Family Dollar, Fitz Motorsports team with CancerCare in NY: Veteran NASCAR driver Mike Bliss is scheduled to appear in the Big Apple on October 9 and 10 to show support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and CancerCare, a national nonprofit which provides free support services for people affected by cancer. Bliss will not be alone. He is coming with a replica of the car that he will be driving in the NASCAR Busch Series Race in Concord, North Carolina on October 12. That car, owned by Fitz Motorsports and sponsored by Family Dollar, will be painted pink and will have information about CancerCare on its hood. This is the first time both Family Dollar and Fitz Motorsports have given such a public exhibition of their support for people touched by breast cancer. Their generosity will not end there. Family Dollar will offer an array of products bearing the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness in each of their 6,400 stores, raising an extra $50,000 for the nonprofit.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(8-31-2007)
Bjorklund Moving to Busch: UPDATE: Haas CNC Racing announced that developmental driver Blake Bjorklund will race in selected Busch Series events during the remainder of the 2007 season. Through an existing partnership between Haas CNC Racing and Jay Robinson Racing, Bjorklund will drive the #28 Chevy. The targeted races are at California, Charlotte and Homestead-Miami, with the possibility of additional races. Bjorklund, who had been driving the #8 Chevy for MRD Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, now will focus solely on preparation for his Busch Series schedule.(HaasCNC Racing PR)(8-24-2007) UPDATE: Blake Bjorkland will be behind the wheel of the #28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy in California this weekend. It will be Blake’s first time driving in a Busch Series race.(Jay Robinson PR)(8-31-2007)
Where is … Lyndon Amick? Lyndon Amick is on the ground in Afghanistan, deployed there for the last four months as a part of the South Carolina National Guard. Amick today lives in a barracks with 12 other men. There’s a mess hall, gym and common room, where the computers and television are located. Internet access is spotty. Playing soldier is not an option for Amick. He’s a real soldier, up against a very real danger. There may be those of his comrades in arms who want a little action, but not Amick. Not necessarily. He just wants to come home, safe and sound, to Melanie and their kids. He’s scheduled for a 15-day leave in January, and should return for good just a few months after that.(NASCAR.com). Amick drove 93 Busch races between 1997 and 2003.(8-30-2007)
Busch Series: Live at California Speedway on ESPN2: On Saturday, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live coverage at California Speedway. The telecast of the CampingWorld 300 presented by RVs.com begins at 9:45 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. ESPN’s Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown at Bristol, joined in the pit studio by analysts Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. Highlights include: NASCAR Busch Series Rookie Brad Keselowski Still Negotiating with JR Motorsports: ESPN NASCAR reporter Shannon Spake will report on Busch Series rookie Brad Keselowski, driver of the #88 for JR Motorsports. Keselowski has been the top rookie finisher in two of the five races he’s entered for JR Motorsports and finished 7th at Bristol Motor Speedway last week, yet his “audition” continues. Keselowski has two races left on his current contract. Spake will report on his chances of extending that deal through the end of the season. Kasey Kahne Lights up Bristol Motor Speedway: Kasey Kahne is fresh off a huge weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he won the Busch Series race and finished second in the Nextel Cup race. Kahne also swept the both the Busch Series and Cup races at California Speedway this time last year. ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Mike Massaro will interview Kahne live before Saturday’s green flag to talk about his recent successes and his thoughts on racing at California.(ESPN PR)(8-30-2007)
Tester Fined; Placed on Probation: Greg Tester, crew chief of the #71 Chevy driven by Ron Young in the Busch Series, has been fined and penalized due to rule violations at Michigan. Tester was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until December 31, 2007, 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 – 5.9D (4) (unapproved intake manifold modifications to the plenum area) of the 2007 Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection on August 17.(NASCAR PR)(8-30-2007)
Allmendinger to Run 5 Busch Races for Ganassi: Chip Ganassi Racing officials announced that AJ Allmendinger would drive the team’s #42 Dodge in the next five Busch Series races. Allmendinger’s first race in the car will be this weekend’s Camping World 300 at California Speedway. Allmendinger will also drive the #42 at Richmond, Dover, Kansas and Charlotte. (SceneDaily.com)(8-29-2007)
Special Scheme for Kahne at California: The #9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge, driven by Kasey Kahne, will have a special vitaminwater paint scheme this weekend in the Camping World 300 at California Speedway.(GEM PR) See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(8-29-2007)
Wallace and Austin Test at Iowa: On Monday and Tuesday, Steve Wallace and Chase Austin were at the Rusty Wallace designed Iowa Speedway, in preparation for the upcoming Busch Series short track races at Richmond and Memphis. Steve made his Busch Series debut at Memphis in 2005. Austin will look to do the same in this year’s event at Memphis.(RWI PR)(8-28-2007)
NASCAR Scrambling to Find Series Sponsor: NASCAR’s once-promising negotiations with Subway to title sponsor its #2 series have hit the skids, sources say, and the sanctioning body has spent the last few weeks revisiting many of the brands that initially turned down the sponsorship. KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts and Allstate, each of which had been contenders for the sponsorship earlier in the process, are among the companies NASCAR has approached in the last few weeks as its tries to replace Anheuser-Busch. Subway, which was considered the front-runner 30 to 60 days ago, remains in talks with NASCAR, but industry insiders no longer characterize America’s largest restaurant chain as the favorite. As NASCAR seeks a new title sponsor, industry insiders say the price is dropping. NASCAR was asking $30 million a year when it began the sales process in the first quarter of the year, but that figure has dropped by nearly half. As part of the new price, NASCAR and ESPN, working jointly to sell the title sponsorship, have relaxed the required media spend on ESPN, sources say. At first, about a third of that $30 million was a required spend on ESPN’s platforms. NASCAR had no comment on potential partners or issues under negotiation and maintained that its goal is to announce a new series partner by mid-November, at the end of the Busch Series schedule. Sources say that category exclusivity has been a primary obstacle as Subway and NASCAR try to resurrect their deal. Exclusivity has dominated the news this season with AT&T’s lawsuit against NASCAR and Cup series sponsor Sprint Nextel, which joined the lawsuit as a co-defendant, as well as an earlier turf war between Sunoco and Shell. Exclusivity emerged as a major sticking point in Subway’s negotiations because of the broad quick-service restaurant category. Arby’s, McDonald’s, Jimmy John’s and Domino’s are among the team sponsors already involved in the Busch Series.(Sports Business Journal)(8-28-2007)
