Friday is…. wow. And today is a special Friday because it’s the 5th annual “NASCAR DAY” (http://www.nascar.com/nascarday).
Tonight at 8:00 PM eastern time, the Craftsman Truck Series is racing in Charlotte in the NC Education Lottery 200, then tomorrow night at 7:00 PM eastern time, you can watch the Sprint Cup guys in the NASCAR Sprint Showdown/ NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV on SPEED.
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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
Do you know for sure?
http://motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure
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The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by:
Hasco Collectibles
Div. Hasco Services, LLC
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NEW PRE-ORDERS: Dale Jr. Nationwide #83 Navy Jr.’s Division MC,
(To Be Driven In The Nationwide Race At Lowes Mtr. Spdwy. On May 24),
Dale Jr., J. Gordon, M. Martin, Keselowski, And Other Salute The Troops,
(To Be Driven In The Coca-Cola 600 At Lowes Mtr. Spdwy. On May 25),
Dale Jr. Whiskey River, Dale Jr. All Star 3 Doors Down Citizen Soldier,
Dale Jr. Mountain Dew Retro Scheme, Including The 1/64th Scale In A
Mountain Dew Soda Can. We Also Have The Kyle Busch 1st Toyota Win,
J. Force Castrol 40th, And Mark Martin Principal 700th Start Impala SS.
Plus We Have Pre-Orders For Most Of The Cup Drivers On Our Pre-
Order Web Site At: http://www.diecastcars.net.
We Have 2008 AMP/NG/Dupont/Lowes/Cheerios/Home Depot, Bud,
Jack Daniels, Wells Fargo, Bass Pro, Fed-Ex, Nicorette, And
More At Our In-Stock Web Store http://www.hascodiecastcars.com.
Dale Jr. ARC Bud Cars Still 60 Per Cent Off, RCCA/Revell 35 Per Cent Off.
All Drivers Clothing Items Also Are Still Discounted 50 Per Cent Off.
www.hascodiecastcars.com.
Hasco Collectibles
Div. Hasco Services, LLC
701 Mantooth Ave.
Lufkin, TX 75904
http://www.hascodiecastcars.com
http://www.diecastcars.net
hasco@diecastcars.net
866-66-HASCO (866-664-2726)
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Humpy picks Edwards to win the All-Star race; Edwards’ car bodies awry
by: Doug Turnbull
Earlier this week, Lowe’s Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler announced his annual pick to win the All-Star race. He did not step out on too much of a limb, picking Carl Edwards to win the million dollar race. Edwards has won at similar tracks to Lowe’s three times this season, at California, Las Vegas, and Texas. He likely would have won at Atlanta, but blew an engine there.
Edwards may be able to attribute some of his and his teammates’ success to a legal adjustment that his team is making on the cars.
MORE: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1261
More of Doug’s columns can be read at:
http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/turnbull
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Lowes Motor Speedway All-Star (Rundown and Info)
by: Mike Wells
Last year it looked as if Jeff Gordon had something on Kevin Harvick when he had a tire go down. Jimmie Johnson got a good run on Harvick on the final lap, but was not able to make the pass with Mark Martin in third. Oh to be a crew member for Harvick. He stated that if he won, he was going to share the prize of $1 million with them!
MORE: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1262
More of Mike’s articles can be read at:
http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/water-from-the-wells
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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New website… check it out at www.motorsportsnews.net and leave your comments.
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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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Sprint to giveaway 30,000 tickets
Sprint purchased 10,000 tickets to giveaway free to its subscribers for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Capacity for the event is about 15,000 so a sellout is expected. Sprint also purchased 20,000 tickets to give away free to its subscribers for Saturday’s Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/290978187/
All Star interview with Jeff Gordon
HERB BRANHAM: Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to this week’s NASCAR teleconference, this in advance of Saturday night’s 24th annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Our very special guest today with us, is the three-time All-Star Race Champion, and the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/291217096/
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Courtesy of www.Catchfence.com
Charlotte, N.C. resident is selected to ‘go racing’ with Daytona 500 Champion Ryan Newman and Alltel Wireless – http://www.catchfence.com/press/051508.html
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Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Ed B. – thanks!
