There were no penalties issued for the #16 car being too low after Bristol…

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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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There were no penalties issued for the #16 car being too low after Bristol… more below.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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Lookin’ Through the Back Window… Stupid Wing!
by: Mike Irwin

After 5 races so far in the Nextel Cup series, let’s take a look back and see who’s been hot, warm, and freezin’.

For more, visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/395

So What Should We Call it? That Danged New Car?
by: Chuck Abrams

Car of Tomorrow, Car of the Future, Car of Today..whatver you call it, it seems rather boring and way overused in some cases.

For more, visit motorsportsnews.net/archives/390
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MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
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Reader thoughts on Bristol and/or the wood-paneled station wagon (aka COT)
motorsportsnews.net/archives/386

The “Shy One” Behind Kenny “Herman” Wallace, by Heather Meyer
motorsportsnews.net/archives/388

TV Times, by Lou Modestino
motorsportsnews.net/archives/394

NASCAR Readies For Round Two In New Car, by Capt. Herb Emory
motorsportsnews.net/archives/393
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N A S C A R * N E X T E L * C U P * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Catchfence.Com
www.catchfence.com

Tony Stewart - Be Cool - www.catchfence.com/press/032807n.html
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
www.insiderracingnews.com

Buy A Piece Of Bristol
Fans and collectors will soon be able to get a piece of Bristol Motor Speedway. The track is planning to strip its all-concrete track surface and replace it before the next race in August. Officials are saving pieces of the start/finish line, which will be made into souvenirs, the track announced Tuesday. Bristol hosted the first NASCAR Nextel Cup race on all concrete in August 1992. Pieces of the original concrete will go on sale in July in three versions ranging in price from $25 to $100. A portion of the sales will benefit the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. “Only the actual concrete raced on by Bristol winners since 1992 will be sold — after it’s gone, no other portions of the surface will be sold,” officials said.

NASCAR Answers Back In Suit
AT&T has been pressuring NASCAR with its lawsuit over how to paint the quarter panels on Jeff Burton’s Nextel Cup car as it rebrands Cingular under the AT&T logo. According to papers being filed in the suit, NASCAR officials told Stan Sigman, the president and CEO of Cingular, five weeks ago that in April 2005, George Pyne, NASCAR’s CEO at the time, told the Richard Childress-Burton team that it would not allow a change in paint scheme or logos if Cingular was bought and had its name changed. NASCAR further said that its grandfathering of Cingular - after Nextel signed on as the series sponsor - “was tied directly to the Cingular Wireless brand and not the Cingular company.” The papers further say that “it is generally not in NASCAR’s interest to limit sponsors’ participation in the sport.” NASCAR suggested that AT&T could sponsor a Busch team or a Trucks team instead, if it wished. That is precisely the route that Verizon has taken. NASCAR’s filing refers specifically to Pyne’s letter to Childress, dated April 4, 2005. It specifies that “should Cingular be acquired by a third party, the Cingular brand is continually welcome as a team sponsor. However, should the company’s name change, we will not allow any paint scheme or branding on the car promoting this new name.”

Vickers Has Second Degree Burns
Brian Vickers suffered second degree burns to his feet when an exhaust pipe broke midway through the 500-mile race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He was walking gingerly Tuesday during an appearance at Team Red Bull headquarters, but team officials said he would be prepared to race this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. “We think that a piece of the tail pipe came off halfway through the race, so heat was blowing directly onto the floor board,” Vickers said. “The guys tried to put some lining in the car to protect my feet, but it didn’t really help that much. I basically had to run the whole race with my feet burning and that was just painful.”
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

