May 1, 2009
- Pit Stall Selections – Richmond: The selections for pit stalls of the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 have been made. Pole sitter #83-Vickers chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters], while outside pole sitter #24-Gordon took pit stall 17, the next stall with an opening in front of it. #44-Allmendinger, who starts 31st, chose the final pit stall. See the pit selection chart on the Richmond Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-1-2009)
- Vickers on pole at Richmond: #83-Brian Vickers won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway with a lap of 127.131mph for his 2nd pole of the year and 7th pole of his career. #24-Jeff Gordon was 2nd fastest followed by #11-Hamlin, #1-Truex, Jr., #31-Burton, #09-Bliss, #5-Martin, #82-Speed, #00-Reutimann, and #39-Newman.
The non Top-35 drivers who made the race: #09-Bliss, #82-Speed, #87-Nemechek, #66-Blaney, #71-Gilliand, #41-Mayfield, #36-Riggs, and #37-Raines
The two drivers who failed to qualify: #64-Bodine, #06-Boys.
See qualifying results, order, pole progression and starting lineup on my Richmond Qualifying/Starting Lineup page.(5-1-2009) - Richmond Qualifying Fast Facts:
Brian Vickers won the Coors Light Pole Award for the CROWN ROYAL Presents The Russ Friedman 400 with a lap of 21.238 seconds, 127.131 mph.
This is his seventh pole in 182 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and fourth top-10 start in 2009.
This is his second pole in ten races at Richmond International Raceway.
Jeff Gordon (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2009 and his 25th in 33 races at Richmond International Raceway.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Richmond International Raceway. It is his fourth in ten races this season.
Scott Speed (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statsistics)(5-1-2009) - Fastest Qualifier by Manufacturer::
Toyota: #83-Vickers, 127.131, starts 1st
Chevy: #24-Gordon, 126.844, starts 2nd
Dodge: #09-Bliss, 126.286, starts 6th
Ford: #16-Biffle, 1125.535, starts 20th
(5-1-2009) - Coverage of Qualifying for the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2009 at 5:40pm/et.
TV: SPEED – 5:30pm/et
Radio: MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
Qualifying Re-Air: 12:00am/et on SPEED - Qualifying Order for the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done. The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #77-Hornish, the final top-35 driver scheduled is #44-Allmendinger. The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #66-Dave Blaney and the final driver scheduled to qualify is #64-Todd Bodine. See the full qualifying order on the Richmond Qualifying Page.(5-1-2009)
- Happy Hour/Final Practice for the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway is over, the fastest:
#48-Johnson 124.636
#24-Gordon 124.619
#83-Vickers 124.619
#00-Reutimann 124.567
#2-Busch 124.481
Slowest: #64-Bodine 120.224 & #06-Boys 115.409
#12-Stremme scraped the wall coming off turn four, only minor damage
See speeds, ave speed. laps run and more on my Richmond Practice Speeds Page.(5-1-2009) - Where did the non top-35 drivers practice in Happy Hour at Richmond International Raceway:
if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
#82-Scott Speed, 20th
#09-Mike Bliss, 21st
#66-Dave Blaney, 32nd
#41-Jeremy Mayfield, 37th
#36-Scott Riggs, 38th
#71-Gilliland, 39th
#37-Tony Raines, 41st
#87-Joe Nemechek,42nd
these drivers would miss the race if things stayed the same:
#64-Todd Bodine, 44th
#06-Trevor Boys, 45th
(5-1-2009) - The First Practice: for the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway is over, the fastest:
#1-Truex, Jr. 123.046
#39-Newman 122.968
#99-Reutimann 122.438
#18-Busch 122.393
#66-Blaney 122.012
Slowest: #37-Raines 118.869 & #06-Boys 114.577
There were 2 incidents within the first 5 minutes of the session. #42-Montoya and #88-Earnhardt, Jr made contact with each other entering turn 1 at the start of the session, Earnhardt Jr’s tire was cut down and he spun around, suffering just cosmetic damage. Minutes later #16-Biffle spun coming up turn 4 and slid into the infield.
