Sunday is a full day of racing action, what with the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600… 1100 miles of grueling IndyCar and NASCAR racing action for you to enjoy.
On the local front, that was indeed my “local” Kentucky Speedway that was snapped up by Bruton Smith and SMI yesterday. I’m going to be positive and hope that Bruton will do good things for the track and this state. Hopefully he will take care of the employees of the track, who have been extremely kind to me each of the times I was at the track covering racing.
One semi-cool personal note… I got to ask Bruton a question yesterday at the press conference, so everyone at the Lowes’ press conference, and dialed in to the conference call, got to hear “MotorSportsNews.Net” (actually they had it as .com, but I corrected it). I don’t know if that will do anything for the site or not, but it surely can’t hurt. A certain other editor for the site was known to be texting some Cup team members there at Charlotte, and those folks were texting Chad Knaus all the updates from the conference. Cool stuff there, too. Congrats, Heather.
Enjoy your weekend of racing, and I’ll be back around Monday, June 2nd.
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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
Do you know for sure?
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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Lufkin, TX 75904
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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: 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 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.
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Hasco Collectibles
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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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Thank you for all the vacation-well-wishes… I can’t wait.
Enjoy your weekend of racing, and I’ll be back around Monday, June 2nd.
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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SMI To Buy Part/All of Kentucky Speedway?
by Mike Irwin ~ May 22nd, 2008
I’m getting whispers and rumors of a big announcement today…
Continue reading » - motorsportsnews.net/archives/1294
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SMI To Buy Part/All of Kentucky Speedway? CONFIRMED!!
by Mike Irwin ~ May 22nd, 2008
Speedway Motors Inc. (SMI) President Bruton Smith just announced that SMI is purchasing the Kentucky Speedway. He says that he will make some changes to make a great track even better.
He says he will solve the problem of a Cup date (no announcement today, though) for Kentucky, likely in 2009.
(via the teleconference)
Here’s the official PR from Kentucky Speedway….
Continue reading » - motorsportsnews.net/archives/1295
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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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Charlotte Coca Cola 600 preview
*A Driver Named Mears Is Defending Champion — In Charlotte *Kahne Looks For Follow-Up To All-Star Win *Strategy A Key In NASCAR’s Longest Race *Hornish, Allmendinger Boosted By All-Star Efforts *600 Has Legacy Of Historic ‘Firsts’ Mears And Memorial Day Weekend A Perfect Historical Match Through the years, the name Mears has become synonymous with auto racing success on Memorial Day [...]
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/295625343/
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Courtesy of Google Alerts
Germain Racing sees Sprint Cup Series in future
Bucyrus Telegraph Forum - OH, United States
By Rob McCurdy • Telegraph-Forum • May 22, 2008 MANSFIELD — A championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was nice, but it wasn’t the end game for …
snipurl.com/2a8b5-gazete
What F1 can learn from NASCAR II
By Robert McKay
Many of the drivers will also happily race the Sprint Cup, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series all in the same weekend. It’s roughly equivalent to Raikkonen getting in and driving the GP2 races after F1 qualifying is over, …
www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/05/22/what-f1-can-learn-from-nascar-ii/
NASCAR racer Tony Stewart’s monkey makes new home at Louisville Zoo
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
Mojo, a 3-year-old patas monkey previously owned by NASCAR driver and Home Depot pitchman Tony Stewart, will go on display beginning tomorrow at the …
www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2008/05/19/daily40.html
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
Wheeler Forced Out Early?
Like the great promoter he is, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler made one last splash, although this one wasn’t exactly how he would have scripted it. Wheeler announced Wednesday that he is resigning as president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway after Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. The announcement was scheduled to be made next Wednesday but was pushed up after a disagreement between Wheeler and Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns LMS. “The suddenness was not my idea,” Wheeler said. “I would have liked to have stayed around a little bit, just eased out a little easier. … Maybe in a part-time role.” The promoter, who was hired by Smith before the October race in 1975, said no part-time offer was made. Asked whether he was given that option, Wheeler said, “No.” Asked whether he would remain with the track in any capacity, 69-year-old Wheeler bluntly said, “None.”
