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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Yeley in No. 41 Mayfield Motorsports entry next two races: Mayfield Motorsports will field a No. 41 Toyota for J.J. Yeley in this weekend's Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap qualifying race for the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, with Shana Mayfield the owner of record following last weekend's indefinite suspension of her husband, owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield, for a violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. The Mayfields plan to file her owner's paperwork with NASCAR Competition on Tuesday morning, followed by the driver change. Crew chief Tony Furr and team manager Bobby Wooten along with their crew members compiled a "short list" of candidates Monday morning and when the Mayfields arrived, they met with the team and then, Yeley, before making their final decision. The new owner said Yeley also would drive the car in the following weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's -- where Yeley finished a career-best second in 2007 -- and for what she and her husband hope will be a brief interlude as they resolve Jeremy Mayfield's positive drug test. "We didn't want to be switching drivers every week," Shana Mayfield said. "The thing about J.J. that we really liked is he lives close to the shop and he came over [Monday] while we were there. He told the guys it wasn't about money -- he just wanted to race, he wanted another chance like Jeremy did when he started the team. "That's kind of what that team's built on, that heart and soul of wanting to race, wanting second chances and wanting to do good. That's all we really care about. It's not about the fame, the glory and the money; it's just a good group of guys that want to race and J.J. really has that attitude. (More at NASCAR.com)

Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Thursday: The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman will feature the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM pit crews in a head-to-head competition at 7:00pm/et Thursday, May 14 at the Time Warner Cable Arena [in Charlotte, NC]. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 495-2295. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 9pm/et.

Expert says NASCAR's banned substances list should be public: A prominent authority on drug testing says the indefinite suspension of Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield further enhances his belief that the sport needs to provide a public list of banned substances to protect itself legally. Mayfield on Saturday became the first Sprint Cup driver suspended for violating the substance abuse policy. Sources close to the situation said Mayfield claims he took Claritin D, an over-the-counter allergy drug that contains pseudoephedrine, a substance banned by most sports. Mayfield said in a prepared statement that the positive test was the result of combining a prescribed and over-the-counter drug, a possiblity the doctor who runs NASCAR's drug testing policy denied was plausible. "A combination of an over-the-counter drug taken with a prescription drug could not cause the positive that we took action on," Dr. David Black of the Tennessee-based Aegis Labs said. But what concerns Dr. Charles Yesalis, a Penn State professor who has testified before Congress on performance-enhancing drugs and spent 25 years researching drug testing, is that drivers are not provided a list of banned substances. The NFL, NBA, MLB PGA Tour and NCAA each make available public lists in their drug testing policies. "That alone to me is ludicrous," Yesalis said Monday. "That just kind of violates your sense of fair play. It never would fly in MLB or the NFL because they have a union. "The drivers don't have a union, but if somebody did that to me I'd go get myself a nasty lawyer. What if somebody in management or ownership doesn't like you? They can use that as a weapon against you." Black said the lack of a list makes the program stronger because it gives the governing body more flexibility. Yesalis doesn't disagree that the findings of the test are legitimate. He, too, never has come across a positive test caused by the use of Claritin D, although "if somebody doubled or tripled the dose I wouldn't want to be next to them at 190 miles per hour going into the first turn at Darlington." But for legal reasons he believes NASCAR needs to be more up front with what they are looking for. Because his is not considered an appealable offense, legal action could be Mayfield's only recourse if he chooses to fight the suspension. Sources close to the situation said that hasn't been determined yet.(ESPN.com)

Monday, May 11, 2009

No driver named for No. 41 yet: Tony Furr, crew chief of the No. 41 Jeremy Mayfield Motorsports entry, rescinded earlier comments to FOXSports.com that J.J. Yeley was tabbed for the position. Speaking on behalf of the team, Shana Mayfield said no decision has been made but Yeley is on the short list. (FOXSports.com)

Brad Keselowski a little disappointed with not being in No. 5: When asked if he was disappointed he lost out on a chance to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports next season, Brad Keselowski waited a few moments to answer. “That’s a tough question. Every driver feels they are ready and capable of doing it, and I’m no exception,” Keselowski said after finishing seventh in Saturday night’s Southern 500. “That’s a premier ride. “I’m disappointed with any ride I don’t get at this point. I sure would like to drive that car.” (ThatsRacin.com)

Kyle Petty blames politicians for no speedway in NW: Why are there are no tracks here? Former Nascar driver Kyle Petty was in Richland Friday for a charity event and tons of fans showed up to greet him. There was a plan to get a track in rural Kitsap County but so far state legislators haven't gotten behind the idea. "We've tried to come up here 5 or 6 times but every time we come up here, the people you guys vote into office seem to vote us out of the states," said Petty. "That's not our fault, so don't blame us because you guys have great drivers. You have Kasey Kahne, you had Chad Little, you got Greg Biffle." (KNDO/KNDU)

