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Rain! We’re near drought conditions here in central Kentucky, and it is raining this morning. One of my favorite ways to sleep is listening to rain hitting the roof.
We’ve got a bunch of NASCAR news collected for you, including news on the #10 Gilette-Evernham Motorsports car (new driver(s)!), a new home for Jack Sprague in the Craftsman Truck Series, and much more, right here in today’s edition of the Stock Car Gazette. |
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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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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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Rain! We’re near drought conditions here in central Kentucky, and it is raining this morning. One of my favorite ways to sleep is listening to rain hitting the roof.
We’d really appreciate it if those of you who do some online shopping would use some of the links/banners on the MotorSportsNews.Net site as a stepping-off point. Most of the advertising on our website is commission-based, where if you purchase something after clicking through from our website, we will receive a small commission. Others are click-based, such as the Google ads, where we receive a small amount if you click on one of those links. We are not allowed to “encourage” you to click those links, but we would definately appreciate it if you would patronize our advertisers. It helps us out, too, and allows us to send you the Stock Car Gazette.
We have affiliate arrangements with a bunch of advertisers. If you’re looking for something in particular, drop us a note and we’ll see if we’ve got a link to help you out.
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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Smith: No Regrets on ‘Going for it’ at Talladega
Question and Answer with Regan Smith on the most exciting 18th-place finish of the NASCAR season.
motorsportsnews.net/archives/1950
Stock Car Gazette for Tuesday, October 7, 2008
motorsportsnews.net/archives/1947
TV Times - Kansas Cup Ratings Up 10.7 Percent
motorsportsnews.net/archives/1945
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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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Courtesy of www.Catchfence.com
NASCAR Teleconference Transcript - Tony Stewart - www.catchfence.com/press/100708x.html
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Check out Racing Wrecks!
Check out the best of the Talladega wreck pics !!
www.racingwrecks.info
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Courtesy of Google Alerts
Leilani Munter Driver Profile
By Amanda
Leilani set the record for the highest qualifying effort for a female stock car driver in the history of the 1.5 mile Texas Motor Speedway when she qualified 4th for the First Convenience Bank 100 on June 12, 2004. Racing Goals: To race …
femaleracingnews.com/2008/10/07/leilani-munter-driver-profile/
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
Army Will Back Newman
Another piece of the Stewart-Haas Racing puzzle will be fit into place Thursday when the race team will unveil the U.S. Army as primary sponsor of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 car for next season. The announcement is scheduled to be made at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, site of this weekend’s Sprint Cup event. The Stewart-Haas organization now has both its Chevrolets sponsored for next season — no small feat in this economy — with Office Depot and Old Spice set to back the car of team co-owner Tony Stewart. It’s another setback for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which had the Army on its No. 8 car this season. DEI driver Paul Menard announced last week that he and his Menard’s sponsorship would be moving to Yates Racing for the 2009 campaign
GEM Fires Carpentier
Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced today that Mike Wallace will drive the No. 10 Dodge at Charlotte this weekend and A.J. Allmendinger will take over driving duties at Martinsville on Oct. 19 and for the remainder of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Wallace and Allmendinger replace Patrick Carpentier who drove the No. 10 in 24 races this season. Allmendinger, 26, is committed to driving the No. 00 this weekend at Charlotte. “We certainly appreciate all the effort that Patrick Carpentier made for us this year. But, our job is to put ourselves in a position to win races plus we’re striving to get the No. 10 into the top 35 in points. We feel A.J. gives us the best chance to do both,” said Mark McArdle, the team’s vice president and managing director of competition.
MWR To Hold Open House
Michael Waltrip Racing will host its inaugural Fan Appreciation Day at Raceworld USA from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 10 — The meet-and-greet with Michael Waltrip and the team’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide series drivers — David Reutimann, Michael McDowell and Josh Wise — will be held at at Michael Waltrip Racing, 20310 Chartwell Center Dr., Cornelius, N.C. 28031. “For years I envisioned building a fan-friendly, interactive facility that catered to fans where they could see all phases that a race team takes to build NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series Toyota Camrys,” Waltrip said. “A year and a half later, my vision operates as Raceworld USA on Exit 28 in Cornelius, North Carolina, and I want to personally invite supporters and fans of NASCAR to come see it. I have wanted to do this for a long time.” — To ensure fans receive time with all MWR drivers, 300 wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 9 and again at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10 at the HD Wheels Show Rig in front of Raceworld USA. Entrance to the Raceworld USA lobby area to obtain driver autographs is free. However, autographs are limited to the 300 fans receiving wristbands. ..
