Stock Car Gazette

Stock Car Gazette e-zine for Tuesday, 5/26/09

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 64 reads
Mike Irwin

I apologize for the irregularity of the daily Stock Car Gazette. Since I lost my job, it has been a struggle to get into some sort of routine… and that is still a struggle. Heather deserves kudos for stepping in on the weekends and yesterday; I appreciate her efforts very much. Here’s today’s Stock Car Gazette for you.

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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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http://motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure

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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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I apologize for the irregularity of the daily Stock Car Gazette. Since I lost my job, it has been a struggle to get into some sort of routine… and that is still a struggle. Heather deserves kudos for stepping in on the weekends and yesterday; I appreciate her efforts very much.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Stock Car Gazette

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3681

Track Trash – Coke’s Less Than 600 Grueling Miles
by: Racing Maniac

This could go down as one of the dumbest races of ‘09. Another ‘winner’ who shoulda been at the end of the longest line.

What a way to waste a perfectly good 3 day weekend……

For more of this writer, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/track-trash
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Stock Car Gazette

http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3683

TV Times – Jimmie Johnson Advises Danica To Make Slow Jump Into NASCAR
by: Lou Modestino

There’s been lots of chatter and media reports regarding Danica Patrick moving to NASCAR. According to Auto Racing Daily, Jimmy Johnson has advised her, through the media, not to jump into NASCAR too quick.

For more from this writer, 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!

Appeal keeping Kentucky from 2010 Cup date

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4201490

Unwilling to start and park, Riggs leaving 36 car

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4204323

Rumor : Truex to drive #55 Toyota next year

http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/heavypedal/Rain_still_a_threat_for_Coca-Cola_600.html

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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of www.Frontstretch.com

Reutimann Wins Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600

You can’t fool Mother Nature. But one thing you can do is have just a little bit more fuel left in the tank than everybody else.

David Reutimann had that on Monday, and his team’s gamble paid off in handing the third-year driver his first ever win in the Cup Series.

Reutimann played pit strategy late, jumping from 14th to first by staying out when the rest of the field came in for a stop on what proved to be the final caution flag of the race. After a torrential downpour drenched Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the race was red flagged for two hours, three minutes and forty four seconds, leaving him and his team anxiously awaiting a potential restart of the Coca-Cola 600. But try as they might, NASCAR was unable to keep the race track dry after the final of four rain showers just wouldn’t stop. After 227 laps and 340.5 miles, the race was called official, handing Reutimann the first ever victory for both Michael Waltrip Racing in Cup and a Toyota car not owned by Joe Gibbs Racing. Reutimann is now the 20th driver to have completed the NASCAR trifecta, winning a race in the Cup, Nationwide, and Truck Series divisions.

Afterwards, Reutimann was quick to give credit to crew chief Rodney Childers’ race-winning call that put him out front.

“Rodney said I’m either going to get us a win or lose us 10 spots,” he explained. “We decided to stay out, and it paid off. I wanted the sun to come out or just pour… and it never did either. Mike [Waltrip] told me that’s just what it needed to do, and it did it. I keep waiting for Mike Helton to come down and say, ‘Hold on, we’re going to go back out and run it some more’.”

But Helton never came, allowing Reutimann to put his name on the 50th anniversary Coca-Cola 600 trophy that weighs 225 pounds. The victory was made even more remarkable by Reutimann’s contact with the outside wall, forcing him to wrestle an ill-handling car for most of the race’s long green flag runs. His aggressive driving to merely stay in the top 15 ended up causing an argument with Tony Stewart that escalated during a red flag for rain; Reutimann’s crewman further aggravated things by interrupting conversation between the two, but both men walked away and the drivers wound up working everything out on their own.

Behind the winner, Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon also benefited from like-minded decisions to stay off pit road, coming home second and third as a result.

“We talked about it on the backstretch,” Newman said of his call, which put him in position to rebound after loose lugnuts sent the No. 39 from pole-winning car to the back of the pack early on. “We decided to stay out; and then, when we got close and everyone was coming in, Tony called me in. I said, ‘we can’t chicken out’ and I stayed out. If it had gone back to green, we’d have had to come in and start last… and then it might have rained 20 laps later.”

The exchange was the first contentious moment between owner and driver on the radio, who have combined to score more points in the last seven races than anyone else. But no one can argue with the final result, as the top 5 marks Ryan Newman’s fourth top 5 in a row — the first time he’s done that since 2005. Meanwhile, third was Robby Gordon’s first top 5 since Watkins Glen in 2007, and his first top 5 on an oval since a fourth place finish at Darlington in 2004.