See speeds, ave speed. laps run and more on my Richmond Practice Speeds Page.(5-1-2009) - Special McDonald’s scheme for the #43 at RIR: This week, when Reed Sorenson takes to the track at Richmond, the #43 McDonald’s Dodge will sport a new look to promote the national roll out of the McCafé menu of made to order drinks. McCafé features a range of five indulgent drinks that satisfy both your sweet tooth and your coffee fix at an affordable McDonald’s price. The car design, which will appear this weekend at Richmond International Raceway and again at the Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte, prominently features the McCafé logo on the hood, sides and rear of the car. The driver’s side features a chocolaty Iced Mocha topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup, while the passenger’s side features a frothy Cappuccino.(McDonald’s PR)(5-1-2009)
- Fan to ride with Harvick in Pennzoil Victory Challenge UPDATE: Pennzoil is taking the excitement around the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge to an even higher level by allowing one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime to ride shotgun with Kevin Harvick in the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge. The second annual event is set for May 16, 2009 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS) as part of the Sprint All-Star Race pre-event festivities. The Pennzoil Victory Challenge is NASCAR’s version of a “slam dunk contest” however this contest features the sport’s top talent showing off their abilities in post-race-win celebrations in classic NASCAR smoking donut style. The driver lineup has been expanded from five drivers to seven, and like in 2008, each driver will compete in identically prepared stock cars. However, this year the new format allows each driver a longer freestyle demonstration and the panel of judges will score their creativity. The driver with the highest score from the panel will be declared the winner, with $10,000 awarded to their designated charity and a reserved spot in the 2010 Pennzoil Victory Challenge. Joining the first driver announced, #29-Kevin Harvick, will be #16-Greg Biffle (winner of the 2008 Pennzoil Victory Challenge), #24-Jeff Gordon, #33-Clint Bowyer, #18-Kyle Busch and #9-Kasey Kahne. The Pennzoil Victory Challenge will be televised live during SPEED’s pre-race coverage on Saturday, May 16th prior to the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. For more info on this contest and many other racing contests, see my Racing Contest page.(4-25-2009)
UPDATE: Three-time NASCAR Champion and former Pennzoil driver Darrell Waltrip has accepted the invitation to become the seventh and final competitor for the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge on May 16 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Waltrip was officially invited to compete by Shell-Pennzoil driver Kevin Harvick Friday night during SPEED’s Trackside Live from Talladega, Ala. In classic Waltrip fashion, D.W. gladly accepted and will enter this unique on-track competition scheduled as a part of the pre-race festivities for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Waltrip won the inaugural All-Star race in 1985. “Pennzoil has always been special to the Waltrip family,” commented Darrell Waltrip. “Michael and I both got to drive the Pennzoil car. The No. 1 Pennzoil car revitalized my career when I really needed it. It will be fun to burn up the track again in the Pennzoil Victory Challenge.” A new facet to the 2009 Challenge includes a panel of celebrity judges featuring 16-time World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss, SPEED’s own Jimmy Spencer, plus Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the award-winning country music group – Montgomery Gentry.(Pennzoil PR)(5-1-2009) - Tire testing at Daytona: Goodyear has scheduled a tire test at Daytona International Speedway for Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, 9am/et. Drivwers scheduled to test: #5-Mark Martin, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #77-Sam Hornish Jr., #82-Scott Speed, #98-Paul Menard, #33-Clint Bowyer, #?-Aric Almirola [Earnhardt Ganassi Racing], #20-Joey Logano, #26-Jamie McMurray and #44-A.J. Allmendinger. As far as I know, the test is closed to the media and public.(5-1-2009)
