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Todays News
(7/16/08) Today wasn't so bad. But I still wish I was on vacation !
YAY !!! American Leaque !!!
Update 20 !!! A little / temporary (at least) Victory for the kids
From the Garden State 1/4 Midget Racing Club Site (http://gsqmrc.homestead.com/ ) :
Garden State will
be racing again!
We have been approved
to race by the courts for a limited schedule.
We have many details
to discuss.
Please attend the club
meeting tomorrow, Thursday July
16th, 7:30pm at the Knights of Columbus.
Courteousy of Carolyn SS Hastings "Jeff Gordon # 24 News" :
TV Schedule
All Times Eastern
Thursday - July 17th
12:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
1:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
12:00 pm NSCS Chicagoland Replay SPEED
1:00
pm Drafting Partners GAC
5:30 pm NSCS Chicagoland Replay HDNet
6:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
7:00 pm Drafting Partners
GAC
Friday - July 18th
12:30 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
12:00 pm Racing Across America - New Hampshire SPEED
1:30 pm Racing Across
America Irwindale SPEED
6:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
6:30 pm NCTS Kentucky Final Practice SPEED
7:00 pm NNS Practice
Gateway ESPN2
Saturday - July 19th
3:30 am Racing Across America Irwindale SPEED
9:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
3:00 pm NASCAR Confidential
SPEED
4:00 pm NCTS Kentucky Qualifying SPEED
5:00 pm NNS Gateway Qualifying ESPN2
5:30 pm NCTS Midyear Review SPEED
6:00
pm NCTS Set-Up Kentucky SPEED
7:00 pm NCTS: Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky SPEED
9:00 pm NNS Countdown Gateway ESPN2
9:30
pm NNS: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway ESPN2
11:00 pm NASCAR Camping World Series: Music City Motorplex
HDNet
Sunday - July 20th
1:00 am NCTS Midyear Review SPEED
1:30 am NCTS Set-Up Kentucky SPEED
2:30 am NCTS: Built Ford Tough
225 at Kentucky SPEED
2:30 am NNS Gateway Qualifying ESPN2
3:30 am NNS: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway
ESPN2
1:30 pm IRL Race Mid-Ohio ABC
7:00 pm SPEED Report SPEED
8:00 pm NASCAR Confidential SPEED
9:00 pm Wind
Tunnel with Dave Despain SPEED
10:00 pm Drafting Partners GAC
Monday - July 21st
2:00 am Drafting Partners GAC
4:00 am NASCAR Confidential SPEED
8:00 am NASCAR Confidential SPEED
9:00
am Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain SPEED
12:00 pm 1994 Brickyard 400 ESPNC
12:00 pm NCTS Set-Up Kentucky SPEED
1:00
pm NCTS: Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
Tuesday - July 22nd
3:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
12:00 pm 1995 Brickyard 400 ESPNC
5:00 pm NASCAR Now ESPN2
9:00 pm Drafting
Partners GAC
Wednesday - July 23rd
12:00 am NASCAR Now ESPN2
12:00 pm 1998 Brickyard 400 (Jeff Gordon Winner) on ESPNC
5:00 pm NASCAR
Now ESPN2
9:00 pm Drafting Partners GAC
Penske makes decision to part ways with Newman
In the final year of his contract with Penske Racing and unhappy with the team's performance, Ryan Newman wanted to weigh his options for the 2009 season. On Monday, the Penske organization decided to move on without him, and announced
it was cutting ties with Newman effective at the end of the year. "There's a point where there's a decision that has to be
made," Penske president Tim Cindric said. "Our first choice was to keep Ryan on board with us, but you can't draw it out forever.
There's going to be a point where we either have to decide whether we're in or we're out, and obviously today was the day
to part ways." Newman is now free to sign with another NASCAR team -- including the one now co-owned by friend and fellow
driver Tony Stewart -- for next season and beyond. Newman had repeatedly said that he would consider leaving Penske if performance did not improve.
His Daytona 500 win is his lone race victory since late 2005, and he currently sits 16th in Sprint Cup points. "I appreciate
Penske Racing and all they have done for me," Newman said in a statement released by the team, "but more importantly, I appreciate
their friendship and what they have done for my career." Newman has 13 wins in 243 starts with 63 top-five finishes and 105
top-10s. Since his debut on Nov. 5, 2000, at Phoenix he also has 43 poles -- tops on the Sprint Cup tour -- despite not running
his first full season until 2002. Penske is the only NASCAR home that Newman has ever known.
What's wrong at Penske Racing?
Ryan Newman's announcement Monday that he will leave Penske Racing at the end of his contract this year is
something about which most of us have been speculating. A lot of people see the talent that Newman has. Even though
he won the Daytona 500, many figured that his No. 12 Penske Racing team would have a breakout year — but it never really
happened. I have to say, I am not really surprised at his announcement. I really think Ryan could tear up the track if he
got the right equipment. That's not a knock on Penske Racing, but they really have struggled the last few years. They just
haven't been able to put together a consistent season lately like you expect from a Roger Penske organization. Even by bringing
former champion Kurt Busch over there, they haven't been able to capture a championship.
Speedway Motorsports stock losing speed
Why Concord track owner's shares have lost more than half their value
No matter whose side you take in the tiff between Bruton Smith and H.A. “Humpy”
Wheeler over Wheeler's departure from Speedway Motorsports, one thing is clear: Wall Street isn't happy with the company's
performance of late. hares in the Concord-based company – which owns seven speedways, including Lowe's Motor Speedway,
and wants to buy an eighth – have lost more than half their value over the past year, with the stock price dropping
from about $40 last July to just above $18 Monday. Even in today's bear market, that's a big slide. By comparison, the S&P
500 Index and other major market measures are down about 20 percent, while shares in International Speedway Corp. –
Speedway Motorsports' chief rival – are down almost 30 percent from a year ago.
Carolyn Included a "history lesson" on Jeff Gordon
Bringing Back the Memories Articles
(If you like the idea of reading article on Jeff from years pass please let me know.
Other wise it will be a one time thing....Carolyn)
Gordon wins The Winston in backup car
May 20, 2001
Concord, N.C. (AP) – Jeff Gordon,
in a backup car because his primary one was damaged during a wreck at the start of the race, came from the rear of the field
early Sunday to win The Winston.
It was Gordon’s
third victory in NASCAR’s all-star race, tying him with the late Dale Earnhardt for the most wins in the event.
“I don’t think
you can tie him in anything – he’s just above and beyond anything that I can accomplish in a race car,”
Gordon said of the seven-time Winston Cup champion. “He did very special things in our sport and it’s awesome
to be a part of it.”
The race was delayed 2
hours, 10 minutes because of rain, but not before NASCAR tried to start the event on time despite a light drizzle falling
on the track.
The track was wet and
slippery by the time the green flag dropped, and as the cars came out of Turn 1, many of them lost control and began to slide.
Kevin Harvick lost control
of his car and hit the wall heading into Turn 2. The cars behind him tried to slow, but Gordon couldn’t avoid running
into the back of Jeff Burton’s car.
The tap sent both cars
spinning, and as Gordon shot down the track, Michael Waltrip slammed into the side of his car.
NASCAR quickly put the
yellow flag out and pulled the cars off the track as the rain continued. Officials ruled that because a full lap had not been
completed, the race did not officially begin.
That meant Gordon, and
the three others, could turn to backup cars. Gordon did, although it meant he had to drop to the back of the field when the
race re-started.
No matter.
He had moved up to fourth
by the end of the first 30-lap segment and followed Tony Stewart across the finish line at end of the second segment.
Gordon pitted and took
four new tires before the final 10-lap shootout began. He was second on the re-start, but needed only two laps to pass leader
Ward Burton, and easily held off Dale Jarrett to win the race and earn the $515,000 first prize.
Jarrett, who has yet to
win the race in 10 tries, was the runner-up for the second consecutive year.
“It’s nice
to finish second, but this race is not about second, it’s about winning,” Jarrett said. “I thought we had
a shot at it but I couldn’t get a run on Jeff on the re-start. It was a good run for us, but we’d really love
to win this thing.”
Stewart, who won the second
30-lap segment to earn a $50,000 bonus, was third. His teammate, Bobby Labonte, was fourth, followed by Jerry Nadeau and Burton.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., last
year’s winner, was seventh. Todd Bodine, who made the 21-car field by winning one of two qualifying races before the
main event, was eighth.
Johnny Benson, the other
qualifying winner was ninth, and Bobby Hamilton rounded out the top 10.
During the rain delay,
Gordon said he doubted he would be able to win the race in the backup Chevrolet his team had just taken off the hauler. But
that didn’t stop him from dreaming.
“I said ‘Wouldn’t
it be something if we can win this thing in a backup?”’ Gordon said. “I didn’t think it would actually
happen, but we did it through awesome teamwork.”
Jeremy Mayfield, in a
Ford, won the first 30-lap segment to earn a $50,000 bonus.
The field was then inverted,
with the last 12 cars in the field being brought to the front for the start of the second 30-lap segment
That meant Elliott Sadler,
who finished 12th in the first segment, was moved to the front of the pack for the start of the second.
But Sadler couldn’t
hold the lead, giving it up to Benson four laps into the segment. Benson fared no better, losing his position to Stewart with
12 laps to go.
Stewart held off Gordon
the rest of the way to win the second segment and earn $50,000.
The three other cars involved
in the early wreck didn’t fare nearly as well as Gordon.
Harvick was knocked out
of the race early in the first segment because his brakes locked up. His car fell off the pace and he pulled it onto pit road,
where it came to a stop and had to be towed away. He finished 21st.
“I mean, when it’s
not you’re night, it’s not your night” Harvick said. “At least we didn’t wreck this car, though.”
Jeff Burton finished 16th
and Waltrip ended up 20th and none too pleased with NASCAR.
“In NASCAR’s
haste to put on the show, it seems as if we perhaps started the race on a wet track,” Waltrip said. “My prized
Chevrolet is torn all to pieces and I’m not too pleased about that.”
Copyright Associated Press 2001
Gordon captures 3rd Brickyard
400
Chris Jenkins
USA Today
Aug. 6, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS - So there is something Jeff Gordon
can't do in a race car: a victory burnout. After coming from 27th place to win Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis
Motor Speedway - his third victory in the race's eight-year history - Gordon made a feeble attempt at smoking his tires in
celebration on the front straightaway.
Burnouts, doughnuts and other tire-smoking celebrations
are the trademark way to whoop it up for younger drivers such as Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Of course, Gordon turned
30 on Saturday, and might be too mature for that stuff.
"That was pretty sad, wasn't it?" Gordon said.
"Those young guys like Kevin Harvick can do that, but us old guys just can't do that anymore."
Gordon has celebrated several birthdays in Indiana,
as his family moved here from California when he was very young so he could hone his driving on the short tracks of the Midwest.
And like every young racer in Indiana, Gordon
wanted to race at Indy.
His family still has a videotape of Gordon,
then 8 years old, saying he wanted to win the Indy 500.
He went the stock-car route, but that hasn't
prevented him from competing -and winning - in Indianapolis.
"It's amazing to be a one-time winner, let alone
to be a three-time winner," Gordon said. "I dreamed as a kid to be like A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears and Al Unser and be able
to come here. It's a thrill. I never dreamed it would be in a stock car and I certainly never thought I'd win here. This is
amazing to do it three times."
In addition to being his home turf, Indianapolis
also is one the few NASCAR tracks where the fans cheering for Gordon resoundly drown out the boos from hard-core fans who
resent Gordon's success. He said he could hear the cheers over the roar of his engine during a late caution period.
"It feels unbelievable," Gordon said. "To have
all of these people still here cheering us on, I got choked up."
Meanwhile, Gordon put more distance between
himself and his closest challengers for the series championship, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett. Rudd, who is third in the points
race, had engine problems Sunday and finished 39th; Jarrett, who is second, finished 12th. And next week the series moves
to Watkins Glen, N.Y., and a road course where Gordon has won three of the past four years.
As if that wasn't enough to ruin Rudd's and
Jarrett's days, there's this: The Brickyard 400 is becoming to NASCAR what the New Hampshire primary is to presidential candidates,
as the race winner has gone on to win the series championship in each of the past three seasons.
"Yesterday, I thought it was a coincidence,"
Gordon said. "Today, I hope it's true."
NASCAR and the Speedway created an instant tradition
when Indianapolis became a part of the Winston Cup schedule in 1994.
Almost immediately, the Brickyard - so named
because the Speedway was paved with brick in the early 1900s - became the series' second-most important race, outranked only
by the Daytona 500.
Part of the race's importance comes from the
prize money it pays, just slightly less than Daytona. Gordon and his team will take home $428,452 for Sunday's win.
Part of the race's prestige comes from the fact
that only NASCAR's elite drivers have won it: Gordon (1994, '98 and '01), the late Dale Earnhardt ('95), Jarrett ('96 and
'99), Rudd ('97) and Bobby Labonte ('00).
Indy is a severe test of driving skill and finesse.
With relatively little banking in the turns, the track is difficult to drive in a stock car. And by this point in the season,
the elite teams have separated themselves from the rest.
"Most of the time, the championship contenders
are in full stride (by August)," Jarrett said. "And so, when you get to difficult race tracks such as this, you're going to
see your top teams perform better."
But even for elite teams such as Gordon's, Indianapolis
can be tricky. Gordon and his crew chief, Robbie Loomis, struggled all weekend to adjust their car to make it handle well.
They qualified 27th on Saturday, and Gordon said he spent much of the first half of Sunday's race complaining to Loomis over
the radio.
"I think I had to win it because my crew chief
was going to wring my neck if I didn't," Gordon said.
The Kid a near lock to someday be crowned king
Aug. 7, 2001
By Holly Cain
SportsLine.com Sports Writer
So how good is Jeff Gordon?
Well, let's just say some of you still insist on booing the man
who will surpass the great Richard Petty and late Dale Earnhardt as NASCAR's first eight-time champion.
Yes, Gordon, 30, is still a half-season away from being halfway
to history and a lot of hungry, primed competitors are poised to block his path during the next decade. But considering Gordon's
youth, ability, team and track record, maybe the naysayers should instead relish their opportunity to witness one of sport's
greatest talents.
Sure this is a bold prediction, but hardly unrealistic
expectations when you put his accomplishments in perspective.
Gordon's unprecedented third Brickyard 400 victory at the famed
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday was his 56th career Winston Cup victory in his 278th start. Essentially, he is winning
once every five times he takes the green flag -- perhaps his most astonishing statistic.
The victory total moved him up to sixth all-time, nudging him one
win past Petty's father, Lee and placing him in position behind Earnhardt, who collected 76 wins before his fatal accident
in February's Daytona 500.
Gordon's victory Sunday in one of NASCAR's most hyped, prestigious
events is yet another example of performing under pressure. Not only has Gordon already won all of stock car's biggest races,
the Daytona 500, Talladega 500, Southern 500, Charlotte 600 and Brickyard 400 -- with the exception of the Talladega 500 --
he has won those races multiple times.
Gordon wins on short tracks (four times on the Bristol, Tenn.,
bullring, for example). He wins on superspeedways (six victories), and he has dominated road courses (six wins in the past
three years).
And aside from the pure skill and race savvy he shows, one of the
biggest reasons he stands to become Winston Cup's grandest champion is his age. He turned 30 on Saturday.
Gordon had already won three season championships (1995, '97 and
'98) by the time he was 27. His 1995 title made him the youngest champion (24) in NASCAR's modern era (1972-present).
He was also the youngest Daytona 500 winner (26 in 1997) and the
youngest to amass three Winston Cup trophies. He would be the youngest to claim four should his current lead hold up and only
the third person to ever own four titles.
The only time Gordon hasn't finished among the top 10 in points
was his 1993 rookie year. During a four-season span between 1995-98, he won three titles and also finished second.
Thanks to Sunday's effort, he holds a commanding 160-point advantage
over 1999 champ Dale Jarrett with three and a half months remaining in the season -- his largest lead in 2001. Both men have
won a series-high four races, but Gordon holds an astonishing advantage in most other statistical categories. His No. 24 Dupont
Chevrolet has led a series-best 1,552 laps. Steve Park is second with 499.
In all, Gordon has led 2,258 miles of racing. Second place Dale
Earnhardt Jr. has led 719.
"I've said this a million times, but he amazes me every time I
see him in the car," said Gordon's team owner Rick Hendrick. "When he started he had this raw unbelievable talent and brain
beyond anything I'd ever seen. He's got the whole package and he just keeps stepping it up."
Even against adversity. When Gordon's longtime crew chief/best
friend/mentor Ray Evernham left the Hendrick team two years ago, many expected Gordon's glorious rise to suffer, at least
initially. But his ability to keep the team at such a high level despite a major change only demonstrates his desire is equal
to his drive.
While a lot of diehard fans boo Gordon because he wins too much,
even he admits that's a nice problem to have. The fact is, he is a genuine talent and a genuine good guy. A kid-at-heart who
still loves video games and driving fast cars.
And winning a lot.
"I'm hoping that 30 means I'm coming into my prime," Gordon said
following Sunday's win.
That might be bad news for competitors, but it's a good reason
to believe we'll have the pleasure of watching another Gretzky, Jordan or Woods.
Posted at 7:13 p.m. EDT Sunday, May 20, 2001
Posted at 7:13 p.m. EDT Sunday, May 20, 2001
Winston win moves Gordon into good company
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
For Jeff Gordon and his race team, it was The Winston
- Plan B.
Just when you think you've seen everything, NASCAR's all-star race
keeps coming up with a way to surprise you.
The same can be said for Gordon, who on Saturday night - early
Sunday morning, to be more accurate - joined the late Dale Earnhardt as the only three-time winners in the 17-year history
of the event.
Gordon wrecked his primary car on a rain-slickened Lowe's Motor
Speedway on the first attempted start, but made the most of a second chance in his backup Chevrolet.
He passed Ward Burton on the first lap of the final 10-lap segment
and was home free, sailing off to a win worth $515,000 in an event that ended just before 1 a.m. Sunday.
"I sit up there sometimes at the end of a race and I just shake
my head," said Gordon's crew chief, Robbie Loomis. "There he goes again."
The Winston itself is known for scenarios that defy belief, and
this year's event certainly falls in line with that history.
Lightning speared the skies during prerace ceremonies, and there
were raindrops falling before the 21 cars in the field for the main event rolled off.
But nobody anticipated what happened when the green flag flew.
"We wanted to get the race going as much as NASCAR and Winston
and the fans," Gordon said. "The track was dry. …If we thought it was wet down there, we would have been saying, `Hey,
we can't go.' I don't think anybody was saying that."
But by the time the cars got to Turn 1 on the first lap, the track
was wet enough that nobody had enough traction to negotiate the corner at full speed. Everybody was sliding around and four
cars - those of Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Michael Waltrip - wound up crashing.
Since caution flag laps don't count in The Winston, no laps had
been completed. While Gordon was being checked in the infield care center, Loomis got word of NASCAR's unprecedented decision
to allow those teams whose cars had been wrecked to bring out their backups and get them ready to race.
"I got back to the garage area and all of a sudden I saw another
car sitting over there," Gordon said. "I thought, `What are they doing?' They said we could get the backup car out. I didn't
even know you could do that in The Winston, so thanks to Winston and whoever else made up that rule."
Burton's team not only took out its backup, it changed the engine
from the primary to the backup in just over a half an hour, with help from virtually every team in the Roush Racing empire.
"I've never seen anybody bring out a damn backup car and put motors,"
Ward Burton would mutter later. "But this is a crazy deal we're doing here anyway. To make up rules as we go is fine with
me."
It was fine with Dale Jarrett, who would eventually wind up second
for the second straight year in The Winston, an event he has never won.
"If it would have been a situation where guys just drove off down
in there and wrecked, that might be one thing," Jarrett said. "It started raining and the track was wet. That's just not anybody's
fault. The fans came here to see the winners race and that would have taken out four of the guys. I think the right thing
was done.
