October 2010 News Archives

News from October 31, 2010

Sad News – Jim Hunter: SERVICES: NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, whose career in motorsports spanned portions of six decades as both a journalist and public relations professional, died last night in Daytona Beach, Fla. following a 12-month battle with cancer. He was 71. “Jim Hunter was one of NASCAR’s giants,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “For more than 40 years Jim was part of NASCAR and its history. He loved the sport, but loved the people even more. It seems as if everyone in the sport called him a friend. Jim will forever be missed by the NASCAR community. Our sympathies go out to his entire family.” Added NASCAR President Mike Helton: “Jim was a uniquely talented man that cannot be replaced. He was a great friend and mentor to so many in the sport. His influence will remain with and be carried on by so many of the people he touched. This is a sad day for Jim’s family and his extended, NASCAR family.” As a young man growing up in his native South Carolina, Hunter was a football and baseball player at the University of South Carolina. Those years preceded a future of being immersed in the sports world, primarily motorsports. Hunter learned motorsports from “both sides” by working as a newspaper reporter/editor and a public relations representative. As a member of the media, Hunter was sports editor of the Columbia Record newspaper; he had an award-winning stint at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; he was a columnist for Stock Car Racing magazine; and he authored a number of books, including a widely-read biography on NASCAR great David Pearson, entitled “21 Forever”. On the public relations side, Hunter broke into that business in the 1960s, with Dodge’s motorsports operation. He handled public relations for a number of top IndyCar drivers before going on to become the public relations director at his beloved Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. In 1983, Hunter was named to his first executive position in his first NASCAR stint, becoming NASCAR’s vice president of administration. In 1993 he was named president of Darlington Raceway and corporate vice president of the International Speedway Corporation. He remained at Darlington until 2001 when he accepted an offer from then-NASCAR Chairman and CEO Bill France Jr. to return to Daytona Beach to lead an expanded public relations effort aimed at responding to the needs of burgeoning media coverage. Hunter won numerous awards during his career, including: the Hugh Deery Memorial Award in 1988; South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development in 1994; South Carolina Tourism Ambassador of the Year in 1997; the National Motorsports Press Association’s Joe Littlejohn Award in 2005; and the Buddy Shuman Award in 2006. Hunter is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ann Hunter; his children, Scott Hunter and Amy McKernan and his grandchildren Dakota Hunter, and Hunter and Luke McKernan. In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made to The NASCAR Foundation or Hospice of Volusia/Flagler County. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.(NASCAR)(10-30-2010)

SERVICES: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 5–7 p.m. – Visitation at Darlington Raceway. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. – Celebration of Jim’s life at Darlington Presbyterian Church, 311 Pearl Street, Darlington, S.C. followed by a reception at Darlington Raceway.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The NASCAR Foundation at NASCAR Plaza, 550 South Caldwell Street, Suite 2000, Charlotte, N.C. 28202 or to Halifax Health-Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Fla. 32129.(10-31-2010)

Bowyer wins at Talladega: #33-Clint Bowyer won the AMP Energy Juice 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 2nd win of 2010 and the 4th win of his career. #29-Kevin Harvick finished second followed by #42-Montoya, #00-Reutimann, #20-Logano, #56-Truex, Jr., #48-Johnson, #24-Gordon, #11-Hamlin, and #12-Keselowski.

The race ended under caution after a big wreck just past the start-finish line on the white flag laps. NASCAR reviewed video tape before declaring Bowyer the winner. Harvick overcame a mid-race accident that tore up the front of the car, but the team was able to repair it. There were 87 lead changes [one behind the record of 88 set at Talladega in April] among 26 drivers and 7 cautions for 19 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 110,000 down from 2009 which was 127,500.

Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Monday, November 1 at 3:30am/et; and SPEED, Wednesday, November 3 at 12:00pm/et.

See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Talladega Race Results/Awards page.(10-31-2010)

Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Talladega:

[by points standings before the race]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 7th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 2nd

4) #18-Kyle Busch, 25th

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 8th

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 17th

7) #14-Tony Stewart, 31st

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 41st

9) #2-Kurt Busch, 30th

10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 16th

11) #16-Greg Biffle, 19th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, WON

(10-31-2010)

Race Fast Facts – Talladega:

Clint Bowyer won the AMP Energy Juice 500 (42nd Running), his fourth victory in 178 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his second victory and 17th top-10 finish in 2010.

This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 10 races at Talladega Superspeedway.

This is Richard Childress Racing’s 11th victory at Talladega, most among car owners.

Kevin Harvick (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 20 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 23rd top-10 finish in 2010.

Juan Pablo Montoya (third) posted his third top-10 finish in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-31-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:

[after Talladega, race 33 of 36, Chase Race 7 of 10]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 6149

2) #11-Denny Hamlin [7 wins], 6135, -14

3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 6111, -38

4) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5942, -207

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5919, -230

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 5902, -247

7) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 5832, -317

8) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5825, -324

9) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5799, -350

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 5797, -352

11) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5788, -361

12) #33-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 5782, -367

(Bowyer without 150 pt penalty 5932, -217 would be 5th)

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-31-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver ‘Classic’ Points Standings:

[after Talladega, race 33 of 36….the OLD way]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #29-Kevin Harvick(x), 4804

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson(x), 4516, -288

3) #24-Jeff Gordon(x), 4435, -369

4) #11-Denny Hamlin(x), 4417, -387

5) #18-Kyle Busch(x), 4384, -420

6) #99-Carl Edwards(x), 4329, -475

7) #14-Tony Stewart(x), 4239, -565

8) #31-Jeff Burton(x), 4187, -617

9) #17-Matt Kenseth(x), 4171, -633

10) #2-Kurt Busch(x), 4116, -688

11) #33-Clint Bowyer(x), 4003, -801

12) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3976, -828

13) #16-Greg Biffle(x), 3955, -849

14) #5-Mark Martin, 3937, -867

15) #39-Ryan Newman, 3883, -921

16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3866, -938

(x) chase drivers

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-31-2010)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Texas:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. With the #38 team missing the race, the #71 team is now 116 points ahead of the #38, up from 47 pts ahead of 36th entering Talladega.

33) #37-Gilliland/Front Row, 2405, +148

34) #7-Gordon/RGM, 2387, +130

35) #71-McCumbee/TRG: 2373, 116 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Kvapil/Front Row: 2257, -116 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Elliott/Latitude43: 2156, -217

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-31-2010)

Penalty Report – Talladega:

Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty

#87, 38, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, pass thru

#43, 69, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#43, 70, Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap back

#17, 113, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, pass thru

#88, 134, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#29, 141, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#39, 141, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#77, 142, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, tail end

#9, 142, Non-compliant refueling (overflow container), tail end

#34, 142, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#37, 142, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#47, 142, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#46, 152, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#47, 152, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#34, 164, Safety violation, pit

#87, 181, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

#87, 181, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, tail end

(NASCAR Statistics)(10-31-2010)

Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Talladega: (and their finish)

Caution 1: #7-Gordon, 18th

Caution 2: #39-Newman, 23rd

Caution 3: #11-Hamlin, 9th

Caution 4: #43-Allmendinger, 32nd

Caution 5: #14-Stewart, 31st

Caution 6: none, race ended

Caution 7: none, race ended

(10-31-2010)

Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Talladega (or seemed to)?

43rd: #97-Fuller, 2 laps run

42nd: #36-Blaney, 12 laps

with NASCAR’s new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #97 this week

(only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(10-31-2010)

NASCAR to honor Jim Hunter at Talladega: All teams running in the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will run a decal honoring Jim Hunter. According to ESPN’s Terry Blount, NASCAR will also show a video tribute at the track and have a moment of silence before the start of the race. In addition, NASCAR officials are wearing the “NASCAR 1948” yellow hat that Hunter always wore.(10-31-2010)

Image from the Talladega Superspeedway Facebook page

Press Box at Talladega Superspeedway Named Jim Hunter Memorial Press Box: Jim Hunter began his long association with NASCAR as a member of the media. So in the wake of Hunter’s death on Friday at age 71, Talladega Superspeedway feels it is a fitting tribute to rename the track’s press box in his honor. Hunter began his career as a sportswriter, with stints as the sports editor of the Columbia (S.C.) Record and as a writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also wrote several books, including a biography of legendary NASCAR driver David Pearson. Hunter eventually left the newspaper business and worked as the public relations director for both Talladega Superspeedway and Darlington Raceway. In 1983 he joined NASCAR as the Vice President of Administration. Hunter returned to Darlington Raceway as the track president in 1993. He remained there until 2001, when he became an executive with NASCAR, working as the Vice President of Corporate Communications. Over the years Hunter developed a reputation as a person who could interact smoothly with NASCAR officials, drivers and members of the media who covered the sport.(TSS)(10-31-2010)

Ambrose will spend offseason in U.S.: Each year since he’s been in NASCAR, Marcos Ambrose has made the 9,500-mile journey from Miami to his native Tasmania to be home with friends and family for Christmas. But when the season ends next month, Ambrose and his family will remain in North Carolina. “This year I’m not going back to Australia,” Ambrose said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. “It’s all getting pretty hot and heavy, so I’ve got to stay here and really get ready for 2011.” If Ambrose has a Christmas wish list this year, his No. 1 request has to be an infusion of cash for Richard Petty Motorsports, the team he’s planning on joining next season. Since news broke that the team was struggling, Ambrose has been in constant contact with his future employers. “I talk to them a lot,” Ambrose said. “I have no control over the decisions that are going to get made and the direction they want to take. But I’m fully committed to them and look forward to driving for them in 2011.”(NASCAR.com)(10-31-2010)

Gaughan in the #71 at Phoenix: Brendan Gaughan will make his Sprint Cup Series return behind the wheel of the #71 TRG Chevy at Phoenix on Nov. 14th. Gaughan, who currently races for Rusty Wallace in the Nationwide Series, last raced in Cup for Jasper Motorsports in 2004. In 36 Cup starts, his career-best finish of fourth came in the fall race at Talladega. Gaughan finished 28th in the points his rookie year.(Fox Sports)(10-31-2010)

Robby Gordon has personal vehicle towed: Robby Gordon said track officials had his pickup towed out of a private driver/owner lot at Talladega apparently over a sponsorship issue. “It’s gone,” Gordon said. “I guess it’s at some impound yard somewhere. But it’s my personal truck.” This weekend, Gordon unveiled his own brand of energy drink, Speed Energy, and the company’s logo was on the side of his truck and on his race car. Sunday’s race at Talladega is sponsored by a rival energy drink, Amp Energy. “I can appreciate Amp Energy sponsoring the race, but they don’t sponsor me,” Gordon said. Gordon said other drivers have personal vehicles that feature logos of sponsors that are competitors with official NASCAR or track sponsors. “I just talked to a couple other drivers,” Gordon said. “They’re Coke (sponsored) drivers, and they’re like, ‘Well, can we not have Coke on our golf carts or not have Coke on our cars?’ This one’s a confusing situation for me.”(Associated Press/USA Today)(10-31-2010)

Trained monkeys will sell race programs at Texas: Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has decided to monkey around with the promotion of the redesigned “No Limits” program cover and special insert that can be found in AAA Texas 500 souvenir program. Gossage is enlisting the help of Miki and Rocky, trained capuchin monkeys, to sell the race programs throughout the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR triple-header race weekend. The monkeys will make their first public appearance Friday, Nov. 5, from 2:30-4 p.m. CT at the infield Hot Rod Café. They will return and be stationed on the concourse at Gate 4 on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. prior to the start of the Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge and Sunday, Nov. 7, from Noon-2 p.m. before the start of the Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500. Fans cannot miss the capuchin monkeys, as they will be decked out in their Texas Motor Speedway “No Limits” attire. Miki and Rocky will be accompanied by trained handlers as they distribute programs and collect money. Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the duo as they sell programs throughout the weekend. If fans cannot make it by Gate 4, they can stop by and purchase their souvenir race program at all the gates, both inside the concourse and outside on the midway for $10.(TMS)(10-31-2010)

News from October 30, 2010

Montoya wins pole at Talladega: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya won the Coors Pole for the Amp Energy 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 184.640mph for his 3rd pole of 2010 and 5th of his career.
#33-Bowyer will start 2nd followed by #2-Busch, #87-Nemechek, #31-Burton, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #36-Blaney, #39-Newman, #13-Mears, and #77-Hornish.

The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #87-Nemechek, #36-Blaney, #13-Mears, #97-Fuller, #46-McDowell, #55-Waltrip, #09-Labonte, and #26-Elliott [who used the past champions provisional].

The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #64-Cassill, #38-Kvapil, and #66-Sauter.

See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Talladega Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(10-30-2010)

Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Talladega:

Only three of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Amp Energy 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 19th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 17th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 14th

4) #18-Kyle Busch, 32nd

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 31st

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 23rd

7) #14-Tony Stewart, 27th

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 5th

9) #2-Kurt Busch, 3rd

10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 26th

11) #16-Greg Biffle, 34th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2nd

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-30-2010)

Qualifying Fast Facts – Talladega:

Juan Pablo Montoya won the Coors Light Pole Award for the AMP Energy Juice 500 (42nd Running) with a lap of 51.863 seconds/184.640 mph.

This is his fifth pole in 142 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his third pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2010. He is now one pole short of the season lead, held by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing teammate Jamie McMurray (four).

This is his second pole in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.

Clint Bowyer (second) posted his 13th top-10 start of 2010 and his second in 10 races at Talladega Superspeedway.

Kurt Busch (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 15th in 33 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-30-2010)

NASCAR concerned about high speeds: UPDATE: Two drivers exceeded 201 mph in the first Sprint Cup practice Friday, causing concern by NASCAR officials. Denny Hamlin turned a lap at 201.664 mph in the #11 Toyota, and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was second at 201.109 mph in the #18 Toyota. Typically, NASCAR makes a rule change and uses a smaller restrictor plate at Daytona or Talladega if speeds approach 200 mph or more. “We’ll take a look at it,” said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR’s director of communications. “It may just have been an odd situation in the draft for that particular practice session. We hope we don’t have to make a change.” The top speed in the final practice session Friday was much slower, 197.814 mph by Mark Martin. This is an impound race, meaning only minor alterations are allowed on the cars after qualifying Saturday morning. There is no Saturday practice session. If NASCAR decides to change the restrictor plate, it wouldn’t happen until Saturday morning. NASCAR is using the same rules package this weekend that produced a record 88 lead changes among 29 different leaders in the April race at Talladega.(ESPN.com)(10-30-2010)

UPDATE: NASCAR was comfortable enough with the speeds in practice Friday that it will not change the restrictor plates for the Amp Energy Juice 500 on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. If NASCAR wanted to make a change, it likely would have done it when the garage opened Saturday morning prior to inspection for qualifying. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said he was OK with the speeds Friday, which did include a two-car draft of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch that allowed the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates to turn a lap of 201 mph. No one else cracked 198 mph. Hamlin and Busch were on new tires and were catching a pack of cars, which possibly increased their speed. In the race, two cars working together will start in a pack and then pull away with the nose of the second car pushing the rear of the first car around the track.(Scene Daily)(10-30-2010)

Sad News – Jim Hunter: NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, whose career in motorsports spanned portions of six decades as both a journalist and public relations professional, died last night in Daytona Beach, Fla. following a 12-month battle with cancer. He was 71. “Jim Hunter was one of NASCAR’s giants,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “For more than 40 years Jim was part of NASCAR and its history. He loved the sport, but loved the people even more. It seems as if everyone in the sport called him a friend. Jim will forever be missed by the NASCAR community. Our sympathies go out to his entire family.” Added NASCAR President Mike Helton: “Jim was a uniquely talented man that cannot be replaced. He was a great friend and mentor to so many in the sport. His influence will remain with and be carried on by so many of the people he touched. This is a sad day for Jim’s family and his extended, NASCAR family.” As a young man growing up in his native South Carolina, Hunter was a football and baseball player at the University of South Carolina. Those years preceded a future of being immersed in the sports world, primarily motorsports. Hunter learned motorsports from “both sides” by working as a newspaper reporter/editor and a public relations representative. As a member of the media, Hunter was sports editor of the Columbia Record newspaper; he had an award-winning stint at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; he was a columnist for Stock Car Racing magazine; and he authored a number of books, including a widely-read biography on NASCAR great David Pearson, entitled “21 Forever”. On the public relations side, Hunter broke into that business in the 1960s, with Dodge’s motorsports operation. He handled public relations for a number of top IndyCar drivers before going on to become the public relations director at his beloved Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. In 1983, Hunter was named to his first executive position in his first NASCAR stint, becoming NASCAR’s vice president of administration. In 1993 he was named president of Darlington Raceway and corporate vice president of the International Speedway Corporation. He remained at Darlington until 2001 when he accepted an offer from then-NASCAR Chairman and CEO Bill France Jr. to return to Daytona Beach to lead an expanded public relations effort aimed at responding to the needs of burgeoning media coverage. Hunter won numerous awards during his career, including: the Hugh Deery Memorial Award in 1988; South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development in 1994; South Carolina Tourism Ambassador of the Year in 1997; the National Motorsports Press Association’s Joe Littlejohn Award in 2005; and the Buddy Shuman Award in 2006. Hunter is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ann Hunter; his children, Scott Hunter and Amy McKernan and his grandchildren Dakota Hunter, and Hunter and Luke McKernan. In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made to The NASCAR Foundation or Hospice of Volusia/Flagler County. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.(NASCAR)(10-30-2010)

Budweiser not making final payment to RPM? Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Budweiser has told Richard Petty Motorsports that the team will not receive the final installment of its 2010 sponsorship contract. Bud’s contract called for Kasey Kahne to be the driver of the Budweiser Ford, and when Kahne left the team five races early to join Red Bull Racing, that contract became null and void. There has been no confirmation from either the team or Budweiser, and no word on what the final installment of that sponsorship would have been worth to the team.(Sirius Speedway)(10-29-2010)

UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports’ director of competition Robbie Loomis expects the organization to stay status quo until the end of the season. Despite rumors of doom and gloom surrounding the organization – and the latest allegation that Budweiser will not fulfill its contractual obligations with the final payment on its sponsorship of the #9 entry – Loomis insists that RPM will field four cars throughout the remainder of the NASCAR season. When asked about the status of the #9 Ford, a spokesperson for Budweiser said, “Our policy is to not comment on contractual agreements.” However, rumors of their early departure has been floating around for a week – ever since Kasey Kahne extricated himself from the car after Charlotte. RPM had planned to run two cars next season with AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose. However, until money can be secured to settle the current debts at RPM, it’s uncertain what the lineup will look like. Multiple sources insist that Richard Petty will divest himself from majority owner George Gillett as early as next week. However, Loomis said he is in constant contact with the Gilletts and they will remain the owners of the company. This weekend on the competition side, Loomis and Sammy Johns, director of operations, are calling the shots.(Fox Sports)

AND: Another source close to RPM said lenders had taken back the team from majority owner George Gillett and had approved a plan for Richard Petty to manage the team’s day-to-day operations, but official team sources would neither confirm nor deny that, nor say who was currently running the team or if Gillett was gone.(SPEED)(10-30-2010)

Special scheme for Dale Jr. at PIR: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run at Diet Mountain Dew scheme at Phoenix in November. See an image of the scheme on the #88 Team Schemes page.(10-30-2010)

Latest on Shane Hmiel: From posts on the Shane Hmiel – Road to Recovery Page: Shane is mouthing words. He can’t talk yet due to the trach, but not for much longer. He had another angio Saturday to check on the vein they put coils in and there is a small leak — so there will be another surgery to finish it off, hopefully Monday. That will cause a little set back on heading to the Carolinas. Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte has awesome spinal injury rehab program.(10-30-2010)

Villeneuve will focus on finding NASCAR ride: Jacques Villeneuve has put an end to his quest to return to Formula One. The 1997 series champion said on Thursday that he will not pursue any more F1 opportunities after his partnership with Italian-based Durango failed to earn a spot on the grid for the 2011 season. Instead he’s decided to turn his attention to his budding NASCAR career. “All the other stuff we’re doing took to the back burner, like NASCAR. I think it’s time to just focus on one thing.” Villeneuve has driven intermittently for Braun Racing in NASCAR at both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series levels the past four seasons. He’s yet to win a top-level stock car race, but has three top 10 finishes in the Nationwide Series. He came close to earning a podium at the Bucyrus 200 this season when he was running second with two laps to go until a mechanical failure dropped him to 25th. “Last week I was in Australia doing a V8 race and that was interesting, but right now my focus is on NASCAR.”(National Post)(10-30-2010)

NASCAR and NASA team up at Phoenix: NASCAR driver Michael McDowell – a product of Glendale, Ariz. – and former NASA astronaut William Gregory will meet fans and answer questions about the thrills and challenges of their respective fields at “Gears and Galaxies” Night on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Challenger Space Center in Peoria. The family-oriented event runs from 4-8 p.m., with Gregory and McDowell hosting a joint Q&A session for ticketed guests from 6-7 p.m. Valley TV and radio motorsports personality Wally Cahill will serve as emcee for the evening. “Gears and Galaxies” also features the unveiling of a new, on-loan NASA exhibit showing a real Space Shuttle tire, a NASCAR tire, and a replica lunar rover tire, along with items flown in space from Mr. Gregory’s personal collection. Phoenix International Raceway’s Official Pace Car will be on display in the parking lot. Challenger Space Center rounds out the evening with fun family activities including space-themed movies, an Extreme Space Weather demonstration, arts and crafts projects, prize giveaways and more. Among the prizes is a pair of reserved grandstand seats for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on Feb. 27, 2011, including two pre-race pit passes, courtesy of Phoenix International Raceway. Tickets for “Gears and Galaxies” are available on a first-come, first-served basis at http://www.azchallenger.org/public.nasa.nascar.htm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and include admission to the Q&A session and an autographed photo from both the astronaut and the race car driver. As part of the event, Challenger also has a special ticketing option for NASCAR events at Phoenix International Raceway as part of the Nov. 11-14 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. To purchase tickets, contact Jonathan Stone at 623-463-5672.(PIR)(10-30-2010)

News from October 29, 2010

Happy Hour for the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and notes:

#5-Martin 197.814

#31-Burton 197.794

#2-Busch 197.794

#11-Hamlin 197.647

#00-Reutimann 197.631

slowest: #38-Kvapil 179.699 & #66-Sauter 177.248. 37 drivers have been on track.

no speed: #56-Truex, Jr., #48-Johnson, #42-Montoya, #33-Bowyer, #29-Harvick, #24-Gordon, #19-Sadler, #12-Keselowski, #1-McMurray

notes: several drivers pleased with their runs during the first practice, skipped Happy Hour.

See fastest speeds, average speeds, fastest 10-lap average, laps run on my Talladega Practice Speeds page.(10-29-2010)

Talladega practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 13th

#87-Joe Nemechek, 26th

#36-Dave Blaney, 28th

#46-Michael McDowell, 29th

#13-Casey Mears, 30th

#97-Jeff Fuller, 32nd

#55-Micheal Waltrip, 33rd

#64-Landon Cassill, 34th

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#26-Bill Elliott [PC2], 35th

#38-Travis Kvapil, 36th

#66-Johnny Sauter, 37th

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Friday’s First practice for the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 45 schedule minutes, the top-5, slowest and notes:

#11-Hamlin 201.664

#18-Busch 201.109

#1-McMurray 197.684

#24-Gordon 197.663

#48-Johnson 196.338mph

slowest: #37-Kvapil 180.132 & #64-Cassill 179.743

no speed: #97-Fuller, #66-Sauter

notes: Drivers are practicing in the draft because this weekend’s race an impound race and cars can’t be worked on after qualifying Saturday morning.

See fastest speeds, average speeds, fastest 10-lap average, laps run on my Talladega Practice Speeds page.(10-29-2010)

Talladega practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#87-Joe Nemechek, 35th

#09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 37th

#46-Michael McDowell, 38th

#13-Casey Mears, 39th

#36-Dave Blaney, 40th

#55-Micheal Waltrip, 41st

#26-Bill Elliott [PC2], 42nd

#38-Travis Kvapil, 43rd

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#64-Landon Cassill, 44th

#66-Johnny Sauter, no speed

#97-Jeff Fuller, no speed

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Qualifying Order for the Amp Energy Juice 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #39-Newman.

The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #88-Earnhardt, Jr.

The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #64-Cassill with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #26-Elliott.

See the full qualifying order on the Talladega Qualifying Page.(10-29-2010)

TBR gets associate sponsor for Talladega and Phoneix: The #36 Chevy of Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) will feature Wholesale Controls International as an associate sponsor for the Amp Energy 500 on October 31 at Talladega Superspeedway and for the upcoming race at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, team owner Tommy Baldwin announced. Wholesale Controls International, an HVAC supply parts company, will be displayed on the lower quarter panel of the Chevy driven by Dave Blaney this weekend and at Phoenix.(TBR)(10-29-2010)

Robby Gordon holding press conference Friday: UPDATES: From a media advisory: “SPEED and running on high Octane are nothing new for Robby Gordon – that’s what Robby Gordon Motorsports is built around. But on Thursday, October 28, 2010, Gordon was caught driving an illegal NASCAR race car at a high rate of SPEED [see an image at Planet Robby] on Highway 77 in Huntersville, NC that slowed down portions of the interstate due to the scene. Gordon was questioned before being released by local authorities. He will be on hand at Talladega Superspeedway and available to answer any questions regarding this event and how it could affect the future of Robby Gordon Motorsports.(RGM)(10-28-2010)

UPDATE: Robby Gordon has created an energy drink company that he hopes will generate enough revenue to sponsor his Robby Gordon Motorsports race team. Gordon unveiled plans for the company, Speed Energy, Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. Gordon wouldn’t commit to running all the Sprint Cup races next year but said he personally will run the first five as well as the “fun” events in big markets. Gordon, whose team is 34th in the owner standings, said he plans to run in the Indianapolis 500 as well as off-road events such as the Dakar Rally. He hopes the energy drink helps generate more sponsorship money for his race team. The energy drink’s name goes along with Gordon’s website, Speedfactory.tv, that shows video clips of his race team’s preparation for events. He said distribution of the drink should begin soon. The drink currently is being bottled in the Charlotte area. Longtime Gordon attorney Steven Nichols will be an owner of the drink company along with Gordon, who has represented Red Bull and Monster energy drinks in the past.(Scene Daily)(10-29-2010)

UPDATE 2: SPEED Energy announced that it will sponsor Robby Gordon, one of the most diverse drivers in motorsports, for two of the remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Built for SPEED, the #7 SPEED Energy Toyota will debut this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, one of the fastest racetracks in the world and again in the season-ender at Homestead-Miami Speedway. SPEED Energy is available in three flavors: Unleaded, Fuel, and Octane, which provide the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. SPEED Energy will be available nationwide in major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs.(RGM), see an image of the car on the #7 Team Scheme page.(10-29-2010)

Some changes to fueling systems in 2011: New items are in the works to reconfigure the current car’s fueling system to that planned for the use of the E15 ethanol fuel blend that will be introduced in 2011. These changes will alter the gas lines, making it more tightly sealed in an effort to reduce the probability of water contaminating the fuel – something Sunoco indicated as a risk in their announcement two weeks ago in Charlotte. The changes to the dump cans will make them look more like the ones currently used in the Truck Series. From the on-site fuel pump to pit road, changes will be coming to ensure water does not enter the fuel at any point along the way. One current catch can man explained the newly designed cans not only fuel the cars at a slower rate – up to a second slower – they will require more skill and precision when connecting the can with the car. Despite the alterations to the dump cans, though, most in the garage do not feel the change to E15 racing fuel is the reason NASCAR is doing away with the catch can man. Instead, most point to efforts to cut costs, reduce the risk of injury, and others are simply baffled at the move.(Frontstretch)(10-29-2010)

Jeff Gordon not planning on retirement anytime soon: Speaking Wednesday after a sponsorship announcement for his #24 Chevy at Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon, 39, said he figures to keep on driving in NASCAR’s top national touring series for a long time — even beyond the three years covered by his new sponsorship agreement with the AARP Foundation. Heck, he might even drive until he qualifies for AARP membership, which comes for all Americans at the age of 50. Now the father of two children with wife Ingrid Vandebosch, Gordon spoke candidly about fatherhood filling him with an intense desire to extend his career because he wants his kids — daughter Ella, 3, and son Leo, who was born in August — to be able to experience it along with him. “In some ways, that’s extended my career because I want to show them what I do. And I want them to be able to understand it and be a part of it in some way. So that definitely wants to make me think about driving longer,” Gordon said. It helps that Gordon, who was bothered by severe back pain much of last season, is feeling better this season. Gordon admitted it still is not 100 percent. He attributes being able to manage the pain better to being more dedicated to a regimented physical fitness program — citing Mark Martin as an example of the benefits of such dedication.(NASCAR.com)(10-29-2010)

Dover profits down for Chase weekend: Dover International Speedway saw attendance drop 16% for its Sprint Cup weekend last month but only a 3-4% decline in overall profits thanks to lower expenses, an increase in corporate spending and an increase in broadcast revenue, Dover Motorsports Senior Vice President Tim Horne said Thursday. The company reported adjusted earnings of $2.3 million for the first nine months of 2010, down 34% compared to $3.5 million in 2009. Those earnings don’t include the write-downs of the value of Memphis, which was shut down last year, and Gateway, which is being shut down at the end of this year. Including those write-downs, Dover has lost $2.9 million in the first nine months of 2010, more than double the loss of $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2009. The company is trying to sell both race tracks, and is considering an auction for Memphis, Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn said. Overall, for the period of July-August – the Dover Cup weekend in June, the Gateway Nationwide/Truck weekend in July and the Nashville Truck weekend in August – admissions revenues were down 21% from $11.2 million to $8.9 million. For the year, Dover reported revenues down 19 percent from $23.1 million to $18.8 million. Overall revenues through Sept. 30 have been down 8.5% from $66.8 million to $61.2 million. As far as non-Cup events, Gateway, which combined its summer Nationwide and Camping World Truck series events into one weekend this year, saw its July profits decrease a little more than $100,000. The Nashville Truck race from August was down about $500,000 due to lack of a title sponsor and attendance declines, Horne said.(Scene Daily)(10-29-2010)

Stewart still has goal of 4 car team: During a NASCAR teleconference, #14-Tony Stewart was asked about plans to expand his Stewart-Hass team.

Q. Have you considered adding a third member to your team or is everything still in a hold position?
Stewart: Well, we’re at the end of October. If we were going to do that, we would have liked to have had it started and had the decision made by the middle of summer. It’s not going to happen for next year. We obviously would love it. The goal of the organization is to be a four-car team eventually. Yes, I mean, down the road we want to have a third team and a fourth team after that. Like you said, there’s a lot of challenges right now in the sport. It’s hard keeping the two cars that we have financed right now. It is something we want to do. It didn’t work out to do for us for the 2011 season. When we get the right opportunity, and the right partner and driver, if we can get that combination, we’re definitely interested in that for sure.(Chevy PR)(10-29-2010)

Kurt Busch still looking for first restrictor plate win: Miller Lite Dodge driver #2-Kurt Busch enters this weekend’s AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway batting zero for 39 in the restrictor-plate portion of his otherwise illustrious NASCAR Sprint Cup career. At Talladega, Busch’s record sports six top-five finishes and 13 top-10s in 19 career starts. Even though he is still looking for his initial victory, he has a 12.8 average finish, even with three DNFs thrown into the equation.(Tom Roberts PR)(10-29-2010)

Curtain Falls on Sound & Speed: Each January for the past five years, fans of NASCAR racing and country music descended upon downtown Nashville for a unique and increasingly popular event known as Sound & Speed, which featured performances, autograph and storytelling sessions, displays and other opportunities to get up-close-and-personal with their favorite racecar drivers and country music artists. But the event’s board of directors and its charitable beneficiaries have announced that there will not be a sixth Sound & Speed in 2011 due to current economic conditions, as well as the lingering effects of last spring’s floods that devastated many residential neighborhoods in Nashville and the surrounding area. Sound & Speed, which began in 2006 as the brainchild of the late Brian Williams, former Senior Vice President of SunTrust Bank, Inc., and popular Nashville artist manager Don Light, has raised more than $1 million to benefit both Victory Junction and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum during the past five years.(True Speed Communications)(10-29-2010)

Chassis selections for Talladega: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend on the Talladega Info page – Chassis selection area.(10-29-2010)

Foreigner’s Kelly Hansen to Sing National Anthem at AAA 500: Kelly Hansen, lead vocalist of the classic rock band Foreigner, returns to the Texas Motor Speedway on November 7 to perform the National Anthem for the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Foreigner previously headlined the Samsung Mobile 500 pre-race show held at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2009.Hansen’s upcoming performance bolsters an impressive NASCAR weekend that also includes a superstar-studded Asphalt Chef culinary competition to be held November 6 at the Texas Motor Speedway’s Lone Star Tower clubhouse. The Asphalt Chef celebrity pairings are: Hansen with Western urban cuisine pioneer and restaurateur Tim Love; Food Network Iron Chef Mario Batali with four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson, and Food Network host Guy Fieri with 2004 Sprint Cup Series champ Kurt Busch. ABC-TV/ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Dave Burns will offer play-by-play commentary. The Asphalt Chef judging panel includes Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver/owner Michael Waltrip; local chef Dean Fearing, and NBC-Dallas sports director Newy Scruggs.(PR)(10-29-2010)

News from October 28, 2010

Robby Gordon holding press conference Friday: From a media advisory: “SPEED and running on high Octane are nothing new for Robby Gordon – that’s what Robby Gordon Motorsports is built around. But on Thursday, October 28, 2010, Gordon was caught driving an illegal NASCAR race car at a high rate of SPEED [see an image at Planet
Robby] on Highway 77 in Huntersville, NC that slowed down portions of the interstate due to the scene. Gordon was questioned before being released by local authorities. He will be on hand at Talladega Superspeedway and available to answer any questions regarding this event and how it could affect the future of Robby Gordon Motorsports.(RGM), sounds like something relating to a TV show on SPEED next season.(10-28-2010)

Harvick and Burton talk: At Martinsville teammates Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton left the Virginia track fuming at each other, but now all seems to be okay between the RCR teammates. Harvick told PRN’s Mark Garrow the two have talked this week and everything is okay and chalked it up to two drivers just trying to get all they could on a Sunday afternoon. Harvick said, “That’s pretty much what it boils down to. When you have two guys that are competitive people which in my opinion a good teammate is somebody who can push you from a competition standpoint to be better as a driver and get the most out of his car. Hey, it’s not the first time we’ve had a spat but the good thing about it is there’s enough respect there that we did and have before sit down and in 10 minutes you can have it all worked out…so it’s just part of it.”(PRN Garage Pass)(10-28-2010)

Kids in costume receive FREE admission this weekend at NASCAR Hall of Fame: Parents and their little “boils and ghouls” can find a frightfully fun time this weekend at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as the entertainment attraction introduces HALLoween at the Hall Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31. Plus, whether dressed as a ghost, witch or mini-NASCAR driver, children 12 and younger in costume will receive free admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (a $12.95 value). During the Race Day Experience, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Stop Café also will get into the spirit of the howliday offering a terror-ific menu of Halloween-themed treats such as Witches Warts (apple fritter donuts), Zombie Mud Slide (hot chocolate), Werewolf Moonshine (hot apple cider), Jack-o-latern cookies and more. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. More info at www.NASCARHall.com.(10-28-2010)

RPM looking for Investors: UPDATE 2: George Gillett’s financial difficulty following the sale of Liverpool FC has thrown the future of Richard Petty Motorsports into doubt and left the NASCAR team’s owners and lenders searching for investors to keep the team afloat. The Gilletts and Pettys, which are two of the NASCAR team’s principal owners, began an aggressive search for investors this month. RPM has hired the Gordian Group, a New York-based investment bank, to assist them in their search, while the syndicate of banks that lent Gillett more than $90 million to buy the team have been working with FTI Consulting, a global consultancy specializing in corporate finance, to find investors, sources said. A spokeswoman for RPM declined to comment.
The search for funding for RPM follows a challenging financial year for Gillett. The team reportedly defaulted on its roughly $90 million loan last February, and Gillett, who owns as much as 70% of the team, has been unable to restructure it. Gillett was counting on the sale of his stake in Liverpool FC to assist him in funding the NASCAR team. But Liverpool sold two weeks ago for $475 million, a sum far less than Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks expected and one that has put a heavy strain on Gillett’s liquidity.

The team was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009 after Gillett formed a partnership with Petty that gave the NASCAR great a roughly 4% stake in the team. The partnership followed the closure of Petty Enterprises. RPM plans to run two cars next season after running four this year. Only one of the 2011 cars, the #9 Stanley Tools Ford to be driven by Marcos Ambrose, is sponsored. The team remains in negotiations with Best Buy about extending its sponsorship of the #43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger.(full article at the Sporting News/SportsBusiness Journal)(10-26-2010)

UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett, Jr., made a major move to shore-up the financial standing of the team Tuesday. His Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC sold its stock in the companies that operate the Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort to Vail Resorts Tuesday for $63 million. Gillett reportedly owes approximately $70 million to Wachovia Bank from his purchase of the team formerly known as Evernham Motorsports. It is also believed that he continues to make payments to Evernham for the team, and Evernham told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Gillett is current in his payments. The former car owner and championship-winning crewchief declined to discuss the inner workings of the team, beyond confirming that he receives regular updates on RPM’s finances. Informed sources say that without the infusion of capital, RPM would not have been able to compete at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, despite the return of the team’s Talladega chassis and engines by Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates Racing Engines late last week. There is no word on whether today’s $63 million cash infusion will allow RPM to compete for the remainder of the 2010 season, or on how it might impact Richard Petty’s attempt to secure financing for a purchase of Gillett’s ownership stake.(Sirius Speedway)(10-27-2010)

UPDATE 2: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that the sale of a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort by Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett this week apparently brought far less to the team’s financial coffers than initially believed. Gillett’s Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc., sold its stock in the companies that operate the Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort to Vail Resorts Tuesday for a reported $63 million. However, a search of public records shows that Northstar-at-Tahoe actually sold for $80 million in November of 2007 to CNL Lifestyle Properties, a real estate investment trust. CNL’s company prospectus outlines terms of the sale, and makes it clear that since late 2007, Gillett’s company has only managed the resort on their behalf, and not owned it. Industry sources say those management rights likely sold for far less than the claimed $64 million. Further, they say that Gillett personally owns only 2% of Booth Creek Ski Holdings, with his wife accounting for an additional 2%. Thus, Gillett would have received very little cash from Tuesday’s sale. Richard Petty Motorsports confirmed late yesterday that it will field all four cars this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway for drivers AJ Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola. Today’s news raises new concerns, however, over the team’s long-term viability.(Sirius Speedway)(10-28-2010)

Five things about NASCAR’s new nose: Since its introduction during the 2007 season, NASCAR’s new racecar has seen several changes and improvements. In an effort to improve the way the cars handled at high speeds and in traffic, NASCAR replaced the rear wing on the back of the car with a simple spoiler blade that resembled the one used before 2007. In 2011, a new nose will make its debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Here are 5 things you should know about NASCAR’s new nose:

#1: Smile, Your Braces Are Gone

As any parent knows, braces on your child’s teeth mean several things: more money, more time, and unsightly metal. The same has been true of the braces on the front of our Sprint Cup racecars. In addition to the cost of parts, we know that in NASCAR time is money (both at the shop and at the track). The five splitter braces mean more time in the shop dedicated to positioning and installation. They also require teams to have parts and a plan ready at the track in the event that a brace breaks. Plus, the new nose means a more finished and refined look.

#2: A Smaller Splitter

The thin, but strong front splitter has gained a reputation for cutting tires and withstanding violent impacts. For 2011, the splitter remains a part of NASCAR racecars, but will be smaller in surface area by about 30%. It will no longer be adjustable (teams were formerly able to move the splitter forward or backward slightly). It is also almost completely covered by the new nose, but for an inch or so that peeks out at the bottom.

#3: Stronger Structure

The bracing and structure behind the new nose has been altered to keep everything in its proper place. The splitter hitting the race track means a big headache for the man behind the wheel and the crew chief in charge of fixing the handling issue. Additionally, the front noses still line up with the rear bumpers of other cars to prevent rear tires from being lifted off the ground in the event of contact.

#4: Minor Ventilation Changes

Though the option is still available, you will most likely no longer see a second grill opening in the dead-center of the bumper (where “Camry” appears). Openings for brake ducts will still be used on shorter tracks and road courses.

#5: Aerodynamics Don’t Change Much

Compared to the old nose, the general patterns of airflow around the new nose are very similar. The goal is always to get more downforce on the nose of a car to help it stick the front tires to the track and turn better. Early indications are that the new nose will accomplish this (though there are many variables to consider when it comes to the way the air affects a car in the turns and in traffic). At high speeds even the slightest changes to the shape of a car affect it’s handling.

