November 2006 Busch Series Archive

• Villeneuve Closer to NASCAR Deal: According to RDS, the former Formula One champion has reached an agreement with Roush Racing to help facilitate his move into NASCAR next spring. Team president Geoff Smith tells XM Satellite radio that Villeneuve would begin his career in the Craftsman Truck Series before graduating to the Busch Series. Smith adds that there’s a 50-percent chance Villeneuve could be in Montreal next August for the inaugural Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Villeneuve reportedly needs to find between $16-million and $18-million in sponsorship before the deal can be finalized.(TSN.ca)(11-30-2006)
• O’Quinn Free to Talk to Other Teams: Danny O’Quinn confirmed this week that he has been given permission to talk with other teams about driving for them next season. O’Quinn won the rookie award for Roush Racing, but Roush officials haven’t been able to put a sponsorship arrangement together for O’Quinn for next season, and Tuesday, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith told O’Quinn he was free to look around. O’Quinn said he had yet to start talking with other teams, and Roush Racing remains his preference.(SceneDaily.com)(11-30-2006)
• Gavel Auction to Sell Inventory from Jay Robinson Racing: UPDATE: Gavel Auction will be holding a Busch Series auction on Saturday, December 9 at 10:00am/et at Jay Robinson Racing [#28 & #49], 3901 Sardis Church Road, Monroe, NC. For information and pictures, visit gavelauction.com.(Gavel Auction PR)(11-27-2006)
  NOTE: The team will switch to Chevy for the 2007 season and are selling off all the Ford equipment.
  UPDATE: Jay Robinson Racing will switch to Chevrolets for the 2007 Busch Series – if the team is around. Team owner Jay Robinson said Tuesday his operation may not be around next season. One of the sponsors for his two-car team, Advil, will not return next year, and Robinson hasn’t been able to find a replacement. A deal to run cars for another established team has yet to come to fruition.(SceneDaily.com)(11-29-2006)

  Martin talked to Dale Jr about Busch ride: Mark Martin told Sirius Speedway (MRN/Sirius Satellite Radio) Monday that he spoke to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., about a possible, part-time Busch Series ride with Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports in 2007. Martin, who has already inked deals to drive the Ginn Racing/US Army Nextel Cup Chevrolet next season, as well as a Craftsman Truck for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, said sponsor conflicts prevented the deal with Earnhardt from coming to fruition. “I talked to Dale Junior about sharing a Busch car with him and a couple of other guys next season,” said Martin. “We both wanted to do it, but we couldn’t get the details figured out. The Army and the Navy (sponsors of Earnhardt’s #88 Busch car) were kinda like oil and water, and we couldn’t figure out a way to make it work.” Martin said he could run for as many as four different teams next season on the Cup, Busch and Truck Series.(MRN/Sirius Satellite Radio)(11-28-2006)

• Batycki Named VP of Gateway Raceway: Gateway International Raceway is pleased to announce the hiring of veteran motorsports executive Lenny Batycki as Vice President and General Manager. Batycki will assume responsibility for all day-to-day operations and staff at the multi-purpose motorsports facility near St. Louis. Batycki comes to Gateway International Raceway with more than 15 years of experience in senior motorsports management. He was most recently team president of Biagi DenBeste Racing, owner of the #4 NASCAR Busch Series team.(Dover Motorsports PR)(11-27-2006)
• Biffle wants to change way Cup drivers qualify for Busch races: Greg Biffle has an idea regarding the wave of Nextel Cup Series drivers doing double-duty in the Busch Series: Make all of them qualify on speed. Biffle was one of eight drivers moonlighting in the junior circuit this year. Cup drivers accounted for 34 of the series’ 35 wins, prompting complaints throughout the garage area. “If I were in charge, I’d make the Cup guys have to race their way into the lineup,” he said. “That way there wouldn’t be more than 13 in any race.” NASCAR locks the top 30 drivers into each starting lineup. The other 13 spots are given to the fastest drivers in time trials. At the same time, Biffle said the Busch Series needs the Cup drivers to make the main event interesting.(Augusta Chronicle)(11-24-2006)
• ARCA Team Member Killed in Auto Accident: On the eve of Thanksgiving, where members of the Fast Track Racing team should be preparing for a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends, the team is in mourning of the unexpected and tragic passing of 19-year old Dan Becker, who lost his life Tuesday (November 21) evening in an auto accident outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Becker, the right front tire changer of the #11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the ARCA RE/MAX Series was a tremendous asset to the Fast Track Racing team and will be deeply missed. At this time, funeral arrangements are pending.(Fast Track Racing PR)(11-23-2006)