Wal-Mart & Make-A-Wish on the #18 at California: As Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart joins the Z-Line Designs team this weekend, the #18 Chevy will again fly the colors of the national Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.(TrueSpeed Communications PR)(8-28-2007)
Robby Gordon to Drive for Fitz Motorsports at California: Robby Gordon has accepted the invitation extended by team owner Armando Fitz to drive the #22 for Supercuts in the Camping World 300 this weekend at the California Speedway.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(8-28-2007)
Special Scheme for Keselowski at California: In honor of the 65th Anniversary of the Seabees, the U.S. Navy´s construction battalion, the #88 Navy Chevy will feature a special Navy Seabees paint scheme for Saturday´s race at California Speedway. Instead of the regular navy-colored paint scheme, the #88 will be tan with the Seabees 65th anniversary logo adorning the hood.(JR Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(8-27-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for California: David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Food City 250 at Bristol. Ragan scored a sixth-place finish, his sixth top-10 of the 2007 season. He grabbed top rookie honors for the eighth time this season. Ragan stretched his lead to 25 points (208-183) over Marcos Ambrose in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Camping World 300 at California. Brad Keselowski scored a seventh-place finish at Bristol, his best in 25 Busch Series races and his second top-10 this season. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 80 points behind fourth-place Jason Leffler and leads sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by 137. Ambrose is ninth in the standings, 32 points behind eighth-place Greg Biffle.(Raybestos PR)(8-27-2007)
Wimmer in the #77 at California: Scott Wimmer will be behind the wheel of the seat of the #77 Dollar General stores Chevy at California Speedway.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR)(8-27-2007)
Roush has Busch Series sponsor for Ragan and Edwards, third team possible As far as sponsorship for Roush Fenway Racing’s Busch Series teams, team president Geoff Smith said that Discount Tire will return with David Ragan next season and a group of companies will sponsor Carl Edwards. A third team is being explored, possibly for Travis Kvapil. There will also be select races for Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray. “We’re really pleased with the job Travis has done for us in the truck series,” Smith said. “He came in. We believed in his talent. … We’d like to keep him in our program.” Todd Kluever, who has competed in the Busch Series with Greg Biffle this year, is free to look for other opportunities, Smith said. “We told him we don’t have sponsorship for a program for him for next year and he shouldn’t rely on us to do that,” Smith said. “He is free to look at other opportunities.”(SceneDaily.com)(8-26-2007)
Rockwell Automation to Bow Out of Motorsports after 2007 Season: UPDATE: Rockwell Automation will finish its 11-year motorsports tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing. The #20 Rockwell Automation Chevy campaigned by JGR in the Busch Series since 2003 will see its final race in Rockwell Automation’s red and white livery at the Busch Series season finale Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite not wearing the colors of Rockwell Automation, the #20 Busch Series team fielded by JGR will contest the entire 2008 Busch Series schedule, as will JGR’s #18 Busch Series team. Driver and sponsor combinations for the #20 and 18 teams will be announced in January 2008. Sponsorship for the #20 team is currently being pursued.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(8-20-2007) UPDATE: Gibbs needs a sponsor for his #20 Busch Series car as Rockwell Automation announced earlier this week that it would not return next year. JGR has two Busch Series teams, where Cup drivers Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart and development drivers Aric Almirola (now headed to Dale Earnhardt Inc.), Brad Coleman and Kevin Conway have all seen time this year. Joey Logano, a rising star, turns 18 next May and would be eligible to run Busch races. “We’d love someone to fill that role – we could offer someone a pretty good deal,” Gibbs said. “We’d love to have Logano full-time [after he becomes 18] and obviously Tony is going to run some for us. We have Kyle and Denny and those [young] guys.”(SceneDaily.com)(8-26-2007)
Sad News, Sam Conway: Sam Conway passed away at the age of 58 early Saturday morning after a valiant battle with lung cancer. The Tampa, Fla.-native was team manager for Darrell Waltrip’s Winston Cup Series team in the 1990s and served on the board of directors for Motor Racing Outreach for 10 years. Conway’s son, Kevin, currently races a limited schedule in the Busch Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. Funeral arrangements are still pending.(8-25-2007)
ESPN apologizes for lost Busch race feed: ESPN has apologized for losing the video of the last few laps of the Food City 250 Busch Series race Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Viewers at home watching on ESPN2 saw a blank screen for those last laps, which featured a dicey duel between Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne, with Kahne holding off Leffler to win the race. “We sincerely apologize for briefly losing transmission due to human error and have taken steps to prevent this from happening again,” ESPN spokesman George McNeilly said Saturday. “As soon as transmission was re-established we apologized to viewers and replayed the last two laps of the race.”(SceneDaily.com)(8-25-2007)
