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Welcome to our Wednesday edition. Here’s the stock car news for today… |
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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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Welcome to our Wednesday edition. Here’s the stock car news for today…
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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motorsportsnews.net/archives/3783
TV Times - Does NASCAR Treat The “Little Guy” Differently?
by: Lou Modestino
Depending who you talk to about it, you get a different opinion. In this case NASCAR is the only one that counts and Carl Long got a 12-week suspension along with a 200 grand fine plus the loss of 200 points.
For more of this writer, visit 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 www.Frontstretch.com
Today’s Top News
by Phil Allaway
Kahne’s Switch to Toyota Put On Hold?
Yesterday, Sirius Speedway reported that Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 would be switching to Toyota in the near future. Now, it seems this may not be the case, as on Tuesday, Sirius Speedway reported that in the past few days there has been an about-face. As a result, there is a good sporting chance that Kahne and the entire RPM team will remain under the Dodge banner at least until the end of the season.
The news coming out of RPM recently had the No. 9 switching over first, with the other teams following in turn. However, team co-owner Richard Petty is an unabashed proponent of Dodge and Chrysler, dating all the way back to the 1950’s and 1960’s. Even if the other three cars (Nos. 9, 19 and 44) switched to Toyota, he would have required that the No. 43 stay in the Dodge camp. This would have created a logistical nightmare, with the team having to deal with four different engine programs (regular and plate programs for both Dodge and Toyota), and two different bodies (even though there are quite a few common body parts today between the makes, not all of them are the same).
Top News Stories (from Tuesday, 6/23)
by Cami Starr
Roush Fenway Racing Deals with Needed Cutback
With the four team limit fast approaching, Roush Fenway Racing has known for some time that they need to scale back to four teams. The prevailing rumor has the No. 26, currently driven by Jamie McMurray, being the team that is sent to Yates Racing at the end of this year. But will McMurray be behind the wheel?
“We’re still messing with the sponsorship pieces,’’ Geoff Smith, RFR President said in regards to one of the teams moving. “We’re still not sure how it’s going to lay out. We thought we’d be done by now but we’re not.’’
“Jamie wants to stay,” Smith said in regards to McMurray’s status. “We’d like him to stay. We’re hoping we can have sponsorship around Jamie before he has to decide how much longer he can wait. We’ve been working together. Hopefully we’ll have that worked out pretty quickly before he has to turn his attention to the marketplace.”
Richard Childress Racing the Latest Team to Cutback?
Mike Mulhurn detailed a possible scenario that might see RCR cutting back from four to two teams next season. Sponsorship with Shell and Jack Daniels needs to be renewed in order to keep all four cars on the track. Childress says his intention is to have four cars next year, but acknowledges the sponsorship issues. Also at issue is a non-payment of over $2 million to the team from General Motors.
Childress stated that he is not suing GM for missing the payment on June 15th, but legal papers have been filed with a North Carolina law firm.
One Team Looking to Expand
While it may be gloomy news for some teams, one organization is continuing to expand. Rick Hendrick has stated he intends to meet this week with Brad Keselowski regarding his future in the Cup Series. Hendrick currently is at the maximum number of teams allowed, four, which means the Keselowski piece will have to fit in a different part of the Hendrick puzzle. One idea being bantered about is that Keselowski will go to Stewart-Haas Racing as a third entry for what is technically a Hendrick satellite team. He may remain with JR Motorsports, if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his management team opt to move their organization up to the big leagues.
“We’re looking at different options with some of our external situations with other teams,” Hendrick said Sunday. “I told Brad that I want him to have the best opportunity. If we can’t give it to him, then I want him to have the best.”
Keselowski told the media this weekend that he would love to be at SHR racing next year.
No matter where he ends up, you can bet it will be under the Hendrick wide reaching umbrella.
“Brad wants to do something that is somehow associated with our company,” Hendrick said. “We’re working on it and hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll have something sorted out. He’ll be running Cup [in 2010]. Whether he’ll be running them all or whether he’ll be running 75% of them or what, I don’t know.”
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Courtesy of Google Alerts
At Toyota/Save Mart 350, Juan Pablo Montoya kept his eyes on …
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
The former Indianapolis 500 winner and Formula One driver switched to NASCAR stock-car racing full time in 2007. It has often been a struggle, but he scored …
www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nascar-sonoma23-2009jun23,0,5273985.story
Like them or not, road courses more exciting with double-file restarts
CBSSports.com - USA
As NASCAR expanded the sport’s base in the 1980s, looking to bring stock car racing to areas of the country outside the south, there weren’t too many …
www.cbssports.com/autoracing/story/11879949
NASCAR needs continued success from Petty
FOXSports.com - USA
At 72, Petty is still the face of stock-car racing, the name and image that even the most casual fans worldwide associate most with the sport. …
msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/9718186/NASCAR-needs-continued-success-from-Petty
Your turn: Should a road course race be in NASCAR’s Chase?
