Stock Car Gazette, Friday, 12/29/2006

Here’s what’s likely the last edition of the Stock Car Gazette for 2006. Happy New Year, everyone!
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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/RomanRoad.html

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The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by:

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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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Hey, it’s Friday! We’ll likely check out for the weekend as we are doing some holiday traveling we didn’t do last weekend. We’ll check back in with you next week. Everyone, please have a very safe and Happy New Year.

Oh, the CTS banquet is tonight on SPEED at 9:00 eastern time.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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NASCAR Rings In New Year With Change
By: Capt. Herb Emory

Old Father Time is crossing the track in turn four headed for a new year filled with change for NASCAR competitors and fans.

For more: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/158

Welcome to new columnist Brett Baldeck…

NASCAR Preview: Testing At Daytona
By: Brett Baldeck

It is hard to believe, but NASCAR is already getting ready for the 2007 season.

For more: http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/159
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Web site exclusives
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Car Olympics – The Long Jump
Richard Hammond holds the “long jump”, of the Car Olympics. Cars from various countries compete to see who can jump the furthest. Hilarity ensues.

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/157

Parts for a Mas-a-WHAT?

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/156

Amazing Photos Of Aircraft Breaking The Sound Barrier

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/155

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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

http://www.catchfence.com

Jeff Burton scheduled for Darlington Stripe Zone appearance

http://www.catchfence.com/press/122706.html

ESPN2 Garage Programs Set For January 6 Debut – New Programming Block To Complement Network Racing Coverage: Motorsports and automotive enthusiasts will be able to continue their celebration of the New Year during the first weekend of January with three new television programs that will premiere on ESPN2. All part of the new ESPN2 Garage block of programming, Truck Stop, Chopper Nation and Autotrader.com DRIVE in HD will debut on ESPN2, while Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era will continue its run, giving viewers the opportunity to catch up on episodes they may have missed since the show’s early-December debut. Designed to complement ESPN’s extensive coverage of NASCAR, IndyCar, Champ Car and NHRA racing in 2007, ESPN2 Garage is dedicated to the automotive, motorcycle and motorsports world. ESPN2 will air more than 500 hours of motorsports programming in 2007. The first episode of Truck Stop will air at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, January 6, followed at 10:30 a.m. by the premiere of Chopper Nation. The next day, a one-hour episode of Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era airs at 10 a.m., followed at 11 a.m. by Autotrader.com DRIVE in HD. ESPN2 Garage will include 19 different shows that feature nearly every facet of the industry – from car auctions to custom-car programs to an animated series and reality shows. The programming will be aired Saturday and Sunday mornings on ESPN2 during January, and will expand to include weekday afternoons and evenings in February. Other groups of shows are scheduled to run in the second, third and fourth quarters of the year. ESPN2 is seen in 91.7 million homes. – ESPN Communications, Press Release
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Thanks to Gazette subscriber Cindy for this story. It’s from the Examiner.Com website

NASCAR driver is rebuked for Bush sticker

It’s no secret that NASCAR drivers skew Republican, which is fine with the Federal Election Commission, just so long as they don’t display their preferences where anyone can see them.

In a decision announced Tuesday, the FEC sent an “admonishment letter” to Kirk Shelmerdine Racing. Kirk Shelmerdine, a former pit boss for the late Dale Earnhardt, has been an unsuccessful, underfunded and undersponsored driver. He has never finished higher than 26th.

So back in 2004, in a move perhaps designed to draw some attention to his car, he placed a “Bush-Cheney ’04” decal on his rear quarter panel, which was otherwise unencumbered by advertising. Democratic activist Sydnor Thompson complained to the FEC, and the agency found that Shelmerdine “may have made an unreported independent expenditure or a prohibited corporate expenditure.”

Former commissioner Bradley Smith dissented in one of the case’s early votes and blogged about the result this week. He has written that in reference to the FEC’s $250 expenditure limit, “evidence is strong that the market value of Shelmerdine’s rear quarter panel was approximately $0, give or take $249.”
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Courtesy of Fast Tracks Racing

http://www.fasttracksracing.com

Welcome back to Becky, who put out a newsletter yesterday. Please continue to pray for her as she recovers.