Busch Series: Live at Bristol Motor Speedway on ESPN2 Friday Night: On Friday, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live coverage at Bristol Motor Speedway. The telecast begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. ESPN’s Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown at Bristol, joined in the pit studio by analysts Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. Highlights include: Special Guest Jack Ingram, tied for second in all-time NASCAR Busch Series Wins, Joins the NASCAR Countdown Studio in Bristol Jack Ingram will visit the NASCAR Countdown studio to talk racing and discuss his record. Ingram has great respect for Harvick, but he is interested in finding out whether Harvick has what it takes to overtake Ingram’s career wins and the drive to win races into his 40s and 50s, as Ingram did.(ESPN PR)(8-23-2007)
Memorex on the #41 for the Remainder of the Year: The #41 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Dodge will carry the purple colors of Memorex this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway), and continue to carry those same colors the remainder of the 2007 NBS season. Memorex announced in January it had signed an agreement with CGRFS to serve as primary sponsor of the #41 Memorex Dodge in the Busch Series starting this month. Memorex has been riding as an associate sponsor on the #41 Wrigley’s Dodge since February, but will take center hood this weekend. Reed Sorenson will pilot the #41 this weekend at BMS, next weekend at California Speedway and then also at Dover International Speedway in late September. CGRFS development driver Bryan Clauson will make his NASCAR debut in the Memorex Dodge at Richmond in early September, and then race the car in the remaining seven NBS races after Dover.(CGRFS PR), images of the car are available on my Paint Schemes Page.(8-22-2007)
Trevor Bayne to Make Busch Debut at Daytona:[2009] Most teenagers cannot wait until they reach the age when they are able to hopefully get their drivers license but for 16-year-old Hooters ProCup driver Trevor Bayne from Knoxville, his 18th birthday is the date he has his sights set on. That is the date the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) development driver is scheduled to launch his career in the Busch Series during Speedweeks at Daytona. “Next year,[2008 we go in house. That will be a good deal with the Busch East program and then we’ll go to the Busch Series the following year (when he turns 18). It’s a long term contract. For now, Bayne is working in the shop at DEI while continuing to race in the Hooters’ ProCup Series.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-22-2007)
Frazier is New Crew Chief for Krisiloff: Carl A. Haas Motorsports named Bryant Frazier crew chief of the #14 Lilly/Walgreens Ford driven by rookie, Kyle Krisiloff. Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Frazier, a veteran crew chief with more than 17 years of combined experience in the Cup and Busch Series, will make his debut for the Lilly/Walgreens team.(Cox Group PR)(8-22-2007)
O’Quinn Driving for Mac Hill at Bristol: Danny O’Quinn will pilot Mac Hill Motorsports’ #56 Chevy in Friday’s Food City 250. O’Quinn is driving a limited schedule in the Busch Series for Mac Hill this year. He’ll be backed by Knoxville, Tenn.-based Power Equipment Company, which will be the primary sponsor of the 56 car for the fourth time. Power will also be the 56 car’s primary sponsor at Memphis on Oct. 27. The company sponsored Mac Hill at Nashville on June 9, and its sister business, Brandeis Machinery and Supply Company, sponsored the 56 at Kentucky Speedway on June 16.(Mac Hill Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(8-21-2007)
Kvapil to run Busch race at Bristol: Craftsman Truck Series champion and Roush Fenway Racing driver Travis Kvapil will make his fourth career start in the Busch Series at Bristol Motor Speedway this Friday in the #16 3M Ford Fusion. Kvapil is currently running a full-season in the #6 K&N Ford F-150 for Roush Fenway in the Truck Series but is looking forward to the opportunity to showcase his talent in the Busch Series. Previously at Bristol, Kvapil stats include a truck win in 2003 at the .533-mile oval and three top-10 and five top-20 finishes in six career starts at the track (two truck and four Nextel Cup races).(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(8-21-2007)
Stock Car Steel Sponsoring White at Bristol: Pennington Motorsports announced the signing of Stock Car Steel as the primary sponsor of the team’s #08 Busch Series entry for Friday’s Food City 250.(8-21-2007)
Sad News: “Gunsmoke” Raines: McGill Motorsports mourns the passing of team member Roy Eugene “Gunsmoke” Raines. Raines passed away Monday afternoon. After retiring from ABF Truck Lines he joined the McGill Motorsports team as the co-hauler driver. “Gunsmoke was a true asset to McGill Motorsports. He was dependable and always went over and above expectations to help the team.” Team owner John McGill said. “He was a great family man and a friend to many people in NASCAR. He will always be a part of our team and we will miss him.” Funeral arrangements are pending.(McGill Motorsports PR)(8-21-2007)
Chase Austin to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Officials of RWI Racing, LLC announced that the team’s 17 year-old developmental driver, Chase Austin, will attempt to make his Busch Series debut for RWIR in the October 28th Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis. The Memphis round occurs just 25 days after his 18th birthday. Austin currently pilots the team’s #66 HomeLife Communities Dodge in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series. Austin will wheel RWIR’s #64 Dodge, with primary sponsorship from HomeLife Communities(RWI PR)(8-21-2007)
Johnny Sauter Driving at Bristol for Brewco: Johnny Sauter will be making his first Busch Series start in 2007 for Brewco Motorsports in the #27 Kleenex Ford for the Food City 250. Earlier this season, Sauter drove the #37 Ford for Brewco at Nashville.(Brewco PR)(8-21-2007)
Rookie Notes for Bristol: Brad Keselowski was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the CARFAX 250 at Michigan. Keselowski finished 13th and took top rookie honors for the third time this season. David Ragan leads Marcos Ambrose by 18 points (200-182) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Food City 250 at Bristol. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Rookie. He is 50 points behind fourth-place Jason Leffler and leads sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by 114. Ambrose is eighth in the standings, 11 points behind seventh-place Stephen Leicht.(Raybestos PR)(8-20-2007)
Keselowski Expects to Finish Year in #88: MORE: With a pair of top-15 finishes in three Busch Series starts, Brad Keselowski is apparently close to cementing a deal that would land him in the #88 Chev7 for the rest of the 2007 season. “Well, we know for sure we’re going to run two [more] races, contractually,” the Michigan native said Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. “Verbally, Junior wants me to run the whole year. I think that’s probably what will end up happening.(NASCAR.com)(8-18-2007) UPDATE: Brad Keselowski of Rochester Hills drove in the Busch race Saturday for JR Motorsports, owned by Earnhardt, and he will drive next weekend at Bristol. Apparently there are just some final details to work out for a contract that would carry him through the rest of this season. Mike Davis of JR Motorsports said a deal could be finalized by the end of this race weekend. Keselowski has driven four times for Earnhardt this season.(Detroit News)(8-19-2007)
