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After a long weekend away (from the Stock Car Gazette), we’re back on St. Patrick’s Day with a full edition for you. Check it out here, and tell your racing friends about the best place for current NASCAR news. |
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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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How’s The Year Going (So Far)?
by: Steve Langley
After four races into the 2009 NASCAR season, it’s time to stop and take a look at how things are stacking up. We’ve had a driver win two races in a row and two races won with drivers having the same last name but two different car numbers. Read more at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3165
For more from Steve, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/steves-stuff
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TV Times – Atlanta Sprint Cup Race Ratings Down 16 Percent
by: Lou Modestino
NASCAR on Fox notched a 4.7/10 that Sunday for the Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta, easily the top sports rating of the weekend. Finish this article at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3169
For more from Lou, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/tv-times
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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 Stock Car Gazette subscriber Ed B. – thanks!
The Glen has Heluva Good! race sponsor
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) -Watkins Glen International thinks its got a heluva good title sponsor for its NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29681519/from/ET/
Start of NASCAR season is a potpourri of the memorable and forgettable
By JIM PEDLEY | THE KANSAS CITY STAR
And some said that the 2009 Sprint Cup season was going to be a dog — possibly the beginning of the end of NASCAR. What has occurred instead has been one of the more interesting starts in some time.
In fact, the four-race-old season has been marked by interesting twists and turns, and there has not even been a road race.
Here are five feel-good twists and five feel-lousy turns that developed over the first month of the NASCAR season:
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/motorsports/story/1086906.html
Longtime Daytona 500 invocation preacher dies
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=527907
Super-shy superstar (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10586896
tons of early NASCAR photos
http://public.fotki.com/tona/
-nascar-camping-world-west-series-events-to-air-on-Thursdays
http://snipurl.com/dzl7v
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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
JR Fitzpatrick: From Canada’s Short Tracks to NASCAR
Bleacher Report – San Francisco,CA,USA
by Richard Deveau (Scribe) Not many drivers in NASCAR can say that a whole country is cheering for them, but that’s the case for young 20-year-old JR …
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/138725-jr-fitzpatrick-from-canadas-short-tracks-to-nascar
Friends, former rivals salute ‘Suitcase Jake’
ThatsRacin.com – USA
As modern-day stock-car racing takes the weekend off, another era of the sport was showcased Saturday at the Memory Lane Motorsports & Automotive Museum in …
Friends, former rivals salute ‘Suitcase Jake’
http://www.thatsracin.com/115/story/5259.html
NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett ready for return of Southern 500 to …
Scene Daily – Charlotte,NC,USA
By David Exum – SceneDaily Staff Writer Two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett (left) is interviewed at a fundraiser in honor of former crew chief “Suitcase” …
http://snipurl.com/dzkl8
Bristol’s not the same …
Gaston Gazette – Gastonia,NC,USA
The spectacle is still the most exciting in NASCAR. Bristol has far more than its quotient of thrills, chills and spills. Calling Bristol more civilized …
http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/bristol_31697___article.html/motor_speedway.html
Joe Gibbs Racing may have rushed Logano to Cup
Examiner.com – USA
He initially lived up to the hype by winning at Kentucky in only his third start in the Nationwide Series. He did not win another race, …
http://snipurl.com/dzkqt
NASCAR – CUP: So Far, So Good For TRG – SPEEDtv.com
Harvick singled out Kevin Buckler’s TRG Motorsports, a team of sports car racers who last year shockingly won a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race with Donny Lia, as one outfit that could be a survivor among those start-up teams. …
http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-so-far-so-good-for-trg/
Nascar’s Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Not the best, just the most powerful
Omaha World-Herald – Omaha,NE,USA
BY TANIA GANGULI Dale Earnhardt Jr prepares to take his car out during a testing session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in September. This whole “feud” with Texas …
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10586895
The Good Ol’ Days Of NASCAR?
Bristol Herald Courier – Bristol,TN,USA
Were the good ol’ days of racing really so good? As with other sports, traditional fans of stock car racing tend to romanticize their heroes and …
http://www.tricities.com/tri/sports/motor_sports/article/the_good_ol_days_of_nascar/21778/
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair hooks up with NASCAR
ProWrestling.net – St. Paul,MN,USA
By Jason Powell Mar 16, 2009 – 04:12 PM WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair will serve as a judge of the burnout competition at the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 16 …
http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1004973.shtml
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
Allison Sunday’s Honorary Starter
Bristol Motor Speedway announced Monday that 1983 NASCAR Cup champion Bobby Allison will serve as honorary starter and Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer will be the grand marshal for Sunday’s Food City 500. Allison, who was voted one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers, posted four wins, 23 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes in 44 career races at the track. His last race at Bristol resulted in a fifth-place finish in April 1988. Less than three months later, his career would be cut short as a result of injuries sustained in an accident at Pocono Raceway.