David-Ragan-of-Nascar-fame-joins-HorsePower-Tee-Shot-Tour
http://snipurl.com/2947r-gazete
CHARLOTTE – Lauth, owners and developers of NASCAR® Plaza, today welcomed the media for the first time inside Charlotte’s newest landmark Class A office tower.
“NASCAR® Plaza is on schedule to open ten months from now,” said Flint McNaughton, Sr. Vice President and Southeast Regional Partner at Lauth. “Lauth is excited to bring NASCAR® Plaza to the market as the business anchor of a new vibrant gateway into downtown.”
NASCAR® Plaza is a 390,000 square foot office tower. The 20-story building offers corporate tenants attached covered parking, easy access to I-77 and I-85, an elegant lobby and a prime environment for doing business. It was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, famous for more than 200 world renowned projects just as the expanded Louvre in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the John Hancock Tower in Boston. This world class office tower will be integrated with the NASCAR Hall of Fame and adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center.
NASCAR Licensing, NASCAR Automotive Aftermarket, Industry marketing and research departments, The NASCAR Foundation and NASCAR Media Group will occupy approximately one-third of the 390,000 square foot building. The remaining space is available for lease by corporate office tenants. McNaughton said leasing interest remains very strong and Lauth is talking to a number of additional prospective tenants. Downtown Charlotte boasts the lowest office market vacancy rate in the United States. NASCAR® Plaza will be the first new building to become available in the area when it opens in March 2009.
“We are thrilled to consolidate our Charlotte-based businesses into this world-class office building that will long be a part of the city skyline and serve as NASCAR’s window to the world with the media capabilities this tower will encompass and the upcoming NASCAR Hall of Fame. Together this NASCAR campus will provide a key link to our media and business partners and most importantly our fans,” said Paul Brooks, NASCAR senior vice president and president of NASCAR Media Group.
Construction crews are currently erecting steel on the 18th floor of this “green” office tower. NASCAR® Plaza is designed to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification and is LEED Registered with the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The building’s green design boasts office space bathed in natural light and state-of-the-art energy management systems.
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
Watch The Race — On Your Phone
The speed and excitement of this weekend’s highly-anticipated NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (Saturday, May 17, 7 p.m. EDT at Lowe’s Motor Speedway) is coming to Sprint (NYSE: S) handsets in the first live simulcast of the annual battle among NASCAR’s elite. SPEED’s live television race broadcast and pre-race coverage on NASCAR RaceDay Live (4 p.m. EDT) can be viewed live, exclusively on Sprint TV®-capable handsets by fans who can’t make it to the track or see it on SPEED. The live race feed is an integral part of the broader Sprint All-Star Customer Celebration, which includes Sprint offering customers and their guests a free NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race experience including race tickets, Sprint Pit Crew Challenge tickets, and pit, victory lane and race shop tours.
