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Jon Wood to drive the No. 21 at Richmond

April 30 // Jon Wood will drive the #21 Air Force Ford Fusion at this weekend's Sprint Cup event at the Richmond International Raceway. The 26 year old driver will be attempting to qualify for his second start of the 2008 season, after qualifying 12th at Talladega Superspeedway last week.  (From WoodBrothersRacing.com)

The No. 21 currently sits in 44th place and has to qualify on speed.

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LaFayette Ford to sponsor Kvapil at Darlington

April 29, 2008 // Yates Racing announced today that LaFayette Ford, who sponsored the No. 28 with driver Fred Lorenzen from 1962-1967, will again sponsor the No. 28 entry but this time with driver Travis Kvapil for the Sprint Cup series race at Darlington Raceway on May 10th. Kvapil’s No. 28 will sport a paint scheme reminiscent to that of Fred Lorenzen’s during the 60’s when LaFayette Ford sponsored Lorenzen’s No. 28 machine.

"It’s really a neat idea that LaFayette Ford wanted to sponsor our No. 28 Ford for the race at Darlington," commented Kvapil. "The No. 28 has so much history associated with it that I’m honored to be a part of that legacy. Our paint scheme is a vintage scheme similar to the one Fred (Lorenzen) used to race and I think the car’s going to look great out on the track. I’m flattered that LaFayette Ford chose to sponsor our team at Darlington and I’m looking forward to the weekend."

"I’m thrilled to have this partnership with LaFayette Ford," commented car owner Doug Yates. "The No. 28 has a long history with great drivers such as Fred Lorenzen and now we’re carrying that tradition to Travis Kvapil. It’s great to see the retro paint scheme for the No. 28 Ford Fusion and it’s been wonderful to have the support of Ford dealers across the country, especially Don Price and LaFayette Ford. The fact that LaFayette Ford has such a storied history with NASCAR makes us extremely honored to be able to bring them back as a sponsor at Darlington, and it’s an effort that our whole organization is proud to be a part of."  (From TeamYatesRacing.com)

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Lowe’s planning to install more SAFER barriers before May races

Lowe's Motor Speedway crews will install 340 feet of additional SAFER barriers along the track's inside backstretch retaining wall prior to the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600. "The hard licks that Jeff Gordon and Michael McDowell took earlier this season reminded us all that bizarre and unexpected things can happen in racing," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "This additional SAFER barrier will add more protection on our backstretch for May, and we're looking at some additional improvements back there as well." NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader and safety advocate Jeff Burton was at the 1.5-mile superspeedway today to assist Wheeler in placing the first new section of the steel and foam energy-reducing barriers. "A race track can never provide more than enough tools to make racing safe," said Burton. "With cars reaching over 200 mph down the backstretch at Charlotte, installing extra SAFER barriers on the inside retaining wall is just another step 'Humpy' has taken to improve the safety of our sport. I'm excited the folks at Lowe's asked me to be part of this important project."  (From LowesMotorSpeedway.com)

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Schrader to drive No. 40 Dodge at Richmond

April 29, 2008 // Ken Schrader acknowledged Tuesday he has agreed to drive the No. 40 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge in Saturday night's Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Schrader replaces injured Dario Franchitti, who is sidelined with a broken ankle from a violent wreck during last Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Ganassi Racing confirmed Schrader's status Tuesday afternoon. Schrader qualified third in Haas CNC Racing's No. 70 Chevrolet and finished 42nd in Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega. Johnny Sauter is slated to drive the No. 70 for Haas this week. (From SportingNews.com)

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Martin Truex to drive for DEI in 2009 and possibly beyond

April 28, 2008 // Dale Earnhardt Inc. has picked up the option on Truex's contract for next season and hopes to sign him to a long-term deal for 2010 and beyond. There was speculation Truex would end up at any of a number of organizations, including Richard Childress Racing's fourth team and Hendrick Motorsports, if Casey Mears were to be released. "He's stated he loves DEI and loves working there," Max Siegel said of Truex. "I want to make sure the overall package we put together gives him the security and comfort and resources he needs to compete at the highest level."

