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There’s LOTS to pass on to you today… let’s get to it.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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“Trackside” Blunder… Whose Head Will Roll?
by: Steve Langley
The TV program “Trackside” returned to the air for the season premier on Monday evening on Speed and viewers got more than they expected when the show returned from the first commercial. Read the rest at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/2607
Read more of Steve’s columns at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/steves-stuff
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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Legendary Petty Name Continues as Newly-Formed Richard Petty Motorsports
http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/2597
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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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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of Google Alerts
Richard Petty’s name survives team merger
The Associated Press
Petty, stock car’s king and at 71 still the most recognizable face in racing, will have a presence under a rebranding of the new team created by the merger …
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht_UOoGZdQ9J9HJjo4y5ZAOXnXhAD95QFD2O0
Transcript | NASCAR’s Q&A with Michael Waltrip
ThatsRacin.com – USA
I remember vividly in 1985, however many years ago that was, me and a couple of my buddies working on Dick Bahre’s race car getting ready to come to Daytona …
http://www.thatsracin.com/news/story/21780.html
Riggs to drive for Baldwin’s new Cup team
ThatsRacin.com – USA
Tony Stewart may be a new car owner in the Sprint Cup Series, but he plans to drive for another owner in the Feb. 14 Nationwide Series opener at Daytona …
http://www.thatsracin.com/news/story/21792.html
NASCAR Sprint Media Tour gets under way amid a somber mood
al.com – Birmingham,AL,USA
The annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour gets under way today here in Concord, NC, just east of Charlotte and just down the road from Lowe’s Motor Speedway. …
http://blog.al.com/blogoftomorrow/2009/01/nascar_sprint_media_tour_gets.html
Media Tour Preview: Richard Petty Motorsports
FOXSports.com – USA
From Monday through Thursday, we will provide an inside look at several NASCAR Sprint Cup teams taking part in the tour, including expert analysis from …
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/9094474/Media-Tour-Preview:-Richard-Petty-Motorsports
Quick hits from NASCAR media tour | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com
A few news items and notes # It’s no surprise but the former Gillett Evernham Motorsports team will be called Richard Petty Motorsports — RPM. As a priviate company, team officials would not reveal the ownership structure and how much …
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/quick-hits-nascar-media-tour
Double-duty at Daytona for Larry Foyt
Rotoworld.com – USA
Larry Foyt has picked up rides in the season openers at Daytona in both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events. Larry Foyt will drive for …
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NAS&id=106&line=8967&spln=1
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
EGR To Run Three Teams
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates confirmed late Tuesday that it will campaign full-time Chevrolets for Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr. and Aric Almirola in 2009, with a fourth car entered for the Daytona 500. No sponsor has been announced for Almirola’s No. 8 car, nor has a driver been picked for the fourth car, according to EGR President Steve Lauletta, who gave an impromptu press briefing late Tuesday during the Sprint Cup Media Tour Presented by Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Target Reunites With Montoya
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today they have moved their long-time partner Target to the No. 42 car of Juan Pablo Montoya. It is a reunion for Target and Montoya as he paired with Target and Chip Ganassi Racing back in 1999 and 2000 during his early open-wheel days when he took the American motorsports world by storm, earning a series championship and an Indianapolis 500 crown. The Colombia native will make his “re-debut” in Target red on Jan. 24 when he competes in his third consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona in the No. 01 TELMEX car. He and his teammates have won the last two races and Ganassi’s teams have won the prestigious endurance race an unprecedented three consecutive years since 2006.
Bobby Allison Named Grand Marshal For Coke 600
Fans will be witness to history even before the green flag drops on the 50th Coca-Cola 600, as Coca-Cola and Lowe’s Motor Speedway pay tribute to the legends who have made the race one of NASCAR’s crown jewels over the last half century. Thrilling memories will be on display as every former winner of the Coca-Cola 600 is honored during a special celebration prior to the milestone 50th running of NASCAR’s longest race. Serving as Grand Marshal – and representing all 26 drivers who have taken the checkered flag at the Coca-Cola 600 – will be NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, a three-time winner of the race (1971, 1981 and 1984).
Montgomery Gentry Concert At All-Star Race
Grammy-nominated and country music award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry will perform a pre-race concert presented by Jim Beam for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Saturday night, May 16, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The duo will perform a one-hour afternoon concert in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission to the concert is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
GEM Renamed Richard Petty Motorsports
Richard Petty’s name will remain active in NASCAR under a rebranding of the new team created by the merger of his organization with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The new team will be called Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), capitalizing on the seven-time champion’s marketability. The two race teams agreed to merge earlier this month in a partnership that keeps the sponsor-strapped Pettys in racing. Reed Sorenson will drive the famed No. 43 Dodge for RPM this season. “This begins the next great chapter for the Petty name in NASCAR,” Petty said. “It was very important to us, not only to see the Petty name out on the race track, but also to be competitive and get all of our cars back into Victory Lane and competing for Sprint Cup Series championships on a regular basis.” Richard Petty Motorsports will field four cars in 2009: Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 and Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 will join Sorenson in the 43 for full seasons; A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44 Dodge in a limited schedule.
