April 2007 Busch Series Archive

 

  • Dodge to Be Presenting Sponsor of Montreal Race: Stock-Car Montréal l.p., promoter of the NAPA Auto Parts 200, the first-ever NASCAR Busch Series race in Canada, announced that Dodge will be the presenting sponsor of the August 3-4, 2007 race event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. This sponsorship gives Dodge cars and trucks exclusive promotional presence at this milestone racing event, and makes Dodge the official supplier of the cars and trucks of the event. The race and the race weekend will be officially known as the NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge.(Stock Car Montreal PR)(4-30-2007)
  • Seymour Paint Sponsoring Braun Racing & Bill Elliott at Lowe’s: SEYMOUR of SYCAMORE, inventor of aerosol spray paint and producer of Seymour Paint, has partnered with Braun Racing to field a car in the Busch Series. The #32 SEYMOUR Paint Toyota will make its debut at the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott will climb behind the wheel for his first Busch Series start since 2005.(Braun Racing PR)(4-30-2007)
  • NASCAR Busch Series at Richmond Live in Prime Time on ESPN2: The NASCAR Busch Series was born on short tracks racing under the lights and will make a return to its roots Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. ESPN2 will have live primetime coverage of the 250-lap race from the .750-mile Virginia track beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The race will start at 8 p.m. Dale Jarrett will join Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis during the telecast. ESPN’s Marty Reid will handle play-by-play duties. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.(ESPN PR)(4-30-2007)
  • Raybestos Rookie Notes for Richmond: David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega. Ragan finished fourth, his second top-five and second top-10 finish of the season. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. Ragan holds a two-point edge over Juan Pablo Montoya (101-99) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 4 Circuit City 250 at Richmond. Ragan is seventh in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie standings. He is 23 points behind sixth-place Matt Kenseth and leads eighth-place Kyle Busch by nine.Raybestos PR)(4-30-2007)
  • SMARTBOX Sponsoring Hanniford in Busch Debut at Richmond: SMARTBOX, a portable storage and moving firm that is growing rapidly throughout the country, announced it is moving into the fast lane of another sort by sponsoring the #56 car of Dange Hanniford in Friday’s Busch Series Circuit City 250 at Richmond. Hanniford raced in the Hooters Pro Cup Championship in 2006 and is making his Busch Series debut in Richmond for the #56-Mac Hill Motorsports team.(SMARTHOME PR)(4-29-2007)
  • Kyle Busch Walks Away From Scary Crash: #5-Kyle Busch walked away from a spectacular crash early in Saturday’s Busch Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Busch was running second as the field drove off turn four on the 2.66-mile oval to complete lap 27 of the 117-lap Aaron’s 312. Busch suddenly darted up the banking as he prepared to pass #9-Kasey Kahne for the lead. #33-Tony Stewart, in third, followed and appeared to hit Busch’s car. Busch then bounced off the car driven by #24-Casey Mears and turned across the track and into the wall. Busch’s car was on its side as it struck the outside barrier, then skidded on its roof down the banking and onto the grass infield, where it began barrel-rolling as flames erupted from under the hood. The #5 Chevy finally stopped on its wheels and Busch quickly scrambled from the cockpit. He walked straight to a waiting ambulance for the mandatory ride to the infield medical center.(Associated Press)(4-28-2007)
  • Santos to Make Busch Debut at Richmond: Bobby Santos III will attempt to make his Busch Series debut next month at Richmond International Raceway, as Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports will field a Toyota for Santos in conjunction with Bill Davis Racing. Santos, a BDR development driver, has an open-wheel background. He is scheduled for 10 Busch races this year. BDR’s Gene Nead will be the crew chief.(SceneDaily.com)(4-28-2007)
  • Huffman Honoring Blue Angels Pilot at Talladega: As a silent tribute to Lt. Cmdr. Kevin “Kojak” Davis, Shane Huffman has removed his name from above the door of the #88 Navy Chevy and replaced it with a special Blue Angels decal for Saturday’s Busch race at Talladega. Lt. Cmdr. Davis, 32, of Pittsfield, Mass., died Saturday when his No. 6 F/A-18 Hornet crashed during an air show in Beaufort, S.C.(JR Motorsports PR)(4-27-2007)
  • Special Scheme for Kahne at Talladega: Shedd’s Spread Country Crock is launching its national ‘Spread the Sharing’ campaign at Talladega by placing their logo on the hood of the #9 Country Crock Dodge. The program supports America’s Second Harvest. The hood will forego all Country Crock branding, to emphasize the impact that sharing can have on the world. The hood logo will be a brown plate with a fork and knife on either side, with the words “Please Share” across the plate.(Hungry Drivers PR)(4-27-2007)
  • Sam Hornish Pulling Double Duty at Richmond — Busch and IRL: Sam Hornish Jr. will attempt to do something no other driver has ever done at Richmond International Raceway: qualify for both an IndyCar Series and Busch Series race at America’s Premier Short Track. Hornish will attempt to run the Circuit City 250 Busch Series race on Friday, May 4 “under the lights.”(Richmond International Raceway PR)(4-27-2007)
  • Villeneuve Still Eyeing Montreal Race: The rumors of Jacques Villeneuve’s impending move to NASCAR racing eased off following the Canadian’s naming, earlier this year, to drive one of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP diesel prototypes with which the French manufacturer will tackle the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But the fact remains that JV would love to be a part of the Busch Series race that will mark NASCAR’s debut on Canadian soil, the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next August. “Obviously I’d like to do a home race, but it’s more important to take the time to set things up properly,” the 1997 Formula 1 world champion told his official website. “We have the time to do it properly so there is no point in rushing.”(SpeedTV.com)(4-26-2007)
  • NASCAR alters restrictor plates to slow Busch cars: NASCAR has ordered its Busch Series teams to use restrictor plates with smaller hole sizes after officials determined that speeds from Thursday’s first practice were too high as Phoenix Racing’s Mike Wallace posted a lap of 197.342 mph at Talladega Superspeedway. The original restrictor plates had holes of 30/32nds of an inch. The new restrictor plates have holes of 29/32nds of an inch, meaning less air will flow through the carburetor. NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said the engines are expected to turn out 15 to 20 less horsepower as a result. Rookie practice was cancelled. The new plate was run in the Nextel Cup Series in 2004.(SceneDaily.com)(4-26-2007)
  • NASCAR Countdown: ESPN on ABC Talladega Superspeedway Highlights: ESPN on ABCs NASCAR Countdown will preview the NASCAR Busch Series at Talladega Superspeedway action Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3 p.m. Brent Musburger will host the telecast with studio analyst Brad Daugherty. Analyst Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Cutaway Car.
