hall of fame would draw 400,000 visitors per year. At this point, neither arts leaders nor hall of fame organizers have proposed a complete financing plan, making it difficult to know whether they will compete directly against each other for public money. That overlap could be limited, though, because the NASCAR project may draw corporate support from outside the Charlotte region, from national companies that sponsor the sport. Construction executive Luther Cochrane has his hands in both projects. He chaired last summer’s arts task force, and he’s now one of the “crew chiefs” of the NASCAR project.(Charlotte Observer)(4-15-2005)
- Norris leaves Penske? UPDATE: hearing #12 Penske Racing car chief, Chad Norris, has left the team and has assumed the crew chief job with Matt Kenseth’s #17 Busch Series team. Former crew chief for Kenseth [Busch], Charles “Cully” Barraclough left to take the #20 Busch Series crew chief gig.(4-14-2005)
UPDATE: Robbie Reiser, who leads Kenseth’s Cup team, is pulling double duty this weekend and expects to do so for the rest of the season. Chad Norris, former car chief for Ryan Newman’s Penske South Nextel Cup team, has joined Roush Racing and is the heir apparent, Reiser said Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(4-15-2005) - Actor to promote recycling cell phones at Texas: Actor Richard Karn, who played Al in the sitcom Home Improvement and is the host of Family Feud, will take part in Sunday’s prerace activities to inform fans about RadioShack’s cellphone recycling program. The proceeds from recycled phones go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2005)
- Gillette Young Guns – Weekly Update: By picking #/12-Ryan Newman as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun in the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 10th, G.K. of New Port Richey, FL was the winner of the weekly Gillette Young Guns $5,000 Challenge. G.K. picked Ryan Newman as the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun by going towww.gilletteyoungguns.com and entering before the weekly deadline. As the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun, a $1,000 donation will be made to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) on behalf of Newman. This is the first time this season a donation has been made to the NPCC on behalf of Newman.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-15-2005)
- 2005 ‘Gong Show’ on Speed? UPDATE 2: Roush Racing is negotiating with Speed Channel to turn its Gong Show — the name given to Roush’s tryout competition for a ride in the truck series — into reality TV. The program would appear at the end of May.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(4-13-2005)
UPDATE: been told that SPEED Channel has not talked to Roush about this since Spring 2004 … there are no talks currently going on and certainly nothing planned for May.(4-13-2005)
UPDATE 2: “We are very close to a deal. It’s in lawyers’ hands, working out details, but it’s not Speed Vision [Speed Channel], as reported. It’s not any of the current NASCAR broadcast partners. They turned it down, and so another company picked it up and when I can announce it I think it’ll be huge.” Geoff Smith President of Roush Racing – on the Gong Show reality TV show – told Claire B. Lang from XM Satellite NASCAR Radio.(4-15-2005) - Bruton to be honored Saturday: Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame will be honored at a dinner celebration and tribute on the evening of April 16, 2005, at the Panthers Den at Bank of America Stadium. Proceeds from the event will benefit Charlotte/Mecklenburg Senior Centers, Inc.
