Stock Car Gazette for Monday, May 5, 2008
by Mike Irwin ~ May 5th, 2008 @ 6:25 am. Filed under: Stock Car Gazette. 470 readsWell, it was an “interesting” weekend of racing… depending on what side of the fence you’re on will determine whether it was “good” or not.
There might be a chance of duplicate editions this morning, as the Monday ones seem to be larger due to the weekend recaps.
If you’re a automotive fan, and have never heard or or watched “Top Gear”, tonight’s the night to check it out. It will be on the BBC America channel tonight at 8:00 PM eastern time. I can’t particularly recommend the British sense of humor; it tends to be more crude and crass than what we typically see here in the USA, but the cars and the interaction between the 3 host is spectacular. www.topgear.com/ See, Heather, I actually remembered.
For more of this weekend’s NASCAR and ARCA RE/MAX stock car racing news, check out this edition of the Stock Car Gazette…
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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by MotorSportsNews.Net
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Hamlin Wins Richmond Nationwide Race
by: Thomas Chemris
A few years ago Denny Hamlin took in the action at Richmond International Raceway from the turn four grandstand. This year he caught all the excitement from the best seat in the house, Victory lane. Hamlin, a Virginia native has dreamed of winning at the three-quarter mile bull ring that was just down the road from his hometown of Chesterfield.
MORE: motorsportsnews.net/archives/1233
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Track Trash – It’s Rich, man
by: Racing Maniac
Amongst the boring laps set down by DennyHambone, little tidbits of adrenaline were sprinkled every now and then at Richmond.
MORE: motorsportsnews.net/archives/1234
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Sparks Fly At Richmond (Richmond At A Glance)
by: Mike Wells
If you missed this race, you need to kick yourself!
MORE: motorsportsnews.net/archives/1235
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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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Former female racer Moise says give NASCAR a break
Patty Moise was a regular on NASCAR’s Busch tour for almost 10 years, and drove in six Cup races along the way. Popular and personable (enough to get a few TV jobs), she never quite made it over the hump, but she was competent, rugged and dogged about it, running her own team for a [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/281928736/
Gordon and Earnhardt patch up Talladega drafting spat
Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits his 71-race losing streak played a role in his decision not to help teammate Jeff Gordon in the final stages of last weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. He also says Gordon could have made a better choice. Gordon says he was doing what was right for him to win [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/282600941/
Clint Bowyer wins at Richmond, but that’s hardly the story
Denny Hamlin appeared headed toward an easy victory. Then, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed poised to snap his two-year losing streak. In the end, surprise winner Clint Bowyer celebrated in Victory Lane, stealing a victory Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway that ended in wild fashion. Hamlin, the hometown favorite, ran away with the race and led a [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/283083389/
‘I ran hard and got wrecked,’ Earnhardt Jr. says of contact with Busch
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was ready to win. His fans were more than ready. Alas, it was not to be. Denny Hamlin’s misfortune provided a timely opportunity for Earnhardt Jr. to snap his career-long 71-race winless streak at Richmond International Raceway, where he earned his most recent Sprint Cup Series win in 2006. Hamlin dominated the race, [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/283116956/