"The material things of the deal for next season are agreed upon," Siegel said. "We're just working out the salary details." Siegel is happy with the overall direction of DEI. Truex is 17th in points, falling three spots with Sunday's 37th-place finish following a crash at Talladega.  (From WTVD Raleigh-Durham)

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Driver Comments from Talladega

Chevy
comments from Joe Nemechek
comments from Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, Martin Truex Jr.

Dodge
comments from Robby Gordon
comments from Kyle Petty and Bobby Labonte
comments from Ryan Newman
comments from Sam Hornish Jr.
comments from Kurt Busch
comments from Kasey Kahne
comments from Elliot Sadler

Ford
comments from David Ragan
comments from Greg Biffle
comments from Jamie McMurray

Toyota
comments from Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin
comments from Tony Stewart

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Dollar General to sponsor Nationwide race at Chicagoland Speedway

April 23, 2008 // Dollar General today announced a multi-year agreement with Chicagoland Speedway to be the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. The Dollar General 300 Powered by Coca-Cola on July 11 will mark the first ever Nationwide Series night race at Chicagoland Speedway.

"We are thrilled to partner with a tremendous company like Dollar General for our Nationwide Series race in July," said Matthew Alexander, president of Chicagoland Speedway. "Each year, we strive to exceed our fans' needs by providing the best possible service to every guest who comes to our facility. Partnering with Dollar General has enabled us to align ourselves with a corporation that shares the same philosophy, as they have a long-standing tradition of customer satisfaction."

In addition to the title sponsorship deal with Chicagoland Speedway, Dollar General is the entitlement sponsor for the No. 32 and No. 10 cars for Braun Racing in 14 Nationwide Series races this season. Brian Vickers, who ranks 19th in points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will pilot the No. 10 Dollar General car at Chicagoland Speedway for the Dollar General 300 Powered by Coca-Cola Nationwide Series race.  (From ChicagolandSpeedway.com)

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Tony Stewart leaving Joe Gibbs Racing?

Here is a pretty shocking article from SportsIllustrated.com that says that it is all-but-done that Tony Stewart will be leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season to join Haas CNC Racing.  Apperently, Tony will recieve partial ownership of Haas CNC Racing (who gets engines -- and some say much more -- from Hendrick Motorsports) and will most likely drive the No. 66.  Here is more from the article:

As one source told me, it's not that Stewart's unhappy or that there's internal dissension; it's that he's in need of a new challenge. Gibbs and Stewart will be friends for life, but they've been together for a decade, and some type of change is in order. Hendrick's organization also has proven to be one of the best organized, from top to bottom. With inside access to the team through their relationship with Haas CNC, Stewart can acquire the tools he needs to build a program as he sees fit.

There's no word on whether Home Depot or crew chief Greg Zipadelli will follow Stewart to his new venture; decisions on those moves will surely come within the next few months. For the time being, though, Stewart will focus on winning a third title with the Gibbs program, which currently has all three of its cars ranked in the top 7 in the point standings. Winless so far this season, Stewart is still a viable title threat; and with five top 10s in eight starts, he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. (From SportsIllustrated.com)

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Papis to driver Haas No. 70 at road courses

Haas CNC Racing has hired Max Papis will drive the No. 70 Chevrolet during the two road-course races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule. "I'm very excited to have this opportunity," Papis said. "After testing for Hendrick Motorsports and developing more knowledge about the COT, I'm proud and honored to carry over that experience to the Haas CNC Racing program." The Cup Series road-course races are June 22 at Sonoma and Aug. 10 at Watkins Glen. (From Nascar.com)

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Schrader and Wallace to run at Virginia Motor Speedway

The second annual Paul Sawyer Memorial Modified race at Virginia Motor Speedway won't lack star power. The race, to be held May 1, already has confirmed NASCAR's Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, with other drivers still a possibility. "Some drivers have hobbies like golfing or fishing or hunting," Wallace said yesterday. "I'm kind of the same way. I can spend Thursday in my motor home or go run a local dirt track. "Last year, I went there and didn't know what I was doing. This year, I'm going back to see if I can do better. I like the challenge." Tickets are on sale now for the 60-lap race at VMS. (From InRich.com)

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Allmendinger back in No. 84 for Talladega with silver paint scheme