Examiner.com - USA
Love it or hate it, NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship is the way the sport determines its top driver. It’s also an entirely different subject for another …
www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.examiner.com/x-543-NASCAR-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Your-turn-Should-a-road-course-race-be-in-NASCARs-Chase&ct=ga&cd=8HDvL1lSWL4&usg=AFQjCNGyJNYHiPLIInAaiKD0-gTusJ0dZQ
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com
TNT Ratings Down
TNT’s coverage of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway earned a 4.0 cable rating, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports. The rating is 7.0 percent lower than the 4.3 cable rating TNT earned for the 2008 race. This year’s race averaged 5.788 million viewers, down 3.8 percent from last year’s 6.015 million viewers. For its first three Sprint Cup races this season, TNT is averaging a 3.9 cable rating and 5.483 million viewers, down 9.3 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, from the 4.3 rating and 5.780 million viewers last year, the Daily reports.
Montoya’s Team Wins Tissot Pit Crew Award in Sonoma
Juan Pablo Montoya’s crew won the Tissot Pit Crew Precision Award in Sunday’s (June 21) NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Montoya’s No. 42 crew is the 12th Cup team to garner the Tissot award as the season approaches the halfway mark. The fast work by the No. 42 crew during the Toyota / Save Mart 350k helped Montoya to a solid sixth-place finish at the 1.99-mile road circuit. Montoya’s Chevrolet Impala SS spent 107.846 seconds on pit road.
Most Popular Vote Passes 750,000
Race fans know who their favorite driver is and are not afraid to voice their opinion – especially with their computer mouse. Voting for the 2009 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Chex Most Popular Driver Award has now surpassed 750,000 online votes. Fans have been voting at (www.chexmostpopulardriver.com) since the NASCAR Sprint Cup season began in February. The full field of 44 drivers will remain eligible for votes until after the Richmond International Raceway event on September 13, when the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as “Top 10” finalists.
Kerr Named Best Crew Chief
Frank Kerr, crew chief for the No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota driven by Marcos Ambrose, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. A solid third-place qualifying run was overshadowed by disappointment on Saturday when the team lost an engine in practice, forcing them to start from the tail end of the field. Kerr decided to bring his driver down pit road on lap 12, off-sequence from the leaders, to get him some clean air. It didn’t take long for Ambrose to race his way to the front of the field, eventually moving into third place, where he finished behind Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart.
Keselowski Hot Property
Sprint Cup team owner Rick Hendrick said he plans to meet with Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski this week to discuss his plans for moving up to Sprint Cup in 2010. Hendrick mentioned two possible options for Keselowski — a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing, which is affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports, or a chance to stay at JR Motorsports if Dale Earnhardt Jr. decides to move his Nationwide team to Cup next year. “We’re looking at different options with some of our external situations with other teams,” Hendrick said Sunday at Infineon Raceway. “I told Brad that I want him to have the best opportunity. If we can’t give it to him, then I want him to have the best.”
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com
Today in History: June 24 — 1951: Curtis Turner wins his first NASCAR race on pavement, leading 177 of 200 laps at half-mile Dayton (Ohio) Speedway. Dick Rathmann is second, and Tim Flock, who leads the other 23 laps, finishes third.(NASCAR.com)
added more images from Infineon: #08 California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, #02 Efusjon Energy Club, #16 Post-It, #18 M&M’s Transformers, #55 NAPA, #66 Toyota and #71 Adobe Road Winery; and a couple days ago….#02 Efusjon Energy Club, #04 Jim Beam / Menards, #08 Black Ford, #1 Ge Reveal, #27 Lilly Trucking, #36 California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, 71 Adobe Road Winery plus the #44 Best Buy and #18 Transformers/M&M’s scheme see them on my Paint Scheme Gallery
www.jayski.com/schemes/paintschemes.htm
“The King” dicusses Toyota rumors: Tuesday, June 23rd on “Sirius Speedway” on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, host Dave Moody spoke with NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Petty was asked about the rumors that Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne might be switching from a Dodge to a Toyota.
Host, Dave Moody: “Lot of rumors swirling around about Kasey Kahne and a possible affiliation with Toyota, on again, off again, conversations that may or may not be happening. What can you tell us on that, if anything?”
