October 2006 Busch Series Archive

Checker Auto Parts to Sponsor Steve Wallace at Phoenix: RWI Racing has teamed up with Checker Auto Parts for the NASCAR Busch Series’ Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix. Steve Wallace will pilot the #61 Checker Auto Parts Dodge Charger.(RWI PR)(10-31-2006)
Vision Racing Plans Busch Debut at Texas: The O’Reilly 300 is a huge weekend for Vision Racing. In addition to Randy Lajoie making his debut for Vision Racing. The team [#37] will look to make their NASCAR Busch Series debut on Saturday stepping up from the ARCA RE/MAX Series. [Note: The team attempted the Kansas race with LaJoie, but didn’t not qualify. They also attempted Richmond with Josh Krug.](Vision Racing Team PR)(10-31-2006)
Brookshire’s on the #27 at Texas: This week’s Associate Sponsor of the #27 is Brookshire’s. Currently the grocery company operates 154 stores under the banners of Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Olé Foods in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.(Brewco PR)(10-31-2006)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Texas: Danny O’Quinn Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis. O’Quinn Jr. finished ninth, his fifth top-10 of the season, and grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the eighth time in 2006. O’Quinn Jr. and John Andretti are tied for the lead (197-197) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas. Andretti is 13th in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(10-31-2006)
Montoya to Run Remainder of Busch Season: UPDATE: Official Juan Pablo Montoya most likely will run the remaining three Busch Series races this year, team owner Chip Ganassi confirmed Sunday morning. Whether Montoya, who will run a full season in the #42 Nextel Cup car for Ganassi next year, will make his Cup debut this season remains to be seen, Ganassi said.(SceneDaily.com)(10-29-2006)
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today Juan Pablo Montoya and the #42 Texaco/Havoline NASCAR Busch Series team is scheduled to compete in the final three races of the 2006 Busch Series season.(CGRFS PR)(10-30-2006)
Frank Cicci Racing to Attempt Last Three Races: Frank Cicci Racing is seeking sponsorship for their #34 Chevrolet. Cicci will attempt the remainder of the 2006 Busch schedule. Cicci is determined to give sponsors and fans the full NASCAR experience, “we are going to alternate drivers”, said Cicci, “we are going to call on some “NASCAR fan-favorites” to close out the 2006 season. We are looking forward to an optimistic 20th Anniversary year in 2007.”(Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly PR)(10-30-2006)
David Green to Drive for Riley-D’Hondt at Daytona: David Green will drive the Busch Series season-opening race in 2007 at Daytona for Riley-D’Hondt Motorsports and possibly the full season for the team. Team co-owner Eddie D’Hondt said Sunday that the new team has moved into its shop and working on finalizing plans for its Busch program next year. The team is planning to run two Busch teams. D’Hondt said the team will announce which manufacturer it is aligned with in the next week. Speculation centers that it is Toyota, which also is expected to announce its Busch lineup next weekend at Texas.(SceneDaily.com)(10-29-2006)
Hornish to run Busch and ARCA Races? UPDATES: Roger Penske said Saturday that he was working on a plan that would allow his IRL driver Sam Hornish Jr. to race in some NASCAR Busch Series and ARCA Series races next season. That would be in addition to a full IRL schedule for Hornish, who won the Indianapolis 500 this year. “Sam has talked about running some Busch or ARCA races, and we´re looking at a potential program,´´ Penske said before the Sharpie 500. “We haven´t put all the pieces together.” Although Penske used an ARCA, Busch and Nextel Cup program to develop the driver Ryan Newman before promoting him to the Cup series full-time, Penske said it was too early to say if Hornish would move up to compete in the Cup series by 2008.(New York Times)(8-28-2006)
UPDATES since posted on #77 Team News and Links page.
UPDATE – Hornish to race in Nov. Phoenix Busch race? Reports that IRL champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. will make his stock car debut next month at Phoenix in a NASCAR Busch Series car are premature, a Team Penske spokesman said Friday night. A recent story cited unidentified sources as saying the Penske team will enter Hornish in the Busch races at Phoenix and Homestead in November, as well as running him in selected Busch and ARCA events next season before launching a full-time Nextel Cup career in 2008. “Roger Penske has said publicly that we are considering a plan that would allow Sam to race in some Busch and ARCA races next year, for sure, along with his IRL schedule,” Chris Schwartz, director of marketing and communications for the Penske team, told The Associated Press. “That’s all in motion and it’s a goal of ours to get him into a Busch race this year,” Schwartz added. “But he hasn’t even tested a (stock) car, yet. We hope to get that accomplished soon and we hope to get him in the Phoenix (Busch) race and maybe the Homestead (Busch) race, too. But nothing is done yet.”(Associated Press)(10-14-2006)
UPDATE: been told that Hornish will run the Phoenix and Homestead Busch races with in the #39 Mobil 1 Dodge, offiicial announcement to come later this morning.(10-28-2006)
UPDATE 3: Penske Racing officials announced Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway that three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. will attempt to qualify for two NASCAR Busch Series races this season. Hornish will pilot the #39 Mobil 1 Dodge at the Nov. 11 Phoenix and Nov. 18 Homestead events. Penske Racing will expand its Busch Series effort in 2007, splitting duties between Hornish and fellow Penske drivers #12- Ryan Newman and #2-Kurt Busch. Hornish has tested the Busch car twice already, at Kentucky and Iowa.(AMS Pit Notes)(10-28-2006)
Jossie Cordoba on the #10 at Memphis: Up and coming high energy Latin singer Jossie Cordoba will be featured on the #10 car driven by John Andretti during this weekend’s Sam’s Town 250. Scheduled for international release on November 9, 2006 in Miami, Nada Normal is a collection of songs composed and produced by Jossie Cordoba.(ppc Racing PR)(10-27-2006)
Paul Tracy Committed to Champ Car; Will Not Run NASCAR in 2007: Tracy has decided to remain loyal to Champ Car and abandon plans to participate in NASCAR in 2007. Tracy participated in six NASCAR Busch Series races in 2006 and showed signs of potentially having a successful career in stock cars.(Player Management International PR)(10-27-2006)
Martin plans to run some Busch Races in 2007: Mark Martin said Thursday that he probably will drive in five to 10 races in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 in a Ford. He said he also probably will run five to 10 races in the Busch Series, driving a Chevrolet. Martin is driving the #01 Chevrolet for MB2 Motorsports [Ginn Racing] in 20 Nextel Cup races next season. Martin has raced in the truck series 11 times this season, winning five of them.(Dallas Morning News)(10-27-2006)
USAC Drivers Look to Busch in 2007: Bobby Santos III, Josh Wise, Bryan Clauson, Billy Wease and Stephanie Mockler are among the USAC drivers positioned to break into NASCAR. Of course, there are no guarantees. Clauson, who has signed with Ganassi Racing, suffered multiple neck injuries in a sprint car accident in September. He is expected to return to driving in the spring; his Busch Series debut is projected for the final third of the season. For every USAC champion like Wise, who will compete in the Busch and Craftsman Truck Series next year for Michael Waltrip Motorsports, there is a Stevie Reeves, a two-time midget champion whose NASCAR career stalled short of the Nextel Cup Series.(Indianapolis Star)(10-26-2006)
