Max Papis Looking for Ride in Montreal Busch Race: While Papis eyes another Grand-Am championship, he is also paying close attention to the business of the NASCAR world and hopes to participate in races yet this season. “Doug (Barnette) [of Player Management International] has been working on a deal with a successful team for the Montreal race and we are hoping to announce something very soon,” Papis said. “We’ve also had preliminary conversations with other teams regarding other Busch and Cup races, so we are excited at the prospects.”(Player Management International PR)(5-31-2007)
Testing Set for Bristol: As work continues on the new concrete surface at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, plans are in place for NASCAR tests, as well as a series of Late Model events, to take place this summer. In preparation for NASCAR’s most popular week of racing, which takes place Aug. 21-25 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers will be the first to give the new oval a workout with a test session on Monday, July 23, followed by a Busch Series test on Tuesday, July 24. Both the Truck and Busch Series’ tests will be open to all teams. Goodyear will then host a tire test for four yet to be determined NEXTEL Cup teams July 25-26.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(5-31-2007)
NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Dover International Speedway Highlights: ESPN2’s NASCAR Countdown will have a live preview of the NASCAR Busch Series race at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday from Dover International Speedway. Suzy Kolber will make her debut as host of NASCAR Countdown at Dover, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty and special guests, NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.
The race telecast team will include lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis. Jarrett is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, who will rejoin NASCAR coverage next week at Nashville. Additionally, NASCAR Countdown will include segments from pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro as drivers and teams prepare to race at The Monster Mile on Saturday afternoon.
NASCAR Countdown will originate from Dover International Speedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile Pit Studio as it sets the stage for ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday, June 2. Highlights include: Supercross to NASCAR
ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Jamie Little will report on Supercross star Jeremy McGrath’s recent contract with JR Motorsports, owned by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. McGrath talks about his transition to the sport and his goal to become a NASCAR driver. Casey Mears Drives to First Victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Casey Mears, driver of the #25 National Guard Chevy, grabbed his first Nextel Cup career victory Sunday, May 27, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. ESPN pit reporter Mike Massaro will report on Mears’ win and the team’s performance. The Monster Mile
NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer will bring their insight to the ESPN Pit Studio, reporting on track conditions, expectations and what to watch for during the NASCAR Busch Series race.
ESPN’s Allen Bestwick will report from pit road – one of the trickiest areas to navigate at Dover and the site of many accidents. Dave Burns will focus on the unique build of the track, with its narrow straightaways and roller-coaster-like entry into Turn 1.(ESPN PR)(5-31-2007)
Logano Could Run Some Busch Races in ’08: [17 year old Joe Gibbs development driver Joey] Logano has wheeled every kind of racing vehicle imaginable in the last few years, including a short stint in a Mark Martin Racing Pro Series Truck. After spending time with Logano, Martin said the youngster was fully capable of racing a Nextel Cup car. Martin made that statement almost two years ago. A driver must be 18 to race in a NASCAR national series (Nextel, Busch, truck), so Logano is getting as much big-track experience as possible before he becomes of age. When this kid gets a big-league NASCAR license, he’s expected to quickly blossom into a big-time racing driver. “I know they’ve been talking about a Busch car next year sometime,” Logano said. “Not real sure when or what car I’m going to drive yet. I know I have a long-term relationship with Gibbs. We’ll see how it goes.”(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(5-30-2007)
Burney Lamar Still Looking for Ride: For the first time in his life, Burney Lamar has slowed down to reflect. “My whole life, all I ever did was race, race, race,” the driver said. “It’s been a really relaxing, easygoing year so far. But part of me still can’t wait to get back on the racetrack.” Lamar, 26, went from NASCAR sensation to out of work in what seemed like a seven-second pit stop. A year after making a huge splash in the Busch Series [#77 Dollar General Chevy for KHI], the Sacramento State graduate is looking for a job in an ultratight market, squeezed out of his seat by a sponsor who wanted a big-name Nextel Cup veteran instead of a relative unknown. Lamar is waiting for mid-summer’s silly season, when owners make wholesale changes and start hiring new drivers. Two or three months from now, he expects some cars to come his way. “I’ve got to be patient,” he said. “I know I’ll be back. We’re working hard to get something put together for full time next year.”(Sacramento Bee)(5-30-2007)
Yeley’s Crew Chief Fined: NASCAR announced that Chuck Meyers, crew chief of the #1 Chevy driven by J.J. Yeley in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined due to rule violations this past weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Meyers was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A–3.2.3A: right side window too thin of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during practice on May 26.(NASCAR PR)(5-30-2007)