Sprint gives fans unprecedented access to NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers meeting: Sprint announced exclusive access to a typically-private race weekend tradition, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver/crew chief meeting. It is the first time in NASCAR's 61-year history race fans have been invited to listen live to the top-secret pre-race meeting between NASCAR officials, drivers and crew chiefs. This one-time opportunity will be available to fans prior to the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race May 16. The audio broadcast will be streamed exclusively on Sprint phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile for customers away from the track and on NASCAR Sprint FanView for race fans at the track. All drivers and crew chiefs attend the meeting each week. NASCAR penalizes any driver or crew chief who misses or is late to the meeting by requiring that team to start at the back of the race, regardless of qualifying position. In addition to this content, Sprint customers also will be treated to SPEED's television broadcast of NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXV in its entirety on Sprint wireless phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile. NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, an exclusive wireless phone application from Sprint, also will offer video highlights of the popular NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge May 14. These special All-Star related offerings are available in addition to an already robust set of features including: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series news; driver stats; in-car audio; radio broadcasts; and post-race press conferences. NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile is available with data plans at no additional charge. To download the application text NASCAR to 7777 on Sprint phones (standard rates apply) or visit www.sprint.com/speed for more information. Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., start at $25 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(Sprint PR)

Drug tester disputes Mayfield's claim; saying its a clear violation: NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield's assertion that use of two allergy medicines led him to run afoul of the series' drug policy is not plausible, the person charged with running the program told USA TODAY. "What we have is a clear violation of policy," said David Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs conducts NASCAR's random testing program. "In my many years of experience, I have never seen a violation like this due to the combination of over-the-counter or prescription products." Black, citing NASCAR policy, declined to specify what caused Mayfield to test positive, saying it was "a drug of concern." (USA Today)

Ceremony set for North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame: The town known as Race City USA has a new and lasting attraction for motorsports fans: a “walk of fame” honoring many of the all-time greatest NASCAR drivers. A Raleigh company recently installed 13 granite and terrazzo markers in downtown Mooresville that include portraits of drivers who have been inducted into the Mooresville-based N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame. The sidewalk tributes span much of the 200 block of North Main Street in front of the Charles Mack Citizen Center. Drivers include such legends as Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and the late Dale Earnhardt. Their portraits are from images in museums in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Talladega, Ala. Petty, Pearson, Earnhardt's daughter, Kelley Earnhardt, and many of the other drivers plan to greet fans at a ceremonial unveiling of the N.C. Auto Racing Walk of Fame at 2:30 p.m. May 20 outside the Citizen Center.(ThatsRacin.com)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Tough day for John Andretti at Indy: John Andretti, taking a break from his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride to run at Indy, posted a disappointing qualifying speed of 221.109 Sunday and was trying to find more speed in practice when he crashed. Graham Rahal, working on his race day setup after qualifying fourth on Saturday, nearly hit Andretti's crashed car. Minutes later, the unfortunate Andretti's speed was bumped from the lineup by Sharp. (AP)

Gene Haas released from prison: Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Gene Haas was released from prison Friday after serving about 16 months for tax fraud and has received permission from a U.S. District Court judge to attend NASCAR races while on supervised release. Haas’ projected release was Sunday, but the federal Bureau of Prisons’ Web site indicated that Haas was released Friday. Haas was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2007 and entered a Lompoc, Calif., federal correctional facility Jan. 14, 2008. He has asked the court, and received permission, to attend NASCAR races while on supervised release. The first race mentioned in the motion is the upcoming Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. (SceneDaily.com)

NASCAR tops Saturday television ratings: NASCAR was the big winner in prime time Saturday and drove Fox to the top. The Southern 500 at Darlington, S.C., averaged 6.5 million viewers in prime time on Fox, according to preliminary ratings released this afternoon. Mark Martin won the race. We'll have updated ratings early next week. Here's how the other broadcast networks fared: CBS with 5.2 million, ABC with 4.5 million and NBC with 4.1 million. (Orlando Sentinel)

Mayfield releases statement concerning failed drug test: Statement from Jeremy Mayfield – Owner/Driver of the No. 41 Toyota Camry: “As both a team owner and a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I have immense respect for the enforcement policies NASCAR has in place. In my case, I believe that the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test. My Doctor and I are working with both Dr. Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter. Mayfield Motorsports remains committed to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the organization will announce an interim owner and a temporary replacement driver early next week. Those roles will commence immediately beginning with next week’s Sprint Open and continuing through Charlotte and beyond.”(Mayfield Motorsports)