• Martin to Run Some Busch Races for Hendrick?: UPDATE: Speed TV’s Bob Dillner mentioned on Speed’s NASCAR RaceDay that Mark Martin might run some Busch races in 2007 for Hendrick Motorsports. An announcement could come in a few weeks.(11-19-2006)
  UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports is talking with Martin about driving one of its Busch Series cars next season, but nothing has been decided. Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, who joins Hendrick’s Cup operation next season, are likely in the mix for Hendrick in the Busch Series next year, though plans have not been announced.(SceneDaily.com)(11-22-2006)
• Fischer Engineering Offering Engine Sales & Leasing: Fischer Engineering has announced that they are offering Busch and Craftsman Truck Series teams the opportunity to purchase their own engines starting at $45,000 each. They are also offering competitive lease programs starting at $20,000 per race. Fischer Engineering has a 33 year history of providing winning power to teams in the top NASCAR Series’.(Fischer PR)(11-20-2006)
• O’Quinn is 2006 Rookie of the Year: In a competition that came down to the last race of the season, Danny O’Quinn captured the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award over John Andretti.(Raybestos PR)(11-19-2006)
• Brewco Plans for 2007 Being Finalized: Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle will share Brewco Motorsports’ #66 Ford [note: Rusty Wallace will run the #66 next year. This team may go back to the #37] in the Busch Series next season, team owner Clarence Brewer confirmed Saturday. A third driver could be used in the non-Nextel Cup companion races, though Biffle wants to race the road-course events in Mexico City and Montreal. Brewer said he still needs sponsorship to finish out the season for the #66, as Duraflame will not return. Duraflame was primary sponsor for 14 of the 35 races in 2006. Also, Brewer said the team has not decided on a driver for its #27 Ford. Casey Atwood replaced David Green at Richmond in September, but Atwood’s best finish has been a trio of 17th-place finishes. Atwood has a “leg up” for the ride, Brewer said, but nothing has been decided. Jason Keller could be a candidate should Brewco decide not to bring Atwood back.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)
• Roush finalizing Busch Series plans: Roush Racing has settled on three full-time Busch teams and three full-time truck teams for 2007, with the possibility of an additional part-time Busch team, team president Geoff Smith said Saturday. David Ragan and Carl Edwards will run the entire schedule, Smith confirmed. Todd Kluever and Greg Biffle will share the season in another car, as previously announced. Jamie McMurray will drive for Brewco Motorsports, splitting the schedule with Biffle. Roush Racing is exploring fielding one more Busch car, and Michel Jourdain also could end up in a Busch Series ride. As of now, rookie Danny O’Quinn will not have a ride. (SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)
• Biagi-DenBeste to Announce 2007 Sponsor: UPDATE: Kibbles ‘N Bits & PHOTO: Biagi DenBeste Racing will announce a new sponsor on their #4 Toyota on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Biagi-DenBeste PR)(11-14-2006)
  UPDATE: Kibbles ‘n Bits® dog food announced plans to sponsor the #4 of Biagi DenBeste Racing today at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The multi-brand strategy encompasses a number of NASCAR Busch Series events in 2007.(Biagi DenBeste PR)(11-18-2006)
  PHOTO: See an image of the car on my 2007 Paint Schemes Page.
• Team Rensi to Announce Driver/Sponsor for 2007: UPDATE: There will be a Team Rensi Motorsports 2007 Driver/Sponsor Announcement on Saturday at 12:00 pm/et at Homestead. Hearing that David Gilliland and [ASA driver] Richard Johns could share the #25 ride and that FreeCreditReport.com will be the sponsor.(11-15-2006)
  UDPATE: FreeCreditReport.com will partner with Team Rensi Motorsports in its NASCAR Busch Series effort for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitor David Gilliland and newcomer Richard Johns will share seat duty in the #25 Ford next season. The partnership includes a primary sponsorship of the #25 car for all scheduled 2007 NASCAR Busch Series events and an associate sponsorship of the #38 M&Ms car in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series. David Gilliland will be behind the wheel of the Team Rensi Motorsports entry for 24 events. Richard Johns, a long-time employee of Team Rensi Motorsports, will round out the driving duties in the FreeCreditReport.com Ford.(Team Rensi PR)(11-18-2005)
• Joe Shear Fined, Suspended Indefinitely: UPDATE: NASCAR announced today that Joe Shear Jr., crew chief of the #43 Dodge driven by P.J. Jones in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined and indefinitely suspended due to rule violations discovered during post-race inspection at Phoenix . Shear was suspended effective immediately and fined $10,000 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-12.8.1D: quarter panel height did not meet the required specification; too high in post-race inspection) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. Additionally, Jones was penalized 25 NASCAR Busch Series driver championship points and team owner Mike Curb was penalized 25 NASCAR Busch Series owner championship points for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (20A-12.8.1D).(NASCAR PR)(11-15-2006)