"Hey, if they (Gordon's team) can bring out a backup and not have
any more time to work on it and beat us - more power to them."
Just before 11 p.m., the track was dry and NASCAR was ready to
try again. As the cars rolled off, however, raindrops returned and the cars were brought back in and parked for another 25
minutes before the racing finally began.
Jeremy Mayfield won the first 30-lap segment and Tony Stewart the
second.
The entire field elected to pit before the final 10-lap segment.
Ward Burton took two tires and came out first. When Rusty Wallace and Mayfield were penalized for speeding off pit road and
sent to the rear of the pack, Gordon was on the outside of Row 1 for the restart.
"If someone had asked me where I wanted to start the last segment,
I would have told them the outside of the front row," he said. "The outside here, especially tonight, was so good. And with
Ward having two tires, it was exactly where I wanted to be."
Jarrett knew that his chance to win was at hand.
"If I could have jumped in front of him (Gordon) to where I would
have been in second behind Ward and I could have gotten to the clean air first, I think things might have been reversed,"
Jarrett said.
Gordon gave Jarrett an opening by spinning his tires a little on
the restart.
"I faded back and Jarrett drove in underneath me in Turn 1," Gordon
said. "He wanted that outside lane and he tried to get it; I wasn't going to give it to him. I was all the way up in the gray
trying to stay outside because I knew I had to hold that position."
Gordon held and built momentum down the backstretch. By Turn 3,
he went around Burton on the outside and took the lead. He never gave it up.
Burton's two-tire gamble didn't work and he faded to sixth. Stewart
was third with teammate Bobby Labonte fourth and Jerry Nadeau fifth.
And there was Gordon, spinning his tires on the frontstretch in
celebration of a victory that only one person among the 130,000 or so in attendance might have reasonably expected a few hours
earlier.
"I leaned down into the car before that first segment," Loomis
said. "I said, `Now this is just going to be a good learning thing for us. Let's a get a good feel for these tires for when
we come back next week.'
"He looked up and said, `Shoot, man, we're going to win this thing.'
"I said, `OK.' "
Sounds like a plan.
To subscribe for Jeff Gordon #24 News
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Courteousy of FOX Sports.com :
" IT'S NOT OVER YET "
The title race may look lopsided, but Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are ready to make a charge, Larry
McReynolds says. Full Story ...
" SETTLE DOWN "
Kyle Busch seems unbeatable right now. But take it from DW: Busch has to temper his enthusiasm if
he wants to be a champ. Full Story ...
" IN THE RUNNING "
Is Kyle Busch enjoying the most dominant NASCAR season ever? In his Power Rankings, Jorge A.
Mondaca compares it with the best. Full Story
" TONY WHO "
Don't worry about Joe Gibbs Racing. Yes, Tony Stewart is leaving, but Lee Spencer says JGR's future
is brighter without him. Full Story ...
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Juan's world"
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
Not even the impending loss of Tony Stewart as the team's signature driver can sour Joe and J.D. Gibbs. JGR
remains pointed in the right direction. More
NASCAR technical director Peterson, 58, dies at home
Courteousy f Jayski :
Hitachi Sponsoring Kvapil for 6 races: Yates Racing announced that Hitachi Power Tools, a world-wide leader in professional
grade power tools and accessories, will sponsor the #28 with driver Travis Kvapil for a total of six races in the remaining
Sprint Cup Series schedule. The primary sponsorship will debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27th and the race will
mark the first time Hitachi Power Tools has been a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series. The remaining five races of the
primary sponsorship will include the Sprint Cup Series events at: Pocono, Richmond, Dover, Charlotte, and Atlanta.(Yates Racing PR))(7-16-2008) Comment here
JTG Racing...to CUP? UPDATE: YES hearing JTG Racing could move up to Sprint Cup in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose
driving and the team could switch from Ford to Chevy, no idea if Daugherty would be part of this deal. Other rumors have Ambrose
going to the #21 of the Wood Brothers in 2009, that team would remain a Ford. Ambrose is schedule to run eight races this
season in the #21 and four in the #47 Ford fielded by JTG Racing.(6-25-2008)
UPDATE: JTG Racing owner Tad Geschickter
said Friday he hopes to move Marcos Ambrose to the Sprint Cup Series next season, in addition to having Nationwide and truck
series teams in 2009. The Australian Ambrose, in his second season in NASCAR’s No. 2 series, made his Cup debut at Infineon
Raceway last month for Wood Brothers Racing. Ambrose is slated to drive four Cup races later this year under the JTG banner.
JTG currently fields two cars in the Nationwide Series, for Ambrose and Kelly Bires. Geschickter said Bires would stay in
the Nationwide Series in 2009, with Coleman Pressley to drive for the team in the truck series. The team currently fields
Fords but Geschickter said the manufacturer the team will be affiliated with next year is open.(SceneDaily.com)(7-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series racer Marcos Ambrose will become a full-time Sprint Cup driver next season,
thanks to a new partnership former NBA player Brad Daugherty has with JTG Racing. Daugherty, now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN,
has become a part-owner of JTG Racing. The team will be renamed JTG Daugherty Racing. It will continue to field two Nationwide
Series entries, but add a full-time Sprint Cup entry next year with Ambrose at the wheel. "I have a tremendous passion for
racing," Daugherty said Tuesday. "This gives me another avenue to be involved in the sport. It's a big stake to do this at
the Cup level, and I hope it opens doors in the sport for other minorities and women." Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor
the car, which will use #47.(ESPN.com)(7-16-2008) Comment here
GM cuts could hit all levels of racing: Nothing at GM is off-limits-including its high-profile NASCAR program -
company executives warned as the automaker went public Tuesday in Detroit with its latest round of cost-cutting measures.
With the auto industry in North America taking a beating, GM racing director Mark Kent said that every level of motorsports
that GM supports-from the giant stock-car racing series NASCAR to the grassroots Sports Car Club of America-is being evaluated.
GM also competes in the NHRA, USAC midgets/sprints and the American Le Mans Series. "Racing is not exempt (from cuts)," Kent
said last week. "We are looking at ways to be even more efficient ... looking to see if they are genuinely positioned for
a positive return on investment." Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, added: Motorsports "have not gone without scrutiny.
I'm not going to get into specifics about NASCAR. But there will be modifications-changes in our marketing footprint-in this
area." GM's NASCAR program, which has enjoyed great success and supports 12 Chevy teams, is under review, as is all of the
racing GM supports, Kent said. "NASCAR, SCCA club racing-we are looking at where we need to be." Funding a championship-winning
team such as Chevy's Hendrick Motorsports and drivers of the caliber of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
costs GM at least $30 million a year.(The Oylmpian)(7-16-2008) Comment here
SK Telecom in Talks to Acquire Sprint: K Telecom, the largest provider of wireless phone service in South Korea,
is in talks to acquire Sprint Nextel, the troubled U.S. wireless carrier, according to people familiar with the talks. SK
Telecom, which is smaller than Sprint, would be joined in any deal by private equity firms that would contribute cash towards
the purchase, sources told CNBC. A deal is not imminent and while the talks are on-going, participants caution that any agreement
would at best be weeks away. The board of Sprint, which has been struggling with significant subscriber losses, is divided
about whether to sell the company as some of them hold a belief that a turnaround for the company may not be far off, according
to people briefed on its position. Any deal with SK Telecom would have to be friendly. The Koreans have no plans to pursue
Sprint should it not wish to be acquired. The talks have not reached a crucial phase, and specific negotiation on price has
yet to take place, but they have heated up in recent days.(CNBC.com), , No word on how or if this would effect the Sprint Cup sponsorship.(7-16-2008) Comment here
Bartelli named Chief Marketing Officer of Petty Enterprises & Richard Petty Driving Experience: Petty Enterprises
announced that Michael Bartelli has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of the legendary race team and
the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Bartelli will further strengthen the race team marketing group led by Brian Moffitt
and the Richard Petty Driving Experience efforts led by President Brian Flynn. Bartelli joins Petty Enterprises from Millsport's
Charlotte-based motorsports division where he spent eight years, and was most recently, its President. Prior to Millsport,
Bartelli served as Vice President, Business Development for Action Performance Companies, the world's largest manufacturer
of licensed motorsports merchandise at the time. He began his industry career in Daytona Beach, FL where he served as Director,
Marketing Partnerships for International Speedway Corporation.(Petty Enterprises PR)(7-16-2008) Comment here
Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Day 3: Tuesday was the third day for Kyle Petty's Annual Charity Ride. The Chick-fil-A
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises funds for charities that support chronically ill children and engages celebrities,
ride sponsors, motorcycle enthusiasts and fans. Since 1995, more than 5,700 riders have logged 7.2 million cumulative motorcycle
miles and donated more than $10.5 million to children’s charities. Tuesday's route was scheduled to begin in Lombard,
IL and end in Lexington, KY. For more information on the ride, see my Racing Charities page.(7-16-2008) Comment here
Chase Notes: #11-Denny Hamlin's early race problems doomed him to a 40th place finish at Chicagoland, dropping
him five positions and 70 points closer to being out of the Top 12. Clint Bowyer and the #07 team never seemed to get a handle
on the race track and his 22nd dropped him out of the Top 12, 27 points out. #9-Kasey Kahne's 15th lost him three positions
back to 11th, but he did pick up five points on 13th. Still, the #9 team's performance of late predicts a rough road to staying
in the Top 12, especially if the challengers stay consistent. Kurt Busch's 28th at Chicagoland puts his Chase hopes in serious
jeopardy and is now 245 points out in 18th place. #83-Brian Vickers continued his strong challenge for the Top 12 with his
sixth at Chicagoland, moving up one position and 17 points. The Red Bull driver now lurks 95 points out of 12th. #16-Greg
Biffle gave himself slight breathing room in the Top 12 with his fourth at Chicagoland, but he's only 62 points ahead of Bowyer
in 7th place, and his last three Indy finishes are 21-33-15. See the full Chase stats so far and comparisons with each year
on my Chase Stats after Chicago page.(7-16-2008)
Hamlin named Wypall Crew Chief of the Race in Chicago: Kevin Hamlin, crew chief of the #83 Red
Bull Toyota driven by Brian Vickers, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Saturday night's LifeLock.com
400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The Hamlin-led team gambled on pit strategy all night as Vickers' battled a lose race car. It
paid off as the field cycled through green flag stops and the No. 83 team caught a break when the caution came out for debris
on lap 143 to put them back on the same pit cycle as every one else. Short pitting and staying out have been calls that Kevin
Hamlin has pretty much mastered over the past few weeks to keep Vickers in the top 20 in the Sprint Cup Series standings.
The No. 83 team was consistently one of the top cars on the track all night, leading the pack for two laps and eventually
finishing in the 6th position. The 2008 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge is a season-long contest that will determine the
best crew chiefs in the Sprint Cup garage. Following each race, a panel will vote to determine which crew chief demonstrated
the most outstanding strategy and leadership during the race. It isn't necessarily the crew chief that goes to Victory Lane,
but the crew chief that makes the biggest difference for his team. Representatives from Wypall Wipers, together with FOX/SPEED
television analyst Jeff Hammond, and three of NASCAR's top crew chiefs who represent Wypall, including Todd Berrier of Richard
Childress Racing's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy team, Bob Osborne of Roush Fenway Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford team, and Kenny
Francis of Gillett Evernham Motorsports' #9 Budweiser Dodge team, make up the panel of judges. In addition to the $1,000 check,
the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the
most weekly top wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at
the season finale in Homestead. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the remainder of the 2008
season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.Wypall.com.(PR)(7-16-2008)
Gateway to Host Track Walk to Benefit Midwest Flood Victims: Throughout the spring and summer,
residents of the Midwest have fought record-breaking rains and flooding with Missouri and Illinois being particularly hard-hit.
In an effort to help those affected by these calamities, Gateway International Raceway is hosting a track walk this Saturday
prior to the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. A number of Nationwide Series drivers are scheduled to participate, with
those names being announced Saturday. GIR parking lots are scheduled to open at 12:30 p.m., with general spectator gates opening
at 2 p.m. and the walk starting at 2:15 p.m. Walkers will register at the entrance to the infield tunnel. Participants must
make a minimum $25 donation with children 12 and under allowed to walk for free. No coolers and no alcohol will be permitted
on the track during the walk. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross.( Gateway Raceway PR)(7-16-2008)
Alton Telegraph:
Keselowski cruising as race comes to GIR by Steve Porter
Asheville Citizen-Times:
Daugherty one of few African-American NASCAR owners by Keith Jarrett
CBS Sports:
Feud: Stewart's odds, coveted free agents and coasting along by Brian De Los Santos and Pete Pistone
Chicago Tribune:
NASCAR star Kyle Petty, motorcyclists bring charity ride to Lombard by Annemarie Mannion
Chronicle Herald:
Unfinished business by Monte Mosher
Cup Scene Daily
So What's Next On the Silly Season Horizon? by Amy Hair
Daly Planet:
Nice Guy DJ Copp Gets A Reward and
ESPN Adds Another Sprint Cup Owner by John Daly
Daytona Beach News-Journal:
Hey Willie! Cup restarts can be fixed by Ken Willis
Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? ... Zipadelli's Class, Yeley's Free Pass, And Newman's No No by Tom Bowles;
Mirror Driving : Can Stewart Save Haas, Fans Save Milwaukee, And NASCAR Stop Toyota's Dominance? by the Frontstretch Staff;
Journeyman Riggs Long Forgotten In Stewart Shuffle by Doug Turnbull;
Top Ten NASCAR Marriages I'd Like To See by Jeff Meyer;
Frontstretch Sprint Cup Power Rankings : Top 15 After Chicagoland by Mike Neff
Gary Post-Tribune:
Petty makes local pit stop by Neal Boyer
Inside the Pit Box:
Don't hand Kyle the championship just yet by Sharon Bundy
Insider Racing News:
Silly Season or Musical Chairs? by Chuck Abrams
Los Angeles Examiner:
Gibbs’ greatness extends from Lombardi Trophy to checkered flag by Steve Wilson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
No place like home; Native son Kenseth earns fourth victory by Dave Kallman
Munster Times:
Kyle Petty gang makes stop in Merrillville by Al Hamnik
NASCAR This Week:
Will Scott Riggs be the odd man out? by Monte Dutton
Race Talk Radio:
Rusty Wallace and the Grassy Knoll by Dennis Michelsen
Richmond Times Dispatch:
For Keselowski, next step could be biggest by Jill Erwin
Roanoke Times:
Death in NASCAR by Dustin Long
SceneDaily.com:
History in the making byArt Weinstein;
Who knew NASCAR was so cerebral? by Kris Johnson;
Kyle Busch is the real deal by Jared Turner;
NASCAR should add a break before Chase begins by Rea White
South Georgia Sports Network:
So I'm A Kyle Busch Fan, Get Over It Son by Dale Hall
SPEEDtv.com:
TRUCKS: Interesting Trend Continues on SPEED by Megan Englehart
Sporting News:
12 Gauge: The famous quote edition after Chicagoland by Bill Marx
Sports Illustrated:
Despite gloomy forecast, DEI driver paints pretty picture of future by Tim Tuttle
Stock Car Science:
Steve Peterson: Thank You by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky
Suite 101:
Ryan Newman- Another Silly Season Domino Falls by Jeremy Dunn
Thatsracin:
No room for selective enforcement by David Poole
Winston Salem Journal:
NASCAR Notebook and
Kyle Petty’s on the road again…and Kyle Busch is on the way to the NASCAR championship by Mike Mulhern
Nationwide Series News
CJM forms technical alliance with Gibbs: #11-CJM Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing announced a newly formed alliance under
which CJM Racing will receive technical support as well as information pertaining to research and development in the Nationwide
Series. CJM Racing will continue to run Chevys for the remainder of the 2008 Nationwide Series season and will transition
to a TRD supported team in 2009. The team will be powered with Toyota engines while continuing to build chassis in-house.(CJM Racing PR)(7-16-2008)
Wolfe Back at Fitz: Hearing Crew Chief Paul Wolfe has left Braun Racing to return to Fitz Motorsports
to work with Josh Wise.(7-16-2008)
UPDATE: Paul Wolfe is back at Fitz Motorsports to work with Josh Wise. Wolfe
brought car chief Jerry Kelly back with him as well. They are actually working for Michael Waltrip Racing and will run some
races in a Toyota. Todd Lohse will serve as Leffler's Crew Chief at Braun.(7-16-2008)
JTG Racing...to CUP? UPDATE
3: hearing JTG Racing could move up to Sprint Cup in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose driving and the team could switch from Ford
to Chevy, no idea if Daugherty would be part of this deal. Other rumors have Ambrose going to the #21 of the Wood Brothers
in 2009, that team would remain a Ford. Ambrose is schedule to run eight races this season in the #21 and four in the #47
Ford fielded by JTG Racing.(6-25-2008)
UPDATE: JTG Racing owner Tad Geschickter said Friday he hopes to move Marcos
Ambrose to the Sprint Cup Series next season, in addition to having Nationwide and truck series teams in 2009. The Australian
Ambrose, in his second season in NASCAR’s No. 2 series, made his Cup debut at Infineon Raceway last month for Wood Brothers
Racing. Ambrose is slated to drive four Cup races later this year under the JTG banner. JTG currently fields two cars in the
Nationwide Series, for Ambrose and Kelly Bires. Geschickter said Bires would stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009, with Coleman
Pressley to drive for the team in the truck series. The team currently fields Fords but Geschickter said the manufacturer
the team will be affiliated with next year is open.(SceneDaily.com)(7-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series racer Marcos Ambrose will become a full-time Sprint Cup driver next season,
thanks to a new partnership former NBA player Brad Daugherty has with JTG Racing. Daugherty, now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN,
has become a part-owner of JTG Racing. The team will be renamed JTG Daugherty Racing. It will continue to field two Nationwide
Series entries, but add a full-time Sprint Cup entry next year with Ambrose at the wheel. "I have a tremendous passion for
racing," Daugherty said Tuesday. "This gives me another avenue to be involved in the sport. It's a big stake to do this at
he Cup level, and I hope it opens doors in the sport for other minorities and women." Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor
the car, which will use #47.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008)
UPDATE 3: [Daugherty] said he hopes to announce soon plans for another Nationwide team for the 2009
season with a young local driver. That is expected to be Coleman Pressley, 19, an Asheville native and JTG Racing employee
who drives in the NASCAR Whelen Series. Pressley is the son of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley and grandson of legendary
local driver Bob Pressley.Asheville Citizen-Times)(7-15-2008)
CTS Updates
Peters to raise awareness for Leukemia Society: Premier Racing, with driver Timothy Peters, will be putting its
brand new #17 team on the track at the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway on July 19th in an effort to raise awareness
for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Premier Racing will display the LLS logo on its truck. "We decided weeks ago
that we would like to use our truck at Kentucky to help promote a worthy cause, and LLS is one that is helping to save lives
everyday," commented Premier team owner Philip Hudgins. Hudgins went on to say, "Leukemia causes more deaths than any other
cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20. Being a father and grandparent, I could not think of a more worthwhile
cause to support." The team will be competing in its second race of the season and is very confident they can put on a good
show for the fans.(Premier Racing PR)(7-16-2008)
Crawford interested in buying Montgomery Speedway: UPDATE 2 Race
track neighbors put sale in doubt: NASCAR trucks series driver Rick Crawford says he is interested in buying the dormant
Montgomery Motor Speedway. Crawford, who is from Mobile, said he considered submitting a bid during an auction of the track
property last month but decided against it. The half-mile asphalt track didn't sell during the auction and Crawford said Tuesday
that he is still interested. "I looked into it but I didn't pursue it," Crawford said of the auction, which failed to produce
a bid that met the minimum price. "My ultimate goal when I retire is to own a race track," he said, adding he would prefer
to own Mobile Speedway. He said he made an offer on the Mobile track but the owner was not interested in selling at the time.