Bonus: Easier Car Wraps

The new nose is very much like the one used on cars before the Car of Tomorrow. There is no longer an inset air dam below the front bumper. This means the paint schemes can have a more continuous design from the bottom of the nose to the top. It will also be easier for those wrapping the cars to line up design elements visually. See comparison photos at Joe Gibbs Racing.(10-28-2010)

Aaron’s celebrating 55th anniversary with Waltrip at Talladega: Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip climbs behind the wheel of the #55 Aaron’s 55th Anniversary Toyota this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The 47-year-old driver won on the 2.66-mile restrictor plate track in 2003. Waltrip owns four restrictor plate victories in his 25 years of Sprint Cup competition. Waltrip drove the Aaron’s 55th anniversary paint scheme at Talladega in April in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports.(MWR)(10-28-2010)

Jeff Gordon will ‘Drive to End Hunger’ beginning in 2011: UPDATES: Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon have teamed with AARP and AARP Foundation on the Drive to End Hunger, an unprecedented three-year initiative to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans, including 6 million over the age of 60. Drive to End Hunger will be the majority sponsor of Gordon’s #24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with primary paint schemes in 22 Sprint Cup races annually. The #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy, which will be unveiled at a later date, will race in the next three Daytona 500 events. With Gordon as its spokesperson, Drive to End Hunger will help the millions of older Americans who are facing hunger across the United States. The effort will engage the NASCAR fan base, corporations and charitable organizations via a text-to-donate program; activation at racetracks across the country; further research on the causes and consequences of hunger in older Americans; and an innovative national grant program that will provide resources to address the problem at a local level. Donations from Drive to End Hunger will benefit the hunger programs of AARP Foundation.(Hendrick)(10-27-2010)

UPDATE: Going to the AARP-sponsored car is big news for Gordon in another way — in that DuPont, his long-time sponsor, will be in a reduced role beginning next season. “DuPont is not going away,” insisted Hendrick, who added that an announcement concerning that would be forthcoming very shortly. “You can fill in the blanks. The people that have been here — Pepsi and DuPont — they’ll be back. And they’ll be picking up the rest of it. They’ll be on the cars with AARP — AARP will be on the car with them, and they’ll be on the car with AARP, the same way we do it now with associate sponsors.” Filling in the blanks means that Pepsi likely is going to be primary sponsor for two races next season and DuPont will be primary sponsor for the rest — a total of 12 to 14 races, depending on who is on the car for two non-points events (the Sprint All-Star Race and the season-opening Budweiser Shootout).(NASCAR.com)(10-28-2010)

UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports announced that DuPont will continue its longstanding relationship with Jeff Gordon with a three-year agreement to remain a primary sponsor of the #24 Chevy team through the 2013 season. DuPont, which has maintained a presence on Gordon’s cars since his Sprint Cup debut in November 1992, will have primary paint schemes in 14 races annually beginning next season. The agreement will extend one of NASCAR’s most enduring sponsor-driver relationships into its third decade. DuPont, which will have prominent brand placement on the #24 Chevys in every Sprint Cup race in 2011, 2012 and 2013, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports in November 2012.(Hendrick PR)(10-28-2010)

Rules package unchanged at Talladega: The rules package that resulted in a record number of lead changes in last April’s race at Talladega will again be in place for Sunday’s AMP Energy Juice 500. Restrictor-plate openings that are 15/16ths of an inch in diameter will remain while the car’s rear spoiler with the 70 degrees, 63 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall.(CBS Sports)(10-28-2010)

Bayne could make Sprint Cup debut at Texas: UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing is working on having Trevor Bayne make his Sprint Cup debut next month, most likely at Texas Motor Speedway. Bayne possibly could end up in the #21 Ford of Wood Brothers Racing, although Roush Fenway could field a fifth car for Bayne since he is a rookie. By running Texas, the 19-year-old Bayne would be in a good position for approval for the 2011 Daytona 500. He is approved for any Cup race the remainder of this year except for Talladega. “I know if I were to run the Cup race next year [at Daytona], it would be something I would have to be approved for,” Bayne said Saturday at Auto Club Speedway in California. “That would be a process that could include that, but I don’t know what the ultimate plan is yet. We have talked about running a Roush car at Texas, but I don’t know [what will happen].” Bayne is ninth in the Nationwide Series standings. He signed with Roush Fenway last week after starting the year with Diamond-Waltrip Racing. He will run the rest of the Nationwide Series season for Roush Fenway and full time in 2011 with likely select Cup races.(SceneDaily)(10-9-2010)

UPDATE: When 19-year-old Trevor Bayne drives onto Texas Motor Speedway for qualifying for the Texas 500, it will not only be his Sprint Cup debut, but he will add his name to an elite list of drivers who have driven the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford. Bayne, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., will join the likes of David Pearson, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Curtis Turner and Glen Wood – the team founder – who also made his first Cup start in the family’s familiar #21 at Martinsville, Va., in 1953. Bayne, like many young drivers over the years who have gotten the opportunity to go Cup racing, found himself in a position where the stars somehow lined up just right for him. He signed with Roush Fenway Racing just a few weeks ago. Not long afterward, the Wood Brothers suddenly found themselves without a crew chief. They turned to their old friend and fellow Ford team owner Jack Roush, who agreed to send veteran crew chief Donnie Wingo their way. As Roush had originally planned to run Bayne at Texas, with Wingo as his crew chief, the logical move was to have Bayne make his Cup debut in the Wood’s #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford. Bayne’s start at Texas means the Wood Brothers’ regular driver Bill Elliott will step aside for the weekend and mentor the young driver. Elliott said he will be at the track to offer Bayne any assistance he can. Elliott, who will return to the #21 for the season finale at Homestead, said he’s glad to be a team player at Texas.(Wood Brothers)(10-28-2010)

McCumbee driving for TRG at Talladega: Chad McCumbee will drive the #71 ModSpace Chevy in the Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway as ModSpace continues their partnership with TRG Motorsports, LLC as the primary sponsor. McCumbee presently pilots the #1 ModSpace car in the ARCA Racing Series having posted seven top-10 finishes this past season. The 26-year-old made his NSCS debut at Pocono Raceway in the #45 Petty Enterprises entry in 2007 and gained additional experience in 2008 making six starts under the Petty Enterprises banner.(TRG)(10-28-2010)

Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Racing Say “Boo!” To The Flu: As Halloween approaches, Flu season is lurking in the shadows. Entering Talladega Superspeedway for the Amp Energy 500, Marcos Ambrose and his #47 KLEENEX Brand Toyota Camry team are supporting Say “Boo!” to the Flu events. The racing organization is teaming up with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) and The Clorox Company to build awareness about family flu vaccination locations and to educate parents on the importance of flu prevention.(JTG Daugherty)(10-28-2010)

Cat Financial on the #31: Cat Financial’s associate sponsorship of RCR’s #31 Chevy kicks into high gear this weekend as Burton and the #31 team transform their track-type tractor #31 Caterpillar Chevy into a primarily yellow, red and black Cat Financial racing machine for the Talladega 500. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation is the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 50 company, a technology leader and the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, natural gas and diesel engines, and industrial gas turbines.(RCR), See an image of the car on my #31 Team Schemes page.(10-28-2010)

Talladega Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both NASCAR series in action at Talladega this weekend will run the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded “Goodyear Eagle,” while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded “Goodyear Wrangler” . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams ran at Talladega earlier this season . . . it is also the same tire set-up that teams in each of NASCAR’s top three divisions ran at the track in 2009 . . . this is the only track at which either of these two Goodyear tire codes will be run in 2010 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Talladega . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 34-36 laps, based on fuel mileage. See the tire codes. pressures and more on the Talladega Race Info page – Goodyear section.(10-28-2010)

Phoenix offers Park ‘N Ride for Cup race: Phoenix International Raceway has announced its operating schedule for its Park ‘N Ride program – encouraging race fans to take advantage of the shuttle service when traveling to and from the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race on Sunday, Nov. 14. After much success in recent years, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are welcome to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds, and board a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will be provided to the Gate 7 area at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain at $7 per car. With the green flag dropping on the Kobalt Tools 500 at 1 p.m., “Park ‘N Ride” services will be available for 12 hours – from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. – on Nov. 14, providing NASCAR fans with an alternate transportation option, before and after the race. The first shuttle will depart at 7:30 a.m. The raceway opens to the public at 8 a.m. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can park and ride at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an earlier arrival to the facility.(PIR)(10-28-2010)

Sad News – Ed Shull: Edward Harvey Shull, 69, of Cumming, GA passed away on October 25, 2010 at Northside Forsyth Hospital. Born in Chattanooga, TN he was the son of the late Nancy Agnes and Harvey Shull. Ed had a long, distinguished career with the Quaker Oats Co. that spanned over 38 years. He spent his first years in sales up until 1983. While maintaining his sales position, he began representing Quaker Oats and Gatorade in the NASCAR circuit. Soon thereafter he transitioned roles and moved to the Sports Marketing Division of Quaker Oats for the NASCAR division. This was his passion and a position he truly loved. Along the way, he touched many lives in and around NASCAR. Even though he retired in 2003, Ed continued to live out his passion as a consultant with Gatorade and the NASCAR industry. The funeral service and celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in the chapel of McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Roswell, GA. The family will receive friends on Monday, November 1, 2010 from 1:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the PKD Foundation at www.pkdcure.org.(10-29-2010)

Sad News – Mike Fanello: Michael “Mike” C. Fanello, 62, of Lucas, Ohio died on the family farm Friday, October 15, 2010 while doing one of the many things he enjoyed-cutting wood. He was born April 3, 1948 in Mansfield. He enjoyed dirt track racing which progressed into a 21-year involvement with NASCAR [worked for Richard Petty Racing and D.K. Ulrich]. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lucas Schools Sustaining Fund.(Mansfield News Journal)(10-28-2010)

News from October 27, 2010

RPM will have all four cars at Talladega: Richard Petty Motorsports will field all four of its cars at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, a team spokesman confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The team’s presence at the Amp Energy Juice 500 this weekend was in question as employees were told last week that their jobs weren’t guaranteed through the end of the year and that last week’s race at Martinsville might be their last. Team co-owner Richard Petty, whom the SportsBusiness Journal said owns just 4 percent of the team, is working to take over control of the organization from George Gillett, according to sources familiar with the situation. Gillett, who had taken a $90 million loan to purchase the team from Ray Evernham in 2007 and then merged the organization with Petty Enterprises and Yates Racing in the last two years, has a majority ownership in the organization. Ray Evernham and Boston Ventures also have a minority interest.(Sporting News)(10-27-2010)

New crew chief for Dale Jr.? UPDATE: A once debatable decision as to whether to keep #88 crew chief Lance McGrew for next season is becoming cut and dry. Leading just three laps since the start of the season’s second half, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has just two top-15 finishes over the last 13 races. He and McGrew argue more than the other three Hendrick Motorsports drivers and their crew chiefs combined, yet smile in front of the cameras, pretending it’s all OK. While the Hendrick line continues to be McGrew and Earnhardt together in 2011, garage talk has indicated a private shift is in the works. The rumor mill is all over the place with potential replacements, the hottest new name mentioned being Jimmie Johnson’s current car chief, Ron Malec. Another name in the mix has been Mark Martin’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson (denied) as the school of thought is Hendrick will look internally for a replacement. Who will emerge from the fray is unclear, but with Earnhardt’s team no better off than they were one year ago, it’s certain his current crew chief’s days are numbered.(Sports Illustrated)(10-22-2010)

UPDATE: Rick Hendrick was asked about the #88 team on Wednesday during a press conference:

Q: Where are you with evaluating the teams and the 88? Is that now or in offseason?

HENDRICK: “We don’t try to make any changes until we get to the end of the year and we look at everything. We all agree. We’re just trying to focus on what we’ve got to do, finish these four and then we’ll take a look at where we are.”(10-27-2010)

Jeff Gordon will ‘Drive to End Hunger’ beginning in 2011: Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon have teamed with AARP and AARP Foundation on the Drive to End Hunger, an unprecedented three-year initiative to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans, including 6 million over the age of 60. Drive to End Hunger will be the majority sponsor of Gordon’s #24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with primary paint schemes in 22 Sprint Cup races annually. The #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy, which will be unveiled at a later date, will race in the next three Daytona 500 events. With Gordon as its spokesperson, Drive to End Hunger will help the millions of older Americans who are facing hunger across the United States. The effort will engage the NASCAR fan base, corporations and charitable organizations via a text-to-donate program; activation at racetracks across the country; further research on the causes and consequences of hunger in older Americans; and an innovative national grant program that will provide resources to address the problem at a local level. Donations from Drive to End Hunger will benefit the hunger programs of AARP Foundation.(Hendrick)(10-27-2010)

RPM to Toyota? Could there be a Toyota in the King’s court? Multiple sources have confirmed to FOXSports.com that Richard Petty met with principals from Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing at Martinsville on Sunday and the meetings continued through Monday in Charlotte. In the past week, Petty has scrambled to salvage what is left of his brand and the #43. This latest development, however, doesn’t appear to involve Petty’s current partner George Gillett, the majority owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. Currently, RPM fields four Fords in the Sprint Cup Series. [George] Gillett is named as the owner of record on the #s 9, 19 and 98. Petty’s name is on the #43. The only sponsor signed for RPM in 2011 is Stanley Tools, a deal rumored to be worth $10 million and expected to be aligned with driver Marcos Ambrose. Gillett and Petty turned to Toyota once before in the summer of 2009, but the automaker could not match the eight-figure financial support that RPM had previously received as a factory-backed Dodge organization. RPM began the transition to Ford with select races at the end of the 2009 season.(Fox Sports)(10-27-2010)

RPM looking for Investors: UPDATE: George Gillett’s financial difficulty following the sale of Liverpool FC has thrown the future of Richard Petty Motorsports into doubt and left the NASCAR team’s owners and lenders searching for investors to keep the team afloat. The Gilletts and Pettys, which are two of the NASCAR team’s principal owners, began an aggressive search for investors this month. RPM has hired the Gordian Group, a New York-based investment bank, to assist them in their search, while the syndicate of banks that lent Gillett more than $90 million to buy the team have been working with FTI Consulting, a global consultancy specializing in corporate finance, to find investors, sources said. A spokeswoman for RPM declined to comment.
The search for funding for RPM follows a challenging financial year for Gillett. The team reportedly defaulted on its roughly $90 million loan last February, and Gillett, who owns as much as 70% of the team, has been unable to restructure it. Gillett was counting on the sale of his stake in Liverpool FC to assist him in funding the NASCAR team. But Liverpool sold two weeks ago for $475 million, a sum far less than Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks expected and one that has put a heavy strain on Gillett’s liquidity.

The team was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009 after Gillett formed a partnership with Petty that gave the NASCAR great a roughly 4% stake in the team. The partnership followed the closure of Petty Enterprises. RPM plans to run two cars next season after running four this year. Only one of the 2011 cars, the #9 Stanley Tools Ford to be driven by Marcos Ambrose, is sponsored. The team remains in negotiations with Best Buy about extending its sponsorship of the #43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger.(full article at the Sporting News/SportsBusiness Journal)(10-26-2010)

UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett, Jr., made a major move to shore-up the financial standing of the team Tuesday. His Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC sold its stock in the companies that operate the Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort to Vail Resorts Tuesday for $63 million. Gillett reportedly owes approximately $70 million to Wachovia Bank from his purchase of the team formerly known as Evernham Motorsports. It is also believed that he continues to make payments to Evernham for the team, and Evernham told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Gillett is current in his payments. The former car owner and championship-winning crewchief declined to discuss the inner workings of the team, beyond confirming that he receives regular updates on RPM’s finances. Informed sources say that without the infusion of capital, RPM would not have been able to compete at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, despite the return of the team’s Talladega chassis and engines by Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates Racing Engines late last week. There is no word on whether today’s $63 million cash infusion will allow RPM to compete for the remainder of the 2010 season, or on how it might impact Richard Petty’s attempt to secure financing for a purchase of Gillett’s ownership stake.(Sirius Speedway)(10-27-2010)

Menard to run #27 in 2011: Paul Menard, who will leave Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of the 2010 season for Richard Childress Racing, ,will run the car #27 in 2011, after running #98 from 2009-2010 and #15 from 2006-2008. See an image of Menard’s 2011 scheme on my #27 Team Schemes page.(10-27-2010)

Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon feud simmers: #24-Jeff Gordon admitted he was late with a move that allowed him to pass Kurt Busch’s #2 Dodge. Busch responded by knocking Gordon into the wall on Lap 385 at Martinsville Speedway — all but ending Gordon’s chances for a fifth championship. The way Busch sees it, however, they’re still not even. “I didn’t mean to get into him that hard, but over the years with Gordon here, back in the 97 car (which Busch drove for Roush Racing), wrecking the 2 car—whether you’re a Kurt fan or an ex-Rusty (Wallace) fan—he’s wrecked the 2 car a lot here.” Given the history, Gordon knew payback was coming. “I said it here, more than once, that I probably made the move a little late. I was going to get into him. It wasn’t much. But I gave him enough of a reason that, whatever things he has from past history or whatever thoughts he has in there, it sparked it, you know? At that point, he was determined to wreck us.”(Sporting News)(10-25-2010)

UPDATE: #24-Jeff Gordon told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he has not spoken with #2-Kurt Busch about the Martinsville run-in that left him with a damaged race car and a 20th place finish. “There have not been any conversations with Kurt, and I doubt that there will be,” he said. “The way I look at it, I race everybody the way they race me. I’m smart enough to know who I’m racing, and I look at every crash I’ve ever been in and ask what I could have done different. I dove in under him a little late and figured his spotter would see that I was there. I gave him a reason to lose his temper and wreck me, and I blame myself for that.” Gordon bumped Busch while passing him with 115 laps remaining in Sunday’s TUMS Fast Pain Relief 500, and Busch returned the favor in spades, spinning Gordon into the inside retaining wall on the frontstretch. The incident was the second between the two this season, after Gordon wrecked Busch on the road course at Infineon Raceway on June 20.(Sirius Speedway)(10-27-2010)

NBC Developing NASCAR Family Drama: It’s like “Parenthood” for guys. NBC is developing “The Crew”, a testosterone-heavy underdog family drama set in the world of NASCAR from Heroes writer-producer Joe Pokaski and NBC Universal-based producer Scott Stuber. The ensemble revolves around the family of distinctly different “brothers” on a NASCAR racing team who have their own lives and dreams, opportunities and problems — but as a team share a singular goal to be the best. There have been a number of NASCAR-themed projects developed at the broadcast networks in the past several years, including an animated Fox series about a dysfunctional family involved in NASCAR starring Jeff Foxworthy. What sets The Crew apart is that it is expected to be done in cooperation with NASCAR. NBC is in negotiations with the racing league for the rights to use its name, logos, tracks, race footage, etc. Stuber already has a similar arrangement with NASCAR on the feature side at Universal Pictures where he is producing a NASCAR drama with Gary Ross attached to direct. CAA-repped Pokaski is writing/executive producing The Crew under his overall deal with UMS which is producing the project.(Deadline)(10-27-2010)

Love of Logistics on the #6 at Dega: UPS will bring its love of logistics to NASCAR as the company spotlights its newest advertising and communications campaign, “We Love Logistics,” on the #6 UPS Ford piloted by David Ragan during this weekend’s Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. UPS launched the global campaign last month, but the Talladega race will mark the debut of ‘We Love Logistics’ iconography and messaging on the race car and in other elements of the company’s racing program. The broader campaign focuses on UPS’s unique ability to help companies of any size harness the power of logistics to drive growth, improve efficiencies and enhance customer relationships. But logistics also plays an important role in motorsports. The dedicated logistics paint scheme in Talladega is a completely new look for the shipping leader. The addition of blue and green to the traditional brown and gold look on the car is symbolic of the multiple services UPS can provide customers.(Just Marketing / UPS PR)see an image of the car on my #6 team paint schemes page.(10-27-2010)

Manheim on the #16: Manheim will be on the hood of the #16 3M Ford this weekend. Manheim was established more than 65 years ago as a wholesale vehicle auction operation and is the world’s largest provider of vehicle remarketing services.(Roush Fenway)(10-27-2010)

Kyle Busch’s team wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Martinsville: By winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway, Kyle Busch’s #18 crew moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Tissot season standings. With four Sprint Cup races remaining in the 2010 season, the crews for Busch, Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray lead the Tissot standings with four wins each. The crews for Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer are tied for second with three wins. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The #18 crew’s victory at Martinsville came as a result of Busch’s M&M’s Toyota spending the least amount of time on pit road – 280.163 seconds. The effort helped Busch post a strong fourth-place finish in the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Busch’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers.(Tissot)(10-27-2010)

Talladega prerace officials announced: Fresh off a Saturday night concert in the infield that’s open to race fans with a Sunday ticket, Josh Gracin will return to the stage to perform the national anthem prior the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Members of the US Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy – Senior Master Sargeant Shane Warye, Senior Master Sargeant Scot Divish and Master Sargeant Roger Alves, will perform the anthem prior to the Mountain Dew 250 Fueled by Fred’s. Additional AMP Energy Juice 500 Dignitaries: Grand Marshals – Ronald Sturm, Mike Mock, Annette Zablocki, Cindy Mullican, Ronald Pomasl, Thomas Cavalli, Jared Schaefer, Rusty Hagenbuch, John Sheehan, Chris Cobb, Shawn Garrison – AMP Energy Juice Consumer Promotional Winners; Honorary Starter – Paul Birkett – Vice President of Energy, Pepsi Cola North America Beverages; Invocation – Randy Norris -Alabama Raceway Ministries and Pastor of Church at Ross Station in Hoover, AL.(TSS)(10-27-2010)

News from October 26, 2010

Overnight TV ratings down: UPDATE: The Fast Tums Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race earned a 2.2 rating with a 5 share, down 12% from last year’s 2.5/5. See race-by-race, four years of TV Ratings on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(10-26-2010)

UPDATE: ESPN’s live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 24, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.8 (2.4 U.S. rating), averaging 3,954,058 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a final U.S. rating of 2.9.(ESPN)(10-26-2010)

McMurray close to new contract: #1-Jamie McMurray, winner of this year’s Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, is close to announcing a contract extension with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, McMurray told Sporting News on Tuesday. “We’re getting really close,” said McMurray, who signed a one-year contract when he came to EGR this season to drive the No. 1 Chevrolet. “Hopefully, within the next week or so, we will be able to announce everything that’s going on.” As of his most recent victory on Oct. 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, McMurray has three NASCAR Sprint Cup victories, doubling his career total since joining Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to start the season. McMurray also has won four of his seven career poles this year. McMurray said he has tried to ignore recent reports that EGR was considering a manufacturer switch to Ford next season. EGR began discussions with Ford in late July, but given the success the organization has had with Chevy and the power of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies engines, a change would seem unlikely.(Sporting News)(10-26-2010)

Earnhardt-Ganassi to Ford? UPDATE: While Chip Ganassi brushed off the possibility of switching from Chevy to Ford as “just a rumor” last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sources told FOXSports.com that Ford initiated discussions with the team in July, and a decision could come as early as next week at Talladega Superspeedway. Although Ganassi’s NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya failed to make the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup field, the pair has delivered four wins this year. McMurray, who won the Daytona 500 in his return to Ganassi this season, moved from Ford’s Roush Fenway Racing at the end of last year. In four years at RFR, McMurray posted just two wins. Ganassi stands to benefit through the support the company would receive from Ford both on a financial and technological basis. When it comes to the pecking order at Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing lulls far behind Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, who shares an allegiance with Hendrick. At Ford, Ganassi would be second only to Jack Roush. The area that would hit Ganassi the hardest would be the loss the company’s partnership with Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology engines — currently one of the top programs in the garage. ECRT engines have won eight races this season. Only Mark Cronquist’s engines at Joe Gibbs Racing have accounted for more (9) wins. With teams already preparing for the 2011 season, ECRT has been told a decision will come from Ganassi by Talladega. ECRT currently provides engines for Richard Childress Racing, EGR and Tommy Baldwin Racing. Furniture Row Racing will join the program next year.(FoxSports)(10-23-2010)

UPDATE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing officials don’t deny that Ford has approached them about switching manufacturers in 2011. They also say there are no plans to leave Chevy, in part because of the long-standing relationship the Earnhardt part of this equation has with General Motors, not to mention the Earnhardt Childress Racing engines that arguably are the best in the business at the moment.(ESPN.com)(10-26-2010)

NASCAR takes part from 48 car: UPDATE: NASCAR officials confiscated a drive-shaft cover from Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy before the race. According to a NASCAR source, officials just asked the team to replace a part and it wasn’t a serious matter.(NASCAR This Week)(10-25-2010)

UPDATE: NASCAR discovered stress cracks in the cover and simply asked the team to replace it.(ESPN.com)(10-26-2010)

NASCAR looking at new car design for 2013: NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series could take on a different look as early as 2013. While some manufacturers are considering model changes by then, all car makers are looking to maximize brand identity on the racetrack. That concept is equally appealing to race fans who feel the sanctioning body has veered far from the notion of a “stock” car. John Darby, Sprint Cup Series director, says the direction would “be real similar” to the style the Nationwide cars are adopting for next season. “The point we’re at right now is trying to get feedback from all four manufacturers,” Darby said. “The fact that, No. 1, that ’13 is the right year to this as it aligns with new models, and secondly that there’s interest from all four makes.” Of course costs will be taken into the equation. Changes have to make economic sense to the teams as well, since the modifications would involve more than just a cosmetic tweak to noses and tails. NASCAR eliminated the rear wings earlier this year and implemented a nose job for the front ends for 2011, which replaces the awkward braces that attach the splitters to one sleek piece. Once the manufacturers agree on the concepts, Darby would expect to see designs submitted in August 2012. “As it says in the rule book, it all has to start with a July 1 date for any type of a body change on the car,” Darby said. “Typically, and up to this point we’ve entertained and helped manufacturers with the front fascias, the rear tails. The ’13 project could be a little larger than that to where we get more character lines in the hoods, more sculpture if you will to help the manufacturers identify their products a little closer.”(Fox Sports)(10-26-2010)

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the Tums Fast Relief 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 pm

End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:57 pm

Total number of commercials: 125

Total number of companies or entities advertised: 78

Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 27

Total minutes: 237

Minutes of race broadcast: 159

Minutes of commercials: 58

Number of missed restarts: 0, But four occurred right as broadcast returned from commercials—too close to call

Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0

Number of nice honors for the pit crews: 1, Being Grand Marshalls, and getting to give the call to start the engines

Total race brdcst time 179 Total comm. brdcst time 58

Number of times selected drivers were focused on:

Bobby Labonte – 13

Dave Gilliland – 24

Tony Raines – 44

Ken Schrader – 55

Mark Martin – 80

David Ragan – 84

Tony Stewart – 126

David Reutimann – 133

Juan Montoya – 136

Kyle Busch – 144

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 146

Jeff Burton – 270

Kevin Harvick – 281

Denny Hamlin (race winner) – 296

See full rundown and other races on my 2010 TV Commercials page.(10-26-2010)

Hendrick Motorsports to name a sponsor for #24 Wed UPDATE 2: Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont/National Guard Appreciation Chevy met with the media at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, one question was about sponsorship, the transcript, in part:

Q) WILL WE FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR NEXT WEEK?

Gordon: “You’ll find out about one of them on Wednesday, I believe. I don’t know what all they are going to put into that announcement, so I don’t know all the details.” (Team Chevy)

Rumors include Walmart [denied] and 7-11 as a sponsor for 2011, or it could be extensions to current sponsors DuPont, National Guard or Pepsi.(10-22-2010)

UPDATE: Beginning in 2011, the primary sponsor of Gordon’s #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy for a majority of races will be a major anti-hunger campaign. The campaign, which may be the first multi-race cause-related sponsorship of its kind in NASCAR, will be coordinated through the AARP Foundation and eventually involve other companies, sources said. The AARP Foundation is the charitable organization of the AARP and dedicated to serving older Americans in need. While the anti-hunger campaign will serve as primary sponsor for a majority of races, DuPont and PepsiCo are expected to return as primary sponsors for the remainder of the races in 2011 as well, sources said. Gordon’s sponsorship and details of the anti-hunger campaign will be unveiled at a news conference on Wednesday at Hendrick Motorsports, sources said. A Hendrick Motorsports spokesperson confirmed an announcement is being planned for Wednesday but declined further comment.(Charlotte Observer)(10-25-2010)

UPDATE: According to paperwork filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Hendrick Motorsports has requested trademarks on two different slogans: “Drive For Hunger” and “Drive 4 Hunger.” The campaign will be the first cause-related sponsorship of its kind in NASCAR, which has struggled to attract new business since the economic downturn began late in 2008. Sponsorship dollars have been dramatically reduced, and many teams, Hendrick included, had to let go employees while adjusting to smaller budgets. Hendrick Motorsports is filling the void created when DuPont, which has sponsored Gordon his entire career, decided to scale back its commitment. The company will still play a major role with Gordon, and be the primary sponsor on all but two of the races that the new sponsor has not claimed. PepsiCo, which also has a long relationship with Gordon, will continue sponsoring the driver. The company has traditionally been the primary sponsor for two races a year. The new deal on the anti-hunger campaign fills the #24 Chevy’s primary sponsorship needs.(Associated Press)(10-26-2010)

RPM looking for Investors: George Gillett’s financial difficulty following the sale of Liverpool FC has thrown the future of Richard Petty Motorsports into doubt and left the NASCAR team’s owners and lenders searching for investors to keep the team afloat. The Gilletts and Pettys, which are two of the NASCAR team’s principal owners, began an aggressive search for investors this month. RPM has hired the Gordian Group, a New York-based investment bank, to assist them in their search, while the syndicate of banks that lent Gillett more than $90 million to buy the team have been working with FTI Consulting, a global consultancy specializing in corporate finance, to find investors, sources said. A spokeswoman for RPM declined to comment.
The search for funding for RPM follows a challenging financial year for Gillett. The team reportedly defaulted on its roughly $90 million loan last February, and Gillett, who owns as much as 70% of the team, has been unable to restructure it. Gillett was counting on the sale of his stake in Liverpool FC to assist him in funding the NASCAR team. But Liverpool sold two weeks ago for $475 million, a sum far less than Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks expected and one that has put a heavy strain on Gillett’s liquidity.

The team was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009 after Gillett formed a partnership with Petty that gave the NASCAR great a roughly 4% stake in the team. The partnership followed the closure of Petty Enterprises. RPM plans to run two cars next season after running four this year. Only one of the 2011 cars, the #9 Stanley Tools Ford to be driven by Marcos Ambrose, is sponsored. The team remains in negotiations with Best Buy about extending its sponsorship of the #43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger.(full article at the Sporting News/SportsBusiness Journal)(10-26-2010)

Bass Pro Shops pays tribute to Dale Earnhardt: Bass Pro Shops and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will be honoring racing legend Dale Earnhardt’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame at this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. The Bass Pro Shops #1 Chevy will feature the same design and black and gold paint scheme that was first used by Earnhardt in the 1998 All Star Race and was a salute to conservation and the American outdoorsman. Bass Pro Shops driver Jamie McMurray will drive the car that commemorates the 10th anniversary of Dale’s 76th and last Cup victory at Talladega before his untimely death. Dale Earnhardt fans will be excited to know that diecast cars, t-shirts, caps, and more commemorating the car and Dale are available at Bass Pro Shops stores, on their web site and in their catalogs as well as other retailers nationwide.(Bass Pro Shops), see images of the scheme on the #1 Team Schemes page.(10-26-2010)

Overnight TV ratings down: The Fast Tums Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race earned a 2.2 rating with a 5 share, down 12% from last year’s 2.5/5. See race-by-race, four years of TV Ratings on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(10-26-2010)

Win 195 for #11: #11-Denny Hamlin’s win in the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway was car #11’s 196th win in the Sprint Cup Series. Second all-time in Sprint Cup Series history for a car number. #43, which has 198 wins in 2278 Sprint Cup races is the leader, 3rd is the #3 at 97 wins. See more on my Wins by Car Number page.(10-26-2010)

Chase stats after Martinsville – six races: #11-Denny Hamlin’s late charge to a win at Martinsville brought him to within six points of leader #48-Jimmie Johnson, the closest margin between first and second place after six races in Chase history. Tony Stewart led Johnson by 15 points in 2005 after six races. Kevin Harvick’s 62-point deficit in third in the second closest in the seven years of the Chase. The 2006 Chase had eight drivers within 141 points of the lead. #48-Jimmie Johnson has finishes of 6th, 9th and 2nd in the last three Chase Talladega races. #11-Denny Hamlin has finishes of 38th, 39th and 4th. #29-Kevin Harvick’s Chase finishes at Talladega in 2008, 07 and 06 were 20th, 20th and 6th. Last spring, however, Harvick won at Talladega, Hamlin finished fourth and Johnson came in 31st. Strategy will be interesting to watch as the leaders decide whether or not to “hang in the back of the pack” during the race and make a move with 10 or 15 laps to go.

The top three drivers in the Chase after 6 races 2004-2009

2009 (After 6 Races)

1-JOHNSON 6098/+118

2-Martin 5980/-118

3-Jeff Gordon 5948/-150

2008 (After 6 Races)

1-JOHNSON 6073/+149

2-Biffle 5924/-149

3-Burton 5921/-152

2007 (After 6 Races)

1-JGordon 6055/+53

2-JOHNSON 6002/-53

3-Bowyer 5940/-115

2006 (After 6 Races)

1-Kenseth 5848/+36

2-Harvick 5812/-36

3-JOHNSON 5807/-41

2005 (After 6 Races)

1-STEWART 5957/+15

2-Johnson 5942/-15

3-Newman 5894/-63

2004 (After 6 Races)

1-KU BUSCH 6015/+96

2-J Gordon 5919/-96

3-Dale Jr 5890/-125

[Chase Champ in CAPS] see more chase starts, results on the Chase Stats after Martinsville page.(10-26-2010)

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Yearbook on sale: NASCAR Fans will once again have the opportunity to purchase the Official NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Yearbook as Round 5 Books announced today that the 2010 edition is now available for pre-ordering at www.Round5Books.com. The Yearbook which ships in early December 2010 is the same book presented to championship winning drivers, team owners and race team members for over 20 years.(Round 5 Books)(10-26-2010)

News from October 25, 2010

The Entry List for the Amp Energy Juice 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

Kevin Conway is listed in the #7; Almirola in #9

Not in top 35 of owners points:

#09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(39/32)

#13-Casey Mears (38/32)

#26-Bill Elliott (2009 race winner as owner)(1988 Champ)(37/32)

#36-Dave Blaney (40/32)

#38-David Gilliland (36/32)

#46-Michael McDowell (42/32)

#55-Michael Waltrip (43/32)

#64-Landon Cassill (46/20)

#66-Johnny Sauter (44/32)

#87-Joe Nemechek (41/32)

#97-Jeff Fuller (63/1)

In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,38,13,36,87,46,55

missing the race would be [3]: #’s 66,64,97

See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Talladega Entry List.(10-25-2010)

Martinsville Facts and Notes:

• Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday from the pole. It was his 15th victory in his 183rd start and his seventh of 2010, the most by any driver. It was the sixth time a Chase driver won in seven Martinsville Chase races (since 2004). Hamlin was the fifth different Chase winner in six 2010 Chase races. He earned his fourth Martinsville victory in his 11th race and has now won the past three. He has scored top-10 finishes in 10 of his 11 Martinsville races and has finished sixth or better in his past nine Martinsville races.

• Hamlin remained second in the championship standings just six points behind first-place Jimmie Johnson with four races remaining. This is the closest points battle in the Chase with four races remaining. The previous closest Chase race came in 2005 when Tony Stewart led Johnson by 15 points.

• Hamlin’s previous win came at Richmond in September. Eleven of his 15 series wins have come in the past 48 races.

• Martinsville has been won from the first-place starting position 19 times, and this was the 34th Martinsville race won from the front row.
• There have been three short-track winners in six short-track races in 2010 (Hamlin — 3, Kyle Busch — 2 and Jimmie Johnson — 1).

• Jeff Burton led the most laps (134), but the leader of the most laps has failed to win 10 of the past 14 races at Martinsville.

• Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 87th series win and 10th of 2010, more than any other owner. This was JGR’s seventh win at Martinsville, tied for fourth all-time with Holman Moody. JGR has won nine of the past 10 short-track races, including the past five.

• This was the 11th win in 2010 for Toyota. Chevrolet has seventeen, with Dodge and Ford earning two apiece. A Toyota has won four times at Martinsville, all in the past six races and all by Hamlin. The top 10 consisted of five Chevrolets, three Toyotas, one Ford and one Dodge. Ford has gone 16 races without a victory at Martinsville. Dodge has gone 13 races without winning at Martinsville.

• Mark Martin (finished second) came from a lap down to post his best short-track finish in 2010.

• Kevin Harvick (third) scored his first top-5 finish in 19 Martinsville races.

• Kyle Busch (fourth) tied his best Martinsville finish for the fourth time in 12 races.

• Johnson (fifth) is the only driver to score five top-5 finishes in the six Chase races, all in the past five.

• Carl Edwards finished eighth in his 225th NSCS career start.

• Jeff Gordon (20th) ended a streak of top-10 finishes in the past 15 Martinsville races.

• Elliott Sadler finished 28th in his 425th career NSCS start.

• Four Chase drivers have not won in 2010: Gordon, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Edwards.

• Marcos Ambrose (34th) led 40 laps, the most laps he has led in 79 career series races.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. led 90 laps, the most he has led in 2010 and tying the most since Richmond in September 2008.(ESPN)(10-25-2010)

Craven, Evernham, Smith on NASCAR Now Roundtable: NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham and Ricky Craven will join reporter Marty Smith as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program airing Monday, Oct. 25, at 5:00pm/et on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Hendrick Motorsports to name a sponsor for #24 Wed UPDATE: Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont/National Guard Appreciation Chevy met with the media at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, one question was about sponsorship, the transcript, in part:

Q) WILL WE FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR NEXT WEEK?

Gordon: “You’ll find out about one of them on Wednesday, I believe. I don’t know what all they are going to put into that announcement, so I don’t know all the details.” (Team Chevy)

Rumors include Walmart [denied] and 7-11 as a sponsor for 2011, or it could be extensions to current sponsors DuPont, National Guard or Pepsi.(10-22-2010)

UPDATE: Beginning in 2011, the primary sponsor of Gordon’s #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy for a majority of races will be a major anti-hunger campaign. The campaign, which may be the first multi-race cause-related sponsorship of its kind in NASCAR, will be coordinated through the AARP Foundation and eventually involve other companies, sources said. The AARP Foundation is the charitable organization of the AARP and dedicated to serving older Americans in need. While the anti-hunger campaign will serve as primary sponsor for a majority of races, DuPont and PepsiCo are expected to return as primary sponsors for the remainder of the races in 2011 as well, sources said. Gordon’s sponsorship and details of the anti-hunger campaign will be unveiled at a news conference on Wednesday at Hendrick Motorsports, sources said. A Hendrick Motorsports spokesperson confirmed an announcement is being planned for Wednesday but declined further comment.(Charlotte Observer)(10-25-2010)

RCR Teammates Feud at Martinsville: #29-Kevin Harvick was not pleased with how teammate #31-Jeff Burton raced him Sunday at Martinsville Speedway and showed that displeasure by running next to Burton during a caution with about 140 laps left.
Asked after the race about the incident, Harvick said: “We were just racing.”

Burton had a different take. “I don’t understand what he is mad at,” Burton said. “I think he is just wound up and racing for a championship. I can assure you I didn’t do anything wrong and I would do it again a thousand times. Because if what I did was wrong, then I will just quit racing.” Told that Harvick complained about how he came down on him, Burton questioned Harvick.
“There will come a point when he realizes that everybody in the world is not against him,” Burton said. “And every time it’s a conflict he is involved. And you would think over the amount of years that he has done it, that he would get the hint that he is always in the middle of it and maybe sometimes if he just backed up a little bit and caught his breath, he would be OK. I’m not out to harm him. I am a teammate of his and I am trying to help him and there comes a point where he needs to just catch his breath and realize that it’s my race track too.”(Roanoke Times)(10-25-2010)

NASCAR takes part from 48 car: NASCAR officials confiscated a drive-shaft cover from Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy before the race. According to a NASCAR source, officials just asked the team to replace a part and it wasn’t a serious matter.(NASCAR This Week)(10-25-2010)

Sad News – Carol June Bodine: Carol June Bodine, 85, of Pleasant Garden passed away Friday, October 22, 2010 in the Palliative Care unit at Wesley Long Memorial Hospital. Born May 1, 1925 in Elmira, New York, to Louise and Ronald Sechrist, Carol June was married in August 1943 to Eli Bodine. Together, while raising a family in rural Chemung, New York, they built their lives as prominent business owners. While their day to day lives revolved around operating one of the largest chicken farms in New York State, and the local ice creamery, weekends were dedicated to providing thrills and excitement to auto race fans at their ¼ mile dirt track, Chemung Speedrome.

Her love of adventure, spurred by the love of family, took Carol June, along with Eli on the NASCAR circuit for over a decade traveling from track to track selling souvenirs for sons [1986 Daytona 500 winner] Geoffrey and [NASCAR Exec] Brett. Her passion and dedication continued through their racing careers, and into son Todd’s, in the Camping World Truck Series. From practice to qualifying to the final lap, Carol June reveled in her son’s accomplishments.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 at Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel in Greensboro, NC. The service of celebration will be officiated by her nephew, Reverend Randall Stone, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Guilford Memorial Park. Please access the following link for service details and directions: www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, we are requesting that donations be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 2800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.(10-25-2010)

Camping Still Available at Talladega Superspeedway: Reserved campsites are still available in several of Talladega Superspeedway’s overnight parks. Whether a race fan is coming for the World’s Largest Halloween party or a relaxing weekend, there’s an overnight park available for every need. For the party crowd, Talladega Superspeedway has availability in West Park A & B for $75. West Park allows all modes of camping, from motorhomes, to pull-behinds to tents. It’s all welcome in West Park.

East Park is a slightly more upscale campsite reserved for motorhomes and pull-behinds only. Each space features a 20’ x 45’ gravel pad and is available for $110. East Park has some of the most convenient access to Speedway Blvd of all the Talladega Superspeedway overnight parks.

For a more relaxed “family” atmosphere, Talladega Superspeedway offers Champions Corner. Champions Corner has a strict No-Alcohol policy for all park residents and guests. Each site has 20’ x 50’ gravel pad with water hookups for motorhomes and pull-behinds only. Champions Corner campsites are available for $280.

To experience camping at Talladega Superspeedway, race fans should call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(10-25-2010)

Get The VIP Treatment at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway has a special offer for the race fan that demands the ultimate in comfort and luxury…. the Trackside Fan Suite hospitality package.

The Trackside Fan Suite Package includes:

· Pass into the Trackside Fan Suite Saturday and Sunday

· 1 Suite/Hospitality parking pass per two Suite passes

· Pre-Race pit passes (Saturday and Sunday only; schedule & weather permitting)

· Exclusive access to the track for pre-race Driver Introductions

· Saturday event souvenir

· Sunday souvenir race program

· Free Trackside Suite pass for Friday’s Happy Hour and Qualifying (suite beverage service only)

· $20 Home Depot gift card (while supplies last)

· Discount scanner rental card

Inside the luxury suite, guests will find:

· Closed-circuit televisions

· Private restrooms

· Catering for breakfast, buffet lunch and unlimited beverages (water, soda, wine and beer) Saturday and Sunday

· Cash bar available

Each Individual Suite Package is $600 and available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342) or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(10-25-2010)

Week 16 Daytona Repave Update – Stewart to paint new start-finish line: In the 16th week of the historic Daytona Repave, paving of the new asphalt remains ongoing as workers have begun the process of restoring the SAFER barriers and catch fence. In Turns 3 and 4, the catch fence and SAFER barriers have been reinstalled and the process of returning SAFER barriers in the tri-oval is ongoing. Paving on the steep 31-degree high banks with the Titan 525 paver in Turns 1 and 2 also continues. The paving of the first of four layers of asphalt – the drainage layer – is complete and the second layer – the base course – has been put down on the top pass.

Other updates from the 16th week of work on repaving Daytona International Speedway include:

· Paving of the apron on the tri-oval is complete.

· Paving of the four layers of asphalt on pit road should take place in the next two weeks.

· Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who drives the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, will visit the “World Center of Racing” and view the progress of the project next Thursday. Stewart, who is tied for third on the all-time Daytona International Speedway wins list with 15 triumphs, will assist Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III in painting the start/finish line on the new racing surface.

About the Daytona Repave: Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, will use an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway and has a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011. Race fans can view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience. For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(10-25-2010)

Talladega Announces Weekend Concerts: Talladega Superspeedway announced the initial lineup of weekend concerts and activities for HALLOW-DEGA Presented by Captain Morgan, including infield concerts by Colt Ford on Friday and The Grand Magnolias on Saturday. Friday, Oct. 29, gets the weekend started with a concert by Colt Ford in the Captain’s Quarters. The Captain’s Quarters are located in the grass area between Eastaboga and Talladega Blvd in the infield. Fans who have race tickets for Saturday or Sunday are welcome to enjoy the one of a kind atmosphere of the Talladega infield and great music. On Saturday, Oct. 30, race fans will find a costume contest in the Display Area at The Sprint Experience from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. SPEED Channel will again host spooky scream contest from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm with the grand finale occurring live on a special edition of TRACKSIDE Live at 5:30 pm. Vendors throughout the Display Area will also have candy for kids trick-or-treating. NASCAR action kicks off with the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Oct. 30 and continues with Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy Juice 500, Oct. 31. To experience it all, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(10-25-2010)

News from October 24, 2010

Hamlin wins at Martinsville: Pole sitter #11-Denny Hamlin won the TUMS Fast Relief 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 7th win of 2010 and the 15th win of his career. #5-Martin [who wrecked and got the lucky dog late in the race] finished second followed by #29-Harvick, #18-Busch, #48-Johnson, #20-Logano, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #99-Edwards, #31-Burton [who led the most laps] and #12-Keselowski [first top 10 of 2010].

There were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers and 15 cautions for 90 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 56,000 down from 2009 which was 64,000.

Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Sunday, October 25 at 2:00am/et; and SPEED, October 27 at 12:00pm/et.

See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Martinsville Race Results/Awards page.(10-24-2010)

Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Martinsville:

[by points standings before the race]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 5th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, WON

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 3rd

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 20th

5) #18-Kyle Busch, 4th

6) #14-Tony Stewart, 24th

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 8th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 33rd

9) #2-Kurt Busch, 16th

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 9th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 15th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 38th

(10-24-2010)

Race Fast Facts – Martinsville:

#11-Denny Hamlin won the TUMS Fast Relief 500 (62nd Running), his 15th victory in 183 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his series-high seventh victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2010.

This is his fourth victory and 10th top-10 finish in 11 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is also his third consecutive win at Martinsville.

#5-Mark Martin (second) posted his 24th top-10 finish in 46 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2010.

#29-Kevin Harvick (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 19 races at Martinsville Speedway.

#48-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 6 points over Denny Hamlin.

This is the closest points margin between first and second with four races to go in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup era (2004-Present).(NASCAR Statistics)(10-24-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:

[after Martinsville, race 32 of 36, Chase Race 6 of 10]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5998

2) #11-Denny Hamlin [7 wins], 5992, -6

3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5936, -62

4) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5826, -172

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5795, -203

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 5785, -213

7) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 5762, -236

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 5752, -246

9) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5721, -277

10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5705, -293

11) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5682, -316

12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5592, -406

(Bowyer without 150 pt penalty 5742, -150 would be 9th)

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-24-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver ‘Classic’ Points Standings:

[after Martinsville, race 32 of 36….the OLD way]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #29-Kevin Harvick(x), 4629

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson(x), 4365, -264

3) #18-Kyle Busch(x), 4291, -338

4) #24-Jeff Gordon(x), 4288, -341

5) #11-Denny Hamlin(x), 4274, -355

6) #99-Carl Edwards(x), 4212, -417

7) #14-Tony Stewart(x), 4169, -460

8) #31-Jeff Burton(x), 4142, -487

9) #17-Matt Kenseth(x), 4051, -578

10) #2-Kurt Busch(x), 4038, -591

11) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3916, -827

12) #16-Greg Biffle(x), 3849, -713

13) #33-Clint Bowyer(x), 3813, -780

14) #5-Mark Martin, 3802, -816

15) #39-Ryan Newman, 3789, -933

16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3696, -840

(x) chase drivers

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-24-2010)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Talladega:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. BUT the #7 team had Robby Gordon back in the car and his 22nd place finish jump the #7 up to 34th and the #71 is 35th now, but is 47 pts ahead of 36th, 27 more points then last week.

