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Sunday, May 24, 2009

NASCAR facing possible protest: The Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP has set its sights on NASCAR, Homestead’s major national attraction, in its fight against the Confederate flag. The civil rights organization will first reach out to officials with NASCAR, seeking to enlist their help in efforts to ban the controversial symbol from city-sponsored events. If that does not work, however, NAACP officials say they will consider a boycott and protest march at the NASCAR events slated for Nov. 20-22 at the Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway. NAACP officials on Wednesday said they are drafting a letter to NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France, who has publicly spoken out against the Confederate flag in recent years. If the civil rights organization does not get the racing league’s cooperation and support, officials there said they are prepared to begin contacting NASCAR’s sponsors, and to stage protests during the races.(South Florida Times)

Details emerging about NASCAR's drivers meeting Tuesday: The shape of Tuesday's big meeting between NASCAR officials and Sprint Cup teams is slowly becoming clearer: And it is now sizing up as a day-long series of small meetings, rather than any full townhall scene. Each of NASCAR's top Cup operations will have its own individual face-to-face with NASCAR executives, to discuss ideas and raise suggestions about what NASCAR could do to make Cup racing more compelling – for better TV ratings and for better ticket sales. All Cup team owners and their drivers are expected to attend the sessions at NASCAR's nearby R&D center. No specific agenda items have been listed, but one hot topic is expected to be the car-of-tomorrow, which has become an expensive engineering problem for crews, particularly small teams without the hefty engineering and computer. The Carl Edwards-Brad Keselowski-Ryan Newman crash at Talladega could be another issue. NASCAR has said little about what it might want to do to deal with that issue of flying race cars, though Newman himself has said several times it is a major issue that needs to be attacked.(mikemulhern.net)

Red Bull to renew Vickers contract? Red Bull Racing is close to finalizing a contract extension with Brian Vickers, who is in the final season of a three-year contract. Both sides hold an option on next season that has to be exercised by June 1.(AP/ESPN.com)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Jeff Gordon considering early retirement? With a wary eye toward NASCAR's longest race of the year, four-time champion Jeff Gordon was injected with an anti-inflammatory this week to quiet the nagging pain in his lower back. So far, the treatment is working. And as long as his No. 24 Chevrolet is handling well enough that he doesn't have to use the brakes too much entering the high-banked corners of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Gordon said he ought to be fine in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. But for the first time since acknowledging his back trouble earlier this year, Gordon conceded Thursday that if medication or surgery can't alleviate the discomfort over a full season, he will be forced to retire sooner than he had hoped. But he insists he feels good about Sunday's race, despite the 600-mile distance. Short tracks such as Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International raceway, he said, jar his lower back far more, as do the circuit's two road courses. But any amount of pain-related distraction behind the wheel is too much, Gordon added -- particularly when you're battling heavy traffic at 190 mph. "A racecar driver -- to be 100 percent focused to make the car go as fast as it can, and to focus on the adjustments you need to make -- you have to be thinking about the car," Gordon said. "You don't want to be thinking about anything else or feeling anything else." (Washington Post)

Edwards talks about possibility of missing The Chase: No. 99 Roush-Fenway driver Carl Edwards -- the man many predicted would end Jimmie Johnson's streak of three consecutive titles -- is 12th in the standings. Edwards has been plagued by pit problems throughout this season. "Yes, there's a concern I'll miss the Chase," Edwards said. "It can happen. We've got to run well enough and keep the bad luck away from us. Trust me, I know exactly where we are in the points, and I'm working hard to change it in a good way." (Virginian-Pilot) Details: The sale will be open from 9:00am - 6:00pm, Monday May 18th through Friday May 22nd. On Friday evening, beginning at 7 pm, an auction of special items is planned. There is no list of items being offered. More info at geoffbodinefanclub.com.

