August 2005 Busch Series Archive
- News regarding Shane Hmiel’s suspension can be found on the Hmiel Suspension page.
UPDATE: A team rep said that Jim Long isn’t in Bristol this weekend because he’s at the shop helping to prepare the car for California next weekend. He will be back with the team in Fontana with driver Adrian Fernandez.(BGNRacing.com)(8-26-2005)
UPDATE 2: Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, today outlined the organization’s future NASCAR Busch Series plans, including its remaining 2005 schedule and a realignment of key personnel. Chad Walter, 34, who rejoined Hendrick Motorsports earlier this year as lead engineer for the #5 and #25 NEXTEL Cup Series teams, has been named crew chief of the #5 Busch Series Chevry. The Albion, N.Y., native will call the Sept. 9 race at Richmond marking his first in the new role. Following this weekend’s event at Fontana, Calif., Jim Long will transition from crew chief of the #5 Chevys into a new position focusing on Hendrick Motorsports’ growing chassis and research operations. The 48-year-old Long, who brings two decades of NASCAR experience to his expanded role, helped establish both departments in the early 1990s. A Toledo, Ohio, native and Brickyard 400-winning crew chief, Long will also lead the part-time Busch Series efforts of Hendrick Motorsports — the #48 and #57 — for the remainder of 2005. Michael Landis, a 12-year veteran of Hendrick Motorsports, continues as Busch Series team manager. Landis helped the team to a Busch Series championship in 2003 and recently engineered the group’s relocation to a freshly renovated 15,000-square-foot facility, which opened in July.
Hendrick Motorsports has fielded a full-time Busch Series operation since 2002, earning one championship, 10 victories and 11 pole positions during that span. The organization, which has a win and two poles this season, finished fifth in points with driver Jack Sprague in 2002, first with Brian Vickers in 2003 and second with rookie Kyle Busch last year.
After running a flexible schedule for much of the season, Hendrick Motorsports today solidified its remaining 2005 Busch Series events. The slate will feature drivers Vickers, Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Adrian Fernandez and Kyle Krisiloff.
Remaining 2005 Schedule – #5 Busch Series Chevrolets: Sept. 3, California, Fernandez
Sept. 9, Richmond, Busch
Sept. 24, Dover, Busch
Oct. 8, Kansas, Busch
Oct. 14, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Fernandez
Oct. 22, Memphis, Krisiloff
Nov. 5, Texas, Fernandez
Nov. 12, Phoenix, Fernandez
Nov. 19, Homestead, Fernandez
Remaining 2005 Schedule – #48 Busch Series Chevrolets:
Sept. 3, California Speedway, Jimmie Johnson
Oct. 14, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson
Remaining 2005 Schedule – #57 Busch Series Chevrolets:
Sept. 24, Dover International Speedway, Vickers
Oct. 14, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Busch
Nov. 5, Texas Motor Speedway, Busch
Nov. 19, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Vickers.(Hendrick Motorsports)(8-29-2005)
Points report: Changing of the guard … The top five in the NASCAR Busch Series championship driver standings underwent some changes following last Friday night’s race at Bristol when Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet) displaced Kenny Wallace (#22 AutoZone Ford) in fifth place. Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet), the defending series champion, continues to lead the standings, followed by Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet), who is 194 points behind. Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) is third, now 394 points behind after being penalized 50 points for rule violations at Bristol, and Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford) is fourth, 425 points behind Truex. Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) quietly slipped back into the top 10 following his 12th-place finish at Bristol. Keller was 12th in the championship standings prior to Bristol, but made up two spots to claim his highest standing since New Hampshire, where he was ninth following that race. Keller knocked Team Rensi Motorsports running mate Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) out of the 10th slot in the process. Keller, the all-time leader in NASCAR Busch Series winnings with over $10 million, has finished in the top 10 in eight of his 11 fulltime seasons in the series, the last six in succession.
Adrian Fernandez returns to NASCAR Busch Series … Open-wheel star and Mexico City native Adrian Fernandez (#5 Lowe’s/Spectrum Chevrolet) will return to the NASCAR Busch Series this weekend at California Speedway. Fernandez made his NASCAR debut in March when the NASCAR Busch Series held its first points race outside the United States at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course. Fernandez, who started 40th in that event after an accident during qualifying, finished 10th. He is also scheduled to compete for Hendrick Motorsports this season in NASCAR Busch Series events at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. Two other fellow Mexico City natives are scheduled to run alongside Fernandez at California – Carlos Contreras (#12 Supercuts Dodge) and Michel Jourdain Jr. (#15 Centrix Financial Ford). Both drivers also competed in the historic race in Mexico City. Jourdain has run 18 series races this season for ppc Racing, while Contreras looks to participate in his third series event this season. Except for the Mexico City race where 10 drivers from Mexico were entered, Saturday’s event would mark the first time three natives of Mexico raced together in any of NASCAR’s national series. Jourdain will have to make the race on time; Fernandez and Contreras are among the top 30 in owner’s points and are assured of a starting position.
Lewis, Team Rensi visit Marines … Ashton Lewis (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) and other members of Team Rensi Motorsports are heading to California early in order to take part in a Wednesday visit to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. While there, they will visit with Marines and learn more about the training of new recruits. Thursday, the group will venture to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and participate in training exercises, as well as spend time with a large group of Marines that just returned from Iraq. “I am looking so forward to this trip to California,” Lewis said. “Any time that I can visit with Marines and thank them for their service to our country, it is rewarding to me. These guys are the backbone of America and I continue to be amazed by the sacrifice they display.” Lewis is 11th in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings, just 21 points behind teammate Jason Keller, who is 10th.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 26 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. 3,756
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. $1,269,024
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. 612
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. 894.63
• Victories –Martin Truex Jr. (6)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Martin Truex Jr. (14)
• Top-10 finishes –Martin Truex Jr. (18)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (15)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (26)
Next time out, watch Newman … Although not entered at California, Ryan Newman is poised to make NASCAR Busch Series history, attempting to become only the second driver in series history to win four consecutive races. Sam Ard, the series’ first two-time champion, accomplished the feat in 1983; he also won three straight in 1984. Newman won at the road course at Watkins Glen, followed that with a victory at Michigan’s 2-mile track, then claimed the win at Brtistol’s half-mile last Friday night. Newman has competed in only 20 NASCAR Busch Series races since his first start at Rockingham in November 2001. He has four series victories overall.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Greg Biffle’s two NASCAR Busch Series wins at California are second only to Matt Kenseth’s three victories. Kenseth was the first driver to win successive races at California (1999-2000), however, Biffle will be remembered as the first to record a season sweep. … Michael Waltrip (#99 Aaron’s Sales & Lease Chevrolet) leads active drivers in this event with six top-10 finishes. Waltrip and Kasey Kahne are tied among active drivers with three top-five finishes at California. … Jason Keller is the only driver to have competed in all 10 races at California Speedway. … There has not been a repeat Busch Pole winner at California. … Biffle has led the most laps (241) in NASCAR Busch Series competition at this track.
ETC.
Ryan Newman’s third consecutive series victory at Bristol moved Dodge to within one victory of second place in the Bill France Performance Cup standings. Dodge has seven wins and 153 points. Ford is second with seven wins and 166 points, and has the edge with five victories in NASCAR Busch Series competition at California Speedway. Chevrolet continues to lead with 11 victories and 175 points.