  UPDATE: Curb-Agajanian Motorsports co-owner Cary Agajanian said Friday his team was not likely to appeal the indefinite suspension NASCAR handed down to crew chief Joe Shear Jr. after last weekend’s Arizona.Travel 200.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)
• Goeters to Drive for Star Motorsports: Star Motorsports has signed Jorge Goeters as the team’s Busch Series driver for 2007. The team hopes to start running in NASCAR next season. Goeters will also compete in selected ARCA races, the team said. Sean Holley founded the team in 2004, partnering with NFL star Steve Smith, actors and comedians the Wayans brothers and actor/comedian Tommy Davidson.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)
• Yeley to Drive #1 in 2007: J.J. Yeley will drive Phoenix Racing’s #1 Chevrolet in the Busch Series next season, with a possible run for the championship. A spokesman for Yeley confirmed the move at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday. Yeley drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series, but Yeley was told recently a sponsorship deal to keep Yeley in a JGR Busch deal couldn’t be worked out. Yeley could end up running every Busch race next season. If he challenging for the point lead when the series begins running separately from Nextel Cup in June, Yeley will commute between the two series. If not, Phoenix will find another driver for its Busch car.(SceneDaily.com)(11-18-2006)
• Johnny Davis Motorsports to Announce Sponsor/Driver for 2007: UPDATE Eric McClure: Homestead will see the Davis team make a major announcement regarding the 2007 season. A new driver and major sponsorship will join the Davis-owned team. This new arrangement will permit Johnny Davis Motorsports to competitively run all 35 Busch events in 2007. Current supporters, including RACEGIRL Apparel, will continue to participate.(Johnny Davis Motorsports PR)(11-13-2006)
  UPDATE: Eric McClure has secured sponsorship from the Hefty brand to compete in a majority of NASCAR Busch Series events, as well as a pair of NASCAR Nextel Cup events, during the 2007 season. The Hefty brand, which joined McClure for a limited NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series schedule in 2006, will serve as primary sponsor for 32 NASCAR Busch Series events in the #0 Johnny Davis Motorsports Chevrolet. Additionally, The Hefty brand will support McClure in a pair of NASCAR Nextel Cup series events, including the season-opening Daytona 500. The effort is tentatively scheduled to be in partnership with Morgan-McClure Motorsports, and the second event will be determined at a later date.(McClure PR)(11-16-2006)
• Crocker in the #43 at Homestead: Crocker will be back in the Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger this weekend but with a new number – #43 [She’s usually in the #98].(Evernham PR)(11-16-2006)
  See an image of the car on my Paint Scheme Page.
• Dyno Nobel Sponsoring Both ppc Teams at Homestead: Dyno Nobel and its Florida subsidiary, dnx Drilling, are sponsoring the #22, driven by Kenny Wallace and the #10, driven by John Andretti for the Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dyno Nobel is a leading supplier of commercial explosives and blasting services to the mining, quarrying, seismic, and construction industries and is the market leader in North America.(ppc PR)(11-15-2006)
• FUNDACIÓN Televisa to Again Provide Hearing Aids: Following up their efforts in Fontana, CA where over 50 hearing impaired children where provided hearing aids, FUNDACIÓN Televisa along with Family Dollar, Movida, FEDEX & SUPERCUTS will provide digital hearing aids to 25 hearing impaired Children prior to the Ford 300 Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ‘Corriendo por la Salud’ (CPLS), translating to ‘Racing for Health’, is in its 7th year in Mexico, but the programs founder, Israel Jaitovich, elected to bring the program to the US for the first time at this season’s Busch series race in Fontana California. Homestead-Miami is the second stop in a US City for CPLS in 2006, but there are plans for further expansion to include several other US cities in 2007. Jaitovich is an actor/comedian in Mexico. He is also a professional race car driver with several championships to his name. Israel currently drives the #11 Probiomed / Mopar ‘Corriendo por la Salud’ Dodge for FitzContreras Racing in the Desafió Corona series.(CPLS PR)(11-15-2006)
• Raybestos Rookie Notes for Homestead: Todd Kluever was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix. Kluever scored an 18th-place finish and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the eighth time in 2006. John Andretti and Danny O’Quinn Jr. remain tied for the lead in the Raybestos® Rookie standings (199-199) entering the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami. Andretti is 13th in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(11-15-2006)