The silver No. 84 that’s been shining in Red Bull Racing Team’s shop unloads for the first time Friday at Talladega, and AJ Allmendinger, who returns after a five-race layoff, can’t wait to show off his car’s new look. “I think it’s sweet,” Allmendinger said. “Our blue has been good, but it’s one of those things that says, ‘I’m back!’ It’s silver. It’s going to stand out. It’s going to look fast, and it’s going to be fast.” In 2007, Red Bull’s motorsports branding featured dynamic bulls, suns and custom deep blue color. More than a year later, the design is expanding with the silver No. 84. The car maintains the same styling cues as the No. 83 to ensure close affiliation but carries a metallic silver pearl base and blue number to create its own identity and personality. “Some would call it a mirrored aluminum silver. Some would call it a titanium finish,” said Marty Briggs, the paint shop manager. “We would just have to call it bad ass.”  For more silver shots, visit our photo gallery. (From TeamRedBull.blogspot.com)

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Northern Tool and Equipment to sponsor Travis Kvapil’s No. 28 at Talladega

April 22, 2008 // Yates Racing announced today that Northern Tool + Equipment, a leading supplier of high-quality tools and equipment for more than 27 years, will sponsor the No. 28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27th.

"I’m thrilled to have Northern Tool + Equipment as the sponsor of our No. 28 Ford Fusion for this weekend," commented Kvapil. "This is a very exciting time for our Yates Racing organization because we’ve had some really great races to open the season with, and because of that, we’re able to showcase our strengths and the benefit that a sponsorship with our team will entail. I’m very flattered to represent Northern Tool + Equipment this weekend and I know that our team is going to do them proud on Sunday."  (From TeamYatesRacing.com)

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Best Buy to sponsor Dover race in June

Best Buy Co. Inc. will sponsor a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware on June 1. Under the deal, the race will be named the "Best Buy 400 benefitting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks."  Richfield-based Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) also sponsors Elliott Sadler's No. 19 car, but this is the first time the company has sponsored a race.

"On behalf of Best Buy's 150,000 employees, we are proud to sponsor the inaugural running of the Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks race," Best Buy Chief Marketing Officer Barry Judge said in a statement. "Many of our customers love auto racing, so this sponsorship is another way Best Buy is not only supporting the sport they enjoy, but also helping a great charity." (From Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal)

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National Day of Prayer on hood for No. 78 at Talladega

April 21, 2008 // The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, driven by Joe Nemechek, will once again showcase a unique paint scheme at Talladega Superspeedway, site of this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. For the third year in a row at the Talladega spring event, Furniture Row, the Denver-based company which owns the No. 78 Chevrolet, is devoting its entire space on the car to the National Day of Prayer. The red, white and blue patriotic paint scheme will include the National Day of Prayer logo on the hood, the rear quarter panels, trunk-lid and the rear bumper (TV) panel of the No. 78 car.

"Using a car driven by Joe Nemechek, an accomplished driver who NASCAR fans recognize, is a fun and exciting way to promote the National Day of Prayer," said Brian Toon, vice-chairman of the National Day of Prayer. "This event enables us to communicate with a vast audience and show people that there is a day set aside where our nation joins together and prays." (From FurnitureRow.com)

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FanHub on vacation

Just like the most of the Sprint Cup guys, this was a free weekend...so you might have noticed that there were no blog posts for a couple of days. My wife and I went to the Bahamas to enjoy some R&R among other things and just got back to Denver this weekend.  I wouldn't even have said anything except for the fact that I ran into Ryan Newman while on my way to dinner.  I didn't talk with him much as I didn't want to disturb his vacation too much (and we were already late for dinner).  Just asked for a picture with him and got on my way.  He was very nice and courteous and had no problem posing with me.

-mike

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Jon Wood to drive Honey Buns No. 21 at Talladega

April 21, 2008 // Jon Wood will make his 2008 Sprint Cup Series debut in the Wood Brothers Racing no. 21 Honey Buns Ford Fusion in the Aaron's 499 at the famed Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 27th. Since the race was not a scheduled event for Bill Elliott, the team felt that Jon was a logical choice given his experience in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series on superspeedways.