Geoff Bodine to hold auction: Geoff Bodine is standing in the middle of his racing life. And he wants someone else to have it. Bodine, 60 now and essentially retired from racing unless someone wants to put him in the driver's seat again, has put a lifetime of memorabilia, trophies, even cars up for sale this week. He is doing it, in part, so it doesn't sit packed away in boxes and closets. But he's also doing it because he needs the money. "I'm like millions of people. I could use some money to pay some bills," Bodine says, glancing across the small warehouse where a handful of people are studying the merchandise. (ThatsRacin.com)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Boris Said not at Sonoma? Boris Said not in Sonoma? The road racer is always a threat to win out West, but he won't be there unless some last-minute funding comes through. RCM Motorsports is moving forward with plans to put Boris Said in 10 to 12 races this season. But in securing sponsorship for races like Watkins Glen in August, the team has run into issues where their sponsors won't be ready to fund them until the second half -- leaving Sonoma out in the cold. "This is the best time of my career in the sport, because we're on the cutting edge," said owner Rick Clark, optimistic despite the hardships. (SI.com)

A greener NASCAR, maybe? With President Obama making the strong case this week for more fuel-efficient cars out of Detroit, and with the heads of all the car makers there at the White House, what's the take in the NASCAR garage on what this sport should be doing to be more green? NASCAR's John Darby, head of the Sprint Cup series, says it's nice to look at racing more fuel-efficient engines, or using more fuel-efficient fuels, and all that, but he says NASCAR's main point right now is this: "We have been, for the last five years, looking at green – at alternative fuels, at new engine designs. "But we feel we can have a huge effect on being environmentally friendly by attacking the biggest group we deal with – our fan base and our competitors in the garage. E-85? That's a highly touted mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent farm-based ethanol. "This is my personal opinion, that that's not the best plan," Darby says. "You don't want to make changes just to make changes. "There are better fuels, more practical fuels. "You can argue that the (corn-based) alcohol (fuel) program is at the expense of making fuel for cars over the food we eat. Now I don't necessarily support that. But there are better many opportunities for better fuels." (More at mikemulhern.net)

DeLana Harvick says NASCAR is giving females more opportunities: From helping style and outfit drivers to making high-powered decisions, women are seeing their role on pit row shift from well-dressed accessory to calling the shots. "It's definitely changing, there (are) more opportunities," says DeLana Harvick, wife of driver Kevin Harvick and co-owner of Kevin Harvick Inc. "But I don't look at it that way. It's just someone is doing what they love. There are more men than the average job. That's OK, you just learn how to flow .. maybe I cuss a little too much... don't think they listen unless I yell and throw a cuss word. I have a strong personality. I know what I want and how I'd like things to be." (ThatsRacin.com)

Some drivers are using social networking websites: Drivers such Brian Vickers, Kenny Wallace and Bobby Labonte use Web sites such as Twitter and Facebook to file updates on their whereabouts and activities or their emotional state of mind. If you become "friends" with Vickers on Facebook, for instance, you are sent his notes and comments in real time, such as immediately before or after a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. In a May 16 post on his Facebook page, Vickers writes, "Has some work to do tonight," talking about driving in the Sprint Showdown event. Then, Vickers received a series of responses from race fans such as "Win bud," to "Good luck tonight." After a rough outing, Vickers posted a photo of himself sitting in his stock car in the garage area. (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

NASCAR considering double-file restarts? NASCAR officials are looking at whether the double-wide restarts used in the All-Star race with all the leaders up front should be used for regular Sprint Cup races. "We've been talking about it for a year," series director John Darby said on Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Every time we have an All-Star race the frequency of those talks gets much louder. It's obviously something the fans like a lot. Their interest is our interest. We're looking at it." While most procedural changes are made during the offseason, Darby didn't rule out that a change could be made during the season if the governing body thought it made for better racing. "We use it in modified and Camping World East/West events," he said. "The only thing it hasn't applied to is the national series. What we have to look at is the downside. We try to apply every scenario that could create more problems. That's what we're working through." Races currently are started double-filed until 20 laps remain with lapped cars on the inside lane. That means a 15th-place car actually could be starting in the 30th position. All restarts 20 laps in are single file.(ESPN.com)

RYR fan day today: Today Yates Racing will open its doors for the Inaugural Yates Racing Fan Day. Fans are encouraged to come out and see the Yates campus and receive a VIP view of the Yates shop. Special autograph appearances from Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard and Doug Yates will begin at 10 a.m. Vendors will also be onsite with free give-aways. (RYR PR)

Kenseth sporting a green paint scheme: The No. 17 Ford Fusion will carry the green and gold colors of R+L carriers this weekend for the Coke 600. It will be the first of four races this season with R+L Carriers as the primary on the No. 17 Ford. Kenseth has carried the R+L Carriers paint scheme 10 times since 2006. In his 10 previous starts in the No. 17 R+L Carriers Ford, Kenseth has achieved 10 top-12, eight top-10, and four top-five finishes. (PR)