… Coming into this event last year, Martin Truex Jr. had held the NASCAR Busch Series points lead for nine consecutive races and went on to win the season championship. Heading to California at this stage of the 2005 season, Truex once again has held the points lead for nine straight races. … Only 142 points separate seventh-place David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford) from 12th-place J.J. Yeley in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings. Yeley is entered in Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event, driving the #11 FedEx Chevrolet. … Some stars are coming out to California Speedway for Saturday’s race. Emmy-nominated actor Patrick Dempsey, who currently stars on the ABC-TV show “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Paige Hemmis, a carpenter on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Editon, are guests of the #90 Citifinancial team. Elliott Sadler will drive the car. Hemmis is from Chatsworth, Calif., and Dempsey has racing experience, having participated in the Panoz Series and Pro Miata Series. … Biagi Bros. Racing has re-launched its website at www.biagibrosracing.com. … J.J. Porter will serve as interim crew chief for Kim Crosby (#26 Vassarette Chevrolet). Porter replaces Gene Allnutt beginning this weekend at California. He will retain his duties as team manager as well. … Paul Menard (#11 Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet) had his four-race streak of top-10 finishes snapped at Bristol where he finished 41st due to an accident. Menard had posted nine top 10s in his 10 races prior to Bristol overall, and had moved from 18th to ninth in the point sstandings during that span.
FAST FACTS
What: Ameriquest 300 (Race #27 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: California Speedway, Los Angeles, Calif.
When: 8:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 3.
Track Layout: 2-mile oval.
Race Length: 150 laps/300 miles.
Posted Awards: $1,495,210
TV: NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Greg Biffle.
2004 Polesitter: Casey Mears.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Fri., Sept. 2: Practice – 1 – 2:20 p.m.; 3:20 – 4:20 p.m. Sat., Sept. 3 – Qualifying – 12:05 p.m. Impound on pit road after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-30-2005)
The scheduled list of dates and drivers:
Monday, August 29
NASCAR Busch Series: #6/79-Erin Crocker; #25-Ashton Lewis, Jr.; #99-David Reutimann; #81-Ryan Moore; #20-Denny Hamlin; #19-Bobby Labonte; #18-J.J. Yeley; #22-Kenny Wallace
Tuesday, August 30
NASCAR Busch Series: #81-Ryan Moore; #90-Elliott Sadler; #17-Matt Kenseth; #46-Robert Pressley; #22-Kenny Wallace
Wednesday, August 31
NASCAR Busch Series: #17-Matt Kenseth; #46-Robert Pressley
Tickets and information for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Weekend are available online or by calling 1-866-455-RACE (7223).(RIR Site)(8-29-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(8-26-2005)
See Starting lineups:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
BGNRacing.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(8-26-2005)
Also, two other NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs were penalized following rule violations at Michigan found during opening day inspection.
Todd Gordon, crew chief of the #10 Ford driven by Brent Sherman, was fined $5,000 after violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (unapproved intake manifold modification – plenum too large).
Gene Allnutt, crew chief for the #26 Chevrolet driven by Kim Crosby, was fined $2,500 for violating 12-4-A and 12-4-CC (unapproved third gear transmission ratio).(NASCAR)(8-24-2005)
Only 10 races to go in NASCAR Busch Series season … Friday night’s race marks an important juncture in the NASCAR Busch Series season – 10 races remaining for drivers challenging for the championship. Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet), the defending NASCAR Busch Series champion and current points leader, padded his advantage last Saturday at Michigan by 82 points over second-place Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet). Bowyer, who led 62 laps, seemed poised to cut into Truex’s lead, but a late-race penalty coupled with mechanical problems relegated him to a 30th-place finish – his second-worst finish this season. Bowyer is 204 points behind Truex (3,606 – 3,402), the biggest deficit he’s faced all year. But he can look to this same point last year, when Truex watched his Chance 2 Motorsports boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#81 Menard’s Chevrolet) win this event in a three-lap, green-white-checkered shootout with Matt Kenseth. Although he finished seventh, Truex – ranked first in points at the time – was being pushed to the limit by rookie Kyle Busch (#5 Lowe’s/Spectrum Chevrolet) whose third-place finish left him just 78 points shy of Truex’s lead. This weekend, Bowyer and Raybestos rookies Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) (third, – 3,282 points) and Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford) (fourth – 3,255) are nearing must-win situations with their title hopes. “It’s a big blow in the championship standings, but we aren’t going to roll over and give up,” Bowyer said following the Michigan race. “We aren’t out of it, we just have a little bigger hole to climb out of now.”
Menard’s torrid pace continues … Paul Menard’s (#11 Menards/Marvel Mystery Oil Chevrolet) climb into the upper echelon of the NASCAR Busch Series point standings continues. Menard – who celebrated his 25th birthday last Sunday – has posted nine top-10 finishes in his last 10 races, lifting him to a career-best seventh-place in the series championship standings. He was sixth last Saturday at Michigan, his fourth consecutive finish of eighth or better. The Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver has jumped from 20th in the points following Dover to his current spot during the 10-race span. Now may be the perfect time for such momentum. He finished 22nd in the Sharpie Professional 250 in March and has mixed results at other tracks under one-mile this season. He was seventh at Indianapolis Raceway Park three weeks ago, but tied his season-worst finish of 36th at Richmond in May. “We’ve got a ton of momentum coming to one of the most exciting races of the year,” Menard said. “Without question, Bristol is one of my favorite places to race. It seems we’ve always had a good race car there. Knock on wood, if we can continue our latest streak of staying out of trouble, it could turn out to be a really memorable night.” Broadcast numbers continue upswing at Michigan … Another exciting NASCAR Busch Series finish compliments of Ryan Newman’s (#39 Alltel Dodge) win at Michigan last Saturday produced significant increases in viewers and households over last year. The race, broadcast on TNT, showed a viewer increase of 32% over the same race last season (2,104,000 – 1,600,000) while households were up 30% (1,663,000 – 1,278,000) versus last year’s numbers also on TNT.
Newman seeks third consecutive win … Ryan Newman, winner of the last two NASCAR Busch Series races at Watkins Glen and Michigan, is entered at Bristol and will attempt to become only the fifth driver in series history to register three consecutive wins. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the last to accomplish the feat in 1999, the second of his two straight championship seasons. Earnhardt won the June races at Dover, South Boston at Watkins Glen for his trifecta. The NASCAR Busch Series record is four consecutive wins by the series’ first two-time champion, Sam Ard, whose 1983 string included the fall events at South Boston, Martinsville, Orange County and Charlotte. Ard also won three in a row in May 1984 at Langley, Milwaukee and Dover. Newman’s Michigan victory, his third career NASCAR Busch Series win, was accomplished in only his 19th start. His win last week marked the first time this season a NASCAR Busch Series driver has won consecutive races. Jamie McMurray (#64 Top Flite Dodge) was the last to accomplish the feat; he won at Phoenix and Darlington last November.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 25 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 3,606
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $1,234,024
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 612
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 894.63
• Victories –Martin Truex Jr. (6)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Martin Truex Jr. (14)
• Top-10 finishes –Martin Truex Jr. (17)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (15)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (25)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
There are 13 former NASCAR Busch Series winners at Bristol entered in Friday night’s race, including four-time winner and 2001 series champion Kevin Harvick (#21 Reese’s Chevrolet) who won the Sharpie 250 this past April. Eight of those 13 drivers have posted wins in the August Food City 250. … Steve Grissom (#49 Advil Ford), the 1993 series champion, is the only driver to complete a season sweep of races, having done so in 1995. … Jeff Fuller (#7 Big Boar Customs Chevrolet), claimed his only Busch Pole and series win to date at Bristol in August 1996. He is one of seven drivers – five in August – to register wins from the pole.