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on the #37 at Dover: The primary sponsor for Brewco’s #37 Ford this week is Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Established in 1982 and headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ollie’s is the Mid-Atlantic’s largest retailer of closeout, surplus and salvage merchandise.(Brewco PR)(5-30-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Dover: Marcos Ambrose was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Ambrose finished 20th and took top rookie honors for the third time this season. David Ragan holds a five-point edge over Juan Pablo Montoya (132-127) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway. Ragan is seventh in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 35 points behind sixth-place Regan Smith and leads eighth-place Clint Bowyer by nine.(Raybestos PR)(5-29-2007)
Kevin Conway Making Second Busch Start with JGR: After a rough-and-tumble debut in the #18 Z-Line Designs Chevy for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, Kevin Conway has had loads of time to focus and prepare for his next outing – Saturday’s Dover 200 at the infamous “Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(5-29-2007)
NASCAR Busch Series Live From Monster Mile on ESPN2: ESPN2 will feature NASCAR Busch Series racing live Saturday, June 2, from the Monster Mile, Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 p.m. ET, and the 200-mile race starts at 3 p.m. Since 1969, the 1-mile Dover track has challenged NASCAR drivers with high-banked turns and straightaways that also feature banking. Dover is physically demanding for drivers and hard on racing equipment, and the concrete racing surface presents its own unique challenges. ESPN’s Suzy Kolber will make her debut as host of NASCAR Countdown at Dover, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for the race telecast, with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis. Jarrett is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, who will rejoin NASCAR coverage next week at Nashville. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.(ESPN PR)(5-28-2007)
ESPN2 To Have Live NASCAR Busch Series Practice, Qualifying Coverage from Dover: ESPN2, the home of the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007, will have live coverage of qualifying from Dover International Speedway as well as the series’ final practice session as it prepares for Saturday’s 200-mile race. Practice coverage will air at 2 p.m. ET Friday, with the live qualifying show airing at 11 a.m. Saturday. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s coverage of practice and qualifying, joined in the booth by analyst Andy Petree. Pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will contribute to the telecasts. Analyst Dale Jarrett will be in the booth with Punch and Petree for the qualifying coverage. Suzy Kolber will host the qualifying show, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.(ESPN PR)(5-28-2007)
Harkness Sentenced to Prison: A former stripper from suburban Round Rock [TX] was sentenced to nearly 3½ years in federal prison Friday for her attempt to embezzle more than $1 million from an Austin bank to start her own NASCAR racing team. Fatemah Angela Harkness, 30, pleaded guilty in January 2004 to conspiring with Gary Jones to embezzle more than $1 million from his bank from 2000 to 2003. She received a 40-month sentence, the Austin American-Statesman reported on its Web site Friday. Harkness and Jones used the money to assemble a NASCAR team called Angela’s Motorsports. The team, featuring driver Mike McLaughlin, entered cars in the Busch Grand National Series starting in late 2002. Harkness fled to Mexico before her sentencing in 2004 and continued on to the United Arab Emirates. She surrendered last month and was returned to the U.S. for sentencing. Jones, who pleaded guilty to fraud, theft and embezzlement charges, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in August 2004.(ESPN/Associated Press)(5-25-2007)
NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Highlights: ESPN2’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the live, prime-time NASCAR Busch Series race at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Allen Bestwick will host the telecast with studio analyst Brad Daugherty. Analyst Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Cutaway Car. The race telecast team will include special guest Ned Jarrett, Dale Jarrett, lead announcer Jerry Punch and Andy Petree. Additionally, NASCAR Countdown will include segments from pit reporters Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake as drivers and teams prepare to race under the lights on the 1.5-mile track in suburban Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR Countdown will originate from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile Pit Studio as it sets the stage for ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday, May 26. Highlights include: ‘Home Weekend’ for Drivers and Teams Charlotte is often referred to as the epicenter of NASCAR, with 21 NASCAR Busch Series teams, 15 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams and nearly all NASCAR drivers located within a 30-mile radius of the city. And, because Lowe’s Motor Speedway is so close to home, teams are especially fired up for bragging rights in the Queen City. ESPN will use Google Earth technology to map all of the team shops and their proximity to Charlotte and the speedway. Double Duty The NASCAR Busch Series often has NASCAR Nextel Cup regulars, commonly known as Buschwhackers, entered in its race each week. Saturday night’s race is no exception, with nearly 30 Nextel Cup drivers set to compete in the 300-mile race. From the Pits
Reigning Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will be interviewed from the Pit Studio and will talk about why he decided to race in Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race – his first of the year.