"The wheels are turning but I'm not as interested in Montgomery Speedway as I would be if Mobile Speedway was available,"
he said. (Everything Alabama.com)(6-12-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rick Crawford has reached an agreement in principal to
buy the half-mile track, according to Doug Carwyle, a local businessman who helped broker the deal. The only stipulation to
the sale is that the city of Montgomery grant a license allowing the track to hold races. Kevin Radvany, who handles public
relations for Crawford's race team, said track representatives will make the request with the city licensing board July 17.
"Outside of that one thing, it's a done deal," said Carwyle, who is expected to help manage the track once Crawford takes
ownership. "Rick and (current owner) Bill Manfull have agreed on the price. Rick sent the retainer -- $50,000 -- to the auction
company. All that's left is getting that license. If that happens, we go back racing." Carwyle said Crawford, a Mobile native
who is currently fifth in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings, has been involved in the sale of MMS since the auction
a month ago. Radvany said Crawford's purchase of the track would have no effect on his participation in the Truck Series.
"This is no different than Tony Stewart owning Eldora Speedway (a small dirt track in Ohio)," Radvany said. "This is something
Rick has always said he wanted to do."(Montgomery Advertiser)(6-24-2008)
UPDATE 2: The sale of Montgomery Motor Speedway might be in trouble. A group of approximately 25 to
30 homeowners, all of whom own property located near MMS, have hired an attorney and plan to argue against potential new owner
Rick Crawford being issued a license that would allow him to hold racing events at the track. Should they be successful in
blocking the issuance of the license, it would kill the sale of MMS. "In simple terms, my clients don't want the racetrack
operational again," said Montgomery attorney Doyle Fuller, who is representing the group of homeowners. "There are a number
of problems. There are literally hundreds of people negatively affected if this license is granted." Crawford, a NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series driver, said there are solutions to most of the problems and that he would be willing to work with the homeowners.
Crawford said if the city failed to issue a license to him on Thursday, he was moving on. "This is my dream -- to own a track
like this and do something good for a community," he said. "If this passes, Montgomery will be proud of this track. We'll
do it right and it will be something that could help revive a part of town that really needs it. "But I'm not going to fight.
There's some other place out there that wants what I'm offering. I'm a good neighbor. I do things right. I hope that's good
enough for Montgomery."(Montgomery Advisor)(7-16-2008)
Busch making first truck start at Kentucky: Kyle Busch will be back behind the wheel of the #51
Miccosukee Resort Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at the Kentucky Speedway
Saturday, July 19, 2008. Busch will be making his first start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the 1.5-mile intermediate
track for the 150 Lap /225 Mile race. Busch won't be commuting to one of the other premier NASCAR touring series races this
weekend but instead he will commute to get behind the wheel of a different kind of race car. This week Busch will also race
in the #51 NOS Energy Drink Super Late Model at Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin, Tuesday July 15, then July 19th at the Kentucky
Speedway in the Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra. Busch and Richie Wauters and some of the #51 NCTS team will fly off to the
Iowa Speedway for another Super Late Model race Sunday, July 20, 2008 [Details posted on the Appearance Page.] (Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(7-16-2008)
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Smoke And Mirrors
AP Photo/Skip Stewart
In Houdini-like fashion, Kyle Busch has won seven times ... in a Toyota.
They never claimed to be psychics. But our NASCAR experts are still licking their wounds. Their
preseason picks haven't exactly panned out -- and they've got Kyle Busch to thank for that. Terry Blount 
Mike Wallace will throw out the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game, race on the dirt track where he cut
his competitive teeth and visit the Gateway Arch. But No. 1 on his to-do list this weekend is winning the Nationwide race
at his hometown track. Notes
• Up To Speed: Spotlight on Kenny Wallace 
|
 |
Feature Article(s) :
The "dominoes"are starting to fall
How many parts will be here ? Only the next few weeks / months will tell !
Stay tuned !
Domino # 1 - Tony Stewart
Courteousy of NASCAR.com
The speculation has become reality as Tony Stewart announced Thursday he is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to join Haas CNC as
driver and part owner. More
Domino # 2 - Ryan Newman
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
The second domino has fallen. Ryan Newman and Penske Racing announced Monday they would part ways at the end of the 2008
season. More
Domino # 3 - ?
Somewhat Older News
(7/15/08) Sometimes I think the 2nd day back to work,after a vacation . Is actually harder
to do than the 1st day.
This was one of those 2nd days.
Hence the late,and shortened, update.
Goooooooo American League !!!!
Courteousy of Jayski :
Sad News - Steve Peterson: NASCAR Technical Director Steve Peterson, 58, was found deceased today at his home from
what appears to be natural causes. Steve began his NASCAR career in January, 1995 and led many of NASCAR’s safety initiatives
including development and installation of SAFER Barriers, management and approval of head and neck restraints and improved
seat belts, and coordination of the safety features in NASCAR’s new car. “Steve’s accomplishments to increase
driver safety will continue to be a benefit to every NASCAR driver that gets behind the wheel for generations to come,”
said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve’s family and friends; he
will certainly be missed throughout the NASCAR community.” Funeral arrangements will be announced later.(NASCAR PR)(7-15-2008)
Testing
at Nashville: Beginning a two day practice at the Nashville Superspeedway Tuesday were the test teams of Chip Ganassi
Racing with drivers Bryan Clauson and Kevin Hamlin, Gillette Evernham Motorsports with Chase Miller, Petty Enterprises with
Chad McCumbee, and Richard Childress Racing.(PRNs Garage Pass)(7-15-2008)
Kyle Busch testing Late Models this week: Kyle Busch will be shaking down his super late model
stock car at The Milwaukee Mile on Wednesday, July 16. This short track car is what he'll be driving at The Mile on Sunday,
August 24 in the "Wisconsin All-Star 100 With Matt Kenseth" race, one of four stock car races on The Mile's Governor's Cup
weekend August 22-24. Grandstands on Wednesday will be open, free to public, enter Grandstand Gate 8. More details about Governor's
Cup weekend at www.milwaukeemile.com.(Milwaukee Mile PR)(7-15-2008)
AND: Kyle Busch plans to run a test session Thursday at the Iowa Speedway. Busch
is running in Sunday's ASA late model series race in Newton. Fellow NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth also plans to run on Sunday.
He is scheduled to test this weekend prior to the race. The Iowa Speedway plans to open the public viewing area for Busch's
practice run.(KCCI.com)(7-15-2008)
Newman says he has 4 options for 2009: UPDATE: Ryan Newman was "Mummy" on whether he will leave
Penske Racing after this season. Newman, promoting the soon-to-be-released movie "Mummy" on his car in Saturday night's Sprint
Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, is considered the leading candidate to join Tony Stewart next season at newly-formed Stewart-Haas
Racing. Sources have told ESPN.com that deal to join the Indiana natives is close to done and could be announced in two weeks
at Indianapolis. Newman said he has three serious options outside of Penske and that ownership is part of at least one of
the options. He also said re-signing with Penske is an option. Asked if ownership could be an option at Stewart-Haas, where
Stewart was given 50 percent of the company, Newman said, "I won't answer that." Newman said last month he would not re-sign
with Penske unless the performance of his team improved significantly. He said the team has made some strides to improve,
but not enough to convince him it is ready to challenge for a championship. (ESPN.com)(7-13-2008)
UPDATE: Newman acknowledged on Saturday in Chicagoland that he has three serious options outside of
Penske. A source close to the situation said Newman has been in discussions with Stewart Haas, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard
Childress Racing. The source added there is a firm offer from Stewart-Haas and that potential sponsors are set, but that the
deal is not done. Newman said one of his options included ownership of equity in the company. Stewart-Haas general manager
Joe Custer said his company is not looking to give up any more ownership than the 50 percent already given to Stewart. JGR
officials have consistently said they are not interested in giving up ownership. Team owner Joe Gibbs and president J.D. Gibbs
talked on Saturday as though 18-year-old sensation Joey Logano could replace Stewart in the #20 Home Depot car next season.
RCR, looking for a driver for a fourth team sponsored by General Mills, and GEM already are divided into partnerships.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008) Comment here
Truex or Stremme to the #12? Penske has offered no hints as to who might replace Ryan Newman. Martin Truex
Jr.’s name has been mentioned, but Truex’s current contract with DEI is still the subject of legal debate, and
it is unclear if DEI will indeed force Truex to return for another season or give him his release. Truex has been pushing
quietly to become a free agent. David Stremme, who drove for fellow Dodge owner Chip Ganassi until being released at the end
of last season, has been a Penske test driver this season, and Stremme could also be under consideration.(Winston-Salem Journal)(7-15-2008) Comment here
Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Day 2: Monday was the second day for Kyle Petty's Annual Charity Ride. The Chick-fil-A
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises funds for charities that support chronically ill children and engages celebrities,
ride sponsors, motorcycle enthusiasts and fans. Since 1995, more than 5,700 riders have logged 7.2 million cumulative motorcycle
miles and donated more than $10.5 million to children’s charities. Monday's route was scheduled to begin in Elkhart
Lake, WI and conclude in Lombard, IL. For more information on the ride, see my Racing Charities page.(7-15-2008) Comment here
Racing Resources Says …
* Kyle Busch won the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Busch posted
his 11th career win in his 133rd start. He posted his seventh win of the 2008 season; his last win came at Daytona last week.
Busch scored his first victory at Chicagoland Speedway in his fourth start. He became the sixth different driver to win at
Chicagoland Speedway. Busch led five times for 165 laps, setting a new record for the most laps led by a driver in a Chicagoland
race.
* Busch has now led 1,065 laps this season, the most of all drivers.
* Toyota scored its eighth win of the 2008
season, the most of all manufacturers.
* Joe Gibbs Racing scored its third victory at Chicagoland Speedway, the most of
all teams. JGR has won eight of the 19 races this season, the most of all teams.
* Busch scored his 14th NASCAR win in
2008: seven Sprint Cup, five Nationwide and two Craftsman Truck.
* The Busch brothers (Kyle and Kurt) have now won four
consecutive races; three by Kyle and one by Kurt. Kyle Busch has won six of the past 11 NSCS races; including three of the
past four.
* Busch swept both the NNS race and the NSCS race at Chicagoland; the last time a driver swept both races at
a track was in February 2007, when Matt Kenseth swept both races at Fontana, Calif.
* Toyota scored its first win at Chicagoland
Speedway, ending a four-race streak of Chevrolet victories at the track.
* Busch and Jimmie Johnson both led in the race.
Both drivers have now led in 14 of the 19 races this season, the most of all drivers.
* Busch became the 17th different
driver to win seven of the first 19 races of the season. Ten of the 16 drivers to do it before have gone on to win the championship.
*
Busch won the race from the first starting position, marking the first time a driver has won a race from a top-five starting
position at Chicagoland.
* The race featured 16 lead changes among 10 drivers.
* The race featured nine cautions for
33 laps.
* The top 10 consisted of three Toyotas, three Fords, three Chevys and a Dodge.
* The highest-finishing rookie
of the year contender was Patrick Carpentier, who finished 30th.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008)
Rookie class not faring too well in 2008: The Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates have had
a rough season, accumulating ZERO (0) Top 10 finishes in 2008 (#8-Aric Almirola has a Top 10 from Bristol, but he is not a
candidate and not running for the award in 2008 and will have too many races to run for the award in 2009). No rookie class
in the modern era (1972-present) has gone this deep into a season without a single Top 10 finish. In fact, you need to go
all the way back to 1961 – when the schedule stretched 62 races deep – for the last time all the ROTY candidates
were shut out of the Top 10 nineteen races in. So far in 2008, the best finish by any of the five drivers running for the
award is a 13th place by Sam Hornish, Jr. at the Coca-Cola 600 in May. And in case you're wondering, at Chicagoland the best
run any of the first year drivers could muster was a 30th by #10-Patrick Carpentier.(Frontstretch Newsletter), see more about the rookies on my 2008 Rookies page.(7-15-2008)
ESPN.com:
Send a question to crew chief Chad Walter;
Counting out defending champ Johnson would be big mistake;
Chase may save the day for NASCAR, fans, for another season by Terry Blount;
With Penske partnership ending, Newman to weigh options by Angelique S. Chengelis and David Newton
Alton Telegraph:
Gateway gears up for its premiere event of the year by Steve Porter
Associated Press:
Ryan Newman to leave Penske Racing at season's end
At the Track: Gater News:
Kyle Busch is Ruining NASCAR! by Ed Coombs
Daily Herald:
NASCAR star bikes for charity by Kathryn Grondin
Daly Planet:
"This Week In NASCAR" Has A Restrictor Plate and;
Ryan Burr Handles The "Roundtable" Live by John Daly
Detroit Free Press:
Let's not forget troops who died for us by Mike Brudenell
Dublin Courier Herald
Nothing Wrong With Driver Changes in NASCAR by Payton Towns III
Escanaba Daily Press:
NASCAR driver visits region by Brandon Veale
Fox Sports
Hot or Not: Chicagoland by Kristen Valus;
Busch's determination puts him on top ... again and
What's wrong at Penske Racing? by Jeff Hammond;
Numbers tell the story at Chicagoland by Jorge Mondaca
Frontstretch:
It's Official : Newman And Penske Part Ways After 2008. Now What? by Bryan Davis Keith;
18 Into 12 Just Doesn't Go : Handicapping The 2008 Chase Down To The Wire by Danny Peters;
Enjoy It While It Lasts : Kyle Busch's Dominant Season To Be Derailed By Chase Format by Vito Pugliese;
Talking NASCAR TV : SPEED's Announcement Debacle Overshadows TNT Season Finale by Doug Turnbull;
Running Their Mouth : Lifelock.com 400 by Beth Lunkenheimer
Hartford Courant:
Goodbye Newman: Penske Racing And Ryan Newman To Part Ways After This Season by Shawn Courchesne
Indianapolis Star:
Newman, Penske part ways by Steve Ballard;
Ryan Newman released by Penske by Curt Cavin
Insider Racing News
Tony Stewart: Team Owner by Allen Madding
Kansas City Star:
Newman parting ways with Penske Racing by Jim Pedley
Lexington Dispatch:
Tony Stewart looks forward to ownership chance by Ben White
Long Island Press:
What's Your 20? Press Sprint Cup Rankings by Josh Stewart
Manitowoc Herald Times:
A Victory Ride by Steve Clark
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Miller Lite Nationals: Busch doesn't make any drastic adjustments and
Goodbye, Newman by Dave Kallman
Motorsports Soapbox:
Newman/Penske Confirm Split; Stewart-Haas Announcement Could Come At Indy by Dave Moody
NASCAR This Week:
Burning Issues: 7-15-08 by Monte Dutton
NWI Times:
Powell enjoys work on Kenseth, Biffle pit crews by John O'Malley
Race Journal Online:
Cheers and Jeers - Unexpectedly Hard to Say Goodbye by Carol Einarsson
Race Talk Radio:
Chicagoland at Night - Making the Grade Chicago by Dennis Michelsen
Richmond County Daily Journal:
Rockingham Speedway: So Far, So Good by Dennis Burton
Richmond Times Dispatch:
Newman, Penske to part ways by Jill Erwin
St. Petersburg Times:
Newman to leave Penske Racing after the season by Brant James
SceneDaily.com:
News of 2008 revolves around JGR by Kenny Bruce
SPEEDtv.com:
Newman Leaving Penske by Tom Jensen
Speedway Media:
The Good, the Bad, & The Ugly or Just When Did God Become A Kyle Busch Fan? by Ron Thornton;
Newman & Penske Racing Part Ways by Pamela
Sports Illustrated:
Busch enjoying dream season by Bruce Martin
Stock Car Science:
Testing 1...2... by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky
Tennessean:
Motorplex thrives in hearts of drivers by Tom Kreager
Thatsracin:
Speedway Motorsports stock losing speed by Jefferson George;
Newman will leave Penske Racing and;
Kenseth moving up, but needs a win by David Poole
Winston-Salem Journal:
Ryan Newman and Roger Penske make their split official….so what next for the
two? and
Over his 50-plus years in NASCAR, Richard Petty has seen it all: So can he make this
new deal work? by Mike Mulhern
Track News
Darlington Ticket Renewal Underway: After four consecutive sellouts tickets to the Sprint Cup Series
event at Darlington Raceway are becoming some of the most coveted tickets on the NASCAR circuit. Fans that purchased tickets
to the 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway can begin renewing their seats now for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
event weekend at Darlington Raceway. 2009 marks the 60th season of racing at the track "Too Tough to Tame" and customers that
renew their seats before the deadline of August 18, 2008 are being offered several renewal incentives. All incentives are
open to fans that purchased tickets in 2008 and wish to do so in 2009. To renew fans can go online to http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/renewals, call the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or mail in the renewal order form that they received in the mail.(Darlington Raceway PR)(7-15-2008)
Nationwide Series News
Marks to Make Nationwide Debut at Montreal: Braun Racing announced the addition of Justin Marks to the driver line-up
of the #10 Camry. The Rocklin, California native will pilot the #10 Future Electronics Camry in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada in August. This will mark his first career Nationwide Series start. Marks will
share driving duties of the #10 with Brian Vickers.(Braun Racing PR)(7-15-2008)
Ren interim crew chief for Harvick
at Chicagoland: UPDATE 2: Rogers out During the Nationwide Series qualifying session on ESPN, it was noted that Rick Ren is acting as interim crew chief for the #33-KHI Chevy with driver, Kevin Harvick for the Dollar
General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway [Ren is currently crew chief for #33-Ron Hornaday Jr. in the Truck Series]. No word on
the status of Wally Rogers but it was mentioned that there would be a personnel change this week at Kevin Harvick Inc.(7-11-2008)
UPDATE:
During prerace activities on ESPN, Kevin Harvick said that Wally Rogers has been let go as crew chief for the #33 Nationwide team; felt the needed consistency
was not there for the team. Rick Ren will handle one more race in NNS. After that, other team members will take over for a
couple of weeks while the situation is evaluated and a decision is made.(7-11-2008)
UPDATE 2 Rick Ren served as
Kevin Harvick's crew chief on the Kevin Harvick Inc. #33 entry at Chicagoland, but Ren's commitment is in trying to defend
his Craftsman Truck Series title with KHI driver Ron Hornaday Jr. Ren was replacing Wally Rogers, whom Harvick let go in his
search of more consistency within the team. With Ren and Hornaday at Kentucky Speedway this weekend, Jason Meeks will make
the decisions for driver Cale Gale.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008)
Huffman in the #81 at Gateway: UPDATE 2: USAR Pro Hooters Cup Champion Shane Huffman will drive in place of #81-DJ
Kennington, this weekend in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Kennington who is the
full-time driver of the Mahindra Tractors Dodge has a major conflict in his racing schedule. DJ has a race on the West Coast
of Canada at the same moment as the start of the Gateway event.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(7-14-2008)
UPDATE: The
tema has retracted the announcement. A driver announcement will be made Wednesday.(7-14-2008)
UPDATE 2: Shane Huffman
WILL be in the #81 at Gateway.(7-15-2008)
Dodge Dealers on the #9 at Gateway: The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers
decals will adorn the #9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by Chase Miller in Saturday's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers
250 at Gateway International Speedway. This race marks the fourth time since 2007 the colors of the Dodge Dealers appear on
#9 with Miller behind the wheel.(Gillett Evernham Motorsports PR)(7-15-2008)
Gateway Rookie Notes:
... Landon
Cassill was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Cassill scored a 10th-place
finish, his second top-10 in 16 Nationwide Series starts. He grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time
in 10 starts this season. Cassill was the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 at Chicagoland since 2005.
... Bryan
Clauson has an 18-point lead (139-121) over Dario Franchitti in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the 19 Missouri-Illinois
Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway.
... A Raybestos Rookie has won two pole positions in the Nationwide Series this season. Clauson
grabbed the top starting spot for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona while Cassill claimed the top starting position at the Camping
World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire.