ETC.
Steve Darne will serve as crew chief on the #64 Dodge, replacing Blake Bainbridge. Darne takes over this weekend at Bristol on an interim basis. … Ryan Newman’s win at Michigan last week from the 38th starting position matched Kevin Harvick’s victory from the same starting slot last April at Bristol, and both are tied for the second biggest come-from-behind win in series history. Chad Little’s February 1995 win at Daytona from 42nd is tops. He came from a 42nd place start to win … Harvick has five consecutive top-five finishes at Bristol, seven in 11 series races there. Sterling Marlin (#40 Family Dollar Dodge)has five top fives – including a spring win in 2000 – in his last five races at Bristol. … Kyle Busch, last year’s NASCAR Busch Series championship runner-up, is scheduled to compete in all three NASCAR events at Bristol. He is the only driver to have participated in each of NASCAR’s three national series during the same weekend this year; Busch did it at Dover in June. He finished first, 36th and second, respectively, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. … Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly will field two teams for the first time this season at Bristol. Todd Bodine (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet), who raced for Cicci in the 1990s, and posted the majority of his 15 NASCAR Busch Series wins with the team, will join two-time series champion Randy LaJoie (#84 Kellogg’s Chevrolet). Cicci was the first owner to have two, then three cars in the NASCAR Busch Series over a decade ago. Bodine has won at Bristol twice in NASCAR Busch Series competition. … Bobby Labonte (#19 Hunt’s Chevrolet), the 1991 NASCAR Busch Series champion, looks to compete in his first series race at Bristol since August 1997.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Steve Grissom’s win in the 1995 Food City 250 began a run of 10 consecutive NASCAR Busch Series victories in the second Bristol event by the Chevrolet brand. Dale Earnhardt Jr. registered the most recent Chevrolet win in this race with his win from the pole last summer.
Ford has two wins in the race with the first coming in 1989 when Mark Martin was behind the wheel of Bill Davis’ Thunderbird. Kenny Wallace won for Ford in the 1994 edition of this race. Overall, Fords have won a total of four times at Bristol in NASCAR Busch Series competition.
Dodge has not won a NASCAR Busch Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the brand is coming to the high-banked Tennessee facility with two consecutive series victories courtesy of Ryan Newman. Dodge has a season-record six NASCAR Busch Series wins in 2005 and currently sits third in the Bill France Performance Cup standings with 144 points. Chevrolet leads with 171 points and 11 wins while Ford is second with 160 points and eight victories.
FAST FACTS
What: Food City 250 (Race #26 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
When: 7:50 p.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 26.
Track Layout: .533-mile oval.
Race Length: 250 laps/ 133.25 miles.
Posted Awards: $1,298,939.
TV: TNT, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: PRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2004 Polesitter: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Fri., Aug. 26: Practice – 9:45 – 11:55 a.m. Qualifying – 4:40 p.m. Impound on pit road after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-24-2005)
UPDATE: Director of motorsports for the NAVY, Senior Chief Jeff Priest, said Saturday at The Glen,”We think it’s awesome to have our name linked to such a good organization like that. I will tell you we are currently evaluating our situations and we should know within the next few weeks.”
AND I am hearing that the NAVY may be the sponsor of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2006, and that Lowe’s would not be back to sponsor the car.(8-13-2005)
UPDATE 2: Lowe’s and a number of its vendor partners will continue to sponsor the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the Busch Series in 2006.(8-17-2005)
UPDATE 3: JR Motorsports, the USAR Pro Cup team owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will be making an announcement today concerning their future plans. Speculation revolves around moving the team to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006 with driver Mark McFarland. An existing NBS sponsor may be making the move to this new team.(BGNRacing.com)
UPDATE 4: hearing the U.S. Navy will be the sponsor.(8-23-2005)
UPDATE 5: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expanding his role as a car owner, announcing plans Tuesday to field a team in the Busch Series next season. JR Motorsports, the business Earnhardt owns independently of all his other ventures, will run Mark McFarland in the #88 Chevy. The U.S. Navy will sponsor the team. “When I started JR Motorsports, I didn’t have a vision or a dream or a five-year plan,” Earnhardt said. “We have basically let this thing grow legs on its own.” The team debuted in the Hooters Pro Cup Series this season, with McFarland earning one win and 10 top 10 finishes in 13 starts. It’s a separate entity from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team Earnhardt drives for but is owned by his stepmother, Teresa. It also has no relation to Chance 2 Motorsports, a Busch Series team Earnhardt co-owns with his stepmother. Martin Truex Jr. won the Busch Series title in that car last season and is currently first in the points standings this year. Earnhardt said he wants DEI involved with his new team, but currently has no firm agreement. He was also vague on whether or not DEI will provide him with engines for his Busch car. “It is very important that DEI is incorporated,” he said. “This isn’t separate. It’s my own company, but I want it to benefit DEI. They can be a big part of this and they can support us and we can be successful.” Sponsorship from the Navy is not a huge stretch for Earnhardt, a driver with a hard-partying reputation. On the Navy side, there is no bigger driver it could have chosen to use in recruitment campaign. And Earnhardt points to his experiences as a high schooler attending military school for his appreciation of the armed services. “I look at my experience in military school as a big change in my life,” he said. “It got rid of the rough edges and put me on a straighter path.” Earnhardt said he has approached Tony Eury Sr., currently director of competition at DEI, to run his new Busch program. Eury, who is also Earnhardt’s uncle, was Earnhardt’s crew chief when he won his two Busch titles and for the first four seasons of his Cup career. “Pops won’t decide,” Earnhardt said. “He’s been at DEI a long time so it’s hard for him to just up and leave. But at the same time he wants me to succeed with this, so it’s hard for him to decide what he wants to do.” Meanwhile, Earnhardt said that since Truex is moving to the Cup series next season, Chance 2 will likely scale back to a part-time Busch schedule next year. “We just haven’t found anything that has captured our heart the way Martin did,” he said.(ESPN.com/AP)(8-23-2005)
UPDATE: Akins Motorsports has announced the release of Tyler Walker, driver of the #38 Great Clips Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series effective August 22. “Tyler Walker has done everything that this team and I have asked of him,” said team owner Doug Stringer. “He is a very determined and talented driver that deserves an opportunity to work with a NASCAR Busch or NEXTEL Cup team that has the financial wherewithal to support an-up-and coming rookie driver. We are currently 20th in the owner point standings and it is extremely important for Akins Motorsports and Great Clips to finish the season in the top 10.” This weekend Mike Wallace will drive the #38 Great Clips Dodge for the running of the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 17 starts at the .533-mile short track, Wallace has posted one top-five and four top-10’s in the NASCAR Busch Series. (Akins PR via BGNRacing.com)(8-22-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(8-20-2005)
See Starting lineups:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
NASCAR.com.(8-20-2005)
“We are very excited to be a part of the NASCAR Busch Series this year,” said Jim LaPorte, General Manager of Little River Casino Resort. “We hope this sponsorship will be mutually beneficial and we invite NASCAR fans to visit Little River.” For more information goto www.littlerivercasino.com.(Williams Company)(8-19-2005)
Keller looks to stretch earnings record at Michigan … Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford), who stands 11th in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, looks to bypass the $10-million mark in series winnings this weekend at Michigan. Keller is the all-time series money-winner with $9,980,280, needing $19,720 to hit the mark. He is third all-time in career series starts with 381, and holds the current record for most active races competed at 260. He will attempt to make his 12th series start at Michigan, which would be more than any other driver. “I am still a relatively young guy (35), so I hope to stick around and compete for many more years and be the first to make it to $20 million in the series,” KelIer said. “I love the NASCAR Busch Series and I have really enjoyed being a part of its growth with drivers like David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford) and Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet). All three of us remember what it was like 10-15 years ago and we can sit back and talk about the job NASCAR has done in growing the series and giving us a top-notch place to compete. I have to also give a lot of credit to my friends at Anhueser-Busch for their support of the series.”