Jon has a busy schedule this week as he is also entered to drive the no. 21 Air Force Ford F-150 in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at the Kansas Speedway on April 26th. The team is making every effort to make sure Jon participates in both events. An alternative driver is being considered to practice, qualify and possibly race the truck if arrangements cannot be made to get Jon to the Kansas Speedway.

Crew Chief Mike Smith agrees that this week is an excellent opportunity for the team to gel and work together for the first time this year. He said, "With Jon's experience level on superspeedways in other series, I'm very comfortable with him getting in the car this weekend. The test in Iowa will also help. It will give us a chance to work together as crew chief and driver, which we've never done before. I'm really looking forward to it."  (From WoodBrothersRacing.com)

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Montoya, Sorenson swap crew chiefs

Juan Pablo Montoya and his teammate Reed Sorenson will swap their crew chiefs from the next Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega, Chip Ganassi Racing officials announced on Tuesday. Montoya will work alongside Jimmy Elledge, who has been the only crew chief Sorenson has had in his Cup career. Elledge, who is married to Dale Earnhardt Jr's sister and manager Kelley, has been working at Ganassi since 2003, when he served as crew chief for Casey Mears before switching to Sorenson's No. 41 team in 2006. Meanwhile Montoya's former crew chief Donnie Wingo will start work with Sorenson at Talladega. No changes were announced for Dario Franchitti's team, which remains outside the top 35 in the owners' standing. (From AutoSport.com)

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Champ Car to race Long Beach Grand Prix for last time

While it is really sad to think about Champ Car tackling the streets of Long Beach one more time; it is exciting to realize that this will only be the beginning of the open-wheel re-revolution in the United States.  With the completed IRL/Champ Car merger, open-wheel racing will once again be unified and hopefully create some of the excitement and drivers that it produced before the split 12 years ago.

The 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature a field of 20 cars -- the largest starting grid since 2002.  The IRL guys are in Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi this weekend.  The scheduling conflict was un-repairable due to the major manufacturers associated with each event.  Honda Motor Company - the exclusive provider of IRL chassis - built Twin Ring Motegi in 1997 to bring IRL racing to Japan was not about to change its race date to accommodate the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  Additionally, with the GPLB being the crown jewel of the Champ Car schedule and no other weekends that would work, it was agreed upon that each series would run their individual races with the points being applied to the merged-series championship.

Although the Long Beach Grand Prix will remain on the post-merger schedule, as a Southern California native, and open-wheel race fan, I'm sad to see an end of an era...but the future looks bright!  The old saying really holds true here: 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts'.  If you care about open-wheel racing at all, you must read the article Long Beach Grand Prix promises sweet swan song from the LA Times.  Watch this video to see a lap around the circuit.

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NASCAR fans make PIR Arizona’s 4th largest city

Phoenix International Raceway is Arizona's fourth largest city this weekend.  Watch this video from the local television station, KNXV-TV (ABC), about in influx and how Arizona police are trying to keep everyone safe (sometimes, from themselves).

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Kvapil finally gets sponsorship from Ford at Phoenix

April 10, 2008 // DEARBORN, Mich. – This weekend, racing fans across the country will see and hear many of Ford Racing’s top stars talking about “Drive" Ford’s new and far-reaching message on improved vehicle quality, fuel economy, safety advances and smart technology.

Ford Racing cars will sport a variety of “Driv" logos starting with this weekend’s events at Phoenix, and NHRA's event at Las Vegas, highlighted by the No. 28 “Driv" Ford Fusion, driven by Yates Racing’s Travis Kvapil.

Yates Racing, which is still searching for a full-time sponsor for its cars, is helping Ford with the “Driv" launch by offering up Kvapil’s car, which will be seen by millions of viewers this weekend on SPEED and FOX.

“Yates Racing is honored to have the opportunity to run the ‘Drive one’ paint scheme on the No. 28 Ford Fusion this wee" said team owner Doug Yates. “We have a great driver in Travis, along with top-of-the-line equipment and technology courtesy of Ford.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have the chance to participate in the development of Ford cars and engines from the racing side and I can’t think of a better manufacturer to be affiliated " he said. “ ‘Drive one’ really shows consumers all the great strides Ford continues to make in an effort to provide the world with the best cars and trucks on the "

In addition to the primary sponsorship logos on the No. 28 Fusion this weekend, “Driv" logos will be featured on the b-pillar of each of Ford NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. In addition, in- car camera and roll cage shots will feature the new logos, and both Yates Racing and Wood Brothers Racing drivers and crew members will wear special “Driv" baseball caps.