NASCAR working on COT problems: NASCAR officials are scrambling to solve a couple of potentially serious issues with the “Car of Tomorrow.” Denny Hamlin and several other drivers complained about an unusual amount of carbon monoxide in their system after Sunday’s inaugural COT race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Some teams had issues with the protective foam in the right side door overheating, melting and producing toxic fumes. Some had springs that failed for no apparent reason, which may have been the reason for the #16 car of Greg Biffle being too low during post-race inspection. NASCAR officials plan to talk with crew chiefs before they arrive in Martinsville on Friday to discuss solutions to these issues. They will look at adjusting the tolerances for minimum height until it is determined what makes the new car settle. They will suggest that teams use a thicker exhaust pipe after determining those that had exhaust systems failures used a thinner pipe to conserve weight. They already have talked to Roush Fenway Racing officials about putting a heat shield over the pipe near the right door and notching the foam higher around the pipe to keep heat from compromising it. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton and Nextel Cup series director John Darby have scheduled a Friday morning press conference to discuss the issues.(ESPN.com)(3-29-2007)

Raines tests at Caraway: #96-Tony Raines and the Hall of Fame Racing Team headed to Caraway on Tuesday, March 27, to shake down the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy Impala SS [COT] in preparation for Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Both tracks are similar in layout, and Raines is hoping the one-day test session will lead to a productive weekend at Martinsville. Officials from DLP HDTV donated 80 tickets for this weekends Goody’s Cool Orange 500 to members of the Virginia Army National Guard and their families.(HOF Racing)(3-29-2007)

Testing at Greenville: many teams tested recently at Greenville Pickens Speedway in S.C. including #18-J.J. Yeley [3/27], #41-Reed Sorensen [3/27], #84-A.J. Allmendinger [3/28-3/29].(3-29-2007)

USG colors for Kenseth at Martinsville: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme this weekend for the first of three races this season (Chicago in July and Texas in November). (Roush Racing), see scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(3-29-2007) www.jayski.com/schemes/2007/17cup.htm

images added #40 Energizer, #17 Arby’s, #66 COT, #21 COT, #44 COT, #8 COT, #41 COT, #24 COT and #5 COT to the Paint Schemes Gallery.(3-29-2007) www.jayski.com/schemes/paintschemes.htm

Martinsville Rookie News and Notes: #6-David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 25 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ragan scored a 26th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the third time in five races this season. � Ragan and #42-Juan Montoya are tied (57-57) for the lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the April 1 Goody�s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Montoya is 19th in the Nextel Cup Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. The Goody�s Cool Orange 500 will be race No. 3 in the Raybestos Rookie Magnificent Seven program. The Raybestos Rookie of the Race normally pays $1,500 but that increases to $5,000 at seven designated races throughout the 2007 season. Ragan (Daytona) and Montoya (Las Vegas) have each captured the bonus once this season. Other races where the bonus is available: Darlington (May 12), Infineon (June 24), Chicagoland (July 15), and Bristol (August 25). Morgan Shepherd is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Goody�s Cool Orange 500 (since 1975). Shepherd won the 1981 event, outlasting the late Neil Bonnett to score his first Nextel Cup Series win. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 finish in the Goody�s Cool Orange 500 is Jeff Gordon, who placed eighth in 1993. Tony Stewart [1999] is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the pole for the Goody�s Cool Orange 500 (since 1975). Denny Hamlin is the only Raybestos Rookie to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup since the program was created in 2004. At least one Raybestos Rookie has won a Bud Pole in each of the last 11 years (1996-2006).(Camp and Assoc/Raybestos PR), and see standings and more on my 2007 Rookie News, Notes and Standings page.(3-29-2007) www.jayski.com/stats/2007/roty2007.htm

Biffle will not face discipline for car height: NASCAR will not penalize Greg Biffle’s #16 team, despite the fact his Ford was found to be too low in post-race inspection at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR vice president for competition Robin Pemberton said Wednesday. NASCAR has scheduled a news conference for Friday morning at Martinsville Speedway to explain their reasoning in detail. NASCAR took the #16 car back to its research and development center Sunday night after the Food City 500 and gave it a thorough inspection Monday. Officials determined that no unapproved adjustments had been made to the car, so NASCAR cleared the machine and returned it to Roush-Fenway Racing on Monday afternoon. The 2007 season began with a new, less tolerant approach toward rules violators, prompting many to suspect that Biffle and his team would receive a stiff penalty following the Bristol mishap. But NASCAR officials said the Car of Tomorrow is a work in progress, and that they anticipated the cars would lose some height during the race at Bristol. Officials ran eight cars through the height sticks during post-race inspection, and Biffle’s was the only one that came back too low. Before making any permanent changes, NASCAR said it will likely make some rules adjustments in the future that benefit everyone.(ESPN.com)(3-28-2007)