Five Drivers in the #5 in 2008: Dr. Jerry Punch announced during TV coverage of the Busch race that five drivers – Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson, and Landon Cassil – would share driving duties of the #5 Chevy next year. The team will operate out of JR Motorsports facilities.(8-18-2007)
Jeff Fuller to Drive at California: Jeff Fuller will have Interush as the primary sponsor on the #31 Stanton Barrett Motorsports Chevy in the Camping World 300 at California Speedway. Jeff and Stanton have a long history of racing together as Jeff drove Stanton’s cars in the past. They are long time friends and are coming together once again for the California race.(Jeff Fuller Web site)(8-17-2007)
Ganassi to stop running Montoya’s Busch team: The #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Busch Series team won’t run again this season after the race next week at Watkins Glen International. The team was started last year to help in the development of Nextel Cup driver Juan Pablo Montoya in his transition from Formula One. The No. 42 Busch Series team will be used for testing and have other duties in the team shop. Crew chief Brian Pattie signed a long-term contract last year.(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2007) UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing will keep its #42 Busch Series team running after all and has entered Kevin Hamlin as the car’s driver in this weekend’s Carfax 250 at Michigan. Brian Pattie remains as crew chief for the team. The team decided to give Hamlin more seat time and will run the car on a “week-to-week” basis.(SceneDaily.com)(8-17-2007)
Kyle Busch Planning on Busch Races in 2008 with JGR: Kyle Busch announced Tuesday that he plans to drive the #18 JGR Chevy next season. He’s also working on plans to drive in the Busch Series. He said the team is working on that right now, and he thinks they have sponsorship for him to possibly run 20 or 26 races, all companion events to Cup races. “I’d like to do the full season, but I need to concentrate on the Cup efforts, and I don’t know how much of a building process it’s going to be to get the 18 team back up to par with the 20 [of Tony Stewart] and the 11 [of Denny Hamlin].”)SceneDaily.com)(8-17-2007)
Congrats to Jason and Allison Leffler: Jason Leffler, driver of the #38 Great Clips Toyota, and his wife Alison, welcomed their son into the world on Thursday, August 16, 2007, shortly before 7pm. Charlie Dean Leffler, who was named in honor of Leffler’s father, weighed six pounds, nine ounces and was 20.5 inches long.(Braun Racing PR)(8-17-2007)
Logano to run some Busch races in 2008? Middletown native Joey Logano, 17, will make his final in-state [CT] Busch East Series appearance of the season Saturday in the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury. And it might be the last chance fans get to see the Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver compete in his home state. Logano turns 18 on May 24 and becomes eligible to compete in NASCAR’s three national touring divisions: the Nextel Cup Series, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said Wednesday there’s a chance Logano will spend much of next season competing in the Busch Series. Gibbs wouldn’t rule out the possibility Logano could be running for Nextel Cup rookie of the year honors in 2009 as a teammate to Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the Gibbs Nextel Cup stable. “I think the reality is he’s going to have every opportunity in the world to be successful with us,” Gibbs said. “If it’s the right time to do it and we think he’s ready, we might do it in 2009.”(Hartford Courant)(8-17-2007)
Busch Series: Live at Michigan International Speedway on ESPN2: On Saturday, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live coverage of the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway. The telecast begins at 3 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. ESPN’s Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown at MIS. Highlights include: Harvick Moving in on Busch Series Record: 2006 Busch Series Champion Kevin Harvick has 31 career wins in the Busch Series, having won four out of the last five Busch Series races he has entered. ESPN pit reporter Dave Burns will report on Harvick’s winning streak and moving in on the current Busch Series wins record of 47, held by Mark Martin. MIS – The biggest Race of the Year for Auto Makers: The NASCAR Countdown pit studio will discuss the importance of racing at Michigan International Speedway, the home of the big three auto makers – General Motors, Ford and Dodge – and what makes this race so special to them. The studio will also discuss Toyota and their performance in the NASCAR Busch Series.(ESPN PR)(8-16-2007)
Fitz Motorsports to appeal NASCAR penalty: UPDATE: Denied Fitz Motorsports acknowledges the fine and penalties imposed by NASCAR on the #22 Dodge following the NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal; however Fitz Motorsports will issue an appeal based upon extraordinary circumstances. After careful review by Fitz Motorsports engineers, a conclusion was drawn that the issue with the spring in question was due to an effect of driver Patrick Carpentier being forced off the course at the end of the race.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(8-8-2007) UPDATE: On August 15, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Fitz Motorsports. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on August 4, 2007 for the Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Appellants contended that the infraction may have resulted from two off-course excursions by the racecar during the race, and that any resulting coil-binding effects from a deflected spring would not be a benefit on a road course. In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors:
There was no indication that the infraction was intentional or premeditated. Rather, the evidence suggested that a component with a number of existing service cycles may not have held up to the rigors of the race.
Fitz Motorsports does not have a history of rules violations in this series.
Race contact damage could not be directly attributed as a factor in this case. The Commission notes that front-running cars, such as the Appellant’s, were frequently impacting raised curbing at several locations around the road course each lap.
Ultimately, the spring did not meet specifications in the Rule Book and the penalty assessed by NASCAR was consistent with penalties for similar violations in this series.
Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR.(NASCAR PR)(8-16-2007)
Trent Willmon to Sing National Anthem at Bristol: Country music recording artist Trent Willmon will sing the national anthem before the Food City 250 Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 24 while the anthem for the sold-out Sharpie 500 on Saturday night will be performed by the children of NASCAR drivers. Willmon will release his third album, “Broken In,” on January 22, 2008. The first single from that album, “There Is A God,” hit the airwaves earlier this month. Some of Willmon’s hit songs are “On Again Tonight,” “Beer Man,” “Dixie Rose Deluxe’s,” and “Home Sweet Holiday Inn.” A native of Texas, Willmon, who is also the host of CMT’s reality show “America’s Top Cowboy,” is looking forward to performing in front of the more than 100,000 fans that will be in attendance at the Food City 250.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(8-15-2007)
Dominos.com Scheme for Reutimann at Michigan: The #99 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, driven by David Reutimann, is usually sponsored by Aarons Sales and Lease, but this weekend it will have a different yet familiar sponsor at Michigan during the Busch Series Carfax 250. Domino’s Pizza will not only be returning as primary sponsor of the #00 Nextel Cup Toyota – but will also be featured on the #99 Busch Series Toyota(SportsONE/Dominos PR), see an image of the car on my Busch Series Paint Scheme Page.(8-15-2007)
Jarrett to Run Busch Race at Bristol: UPS announced plans to sponsor Dale Jarrett in the Food City 250 Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 24, as part of the UPS Centennial Celebration. Randy Goss will serve as crew chief for Jarrett and the #44 UPS Centennial Toyota Busch team.(Elevation Group/UPS PR)(8-15-2007)
Sad News: Christian Elder: Christian Stuart Elder, 38, of Catamaran Ct., Cornelius, passed away on Sunday, August 12, 2007, at his residence. Born December 6, 1968, in Minneapolis, MN, he was a son of John Stuart and Sherry Hansen Elder, of Bloomington, MN. Mr. Elder was a Project Manager for Elder-Jones, Inc. He was a race car driver in the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series, winning at Daytona and Lowes Motor Speedway [and in the Busch Series where he ran 24 races in 2001-2002]. In addition to his parents, Mr. Elder is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Elder, of St. Louis Park, MN; brother, Justin Elder and wife, Sara, and their son, Nolan; maternal grandmother, Phyllis Hansen, of Bloomington, MN; and his two best buddies, his dogs, Yukon and Henry. A service will be held at 2:00pm, Monday, August 20, at Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church, 9922 Normandale Boulevard South, Bloomington, MN, with visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 6003, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6603. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mr. Elder.(Charlotte Observer)(8-15-2007)
Carfax to Sponsor Keller/CJM at Michigan; Associate Sponsor for Remainder of Season: Carfax will sponsor the #11 CJM Racing entry with driver Jason Keller throughout the remainder of the 2007 season. The newly formed relationship will premier at the upcoming Carfax 250 Busch Series race at Michigan. Carfax will be the primary sponsor of the #11 machine for the Carfax 250 and will be highlighted as an associate sponsor in the nine remaining races the CJM Racing team is slated to run.(Global Performance Group PR via TheHotLap)(8-14-2007)
Martin Pulling Double Duty at Michigan: In addition to his duties in the #01 U.S. Army car, Martin will take part in his fourth Busch race of 2007, once again taking the helm of the #5 Hendrick Busch entry. It will be Martin’s second run in the #5; he finished second at Darlington in May. Martin has two top-five finishes in three Busch starts in ’07, having driven the #06 Roush car to a fifth-place result at Daytona.(DEI/Ginn Racing PR)(8-14-2007)
Vickers to Replace Blaney for Four Races: Brian Vickers will replace Dave Blaney in Braun Racing’s #10 Busch Series Toyota for the next four races, a team spokesperson confirmed. Blaney’s status with Braun Racing is unknown. Vickers has driven one race for Braun this year, finishing 13th at Daytona in the team’s #32 Toyota.(SceneDaily.com)(8-14-2007)
Ralph Stanley Named Grand Marshal of Bristol Busch Race: Virginia native Dr. Ralph Stanley will serve as Grand Marshal of the upcoming Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 24, 2007. Dr. Stanley was born in Dickenson County, Virginia, where he still resides today. After 55 years in the business, he is perhaps the best known banjo picker and tenor singer in all of bluegrass music. As a recording artist, he has performed on more than 170 albums, tapes and CDs. He’s also written many songs by himself and with his brother, the late Carter Stanley.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(8-13-2007)
Hornish Returns to Busch Series at Michigan: Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the #12 Mobil 1 Dodge returns to Michigan International Raceway for the third time in 2007 to attempt to qualify for his sixth Busch Series start this season – his eighth in the series – on Saturday. (Penske Racing PR)(8-13-2007)
Stemme Back with Fitz Racing for Michigan: David Stremme will pilot the #22 Supercuts Dodge at Michigan International Speedway in the Carfax 250.(Fitz Racing PR)(8-13-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Michigan: Brad Coleman was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen. Coleman finished fifth, his third top-five and fifth top-10 of the 2007 season. He took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season. David Ragan leads Marcos Ambrose by 18 points (199-181) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the CARFAX 250 at Michigan. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 28 points behind fourth-place Jason Leffler and leads sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by 91. Ambrose is eighth in the standings, 32 points behind seventh-place Stephen Leicht.(Raybestos PR)(8-13-2007)
Germain Racing Running Busch Race at Michigan: In Saturday’s Carfax 250 at Michigan, Germain will run their second Busch Series race. Todd Bodine, the defending Truck Series champion, will again be behind the wheel of the #03 Germain Toyota and the team wants more than just a top-ten finish like they grabbed in their debut last month in St. Louis.(Germain Racing PR)(8-13-2007)
McCauley Back with Kurt Busch in Busch Race: #39-Kurt Busch had a familiar voice in his ear during Saturday’s Busch Series race at Watkins Glen International. Roy McCauley, who was Busch’s crew chief for Penske Racing’s #2 Nextel Cup car but stepped aside earlier this year because of his wife Amy’s illness, returned to guide Busch for the Watkins Glen race.(SceneDaily.com)(8-12-2007)
Lagasse Won’t Be Back with Ganassi: Chip Ganassi Racing won’t renew the contract of Scott Lagasse Jr. for next season, team director of NASCAR operations John Fernandez confirmed Sunday. The 26-year-old Lagasse had made only two Busch starts this year and five last year with a best finish of 18th last season at Dover. He also has 11 career truck starts.(SceneDaily.com)(8-12-2007)
McCumbee to Petty Busch ride in 2008? Ray Dunlap also reported during the race on Speed/TV that Chad McCumbee is expected to be in a Petty Enterprises Busch Series ride for the 2008 season. Dunlap also said that McCumbee will not finish out the 2007 season with Greenlight Racing and that he and his sponsor will be moving to another team before the next race at Bristol. [Also hearing from sources that McCumbee will fill in for Kyle Petty in his Cup car one more time this season – no word on which race.](8-11-2007)
