Stock car racing is winding up for the 2007 season.
Get all the lastest on NASCAR NEXTEL CUP, BUSCH SERIES, and CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES news right here.
____________________________________________________________
T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by http://MotorSportsNews.Net
Do you know for sure?
http://motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure
____________________________________________________________
The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by:
Hasco Collectibles
Div. Hasco Services, LLC
701 Mantooth Ave.
Lufkin, TX 75904
http://www.diecastcars.net
hasco@diecastcars.net
866-66-HASCO (866-664-2726)
CLICK HERE FOR 2007 ITEMS:
http://www.diecastcars.net/cbsearch.asp?Description=2007
CLICK HERE FOR 2006 RELEASE ITEMS:
http://www.diecastcars.net/cbsearch.asp?Description=2006
JEFF GORDON 76th WIN MONTE CARLO CLICK HERE:
http://snipurl.com/1q7qq-stockc
NOW AVAILABLE: DALE EARNHARDT JR. #88 & #5 DIECAST PRE-ORDERS
CLICK HERE FOR DALE JR. 2008 AMP/NG/ALL STAR RACING PRE-ORDERS:
http://www.diecastcars.net/cbsearch.asp?ProductID=DEJ&Description=Pre-Order
NOW IN STOCK:
2007 Release 1/24th Raced 1995 Winston Quicksilver MC From ‘Dale The Movie’,
2007 J. Gordon 76th & 77th Raced Wins, T.Stewart Home Depot Impala COT,
2007 Release 1/64th Raced 12 Car Boxed Set From ‘Dale The Movie’,
2007 Juan Montoya Busch Mexico Win Charger, K. Harvick Pennzoil COT,
2007 M. Truex Jr. And P. Menard ’57 Chevy Paint Scheme Monte Carlos,
2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Red Menards Busch MC, 2007 Mark Martin Army COT,
2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Original Monte Carlo, 1/64 ’57 Chevy Scheme,
2007 Release D. Earnhardt 1/24th 1998 Daytona 500 Win From Dale The Movie,
2007 D. Hamlin Fed Ex 1/24th Impala Car Of Tomorrow (All Four Paint Schemes),
2007 T. Stewart 1/24th Daytona Twin 150 Raced Winner Home Depot Monte Carlo,
2007 J. Gordon 1/24th Daytona Twin 150 Raced Winner Dupont Monte Carlo,
2007 K. Harvick Auto Zone/Shell Daytona Win 1/24 Set, A. Zone Daytona Win 1/24,
2007 K. Harvick Shell Impala Car Of Tomorrow, K. Kahne 2007 Doublemint Dodge,
2007 K. Harvick BGN Champ In Champagne Bottle, JP Montoya Big Red Dodge,
2007 J. Johnson Lowes COT Monte Carlo, S. Marlin Waste Management MC,
2007 D. Earnhardt Jr. Bud Sharpie MC, AJ Allmendenger 1/24 Red Bull Camry,
2007 Release 2006 D. Earnhardt Jr. 1/10th Scale Make A Wish Motorcycle,
2007 S. Huffman Navy Seals Busch MC Driven By Dale Jr. In Winn Dixie 250,
2007 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Monte Carlo, D. Earnhardt Jr. Bud Sharpie MC,
2007 Release J. Force 2006 NHRA Funny Car Champion Color Chrome Mustang,
2007 Release 1/64th Raced 12 Car Boxed Set On Stands From ‘Dale The Movie’,
And More.
View Our Online Catalog By Following The Link Below:
http://www.diecastcars.net/product.html
Hasco Collectibles
Div. Hasco Services, LLC
701 Mantooth Ave.
Lufkin, TX 75904
http://www.diecastcars.net
hasco@diecastcars.net
866-66-HASCO (866-664-2726)
___________________________________________________________
E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
___________________________________________________________
Thursday’s here, and Friday’s a’comin’… speaking of which, the Stock Car Gazette will be “late” tomorrow, as I have a day off and I WILL be sleeping in since I have the chance.
___________________________________________________________
Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
___________________________________________________________
Hey, You Want To Watch A REAL Title Battle?
by: Chuck Abrams
If you want to watch a real title battle where the drivers are not twins and bereft of personality, watch the Craftsman Truck finale on Friday night at 7:30 pm ET on SPEED. Mike Skinner has a 29-point lead over Ron Hornaday and the way the two have been battling back and forth over the last several races, almost anything could happen.
For more, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/871
Notable Quotables: Dale Earnhardt Jr. On Going to Hendrick, Biggest DEI Accomplishment
by: Mike Irwin
For more, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/872
___________________________________________________________
MotorSportsNews.Net(work) web site features
___________________________________________________________
ARCA RE/MAX Series Headed Road Course Racing in 2008
New Jersey Motorsports Park To Host
For more, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/873
___________________________________________________________
N A S C A R * N E X T E L * C U P * S E R I E S
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Stock Car Gazette subscriber Ed B. – thanks!
