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It’s all here… every scrap of NASCAR news we could dig up this morning (with apologies to Digger). Check it out in today’s edition of the Stock Car Gazette. |
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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by http://MotorSportsNews.Net
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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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There will not willingly be any April Fool’s Jokes in this edition.
16 years ago, we lost 1992 Cup Champ, Alan Kulwicki.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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TV Times Extra – Daytona 500 Date May Change In The Future
by: Lou Modestino
According to reports from StockCarGazette.com and NASCAR Now on ESPN2, the Daytona 500 may be forced to change its date. Read more at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3273
For more TV Times, please 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!
Chase Elliot finishs sixth in late model debut
http://www.asalatemodelssouth.com/?p=1368
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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
Chad Knaus Named Best Crew Chief
Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy driven by three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. After starting in the ninth position due to qualifying being rained out, Johnson began fighting a tight race car early in the race. With three cautions in the first 70 laps, Johnson was the only driver on the lead lap to pit twice, losing vital track position and falling as low as 25th place by lap 100. “We went ahead and took the opportunity to pit and try to make the car a little bit better because we knew if we didn’t take the opportunity then, we wouldn’t have enough time to get back up through the field,” said crew chief Knaus.
DirecTV Hotpass Lineup
NASCAR HOTPASS™ on DIRECTV is back, and it’s FREE to all DIRECTV customers. Four dedicated driver channels offering viewers multiple camera angles, real-time statistics and audio of the network broadcast augmented by live communication between the drivers and their pit crews will be available for all 36 point-paying races during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The NASCAR HOTPASS lineup for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth is as follows: DIRECTV Channel 795: Denny Hamlin, and the No. 11 Fed Ex Ground Toyota team of Joe Gibbs Racing
DIRECTV Channel 796: Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Shell / Pennzoil team of Richard Childress Racing
DIRECTV Channel 797: Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the No. 88 National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet team of Hendrick Motorsports
DIRECTV Channel 798: Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Aflac Ford team of Roush Fenway Racing
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Valvoine/Sears scheme for McMurray: This weekend #26-Jamie McMurray will pilot the #26 Valvoline/Sears Auto Center Ford in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. This car is the same car that McMurray last raced at Texas in November 2008 which was the start of his streak of finishing third for the last three races of the 2008 season.(RFR PR)(4-1-2009)
Bodine to have new car and motor at Texas: Todd Bodine and the unsponsored #64 Toyota head to Texas Motor Speedway with momentum and mechanics on their side. Aiding in their effort will be a newly-purchased Toyota with a new motor under the hood. After making Bristol by qualifying 16th and Martinsville thanks to Mother Nature, the Gunselman Gang hopes another great qualifying effort will get them in the show and, in turn, closer to their goal of completing a race. With a crew from SPEED TV scheduled to follow them this weekend, they have extra incentive to make the Samsung 500 qualifying field. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “We were supposed to have SPEED TV following us during practice, qualifying and pre-race last week in Martinsville. But when the weather pretty much cancelled everything but the race, they were nice enough to reschedule for this weekend in Texas. I’d like to thank them for that, too. This should be a good weekend to do that because we’re using a new car and will have a new motor for it, too. Its chassis No. 47 that we bought from Red Bull Racing and AJ Allmendinger won the Showdown with last year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. So, this would be a great weekend for someone to get their name on the hood and quarter panels for both SPEED TV following us and because we are looking for a great racing weekend, too.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(4-1-2009)