    The race telecast team including Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree will also contribute. NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro as drivers and teams prepare to race on the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
    NASCAR Countdown will originate from Talladega Superspeedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday afternoon, April 28. Highlights will include:
    Jeff Burton in the Booth Jeff Burton, a two-time winner in the NASCAR Busch Series this season, is not competing at Talladega and will join Brent Musburger and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio for NASCAR Countdown. The South Boston, Va., native will share his views about racing at NASCAR’s biggest track, how to avoid “The Big One” multi-car crash that often occurs at Talladega and Daytona and his success in the Nextel Cup Series this season.
    Huffman and Earnhardt Go Navy: NASCAR Busch Series driver Shane Huffman and his team owner, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., recently visited the USS Cleveland off the coast of San Diego and NASCAR Countdown went along. ESPN’s Shannon Spake will report on the visit to the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock vessel by Huffman and Earnhardt. Huffman’s car carries sponsorship of the Navy in the NASCAR Busch Series.
    Truex Goes For Four Straight: Former NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex, Jr., is going for his fourth consecutive NASCAR Busch Series win at Talladega. Though he is only running a limited schedule in the series this season, his past record at Talladega still ranks him as a favorite to win.(ESPN PR)(4-26-2007)
  • Mike Wallace to Have Special Guests at Talladega: Mike Wallace will head to Talladega this weekend in hopes of repeating his success at Daytona, but he will do it with the Hoover High School football coaching staff in tow. Head coach, Rush Propst, wide receivers coach, Shawn Sutton, along with defensive coaches, Chris Davis, Kevin Sherrer, and Tony Pugh will be on hand to cheer Wallace on for both the Busch Series and the Nextel Cup races. The coaches will be introduced at the Busch Series driver meeting on Saturday morning. MTV’s ‘Two-A-Days’ is a reality show that profiles the nation’s top high school football program, Hoover High School, in Hoover, Alabama. The television viewing audience is exposed to the inner workings and nuances associated with both playing and coaching in America’s premier high school football program.(Player Management International PR)(4-26-2007)
  • Diamond Rio to Sing National Anthem at Lowes: Country music group Diamond Rio will perform the national anthem prior to the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Busch Series race May 26, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It was also announced that Greg Epsaro and John Sawatsky will serve as co-grand marshals for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300. Epsaro, owner of Harriman Auto in Harriman, N.Y., is the 2006 TECH-NET Professional Auto Service/ASE Technician of the Year. Sawatsky, owner of MSJ Automotive Services Ltd. in Windsor, Ont., is the 2006 CARQUEST Excellence Award winner.(LMS PR)(4-25-2007)
  • O’Quinn Driving for Roush-Fenway at Talladega: Danny O’Quinn, Jr. will make his first start in a Roush Fenway Busch Series race this Saturday at Talladega. O’Quinn will be behind the wheel of the #17 Dish Network Ford, reuniting him with his 2006 crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. O’Quinn will also run the #17 Dish Network Ford in the Kentucky Busch race on June 16th. He will make his final run for Roush Fenway Racing in the #26 Dish Network Ford in New Hampshire.(Roush-Fenway PR)(4-25-2007)
  • Montoya gesture could result in Busch Series penalty: NASCAR will look into whether Juan Pablo Montoya violated any of its rules by using an obscene gesture that was telecast by a Speed in-car camera during the final Busch Series practice Friday, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver apparently was unaware the camera was being used for live television. NASCAR has fined and penalized drivers for obscene gestures caught on live television in the past.(SceneDaily.com)(4-21-2007)
    UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Dodge in the Busch Series, has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 because of an inappropriate gesture made during a practice session at Phoenix International Raceway. Montoya was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(4-25-2007)
  • Todd Brewer Fined: Todd Brewer, crew chief for the #25 Ford driven by David Gilliland in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined $2,000 after it was found the #25 had unapproved, hollow jacking bolts. Brewer was in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.1A(8) (unapproved jacking bolts, hollow bolts). The violation was found during opening day inspection at Phoenix.(NASCAR PR)(4-25-2007)
  • Congrats to Dan Deeringhoff: Clint Bowyer’s crew chief Dan Deeringhoff will miss this weekend’s race at Talladega in lieu of his wedding. Deeringhoff will marry Sandy Bessey in a ceremony this Saturday at noon at Sandals Resort in the Bahamas. Bowyer’s Nextel Cup Series engineer Jeremy Bullins will call the race in Deeringhoff’s absence who will return to the top of the pit box next weekend in Richmond.(RCR PR)(4-24-2007)
  • NASCAR Busch Series at Talladega Live on ESPN on ABC: Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its high speeds and close competition, and the NASCAR Busch Series will make its only appearance of the 2007 season at the 2.66-mile Alabama track this weekend. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of Saturday’s 312-mile race beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown, the fourth of six series events on ABC this year. The other 29 events are televised by ESPN2. Jerry Punch will anchor the telecast from Talladega, joined in the booth by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. Brent Musburger will host the telecast, while analyst Brad Daugherty will join Musburger in the ESPN Pit Studio during the race, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. Coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3 p.m.(ESPN PR)(4-23-2007)
  • Raybestos Rookie Notes for Talladega: Juan Pablo Montoya was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix. Montoya scored a 21st-place finish and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. He led the race once for three laps. Marcos Ambrose holds a two-point edge over Montoya (88-86) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega. Ambrose is eighth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is just four points behind seventh-place Mike Wallace and leads ninth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by one point.(Raybestos PR)(4-23-2007)
  • Fitz Motorsports Crew Member Released from Hospital: Fitz Motorsports tire carrier Jason Miller was released from the hospital Saturday morning after being hit by the #1 car of J.J. Yeley during the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway, the team said in a statement. Miller severely bruised his midsection and abdomen, and also bruised his spleen. He remained at the hospital overnight in case there was internal bleeding. There was no internal bleeding found and he returned home Saturday to North Carolina.(SceneDaily.com)(4-22-2007)
