April 24, 2007
- NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its high speeds and close competition, and the Busch Series will make its only appearance of the 2007 season at the 2.66-mile Alabama track this weekend. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of Saturday’s 312-mile race beginning at 2:30pm/et with NASCAR Countdown, the fourth of six series events on ABC this year. The other 29 events are televised by ESPN2. Jerry Punch will anchor the telecast from Talladega, joined in the booth by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for analysis. Jarrett is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, who will rejoin NASCAR coverage in June. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. Brent Musburger will host the telecast, while analyst Brad Daugherty will join Musburger in the ESPN Pit Studio during the race, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. Coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 2:30pm/et, with the race to start at 3:00pm/et.
NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes at its regular 6:30pm/et timeslot Tuesday through Thursday of this week, and at 3:30pm/et on Friday with reports from Talladega Superspeedway. In addition, the one-hour weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et with a wrap-up of Saturday’s Busch Series race from Talladega and a look ahead to that afternoon’s Nextel Cup race. Sunday night’s edition of the program will air at midnight.
The Nextel Cup Series will return to ESPN beginning with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To build momentum for the return Nextel Cup racing, ESPN has launched a series of 30-second features counting down the 100 most defining moments in NASCAR history as selected by a special panel of historians and experts. ESPN Ultimate NASCAR will feature one new vignette a day for 100 straight days – culminating with the #1 moment on Sunday, July 29. The vignettes are featured on SportCenter, NASCAR Now and other ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic programming.(ESPN PR)(4-24-2007) - Harvick testing at VIR Wed: #29-Kevin Harvick and the RCR ream are scheduled to test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), a road course, on Wednesday, April 25th in preparation for the June Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.(RCR PR)(4-24-2007)
- Testing at Iowa today: #36-Jeremy Mayfield and Joe Gibbs Racing representative Mike McLaughlin plan to turn some laps today [Tuesday, April 24] at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa — weather permitting. Mayfield drives for Bill Davis Racing. McLaughlin, who used to race for Joe Gibbs Racing, now serves primarily as a tester and mentor. Iowa Speedway’s public viewing area is open for those interested in seeing the cars on the 7/8-mile asphalt oval track.(Des Moines Register)(4-24-2007)
- 51% of DEI = $55 million? Taking control of DEI, his late father’s company, might come at too high a price for #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. Last week, it was reported DEI offered Dale Earnhardt Jr. 51% ownership, which NASCAR’s most popular driver quickly denied. That’s not to say there weren’t informal discussions, rather it could be Junior simply stopped listening once he heard the asking price. Several people familiar with the contract negotiations told The Associated Press that DEI has not made a formal offer and that any discussions centered around the 51% ownership share came with a steep asking price – $55 million or more – that the Earnhardt Jr. camp didn’t take seriously. That number would be in line with the going rate for a stake in a NASCAR team. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is believed to have spent about $60 million in February for a minority stake in Roush Fenway Racing. Those familiar with the negotiations requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak. When reached Monday, Junior’s sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge declined comment, citing the reporting of inaccurate information over the weekend in her desire to refrain from commenting until a formal announcement.(Associated Press)(4-24-2007)
- Labonte to ride with Spider-Man at Talladega: This weekend Bobby Labonte has a guest. Labonte’s #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge will be decaled with the company of Spider-Man on board in anticipation of the movie Spider-Man 3. The paint scheme will run for fans all weekend at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway as the team prepares for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499. Labonte and team head to Talladega after shaking some bad luck at Phoenix.The Cheerios Dodge team recorded their best finish of the season when they finished eighth. It was the teams first top 10 finish of the season. Comments from Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499: “We’ve got Spider-Man along for the ride this weekend. That’s a great opportunity for us and we want to take advantage of it. It’s always neat any time you have something like this on the car, but Spider-Man has been a huge success. It’s something pretty neat to be involved with. The Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge is always a sharp looking car. Having Spider-Man on the sides, it’s really cool. Hopefully we can give him a good ride. You know, paint schemes are a part of our sport. They came into the sport years ago and it was a really big deal. Today, you see so many of them, but it still keeps the sport interesting. We want fans to walk away on Sunday thinking, ‘Man, that Spider-Man car was pretty cool.” I think it’s good for the fans, the families and kids to get to see that every once and a while. We think the Spider-Man 3 scheme will get everyone excited.”(MCG Sports/Petty Racing PR), see an image of the scheme on the #43 Team Schemes page.(4-24-2007)
- IMHOF Induction Ceremony Thursday: Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names in all of motorsports.