Robby Gordon invites military veteran; and statues the troops: In honor of Memorial Day, Jim Beam and Robby Gordon Motorsports has asked, veteran John Savage to be an honorary pit crew member during the 600 mile race at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the No. 7 Jim Beam / Operation Homefront entry. Savage, a former NCO in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, served his country for 22 years and received his retirement from service due to combat related injuries. Savage currently resides in Asheboro, NC where he mentors youth in martial arts, providing encouragement and a foundation to a better life. Additionally the No. 7 Jim Beam Camry will sport a special red, silver and blue paint scheme featuring Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance and morale to U.S. Troops and their families. (RGM PR)

Bill Elliott set make 800th Cup start: Bill Elliott will be achieving another milestone this weekend when he starts the Coca--Cola 600 behind the wheel of the Wood Brothers' #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion. Bill will be making his 800th NASCAR Cup series start. Bill began his NASCAR Cup career in 1976 and earned his first win in 1983 during the final race of that year at Riverside California. (PR)

Richard Petty Motorsports annual fan day today: Richard Petty Motorsports is hosting its annual fan day at the team headquarters in Statesville, N.C. on Friday, May 22. Richard Petty, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Reed Soreson and AJ Allmendinger will be signing autographs for the first 500 ticketed race fans. Tickets will be distributed at 10 a.m. and autographs will begin promptly at 11 a.m. (RPM PR)

Kenseth list Coca-Cola 600 as one of his favorite races: Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth lists this weekend's 600-lap marathon at Lowe's Motor Speedway as one of his favorite events on the circuit, and why not? Kenseth captured the first of his 18 Sprint Cup wins in the 2000 Coca-Cola 600. "It's probably my favorite event of the year," said Kenseth. "We won our first race here (at Lowe's Motor Speedway) in the 600, so that makes it kind of special for us. It used to be the only race of the year when you'd start in the day when it was usually hot and sunny, and you'd end at night. "It's usually a challenge to start during the day and end at night," added Kenseth. "Although a lot of tracks have kind of copied that since then, it used to be the only one that did that, so there are a lot of challenges that go with it and it's always interesting to be halfway decent at the beginning and still have a car that will handle right at the end." IRoush Fenway PR)

NASCAR calls for mandatory drivers meeting Tuesday: NASCAR has called a mandatory meeting for all Sprint Cup drivers and team owners for Tuesday morning at the Research and Development Center in Concord. Spokesman Ramsey Poston said it would be a town hall-type meeting to discuss the state of the sport. Chairman Brian France and president Mike Helton will attend to answer any questions. Poston said the hope is to have the meetings on a more regular basis. (ESPN.com)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Former Speedway promoter says NASCAR can't blame economy for rating decline: Longtime racing promoter H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler understands why stands might not be full but worries about underlying reasons why TV ratings are down. "With motor racing facilities being (built) larger, you can get more people in them," Wheeler says. "What alarms us more than anything else is a rather significant decline in ratings. You can blame the attendance on the economy and people not buying seats. But you can't blame lack of ratings on the economy." Muhleman says the sport is seeking its level in a down economy. "The trend down in TV ratings and attendance are probably the barometers most of us -- and NASCAR -- are watching most closely. In the meantime, the actual numbers compared to other sports are relatively good. "Both the economy and attendance will improve, so I'm not particularly concerned if attendance is down 15 to 20% at these gigantic facilities." (USA Today)

Mayfield likely to decide on lawsuit in next couple days: Charlotte lawyer Bill Diehl, representing suspended NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield, on possible legal action: "First question, no lawsuit has been filed. Will there be a lawsuit? That will depend on what happens between Jeremy and NASCAR which ought to be known in the next couple of days."(Virginian-Pilot )