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Jeremy Mayfield and others suspended by NASCAR: Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the No. 41 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Tony Martin, a licensed crew member with the No. 34 team in the Sprint Cup Series and Ben Williams, a licensed crew member with the No. 16 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. All three were found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)

NASCAR suspends Sprint Cup driver: NASCAR has suspended a Sprint Cup driver under terms of its substance abuse policy - immediately and indefinitely - in advance of Saturday night’s race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, ThatsRacin.com and The Charlotte Observer have learned. Sources said the driver, who has not been identified by officials, was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book. The determination was based on findings at last weekend’s race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. NASCAR on Saturday declined to discuss the matter, saying that questions would be dealt with in a news conference at the South Carolina track on Saturday at 6 p.m. (ThatsRacin.com)

Scott Speed to replace Nemechek at Darlington: Scott Speed will drive Nemco Motorsports' No. 87 car tonight in the Southern 500, a Red Bull Racing spokeswoman confirmed Saturday afternoon. Speed failed to qualify his No. 82 car for the Sprint Cup race on Friday at Darlington after crashing in practice and going to a backup car. Red Bull worked out an arrangement with Nemco to have Speed replace driver Joe Nemechek. (SceneDaily.com)

Logano says Gibbs is being patient: Joey Logano is fourth in the Nationwide Series standings and has placed in the top five in three of the past four Nationwide starts. "It's the biggest jump that I've ever made," Logano said. "Nationwide to (Sprint) Cup is a huge jump. When you look at it, you are running with so many Cup guys (in Nationwide). But the Cup cars are so different that Nationwide cars. The competition is so stiff. It's just going to take time. Joe Gibbs and Home Depot are being patient with me, which is good." (The State)

Penske to buy Saturn brand? Roger Penske says he is contemplating a bid for the Saturn automotive brand that General Motors Corp. plans to sell or shut down. While Penske has not yet made an offer, he said Friday a decision would have to come soon and that a number of unidentified details need to be worked out. Penske has a vested interest in the automotive industry. But Penske denied that he has made a deal and said published reports are ahead of the process. (AP/ESPN.com)

Vickers: NASCAR will help students learn science: NASCAR and the National Science Foundation believe racing can help America make up lost ground in the study of math and science. Brian Vickers is convinced students' affinity for racecars and the speed sports can be a driving force in that direction. The premise is to use the excitement and star power of NASCAR to kindle interest in the principles that govern the performance of a racecar--friction, heat, drag and drafting, for example. Vickers, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are among the NASCAR luminaries who appear in the series. Vickers, for one, recognizes that the United States has lagged behind other world leaders in the math and science arenas, and he's concerned about the implications. "I think math and science is critical to any sustainable economy," said Vickers, 25, who made his NASCAR debut at 17. (Crash.net)

Elliott to attempt to break NASCAR speed record: The current NASCAR top speed record sits at 212.089 and was set by Bill Elliot at Talladega Superspeedway in a 1987 Ford Thunderbird. Brent Hajek apparently figures it's about time that 22-year-old record is topped. Next Wednesday, May 13th, Hajek will once again put Bill Elliot behind the wheel of a Ford at the famed Talladega oval in Alabama, only this time, the vehicle in question will be a Mustang FR500C modified to run on E85. This particular Mustang Cobra Jet has already managed to clock a 252 mile per hour top speed at the Salt Flats in Bonneville. On Wednesday, May 13, Hajek Motorsports will embark on its next challenge, with technical support from Ford Racing, when they attempt to break the 22-year-old NASCAR speed record held by Bill Elliott. Elliott himself will pilot Hajek's E-85 Mustang FR500C, which has been reconfigured to NASCAR specs, at Talladega in an attempt to break his 212.089 mph qualifying lap from 1987 at the same track. FIA officials will be on site to verify the attempt and to validate the record. The Hajek Motorsports E-85 Mustang is currently at Bill Elliott's race shop in Dawsonville, Georgia, going through final preparations. Early next week, the team will scrub tires and do initial testing, in anticipation of breaking the record on Wednesday afternoon.(AutoBlogGreen.com)

Ky. Busch Crew Chief - Busch is maturing: There are signs Kyle Busch has learned from those experiences. More and more, crew chief Steve Addington sees Busch pulling back at times, with a goal of finishing the race to score points. "He's been a lot smarter," Addington said. "It's knowing he has to finish these races. In bad situations, he's backed off where before he would have just stuck it in there and probably tore up our car or someone else's. That's maturity." (The State)

J. Gordon talks about back pain: Jeff Gordon told Dustin Long Friday after qualifying that he will have some treatment on his back on May 18, two days after the all-star race. Here's what he said about his back and how it's impacted him.