NASCAR cookin’ with gas
By Kimberly Nordyke
NASCAR Digital Entertainment and production-distribution company Creative Artists Entertainment Group are set to offer local TV stations a new reality competition series that combines cooking and racing for a fall 2008 launch in syndication.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib4d95be28520da0de583c22a78cdf6e0
Changing A Tire While Doing Donuts
http://www.break.com/index/changing_a_tire_while_doing_donuts.html
Adam’s Legacy, and those who keep it going.
When Abbi Driggers, 8, surveys her surroundings at Victory Junction Gang Camp and says, “I think it’s heaven,” she might just have a point.
Here, kids in wheelchairs dance.
Here, children in vegetative state go horseback riding.
Here, paraplegic teenagers scale towers.
Here, Adam Petty, seven years dead, smiles at his parents through the faces of the campers – “every one of them,” says his father, Kyle Petty, who with his wife, Pattie, founded Victory Junction in honor of their son.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/motorracing/sfl-flspjunction14sbnov14,0,5328535,print.story
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Google Alerts
Racing sees shift in popularity
Concord Monitor – Concord,NH,USA
By Liz Clarke Brian France, nascar’s third-generation chief executive, was bullish amid signs that stock-car racing’s high-octane growth was sputtering last …
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/SPORTS/711140407/1007
NASCAR, we have a problem!
New York Daily News – New York,NY,USA
He’s watched stock car racing on and off for a decade – and been a regular at Pocono for the past few years – but he’s finding himself growing tired of the …
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2007/11/14/2007-11-14_nascar_we_have_a_problem.html
Good Ol’ Boys, Good Ol’ Days
By TomHiggins
Many stock car racing fans often express a yearning for the good ol’ days. It appears that to a degree they just might get them. A new organization named Old School Racing plans to bring back into action at short…
Tom Higgins’ Scuffs – http://blogs.thatsracin.com/scuffs/
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
Robby Gordon Third In Baja 1000
Baja 1000 defending race winner Robby Gordon of Charlotte, N.C., charged back from early problems with the No. 71 Chevy CK1500 to place third in the SCORE Trophy-Truck category and fifth overall among four-wheel vehicles. Gordon had to run an early portion of the course in the dark with just a handheld portable lamp for vision. But the Nextel Cup team owner/driver fought his way back to compete the event with a finishing time of 27:12:14. — “Just when you thought you couldn’t top the unusual in Baja, we topped it,” said Gordon, whose second driver was Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif. “When we stopped at the first pit stop, the crew (part of the Nextel Cup crew) thought we didn’t need lights in the next section. They were wrong. We had to borrow a portable lamp to see. We used a handheld portable lamp through that section (early in the race). By the time we got through that section, we were way back with the Class 10 car. You talk about giving one way, that’s what we did today.”
Reiser Will Move Up
One of the longest tenured crew chief-driver relationships in Nextel Cup will end after Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Robbie Reiser, who has been Matt Kenseth’s crew chief since they entered NASCAR’s premier series in 2000 and long before that in the Busch Series, will become the general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. He will replace Max Jones, who will move into the GM role at Robert Yates Racing. RYR and Roush recently formed an alliance that basically will allow them to work as a seven-car operation without violating NASCAR’s four-car cap.