Interview with Kyle Busch on Richmond
Kyle you had a strong car all night running up towards the lead. Your thoughts on the race this evening. KYLE BUSCH: It was a good night for us. We struggled a little bit on car handling, but not much. It’s just a product of the way things are. We ran in the top seven, most [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/283289408/
Report: Stewart to start team with Bass Pro Shops, Hendrick support
From Winston Salem-Journal: There has been no official word from either side, but it is becoming increasingly likely that Tony Stewart will indeed leave car owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs at the end of this season, to start his own team, under the Rick Hendrick Chevrolet umbrella, possibly with Bass Pro Shops as his sponsor. If [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/283485022/
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Courtesy of Carolyn’s Jeff Gordon Newsletter cakes24@juno.com
RACE RESULTS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400
Richmond International Raceway
May 03, 2008
Race 10 of 36
CONGRATULATIONS #07 Clint Bowyer
Driver Start No. Mfg. Led Completed Status Pts/Bonus Money
1 Clint Bowyer 31 #07 Chevrolet 13 410 running 190/5 $226,550
2 Kyle Busch 7 #18 Toyota 0 410 running 170/0 $171,100
3 Mark Martin 2 #8 Chevrolet 0 410 running 165/0 $174,108
4 Tony Stewart 15 #20 Toyota 0 410 running 160/0 $157,911
5 Martin Truex Jr. 3 #1 Chevrolet 0 410 running 155/0 $133,708
6 Ryan Newman 10 #12 Dodge 0 410 running 150/0 $137,975
7 Carl Edwards 19 #99 Ford 0 410 running 146/0 $131,375
8 Kevin Harvick 11 #29 Chevrolet 0 410 running 142/0 $125,411
9 Jeff Gordon 28 #24 Chevrolet 0 410 running 138/0 $126,186
10 Kasey Kahne 9 #9 Dodge 0 410 running 134/0 $113,741
11 Jeff Burton 33 #31 Chevrolet 0 410 running 130/0 $119,658
12 Reed Sorenson 5 #41 Dodge 0 410 running 127/0 $104,464
13 Bobby Labonte 39 #43 Dodge 0 410 running 124/0 $113,011
14 Greg Biffle 23 #16 Ford 0 410 running 121/0 $84,575
15 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 22 #88 Chevrolet 15 410 running 123/5 $83,000
16 Travis Kvapil 34 #28 Ford 0 410 running 115/0 $101,089
17 David Ragan 13 #6 Ford 0 409 running 112/0 $80,850
18 Dave Blaney 17 #22 Toyota 0 408 running 109/0 $90,383
19 Scott Riggs 30 #66 Chevrolet 0 408 running 106/0 $88,158
20 Elliott Sadler 8 #19 Dodge 0 408 running 103/0 $100,470
21 Regan Smith 26 #01 Chevrolet 0 408 running 100/0 $81,000
22 David Reutimann 14 #44 Toyota 0 407 running 97/0 $71,275
23 Sam Hornish Jr. 35 #77 Dodge 0 407 running 94/0 $113,650
24 Denny Hamlin 1 #11 Toyota 381 407 running 101/10 $123,166
25 Sterling Marlin 41 #109 Chevrolet 0 407 running 88/0 $67,975
26 Robby Gordon 38 #7 Dodge 0 406 running 85/0 $92,608
27 Kyle Petty 42 #45 Dodge 0 406 running 82/0 $81,858
28 Brian Vickers 32 #83 Toyota 0 406 running 79/0 $70,075
29 Joe Nemechek 36 #78 Chevrolet 0 406 running 76/0 $66,950
30 Jimmie Johnson 12 #48 Chevrolet 0 400 running 73/0 $121,411
31 Paul Menard 25 #15 Chevrolet 0 397 running 70/0 $77,150
32 Juan Pablo Montoya 6 #42 Dodge 0 389 running 67/0 $94,408
33 Johnny Sauter 37 #70 Chevrolet 0 374 running 64/0 $67,325
34 J.J. Yeley 43 #96 Toyota 0 365 running 61/0 $74,250
35 Jamie McMurray 20 #26 Ford 0 364 accident 58/0 $74,125
36 Casey Mears 16 #5 Chevrolet 0 354 accident 55/0 $83,975
37 Michael Waltrip 27 #55 Toyota 0 352 parked 52/0 $75,397
38 Matt Kenseth 24 #17 Ford 0 345 running 49/0 $113,366
39 AJ Allmendinger 18 #84 Toyota 1 259 accident 51/5 $65,600
40 Michael McDowell 29 # Toyota 0 258 accident 43/0 $65,475
41 David Gilliland 40 #38 Ford 0 229 accident 40/0 $65,330
42 Kurt Busch 21 #2 Dodge 0 229 accident 37/0 $65,205
43 Patrick Carpentier 4 #10 Dodge 0 228 accident 34/0 $65,471
POINT STANDINGS RESULTS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400
Richmond International Raceway
May 03, 2008