33) #37-Gilliland/Front Row, 2341, +112

34) #7-Gordon-Conway/RGM, 2278, +49

35) #71-Sadler/TRG: 2276, 47 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Kvapil/Front Row: 2229, -47 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Schrader/Latitude43: 2113, -163

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-24-2010)

TRG picks up sponsor for Martinsville & Talladega: Following a successful partnership during last weekend’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, ModSpace and TRG Motorsports will continue their partnership through the next two rounds of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville and Talladega. ModSpace is the leading North American supplier of permanent modular construction and temporary modular space. Headquartered in Berwyn, PA, they are an Industry innovator in modular construction. They have been involved in a number of different motorsport endeavors, including their first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race during last weekend’s Bank of America 500. For this weekend’s Tums Fast Relief 500, ModSpace will be part of the “local” story as they support Virginia native Hermie Sadler in the #71 Chevy. Sadler, a veteran of 59 Cup races, is more recently known as an on-air personality for many SPEED television programs.(TRG), no word who will drive the #71 at Talladega.(10-24-2010)

The King says he is staying in the sport; could buy the team? Richard Petty doesn’t plan to let financial woes run him out of the Sprint Cup series. “I’ve been here since 1949 and I’m going to be here till they run me off,” the minority owner of Richard Petty Motorsports said on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. Petty would not comment on whether he is attempting to put together investors to purchase majority interest from George Gillett, whose legal dispute over the sale of the Liverpool soccer team has impacted the finances of the racing organization to the point there was concern it wouldn’t be able to compete past this weekend.
But Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, whose organization leases cars and engines to RPM, told ESPN.com that Petty was attempting to purchase controlling interest of the team. “I haven’t got anything to tell you except speculation on somebody else’s part and my part and that ain’t going to get anybody anywhere,” Petty said from the back of the #9 hauler. “When we do get all of it together we’ll get it together.”(ESPN)(10-24-2010)

decal on cars at Martinsville
in honor of BMS’s Jeff Byrd
from the Twitter of Bob Pockrass

Community gathers for final goodbye to BMS’s general manager: Jeff Byrd took pride in hosting large crowds at Bristol Motor Speedway. And over the past 14 years, the former general manager of BMS entertained motorsports fans from around the world. Several hundred of those fans returned to NASCAR’s most popular short track Thursday to honor and remember the effervescent ambassador of BMS. Byrd died Sunday after an eight-month battle with cancer. He was 60. As friends and fans entered a large tent set up on the BMS infield, local musician James David Carter performed a stirring rendition of the timeless James Taylor ballad “Fire and Rain.” The evocative piece set the mood for a ceremony rich with heart-wrenching tributes. Byrd was painted as a generous, funny, compassionate and competitive leader who was guided by faith, family, hope and love. Throughout the emotional event, a video montage displayed a wide range of images from Byrd’s life. Several of the speakers and attendees contributed stories of how Byrd impacted lives without ever asking for anything in return. Those anonymous acts ranged from personal donations for charitable causes to various volunteer efforts and goodwill gestures. Each of the 70 BMS employees wore black shirts emblazoned with the now familiar track motto “Exceed Expectations.” Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, Food City Chief Executive Officer Steve Smith, Bristol Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Meadows and Bristol television personality Paul Johnson also offered personal stories that illustrated Byrd’s humility and compassion. BMS Director of Media and Public Relations Lori Worley said the track staff members are committed to follow the selfless example of their late mentor.(Bristol Herald Courier)(10-22/24-2010)

Goodyear asks for Daytona test dates in December: With the massive repaving project ahead of schedule at Daytona International Speedway, tire maker Goodyear has requested Dec. 7-8 as potential test dates at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales, said Saturday. Originally projected for a completion date of Jan. 1, the resurfacing at Daytona has benefited from favorable weather and could be finished as early as a month ahead of schedule. Assuming the desired dates are viable, Goodyear will invite all NASCAR Sprint Cup teams to participate in the tire test.
The larger the field, the more benefit Goodyear can derive from the test, given the importance of drafting in large packs of cars at Daytona. Goodyear already has a full-field tire test scheduled for Jan. 20-22.(Sporting News)(10-24-2010)

Sad News – Phyllis Donlavey: Phyllis Donlavey, 85, passed away October 21, 2010. She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Wesley C. “Junie” Donlavey [former Sprint Cup Series team owner, 863 races]; daughters, Linda Perkins and her husband, Bill, and Beverly Swata; son, C. Richard Donlavey and his wife, Sandy; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Phyllis was a devoted member of the Nascar Women’s Auxiliary. The family will receive friends Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Morrissett Funeral Home, 6500 Iron Bridge Rd. (Rte. 10). A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 25, 2010 at Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest contributions be made to Victory Junction, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, N.C. 27317.(obit – Richmond Times Dispatch)

And see a full article about Phyllis at the Richmond Times Dispatch – Phyllis Donlavey, ‘first lady’ of NASCAR team, dies at 85.(10-24-2010)

Conway says Front Row owes him money: Kevin Conway says his marketing company only agreed to pay Front Row Motorsports for 15 races and that the team still owes him money from this season. Conway drove in 21 Sprint Cup races for Front Row this season before being released in August. He had used his marketing company, Exclaim, to represent Extenze, which sponsored him and the Front Row team. Front Row has sued Conway, Exclaim and Biotab, the parent company of Extenze, for breach of contract and asked for $2.754 million. In a response filed Wednesday, Conway said that the language in the contract required payments of $150,000 per race for the first 15 races, with the remainder of the season being paid depending on revenue from product placement through its activation of the racing sponsorship. Front Row alleges that the sponsorship agreement was for $5.4 million, paid in weekly installments of $108,000, for the full season. The team claims that a clause in the contract indicates that the weekly payments would last the entire season. Conway, who was to get $540,000 for the full season (10% of the sponsorship), said in court documents that he is owed $129,600 in salary and $122,240 in purse money because he had been paid only $135,000 before he was released in August. The case was originally filed in North Carolina Superior Court but Conway has moved it to federal court. In his response, Conway also alleges that funds were diverted from his car to the other cars in the three-car stable even though Extenze was specifically sponsoring his car. A Front Row Motorsports spokesman declined comment.(SceneDaily)(10-24-2010)

#7 team to honor local deputy & Short Family murder case: On, July 21, 2010 Henry County 911 dispatcher Karen Bryant’s grandmother, Ruth Thompson, was at Fort Trial Baptist Church in Stanleytown, VA when she collapsed unexpectedly. Corporal (Cpl.) Steven Ball was on routine patrol when he heard the call come over his radio at 7:24pm/et. Two minutes later he arrived on the scene and determined she was in cardiac arrest. Cpl. Ball initiated CPR and helped work her in the ambulance en route to the Emergency Room. She was resuscitated several times during the trip and walked out of the hospital several weeks later. Cpl. Ball is credited with saving her life for his speedy work and for that he has been named an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ and will serve as an Honorary Crew Chief for NASCAR’s leading Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year driver Kevin Conway and the ExtenZe racing team for this weekend’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Additionally, as an extension to the ExtenZe Local Hero program in Martinsville and to further honor the Henry County Sheriff’s department, Conway’s #7 ExtenZe Toyota will carry images and contact/reward information on the Short Family murder case that has haunted the Henry County Sheriff’s department for the last eight years. Law enforcement authorities continue to seek the public’s help in locating the suspect(s) involved in the murders of Michael, Mary and their young daughter Jennifer Short and are hoping that ExtenZe Racing’s help in this case will help them reach that one person out there that may have the answer in this case and are offering a $100,000 reward. For more info on the reward, or to nominate an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’, go to extenzeracing.com.(10-24-2010)

News from October 23, 2010

Race Coverage of the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 24, 2010.

Television (TV): ESPN at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et on ESPN2; green flag approx 1:13pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

ESPN2, Monday, October 25 at 2:00am/et

SPEED, Wednesday, October 27 at 12:00pm/et

ESPN.com Offers RacingLive! During Martinsville Race: NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com. RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, Oct. 24, RacingLive! Martinsville will kick off at 1:00pm/et to coincide with ESPN’s telecast of the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at espn.go.com/racing/nascar/.

The Chase Is On: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goes Short Track Racing: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series goes short track racing for the only time in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with a 500-lap race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 24, and ESPN will have a live telecast. NASCAR Countdown airs on ESPN2 at 12:00pm/et with the race telecast on ESPN at 1:00pm/et. The race’s green flag is scheduled for 1:13 pm/et. ESPN2 will air NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Oct. 22, at 3:00pm/et as well as same-day coverage of Happy Hour final practice on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 pm/et.

Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, and two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree. Two-time champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Dr. Jerry Punch.

NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion driver Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, a team owner in the series. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

Pit Stall Selections – Martinsville: The selections of pit stalls for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

Outside pole sitter #47-Ambrose took pit stall 11, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

#16-Biffle, who starts 3rd took the 2nd pit stall, right behind the pole sitter.

The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #31-Burton, who starts 18th.

To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-23-2010)

Chassis selections for Martinsville: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Martinsville Speedway this weekend on the Martinsville Info page – Chassis selection area.

Happy Hour practice for the Tum’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and notes:

#16-Biffle 95.641

#31-Burton 95.319

#33-Bowyer 95.314

#1-McMurray 95.127

#29-Harvick 95.113

slowest: #87-Nemechek 91.514 and #81-Yeley 93.161

41 of the 43 drivers who practiced made 10 lap runs, the fastest 3 of those drivers:

#29-Harvick 94.726

#24-Gordon 94.615

#48-Johnson 94.589

Dennis Setzer is listed in the #34 Ford instead of Tony Raines who is at Gateway qualifying his NNS car.

Robby Gordon is listed in the #7 Toyota, Conway ran the first practice.

no live TV, scheduled to be shown on ESPN2 after the Nationwide race, approx 6:30pm/et.

See fastest speeds, average speeds, fastest 10-lap average, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page (10-23-2010)

Happy Hour Practice Rank for the Chase drivers at Martinsville:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 6th fastest

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 5th

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 7th

5) #18-Kyle Busch, 26th

6) #14-Tony Stewart, 35th

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 16th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 1st

9) #2-Kurt Busch, 19th

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 2nd

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 23rd

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 3rd

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-22-2010)

Saturday’s First practice for the Tum’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is being over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and notes:

#12-Keselowski 95.864

#33-Bowyer 95.820

#29-Harvick 95.796

#43-Allmendinger 95.738

#47-Ambrose 95.709

slowest: #26-Schrader 92.937 and #64-Cassill 93.437

no speed listed: #87-Nemechek & #81-Yeley, two likely start-and-parkers

incidents: #88-Earnhardt Jr. spun between turn’s 1 & 2, but didn’t hit anything

32 of the 41 drivers who practiced made 10 lap runs, the fastest 3 of those drivers:

#43-Allmendinger 94.891, 4th fastest overall

#09-Labonte 94.829, 8th

#47-Ambrose 94.820, 5th

See fastest speeds, average speeds, fastest 10-lap average, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page (10-23-2010)

Earnhardt-Ganassi to Ford? While Chip Ganassi brushed off the possibility of switching from Chevy to Ford as “just a rumor” last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sources told FOXSports.com that Ford initiated discussions with the team in July, and a decision could come as early as next week at Talladega Superspeedway. Although Ganassi’s NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya failed to make the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup field, the pair has delivered four wins this year. McMurray, who won the Daytona 500 in his return to Ganassi this season, moved from Ford’s Roush Fenway Racing at the end of last year. In four years at RFR, McMurray posted just two wins. Ganassi stands to benefit through the support the company would receive from Ford both on a financial and technological basis. When it comes to the pecking order at Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing lulls far behind Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, who shares an allegiance with Hendrick. At Ford, Ganassi would be second only to Jack Roush. The area that would hit Ganassi the hardest would be the loss the company’s partnership with Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology engines — currently one of the top programs in the garage. ECRT engines have won eight races this season. Only Mark Cronquist’s engines at Joe Gibbs Racing have accounted for more (9) wins. With teams already preparing for the 2011 season, ECRT has been told a decision will come from Ganassi by Talladega. ECRT currently provides engines for Richard Childress Racing, EGR and Tommy Baldwin Racing. Furniture Row Racing will join the program next year.(FoxSports)(10-23-2010)

Latest on Shane Hmiel’s condition: Steve Hmiel was at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, the first day he’s been away from his son Shane since Shane broke his back and neck in a severe crash during a USAC Silver Crown event two weeks ago and gave an update on his son. Shane Hmiel remains in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, facing additional surgery and a long recovery period. Even so, Steve Hmiel is encouraged by his son’s progress, as are the doctors, after what has been, at times, a scary couple of weeks. See upates at Hmiel’s Road to Recovery Facebook page along with articles at: Virginian Pilot and SceneDaily.(10-23-2010)

Loomis discusses RPM’s plans: Richard Petty Motorsports is looking forward to finishing this season strong and already is making plans for 2011. Robbie Loomis, the director of competition for RPM, answered questions at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday amid speculation that the organization is facing an uncertain future. The team and driver Kasey Kahne parted ways earlier this week, and Loomis said he thinks the sudden departure of the driver has fueled talk about the team’s stability.

“Like I said before, there’s been a lot of speculation about a lot of things,” Loomis said before practice while behind the team’s #43 hauler. “There always has been in this sport, but what gives me confidence is that we’ve always had the ability to move forward.”
Loomis says the team will be at Talladega next weekend, but he did not say who will be driving the car. Aric Almirola is taking Kahne’s place in the #9 Ford this weekend. “Most of the things we’ve been working on has been our models for 2011 and what our race teams look like moving forward,” he said. The team is planning to field two cars in 2011, with A.J. Allmendinger staying in the #43 and Marcos Ambrose driving the other car [supposedly the #9].

RPM is co-owned by George Gillett Jr. and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. Questions about the team’s financial health have followed it for almost two years and Gillett was recently ousted as a co-owner of Premier League soccer club Liverpool.
Loomis said Gillett still owns RPM, and declined to comment on speculation that Petty is trying to round up investors that would allow him more control of the organization. “There are a lot of people working collectively together to make this thing more successful as we go forward in the future,” he said. Loomis said Petty might make it to the track Sunday, but that he’s been spending most of his time with his ailing wife, Lynda.(Associated Press)(10-23-2010)

Allmendinger / Ambrose talks about RPM: from a Frontstretch interview by Jay W. Pennell with #43-Allmendinger and #47-Ambrose about the Richard Petty Motorpsorts situation:

Jay W. Pennell, Frontstretch.com: I asked you last week about your situation at RPM and you described it by saying, “at least there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not like there’s a train coming back at you to hit you.” Do you still feel that way now?

Allmendinger: “I feel like the train is coming back now.Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what’s happening. I don’t have any hardcore answers about what’s going on inside the team. There are certain people that need to answer those questions. For me, all I can do is focus on driving the race car. Can’t fix anything else. I feel bad for my guys that work so hard, my guys here at the race track, back at the shop, my guys that get told things like we might not be going to Talladega – which we are, we got the cars and the motors. They’re the ones that work really hard and bust their butts. All I can do is take care of it as best I can, just try to keep us focused on coming to the race track. We can’t fix what’s going on and I don’t know the true answers. We still have fast race cars. We’re still working hard. The last couple of weeks we’ve had a couple of setbacks when it comes to engine problems during the race, but we’ve been running well, so that’s all we can focus on.”

Pennell: Are you worried about your situation for next season?

Allmendinger: “I’d be freaking lying to your face if I said, ‘It’s all good.”

Pennell: What about Talladega or Texas? Are you worried about making it to those races?

Allmendinger: “I can’t worry about it, honestly. If I let that take away from this weekend, then it doesn’t really matter. If I go out there and suck it’s kind of irrelevant when it comes to anything. There’s definitely question. I think (we’ll be at) Talladega, for sure, and I think we’re getting our stuff together for Texas and things like that, but there’s nothing set in concrete. For me, it’s working hard at the race track and making sure we’re running well. To me you’ve always got to look at the worst case scenario, and if it’s the worst case scenario and we have to go work on other stuff and make that happen. That’s why I pay Tara Ragan for and my management to work on that so I can worry about the race car.”

Marcos Ambrose, moving to RPM in 2011: “I believe in the program over there (at RPM). I made the choice to commit to them because I believe it is a great fit for me. I wish them the best of luck to get themselves sorted out and back on the right path. I’m not involved in the decision making (at RPM). All I can do is voice my commitment to them. I believe the choices I made were right, I still do. I’m looking forward to the opportunity, they have a great program with assistance from Roush and the program’s a great place. With Stanley coming on board supporting it, it’s a great place for me to be. I was joking about it when we ran well in Richmond, but I believe in the program over there and want the chance to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports.”(Frontstretch.com)(10-23-2010)

BB&T returns to Bowyer’s car: The burgundy, white and gold paint scheme of BB&T, the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based corporation, will adorn Clint Bowyer’s #33 Richard Choldress Racing’s Chevy for the first of two consecutive weeks, beginning with this weekend’s race at Martinsville and again next week at Talladega (RCR), see images of the scheme on my #33 Team Schemes page.(10-23-2010)

NJ gets NASCAR License Plates: NASCAR fans in New Jersey can start their engines and display new license plates of their favorite drivers. The Motor Vehicle Commission unveiled 12 new plates at Wall Stadium racetrack in Wall Township on Wednesday [Oct 20th]. NASCAR license plates are available by mail for a one-time fee of $60. The plates can be personalized for an additional $50. In addition to the [NJ Native Martin] Truex Jr. plate, fans can choose plates representing: Dale Earnhardt Hall of Fame Commemorative, NASCAR Fan, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.(Atlantic City Press)(10-23-2010)

News from October 22, 2010

Hamlin wins pole at Martisnville: #11-Denny Hamlin won the Coors Pole for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 97.018mph for his 2nd pole of 2010 and 9th of his career.
#47-Ambrose will start 2nd followed by #16-Biffle, #39-Newman, #42-Montoya, #14-Stewart, #99-Edwards, #00-Reutimann, #1-McMurray and #6-Ragan.

The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #13-Mears, #09-BLabonte, #38-Kvapil, #64-Cassill, #36-Blaney, #87-Nemechek, #26-Schrader and #81-Yeley.

The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (5): #46-McDowell, #07-Gordon, #55-Cook, #66-Sauter and #92-Setzer ( who withdrew).

See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Martinsville Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(10-22-2010)

Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Martinsville:

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 19th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1st

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 36th

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 11th

5) #18-Kyle Busch, 26th

6) #14-Tony Stewart, 6th

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 7th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 3rd

9) #2-Kurt Busch, 29th

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 18th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 32nd

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 17th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-22-2010)

Qualifying Fast Facts – Martinsville:

#11-Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light Pole Award for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 with a lap of 19.518 seconds, 97.018 mph.

This is his ninth pole in 183 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his second pole and ninth top-10 start in 2010. His first pole came at Atlanta in September.

This is his second pole in 11 races at Martinsville Speedway. His first Martinsville pole came in April of 2007.

In Hamlin’s three Martinsville wins, he has started second (3/08), 17th (10/09) and 19th (3/10).

#47-Marcos Ambrose (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2010 and his first in four races at Martinsville Speedway.

#16-Greg Biffle (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 14th in 32 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-22-2010)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 22, 2010 at 3:10pm/et.

TV: ESPN2 – 3:00pm/et

Radio: MRN Radio ONLY thru NASCAR.com

Jayski.com: Jayski’s Semi-Live Qualifying Page

Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled

Qualifying Order for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #5-Martin.

The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #56-Truex Jr.

The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #38-Kvapil with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #26-Schrader.

See the full qualifying order on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-22-2010)

Friday’s First practice for the Tum’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is being over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and notes:

#14-Stewart 97.548
#11-Hamlin 97.422

#42-Montoya 97.312

#16-Biffle 97.202

#00-Reutimann 97.172

#83-Kahne = 29th

#9-Almirola = 36th

slowest: #7-Conway 93.999 and #66-Johnny Sauter 94.097

incidents: #66-Sauter said he had something go wrong with the car and backed the car in to the wall, looks like the team will need a backup. #92-Setzer and smacked the wall and looks like the team will need a backup but has none, so the team has withdrawn from the race. #47-Ambrose spun out in turn 2, looks like no damage, cool looking paint scheme on the #47.

See fastest speeds, avewrage speeds, fastest 10-kao average, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page (10-22-2010)

Martinsville practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#09-Bobby Labonte [PC 1], 24th overall

#13-Casey Mears, 30th

#38-Travis Kvapil, 31st

#36-Dave Blaney, 34th

#87-Joe Nemechek, 38th

#07-Robby Gordon, 39th

#55-Terry Cook, 41st

#26-Ken Schrader, 42nd

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#46-Michael McDowell, 43rd

#92-Dennis Setzer, 44th [wrecked and withdrew]

#64-Landon Cassill, 45th

#81-J.J. Yeley, 46th

#66-Johnny Sauter, 47th [wrecked]

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

See fastest speeds, avewrage speeds, fastest 10-kao average, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page (10-22-2010)

Hendrick Motorsports to name a sponsor for #24 Wed: Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont/National Guard Appreciation Chevy met with the media at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, one question was about sponsorship, the transcript, in part:

Q) WILL WE FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR SPONSOR NEXT WEEK?

Gordon: “You’ll find out about one of them on Wednesday, I believe. I don’t know what all they are going to put into that announcement, so I don’t know all the details.” (Team Chevy)

Rumors include Walmart [denied] and 7-11 as a sponsor for 2011, or it could be extensions to current sponsors DuPont, National Guard or Pepsi.(10-22-2010)

Labbe moving to RCR with Menard

Labbe moving to RCR with Menard: Despite reports that Richard Petty Motorsports could shut down after Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, one of the team’s crew chiefs says his car is good to go. Richard “Slugger” Labbe, crew chief of the #98 Menards Ford driven by Paul Menard, said his team’s cars have not been directly impacted by RPMs woes. Roush Fenway Racing, which builds RPMs cars, briefly repossessed three of RPMs four cars for next week’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. But Labbe said the #98 wasn’t one of them. “Our cars weren’t affected by that,” Labbe said Friday morning at Martinsville. “We’ve got our Talladega car, the engine’s going in it this morning. We’ve got our Texas cars. We’ve got all our cars for the rest of the races.” Labbe, who next year will move with Menard to Richard Childress Racing, said he didn’t think RPM will fold before the end of the year. There have been reports that team members were told the team wouldn’t race beyond Martinsville or perhaps Talladega and that some crew members had paychecks bounce. But Labbe said his paycheck cleared yesterday and he’s been assured by team officials that the funds are in place to make payroll.(SPEED)(10-22-2010)

Crew swap for the #29 & #33: #29-Kevin Harvick and #33-Clint Bowyer met with the media at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, and it was mentioned by both that Richard Childress Racing, has swapped crews beteern the #29 and #33 teams, with the full pit crew [not crew chiefs] being swapped,, the transcripts, in part:

Q) HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES YOU’VE HAD ON PIT ROAD? IF THEY DON’T GET ADDRESSED, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTEND OVER THE NEXT FIVE RACES?

Harvick: “Those issues have been addressed and I believe everything will be fine this week. Richard (Childress) made some huge changes this week.”

Q) YOU ARE RUNNING A BLACK PAINT SCHEME SOME NEXT YEAR, IS THAT A TRIBUTE OR SIGNIFICANCE TO DALE EARNHARDT?

Harvick: “Nope.”

Q) KEVIN WAS IN HERE EARLIER TALKING ABOUT PIT CREW CHANGES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ALSO INVOLVES YOUR TEAM—COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? WHAT’S GOING ON?

Bowyer: “There is no question that my team is arguably the best team at RCR—they’ve been together the longest. With us being out of the championship deal; Kevin is the last shot at RCR at basically bringing a championship home. We owe it to everybody involved—all the employees who try to bring that championship back home. Certainly I’m going to miss them, but we’ve got a brand new racecar built for here, it’s an exact replica—as close as we could get it—to the New Hampshire car so it should be fast again. I think we can win with his pit crew as well. There is certainly no slouch with what he had, and if he needed my crew to be better I was going to give it to him. I owe it to him as a teammate.”

Q) IS THIS A PERMANENT SWITCH?

Bowyer: “We’ll see. Obviously if he is out of the championship contention then I’ll get them back, but as long as he’s in that thing and he can win a championship for RCR, why not?”

Q) HOW HARD IS IT AS A DRIVER WHEN YOU SWITCH PIT CREWS—IS IT MORE OF AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE GUYS THAN IT IS FOR YOU IN THE CAR?

Bowyer: “Well, the ones that it is hard for is the guys that have been with him all year long and with five races to go you turn your back on them—that’s who it is hard for. It’s difficult for those guys, but it is what it is. We’re in this business to win championships and if he thought that he needed that to win a championship then we’ve got to give it to him. A championship is a huge thing and that is our only shot a doing so.”

Q) ARE SOME OF KEVIN’S OLD CREW MEMBERS ON THE TEAM TODAY, OR IS THAT A HIRED CREW THAT YOU BRING IN?

Bowyer: “They’re the guys that I plan on winning this race with, so I’m fine with it. We’re just switching the whole crew. It is what it is. That was the decision that was made and I’m fine with it. I’ll get my guys back, I know that. A lot of my guys work and build my racecar, so we all work together week in and week out at the race shop and at the race track. I wanted to be the one. They called and told me that that is what they wanted to do and I owed it to those guys to go in and tell them that. On Tuesday morning, I went in myself and got my guys together and I told them what was going to happen, and that I thought we owed it to all the employees—there are 400 employees at RCR, not just those over the wall guys—we owed it to everybody at the engine shop that has been doing an awesome job all year long, from the fab shop to everybody involved, even the guy that mows the grass. We owe it to them guys to bring a championship home and do everything we can do to that.”(Team Chevy PR)(10-22-2010)

Kenny Francis comments on Kahne & RPM: Richard Petty Motorsports and a dispute with Roush Fenway Racing. Roush provides cars and technical support to RPM. Needless to say, there have been _ and remain _ many questions about Richard Petty Motorsports moving forward. Kenny Francis talked for a few minutes [to Dustin Long of the Virginian Pilot] before inspection Friday about some of the issues. Here’s what he had to say:

Q) How does the team regroup after all that has happened this week?

FRANCIS: “There’s been a little uncertainty of the week, but we’re still looking forward to running here. We’ve got Aric (Almirola). He’s done real good here and he’s a real good guy and I like him a lot. I’ve known his familiy a long time so that’s encouraging to be able to work with him.

Q) With all that is happening, do you look at your situation as week to week even with the fact you will join Kasey Kahne at Red Bull after this season to be his crew chief there

FRANCIS: “My obligation is to the end of the year and I intend to meet that if that’s what they want to do and that’s what Max (Jones), Robbie (Loomis) and Richard (Petty) all of them want to do, that’s fine with me. I want to support this team and try to do the best we can. We’re disappointed that we didn’t do as good as we could with Kasey. We had issues here and there. Hopefully, we can run good the last few races here and finish it out on a strong note. I don’t know what the plans are for Aric beyond this weekend, but I sure enjoy working with him.’

Q) How much of a challenge has this year been. Start of the year the team was slow to get cars from Roush as they were building them and now the issue of working with Roush

FRANCIS: “It’s been a challenge all year, but the good thing is about two-thirds of the way through the year we really started to make progress on the cars and the cars are getting a lot nicer and a lot better and this is probably the nicest car we’ve had all year. It’s been a little bit of a challenge getting stuff going but overall it got going OK. Hopefully, it will work out for everyone in the end.”

Q) There was talk that some of the 9 crew guys moving to Red Bull for next year would no longer be with the team this week

FRANCIS: “All that is pure spectulation. There is not anyone that has got anything figured out as far as I know.”

Q) Everybody here at Martinsville with your team was with the team last week at Charlotte, correct?

FRANCIS: Yes sir.

Q) Are you fine with finishing the year at RPM?

FRANCIS: My obligation is to the end of the year and if that’s what they want me to do, that’s what I’ll do. That’s the right thing to do. I want to help these guys out as much as I can. I’ve been part of this company for a long time (he’s been Kasey’s crew chief since 2005 and was with team before that). I want it to keep doing the best it can. They’ve got good cars and good stuff, and I want to support Richard and everything that he’s done for us. I intend to do what I can if that’s what they want me to do.”

Q) Do you have confidence that you guys will stay in business through the rest of the year?

FRANCIS: I can’t speculate on that. I don’t know what they’ve got going on. I know the attitude got a lot better as the uncertainty kind of went away yesterday. I thought there were some good signs. I don’t know what’s going on. Honestly, I don’t have a clue. Hopefully all the good signs I was seeing were good.”

Q) Good signs? Such as the cars being back in the shop and the attitude

FRANCIS: “Just the general attitude of everyone kind of raising up a notch. That’s the biggest thing I think.”

(Virginian Pilot)(10-22-2010)

Yeley to run at four of five final races: J.J. Yeley has announced his plans for four out of the five remaining races in the 2010 season as well as his intensions for 2011. Yeley will once again be behind the wheel of the #81 car for Whitney Motorsports at Martinsville (Dodge) and Phoenix (Chevy) and will pilot the #36 Tommy Baldwin Chevy at Texas and Homestead. That makes Talladega the only event left in 2010 where Yeley does not have a ride, something he is hoping to change should the right opportunity arise. This weekend at Martinsville will mark the final scheduled event for Yeley in a Whitney Motorsports Dodge as the team prepares to switch to Chevys. The potential that the change in manufacturer brings is exciting for Yeley as he returns to his hometown track in the Arizona desert. “I sat in the Phoenix Chevy this week. It’s ready to roll and I’m looking forward to going to my hometown track with good equipment and good horsepower.” As for 2011, Yeley said, “I’m hoping that I’ve proven that I can go out there and out-qualify some teams that have big funding with cars that at times, were viewed by some as obsolete. We’ve gone out there and run really good lap times. I’d love the opportunity to get back out there and race full-time and drive the complete race distance (see full PR at jjyeley.com)(10-22-2010)

Speed’s option not picked up; #82 to #4? to Chevy? UPDATE: It was reported on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub that driver of Red Bull Racing’s #82 Toyota, Scott Speed, was told that his 2011 option was not picked up, making him a free agent in 2011 (NASCAR Race Hub).

AND Two people familiar with Kasey Kahne joining Red Bull said he’ll replace Scott Speed next year in the two-driver lineup. Kahne will take over Speed’s #82 team, but the car number will be changed to #4 to mimic what Kahne uses in sprint car competition. The two people spoke on condition of anonymity because Red Bull has not announced its full 2011 plans (Associated Press).

As reported before, Kahne’s crew chief at Richard Petty Motorsports, Kenny Francis, will move over to Red Bull Racing in 2011 to be Kahne’s crew chief in 2011. Current #83 crew chief, Jimmy Elledge is likely the odd crew chief out at Red Bull Racing. Ryan Pemberton, the crew chief for the current #82 team, would move back to the #83 team with Vickers. Also some rumors have been floated out there that Red Bull Racing could switch from Toyota to Chevy, with engines and chassis coming from Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne will move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, to the #5 Chevy.(10-21-2010)

UPDATE: Red Bull Racing will field only two teams next season with Kasey Kahne in the #82 car and Brian Vickers in the #83, general manager Jay Frye said on Friday. Vickers’ spot is contingent on his health. He has missed the last two-thirds of this season after being diagnosed with blood clots. If Vickers is healthy, #82 driver Scott Speed will become a free agent. Speed has a performance clause in his contract that relieves Red Bull Racing from financial responsibility past this season if he doesn’t finish in the top 16 in points. Speed is 28th in points with five races remaining. “We’re still monitoring Brian’s health,” Frye said. “So far everything looks really good.” Frye said speculation that the #82 car would be changed to the #4 for Kahne next season is premature, noting there is an issue with Morgan-McClure, which retains the rights to the number.(ESPN), no mention on if the team stays with Toyota or switches to Chevy.(10-22-2010)

RPM owes millions UPDATE none to Kahne: More details are being revealed concerning the current financial situation at Richard Petty Motorsports, including approximately $12 million owed to the team’s chassis and engine suppliers and former driver Kasey Kahne. Speaking on the condition on anonymity, a source with knowledge of the situation told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that RPM had fallen $9-10 million behind in its payments to Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates Racing Engines for race cars, engines and rear gear assemblies. That debt prompted Roush to repossess the team’s Talladega cars, engines and gears earlier this week, but the cars were returned to RPM late Thursday morning after a partial payment was made. The engines reportedly remain in the possession of Roush Yates Racing Engines, awaiting an additional payment.

The same source revealed that Kahne is owed between $1 million and $1.25 million by RPM, and that those past-due paychecks played a major role in his criticism of the team following last Saturday night’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As of mid-afternoon Thursday, Kahne had not received a signed copy of his release from RPM, potentially compromising his ability to compete for Red Bull Racing this weekend at Martinsville. However, legal experts tell Sirius Speedway that Wednesday’s press release from RPM announcing Kahne’s release was legally binding, and will allow Kahne to drive for Red Bull this weekend without violating his contract with RPM. A second source within Richard Petty Motorsports confirmed that a series of high-level meetings were held throughout the day Thursday in an attempt to ensure that the team will be able to compete past next weekend’s race at Talldega Superspeedway.(Sirius Speedway)(10-22-2010)

UPDATE – Kahne is paid: Kahne said RPM has met all its financial responsibilities to him, dismissing rumors that the decision to split early made sense for both sides. Red Bull Racing will pay Kahne’s salary the rest of the season. Kahne said talks about a split began on Monday, two days after the brakes failed on his car for the second time in three races (and third time this season), leaving the driver frustrated. Kahne defended his decision not to return to the race after repairs were made, saying he was sick and unable to continue. He was offended that an RPM official questioned his commitment, saying he needed to do his part to help the team. “Anybody that questions my commitment doesn’t know me very well,” Kahne said. “I don’t know if there is anybody out there that puts as much into it as I do throughout the week. I was sick to my stomach and it was time for me to call it a day. I’m happy I did it and ready to get on with this weekend.” Kahne said the decision to split was not based on speculation that financial difficulties concerning RPM. He said he wished the team well the rest of the season. Kahne said he has agreed to maintain his commitments to sponsor Budweiser for the remainder of the season, including all meet and greets. He added this was not the way he wanted to end his relationship with Budweiser or RPM, but reiterated it was best for all parties.(ESPN)(10-22-2010)

Ironic – #9 & #83 haulers next to each other: as SPEED opened Friday’s NASCAR TV coverage, it showed the #9 Richard Petty Motorpsorts and #83 Red Bull Racing team haulers parked next to each other and the #83 is parked next to the #19 RPM team in the garage at Martinsville. Kahne was shown talking to a crewman at RPM, with Kahne in his Red Bull Racing driver suit.(10-22-2010)

New crew chief for Dale Jr.?: A once debatable decision as to whether to keep #88 crew chief Lance McGrew for next season is becoming cut and dry. Leading just three laps since the start of the season’s second half, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has just two top-15 finishes over the last 13 races. He and McGrew argue more than the other three Hendrick Motorsports drivers and their crew chiefs combined, yet smile in front of the cameras, pretending it’s all OK. While the Hendrick line continues to be McGrew and Earnhardt together in 2011, garage talk has indicated a private shift is in the works. The rumor mill is all over the place with potential replacements, the hottest new name mentioned being Jimmie Johnson’s current car chief, Ron Malec. Another name in the mix has been Mark Martin’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson (denied) as the school of thought is Hendrick will look internally for a replacement. Who will emerge from the fray is unclear, but with Earnhardt’s team no better off than they were one year ago, it’s certain his current crew chief’s days are numbered.(Sports Illustrated)(10-22-2010)

Ambrose to run special Dollar General’s Country Million Sweepstakes scheme: This weekend Australian driver Marcos Ambrose has gone country to promote Dollar General’s Country Million Sweepstakes. Ambrose and the JTG Daugherty Racing team will run a special Dollar General Country Million Sweeps scheme on the #47 Toyota in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at the half-mile Martinsville Speedway oval. “There are more than 5,000 prizes of cash and gift cards up for grabs, but the best part of the Country Million Sweepstakes is the grand prize, which is a cool $1 million dollars,” Ambrose said. “It’s simple to enter. Visit your local Dollar General store or go to www.dollargeneral.com to find out more.” While Ambrose helps spread the word to fans about Country Million Sweepstakes, he is also looking to top his 11th-place finish he delivered earlier this season at the smallest track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. “We have three Cup starts at Martinsville Speedway and our best finish is 11th,” Ambrose said. “We’re hoping for a good run there this weekend.” Ambrose made his NASCAR debut in 2006 at Martinsville Speedway with JTG Daugherty Racing in the Camping World Truck Series.(JTG Daugherty Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #47 Team Schemes page.(10-22-2010)

Realtree to Sponsor #29 Team at Talladega: Realtree, the creator and marketer of the world’s most versatile camo patterns, will be the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing’s #29 Chevy team with driver Kevin Harvick for the Oct. 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Realtree, based in Columbus, Ga., began its involvement with RCR in 1997 on the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy teams with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. It began its relationship with Harvick at RCR in 1999 and continues today as an associate sponsor of the #29 team. In addition, Realtree president Bill Jordan and RCR president and CEO Richard Childress have been personal friends for decades through racing and their love of the outdoors. “It’s great to have Bill Jordan and Realtree on board next weekend,” said Harvick. “They have sponsored me at RCR since 1999, when I ran the ARCA Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, so I look forward to driving the No. 29 Realtree Chevrolet in the Chase at Talladega.”(RCR)(10-22-2010)

News from October 21, 2010

Ambrose to stay in the #47 thru end of season: Reports that #47-Marcos Ambrose would come to Richard Petty Motorsports to get an early start on his 2011 contact are premature, according to Tad Geschickter, Ambrose’s current owner at JTG/Daugherty Racing. Geschickter said that Ambrose recently had asked for an early release from his ride in JTG/Daugherty’s #47 Toyota, but that current sponsor and promotional obligations prevented that request from being granted. That was the status quo as of Wednesday night, when Geschickter last spoke to Ambrose. “Our plan at this point is to finish out the year,” said Geschickter, who has hired 2000 Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte to replace Ambrose in the #47 next year.(Sporting News)(10-21-2010)

Speed’s option not picked up: It was reported on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub that driver of Red Bull Racing’s #82 Toyota, Scott Speed, was told that his 2011 option was not picked up, making him a free agent in 2011 (NASCAR Race Hub).

AND Two people familiar with Kasey Kahne joining Red Bull said he’ll replace Scott Speed next year in the two-driver lineup. Kahne will take over Speed’s #82 team, but the car number will be changed to #4 to mimic what Kahne uses in sprint car competition. The two people spoke on condition of anonymity because Red Bull has not announced its full 2011 plans (Associated Press).

As reported before, Kahne’s crew chief at Richard Petty Motorsports, Kenny Francis, will move over to Red Bull Racing in 2011 to be Kahne’s crew chief in 2011. Current #83 crew chief, Jimmy Elledge is likely the odd crew chief out at Red Bull Racing. Ryan Pemberton, the crew chief for the current #82 team, would move back to the #83 team with Vickers. Also some rumors have been floated out there that Red Bull Racing could switch from Toyota to Chevy, with engines and chassis coming from Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne will move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, to the #5 Chevy.(10-21-2010)

RPM may not run past Martinsville UPDATE 3: The house of cards is finally falling for George Gillett’s Richard Petty Motorsports. The assembly line from Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates engines has stopped running to RPM. Engines have been picked up, cars have been repossessed, and sources on both sides — RPM and RFR — say no cars will be delivered beyond Martinsville this weekend. On Thursday morning, crewmen at RPM were told they may not have jobs after the race at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Neither Petty team CEO Foster Gillett nor team Vice President Robbie Loomis could be reached for comment. RPM currently fields four cars in the Sprint Cup Series — the #9, #19, #43 and #98. Kasey Kahne was released from his contract as of Wednesday night and is expected to drive for Red Bull Racing for the remainder of the year and in 2011. Elliott Sadler is expected to drive for Kevin Harvick Inc. next year. Paul Menard signed a multi-year deal to drive for Richard Childress Racing starting next year. His current crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe will continue his duties at RCR [supposedly Labbe will stay at RPM thru 2011….if they still exist]. AJ Allmendinger re-signed a multiyear deal to drive the #43 Ford this summer. Allmendinger is currently 20th in the point standings. Marcos Ambrose was signed to drive the #19 [actually the #9 car, not the #19] Ford in August. Ambrose currently drives for JTG/Daugherty Racing and is 26th in the point standings.(Fox Sports)(10-21-2010)

UPDATE: The story has now been updated to include: “Sources tell FOXSports.com that the Talladega cars were returned after 11:00 am/et Thursday, but they do not have engines or gears yet.”(10-21-2010)

UPDATE 2: Multiple sources confirmed to SPEED.com on Thursday that Roush Fenway Racing, which builds RPM’s cars, briefly repossessed RPM’s Talladega cars and engines because of non-payment. Roush Fenway Racing allowed RPM to take the cars back Thursday morning, sources told SPEED.com. Additionally, sources said that one of the reasons Kahne was released from the team is that RPM owed him a substantial amount of back salary. A team spokesperson contacted Thursday afternoon declined to say whether or not Kahne was owed money, Roush Fenway Racing was owed money, when team owner George Gillett would publicly discuss his team’s situation or what RPM’s plans were beyond this weekend. “There’s just nothing much to comment on right now,” said Tiffany Breaux of Richard Petty Motorsports.(SPEED)(10-21-2010)

UPDATE 3: Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that a number of Richard Petty Motorsports employees who had planned to join Kasey Kahne at Red Bull Racing next year were told my management today that their services are no longer required, effective immediately.(10-21-2010)

Kahne released from RPM ride UPDATE 2 to #83 for rest of year: Kasey Kahne was released from Richard Petty Motorsports on Wednesday night, clearing the way for him to join Red Bull Racing for the final five races of the season. RPM announced Kahne was out of the #9 Ford effective immediately, and Aric Almirola would drive the car this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Almirola had been on NASCAR’s entry list to drive the #83 Toyota for Red Bull. But the plans apparently were scrapped after Kahne’s blowup Saturday night when his brakes failed at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kahne exploded in anger on the radio when his brakes failed for the third time this season, second time in two races. It led to a wreck with Sam Hornish Jr., and Kahne refused to get back in the car after it was repaired. He cited illness for not going back on the track, and the team used J.J. Yeley to finish the race.(Associated Press)(10-20-2010)

UPDATE: Kasey Kahne will drive the #83 at Red Bull Racing for the final five races after being released by Richard Petty Motorsports on Wednesday night, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com. Aric Almirola will replace Kahne in the #9 Budweiser Ford at RPM at Martinsville. No plans were announced for the remaining four races, but a source said Kahne’s release could pave the way for #47 JTG Daugherty’s Marcos Ambrose to move into the car that he will drive full-time next season. That would open the door for #09/71-Bobby Labonte to replace Ambrose in the #47 Toyota he will drive next season. Sources said there were talks before Kahne’s release about moving Ambrose into the #9 and Labonte into the #47, but Kahne’s sponsorship obligation with Budweiser was a holdup. Kahne announced earlier in the year he will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 before moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Crew chief Kenny Francis, who will move with Kahne to Red Bull next season, told ESPN.com he will be with Almirola this weekend and he expects to remain with the team through the end of the season. “If they want me I will be there,”Francis said. Francis would not elaborate on why Kahne was released, saying it had been in the works all day (ESPN.com)(10-21-2010)

UPDATE 2: Kasey Kahne’s year-plus stay in a Red Bull Toyota starts early and he’ll begin driving the #83 this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Kahne was released from Richard Petty Motorsports on Wednesday night, paving the way for the 30-year-old to drive the #83 in the final five races beginning with Sunday’s Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Kahne will drive a Red Bull Toyota full-time in 2011 before moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. “With our agreement only being for one year, there is a great sense of urgency to get started on 2011,” said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team’s vice president and general manager. “With Kasey coming earlier than planned, we are excited to have a five-race head start.”(Red Bull)(10-21-2010)

Dale Jr. and DW to appear in film about Talladega IMAGE added: Award-winning filmmaker Terry Gilliam will premiere his short film The Legend of Hallowdega starring David Arquette and Justin Kirk with special appearances by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip and more on Oct. 31st.

The film, produced by AMP Energy Juice and @radical.media, will premiere on Halloween Sunday with the first chapter to debut on ESPN just prior to the start of the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Starting Halloween night, the film will be available in its entirety on www.LegendofHallowdega.com. The Legend of Hallowdega is the first short film for both Gilliam and AMP Energy Juice.

The comedy, The Legend of Hallowdega, explores the mysteries around Talladega Superspeedway as the host of an investigative news show (Justin Kirk) joins forces with a techno-geek paranormal expert (David Arquette) to dodge close calls and chase crazy leads to get to the bottom of The Legend of Hallowdega.(NASCAR.com)(10-17-2010)

IMAGE see an image of the special paint scheme that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run at Talladega to promote this short film on my #88 Team Schemes page.(10-21-2010)

Grand Opening of Dale Jr.’s Amphitheatre at Victory Junction: Victory Junction announced that it will feature a public open house in conjunction with Randleman’s NASCAR Days on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Headlining the day’s festivities is a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30pm honoring the grand opening of Dale Jr.’s Corral and Amphitheatre, with special guests Dale Earnhardt Jr. and members of the Earnhardt and Petty families.