Retired Rusty Wallace’s skills remain un dulled
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM December 27, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Rusty Wallace had been out of a competitive stock car ride for well more than a year when he came to Daytona a couple weeks back for his son’s testing session. Now, that’s out of the seat — which Wallace bought into, or actually, out of — at the end of the 2005 Nextel Cup season. But you’ll never take Wallace out of the sport. And that’s a good thing. http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/opinion/12/26/rwallace.retired/

Testing can be tedious
- and perilous, tooTom Higgins’ Scuffs
By TOM HIGGINS ThatsRacin.com Blogger
Off-season testing among NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series teams will begin with furious intensity during the next few days, mainly at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16321666.htm

New Programming To Complement ESPN Racing Coverage
Motorsports and automotive enthusiasts will be able to continue their celebration of the New Year during the first weekend of January with three new television programs that will premiere on ESPN2.

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16328767.htm

RaceWraps: The devil is definitely in the detailing
By Ron Lemasters Jr., Special to NASCAR.COM
This is the second of a two-part series on how car graphics are created through vinyl wrappers.
Is it paint, or is it a Motorsports Designs RaceWrap? Whichever it is, you’ll have to be right up next to the car to tell the difference, according to Tim Cecil, the leader of the application team at Motorsports Designs home office in High Point, N.C. http://snipurl.com/163kf

Sick Parsons won’t make YCRC Hall of Fame event
COLUMN By BRYAN HOUSEHOLDER For The York Dispatch
The York County Racing Club’s Hall of Fame banquet will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Holiday Inn Holidome in West York. Recently, however, the YCRC had to announce a change in plans for the banquet.
Former NASCAR champion and Daytona 500 winner Benny Parsons was set to make his third appearance as the guest speaker at the banquet. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening.

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/sports/ci_4902840

Petty pleased with progress, expects more in 2007 By Mark Ashenfelter
Special to ESPN.com
In racing terms, Christmas came early for Kyle Petty.
“We have the potential to come out next year and make a big step.” — Kyke Petty
In personal terms, the charity run held earlier in December at Victory Junction Gang Camp — the facility founded by Kyle and wife Pattie for chronically ill children — might have done more to touch Petty’s soul, but his racing gift came more than a month ago in Homestead. http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=2&id=2705357
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News

http://www.insiderracingnews.com

Top-10 Moments at Michigan International Speedway
As 2006 comes to a close, Michigan International Speedway has compiled a “Top 10 Moments of 2006” list. Many race moments and community achievements are listed in what was truly an exciting year of racing for the 2-mile oval.

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Carl Edwards out of the way during the final laps of the NASCAR Busch Series Carfax 250 on August 19. Earnhardt went on to win the race, causing Edwards to later purposely run into Jr’s car and confronting the popular driver in Gatorade Victory Lane.

2. Matt Kenseth held off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon on the final lap to win the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series GFS Marketplace 400 on August 20. Kenseth became the 16th different driver to win multiple Cup races at MIS. He also won a Cup race at MIS in June of 2002.

3. Local Michigan native Johnny Benson won his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 60 starts by taking the checkered flag for the Con-way Freight 200 on June 17. Benson, from Grand Rapids, held off Mark Martin on the final green-white checkered restart giving MIS its sixth different winner in seven career truck events since 1999.

…More – http://insiderracingnews.com/Daily2006/Dec/122906.html

North-West Track Lacks Support
Washington state lawmakers for the Kitsap Peninsula, site of a proposed NASCAR track, are lukewarm or opposed to the idea. The Florida-based speedway company behind the proposal, meanwhile, promises an improved pitch in the new year. Rep. Bill Eickmeyer, D-Belfair, predicts the track will go nowhere in the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 8. The nine state lawmakers who represent the peninsula, contacted last week, were either opposed to the plan or highly skeptical, The News Tribune reported in Monday editions. The most positive was state Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, described by the Tacoma newspaper as “only a maybe.” — “I think the project has some potential,” Kilmer said. “But only if you do it right.” The lack of enthusiasm hasn’t discouraged International Speedway Corp., the company looking for help building an 83,500-seat racetrack near Bremerton. Company vice president Grant Lynch said he’s been working with lobbyists and met with 55 legislators over the summer.