  • Sad News – Dick Miller: Dick Miller of Raleigh NC, retired CEO of Goodmark Foods, died Thursday at Myrtle Beach, SC while on vacation after fighting Parkinson’s disease for several years. While Dick was CEO at Goodmark Foods they were very active in NASCAR with their Slim Jim and Penrose brands. Under his leadership they began sponsoring Bobby Labonte in the Busch Series with the Penrose brand in 1990. Bobby won the 1991 Busch Series Championship with Penrose. In 1992 they brought Slim Jim on as primary sponsor and Bobby finished second to Joe Nemechck, in the closest finish in Busch Series history. When Bobby moved to Cup racing he kept his team going and signed David Green to drive the Slim Jim #44. David then won the 1994 Busch Championship driving for Bobby and Slim Jim. Goodmark Foods also participated in NASCAR programs sponsoring the Penrose Rookie of the Year program and the Slim Jim All Pro Series. Other Slim Jim and Penrose drivers of note included Terry Labonte, Justin Labonte, Jason Keller, Mike Cope and Todd Bodine. Goodmark also made the famous Martinsville hot dogs under their Jesse Jones brand. Dick was cremated and there will be a visitation Saturday evening from 6-9 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Millbrook Road in Raleigh. A memorial service will be held at 3pm Sunday at Brown-Wynne.(4-21-2007)
  • Mike Wallace Donates Uniform to Benefit Slain Police Officers: Recently, Mike Wallace, driver of the #7 GEICO Chevy, donated the GEICO driver uniform he wore when he won the Winn-Dixie 250 Busch Series race at Daytona in 2004, to the John Boy and Billy Big Show for an on-line auction. He donated his prized possession to assist the radio show in raising money to benefit the families of two Charlotte police officers who were gunned down at point blank range. Officers Sean Clark, 34, and Jeff Shelton, 35, were responding to a domestic call at a Charlotte apartment complex on March 31, 2007, at 10:35 PM. While trying to subdue one person, another person walked up and shot both police officers in the back of the head. You can bid on Mike Wallace’s Daytona uniform, as well as several other items, at www.wrfx.com. Bidding closes at 5:00 PM (ET) on Monday, April 23, 2007.(Player Management International PR)(4-21-2007)
  • Jeff Burton Say COT Could Have Big Impact on Busch Series: Jeff Burton hasn’t been in a Busch Series car on a weekend when the car of tomorrow is being used in the Nextel Cup Series before today. But the Richard Childress Racing Cup driver admits that the impact of the car of tomorrow on teams that compete in both series could be felt. There’s already a limit on the technology that can be shared between the cars in the two series, but currently the Cup team owners can gain from racing in the Busch Series. That may change with the additional use of the car of tomorrow. Burton pointed out that while people seem to think it’s easy for a Cup team to add a Busch program, it’s a financial stretch to do so. He says that Cup owners are “pushed to the very limit with the amount of sponsorship dollars you can get for a Busch program, and the amount of money it costs to run it and run it effectively, it’s difficult to make money doing that. And the reason you want to make money is so you can buy more technology so you can do all this.” If a team isn’t making money, and the team can’t gain any useful technology, and the driver can’t gain any extra ideas on things that could help him drive his Cup car, then what is the point of crossing over? Burton says that if that access to information is lost, the Busch program runs the risk of becoming a distraction. If that happens, not only could drivers cease to compete in both series, but owner involvement could change as well.(SceneDaily.com)(4-20-2007)
  • Special Scheme for Reutimann at Talladega: David Reutimann will carry a special paint scheme on his #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway in the Busch Series Aaron’s 312 that nine-year-old Marina Sansom from Madras, Oregon designed. Sansom was chosen as having the winning car art for Aaron’s nationwide “Color Your Way to Talladega” sweepstakes. Sansom along with her family will attend the race courtesy of Aaron’s to see the florescent crayon design come to life and also root for the Aaron’s Dream Team.(DavidReutimann.net), see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(4-19-2007)
  • ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Phoenix Highlights: ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the NASCAR Busch Series at Phoenix action in prime time Friday night at 9 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 9:30 p.m. Erik Kuselias will host the telecast with studio analyst Brad Daugherty. Analyst Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Cutaway Car.The race telecast team including Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree will also contribute. NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Vince Welch as drivers and teams prepare to race under the lights on the super speedway. NASCAR Countdown will originate from Phoenix International Raceway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for primetime coverage of the 200-mile NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday night, April 20. Highlights will include:

    Bad Luck Busch? #5-Kyle Busch will talk about his “bad luck” Busch Series season – he has led more laps than any other driver in 2007, but has not yet sealed a win. What does he need to do to get to victory lane? Busch will also talk about his Texas Motor Speedway mishap during the Nextel Cup race where driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. took over the remaining nine laps of the #5 Chevy after Busch had left the race track.
    Reports from the Pits:

    • Juan Pablo Montoya refuses to back down even after a run-in with Tony Stewart at Texas. Montoya will talk about his season and successes so far.
    • Carl Edwards will talk about his domination of the Busch Series and his expectations for Phoenix night racing.
    • David Ragan had his best career Busch Series start – on the pole – and best career finish of fifth in the Busch Series Texas. What kind of boost was that for the rookie driver who is competing in both Series this year?

    JR Motorsports Driver Shane Huffman Feature: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, started his own NASCAR Busch team, JR Motorsports in North Carolina. NASCAR Countdown will feature Earnhardt’s, #88 team and driver Shane Huffman, providing Huffman the best possible shot at success in the NASCAR Busch Series.(ESPN PR)(4-19-2007)

  • Frank Cicci Racing Closes #34 Team Until Sponsorship is Found: In his 20th year of ownership, Frank Cicci still has the desire to race. What he doesn’t have is the money. Frank Cicci Racing is shuttered for the immediate future unless a primary sponsor steps up. Cicci withdrew his Busch Series entry at Texas last week and again for Saturday’ Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix. “We were in the top 30 and a guaranteed starter at Texas, but I had to withdraw due to a lack of sponsorship,” Cicci said Wednesday from his Mooresville, N.C., shop. “I’ve been trying all year to find sponsorship and have been paying this out of my pocket for the first seven races and just couldn’t go on any more.”(NASCAR.com)(4-18-2007)
  • McClure to Run Special Decal for Virginia Tech: UPDATE 2: All NASCAR Teams to Have Logo: Eric McClure, driver of the #0 HeftynChevy, will pay tribute to the Virginia Tech community this weekend in the running of the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 in Phoenix. McClure, who lives only an hour south of the Virginia Tech campus, will run a special decal on the #0 Hefty Chevy and wear VT memorabilia honoring those who lost their lives in the tragedy that occurred on Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia.(McClure PR)(4-18-2007)
    UPDATE: In honor of the victims of the April 16th tragedy at Virginia Tech University, a commemorative decal will appear on the #7 GEICO Chevy beginning with the April 20th race in Phoenix.(GEICO Racing PR)(4-17-2007)
    UDPATE 2: NASCAR has received permission from Virginia Tech University to display the school’s logo on race cars for the next three weeks, in a tribute to the victims of this week’s shootings at the Blacksburg, Va. campus. The logo will be displayed against a black background on the “B-post” – the area just to the right of the driver’s side window net – of cars competing in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series events at Phoenix, Talladega and Richmond.(NASCAR PR)(4-18-2007)