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Evernham, Kyle Petty take backseat on merged team: Ray Evernham and Kyle Petty are unlikely to have significant roles — if any — in the newly formed Richard Petty Motorsports. The team was created earlier this month when Petty Enterprises merged its sponsor-strapped organization with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The new team name, RPM, was announced Monday. The elder Petty said Monday that Evernham, who sold controlling interest of Evernham Motorsports to the Gillett family in August 2007 and has acted since as a consultant, will continue in that capacity. Kyle Petty, who has been cutting back on his driving, will continue to do part-time work on TV and some sports car racing. “He’s been working his way out of the Cup situation,” Richard said. “As we go along in our process, from time to time we might want him to run a race or two.” The elder Petty, the seven-time Cup champion and one of the sport’s most recognizable names, said his role in the new team won’t be much different than what it has been. “I’m going to basically be doing the same thing I’ve been doing for the last eight or 10 years; nothing, as much as I can,” Petty said, drawing a laugh from the crowd at the NASCAR media tour. “I’ll just (be) doing the Richard Petty thing.”(Associated Press/ESPN)(1-21-2009)
Bires to attempt Daytona 500: Kelly Bires will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut in the Daytona 500 next month, but he probably won’t be too busy after that. On a week when he wrapped up a deal for the biggest race of his life, Bires also learned that he no longer has the promise of any Nationwide Series races with JTG Daugherty Racing. Michael McDowell brought sponsorship for the first 16 races, Bires said. Bires could race in the second half of the year if the team finds money, but he also is free to pursue other opportunities. Bires will drive for #51 Blackjack Racing, a new, part-time team out of the ARCA series, at Daytona. The car is an ex-Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge that became expendible when that team merged with DEI and switched to Chevrolets. “We could go there and run like crap, or we could go and run well and surprise a lot of people,” Bires said. “Anything beyond making the show is an added bonus. If we make the race, we’ll probably get more publicity out of that than I did out of a whole year and a half in the Nationwide Series.” Blackjack plans a limited schedule for its regular driver, Dexter Bean, but with only one NASCAR short-track race to his credit, Bean has not been approved by NASCAR to race on a superspeedway.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(1-21-2009)
Shelmerdine plans to attempt all Cup races: hearing Kirk Shelmerdine and several partners have bought some of the Toyotas campaigned last year by #22 Bill Davis Racing and are trying to put a plan in place to run all the Sprint Cup races. Bill Davis Racing was bought by Triad Racing Technologies and supposedly they will not run any races in 2009.(1-21-2009)
Writers David Poole, Mike Hembree awarded by NMPA: A pair of veteran racing writers have received top honors from the National Motorsports Press Association for their work in 2008. David Poole of The Charlotte Observer and Mike Hembree of NASCAR Scene were announced as the 2008 George Cunningham Award winners in the NMPA’s meetings at Concord, N.C. Poole’s feature story about a Kentucky girl’s relationship with Dale Earnhardt, headlined “Wessa’s lucky penny,” along with columns about track owner Bruton Smith, the 50th anniversary of Petty Enterprises and other topics, were cited in the daily newspaper/Internet division. Poole also won the Cunningham award in 2001, ’05 and 2006. Hembree’s recognition came for his work in the the non-daily paper division. He also took the honor last year and three other times (1992, ’95 and 2002) while working at the Greenville (SC) News.(Charlotte Observer)(1-21-2009)
National Guard to sponsor Jeff Gordon? UPDATE 8 races: hearing that Jeff Gordon will be driving a National Guard scheme on the #24 Chevy in eight races in 2009, starting at Atlanta in March, have heard it will NOT effect the National Guard sponsorship of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(11-23-2008) UPDATE: This season, Gordon and the #24 team will help bring awareness to the National Guard’s community initiatives, such as the National Guard Youth Challenge, Active First, College First, Path to Honor and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The programs will be showcased on the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevy in eight races this season: March 8 at Atlanta; April 5 at Texas; May 9 at Darlington; June 14 at Michigan; July 11 at Chicagoland; Sept. 12 at Richmond; Sept. 20 at New Hampshire and Oct. 25 at Martinsville.(HMS PR), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(1-21-2009)
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/24cup.htm
Kvapil gets new crew chief: Despite several changes at Yates Racing, #28-Travis Kvapil is set to return behind the wheel for the organization. Kvapil has been confirmed for at least five Sprint Cup Series races in the #28 Yates Ford in 2009. Former Ford field manager Ben Leslie will serve as Kvapil’s crew chief this season.(FoxSports)(1-21-2009)
Target to sponsor Montoya, 3 cars for EGR UPDATE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced they have moved their long-time partner Target to the #42 car of Juan Pablo Montoya. It is a reunion for Target and Montoya as he paired with Target and Chip Ganassi Racing back in 1999 and 2000 during his early open-wheel days when he took the American motorsports world by storm, earning a series championship and an Indianapolis 500 crown. The Colombia native will make his “re-debut” in Target red on Jan. 24 when he competes in his third consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona in the #01 TELMEX car. He and his teammates have won the last two races and Ganassi’s teams have won the prestigious endurance race an unprecedented three consecutive years since 2006.
Target Celebrates 20th Season with Ganassi: The team’s partnership with Target continues to rank as one of the longest relationships in motorsports. Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and that same year established a partnership with Target. Today, Target remains the only full-time sponsor in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and the IndyCar Series. With the addition of Montoya and along with his IndyCar Series teammates Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Team Target now sports three drivers that have all won open-wheel championships and the Indianapolis 500.