Dodge claims fifth win of year at Watkins Glen; most in four-year series history … Ryan Newman’s win last week was a historic one for Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series’ return to Watkins Glen following a four-year absence. The win was the fifth this season for Dodge, marking the most victories for the manufacturer in one season in its four years of NASCAR Busch Series competition. Last year, Dodge posted four wins. Chevrolet continues to lead the Bill France Performance Cup standings with 11 wins and 167 points. Ford is second with eight wins and 154 points, but Dodge is back in the hunt with five victories and 135 points. Chevrolet leads the way with nine series wins at Michigan – including the last three races in succession – while Ford has claimed the other four victories there. Dodge is seeking its first NASCAR Busch Series win at Michigan, and Newman is entered in the event.
Waltrip delivers off the track … Michael Waltrip (#99 Domino’s Pizza Chevrolet) will be part of a group that will make a special delivery to a Domino’s Pizza customer in the Ann Arbor Mich., area on Wednesday. Waltrip, Domino’s Pizza Chairman and CEO David A. Brandon and Michigan International Speedway President Brett Shelton will prepare a pizza, then deliver the pie to a customer in a replica of Waltrip’s race car. Ann Arbor Domino’s customers who place an order between 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday are eligible to have the trio deliver their order. Waltrip, Brandon and Shelton will prepare the pizza in the Domino’s Pizza Theatre at 30 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Ann Arbor, at 11:00 a.m. following the unveiling of Waltrip’s car and the trophy for the NASCAR Busch Series Domino’s Pizza 250. Delivery is scheduled to take place at 11:20 a.m.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 24 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 3,441
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $1,199,121
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 608
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 886.63
• Victories –Martin Truex Jr. (6)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Martin Truex Jr. (13)
• Top-10 finishes –Martin Truex Jr. (16)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (14)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (24)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Four former winners at Michigan will attempt to join Mark Martin and Todd Bodine as the only other two-time victors at the track – Bobby Labonte (#19 Eckrich Chevrolet – ‘94), Ryan Newman (#39 Alltel Dodge – 2001), Michael Waltrip (#99 Domino’s Pizza Chevrolet – ’02) and Kevin Harvick (#21 Reese’s Chevrolet – ‘03). Newman’s win was his first in the series. … No driver has won more than one Busch Pole at Michigan, but three former pole winners – Bill Elliott (#6 Lawry’s Dodge – ‘93), Dale Jarrett (#90 Citifinancial Ford – ‘95) and Kasey Kahne (#38 Great Clips Dodge – 2004) – are entered in Saturday’s event. The pole was the first in the NASCAR Busch Series for Kahne. … Labonte’s three top-fives at Michigan are tied for third all-time while Waltrip’s six top-10 finishes are tied for second in track history. … Newman’s 119 laps led are the most by a race winner. Jarrett has led 93 laps in five previous NASCAR Busch Series races at Michigan. … Labonte’s 7.0 average finish is second only to Martin’s 4.1.
ETC.
Greg Biffle (#66 Duraflame Ford), the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series champion, has two victories in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (1999-2000) and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series (2004-05) at Michigan, but has only one top 10 in four NASCAR Busch Series races at the track. … J.J. Porter has been promoted to Team Manager for Keith Coleman Racing. … Jim Long, crew chief for the #5 Lowe’s / Sta-Green Chevrolet that will be driven by Kyle Krisiloff this weekend, is one of four Hendrick Motorsports team members who are Michigan natives; Long hails from Lambertsville. … Kasey Kahne could be considered a favorite this weekend. In three NASCAR Busch Series starts, he has recorded one pole, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. He also holds the series qualifying record, turning a lap of 186.490 mph in 2003. … Justin Labonte (#44 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet) will attempt to post a better finish than his uncle Bobby at Michigan. In two previous NASCAR Busch Series meetings between the two this year, Bobby has the upper hand in both, finishing sixth at Lowe’s Motorspeedway and 16th at Chicago to Justin’s 22nd and 41st places in those events, respectively. … Kevin Hamlin will drive the #4 GEICO Dodge for Biagi Bros. Racing at Michigan. He has competed in three other races for the team this year, with his best finish (17th) in his debut at Pikes Peak. … The Marlin family would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation for the many thoughts and prayers during its time of loss. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Clifton “Coo-Coo” Marlin’s name to the American Lung Association. Sterling Marlin will drive the #40 Monaco Coach Dodge at Michigan.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Shawna Robinson set two standards in the first NASCAR Busch Series race held at Michigan International Speedway on August 15, 1992. One remains today. A series rookie that season, Robinson drove her Polaroid-sponsored Oldsmobile to an 11th-place finish in the Detroit Gasket 200, still the best finish for a female driver in any of the previous 13 events at the track. She bested the other rookie in the field, Ricky Craven, by two positions. Robinson’s effort remained for two years as the best among rookie drivers in the race until Dennis Setzer’s sixth-place finish in 1994. It would be three more years – 1997 – before rookie Steve Park would better both Setzer and Robinson’s results at Michigan with a victory.
FAST FACTS
What: Domino’s Pizza 250 (Race #25 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.
When: 3:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 20
Track Layout: 2-mile oval.
Race Length: 250 miles/125 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,125,988.
TV: TNT, 3:00 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Kyle Busch.
2004 Polesitter: None (weather).
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Fri., Aug. 19: Practice – Noon – 1:10 p.m..; 2:50 – 3:50 p.m. Sat., Aug. 13: Qualifying – 10:00 a.m. Impound on pit road after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-17-2005)
Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Old Spice Chevy, was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for hitting another competitor’s car [#5 Vickers] after the completion of the race. That infraction is a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book.