  • McClure to Run Special Decal for Virginia Tech: UPDATE 2: All NASCAR Teams to Have Logo: Eric McClure, driver of the #0 HeftynChevy, will pay tribute to the Virginia Tech community this weekend in the running of the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 in Phoenix. McClure, who lives only an hour south of the Virginia Tech campus, will run a special decal on the #0 Hefty Chevy and wear VT memorabilia honoring those who lost their lives in the tragedy that occurred on Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia.(McClure PR)(4-18-2007)
    UPDATE: In honor of the victims of the April 16th tragedy at Virginia Tech University, a commemorative decal will appear on the #7 GEICO Chevy beginning with the April 20th race in Phoenix.(GEICO Racing PR)(4-17-2007)
    UDPATE 2: NASCAR has received permission from Virginia Tech University to display the school’s logo on race cars for the next three weeks, in a tribute to the victims of this week’s shootings at the Blacksburg, Va. campus. The logo will be displayed against a black background on the “B-post” – the area just to the right of the driver’s side window net – of cars competing in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series events at Phoenix, Talladega and Richmond.(NASCAR PR)(4-18-2007)
  • Elliott Sadler in the #9 at Phoenix: Elliott Sadler will drive his first Busch race in an Evernham Motorsports Dodge this weekend at Phoenix. (Clear!Blue / Evernham PR)(4-18-2007)
  • Revelocity Racing Collaborative Partner: Revelocity Racing announced it has established a collaboration with The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) for the Pediatric Allergy & Asthma Initiative for the 2007 Busch race season. AAAAI is a professional, medical specialty organization in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries that represents thousands of physicians and other healthcare professionals who specialize in asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Revelocity Racing and the Pediatric Allergy & Asthma Initiative are dedicated to allocating education and resources to more than 17 million asthma and allergy sufferers throughout the United States, and will include industry-specific sponsors for the 2007 NASCAR Busch season.(Revelocity Racing PR)(4-18-2007)
  • Conner & Zipadelli Penalized by NASCAR: NASCAR announced today that Greg Conner, crew chief of the #59 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose and Scott Zipadelli, crew chief of the #47 Ford driven by Jon Wood in the NASCAR Busch Series, have been penalized due to rule violations at Texas. Both were fined $2,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12A: unapproved rear axle housing (offset) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infractions were discovered during opening day inspection on April 12.(NASCAR PR)(4-17-2007)
  • Beringer Vineyards Sponsoring Braun Racing: Blaney and the #32 Braun Racing team welcome new sponsor Beringer Vineyards, part of Foster’s Wine Estates. Beringer is located in Napa Valley, California. The Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 will be Beringer’s first race as primary sponsor of the #32.(Braun Racing PR)(4-17-2007)
  • iLevel to Sponsor Kenseth in Busch: Roush Fenway Racing announced that iLevel by Weyerhaeuser will return in 2007 as a primary sponsor in the Busch Series. Weyerhaeuser’s iLevel brand will appear four times this season as the primary sponsor on Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford. The first race in which Kenseth’s #17 will feature iLevel as the primary sponsor will be this weekend at Phoenix. iLevel will also be the primary sponsor for Dover in September and Charlotte in October. iLevel will finish out its season at Texas in November.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-17-2007)
  • NASCAR Busch Series in Prime Time on ESPN2 From Phoenix: ESPN2 will have a live, primetime telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Busch Series race from Phoenix International Raceway starting at 9 p.m. ET. The one-mile superspeedway will bring the Arizona desert alive for 200 laps of racing under the lights, with the race beginning just as darkness begins to fall in the Valley of the Sun. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s telecast from Phoenix, joined in the booth by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Vince Welch will serve as pit reporters. Erik Kuselias will host the telecast, while analyst Brad Daugherty will join Kuselias in the ESPN Pit Studio during the race, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. ESPN2’s coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 9 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 9:30 p.m.(ESPN PR)(4-16-2007)
  • Special Paint Scheme for #27 at Phoenix: The #27 car will sport a special “Scott Shop Towels” paint scheme for the Bashas’ 200 at Phoenix.(Brewco PR)(4-16-2007)
    UPDATE: See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(4-17-2007)
  • Rookie Notes for Phoenix: David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the O’Reilly 300 at Texas. Ragan finished fifth, his first top-five finish in 15 Busch Series starts. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in three races. Ragan became the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish in the spring race at Texas since Carl Edwards placed fourth in 2005. Ragan won the pole position for the O’Reilly 300, the first pole position of his Busch Series career. He is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole this season. Marcos Ambrose holds a two-point lead over Ragan (78-76) entering the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix. Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the Busch Series championship standings. Ambrose is eighth, best of any Raybestos Rookie, 35 points behind seventh-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ragan is in 10th-place, 15 points ahead of 11th-place Stephen Leicht.(Raybestos PR)(4-17-2007)
  • Huffman and Earnhardt, Jr. on Air Craft Carrier: Prior to racing at Phoenix, #88-Shane Huffman and JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will spend Wednesday aboard the USS Cleveland LPD-7. The vessel is the fourth amphibious transport dock in the Austin class. Commissioned in April 1967, the USS Cleveland is home ported out of San Diego, Calif., as a member of the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. At 569 feet in length, the USS Cleveland has divided her time between operations in the Eastern Pacific and extended deployments to the Western Pacific. It is normally assigned as part of an Expeditionary Strike Group and has performed a wide variety of missions.(JR Motorsports PR)(4-17-2007)
  • NAPA Sponsoring Canadian Busch Race and Reutimann: Stock-Car Montréal s.e.c. announced that the NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be the official name of the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race on August 4 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. During the press conference, it was also announced that David Reutimann will drive the #99 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota in the Montreal race.(Stock-Car Montréal PR)(4-16-2007)
  • ESPN Phoenix Announce Booth To Reunite Three Old Friends: If the three people in the booth for ESPN2’s live coverage of Friday night’s NASCAR Busch Series race from Phoenix International Raceway sound as if they are very familiar with each other, there’s a good reason: they are. Jerry Punch, lead announcer, and analysts Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett are all originally from Newton, N.C. All graduated from Newton-Conover High School. More than 25 years ago, all worked together on a fledgling racing team. All have gone on to stellar accomplishments in their chosen professions. And now fate has brought them back together to call the action of a NASCAR race on television as they work together in the booth for the first time.(ESPN PR)(4-16-2007)