Race 10 of 36
Rk +/- Driver Points Behind Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 DNF Laps Raced Laps Led Earnings
1 +1 Kyle Busch 1495 10 2 6 7 0 3238 398 $2,161,163
2 -1 Jeff Burton 1477 -18 10 1 3 6 0 3297 61 $1,722,068
3 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1391 -104 10 0 3 7 0 3249 416 $1,694,620
4 +3 Clint Bowyer 1372 -123 10 1 3 7 0 3295 150 $1,529,820
5 +1 Kevin Harvick 1350 -145 10 0 2 5 0 3295 34 $1,621,573
6 -2 Denny Hamlin 1349 -146 10 1 4 6 0 3236 630 $1,787,835
7 -2 Jimmie Johnson 1318 -177 10 1 4 4 0 3283 412 $2,087,530
8 +1 Tony Stewart 1297 -198 10 0 4 6 2 3121 350 $2,305,626
9 -1 Greg Biffle 1269 -226 10 0 3 5 0 3269 17 $1,336,063
10 — Carl Edwards 1230 -265 10 3 4 6 1 3209 306 $2,459,825
11 — Ryan Newman 1212 -283 10 1 2 5 1 3110 53 $2,823,788
12 +1 Kasey Kahne 1162 -333 10 0 0 5 0 3252 4 $1,516,973
13 +1 Jeff Gordon 1156 -339 10 0 3 4 3 3062 184 $1,670,164
14 +1 David Ragan 1106 -389 10 0 1 2 1 3250 0 $1,206,513
15 +2 Martin Truex Jr. 1104 -391 10 0 1 3 2 3271 2 $1,418,893
16 -4 Juan Pablo Montoya 1096 -399 10 0 1 1 0 3271 1 $1,432,425
17 -1 Brian Vickers 1073 -422 10 0 1 2 2 3266 5 $1,086,670
18 +4 Bobby Labonte 1019 -476 10 0 0 0 0 3268 4 $1,424,480
19 +4 Travis Kvapil 1008 -487 10 0 0 2 0 3279 0 $1,340,178
20 -2 David Gilliland 980 -515 10 0 0 1 1 3106 2 $1,229,729
21 — Paul Menard 972 -523 10 0 0 0 0 3271 3 $1,112,370
22 -3 Matt Kenseth 958 -537 10 0 1 4 0 3141 143 $1,524,023
23 +1 Casey Mears 942 -553 10 0 0 2 3 2912 0 $1,258,595
24 -4 Kurt Busch 940 -555 10 0 1 1 3 3078 9 $1,824,600
25 +1 Elliott Sadler 935 -560 10 0 0 1 3 3069 3 $1,415,948
26 -1 Jamie McMurray 897 -598 10 0 0 1 1 3107 2 $1,141,916
27 +1 Scott Riggs 894 -601 10 0 0 0 0 3199 2 $1,129,134
28 +2 Mark Martin 888 -607 7 0 2 4 0 2101 69 $1,225,319
29 -2 Robby Gordon 882 -613 10 0 0 1 1 3096 1 $1,263,743
30 -1 David Reutimann 861 -634 10 0 0 0 2 3134 3 $1,060,580
31 +1 Reed Sorenson 805 -690 10 0 1 1 2 2894 5 $1,571,003
32 -1 Michael Waltrip 760 -735 10 0 0 0 1 3203 12 $1,113,788
33 +1 Regan Smith 759 -736 10 0 0 0 0 3254 1 $1,053,180
34 -1 Sam Hornish Jr. 757 -738 10 0 0 0 1 2924 0 $1,420,134
35 +1 Dave Blaney 655 -840 9 0 0 0 2 2950 5 $1,006,730
36 -1 J.J. Yeley 612 -883 9 0 0 0 1 2796 0 $989,580
37 — Jeremy Mayfield 490 -1005 7 0 0 0 0 2340 0 $757,475
38 — Dario Franchitti 483 -1012 7 0 0 0 0 2338 1 $780,238
39 +1 Joe Nemechek 473 -1022 8 0 0 0 0 2367 0 $793,325
40 +3 Kyle Petty 445 -1050 7 0 0 0 0 2104 0 $749,340
41 — Patrick Carpentier 424 -1071 7 0 0 0 2 2056 0 $556,849
42 -3 Mike Skinner 423 -1072 6 0 0 0 0 2168 0 $461,900
43 -1 Dale Jarrett 367 -1128 5 0 0 0 1 1496 3 $637,038
44 — Michael McDowell 338 -1157 5 0 0 0 1 1582 0 $406,741
45 — Bill Elliott 277 -1218 4 0 0 0 0 1382 0 $438,653
46 — Aric Almirola 243 -1252 3 0 0 1 1 1071 0 $344,264
47 — Ken Schrader 234 -1261 4 0 0 0 1 1295 1 $409,584
48 +1 Sterling Marlin 185 -1310 2 0 0 0 0 595 0 $174,095
49 -1 John Andretti 149 -1346 3 0 0 0 1 692 1 $422,213
50 +1 AJ Allmendinger 129 -1366 2 0 0 0 2 446 2 $168,170
51 +2 Johnny Sauter 116 -1379 2 0 0 0 0 645 0 $131,300
52 -2 David Stremme 84 -1411 1 0 0 0 1 187 2 $91,525
53 -1 Jon Wood 55 -1440 1 0 0 0 0 179 0 $97,620
54 — Kenny Wallace 34 -1461 1 0 0 0 1 141 0 $256,735
55 — Eric McClure 0 -1495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $22,988
55 — Jacques Villeneuve 0 -1495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $22,863
55 — Stanton Barrett 0 -1495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $22,813
55 — Boris Said 0 -1495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $22,170
55 — Carl Long 0 -1495 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $21,920
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Courtesy of www.Catchfence.com
Why Kyle Busch might be the best thing for NASCAR
hamptonroads.com/2008/05/why-kyle-busch-might-be-best-thing-nascar
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Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Ed B. - thanks!
