May 10, 2005
- Update on #31 Jackman Josh Yost: Josh Yost, jackman for the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton, who was injured on pit road after being struck by another car [#2-Wallace], will not return to competition this season following two surgeries to repair his heavily injured right ankle. After being released from a Birmingham, Ala., hospital following the May 1 NASCAR Cup event at Talladega Superspeedway, Yost was flown back to North Carolina to begin treatment at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. During the exploratory surgery performed May 3, it was discovered Yost’s injuries included two ruptured tendons, damaged ligaments, a severe laceration and a crushed fibula tip. Yost then underwent reconstructive surgery May 5 to repair the ankle and was released from the hospital the following day. He has been instructed by his doctors to remain off of the ankle for six to eight weeks and can then begin the lengthy rehabilitation process.(RCR)(5-10-2005)
- Roundup to sponsor Edwards at Richmond: Roush Racing and Scotts Team Racing announced that the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the Roundup Extended Control logo and new paint scheme as the primary sponsor for the upcoming races at Richmond International Raceway on May 14 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28. Roundup Extended Control is an exciting new product that was recently introduced, and was specially developed to take weed and grass control to a whole new level. For more information on Roundup or any of the Scotts products visit www.roundup.com, or www.scotts.com.(Roush Racing)(5-10-2005)
- #97 Crew Wins Tyson Crew Championship: Kurt Busch’s #97 team won the National Pit Crew Championship, defeating Jeremy Mayfield’s #19 crew in the final round with a mistake-free stop Monday night. in Mooresville, NC. Busch’s crew, which helped him win the Nextel Cup championship last season, didn’t make a single mistake during the competition and picked up $100,000 for the win. Mayfield’s team earned $25,000 for finishing second. Joe Nemechek’s #01-crew was third — missing out on a spot in the finals because of a two-second penalty for a loose lug nut in the semifinals. The competition was a bracket-style tournament that pitted crews against each other in four rounds. Teams had to change four tires and fill the car with fuel in a race against the stopwatch. Each tire changer had to push a button on the wall to stop the clock, and many teams had a team member pick the changer up and throw him at the wall. Penalties were issued for loose lug nuts, excessive fuel spillage, or not getting enough gas in the car. Mayfield’s crew went up against Busch’s team, which completed its stop in 16.342 seconds. Mayfield’s team clocked in at 16.439, but was penalized four seconds for two loose lug nuts.
An additional $500,000 was up for grabs in a bonus round, open to the top three finishing teams and one wild card, which was Greg Biffle’s #16-crew. The crews had to complete an error-free stop in 14.437 seconds to earn the money. Busch’s crew came close — front tire changer Scott Ward did his part in 14.121 seconds and celebrated by jumping on the hood of his car. But rear changer Kevin Gillman clocked in at 14.900, just short of the bonus.
The winning crew members were: Mark Full (front tire carrier), Scott Ward (front tire changer), Scott Radel (jackman), Doug Newell (fueler), Jim Gaudette (catch can), Kevin Gillman (rear tire changer), Jason Binger (rear tire carrier) and Wayne DeLoria (coach). The four Cup teams from Hendrick Motorsports declined to participate [no idea why].
NASCAR and Nextel will also hold a pit crew competition. That event is scheduled for May 19th at the Charlotte Coliseum, and the Hendrick teams are participating in that one. Because two competitions is one too many, both sides have agreed to try to merge it into one event next season. So all eyes were on this one to see how it would unfold. The temporary bleachers were filled to capacity — roughly 4,000 fans — and several drivers were on hand to support their crews.(ESPN.com/AP)(5-10-2005) - Ganassi has no plans for Marlin, to the #07? UPDATE: #40-Sterling Marlin said last month that he didn’t think he’d be back at Chip Ganassi Racing next year because the car owner had been reluctant to discuss a new contract with him. Ganassi said Marlin can change that via on-track performance. “Right now, we don’t have a plan for Sterling for next year,” Ganassi said. “But if he wins a couple of races, it’s not like we can’t change our plans.”