* This year’s black-tie ceremony consists of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony and is set for Thursday April 26, 2007.
* The 2007 class of inductees consists of Warren Johnson, Wayne Rainey, Ray Hendrick, Junie Donlavey, Jack Ingram and Bruton Smith.
* Individual tickets are $125 and a table for eight may be reserved for $1,000 by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted. More info at motorsportshalloffame.com.(TSS PR)(4-24-2007) - COT Pts: the top 10 in drivers pts in the three COT races:
24-Jeff Gordon, 535 (1 wins)
5-Kyle Busch, 501 (1)
11-Denny Hamlin, 466
48-Jimmie Johnson, 465 (1)
31-Jeff Burton, 444
17-Matt Kenseth, 424
8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 417
20-Tony Stewart, 399
26-Jamie McMurray, 370
99-Carl Edwards, 369
(4-24-2007) - Ward visits Virginia Tech: #4-Ward Burton spent five hours Monday at Virginia Tech where he ate with mechanical engineering faculty members, mingled with students and visited memorials dedicated to the victims of last week’s shootings. Burton came to campus from his Halifax home Monday morning with wife, Tabitha, and 14-year-old son, Jeb, who has aspirations of becoming a Tech student. “We just wanted to come show our support,” said Burton, who was invited by a friend in the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Burton said the tragedy has had a significant impact on the NASCAR community because of the number of Tech engineering alumni who work on Cup teams. “I’m a Virginian and I know that Virginia Tech has had influence from urban to rural all over the state of Virginia,” said Burton, who donates annually to the university. “It’s just a far-reaching institution that does so many great things for the state of Virginia.” Burton is in talks with car owner Larry McClure about displaying the Tech colors at races later this season. “It’s just sad that there are people that are discontented in the world and there are people that are that angry in the world that they take it out at innocent people,” Burton said. “Everybody is going to rally around this institution and it’s going to rise way above this tragedy and even be more powerful and make more of a difference than it ever did before.”(Roanoke Times)(4-24-2007)
- Newman testing at VIR: #12-Ryan Newman is scheduled to test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), a road course, on Wednesday, April 25th.(Penske PR)(4-24-2007)
- Boris Said and No Fear Racing set for Talladega: #60-Boris Said, who qualified sixth and placed 14th overall at the 2007 Daytona 500, will return to Nextel Cup Series action this weekend at the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. Driving for No Fear Racing, Said, from Carlsbad, California, will guide the #60 No Fear Energy Ford Fusion. “We’re real excited to be back racing again and I’m hoping we can carry the momentum we have from Daytona over to Talladega,” offered Said while packing up his driving suits and helmets this morning. “Our number one goal at Talladega this weekend is to make the race. Just making a Nextel Cup races has become so hard now, that we’ll be pleased to just make the show.” No Fear Racing tam owner Mark Simo is also excited about the team’s chances this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega. “You enter every race hoping for the opportunity to be competitive,” reasoned Simo. “We’re hoping we can do well at Talladega. “With a limited schedule – the team will also compete at Infineon, the Pepsi 400, Watkins Glen and the Talladega October race – first we hope to start the weekend by qualifying, and then if that works out, we’ll look for a reasonable result on race day. I can’t imagine going to a race and not being competitive, but you have to realize that we’re racing against the best guys in the world here. I guess you have to curb your enthusiasm and live in reality.”(No Fear Racing PR)(4-24-2007)
- Hamlin’s Team Captures Pit Crew Competition in Phoenix: #11-Denny Hamlin’s over-the-wall crew took top honors in the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge during Saturday night’s Nextel Cup event at Phoenix International Raceway. Out of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, the #11 FedEx team spent the least amount of time on pit road (217.339 seconds), lifting its driver to a third-place finish. “The FedEx over-the-wall guys were really good tonight,” said Hamlin. “They worked hard, were quick all race and certainly stepped up their game. It’s frustrating not to leave Phoenix with a win after having such a good car and a good effort on pit road but the breaks just didn’t go our way.” The #11 crew includes: Chris Webb (jackman), Chad Edwards (front-tire carrier), Donnie Brown (front-tire changer), Heath Cherry (rear-tire carrier), Dennis Terry (rear-tire changer), Scott Wood (gasman), John Eicher (catch can), Bobby “Spike” Christenson (windshield) and John Furino (pit support). The team’s crew chief is Mike Ford and the pit crew coordinator is Paul Alepa. Checkers/Rally’s will award Hamlin’s crew a cash prize of $11,000 for winning the weekly competition.