Dale Jr.’s Corral and Amphitheatre was generously donated by Earnhardt Jr. and will be used as both a fun, interactive activity center for campers, and a venue for local concerts and camp fundraisers. The amphitheatre is western-themed in true Dale Jr. fashion and consists of a mock jail, general store, bank and outhouse. While the venue features playful and colorful buildings, the amphitheatre’s design is fashioned after the mock western town located on Dale Jr.’s property in Mooresville, N.C. The ceremony will be followed by a live performance by the Kevin Lee Band.

All of the buildings from the Bowling Alley to the Super Dome will be open for public viewing throughout the day, giving visitors a peek at what campers get to experience. Victory Junction staff will also be on hand to help answer questions and share amazing stories about camp. Chili, hot dogs, drinks and chips will be available for purchase in the Hendrick Fuel Stop. Hunt Brothers Pizza & Wings, as well as Bojangles’ famous sweet tea and chicken biscuits will be available on the lawn of Victory Circle. The annual “Vic’s Garage Sale,” featuring NASCAR memorabilia, will be held in the Michael Waltrip Sports Arena. All proceeds of the garage sale benefit Victory Junction.

There will be a Holiday Tours shuttle from the Petty Museum located in downtown Randleman to Victory Junction for a donation of $5 (the shuttle will run from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm).(
victoryjunction.org)(10-21-2010)

Chase Notes and Facts: Only two drivers (#11-Denny Hamlin -41, #29-Kevin Harvick -77) are less than 100 points off #48-Jimmie Johnson’s pace, and three more are less than 200 points out (#24-Jeff Gordon -156, #18-Kyle Busch -177, #14-Tony Stewart -177). All could be in contention if the “Big One” catches the three front runners a week from Sunday. Though it will be hard for the rest of the field to hang with Johnson and Hamlin at Martinsville, Talladega remains a big wild card. Martinsville represents Denny Hamlin’s best opportunity to beat Jimmie Johnson for the first time since the Chase opener at New Hampshire. Hamlin has won three of the last four races at M’Ville and beat Johnson for the win in last year’s Chase. Jeff Gordon’s 23rd at Charlotte cost him 71 important points on the lead, and he must pour it on now to get back into serious contention. See more on my Chase Stats after Charlotte page and 2010 Chase Rules, History and News page.(10-21-2010)

By the Numbers at Martinsville:

1 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Martinsville Speedway (three times, most recently 4/25/71)

4 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers scheduled for service at Martinsville this weekend ; two are expected to be released early following the favorable weather forecast for the weekend

4 – fewest cars running at the finish of a Sprint Cup race at Martinsville (5/6/51 – a 200-lap race on what was then a .500-mile dirt track…35 cars started the race)

4 of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup have yet to win in 2010 (Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth)

7 of the 30 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

12 different Sprint Cup race winners in 2010

13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville, 3/29/10)

18 of the 123 races at Martinsville have been won from the pole; 33 of 123 have been won from the front row

21 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race at Martinsville (10/21/07)

75 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jets to dry the .526-mile track

4,500 ServiceMaster Clean franchise locations around the world

1947 – Martinsville Speedway built by E. Clay Earles, a .500-mile dirt track

1948 – First NASCAR-sanctioned event held on July 4, 1948; first NASCAR Strictly Stock event was run on Sept. 25, 1949 and won by Red Byron; 15 cars started the race, the sixth of eight Strictly Stock events that year

1955 – Martinsville Speedway was paved; Billy Myers won the first race on the new pavement, a 100-lap sportsman event

1955 – Speedy Thompson drove a Chrysler to victory in a 200-lap, 100-mile event, the first Grand National (now Sprint Cup) event on the newly paved track (10/16/55)

113 of the 220 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 31 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents, 42 for debris and 32 for spins

220 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 31 Sprint Cup events this season; 268 after 31 races last year

1,110 of 9,177 laps completed in the first 31 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,267 of 8,887 after 31 races last year.(ServiceMaster Clean)(10-21-2010

NASCAR executive on Uncover Boss: The CBS show “Undercover Boss” this week features NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps who secretly spent time working for #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine tire specialist Scott Swift at Daytona in July. Swift tutored Phelps— who he was told was a contest winner— on the finer points of working as a tire specialist on a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. A few days later Swift learned that contest winner was really one of the sport’s top executives. “Undercover Boss” airs Sunday at 9:00pm/et on CBS.(MWR)(10-21-2010)

Martinsville Goodyear Tire Notes:Teams in both NASCAR series in action at Martinsville this weekend will run the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded “Goodyear Eagle,” while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded “Goodyear Wrangler” . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams ran at Martinsville earlier this season . . . this is the only track at which either of these two Goodyear tire codes will be run in 2010 . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville. The estimated pit window is every 125-135 laps, based on fuel mileage.
See the tire codes. pressures and more on the Martinsville Race Info page – Goodyear section.(10-21-2010)

News from October 20, 2010

Changes at Daytona 500 Experience; layoffs: Fans want more behind-the-scenes access and Daytona International Speedway is going to give it to them. President Joie Chitwood III today announced an exciting new tour that will give fans a closer look into the “World Center of Racing.” Beginning November 8, the Daytona 500 Experience will provide an expanded one-hour speedway tour allowing fans to view never-before-seen areas including the Daytona 500 Club, the Sprint Tower and the Sprint Cup garage, in addition to the traditional tour which includes Gatorade Victory Lane and the Sprint Fanzone. Both tours will operate daily and allow fans to experience the thrill and excitement of the Daytona International Speedway in person. As part of this new vision, the Daytona 500 Experience will no longer sell admission to the Velocitorium. It will instead be available for private functions, community events and unique entertainment options including private tours. The 60,000 square foot motorsports-themed showroom is perfect for hosting gatherings, meetings and event weekend hospitality. The 250-seat Coca-Cola Theatre will also be available for meetings and presentations. The NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience movie has ended its run (DIS).

LAYOFFS: A popular Central Florida attraction in Daytona Beach has announced it will be closing its doors. The parent company of Daytona International Speedway will close the Daytona 500 Experience and its IMAX theater next month. The move is part of a company-wide cost cutting measure. Some people will lose their jobs, although speedway officials won’t say how many. They are hopeful more opportunities in the future will allow them to rehire the laid-off staff. “If we see the economy pick up in the next year, there’s a chance to bring some staff back, but that is the hard part of this business decision that some folks will lose their job,” said Joie Chitwood III, Daytona International Speedway. The speedway will provide new tours of the Sprint Tower and the garages. The changes are slated to begin November 8th. Since August, International Speedway Corporation has laid off 40 employees from its headquarters in Daytona Beach.(wftv.com)(10-20-2010)

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the Bank of America 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. ESPN on ABC was the broadcast team for this event.

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:30 pm

End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:23 pm

Total number of commercials: 127

Total number of companies or entities advertised: 67

Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 29

Total minutes: 233

Minutes of race broadcast: 170

Minutes of commercials: 63

Number of missed restarts: 0

Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0

Number of times ESPN on ABC cut short a Home Depot commercial to come back to pit stops: 1

Number of moments later that the broadcast returned to the full Home Depot commercial: 1

Number of unexpected driver switches during race: 1 J.J. Yeley for Kasey Kahne

Total race brdcst time 170 Total comm. brdcst time 63

Number of times selected drivers were focused on:

Travis Kvapil – 12

Ryan Newman – 23

Brad Keselowski – 32

Sam Hornish Jr. – 36

Regan Smith – 40

Martin Truex Jr. – 78

Kevin Harvick – 81

Paul Menard – 90

Jeff Burton – 92

Jeff Gordon – 146

Denny Hamlin – 154

Jamie McMurray (race winner) – 162

Jimmie Johnson – 239

Kyle Busch – 250

See full rundown and other races at CawsnJaws.com.(10-20-2010)

Front Row testing: Tony Raines will be one of the FRM drivers who will test on Thursday when the three teams of Front Row Motorsports test at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA.(Breaking Limits/FRM)(10-20-2010)

Sadler: no progress on 2011 ride yet: Elliott Sadler told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that there has been no appreciable progress on finding him a ride for the 2011 season. Commenting on rumors that there could be a second Kevin Harvick, Inc., Nationwide Series Chevrolet in his future, Sadler said, “I haven’t signed anything with KHI or anyone else. I’ve had some great conversations with a few different owners in the last few weeks, but there’s nothing done. We are definitely working on some things, but until there’s a sponsor signed on the dotted line, it’s all `What if?’ Kevin and Delana Harvick have given me some great opportunities this year, and they will give me a great opportunity in the future if it presents itself. We’re definitely working on it, but nothing’s done yet.”(Sirius Speedway)(10-20-2010)

National Guard colors for Gordon at Martinsville: This weekend at Martinsville, Jeff Gordon and the #24 team will recognize the families of National Guard Soldiers. The support of family members is vital to the strength of the National Guard’s mission at home and abroad, and the success of the Guard would not be possible without the families who stand behind these Citizen-Soldiers. For the second year in a row, Gordon and the #24 team are sponsored by the National Guard for eight Sprint Cup Series events. Gordon’s final race with the National Guard will be at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 31 (HMS)(10-20-2010)

McMurray’s Crew Tied for 1st Following Tissot Pit Road Win in Charlotte: It was another double win for the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team with driver Jamie McMurray taking the race victory and his crew winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s Sprint Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was the fourth pit road victory of the season for the #1 crew, which moved into a tie for first place in the Tissot season standings with Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew. Three crews – Matt Kenseth’s, Kyle Busch’s and Clint Bowyer’s — are one win behind with three victories each. There are five Cup races remaining in the 2010 season. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings. McMurray’s #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on Charlotte’s pit road during the Bank of America 500 — 284.026 seconds.
McMurray’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Cory DeMarco (front-tire changer), Doug Riepe (front-tire carrier), Chris Taylor (rear-tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear-tire carrier), Tracy Duncan (jackman), Benjy Grubbs (gasman) and Eric Hoyle (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Kevin “Bono” Manion.(Tissot), see standings and race by race winner on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(10-20-2010)

Red Line Oil to Sponsor #46 Chevy at Martinsville: Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp. will be the primary sponsor of a NASCAR Sprint Cup car, the Whitney Motorsports Chevy Impala driven by Michael McDowell at Martinsville Speedway for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24, 2010. This agreement continues Red Line’s relationship with McDowell, who has driven under the Red Line banner in several NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season. “Martinsville is a great race to run with our driver Michael McDowell and a smaller team like Whitney Motorsports,” said Red Line Oil president Tim Kerrigan. “On a short track like this, the cars spin the tires off the corner so spending big money on engines like the top teams really doesn’t get you far. Dusty Whitney is a smart owner and Michael has the experience, so we’re hoping for a little luck and to stay out of trouble until the end. Then, he’ll stand on it!” Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp. manufactures more than 100 quality products for the automotive, racing, motorcycle, marine and industrial markets. Its complete line includes a wide variety of motor oils, gear oils, additives, and greases.(Kahn Media PR), see images of the car on my #46 Team Schemes page.(10-20-2010)

Latest on Shane Hmiel’s condition: from Hmiel’s Road to Recovery Facebook page: xray much better again today than yesterday turning down o2 even more tolerating it just fine maybe tomorrow will turn him face up and rotate bed.(10-20-2010)

43 Crew Members to be grand marshals at Martinsville: To honor the dedicated road warriors and pit crew members, TUMS will designate all crew members as the Grand Marshals for the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 24. For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, 43 crew members, one from each team, will represent all crew members and collectively give the command “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” Each team pre-selected the crew member that best represents and embodies the team spirit to give the command. Prior to the TUMS Fast Relief 500, a complete line up of the 43 team-designated grand marshals will be announced often before the race weekend. The grand marshals already announced:

• STEVE CHANNING – #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota

Channing drove Mini Modifieds in his teenage years on tracks around his Seekonk, Mass., home, but like so many racers, struggled to keep his fledgling race team afloat. A move to North Carolina in the mid-1990s and a recommendation from a friend helped land him jobs with drivers Rick Mast and Bill Elliott at the controls. Today, Channing’s role as car chief for driver David Reutimann keeps him busy with every detail pertaining to the team’s racing machines. “I make changes to the car that crew chief Rodney Childers may want during the race weekend,” Channing says. “I go with the car during inspection to make sure everything is good there. I’d say the most nerve-wracking time is between practice and qualifying.”

• LEE DODSON – #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy

Dodson began going to short-track races around his Courtland, Va. home when he was only three years old. His dad and uncles raced, and a decade later, Dodson helped turn wrenches on Mini-stocks, Late Models and Hooters Pro Cup cars. After completing high school, he graduated from the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C., and began his Sprint Cup career as a general mechanic with Wood Brothers Racing in 2005. He joined his present team, Phoenix Racing, in March of 2010. “It’s very cool to be working in Sprint Cup,” Dodson says. “With our team, we don’t have a designated driver, so I get to work with several and I enjoy that. Since we are so short staffed, I get to learn more which is a good thing. I love setting up cars and working with suspensions. That’s what I like the most.”

• BENJY GRUBBS – #1 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy

After a trip with his parents to the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway to see a Sprint Cup (then Winston Cup) race in 1983, Grubbs fell in love with NASCAR. When his own plans to drive race cars fell through due to lack of finances, he used his skills as a welder taught to him by his dad to build race cars for his hero, Darrell Waltrip, when the three-time champion drove for Tyler Jet Motorsports in 1998. From there, he moved to Roush-Fenway Racing and driver Matt Kenseth from 1999 to 2005 and on to his present role as chassis fabricator and gas man for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. “It’s really something to see raw tubing on a shop floor and the next thing you know, there’s a race car sitting there,” Grubbs says. “I really love the competition on Sundays, especially when you win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 like we have this season.”

• CINDY LEWIS – #2 Penske Racing Dodge

A native of Secretary, Md., Lewis is a co-driver of the #2 Penske racing transporter along with husband Bill “Stump” Lewis. While at the track, she helps maintain what’s known as the team’s rolling shop while preparing meals for the crew. Having had grandparents in the restaurant business and a mom who cooked for the school system, it’s easy to see why she enjoys making special dishes for the crew. “Cooking basically runs in my blood,” Lewis says. “To me, it’s like family working with the guys. We are all really close and close to their wives and children. It’s great to be able to enjoy your job and work with such a great group of people.”

• KYLE TURNER – #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy

As a gift for his 18th birthday, Turner and some friends attended a NASCAR event at Richmond International Raceway in 2002. The next year, he attended a vocational school provided through his high school which led to graduation from the NASCAR Institute in Mooresville, N.C., in 2004. Today, the 26-year old from Yorktown, Va., works as an assembly mechanic for Hendrick Motorsports and driver Mark Martin during the week and front tire changer during pit stops on race day. “I sat up in the Dogwood section of the grandstands that day and wondered how to get down there, and here I am,” Turner says. “It’s very exciting. It’s cool to be able to see something you dreamed of doing when you were younger and to accomplish it is really special. Most people get cold chills at the start of the Daytona 500, but I have that happen to me when I go to Richmond.”

• RYAN McCRAY – #6 Roush Racing Ford

Having grown up around race cars owned and driven by father, NASCAR Winston West Champion Rick McCray, Ryan completed an award-winning high school baseball career as a catcher before moving east from San Bernardino, Calif. To follow his own racing career. The former catcher now works as a fabricator for the #6 team and driver David Ragan in the shop during the week and carries 85-pound tires during pit stops on race day. “I’m competitive and love being part of a team,” McCray says. “I love being able to help make the team better through what I do.”

• KEVIN DUNCAN – #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

A native of New Zealand, Duncan raced dirt bikes and built suspensions and shocks for his two-wheel machines before moving to race cars in the early 1990s. His work with an Indy Car team in California led to a chance to move to North Carolina in 2000 to work with the former PPI Motorsports team owned by Cal Wells. Duncan was familiar with NASCAR, having followed heroes Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison through TV broadcasts of races shown in his native country. Over the past decade, he has worked with both the #9 and #19 teams with former team owner Ray Evernham and now with Richard Petty Motorsports. He also carries rear tires during pit stops for the #9 team on race day. “I really didn’t come to the states to work with a NASCAR team. It just kind of worked out that way,” Duncan says. “I’m pretty thankful to be doing this. I’m lucky to have this opportunity. I just love racing, the pit stops and competing.

• TIM SPARKMAN – #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

When Sparkman’s grandparents owned and operated St. Mary’s Speedway in St. Genevieve. Mo., the teenager had plenty of access to race cars and the tools needed to make them go fast. While there, he had access to Late Model and ASA machines that offered a perfect place to learn. A move to North Carolina in 1998 paid off when he met NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and went to work. More opportunities followed over the years, and today, he serves as a shock specialist at Joe Gibbs Racing. “I love the competition, that’s for sure,” Sparkman says. “This will be my last year on the road so I can be a little more of a dad at home. But I’ll be doing something at the shop for team owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs.”

• DAVID DOYLE – #12 Penske Racing Dodge

Decades past his childhood, Doyle remembers sitting behind the wheel of his dad’s race car playing with the steering wheel, pedals and shifter. He would often pretend he was on the track fighting for position just like the champion driver, mentor and hero he admired. Doyle eventually followed in his father’s footsteps as a racer, but the high costs of fielding a team sent his career in a different direction. Today, Doyle helps prepare each of the #12 machines Penske Racing brings to the track to make sure they are race ready. “Being competitive is what it’s all about for me,” Doyle says. “You have to have competition in your blood to be able to do this seven days a week.”

• GREG OSBORNE – #13 Germain Racing Toyota

Stock car racing came into Osborne’s life as a result of his parents spending their Saturday nights at short tracks around his hometown of Hampton, N.H. Osborne started helping friends on race cars at age 12 and raced go-karts at age 17. Realizing it was too expensive to race, the next best thing was to return to working on people’s cars. After working in the Camping World Touring Series 1992, 1993 and 1994, he moved to North Carolina to work in Sprint Cup racing. Osborne, an avid golfer and mountain biker when time permits, works as the team’s car chief during the week and handles catch can duties on race day. “Going over the wall is a lot of fun and a good adrenalin rush,” Osborne says. “I changed tires for 14 years and just started catching gas this year. It’s a blast to step up on that wall and do a stop to help your driver win the race. That’s one of the biggest rushes I’ve ever had. When you pull off that stop that helps you win the race, you feel like you’re a big part of that.”

• ADAM GRAVITT – #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy

Instead of being involved in neighborhood football games as a child, Gravitt spent his time working at nearby South Boston Speedway and Orange County Speedway just to be around the cars. He kept watching and learning the tricks of the trade before completing a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Today, Gravitti works as a shock specialist for the team. “I love what I do,” Gravitt says. “There’s a lot of travel, but as far as the competition goes, that’s what makes it all worth while.”

• TODD ZEIGLER – #16 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford

While living in northern Indiana, Zeigler began his racing career after his mother-in-law, a beautician, got word through a client that a local race team needed help. He volunteered his time for American Speed Association (ASA) driver and team owner Bob Senneker, of Grand Rapids, Mich., with duties as a water boy, catch can man, tire carrier and tire changer. After obtaining a degree in Automotive Service Management in 1992 from Lincoln Technical College in Indianapolis, Zeigler began a career in NASCAR. “I’ve never driven race cars other than just being involved in some go-kart leagues,” Zeigler says. “I’ve always had a knack for mechanics and tinkering with chassis and engines and things. Now I do it full time and love it.”

• JUSTIN NOTTESTAD – #17 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford

With his dad and uncle heavily involved in short track racing around the state of Wisconsin, Nottestad began racing his own cars in the four-cylinder class at Jefferson Speedway, Columbus Speedway and Madison International in Wisconsin at the age of 16. When Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth moved south to pursue a career in NASCAR, Nottestad followed suit and began his career as well. Presently, Nottestad works as shop foreman for the #17 Roush-Fenway operation during the week and is a front tire changer during Sprint Cup events. “This is something everyone dreams about if you’re a racer and it’s a dream come true for me,” Nottestad says. “They’ve usually not seen anything like Sprint Cup racing and this is where they want to be.”

• KIRK BUTTERFIELD – #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

One could say Butterfield’s path to Sprint Cup first began as a straight line. The Carrolton, Ohio native began his career as an engine tuner for Funny Car drag racing champion John Force in 1987. Sprint Cup team owner Joe Gibbs formed a drag racing team in 1994, but when he closed it to concentrate solely on NASCAR racing in 2000, Butterfield moved to the oval-track team based in Huntersville, N.C. Today, he works as an engine tuner for Kyle Busch and the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “The biggest challenge you have as an engine tuner is finding fuel mileage while trying to get the car to go as fast as possible,” said Butterfield. “But when I’m not doing that, I spend time working on a Rat Rod and also enjoy hunting.”

• RAMON ZAMBRANO – #19 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

A shock specialist for the #19 Richard Petty Motorsports team and driver Elliott Sadler, Zambrano, an El Salvador-born crewman, grew up in Arlington, Texas. Upon completing high school, he graduated from Universal Technical Institute in 2001 in Houston. On race day, he serves on the over-the-wall crew when NASCAR allows an eighth man. “I like the fact everyone works as a team and contributes to the results of the weekend,” Zambrano says. “I like to give it 100 percent every week and I know everyone on the team does, too. I just like that feeling. We’re a team in the good times as well as the bad.”

• ERIC GROEN – #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

A native of Sioux Center, Iowa, Groen raced go-karts as a child while following NASCAR through newspapers, radio and TV. After high school, he chose a college that would allow him to be closer to NASCAR in hopes of working for a team. Groen graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., with a degree in business and in 2004 found an opportunity to work as a general mechanic and tire carrier with the former Petty Enterprises. Groen did the same for Red Bull Racing before his present role as sponsor manager with Joey Logano and the Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 Home Depot team. He is a liaison between team and sponsor during the week and works as a rear tire carrier for Kyle Busch during Nationwide races and does the same for Logano on Sprint Cup race day. “My background is on the mechanical side of things, so that’s a little more natural for me, but when I went to Gibbs, they had a position open on the office side,” Groen says. “My roles with the team are diverse. I enjoy doing both very much. Joe and J.D. Gibbs are upstanding guys and the leadership at Joe Gibbs Racing is the best I’ve seen in my career.”

• JASON BURDETT – #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy

With a father and cousins deep into dirt track racing around his Arkport, N.Y. home, Jason Burdett grew up with a dream of someday making a career for himself at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. When his parents began scoring NASCAR events in the mid 1990s, he immediately sought to make his own mark in the sport upon graduation in 1995. Burdett spent several seasons changing tires and handling catch-can duties for Dale Jarrett and the former Robert Yates Racing and Jeff Gordon and the #24 Hendrick Motorsports operation before becoming car chief for the team. Today, he assists crew chief Steve Letarte with making sure the car is race ready. “I just really enjoy the competition,” Burdett says. “We’re all friends in the garage area so it’s fun to go out and compete and outrun each other.”

• MARK WILLIAMS – #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy

After working on dirt Late Models and spending a decade operating his own trucking business, Williams began driving transporters for Richard Childress Racing when an extra driver was needed for trips to the West Coast for Sprint Cup events. The assignments increased for the native of Martinsville, Va., to the point that he is now a full-time driver for the team. While at the track, his duties include unloading tool boxes, getting the car unloaded and ready for initial service by the crew, setting up the garage stalls and taking care of all the mechanical components on the transporter. “Driving the truck is a very small part of it,” Williams says. “But I drive all over the country and meet a lot of people who would love to do what I do.”

• JONATHAN WALLACE – #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Wallace grew up in a family of racers that included himself, his dad, cousins and uncles. They competed on the dirt tracks around Elizabeth City, N.C., and Asheboro, N.C. In 1998, Wallace graduated from Forsyth (County) Technical College’s automotive program that included one year of motorsports and building late-model race cars before joining the former Petty Enterprises in 2000. In 2003, he joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and currently builds front clips for all of the RCR teams. On Sundays, he works as front tire carrier for Jeff Burton and the #31 team. “The most exciting part of being a tire carrier is the adrenalin you feel while trying to perform accurately and quickly in the midst of a chaotic situation,” said Wallace. “I want to be the very best crewman I can be, whether at the shop or going over the wall each week.”

• SCOTT BREWER – #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevy

The son of well-known former crew chief and present-day television broadcaster Tim Brewer, Brewer grew up in the sport and spent several years driving Legend cars and Late Models before turning his attention to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Brewer grew up going to races almost every weekend and decided to build a career in the sport like his famous father. He now maintains cars for the teams, handles water duties and windshield tear-offs during pit stops. “Racing was always a part of my life,” Brewer says. “My dad realized I was going to get into racing. I’ve been with RCR since 2005, and I’m very happy to be a part of this team.”

• JONATHAN SALMONS – #34 Front Row Racing Ford

A native of Bassett, Va., Salmons moved from working as a mechanic at a local car dealership in 2004 to turning wrenches on Late Model stock cars with some hometown friends. A year later, he joined Craftsman Truck Series driver and team owner Bobby Dotter and moved on to Roush-Yates Engines in 2006. His first Sprint Cup opportunity came in 2010 with Front Row Racing and driver David Gilliland. The graduate of Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Va., presently tunes engines for the team and loves every minute of it. “In Sprint Cup, you’re at the top level as far as NASCAR goes,” Salmons says. “You’re the best of the best and that means a lot. I started at the very bottom you might say, working on race cars and engines and have been able to work my way to the top. It’s an honor to be a part of NASCAR and a crew member in Sprint Cup.”

• JIM BYRNE – #37 Front Row Motorsports Ford

An avid racer of Late Models on the famed, local short tracks around his Long Island, N.Y., home, Byrne moved to North Carolina 20 years ago and got his break in NASCAR in 1995 when former team owner Butch Mock needed help with his Sprint Cup team. Byrne has been working on a variety of chassis components ever since. In addition to working on fuel cells during the week at Front Row Racing’s shop, he also works with shocks, springs and rear-end gears at the track. When it comes time to get the car through inspection, Byrne is right there watching the process to help answer any questions NASCAR officials may have. “This is a good bunch of guys and we have David Gilliland behind the wheel and he’s a good driver,” said Byrne. “I’m also the eighth man over the wall on Sundays. I’m the old guy now. I do driver comfort during the race, such as ice packs, drinks and such. And I do body repairs on pit road if we have any accidents on the track.”

• ALAN HOWARD – #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

A native of Covington, Va., Howard didn’t set out to become a crew member for a Sprint Cup team. His career with a major US airline was going well when he and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield became friends in the late 1990s. More and more visits to Mayfield’s Michael Kranefuss Racing shop set the foundation for becoming a full-time crew member. When Howard’s job with the air carrier was eliminated, he found his new calling in NASCAR. Today, Howard works as shock specialist and mentor for many of the younger members of the team. “I guess the way I came into NASCAR was a different way to get into racing,” Howard says. “I enjoy the travel and meeting people and doing different things.”

• KEVIN PENNELL – #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy

Earlier in his life, Pennell thought of stock car racing as a hobby, but followed it closely, having grown up around the heart of stock car racing in Kannapolis, N.C. For three years, he raced Limited Late Models and Super Stocks at Concord (N.C.) Speedway and worked part-time in 1994 helping Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Dale Earnhardt Inc. The following year, Pennell joined the organization fulltime and later helped build Nationwide Series cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Today, when he isn’t providing bulls for local rodeos, Pennell works as car chief for Ryan Newman and Stewart-Haas Racing. “My job with the team is to make sure the car gets through technical inspection and handle everything pertaining to the car prior to the race,” Pennell says. “That includes chassis set-ups and anything the crew chief, Tony Gibson, feels we need to do to the car.”

• RYAN QUANN – #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy
With parents having connections to NASCAR and serving the sport in various roles, Quann has been around stock car racing his entire life. The graduate of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba County Community College in Hickory, N.C., took his chassis-building skills to the Sprint Cup team owned by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. Through a friend, the avid golfer and snowboarder received an invitation to work for the organization and presently helps the team in various capacities. “I’m in the composite-component shop building carbon-fiber parts for the cars,” Quann says. “On Sundays, I work in a pit support role. I was in the right place at the right time when I started with this team, and I love being here.”

• BRIAN DANTINNE – #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Born in Wallace, Mich., in 1967, Dantinne began his career by turning wrenches on race cars at the local short tracks at the age of 12. He spent time in the American Speed Association ranks before moving to NASCAR. For the past three seasons, he has worked as car chief for the #43 Fords made famous by team owner and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. “My job both on race day and back at the shop is to oversee the guys working on the car and making sure everything is performing the way it’s supposed to,” Dantinne says. “My favorite part of the job is meeting new people and traveling. It’s a people sport. We get to see new parts of the country and enjoy new venues. I never dreamed I could make a career of racing but I’ve been involved now for 30 years. It’s been a fun ride.”

• BOB BECHSTEIN – #47 JTG Daughtery Racing Toyota

Since the 1970s, Bechstein has been involved with several different forms of racing. In addition to stock cars and super modified, the early part of his career was spent around open-wheel racing – IndyCar. By the late 1980s, the Sandusky, Ohio-native built an engine business that opened the door to opportunities the Nationwide Series. In the late 1990s, he joined former Sprint Cup team owner Travis Carter and has been in Sprint Cup since. He currently serves as the front-suspension specialist with the #47 team and driver Marcos Ambrose. “I’ve been racing my whole life and I guess I’ve never had a real job,” Bechstein says. “What I enjoy most is taking a bunch of mechanical pieces and doing the best you can with them. Seeing the end result at the end of the night is what it’s all about.”

• RON MALEC – #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy

A native of Franklin, Wis., Malec began racing go-karts as an eight-year-old competitor. Like so many fellow crew members, he began his career on the short tracks, working on and driving race cars. Malec aspired to become a Sprint Cup driver, but when finances ran low, fate placed him with driver Jimmie Johnson during his days of racing off-road trucks and later American Speed Association cars. Malec has been at Johnson’s side throughout and has enjoyed the spoils of four consecutive Sprint Cup championships. He has changed tires during his Sprint Cup career and presently holds the position of car chief. “I help direct the pit crew as far as changes to the car during the race and if there’s a crash, I have to handle that also,” Malec says. “I really enjoyed working with cars as far as racing goes. That’s what I’ve done my whole life. To do something you love for a living is pretty easy. When I’m not racing, I enjoy restoring old cars.”

• BRIAN CHASE – #56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota

While in high school shop class working with cars, Chase discovered his friend’s Dad owned a gas station. As pay for pumping gas after school, they were allowed to use the shop to work on street stocks and hobby stocks raced on local short tracks. An invitation to work for free on a Busch North (now Camping World North) car led to a trip south in 1997 to apply for a job in NASCAR‘s Sprint Cup arena. Chase and his friend landed a job with Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Today, Chase, an avid bike racer and marathon runner, builds and installs rear-ends, trailing arms and all the rear suspension on David Reutimann’s #00 Toyota and handles the jack on race day for the #56 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. “The decision to go racing meant turning down a scholarship to play hockey for Sacred Heart University (in Fairfield, CT.),” Chase says, “But racing is all I’ve ever done and I love what I do.”

• NICK HENSLEY – #77 Penske Racing Dodge

While growing up in a family of racers in Asheville, N.C., his Friday nights were all about turning wrenches on race cars at the famed Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. In 2005, the avid former baseball star graduated King College in Bristol, Tenn. with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Having suffered injuries on the field, Hensley had his sights on pre-med and aspirations of becoming a hand surgeon. His passion to race was too strong to ignore. The present-day front-end mechanic and race-day gas man is much happier pursuing his duties with the #77 Sprint Cup team. “The crew chief may make a change to the front of the car and I’m responsible for making sure that change gets made in a timely manner,” Hensley says. “My job is to make sure nothing falls off the front end of the car.”

• ODIE HUGHES – #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy

Hughes began his racing career with driver Larry Thomas, brother of NASCAR driver Herb Thomas, in 1962. He swept Thomas’ garage floors, performed odd jobs around the shop and began traveling to races to help pit the car for Thomas. Over a period of several decades, Hughes has worked with many NASCAR legends including Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott and was a member of Terry Labonte’s championship team in 1984. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” Hughes says. “I’ve been a jack man, cleaned the windshield (before tear-offs) and worked as a catch can man which is what I do today. But working with Terry in 1984 and winning it all that year was probably the best time of my career.”

• PETE WRIGHT – #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota

Over the past three decades, Wright has contributed to numerous victories among a variety of NASCAR champions. The Thomasville, N.C.-native works as a consultant of sorts with the #82 Red Bull Racing team, offering a great deal of experience in virtually every area of race car construction and race strategy. Presently a builder of fuel cells for the team, Wright has spent years of his career working as crew chief with many prominent Sprint Cup teams. “I’m a road mechanic with the 82 team, but I’m kind of like the granddaddy for the younger guys,” said Wright. “If someone has a problem with something, they rely on me. I’d say I’m probably the most experienced road mechanic in NASCAR other than maybe Dale Inman (crew chief for seven-time champion Richard Petty). I still enjoy it. As long as I’m able to do it, I’ll be here.”

• ADAM WRIGHT – #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota

Thomasville, N.C.-native Adam Wright is following in the footsteps of his father Pete Wright, a former well-known crew chief who has worked with such drivers as Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Hut Stricklin, to name a few. Wright works alongside his father at Red Bull Racing on the #83 team as road mechanic contributing to the team in various capacities. Some of his responsibilities include making sure the team transporter is fully equipped for each of the 36 Sprint Cup races on the schedule. “My dad has done some cool things,” Wright says. “Now I have more of an understanding of what he knows and how much he can offer. To be with Red Bull is really great because they are a great company. I will always remember 2009 with Brian Vickers making the Chase and enjoying my first win.”

• DAVID BRYANT – #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy

Go-kart racing and Grand Stock competition at South Boston Speedway led Bryant on a path to one of the premier teams in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports. The Farmville, Va., native began his career with former Nationwide Series driver Hank Parker Jr. before moving to Melling Racing and driver Stacy Compton. At Hendrick Motorsports, he worked on the #48 team driven by Jimmie Johnson before becoming car chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., making sure his Chevrolets are well prepared for each event on the 36-race schedule. “Racing is all I’ve ever done,” Bryant says. “This is a family here in NASCAR and going down this road is cool. Doing something like this is awesome.”

• PAUL BALMER – #98 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

A native of Elmira, N.Y., Balmer began his racing career right out of high school and raced Late Models and Street Stocks locally at such tracks as Owego Shangra-La Speedway and Black Rock Speedway. Balmer moved to North Carolina in 1995 to pursue a career in NASCAR. He serves in various roles as a team mechanic at the shop and works as a road mechanic when at the race track. “What I enjoy most is seeing the car run up front on race day and just working on it,” Balmer says. “It’s not really a job. It’s just something fun to do. I‘m happy doing what I‘m doing.”

• JEREMY DYER – #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford

Saturday nights for Dyer always meant going to watch his family race around local short tracks in his native state of California. Throughout his life, he watched his grandfather, father and uncle, Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, work on and race the cars that sat in the family race shop. Over the years, Dyer followed the racing path and like his famous uncle, moved to the east coast to follow his passion as a NASCAR crewman. He steadily progressed through each of NASCAR’s premier divisions and now sets up race car chassis during the week and carries front tires for Carl Edwards’ #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Fords.

In addition to the grand marshal program, TUMS once again has designated all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 as the “Official Starter” for the event. Each fan will receive a commemorative flag. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 now are on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Tums)(10-20-2010)

WSSU Marching Band Set For Martinsville National Anthem: The Winston-Salem State University marching band will entertain race fans with its precision marching and music prior to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 next Sunday and then perform a stirring traditional version of the National Anthem. Dubbed the “Red Sea Of Sound,” the Winston-Salem State marching band has received national recognition for its performances around the country. The WSSU band has over 150 members and is led by five high-energy drum majors. “We are very excited about having the Winston-Salem State band here. I’ve seen them perform and they put on an amazing show,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “Their half-mile march around Martinsville Speedway is going to be pretty exciting. And I think everyone will enjoy and appreciate their traditional version of the National Anthem.” The band will perform at noon, entering the track through the fourth-turn cross-over gate and marching clockwise around the track to the start-finish line. Winston-Salem State University, located in Winston-Salem, NC, is a historically black university offering baccalaureate and graduate programs to a diverse student population. The flyover for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be provided by two F-18s, VFA 83 Rampagers from the U.S. Navy Air Station in Oceana. The planes will be flying in a north-south direction, from the third and fourth turns to the first and second turns. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-20-2010)

News from October 19, 2010

Charlotte TV Ratings: ABC’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Oct. 16, earned a final national rating of 3.2, averaging 5,345,135 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race, which also aired on ABC, earned a 3.5 rating [5.45 million viewers].

ESPN2’s live telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.3, averaging 1,793,454 viewers. Last year’s race also aired on ESPN2 and earned a 1.4 rating.(ESPN), see the 2010 TV Ratings page/chart for race-by-race and last four years of ratings.(10-19-2010)

Looks like a black scheme for Harvick in 2011: got an image of the 2011 Paint Scheme for Kevin Harvick on the #29 Budweiser Chevy, looks like the car will be black with red numbers and logos. See an image on my 2011 #29 Team Schemes page.(10-19-2010)

NASCAR could run ‘pony cars’ in Sprint Cup: Next year will bring a host of important changes to the Sprint Cup Series, including a significantly revised schedule, new front ends for the race cars, the introduction of Sunoco Green E15 ethanol fuel and, at some point, fuel injection. But what lies further beyond next year is even more intriguing. With the next-generation Sprint Cup cars tentatively scheduled to roll out in 2013, there’s a strong chance that Ford will move its Mustang up from the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the possibility that Chevrolet could dump its four-door Impala Sedan for the hot-selling Camaro. And a Mustang-Camaro rivalry could be just the thing to rev up NASCAR fan interest anew. Today, the automakers and NASCAR are working closer than ever in trying to bring the audiences back to the tracks and the television sets. Brand identity, something the automakers felt was largely lost when the current Sprint Cup car was introduced in 2007, is a hot-button issue these days. And it’s one reason NASCAR has gone back to traditional blade spoilers on the Cup cars and next year will eliminate ungainly cow-catcher front splitters in favor of a more aesthetically pleasing design. The automakers want even more brand identity, because they are trying to recapture the old “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” marketing focus that was predominant in prior generations. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the newly introduced Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, which were raced four times this season and will be raced full-time next year, already have proven hugely popular.

“The dealers are really excited about the Challenger running in NASCAR because it’s something that (Dodge) sells,” said NASCAR team owner Roger Penske, who also owns more than 300 automobile dealerships in 19 states. “These are high gross margin vehicles that they love to sell. When you start to look at Camaro and Mustang and Challenger, these are icons in the business.”

Jamie Allison, director, Ford North American Motorsports, said point blank that the automaker wants to move the Mustang up to the Sprint Cup level, with one caveat: It has to look more like the production Mustang than the current Nationwide car does. “We like to see our iconic brand in all forms of motorsports,” Allison said of the Mustang. “ … Any further consideration of the Mustang would have to be complemented and linked to more brand identity to the car that’s raced. It can’t just be the current car of tomorrow. It has to be a progression beyond what’s in Nationwide.”

Chevrolet’s racing boss also wants more brand identity. “Chevrolet, in any series that we race in, we’re looking for three things,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s general manager and the man who oversees the automaker’s NASCAR operations. “First, we want to see technologies in the race cars that are applicable to what we do on the production side without driving a tremendous amount of cost. Secondly, we’re (wanting) race series to use biofuels, because that’s what we need to do going forward. Many of our (production) cars are ethanol-capable. And third, we want to see the cars that we race look like the cars that we sell, as close as we can.” Campbell would not specifically comment on whether Chevrolet will return the Camaro to the NASCAR ranks, as Ford has with the Mustang in the Nationwide Series. “That’s a ways off,” Campbell said. “So any speculation about what’s going to happen out there — I don’t really have a lot to say on that today. … We’ll see what happens.” Campbell did make it clear however, that he wanted NASCAR Sprint Cup Chevrolets to look a lot more like production-model Chevrolets.(is part from SPEED)(10-19-2010)

C&J Energy to sponsor Labonte and Phoenix Racing: Back behind the wheel of the #09 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, Bobby Labonte and Phoenix Racing are prepared for Sunday’s Tums Fast Relief 500 event at Martinsville. This will be the first of three races that C&J Energy Services will serve as the primary sponsor for the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy. With over 320 laps led at Martinsville Speedway, and a Hendrick prepared engine under the hood, Labonte is well prepared for this weekend’s event.(Breaking Limits)(10-19-2010)

McReynolds to make NNS debut: Brandon McReynolds will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) debut this Saturday at Gateway International Raceway with Team 42 Racing. The 19-year-old driver will make his entrance in the NASCAR ranks piloting the #42 Dodge in the 5 Hour Energy 250. “I am excited for this opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” McReynolds said. “I grew up in the NASCAR garages, so it is thrilling to be able to compete this weekend at Gateway. I’m honored to have opportunity to compete against the best in the sport. I have to thank Eddie Smith and everyone at Team 42 Racing for their support. It means everything to me to have the shot to compete in the Nationwide Series. ” McReynolds is the son of Larry McReynolds, two-time Daytona 500 winning crew chief with Davey Allison and Dale Earnhardt, and current NASCAR TV analyst on SPEED, Fox Sports and TNT. The young driver spent his childhood at the track with his father and continues to make a name for himself in the racing industry. This season, McReynolds competed in the UARA Series and clenched two wins, both at the historic Rockingham Speedway. Also in the 2010 season, McReynolds competed in select events in the ARCA Racing Series.(activ8 communications)(10-19-2010)

Kenny Wallace to run Rolex 24: Continuing TRG’s strong heritage as the premier team at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, TRG and the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) have agreed to partner for the Racing4Research program at the 2011 race. This is the first time the Children’s Tumor Foundation will run with the team, and the first of several upcoming announcements for the three-time winners of the event. Daytona 24 veterans Ron Yarab, Daniel Graeff, and Pierre Bourque will be joined by NASCAR star Kenny Wallace as the Children’s Tumor Foundation team seeks to exceed $1 million in total donations since its founding in 2007. Known for his nine wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as a colorful host of numerous SPEED programs, as well as a three-time recipient of the Nationwide Series’ “Most Popular Driver Award,” Kenny Wallace will be joining the team for his second Rolex 24.(TRG)(10-19-2010)

Key Motorsports expands operation to body hanging: Key Motorsports announced the addition of body hanging services available to NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck and East as well as ARCA Series teams who are in need of professional quality bodies to be installed at a competitive price. Key Motorsports fields Chevrolet Impala’s for driver Mike Bliss in the Nationwide Series and currently has nine COT cars under construction at the teams Mooresville, North Carolina headquarters. Key Motorsports team owner Curtis Key purchased five body hanging plates from Gillette Evernham Racing [now Richard Petty Motorsports] several months ago and added skilled personnel to hang bodies in house for the No. 40 team before making the decision to offer its services to other NASCAR teams.(Key Motorsports)(10-19-2010)

News from October 18, 2010

The Entry List for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

Hermie Sadler in the #71

Not in top 35 of owners points:

#09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(39/31)

#13-Casey Mears (38/31)

#26-Ken Schrader (2009 race winner as owner)(37/31)

#36-Dave Blaney (40/31)

#38-David Gilliland (36/31)

#46-Michael McDowell (42/31)

#55-Terry Cook (43/31)

#64-Landon Cassill (46/19)

#66-Johnny Sauter (44/30)

#81-L.L. Yeley (55/1)

#87-Joe Nemechek (41/31)

#92-Dennis Setzer (54/3)

In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,38,13,36,87,46,55

missing the race would be [4]: #’s 66,64,92,81

See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Martinsville Entry List.(10-18-2010)

Sad News – Jeff Byrd: Jeff Byrd, Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway President and General Manager, passed away today [Oct. 17th] following a lengthy illness. He was 60. The dynamic Byrd, one of the most respected and admired leaders in racing, had been at the helm of BMS since January of 1996 when Speedway Motorsports, Inc., purchased the Bristol facility. Under his leadership, the track became the most popular venue on the NASCAR tour. Prior to his move to BMS, Byrd served 23 years in the sports marketing department at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., departing as vice president of business development. He began his career as a sportswriter at the Winston-Salem Journal.

Byrd is survived by his wife of 36 years, Claudia, daughter Belton Caldwell and her husband Jerry, son Christian Byrd and his wife Amy, seven grandchildren and an extended family of more than 70 fellow employees.