Assuming he needs a new job next season, garage speculation has him moving over to Richard Childress Racing to drive the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy that Dave Blaney currently pilots.Jack Daniels is a Tennessee-based company that would love to be represented by a homestate driver. Busch series driver David Stremme, who is part of Ganassi’s development program, is most commonly mentioned to replace Marlin in the #40 Dodge.(ESPN.com RPM), NOTE: have heard that Marlin has already met with Jack Daniels’s reps and is a front runner for a Jack Daniels’s sponsored ride, it could be in the #07 RCR Chevy or Jack Daniel’s coud move to another team.(5-8-2005)
UPDATE Q) Marty Smith: Word is you’ve [Marlin] got a liquor sponsor interested. You’ve done the beer deal, now we’re hearing the liquor folks are after you.
A) Marlin: Naw. That’s a vicious rumor. We’ll just have to wait and see what plays out.(see full conversation at NASCAR.com)(5-10-2005) - Gordon to star in reality show? Scott Woolley, who owns Five Star Productions in South Florida, recently inked a deal with a new Chicago-based network, Always Free TV, that’s on the slate to launch in the fall. It’s a home shopping channel, but with a twist — every purchase is accompanied by a freebie of some shape or size. It’s also exploring other types of production. Earlier this year, Woolley set up a subsidiary, Five Star Pictures, in Santa Monica, Calif., to drum up independent film shoots for the new Boca studios. So far, Woolley’s formula for success has been to concentrate on making and marketing half-hour magazine-type shows focusing on special interest niches, such as business, the environment and health. The programs are usually sponsored by a corporate client, who buys much of the national commercial slots. Woolley’s latest concept is a reality program starring NASCAR headliner Jeff Gordon, who will seek out and shape the next star race car driver.(in part from the Miami Herald), don’t know anymore about this but heearing this site may20th2005.com has something to do with it.(5-10-2005)
- No fine for Busch…this time: #97-Kurt Busch crashed on the first lap of Saturday’s race at Darlington Raceway, forcing him to retreat to the garage area for repairs. He eventually re-entered the race but later ignored officials’ instructions during a caution period on where he should line up for a restart. Busch was ordered to pit road to serve a penalty. Busch responded with offensive language over his in-car radio communications system, revved his engine when officials ordered him to shut his car off and threw a water bottle that hit an official standing in his pit area. Roush Racing President Geoff Smith says Busch was frustrated by the crash, which left him nursing a damaged, uncompetitive car around a narrow, difficult track for the rest of the night to gain championship points. Busch has been involved in a total of seven on-track incidents this season, tied for third-most in the series this year, according to USA TODAY database research. Smith says Busch lost his temper after officials assessed a penalty Smith called “questionable. So he fought it — and lost, of course,” Smith says. Smith doesn’t expect Busch to receive further penalties from NASCAR this week. “I think he is definitely aware of where he stands today,” NASCAR vice president of communications Jim Hunter said in an e-mail. “Without going into any further detail, he certainly knows NASCAR is not going to tolerate any future temper tantrums. President Mike Helton made our position very clear.” Says Smith: “He’s now on notice. So if there’s anything else, there’s going to be a penalty associated with it.”(USA Today)(5-10-2005)
- VA Governor, Sadler to promote GED’s: Virginia Governor Mark Warner will visit the track on Thursday, May 12 at 1:00pm/et to announce a partnership with Virginia Native Elliott Sadler, Richmond International Raceway and the “Race to GED” program. The program is designed to help Virginia residents obtain a high school diploma. The track has offered its facility as an official GED testing site and race tickets for students as an incentive to complete the program.(RIR Fact Sheet)(5-10-2005)
- Wolfe back in the #6 for Richmond: Unilever Foods and Evernham Motorsports announced today that Paul Wolfe will be back in the driver’s seat of #6 Hungry Drivers Dodge Charger for this weekend’s Funai 250 at Richmond International Raceway as well as NASCAR Busch Series events at Dover and Nashville. Kasey Kahne will drive the #6 Dodge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Wolfe, who shared driving duties of the #6 Hungry Drivers Dodge in 2004 with three other up and coming drivers, ran the first three NASCAR Busch Series events of the 2005 season including Daytona, California and Las Vegas. Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kane [and Mike Wallace] have since split driving duties of the #6 Dodge. The team’s highest finish of the season is an eighth-place finish this past weekend at Darlington Raceway with Jeremy Mayfield behind the wheel.(Hungry Drivers Racing)(5-10-2005)