An additional $111,150 will be presented to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule. To win the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge, teams are required to finish on the lead lap while spending the least amount of time on pit road. Checkers/Rally’s is in its third season as title sponsor for the pit crew challenge. Checkers/Rally’s is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(4-24-2007) - Green testing at Kentucky: #66-Jeff Green is scheduled to test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday April 25th. On the same day an Indy Pro Series team is scheduled to test.[Note, the test ended up being on the 24th](Kentucky Speedway)(4-24-2007)
- Ford Fights Back and Earns the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: Prior to the start of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, crew chief Mike Ford, Joe Gibbs Racing, was extremely confident after great practice sessions proved that his #11 FedEx Chevy had the best setup possible. As crew chief, he had done all he could prior to the green flag to give his young star driver, Denny Hamlin, every shot at winning. And it seemed his work had paid off, as Hamlin wasted no time in charging from his third place starting position to the lead after only 24 laps. However, after Hamlin was caught speeding on pit road (lap 98), and was forced to make a pass-through penalty dropping him back to 31st, Ford tightened the belts, mustered his crew and set sights on working Hamlin back to the front. An amazing effort between the crew chief, driver and team, propelled Hamlin through the field to register a hard fought third place finish. For his great pre-race efforts and hard work all night on top of the pit box, Mike Ford won the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Having done his homework and having solid practice runs leading up to the Subway Fresh Fit 500, Ford made no adjustments to the #11 Chevy after the final practice session. With green flag pit stops pending in the final 30 laps of the race, Ford opted to keep Hamlin on the track as long as possible to avoid any chance of being caught a lap down in the event of a caution. The strategy paid off as several of the leaders who had pitted early were trapped a lap down when the caution flag came out with 28 laps remaining. A panel of voters, including a member of the local media, Tony Eury Jr., Kenny Francis, Robbie Reiser and a Wypall Wipers representative were unanimous in selecting Ford as the crew chief of the race. As the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race, Ford received $1,000. Earning his first crew chief of the race award puts Ford level with Robbie Reiser, Alan Gustafson, Chip Bolin, Chad Knaus, Ryan Pemberton, Donnie Wingo and Tony Eury Jr. also with one win each. At the end of the season the crew chief with the most wins will receive $20,000 and be crowned Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. For more information on Wypall Wipers or the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge, visit www.Wypall.com.(Wypall PR)(4-24-2007)
- Sad News: Tom Hamilton: Tom Hamilton, a local Southern passed away recently. The California racer saw that need and started a small company called “Stock Car Products.” The company opened for business in 1969 in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Soon the majority of NASCAR Grand National Series regulars were running his spindles, hubs, steering arms and rear end housings. The company later added brakes, shocks and steering components to it’s catalog. Virginia racer, Emanuel Zervakis. Zervakis, who was Stock Car Products biggest customer, became the East Coast distributor in the spring of 1973. Hamilton was also a successful car owner fielding rides for the likes of Hershel McGriff, Jimmy Insolo, Timmy Williamson, Follmer, Ivan Baldwin, Tom Maier, Terry Bivens, Ron Esau, Jim Cook, Rusty Sanders and Vince Giamformaggio. Hamilton ran the Daytona 500 two times with drivers Timmy Williamson and Rusty Sanders. By 1988 Hamilton was ready to retire. What had as a hobby had turned into a multi-million dollar business, and Tom’s son Steve spun off a division of SCP and continues to supply racers with high quality race car dry sump systems. Emanuel Zervakis purchased Stock Car Products from Hamilton and moved the company to the east coast. Since the purchase, SCP has steadily added to its inventory and now stocks over 7500 racing parts and components. Hamilton was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame. Services are not finalized.(4-23-2007)