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Elliott back in the #21 at LMS: Bill Elliott, will be back behind the wheel of the Wood Brothers Racing #21 U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500 on October 11th. Elliott has 57 starts at the 1.5 mile quad-oval and two career wins in 1984 and 1987. He also holds four pole awards, 11 top-5 and 22 top-10 finishes at the track. Elliott will also be behind the wheel of the historic #21 for the rest of the season as the team looks to build on the progress it has made during the second half of the season.(Wood Brothers Racing PR), Marco Ambrose was scheduled to run the #21 at Texas and Phoenix, guess those plans changed when JTG Daughtey Racing signed with MWR for 2009.(10-8-2008)
#19 Stanley Dodge Painted Pink for the Bank of America 500: Elliott Sadler and the #19 Stanley Dodge are changing their look with a passionate pink paint scheme for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Oct. 11 in Charlotte. The pink paint scheme is in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Sadler, who races each week with a pink ribbon decal above the driver’s side door on the #19 Dodge, is excited for the opportunity to lend support to breast cancer awareness. “Last year my mother, Bell, was diagnosed with breast cancer, so this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart,” said Sadler. “We are fortunate that she was able to fight and is now on the road to recovery, but I’m excited to get involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help support breast cancer awareness and raise money for research to find a cure.” Stanley is making a $100,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in support of the initiative. Following the race weekend, all of Sadler’s uniform items are going up for auction with proceeds set to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “Stanley Tools is proud to be supporting breast cancer awareness and Susan G. Komen for the Cure,” said Rebecca Durham, Motorsports & Sponsorships Manager of Stanley Tools. “Elliott has told us how important breast cancer awareness is to him and his family, and Stanley Tools is equally as passionate about the cause. This is a big weekend for Elliott, Stanley Tools and Susan G. Komen for the Cure and we are thrilled to be lending our support.” The pink Stanley logo that appears on the #19 Dodge and on Sadler’s firesuit marks the first time in the company’s 165 year history that its logo will change to a color other than Stanley Yellow.(GEM PR), see images of the scheme on my #19 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2008) www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/19cup.htm
Penske Racing’s new-look Sprint Cup Series line-up of Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish, Jr., and David Stremme rolled through its 2009 punch list during today’s test session at Kentucky Speedway. Items on the agenda included a trial run of next season’s test rules as well as a shake down of the new Dodge race engine. “We have four or five different projects we’re working on. We didn’t feel like we tested that well at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last week, so we had to make some changes in our plans. We were going to go to the Indianapolis tire test, but instead we came here and decided to blend this test into the procedures for what’s going to happen next year. We didn’t know how many cars we were going to be able to get ready in time (for today), but next year you can have as many drivers as you want test. We just have to change seats and seat belts (in the cars.) We’re working on that to see how quick we can make that happen as well as comparing Sam’s car to my car. We’re also spending more time on the engines,” Busch said. “The more testing we can get (with the engine) the better. In race conditions it ran cool as far as water temperature, but the oil temperature was up around 250 degrees, so that was a little warm for normal circumstances. Maybe the engine has a bigger water cavity, we just need to get more miles on it to balance that out as well as measure its durability. It’s just like everything else; it takes time. If it were lightning in a bottle we’d have poured it in a long time ago,” the nine-year veteran said. Today’s extended track time also helped Busch and Hornish, Jr., learn more about their new teammate. “David’s been doing a great job for us testing our Car of Tomorrow (C.O.T.) here, at Nashville and even some short tracks, but he didn’t know what the set-ups were in the car. Now he’s seeing the set-ups, the numbers on what things are and it gives him a better feel - especially for the way that I drive and the way Sam is driving. David will be able to balance us both and check us both out. We have to have the best drivers surrounded by the best crew to get ahead of the curve. Right now, we’re just trying to get caught up to it,” Busch said.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(10-7-2008)