- Newman fastest at Lowe’s, today final day: #39-Ryan Newman showed he is a threat to win the pole no matter the division, posting the fastest unofficial lap Monday evening as 29 NASCAR Busch Series teams tested at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in preparation for the inaugural nighttime running of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, May 28. NASCAR Busch Series point leader #60-Carl Edwards was among four drivers who walked away from grinding crashes during the six-hour testing session. #14-David Stremme, #38-Tyler Walker and #88-Brian Sockwell were the others who tested the SAFER barriers. The unofficial watches caught Newman with a lap of 29.303 seconds, 184.281 mph, in his new #39 Penske Racing Dodge. Newman, who plans to makes his first Busch Series start since 2001 in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, did not participate in the last week’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing sessions and this was his first time on the recently renovated 1.5-mile superspeedway. Shane Hmiel was second fastest on the unofficial stopwatches at 183.032 mph in the #32 WIN Fuel Chevy. Greg Biffle recorded the third fastest lap at 182.729 mph in the #66 Duraflame Ford with defending Busch Series champion Mark Truex Jr. next on the chart at 182.716 mph in the #8 Bass Pro Shops Chevy Stremme was the first to make wall contact when his #14 Dodge slammed the wall early in the session. Stremme was able to drive back to the garage, but the car suffered heavy right-side damage and he was finished for the evening. Sockwell was next to find the wall when he spun the #88 Chevy shortly after the dinner break. Like Stremme, Sockwell was able to drive back to the garage area. Edwards was checked and released from the Carolinas HealthCare System Infield Care Center after a hard crash when his #60 Ford slammed the turn four wall near the end of the session and Tyler Walker crashed the #38 Dodge with less than 15 minutes remaining.
NASCAR Busch Series teams will be on the track again Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The six-hour session concludes testing for the track’s slate of May races.
Fans can attend the final NASCAR Busch Series testing session free of charge. Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s frontstretch grandstand will be open and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office.
The top-10 unofficial speeds:
Showing driver, car number and speed: 1. Ryan Newman, #39, 184.281;
2. Shane Hmiel, #32, 183.032;
3. Greg Biffle, #66, 182.729;
4. Martin Truex Jr., #8, 182.716;
5. Reed Sorenson, #41, 182.402;
6. Jimmie Johnson, #48, 182.303;
7. Kevin Harvick, #21, 182.205;
8. Bobby Hamilton, #95,181.855;
9. Tyler Walker, #38, 181.415;
10. Paul Menard, #11, 181.342.(Lowe’s Motor Speedway)(5-10-2005) - Two Crew Chiefs Fined for Darlington Violations: NASCAR announced Tuesday that fines have been issued to two NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs resulting from rule violations during opening day inspection at Darlington Raceway on May 5.
Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the #64 Dodge driven by Jamie McMurray, was fined $2,500 after violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-CC (unapproved rear end gear ratio) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book.
Ronnie Griffin, crew chief of the #0 Chevrolet driven by Kertus Davis, was fined $500 after violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) for an unapproved jacking bolt.(NASCAR PR)(5-10-2005) - Fontane to make CTS debut in BHR #4 at Mansfield: NASCAR Newcomer Chris Fontaine will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in the UAW-GM/Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway on Sunday May 15th. The 23 year-old Lakeland, Florida native will pilot the #4 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge driven previously this year by Casey Atwood and Timothy Peters. Peters will return to the driver’s seat for the Charlotte Tailgate 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 20th. Fontaine brings a variety of Late Model stock car experience to the BHR stables. Fontaine has competed in the NASCAR All-Pro Series, the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series and the All American Challenge Series.(BHR)(5-10-2005)
- Spitzer Dodge to sponsor the #18 at Mansfield: Spitzer Dodge of Mansfield, OH will sponsor the #18 Dodge that Chase Montgomery driver at Manfield. Spitzer Dodge is a member of Spitzer AutoWorld which is a mega-automotive retail company that operates over 30 franchise dealerships at over 20 locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.(BHR)(5-10-2005)
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