June 2006 Busch Series Archive

Papis hopes to run races at Watkins Glen: During Speed Channel’s coverage of the IROC race at Daytona, Jeff Hammond mentioned that road racer Max Papis is looking to run the Busch East and Busch Series races at Watkins Glen and could be in the #78 Furniture Row Chevy that Kenny Wallace normally drives, in the Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen in August.(6-30-2006)
Fernandez to Drive #57 for Hendrick at Watkins Glen: Lowe’s and Hendrick Motorsports announced today that Adrian Fernandez will drive the #57 Lowe’s Chevy in the Busch Series race at Watkins Glen. This race marks Fernandez’s eighth career and second appearance of the 2006 season in the Busch Series.(Hendrick PR)(6-29-2006)
Crew Chief Change at FBR: Eddie Buffington has moved from the #14 to the #12 as crew chief. John Frattura resigned his position on the #12 to take a job with the Red Bull Toyota team.(BGNRacing.com)(6-29-2006)
Bobby Labonte to Drive #66 for Brewco in Two Races: Cub Cadet Racing and Brewco Motorsports, Inc. announced today the addition of Bobby Labonte to their driver lineup. [Labonte] will be behind the wheel of the #66 Cub Cadet entry for the Busch Series events July 8 at Chicagoland and August 19 at Michigan.(Brewco PR)(6-29-2006)
David Green and Johnny Sauter to Attempt Allstate 400 at the Brickyard: David Green and Johnny Sauter will both enter the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard with their Busch Series teams. Brewco Motorsports will attempt to make its first Cup start of the season, while Sauter’s Haas CNC Racing team ran at Charlotte in May.(NASCAR Scene)(6-29-2006)
NASCAR: Short Field No Problem: Busch Series Director Joe Balash said NASCAR wasn’t worrried about having only 41 cars at the Milwaukee Mile, two short of a full field. “You always like to have a full field,” Balash said. “We’ve had, in the last couple years, a couple of times where we haven’t had full fields. It’s a number of things that stack up that caused us not to have a full field. Greg Pollex, owner of ppc Racing and a vocal critic of the imbalance between Nextel Cup and Busch teams, disagreed. “The dream has evaporated,” Pollex said. “That’s why we don’t have a full field at Milwaukee. The series has run so many cars out that now we can’t produce a full field. This will continue unless it’s reversed.”(NASCAR Scene)(6-29-2006)
Kentucky Studying Fuller’s Crash; Will Make Changes: UPDATE: A Kentucky Speedway official says the track expects to make safety changes before the July 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in the wake of Jeff Fuller’s wreck during last Saturday night’s Busch Series race. Mark F. Cassis, the track’s executive vice president and general manager, said Friday NASCAR officials and others are looking at possible solutions. “We are continuing to investigate Jeff Fuller’s incident and are working in conjunction with NASCAR and Dr. Dean Sicking of the University of Nebraska Midwest Roadside Safety Facility regarding potential next steps for the portion of the infield retaining wall where the car made contact. Through this recent event, we have discovered an area which needs to be addressed. We will have a plan in place before our July 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in accordance with the recommendations of Dr. Sicking, NASCAR and the Indy Racing League.” (SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2006)
UPDATE: Kentucky Speedway will install 56 feet of the SAFER Barrier System across a section of its interior backstretch retaining wall prior to its third 2006 race weekend July 7-8. Two sections of system will close an opening in the interior wall previously used as infield access point for speedway Fire and Safety Team vehicles.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-27-2006)
Best Buy and Yellow Transportation to Share Primary Sponsorhip of #00 at Daytona: As Team Yellow Racing and Johnny Sauter take to the track for this weekend’s Winn Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway, they’ll do so while sharing primary sponsorship on the #00 Chevy with Nextel Cup sponsor Best Buy. (Haas CNC PR)(6-29-2006)
Paul Tracy in #34 at Daytona: Paul Tracy will be returning to Daytona this week for the second time this season, as he will once again be driving the #34 Sport Clips/American Crew Chevy in the Busch Series race on Friday night. Initially, Paul Tracy was scheduled to drive the #34 at IRP, however since Sport Clips sponsored the Indianapolis 500 car of Max Papis in May, Sport Clips decided to move their Indianapolis sponsorship to Daytona.(Player Management International PR)(6-28-2006)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Daytona: Danny O’Quinn Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the AT&T 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. O’Quinn Jr. finished seventh, his best effort in 17 career Busch Series races. He collected top rookie honors for the third time this season. Burney Lamar continues to lead the Raybestos Rookie standings, holding a 10-point edge over John Andretti (160-150) entering the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona. John Andretti is 13th in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie. Andretti is 147 points behind 10th-place Johnny Sauter and holds a one-point edge over 14th-place Lamar.(6-27-2006)
David Green will watch Shuttle launch Saturday: Green and his family will join friends from NASA to view the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral Saturday, July 1st.(Brewco PR)(6-27-2006)
P.J. Jones in the #43 at Daytona: The #43 Diversified Partners Dodge team of the Curb Agajanian Performance Group is back in action this week with veteran driver P.J. Jones behind the wheel for Friday night’s NASCAR Busch Series Winn-Dixie 250.(6-27-2006)
Ronnie Smith is new General Manager at Sadler Racing; Steadman Marlin will Contiue to Drive: Earl Sadler owner of Sadler Racing in Nashville Tennessee has announced a restructuring of his racing operation. Ronnie Smith has been hired as General Manager over racing operations. Ronnie has filled many roles within the organization in the past and brings vast experience to the management side. The team also reaffirmed their support and commitment to Steadman Marlin. Steadman will return to the seat of #95 car at Daytona with future events to include Gateway, Michigan, Memphis and Texas.(Sadler Racing PR)(6-26-2006)
Childress interested in Gilliland: Team owner Richard Childress said Sunday [at Infineon Raceway] that he is among those interested in signing David Gilliland to a contract. Gilliland, currently driving without a contract for a part-time, unsponsored entry in the Busch Series, has seen his stock skyrocket since winning the June 17 Busch race at Kentucky, then getting a weak car into Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Sonoma. “He’s probably the hottest young commodity out there today,” said Childress, who currently fields three Cup cars and won six Cup championships with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. “There are several teams here that will be after him, but he’d definitely be a good fit for us.” Childress noted that Gilliland’s good character and family background (his father Butch was also a NASCAR driver) play into the 30-year-old’s favor. Childress didn’t shy away from expressing his interest in Gilliland, but said the driver might be better served to get more time in the Busch Series. Gilliland has just seven career Busch starts and made his Cup debut Sunday. “I think he has all it takes to become a Cup driver, I’ll put it like that,” Childress said. “I think he could win races in the Cup Series. I believe if I was him, I’d run a few more Busch races (first).”(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(6-26-2006)