Chip Ganassi, Managing Partner: “I am looking forward to reuniting Target and Montoya. They had quite a bit of success in their last stint together and to add Juan to a Team Target that already has Dixon and Franchitti in the IndyCar Series is going to be great for them. Target is a premium full-season sponsor and Montoya is a premium driver and putting them together is the right thing to do for everyone. There is little in my racing career I am more proud of than my team’s partnership with Target. We will be entering our 20th season with Target in 2009 and we could not be happier with adding Montoya to the Target mix. Juan and the whole 42 team did a lot of great things both on and off the track for Texaco/Havoline and Wrigley’s last year but aligning Juan and Target was the best move for our organization.”(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)
AND Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates confirmed late Tuesday that it will campaign full-time Chevy for Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr. and Aric Almirola in 2009, with a fourth car entered for the Daytona 500. No sponsor has been announced for Almirola’s #8 car, nor has a driver been picked for the fourth car [the #41], according to EGR President Steve Lauletta, who gave an impromptu press briefing late Tuesday during the Sprint Cup Media Tour Presented by Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Target will sponsor Montoya in the #42, with former co-primary Wrigley’s taking on a role as associate sponsor, Lauletta said. Bass Pros Shops will sponsor the #1 of Truex. “We kind of get the best of both worlds putting our 20-year relationship with Target on Juan. He won the Indy 500 with them before and then Wrigley’s can still continue to do their NASCAR programming around Juan and remain with the team.” As far as Almirola’s car, Lauletta said, “We haven’t announced sponsorship programming for that, but we will here pretty soon. And then our plan is to run a fourth car at the Daytona 500. We’re working on some opportunities with that, and again we’ll announce that at a later date.” With the fourth car, its future is contingent on sponsorship. “If we can continue to run the fourth car past Daytona, we’re going to attempt to do that,” said Lauletta. “But as of right now, the plan is Daytona.”(SPEED)(1-20-2009)
UPDATE: Lauletta made official that longtime sponsor Target is moving from the #41 car without a driver to the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya. The 42 had sponsorship for only half the season with Wrigley’s, which will remain an associate sponsor. Lauletta said the #1 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. is sponsored for most of the season by Bass Pro Shops and that the company will extend that through the season if other sponsorship being sought falls through. He said multiple sponsors for the #8 of Aric Almirola would be announced soon along with sponsorship for the fourth car for at least the Daytona 500. There are several candidates to drive the fourth car, which will continue past the first race if sponsorship can be found. All four car numbers finished in the top 35 in points last season and will be guaranteed a spot in the 500. While the organization still utilizes the old DEI shop in Mooresville, N.C., for its seven-post machine and other technology, most of the work is being done out of Ganassi’s shop in Concord, N.C. Ganassi has shut down its engine operation and the team is using engines provided by Earnhardt Childress Racing.(ESPN)(1-21-2009)
2009 Schemes: added more 2009 schemes including #96 Ask.com, #07 Jack Daniel’s, #29 Pennzoil, #31 Caterpillar and #33 Cheerios to the Paint Scheme Gallery and/or 2009 Cup Schemes page.
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009cup.htm
Mountain Dew scheme for Dale Jr: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to run a Mountain Dew paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9th. See an image on my #88 Team Schemes page.(1-20-2009)
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/88cup.htm
Skinner to run for R3 Motorsports at Daytona: R3 Motorsports announced on Tuesday that Mike Skinner will attempt to qualify its #23 Chevy into the Daytona 500 this season. Crew chief Slugger Labbe will oversee the team. The former Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) champion drove the #5 Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing last season. R3 team owner Rob Fuller says the team plans to run the first five races of the season and continue the schedule on a race-to-race basis depending on its success.(FoxSports)(1-20-2009)
Search Engine, Ask.com, Clarifies NASCAR Partnership: Search engine, Ask.com, and operating business of IAC, has issued clarification with regard to its recent announcement concerning the Hall of Fame Racing Agreement. The arrangement involves Ask as the primary sponsor of the #96 Ask Ford in the Sprint Cup Series. Mary Osako, SVP Worldwide Communications at Ask.com remarked, ”To clarify, Ask.com will be the primary sponsor on the #96 car in 18 of the first 21 races, but the overall agreement with Hall of Fame Racing entails the purchase of primary sponsorship rights to 29 races in total for the 2009 season. We apologize for any confusion.”(Hosting News)(1-21-2009)
No more Tradin’ Paint: Speed Channel will not bring back the show “Tradin Paint,’’ the show that featured John Roberts, Kyle Petty and a journalist discussing some of the issues of the day. The show will be replaced with what sounds like a game show based on NASCAR trivia for fans at the track. Roberts and Petty will remain with the show.(Virginian Pilot)(1-20-2009)
Nationwide announces 2009 marketing campaign, “Dash 4 Cash”, and ESPN “Driver Pick ‘Em’ game”: Nationwide Insurance announced at NASCAR Nationwide Series media day that NASCAR racing superstar, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his company JR Motorsports will be featured in a new marketing campaign that will begin in February. The company also introduced other activities related to the sponsorship, including the Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash, which involves an increased winner’s purse at four Nationwide Series races, and the Nationwide Series ESPN ‘Driver Pick ‘Em’ game presented by Nationwide Insurance, a weekly interactive competition for cash prizes that will be available on ESPN.com. Nationwide’s partnership with Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports, the company he owns that fields Nationwide Series teams, will include TV and radio advertising. In the ads, Earnhardt Jr. talks about his family’s 30-year history with Nationwide. Earnhardt Jr, is a current Nationwide customer – as are many other members of his family. The campaign will also involve personal appearances with Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports driver, Brad Keselowski. Nationwide has created an interactive micro site, nationwide.com/dalejr, which will feature behind the scenes videos and photos from the recent ad shoot. The final ads will be available on this site in mid-February. The campaign is a departure from previous Nationwide ads featuring celebrities. Despite the obvious opportunity for a racing pun, the ad does not include the company’s famous Life Comes at You Fast line and is not intended to be humorous. It’s framed as a customer testimonial, and true story from a family with one of the richest traditions in NASCAR.
Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash: Nationwide also introduced the ‘Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash’ that will add $25,000 to the winner’s purse at the 2009 Nationwide Series races at Nashville Superspeedway, Kentucky Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Memphis Motorsports Park. Drivers eligible for this competition include full-time Nationwide Series drivers and series regulars who are not full-time drivers on the Sprint Cup Series. If a driver who is not eligible wins one of the races, prize money will be rolled over to the next race in the competition. The program also includes a $50,000 season-end bonus to the eligible driver with the highest points total over the four races. “We wanted to provide some additional support for drivers on our series,” said Aman. “We also hope that these bonuses encourage competition and contribute to more exciting racing for the fans.”