"(The treatment) is nothing invasive. it's just some injections that are going to do deal with the pain. They say it's sort of like an arthritis and it's excessive because of some of the trauma that my back has gone through, maybe through some wrecks or something. So that's what we're going to do. That's the plan.''

Q: What is the back pain you've been feeling?

GORDON: "I can't stand up for long periods of time. I can't sit. It's not like an excruciating pain. People have disc problems. I'm not one of those people. Mine is more nerves and muscular that when I'm in the car and really pulling Gs and using the steering wheel a lot and using the brake pedal a lot, it just really aggrevates the muscle. There are a couple of tracks, like Martinsville and Bristol that have been really tough. I was actually pretty good last week. So far it's been good here this week. It's there but the things that I'm doing, the training, the massage, the stretching, those things right now are starting to pay off for me and right now I'm not having as much issues as I had at Bristol.

Q: With your treatment is this still something you're going to have to live with for the rest of your life or will the treatment eliminate it?

GORDON: "They say sometimes it eliminates it and sometimes it lasts six months. Everybody is different, so I won't really know. (More at PilotOnline)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Bowyer's streak: 83 consecutive Sprint Cup races Clint Bowyer has been running at the finish, one shy of Herman Beams' record set from 1961 to '63.

Kyle Busch -- Darlington is much faster track: Kyle Busch asked about how Darlington's fairly new pavement has changed the racetrack: "The track is much faster and has a lot more grip than in the past, so the tire wear is entirely different. But, it's still a unique racetrack and challenging, whether it's new or old pavement and what tires we bring. I like Darlington as a racetrack. I think it's a little easier for me to drive now with the fresh pavement than the on the old pavement. For whatever reason, I wasn't that great at the old stuff. But I finished second in the Nationwide Series once. This time, going around there is going to be the second year on the new asphalt. So it should still be pretty grippy. And I'm looking forward to it. I think Denny (Hamlin, teammate) had the tire test out there, so we'll talk to him and get some of his feedback on what he learned." (JGR PR)

Reutimann -- Darlington safe despite speeds being up: Speeds at Darlington Raceway, which will have a Nationwide race today and a Sprint Cup race Saturday, are up considerably since repaving last year, but driver David Reutimann said that the track is "pretty safe." "No track is totally foolproof, but Darlington is a pretty safe racetrack," Reutimann said. "Because the track is so narrow, it's going to be hard for a car to take flight." (Winston-Salem Journal)

Sorenson completes testing at Infineon: NASCAR driver Reed Sorenson visited Infineon Raceway on Wednesday to hone his skills on the challenging 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. Sorenson came to the track for the one-day test session in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21 (Father’s Day). Sorenson has competed twice on the challenging road course (2006, 2007), with a best finish of 29th in 2006. He was joined by his crew chief, Mike Shiplett, at the test. “This is my favorite of the two road courses we visit because it’s more technical. We don’t run as fast, but it’s fun to race here,” said Sorenson. “There are a few places where we can get better on the track. I have to learn not to go too fast.”(Infineon Raceway PR)

Grubb's death ruled a sucide: NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb committed suicide by a gunshot wound to the head, the state medical examiner determined yesterday. Grubb, a native of Mechanicsville, was discovered by housekeepers at the Alpine Motel on the 7000 block on Brook Road at approximately 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. There were no indications of drug use found inside the room, according to Henrico police Lt. Doug Perry. A toxicology test was performed on Grubb, whose abbreviated NASCAR career was marked by alleged substance abuse while competing in NASCAR's lower-tier divisions -- Busch Series (now Nationwide) and Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World). The police report indicates it may take up to six weeks before the toxicology results are released. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Atlanta Motor Speedway sues Pep Boys over contract dispute: Atlanta Motor Speedway is suing Pep Boys over a payment dispute on a contract that called for the auto parts chain to pay $3 million for a two-year NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race sponsorship, according to court documents. Pep Boys has allegedly stopped making payments for the 2009 race, according to the lawsuit filed April 30 in Georgia Superior Court in Henry County, Ga. The suit says the deal was worth $1.4 million for the track’s 2008 fall race and $1.6 million for the 2009 fall race. According to the complaint, Pep Boys did not make the $800,000 payment due March 1, 2009, and the track is owed $1.6 million for the 2009 race. Although the contract states that the sponsorship is for “a fall NSCS Event,” SMI says in its complaint that Pep Boys did not object to the 2009 race being moved to Labor Day weekend before it was announced. According to the complaint, Pep Boys sent a letter saying it could terminate the contract because the track breached the agreement since the 2009 fall race is now “during the summer.” Atlanta Motor Speedway alleges that the wording in the contract prevents it from being terminated on those grounds.(SceneDaily)