Drivers Build Playground
In the morning there was bare ground, and by afternoon, south Charlotte children had a new place to play. About 500 volunteers spent Wednesday building a playground at the Kennedy Campus of Elon Homes for Children. It was the 31st playground — and first in Charlotte — built by Racing to Play, a program sponsored by Home Depot, the NASCAR Foundation, Joe Gibbs Racing and KaBOOM!, a nationwide organization that creates places where children can play near their homes
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Sprint Showdown Entries: Twenty-Nine drivers are entered for the Sprint Showdown race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The winner and 2nd place driver will advance to the Sprint All-Star Race, along with one driver who gets voted in by the fans [must finish on the lead lap], a few drivers on the list: David Reutimann moves back to the #00 as Dale Jarrett will run his final race in the #44 car; Bill Elliott is in the #21; Jeff Green in the #34; Kenny Wallace in the #37 Chevy; Dario Franchitti is listed in the #40, but doubtful he will race and Sterling Marlin may be back in the car; Kyle Petty is listed in the #45 sponsored by Coca-Cola; Chad McCumbee is in the #49 BAM Racing Toyota with Marathon Oil as the sponsor; #50-Stanton Barrett is entered; and Johnny Sauter is listed in the #70. See my 2008 All- Star Page for the entry list.(5-13-2008) http://www.jayski.com/stats/2008/all-star2008.htm#entries
All-Star Race Vote Close: Unique to NASCAR, the Sprint All-Star Race lineup has three spots remaining to be filled — and on-track competition — the winner and runner-up of the Showdown — will take care of two of the openings. The third will be determined by fans’ voting. This is the fifth year in which a driver will be voted-in to the field. Ken Schrader won the inaugural Fans’ Vote, in 2004. Other fan-vote winners include Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Petty and Kenny Wallace. This year, more than 251,650 votes have been cast to date. Among the top vote-getters are #7-Robby Gordon, #9-Kasey Kahne, #19-Elliott Sadler, #37-Wallace and #55-Michael Waltrip. Voting ends at 7pm/et Saturday [May 17th]. The winner will be announced on NASCAR.COM and also during SPEED’s All-Star Saturday coverage, which includes the Showdown (green flag at 7:40pm/et) and All-Star Race XXIV. Fans can vote on NASCAR.COM, not sure where Patrick Carpentier stands in the voting, over the weekend in Darlington he said if he won the vote he would “I would run naked down pit road”.(5-16-2008)
Vickers Red Bull Racing team wins Pit Crew Challenge: The #83 Red Bull Toyota pit crew of Brian Vickers entered the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge as the 24th – and final – eligible team, but left on top after dominating the competition and the record book. The team posted the quickest time in each of the five rounds and edged the #11 FedEx Toyota crew of Denny Hamlin in a photo finish in the Finals to take the title. The #83 team changed four tires, filled the car with fuel and pushed it 40 yards to the finish line in 22.902 seconds, besting the #11 crew by 0.109 seconds. Each of the five times put up by the #83 crew was under 23 seconds, with its top time of 22.572 seconds coming in the second round. The previous record was 23.35 seconds, set last year by the champion #12 Alltel Dodge team in the quarterfinals. “I can’t say enough about this team,” said pit crew coach Greg Miller. “Words can’t describe this group, the effort they put in day-in and day-out. It’s all about them.”
The team was one of three in the event that has not secured a position in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Each of the 21 teams in the all-star race competed in the Pit Crew Challenge, with the three final positions going to the top available teams based on owner’s points. If the #83 Toyota makes the all-star race by finishing in the top two in the Sprint Showdown, it will have its choice of pit stalls.
The team includes several former collegiate athletes, a trend that has become commonplace in the sport. Catch can man Mike Metcalf played football at Appalachian State University, while front tire changer Brian Haaland and jackman Shaun Peet are former minor league hockey players. The other members of the championship crew are gas man Doug Newell, front tire carrier Aaron Schields, rear tire changer Danny Kincaid and rear tire changer Jake Brzozowski. Two new records were also set in the individual skills competition.
