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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by MotorSportsNews.Net

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The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by:

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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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THIS edition I have the correct points standings… post-Calfornia, not post-Daytona. That’s what happens when I try to hurry, like this morning, too. No telling what mistakes are below, but hey, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m human.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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TV Times - Daytona Rated Higher Than NFL, NCAA Final Four, & NBA Finals
By: Lou Modestino

That Sunday’s (2/18/07) Daytona 500 on FOX produced a 10.1/20 rating/share and an average audience of 17.53 million viewers according to “fast national” figures released today by Nielsen Media Research.

For more, visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/319

Quotes of the Week
By: Mike Irwin

Junebug done blowed up for good!

For more, please visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/317
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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California Dreamin’
by Mike Irwin
Anyone else besides me remember that song? In high school, for four years, in mixed chorus, it was the first song that the director would drag out and run through with us.

For more, visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/311

Scandal Will Not End Well For Waltrip Team

All the posturing continues, and David Hyder waits patiently to tell his side of the story.

You think this has been good so far? This could get better. A lot better.

For more, visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/316

Best Wishes to Bobby Hudson, Carl Edwards’ Spotter
motorsportsnews.net/archives/310

Harry Gant and Dennis Setzer Appearing at UARA Season Opener

Two of Hickory’s native sons that have made great names for themselves will be on hand to help the UARA kick off the year. NASCAR Legend Harry Gant and current Craftsman Truck Series regular Dennis Setzer will be on hand to help welcome the fans to what promises to be some of the most exciting short track racing in the Southeast. Gant and Setzer will be present during the pre-race autograph session-a UARA tradition.

motorsportsnews.net/archives/320
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N A S C A R * N E X T E L * C U P * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Catchfence.Com
www.catchfence.com

Interim Crew Chief Chip Bolin Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew of the Race
www.catchfence.com/press/022607t.html

NASCAR Café, Las Vegas Announces Drivers Appearances: The NASCAR Café at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada will, once again, offer race fans an exciting line up of NASCAR Drivers during the 2007 race week. Mark Martin, Regan Smith, Matt Kenseth and Todd Kluever will hold separate autograph sessions on Thursday March 8, 2007 and Friday March 9, 2007. Thursday March 8, 2007: Matt Kenseth - 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM & Todd Kluever - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Friday March 9, 2007: Mark Martin - 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM & Regan Smith - 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Wrist Bands will be distributed at the NASCAR Café Carzilla Bar as follows: Thursday Wrist bands for Matt Kenseth at 10:00 AM. Friday Wrist bands for Mark Martin at 10:00AM - RPG Events & PR For NASCAR Café, Press Release
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com

More Daytona Fines Handed Out
NASCAR announced today that three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chiefs have been fined for rule violations committed during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.

# Lee McCall, crew chief for the No. 49 Dodge driven by Mike Bliss, has been fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment do not conform to NASCAR Rules), and 20-12.1 (unapproved lower rear spring mounts/offset) of the 2007 series rule book. The violation was discovered during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.
# Randy Seals, crew chief for the No. 34 Dodge driven by Kevin Lepage, has been fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20-12.1 (unapproved lower rear spring mounts/slotted). The violation was likewise discovered during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.
# Scott Miller, crew chief for the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton, has also been fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20-12.1 (unapproved rear spring lower truck trailing arm mount/slotted). This violation was discovered during opening day inspection for the Budweiser Shootout.

Lap Leader Award For Kenseth
Matt Kenseth led seven times for 133 laps to earn WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in the Auto Club 500. Kenseth took the honor for the first time this season. Kenseth has at least one lap in both races this season. In two races, he has led a total of eight times for 139 laps. Kenseth won Sunday’s race at California Speedway, scoring his 15th NEXTEL Cup Series victory in his 258th career start. He crossed the finish line .679 seconds ahead of second-place Jeff Gordon.