Richard Petty: “Exactly what you just said. That’s how much I know about it, too. It’s all swirling around. You grab some of it. I don’t really know, okay? And I don’t think anybody knows right now exactly where we’re sitting, what we’re gonna do, what’s gonna happen, you know, three weeks from now let alone the beginning of next year. We’re like everybody else. We’re trying to put ourselves together with our sponsor deals, make sure we’ve got monetary deals to be able to go do the deal. Then we’re going to look at whatever we think is going to be the best for Richard Petty Motorsports in the short run and the long run. Because after being here for 50 or 60 years anyway I’m not looking for a quick fix, okay? We’re trying to put stuff together so that we can go on down the road next year, the year after next, the year after that. What happens? I don’t know. We’re open about anything right now to look at. So we’re going to put everything on the table and then we’re going to say, ‘Okay, this happens and that happens and this over here happens.’ Then we hope we’ll make the right decisions on where we go. Other than that, that’s about all I know about it.”
Moody: “I know you’ve been fiercely loyal to Dodge over the years but at the end of the day loyalty doesn’t feed the dog, does it?”
Petty: “Well, you’ve got to look at it from the standpoint that can Dodge be loyal to us now that the government owns Chrysler, okay, or whoever owns it? So I don’t know if the people that are head of what’s going on right now, are they race fans? If they are then that’s going to be great. But if they’re not then, you know, it affects so many people and there’s so much going on out there, under the table deal or under the ground, that we don’t know about. So what Dodge does next year or what Chevrolet does or what Ford does or Toyota or whoever, we’re just going to have to sort of wait and let things sort of let the dust settle and then we’re going to run in there and pick up the best thing we can.”
Moody: “Would it be even theoretically feasible to field two different brands of race cars out of the same race shop? Could that be done?”
Petty: “You know, I’ve asked the same question. (laughs) Really, I have. I said, ‘What if?’ And I think that’s what we’re gonna have to do. We’re gonna have to say, ‘What if?’ and then see if it’s done and what would it be to be able to do something like that. The problem I see with running two different kinds of cars out of the same shop is basically the engine shop. The cars have got the same wheels, same brakes, same chassis, same basic body so all that stuff would be easy. The big deal was how could you do the motor situation? That would be the big question mark. I don’t know if it’s ever been done but if it could be done we could probably do it.”
“SIRIUS Speedway” airs every weekday (3-7 pm ET) exclusively on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.(SIRIUS XM Radio)(6-24-2009)
Infineon TV ratings drop: TNT’s coverage of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway earned a 4.0 cable rating, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports. The rating is 7.0% lower than the 4.3 cable rating TNT earned for the 2008 race. This year’s race averaged 5.788 million viewers, down 3.8% from last year’s 6.015 million viewers. For its first three Sprint Cup races this season, TNT is averaging a 3.9 cable rating and 5.483 million viewers, down 9.3% and 5.1%, respectively, from the 4.3 rating and 5.780 million viewers last year, the Daily reports.(SceneDaily)
Long hopes to race at Bristol: #46-Carl Long is still considerably upset at NASCAR for his suspension and $200,000 fine for an oversized engine, but he’s talking with various sponsors about paying his penalty and resuming his part-time driving career. “I’m looking for one corporate sponsor to sponsor my car at Bristol,” Long said Monday in a telephone interview. “I know I can make the race. I have a ton of experience there.” Long said he won an All Pro Series race at the high-banked, .533-mile oval and has qualified for the last six Sprint Cup Series races that he has attempted. “That’s a real good track for me,” he said. An engine that Long cooked in practice for the Sprint Showdown at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May was measured at 358.17 cubic inches. The NASCAR maximum is 358ci. NASCAR threw the book at Long for his engine being .17ci over the limit. Long was fined $200,000, suspended for 12 races and lost 200 championship points. The suspension was shortened to eight races after a final appeal to national commissioner Charles Strang. Long, a crew man for Front Row Motorsports, is still disturbed by the suspension and fine. “I didn’t put jet fuel in the motor. I didn’t have traction control,” he said. “We didn’t go out there to stink up the show. For them to do this to me, still ticks me off.” Long hopes to find a company that will pick up the tab for a new car-engine combination and pay the fine, a total of $300,000 in sponsor money for a one-shot effort at Bristol. And, Long is accepting donations at carl-long.com to help pay the fine. The donation total was more than $19,000 as of Monday afternoon. “The bottom line is a rule is a rule,” Long said. “I can’t do much else than try this thing at Bristol.”(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-24-2009)
New colors for Burton at NHMS: LENOX’s associate sponsorship of RCR’s #31 Chevy driven by Jeff Burton kicks into high gear this weekend in New Hampshire as the #31 team transform their black and yellow #31 Caterpillar Chevy into a red, white and blue LENOX racing machine for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301. LENOX produces band saw blades, sawing fluids and hand power tool accessories in over 70 countries around the world. NHMS is the site of Burton’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on July 11, 1993. The 41-year-old driver started sixth and finished 37th driving for Filbert Martocci’s #0 entry. Burton will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Monday, June 29.(RCR), see images of the scheme on my #31 Team Schemes page.(6-24-2009)