• Montreal Busch Race Tix on Sale: UPDATE: Since 9:00am Monday morning, November 13, 2006, tickets to attend the inaugural Montreal NASCAR Busch Series race are on sale. The Series will run at Gilles Villeneuve Circuit, on August 3rd and 4th, 2007. Fans can purchase tickets in a select number of stands, located in the most exciting portions of the circuit, all bearing the names of legendary NASCAR heroes. The Busch race scheduled for Saturday afternoon will be the main attraction. In addition, spectators will get a special Friday treat: the sleek Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona prototypes. To order event tickets by phone, fans can call (514) 397-0007, 7 days a week, from 8:00am to 11:00pm or order online anytime at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca.(PR)(11-13-2006)
  UPDATE: Due to the demand for tickets since going on sale on Monday, November 13th, Stock-Car Montréal announced today that an additional grandstand has been added for the NASCAR Busch Series race weekend to be held August 3-4, 2007 at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal. The new “Petty” stand will be located in front of the pit lane next to the Waltrip Grandstand.(PR)(11-15-2006)
• Martin Voted Busch Series’ Greatest Driver: Mark Martin has been ranked #1 among the “25 Greatest NASCAR Busch Series Drivers” in internet polls on NASCAR.COM and NASCARMedia.com in conjunction with the season-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Busch Series and its association with series sponsor Anheuser-Busch. Martin, the all-time series leader in wins (47) and Busch Poles (30) despite never having run a full season throughout his 220 starts, received the most votes in both polls, which allowed fans and media to rank their top 25 selections from a list of 41 nominees. The series’ first two-time champion, Sam Ard, finished second in the NASCARMedia.com poll; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in third, another multiple champion; Jack Ingram, the first series champion in 1982 (he won again in ’85) in fourth and Dale Earnhardt, who won the first NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona in 1982, in fifth.(NASCAR PR)(11-15-2006)
• Fox Sports Net Signs New Racing Themed Reality Series; Winner to Drive in Busch Race: Fox Sports Net has signed a broadcast deal with BCC Sports to air a new reality series, “All American Rookie” which takes 30 rookie race drivers and pits their skill, endurance and tenacity against each other, then against 10 of the best of NASCAR in a final ‘race war’ for the crowning of the “All American Rookie”, a title that earns the winner a sponsored contract to race in the Busch Series. According to NASCAR Busch Series champion, Joe Nemechek, a producer of the show and mentor to the rookies, “We felt all along that this was the right approach to bringing fans a true view of the sport and eventually open the way for a fan to one day compete to become a professional in stock car racing.” Nemechek is being supported by 10 other NASCAR drivers on the show to be involved as judges and mentors to the 30 rookie drivers that will start the show. The final five Rookies will actually race against these champion drivers and will all have to prove themselves worthy of a spot on the track. The driver emerging victorious will earn a sponsored contract to race for NEMCO in the Busch Series. The show moves into production in late November at Daytona International Speedway, filming at five other race tracks across the country, with production running through to the end of January. A broadcast schedule is timed for early spring as the NASCAR season begins on FOX.(BBC Sports PR)(11-14-2006)
• Record Number of Points for Harvick: Kevin Harvick gained 170 points last weekend at Phoenix to bring his season-to-date points total to 5,493. This point total surpasses Sam Ard’s single-season points total of 5,454 set in 1983.(RCR PR)(11-14-2006)
• Crafton to the Busch Series? In other Truck Series news, Sirius Speedway has learned that Matt Crafton is the leading candidate to replace Kenny Wallace in the ppc Racing #22 Busch Series entry next season. Crafton, a native of Tulare, California, is currently 13th in NCTS points driving for ThorSport Racing, with four Top-Five and 10 Top-10 finishes. Wallace recently signed a contract with the Furniture Row Racing Nextel Cup team that will allow him to race on the Busch Series only with their permission.(Motorsports Soapbox)(11-14-2006)
• CitiFinancial Returning in 2007: CitiFinancial announced today that they have extended their current contract with Robert Yates Racing as the primary sponsor on the #90 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion through 2007. Stephen Leicht will return as the full time driver for the CitiFinancial Team.(RYR PR)(11-14-2006)
• Bourque To Run Limited Busch Schedule In 2007: Canadian driver Pierre Bourque is talking with several Busch teams about running a limited schedule in 2007. Bourque, who spent the 2006 season competing in the full NASCAR Busch East Series and limited ARCA RE/MAX Series schedules will be one of several Canadians expected to compete in the inaugural Montreal race. Bourque also will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Sponsorship has been secured for his Busch efforts and will be announced at a later date.(Bourque PR)(11-14-2006)