Charlotte Rookie Notes/Facts: #01-Regan Smith ]almost won the race] was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the October 5 AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Smith scored an 18th-place finish and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the ninth time in 2008. Smith leads #77-Sam Hornish Jr. by four points (190-186) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the October 11 Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Smith has led the Raybestos Rookie standings for 13 consecutive races dating back to Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Only two Raybestos Rookies have scored top-five finishes in the fall race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway since 1975: Ron Bouchard (fifth in 1981) and Jeff Gordon (fifth in 1993). Since 1975, only two Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions for the fall race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (1993) and Ward Burton (1994). Kasey Kahne holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the Bank of America 500 (since 1975). Kahne led the 2004 race four times for 207 of the 334 laps. The most Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap in the fall race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway are two in 1979 and again in 1994. 1994, John Andretti led twice for 30 laps and Ward Burton led once for one lap. In 1979, Dale Earnhardt led three times for 55 laps while Harry Gant held the top spot once covering seven laps.(Camp & Assoc/Raybestos), with Carpentier’s released from the #10 GEM ride and McDowell not in the #00 car, only #01-Smith and #77-Hornish are racing each week for the award. See the rookie standings, history, past roty’s, more notes on the race at my 2008 Rookies Page.(10-8-2008) www.jayski.com/stats/2008/roty2008.htm
Patrick Carpentier has been released from Gillett Evernham Motorsports, sources confirmed Tuesday. Carpentier, a Sprint Cup rookie and former open-wheel racer in Champ Car and the IndyCar Series, was the driver of the #10 Dodge for GEM. He could not be reached for comment. On his Web site, patcarpentier.ca, Carpentier wrote he got into an argument and skirmish Saturday with team director Mike Shiplett, who blamed him for failing to qualifying at Talladega. Dominique Fugere, motorsports writer for Le Journal de Montreal, reported Shiplett later apologized to Carpentier after the argument at Talladega. Carpentier already was a lame-duck at GEM, which announced earlier that Reed Sorenson [not Scott Riggs] would drive for the team in 2009. GEM officials have not said who will drive the car this weekend for the Sprint Cup race at Lowes Motor Speedway.(ESPN)
UPDATE 2: Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced today that Mike Wallace will drive the #10 Dodge at Charlotte this weekend and A.J. Allmendinger will take over driving duties at Martinsville on Oct. 19 and for the remainder of the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Wallace and Allmendinger replace Patrick Carpentier who drove the #10 in 24 races this season. Allmendinger, 26, is committed to driving the #00 this weekend at Charlotte. “I’m excited about this news,” said the California native. “GEM has great equipment and I’m confident we can take these final five races and get the #10 up in points. I know we have a lot of work to do, but we are going to give it our best shot. I’m looking forward to spending some time with Crew Chief Mike Shiplett and the guys starting at Martinsville.” Reed Sorenson will assume the driving duties of the #10 at the beginning of the 2009 season.(GEM PR)(10-7-2008)
NASCAR making progress with tires at Indy: Goodyear and NASCAR officials say tire wear has improved significantly during this week’s testing at Indianapolis. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said on Tuesday that cars in the tests were running at least 20 laps on Goodyear’s new tires, built using a compound similar to that used during the second race in Dover, Del., this year. Pemberton also did not appear overly concerned about tire problems during Sunday’s race in Talladega, Ala. Several drivers had blowouts during the race, which Pemberton attributed primarily to punctures.(Associated Press) Teams: been told the teams testing [13-14 teams] are: #1-Truex Jr./DEI, #5-Mears/HMS, #9-Kahne, #17-Kenseth, #20-Joe Gibbs Racing, #26-McMurray, #33-RCR, #41-Ganassi, #43-Labonte, #44-Reutimann/MWR, #84-Red Bull Racing; un-number white Ford and un-number gray HMS Chevy. Mark Martin tested, not sure which car he was in.
AND for more info on Goodyear’s tire tests, see my Goodyear Tire page.(10-7-2008) www.jayski.com/teams/tires-sponsor.htm
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Sprint Cup Series News & Notes - Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Get all you can. That’s this week’s mantra for Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, whose ranks were stirred last Sunday at unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway and whose opportunities for advancement are dwindling.