Top 10 Reasons For Red Bull To Celebrate a Top-10 Finish
10. Not only is it a top 10, it’s our first-ever finish in a points race
9. A top 10 in NASCAR equates to a top 5 in Formula One
8. Solid proof the Toyota engine can run strong for longer than a truck race
7. Sin City is the next race
6. Did we mention the No. 83 is in the coveted top 35 in owner’s points?
5. Bonuses for everybody at the race shop
4. All the more reason to break into all those cases of Red Bull
3. Now we can start selling t-shirts, hats and diecasts
2. Sunday night’s red-eye flight home from California goes a lot quicker
1. Matt’s Monday is Free Fries at Arby’s (thanks to Busch and Cup race winner Matt Kenseth)
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

Nine Cup drivers NOT taking the weekend off: Nine Nextel Cup Drivers will participate in the Busch Series event at Mexico City. The Busch Series returns to the road course in Mexico City for the third consecutive season on Sunday, and nine Nextel Cup drivers plan to participate. Defending winner Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Dave Blaney, J.J. Yeley, David Gilliland, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Reutimann.(2-27-2007)

Newman’s tire changer has tough pit stop: Ryan Newman’s #12 team was able to avoid serious problems during its first pit stop on lap 9 at California Speedway when a lug nut off the right-rear wheel flew up and hit rear-tire changer Joe Piette Jr. in his left eye, knocking out his contact lens and leaving him without the vision in that eye. “I’m just glad Newman didn’t come over the radio after he left the pits to ask if all the lug nuts were tight. Maybe I’m better at changing tires when I’m blind,” Piette joked as he told the story to Penske teammates. “I have never had that happen to me. The lug nut didn’t cut my eye, but it knocked out the contact lens. It was weird.” The NASCAR official standing in the pit stall located Piette’s contact and after washing it off, Piette returned it to its proper place and was ready to get back to work. “I literally got the lens washed off just before you came in for the second stop,” Piette told Newman. When Piette was asked how he was doing on Monday, he replied, “I can definitely feel that I got hit in the eye, but other than a small bruise at the corner of my eye, you can’t see anything. I can see just fine.”(Penske Racing)(2-27-2007)

AAA SYCS scheme: #6-David Ragan is scheduled to run a AAA Show Your Card and Save (SYCS) Special at the Phoenix race in April and other select other races during the 2007 Nextel Cup Season. See an image on my #6 Team Schemes page.(2-27-2007) www.jayski.com/schemes/2007/6cup.htm

Dale Jr. has good races after 2 DNF’s in row: when #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t finish the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday, it was the 4th time in his career that he had two straight races with DNF’s [did not finish]. At Texas in 2000 after two straight DNF’s Earnhardt won; At Phoenix in 2004, he won; At Indy in 2006 he finished 6th; and at Las Vegas in 2007…..? (ESPN’s NASCAR Now)(2-27-2007)

Reutimann’s crash among hardest ever recorded by NASCAR: The g-force impact during David Reutimann’s crash Sunday at California Speedway is among the hardest ever recorded, NASCAR officials told ESPN.com on Monday. NASCAR doesn’t disclose exact figures. “We can’t say it’s the hardest [impact], period, because there are so many variables involved,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. “But it is among the hardest impacts we’ve recorded.” Reutimann was riding along one lap down with 11 laps remaining in the Auto Club 500 when #16-Greg Biffle approached from behind. Biffle tapped Reutimann, sending the #00 Domino’s Pizza Toyota head-on into the outside wall. The car lifted off the ground and was completely destroyed. The in-car video feed showed Reutimann slumped over the steering wheel, appearing to be knocked unconscious. But MWR vice president Ty Norris told ESPN.com Monday that Reutimann stressed to the team he was not unconscious, but rather was unable to breathe upon impact. Norris said Reutimann’s left foot is badly bruised, having gotten hung up in the pedals during the crash. Reutimann flew home with the team Sunday night and slept for some 80% of the flight, Norris said. Norris said Reutimann’s speech is clear, but he’s walking with a noticeable limp. Reutimann is resting at home, and still plans to run the Busch Series race this weekend in Mexico City, Norris said.(ESPN.com)(2-26-2007)

Aikman subs for Schroeder as starter at California: Troy Aikman isn’t accustomed to filling in as a sub, but he gladly accepted the role Sunday when asked to wave the green flag for the Auto Club 500. The NFL Hall of Famer replaced actor Rick Schroeder, who was scheduled to do the honors before telling California Speedway officials Saturday that he couldn’t make it. Speedway officials were scrambling to find a replacement. Getting another actor wasn’t a good option in Southern California on the day of the Academy Awards. But Aikman already was at the track. He’s the co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing with another former fellow Dallas Cowboys quarterback — Roger Staubach. They own the #96 DLP Chevy driven by Tony Raines.(ESPN.com), Aikman also threw footballs out to the crowd from the flagstand.(2-26-2007)