Edwards Suit To Be Auctioned Off
The 2nd Annual Chevrolet Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge, presented by Whelen Engineering, is hosting a Benefit Dinner and Auction on January 5, 2007 at Nicola’s on Main starting at 7 pm. The evening features a cocktail hour, a meet-and-greet with the drivers participating in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge, dinner, and a chance to bid on fabulous items including NASCAR ticket packages, Bodine Bobsled Challenge apparel, NASCAR souvenirs and much more. The auction will be hosted by Ray Dunlap, a fixture on the stockcar circuit as a TV broadcast announcer. A race suit, worn by Carl Edwards sporting the Bodine Bobsled logo at a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race last July at New Hampshire International Speedway, will be included in the list of auction items. All proceeds from the evening will go directly to the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., which creates, develops and supplies the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Bobsled teams with Made in America sleds.

Ford Wins CORR Manufacturer’s Championships
“Built Ford Tough” is not just a slogan for Ford trucks—it’s a guiding principle. Most recently, Ford trucks proved this definitively in brutal off-road competition in both the Championship Off Road Racing (CORR) and the Best in the Desert (BITD) racing series. “Ford trucks won the CORR manufacturer’s championships in all three of the classes in which Ford competes,” says Cliff Irey, Truck Motorsports Team Lead for Ford. “The Ranger won in Pro Lite, while the F-150 won in Pro 2 for full-size, two-wheel-drive trucks and Pro 4 for full-size, four-wheel-drive trucks. What’s more, we won them all without winning the driver’s championships, which demonstrates the strong team effort that Ford put forth in CORR this year.” The CORR series is comprised of sixteen races held on clay-surfaced, closed tracks with jumps, chicanes, and other off-road-inspired hazards that test the skills of the drivers—and the durability of the trucks.
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Monster Energy Joins Forces with Robby Gordon: Monster Energy and Robby Gordon Off-Road have entered into an agreement that will team Monster Energy with Gordon’s world-wide off-road racing efforts including the famed Dakar Rally and the team’s SCORE International Trophy Truck program. The Dakar Rally, arguably the world’s most demanding and grueling motorsports event, will start Jan. 6 in Lisbon, Portugal and end Jan. 21 in Dakar, Senegal. The Versus channel will provide more than 29 hours of Dakar Rally coverage throughout the month of January. In addition to off-road racing, when Gordon begins his third season as a Nextel Cup Series owner/driver in the Feb. 18 Daytona 500, his highly visible racing helmet will feature a unique green and black paint scheme with Monster Energy branding. The #7 Nextel Cup Series pit crew also will wear Monster Energy branded helmets, and Monster Energy will be prominently featured as an associate sponsor on the NASCAR team’s equipment and vehicles including its track-side merchandise trailer. More info at www.monsterenergy.com.(dirtnewz.com) and see a Dakar Preview at robbygordon.com.(12-28-2006)

Gordon’s Racing School gets first COT: A new Chevrolet Impala SS Car Of Tomorrow, built in-house over the past 30 days and authentic to current NASCAR specifications, will join the fleet of Jeff Gordon Racing School cars. The car of tomorrow features JGRS’s new graphic design palate which was designed by NASCAR Artist Sam Bass. A #24 DuPont Impala SS COT-design built by JGRS will be part of DuPont’s display in Daytona USA at Daytona International Speedway throughout the 2007 season. The car will separate into three sections to show fans first the details of wheels, hubs and brakes, then the engine/transmission area and finally the car’s inner skeleton as the body raises from the chassis. The additions of race-ready Cars of Tomorrow to the JGRS fleet is part of a successful growth phase for the Jeff Gordon Racing School and Mario Andretti Racing School, which will combine for more than 350 dates in 2007 while adding authentic Nextel Cup team cars direct from on-track competition in 2005 and 2006 as well as new Toyota Camry’s as they become available.(JGRS PR)(12-28-2006)