Dexter Bean to Attempt Memphis Race: UDPATE 2: BlackJack Racing officials announced today the addition of the NASCAR Busch Series race from Memphis to ARCA rookie Dexter Bean’s 2006 racing schedule. Bean will attempt to make his NBS debut in next Saturday’s Sam’s Town 250 in the #63 Chevy.(Black Jack Racing PR)(10-19-2006)
UDPATE: Bean, who competed full time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this season is getting a jump start on his 2007 racing season where he is expected to return to ARCA full time in addition to running an additional five to seven NASCAR Busch races.(Black Jack Racing PR)(10-23-2006)
UPDATE 2: Longtime BlackJack Racing sponsor Five Star Telecom will unite with promising driver Dexter Bean as BlackJack Racing plans to make their NASCAR Busch Series debut in Saturday’s Sam’s Town 250.(Black Jack Racing PR)(10-27-2006)
Marines Leaving #25 Team: UPDATE 2 Not Returning to NASCAR: After six seasons with the United States Marine Corps serving as the lead marketing partner for the #25 Team Rensi Motorsports Ford Fusion, the organization will begin a sponsorship search for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season. The longtime Busch Series team was notified of the Marine Corps decision this past week. The Marine Corps stated: “The Marine Corps has decided to reduce it’s investment in motorsports and does not plan to return to the NASCAR Busch Series as the primary advertiser of the #25 car next season.”(Team Rensi PR)(8-7-2006)
UPDATE: [Rensi Co-owner Gary] Weisbaum didn’t know where the Marines would be headed but said the service had filed a request for proposal for either a part-time Nextel Cup program or a Busch program. Team Rensi Vice President Ronnie Russell said the team would market Ashton Lewis Jr. and the #25 as a package to potential sponsors but added that the team is open to other drivers and sponsor combinations if necessary. Russell said the team wants to field three cars next year if sponsorship can be found. One of those cars could be the #90 as part of the alliance with Robert Yates Racing. The contract of Regan Smith is set to be signed before the race at Watkins Glen, Russell said. McDonald’s has already re-signed to sponsor that team.(NASCAR Scene)(8-10-2006)
UPDATE 2: Marine Corps Recruiting Command is ending its relationship with NASCAR at the end of the year, according to the command’s assistant chief of staff for advertising. Lt. Col. Mike Zeliff said the Corps paid $3.5 million last year to endorse Busch Series driver Ashton Lewis Jr.(Navy Times)(10-26-2006)
“Collier & Co.” Movie on Barrett’s #95: John Schneider of “The Dukes of Hazzard” fame will premiere his new movie, “Collier & Co.,” which he starred in and produced, on the October 26-28 weekend of the Sam’s Town 250 Busch Series NASCAR race in Memphis, Tennessee. The “Collier & Co.” logo will prominently be attached to the #95 of NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett who also happens to be the sole stunt driver to jump the General Lee over a river along with many of the other stunts performed in the 2005 movie, “The Dukes of Hazzard” starring Jessica Simpson.(RateEmpire.com)(10-26-2006)
Mark Green Subbing for Yeley: Mark Green will practice and qualify for J.J. Yeley in JGR’s #18 this weekend at Memphis.(Mark-Green.com)(10-26-2006)
Hermie Sadler to Practice and Qualify #9 at Memphis: Hermie Sadler will practice and qualify the #9 Evernham Motorsports Busch Series car for Kasey Kahne this weekend at Memphis. Kahne, who is pulling double duty with the Nextel Cup Series event in Atlanta as well as the Busch race at Memphis, is scheduled to get to the track just prior to the Sam’s Town 250 on Saturday to compete in the event.(SceneDaily.com)(10-26-2006)
Steve Wallace Tests at VIR: RWI Racing driver Steve Wallace completed his first stock car road course test Tuesday. Under the tutelage of road racing ace, Boris Said, the younger Wallace and team spent the day at Virginia International Raceway in preparation for his NASCAR road course debut, scheduled to take place at the 2007 Mexico City Busch Series event. Driving a #64 Dodge specially-modified to accommodate two people, Wallace toured the rural Virginia circuit in a time of 1:31:67. His time was merely two one-hundredths of a second slower than Said’s best lap of 1:31:65.(RWI PR)(10-25-2006)
Peter Shepherd to Practice and Qualify #60 at Memphis: Roush Racing developmental driver, Peter Shepherd, will practice and qualify Carl Edwards’ Busch Series #60 FreeCreditReport.com Ford this weekend in Memphis. This will be Shepherd’s inaugural Busch Series event. Shepherd has competed in three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season for Roush Racing, the first of which was at Memphis.(Roush Racing PR)(10-25-2006)
Busch Banquet on TNT: TNT will broadcast the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series banquet on Tuesday, December 19 at 12:00am. The event is being held Friday, December 8 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.(TNT PR)(10-24-2006)
New Car Models Coming to Busch in Future: Manufacturers and NASCAR also continuing to move forward with plans to change all of the models used in the Busch Series, perhaps as soon as the 2010 season. That change would put smaller, sportier models into competition, like the retro-designed Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger – as well as the Toyota Solara.(Yahoo Sports)(10-24-2006)
Joey Miller to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Joey Miller will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in the No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Michael Waltrip Racing entry at Memphis Motorsports Park.(Aarons PR)(10-24-2006)
Children’s Miracle Network on the #38 at Memphis: The Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) will be featured on the rear quarter panels of the #38 Great Clips Chevy this weekend in Memphis. Great Clips, Inc. is a proud sponsor of CMN and over the past few years, Great Clips salons around the country have helped raise money for CMN hospitals with their annual Miracle Balloon campaign which takes place in October.(Braun Racing PR)(10-24-2006)
Justin Labonte Driving #5 at Memphis: Justin Labonte will drive Hendrick Motorsports’ #5 at Memphis this weekend, with regular driver Kyle Busch electing to focus solely on the Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta this weekend. Busch had been attempting to run every event in both series this season and sits sixth in points after 31 Busch Series races. Paul Menard, just eight points behind Busch, will surpass him for sixth place by starting Saturday’s race.(SceneDaily.com)(10-24-2006)
Former Busch Driver Lyndon Amick Headed to Afganistan: Three years after he left the Busch Series to join the National Guard, Lyndon Amick is on his way to Afghanistan. This will be the real deal. It’ll be no public relations tour, the kind he might’ve made as a race car driver. Trained in the infantry, he’ll be on the ground, a grunt, for the duration of his one-year deployment to the nation’s capital in Kabul.(BGNRacing.com)(10-22-2006)
Harvick to skip Memphis Race? UPDATE: NO There may be a slim chance newly crowned Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick will skip the October 28th race at Memphis. Harvick and the US Coast Guard Chevy team locked up the title this past weekend at Charlotte. “I haven’t even looked at the schedule yet” said Harvick during a break at the Homestead-Miami Speedway test. “I don’t foresee that happening. We didn’t plan to do anything but racing there at the beginning of the year anyway. We’ll sit down and look at it for sure after Martinsville and go from there.”(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-17-2006)