Teams use thinner metal on exhaust at Bristol, causes problems: #11-Denny Hamlin said the first race with the Car of Tomorrow, last week at Bristol, wasn’t that much different. How he felt afterward sure was. Hamlin said yesterday during Busch Series testing at Richmond International Raceway that he and several other drivers had “extremely bad headaches” along with aches throughout the body. “I had to get blood tested yesterday to see what was wrong with me because I felt terrible,” Hamlin said. “I talked to my physical trainer who talked to other physical trainers who said their guys took the day off because they couldn’t do anything yesterday.” Hamlin said he wondered whether it had anything to do with a carbon monoxide problem. Kerry Tharp, the director of communications for NASCAR competition, said yesterday by phone that several teams, including Hamlin’s #11, had exhaust system failures. A number of teams, in trying to conserve weight on the new car, opted for a thinner metal piping for their exhaust systems. That led to failures. The problem is not expected to repeat this weekend at Martinsville.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-28-2007)

NEXT RACE: Martinsville Race Info/Rundown Page
www.jayski.com/next/2007/6mar2007.htm

Entry List for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway is up, 49 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
these drivers who need to get in on speed and are NOT in a 2007 Top-35 Owners Points Position:
Not in top 35 of 2006 owners points (2007 race attempts in parens):
#00-David Reutimann (5 attempts/45th in 2007 owners pts)
#4-Ward Burton (4/36)
#10-Scott Riggs (5/43)
#15-Paul Menard (5/42)
#21-Ken Schrader (5/40)
#22-Dave Blaney (5/37)
#36-Jeremy Mayfield (5/47)
#37-Kevin Lepage (5/46)
#44-Dale Jarrett [Past Champ 1999](5/39)
#49-Mike Bliss (5/41)
#55-Michael Waltrip (5/50)
#78-Kenny Wallace (5/44)
#83-Brian Vickers (won in 2006)(5/38)
#84-A.J. Allmendinger (5/49)
In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 83,44,22,21,49,15,10,78
missing the race would be [6]: #’s 00,37,36,84,55,4 [only 4 attempts]
See the full list at my Jayski’s Martinsville Entry List
www.jayski.com/stats/2007/entries/2007mar1-entry.htm

Top-35 in Owners Points and a guaranteed starting spot at Martinsville Speedway are set:
the following drivers/teams are in the top-35 in owners points:
30) #96-Raines/HOF Racing 404, +73
31) #14-Marlin/Ginn Racing 400, +69
32) #45-Petty/Petty Enterprises 382, +51
33) #88-Rudd/RYR 374, +43
34) #9-Kahne/Evernham 365, +34
35) #70-Sauter/Haas CNC Racing 365, 34 pts ahead of 36th
these teams and drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #4-Burton/Morgan-McClure Motorsports 331, 34 pts behind 35th [4 attempts]
37) #22-Blaney/Bill Davis Racing 325, -40
38) #83-Vickers/Team Red Bull 322, -43
39) #44-Jarrett/Michael Waltrip Racing 320 [has 2 champ provisionals left to use], -45
40) #21-Schrader-Wood/ Wood Brothers 320, -45
41) #49-Bliss/BAM Racing 287, -78
42) #15-Menard/DEI 281, -84
43) #10-Riggs/Evernham 265, -100
(3-25-2007)
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Courtesy of Scene Daily
www.scenedaily.com

Earnhardt Jr.: COT makes him feel like a rookie again
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is undergoing culture shock.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763983

McMurray taking new brake package to Martinsville
Like some other drivers in the first race of the car of tomorrow at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Jamie McMurray had an issue with his brakes, but he still finished ninth - his best effort of the season.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763976