“We were probably a 15th place car,” said Gordon. “We ran for a long while with Kyle on that one run. We were running 21st when that caution came out. We were watching the computer. We figured if we came in and went back out, we’d be 21st… so we took a chance and it paid off.”

The top 5 consisted of Reutimann, Newman, Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Brian Vickers. Sixth was Kyle Busch, who led 173 of 187 green flag laps before pit strategy dropped him back at the finish. Seventh was Kasey Kahne, with Juan Pablo Montoya, Joey Logano, and Matt Kenseth rounding out the top 10.

The race was marked by three red flags for rain — including the one that ended it all — as well as a unique caution flag on Lap 164. Respecting President Obama’s wish for a moment of silence on Memorial Day, NASCAR slowed the cars to allow all team members to step out onto pit lane. The racers were brought around to the frontstretch, were they stopped and turned off their engines in unison. Everyone in attendance and on the teams then combined to observe a moment of silence at 3:00 P.M. to commemorate all military personnel, both living and deceased. The engines refired after that, although before the race could resume there was a rain shower — so the caution period was extended until lap 179.

The race finally restarted and ran until lap 222, when the caution flag flew for the final time. At that point, Kyle Busch was leading, Kasey Kahne was second, Carl Edwards was third, Joey Logano was fourth, and Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth before pit strategy jumbled up the final results.
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Racing Returning To North Wilkesboro Speedway

After a 13-year absence, race cars will once again be battling around one of NASCAR’s most legendary tracks: North Wilkesboro. After losing its race dates to New Hampshire and Texas in 1997, the 5/8-mile track in the foothills of North Carolina has sat virtually dormant ever since. Fortunately for race fans, that will not be the case this coming weekend. A gentleman from Georgia named Charles Collins has signed a three month lease to put on a race show at the historic race track. And with a late model and super late model race already scheduled, that should draw quite a few fans back to the old circuit that could soon be undergoing a major facelift.

Collins is a contractor from Georgia who now lives in North Wilkesboro. And while his lease is only for three months … his long-term plan could include a permanent purchase of the race track. Collins has built shopping malls and other structures and is now interested in bringing racing back to the famous speedway. If funding comes through, he plans to build a resort that will include a amusement park, a water park, condominiums, and other attractions which go along with the race track. Already aware improvements are needed for a track that’s been out of use for over a decade, he is currently putting in new restrooms that will be supplemented by portable restrooms if they are not completed in time for the races this weekend.

Collins also intended to put sealer on the track, but Goodyear engineers have advised him rubber should be enough to get the oval in good racing condition. The catchfence and walls are currently in fine shape… as are the bleachers. They are aluminum bleachers and are in just as good of shape now as they were when the last race was run in 1996.

Collins is planning on running a late model 100-lap race and a super late model 200-lap event. While the races compete with all of the other series that run in the area and the local tracks, Collins feels that there are a lot of drivers who are picking and choosing races to run this year rather than running for track championships. Since this is North Wilkesboro and the purses are significant, he feels he’ll be able to secure at least 20 cars in each race. They have already received calls from drivers in the local area and other areas near the track that are very anxious to compete.

At a press conference in the media center at Charlotte this weekend, Bruton Smith did not know that there was going to be racing at North Wilkesboro. However, his son and president of Lowe’s Motor Speedway Marcus Smith, confirmed that there is a lease and that racing is going to take place.

Fans of NASCAR, and racing in general, should do their best to get out to North Wilkesboro next weekend and see a sight that has not happened in 13 years: Race cars making purposeful laps around the old track that saw Jeff Gordon win the last race there in 1996.
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Courtesy of Google Alerts

What if there wasn’t an Earnhardt in NASCAR?
Examiner.com – USA
It was another miserable finish in an entire season of misery for NASCAR most popular driver to this point. After starting 27th, Earnhardt quickly faded …

http://www.examiner.com/x-543-NASCAR-Examiner~y2009m5d25-What-if-there-were-no-Earnhardt-in-NASCAR

FROM THE TRACK: Race called; Reutimann wins
Statesville Record & Landmark – NC, USA
By Ben McNeely | Independent Tribune CONCORD – 6:30 pm: NASCAR has called it and David Neutimann has won the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. …

http://www2.statesville.com/content/2009/may/24/251829/track-traffic-steady-rain-will-be-factor/