UPDATE: Randy LaJoie will sub for Harvick this weekend at Memphis for Friday’s practice sessions and qualifying on Saturday. Harvick will arrive at the track in time for the race.(RCR PR)(10-23-2006)
Chris Wimmer in the #0 at Memphis: Chris Wimmer returns to the NASCAR Busch Series this weekend behind the wheel of the #0 Davis Motorsports Chevrolet for Saturday’s Sam’s Town 250 at the Memphis. Wimmer will substitute for driver Kertus Davis while Davis practices and qualifies another entry for a NASCAR Nextel Cup driver traveling from Atlanta to compete in this event.[Davis was in the #20 for Denny Hamlin earlier in the year.](Davis Motorsports PR)(10-23-2006)
Rookie Notes for the Sam’s Town 250: Danny O’Quinn Jr. was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. O’Quinn Jr. finished fifth, his best effort in 29 Busch Series starts. He scored his first top-five and fourth top-10 finish of the season and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the seventh time this season. John Andretti leads O’Quinn Jr. by four points (196-192) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis. Andretti is 13th in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(10-23-2006)
Kenny Wallace to Cup for Next Two Years: Kenny Wallace announced a two-year contract with Furniture Row Racing that all but ends his participation in the Busch Series. Furniture Row, owned by Barney Visser, has signed Wallace to an exclusive contract that allows Busch races only by permission. “When somebody wants you and offers you a two-year deal and they say, ‘But, we want you all to ourselves,’ I say, ‘OK.’ ” Wallace said. “I’m not saying no more Busch. I’m saying exclusive No. 78 Furniture Row. If somebody comes to me, I’ve got to clear it through [crew chief] Joe [Garone] and Barney.”(SceneDaily.com)(10-21-2006)
Wimmer to RCR? UPDATE: hearing that Scott Wimmer, who parted ways with Morgan-McClure Motorsports on Tuesday, will have a ride with a Richard Childress Racing Busch Series team in 2007.(10-4-2006)
UPDATE: Scott Wimmer, who tested the Richard Childress Racing #33 Nextel Cup car earlier this week and stood atop the RCR #29 hauler during qualifying Friday at Martinsville, seems destined to join the organization next season. Neither Wimmer nor an RCR spokesman would confirm Wimmer’s hiring. RCR has openings in its Busch Series program and has run a fourth Nextel Cup car at select races this year.(SceneDaily.com)(10-20-2006)
Brewco to Enter Homestead Cup Race with Atwood: Brewco Motorsports, in cooperation with Stanton Barrett Motorsports, will attempt to field a #95 Nextel Cup car for Casey Atwood in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month. Wilkerson said the team is working on putting together a sponsorship package for 10 races next season and has had very preliminary discussions with Barrett about trying to team up to field a car throughout the entire 2007 season. The team, which will enter a Ford, will have sponsorship from one of Kleenex’s brands for the Homestead race.(SceneDaily.com)(10-20-2006)
ACDelco to Return in 2007? UPDATE: NO ACDelco will announce by the end of October whether it will return as sponsor of Richard Childress Racing’s #2 Busch car. ACDelco partner GM Goodwrench is leaving as a primary sponsor of RCR’s #29 Cup car.(NASCAR Scene)(10-12-2006)
UPDATE: ACDelco will not return as the primary sponsor of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) #2 Chevy in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007. “Our decision not to continue our involvement in the Busch Series is related to our desire to explore other consumer marketing initiatives, including other motorsports activities,” said Jim Moloney, general director, GMSPO Marketing. For over two decades, the ACDelco brand has been intrinsically associated with the Busch Series. As both an event and team sponsor, ACDelco has made significant contributions to the growth and success of NASCAR’s premier feeder series. During the past ten years, an impressive roster of drivers has competed in the ACDelco Chevrolet, including Steve Park, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Johnny Sauter, Ron Hornaday and Clint Bowyer. From 1997 through 2006, ACDelco drivers have earned an unrivalled three Busch Series championships, two Rookie-of-the-Year titles and 30 victories. In addition, ACDelco drivers have earned at least one Busch Series win in each of the last 10 years, including Bowyer’s victory at Dover International Speedway in September.(ACDelco PR)(10-19-2006)
Cale Gale Joins Kevin Harvick, Inc: UPDATE 2 Official: Cale Gale has been released from Phoenix Racing’s Driver Development program. Cale is leaving to join Kevin Harvick, Inc.(Finch PR)(10-3-2006)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick said Wednesday that Gale has not signed with KHI – “not today, he said – but that the young driver is in the mix for a ride with the team in 2007. “We’re looking at what we’re going to do with our programs for next year,” Harvick said. “He’s definitely somebody that we’re thinking about. But right now, we’re just trying to get it all shuffled around.”(SceneDaily.com)(10-4-2006)
UPDATE 2: 21-year-old NASCAR Busch and ARCA RE/MAX Series driver, Cale Gale, will drive the #33 Outdoor Channel Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series race at Memphis October 28. Charlie Wilson will serve as crew chief for Gale and the #33 Outdoor Channel team at Memphis. KHI’s 2007 plans for Gale will be announced at a later date.(KHI PR)(10-19-2006)
Advance Payment Services Joins RWI: RWI Racing is please to welcome Advance Payment Services (APS), a Plainview, N.Y.-based company as an associate sponsor in 2007 for the team’s #64 entry in the NASCAR Busch Series. APS provides credit card processing service to merchants ranging from small businesses to large multi-location businesses. In addition, APS provides services to Independent Sales Organizations with merchants in numerous types of businesses.(RWI PR)(10-19-2006)
ppc to Chevy? Crafton Driving? ppc Racing is leaving Ford and appears to be moving to Chevy next season, a source close to the team confirmed. ppc Director of Sponsor Relations Andy O’Hara said the team is still searching for a driver and sponsor for its #22 for 2007. Kenny Wallace is still in the mix, though Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton has been linked to ppc.(NASCAR Scene)(10-19-2006)
Jarrett in the ESPN Booth for some Busch Races in 2007: [Rusty] Wallace will be in the booth for every Busch race except six. He will take five weeks off, and Dale Jarrett will fill in during those races.(NASCAR Scene)(10-19-2006)
Team Yellow Wins Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Pit Challenge: Johnny Sauter’s #00 Team Yellow Pit Crew has clinched the 2006 Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Pit Challenge – a weekly NASCAR contingency award which goes to the lead-lap team who tallies the least amount of time on pit road during an event. Team Yellow boasts nine wins thus far this season and leads their next-closest competitor by five races.(Team Yellow PR)(10-19-2006)
Barnes Jr. To Make Busch Debut At Memphis: Chuck Barnes Jr. will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Barnes Jr. will driver for TC Motorsports [#07 Chevy]. Barnes, Jr. has driven in two ARCA RE/MAX Series events for TC Motorsports this season with a victory in his first start at Toledo Speedway.(Barnes PR)(10-19-2006)