... David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Missouri-Illinois
Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway, grabbing a fifth-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(7-15-2008)
CTS News
Kobalt Tools to be new Series sponsor? UPDATE Kobalt leading candidate: Ray Dunlap reported on the SPEED Report
that Kobalt Tools sounds like they are the leading contender to be the series sponsor of what is now known as the Craftsman
Truck Series. Craftsman announced last season that they would leave as Series sponsor after the 2008 season.(6-30-2008)
UPDATE:
NASCAR is believed to be selling the series' title rights in the mid- to high seven-figure range annually, with an advertising
commitment on SPEED, the broadcast home of the series, at close to seven figures. Stanley Tools and NAPA also have been involved
in discussions with NASCAR. In addition to the title sponsorship, the deal likely would include status for Kobalt as the official
tool of NASCAR, replacing Craftsman. Lowe's, represented by GMR Marketing, also could be moving into the official home improvement
store category that currently is occupied by The Home Depot, whose deal with NASCAR runs out this year.(Sporting News)(7-15-2008)
Rascal Flatts sponsoring Allen & Randy Moss Motorsports debut: Randy Moss Motorsports and the
#81 Chevy will make its much anticipated debut this weekend at the Kentucky Speedway with the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series Rookie of the Year Willie Allen behind the wheel. Grammy Award winning country music group Rascal Flatts will sponsor
the #81 Chevy for the debut of Randy Moss Motorsports this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The three man band has recorded eight
number one songs in their bright career and is currently touring the country on their "Bob That Head" 2008 concert tour. Jining
Rascal Flatts as sponsors in Kentucky will be The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Lowery Plumbing as they will
ride along on the #81 Chevy with Willie Allen for the 150-lap event as Associate Sponsors.(Randy Moss Motorsports PR)(7-15-2008)
Allgaier on board with MB Motorsports at Kentucky: Justin Allgaier will pilot not only the #6 AG
Tech-Hoosier Midwest ARCA RE/MAX Series car in the Kentucky ARCA 150 at Kentucky Speedway race Friday, July 18, but he will
also be competing in the Built Ford Tough 225, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday, July 19. Allgaier will be piloting
the #63 Mittler Brothers Machine and Tools Ford. Allgaier has seven prior Craftsman Truck Series starts for the MB Motorsports
team with one start at the Kentucky Speedway in 2006.(Justin Allgaier PR)(7-15-2008)
Stout returns to NCTS action in Kentucky: JC Stout will step back into the #91 Stellar-Quest Racing
Chevy for the Built Ford Tough 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway Saturday July 19, 2008. Don Roberts,
a long-time member of the Stellar-Quest Racing Team, will perform the roles of both Crew Chief and front tire carrier this
weekend.(Stellar-Quest Racing PR)(7-15-2008)
Annexus to sponsor Cobb at Kentucky: Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and
Derrike Cope Inc. are pleased to announce Scottsdale-based The Annexus Group will be returning as the primary sponsor for
the #74 Dodge Ram at the July 19 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. The race will serve as Cobb's second
in the series.(Cobb Racing/Diamond III Mgmt PR)(7-15-2008)
Compton makes first truck series start at Kentucky:
Stacy Compton will be making his sixth NASCAR start at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Compton has five Nationwide starts
to his credit, scoring one pole (2003), one top-five and two top-10's. This will be his first start in a truck at Kentucky.
The #4 Dodge will be showcasing the Tim Short Dodge of Hazard, KY paint scheme Saturday night.(BHR-VA)(7-14-2008)
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Is he a Bud man ? "
Getty
What if you could match drivers with sponsors? Would you put Kasey Kahne with Budweiser? Dale Earnhardt Jr.
with AMP?
If I could ...
"The Pass"
Kyle Busch didn't need to pass Jimmie Johnson to stay No. 1, but he did anyway. Power Rankings
Courteousy of Stock Car Gazette ( stockcargazette@motorsportsnews.net) : TV Times - ESPN To Take Over NASCAR Sprint Cup Coverage
by:
Lou Modestino As the time nears for ESPN’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the new Monday roundtable
edition of ESPN2’s NASCAR Now continues to gain momentum with NASCAR fans looking for in-depth analysis of their favorite
sport. Read the rest at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1387 More of Lou's articles can be read at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/tv-times
www.Catchfence.com
SPEED™ Offers Unprecedented Look Inside NASCAR Race Control; NASCAR Confidential Highlights Race
Day From Start To Finish From NASCAR And Track's Perspective: Granted unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access, the next episode
of NASCAR Confidential on SPEED (July 20, 8 p.m. ET) will take viewers into the inner workings of race control for the most
complete look ever at what it takes to put on a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. The one-hour special marks the first time
in history NASCAR has allowed cameras to document an entire day in race control, in addition to all race-related meetings
and activities throughout the day. With this unfiltered look at race day from start to finish, viewers will see and hear how
a race is controlled from every perspective. Utilizing more than 20 cameras, SPEED documented the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at
Lowe’s Motor Speedway from the arrival of NASCAR officials at the track to post-race team hauler departure and NASCAR’s
subsequent arrival at Dover International Speedway four days later. “This is much more than another NASCAR show,”
said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “Very rarely in television do you get the opportunity to do something that hasn’t
been done before, so we are grateful to NASCAR for granting the access that enabled us to take SPEED viewers deeper inside
the sport they follow with such passion. It’s easy to comment on things from the outside looking in, but NASCAR Confidential
continues to do a great job of telling stories from the inside looking out.” Highlights include access to NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series director John Darby’s meeting with 45 NASCAR officials, pre-race technical inspection, NASCAR executives’
procedure meeting, speedway security meeting with the FBI and ATF and the race from atop race control, in addition to interviews
with key NASCAR and Lowe’s Motor Speedway executives. The special also offers complete coverage of the race from eight
distinct viewpoints, including the pace car, chase car, race control (three angles), NASCAR replay official, pit exit official,
pit lane official, flag stand and FOX TV truck. - SPEED TV, Press Release
Google Alerts
Jeff Gordon not ready to follow Tony Stewart’s example
Boston Herald - United States
He’s
too busy enjoying the life of a NASCAR driver first, a co-owner of a NASCAR team second. So when Stewart surprised no one
with last week’s decision to ...
http://snipurl.com/2yuon-gazete
That's Racin' http://www.thatsracin.com
Busch getting the breaks
Perhaps it is not wise to see the finish of Saturday night's LifeLock 400
as some sort of demarcation between the fortunes of Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. It, however, surely is tempting.
http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/16601.html
The Hot Lap http://www.TheHotLap.com
The second half of the NASCAR Nationwide Series stand-alone season gets underway this weekend
at Gateway, the first of three weekends without the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is next,
followed by the second-annual trip north to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. This open week on the NASCAR Sprint Cup
schedule affords the six double-duty drivers entered at Gateway the opportunity to compete in "regular" race fashion for the
final time this season – no hurried commuting from track to track in order to race. NASCAR Nationwide Series standings
leader Clint Bowyer is joined by Carl Edwards, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson and Jamie McMurray at Gateway.(NASCAR)
(07-14-08)
Even Older News
7/14/08) I love vacation time ! Unfortunately that was LAST week !!!
I hate going back to work !!!
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
The second domino has fallen. Ryan Newman and Penske Racing announced Monday they would part ways at the end of the 2008
season. More
Elledge off to fast start in new Red Bull Racing role
Nationwide engine rule changes could be in offing
Chicagoland produces one commonality: Kyle Busch
Courteousy of FOX Sports.com :
" TIME TO PANIC ? "
Roger Penske should be worried. Jeff Hammond says Ryan Newman's plan to leave speaks volumes about the team's ability to win. Full Story ...
" REMEMBER ME ? "
Courteousy of Jayski :
Newman and Penske to part ways at end of season: UPDATE: Penske Racing and Ryan Newman have mutually agreed to move in
new directions at the conclusion of the 2008 season. "We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske
Racing over the past nine years," said team owner Roger Penske. "We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we'll continue
to focus our efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season." The driver of the Penske Racing
#12 Alltel car for the 2009 NASCAR Cup season will be announced in the near future.(Penske Racing PR)(7-14-2008)
Statement
from Alltel: "From the early days in the ARCA series to our team celebration in Victory Lane at this year's Daytona 500, Alltel
Wireless has enjoyed a memorable, eight-year relationship with Ryan Newman," said Jeff Fox, chief operating officer, Alltel
Wireless. "Ryan has been an outstanding representative on- and off-the track, and we're very proud of the result s the partnership
has delivered to our brand. We remain committed to our sponsorship of the #12 Alltel Dodge and look forward to having Ryan
behind the wheel for the rest of the 2008 season. We wish him all the best in his next endeavor."(Alltel PR)(7-14-2008) Comment here
Budweiser bought: Anheuser-Busch reportedly has agreed to be acquired by Belgian brewer InBev for about $52 billion. The
deal being reported by The Wall Street Journal would create the world's largest brewer and put the iconic American beer maker
in the hands of the Belgian-based company behind Stella Artois and Beck's beers. The newspaper cited anonymous sources who
said Anheuser-Busch-InBev would be the new company's name and Anheuser would have two seats on the company board.(CNN Money), No word on how or if this will effect the sponsorship of Kasey Kahne and the #9 GEM Dodge.(7-14-2008) Comment here
Testing at Milwaukee: Michael McDowell and Josh Wise are testing Monday at the Milwaukke Mile for Michael Waltrip
Racing. Grandstands are open, fr ee to public to watch from the grandstands, enter at Gate 8.(Milwaukee Mile PR)(7-14-2008)
Braun to make first Cup start at Watkins Glen: UPDATE: Denied On this week's SPEED Report, Bob Dillner reported that Colin
Braun [#6 Con-way Freight Roush Fenway Ford Truck in the CTS] is scheduled to make his first start in the Sprint Cup Series
at Watkins Glen. Braun will be driving a car from the Yates Racing stable and not Roush Fenway. Dillner didn't say if it would
be a third car or one of the current cars #28-Kvapil or #38- Gilliland, but can't image either sitting since they are decent
in points and Gilliland finished 2nd at Watkins Glen.(7-14- 2008)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing folks denied that Colin Braun
running the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen and say Braun will be racing in the Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.(Roush
Fenway Racing)(7-14-2008) Comment here
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Gets Underway: Kyle Petty kicked off his fourteenth Chick-fil-A Charity motorcycle Ride Across
America on Sunday. The annual Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises funds for charities that support chronically
ill children and engages celebrities, ride sponsors, motorcycle enthusiasts and fans. Since 1995, more than 5,700 riders have
logged 7.2 million cumulative motorcycle miles and donated more than $10.5 million to children’s charities. Sunday's
route was scheduled to began in Traverse City, MI and end at Elkhart Lake, WI. See more about the ride on my Racing Charities page.(7-14-2008) Comment here
Gibbs wants to keep team in the family: Joe Gibbs says he's not about to join the trend of offering ownership in his race
team in order to retain drivers. Tony Stewart received 50% ownership in making the jump from Joe Gibbs Racing to Stewart Haas
Racing. Drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards (who re-signed with Roush Fenway Racing) and Ryan Newman (entertaining offers
for 2009) say they've received offers that include a share of team ownership. But JGR is a family operation, and Gibbs, the
family patriarch, says he plans to keep it that way. "We have eight grandchildren," Gibbs said. "I'm not worried about (sons)
J.D. or Coy. But (the business) is going to be for the grandkids if I have anything to say about it."(USA Today)(7-14-2008) Comment here
Carpentier gets a sponsor for 2 Cup races: Gillett Evernham Motorsports has a new sponsor for #10-Patrick Carpentier. "Tow
Truck in a Box" will appear as the sponsor during 2 Sprint Cup races and 1 Nationwidse race. Micahel Mann, CEO of Porter Prescott
(manufacturer of Tow Truck in a Box) was at Chicagland Speedway to sign the agreement. Tow Truck in a Box will appear on the
car at Michigan and Talladega in the Nextel Cup Series and the Nationwide Watkins Glen race.(translated from Canoe Sports via Google Translate)(7-14-2008) Comment here
Windshear to hold grand opening Thursday [not Tues]: Windshear Inc., located in Concord, N.C., will hold a grand opening
event on Thursday, July 17, at 4:00pm/et. Windshear operates the only commercially available full-scale, single-belt, rolling
road wind tunnel in the world. The firm's clients include top-level motorsports organizations and auto manufacturers. Remarks
will be given by the following: Bob Murray, Haas Automation General Manager; Jay White, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners
Chair; Gene Byrd, NC Department of Commerce; Scott Padgett, Concord Mayor; and Jeff Bordner, Windshear General Manager. A
grand opening celebrating the launch of the only commercial 180-mph hour rolling road wind tunnel in North America will be
held at Windshear Inc. located at 1050 Ivey Cline Road, Concord, N.C., 28027. Windshear Inc., an independent subsidiary of
California-based Haas Automation, will be opening its wind tunnel to customers officially at the end of July. This cel ebration
and event will allow those connected to the motorsports industry, as well as federal, state and local officials, to tour the
facility and learn how it will enhance North Carolina's robust motorsports sector.(Windshear PR), more info at windshearinc.com.(7-14-2008)
Athlon Sports:
No surprise here; Busch wins Chicagoland by Amanda Brahler
Augusta Chronicle:
Busch wins with different approach by Don Coble
Boston Herald:
Jeff Gordon not ready to follow Tony Stewart’s example by Pete DiPrimio
Chicago Tribune:
Pit crews can make or break drivers' runs by Ben Miraski
CloseFinishes.com
Busch Answers Questions About Ability And Desire At Chicagoland by John Close
Cup Scene Daily
Time To Quiet The Thunder: Silly Season Is Becoming Stupid by Greg Engle;
Boring? Not a Good Word Choice for Me by Amy Hair
Daly Planet:
When TV Network Promo's Cause A Backlash by John Daly
Herald Times Reporter:
The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Motorcycle Ride makes pit stop
at Francis Creek by Steve Clark
Insider Racing News:
Sadly, Fans Still Tossing Cans and Bottles by Kim Roberson
Joliet Herald News:
No beating Busch by Dick Goss
Kansas City Star:
Chevy drivers have something to smile about with effort at Chicagoland by Jim Pedley
KWGN-TV:
Fans' short memories cloud their view of COT by Scott Orr
Las Vegas Sun:
Observations from the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway by Mike Smith
Morris Daily Herald:
Race fans come from all parts to flaunt their NASCAR colors by Heidi Terry-Litchfield
NASCAR: Beyond the Track
Championship-caliber move gives Busch win No. 7 by Matt Myftiu
NASCAR This Week:
Seven wins in 19 races for Unbelieva-Busch;
Obama-BAM sponsorship? Now the season's really getting silly and
So you think Kyle Busch is a punk, huh? by Monte Dutton
New York Times:
Tires, Check. Oil, Check. Nascar Advice, Check. by John Hanc
Northwest Herald:
Cameras follow every car by Maureen Lynch
Portland Press Herald:
Chicagoland thoughts by Jennifer Lizotte
Race Report Radio:
A Tribute to The King by Sam Atwell
Race Talk Radio:
Only Thing Certain in NASCAR is Change by Dennis Michelsen
Race Track Ladies:
The Cost of Watching Paint Dry by Susan Resendez
RacingOne:Newman Weighing His Options and
Gibbs: "We Didn't Let Him Go" by Pete Pistone
Racing With Rich:
Fans cheer Busch, the end of TNT magic and other Chicago notes and
20th place finish could be big for Stewart by Richard Allen
Roanoke Times:
Newman to leave Penske after this season and
Seventh win teaches Busch lesson by Dustin Long
Scenedaily.com:
Joe Gibbs Racing faces harsh criticism for apparent dream season by Rea White;
Chicagoland's Saturday race was a good move by Bob Pockrass;
Did you see Busch’s Earnhardt-like move? by Jeff Owens
Southtown Star:
'Greedy' NASCAR hurting local tracks by
Speedway Media:
NASCAR Rule Books by Jeffrey Gearhart;
Just Busched by Mike Finnegan;
Busch dominates Nationwide race at Chicagoland by Pamela
St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Spike in fuel costs drains racing budgets by Ken Roberts
Tahoe Daily Tribune:
Dale Jarrett switching from car to booth by Jeremy Evans
Thatsracin:
Busch getting the breaks by David Poole
WNDU.com:
David Stremme and his grandma share a special moment in Plymouth by Angelo Di Carlo
Nationwide Series News
NEXT RACE: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250, 9:30pm/etc, Saturday, July
19, 2008 at Gateway International Raceway
Entry List: There are 47 cars on the preliminiary entry list for Saturday nights race at Gateway Raceway. The complete
list is posted on the Gateway Race Page.(7-14-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from St. Louis on ESPN2: ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage
of the Nationwide Series with a live, prime-time telecast of the event from Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on
Saturday, July 19, beginning at 9 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast from the 1.25-mile track also airs in high definition
on ESPN2 HD, and is simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPNMobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Dr. Jerry Punch will be ESPN2's lead announcer,
joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from
the pits, while D.J. Copp, a member of Bobby Labonte's NASCAR pit crew and a frequent contributor to ESPN's NASCA R Now, will
fill in for analyst Tim Brewer in the ESPN Tech Center. Punch also hosts NASCAR Countdown. Nationwide Series driver Landon
Cassill joins the ESPN team as In-Race Reporter and will talk to Jarrett on the race's pace laps and during caution periods.
ESPN2 also airs coverage of qualifying for the event at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and coverage of final practice on Friday, July
18, at 7 p.m.(ESPN PR)(7-14-2008)
Entry List
Bliss Testing: #1-Mike Bliss and Phoenix Racing are testing Monday on the road course at Carolina Motorsports Park.(Carolina
Motorsports Park PR)(7-14-2008)
Huffman in the #81 at Gateway: UPDATE: USAR Pro Hooters Cup Champion Shane Huffman
will drive in place of #81-DJ Kennington, this weekend in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International
Raceway. Kennington who is the full-time driver of the Mahindra Tractors Dodge has a major conflict in his racing schedule.
DJ has a race on the West Coast of Canada at the same moment as the start of the Gateway event.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(7-14-2008)
UPDATE:
The tema has retracted the announcement. A driver announcement will be made Wednesday.(7-14-2008)
How dominant is Joe
Gibbs Racing this year in Nationwide?
.. JGR Toyotas led 101 of 200 laps in the Dollar General 300.
.. JGR Toyotas have
won 13 of 20 Nationwide Series races this season. (12 of those wins have bee n with Sprint Cup drivers behind the wheel)
..
JGR Toyotas have led 48.8 percent (1,744 of 3,644) of the laps run in the Nationwide Series this season.(Frontstretch.com)(7-14-2008)
Tow Truck in a Box Sponsoring GEM at Watkins Glen: Gillett Evernham Motorsports has a new sponsor for #10-Patrick Carpentier.
"Tow Truck in a Box" will appear as the sponsor during 2 Sprint Cup races and 1 Nationwidse race. Micahel Mann, CEO of Porter
Prescott (manufacturer of Tow Truck in a Box) was at Chicagland Speedway to sign the agreement. Tow Truck in a Box will appear
on the car at Michigan and Talladega in the Nextel Cup Series and the Nationwide Watkins Glen race.(translated from Canoe Sports via Google Translate)(7-14-2008) Comment here
CTS News
Chrissy Wallace makes first intermediate attempt at Kentucky: Twenty year-old Chrissy Wallace is geared up for her third
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race with Germain Racing in the #03 GEICO/Germain Toyota Tundra. Saturday night she will take
on 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway in the Built Ford Tough 225. This will be Wallace's first race on an intermediate track. Wallace
made her Truck Series debut with Germain Racing at Martinsville. She is scheduled to run more races with Germain this season.