“From his days as a sportswriter to his time at R.J. Reynolds to the last 14 years, Jeff Byrd was one of the greatest promoters both stock car and drag racing has known,” said Speedway Motorsports Chairman and CEO O. Bruton Smith. “To say his passing leaves a void would be an understatement. Simply put, Jeff got it. He understood that more than what happened on the track, it was the experience that fans took home with them that stayed in their memories. And those fans, and the people he worked with at Bristol Motor Speedway, were truly like family to him. Because of the mindset that he possessed, Jeff will stay in our hearts and memories forever. ”

A 35-year veteran in the sports marketing profession, Byrd was involved in the development and implementation of a multitude of sports and event marketing programs across the sports spectrum. Byrd was extremely active in numerous civic organizations and had made a tremendous impact in the Tri-Cities community, as well as his church, First Presbyterian in Kingsport, where he was a longtime member. He was involved with a number of charitable groups and he and his wife Claudia organized and spearheaded the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, a non-profit agency dedicated to aiding children in need in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Byrd received his B.A. degree in history and politics from Wake Forest University.(Bristol Motor Speedway), Funeral arrangements are pending.(10-17-2010)

SERVICES: Service Arrangements for Jeff Byrd – Jeff’s family invites his friends to join them in celebrating Jeff’s life at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at Grace Fellowship Church, 2314 South Greenwood Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee with Dr. Greg Jordan and Dr. David Cagle officiating. A community appreciation service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday morning, October 21, 2010 in the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Jeff Byrd Foundation, c/o Kingsport Community Foundation, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902. Donations also can be made through the website at www.easttennesseefoundation.org.(10-18-2010)

Hermie Sadler to run at Martinsville UPDATE: hearing that Hermie Sadler [current SPEED reporter and part time NASCAR driver] will run the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevy at Martinsville Speedway on October 24th. Supposedly the car will come from RCR and prepared by Kevin Harvick Inc.(10-12-2010)

UPDATE: TRG Motorsports will have Hermie Sadler behind the wheel of the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevy at this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 to be run at Martinsville Speedway. Sadler, NASCAR racer and SPEED Channel reporter, is no stranger to the tight Martinsville .526-mile layout, often called the paperclip. Sadler has 59 starts in the Sprint Cup Series, nine of those at Martinsville. He has a fourth place finish there in the Nationwide Series in 1993 and a fifth place in the Camping World Truck Series in 1995. The Emporia, Virginia native is ready to get back behind the wheel at his favorite short track.
“Martinsville is one of my home tracks here in the state of Virginia,” Sadler said. “I have been going to races there since I was five years old. I have run late models, Nationwide Series and truck races there. If I had to pick one Sprint Cup race to do, it is going to be Martinsville.”

Kevin Buckler, team owner, is anxious to see what Sadler can do at Martinsville. “This is going to be a really fun deal,” Buckler said. “We were looking to hire a driver to run Martinsville that had a strong track record there and that can help us stay in the top 35 in owner’s points. Hermie fits the bill perfectly. I had to wrestle him out of the SPEED booth to run this weekend. We have always done well kind of going off the reservation and finding that someone that others might have overlooked. I think Hermie is that guy, especially at Martinsville. Martinsville is a very tough short track and one that Hermie loves and is a local fan favorite. He has a genuine passion and understanding for the track. I can’t wait to see what happens this Sunday.”(TRG)(10-18-2010)

Kasey Kahne can’t wait for the season to end: #9-Kasey Kahne said he felt ill Saturday night, which is why he did not finish the race at Charlotte. Kahne and Richard Petty Motorsports hit yet another rough spot Saturday night when, after his brakes failed, Kahne said he was too ill to continue the race in his damaged Ford. J.J. Yeley completed the race in Kahne’s car.
Kahne ran a 5k for his charity Sunday morning in downtown Charlotte, finishing that race and smiling after, saying that his stomach was still upset. He said he threw up once Saturday night and didn’t feel the need to put forth the effort to get back in a car that didn’t meet his standards. Kahne said it was the third time this season his brakes had failed, and second time in three races. He admitted to melting down on the radio, which led many to speculate he refused to get back in the car after his crew made repairs.
“I lost it. I was just mad. I came into the race thinking we had a shot to win, thinking we had a good car in practice, we had a good shot,” he said. “It went green. We were a little bit tight, but still actually passed cars and really felt good, and then boom, my brakes are gone. It’s not like you have half-brakes, like you can pump them. Your foot goes to the floor. It bottoms out. It’s a joke.”(Yahoo Sports)(10-18-2010)

Tim Richmond Featured in Tuesday Night ESPN ’30 for 30’ Film: Former NASCAR driver Tim Richmond, a star of the sport before his death from AIDS in 1989, will be the subject of a documentary airing on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 8:00 pm/et on ESPN as part of ESPN Films’ critically acclaimed film series 30 for 30 Presented by Cadillac.

Tim Richmond: To the Limit, produced for ESPN by the NASCAR Media Group and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rory Karpf, tells the story of Richmond with the words of many who knew him well and some who competed against him on the track. Former NASCAR drivers Darrell Waltrip and Richard and Kyle Petty, champion team owner Rick Hendrick, movie director Hal Needham, famed racing promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, ESPN reporters Dr. Jerry Punch and Ed Hinton, Richmond’s sister Sandy Welsh and friends from his hometown of Ashland, Ohio, are among those appearing in the film.

In the 1980s, Richmond lived his life the way he raced cars – wide open. Born into a wealthy family, Richmond was the antithesis of the Southern, blue-collar racers who dominated NASCAR. He also was a flamboyant showman who basked in the attention of the media and fans – especially the attention of female admirers. Nevertheless, it was Richmond’s on-track performances that ended up drawing comparisons to racing legends. And in 1986, when he won seven NASCAR races and finished third in the Winston Cup series points race, some believed he was on the verge of stardom. But soon his freewheeling lifestyle caught up to him. He unexpectedly withdrew from the NASCAR racing circuit, reportedly suffering from double pneumonia. In reality, the diagnosis was much more dire: he had AIDS. Richmond returned to the track in 1987, winning at Pocono in his comeback race, but he was gone from the sport by the next year as his health deteriorated. He spent his final days as a recluse, dying on August 13, 1989, at the age of 34.

The film takes viewers back to the time of Richmond’s illness and death, an era when AIDS created near-hysteria around the world, and those who had the disease were shunned. Former Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, speaks in the film about the time and Punch, a physician, relates that in the medical world, there was still much to be learned about AIDS. Select films from the series are available for purchase on iTunes the day following air. Additional films are available for purchase at www.amazon.com/30for30.(10-18-2010)

Week 15 Daytona Repave Update: Lane Construction is prepping the steep 31-degree high banks in Turns 1 and 2 for paving as the Daytona Repave project completed a 15th week work. The grading of the lime rock base in Turns 1 and 2 has been ongoing for the past week. Grading of the top pass has been completed and the primer has been placed while grading of the bottom pass continues. Once the primer has been placed on both passes, the massive Titan 525 paver will begin putting down the first of four layers of asphalt.

Other updates from the 15th week of work on repaving Daytona International Speedway include:

· Paving of the backstretch skid pad is complete with exception of the tie-in with the apron

· Installation of the under-drain system is now complete with exception of Turns 1 and 2 where paving still remains

· Crews have begun preparing to put SAFER barrier and safety fence back up in Turns 3 and 4

· Removal of the fill dirt behind the walls in Turns 3 and 4 has begun

About the Daytona Repave: Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, will use an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway and has a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011. Race fans can view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience. For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(10-18-2010)

Dover Downs, Dover Motorsports call off merger: Bowing to pressure from minority shareholders, Dover Downs and Dover Motorsports have called off their planned merger. Henry Tippie, chairman of the board of both companies, said in a statement on Wednesday that it became apparent the proposed deal would not gain the approval it needed from minority shareholders.
“While we believe that combining the two companies would have benefited both organizations, we have agreed to a mutual termination of our merger agreement,” he said. Dover Downs operates a casino, hotel and horse racing operation. Dover Motorsports offers NASCAR racing. Because one person — Tippie — controls voting rights for more than 50 percent of the stock of both companies, their legal counsel suggested that a majority of minority shareholders would be needed to complete the deal. But minority shareholders on the NASCAR racing side said the deal undervalued the company. Some large minority shareholders like GAMCO Investors and Marathon Partners have argued that selling the company would reap a better return. An analyst affiliated with GAMCO even said it might make sense to close Dover International Speedway and move the two annual NASCAR races to Las Vegas and Chicago. The companies were one before they split eight years ago. Despite the separate corporations, they share many of the same executives and boards. As part of the deal, Motorsports shareholders would have received just over half a share of Dover Downs Gaming stock for each of their own shares. Both companies have struggled lately, with competition squeezing the gambling operations, and lower attendance dogging the racing company. Dover Motorsports has had disappointing results from the acquisitions of other racetracks, including one in St. Louis, which it will stop using for NASCAR in 2011. Dover Motorsports also owns Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee.(Delaware News Journal)(10-18-2010)

News from October 17, 2010

France talks…a little, about TV Ratings: Dustin Long of the Virginian Pilot got in two questions to NASCAR Chairman Brian France about TV ratings as he walked out of a press conference room after having announced that NASCAR will switch to E15 fuel beginning next year in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks. Here’s Brian on the declining TV ratings:

Brian: “We’re working on it. Racing is great and over time that takes care of things. We’d like to have better ratings but we will over time.”

On what more he can do and the idea doing like IndyCar with commercials and the race sharing the TV screen together: “We’ll look at everything we can do. Ultimately, the racing, which is phenomenal, will carry the day. That’s our product.”(Virginian Pilot)(10-17-2010)

Dale Jr. and DW to appear in film about Talladega: Award-winning filmmaker Terry Gilliam will premiere his short film The Legend of Hallowdega starring David Arquette and Justin Kirk with special appearances by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip and more on Oct. 31st.

The film, produced by AMP Energy Juice and @radical.media, will premiere on Halloween Sunday with the first chapter to debut on ESPN just prior to the start of the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Starting Halloween night, the film will be available in its entirety on www.LegendofHallowdega.com. The Legend of Hallowdega is the first short film for both Gilliam and AMP Energy Juice.

The comedy, The Legend of Hallowdega, explores the mysteries around Talladega Superspeedway as the host of an investigative news show (Justin Kirk) joins forces with a techno-geek paranormal expert (David Arquette) to dodge close calls and chase crazy leads to get to the bottom of The Legend of Hallowdega.(NASCAR.com)(10-17-2010)

Danica Patrick Comic Book: Bluewater Productions has already brought new readers to sequential storytelling with its Political Power, Female Force and Fame comic book biography series. Now the independent comics company is reaching out to the members of NASCAR nation with its latest comic: Fame: Danica Patrick. Bluewater’s latest biography comic traces Patrick’s rise through the male-dominated ranks of auto racing. It also explores the fascination that the public has with Patrick.
Writer CW Cooke, who has also penned Bluewater’s top-selling Taylor Swift biography comic, said that even the most devoted of fans will learn something new about Patrick after reading this book. Danica Patrick will hit comic book shops and online retailers like Amazon in December. The 32-page comic will retail for $3.99. Artist Valerio Giangiordano handled the art for Patrick’s story. Cooke, who was thrilled when he received his sample pages, said that fans won’t be disappointed in the job that Giangiordano turned in. For more information about the comic book, go to bluewaterprod.com.(10-17-2010)

News from October 16, 2010

McMurray wins at Charlotte: #1-Jamie McMurray won the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2010 and the 7th win of his career. #18-Busch finished second followed by #48-Johnson, #11-Hamlin, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #20-Logano, #29-Harvick, #00-Reuitmann and #6-Ragan. Pole sitter #24-Gordon finished 23rd. J.J. Yeley finished the race in the #9 Ford as Kahne wasn’t felling well after his wreck.

There were 27 lead changes among 19 drivers and 9 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 103,000 down a tad from 2009 which was 105,000.

Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Sunday, October 25 at 2:00am/et; and SPEED, October 27 at 12:00pm/et.

See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Charlotte Race Results/Awards page.(10-16-2010)

Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Charlotte:

[by points standings before the race]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 8th

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 23rd

5) #14-Tony Stewart, 21st

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 30th

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 12th

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 20th

9) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd

10) #16-Greg Biffle, 5th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 6th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 17th

(10-16-2010)

Race Fast Facts – Charlotte:

#1-Jamie McMurray won the Bank of America 500, his sixth victory in 289 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is his third victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2010.

This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 17 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His first career series victory also came at Charlotte, in October of 2002.

#18-Kyle Busch (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2010.

#48-Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 19 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

#48-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 41 points over #11-Denny Hamlin.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-16-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:

[after Charlotte, race 31 of 36, Chase Race 5 of 10]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5843

2) #11-Denny Hamlin [6 wins], 5802, -41

3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5766, -77

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5687, -156

5) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5666, -177

6) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 5666, -177

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 5643, -200

8) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5618, -225

9) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5606, -237

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 5604, -239

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5587, -256

12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5543, -300

(Bowyer without 150 pt penalty 5693, -150 would be 4th)

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-16-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver ‘Classic’ Points Standings:

[after Auto Club, race 30 of 36….the OLD way]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #29-Kevin Harvick (x), 4459

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson (x), 4210, -249

3) #24-Jeff Gordon (x), 4180, -279

4) #18-Kyle Busch (x), 4131, -328

5) #11-Denny Hamlin (x), 4084, -375

6) #14-Tony Stewart (x), 4073, -386

7) #99-Carl Edwards (x), 4070, -389

8) #31-Jeff Burton (x), 3994, -465

9) #17-Matt Kenseth (x), 3933, -526

10) #2-Kurt Busch (x), 3923, -536

11) #1-Jamie McMurray 3786, -748

12) #16-Greg Biffle (x), 3785, -673

13) #33-Clint Bowyer (x), 3764, -674

14) #39-Ryan Newman, 3711, -695

15) #5-Mark Martin, 3632, -869

16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3590, -827

(x) chase drivers

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Martinsville:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. BUT the #7 team is only 5 points ahead of 36th, the #38 team and the #71 is only 20 pts ahead of the #38 team.

34) #71-Cassill-Labonte/TRG: 2191, +20

35) #7-Conway/RGM, 2176, 5 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 2171, -5 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Carptenier/Latitude43: 1999, -177

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-16-2010)

Penalty Report – Charlotte:

Car#, Lap, Reason, Green/Yellow, Penalty

#39 2 Pitting before pit road is open, Y

#71 3 Removing equipment from assigned pit area, Y, Must come in

#2 23 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#2 24 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Y, Tail End

#82 25 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Y, Tail End

#48 34 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#36 43 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, G, Pass Thru

#39 61 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, G,Pass Thru

#9 110 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#47 110 Outside half of the pit box tire violation/

Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Y, Tail End

#9 124 Pitting before pit road is open, Y

#77 124 Pitting before pit road is open,Y

#09 124 Pitting before pit road is open,Y

#47 203 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#10 238 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#7 240 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#31 247 Pitting before pit road is open, Y, Tail End

#39 248 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Y, Tail End

#24 291 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, G, Pass Thru

#39 294 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, G, Pass Thru

#88 311 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Y, Tail End

(NASCAR Statistics)(10-16-2010)

Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Charlotte: (and their finish)

Caution 1: no driver down a lap

Caution 2: #09-Cassill, 42nd

Caution 3: #64-Green, 41st

Caution 4: #83-Sorenson, 18th

Caution 5: #82-Speed, 19th

Caution 6: #24-Gordon, 23rd

Caution 7: #78-Smith, 13th

Caution 8: #47-Ambrose, 16th

Caution 9: #31-Burton, 20th

(10-16-2010)

Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Charlotte (or seemed to)?

43rd: #36-Yeley, 73 laps run

42nd: #09-Cassill, 90 laps

41st: #64-Green, 92 laps

with NASCAR’s new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #36 this week

(only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(10-16-2010)

RCR’s #33 Honor Coal Miners Rescued in Chile: Richard Childress Racing’s #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy will carry a decal for Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series 400 mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, honoring the 33 coal miners who were rescued October 13 in Chile. The coal mine, located a mile beneath the Chilean desert, collapsed August 5 and the 33 miners spent the next 70 days in the underground chamber before being rescued via a custom-built escape capsule. “The rescue of the 33 miners in Chile is an incredible story,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Their perseverance to overcome the odds is something we can all learn something from so we decided to run a decal on the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet to honor them and their successful rescue.” The decal [shown above] is affixed on the lower B post of the #33 Chevy.(RCR)(10-16-2010)

Allgaier talking to RPM & JGR but: Roger Penske, who in June said there was no way JUstin Allgaier would get away from his organization, has since told his 24-year-old driver he is free to look around. Penske has told Allgaier the only way he can keep him even in the Nationwide Series is if a sponsor steps up. None have so far. Allgaier isn’t holding his breath. So Allgaier is talking to Cup and Nationwide teams around the garage, but the same problem exists. No sponsor. Richard Petty Motorsports would be an ideal place for this budding star. Joe Gibbs Racing has been rumored to show interest. Allgaier admits he’s had casual talks with both of them, but not to the point he would say there is strong interest unless he has a sponsor promising to come with him. “I’ve made a decision that I want to stay in this sport next year,” Allgaier said with a smile. “Other than that it’s not really up to me. It’s frustrating in some aspects because there’s not a whole lot available. Whatever happens at this point is going to happen.”(ESPN.com)(10-16-2010)

NASCAR to go to a E15 fuel blend in 2011 UPDATE: NASCAR has told Sprint Cup teams to prepare for E15 fuel blend for the 2011 season. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series are expected to use E15 fuel at Daytona Speedweeks in February. Sources say the blend will be ready for testing in January. An announcement of the change could be made as early as Saturday afternoon when NASCAR Chairman Brian France has scheduled a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Teams tested the E15 blend — a mixture of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline — in May. Both Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing have tested the fuel on the track. RCR’s Jeff Burton tested a Sunoco ethanol blend this week during a tire test at Richmond. Roush Fenway Racing has tested the mixture in engines on the dynamometer. Lee White, president and general manager Toyota Racing Development, says that to his knowledge, TRD has not track tested the E15 fuel. However, White believes the move to an ethanol blend “is the right thing to do.” According to the ethanol.org website, ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane motor fuel that is produced from renewable sources. At its most basic, ethanol is grain alcohol, produced from crops such as corn. In 2003, NASCAR inked a 10-year deal with Sunoco to be the official fuel supplier for the sport. Sources say Sunoco, which produces ethanol blends, will continue to provide teams with fuel. Growth Energy, a pro-ethanol coalition backed by POET, an ethanol producer, will be NASCAR marketing partner (FoxSports)(10-16-2010)

UPDATE: NASCAR announced it will race with E15 fuel in its three national touring series in 2011. Sunoco Green E15 is a 15% ethanol blend using American-made ethanol from corn grown by American farmers. Sunoco Green E15 will be blended at Sunoco’s fuel facility in Marcus Hook, Pa., which provides high-performance race fuel to NASCAR teams at no cost to them. The American-grown and American-made corn ethanol will come in part from Sunoco’s new ethanol plant in Fulton, N.Y. The new fuel will be pumped directly from tankers at the track, rather than from on-site underground storage tanks. NASCAR team engine builders have been testing the Sunoco Green E15 for several months, and reports have been very positive. In fact, many have reported achieving more horsepower with Sunoco Green E15.

Sunoco Green E15 is the latest in a series of NASCAR conservation initiatives. With the input of environmental experts and motorsports industry constituents, NASCAR is implementing programs to protect the environment while providing a proving ground for new green technologies. Drivers, teams, and track operators are working diligently on the issue of recycling, land conservation, and adopting alternative energy sources. Sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Goodyear, Office Depot, Safety-Kleen, Sprint and UPS are setting benchmarks for their dedication to keeping NASCAR green.

Major NASCAR industry green highlights include:

* NASCAR Green Clean Air: A unique program that plants ten trees for each green flag that drops during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, capturing 100% of the carbon produced by the on-track racing at the events.

* Largest recycling program in sports: All tires, oils, fluids and batteries used in NASCAR racing are recaptured and recycled. Additionally, NASCAR’s leading event recycling program has expanded in 2010, with Coors Light, Office Depot and UPS joining NASCAR and Coca-Cola Recycling. It is anticipated approximately 100 tons of material (including over three million containers) from NASCAR race tracks will be diverted from landfills and recycled next year.

* World’s largest solar powered sports facility: The NASCAR industry is taking a leadership position in alternative energy, represented in the Pocono Raceway solar farm, which at three megawatts is the world’s biggest solar-powered sports facility, providing all the energy for the track, in addition to approximately 1,000 area homes.
* “Green” Buildings: Two new office buildings, the 20-story NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte led by NASCAR which opened in June 2009, and the new headquarters building for ISC and NASCAR in Daytona Beach are LEED certified, an important distinction making them “green buildings.”(NASCAR)(10-16-2010)

Fuel Injection coming to Sprint Cup…next summer: NASCAR expects fuel injection to be introduced next summer. The target date appears to be July 9th — the Cup weekend at Kentucky Motor Speedway (FoxSports)(10-16-2010)

Pre-race stunt catches fire in Charlotte: A father and son have escaped injury after a pre-race stunt gone bad caused a fiery wreck on the frontstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway. About two hours before Saturday’s Sprint Cup race, the daredevil known as Spanky Spangler was driving around the track in a beat-up recreational vehicle with ‘Hold my beer. Watch this’ spray-painted on one side. He was chased by a police cruiser driven by his son, Bryan Spangler. There were a series of planned explosions just as the cars approached a jump. But the bottom of the RV caught fire and landed nose-first on top of junk cars next to the ramps. It took several minutes for rescue personnel to get the elder Spangler from the RV. He walked to an ambulance and was treated and released from the infield care center.(Associated Press/ESPN)(10-16-2010)

New Splitter & Nose Appeoved for Chevy & Toyota: A new front splitter and nose have been approved for Chevrolet and Toyota Sprint Cup cars for next year while Ford and Dodge teams are still working on a few adjustments to the front of their cars. Chevrolet’s new front splitter and nose combination was displayed on Tony Stewart’s 2011 car that he unveiled Tuesday with his Mobil 1 sponsorship for next year [see images on my #14 Team Schemes page]. The new front splitter for Chevrolet and Toyota is molded to the front of the car instead of held to the front bumper with braces. Dodge and Ford teams are using the opportunity to change the front bumper to give those cars better manufacturer identity and are still in the NASCAR approval process. There will be no change to the hood for Ford and Dodge, just a slight change from the top at the front of the hood halfway down toward the splitter. The Dodge and Ford teams should have plenty of time to get the new noses approved for next season.(SceneDaily)(10-16-2010)

Hyder finds new gig: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief David Hyder has taken a position with Kevin Harvick Inc. Hyder most recently worked as a crew chief with the Wood Brothers on the # 21 Cup car. Hyder is “shadowing us” this weekend, said KHI general manager Rick Carelli. “He’ll be working on special projects,” Carelli added. “He’ll also be Kevin’s crew chief at Martinsville (Speedway) on the #2 Tide truck.” After running part time with the Wood Brothers NASCAR Sprint Cup team this season, the 43-year-old High Pointe, N.C.-native says he’s looking forward to racing on a full-time basis again. KHI fields teams in the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck series. “I’m really looking forward to getting started,” Hyder said. “KHI has enjoyed a lot of success. For me, it’s all about the winning and I know I’m at the right place.” While KHI’s final plans for 2011 have yet to be announced, Carelli said that Hyder will be the crew chief for Tony Stewart and the #4 Chevy when he attempts to win his fourth consecutive Daytona 300 Nationwide Series race next February (FoxSports)(10-16-2010)

Shane Hmiel critically injured UPDATEs: Shane Hmiel, banned for life from NASCAR in 2006 after failing three drug tests, was critically injured Saturday night during qualifying for the U.S. Auto Racing Club’s Silver Crown race at Terre Haute Action Track. USAC said the 30-year-old Hmiel, from Pleasant Garden, N.C., was airlifted to Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital, where he was in critical condition with head injuries. The Tribune-Star of Terre Haute reported that Hmiel’s #17 Silver Crown car slammed into the outside wall between the third and fourth turns and rolled over several times, damaging the protective roll cage. “We are very concerned about Shane and offer our resources and our support to his family during this time of healing,” USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said. Hmiel’s father, Steve, is director of competition for NASCAR’s Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The Sumar Classic went on as scheduled, with Levi Jones winning the race.(ESPN/AP)(10-10-2010)

UPDATE: USAC issued a new release on Shane Hmiel’s condition on Sunday. It stated that he remains in critical but stable condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. It states that Hmiel suffered fractures of the neck and back and is in the hospital’s intensive care unit awaiting surgery expected sometime in the next 24 hours. According to the release: Steve Hmiel says his son has a “long road to recovery” and is quick to thank all the fans and friends who offered their concerns and prayers in the hours following the accident. Also in the release: USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said: “We are optimistic for Shane’s recovery. We will monitor Shane’s hospitalization adn will provide updates on his progress.”(Virginian Pilot)(10-10-2010)

Latest Update: from Hmiel’s Road to Recovery Facebook page: had a little bumpy road nothing to be too alarmed about first surgery got postponed due to irregular heartbeat nothing uncommon then we had some build up of yuck in lungs they they removed breathing much smoother and easier has slight fever not uncommon resting.(10-16-2010)

News from October 15, 2010

Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 2010.

Television (TV): ABC at 7:30 pm/et; pre-race show at 7:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:46pm/et

Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

ESPN2, Sunday, October 17 at 3:00am/et

SPEED, Wednesday, October 20 at 12:00pm/et

added a batch of schemes from Charlotte: including #6 UPS United Way, #14 Old Spice – Showtime, #43 Wix Filters, #7 Pink Extenze, #07 Extenze, #00 Aaron’s Mossy, #2 Miller Lite / Operation Homefront, #16 3M Blue, #10 Gander Mountain, #21 Fired up for a Cure, #23 Pink and Blue, #37 Andy Griffith Show, #47 Lance Snacks, #98 Menards / Schrock, #31 CatUsed.com and #71 Modspace on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(10-15-2010)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Prime Time from Charlotte: The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship continues Saturday night, Oct. 16, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in prime time under the lights in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will air live on ABC with NASCAR Countdown at 7:00 pm/et and the race’s green flag is scheduled for 7:46 pm. Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

ESPN.com Offers RacingLive! During Charlotte Race: NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com. RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Saturday, Oct. 16, RacingLive! Charlotte will kick off at 7:30 pm/et to coincide with ESPN’s telecast of the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at espn.go.com.

Pit Stall Selections – Charlotte: The selections of pit stalls for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #24-Gordon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

Outside pole sitter #99-Edwards took pit stall 15, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

#43-Allmendinger, who starts 3rd took the 14th pit stall, the first stall with an opening in back of it.

The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reuitmann, who starts 16th.

To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-15-2010)

Happy Hour practice: for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:

#99-Edwards 186.008

#83-Sorenson 185.357

#2-Busch 185.344

#9-Kahne 185.115

#1-McMurray 185.058

slowest: #64-Green 179.468 & #46-McDowell 180.445

incident: #2-Busch slapped the wall and did some damage to the side of his car, but the team plans to fix it.

See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on the Charlotte Practice Speeds Page.(10-15-2010)

Happy Hour Practice Results for the Chase drivers at Charlotte:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 17th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 24th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 22nd

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 27th

5) #14-Tony Stewart, 32nd

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 3rd

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 1st

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 19th

9) #18-Kyle Busch, 6th

10) #16-Greg Biffle, 10th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 31st

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 26th

(10-15-2010)

Friday’s first practice: for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:

#9-Kahne 186.104

#00-Reutimann 185.382

#16-Biffle 185.052

#2-Busch 184.970

#56-Truex Jr. 184.792

slowest: #64-Green 177.877 and #09-Cassill 177.965

no speed: #46-McDowell

See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on the Charlotte Practice Speeds Page.(10-15-2010)

Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in these two series ran at this track in May . . . these teams have also run this right-side tire code (D-4234) with a different left-side code at Las Vegas and Charlotte in 2009, and Las Vegas and Darlington in 2010 . . . this is the only track on which teams will run this left-side code (D-4390) . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage. See the tire codes. pressures and more on the Charlotte Race Info page – Goodyear section.(10-15-2010)

ModSpace Joins Forces with TRG for CMS: TRG Motorsports announced Thursday that ModSpace agreed to join forces for this weekend’s “home” race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway to be run Saturday night under the lights. Andy Lally, seasoned road racer, will be at the wheel of the #71 ModSpace/Savory Thymes/TRG Motorsports Chevy with his first opportunity to run a full Sprint Cup race distance on an oval. ModSpace will be using their Charlotte race partnership with TRG Motorsports to capitalize on the new business-to-business opportunities provided by the media exposure of NASCAR’s vast corporate network. ModSpace is among the largest global suppliers of permanent modular construciton and temporary modular space. Headquartered in Berwyn, PA, the company is a leading innovator in modular construction. ModSpace has been involved in a number of different motorsport endeavors, this will be the first venture into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. TRG Motorsports will also receive support from boutique kitchenware company Savory Thymes. Savory Thymes is a specialist in providing a number of designer wares and accessories for your kitchen (TRG Motorsports), see image of the car on my #71 Team Schemes page.(10-15-2010)

Some changes at NASCAR: Grand-Am Road Racing announced today that Herb Branham has been named the sanctioning body’s Managing Director of Communications, effective immediately. Branham moves to Grand-Am from NASCAR, where he was the Director of Written Communications. Branham, 55, has been with NASCAR since 2001 and will retain a portion of his duties with that organization. His emphasis, though, will be with Grand-Am, where he will report to President Tom Bledsoe.
For most of the recently completed 2010 season, Branham headed Grand-Am’s public relations efforts in an interim role, concentrating on increasing media coverage on both the national and in-race market levels. Also, since 2009, Branham has worked on the production of the organization’s postseason awards banquets.

As a result of a recent communications review which highlighted the strength of the NASCAR competition public relations team and the need to expand into other areas to better serve the industry, NASCAR announced today the first changes resulting from the creation of an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) structure. On the IMC’s Competition Team, Kerry Tharp has been promoted to Senior Director. Tharp, based in Concord, N.C., was previously Director of Competition Public Relations.
In addition, the newly created Sport Services Team will be headed by Stu Hothem, who has been promoted to Director. Hothem previously was a Senior Manager overseeing Public Relations Services.(NASCAR)(10-15-2010)

Sad News – Gene Black: Francis ‘Gene’ Eugene Black Jr., 67 of Fletcher, NC passed away Monday, October 4, 2010. He was formerly a stock car driver and he raced with Richard Petty, Ralph Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and others. Surviving are his loving wife of 15 years Cheryl Lindsley Black, and Godmother Betty Shuford and many cousins. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday October 21st, at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Arden. The Rev. Victor C. Mansfield will be officiating. An online registry is available at ashevillemortuaryservices.com.(Asheville Citizen Times), Black ran 37 Sprint Cup Series races from 1965 thru 1968 with six top-tens.(10-15-2010)

Sad News – Beth Tuschak: Award winning motorsports journalist Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Ann Tuschak has passed away. Tuschak, who was the motorsports writer for USA Today in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was found dead in her Concord, NC, apartment on Monday, Oct. 11. The cause of her death has yet to be determined, but Concord police said there were no signs of foul play. Tuschak was instrumental in making sure NASCAR received equal coverage with Indy Car during her tenure at USA Today, especially during the month of May. Prior to joining USA Today, she was a motorsports writer in Detroit. Tuschak also wrote a series of comic books on NASCAR drivers and co-authored the book “NASCAR for Dummies.” She preceeded Cathy Elliott as the columnist for the NASCAR News Service.(full obit and service info at Wilkinson Funeral Home site)(10-15-2010)

Newman’s team pretty well set on sponsorship: from a Stewart Haas Racing Transcript, Mobil 1 Sponsorship Announcement:

Tony, is the 14 car now totally sold as far as primary sponsorship for 2011, or are you still looking for more? Can you update us on the 39 as well? Are Army and Tornados returning?

TONY STEWART: “Everything is good on the 39 car there with Tornados and U.S. Army coming back. We’re in good shape on the 14 car now. This has fulfilled what we’re looking for to fill the void for Old Spice next year. It allows us to now put that project behind us. We’re still always looking for new partners. You never stop in that category. You’re always looking to bring new people into the sport and even if it’s not at a co-primary position, you’re always looking for associate sponsors. So the search, necessarily, isn’t over. But this does fill the void from the Old Spice brand leaving at the end of the year. On Ryan’s car, we’re still looking for some associate sponsorship also, but we’re very happy that Tornados and U.S. Army are coming back again. Exciting to have new partners that have come into the sport that are excited and happy with what we’re doing and that want to return. So very happy with the way things are going right now.”(Stewart Haas Racing)(10-15-2010)

2011 FedEx schemes released: Even as Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing Team are in the midst of the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, we are excited to unveil the evolved 2011 #11 FedEx Toyota that retains the familiar black that Denny has delivered to Victory Lane on 13 occasions. “It’s a great new look on this FedEx Camry,” said Hamlin. “I love that we are keeping the car black but I think the new nose is a great change for next season. Now the other cars will be sure to know when I’m coming.” We hope you like the new design and we look forward to sharing more success yet this year – and looking forward to a great 2011.(FedEx Racing), see the images on my #11 Team Schemes page.(10-15-2010)

47 fewer Sprint Cup cautions in 2010 compared to 2009 after 30 races:

1 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (10/14/62)

6 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers available at CMS this weekend for track drying

4 of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup have yet to win in 2010 (Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth)

7 of the 30 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

8 – number of drivers that have swept both Sprint Cup regular-season races at CMS in the same year; no driver has swept both races and the Sprint All Star Race (Kurt Busch has a chance to become the first Saturday night)

12 different Sprint Cup race winners in 2010

13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville)

14 of the 103 races at CMS have been won from the pole; 30 of 103 have been won from the front row

16 different Sprint Cup pole winners in 2010

22 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race at CMS (5/29/05)

107 points separate the top five in the Chase point standings after the first four races

105 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jets to dry the 1.5-mile track

4,500 ServiceMaster Clean franchise locations around the world

Sprint Cup

111 of the 211 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents, 40 for debris and 27 for spins

211 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Sprint Cup events this season; 258 after 30 races last year

1,071 of 8,843 laps completed in the first 30 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,225 of 6,955 after 30 races last year

1,536.630 of 12,059.928 miles completed this season in the 30 Sprint Cup races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,719.388 of 11,621.305 after 30 races last year.(ServiceMaster Clean)(10-15-2010)

Georgia Racing Hall of Fame induction Oct 22nd: The 2010 Georgia Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Dawsonville City Municipal Complex, on Friday, October 22 at 6:00pm/et. The inductees are motorcycle champion Ted Edwards of Atlanta, NASCAR championship winning engine builder and crew chief Ernie Elliott of Dawsonville, pioneer open wheel and stock car racer Jack Etheridge of Atlanta, NASCAR sportsman championship winning car owner Laverne Kendrick of Tifton and pioneer stock car racer and race official Jerry Wimbish of Atlanta. A limited number of seats are available for the banquet. Reservations are required to attend. For more information on purchasing a ticket or on the banquet, call Dawsonville City Hall at (706) 265-3256, or go online to www.georgiaracinghof.com.(10-15-2010)

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s New Family Seating Section: Charlotte Motor Speedway has revolutionized the family experience at NASCAR events by creating the most family-friendly grandstand in all of motorsports. The brand new Family Seating Section will make its debut on during the Dollar General 300 on Oct. 15 and the Bank of America 500 on Oct.16.

The new family-oriented environment will give parents with young children the option to sit in a smoke-and-alcohol-free family section, as well as provide kid-friendly activities throughout the weekend. The Family Seating Section will be located in the Toyota Fourth Turn Terrace grandstand.

In addition to the special seating section, numerous entertainment options for the kids will be conveniently located on the concourse directly below the Family Seating Section. The concourse will feature an inflatable monster truck bounce house, a face painter, a caricature artist and a display by Plaster Creations, where children can paint NASCAR themed ornaments.

Lug Nut, the world’s fastest mascot, will also make special appearances, along with his friends Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Woodstock from the Peanuts Gang at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, N.C.The Family Seating Section concourse will offer a picnic and seating area with kid-friendly concession stands for meal or break time. Included on the menu is a kids’ meal consisting of peanut butter and jelly, carrot sticks, apple slices and a juice box.

Racing-themed booster seats will be available for use free of charge for the viewing convenience of the speedway’s smaller fans. In addition, special blue and pink ear muffs for children’s hearing protection will be available for purchase.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway Coca-Cola Fan Van will also be parked underneath the Family Seating Section and offer family fun and entertainment for children of all ages. Families can play cornhole, compete in NASCAR-simulated racing on one of four gaming stations, rock out with Guitar Hero or try a refreshing sample of Powerade Play. Parents visiting the Fan Van will have the opportunity to sign their children up for the Little Luggies Race Club, a kids club at Charlotte Motor Speedway that centers around the speedway’s official mascot, Lug Nut. The club helps all the little racers join in the speedway’s fun and receive emails, a birthday postcard, and special prizes from Lug Nut.

Tickets for the Family Seating Section and all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at
charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(10-15-2010)

Youngsters Read Way to TV appearance at Martinsville Speedway: Reading pays big rewards in many different ways. Just ask any of the more than 2,000 elementary school students who participated in Martinsville Speedway’s Fifth Annual Read Your Way to the Race program. Two of the more than 400 classes that participated in the program will get to appear on national television as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on October 24. A third class will have the opportunity to get their picture taken with the winner of the Kroger 200. One student will get to stand on-stage for the Kroger 200 pre-race activities, another will ride along in the pace car for the start of the Kroger 200, and another will participate in Kroger 200 victory lane celebrations. Three more classes won the opportunity to have pizza parties at Martinsville Speedway after race weekend. This fall 405 classrooms in three school systems – Martinsville City Schools, Henry County Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools – participated. The goal was for each participating student to read either 15 chapters or 15 books, depending on individual reading levels. In the end, 2,022 students successfully completed the assignment. All students who reached their goal will be admitted to either the Kroger 200 or the TUMS Fast Relief 500 free. Their parents can purchase discounted tickets to either event. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77. Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(10-25-2010)

RIR offers boat storage: Last year, “Snowpocalypse” 2009-2010 hit Richmond like an ice-covered snowball on a January morning. Don’t run the risk of leaving your boat in frigid temperatures and blustery weather this winter. Instead, you can “batten down the hatches” at Richmond Raceway Complex with our indoor boat storage. RIR is now accepting boats to be stored in one of our enclosed buildings for $375 per boat; space is limited. This service has been offered for several years and has proved to be a valuable offer among area boat owners. Boats are stored at Richmond Raceway Complex until April 8, 2011, upon which all boats must be removed. Boats may be removed prior to April 8. Customers must call 804-228-7504 to make an appointment when bringing in or picking up their boats. Please provide at least 24 hours notice for access to boats. All boats must be drained of gasoline and all flammable liquids. All LP gas tanks and batteries must be removed. Boats must be left on trailers with proper working hitches and wheels/tires. Additionally, chocks are required. More info at rir.com. Tickets for the Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the BUBBA burger 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race go on sale January 14, 2011. For information and to stay up to date, please log on to www.rir.com.(10-15-2010)

News from October 14, 2010

Jeff Gordon wins pole at Charlotte: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Pole for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 191.544mph for his 1st pole of 2010 and 69th of his career which ties Gordon for 3rd all-time poles with Cale Yarborough. Richard Petty had 123 and David Pearson had 113. Gordon has won 17 races from the pole. Gordon has won at least one pole a year for 18 straight seasons, tied for the 2nd longest streak ever with Petty. Pearson had a streak of 19 seasons.

#99-Edwards will start 2nd followed by #43-Allmendinger, #5-Martin, #98-Menard, #18-Busch, #83-Sorenson, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #19-Sadler and #48-Johnson.

The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #09-Cassill, #10-BLabonte, #46-McDowell, #26-Carpentier, #38-Gilliland, #21-Elliott, #36-Yeley and #64-Green.

The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (6): #87-Nemechek, #13-Mears, #55-Bliss, #66-Leffler, #07-Conway and #23-Sauter.

See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Charlotte Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.
(10-14-2010)

Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Charlotte:

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 10th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 23rd

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 24th

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1st

5) #14-Tony Stewart, 29th

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 15th

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 2nd

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 18th

9) #18-Kyle Busch, 6th

10) #16-Greg Biffle, 22nd

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 17th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 20th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-14-2010)

Qualifying Fast Facts – Charlotte:

#24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Bank of America 500 with a lap of 28.192 seconds, 191.544 mph.
This is his 69th pole in 612 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Gordon moves into a tie with Cale Yarborough for third on the all-time poles list.

This is his first pole and 16th top-10 start in 2010. Gordon’s last pole came at Texas in November of 2009.

This is his eighth pole in 36 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Gordon’s first career pole came at Charlotte in October of 1993.

#99-Carl Edwards (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2010 and his third in 12 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#43-A J Allmendinger (third) posted his first top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his ninth in 31 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-14-2010)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 7:10pm/et.

Television (TV): ESPN2 at 7:00pm/et

Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) only on NASCAR.com

Jayski.com: Jayski’s Semi-Live Qualifying Page

Qualifying Re-Air: none

Qualifying Order for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #19-Sadler.

The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #18-Busch.

The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #21-Elliott with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #23-Sauter.

See the full qualifying order on the Charlotte Qualifying Page.(10-14-2010)

Thursday practice: for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:

#39-Newman 189.553

#20-Logano 189.341

#18-Busch 188.330

#5-Martin 188.225

#00-Reutimann 187.800

slowest: #23-Sauter 182.599 and #07-Conway 182.624

Conway is in the #07 and Robby Gordon is in the #7.

See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on the

Charlotte Practice Speeds Page.(10-14-2010)

Charlotte practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#10-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 30th fastest

#38-David Gilliland, 32nd

#21-Bill Elliott [PC2], 34th

#55-Mike Bliss, 35th

#46-Michael McDowell, 36th

#36-J.J. Yeley, 37th

#13-Casey Mears, 38th

#64-Jeff Green, 39th

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#09-Landon Cassill, 40th

#87-Joe Nemechek, 41st

#66-Jason Leffler, 42nd

#26-Patrick Carpentier, 43rd

#07-Kevin Conway, 48th

#23-Johnny Sauter, 49th

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Showtime scheme for Stewart: #14-Tony Stewart is sporting a special paint scheme at Charlotte promoting Old Spice’s popular Showtime scent. His traditional red Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet has been transformed into a red-and-green showpiece that celebrates Stewart’s showmanship. To see how the car was wrapped, go to oldspice.com.(SHR/True Speed Communications), see an image of the scheme on my #14 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2010)

7-Eleven could sponsor Jeff Gordon? Last week, longtime sponsor 7-Eleven announced that it would not return at Tony Kanaan’s sponsor at Andretti Autosport [IRL]. The company is being linked to NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevy (Sports Illustrated)

AND 7-Eleven will continue [in the IRL] being an associate sponsor of Danica Patrick’s entry in the IndyCar series (AP/Yahoo.com), Patrick drives for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, JR Motorsports is affliated with Hendrick Motorsports and her sponsor GoDaddy.com in the NNS, also sponsor Hendrick’s #5 Chevy of Mark Martin.(10-14-2010)

Conway & Robby switch rides: Looks like Robby Gordon will drive the pink #7 Extenze Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Kevin Conway in the blue #07 Extenze Toyota. With the #7 team only 25 points ahead of the #38 Front Row Motorsports team in owners poionts and in 35th in owners points, Gordon hopes to run well to get more owners points and stay in the top 35. See images on my #7 Team Schemes page and #07 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2010)

Wix Filters scheme on the #43: The #43 Ford Fusion will showcase the familiar Petty Blue color this weekend as WIX Filters hops on board the car to serve as primary sponsor. WIX Filter’s history in racing started with NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, who began using the product to protect his stock car engines in 1967. WIX partnered with Petty to win his second NASCAR championship that season, and WIX filtration technology went on to help him win five more throughout his illustrious career.(RPM)(10-14-2010)

Kurt Busch going for history: #2 Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch will be aiming for a piece of history in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 as he will try to be the first driver ever to win all three NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the same year. “The two consecutive winning weekends we had at Charlotte back in May will always stand out as some of the most memorable weekends of my career,” Busch said. “Man, to make it a clean sweep at Charlotte in one season would be something I’d be proud of the rest of my career. Heck, it’d be something I could brag about to my children and grandchildren many years from now…how cool!”