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Courtesy of Insider Racing News

http://www.insiderracingnews.com

Three Drivers To Fill #36 Seat
Mike Skinner, Patrick Carpentier and Brian Simo will share the driving duties of the Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota for the remainder of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Skinner will drive 17 of the remaining 25 races on the 2009 schedule. Carpentier will be behind the wheel during both Poconos, the June 28 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the September 12 race at Richmond International Speedway and wrap up with the September 27 race at Dover International Speedway. Brian Simo will navigate the No. 36 machine during the two road course events.
Skinner, a 26-time NASCAR Camping World Series winner, has 256 NSCS starts in 19 years. The Ontario, Calif., native has earned 10 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes. Additionally, he won the 2005 NCWS championship on the heels of eight wins, nine poles, 17 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.
Carpentier, a Canadian native, is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. The 37-year-old driver made his NASCAR debut at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Aug. 4, 2007, where he took the pole and finished second. Since then, Carpentier has made 27 NSCS starts with his best finish of 14th coming during the 2008 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway

NASCAR Springs Surprise Drug Test
NASCAR randomly drug-tested 10 crew members from 10 teams during the rain delay at the Coca-Cola 600, an apparent tweak to the first three months of in-season testing. Prior to Sunday night, crew chiefs said NASCAR typically informed them when the garage opened if a team member had been selected to give a sample. The individual had four hours to report to testing. Drivers can be tested on any day of the race weekend. But at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, NASCAR waited until after the scheduled start of the Coca-Cola 600 to inform teams and ordered individuals to report for testing at the end of the race. Because rain delayed the start, crew members were seen entering the infield care center, where the tests were conducted during intermittent showers

2009 Coca-Cola 600 Final Results
Race Date May 24, 2009
Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Pos Start Car Driver Make Sponsor Points/Bonus/Laps Status

1 21 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine 190/5 227 Running
2 1 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army 175/5 227 Running
3 37 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Jim Beam/Operation Homefront 170/5 227 Running
4 19 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac 160/0 227 Running
5 8 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 160/5 227 Running
6 2 18 Kyle Busch ** Toyota M&M’s 160/10 227 Running
7 6 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 146/0 227 Running
8 9 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target 142/0 227 Running
9 14 20 Joey Logano * Toyota The Home Depot 143/5 227 Running
10 30 17 Matt Kenseth Ford R+L Carriers 134/0 227 Running
11 13 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express 130/0 227 Running
12 20 96 Bobby Labonte Ford Ask.com 127/0 227 Running
13 5 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s 129/5 227 Running
14 3 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 121/0 227 Running
15 10 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft 118/0 227 Running
16 26 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1 115/0 227 Running
17 4 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Carquest/Kellogg’s 112/0 227 Running
18 18 82 Scott Speed * Toyota Red Bull 109/0 227 Running
19 28 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot/Old Spice 106/0 227 Running
20 16 16 Greg Biffle Ford American Red Cross/3M 103/0 227 Running
21 33 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Irwin Vise-Grip 100/0 227 Running
22 35 12 David Stremme Dodge Penske Racing 97/0 227 Running
23 12 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/NWTF 94/0 227 Running
24 34 6 David Ragan Ford UPS 91/0 227 Running
25 40 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar 88/0 227 Running
26 23 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kingsford/Clorox 85/0 227 Running
27 29 171 David Gilliland Chevrolet Hyde Park Storage Suites 82/0 226 Running
28 25 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine 84/5 226 Running
29 31 98 Paul Menard Ford Johns Manville/Menards 76/0 226 Running
30 39 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA 78/5 226 Running
31 15 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy 70/0 226 Running
32 38 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Hunt Brothers Pizza 67/0 226 Running
33 36 07 Casey Mears Chevrolet Jack Daniel’s 64/0 226 Running
34 17 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite “Taste Protector” 61/0 226 Running
35 42 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge U.S. Air Force 58/0 226 Running
36 24 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios/Hamburger Helper 55/0 226 Running
37 11 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota G.P.’s Enterprises 52/0 226 Running
38 43 36 Scott Riggs Toyota Cooter’s Backyard Bar & Grill 54/5 225 Running
39 41 34 Tony Raines Chevrolet Taco Bell 46/5 225 Running
40 27 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet National Guard/Amp Energy 43/0 225 Running
41 22 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell/Pennzoil 40/0 224 Running
42 32 113 Max Papis * Toyota GEICO 37/0 219 Running
43 7 09 Mike Bliss Dodge Phoenix Racing 34/0 42 Vibration