Germain would like to have her race for rookie of the year in 2009.(Germain Racing PR)(7-14-2008)
Scott pulling double-duty at Kentucky: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Brian Scott [#16-Albertsons
Chevy] gets set for another dual performance this weekend at Kentucky Speedway when he competes in both the Automobile Racing
Club of America's Kentucky ARCA 150 on Friday July 18th and the Built Ford Tough 225 NCTS event on Sat urday July 19th. The
20 year-old Boise, ID native has made one previous ARCA start at Kentucky, finishing 13th in his ARCA debut last July. Saturday's
event will be Scott's first NCTS foray at Kentucky.(Xpress Motorsports PR)(7-14-2008)
Raybestos News & Notes - Kentucky: Brian Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 28
O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Scott claimed a 13th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the first time
this season. Colin Braun leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by 15 points (123-108) over Donny Lia and Justin Marks entering
the July 19 Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Joey Clanton was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Built
Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky, scoring a seventh-place finish. A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in five of the eight
races at Kentucky including the last two consecutive. Carl Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to score a w in in eight Craftsman
Truck Series races at Kentucky Speedway. Edwards won the 2003 event by 3.568 seconds over Ted Musgrave. He led the race only
once, covering the final 40 laps.(Raybestos PR)(7-14-2008)
Braun to make first Cup start at The Glen: On this week's
Speed Report, Bob Dillner reported that Colin Braun [#6-Con-way Freight Roush Fenway Ford] is scheduled to make his first
start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Watkins Glen. Braun will be driving a car from the Yates Racing stable and not Roush
Fenway.(7-14-2008)
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Chase Chances
Robert Laberge/Getty Images
When the Chase begins, JJ may be ready to come out and play.
An even playing field is seven races away, writes Terry Blount. Kyle Busch looks unbeatable, but counting
out Jimmie Johnson is a mistake, writes David Newton. Blount | Newton: Rundown | Watch
Ryan Newman has gone from winning the season-opening Daytona 500 to parting ways with Penske Racing
at the end of the year. The question remaining is, where does he land next? Story
Courteousy of CBS Sportsline.com :
" Slow your role"
Don't count on Kyle holding off J.J. without a serious fight. (US Presswire)
The Chase is nearing and Kyle Busch looks unbeatable. However, Brian De Los Santos says the final 10 races are what really
matter -- and that's Jimmie Johnson territory. Power Rankings
Courteousy of USA Today.com :
Penske Racing owner Roger Penske, front left, and driver Ryan Newman, second from left, made
it to Victory Lane at this year's Daytona 500. Newman announced Monday that he's leaving Penske Racing at the end of the season.
By Pam Lockeby, Daytona Beach News Journal
Ryan Newman, projected as a possible teammate for fellow Indiana native Tony Stewart on the... more
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Into the clouds"
Getty
Kyle Busch's pass of Jimmie Johnson to win the LifeLock.com 400 put him in another stratosphere.
What Went Down
Craven's take
Newman out at Penske
Marbles Celebrity Theater
This week, we go 1-on-1 with Casey Mears, who talks about NASCAR free agency. Busbee's interview
Following Edwards Proves To Be A Stupid Mistake For Truex Jr.
A Day Of First Victories For Bayne
The Obama-NASCAR Controversy
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"And now,back to the news "
Courteousy of Carolyn SS Hastings "Jeff Gordon # 24 News " :
Still So Much To Be Done
JOLIET, IL. (July 13) - - Another week and Kyle Busch has found another way to get to victory lane. For the
second week in a row, Busch took advantage of a miscalculation by a Hendrick Motorsports driver to claim a victory. Last week
at Daytona, Jeff Gordon gift-wrapped a victory for Busch by moving to the high line and allowing Busch to take the lead late
in the race. At Chicago, Jimmie Johnson got a poor restart with two laps to go and allowed Busch to pull to the outside and
make the winning pass for his 7th victory of the season. As for Gordon, an 11th place finish showed there's still more work
that needs to be done on the downforce tracks. He started 6th and ran in the lower half of the top-10 for the first 50 laps.
He elected to stay on the track during a caution period and inherited the lead. "It's disappointing where we finished," said
crew chief Steve Letarte. "I think we had a better car than that. We lost our track position there at the end.
Most Popular Driver
Be sure and go VOTE for Jeff ( er... KASEY KAHNE !!!)
Records in Perill
JOLIET, IL. (July 13) - - Ten years ago, Jeff Gordon tied a modern-era NASCAR record with 13 victories. No
driver has won more than 10 races in a season since then. However, Kyle Busch scored his 7th victory as the series passed
the halfway point. Gordon knows what it's like to pull into victory lane nearly every week -- even when he doesn't have the
best car. "It's crazy," he said. "You're going along there and you've got a strong car and a strong team and you're feeling
like you’re doing a good job. You're winning races that you feel like you as a team really worked hard for and earned.
But then you start winning races that you felt like you shouldn't have won and it just kind of boggles your mind.
Open for second-guessing
Johnson a 'sitting duck' when Busch blows by on restart
(QUACK, QUACK - that's what happens when you lay back...Carolyn)
JOLIET, Ill. -- Jimmie Johnson blamed no one but himself for his failure to win the LifeLock.com 400 Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway. Johnson was
pulling away from the field when David Gilliland's No. 38 Ford blew up with six laps to go, bringing out the final caution flag of the night. Shortly after the ensuing restart,
Kyle Busch coaxed his No. 18 Toyota to the outside of Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet on the backstretch of the 1.5-mile track -- and eventually
into the lead off Turn 3 and into Turn 4 right before the white flag flew, signifying one lap remaining. From there, Busch
sped off to his seventh Sprint Cup Series victory of the season. Johnson was forced to settle for second and wonder what might
have been if he had played it a little differently on the final restart. "I look at myself on this one. I didn't get the right
restart. I got a good restart, but I shouldn't have given him the top," Johnson said. "These cars punch a big hole in the
air. He sucked up to me down the front stretch, and I should have just given him the bottom.
Harvick shines once again at Chicago
JOLIET, Ill. – This is why Kevin Harvick likes Chicagoland Speedway. Back at the track where
he posted back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002, and has finished outside the top 10 just twice in eight starts, Harvick netted
his best result in more than two months Saturday night with a third-place finish in the LifeLock.com 400. The outcome gave
the Richard Childress Racing driver his first top-five since placing second at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 16. “We've
kind of struggled for last few weeks with good cars and just haven't quite finished where we've run all night, and tonight
we finally got everything to go in the same direction, the right direction, and you know, finish it out,” Harvick said.
“It was a good night. I’m proud of all my guys. We built new cars the last couple of weeks and [are] building
all new cars going forward. So they have worked really hard to get these cars done and, you know, the engine shop's been really
making up some ground.
Newman considering options, not ruling out 2009
return to Penske
JOLIET, Ill. – Ryan Newman says that he has not made a decision concerning where he'll
drive next season, nor is the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver feeling any sense of urgency to rush talks in order to get something
signed. He hasn't ruled out returning to his current Penske Racing team, either, but admits that he's talking to several teams
and doesn't deny that Stewart-Haas Racing is one of them. Newman says that the fact that Stewart will be a 50-percent owner
when he begins driving for the team now competing as Haas CNC Racing does have an impact on his decision-making process. However,
he quickly points out that there are other options available as well.
Gas prices not only reason NASCAR has empty seats
A photo that ran on the sports front of my paper this week was telling. It showed a whole lot
of empty seats at Daytona — and Daytona doesn't normally have a whole lot of empty seats at a NASCAR event. Do we blame
it on gas prices? That's obviously a big factor. It costs a lot of money to drive hundreds of miles to see a race. Shoot,
it costs a lot of money to drive anywhere these days. But I refuse to blame sagging attendance solely on the terror at the
tank. From what I've heard from you — and from my own experience — Cup competition just isn't that much fun anymore.
It's certainly not stock car racing. It hasn't been for years, of course, but with the Car of Tomorrow it's even less so.
There was a time when fans rooted for manufacturers as much as drivers. Except for the company logo, the cars are all the
same now. Take away the colorful logos and numbers and you can't tell one from another. The winner of an event might be driving
a Chevy, but you know as well as I do it has no relation to the kind of Chevy you see tooling down the highway.
To subscribe for Jeff Gordon #24 News
submit your first and last names, plus
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I’ll say it again. “I’ve got just one word to describe
99% of the race……. B.O.R.I.N.G.”
Kyle Busch makes it 7 Cup wins at Chicagoland
Kyle Busch got stuck in the infield mud after his
dramatic late-race pass edged Jimmie Johnson in Saturday night’s LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The mud was
about the only thing that could slow Busch all weekend as he completed his first Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series sweep of the
season. In winning his seventh Sprint Cup race of [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/334388908/
New NASCAR testing proposal
NASCAR handed teams a draft of a new testing policy Saturday at Chicagoland
Speedway. The sanctioning body will take more input from teams before finalizing it. The proposal gives each organization
24 test days at tracks where the Sprint Cup teams compete, with a maximum of two cars per test. All of the team’s drivers
can [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/334394390/
BAM Says No Political Ads
BAM Racing officials say that there will be no sponsorship for the team from presidential
candidate Barack Obama, or any candidate for that matter. A commentary on SI. com this week reported the potential sponsorship
relationship with the team, but BAM officials issued a statement Saturday saying that the story was a bit premature and that
the team would not be seeking sponsorship from candidates. Team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau issued a news release with the following
statement: “An independent agent, knowing BAM Racing was seeking corporate sponsorship to return to the track, requested
permission to connect BAM Racing with all three presidential campaigns. BAM agreed to explore the options. The same independent
agent, referred to as ‘a BAM spokesperson’ in the recent Sports Illustrated article, ‘revealed’ what
was only tentative, exploratory talks. BAM Racing has decided to heed the advice of the overwhelming response by fans to keep
politics out of racing and continue to focus on several other exciting sponsorships soon to be announced.”
Insider Racing News http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/071208.htmlThis Week in TonyCar Land by Brenda Benedict
The Nascar Insiders
Wanted: Commercial Director Who Has Actually Seen a Race
If
you get your weekly racing fix by being one of the millions of fans tuning into NASCAR TV broadcasts, you have no doubt seen
a lot of racing-themed commercials featuring drivers, manufacturers, and teams. Many sponsors feature their drivers
and teams in their advertisements for obvious reasons. And while there are some spots that are original and pretty entertaining
(the Toyota spots are some of my favs, I loved the Moho-Vator), there are some that are not so.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/334679812/
Today's Top News
Kyle Busch Overtakes Jimmie Johnson Late To Win At Chicagoland
Speedway
by Phil Allaway
Another week, another race, another victory for Kyle Busch. It's been a dream season for the younger of the
Busch brothers, and Chicagoland was no exception. On Saturday night, the 23-year-old started from the pole (because
qualifying was cancelled), led the most laps (165), and won his seventh race of the year in nineteen starts with a scintillating
pass on the second-to-last lap of the race.
The frantic finish unfolded as Busch was under intense pressure from Jimmie
Johnson late in the 267-lap event. On lap 251, Johnson passed Busch for the lead and seemed to be on cruise control
for his second win of the year. However, a blown engine on the No. 38 of David Gilliland brought out the ninth and final
yellow flag with seven laps left. On the ensuing restart with just two laps remaining, Busch got to the outside of Johnson,
running him side-by-side all the way to Turn 4 before clearing the No. 48 and inching away to the victory.
"I should
have given [Kyle Busch] the inside line," Johnson lamented after the race. "When I heard the spotter, I knew I was in
trouble."
" I just had to go to the outside because he was going to block the bottom
in turn one and two," added Busch. "I don't know how I did that."
Just
behind the battle for the lead, Kevin Harvick finished third on Saturday, followed by Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart.
Brian Vickers came in sixth, followed by Roush teammates Matt Kenseth and David Ragan. Martin Truex, Jr. and Ryan Newman
rounded out the Top 10 finishers in the 400-miler.
The Race To The Chase -- Tracking The Top 12
Saturday night's
victory allowed Kyle Busch to expand his lead over Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (who finished 16th) to 262 points in the championship
standings. Behind them, Jeff Burton is still in third spot, a mere 29 points behind Earnhardt with seven races left
in the regular season.
Roush Fenway Racing's top driver Carl Edwards remained fourth in points, but had a bad
night. While leading the race, Edwards' splitter broke, a problem made worse when he locked up the brakes while trying
to bring the No. 99 car down pit road. That unscheduled stop caused him to struggle from that point on, and the resultant
32nd place finish means that Edwards is now 372 points out of the lead.
With his runner-up performance in the race,
Jimmie Johnson was able to maintain fifth, putting some distance between himself and teammate Jeff Gordon: the margin between
the two Hendrick Motorsports drivers is now 110 points. Behind them, Greg Biffle is up four spots this week to seventh,
after having a pit gamble early in the race work out so he could lead some laps. Once he got that track position, Biffle
stayed in the Top 12 the rest of the race, and finished a strong fourth for his first Top 10 finish since Dover. Eighth
in points is his teammate, Matt Kenseth, who fought back from an unscheduled pit stop and used a timely Lucky Dog to work
his way back to seventh in the race. Had that not happened, Kenseth had a car easily capable of finishing in the Top
5.
Back in ninth is Kevin Harvick, who raced his way up into the Top 12 with his third place finish on Saturday night.
However, he is only 52 points ahead of 13th as the race for the Chase continues to run tight. Harvick's pal Tony Stewart
rounds out the Top 10, only three points behind Harvick after his fifth place finish but continuing to hold onto a playoff
spot by the skin of his teeth. Kasey Kahne -- the lone Dodge in the field -- dropped behind both drivers this week to
11th, following a ho-hum 15th place performance in his Budweiser car. And rounding out the Top 12 is the Big Loser in
the standings, Denny Hamlin, who dropped five spots after a 40th place finish in the race. The poor run occurred because
of a bad ignition box; on lap 49, that caused the No. 11 car to stall on the track and bring out a caution. After getting
pushed in by a wrecker, the team repaired the issue; but four laps were lost as a result, and those laps were never made up.
The odd man out this week in the Chase Race is Clint Bowyer, who fell out of the Top 12 after finishing 22nd.
He is now 27 points behind Hamlin for the spot in the playoffs.
Secret Star Of The Race : The Best Run You Never Saw
Amongst all the Silly Season madness this week was a rumor – quickly denied – that David Reutimann
could replace Kyle Petty behind the wheel of the No. 45 Dodge for 2009. But while both sides said the news was false, Michael
Waltrip Racing better step up and sign their young talent to a long-term extension before someone else takes him away. Once
again, Reutimann put forth a solid performance with mediocre equipment, jumping from his 29th place starting spot to a 14th
place finish at Chicagoland. The No. 44 team used a little bit of pit strategy to move up through the field early, but once
Reutimann got the track position he needed, he didn't give it back – remaining a Top 15 car throughout the race's second
half. The sophomore now has seven Top 20s in fourteen starts behind the wheel of the No. 44 – that's five more than
previous driver Dale Jarrett had throughout all of last season in the car. Continued improvement is a given with Reutimann
behind the wheel; unfortunately for the team, it's just not coming fast enough for soon-to-be-departed sponsor UPS.
- Tom Bowles
STAT OF THE WEEK: 0. That's the number of Top 10 finishes accumulated
by all drivers "officially" competing for Rookie Of The Year honors in the Cup Series this season (yeah, Aric Almirola has
a Top 10 from Bristol, but he's running so few races DEI hasn't actually nominated him for the Rookie Of The Year Award).
Want to know how bad it's gotten for these freshmen? No rookie class in the modern era (1972-present) has gone this deep into
a season without a single Top 10 finish. In fact, you need to go all the way back to 1961 – when the schedule stretched
62 races deep – for the last time all the ROTY candidates were shut out of the Top 10 nineteen races in.
So far in 2008, the best finish by any of the five drivers running for the award is a 13th place by Sam Hornish, Jr. at the
Coca-Cola 600 in May. And in case you're wondering, at Chicagoland the best run any of the first years could muster was a
30th by Patrick Carpentier. - Tom Bowles
Big Six: LifeLock.com 400
by
Amy Henderson
Who…gets my shoutout of the race?
Nobody understands the adage that the fastest car doesn't always win better than Jimmie Johnson, who had the
car to beat in the final laps on Saturday night. Had David Gilliland not blown up in the late going, Johnson had the race
won. But getting run over on the restart -- coupled with what was perhaps the wrong lane choice and the refusal to use his
own bumper on the last lap -- relegated Johnson to second place. But if the No. 48 team is starting to peak now -- along with
the Nos. 17 and 20 also showing signs of a surge -- the Chase might not be the one-car race people have said it will be.
What… kind of driver is Kyle Busch, really?
He's a hell of a good one, and that's been evident for years. But what I mean is, when all is said and done,
will he be remembered as a "dirty" driver, or a clean one, a la Jeff Burton? Despite the comparisons to Dale Earnhardt that
might suggest otherwise, Busch is not really a dirty driver. He doesn't crash guys simply because he can ... for example,
he could have wrecked Jimmie Johnson on the final restart in Chicago, and didn't. But he's not really a clean driver, either.
Busch didn't exactly restart as cleanly as he could have Saturday night, running hard into the back of the No. 48 when he
didn't like the way the leader handled the green flag. And this young gun has the tendency to push other drivers harder than
he needs to, as if he figures if he drives them hard enough, they'll back off and give him the space; after all, he's Kyle
Busch and they aren't. It makes for an interesting question - what makes a driver clean or dirty, anyway?
Where…would the sport be had a helicopter not gone down at Talladega 15 years ago?
That's also an interesting question, because you can't, of course, know for sure. But had Davey Allison had
the years to race in the Cup Series that were taken from him, Dale Earnhardt might not have seven championships, and Jeff
Gordon might not have four. Allison was that good when he was killed in that crash, another driver whose impact on the sport
was never finished. Would NASCAR today be any different? I sure wish we'd had the chance to know…
When…was the last time an organization got its 100th win?
Chip Ganassi Racing took that distinction on Saturday when Scott Dixon won the rain-shortened IRL
race at Nashville. Ganassi currently owns two Sprint Cup teams and one full-time Nationwide Series team in addition to his
IndyCar and sportscar teams. Ganassi has owned teams in racing since 1990, when he created a single-car team in the IRL.
Why…can't NASCAR be consistent on anything?
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but you've got to wonder. Last week, Jeff Gordon spun out of the groove,
didn't hit anything, and left no debris on the racing surface -- but there was no caution. This week, Bobby Labonte spun out
of the groove, didn't hit anything and left no debris, and NASCAR threw the caution. In some other series, the
yellow flies far less for spins and minor crashes than it does in Sprint Cup. And sometimes, NASCARthere should
never even be a question in anyone's mind. throws the yellow for a blown engine when the driver gets out of the groove
before he drops oil...but sometimes not. I would argue that for the latter, there should always be a caution, because of the
safety issue of even the possibility of oil on the track. But the cynic in me wonders if the yellow flag would still have
flown for David Gilliland's engine (Gilliland got immediately out of the groove) had another car had a big lead and growing
with six laps to go. And frankly,
How…is Joey Logano ready for Sprint Cup?
I don't know, and I don't think that bringing him up full-time in 2009 is the best thingJGR might
be to stick to the original plan of building a fourth team for Logano in 2010 or 2011, giving him the chance to gain experience
and race for a championship in the Nationwide Series. There's more to a stellar Cup career than raw talent; and the kid has
so much of that talent, it would be a shame to rush him. in the long run. Joe Gibbs Racing should fill the seat of
the No. 20 with a veteran who can serve as a mentor to Logano and as an example to both Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, both
of whom could use a few lessons in tact when it comes to throwing their crews under the bus. Logano came into the Nationwide
Series expecting the cakewalk that he's enjoyed for most of his career. He didn't find it, and he complained. His sixth-place
debut was "not good enough." To me, that shows Logano's immaturity, and the lessons he needs to learn before moving into a
series where, if anything, success will be even harder to come by. Sure, nobody races for sixth place, but Logano didn't sound
the least bit appreciative of his team's considerable effort that night, and he's really done nothing else to endear himself
since. The best move for
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud : Lifelock.com 400
by Matt McLaughlin
Two Busch Brothers, Two Careers Headed In Opposite
Directions
by Tom Bowles
Ten Points To Ponder ... After Chicagoland
by Tommy Thompson
Bubble Breakdown : Waltrip, McDowell In A Bind After Tough
Go At Chicago
by Mike Ravesi
Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Rough Ride For NASCAR Freshmen
At Chicagoland
by Doug Turnbull
Nationwide Series Breakdown : Dollar General 300
by Bryan Davis Keith
(7/13/08)
Evening updates
Courteousy of FOX Sports :
" PEOPLE'S CHAMP "
Why is Richard Petty still celebrated 50 years after his debut? Because he always knew fans mattered most,
Lee Spencer says. Full Story ...