  • Bowyer Back in Busch Race: After a near month-long hiatus from Busch Series action, Clint Bowyer returns to the seat of RCR’s #2 Chevy this weekend as Camping World debuts it sponsorship of the #2 entry.(RCR PR)(4-16-2007)
  • Raines Back in the #33 at Phoenix: Tony Raines returns to Kevin Harvick Inc. #33 RoadLoans.com Chevy and the NASCAR Busch Series for the second time this season. His last start came back at Atlanta. (KHI PR)(4-16-2007)
  • Free Fries From Arby’s on Monday: Matt Kenseth’s victory in Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 means Arby’s, his primary Busch sponsor, will give away free medium curly fries to all customers on Monday. Customers must bring in a printed copy of the official race results from a newspaper or Web site as their coupon to participating Arby’s on “Matt’s Monday” to receive the free fries. The promotion is only on the Mondays following a Kenseth Busch or Cup win and is limited to one order per customer.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2007)
  • Texas Busch sponsor re-ups: O’Reilly Auto Parts has signed a four-year contract extension with TMS to continue as title sponsor of both Busch Series races. Under terms that run from 2009-12, O’Reilly also will remain the speedway’s “Official Auto Parts Store.” The O’Reilly 300 will continue to be run in the spring and the O’Reilly Challenge will remain part of TMS’ fall schedule. The renewal was announced by TMS president Eddie Gossage and Ron Byerly, O’Reilly’s vice president of advertising and marketing. No financial terms were disclosed..(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-15-2007)
  • Mike Wallace is WIX Filters Lap Leader at Texas: #7-Mike Wallace led once for one lap to earn WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in today’s O’Reilly 300. Wallace captured the award for the third time in eight races this season. He was the only Busch Series regular to lead a lap in the race. Wallace had led at least one lap in five races this season.(WIX PR)(4-14-2007)
  • Wanke & #7 Team Part Ways?: UPDATE: Hearing that Fred Wanke and the #7 Phoenix Racing team have parted ways. Supposedly Marc Reno will fill in as crew chief for Mike Wallace until they find a replacement.(4-12-2007)
    UPDATE: Marc Reno had taken over the [crew] chief role for the race. Marc is the General Manager for Phoenix racing. Marc had been Mike’s crew chief before on the #1 Busch car and the #09 Cup car in previous years.(MikeWallace.com)(4-14-2007)
  • Harkness Arrested by US Marshalls in NYC: UPDATE: Officials with the U.S. Marshals Service say they have arrested Fatemeh Angela Harkness after she got off a plane from the United Arab Emirates in New York City on Sunday. Harkness is a Round Rock [New York] native who was the subject of an international manhunt by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. Marshals say Harkness fled just prior to an April 2004 sentencing in which she reportedly plead guilty to involvement in bank fraud totaling $1.3 million. Harkness made a name for herself by owning a NASCAR team with her co-defendant in the case, Gary Jones. [The team was Angela’s Motorsports. They ran at Homestead in 2002 and had hired Mike McLaughlin to drive in 2003 before the plan unraveled.] Jones is currently incarcerated. Police say Harkness, a former stripper, conspired with Jones, a Wells Fargo vice president to embezzle money that helped fund their NASCAR adventures. The business was run from Harkness’ Round Rock home. Harkness was arrested by authorities with the United Arab Emirates in May 2005 — but due to the fact that the country and the U.S. have no extradition treaty, she had not been accessible to U.S. Marshalls until landing at JFK International Airport on Sunday. Marshals say she will face a judge in New York before being returned to Central Texas for trial.(KEYE TV)(4-8-2007)
    UPDATE: A former Yellow Rose stripper who admitted to conspiring to embezzle $1 million to fund a NASCAR auto racing team run out of her Round Rock home is back in Austin for the first time since she fled the country to avoid going to prison in 2004. Fatemeh Angela Harkness, 30, is set to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge at 2 p.m. Friday. She faces up to five years in prison. Her sentencing date has not been set. Harkness arrived in Austin from New York Thursday evening accompanied by U.S. marshals. On Sunday, Harkness flew to New York from the United Arab Emirates — where she has spent the past three years — after contacting U.S. marshals in Austin to arrange her surrender.(Austin American-Statesman)(4-13-2007)
  • NASCAR.COM And Sprint Team To Stream NASCAR Busch Series Events: The thrills of the Busch Series will hit Sprint handsets as part of NASCAR.COM To Go through a partnership between Sprint Nextel and NASCAR.COM. The live television broadcast of the NASCAR Busch Series races airing on ESPN2 also will air on Sprint Power Vision capable handsets.(NASCAR PR)(4-13-2007)
  • ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Texas Motor Speedway Highlights: ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the NASCAR Busch Series at Texas Motor Speedway action, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3 p.m. Erik Kuselias will host the telecast, while studio analyst Brad Daugherty and guest analyst Dale Jarrett will join Kuselias and Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. The race telecast team including Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree will also contribute. NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Vince Welch as drivers and teams prepare to race on the fast-paced surface of Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR Countdown will originate from Texas Motor Speedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for primetime coverage of the 300-mile NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday afternoon, April 14. Highlights will include:
    Reports from the Pit:

    • Kyle Busch – Hard Luck Driver? ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Mike Massaro will speak with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series driver Kyle Busch, dubbed this year’s hard luck driver. Busch has led the most races and laps, but hasn’t been able to follow through with a win. Will Texas Motor Speedway be his time to finally take the checkered flag?
    • NASCAR Busch Series Rookie Brad Coleman Living the Dream: NASCAR Busch Series rookie Brad Coleman will speak with ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Vince Welch about living the dream as a 19-year-old NASCAR driver. Coleman is a Texas native whose dream week has included meeting the Governor and throwing out the first pitch at Nolan Ryan’s Round Rock Express baseball game. Does Coleman have it what it takes to top off his dream week with a win?
    • The Points Lead Keeps Growing: ESPN Pit Reporter Dave Burns will speak with current NASCAR Busch Series point’s leader Carl Edwards about his incredible start to the season and points lead. Can his lead get much bigger and does Edwards feel he is getting too much respect, or is he just that dominant?
    • Can Jeff Burton Make It Three-in-a-Row? NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Jeff Burton will return to race in the NASCAR Busch Series after winning the last two he has entered – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway – both one and one-half mile tracks like Texas. Can he make it three-in-a-row? ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Allen Bestwick will report.

    JR Motorsports Driver Shane Huffman Feature: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, started his own NASCAR Busch team, JR Motorsports in North Carolina. NASCAR Countdown will feature Earnhardt’s, #88 team and driver Shane Huffman, providing Huffman the best possible shot at success in the NASCAR Busch Series.