** Led Most Laps
* Rookies

All Results Unofficial

2009 Top-40 Sprint Cup Points After Coca-Cola 600
Race Date May 24, 2009
Lowe’s Motor Speedway

POS +/- DRIVER POINTS/BEHIND/STARTS/POLES/WINS/TOP 5/TOP 10

1 — Jeff Gordon 1722 12 0 1 6 8
2 — Tony Stewart 1678 -44 12 0 0 5 8
3 — Kurt Busch 1607 -115 12 0 1 3 6
4 — Jimmie Johnson 1594 -128 12 0 1 5 7
5 — Denny Hamlin 1575 -147 12 0 0 2 4
6 +1 Kyle Busch 1540 -182 12 1 3 4 5
7 +1 Ryan Newman 1538 -184 12 1 0 4 6
8 -2 Jeff Burton 1472 -250 12 0 0 2 5
9 +1 Matt Kenseth 1460 -262 12 1 2 3 5
10 -1 Greg Biffle 1448 -274 12 0 0 3 6
11 +1 Carl Edwards 1431 -291 12 0 0 2 5
12 -1 Mark Martin 1428 -294 12 3 2 3 6

Top 12 Drivers In The Running For The Chase For The Championship

13 +2 David Reutimann 1422 -300 12 1 1 2 3
14 — Juan Montoya 1397 -325 12 1 0 0 4
15 +1 Kasey Kahne 1351 -371 12 0 0 1 3
16 +1 Brian Vickers 1348 -374 12 2 0 2 5
17 -4 Clint Bowyer 1319 -403 12 0 0 3 4
18 +1 Martin Truex Jr. 1238 -484 12 1 0 0 3
19 -1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1225 -497 12 0 0 1 3
20 — Marcos Ambrose 1216 -506 12 0 0 1 2
21 +3 Jamie McMurray 1168 -554 12 0 0 0 3
22 — Casey Mears 1168 -554 12 0 0 0 1
23 -2 Kevin Harvick 1149 -573 12 0 0 2 2
24 -1 Reed Sorenson 1148 -574 12 0 0 0 1
25 +5 Joey Logano* 1145 -577 12 0 0 0 3
26 +1 David Stremme 1136 -586 12 0 0 0 0
27 +2 Bobby Labonte 1134 -588 12 0 0 1 1
28 -2 Elliott Sadler 1129 -593 12 0 0 1 1
29 -4 A.J. Allmendinger 1126 -596 12 0 0 1 2
30 +1 Sam Hornish Jr. 1113 -609 12 0 0 0 2
31 -3 Michael Waltrip 1095 -627 12 0 0 0 1
32 — David Ragan 1089 -633 12 0 0 0 1
33 — Paul Menard 1033 -689 12 0 0 0 0
34 — Robby Gordon 1017 -705 12 0 0 1 1
35 — Scott Speed* 865 -857 11 0 0 1 1
36 — John Andretti 743 -979 10 0 0 0 0
37 — David Gilliland 731 -991 11 0 0 0 0
38 — Regan Smith 573 -1149 6 0 0 0 0
39 — Brad Keselowski 479 -1243 4 0 1 1 2
40 +1 Joe Nemechek 466 -1256 9 0 0 0 0

* Rookies
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

#00 is the 102nd car number to win: when David Reutimann won the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Monday, May 25, 2009, it was the first Sprint Cup win ever for a car number 00, being the 102nd different car number [as far as I can calculate] that has won in the Sprint Cup series. It was also David Reutimann’s first Sprint Cup Series win.
See my Win by Car Number page for the history of car numbers.(5-25-2009)

http://www.jayski.com/stats/winbynum.htm

NASCAR takes #7 rear-end housing: During post-race inspection, NASCAR confiscated #7-Robby Gordon’s rear-end housing and took it back to its R&D Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation.(SPEEDtv)(5-25-2009)

More rumors on #88 crew chief change: a reliable source tells me [Sports Illustrated] that Tony Eury Jr. won’t be the crew chief of the #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. as of Dover this weekend. Whether that actually happens or not remains to be seen, but the two weeks in Charlotte made it obvious both driver and team need a change.(Sports Illustrated)(5-26-2009)