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Cup Race-Preview Press Releases/Podcast Links: many Nextel Cup team/driver pre-race press release links (and Marketing and Sponsorship links) at the Press Release/Podcast Links Page, Homestead links posted on
11-15-2007: A.J. Allmendinger, John Andretti, Johnny Benson, Greg Biffle, Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Sam Hornish Jr., Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, Tony Raines, David Reutimann, Ricky Rudd, Reed Sorenson, David Stremme, Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, J.J. Yeley;
on my Press Release/Podcast Links Page which includes many sites that offer Podcasts http://www.jayski.com/pr/prs.htm
Johnson tests for Rolex 24: On his way to Homestead-Miami Speedway to potentially claim his second consecutive Nextel Cup championship, #48-Jimmie Johnson stopped by Daytona International Speedway to spend the afternoon testing the #99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley. Johnson climbed behind the wheel of the Daytona Prototype early Wednesday afternoon and ran two full stints in the 2007 Rolex Series Championship-winning machine, turning laps just off the pace of Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty. Gurney and Fogarty, of course, are coming off of a championship season in which they captured seven victories on the 14-race calendar. “This is the best thing I can do to get my mind off the championship,” Johnson said. “I came down to have some fun in one of these DP cars. I really, really enjoy the Rolex Series. I’ve been at three (Rolex 24 At Daytona) events, and hopefully I will come back and run in it in 2008. I just want to get some seat time, get used to the car, and Bob Stallings and the GAINSCO group were nice enough to let me come down, work with them, get some seat time and get a feel for things. So I’m having a great time.” The NASCAR champion has prior experience in a Daytona Prototype, running the #91 Riley-Matthews Motorsports machine at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway this past season. Johnson also claimed a runner-up finish in the 2005 Rolex 24 At Daytona. “My last experience in a DP was coming from a Crawford to a Riley,” Johnson explained. “They’re much different cars. This year, going from one Riley to another, it’s not a huge gap in how they drive. Some of the small changes they’ve made around the track, I found it was more me trying to remember the reference points, and finding new ones with the small, subtle changes that have gone on with the surface of the track.”(Grandprix.com)(11-15-2007)
Chase stats going into Homestead: Certainly after nine races, we are seeing the greatest Chase run in the four-year history of the playoff format by #48-Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team. How dominant? Here’s where Johnson would stack up against other Chase champions after deducting the extra 5 points per win awarded this year: 2006 vs. himself +220, 2005 vs. Stewart +137, 2005 vs. Kurt Busch +206. After adjusting for the extra win points, Jeff Gordon’s 6476 points at present are the second most in Chase history by 61 over Tony Stewart iin 2005! The push for the podium [Top 10] Martin Truex pulled within 47 points of 10th place Kurt Busch with his 7th at Phoenix. Denny Hamlin will need Busch and Truex to slip badly at Homestead to make the podium at the Waldorf. See more stats on the Chase Stats after Phoenix page.(11-15-2007) http://www.jayski.com/stats/2007/chase/35phx2007chase.htm
Martin’s last race in the #01, 26 races in #8 in 2008: Mark Martin will run double duty again this weekend at Homestead. In addition to his duties in the #01 DEI Chevy on Sunday, he will make his third and final start of the season in the #5 Hendrick Chevy Busch entry. In two previous starts in the #5, Martin finished second at Darlington and 14th at Michigan. It will be Martin’s fifth Busch start in 2007 (he started two races in the #06 Roush entry). Martin has two top-five finishes in four Busch starts this season. Martin has six top-five finishes in seven previous Busch starts at Homestead. Martin plans on running a similar Nextel Cup schedule in 2008 as he did in ’07, making starts in approximately 26 races in the #8 U.S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, including the season-opening Daytona 500.(DEI PR)(11-15-2007)
Goodyear going to slightly softer tire for some 2008 races: While some drivers have said that Goodyear needs to change the tires to help teams with the Car of Tomorrow, a Goodyear official says changes for next season will be slight. Rich Heinrich, product manager for Goodyear, says that tires will be slightly softer to provide more grip at intermediate tracks. The Car of Tomorrow, which ran in 16 races this season, did not run on such tracks this season. Heinrich said that the tire company is likely to keep the same tires that were used at COT races this year for next season.(Roanoke Times)(11-15-2007)
Rudd to Make Final Nextel Cup Career Start at Homestead: The Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark the final start for #88-Ricky Rudd in the Nextel Cup Series and Sunday?s Ford 400 will be Rudd?s 906th career start in the series. NASCAR?s ?Iron Man,? who holds the record for the most consecutive number of starts with 788, will start the final Cup series race of his career Sunday. Rudd holds numerous accolades on his resume including: 1992 IROC Champion, 1997 Brickyard 400 Winner, 2006 Virginian of the Year, and was named one of NASCAR?s ?50 All-Time Great? drivers to name a few. Rudd has an average starting position of 12.9, and an average finish of 23.4 at Homestead, completed 1,770 of 1,873 laps at Homestead (94.5%) and has led 49 laps, his best starting position at Homestead is from second which he accomplished in 2000 and best finish was the sixth in the same race.(Rickyrudd.com)(11-15-2007)
