Stock Car Gazette for Wednesday, 4/16/2008

OK, everyone…. DEEEEP breath. Exhale. Tax time is over.

Check out today’s edition of the Stock Car Gazette for all the latest goings on in NASCAR…

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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by http://MotorSportsNews.Net

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The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by:

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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Robyn’s Round-up of Random Racing Thoughts
by: Robyn Snell

Aaron Fike admits to heroin use? What? Now, that news got my attention.

MORE: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1192
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Does DW Rub You the Wrong Way?
by: Robyn Snell

OK, so how can I trash a man like Daryll Waltrip, 3 time NASCAR Winston Cup champion, who has done wonders for our sport? Read on…

MORE: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1195
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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Open Letter From BAM Racing Owner, Beth Ann Morgenthau
Our recent switch to Toyota is a strong testament to our focus and commitment to become more competitive. Even though we were disappointed it became necessary to miss two races to complete the transition to Toyota. We were excited about the potential for the balance of the 2008 season.

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1194

Stock Car Gazette for Tuesday, April 15, 2008

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1193

TV Times – Texas TV Ratings Drop 4 Percent

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1191

Things That Go “Bump” in the World of Stock Car Racing

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1190

Stock Car Gazette for Monday, April 14, 2008

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1189

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N A S C A R * S P R I N T * C U P * S E R I E S
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NASCAR has change of heart, schedules test session at Lowe’s
In a surprising change of heart, NASCAR officials announced Tuesday they will add a test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for all the Sprint Cup teams on May 5-6. “We received input from the teams last weekend at Phoenix and a vast majority of them were receptive to adding a test next month at Lowe’s,” said [...]

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/271005366/

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Courtesy of www.Catchfence.com

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Makes Changes to Strengthen NASCAR Sprint Cup Teams – Crew Chiefs Donnie Wingo and Jimmy Elledge Change Positions on No. 41, No. 42 NSCS Entries: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) crew chiefs Donnie Wingo and Jimmy Elledge will change roles, with Wingo assuming duties on the No. 41 Target Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson and Elledge on the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline/Juicy Fruit ® Dodge driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, respectively. “I really feel that these changes can be instrumental in moving Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates to the next level,” said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. “I have a lot of respect for both Donnie and Jimmy and the jobs that they do and they both agree that this move can be very beneficial to the entire organization. I have said all along that I believe us to be a championship organization and that Felix and I will do whatever we can to make us better. This is toward that end.” Wingo will call his first race for the No. 41 team with Sorenson, and Elledge with the No.42 team and Montoya, following the NSCS off weekend in Round 9 of the season at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27 (FOX, 1:30 pm EDT). – Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Press Release
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Courtesy of Google Alerts

Women in Racing event at Kansas Speedway on April 26
Kansas City Kansan – Kansas City,KS,USA
The supporting women draw from the IndyCar Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Lori Hamilton* is the owner of the NASCAR Craftsman …

http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2008/04/15/sports/sports3.txt

Mark Martin no longer closes the deal in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing …
Orlando Sentinel – Orlando,FL,USA
But the venerable veteran, so often dogged by his second-fiddle status in the Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup standings, seems to have lost his ability to win …

http://snipurl.com/24lfh-gazete

Microsoft’s NASCAR sponsorship hits speed bump
Bizjournals.com – Charlotte,NC,USA
… another sponsor — an unnamed private company — couldn’t raise enough capital and the team will sit out NASCAR races until “likely … in the fall. …

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/04/14/daily11.html

Tony Stewart to Host SIRIUS NASCAR Radio Show Live From Graceland …
Earthtimes – London,UK
NEW YORK, April 15 — Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will host a special broadcast of his weekly SIRIUS NASCAR Radio show Tony …

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/tony-stewart-to-host-sirius,352668.shtml

Former Daytona 500 winner Harvick to tout JEGS Mail Order
Autochannel (press release) – USA
Harvick will feature the JEGS.com logo and toll-free number on the racing helmets he uses on the NASCAR, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck series. …

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2008/04/15/084286.html

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Courtesy of weekend editor Heather M.

Charlotte City Council to Provide Incentives for Speed Channel
CSD Staff,April 15

The Charlotte City Council is expected to approve a nearly one million-dollar grant this week to keep the Speed Channel in Charlotte.