The Busch Brothers: ESPN Pit Reporter Dave Burns will report with Nextel Cup driver Kurt Busch, while ESPN Pit Reporter Mike Massaro will report with his younger brother Kyle to find out if they’ve had a chance to “make up” since the two wrecked each other during the Nextel Cup All-Star race last weekend.
ESPN Pit Reporter Shannon Spake will speak with Dave Blaney, driver of the #10 Toyota about his chances of winning Saturday’s race. Blaney is fourth in the Busch Series standings. He won the Oct. 2006 NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s.(ESPN PR)(5-24-2007)
Kyle Busch Back in the #5 at Lowe’s: Kyle Busch returns to the #5 Busch Series team this weekend for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch’s last NBS start was at Richmond. Saturday night’s race will be the final NBS start for the #5 Hendrick Motorsports team until July 6 at Daytona. Busch will pilot the #5 Chevy in that event.(Hendrick PR)(5-24-2007)
Ned Jarrett Returns to ESPN Television Booth for Busch Race: Ned Jarrett will make a guest appearance alongside his son, Dale Jarrett, in the ESPN booth Saturday night during ESPN2’s live, prime-time coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Father and son will work together as television analysts for the first time. The elder Jarrett was an auto racing analyst for ESPN from 1986 until the network ended its previous period of NASCAR coverage in 2000, at which point the two-time NASCAR Cup champion retired from television.(ESPN PR)(5-23-2007)
Ganassi Busch Team Changes? UPDATE: hearing that Ganassi Racing Busch Series crew chiefs Brad Parrott [#42] and Brian Pattie [#41] are switching teams. Parrott will handle the crew chief duties for Reed Sorenson/David Stremme/Clauson (#41) and Pattie will move to the (#42) team with Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Hamlin.(5-17-2007) UPDATE: Brad Parrott, interviewed on Sirius Speedway by Dave Moody, said that he remains Juan Pablo Montoya’s crew chief.(5-23-2007)
Citi on Leicht’s #90 at Lowes: Stephen Leicht’s #90 Ford will have a different look for this weekend’s Busch Series event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Citi, the leading global financial services company, will make their sponsorship debut in NASCAR. CitiFinancial, a brand name under Citi’s trademark red arc, is pleased to see the evolution of their sponsorship expand into other areas within Citi for this race.(RYR PR)(5-22-2007)
Riley-D’Hondt Announces Sponsor: Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports announced that Your Residential Technology Team (YRT2) will sponsor the #91 Toyota in both 2007 Busch Series events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. David Green will drive the YRT2 #91. YRT2 are pioneers in bringing fiber to the home connectivity to residential customers across the Carolinas.(Riley-D’Hondt PR)(5-21-2007)
NASCAR Busch Series at Charlotte Live in Prime Time on ESPN2: ESPN2 will feature NASCAR Busch Series racing live in prime time Saturday night from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 7:30 p.m. ET. The race starts at 8 p.m.
Dale Jarrett will join Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis during the telecast. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play duties. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will serve as pit reporters.
Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown. He will be joined in ESPN’s pit studio for NASCAR Countdown by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.