#24 Dupont Chevrolet gas man Caleb Hurd and catch can man Jamie Frady combined to fill the car with 18 gallons of fuel in 10.031 seconds, shattering the previous record of 14.20 seconds. Eric Wilson, jackman of the #9 Budweiser Dodge finished with a time of 5.431 seconds, topping last year’s record of 5.94 seconds. Other skills competition winners were #17 DeWalt Ford rear tire changer Dave Smith and carrier Jason Binger and #18 M&M’s Toyota front tire changer Nick O’Dell and carrier Brad Donaghy. O’Dell also won last year’s individual competition while with the #9 crew.(NASCAR PR/Teamredbull.com), more info at pitcrewchallenge.com. Missed it on TV? SPEED is scheduled to re-air it on Sat. May 17th at 330am/et.(5-16-2008)
Biffle intends to re-sign with Roush: #16-Greg Biffle said on Thursday he remains 100% committed to re-signing with Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle’s commitment to signing a new deal was questioned after he criticized his team following Saturday night’s race at Darlington Raceway. He had the fastest car the first half of the race, but fell back because of a loose wheel and then was sidelined when the timing belt broke. “That had nothing to do with my contract,” he said before the All-Star Pit Crew Challenge at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. “I was mad my stuff was broke.” Biffle said negotiations are continuing and he hopes to finish a deal by mid-summer. “That is my focus,” he said. “My focus hasn’t changed.”(ESPN.com)(5-16-2008)
Labonte close to decision on future: #43-Bobby Labonte said he is no longer agonizing over whether he will stay at Petty Enterprises or drive for someone else next season. Labonte said he is likely within two or three weeks of having final answers concerning his driving career beyond this season. “We’re trying to get things squared away at Pettys, like I’ve always said,” Labonte said. “But obviously we have to get that done. In a couple of weeks, three weeks maybe, we’ll have a lot more answers. … Right now, I’m pretty much at ease.… It’s just a matter of things happening that’s going to take place, whether you like it or not. I’m about to the point if it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, you do something different. I’m not worried about that as much as the talk about it from the outside trying to make sure that the guys that come to work, that they don’t read the paper and say, ‘What’s going to happen?’ Nothing is done yet – nothing that can be [said] because of the implications [on] people,” Labonte said. “We can’t implicate people that are doing things that will [mess] them up and our own position. I have nothing to report yet. Hopefully in the next few weeks, it will be a lot more well known.” Petty Enterprises has been entertaining offers from investors. Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup champion, said it’s his understanding those talks are continuing.(SceneDaily)(5-16-2008)
LMS Goodyear Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series will run the same tire codes throughout Charlotte Speedweeks . . . this is the first time NASCAR teams will race on these tire codes at Charlotte . . . teams in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series successfully tested on this tire set-up at Charlotte over the past several weeks . . . compared to the tire codes run at Charlotte in 2007, this left-side code (D-4128) has more grip, while this right side code (D-4130) contains incremental changes to enhance durability . . . Charlotte is the only track at which NASCAR teams are scheduled to run this specific combination of left- and right-side tires this season, though teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series raced on this right-side code with a different left-side at Darlington . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window for Sprint Cup cars is every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage.(Goodyear PR), see the full notes, codes, pressures on my Chalrotte Race Info Page or Tire Notes page.(5-16-2008) http://www.jayski.com/next/2008/12lms2008.htm#goodyear
http://www.jayski.com/pages/2008tirenotes.htm
VIR Stock Car Road Race Tests Open to Fans: Fans of stock cars and road racing are invited to attend the Stock Car Open Test Day at VIRginia International Raceway on June 3. “Last year’s test attracted over two dozen cars over two thousand fans,” stated track general manager Josh Lief. “Our guests and the teams all had a good time and we intend to continue this tradition.” Tickets to the spectator areas are available at the gate and only $10. Teams testing last year included Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, Evernham and others. Teams use the VIR North Course in preparing cars and drivers for the Sprint Cup Series races in California [Infienon Raceway] and New York [Watkins Glen]. Nationwide Series teams test at VIR as well, and these teams are invited to attend. Fans who attend the Stock Car Open Test day will be eligible for rides in the VIR Volkswagen R32 Pace Cars at the end of the day or at lunch if time permits. Food and VIR souvenirs will also be available. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. Reopened in 2000, VIR hosts a wide range professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events, and is well established as “America’s Motorsport Resort.” In addition to its historic 3.27 mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park and Motorsports Technology Park, which includes the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (“VIPER”); the Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8 mile paved natural terrain karting circuit; an expanding variety of on-site lodging (including 45 hotel rooms and the trackside Villas which are for sale); Camp Motorsport for enthusiasts of all ages; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For information on the track and other event schedules, call 434-822-7700 or check our web site at www.virclub.com.(VIR PR)(5-16-2008)