Speed Channel currently headquartered in a building on Southern Pine Boulevard in charlotte wants to move its operation to the old Verbatim building on West W.T. Harris when its lease expires this coming January, but they want some help from the city and county government.

Speed is based in Charlotte on Southern Pine Boulevard, now they travel the world covering NASCAR and all kinds of motorsports, but as of January they will need a new home.

South Carolina has been trying to lure the network away but Speed wants to stay in Charlotte.

The network wants a combined city/county business grant of $967,000.

Under the plan, the network would buy the old Verbatim building. The channel also plans on adding 34 new jobs. There are already 79 jobs at Speed averaging $79,000 a year; the economic impact is expected to be $12 million a year.
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News

http://www.insiderracingnews.com

No. 22 Car Gets Priority
Marty Gaunt is used to the world of being outside the top 35 and knows how painful it can be. So it’s no surprise that his first priority as the new vice president of Bill Davis Racing is to try to get the No. 22 team back in the top 35 in owners points. “There’s a lot of good people and resources at Bill Davis Racing,” said Gaunt, who was with Red Bull Racing last year. “If you look down the road at [BDR affiliate] Triad and their capabilities [with Toyota], everything is there. It’s just going over there and trying to get the puzzle all back together.” The No. 22 team with driver Dave Blaney is 37th in the owners points, just eight out of one of the 35 guaranteed starting positions. “When you live on the other side of the top 35, you live on the edge most of the time,” Gaunt said….
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

ESPN the Magazine: Answers to your questions about Aaron Fike by Ryan McGee.(4-16-2008)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3347584

Penske hires Stremme as test driver: In an effort to enhance its NASCAR Sprint Cup testing program, Penske Racing announced that David Stremme has joined the team as a test driver, effective immediately. In this role, Stremme will participate in Penske Racing’s comprehensive testing program in an effort to accelerate the understanding of the new Sprint Cup Series Dodge Charger that made its full-season debut in 2008. “It’s a rare opportunity to have someone of David’s caliber to work with Kurt, Ryan and Sam to help us improve our NASCAR Sprint Cup program,” said Tim Cindric, president, Penske Performance, Inc. “David raced the new car and understands what it takes to compete at the highest levels.” Stremme, 30, grew up in a racing family in South Bend, Indiana. After competing successfully in local and regional events throughout the Midwest, he moved to national NASCAR competition in 2003. Stremme has made 74 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since 2005. In 2008, Stremme has made seven starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, posting two top-five and three top-ten finishes. “It’s an honor to be working with an organization with as much history and heritage as Penske Racing,” said Stremme. “I look forward to a lot of productive testing so I can assist their NASCAR teams to run up front, make the Chase and hopefully win many Championships in the future.” Stremme will continue his role as a driver for Rusty Wallace, Inc. where he will be running the majority of the NASCAR Nationwide Series races during the 2008 season.(Penske Racing)
AND: And there have been hints that Penske’s newest driver, Indy star #77-Sam Hornish Jr. may not be having all that much fun on the NASCAR tour. Hornish is 33rd in the standings and has yet to have a really decent run. Speculation is that if Hornish decides to return to Indy-car racing, then Penske would have Stremme standing by to fill the ride.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-16-2008)

Stanton Barrett Hires His Dad to Drive at Mexico: In an apparently unprecedented move, Stanton Barrett has hired his 65-year-old father, Stan Barrett, to drive the SBM Motorsports #31 in this weekend’s Nationwide Series event in Mexico City. Stan Barrett, a former driver and Hollywood stuntman, will attempt to make the field for Sunday’s Corono Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The first man to break the speed of sound on the ground in 1979, will pilot the Stanton Barrett Motorsports #31 Chevy while his son, Stanton, will drive the team’s #30 entry.(SceneDaily.com), Stan Barrett has made 19 Cup starts with 2 top 10 finishes, his best being a 9th at Talladega in 1981, this will be Barrett’s Nationwide Series debut.(4-16-2008)