Google Acquiring Sprint? Recent news that Sprint is not going to work with Clearwire to build out a WiMAX network only added to the rumors I (Rich Tehrani) have been hearing about Google acquiring Sprint Nextel. On the surface it seems like this would be a bad move for Google but in reality the world?s leading search engine has become so much more than just a website to go to when you want to find a trinket of information. Of course one problem with a Sprint Nextel purchase is that the company?s network isn?t GSM-based meaning devices will have to have multiple radios to be used around the world.(tmcnet.com and at EWeek.com)(11-14-2007)
Speediatrics Unveils Homestead Location: Betty Jane France, chairwoman of the NASCAR Foundation, will unveil a new Speediatrics unit at Homestead Hospital on Friday, November 16. Homestead will join Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach as the only two locations with the racing-themed children?s emergency room. France will be joined by Darrell Waltrip and Francisco Medina, M.D., medical director of children?s emergency services at Homestead Hospital, for Friday?s unveiling. The eight-bed Children?s Emergency Room at Homestead Hospital is decorated with checkered flags, race cars and cartoon characters to help ease the hospital experience for thousands of children. More than 13,000 patients are treated in the emergency room each year.(NASCAR PR)(11-14-2007)
Reiser moving up to be Roush Fenway GM: One of the longest tenured crew chief-driver relationships in Nextel Cup will end after Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Robbie Reiser, who has been #17-Matt Kenseth’s crew chief since they entered NASCAR’s premier series in 2000 and long before that in the Busch Series, will become the general manager at Roush Fenway Racing. He will replace Max Jones, who will move into the GM role at Robert Yates Racing [will just be Yates Racing in 2008]. RYR and Roush recently formed an alliance that basically will allow them to work as a seven-car operation without violating NASCAR’s four-car cap. Reiser will follow in the footsteps of his father, who was the general manager of Roush”s Busch Series and Truck Series teams. The elder Reiser lost a battle with cancer prior to the Homestead race two years ago, which prompted his son to consider a move that would allow him more time with his family. “You look at things that you do in the long term,” he said late last season. “Family becomes more important. … My dad spent a lot of time with my kids. When he isn’t around anymore somebody has to fill that void.” Reiser hoped to get the Roush GM job last season that ultimately went to Jones. “I’ve done this for [13] years for Matt,” he said at the time. “Not that I’m sick and tired of it or don’t enjoy it or any of that, but somewhere along the line you’ve got to move to the next challenge. And the next challenge probably would be to oversee an operation in the garage. That’s something I want to do down the road.”(ESPN.com), no word on who will be Kenseth’s new crew chief in 2008.(11-14-2007)
Special AAA Scheme at Homestead: #6-David Ragan will carry extra colors on his car during the Nextel Cup Series season finale at Homestead. Ragan, driver of the #6 AAA Ford Fusion, commemorates AAA’s longstanding partnership with The Hertz Corporation with a special addition to his car. Hertz will be featured on the rear deck lid and back of the #6 Ford at Homestead. The logo placement highlights an additional AAA member benefit that is in effect this November: AAA members can receive a free tank of gas when they rent a Fun, Green or Prestige Collection vehicle from Hertz for a 3-day weekend or minimum 5-day week. It marks the first time Hertz has participated in a Nextel Cup Series event. Hertz is AAA’s preferred car rental company. For more information on AAA member benefits with Hertz, visit AAA.com/Hertz.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-14-2007)
BDR not moving: Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing [#22, #27, #36], says the team is not looking to move to the Charlotte [NC] area. The team, based in High Point, N.C., is one of the few Cup teams based outside the Charlotte area. Petty Enterprises announced last week it would move from Level Cross to Mooresville, N.C., after this season, in part to be able to be closer to the Charlotte area in hopes of attracting more crew members. ?I understand what the Pettys are doing and if that?s right for them, that?s good,? Brown said. ?Right now, we don?t see that as something that we?re entertaining.? Brown estimates that 25% of the team?s 300 employees are based in the Charlotte area. ?We?re really happy with where we?re at,? Brown said.(Roanoke Times)(11-14-2007)
Announcements on SPEED: SPEED will interrupt its telecast of the Busch Series race replay Thursday afternoon (Nov. 15) at 1:00pm/et to present a LIVE NASCAR press conference from Homestead. At its conclusion, SPEED will join the Busch replay in progress. And Jack Roush will be the guest on NCTS Setup on Friday at 7:30pm/et to announce 2008 driver and sponsor plans for the #6 entry in the Craftsman Truck Series.(SPEED PR)(11-14-2007)
Bobby Labonte forms marketing agency: #43-Bobby Labonte has announced the formation of a full-service marketing agency, Breaking Limits, LLC. Labonte will serve as president of the company. Breaking Limits mission is to go above and beyond expectations for every partner with business professionals that have the integrity, morals and values that Labonte encompasses. Breaking Limits will offer sales, marketing and public and media relations capabilities to assist partners in exceeding their goals and objectives. Breaking Limits has commenced business effective immediately and will operate out of Huntersville, N.C. Three key employees of Breaking Limits have been announced; Mark Hughes, Chief Financial Officer, Julie Busha, Director of Marketing and Jeff Dennison, Director of Public and Media Relations. This is not Labonte’s first business venture. He currently owns and operates Bobby Labonte Enterprises and Bobby Labonte Racing both headquartered in Archdale, NC.(Breaking Limits PR)(11-14-2007)