Waltrip: Team will pull it together
Michael Waltrip says he isn’t about to give up. Though he has failed to qualify for the last four Nextel Cup races and faces another qualifying battle in this weekend’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway, the owner/driver is trying to stay positive and look down the road.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763978

Schrader reminisces first Martinsville start
Ken Schrader has run 44 races at Martinsville Speedway in his NASCAR Cup career, but he still has vivid memories of his first start there
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763979

Rudd hoping for fourth Martinsville win
Ricky Rudd is one of the drivers who needs a good run at Martinsville Speedway this weekend to stay in the top 35 in owner points and guarantee himself a starting spot in upcoming Nextel Cup races.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763980

Nemechek resting easy knowing he’s locked in
Joe Nemechek didn’t want to watch last week’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway because he was still disappointed at not being able to qualify for the race, but he forced himself to watch a few laps.
www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/22763982
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Courtesy of Sports Illustrated & Stock Car Gazette subscriber Ed B.
www.SI.com

Jeff Gordon said he used more brakes than normal in last weekend’s car of tomorrow debut at Bristol Motor Speedway, and Martinsville is harder on a stock car’s brakes than Bristol.
– SceneDaily.com

History was made in August of 1992 when Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the very first Nextel Cup Series race on an all-concrete surface. In July of this year, fans will get the opportunity to own a piece of that history. On July 1, pieces of the original concrete surface from the start/finish Line, will be made available for fans.
– Charlotte Observer

With less than a month left in the 2007 Washington State Legislature session, International Speedway Corp. reiterated its pledge Monday that it won’t go to a site in Washington where the people don’t want it.
– SceneDaily.com

Mark Day had to choose between a one-shot ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and loyalty to his long-time Late Model team that helped him capture the Music City Motorplex championship last season. The hitch came when Day got a call last week telling him he needed to practice Harvick’s truck prior to the scheduled race Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
– The Tennessean
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’
www.thatsracin.com

Slow start in new ride has Mears racing to catch up
Jeff Gordon leads the Nextel Cup standings, Jimmie Johnson won two of the first four races and Kyle Busch picked up his first victory last Sunday at Bristol. Casey Mears? Well, he’s not doing quite as well.
www.thatsracin.com/242/story/3529.html

Struggles not a surprise, Norris says
By DAVID POOLE, dpoole@charlotteobserver.com
Ty Norris, the general manager for Michael Waltrip Racing, said Wednesday it’s hard for him to comprehend why anyone is surprised that the team has had a difficult first few weeks of its first season in Nextel Cup competition.

“If you think about what we’re trying to build here, 12 months ago we didn’t have anything,” Norris said. “We didn’t have teams, sponsors, people or drivers. All we had was a plot of land. We sort of prepared ourselves for this enormous task. We knew it was going to be a long road.”

Speaking on “The Morning Drive” on Sirius NASCAR Radio, Norris said all three of the teams fielding Toyotas in stock-car racing’s top series have had troubles meeting difficult challenges.

“As a collective group, we need to get better,” he said.

Toward that end, Toyota Racing Development is working with Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull to develop the Toyota Camry in a cooperative effort.

Norris said a plan for the teams to cooperate in this way was first discussed last May but the effort soon “petered out.”

“The competition guys on our team and other teams sort of said, ‘We’ve got it,’” Norris said. “But at Las Vegas a couple of races ago, we resurrected the idea. Clearly, it’s a global issue that none of the teams wants to be in. So we just sort of threw our egos down and said, ‘Let’s get it together.’”

No Toyota team is in the top 35 in car owner points going into this weekend’s race at Martinsville. Only Dale Jarrett is guaranteed a starting spot with a former champion’s provisional, and he’s used four of the six he’ll be allowed this year. Waltrip and David Reutimann both missed last week’s race at Bristol, where Jeremy Mayfield from Davis’ team and A.J. Allmendinger from Team Red Bull qualified for the first time all year.