SPEED to air COT Specials this week: SPEED will air a pair of 30-minute specials from the NASCAR “Car of Tomorrow” test sessions from Bristol Motor Speedway on February 28 and March 1 at 7:00pm/et. “NASCAR is expecting somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 cars to participate … with some teams bringing more than one car,” said Frank Wilson, SPEED VP of Production. “This is a huge test that will set the table for the rest of the NASCAR race season … how teams handle this car will go a long way toward determining the 2007 Nextel Cup championship.” John Roberts will host the SPEED coverage with analysis from Larry McReynolds and reporting from Bob Dillner.(SPEED PR), Each session begins at 9:00 and ends at 5:00pm, weather permitting, with a one-hour lunch break at noon. Forty-eight teams are scheduled to participate in the two-day test.(2-26-2007)

Dover keeps traditional early start times: The Nextel Cup Series schedule has evolved over time, and with the influence of television, NASCAR has opted to begin many of its races later in the afternoon or early evening hours. With the recent announcement of most of the 2007 Nextel Cup Series start times, fans of the Monster Mile received good news. Stemming from the voice of race fans accustomed to the traditional start times for the races at Dover International Speedway, NASCAR has announced 1:30pm/et start times for both the June 3 and September 23, 2007 Nextel Cup races. Dover has claim to two of the three earliest Nextel Cup Series race start times in 2007. All other races are scheduled to begin after 2:00pm/et. NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on June 1-3 and September 21-23, 2007. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(2-27-2007)

Martinsville Offers Fan Suite Seating: For the first time Martinsville Speedway is offering luxury suite seating to fans for the March 30-April 1 events. Each suite pass includes suite seating for Carilion Pole Day on March 30, the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March 31 and the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup race on April 1. Also included with each suite pass will be a pre-race pit pass for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. There will be one South Lot Parking pass included for each two suite passes ordered. Lunch and snacks will be served on Saturday and Sunday and appetizers on Friday. Pepsi products will be served all weekend long. A cash bar will be available all three days. The cost of the luxury suite seating is $450 per seat. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-27-2007)
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Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Kent D. - thanks!

Harvick not deflated by flat tire
OCRegister - Orange County,CA,USA
Childress gave Harvick the Earnhardt ride (after changing the car number from 3 to 29) but struggled to get Steve Park, Robby Gordon and Jeff Green …
www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/homepage/article_1591275.php

Fan indifference could lead NASCAR to ditch California CBS News - New York City,NY,USA
The wild finish of the Daytona 500 had the nation talking NASCAR most of the week, pushing all the controversies aside. The taint of cheating scandals and …
cbs.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/10024190

Harvick, Burton, Bowyer in top 10 after California Harvick, along with Snap-on pilots and RCR teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, gave Kenseth all he could handle late in the afternoon, but Kenseth was able to hold off all comers and earn Jack Roush his 13th career California …
www.snapon.com/racing/default.asp?fn=monday_02252007&guid=555

Does NASCAR give sponsors too much power? - Examiner.com
snipurl.com/1bgzj-stockc

NASCAR points leader Martin could have difficult time scaling back …
Online Athens (subscription) - Athens,GA,USA He’s scheduled to spend March 23-25 in Lake City, Fla., racing late models with his son, Matt, and NASCAR newcomer Ricky Carmichael. …
www.onlineathens.com/stories/022707/sports_20070227017.shtml

A.J. Almendinger:
Going is rough, but going to NASCAR was the right thing Sacramento Bee - Sacramento,CA,USA
“I really like watching those NASCAR races on TV,” the Nextel Cup rookie deadpanned. “I’m really looking forward to actually being in one — one of these …
www.sacbee.com/100/story/129480.html
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The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 — And Beyond
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2007) — Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 along with some other notable drivers, going into the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 11. …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=244474