Full Story - www.race2win.net/wc/08/10/noteslms2.html
• Entry List - www.race2win.net/wc/08/race/lms2/el.html
• Weekend Schedule - www.race2win.net/wc/08/race/lms2/ws.html
• Chase for the Sprint Cup Notes - www.race2win.net/wc/08/race/lms2/cfc.html
• Raybestos Rookie Notes - www.race2win.net/wc/08/race/lms2/rrn.html
Numbers Game: Analyzing the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte
Because he shares a sponsor with the track, and because of his immense success there, Jimmie Johnson is the story when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Full Story - www.race2win.net/wc/08/10/nglms2.html
Logano Signs on to Compete in Bodine Bobsled Challenge
NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie Joey Logano is this year’s first official participant in the fourth annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge, presented by Whelen Engineering. The event returns to the two-time Winter Olympic village January 2-5, 2009 at the Olympic Sports Complex.
Full Story - www.race2win.net/wc/08/10/jlbbc.html
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
www.thatsracin.com
Carpentier out for Gillett Evernham Motosports
The decision comes after Carpentier and team director Mike Shiplett had a disagreement in the garage at Talladega.
more - www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/19607.html
NASCAR making progress with tires at Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — Goodyear and NASCAR officials say tire wear has improved significantly during this week’s testing at Indianapolis.
more - www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/19598.html
Race week events, driver appearances - www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/19591.html
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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David Gilliland will sign autographs at the Ford Racing merchandise trailer on Saturday, October 11th at 3:00 p.m.
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Travis Kvapil will sign autographs at the Ford Racing merchandise trailer on Saturday, October 11th at 3:00 p.m.
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Meet the Driver … Kevin Harvick will sign autographs at the Dirt Track @ LMS on Wed., Oct. 9 from 5-6 p.m. on behalf of Vlasic. A total of 300 tickets will be distributed to fans.
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From the Driver’s Seat to the Owner’s Suite … Clint Bowyer Racing will compete Wednesday night when Shannon Babb, along with the nation’s top dirt late model racers, will remove their tops to kick off Bank of America 500 Week during the Armour Vienna Sausage Southern Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The first topless event in World of Outlaws Late Model Series history features a unique format that could result in the winner taking home $30,000. The term “topless” refers to the fact that each dirt late model must compete without its fiberglass top, giving fans a better view of the drivers as they navigate the lightning-fast four-tenths-mile oval. The top-five finishers in each of the four heat races advance directly to the feature and a unique draw will determine the starting lineup. If the driver who wins the 50-lap finale submitted an official entry form prior to Sept. 13, he will receive the $10,000 first-place prize along with an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by his starting position
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The Dodge R6P8 engine made its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger driven by Kurt Busch. Penske Racing and other Dodge teams are expected to use the engine at other events this year. These are steps toward full implementation in 2009, well ahead of the 2010 mandate from NASCAR.
DID YOU KNOW?
David Pearson started from the pole 11 consecutive races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway driving the Wood Brothers entry (1973-78). Add the two poles by Neil Bonnett in 1979, the Wood Brothers started first 13 consecutive races.
The land LMS now occupies was the site of a working plantation during the Civil War.
The first six fall races (1960-65) were 400-mile events.
The track was repaved mid-season in 1994 and again before the 2006 season.
The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999.
The 2003 fall race was the first race at LMS to be run completely at night.
On May 26, 2006, the Pixar movie Cars premiered at the speedway, on several monster screens.
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Sign Here, Please … On behalf of AT&T, Jeff Burton will visit the AT&T retail store in Huntersville, N.C., located at 9932 Knockando Lane, Suite 210, on Wed., Oct. 8. The two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner will sign autographs from 5-7 p.m. and visit with store employees.
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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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WOW…LOWE’S NATIONWIDE ENTRY LIST BOASTS 53 RACECARS
One of the longest entry lists of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been posted for the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, with 53 cars entered for Friday night’s race. Twelve Sprint Cup drivers are entered, …
captainthunderracing.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6988
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This is a Test … Following Friday night’s race, members of RCR’s Nationwide Series teams will participate in NASCAR’s second test of its anticipated Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow on Oct. 13-14. Wimmer and Stephen Leicht are scheduled to get behind the wheel during the two-day test.