“Michael did such an incredible job of getting this thing on its feet,” Norris said of Waltrip’s three-car team. “It’s sort of like we did a good job in the birthing process, but now we realize we have to feed and care for this thing.”

Charlotte Arena Racing champ to be crowned
www.thatsracin.com/242/story/3535.html
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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Stock Car Gazette subscriber Andrea B. writes: I just wanted to comment about Dale, the movie that’s out. I just saw it. Awesome. It’s definately worth seeing on the big screen. Just wanted to make that comment for those who are debating.
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N A S C A R * B U S C H * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of BGNRacing.Com
www.bgnracing.com

Todd Bodine said his Germain Racing team wants to run 12 Busch Series races later this year and perhaps three or four Nextel Cup races. Bodine, appearing on “The Morning Drive” on Sirius Satellite Radio, said the team has one Nextel Cup car and wants to run it at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29. Bodine, who won the Craftsman Truck Series championship last year with the Toyota team, said the team wants to start its Busch program at Richmond on May 4. “The Germain brothers came into racing as new owners, never being around it, and they’ve had a lot of success right away, and as a businessman you want to grow your business, and for us the next step would be Busch and then the Cup Series,” Bodine said on the show. “And that’s what they want to do, so we’re actively pursuing sponsorship and trying to go in that direction. We love the truck series. We’re not going to give that up. We’re still going to have trucks, but we want to grow the business.” (Scene Daily) (03-28-07)

Julie Roberts, Nashville’s UMG (Universal Music Group) and Country Music Recording Artist will be appearing at the Courtyard by Marriott in Brentwood, TN on April 7, 2007 at 10:00am as guest sponsor of Revelocity Racing’s #73 Ford Fusion. Julie Roberts, with her new single “Men and Mascara” and previous hit single “Break Down Here” will debut the brand new, West Virginia based team to the NASCAR world in their first race of 2007 as Honorary Crew Chief. Ms. Roberts will also be filling the role of Grand Marshal on behalf of Revelocity Racing for the NASCAR Busch Series Pepsi 300 at 2:30 pm. All fans are welcome at the appearance, no ticket purchase necessary.(RR PR) (03-28-07)
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

Santos Fastest in Final Richmond Test Session: #91-Bobby Santos was fastest during the final test session at Richmond Wednesday evening. His top speed was 124.189mph. The rest of the top 5 were #9-Scott Riggs, #12-Sam Hornish, #88-Shane Huffman, and #38-Jason Leffer. Complete results are on the Richmond Testing Page.(3-28-2007) www.jayski.com/busch/next/2007/00richmond-testing.htm

Hamilton Jr. Fastest in Wednesday Afternoon Testing: The Busch Series drivers hit the track today for the second day of a two-day test session in preparation for the Circuit City 250 at Richmond on May 4. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. in the #35 McDonald’s car topped the speed charts at 124.458 mph during the four hour session from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Rounding out the top five fastest were Bobby Santos in the #91 [for Bill Davis], David Reutimann in the #99, Scott Wimmer in the #29 and Casey Mears in the #24. With only two cautions, one for debris on the backstretch early in the test and another when the #4 car of Regan Smith spun on the backstretch, the 40 teams were able to gather valuable information to help them prepare for their return to Richmond in just over a month.(RIR PR)(3-28-2007). Complete results are available on the Richmond Testing Page.(3-28-2007) www.jayski.com/busch/next/2007/00richmond-testing.htm

Off Week: While the Truck Series and Nextel Cup head to Martinsville, the Busch Series will take its first off weekend of the year this week before holding the first stand-along event of the year in Nashville.(3-25-2007)

Sad News: Doc MacDonald: “Doc” MacDonald, father of Randy and Teri MacDonald, passed away Monday evening. Doc was a long time NASCAR owner, fielding cars in the CTS and Busch Series’. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 pm at Cumby Funeral home in High Point, NC.(3-28-2007)
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Richmond test notes, day one
* Getting The Point: Edwards’ Learning Curve Aids In His Series Lead
* Jeff Burton Fastest During Tuesday’s Afternoon Test Session At Home Track
* Testing Concludes Wednesday; First Open Week Of Season Follows
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2007) — It’s not that Carl Edwards (No. 60 …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=246963