ESPN ‘Driver Pick ‘Em’ presented by Nationwide Insurance: The Nationwide ‘Driver Pick’ Em’ contest is an interactive weekly contest on ESPN.com. Fans can log-in weekly to select the winners of 10 head-to-head match-ups for each Nationwide Series races. The contest will include cash prizes for weekly and season-long winners.(Nationwide PR)(1-20-2009)
New Dodge Noses for 2009: NASCAR has approved a new nose for the 2009 Dodge Chargers, which should help the cars perform better on the so-called intermediate tracks of 1.5 to 2 miles in length. Those tracks, which make up nearly half of the Cup schedule, were the clear weak points for Dodge teams last year. “It’s very subtle changes to the nose,” said Penske Racing’s Roy McCauley, crew chief of the #12 Dodge Charger driven by David Stremme. “In fact, if you just took a quick glance at it, you might even miss it — some changes in the line structure around the headlight doors and things like that.”(SPEEDtv.com)(1-20-2009)
Many sponsors for #43, #44: Richard Petty Racing’s new Executive Director of Racing Operations Ronnie Loomis says he expects both #44-A.J. Allmendinger and #43-Reed Sorenson to sport a number of different sponsors on their cars’ quarterpanels this season. Robbie Loomis told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway, “AJ will start the season with Valvoline on the #44 Dodge for the Daytona 500, and we’ll likely have multiple sponsors on both it and the #43 this season. We’d all love to sign a $30-million sponsor for each car, but the reality is that we’ll probably have a series of smaller backers.”(Sirius Speedway), see images on my #43 Team Schemes and #44 Team Schemes pages.(1-20-2009)
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/43cup.htm
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/44cup.htm
Verizon will fully fund the #12 Sprint Cup car of Penske Racing this season but the company’s logo and name will not be allowed on the paint scheme. “The [Cup] car will be identified and branded as the Penske Dodge Charger,” said Walt Czarnecki, the executive vice president of Penske Corporation. That means David Stremme, who replaces Ryan Newman in the #12, could find himself promoting Verizon even though the name can’t be on the car, thanks to a 2004 ruling after Nextel became the top series sponsor (it was since become Sprint). That ruling allowed existing wireless communication companies with teams and tracks to keep their sponsorship, unless a team or company changed hands. Verizon took over Alltel, the long-time sponsor of the #12, on Jan. 9. Earlier, the ruling forced Richard Childress Racing to seek a replacement for Cingular Wireless on the #31 car of Jeff Burton after it merged with AT&T and kept the AT&T name. Czarnecki doesn’t believe Penske will have to find a replacement for Verizon because of the multi-year deal it signed with Alltel. “Once the business transaction occurred NASCAR was kept fully informed of what was transpiring,” he said. “NASCAR has made it very clear, even with Alltel, what their requirements were as far as branding on the cars and branding at the track. We’re working with NASCAR and the people at Verizon. I believe we’ll be able to accommodate all of those requirements.” Verizon will be on the #12 Nationwide Series entry driven by Justin Allgaier.(ESPN)(1-19-2009)
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No. 96 and No. 98 to Start in the Top-35
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2009) – Hall of Fame Racing today announced the No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion and Bobby Labonte as the manufacturers’ wild card entry into the famed Budweiser Shootout following NASCAR’s rule change on Friday.
“The No. 96 joined the Ford family at the right time,” said Hall of Fame Racing Co-Owner, Tom Garfinkel. “We’re pleased to get Hall of Fame and Ask.com into the Shootout and have an early chance to start working towards solid top-five and top-10 finishes this season. We are pleased to be working with Bobby Labonte and Yates Racing and look forward to seeing this combination of talent come together for the first time in the Shootout.”
Labonte and the No. 96 will also receive Yates Racing points from the No. 38, piloted by David Gilliland in 2008. The transfer will put the No. 96 in 27th position going into the Daytona 500 in February.
Yates Racing’s No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion will start the 2009 season in 23rd position after a points transfer from the No. 28. Paul Menard will drive the machine for the full 2009 season. Travis Kvapil will start the season as a fresh entry in the No. 28 Yates Racing Ford.
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KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY FAN ALERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer is conducting a poll regarding the State of the Union for Greater Cincinnati sports entities that includes Kentucky Speedway. We encourage you to take a few minutes to relay your thoughts regarding our future with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. The short survey includes a box for your comments and will be available until January 25. Click the following link to take the survey: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/5953g3a3c4
We look forward to viewing the results!
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The NEW HomeDepotRacing.com Launches Today
The Home Depot launched the new www.homedepotracing.com website today. The Home Depot Racing web site is home to all things related to The Home Depot Racing Team including Rookie of the Year contender Joey Logano, championship-winning crew chief Greg Zippadelli, legendary owner Joe Gibbs and the entire No. 20 Home Depot crew.
New features on www.homedepotracing.com for 2009 include:
Joey’s Journal http://www.homedepotracing.com/joeyLogano-journal.aspx
Ask Joey: http://www.homedepotracing.com/joeyLogano-askJoey.aspx
Track Joey: http://www.homedepotracing.com/joeyLogano-tracker.aspx
Check out the newly designed www.homedepotracing.com today.
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SpeedFest Fri.-Sat.-Sun. at Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway
The buzz about the sixth-annual running of SpeedFest, this Fri.-Sat.-Sun at Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in Brazelton, continues to build. The CRA Super Series (CRA) and the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) have teamed up to present the biggest Super Late Model and Pro Late Model event of the early portion of 2009. SpeedFest 2009 will feature a 200-lap CRA Super Late Model event as well as a 100-lap GAS-sanctioned Pro Late Model feature, plus other exciting racing action throughout the weekend.
While the announcement of the event has taken the short track world by storm, SpeedFest officials are not stopping there. CRA and GAS officials announced today a $10,000 bonus if a driver is able to win both the Super Late Model and the Pro Late Model events at Lanier on Sunday, January 25th. If a driver is not able to win both, the driver with the highest average finish from the two races will receive a $2,500 bonus.
