April 18, 2005
- Truex Jr. Comments about rumors: There have been reports that Martin Truex Jr. might leave DEI, however at Texas he tried to clear up those rumors telling PRN’s Garagepass…”I don’t know where these people come up with these things. You know we’re in negotiations trying to get our contract signed for the next three years and I guess somebody knows about it and thinks we’re out there looking for a ride…I think it’s pretty stupid.” When asked if he could imagine leaving DEI and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Truex said…”No I never even thought about it to be honest with you…it’s just people talking.”(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-18-2005)
- Texas Overnight TV Ratings Lag: Fox’s broadcast of Sunday’s Samsung/RadioShack 500 from Texas Motor Speedway earned a 5.0 overnight rating from Nielsen Media Research and an 11 market share, today’s Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports. While the race was the weekend’s highest-rated sports event, the rating was down from the overnight 5.6/13 (with the Albuquerque, N.M., market missing) earned by the Texas race last year, when the event was run on the first weekend in April, and the 5.8/13 in 2003.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-18-2005)
- Richert Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: Based on his performance in the Samsung Radio Shack 500, no one would have suspected that Greg Biffle wasn’t driving his primary car. Following a crash in Saturday morning’s practice session, the #16 team was forced unload their backup car, the same car that Biffle drove to a win in California. Along with crew chief Doug Richert, the team brought the car back to victory Lane in dominant fashion. Richert’s day made him the easy choice for the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. For going to his backup car, Biffle was forced to sacrifice his fifth place qualifying position and start the race in forty-first place. Biffle wheeled the Post-It/National Guard Ford into the lead in on lap 88, remaining up front for 219 laps, until cruising to his fifth career Nextel Cup victory. “We went to a backup car and Doug (Richert) and I talked about it until probably 10 o’clock last night – things we ran in California, things that we had in the other car,” said Biffle. “This is the car I won with at California and we like to keep it for a flatter race track. It doesn’t have as much clearance underneath it for this kind of a banked race track. That’s why I brought the Atlanta car, so it’s just a fantastic day. Pit stops were unbelievable. I just couldn’t have asked for a better racecar and people working on it. It was phenomenal.” The panel of voters selecting the Crew Chief of the Race; including David Wellham of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a Wypall Wipers representative and Tony Eury, Sr; unanimously agreed Richert deserved top honors. With his second Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award, Richert assumes first place in the Crew Chief of the Year standings. Robbie Loomis, Scott Miller, Bob Osborne, Alan Gustafson and Pete Rondeau are tied for second place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will win $20,000 and be crowned the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. For more information, visit www.wypall.com.(SMC500 PR)(4-18-2005)
- Biffle denies talk of him to the #2 MORE: Reports say that Greg Biffle, driver of Roush Racing’s #16, may again be in play, although Biffle says he hopes to stay with Roush if terms can be made satisfactory. Biffle, rumored to be a top choice to replace Wallace, told reporters that an extension with Roush was “in final discussions. I haven’t talked to anybody, and I don’t plan to untl I have exhausted every possible resource [for] staying at Roush Racing.”(Speed Channel)(4-17-2005)
AND Greg Biffle, reported to be a top candidate for Penske Racing’s No. 2 car when Rusty Wallace retires end of this year, insisted he will remain with Roush Racing. Biffle, two-time winner this season and fully competitive at most other stops, said, in the presence of owner Jack Roush, said that his contract-renewal negotiations with Roush are more a matter of timing. “There isn’t a question about it, and there hasn’t been this year,” Biffle said.(Speed Channel)(4-18-2005) - Robby’s Engine’s more power coming?: a highly placed source close to Robby Gordon’s #7 team has admitted that John Menard’s engine shop in England, which supplies engines to Gordon’s Cup and Busch efforts, has “found something” which definitely will allow their engines to produce more horsepower and turn people’s heads – especially those at Hendrick Motorsports, whose Chevy engines are currently best in class. FYI: Menard’s engine works is a former F1 engine manufacturer that was used to build race engines capable of running more than 17,000 rpm and producing 1,200 horsepower. Was there any question they would get a Cup motor right? Now we know why Gordon has been so adamant about hanging in there with Menard.(Yahoo Sports)(4-18-2005)