• Double-Duty For Dale Jr.: The Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead will mark Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 255th career start – and his 255th points race with Budweiser sponsorship. The day prior, however, will be Junior’s first start with Budweiser colors in the Busch Series. Dale Jr., a two-time champion with 22 career victories in only 90 Busch Series starts, will race the familiar red #8 Budweiser paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the Ford 300 race. Dale Jr. has two victories this season in four Busch Series starts for DEI.(fingerprintinc/Bud PR)(11-14-2006)
• Wrigley to Sponsor Sorenson & Stremme in 2007: The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company will make its NASCAR debut with a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) that features Wrigley’s Spearmint, Doublemint, Big Red, Juicy Fruit and Winterfresh brands. Wrigley will sponsor Reed Sorenson and David Stremme, who will drive the #41 Dodge in the first 25 NASCAR Busch Series races in 2007, and Juan Pablo Montoya, who will drive the #42 Big Red Dodge in three NEXTEL Cup races for the 2007 NASCAR season. Sorenson and Stremme will alternate as the driver of the #41 car on the first 25 races of the Busch Series. Their car will feature a rotating paint scheme of Wrigley’s Spearmint, Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, and Winterfresh brands. Wrigley will be an associate sponsor of the car for the remaining 10 races.(CGRFS PR)(11-12-2006)
• Carpentier Still Looking for Busch Deal: Former Indy Racing League driver Patrick Carpentier was roaming in the Busch Series garage Saturday looking for a possible part-time ride next season. Carpentier already has inked a deal to run the entire Grand American Rolex Road Racing Series schedule next year but has some funding to bring to a Busch team. He wants to run the Busch races on the road courses as well as some ovals.(SceneDaily.com)(11-12-2006)
• Roush finalizing plans with Villeneuve: UPDATE: Roush Racing appears to be finalizing plans to put former Indy 500 champion and F-1 star Jacques Villeneuve in a Ford for several Busch Series races next year. Although the schedule isn’t set, it’ll almost certainly include the Saturday afternoon, Aug. 4 road race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his hometown of Montreal.(Ford Racing)(10-13-2006)
  UPDATE: Any hopes that Canada’s Jacques Villeneuve might be part of NASCAR’s Roush Racing team next season appear to be over. Villeneuve had been in talks with the elite team about driving in 2007 as part of their NASCAR Busch Series squad as a prelude to jumping to the Nextel Cup side. But yesterday Roush Racing general manager Geoff Smith said there is now only a remote chance of Canada’s only Formula One champion joining the team next season. “We’re nowhere in that regards for ’07,” he said yesterday. “There are just general discussions that are going on, but I don’t see us being able to make an arrangement to pull together a program where we are today. It’s possible that we do something. It’s an outside shot given the timing of the year.”(Calgary Sun)(11-12-2006)
• Huffman WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race in Phoenix: Shane Huffman was the WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race in the Arizona.Travel 200. Huffman led once for 17 laps and captured the award for the first time this season. This is the first time that Huffman has led a lap in 10 Busch Series starts.(Wix PR)(11-12-2006)
• Ward Burton Could Run Some Busch Races in 2007: Ward Burton says he’s close to signing to return to the #4 Morgan-McClure car next season in the Nextel Cup Series. And he would like to run even more races. Burton is in negotiations to drive for the team next year and hopes to land a part-time Busch ride to help in that effort. “We’re working on a Cup deal, so I feel pretty positive about that,” Burton said Friday afternoon. “I’d really like to find one of the Busch programs that could use me as part of the program and run some conjunction races with them, whether that be five or 15,” Burton said.(SceneDaily.com)(11-11-2006)
• MB2 Announces 2007 Lineup: MB2’s Busch Series ride will be shared by Regan Smith and Kraig Kinser. Doug Randolph will oversee the crew chief duties for the Busch operation. Smith will also drive in 16 Cup races.(MB2 PR)(11-10-2006)
• AutoZone Participating in St. Jude Thanks and Giving Program; Wallace to Run Special Scheme at Homestead: AutoZone and ppc Racing have partnered up in an effort to bring awareness to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Thanks and Giving campaign this holiday season. The #22 AutoZone Ford piloted by driver Kenny Wallace will feature a very special paint scheme in support of the campaign. AutoZone is one of 12 new retailers this year, bringing the total to 46 retailers across the country, to participate in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, an innovative cause-marketing effort now in its third year. The program asks consumers to “give thanks for the healthy kids in their lives and give to those who are not.” Customers nationwide are asked to help raise funds by shopping at participating retailers, such as AutoZone, by adding a donation at check out or by purchasing specialty items to benefit St. Jude.(ppc PR)(11-10-2006)