Allen to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Tennessee native Willie Allen will make his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series at the Sam’s Town 250 in Memphis. Allen will pilot the #14 Dodge of FitzBradshaw Racing. Allen finished an impressive sixth in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville last October. Platinum selling country artist Josh Turner will provide the sponsorship of Allen’s #14 Dodge.(WhoWon.com)(10-18-2006)
Peters to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Richard Childress Racing will field the #29 Chevy for Timothy Peters in the Sam’s Town 250 Busch Series race at Memphis. Peters, recently signed to RCR for a part-time schedule in 2007, will have Pat Smith as crew chief. No sponsor was announced.(SceneDaily.com)(10-18-2006)
NASCAR Issues Penalties Following Lowes Race: NASCAR announced that Newt Moore, crew chief of the #66 Ford driven by Scott Wimmer and Kevin Caldwell, crew chief of the #80 Chevrolet driven by Robert Richardson, have each been fined due to rule violations discovered during opening day inspection at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Oct. 12, 2006. Moore was fined $5,000 for violation of 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: 20A-5.10.1B(6): Thickness of the carburetor throttle shaft and throttle plate was less than 0.197 inch) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. Caldwell was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (20A-16.5.1F: Excessive fuel line length).(NASCAR PR)(10-18-2006)
Steve Wallace to Replace McMurray at Texas and Homestead: Steve Wallace will replace Jamie McMurray in the team’s #64 at Texas and Homestead. Although Wallace was slated to run those races in the #61, the decision to have only one car was made to expedite Wallace’s preparation for 2007. Both McMurray and Wallace will compete in the NBS race in Phoenix in RWI Racing cars.(RWI PR)(10-18-2006)
Montoya to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Juan Pablo Montoya will make his NASCAR debut on October 28 in the NASCAR Busch Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park. Montoya will pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in his third stock car race since joining the organization. Montoya tested a Nextel Cup car at the Memphis track last week, and is currently participating in his first official NASCAR sanctioned test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(CGRFS PR)(10-17-2006)
Ryan Moore Still with DEI, but Looking at Options: Development driver Ryan Moore says he’s still under contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chevrolet through the end of the year but will need to consider his options starting in 2007. Moore has run one Busch Series race for Braun Racing and 11 Craftsman Truck Series races for Key Motorsports this year. The 23-year-old from Maine said he did not have a preference whether he raced in the Busch or truck series.(SceneDaily.com)(10-17-2006)
Bootie out at the #66? to help Sauter move to Cup? UPDATE: hearing Robert ‘Bootie’ Barker has been replaced as crew chief of the #66 Haas CNC Chevy that Jeff Green drives with Harold Holly. Supposedly Barker will work with Johnny Sauter to ready him and the 2nd Haas CNC team for Nextel Cup in 2007.(10-15/16-2006)
UPDATE: Harold Holly, who previously served as crew chief for Johnny Sauter, takes over duties as crew chief for Jeff Green effective immediately. Robert “Bootie” Barker, who previously served as crew chief for Green, in turn takes over crew chief duties for Sauter.(Haas CNC Racing PR)(10-16-2006)
Contreras in the #12 at Memphis: Carlos Contreras will pilot the #12 Supercuts Dodge at Memphis Motorsports Park.(FBR PR)(10-16-2006)
Wallace wins ARCA race at Iowa; Montoya 24th; Steve Wallace recovered from an early race close call and withstood late race pressure from Kraig Kinser to win the inaugural Prairie Meadows 250 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Iowa Speedway Sunday afternoon. In all, the 19-year-old driver led 177 of 250 laps in his #61 Hantz Group-TransAmerica Idex Mutual Funds Dodge en route to his third victory of 2006 and fourth overall. Bloomington, Indiana’s Kinser, making his first ARCA RE/MAX Series appearance since 2005, crossed the checkers .208 seconds behind to settle for second. Wallace, whose father Rusty designed the newly designed 7/8-mile speedway, escaped a very close call during the opening laps of the race when he was battling for position with #4-Juan Pablo Montoya. Wallace took the high line and made contact with Montoya, who glided up the track from the low groove in the #4 Texaco-Havoline Dodge, causing the two to make contact. Montoya went for a spin but was able to return to the track to post a 24th place finish, 42 laps down. Frank Kimmel brought his #46 Pork The Other White Meat Ford into the garage area on lap 122 with motor problems, relegating him to a 32nd place finish. On Saturday, the veteran driver clinched the 2006 national points championship, marking his seventh consecutive championship and eighth overall. In addition to the win, Wallace earned the Pork Pole award on Saturday, allowing him to clinch the ARCA RE/MAX Series Pork Pole Award title for 2006 for earning the most poles for the season. More at the Iowa Speedway site.(10-16-2006)
More Busch Races for Robby Gordon Motorsports: In addition to RGM’s current car—the #7 [in Cup]—it will at a minimum run a limited NASCAR Busch Series schedule in 2007 with hopes of campaigning a car for the Busch Series championship.(Ford Racing)(10-14-2006)
Papis to run Texas Busch race: Max Papis will get his first taste of a NASCAR oval when he drives the # 36 McGill Motorsports Busch Series car at Texas next month. Papis drove for McGill and finished 14th at Watkins Glen earlier this year. He is bringing Sport Clips as a sponsor. Papis said he would like to run a part-time Busch schedule next season when his road-course schedule permits.(SceneDaily.com)(10-13-2006)
Keller Back to Rensi? [Team Rensi President Ronnie] Russell said the team would like to run a third car, the #57, for Jason Keller next year should sponsorship materialize.(SceneDaily.com)(10-13-2006)
RWI Back to #66 in 2007: It was mentioned during Speed TV’s Busch qualifying coverage, that Rusty Wallace, Inc. will change car numbers next year from the #64 to #66. The team originally ran #66.(10-13-2006)
Robert Yates to Keep #90 Team Separate from Rensi: UPDATE 2: Robert Yates Racing will keep its #90 Busch Series car in its shop and not roll it into Team Rensi Motorsports, which recently formed an alliance with RYR. Stephen Leicht will drive the car, while Cup driver David Gilliland is working on a Busch deal with another team. (NASCAR Scene)(10-12-2006)
UPDATE: Rensi Motorsports will field cars for Bobby Hamilton Jr. and David Gilliland, the driver of the Yates-owned #38 Nextel Cup car.(Ford Racing)(10-13-2006)
UPDATE 2: David Gilliland will run 25 races for Team Rensi Motorsports in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007, Team Rensi President Ronnie Russell confirmed Friday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(SceneDaily.com)(10-13-2006)
GEICO & Mike Wallace Back Together: Mike Wallace, who has been behind the wheel of the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge for Phoenix Racing in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006, will remain with Phoenix Racing for the next three seasons, but instead he will be piloting the #7 GEICO Chevy.(Player Management International PR)(10-13-2006)
See an image of the car on my 2007 Paint Schemes Page.