    Toyota’s NASCAR Busch Series Success: In the NASCAR Countdown pit studio, analysts Brad Daugherty, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree will talk about Toyota’s excellent racing at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing second, third and fourth behind race winner Carl Edwards. They’ll discuss why Toyota has found success in the Busch Series but continues to struggle in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
    Bushwhackers vs. Young Guns: ESPN NASCAR booth analyst Andy Petree will talk about the Bushwhackers vs. the Young Guns. What is better for the NASCAR Busch Series and why are so many NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers driving in the Busch Series?(ESPN PR)(4-12-2007)
    NOTE: The show was not shown due to tennis on ESPN2 running late.(4-13-2007)

  • Tuff Hedeman Honorary Starter at Texas: World champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman will be serving as the honorary starter of Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 race. He will have the honor of waving the green flag to start the Busch Series event. The Stephenville, Texas native is a former superstar in the bull riding ranks and even had his life portrayed in the motion picture, “8 Seconds.” Hedeman is a four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association champion and the winner of the 1995 Professional Bull Riders Championship. He was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2003.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(4-12-2007)
  • Buschwhackers will miss most of Busch test at Charlotte: Some Busch Series teams will skip the upcoming May 14-15 test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. That’s because their drivers will be at the Nextel Cup test May 14-15 at Dover, a critical test for the car of tomorrow. Teams with Cup drivers competing for them on the Busch level might opt to skip the test or have someone else shake down the car. There also is the possibility of drivers flying from Dover to Charlotte in time for the last couple of hours because the Dover test is during the day and the other is at night. “We’re looking for somebody to drive the car at the Charlotte Busch test …, and we’ve also talked about flying back for an hour or two in the evening each night,” said Busch Series points leader Carl Edwards. “But definitely you have to go test the car of tomorrow.” Brewco Motorsports, which has Jamie McMurray and Ward Burton as its Busch Series drivers, indicated it will skip the test entirely. Dave Blaney, who is second in points and also running both series, said he is trying to find out if someone will be flying back and forth. “Maybe a few of us can jump in a plane and go back,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind getting a little bit of time at Charlotte.”(SceneDaily.com)(4-12-2007)
  • Robert Richardson Driving for Father’s Team at Texas: Robert Richardson is spending his 2007 season racing in a limited number of Busch Series events with Jay Robinson Racing [in the #28] in cooperation with Haas/CNC Racing. But this weekend, Richardson will pilot the #80 Clover Leaf Backyards Chevy owned by his father, Robert Richardson Sr. with his other team owner, Jay Robinson, serving as his crew chief.(LM Motorsports Marketing PR)(4-12-2007)
  • Earnhardt Jr.’s Retail Store, JR Nation, Opens to Public: The first-ever retail store exclusive to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his #88-JR Motorsports brand officially opened its doors Tuesday as part of a company-wide grand opening at his team’s new 66,000-square foot facility. The store, fittingly called JR Nation, consists of more than 500 items of merchandise, including shirts, hats and collectables fashioned less like traditional track gear and more to Earnhardt Jr.’s style. It is located at the entrance to JR Motorsports, easily accessible to guests visiting the shop.(JR Motorsports PR)(4-11-2007)
  • Earnhardt Says JR Motorsports Could Move to Cup at Some Point: Dale Earnhardt Jr. indicated in the past that he didn’t envision his JR Motorsports team going Nextel Cup racing. But now that he’s unveiled a new shop for his Busch and Late Model teams, well, he could envision it “years down the road.” “It was just so, so far down the road, it was ridiculous to even think about [Cup racing] or dream about it,” Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an open house of the new shop. “Being closer and closer to something like that being a reality, it’s always a possibility.” Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who handles Earnhardt Jr.’s business affairs, was asked if Earnhardt Jr. could be the team’s driver in Nextel Cup. Her answer: “No way.” But Earnhardt Jr. says … “With any company like ours, the sky’s the limit,” he said. “You just have to maximize your opportunities and make sure you’re picking the right ones, working with the right people.”(SceneDaily.com)(4-11-2007)
  • Martin to Make Final Start of 2007 for Roush Fenway: For the final time in 2007, Mark Martin will compete for Roush Fenway Racing in the Busch Series this Saturday at Texas. Mark Martin parted ways with driving a full-time schedule for Roush Fenway Racing, but signed on for two Busch Series events in 2007. The first of which was Daytona in February.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-11-2007)
  • Keith Coleman Racing Announces New Associate Sponsor; Paint Scheme: Keith Coleman Racing announced that American Capital has joined the team as an associate sponsor for the O’Reilly 300 at the Texas. The Oklahoma Centennial Chevy will also have a new paint scheme to show off this weekend.(KCR PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(4-11-2007)
  • Earnhardt Says JR Motorsports Could Move to Cup at Some Point: Dale Earnhardt Jr. indicated in the past that he didn’t envision his JR Motorsports team going Nextel Cup racing. But now that he’s unveiled a new shop for his Busch and Late Model teams, well, he could envision it “years down the road.” “It was just so, so far down the road, it was ridiculous to even think about [Cup racing] or dream about it,” Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an open house of the new shop. “Being closer and closer to something like that being a reality, it’s always a possibility.” Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who handles Earnhardt Jr.’s business affairs, was asked if Earnhardt Jr. could be the team’s driver in Nextel Cup. Her answer: “No way.” But Earnhardt Jr. says … “With any company like ours, the sky’s the limit,” he said. “You just have to maximize your opportunities and make sure you’re picking the right ones, working with the right people.”(SceneDaily.com)(4-11-2007)
  • Special Scheme for Kyle Busch at Texas: Fire Ants will adorn the #5 Spectracide Fire Ant Killer/Lowe’s Chevy this weekend at Texas.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(4-11-2007)
  • Sharp and 3M to Sponsor Edwards in 5 Races: Roush Fenway Racing announced a new sponsorship with Sharp Electronics and 3M Company. The sponsorship includes five Busch Series races with Carl Edwards; and two Nextel Cup races with Jamie McMurray. Both teams will debut their Sharp AQUOS/3M Vikuiti Fords Talladega. Sharp Electronics Corporation and 3M Company will extend their co-marketing efforts designed to enhance awareness of Sharp’s AQUOS line of LCD TVs and 3M Vikuiti brightness enhancement films. Both the #26 and #60 Fords will display the Sharp Aquos and 3M Vikuiti brands. McMurray will be running the #26 Sharp AQUOS/3M Vikuiti Ford at Talladega Speedway on April 29 and again at California Speedway when the circuit returns for the annual Labor Day race on September 2. Edwards will pilot the #60 Sharp AQUOS/3M Vikuiti Ford at Talladega Speedway on April 28, Kentucky Speedway on June 16, Chicagoland Speedway on July 14, Michigan International Speedway on August 18 and California Speedway on September 1.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-10-2007)
  • Governor Rick Perry Proclaims Brad Coleman Day in Texas: Texas Governor Rick Perry stood outside the State Capitol building Tuesday alongside 19-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brad Coleman and proclaimed the day in his honor. “Brad is a determined young man, and his hard work and dedication have helped him become the successful competitor he is today,” Gov. Perry said. “As he prepares for his first professional race in Texas, we wish him all the best in the race and in his promising future.” With the #18 Carino’s Italian Grill Chevy and the Capitol building as the backdrop, the Governor presented Coleman with the flag that flew over the Capitol and a State of Texas Proclamation, making it official.(NASCAR PR)(4-10-2007)
  • JR Motorsports Signs Jeremy McGrath: JR Motorsports is signing seven-time Supercross champion rider Jeremy McGrath to a developmental driver contract, with Monster Energy Drink as his primary sponsor, the SportsBusiness Journal reported. Like Supercross star Ricky Carmichael, who began driving for Ginn Racing last month, McGrath will run a series of late model races before potentially working his way into a Busch Series car. Monster Energy’s sponsorship at JR Motorsports is expected to follow McGrath’s progression.(SceneDaily.com)(4-10-2007)