- Goodyear Completes Another Tire Test at Indy: Goodyear returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wednesday for a continuation test to gather data in preparation for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the track July 24-26. Testing this week were #9-Kasey Kahne (Dodge), #17-Matt Kenseth (Ford), #39-Ryan Newman (Chevy) and #83-Brian Vickers (Toyota). Once again, due to rain in the Indianapolis area, Goodyear and the teams were confronted with a ‘green’ race track and a delayed start to their day. After working to get the track rubbered in, teams got down to testing the various tire set-ups Goodyear brought. “We were able to make significant progress laying rubber down on the track surface at Indy during our test with just four cars this week. Having said that, we still have some work to do and some things we’d like to try to enhance overall performance and come up with the optimum tire set-up for the Brickyard 400,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s Director of Race Tire Sales. “With the limited amount of track time we’ve been able to squeeze in over the last two weeks because of rain, we will likely go back to IMS right after the Indianapolis 500 in May in preparation for our multi-car test in mid-June.” The dates for the initial test in June are yet to be determined, while a 12-car test is scheduled to be run at the Speedway June 15-16.(Goodyear PR)
AND Ryan Newman described Wednesday’s tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a “small gain” in regards to the number of laps he could run on one set of Goodyears. “The tires [used for racing at Indianapolis] are still not ideal,” he said before Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup practice at Richmond International Raceway. The test was the fourth since last year’s fiasco in which NASCAR had to call a competition caution about every dozen laps in the Brickyard 400 because tires were wearing so fast. Newman said he got a maximum of 18 laps on a set of tires during Wednesday’s test. “Last week it was 10 laps,” Newman said. “So it was a gain in number of laps.” Newman said Goodyear may have to consider bringing one set of tires to put rubber on the track during practice for the July race and another to actually race on.(ESPN.com)(5-1-2009) - Keselowski negotiating with Hendrick: Brad Keselowski is exclusively negotiating with Hendrick Motorsports on a long-term contract. NASCAR’s newest Sprint Cup Series winner has no ride lined up for next season. Rick Hendrick has considered him as an eventual replacement for #5-Mark Martin, but it’s not clear when Martin will stop driving. Keselowski’s surprise victory at Talladega Superspeedway last week has increased interest in the 25-year-old driver. Keselowski drives full-time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, and has a developmental deal with Hendrick. He’s slated to run seven Cup races for Hendrick this year, but the 2010 season has not been determined. Keselowski’s win last weekend was in a car owned by James Finch.(Associated Press/ESPN)
- Energizer on the #7 for Robby: After a disappointing finish last weekend, the Robby Gordon Motorsports team is looking forward to the short-track racing action this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The #7 Toyota Camry will debut the Energizer colors this weekend at the ¾-mile D-shaped oval.(RGM PR)(5-1-2009)
- Teams carrying decal honoring Poole: Several NASCAR Sprint Cup teams are carrying logos honoring the late David Poole this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The four Hendrick Motosports cars are carrying a logo that has “DCP” for David Carl Poole and is in Carolina blue in honor of his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, in remembrance of the reporter who covered NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and also hosted a program on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Stewart-Haas Racing’s cars are also carrying a decal honoring the writer. The logo on the Stewart-Haas cars reads, “In Memory of David Poole 1959-2009” and includes images of a fountain pen and a microphone. Cars for Roush Fenway Racing, Penske Racing and Richard Childress Racing are among others also carrying decals.(Scene Daily)(5-1-2009)
- Kyle Busch wins Hamlin charity event: Denny Hamlin spent much of last night chasing after Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch at Southside Speedway. Busch, assuming the lead on Lap 11 when pole-sitter Chris Dodson suffered mechanical failure, led the final 165 laps to win this charity event for the second year in a row. And while Hamlin couldn’t pull ahead of Busch, his foundation may have finished ahead of expectations during his Short Track Showdown, which benefits the Denny Hamlin Foundation. “It was a great night, and we doubled what we did last year,” Hamlin said. “It shows what great fans there are here.” Hamlin may have exceeded his goal of raising $100,000 — twice as much as the foundation earned in the inaugural showdown last year. The foundation received 100 percent of the gate receipts. Hamlin highlighted an all-star charity event that included JGR Sprint Cup rookie Joey Logano, two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart and 1983 Cup champion Bobby Allison, who served as grand marshal. (Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-1-2009)