Bodine to Busch in 2008? Ray Dunlap reported during the pre-race activities on Speed/TV that it appeared that Todd Bodine would not be back full time in the #30 Germain Racing Toyota and that he would be moving to the Busch Series. Dunlap reported that Germain Racing tested a number of young drivers in anticipation of Bodine’s leaving the #30-team.(8-11-2007)
Zippo Renews Watkins Glen Sponsorship: Watkins Glen International and Zippo Manufacturing Company announced that Zippo has renewed the title sponsorship of the Busch Series race until 2010. The race will remain as the Zippo 200.(Watkins Glen International PR)(8-11-2007)
Busch Series: Third Road Course of the Season, Live on ESPN2: ESPN2 will televise Busch Series practice from Watkins Glen at 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, and qualifying at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Live coverage of Saturday’s race will begin on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. ESPN’s Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown at Watkins Glen. Some NASCAR Countdown highlights: Third Time’s the Charm: It is possible that, this weekend, Juan Pablo Montoya will do something no other driver has done – win three road-course races in either of NASCAR’s top two series in one year. Shannon Spake will get Montoya’s thoughts on road racing and why his driving style is so suited to road courses. Calling all specialists: NASCAR teams regularly recruit “specialists,” known for their expertise on road courses, to run at Sonoma, Mexico City, Montreal and Watkins Glen. Find out what qualifications make road racing specialists such experts.(ESPN PR)(8-10-2007)
Sad News: Chuck Meyers, crew chief on the #1 Miccosukee Chevy, lost his dad, Ronald Meyers, to cancer on August 7. The funeral will be held Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stockbridge, WI.(8-10-2007)
Jimmy John’s to Sponsor Steve Wallace at Michigan: Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and RWI Racing, LLC announced that Jimmy John’s will serve as the primary sponsor of RWI Racing’s #66 Dodge, driven by Steve Wallace, in the August 18th CARFAX 250 at Michigan.(RWI PR)(8-9-2007)
Big Red on the #42 This Weekend: This weekend, Juan Montoya will be piloting the Wrigley’s Big Red Dodge in Saturday’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Big Red has been riding along with Montoya the entire 2007 season as an associate sponsor on the #42 Texaco/Havoline Nextel Cup Dodge’s rear quarter panel, and then took center hood this past July at Chicagoland Speedway for the USG Sheetrock 400. This weekend the hot cinnamon tasting gum will take center hood on both of the #42 Busch and Nextel Cup Dodges.(CGRFS PR)(8-9-2007)
Mears Making First Busch Road Course Start: Although #24-Casey Mears has competed sporadically in the Busch Series for the past seven years, he has never run at Watkins Glen. In fact, Mears has never competed in a Busch Series race on a road course.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(8-9-2007)
Brad Teague to Drive at Bristol with SCAG Mowers Sponsorship: With SCAG’s help (financially) and Morgan-McClure Motorsports (labor & expertise), Brad Teague has built a new car from the ground up, just for the Bristol race. SCAG Commercial Mowers car #54 Chevy is ready to roll.(Creative Energy Group PR), see an graphic of the car [as the #52] on my 2007 busch Series Paint Schemes Page.(8-9-2007)
Congrats to Wayne & Holli Grubb: Former Busch Driver and current Brewco car chief for the #37 Kleenex team, Wayne Grubb and his wife Holli welcomed Jordin Claire Grubb to the world on Thursday, August 8.(8-9-2007)
Liberati New Crew Chief for Steve Wallace: RWI Racing announced the naming of two individuals to key leadership posts in the team’s competition structure. Beginning next weekend at Michigan International Speedway, veteran NASCAR crew chief, Tony Liberati, will serve as crew chief for the team’s #66 Dodge. In a separate, yet related, move, RWI Racing has named NASCAR veteran Rick Carpenter as the team’s new General Manager. In that position, Carpenter will have oversight of the team’s competition operations and will play a key role in its expansion to a two-car effort for the 2008 season.(RWI PR)(8-8-2007)
Kenseth to Run Busch Race at the Glen: Matt Kenseth will be driving the #17 Aflac Ford in Saturday´s Busch Series race at Watkins Glen. It will be the first time since 1999 that Kenseth has competed in the NBS at The Glen.(Roush Fenway PR)(8-7-2007)
Ambrose Cup debut on hold, focus on Busch: UPDATE: Will run for Gordon: At the beginning of the season, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing announced its plans to enter Marcos Ambrose in both of the Nextel Cup road course races in 2007. Several circumstances have delayed Ambrose’s Cup debut and he will not be competing in Nextel Cup at Watkins Glen with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing this weekend, according to team co-owner, Tad Geschickter. Ambrose fully supported the decision and is looking forward to making his Nextel Cup debut with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the future.(Wood Bros/JTG Racing PR)(8-7-2007) UPDATE 2: Robby Gordon Motorsports will field Australian Marcos Ambrose in the Busch Series rookie’s Nextel Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen this weekend. After one of the most controversial incidents in NASCAR’s recent history last weekend, Ambrose has accepted a “peace offering” from Gordon to drive the #77 Camping World Ford Fusion, which will also carry some signage from Ambrose’s regular sponsor Kingsford Charcoal. The Sunday event will be a joint effort between Robby Gordon Motorsports and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, with Ambrose’s regular Kingsford crew doing the pit work and his new Crew Chief Ernie Cope calling the shots from the box on Sunday.(RGM/Wasserman Media Group PR)(8-7-2007)
Robby Gordon Fined, Placed on Probation; Four Other Teams Fined & Penalized: NASCAR announced today that Robby Gordon, driver and owner of the #55 Ford in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined $35,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007 due to a rule violation during last Saturday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Gordon was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The fine and probation also carried the stipulation that if, during the remaining NASCAR events in 2007, there is another action by Gordon that is deemed by NASCAR officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, he will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR. Additionally, four other NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs and/or drivers and owners were fined or penalized following rule infractions at Montreal. Charles “Cully” Barraclough, crew chief of the #90 Ford driven by Stephen Leicht, was fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-12.3C (3): divider pistons in both front shock absorbers were not installed to the manufacturer’s specifications and 12A-12.3I: oil volume did not meet the minimum one-inch specification. Robert Yates, owner of the #90 Ford, was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship owner points, while Leicht was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship driver points. The infractions were discovered during post-race inspection on Aug. 4. Paul Wolfe, crew