  • Romanowski to Serve as Honorary Pace Car Driver at Phoenix: Phoenix International Raceway announced that four-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Romanowski will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 Busch Series race on Friday, April 20. Under the lights on Phoenix’s one-mile oval, Romanowski will help lead the field of 43 Busch Series cars toward the green flag.(Phoenix Raceway PR)(4-9-2007)
  • ESPN2 To Televise NASCAR Busch Series Race From Texas: The NASCAR Busch Series moves to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend and ESPN2 will have live coverage of Saturday afternoon’s 300-mile race from the 1.5-mile superspeedway in Fort Worth. Veteran ESPN motorsports commentator Marty Reid will anchor ESPN2’s telecast as regular play-by-play announcer Jerry Punch will have the weekend off. Reid will be joined in the booth by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Vince Welch will serve as pit reporters, with Welch filling in for regular team member Jamie Little. Erik Kuselias will host the telecast, while analyst Brad Daugherty will join Kuselias in the ESPN Pit Studio during the race, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. ESPN2’s coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3 p.m.(ESPN PR)(4-9-2007)
  • Raybestos Rookie Notes for Texas: Brad Coleman was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the April 7 Pepsi 300 at Nashville. Coleman scored a 15th-place finish on the lead lap (his best finish in five career Busch Series starts) and took top rookie honors for the first time this season. Marcos Ambrose claimed the second-place starting position at Nashville, his best start in six Busch Series races. Ambrose leads in the Raybestos Rookie standings by four points (72-68) over Juan Pablo Montoya entering the April 14 O’Reilly 300 at Texas. Ambrose is sixth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is three points behind fifth-place David Reutimann and holds a 16-point edge over seventh-place Bobby Hamilton Jr.(Raybestos PR)(4-9-2007)
  • Carl Edwards’ Busch Win is Roush Fenway’s 350th Overall: Carl Edwards drove the #60 Dish Network Ford home to his second Busch Series win of the 2007 season in Nashville, Tenn., over the weekend and at the same time, hit a milestone for Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards’ second consecutive win gave Roush Fenway their 350th overall win. Of the 350 wins Jack Roush has obtained, 234 of them have been wins in NASCAR’s three elite series (NEXTEL Cup – 101; Busch Series – 90; Craftsman Truck Series – 43). Of the 101 NEXTEL Cup wins, 96 of them have been point races while the other five have come from wins in the Bud Shootout (1), The Winston (1), The Winston Open (1) and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge (2). In the Busch and Truck Series, Roush Fenway’s 90 and 43 wins respectively, make Roush the most winning owner of any other owner in both of those series. In addition to the 234 wins, Roush has also collected 116 road racing victories bringing Roush Fenway Racing’s win column total to 350.(Roush Fenway PR)(4-9-2007)
  • Dale Jarrett to Make Debut as ESPN NASCAR Analyst at Texas: Dale Jarrett will begin the transition to what may be the next phase of his career this weekend when he joins ESPN2 as booth analyst for live coverage of Saturday’s Busch race at Texas. Jarrett will appear on 10 of this season’s Busch telecasts while continuing to race fulltime in the Nextel Cup Series. Jarrett has indicated that 2008 will be his last year of driving and has hinted that a more expanded television presence may be in his future. “Over the last few years, TV was something that I have taken more interest in and looked more at because I want to stay involved in the sport,” he said. “This is the perfect chance that ESPN is offering me to see if it’s something that I really want to do and want to look at after 2008 to do maybe closer to full time. And to find out if it’s something I can do and if ESPN would be interested in having me.”(ESPN PR)(4-9-2007)
  • Toyota Busch and truck teams to use new manifold: In a technical bulletin issued this week, NASCAR has ordered Toyota Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams to use a different intake manifold in an effort to “level the playing field” with other manufacturers. The change does not affect the Nextel Cup Series. The manifold was declared legal before the season, but tests have shown it gives Toyota teams a horsepower advantage. The new intake reduces horsepower, Balash said.(SceneDaily.com)(4-7-2007)
  • #72 Cup Team Moving to Busch; Keller to Drive: The #72 Cup team, owned by Brian and Tony Mullet, announced to its team members and driver Brandon Whitt that it will be moving to the Busch Series. The team will be headed by Greg Pollex (formerly of ppc Racing), with Todd Gordon as Crew Chief and Jason Keller as the driver.(CJM Racing PR)(3-14-2007)
    UPDATE: After missing out on a full-time ride, scaling back to a role as a fill-in driver for Brewco Motorsports, the veteran racer Jason Keller’s name has popped up in speculation lately for a possible reunion with former, long-time car owner Greg Pollex. “I probably shouldn’t talk about it but yes,” Keller says of the rumors. “It’s the original CJM Racing that tried to run some Cup races. It is a combination of a lot of the players from ppc – what was ppc – Greg Pollex, some of the key personnel, shop people. I am excited.” Keller says the team would be based out of Pollex’s old ppc race shop in Mooresville, NC. “We’re already talking to some sponsors now, they could choose the races they want to run. We are going to run X amount of races no matter what. It’s looking like a window of 12 to 15 races this year,” he says. In addition, Keller would continue his already scheduled five events, including this weekend in Nashville, in the #27 Brewco Motorsports Ford.(BGNRacing.com)(4-7-2007)
  • Kinser making Busch Series debut at Nashville: Kraig Kinser will be making his Busch Series debut in the #4-Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevy in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, April 7th. Kinser currently drives the #47-Chevy truck for Ginn in partnership with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and is also splitting the driving duties in Ginn’s #4 Chevy in the Busch Series with Cup driver, Regan Smith.(4-4-2007)
    UPDATE: Regan Smith is in the car at Nashville.(4-6-2007)
  • ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Nashville Superspeedway Highlights
    ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the Busch Series at Nashville, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3:30 p.m. Erik Kuselias will host the telecast, while studio analysts Brad Daugherty and Stacy Compton will join Kuselias in the ESPN Pit Studio, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. The race telecast team including veteran ESPN motorsports commentator Marty Reid, filling in for regular play-by-play announcer Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree will also contribute.
    NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Vince Welch as drivers and teams tackle the concrete tri-oval of Nashville Superspeedway.
    NASCAR Countdown will originate from Nashville Superspeedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for primetime coverage of the 300-mile NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday afternoon, April 7. Highlights will include:
    The NASCAR Busch Series Stands Alone This Weekend: This weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series race stands alone in Nashville without the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Only seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers are scheduled to race, including current series points leader Carl Edwards. Could this be the first race time this season that a Busch regular will win the race?
    Running Away with the NASCAR Busch Series Championship: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver and Busch Series regular Carl Edwards has picked up right where 2006 NASCAR Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick left off – running away with the points for the 2007 Championship. He’s already farther ahead than Harvick was at this point last year. The team will ask Carl what the NASCAR Busch Series title would mean to him and his thoughts on the season so far.
    Behind the Wheel with Richard Johns: Richard Johns has taken the most unlikely of routes to his first career NASCAR Busch Series start where he will debut this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. Six years ago Johns was an intern at Team Rensi working in the race shop. Today he is an engineer for Rensi, continuing his passion for racing by getting behind the wheel of whatever he could get his hands on the weekends. Now, Team Rensi will give him his first shot in a NASCAR Busch Series car.