Earnhardt Earns $150 Million in Exposure Value
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s brand name trumps his standing in this year’s Nascar Sprint Cup Series in terms of generating exposure for his sponsors. Research from Joyce Julius & Associates, Ann Arbor, Mich., showed that Earnhardt, currently ranked No. 3 in the championship series, garnered $150 million in comparable television exposure value—$24 million more than runner-up Jeff Gordon. Thirty-three brands appear on locations affiliated with Earnhardt, the research showed, including his car, uniform and the support crew’s uniforms. And those brands have appeared for a total of 12 hours and 45 seconds during TV coverage of Nascar’s first 10 official points races. In addition, the names of sponsors have been mentioned by Earnhardt and announcers 33 times.
Indy 500 Winner Offered Ride In “Prelude to the Dream”
The winner of the 2008 Indianapolis 500 will receive a frosty bottle of milk in victory lane, a check for more than $2.5 million dollars, the keys to the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car and the opportunity to race a dirt late model against the likes of Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and others. Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and five-time Indianapolis 500 starter, is offering the winner of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 a car to drive in the fourth annual Old Spice Prelude to the Dream June 4 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. “The winner of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 has a standing offer to compete in this year’s Old Spice Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway,” said Stewart, who has three top-10 finishes in five Indianapolis 500 starts. “We’ll have a car waiting for him or her, and we’d love to have whoever puts their name on the Borg-Warner trophy at Indianapolis come about two hours east and compete in a dirt late model to raise money for charity.”
SPEED Channel Earns Record Ratings
Four Million Viewers Tuned In To See the 24th Sprint All-Star Race: SPEED scored its highest rating in network history, earning a Nielsen Media Research mark of 3.74 (2,701,000 households), up six percent from last year’s 3.53 (2,480,000 Households), making it the No. 1 network in basic cable during its coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV. The event, in its second of eight seasons on SPEED, peaked at 4.75 (3,430,000 households) and drew a network record four million viewers.
Kyle Busch Takes Another Pole
Different day, same results. Only six days after winning the pole for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, Kyle Busch placed his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the pooint for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch turned a lap of 29.121 seconds around the 1.5-mile track for a speed of 185.433 mph. and last week’s race winner Kasey Kahne, is on the outside of the front row. The pole was Busch’s fourth of his Sprint Cup Series career and the second points paying pole of the season. The All-Star race was a non-points race. “It’s pretty cool,” Busch said. “We’re pretty excited to be in the place we’re in.”
Brian Vicker nailed down the third spot and last week’s runner up, Greg Biffle, starts fourth. David Ragan rolls off in fifth place followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler and Jimmie Johnson to round out the top ten. Five drivers failed to qualify, Jeff Green, Stanton Barrett, Jon Wood, Joe Nemechek and Tony Raines.
2008 Coca-Cola 600 Starting Lineup
Race Date May 25, 2008
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Pos Car Driver Make Sponsor Time Speed Behind
1 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s 185.433 29.121
2 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 185.300 29.142 -0.021
3 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 185.249 29.150 -0.029
4 16 Greg Biffle Ford DISH Network/DishDVRs 184.969 29.194 -0.073
5 6 David Ragan Ford AAA Insurance 184.470 29.273 -0.152
6 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet National Guard/AMP Energy 184.439 29.278 -0.157
7 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army “Salute the Troops” 184.181 29.319 -0.198
8 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 184.106 29.331 -0.210
9 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy/Garmin 183.974 29.352 -0.231
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s 183.924 29.360 -0.239
11 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 183.842 29.373 -0.252
12 17 Matt Kenseth Ford R+L Carriers 183.780 29.383 -0.262
13 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet Haas Automation 183.673 29.400 -0.279
14 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility 183.617 29.409 -0.288
15 26 Jamie McMurray Ford IRWIN Industrial Tools 183.580 29.415 -0.294
16 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Freight 183.455 29.435 -0.314
17 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target 183.443 29.437 -0.316
18 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 183.436 29.438 -0.317
19 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell/Pennzoil 183.430 29.439 -0.318
20 77 Sam Hornish Jr.* Dodge Mobil 1 183.349 29.452 -0.331
21 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet CARQUEST/Kellogg’s 183.275 29.464 -0.343
22 7 Robby Gordon Dodge Jim Beam 183.212 29.474 -0.353
23 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios/Trix/Lucky & Friends 183.200 29.476 -0.355