SI reports Mark Martin burnout comments
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/05/03/richmond.notebook.ap/index.html
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Courtesy of Google Alerts
NASCAR becoming a tough sell
By Kenneth - ARS Editor
Fewer people are pledging allegiance to NASCAR these days, and it’s not just because their pockets are shallower, it’s because they’re estranged. They’re like the hippies of the ’60s — turned off and tuning out (presumably minus the …
autoracingsport.com/nascar/nascar-becoming-a-tough-sell/
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
Joey Logano Wins Rockingham Opener
At one point, Logano had lapped the entire 50-car field with the exception of the second place driver. Only varying pit stop sequences and the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award got more machines back on the lead lap for the chance to challenge in the final stages. Logano, who earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Saturday with a new ARCA RE/MAX Series one-lap track record (146.645 mph), also posted the Accel Fastest Lap of the Race with a top speed of 140.812 mph. Logano’s crew chief Billy Venturini won the Cometic Crew Chief of the Race honors. Chad McCumbee finished sixth in the Danco Electrical Contractors Chevrolet in front of Austin Dillon, who finished seventh in his career-first series attempt in the Garage Equipment Supply Chevrolet. Current ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Matt Carter finished eighth in the Stine Seed-NuSouth Lemonade Ford. Tom Hessert III finished ninth in the Maaco Auto Painting-Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Ford, moving to a tie with Stenhouse for third in series points. Frank Kimmel finished 10th in the FordDriveOne.com-ECC Ford. Most say that Rockingham Speedway is one of the toughest, most challenging tracks on anyone’s tour. However, someone forgot to tell ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Joey Logano, who made his victory in Sunday’s Carolina 500 look simple. Logano, in the no. 25 Venturini Motorsports-prepared Joe Gibbs Racing Oil-Gresham & Associates Chevrolet, led 257 of 312 laps to conquer the “Rock” in his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series start. Logano also earned the Aaron’s Lap Leader award for leading the most laps.
Toyota Won’t Get Involved In Contract Talk
Toyota officials don’t want to lose Tony Stewart to another manufacturer, but they won’t get involved in negotiations to keep the two-time Sprint Cup champion at Joe Gibbs Racing after his contract expires in 2009. “We’re not a company that gets in the middle between owners and drivers,” Lee White, the general manager of Toyota Racing Development, said before Saturday’s race at Richmond International Raceway. “If there is a manufacturer out there that is spearheading or brokering or promoting an activity like this, I can promise you it will not be Toyota.
Drug Policy Likely To Change
Changes are likely in store for NASCAR’s drug-testing policy. A NASCAR study group is considering several options for NASCAR’s policy, including adding an element of random testing, said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter. The current policy calls for testing when there is “reasonable suspicion” someone is using banned substances. “There is a small group looking at this issue. We need to enhance what we have,” said Hunter. “We don’t think there is any drug policy in sports today that is any stronger than ours. There is a sensitivity with us that when you test and you tell people you are testing, it gives people the perception that there’s a problem that may not be there. We don’t like that.” However, Hunter said, NASCAR will adopt an element of random testing to its current policy if the study group recommends such a change be made. Any change to incorporate random drug testing would likely not take effect until the 2009 season. Regardless of the outcome of the study group, Hunter said NASCAR would find ways to enhance its current policy. “We’ve got to put away any doubt that there is anyone participating who is using a banned substance,” Hunter said.
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
UNOFFICAL Drivers Points Standings [after Richmond race 10 of 36]:
1) #18-Kyle Busch 1495 [2 wins]
2) #31-Jeff Burton 1477 -18 [1 win]
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1391 -104
4) #07-Clint Bowyer 1372 -123 [1 win]
5) #29-Kevin Harvick 1350 -145
6) #11-Denny Hamlin 1349 -146 [1 win]
7) #48-Jimmie Johnson 1318 -177 [1 win]
#20-Tony Stewart 1297 -198
9) #16-Greg Biffle 1269 -226
10) #99-Carl Edwards 1230 -265 [would be 7th if no 100pt penalty][3 wins]
11) #12-Ryan Newman 1212 -283 [1 win]
12) #9-Kasey Kahne 1162 -333
other chase contenders
13) #24-Jeff Gordon 1156 6pts out of 12th
14) #6-David Ragan 1106 -56
15) #1-Martin Truex Jr. 1104 -58
16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya 1096 -66
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Richmond page.
www.jayski.com/stats/2008/points/10rir2008points.htm
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Darlington
no changes in who is in or out, the order got changed a bit and the points between 35th and 36th is now 71
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
32) #00-McDowell/Waltrip Racing 799 +113
33) #44-Reutimann/Waltrip Racing 767 +81
31) #55-Waltrip/Waltrip Racing 760 +74
34) #01-Smith/Dale Earnhardt Inc 759 +73
35) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing 757, 71 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #22-Blaney/Bill Davis 686 -71 points out of 35th
37) #70-Sauter/Haas CNC Racing 648 -109
38) #96-Yeley/Hall of Fame Racing 640 -117
39) #40-Franchitti/Ganassi Racing 629 -128
40) #84-Allmendinger/Red Bull Racing 572 -185
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page
www.jayski.com/stats/2008/points/10rir2008points.htm#OWN
Richmond International Raceway Fast Facts
.. Clint Bowyer won the Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400, his second victory in 83 Sprint Cup Series races. His other win came at New Hampshire in September 2007.
.. This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2008.
.. This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in five races at Richmond.
.. Kyle Busch (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Richmond and tied his best finish here for the second time. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2008.
.. Mark Martin (third) posted his 24th top-10 finish in 45 races at Richmond.
.. Regan Smith (21st) was the highest finishing rookie.