Lance Deiters, crew chief of the #83 Chevrolet driven by Wally Dallenbach, was fined $2,500 for an unapproved third gear transmission ratio. That infraction, discovered during opening-day inspection, is a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-CC (unapproved gear ratio) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(8-16-2005)
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(8-13-2005)
See Starting lineups:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
BGNRacing.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(8-13-2005)
UPDATE: Ron Fellows, winner in three of the last four NASCAR Busch Series events held at Watkins Glen, will pilot the #43 Chevrolet for Curb Agajanian Performance Group in Saturday’s Zippo 200. For a team likely to begin turning heads upon unloading from the truck Friday morning, the team is surprisingly still seeking additional sponsorship for Fellow’s quest to defend his title at Watkins Glen. If the Canadian racer is able to pull out the win and thereby put a victorious spotlight on Curb Agajanian Performance Group, it could offer the team the catalyst they need to find success in the remaining 11 races of the 2005 season. Fellows’ campaign for the win in Mexico City was cut short when his car was involved in an incident on lap 54. Fellows’ most recent NASCAR performance resulted in an eighth place finish in the Nextel Cup event at Infineon Raceway in June. While the team is currently seeking additional sponsorship, initial support from Bully Hill Vineyards enabled Fellows to return to Watkins Glen with Curb Agajanian Performance Group. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting event once again”, said Lillian Taylor, President of Bully Hill Vineyards, “Ron Fellows is a phenomenal driver, particularly at The Glen. Anytime he’s on that track, he’s a force to be reckoned with.” Bully Hill Vineyards began as a small estate winery and has since flourished into one of New York States’ largest producers, distributing fun, unique wines to wine retailers and restaurants in 30 states. The winery overlooks Keuka Lake and has become a major area attraction. Bully Hill will be featured on the hood of the #43 Chevrolet driven by Fellows during Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race.(Motorsports Management)(8-13-2005)
AND Team Yellow Racing and Johnny Sauter welcome road-course specialist Boris Said back for Saturday’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Said will pilot the #1 Miccosukee Dodge and Sauter will be in the #09 Yellow Transportation Dodge. Both drivers were part of last week’s test at the track and team owner James Finch believes it could be another strong road course run for the multi-car effort. “Boris and Johnny were both really good in Mexico,” said Finch of Said’s 5th place showing and Sauter’s surprise 11th place run. “We built twin road course cars at the start of the season and I’d like to see them both in the top ten this weekend. It’s definitely something these two drivers can deliver.”(Team Yellow)(8-8-2005)
UPDATE: Actually Sauter is in the #1 and Said is in the #09.(8-13-2005)
It’s not often that a defending race winner has to wait four years to challenge for his title. Ron Fellows (#43 Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet) is in that very situation. The Canadian road-course ace won the last NASCAR Busch Series race held at Watkins Glen International in 2001. He is entered in the field of 54 drivers – no less than 11with extensive road-course experience – that marks the series’ return to scenic upstate New York. Watkins Glen joins the historic race in Mexico City in March as the second road-course event of the season, a series first. Fellows has three NASCAR Busch Series wins at The Glen, second only to Terry Labonte’s record of four. He also has captured two Busch Poles at the venue, and won the 2000 race from that position.
Fellows will be joined by other road-course specialists, among them Boris Said (#1 Miccosukee Dodge), Scott Pruett (#4 GEICO Dodge), Joe Fox (#0 Racegirl/Family Dollar Chevrolet), Chris Cook (#7 TradePortal Chevrolet) and Mexico City pole winner Jorge Goeters (#32 Canel’s Ford).
And road-course artists from the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series such as Tony Stewart (#33 Old Spice Chevrolet) and Robby Gordon (#55 [#88?] Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet), who have won two and one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at The Glen, respectively, are also entered.
Despite what seems to be a deck stacked with experienced road-course drivers, NASCAR Busch Series regulars have their own agenda at The Glen, namely a tight championship race that requires a top finish regardless of the location.
Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Chevrolet), the defending series champion, comes to The Glen after winning at IRP last Saturday night. He increased his championship points lead over Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet) by 15, but is only 85 points ahead of Bowyer, who finished second at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Raybestos Rookie Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) was third at IRP and remains third in the points, only 19 behind Bowyer. At 104 points out, Sorenson is within striking distance of Truex. Truex and other series regulars showed their mettle in Mexico City against some of these same road-course specialists. Six of the top-10 finishers at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez – including Truex, the winner – were NASCAR Busch Series regulars. And series regulars have their own record of success at The Glen. David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford) won the pole in 1996 and has three top-five finishes in eight races there. Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford) has four top 10s, while Kenny Wallace (#22 AutoZone Ford) has two top-10 finishes.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Does Mexico success translate at The Glen? … Only three drivers ranked in this week’s NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 – David Green, Kenny Wallace and Ashton Lewis Jr. (#25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) – have series experience at Watkins Glen. Each of the drivers ranked in the current championship standings, however, competed in Mexico City in March and half of them – Martin Truex Jr. (first), Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford – third), Clint Bowyer (seventh), Wallace (eighth) and Lewis (ninth) – finished in the event in the top 10. Reed Sorenson (14th) and Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockewell Automation Chevrolet – 15th) had solid finishes at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Only David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge – 22nd), Paul Menard (#11 Menard’s Chevrolet – 34th) and Green (35th) struggled at the track. “This will be my first NASCAR start at Watkins Glen,” Edwards said. “I have one road course under my belt, earlier this season in Mexico City, and we finished third. Watkins Glen presents some challenges; it has 11 turns with a variety of banking in the turns, ranging from 6 to 10 degrees. I love turning right and left during a race; it’s just awesome.”
Wolfe, Smith come home to upstate New York … Milford, N.Y. native Paul Wolfe, recently signed by FitzBradshaw Racing after starting the season with Evernham Motorsports, will drive the #12 Hot Tamales Dodge at Watkins Glen in his first NASCAR Busch Series start at the track. However, this will not be his first competition at the road course. Wolfe competed in the NASCAR Busch North Series for four years with as many appearances at Watkins Glen. He compiled one top five and two top-10 finishes from 2001-03. Meanwhile, Regan Smith (#58 Glynn Motorsports Dodge) is returning to his home state as well. Smith grew up in Cato, N.Y., approximately 70 miles northeast of The Glen. His parents, Ronnie and Lee, have been involved in NASCAR Busch Series ownership through the years, and still own a steel business in the Cato area. Smith is looking forward to a large fan base from upstate New York at the event. Smith attended the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving last week in preparation for this weekend’s race.
Goeters joined by Contreras, others from Mexico City race … Mexico City pole-winner Jorge Goeters will bring his road-course experience to Watkins Glen for Braun Racing this weekend. Goeters, who led 24 laps at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the #66 Brewco Motorsports Ford, was arguably in a position to win had his engine not expired, relegating him to 38th. He also competed for Braun at Pikes Peak last month, finishing 24th. Goeters will be joined by fellow Mexico City native Carlos Contreras, who also participated in the Mexico event. Contreras will drive the #40 Gould’s Pumps Dodge for FitzBradshaw Racing, the same car he piloted in Mexico where he finished 36th. Handling problems ended his day. Other road-course specialists who ran in Mexico and are entered at Watkins Glen include Ron Fellows (41st in Mexico), Boris Said (fifth), Chris Cook (26th) and Robby Gordon (40th). Stan Silva Jr. (#65 A&S Metals/S Silva Trucking Chevrolet) and Todd Souza (#97 Central Coast Cabinets Chevrolet) attempted but did not qualify in Mexico. Additionally, Jose Ramirez, who finished 31st in the Mexico event, is entered in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on Sunday.
Kelly, Hunter’s Hope continue to battle disease … Hunter Kelly, the eight-year-old son of Frank Cicci Racing team ownership partner and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, passed away last Friday morning in Buffalo, N.Y., after battling the terminal disease Krabbe Leukodystrophy since he was first diagnosed at sixth months of age. “Everyone on our race team, their families, our sponsors and those inside the NASCAR family who know Jim share in the Kelly family’s grief,” Cicci said. “We are deeply saddened with their loss and our thoughts and prayers, we hope, will provide support in this difficult time.” A service for Hunter was held Tuesday, and the Kelly family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the “Hunter’s Hope Foundation” at www.Huntershope.org. “Since he retired from professional football, Jim and his wife Jill have dedicated themselves towards Hunter and in the establishment of the Hunter’s Hope Foundation,” Cicci said. To date, nearly $4 million has been raised for research since the Kellys founded the organization. Two-time NASCAR Busch Series Champion Randy LaJoie drives the team’s #34 Dollar General Chevrolet.