24 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker 183.169 29.481 -0.360
25 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet Johns Manville/Menards 183.132 29.487 -0.366
26 40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Wii Fit/Target 183.057 29.499 -0.378
27 84 A.J. Allmendinger Toyota Red Bull 182.852 29.532 -0.411
28 44 David Reutimann Toyota UPS 182.729 29.552 -0.431
29 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS 182.692 29.558 -0.437
30 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 182.168 29.643 -0.522
31 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot 182.113 29.652 -0.531
32 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditReport.com 182.020 29.667 -0.546
33 33 Ken Schrader Chevrolet Camping World/ RVs.com 181.984 29.673 -0.552
34 10 Patrick Carpentier* Dodge LifeLock 181.867 29.692 -0.571
35 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV 181.726 29.715 -0.594
36 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Coca-Cola Classic 181.714 29.717 -0.596
37 01 Regan Smith* Chevrolet DEI/Principal Financial Group 181.702 29.719 -0.598
38 12 Ryan Newman Dodge Alltel 181.531 29.747 -0.626
39 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel’s/USO 181.482 29.755 -0.634
40 00 Michael McDowell* Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine 181.464 29.758 -0.637
41 28 Travis Kvapil Ford Lumber Liquidators 180.156 29.974 -0.853
42 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Texaco/Havoline 179.521 30.080 -0.959
43 70 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Haas Automation 181.446 29.761 -0.640
Going Home
44 34 Jeff Green Chevrolet Gibson Custom Guitars 181.366 29.774 -0.653
45 150 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet NOS Energy Drink/SKI/SBM 180.108 29.982 -0.861
46 21 Jon Wood Ford U.S. Air Force 180.054 29.991 -0.870
47 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row/DenverMattress.com 179.635 30.061 -0.940
48 08 Tony Raines Dodge getFUBAR.com 175.673 30.739 -1.618
* Rookies
All Results Unofficial
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Lowe’s Motor Speedway Qualifying Fast Facts
.. Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole for the Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 185.433 mph/29.121 seconds.
.. It is his fourth pole in 126 Sprint Cup Series races.
.. This is Busch’s second pole of the year. His previous pole this season came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is his fourth top-five and ninth top-10 start this season.
.. This is Busch’s first pole and first top-five start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He had only one other top-10 start in his LMS career – a sixth-place start in the 2005 Coca-Cola 600.
.. Kasey Kahne (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2008 and sixth at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
.. Brian Vickers (third) posted his second top-10 start of 2008 and second at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
.. Sam Hornish Jr. (20th) was the fastest of the drivers required to make the field on time. Hornish was also the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-22-2008)
Latest on Stewarts ‘plans’: #20-Tony Stewart said he is getting closer to determining what he will be doing next season and beyond. Stewart, who is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2009, is entertaining offers of leaving the organization to go to another team that would include the two-time Cup champion as a team owner. “I’m getting closer, that’s the good thing,” said Stewart, who first acknowledged he was considering leaving JGR four weeks ago at Talladega. “I feel like I’m on the backside of the hill getting everything done. We’re a lot closer than we were.” If Stewart wants to race somewhere else in 2009, he would need to get released from his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. He has admitted the issue has been discussed but denied that he has gotten the release for the team where he has spent his entire 10-year Cup carrier. “We haven’t gotten it,” Stewart said of the release. “I have not asked for it.”(SceneDaily)(5-23-2008)
Kurt Busch featured on AMW: #2-Kurt Busch will be featured on this Saturday [May 24th] night’s edition of “America’s Most Wanted,” the popular FOX- TV show hosted by John Walsh. “John was at the track filming on Friday and it was great to meet him and do the filming,” Kurt said of the shoot held Friday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “I was in my Miller Lite fire suit and we did a nice little interview first. Then I did the introduction to a segment where they are looking for a woman named Jenny Liang. She was living in Vegas and working at the Mirage Casino when she supposedly murdered her boyfriend and then went on the run. I really enjoyed spending the time with John and I hope that our efforts add support in helping them capture this woman. John has an entourage of about 20 people, with two armed guards following him at all times. With his show helping take down nearly 1,000 dangerous fugitives in the past 20 years, it’s pretty easy to understand why he has that kind of support crew.”(TRPR)(5-23-2008)