National Guard returns on the #24: #24-Jeff Gordon and his Hendrick Motorsports team have a chance to share their patriotism publicly this season by featuring National Guard community-related initiatives on the hood of the #24 Chevy in eight Sprint Cup Series events. The National Guard’s mission is to use the #24 car as a platform to help create awareness on some of the special programs it has to offer. These programs provide such incentives like job opportunities, valuable career training, college tuition, salary and benefits and the guidance needed to excel in life. This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Gordon’s car will spotlight the National Guard’s GED Plus program. The GED Plus program courses take only three weeks and has a success rate of more than 93 percent. Soldiers enlisted under the program earn a monthly paycheck and have the opportunity to select from more than 200 Military Occupational Specialties in which they can become skilled. For more information, visit www.nationalguard.com/JeffGordon.(NASCAR.com)(4-1-2009)
#18 team to honor Labonte: Kyle Busch’s #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota will feature a special paint scheme for the Samsung 500 in honor of Corpus Christi, TX native Bobby Labonte, who will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Labonte was behind the wheel of the #18 Interstate Batteries car for 10 years with team owner Joe Gibbs, which includes his 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship and 21 Sprint Cup career victories. Busch took over the #18 Toyota in 2008, which is sponsored by Interstate Batteries this weekend. The special paint scheme will be on display between 6-7 p.m. at the Speedway Club, with a photo opportunity with Busch, Labonte, CEO of Interstate Batteries Norm Miller and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman/CEO Bruton Smith at 6:30pm. #96-Bobby Labonte and SMI Chairman Bruton Smith, who brought NASCAR back to Texas with the construction of Texas Motor Speedway, will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 1 in The Speedway Club’s Grand Ballroom at Texas Motor Speedway. Labonte and Smith will be available for media interviews between 6-7 p.m. and the dinner ceremony will begin at 7:30pm. Proceeds of the event will benefit Happy Hill Farm, an academy and home for at-risk children.(TMS PR)(4-1-2009)
Guitar Hero Metallica returns at Texas: Guitar Hero Metallica will again partner with #8-Aric Almirola and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for this weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The game, which was released on March 29, allows users to enter the world of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo and experience the intensity and skill of one of the greatest bands of all time.(EGR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #8 Team Schemes page.(4-1-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/8cup.htm
Junior Johnson’s son to make racing debut: Robert Johnson, the son of Junior and Lisa Johnson, is scheduled to be make his racing debut April 4th driving a Late Model car on dirt at Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC. Johnson’s team will be lead by his father and veteran NASCAR crew member Rock Harris. Sponsor’s for Johnson’s effort in 2009 will Carolina Carports and Junior Johnson Country Ham.(Robert and Junior Johnson PR)(4-1-2009)
Sad News – Thom Tittle: Thomas Tittle, 63, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2009. Among many, his other passions were target pistol shooting and volunteering at Victory Junction Gang Camp. He worked at least one weekend or one week at camp every year since it opened in 2004. His hearing impairment made it difficult to work directly with the children so his duties were in the kitchen. Like everything Thom did in his life, he did it lovingly and to the best of his ability. It brought him great joy to help the camp help disabled and sick children get a chance to be “normal” and have a wonderful camp experience. If your heart has been touched by Thom and you would like to do something to truly honor him, consider making a donation to VJGC. 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317 or www.victoryjunction.org. Kim and the family want to thank all of you for your cards, gifts, words of encouragement and prayers. It is Thom’s wishes not to have a funeral service; however, there will be a celebration of his life/open house at a later date. More at Akron Beacon Journal.(4-1-2009)
http://www.legacy.com/Ohio/Obituaries.asp?page=lifestory&personid=125625844
Jeff Gordon’s Crew Grabs Tissot Pit Road Win in Martinsville: The pit crew for Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway. The #24 crew took top honors in the Tissot weekly competition as a result of Gordon’s DuPont Chevrolet Impala SS spending the least amount of time on pit road — 233.463 seconds. The pit road performance was a factor in Gordon’s strong fourth-place finish in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at the historic half-mile flat track. Gordon’s pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. For winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, the No. 24 team will receive $5,000. The team with the most pit road wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will earn a $100,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the driver and over-the-wall crew members.(Tissot/DMF Communications PR)(4-1-2009)