Bobcat’s owner blocks Sabates from donating stock in team: A minority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats wants to donate his share of the basketball team to a charity, but is being blocked by team managing partner Bob Johnson. Felix Sabates [part owner of Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #40,#41,#42] wants to give his Bobcats stock, which he values at about $1.34 million, to the foundation that supports Carolinas HealthCare System. The Cuban-born Sabates, also a prominent NASCAR team owner, is a member of the system’s board. “I was surprised Bob wouldn’t approve this, considering it’s a donation,” Sabates told the newspaper in an interview Friday. Sabates received a letter from Johnson’s attorney, Van Sinclair, on Nov. 29 denying his request to transfer the shares, saying the NBA does not allow not-for-profit or charitable entities to own an interest in its franchises. A subsequent letter from Sabates to the health care system quoted Johnson as saying the NBA had nothing to do with the decision, which was made because Johnson “does not wish to have any charitable organization in partnership with the Charlotte Bobcats.” “I am really surprised at his decision. I thought this would be a great opportunity for the Bobcats to become a real part of this community,” Sabates wrote. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Friday that nothing in the NBA’s constitution specifically bars a not-for-profit or charitable organization from owning stock in a team. But, he noted, the league’s Board of Governors must approve any ownership change. Sabates’ share of the Bobcats is less than 1 percent of the original $300 million franchise fee.(Associated Press)(12-28-2006)

Bi-monthly radio show debuts January 4: #89-Faith Motorsports will debut a bi-monthly radio show on January 4, enabling Morgan Shepherd fans to enjoy regular updates on the team’s progression through the 2007 race season. Faith Motorsports Radio will produce a bi-monthly 15-minute show, “Racing With Jesus,” to be hosted by veteran sportswriter Tim Stephens, the team announced. Dana Tomes, co-owner of the team, said the show’s production crew will begin taping pre-recorded segments of the series on December 22. The show’s first edition will air at 7:00pm/et on January 4. “Racing With Jesus” will be made available to Christian and secular radio stations nationwide and also will be streamed through the Faith Motorsports website so fans around the world can listen to the show live. In addition, Tomes said the show will also feature regular periodic segments about the Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund, Victory In Jesus Racing Ministries and interviews with team members and fans. “Racing With Jesus” will be aired every other Thursday evening beginning at 7:00pm/et.(Faith Motorsports PR)(12-27-2006)

IMAGES added: #47 Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards, #10 Stanley Tools and #25 National Guard/GMAC schemes to the Paint Scheme Gallery.

http://www.jayski.com/schemes/paintschemes.htm

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Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Kent D. – thanks!

2007 NEXTEL NASCAR Season Previews part two.. By Richard Ginn
4-Ward Burton-Chevrolet-Morgan-McClure. Has not had a full season of NASCAR NEXTEL racing since 2004 where he only got 4 top ten finishes. Only had three starts in 2006 where his best finish was 25th. State Water Heaters is going to be …

http://snipurl.com/163ap-stockc

Conversation: Tony “Rambo” Liberati
Backstretch Motorsports – Greensboro,NC,USA … a literal “Who’s Who” in the racing business, stints at Roush Racing , Hendrick Motorsports, with drivers Michael Waltrip, Todd Bodine, Jeff Burton just to …

http://snipurl.com/163ar-stockc

Maybe NASCAR has lost its so-called mind
Villages Daily Sun – The Villages,FL,USA
… According to a recent article on NASCAR.com, this idea was the brainchild of Fox Sports chairman David Hill. … But my beef on this entire concept is with NASCAR. …

http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2006/12/23/sports/sports02.txt

“NASCAR 2007….THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY” SportingNews.com – USA
… Ol’ Boy” flavor of SPEED Channel talking heads, who tout bratwurst and tanktop clad females and speak as though their words should be considered NASCAR gospel …

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/texasadlerfan/53471

Fan1st.com Places Fans’ Names on the First Toyota NASCAR Racecar PR Web
(press release) – Ferndale,WA,USA With a new innovative ownership concept, fans can now be involved in everything with a NASCAR team, including special events, message boards and voting rights …

http://www.prweb.com/releases/NASCAR/Fans/prweb493987.htm

Local driver to appear in Ft. Wayne race Reporter-Times -
Martinsville,IN,USA
… Former IRL and two time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart will be racing at Ft. … “Tony Stewart has put on quite a show here over the years, win or lose.”. …

http://snipurl.com/163au-stockc

Sirius has NASCAR launch set to coincide with new year ThatsRacin.com – USA
… of NASCAR, making SIRIUS the exclusive satellite radio home of every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race …