In NHRA, both the John Force Racing Mustangs and the Tasca Racing Shelby Mustangs will feature “Driv" logos on their cars this weekend, and Force drivers Mike Neff and Robert Hight will both be outfitted with new “Driv" caps when they are out of the car.

Future plans include the inclusion of “Driv" logos on all the Mustang FR500S race cars in the new Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup series, the Mustang FR500C race cars that compete in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge series and the Ford-powered Grand Am Daytona Prototype cars. (From TeamYatesRacing.com)

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Subway Fresh Fit 500 at PIR - Notes

Pole: Ryan Newman 133.457 mph
Outside pole: Elliott Sadler 133.412 mph

"I know it's just qualifying and not the race, but we needed this," Sadler said. "We needed a good run today. We had such a bad week in Texas."

Didn't qualify: Kyle Petty, John Andretti.

Johnny Sauter, who took over for Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 70 earlier this week and needed to get in on time, qualified 42nd.

Drug testing has been the big news is off the track at Phoenix.  Here are some driver comments:

“I don’t feel like I race with guys on drugs, but at the same time, there are certain people you wonder about some times,” Kasey Kahne said. “I definitely wondered about Aaron Fike the last year he was in Nationwide or whatever he was racing. I always wondered. I really had no clue why he raced as long as he did.”

“I guess that shows you can be naive; I was naive,” Mark Martin said. “I didn’t think that was ever really a problem or would be an issue. I’m a race car driver and I would have no desire of racing a car or driving a race car with any sort of impairment at all.”

“What I think NASCAR should do is schedule the drivers’ meeting an hour early some week and, right as we come out of the drivers’ meeting, just test everybody,” Greg Biffle said. “And then it would be cut and dry. No ifs, ands or buts about it.”

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SUBWAY to sponsor Tony Stewart and No. 20 for three races

April 10, 2008 // AVONDALE, Ariz. – Furthering its relationship with Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs Racing, SUBWAY Restaurants will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 20 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for three races in 2008. Longtime sponsor The Home Depot will adorn the quarterpanels of the No. 20 Toyota, while SUBWAY will have signage on the rest of the car.

The No. 20 SUBWAY/Home Depot Toyota will make its debut April 10-12 during the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500k at Phoenix International Raceway, and will return to the track Aug. 29-31 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and again Oct. 3-5 at Talladega Superspeedway.

"We’re proud to have SUBWAY Restaurants as a partner with Joe Gibbs Racing, and it’s great to see them become even more involved with racing and our team,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Just as Home Depot has done a really good job of activating its sponsorship over the years, SUBWAY is doing an equally good job of using racing to market its line of fresh fit or better-for-you meals. We take a lot of pride in being their representatives in NASCAR.”

SUBWAY Restaurants has a yearlong associate sponsorship of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series and a personal services agreement with Stewart. (From JoeGibbsRacing.com)

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Doosan Infracore to sponsor Kyle Busch in Mexico

Doosan Infracore, an industrial equipment, vehicles, and systems manufacturer, will sponsor Kyle Busch and the No. 20 Toyota Camry for the fourth running of the Mexico 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“We’re proud to represent a worldwide industrial leader in NASCAR’s flagship international event at Mexico City,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Doosan is no stranger to racing and the power of motorsports sponsorship. In the 10 years since it began sponsoring Joe Gibbs Racing, its machine tools division has more than doubled its market share. Our partnership with Doosan is one we truly appreciate, and it’s our hope that with Kyle and our No. 20 Nationwide Series team at Mexico City, we can continue to build on that kind of success.”

“The vast majority of people in the infrastructure industry are either football fans or NASCAR fans, or both,” said Attila B. Catto, general manager, sales & marketing/director of motorsports, Doosan Infracore. “The association with Joe Gibbs Racing gives us exposure to both groups. Joe Gibbs is known as a winner, and our association with Joe Gibbs Racing conveys that you can’t lose with a Doosan Infracore product.”