www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/31cup.htm
Different colors for Allmendinger at NHMS: AJ Allmendinger drives the #44 Berlin City Auto Group Dodge this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Allmendinger: “Our owner George Gillett also owns the Berlin City Auto group and they tell me Dave Dion used to be sponsored by Berlin City Auto Group with an orange paint scheme that you could spot anywhere on the track. We are running a version of that paint scheme this weekend. I think all the long time racing fans in New England will know what I’m talking about. I’m sure that will bring back memories. Berlin City was on the pole for this race last year so hopefully we’ll give them something as exciting this year.” The Berlin City Auto Group with dealerships throughout New England, specializes in the sales, service and parts for automotive manufacturers and pre-owned vehicles.(RPM), see images of the scheme on my #44 Team Schemes page.(6-24-2009)
www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/44cup.htm#diecast
Kurt Busch goes hunting: #2-Kurt Busch is on a hunting expedition in Montana this week. “We fly in to Missoula, then take a 90-minute truck ride, followed by a three-hour ride on a donkey to get where we’ll be hunting,” Kurt said of his trip that started on Monday of this week. “I’d been hoping to get to go big black bear hunting, when Darius (Songaila, center/forward for Washington Wizards and a neighbor of Kurt’s) invited me to go on this hunt he had scheduled. We’re doing it the hard way, that’s for sure. We’ll be using bow and arrow and I’ll have my video camera along to document everything. I hope to have some great video to show the guys when we get to New Hampshire.” Kurt’s schedule will see him do the reverse route in order to get to New Hampshire for Friday’s opening practice session. “Yep, we’ll be riding the donkeys back for three hours, hopping back in the truck and heading for the Missoula Airport. Then we fly through Denver and hopefully land in Boston at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday night.”(Tom Roberts PR)(6-24-2009)
RCR to scale back to two teams? UPDATE - Statement: There is speculation that Chevy team owner Richard Childress may have to cut back to a two-car operation next season, if the Shell [#29-Harvick] and Jack Daniels [#07-Casey Mears] sponsorships are not renewed. Childress says he intends to have four Cup teams again next year, but conceded sponsorship issues remain to be resolved. Childress, through the Winston-Salem law firm Womble, Carlyle, has filed legal papers over what he says is GM’s non-payment of a bill of $2,538,750. Childress insists he’s not suing GM over its failure to make that payment due June 15th. That bill would apparently be a scheduled quarterly payment, part of a $10 million a year Chevrolet sponsorship for Childress’ four-team operation.(mikemulhern.net)(6-22-2009) UPDATE: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing regarding allegations that RCR has filed a lawsuit against General Motors: “I would like to set the record straight that RCR has NOT filed a lawsuit against General Motors and I do not appreciate anyone suggesting otherwise. As is standard practice in bankruptcy proceedings, RCR has made a filing which is common among creditors in these situations. As previously stated as recently as this past weekend in Sonoma, RCR is proud to be associated with General Motors and we are working closely with them during these difficult economic times.”(RCR)(6-23-2009)
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Courtesy of Racin’ Today
www.racintoday.com
Woody: The King And The King Of Beer - www.racintoday.com/archives/6841
Woody: Another Helping Of The Vanilla, Please - www.racintoday.com/archives/6822
Petty’s Perseverance Puts Him Back Onto His Throne - www.racintoday.com/archives/6565
Busch Scheduled To Make Encore Performance In Nashville - www.racintoday.com/archives/6849
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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’
www.thatsracin.com
‘Race to the Chase’ gets running this week
Looking ahead in both NASCAR and IndyCar: The “Race to the Chase” begins this weekend as the Sprint Cup Series heads to New Hampshire
www.thatsracin.com/115/story/12648.html
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Courtesy of www.Valvoline.com
Yes, He REALLY Said That
Jimmie Johnson, if he expected Tony Stewart’s success as an owner-driver. “No, when the season started, I thought we needed to check Tony into a mental hospital and ask him why he was trying to be a car owner.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Brian Vickers got the pole Friday at Sonoma with a 93.678 mph lap in his Toyota. Marcos Ambrose qualified third but an engine change sent him to the back. Scott Speed didn’t qualify but took over Joe Nemechek’s car. Vickers led the first 17 laps but finished 16th. Jeff Gordon got a pit-lane speeding penalty and had to restart at the back of the field. As usual on road courses, track position and pit sequencing were key. Denny Hamlin led 33 laps in the mid-section of the event. In the first test of double-wide restarts on a road course, Tony Stewart got to line up alongside leader Kasey Kahne after several cautions, but Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge always was able to lead. Kahne led a total of 38 laps. There were seven yellows for 20 laps. It was his first-ever road course win after a previous best of 14th (twice) and Kahne’s first win in 37 events, going back to Pocono last June. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was involved in a three-car late-race tangle and finished 26th. Reed Sorenson qualified 28th and finished 40th in the Valvoline Dodge.