• Brian Keselowski Substituting for Brad at Phoenix: Brian Keselowski is taking a turn behind the wheel of the #23 Ridley Chevrolet this weekend in the Arizona Travel 200. He will be making his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series while subbing for his brother, Brad Keselowski, who is the regular driver of the car. Brian Keselowski is driving so that younger brother Brad can retain his eligibility for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in 2007.(Keith Coleman Racing PR)(11-10-2006)
• Canadian D.J. Kennington Running At Phoenix: Canadian race fans will have an opportunity to cheer for one of their own this Saturday. In a sport dominated by American drivers, the NASCAR Busch Series will see St. Thomas, Ontario’s DJ (Douglas James) Kennington race for the checkered flag in a #72 Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. sponsored Dodge. Kennington made his NASCAR Busch Series debut on October 28th in Memphis and finished 27th out of a 43 car field.(Inside Track News)(11-10-2006)
• Wimmer and Jeff Burton to Drive #29 in 2007: Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts will expand its winning NASCAR Busch Series program with Richard Childress Racing in 2007 to a full season of competition with co-drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer. Burton and Wimmer will split the 35-race season down the middle, though which driver runs an 18th race is yet to be determined.(RCR PR)(11-9-2006)
• Crocker Competing in Phoenix & Homestead Busch Races: Crocker will finish off the 2006 season competing in both the NASCAR Truck and Busch Series races at Phoenix and Homestead.(Evernham PR)(11-9-2006)
• Harvick: Make double duty more difficult for Cup drivers: Kevin Harvick has made a mockery of the NASCAR Busch Series this season, clinching the championship three weeks ago and posting nine victories, 22 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes. But he’s not unsympathetic to the plight of the independent Busch teams. Asked earlier this week about what he would do if he were in charge of the Busch Series, Harvick had some interesting answers. “I think the first thing that I would change would be the schedule,” Harvick said. “I would make it impossible for Cup drivers to make it to at least five of the races.” Currently, there are eight “standalone” Busch races, but two are on Nextel Cup off-weekends, and the six others are relatively easy to access. “The second thing I would do would be to put Cup rosters in place so that you couldn’t use your pit crews from the Cup series,” Harvick said. That would, in theory, make the battles on pit road more competitive, instead of Nextel Cup teams having a built-in advantage with their pit crews. “I would also seal the motors, so that you would have to run them twice,” Harvick said. “That would cut the motor bill in half and would save $500,000-$700,000 in motor cost.” No such legislation exists. “Finally, I would cut the number of races back to 30 or so,” Harvick said. “This would get the cost to run a good Busch program down to $4-$4.5 million, which I think you could sell.”(SceneDaily.com)(11-8-2006)
• Special Scheme on the #27 at Phoenix and Homestead: Kimberly-Clark’s KLEENEX Facial Tissue and VIVA Paper Towels brands will feature a holiday theme on Brewco’s #27 Ford this weekend in Phoenix and next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The flashy, holiday, paint scheme is designed to coordinate with package graphics on KLEENEX Facial Tissue and VIVA Paper Towels. This is the second year in a row for the “Ornaments on Parade” paint scheme.(Brewco PR)(11-8-2006)
• Willie Allen Back in the #14 at Phoenix: Willie Allen will make his second NASCAR Busch Series start this Saturday at the Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix. Allen’s first NASCAR Busch Series attempt came just two weeks ago with FitzBradshaw Racing at Memphis. Qualifying an amazing 4th, Allen made a strong impression with the FitzBradshaw team and will once again pilot the #14 Family Dollar Dodge this weekend.(FBR PR)(11-8-2006)
• O’Quinn Unsure of 2007 Plans: UPDATE: Danny O’Quinn is neck-and-neck with John Andretti for rookie of the year honors in the Busch Series, and that would be a big accomplishment for a driver with mostly short-track experience. It also would help O’Quinn stay in the minds of prospective employers. O’Quinn doesn’t know whether he’ll be back with Roush Racing [#50] next season but hopes to return after a rookie season in which he sits 18th in points despite not competing in two races.(SceneDaily.com)(11-5-2006)
  UPDATE: Sounds like a vote of confidence from a PR about Roush’s rookies – “Look for Ragan, O’Quinn and Darnell to do just that; become better drivers. It won’t be long before these three stand-outs are adding to the winning tradition of one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, Roush Racing.”(11-7-2006)
• Hornish Making Busch Debut at Phoenix: Sam Hornish Jr., three-time IndyCar Series Champion and 2006 Indianapolis 500 race winner, will attempt to qualify the #39 Mobil 1 Dodge for his first NASCAR Busch Series event at Phoenix. Hornish has competed at PIR six times in IndyCar competition, with an average starting position of 8.33.(Penkse PR)(11-7-2006)