Darlington adds D. Waltrip and Cale Yarbarough to Legends Walk: Monuments honoring the careers of Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip have been added to the Darlington Legends Walk behind the Tyler tower grandstand behind the frontstretch. Each marker is made of granite and marble, resembles a Goodyear racing tire and old style pit board and weighs nearly 2,300 pounds. "Adding Cale and Darrell to the Darlington Legends Walk is the perfect way to honor their respective careers at Darlington Raceway," track president Chris Browning said. "We hope fans enjoy reading about Cale and Darrell's careers at Darlington Raceway and reminiscing about their place in history at Darlington." Yarborough won five times at Darlington and also had 11 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s in 49 races. Waltrip also had five wins in 55 starts, including 18 top-five finishes and 23 top-10s. (Darlington Raceway PR)

Southern 500 tickets still available: Fans still looking to attend this weekend's races are in luck. For the first time since the move to Mother's Day weekend, tickets are not sold out in advance. "Tickets are available for both events," said Darlington Raceway spokesman Jake Harris, referring to tonight's Diamond Hill Plywood 200 and Saturday night's Southern 500 at the 62,000-seat track. "Good seats remain for Saturday from $35 to $95, something for everybody's budget." (Mrytle Beach Sun Times)

Aflac/Pixar car and commercial to debut at Darlington: Aflac Inc. has collaborated with Disney Pixar for a new television commercial set to debut Saturday. The Aflac duck will share the screen with a few characters from Disney Pixar’s 3-D movie “Up,” an animated comedy adventure that hits theaters later this month. The ad’s message is the same one Aflac has been pushing in its last several commercials: the company will provide policyholders with cash when they are injured or sick. Company officials have previously said that while many people are familiar with Aflac, not all know what the supplemental insurance firm actually does. “This commercial reminds all of us about the importance of having a financial plan for life’s unexpected events,” Jeff Charney, Aflac senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said in a news release.Aflac will also use characters from “Up” in a new paint scheme for the Aflac 99 Ford Fusion race car. The Disney Pixar-inspired car will make its debut Saturday when Carl Edwards takes the wheel at the Southern 500 Nascar race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. (Ledger-Enquirer)

Dale JR Foundation to hold All-Star Suite event: The Dale Jr. Foundation, in recognition of its special primary paint scheme that will be featured on the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy during the Sprint All-Star race , announced it will host an All-Star suite fundraiser to benefit several area charities. With the purchase of a Dale Jr. All-Star suite ticket, race fans can experience a variety of VIP activities surrounding the race, including an appearance by both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty. The money raised will benefit The Dale Jr. Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities. Fans that purchase an All-Star suite ticket get a reserved seat in a luxury box overlooking the 1.5-mile Superspeedway, complete with complimentary food and drink throughout the race. Also included are a cash bar, souvenir gift bag and eligibility for raffle prizes. Prior to the start of the 100-lap race, tickets holders will receive a pre-race pit tour and an appearance from Earnhardt Jr. himself, and NASCAR Legend Richard Petty, in the VIP suite. Dale Jr.’s All-Star suite tickets are still available for $288 a piece. Visit dalejr.com and click on the All-Star banner to purchase. To learn more about how you can help Dale Jr. make a difference, go to thedalejrfoundation.org.(JR Motorsports PR)

Gordon could tie Cale Yarborough for career Cup wins: Jeff Gordon can tie Cale Yarborough for Sprint Cup career victories with a win Saturday at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Gordon has 82 victories, with five of them coming at the Southern 500. That tied him with Yarborough for the most wins in the race. Yarborough will drive the honorary pace car Saturday. (Dallas Morning News)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Kyle Busch not concerned about other drivers: Kyle Busch is busy trying to figure out how he's going to win his next race. "You've got to keep your mind focused," Busch said in the weekly NASCAR teleconference. "The way I do it is to not let outside things get in. I don't pay attention to a lot of what goes on during the weekend. I don't pay a lot of attention to what goes on with other people, with other racers, with fans and that kind of stuff. People always think that I might be a jerk or I might be not so social or personable because I'm trying to keep in the zone and stay focused on what I'm doing and what's coming up next." (Dallas Morning News)

