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Stock Car Gazette, Friday, 12/22/2006by Mike Irwin ~ December 22nd, 2006. Filed under: Stock Car Gazette. |
Merry Christmas to everyone and we’ll be back after the holidays.
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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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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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This will very likely be the last Stock Car Gazette until possibly Tuesday, 12/26.
So we would like to wish each one of you and your families a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and we’ll check back in next week.
Be sure to check the website for updates during the weekend.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Holiday Happenings Keep Racing PR Folks Busy
By: Capt. Herb Emory
It is normally a quiet time at this point of December in the NASCAR world, but the public relations and marketing staffs of NASCAR and some teams seem to be busier this year than in the past.
For more: motorsportsnews.net/archives/150
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Web site exclusives
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MASTERFOODS USA TO SPONSOR SECOND CAR AT ROBERT YATES RACING IN 2007
motorsportsnews.net/archives/149
Hail: 1 Airplane: 0
You have got to check out these photos of a Boeing 727 which encountered severe weather over Alberta, Canada in October, 2006.
motorsportsnews.net/archives/148
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N A S C A R * N E X T E L * C U P * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Catchfence.Com
www.catchfence.com
Ingle Out, Barker In As Crew Chief For #70 Haas CNC Racing Entry: Haas CNC Racing no longer employs Bill Ingle. Robert “Bootie” Barker is currently the crew chief for the #70 Nextel Cup entry. Derick Jennings is currently the car chief under Barker.- Hass CNC Racing, Press Release
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
Rudd Officially Announced As Yates Driver
Masterfoods USA announced today it will sponsor a second entry with Robert Yates Racing (RYR) in 2007 with Snickers® Brand as the primary sponsor. Veteran driver Ricky Rudd will return to RYR to drive after a one-year break from competition. Snickers® joins forces with M&M’S® Chocolate Candies, the primary sponsor for driver David Gilliland and the No. 38 team, making Masterfoods USA the only sponsor to have two brands from the same company on one team. Rudd, a 31-year veteran of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, raced for RYR in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Virginia native took home “Rookie of the Year” honors following the 1977 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season and went on to win races in 16 consecutive seasons, an honor he shares only with retired driver Rusty Wallace. One of NASCAR’s Top 50 Drivers of all time and known as NASCAR’s “Iron Man,” Rudd currently holds the record for most consecutive starts at 788. “We are excited to welcome Ricky back to the team,” said Yates. “We all realize Ricky’s talent and to have him return to the organization is a huge plus for us.”
NASCAR’s Peterson Wins SAE Motorsports Achievement Award
Steve Peterson, NASCAR’s Technical Director who has been heavily involved in helping introduce a wide range of safety initiatives within the sport, was recently the recipient of the 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Motorsports Achievement Award. Peterson received the award at the annual SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference and Exhibition Dec. 5 in Dearborn, Mich. SAE presents this award to the individual that has shown outstanding leadership or contribution to motorsports over an extended period of time. Peterson has served as NASCAR’s Technical Director since 1995 and during that span he has been instrumental in the development and implementation of such safety features as the SAFER Barrier and Head and Neck Restraints, along with improved Seat Belts, Cockpit Surrounds/Seats and Fire Safety. His most recent work has been with the Car of Tomorrow, NASCAR’s new race car that focuses on safety, improved performance and cost efficiency.
Marcos Ambrose Will Run Up To 10 Cup Races
Australian motor racing ace Marcos Ambrose will compete at the highest level of US motorsport next year when he competes in up to 10 NASCAR Nextel Cup events under the Team Australia and Aussie Vineyards banner. Program creator and Australian businessman Craig Gore has finalized a deal with Wood Brothers-JTG Racing which will see Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards branding on the back quarter panel of Ambrose’s #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for all 35 rounds of next year’s NASCAR Busch Series. Part of the agreement will also see a full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in a minimum of two, and up to 10, NASCAR Nextel Cup events. Ambrose will campaign the full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in Nextel Cup road course events at Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, California on June 24 and at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York State on August 12.