Overall TV Ratings down: NASCAR ends its season Sunday with ratings down again this year. And while it has fan interest beyond its Southern base, it’s still an also-ran in big cities outside the South. This season’s NASCAR Nextel Cup races ? airing on Fox, TNT, ESPN and ABC ? are averaging 4.2% of U.S. TV households ? down 9% from last year’s average and off 21% from 2005. ABC’s Checker Auto Parts 500 on Sunday ? when Jimmie Johnson virtually nailed down the season points title ? showed interest still is largely regional. The race drew 10.5% of households in Greenville, S.C., 9.1% in Knoxville, Tenn. and 7.8% in Birmingham, Ala. But it drew just 1.3% in New York, 1.9% in Los Angeles and 2.4% in Chicago. Dick Glover, NASCAR vice president/broadcasting, notes the average NASCAR race ratings in New York (1.9%), Los Angeles (2.1%) and Chicago (2.9%) ? which together constitute about 15% of TV households in the USA ? are up slightly or even with last year. He concedes there’s no silver bullet to win over more major-market eyeballs: “All you can do is expose your product and see if people like it.” But Glenn Enoch, ESPN vice president/research, suggests NASCAR’s viewer drop-off has an asterisk. Ratings this season among males age 18-34 ? whom advertisers covet because they haven’t always formed brand loyalties and are seen as more susceptible to advertising ? are “virtually flat.” The big losses came among viewers older than 55. Since NASCAR’s biggest stars all appear in a single weekend race, its ratings are more indicative of overall viewer interest than ratings for sports such as football, basketball and baseball, where audiences get splintered across lots of time slots. And NASCAR’s stand-alone race ratings make the sport’s TV appeal seem pretty big ? until you compare them to the cumulative appeal of other sports. Consider that weekend college football games just on Disney’s ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 can produce total ratings about five times bigger than NASCAR’s 4.2% race average. And NFL games each week typically produce total ratings well over 10 times bigger than the NASCAR race average.(USA Today)(11-14-2007)
New win record for Chevy: With a win by Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Impala SS, at Phoenix last weekend, Team Chevy surpassed its season win record of 25 victories set in 1958. Now, with one race left in the season, Chevy is gunning for 27 wins in one season which would give the bow-tie brand the impressive statistic of having won exactly 75 percent of all points-paying races in 2007. The win was also the 13th victory in 16 appearances for the Impala SS race car, which made its debut this season. Equally as noteworthy is the win statistic for the Monte Carlo SS, which has 13 wins in its final season of competition (out of 19 races). The Monte Carlo SS will run its last race in this weekend’s Nextel Cup event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(GM Racing PR)(11-14-2007)
Goodbye to the #’25: The #25 Chevrolet will make its final start for Hendrick Motorsports Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports first entered the #25 Chevy in the 1986 Daytona 500 with Tim Richmond behind the wheel. The #25 has had 11 different drivers, including car owner Rick Hendrick, in 656 starts. Six drivers have visited victory lane with the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, with Casey Mears adding win No. 17 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-14-2007)
Chevy Monte Carlo ends era: The final Nextel Cup Series race of the 2007 season will mark the end of an era for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS – the winningest nameplate for the bow-tie brand in NASCAR competition. Since its NASCAR introduction in May 1971, the legendary Monte Carlo/Monte Carlo SS contributed to 24 of the 31 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers’ championship won by Chevrolet. Of the 23 NASCAR Cup driver’s championships won by Chevrolet drivers, 16 of the champions powered their way to the top prize with the help of the Monte Carlo collecting 396 wins in the process. Chevy’s key partners in NASCAR Cup competition are quick to recognize the contribution of the Monte Carlo/Monte Carlo SS to the success their organizations have enjoyed through the years. Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion, has been an exclusive Chevrolet driver throughout his remarkable career. With 81 wins, 233 top-five and 316 top-10 finishes on his Chevrolet Cup career resume, Gordon leads the distinguished list of drivers who have enjoyed success in the Monte Carlo/Monte Carlo SS. The Monte Carlo SS will be gone from NASCAR Sprint Cup series competition, replaced full-time in 2008 by another legend in the Chevrolet lineup, the Impala SS. However, the strong, winning tradition of Monte Carlo SS will continue in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting at Daytona 2008.(GM Racing PR)(11-14-2007)
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of NASCAR
Waltrip recalls dueling with Petty in 1979 season finale
As three-time champion Darrell Waltrip watches Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon battle for the 2007 Nextel Cup championship, he can’t help but think back to 1979, when he lost the title to Richard Petty by 11 points — after leading by two going into the last race of the season.