Kevin Hamlin in for Vidovich at Daytona: Kevin Hamlin will pilot the #4 GEICO Dodge for Biagi DenBeste Racing at Daytona. Vidovich was not approved by NASCAR to race at Daytona. He will be back in the car at Chicago and for the rest of the year.(Biagi-DenBeste PR)(6-26-2006)
Wes Ward is McFarland’s New Crew Chief: Wes Ward has taken over as Mark McFarland’s crew chief at JR Motorsports beginning this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile. Ward replaces Rich Hubbs, who moves back to the position for which he was hired, team manager of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Busch Series effort. Ward, a veteran in the Busch Series, served as crew chief for JR Motorsports’ Hooters Pro Cup team and driver Shane Huffman. Earnhardt Jr. hopes to run Huffman in a handful of Busch races later this year.(SceneDaily.com)(6-24-2006)
Kluever to Run Full Cup/Busch Schedule in 2007?: In 2007, Kluever will take over the Cup Ford that’s currently driven by Mark Martin. Like many of his peers, the Roush Racing driver also will compete full time in the Busch Series next season. Team owner Jack Roush has told Kluever he has no issue with using a substitute on non-companion weekends when it’s tough with travel. For instance, this weekend Cup drivers will hop on a plane after Saturday night’s event at The Mile to run at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Kluever will have his hands full as a rookie in the Nextel Cup Series next season, but he also wants to devote as much time as possible to his Busch campaign. “I would maybe be OK with that, but in the same sense I almost feel I would be letting my Busch guys down because if I commit to them for a full season, I think that I need to commit to them for a full season,” he said.(The [Madison, WI] Capital Times)(6-24-2006)
Gilliland full time in Cup or Busch in 2007: After scoring what many believe to be the biggest upset in Busch Series history last week at the Kentucky Speedway, David Gilliland’s stock has shot through the roof. The 30-year-old California driver has spent a lot of time this week listening to offers for 2007. “We have received three or four really good phones calls from some of the top teams in both Busch and Nextel Cup. It’s really exciting, it’s really a great accomplishment and achievement for me. We’ve dedicated our whole life to racing. For it to finally to be paying off and getting some opportunities to go and show what we got on a higher scale and higher level it’s been really good.” There’s talk Gilliland may wind up with a deal to run all the Cup races. When asked about that he said, “I feel confident we’ll be full-time next year. Whether it’s Cup or Busch we will be full-time next year. That’s something I just can’t stop smiling about. It’s a dream come true no matter what happens. We’re one step closer and we’re enjoying every minute of it.”(PRN’s Garage Pas Radio Show)(6-24-2006)
Looks like Busch Series race to Canada in 2007: UPDATE 3: NASCAR is within a few signatures of coming to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007. The renewal of a 10-year lease for racing on Ile Notre Dame, a contract between the city of Montreal and motorsport promoter Normand Legault, is the final turn to be negotiated, one that’s expected to be rounded in the next couple of weeks. And when it is, Legault will announce that the NASCAR Busch Series will unleash 43 of its 3,400-pound Chevy, Ford and Dodge lookalikes for a fender-rubbing, paint-trading race on the Expo 67 island. On May 2, a delegation of seven high-ranking officials headed by Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s managing director of events and operations, flew to Montreal for a five-hour operational visit to the racetrack. Included in the group was Busch Series director Joe Balash, NASCAR vice-president of competition Robin Pemberton, and events, logistics, and timing and scoring officials. O’Donnell hails Legault and his team and calls the circuit “a world-class facility, a challenging course in a unique setting, with access to a great city.” He says the track is essentially NASCAR race-ready, save a few things like the lengthening of pit road for 43 cars. That’s an easy fix, given that the long pit exit beyond the F1 garages could be modified. As for the tight Senna Corner and Casino hairpin? If you love NASCAR for the wrecks, buy your seats here. “We were definitely impressed with the facility,” O’Donnell said from NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. “Montreal obviously is a great market. There’s a possibility for (a race here) as early as 2007.”(more at the Montreal Gazette)(5-16-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR will hold its first top tier race in Canada in 2007 the Toronto Sun has learned. NASCAR’s managing director of events and operations told the Sun yesterday that he expects to make it official within 60 days that the NASCAR Busch Series will race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next season. Steve O’Donnell said in an exclusive interview that only some minor contract language needs to be straightened out before the race date is confirmed. “We feel good about Montreal,” O’Donnell said. “There are still some contractual things that need to come together, but it is in our interests to put an event there in 2007.”(AutoNet.ca)(6-18-2006)
UPDATE 2: Current speculation has Montreal getting the NBS race on the third Saturday in July that currently is held at Martinsville Speedway.(Toronto Sun)(6-19-2006)
UPDATE 3: A Busch Series race in Montreal might have moved a step closer to becoming a reality on Friday. While Formula 1 cars practiced at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the city’s mayor announced that it had renewed a five-year lease for the circuit’s rental to Normand Legault, president and CEO of Grand Prix F1 du Canada. Legault has been working with NASCAR to bring the Busch Series to Montreal for several years now. The new lease is believed to give Legault exclusive rights to promoting races at the track and the length of the deal would also bring stability for the Busch Series if the venture proves successful.(SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2006)
Jeff Fuller Taken to Hospital: UPDATE 5: #34-Jeff Fuller was awake and moving when cut out of the car following a lap 29 accident at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. He radioed the crew after the accident to say he was okay, but in pain. Following a trip to the infield care center he was flown to the hospital for further diagnosis.(6-16-2006)
UPDATE: Phil Parsons updated Fuller’s situation during the second half of the race to state that the most serious problem seemed to be smoke inhalation.(6-16-2006)
UPDATE 2: Busch Series driver Jeff Fuller was released from a Lexington, Ky., hospital Sunday afternoon following a savage crash in Saturday night’s Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway, NASCAR announced Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.(SceneDaily.com)(6-18-2006)