Recycling at Texas: Coca-Cola Recycling and more than 300 volunteers are going to turn Texas Motor Speedway green during the race weekend. Coca-Cola will have recycling bins located along the concourse, Midway souvenir area and VIP campground. Following Sunday’s race, volunteers will file through the aisles to collect recyclable items. During November’s Dickies 500 weekend, the group collected more than 5,900 pounds of recycled goods. The goal is to collect more than 15,000 pounds during the upcoming weekend. The recycled goods will eventually be used to produce carpet, T-shirts, jackets and cell phones.(TMS PR)(4-1-2009)
South Carolina declares Darlington Raceway Week: The week of the Southern 500 will take on an even more important meaning in 2009. The South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed a Concurrent Resolution declaring race week Darlington Raceway Week in South Carolina, a week “Too Tough to Tame.” Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning took part in the announcement at the State House. In addition to the announcement of the Concurrent Resolution, Darlington Raceway officials also unveiled the findings of a recently completed economic impact study conducted by Washington Economics Group, Inc. Darlington Raceway or the track “Too Tough to Tame” as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2009 a NASCAR tradition, the Southern 500, will return as Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 Seasons of Racing. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at darlingtonraceway.com.(Darlington Raceway PR)(4-1-2009)
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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
Southern 500′s return thrills RCR
In a sport that has expanded far beyond its Carolina roots, Jeff Burton is glad one important piece of NASCAR history returns this season.
http://www.thatsracin.com/115/story/6272.html
Fans will be seeing double this weekend
A dozen drivers plan to pull double-duty at Texas Motor Speedway by racing in the O’Reilly 300 and the Samsung 500. They’ll also be going after a first.
http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/6277.html
Sonic Automotive: Bankruptcy is an option
Charlotte-based Sonic Automotive – a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation’s largest auto dealers – today reported a staggering loss for 2008 and said it may have to file for bankruptcy protection.
http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/6273.html
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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Hardee’s Launches NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ “Race to the Chase” Instant Win Game
Grand Prize Takes Winner to 2010 Coca-Cola 600 Race
ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hardee’s® has teamed up with Coca-Cola North America to offer a NASCAR collectors’ cup and instant win game. Until May 24, 2009, burger fans will receive a special-edition racing cup with any large combo meal or large beverage purchase. The cup features members of the 2009 Coca-Cola Racing Family (Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Kyle Petty and Jeff Burton), as well as an instant peel-and-win chance to win one of 40,000 prizes.
“Hardee’s always tries to keep on the pulse of our customers and we have a huge base of NASCAR fans in our markets,” said Steve Lemley, vice president of field marketing at Hardee’s. “It was a natural fit to launch a promotion that would give them a chance to quench their hunger, their thirst for a tall Coca-Cola beverage and possibly a trip to see one of the highest viewed NASCAR races – the Coca-Cola 600.”
Grand prize is a 4-day/3-night trip for two for the 2010 Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, NC. The prize package includes air travel and hotel accommodations, race tickets, and access to the VIP hospitality tent that will have special appearances by members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family. Other prizes include tickets to the Coca-Cola 600, Tailgate Packages, NASCAR gear and various Hardee’s food items.
About Hardee’s
Celebrating more than 48 years in the quick-service industry, Hardee’s Food Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the fourth fiscal quarter ended January 26, 2009, CKE Restaurants, Inc. had a total of 3,116 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,195 Carl’s Jr. restaurants and 1,908 Hardee’s restaurants. For more information, or to find a location near you, go to www.carlsjr.com or www.hardees.com.
(thanks, Heather)
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Catch the Driver … On behalf of sponsor Prilosec OTC, Jeff Burton will sign autographs at the Wal-Mart store located at 1228 Northwest Highway 377 in Roanoke, Texas on Wed., April 1 from 7 – 8 p.m. The store is situated four miles east of the Texas race track.
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Meet the Helping Hands … The No. 33 over-the-wall crew will be signing autographs Sun., April 5 from approximately 10:00-10:20 a.m. at the Chevrolet display, located in the TMS midway.