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Dixie Land Sweepstakes … Dixie Stampede, an associate sponsor on RCR’s No. 29 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, has teamed up with Holiday Inn to give away a fun-filled weekend for one lucky fan and their guest, centered around Bristol Motor Speedway’s August events. The winner and their guest will receive a free two-night stay at the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Holiday Inn on August 19th and 20th, two tickets to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and two tickets to Dollywood. They will also receive RV accommodations (provided by Tennessee RV Sales & Service) at Bristol Motor Speedway for August 21st and 22nd, two pit passes and race tickets to the Nationwide Series Food City 250 on Friday, August 21st and two race tickets to the Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 22nd. To enter to win or for more details, please visit www.dixiestampede.com or submit your entry by mail to Dixie Stampede, Attn: Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 58, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 37868.
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ELLIOTT SADLER SCHEDULES JUNE 25th VISIT TO NEW BRITAIN STADIUM!
Popular #19 Stanley Dodge Charger Driver will Join Fans For BP, Lunch, & More!
New Britain, CT – Fans of the New Britain Rock Cats are a versatile bunch - and while they clearly love their baseball team, a sizable number of these good citizens also enjoy the NASCAR circuit. And on Thursday, June 25th, those cross-over rooters are going to double their pleasure as the worlds of baseball and auto racing – in the person of popular driver Elliott Sadler - converge at New Britain Stadium.
Sadler, who drives the #19 Stanley Dodge Charger, will be in New Britain for a pre-game autograph session before competing in an on-field Home Run Derby contest against a Rock Cats’ fan who wins the club’s current “Sweepstakes Contest”. Before the day’s 12:05 PM baseball contest even begins, the driver will host a 12 Noon Luncheon in the ballpark’s Stadium Club to benefit the CT Breast Health Initiative!
Sadler, who races for Richard Petty Motorsports, led the season opening Daytona 500 for 24 laps before eventually finishing fifth in the rain-shortened event. For the season, Sadler has one top-five and three top-15 finishes in 2009 and sponsor Stanley has its corporate headquarters are in the New Britain, Connecticut area.
At 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 25th, 100 pre-registered fans will be invited to a 30-minute autograph session with Elliott at the Stadium. Fans can gain admittance by registering for and/or participating in the “Sweepstakes Contest”, with details available at www.rockcats.com. Contest winners and fans randomly selected will be granted admittance to the autograph area, where Mr. Sadler will happily sign one item per person.
At approximately 11:35 AM, Elliott will go onto the field to participate in a Home Run Derby contest against the Sweepstakes’ Grand Prize winner. This on-field fun will last approximately 10 exciting minutes!
At 12:05 PM, Elliott will have dashed from the field to the upper level Stadium Club where he will host a charity Luncheon for the benefit of the CT Breast Health Initiative. Tickets are $50 each – attendance will be limited to 50 people – and all proceeds will benefit a great local cause. Those who contribute and attend – in addition to feeling good about themselves – will get to hang out with Elliott, enjoy a photo session, a terrific buffet luncheon and, oh yeah, the 12:05 PM Rock Cats game against the visiting Defenders from nearby Norwich! A great opportunity for an even better cause!
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Happy Birthday, Jeff … Burton will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Monday, June 29.
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Visit www.ForTheCamp.com June 17 through July 11 to purchase your ticket! The proceeds of this online split raffle go to the winning ticket holder AND Victory Junction! Tickets are only $10 and last year’s event raised over $24,000 for both Victory Junction and the winner!