Sorenson a free agent also: #41-Reed Sorenson is in the final season of his Sprint Cup Series contract, but he’s not too worried about discussing his future yet. Instead, Sorenson is working on improving his performance in races. Sorenson and his team got off to a slow start to this season, resulting in a crew chief swap with teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in which Jimmy Elledge left Sorenson to partner with Montoya and Sorenson gained Donnie Wingo. Elledge has since left the organization. Sorenson said that he’s not focused on his contract talks right now, preferring instead to let his racing speak for itself. “It is a contract year for me,” the 22-year-old said. “Trying to do the best I can right now to try to see what we can do the next couple of months to try to get some good finishes.” Asked whether he was in talks or not, Sorenson said that he and team owner Chip Ganassi had discussed it “a little bit.” As to whether or not he’s in discussions with other teams as well, Sorenson simply reiterated that he’s focused on his own group’s performance right now. If he can get that heading in the right direction, the rest will take care of itself.(SceneDaily). other ‘free agent’ drivers include: #16-Greg Biffle, #6-David Ragan, #1-Martin Truex Jr. [but DEI says they have an option], #12-Ryan Newman.(5-23-2008)
Testing at Road Atlanta: Robby Gordon has earned a reputation for being one of NASCAR’s dominant road racers. To make sure that his #7 Dodge matches his driver skills in the upcoming road course events, the Robby Gordon Motorsports team headed to Road Atlanta on Wednesday for the first of two road course tests scheduled this season. After just two runs through the course, Gordon was very satisfied with the performance of his race car. “This thing is fast. We can load it up,” Gordon stated. Fellow Dodge driver Patrick Carpentier also took a spin in the #7 and stated that it was “very smooth and predictable.” After a total of 50 laps, Gordon’s times were more competitive than the eight other teams on the track that day, including cars from Roush Fenway Racing (#16,#17,#99), Gillett Evernham Motorsports, and Michael Waltrip Racing. Gordon will make one more road course test before heading west to Sonoma, California to master Infineon Raceway.(RGM PR)(5-23-2008)
Toyota & MWR team up for diversity apprenticeship: Toyota Motor Sales and Michael Waltrip Racing have joined forces to offer a one year apprenticeship to a deserving diversity graduate of Toyota’s Technician Training and Education Network (T-TEN) program. The selected diversity candidate will be relocated to North Carolina and placed in a technical position within the MWR organization, directly involved with the teams’ NASCAR participation. The candidate will have a strong technical background and will be assigned to a specific department within the MWR race shop, depending on the winner’s skill set. The application process, including pre-screening and final candidate selections will be administered by Educational Testing Service’s Scholarship & Recognition Programs (SRP) beginning immediately.(MWR PR) More info on my Driver Development News page.(5-23-2008) www.jayski.com/pages/develop.htm
New Spotter for #2 Team: Chris Osborne debuted in his new role as spotter for Kurt and crew in last weekend’s Sprint All-Star Race action. The High Point, N.C., native is perhaps best known for his years of spotting for Jimmie Johnson and the #48 Hendrick Team. Chris replaces Jesse Walker, who served as spotter since the beginning of the 2007 season. Jesse has returned to his fulltime position as operations manager at KBI.(TRPR)(5-23-2008)
Montoya named first-quarter winner of NMPA Pocono Spirit award: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya has been named the first quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award. Montoya was recognized by NMPA members for the work he and his wife, Connie, do in support ofJuan Pablo Montoya their Formula Smiles Foundation in Colombia. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and a number of NASCAR executives visited Cartagena, Colombia, in March, where they saw one of the sites where Montoya’s charity is helping children in need, teaching them sports and providing them with the facilities and resources to develop their learning. As part of NASCAR’s support, France presented Montoya and his wife Connie a $25,000 from the NASCAR Foundation, to help the efforts of Formula Smiles. The NMPA Pocono Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership. The 2008 overall winner will be announced during the NMPA’s annual convention and awards ceremony in January 2009. Also receiving votes in the first quarter were NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray, Motor Racing Outreach founder Max Helton and longtime NASCAR photographer T. Taylor Warren.(Pocono Raceway)(5-23-2008)
Schrader and Herman finish 1-2: Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace gave the crowd exactly what it was looking for Wednesday night at Peoria Speedway. The two NASCAR drivers finished 1-2 in the 20-lap UMP Modified, with Schrader winning his second race in a row after taking the feature at Fairbury on Tuesday night. “It’s simple,” Schrader said. “You have to go where they’re not. You don’t just get to drive wherever you want to.” Schrader started fifth, finally catching Wallace with two laps remaining.(Peoria Journal Star)(5-22-2008)
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Courtesy of Scene Daily
www.scenedaily.com
SMI announces purchase of Kentucky Speedway, intent to add Cup race there
Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials confirmed Thursday afternoon that the company has bought Kentucky Speedway and that the track hopes to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, possibly as early as 2009.