Huffman to Drive Martinsville CTS Race: JR Motorsports NASCAR Busch Series driver Shane Huffman has been tapped by Key Motorsports to drive its #40 Chevy in next weekend’s Kroger 200 race at the Martinsville Speedway.(Key Motorsports PR)(10-13-2006)
Ashton Lewis Frustrated by Limited Opportunities: Busch Series veteran Ashton Lewis Jr. is facing the harsh reality that, at age 32, his time may have come and gone. The Virginia native will leave the Rensi Motorsports-owned #25 Ford after this season, his second with the Marine Corps.-backed team. He´s 15th in points (seventh among Busch regulars) entering Friday night´s Dollar General 300 at LMS. He has absolutely no idea if he´ll be in racing next season. “I´m frustrated from the standpoint of where the sport is going,” the college-educated mechanical engineer said. “I think I have the talent to run with anybody, but it´s frustrating not to have any more opportunities than are out here. On any given weekend, we can win a race. It´s just that I´ve never had a shot to consistently fight for wins week-in and week-out, or to fight for a championship. I guess the two things against me are my age and the fact I haven´t been to Victory Lane. The driver still has what it takes to run up front. It´s just getting the opportunity to showcase it.”(Ford Racing)(10-13-2006)
Braun & Biagi-DenBeste to Toyota: Adding their names to the growing list of teams switching to Toyota next season, Braun Racing and Biagi DenBeste Racing. Braun will return with Jason Leffler and Great Clips while Biagi DenBeste is seeking sponsorship with Auggie Vidovich.(BGNRacing.com)(10-12-2006)
Kluever to Run Partial Busch Schedule in 2007: What Todd Kluever doesn’t have [next year] is a Nextel Cup Series ride in Roush’s #6 Ford for next season. The organization announced on Wednesday that David Ragan will replace Mark Martin in that car next season. Nor does Kluever have a full-time Busch Series ride for next season, with owner Jack Roush saying Thursday that Kluever will run around 15 races.”Todd is in a Busch car for a limited number of races,” Roush said. “Maybe with a little less pressure we’ll see how he develops.”(SceneDaily.com)(10-12-2006)
MB2 Signs Motocross Champion Carmichael: Ricky Carmichael, considered the greatest motocross racer of all time, is moving to NASCAR. He will join the Bobby Ginn-owned MB2 Motorsports operation, which fields [#01,#13, #14] Nextel Cup teams for Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin. Carmichael, a 15-time American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) national champion and holder of a record 144 career wins in Supercross and motocross, agreed to a multi-year contract with MB2, starting with the 2007 season. Jay Frye, CEO and general manager of MB2, said that Carmichael will compete in a developmental program next year that will include a combination of approximately 15 events in late model stock cars, ARCA and possibly the Craftsman Truck Series. Frye added that Carmichael’s MB2 program will be accelerated in 2008.(MB2 Motorsports PR)(10-12-2006)
Evernham Drivers to Split Busch Car: Evernham Motorsports plans to field a fourth Nextel Cup team on a limited basis in 2007 with the hope of expanding it to full time, team owner Ray Evernham said. The organization will likely field a Busch and truck series team next year, with Cup drivers Elliott Sadler, Scott Riggs and Kasey Kahne sharing time in the Busch car. Erin Crocker is expected to return to the truck series.(NASCAR Scene)(10-12-2006)
Armor All and Jon Wood Pick America’s Top Car Detailer: Today Kathy Lozowski of Amityville, NY defeated four other national semi-finalists who spent 20 intense minutes competing against each other to be named champion of the Armor All/STP Products Company’s Do It Yourself (DIY) DARE contest at Wood Brothers/ST Motorsports in Harrisburg, NC. The celebrity judges for this contest were Jon Wood, driver of the #47 Armor All Busch Series car and Big Dane of West Coast Customs. In winning the premiere Armor All DIY DARE title, Kathy will earn an honorary spot on Jon Wood’s pit crew during the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Friday night. Kathy also won a $10,000 Dream Garage courtesy of The Armor All/STP Products Company.(Armor All PR)(10-12-2006)
Special Scheme for Navy Team at Lowes: UPDATE: In celebration of the U.S. Navy’s 231st birthday, the JR Motorsports’s #88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevy will feature a special “Navy Heritage” paint scheme for Friday’s Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In honor of Navy’s history, the #88 will be solid navy blue with images of the USS Constitution and the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on the door and rear quarter panels.(JR Motorsports PR)(10-9-2006)
UPDATE: See an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page.(10-12-2006)
Tim Sauter and McGill Motorsports to Help Boy Needing Kidney Transplant: UPDATE: While many 14 year olds are out playing baseball or riding four-wheelers with their friends, Mooresville, NC teenager Raine Angelley stays home resting, the headaches too great to enjoy a normal teen life. The pain is not from any normal headache but rather, caused by the multiple daily medications he must take to aid him in his fight against polycystic kidney disease. PKD is a disorder that causes the formation of cysts in the kidneys. Raines was born with the disorder and his kidney function is now below 20%. Lester Buildings and McGill Motorsports will run Raine’s picture on the #36 car next weekend along with the phone number to make a donation to the Raine Angelley Fund to help offset the costs of an upcoming transplant operation. Raine along with his father will also be special guests of the McGill Motorsports team and driver Tim Sauter prior to the event Saturday evening (McGill Motorsports PR)(5-19-2006)
UPDATE: Fourteen year-old Raine Angelley was awaiting a kidney transplant when he was Sauter and the McGill Motorsports team’s special guest for the May race. Raine received his donor kidney on August 23rd and is recovering amazingly well. Raine was thrilled when Tim called him at the hospital shortly after the procedure, and is now hooked on NASCAR racing. His new kidney is functioning at 100% and Raine should resume normal activities within several months.(McGill PR)(10-11-2006)
Scotts WinterGuard Fertilizer Sponsoring Ragan at Lowes: Scotts WinterGuard Fertilizer will sponsor the #6 Roush Racing Ford of David Ragan in this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It will be Ragan’s third Busch start of 2006, and his first in the #6.(Roush Racing PR)(10-11-2006)
Richardson to make Busch Series debut at Lowes: With his first full season of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition coming to a close, Robert Richardson will attempt to make his career-first NASCAR Busch Series start at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway this Friday. Richardson is also scheduled to compete in the O’Reilly Challenge NASCAR Busch Series event November 4 at Texas. Richardson is still looking to secure sponsorship for the 2007 NASCAR Season where he will be running a limited Busch Series schedule as well as his race commitments to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(Richardson PR)(10-11-2006)