No. 78 Team Revises Schedule
Furniture Row Racing announced today a revision of its 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. The Colorado-based team has added one race to its original 12-race Cup schedule and has revised three of its upcoming race locations. The April 5th race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth is the recent addition, bringing the current team’s schedule to 13 events. The team is dropping the two road races — at Sonoma, Calif (June 21) and Watkins Glen, N.Y. (Aug. 9) plus the May 31st race at Dover, Del. Those three races are being replaced with Darlington, S.C. (May 9), Long Pond, Pa. (Pocono — June 7) and Indianapolis (July 26). The No. 78 Furniture Row team with driver Regan Smith entered two of the first four Cup races with Smith finishing 21st in the Daytona 500 and 20th in Las Vegas. The team’s next race will be at Texas.
Cup Rookie News
Joey Logano was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. Logano scored a 30th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the third consecutive race. Logano leads Scott Speed by two points (43-41) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the March 22 Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Logano and the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota use the Raybestos® Brand Racing Brake System, including the new highly-engineered Raybestos® lightweight racing caliper and Raybestos™ Chassis Parts. Regan Smith was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Food City 500, logging a 26th-place finish.
DID YOU KNOW? The most recent Raybestos® Rookie to lead a lap at Bristol is Kevin Harvick. Harvick led three times for 137 laps in the 2000 Food City 500 (more than any other driver), a span of 10 races.
The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Food City 500 came in 1979 when Dale Earnhardt scored his first career win. Since Earnhardt’s victory, only three drivers have finished in the top-five in the spring race:
1981: Morgan Shepherd, fourth
1989: Dick Trickle, fifth
2003: Greg Biffle, fifth
MORE: http://insiderracingnews.com/Daily/2009/Mar/031609.html
Race Fever Date Changes
Talladega’s ultimate party with a purpose, ‘Race Fever’, is moving to the fall in 2009. If you are planning to attend the 2009 AMP Energy 500 Event Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway October 30-Nov 1, 2009, have we got another HOT ticket for you! Make your plans NOW to attend the 24th Annual Race Fever Night, a barbecue dinner and auction fundraiser for Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind set for Friday evening, October 30th at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum. This event has been a sell out for the last several years, so track officials urge everyone to reserve your tickets early or risk missing out on the opportunity to enjoy a delicious barbecue meal and the opportunity to meet their favorite NASCAR drivers as well as to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items and experiences.
Southern 500 Lures Ned Jarrett
Even though NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett won at Darlington Raceway only once in his career, he will always have fond memories of the egg-shaped oval known as “The Track Too Tough To Tame.” — “Darlington will always be a special place to me,” Jarrett said while attending a fundraiser for former NASCAR crew chief “Suitcase” Jake Elder at Memory Lane Motorsports and Automotive Museum on Saturday. It’s the toughest track on the circuit and it always will be,” added Jarrett, who won the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington driving a Ford for owner Bondy Long. In 15 career starts at Darlington, the two-time NASCAR Cup champion had five top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Jarrett plans to be in attendance for this year’s Southern 500 on May 9. This will be the first year that a race known as the Southern 500 has been at Darlington since 2004, the last year that the track hosted both spring and fall events. From 1950 through 2003, the traditional running of the Southern 500 was on Labor Day weekend. “I’m usually not there, but this year, I wouldn’t miss it,” Jarrett said.
ARCA Tests Rained Out
Due to heavy rain in the area, ARCA officials decided to cancel the test originally schedule for March 14th and later postponed to March 15th. The cars never made it onto the track either day for the open test session to allow drivers to prepare for the upcoming Carolina 200 on April 19th. All of the ARCA RE/MAX Series teams will be back for the Carolina 200 race weekend which kicks off on Friday April 17th with Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. There will be a hauler parade through downtown Rockingham at noon on Friday for the day-long celebration as well as most of the drivers signing autographs at 6:00 p.m.
Play Golf, Watch a Race At Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway is encouraging race fans traveling to Alabama for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend to bring their golf clubs and hit the links on the legendary Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (RTJ). The new Fairway to Speedway offer gets race fans two tickets to the Aaron’s 499 and two rounds of golf playable at 9 of the 11 RTJ championship golf courses for only $200, a savings up to 25% off peak prices. Golf rounds are valid at all Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses, with the exception of Ross Bridge and Lakewood. To order the Fairway to Speedway package, race fans can call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit (www.talladegasuperspeedway.com).
All Options Considered For A Kentucky Cup Date
Speedway Motorsports Inc. has requested that a Sprint Cup race be moved to Kentucky Speedway and “will consider all options” to get one there as soon as possible, according to its annual report filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SMI bought the track in Sparta, Ky., last year for $78.3 million, including $63.3 million in assumption of debt, and wants to realign a Cup date to the 1.5-mile oval. But NASCAR Chairman Brian France has stated that the sanctioning body will not consider realignment as long as an antitrust lawsuit filed by the track’s founders remains unresolved. SMI Chairman Bruton Smith said March 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway that he had not yet requested the realignment but wanted a Cup date there in 2010. “The Company has requested realignment of a Sprint Cup Series race at the earliest possible time and will consider all options if NASCAR denies such realignment request,” the company stated in its filing. It does not elaborate whether “all options” would include legal action. SMI spokesman Scott Cooper said he could not elaborate on the wording in the annual report.