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
It started as a day fit for the King. NASCAR celebrated the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty's first start in NASCAR on
Saturday night, awarding him a crystal bowl in the drivers' meeting and honoring him on the stage during pre-race introductions.
Yet after his sensational, unthinkable, yanked-from-the-maw-of-defeat victory in the Lifelock.com 400, Kyle Busch took another
step toward matching or surpassing the NASCAR icon in at least one category.More
No further penalties to be dealt No. 96 after Chicago
Open for second-guessing
Afternoon Edition(s) :
Courteousy of Jayski :
Chicagoland Lifelock 400 Commercial breakdown:
Total number of commercials: 115
Total number of companies or entities
advertised: 53
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 29
Total number of magic
tricks: 1
Total number of focuses on Kyle Petty's tie: 1
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 8:00 PM
End
time to record race/commercial periods: 11:17 PM
Total minutes: 197
Minutes of race broadcast: 140
Minutes of commercials:
57
Number of missed restarts: 1
Number of mystery cautions (no debris shown): 0
See the full report, featured drivers,
past rundowns on my 2008 TV Commercials page.(7-13-2008) Comment here
Who Will You Cheer For —Dale Jr. Or Busch?
Canceled Qualifying Rains On NASCAR Sponsorship
Lack of Practice Costly For Joe Nemechek At Chicagoland -
Mark Martin Finishes 17th At Chicagoland
Kyle Busch Makes Last Lap Pass To Secure Another Cup Race Win
Chicago Sun-Times:
Gibbs: Tony wanted to leave by Tina Akouris;
Busch's season has a dreamy feel by Herb Gould
Chicago Tribune:
Busch makes his push by Skip Myslenski;
Busch picks up another win by Skip Myslenski and Shannon Ryan;
Runner-up spot good for Johnson, but not ideal and
Fans flock to Chicagoland Speedway by Shannon Ryan
Daily Herald:
There's just no stopping Busch by Kevin Schmit
Daly Planet:
TNT's Summer Visit Worked Out Well by John Daly
Daytona Beach News-Journal:
Stewart's move is first domino of many by Godwin Kelly;
A deeper meaning to Tony's statements by Ken Willis
Hartford Courant:
Short Pitting: Clint Bowyer Is Sick Of Losing To Bubbles The Chimp by Shawn Courchesne
Indianapolis Star:
Stewart considering future teammates and
Busch wins 7th race of season by Steve Ballard
Insider Racing News:
Kyle Busch Sweeps Chicago Weekend by Ron Felix
Joliet Herald News:
Dale has the Earnhardt shtick down pat by Ron Kremer;
NASCAR wants what Toyota has by Ryan Gregg;
Caution to the win by Dick Goss
Kansas City Star:
Busch lucky and good in Chicagoland win and
Logano top candidate to replace Stewart by Jim Pedley
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Seeing is believing; Busch’s dream season continues and
Teams hunting stars; Ownership stakes providing the bait by Dave Kallman
NASCAR This Week:
Oh, oh, domino! by Monte Dutton
Northwest Herald:
Busch nabs win No. 7 by Andrew Seidler
Peoria Journal-Star:
‘Dream season’ continues and
Prince of NASCAR stands in reverence to the King by Jane Miller
Roanoke Times:
Stewart's move creates options;
Busch surprises himself with win;
Kyle Busch master of disguise in victory and
Newman, DEI and Gibbs discuss their futures by Dustin Long
Salt Lake Tribune:
So far, it's all Kyle by Jay Drew
San Bernardino Sun:
Hornaday king for a day at OSS by J.P. Hoornstra
SceneDaily.com:
An unproven talent might be best bet for fourth RCR car by Jeff Owen;
Is night racing good for the sport? by Jeff Gluck;
When is Chicago not Chicago? by Mike Hembree
SPEEDtv.com:
Happy Pleased With Third;
Johnson Can’t Seal Deal;
Newman Weighing Future;
Seventh Heaven For Shrub;
Joe and J.D. Speak and
The Answer Man by Tom Jensen
Thatsracin:
Petty still true blue at 71;
Another victory for Busch at Chicagoland and
Newman says he’s made no decision by David Poole
Winston-Salem Journal:
Greg Zipadelli, after 10 years with Tony Stewart, looks to the
future, and wistfully to the past by Mike Mulhern
Nationwide Series Updates
NEXT RACE: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250, 9:30pm/etc, Saturday, July
19, 2008 at Gateway International Raceway
NASCAR confiscates Edwards' brake calipers: NASCAR confiscated the brake calipers from the Roush Fenway Racing car of Carl
Edwards following the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway. The calipers were not on
NASCAR's list of approved parts, a NASCAR spokesman said late Friday night. Edwards finished 16th.(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-2008)
CTS Updates
NEXT RACE INFO
Kentucky Speedway: Built Ford Tough 225, July 19, 2008; SPEED/TV Prerace;
6:00pm, Race 7:00pm/et
Close the Milwaukee Mile? A co-chair of the state's Joint Legislative Audit Committee said it may be time for the state
to abandon auto racing at State Fair Park and re-develop the Milwaukee Mile property after a report issued today found it
continues to jeopardize the fair park's financial position. Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz issued the statement in response to the
Legislative Audit report, which says State Fair Park will pick up nearly $1.2 million in costs related to the Milwaukee Mile
this year, most of that because of contract amendments that reduced how much racing promoter Craig Stoehr and Milwaukee Mile
Holdings LLC have to pay the park in licensing fees. "We cannot continue to amend this agreement to the detriment of the taxpayer,
and the state has proven it cannot operate this racetrack itself," said Jeskewitz. "Perhaps it's time to determine if we need
to cut our losses and redevelop the property." State Fair Park Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer Craig Barkelar
said there will be no more revisions to the contract, but that it would be premature to shut down the nation's oldest continuously
operated racetrack."It's premature to say it's not going to make it, at least for the foreseeable future," said Barkelar.
"We have a contract, and we intend to honor that as long as they continue to pay their licensing fee." (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)(7-12-2008)
ORP offering commemorative souvenir program: O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis is excited to announce
that for the first time ever, a commemorative souvenir program set will be made available for fans during Kroger SpeedFest.
Each day during SpeedFest, programs will be sold that showcase a different, edgy cover highlighting the race of the evening;
and include driver biographies, feature stories, track information, and more. Programs can be purchased for $7 each, or three
for $15. The commemorative 3-pack comes with a carrying bag provided by the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau.(ORP PR)(7-12-2008)
Courteousy of FOX Sports :
" ONE FOR ALL "
Kyle Busch used a total team effort to continue his "dream season" with a victory at Chicagoland Speedway,
Lee Spencer says. Full Story ...
" SEVENTH HEAVEN"
In a thrilling end at Chicagoland Speedway, Kyle Busch passed Jimmie Johnson with two laps to go to win
his 7th race of '08. Full Story ...
" WHAT HAPPENED ? "
Did Jimmie Johnson choke or was Kyle Busch just better at Chicagoland? Chat about Saturday's Cup race with
other fans here. Full Story ...
" EVERY POINT COUNTS"
Kevin Harvick found his way back into the Top 12 at Chicagoland, but it came at the expense of his teammate
Clint Bowyer. Full Story ...
Weight issue causes Yeley prerace problems
Daytona 500 winner still not sure about future
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Superman "
Getty
By not settling for second, Kyle Busch continued to win over more fans with his victory in the LifeLock.com
400.
Bonk column
Observations
Poll Results
The Very Early Morning (aka 2:00 am) edition { of all the times for my pc to "lock up" on me
twice,after a looooong night out ! ""The 3rd times a charm" ?}
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
Kyle Busch had a dominant car at Chicagoland. And with Jimmie Johnson leading with two laps to go, Busch used an outside
pass to win his seventh race. More
Newman weighs option of joining Stewart-Haas team
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Chicago Seven
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Another bold move, a seventh Cup victory celebration for Kyle Busch.
Humble is not a word that's been used often where Kyle Busch is concerned. After his seventh Cup
victory of the season Saturday, even he's starting to wonder just how good it can get. David Newton
Hard to believe it has been 50 years since Richard Petty drove his first NASCAR race. But while time marches on, The
King's unbelievable 200 victories and reputation stays the same. Watch Watch: Petty and Inman: 50 Years of The King
Courteousy of Jayski :
Kyle Busch wins at Chicago: #18-Kyle Busch won the Lifelock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway for his 7th win of 2008
and the 11th of his career. He took the lead from #48-Jimmie Johnson coming to the white flag after a restart with 2 to go.
#48-Johnson got loose coming to the checkerd flag but held on for second place. The rest of the top-10 were #29-Harvick, #16-Biffle,
#20-Stewart, #83-Vickers, #17-Kenseth, #6-Ragan, #1-Truex, Jr. and #12-Newman. There were 9 cautions for 34 laps and their
were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers.
For race results, awards and more, see my Chicago Race Results Awards Page.(7-12-2008)
Chicago Race Fast Facts:
.. Kyle Busch won the LifeLock.com 400, his 11th victory in 133 Sprint
Cup Series races.
.. This is his seventh victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2008.
.. This is his first victory and second
top-10 finish in four races at Chicagoland Speedway.
.. Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in seven
races at Chicago. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2008.
.. Kevin Harvick (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight
races at Chicago.
.. Patrick Carpentier (30th) was the highest finishing rookie.
.. Kyle Busch leads the point standings
by 262 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.
.. This is the first weekend sweep since Busch won the Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck
Series races at Atlanta in March of this year. It is the first Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series weekend sweep since Busch
won both at Phoenix last November.
.. The Busch brothers have now won four consecutive races: Kyle (three) and Kurt (one).
The last time that four brothers won four straight was by Tim (three) and Fonty (one) Flock between Sept. 11 and Oct. 6, 1955.
Twice before that four consecutive races had been won by brothers: all three Flock brothers Tim (two), Bob (one) and Fonty
(one) combined for four straight wins between July 20 and Sept. 1, 1952; while Herb (three) and Donald (one) Thomas combined
to win the final four races of that season.(NASCAR Statistics)(7-12-2008)
UNOFFICAL Drivers Points Standings [after
Chicago race 19 of 36]:
1) #18-Kyle Busch 2881 [7 wins]
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2622 -259 [1 win]
3) #31-Jeff
Burton 2593 -288 [1 win]
4) #99-Carl Edwards 2509 -372 [3 wins][would be 3rd w/out 100pts penalty]
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson
2494 -387 [1 win]
6) #24-Jeff Gordon 2384 -497
7) #16-Greg Biffle 2318 -563
8) #17-Matt Kenseth 2317 -564
9) #29-Kevin
Harvick 2308 -573
10) #20-Tony Stewart 2305 -576
11) #9-Kasey Kahne 2292 -589
12) #11-Denny Hamlin 2283 -598 [27
pts ahead of 13th]
CHASE contenders
13) #07-Clint Bowyer 2256 -625 [1 win][27 pts out of 12th]
14) #83-Brian
Vickers 2188-693
15) #6-David Ragan 2185 -696
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Indy:
no
changes in the top 35, but the spread between 35th and 36th is down to 13 points
The teams are NOT locked in past the next
race as the owners points change after each race.
32) #41-Sorenson/Ganassi Racing: 1545 +142
33) #01-Smith/DEI: 1497,
+94
34) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing: 1422 +19
35) #00-McDowell/Waltrip Racing: 1416 13 points ahead of 36th
these
teams/ drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #66-Riggs/Haas CNC Racing: 1403 13 points out
of 35th
37) #84-Allmendinger/Red Bull Racing: 1294 -122
38) #96-Yeley/Hall of Fame Racing: 1256 -160
For the owner
points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(7-12-2008)
Chicagoland Speedway Penalty Report:
Car#, Penalty, Reason, Lap Issued
1 #96 Disobeying
a NASCAR request MCI 1
2 #00 Running over/under equipment S&G 5
3 #31 Excessive speed - Exiting pits TE 37
4
#31 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 49
5 #11 Excessive speed - Exiting pits TE 50
6 #28 Commitment Line Violation
TE 104
7 #2 Excessive Speed-Entering pits TE 104
8 #45 Excessive Speed-Entering pits TE 111
9 #1 Excessive speed
- Exiting pits TE 113
10 #55 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 143
11 #00 Excessive Speed-Entering pits/Excessive speed
- Exiting pits TE 144
12 #45 Excessive speed - Exiting pits TE 144
13 #55 Excessive Speed-Entering pits TE 180
14
#99 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 226
15 #55 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 227
16 #78 Non-compliant refueling
(overflow container) TE 238
17 #43 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 245
PT - Pass through
TE - Tail end of the
longest line
SG - Stop and Go
OL - One lap
ND - NASCAR discretion
MCI - Must come into pits.(NASCAR Statistics)(7-12-2008)
Hall of Fame Racing facing penalty for lead water bottle: UPDATE: No The #96 team with driver J.J. Yeley was penalized
before the first lap of Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway was completed. The team faces further penalties
from NASCAR next week. Officials found two water bottles filled with lead weighing approximately 15 pounds each in the car
as it was rolled onto pit road prior to the race. The move was done to make the car lighter when the bottles were replaced
with water and skirt the mandatory weight minimum. The car was then put back through inspection and given a pass-through penalty
on the first lap, putting Yeley a lap down.(ESPN.com)(7-12-2008)
UPDATE: After the race, NASCAR met with Hall of Fame racing co-owner Tom Garfinkel and apparently cleared
the team of any wrongdoing. “NASCAR had reason to believe we were doing something we shouldn’t have been doing
– and we weren’t doing it,” Garfinkel said. “But they had sufficient reason to believe that because
of some mistakes in procedure that we made.” Yeley said that each week, his team uses a drink system that requires crew
members to put a cold water bag into the car before the race. If they put it in early, it gets too hot and isn’t drinkable.
But NASCAR apparently felt something was amiss, and ran the car through inspection both with and without the water bag to
address weight concerns. Officials apparently suspected that the #96 team had gone to the old trick of putting lead in the
water bag to make extra weight. After the race, Pemberton said the team had “served our penalties. We’re done
with them,” he said. “We’re comfortable with that team and we feel like they weren’t trying to pull
the wool over our eyes.”(SceneDaily.com)(7-13-2008) Comment here
Gibbs Focusing on Logano to Replace Stewart: Top management of Joe Gibbs Racing wouldn't come out and say on
Saturday that Joey Logano will replace Tony Stewart in the Sprint Cup series next season, but they didn't say anything to
indicate otherwise. Team owner Joe Gibbs and president J.D. Gibbs both agreed Logano will play a huge part in the organization
going forward. They oozed with compliments for the 18-year-old phenom, who won his third Nationwide Series start and has three
top 10s in four events. They talked about his maturity. They reminded that Stewart, who announced on Thursday he will leave
the organization after this season to become the driver/owner at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, didn't have a win when he partnered
with Home Depot in 1999. "We're going to look at everything out there before we make a decision," J.D. Gibbs said before the
Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway. "Generally, guys that are really gifted and real good show it right away. We've had
a lot of drivers at JGR. All the good ones have popped right away. He has that."(ESPN.com)(7-13-2008)
Comment here
Newman says he has 4 options for 2009: Ryan Newman was "Mummy" on whether he will leave Penske Racing after
this season. Newman, promoting the soon-to-be-released movie "Mummy" on his car in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland
Speedway, is considered the leading candidate to join Tony Stewart next season at newly-formed Stewart-Haas Racing. Sources
have told ESPN.com that deal to join the Indiana natives is close to done and could be announced in two weeks at Indianapolis.
Newman said he has three serious options outside of Penske and that ownership is part of at least one of the options. He also
said re-signing with Penske is an option. Asked if ownership could be an option at Stewart-Haas, where Stewart was given 50
percent of the company, Newman said, "I won't answer that." Newman said last month he would not re-sign with Penske unless
the performance of his team improved significantly. He said the team has made some strides to improve, but not enough to convince
him it is ready to challenge for a championship. (ESPN.com)(7-13-2008) Comment here
NASCAR testing proposal gives 24 tests to each organization: NASCAR handed teams a draft of a new testing policy
Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway. The sanctioning body will take more input from teams before finalizing it. The proposal
gives each organization 24 test days at tracks where the Sprint Cup teams compete, with a maximum of two cars per test. All
of the team’s drivers can test, but no driver can test for a team for which he does not drive. New teams would get test
days depending on how much they race. There is typically a week blackout period before a race and a blackout period from Nov.
1 through Jan. 15. The Daytona tests will remain and not be included. There is no rookie provision.(SceneDaily.com)(7-13-2008) Comment here
Truex to a Third Stewart Hass team? Sources confirmed to [Captain Thunder] that Newman is a done deal and an
announcement is coming soon. What [Captain Thunder] also learned, is that Martin Truex Jr. may be joining Newman and Stewart.
Sources said, Stewart is now looking to field a powerhouse three-car team, and sponsors are lining up to be a part of the
newly formed venture. According to sources close to the situation, the Office Depot and Old Spice deals are set, but sources
also said Burger King and UPS are working diligently with Stewart to sponsor his second and third racecars, if they can convince
Truex Jr. to come along for the ride with Stewart HAAS Racing. Although DEI is working very hard to re-sign Truex Jr. and
are throwing some huge numbers at the driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy, Stewart is trying to convince Truex Jr. to join
him and Newman at the newly formed Stewart HAAS Racing in hope of forming a powerhouse racing team. And, Truex Jr. may be
ripe for the picking.(Captain Thunder Racing)(7-13-2008) Comment here
(7/12/08)
Courteousy of Jayski :
To The Back [1]: #78-Nemechek [engine change]
Pit Stall selections
This week, one of the biggest Silly Season rumors in history came to fruition, as Joe Gibbs Racing officially granted
Tony Stewart his release from his contract for 2009 and Stewart then announced his new partnership and 50% ownership of Stewart
Haas Racing. Still, pieces of the puzzle were missing from the big announcement.
Insider Racing News http://www.insiderracingnews.com Obama To Sponsor No. 49 Car According to a published report, for the first time in history, a major presidential
candidate will sponsor a race car in NASCAR’s top series. SI.com is reporting that Barack Obama's campaign is in talks
to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup racecar for the Pocono race on August 3rd. The report
said that a spokesperson with the team said they will hold a news conference in Miami on July 23rd. Obama will be present
at the news conference according to sources and the sponsorship will be part of the "Get Out The Vote" campaign message.
According to sources, the Association for Diversity in Motorsports (AFDIM) was an integral part of bringing the two camps
together. Founded in '01, the organization works to heighten awareness of diversity in all forms of motorsports. They hope
to tie their efforts in with a "Driving The Vote: Bridging The Gap" campaign to increase voter registration regardless of
party affiliation.