BAM Racing team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau announced a one-race association with Petty Enterprises for the upcoming Sprint Showdown on Saturday, May 17, 2008. According to Mrs. Morgenthau, “Before our move to Toyota, we were a Dodge team and we have worked closely with the Petty’s for years. NASCAR’s rules state that a team must be in the top 50 in owner’s points from the previous year in order to compete in the Sprint Showdown. As I understand it, Kyle was looking to get Chad McCumbee some valuable seat time at Lowe’s and wanted to enter a third car. Since our team is hard at work trying to secure sponsorship and return our Toyota to the track a little later in the year, we were glad to help them out. While the car for the Sprint Showdown will be listed as BAM Racing’s #49, it will be a Petty Dodge and will be run out of their shop with their crew. I suppose you could say that when the King asks for a favor, we listen! BAM Racing is committed to return to the Sprint Cup series and we have several potential marketing partners that we’re very excited about. We should be able to make an announcement soon.”(BAM Racing PR)(5-16-2008)
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Courtesy of Race Fans Stock Car News
http://www.nascarnutscanada.com/
Finely tuned athletes replace traditional grease monkeys on NASCAR’s pit road
By Ryan McGee Updated: May 15, 2008, 1:57 AM ET
Sitting on the pit wall at Darlington Raceway, Leonard Wood shakes his head in disbelief. Mere minutes before the start of the Dodge Challenger 500, the legendary mechanic can’t help but chuckle as he looks at all the horsepower around him. Man, he thinks to himself, what his Wood Brothers Racing team could have done with this kind of muscle back in the day. Think NASCAR pit crew members aren’t athletes? Think again. “It’s a far cry from how it was on pit road just 15 years ago,” says Ray Evernham. But the 73-year-old’s envy isn’t directed at the race cars.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=mcgee_ryan&id=3394743
A Handshake No More: Loyalty no longer a factor in today’s NASCAR By Matt McLaughlin
Published: May 14th, 2008 Athlon Sports Contributor
http://snipurl.com/29481-gazete
Several factors make all-star race a unique, appealing experience By SceneDaily Staff
David Griffin / NASCAR Scene
NASCAR Cup series drivers compete in the 2007 all-star race. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race once more offers a slightly altered format this year, one that has drivers competing in four 25-lap segments to make the individual races more equal.
http://snipurl.com/28zoi-beckyd
Lowe’s Motor Speedway Official Web-site
http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/
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Courtesy of Scene Daily
http://www.scenedaily.com
Jarrett set for final NASCAR Sprint Cup run
This is it. For the final time in his long career, Dale Jarrett will strap in a NASCAR stock car and take the green flag. The 1999 Cup champion last competed in a points-paying race at Bristol in March, but this Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be Jarrett’s final race
http://snipurl.com/2948a-gazete
Charlotte track working on extension with Lowe’s on naming rights
CHARLOTTE – Lowe’s and Speedway Motorsports Inc. are negotiating a deal to keep the home-improvement chain as the naming-rights holder of the track in Concord, N.C., SMI President H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler said Wednesday.
http://snipurl.com/2948e-gazete
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What if I were to tell you that there’s a tested(by numerous corporate accounts), proven way that you could start using *today* to save 7-19%(that would be from 28 to 75 cents based on today’s $3.95/gal regular price) on your gas bill for filling up your car? And what if you could put money in your pocket by making this product available to others?
There is – and tens of thousands of Americans are using it right now to save money.
It’s been on the news, and there are countless videos on YouTube that prove it, including great pieces by FOX local stations in Dallas and Phoenix. However, surprisingly few people even know about it.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=779DCA59F50EA8B5
Used and endorsed by the Unser family, the winningest family in the history of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’. ‘Little Al’s diesel Ford Excursion mileage has increased from 13 to 17.3MPG. And recently named ‘The Official Fuel Reformulator of the Firestone Indy Lights Series’.