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16328573.htm

There’s still room to run for over-40 drivers like Rudd CBS News – New York City,NY,USA
… will return to Robert Yates Racing in 2007, replacing Jarrett, another 50-year-old driver who landed a lucrative contract with Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing …

http://cbs.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/9893191

O’Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals Nightly Lineups Announced WhoWon.com – Lincoln,NE,USA
… A half dozen of the entered drivers have already captured the Golden Driller on at least one occasion, including 2002 winner Tony Stewart, 2005 victor Tracy …

http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?TrackID=843&StoryID=210122

Amateur Fishermen Win Inaugural Ryan Newman Foundation Celebrity … Racing Milestones – Norfolk,VA,USA
STATESVILLE, NC- NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart shared big fish stories with over 300 fisherman at the inaugural Ryan Newman Foundation …

http://www.racingmilestones.com/news/12282006_1.shtml

These ‘midgets’ are big stuff
Fort Wayne News Sentinel
What could possibly bring racing greats Tony Stewart and Sam Hornish Jr. to little ol’ Fort Wayne? …

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/16336106.htm

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Courtesy of Scene Daily

http://www.scenedaily.com

Top 30: Kyle Busch, 10th

http://www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22606411

Top 30: Stewart, 11th

http://www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22606412

Top 10 stories of 2006: No. 7
RCR Returns To Prominence
Since the death of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt in 2001, Richard Childress Racing had been on a steady decline, culminating in a winless season in 2004. The once-proud organization was shut out in the first two years of the Chase, unable to produce a top-10 team.

http://www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22606413

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Courtesy of That’s Racin’

http://www.thatsracin.com

The calm before the NASCAR storm

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16335968.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

http://www.bgnracing.com

In celebration of Frank Cicci Racing’s milestone 20th year in the NASCAR Busch Series, the team will hold a press conference in Washington DC on January 6th, 2007 to announce a sponsor for its # 34 car for the full 2007 season with driver Brian Conz of Livonia, Michigan. Brian will be participating in the Busch Series Rookie of the Year Challenge utilizing his considerable experience in the ARCA RE/MAX Series along with other racing divisions. FCR elatedly welcomes Brian and the new sponsor to the team and the NASCAR Busch Series. (FCR PR) (12-28-06)
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Next Event: Testing at Daytona International Speedway – 2006 Odd Car Owner Points – Jan. 19-21, 2006 Even Car Owner Points – Jan. 21-23
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Advertise your product or service here – reasonable rates!

Sponsor the Busch Series or CTS section of the Stock Car Gazette!

Contact Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net for all the details….

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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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Craftsman Truck Series banquet highlights to air on SPEED Friday
ThatsRacin.com – USA
SPEED will air a 90-minute special highlighting the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series banquet on Friday at 9 pm ET. SPEED, which …

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/16328777.htm

(Thanks, Kent!)
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com

http://www.truckseries.com

ThorSport Selects Allen to Drive No. 13 Chevy in 2007
Willie Allen has joined ThorSport Racing as driver of the No. 13 Chevrolet Silverado for ’07, the organization announced on Thursday. Several stock-car racing publications named Allen one of NASCAR’S hottest prospects in ’06. “It’s a dream come true for me to have an opportunity to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I’m excited to join the ThorSport Racing team,” said Allen.

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000094/009408.htm

Benson Ranks Third In Top-10 Moments at Michigan
As 2006 comes to a close, Michigan International Speedway has compiled a “Top 10 Moments of 2006″ list. Many race moments and community achievements are listed in what was truly an exciting year of racing for the 2-mile oval. Local Michigan native Johnny Benson won his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 60 starts by taking the checkered flag for the Con-way Freight 200 on June 17.