No. 78 Team Names Crew Chief
Furniture Row Racing officials have announced the hiring of Jay Guy to be the crew chief for the team’s No. 78 Chevrolet for Kenny Wallace in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Joe Garone, who has been crew chief and manager for the team for two years, will now focus on his general manager responsibilities, reporting to team owner Barney Visser. Guy has been a crew chief with Johnny Benson in Cup competition and with Casey Atwood, Dave Blaney and David Stremme in the Busch Series.
Nevada Co. Buys Nashville Track
LJ&J Enterprises of Tennessee Inc., the company that operates the Music City Motorplex, has signed a contract to be acquired by a Nevada motorsports company. American Racing Capital Inc. is acquiring the racetrack through its subsidiary Motorsports & Entertainment of Tennessee. Under the agreement, Joseph Mattioli, president of LJ&J will serve as president of Motorsports & Entertainment. In addition to racing, LJ&J will continue to hold other events, such as concerts, and will continue to have the rights to food, beverage and merchandise concessions at the track. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Larry Carter has left Michael Waltrip Racing to join Roush Racing, MWR general manager Ty Norris said Wednesday. Carter had been a part of building of MWR from the beginning and was slated to serve as crew chief for rookie #00-David Reutimann in 2007. He told Norris of his decision to leave shortly after Matt Borland was named crew chief for #44-Dale Jarrett earlier this month. Norris refused to call Carter’s departure a setback. “We only need people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for a period of time for the betterment of our company,” he said Wednesday. “You’re either in the mode to do it or you do not want to. There were a couple of people who were not willing to do it.” Norris said Carter was given an out in his contract. Carter will be McMurray’s fourth crew chief at Roush Racing in less than a year. McMurray began last season with crew chief Jimmy Fennig, then inherited Bob Osborne from Carl Edwards’ team in April. Osborne returned to Edwards for the final two races and Wally Brown, who has since left Roush Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished out the year with McMurray.(ESPN.com)(12-21-2006)
Rudd/Gilliland tested for RYR? been told that David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd tested the COT [Car of Tomorrow] last week at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC for Robert Yates Racing. Gilliland is, of course, the driver of RYR’s #38 M&M’s Ford and Rudd is being heavily rumored to be taking over the #88 Ford [Snickers? renumbered to #28?] in 2007.(12-21-2006)
Furniture Row Racing adds crew chief, other enhancements: Furniture Row Racing�s Nextel Cup program continues to make enhancements to strengthen the competitive level of its organization. The #78 Chevy with veteran driver Kenny Wallace will run a full Cup schedule in 2007. New hires, new departments, new equipment, and Wallace�s complete focus on the team will expedite the growth and development of the program. Joe Garone has been juggling duel roles as both crew chief and manager for Furniture Row Racing for two years. He will now focus his efforts exclusively on general manager responsibilities. Reporting directly to team owner Barney Visser, Garone will oversee the team operations in the various departments, act as the liaison between Furniture Row Racing and its partners, and continue to support the growth and development of the entire program. Furniture Row Racing�s new additions to the organizations will be instrumental to realizing the team�s goals. The new hires include Jay Guy, Doug Holbrook, Gary Beveridge, and Claude Rouelle. Guy joins the team as the newly appointed crew chief. Guy�s prior stint was with the #47 Busch team. His resume includes crew chief positions with Johnny Benson in Cup, and Casey Atwood, Dave Blaney and David Stremme in the Busch Series. Furniture Row Racing has also inked a deal with a new car chief, Doug Holbrook. Holbrook, formerly with Evernham Motorsports, brings a vast repertoire of knowledge and experience to the position. Gary Beveridge comes to the organization after heading up the superspeedway department for Robert Yates for the last four years. Beveridge has been brought on as the fabrication shop supervisor. In addition, a big gun as been added to the engineering department of the program. Claude Rouelle has been named as the Director of Engineering. Rouelle is a renowned high-performance racecar research and development engineer. With 30 years of experience in designing, testing and engineering racecars in Europe, Japan and the USA, Furniture Row Racing will benefit from his extensive and specialized skill set. In 1997, Rouelle also created OptimumG, a consulting company that teaches racecar engineering and data acquisitions. Along with new equipment purchases in engine shop, the organization has acquired a seven-post rig (ride simulator). This equipment is extremely valuable in acquiring data due to the lack of actual track testing opportunities permitted by NASCAR during the season.(Business Wire)(12-21-2006)