snipurl.com/2a8ch-gazete
Sadler still upset about Sprint Showdown crash
CONCORD, N.C. - Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ Elliott Sadler remains upset with AJ Allmendinger for the on-track incident during Saturday night’s Sprint Showdown at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
snipurl.com/2a8ck-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.
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: snipurl.com/29ohu-gazete
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:
Tune into ESPN2 at approximately 12:30PM today for coverage of the Freedom 100. Every car in this race will have a decal for this product, plus using in both the fuel and oil. Besides being the sponsor of the Playa Del Racing #21 driven by Al Unser III.
(advertisement)
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
www.thatsracin.com
Kentucky track deal may signal more shuffling of race dates
Speedway Motorsports Inc. has agreed to purchase Kentucky Speedway and the company’s chairman, Bruton Smith, says he expects to have a Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile track next year.
more - www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/14480.html
Sadler in no mood to talk to ‘what’s his name’
www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/14483.html
Practice speeds | Ragan tops chart
www.thatsracin.com/news/story/14477.html
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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ELLIOTT SADLER (No. 19 Best Buy Dodge Charger)
HAVE YOU HAD ANY ON-TRACK INCIDENTS WITH ANY OF YOUR HEROES? “Dale Earnhardt Sr. was one of my biggest heroes growing up, one of the biggest guys I looked up to. At Bristol, we got in a wreck in Turn 1 on like the second lap. He hit me, spun me out and also took Dale Jr. out. After the race, me and Jr. were talking about it and were like, ‘What was your dad thinking? What was this? What was that?’ So we both got a pinch in our neck and it was like, ‘You kids better stop talking about me (said Dale Sr.).’ And we were like, ‘Yes sir, yes sir.’ So it was pretty funny and we talked about it and totally laughed it off and went on from there.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., DRIVER OF THE NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY IMPALA SS
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST STREET CAR AND WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT IT AND HOW DID YOU GET IT? “My dad gave it to me for my 16th birthday. It was an ‘86 S-10 pickup truck, single-cab, short-bed, black and silver two-toned. Nothing trick about it at all. Stock wheels, tires, but I loved it. I loved that truck and when I graduated high school I got a full-size, extended-cab, short-bed truck that was two-tone brown with no carpet and I hated that truck and I missed my black and silver single-cab truck S10. Yeah I missed the **** out of that truck. I used to drive by the used car lot where it was parked and look at it.”
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A VILLAIN IN NASCAR? “You got to wreck people. You got to be mean. You got to work the crowd and get them mad. Do what villains do, kind of like wrestling. The bad guy comes in wearing black, flipping the crowd off and cheating doing things like that.”
WHO DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE BEST VILLAIN IN NASCAR? “It changed. Everybody had their moments. There were times when dad was a pretty good villain. Jeff Bodine turned into a villain there for a while in my opinion when I was a little kid. ‘88 was a good year for that, him and daddy wrecking each other. Darrell (Waltrip) never was a villain, Darrell just whipped everybody. You know Kyle (Busch) whether he wants it or not has sort of become that. He could end up using that to his favor. There are people who will cheer for the villain. There are people who like that mentality and pull for the bad guy.”
