Millions tuned in on Sunday, February 17, for the Daytona 500 to watch drivers like Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and David Gilliland – all of whom used the NASCAR Camping World Series to help launch their careers. NASCAR fans will get the opportunity to see the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars of tomorrow throughout the 2008 season thanks to a comprehensive television broadcast schedule announced today by NASCAR for its developmental series. The 2008 schedule features television coverage of the NASCAR Camping World Series live on HDNet and enhanced replays on SPEED.

“This year all the thrills and excitement of the NASCAR Camping World Series will be available to NASCAR fans across the country,” said NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann. “They will be able to catch all the action as the NASCAR stars of tomorrow battle it out from coast to coast.”

The television schedule allows fans across the country to see some of the top future talent in NASCAR. The NASCAR Camping World Series races on a variety of top short tracks, speedways and road courses across the country, and features a championship schedule on both the East and West Coast.

High definition pioneer HDNet will broadcast 16 races, continuing a partnership with NASCAR that began five years ago and provided the NASCAR Camping World Series with its first live television package. HDNet coverage will begin March 29 with the NASCAR Camping World Series opener at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. It includes the first eight races of the NASCAR Camping World Series West season, as well as the season-finale Oct. 18 at the new Kern County track in Bakersfield, Calif. The NASCAR Camping World Series East broadcast schedule on HDNet will pick up with the July 19 race at Music City Motorplex in Nashville and run through the final seven races of the season, culminating with the live broadcast at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Sept. 28.

HDNet’s broadcast schedule will also include the mid-season combination race between the East and the West at Iowa Speedway May 18. Last year, viewers watched then 16-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Joey Logano out-race 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick in a thrilling back-and-forth, race-long duel.

“HDNet is proud to continue this successful partnership with the NASCAR Camping World Series,” said Mark Cuban, president and co-founder of HDNet. “NASCAR’s stars of tomorrow have given us some great action over the years and we can’t wait to offer race fans more of the same on HDNet this season!”

In addition, SPEED’s enhanced replays will carry 24 races as part of its Racing Across America series, re-airing all 16 of HDNet’s live events while originally producing eight others.

SPEED will provide coverage of the NASCAR Camping World Series East opener at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C. on April 19. SPEED will also broadcast the NASCAR Camping World Series East races from South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, as well as the NASCAR Camping World Series West second race at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

SPEED’s schedule also includes live coverage of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. A date and site for the prestigious event, which has grown into the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing’ in just five short years, will be announced at a later date.

“Being able to show 24 races from the NASCAR Camping World Series, including the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, gives SPEED the opportunity to offer NASCAR fans a look into the future,” said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP of Production & Network Operations. “Saturday night short tracks are the heart of all forms of racing. This is where tomorrow’s NASCAR stars get their start.”

In addition to coverage of the NASCAR Camping World Series, SPEED will air enhanced replays of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at New Hampshire International Speedway on June 28 and the combination event with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Sept. 21.

Daytona International Speedway will continue the tradition of exciting, must-see activities as well as thrilling motorcycle racing at “The World Center of Racing” during upcoming Daytona 200 Week By Honda on Feb. 29 – March 8.

Daytona International Speedway will once again host Kickstand City. In addition to offering a wide-variety of overnight parking packages and the exciting on-track racing, Daytona International Speedway will offer a plethora of must-see activities for any motorcycle enthusiast.

Free demo rides: Outside of historic Daytona International Speedway, motorcycle enthusiasts can test-ride the latest and greatest motorcycles with free manufacturer demo rides. Top OEM’s participating includes Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Harley-Davidson, Buell, Victory, Triumph, Boss Hoss, BMW and more. Custom builders will be located in the area outside of Turn 4 include Covington, Bourget, Redneck, Ridley, Big Dog Motorcycles, S&S Cycles, Swift and many more. The metric display will be located in Lot 1. Riders must hold a valid motorcycle driver license and DOT approved helmet in order to participate in the demo rides. Demo rides run Friday, February 29 - Saturday, March 8.

Motorcycle Racing: Daytona International Speedway will have a jam-packed schedule of bikes races between February 29 – March 8 with racing from the American Sport Bike Association and the Championship Cup Series, the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series, AHRMA, AMA Flat Track, AMA Supercross and AMA Superbike. Culminating the two-weeks of motorcycle racing will be the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Friday night, March 7 and the prestigious 67th Daytona 200 By Honda and the opening round of the AMA Superbike Series on Saturday, March 8. Tickets for al the races are available at www.racetickets.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace: Bikers can find the nation’s top aftermarket parts, accessories and apparel companies at the Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace, which will be located in the parking lot of The Daytona 500 Experience. The Daytona Motorcycle Marketplace will be open February 29 - March 8.

Spring Dash Around Daytona: On Wednesday, March 5, bikers will get the chance of a lifetime to ride Daytona International Speedway in the Spring Dash Around Daytona. The parade lap will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the After Party until 9 p.m. Price is $40 per participant and includes an “I Rode Daytona” T-shirt, two parade laps around DIS, two beverage tickets and entertainment at the After Party in the Sprint FANZONE.

Tickets for the Spring Dash Around Daytona are available in the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone outside of Turn 4 on March 1, 2 and 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 5 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless Inc.

Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone: Cool your pipes with two great names….Budweiser and Daytona International Speedway! Spend the day catching up with old friends at the Budweiser Cool Your Pipes Zone, located just outside the Speedway’s twin tunnels. Enjoy a cold Budweiser and great food next to the area’s largest vendor, display and demo ride marketplace.