New sponsor for Ambrose: the entry list has RaceSavers.com listed as #47-Marcos Ambrose sponsor for the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway. No idea what RaceSvers.com is and the website racesavers.com is pretty bare.(5-26-2009)

Dale Earnhardt Foundation announces scholarship winner: Clemson University’s first Motorsports Innovation Partner, the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, has announced the winner of its annual undergraduate scholarship — Michelle Phillips of Ellisville, MO, a rising junior majoring in mechanical engineering. She is the first woman to receive the scholarship, which was founded in Dale Earnhardt’s honor. Phillips is active on the Clemson Formula SAE team having served as purchasing and logistics manager, head of crash structure design and testing and lead manufacturing assistant. Next year she steps up to team leader. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation funds the annual undergraduate scholarship in honor of Dale Earnhardt for students interested in motorsports and automotive engineering. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation provides a three-year undergraduate scholarship for a student in Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science.(Victory Management Group)(5-26-2009)

4th team for Penske? hearing Penske Racing could run a 4th team car this season, running the #22 Dodge with Justin Allgaier as the possible driver. Allgaier is currently 10th in the Nationwide Series Points for Penske Racing and won the ARCA championship in 2008.(5-25-2009)
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Courtesy of Racin’ Today

http://www.racintoday.com

Woody: A Race Only Jacques Cousteau Could Love
By Larry Woody | Senior Writer

You hate to see a nice guy like David Reutimann, who has worked as long and hard to win a Cup race as he has, apologize when he finally gets …

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/4814

Reutimann Awarded Victory At Coca-Cola 600

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/4791

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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

Rain finally wins, with Reutimann in front
CONCORD, N.C. – David Reutimann won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race Monday, taking a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

http://www.thatsracin.com/115/story/10319.html

Rewind | It was time to end it, for any number of reasons

http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/10366.html

A moment, a laugh or two, but not very much racing

http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/10377.html

Robby Gordon a strong – and surprising – third place

http://www.thatsracin.com/140/story/10357.html

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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

200th for Leffler: #38-Jason Leffler will make his 200th career Nationwide Series start this weekend at Dover International Speedway. The Long Beach, Calif.-native made his series debut in 1999 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Leffler spent several years racing partial schedules in all three of NASCAR’s top series before joining Braun Racing mid-way through the 2005 season. En route to his 200th start, Leffler has two wins (Nashville Superspeedway in 2004 and Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2007), 29 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes, eight poles and 563 laps led.(Braun Racing PR)(5-26-2009)

Congrats: Ken Butler III, driver of the #23 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevy, and wife, Jaime, welcomed their daughter into the world on Saturday, May 23 at 2:32 p.m. weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz. This was the beginning of a big weekend for the Butler’s as Ken Butler, COO of Aaron’s, became a grandparent for the first time and his company went to Victory Lane for the first time in a Sprint Cup Series race with David Reutimann winning the Coca Cola 600 in the #00 Aaron’s Toyota.(5-26-2009)

DEI planning return to Nationwide Series with Jeffrey Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has a piece of both an engine business and a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. But there’s nothing on the race track that DEI can truly call its own. But there are plans for DEI to get back to racing. The first step in that plan is for 19-year-old Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt and son of Kerry Earnhardt, to attempt to make his Nationwide Series debut in the May 30 race at Dover International Speedway in a DEI-prepared car. He will have to qualify on speed in the Rick Ware Racing entry, and the goal is to eventually put the Earnhardt name back on the track full time with Jeffrey Earnhardt in a DEI entry with DEI-built cars, said DEI Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeffrey Steiner.(Scene Daily)(5-25-2009)

Copart extends KHI sponsorship: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced Copart, Inc., an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than 1 million cars per year, will expand its sponsorship with KHI to include seven races on the #33 Nationwide Series entry. Copart will serve as the primary sponsor in these races for three different KHI Nationwide drivers including Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, and Kelly Bires.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR), see the list of sponsored races on the 2009 Nationwide Team Chart.(5-25-2009) http://www.jayski.com/nationwide/2009/2009nationwide-chart.htm