Delphi to announce NASCAR plans at open house in Vegas: Delphi Corp. will host a media open house on Monday, Jan. 8 from 3 - 5 p.m. at its exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center (#Exhibit 5206). Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Electronics & Safety and Francisco (Frank) A. Ordonez, president, Delphi Products & Service Solutions, will host the reception. Also hosting is: NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. Kyle will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans. Along with Kellogg’s, Delphi was a major associate sponsor of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Busch during the past NASCAR season. Delphi will announce its 2007 sponsorship at the open house. During the event, a host of Delphi subject matter experts will be available for interviews and to demonstrate the new technologies.(Yahoo Biz)(12-21-2006)
Australian businessman Craig Gore has finalized a deal with Wood Brothers-JTG Racing which will see Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards branding on the back quarter panel of Ambrose�s #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford for all 35 rounds of next year�s Busch Series. Part of the agreement will also see a full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in a minimum of two, and up to 10, NASCAR Nextel Cup events. Ambrose will campaign the full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in Nextel Cup road course events at Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, California on June 24 and at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York State on August 12.(BAM Media PR)(12-21-2006)
Holidays provide little break for construction crews at LVMS: While many Americans will be taking an extended holiday throughout the end of December, construction crews at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be hard at work. Workers are in the midst of LVMS’ most ambitious construction project in years as they continue building the Neon Garage and new media center. Work began on the project immediately following the March 12 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and will be completed in time for the March 9-11, 2007 NASCAR Weekend. “These guys have been working hard to get this project completed on time,” said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. “We’re going to make sure all of the workers take Christmas Day and New Year’s Day off to be with their families, but every other day between now and race week will be full speed ahead.” Since this past March, crews have leveled most of the infield building, repaved and re-banked the superspeedway, moved pit road 275 feet closer to the grandstands and begun the construction of the Neon Garage and media center. In the past week, crews have erected the steel truss and attached canopy that will make up the center stage of the Neon Garage. The final steel additions for the Neon Garage have started to be put in place this week, while most of the drywall is completed in the new media center.(LVMS PR)(12-21-2006)
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CLICK THE LINK BELOW To Shop At Sears.Com
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Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Kent D. - thanks!
Car of Tomorrow, Harvick’s Chevy photos.
CloseFinishes.com Photo Gallery - 2007 NASCAR Car Of Tomorrow/A side full 450
www.closefinishes.com/photog/displayimage.php?album=32&pos=0
Dale Jr. leaving Earnhardt Inc.? It’s possible CBS News - New York City,NY,USA
… salvo when she questioned Earnhardt Jr.’s commitment, telling the Wall Street Journal that he needed to decide “whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or …
cbs.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/9882493
Ex-Texas Motor Speedway guard arrested for racing suit theft Fort Wayne News Sentinel - Fort Wayne,IN,USA …
Texas - A former Texas Motor Speedway security guard surrendered to authorities in connection with the theft of a racing suit worn by the late NASCAR icon Dale …
www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/16284739.htm
Team Australia, Ambrose announce 2007 Nextel Cup entries.
Motorsport.com - Canada
… He had not driven an oval race before his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut at Martinsville in April, but he finished the season with two third-place finishes …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=240352&FS=NASCAR-CUP
Nascar Racing - Odds to win Budweiser Shootout February 10 … By Jan Tincher
February 10 — Budweiser Shootout — Daytona International Speedway
Jimmie Johnson +500 Tony Stewart +500 Dale Earnhardt Jr +500 Jeff Gordon +500 Kevin Harvick +1000 Jeff Burton +1200 Kyle… Covers.com staff.