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000094/009407.htm

Schrader to Drive No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford in Bud Shootout
The United States Air Force has announced that they will be returning as both a primary and associate sponsor of the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team. Driver Ken Schrader will kick-off the 2007 Season by driving the No. 21 Air Force Ford Fusion in the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 10th.

http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000094/009405.htm

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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA

http://www.arcaracing.com

Toledo Storm Racing Night To Feature ARCA Race Cars
TOLEDO, OH (12-28-06)—The Toledo Storm hockey team and ARCA, Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway’s Racing Night promotion is gaining steam, with four race teams committing to display their racecars and a host of racers and officials planning to attend the Saturday night, January 6 game at the Toledo Sports Arena.
Read more… – http://www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4219/2/

Down the Road, with Mike Harmon
The last time we talked we were getting ready to go to the World Classics at Birmingham. We ran the exact same setup that we ran at the last race when we were running on a regular basis there in ’99. We qualified 14th and got up to 2nd about 2/3 of the way through the race at 100 laps. Some of the guys had pitted and we were just taking our time because that track will wear your tires out. We still had our tires in the pits, but, we broke a rocker arm and ruined the night. After that we got hit from the back and spun into the wall, so, that was the typical end to the 2006 season…like it’s been all year.
Read more… – http://www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4220/2/

ARCA By The ’06 Numbers
From Frank Kimmel’s record eighth national championship to James Harvey Hylton’s white flag tour, the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series season was a historic year in many respects. The series, headed toward its 55th year of competition, experienced its most competitive season on record, with 17 different race winners in 23 events, including 12 first time winners. And, since the proof is often in the numbers, here’s a look back at some of the stats that shaped the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
Read more… – http://www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4216/2/
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Memorable Quotes from the Hooters Pro Cup Season
Myrtle Beach, S.C.—The Hooters Pro Cup season was one full of on-track rivalries, heated confrontations and witty retorts.

As 2007 looms near, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable quotes of the 2006 season.

Read more – http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2004

Andrew Rogers Mounts New Five Star Body
Denver, N.C.-One of the biggest on-track changes for the 2007 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series will be the implementation of a composite body.

The composite body, which will be provided by Five Star Racecar Bodies, comes in a kit form and allows the team to install the pieces themselves as opposed to having a separate fabrication firm hang the new sheet metal.

According to Andrew Rogers, driver of the No. 18 Termidor/Aaron’s Rents/Forshaw Distribution Chevrolet, the new body will provide several advantages over the old-style, primarily metal body.

“I like the idea of the new composite body,” said Rogers at his Mike Rogers Racing shop in Denver, N.C., where he and his team are currently installing a composite body on last year’s racecar chassis. “On the old cars, a lot of guys learned how to ‘massage’ the bodies up, especially on the sides. The new style composite body will be the same for everyone and will allow the Hooters Cup officials to be able to police that a lot better. It will take the body variables out of it.”

Read more – http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2006

Leavitt Racing Components Relocates

http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2005

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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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Six Things That Will Improve the 2007 Season
by Carol Einarsson

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=208

Toyota’s Questionable Future
by Carol Einarsson

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=209

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/RG/122806.html

Online Voters Rank Earnhardt Jr. Among 2006 Overrated Athletes
by Rebecca Gladden

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/SS/122906.html

Say What? Classic Quotes From The 2006 Nextel Cup Season
by Sharon Sherwood

NASCAR News Rewind
Shelmerdine Gets Reprimand from Feds Edition

http://www.stockcarpitpass.com/inside20061229.html

Wrong Kind of Diversity-
Leilani Munter is Not Ready for the ARCA Series
By Dennis Michelsen – Last week Leilani Munter wrote an article on NASCAR.com talking about her recent test at Daytona International Speedway in an ARCA car. I was in shock! What has Munter done so far in stockcars to convince anyone that she is ready for Daytona? Last season she campaigned with great financial and technical backing in the ASA Late Model Series. Munter’s performance was less than stellar but now she gets a shot at the ultimate ARCA race at the world’s premier stockcar track. Why? Because she can bring the necessary sponsor dollars to the table! This is the wrong kind of diversity when someone gets promoted based on her gender and sponsor appeal rather than talent…

http://www.stockcarpitpass.com/inside20061228.html

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