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Cup cars to test Lowe’s in May?

Looking to increase competition, H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, is encouraging NASCAR to host an open Sprint Cup Series test at the 1.5-mile superspeedway prior to the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

"It's our intention to have the best racing possible here during the month of May and I have always believed that preparation is the key to great racing," Wheeler said. "You can compute, work the post machine and microscope the car until your tools bleed, but nothing, absolutely nothing, is as valuable as track time.

"So, we have offered NASCAR at least two days, May 5-6, to bring the teams in so they can test the new car. We'll have the track open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. so they can experiment with chassis setups during both daytime and nighttime conditions. Then, if further testing is needed, dates closer to the May 17 Sprint All-Star Race can be provided." (From Nascar.com)

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Almirola, Menard and Smith test at Infineon Raceway

Three DEI drivers visited Infineon Raceway on Wednesday to hone their skills on the challenging 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. NASCAR drivers Aric Almirola, Regan Smith and Paul Menard came to the track for a one-day test session before the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in the Sonoma Valley, June 20-22.

The drivers piloted GT America stock cars supplied by Pioneer Motorsports out of Lake Oroville. They were coached by road-course veteran Chris Cook and completed approximately 100 laps combined in the full-day test.

Smith is the only driver among the three with any Cup Series race experience at Infineon Raceway. He finished 30th in last year's event. "I raced here last year, so it's nice to come back here and get in that road-racing mentality again," said Smith.  "It's a totally different approach than an oval, and it's nice to come here and refresh your memory."

"I've been road racing since I was eight years old, so I'm more comfortable on road courses than on ovals.  It was a good day, and it's a great facility to be at," said Menard, who is in his second year of full-time Cup Series competition piloting the No. 15 Menards Chevrolet. He failed to qualify for the Sonoma race in 2007.

Almirola, who shares driving duties with veteran Mark Martin in the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet, is currently in his second partial season of Sprint Cup Series competition.  This marked his first visit to the Sonoma Valley road course. "This track is tough, but it's fun," said Almirola.  "The elevation changes and blind turns make it really difficult.  It's definitely something different."

Cook said all of the drivers took well to the road course, and he enjoyed working with all three teammates. "I think Aric was most focused being his first time here, and he made big gains by the end of the day," said Cook.  "Paul and Regan were a lot more disciplined with the track, and we worked on shifting points and braking points." (From InfineonRaceway.com)

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Phoenix International Raceway venue feedback

Going to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend?  Here is what other FanHub users have said about the track. Check out what other people have to say about the venue, not just the corporate spin on the place. If you have some particular insight into the place, then why not leave some feedback of your own? Use the link below to fill out a quick feedback form...

Click here to leave your feedback of Phoenix International Raceway

Overall Experience: B
Venue Experience: B
About the Venue: IT WAS REALLY THE BEST WHEN YOU COULD SIT ON THE MOUNTAIN...NOW THEY CHARGE FOR THAT!
Parking Experience: A
About Parking: IT WAS ALWAYS EASY IN AND OUT...BUT SOME DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX OR SCOTTSDALE...
Tailgating Experience: A
About Tailgating: THE PARTY WAS IN THE MOUNTAIN!
Arriving/Leaving: Easy in & out
Left by: BARBIE W.   5/26/2007 8:08:06 PM

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Overall Experience: A
Venue Experience: A
About the Venue: The track is first rate along with the grandstand seating and services available. Prices were good for the venue.The weather was fantastic and the race was GREAT.
Parking Experience: A
About Parking: I had NO problem getting into the parking lot. On site direction was good and the traffic moved at a good pace. I was surprised at just how easy and how fast we were able to exit the site after the race. The police did a fantastic job, not only at the track, but all the way back to the CBD.
Tailgating Experience: NA
About Tailgating: We flew 1500 miles to see the race, we did not have the option of tailgating.
Arriving/Leaving: Easy in & out
Left by: Don R.   3/7/2007 5:30:17 PM