Winston Kelley, who heads the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, announced last week that Busch’s winning Miller Lite Dodge would be a new addition to the facility — eventually — if the “Blue Deuce” team can win the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night.(Tom Roberts PR)(10-14-2010)

Halloween scheme for Kyle Busch: #18-Kyle Busch will run an oranage M&M’s scheme at Martinsville and Talladega in October. See images of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2010)

SPEED names Wheeler to executive post: Motor sports television veteran Patti Wheeler was named Executive Vice President of Programming & Production, it was announced today by SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “Beginning Nov. 1, Patti will take the lead in two crucial areas at SPEED,” Nickell said. “Program development is key to any network’s continuing evolution, and with our substantial commitment to a live network presence at all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events headlining a massive motor sports production schedule, bringing in someone with Patti’s credentials and experience strengthens the entire SPEED team.” Wheeler, who has produced every major racing series for every broadcast and cable network that has ever done motor sports, started her career at age 22 as a producer/director of live NASCAR races. She later served as Director of Motorsports and Executive Producer for TNN. Prior to founding her own company, Wheeler Television, Inc., Wheeler was President of World Sports Enterprises, the leading motorsports television production company in the U.S. A graduate of Belmont Abbey College, Wheeler lives in Charlotte with her husband, Leo Hindery, Jr., and their two teenagers. She has been named one of NASCAR’s Top 25 Most Powerful People by the Charlotte Observer and was included on the Charlotte Business Journal list of Top Forty Under Forty.(10-14-2010)(SPEED)

#19 car to highlight Susan G. Komen For the Cure: The #19 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford of Elliott Sadler will carry the Stanley colors this weekend in Charlotte, but will also highlight Susan G. Komen For the Cure on the hood of the car. The #19 machine showcased a pink paint scheme at Kansas Speedway in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and though it returns to the familiar black and yellow this weekend, will continue to stress the importance of that organization as well.(RPM)(10-14-2010)

Fire at NASCAR Tech Institute: Three students at NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville suffered burns Wednesday when a fire broke out in the school’s garage area. Mooresville Fire Department officials said one of three students was transported to North Carolina Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem with second degree burns to the arms and face. The other two students suffered less minor burns and were not admitted to hospitals. MFD Battalion Chief J.L. Barrier said the 8:50 a.m. fire apparently occurred when an aerosol can was discharged near an electrical short where students were working on a vehicle. The fire had been extinguished by the time firefighters arrived at 8:57 a.m. An estimated $1,000 damage was done, officials said.(Mooresville Tribune)(10-14-2010)

NASCAR Hall of Fame considers big budget cuts: Struggling with declining attendance, the NASCAR Hall of Fame said Wednesday it may cut between $2.5 million and $3 million in annual expenses to balance its budget. The hall lost $280,509 in August, which some had expected to be one of its strongest months because children are out of school for most of that time. That loss, coupled with overall revenue coming in far short of projections, has led the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to ask the hall to consider additional budget cuts, including layoffs. Since its May opening, the hall has already undergone some belt-tightening, including cutting back on day-to-day expenses and cutting the hours of part-time employees. “We have asked that the hall look at all aspects of its operations,” said CRVA chief executive Tim Newman. “Labor is one area we are looking at.” See full article at the Charlotte Observer.(10-14-2010)

News from October 13, 2010

2nd Hall of Fame class announced:

NASCAR announced today the second class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. That class consists of: David Pearson – 94%; Bobby Allison – 62%; Lee Petty – 62%; Ned Jarrett – 58%; Bud Moore – 45%.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee along with 31 others representing all facets of the NASCAR industry, met in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2011. The announcement was made in the Great Hall inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The class was determined by 53 votes cast by the panel and the nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.

The Class of 2011 will be officially inducted in a ceremony in May 2011 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

The results of the voting for the five chosen in this class proved quite competitive. Also receiving votes were Dale Inman, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.

As part of the inclusive voting process, hundreds of thousands of NASCAR fans submitted votes online at NASCAR.COM. That remarkable feedback once again demonstrated fans’ passion and knowledge of the sport and its heritage. The fans’ top five: Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough.
Here were the 25 nominees for induction into the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class:
Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007 and opened to the public on May 11, 2010. The facility honors the history and heritage of NASCAR and the many who have contributed to the success of the sport.(10-13-2010)

Highlighting the Class of 2011:

Bobby Allison

Allison, winner of the 1983 NASCAR premier series championship, ended his career with 84 victories, tied for third on the all-time list. In 1972, he won 10 races, had 12 second-place finishes and was the NASCAR premier series runner-up (to Richard Petty). Allison captured the NASCAR Modified Special Division championship in 1962 and ‘63 and then went on to win the Modified Division the following two years. In 1998, Allison was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.”

Ned Jarrett

Jarrett was a two-time NASCAR champion (1961 and 1965) and two-time Sportsman Division champion (1957 and ‘58). Through his career he totaled 50 premier series wins, tied for 11th all-time. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.” After retiring in 1966, Jarrett helped grow the sport through his second career as a broadcaster.

Bud Moore

A decorated World War II infantryman, Bud Moore became a successful NASCAR Sprint Cup owner almost immediately upon fielding a team in 1961. Moore won back-to-back championships in 1962-63 with Joe Weatherly. Earlier, in 1957, Moore – who referred to himself as “a country mechanic” – was crew chief for champion Buck Baker.

David Pearson

Pearson is a three-time NASCAR champion whose career total of 105 victories is second on the all-time list. Pearson won his titles in 1966, ’68 and ’69. He also won the sport’s biggest event, the Daytona 500 in 1976. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.”

Lee Petty

Petty became the sports first three-time series champion after winning titles in 1954, ’58 and ’59. He was also the winner of the first Daytona 500 in 1959. His 54 career victories stands ninth on the all-time list and he never finished lower than fourth in points from 1949-1959. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.” Petty is the founder of Petty Enterprises and as an owner had more than 2,000 starts and 268 wins.

‘Fired up for a Cure’ scheme wins contest, featured on the #21 at CMS: One young man wants to tell the entire NASCAR community that he’s fired up to find a cure for type 1 diabetes – and he plans on using the paint scheme on the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion running this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway to get the point across to millions of fans nationwide. Carson Luther, an eight-year-old resident of Wildwood, MO, was selected as the winning designer of the Ford Customer Service Division’s (FCSD) NASCAR Design Contest to Support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). His design, entitled “JDRF – Fired Up for A Cure” was officially unveiled for the first time today at the Wood Brothers’ Racing shop today, with Luther and his family on hand. “I wanted fire and flames on my car, and thought the blue would make the flames stand out,” said Carson Luther. “I want a cure for diabetes more than anything, even all the LEGOs in the world.” For the past two years JDRF children have helped design the paint scheme featured on the NHRA Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car, driven by Bob Tasca III. This year, in honor of the Wood Brothers celebrating 60 years of racing Ford products in NASCAR, FCSD has decided to bring the successful contest over to the legendary race team. The Luther family, along with Wood Brothers Racing, Bill Elliott, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion and representatives from FCSD, were on hand for the unveiling today, Carson and his family will attend their first NASCAR race weekend and watch the JDRF-themed race car qualify for the Bank of America 500. “This is my first NASCAR race,” said Luther. “My Mom, Grandma, Uncle and sisters are here with me in Charlotte and we’re really excited to see my design on the race car this weekend.” Luther raised $5,341 for JDRF with his design. That number, added to the money raised by the designs that were submitted, brought the total for the contest to $33,391 for research for Type 1 diabetes, and nearly $150,000 in donations the past three years.

Each design was featured on www.jdrf.org/ford from July 6 to September 3, a total of 60 days in honor of Wood Brothers Racing’s 60-year anniversary of racing Ford products in NASCAR. During that time, the public was invited to vote for their favorite car design by making a monetary donation to JDRF. The top five donation-earning designs were narrowed down to one by a panel of judges from Ford Motor Company. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.3 billion to worldwide diabetes research, including more than $107 million last year. For more information, call 1-800-533-CURE (1-800-533-2873) or visit www.jdrf.org.(Wood Brothers Racing), see images of the scheme on my #21 Team Schemes page.(10-13-2010)

Reminder – 2nd Hall of Fame class to be announced this afternoon: Voting Day for the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be today, Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the hall, in Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR broadcast partner SPEED will carry the announcement of the second class live at 4:00 pm/et. The public is invited to attend, with purchase of a NASCAR Hall of Fame general admission ticket.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee, will meet in a closed session to deliberate and vote on the 25 candidates eligible for this second class. The vote will be followed by a press conference announcing the five new inductees that will join the inaugural class of 2010, which consisted of NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and Richard Petty, as well as NASCAR pioneers Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr.

The class will be chosen from the 53 votes cast by the panel and the nationwide fan vote – which ended Sept. 26. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young will preside over the tabulation of the votes.

The second class will consist of five members and is scheduled to be enshrined in May 2011.

The nominees, which include many of the sport’s legendary names and were announced in July, include: Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough. More info at nascarhall.com or Jayski’s NASCAR Hall of Fame page and last years NASCAR Hall of Fame Class #1 2010 page.

TV: Darrell Waltrip, a nominee, is part of the SPEED broadcast team for the network’s exclusive coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 4:00 pm/et. Waltrip is joined on-air by NASCAR on FOX booth partner Mike Joy, as well as Ken Squier and Kyle Petty – three voting members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame selection committee. SPEED’s coverage of NASCAR Hall of Fame Vote Day begins at 3:00 pm/et with a special preview show, followed at 4:00 pm/et [re-air at 8:00pm/et and 10:00pm/et] with live coverage of the announcement of the five new members of the Hall, scheduled to be enshrined in May 2011.

Radio: Sirius Satellite Radio Ch.128 at 4:00 pm/et

The 53 People Who Will Vote on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Today

NASCAR OFFICIALS (8) Brian France, Jim France, Mike Helton, Paul Brooks, Robin Pemberton, Jim Hunter, Jerry Cook, Ken Clapp

HALL OF FAME STAFF* (2) Winston Kelley, Buz McKim

NASCAR-SANCTIONED TRACK OPERATORS* (11) Lesa France Kennedy, Bruton Smith, Clay Campbell, Ed Clark, Tony George, Denis McGlynn, Doc Mattioli, Dale Pinilis, Jim and Barbara Cromarty (one vote), Jim Williams, Jody Deery

MEDIA (13) Kenny Bruce, Dustin Long, Nate Ryan, Jim Pedley, Duane Cross, Ernie Saxton, Dusty Brandel, Ken Squier, Mike Joy, Jerry Punch, Barney Hall, Doug Rice, Rick Allen

MANUFACTURERS (3) Jim Campbell, Edsel B. Ford II, Lee White

RETIRED DRIVERS (5) Harry Gant, Ned Jarrett, Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd

RETIRED CAR OWNERS (3) Bud Moore, Cotton Owens, Junior Johnson

RETIRED CREW CHIEFS (3) Barry Dodson, Waddell Wilson, Buddy Parrott

INDUSTRY LEADERS (4) Humpy Wheeler, Chris Economacki, Mike Harris, Tom Higgins

FANS (1)(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-13-2010)

Cat Equipment and special #31 scheme on display at CMS: CatUsed.cat.com and regional Cat dealers will hold the first ever Cat used equipment sale in conjunction with this weekend’s 500 miler. Regional Cat dealers-Carolina Cat, Blanchard Machinery, Caarter Machinery and Gregory Poole Equipment-and Cat Used Equipment Services will display more than 40 Cat machines adjacent to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. All will be available for purchase during race week, October 14 through 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily-concurrent with Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at the track. The sale also will include systems to view the entire Cat dealer used equipment inventory on Catused.cat.com, which offers the largest selection of used Cat machines on the Web. Jeff Burton will run a special CatUsed.com scheme at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(RCR) see an image of the car on my #31 Team Schemes page.(10-13-2010)

United Way on the #6 at Charlotte: UPS will feature the United Way logo in a special design this weekend in Charlotte on the #6 Ford that David Ragan will drive. The tribute to the charitable organization follows a United Way announcement earlier this summer that UPS had become the first corporate donor ever to surpass $1 billion in contributions to United Way. David Ragan’s fire suit and helmet from the weekend will be available for auction beginning Friday, October 15 at www.liveunited.org/thanksUPS.(RFR)(10-13-2010)

Schrader to run a couple Cup races: Ken Schrader will attempt to qualify for the Sprint Cup Races at Martinsville and Talledega in the #26 Ford and will also do double duty at Talledega by driving the Harvick #2 truck.(Schrader Racing Facebook)(10-13-2010)

Call 811 Returns:
Following successful promotions of Call 811 during the April 25 Talladega race this year and the Homestead race last November, the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy of Kevin Harvick will once again run the logo on its deck lid, and additionally for this race, on the TV panel and lower rear quarter panel during the October 16 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to promote safe digging by encouraging fans to “Call Before you Dig.”(RCR)(10-13-2010)

Bowyer’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at California: Clint Bowyer’s crew captured the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. It was the third win of the season for the #33 crew, which moved into a four-way tie for second place in the overall Tissot standings with six races remaining. Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew continues to hold on to a one-race lead with four wins. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Bowyer’s #33 The Hartford Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road during the Pepsi Max 400 – 290.065 seconds. Coming in a close second was Ryan Newman’s #39 Tornados Chevy at 290.355 seconds and third was Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy at 293.442. Bowyer’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Austin Craven (front-tire carrier), Dustin Necaise (rear-tire changer), Matt Kreuter (rear-tire carrier), Nick Terry (jackman), Bryan Smith (gasman) and Michael Hodges (catch can). The pit crew coach is Matt Clark.(Tissot), see standings and race by race winner on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(10-13-2010)

#00 Pit Crew earned 3rd quarter honors: For their outstanding efforts on pit road, the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota pit crew for David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing has earned third-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, is determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief, is given quarterly to the top performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas. This year, Reutimann and the #00 team have posted one win, five top fives and six top 10s. While Reutimann is turning fast laps behind the wheel, crew chief Rodney Childers’ crew has been on its game as well, performing consistent, quick pit stops all year. Members of the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota pit crew include: Ryan Langley (front-tire changer), Chris Hall (front-tire carrier), Lee Cunningham (rear-tire changer), Don Marvel (rear-tire carrier), Tony Cardamone (jackman), Aaron Pieratt [not Art Harris] (gasman), and Jeff Seaberg (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Greg Miller.(NASCAR)(10-13-2010)

News from October 12, 2010

Sad News – Jack Flowers: have seen nothing posted past some Twitter stuff by NASCAR writers, but saw that longtime motorsports writer Jack Flowers passed away Monday morning, Oct 11th. See a column at the
National Speed Sports News: Say It With Flowers.(10-12-2010)

Hermie Sadler to run at Martinsville?: hearing that Hermie Sadler [current SPEED reporter and part time NASCAR driver] will run the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevy at Martinsville Speedway on October 24th. Supposedly the car will come from RCR and prepared by Kevin Harvick Inc.(10-12-2010)

Mobil 1 to Sponsor Stewart-Haas Racing: ExxonMobil signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2011. The new agreement allows ExxonMobil to build on Mobil 1’s “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR” designation and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to NASCAR.
“With Mobil 1’s long tradition of partnering with world-class race teams around the globe, we are proud of our new association with one of NASCAR’s top drivers,” said Nigel Searl, vice president marketing, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company. “We look forward to helping Stewart-Haas Racing secure a Sprint Cup Series championship and add to the list of successful teams that Mobil 1 has supported for more than 30 years.”

Mobil 1 will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the #14 Chevy with Office Depot, the “Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR.” Mobil 1 will be prominently featured on the hood of Stewart’s car for 11 races, while taking a high-profile associate role in the remaining 25 races, as well as the two non-point races. In addition, ExxonMobil will provide Mobil 1 lubricant technology and engineering support to Stewart-Haas Racing and Mobil 1 will be an associate sponsor of Ryan Newman’s #39 Chevy, which is also fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing.

“As a team owner, I’m absolutely thrilled to add such a respected technology partner to our race team,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. “And as a driver, it’s exciting to partner with a brand that has such an incredible racing pedigree. ExxonMobil is committed to producing the highest-quality racing motor oil and shares the same winning attitude that champions must have to succeed at this level.”

Mobil 1 has been the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR since 2003 and is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR’s top-three series.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see image of the scheme on my 2011 #14 Team Scheme page.(10-12-2010)

Andy Griffith Show scheme to be run by Blaney; image: CBS Consumer Products in conjunction with HLG Licensing and Front Row Motorsports will pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show with an original NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in this weekend’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The car, which features the main characters of the iconic television series and a patrol-car paint scheme, will be fielded by Front Row’s #37 Ford Fusion team and driver Dave Blaney. Starting this week, fans of The Andy Griffith Show and Front Row Motorsports will be able to purchase their own souvenirs to commemorate the running of the anniversary racecar. No. 37 50th Anniversary Andy Griffith Show team hats and hooded sweatshirts will be available online at www.Yerzies.com.

“We couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show than its home state of North Carolina,” said Liz Kalodner, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Consumer Products. “The NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the perfect event for that celebration.”

“Like so many other people, I’ve always loved The Andy Griffith Show,” said the #37 Ford Fusion Team owner Bob Jenkins. “We first started talking about doing this paint scheme a while ago, and now it’s really cool to see it come together and see it on the car in person. I think fans of the show are really going to like it.”

“It’s pretty cool to have the 50th anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show on our car for Charlotte,” said Blaney. “I remember watching it with my family back in the day, and we still catch the reruns every once in a while now. We’re happy to welcome the show back to its home state of North Carolina and give it a good run on the #37 car.”(Front Row Motorsports), orginally the scheme was to run on the #34 FRM Ford with Travis Kvapil driving. See image of the scheme on my #37 Team Scheme page.(10-12-2010)

Shane Hmiel critically injured UPDATEs: Shane Hmiel, banned for life from NASCAR in 2006 after failing three drug tests, was critically injured Saturday night during qualifying for the U.S. Auto Racing Club’s Silver Crown race at Terre Haute Action Track. USAC said the 30-year-old Hmiel, from Pleasant Garden, N.C., was airlifted to Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital, where he was in critical condition with head injuries. The Tribune-Star of Terre Haute reported that Hmiel’s #17 Silver Crown car slammed into the outside wall between the third and fourth turns and rolled over several times, damaging the protective roll cage. “We are very concerned about Shane and offer our resources and our support to his family during this time of healing,” USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said. Hmiel’s father, Steve, is director of competition for NASCAR’s Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The Sumar Classic went on as scheduled, with Levi Jones winning the race.(ESPN/AP)(10-10-2010)

UPDATE: USAC issued a new release on Shane Hmiel’s condition on Sunday. It stated that he remains in critical but stable condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. It states that Hmiel suffered fractures of the neck and back and is in the hospital’s intensive care unit awaiting surgery expected sometime in the next 24 hours. According to the release: Steve Hmiel says his son has a “long road to recovery” and is quick to thank all the fans and friends who offered their concerns and prayers in the hours following the accident. Also in the release: USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said: “We are optimistic for Shane’s recovery. We will monitor Shane’s hospitalization adn will provide updates on his progress.”(Virginian Pilot)(10-10-2010)

UPDATE 2: from Hmiel’s Road to Recovery Facebook page: Had comfortable night [Monday]. Looks good and moved both arms on command. Thanks for prayers and keep them coming.

Second surgery exceeded expectations. Doctors are encouraged by his progress.

He looks better this morning [Monday] his color is better. opened eyes at steves voice. no head trauma.(10-12-2010))

ESPN Motorsports Producer Arrested UPDATE 2: Neil Goldberg, 52, a producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, was arrested on a warrant charging him with public indecency, simple trespass, disorderly conduct and breach of peace, police said. He lives in the complex where the incident happened, they said. The incident that led to the charges happened last month in the complex where he lives, Lt. Marshall Porter said Wednesday. He posted $1,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford, CT later this month. Goldberg is coordinating producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, which includes NASCAR telecasts.(full story at the Hartford Courant)(10-6-2010)

UPDATE: ESPN issued a statement Wednesday that “We are in the process of looking into it,” in regard to the Goldberg case. ESPN did confirm that Goldberg will not be calling the shots for this weekend’s Nationwide and Cup races at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Jill Frederickson, senior coordinating producer for motorsports coverage, will produce this weekend’s two broadcasts.(Virginian Pilot)(10-8-2010)

UPDATE 2: An ESPN producer who was charged with public indecency after a peeping Tom complaint at a Connecticut apartment complex has left the network. ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys confirmed Monday that 52-year-old Neil Goldberg no longer works for the company. Goldberg had been the coordinating producer of motorsports coverage for Bristol-based ESPN. A message seeking comment was left at a phone listing for Goldberg.(Associated Press)(10-12-2010)

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2010 Pepsi Max 400: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:23 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.

Total race brdcst time 152 Total comm. brdcst time 51

Total number of commercials: 114

Total number of companies or entities advertised: 70

Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 33

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 3:00 PM

End time to record race/commercial periods: 6:23 PM

Total minutes: 203

Minutes of race broadcast: 152

Minutes of commercials: 51

Number of missed restarts: 1

Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 2

Number of famous singers who did NOT screw up the National Anthem: 1 Kenny Loggins

Number of famous wives who was startled by the pre-race fireworks: 1 Ingrid Gordon

Number of famous movie stars to wave the green flag: 1 Sharon Stone

Number of boos Meg Whitman, Grand Marshall of the race, received upon her introduction: Lots

Number of prayers sent for Shane Hmiel by drivers, NASCAR staff, and fans: Lots and Lots

See full rundown and other races on my 2010 TV Commercials page.(10-12-2010)

R3 Motorsports to attempt first Sprint Cup race of year: R3 Motorsports will attempt to make their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the year this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Taking the wheel will be 336-NASCAR race veteran Johnny Sauter from Necedah, Wisconsin for the practice and qualifying sessions. The team didn’t have a Primary Marketing Partner for this race, so R3 has donated the entire sponsorship area of the #23 Toyota to the cancer-screening awareness cause of Pink and Blue for Two (PB42) and their upcoming fundraiser later this month. This initiative was formed by Emerson Newton-John whose aunt, nationally renowned entertainer Olivia Newton-John, is also a member of the organization that promotes breast and prostate cancer awareness and testing. With this being their first Sprint Cup Series attempt of the year, Sauter and the Scott Eggleston –led crew will have the daunting task of qualifying on time. If Sauter can repeat what he did at in the Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile oval of CMS in May, there will be one happy #23 Pink and Blue for Two Toyota team in the garage area. For more information about Pink and Blue for Two and their upcoming fundraiser, log on to their website at www.PinkandBlueforTwo.com.(R3 Motorsports)(10-12-2010)

Race week activities at the NASCAR Hall of Fame include:

Wednesday, Oct. 13: 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Voting Day –The NASCAR Hall of Fame voting panel meets to determine and announce the second five inductees. The announcement, scheduled for 4 p.m., is open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 14: Richard Petty Book Signing – Inaugural Inductee Richard Petty will be signing copies of his audio scrapbook at noon.

Saturday, Oct. 16: Meet the 2011 Inductees – The new class of inductees or their representatives make their first public appearance as a group at 10:15 a.m. in the Great Hall.

Sunday, Oct. 17: Kasey Kahne Appearance – The Kasey Kahne Foundation 5K Charity Run and Kids’ Dash will begin at 8 a.m. at the Bank of America Stadium and finishes at the NASCAR Hall of Fame with a special question-and-answer period at approximately 9:30 a.m. with Kahne in Ceremonial Plaza.

For tickets deals, prices and more details, visit www.NASCARHall.com. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open seven days a week, 362 days a year.(NHOF)(10-12-2010

RacersReunion Memory Lane Hall Of Fame to Induct Fifteen: On October 17, 2010 twelve living and three posthumous participants in grass roots racing will receive the prestigious honor of being inducted into the RacersReunion Memory Lane Hall of Fame. The three posthumous inductees are: Louise Smith, Earl Brooks, and Jimmy Lewallen. The twelve living inductees are: “Tiger” Tom Pistone, “Gentleman” Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Rex White, Charlie Glotzbach, Hank Thomas, Johnny Allen, Jody Ridley, Jabe Thomas, Curtis “Crawfish” Crider, Joe Thurman, and Paul Radford.

The induction ceremonies will be held at Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, NC. Festivities begin at 12:00 pm/et with a cruise-in and vintage race car display outside the museum with music, food, and fun for the whole family. The induction will begin at 2:00 pm/et followed by an autograph session. “Last year’s inaugural induction was an awesome event enjoyed by all who participated”, said Jeff Gilder, founder of RacersReunion. “We expect this second annual induction to be well received and we could not have picked a better venue than Memory Lane Museum. Alex Beam and family have provided a first class facility for this hall of fame.” Tickets are available at Memory Lane Museum and RacersReunion. Event details and ticket information are posted on the Events Calendar on Stock Car RacersReunion at com www.RacersReunion.com.(10-12-2010)

In the Charlotte for the races? some cool places to check out that Jayski has been to an enjoyed since moving to the Charlotte Area in January 2004:

Memory Lane Museum on Hwy 150 W in Mooresville, NC,

North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame Lakeside Park, Mooresville

And a must is the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, checked it out in July and it is really cool

In Oct, For somerthing different: the Carolina Renaissance Festival is a blast, fun stuff and lots of good eats, I go every year, hmm…pumpkin beer…and the Tortuga Twins are a hoot!

TO EAT: Lancaster’s Bar-B=Que is a large place with a lot of NASCAR stuff all over the walls. Other places I enjoyed: Jeffrey’s and Soiree [high end place] both in Mooresville. In Huntersville check out Mickey & Mooches for great steaks and the huge chocolate cake

TEAM SHOPS: and to check out some team shops, see my Team Address page, on that page there are a few links for Race Shop Tours [click here].

Or drive up I-85 and head to [Richard] Childress Vineyards.

in Concord, check out the racing stuff at Quaker Steak and Lube for some great wings and food

and check out the Sam Bass Gallery, right near Charlotte Motor Speedway.

(this is not an ad and not looking for suggestions, just some things to helps folks in town)

ALSO: see my Racing Charities page and Driver Appearances page for driver appearances and more thing going on in the area.

Sprint Cup Series:

• Tony Stewart won the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway. It was his 39th Cup series victory in his 422nd start, tying Tim Flock for 17th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.

• Stewart became the fourth different Chase winner in four Chase races in 2010. It was Stewart’s sixth Chase victory overall.

• The driver leading the points after Chase race No. 4 went on to win the championship in four of the six Chases.

• Only one of the past 31 Chase races has been won by a non-Chaser — Jamie McMurray at Talladega in October 2009.

• Stewart has won on all but two active tracks (Darlington and Las Vegas). It was Stewart’s first California victory in 19 races.

• Stewart led three times for 27 laps, including the final 12.

• Mark Martin led the most laps (41).

• Stewart-Haas Racing posted its seventh Cup series win and third victory in 2010. It was the first owner/driver victory at Auto Club Speedway.

• Chevrolet posted its 16th win in 2010 and clinched the manufacturers’ championship. Toyota has 10 wins, Dodge two and Ford two.

• The top 10 included seven Chevrolets, two Toyotas and one Ford. A Toyota has never won at California.

• Nine of 12 Chase drivers had problems Sunday. Stewart, Johnson and Bowyer were the only Chase drivers who did not have a problem at California.

• The 11 speeding penalties tie the record for the most this season (Infineon).

• Thirty cars finished on the lead lap, a record for California.

• Clint Bowyer finished second in his 175th career start. Bowyer posted his best finish in 10 California races. He has scored top-10 finishes in the past three California races.

• Jimmie Johnson (third) scored his eighth straight top-10 finish at California — the longest current streak — and seven of those were finishes of third or better.

• Johnson finished on the lead lap in all 16 of his California races, the longest current streak. He has led at least one lap in the past eight California races, also the longest current streak.

• Kasey Kahne (fourth) posted his best finish and first top-10 in the past six races.

• Ryan Newman (fifth) posted his first top-5 in the past 12 races at California.

• Kevin Harvick (eighth) scored his third straight top-10 finish at California. Harvick leads all drivers with 14 top-10 finishes in 20 superspeedway races.

• Jeff Gordon (ninth) scored top-10 finishes in three of the past four California races.

• Regan Smith (12th) posted his best finish of the season.

• Carl Edwards (34th) posted his worst finish at California. Edwards was the only driver to lead in the first three Chase races, but he did not lead at California.(ESPN)(10-12-2010)

Charlotte City Buses Turn into Race Cars for NASCAR Month: Charlotte Motor Speedway is teaming up with the Charlotte Area Transit System, or CATS, in Charlotte, N.C., on an innovative new way to promote the speedway’s October NASCAR events. Two CATS buses will get a custom wrap that looks exactly like a NASCAR stock car. The buses will carry ticket information and logos for three NASCAR events taking place at the speedway in October: Bojangles’ Pole Night on Oct. 14, the Dollar General 300 on Oct. 15 and the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 16. The artwork was designed by SMI Properties. The bus wraps are the first for CATS since its formation in 1998. The wrapped buses will take various routes around Charlotte. CATS operates more than 70 routes in the city, transporting more than 22 million passengers each year.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is once again partnering with CATS to bring bus service from Center City Charlotte to the track. Starting from the Charlotte Transportation Center, race fans can take the 79X Concord Mills Express to beat the traffic and enjoy the Bank of America 500 at the speedway for just $7 round-trip. The route will run every 20 minutes from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. Return trips will begin immediately after the checkered flag as race fans make their way to the buses near the track’s main entrance. Tickets can be purchased at the Charlotte Transportation Center at 310 East Trade Street in Center City or online at
secure.ridetransit.org/psales/. For more information visit www.ridetransit.org or call (704) 336-RIDE (7433).

Tickets for all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Six-pack tickets start at just $33.17 per person, or fans can get four nights of great racing with the Bank of America 500 Weekend Super Ticket for just $99.(CMS)(10-12-2010)

Biggest Bank of America 500 Week Ever Shaping Up in Charlotte: The Charlotte, N.C., region is gearing up for the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 16, and in addition to attending the only night race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, racing enthusiasts of all ages will have a host of other opportunities to totally immerse themselves in the sport of NASCAR all week long. From Sunday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 17, Charlotte and its surrounding cities will boast the most robust lineup of activities in the 51-year history of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans in town for the races can plan a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, take a lap around the legendary superspeedway on foot or in a driving-school race car, tour one of the many team shops in the area or participate in number of special events being held throughout the week. With children’s tickets for many events priced at just $10, or just $1 for Bojangles’ Pole Night at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 14, entertaining the entire family at a major sports event has never been more affordable. Great ticket packages are available for all events, like the Bank of America Fan 4 Pack that includes tickets, hot dogs and Coca-Cola drinks starting at just $39.75 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(10-12-2010)

Martinsville Speedway tickets deals: The $99 Family 4 Pack for this fall’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is a pretty sweet deal and now it’s even sweeter. In addition to great racing and food for one pretty amazing price, two Martinsville Speedway hats have been added to the package. The Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (18 and under) to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog (four), four Pepsi products and two khaki-colored Martinsville Speedway hats. The $99 Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn. Tickets for the entire TUMS Relief 500 weekend are now on sale. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77. Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com online.(10-12-2010)

News from October 11, 2010

The Entry List for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 51 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

Not in top 35 of owners points:

#07-Robby Gordon (49 in owners pts/4 attempts)

#09-Landon Cassill (2009 race winner as owner)(39/30)

#10-Bobby Labonte (2000 Champ)(55/1)

#13-Casey Mears (38/30)

#21-Bill Elliott (1988 Champ)(46/10)

#23-Johnny Sauter (none/0)

#26-Patrick Carpentier (2009 race winner as owner)(37/30)

#36-J.J. Yeley (40/30)

#38-Dave Blaney (36/30)

#46-Michael McDowell (42/30)

#55-Mike Bliss (43/30)

#64-Jeff Green (45/18)

#66-Jason Leffler (44/30)

#81-Scott Riggs (54/1)

#87-Joe Nemechek (41/30)

#92-Brian Kesekwoski (53/3)

In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,10,21,38,13,36,87

missing the race would be [8]: #’s 46,55,66,64,07,92,81,23

See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Charlotte Entry List.(10-11-2010)

Early TV Ratings for Auto Club: Sunday’s race from Auto Club Speedway posted a 2.3/5 overnight rating on ESPN, down -26% compared to last year’s 3.1/6 when the race aired on ABC. There were 5.95 million viewers in 2009. See all the races for 2010, a 4-year chart and more on the 2010 TV Ratings page.(10-11-2010)

Stavola Labonte Racing taps another labonte to drive: Preparing for their second of three scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2010, Stavola Labonte Racing heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday night for the Bank of America 500. Chief Operating Officer and co-owner Terry Labonte announced that his younger brother, and two-time Charlotte Motor Speedway winner, Bobby Labonte will pilot the #10 Gander Mountain Chevy for this race only. Terry will be back behind the wheel for the last race of the season in Texas as he prepares for 2011. Once again, the car will be powered by Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and sponsored by Gander Mountain with associate sponsorship from American Cement. The team has been busy as they continue to make plans for Terry to race in 2011 under the Stavola Labonte Racing banner. Comments from COO and Team Co-Owner Terry Labonte Heading into Charlotte: “Everyone is really looking forward to Charlotte. With Bobby being a past champion, we can concentrate on the race, and that’s important for a new team like ours. Bobby has proven he can do well at Charlotte. I’ll be back in the car at Texas. Billy, and everyone with this team, is still working hard putting all the pieces together for next season. Obviously we’re concentrating on this weekend and getting the best results for Gander Mountain. It was great to be back at Richmond, and that has everyone motivated. We feel good about the progress we’re making.(Stavola Labonte Racing/Breaking Limits)(10-11-2010)

Chevy wins 2011 Manufacturers’ Cup: #14-Tony Stewart’s win of the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway secured the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturers’ Cup for Chevrolet for the 34th time since the inception of the award in 1950. Chevrolet won its first Manufacturers’ Cup honor in 1958; and this year’s win marks the eighth consecutive season that Team Chevy has captured the title (2003-’10). “Chevrolet is very proud of everyone who helped in achieving this championship – drivers and crew members and team owners, engineers and development teams, and all of the hard-working professionals who support and contribute to what we do,” said Jim Campbell, GM Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Every year this series gets more and more competitive, and that only helps make this championship even more satisfying.”(Team Chevy), see my 2010 Manufacturers Stats page for more info and rules.(10-11-2010)

Francis joins Kahne at Red Bull in 2011: Crew chief Kenny Francis will join Kasey Kahne at Red Bull Racing in 2011, Francis and Kahne confirmed to ESPN.com Sunday. “Of course he’s coming,” Kahne said with a grin, following a fourth-place finish in the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Francis confirmed the move amid the clanging of wrenches during post-race teardown, but chose not to comment further. “I’m going, but that’s all I want to say right now,” he said. Kahne signed a one-year contract with Red Bull, and in 2012 will move to Hendrick Motorsports. Red Bull sources said myriad scenarios — answers they won’t have until later — will decide Francis’ future past 2011. He could stay at Red Bull, or he could go with Kahne to Hendrick, sources said.(ESPN.com)(10-11-2010)

Testing ban to continue in 2011, a couple exceptions: NASCAR officials have just held a briefing for Sprint Cup crew chiefs, just a 2011 heads-up, no big Q&A. The current pre-race testing ban next season will likely continue, with a few exceptions:

— The just-announced Daytona 500 test in mid-January, on that new asphalt;

— A pre-race test at Kentucky Speedway, which will be new to the Cup tour next summer;

— and a possible test at Phoenix International Raceway, if that track is repaved following the Feb. 27th Cup race.

Goodyear would like to do a tire test on the new Daytona surface in December, but it’s unclear when that new asphalt project will be completed. Daytona officials are still shooting for a Jan. 1st finish. Team owners here say if Goodyear can’t get a December test in, the tire maker will have to use some type or version of tires from its current inventory, because the volume of tires Goodyear will have to have for SpeedWeeks is enormous – 6,000 tires, each made by hand. So much of Goodyear’s early-season inventory has to be in production starting this fall. Stu Grant, Goodyear’s racing boss, says “We know that we’ve got to be ready by the 20th of January and be there (at Daytona) with a lot of tires, and hopefully our race tire. Based on our Talladega tests (that track was just repaved in 2006 ), we’re going to start building tires the last week of October. Hopefully that will be our race tire.(MileMulhern.net)(10-11-2010)

Catch Can Gig Going away? UPDATE 3: At the start of the 2010 season, NASCAR introduced a new style fuel can for the Truck Series that eliminated the need for a catch can guy. Because of this new can, NASCAR limited the number of over-the-wall crew members in the Truck Series to six: two tire changers, two tire carriers, a jackman, and a fueler. Teams could still technically use a catch can guy, they would just have to eliminate one of the other positions. NASCAR Insiders are hearing now that NASCAR is seriously considering bringing this new style fuel can to both the Nationwide and Cup Series for the 2011 season. If this happens, it would mean the elimination of the catch can man for both of these two series as well.(NASCAR Insiders)(4-2-2010)

UPDATE: hearing that the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series will be going to the same six man pit crew format that the Camping World Truck Series has been running this season, starting in Daytona 2011. They will be using a similar single-point, self-venting probe and dry brake system (9-23-2010)

UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials on Friday confirmed that the Nationwide Series will move to six-man pit crews for all teams next season, eliminating the catch-can position. The change puts Nationwide in line with the Trucks series, which already has made the change. The series’ new gas tanks will have a single-point, self-venting system that doesn’t require a crew member to operate.(Charlotte Observer)(9-24-2010)

UPDATE 3: NASCAR will eliminate the use of the fuel overflow catch can in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series beginning in 2011, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed Saturday. NASCAR went to a self-venting fuel can for the Camping World Truck Series this year. By eliminating the catch-can man, teams can possibly save money by needing only six people instead of seven to service the car on a pit stop. Teams also will not have to worry about the costly penalty of having the catch can remain attached to the car when the driver takes off following a pit stop.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2010)

News from October 10, 2010

Stewart wins at Auto Club: #14-Tony Stewart won the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway for his 2nd win of 2010, 1st ever at ACS and the 39th win of his career. #33-Bowyer finished second followed by #48-Johnson, #9-Kahne, #39-Newman, #5-Martin, #29-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon and #00-Reuitmann. Pole sitter #1-McMurray finished 17th.

There were 23 lead changes among 14 drivers and 9 cautions for 36 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 70,000, same as 2009.

Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Monday, October 11 at 3:00am/et; and SPEED, October 13 at 12:00pm/et.

See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Auto Club Race Results/Awards page.(10-10-2010)

Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Auto Club:

[by points standings before the race]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 7th

4) #99-Carl Edwards, 34th

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 9th

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 21st

7) #18-Kyle Busch, 35th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 41st

9) #31-Jeff Burton, 23rd

10) #14-Tony Stewart, WON

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 30th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2nd

(10-10-2010)

Race Fast Facts – Auto Club:

#14-Tony Stewart won the Pepsi MAX 400, his 39th victory in 422 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his second victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2010.

This is his first victory and 11th top-10 finish in 19 races at Auto Club Speedway.

#33-Clint Bowyer (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in ten races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2010.

#48-Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 16 races at Auto Club Speedway.

#7-Kevin Conway (31st) was the highest finishing rookie.

#48-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 36 points over Denny Hamlin. Three drivers are within 85 points of Johnson.

(NASCAR Statistics)(10-10-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:

[after Auto Club, race 30 of 36, Chase Race 3 of 10]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5673

2) #11-Denny Hamlin [6 wins], 5637, -36

3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5619, -54

4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5588, -85

5) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins, 5566, -107

6) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5533, -140

7) #99-Carl Edwards, 5511, -162

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 5496, -177

9) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5486, -187

10) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5458, -215

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5432, -241

12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5426, -247

(Bowyer without penalty 5576, -97 would be 5th)

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver ‘Classic’ Points Standings:

[after Auto Club, race 30 of 36….the OLD way]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4312

2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4081, -231

3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4040 -272

4) #14-Tony Stewart, 3973, -339

5) #18-Kyle Busch, 3951, -361

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 3938, -374

7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 3919, -393

8) #31-Jeff Burton, 3886, -426

9) #2- Kurt Busch, 3850, -462

10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3778, -534

11) #39-Ryan Newman, 3656, -716

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 3647, -656

13) #16-Greg Biffle, 3625, -665

14) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3596, -687

15) #5-Mark Martin, 3506, -857
16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3455, -806

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. BUT the #7 team is only 25 points ahead of 36th, the #38 team.

34) #71-Cassill-Labonte/TRG: 2130, +43

35) #7-Conway/RGM, 2112, 25 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 2087, -25 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Carptenier/Latitude43: 1942, -170

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

Penalty Report – Auto Club:

Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty

#11, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail End, Transmission

#42, 36 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru

#71, 39 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End

#16, 40 Pitting before pit road is open

#47, 53 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End

#99, 58 Pitting before pit road is open

#78, 94 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru

#29, 95 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Pass Thru

#78, 115 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#99, 115 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#47, 136 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End

#42, 137 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#99, 138 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#47, 139 Running the stop and go sign/light, Stopped on Track & gave back

#1, 145 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#7, 145 Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Tail End

#18, 155 Pitting before pit road is open

#24, 156 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#1, 184 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

#31, 184 Lug nut(s) not installed, Must come in

#2, 194 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End

#6, 194 Pitting before pit road is open

#2, 194 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End

(NASCAR Statistics)(10-10-2010)

Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Auto Club: (and their finish)

Caution 1: #38-Gilliland, 20th

Caution 2: #42-Montoya. 14th

Caution 3: #34-Kvapil, 28th

Caution 4: #38-Gilliland (2), 20th

Caution 5: #78-Smith, 12th

Caution 6: NONE awarded

Caution 7: #37-Blaney, still 2 laps down, 29th

Caution 8: #37-Blaney, still 1 lap down, 29th

Caution 9: #37-Blaney, 29th

(10-10-2010)

Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Auto Club (or seemed to)?

43rd: #66-Leffler, 23 laps run

42nd: #36-Yeley, 33 laps

40th: #64-Cassill, 43 laps

with NASCAR’s new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #66 this week

(only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(10-10-2010)

Goodyear investigating tearing of tires at ACS: Goodyear is working with about dozen teams to figure out why the left-front tire was tearing at the beginning of runs during Sprint Cup practice Saturday at Auto Club Speedway. The issue seemed isolated to about a dozen teams and most of the top teams were not affected, Goodyear Product Manager Rick Heinrich said Saturday after the final Cup practice. It is not a heat issue, and because teams either have the issue or they don’t, Goodyear doesn’t believe the problem would be from a bad batch. The tearing, which occurred on the shoulder of the tire, does not look good but did not result in any air loss or handling issues, Heinrich said. Teams noticed the problem when they looked at the tires after they came off the track. “The damage is isolated to the rubber on the shoulder along the radius. The rubber there is fairly thick. It’s definitely undesirable. I’m not sure you would know it until you came in, but naturally we’re going to run more laps tomorrow.” It is the same tire that teams ran last week at Kansas Speedway.(SceneDaily)(10-10-2010)

Interesting Stat – only TWO Birthday winners EVER: Cale Yarborough is the only Sprint Cup driver to ever win a points paying race on his birthday, which is March 27. In 1977 at North Wilksboro Speedway AND 1983 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NOTE, since much email was first recieved with guess’s, a few items were covered and checked: Richard Petty never won on his birthday [July 2nd] [in Cup] and neither did Jeff Gordon [August 4th]. In fact, the Brickyard 400 was only been held on Gordon’s birthday once, in 2002, when Bill Elliott won. Gordon’s first Brickyard 400 came on August 6, 1994.