Meet the Driver … Fans can meet Clint Bowyer on Fri., April 3 from 5-6 p.m. at Brookshire’s campground store located on the grounds of TMS. Bowyer will also make an appearance on Sun., April 5 at the Prilosec OTC BBQ Shootout Series display, located in the display area at TMS. He will participate in a Q&A session from 10:45-11:00 a.m.
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IN SEARH FOR REAL FANS: The online contest announced by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Brad Keselowski at Daytona in February is officially underway, as Hellmann’s has teamed up with NASCAR to find the biggest, most loyal fans with the Hellmann’s NASCAR Real Fan of the Year contest. Fans can enter for a chance to receive a VIP trip for two to Charlotte, N.C. to meet Earnhardt Jr., and finalists will see their faces on the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet during the October Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. For more details, log on to www.RealFanOfTheYear.com (No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited. Ends 8/31/09. Go to www.RealFanOfTheYear.com for complete rules.)
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Riggs, Owens and Gwynn on April 2nd Edition of Track Tack, Wallace on Tap
Tune in each week as Jeff Holtzclaw joins Greg DePalma and Heather Meyer for Track Talk Motorsports Radio on the Prime Sports Network – www.primesportsnetwork.com. Track Talk airs live every Thursday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET.
The April 2nd edition of Track Talk will feature special guests Scott Riggs, driver of the No. 36 Toyota for Tommy Baldwin Racing, Alli Owens, driver of the No. 19 ARCA car for Eddie D’Hondt, and former drag racer and philanthropist Darrell Gwynn. If you have a question for any of our guests or hosts, send an email to nascar@primesportsnetwork.com or call the toll-free line at 1-877-266-1909 during the broadcast. The Track Talk crew will also continue their NASCAR G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Time) tournament and discussion. This week’s matchups are Lee Petty vs. Rusty Wallace and Bobby Labonte vs. Terry Labonte, with the winners squaring off against each other. Help us make the right choices by emailing us your picks on who you think should win and why so that we can read your opinions on the air to reaffirm or possibly sway our votes.
Mark your calendars, Kenny Wallace, driver of the No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet who sits ninth in the Nationwide point standings and co-host of the popular Race Day and Victory Lane programs, will join Track Talk on Thursday, April 9th.
The March 26th edition of Track Talk Motorsports Radio was definitely a must-listen. Our special guests included David Gilliland, driver of the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet, and Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota and the No. 30 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series. Listen in as Bodine pulls no punches when discussing Kyle Busch and other issues in NASCAR, while Gilliland talks about being able to get his team into the top 35 in owner points and the challenges that the No. 71 team faces.
Listen to the archive or download the podcast of these, or any episodes, anytime at PrimeSportsNetwork.com or on iTunes – http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=305572488.
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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
Nationwide Series Live from Texas on ESPN2: The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to superspeedway action this weekend at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. ESPN2 will have a live, high definition telecast of the 300-mile race on Saturday, April 4, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC. The race re-airs Sunday, April 5, at 11 a.m. on ESPN Classic. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lap-by-lap announcer, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Jarrett and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.(ESPN PR)(3-3-2009)
Kyle Busch debuts NOS sponsorship for 2009: If he wins this weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ O’Reilly 300, [Kyle Busch] will have collected his third-straight series win at Texas Motor Speedway. Presently third in the Nationwide Series standings, Kyle takes to the wheel of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota for the first of a 14-race schedule with NOS atop the hood and adorning the quarter panels of the Joe Gibbs Racing-built machine.(TrueSpeed Communications PR), See an image of the car on the #18 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(3-31-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/18nationwide.htm