.. Denny Hamlin led 381 laps, setting the record for the number of laps led in a 400-lap race at Richmond. He eclipsed the mark of 369 set by Bobby Allison in September 1979. The record for laps led all-time at Richmond is 488 of 500 on the .500-mile configuration by David Pearson in September 1970.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-3-2008)
Testing Sessions Set for NASCAR at LMS: Testing sessions for NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams have been scheduled at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in preparation for the track’s calendar of May races, including the May 17 Sprint All-Star Race and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600. Each division will participate in a two-day testing session with a third day reserved in case of rain. Sprint Cup Series May 5-6; May 7 Rain Date with testing to run 9:00am to 12:00pm; 1:00 to 5:00pm; and 6:00 to 9:00pm. During each testing session, Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s frontstretch grandstand will be open free of charge and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office.(LMS)(5-2-2008) Will post and news and speeds reported.(5-5-2008)
Indiana Jones Scheme for Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch’s #18 M&M’S Toyota Camry will sport a special Indiana Jones-themed paint scheme, and Busch will wear a matching fire suit during the Dodge Challenger 500 Sprint Cup race in Darlington, South Carolina, on May 10. The special paint scheme features: Movie title decals on the hood, trunk and TV panel; An image of Indiana Jones with his iconic hat and whip on the left rear panel; and The M&M’S Brand Red, Green and Yellow characters sporting various Indiana Jones-themed outfits. The M&M’S Brand Racing team also plans to feature fun Indiana Jones-themed activities for fans attending the Darlington race, giving them a literal taste of the adventure.(PWR New Media), see an image of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page.(5-5-2008) www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/18cup.htm
Truex to Penske? with UPS? hearing that Martin Truex, current driver of the #1 DEI Chevy, could be headed to a 4th Penske Racing team with UPS as the sponsor.(5-4-2008)
Smith rookie of the race at RIR: #01-Regan Smith scored a 21st-place finish at Richmond and claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second consecutive race and for the fifth time in 10 races this season. Smith unofficially leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by one point (97-96) over #77-Sam Hornish Jr. Smith has been the top Raybestos Rookie in all three short track races this season.(Camp & Assoc/Raybestos),
Latest Stewart Rumor…Bass Pro Shops? There has been no official word from either side, but it is becoming increasingly likely that #20-Tony Stewart will indeed leave car owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs at the end of this season, to start his own team, under the Rick Hendrick Chevrolet [with Haas CNC?] umbrella, possibly with Bass Pro Shops as his sponsor. If Stewart does depart, that would leave the Gibbses looking for a new driver. Joey Logano’s chances of getting the nod? Sunday’s Carolina 500 at Rockingham Speedway could offer clues. Logano is to start from the pole.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-8-2008)
Target, according to sources, may be reconsidering its NASCAR sponsorship. Target has been sponsoring Dodge owner Chip Ganassi [#41 Reed Sorenson] for several years, though still without a major win.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-8-2008)
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY IMPALA SS – Finished 15th:
ON FAIRNESS RACING ROOM BY KYLE BUSCH: “Whether it is fair or not, he is going to need some security. I haven’t seen the replay, Tony, Jr. (Eury) said it looked like Kyle got loose underneath me. That happens. I wasn’t good on the bottom so I moved up to the top to run as good as I could up there. He had been running the bottom, so I figured we would race that out. It got a great run around one and two, and he nearly got by me. He gave me room off the outside of two so, I wouldn’t say that was intentional going in to three. Because if he had wanted to, he could have just thrown me in the fence off two. We had been racing each other earlier and had no problems. I have done that before. That is what happens if he got loose underneath me.
“The worst part about it, is that I have been priding myself on running good all year and I was in position for a win. I ran hard and got wrecked. I had a top-three car and should have finished in the top-three. So, I was going for the win. Just ended up on the hook today. Just disappointed.”