ADD #18-Kyle Busch won at Richmond on May 2, 2009, to become only the 2nd driver EVER to win on their birthday, and only the third time ever.(5-2-2009)

WHY is this mentioned? cause #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will celebrate his 36th birthday on Sunday, October 10th, the date of this weeks Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway, so he has a chance to be the third driver ever to win on his birthday.(10-9-2010)

Kerr will stay on as #47 crew chief: Frank Kerr will remain with the #47 JTG/Daugherty Cup team as crew chief for Bobby Labonte, team owner Tad Geschickter confirmed Saturday. Kerr has served as crew chief for Marcos Ambrose, who is leaving the team at the end of the season to drive the #9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, was hired to replace Ambrose. Labonte and Kerr tested recently at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., and were pleased with the results.
“We did hit it off really well,” Labonte said. “He’s a hard worker, and they’ve got a good, solid foundation. I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to step right in and pick up where they’re at today and hopefully just improve, just because that’s what everybody wants to do.”(Sporting News)(10-10-2010)

Harvick Foundation starts up a scholarship: On Friday, the Kevin Harvick Foundation announced it will fund a full academic scholarship to one Cal State State Bakersfield student-athlete per year for the next 12 years. Harvick made the presentation of the $151,200 award at a press conference at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, in advance of Sunday’s Sprint Cup race. Harvick started his accession toward NASCAR’s highest level of racing by winning a late model title at the old Mesa Marin Raceway while still a student at North High and said this is an ideal way to give back to the community and support higher education. “I looked back at everything I got to do and I was pretty fortunate to get help from people who didn’t necessarily have to help me move up the ranks,” he said. “We were out in California (for the February race in Fontana), drove up one day, stopped in and asked if they’d be interested in a scholarship.” The caveat: that the award winner come the Bakersfield area and be in need of a scholarship. The inaugural recipient of the scholarship is CSUB sophomore and volleyball player Lauren Holderman, who was at Auto Club Speedway to accept the award. Harvick and his wife, DeLana, formed the Kevin Harvick Foundation (KHF) earlier this year to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. Other programs supported by the KHF include a camper cabin at Victory Junction, Baptist Children’s Homes of N.C., Boys & Girls Clubs and Kevin’s Krew.(Bakersfield Californian)(10-10-2010)

California Dreamin’ for The Hartford 200 National Winner: The perks keep coming for Laura Burba of Pineville, N.C., who was recently crowned the national winner of The Hartford 200, a program from The Hartford that celebrates the deep connection that Americans have with their cars and their personal stories from the road. On Sept. 22, Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer surprised Burba with a new Chevrolet Equinox in a special event held outside the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. This weekend, The Hartford, Bowyer and his No. 33 team will serve as hosts for the 68-year old and her husband, Roger, as they enjoy a VIP race experience in Fontana, Calif. This will be the couple’s first experience at a race track. Burba’s essay detailed how important her car is to her, as she drives a group of retiree tap dancers called the MsSteps to multiple weekly performances at senior centers and events across the region. She beat out four other national finalists selected from thousands of entries. Sunday will mark The Hartford’s third Sprint Cup Series race as primary sponsor of the #33 Richard Childress Racing team this year. The other primaries where at Darlington (May 8) and Pocono (Aug. 1). The Hartford is also an associate sponsor for the remaining 2010 events, as well as an associate sponsor for Bowyer’s RCR teammate, #31-Jeff Burton.(Catalyst)(10-10-2010)

Dillon wins ARCA race at Rock; Sheltra the champ: Ty Dillon returned Richard Childress Racing to victory lane at Rockingham Speedway Saturday, winning the American 200, while Patrick Sheltra claimed his first-ever championship in the ARCA Racing Series [by 20 points over ]. Dillon, who played with “little box cars” in the Rockingham grandstands as a child, said he plans to compete for the ARCA championship in 2011. Racing returns to Rockingham Speedway on Nov. 27, 2010 with the third-annual running of the Polar Bear 150 Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals. Tickets are available by calling the 910.205.8800 or by visiting www.rockinghamspeedway.com.(Rockingham Speedway), Pole Sitter Kevin Swindell finished 2nd followed by Chad Finley, Patrick Sheltra and Craig Goess. Former Sprint Cup driver Steve Park finished 35th.(10-10-2010)

News from October 9, 2010

Race Coverage of the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 10, 2010.

Television (TV): ESPN at 3:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 2:00 pm/et; green flag approx 3:16pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

ESPN2, Monday. October 11, 2010 at 3:00am/et

SPEED, Wednesday, October 13 at 12:00pm/et

The Chase Is On: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from California: The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship continues Sunday, Oct. 10, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in the Pepsi Max 400 at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and ESPN will have a live telecast. The NASCAR Countdown pre-race show airs at 2 p.m. ET with the race telecast at 3 p.m. The race’s green flag is at 3:16 pm/et.

Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

Pit Stall Selections – Auto Club: The selections of pit stalls for the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #1-McMurray chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

Outside pole sitter #19-Sadler took pit stall 12A, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

#17-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 26th pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.

The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reutimann, who starts 23rd.

To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Auto Club 500 Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-9-2010)

Happy Hour practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is being, after 57 of 65 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:

#48-Johnson 179.587

#24-Gordon 179.560

#1-McMurray 179.488

#16-Biffle 179.011

#29-Harvick 178.900

slowest: #7-Conway 172.674 & #37-Blaney 172.695

(10-9-2010)

Happy Hour Practice rank for the Chase drivers at Auto Club:

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 1st

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4th

4) #99-Carl Edwards, 20th

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2nd

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 25th

7) #18-Kyle Busch, 6th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 4th

9) #31-Jeff Burton, 11th

10) #14-Tony Stewart, 23rd

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 10th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 24th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-8-2010)

Saturday’s 1st practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:

#16-Biffle 181.837

#17-Kenseth 181.630

#00-Reutimann 181.205

#1-McMurray 181.191

#24-Gordon 181.182

slowest: #7-Conway 171.473 & #87-Nemechek 173.465

See fastest speeds, average speeds & laps run on the Auto Club Practice Speeds Page.(10-9-2010)

Pre-Season testing at Daytona in January: Daytona International Speedway’s new racing surface will receive its NASCAR christening next January, during a three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test. The session, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Sunday, Jan. 23 is the rain date. The 2011 edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will help teams acclimate to the new pavement, plus speed their preparation for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 20 – the series’ traditional season-opener. The repaving project – only the second in track history and first since 1978 – began immediately after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on July 3. All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9:00am/et and end at 5:00 pm/et, weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1:00pm/et.

Fans seeking to attend can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona – the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest sessions – from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 22. Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20. Fans also can watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands. Teams from the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series are expected to receive extra practice time during Speedweeks to get acclimated to the track’s new surface.

Tickets for both the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests and the Roar Before The Rolex 24 are available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(NASCAR & DIS)(10-9-2010)

Bayne could make Sprint Cup debut at Texas: Roush Fenway Racing is working on having Trevor Bayne make his Sprint Cup debut next month, most likely at Texas Motor Speedway. Bayne possibly could end up in the #21 Ford of Wood Brothers Racing, although Roush Fenway could field a fifth car for Bayne since he is a rookie. By running Texas, the 19-year-old Bayne would be in a good position for approval for the 2011 Daytona 500. He is approved for any Cup race the remainder of this year except for Talladega. “I know if I were to run the Cup race next year [at Daytona], it would be something I would have to be approved for,” Bayne said Saturday at Auto Club Speedway in California. “That would be a process that could include that, but I don’t know what the ultimate plan is yet. We have talked about running a Roush car at Texas, but I don’t know [what will happen].” Bayne is ninth in the Nationwide Series standings. He signed with Roush Fenway last week after starting the year with Diamond-Waltrip Racing. He will run the rest of the Nationwide Series season for Roush Fenway and full time in 2011 with likely select Cup races.(SceneDaily)(10-9-2010)

Mobil 1 to the #14? UPDATE 2: Stewart Haas Racing has emerged as the leading candidate to get the Mobil 1 sponsorship that Penske Racing will vacate in 2011, when it switches to Pennzoil as sponsor for Kurt Busch (in the #22 Dodge). If SHR lands Mobil 1, it will replace Old Spice as the co-primary sponsor of Tony Stewart’s #14 Chevy. The team’s other car, Ryan Newman’s #39, will have the U.S. Army and Tornado’s back for part-time schedules next year and is trying to woo Wix Filters for a partial schedule as well.(Ford Racing), Wix Filters will be the sponsor for Newman this week at Bristol, see an image of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(8-17-2010)

UPDATE: from a Team Chevy Press Conference Transcript, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports:

Q) WITH QUAKER STATE ON YOUR CARS NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT STEWART-HAAS HAS TO USE QUAKER STATE NOW?

Hendrick: “No. The folks that rent or lease motors for us, do whatever they want to do. That’s their call.”(Team Chevy)(9-5-2010)

UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing has scheduled a news conference Tuesday and is expected to announce Mobil 1 will be a sponsor for the team next season.(Ronoke Times)(10-9-2010)

Martin may coach Danica..but: Danica Patrick has spoken with NASCAR’s #5-Mark Martin about working with her and says she’s open to any help she can get in figuring out the nuances of driving stock cars. “It would be nice if somebody could help me, whoever it is — I would take any help,” Patrick said. “Like he [Martin] said, you need somebody to get in the car and say this is the setup, go drive it after they’ve driven it. It’s one thing to say drive this line, do this or that, but when you don’t have maybe the car that can do that, it’s just words, so it would be nice for someone to throw me in a car after they’ve driven it so I get a real feel for it.” Patrick’s part-time foray into NASCAR hasn’t gone particularly well as she’s tried to get a feel for the harder-to-drive stock cars. She ran the first three Nationwide races of the season, finishing no higher than 31st, and added four more races when she had breaks in the IndyCar season with similar results. Now that the open-wheel season is over, Patrick is slated to run the final six Nationwide races, starting Saturday at Auto Club, and hopes the consistency of no longer flip-flopping between series will turn out better results.(ESPN/Associated Press)(10-9-2010)

BUT: Patrick says she would welcome a driver coach – Martin says he is not available – who could set up her car so that when she gets in it she can concentrate on driving it, not trying to figure out how to make it drivable (Yahoo Sports)(10-9-2010)

Sadler may join KHI in 2011: #19-Elliott Sadler is looking to resuscitate his NASCAR career, and it may begin with Kevin Harvick Inc. next season. Sadler has struggled at Richard Petty Motorsports since the team tried to break the driver’s contract last season. It was finally announced this July that Sadler would not return in 2011, and there were no viable options in the Cup Series on the table. Meanwhile, Sadler had run races in the Camping World Truck Series for team owner Kevin Harvick along with a Nationwide Series race at Bristol where Sadler sat on the pole. He also won the inaugural truck race at Pocono in July. With his schedule open, both drivers said they are working towards offering a Sadler something more permanent for next season in the Nationwide Series along with more Truck races. The desire to go racing full-time with Sadler next year is there. Now all KHI has to do is find the financial backing. Sadler said Harvick does nothing halfway and won’t run a limited schedule without the proper funding. “Right now, he’s obviously a part of our Truck Series program and has run the Nationwide races,” Harvick said. “We’d love to have him play more of a role with the organization.” Harvick said the organization is still working through plans for next season. “Hopefully we can kind of lay out our truck and Nationwide plans as we get through the next three or four weeks,” he added. What is definite right now is that Sadler will be in at least four Truck races for KHI in 2011. Meanwhile, leaving the Cup Series after more than a decade doesn’t seem to bother Sadler.(in part from NASCAR.com)(10-9-2010)

NASCAR to meet with Nationwide owners: NASCAR is holding a meeting with Nationwide Series owners next Tuesday to discuss a variety of issues for 2011. While NASCAR has taken an informal poll of owners and principals in the Nationwide garage to gauge the sentiment of competing against Cup drivers in the feeder tour, series director Joe Balash says, “We’ll discuss everything we have on the table” at an off-site location. Some current Nationwide owners are delaying next season’s rosters until NASCAR solidifies its rules. With a new car for 2011, rising costs and a shrinking pool of sponsors, full-time owners have a difficult time competing against Sprint Cup regulars and are looking for relief.(FoxSports)(10-9-2010)

Steve Park returns to race at the site of his biggest win UPDATE: Most race fans remember Steve Park’s last NASCAR Winston Cup victory. Coming just one week after car owner’s Dale Earnhardt tragic death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Park edged Bobby Labonte for the emotional win in the Dura Lube 400. The track? The Rockingham Speedway. Park makes his return to the track for the Oct. 9, 2010 running of the ARCA Racing Series. “It is always great to have former winners back to race at ‘The Rock,'” said track president Andy Hillenburg. “Steve’s win here was one of the most memorable races I have ever seen, being such a fantastic finish and coming on the heels of such tragedy for that team and race fans everywhere. We are thrilled to have him back racing at Rockingham in the American 200.”

Also scheduled to race in the American 200 is Ricky Carmichael. A 30-year-old native of Clearwater, Fla., Carmichael is best known for his successful motocross career which includes 10 AMA Motocross Championships, five AMA Supercross Championships, and two World Supercross Championships. Carmichael has driven to six top-10 finishes in 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season. Rockingham will mark Carmichael’s fifth ARCA Series start of the year, with a best finish of seventh in the season-opener at Daytona.(Rockingham Speedway)(10-5-2010)

UPDATE: Kevin Swindell, son of three-time national Sprint Car champion Sammy Swindell, earned his first career pole in the ARCA Racing Series Friday during qualifying at Rockingham Speedway for Saturday’s season finale American 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service. Swindell, driving a Toyota, posted a 145.378-mph, 24.763-second lap on Menards Pole Day presented by Ansell, to edge Chad Finley for the No. 1 starting position. Finley’s Chevrolet clocked in at 145.361 mph. Craig Goess earned the third starting position to edge five points closer to standings leader Patrick Sheltra in the championship battle. Sheltra qualified eighth. Entering Saturday’s season finale, which will be televised live at 1:30pm on SPEED, Sheltra now leads Goess by a mere five points — 4,495 to 4,490. Tom Hessert is third in the standings, 20 points in arrears to Sheltra. He qualified his Dodge 14th. Rounding out the top five, respectively, were Justin Marks and Steve Arpin. Ty Dillon, grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and the winner of the most recent ARCA event at Kansas Speedway, qualified sixth. Brandon McReynolds, son of TV analyst and former NASCAR crew chief Larry McReynolds, qualified seventh. Steve Park, who won a NASCAR Winston Cup race at the 1-mile oval in February 2001, qualified 20th in a Ford. Veteran James Hylton used a provisional to gain entrance into the 41-car starting field. He will start 37th.

For more info about the American 200 race weekend, annual Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham and tickets for the races, contact the Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Tickets, starting at $20 in advance, and suite packages are still available.(Rockingham Speedway)(10-9-2010)

News from October 8, 2010

McMurray wins pole at Auto Club: #1-Jamie McMurray won the Coors Pole for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 185.285mph for his 4th pole of 2010 and 7th of his career, McMurray has not won a race from the pole in his 6 other tries. #19-Sadler will start 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #42-Montoya, #9-Kahne, #56-Truex Jr., #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #20-Logano.

The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #13-Mears [starts 12th], #46-McDowell, #36-Yeley, #38-Gilliland, #66-Leffler, #87-Nemechek, #64-Cassill and #09-Labonte who uses a past champions provisional to make the race.

The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #55-Bliss and #26-Carpentier.

See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Auto Club Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(10-8-2010)

Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Auto Club:

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 8th

2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 34th

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 21st

4) #99-Carl Edwards, 20th

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 17th

6) #2-Kurt Busch, 38th

7) #18-Kyle Busch, 16th

8) #16-Greg Biffle, 7th

9) #31-Jeff Burton, 15th

10) #14-Tony Stewart, 22nd

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3rd

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 13th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-8-2010)

Qualifying Fast Facts – Auto Club:

#1-Jamie McMurray won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Pepsi MAX 400 with a lap of 38.859 seconds, 185.285 mph.

This is his seventh pole in 288 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his fourth pole and 12th top-10 start in 2010.

This is his second pole in 15 races at Auto Club Speedway. McMurray won the pole here in February. He is the second driver to sweep poles in a season at Auto Club Speedway (Kurt Busch, 2006)

#19-Elliott Sadler (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2010 and his fifth in 19 races at Auto Club Speedway.

#17-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his third top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his seventh in 30 races this season.

Drivers not qualifying for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup took 5 of 6 starting positions.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-8-2010)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 8, 2010 at 6:40pm/et.

Television (TV): ESPN2 at 6:30pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

Jayski.com: Jayski’s Semi-Live Qualifying Page

Qualifying Re-Air: non-scheduled

Qualifying Order for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #00-Reutimann.

The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #37-Blaney.

The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #38-Gilliland with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #64-Cassill.

See the full qualifying order on the Auto Club Qualifying Page.(10-8-2010)

Friday’s practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:

#1-McMurray 183.833

#43-Allmendinger 183.407

#16-Biffle 183.239

#18-Busch 183.006

#5-Martin 182.950

#42-Montoya 182.950

slowest: #34-Kvapil 174.808 & #83-Sorenson 175.447

notes: late in practice, #83-Sorenson spun off turn 2, didn’t hit anything, but blew the tires.

See fastest speeds, average speeds & laps run on the Auto Club Practice Speeds Page.(10-8-2010)

Auto Club practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#13-Casey Mears, 23rd fastest

#66-Jason Leffler, 30th

#55-Mike Bliss, 32nd

#36-J.J. Yeley, 34th

#87-Joe Nemechek, 35th

#64-Landon Cassill, 36th

#38-David Gilliland, 37th

#09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 38th

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#46-Michael McDowell, 39th

#26-Patrick Carpentier, 41st

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Donnie Wingo Named Crew Chief for Wood Brothers: NASCAR veteran Donnie Wingo has been named crew chief of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion. Wingo will assume the role immediately and will be atop the #21 pit box next weekend in Charlotte. “It’s really an honor to be on top of the pit box for the No. 21,” said Wingo. “Anyone in NASCAR knows the historic significance and what the Wood Brothers have meant to NASCAR. The No. 21 is iconic in this sport and it’s a great privilege to be associated with this team. I’m eager to get to Charlotte next weekend and see what we can do as a team.” Wingo most recently served at the crew chief for Roush Fenway Racing’s #6 Sprint Cup team with driver David Ragan. During his 27-year NASCAR career, he has worked with drivers ranging from Dick Trickle, Ricky Rudd, Jimmy Spencer, Juan Pablo-Montoya, Jamie McMurray and Morgan Shepherd. The #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion and driver Bill Elliott will be back on track next week in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Wood Brothers Racing)(10-8-2010)

‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ program honors former racer: James Snelling, a racer who lost his left leg in an accident at Riverside International Raceway in 1985 and now runs Advanced Driving Dynamics, Inc., has been selected as an ExtenZe Local Hero.
Snelling, whose school operates out of Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, will serve as honorary crew chief for NASCAR rookie driver Kevin Conway, receive a $1,000 award and sit atop the pit box Sunday. The former Toyota Pro-Celebrity driving instructor has put more than 9,000 people through his program, nearly a third on scholarship funds Snelling has found. The ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference in their communities. Those selected have faced danger, sacrificed their own safety for others or in some way displayed leadership that changed their community for the better. Award recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Miles Stanley to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red #7 ExtenZe Toyota. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe, the world’s best selling male enhancement product, in recognition of their selflessness.(ExtenZe Racing)(10-8-2010)

48 Fewer ServiceMaster Cautions This Season and other stats:

Servicemaster Clean by the numbers fro Auto Club Speedway:

1 of the 20 races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from the pole

2 of the 20 races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from the front row

4 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Auto Club Speedway (6/22/97)

4 of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup have yet to win in 2010 (Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth)

6 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers available at Auto Club Speedway this weekend for track drying

7 of the 29 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

12 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Auto Club Speedway (2/24/08)

12 different Sprint Cup race winners in 2010

13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville)

16 different Sprint Cup pole winners in 2010

58 points separate the top five in the Chase point standings

120 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers to dry the 2.0-mile Auto Club Speedway track

110 of 202 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 29 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents, 37 for debris and 25 for spins

202 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 29 Sprint Cup events this season; 250 after 29 races last year

1,035 of 8,643 laps completed in the first 29 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,196 of 8,303 after 29 races last year

1,464.630 of 11,659.928 miles completed this season in the 29 Sprint Cup races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution;

1,660.446 of 11,121.305 after 29 races last year.(Servicemaster)(10-8-2010)

TRG gets sponsor for Auto Club: The Media Barons and TRG Motorsports announced a partnership for the #71 Chevy at this weekend’s Pepsi Max 400 at the Auto Club Speedway with sportscar driver Andy Lally driving the car. The Media Barons, best known for their, err, “innovative” concepts and creative campaigns for a number of commercial entities, have somehow finagled their way on to the side of another race car. Using motosports as a forum to encourage their behavior, NASCAR is the last step for their brand, having been adorned on the side of IndyCars, sportscars in the American Le Mans and GRAND-AM Series, and on a number of individual driver’s suits and helmets throughout the industry. The Media Barons [Note: their website is not for children and may offend some readers] are a Hollywood-based Creative Services company. Known for their unique specialty in the worlds of sketch comedy and also motorsports, the team is known for being able to provide quality, young and edgy content focused on any number of creative and product themes.(TRG Motorsports)(10-8-2010)

Edwards & Crew Help Unveil New Aflac Wingman Bead of Courage: This Sunday, October 10, #99-Carl Edwards and his crew will unveil a special new Aflac Duck Wingman Bead of Courage to show kids with serious illnesses like cancer that they are not alone in their fight against the disease. The new bead is part of the Aflac Duck’s 10th birthday celebration. At a press conference scheduled for Friday, October 8, at Auto Club Speedway, Carl will be joined by the Aflac Duck and seven year-old Nolan Blake of Griffin, Ga., a cancer survivor and avid NASCAR fan and recipient of hundreds of courage beads. Race fans will also be treated to a special visit from the Aflac Duck on October 10th, the first time the Aflac Duck has attended a NASCAR race. Edwards and his pit crew will also wear a special Beads of Courage necklace like the ones worn by Nolan at the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta. The Aflac Ford Fusion will sport the Beads of Courage logo during the Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.(RFR), for more info on the program and how to donate, see Jayski’s NASCAR Racing Charity News and Links page.(10-8-2010)

ESPN Motorsports Producer Arrested UPDATE: Neil Goldberg, 52, a producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, was arrested on a warrant charging him with public indecency, simple trespass, disorderly conduct and breach of peace, police said. He lives in the complex where the incident happened, they said. The incident that led to the charges happened last month in the complex where he lives, Lt. Marshall Porter said Wednesday. He posted $1,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford, CT later this month. Goldberg is coordinating producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, which includes NASCAR telecasts.(full story at the Hartford Courant)(10-6-2010)

UPDATE: ESPN issued a statement Wednesday that “We are in the process of looking into it,” in regard to the Goldberg case. ESPN did confirm that Goldberg will not be calling the shots for this weekend’s Nationwide and Cup races at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Jill Frederickson, senior coordinating producer for motorsports coverage, will produce this weekend’s two broadcasts.(Virginian Pilot)(10-8-2010)

California Gubernatorial candidate named Grand Marshall for Sunday: California Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman will serve as Grand Marshal for NASCAR’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race – the Pepsi MAX 400 – at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Oct.10. As Grand Marshal, the former eBay President and CEO, will give the command, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines,” to the 43-car field of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Through the years Whitman’s career led her to key executive positions at some of America’s best-known companies, including Disney, Stride Rite, FTD and Hasbro. In the fall of 1997 she met the founder of a tiny start-up company called eBay. She served as President and CEO from 1998-2008. When she joined eBay, the company had just $4.7 million in revenues and 30 employees; when she retired in March of 2008, ten years later, the company had nearly $8 billion in revenues and 15,000 employees worldwide.

Tickets: Race fans can be a part of all the Sunday action with tickets starting as low as $35 and many packages to choose from. Fans experiencing Auto Club Speedway can also take advantage of free parking, bring in their own food, or partake in the unbelievable menu items on site as well as other cost-savings opportunities while enjoying a full day of entertainment and fun at a fantastic family value. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com and be part of NASCAR in Southern California.(ACS)(10-8-2010)

ISC cuts jobs, keeps tightening belt: International Speedway Corp.[ISC] has cut more than 40 corporate positions — all at its headquarters in Daytona, FL — since announcing in August a company-wide initiative to reduce operational costs. The company’s goal of reducing by 20% the size of its headquarters staff, which numbered 250 at the start of the year, has been met, said Dan Houser, ISC chief financial officer, said in a phone interview Thursday. Whether there will be additional job cuts will depend on the state of the economy, Houser said, although he added there are no further plans for staff reductions at this time. The company, hit by declining revenue because of the slow economy, has also responded by lowering ticket prices at its racetracks and putting some of its big development projects on hold, including its proposed entertainment/retail/dining complex across the street from Daytona International Speedway. ISC quietly severed ties late last year with the Baltimore-based developer that was to be a 50/50 partner in the planned Daytona Live! complex.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-8-2010)

News from October 7, 2010

Crew Chief Hyder Leaves Wood Brothers Racing: UPDATE: The Wood Brothers racing team and crew chief David Hyder have mutually agreed to go their separate ways, effective immediately. Team co-owner Eddie Wood said Hyder, who has been the crew chief of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford since August, 2008, played a key role in helping the team work through one of the worst slumps in its 60-year history in NASCAR. “It took somebody like David to get us back on track, and he did it almost single-handedly,” Wood said. “Len and I and the entire Wood Brothers organization are eternally grateful to him for his contributions to this race team. It’s a shame we weren’t able to stay together and finish what we started.” Wood said he expects to name an interim crew chief later this week. Driver Bill Elliott and the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will be back on the track next week for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Wood Brothers Racing)

AND The 43-year-old veteran crew chief led the #21 Motorcraft Ford for the last two seasons. During his career, Hyder has overseen teams at Petty Enterprises, Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and BAM Racing. “I enjoyed working with Eddie and Len,” Hyder said. “The Wood Brothers are great people to work for and I wish them success in their future endeavors. I’m hoping to find a position where I can run full-time and compete for wins and championships.”(FoxSports)(10-6-2010)

UPDATE: Donnie Wingo is the leading candidate to fill the vacant crew chief position with Wood Brothers Racing. Wingo will replace David Hyder, who left the team earlier this week after overseeing the operation for the past two seasons. Wingo most recently served as crewchief for #6-David Ragan’s UPS Ford at Roush Fenway Racing, before being replaced earlier this month by Drew Blickensderfer. A spokesperson for Wood Brothers Racing declined to comment on the story earlier today.(Sirius Speedway)(10-7-2010)

Kyle Busch sets testing record at Gresham: Kyle Busch posted a new NASCAR track record in testing at Gresham Motorsports Park Wednesday wheeling his #18 Toyota Tundra NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry to a lap of 16.992 seconds. The blazing lap marked the first time a full-size NASCAR vehicle turned a sub 17-second lap on the GMP half-mile oval. Jamie McMurray holds the GMP NASCAR Sprint Cup testing record with a lap of 17.361 seconds while Martin Truex, Jr. has been the fastest NASCAR Nationwide car at GMP to date with a 17.295-second lap. Finally, Brendan Gaughan has been the fastest in testing the new Nationwide COT car with a time of 17.598 seconds.(Gresham Motorsports Park)(10-7-2010)

Miller serving as Bowyer’s crew chief: Richard Childress Racing’s Director of Competition Scott Miller is now listed as crew chief for #33-Clint Bowyer this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. He is expected to serve that position until Shane Wilson’s 4 race suspension is over.(10-7-2010)

Vickers named third-quarter winner of Spirit award: Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers has been chosen as the third-quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award. Vickers, who is active with various charities, was selected based on his attitude and determination to return to racing after blood clots forced him out of the car in May. The Red Bull Racing driver has been sidelined while undergoing treatment for the blood clots. He has repeatedly said he’s confident he’ll be racing again in next year’s Daytona 500. The Spirit award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is determined by a vote of the National Motorsports Press Association membership. Also receiving votes were former Motor Racing Outreach chaplain Lonnie Clouse, Roush Fenway Racing team co-owner Jack Roush, driver Brad Keselowski and ML Motorsports’ Mary Louise Miller. Bobby Hutchens, competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing, was the first-quarter winner while J.D. Gibbs and his family won the honor in the second quarter.(NMPA)(10-7-2010)

Farm American scheme back on the #78: For the third time this season Regan Smith’s #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy will carry the Farm American paint scheme, which will pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher at this weekend’s Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup race in Fontana, Calif. “There’s been plenty of excitement with our Farm American car and I look forward to driving it in Southern California, which is known for its dairy and cattle farming” said Smith. “Protecting the American farmer and rancher and our nation’s food supply is a cause we at Furniture Row Racing strongly believe in and having both my mother and father grow up on a farm makes it even more special for me.”(Furniture Row Racing)(10-7-2010)

NASCAR, Evernham dispute Mayfield allegation: NASCAR says there is no evidence of a black flag issued to Jeremy Mayfield during the 2006 Brickyard 400 and that Ray Evernham, who owned the team Mayfield drove for at the time, was the one who ordered him to park his car during the race, according to a court filing Wednesday. The filing came in response to Mayfled’s claim last week that NASCAR Chairman Brian France had him black-flagged in the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mayfield made that claim in asking U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen to reconsider a May 2010 ruling that dismissed his lawsuit against NASCAR over a May 1, 2009, drug test that NASCAR says was positive for methamphetamines. The allegation surrounding the 2006 race at Indy comes in part from declarations of France’s former in-laws, whom France sued last year when trying to evict them from a home he owned. NASCAR uses Mayfield’s 2006 lawsuit against then-team owner Evernham as corroborating evidence that the black-flag story is false. Mayfield filed suit in the days following the Indy race after Evernham fired him. In none of those documents does Mayfield say he was black-flagged by NASCAR. In affidavits filed with NASCAR’s response Wednesday, Evernham and then team director (crew chief) Chris Andrews said no one from NASCAR asked them to pull the car from the track. In affidavits filed by Mayfield, both of France’s former in-laws say that France, after drinking scotch while in California to be with his pregnant wife during the race, called NASCAR President Mike Helton in the control tower at Indy and asked that Mayfield be black-flagged. When Mayfield got to the pits no NASCAR official ever looked at the car, Mayfield alleges. In its filing Wednesday, NASCAR produced travel records and hotel records indicating that France was in Orlando that day, not California.(Scene Daily)(10-7-2010)

Sad News: Buddie Boys: “Buddie” George William Boys fought a courageous race against cancer but the checkered flag dropped on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Buddie’s greatest love in life was the race track. He was an innovator in the trucking industry where his success and accomplishments continue to be used now and in the future. Buddie’s other passion was riding his motorcycle. Buddie is lovingly remembered by his wife, Paulette; sisters, Betty (Ernie) Butler of Moose Jaw, Patsy (Frank) Sponchia of Nanaimo, BC; daughter, Barb (Allen) Deglow; son, Trevor (Theresa) Boys; daughters, Lori Sharratt, Tracy (Stan) Wadden and Darcy Bjazevic; 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. A Celebration of Buddie’s Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to Chinook Hospice, 1261 Glenmore Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta T2V 4Y8. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.(10-7-2010)

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Introduces the World’s Softest Wrecker Bumper: In light of the recent controversy surrounding Clint Bowyer’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, officials at the speedway utilized some creative ingenuity to help ensure that “The Magic Mile” and its wreckers aren’t part of any similar debate in the future. With the new “pillow-soft” bumper, speedway general manager Jerry Gappens wants to assure all future winning race cars make it to victory lane carefully. The wrecker is the exact same truck that pushed Bowyer’s #33 Cheerios/ Hamburger Helper Chevy to victory lane after he ran out of gas during his burnout at the September 19th SYLVANIA 300, but with a new and improved soft front bumper.(NHMS)(10-7-2010)

News from October 6, 2010

Crew Chief Hyder Leaves Wood Brothers Racing: The Wood Brothers racing team and crew chief David Hyder have mutually agreed to go their separate ways, effective immediately. Team co-owner Eddie Wood said Hyder, who has been the crew chief of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford since August, 2008, played a key role in helping the team work through one of the worst slumps in its 60-year history in NASCAR. “It took somebody like David to get us back on track, and he did it almost single-handedly,” Wood said. “Len and I and the entire Wood Brothers organization are eternally grateful to him for his contributions to this race team. It’s a shame we weren’t able to stay together and finish what we started.” Wood said he expects to name an interim crew chief later this week. Driver Bill Elliott and the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will be back on the track next week for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Wood Brothers Racing)

AND The 43-year-old veteran crew chief led the #21 Motorcraft Ford for the last two seasons. During his career, Hyder has overseen teams at Petty Enterprises, Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and BAM Racing. “I enjoyed working with Eddie and Len,” Hyder said. “The Wood Brothers are great people to work for and I wish them success in their future endeavors. I’m hoping to find a position where I can run full-time and compete for wins and championships.”(FoxSports)(10-6-2010)

NASCAR to talk to Reutimann & Busch; no penalties: NASCAR officials plan to talk to #18-Kyle Busch and #00-David Reutimann about Sunday’s incident at Kansas Speedway before this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. Cup series director John Darby said no penalties will be levied, that NASCAR just wants both drivers to understand there are 41 cars on the track that may be impacted by their decisions.(ESPN)(10-6-2010)

Harvick’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Kansas: Kevin Harvick’s crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. It was the first pit road win of the season for the #29 team, which will receive $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. Harvick’s #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road during the Price Chopper 400 — 194.316 seconds. Jeff Gordon’s #24 team leads the Tissot standings with four wins. The crews for #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Kyle Busch and #26-Jamie McMurray are tied for second with three wins each. There are seven Cup races remaining in 2010. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.(Tissot), see standings and race by race winner on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(10-6-2010)

RPM owner Gillett, fighting takeover of soccer club: Richard Petty Motorsports majority owner George Gillett has fired the Board of Directors of his Liverpool soccer club in an attempt to derail a takeover of the club by New England Sports Ventures, owners of the Boston Red Sox. The board was scheduled to meet yesterday to consider bids from two potential buyers, but Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks filed an injunction claiming the board was not acting in their best interest by entertaining those offers. The injunction sought to replace board chairman Martin Broughton and directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre with Hicks’ son, Mack Hicks, and Lori Kay McCutcheon, giving Gillett and Tom Hicks majority control of the club. New England Sports Ventures is controlled by John W. Henry [part owner of Roush Fenway Racing] and a group of partners that includes the New York Times Company and television producer Tom Werner. They purchased the Red Sox in 2002 and a subsidiary of NESV – Fenway Sports Group — purchased a 50% ownership stake in what is now Roush Fenway Racing in February of 2007. How the sale will impact RPM, which recently restructured a $90 million loan agreement, is not immediately clear.(in part from Sirius Speedway see other articles if interested at scenedaily.com and guardian.co.uk)(10-6-2010)

Testing at the Rock: hearing several teams testing at Rockingham Speedway today [Wednesday], including #77-Sam Horonish Jr., Joey Logano in a Nationwide car and Toyota testing their own car. At Little Rock, the 1/2 mile track at Rockingham, #78-Regan Smith is testing his Cup car and #3-Austin Dillon is testing a Camping World Truck Series truck.(10-6-2010)

ESPN Motorsports Producer Arrested: Neil Goldberg, 52, a producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, was arrested on a warrant charging him with public indecency, simple trespass, disorderly conduct and breach of peace, police said. He lives in the complex where the incident happened, they said. The incident that led to the charges happened last month in the complex where he lives, Lt. Marshall Porter said Wednesday. He posted $1,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford, CT later this month. Goldberg is coordinating producer for ESPN’s motorsports coverage, which includes NASCAR telecasts.(full story at the Hartford Courant)(10-6-2010)

Crew chief changes again at Front Row: The teams of Front Row Motorsports will have new leadership atop the pit boxes beginning with this weekend’s race events in Fontana, Calif. Front Row has named Brian Burns crew chief of Travis Kvapil’s Long John Silver’s #34 team, and moved crew chief Greg Conner to lead the #37 A&W All American Food team, which will have Dave Blaney at the wheel at Auto Club Speedway. Burns has been an integral member of the Long John Silver’s team, serving as its lead engineer since the beginning of the 2009 season. He gained experience calling the shots for Kvapil’s car earlier this year when he served as interim crew chief for the June race at Michigan International Speedway. Before coming to Front Row, Burns spent six years with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, providing engineering support to its three race teams.

Conner moves over to the A&W team after serving as crew chief of the Long John Silver’s team for the past three months. The racing veteran has experience in all three of NASCAR’s top series and has called races for drivers including Marcos Ambrose, Ricky Craven and Kevin Lepage. “We still have seven races to run and we want to make the most of them,” said Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports. “I think the world of both of these guys, and having them in these positions now is going to make us stronger at the end of this season and also help prepare us for next year.” Peter Sospenzo remains the crew chief for the #38 Taco Bell team – Front Row Motorsports’ third car – which is driven by David Gilliland.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(10-6-2010)

Special scheme for Jeff Gordon at Auto Club: During the Pepsi Max 400 this weekend at Auto Club Speedway, #24-Jeff Gordon will race the newest Pepsi Max paint scheme. In conjunction with the race, Pepsi Max will be awarding 400 lucky winners one of 400 Prizes in 400 Miles! Tune in October 10th at 2:30 pm/et on ESPN, where Jeff Gordon will be revealing, during his pre-race interview, the unique word that fans can text to 73774 or enter online at www.facebook.com/pepsimaxusa for their chance to win. Prizes include trip packages to Vegas, Bristol Motor Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports; autographed PEPSI MAX hats; and a phone call from Jeff Gordon (Pepsi), see images of the car on my #24 Team Schemes page.(10-6-2010)

#2 and Busch testing: #2-Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led Penske Racing “Blue Deuce” team tested their brand new “PRS-740” Charger at Gresham Motorsports Park, the half-mile oval asphalt track located near Jefferson, Ga., on Tuesday. There is a plan in the works to head to Rockingham, N.C., for another day of testing on Wednesday to make up for one rained out there last week (Tom Roberts).(10-6-2010)

Insiders Hall of Fame Class #2 choices: The official announcemengt is not due out until Wed. Oct 13th, then the 2nd class of five are chosen for the NASCAR Hall of Fame but………..According to an extensive survey of motorsports industry insiders conducted by Stock Car History Online, five legendary drivers could be considered favorites for the second class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The competitors are David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Lee Petty. Actual voting for the second class will be conducted and announced next week.

The Stock Car History Online survey was conducted over the last month, and included a panel of 51 industry insiders. Among those who responded were Allison; 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch; Talladega Superspeedway track president Grant Lynch; Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis; Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning; Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage; famed NASCAR artist Sam Bass; and journalists spanning the print, radio, television and Internet media spectrum. See the full story at stockcarhistoryonline.com.(10-6-2010)

New associate sponsor for #2 in 2011: The evolution of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge at Penske Racing continues as the organization announces Carlisle Companies as a new associate sponsor to the lineup of the legendary ride. The announcement comes as preparations are being made for Brad Keselowski to take over the seat of the “Blue Deuce” for the 2011 season and beyond. “This is a partnership that I truly believe all of Carlisle’s 10,250 employees will get behind and embrace,” said Carlisle Chairman/CEO Dave Roberts, who himself competes in the SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. “Roger Penske and everyone at Penske Racing share in our core beliefs and they align well with our company philosophy. Partnering with such a professional and successful race team will continue our goal of growing our business and expanding our product lines” Carlisle Companies’ brands will be represented as an associate sponsor with the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger beginning in 2011 in a multi-year deal. With multiple Carlisle divisions operating in markets visited throughout the NASCAR schedule, many of Carlisle’s brands will likely appear on the car throughout the series season. Each Carlisle division will activate their relationship differently, tailoring the relationship to serve their business objectives. Penske Racing will work with Carlisle to take advantage of customer entertainment and hospitality opportunities, driver appearances, business-to-business opportunities as well as the use of Penske facilities and employee engagement activities.

Carlisle Companies is a diversified global manufacturing company with interests in the construction materials, commercial roofing, specialty tire and wheel, power transmission, heavy-duty brake and friction, heavy-haul truck trailer, foodservice, aerospace and test and measurement industries.(Penske Racing)(10-6-2010)

Repaving and graduated banking in the furture for Kansas? Darren Cook, vice president of operations at Kansas Speedway, told RacinToday Tuesday that the surface of the 1.5-mile Kansas track has aged to the point where it is just a matter of time before it will need to be replaced and that that time is drawing near.
And when it is replaced, Cook said, the current banking of 15 degrees in the corners, 10.4 degrees in the front stretch and five degrees in the back stretch will likely give way to the type of graduated banking that has been so successful at places like Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kansas Speedway was completed in time for the 2001 season of racing. The surface at the track was pronounced back then to be high tech and state of the art. Since then, it has hosted 10 seasons of Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Trucks, ARCA and Indy Racing League events. And it has also undergone something which few other tracks hosting major events have undergone – brutal Heartland weather conditions that aggressively attack asphalt surfaces. Cook said that the freeze-and-thaw cycle in the Heartland has issued a beating to the Kansas Speedway surface. He also said that low quality materials and a “less than ideal job” during construction may have contributed to a deterioration of joints in the asphalt.
“We’d look at a variable-banking surface because it would create side-by-side racing quicker than waiting for a second groove to come in at a track that is not as banked. You could go up there high because you got greater banking than the guy below you. You got to create a reason to be up above.” Both Homestead and Las Vegas now top out at 20 degrees of banking in the turns. Speeds have gone up at those places and the racing has improved. Progressive banking could be accomplished without a massive re-excavation of the facility. That is a must, Cook said. Speedway officials would not want to institute a fix that would necessitate a reworked apron and infield on the bottom of the track and new walls – and big grandstand reconfigurations – at the top of the track. And, he said, the track will remain a 1.5-miler. Also tricky at Kansas will be the actual construction. In the track’s area of the country, work can stop for long periods in the winter months. Cook said studies will have to be done on which would be the best construction window – after the October race and hope it can be completed for the June race, or after the June race and hope to complete it by the October race. Cook said the talks have just begun on the matter and no timetable has been set for the repave. Construction is currently under way on the Hollywood Casino above Turn 2 of the track. Construction of the casino delayed construction of a planned infield road course at Kansas.(RacinToday)(10-6-2010)

Sinkhole on the property of Charlotte Motor Speedway: A sinkhole has formed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, on the infield near the back end of the track. A Speedway representative said the sinkhole was likely caused by the recent spate of rain. In addition, part of the speedway is built on top of a landfill, which could have added to the issue. Crews have already started work to fill the hole and hope to have it repaired before next week’s Bank of America 500.(WSOC)(10-5-2010)

UPDATE: Anyone who reserved a camper spot near the sinkhole will be moved to another area of the track, according to the Speedway representative.(WSOC) and see a slideshow of images of the sinkhole at WSOCtv.com.(10-6-2010)

NASCAR Hauler Parade at Auto Club Speedway: As if meeting NASCAR drivers and getting autographs wasn’t enough of a highlight for fans attending the Stater Bros. Racefest presented by Pepsi at Auto Club Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 7, add in a multi-city hauler parade and a chance to meet the likes of four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and Pepsi driver, Jeff Gordon. For the 6th year, Stater Bros. Supermarkets will sponsor this free event to the public (free admission and parking) which will be held in the DiscoverIE FanZone outside the front stretch and in the shadow of Auto Club Speedway.

Beginning at 6:15 pm on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, the spectacle of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade will begin making its way to Auto Club Speedway through Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana. Stretching nearly an entire mile from the first hauler to the last, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade will make its way to Cherry Ave. and Auto Club Speedway’s main entrance around 7:00 pm Fans are expected to greet the haulers along the parade route, until the haulers make their final approach to the Auto Club Speedway DiscoverIE FanZone where all the Stater Bros. Racefest activities are taking place.

Stater Bros. Racefest is scheduled from 5 – 9 p.m.. In addition to the usual Racefest fare of driver autograph and Q&A sessions, a freestyle motocross stunt show with Rockstar Metal Mulisha, live music, rides, games, souvenir trailers and great food & beverages, this year’s event adds a few extra goodies for fans to enjoy. More info at autoclubspeedway.com.(10-6-2010)

News from October 5, 2010

National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement – #33 Penalty Upheld, adjustments made: Following an appeal hearing earlier today in Concord, N.C., the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer has upheld the penalty for the #33 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with the following revisions:

Crew chief Shane Wilson’s fine has been reduced from $150,000 to $100,000 and Wilson and car chief Chad Haney’s race suspensions have been lowered from six to four. Both are suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and are on probation until Dec. 31.

The loss of 150 championship owner and driver points remains intact.