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/11/14/dwaltrip.title.battle.memories/index.html
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Scene Daily
http://www.scenedaily.com
Even without a title, Gordon has had a great year
Based on this year’s statistics, Jeff Gordon would have been on track to win the championship in each of the previous three editions of the Chase For The Nextel Cup. But thanks to Jimmie Johnson’s dominant performance in 2007, Gordon isn’t likely to win the title this year.
http://www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/23160812
Bobby Labonte forms marketing agency
NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte, a former Winston Cup champion, announced Wednesday the formation of a full-service marketing agency, Breaking Limits.
http://www.scenedaily.com/ct/c/23160814
___________________________________________________________
Your ad here could be seen by hundreds of dedicated racing fans!
Contact Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net for rates and information.
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of That’s Racin’
http://www.thatsracin.com
The car of tomorrow options
THATSRACIN.COM OPINION
So the big complaint about the car of tomorrow is they’re too much alike and that means all of the cars go the same speed. And if the cars are going the same speed, then nobody can pass anybody.
http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9282.html
Observations | Letarte won’t play the ‘what if’ game – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9281.html
Earnhardt Jr. concluding run at DEI – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9280.html
‘Senior tour’ concept to get a try – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9279.html
Todd Bodine steps into No. 4 Chevrolet – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9278.html
Logano is ready to move up to next level with Gibbs team – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9274.html
Briefs | Video game tournament on tap – http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9277.html
___________________________________________________________
N A S C A R * B U S C H * S E R I E S
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Carpentier Running #19 for GEM at Homestead: This will be Carpentier’s first start in a Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge in the Busch Series. He has tallied impressive numbers in only two starts in the Busch Series. His average finish is 10.5 along with an average start of 11.0. Carpentier will run a part time schedule in the Busch [Nationwide] Series next season.(GEM PR), see an image of the car on the Busch Paint Schemes page.(11-14-2007)
Mears Working with Gustafson at Homestead: Casey Mears and his 2008 Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Alan Gustafson, will work together for the first time under race conditions in Saturday’s Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami. Gustafson will call the shots as race strategist throughout the 200-lap event.(Hendrick PR)(11-14-2007)
___________________________________________________________
Kenseth’s No. 17 NBS team docked points for violations
NASCAR announced Tuesday that Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for the No. 17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth in the Busch Series, was fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A–12.8.1D (after competition, the right rear quarter panel height exceeded the maximum of 36.5 inches) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book.
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/bg/11/14/mkenseth.penalty.phoenix/index.html
___________________________________________________________
Sponsor closing out 26 years
of rich history, hard racing
BUSCH SERIES NOTEBOOK
Dale Earnhardt won the first one. Who will win the last? Anheuser-Busch will end its 26-year history as title sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series following the conclusion of Saturday’s Ford 300 at Homestead (Fla.)-Miami Speedway (4:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2).
http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/9267.html
___________________________________________________________
C R A F T S M A N * T R U C K * S E R I E S
___________________________________________________________
Allen Enters Season Finale with 7 Point Rookie of the Year Lead
WhoWon.com – Lincoln,NE,USA
by Jack Furr, Willie Allen Racing NASHVILLE — The list of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year winners reads as a who’s who of some of …
http://www.whowon.com/sresults.asp?SanctionID=230&StoryID=236557
TEAM NEWS: David Starr Joins Red Horse Racing in 2008
TruckSeries.com – Dallas,PA,USA
He landed with another team and has been racing full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series, where he currently sits 12th in the Championship title chase after …
http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000132/013279.htm
Truck series leaders ready to settle it
Only 29 points separate leader Mike Skinner and runner-up Ron Hornaday Jr. heading into the final race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The two have swapped the lead in six of the last …
http://www.crown-price.com/?p=6012
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com
Starr and Red Horse Racing reunite for 2008: Red Horse Racing saw a lot of success in 2006, including one win, six top-five, 12 top-10 finishes, and a fourth place finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Point Standings. So it’s no surprise that the team is anxious to duplicate those results. In an effort to make that happen, Red Horse Racing announced today that veteran NASCAR driver David Starr would return to race the #11 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing in 2008 and the sponsorship lineup would be unveiled at a later date. For 2008, Starr will reunite with veteran Crew Chief Jamie Jones who led Starr to a fourth place finish in the Championship Point Standings in 2006.(Integrity Sports Mktg./RHR PR)(11-14-2007)