You can check out the details here: http://www.forearthonline.com/GTO_on_regular/
PS: In case you’re wondering, this IS NOT the magic “gas pill” you may have seen on TV. You’ve got to watch the videos to see just what an impact this is having on people’s lives:
(advertisement)
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
http://www.thatsracin.com
Mistake-free stops pay off for Vickers’ Toyota crew
Challenge puts pit crews in spotlight
Consistency is what wins on NASCAR’s pit road – as long it’s consistently fast. The No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota team hit both marks Thursday night.
more – http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/14126.html
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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RaceTrackLadies.com Sponsors the Pursuit of Dreams
San Antonio, TX – May 15, 2008 – A family of women created RaceTrackLadies.com and their passion for racing is energized by a commitment to support organizations that dedicate their resources to the needs of families. RaceTrackLadies.com is honored to announce its sponsorship of Lafferty Motorsports #98 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Matt Poole in the Street Stock Division on May 24, 2008 at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina.
Matt Poole always wanted to be a racecar driver and he is now “living his dream” against all odds. His pursuit of winning races is driven by his desire to honor the memory of loved ones lost. Matt’s mother, Peggy Poole, passed away from a sudden heart attack in January 2003. More recently, in May of 2005, one of his dearest friends, Tonya Schultz, was brutally murdered by her husband, who killed her in front of their two young children. After enduring these tragedies in his life, Matt began to actively pursue his dream of racing. He has dedicated any potential race winnings to be donated to the American Heart Association in his mother’s memory, and to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Tonya’s memory. The donations will be made on behalf of Matt, and his car owner Chris Lafferty, and potential sponsors.
“Life is all about making dreams come true and supporting friends who have the courage to follow their dreams. For the past year RaceTrackLadies.com has followed Matt’s racing career and provided financial support whenever we could, and now we have decided to take the next big step. With our sponsorship we are officially bragging to the world that Matt Poole is a winner! He is a driver who places his love for family and friends and his passion for racing hand in hand, that is a perfect match with our company’s vision and mission”, said Bev Resendez, co-owner.
RaceTrackLadies.com provides an online community from a woman’s perspective for all families who are “at the track and goin’ green”. Eager to share their love of the sport, this family teamed up to combine their knowledge of NASCAR along with their good-natured rivalry to create a helpful, humorous and informative website appealing to all race fans.
If you are interested in a diverse angle to the competitive team spirit of racing, feel free to contact us. For more information go to www.RaceTrackLadies.com
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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
RCR Cutting Back #21 Schedule: Nationwide Series Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has suspended fielding the #21 Chevy for any non- sponsored races for the remainder of the 2008 season according to an RCR spokesperson. Currently the #21 team has 9 starts out of 12 NNS race events this year and sits 26th in the owners points as of Darlington. The #21 drivers seat has been shared by Bobby Labonte and Stephen Leicht so far this season with no word on which driver might continue to drive for the #21 team pending any sponsorship deals. No further information is available at this time. (TheHotLap.com)(5-15-2008)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
http://www.TheHotLap.com
The Hot Lap fan tire fund building for Dover – Thanks to the recent announcement that former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Dale Jarrett will provide tire sponsorship for Morgan Shepherd’s #89 Dodge Charger in next weekend’s Nationwide Series race at Charlotte, The Hot Lap has transferred it’s fan tire sponsorship plans to the May 31 race at Dover. “I am grateful to the race fans that they think enough of us to want to keep us out on the track. Tires have been an issue all year long, about being able to run long. Handling was an issue; the tires wear out, and the car doesn’t handle. I’m just so thankful that we’ve got people out there that are willing to help buy tires. I’m really impressed that people think so much of us,” Shepherd told The Hot Lap in a story published on the Nationwide Series fan website on May 13. Fans donated $1,700 last week to help purchase one set of tires for Shepherd. The Hot Lap program is now working on a second set of tires and as of Tuesday evening, May 13, fans had committed more than $425 on the second goal of $1,700. Faith Motorsports would like to thank NASCAR fans and The Hot Lap for helping keep the sports last remaining “Old School” driver on the track a while longer. (Faith Motorsports)
Due to Morgan’s recent runs and success the #89 is locked into the Charlotte race by owners points.