UPDATE 3: Jeff was released this morning with a broken wrist and a broken finger.(Official Jeff Fuller Website)(6-18-2006)
UPDATE 4: Jeff visited Dr. Petty today in Charlotte to evaluate the condition of his wrist. After a thorough examination it was determined that Jeff should have pins put in his wrist to realign the broken bones. Tuesday morning Jeff will have the surgery done and be allowed to return home the same day.(Official Jeff Fuller Website)(6-19-2006)
UPDATE 5: Fuller wouldn’t divulge specifics regarding the G-force load his body experienced during the accident. But prodded further, he did admit his hit was higher than Jeff Gordon’s 64-G impact two weeks back at Pocono Raceway. “Oh yeah. A lot higher than that,” he said.(NASCAR.com)(6-22-2006)
Field Still Short for Milwaukee Race: Two drivers have been added to the entry list for the AT&T 250 NASCAR Busch Series at The Milwaukee Mile, but the field is still two cars short of full for the race Saturday night. Chris Horn and Jerick Johnson were late entries and are assured a spot in the 41-car field. The maximum number of cars for a Busch Series race is 43, and the last time fewer than 43 started was May 10, 2003 at Gateway International Raceway, where 41 cars raced.(SceneDaily.com)(6-23-2006)
Jerick Johnson to Make Busch Debut at Milwaukee: Jerick Johnson makes his NASCAR Busch series debut this weekend during the AT&T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile. Driving the American Legion Racing #76 “Freedom” Chevy Monte Carlo, Johnson is supported by the experienced crew at MacDonald Motorsports.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(6-23-2006)
TNT Fireworks to Sponsor #56 at Daytona: TNT Fireworks will be the primary sponsor of Mac Hill Motorsports’ #56 driven by Kevin Lepage for the upcoming Busch race at Daytona.(MacHillMotorsports.com)(6-23-2006)
Reutimann and Miller to Drive for Waltrip/Toyota in 2007?: UPDATE 3: One Busch Team?: [Waltrip] said he has sponsorship for one of his two Busch Series teams. He said he would like David Reutimann, the driver for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in the trucks, drive one of those Busch cars. He also said that Reutimann’s teammate, Joey Miller, is a possibility for the other Busch car.(NASCAR Scene)(4-29-2006)
UPDATE: From the Nextel Wake-Up Call Transcript: Waltrip: My plan is to have two NEXTEL Cup Series teams and two Busch teams. I haven’t hired a second driver yet for the Cup car. I would like to think that (David) Reutimann could drive one of my Busch cars. We do have sponsorship in place for the two Cup cars and one of the Busch cars. And we are working towards announcing who the second sponsor is and who that driver will be. We think we have put the right people in the right places so far. We just have to continue to build. If you can appreciate that it costs a lot of money to hire people, the Burger King program allowed us to ramp up a little bit sooner than we would probably have been able to afford to before because we have some sponsorship dollars coming in that will help pay those people as we race through 2006. It costs a whole lot of money to build a race team and not go race, because there is not a whole lot coming in. So we’re real thankful for the Burger King piece of it because it will help offset the tremendous costs that we’re faced with this year. Q.So you have hired David Reutimann to drive your Busch car? Waltrip: Yes.(MichaelWaltrip.com)(5-4-2006)
UPDATE 2: From Waltrip’s Nextel Cup sponsorship announcement Sunday morning: “We have Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership set to run with David Reutimann in 2007 and run for the Busch Championship”.(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(6-18-2006)
UPDATE 3: Ty Norris, vice president and general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, said the team is under contract with Toyota to field four teams. The original plan had been to field two Cup and two Busch teams, but Waltrip decided three Cup teams and one Busch entry makes more strategic sense.(NASCAR Scene)(6-22-2006)
Clay Andrews Racing Planning Full Season in 2007: Hype Manufacturing is listed as the team’s sponsor. It’s [Clay] Andrews’ company. He hopes to land a sponsor by next season when the team plans on running the full Busch schedule.(NASCAR Scene)(6-22-2006)
Hylton in the #28 at Milwaukee: James Hylton will be behind the wheel of the #28 Ford at Milwaukee this weekend. The Ford is owned by Jay Robinson Racings. This will be Hylton’s first race in the Busch Series since June 27, 1982. James finished 23rd in the Coca Cola 200 at Rockingham Motor Speedway in his only Busch Series career start.(James Hylton PR)(6-22-2006)
Crosby Still Working on a Ride with Frank Cicci Racing: UPDATE: To Drive at Milwaukee Kim Crosby is a “regular” in the NASCAR Busch Series garage area. She isn’t driving, as yet, but she is dedicated to seeing that happen with team owner Frank Cicci with Jim Kelly. Kim, while maintaining her “regular” job as principal of Slidell Junior High School in Slidell, La, drove limited schedules in both the ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series. In 2004, she decided to follow the advice she had given her students…to follow their dreams. She resigned as principal and has been diligently working to fulfill her dream of racing full time in the NASCAR Busch Series. After several disappointments with various teams, Kim has teamed up with Frank Cicci in hopes of, finally, making her dream, not only a reality, but, a successful one. “I’ve been working with Frank since late November.” Crosby explained, “and we’ve been trying to put together a sponsorship package that will get me on the track. There isn’t a female in the series right now that is running any more than 4 or 5 races. It’s what NASCAR needs. Speaking to everyone, fans, officials, other drivers, owners and you name it, that come up to me in the garage area, all say that I would be good for the sport. Everyone is very positive, it’s just getting the right package together and marketing it. It needs to be a win/win situation for the company that we sign with as well as for our race team.”(Catchfence.com)(5-16-2006)
UPDATE: Kim will be making her first qualifying attempt of 2006 at Milwaukee this weekend in the #34 Glowbuoy Chevy.(Kim Crosby Web Site)(6-21-2006)
Setzer to Practice for Busch at Milwaukee: With Busch obligated to participate in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series festivities in Sonoma, Calif., veteran Dennis Setzer will drive Busch Series practice in the #5 Lowe’s/Sta-Green Chevy at The Milwaukee Mile on Saturday.(Hendrick PR)(6-21-2006)
Kenny in the booth Friday night: Wallace will help call the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Milwaukee this Friday evening on SPEED.(ppc PR)(6-21-2006)
Busch win opening doors for Gilliland: The attention keeps coming for David Gilliland after his upset victory in the Busch race at Kentucky. Gilliland said Tuesday during a national teleconference that several Nextel Cup car owners have called him. And while no sponsors have signed with the Clay Andrews Racing team, Gilliland said Chevy will step up its involvement with the team. Gilliland’s phone has been busy this week, too, including calls from Cup owners. Clay Andrews Racing has no plans to add more races to Gilliland’s part-time schedule, but Gilliland said the team could if sponsorship is found.(SceneDaily.com)(6-20-2006)