snipurl.com/15jq1-stockc
Motorsports hit bump in road
Toronto Sun - Canada
… Firstly, it’s bad news that NASCAR — motor racing’s current undisputed heavyweight champion on this side of the pond — will lose beer giant Anheuser-Busch as …
torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2006/12/21/2913541-sun.html
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Courtesy of Scene Daily
www.scenedaily.com
Top 30: Greg Biffle, 13th
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22595325
Top 30: Carl Edwards, 12th
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597508
Top 10 stories of 2006: No. 9
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22595326
Top 10 stories of 2006: No. 8
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597509
Allstate takes NASCAR marketing honor
Allstate was chosen today as the winner of the annual NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award for the company that best distinguished itself in 2006, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22595328
Sponsors may buy Hotpass services
Team sponsors will have advertising opportunities on DirecTV’s Hotpass service offering exclusive coverage of each of five drivers during each 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Advertising Age reports.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22595329
Rudd to drive RYR’s second Nextel Cup Series entry
Ricky Rudd will return to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series to drive a Robert Yates Racing Ford under a deal announced today by Masterfoods USA, which will sponsor the car.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597503
Ambrose moving into Nextel Cup Series
Team Australia officials say Marcos Ambrose will drive in at least two NASCAR Nextel Cup races for the team and possibly as many as 10 series events next year.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597504
Furniture Row team names new crew chief
Furniture Row Racing officials have announced the hiring of Jay Guy to be the crew chief for the team’s No. 78 Chevrolet for Kenny Wallace in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597506
Kenseth signing autographs at fan club store
Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, is scheduled to sign autographs at the Matt Kenseth Fan Club store in Cambridge, Wis., on Saturday, according to the Roush Racing Web site.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22597507
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
www.thatsracin.com
Read David Poole’s blog about Bobby Hamilton - turn-lane.blogspot.com/
Cancer treatments will continue, Hamilton says
www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16285044.htm
Yates team confirms Ricky Rudd’s return
www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16290886.htm
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N A S C A R * B U S C H * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of BGNRacing.Com
www.bgnracing.com
More 2006 Season Highlights
* David Gilliland tied the NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos Rookie record for the least number of starts before a victory at seven. Other rookies to win in their seventh race are: Scott Riggs, Nashville, 4/02, Carl Edwards, Atlanta, 3/05 and Johnny Rumley, Hickory, 11/93.
* Mark Martin passed the 8,000 mark in career laps led. He is at 8,002, the most ever in the series.
* One-hundred-fifty-four drivers competed in the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series, 30 for the first time. In 2005, 150 drivers competed, 25 for the first time. (NASCAR PR)
Ricky Benton Racing announced that they will team up with driver, Shelby Howard for the 2007 Hooters Pro Cup season. Howard will move to the Southern Division after running in the North the past two seasons. As part of the deal, veteran crew chief, Chris Rice will be joining the team to help coordinate all the race related activities. The plans for 2007 include running for the USAR Championship as well as running in select NASCAR Busch Series events.(ShelbyHoward.com)(via Jayski) (12-20-06)
The green flag waves this Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007, as tickets go on sale for the September 21-23, 2007 NASCAR tripleheader at Dover International Speedway. Tickets for the June 1-3, 2007 race weekend are currently on sale. Race fans can gain an advantage over the competition with even more choices by purchasing early. Improved seat selection, ticket availability in most price ranges, and the ability to purchase blocks of tickets to keep your group together are among the best reasons to order your tickets now. Tickets will be available at www.DoverSpeedway.com, and by calling the Dover International Speedway ticket office at 800-441-RACE, beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. (DIS PR) (12-20-06)
Toyota plans to build an engineering and chassis facility in close proximity to its NASCAR teams. The facility would employ about 40 people and sit on part of an 89-acre site in Salisbury, N.C., said Toyota Racing Development CEO Jim Aust. The company unveiled its plan to Rowan County (N.C.) leaders on Monday night. The Salisbury facility will not be completed for a couple of years, Aust said. TRD’s base facility is in California, but it wanted a major presence in North Carolina, Aust said. The shop wouldn’t be used for engine development but would be a place for Toyota engineers and teams to work on chassis design, shocks and other things. (Scene Daily) (12-20-06)