Chevrolet establishes year’s biggest lead in Bill France Performance Cup standings … Martin Truex Jr.’s series-leading sixth win of the season last Saturday at IRP broke a two-race victory drought for Chevrolet, and allowed the manufacturer to put three wins between it and second-place Ford in the Bill France Performance Cup standings. The lead is also the largest of the year between Chevy and Ford. Chevrolet has 161 points to complement its 11 wins. Ford has eight wins and 150 points, while Dodge has four wins and 126 points. Chevrolet also has the edge in the NASCAR Busch Series’ return to Watkins Glen, having won nine of the previous 11 races there, including eight in succession.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 23 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 3,286
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $1,161,461
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 608
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 886.63
• Victories – Martin Truex Jr. (6)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Martin Truex Jr. (12)
• Top-10 finishes – Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. (15)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (14)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (23)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
David Green and Jason Keller are the active drivers with the most NASCAR Busch Series starts at Watkins Glen with eight apiece. … In addition to Ron Fellows and Green, Joe Nemechek (#87 CellularOne Chevrolet) and Scott Pruett are active Busch Pole winners at the track; Nemecheck claimed the position in 1997 while Pruett is the defending polesitter, having captured the top starting spot the last time the series raced at The Glen in 2001. … Fellows led the most laps (178), and is first among active drivers with four top-five finishes. His 6.0 average finish is third all-time. Fellows claimed his first NASCAR Busch Series win at The Glen in 1998 and his first series pole there in 1999.
ETC.
Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Jason Leffler has been released from the #11 Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. A combination of drivers, including Terry Labonte, the all-time NASCAR Busch Series winner at Watkins Glen, along with series teammates Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley (#18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevrolet) will share time in the car throughout the remainder of the season. “In looking toward next year, J.J. and Denny will get some valuable seat time at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup level that will allow us to build the #11 into a race-winning contender for 2006 and beyond,” said JGR President J.D. Gibbs.
… Paul Menard will attempt to make his second NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at The Glen. Menard, currently 10th in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings, made his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut at this track in 2003, finishing 29th.
… Martin Truex Jr. will compete in his first NASCAR Busch Series race at Watkins Glen, but he has three previous NASCAR Busch North Series starts to his credit. There, Truex finished fifth in a 2001 event, but didn’t fare as well in 2000 (29th) and ’02 (32nd). … The NASCAR Busch Series has raced on three road courses in its history – Road Atlanta (1986-87), Watkins Glen and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
… Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s lone road-course victory came in the NASCAR Busch Series at Watkins Glen in 1999, while 1988 NASCAR Champion Bill Elliott won his only NASCAR Busch Series race at The Glen in 1993.
… Kenny Wallace surpassed the $5 million mark in series winnings with his 11th-place finish at IRP. Jason Keller, the series’ all-time money-winner, is $39,595 away from the $10 million mark in earnings.
… Matt Kobyluck (#50 Mohegan Sun Chevrolet) will attempt to make his NASCAR Busch Series season debut at Watkins Glen. Kobyluck, a three-time winner in the NASCAR Busch North Series this year, has made one other NASCAR Busch Series start, finishing 34th at New Hampshire last season. The Zippo 200 is one of two races Kobyluck will attempt in the NASCAR Busch Series this year. He will head to Charlotte after the Busch North Series regular season ends.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race at Watkins Glen International in 1991 was the third road-racing event in series history. Two previous road races were held at Road Atlanta in 1986 and ‘87. Included in the field for all three races was Patty Moise, a NASCAR Busch Series regular who gained considerable road-racing experience competing with her father, Milton, in International Motor Sports Association competition during the 1980s. Moise qualified in the top 10 for all three NASCAR Busch Series road events, and claimed a ninth-place starting spot at Watkins Glen. She drove a family-owned Buick to a 20th-place finish, one lap off the pace. Terry Labonte won the 150-miler from the pole, while NASCAR Busch Series rookie Jeff Gordon was sixth.
Labonte, a two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, would go on to become the all-time leader in NASCAR Busch Series wins at The Glen with four, yet did not post a win in 18 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races there. Gordon, who has won four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series titles and is the all-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins leader at The Glen; He also has four wins, but not in his two NASCAR Busch Series tries. Both drivers are entered in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race set for Sunday.
Kim Crosby (#26 Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Chevrolet) will attempt to follow in Moise’s footsteps and qualify for a spot in the NASCAR Busch Series’ return to The Glen on Saturday.
FAST FACTS
What: Zippo 200 (Race #24 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
When: 2:10 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 13.
Track Layout: 2.45-mile road course.
Race Length: 200.9 miles/82 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,057,242.
TV: NBC, 2:00 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2001 Winner: Ron Fellows.
2001 Polesitter: Scott Pruett.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Fri., Aug. 12: Practice – Noon – 1:10 p.m..; 2:50 – 3:50 p.m. Sat., Aug. 13: Qualifying – 9:00 a.m. Impound on pit road after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-10-2005)
At Watkins Glen, Spraker will field his own entry for this Busch Series event, with the #63 car prepared at his North Carolina shop. Spraker, who began his racing career in the NASCAR Modified Division, is from Latham, NY, near the state capital of Albany. He has campaigned cars in several NASCAR series including the Featherlite Modified Tour, the Busch North Series, the Busch Series, and the Craftsman Truck Series. His base of operation from 1979 to 2000 was in Schenectady, NY, where he started his business and housed his race cars.
After making the move to North Carolina in 2000, Jeff devoted a substantial amount of time to the establishment of his business, which in turn, allowed less time for his own racing efforts. However, the date on the Busch Series schedule for “The Glen” was just too much for this driver to resist. States Spraker: “I’ve concentrated on building my business in North Carolina for the past few years, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to run that road course – it’s one of my favorite tracks and I find it more challenging every time I run there.” Jeff has actually run in four different series on this demanding road course including the Busch Series, the Craftsman Truck Series, the Busch North Series, and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Spraker is hopeful that his past experience on this road course will be beneficial in attempting to qualify for the 43 car field. The #63 Spraker Monte Carlo will carry sponsorship from Assembly Products of Westfield, WI and Every& McCabe Construction of Daytona Beach, FL.(PR)(8-10-2005)
ORIGINAL: hearing Busch North Series driver, Matt Kobyluck will attempt to qualify for the Watkins Glen Busch Series race in the #50 Mohegan Sun Chevy. Kobyluck has made one start in the Busch Series, starting 29th and finishing 34th at New Hampshire in 2004.(8-5-2005)
The RailCats are currently tied for first place in their division and have a record of 32-25 in 2005. Their home ballpark, U. S. Steel Yard, is a 6,000 seat stadium that was constructed in 2002 at a cost of $45 million.(Victory Sports Group/Mac Hill Motorsports)(7-26-2005)
UPDATE: Tim Sauter followed through on his quest to play in professional baseball game, batting second in the bottom half of the first inning against Kansas City T-Bones starting pitcher Greg Bicknell, who leads the Northern League in victories with 11 wins. RailCats Centerfielder Anthony Iapoce led off the RailCats half of the first with a fly ball out to right. The US Steel Yard PA announcer then introduced the next batter, “Now batting, driver of the NASCAR Busch Series Lester Buildings #56 Lester Buildings Chevrolet, Tim Sauter.” The crowd of 3,291, gave their one-day RailCat a warm welcome, rising to their feet to see his one, and most likely only professional at-bat. Sauter took the first pitch, a fastball down the middle of the plate for strike one. “I really didn’t see that one,” commented Sauter. The next pitch, Sauter swung and missed at another fastball. Facing an 0-2 count, Sauter readied himself for what everyone thought would be the final pitch he would see. Bicknell offered a curve ball, that Sauter was able to adjust to, and hit foul down the first base line. The contact brought Sauter’s teammates in the dugout to the railing to see if he could pull off the impossible. Bicknell would have none of it, throwing Sauter an 86 mph fastball. He swung and missed for strike three. Upon returning to the dugout, Sauter was swamped by his teammates with high-fives, handshakes, congratulations and thoughts of what almost was after making contact with the 0-2 curve ball. Commented Sauter after the game: “This was an unbelievable experience. My RailCat teammates were great, even making feel as one of the gang, with the rookie hazing.” Sauter received the ‘ole “rocks in the cleats” trick, got a lesson on cleaning his cleats and was ribbed by teammates looking to exchange Sauter’s at-bat for a drive in his Lester Buildings #56 Chevrolet. Sauter continued: “A really appreciate the RailCats for working with me on this and allowing me to be a RailCat for a day. I have a new appreciation for ballplayers and what they go through to play this game at a professional level. I’ll watch baseball with a much different perspective now.”(Mac Hill Motorsports/Motorsports Development)(8-8-2005)
“Being careful there, I guess I would have to look behind my back the way they deal sometimes, but that’s a whole other story. Everything we do is straight up. I think they tried as hard as they could to distract us this year. In the end, everybody knew that we were right. Kasey honored his commitments. I feel like a lot of that was about someone’s personal ego cost a lot of people a lot of money and a lot of time. Now we’re past it and in the end the best thing we can do is go on and be together a long time, win a lot of races and win the championship. Right now, that’s what we’re going to concentrate on.”