In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.(ESPN PR)(5-21-2007)
Dollar General to be Presenting Sponsor of Nashville Race: Nashville-based Dollar General has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Series race, scheduled for Saturday Evening, June 9. The partnership between Nashville Superspeedway and Dollar General will ensure the second Busch Series race in Nashville will receive more local promotional opportunities and see the addition of higher ticket sales.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(5-21-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300: David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington. Ragan finished 13th and took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season. Ragan holds a two-point edge over Juan Pablo Montoya (122-120) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Ragan is sixth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 10 points behind fifth-place Matt Kenseth and leads seventh-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by 18. Montoya is ninth in the Busch Series championship standings, 11 points behind eighth-place Regan Smith.(Raybestos PR)(5-21-2007)
Kluever Driving Dish Network Ford at Lowe’s: Todd Kluever will have a different paint scheme this weekend, and a different number. Kluever will attempt his first start in the #26 Dish Network Ford this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. This will be the first of two races Kluever will run for Dish Network. He will also compete at Chicagoland.(Roush-Fenway PR)(5-21-2007)
Sprint Nextel Says Busch Series Sponsorship Could be Impacted by Ruling: While NASCAR has steadfastly said this decision [to allow AT&T on RCR’s #31 Nextel Cup car] will not impact negotiations for a new Busch Series sponsor, [Sprint Nextel Marketing Executive Dean] Kessel said he believes it could. “If I’m looking at the Busch Series as a potential sponsor for that and I’m seeing what’s going on here, that changes the dialogue,” Kessel said.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2007)
Travis Kittleson to Drive for Gibbs at Gateway: In two previous starts in the NASCAR Busch Series in his own less than stellar equipment, Travis Kittleson made enough of an impression that race teams remembered his name. Now, in the best equipment he has driven to date and for a team owner whose name is synonymous with success, Kittleson will get the opportunity of a lifetime. On July 21, he will drive the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy in the Busch race at Gateway.(Florida Today)(5-18-2007)
South Boston Speedway to Honor Sam Ard: South Boston Speedway will pay tribute to and stage a benefit event for one its legendary past champions, Sam Ard, on Saturday night, May 26 with the Sam Ard Night 150. Ard, who won the South Boston Speedway NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division championship in 1982, and will be on hand for the festivities. As a part of the tribute to Ard, 2005 South Boston Speedway and NASCAR Weekly Series national champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, Va. will return to South Boston Speedway to compete in the evening’s 150-lap race for the Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division. Sellers will drive a Chevrolet that will be painted to resemble the well-known #00 Thomas Brothers Country Hams sponsored Oldsmobile that Ard drove to a number of wins. In addition, former South Boston Speedway and NASCAR Weekly Series national champion, Barry Beggarly of Pelham, N.C. will be on hand to take part in the evening’s activities. Ard will be coming to South Boston Speedway continuing to recover from injuries he sustained in a recent ATV accident. The former two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion has had a tough time of things in recent years, having been stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease. His wife, Jo, has been stricken with a degenerative eye disease. To help the Ard Family, South Boston Speedway has set a $10 admission price for this special five-race event and will donate $2 from each ticket sold to the Ards.(South Boston Speedway PR)(5-17-2007)
Kenny Wallace to Serve at Spotter for Steve Wallace: RWI Racing announced that Kenny Wallace will serve as the team’s chief spotter and driver coach to his nephew Steve Wallace, for the remaining 2007 Busch Series events that serve as companion races to the Nextel Cup Series.(RWI PR)(5-16-2007)
David Green Ready to Get Back on Track: Former Busch Series champion David Green said Monday his Riley/D’Hondt Motorsports team would make its Busch Series debut in next weekend’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Green, sharing driving duties with Bobby Santos during a test this week at the track, hasn’t made a Busch start since last September at California Speedway. He was released by Brewco Motorsports and has been working to get back in the series since. “We’ll start up next week here in Charlotte,” Green said. “My hope is that we’ll run the rest of this year then compete for a championship in 2008.”(SceneDaily.com)(5-15-2007)
Rusty Wallace Inc. Names Key Marketing Staff Members: Rusty Wallace, Inc. announced two key additions to its marketing staff. Jimmy Bruns has been named Vice President of Marketing and Sponsorship and Greg Wallace, the oldest son of the company’s founder, Rusty Wallace, has been appointed Vice President of Brand Management.(RWI PR)(5-14-2007)
Wood Visits Seymour Johnson Air Force Base: #59-Jon Wood knows first hand, you’re only as good as the rest of your teammates. Wood — who normally works with a team of mechanics and pit crewmembers — witnessed a different team in action on Wednesday morning as he was one of the celebrity guests at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base [Goldsboro, NC]. Wood took a ride in a KC-135R Stratotanker to watch a mid-air refueling mission.(Goldsboro News Argus)(5-11-2007)
MACtac to Sponsor Keith Coleman Racing: UPDATE: MACtac, a leading provider of pressure sensitive materials, announced that it will be the primary sponsor for the #23 Chevy of Brad Keselowski for Busch Series races in 2007, starting with the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington.(Keith Coleman Racing PR)(5-4-2007) UPDATE: See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(5-11-2007)
Tony Stewart Driving Old Spice Body Spray Scheme at Darlington: Old Spice has Tony Stewart leading the launch of its new body spray line at Darlington Raceway. Stewart will drive the #33 Old Spice Body Spray Chevy, owned by Kevin Harvick, Inc., in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200. (Old Spice/Paine PR)(5-10-2007). See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.
NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Darlington Raceway Highlights ESPN2’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the live, primetime Busch Series race at Darlington Raceway Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Allen Bestwick will host the telecast with studio analyst Brad Daugherty. Nextel Cup team owner Richard Childress will join Bestwick and Daugherty as a guest in the pit studio. Analyst Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Cutaway Car. The race telecast team including lead announcer Jerry Punch, Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett will also contribute. Additionally, NASCAR Countdown will include segments from pit reporters Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake as drivers and teams prepare to race the track deemed “To Tough to Tame.” NASCAR Countdown will originate from Darlington Raceway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race Friday night, May 11. Highlights will include: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s Future in Racing:On Thursday, May 10 at 11 a.m. ET, driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevy, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., announced his decision to cut ties with his current race team, Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), at the end of 2007. NASCAR Countdown hosts, analysts and reporters will report on the latest news from Earnhardt Jr., opinions among fellow drivers and teams and the ripple effect this will cause in the NASCAR community. Darlington Raceway will mark Earnhardt’s first time at the track since the announcement. Bobby Labonte in Victory Lane again? Bobby Labonte scored his tenth Busch Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway in April and his first since 1998, taking the checkered flag in the #77 Dollar General Chevy owned by Kevin Harvick Inc. Labonte will be behind the wheel of the #77 again this Friday night and will speak with Bestwick and Daugherty about his chances for another win. Rookie David Ragan Will Try to Tame the Lady in Black: ESPN NASCAR reporter Shannon Spake will speak with NASCAR Busch Series rookie David Ragan on conquering Darlington Raceway, earning his rookie stripe, and finishing Friday’s race on the track known as “Too Tough to Tame.” Clint Bowyer on a Roll: NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer has been on roll recently in the NASCAR Busch Series putting away two wins in the #2 Chevy – at Phoenix and last week’s race at Richmond. ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Dave Burns will report live with Bowyer on his successes this season and his outlook for Darlington.(ESPN PR)(5-10-2007)
Charter to Sponsor Riggs at Darlington: Charter Communications will be the sponsor of Evernham Motorsports #9 Dodge this weekend with Scott Riggs behind the wheel. See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(5-9-2007)
Todd Kluever Hosting Charity Motorcycle Ride: Todd Kluever began his racing career riding motorcycles on dirt-oval tracks in and around Wisconsin. Now he is using his love for motorcycles to raise money to fight diabetes. Kluever, driver of the #16 3M Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the Busch Series, is hosting the first annual “Todd Kluever Ride To Cure Diabetes” on Sunday, June 24, 2007. The event will be a day-long motorcycle ride which will begin at Capital City Harley-Davidson in Madison, Wisc., and end at Nora’s Tavern in nearby Deerfield, Wisc. All proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-8-2007)
Border Patrol to Sponsor Jay Robinson Racing: Jay Robinson Racing announced that the U.S Border Patrol and the team have finalized a 25 race sponsorship agreement on the #28 Chevy for the remainder of the 2007 Busch Series season. The package will be equally split between primary and associate exposure. The U.S. Border Patrol’s sponsorship will start this week at Darlington Raceway as the primary sponsor on the #28 Chevy. Johnny Sauter, Jeff Green, Robert Richardson Jr. and Derrike Cope will split seat time in the #28 Chevy while the U.S. Border Patrol is the sponsor.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(5-8-2007)
Morgan Shepherd Attempting Darlington: Faith Motorsports has entered the Racing With Jesus Dodge in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington. The race attempt will be the first time the familiar green and yellow car has attempted a race in NASCAR’s Busch Series this year. The #89 Dodge will be mostly unsponsored for its inaugural event at Darlington. It will feature the team’s Racing With Jesus logo on the hood.(MorganShepherd.com)(5-8-2007)
Mark Martin Making Busch Debut with Hendrick at Darlington: Mark Martin will team with car owner Rick Hendrick this week for the first time. Martin will drive the 35 Hendrick Autoguard/hendrickcars.com Chevy in Friday’s Busch Series race at Darlington Raceway, marking his first time behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports-prepared car. Friday’s event will mark the first of Martin’s three scheduled Busch races for Hendrick in 2007. He will also drive the #5 Chevy at Michigan and Homestead-Miami.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(5-8-2007)