NASCAR fans already camping out at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Though the NASCAR All-star Race and Coca-Cola 600 are weeks away, some fans are already arriving at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte for the May races. For the next two and a half weeks, Wisconsin resident Neil Van Der Jagt plans to live in his RV outside the speedway. As a retired accountant, he said his life is NASCAR. "It's just something that gets into your blood and it's hard to get it out of, and you just continue coming and enjoying and really liking the races," he said. Speedway officials expect 8,000 RVs to fill the lots in the coming days, which will bring between 2,000 and 30,000 people and a surge to the economy. (News 14)

Franchitti happy to be back in Indy Cars: "I'm pretty lucky," said Dario Franchitti, who drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "I go over there (NASCAR) and had a chance to try that as an experiment, then I get to come back (to IndyCar) and jump into the best seat." Franchitti departed from Andretti Green Racing on top of the IndyCar Series after winning the 2007 championship. But after just 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup series races, where his best finish was 22nd, and 14 Nationwide Series events in 2008, Franchitti reverted back to open-wheel racing -- where he belongs. "I get such a thrill out of driving these things," Franchitti said. "When I jumped back into the car for the first time, it just put a smile on my face." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Where's the "franchise" performance? Maybe "The Franchise" tag was stuck on the driver of the No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota a little too soon. For the first time since the second week of the season, David Reutimann isn't in the top 12 in points. Back-to-back finishes of 26th and 28 have dropped him to 13th (Dallas Morning News)

NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb found dead: Suspended Nationwide Series driver Kevin Grubb was found dead on Wednesday in a Richmond, Va., area hotel. He was 31. Henrico Co. Lt. Richard Cosby said Grubb was discovered at the Alpine Motel just outside of Richmond at 11:30 a.m. The cause of death has not been released pending the notification of next to kin, but Cosby said no foul play was suspected. Grubb was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR on Sept. 11, 2006 after his second violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. (ESPN.com)

Logano wants more Goodyear tire test: Joey Logano in his USA Today diary writes... "It was back to Daytona International Speedway on Monday and Tuesday for a Goodyear tire test. It went well, and we learned some things on the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota. Even though the purpose of the test is to help Goodyear pick a tire that will race well, you get to change a lot of stuff you want on the car most of the time. There is a certain point where you've got to do what Goodyear wants, but the first part of the day, you get to tune the car. Then they start throwing different tires at you, and they let you get in a pack to draft and let you play with your car a little bit more. Goodyear still is the big priority, though, and they decide which teams attend the tests. You want to do what's good for Goodyear so you can be asked to do more of these tests." (USA Today)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Mark Martin back full-time in 2010: Mark Martin will return as a fulltime driver in the Sprint Cup Series next season to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports at least one more season, HMS officials announced on Wednesday. Last July, Martin signed a two-year contract with HMS covering one full Cup season in 2009 and one part-time season in 2010. The two sides amended the agreement this week to make 2010 another fulltime season. "Week in and week out, Mark continues to be one of the best race car drivers in the world," Hendrick said. "He's already made an incredible contribution to Hendrick Motorsports and our entire company is excited about running another full season and winning races with him in 2010." (ThatsRacin.com)

SMI considering adding 30,000 to 50,000 seats at Kentucky Speedway: Speedway Motorsports Inc. Officials talked about upgrades for Kentucky Speedway as the company wants to put a Cup race there. There's work to make it easier to get in and out of the track and some items for camping. Officials said there's talk of adding upward of 30,000 to 50,000 seats to that track. Kentucky Speedway has a grandstand capacity of 66,089 according to the NASCAR truck series media guide. (The Virginian-Pilot)

SMI profits drop 34% in first quarter: Speedway Motorsports, which owns Lowe's Motor Speedway and other major NASCAR tracks, this morning reported a first quarter 2009 profit of more than $20.3 million, down 34 percent from a year earlier. Total revenues for the Concord-based company were less than $133.6 million, down 14 percent. Admissions revenues fell almost 13 percent, while event-related revenue dropped nearly 24 percent. Speedway Motorsports venues held five major NASCAR races in the first quarter, compared with six in the same period for 2008. The company also cited the recession and a pullback in fan spending -- at races and for NASCAR merchandise -- as reasons for the revenue decline. "While our first quarter results reflect that challenging economic conditions continue, we remain confident that (the company's) business model continues to provide us with greater resilience than most other industries,” said Marcus Smith, chief operating officer and president, in a statement. (ThatsRacin.com)

Regan Smith in talks with Furniture Row Racing? Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing have been discussing an arrangement for 2010. The number of races has not been determined at this time -- the ultimate is to have Smith run a full schedule in the No. 78. Furniture Row Racing is currently working on sponsorship opportunities and is optimistic about 2010.(Furniture Row Racing PR)