The #33 car was penalized by NASCAR on Sept. 22 as a result of rule infractions discovered during post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center following the Sept. 19 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Specifically, the car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis did not meet NASCAR-approved specifications of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. “After reviewing all the data, presentation and factors involved, I am ruling NASCAR was correct in its decision to levy penalties,” said John Middlebrook, the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer who presided over the hearing. “I believe that the revisions that have been made to the penalties are consistent and fair to both parties involved.” – John Middlebrook, National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate.(NASCAR), see more info and details on the penalties and appeal on my 2010 Penalties page.(10-5-2010)

UPDATE – Richard Childress Racing Statement: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, regarding the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer’s final ruling on the penalty of the #33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team following the September 19 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

“I’m disappointed that the results are not what we wanted, but I feel we received a fair hearing today. The final step in the appeals process is very good, and I can assure you we would not have taken our case to the chief appellate officer if the first step in the process had been as fair as today’s. I want to thank all of the fans for their support. I’m proud to be a part of this sport and proud to represent RCR’s partners. We all need to put this behind us and get back to racing. There are seven races remaining in the Chase, and Richard Childress Racing will continue our focus on winning the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.”(RCR)(10-5-2010)

TV Ratings down for Kansas: the overnights for this past weekend show the NASCAR Sprint Cup race having a 2.1 ratings and 4 share on Sunday, being televised on ESPN. In 2009, the race was televised on ABC and had a 2.6/5 with a final rating of 3.2/7 with 5.25 million viewers.(10-5-2010)

UPDATE: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 3, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.7 (U.S. rating 2.3), averaging 3,741,683 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a 3.2 rating. The telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway on ESPN2 earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,537,801 viewers. The race also aired on ESPN2 last year and earned the same rating.(ESPN) see past race for 2010 and the 4-year chart on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(10-5-2010)

Clint Bowyer’s final appeal Tuesday [today]: The final appeal on the penalties given to #33-Clint Bowyer’s Sprint Cup team following his win in the Chase opener at New Hampshire will be heard on Tuesday. It will be the first ruling for NASCAR’s new chief appellate officer, John Middlebrook. The National Stock Car Racing Commission voted 3-0 against the initial appeal made by Richard Childress Racing last Wednesday at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord. Team owner Richard Childress insisted he had proof that Bowyer’s car was out of tolerance because of a push from a wrecker after running out of gas following the victory burnout. He immediately paid the cost of the final appeal to be heard by Middlebrook, who took over as the chief appellate officer this year. Bowyer was fined 150 points and crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended for six weeks and fined $150,000, although he has yet to sit out a race while the process is under appeal. Childress hopes reconstruction analyst Dr. Charles Manning will be able to sway Middlebrook where he couldn’t the commission.(ESPN), see more info and details on the penalties and appeal on my #33 Tean News and Links page.(10-5-2010)

Growth Energy close to a deal with NASCAR? NASCAR is poised to sign its first new high-profile sponsorship in 20 months and take a significant step forward in the green initiative it began two years ago by aligning with an ethanol lobby group known as Growth Energy [growthenergy.org]. The deal, which sources said is close to completion, would make Growth Energy an official marketing partner. If completed, the deal also would usher new money into NASCAR at a time when the series and its teams have been challenged by cuts to corporate sponsorship budgets. Sunoco will remain the official fuel of NASCAR. Sunoco raised some concerns about the Growth Energy deal that are being worked through, according to sources. Growth Energy is expected to use a NASCAR partnership primarily to promote the American ethanol industry. It’s unclear whether Growth Energy members would provide ethanol to Sunoco. Sunoco has its own ethanol production plant in upstate New York. Terms of the proposed agreement with Growth Energy were not available. The ethanol partnership would be tied to NASCAR’s reported plan to convert to 15% ethanol-blended fuel in 2011. Fox Sports reported in May that Hendrick Motorsports was already testing the fuel. NASCAR spokesman Andrew Giangola confirmed the series is evaluating alternative fuels with its fuel partner, Sunoco, but declined to comment on a potential partnership with Growth Energy. “We haven’t specified a time frame in transitioning to a next-generation fuel, nor do we speculate or comment on potential new partners,” Giangola said. Growth Energy declined to comment. Growth Energy is a two-year-old advocacy organization that represents more than 65 ethanol production plants across the United States. It promotes ethanol as a renewable fuel that can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Shifting to an ethanol blend could present some challenges for teams and tracks. Ethanol can’t travel in pipelines along with gasoline because it picks up excess water. Therefore, it has to be transported in trucks. The IndyCar Series switched to 100% ethanol fuel in 2005, and ethanol fuel trucks come to every race to provide the fuel. Next season, its fuel will be provided by Unica, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, and Sunoco.(SportsBusiness Journal/Sporting News)(10-5-2010)

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2010 Price Chopper 400: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Recording the times from the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:13 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.

Total number of commercials: 113

Total number of companies or entities advertised: 67

Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 24

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM

End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:13 PM

Total minutes: 193

Minutes of race broadcast: 144

Minutes of commercials: 49

Number of missed restarts: 0

Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0

Total race brdcst time 144 Total comm. brdcst time 49

See more, past races, drivers highlights and links on my 2010 TV Commercials page.(10-5-2010)

Steve Park returns to race at the site of his biggest win: Most race fans remember Steve Park’s last NASCAR Winston Cup victory. Coming just one week after car owner’s Dale Earnhardt tragic death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Park edged Bobby Labonte for the emotional win in the Dura Lube 400. The track? The Rockingham Speedway. Park makes his return to the track for the Oct. 9, 2010 running of the ARCA Racing Series. “It is always great to have former winners back to race at ‘The Rock,’” said track president Andy Hillenburg. “Steve’s win here was one of the most memorable races I have ever seen, being such a fantastic finish and coming on the heels of such tragedy for that team and race fans everywhere. We are thrilled to have him back racing at Rockingham in the American 200.”

Also scheduled to race in the American 200 is Ricky Carmichael. A 30-year-old native of Clearwater, Fla., Carmichael is best known for his successful motocross career which includes 10 AMA Motocross Championships, five AMA Supercross Championships, and two World Supercross Championships. Carmichael has driven to six top-10 finishes in 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season. Rockingham will mark Carmichael’s fifth ARCA Series start of the year, with a best finish of seventh in the season-opener at Daytona.

For more info about the American 200 race weekend, annual Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham and tickets for the races, contact the Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Tickets, starting at $20 in advance, and suite packages are still available.(Rockingham Speedway)(10-5-2010)

Kansas Races facts and Notes:

• Greg Biffle won the Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. It was his 16th series victory in his 287th start and his second victory of 2010. He is the third different Chase driver to win in the three Chase races in 2010 and climbed from ninth to eighth in points. He led three times for 60 laps, including the final 29.

• Biffle started fifth, making him the fourth Kansas winner in a row to start in the top 10. This was his second Kansas victory in his ninth race. He also won in 2007 and has finished third or better in the past four Kansas races. He’s the only driver to score eight straight top-15 finishes at Kansas and has finished on the lead lap in the past eight Kansas races.

• Tony Stewart led the most laps (76) for the 53rd time in his 421-race career

• Three drivers have won half of the 63 Chase races, Johnson (19), Biffle (seven) and Edwards (six).

• Biffle’s victory was the 118th series win for Roush Fenway racing. It was the team’s second win in 2010, both by Biffle, and the team’s third win at Kansas, tied with Hendrick Motorsports for the most. It was also the second win of the season for Ford.

• Four Chase drivers have yet to win in 2010: Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards.

• Paul Menard finished eighth, the highest finish by a driver outside the Chase.

• 127 points separate first-place Jimmie Johnson and 10th-place Tony Stewart; this is the smallest gap between first and 10th in points after Race No. 3 of the Chase.(ESPN)(10-5-2010)

News from October 4, 2010

The Entry List for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

Robby Gordon is listed in the #7 with Extenze as sponsor; #71 driver is TBA

Not in top 35 of owners points for the first five races in 2010:

#09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(39/29)

#13-Casey Mears (38/29)

#26-Patrick Carpentier (37/29)

#36-J.J. Yeley (40/29)

#38-David Gilliland (36/29)

#46-Michael McDowell (42/29)

#55-Mike Bliss (43/29)

#64-Landon Cassill (46/17)

#66-Jason Leffler (44/29)

#87-Joe Nemechek (41/29)

In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,38,13,36,87,46,55

missing the race would be [2]: #’s 66,64

See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Auto Club Entry List.(10-4-2010)

Waltrip responds to the Reutimann-Busch incident at Kansas: As Kyle Busch entered turn two on lap 53 at Kansas, the front of his #18 Toyota made contact with the rear of the #00 Toyota of David Reutimann. The touch sent Reutimann spinning into the SAFER Barrier on the outside of turn two. Busch continued on and was still in the top-10 on lap 156 when he had another encounter with Reutimann. As the duo exited turn two with Busch on the high side and Reutimann’s car on the low side, Reutimann’s car moved up and slammed into the left side of Busch’s machine, causing severe damage to the rear of the M&M’s Toyota. Reutimann’s car spun and was much more damaged and spent time in the garage, finishing 35th, 11 laps down. Some quotes:

Michael Waltrip quote:“There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect. Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann’s chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented. I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR’s drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so.”(MWR)

Reutimann quote: “I don’t care if you’re in the Chase or not, you need to think about who you’re running over when you’re running over them. I don’t care who you are. If you’re in the Chase, you have as much responsibility to drive with respect as I do to everybody else. If you guys want me to feel bad about what happened today, I feel bad, yeah, that our car got wrecked and it ruined our day. That’s what I feel bad about. He just rolled over me. I’m on the bottom of the race track and he had the whole top of the race track to go to, and he run over me. I got wrecked.”(MWR)

Busch quote: “It’s just really unfortunate,” Busch said. “These guys work their butts off to put ourselves in the Chase and to have the opportunity to try to go after a championship and to have it end up like it did today is disappointing. The guy (Reutimann) was loose. He said it on the radio. He slid up off the bottom and I got into him unintentionally and just spun him out. My fault 100%, but then the retaliation to a guy that’s in the Chase that’s racing for something… he’ll be here next year. He could’ve wrecked me in any of the first 26 races next year. That would’ve been fine. It’s just hard to swallow something like a day like today where we had a solid top-five car going (M&M’s Racing)(10-4-2010)

Analyst critical of NASCAR’s logic UPDATE NASCAR responds: The reconstruction analyst who testified that Clint Bowyer’s New Hampshire Sprint Cup car was knocked out of tolerance by a wrecker labeled NASCAR’s arguments against his findings as nonsense. Dr. Charles Manning of Raleigh, N.C.-based Accident Reconstruction Analysis said two tests of a wrecker pushing a car set up the same as Bowyer’s winning #33 in the Chase opener showed the left rear end moved upward 40 thousandths of one inch. Testifying Wednesday on behalf of Richard Childress Racing, Manning told the National Stock Car Racing Commission that heard the appeal that his scientific study “clearly” explains the 39,000th of an inch NASCAR told RCR officials the car was beyond tolerances.

“They came out this morning and claimed it was negated by the telemetry which didn’t show a very sharp impact,” Manning said Thursday. “We didn’t have any sharp impact, either. We pushed it easily. They said the visual inspection of the car showed nothing in the way of damage. Well, after we got through testing none of the cars showed anything of note or damage. They said the visual inspection of the postrace push showed they pushed very gentle. We pushed more gentle … between six and 10 miles per hour. So what they said was a bunch of malarkey.” Manning said the only way he can have more exact data than what he collected during the reconstruction at Charlotte Motor Speedway using a duplicate of Bowyer’s car and a wrecker similar to the one at New Hampshire is to inspect the car in violation. He said NASCAR has not let him or RCR officials look at the car. “All we get from them is the stuff from behind closed doors,” said Manning, whose company helped CMS win its case when a pedestrian bridge collapsed after a race in 2000. “I’ve been doing this for 45 years. When we go to court I’ve got photos and measurements. We haven’t seen any photos. We haven’t seen any measurements.” NASCAR officials said they can’t release specific data used to defend their case until the final appeal is heard.(full story and quotes at ESPN.com)(10-1-2010)

UPDATE: NASCAR is disputing allegations by Richard Childress Racing’s top witness that the team was prevented from examining Clint Bowyer’s Chevrolet in the days following his disputed win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NASCAR’s Managing Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston bristled at those accusations Saturday at Kansas Speedway, calling them “patently untrue.” After consulting with Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton and Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby, Poston said, “Dr. Manning never asked to see the car at any time.” Poston also revealed that Richard Childress Racing was free to examine the car “anytime they want” and was well aware of that open-door policy.(Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway)(10-4-2010)

Ford offers $100k to Ford Chase Drivers: Jamie Allison, Ford’s director of North American Motorsports, announced Sunday in a meeting for Ford teams that any Ford Chase driver who wins any one of the final eight races this year will earn a $100,000 bonus for his team, an incentive one Roush Fenway Racing crewman described as a bounty. That means RFR drivers #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Matt Kenseth can help their teams earn a healthy incentive. “It’s fairly straightforward,” Allison said. “This is sports—these guys are athletes. When you’re at that level, and you’re in a very high-pressure situation, you’ve got to find every tool available to kick it up to the next level. (It’s) to be spread to the people who usually don’t see the money. Usually, it’s a pep talk or a coach kicking you in the rear. You don’t need that here. Here, they’re already performing at the highest level. I’ve just seen that a pit stop can make a difference. A pit call can make a difference. Everybody’s working at the highest level, and this is just a small thing that I wanted to do from Ford to go out to the three Ford Chasers and say, ‘There’s a little bit extra here.’ “(Sporting News), so Biffle and team won an extra $100,000 for the win at Kansas.(10-4-2010)

Kansas Speedway to introduce tickets for individual races in 2011: Kansas Speedway is changing its ticket policy for 2011 and will allow fans to purchase tickets for each of the four races instead of requiring they buy season tickets. For the first time in the track’s 11-year history, the 2011 schedule will include two NASCAR Sprint Cup races. The 2011 schedule calls for the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series and Sprint Cup Series on June 4 and 5, and the Oct. 8 and 9 weekend will be include the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup. In previous years, fans were required to buy season tickets for all speedway events — the IndyCar Series, the Camping World Trucks Series, the NASCAR Nationwide and the Sprint Cup series. This season, fans had the option of buying weekend packages. Next season, the IndyCar Series will not return, and with two Sprint Cup race weekends, Kansas Speedway officials decided to make tickets for individual races or through a season ticket. Pat Warren, the president of Kansas Speedway said the starting price for the Sprint Cup race in June will be $59, and $64 in October because it’s a Chase for the Sprint Cup event. The Track Pass is for each of the two Sprint Cup races and enables season ticket holders to attend all of the pre-race activities that include concerts, driver introductions, it’s drivers’ appearances on the infield. This weekend, the Nationwide Series on Saturday attracted a crowd of about 70,000, and the Sprint Cup race drew an estimated 100,000 at Kansas Speedway, which seats 82,000 in addition to RVs that fill the infield and overlook the track.(Kansas City Star)(10-4-2010)

News from October 3, 2010

Craven, Evernham, Blount on NASCAR Now Roundtable: NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham and Ricky Craven will join ESPN.com writer Terry Blount as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program airing Monday, Oct. 4, at 5:00 pm/et on ESPN2. Mike Massaro will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Biffle wins at Kansas: #16-Greg Biffle won the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 2nd win of 2010 last winning at Pocono, 7 races ago and the 16th win of his career. #48-Johnson finished second followed by #29-Harvick, #14-Stewart, #24-Gordon, #99-Edwards, #17-Kenseth, #98-Menard, #39-Newman and #43-Allmendinger. Pole sitter #9-Kahne finished 37th after losing a tire and hitting the wall.

There were 20 lead changes among 12 drivers and 5 cautions for 24 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 100,000, same as 2009.

Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Monday, October 4 at 2:00am/et; and SPEED, October 6 at 12:00pm/et.

See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Kansas Race Results/Awards page.(10-3-2010)

Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Kansas:

[by points standings before the race]:

1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 12th

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd

3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 3rd

4) #18-Kyle Busch, 21st

5) #2-Kurt Busch, 13th

6) #14-Tony Stewart, 4th

7) #16-Greg Biffle, WON

8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5th

9) #99-Carl Edwards, 6th

10) #31-Jeff Burton, 18th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 7th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 15th

(10-3-2010)

Race Fast Facts – Kansas:

#16-Greg Biffle won the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods, his 16th victory in 287 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his second victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2010.

This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in nine races at Kansas Speedway.

#48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in nine races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2010.

#29-Kevin Harvick (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in ten races at Kansas Speedway.

#7-Kevin Conway (38th) was the highest finishing rookie.

#38-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 8 points over Denny Hamlin.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-3-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:

[after Kansas, race 29 of 36, Chase Race 3 of 10]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5503

2) #11-Denny Hamlin [6 wins], 5495, -8

3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5473, -30

4) #99-Carl Edwards, 5450, -53

5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5445, -58

6) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5433, -70

7) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5423, -80

8) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5418, -85

9) #31-Jeff Burton, 5402, -101

10) #14-Tony Stewart [1 win], 5376, -127

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5354, -149

12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5251, -252

(Bowyer without penalty 5401, -102)

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-3-2010)

2010 Sprint Cup Driver ‘Classic’ Points Standings:

[after Kansas, race 29 of 36….the OLD way]:

rank, car#, driver, points, behind

1) #29-Kevin Harvick(X), 4166

2) #24-Jeff Gordon(X), 3938, -228

3) #18-Kyle Busch(X), 3888, -278

4) #99-Carl Edwards(X), 3877, -289

5) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X), 3870, -296

6) #31-Jeff Burton(X), 3792, -374

7) #14-Tony Stewart(X), 3783, -383

8) #11-Denny Hamlin(X), 3777, -389

9) #2-Kurt Busch(X), 3750, -416

10) #17-Matt Kenseth(X), 3700, -466

11) #16-Greg Biffle(X), 3585, -581

12) #39-Ryan Newman, 3501, -665

13) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3479, -687

14) #33-Clint Bowyer(X), 3472, -694

15) #5-Mark Martin, 3346, -837

16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3329, -820

(X) = chase driver.(10-3-2010)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Auto Club:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th, but their lead falls from 110 points to to 84 over the #38 team.
34) #71-Cassill-Labonte/TRG: 2075, +96

35) #7-Conway/RGM, 2042, 63 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 1979, -63 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Carptenier/Latitude43: 1914, -128

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-3-2010)

ESPN looking into factors that are impacting Chase ratings: Despite an on-track product that many feel is better than in recent years, the first two Chase For The Sprint Cup races saw startling drops in television ratings. The New Hampshire rating dropped 28% from 3.2 to 2.3 while the Dover rating fell 23% from 3.1 to 2.4. While the 2009 Chase races were on ABC, a switch to ESPN was not the reason for the drop, said ESPN Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions Julie Sobieski. “It’s concerning to us,” Sobieski said in a phone interview Friday. “We’re looking at every single factor that we can possibly look at. There’s so many things that are potentially at play. The rating declines that we’ve seen are not from broadcast-only homes. We know it’s not from the drop of broadcast to cable. Last year, ESPN outdelivered ABC. We don’t think it’s attributed to that.”

The network will research whether it is possible the 1:00pm/et start times had something to do with the drop. NASCAR went to consistent start times this year, and the 1:00pm/et start for all East and Central time zone races allowed races to end earlier but it also coincided with the start time for NFL games. With three hours representing a typical race telecast, the NASCAR events have ended around the same time as 1:00pm/et NFL games. ESPN preferred to have its races start at 2:00pm/et during the Chase when the races were on ABC [fans preferred 12:00noon/et].

“While during the rest of the year that may not be a factor, it is something we are paying attention to in conjunction with the start of the NFL season,” Sobieski said. “Whereas when it was at 2 o’clock, we were ending that race at the beginning of the 4 o’clock [NFL game] window. We’re now concluding those races right up against the 1 o’clock windows. That’s just one factor we’re trying to looking into. We need some more research. The first two weeks isn’t enough to tell us that.”

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston agreed that it’s too early to determine if the Chase races would draw better ratings with a 2:00pm/et start. “NASCAR and our partners worked really diligently with the tracks to get everybody on a very well-coordinated schedule for the earlier and 1 o’clock start times,” Poston said. “Any time you have change, that is tough on your fan base. We’d obviously be open to anything that makes sense, but at this stage we’d want to give this a little more time before we made a quick decision.”

Last year, while ESPN’s six races leading into the Chase saw a ratings increase of 2%, ABC saw a drop of 8% for its 11 races last year. None of the 10 Chase races showed ratings improvement from 2008 to 2009. Sobieski said she did not believe it was a problem with the Chase. “I think there is strong competition [on TV] this time of year,” Sobieski said. “That’s much more the case likely than anything specific to the Chase. The fans continue to give more positive feedback and more positive understanding of the Chase itself. It is a good race this year. It is a tight points race.” Compared to 2008, the ratings for 2010 were down 39% for New Hampshire and 27% for Dover.(in part from SceneDaily), imagine if ESPN used their online properties a little more and promoted them [ESPN.com. Racecast, the Guru in Fantasy & Jayski.com], would help the promotion of their TV coverage.(10-3-2010)

Latest on possible Chase changes: NASCAR is examining several options at altering the Chase format. The options include increasing the number of Chase drivers to 15, turning the 10-race Chase into an elimination tournament, going to some different tracks and creating a separate points system for the Chase drivers separate from the rest of the field. “We’re going to make changes in the Chase that we think would serve us well for many, many years,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said earlier this year. “If that means it’s not something we’re reacting to, whether it’s lower ratings than we want … we look at these things annually. We looked at it very hard last year … but we didn’t think the timing was right. But whatever we do, it will be with the industry having lots of chances to weigh in, and us in the end thinking this is something that we can build around that enhances winning, enhances the championship, gives us more of a playoff field than we currently have now, if that’s where we end up.”

One proposal that has been suggested by ESPN, which televises the Chase, is an elimination format where drivers are eliminated from contention each week until two remain going into the season finale at Homestead. Whoever finishes highest in that race would be declared the champion.

Another suggestion is the separate point system for the Chase drivers in which they’re credited points as if it were a race within a race.
That system would keep all 12 Chase drivers in contention as opposed to now when, for all intents and purposes, the last four drivers in this year’s Chase are already out of the running after two races (Kansas City Star.(10-3-2010)

ServiceMaster ‘By the Numbers’ at Kansas:

47 fewer catuions in Sprint Cup Series after 28 races in 2010

2 of the nine races at Kansas have been won from the pole

6 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Kansas Speedway (10/4/09)

4 of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup have yet to win in 2010

6 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers available at Kansas this weekend; number is expected to be reduced to four with the favorable weather forecast for the weekend

7 of the 27 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

13 – most cautions for a Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas (9/30/01)

12 different Sprint Cup race winners in 2010

16 different Sprint Cup pole winners in 2010

13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville)

120 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers to dry the 1.5-mile Kansas track

106 of the 197 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 28 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents, 37 for debris and 25 for spins

197 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 28 Sprint Cup events this season; 244 after 28 races last year

1,011 of 8,376 laps completed in the first 28 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,173 of 8,036 after 28 races last year

1,428.630 of 11,259.428 miles completed this season in the 28 Sprint Cup races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,625.946 of 10,720.805 after 28 races last year.(ServiceMaster Clean)(10-3-2010)

Drivers who have run all races at Kansas: Counting today’s race, the following have competed in every Kansas race: #31-Jeff Burton, #2-Kurt Busch, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon, #29-Kevin Harvick, #17-Matt Kenseth, #09-Bobby Labonte, #5-Mark Martin, #39-Ryan Newman, #19-Elliott Sadler and #14-Tony Stewart.(NASCAR This Week)(10-3-2010)

News from October 2, 2010

The Chase Is On: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Kansas: The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship continues Sunday, Oct. 3, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 400 miles at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and ESPN will have a live telecast. The NASCAR Countdown pre-race show airs at 12:00pm/et on ESPN2 with the race telecast on ESPN at 1:00pm/et. The race’s green flag is scheduled for 1:16 pm/et.

Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.

NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

Race Coverage of the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 3, 2010.

Television (TV): ESPN at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et on ESPN2; green flag approx 1:16pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

ESPN2, Monday, October 4 at 2:00am/et

SPEED, Wednesday, October 6 at 12:00pm/et

ESPN.com Offers RacingLive! During Kansas Race: NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com. RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, Oct. 3, RacingLive! Kansas will kick off at 1:00 pm/et to coincide with ESPN’s telecast of the race at Kansas Speedway.

ESPN Radio Raceday Airs Sunday Each weekend morning, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay starts its engines at 6:00 am/et with host Pat Patterson anchored from Daytona Beach. Patterson also originates the broadcast from several racetracks with key races during the season. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay listeners get an hour of news, previews and analysis, as well as profiles and interviews with NASCAR’s biggest names and newsmakers and the involvement of listeners via calls and e-mails. A list of ESPN Radio affiliates can be found at www.espnradio.com.

Pit Stall Selections – Kansas: The selections of pit stalls for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #9-Kahne chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

Outside pole sitter #98-Menard took pit stall 8, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

#24-Gordon, who starts 3rd took the 7th pit stall, the first stall with an opening in back of it.

The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #17-Kenseth, who starts 8th.

To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-2-2010)

Happy Hour practice: for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top 5, slowest and any notes:

#5-Martin 171.027

#48-Johnson 170.908

#16-Biffle 170.837

#20-Logano 170.800

#24-Gordon 170.751

slowest: #7-Conway 164.094 & #38-Blaney 166.384

best 10 lap average speeds

#24-Gordon 169.210

#18-Busch 169.081

#1-McMurray 168.988

#29-Harvick 168.864

#48-Johnson 168.860

ESPN2 will carry same day delay coverge of Happy Hour after the Nationwide race, approx 6:30pm/et

See fastest speeds, average speeds and laps run on the Kansas Practice Speeds & News Page.(10-2-2010)

Happy Hour results for for the Chase drivers at Kansas:

[by current points standings]:

1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 19th fastest

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd

3) #18-Kyle Busch, 14th

4) #2-Kurt Busch, 12th

5) #29-Kevin Harvick, 24th

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 7th

7) #31-Jeff Burton, 17th

8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5th

9) #16-Greg Biffle, 3rd

10) #14-Tony Stewart, 22nd

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 13th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 9th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-2-2010)

Saturday’s first practice: for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top 5, slowest and more:

#2-Busch 173.027

#24-Gordon 172.817

#17-Kenseth 172.778

#00-Reutimann 172.629

#16-Biffle 172.601

slowest: #7-Conway 164.921 & #46-McDowell 166.128

See fastest speeds, average speeds and laps run on the Kansas Practice Speeds & News Page.(10-2-2010)

Bowyer comments on appeal loss: Clint Bowyer, #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy met with members of the media at Kansas Speedway on Friday and discussed the appeal decision, the transcript in part:

Q) WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE DECISION BY THE APPEALS COMMITTEE AND DID YOUR FANS ASK YOU ABOUT IT?:
Bowyer: “Everyone of them, obviously they’re your fans and everyone of them supports you on it and wish you the best. Just like anybody else, they don’t understand, you know. I’ll just save everybody’s breath in asking me. Here’s my answer to that – I’m very disappointed, not surprised at all. I’ll just leave it at that. I’m looking forward to getting that behind me. This is an important weekend. I made some mistakes on the track last week that were uncharacteristic of myself, we made some mistakes as a team that were uncharacteristic and our heads weren’t 100 percent in the game. I don’t want this mess to bother us anymore. I’m at my home track, I’m having fun and that’s what I aim to do.”

Q) DO YOU STILL THINK YOU CAN GET IN THE CHASE BEING 235 POINTS BEHIND THE LEADER AT THIS POINT?:

Bowyer: “No, I think the championship hopes are done for myself. The thing that I have to do is be the best teammate I can be. We have to bring a championship home. We still have two shots at that, but for myself and our race team, I’ve never finished out of the top-five in the Chase and I want to continue that streak and want to continue that consistency in the Chase and I think that’s an attainable goal. The biggest thing is to be the best teammate I can be.”

Q) WOULDN’T IT BE EASY TO TEAR A TEAM APART AS A DRIVER IN THIS SITUATION?:

Bowyer: “Absolutely and that’s what I’m trying to say is I’m not going to let that happen. I’ve told Richard (Childress, team owner), it’s not worth fighting. In my opinion, their (NASCAR) minds are made up, it is what it is and if you want to be a part of this great thing we call a sport, you better just go on and enjoy what it is. He’s fighting hard and I’m proud of the case that they put together. I think they worked very hard on it, they put a lot of time and energy and money into presenting a case that could prove less than a 16th of an inch how that car could be out. At the end of the day, if you’re going to pick that, it is what it is.”(Team Chevy)(10-2-2010)

Movie about Wendell Scott, scenes to be shot this week: After Saturday’s championship race the owners of the I-77 Speedway [Chester, SC] had plans to make improvements. But at least for the next week in October, old is good, and older is better. The speedway will be a stand-in for the dirt tracks of the 1960s where NASCAR legends traded paint. NASCAR Media Group, Max Siegel and ESPN have combined efforts to produce a documentary on Wendell Scott, the only black to win a race in NASCAR’s top division. The documentary is scheduled to air in February as part of Black History Month celebrations. Scott started racing on Virginia dirt tracks in 1947, winning the Virginia state championship in 1959. In 196,1 he moved to NASCAR’s top division, competing in more than 500 races before a pileup at Talladega in 1973 ended his career. He finished among the top 10 in 147 races and the top 5 in 20 races.

On Dec. 1, 1963, he won a 100-mile NASCAR feature race in Jacksonville, Fla., defeating Buck Baker by two laps. The trophy went to Baker and NASCAR officials later admitted there was a scoring error. History records that the reason the trophy went to Baker was racial, they didn’t want to present the trophy to a black man. That race and Scott’s ride through the tracks of the “Jim Crow” South is the documentary’s theme.

The I-77 Speedway’s role in the documentary starts Sunday when film crews shoot behind-the-track scenes. On Monday, the Ford and Chevy cars of the 1960s take to the track. About 25 extras are needed that day starting about 11:00 am. The biggest day of shooting is Tuesday. There will be about 15 cars on the track and about 150 extras are needed about 5 p.m. Extras should wear clothing without logos. Men should wear button-down shirts, T-shirts and blue jeans, while women should wear printed dresses if possible. The time period the film crew is trying to capture in 1963. On Wednesday, about 40 extras are needed from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.(Herald Online)(10-2-2010)

Johnson to announce Helmet of Hope winner UPDATE: #48-Jimmie Johnson will be a guest on SPEED Channel’s Trackside Live Friday night from Kansas Speedway. Johnson will be announcing the winner of the Samsung Helmet of Hope for More campaign, an online voting initiative in which one of the 12 charities selected to adorn Johnson’s race helmet will receive an additional $20,000.
Participating charities each received a $10,000 grant and placement on Johnson’s Sprint Cup Series race helmet for the Oct. 10 event at Auto Club Speedway (Lowe’s Racing)(10-1-2010)

UPDATE: Cookies for Kids’ Cancer became the deserving winner of an additional $20,000 grant after earning the most votes in the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Samsung Helmet of Hope for More campaign. Jimmie Johnson revealed the winner on Speed Channel’s “Trackside Live” program Friday evening. Johnson also surprised second-place finishing The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation by announcing that it would also receive a $20,000 grant, a decision made after Johnson and his wife Chandra received an email exchange between the top two charities. The thirteen Samsung Helmet of Hope charities each received a $10,000 grant and placement on Johnson’s Sprint Cup Series race helmet for the Oct. 10 event at Auto Club Speedway. Each charity that elected to participate in the Helmet of Hope for More initiative then had the opportunity to Hope For More and win additional funding through the online voting contest. See full story and links about the Helmet of Hope on my Racing Charities page – Helmet for Hope section.(10-2-2010)

Kansas Tire Notes: While teams in both NASCAR series in action at Kansas this weekend will be running the same right-side tire code (D-4386), they will be running distinct left-side codes . . . the Sprint Cup Series’ left-side code is D-4382 . . . teams in both series ran their same exact tire combination at California earlier this season (same right-side, distinct left-sides) . . . . they will also run the same tire codes at California again next weekend . . . this is the first time either of these two tire codes will be run at Kansas . . . compared to what was run at the track last year, this tire set-up features a construction change on both sides to enhance the cars’ grip level, and a compound change on the right-side to help “rubber in” the track . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Kansas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage. See tire pressures, codes and more on my Kansas Race Info page – Goodyear section.(10-2-2010)

News from October 1, 2010

Kahne wins pole at Kansas: #9-Kasey Kahne won the Coors Pole for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 174.644mph for his 3rd pole of 2010 and 19th of his career. Kahne has won 5 races from the pole. #98-Menard will start 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #20-Logano, #16-Biffle, #39-Newman, #42-Montoya, #17-Kenseth, #2-Busch and #6-Ragan.

The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Elliott, #09-Labonte, #46-McDowell, #64-Cassill, #26-Carpentier, #13-Mears, #36-Yeley and #38-Blaney.

The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #87-Nemechek, #55-Bliss and #66-Leffler .

See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Kansas Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(10-1-2010)

Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Kansas:

Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:

[by current points standings]:

1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 12th

2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 21st

3) #18-Kyle Busch, 19th

4) #2-Kurt Busch, 9th

5) #29-Kevin Harvick, 24th

6) #99-Carl Edwards, 31st

7) #31-Jeff Burton, 23rd

8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3rd

9) #16-Greg Biffle, 5th

10) #14-Tony Stewart, 14th

11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 8th

12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 27th

See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(10-1-2010)

Qualifying Fast Facts – Kansas:

Kasey Kahne won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods with a lap of 30.920 seconds, 174.644 mph.

This is his 19th pole in 245 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his third pole and 15th top-10 start in 2010.

This is his second pole in seven races at Kansas Speedway.

Paul Menard (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2010 and his second in four races at Kansas Speedway.

Jeff Gordon (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 15th in 29 races this season.

Kevin Conway (41st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-1-2010)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 1, 2010 at 4:40pm/et.

Television (TV): SPEED at 4:30pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com

Jayski.com: Jayski’s Semi-Live Qualifying Page

Qualifying Re-Air: 9:30pm/et & 2:00am/et

Qualifying Order for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #77-Hornish Jr.

The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #7-Conway.

The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #87-Nemechek with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #55-Bliss.

See the full qualifying order on the Kansas Qualifying Page.(10-1-2010)

Chassis selections for Kansas: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Kansas this weekend on the Kansas Info page – Chassis selection area.

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Kansas:

No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th, but their lead falls from 110 points to to 84 over the #38 team.
34) #71-TBA/TRG: 2029, +120

35) #7-Conway/RGM, 1993, 84 points ahead of 36th

these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

36) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 1909, -84 points out of the top 35

37) #26-Carpentier/Latitude43: 1827, -166

The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(9-26-2010)

Friday practice: for the Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top 5, slowest and more:

#42-Montoya 174.984

#39-Newman 174.921

#48-Johnson 174.723

#1-McMurray 174.436

#98-Menard, 174.436

slowest: #66-Leffler 167.874 & #47-Ambrose 167.874

no speed: #5-Martin [fuel pressure problems, changed engines]

notes: #47-Ambrose had engine issues and the team changed the engine, so qualifying will be for pit selection only.

See fastest speeds, average speeds and laps run on the Kansas Practice Speeds & News Page.(10-1-2010)

Kansas practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

#09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 23rd fatsest overall

#13-Casey Mears, 25th

#21-Bill Elliott [PC2], 27th

#38-Dave Blaney, 34th

#64-Landon Cassill, 35th

#36-J.J. Yeley, 36th

#87-Joe Nemechek, 37th

#46-Michael McDowell, 39th

these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

#26-Patrick Carpentier, 40th

#55-Mike Bliss, 42nd

#66-Jason Leffler, 45th

[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Pink scheme for Sadler at Kansas: For the third consecutive year Stanley is partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Sadler’s #19 Ford will carry the colors and logo of Susan G. Komen for the Cure this weekend at Kansas. Elliott Sadler on Kansas: “I’m really excited about this weekend’s race. Kansas Speedway is a great track and I love to race there, but I’m equally as excited about our Susan G. Komen for the Cure paint scheme. My mom, who has always been my biggest fan, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, so this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. You very rarely meet a person who hasn’t been affected in some way, shape or form by cancer and I’m proud to be wearing pink and driving the pink Stanley/Susan G. Komen Ford Fusion this weekend in support of that organization. This paint scheme is another example of the wonderful organization that my sponsor, Stanley, supports.”

Since 2008, Stanley has donated over $265,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on one of a kind items worn by Richard Petty and Elliott Sadler during the Kansas race weekend. The items available will include a custom Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hat made exclusively for Richard Petty and signed by The King himself. Elliott Sadler fans will have the chance to bid on his Kansas race-used uniform, including Sadler’s Stanley – Susan G. Komen for the Cure firesuit. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To learn more about breast health and breast cancer, visit http://komen.org.(RPM)(10-1-2010)

ExtenZe Local Hero Program Resumes at Kansas: Since July 25, 1991, Reverend Jim McWilliams has led the efforts to locate his missing nephew, Charles ‘Arlin’ Henderson. Even after the FBI and other agencies let the case go cold, he and his family are still out there looking. Arlin, 11 years old at the time, was last seen riding his BMX bike near his Moscow Hills, Mo. home heading to a friend’s house. His bike was later discovered October 10, 1991 almost 10 miles from his home. Since then, there have been few leads that point to where Arlin might be or what happened to him but that hasn’t slowed down Reverend McWilliams and his family in their search.

For Reverend McWilliams tireless efforts in keeping his nephew’s missing person case in the minds of the public and for being a counselor to many in need, as well as helping other families who have experienced the same fate of having a child or family member abducted, he has been named an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ and will serve as an Honorary Crew Chief for NASCAR’s leading Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year driver Kevin Conway and the ExtenZe racing team for this weekend’s Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.

Reverend McWilliams has also helped counsel the families of and participated in the search efforts for Bianca Piper, Sean Hornbeck, and Ben Owneby (the latter two were found.) He rejoiced when Jaycee Dugard was found alive in August of 2009 after being abducted around the same time his nephew Arlin was abducted. The news of Dugard energized his efforts to keep the hope animate that Arlin is still out there somewhere alive as well. A standing $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the Arlin case is still in effect. For anyone that has information that can help in this case should contact the local FBI of Kansas City & Missouri or call 1-800-THE LOST or Reverend Jim McWilliams at 314-807-2100. Conway’s #7 ExtenZe Toyota will carry the images of Arlin and this information on the deck lid this weekend. The ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference in their communities. Fans can visit www.ExtenZeRacing.com to nominate their own local heroes. Also check in on blog/twitter feeds for the latest information on ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway.(ExtenZe Racing)(10-1-2010)

Johnson to announce Helmet of Hope winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson will be a guest on SPEED Channel’s Trackside Live Friday night from Kansas Speedway. Johnson will be announcing the winner of the Samsung Helmet of Hope for More campaign, an online voting initiative in which one of the 12 charities selected to adorn Johnson’s race helmet will receive an additional $20,000.
Participating charities each received a $10,000 grant and placement on Johnson’s Sprint Cup Series race helmet for the Oct. 10 event at Auto Club Speedway (Lowe’s Racing). See more info about the Helmet of Hope on my Racing Charities page – Helmet for Hope section.(10-1-2010)

Analyst critical of NASCAR’s logic: The reconstruction analyst who testified that Clint Bowyer’s New Hampshire Sprint Cup car was knocked out of tolerance by a wrecker labeled NASCAR’s arguments against his findings as nonsense. Dr. Charles Manning of Raleigh, N.C.-based Accident Reconstruction Analysis said two tests of a wrecker pushing a car set up the same as Bowyer’s winning #33 in the Chase opener showed the left rear end moved upward 40 thousandths of one inch. Testifying Wednesday on behalf of Richard Childress Racing, Manning told the National Stock Car Racing Commission that heard the appeal that his scientific study “clearly” explains the 39,000th of an inch NASCAR told RCR officials the car was beyond tolerances.

“They came out this morning and claimed it was negated by the telemetry which didn’t show a very sharp impact,” Manning said Thursday. “We didn’t have any sharp impact, either. We pushed it easily. They said the visual inspection of the car showed nothing in the way of damage. Well, after we got through testing none of the cars showed anything of note or damage. They said the visual inspection of the postrace push showed they pushed very gentle. We pushed more gentle … between six and 10 miles per hour. So what they said was a bunch of malarkey.” Manning said the only way he can have more exact data than what he collected during the reconstruction at Charlotte Motor Speedway using a duplicate of Bowyer’s car and a wrecker similar to the one at New Hampshire is to inspect the car in violation. He said NASCAR has not let him or RCR officials look at the car. “All we get from them is the stuff from behind closed doors,” said Manning, whose company helped CMS win its case when a pedestrian bridge collapsed after a race in 2000. “I’ve been doing this for 45 years. When we go to court I’ve got photos and measurements. We haven’t seen any photos. We haven’t seen any measurements.” NASCAR officials said they can’t release specific data used to defend their case until the final appeal is heard.(full story and quotes at ESPN.com)(10-1-2010)

Volkswagen to NASCAR? Penske? denied: The latest entry into America’s most popular motorsports series could very well be the first ever from Germany. According to Matthias Muller, the newly appointed CEO of Porsche, Volkswagen Group — his employer’s parent company — is considering entering NASCAR. Should it follow through, Volkswagen would be just the second foreign automaker to participate in NASCAR. Toyota was first, entering the competition in 2007. The German automaker will reportedly begin discussions with NASCAR officials once the current season ends in late November. One of the owners that Volkswagen is considering team up with is Roger Penske.(Motortrend)

BUT Penske Racing will not be switching from Dodges to Volkswagens in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next year, nor will the German automaker be fielding cars in America’s premier stock-car series in 2011. Beyond that, though, VW could make a play to race stock cars. The operant word there being “could,” as the automaker has not petitioned NASCAR to go racing next year. Sources at Penske Racing told SPEED.com that it is the team’s “full intent” to continue fielding Dodges next year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series. Furthermore, sources at NASCAR said that while Volkswagen officials intermittently have expressed a casual “interest in NASCAR,” the German automaker has not taken any of the steps necessary to be granted approval to race in NASCAR. In order to be approved to compete, VW or any other automaker would have to formally submit its race car and engine package to NASCAR. That has not happened, NASCAR officials told SPEED.com Thursday. And even if VW wanted to race in NASCAR, the earliest a car could be approved would be for the 2012 season.(SPEED)(10-1-2010)

Special scheme for Kurt Busch: Miller Lite is announced a $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront, an organization that helps troops in need. Miller Lite Racing, in its third year of supporting to the organization, is also encouraging consumers to donate and send thank-you postcards to military members. “Operation Homefront does an incredible job of driving awareness to the needs of military members and their families,” said Grant Leech, vice president of marketing for Miller Lite. “The men and women of our armed services, and their families, make incredible sacrifices every day. All of us at Miller Lite are proud to show our appreciation, and we hope everyone who enjoys the great taste of Miller Lite will also make a contribution to Operation Homefront.”

Consumers can visit www.MillerLite.com/vets to make a donation and visit participating Miller Lite retailers to write thank-you postcards, which will then be sent to local Operation Homefront chapters. Additionally, the # 2 Miller Lite Dodge, driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title contender Kurt Busch, will feature a special Operation Homefront paint scheme for each race between October 3 and November 7, including a full-car takeover for the November 7 Texas race. “The Operation Homefront paint scheme shows the racing world that Miller Lite is a strong supporter of the military,” said Busch. “And on a personal level, I’m proud to drive this car. I’m hoping to revisit Victory Lane several times in it, just as I did in Texas last year. And I hope all the fans of the Blue Deuce will chip in, too.”(Tom Roberts PR)(10-1-2010)

Sprint Cup Crash and Spin Roundup (after 28 races):

# of accidents, driver

2 – Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick

3 – Matt Kenseth

4 – Clint Bowyer

5 – Robby Gordon, AJ Allmendinger, Scott Speed, Carl Edwards

6 – Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Martin Truex, Jr., David Reutimann

7 – Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard

8 – Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Regan Smith

9 – Bobby Labonte

10 – Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson

11 – Brad Keselowski

12 – Marcos Ambrose, the five drivers of the #83 Toyota

13 – Sam Hornish Jr., Joey Logano

14 – Elliott Sadler

(see full story at The Motorsports FanHouse)(10-1-2010)

Sherwin Williams scheme for Biffle: This weekend at Kansas Speedway, the #16 Ford Fusion will feature a Sherwin Williams paint scheme. The car was actually painted with a more environmentally friendly paint by Sherwin Williams called AWX Waterborne Basecoat System which has the following advantages: Up to a 96% decrease in VOC emissions compared to solvent borne basecoats; Reduces hazardous waste generation; Eliminates flammability hazard associated with solvent borne coatings; Uses less material to cover more area.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-1-2010)

Judge grants NASCAR request to dismiss counterclaim against Mayfield: A U.S. District Court judge has granted NASCAR’s request to dismiss its breach-of-contract and fraud claims against Jeremy Mayfield to help speed up the appeal in Mayfield’s lawsuit against the sanctioning body over a May 1, 2009, drug test that NASCAR says was positive for methamphetamines.
U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued the order Wednesday, giving the case at least temporary closure on the district court level. In May, Mullen ruled that Mayfield, who has said he did not use methamphetamines, did not have a case against NASCAR and ruled in favor of NASCAR without the case going to trial. Mayfield had been unable to appeal that decision because NASCAR’s countersuit – which alleges that by racing while violating the substance-abuse policy, Mayfield breached the contract he signed to compete in NASCAR – was still pending with a trial scheduled for July 2011. With that part dismissed, Mayfield can now file an appeal to Mullen’s decision that ruled the case in favor of NASCAR. A Mayfield filing Tuesday indicated that he planned to ask the court Wednesday for permission to file an amended lawsuit with a revised defamation claim that included specific factual allegations demonstrating malice and an additional claim for interference with business relationships based upon newly discovered evidence. That request to file a revised lawsuit had not been submitted prior to Mullen’s ruling Wednesday (SceneDaily)

AND Jeremy Mayfield claims that NASCAR Chairman Brian France had him black-flagged during the 2006 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and that NASCAR officials were upset with him in 2009 for signing a sponsor they were courting, according to a court filing late Wednesday. Mayfield made those claims in asking U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen to reconsider a May 2010 ruling that dismissed his lawsuit against NASCAR over a May 1, 2009 drug test that NASCAR says was positive for methamphetamines. The filing is another step in the appeals process – asking the judge to reconsider the decision before actually filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals.(see full story at SceneDaily)(10-1-2010)