“It’s possible for one guy to win over $23,000 at this event,” said R.J. Scott, Managing Partner of the CRA Super Series. “It’s $3,000 to win the GAS race. It’s $10,000 to win the CRA race if you lead at halfway and win the race. Then, winning both, you get another $10,000, so it could be very big payday for one person.”
Three NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be part of SpeedFest:
Kyle Busch will drive his Super Late Model in the CRA feature. “It’ll be my first race of the year, and I’m looking forward to it,” said Busch, who won eight times on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last year. “It’s all about having fun, enjoying racing and giving back to local short track racing. I want to get people to come out and see how good of a show it really is. It’s a fun race to watch. The more I can do to give back to the type of racing that helped me is great; hopefully we can make events like this live for a long time.” Busch competed in last year’s version of SpeedFest, which was held at USA Int’l Speedway in Lakeland, FL, and finished seventh.
David Stremme has entered a car, with 17-year-old driver Matt DiBenedetto, one of the top up-and-coming teen racecar drivers in recent seasons. The Hickory, NC, driver has been turning heads in the Late Model Stock Car ranks through the Southeast with great success.
Bill Elliott will be the Grand Marshall, and wave the Green Flag for the Show. He’s also entered his Development Driver, Casey Roderick, in both features. The CRA SpeedFest 200 will mark Roderick’s first start in a Super Late Model car. In eight career Late Model starts, Roderick has three top-five’s, six top-ten’s and one pole; his worst finish is 11th (twice). Sixteen-year-old Roderick, a native of nearby Lawrenceville, is one of Georgia’s most successful Legends Racing drivers and was handpicked by NASCAR legend Bill Elliott to join his driver development program in July 2008. Roderick quickly started turning heads when he nearly won in his first start in the No. 9 BEDD Ford in an ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour race in August. He followed that up with another second place and two eleventh-place finishes in the ASA SAT in 2008.
Among those already pre-entered are 2008 CRA Super Series champion Scott Hantz from Indiana, Super Late Model standout Jeff Fultz, Florida young gun Jeremy Colangelo, Southern Slam 250 winner Justin Drawdy, former NASCAR Elite Series standout Jason Hogan, and Michael Pope – who will be driving the #51 owned by SPEED TV personality Bob Dillner.
Lanier National Speedway is located in Braselton, on Hwy. 53 between I-85 (exit 126) and I-985 (exit 16). For more information, please call the track at 770-967-8600 or visit www.LanierSpeedway.com
SCHEDULE:
Friday:
12:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.- Practice
Saturday:
9:00 a.m.- Pit Gate Open
10:30 a.m.- G.A.S. Drivers Meeting
11:15 a.m.- C.R.A. Drivers Meeting
12:00 p.m.- G.A.S. Practice
1:00 p.m.- C.R.A. Practice
2:00 p.m.- G.A.S. Practice
3:00 p.m.- C.R.A. Practice
4:00 p.m.- BREAK
4:15 p.m.- G.A.S. Qualifying
5:00 p.m.- C.R.A. Qualifying
5:45 p.m.- Qualifying Ends
7:00 p.m.- Track Closes
Sunday:
10:00 a.m.- Pit Gate Open
10:30 a.m.- G.A.S. Drivers Meeting
11:15 a.m.- C.R.A. Drivers Meeting
12:00 p.m.- All Cars Tech
12:30 p.m.- All Cars Grid
1:15 p.m.- G.A.S. Last Chance
1:30 p.m.- C.R.S. Last Chance
2:00 p.m.- G.A.S. Pro Late Model 100 Lap Feature
C.R.A. Super Late Model “SpeedFest 200″
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N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Hearing that JTG will have Michael McDowell driving the #47 at Daytona and there is sponsorship with him for a partial schedule. Gene Nead will be the crew chief for the team. JTG Daugherty continues to work with Kelly Bires to run a limited number of races.(1-20-2009)
UPDATE 2: Bires could race in the second half of the year if the team finds money, but he also is free to pursue other opportunities. As consolation prizes go, though, Bires’ is not bad. He will drive for Blackjack Racing, a new, part-time team out of the ARCA series, [in the Daytona 500]. “If we make the race, we’ll probably get more publicity out of that than I did out of a whole year and a half in the Nationwide Series.” Blackjack plans a limited schedule for its regular driver, Westby native Dexter Bean, but with only one NASCAR short-track race to his credit, Bean has not been approved by NASCAR to race on a superspeedway.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(1-20-2009)
Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said Tuesday during the NASCAR Media Tour that Busch will drive a full Nationwide schedule in the #18 in addition to his Sprint Cup duties. Busch won 10 Nationwide races last year, nine of them coming in 19 starts with JGR. Eight of his victories came in the #18 he’ll pilot in 2009.(ESPN.com)(1-20-2009)
Dave Rogers could be crew chief on #20 team: Brad Coleman expects that Dave Rogers will be his crew chief for the races he runs in the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series car this year. That would only happen, of course, if Rogers gets reinstated by NASCAR. Rogers, fellow crew chief Jason Ratcliff and five other Joe Gibbs Racing crewmen were indefinitely suspended for manipulating the throttle of their cars prior to a test to determine their engine horsepower following the race in Michigan last August. The team is expected to apply for their reinstatement prior to the beginning of the 2009 season.(Scene Daily)(1-20-2009)
Paint Schemes: several new paint schemes added, including the #09 Zaxby’s Ford, #5 Fastenal Chevy, #12 Verizon Dodge, #77 SFP Chevy, and #80 HendrickCars.com Chevy. Check out the 2009 Nationwide Paint Schemes page for those images and more.(1-20-2008)
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009nationwide.htm
Foyt in the #56 at Daytona: Larry Foyt will drive the #56 Chevy for MacHill Motorsports in the Nationwide series race at Daytona in February.(Larry Foyt/PR)(1-20-2009)
Penske Racing announced that it will team with Verizon Wireless to field a full-season entry in the 2009 Nationwide Series. The #12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger will be driven by Justin Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series champion. (Penske Racing PR), see an image of the car on the #12 Paint Schemes page.(1-19-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/12nationwide.htm
UPDATE 2: The agreement with Penske Racing, which also includes associate sponsorship of two cars in the Indy open-wheel racing league, came about after Verizon Wireless acquired Alltel, which had a nine-year agreement with Penske Racing. As part of its foray into racing, Verizon Wireless is also setting up a new channel on its V Cast video subscription service. Through the channel, racing fans will be able to get behind-the-scenes interviews with drivers, recaps of races, highlights and other racing information. The company plans to have wrapped vehicles emblazoned with the Verizon Championship logo at the Daytona 500 as well as hospitality tents and interactive activities touting Verizon Wireless.(Media Post)(1-19-2009)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