“Anthony (Foyt) is a guy that tested for us at Kentucky. I’ve known his grandfather for some time. I’d love to run him some more. We’re going to try to run him in a couple of Busch races this year. Every time we get something going it seems like we have a scheduling conflict. Anthony is certainly a candidate for the Evernham driver development program in the future based on that little bit of time we’ve been around him. I don’t have any set concrete plans for him yet, but we’re working with our partners on coming up with a true set driver development program that we can continue to run places and get people experience. I think Anthony’s a prime candidate being 21 years old and having as much experience as he has. Hopefully we can find something to let him drive.”(Clear!Blue/Dodge PR)(8-7-2005)
Race results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(8-6-2005)
See Starting lineups:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
BGNRacing.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(8-6-2005)
“Everyone on our race team, their families, our sponsors and those inside the NASCAR family who know Jim share in the Kelly family’s grief. We are deeply saddened with their loss and our thoughts and prayers we hope will provide support in this difficult time”, said team owner Frank Cicci. “Since he retired from professional football, Jim and his wife Jill have dedicated themselves towards Hunter and in the establishment of the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. We hope that the small things we can do this weekend here in Indianapolis, and during the remainder of the season, to perpetuate Hunter’s life will provide added exposure for Hunter’s Hope”.
The Kelly family has requested a private viewing, but a celebration of Hunter’s life will be held on Tuesday, August 9, at 1 p.m. at the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to consider a donation to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation at www.Huntershope.org.(On Track Marketing)(8-5-2005)
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. The Kelly Family has requested a private family viewing. A celebration of Hunter Kelly’s life will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at 1pm at the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg.
Aside from his activities with the Hunter’s Hope Foundation and the Kelly for Kids Charities, Jim Kelly is also part of the ownership group of Frank Cicci Racing, a NASCAR Busch Series #34 race team sponsored by the Dollar General Corporation. The team is in Indianapolis this weekend for the running of the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. 2-time NASCAR Busch Series driver Randy LaJoie is the team’s driver..(8-5-2005)
UPDATE: Ford Racing has joined forces with Clorox and ST Motorsports to create the Clorox/Ford Racing Female Driver Development Program, the first time a corporate sponsor and manufacturer have worked together to develop young, diverse talent. This multi-year commitment, announced here today at Lyn St. James’ “Women in the Winner’s Circle” luncheon, is designed to develop a driver in USAC and graduate her to a NASCAR Busch Series team campaigned by ST Motorsports.
Alison MacLeod of Ontario, Canada, who two weeks ago scored her first career USAC Ford Focus Midget Series victory, and Destiney Hays of California are the first two drivers selected to participate in the program, which will be directed by noted chassis builder and USAC team owner Bob East. East, whose son Bobby will make his NASCAR debut Friday evening in a Roush Racing Ford F-150 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, has developed some of NASCAR’s biggest names over the years. Ford Racing has a long history in developing diverse driver talent. Ford was an early supporter of Lyn St. James’ road racing career in the 1980s, as well as a supporter of prominent African-American driver Willy T. Ribbs’ road racing career in that same time frame. More recently, Ford supported Danica Patrick early in her career when she was racing in Europe, and last year did a formal test of four young women — including MacLeod — as part of a driver development pilot program. Currently, the company is also supporting the efforts of Michel Jourdain Jr.(Ford Racing/Campbell Company)(8-4-2005)
UPDATE: FitzBradshaw Racing has announced Carlos Contreras as the driver of the #40 Goulds Pumps Dodge Charger for the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International on August 13. It will be the second time Contreras, the most accomplished Hispanic driver in NASCAR, has driven for FitzBradshaw Racing this season. (FBR PR via BGNRacing.com)(8-4-2005)
Indianapolis Raceway Park sits some fifteen minutes west of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But IRP is a storied track in its own right, one with NASCAR history tied directly to it. The NASCAR Busch Series has raced at IRP since the series’ inception in 1982. The exciting racing each year on the .686-mile oval surrounded by packed grandstands was a precursor to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series arrival at the “big track” in 1994. IRP hosts the NASCAR Busch Series Kroger 200 this Saturday night, the 24th consecutive season that the track – and the race sponsor – has welcomed the series to central Indiana. History shows names such as Morgan Shepherd claiming the most series wins at IRP (three), Jimmy Hensley still holding the race record of 96.923 mph set in 1995 and likewise remaining intact is David Green’s (#27 Kleenex Ford) qualifying record of 113.461 established in his series championship year of 1994.
Nine winners at IRP have gone on to claim NASCAR Busch Series championships in that same season. And recent history shows three IRP victors/series champions – Kevin Harvick, 2001; Greg Biffle, 2002 and Brian Vickers, 2003 – have done so in the last four years. Additionally, a NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos rookie has won at IRP twice in the last five seasons. Ron Hornaday Jr. (#32 WINFUEL Chevrolet) was a rookie winner in 2000 as was Kyle Busch last year.
Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Dodge) follows in the recent history footsteps of younger drivers finding success at the venerable track. A rookie, he is third in the championship rankings, only 84 points behind leader and defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet). Sorenson, who won at Gateway last week, made his series debut at IRP one year ago, starting third and finishing 13th. Two other rookies – Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford) and Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet), come to IRP ranked in the Top 10. Edwards is fourth while Hamlin is sixth. Both will be making their first NASCAR Busch Series IRP starts.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Truex’s lead getting pressure from Bowyer, Sorenson … Following 22 of the NASCAR Busch Series’ 35 races this season, the championship rankings are as close as they’ve been since Milwaukee, where only 41 points separated leader Martin Truex Jr. and third-place Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet). Truex took his first points lead of the season following that race. He remains in first place heading to IRP, but Bowyer, now in second, and Reed Sorenson in third, are only 70 and 84 points behind the defending series champion, respectively. Truex was 142 points in front of Bowyer – his biggest lead of the season – after his win at New Hampshire three weeks ago. Sorenson led the points for two weeks earlier this season, and closed the gap on Truex considerably following his second win of the year last week at Gateway. The top three haven’t been this close at this stage of the season since 2003 when only 35 points stood between first-place Scott Riggs and third-place Jason Keller (#35 McDonald’s Ford). Already this year, first through third places have been separated by 94 points or less eight times.