Standings after Fontana, courtesy of www.motorsport.com
Date 2007-02-25

Pos Driver Points Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
1. Mark Martin 335 2 0 2 2
2. Jeff Burton 330 2 0 2 2
3. Jeff Gordon 309 2 0 1 2
4. Kevin Harvick 307 2 1 1 1
5. David Ragan* 270 2 0 1 1
6. Clint Bowyer 264 2 0 0 1
7. Joe Nemechek 259 2 0 0 1
8. J.J. Yeley 251 2 0 0 0
9. Kyle Busch 239 2 0 0 1
10. David Stremme 236 2 0 0 0
11. David Gilliland 235 2 0 0 1
12. Matt Kenseth 232 2 1 1 1
13. Johnny Sauter 224 2 0 0 0
14. Robby Gordon 218 2 0 0 0
15. Jimmie Johnson 216 2 0 1 1
16. Elliott Sadler 216 2 0 0 1
17. Greg Biffle 211 2 0 0 0
18. Denny Hamlin 209 2 0 0 0
19. Kurt Busch 196 2 0 0 1
20. Juan Montoya* 191 2 0 0 0
21. Tony Stewart 186 2 0 0 1
22. Ryan Newman 181 2 0 0 0
23. Bobby Labonte 179 2 0 0 0
24. Casey Mears 173 2 0 0 0
25. Sterling Marlin 170 2 0 0 0
26. Carl Edwards 170 2 0 0 0
27. Ricky Rudd 167 2 0 0 0
28. Dale Jarrett 164 2 0 0 0
29. Mike Wallace 160 1 0 1 1
30. Reed Sorenson 158 2 0 0 0
31. Tony Raines 158 2 0 0 0
32. Kasey Kahne 150 2 0 0 1
33. Kyle Petty 139 2 0 0 0
34. Brian Vickers 134 1 0 0 1
35. Jeff Green 128 2 0 0 0
36. Jamie McMurray 122 2 0 0 0
37. Boris Said 121 1 0 0 0
38. Martin Truex Jr. 118 2 0 0 0
39. Ken Schrader 113 2 0 0 0
40. Dave Blaney 112 2 0 0 0
41. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 110 2 0 0 0
42. David Reutimann* 107 2 0 0 0
43. Paul Menard* 103 1 0 0 0
44. Scott Riggs 67 2 0 0 0
45. John Andretti 61 1 0 0 0
46. Michael Waltrip -27 1 0 0 0
* Series rookie
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Courtesy of Scene Daily
www.scenedaily.com

Toyota earns first Cup top-10 finish, climbs in points
Toyota endured another Nextel Cup weekend battling long odds, but this one ended with a bright spot on the track.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22709770

Overnight TV ratings even
Fox’s broadcast of Sunday’s Auto Club 500 Nextel Cup race from California Speedway earned an overnight Nielsen Media Research rating of 6.2 and a 11 share, Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22711319

Martin takes points lead with top finish
FONTANA, Calif. - Mark Martin maintains that he will not run at Bristol Motor Speedway March 25, no matter where he falls in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings. Fate is tempting him, though, in the form of his first points lead since 2002.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22711320

Nemechek showing early strength despite lack of points
FONTANA, Calif. - Joe Nemechek, not even a lock in the field for the season’s first two races, is now in the top 10 in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22711323

Waltrip launches fundraising competition
Nextel Cup team owner/driver Michael Waltrip has announced a partnership with the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation for the Waltrip Challenge, a competition to help raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease research
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22711325
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
www.thatsracin.com

Kevin Harvick takes
top spot in rankings

Flat tire with four to go probably the only reason he isn’t riding a two-race win streak.
www.thatsracin.com/242/story/3190.html

Notes: ‘Part-timer’ Martin on top in points
www.thatsracin.com/242/story/3188.html

For NASCAR, business is good, but how’s the racing?
www.thatsracin.com/108/story/3155.html
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Courtesy of www.Valvoline.com

Yes, He REALLY Said That
Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge Motorsports, on exploring the limits in NASCAR tech inspection: “It’s the American way. It really is. It’s no different than taking advantage of a loophole that exists in the tax laws. You’re not cheating, but you found something. Now it’s up to the sanctioning body to say, ‘Hey, you discovered this loophole and we are either going to continue to let it be a gray area or we’re going to close it, and thanks very much for bringing it to our attention.’ ”
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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California Haze

During the critical qualifying lap last Friday at Fontana, Furniture Row Racing ran straight into bad luck. The team failed to qualify for the race. Joe Garone, General Manager of Furniture Row Racing explains what happened.