Revised Pocono test sched: Pocono Raceway officials announced a revised on track schedule for the two day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test Pocono Raceway will be hosting on May 27-28, 2008. Practice is scheduled to begin each day at 9:00 AM and conclude at 5:00 PM with a lunch break from Noon to 1:00PM daily. The two day test is open to the public and gates will now open both days at 8:30 AM. Approximately 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are expected to attend. 2008 Pocono NASCAR ticket holders will be eligible to receive up to four (4) FREE tickets to the test session. A mail-in coupon for the test and additional information will be sent to all ticket holders who have purchased their NASCAR race tickets prior to May 9, 2008. Fans who are not current ticket holders for either of Pocono Raceway’s 2008 Sprint Cup Series or ARCA Re/Max Series events will be able to purchase test tickets for $5.00 each by calling the Pocono Raceway Ticket Office at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929), or they can be purchased at the Pocono Raceway Gate 8 ticket booth each day of the event. Tickets for the Pocono 500 weekend, June 6-8, 2008 and the Pennsylvania 500 weekend, August 1-3, 2008 are still available but are selling fast. For more test day information or to order race tickets, call toll-free 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929) or online at www.poconoraceway.com.(4-16-2008)

The King’s Hat Makes Visit to Troops in Iraq: With 200 wins and seven championship in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, “The King” Richard Petty is firmly woven into the fabric of Americana as a true icon. While those numbers place him at the top of his profession, “The King” is dually noted for his generous giving of time and energy in support of others. As a member of the Dodge Motorsports family, Petty routinely takes part in Dodge’s satellite conference calls over the Freedom Calls Satellite network. The video conference calls connect men and women on the front lines of Iraq with their favorite Dodge NASCAR drivers before certain races. While at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March, Petty was involved in one such call with a group of United States Army engineers from the Coalition Network Operations and Security Center (CNOSC). When the group commented on Petty’s signature cowboy hat, he made sure that the group had one of their own. “Our soldiers sacrifice so much to allow us to live in a free country,” said Petty. “When they asked me to send them one of my Charley One Horse hats I thought that was the least I could do. It meant the world to me that one of my hats could provide them with a little relief from what they deal with on a daily basis.”
Petty is also heavily involved with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). The PVA works to maximize the quality of life for its members and all people with spinal cord injury and dysfunction (SCI/D) as a leading advocate for health care, SCI/D research and education, veterans’ benefits and rights, accessibility and the removal of architectural barriers, sports programs, and disability rights. “Race car drivers are often called heroes, but the men and women of our military are the real heroes,” continued Petty. “Not only do they need our support when overseas, but also when they return to their lives back home.”(MCG Sports/Petty Enterprises)(4-16-2008)

Special Tribute For NASCAR’s 60th Anniversary Honors Champions Past and Present: The past and present of NASCAR will converge on stage during the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 24. Standing side-by-side will be Raymond Parks, owner of the car driven by Robert “Red” Byron to the first NASCAR championship in 1949, and Jimmie Johnson, the driver who won the most recent NASCAR Cup title in 2007. Both Parks and Johnson will have their championship trophies with them during the presentation. The moment will be the highlight of a special tribute honoring the 60th anniversary of NASCAR’s formation. After a short video tribute, all of the past champions who are members of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame – both drivers and car owners – will be recognized. Those who will be present for the ceremony include NASCAR legends Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, Ray Fox, Red Farmer and Everett “Cotton” Owens, who is also being inducted into the IMHoF that night as a member of the Class of 2008. Past Inductees that will also be in attendance include Carroll Shelby, Johnny Rutherford and Mel Kenyon. Parks was an active car owner from 1938 to 1955 and one of the most successful owners during the early days of NASCAR. Parks’ teams won all five beach races held at Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1945 and 1946, as well as the first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948. A native of Georgia, Parks teamed up with a number of stock-car racing’s driving pioneers, including Lloyd Seay, Roy Hall, Bob Flock, Fonty Flock, Ed Samples, Jack Smith, and Gober Sosebee. But it was Parks’ relationship with Byron that proved to be the most successful. In 1949, Byron competed in six of the eight official NASCAR races held that year, winning two and finishing in the top-five in two others. He won $5,800, earned 842½ points and went into the record books as the first NASCAR champion, beating out eventual three-time champ Lee Petty. Ironically, Byron is one of the six people being inducted into the IMHoF this year. He and Owens are joined in the Class of 2008 by land speed record breaker Art Arfons, drag racing guru Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, car fabricator Frank Kurtis and Winston promoter Ralph Seagraves. Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names in all of motorsports. The 2008 ceremony will be held April 24, at the SPEED Channel Dome, adjacent to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Individual tickets for the evening are $125 and a table of eight may be reserved for $1,000. Tickets and tables are available by calling 1-256-362-5002. For more information on tickets for the upcoming Aaron’s Dream Weekend, guests should call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342) or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(4-16-2008)