Keller Back in the #66 at Memphis; Looking to 2007: Keller is slated to drive the #66 Brewo Motorsports entry Oct. 28 at Memphis. To say that he’s looking forward to the opportunity is putting it mildly. At this point, Keller just doesn’t know what 2007 has in store for him. Not yet. “I wish I knew,” Keller says. “I’ll be honest with you. Every day that goes by, it’s harder and harder for me to be patient. The dominos are having to fall, and as they fall, some doors close and it kinda opens up some more.”(BGNRacing.com)(10-11-2006)
Tim Schendel to Make Busch Debut at Memphis: Tim Schendel of Sparta, WI will be running in his first ever Busch Series event at the end of this month. Schendel will be driving for the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports team in the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Schendel and Mac Hill Motorsports will carry sponsorship from Power Equipment Company and TexPar Energy.(Schendel PR)(10-10-2006)
Busch Series 2007 Testing Schedule Announced: NASCAR has set its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series testing schedule that includes four different venues that will provide the teams an opportunity to prepare for the various track layouts and surfaces that they will face over the course of the season. NASCAR determined the test schedule with the input and cooperation of each of the teams’ crew chiefs. NASCAR instituted a new track testing policy earlier this year that pre-sets a schedule for when and where NASCAR Busch Series tests are to be conducted. The scheduled tests are the only opportunities teams will have to test at NASCAR Busch Series tracks. The policy was implemented to serve as an aid to maintain better overall competitive balance for the teams and contain costs. The tracks are: Daytona International Speedway, 2006 Odd Car Owner Points – Jan. 19-21, 2006 Even Car Owner Points – Jan. 21-23, Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Feb. 5-6, (Rain Date Feb. 7), Richmond International Raceway – March 27-28, (Rain Date March 29), Lowe’s Motor Speedway – May 14-15, (Rain May 16).(NASCAR PR)(10-10-2006)
Brad Coleman Working on Ride for 2007: Following a successful 2006 ARCA/NASCAR Busch development schedule with Brewco Motorsports, Brad Coleman is weighing his options for the next step in his racing career. “I am really looking forward to 2007 and want to make sure I partner with the right team,” Coleman said. “I am definitely looking for a home and not just a ride. There are opportunities that have presented themselves but I am unable to disclose any names or information at this time as I promised confidentiality. We will know more in a week or two.”(Coleman PR)(10-10-2006)
U.S. House Candidate/Former NFL Player on #23: Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler hopes to inject some horsepower into his U.S. House bid by renting advertising space on a car competing Friday in the Busch Series race at Lowe’s. The campaign is spending $10,000 to put the Democrat’s name on the #23 Chevy set to be driven by Brad Keselowski in the Dollar General 300, Shuler’s spokesman Andrew Whalen said Monday.(FoxSports.com)(10-10-2006)
Freedom Fuels Sponsoring Eric McClure at Lowes: Fuel Freedom International will serve as a co-primary sponsor on the #04 Hefty Brand Chevy for the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. This is the second sponsorship for FFI, which also supported the team last month at Bristol.(McClure PR)(10-10-2006)
Hass Avocados Back on the #32: Dave Blaney returns to the #32 Hass Avocados from Mexico Chevy this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the final time this season.(Braun Racing PR)(10-10-2006)
Stewart Driving for DEI This Week: The name and face aren’t new to NASCAR fans, or the fact he’s driving a car for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. again. But, what is new is Tony Stewart will be piloting the #8 Goody’s Headache Powder Chevy in Friday night’s Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s. This will be his third start for the team, but first in the No. 8 Chevrolet built under the watchful eye of Tony Eury, Sr., Director of Competition for DEI.(DEI PR)(10-10-2006)
Harvick in the #33 at Lowe’s: NASCAR Busch Series points leader, and owner of KHI, Kevin Harvick will return behind the wheel of a KHI Busch Series car for the fourth time in his career. Harvick will drive the #33 Dollar General stores Chevy.(KHI PR)(10-9-2006)
Rookie Notes for the Dollar General 300: Stephen Leicht was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the September 30 Yellow Transportation 300 at Kansas. Leicht finished 12th and took top rookie honors for the first time this season. John Andretti leads Burney Lamar by six points (195-189) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the October 13 Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Andretti is 13th in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(10-9-2006)
Aldi’s on the #27 at Lowes: This week’s Associate Sponsor is Aldi, an international retailer specializing in a limited assortment of private label, high-quality products at the lowest possible prices. Aldi is a leader in the international grocery retailing industry with more than 5,000 stores with operations in Europe, the United States and Australia.(Brewco PR)(10-9-2006)
Second Busch Team for MB2? The LTN Radio Network reported today [Oct 8th] that Mark Martin’s long-term plans with MB2 Motorsports will include at least part ownership of the team. This ownership, combined with Martin’s long-term relationship with Ford, means the 3-car team will change to the “blue-oval” before Daytona 2007. The team will also include 2 Busch cars and 2 late models for a driver development program.(LTN Radio Network)(10-8-2006)
Will Martinsville Get Another Busch Race? The 2007 Busch Series schedule announced Monday wasn’t a surprise with Montreal replacing Martinsville on the calendar. But will there be another 12 years between Busch races at Martinsville, which had last played host to the series in 1994 before again in 2006? Well, it might take track owner International Speedway Corp. moving a date from an existing track for it to happen quicker. ISC has a three-year deal with a group in Montreal to promote the Busch races there, and ISC is whom NASCAR has sanctioned the race with. ISC moved the Busch race to Martinsville in 2006 from Pikes Peak, which the company bought and shut down in September 2005.(SceneDaily.com)(10-7-2006)
Caisse Back for Harvick at Memphis? or is it Mark Day? UPDATE 2: During qualifying, the TV broadcasters said that if Harvick liked what he saw of Caisse at Dover he would run him at Memphis too. However, according to Speedway Media’s Racing News, Mark Day says “he has been contacted by Kevin Harvick’s Busch race team about driving Harvick’s #33 Busch racecar in Memphis.”(9-23-2006)