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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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Wallace, Busch trade barbs following Richmond Nationwide race
Kyle Busch and Steve Wallace first made contact on the track, then disparaged one another off of it at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night. The two were battling for position on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Lipton Tea 250 when Wallace got a run coming off Turn 2 then went on to hit [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/282555124/
Nationwide COT will drive easier than Cup car
“We are working very hard on the COT,” [Nationwide Series Director Joe] Balash explains. “We’ll utilize the NASCAR 110-inch wheelbase certified chassis, and it will be interchangeable between the Sprint Cup and Nationwide garages. [But] we’re going to do something unique with the bodies to give the Series its own look as opposed to [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/282593900/
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Hamlin Wins at Richmond: #20-Denny Hamlin survived a green white checker finish to win the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Speedway. Hamlin used a late race pit stop for 4 tires to pass #33-Kevin Harvick and #60-Carl Edwards to take the lead with less than 10 laps to go. The win is the 5th consecutive Nationwide Series race for Joe Gibbs Racing. Harvick held on for second place, followed by #32-Kyle Busch, #6-David Ragan, #66-Steve Wallace, #64-David Stremme, #60-Carl Edwards, #1-Mike Bliss, #2-Clint Bowyer, and #29-Scott Wimmer. The race was slowed by 8 cautions for 41 laps and there were 4 leaders with 3 lead changes. Complete results are posted on the Richmond Race Page.(5-2-2008)
www.jayski.com/nationwide/2008/next/11richmond.htm#results
Driver Standings: Clint Bowyer clings to a 9 point lead over Carl Edwards in the driver standings. Kyle Busch is in third, 12 points back. David Ragan jumped 2 spots to fourth and Mike Bliss remains fifth. Driver points are posted on the Richmond Race Page.(5-2-2008) www.jayski.com/nationwide/2008/next/11richmond.htm#standings
Gunselman Released: Larry Gunselman said Friday that he did his best to slow his car down and avoid hitting Dario Franchitti in the door last week in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway that broke Franchitti’s left ankle. Gunselman was driving for MSRP Motorsports, a team that is more or less starting and parking this year. He said he was released from the team after the accident. Although he was released from the infield care center following the wreck, Gunselman said he started feeling nauseated and was taken to a hospital for observation. He had a CAT-scan and X-rays to his elbow and was released. He said he is still sore from the wreck. Gunselman was replaced at Richmond by Kenny Hendrick.(SceneDaily.com)(5-3-2008)
Hauler Images: Added several team hauler images to the Paint Schemes page. Teams include #1, #7, #16, #18, #22, #24, #25, #27, #28, #32, #37, #59, #60, & #89.(5-2-2008) www.jayski.com/schemes/2008nationwide.htm
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
www.TheHotLap.com
RICHMOND, VA (May 3, 2008)—On the heels of his first career Nationwide Series top-ten finish two weeks ago in Mexico City, 20-year old Steve Wallace continued his upward climb Friday evening, scoring his first career Nationwide Series top-five finish in the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Meanwhile, Wallace’s teammate, David Stremme, continued his remarkable 2008 consistency in Friday’s event, capturing his fifth top-ten finish in his last six Nationwide Series starts. Steve Wallace post race quotes:“Today was a great day for our Atreus Homes & Communities Chevrolet team. I would have never dreamed that my first top-five would come at Richmond. Coming here, I really didn’t like this track a whole lot, but trust me, that changed a lot after this race.“Harold Holly and my guys gave me a great car tonight. It was almost perfect; I think our only change during the night was a ½ pound of air pressure. If we could have just had a little better track position, I really think that we had a car that could have won the race.“Our team has gained a lot of momentum over the last few weeks; it was really cool to see David and I both get top-ten finishes tonight. I’m very excited about hopefully carrying our momentum into Darlington; that’s a track that I really like a lot and I’m definitely looking forward to getting there.”On His Last Lap Contact with Kyle Busch:“We came off turn two and he got really loose by himself. There wasn’t a whole lot I could do; he checked up when he got loose. I didn’t mean to hit him—it was just racing; it happens every week. Then, we got down into three and it was clear that he was trying to wreck me, so I drove up the racetrack to keep from getting hit. After the race, when we drove into one, he brake-checked me hard and tore the right front corner off of our car.“When we got onto pit road, he came running over to my car with his helmet on. I couldn’t understand a thing he said, but I heard a lot of the comments he made to the media afterwards. If he’s as big of a man as he says he is, he should take his helmet off this time and come tell me to my face. Our Atreus teams had a great night and I’m not going to let that incident ruin it; I’m really proud of the job that both of our teams did tonight.”
Post race notes-Kyle Busch-Finished 3rd.Can you talk about the struggles you had today? “It was a struggle, that’s for sure. We had a handful there in the beginning and in the middle part of the race. Trent Owens (crew chief) and all these guys on this Braun Racing Toyota - Hass Avocados from Mexico car gave me some great adjustments on pit stops and they just kept working on it and we kept fighting it. Luckily, there towards the second -to-last pit stop we came in and got tires and I was able to drive through some guys and get some track position. Our card was to come and pit there at that last caution and grab tires again. Great job by these guys here. We didn’t have the best car, but we got a third-place finish, which is what counts.” What did you say to Steven Wallace at the end of the race? “Basically, he’s a boy trying to play in a man’s sport and I don’t take those games. We’re going to fight if it comes down to it and if he wants to play that kind of game, then that’s how we’re going to play.” Did he intentionally get into you? “He might have got a better run off of turn two, but when you get a better run off of somebody, you pull low and you pass. You don’t drive into the back of them and try to spin them out on the straightaway. He knew I was going to wreck him in turn three and he moved up out of the way and he didn’t get dumped.”(Toyota Racing) (05-03-08)
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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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Mansfield Motorsports Park Ohio 250 Weekend Schedule Announced
The complete weekend schedule for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park has been announced. As has been the case in years past, practice and qualifying runs will take place on …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=287782
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
www.arcaracing.com
Rookie Joey Logano Conquers Rockingham in Career-First ARCA RE/MAX Series Attempt
ROCKINGHAM NC (5-4-08) – Most say that Rockingham Speedway is one of the toughest, most challenging tracks on anyone’s tour. However, someone forgot to tell ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Joey Logano, who made his victory in Sunday’s Carolina 500 look simple.