NASCAR keeps four cars after Charlotte race: NASCAR held four Nationwide Series cars after the Carquest Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night in an effort to keep aerodynamic improvements in check. Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said Sunday that NASCAR wanted to make sure the teams stay within the box that the sanctioning body wants them in. One car from each manufacturer was rechecked: #29-Jeff Burton’s Richard Childress Racing Chevy, #98-Paul Menard’s Yates Racing Ford, #32-Brian Vickers’ Braun Racing Toyota and #12-Justin Allgaier’s Penske Racing Dodge. The cars all passed inspection, so there were no issues with any of the bodies.(Scene Daily)(5-24-2009)
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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

Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Dover: #81-Tayler Malsam was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the May 15 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Malsam scored an eighth-place finish, his best effort in eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts and the best by a Raybestos Rookie in seven races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Malsam grabbed top rookie honors for the second time in 2009 and is the only first-year driver to claim the honor more than once. He leads James Buescher by five points (62-57) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 29 AAA Insurance 200 at Dover Int’l Speedway. Raybestos Rookie Scott Speed won the 2008 AAA Insurance 200 at Dover, crossing the finish line 3.379 seconds ahead of second-place Jack Sprague. Speed led the race once covering the final 51 laps. Kurt Busch (2000) is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in nine races at Dover.(Raybestos PR)(5-26-2009)

Hackett hosts special guests at Dover: Coming off his first top twenty finish in only his third truck series start, Ryan Hackett will be hosting some very special guests at this weekend’s AAA Insurance 200 at Dover International Speedway. Ryan is pleased to announce what hopes to be a long standing relationship with the “Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation.” Not only will Ryan be sporting a logo of the charity on his #76 truck but some of the foundation’s families will be guests of the team during Friday’s events. The Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization in operation since 1982. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland its mission is to bring comfort, joy and hope to critically ill children and their families enabling them to renew their spirits mentally and physically. Families will have lunch with the team, receive a garage tour, and patients will be painting their handprints on Ryan’s truck around the Believe In Tomorrow logo for good luck prior to the race. For more info on Believe In Tomorrow please visit www.believeintomorrow.org. Hackett’s website, www.ryanhackett.net will permanently feature a link to the foundation’s donation page. (Ray Hackett Racing PR)(5-26-2009)

Skinner, Carpentier & Simo to replace Riggs in Cup for TBR: Mike Skinner, Patrick Carpentier and Brian Simo will share the driving duties of the Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota for the remainder of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season following the departure of Scott Rigs. Skinner will drive 17 of the remaining 25 races on the 2009 schedule. Carpentier will be behind the wheel during both Poconos, the June 28 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the September 12 race at Richmond International Speedway and wrap up with the September 27 race at Dover Int’l Speedway. Brian Simo will navigate the #36 machine during the two road course events.(Tommy Baldwin Racing PR)(5-25-2009)

VFW returns as sponsor for Hornaday at Dover: For the second time this season, VFW will sponsor the #33-KHI Chevy, with driver Ron Hornaday for this Friday’s AAA Insurance 200 at Dover Int’l Speedway. In four Dover starts, three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday has never finished outside the top 10. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the VFW is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and ensuring the rights of America’s veterans through advocacy, support and community service, while promoting patriotism.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(5-25-2009)

Ickler makes first series start at Dover with BBM: Brian Ickler will take to the track for his second start at Dover International Speedway but first start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Friday, May 29, 2009. Ickler will pilot the #15 Samsung Instinct Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra in the AAA Insurance 200 race on the one-mile track. Ickler sat on the pole in the NASCAR Camping World East Series race at what has been named the “Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway in 2008.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(5-25-2009)

KHI trucks to run special decal to honor Jaret’s Angels: This weekend the #33 and #4 KHI trucks will run a special decal in honor of Jaret’s Angels. Jaret’s Angels is a family-and-friend support group for 10-year-old Jaret Arneson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of two. All of the donations collected by Jaret’s Angels go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. With more than $15,000 raised in 2009, Jaret’s Angels has reached a true milestone, collecting more than $100,000 since Jaret was diagnosed in 2000. While KHI is racing with Jaret’s Angels on the trucks at Dover, Jaret will be leading a contingent of family and friends a short distance away at the JDRF Walk for the Cure at Washington Nationals Stadium in Washington D.C. In June, he will be among 150 kids from around the country selected to participate in the JDRF Children’s Congress, where children with diabetes tell their stories to Congress in search of support for government-backed research funding.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(5-25-2009)
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA

http://www.arcaracing.com

Kimmel To Make 33rd Career Start at Pocono
LONG POND PA (5-26-09) – The last time Frank Kimmel raced at Pocono Raceway (August of ’08), he was involved in a horrific crash in between turn one and the tunnel turn. As a result, the nine-time champ sat out most of the next race at Nashville to recoup in time for his typical late-season rally, one that produced three wins at Springfield, DuQuoin and Salem.
[Read More] – http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8034
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Courtesy of USAR

http://usarprocup.com

Clay Rogers Scales The Fence After Memorable Langley Speedway Win
Erica Kron – Media Relations
Sunday, May 24, 2009 8:55:00 PM