Carl Long releases statement on NASCAR penalty: Statement from Carl and DeeDee regarding the recent suspension and fines... "First of all I would like to wish Charles Swing, my crew chief, well. Since this incident he was admitted Monday night to a Georgia hospital with heart problems. He is a stay at home dad who loves to go racing. We purchased an engine from a reputable builder at the beginning of the season. We overheated the engine in practice and had to change it. We had the option to withdraw and go home before admitting it to inspection. Trusting that our blown engine wouldn't have any problems passing NASCAR tech, we submitted it and put our other motor in the car to get ready for the Showdown. As everyone knows it didn't pass tech. The rules are 358 cubic inches and ours is 358.17 cubic inches. The .17 is as wrong as if it would have been 400 cubic inches. This engine is 50 horsepower less than top teams but it was all that could be afforded. I would have never knowingly went to the race track with a big engine! This suspension has not only stopped me from racing, it has also hurt me with my everyday job. It's hard to make a living working at the race track when NASCAR will not let you in. I can only hope that the appeal board will see things differently than the ones that came up with this penalty. I don't consider myself a cheater. I am addicted to the worse drug ever... racing! Every dime we have been able to scrape up, we use to race, because we love the sport. It takes about a half million in equipment to be able to build an engine, so I have to rely on other people and this time it bit me. Thanks for supporting me in wherever this goes! (carl-long.com)

JR Motorsports considering move to Sprint Cup? The buzz around the garage last weekend was JR Motorsports is setting the stage to move from the Nationwide to Sprint Cup series to field a team for Brad Keselowski. Keselowski said he is negotiating exclusively with Hendrick Motorsports for a fulltime Cup ride in 2010. HMS does not have an opening, but Rick Hendrick does have ownership in JR Motorsports with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Although Hendrick would have to sell his interest in the company to make this happen, that would be a formality. Also, Earnhardt has said it's just as economical, maybe more, to run a Cup program than Nationwide under today's economic climate. Sponsors, such as GoDaddy.com that is on Keselowski's No. 88 Nationwide car, gain more exposure in Cup. Should JR Motorsports not move to Cup the only other way to remain associated with HMS would be to put Keselowski in a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing. Of course, that would squelch the rumor that Martin Truex Jr. will leave Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to join that team.(ESPN Insider)

Hamlin doesn't feel the extra 100 miles: The drivers of today are almost all fitness freaks. They work out. They have strength trainers. Few are prone to admit that the Coca-Cola 600 takes them to the limits of endurance. "To be honest, I don't feel the difference in length, the extra 100 miles, in the car over running 500 miles," said Denny Hamlin. "You are so focused, and especially at a place like Lowe's, where you're running high speeds and the laps go by quickly, you don't sense it. The only time it hits me during this race is when we reach the halfway point and it seems like we've already run a lot of laps." (Gaston Gazette)

Burton: Coca-Cola 600 is emotionally hard: The 600-mile race, the longest on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, begins in late afternoon and runs far into the evening. "Running the Coca-Cola 600 is a long day's work," said Caterpillar-sponsored driver Jeff Burton. "It's the longest race of the year and it starts late in the day, so those two things make it harder. Waiting to start the race is emotionally hard." Burton said all the different race start times play havoc with drivers' eating and sleeping schedules, but this one is especially hard. "Then, you add 600 miles of racing on top of that," he said. "It's a perfect storm of stuff going on that makes this race a challenge. Don't get me wrong -- there are no excuses. You have to be physically ready no matter what." (Peoria Journal Star)

Earnhardt Jr: Last hundred miles tough mentally: There's some consensus that the strain of the Coca-Cola 600 is more mental than physical. "It's long," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "We run 500 miles (all the time), and your body gets used to it. You think you wouldn't notice another 100 miles added, but mentally you do. That last 100 miles is really tough mentally. "It's so easy just to kind of go, 'I'm tired.' Physically it's not a problem, but mentally, your brain is just 'worked' after it's over with. I like it. I love this race track. I love this area. I'm glad to be home these two weeks. I think it's awesome we run a 600-mile race at (LMS)." (Gaston Gazette)

NASCAR Kids doll in production: NASCAR and Original Appalachian Artworks have joined forces with leading toymaker JAKKS Pacific to produce NASCAR 'Kids, a crop of distinctly designed Cabbage Patch Kids in likenesses celebrating NASCAR's top drivers. The first NASCAR 'Kid to speed to the checkered flag will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR's most popular driver is scheduled to debut his 'Kid counterpart on QVC Friday, May 22 during QVC's For Race Fans Only broadcast at 8:00pm/et. The next NASCAR 'Kid to hit the road will be Jeff Gordon, who is scheduled to make his appearance in Fall 2009. NASCAR 'Kids, will have the signature birthmark of Xavier Roberts and an authentic birth certificate showing the driver's actual birth date. The Adoption Fee is $45.12.(CNN Money)