Infineon Donates $5,000 To Little League Team
Infineon Raceway will step up to the plate to help the North Vallejo Little League, which was vandalized by burglars this week. The raceway will donate $5,000 to cover the cost of the equipment, uniforms and computers stolen during the robbery. The monies for the donation will come from a 3J’s Motorcycle Track Days charity event to be held at Infineon Raceway on April 22. Vallejo is located approximately 10 miles west of Infineon Raceway.
All-Star Format To Change – But To What?
The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will have a different format in 2009, Lowe’s Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith confirmed Friday, but he declined to elaborate. Following a news conference to promote the second annual burnout contest and announce that retired wrestler Ric Flair would be the honorary all-star race director, Smith talked in vague terms about how this year’s format will be different. During the news conference, it was just referred to as a 100-lap event. Last year, the event was split into four 25-lap segments. “We are working on some changes that will be forthcoming – some neat things that we’re going to be changing up,” Smith said. “They’ll be exciting for the fans.” …Daily Headlines
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
U.S. Army returns on the #39 Chevy: If there were a time to exemplify Army Strong this would be it for Ryan Newman and the #39 Stewart-Haas Racing team as they prepare for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The race will mark the return of the U.S. Army primary paint scheme for Newman’s Chevy, which last ran in full Army colors at the Feb. 15 season-opening Daytona 500. “So far, it’s been a challenging time,” said Newman, who is 32nd in points after the first four races. “To be honest we’ve had fast cars. We know where we’re at performance wise and it’s a lot better than what our finishing results show. We’ve just had too many hiccups and unforced problems that have stalled our momentum. I am looking forward to getting back in the Army Chevy. Driving the Soldiers’ car is an added inspiration.” It’s been feast or famine for Newman in 14 career starts at Bristol. He has produced top-10 results in half of the races, but has also finished in the 30s six times and once in the 20s. His best Bristol result was runner-up to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 2004 summer race. Newman has two poles and nine top-10 qualifying efforts at Bristol. His two poles came in the spring races of 2003 and 2004.(U.S. Army Racing PR)(3-17-2009) Comment here
Dale Jr. leads BMS pts last 10 races: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scored the most points in the past 10 Sprint Cup races at Bristol Motor Speedway (1,468), 50 more than his closest competitor Kevin Harvick. He has posted seven top-10 finishes, including one victory, in the 10-race span.(3-17-2009)
Bobby Labonte to be Inducted to Texas Motorsports Hall Of Fame: Corpus Christi’s [TX] own #96-Bobby Labonte will soon be part of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted April 1 at Texas Motor Speedway. Still going strong on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Circuit, Labonte has notched 21 career victories and nearly 200 top ten finishes, to go with the series championship he won in 2000. He currently sits 23rd in points after four races. His best finish this year was fifth at the Shelby 427 in Las Vegas.(kristv.com)
The Flowserve Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremony benefits Happy Hill Farm Academy in association with Speedway Children’s Charities. The 500-acre working farm located just south of Granbury, Texas, provides specialized services for children who need another start in life. Happy Hill Farm Academy serves children with a broad range of behavioral and academic issues sometimes a result of abuse and neglect. The environment provided at Happy Hill Farm Academy allows residents to flourish in a non-traditional setting. Tables for this year’s gala range from $1,500 to $10,000. To reserve your table, call (254) 897-4822.(TMS)(3-17-2009)
Victory Junction Bear heads to space: A black and white checkered bear from the Victory Junction Gang Camp of Randleman, North Carolina is making the trip tucked inside the space shuttle Discovery’s lockers on the latest misson, STS-119. The bear will not be alone. Also riding Discovery aloft will be a purple stuffed duck from Saitama, Japan. Organizations that don’t have mascots going up are also heavily represented on the flight. Flags and T-shirts from schools such as Florida’s Melbourne High and Brookwood Elementary in Alabama, are making their presence known in space. At least one item will gain a major audience on Earth after it returns from space. Astronaut Tony Antonelli arranged to fly a green flag from the Andretti Green Flag Racing team. When STS-119 wraps up, Antonelli is expected to be an official starter at an IndyCar race.(NASA.gov)(3-17-2009)
Toyota sticking with NASCAR and Motorsports: Toyota announced it plans to continue engaging in motor sports this year, despite being financially restricted by severe business conditions. TMC plans to focus on these top-class racing series: the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), Japanese Super GT, Formula Nippon and NASCAR. This will mark TMC’s eighth year in F1 competition. In Japan, TMC will participate using the Lexus brand this year and will aim to recapture the Super GT GT500 title using the Lexus SC430. In the United States, TMC will again participate in NASCAR’s pinnacle Sprint Cup Series with the Toyota Camry, which totaled 10 wins last year. TMC is also aiming to win the Nationwide Series, NASCAR’s second most-popular series, also with the Camry. And TMC will continue to race the Toyota Tundra in the Camping World Truck Series, after having won both the manufacturer’s and driver’s titles last year.(Toyota PR)(3-17-2009)