HAMPTON, Va. (May 23, 2009) – Clay Rogers shot through a narrow opening in a four-wide sprint to the finish Saturday night at Langley Speedway to narrowly defeat rookie Lucas Ransone in the HAMPTON VIRGINIA 250 presented by Racing Electronics for his first USARacing Pro Cup victory this season.

http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=3041

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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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Whitlock Starts Final Season With A Bang

St. Eustache, Que. – Just days after Dave Whitlock announced his retirement effective at the end of the season, he took control of the Tufoil 250 at Autodrome St. Eustache late in the race and survived a green-white-checkered finish to earn his first career NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race.

Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge), out of Wyoming, Ont., wrestled the lead from Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford) on Lap 242 and then held off charges from Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) and Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge).

“It was a lot of fun out there tonight,” said Whitlock. “We haven’t been very good the last couple of years, but we want to go out with a bang.”

Micks finished second, just .244 seconds behind Whitlock. Beauchamp opened the season with a third-place finish after closing out last season on a high note.

Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) opened his title defense with a fourth-place effort. Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) shuffled back and forth throughout the race and finished fifth.

Ranger, Jason White, Jason Hathaway, Don Thomson Jr, and Miguel Duhamel rounded out the top 10.

Steckly dominated the early going and led the first 44 laps before being overtaken by Ranger, who waas strong all evening long.

Micks and Ranger staged a vigorous battle for the lead as the race neared the 100-lap mark. Micks was able to take control as Mark Dilley worked past Ranger. Micks opened up a lead of nearly a second on Dilley after the field settled down for some green-flag racing.

Ranger and Kennington both pulled away the rest of the field for nearly 100 laps. Kennington, however, was content to follow Ranger for one of the longer green-flag runs of the evening. Thomson moved past Kennington on Lap 182 and set his sights on Ranger, who had moved out to a lead of over one second. However, when Joey Hanssen spun in Turn 4 on Lap 191, the caution flag waved and Ranger’s lead evaporated.

A Lap 199 restart, set off a three-car battle between Ranger, Thomson and Kennington, but Ranger was able to retain the lead. Kennington quickly dropped out of that skirmish and the race with engine problems leaving Thomson to chase down Ranger.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is back on the track on June 6 for it’s first-ever visit to Delaware (Ont.) Speedway for a 200-lap event.

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES-Tufoil 250 Results
Saturday
At Autodrome St. Eustache
St. Eustache, Que.
Lap length: 0.4 miles
(Start position in parentheses)

1. (11) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ont., Dodge, 259 laps, 48.512 mph, $11,100.

2. (7) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 259, $5,200.

3. (6) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 259, $5,600.

4. (1) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 259, $4,500.

5. (5) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 259, $3,000.

6. (3) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Ford, 259, $2,600.

7. (15) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Chevrolet, 258, $2,500.

8. (14) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 258, $2,400.

9. (4) Don Thomson, Jr., Ayr, Ont., Chevrolet, 258, $2,300.

10. (12) Miguel Duhamel, LaSalle, Que., Ford, 254, $2,250.

11. (18) Derek White, Kahnawake, Que., Chevrolet, 248, $2,000.

12. (9) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ont., Chevrolet, 243, $1,800.

13. (10) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Chevrolet, 216, $1,700.

14. (16) Andre Coursol, St. Jerome, Que., Chevrolet, 213, $1,650.

15. (17) Joey Hanssen, Venray, Holland, Dodge, 210, $1,600.

16. (2) DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 203, engine, $1,500.

17. (13) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ont., Dodge, 120, brakes, $1,450.

18. (19) Dexter Stacey, Chateauquay, Que., Pontiac, 69, $1,400.

19. (8) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Chevrolet, 35, accident, $1,350.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 2 hours 8 minutes 8 seconds

Margin of Victory: .244 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: S.Steckly (83.454 mph, 17.255 seconds)

Caution Flags: 11 for 79 laps.