Stremme hopes for hometown success … David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge) returns to his home state for this weekend’s race at IRP, and looks to capitalize on one of the strongest runs of his career in front of family and friends. Stremme, from South Bend, Ind., led 54 laps last Saturday at Gateway in perhaps the strongest car in the field before tire issues forced him out of the lead on Lap 138 and a disappointing 19th-place finish. Currently ninth in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, the 28-year-old has experience at IRP, having won ASA and late-model races at the track earlier in his career. His father, Lou and mother, Cindy, were both racers and Stremme won his first race in 1993 in his mother’s Street Stock car. “I’m really excited to be racing at home this weekend,” he said. “I have a pretty big fan base in that area and all those people as well as my family and friends will be at the track to cheer me on. Anytime you can race in front of your hometown crowd you push yourself to do better. Indianapolis has such a rich racing history of its own and for me, IRP has been good luck. I’m very comfortable with the track. Winning this weekend near my hometown, where it all started for me, would be really special. “
Others back home in Indiana, too … NASCAR Busch Series director Joe Balash is a native of Hobart, Ind., and grew up watching races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IRP. Tony Stewart (#33 James Dean Chevrolet) was born in Rushville and now resides in Columbus, Ind. He is entered in his first NASCAR Busch Series race since Charlotte. Logansport, Ind., native Boston Reid (#57 Hitachi Power Tools Chevrolet), 22, looks to make his seventh start of the season. And 19-year-old Joel Kaufman (#12 Supercuts Dodge) will attempt to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut at IRP. Kaufman grew up in LaGrange, Ind., and was 16 years old in 2002 when he won the Sunoco Super Series Championship at IRP. Now 19, the Indiana native is currently sixth in the Hooters Pro Cup Northern Division standings. Green continues standings climb … David Green remains on a second-half hot streak. Green won at Pikes Peak two weeks ago, and posted a fourth-place finish at Gateway last Saturday. He has picked up four places in the NASCAR Busch Series standings in that span, from 11th to seventh, his highest ranking in the points since he finished seventh overall last season. Green has been in the Top 10 in the championship standings in seven of his nine fulltime seasons. “We’ve had a few awesome weekends in a row,” he said. “I feel like we’re really picking up some momentum in the second half of the season. We’re taking the same car that we’ve used for the past two races. It brought us two top-fives, so hopefully we can keep that streak alive at IRP.”
Keller a quiet contender … Jason Keller has had two of this three worst finishes of the season in his last two races – 36th at Pikes Peak and 33rd at Gateway. Those results have caused the 34-year-old native of Greenville, S.C., to fall out of the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10, where he was a fixture for seven consecutive weeks before his result at Pikes Peak. Currently 11th, Keller might not seem poised for a rebound, but IRP may just be the place for the series’ all-time money-winner ($9,933,180) to regroup. Keller has won twice at IRP, tied with Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet) for second in all-time wins behind Morgan Shepherd’s three. The track is the only NASCAR Busch Series venue where Keller has more than one win among his 10 career victories. He also captured a Busch Pole at IRP in 1999, also his most recent victory from the pole. Keller is second in IRP annals with six top fives and is tied for second all-time with eight top 10s in 11 races. Keller is the “Ironman” of the NASCAR Busch Series, looking to compete in his 258th consecutive race. He has been running at the finish for 18 races in succession, most in the series to date.
The Wallace Family Tribute 250 last Saturday night at Gateway International Raceway was the most-viewed NASCAR Busch Series event in the history of the track. The race, aired on TNT, produced a 62% increase in viewers (2,144,000 – 1,324,000) over the 2004 race at Pikes Peak, which aired on the same weekend also on TNT. Households were also up significantly from one year ago, registering an increase of 53% (1,530,000 – 999,000). The race was broadcast directly against Major League Baseball, tennis, the American LeMans Series and NHRA qualifying.
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 22 races of the 35-race NASCAR Busch Series season:
• Points leader – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 3,096
• Money won – Martin Truex Jr. Total: $1,102,990
• Laps led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 514
• Miles led – Martin Truex Jr. Total: 822.14
• Victories – Martin Truex Jr. (5)
• Poles – Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne. (3)
• Top-five finishes – Martin Truex Jr. (11)
• Top-10 finishes – Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. (14)
• Races led – Martin Truex Jr. (13)
• Weeks in Top 10 – Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr. (22)
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Jason Keller has the best average finish at IRP (8.6). … Randy LaJoie is the only driver to win consecutive races at IRP, having done so in his series championship seasons in 1996-97. LaJoie won both races from the Busch Pole, and remains the only driver to capture successive poles at the track. He has also led the most laps there with 313, and is tied for third in average finishes (10.3). … David Green won the IRP pole in 1994, is fifth among all drivers with seven top-10 finishes, and is fifth all-time with an 11.1 average finish. … Other former race winners at IRP who are entered in this weekend’s field are Steve Grissom (#49 Advil Ford – 1990), Mike Wallace (#64 Miller High Life Dodge – 1994), Ron Hornaday Jr. (2000) and Kevin Harvick (2001). … Other former pole winners entered are Kenny Wallace (#22 AutoZone Ford – 2001) and Johnny Sauter (#1 Miccosukee Dodge – 2004).
ETC.
Reed Sorenson’s win at Gateway gave Dodge its fourth victory of the season and its first since Johnny Sauter won at Milwaukee. Dodge, still third in the Bill France Performance Cup standings, now has 120 points. Chevrolet continues to lead the standings with 10 wins and 152 points while Ford is second with eight victories and 146 points. Chevy is the win leader at IRP with 12. … Boston Reid will be joined by Tyler Walker (#38 Great Clips Dodge) and Edwards in the USAC Silver Crown race at IRP on Thursday night. Kasey Kahne, who shares the #38 with Walker in addition to his fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series duties in the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, is also entered in the event. Walker and Kahne will be driving Kasey Kahne, Inc. cars. Walker is also scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the Indianapolis Indians game on Friday at 7 p.m. … Johnny Sauter is scheduled to do double-duty this weekend at IRP. In addition to the Kroger 200 on Saturday night, Sauter is entered in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event on Friday night. He was second in both races last year. … Brandon Miller (#21 Reese’s Chevrolet) posted his second consecutive top-10 finish last week at Gateway. Miller was 10th at Pikes Peak, then registered a career-best sixth-place finish last Saturday.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
One of the longest-standing event speed records in the NASCAR Busch Series was set 20 years ago at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Jimmy Hensley turned a record speed of 96.923 mph with his win in the 1985 edition of this race.
Hensley had taken over the seat of the famous Thomas Brothers Country Ham #00 Olds, led by crew chief Gere Kennon, for two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Sam Ard. Ard retired following the 1984 season after becoming the first driver in series history to capture back-to-back championships. Hensley started the 1985 Kroger 200 in the second spot beside pole winner Brett Bodine and stayed near the front of the field for most of the race. Hensley took the lead on Lap 181 of the caution-free 200-lap event and held on for his third win of the season.
FAST FACTS
What: Kroger 200 (Race #23 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, Ind.
When: 8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 6.
Track Layout: .686-mile oval.
Race Length: 200 laps/137.2 miles.
Posted Awards: $946,176.
TV: TNT, 8:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Kyle Busch.
2004 Polesitter: Johnny Sauter.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Fri., Aug. 6: Practice – 10-11:30 a.m.; Noon- 1:00 p.m. Qualifying – 5:05 p.m. Impound on pit road after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-2-2005)