Sprint Cup Series Test Session Added for Lowe’s Motor Speedway:
NASCAR announced the addition of a Sprint Cup Series test session May 5-6 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. On May 5 practice times are set from 9am – 12 noon; 1pm – 5pm; and 6pm – 9pm. On May 6 practice times are set from 9am – 12 noon and 1pm – 5pm. Teams may test a maximum of four of those five practice segments. NASCAR visited with the teams this past weekend at Phoenix about the possibility of adding a test to further prepare for the remaining 17 events the series has at intermediate tracks the rest of the season, including next month’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The extra test gives the series seven sanctioned test sessions this year, the same number the teams had in 2007. “We received input from the teams last weekend at Phoenix and a vast majority of them were receptive to adding a test next month at Lowe’s,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. “We always strive to work with the teams and do what is in the best interest of the competitors. We have 17 events ahead of us on intermediate tracks and the additional test allows the teams the opportunity to learn more about the new car, work on their setups and adjustments, and apply that information to these future races.”(NASCAR PR)(4-15-2008)
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Courtesy of www.motorsport.com

DAVID STREMME JOINS PENSKE RACING AS TEST DRIVER
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 15, 2008) — In an effort to enhance its NASCAR Sprint Cup testing program, Penske Racing announced that David Stremme has joined the team as a test driver, effective immediately. …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285408

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Test Session Added for Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Teams Scheduled For Additional Test May 5-6
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 15, 2008) — NASCAR announced today the addition of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session May 5-6 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285398

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 15, 2008) Statement from Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage regarding NASCAR’s announcement today to implement two days of testing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (May 5-6) in …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285407

H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler Applauds NASCAR Decision To Add Open Test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 5-6
CONCORD, N.C. (April 15, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that Lowe’s Motor Speedway will host an open test for all Sprint Cup Series teams on May …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285402

* NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Anticipate Significance Of 12-Week Run
* Six Drivers To Compete In NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Mexico City Event
* In The Loop: Some Interesting Tales From The 2008 Season
* Smoother Road: Ragan Progressing After Rough Rookie Experience …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285403

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Your ad here could be seen by hundreds of dedicated racing fans!

Contact Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net for rates and information.
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’

http://www.thatsracin.com

Johnson win wakes the sleeping giant
In The Pits: Victory gets Hendrick Motorsports rolling after slow 2008 start
For the first seven races this season, a car not owned by Hendrick Motorsports went to Victory Lane. All seven times, people wondered what was wrong with NASCAR’s best team. In the eighth race, Jimmie Johnson shut everybody up.

http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/13083.html

Top three hold ground in rankings
Carl Edwards – car No. 99: Fell on the wrong side of pit strategies at Phoenix but still showed impressive speed.

http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/13081.html

Sprint Cup teams to test on Lowe’s
Sprint Cup teams will be allowed to test May 5-6 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway as they attempt to learn more about the new race car.

http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/13087.html

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N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Verizon Wireless and Motorola Sponsoring Chase Miller: Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced that Verizon Wireless and Motorola will sponsor rookie Chase Miller in seven additional races completing the #9 Dodge’s sponsorship schedule in the Nationwide Series.(GEM PR)(4-15-2008)

Stanton Barrett Hires His Dad to Drive at Mexico: In an apparently unprecedented move, Stanton Barrett has hired his 65-year-old father, Stan Barrett, to drive the SBM Motorsports #31 in this weekend’s Nationwide Series event in Mexico City. Stan Barrett, a former driver and Hollywood stuntman, will attempt to make the field for Sunday’s Corono Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The first man to break the speed of sound on the ground in 1979, will pilot the Stanton Barrett Motorsports #31 Chevy while his son, Stanton, will drive the team’s #30 entry.(SceneDaily.com)(4-15-2008)

Pardo in the #22 at Mexico: Ruben Pardo was tabbed just a few days ago to drive the 22 car in this year’s Nationwide Series event in his hometown Mexico City. Sponsoring Pardo and car 22 at the event are Telcel, a Mexican wireless company, and Bombardier LearJet. The team will also receive prominent support from Helivan of Mexico and Karisma Cantina Restaurant and Bar.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(4-15-2008)