Anheuser-Busch will no longer serve as title sponsor of NASCAR’s No. 2 series after 2007, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal reports. Anheuser-Busch’s contract with NASCAR for the NASCAR Busch Series comes to an end after 2007, and NASCAR officials say the cost to sponsor the series will go up. Tony Ponturo, Anheuser-Busch’s vice president of global media and sports marketing, told the SBJ that it was his company’s decision to withdraw from the sponsorship. The company began sponsoring the series in 1982, when the series was called the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series. It was changed to the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series in 1984 and then the NASCAR Busch Series in 1995. SBJ reports that industry sources are estimating the new sponsorship deal could be worth more than $30 million a year, which is three times what Anheuser-Busch is paying. (Scene Daily) (12-20-06)
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Australian businessman Craig Gore has finalized a deal with Wood Brothers-JTG Racing which will see Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards branding on the back quarter panel of Ambrose’s #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford for all 35 rounds of next year’s Busch Series. Part of the agreement will also see a full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in a minimum of two, and up to 10, NASCAR Nextel Cup events.(BAM Media PR)(12-20-2006)
Shelby Howard Plans Busch Races in 2007: Ricky Benton Racing announced that they will team up with driver, Shelby Howard for the 2007 Hooters Pro Cup season. Howard will move to the Southern Division after running in the North the past two seasons. As part of the deal, veteran crew chief, Chris Rice will be joining the team to help coordinate all the race related activities. The plans for 2007 include running for the USAR Championship as well as running in select NASCAR Busch Series events.(ShelbyHoward.com)(12-20-2006)
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Joey Logano Plans Move to Busch East Series in 2007
16-Year-Old Is Youngest Winner in Pro Cup History, Now He Aims For Same Accomplishment in NASCAR Touring Competition
MOORESVILLE, NC — Still only 16 years old, Joey Logano will take another step in his racing career for 2007 as he …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=240327
Andy Santerre Motorsports Team Members Recognized at NASCAR’s Busch East Series Banquet
Sean Caisse and Sue Santerre Honored for Their Achievements
CONCORD, NC (December 19, 2006) — For the last four years, the NASCAR Busch North Series banquet ended with Andy Santerre making the …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=240305
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Sponsor the Busch Series or CTS section of the Stock Car Gazette!
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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
Hamilton provides update on his battle with cancer: Bobby Hamilton continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments for cancer discovered earlier this year, according to a press release from Bobby Hamilton Racing. The Craftsman Truck Series champion and his doctors were optimistic in August after extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the release said, but microscopic cancer cells still remained in the right side of his neck. Hamilton “is continuing his chemotherapy treatment and has gone through several procedures to keep the cancer at bay,” the release said. Hamilton, a Nashville native and one of Tennessee’s most successful and popular racers, recently hired NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader to drive for his Mt. Juliet-based truck series team next season. In the press release, Hamilton said his battle with cancer is a “private matter” and thanked a number of his supporters “from the bottom of my heart. “I have great people surrounding me at BHR who really stepped up to the plate to ensure that my company is on the right track for 2007 and beyond,” Hamilton said. ” … I’m still here, despite what people say, and I’m still calling the shots around BHR. Our sponsors have been very understanding and their support is tremendous. We will continue to be a championship caliber team.” As for his fight with cancer, Hamilton said: “We are going to continue to search for the best available treatment for my form of cancer. I have flown to several places for other opinions. We know there are some of the brightest minds in the world working on a cure for cancer. I didn’t want to be labeled as a victim when I announced it and I sure won’t lie down and be a victim now.” “(Tennessean)(12-20-2006)