Some drivers content with NASCAR's drug testing policy: Jeff Burton suggests that drivers be proactive any time they are taking medication or nutritional supplements. Referring to Black, Burton said prior to last Saturday's all-star race, "I have Dr. Black's cell phone number. If I go to a physician, I call Dr. Black and tell him what the physician [has prescribed]. You better be proactive. It's your life, your career." While Burton, sixth in the points standings, says he hates being tested, he adds, "We've said as drivers we want positive enforcement. We want strict drug-testing." Both Burton and Tony Stewart are content with NASCAR's role in testing. "It's not our job to police the other drivers," said Stewart, second in points. "NASCAR is there to police that for us." Burton said the drivers feel that NASCAR officials listen to them. But everyone knows who runs the show. "My opinion is heard," Burton said, "but I don't get a vote. I know they're going to do whatever is in NASCAR's best interests." (Philadelphia Daily News)

Kurt Busch Foundation wins King's Cup: The inaugural King’s Cup Karting for a Cause provided a great way to kickoff the racing action in the Charlotte area. In the end the Kurt Busch Foundation team held off the Denny Hamlin Foundation team by 18 seconds in an event that lasted three hours and 40 minutes. The event, which benefited the Paralyzed Veterans of America, raised over $60,000 for the organization through sponsorships, general admission ticket sales and a silent auction that featured 75 pieces from all across the NASCAR world. The Finishing Order:
1. Kurt Busch Foundation
2. Denny Hamlin Foundation
3. Stanley Tools Racing
4. Kasey Kahne Foundation
5. Dale Jr. Foundation
6. Sun Trust Racing
7. Martin Truex, Jr. Motorsports
8. Hunt Brothers Racing
9. Sprint
10. Richard Petty Motorsports
11. Penske Racing
12. Jimmie Johnson Foundation
13. NASCAR
14. Brad Keselowski Racing
15. Budweiser
16. Best Buy Racing
(MCG Sports PR)

Newman to host decorated Green Beret: Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Goodloe, a Green Beret and decorated war hero, will be a guest of Ryan Newman and the No. 39 U.S. Army/Stewart-Haas Racing team for Sunday's Memorial Day weekend classic -- Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte. The Special Operations Soldier, who is a 1989 graduate from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, served in seven separate tours of duty between Afghanistan and Iraq. He was awarded four Bronze Stars and one Bronze Star with Valor. Goodloe's seven tours of duty included four different deployments in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and three different deployments in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He currently serves as an instructor at the U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Bragg, N.C. When Newman visited Fort Bragg in January, Goodloe was his instructor at the Special Forces Sniper Weapons Range where Newman fired numerous rounds with the M107 50-caliber long-range sniper rifle.(U.S. Army Racing)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wrenchman Award created to honor crew members: Craftsman, the Official Tools of NASCAR, and NASCAR have announced the newest NASCAR season-ending award -- the NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Award, to recognize a team member from each of the three national NASCAR touring series who best showcases core Craftsman attributes of trust, quality, knowledge and innovation when performing their job with the race team. The Wrenchman Award is open to all crew members, whether they work at the track or race shop. Teams will nominate one team member with a selection committee choosing the finalists. A fan voting will decide the winner on the Sprint Cup Series side, while the selection committee will choose the winners from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. The accomplishments and profiles of each of the 12 Cup Series finalists, showcasing how they embody the core Craftsman attributes, will be featured on www.craftsman.com, giving fans a unique opportunity to get a glimpse behind-the-scenes at what it takes to field a NASCAR team and vote for their favorites. In addition, one lucky fan will win a trip to Champions Week in Las Vegas to make the presentation to the winning crew member. Overall, the program is expected to award approximately $170,000 in cash and Craftsman tools to the winners. (PR)

Carl Long and Crew Chief suspended, Crew Chief fined 200k for improper engine size: Associated Press is reporting... NASCAR has suspended driver Carl Long for the next 12 Sprint Cup races and fined crew chief Charles Swing $200,000, the largest penalty in the sport's history. Swing also was suspended until Aug. 18 for using an engine that was too big for NASCAR's specifications last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Long was docked a NASCAR-record 200 points. Additionally, Swing and Long were placed on probation until Dec. 31. (Associated Press)