Goodyear Tire test at LMS March 17-18: Goodyear is scheduled to hold a tire test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams representing each of the series manufacturers next week in preparation for the track’s May races, including the 25th NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, and the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. Drivers scheduled to test at #9-Kasey Kahne (Dodge), #48-Jimmie Johnson (Chevy), #47-Marcos Ambrose (Toyota) and #98-Paul Menard. During both days of the Goodyear tire test, Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s frontstretch grandstand will be open free of charge from 9am – 5pm and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office. Additionally, NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 ticket holders will have access to an infield grandstand on Wednesday, March 18, from 10am to 5pm, and can participate in a special fan forum featuring all four drivers from 12 – 1pm. Ticket holders for Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s May Cup races will need to check in at the speedway’s ticket office to receive verification of their ticket purchase before entering the infield at Gate 26.(LMS PR)(3-13/17-2008)
Celebrities set to run Saturday Night Special at Bristol: Football coaches, football players, TV/radio personalities and more have signed on to run the celebrity heat races as part of the Scotts Saturday Night Special, March 21 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer, who also will serve as grand marshal of the Food City 500, will climb behind the wheel of a race car for the first time as will Terry Bowden. Bowden returns to the college coaching ranks this year after 10 years in the broadcast booth, taking over the Division II powerhouse University of North Alabama. Coaches are not the only ones suiting up. David Akers, Pro-Bowl kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles [Jayski Fave] will participate. Also racing for charity will be local hero Mike Compton, current head football coach at Patrick Henry High School (Glade Spring, Va.) and two-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots of New England. Rounding out the first heat will be: Bill Jordan, owner/founder of Realtree Camouflage and host of two of his own television shows, Bill Jordan’s Realtree Outdoors and ESPN’s “Driven to Hunt,” and TV/radio personality Riki Rachtman of MTV’s “Charm School” and “Daisy of Love.”
Taking the wheel in the second heat will be a field of more experienced drivers. Former car owners and two of the top crew chiefs of all time, Andy Petree and Ray Evernham, now ESPN race analysts, as well as Brad Daugherty, a former No. 1pick in the NBA draft and retired all-star player with the Cleveland Cavaliers will be part of the festivities. Taking advantage of a weekend off on the National Hot Rod Association schedule are Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Doug Herbert (Top Fuel Dragster) who will fill out the field. The celebrities will run 15-lap or 10-minute heats to help determine the starting spots of their pro driver teammates, who then will run 35 laps. That field includes Junior Johnson, Harry Gant, Cale Yarborough and Jack Ingram. The winning “team” is guaranteed $25,000 for their charities and a total of $10,000 will go to the charity or charities of the second-place duo. Every other team will get $5,000 for their charities. Team pairings will be announced at a later time. Tickets still are available for the Scotts Turf Builder 300 (Starting at $45) and Food City 500 (starting at $93). Tickets for Ford Fan Friday, March 20, are just $5 and fans with specially marked Pepsi cans will be admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.(BMS PR)(3-17-2009)
Sad News – Patricia Fielden: Patricia Henry Fielden, 84, died Sunday, March 15, 2009 at her residence. Mrs. Fielden was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, October 8, 1924 and is a daughter of the late William and Maebell Henry. Survivors include a son, Longtime NASCAR historian/writer Greg Fielden, [see Amazon for his books]; and a granddaughter, Patricia Ann Fielden. Services will be private.(Myrtle Beach Sun Times)(3-17-2009)
Sad News – Hal Marchman: “Shalom and amen.” With that trademark ending to prayers he offered before every Daytona 500 for 46 years, the Rev. Hal Marchman endeared himself to race car drivers and hundreds of thousands of their fans. It was the Baptist preacher’s way of being inclusive, the same way he lived his life, whether he was counseling an alcoholic or persuading community leaders to take on some civic project. Marchman, 89, the retired pastor of Central Baptist Church, died unexpectedly at Indigo Palms Memory Care Facility on Sunday. After years of fighting dementia and memory loss, a sudden bout of illness ended his life, said his daughter Anne Marchman-Jones. “We feel like we got our fair share of time with him, but it’s hard because we didn’t expect (his death) to be so sudden,” Marchman-Jones said Sunday. Not only did Marchman pray with the drivers and fans before the race, he spent the rest of the day in the hospital area at the track to be available for drivers’ families if anyone was hurt. “Hal was a servant and a shepherd,” said NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip, adding that Marchman always “took good care of his flock.”(Daytona Beach News Journal)(3-16-2009)
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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
http://www.thatsracin.com
Stott perseveres in NASCAR’s big shadow
DENVER, N.C. — The hand-lettered sign on the door at Corrie Stott Racing instructs deliverymen to leave packages across the street if the building is empty.
http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/5298.html
Anheuser-Busch to end NHRA sponsorship
Anheuser-Busch ended its sponsorship of the NHRA on Monday.
http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/5294.html
Tire testing on tap today at Lowe’s
The test, free to the public, will feature Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose and Paul Menard.
http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/5304.html
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Courtesy of www.Valvoline.com
Yes, He REALLY Said That
Ryan Newman, asked if he had to box another driver, who would he choose as a fair opponent. ” …just due to my height, my weight and everything else and just because I think he is a scrapper, I think Jimmy Spencer would be a heck of a boxing match. He grew up around a junkyard; he has got to have some fight in him… Plus I know he has thrown a few punches before.”