- Marcis praises Bourdais: Dave Marcis, the veteran stock car driver who now is the key setup driver for IROC, was quoted as saying that “[Sebastien] Bourdais is the best I’ve ever seen in an IROC car. The best.”(Yahoo Sports)(4-18-2005)
- Huh? [from Yahoo in a rumors story] Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon to Toyota? This one sounds good because Rick Hendrick is one of the largest Toyota dealers in the country, but it won’t happen. Unless, of course, Toyota buys GM in the next couple of years.(Yahoo Sports)(4-18-2005)
- DEI to Open Doors in honor of Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will open the doors of its Mooresville, N.C. shop to fans on April 29, which would have marked the 54th birthday of founder Dale Earnhardt. The team’s showroom will have a display on the 25-year history of DEI. A Jumbotron on the front lawn will show highlights of Earnhardt’s career and coverage of Friday qualifying at Talladega.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-18-2005)
- Benson to test Toyota [Solara?] Busch car? Toyota is getting closer to a Nextel Cup effort, according to sources, who say taht it’s only a matter of time before Toyota executives finally pull the plug on their $98-million-a-year Indy Racing League operation and begin moving that cash to NASCAR, first for a Busch effort in 2006. Johnny Benson is reported to be set to test a Toyota Busch [Solara?] car at Michigan soon and at an unnamed short track.(Winston Salem Journal)
AND Garage sources say Toyota has two Busch cars built and will be ready for competition in 2006. Bill Davis Racing, which has been without factory support in Cup for nearly two years, is expected to field teams, as is Chip Ganassi Racing. The other manufacturers have personal services contracts with most drivers; Toyota, though, is expected to hold the drivers’ contracts, rather than the car owners, to maintain control over the program.(Sporting News/FoxSports)(4-18-2005) - Truex looking elsewhere? Yates? Denied by Yates and Evernham UPDATE: Martin Truex Jr., 2004 Busch Series Champ, is reported to be working the marketplace, and one report has Dodge’s Ray Evernham and Ford’s Robert Yates both interested in Truex. But Yates denies he’s looking at Truex. “We’re set for next year (with Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett),” Yates said. “Now if we were going to do a third, we’d be looking around. That might be on our wish list, but it’s not done yet, and I don’t know that we’re going to do that. And I have not talked with Martin. But I am impressed with him. Now that you mention it, that’s a great idea.”(Winston Salem Journal)(4-16-2005)
UPDATE: Truex, who drives Busch cars for Dale Earnhardt Inc., is reported to be without a contract for 2006. Truex has been mentioned for rides with Dodge’s Evernham, Ford’s Robert Yates and Chevrolet’s Rick Hendrick. Dodge car owner Ray Evernham says he is indeed trying to set up a full-time third team operation but denies that Truex might be replacing Mayfield. Truex? “I hear Robert [Yates] is after him real hard, but I don’t know,” Evernham said. “I’d love to talk to Martin about that (third team), but I have not. I understand he’s under contract with DEI and I’m not going to get involved in another contract dispute.”(Winston Salem Journal)
However: been told that Truex Jr. is signed thru at least 2006 and is [as it was announced in Oct 2004] moving up to Cup in 2006 with Bass Pro Shops, supposedly to the #1 DEI Chevy, but could be the #15 if NAPA doesn’t return and Michael Waltrip leaves [supposedly needs to make the Chase to keep the ride](4-18-2005) - HOF Racing – Aikman/Staubach still looking for a sponsor: The Hall of Fame Racing Team, led by former Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, still is struggling to get sponsorship for a team to race next season. Aikman, who was co-grand marshal Sunday, said the expense of racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, is staggering. “There are some contracts that got put in place with NASCAR that have been prohibitive for us and others that are trying to get sponsorship,” Aikman said. “But we’re continuing to go forward, and we’re very hopeful that something will happen real soon.” He suggested controlling spending. “It’s a competitive business, and that’s one of the real concerns for NASCAR right now,” Aikman said. “I know in the NFL they have salary caps, and I think something should be addressed when it comes to sponsorship for NASCAR teams.”(Dallas Morning News)(4-18-2005)
- Two Team – Polar Opposites at Texas:
Chip Ganassi Racing: three teams: #42-McMurray finished 2nd, #41-Mears 4th, #40-Marlin 5th