Johnny Davis Motorsports announces Texas sponsors: Danny O’Quinn’s #01 team to again carry www.Cash4Gold.Com/Racing primary sponsorship for this weekend’s O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. In additioin, Lowery Plumbing of Kerrville, Texas will again support Danny and Johnny this weekend and the team welcomes Bob & Bill Kapitan with Steve Poole representing the “Stew-Garitaville-Campground 4 row 82 Group’s Open House” this weekend. JC Stout will drive the www.sponsordavis.com #0 Chevy this weekend.(Hufco Promotion / JDM PR)(3-31-2009)
Sellers ready for series debut: Peyton Sellers is not exactly a household name in NASCAR…yet. But anyone inside the sport will tell you that they have been watching this young man for years, building experience as a driver and respect as a person. On Saturday, April 4, the 25 year old will step into his #77 SFP Chevy at Texas Motor Speedway in one of NASCAR’s top series for the first of ten races this year.(Cardinal Motorsports PR)(3-31-2009)
Dale Jr. running first Fastenal race of the year: This weekend will mark the first of a 14-race sponsorship package with Fastenal, America’s leading fastener distributer. #5-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will share driving duties of the Fastenal Chevy throughout the year with Ryan Newman (four races) and Scott Wimmer (six races).(JR Motosports PR), see an image of the car on the #5 Nationwide Paint Schemes page.(3-31-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/5nationwide.htm
Hellmans on the #88 at Texas: This weekend will mark the first of three races in which Hellmann’s mayonnaise will be the primary sponsor for the JR Motorsports #88 Chevy. The additional events will be the June Nashville race and the October Charlotte race. At Charlotte, Keselowski will run the special “Hellmann’s Real Fan of the Year” paint scheme.(JR Motorsports PR)(3-31-2009)
Congrats: #29-Holiday Inn Racing gasman and mechanic Thomas Costello celebrated the birth of his son Tyler Robert. Tyler was born Saturday evening shortly after 7:30 p.m. at Northeast Medical Center in Concord, N.C.(RCR PR)(3-31-2009)
Roush-Fenway looking for win #100: Roush Fenway Racing has 99 Nationwide Series wins in the books and a win this weekend could bring them to the century mark. The team hit the 100-win mark in the Sprint Cup Series at Dover in 2007 when Carl Edwards captured the victory. Jack Roush’s first Nationwide victory came at Rockingham with Mark Martin on February 27, 1993. Since then, a total of five drivers have constructed the 99 wins that Roush Fenway has racked up.(Roush Fenway PR)(3-31-2009)
Leffler tests at Motor Mile: #38-Jason Leffler and the Great Clips team spent gearing up for the series’ upcoming short track races by testing at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA on Monday.(Braun Racing PR)(3-31-2009)
New look for Stott Racing: Andy Ponstein and Corrie Stott Racing will head to Texas with a new paint scheme for their #02 Chevy. The blue and white car you are used to seeing on track will now be red and white.(Corrie Stott Racing PR), See an image on the #02 Nationwide Series paint scheme page.(3-31-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/02nationwide.htm
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
http://www.TheHotLap.com
FIRST FOR HELLMANNS – This weekend will mark the first of three races in which Hellmann’s mayonnaise will be the primary sponsor for the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet. The additional events will be the June Nashville race and the October Charlotte race. At Charlotte, Keselowski will run the special “Hellmann’s Real Fan of the Year” paint scheme. WORKING OVERTIME Keselowski will attempt to make his second NASCAR Sprint Cup race this year and fourth overall since his series debut at Texas Motor Speedway last season
Jason Leffler will visit Kimberly-Clark’s Paris, Texas mill on Friday April 3, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Jas on will tour the facility and do a meet and greet with employees. Jason will be signing autographs at the Brookshire’s Trackside Store at Texas Motor Speedway from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4.
John Wes Townley will be signing autographs at the Zaxby’s in Keller, Texas from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. CT on Friday, April 3rd and also the Zaxby’s location in Richardson, TX from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. CT. Stop by and get an autograph from the driver of the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford Fusion.