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
100th start for Davis: Kertus Davis will attempts to make his 100th series start Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. His first start came at Nazareth in 2001. His career best finish was a 10th place at Talladega in 2005.(10-7-2008)
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure to sponsor Shepherd at Lowe’s Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. will sponsor #89-Morgan Shepherd’s Nationwide Series entry Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Faith Motorsports announced. Lagina Plumbing, a Wisconsin-based plumbing contractor, will also join Faith Motorsports as an associate sponsor for Friday night’s race.(Faith Motorsports PR)(10-7-2008)
Allgaier to make series debut at Charlotte: Justin Allgaier will be making his debut in the #12 Penske Truck Rental Dodge for Penske Racing, his first start ever in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and his first race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Allgaier will drive a limited Nationwide Series schedule in 2008 and 2009.(Penske Racing PR)(10-7-2008)
Last race of the year for Burton: This weekend’s race is the last of 12 that Jeff Burton is scheduled to drive the #29 Holiday Inn Chevy this season. In 11 starts, he has posted three top-five and six top-10 finishes.(RCR PR)(10-7-2008)
#01 team gets associate sponsor for Lowes: Danny Efland and the #01 JD Motorsports Nationwide Team announces associate sponsorship for the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. SHRED 360 is committed to excellence in every degree of the shredding market. They provide the quickest and most secure means of destroying confidential materials in their state-of-the-art mobile shredding truck, providing destruction at home or office.(Johnny Davis PR)(10-7-2008)
Special Scheme for McClure at Charlotte: Eric McClure’s #24 Chevy will be sporting an all-pink paint scheme for the Dollar General 300 as Hefty One Zip supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation.(Eric McClure PR), see an image of the car on my #24 team paint schemes page.(10-7-2008)
Dollar General on 2 Braun cars at Charlotte: This weekend Dollar General will serve as primary sponsor of the #32, piloted by Brian Vickers, and the #10 driven by Denny Hamlin.(Braun Racing PR)(10-7-2008)
Rookie Notes for Charlotte:
…Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Clauson was credited with a 21st-place finish and earned Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the sixth time this season.
…Landon Cassill leads Bryan Clauson by one point (175-174) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
…David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Dollar General 300, claiming a sixth -place finish.
…Greg Biffle is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the fall race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway since the program was created in 1989 (19 races). Biffle won the 2001 race over Jason Keller in a race that finished under caution. Biffle led the race twice for 11 laps.(Raybestos PR)(10-7-2008)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
www.TheHotLap.com
Danny Efland, driver of the #01 ‘Shred 360′ Johnny Davis Motorsports Chevy will continue meeting fans Thrusday night at Charlotte. Danny takes the Ruff & Tuff golf cart out among the campers to meet fans and sign autographs on the night before races. “The fans are what make it all possible” said Danny, “and I would like to meet as many as I can.” Look for the blue golf cart at Charlotte! See you at the races! (Team PR)
Joey Logano will make his 15th career Nationwide Series start since turning the requisite 18 years of age in May, and it will be his first race of any kind on the 1.5-mile tri-oval at Lowe’s, where he’s scored numerous wins en route to championships in Bandoleros and Legends cars on the shorter layout, and where in 2002 he first met the man who ultimately proclaimed him “The Real Deal” – none other than NASCAR veteran Mark Martin, a 10-time winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series competition at LMS.Joey Logano, driver of the No. 20 Farm Bureau Insurance NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry at Lowe’s Motor Speedway:“I ran around in the same circles as his son, Matt, when we were running Bandoleros and Legends cars in the Summer Shootouts at Atlanta and Charlotte. We usually parked a few trailers away from each other and mingled with the same people but we never actually talked for the longest time. Finally, when I won the Legends Pro Nationals (in 2002), Mark came up and said hello and it basically took off from there. It was pretty cool. We would talk about all sorts of things whenever we’d run into each other. I really learned a lot from him when he let me race his FASCAR truck a few years ago. Naturally, I admire him a lot and I really appreciate all the cool things he’s said about me.”(TSC) (10-07-08)
No. 29 driver-JEFF BURTON QUOTES: You are racing under the lights at LMS. Are you a fan of night racing?“I think night racing is fun and the crowd enjoys it. There is a different rhythm with the crowd at night. It’s an enjoyable time and I think it raises the excitement a little.” Why is Charlotte one of the races you picked to race?“If you look at the tracks that I race in the Nationwide Series, they tend to be newer tracks in design or tracks that have had a lot of tire changes and I want to understand that race track. Lowe’s Motor Speedway has been sitting there for years but the configuration that is in place now hasn’t been. They continue to change the tire we run at Charlotte so I picked this race because I want to understand how the groove changes and when to go to the top or bottom. I want to continue to learn.” Following Friday night’s race, members of RCR’s Nationwide Series teams will participate in NASCAR’s second test of its anticipated Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow on Oct. 13-14. Wimmer and Stephen Leicht are scheduled to get behind the wheel during the two-day test. (RCR) (10-07-08)