Jeremy Mayfield hires lawyer; no suit filed yet: Bill Diehl, the same attorney who represented Elliott Sadler last winter in a dispute with Richard Petty Motorsports, confirmed Wednesday he is working with Jeremy Mayfield, but that no suit has yet been filed. "Yes, we're working hard for Jeremy," Diehl said. "Either we'll work it out or the court will. We have not filed yet, but we're working hard. That's all I can tell you." NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed that Diehl had been in contact with the organization. "I can confirm that Mr. Diehl has been in touch with NASCAR, and we've provided him with relevant information pertaining to Jeremy's supsension, including the toxicology report," Poston said. (ESPN.com)

Kahne looking forward to Dodge's new engine: Defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Kasey Kahne said he can't wait until the Dover race May 31 because it's the first time Richard Petty Motorsports is scheduled to use the new Dodge engine. Kurt Busch has used the newer version to climb to third in the points for Penske Racing. Busch said the engine has played a key role in his team's turnaround. Kahne, 16th in the points, hopes the engine can do the same for him. "When we get the R-6 (engine) for Dover, I think that's going to be a big help," he said. "Hopefully we get that and that will... show how good our cars really are." (Virginian-Pilot )

NASCAR Media Group to start own television network? The NASCAR Media Group is not even two years old, but nowhere is the sanctioning body spending more money or more carefully plotting its future. Over the next few months, the media group will start moving out of its cozy, well-worn offices just south of downtown Charlotte. Its new $45 million home - $30 million in state-of-the-art equipment, $15 million in construction - will be adjoining the sparkling NASCAR Hall of Fame building in the heart of downtown, where it will occupy floors two through five of the 19-story office tower. Inside, the group will have everything it needs to start its own network, from multiple studios and control rooms, to full graphics and high-definition capability. Even though the hall of fame won't open for another year, the office space adjoining the attraction will be ready for occupancy in June. It will give NASCAR nearly limitless options when it enters the next round of media talks - its current deals for TV, radio, mobile and the Internet expire in 2014. And the idea of joining Major League Baseball, the NBA, NHL and NFL in starting its own network will be part of the discussion.(Sports Business Journal)

Stewart: Give Gene Haas credit for taking a gamble: Gene Haas was released from prison two weeks ago, and his first race at the track was Tony Stewart's victory in the All-Star race. "Everybody's given us all the credit for this," Stewart said. "And you really have got to give [Haas] credit for taking the gamble and taking the risk and having us come to be a part of this organization like that and trusting us to make some pretty big decisions and personnel changes. "That's not something that a lot of people in that position are willing to do and give up that kind of control to let a totally different group of guys come in and all of a sudden start changing things around." (Florida Times-Union)

CompUSA to sponsor No. 71: David Gilliland and TRG Motorsports are ready to tackle 600 miles of racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. The team was able to take away a lot data from last weekend to apply to race this Sunday. The key component will be a different No. 71 CompUSA/TRG Motorsports Chevy than the team ran in the Open. Kevin Buckler, TRG Motorsports team principal, is forging ahead with limited resources to keep this team going on the track. "The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the biggest races on the schedule and I wanted to make sure we put our best stuff on the track," Buckler said. "The car we ran in the Open we didn't think was going to do we needed in the 600 so we brought a different one. We have very limited resources with this team so we are picking our battles very carefully and trying to perform at a very level on selected stages. We still need to land that sponsor/partner that can help us take this great little team forward into the future."(TRG Motorsports PR)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Jeff Gordon undergoes back procedure: Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon underwent a back procedure Monday in hopes of alleviating pain that has gotten progressively worse. "I had a facet block procedure done on my back on Monday, and it went well," Gordon said in a statement. "I was a little sore after the procedure, but I'll definitely take that brief bit of soreness if it stops the recurring back pain I've had. "I hope that will end the back issues I've been having, but it's too early to tell if that fixed the problem." A facet block procedure involves an injection of local anesthetic and anti- inflammatory into a joint in the spine. The procedure is commonly ordered for patients who suffer lower back pain or pain associated from arthritic changes in the facet joints. If the procedure is not effective, surgery maybe necessary. (Sports Network)

SPEED nearly matches last year's NASCAR All-Star television ratings: SPEED scored a Nielsen Household Rating of 3.68 (2,691,000 households), down just 2 percent from last year’s 3.74 (2,701,000 households) for Saturday’s live broadcast of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXV. Race coverage peaked at 4.69 (3,426,000 households) and was the highest-rated program on cable in its time slot. “While it never feels right to high-five each other when we don’t deliver ratings growth, we know what kind of effort went into making this an amazing week for SPEED and its partners,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “In this challenging climate, it is tremendously gratifying to deliver an All-Star number virtually equal to last year’s effort.” (SPEEDTV)