Painted Hills Golf Course will host the Inaugural Victory Junction Kansas City Golf Tournament on June 30 benefiting Victory Junction’s new Kansas City Camp. The tournament will be a four-person scramble with prizes being awarded to the first, second and third place teams. The price to participate is $75 per player, including both lunch and dinner. For more information or to sign-up for the event, call 913.334.1111 or e-mail sprice@eaglegolf.com.
CV Products, X Technologies is hosting their 2nd annual benefit for Victory Junction Car Show and 5k Walk Run on July 11th! Join in on the fun for live music, celebrity appearances and raffle! Bring the kids for bounce houses, a petting zoo, a pony carousel and more! Visit www.cvproducts.com for more info.
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Ask.com PSA Wins Two Awards
Ask.com, the official search engine of NASCAR®, was recently honored as a recipient of a CINE Award and a Telly Award for its Internet Safety Public Service Announcement featuring NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte, Web Wise Kids and NASCAR.
The campaign features Internet safety tips delivered by Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion. In addition to representing Ask.com on the race track, Labonte, who is the father of a 15-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, serves as the brand’s spokesperson for its efforts to promote Internet safety for children.
To date, the PSA has reached over 27 million viewers nationwide. To view the award-winning campaign, visit Ask.com and search Internet Safety (safesearchschools.com/psa.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
www.jayski.com
22 winners at NHMS: Some might call it an anomaly, but the string of 22 different winners in 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway stands as the longest such streak at active tracks in each of NASCAR’s national series.(NASCAR PR)(6-23-2009)
Sadler in the #10 at New Hampshire: Elliott Sadler makes Richard Petty Motorsports’ 2009 Nationwide Series debut on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Braun Racing will field the #10 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper car as well as the cars for Kasey Kahne at the four remaining Petty Nationwide Series races in 2009.(Richard Petty Motorsports PR)(6-23-2009)
New Hampshire Rookie Notes:
Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 20 Northern Tool.com 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. Darnell scored a fourth-place finish, equaling his best effort in six NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He claimed his second top-five and third top-10 in 2009 and captured top rookie honors for the second time in 2009. Darnell led twice for 19 laps and was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the race.
Darnell won his first pole position at Milwaukee and joined Brendan Gaughan as the only Raybestos® Rookie drivers to capture a pole this season.
At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in the last 13 consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Gaughan leads Justin Allgaier by five points (159-154) in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 27 Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings: Gaughan (seventh) and Allgaier (eighth). The two are separated by just one point.
Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Camping World RV Sales 200, claiming a 13th-place finish.
Landon Cassill won the pole for the 2008 race at New Hampshire. Cassill joined Shane Hmiel (2002) as the only Raybestos Rookies to win a pole at the 1.058-mile speedway since the NASCAR Nationwide Series began competing at the track in 1990 (22 races). He joins Shane Hmiel, who captured the top starting spot in 2002.
The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at New Hampshire is second by Steve Park in 1997. Park finished .106 seconds behind race winner Mike McLaughlin.
Only once in 19 previous June races at New Hampshire have two Raybestos Rookies finished inside the top-five at New Hampshire: Carl Edwards (second) and Denny Hamlin (third) in 2005.
(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc. PR)(6-23-2009)
Double-duty for Keselowski at New Hampshire: Brad Keselowski will be making his second series start this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the #88-GoDaddy.com Chevy. Keselowski will be attempting to make the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at NHMS this weekend in the #09 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing. The last time Keselowski piloted the #09 was at Talladega Superspeedway where he drove to his first win in only his fifth series start.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-23-2009)
Scott Wimmer returns to pilot #40 at NHMS: Scott Wimmer returns to pilot the #40 StopRepairBills.com Chevrolet after a one week stint with JR Motorsports. Wimmer has a solid record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with only one finish outside the top-15 in his six starts at the track. (Key Motorsports PR)(6-23-2009)
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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
www.TheHotLap.com
No. 2 Sean Caisse hails from Pelham, N.H., approximately 55 miles south of Loudon, which the 23 year-old driver considers him home track. Caisse has made seven starts on the 1.058-mile concrete oval in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. He has finished second twice, and has led 153 of the 849 laps he has completed at NHMS.Sean Caisse Quotes:New Hampshire is your home state and, in your second start with RCR, what are your goals as your head to your home track?“I think I’m the only New Hampshire driver in the field, so we’ll have the fans on our side for sure. I’ve tested trucks there, ran a modified car there a few times and have several East Series races under my belt. It gives me confidence heading back home to a track that I’m familiar with and have had some success. Hopefully, we can have a solid run and, if the car is handling right, a top-10 finish would be great.”Read more (RCR) (06-23-09)
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Here is a link (www.flickr.com/photos/nationwide/sets/72157620000113767/) to the pictures that Nationwide took and Twittered (twitter.com/Nationwide) from the Kentucky Speedway.
