April 28, 2008
- DEI picks up option on Truex, good thru 2009: When there’s been talk about potential free agents for 2009, #1-Martin Truex, Jr. has had his name passed around in more than one story or conversation. There’s one hitch. His current deal with Dale Earnhardt Inc is good through next season according to team president Max Siegel. “We have an option that we’ve picked up for 2009, so that’s always reported in a confusing way. We love Martin and we’re having discussions about extending it for a long-term deal, but we’re good through 2009. He’s important to our organization…we’re giving him everything we possibly can and what he needs to win and be happy here long term.” Siegel also thinks the on track performance of all four DEI cars is on the upswing. “I think we’re making significant progress. The #15 team’s performance on a weekly basis is indicative of how we’ve elevated the program. We’ve got to stay very patient and focused. If you look at the #1 team and the #8…we’re doing great…got some consistency with our engines and the energy is just fantastic.”(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-28-2008)
- More testing at Nashville this week: Arriving just days after Talladega, big name teams will be at the Nashville Superspeedway for two days of testing, Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30. Scheduled to test are Hendrick Motorsports (Chevy) with four cars, drivers TBD; #22-Dave Blaney of Bill Davis Racing (Toyota); #01-Reagan Smith of Dale Earnhardt Inc (Chevy); Haas CNC Racing (Chevy) one car driver TBD; #96-Hall of Fame Racing (Toyota) driver TBD; Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) with one car, driver TBD; and David Stremme testing for Penske Racing (Dodge).(Nashville Superspeedway)(4-28-2008)
- Race and Commercial Breakdown of the Aaron’s 499
Total number of commercials: 135
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 75
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:31 PM
Total minutes: 211
Minutes of race broadcast: 154
Minutes of commercials: 57
Number of missed restarts: 0
‘Mystery Debris’ cautions: 0
Total race brdcst time 154 Total comm. brdcst time 57
See full post and commercial stats at CawsnJaws.com.(4-28-2008) - Eight drivers each led their first laps in ’08 in Paul Menard, Ken Schrader, Juan Pablo Montoya, Regan Smith, David Stremme, David Gilliland, A.J. Allmendinger and Elliott Sadler.(ESPN Research)(4-28-2008)
- Restrictor Plate Competition Up…Again: The new car matched – and exceeded – the boom in competition from the last visit to a restrictor plate track (February’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway). There were 52 lead changes among 20 drivers during Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. The Daytona 500 saw similar numbers – 42 lead changes among 16 drivers. Sunday’s 20 different leaders is tied for eighth all-time in Sprint Cup Series competition. The 52 lead changes topped both Talladega races from last season. In the 2007 spring race, there were 42 lead changes; in the fall contest, there were 41. There was also a jump in Green Flag Passes for the Lead, a Loop Data statistic that accounts for lead changes all around the track (not only at the start/finish line). Sunday’s race saw 84 Green Flag Passes for the Lead, compared to 67 during the last race held at Talladega.(NASCAR)(4-28-2008)
- Roush-Yates Engines to Support USAC Series: Roush-Yates Engines will be the new sole authorized engine rebuilder for the USAC Ford Focus Midget Series. Instituting Roush-Yates Racing Engines as the authorized rebuilder for the Ford engines powering the series reinforces Ford Racing’s commitment to the series and to providing competitors world-class quality and service. “When we approached Doug Yates and his team at Roush-Yates Racing Engines with this opportunity they jumped at the chance to get involved,” said Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. “It was an easy decision for us – they are the best in the business and have the resources to provide the best possible product to the series, and together, this puts us in a great position to manage the growth of the series.”
“This will give us a tremendous opportunity to expand as well as further our involvement in racing,” said Jon Giles, general manager of special projects for Roush-Yates Engines. “It puts us a step closer to becoming the complete source for Ford Racing engines.” Roush-Yates Engines has been working hard to understand the needs of the USAC Focus Midget Series competitors and will first focus on ensuring the engine rebuild service is available to competitors. Rebuilds on the 2.0L Ford ZETEC engines used in the series will consist of a long block swap during the first phase of the program and cost $3995.00. Roush-Yates Engines currently develops and builds Ford Racing engines for NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck competition. In addition, it is now developing and building the powerplants for Ford entries in the Grand-Am Daytona Prototype and KONI Challenge sports car series.(Ford Racing)(4-28-2008) - Nationwide Sponsoring Kentucky Speedway: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. has agreed to a deal that will make it the official insurance provider of Kentucky Speedway, a venue for Nationwide Series and IndyCar Series events. The three-year deal will give the privately held, Columbus-based insurer a “home” race of sorts, allowing the company a major hospitality opportunity because of the track’s proximity to Nationwide’s headquarters. Kentucky Speedway is located in Sparta, Ky., about 150 miles southwest of Columbus. Part of the deal includes about 1,500 race tickets that Nationwide will use for its associates and guests. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Nationwide, in its first year as title sponsor of NASCAR’s No. 2 series, also has a track deal with Speedway Motorsports Inc. that runs through 2009, and has begun negotiations with International Speedway Corp. about a deal at all its tracks.(Columbus, OH Business First)(4-28-2008)
- Bodine to run Nationwide race at Darlington: Todd Bodine and Germain Racing will next take to the track on May 9th at Darlington Raceway with the #03 Germain Motor Company Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, followed by more Truck Series action in the Lumber Liquidators Tundra on Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 16th.(Germain Racing PR)(4-28-2008)
- Vector Security Sponsoring MacDonald Motorsports at Richmond: MacDonald Motorsports annouced that Vector Security will be on the hood and quarter panels of the #81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge driven by DJ Kennington at Richmond International Raceway this weekend.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(4-28-2008)
- SS Greenlight Racing’s Murphy wins ASI Late Model race: Sean Murphy piloted the #32 ASI LIMITED; Akzo Nobel; Spectrum Metal Finishing Chevy Late Model to Victory Lane on Saturday night at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Murphy won the race in dominating fashion in front of the hometown crowd of primary sponsor ASI LIMITED.(SS Greenlight Racing PR)(4-28-2008)
Main Page | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997