NASCAR Busch Series at Darlington Live in Prime Time on ESPN2: Few race tracks are as steeped in NASCAR tradition as Darlington Raceway, the egg-shaped superspeedway that hosted its first race in 1950. ESPN2 will have live primetime coverage of Friday night’s 200-mile NASCAR Busch Series race from the 1.366-mile South Carolina track beginning at 8 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The race will start at 8:30 p.m. Dale Jarrett will join Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis during the telecast. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play duties for ESPN. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report the action from the pits. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.(ESPN PR)(5-7-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Darlington: Juan Pablo Montoya was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Circuit City 250 at Richmond. Montoya finished 11th and took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season. David Ragan holds a one-point edge over Juan Pablo Montoya (111-110) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington. Ragan is eighth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is three points behind seventh-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. and leads ninth-place Juan Pablo Montoya by 37.(Raybestos PR)(5-7-2007)
CJM Racing to Make Busch Debut at Darlington: CJM Racing, owned by brothers Tony and Bryan Mullet, has undergone a major revamp since hitting the NASCAR circuit mid-season 2006. The team, under the direction of former championship team owner Greg Pollex, will take to the NASCAR Busch Series with a new driver, new crew and a new at Darlington Raceway. Driver Jason Keller will wheel the #11 Force Protection Chevy on Friday, May 11th. Force Protection, Inc. has become the nation’s leading center for blast technology and counter improvised explosive device research as it designs, manufacturers, tests, delivers and supports blast and mine protected vehicles throughout the world. Darlington will mark the first of several races in 2007 that driver Jason Keller and CJM Racing will run in the NASCAR Busch Series.(CJM Racing PR) NOTE: Although the team is running #11, they are not affiliated with DEI in any way.(5-7-2007)
NASCAR Countdown: ESPN2 Richmond International Raceway Highlights: ESPN2’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the live, primetime NASCAR Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Allen Bestwick will host the telecast with studio analyst Brad Daugherty. Analyst Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Cutaway Car. The race telecast team including lead announcer Marty Reid, Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett will also contribute. Additionally, NASCAR Countdown will include segments from pit reporters Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake as drivers and teams prepare to race under the lights on the .750-mile track. NASCAR Countdown will originate from Richmond International Raceway and will be telecast from ESPN’s state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race Friday night, May 4. Highlights will include: Tough Weekend for Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch had a tough time at Talladega last weekend with hard crashes in both the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races. Busch will talk with Allen Bestwick and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio about coming back from the difficulties at Talladega. In addition, ESPN reporter Shannon Spake went along recently when Busch and some members of his team went fishing as a bonding outing. Ambrose Having Impact: Australian Marcos Ambrose has made an impact on the NASCAR Busch Series as both a driver and a personality during his rookie season. Even after crashing in last week’s race at Talladega, Ambrose joked that he had just gotten his official “Alabama Slamma.” ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little will speak to Ambrose prior to the Richmond race. Hamlin Races at Home: When the NASCAR traveling circuit comes to Richmond International Raceway, it’s a home game for Denny Hamlin of nearby Chesterfield, Va., who started his stock car racing career on local short tracks. ESPN pit reporter Dave Burns will talk to Hamlin about the rewards of racing at his home track. Harvick Goes For Four Straight: Kevin Harvick, the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series champion, will be going for his fourth consecutive Busch Series win at Richmond. ESPN pit reporter Mike Massaro will talk to Harvick about his recent domination at Richmond and his rising success as a Busch Series car owner following his 1-2 finish last week at Talladega with drivers Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. Racing Under the Lights: A night race presents unique challenges to NASCAR Busch Series teams, and ESPN analyst Tim Brewer at the Chevy Cutaway Car will explain how Richmond International Raceway is tough on brakes and how teams need to manage the impact.(ESPN PR)(5-3-2007)