Construct Corps to sponsor Marks at Homestead: Germain Racing has announced that Construct Corps will sponsor the #03 Toyota with driver Justin Marks. Construct Corps is a construction staffing company that specializes in providing quality, skilled trades people to commercial, industrial and residential construction contractors. [Construct Corps was the primary sponsor for Mark's full season in ARCA RE/MAX Series competition with RAB Racing.](Germain Racing PR)(11-14-2007)
Drivers wallets stolen during Phoenix practice session: At least five Craftsman Truck drivers had their wallets stolen during a practice session for the Arizona Casino 200 [Phoenix Int'l Raceway]. Hours later, credit cards were used in Fountain Hills, Ariz. to buy gift cards. They were taken off team transporters while the teams were on pit road during the session. Stacy Compton was one of the drivers. He spent Friday trying to figure out how he was going to get through security at the airport to fly home after the race. “In a 40-minute span, whoever it was went to town,” Compton said. “They bought as many gift cards as they could. They got everything – my driver’s license, my credit cards, everything.”(Savannah Morning News)(11-14-2007)
Roush to announce #6 plans on NCTS Setup: Jack Roush will be the guest on SPEED/tv’s NCTS Setup on Friday at 7:30pm/et to announce 2008 driver and sponsor plans for the #6 entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(SPEED/tv PR)(11-14-2007)
Cook out, Lia in at Homestead; Simply Fit to sponsor: Jim Harris and HT Motorsports have announced that Simply Fit, a sugar free, carb free, fat free premium beverage, will serve as the primary sponsor on the #59 HT Motorsports Toyota. The #59 Simply Fit HT Motorsports Toyota Tundra and driver Donny Lia will take the green flag in the Ford 200 at Homestead Miami Speedway this Friday, November 16.(HT Motorsports PR)(11-14-2007)
Myers returns with Ballew for season finale: NASCAR West Series driver, Andrew Myers will be making his first start at the Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday, November 19, 2007 for the running of the Ford 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finale. Myers will be making his second career Craftsman Truck Series start for Billy Ballew Motorsports driving the #15 NEO Synthetic Chevy. The Newport Beach, CA driver made his debut in the series with the experienced team at the Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) last week.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(11-14-2007)
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of TruckSeries.Com
http://www.truckseries.com
Skinner Faces The ‘X’ Factor at Homestead
For the 12th time in 13 seasons, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title fight is coming down to the final race of the season, as only 29 points separate former champions Mike Skinner (1995) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (’96, ’98) heading into Friday night’s race at Homestead. “The ‘X’ factor for this race will be help from teammates,” said SPEED pit reporter Ray Dunlap. “We saw at Phoenix that Hornaday got some help from Kevin Harvick and Harvick will be in the Homestead race again. From my viewpoint, Hornaday and Skinner have raced each other all year long, so let them race each other only at the end. But it’s a business, as well, and you’ve got to look at doing whatever you can to get that championship for your sponsors. I just hope that one of those ancillary trucks entered doesn’t make a difference in who wins the title. I hope Mike and Ron can race each other and let the best man win.”
http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_07/articles/000132/013267.htm
___________________________________________________________
C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
___________________________________________________________
Rick Minter’s OBSERVATIONS
Key story lines as the Cup Series heads to Homestead. Sending support overseas
As the nation paused this week to honor its veterans, many thoughts turned to those now in service overseas. Dale Earnhardt Jr. says that part of his weekly routine includes supporting those on active duty.
http://www.thehardincountynews.com/news/2007/1114/Sports/024.html
Is Bruton Smith being paid off to stay?
A Cabarrus County North Carolina commissioner considered an outcast among his peers, says the public has a right to know what is being done to keep Bruton Smith from moving Lowe’s Motor Speedway from Concord. Commissioner Coy Privette released a private email, which lays out the incentives that are being discussed to keep LMS in [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/184583688/
Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RG/111507.html
Disenfranchised Fans ~ Here’s What’s Wrong With NASCAR
by Rebecca Gladden
___________________________________________________________
T V * L I S T I N G S
___________________________________________________________
Courtesy of Race Fan TV
http://snipurl.com/llya-stockc
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15
12:00m-1:00A SPEED NASCAR’s Championship Week #2, Homestead, FL, R
12:30A-1:30A espn2 NASCAR Now, HD, R
3:00A-4:00 SPEED SCCA Runoffs, Showroom Stock C, Heartland Park, Topeka, KS, Oct 12/07, R
4:00A-5:00 SPEED SCCA Runoffs, H Production, Heartland Park, Topeka, KS, Oct 12/07, R
8:00A-9:00 SPEED NASCAR’s Championship Week #2, Homestead, FL, R
11:00A-12:00n ESPN-CL 2003 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals, Sonoma, CA, Aug 3/07
12:00n-2:30P SPEED NASCAR Busch Series Arizona Travel 200, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale,
AZ, Nov 10/07, R-espn2
Race Fan TV (www.racefantv.com) ! xUSTV.wpd ! © George Webster/Race Fan TV, 2007, p. 2
3:00P-6:00 SPEED NASCAR Nextel Cup Replay: Checker Auto Parts 500, Phoenix International Raceway,
Avondale, AZ, HD, Nov 11/07, R-ABC
3:00P-4:00 VS Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour: USAC CRA Sprint Car Series, Perris Auto Speedway,
Perris, CA.