chief of the #22 Dodge driven by Patrick Carpentier, was fined $5,000 after violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.1A(2): front spring inside and outside coil diameter exceeded the 1/8-inch limit. Armando Fitz, owner of the #22 Dodge, lost 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship owner points, while Carpentier was docked 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship driver points. The violations were found during post-race inspection. Also, Chris Wright, crew chief for the #35 Ford driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $2,000 for violating 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.1A(8): unapproved jacking bolts; two hollow bolts. The infraction was discovered during opening-day inspection on Aug. 4. Jeff Spraker, crew chief of the #63 Chevrolet of Mike MacKenzie, was fined $2,000 after being found in violation of 12-4-A, 9-4-A: the crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members, 9-15-G: permitting individuals, without a proper NASCAR license, into the car servicing area and 20A-17B & 17.1A: entering the car service area without the proper safety equipment. These infractions took place during the event.(NASCAR PR)(8-7-2007)
Carpentier now in #22-Supercuts Dodge at Watkins Glen: Patrick Carpentier will be driving the #22 Supercuts Dodge for Fitz Motorsports in Watkins Glen, not Carlos Contreras. A formal announcement is scheduled for this afternoon. [Carpentier is also scheduled to replace Scott Riggs in the #10 Dodge this weekend for the Cup race.] (8-7-2007)
Bourque parts ways with Fitz Motorsports, announcing new plans shortly: Canadian driver Pierre Bourque has parted ways with the Fitz Motorsports team. Bourque drove one Busch East Series event for the team this season at Iowa Speedway with plans of teaming up for more events in Busch East and the Busch Series this year. Although his Busch East Series season has been abbreviated so far, Bourque has been keeping busy in other forms of racing. He made his Craftsman Truck Series debut for Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing team at Indianapolis’ O’Reilly Raceway Park last month and has been a semi-regular in the Canadian Tire Series, driving for Whitlock Motorsports. (Pierre Bourque PR)(8-7-2007)
Bristol race includes at least ten Cup drivers: The Food City 250 hits a high note with Nextel Cup drivers, with at least 10 expected to do double duty, competing in the Friday night event on Aug. 24 before taking part in the sold out Sharpie 500 on Saturday evening. Defending race winner Matt Kenseth will go after his second consecutive Food City 250. Other Cup stars who’ll be vying for the win are Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, who won the Food City 500 event at BMS in March, Jeff Burton, J.J. Yeley, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(8-6-2007)
Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Watkins Glen: Kyle Krisiloff was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the August 4 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, Canada). Krisiloff scored a sixth-place finish, his second top-10 effort of the season, and took top rookie honors for the second time in 2007. David Ragan leads Ambrose by 19 points (198-179) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the August 11 Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 46 points behind fourth-place Jason Leffler and leads sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by 88. Ambrose is eighth in the standings, 69 points behind seventh-place Stephen Leicht. Ambrose led the NAPA Auto Parts 200 twice for 37 laps, earning WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors for the second time this season. John Andretti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2006 Zippo 200, scoring a fifth-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(8-6-2006)
Lally returns to the #47 at Watkins Glen: Andy Lally will return to the #47 Clorox Ford for Saturday’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Lally said the different between his Porsche GT sports car and a 3,400-pound stock car was dramatic. And yet, he said the adjustment was made easy by the team’s preparation. Lally said the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing-prepared racer consistently was one of the fastest cars in the first Busch Series race in Canada. Unfortunately transmission problems relegated Lally to a 29th place finish.(Wood Bros/JTG Racing PR)(8-6-2007)
Labonte back behind the wheel at The Glen: Bobby Labonte will make his 12th Busch Series start of the 2007 season for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) this weekend at Watkins Glen International. With the 2007 season quickly drawing to a close, Labonte is slated to run six more Busch Series races for KHI in the #77 Dollar General stores Chevy.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(8-6-2007)
Carpentier to run Phoenix? possibly The Glen? After racing to second place from pole position in his NASCAR debut, Canadian Patrick Carpentier may have driven his way to a full-time Busch Series ride in 2008. Minutes after the end of NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Saturday, team owner Armando Fitz started making calls to get the native of La Salle, Que., back in the #22 Dodge for this weekend’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen in Upper New York State. “We already have a driver committed for Watkins Glen, but if I can put something together for a second car, I’ll put the other driver in that and keep Patrick in the #22,” Fitz said. “I just have to see if I can make it work. Although Carpentier’s chances of racing this weekend will depend on sponsorship, he will definitely be back in the Fitz car when the Busch Series heads to an oval this year, probably at the Phoenix International Raceway in early November. While many things must still be worked out, Fitz would like to see Carpentier driving for him next year, provided he runs well on an oval Carpentier has experience on the Phoenix flat track in both Champ Car and the IRL, which would help give him a leg up in his NASCAR oval debut. The 35-year-old driver gave the Fitz team its first Busch pole position since it began in 2001 and its second top-five finish this season.( The Globe and Mail, Canada)(8-6-2007)
Krispy Kreme Canada teams with MacDonald Motorsports: Krispy Kreme Canada proudly announces it’s sponsorship of the MacDonald Motorsports #72 Krispy Kreme Dodge at this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 premier race at the prestigious Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on Saturday. This marks the first race of the Busch Series on Canadian soil and Krispy Kreme Canada is extremely excited to sponsor Randy MacDonald and D.J. Kennington as one of the only Canadian Ownership/Driver tandem in the Busch Series today.(Krisphy Kreme PR)(8-3-2007)