Kenny Hendrick and the rest of the No. 42 unsponsored Dodge team made good use of their time off from the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule last week. Now, they just hope their efforts show up on the 1.5-mile oval of Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Hendrick, who currently sits 26th in points, did well at the last 1.5-mile track he visited finishing 12th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this season. It was a career best for him in 33 starts; and for the four-race old team put together just before Daytona. During the off-week, crew chief Tim Weiss and team put Chassis No. 652 through some tests and tweaks to get ready for Texas. This is the same car they used so successfully in Las Vegas.
Texas Motor Speedway is a long way from Joey Logano’s hometown of Middletown, CT and his current residence in Huntersville, N.C, but he will enjoy a homefield “advantage” when he arrives there for this weekend’s O’Reilly 300. Grapevine, Texas is a short drive from the racetrack. It is the home of GameStop, the world’s largest video game and software entertainment retailer and Nationwide Series sponsor for Logano and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. When the green flag falls on Saturday, the stands will be filled with GameStop employees cheering on their favorite driver in hopes that Logano can make a return trip to victory lane, as he did at the Kentucky Speedway last year, in their colors
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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 TruckSeries.Com
http://www.truckseries.com
Martinsville Ends ‘Lock-Ins’ From ’08 Points
03-31-2009 | TruckSeries.com Report
The collective sigh of relief heard following Martinsville Speedway’s Kroger 250 came from a number of teams new to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series which did not possess locked-in positions based on the 2008 series owners’ championship standings. Two of those teams — Randy Moss Motorsports and Red Horse Racing — have past champions in their trucks so they weren’t exactly working without a net. The switch to 2009 points, however, gives both Benson and Mike Skinner (No. 5 Bad Boy Mowers Toyota) top-30 positions.
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Courtesy of Truck Series Today
http://www.truckseriestoday.com
Martinsville Photos
View pictures from Monday’s action at Martinsville Speedway in the Kroger 250.
http://truckseriestoday.com/index.php/2009/03/31/martinsville-photos/
Martinsville News & Notes
In The Loop
With Kyle Busch likely out of the No. 51 Toyota at Kansas Speedway for the first time this season, a three-way battle for the points lead emerges between three former series champions – Todd Bodine (No. 30 Toyota), Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner.
All three have eclipsed the 600-point mark after four races [...] http://snipurl.com/ezwlx
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
http://www.arcaracing.com
Weekly Talk Show “Inside ARCA” Returns on the ARCA Racing Network in 2009
Kicks Off Wednesday, April 1 From 3-4 PM ET; Frank Kimmel First-Up
TOLEDO OH (3-31-09) – Inside ARCA, a live one-hour internet talk show on the ARCA Racing Network, will return in 2009 starting Wednesday, April 1.
[Read More] – http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=7768
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Courtesy of USAR
http://usarprocup.com
2008 USARacing SERIES CHAMPION, BENNY GORDON, TO COMPETE IN CONCORD 250
USARacing
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:25:00 AM
Concord, NC – March 30, 2009 – USARacing’s reigning Champion, Benny Gordon, announced today that he will compete in the Pro Cup Series season-opener, the Concord 250 on April 4, 2009.
As the 2008 Champion, Gordon is looking to keep his presence known in the Series. He plans to compete in selected Pro Cup Series events that do not conflict with his scheduled NASCAR Nationwide races. Gordon is looking to make his move into NASCAR while maintaining his presence and preserving his teams’ winning dominance in the Pro Cup Series.
Read more – http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=2975
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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
http://localracing.nascar.com/news/6
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Race track gets cash to upgrade for NASCAR event
StarPhoenix – Saskatoon,Saskatchewan,Canada
“The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race is a dream come true for stock car racing fans … NASCAR’s Canadian Tire Series is stopping in Saskatoon on July 29. …
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Race+track+gets+cash+upgrade+NASCAR+event/1448196/story.html
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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/CA/040109.html
Thank Goodness For Martinsville
by Chuck Abrams
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/LV/040109.html
GM Becomes the First Nationalized Car Company; Changes Coming to NASCAR
by Larry Van Zandt
The Nascar Insiders
Ask The Insiders Wednesday #17
Mother Nature nearly drowned NASCAR at Martinsville, but the sun came out Sunday and Monday, and we saw some great racing.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/UxbOc5JHeCg/
Rick Hendrick Settles for Lesser Driver in Kyle Busch-Dale Earnhardt Jr. Trade
Six races into a young 2009 season, it’s more apparent than ever that Joe Gibbs came out on top of Rick Hendrick when dealing between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/040109Lintner.asp
Jimmie ‘Bump and run someone up the track’ Johnson wins Martinsville; Death to the 15′ wheel!