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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BMS FANS FROM 50 STATES, 11 NATIONS TO TAKE PART IN FOOD CITY 500 PRE-RACE CEREMONIES
BRISTOL, Tenn. (Monday, March 16, 2009) – Bristol Motor Speedway’s fans come from all across the country, as well as internationally, and on Sunday, March 22 prior to the start of the Food City 500, their loyalty and dedication to BMS will be recognized.
Among the BMS ticket holders are fans from each of the 50 states, as well as 11 countries. Sunday morning, fans from their home states and their native countries will take part in a spectacular pre-race ceremony designed to thank Bristol Motor Speedway’s most important commodity, its race fans.
All 50 state flags and the flags of Canada, England, Australia, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Scotland, Norway, Luxembourg, Columbia and Puerto Rico will be displayed on the track, presented by fans from their respective states and countries.
BMS officials solicited fans from its ticket holder data base via an email blast last week and the response was overwhelming. To date, more than 5,000 fans have responded asking for the honor of representing their state or country. Nearly 1,200 answered within the first 43 minutes after the call was issued.
“We are really looking forward to this,” said BMS president Jeff Byrd. “Our fans have always been the most loyal in the sport and they always have supported us. They are responsible for the tremendous success we have here at Bristol Motor Speedway and we believe this is a great way to honor them.”
Also, as part of the pre-race ceremony on Sunday, a massive 60’x90’ American flag will be unfurled during the singing of the national anthem. Approximately 100 members of the United States armed forces, from all branches of the military, will take part in unfurling the flag. Members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard also will display their respective flags during the pre-race ceremony.
The Food City 500 gets under way at 2 p.m. Sunday. Qualifying for the event takes place March 20 at 3:40 p.m. The Scotts Turf Builder 300 is March 21 at 2:30 p.m., with qualifying getting underway that morning at 9:40 a.m.
Tickets still are available for the Scotts Turf Builder 300 (Starting at $45) and Food City 500 (starting at $93). Tickets for Ford Fan Friday, March 20, are just $5 and fans with specially marked Pepsi cans will be admitted free.
Tickets may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.
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*** TV TUNE-IN ALERT ***
WHAT: NASCAR Driver Jeff Burton on ABC Daytime’s “General Hospital”
WHEN: Airs Wed., March 18 on ABC at 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. PT and on SoapNet at 10 p.m. ET/PT
STORYLINE: Burton visits neighborhood tavern Jake’s where he has a conversation with bartender Coleman (Blake Gibbons) when Dr. Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson) arrives and despite being a race car enthusiast, the neurosurgeon does not recognize the driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala SS and a comedic beat ensues.
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Powerhouse Racing/ECR Engines Dominate GT-1 Class at Tom Nehl National
WELCOME, N.C. (March 16, 2009) – An Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engine powerplant dominated the GT1 field March 8 at the 31st annual Tom Nehl National hosted by the Sports Car Club of America’s Buccaneer Region at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Ga.
The win was the first for ECR Engines outside of NASCAR competition.
Owner/driver Terry Giles put the No. 85 H2O Overdrive/ECR Engines/Base Race Fuel Corvette C6 on the pole during qualifying and led every lap. Giles earned back-to-back South Atlantic Road Racing GT-1 championships in 2007-2008, and boasts more than 100 victories and more than 200 podium finishes in his road racing career.
“ECR gave us incredible horsepower and torque – the car was amazing,” said Giles after the race. “The entire staff at ECR has embraced this venture and I’m confident in the amazing technology and horsepower they provide. We’re very proud to bring them their first victory outside of NASCAR.”
The team’s next event is during the 2009 SCCA Trans-Am season opening weekend, March 21-22, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.