Darnell Making Nationwide Debut at Mexico: Erik Darnell will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The 25-year-old Craftsman Truck Series regular will pilot the #17 CitiFinancial Ford and will be led by crew chief Drew Blickensderfer.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-15-2008)

Raybestos Rookie Notes for Mexico: Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Franchitti scored an 11th-place finish and claimed top Raybestos Rookie honors for the fifth time this season.
Franchitti holds a 28-point lead (80-52) over Bryan Clauson in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Corona Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico.
Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2007 Corona Mexico 200, crossing the finish line .750 seconds ahead of second-place Denny Hamlin. Montoya became the first Raybestos Rookie to win at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the first to lead the most laps (four times for 42 of the event’s 82 laps). Montoya is also the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at the 2.518-mile course.
The best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie in three races at Mexico City is third by Montoya.(Raybestos PR)(4-15-2008)

Carino’s Italian Grill restaurants have put their pasta where your mouth is, and if Nationwide driver Brad Coleman is on his game in Mexico City, everyone in the country could be eating free pasta Monday following the race.(Brad Coleman PR)(4-15-2008)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap

http://www.TheHotLap.com

CÓMO TE LLAMAS: “Alfonzo Sienna is the name the GEICO crew gave me at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) when we tested for the Mexico race,” says Mike Wallace, driver of the No. 7 Camry for Germain Racing. “Their inspiration is the popular Toyota Sienna. My alter ego that will be alongside me for Mexico is Alfonzo Sienna, inspired by the great racer Ayrton Senna. We all had a laugh about the crew putting the name on the GEICO Camry at our road race test, but the car was really, really good and I was in Mexico last year for the first time and ran really well there. I’m excited about racing in Mexico. I told my friend, Max Papis , that he’d better bring his A -plus game to Mexico, because we’ll have something for him, that’s for sure. I think we have a good chance for a top -five finish.” SOUTH OF THE BORDER: After leaving Phoenix on Friday night, NNS teams will converge in Laredo, Texas before heading south of the border to Mexico’s capital city. “The trip is a lot harder than a normal race trip on the truckers,” says Braun Racing’s director of competition Todd Lohse. “They have to come home and swap stuff out on Sunday before driving to Laredo by Tuesday. It’s a lot less time at home for everyone. We usually fly our own plane to races, but we found out its easier to fly commercial because it’s quicker. NASCAR handles the trip well by giving us all the transportation we need. If they didn’t do that, we’d have to hire our own security. Every year since they started racing in Mexico, NASCAR’s done a real good job.”WAS LESSON LEARNED: “Going to Mexico is a pretty good trip,” says Reutimann. “It’s a cool place. I wish it was an oval, but I’ve had some road course training wi th Chris Cook (at Infineon Raceway) and he’s done a great job of teaching me what he knows. I’m looking forward to going down there and trying some of what I learned and seeing if I’ve been able to retain it.” (PR-Toyota Racing)
(04-15-08)

In an effort to enhance its NASCAR Sprint Cup testing program, Penske Racing announced that David Stremme has joined the team as a test driver, effective immediately.In this role, Stremme will participate in Penske Racing’s comprehensive testing program in an effort to accelerate the understanding of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dodge Charger that made its full-season debut in 2008. “It’s a rare opportunity to have someone of David’s caliber to work with Kurt, Ryan and Sam to help us improve our NASCAR Sprint Cup program,” said Tim Cindric, president, Penske Performance, Inc. “David raced the new car and understands what it takes to compete at the highest levels.” Stremme will continue his role as a driver for Rusty Wallace, Inc. where he will be running the majority of the NASCAR Nationwide Series races during the 2008 season. (PR-Penske) (04-15-08)
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C R A F T S M A N * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Google Alerts

Female driver to make NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at …
TruckSeries.com – Dallas,PA,USA
Cobb’s seat time on the track started in 2002 with her first race in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, advanced to the former NASCAR Busch Series, and this month, …

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000005/000510.htm

Female crew member makes herself a name in NASCAR at Kansas Speedway
Kansas City Kansan – Kansas City,KS,USA
By KANSAN STAFF Nicole Addison is at home with being the sole female on a NASCAR team. As part of the Circle Bar Racing pit crew, she will help the No.10 …

http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2008/04/15/sports/sports2.txt