6:00P-7:00 espn2 NASCAR Now, Ryan Burr, HD, L
8:00P-8:30 SPEED The Chase is On, Homestead preview, N
8:00P-10:00 HDNet NASCAR Nextel Cup Checker Auto Parts 500, Phoenix International Raceway,
Avondale, AZ, HD, Nov 11/07, HD, R-ABC
8:30P-9:00 SPEED Survival of the Fastest, #36, Phoenix, N
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
12:00m-12:30A SPEED The Chase is On, Homestead preview, R
12:30A-1:00 SPEED Survival of the Fastest, #36, Phoenix, R
12:30A-1:30A espn2 NASCAR Now, HD, R
3:00A-4:00 SPEED SCCA Runoffs, C Sports Racers, Heartland Park, Topeka, KS, Oct 12/07, R
4:00A-5:00 SPEED World Series of Off-Road Racing, Round #2, Owatonna, MN, May 20/07, R
10:00A-10:30 SPEED NASCAR Live from Homestead-Miami Speedway
10:30A-11:30 SPEED NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series PRACTICE, Ford 200, Homestead-Miami
Speedway, Homestead, FL, L
11:30A-1:00 SPEED NASCAR Nextel Cup PRACTICE, Ford 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway,
Homestead, FL, HD, L
1:00P-2:30 SPEED NASCAR Busch Series PRACTICE, Ford 300, Homestead-Miami Speedway,
Homestead, FL, L
2:30P-3:00 SPEED Go or Go Home, Homestead-Miami Speedway, L
3:00P-5:00 espn2 NASCAR Nextel Cup QUALIFYING, Ford 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway,
Homestead, FL, HD, L
3:00P-4:00 SPEED USAR Hooters Pro Cup Championship Series, Dan Duncan Memorial Aaron’s 250,
South Georgia Motorsports Park, Cecil, GA, Oct 20/07, R
4:00P-5:00 SPEED USAR Hooters Pro Cup, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Championship Series, Robert H. Brooks
Memorial Aaron’s 250, USA International Speedway, Lakeland, FL, Nov 3/07, R
5:00P-6:30 SPEED NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series QUALIFYING, Ford 200, Homestead-Miami
Speedway, Homestead, FL, L
6:30P-7:30 SPEED Trucks ‘07: A Rivalry Renewed (2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
season) N
7:30P-8:00 SPEED NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SETUP, Ford 200
8:00P-10:30 SPEED NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ford 200, Homestead-Miami Speedway,
Homestead, FL, L
10:00P-11:00 Outdoor FIM Motocross: Teutschenthal, Germany, May 13/07
10:30P-11:30 SPEED Trackside at Homestead-Miami Speedway, N
11:30P-12:00m SPEED Survival of the Fastest, #36, Phoenix, R
Race Fan TV does not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/
DISC-HDT = Discovery HD Theatre
ESPN-CL = ESPN Classic, US
HDNet = High Definition Network available on DirecTV (Channel 79) and DISH, etc.
Outdoor = Outdoor Channel (US)
VS = Versus (formerly known as OLN, Outdoor Life Network)
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
___________________________________________________________
The Stock Car Gazette
Copyright 2002-2007 by MotorSportsNews.Net
All Rights Reserved
SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION
http://lists.motorsportsnews.net/mailman/listinfo/stockcargazette
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR PASSWORD, you can have it e-mailed to you from the above SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE link.
Miss an edition of the Stock Car Gazette? Visit the E-ZINE ARCHIVE:
http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/stock-car-gazette/
IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE: The Stock Car Gazette mailing list is maintained completely by MotorSportsNews.Net. Therefore, we can tell you we have not and will not ever share your e-mail address with anyone for any reason.
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE: ALL broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, WWW or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, is STRICTLY PROHIBITED without PRIOR written permission from the editor. However, you MAY manually forward an issue by e-mail to your friends IF 1.) The text is forwarded IN ITS ENTIRETY including all subscription and web page information, and 2.) NO FEE is charged. We ALWAYS appreciate readers who report violations of the copyright to webmaster@motorsportsnews.net.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mike Irwin, Owner/Webmaster
E-mail: Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
www.MotorSportsNews.Net
P. O. Box 668
Nicholasville, KY 40340-0668
859-750-1973
By the way, do YOU know for sure? You can. Click the link.
http://motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure
___________________________________________________________