http://www.TheHotLap.com
Nationwide Insurance, sponsor of the second most popular racing series in the United States, announced a new incentive for NASCAR Nationwide Series teams called the “Dash for Cash”. With this new program, all full-time drivers and other series regulars are eligible for bonuses for race wins at Nashville, Kentucky, Iowa and Memphis. In addition, the qualifying driver with the most points over all four of those events will earn a $50,000 bonus.(NASCAR) (01-21-09)
Jan. 21 NASCAR Nationwide Series: Nationwide Series Looks Pretty Healthy,Despite a reeling economy, NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series is in better shape than many expected.A recent announcement that fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., in his role as owner of JR Motorsports, got sponsorship for a second entry has helped. So has news that Roger Penske found backing to run ARCA champion Justin Allgaier for the entire season.”At the end of last season, it was all doom and gloom,” said former Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, now a team owner in the Nationwide Series, fielding rides for son Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan.Read more (delaware online) (01-21-09)
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090121/SPORTS06/901210369/1002/SPORTS
Jan. 21 NASCAR Nationwide Series:In a matter of two days this week, Kelly Bires lost his promise of a part-time ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series but sealed a deal for the Daytona 500.Bires, a native of Mauston, will attempt to qualify for the biggest race of the stock-car season driving a Dodge for Blackjack Racing, he said Tuesday. The Feb 15 race would be his first start in the Sprint Cup Series. The new team comes from the ARCA series and plans a limited Cup schedule in 2009 with its regular driver, Dexter Bean, of Westby. Bean has competed in one short-track race in NASCAR’s national series and has not been approved for Daytona.”It’s a great opportunity, no matter what car,” Bires said. “It’s a legitimate car and legitimate motor. It’s a small team, but if everything goes right we have a solid opportunity to make the race.”The car is one of four purchased by Blackjack from Chip Ganassi Racing after that team merged with DEI and moved to Chevrolets. Bires also learned Monday that his planned Nationwide schedule with JTG Daugherty Racing has been put on hold at least until the second half of the season. Michael McDowell, who raced for Michael Waltrip last year, brought sponsorship for the first 16 races. JTG Daugherty has aligned with Waltrip. Bires could race with JTG Daugherty later in the year if the team finds backing, he said, but he is free to explore other options.(JournalSentinel.com) (01-21-09)
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C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Images added: New images of the #4 Monster Energy Drink & #33 Longhorn Swedish Match Chevys out of the KHI shop are posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009trucks.htm
New crew chief for Sauter, Connor released: UPDATE Giles named as crew chief: Hearing that crew chief, Dennis Connor has been released from Thorsport Racing and the #13 Chevy team and there is a new crew chief already in place for Johnny Sauter.(1-10-2009)
UPDATE: ThorSport Racing has named Walter Giles crew chief for Johnny Sauter’s #13 Chevy Silverado for the ’09 season. Giles is a former chief race engineer at DEI and crew chief for Robby Gordon. The native of Australia moved to the U.S. a decade ago, after winning more than 200 races and seven championships in various racing series as a driver.(Thorsport Racing PR)(1-20-2009)
Monster Energy has signed with Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) to sponsor Ricky Carmichael in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) during the 2009 season. Carmichael, a 29-year-old native of Clearwater, Fla., and the most successful motocross racer in history, will drive the #4 Monster Energy Silverado for the KHI All-Star Team in at least 14 truck events and also pilot a Monster Energy Chevrolet in the season-opening Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) race at Daytona. The driver lineup and sponsors for the KHI All-Star Team for the 11 remaining Camping World Truck Series races will be announced later and will include stars from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The #4 team, led by recently hired crew chief Bill Wilburn, will assume the ninth-place owners points from the #2 KHI truck from 2008.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(1-20-2009)
Swedish Match’s Longhorn brand to sponsor KHI’s #33: UPDATE Formal announcement; to sponsor #33 for ten races, Harvick #4 at PIR: Hearing that Swedish Match North America’s newest moist snuff brand, Longhorn, will be sponsoring Kevin Harvick Racing’s #33 for some races in 2009, and that the sponsorship will kick-off during SpeedWeeks in Daytona. (1-6-2008)
UPDATE: Swedish Match North America and Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) has announced that Longhorn, the fastest growing moist snuff in the country, will be the primary sponsor of the #33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Ron Hornaday. The Longhorn colors will be featured on #33 for 10 of the 25 race events in 2009. Not only will Longhorn sponsor KHI’s three-time Truck Series champion, they will also adorn the #4 Chevrolet Silverado with KHI co-owner and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. Longhorn will serve as primary sponsor for Harvick at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) November 13.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(1-20-2009)
GEICO announces six race deal for Papis & Germain: Just a few weeks remain before NASCAR’s opening weekend in Daytona, and GEICO has announced the expansion of their Max Papis race program. Papis, the driver of the #13 GEICO Camry in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, will pilot a GEICO Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for six races beginning on February 21, 2009, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Other race venues will include Atlanta, Dover, Bristol, Phoenix and an additional race to be named in the future.(Player Mgmt/Max Papis PR)(1-20-2009)
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
http://www.arcaracing.com
Slick Mist Goes For Gerhart at Daytona; Lucas Oil Re-Signs 5-Time Daytona Winner, Searching For 6th
DAYTONA BEACH FL (1-20-09) – Bobby Gerhart Racing announced today that it has re-signed with Lucas Oil for the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
Gerhart, renowned for his record five wins at Daytona, will debut the Lucas Oil “Slick Mist” brand on his no. 5 Chevy Monte Carlo at Daytona in the 46th running of the ARCA RE/MAX Series at the “World Center of Racing” in February. Lucas Oil is also sponsoring the race, known as the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona.