• McMurray to Make Last Start for RWI: This Saturday Jamie McMurray will make his final start behind the wheel of RWI Racing’s #64 Top-Flite Dodge at Phoenix. Since McMurray joined RWI Racing in 2004, he has played an instrumental role in building the team into the high caliber organization that it is today.(RWI PR)(11-7-2006)
• Raybestos Rookie Notes for Phoenix: Todd Kluever was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the O’Reilly Challenge 300 at Texas. Kluever scored a 10th-place finish, his third top-10 in 33 Busch Series starts. All three of his top-10 finishes have been on superspeedways. Kluever took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the seventh time in 2006. John Andretti and Danny O’Quinn Jr. remain tied for the lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings (198-198) entering the Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix. Andretti is 12th in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(11-6-2006)
• Car Falls On Pit Crew Member; He’s Unhurt: One of the most intense moments during Saturday’s race occurred when Mike Skinner’s #12 Supercuts Dodge was lowered onto pit crew member Jerry Kelley. Kelley had crawled beneath the car to make a spring adjustment after changing the right rear tire. The car appeared to fall on Kelley, but he said he was unhurt.(Dallas Morning News)(11-5-2006)
• Braun Officially to Toyota as Well; Blaney to Run Double Duty: Toyota unveiled its Busch Series lineup Saturday, and there weren’t many surprises: Michael Waltrip Racing with driver David Reutimann, Braun Racing with drivers Jason Leffler and Dave Blaney and Biagi DenBeste Racing with Auggie Vidovich. Reutimann and Blaney will do double duty for the entire season, with Reutimann driving for Waltrip on the Cup side as well while Blaney will remain in his Bill Davis Racing ride.(SceneDaily.com)(11-4-2006)
• Michael Waltrip Racing to Toyota; Official Announcement: Michael Waltrip Racing officially announced today that it will be one of three Toyota Camry teams to enter into full-time NASCAR Busch Series competition in 2007. Michael Waltrip Racing will field one NASCAR Busch Series entry – the #99 Aaron´s Dream Machine – with driver David Reutimann competing for the championship. (11-4-2006)
• Biagi-DenBeste #4 Team to Announce 2007 Plans: UPDATE: The Biagi DenBeste Racing team will take part in a press conference on Saturday, November 4th to announce an exciting new development in the team’s plans for the 2007 season.(Biagi-DenBeste PR)(11-1-2006)
  UPDATE: Biagi DenBeste Racing announced today that they will be racing a Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007.(Biagi PR)(11-4-2006)
• KHI to Announce 2007 Lineup at Texas: UPDATE 2: Kevin Harvick Inc. and the Dollar General Corporation have scheduled a press conference on Friday, November 3. KHI and Dollar General will discuss 2007 program plans and the driver line-up.(KHI PR)(10-30-2006)
  UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced today that Dollar General Corp. has renewed its contract for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season. The Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based discount retailer will return to KHI with the #77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet in all 35 events on the Busch Series schedule. Two-time Busch Series Champion Kevin Harvick, Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte and Busch Series driver Kertus Davis will alternate as drivers of the #77 car during the season. Davis will compete in 13 events; Labonte will compete in 18 events and team owner Harvick will compete in five events for Dollar General, including one event in the KHI owned #33 car. The Dollar General stores car will be one of two full-time Busch teams that KHI will field in 2007. In addition to the #77 car, KHI will field the #33 Chevrolet, which will feature multiple sponsors and drivers.(KHI PR)(11-3-2006)
• Richardson to pull double duty at Texas: UPDATE: Robert Richardson will attempt to qualify for both events this weekend at his home track of Texas Motor Speedway. The 24-year old McKinney, Texas native will race in Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series race and attempt to qualify for his career first Busch Series race on Saturday. Richardson will pilot the #1 Kinky Friedman for Governor Chevy Silverado in the Silverado 350k Friday evening and the #80 R3 Racing Chevy in the O’Reilly Challenge Busch Series event on Saturday. (Texas Motor Speedway PR)(11-1-2006)
  UPDATE: The Vote Kinky Friedman for Governor campaign will sponsor a race truck and a racecar at two of this weekend’s NASCAR races at Fort Worth’s Texas Motor Speedway. SMU Alum Robert Richardson will pilot both vehicles this weekend for his father’s team, Robert Richardson Racing. The #1 Silverado will compete in tonight’s Craftsman Truck Series race and the #80 Monte Carlo SS will attempt to qualify for Saturday’s Busch Series race.(SMUDailyCampus.com)(11-3-2006)