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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
Benny Gordon attempting series debut at Bristol: USAR Pro Cup driver Benny Gordon will attempt to make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend in Bristol. The team is owned by Benny Gordon and Frank Varischetti and will operate out of Dubois, PA. The team will continue to run some of the USAR Pro Cup races. They plan to run a limited schedule of 10 races at minimum, including Bristol, Richmond, Iowa, Dover, Texas, New Hampshirem, and possibly Nashville. They will use engines from Roush-Yates. Primary sponsors will be Verischetti & Sons and Samuel & Sons Metals.(Benny Gordon PR)(3-16-2009)
JR Motorsports announces additional plans for #5: JR Motorsports today announced additional plans for its #5 Nationwide Series team for 2009, with veteran drivers Ryan Newman, Scott Wimmer and Tony Stewart joining team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and all-time series wins leader Mark Martin for the 21-race schedule. Wimmer will compete in six events in the #5 Chevy and Newman in four, with America’s largest fastener distributor, Fastenal, as the primary sponsor. Stewart’s one race for JR Motorsports will be in a Delphi-sponsored Chevy at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Oct. 16. The driver additions leave only two races on the No. 5 team’s 21-race schedule unfulfilled – the road-course events at Watkins Glen on Aug. 8 and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30. Driver plans for those races will be announced at a later date.(JR Motorsports PR)(3-16-2009)
Food City on the #24 at Bristol: The #24 Hefty Odor Block Ford will be sporting the Food City logo on the lower rear quarter-panels and C-post in Saturday’s event at Bristol.(McClure PR)(3-16-2009)
flipNbags on the #73 at Bristol: Primary sponsor on the #73 Derrike Cope Racing Nationwide car at Bristol will be flipNbags. flipNbags is a line of totes and coolers designed for recreational use along with business products such as PDA and notebook cases.(SOSi Marketing PR)(3-16-2009)
Armour Meats on the #33 at Bristol: This week the #33 KHI Chevy will sport the colors of Armour canned meats, a brand of Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC. This will be the only race for Armour canned meats, but Vlasic pickles and Hungry-Man frozen dinners and entrees, also brands of Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC, will run on the #33 Chevy later in the 2009 season at O’Reilly Raceway Park and Homestead-Miami Speedway. (KHI PR)(3-16-2009)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Bristol:
…Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas. McDowell scored a sixth-place finish, his first top-10 and best effort in eight Nationwide Series starts. He has taken Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors twice in the first three races this season.
…At least one Raybestos Rookie has now scored top-10 finishes in two of the first three races this season.
…Four Raybestos Rookies finished inside the top-10 in the Sam’s Town 300: McDowell, Brendan Gaughan (seventh), Justin Allgaier (eighth) and Scott Lagasse Jr. (ninth), a record for a Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas race.
…Gaughan, Allgaier and Lagasse Jr. each scored their best Nationwide Series career finish at Las Vegas.
…At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in two of the first three Nationwide Series races this season.
…Brendan Gaughan leads Michael McDowell by five points (37-32) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Scott’s Turf Builder 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
…Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the Nationwide Series standings: Gaughan (fourth) and McDowell (10th).
…Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Scott’s Turf Builder 300, scoring a 22nd-place finish.
(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc. PR)(3-16-2009)
St. Clair Foods to sponsor SK Motorsports in Bristol UPDATE more info: David Green’s #07-SK Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series team will be sponsored by St. Clair Foods in next weekend’s Scotts Turfbuilder 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Officials from St. Clair Foods also said the company has signed a “multirace sponsorship” with more races to be announced later.(Scene Daily), see an image of the car on the #07 Paint Schemes page.(3-13-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/07nationwide.htm
UPDATE: Later that night, Green will also sport the St. Clair logo in the Saturday Night Special at Bristol. Green will be joined by other NASCAR icons driving late-model cars for charity in the 50-lap race. St. Clair Foods began in Memphis, Tennessee in 1976 making four signature salad dressings. Three decades later the company is one of the premier deli salad and frozen side dish manufacturers in the country.(St. Clair Racing PR)(3-14-2009)
Stott Classic Racing to attempt Bristol: Coming off the team’s best finish ever last week at Las Vegas [23rd], Stott Classic Racing and driver Andy Ponstein will head to Bristol to compete in the Scotts Turf Builder 300.(3-13-2009)
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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
Benson to compete in Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race: A star-studded field of Hollywood’s elite will attempt to outpace and out-maneuver each other Saturday, April 18 in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, part of the 35th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.. The field of 20 drivers will compete in brand new race-ready Scion tCs in what has become the world’s longest-running, most successful celebrity racing event. Jamie Little, ESPN/ABC pit reporter for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, who was the celebrity and overall winner of the 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, returns to compete in the “Pro” category this year against Al Unser, Jr., the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, two-time CART Series Champion and overall winner of the 1985 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Johnny Benson, 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and Coy Gibbs, owner of the JGRMX Supercross/Motocross Team.[For more information on the event, see the Jayski Charities Page.](Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race PR)(3-16-2009)
http://www.jayski.com/pages/charities.htm#celb-race