- Combos colors for the #18 at RIR: The Combos colors will adorn the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch this weekend ay Richmond for the first and only time in 2009. The orange Combo’s scheme turned out to be good luck in its only appearance for Busch in 2008, where he won the June event at Dover. Combos is giving guys the chance to upgrade their favorite manly hangouts with the Combos “Ultimate Man Zone Sweepstakes.” The Combo’s Man Zone will be on hand in the fan midway this weekend at Richmond.(JGR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2009)
- Cheez-It scheme returns for Martin: Cheez-It again will adorn the hood of the #5 Chevy of Mark Martin this weekend. Cheez-It was also on the hood at Texas Motor Speedway in April where the the #5 Chevy finished sixth. Cheez-It has two more races with the #5 team this year: Darlington in May and Pocono in August.(HMS PR), see images of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2009)
- Edwards joins up ro help fight hunger: #99-Carl Edwards is scheduled to announce four GroGood edible gardens planted at the Richmond International Raceway. The gardens, a part of the GroGood Campaign, created in partnership with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Feeding America, will provide fresh produce to those at risk for hunger in the Richmond area. Fans can also take the GroGood pledge during race weekend at the ScottsMiracle-Gro display adjacent to the hospitality pavilion to “grow a garden for the greater good.” Each person who takes the pledge will receive a reusable GroGood grocery bag (while supplies last). To launch the GroGood pledge campaign, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company will donate 1 million pounds of produce to Feeding America and call on Americans to help double that donation by pledging to grow and donate an additional 1 million pounds of fresh produce to help feed those at risk for hunger. For more information or to take the pledge, please visit www.GroGood.com.(PR)(5-1-2009)
- Andretti and Front Row Motorsports Head to Richmond: “Richmond is a favorite of a lot of guys. It’s a short track, but it’s a ‘bigger’ short track too. It’s unique in a lot of ways. It will wear your neck out more than Bristol will. You never stop turning at Richmond. The whole straightaway is a turn. The only rest you get is about the two seconds you go down the back. I like the fact that it’s a ‘racers’ track. I think a lot of guys agree. You can race down at the bottom, run the middle or run the top. You never know where the race is going to be won. It’s been won from all three. It’s a great little track. There is ‘rooting’ and ‘gouging’, but this isn’t Martinsville. We can put on a great show and usually always do. I’m sure after Talladega, a bunch of us are looking forward to it. Our team, Front Row Motorsports with Window World support this weekend, has overachieved in some areas and underachieved in others. We’re looking at the areas that we can get better and trying to capitalize on that. We’re still a new race team. People have spoken about the new teams that have come in this season, but this is a whole new team too. Sure, Front Row Motorsports has been around for while, but this is a whole new team. We have a new location (Statesville, N.C.), new people, new parts, different equipment and a lot of good things going on. The only thing that is the same is the team name, Front Row Motorsports and Bob Jenkins (team owner). We’re getting our legs underneath us. We’re a July, August team. I don’t mean we’re going to be chasing down Hendrick Motorsports at that time, but we’re certainly going to be making strides forward at that point. Right now, it’s one race at a time. The next race is in Richmond. Our hope is to have another good night and continue to build with this team.” This is the last race before Andretti takes a hiatus from Front Row Motorsports to concentrate on the Indianapolis 500 in May. Front Row Motorsports will continue to race at Darlington and Lowe’s with a driver to be announced.(Breaking Limits PR)(5-1-2009)
