May 3, 2004
- Irvan Gives Talk: Ernie Irvan, owner of Irvan Enterprises in Mooresville, NC, was guest speaker at the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class Graduation on April 22. The former NASCAR driver addressed the 2003-04 adult and junior leadership graduates on the importance of leadership and having a good role model, family support and strong faith in Christ and self. He also told how the late Dale Earnhardt helped him get started in racing and Earnhardt’s leadership qualities. Irvan earned 15 NASCAR Winston Cup championships, numerous awards and 22 pole positions. He survived a near-fatal crash at Michigan International Speedway when a right tire deflated, sending his car into the turn two wall at more than 170 mph. He officially retired from driving in 1999 but continues to work and support racing.(Charlotte Observer)(5-3-2004)
- Sad News: Doris Roberts, who was married to the late Glenn “Fireball” Roberts, is ill from terminal cancer and is in the final stages of her life, according to her daughter Pam. She was unable to attend the induction ceremonies last week at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega.(IHOF via Insider Racing News)(5-3-2004)
- Overnight California TV Ratings up 14%: Fox’s broadcast of Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway drew a 5.6 overnight rating and an 11 share from Nielsen Media Research, today’s Sports Business Daily reports. The rating is 14.3 percent higher than the 4.9 overnight figure the race drew in 2003, when it wound up with a final figure of 5.3/13. For the weekend, the race trailed the 8.3/18 that NBC drew for its Kentucky Derby coverage and the 6.0/12 that ABC drew for Sunday’s NBA playoff game between the Lakers and the Spurs.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(5-3-2004)
- Bobby Labonte to run Busch race at MIS; Bliss to run 2 Cup races: Bobby Labonte and his long-time sponsor ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced that Labonte will return to the Busch Series for the Cabela’s 250 Race on August 21, 2004 at Michigan International Speedway. He will be driving the bright red #19 Banquet Chevrolet featuring the Banquet brand and logo. This car was unveiled at the 2004 Food Market Institute Show (FMI) at McCormick Place in Chicago. This extended partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) highlights ConAgra Foods’ growing involvement in the sport of NASCAR. Having recognized the power of NASCAR to reach families nationwide almost a decade ago, the company was an early supporter of Labonte’s racing team. Under this new agreement, Labonte will appear in advertising and promotions as well as provide personal appearances and publicity for Banquet and ConAgra Foods. The Cabela’s 250 Race marks Bobby’s return to the Busch Series [JAYSKI NOTE: Actually Labonte ran the Texas Busch race in the #29 ESGR/Army Nat’l Guard-Reserve RCR Chevy and finished 11th]. “I’m excited to run the #19 Banquet Chevrolet in the Busch series later this summer,” said Labonte. “My goal is to take Banquet and ConAgra Foods to the winner’s circle at the Cabela’s 250.” ConAgra Foods will continue to maximize its association with NASCAR in 2004 with a series of sponsorships and promotions. Banquet’s title sponsorship of the Banquet 400 Nextel Cup Series race at Kansas Motor Speedway in October continues for the second year, and the partnership with JGR will offer several ConAgra Foods brands in the snack and grocery categories the opportunity to appear on the #80 car driven by Mike Bliss during two Nextel Cup Series races. Bliss will race the #80 Slim Jim Chevrolet at the Tropicana 400 in Chicago this July and he will run the #80 Hunts Chevrolet at the Chevy Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway in September [NOTE: Gibbs would get to use the car #80 over the #80 Hover Motorsports team and driver Andy Hillenburg as that team is listed as #280 in Owners Points]. This summer Banquet will be rolling out a retail promotion called “0 to Dinner with Banquet,” which gives fans the opportunity to collect five proofs of purchase from frozen and grocery products and receive a die cast #19 Banquet Chevrolet. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.(Ketchum PR)(5-3-2004)
- Idiot Fan Alert: #24-Jeff Gordon said his car was hit by a bottle after the race, a week after fans littered the track at Talladega Superspeedway with cans and containers at the end of that race. “Hopefully the tracks can start taking some action, maybe putting some signs up that saying that maybe legal action will be taken if anything is thrown over that fence,” Gordon said. “I think it’s a good idea to take some action and be proactive instead of reactive after it happens.”(Roanoke Times)(5-3-2004)
- Barrett Released from Hospital: #94-Stanton Barrett was examined and released from Loma Linda Hospital following his crash on the 22nd lap of Sunday’s Auto Club 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the two-mile California Speedway. Barrett’s #94 AmericInn Chevrolet hit the fourth-turn wall, where SAFER barriers had been added earlier this year. “It felt like a tire was going down and that’s how things got started,” Barrett said. “I didn’t have any control after that. I definitely commend NASCAR and California Speedway for the SAFER barriers. I started shooting up the track and, for some reason as I headed toward the wall, I remembered they were there. I thought, ‘Hey, maybe this won’t hurt as bad,’” he said. “It still hurt . . . but not as bad as concrete. I’m really glad those were in place, and I think every driver in NASCAR should be happy too.”(Williams Company PR)(5-3-2004)
- NASCAR takes engine: Bill Davis Racing experienced engine woes last weekend. Rookie #22-Scott Wimmer broke engines on Friday and Saturday because of two different problems. The team was forced to go to a third engine for the race. Wimmer started 39th and finished 30th. The second engine was confiscated by NASCAR for further examination.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-3-2004)