NASCAR Busch Series Crew Chief Fined For Rules Violations at Bristol
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2007) — NASCAR announced today that Mike Bumgarner, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been penalized due to rules violations at Bristol …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=246958
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Courtesy of Jayski
www.jayski.com

News & Notes - Martinsville - Part I
Martinsville Speedway has played an important role in the Craftsman Truck Series since the series’ inception in 1995. In the first race at the track, Joe Ruttman edged Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) by one second to take the victory. Skinner eventually got the last laugh, winning the season’s final two races to take the first series championship. Twelve years later, Martinsville is one of four tracks that has hosted the series each season (along with The Milwaukee Mile, O’Reilly Raceway Park and Phoenix International Raceway). When the track was awarded a second date in 2003, it became the second track (with Texas Motor Speedway) to have two races. Atlanta Motor Speedway became the third track with two races in 2005. There have been 15 different winners in the 16 races at the track. Dennis Setzer (#75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy) is the track’s only repeat winner.

Mike Skinner, who won the 1996 race, is hoping to join him this weekend. Skinner currently is the standings leader and has won the last two races at California Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. A third consecutive win would make him the only driver in series history to win three consecutive races on two different occasions. He first accomplished the feat in 1996 with wins at Tucson, Denver and Topeka - three tracks no longer on the schedule. The only other drivers to win three in a row are Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES Chevy) in 1997, Greg Biffle in 2000 and Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) in 2005.

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders: (through 3 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader - Mike Skinner (550)
Driver Rating - Mike Skinner (129.2)
Winnings - Mike Skinner ($155,650)
Laps led - Mike Skinner (119)
Victories - Mike Skinner (2)
Budweiser Poles - Jack Sprague, Mike Skinner, Carl Edwards (1)
Top-five finishes - Mike Skinner (3)
Top-10 finishes - 3 drivers with 3
Raybestos Rookie Leader - Aaron Fike (1 over Joey Clanton)
Races led - Mike Skinner (3)
Weeks in Top 10 - 9 drivers tied with 3

Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings:
A trio of Raybestos Rookies of the Year have finished second in their freshman campaigns at Martinsville Speedway. Travis Kvapil (#6 K&N Engineering Ford) was the first in 2001 followed by Carl Edwards in 2003 and Todd Kluever in 2005. Rookie point standings: #1-Aaron Fike 30; #09-Joey Clanton, 29; #21-Kelly Bires 26; #13-Willie Allen 24; #8-Blake Bjorklund 22; #07-Tim Sauter 21; #7-Casey Kingsland 5; #-63 Jason White 4.(NASCAR PR)

# Truck ride doesn’t work out for Day: UPDATE: Formosa gets Operation Big Chance ride: Mark Day had to choose between a one-shot ride in the Craftsman Truck Series and loyalty to his long-time Late Model team that helped him capture the Music City Motorplex championship last season. Day stuck by his team. By winning last year’s championship Day also won a ride with Kevin Harvick Racing in a competition called Operation Big Chance. Motorplex president Joe Mattioli and Dollar General put the deal together to give local drivers a chance at an upper-level NASCAR ride. The hitch came when Day got a call last week telling him he needed to practice Harvick’s truck prior to the scheduled race Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. “They called at the last minute and said a practice was scheduled on Thursday but I already had something scheduled that day,” said Day, 45, who works for Scoggins Enterprises, a racecar parts dealership. “They said if I didn’t practice I couldn’t race. I understand that; it’s just that I couldn’t do it right then.” Day was offered a backup date - June 30 at Memphis - but there was also a hitch. “We have a race at the Motorplex that night,” Day said. “In order to race at Memphis I’d have to miss the local race and I can’t do that to my team. Those guys have been with me too long and worked too hard for me to walk out on them.” Mattioli is trying to work out perhaps another truck race not conflicting with Day’s schedule. If that can’t be done, another Motorplex driver may take Day’s place. Willie Allen [#13], who was runner-up to Day last season, would be first in line for the truck opportunity, but Allen already has a ride of his own. Next in line is Nicholas Formosa.(Tennessean)(3-28-2007)
UPDATE: Twenty-one year old Nicholas Formosa, the 2006 Music City Motorplex Super Truck Champion, will be given the opportunity to enter and qualify for the May 26th Craftsman Truck event at Mansfield, Ohio, officials of the Music City Motorplex have announced. Kevin Harvick, Inc. will field the truck, with Dollar General providing title sponsorship. Mark Day, by virtue of points, earned at the Motorplex in 2006, Mark Day was scheduled to drive the truck at this weekend’s event in Martinsville, Virginia, however scheduling conflicts for that event and other potential events have moved Formosa into the ride. The 250 Lap Craftsman Truck event at Mansfield is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 26th, providing he possibility for Formosa to compete there and be back that evening for NASCAR Whelen All American racing at the Motorplex, as he shoots for his 2nd Super Truck Championship at the Fairgrounds.(Music City Motorplex PR)(3-28-2007)