Well, just in case you’ve been living under a rock, and didn’t know there was a race this weekend….the Goody’s Agonizingly Slow Pain Relief 500 was everything nobody thought it would be….not too terribly bad, for a COT race.
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/040109VanZandt.asp
Lucky Dog – Revisited
The “lucky dog” has now been trained and is able to perform many functions without the assistance of its master. The driver can “stay” in place if he caused the caution flag to fly….the driver can “fetch” the free pass….
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Articles/09/040109Taylor.asp
NASCAR About To Lose The ESPN “Overflow” Channel
Once and a while The Sports Business Journal turns an eye to TV and this week it reported on some news from ESPN. It may well impact NASCAR in a couple of months.
http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/03/nascar-about-to-lose-espn-overflow.html
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fan TV
http://www.racefantv.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
12:00 M-12:30 A espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, R
12:00 N-3:00 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup Replay: Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500, Martinsville, VA, Mar 29/09, HD, R-FOX
5:00 P-5:30 espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
12:00 M-12:30 A espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, R
12:00 N-3:00 P SPEED NASCAR Classics: 2004 Nextel Cup Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Apr 4/04, Winner Elliott Sadler
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
12:00 M-12:30 A espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, N
1:00 P-2:30 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
2:30 P-3:30 SPEED NASCAR Live at Texas Motor Speedway, HD
3:30 P-4:30 SPEED Daytona 500 Memories, Great moments in the history of the Daytona 500, R
4:30 P-6:30 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
7:00 P-8:00 SPEED Trackside at Texas Motor Speedway, HD, N
8:00 P-10:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, SDD, R
10:00 P-11:00 SPEED Daytona 500 Memories, Great moments in the history of the Daytona 500, R
11:00 P-12:00 SPEED Trackside at Texas Motor Speedway, HD, R
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
1:30 A-2:00 espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, N
2:00 A-4:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, Apr 3/09, HD, R
11:00 A-12:00 SPEED Trackside at Texas Motor Speedway, HD, R
12:00 N-1:00 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
1:00 P-2:30 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup FINAL PRACTICE, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
2:30 P-3:00 espn 2 NASCAR Nationwide Series COUNTDOWN, O’Reilly 300, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
3:00 P-6:00 espn 2 NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly 300, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L (expect green at 3:15P)
8:00 P-9:30 SPEED NASCAR Performance, Texas Motor Speedway, HD, N
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
3:00 A-5:00 espn 2 NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly 300, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, Apr 4/09, HD, R
10:00 A-10:30 SPEED NASCAR Performance, Texas Motor Speedway, HD, R
10:00 A-11:00 espn 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
11:00 A-11:30 SPEED NASCAR in a Hurry, Texas Motor Speedway, HD, L
11:00 A-1:00 P ESPN-CL NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly 300, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, Apr 4/09, HD, R
11:30 A-1:30 P SPEED NASCAR Race Day. Preview of today’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, VA, HD, L
1:30 P-2:00 FOX NASCAR Sprint Cup PRE-RACE SHOW Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD
2:00 P-6:00 FOX NASCAR Sprint Cup Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, L
7:00 P-8:00 SPEED The SPEED Report, HD, N
8:00 P-9:00 SPEED NASCAR Victory Lane at the Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX, HD, SDD, N
9:00 P-10:00 SPEED Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, HD, L
RFTV 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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