McMurray doesn't see move to Yates Racing as demotion: Jamie McMurray said he's had no discussions with anyone at Roush about his future. He said it twice, then said he didn't know how to make it any clearer and that the issue is essentially a media creation. McMurray also took exception to the idea that the team that gets moved would be a castoff of Roush Fenway Racing. "The media has made it that the team that's gonna get moved is going to be demoted or it's gonna be devastating. The fact is, we build all of Yates' cars and obviously our engines come from the same place and we share a lot of technology with Yates. It's really not a lot different from what the Stewart-Haas team has this year with Hendrick." (Orlando Sentinel)

Auto racing documentary takes top honors at Tribeca Film Festival: Half lean, mean racing saga and half in-depth character study, "Racing Dreams" is a dynamite docu about three kids vying for the National Championship of the World Karting Assn. -- the unofficial "Little League" of NASCAR racing. Directed by Marshall Curry (whose "Street Fight," about a corrupt Newark mayoral race, nabbed an Academy Award nomination), the perceptively balanced "Dreams" transitions seamlessly from domestic drama to 70-mph heats. Winner of Tribeca's docu award, the pic promises a potentially wide audience base among fans of racing, fans of kids and fans of documentaries. (Variety.com)

NHMS spending half-million dollars to upgrade catch fence: The last time a car flew into the fencing at Talladega and caused injuries to fans (Bobby Allison), the result was a reworking and strengthening of the fencing through the tri-oval. It worked beautifully! In the wake of the second flying car incident at Talladega (Carl Edwards), we're likely to see more good. Bruton Smith, owner of New Hampshire Speedway, among others, says the fencing at the track will be replaced in time for the June 28 race. Smith said he's spending almost a half-million dollars to make a safer environment. I'm sure a part of that is the fact that he doesn't want to flirt with possible lawsuits if something was to happen, but the bottom line is that something will be done to make the track safer for fans. (Tuscaloosa News)

Tony Gibson named Crew Chief of the Race at Richmond: Tony Gibson, crew chief for thee No. 39 U.S. Army Chevy driven by Ryan Newman, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Saturday's Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 39 team finished a respectable 4th place in Saturday's race after qualifying 10th. The team, led by Gibson, was strong early in the race, putting Newman in the lead four times (for a total of 45 laps) by lap 313. After being involved in a wreck on lap 314, Newman lost valuable track position, putting him back in 15th following the pit stop on lap 316. Determined to get back up front with the lead pack, Gibson continued to coach his driver as he worked his way through the field. With Gibson's guidance, Newman was back up to 4th with 44 laps remaining. 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 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.(Wypall Wipers PR)

RPM to use new Dodge engine at Dover: Richard Petty Motorsports plans to switch to the new Dodge engine in time for the May 31 race at Dover, vice president of race operations Robbie Loomis said Tuesday. Loomis said only one of the organization's four drivers likely will use the R6P8 that the other Dodge organization, Penske Racing, has used all season. A decision on which driver will use it will be made in the upcoming weeks. Kasey Kahne could get the nod if the organization believes the engine will help get him back into the top 12 to qualify for the Chase. "We talked about using it for the All-Star race or maybe the [Coca-Cola 600]," Loomis said of the upcoming races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "It's just risk versus reward. We were not comfortable bringing it out in the 600." (ESPN.com)

Brad Keselowski to Stewart-Haas in third car? Another option for Brad Keselowski would be Stewart-Haas, which has close ties to Hendrick, adding a third car that could go to either Keselowski or Martin. Another scenario could have Keselowski moving up to Cup with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team. Asked about such a move, Earnhardt said: "We would consider it, but we have to do what's right for the company and the business." (The Virginian- Pilot)

Darlington slashes concession prices: In an effort to reduce costs for fans attending the 2009 Southern 500, Darlington Raceway and Americrown, the track’s concessionaire, have reduced prices on some food and beverage items and added value meals to the menu. Highlights of the new menu include:

• Reduced price on regular all-beef hot dog to $3, a 25 percent savings
• Hot dog and fry combo meal for $5 – a $2 savings
• Cheeseburger and fry combo meal for $7 – a $2 savings
• Kids Value Meal with peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cookie, fruit roll-up and half pint of milk for $4
• Reduced price on Dasani bottled water to $3, a 25 percent savings