To Chip In – click this link – http://thehotlap.chipin.com/sticker-tires-for-faith (05-15-08)
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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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GoDaddy adds Landon Cassill, CTS sponsorship
GoDaddy.com is enriching its motorsports commitment with a brand new sponsorship in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series. The domain name titan is now sponsoring rookie Landon Cassill to drive the GoDaddy.com No. 46 Chevrolet truck. Cassill debuts behind the wheel of the GoDaddy.com sponsored truck for Team Morgan Dollar Friday at the track known as “The Beast [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/291110895/
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Nationrides.com new sponsor for Lia: Donny Lia on signing NationRides.com: “We are very excited to debut a new sponsor on the #71 Chevy this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. NationRides.com will be on the hood, rear quarter panels, and TV panel for the race.(TRG Motorsports PR)(5-15-2008)
Cassill to drive #46 MDM entry at Lowe’s: Landon Cassill will drive the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports entry in Friday’s N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The truck will be sponsored by GoDaddy.com.This will mark the second run for Cassill in the truck.(SceneDaily.com)(5-15-2008)
Sad News – DJ Smith: Delwin “D.J.” Smith, father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pioneer Jimmy Smith, died May 12 in Temecula, Calif. where he resided for the past 15 years. Smith was 83. D.J. was born on January 6, 1925 in Crookston, Neb. He served in the Navy, was stationed in San Francisco and later settled in Southern California. He married and had three children: Joan, Jimmy and Wendell Smith. D.J. became involved with auto racing in the late 1950s promoting all types of racing and later became a car owner. After retiring, he began his second career with his sons at Ultra Wheel Company and devoted 100 percent of his time to Ultra Motorsports which fielded cars in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the then NASCAR Winston Cup Series. D.J. developed relationships with many of the NASCAR greats such as Tiny Lund, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Parnelli Jones and Junior Johnson, to name a few. His son, Jimmy, was one of four off-road racing owners who came to NASCAR in 1994 with the concept of racing pickup trucks on paved ovals and road courses. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debuted the following year and currently is in its 14th season. In 2005, Smith’s team won both owner and driver championships fielding Dodges driven by Ted Musgrave. Services will be held at 11:00am. Monday, May 19 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress CA 90630. Donations can be made to Victory Junction in memory of D.J. Smith, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27317. Please request Victory Junction to send donation cards to: The Smith Family, 75 Linda Isle, Newport Beach, CA 92660.(NASCAR PR)(5-14-2008)
Musgrave expresses sympathies to Smith family: Ted and Debi Musgrave wish to express their condolences to the Smith family on the passing of its patriarch, Delwin “D.J.” Smith, who died Monday morning at his home. Musgrave said D.J., father of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship-winning team owner Jim Smith, was a friend to everyone in the garage. “Everyone knew him,” Musgrave said from his home on Monday afternoon. “Whether you were walking in the Truck garage, the Busch (now Nationwide Series) garage, or the Cup garage, you couldn’t go ten feet without someone wanting to stop and talk to him. If you didn’t have a chance to meet him and get to know him, it is really a shame because he was such a neat guy. Debi and I would like to pass along our condolences to the Smith family.”(Integrity Sports Marketing PR)(5-15-2008)
Schrader entered at LMS: Ken Schrader is entered in the NC Education Lottery 200 driving the #52-Federated Auto Parts Toyota. This will be Schrader’s second appearance in the series for 2008.(KenSchraderRacing.com)(5-15-2008)
Gaughan sponsored by Monaco Coach at Lowe’s: Monaco Coach Corporation, the nation’s leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles, will take the place of MaxxForce Diesel on the hood of the #10 Ford this weekend.(Circle Bar PR)(5-14-2008)
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
http://www.truckseries.com
Vets And Rookies Poised to Rock Lowe’s Motor Speedway
05-15-2008 | Tom Jensen, TruckSeries.com
Vets And Rookies Poised to Rock Lowe’s Motor Speedway Can “Rowdy” keep it rockin’ and rollin’ when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series resumes racing Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the North Carolina Lottery 200? That is one of many questions the truckers will tackle under the lights battling for bragging rights at the closest thing the series has to a home track. “Rowdy” – a/k/a Kyle Busch – will be back behind the wheel of Billy Ballew’s No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota Tundra this weekend after skipping the Kansas race. In four starts so far this season with Ballew, Busch has two victories and a runner-up finish, and in NASCAR’s top three series combined, he’s won an astonishing eight races, including three each in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Busch has an impressive record at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, with two NCTS victories in three starts, and given that his two other NCTS wins this season were at fast intermediate tracks, he figures to come into this race as the favorite.