Hernandez looking to race in top series: One of NASCAR’s most successful Drive for Diversity participants and graduates Jesus Hernandez continues to look for opportunities to race in 2009. The 27-year-old developmental driver for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing is currently speaking to potential sponsors to help make him the only Mexican-American driver to race in one of NASCAR’s top touring series in 2009. Hernandez has already has proven success in multiple series in which he has competed. Starting at the grassroots level of NASCAR racing, he won back-to-back track championship titles, two rookie-of-the-year honors, and broke a track record while running at the Madera Speedway and Irwindale Speedway in California. “For me, now is the time to make it at the next level,” said Hernandez. “We have potential to reach the Hispanic market unlike most other drivers. A sponsor can really target that demographic through our team. We’ve got great people and support from a top-level Sprint Cup team. We’ve proven ourselves on the track and can get the job done. We’re talking to a lot of potential sponsors, but nothing is solidified today.” Hernandez is exploring a partial schedule in the Camping World Truck, Nationwide or a possible return to the Camping World East Series in 2009.(Breaking Limits PR)(3-16-2009)
Carmichael could run entire schedule? NASCAR Camping World Truck Series newcomer Ricky Carmichael may wind up running more races this season than originally scheduled. Carmichael, a 15-time American Motorcyclist Association champion, could run the entire 25-race schedule after being originally slated to make just 14 starts, Kevin Harvick Inc. co-owner Kevin Harvick said Friday. The team is looking to find additional sponsorship for Carmichael to run all of the remaining races. “He’s kind of sent us in a tailspin to be honest with you, because he’s done so well,” Harvick said during a stop at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to promote the Sprint All-Star Race. “We’re kind of backpedaling. We’ve got [the next race at] Martinsville situated for him to race. “We’ll race three [KHI] trucks there at Martinsville. We’re struggling to keep up with him from a sponsorship side because we didn’t really expect him to do everything that he’s done.” Carmichael’s former motocross sponsor, Monster Energy drink, is backing the Clearwater, Fla., native in the majority of the races. “Right now I mean we’re looking to fill the gaps,” Harvick said. “He had 14 scheduled, and then we ran Atlanta, and everything looks good for Martinsville so we’re up to 16 already, so we’ve got nine to fill, and if we can find that funding we’ll fill it.”(SceneDaily.com)(3-13-2009)
Peters off to good start; more sponsorship needed for full-season run: In a sport where it’s often said that money buys speed, Timothy Peters [#17-Toyota] is hoping that speed buys money. If not, there’s a chance he won’t run the full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Despite being ninth in the series standings with a pair of top-10s in the season’s first three races, Peters has only enough sponsorship to attempt the first four events, although at least a couple more appear likely. While the team does have two sponsors that Peters considers primary – Strutmasters.com and the Providence, N.C.,-based Hayes Iron & Metal – neither is planning to support Peters in that role for the full 25-race season. That makes his performance in the races he is guaranteed all the more important. So no matter how hard it gets to find sponsorship right now, Peters won’t give up easily. “It’s my job to get up on the wheel and see what we can do to extend our schedule,” he said. “And if it comes down to possibly having to do a race-by-race [schedule] and it comes down to nail-biting time hoping that the check gets in the mail before you leave to go to the race track, I guess that’s the way we’re going to have to survive it.”(SceneDaily.com)(3-13-2009)
Congrats to David & Kim Starr: Congratulations to David and Kim Starr on the birth of their son, David Starr, Jr., who was born at 11:21am March 12, 2009. He weighed in at 7 lbs. and is 17 inches long. He is perfect and healthy. All is good. Mom and baby are doing great and David is “very proud!”(DavidStarr.com) (3-13-2009)
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Andy Lally to Race Mustang Challenge Series at Homestead
The Race Site – USA
… oval in NASCAR Camping World Truck competition to racing prototypes on the same road course layout that the Mustang Challenge is utilizing this weekend. …
http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm?template=magazine&mag_id=16569
Carmichael still in touch with his two-wheel side
Nascar – USA
But there’s also no question that Carmichael, 29, who plans to race more than half of the 2009 Camping World Truck Series schedule for Kevin Harvick Inc., …
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/features/03/15/rcarmichael.motocross.nascar.switch/
Todd Bodine Without A Sponsor: He’ll Be on the Sidelines Looking in
Bleacher Report – San Francisco,CA,USA
It’s a shame to see their sponsorship have effectively eliminated one of the top five drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history. …
http://snipurl.com/dzkx0
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
http://www.arcaracing.com
Crew Chiefs Calling the Shots All Week Long on ’30 at 30′; Andrews and Kimmel Leading Off…..
TOLEDO OH (3-16-09) – Behind every successful driver is a successful crew chief, or so it seems. Call ‘em coaches, strategists, wizards, gamblers or gurus; but more often than not, they call the shots on raceday.
[Read More] – http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=7735
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Celebrating Tim Richmond With a Race
Bleacher Report – San Francisco,CA,USA
Now, 20 years later the ARCA RE/MAX Series will be paying tribute to Tim Richmond when they race at Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio. …
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/139142-celebrating-tim-richmond-with-a-race
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Courtesy of USAR
http://usarprocup.com
17-Year-Old Trevor Farbo Announces 2009 USARacing Pro Cup Series Plans
CONCORD, N.C. – After soldiering through a steep learning curve in 2008, Trevor Farbo has his sights set on a run at the 2009 rookie of the year title. Pending sponsorship, Trevor hopes to attempt all 14 races on the USARacing Pro Cup Series schedule.