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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
www.jayski.com
Friday at the Track: There is no on track activity at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Friday. Qualifying is at 3:45pm/et Saturday.(5-22-2008)
Hamlin Paces Happy Hour: #20-Denny Hamlin was fastest in happy hour with a speed of 178.595mph. He was followed by #66-Steve Wallace, #83-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #10-Brian Vickers, #99-David Reutimann, #38-Jason Leffler, #32-Kyle Busch, #16-Greg Biffle, #60-Carl Edwards, and #11-Jason Keller. #30-Stanton Barrett and #90-Johnny Chapman did not practice. #02-Andy Ponstein scraped the wall early in the session but only suffered minor damage. Complete results are posted on the Lowes Race Race.(5-22-2008)
www.jayski.com/nationwide/2008/next/13lowes.htm#practice
Race Fumes on the #84 This Weekend: Race Fumes announced that they have teamed up with fellow Mooresville, North Carolina Nationwide Series team Elite 2 Racing and its driver [Carl Long] as a sponsor on the team’s #84 Chevy for Saturday night’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Race Fumes PR)(5-22-2008)
Miller Debuting GEM #19 at Lowe’s: Chase Miller is still grinning after his first career Nationwide Series top-10 finish two weeks ago. The 21-year-old Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver plans to repeat that performance at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. Miller’s eighth-place finish at Darlington came in just his ninth-career start, and third of 2008. This weekend, the Canton, Ga. native’s #19 Dodge Charger carries Verizon Wireless/Motorola sponsorship. Miller and the Kevin Kidd-led team posted the second-fastest time during the recent NNS test at LMS. And, GEM teammate Kasey Kahne won the All-Star Race while his other teammate, Elliott Sadler, earned the Showdown pole. Kidd, who normally serves as Team Engineer on the #19 Dodge for Elliott Sadler, will be pulling double duty this weekend as Miller’s Team Director.(GEM PR)(5-21-2008)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
www.TheHotLap.com
May 22: NASCAR Nationwide Series at Charlotte Lowe’s CarQuest 300 Qualifying Order
thehotlap.com/modules.php?name=Latest_News&op=view&rid=2900
Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the parent company that owns seven racetracks that host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, will announce Thursday it has purchased Kentucky Speedway, multiple high-ranking NASCAR industry sources said. A formal announcement is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, sources said. Reached by phone Wednesday, Kentucky track spokesman Mike Schmaltz said he “did not have anything on that.” Lowe’s Motor Speedway officials declined to comment. It is unknown what such a deal would mean for Kentucky Speedway’s future. By purchasing the track, SMI officials would have the liberty to move a Sprint Cup date from one of their existing tracks to Kentucky if they so desired. ESPN (05-22-08)
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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 Jayski
www.jayski.com
Mansfield Motorsports Park: Ohio 250; SPEED/TV - Prerace 12:30pm/et; Race 1:00pm/et. Saturday, May 24, 2008 at Mansfield Motorsports Park
Keven Wood to make season debut at MMS: Keven Wood, son of co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing, Len Wood, will be making his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend in the Ohio 250 at the Mansfield Motorsports Park [one prior start in 2007]. At 23, Keven is sharing the #21 Air Force Ford ride with his cousin, Jon Wood, and will be driving eight scheduled races this season,(Wood Brothers Racing PR)(5-22-2008)
Images added: Added images from Lowe’s Motor Speedway; # 5-Mike Skinner, #22-Scott Speed, #46-Landon Cassill, #18-Dennis Setzer, #91-J.C. Stout, #52-Ken Schrader, #21-Jon Wood, #71-Donny Lia. Photos can be viewed on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery page. www.jayski.com/schemes/2008trucks.htm
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Courtesy of Mansfield correspondent Michael Phipps
NHRA drivers to appear to promote the inaugural Carolinas Nationals, the first event of the NHRA playoffs.
www.nhra.com/content/news/29117.htm
Courtesy of Mansfield News Journal(Rob McCurdy)
mansfieldnewsjournal.com
Economy forces racetracks to work harder
snipurl.com/2a6z4
(Photo galleries and related articles down the right hand side include photo galleries from last year’s action and articles with a local connection including Tim Cowen who made the show at Martinsville back in April and also made his debut in last year’s race. A Galion native who hands the second gas can over the wall in the Bill Davis Racing pit for Johnny Benson
Photo galleries throughout the weekend
community.webshots.com/user/jegjrfan
Starting with last night’s Downtown Festival and Hauler Parade up Olivesburg Road into the Speedway’s back gate.