Trouble for #66 Cup/#00 Busch Team Owner: The owner of an Oxnard [CA]-based company that’s donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local colleges is under arrest for allegedly trying to bilk the government out of millions in taxes. Haas Automation owner and founder Gene Haas was arrested Monday on suspicion of conspiracy, filing false tax returns and witness intimidation. Federal prosecutors say Haas orchestrated a plan to list $50 million in bogus expenses that it could write off as business costs. The aim was to save the company $20 million in taxes. Haas Automation general manager Robert Murray says the charges are bogus. The company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of omputerized cutting machines.(CBS2.com/ AP)
AND Gene F. Haas, 54, of Camarillo, Calif., the owner of Haas Automation and other companies, was accused in a 52-page indictment of running a bogus invoicing scheme to create fake tax deductions. Mr. Haas was held without bail after his arraignment in Federal District Court in Los Angeles. In court papers asking that Mr. Haas be held until his trial, the Justice Department said that he could flee the country in his Cessna jet and head for China, where he has business interests. The Justice Department said China did not have a treaty allowing extradition of accused tax cheats. It called him a flight risk, saying he has few ties to the community, is single, has no children and faces about 20 years in prison if convicted. Haas Automation, in a statement, said that Mr. Haas was not guilty and that the tax issues “revolve around” the company’s former chief financial officer, John Phillips. It said the indictment would have no effect on the business. Last month, Haas Automation won, by default, a lawsuit filed in Ventura County Superior Court accusing Mr. Phillips of cheating the company out of $27.5 million. The indictment also described two other invoicing schemes. One involved a NASCAR race team sponsored by Haas Automotive and the other a land title company. The indictment gave few details other than stating that all the money paid in those two schemes was funneled back to Mr. Haas, suggesting that he may have operated them without confederates.(New York Times)(6-20-2006)
Leffler to Make 100th Busch Start: Leffler will reach a significant milestone in his racing career this weekend as he makes his 100th NASCAR Busch Series start at The Milwaukee Mile.(Braun Racing PR)(6-20-2006)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for the Busch Series: Raybestos® Rookie David Gilliland won the Meijer 300 at Kentucky. Gilliland scored his first victory in seven career Busch Series starts and is the first Busch Series regular to win in 2006. His previous best finish was 29th earlier this season at Texas. Gilliland was the only first-year driver to finish inside the top-10. Gilliland’s victory is the second consecutive by a Raybestos® Rookie at Kentucky. Carl Edwards won the 2005 race over Martin Truex Jr. Burney Lamar continues to lead the Raybestos® Rookie standings, holding a 13-point edge over John Andretti (157-144) entering the AT&T 250 at Milwaukee. Lamar is 11th in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.(6-19-2006)
Busch and Cup to Run Different Tires at Daytona: When NASCAR returns to Daytona International Speedway in two weeks, it will be the first time this year that the Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series cars will not run with the same tire at a companion event. The Busch Series cars will use the tire they had at Talladega, while the Nextel Cup guys will run the tire they had earlier in the year at Daytona. Busch Series cars had tire problems at Daytona, partly because they use a different aerodynamic package than the Cup cars at the restrictor-plate tracks.(SceneDaily.com)(6-19-2006)
Gateway Race Will be the Busch Silver Celebration 250: Gateway International Raceway will wrap up its 10th Anniversary season when it hosts the ‘Busch Silver Celebration 250 presented by Shop ‘n Save’ on July 28-29 in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Busch Beer’s support of NASCAR.(Gateway Raceway PR)(6-19-2006)
100 Busch Starts for Tim Sauter: Tim Sauter will make his 100th NASCAR Busch Series start at The Milwaukee Mile this Saturday night, June 24th, driving the Lester Buildings #36 Chevy for McGill Motorsports.(McGill PR)(6-19-2006)
Unleaded Fuel for Busch, Trucks This Year?: UPDATE 2: Before the end of the 2006 racing season, NASCAR officials hope to have both Busch and truck series teams using unleaded fuel. And if all goes well, it’s likely that unleaded gas will be used in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2007.(NASCAR Scene)(4-20-2006)
UPDATE: Being told that the Busch Series will switch to unleaded fuel starting at the IRP race in August.(6-13-2006)
UPDATE 2: The Busch Series will begin using unleaded fuel July 29 at Gateway International Raceway and continue for the next three races, and the Craftsman Truck Series will use unleaded at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Aug. 4 and Nashville Superspeedway on Aug. 12, NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. After stopping for a short evaluation period, both series will return to the unleaded fuel toward the end of the year. The move is a prelude to a possible switch to unleaded in the Nextel Cup Series for 2007. After a four-week evaluation period, Hunter said, the unleaded program will resume Sept. 23 at Dover for the Busch Series and at Las Vegas for the trucks and continue through the season-finale.(SceneDaily.com)(6-18-2006)
Keith Coleman Racing to Try Nextel Cup; Eduardo Troconis to Drive Some Busch Races: Keith Coleman Racing, which has struggled on the Busch Series side, has opted to try to go Nextel Cup racing. Team owner Keith Coleman said June 17 that his target debut for the #94 Nextel Cup car is the New Hampshire race in July. Carl Long is the expected driver, Coleman said, and the team could run as many as 15 races to end the year. The team is still working on sponsorship. Keith Montgomery will be the team’s crew chief. The idea would be to run a full Nextel Cup schedule in 2007. The team will remain based in Eddyville, Ky. The team also plans to put Mexico native Eduardo Troconis in a car starting in the #23 car later this year, pending on sponsorship. Troconis has driven stock cars in Mexico and also has International Formula 3 experience. He has worked for the team the last couple of months to learn more about the cars.(SceneDaily.com)(6-18-2006)
Mark Green to Practice and Qualify #99: Mark Green will practice and qualify the #99 for Michael Waltrip Racing this weekend at Kentucky. David Reutimann is scheduled to fly into Kentucky for the race, after driving in the CTS race at Michigan Saturday afternoon.(6-16-2006)