Lead Changes: 15 among 7 drivers.

Lap Leaders: S. Steckly 1-44; A. Ranger 45-86; K. Micks 87-113; D. Whitlock 114; R. Beauchamp,Jr. 115-118; S. Steckly 119; R. Beauchamp,Jr. 120-130; D. Thomson,Jr. 131; R. Beauchamp,Jr. 132-134; J. White 135-138; A. Ranger 139-234; K. Micks 235; A. Ranger 236-241; D. Whitlock 242-256; R. Beauchamp,Jr. 257; D. Whitlock 258-259.

Standings: 1. D. Whitlock, 185; 2. K. Micks, 175; 3. R. Beauchamp,Jr., 170; 4. S.

Steckly, 165; 5. A. Ranger, 160; 6. M. Dilley, 155; 7. J. White, 151; 8. D. Thomson,Jr., 143; 9. J. Hathaway, 142; 10. M. Duhamel, 134.
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C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
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The Nascar Insiders
The Sad Demise of American Open Wheel Racing
On the eve of the biggest motorsports weekend of the year I can’t help but reflect on what Indy Racing once was and could have been.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/cveUv76EOus/

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/052309.html

Tony Stewart Shows How to Get it Done
by Brenda Benedict

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/NB/052309.html

Can Brian Ickler Be NASCAR’s Next Big Star?
by Nick Blake

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/052409.html

The Busiest Day In Motorsports
by Kim Roberson

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/MP/052509.html

A Force to be Reckoned With
by Matthew Pizzolato

The Nascar Insiders
NASCAR Wants You To Be Happy
So I’m about to blow your mind. Are you ready? NASCAR wants their fans to be happy.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/g-g43T7HIkM/

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/052609.html

Good Things Come To Those That Wait ~ Reutimann Wins One
by Kim Roberson

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/052609.html

Racer Profile: G.C. Spencer
by Allen Madding

The Nascar Insiders
Some Of The Little Guys Are Starting To Fade
At the start of 2009, the outlook for NASCAR and its teams was bleak.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/UuFFO2y3w8Y/

I Was Just Wonderin’…: NASCAR Blooms in a Cabbage Patch

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=419

This Just In: Coca-Cola Feeds the Fans!

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=420

CJF1: Racing in a Fairytale Kingdom

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=421

Patience And Patriotism Mix At LMS

http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/05/patience-and-patriotism-mix-at-lms.html

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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fans Stockcar Newsletter

http://www.nascarnutscanada.com/

TUESDAY, MAY 26
6:30 P-7:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
6:30 P-7:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L

THURSDAY, MAY 28
6:30 P-7:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L

FRIDAY, MAY 29
10:00 A-11:30 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series QUALIFYING, AAA Insurance 200, Dover, DE, HD, L
11:30 A-1:00 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
1:00 P-2:30 SPEED NASCAR Nationwide Series FINAL PRACTICE, Heluva Good! 200, Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE, HD, L
3:00 P-4:30 SPEED/TSN NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
6:30 P-7:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
8:00 P-8:30 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series SETUP, AAA Insurance 200, Dover, DE, HD, L
8:30 P-11:00 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series AAA Insurance 200, Dover, DE, HD, L

SATURDAY, MAY 30
10:00 A-11:30 SPEED NASCAR Nationwide Series QUALIFYING, Heluva Good! 200, Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE, HD, L
11:30 A-12:30 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
12:30 P-2:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup FINAL PRACTICE, Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
2:00 P-2:30 ABC/TSN NASCAR Nationwide Series COUNTDOWN, Heluva Good! 200, Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE, HD, L
2:3 0P-5:00 ABC/TSN NASCAR Nationwide Series Heluva Good! 200, Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE, HD, L

SUNDAY, MAY 31
10:00 A-11:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
11:30 A-1:30 P SPEED NASCAR Race Day. Preview of today’s Autism Speaks 400, Dover International Speedway, HD, L
1:30 P-2:00 FOX/TSN NASCAR Sprint Cup PRE-RACE, Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
2:00 P-6:00 FOX/TSN NASCAR Sprint Cup Autism Speaks 400, Dover, DE, HD, L
7:00 P-8:00 SPEED The SPEED Report, HD, N
8:00 P-9:00 SPEED NASCAR Victory Lane at Autism Speaks 400, Dover International Speedway, HD, SDD, N
9:00 P-10:00 SPEED Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, HD, L

We do 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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