Kearns named fourth quarter NMPA/Pocono Spirit winner: Owen Kearns, manager of communications for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been named the fourth quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award.Kearns, who began his racing career as a journalist, joined NASCAR in 1983 to run what was then known as the Winston West Series. In addition, he has worked with NASCAR’s Weekly, Southwest and Northeast series. He began working with the truck series upon its inception, and worked 288 consecutive events before health issues forced him to the sidelines for a single race - the 2006 Easy Care 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - in October of 2006. However, after only a brief stay in the hospital, Kearns was back on the beat, overseeing the series when it returned to Texas Motor Speedway the following week. “Actually, I’ve been around the truck series before it even began,” he said, “as early as 1993. Through the meetings with NASCAR in Daytona and the exhibition races, I’ve been involved with it for quite some time. “I’m humbled to receive the award … I really appreciate it.” Kearns is a native of Bakersfield, Calif. 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 2006 overall winner will be announced during the NMPA’s annual convention and awards ceremony scheduled for Jan. 21.(NASCAR PR)(12-20-2006)
2007 Silly Season Team/Driver Chart: - www.jayski.com/cts/2007cts.htm
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HAMILTON UPDATES FANS ON HIS CANCER BATTLE
Mt. Juliet, TN — December 20, 2006 — After many questions and rumored negative publicity NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton addresses all the supporters on his current cancer battle. In …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=240343
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
www.truckseries.com
Hamilton Updates Fans on His Cancer Battle
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000093/009392.htm
Preseason Test Dates Finalized for Daytona
Dates for the 2007 edition of NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder Fan Fests at historic Daytona International Speedway have been finalized.Fans will be able to get a sneak peek on NASCAR teams as they prepare for Speedweeks 2007 with inquisitive fan forums with many of their favorite drivers as well as enjoying all the state-of-the-art amenities in the popular NEXTEL FANZONE.
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000093/009393.htm
New NASCAR ‘Car of Tomorrow’ Photo Gallery on CloseFinishes.com
The 2006 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show featured more cool racecars than you could count, but the one car that probably drew more looks than any other was the new 2007 NASCAR ‘Car of Tomorrow.’ The vehicle, set to debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, will ring in a new generation of NASCAR Nextel Cup racecars.
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000093/009390.htm
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
www.arcaracing.com
Justin Allgaier Profile…….
It’s not often that the audience is the predominant noise maker over the roar of the race engines, but that’s exactly what happened when rookie Justin Allgaier, in the Mike Allgaier-owned Chevrolet, drove past veteran Bob Strait on the final lap on the Springfield mile-dirt to win the Allen Crowe 100. The momentous victory, in front of Justin’s hometown crowd, was historical in that he became the first Springfield-born and bred driver to win a major-league national championship event at the historic fairgrounds oval in more than 70 years of racing.
Here’s more on the Springfield, Illinois racer…….. www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4211/2/
New Teams, New Faces Steering Toward ARCA
Team Glock’s Michelle Theriault Tests at Daytona……..
MOORESVILLE NC (12-21-06) – Twenty-year-old Michelle Theriault, of Bristol, Connecticut, got her first taste of superspeedway racing at the ARCA RE/MAX Series test session at Daytona Int’l Speedway last weekend with the GLOCK, Inc. sponsored #37 Chevrolet. With coaching from veteran driver and TEAM GLOCK car owner, Jeff Spraker, Michelle steadily gained confidence and experience with each lap that she turned.
Read more… - www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4207/2/
Mark Gibson Profile…..
For 26 years, Winder Georgia driver Mark Gibson has been a fixture on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour. Although his role has changed within the ARCA framework in the last couple seasons, Gibson, as a driver, made 312 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts since 1982 earning 4 wins and 113 top-10 finishes.
Outside of driving on his favorite tracks (Springfield & DuQuoin) each season, his focus is now geared toward his duties at Cunningham Motorsports as General Manager for two teams – the #59 HD Supply Dodge with Justin South driving and the #4 Dodge development team with a mix of drivers for 2007. An ARCA trooper in the truest sense, the likeable veteran deserves a closer look.
Read more… - www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4204/2/
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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RBR Enterprises and Shelby Howard Team Up For 2007
Whiteville, N.C.-Ricky Benton Racing announced today that they will team up with driver, Shelby Howard for the 2007 Hooters Pro Cup season. Howard, who resides in Greenwood, Ind., will move to the Southern …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=240324
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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
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I did find out that the website for this new series is www.nascarcanadiantireseries.com/.
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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/RG/122106.html
NASCAR Drivers’ Charities Provide Opportunities for Giving
by Rebecca Gladden
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