- Richmond Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Richmond this week . . . this is the same exact combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in these two series ran at Phoenix two weeks ago . . . this tire set-up was tested by A.J. Allmendinger (Dodge), Joey Logano (Toyota), Jamie McMurray (Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (Chevrolet) at Phoenix back in January . . . this left-side tire (D-4240) is slightly different than the one run at Richmond last season, featuring a compound change to offer more grip . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Richmond. The estimated pit window id every 100-110 laps, based on fuel mileage.(Goodyear PR). For tire pressures, codes and more, see my Richmond Race Info page.(5-1-2009)
- Richmond Rookie Notes: #82-Scott Speed was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the April 26 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. Speed scored a fifth-place finish, his best in 13 Sprint Cup Series starts. He claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. #20-Joey Logano grabbed a ninth-place finish at Talladega, his best effort in 12 Sprint Cup Series starts and his first top-10. Max Papis (18th) also scored his best finish in five Sprint Cup Series races. Logano leads Speed by eight points (98-90) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 2 Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Brian Vickers (2004) and Morgan Shepherd (1981) are the only Raybestos Rookies to win a pole for the spring race at Richmond (since 1975). Since 1975, only one Raybestos Rookie has won the spring race at Richmond: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. Earnhardt Jr. led once covering the final 31 laps and scored his second Sprint Cup Series win by .159 second over Terry Labonte. Only once since 1975 have TWO or more Raybestos Rookies finished in the top-10 in the spring race at Richmond. In 1979, Joe Millikan finished sixth followed by Terry Labonte, who claimed an eighth place finish.(Camp & Assoc./Raybestos PR), see Rookie history, standings and more on my 2009 Rookies page.(5-1-2009)
- #88 Team Grabs Tissot Pit Crew Win in Talladega: It’s the 4th Pit Road Win for Hendrick Motorsports Team in Last 5 Races Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s #88 pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. It was the fourth pit road win in the last five races for a Hendrick Motorsports team. The other recent Hendrick winning teams were: Jimmie Johnson’s crew (at Bristol) and Jeff Gordon’s crew (at Martinsville and Texas). The quick work on pit road by the #88 crew in Talladega helped Earnhardt Jr. to a second-place finish at the 2.66-mile oval. The team’s Chevrolet Impala SS spent the least amount of time on pit road – 255.440 seconds. Earnhardt’s pit crew consists of: Kip Wolfmeier (front-tire changer), Ben Fischbeck (front-tire carrier), Greg Burkhart (rear-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Mark Jacobs (jackman), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Jason Dalrymple (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mark Mauldin. The #88 team will receive $5,000 for winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. After nine of 36 Sprint Cup races Gordon’s #24 crew leads in the Tissot standings and the chase for the $100,000 season bonus which will go to the team with the most pit road wins. Along with prize money, members of the season pit crew championship crew and driver will receive a Tissot watch.(Tissot PR)(5-1-2009)
- Pre-Race Ceremonies announced for Richmond: The NASCAR doubleheader weekend at Richmond International Raceway is sure to feature plenty of on-track excitement and emotion, but it will all be preceded by spectacular pre-race ceremonies both Friday and Saturday nights. Prior to the Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide Series race, fans will want to check out the midway concert by The Charlie Daniels Band, scheduled for 5:15 p.m. at the Lipton display, near the flagpole. Things get started when the crowd is introduced to several VIPs from Lipton Tea. Michael Olsen, Assistant Director of the United States Border Patrol, will lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the presentation of colors by the 217th Military Police Detachment of Fort Lee. Then, it will be Charlie Daniels who delivers the National Anthem, culminating with Altus Air Force Base performing a flyover with a KC-135 aircraft. On Saturday night, the star of the show will make his way to the pre-race stage, as Russ Friedman is showcased, moments before the Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. We’ll meet the Chief Administrative Officer of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Jeff Painter, before Olsen again leads us for the Pledge of Allegiance. The colors will again be presented by Fort Lee on Saturday night, along with an unfurling of a large American flag. For the third consecutive year, “The Commandant’s Own” Marine Drum and Bugle Corps will play the National Anthem, delivering one of the best renditions you’ll ever hear. The U.S. Coast Guard will fly their C-130J from Elizabeth City, NC for the flyover. Friedman will prepare us for Racing Perfection and deliver the most famous words in racing: “Gentlemen, start your engines!”(RIR PR)(5-1-2009)