Obama will be present at a fundraiser a week later hosted by BAM Racing owners Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau, both of
whom are on record as being Republican. NASCAR is primarily known as a hotbed for conservatism with the founding France family
donating money to Republican‘s in the past. (myfoxorlando.com)
The Hot Lap http://www.TheHotLap.com Jul 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series: Post-race quotes from winning crew chief JASON RATCLIFF, What was your
strategy in tonight’s race? “Like Kyle (Busch) said, we just communicated well tonight, which is something we’ve
been working on. I felt like we’ve given a few races away this year just because at the end of the race I’m
not on the same page as him and I don’t make the right adjustments. It went our way tonight and like he said it
went green, which is what we needed it to do. It was a good day.” Do you think if NASCAR checks your engine you’ll
lose some kind of advantage you have? “They’ve been doing this all year, this is not the first time. This
is maybe the third or fourth time and I’m sure the numbers are out there, but I have yet to see them. I saw Rusty
(Wallace) talk about it on TV before the race how he’s got this sheet, so called sheet, that maybe Rusty got a new printer
and he just wanted to make a sheet, I don’t know. I haven’t seen this sheet and I don’t know what
the numbers are. Everybody I talk to doesn’t know what the numbers are. When you say do we have an advantage,
we have an advantage – is it all under the hood, I don’t think so. We’ve got a great group of guys
with Mark (Cronquist, JGR head engine builder) and all his guys in the engine shop and I think they take parts and pieces
and do an exceptional job of making them better. I think we have a bunch of people complaining so normally when you’re
getting beat, it’s engine. Maybe it is, but I think if they decide to take a little bit away from us, I think
we’ll find some other areas to pick it up. We continue to work hard to build our program week in and week out.
We’ll see. (Toyota Racing)
Courteousy of Jayski :
UPS to #07? UPDATE 5: UPS to Stewart Haas? hearing UPS could move #07-Clint Bowyer of Richard Childress Racing,
if so, no word where Jack Daniel's sposnorship would go, or if they would leave the sport.(7-1-2008)
UPDATE Among
the hot but unconfirmed rumors making the rounds in the Sprint Cup garage this week are that Richard Childress Racing will
land UPS as a sponsor for Clint Bowyer’s #07 Chevrolet. Multiple sources indicated that Bowyer’s car was the favorite
to take the sponsorship over from Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann. One source close to the negotiations said RCR
initially offered UPS #31-Jeff Burton, 41, but the delivery company wanted a younger driver with whom it could create a long-term
identity and Bowyer is just 29. Burton, instead, will be sponsored next year by Caterpillar.(SPEEDtv)(7-6-2008)
UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway has learned that UPS will move from Michael Waltrip Racing’s #44 Toyota
to the quarterpanels of Clint Bowyer’s #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in 2009, leaving Jack Daniels in search
of a new driver. That driver will be Ryan Newman, who is set to sign-on with Stewart at Haas CNC.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(7-7-2008)
UPDATE 3: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress
Racing, regarding recent unsubstantiated reports in the media about Jack Daniel's leaving RCR after the 2008 season.: "Jack
Daniel's and Richard Childress Racing have a contract through the 2009 season. Any reports in the media to the contrary are
simply not accurate."(RCR PR)(7-10-2008)
UPDATE 4: From Richard Childress' Press Conference Thursday at Chicago:
CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT JACK DANIELS AND THEIR FUTURE AND WHAT THEY HAVE MEANT FOR YOU AS A SPONSOR?
"Jack
Daniels is a great sponsor, and we have them on the car for next year and that is all about I can say about it right now."
WHY DO WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT UPS BEING ADDED TO THAT CAR?
"I don't know,
I don't write those things."
WILL UPS BE INVOLVED WITH RCR NEXT YEAR IN SOME CAPACITY?
"Right
now I can't comment on anything with UPS because I am not involved right now with all of that."(GM Racing PR)(7-11-2008)
UPDATE
5: been told that UPS will NOT be going to Richard Childress Racing as a sponsor on any of their cars but will head to
Stewart Haas Racing in the 2nd car with Ryan Newman as the driver. Look for Newman to be named as Stewart's team mate at Indy
when SHR announces Office Depot as the sponsor for Stewart, but UPS won't be announced until a later date.(7-12-2008) Comment here
Truex doesn't rule out driving for Stewart: As far as his contract status with DEI, which intends to pick up
his option, Truex said those talks took a backseat after the Daytona infraction. "Certainly, last week . . . I said to myself,
this isn't the first thing on my list," Truex said of his contract. "Through this week, we've had great meetings about what
happened, how we want to fix it, the direction we're headed as a race team, and so hopefully this week we'll get back to talking
about the rest of that stuff. It's been going well. There's just been a lot of other things on the plate as a race team to
figure out." He did not rule out he could be a candidate for the second team at the newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing. "I guess
if you look around the garage, anybody who doesn't have a contract signed for next year you have to look at as a candidate
. . . for that deal right now," Truex said. (ESPN.com)(7-12-2008) Comment here
Obama Campaign to sponsor BAM at Pocono? UPDATE: NO SI.com has learned that for the first time in history,
a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign
is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's #49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. Details of the
agreement are expected to be worked out over the coming days. A BAM spokesperson has revealed the team will hold a press conference
July 23 in Miami to reveal the partnership, currently a proposed one-race deal with an option to continue.(Sports Illustrated)(7-11-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR's BAM Racing team has presented Barack Obama's presidential campaign with a potential
sponsorship deal in the Sprint Cup series later this year, but it doesn't look like an Obama car will be burning rubber on
the track anytime soon. BAM team spokesman Rhett Vandiver told The Associated Press on Friday that the team made a sponsorship
proposal to the Democratic presidential hopeful's campaign, and has made similar proposals to the campaign of Republican John
McCain and at least one third-party candidate. Late Friday, the Obama campaign said there would be no sponsorship.(Associated Press)(7-12-2008) Comment here
Drivers to appear on American Dream with Jim Cramer Sunday night: CNBC's Jim Cramer, host of "Mad Money W/
Jim Cramer" and one of the best minds on Wall Street, heads to NASCAR's Pit Road for his first NBC special "The American Dream
with Jim Cramer" premiering on July 13th at 7pm. With high gas prices, plummetting home values and shrinking nest eggs, too
many Americans feel like the American Dream is fading. But, in this one-hour special CNBC's Jim Cramer reminds viewers that
it is still alive and well and that he, himself, is living proof. Cramer helps Americans unlock the wealth of money-making
opportunities everywhere, even in their favorite pastime.
Cramer had an unprecedented, all access pass to NASCAR, and the
best part about it is you never know who you are going to bump into.... Cramer spent time talking cars, dreams, winning and
yes, money with some of NASCAR's brightest and most magnetic stars including Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff
Burton and Casey Mears.(NBC PR)(7-12-2008)
3rd Annual Blood Drive announced: The NASCAR Foundation announced
that series sponsor Nationwide Insurance has joined the efforts encouraging fans to roll up their sleeves to help save a life
for The NASCAR Foundation Third Annual Blood & Marrow Drive Presented by Nationwide Insurance on Sept. 11, 2008. The drive
is a partnership between The NASCAR Foundation, Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Hendrick Marrow Program and 30 NASCAR Nationwide,
NASCAR Sprint Cup and local NASCAR Home Tracks.(NASCAR PR) for more info, links and the PR, see my Racing Charities page.(7-12-2008)
Associated Press:
Obama passes on potential NASCAR sponsorship by Chris Jenkins
Augusta Chronicle:
Before Chase, Busch sees room to improve by Don Coble
Chattanooga Times Free Press:
Will other NASCAR drivers follow Stewart as current owners retire? by Lindsey Young
Chicago Tribune:
Busch says it's 'cool' as the hunted by Skip Mylsenski and Shannon Ryan;
Kyle Busch wins at Chicagoland Speedway and
Busch's Nationwide victory a learning experience by Skip Myslenski
Clanton Advertiser:
Stewart might succeed where others have failed by Jeff Findley
Daily Herald:
Turbulent times at the Speedway by Kevin Schmit
Daly Planet:
Lots Of Pre-Race Shows But No "Victory Lane" Again and
ESPN's Toughest Call: Punch Or Bestwick In The Booth? by John Daly
Indianapolis Star:
Track's 1st night race has drivers in the dark by Steve Ballard
Insider Racing News:
This Week in TonyCar Land by Brenda Benedict
Joliet Herald News:
Shining lights on Joliet by Ron Kremer
Kansas City Star:
Chicagoland Speedway notebook: Another win for Kyle Busch and
Night racing at Chicagoland a big unknown for drivers by Jim Pedley
Long Island Press:
Canceled Qualifying Rains On NASCAR Sponsorship by Josh Stewart
Los Angeles Times:
Q & A with NASCAR legend Richard Petty by Jim Peltz;
Obama goes NASCAR by Dan Neil
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Kenseth on the comeback track by Dave Kallman
NASCAR: Beyond the Track:
It's hard to bet against Busch at Chicagoland by Matt Myftiu
NASCAR This Week:
NOTEBOOK: Hello Joey, goodbye Tony and
LifeLock.com 400 fact sheet by Monte Dutton
Northwest Herald:
Busch picks up fans with wins by Maureen Lynch;
Busch prevails under the lights and
Night racing new for NASCAR fans by Andrew Seidler
Peoria Journal Star:
JGR continues domination of Nationwide Series and
Drivers in the dark about Joliet race by Jane Miller
Portland Press Herald:
Chicagoland pick by Jennifer Lizotte
RacingOne:
A Royal Celebration and;
The Chicago Way by Pete Pistone
Roanoke Times:
Busch, Earnhardt better after moves and
"I'd like to thank my sponsor Barack Obama ...'' by Dustin Long
SceneDaily.com:
Will Stewart shine or fail? by Jeff Owens;
Stewart has the means to form a winning race team by Rea White
Southtown Star:
Time short for NASCAR's 'Dream Team' by Tina Akouris;
Switch to NASCAR hasn't been a hit for Franchitti by Tim Cronin
Sports Illustrated:
Inside lane: What to watch for this weekend at Chicagoland and
Presidential candidate Obama to sponsor Cup car at Pocono race by Tom Bowles
St. Petersburg Times:
Golden Reign by Brant James
Stock Car Talk:
Where There's Smoke, There's A Qualifying Rocket by John Taylor
Tennessean:
NASCAR less attractive to IRL drivers by Tom Kreager
Thatsracin:
Race for Chase starts to heat up by David Poole
Winston-Salem Journal:
Frye's the Guy: He has Red Bull team in good shape;
Gordon says Stewart made a 'great move' and
Jeff Gordon says it will be very interesting to see how Tony Stewart
handles it as a car owner by Mike Mulhern
York Dispatch:
Romance was spark for NASCAR tire specialist Mike Harrold's career by Ellen Siska
Track News { BAD NEWS !}
Close the Milwaukee Mile? A co-chair of the state's Joint Legislative Audit Committee said it may be time for the
state to abandon auto racing at State Fair Park and re-develop the Milwaukee Mile property after a report issued today found
it continues to jeopardize the fair park's financial position. Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz issued the statement in response to
the Legislative Audit report, which says State Fair Park will pick up nearly $1.2 million in costs related to the Milwaukee
Mile this year, most of that because of contract amendments that reduced how much racing promoter Craig Stoehr and Milwaukee
Mile Holdings LLC have to pay the park in licensing fees. "We cannot continue to amend this agreement to the detriment of
the taxpayer, and the state has proven it cannot operate this racetrack itself," said Jeskewitz. "Perhaps it's time to determine
if we need to cut our losses and redevelop the property."(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)(7-12-2008)
Overall attendance at ISC tracks down this year: International Speedway Corp. has seen the percentage
of fans attending Sprint Cup races at its tracks drop in the “low single digits” this year, according to company
officials speaking during a conference call with financial analysts Wednesday. Admissions-related revenue was down 6.6 percent
for all ISC events (mostly NASCAR and Indy Racing Legue) from March through May and down 2.7 percent for the year, according
to the ISC financial statement released Wednesday.(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-2008)
Nationwide Series News
Navy gone? UPDATE 2: hearing the U.S Navy will not return to sponsor the #88 JR Motorsports Chevy of Brad Keselowski
in 2009, no word if they will leave the sport or hook up with another Nationwide team or move up to the Sprint Cup Series.(7-8-
2008)
UPDATE: Add Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the growing list of car owners searching for sponsorship. The Navy is leaving
the #88 Chevy in the Nationwide Series at the end of the season, forcing Earnhardt to search for funding for the flagship
car at JR Motorsports. "We were informed last week that our sponsorship with the U.S. Navy will not renew at the end of the
year," team spokesman Mike Davis said Tuesday. "It's been an exceptional partnership since 2005, and we look forward to a
strong finish to the season as Brad Keselowski and the #88 Navy team contends for a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship."(Associated Press/Yahoo Sports)(7-8-2008)
UPDATE 2: Navy officials have decided to pull the plug on their support for a NASCAR racing team after
seven seasons and concentrate instead on other types of advertising products. The decision on whether to go ahead with another
year of the $7.5 million sponsorship was due on July 1. [Spokesman for the Navy’s chief of personnel in Arlington, Va.
Capt. Jack] Hanzlick ... says the move does not impact the Navy’s other contract with Earnhardt, a separate $800,000
deal in which the driver made fleet and other appearances for the Navy and agreed to “sponsor” a recruit division
at Great Lakes that will form up in August and go through training with Earnhardt paying periodic visits to the recruits as
they become sailors. In addition to Earnhardt’s own fee, the Navy also paid $1.7 million in advertising placement costs
to help get the word out.(Navy Times)(7-12-2008)
NASCAR to dyno engines: UPDATE: NASCAR is taking a look at all the manufacturers engines and has
pulled engines from nine cars following the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland. The engines will be put on the dyno machines
back at the R&D Center in Charlotte to check the horsepower from all manufacturers.(7-12-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR
officials took 10 engines from Nationwide Series cars amid clamor from non-Toyota teams claiming they need help engine-wise
to compete with the Toyotas. It was the third time this year that NASCAR has taken engines for evaluation. It did so at Atlanta
in March and Milwaukee two weeks ago. Toyota has won 14 races in the series this year, while Chevy has won four and Ford has
won two. “We’re continuing our study on our competitive analysis and trying to balance the competition in the
garage, which we’re kind of tasked to do,” Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said following the Dollar General
300 at Chicagoland Speedway. “There’s a lot of rumor in the garage where things are at, and that’s why we
want to make sure that we get the actual data.” Among the possible things NASCAR could do is change the spacer that
limits air flow in the engine. NASCAR began using the spacer this year. Balash said it would take about three or four days
for NASCAR to run all the engines on its engine dynamometers. “We have a lot of things that are available to us,”
Balash said. “Based upon where the numbers shake out is what we would select. [Changing] spacers is one of the options.
There’s three or four different ways you can use spacers. “But we have to get to the numbers first and see what’s
before we would even speculate what we would do, if we would do anything.”(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-2008)
Villeneuve could run for Robby: UDPATE: Robby Gordon is in talks with Jacques Villeneuve and Barry
Green, for Villeneuve to run for Robby Gordon Motorsports in the Nationwide Montreal race on August 2nd and possibly a Sprint
Cup ride in 2009. "I will send a car Nationwide Series in Montreal, no matter what happens," said Gordon. Much of the Nationwide
deal and Cup ride deal depends if Villeneuve and Green can bring a sponsor along with the deal.(rough tranlation from Le Journal de Montreal/Canoe Sports)(7-7-2008)
UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve still has not confirmed his presence at the Montreal event. Barry Green stated,
"We are aware that time is pressing. I still believe that Jacques will be on the track in Montreal." Green and Villeneuve
are talking to Robby Gordon, Todd Braun and James Finch. Green added that the Fitz Motorsports, with whom Patrick Carpentier
made his debut last year, was also a possibility.(translated from Canoe Sports via Google Translate(7-12-2008)
Courteousy of ESPN.com: 
Kyle Busch won a NASCAR race... again. Busch took the lead on the 95th lap, held it until a late pit on the 149th, then
regained the top spot five laps later for his fifth Nationwide win of the year at the Dollar General 300 in Chicago. Story | Results
Courteousy of CBS Sportsline.com :
" Mystery hunt "
(7/11/08)
Late Night Updates
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
Busch wins at Chicago
for fifth Nationwide victory
By The Associated Press
July 11, 2008
10:59 PM EDT
JOLIET, Ill. -- Kyle Busch keeps winning no matter where he races.
Busch added another Nationwide Series victory to his column Friday night, winning the Dollar General 300 at the Chicagoland
Speedway.
Busch took the lead on the 95th lap in his No. 18 Toyota, held it until a pit stop on the 149th and then regained it five
laps later for the remainder of the 200-lap race on the 1.5-mile track.
The points leader with six victories in the Sprint Cup Series, Busch won for the fifth time in the Nationwide Series.
"It feels really really good,'' Busch said. "Unbelievable.''
Denny Hamlin, who started in 41st position, raced his way to a runner-up finish. Brad Keselowski was third.
Busch did his customary trademark bow to the crowd, which is becoming a weekly tradition as he has dominated NASCAR this
season. He has won 13 races this season, spanning all three of NASCAR's top series.
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have dominated the Nationwide series this season --cars owned by the organization have won 13
times.
Hamlin (3), Busch (5), Joey Logano (1) and Tony Stewart (5) have combined to win 14 of the 19 series races this year. Busch earned one of his wins driving for Braun Racing.
Drivers were also able to get acclimated to late evening/night conditions at the Chicagoland Speedway for the first time
in a major competition and prepare for Saturday's Sprint Cup Series race, the LifeLock.com 400.
Eight of the top 12 drivers from the Sprint Series were entered Friday night, hoping to get a feel for the track under
different circumstances. And it appears Busch felt pretty comfortable. He'll also be on the pole for Saturday night's race.
Pole-sitter David Reutimann had the lead for 82 laps during the first half of the race.
Jeff Burton took the lead from Reutimann on the 88th lap, but debris from Tony Stewart's car brought out the third yellow of the night.
A slow pit knocked Burton back to 10th on the restart.
The race started with a bang of sorts when Kevin Harvick ran into the back of Stewart, who also has five Nationwide wins this year. Stewart, who started on the front row with Reutimann,
apparently missed a gear.
Courteousy of Jayski :
Busch wins at Chicagoland: With a commanding lead, #18-Kyle Busch took the checkers for the fifth time this season
winning the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Busch led twice for a total of 101 laps. It was the 13th win for Joe
Gibbs Racing in 2008. Rounding out the top ten were #32-Denny Hamlin, #88-Brad Keselowski, #10-Brian Vickers, #99- David Reutimann,
#16-Greg Biffle, #2-Clint Bowyer, #29-Jeff Burton, #20-Tony Stewart, #5-Landon Cassill. There were 7 lead changes among 5
drivers and 3 caution flags for 15 laps.(7-11-2008)
Bowyer continues as points leader: #2-Clint Bowyer continues to lead the drivers point standings with 2965 following
the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland, 183 ahead of #88-Brad Keselowski in second place. Rounding out the top ten are #99-David
Reutimann, #60-Carl Edwards, #18-Kyle Busch, #6-David Ragan, #1-Mike Bliss, #7-Mike Wallace, #64-David Stremme, #11-Jason
Keller.(Unofficial)(7-11-2008)
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Scary Good
Will Lester/US PRESSWIRE
Kyle Busch is on pace to win 12 times in 2008.
Kyle Busch is shooting for his seventh victory of the season Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway. What
kind of company is he keeping? Maybe the names Petty, Earnhardt, Pearson, Yarborough, Waltrip and Gordon ring a bell, writes
David Newton. Inside The Hauler | Surround
Tony Stewart has a way of winning when controversy surrounds him. The No. 20 has a way of winning in the Nationwide Series
just about every race. Those two forces will converge at Chicagoland Speedway, writes Mark Ashenfelter. Story | Grid
NASCAR team thinks presidenitally about sponsors
Courteousy of Race2winnet (race2winnet@yahoogroups.com) :NASCAR Nationwide Series
July 11
Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola
Chicagoland Speedway
Surprise...
Kyle Busch Wins Again
To no one's surprise, Kyle Busch captured another race win. Busch
outran Cup teammate Denny
Hamlin to win the Dollar General 300
powered by Coca-Cola at Chicagoland Speedway. This is Busch's fifth
NASCAR Nationwide
Series of the season and his 12th win in NASCAR's
top three series.
Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola Results
1 18 Kyle Busch
2 32 Denny Hamlin
3 88 Brad
Keselowski
4 10 Brian Vickers
5 99 David Reutimann
6 16 Greg Biffle
7 2 Clint Bowyer
8 29 Jeff Burton
9
20 Tony Stewart
10 5 Landon Cassill
Point Standings
1 Clint Bowyer 2965
2 Brad Keselowski 2782 -183
3 David Reutimann 2748
-217
4 Carl Edwards 2711 -254
5 Kyle Busch 2633 -332
6 David Ragan 2613 -352
7 Mike Bliss
2603 -362
8 Mike Wallace 2376 -589
9 David Stremme 2325 -640
10 Jason Keller 2278 -687
Next Race
July 19
Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250
Gateway International Raceway
9:00
ESPN2
Evening Updates
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
Joey Logano isn't in Chicago this weekend, but he's still a hot topic of conversation. Will he take over the No. 20 car
to be vacated by Tony Stewart? Nobody knows for sure yet, but his teammates would support the move. More
Courteousy of Jayski :
Nationwide Series
Reutimann wins pole at Chicagoland: #99-David Reutimann was the fastest qualifier with a speed of 176.436 to win
the pole for the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Rounding out the top ten were; #20-Tony Stewart, #6-David Ragan,
#33-Kevin Harvick, #5-Landon Cassill, #40-Dario Franchitti, #29-Jeff Burton, #10-Brian Vickers, #2-Clint Bowyer, #18-Kyle
Busch. Did Not Qualify; #50-Jeremy Clements, #23-Robert Richardson Jr;, #43-Kevin Lepage, #92-Brian Keselowski, #89-Morgan
Shepherd, #36-Chad Blount, #91-Justin Hobgood.
Ren interim crew chief for Harvick at Chicagoland: UPDATE: Rogers out During the Nationwide Series qualifying
session on ESPN, it was noted that Rick Ren is acting as interim crew chief for the #33-KHI Chevy with driver, Kevin Harvick for the Dollar
General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway [Ren is currently crew chief for #33-Ron Hornaday Jr. in the Truck Series]. No word on
the status of Wally Rogers but it was mentioned that there would be a personnel change this week at Kevin Harvick Inc.(7-11-2008)
UPDATE:
During prerace activities on ESPN, Kevin Harvick said that Wally Rogers has been let go as crew chief for the #33 Nationwide team; felt the needed consistency
was not there for the team. Rick Ren will handle one more race in NNS. After that, other team members will take over for a
couple of weeks while the situation is evaluated and a decision is made.(7-11-2008)
Afternoon News
Courteousy of FOX Sports :
" EMPTY FEELING "
Empty seats at Daytona? It's just one of the plagues NASCAR must deal with during the rest of this season,
Jeff Hammond says. Full Story ...
" DANCE WITH DESTINY "
Richard Childress has enjoyed success the last two years. How will a new driver and sponsors affect things?
Lee Spencer takes a look. Full Story ...
" TAKE THE LEAD "
What does Tony Stewart's ownership deal mean? Lee Spencer says NASCAR may have finally found its
voice in the garage. Full Story ...
" ONE TRACK MIND "
Kurt Busch has momentum and a lucky ride. Now he says his sights are set on getting an elusive Chicagoland
win this weekend. Full Story ...
It’s better to own 30 to 40 percent of something than 100 percent of nothing”
- Petty
“It definitely seemed premature, early"--Casey Mears
Casey Mears Positive About His Future
Earnhardt Jr. On The Altercation Between Kyle Busch And Juan Pablo
Montoya
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Double Dose
US Presswire
The driver on the left is good. The one on the right may be better.
Kyle Busch has six victories in the Sprint Cup Series. In fact, he is so good, he has Tim Cowlishaw
seeing double. Maybe that's why the points leader is ranked first and second in the latest Power Rankings.
Tony Stewart has a way of winning when controversy surrounds him. The No. 20 has a way of winning in the Nationwide Series
just about every race. Those two forces will converge at Chicagoland Speedway (8 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN360.com), writes
Mark Ashenfelter. Story• Tonight's in-race reporter: Brad Keselowski
Ownership was a no-brainer for Stewart | Watch
Earnhardt Jr. has no interest in purchasing DEI
Jayski Updates
Obama Campaign to sponsor BAM at Pocono? SI.com has learned that for the first time in history,
a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign
is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's #49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. Details of the
agreement are expected to be worked out over the coming days. A BAM spokesperson has revealed the team will hold a press conference
July 23 in Miami to reveal the partnership, currently a proposed one-race deal with an option to continue.(Sports Illustrated)(7-11-2008) Comment here
Morning News ( AND LOT'S OF IT ! )
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Risky business"
Getty
Why is Tony Stewart leaving NASCAR's best team to give ownership a whirl?
Marriage of convenience
Report
Lifelock.com 400 preview
Poll Results
Is Tony Stewart making the right decision to leave Joo Gibbs Racing to form his own team?
| Yes, he's up for the challenge |
|
68% |
| No, he'll regret it |
|
32% |
10716 Total Votes
Tony Stewart will bring 10 years of racing experience with him as he becomes co-owner of newly
named Stewart Haas Racing. By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY
The newest team owner in the Sprint Cup Series arrived at his first news conference unshaven in a... moreDEAL MAKER: Free share lured Stewart
Courteousy of MSNBC.com :
 |
|
|
| Chris
Stanford / Getty Images |
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
There's excitement surrounding Haas CNC Racing this weekend with the introduction of its newest owner and driver. But there's
also a little uneasiness as the team's current driver Scott Riggs wonders what lies ahead. More
Drivers wondering what to expect with 'new' Chicago
Stewart, Gibbs parting can be a win-win, but when?
By Josh Pate, NASCAR.COM July 10, 2008 10:11 EST
Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart will share the spotlight this week as the only two-time winners in Chicagoland Speedway's
short history. Beneath all that hype that's focused on the past (Harvick and Stewart's victories) and the future (Stewart's
bold plans) is Jimmie Johnson. Glance quickly and his name doesn't appear on the list of winners at Chicagoland, site of Saturday
night's LifeLock.com 400 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT). It's that type of quick glance that the two-time champion uses to pull off surprises.More
Changes loom as Stewart looks to put stamp on team
Franchitti looking for a ride, still shocked at shutdown
The Nationwide Series has raced at Chicagoland Speedway seven times, once a year since 2001. During that time four drivers
have claimed their first series victory there. The defending race winner would like to become the fifth first-timer, in a
manner of speaking. Matter of factly, Kevin Harvick is the only repeat winner at Chicagoland, also having won in 2005. But
both of those victories came in Richard Childress' No. 21 car; Harvick races his own car now, but his seat time in the No.
33 has yet to produce a series win anywhere.More
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"And now,back to the news "
Courteousy of Jayski :
Earnhardt Jr. not interested in buying DEI: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wanted at least 51 percent of Dale Earnhardt Inc.
last season before he opted for a fresh start at Hendrick Motorsports. If the company were up for sale now? "I don't mean
this in a bad way, but I would not have any interest in purchasing it," Earnhardt said following Thursday's first practice
at Chicagoland Speedway. "I would not have any interest in purchasing any race team, just to have the ownership." The subject
was broached because of an Internet report earlier in the week that claimed DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt had commissioned the
investment banking firm Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to locate a buyer or financial partner. DEI president Max Siegel refuted
the report, saying the company is not for sale.(ESPN.com), previous rumors about the sale are posted on my #1 Team Page.(7-11-2008) Comment here
Reutimann to take over #45 for Petty in 2009? UPDATE 2: Look for David Reutimann to be announced soon as the
replacement for Kyle Petty in the #45 car, something the Petty folks would rather we not know about just yet.(Yahoo Sports)(7-10-2008)
UPDATE: "David is currently under contract at Michael Waltrip Racing and we are looking forward to
continuing our relationship with him," Calvin Wells III said. "He made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start with Michael
Waltrip Racing in 2005 and has been with the Waltrip family since making his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 2004
with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports. He has had success driv ing for the Waltrips and we look forward to having him back with
the team next year."(MWR PR)(7-9-2008)
UPDATE 2: David Reutimann disputed a report he was leaving Michael Waltrip
Racing after the season to drive the #45 car at Petty Enterprises. Reutimann acknowledged MWR has an option on him for next
season. "I feel like I will be back," he said. "I'm just trying to keep from getting my head kicked in every week." Petty
Enterprise officials said there have been no discussions with Reutimann about replacing Kyle Petty.(ESPN.com)(7-11-2008) Comment here
Franchitti to meet with Ganassi on Friday: Understandably, Dario Franchitti has not been in the best mood.
He is a little more than a week removed from being informed by team owner Chip Ganassi that his Sprint Cup team , with no
sponsorship, would be shut down. "It was a big shock that it happened," Franchitti said Thursday. "Myself and 70 people lost
their jobs in Concord. A lot of people are upset right now, but I understand if there's no money, there's no money. Franchitti
is racing again for Ganassi this weekend -- in the Nationwide series. The two men are expected to meet Friday to discuss Franchitti's
future with the team. Meanwhile, Franchitti said his phone has been ringing, and he has been hearing about options from a
number of "different places." "Tomorrow is quite a big day with this meeting with Chip," Franchitti said. "We're starting
to look around, starting to talk, [but] nothing is going to happen until I talk to Chip and see what his plan is for the future
and see if it's something I'm interested in. I certainly owe Chip that much." Franchitti also believes that if possible, he
owes it to himself to remain in the Sprint Cup series.(ESPN.com)(7-11-2008) Comment here
UPS to #07? UPDATE 4: RCR denies hearing UPS could move #07-Clint Bowyer of Richard Childress Racing, if os,
no word where Jack Daniel's sposnorship would go, or if they would leave the sport.(7-1-2008)
UPDATE Among the hot
but unconfirmed rumors making the rounds in the Sprint Cup garage this week are that Richard Childress Racing will land UPS
as a sponsor for Clint Bowyer’s #07 Chevrolet. Multiple sources indicated that Bowyer’s car was the favorite to
take the sponsorship over from Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann. One source close to the negotiations said RCR initially
offered UPS #31-Jeff Burton, 41, but the delivery company wanted a younger driver with whom it could create a long-term identity
and Bowyer is just 29. Burton, instead, will be sponsored next year by Caterpillar.(SPEEDtv)(7-6-2008)
UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway has learned that UPS will move from Michael Waltrip Racing’s #44 Toyota
to the quarterpanels of Clint Bowyer’s #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in 2009, leaving Jack Daniels in search
of a new driver. That driver will be Ryan Newman, who is set to sign-on with Stewart at Haas CNC.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(7-7-2008)
UPDATE 3: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress
Racing, regarding recent unsubstantiated reports in the media about Jack Daniel's leaving RCR after the 2008 season.: "Jack
Daniel's and Richard Childress Racing have a contract through the 2009 season. Any reports in the media to the contrary are
sim ply not accurate."(RCR PR)(7-10-2008)
UPDATE 4: From Richard Childress' Press Conference Thursday at Chicago:
CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT JACK DANIELS AND THEIR FUTURE AND WHAT THEY HAVE MEANT FOR YOU AS A SPONSOR?
"Jack
Daniels is a great sponsor, and we have them on the car for next year and that is all about I can say about it right now."
WHY DO WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT UPS BEING ADDED TO THAT CAR?
"I don't know,
I don't write those things."
WILL UPS BE INVOLVED WITH RCR NEXT YEAR IN SOME CAPACITY?
"Right
now I can't comment on anything with UPS because I am not involved right now with all of that."(GM Racing PR)(7-11-2008) Comment here
Lowe's and #48 Team "Racing for Relief" in July: Lowe's and Jimmie Johnson will be "Racing for R elief" at
the Chicago and Indianapolis races this month to raise funds for the American Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling
and other assistance to victims of the recent Central U.S. floods and tornadoes. As part of Racing for Relief, the Red Cross
logo will be displayed on the deck lid of the#48 Lowe's Chevy. Lowe's will donate $48 for each lap Johnson completes in the
Chicagoland 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 12 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 27 at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. In addition, if Johnson wins either race, Lowe's will donate $4,800 per victory.(GMR Marketing PR)(7-11-2008)
Comment here
Labonte in #45 instead of McCumbee: Chad McCumbee was expected to be in the driver's seat for the #45 car and
attempt to qualify for Saturday night's Nextel Cup LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. But Terry Labont e, who is locked
into the field because of a past champion's provisional, will drive the car as a part of the 50th anniversary celebration
of Richard Petty's first race. "We wanted to ensure the #45 was in the field," said David Hovis, spokesman for the #45 team.
"Chad was on board with it."(Myrtle Beach Sun)(7-11-2008) Comment here
Chase notes: #16-Greg Biffle's last place finish at Daytona dropped him three more spots, now in 11th only
10 points ahead of Kevin Harvick in 13th. Biffle has dropped six spots over the last five races, managing only 495 points
in that period. What once looked like a waltz into his second Chase now looks like a struggle. Biff doesn't have a top 10
in his last four starts at Chicago. Biffle's teammate, #17-Matt Kenseth, dodged all the carnage at Daytona to finish 3rd and
climb all the way from 13th to 9th. The #17 will be hard to dislodge from the Top 12 down the stretch, starting at Chicago
where he finished 2nd last year. If you measure it by number of drivers within a one-race margin of either dropping out or
getting in The Chase, 2008 ranks second only to 2005. With Truex's penalty knocking him out, there are still 10 drivers inside
that margin, including a record seven inside The Chase at the present time, but within one race of dropping out. The last
four races at Chicago, Kasey Kahne has finishes of 36th, 41st, 23rd and 32nd place. See the Chase stats and history on my
Chase Stats after Daytona page.(7-11-2008)
Arizona Republic:
Carpentier gaining speed, attention by Michael Knight
Associated Press:
Stewart to leave Gibbs, become owner-driver in '09 by Chris Jenkins
Athlon Sports:
Horsepower Rankings: Daytona by Matt Taliaferro;
Representin': What makes a champion good, anyway? by Amy Henderson
Augusta Chronicle:
Fifty percent ownership too attractive for Stewart by Don Coble
Chicago Sun Times:
After seven seasons under the sun, NASCAR will race under the
lights by Herb Gould
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil:
Smoke ventures into new territory by Marsha Hoffman
Courier News:
NASCAR roars into Joliet this weekend by Herb Gould
Dallas Morning News:
Driver Tony Stewart makes daring move by Richard Durrett
Daly Planet:
Tech Troubles Sideline SPEED's News Coverage by John Daly
Daytona Beach News Journal:
Speedway Corp. posts drop in revenue, rise in income by Joe Crews;
Detroit Free Press:
Stewart setting new course by Mike Brudenell
Detroit News:
Consistent Earnhardt climbs to No. 2 and
Stewart has winning formula as owner by Angelique S. Chengelis
Florida Today:
Stewart officially an owner and
Still the King after 50 years by Mark DeCotis
Hartford Courant:
Moving On: Tony Stewart Introduces Stewart-Haas Racing Thursday by Shawn Courchesne
Indianapolis Star:
Franchitti, Ganassi will talk and
Tony Stewart forming team with Haas CNC Racing by Steve Ballard
Inside the Pit Box:
From the Champions Corner: ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series by Robbin Slaughter
Insider Racing News:
LifeLock CEO Loves NASCAR's "ROI" by Rebecca Gladden
Joliet Herald News:
'The King' and his NASCAR castle and
Busch's star power continues to grow by Dick Goss;
Edwards helps local families with school supplies by Patrick Ferrell
Kansas City Star:
NASCAR Notebook: Thunder silences qualifying and
Tony Stewart won’t take longtime crew chief with him by Jim Pedley
LaidbackRacing.com:
Tailgating Recipe and Tips of the Week by Jo Ann Hlavac;
Mad Mikie's Random Rants and Raves by Mad Mikie
MainStreet News Sports:
IMHOF Needs To Honor Raymond Parks by Brandon Reed
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Rain ends qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway and
Stewart ready to take the lead by Dave Kallman
Morris Daily Herald:
Fan Rally gets hearts racing as area tunes up for the weekend by Heidi Terry-Litchfield
NASCAR: Beyond The Track:
Dominoes will start to fall now that Stewart move is official by Matt Myftiu
NASCAR This Week:
Not the best of times for Truex, D.E.I. by Monte Dutton
Peoria Journal-Star:
Caterpillar bags another Burton and
Risk, of course, but also reward by Jane Miller
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Sunoco appreciates its role in NASCAR by Bill
Portland Press Herald:
Childress says Jack Daniels sponsor isn't going anywhere by Jennifer Lizotte
Race Report Radio:
Saturday Night Lights by Sam Atwell
Racing With Rich:
Stewart making a mistake...I don't think so by Richard Allen
Richmond Times Dispatch:
Stewart up for new challenges by Jill Erwin
Roanoke Times:
NASCAR Notebook: Junior won't buy DEI;
Stewart's new team a fixer-upper and
More on Stewart Haas Racing by Dustin Long
SceneDaily.com:
Montoya takes the microphone over the mound by Jeff Gluck
Southtown Star:
NASCAR in Joliet: Gordon eager to pick up the pace by Tim Cronin
SPEEDtv.com:
Chase Pressure Mounting and
Stewart To Be Co-Owner by Tom Jensen
Speedway Media:
Now That Tony's Made His Decision... by Ron Fleshman
Sports Illustrated:
NASCAR midseason report cards by Tom Bowles;
Stewart may find the road to team ownership will be a rocky one by Mark Beech
StockCar Review:
He Said, She Said: Tony Ditches Toyota and Gibbs, Returns to Chevy by Everett Mugg and Debbi Willis;
Diversity Backfired and NASCAR Gets Sued by Debbi Willis;
LifeLock.com 400 Preview by T. Jay Maddox
Treasure Coast Palm:
The many sides of Tony Stewart by Bill Whitehead
Winston-Salem Journal:
Tony Stewart says the Hendrick-Haas-Chevy deal is one he just
couldn’t turn down by Mike Mulhern
Track news
Chicagoland Sells out 2008 Season: Chicagoland Speedway announced that it has sold out its Track Pack
season tickets for the 2008 racing season, as the facility prepares for the first-ever night races at the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
In addition to the sold-out grandstands, Chicagoland Speedway also filled up its campground areas, including its Infield RV
parking (which sold out in 24 hours) and Old Spice Campgrounds.(Chicagoland Speedway PR)(7-11-2008)
NATIONWIDE NEWS FLASH
Sorenson in the #40 at Gateway? Ganassi officials have told Gateway Raceway that Reed Sorenson is going
to be in the #40 Fastenal Dodge next weekend to defend last year's race win.(Gateway Raceway PR)(7-11-2008)
Mass exodus from DEI?? Regan Smith to be sidelined
Regan Smith, the promising rookie who may not have
any sponsorship next season at DEI, will apparently soon be sidelined; Mark Martin is leaving DEI at the end of the season
to join Rick Hendrick; Martin Truex Jr. is trying to leave DEI at the end of the year, though that legal issue is still [...]
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/autoracingsport/~3/331773927/ www.Catchfence.com
Stewart Sets NASCAR Future Beginning in 2009 as Driver/Owner with Stewart-Haas Racing: Two-time NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has set his NASCAR future, and it’s as an owner and driver with Stewart-Haas
Racing beginning in 2009. Stewart-Haas Racing is the new partnership between Stewart and Haas CNC Racing, with the revamped
entity slated to run two cars full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. “This is an incredible opportunity that allows me
to race competitively in NASCAR’s top division while carving out a place in this sport long after my driving career
is over,” Stewart said. “I’ve won races and I’ve won championships and I know I could’ve continued
to do that at Joe Gibbs Racing, but to attempt to do those things as a car owner is something that really appeals to me. There’s
a whole new sense of appreciation and satisfaction that comes with success when you’re both a driver and an owner.”
...News regarding sponsors of Stewart-Haas Racing, as well as the complete driver lineup and corresponding car numbers for
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