“The 2009 season marks our sixth consecutive season with Lucas Oil,” said Gerhart, whose five Daytona wins include three consecutive in ’05, ’06 and ’07.
[Read More] – http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=7553
Featured Driver: Dexter Bean
TOLEDO OH (1-20-09)–After spending 2008 driving the No. 37 Glock Chevrolet for Spraker Racing Enterprises, Dexter Bean is expected to return to his father David’s BlackJack Racing Team in 2009. Keep reading for a recap of Dexter’s 2008 race season and ARCA RE/MAX Series career thus far.
[Read More] – http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=7547
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Other stock car racing news…
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Statistical Advance:
Analyzing The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2008) – The 2009 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is set to take place on Jan. 23-24 in Toyota Speedway At Irwindale (Calif.).
About the Toyota All-Star Showdown:
· Called the “Daytona 500 of short-track racing” by drivers and fans, the Toyota All-Star Showdown has moved to January for its sixth edition after it was held for the first five years in the fall following the conclusion of the racing season.
· The race features protected starting positions for the champions of each NASCAR’s touring and weekly series: NASCAR Camping World Series (East and West), NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius XM, NASCAR Mexico Series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
· In addition to series champions, race winners from the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series (East and West) also have guaranteed starting positions.
· In addition to eligible 2008 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, limited provisionals for NASCAR Camping World Series regulars, and the last-chance “Open” race that provides drivers one final chance to make the final starting grid.
· In addition, the weekend will include a pair of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races: The 150-lap Super Late Model race and, new this year, a 75-lap Late Model race that will be run under common West Coast rules.
Last Year’s Race – Oct. 20, 2007:
· Joey Logano, then a 17-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing Development driver, led the final 87 laps en route to Victory Lane.
· Peyton Sellers finished as the runner-up in the event. Mike Duncan (80), Sean Caisse (74) and Brian Ickler (9) led laps in addition to Logano.
· Caisse won the pole with a time of 18.271 seconds.
Toyota All-Star Showdown History:
· The event has produced a different winner in each of its five previous editions.
· Previous race winners include current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers David Gilliland (2005) and Joey Logano (2007).
· West Series driver Austin Cameron won the inaugural race on Nov. 8, 2003. Andy Santerre, the East Series champion, finished as the race runner-up.
· East Series drivers took four of the top five finishing positions in 2004, led by winner Mike Johnson.
· After a second place finish to Johnson and Gilliland the two previous years, Matt Kobyluck captured the 2006 Toyota All-Star Showdown.
· There have been 87 different drivers that have made starts in the first five years of the Toyota All-Star Showdown … Of those, 44 have made starts in one or more of NASCAR’s three national series.
Selected Driver Highlights:
Jeff Barkshire (No. 46 Centennial Batteries Dodge)
The 2008 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.
Finished third in the 2008 NCWS West championship standings with a win at Monroe.
Recorded top fives in both trips to Irwindale in 2008, including a runner-up finish in August.
Trevor Bayne (No. 1 DEI/Strutmasters Chevrolet)
Finished fourth in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East standings as a rookie.
Earned his first NCWS victory at Thompson in July.
Was a runner-up three times in 2008 and earned two Coors Light Pole Awards.
Jason Bowles (No. 6 Sunrise Ford Ford)
Swept both NASCAR Camping World Series West races at Irwindale in 2008.
Finished as the NCWS West championship runner-up in 2008, just 48 points behind Eric Holmes.
Was the 2007 NCWS West Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
Ricky Carmichael (No. 4 Monster Energy Drink Chevrolet)
Had eight top 10s in NASCAR Camping World Series East debut in 2008.
Won the Coors Light Pole Award at South Boston.
A motocross legend with two dozen AMA major titles.
Matt Crafton (No. 45 Speed Wong Racing Toyota)
A veteran of 197 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series … Earned first series win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last May.
Has one career NASCAR Camping World Series West start, a runner-up finish in the 2000 season finale.
Was the 2000 champion of the former NASCAR Southwest Tour.
Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Toyota)
Was the 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series West champion.
Has finished in the top five in the NCWS West standings four years in a row.
Has three career top-five finishes at Irwindale in NCWS West action.
Marc Davis (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota)
Finished fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Series East standings with seven top fives in 13 starts.
Had runner-up finishes at Dover, Greenville-Pickens and Lime Rock in 2008.
Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet)
Was the NASCAR Camping World Series East championship runner-up and Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Got the win in his NCWS East debut at Greenville-Pickens.
Had 10 top 10s in 13 starts and won the Coors Light Pole Award at the Iowa combination race.
Eric Holmes (No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
2008 NASCAR Camping World Series West titlist with four wins and nine top fives in 13 starts.
Was the runner-up to Jason Bowles in the July Irwindale race and finished second at the track twice in 2006.
Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 MMI/Ron’s Read Ends Chevrolet)
1996, 1998 and 2007 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion … Has 39 wins in 225 career starts in the series.
Has six wins and 10 poles in 46 career NASCAR Camping World Series West starts … Was the series runner-up in 1994.
Has 45 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and 179 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts.
