SportsBusiness.com reports that NASCAR TV partner ESPN will assist the sanction in their search to find a replacement sponsor for the Grand National Series.

Anheuser-Busch dropped a bomb on NASCAR telling them that they were not interested in renewing the sponsorship deal because it escalated to 30 million. Obviously, the St. Louis based company felt that the outlay wasn’t worth it. ESPN purchased the rights to air the Busch Series in a multi-year contract and now has a vested interest in that division’s success.

This so-called Hot Pass/Direct TV concept set for 2007 by the NASCAR TV broadcasters got some unfavorable ink by Larry Groom of the Florida Daily Sun. Groom feels that this deal is a lousy idea because it will have in-car cameras on the drivers for the entire race. And the announcers will focus on the subject drivers every move. It’s the brainchild of Fox Sport Chairman David Hill. We recall that another network tried an earlier version of this thing and it tanked. That is not enough revenue to make it worth the investment. Larry writes that this latest deal it’s another example of NASCAR/Networks selling out for the almighty buck. Groom is also concerned about issues such as obscenities, driver injuries, accidents and the like and feels that it’s a sad step and a deterioration of the sport.

Here’s another related item from the same webpage. Related because it concerns the France family, who control NASCAR and the public company ISC, where the majority of the shares are held by that family. Under this headline: ISC IN $50M STOCK BUYBACK PLAN which appeared in the sportsbusiness.com newsletter. The board of leading US motorsport promoter the International Speedway Corporation has rubber stamped a share repurchase program. The board of the company which owns or operates 11 of the US’ major venues - among them the Daytona International Speedway in Florida - has authorized the stock buyback scheme under which the company can purchase up to $50m of its outstanding Class A common shares.

ISC chief executive officer James C. France said: “Our decision to repurchase shares is testament to our confidence in ISC’s strong financial position and the significant visibility of our future operating results. “Combined with the continued successful execution of strategic initiatives designed to capitalize on both internal and external growth opportunities, we believe our capital allocation strategy reflects a balanced approach that will enhance shareholder value and further position the company for long-term success.”

Our interpretation of this move is to keep the stock price from going lower by taking a portion of the shares out of circulation. Also, it may satisfy some stockholders and the brokerage houses that may get a piece of the action when the stock changes hands. It also means that ISC has some significant cash in its treasury and is willing to share the wealth with it’s critics and shareholders.

Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) and Daytona International Speedway announced Porsche Rennsport Reunion III will take place at the famed Florida racetrack the weekend of November 2-4, 2007. Sponsored by PCNA and organized by Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Inc., Porsche Rennsport Reunion III is open to the public and brings together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current racecars and those who have driven them to victory in the world’s most famous sports car races. It features a three-day program of on-track competition plus a concours d’elegance, which is open to the event’s participants by invitation. In addition, special activities are planned honoring the series of awesome Porsche 917 racecars and commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the racing debut of the all-conquering Porsche 956/962 prototype racers.

Held at three-year intervals, the third edition of Porsche Rennsport Reunion returns to Daytona International Speedway following that track’s highly successful staging of Porsche Rennsport Reunion II in 2004. On that occasion, more than 600 Porsche racecars and dozens of legendary Porsche race drivers participated in a truly memorable weekend dedicated to Porsche’s motorsports heritage.

DC Shoes and Action Pursuit Group, producers of Hot Import Nights (HIN) and HINCity, gave one car enthusiast the ultimate “drive all day party all night” prize package. Dave Senders won DC Shoes’ custom Gumball 3000 Subaru WRX STi, which was driven by pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek in the infamous European race. In addition, Senders won VIP treatment for the ultimate party scene at all 2007 HIN shows.

Senders is now the proud owner of the $65,000 DC Shoes Subaru STi, a street/daily-driver version of their competition rally cars that features unique camouflage graphics wrapped with custom DC Shoes logos, an on-board GPS, TV screens, DVD players, custom iPod cradles and built-in coolers in the dash. A stock Subaru WRX STi puts out 300hp; Senders’ new DC Shoes Subaru now puts out 425 hp and has reached speeds of 180 mph.

In addition to the vehicle, Senders won free admission for himself and a guest to every HIN event and pre and after-party, backstage passes and VIP access to every HIN concert, plus the opportunity to be a guest judge in the Queen of the Scene search for Miss HIN 2008 as part of his VIP package from HIN.