Hank Parker Jr. Done Racing Full Time?: Hank Parker, Jr. watched Carl Edwards score the win at the Nashville Superspeedway in a car he helped practice on Saturday. Parker, a guy who has two Busch Series trophies of his own, says helping Edwards get to victory lane is as close as he wants to get again. “I think I’ll probably never go back to racing full-time,” he says. On top of enjoying time with his wife and kids Parker explains, that he’s currently working on a hunting show with his father and brother, Billy, who also tried his shot at Busch Series racing for Rusty Wallace, Inc. just a few years ago. “I think it’s a combination of things. It takes a lot to make it. I’m kind of old to be starting over. I just couldn’t put it together,” the 32-year-old says.(BGNRacing.com)(6-11-2006)
UPDATE: Hank Parker Jr., who has not run full time in NASCAR since 2004, said Friday that this weekend’s stint as a practice/substitute driver could be the final time he steps into a Busch Series car. Parker will practice the Roush Racing car for Carl Edwards today in preparation for the Saturday running of the Meijer 300. With the Craftsman Truck Series running as companion events to the Busch Series the next couple of “double-duty” weekends, Roush Racing will likely have one of its truck drivers stay and practice the Busch car.(SceneDaily.com)(6-16-2006)
Hamlin Hoping to Drive #42 this Year: Kevin Hamlin said he hopes Chip Ganassi Racing can put him in its #42 Busch car later this season. Hamlin is under contract to Ganassi as a development driver but hasn’t raced this season. “The plan was to put together another ride for me, and Casey [Mears has] been running it,” Hamlin said. “They’re working on getting some funding put together for the 42 car this year, and then, hopefully, run it full time next year. We’ll just see what happens.”(NASCAR Scene)(06-15-2006)
Kraft to Sponsor Jourdain in 2 Busch Races: ppc Racing officials announced today KRAFT Foods will sponsor the #15 Ford driven by Michel Jourdain Jr. in two NASCAR Busch Series races. Jourdain will sport the DoubleStuf Oreo colors at Kentucky and the KRAFT Singles brand at Watkins Glen.(ppc PR)(6-15-2006)
Kentucky Race Sold Out: Kentucky Speedway announces that 66,089 grandstand tickets for its June 17 Busch Series “Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo” event sold out this afternoon. A limited number of $40 standing-room-only tickets are on sale now. The average crowd for the venue’s previous five series races is 70,671 and the record crowd was set at 72,312 in 2004.(6-15-2006)
IRP sells naming rights Indianapolis Raceway Park officials say the facility is being renamed O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis under a sponsorship agreement with O’Reilly Auto Parts. The facility hosts the Kroger 200 NASCAR Busch Series race and the Power Stroke Deisel 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. hville.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2006)
Stremme in for Sorenson at Mikwaukee: Next weekend, while Scott Pruett is out west filling in for David Stremme in the #40 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Dodge at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Stremme will be filling in for Reed Sorenson in the #41 Busch Series Dodge at the Milwaukee Mile. Sorenson, who has been racing full time in both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series’, will resume his driving duties of the #41 Discount Tire Dodge at Daytona. (CGRwFS PR)(6-14-2006)
Fuller in the #34 Again at Kentucky: Jeff Fuller will be back behind the wheel of the Frank Cicci Racing #34 this weekend at Kentucky. He made his 2006 Busch debut in the car last weekend at Nashville.(6-14-2006)
Wallace & Gale to Split Remainder of Season in #1 Car: Team ML driver Mike Wallace confirmed with Motorsports Lounge Monday evening that he will be behind the wheel of the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge owned by James Finch in the NASCAR Busch Series for the majority of races through the end of the 2006 season. “I will run about 14 or 15 of the races yet this year with James Finch and the #1 team,” said Mike Wallace. “The team has made a commitment to have me in the driver’s seat for most of the remaining races this season.” Cale Gale appears to be the wheelman for the remainder of the 2006 season’s races.(Motorsports Lounge)(6-14-2006)
Gibbs Will Allow Stewart to Continue Running Busch Races: As Tony Stewart recovers from a broken shoulder blade, don’t look for him to slow down much. Car owner Joe Gibbs says he won’t keep Stewart from running in races other than Nextel Cup events. Gibbs is not fond of his Cup drivers competing in other series. Gibbs says he has talked to Stewart about the driver’s racing schedule. “I think for younger guys that have a chance maybe to up their careers and want laps and all that, that’s one set of circumstances,” Gibbs said Monday. Gibbs’ other two Cup drivers, rookies Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, both drive full time in the Busch Series. Stewart has competed in five Busch races for Kevin Harvick’s team. He’s scheduled to drive five more Busch races for Harvick, beginning at Daytona next month. Gibbs says that once his drivers begin competing for a Cup title, he wants them spending less time in other series. So what happens if Hamlin, ninth in points after winning at Pocono last weekend, makes the championship chase this season? Would Gibbs pull him out of the Busch Series? “I think at some point, though, if he winds up in that top 10 this year, and it looks like that’s the type of racer he’s going to be, you have to have serious talks about it,” Gibbs said.(Greensboro News-Record)(6-13-2006)
Discount Tire moving to Roush in 2007? hearing Discount Tire is leaving the #41 Ganassi Racing Busch Series team that Reed Sorenson currently drives for and will go to one of the Roush Racing Busch teams.(6-13-2006)
Speed Cancels NBS 24/7: “NBS 24/7,” the weekly show on Speed that has chronicled the Busch Series rookies this year, will have its final episode June 19. The show has been a staple of the Speed channel’s lineup since the start of the 2004 season, with the first two years chronicling various drivers and teams. The show had run its course and ratings were not strong enough to support the continuation of the show, Speed spokesman Erik Arneson said June 11. (SceneDaily.com)(6-13-2006)
Balash Talks About Busch Series Issues: NASCAR Busch Series Director sat down with the Cincinnati Enquirer on Friday to talk about the Busch Series. A few points of interest:
Q: What are your thoughts about the large number of Nextel Cup drivers competing in the Busch Series this season?
A: There has always been an influence from the Cup garage in the Busch garage. Over the years it’s ebbed and flowed. This year we seem to have more Cup drivers in the garage. With that being said, we probably have more drivers than ever competing full-time in both garages. It makes the competition very close. We truly believe the NASCAR Busch Series is a stand-alone series. We’re trying to carve out our own identity with some long-term plans that make people focus on the Busch Series. But with that being said, it’s open for everybody to drive in.
Q: How will NASCAR’s ‘Car of Tomorrow’ project affect the Busch Series?
A: There have been projects, or items, that have come out of that project that we’re already utilizing: SAFER barriers, head and neck restraint devices, more robust seats, netting and webbing inside the cars. As we evolve the Busch Series we want to make our car kind of a unique look versus having two identical cars (in Cup and Busch). That’s where we’re at right now. Our cars look very similar to a Nextel Cup car.