Brian Ickler (No. 15 Ickler Electric Corp. Chevrolet)
Has three career wins apiece in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West.
Recorded wins in the 2008 NCWS East at Iowa, South Boston and Mansfield.
Had a NCWS West win at Irwindale in 2007.
Has finished fifth and sixth in the last two Toyota All-Star Showdowns.
Matt Kobyluck (No. 40 Mohegan Sun Resort Chevrolet)
Won the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East title on the strength of four wins and nine top 10s in 13 starts.
Captured the 2007 Toyota All-Star Showdown … Has four top fives in five career Showdown starts.
Has finished in the top five in the NCWS East standings in each of the last four seasons.
Joey Logano (No. 08 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota)
The defending Toyota All-Star Showdown champion.
Captured the 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series East title with five wins in 13 starts as a rookie.
Had a win, 14 top 10s and three poles in 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2008 and made three starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he will run full-time in 2009.
Philip Morris (No. 62 Chevrolet)
Earned a guaranteed starting spot in the Toyota All-Star Showdown as the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion … Also won the national title in 2006.
Home track is Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., where he drives in the Late Model division.
Is the only driver attempting to start in all three Showdown races.
Steve Park (No. 35 Waste Management Chevrolet)
Recorded eight top 10s in 13 NASCAR Camping World Series East starts in 2008.
Has two wins in 26 career NCWS East starts.
Notched six wins in 298 starts across NASCAR’s three national series from 1996-2006.
Antonio Perez (No. 12 Chivasi/Telmex/Troy Williams Racing Dodge)
The 2008 NASCAR Mexico Series champion with five wins and 12 top 10s in 14 starts.
Made three NASCAR Camping World Series East starts in 2008 and won the Coors Light Pole Award at Watkins Glen.
Greg Pursley (No. 26 Gene Price Racing Chevrolet)
Won the Super Late Model race in the 2007 Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Has five top 10s in 16 career NASCAR Camping World Series West starts.
Was the 2004 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion while racing at Irwindale.
Peyton Sellers (No. 83 Jig-A-Loo Chevrolet)
Finished eighth in the NASCAR Camping World Series East with a win at Stafford, six top 10s and three Coors Light Pole Awards.
Was the 2006 NASCAR Camping World Series West Sunoco Rookie of the Year with a win and six top fives in 12 starts.
Was the 2005 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion.
Scott Steckly (No. 22 Tow Truck in a Box/Erb & Aw Millwrights Chevrolet)
Earned the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series crown.
2008 season was highlighted by four wins and nine top fives in 13 starts … His win total is a new series record.
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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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The Good, Bad, & Ugly – I Get Stewart Being In The Shootout, But Robby Gordon?
As we near the start of the new season, the economic times remain UGLY. The hunt for sponsors still is the crucial factor in determining who runs, who does not, who gets to drive where and for how long.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/012009Thornton.asp
Time, Money Winding Down on NASCAR Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doesn’t have a Chase for the Championship or ask owners to upgrade to a new chassis. Despite the old-school, simple format, the series is still in danger.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/012009Lintner.asp
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/012009.html
Racer Profile: Lyndon Amick
by Allen Madding
The Nascar Insiders
Don’t Blame Max Siegel
When bad things happen people naturally look for someone to blame. We need someone who we can peg our frustrations on and someone to explain away often complex issues. Right or wrong it does happen.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/517276359/
The Daly Planet: On-Air Mistake Finally Shows Real NASCAR Problems
By Daly Planet Editor
The program opened with Sprint Cup driver Paul Menard and Camping World Truck Series veteran Rick Crawford on the set as guests. The opening segment gave both drivers an opportunity to talk about the upcoming season with the panelists. …
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-air-mistake-finally-shows-real.html
Speed’s mistake gives needed insight
They were joined at the beginning of the show by guests Paul Menard of Yates Racing, and Camping World Truck Series regular, Rick Crawford. The first segment contained the usual optimistic talk about how everyone was looking forward to …
http://www.pitpassradio.net/2009/01/20/speeds-mistake-gives-needed-insight/
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/CA/012109.html
Finally, Something Was Done Right With Petty Name
by Chuck Abrams
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/LV/012109.html
Does Kentucky Speedway Deserve A Sprint Cup Race?
by Larry Van Zandt
Ken Schrader : A Lot Like A Rock
http://www.frontstretch.com/bestof/22067/
NASCAR Brass And Media Collide On Thursday
This season has been very strange for NASCAR since the first day of January. No cars on the track at Daytona, bad team news every single day and many fans who almost seem shell-shocked about what is happening to the sport they love.
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/01/nascar-brass-and-media-collide-on.html
Evernham Gets His Name Out Of The Mix
Ray Evernham continues to pave his way toward a full-time TV career in the sport. The change that will do him the most good has finally happened.
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/01/evernham-gets-his-name-out-of-mix.html
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com/pages/tv.htm
Wed Jan 21
12:00 pm NASCAR: Reviewing the 60th Season-June SPEED
7:00 pm Trackside at Daytona SPEED
7:30 pm NASCAR PreSeason Thunder SPEED
11:00 pm Trackside at Daytona SPEED
11:30 pm NASCAR PreSeason Thunder SPEED
Thu Jan 22
9:00 am SportsCentury: Dale Earnhardt Jr ESPNC
12:00 pm NASCAR: Reviewing the 60th Season-July SPEED
7:00 pm Trackside at Daytona SPEED
7:30 pm NASCAR PreSeason Thunder SPEED
11:00 pm Trackside at Daytona SPEED
11:30 pm NASCAR PreSeason Thunder SPEED
Fri Jan 23
7:00 pm Trackside at Daytona SPEED
7:30 pm NASCAR PreSeason Thunder SPEED
10:00 pm NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown Qualifying SPEED
Jayski does not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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Copyright 2002-2009 by MotorSportsNews.Net
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