All-American Driver Riethmeyer to attempt Martinsville: The Kroger 250 could be the shot that All-American Driver, Bradley Riethmeyer, has been waiting all his life for. This Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, Riethmeyer will be qualifying for the Craftsman Truck Series racing behind the wheel of the #49 All-American Driver Challenge Dodge. The All-American Driver Challenge is a driver search and competition that is geared toward fostering the best up-and-coming talent, ages 15-23, for a future career in a professional American racing series.(All American Driver Challenge PR)(3-28-2007)

McCray to run Lucas Oil ASA Super Late Model race: Toni McCray, former publicist for Erin Crocker at Evernham Motorsports, will be behind the wheel of a new Victory Circle ASA Super Late Model on Saturday, March 31st at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA. [McCray is the daughter of OSS 1970's regular Rick McCray.] While living in North Carolina Toni learned every aspect of the racing business, and fifteen years later, will make her debut appearance in the #08 Lucas Oil sponsored ASA Super Late Model race car. This will be Toni’s very first race in the Super Late Model division.(Racing West)(3-28-2007)
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Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
www.truckseries.com

Kvapil To Make 100th Craftsman Truck Series Start at Martinsville
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010670.htm

Schrader Set to Make 11th NCTS Start at Martinsville
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010637.htm

Bodine and Skinner Heading West for Star-Studded Celebrity Race
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010646.htm

Cook Looking for ‘Hometown’ Win at Martinsville
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010667.htm

“Doc” MacDonald Loses Battle with Cancer
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010663.htm

All-American Driver to Run in Kroger 250
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010655.htm

Sprague Looks to Repeat Fall Victory at Martinsville
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010645.htm

Musgrave Ready for Rematch in Martinsville
www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000106/010675.htm
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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Silas Returns To USAR Competition With Momentum On His Side
“Florida Native Looking To Finish What He Started”
CECIL, Georgia (Wednesday, March 28, 2007) — With his first United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) Hooter’s Pro Cup race behind him and a …
www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=247053
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N A S C A R * C A N A D I A N * T I R E * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of our Canadian correspondent, Sean G. - thanks, Sean!

Andrew Ranger is reportedly set to make the switch from open-wheel to stock car racing.

According to Radio-Canada, the Quebec driver is set to confirm his participation in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for 2007 - the former CASCAR championship. An official announcement could come Thursday.

Ranger, who competed with Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing the past two seasons, has tested with Dale Coyne Racing this winter in hopes of landing a ride. However, the lack of adequate sponsorship for a full campaign is hampering his chances.

Ranger reportedly has enough sponsorship for the first three races of the season plus the three Canadian events on the 16 race Champ Car schedule.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is expected to begin racing in May and will feature a 12 race schedule, however, exact details have yet to be confirmed.

www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story/?ID=201899&hubname=auto_racing

SRC: Ranger set to announce NASCAR Canadian Tire Series intentions for ‘07?