“It was a good day until we broke a part in the engine. All practice Kenny was able to run times that insured us into the race. The car was running well, and we finished up practice 29th overall. But more importantly, we were 5th fastest of the 16 cars needing to make the race on time. During his first two qualifying laps, Kenny entered into turn one, and when he got back to the throttle, the engine broke. It would still run, but it was only at 60% power.

Despite the disappointment of missing the race, we feel improvement is being made in the car, engine, and team. This was plain bad luck.”

Will Furniture Row Racing have lady luck on their side when they take to the track in Vegas in two weeks? Stay tuned

For Information on Furniture Rrw Racing: www.furniturerowracing.com
(Thanks, Heather)

Johnson Mural Featuring Valspar Paint Up For Bid On EBay
All Proceeds Will Go To The Jimmie Johnson Foundation
(MOORESVILLE, N.C) – NASCAR fans can go to EBay beginning March 1 to bid on a signed Jimmie Johnson mural painted by sports artist David Arrigo featuring Valspar Ultra Premium paint, Lowe’s exclusive line of interior paint.
The mural, which Arrigo painted over the course of four days while attending the International Builder’s Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. this month, features highlights of the Lowe’s Chevrolet driver’s 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship season.
Lowe’s and Valspar also used the IBS as a setting to unveil its new paint program, announcing that Valspar’s premium-quality interior and exterior paint, previously sold under the American Tradition label, will be consolidated under the Valspar name.
“As a proud partner of Lowe’s for more than 35 years, Valspar is thrilled to have worked with David Arrigo on this painting that commemorates Jimmie’s championship season,” said Steve Person, vice president of sales and marketing. “It is an honor for Valspar paint to be used in this one of a kind mural. Especially since it will ultimately benefit many people in need throughout the United States through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.”
The mural will be auctioned online (www.ebay.com/jimmiejohnsonfoundation) March 1 through March 10 with all proceeds going to the Jimmie Johnson Foundatio
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N A S C A R * B U S C H * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of BGNRacing.Com
www.bgnracing.com

With a Richard Childress Racing driver development contract in hand and a possible NASCAR career in his future, 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Tim McCreadie has April 20-21 circled on his hectic racing schedule. McCreadie is anxiously awaiting those dates because, if all goes as planned, it could be his final opportunity to win one of the nation’s premier dirt-track events-the Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @Lowe’s Motor Speedway.”As far as RCR, I’m going to go out there and run as hard as I canfor Richard because I’m so excited that he’s given me a chance,” added the 32-year-old racer from Watertown, N.Y. In addition to wheeling Carl and Ann Myers’ No. 39 Sweeteners Plus late model in selected dirt-track events this season, McCreadie will take the first steps in his transition to a possible NASCAR career. He will drive the No. 29 Golden Gate Meat Co. Chevrolet fielded by Jim Offenbach’s Golden Gate Racing in association with RCR in the NASCAR West Series. He may also make a few NASCAR Busch Series appearances for RCR later in the year. (LMS PR) (02-26-07)

NASCAR and ESPN are pitching the Busch Series title rights to most of the significant national brands, and Coca-Cola is one that could emerge as a contender, sources say. Subway, Allstate, Wal-Mart and Samsung also have established themselves in the chase for the title sponsorship. (TSN) (02-23-07)

Yeley Racing Corporation is proud to announce that David Zoriki Motorsports has elected to sponsor J.J. Yeley’s NASCAR Busch Series entry in 2007. Yeley will compete for team owner James Finch and Phoenix Racing by driving the No. 1 Miccosukee Resort Chevrolet, with associate sponsorship from Zoriki. With a background in ownership in the open-wheel ranks, Zoriki embarked on the NASCAR circuit in 2005 and 2006 in the Craftsman Truck Series as a team sponsor. The new partnership with Yeley marks his first venture in the Busch Series. “Dave has sponsored several entries in the past, including my own entry at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa,” Yeley explained. “He has become a great friend, and I look forward to producing great results on the track for him in 2007.” (YRC PR) (02-23-07)

Road racing veteran P.J. Jones will drive Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21 AutoZone Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the March 4 Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez near Mexico City.It was announced Jan. 23, 2007, that AutoZone, the nation’s leading retailer and distributor of automotive parts and accessories, would sponsor the No. 21 AutoZone Chevrolet Monte Carlo team for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season. Two-time and defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick and Timothy Peters have been tapped to run the majority of the season’s races. (That’s Racin’) (02-22-07)
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