Busch Champ Sam Ard Injured in ATV Accident: Two-time Busch Series champion Sam Ard remained in stable condition Monday in the surgical intensive care unit at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence, S.C., after being involved in an accident on his ATV Sunday. According to his daughter Joane Jones, the 68-year-old Ard sustained injuries to the left side of his face when he wrecked late in the afternoon in a ditch approximately a mile from his home in Pamplico, S.C. Bones above his eye and his cheekbone were broken.(NASCAR.com)(4-30-2007) UPDATE: Sam Ard underwent surgery Thursday to repair damage from extensive facial injuries the 68-year-old sustained in an ATV accident April 29. [Robert] Ard said his father suffered a broken nose and shattered bones around his left and right cheek areas as well as around the left eye socket. He also suffered damage to the inside of his mouth.(SceneDaily.com)(5-3-2007)
Riley-D’Hondt Planning on Sponsorship Announcement at Lowes: After getting on the track for the first time this weekend after eight months of negotiating with sponsors and other factions, [co-owner Eddie] D’Hondt said Riley-D’Hondt’s future will be exposed in a rush. “We’re planning to make a fairly significant announcement during Charlotte Speedweeks, where we’re planning to have two Toyota Camrys on track,” D’Hondt said. “Part of that announcement will be that we’ll run a package of races with Bobby [Santos] and David Green.” The team has registered Busch car #91 and #92 with NASCAR Competition for this season.(NASCAR.com)(5-3-2007)
Record Purse for Busch Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway: NASCAR Busch Series drivers will battle for a record $1,249,138 during the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 26.(LMS PR)(5-3-2007)
Subway and KFC Showing Most Interest in Series Sponsorship: UPDATE: KFC Bows Out: NASCAR is talking to at least five companies about replacing Anheuser-Busch as title sponsor of its No.2 series, with Subway and KFC showing the most interest. A-B has spent 25 years as title sponsor of the Busch Series, but is refocusing its overall NASCAR marketing. Its Budweiser brand is “the official beer of NASCAR,” and is the primary sponsor of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Samsung was originally thought to be in the running to replace A-B, but company officials said last week in Texas they weren’t interested. Wal-Mart also is believed to be in discussions with NASCAR. (AlabamaLive.com)(4-30-2007) MORE: Sources also told [Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal] that Dish Network could emerge as a candidate, though NASCAR’s partnership with DirecTV seems to make that difficult. DirecTV broadcasts “HotPass” during the race and is the sanctioning body’s official TV partner.(SceneDaily.com)(4-30-2007) UPDATE: Louisville-based KFC Corp. was recently in talks with NASCAR about becoming the title sponsor of what is now the Busch Series, but spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said the company dropped out of the race yesterday. Schalow called NASCAR a “great fit” for the fast-food chain, but she said the title sponsorship didn’t line up with the brand’s spending priorities for the next couple of years.(Louisville Courier-Journal)(5-2-2007)
Circuit City on Hamlin’s Chevy at Richmond: Friday night under the lights in front of the home folks with Z-Line Designs on his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy and the Busch Series race’s title sponsor – Circuit City – on the hood: It just doesn’t get any better for Denny Hamlin this weekend at Richmond. Hamlin will be carrying the red and black colors of first-year NASCAR sponsor Z-Line Designs for the very first time and hopes to score his third career Busch Series victory before all is said and done.(True Speed/Joe Gibbs PR)(5-2-2007)
Larger Than Life Sponsoring Keselowski at Richmond: Larger Than Life, Inc. will be the primary sponsor of the #23 Chevy for the Circuit City 250 at the Richmond. Larger Than Life, Inc. provides various large format printing solutions for companies across the United States. Larger Than Life, Inc. is a digital printing company that provides race teams with the latest in graphic technology and materials.(Keith Coleman Racing PR)(5-2-2007)
Wolfe Penalized by NASCAR: Paul Wolfe, crew chief of the #22 Dodge driven by Mike Bliss in the Busch Series, has been fined due to rule violations this past weekend at Talladega. Wolfe was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-13B (steering idler arm must be solid) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was found during opening day inspection on April 26.(NASCAR PR)(5-2-2007)