The four 2005 inductees are:
– Bobby Jones, collegiate and professional basketball player
– Bruton Smith, motorsports pioneer
– David Thompson, collegiate and professional basketball player
– Hoyt Wilhelm, professional baseball player (posthumous award)
John M. Belk, former Charlotte Mayor and recently retired chief executive of the Belk department store organization, is honorary chairman of the event. The gala event (formal business attire) will feature a cocktail reception with live music beginning at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 8 p.m. The awards presentation ceremony will include video tributes to the inductees and introductions by friends and colleagues. A silent auction of sports memorabilia and other items will be held. Tickets to the charitable event are $150 each. For information or reservations, call 704-369-0383 or visit the charlottehalloffame.com website. The inaugural inductees of the Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 were: Jim Beatty, the late Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Mullins and Floyd “Chunk” Simmons. Members of the 2005 Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame’s selection committee that chose the 2005 honorees include Jim Babb, Jim Beatty, Jeff Beaver, John M. Belk, Dell Curry, Ron Green, Sr., Bill Hensley, Max Muhleman, Judy Rose, Dick Thigpen, and H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler. The Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame was established in the fall of 2003 as an entity to recognize and honor outstanding sports figures from the Charlotte region and to create greater public awareness of the area’s rich sports history and heritage.(carolinanewswire.com)(4-15-2005) - More on possible #6 Drivers UPDATE 2:: Geoff Smith, the manager of Jack Roush’s racing operation, must fill Mark Martin’s seat when Martin retires at the end of this season, and he must also sign a new sponsor for that team. Martin was a proven product when Smith did his five-year, $60 million deal with Pfizer. But how many companies would be willing to risk making a deal like that for a little-known racer? And the price tag is now closer to $20 million a year to run a NASCAR team. “One of the reasons we hired Ricky Craven for the Truck series is there’s the sense Ricky has never gotten the right break with first-rate equipment, so he is very hungry to prove he’s got it in him to be successful. And he is a great guy, very compatible with our guys.” Sterling Marlin is one name driver whose 2006 contract is up in the air. And Ryan Newman, NASCAR’s premier qualifier, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for another ride, as has Michael Waltrip.(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)
UPDATE: Virtually everywhere Ricky Craven goes, fans continually ask whether he’ll be back in Nextel Cup racing soon. He already has turned down one marginal opportunity this season and instead chose stay with Roush, as he feels it’s the best place for him to be at this point in his career. There indeed will be opportunities with Roush at the Cup level, as Mark Martin is retiring at the end of this season. Craven delicately sidesteps rumors that he may replace Martin in the Roush-owned #6 Ford or take over for Carl Edwards in the #99 if Edwards is tabbed to replace Martin next year. “Jack and I have had conversations, but our primary conversation and objective is to battle for the championship in the 99 truck,” Craven said. “I still think there’s an opportunity for me [to go back to Cup], but that’s all predicated on us meeting our goals this year. … If [that] happens, then I’ll have made a pretty good argument for a year in a Roush Cup car. That’s really only as far as it goes.”(Yahoo Sports)(4-14-2005)
UPDATE 2: Several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams tested at Gateway International Speedway near St. Louis, Mo., Wednesday [4/13] in preparation for the Truck Series race there on April 30th. KFNS – kfns.com) motorsports reporter Brandon Mudd talked to Ricky Craven, driver of the #99 SuperChips Ford, who was among those testing there. Craven said there has been talk of his possible future in the #6 Ford that will be vacant at the end of the season with Nextel Cup veteran Mark Martin’s retirement. “I’m not going to tell you it doesn’t interest me and I’m not going to tell you that there hasn’t been some conversation, but it is so premature that it just doesn’t get any consideration. (Right now) I’m all about this Truck Series, all about the next 21 races.” Craven went on to say, despite what happens with that potential opening, he’s still paying close attention to Martin. “I’m watching Mark for other reasons. It’s primarily because I’m a big believer in Mark Martin and his career and his abilities and he’s going to battle down to the wire for this (Nextel Cup) title. He deserves it and I’m pulling for him.”(KFNS.com)(4-15-2005) - Newman wins pole at Texas: #12-Ryan Newman won the Budweiser Pole for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 192.582mph, his 3rd pole of 2005 and 30th Career pole, now 19th overall on the All-Time Pole List. Rounding out the top-five were #19-Mayfield, #9-Kahne, #21-Rudd and #16-Biffle. Missing the race were #92-Barrett, #34-LaJoie and #37-Lepage. #0-Mike Bliss has the only wreck in qualifying, smacked the wall but will NOT go to a backup car [per Bliss in a GM PR]. #25-Vicker’s team changed engines before qualifying and have to go to the rear of the field at the start of the race on Sunday.
See qualifying results, pole progression, starting lineup, other starting lineup links on my Jayski’s Texas Qualifying/Starting Lineup Page.(4-15-2005) - Samsung/RadioShack 500 qualifying notes:
* Ryan Newman won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Samsung/RadioShack 500, lapping Texas Motor Speedway in 28.040 seconds at 192.582 mph. Bill Elliott holds the track-qualifying record of 27.803 seconds, 194.224 mph, set April 5, 2002.