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: DJRT), the world’s fastest racing school, will sponsor Morgan Shepherd’s Nationwide Series entry Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Faith Motorsports announced October 7.The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure logos will be displayed on the upper main quarter panels and rear deck lid of Shepherd’s #89 Racing With Jesus Dodge Charger throughout the weekend. Lagina Plumbing, a Wisconsin-based plumbing contractor, will also join Faith Motorsports as an associate sponsor for Friday night’s race. Lagina, a frequent associate sponsor of the team during the 2008 season, will have its logos displayed in front of the rear tires on the race car. Read more (FM) (10-07-08) thehotlap.com/modules.php?name=Press_Releases&op=view&rid=2600
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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
Hermie Sadler returns to the series at Martinsville: Hermie Sadler will temporarily work double duty as a NASCAR analyst for SPEED and DIRECTV and as a Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling personality to make a return to racing at the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event October 18 at Martinsville Speedway. DIRECTV will be teaming up with TNA Wrestling as sponsors for Sadler’s Chevy which will carry the #48 for this event. The race will be Sadler’s first start since running in the Kroger 200 at Martinsville one year ago.(Hermie Sadler PR)(10-8-2008)
Hornish to run truck race at Martinsville: Sam Hornish is scheduled to run the Martinsville truck race on October 18th in preparation for the Cup race on Sunday. Hornish will be in the #4 truck in conjunction with Bobby Hamilton Racing-VA. Chris Carrier will serve as his crew chief for this race on behalf of Penske.(Penske Racing PR)(10-7-2008)
NCTS ratings hit million household mark: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Talladega broke the million-household mark at its peak and continued a strong, season-long trend of NCTS ratings increases on SPEED. The event scored an average Nielsen Household Rating of 1.11 (816,000 households), an 18-percent increase from last year. Race coverage peaked at 1.36 (1 million households), a 15-percent increase over last year’s peak of 1.18. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events on SPEED have enjoyed double-digit Nielsen Ratings increases in 10 of the last 14 races.(SPEED/TV PR)(10-7-2008)
A change on the #2 truck? UPDATE 3 Sprague back to Wyler: Word around the Craftsman Truck Series garage was that Jack Sprague could be out at Kevin Harvick Inc. at the end of the season. Former motocross rider and current Camping World East Series driver Ricky Carmichael was floated as a possible replacement.(TheNascarInsiders.com)(9-14-2008)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced that driver Jack Sprague has been released from the #2 Chevry Silverado. KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick will assume driving duties of the #2 Chevy for the upcoming Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway on October 18th. Details on the driver lineup for the remainder of the season will be announced at a later date. “The performance of the #2 team was not up to either Jack or KHI’s standards,” said Kevin Harvick, co-owner of Kevin Harvick Inc. “My main goal now is to prepare the team to run for a championship in 2009. I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel in Martinsville. It should be a lot of fun.”(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(10-6-2008)
UPDATE 2 More: Sprague sat eighth in points, 489 behind Hornaday, after his second consecutive DNF Saturday at Talladega, Ala. He crashed with 24 laps to go at the superspeedway and finished 27th, his second-worst finish of the season, two weeks after crashing out in 26th at Las Vegas. “We didn’t have the results. It was no one thing, but every week it was something. It’s been a miserable year for everybody involved,” Sprague said. “It’s just getting to the point where enough’s enough. I’ve got nothing bad to say, I have a lot of respect for Kevin and what he’s built there, just sometimes it doesn’t work.” Sprague, 44, questioned the timing of the decision with five races remaining but said he understood the team’s need to put the #2 in a position to land sponsorship for next season with current sponsor American Commercial Lines not expected to return. Whether he has made his final start in the Trucks remains to be seen. “I’ve contemplated retirement. I’ve had a very, very rough year and a half,” he said. “This business has a lot of ups and downs, the downs are very tough to take when you want to win as bad as I do.”(ESPN.com)(10-6-2008)
UPDATE 3: Wyler Racing announced that Jack Sprague will pilot the #60 Wyler Racing Toyota for the remainder of the 2008 season. Sprague replaces Terry Cook who has been released after competing in the first 20 races of the season for the team. While this reunion is currently only for the remaining races in the 2008 season, efforts are underway to secure sponsorship for the 2009 season that would allow this combination to remain intact.(Wyler Racing PR)(10-7-2008)
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
www.truckseries.com
SPEED Hits Million Household Mark at Talladega
10-07-2008 | TruckSeries.com Report
SPEED Hits Million Household Mark at Talladega The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Talladega broke the million-household mark at its peak and continued a strong, season-long trend of NCTS ratings increases on SPEED. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events on SPEED have enjoyed double-digit Nielsen Ratings increases in 10 of the last 14 races.