- NASCAR Still looking at Spoiler Options UPDATE: Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said Friday NASCAR is weighing options on whether to make an additional cut to cars’ spoilers this season. “What we’re doing is working through the process and trying to decide, is it better to do a half (inch) in July and another half (inch) at the end of the year, or to leave everything alone and do a full inch at the end of the year,” he said. Darby said the main concern over making an adjustment during the season is its possible effects on the 10-race “Chase for the Championship. We’ll be watching these next couple races and finishing the process of watching how the teams have adapted to the first cut (in the spoiler),” Darby said. “The championship chase will enter into it, I’m sure, that being so new.” Darby said teams were probably split about whether to cut the spoiler before the end of the season, but in any case, an additional inch will be cut from the spoilers by the start of the 2005 season.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-1-2004)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials are telling crew chiefs they’ve decided to drop plans for any more aerodynamic rear-spoiler changes this season. Another half-inch cut in the rear spoiler had been planned for July at Chicago; that cut has been postponed until next year.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2004) - California Cup Illegal Parts: #25-Brian Vickers, NASCAR confiscated a 1×2 inch piece of cardboard used to change the height of the fuel cell rack. #45-Kyle Petty, NASCAR confiscated four foot long thin strips used to change the height of the fuel cell rack.(Insider Racing News)(5-3-2004)
- 4 in top 10 all year: Four teams have remained in the top 10 in points since the season started: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #17-Matt Kenseth, #38-Elliott Sadler and #20-Tony Stewart. Eighteen teams remain within 400 points of the leader (Earnhardt), the cutoff point to make the Chase for the Championship.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-3-2004)
- Newman wants fuel pumps changed: Ryan Newman says NASCAR’s next safety move should be to eliminate mechanical fuel pumps on engine blocks and allow teams to install safer electrical fuel pumps, which could be installed inside the fuel cell. “You can get them for $20 at any NAPA store,” Newman says. Newman is also pushing NASCAR to eliminate mechanical dashboard gauges in a safety-related move. But he says when he raised the issue with NASCAR, he got no response.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2004)
- Fuel Line Problems: With the change in fuel providers to Sunoco this year, some teams have had to change fuel line manufacturers. One engine man said that “a couple of brands have been more sensitive to the Sunoco fuel,” so several teams changed lines as a precaution. Some teams have noticed the lines are wearing out faster.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-3-2004)
- NASCAR Changes? NASCAR’s R&D operation could be in for some changes in the coming months, according to NASCAR sources, and Brian DeHart, running the Busch tour, could be moving over to that operation. (Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2004)
- RE buys Race Safe Systems: Racing Electronics has announced the acquisition of Race Safe Systems, Inc., and its main product, the Race Safe Warning Light System. Former owner Rick Martell said, “We are excited that Racing Electronics is taking over and further developing our product. With Racing Electronics’ input over the last 18 months, changes have been made making Race Safe a better and more reliable product than ever imagined.” Experienced professional drivers recognize that a great number of accidents occur under yellow caution conditions. Track position, sun, dust, and other distractions restrict drivers from seeing the yellow caution flag at the same time. The Race Safe Warning Light System uses a radio transmitter and receiver that alerts all drivers of a caution situation simultaneously [using yellow lights]. This system is already in use by dozens of race tracks and sanctioning bodies, with more signing on every month. “Any time you can make a contribution to the safety of the drivers and the driving conditions, it can only be a positive thing. The Race Safe Warning Light System is a great concept, as well as a great product. We look forward to taking Race Safe to new levels, and hope that it will become an industry standard,” says Bruce Silver, president of Racing Electronics.(RE PR)(4-30-2004)
- Michael Waltrip to Give Testimonial at Charter 250: Gateway International Raceway announced Michael Waltrip would give a testimonial prior to the start of the Charter 250 as part of Christian Family Day on Saturday, May 8. In addition, contemporary Christian musical act Caedmon’s Call will perform in concert before and after the testimonial. All Christian Family Day activities will take place in the Family Fun Zone located at the end of the Expo area next to the tunnel. The stage will be directly across from the Family Fun Zone at the end of Gateway’s Championship Drag Strip. The concert starts at 5:15 pm. Waltrip will give his testimonial at 5:45 pm, and Caedmon’s Call will resume playing until 6:30 pm.
Ticket prices for the Charter 250 range from $45-$60 (1/2 price for kids 12 and under). You can also purchase the best seats and receive great perks in a Gateway season tickets package, starting at only $115. Season Ticket packages include the ARCA RE/MAX Series race on July 16, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and Travis Tritt concert on July 17. To purchase tickets call Gateway at 1- 866-35-SPEED or log onto www.gatewayraceway.com.(5-3-2004)
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