Images: About a dozen new images added to the Paint Schemes Page.(2-26-2007)
www.jayski.com/schemes/2007busch.htm

Raybestos Rookie Notes for Mexico: Timothy Peters was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in California. Peters scored a 17th-place finish in his first Busch start of the 2007 season for Richard Childress Racing. Marcos Ambrose holds a three-point lead over Kyle Krisiloff (20-17) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering Mexico. Ambrose is 10th in the Busch Series standings, best of any Rookie. He is 20 points behind ninth-place Regan Smith and six ahead of 11th-place David Reutimann.(Raybestos PR)(2-26-007)

Daytonabrands to Sponsor Jay Robinson Racing: UPDATE: Daytonabrands, Inc. a manufacturer and marketer of automotive products, has finalized an agreement with Jay Robinson Racing, LLC to sponsor the team through 2007. This sponsorship will include the main sponsor (hood and quarter panels) at this weekend’s Busch Series event. Jeff Green will be the driver.(Daytonabrands, Inc. PR)(2-20-2007)
UPDATE: Daytonabrands is expected to be the primary sponsor for at least 5 more races this season. The next primary race will be Las Vegas.(Clipper Marketing PR)(2-26-2007) and see an image of the car on my Paint Schemes Page. www.jayski.com/schemes/2007busch.htm

Revelocity Racing will be heading to the track with a new driver, new partners, and a new plan to bring NASCAR to West Virginia. After exploring options with other teams, the owners began to survey other options and developed a plan to run a 10 race NASCAR Busch series schedule. Brett Rowe, ARCA Champion and West Virginia native, will pilot the Revelocity Racing #73 Ford. The team plans to debut at the Pepsi 300 Busch Race at Nashville. Some of the sponsors for the car are expected to be announced later this week.(Revelocity Racing PR)(2-25-2007)

Brian Conz along with the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction continue with plans to compete in the Busch Series in 2007. New team affiliations are currently being negotiated with official announcement coming soon. Brian also plans to run some ARCA races this year in order to satisfy NASCAR requirements for unrestricted licensing.(Brian Conz PR)(2-25-2007)

Andretti to Run Limited Schedule with Braun: UPDATE 3: John Andretti told Sirius Satellite Radio’s The Driver’s Seat that he will run a limited schedule this year of approximately 15 races in the #10 Camping World Toyota for Braun Racing. He will drive the #37 in Cup this weekend and plans to be back in the #10 Busch car next week at Mexico.(2-22-2007)
UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway is citing unconfirmed reports than John Andretti has been released by Braun Racing, and that Dave Blaney will drive the #10 car for the remainder of the season with sponsorship from ABF U-Pack, Haas Avocados and Camping World. The team will also continue to field a car for Jason Leffler this season.(Sirius Radio)(2-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: John Andretti’s future with Braun Racing could be in jeopardy as sponsor Camping World makes a decision on its future in the Busch Series. “Yeah, he’s currently employed by us,” Braun said Friday. Will he be in a couple of weeks? “I don’t know,” Braun said. “I guess that’ll be determined in a couple of weeks. Camping World is not going to sponsor [us] in the Mexico race, and they were never scheduled to sponsor Las Vegas. The next scheduled race is Atlanta, and probably a decision will be made then.” Andretti, who is driving Front Row Motorsports’ #37 Nextel Cup car this weekend with Camping World sponsorship, said he didn’t know what was going on with Braun and no one from the team has informed him of any changes in his status. Andretti said he has a contract to drive a Braun car in Mexico City.(SceneDaily.com)(2-23-2007)
UPDATE 3: A Toyota Motorsports release about the upcoming Mexcico race states “[Dave] Blaney, [Jason] Leffler and David Reutimann will compete in Toyota Camrys.” Andretti is not mentioned.(2-25-2007)