NASCAR "cautiously optimistic" about Chyrsler's future in sport: This is only to say that what has been reported could mean NASCAR's Chrysler teams, and possibly its GM teams, might face an uncertain future. The words "cautiously optimistic" have been spoken when it comes to Chrysler's future in NASCAR. No doubt they will be heard again if GM indeed encounters a similar situation. NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Brian France said he is confident both manufacturers will remain active in stock-car racing. (SceneDaily.com)

Kyle Petty & Nationwide to raise awareness about distracted driving: Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR star Kyle Petty are joining forces to raise awareness of DWD - driving while distracted. The national campaign, in conjunction with Nationwide's sponsorship of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, kicks off this week with a satellite media tour from Lowe's Motor Speedway and an event at New Technology High School at Garinger in Charlotte, NC (PR)

Roush Fenway Racing opens new store: Jack Roush with the help of Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, Chairman of County Commissioners Jay White and Chamber CEO John Cox, cut the ribbon for the new Roush Fenway Racing store opening and the team's corporate headquarters in Concord, N.C. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and official unveiling of Roush Fenway's new store helped kick off the team's Speedweek activities just prior to the All Star race. (Roush Fenway PR)

Stabler named Grand Marshal for NASCAR weekend in Sonoma: Legendary Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21, at Infineon Raceway. Stabler, who guided the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in 1977, will be honored at the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet on Friday, June 19, at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on race day, June 21 (Father’s Day), including participating in the official command of, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” “I’m very honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at Infineon Raceway. It will be great fun to be back in Northern California with good friends and great fans,” said Stabler, an avid NASCAR fan who resides in Alabama. (PR)

Drug testing doc says Mayfield is aware of substance: David Black, CEO of Aegis Sciences Corp., which runs the testing program, said he specifically identified the drug in several conversations with Mayfield over a three-day period after NASCAR suspended him. “I spoke with him about his positive test result on the day he was suspended, and I spoke to him directly about the test result,” Black said. “Yes, by name of what he tested positive for.” On Saturday, Mayfield said he was never told what drug caused the positive test and has yet to receive a copy of the results.(AP/Kansas City Star)

Dale Jr to host fan event in Detroit: NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is following Jay Leno's lead in showing his support for Detroit with a fan visit May 28 to the Motor City Casino. "Tickets to the event where Earnhardt will meet, greet and answer questions in the casino's Sound Board theater are being distributed to General Motors employees and members of the Michigan National Guard. (Detorit News)

Martin: Winning Sprint Cup title could happen: Can Mark Martin win his first Sprint Cup title? That's a question Martin isn't ready to tackle yet. "It could happen. But if not, at least we got two (wins) instead of one," he said. "That's the way I look at it. Don't take those kind of answers from me as pessimistic or a lack of confidence. All I want to do is be happy and have fun doing this." (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Richard Petty: Current NASCAR drivers are tamer: "The time and effort on the driver -- it used to be all he had to do was drive a race car," said Richard Petty, the grand marshal of Sunday's rain-delayed NASCAR Camping World East/West Series race at Iowa Speedway. "Now he's got to drive a race car, he's got to be able to talk in front of people, he's got to be able to do commercials, he's got to be friendly to the fans, all that. "Used to be they'd just take 'em out of a cage -- the wilder they were the better; they'd take 'em out of a cage, put 'em in a race car and when it was over, they'd put 'em back in a cage. You can't have that kind of driver. It's not that kind of sport anymore." (Des Moines Register)

IRacing.com partners with NASCAR: Now the online computer simulation, which debuted last August, has added NASCAR's endorsement. IRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, based in Bedford and co-owned by Henry and Kaemmer, said it has reached a deal with NASCAR that could catapult iRacing.com to a new level of success. NASCAR says it will adopt the company's simulation - which is played against other users - as a virtual branch of auto racing, with potential scoring updates on NASCAR's website, spots on ESPN, and NASCAR trophies for the best video racers in the country. "We're literally going to be a brand of motor sports to them," said Tony Gardner, iRacing.com's president. "It's going to be NASCAR online." NASCAR said it expects the first officially-sanctioned online races to start in 2010. (Boston Globe)