Chasing Baja Documentary
4Wheel and Off Road Magazine – USA
… rock-crawling champion Tracy Jordan, television producer Bud Brutsman, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racer Erin Crocker and former Navy Seal Bill Weber. …

http://blogs.4wheeloffroad.com/6241646/editorials/chasing-baja-documentary/

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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Images added: A few images added from the Martinsville race including the #03-Geico/Mobile Delvac Toyota driven by Chrissy Wallace and the #71-AustismSpeaks.com Chevy driven by Donny Lia. To view visit the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery.(4-15-2008) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008trucks.htm

Darnell to make Nationwide debut in Mexico City: Erik Darnell will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The 25-year-old NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular will pilot the #17 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion and will be led by crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. The Beach Park, Ill., native has two road course races under his belt; one at Infineon Raceway and one at Brainerd International Raceway. He also joined his Roush Fenway Racing teammates last month for a test session at Virginia International Raceway.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-15-2008)

Braun stays busy; running Nationwide race in Mexico UPDATE More info: Later this month, Colin Braun is off to Mexico City where he will drive in his third-career Nationwide Series race [Sunday, April 20th - Corona 200 at the Autodrome Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City]. “I’ll be driving the #16 3M Ford in Mexico for my second Nationwide race of the season,” said Braun. “I’ve raced there before in the Grand Am cars, so I am really looking forward to going back. It will be the first time this year that we’re going to a track where I probably have more experience than some of the other Nationwide drivers.”(Roush Fenway PR)(4-3-2008)
UPDATE: The 19-year-old has five years of road course racing experience including two starts at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Rolex Grand AM Daytona Prototype races. He finished second in 2006, and started on the pole and finished second in 2007. This will be Braun’s first start on the track in a stock car. Braun has one Nationwide Series start this season. He qualified ninth and finished 15th at Nashville Superspeedway last month. (Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-15-2008)
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* Skinner Squeezes In Time To Defend Important Title
* Teams Stay On Track During Off-Weeks
* Lori Hamilton Provides Official Voice For Foundation
Skinner Races For A Good Cause Out West
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 14, 2008) — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran …

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=285316

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Starr happy to be ‘back home’ with Red Horse Racing
David Starr said he felt as if “Christmas came early” when he agreed to reunite with Red Horse Racing for the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

http://snipurl.com/24lfq-gazete

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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com

http://www.truckseries.com

TEAM NEWS: Overstreet’s Daughter Takes Gold

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000005/000511.htm

TEAM NEWS: New Sponsor for No. 40 Team at Kansas

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000005/000504.htm

Fike Revelation Stirs Drug Debate

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000005/000502.htm

HOT TOPIC: Fike Admits & Confronts Drug Use IN Racing

http://www.truckseries.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=725

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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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The Rock” is Back
The Lincoln Tribune – USA
By Greg Zyla When the ARCA RE/MAX Series takes to the track on May 4 for the inaugural Carolina 500 under ARCA sanctioning, fans and race teams should pay …

http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8632

Jennifer Jo is on the Go – to Kansas
By Marc
The daughter of racer Joe Cobb, she has found success in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, where she’s posted three top-10 finishes in her first five starts, one of which came at Kansas. The driver also has two appearances in the NASCAR …

http://fullthrottle.cranialcavity.net/jennifer-jo-is-on-the-go-to-kansas

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C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
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The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly – Okay, Chad Knaus Is A Bloody Genius & I’m Not The Next Fabio: Bow we down in adoration. We are not worthy. I hear that there is a fine line between genius and madness. On Saturday night, that margin proved to be less than half a gallon of fuel. After all of the other contenders had pulled in for a dash of go juice at Phoenix, Chad Knaus noticed that left Jimmie Johnson 10 seconds to the GOOD over the next guy. http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/041508Thornton.asp

Fans Voice: NASCAR Boring, Junior Still Winless, and FOX Sports Screw-Up: Here we are heading into the ninth race of the season and Hendrick Motorsports finally gets a win. What a difference a year can make. This week fans are still buzzing about Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his continued winless streak, the COT platform making NASCAR boring, and FOX Sports dumping NASCAR in favor of baseball!? http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/041508Baldeck.asp

The fighting double 8: On any given race day, 43 drivers strap into their racing machines ready to fight for the winnerâ?Ts prestige. In the back of their minds, there is a greater picture of championships, victory lane celebrations, popularity and immortality. For some it is all about a trophy, money or bragging rights on that specific day. http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/041408Benscoter.asp