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Overall Experience: C
Venue Experience: D
About the Venue: sat too low - row 6? - could not see over the infield
Parking Experience: C
About Parking: Charter bus
Tailgating Experience: NA
About Tailgating: 
Arriving/Leaving: Traffic is brutal... get there early and leave late.
Left by: james b.   3/5/2007 1:30:35 PM

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Overall Experience: A
Venue Experience: A
About the Venue: We arrived On Wednesday night in our motorhome and were led into parking spots like cars but were given some space between. It was already packed and the big race was still 4 days ahead. They were pretty organized until near the end when they seemed like they were out of spots and they started parking RV's on the side of the roads. I would not of been happy if we had to have one of these spots. We were lucky and parked close to the outhouses and to the trolley pickup. The weather was great and were able to have campfires at night. I was impressed by the trucks that went oaround to empty, fix or fill up whatever a camper needed. We even received a paper at our door each morning. They did have 2 portable shower locations and as long as you went at off times the shower felt great. There is also a Basha'a grocery store that sells the most needed items and at the same price as the regular store. They also had ice cold beer outside for $1.00 couldn't beat it. On race day it was a little diff
Parking Experience: C
About Parking: We were there early and parked but watching people come in after us was quite a site. and on race day it was crazy. When the race was over we sat on the corner and just watched people try to leave. It is a show in itself. I would never leave after a race until the next day.
Tailgating Experience: A
About Tailgating: We went and joined friends who were closer to the track than us and had a great tailgating party. Riding the tram to our friends we could see people everywhere doing the same and everyone seemed to be having a blast.
Arriving/Leaving: Traffic is brutal... get there early and leave late.
Left by: Tammy W.   2/26/2007 10:54:39 AM

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Overall Experience: C
Venue Experience: B
About the Venue: PIR is a smaller, more intimate venue, which was nice. You don't have the same kinds of crowds that you find at some of the major speedways. But we had a very hard time finding our seat. We saw no signs letting us know where to go. It was like a maze...and, we had to walk that maze in the mud. It had just rained and there was a lot of mud that we had to walk through.
Parking Experience: F
About Parking: Not sure what to tell you. You have to park in the Raceway lots...but we got screwed while leaving! We were stuck in our car, in the parking lot for 4 hours after the race. Good luck.
Tailgating Experience: NA
About Tailgating: 
Arriving/Leaving: Getting there is way better than leaving.
Left by: mike k.   1/15/2007 2:00:56 PM

Comments (0)

Robby Gordon to compete in the Central Europe Rally

Robby Gordon will be driving in the Dakar Series Central Europe Rally during the off-week in the NASCAR schedule.

“I am headed to Budapest on Sunday for the Central Europe Rally, which takes place between Budapest and Lake Balaton in Hungary April 20th to the 26th. It is a cross country endurance off-road event that will traverse threatening and difficult terrain in multiple stages, and I am excited to be representing my sponsors – Monster Energy, Hummer, and Toyo Tires in this event.”  (From RobbyGordon.com)

Hopefully, more to come...

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ISC reports solid growth for the first quarter

April 9, 2008 // DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. // International Speedway Corporation ("ISC") today reported results for the fiscal first quarter ended February 29, 2008. ISC owns and/or operates 13 motorsports facilities, including Daytona; Talladega; Michigan; Richmond; Auto Club Speedway of Southern California; Kansas; Phoenix; Chicagoland and Route 66 Raceway; Homestead-Miami; Martinsville; Darlington; and Watkins Glen.

"We are pleased to report near record revenues for the 2008 first quarter due in large part to a very successful DIRECTV Speedweeks anchored by the 50th running of the Daytona 500," said ISC President Lesa France Kennedy. "Driving our success was a comprehensive marketing program whereby companies spent a combined $100 million in activation for 'The Great American Race.' This resulted in increased consumer and corporate awareness, which helped grow revenues in all major categories. The first quarter was also highlighted by an exciting NASCAR triple-header weekend in California that included the announcement of a new long-term, facility naming rights agreement with Auto Club of Southern California in the country's second largest media market."