Robby Gordon Suspended from Pocono Race UPDATE 5: Hearing that NASCAR will suspend #7-Robby Gordon from Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono for his actions in Saturday’s Busch race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For more info on his actions in the race, see my Busch Series page. P.J. Jones practiced the #7 Saturday at Pocono and would be the likely substitute driver.(8-4-2007) UPDATE: NASCAR is still evaluating whether Robby Gordon will be allowed to compete in the Pennsylvania 500 on Sunday at Pocono Raceway after not following NASCAR orders as well as getting into the back of race leader Marcos Ambrose on a green-white-checkered restart Saturday in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal. “It’s fair to say we’re still evaluating [his status for] tomorrow’s race,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said Saturday night. “We’re still talking about what’s going to take place in Pocono. At this point, it’s too early to tell.”(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2007) UPDATE 2: NASCAR issued a statement Saturday evening about the incident during the Busch race from Ramsey Poston, NASCAR Managing Director of Corporate Communications: “Once the caution came out on Lap 72 the field was frozen. Once the field is frozen, all cars must maintain cautious pace in order to be scored. At the time that the field was frozen, the #59 was in the lead. The #55 did not maintain cautious pace and by NASCAR rule, cars not maintaining cautious pace are scored only when they blend back into the continuous line. The 55 based on our scoring was ordered to blend back in behind the #33 in front of the #7. The tower ordered the #55 multiple times to get in to position. The directive was acknowledged by the crew chief of the #55 and the crew chief also communicated the order to the driver of the #55. The driver ignored NASCAR’s directive. He was warned that he would be black flagged if he did not comply. Once the #55 crossed the start-finish line he was posted per the NASCAR rule book and at that time the directive to display the black flag was given. After contact with the 5#9 on Lap 73, NASCAR took emergency action per the rule book Section12-2 thus parking the #55, which was also ignored. The black flag with the white cross was displayed to the #55 when it crossed the start-finish line on lap 74. The #55 finished the race in the 18th position.”(NASCAR PR)(8-4-2007) UPDATE 3: Robby Gordon’s antics at Saturday’s Busch race in Montreal will have him parked for Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Pocono, Pa. Gene Nead, Gordon’s crew chief, has confirmed that Gordon will not be allowed to race in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500. P.J. Jones, who practiced in the car Saturday while Gordon was in Montreal, will run the #7 Ford in the race.(ESPN.com)(8-5-2007) UPDATE 4: NASCAR has parked Robby Gordon and he will not be allowed to compete in Sunday’s race. Furthermore, Gordon is not being allowed into the garage at Pocono. Additional penalties and/or fines are expected to be announced on Tuesday.(8-5-2007) UPDATE 5: As a result of his actions on the race track at Saturday’s Busch Series race at Montreal, NASCAR has parked driver Robby Gordon for today’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Referencing Section 12-2 of the 2007 NASCAR rule book … “if the act or omission of a member is determined by a NASCAR official to constitute a threat to the orderly conduct of the event, NASCAR may take emergency action against that member …” That action includes parking a driver for an event. Parking is final, non-appealable and non-reviewable. Towards the end of Saturday’s race at Montreal, Robby Gordon demonstrated blatant disrespect and disregard for NASCAR directives – on multiple occasions. His actions were certainly disruptive to the orderly conduct of the event. NASCAR will continue to review this situation and address any further actions at the beginning of this week. P.J. Jones will be driving the #7 car today – he practiced in it here on Saturday. Since he did not qualify the car, he will start the race at the end of the line.(NASCAR PR).(8-5-2007)
Mexico race date moves to likely Cup off week in April: NASCAR still plans on taking the Busch Series to Mexico City next year, although the race most likely will run during an off weekend in April. Mexico City was the third Busch race of the season for the last three years, but Las Vegas has announced its Busch-Sprint Cup weekend would be a week earlier in 2008, which puts it in that slot. “We’re looking to continue to have it on an off weekend, which probably will be sometime in late April,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said Saturday morning.(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2007)
Newton-Everett Biotech to Sponsor McGill Motorsports #36: Newton-Everett Biotech, the world-renowned maker of premium supplements and nutraceuticals will sponsor team McGill Motorsports #36-Brent Sherman in the remaining season of the 2007 Busch Series. Since opening its doors in 2001, Newton-Everett Biotech has provided premium supplements and nutraceuticals for those who demand the finest natural brands available.(McGill Motorsports PR)(8-3-2007)
NASCAR Busch Series to Make Historic First Visit to Canada Live on ESPN2: The Busch Series will make history this weekend on ESPN2 as it becomes the first of NASCAR’s national series to race in Canada. The race presents a level playing field for Busch Series drivers and teams, as most will be racing on the track for the first time. Coverage begins on ESPN2 with Busch Series practice at 2 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 3, and qualifying at noon Saturday. NASCAR Countdown will have live coverage of the race beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4; the race telecast starts at 3:30 p.m. Allen Bestwick will anchor ESPN2’s coverage from Montreal and will host NASCAR Countdown. Road racing star Scott Pruett will be ESPN’s in-car race reporter for the race telecast, driving for the Ganassi team. Some NASCAR Countdown highlights: Making good on a deal ESPN NASCAR insider Marty Smith will speak to sports car specialist Andy Pilgrim, a friend of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Earnhardt once promised Pilgrim a ride in a NASCAR Busch Series road-course race, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will fulfill that promise. No checking in the pits, please New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will be in the pits of the No.16 car of Greg Biffle during the NASCAR Busch Series race at Montreal. ESPN pit reporter Vince Welch will talk with Biffle and Brodeur before the race and test Biffle’s French and hockey knowledge.(ESPN PR)(8-2-2007)
Daytona Testing Dates Announced: Testing dates at Daytona International Speedway have been finalized. In preparation for the Feb. 16 Camping World 300 presented by Chevy, the Busch Series will test January 18-22, with two different sessions. NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest for the Busch Series will be January 19.(DIS PR)(8-1-2007)
FedEx Sponsoring Coleman at Montreal: UPDATE: Brad Coleman will drive the #18 FedEx Express Chevy Saturday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.(Brad Coleman PR)(7-31-2007) UPDATE: Coleman will wear a special designed race helmet when the Busch Series cars take to the track this weekend. Coleman’s helmet was designed for him by Pierrefonds, Quebec native Mylène Lavoie and the 12-year old will join Coleman at Gilles Villeneuve on Friday for the presentation. In honor of Lavoie’s design and as part of the company’s ongoing support of Big Brothers Big Sisters, FedEx Canada will make a $70,000 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada – an organization that provides mentoring to over 24,000 children across Canada.(FedEx/Weber Shandwick PR)(8-1-2007)
“Resurrecting the Champ” Movie on Barrett’s Car: Stanton Barrett will pilot the #30 Stanton Barrett Motorsports Chevy in a fun and unique campaign in the Busch Series inaugural race in Montreal. This weekend, Yari Film Group’s feature film “Resurrecting the Champ” will be an additional primary sponsor on the Interush/SBM car.(Stanton Barrett Motorsports PR)(8-1-2007)