See more at the Cincinnati Enquirer web site.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(6-13-2006)
Reutimann Back in the #99 at Kentucky: After heavy campaigning to race the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine at Kentucky Speedway, David Reutimann has been given the green light by Michael Waltrip to compete in the Meijer 300 Busch Series event Saturday evening.(DavidReutimann.net)(6-13-2006)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Kentucky: Danny O’Quinn Jr. was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville. O’Quinn Jr. finished 10th, claiming his first top-10 finish in 15 career Busch Series starts and took top rookie honor for the second time in 2006. His previous best finish this season was 11th at Bristol. Todd Kluever won the Bud Pole at Nashville, his first pole in 15-career Busch Series starts. Kluever is the third Raybestos® Rookie to win a pole at Nashville. He led the race once for 17 laps, the first time he has led this season. Burney Lamar continues to lead the Raybestos® Rookie standings, holding a 15-point edge over John Andretti and Todd Kluever (149-134) entering the Meijer 300 at Kentucky. Lamar is 12th in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie. He is 70 points behind 10th-place Kenny Wallace and holds a 15-point edge over 13th-place Jason Leffler.(Raybestos PR)(6-12-2006)
Value City Sponsoring Fike at Kentucky: Kevin Harvick Inc. welcomes Value City Department Stores to the racing family this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. Value City Department Stores will be the primary sponsor of the #33 Chevrolet, driven by Aaron Fike. Value City Department Stores is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and has 113 stores located across the country. This weekend’s event at Kentucky Speedway marks the first time in the history of Value City Department Stores that the company will be a primary sponsor in NASCAR’s elite divisions.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-12-2006)
FitzBradshaw Racing for Sale?: UPDATE 5: A source has confirmed that FitzBradshaw Racing is for sale. Co-owned by Armando Fitz and former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw, the team has struggled on the track this year with rookies Joel Kauffman and Tracy Hines. Three drivers have shared the team’s #12 entry, with a best finish of 20th by David Reutimann at Daytona. The team’s other entry, which carries the #14, also has a best finish of 11th, by Carlos Contreras at Mexico. The team entered only one car at Darlington because of sponsorship issues.(SceneDaily.com/Article Removed from site)(5-17-2006)
UPDATE: Statement from Armando Fitz: “As a result of restructuring our organization from a 3-car team to a 2-car team, we are simply exploring our options of relocation. Therefore, our current building has been placed on the market as we look for a smaller facility. We are NOT selling our race team. FitzBradshaw Racing is committed to our Sponsors and personnel not only for the remainder of the season but for the future as well.”(FBR PR)(5-17-2006)
UPDATE 2: Bought by Waltrip?: Rumored that Michael Waltrip has purchased all assets of FitzBradshaw Racing and moving them to Jimmy Spencer’s old shop that he recently bought. Meanwhile, FitzBradshaw Racing has made an agreement with ppc Racing to lease the #12, sponsor Supercuts, and driver Joel Kauffman to them. FitzBradshaw racing will finish out the year with Tracy Hines and the #14 car and Family Dollar as sponsor.(6-1-2006)
UPDATE 3: DENIED ppc Racing has denied both aspects – that Waltrip bought FBR and that ppc will field an entry for Kauffman.(6-1-2006)
UPDATE 4: Have confirmed that Waltrip has moved into Spencer’s old shop [was Bang Racing’s shop] and also heard that Terry Bradshaw, part owner of Fitz-Bradshaw will part ways with the team at the end of the year.(6-3-2006)
UPDATE 5: Michael Waltrip Racing officials state the team is not severing its partnership with FitzBradshaw Racing, according to a news release distributed Saturday. Published reports questioned the continuation of that relationship, but team owner Waltrip said that is not true. “I think a lot of people got confused when we took the opportunity to move our Nextel Cup operation down the road to Jimmy Spencer’s old shop,” Waltrip said in the release. Waltrip added that his Busch Series program remains at the FitzBradshaw shop in Mooresville. He plans to remain with the group through the completion of this season, which was the original contract.(NASCAR Scene)(6-10-2006)
Kevin Grubb to Return to the Busch Series?: UPDATE 5 – Quotes from Grubb: Kevin Grubb, who was suspended from NASCAR in March 2004 for drug use, was initially listed on this week’s entry list from Nashville Superspeedway, as the driver of the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevy. However, the official entry list from NASCAR had the driver listed as TBA. A NASCAR official states that Grubb has applied for reinstatement to NASCAR, but has not yet been approved.(6-5-2006)
UPDATE: Busch Series driver Kevin Grubb, who was suspended by NASCAR in March 2004 for violating the sport’s substance abuse policy, has applied for reinstatement. According to a NASCAR official, Grubb has applied for reinstatement but has not been reinstated at this point. At the time of his suspension, officials said that Grubb needed to meet terms outlined by NASCAR, including counseling and periodic random testing. The driver, a native of Mechanicsville, Va., had finished 19th in the standings in 2003. Grubb was expected to run a limited schedule with Team Rensi in 2004 but had not competed in a race prior to his suspension.(NASCAR Scene)(6-6-2006)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR.com has now updated their entry list to include Kevin Grubb.(6-7-2006)
UPDATE 3: A NASCAR official has confirmed that Grubb has been reinstated.(6-7-2006)
UPDATE 4: Kevin Grubb, suspended for more than two years for violating NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy, has been reinstated as of today and will attempt to qualify for this weekend’s Busch Series race at Nashville. “Kevin Grubb has been reinstated, and his eligibility has been restored,” NASCAR spokesperson Tracey Judd said Wednesday. Grubb is entered in the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet for this weekend’s Federated Auto Parts 300. Team owner Jack McNelly said Grubb would drive the car at non-companion events the team enters. Kevin Lepage will continue to drive the car at Busch races run in conjunction with Nextel Cup events.(NASCAR Scene)(6-7-2006)
UPDATE 5: “It’s definitely another start and definitely a second chance in NASCAR,” Grubb said Friday after arriving for his start in the Federated Auto Parts 300, his first Busch Series race since the end of the 2003 season. “They gave me an opportunity to do something to get my license back,” he said. “I thank them for that and also the team out here and my crew chief, Tony Lambert, that’s giving me a second chance to drive a car. It’s a second chance and a new beginning.”(ESPN/AP)(6-9-2006)
National City to Sponsor #36 at Kentucky: The #36 car will be emblazoned with National City green and white at the upcoming Busch Race at Kentucky on June 17. National City will be the primary sponsor of the Chevy at the Meijer 300.(McGill Motorsports PR)(6-9-2006)
FitzContreras Racing and Pardo to Make Busch East Debut: 26 year-old Ruben Pardo, who competes regularly for FitzContreras Racing in the Desafio Corona Series in Mexico, will make his inaugural U.S. start this Saturday night at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC. The #12 FitzBradshaw Dodge will carry the Family Dollar paint scheme this weekend as Pardo makes his Busch East debut.(FBR PR)(6-9-2006)
Green Says Busch Guys Deserve More Attention: David Green said he enjoys coming [to Nashville] twice a year to run NASCAR Busch Series races. But at the same time, the visits can be a bit annoying. “It’s frustrating to drive around Nashville and see all the advertising that’s built around the Cup guys,” said Green. “You’d think that since this is a standalone Busch race that the Busch guys would get some of the attention. But it doesn’t seem to work that way. “Understand, I’m not complaining for myself. I don’t care about the publicity personally, but I’m worried about our series. You wonder how long sponsors will keep supporting Busch teams when all the attention keeps going to the Cup guys who come in.”(Nashville Tennessean)(6-9-2006)
Durgin is New Crew Chief for #43 Team: AND Cook in Car at Nasvhille & Kentucky: Former NASCAR Busch North Series driver and crew chief Mark Durgin has taken over the #43 CAPG effort in the garage with the departure of Joe Shear, Jr., to Michael Waltrip’s Nextel Cup team. Shear will continue to serve as technical consultant to the #43 team.(CAPG PR)(6-8-2006)
AND: Chris Cook will drive the #43 this weekend at Nasvhille and also at Kentucky. A driver has not been determined beyond that point.