My french isn’t very good…. but it looks like Andrew Ranger is planning to announce (on Thursday) that he is going to drive in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2007.

The story appears on a french language CBC site. snipurl.com/1e8t1-stockc

Ranger, who has raced in the Champ Car Series, took part in one CASCAR Super Series race in 2006, driving for veteran driver/team owner Dave Jacombs at Montreal’s Autodrome St-Eustache.

UPDATE (3 p.m.): The plot thickens.
www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2007/28/c7453.html

Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani will be at a press conference tomorrow in Montreal - along with officials from Wal-Mart Canada and Procter & Gamble - to “discuss their plans for the upcoming racing season and unveil the colours of their 2007 cars.” (h/t Roman)
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Other motorsports news…

Force team to skip Houston after Medlen’s death
03/28/2007 18:01 PM - Still reeling from the death of popular young Funny Car driver Eric Medlen after a testing accident last week, John Force Racing will not compete at this weekend’s O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston.

John Force has not missed an NHRA event in 20 years, but he will not compete this weekend in the O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. John Force Racing is skipping the event out of respect for a fallen teammate. The entire organization still is reeling from the death of popular young Funny Car driver Eric Medlen after a testing accident last week at Gainesville, Fla.Force, a 14-time Funny Car champion, attended funeral services for Medlen Wednesday at Indianapolis. That’s where Force confirmed that he, daughter Ashley Force and son-in-law Robert Hight would sit out the Houston event.”This has been such an emotional time for John and the entire team,” said David Densmore, Force’s long-time publicist. “John’s mind still isn’t on racing. His heart just wasn’t in it for this weekend.”Medlen’s Mustang crashed head-on into the right concrete barrier after it blew a tire on a test run on March 19, the day after the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Medlen, 33, died four days later after being taken off life support.Force has competed in every NHRA event since 1987, qualifying for a record 395 consecutive times. Hight leads the 2007 Funny Car standings with a six-point advantage over Ron Capps. Ashley, a rookie this season, ranks ninth in the standings and John is 11th after the first three events.In previous years, skipping one event probably eliminated a driver from competing for the championship. But all three Force drivers still have a shot at the title this year because of a new format.The NHRA has adopted a playoff format, similar to what NASCAR uses with the Chase for the Nextel Cup. NHRA drivers ranked in the top eight in each pro category qualify to compete for the championship in the final six events. So the championship still is possible if any of the JFR drivers rank in the top eight heading to the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Labor Day weekend. But no one on the teams is concerned with that for now. “I don’t think John ever considered going to Houston,” Densmore said. “He just wanted to be sure it was OK with his sponsors. They all agreed it was the right thing to do.” JFR, along with the NHRA, still is evaluating what occurred in the accident that caused the severe closed head injury which resulted in Medlen’s death.John Medlen, Eric’s father, also was Eric’s crew chief. John is working with the other JFR crew chiefs to determine what caused the tire blow-out and an extreme vibration beyond anything previously recorded in the sport. “It is our sincere desire to provide a summary of the information taken from this accident to all parties,” said John Medlen. “That is what Eric would have wanted.” The three JFR drivers are expected to return to NHRA competition for the event at Las Vegas on April 12-15, but Force still has to decide whether to put another driver in Medlen’s car or to park it for the remainder of the season. Team officials said Force probably will do whatever John Medlen wants to do.
(thanks, Ed B.)
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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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Crikey! Is that a wing on the back?
by Jonathan Ingram
www.motorsport.com/magazine/archive.asp?C=BlueFlag

Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/RG/032907.html
Bristol Brings Out Bravado in Busch as Vickers Braves Burns
by Rebecca Gladden

Martinsville Story Yet Untold
by Carol Einarsson
We’re headed into the second race for the COT, and it’s another short track. Tempers flare, and paybacks happen.
www.racejournalonline.com/index.cfm?Pagename=column&id=256

We All Lose If We Ever Lose Martinsville
By Dennis Michelsen
www.stockcarpitpass.com/inside200703029.html
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