“The end of the 2008 racing season really brought on a lot of uncertainty for us,” said Trevor. “We weren’t really sure what direction we were going to go in order to continue developing my racing career. Now that USARacing has a full schedule planned, there is no place we would rather be.”
Read more – http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2964
Bobby Gill Set to Compete for 5th Championship in USARacing Pro Cup Series
Concord, NC – March 13, 2009 – It’s been a long winter for USARacing’s four-time Champion, Bobby Gill. Like a bear just awakening from a seasonal hibernation, Gill is on a determined quest to get back to doing what he does best: winning races and capturing Championships in the Pro Cup Series.
When the green flag drops at Concord (NC) Speedway on April 4 for USARacing’s season-opener, this intense driver’s main mission will be to add numbers to his ‘wins’ column and to become the Series’ only five-time Champion. A Dalton, GA. native who now resides in the Concord area, Gill is confident that he and car owner, Jamie Mosley, have assembled a competitive package that will put them in contention for that prestigious championship.
“It would mean a lot to me to win another Championship, but it would mean more to win a second one with this team,” says Gill. “We’ve been working non-stop since the ’07 season ended, trying new things and hoping to hit on a perfect combination. The competition level is high in this Series, so we know we have to be on top of our game each and every week.”
Read more – http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2963
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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
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/031409.html
Legends Helping Legends of Racing
by Brenda Benedict
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/031509.html
Technology Brings Fans Closer To The Racing Action
by Kim Roberson
The Nascar Insiders
The NASCAR Week That Was: March 8-14
After four races we are on our first off week of the season and the news out of the sport reflects that.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/gDjQ2m2i1Lc/
Life in the Turn Lane: An idea whose time has come
By David Poole
It’s good to see that the folks at Mansfield Motorsports Park and the Automobile Racing Club of America have decided to name the June 20 race at that track the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200. The decision makes sense for many …
http://turn-lane.blogspot.com/2009/03/idea-whose-time-has-come.html
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/MP/031609.html
Fifteen Minutes of Fame and Two Weeks of Controversy
by Matthew Pizzolato
The Daly Planet: Internet Conspiracy Theories Live On SPEED
By Daly Planet Editor
NASCAR fans are used to the TV networks and the NASCAR Media Group surrounding the Sprint Cup Series races with enough cameras to film almost everything. Last week Yahoo! Sports even featured video of Carl Edwards running to the …
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/03/internet-conspiracy-theories-live-on.html
The Nascar Insiders
Start And Park Teams Aren’t Ruining NASCAR
Are you getting sick of the start and park discussion? If you said yes then I’m on board with you. But before we call it quits I figured I would write one more post about it.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/TBEBnFoRrew/
Does Parenthood Change NASCAR Drivers?
Bleacher Report – San Francisco,CA,USA
by Mary Jo Buchanan (Senior Writer) There seems to be a rash of new babies being born recently into the NASCAR family. Just this week, David Starr, …
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/139722-does-parenthood-change-nascar-drivers
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/031709.html
So You Want to Put Sunoco Racing Fuel in Your Street Car
by Allen Madding
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/NB/031709.html
Jimmie Johnson: A Quiet Storm Waiting to Erupt?
by Nick Blake
The Nascar Insiders
Where’s The Truck Series Love?
In past posts here at TNI, we’ve made no bones about the fact that we think the Truck Series gets the shaft.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/JrAAmViYsls/
RaceTalkRadio.com:
Top 35 Rule Ironically Better for Keeping Away Start and Parks, (And Other Random Thoughts from a Mad Man) by Dennis Michelsen
http://www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id243.htm
Time to Fill
by Carol Einarsson
I sometimes come up with creative ways to fill an off weekend spot on Tuesday. Other times I wait on an inspiration and find that before I know it, it’s Monday night and I’ve still got nothin’.
http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=576
Good, Bad, & Ugly – For Some, It Is Bristol Or Bust
They say a change is as GOOD as a rest, so here is hoping that we get both with Bristol next on our dance card. Daytona wasn’t bad, but the ending left us unfulfilled. California was an insomniac’s cure. Las Vegas was alright, though not all agree.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/031709Thornton.asp
Scare Tactics in the 21st Century
In lieu of any NASCAR racing news this week, I’m going to make a drastic departure from the standard NASCAR fare, and speak about a scary health problem I’ve just discovered:
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/031709VanZandt.asp
(Early)…Race for the Chase
Four races into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and the top twelve (contenders) are quickly stating to resemble the past season’s standings.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/031609Taylor.asp
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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
Tue Mar 17
2:30 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
8:00 am This Week in NASCAR – NASCAR Hall of Fame Special SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
Wed Mar 18
1:30 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
Thu Mar 19
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
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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The Stock Car Gazette
Copyright 2002-2009 by MotorSportsNews.Net
All Rights Reserved
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