Logano, in the no. 25 Venturini Motorsports-prepared Joe Gibbs Racing Oil-Gresham & Associates Chevrolet, led 257 of 312 laps to conquer the “Rock” in his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series start. Logano also earned the Aaron’s Lap Leader award for leading the most laps.
“I have to thank the Joe Gibbs crew for pitting me,” said Logano. “They kept me out front. We’re going to get a shot at Dover coming up, and hopefully we’ll see victory lane there too. I wasn’t running flat out the whole race. You’ve got to pace yourself. That’s a really big deal here at The Rock.”
Outside of a late-race wrestling match with Ken Schrader and mid-race battle with Michael Annett and Matt Hawkins, Logano had nary a challenger during the 500 kilometer/312-mile race.
With only five drivers on the left on the lead lap, Logano pitted for fresh tires 10 laps from the finish. Logano, who restarted fourth, was leading before the field completed one lap. From there, the Middletown, Connecticut driver pulled away by more than four seconds over Schrader, who finished second in his own no. 52 Four Winds Motorhomes Dodge.
“I would have loved to have won but it’s neat to see the fastest car win a race and that’s what happened today,” said Schrader. “I have to thank Johnny Benson who came out here and practiced the car for us on Friday. It was good. We just didn’t have anything for [Joey] Logano. We didn’t pit for tires at the very end there because we didn’t have any tires, but even if we did, we probably wouldn’t have pitted. We’re low budget so if there is an opportunity to cut costs anywhere, we do it.”
Schrader, who started 31st, also earned the Casite Hard Charger award for advancing the most positions.
Roush Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., the only other driver who pitted with Logano during that final stop, finished third.
“All of the guys had great pit stops,” said Stenhouse. “Lumpy left us a set of tires for the end and that was good pit strategy. I just can’t thank these guys enough. It was a blast. You go back to sprint car days, you just come in put a right rear on and it just lights the thing up.”
Stenhouse, who moved to third in championship points, was also the SunTrust Highest Finishing Rookie.
Hawkins, in the JaniKing-Black’s Tire Dodge, finished fourth. Annett, in the Bill Davis Racing Pilot Travel Centers Toyota, finished fifth, the last driver on the lead lap.
At one point, Logano had lapped the entire 50-car field with the exception of the second place driver. Only varying pit stop sequences and the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award got more machines back on the lead lap for the chance to challenge in the final stages.
Logano, who earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Saturday with a new ARCA RE/MAX Series one-lap track record (146.645 mph), also posted the Accel Fastest Lap of the Race with a top speed of 140.812 mph. Logano’s crew chief Billy Venturini won the Cometic Crew Chief of the Race honors.
Chad McCumbee finished sixth in the Danco Electrical Contractors Chevrolet in front of Austin Dillon, who finished seventh in his career-first series attempt in the Garage Equipment Supply Chevrolet. Current ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Matt Carter finished eighth in the Stine Seed-NuSouth Lemonade Ford. Tom Hessert III finished ninth in the Maaco Auto Painting-Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Ford, moving to a tie with Stenhouse for third in series points. Frank Kimmel finished 10th in the FordDriveOne.com-ECC Ford.
Four drivers traded the lead 10 times while 13 cautions slowed the race for 92 laps. Lap leaders included Hawkins (25), Annett (17) and Schrader (13). There were no injuries.
ARCA RE/MAX Series Headed to the Bluegrass State; Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Next
From Rockingham, the ARCA RE/MAX Series is headed to Kentucky Speedway for the Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Saturday, May 10th. The race marks the ARCA RE/MAX Series’ 16th appearance to Kentucky since 2000. Former winners at the track include Frank Kimmel, Chad Blount, Ryan Hemphill, Kyle Busch, Brad Coleman, Erik Darnell, Michael McDowell, Ryan Newman, Tim Steele and Steve Wallace. The race is part of an all-ARCA weekend at the track, as the regionally touring ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will compete on Kentucky’s quarter-mile track, also on Saturday.
Arcaracing.com will feature live timing and scoring for all ARCA RE/MAX Series on-track sessions at Kentucky.