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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
www.jayski.com
Greenwood to perform at Kentucky Speedway: Classic country music artist Lee Greenwood will perform a July 18 concert at Kentucky Speedway during a doubleheader race day that will feature the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers” and the ARCA RE/MAX Series “Click or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150.” The well-known singer will take the track’s Turn 1 concert stage in lieu of Chris Cagle, who was forced to cancel his event appearance to begin physician-ordered vocal rest.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-24-2009)
Congrats to RHR team members: Three of Red Horse Racing’s own are getting married over the two off weekends coming up. #17 Crew member Chris Taylor is getting married on July 3rd in Cornelius, NC to Jennifer Mussard. Crew chief Chad Kendrick will marry Katie Hull on July 4th in Greensboro, NC and Crew Chief Rick Gay will marry RHR’s Public Relations Manager, Sarah Holladay on July 11th in Kansas City, KS.(RHR PR)(6-24-2009)
Crawford to be guest DJ on Sirius/XM’s Elvis Radio: Rick Crawford [#14-Int'l Truck & Engine Ford] will be guest DJ on Sirius/XM’s Elvis Radio on Friday from 11:00am - 12:00pm Central. Elvis Radio is broadcast live from Graceland on Sirius Channel 13 and XM Channel 18.(Circle Bar Racing PR)(6-23-2009)
Fontaine back with #84 at Memphis: Chris Fontaine and the Glenden Enterprises NCWTS race team are finishing up the last changes on the #84 truck in preparation for a return to the series at Memphis Motorsports Park this Saturday. This will be Fontaine’s sixth race in the series; the last being at Michigan where he finished 15th.(Chris Fontaine PR)(6-23-2009)
Raybestos Rookie News and Notes - Memphis: James Buescher [#10-Int'l MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford] was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 20 Copart 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Buescher scored a fifth-place finish, his best in 11 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. He grabbed top Raybestos Rookie honors for the second time this season. Tayler Malsam scored a seventh-place finish at Milwaukee, his fifth top-10 in 12 series starts. Malsam leads Johnny Sauter by seven points (112-105) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 27 Memphis Travel.com 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Malsam is sixth in the series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 14 points behind fifth-place David Starr and 10 ahead of seventh-place Brian Scott. Brian Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Memphis Travel.com 200, scoring a 13th-place finish. (Raybestos PR)(6-23-2009)
Career year continues for Starr: David Starr quietly entered the top five in points with another top-10 finish last Saturday, his fourth in the last five races. Currently, he sits 112 points behind fourth-place Mike Skinner - a coveted spot. Starr’s highest career points finish was fourth, in 2006. That season, he had a win, six top fives, 12 tops 10s and an average finish of 11.0. Through 10 races this season, Starr has two top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 11.6. With 15 races remaining this season, Starr is on pace to match his 2006 numbers. Starr’s best Memphis performance might have come in last year’s fifth-place finish.(NASCAR PR [Check out more prerace News & Notes on the Memphis Race Page.](6-23-2009)
www.jayski.com/cts/next/2009/11memphis2009.htm#notes
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
www.arcaracing.com
Petty Living the Dream with Hixson Motorsports
SODDY DAISY TN (6-24-09) - Jeremy Petty is living the dream ………. sort of. Technically, he’s living in a corner apartment in the garage of the Hixson Motorsports shop in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee doing all he can do to live out that dream.
[Read More] - www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8197
Arpin All Smiles After Career-Run at Mansfield; Returning to Dirt Track Roots on Holiday Weekend
CHARLOTTE NC (6-23-09) - Steve Arpin left Saturday night’s ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Mansfield Motorsports Park with a smile on his face and added enthusiasm for his team, one of four from the Eddie Sharp Racing camp. And for good reason. The Fort Frances, Ontario driver earned a career-best fifth place finish in Saturday’s Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 presented by National Speed Sport news.
www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8189
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Some kind of graduation gift / Parker Kligerman wins race a day …
Ashland Times Gazette - Ashland,OH,USA
Parker Kligerman of Westport, Conn., holds up the trophy after winning the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 race Saturday at Mansfield Motorsports Park …
www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4613101
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Courtesy of USAR
usarprocup.com
USARacing Schedule Change – Langley Speedway Replaces Southern National Raceway Park
Concord, NC (June 23, 2009) – The USARacing Pro Cup Series announced today that Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA, will replace Southern National Raceway Park and will change the date from August 15th to August 22nd. After a mutual agreement was made between the Southern National Raceway Park and USAR, the decision was in the best interest of both the track and the series. The Southern National Raceway Park is currently for sale and with the tough economic times, USAR felt it would be best for the series to move their race date elsewhere.
www.usarprocup.com/?p=313
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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 gives the annual Mid-Season Motorsports Exam in the new Behind [Closed] Garage Doors column, now posted at www.Valvoline.com.