Specialty Vehicle, Overnight Parking: Specialty vehicles and overnight tent parking are available inside “The World Center of Racing.” Overnight Specialty Vehicle Parking (with hook-ups) is available for $600 and overnight specialty vehicle parking (no hook-ups) is $400. Both of those packages include two 10-day admissions. Overnight tent camping is free with your daily admission ticket and motorcycle trailer parking (West Lot) is $100. For more information, call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Daytona Pro Bike Builders Bike Show: Make sure and stop by Daytona Pro Builders Bike Row on Friday, March 7 inside the historic infield at Daytona International Speedway and check out the Custom V-Twin and American Cruiser Motorcycles. You can visit Daytona Pro Builders Bike Row by entering through our Turn 4 tunnel (admission to this location is free) and see builders, their products and many other displays and activities in this location.

Among the bike builders expected to be in attendance include Chickie with Vagabond Chopper Co., Troy Nicholson of Lightning Cycle Works, Santiago Choppers, Callahan Custom Choppers and Greg’s Custom Cycles

Jagermeister Mobile Stage: the Jagermeister Mobile Stage will be located inside the hallowed grounds of “The World Center of Racing.” The Jagermeister Mobile Stage will entertain guests with live performances on February 29 - March 8 from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. from the famed Daytona Bike Builders Row venue located along legendary Lake Lloyd, which guests can access FREE through our Turn 4 tunnel (FREE access to infield runs Feb. 29 – March 7).

Import Bike Show: Inside the Sprint FANZONE on Saturday, March 8, DIS will host an Import Bike Show with Custom Import, Sport and Metric motorcycles. The show begins at 10 a.m. and is included in the infield admission.

D5X: The motorsports attraction will have free admission on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Known as The Daytona 500 Experience, the official attraction of NASCAR will go by the name of D5X and celebrate Daytona 200 Week By Honda with food, beverages and the live band Outbreak, which will play each day between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

D5X just recently welcome the 2008 Daytona 500 winning car of Ryan Newman.

In spite of not being very technically literate we managed to get through THE PYSICS OF NASCAR-HOW TO MAKE STEEL+GAS+RUBBER=SPEED. A great book written by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky. Ray Evernham who is the Dodge guru of NASCAR wrote the Foreword. The author is professor of physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Upon finishing the book we have a greater appreciation for what the technical/hands on team members the expertise and knowledge that it takes to just to get a racecar on the track. Not to mention making it a front line contender capable of winning.

“NASCAR Man,” a fan favorite track from Junior’s current album ARE WE FAMOUS YET? has become a racing fan favorite this season. As heard during TV coverage of the 50th Daytona 500 (17.8 million viewers - the most-watched yearly event in motorsports), “NASCAR Man” already had traction on Fox Sports, SPEED TV and Fuel TV. The track was also licensed by ESPN for usage on NASCAR Countdown, NASCAR Nationwide Busch Series Race and NASCAR Sprint Cup Race.

In addition to a killer debut album, Junior’s legendary live show is on the road, invited to bills with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Unwritten Law and Reel Big Fish, as well as headlining across the South. Having performed with Bowling for Soup, All-American Rejects, Everclear, Saving Jane, Lifehouse on the Vans Warped Tour, and with multiple sold-out shows at both the 2006 and 2007 SXSW Music Festival, Junior’s penchant for hi-energy, interactive concerts keeps them on stage by demand.

ARE WE FAMOUS YET? is out now on Toucan Cove/Universal Republic, and also available at online retailers including iTunes & Amazon.com. “NASCAR Man” is also available as a free download on mozes.com.

Yes, He REALLY Said That-Paul Tracy, on looking for a new ride in the IRL. “(Oval racing) is pretty dangerous, and I’m not going to drive for hamburgers and hot dogs.” This came from the Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter.

We got some real insight on what’s going on, behind the scenes, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from a knowledgeable source. There’s been various news stories speculating major changes at NHMS. Most of them are not true. New events will be added very carefully. New construction to improve the venue will be done over a five and ten year span in order to not to make mistakes. Every season will see changes. There’s also a movement to get back to earlier race starting times for the Sprint Cup Series. As far as losing a race to another track like Las Vegas, that’s not expected to happen. We also saw a widely circulated story that Bruton Smith, the new owner of NHMS, is requesting a new date from NASCAR. “Moving a race from another track in our corporation (Speedway Motor Sports) is not a consideration,” said Smith. On the Indy Cars and a motorcycle event returning to NHMS a lot of factors will have to be considered before that happens. According to that source Smith’s intention is to make NHMS the Bristol of the North.

Let’s see what’s happening on TV this weekend for the Gearhead crowd. It gets underway on Thursday afternoon with Daytona 200 qualifying on Speed. Friday’s coverage starts at 11 a.m. with Craftsman Truck Final Practice at Atlanta on Speed followed by Nationwide Series Final Practice at 1 p.m. from that same track. More from that track at 3 p.m. on the same cable channel. Speed continues on with Cup Qualifying from Atlanta at 6:30 p.m. with the NASCAR CTS race from that venue starting at 9 p.m. Speed continues the wall-to-wall coverage this time offering the Daytona AMA SuperX at 11:30 p.m. Same Day Delay. Saturday will also be very busy and starts at 9 a.m. with NASCAR Nationwide Qualifying from Atlanta. More from Speed at 11 a.m. offering Cup Practice followed by Final Practice at noon. Speed switches to the AMA Formula Xtreme from Daytona at 1:30 p.m. while ESPN2 covers the Nationwide Series green flag at 2 p.m. from Atlanta. At 4:30 p.m. Speed airs the AMA Superbike go from Daytona. Sunday won’t be as hectic with Fox airing the Cup race at 1:30 p.m. with Speed returning at 6 p.m. with the FIM Superbike race from Qatar. (END)

NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.