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
Joey Logano Wins Rockingham Opener
At one point, Logano had lapped the entire 50-car field with the exception of the second place driver. Only varying pit stop sequences and the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award got more machines back on the lead lap for the chance to challenge in the final stages. Logano, who earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Saturday with a new ARCA RE/MAX Series one-lap track record (146.645 mph), also posted the Accel Fastest Lap of the Race with a top speed of 140.812 mph. Logano’s crew chief Billy Venturini won the Cometic Crew Chief of the Race honors. Chad McCumbee finished sixth in the Danco Electrical Contractors Chevrolet in front of Austin Dillon, who finished seventh in his career-first series attempt in the Garage Equipment Supply Chevrolet. Current ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Matt Carter finished eighth in the Stine Seed-NuSouth Lemonade Ford. Tom Hessert III finished ninth in the Maaco Auto Painting-Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Ford, moving to a tie with Stenhouse for third in series points. Frank Kimmel finished 10th in the FordDriveOne.com-ECC Ford. Most say that Rockingham Speedway is one of the toughest, most challenging tracks on anyone’s tour. However, someone forgot to tell ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Joey Logano, who made his victory in Sunday’s Carolina 500 look simple. Logano, in the no. 25 Venturini Motorsports-prepared Joe Gibbs Racing Oil-Gresham & Associates Chevrolet, led 257 of 312 laps to conquer the “Rock” in his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series start. Logano also earned the Aaron’s Lap Leader award for leading the most laps.
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N A S C A R * C A N A D I A N * T I R E * S E R I E S
localracing.nascar.com/news/6
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NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Mopar Teams pictures from Mopar Day at Kawartha Speedway
(thanks, Sean!)
www.kawarthadowns.com/webpages/story.php?artid=10
s168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/estrellajmb/?action=view¤t=dilleyandwhitlock.jpg
picasaweb.google.com/GREGMACP/NCATSMOPARDayAtKawarthaSpeedway
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Saskatoon club wooing NASCAR
Leader Post - Don Mills,ON,Canada
The circuit, formally known as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, is entering its second season. It would be the biggest event the track has hosted. …
snipurl.com/276eq-gazete
Beverage Plus: The Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race in …
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
“Even though I have many years of experience driving on short-tracks in Canada, and have won quite a few races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, …
snipurl.com/276es-gazete
NSIDE TRACK NOTEBOOK: Thursday, May 1, 2008
Inside Track Motorsport News - Toronto,Ontario,Canada
For those of you with Facebook accounts, Jim Clarke of Kawartha Speedway has posted some shots from yesterday’s MOPAR Day (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) at …
insidetracknews.blogspot.com/2008/05/inside-track-notebook-thursday-may-1.html
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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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Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/050308.html
Some Good Advice for Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick
by Brenda Benedict
RaceTalkRadio.com:
Hamlin Nails Three Pointer at the Buzzer by Dennis Michelsen
www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id112.htm
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RF/050408.html
Earnhardt Battles Busch, Bowyer Wins Wild One At Richmond
by Ron Felix
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/050408.html
Friends Help Morgan Shepherd In Time Of Need
by Kim Roberson
Bowyer wins at Richmond: Clint Bowyer may not have had the best car Saturday night. But he was in the right place at the right time. Bowyer came out the victor after late contact between race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch.
www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/050408SM.asp
Richmond Racing Notes - Friday: Short track racing is arguably the best racing in NASCAR’s top series. Did you know that some of the finest side-to-side racing can be found in Virginia?
www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/050208SM2.asp
Taking it to the Bank: Clint Bowyer takes his 2nd career win driving the BB&T Chevrolet in shootout fashion in the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/050308Finnegan_Cup.asp
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/050508.html
What Makes The SPEED Channel Stage Work?
by Kim Roberson
Michael Waltrip On SPEED Monday Night
The three hours of NASCAR-related programming on SPEED went by quickly on Sunday night. Nowhere in that time did viewers see Sprint Cup owner/driver, Craftsman Truck Series analyst and This Week in NASCAR panelist Michael Waltrip.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/05/michael-waltrip-on-speed-monday-night.html
Jimmy Spencer Faces-Off With “Old DW”
Normally, the SPEED program called Victory Lane appears shortly after the Sprint Cup race is over on Sunday. Recorded live from the Victory Lane area at each track, the show then appears on SPEED at 8PM Eastern Time.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/05/jimmy-spencer-faces-off-with-old-dw.html
Hunter’s TV Comments Needed A Response
It was Nicole Manske hosting the Saturday edition of NASCAR Now with Lead Reporter Marty Smith on-site in Richmond. In the program, Manske introduced a “soundbite” from NASCAR VP of Public Relations Jim Hunter.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/05/hunters-tv-comments-needed-response.html
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fan TV
www.racefantv.com
MONDAY, MAY 5
7:30A-10:00 Setanta USA A1 Grand Prix, Brands Hatch, England, May 4/08, N
8:00A-11:00 Setanta CDN A1 Grand Prix, Brands Hatch, England, May 4/08, N
TUESDAY, MAY 6
1:00P-2:00 SPEED FIM 250 Championship, Pramac Grand Prix of China, Shanghai, China, May 4/08, N
2:00P-3:00 SPEED FIM MotoGP World Championship, Pramac Grand Prix of China, Shanghai, China, May 4/08, R
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
12:00n-1:30P SPEED NASCAR Camping World Series West Allstate Texas Thunder 150, Thunderhill Raceway, Kyle, TX, Apr 19/08, HD, R-HDNet
1:30P-3:00 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Series East An American Revolution 150, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, SC, Apr 19/08, N
Race Fan TV does not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, 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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The Stock Car Gazette
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