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
www.truckseries.com
KHI Looks Like the Team to Beat at MMP
05-22-2008 | Tom Jensen, TruckSeries.com Rport
KHI Looks Like the Team to Beat at MMP After racing fender to fender at 190 miles per hour last weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to the half-mile bullring known as Mansfield Motorsports Park in Central Ohio for some old-school, short-track truck racing. Last week’s race at LMS figured to be a battle between series points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. and the L’enfant terrible of the Truck Series, Kyle “Rowdy” Busch. And indeed Busch took the pole and Hornaday qualified second, though both got caught up in crashes and didn’t play a role in the outcome of that race. This week, though, in race No. 7 of 25 on the 2008 NCTS schedule, the record book shows the Ohio 250 ought to come down to a battle between Kevin Harvick Inc. teammates Hornaday, driver of the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado, and Jack Sprague, who pilots the No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevy.
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000007/000765.htm
Smith, SMI Purchasing Kentucky Speedway
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000007/000764.htm
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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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Tags Teams up With Andrew Ranger in NASCAR North Series
By Pitwall3
More importantly for him, though, was his experience in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Daytona International Speedway. He failed to qualify for the event, but the seat time in the heavier steel-bodied car will prove valuable as his career …
www.champcarfanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52064
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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/RG/052308.html
NASCAR’s Lloyd Moore Died as He Had Lived
by Rebecca Gladden
SMI buys Kentucky Speedway; is a NASCAR Sprint Cup in its future?
By Matt Humphrey
The Associated Press reports that Speedway Motorsports Inc. has agreed to purchase Kentucky Speedway, opening the door for the northern Kentucky track to perhaps one day host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. …
blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_nascar/2008/05/smi-buys-kentuc.html
Long Island Press
Maybe Some NASCAR Fans Can’t Help Their Hypocrisy
By Josh Stewart
snipurl.com/2a8do-gazete
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com/pages/tv.htm
Fri May 23
2:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
3:00 am 1994 Food City 500 - Bristol ESPNC
11:00 am Indy 500 Carburetion Day/Pit Stop Challenge ESPN2
6:30 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
7:00 pm Trackside at Charlotte SPEED
11:00 pm Trackside at Charlotte SPEED
Sat May 24
12:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
4:00 am Trackside at Charlotte SPEED
9:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
11:00 am Trackside at Charlotte SPEED
12:00 pm Tradin’ Paint SPEED
12:30 pm NCTS Set-Up SPEED
1:00 pm NCTS: Ohio 250 - Mansfield SPEED
1:00 pm SportsCentury: Al Unser ESPNC
2:00 pm 1987 Indianapolis 500 ESPNC
3:30 pm NNS Coors Light Pole Qualifying SPEED
4:00 pm 1991 Indianapolis 500 ESPNC
5:00 pm Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade ESPN2
5:30 pm NASCAR Live SPEED
6:00 pm 2005 Indianapolis 500 ESPNC
6:30 pm 92nd Indianapolis 500: Ready to Race ESPN2
6:00 pm NSCS “Happy Hour” Final Practice SPEED
7:00 pm NNS Countdown ESPN2
7:30 pm NNS: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 ESPN2
10:30 pm NASCAR Performance SPEED
Sun May 25
12:30 am NNS: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 ESPN2
2:00 am NCTS Set-Up SPEED
2:30 am NCTS: Ohio 250 - Mansfield SPEED
10:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
11:00 am Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race ESPN2
12:00 pm Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race ABC
1:00 pm 92nd Indianapolis 500 ABC
1:30 pm Tradin’ Paint SPEED
2:00 pm NASCAR Performance SPEED
2:30 pm NASCAR in a Hurry SPEED
3:00 pm NASCAR RaceDay SPEED
5:00 pm NSCS Pre-Race Show FOX
5:30 pm NSCS: Coca-Cola 600 FOX
7:30 pm Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race SPEED
8:00 pm SPEED Report SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain SPEED
10:00 pm Drafting Partners GAC
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
Mon May 26
2:00 am SPEED Report SPEED
2:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
4:00 am NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
8:00 am NASCAR Victory Lane SPEED
9:00 am 2008 Indy 500 [re-air] ESPNC
9:00 am Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain SPEED
11:00 am NCTS Set-Up SPEED
11:30 am NCTS: Ohio 250 - Mansfield SPEED
3:30 pm ESPN original motion picture “3″ Dale Earnhardt ESPN2
5:30 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
8:00 pm This Week in NASCAR SPEED
Tue May 27
12:00 am This Week in NASCAR SPEED
12:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
8:00 am This Week in NASCAR SPEED
1:00 pm Racing Across America - Iowa SPEED
6:30 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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Car Insurance Jeep Wranglers for sale