Zoriki to Sponsor Yeley: Yeley Racing Corporation announced that David Zoriki Motorsports will sponsor J.J. Yeley’s Busch Series entry in 2007. Yeley will compete for Phoenix Racing by driving the #1 Miccosukee Resort Chevy, with associate sponsorship from Zoriki. With a background in ownership in the open-wheel ranks, Zoriki embarked on the NASCAR circuit in 2005 and 2006 in the Craftsman Truck Series as a team sponsor. The new partnership with Yeley marks his first venture in the Busch Series.(Yeley PR)(2-22-2007)
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C R A F T S M A N * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

Bowyer next up for the #2 Camping World Chevy: Clint Bowyer will make his debut in the #2 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway March 16, 2007. Atlanta marks Bowyer’s first of four races for Kevin Harvick Inc. this season; he will also compete at New Hampshire International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.(KHI PR)(2-26-2007)

Exide returns to the #23 at Atlanta: Johnny Benson will drive the #23 Exide Toyota Tundra for the first time this season at the next event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Benson currently sits 3rd in the point standings.(BDR PR)(2-26-2007)
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
www.truckseries.com

California No Better Than Daytona for Martin
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000104/010447.htm

Skinner Benefits from Martin Spin to Win in California
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000104/010441.htm

Solid Truck Series Finish for Harvick at California
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000104/010465.htm

Schrader Scores First Top-15 of the Season
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000104/010459.htm
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
www.arcaracing.com

Nashville Test Next Opportunity…..
NASHVILLE TN (2-26-07) - When we think of the next event on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour, the inaugural Construct Corps-Palm Beach Grading 250 from USA Int’l Speedway in Lakeland, Florida certainly comes to mind as the next race on the 2007 schedule.
Read more… - www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4448/2/

COT Crossroads in America…..
by Andy Belmont - (2-25-07) - Here we are at the corner of walk and don’t walk. The lighted cross walk sign is about to change and the leap of faith is upon us. When the light changes, do we cross and hope that big truck headed in our lane will actually get stopped in time or wait and proceed with caution? This is a time of great change in auto racing, the next phase has been in the mold for quite some time. Time stands still for nobody, racers included.
Read more… - www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4447/2/

ARCA RE/MAX Series Revs Up For USA Int’l Speedway

Several Teams Test in Anticipation for Inaugural ARCA Go
Solid Florida Field Flavor
LAKELAND FL (2-23-07) - On the heels of a nearby superspeedway classic at Daytona, the ARCA RE/MAX Series, in its 55th consecutive season of competition, is headed back to the Sunshine State for a short-track thriller at USA Int’l Speedway in Lakeland, Florida Saturday night, March 24.
Read more… - www.arcaracing.com/content/view/4445/2/
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N A S C A R * C A N A D I A N * T I R E * S E R I E S
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J.R. Fitzpatrick gearing up for this weekend’s Busch Series race in Mexico

INSIDE TRACK EXCLUSIVE:

AYR, ON – J.R. Fitzpatrick is preparing for his NASCAR Busch Series debut this weekend in Mexico. The Ayr, ON resident is getting ready for the outing by playing a computer simulation game that features the 2.518-mile Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course.

Fitzpatrick is the reigning CASCAR Super Series (now NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) champion. In Mexico, he will drive the #0 Johnny Davis-owned Chevy, with sponsorship from longtime Fitzpatrick Motorsports backer Home Hardware. The company has, for years, been the primary sponsor of Fitzpatrick Motorsports’ five-time champ Canadian National Don Thomson Jr.

Fitzpatrick told Inside Track that he just received his new Home Hardware racing suit, which he will wear in Mexico and at the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal. “I feel a bit like Don [Thomson] wearing the Home Hardware suit,” joked Fitzpatrick. “But I’m really happy to have them as sponsor for Mexico and Montreal. They’ve been a big part of our team for a long time and we’re looking to do well for them.”

J.R. Fitzpatrick and several members of the Fitzpatrick Motorsports crew are leaving for Mexico on Thursday. “I still kind of don’t believe this is really happening,” continued Fitzpatrick. “It’s going to be a long week waiting to get on the plane to go racing.”

Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette Canadian correspondent Sean and insidetracknews.blogspot.com
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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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I.N. Sider’s lists 10 people who are on racing’s hot seat in the new Behind [Closed] Garage Doors column, now posted at www.Valvoline.com.

Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/BW/022707.html
My Dale Is Better Than Your Dale! (For Now)
by Brian Watkins

Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/LC/022707.html
Mark Martin..No “Bridesmaid”
by Larry Cottrill
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