Joe Gibbs Racing: three teams: #20-Stewart finished 31st [DNF engine], #11-Leffler 36th [accident but finished], #18-Labonte had more tough luck and was an early DNF, plus the stomach flu, finished 38th.(4-18-2005) - Bridgestone to join Toyota? There is a new twist to the Toyota-NASCAR game plan: according to sources Toyota is already testing NASCAR-style tires for Bridgestone-Firestone, with the implication that when Toyota does step up to the Nextel Cup series, it plans to do so with Bridgestone-Firestone. Since Goodyear has an exclusive contract with NASCAR, the questions are obvious – are Toyota and Bridgestone going to challenge that exclusivity, or is NASCAR going to open up the Cup tour to competition between the two tire giants?(Winston Salem Journal)(4-18-2005)
- Gossage featured in Kulwicki film: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage plays a role in the new movie Dare to Dream – The Alan Kulwicki Story. Gossage reenacts a phone conversation he had with Kulwicki when the Wisconsin native was in the middle of a rags-to-riches climb that resulted in him becoming the 1992 Winston Cup Series champion. Kulwicki died in a 1993 plane crash.(Dallas Morning News)(4-18-2005)
- Stewart Burned but OK: Sidelined with a blown motor that erupted in flames on lap 297. Mike Arning, PR spokesman for Tony Stewart released this: “Tony has some first degree burns. There is a small burn on the lower back of his right thigh that’s about the size of a fist. The other area is on his right elbow. It’s about half the size of the one on his thigh, and it’s more like a bad sunburn. Both are minor burns which he’ll treat on his own in the coming days.”(GM PR)(4-17-2005)
AND After leading twice for 45 laps and making his presence in the top-10 known during much of Sunday’s Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, Tony Stewart’s day ended in a blaze, sans the glory. On lap 297 while in eighth, the engine in Stewart’s #20 Home Depot Chevrolet grenaded, sending flames up through the shifter boot and into the cockpit. Stewart maintained control and brought his smoldering ride to the backstretch apron of the 1.5-mile oval as quickly as possible, extricating himself once the car came to a stop. Track safety crews were immediately on the scene, helping Stewart from his car before transporting him to the HCA Infield Medical Center. There, Stewart was treated for first-degree burns on the lower back of his right thigh and right elbow. The area on his thigh was about the size of a fist, and the area on his elbow was about half that size and akin to a severe sunburn. Stewart was treated and released from the care center in good condition. “It just let go without any warning,” said Stewart after leaving the care center. “There wasn’t a vibration or anything. It just went.”(JGR/True Speed)(4-18-2005) - Mark Green now in the #23 replacing Shawna: Mark Green will replace Shawna Robinson behind the wheel of the #23 Vassarette Chevrolet on an interim basis, Keith Coleman Racing (KCR) announced today. “The next few races will be very important to our season as we move forward,” said crew chief Kenneth Campbell. “We’ve had some tough luck lately and we’ve got to get it turned around. Mark was the logical choice to help us do that.” Green, who opened the season with KCR [#26 Chevy], said he was excited by the opportunity to drive for the team again. “It’s a good team with good equipment and a great sponsor,” he said. “Hopefully I can be of benefit and help the team get back on the right track.”(KCR PR)(4-18-2005)
- Barrett responds to Stewart’s comments: Driver Stanton Barrett suggested the media sit down with him and watch the tapes of Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. Specifically, he said he would be glad to watch the tapes with them and answer any questions they have regarding the Lap 28 accident that began with #33 Tony Stewart and #1 Brandon Miller, and then encompassed Barrett’s #36 DCT Motorsports Chevrolet. “We were coming out of the second turn with Brandon and Tony hooked nose to tail, and I was maybe two car lengths back,” Barrett said of the incident. “Tony got into Brandon and Brandon was able to hold on, but Tony backed off after he hit him and I had nowhere to go. I guess he decided to blame me but, if you look at the tapes, it’s pretty obvious that it started when he and Brandon got together.” Stewart’s interview on FOX was a scathing near-personal attack that indicted Barrett, but glossed over the contact with Miller. “I’ll be glad to sit down with anyone from the media who wants to sit down and look at the tapes,” Barrett said. “I’ll tell them what is happening during the whole thing, and answer absolutely any question they want to ask. If Tony wants to join us, all the better. He could answer everybody’s questions too. It might give somebody a pretty neat story,” he added.(Williams Company)(4-18-2005)
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