McCumbee, Andretti named to Drive #45 Dodge: Petty Enterprises announced that Chad McCumbee and John Andretti will drive the #45 Marathon/Wells Fargo/Tire Kingdom Dodge this summer. The duo will be filling the seat of full time driver Kyle Petty. Petty, with permission from primary and associate sponsors will step out of the car in a five race hiatus to join TNT during their six-race broadcast schedule. Petty will return to the car during the road course event at the Infineon Raceway and provide in-car race analysis. Petty will complete the season after the July 15 event at the Chicagoland Speedway in the #45 Marathon/Wells Fargo/Tire Kingdom Dodge. McCumbee, 22, will attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut at Pocono Raceway on June 10 during the Pocono 500. Veteran driver John Andretti will race the remaining four open races for Petty. McCumbee, currently in his second year in the Craftsman Truck Series, will have plenty of seat time before heading into Pocono. McCumbee will be assigned to various testing duties for Petty Enterprises including testing next week at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. McCumbee continues his duties for Green Light Racing.(Moore Consulting Group/Petty Racing)(5-2-2007)
Former series driver injured in off-road accident: Former series driver Tracy Hines was in stable condition at Methodist Hospital on Tuesday after surgery for injuries in an off-road motorcycle crash on his New Castle, Ind., property. Hines competes in the USAC Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown series for Tony Stewart Racing.. “We’re grateful that Tracy is going to be OK,” Stewart said. “All we’re concerned about is his health. We’ll give him and his family all the support they need to ensure a full and successful recovery.” Hines broke his pelvis and left thigh and dislocated his right knee when he crashed his motorcycle Monday night. He was taken by helicopter to Methodist, where he underwent surgery.(USAToday.com)(5-1-2007)
Kyle Busch’s HANs Device breaks in Busch crash: UPDATE: NASCAR on Monday tried to figure out why Kyle Busch’s HANS device cracked during a spectacular crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Busch wrecked in Saturday’s Busch Series event, when he was hit from behind and his car ended up on its roof before rolling several times through the grass. His HANS device, a NASCAR-mandated head-and-neck restraint system, cracked in the accident. “It performed the way it was supposed to, but it had a slight stress crack in it after the accident,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. NASCAR sent the device back to manufacturer Hubbard Downing in Georgia for examination.(Associated Press)(5-1-2007) UPDATE: Officials from HANS Performance Products downplayed the crack found in Kyle Busch’s HANS Device after a spectacular crash in the Busch race last weekend at Talladega. After the crash, a crack was found in the head-and-neck restraint that is worn on a driver’s shoulders and has a carbon fiber piece that sits behind the helmet. “We were pleased to see Kyle shrug off such a dramatic wreck,” HANS Performance Products CEO Mark Stiles said in a statement. “It takes a lot to even produce a slight stress crack in a HANS Device. It worked as designed, and was ready for more action – like its driver.” The device is made primarily of carbon fiber, a high-strength, lightweight material. It was not revealed how large the crack was. General Motors Director of Safety Tom Gideon said he did not know where the HANS Device cracked, but with Busch walking away, he wasn’t alarmed.(SceneDaily.com)(5-1-2007)
Cope in the #28 at Richmond: From DerrikeCope.com: Derrike told us this today. “I am going to drive the Checkers/Rally’s Chevy for Jay Robinson Racing at Richmond this weekend. I am very excited about it! They have been running quite well and I look forward to getting back on the track.”(DerrikeCope.com)(5-1-2007)
Ward Burton and Eric McClure to Wear Virginia Tech Helmets at Richmond: Two NASCAR drivers are honoring Virginia Tech this weekend by sporting helmets especially designed to pay tribute to the school. Virginia natives #4-Ward Burton and Eric McClure (#0 in the Busch Series) will don the customized headgear during this weekend’s races at Richmond. McClure is racing in the Busch Series Circuit City 250 on Friday, while Burton is racing Saturday in the Crown Royal 400 Nextel Cup Series race. Both helmets are being designed and hand painted by David Arrigo, an acclaimed artist from Ontario. As for the actual design of the helmets, both will feature the American flag, along with images of Virginia Tech set against the backdrop of a rising sun. Burton’s helmet will also have a rose in bloom. McClure’s will portray a Virginia Tech student reading. The American flag on the helmets will feature 32 stars, in honor of the number of victims.(Richmond.com)(5-1-2007)