• Double Duty for Kyle Busch Next Year? Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Busch left open the possibility that he could run both the full Nextel Cup and Busch Series schedules in 2007, something he has said repeatedly he doesn’t want to do. Busch said recently he and car owner Rick Hendrick have begun discussions about the driver’s Busch Series plans for next season. And while Busch doesn’t want to run the full Busch schedule, he may have no choice. “There have been discussions on whether to go full time again or whether to go 20 races or 25 races,” Busch said Friday at Texas. Sponsorship may be an issue as to whether Hendrick runs two cars or if one driver runs the full schedule. Casey Mears is in the mix for a Busch ride next year as he joins Hendrick Motorsports. Whether Jimmie Johnson continues to run select Busch races is unknown, too.(SceneDaily.com)(11-3-2006)
• 3M to Sponsor Biffle/Kluever in 2007: 3M Company and Roush Racing announced today that 3M will sponsor the #16 3M Ford in seven NASCAR Nextel Cup races and the full Busch Series in 2007. Greg Biffle will represent 3M in the Nextel Cup Series and will share driving responsibilities with Todd Kluever in the #16 3M Ford for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series. Biffle is scheduled to drive 19 Busch races for 3M in the 2007 season. Kluever will drive the remainder of the schedule, beginning with the season-opening race at Daytona.(Roush PR)(11-3-2006)
• New Sponsor for Keith Coleman Racing: Ridley Motorcycles has joined Keith Coleman Racing as the primary sponsor of Brad Keselowski and the #23 Ridley Motorcycles Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2006 season as well as 2007.(KCR PR)(11-2-2006)
• Global Dehumidification Solutions to Sponsor Andretti at Texas: Global Dehumidification Solutions, Inc. (GDSI) and its partner in the Disaster Restoration business, Steamatic, will be sponsoring the #10 car with driver John Andretti for the Busch Series race at Texas. GDSI is the leading dehumidification service company for disaster restoration.(ppc PR)(11-2-2006)
• Special Scheme for Bowyer at Texas: IMAGE: Bowyer will be piloting the #2 Timberland PRO Series Chevy this weekend. He drove the special paint scheme last season for the fall Texas Motor Speedway Busch Series race as well.(RCR PR)(10-31-2006)
  See an image of the car on my 2006 Paint Schemes page.(11-2-2006)
• Goeters to Drive #63 at Texas & Homestead: After several months of hard work and preparation off the track, Mexican NASCAR driver Jorge Goeters will make his return at this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series race in Texas. Goeters, who is part of NASCAR’S initiative to increase diversity among drivers and crew members, competed in three races at the beginning of the 2006 season. Goeters is pleased to work with Spraker Racing for the Texas race as well as the upcoming Miami race on November 18. Jeff Spraker, team owner, will also act as Crew Chief of those two races. At the Texas and Miami NASCAR Busch Series events, Goeters will drive the #63 sponsored by Xtreme Gel and Enventys Latino Market Solutions(Goeters PR)(11-1-2006)
• Brent Sherman in the #36 at Phoenix & Homestead: The McGill Motorsports web site states that Brent Sherman will be behind the wheel of the #36 Chevy when the Busch Series heads to Phoenix and Homestead.(McGill Motorsports web site)(11-1-2006)
• Stanton Barrett goes back to driving school – for bobsleds When Stanton Barrett failed to qualify for last weekend’s Busch Series race, he figured it was time to go back to driving school. Barrett, an accomplished Hollywood stunt driver trying to make it in NASCAR, has made only eight Busch starts this season, and maybe it’s because he’s been distracted. The driving school he’s attending this week is one for budding bobsled drivers in Calgary, Alberta.(FoxSports/AP)(11-1-2006)
• Tim Sauter Looking for New Ride for 2007: UPDATE 2: Frustrated by a lack of competitiveness and “a lot of (expletive deleted),” Tim Sauter will be on the move again next season. The 41-year-old member of the NASCAR Busch Series racing clan from Necedah, Wis., ranks 25th in points, having qualified for 24 of 26 races. The two he missed were punishment from the #36-McGill Motorsports, Sauter said, for his part in the having illegal shock absorbers on the team’s car at Gateway. Goal #1 is to contend again and to make a decent living. If Sauter or an owner could supplement his partial sponsorship from Lester Buildings, he believes they could at least make a couple of waves in Busch or the Craftsman Truck Series.(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)(9-1-2006)
  UPDATE: The Sams Town 250 was the last race for Sauter and McGill Motorsports, who will go separate ways with three races to go in the season.(Lester Buildings PR)(10-31-2006)
  UPDATE 2: Sponsor Lester Buildings said it planned to support Sauter next season, though with another team. “We don’t have anything signed for next year yet but we should have some things finalized shortly,” Lester Building Vice President Larry Lembrich said.(SceneDaily.com)(11-1-2006)
• Wanke Penalized for Memphis Infraction: NASCAR announced today that Fred Wanke, crew chief of the #01 Chevy driven by Jay Sauter in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been penalized due to rules violations at Memphis. Wanke was fined $2,500 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 – 17B(3): any crew member who steps into the car servicing area must wear a fire resistant uniform) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction occurred during the race on Oct. 28.(NASCAR PR)(11-1-2006)