Bluegreen Corporation Joins FitzBradshaw: Bluegreen Corporation , a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play(R), announced that it has agreed to sponsor FitzBradshaw Racing for a series of NASCAR Busch Series races and will join forces with Supercuts throughout the NASCAR Busch Series race season. As part of its sponsorship of FitzBradshaw Racing, the Bluegreen and TakeMeOnVacation logos will be displayed on the drivers uniforms as well as the #12 and #14 Dodges driven by Rookie-of-the-Year candidates Joel Kauffman and Tracy Hines. Bluegreen’s sponsorship will work in conjunction with Supercuts’ Beach Bash Sweepstakes promotion that will send race fans to great destinations during the 2006 race season.(The Auto Channel)(6-7-2006)
Richmond Raises More Than $36,000 for Sam Ard: As part of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Busch Series, Richmond International Raceway joined with NASCAR President Mike Helton, former champions, series greats, current drivers, teams and fans for an auction to benefit former NASCAR Busch Series champion Sam Ard during the May 2006 NASCAR weekend. The two-day auction raised more than $36,000 to help assist Sam and Jo Ard with medical expenses. The money will go directly to the Sam Ard Care Fund. Fans who wish to donate directly to the fund can do so by sending a check to: Sam Ard Care Fund, Acct# 68212-03, Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 780004, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578.(RIR PR)(6-6-06)
R+L Carriers To Be An Associate Sponsor On Kluever’s Car At Kentucky: R+L Carriers will be an associate sponsor on Todd Kluever’s #06 3M Ford Fusion in the Meijer 300 Busch Series race at Kentucky on June 17. R+L Carriers joined Roush Racing in January as an associate sponsor on Matt Kenseth’s #17 DEWALT team, but next weekend will also display their logo on Kluever’s car.(Roush Racing PR)(6-6-06)
Rogers Fined for Actions at Dover: NASCAR announced today that Wally Rogers, crew chief of the #33 Chevy driven by Ron Hornaday Jr., has been penalized due to rules violations at Dover. Rogers was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20A – 12.3R: right rear shock absorber exceeded the specified nitrogen gas pressure) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during post-race inspection on June 3.(NASCAR PR)(6-6-2006)
Hermie in the booth at Nashville and Kentucky: Hermie Sadler will return to the broadcast booth for the next two weekends as he joins Phil Parsons and Rick Allen as an analyst for the Busch Series races this Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee and June 17th at Kentucky. PRN’s Mark Garrow; and Glenn Jarrett will handle pit road duties. Both races will be live on FX at 7:30pm/et.(6-6-2006)
Wimmer to Run Busch Race in Milwaukee: Wisconsin native Scott Wimmer will get to race in his home state again as he will compete in the AT&T 250 Busch Series event June 24 at the Milwaukee Mile. Wimmer will drive the ##66 Brewco Motorsports car in that event. “Originally I wasn’t planning on running it,” Wimmer said Saturday afternoon. “With some of the changes they did [in the schedule], I’m going to end up going back. That’s really exciting for me.(NASCAR Scene)(6-4-2006)
Team Rensi Scaling Back or Shutting Down?: UPDATE – Denied: Rumor has long-time Busch Series operation Rensi Motorsports [#25 and #35 teams] also considering shutting down or possibly scaling back.(Racing One)(6-4-2006)
UPDATE: Team Rensi denies that the team is planning either option.(6-4-2006)
Montgomery Joins Keith Coleman Racing; New Driver to Be Announced Next Week: UPDATE 2: Carl Long Keith Coleman Racing has announced the hiring of NASCAR veteran Keith Montgomery as Crew Chief on the #23 KCR Chevy. Montgomery’s resume includes names like Sadler Motorsports and Petty Enterprises. Ronnie Griffin will remain with the team as Car Chief. The team will announce the new driver next week.(Keith Coleman Racing PR)(6-2-2006)
UPDATE: Hearing that Carl Long will be the announced driver and will be behind the wheel at Nashville.(6-4-2006)
UPDATE 2: Carl Long will pilot the #23 Keith Coleman Racing Chevy beginning in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, the team announced today.(KCR PR)(6-5-2006)
Reutimann to Pull Double Duty at CTS and Busch Races: After recording a top-five finish at Dover [in the CTS Race], David Reutimann competes in both the Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas and the Busch Series race at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. “After I race the #17 Team Tundra Racing Toyota at Texas, the team is going to drop me off in Nashville on their way home so that I can run the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Michael Waltrip Racing”.(Reutimann PR)(6-5-2006)
Coleman to Make Busch Debut at Nashville: UPDATE: Adding to his already impressive resume, 18-year-old Brewco Motorsports rookie sensation Brad Coleman will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in the June 10 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Coleman will pilot a Brewco Ford just one week after walking across the stage at his high school graduation in Martinsville, VA.(Brewco PR)(5-23-2006)
UPDATE: Brad Coleman will make his Busch Series debut driving the #37 Federated Auto Parts Ford Fusion in Saturday’s race.(Brewco PR)(6-5-2006)
Jamie Mosley Looking for Kentucky Ride: NASCAR Busch Series driver Jamie Mosley and University of Kentucky basketball Coach Tubby Smith are looking for a team to partner with for the June 17th Meijer 300 at the Kentucky Speedway. The group, for the 3rd consecutive year, will have sponsorship from University of Kentucky Healthcare and Kentucky Utilities. Jamie is also available for Nashville this weekend where he made his Nascar Busch Series debut in 2003.(Mosley PR)(6-5-2006)
Randy MacDonald Looking for Different Driver for Nashville: Randy MacDonald says he’s looking for a replacement driver for Stanton Barrett this weekend at Nashville. “We won’t be able to get Stanton back from Pocono and we want to continue our momentum from Dover.” Stanton and the Vector Security team started the #72 car at the tail end of the field and raced to a 23rd place finish.(MacDonald PR via BGNRacing.com)(06-04-2006)
Musical Group Cinderella in the Pits with Menard at Nashville: Members of the hard rock group Cinderella will be on hand in the Menards Racing pit area during this weekend’s 225-lap event. While the band gained success in the mid-’80s, turning out a series of million-selling albums and hit singles, they’ll be on hand to support Menard’s quest for the famed guitar trophy at Nashville Superspeedway.(Menards Racing PR)(6-7-2006)
LoveFifi.com to Sponsor Keith Coleman Racing at Nashville: Keith Coleman Racing has announced Lovefifi.com as the primary sponsor of the #23 Lovefifi.com Chevy in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday night.(KCR PR)(6-7-2006)