UPDATE: Mark Day jokes that at age 45 he has stopped holding his breath, waiting for the elusive “career break.” But at the same time the veteran Clarksville racer admits he is “getting pretty excited” about his prospects of running the Oct. 28 Busch Series race in Memphis in a car fielded by Kevin Harvick. Also, as the champion of the Music City Motorplex’s Late Model division, Day earned a shot at a Craftsman Truck Series ride next season, again with Harvick’s team. Both opportunities came about because of Nashville-based Dollar General, which has become heavily involved in NASCAR, both on the local and Busch Series levels. “I’m impressed with this deal. Dollar General is serious about its involvement, and the Harvick people have been great. I’m supposed to fly over to their shop next Wednesday and finalize the deal.”(Tennesseean)(9-27-2006)
UPDATE 2: Dollar General stores’ Operation Big Chance at Nashville’s Music City Motorplex promised this season that one lucky driver would have the chance to race their way to a dream come true with the help of Dollar General and Kevin Harvick Inc. Late model racer Mark Day raced his way into an opportunity to qualify a KHI NASCAR Truck Series Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway in the spring of 2007.(KHI PR)(10-6-2006)
Darnell May Run some Busch in 2007: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said that [Eric] Darnell would get another year in the truck series under his belt before possibly moving up to another full-time role in another NASCAR series. Darnell, driver of the #99 truck, had been listed as one of Roush’s candidates for the #6 Nextel Cup car in 2007. Smith said he may compete in the Busch Series, sharing a ride with a Cup driver for a limited schedule, but that Darnell’s main focus will be racing for the truck championship.(SceneDaily.com)(10-6-2006)
Regan Smith to Cup; Still Full Time in Busch: MB2 Motorsports announced Friday that Mark Martin and rookie Regan Smith will co-drive the team’s #01 U.S. Army Chevy during the 2007 Nextel Cup season. In his new MB2 Busch ride for 2007, Smith is expected to compete full time in the series.(MB2 PR)(10-6-2006)
Park hopes to have full-time ride in 2007..possibly Busch: UPDATE Steve Park, a former NASCAR Cup competitor, has dabbled in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Busch Series this year. He placed second in the Sunoco 150 Busch East Series race at Dover on Friday. “We’re looking to get back full time in ’07 or ’08 and hopefully we’ll be able to make an announcement in a month,” said Park, who has 181 Cup starts in his career. “We’re not looking at Cup because of the money factor. “Trucks is what we originally looked at but now they’re contemplating going to the Busch Series.” Park has run in only 10 truck events and six Busch events this year. “I have kind of enjoyed the time off,” he said.(SceneDaily.com)(9-24-2006)
UPDATE: Steve Park speaks with great calculation, negotiates each word carefully in his mind, errs well on the cautionary side of every statement. This opportunity is a full year in the making, and the last thing he wants to do is jeopardize it with an inadvertent admission. Next week we should all know his secret. Oct. 15, he says, is the proposed moment of truth, when the detail of his destiny is to be divulged. That is his hope, anyway. “We’re on the cusp of getting something pretty exciting done, to possibly get back in the Busch Series full time, or the Truck Series,” Park said Wednesday.(NASCAR.com)(10-5-2006)
Strelo Leaves Gateway Raceway: UPDATE: Gateway International Raceway announced today that Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo has resigned his position effective October 4, 2006.(Gateway PR)(9-28-2006)
UDPATE: Gateway International Raceway Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo has resigned and will join the St. Louis Blues National Hockey League team as vice president of ticket sales and service. Strelo spent five years at Gateway, located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis in Gateway, Ill., overseeing all business and day-to-day operations.(SceneDaily.com)(10-5-2006)
ppc Working on 2007 Plans; to Toyota? Kenny Returning? Third Busch Team? With Ford decreasing its support from Busch only teams next season, word has been floating that ppc Racing will make the switch to the new Toyota camp. “ppc Racing will not return to Ford Racing in 2007. We are discussing options and plans with GM and Toyota, but have not reached an agreement with either,” confirms Andy O’Hara, Director of Sponsor Relations. ppc also has some work to do on the sponsor side. There has also been speculation about a driver swap in the #22 car, but O’Hara says that a driver has not yet been named, which is dependent on sponsorship. “We are still seeking sponsorship for the #22 car and a third Busch car. We would like for Kenny Wallace to return full time to drive that car, but we can not confirm that until we have secured the necessary sponsorship. We are also working on some sponsorship opportunities that include drivers as part of the sponsorship deal. The drivers are some top-notch competitors, with whom we would be proud to race. As for the truck team, we will unfortunately not be able to continue our relationship with International Truck & Engine Corp, which promotes its Power Stroke Diesel engine on our #10 truck. The International people are an excellent group of folks, and we hate that our change in manufacturer is causing this split. We are working on a couple opportunities in the Craftsman Truck Series, though it is as likely that we convert the truck team to a Busch team as it is that they carry forward with their winning ways in the Truck Series.”(10-05-06)(BGNRacing.com)(10-5-2006)
Sauter to Cup with Haas? Johnny Sauter said Haas CNC Racing sponsor Yellow Transporation will decided whether he remains in the Busch Series or moves to Nextel Cup to team with Jeff Green. The decision should be made by Oct. 1. [Haven’t heard anything yet](NASCAR Scene)(10-5-2006)
Cale Gale Joins Kevin Harvick, Inc: UPDATE: Cale Gale has been released from Phoenix Racing’s Driver Development program. Cale is leaving to join Kevin Harvick, Inc.(Finch PR)(10-3-2006)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick said Wednesday that Gale has not signed with KHI – “not today, he said – but that the young driver is in the mix for a ride with the team in 2007. “We’re looking at what we’re going to do with our programs for next year,” Harvick said. “He’s definitely somebody that we’re thinking about. But right now, we’re just trying to get it all shuffled around.”(SceneDaily.com)(10-4-2006)
ST Motorsports/JTG Announce 2007 Lineup; Ambrose to Busch, Compton back to CTS: Wood Brothers/JTG Racing will again field one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team, two Busch Series teams, and two Craftsman Truck teams in 2007. Jon Wood will share driving duties with Ken Schrader in the #21 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup ride. Ore-Ida Extra Crispy French Fries and Delimex Delicious Mexican Cuisine are proud to join Wood Brothers/JTG Racing as primary sponsors of the #21 Ford for a limited schedule as well as being a major associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. He will also compete full time in the NASCAR Busch series in the #47 Clorox/Armor All/American Red Cross Ford. Kingsford Charcoal will celebrate its 10th season as a Busch Series Sponsor with Marcos Ambrose behind the wheel of their #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford. Stacy Compton will return to his Craftsman Truck Series roots in 2007.(Wood Brothers/JTG Racing PR)(10-4-2006)