Overview of the significant events held in the first quarter of 2008 include:

• The 30th annual Budweiser Shootout was highlighted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s debut in the No. 88 car and his first victory at Hendrick Motorsports.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted his second victory having won the first Gatorade Duel at Daytona. The event recorded a five percent increase in attendance.
• The NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World 300 and Craftsman Truck Series Chevy Silverado 250 were also successful and highlighted by a five percent increase in combined attendance.  The Camping World 300 was the fourth most viewed Nationwide event on cable in the history of the series and the Chevy Silverado 250 was the second most viewed Craftsman Truck event in the history of the SPEED network.
• The 50th running of the Daytona 500 was a huge success highlighted by the earliest grandstand sell-out for the race in modern history and increased television viewership.
• The Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, despite challenging weather conditions that pushed the Nationwide Stater Bros. 300 and Sprint Cup Auto Club 500 races to Monday, hosted a successful weekend of exciting racing action.
• The most significant sponsorship announced during the 2008 first quarter was the 10-year, multi-million dollar partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California, the nation's largest member of the AAA federation, to re-name California Speedway as Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.
• Further, ISC has announced a three-year agreement with Pepsi for the Labor Day weekend Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. In addition, LifeLock has entered into a three-year partnership for Sprint Cup events at both Michigan and Chicagoland, and Martinsville has secured an entitlement sponsor for its October Sprint Cup series race.

External Growth Initiatives

ISC is also partnered in a joint venture for the development of a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on property adjacent to the Kansas Speedway. By statute, the timeline for the process should take between 150 and 270 days, with an outside selection date of October 2008.

On Staten Island, ISC is continuing with its site remediation efforts and is in discussions with interested buyers for the 676 acre parcel. The Company looks forward to securing an agreement in the coming months.

Outlook

"We are closely monitoring the current macro-economic trends and their potential impact on consumer discretionary spending," stated Ms. France Kennedy. "Similar to what we experienced in other downturns, it appears consumers are making purchasing decisions closer to race day, which impacts advance ticket sales trends. During these challenging periods, it is important to reinvest in our events and facilities to ensure we offer fans a premium experience so that they will return year-after-year." (From PRNewswire.com)

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Print your Richmond tickets at home

In a continuing effort to be the most fan-friendly track on the NASCAR circuit, Richmond International Raceway officials announced today that guests can print their tickets at home for the upcoming NASCAR doubleheader on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 at America’s Premier Short Track.  Guests will only need an e-mail address and a printer to print at home, which is just in time for those wishing to purchase remaining tickets for the May 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

The print at home option is available for new orders and is as simple as a couple of clicks of the mouse or a request on the phone.  Race fans may choose the print at home option when they purchase tickets to Richmond International Raceway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race—the Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series Lipton Tea 250 race.  Guests will simply need to select the print at home option online (by clicking here) or tell their ticket agent they would like to print at home when calling 866-455-RACE (7223).  The ticket buyer will then receive two e-mails—one confirms the ticket sale and the other contains the print at home information.

At this time, the print at home option is available only for grandstand tickets.  A barcode printed on the ticket will be scanned at the admission gates.  Each print-at-home ticket is valid for one admission only and duplicate copies of the same barcode will not allow access. (From RIR.com)

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Bill Davis Racing sues sponsor 360 OTC for non-payment

Bill Davis Racing alleges that Rockford-Montgomery Labs has paid only $25,000 of the $14 million it was supposed to pay for sponsorship of the No. 36 Cup entry last season, according to a lawsuit filed April 2 in North Carolina Superior Court in Winston Salem, N.C.

RML is the maker of 360 OTC, a line of hangover and headache medicine.

The sponsorship was a three-year deal that was scheduled to increase to $14.5 million in 2008 and $15 million in 2009. There was a
sponsor’s option for 2010 for $15.5 million.

According to the lawsuit, RML also did not pay any of the $3 million it owed as a primary sponsor for the No. 36 truck and $1 million it owed to be primary sponsor for 10 races of the No. 23 truck.

“Bill Davis [Racing] is a wonderful bunch of people and a wonderful race team, and it is a shame that this has happened,” BDR attorney John Morrow said.

This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against RML, which has been sued by Just Marketing, which was handling the NASCAR sponsorship, as well as by the World of Outlaws and World Wrestling Entertainment. An attorney who represents RML in the World of Outlaws and the WWE case did not immediately return a request for comment.

Read more about the 22-page sponsor contract. (From SceneDaily.com)

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