* This is Newman’s 30th career Bud Pole in 123 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
* This is Newman’s first Bud Pole and second top-10 start in four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway. His previous best start here was third in 2003.
* This moves Newman to 22nd on the all-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole list.
* Jeremy Mayfield posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 28.062 seconds, 192.431 mph and will join Newman on the front row for the Samsung/RadioShack 500. It is Mayfield’s fourth top-10 start in 2005 and his third top-10 start in nine races at Texas.
* This is the third Bud Pole for Dodge in 2005. Chevrolet and Ford each have two.
* Kasey Kahne (third) posted his second top-10 start in two races at Texas. He also started third here in 2004. It is his fourth top-10 start in 2005.
* Ricky Rudd (fourth) posted his first top-10 start in 2005. It is his fourth top-10 start in nine races at Texas.
* Greg Biffle (fifth) sixth top-10 start in 2005. His only start outside the top 10 was 23rd at Daytona. It is his second top-10 start at Texas – both top-fives.
* Bill Elliott (15th) and Terry Labonte (43rd) each qualified for their third NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race this season.
* Boris Said (40th) qualified for his fifth career oval-track race and his second race this season. Said has also competed in nine road-course races since making his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup debut at Watkins Glen in 1999.
* Three drivers failed to qualify for the Samsung/RadioShack 500: Kevin Lepage, Stanton Barrett and Randy LaJoie.
* There have been six different Bud Pole winners at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004) is the only repeat Bud Pole winner. Qualifying was canceled by weather for the inaugural race (1997).
* No NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Texas has been won from a front-row starting position but six have been won from the top 10 – five from the top five.
* Six of the eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Texas have been won from a starting position of seventh or better. Matt Kenseth started 31st in route to his victory there in the 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(4-15-2005) - Stock Car Fans – Ramblings – Texas: #19-Jeremy Mayfield made it interesting, but it was #12-Ryan Newman (again!) taking the Bud Pole today at Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Samsung/ RadioShack 500. Newman’s time of 28.040 (192.582 mph) was a little over 2/100th’s of a second better than that of Mayfield.
This is the third pole of the season for Rocket Ryan and the 30th of his Nextel Cup career.
Mayfield (2nd) has his best starting spot since he had the pole at Dover last September.
#9-Kasey Kahne (3rd) has his best starting spot since he was on the outside pole at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last October.
#21-Ricky Rudd (4th) has his best starting spot since he had the outside pole at Talladega last October.
#91-Bill Elliott (15th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 3rd at California last September (only four races).
STREAKIN….Ryan Newman has 14 Top-10 starts in a row.
Greg Biffle has 6 Top-10 starts in a row.
Kasey Kahne has 4 Top-10 starts in the last 5 races.
This place is awful fast, and we haven’t seen a repeat winner in the eight runnings of this event. 5 Fords (3 of ’em Roush), 2 Chevys, 1 Dodge shows it can be a mixed bag when Sunday rolls around.(Stock Car Fans)(4-15-2005) - Norris leaves Penske? UPDATE: hearing #12 Penske Racing car chief, Chad Norris, has left the team and has assumed the crew chief job with Matt Kenseth’s #17 Busch Series team. Former crew chief for Kenseth [Busch], Charles “Cully” Barraclough left to take the #20 Busch Series crew chief gig.(4-14-2005)
UPDATE: Robbie Reiser, who leads Kenseth’s Cup team, is pulling double duty this weekend and expects to do so for the rest of the season. Chad Norris, former car chief for Ryan Newman’s Penske South Nextel Cup team, has joined Roush Racing and is the heir apparent, Reiser said Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(4-15-2005) - RadioShack Sponsors Cope at Texas: RadioShack Corporation will ride with driver Derrike Cope and the #28 Jay Robinson Racing Ford for the second time this season after sponsoring the team in the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona. Cope, winner of the 1990 Daytona 500, will drive the RadioShack Ford. In addition, four other RadioShack supporters – Motorola, Olympus, Whistle and Magellan – will be prominently identified on the car.(Williams Company)(4-15-2005)
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