Carpentier full time Busch in 2007? the Patrick Carpentier website is reporting he will run for 2007 Busch Series Rookie of the year, doesn’t say anything about a team.(10-4-2006)
NASCAR Will Make Effort to Get Cup Drivers in Canada Race: “What we will bring to Montreal is a first-class package,” [Brian France] said. France said that if that means the sanctioning body might have to sweeten the purse to attract drivers like Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson, then that is what will happen. “We will work with the promoter (Normand Legault) to make sure we have the stars at Montreal,” he said. When asked if that meant that NASCAR might use its influence to lean on some drivers to be in Montreal, France answered “yes.” He also said that the Montreal already has signed a TV deal that will see the race broadcast in Canada on TSN and on the full ESPN network in the U.S. (Toronto Sun)(10-3-2006)
AND: France said he hopes to get several Canadian drivers to enter the race, much like the number of Mexican drivers who competed in the first two Busch Series races in Mexico City. France added that he hoped some Nextel Cup drivers would enter the race, which is being held the same weekend as a Cup race at Pocono Raceway. He said NASCAR would not offer extra incentive for Cup drivers to race in Montreal, saying the attraction of Montreal to sponsors would be incentive enough.(SceneDaily.com)(10-3-2006)
Almirola Patient About Move to Busch: Aric Almirola has a patient attitude for a young driver. That’s because he has a grasp of how important it is for someone with a chance such as his – a job in Joe Gibbs Racing’s developmental program – to do well quickly. Fair or not, early failure in the current NASCAR climate often means early retirement. So Almirola is content to undertake another full season in the truck series and wait for a full-time ride in the Busch Series. Steve deSouza, who oversees the JGR development program said that could come in 2008 if Almirola continues to progress. “I want to make sure I’m here to stay,” said Almirola. “Why jump to a bigger series when you haven’t done so well in the lower one?”(St. Petersburg Times)(10-3-2006)
Zekko Racing Plans Full Time Effort in 2007: UPDATE: David Tomasello started Zekko Racing last November. It plans a full Busch schedule in 2007 and seven Nextel Cup races with driver Damon Lusk.(Charlotte Observer)(10-1-2006)
UPDATE: Statement from Damon Lusk: “I have met with David Tomasello several times, and at this time I do not have any contract with Zekko Racing. He is still in the process of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, and finalizing sponsorship. If all that happens I think it could be a good deal.”(10-2-2006)
2007 Schedule Announced: The 26th season of NASCAR Busch Series competition will begin on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway, include two international stops, and end Saturday, Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2007 schedule features a second international event on Aug. 4 at the Circuit Gilles Villenueve road course in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For a third consecutive year, the schedule also includes a race at the Autodomo Hermanos Rodriguez roa course in Mexico City, Mexico on March 4. The NASCAR Busch Series is scheduled for 26 combination events with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in 2007. The NASCAR Busch Series will race together with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series twice. There are 26 race tracks on the current schedule divided among 21 states, Canada and Mexico. There will be eight NASCAR Busch Series “stand-alone” events: Mexico City (March 4), Nashville (April 7 and June 9), Kentucky (June 16), Milwaukee (June 23), Indianapolis (July 28), Montreal and Memphis (Oct. 27). The 2007 schedule contains some changes in the order of events from 2006:
• In April, Nashville Superspeedway’s race will precede Texas Motor Speedway’s event (April 14), a change necessitated by where Easter Sunday falls on the calendar. (The Texas weekend also features a Sunday NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event.)
• The order of a six-week midsummer string of events has also been altered. In 2007, New Hampshire International Speedway will have a June 30 race, followed on the schedule by Daytona (July 6), Chicagoland Speedway (July 14), Gateway Internatinal Raceway near St. Louis (July 21), O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis and Circuit Gilles Villenueve. The 2006 schedule had a Daytona-Chicago-New Hampshire-Martinsville-St. Louis-Indianapolis order.(NASCAR PR)(10-2-2006)
See the schedule on my 2007 Schedule page.(10-2-2006)
Fennig Wins WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Harvick may have won the Yellow Transportation 300 at Kansas Speedway, but Matt Kenseth and crew chief Jimmy Fennig proved to be the class of the field. The duo teamed up to put the No. 17 Penzoil Ford up front on three separate occasions to lead a race-high total of 145 laps. Fennig’s effort earned him the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award.(WYPALL PR)(10-2-2006)
Coleman Taken to Hospital for Observation: UPDATE: #66-Brad Coleman was transported to a local hospital after a hard crash during the Yellow Transportation 300 Saturday at Kansas. The race was red-flagged following his accident. Coleman eventually walked out of his car and was alert, oriented and stable, according to NASCAR officials. He was transported for observation and will be held overnight.(SceneDaily.com)(9-30-2006)
UPDATE: Coleman spent the night for observation and was released Sunday morning.(SceneDaily.com)(10-1-2006)
Busch Montreal race to be announced Monday, schedule to follow? UPDATE: hearing the long rumored Busch Series race in Montreal Canada will be officially announced late Monday afternoon, October 2nd in Montreal. The announcement may include the release of the 2007 Busch Series Schedule.(9-30-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR has set a “Busch Series announcement in Montreal” for 5 p.m. Monday, presumably to announce the Busch Series will run in the city in 2007. Scheduled to attend the news conference include NASCAR Chairman Brian France, International Speedway Corp. Chief Operating Officer John Saunders, Groupe Motorise International General Manager Martin Spaulding and Grand American Road Racing Association President Roger Edmondson. Carl Edwards also is expected to attend. NASCAR likely will release the 2007 Busch Series schedule as well. Schedules handed out to teams last week showed the Montreal event listed for Aug. 4 on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course.(SceneDaily.com)(10-1-2006)