The services for Tom Hamilton will be held at Memorial Park. 455 West Central Ave. Brea, Calif. Tuesday April 24, 2007 @ 1:00 pm.(4-24-2007) - Congrats to Dan Deeringhoff: Clint Bowyer’s crew chief Dan Deeringhoff will miss this weekend’s race at Talladega in lieu of his wedding. Deeringhoff will marry Sandy Bessey in a ceremony this Saturday at noon at Sandals Resort in the Bahamas. Bowyer’s Nextel Cup Series engineer Jeremy Bullins will call the race in Deeringhoff’s absence who will return to the top of the pit box next weekend in Richmond.(RCR PR)(4-24-2007)
- Kvapil to make guest appearance during ARCA broadcast: Travis Kvapil [#6-K&N Ford] is scheduled to make a guest appearance in the commentator’s booth during Friday afternoon’s ARCA race at Kansas Speedway. Kvapil’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate, Erik Darnell, will drive the #99 Ford in the 100-lap event scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm/et on Speed/TV.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-24-2007)
- Miller makes first Kansas start: Chase Miller, driver of the #4-Open Joist BHR Dodge will be making his first career Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 will mark Miller’s 13th Truck Series start. (BHR PR)(4-24-2007)
- Red Horse Racing to Honor Virginia Tech: As a tribute to those affected by the tragic events on the Virginia Tech campus April 16th, Red Horse Racing will run the symbolic Virginia Tech logo on the hood of the #1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota driven by Aaron Fike, this weekend during the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Each crew member will also wear a Virginia Tech hat to honor the faculty and students who lost their lives on that devastating day.(Red Horse Racing PR)(4-24-2007)
See paint scheme at the2007 Paint Scheme Gallery.(4-24-2007) - Ruttman set to make first 2007 start with BHR: Joe Ruttman will be making his 169th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, April 28th in the #18-Fastenol Dodge for Bobby Hamilton Racing .The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 will mark Ruttman’s first Truck Series start since 2002. Ruttman has made 65 previous starts for BHR. He recorded five wins, 12 poles, 23 top-five finishes and 40 top-10 finishes. (BHR PR)(4-24-2007)
- Kittleson to run Morgan-Dollar truck at Kansas: UPDATE: Travis Kittleson continues his quest for full employment in NASCAR with a run in the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Chevy in the April 28 Truck Series race at Kansas. Kittleson has been knocking on the door for years, running a total of five NASCAR races, three in the trucks last season and two in the Busch Series, one each in 2004 and 2005. Kittleson will be sponsored by Bob Steele Chevrolet of Cocoa [FL].(floridatoday.com)(4-20-2007)
UPDATE: The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at the Kansas Speedway will mark the fourth start in the Truck Series for Travis Kittleson; his first appearance since Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 2006. Kittleson will also have the added bonus of working with teammate Kraig Kinser, driver of the #47 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevy. Calling the shots on top of the pit box is Eric Phillips, seasoned MDM crew chief.(MDM PR)(4-24-2007) - Double-duty for Silas at Kansas: Bryan Silas, currently 9th in points in the ARCA series, is also entered in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 Truck Series event at Kansas Speedway. Silas is slated to drive the # 71-PBG/Fast Track Chevy owed by Andy Hillenburg.(4-24-2007)
- Crawford elected to Mobile Hall of Fame: UPDATE: Induction ceremony takes place: Rick Crawford (#14 Ford) will be honored along with the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey and Kenny Stabler when he is formally inducted into the Mobile (Ala.) Sports Hall of Fame on April 19. Crawford will be the 75th athlete to receive the honor, and the first from the world of motorsports. He was selected from a pool of 78 nominees after an overwhelming letter writing campaign from fans along the Gulf Coast. “I’ve always been proud to say I’m from Mobile and now being mentioned in the same sentence with my hero Hank Aaron is more than I could ever hope for,” Crawford said.(NASCAR PR)(1-18-2007)
UPDATE: In an emotionally charged speech to a standing room only crowd, Rick Crawford became the 75th inductee into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame [April 19th]. Crawford’s induction was the first from the world of motor sports. Crawford’s speech was filled with thank you’s for everyone that helped him achieve his dreams. The biggest thank you for long time team owner Tom Mitchell.(Circle Bar PR)(4-24-2007)
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