Ashton Gray Racing Looks for Busch Debut in Nashville: Ashton Gray Racing owned by Dwayne Gaulding and Barry Tudor head into Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville looking to put their #08 GunBroker.com Dodge on the map and produce strong results in their first start of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season. Driving the #08 GunBroker.com Dodge this weekend is Jason White. White, a native of Virginia is no stranger to Nashville Superspeedway.(Ashton Gray PR)(6-7-2006)
Teams have Substitute Drivers Lined Up for Nasvhille: With eight full time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers entered in Saturday’s race, substitute drivers will be on call to accommodate the back-and-forth schedules between Nashville and Pocono. In addition to Hank Parker Jr. sitting in when necessary for Carl Edwards, the following drivers are prepared to do the same for those involved in double duty – Brandon Miller for defending race winner Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevy); Justin Labonte for Kyle Busch; Kertus Davis for Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockwell Automation Chevy); two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie for series leader Kevin Harvick; Kevin Hamlin for Reed Sorenson and Casey Atwood for J.J. Yeley (#18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevy).(NASCAR PR)(06-06-2006)
Cale Gale to Make Busch Debut in #1 Car: Cale Gale, Mobile, Alabama native and Mobile International Speedway track champion will make his first Busch Series start this weekend at Nashville. Gale will take over for Mike Wallace in the #1 Phoenix Racing Miccosukee Resort Gaming Dodge. At this time, this is a 1 race deal with possibly more races to follow.(6-5-2006)
Skinner to Drive #12 Again in Nashville; Will do Double Duty this Weekend: Mike Skinner will once again pilot the #12 FitzBradshaw Dodge next weekend as the team heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Federated Auto Parts 300.(FBR PR)(6-5-2006)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Nashville: Todd Kluever was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the June 3 Stonebridgeracing.com 200 at Dover. Kluever finished 18th and took Raybestos® Rookie of the Race honors for the fourth time this season. Burney Lamar continues to lead the Raybestos Rookie standings, holding a 13-point edge over John Andretti (139-126) entering the June 10 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville. Lamar is 13th in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie. He is 78 points behind 10th-place Jason Leffler and holds a nine-point edge over 14th-place Matt Kenseth. Andretti is 15th in the standings, 62 points behind Lamar. Lamar was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2006 Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, grabbing a seventh-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(6-5-2006)
Kertus Davis to Practice #20 Rockwell Chevy at Nashville: Assisting the #20 team this week will be Kertus Davis who will be helping to set up the car during the practice sessions.(Rockwell Automation PR)(6-5-2006)
Why Doesn’t Earnhardt, Jr. Run More Busch Races?: There’s a reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t run more races outside the Nextel Cup Series. His primary sponsor won’t let him. Discussing the injury risk when drivers take their Cup careers outside the series — as reigning champion Tony Stewart did in the Busch Series last week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway — Earnhardt said Budweiser has the first say. “I got a deal where I can only run X amount [outside Cup] a month,” Earnhardt said as he prepared for Sunday’s Cup race at Dover International Speedway. “They want the consistency for the fans seeing me in a red car. Earnhardt doesn’t like the limitations. He doesn’t think any driver, including Stewart, should be told what to do with free time. Points leader Jimmie Johnson agreed. At the same time, Johnson needs written permission from Hendrick Motorsports and Lowe’s before driving outside of Cup. But injuries such as the one that will force Stewart to turn his car over to relief driver Ricky Rudd early in Sunday’s race makes some think twice about racing outside of Cup. “You just have to think about it,” Kasey Kahne said. “You don’t want to put yourself in a bad position.” (NASCAR.com)(6-3-2006)
Roush Crew Member Michael Fermaglich Killed in Auto Accident: Michael Fermaglich, 32, of Mooresville, N.C., was killed Friday night in an automobile accident in Concord, N.C. Fermaglich was an employee of Roush Racing, where he worked for the past two years as a fabricator at Roush Racing’s Mooresville, N.C. based operation. In addition to his weekday role of fabricator, Fermaglich served as the pit boss for Roush Racing’s #17 NASCAR Busch Series team on race day.(Roush Racing PR)(6-3-2006)
Balash Skips Dover for Daughter’s Graduation: NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash skipped this weekend’s Stonebridgeracing.com 200 at Dover to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. Craftsman Truck Series director Wayne Auton will serve as Balash’s replacement this weekend. Balash will return next weekend at the stand-alone race in Nashville.(NASCAR Scene)(6-3-2006)
Fike Joins Kevin Harvick, Inc.: Kevin Harvick Inc., announced today the signing of Galesburg, Ill., native Aaron Fike. Fike will compete in a select number of races for KHI in the #33 NASCAR Busch Series entry in 2006, with an increased schedule for 2007. Fike’s first start for KHI will be June 10, at the Nashville Superspeedway.(KHI PR)(6-2-2006)
Atwood Settles with FBR: Attorneys for Casey Atwood and FitzBradshaw Racing have informed a U.S. District Court judge in Tennessee that they have settled their dispute out of court, according to documents filed with the court. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The case was scheduled to go to trial July 25th in Nashville, Tenn. Atwood, who drove in the Busch Series for about half of the 2003 season and most of the 2004 season for FBR, had sued the team, asking for $390,000 in salary, prize money and travel expenses as well as an undetermined amount in souvenir royalties and incentive compensation.(NASCAR Scene)(6-2-2006)
Harvick to Run Parital Busch Schedule in 2007: Even if Kevin Harvick wins the Busch Series championship this season he won’t return to defend his title in 2007. Harvick said May 27 he won’t run a full schedule next season. “We’ll probably go back to 17 or 18 races,” Harvick said.(NASCAR Scene)(6-1-2006)
Braun Signs Sponsor Extension: Car Owner Todd Braun says he’s signed sponsor Great Clips and crew chief Todd Lohse to contract extensions through 2008, while an offer is on the table for driver Jason Leffler for the same time frame.(NASCAR Scene)(6-1-2006)
Keller Planning to Help Brewco: Jason Keller said he will help practice and qualify Brewco Motorsports #66 Ford at Nashville and Kentucky while Greg Biffle races his Nextel Cup car at Pocono and Michigan.(NASCAR Scene)(6-1-2006)