Busch Dominates the Desert: Kyle Busch fought the car, and the car won the Bashasâ?~ Supermarkets 200. Busch wound up his no. 18 Interstate Batteries Camry on the high side in a green/white/checkered finish with Carl Edwards and pulled away to win by just over two tenths of a second. http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/041108Lintner.asp

Busch Dominates Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 : Kyle Busch started on the pole and dominated the early portion of the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 and the Phoenix International Raceway Friday night. He led the most laps of the race. At the end he needed a strong restart for a green , white checkered finish after Jeff Burton tagged the wall with 3 laps to go http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/041208Coombs.asp

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/CA/041608.html

Questions Remain About The Chase After Phoenix
by Chuck Abrams

Cheers & Jeers
Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, Chevrolet – Hold the Baseball, Please
by Carol Einarsson
CHEERS to Chris Myers, “It’s so hot that Toyota called Jack Roush just to get the cold shoulder.” Yeah, he’s cheesy a good amount of the time, but that was funny.

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=446

Evernham And Wallace Team-Up In Mexico

http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/04/evernham-and-wallace-team-up-in-mexico.html

Schrader Anchors “Lights Out” Edition Of TWIN

http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/04/schrader-anchors-lights-out-edition-of.html

Labonte Slows The Pace On “NASCAR Now”

http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/04/labonte-slows-pace-on-nascar-now.html

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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fan TV

http://snipurl.com/llya-stockc

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

12:00m-12:30A espn2 NASCAR Now, HD
3:00A-4:00 SPEED AMA Monster Energy Supercross LITES Series. Texas Stadium, Irving, TX, Apr 5/08, R
4:00A-5:00 SPEED AMA Monster Energy Supercross Series. Ford Field, Detroit, MI, April 12/08, R
11:00A-12:00 ESPN-CL 2005 Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway Reading, PA, Sept 18/05
12:00n-1:00P SPEED SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship, Sebring Intl. Raceway, Sebring, FL, Mar
14/08, R
1:00P-2:00 SPEED SCCA SPEED GT Championship, Sebring Intl. Raceway, Sebring, FL, Mar 14/08, R
2:00P-3:00 SPEED IHRA Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam drag racing, revisiting exciting moments in Nitro Jam, R
6:00P-6:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, Nicole Manske, HD, L

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

1:00A-1:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, HD
3:00A-4:00 SPEED SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship, Sebring Intl. Raceway, Sebring, FL, Mar
14/08, R
4:00A-5:00 SPEED SCCA SPEED GT Championship, Sebring Intl. Raceway, Sebring, FL, Mar 14/08, R
11:00A-12:00 ESPN-CL 2005 Ameriquest NHRA Nationals, Route 66 Raceway Chicago-Joliet, IL, Oct 2/05
12:00n-3:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup Replay, Subway Fresh Fit 500, Phoenix Intl. Raceway, Phoenix, AZ,
Apr 12/08, HD, R-FOX
2:00P-4:00 ESPN-CL Classic’s NASCAR: 1998 Daytona 500, Daytona, FL, Feb 15/98
5:00P-6:00 VS Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour, 2007 Chili Bowl
5:30P-8:00 HDNet NASCAR Sprint Cup Replay, Subway Fresh Fit 500, Phoenix Intl. Raceway, Phoenix, AZ,
Apr 12/08, HD, R-FOX
6:00P-6:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, Ryan Burr, HD, L

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

12:00m-12:30A espn2 NASCAR Now, HD
11:00A-12:00 ESPN-CL 2005 O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals, Texas Motorplex Dallas, TX, Oct 9/05
4:00P-6:00 espn2 NASCAR Nationwide Series FINAL PRACTICE, Mexico 200, Autódromo
Hermanos Rodríguez , Mexico City, Mexico, HD, L
6:00P-6:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, Ryan Burr, HD, L
11:30P-12:00m espn2 NASCAR Now, HD

Race Fan TV does not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/

DISC-HDT = Discovery HD Theatre
ESPN-CL = ESPN Classic, US
HDNet = High Definition Network available on DirecTV (Channel 79) and DISH, etc.
Outdoor = Outdoor Channel (US)
VS = Versus (formerly known as OLN, Outdoor Life Network)

Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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