- Race Fans Caution – Swine flu, Richmond safe: The swine flu outbreak has caused Henrico County Health Department officials to advise race fans to take precautions when attending events this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. “There is no reason for fans not to attend and enjoy the events this weekend,” said acting Health Director Dr. Robert B. Stroube. “However, as with any large public event, there is a risk of spreading viruses, but there are very simple yet effective precautions you can take to avoid exposure.” People who are sick, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have a fever should stay home. Other precautions include frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing. There are no confirmed cases of swine flu reported in the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-1-2009)
- Colorado House OKs incentives for NASCAR track: Colorado took a big step closer to being able to attract a NASCAR racetrack when the House approved a legislative proposal Wednesday that would allow the first-ever state-funded package of incentives geared toward attracting major tourism projects. Senate Bill 173 won final approval on a 46-19 vote one day after extensive floor debate over whether it was an economic-development tool or corporate welfare. Twenty-three Republicans and 23 Democrats backed the measure, while 15 Democrats and four Republicans opposed it. A main goal of bill backers is bringing a NASCAR track to the Aurora area, but the enterprise zones also could be used to build everything from Winter Olympics facilities to museums that might draw visitors across state borders.(Denver Business Journal)(5-1-2009)
- Acredale Vending sponsoring Jay Robinson: Acredale Vending & Coffee service will once again be supporting Jay Robinson Racing at RIR for the Nationwide race this weekend. They will be on both the #28 & #49 cars. Business owner Scott Abshire also serves as a pit crew member for J.R.R.(Acredale PR)(5-1-2009)
- NASCAR takes 6 Nationwide engines after Richmond race: NASCAR took six engines from Nationwide Series teams to test on the dynamometer, series director Joe Balash said Friday night following the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Engines represented six engine builders as they were taken from the cars of #20-Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing), #38-Jason Leffler (Triad Racing Technologies), #29-Jeff Burton (Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies), #88-Brad Keselowski (Hendrick), #12-Justin Allgaier (Penske) and #16-Matt Kenseth (Roush-Yates). NASCAR occasionally takes engines to test horsepower and see if any rule changes need to be made. Balash said the group tested four restrictor-plate engines last week after Talladega. Those tested engines came from the cars of #81-D.J. Kennington (Ernie Elliott engines), #60-Carl Edwards (Roush-Yates), #33-Kevin Harvick (Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies) and #20-Joey Logano (JGR). Balash said he was pleased with the results of that test.(Scene Daily)(5-1-2009)
- Carfax to sponsor Michigan race again: Carfax will return to Michigan International Speedway (MIS) as title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 race for the fourth straight year. This year’s event takes place on Aug. 15 at the Brooklyn, Mich., racetrack. Carfax continues its support of the home of the American automobile and its ongoing investment in Michigan-based sports.(Michigan Speedway PR)(5-1-2009)
- Benny Gordon to race 9/11 tribute car at fall Richmond race: Americans have remembered Sept. 11 in years past by planting trees, raising flags and saying prayers at makeshift memorials. This year, NASCAR driver #72-Benny Gordon is going to the racetrack – in a custom-designed, Sept. 11 memorial car inscribed with the message, “Always Remember.” Gordon, co-owner of the North South Motorsports team, is racing a blue, black and white 2009 Ford fusion in a 43-car field at a NASCAR Nationwide Series race this Sept. 11 in Virginia at Richmond International Speedway. His Dubois, Pa., team – not far from the site of the memorial for United 93, one of four hijacked jetliners that crashed – wanted to raise awareness for the 9/11 memorial under construction at the World Trade Center site, which Gordon visited earlier this year.(Associated Press)(5-1-2009)
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