May 9, 2012
- Postal worker wins $1 million from Mayfield in dog attack: On Wednesday, a Forsyth County judge ordered former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield to pay $1 million to a Catawba [NC] postal carrier attacked last year by Mayfield’s five pitbulls. This is the latest salvo against Mayfield, whose home was auctioned off for failing to pay about $3 million he owed on the property. He also faces drug-possession, larceny and stolen goods charges in three North Carolina counties and was suspended from NASCAR in 2009 for testing positive for methamphetamine. Judge William Z. Wood of Forsyth Superior Court awarded Mary E. Bolton $1 million. Bolton, who lives in Catawba County, filed a lawsuit against Mayfield and his wife, Shana Mayfield, in June in Forsyth Superior Court. The suit was filed in Forsyth because Bolton’s attorney, Marc Madonia, is based in Winston-Salem, NC. Bolton alleged that the Mayfields were negligent in allowing the dogs, pitbull/Labrador mixes, to run loose on their property in Catawba County. She was delivering mail the morning of April 21, 2011, and had a package too large for the mailbox outside the Mayfields’ gate. She drove through the gate, past “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dogs” signs, to deliver the package and encountered the dogs that attacked her. Mayfield heard the commotion, shouted at the dogs to scatter them and carried Bolton into the house. He and his wife called 911, and Bolton was taken to Catawba Medical Center for treatment. Animal control confiscated the dogs from Mayfield, but no criminal charges were filed against him. The dogs were later euthanized. Bolton suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has nerve damage, Madonia said.(in part from the Morganton News Herald)(5-9-2012)
- Carl Edwards to join ESPN for two Nationwide races: #99-Carl Edwards will move from the cockpit of his race car to the broadcast booth as he becomes an analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Edwards also will serve as an analyst for the June 29 event at Kentucky Speedway. For the Darlington race telecast, Edwards will join lap-by-lap announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth. While Edwards has never called a race, he has worked closely with ESPN the past two years during ESPN’s portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule by doing post-race analysis for SportsCenter. “I am humbled by this opportunity to broadcast for ESPN and be part of their team,” said Edwards. “This Friday in Darlington, I will hop out of my Sprint Cup Car and trade my firesuit for a suit and tie to see the Nationwide race from a totally different perspective. I am honestly a little nervous as it will be my first time being part of the broadcast,” he said. “ESPN has been a great partner for everyone in NASCAR and I hope I can add some insight for the fans.” Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing, stopped competing in NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season after racing fulltime in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series the past seven years. He was the Nationwide Series driving champion in 2007, and earned the 2011 series owner’s championship for Roush Fenway Racing, but decided to concentrate his efforts on the Sprint Cup Series this season. “Having a past NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in the booth will certainly bring some unique perspective to our viewers,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. “We have a very strong on-air team for NASCAR and this addition makes it even stronger.”(ESPN)(5-9-2012)
- Gravely Mowers turn the #43 red at Darlington: Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Ford team plan to mow down the competition at Darlington Raceway this week with a new partner: Gravely Professional Mowers. The maker of commercial lawn and garden equipment will see its bright red paint scheme on the team’s Sprint Cup Series car for one of NASCAR’s most historic races – Saturday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500. The NASCAR partnership is the first for Gravely, which has been a power equipment workhorse since 1916. Gravely is part of Ariens Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned company based in Brillion, Wis., and sells a complete line of professional mowers and outdoor power equipment, including the legendary Sno-Thro, through a national dealer network. The company’s partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports will also include endorsements of Gravely products by team owner and racing legend Richard “The King” Petty in sales displays and advertisements.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(5-9-2012)
- Hamlin honoring Yarborough at Darlington: Adding to the history surrounding the #11 team this weekend at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin will take it a step further as he steps out in a retro firesuit and pilots a retro Sport Clips Toyota. The special Sport Clips Toyota retro paint scheme will honor Cale Yarborough and his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Of the 199 wins for the #11 car, Yarborough leads all drivers with 55 of those wins. Hamlin has earned 19 wins in the #11 car.(JGR), see an image of the car on the #11 team paint schemes page.(5-9-2012)