    Coming Home with Bobby Hamilton Jr. Nashville Superspeedway is considered Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s home track, where he’s had great runs, but never been able to put away a win. The pit team will talk with Hamilton, Jr. on his chances of winning and with the recent passing of his father Bobby, Sr., how special it would be to what’s been a tough start to the season.(ESPN PR)(4-5-2007)
    NOTE: The show was not shown due to tennis on ESPN2 running late.(4-7-2007)
  • Federated Auto Parts Joins Brewco: Federated Auto Parts Distributors has announced a multi-faceted sponsorship agreement with Brewco Motorsports for the 2007 Busch Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series seasons. Federated Auto Parts Distributors will team with Brewco to serve as the following: Primary Sponsor of Brewco’s #27 Ford for the Federated Auto Parts 300 Busch race at Nashville on June 9, 2007 with Bobby East driving; Associate Sponsor on the #27 NBS Ford, with Ward Burton and Jason Keller behind the wheel, for the remaining Busch Series races in 2007; Associate Sponsor on Brewco’s #47 SI Performance Ford during the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season, with Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Phillip McGilton behind the wheel.(Brewco PR)(4-5-2007)
  • S+S Mack Records Sponsoring Mac Hill at Nashville: S+S Mack Records announced that they are joining forces with Mac Hill Motorsports for the Busch Series’ Pepsi 300 at Nashville. S+S Mack Records will sponsor the #56 race car, driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr. The hood of the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevy will feature the album cover of Keith Bryant’s new album “Live It Slow,” which was released in stores earlier this month, and the logos for label and sister company Sixth Degree Entertainment will be visible, too.(Mac Hill PR), see an image on the Busch Series Paint Schemes Page.(4-4-2007)
  • Get Well Gary Weisbaum: Get Well Gary. Those three words will ride along with the #25 FreeCreditReport.com Ford and the #35 McDonald’s Ford this weekend at Nashville. Team Rensi Motorsports Co-owner Gary Weisbaum is recuperating from a surgical procedure back in his hometown of Long Grove, IL. Weisbaum, along with Ed Rensi own the two-car NASCAR Busch Series team. Get Well Gary decals will be present on both Team Rensi Motorsports cars in Saturday’s Busch race.(Team Rensi PR)(4-4-2007)
  • Mike Harmon Considering Limited Busch Schedule: Last week Mike Harmon announced that he, with the support of new co-owners Donnie Richardson and Eddie Netzloff, is considering a limited Busch schedule for 2007. Harmon is a regular on the ARCA RE/MAX Series and has not competed in the Busch Series since Daytona 2004. “There’s a chance we might run the Busch race at Nashville if everything goes well.” said Harmon. “If we don’t make Nashville we will attempt New Hampshire, Memphis, Milwaukee and the Busch races that do not conflict with the ARCA schedule. Our Busch car will be painted black and silver like the ARCA car and I have my old Busch number back, so, it will be the #44. However, for the Nashville race only, we will run the #48.”(Catchfence.com)(4-4-2007)
  • Special Scheme for Hamlin at Nashville: The #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge will carry some very special colors this weekend in Tennessee, ones that are very reminiscent of the late Davey Allison’s #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford.(KevinHamlin.com), see an image of the car on my Busch Series Paint Schemes Page.(4-4-2007)
  • Jason Keller to Drive for Brewco at Nashville with Special Paint Scheme: Jason Keller will drive the #27 Cottonelle Aloe & E Ford Fusion in the Pepsi 300 this weekend. It will be the first of five Busch Series events for Keller in the #27 this season. Brewco Motorsports will display a custom paint scheme for the Pepsi 300. The #27 Cottonelle Aloe & E Ford will race at Nashville, Texas, and Talladega.(Brewco PR), see an image of the car on my Busch Series Paint Schemes Page.(4-3-2007)
  • Blaney to Make 100th Busch Start: Dave Blaney will hit a major milestone in his career this weekend. He will post his 100th Busch Series start in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville.(Braun Racing PR)(4-3-2007)
  • ESPN NASCAR Team To Have Different Look at Nashville: ESPN’s NASCAR coverage team will feature a few new faces this weekend as the Busch Series returns to action at Nashville. Coverage of Saturday’s race, as well as practice and qualifying, will air on ESPN2. ESPN veterans Marty Reid and Vince Welch are on loan from ESPN’s IndyCar Series coverage as part of a schedule weekend off for NASCAR regulars Jerry Punch and Dave Burns. Reid will handle the play-by-play call of Saturday’s 300-mile NASCAR Busch Series event at Nashville, as well as in the practice and qualifying programs, while Welch will work as a pit reporter on the Nashville telecasts.(ESPN PR)(4-2-2007)
  • Raybestos Rookie Notes for Nashville: David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Sharpie Mini 300 at Bristol. Ragan finished 13th, his best finish of the 2007 Busch Series season and grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time this season. Juan Pablo Montoya leads in the Raybestos Rookie standings by six points (68-62) over Marcos Ambrose entering the Pepsi 300 at Nashville. For the second consecutive race, two rookies rank inside the top-10 in the Busch Series championship standings. Montoya is sixth, Ambrose is seventh.(Raybestos PR)(4-2-2007)
  • Kevin Hamlin Racing at Evergreen Speedway Saturday: For Snohomish [Washington] native and NASCAR Busch Series driver Kevin Hamlin, returning to Evergreen Speedway to compete in tonight’s season-opening Speedway Chevrolet 125 will be doubly sweet. First, there is the return to his racing roots on the track where he was named rookie of the year in 1997. Second – and perhaps more important from his perspective – he’ll be racing competitively for the first time this season. Hamlin, whose first Busch race is slated for April 7 in Nashville, is sharing driving duties in the #42 car with Juan Pablo Montoya.(The Daily Herald)(3-31-2007)
    UPDATE: Hamlin started from the pole and won the Speedway Chevrolet 125.(KevinHamlin.com)(4-1-2007)
  • No Plans for Car of Tomorrow For Busch: While the Nextel Cup Series made its switch to the Car of Tomorrow, the Busch Series continued to race with traditional stock cars. Busch Series cars will continue to have rear spoilers and front air dams, not wings and a scoop-like splitter. NASCAR plans to carry some of the safety issues with the Car of Tomorrow — side crush panels and a more-centered seat location — to Busch Series cars, but it doesn’t have any plans to switch to rear wings and the front splitter. “There’s a little separation between the two series and we like that,” said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston. “Right now, we’re not talking about taking the Car of Tomorrow, other than the safety things, to the Busch Series. We like the rear spoiler over there.” NASCAR is moving quickly to remove any advantage for teams to use the Busch Series as a testing ground for Nextel Cup.(Blue Springs Examiner)(4-1-2007)