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/062309.html
NASCAR ~ The Times, They Are a Changing
by Allen Madding
RaceTalkRadio.com:
Double Filing Did Lead to Better Road Coursing, Making the Grade - Infineon by Dennis Michelsen
www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id287.htm
The Nascar Insiders
What In The (Expletive) Is Going On?!?!
So I returned from another busy weekend of racing to discover (thanks to the Internet) what many in the NASCAR media have been fronting for weeks; that all of NASCAR is finally starting to implode!
feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/mknELFAgBw8/
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/CA/062409.html
It’s all about Danica, more or less
by Chuck Abrams
Cheers and Jeers: Royalty in Victory Lane
By Carol Einarsson | 06/23/2009
CHEERS to “Just save us three laps..” THREE? I’m siding with Wally over Larry Mac. That seems an awful lot on a track like this, even with the downhill part.
www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=444
No Sirius NASCAR Channel On iPhones - dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-sirius-nascar-channel-on-iphones.html
TV Shows Point To Goodyear For Great Sonoma Race - dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/06/tv-shows-point-to-goodyear-for-great.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
www.nascarnutscanada.com/
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 (ST. JEAN BAPTISTE DAY – QUEBEC, CANADA)
5:00 P-5:30 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
5:00 P-5:30 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
1:30 A-2:00 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, R
11:30 A-12:00 N SPEED NASCAR Live at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD
12:00 N-1:30 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
1:30 P-3:00 SPEED NASCAR Nationwide Series PRACTICE, Camping World RV Sales 200, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
3:00 P-5:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
6:00 P-7:00 VS IRL Indy Car Series QUALIFYING, Sun Trust Indy Challenge, Richmond International Raceway, HD, L (broadcast canceled?)
7:00 P-7:30 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
7:00 P-8:00 SPEED Trackside (NASCAR) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD, N
11:30 P-12:30 A SPEED Trackside (NASCAR) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD, R
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
9:00 A-10:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
10:00 A-11:30 SPEED NASCAR Nationwide Series QUALIFYING, Camping World RV Sales 200, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
11:30 A-1:00 P SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup FINAL PRACTICE, Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
1:00 P-1:30 SPEED NASCAR Live at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD
2:00 P-3:00 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series QUALIFYING, MemphisTravel.com 200, Memphis Motorsports Park, Millington, TN, HD, L
2:30 P-3:00 ABC NASCAR Nationwide Series COUNTDOWN, Camping World RV Sales 200, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
3:00 P-5:30 ABC NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L (expect green at 3:15P)
5:00 P-7:00 ESPN-CL Classic’s NASCAR: 1998 Daytona 500, Daytona Intl. Speedway, Feb 15/98
5:30 P-6:00 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series SETUP, MemphisTravel.com 200, Memphis Motorsports Park, Millington, TN, HD, L
6:00 P-8:30 SPEED NASCAR Camping World Truck Series MemphisTravel.com 200, Memphis Motorsports Park, Millington, TN, HD, L (expect green at 6:15P)
8:00 P-11:00 VS IRL Indy Car Series Sun Trust Indy Challenge, Richmond International Raceway, HD, L
SUNDAY, JUNE
8:00 A-8:55 ESPN 2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
9:00 A-9:30 SPEED NASCAR Performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD
10:00 A-10:30 SPEED NASCAR in a Hurry at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD, L
10:30 A-12:30 P SPEED NASCAR Race Day. Preview of today’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, HD, L
12:30 P-1:30 TNT NASCAR on TNT Live!, HD, L
1:30 P-2:00 TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup COUNTDOWN TO GREEN, Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L
2:00 P-5:30 TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup Lenox Industrial Tools 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, HD, L (expect green at 2:15 P)
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, www.speedtv.com/schedule/
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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The Stock Car Gazette
Copyright 2002-2009 by MotorSportsNews.Net
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Car Insurance Used Jeep Wranglers for sale