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000019/001932.htm
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
www.arcaracing.com
Simple Raganomics: Don’t Forget Your Roots; Cup Star Tests at Toledo for Sunday’s Hantz Group 200
TOLEDO OH (10-7-08) - David Ragan charged from 43rd to 27th on the first lap of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this past Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.
[Read More] - www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=7304
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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/CA/100808.html
Talladega ~ The Real Wild Card
by Chuck Abrams
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/LV/100808.html
NASCAR Should Mandate “Driving Like An Idiot” Lights On The Dash
by Larry Van Zandt
Long Island Press
What’s Your 20? Press Sprint Cup Rankings
by Josh Stewart
www.longislandpress.com/main.asp?SectionID=20&SubSectionID=201&ArticleID=16711&TM=84227.48
RaceTalkRadio.com:
Blocking and Booting - Wednesday Whining by Dennis Michelsen
www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id198.htm
The Nascar Insiders
Recession Proof? We’ll See
There is an old adage that sports are recession proof. Whether or not that is true is a big topic of debate in sports business right now.
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/414526259/
Craftsman Truck Teams Steamed At SPEED
It certainly is a good thing that the Craftsman Truck Series teams have the weekend off. Maybe, it will give them a chance to cool down. This past weekend, the NCTS ran on Saturday at Talladega.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/10/craftsman-truck-teams-steamed-at-speed.html
NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Talladega - by Jeffrey Boswell
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson avoided the usual pitfalls of a Talladega race, including huge wrecks and flying debris, to finish ninth, well ahead of his closest competitors in the Chase, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, who wrecked in the second “big one.” Johnson now leads Edwards by 72 points and Biffle by 77
www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/08/100808Boswell.asp
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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
Wed Oct 8
12:00 am This Week in NASCAR SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
Thu Oct 9
12:00 am This Week in NASCAR SPEED
12:00 pm NSCS Talladega Replay SPEED
1:00 pm 1983 Carolina 500 ESPNC
3:30 pm NSCS Talladega Replay HDNet
5:30 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
6:00 pm NNS Charlotte Practice ESPN2
7:00 pm NSCS Charlotte Pole Qualifying ESPN2
7:00 pm NSCS Charlotte Pole Qualifying ESPNC
Fri Oct 10
12:00 pm Racing Across America Martinsville SPEED
1:30 pm NASCAR Confidential SPEED
2:30 pm NASCAR Live SPEED
3:00 pm NNS Charlotte Pole Qualifying ESPN2
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
6:30 pm NSCS Charlotte Practice ESPN2
7:30 pm NNS Countdown ESPN2
8:00 pm NNS: Charlotte Dollar General 300
11:00 pm Trackside at Charlotte SPEED
11:00 pm NSCS Charlotte Practice ESPN2
Jayski does not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, www.speedtv.com/schedule/
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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The Stock Car Gazette
Copyright 2002-2008 by MotorSportsNews.Net
All Rights Reserved
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Car Insurance Acura NSX for sale