“It was an excellent opportunity for us to partner with HIN in this STi giveaway,” said Ken Block, DC Shoes, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder. “This car has such a unique history with its modifications and participation in the Gumball rally, that we were happy when the car was won by someone who truly appreciates it.” The DC Shoes Gumball 3000 Subaru WRX STi was featured at seven different HIN shows and on HINCity at www.hincity.com.

Several of NASCAR’s top drivers have been added to the line-up of the 2007 Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, January 12 and 13 in downtown Nashville. Legends Cale Yarborough, 83-year-old Junie Donlavey and Richard Childress (owner, Childress Racing) along with Jamie McMurray, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., David Stremme and Aric Almirola join previously announced Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Michael Waltrip and Ryan Newman.

The Sound & Speed festival debuted in January of this year as a celebration of music and motorsports where fans could attend Q & A sessions with their favorite drivers and artists, bid on music and racing memorabilia, enjoy interactive attractions, listen to performances by some of country music’s top stars and get a first peak at the new paint jobs on many of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series cars.

Proceeds from Sound & Speed benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum charities and the Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with serious illnesses (founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty). The debut event raised $300,000 for the two charities.

The Mid-Ohio School, the comprehensive driving and motorcycle riding instruction company operated by TrueSports, Inc. and based at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, once again set records for class dates and student enrollments in 2006. In 2006, The Mid-Ohio School realized several enrollment milestones, with nearly 4,000 participants taking part in the school’s nineteen driving and motorcycle riding programs. This increase boosts The Mid-Ohio School’s total number of graduates to over 23,000 students after 14 seasons of operation.

The driving school offered 152 class days in 2006, 28 more than the previous record of 124 set last year. The increase was due in large part to the continued success of the school’s Honda Teen Defensive Driving Program and the addition of four new courses, including Advanced Defensive Driving. Participants also enjoyed getting behind the wheel of a brand-new fleet of vehicles that featured the Acura TSX A-SPEC, Honda S2000 roadster and the Honda Civic EX Coupe.

The Mid-Ohio School also held a record number of Corporate Driving Experience programs (40), five more than the previous year. The program provides an interactive entertainment alternative for companies and their guests. Participants enjoy high-performance driving while corporations reach bottom line business goals, sometimes including a meeting in the day’s activities.

New for 2006 at The Mid-Ohio School was the introduction of four motorcycle riding classes. The riding school offered 40 classes this season, with almost 1,300 students attending. Nearly all of the school’s Performance Track Riding days were sold out. “We are proud to be the only school in the country offering both driving and riding instruction,” said Steve Bidlack, director of The Mid-Ohio School. “Our continued growth and success would not be possible without key partners like American Honda and all of our graduates.”

The Mid-Ohio School provides professional driving and riding instruction to drivers and motorcyclists of all skill levels. The school’s 18 programs vary from Defensive Driving, Performance Driving and Racing programs on the automobile side, to Beginning, Experienced and Performance Track Riding programs on the motorcycle side. Students enjoy classroom sessions, skill drills, expert private instruction and lapping on the same track that challenges the world’s top racers. The Mid-Ohio School has graduated more than 23,000 students since 1993.

On the tube this long New Year’s weekend are tapes of many 2006 events. Friday kicks off the weekend with the Paris to Cannes Rally at 4:30 p.m. followed by the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Then the NASCAR CTS Banquet at Orlando all on Speed. Saturday has a lot more variety staring at 3 p.m. on Speed offering the CASCAR 100 race from Edmonton, Alberta. VS kicks in at 3 p.m. with the Suzuki GNCC Series held at Crawfordville, IN. The Outdoor Channel airs the Best in Desert Racing at 3 p.m. Then the Discovery Channel airs the Goodwood Revival at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. it’s Off Road action from Crandon, WI also on Speed then Rock Racing from Moab, UT at 7 p.m. followed by the Lucas Late Models held at New Richmond, UT. Sunday’s highlights begin at 9 a.m. with NASCAR: Beyond the Wheel-Homestead plus repeats of the Rock Racing and Lucas Late Models-All on Speed. Monday’s offerings are all on Speed with airings of the Australian Super Cars at noon from Puke Park in New Zealand followed by the event held in Western Australia. At 2 p.m. it’s Beyond the Wheel and Lawn Mower Racing from Aurora Park, IL.

NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES AND NOTES.