http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000006/000682.htm
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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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RaceTalkRadio.com:
Curing What Ails the Nationwide Series by Dennis Michelsen
http://www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id122.htm
RaceTalkRadio.com:
Race Without Lights (And Other Insane All Star Ideas) by Dennis Michelsen
http://www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id123.htm
Making Peace With Kyle Busch May 15, 2008 by Lisa Fowler – SCR
I have decided, after much soul searching, that I need to figure out a way to accept, if not love, Kyle Busch. Seeing that he just turned 23 years old and most of today’s drivers feel like they can race competitively until at least age 40, he will most likely be racing long after I am around to criticize him
http://www.stockcarreview.com/id460.html
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RG/051608.html
Kyle Busch, Thou Dost Protest Too Much
by Rebecca Gladden
It’s The Pits Trying To Keep Up With Crewmen
by Josh Stewart
http://snipurl.com/2949g-gazete
The 48 Hours of Charlotte? Hey, this NASCAR All-Star weekend may never end
http://independenttribune.net/index.php/sports/mulhern/
I Was Just Wonderin’
Wii Are Couch Potatoes
by Carol Einarsson
I wonder what it cost NASCAR to pay to use the Richard Petty Driving Experience cars for their burn-out competition. And isn’t it funny that it’s the King’s cars that they’re using to do something the King never did?
http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=460
Pit Crew Challenge Now Works For TV
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/05/pit-crew-challenge-now-works-for-tv.html
Friday On SPEED Explodes Your DVR
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/05/friday-on-speed-explodes-your-dvr.html
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com/pages/tv.htm
Fri May 16
3:00 am 1992 Savemart 300 ESPNC
6:00 am NASCAR All-Star ’08: Comedy with Alonzo Bodden SPEED
7:00 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
7:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
8:00 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
8:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
9:00 am NCTS Practice SPEED
12:00 pm NSCS Practice SPEED
3:00 pm NASCAR Live SPEED
3:30 pm NCTS Keystone Pole Qualifying SPEED
5:00 pm NSCS Qualifying SPEED
7:00 pm NASCAR Live SPEED
7:30 pm NCTS Set-Up SPEED
8:00 pm NCTS: N.C. Education Lottery 200 SPEED
10:30 pm Trackside at the Sprint All-Star SPEED
11:30 pm NASCAR All-Star ’08: Home Town Heroes SPEED
Sat May 17
12:30 am NCTS Set-Up SPEED
1:00 am NCTS: N.C. Education Lottery 200 SPEED
3:30 am Sprint Pit Crew Challenge SPEED
5:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
6:00 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
6:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
7:00 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
7:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
8:00 amNASCAR Collector SPEED
9:00 am NASCAR All-Star ’08: Making the Race SPEED
9:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
10:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
10:00 am Trackside at the Sprint All-Star SPEED
11:00 am Wind Tunnel Special Edition: All-Star Challenge Special SPEED
12:00 pmNASCAR Live SPEED
12:30 pm Sprint Pit Crew Challenge SPEED
2:30 pm Tradin’ Paint SPEED
3:00 pm NASCAR Performance SPEED
3:30 pm NASCAR in a Hurry SPEED
4:00 pm NASCAR RaceDay SPEED
7:00 pm NSCS: NASCAR Sprint Showdown/ NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV SPEED
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
Sun May 18
12:00 am NSCS: NASCAR Sprint Showdown/ NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race SPEED
4:00 am NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
5:00 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
5:30 am All-Star Spotlight SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Camping World Series: Iowa Speedway HDNet
7:00 pm SPEED Report SPEED
8:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain SPEED
10:00 pm Drafting Partners GAC
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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