- Tire test at New Hampshire May 8-9: UPDATE” The best way to win races is to be prepared. That’s why a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be in New Hampshire next week, testing new tires for this season’s races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a tire test with five Sprint Cup teams May 8-9. The fans are encouraged to watch from the grandstands free of charge. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for this test session include; #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevy), #99-Carl Edwards (Ford), #47-Bobby Labonte (Toyota), #78-Regan Smith (Chevy), and #27-Paul Menard (Chevy). Grandstands will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. The infield will be closed during the test.(NHMS)(5-4-2012)
UPDATE: Rain washed out testing on Tuesday. The forecast for Wednesday is better, but there is still a change of scatter showers and thunderstorms.(5-9-2012) - Hendrick in longest winless streak since 2002: More than a decade has passed since Hendrick Motorsports slogged through this kind of drought. Back in 2001, Hendrick went the final eight races without a win. Then in 2002, the squad went the first nine winless. That 17-race drought ranks as the team’s sixth-longest in an NSCS history that began in 1984. The seventh longest? This one. Right here, right now. Sixteen races have passed since Hendrick’s last win, but one of its top tracks awaits – Darlington Raceway. Hendrick has 13 victories at The Track Too Tough To Tame, most by any owner all-time. On Hendrick’s personal wins list, Darlington ranks tied for third with Dover behind only Martinsville (18) and Charlotte (16).(NASCAR)(5-9-20120)
- Reutimann moves to the #93 at Darlington: David Reutimann will return behind the wheel of the #93 BK Racing Toyota this week at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Reutimann raced the season-opening Daytona 500 with BK Racing, but has driven the balance of 2012 events with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Travis Kvapil will return to drive the #93 Burger King/Dr Pepper car next week at Charlotte. Reutimann has five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Darlington. He scored his best finish (11th) in 2010. In NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, Reutimann has three starts, with a best finish of third (2008).(Breaking Limits/BK Racing)(5-9-2012)
- Semi-finalists announced for 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame class: The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, Georgia has moved one step closer to being able to name the 2012 class of inductees this week, when they announced the “Fast 15” semi-finalists. The five new GRHOF inductees will be chosen by a panel of voters to make up this year’s class. The 2012 semi-finalists include Charles Barrett [Sprint Cp driver] of Cleveland, GA, Dick Brannon of Dawsonville, GA, Charlie Burkhalter of Athens, GA, Frank Christian [Sprint Cup team owner] of Dahlonega, GA, Tommie Clinard of Macon, GA, Pete Hamilton [Daytona 500 Champ] of Buford, GA, Bill Ingram [Cup driver] of Woodstock, GA, Bobby Johns [Cup driver] of Miami, FL, Warren Johnson of Sugar Hill, GA, Jabez Jones of Toccoa, GA, Doug Kennimer of Dahlonega, GA, Ethel Flock Mobley [Cup driver, Flock sister] of Atlanta, GA, Huston Platt of Buford, GA, Louise Smith [Cup driver/owner] of Barnesville, GA, and Herman Wise of Toccoa, GA. The announcement of the 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inductees will be made during the Hall of Fame’s 10th anniversary celebration event, scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at the Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA.(Raceweek Illustrated)(5-9-2012)
- Cargill to Host “Darlington Signature Burger Event” Darlington Raceway and Cargill Beef are asking fans to submit recipes for the “Track Too Tough to Tame’s” new signature hamburger. Fans will submit their favorite and most unique hamburger recipes, with the selected entries being prepared by Miss Sprint at an old fashioned race-day cook out on Saturday at the track prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500. The burgers will then be judged and a winner chosen by track president Chris Browning. “I’m excited for the opportunity to select the winner of this contest and see what kind of hamburger recipes our fans come up with,” Browning said. “A hamburger is a staple with any camping or tailgating experience at a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Darlington. As we all know, there are many different styles and varieties of hamburgers that are unique so it will be fun to see on Saturday what our fans can bring to the table.” Fans can submit recipes to [email protected]. The winners will receive a family four-pack tailgate package at either next year’s Darlington race, or the fall race at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2012. On Friday, May 11 the top-20 recipes from the submissions will be selected and sent to Cargill to narrow down to the final four. Then on Saturday, May 12 at 12:30pm, Miss Sprint will prepare the top-four burger recipes for the judges and the winner will become the new “signature hamburger” of Darlington Raceway. The event will take place in the infield behind the west concession stand, just inside Gate 11B.(Darlington Raceway)(5-9-2012)
- Green in for McClure at Dover: Jeff Green will make his fourth consecutive start in the #14-Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Camry while Eric McClure, the team’s primary driver, continues to recuperate from the accident suffered at Talladega. The Owensboro, KY native will be making his 320th Nationwide Series start and his 20th at Dover Int’l Speedway. In his previous events, Green has two poles, one win, five top-five, and eight top-10 finishes.(TMI)(5-9-2012)
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