“We want our fans to be able to come to the Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com, bring the family, especially Mom, buy a Coke and a hot dog and enjoy the event without worrying about their wallet,” said track President Chris Browning. “We have the most loyal fans in NASCAR and we want to do everything we can to keep the cost of attending an event at Darlington Raceway down.” (Darlington Raceway PR)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Bowyer: More cars needed at Daytona tire test: In a normal Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway, there may be three or four participating stock-car teams collecting data for the NASCAR supplier. As a prep for the July 4 Coke Zero 400, Goodyear has 10 Sprint Cup Series stock cars and a dozen drivers turning laps over the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The two-day test concludes today. "Just having three or four cars out there drafting, you don't get the (desired) effect, you don't get the sensation of the speed, what the cars go through in the draft, so we needed a few more cars here, then just two or three cars," driver Clint Bowyer said. "The tires don't get the abuse they get when you're under the loads of drafting with 40 cars out there. They got the right amount of cars out here." (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

David Pearson on Darlington -- It was scary: The first thing a race fan thinks about when he hears the words "David Pearson" and "Darlington" mentioned in the same breath is: "Master. More Darlington wins than anybody. Could drive the old track with one hand behind his back, and probably blindfolded." Although most of the above came to pass, that wasn't exactly the reaction of Darlington Raceway's all-time winningest driver after his first glimpse of NASCAR's original superspeedway. "I said, 'Lord, have mercy,'" Pearson said. "It was scary." (Myrtle Beach Sun News)

Eleven cars vie for eight spots at Darlington: Eleven teams will vie for the eight spots available to teams outside the top 35 in owner points: Marlin, Papis, Keselowski, Tommy Baldwin Racing's Scott Riggs, Mayfield Motorsports' Jeremy Mayfield, Gunselman Motorsports' Todd Bodine, Prism Motorsports' Dave Blaney, TRG Motorsports' David Gilliland, Smith, Red Bull Racing's Scott Speed and Nemco Motorsports' Joe Nemechek. (SceneDaily.com)

Sam Brass unveils special edition Lowe's Motor Speedway programs: Renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass, along with officials from Lowe's Motor Speedway, today unveiled two original paintings that will grace the covers of souvenir programs for two of the most significant events in the track's history: the 25th edition of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 50th running of the iconic Coca-Cola 600. A high impact illustration entitled "Silver Knights!" appears on the cover of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race souvenir publication, while the Coca-Cola 600 program features an equally poignant artwork called "Gold Rush!" Of course, the titles allude to the silver and golden anniversaries of the two prestigious events. "Producing the cover artwork for these two spectacular anniversary events certainly presented me with one of the biggest creative challenges I have ever faced in my career," said Sam Bass, the official artist of Lowe's Motor Speedway. (LMS PR)

Kyle Busch has chance to win a million at Iowa: Commit to race at Iowa Speedway, win $1 million. This formula’s worked for NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne, who each collected a seven-figure NASCAR All-Star race victory the past two seasons – one night before competing in a Camping World East/West Series event at Newton. So why not Kyle Busch, who will race in Newton’s first Camping World East/West Series event of the season May 17 after running for the $1 million at Charlotte, N.C.? “It’s kind of funny the way that they picked it,” Busch said in response to a question from The Des Moines Register today in a NASCAR teleconference. “Hopefully the tradition continues for the third year in a row.” (Des Moines Register)

No. 24 Crew wins Pit Road Precision award: Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s (May 2) NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. It was the third win in the last five races for the No. 24 crew, which has a solid lead in the season-long Tissot pit road competition. After 10 of 36 Sprint Cup races, Gordon’s team has three pit crew wins while seven other teams each have one. The pit crew win at the .75-mile Richmond track was a result of Gordon’s DuPont Chevrolet Impala SS spending the least amount of time on pit road – 279.607 seconds. The quick effort helped lift Gordon to an eighth-place finish and a return to first place in the Sprint Cup driver point standings. “The No. 24 DuPont crew was solid again in Richmond,” said crew chief Steve Letarte. “In an effort to stay ahead of the changing track conditions, chassis adjustments were a part of almost every pit stop—and they didn’t miss a beat.” Gordon’s pit crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Greg Morin. (PR)

Kyle Busch -- I'm here to be myself: Through it all, the driver has remained Kyle Busch, the guy not afraid to race or speak his mind. Politically correct has never been the Busch way. You may not like the guy, but you have to respect his talents and accomplishments to date. "I'm here to be myself, man," Busch said. "I am who I am. Everybody is who they are, for whatever reason. I don't think it's necessarily the way you're raised or where you're raised or whatever. I just think what you believe in, what your beliefs are, what all happens around you as you grow up and stuff." (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

Lowes Foods partners with MWR: Lowes Foods and Michael Waltrip Racing have teamed up to race for the checkered flag in three races this season at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Lowes Foods is proud to be an associate sponsor of the No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota and No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota as David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip compete in the NASCAR Sprint Showdown for a spot in the All-Star Race on Saturday, May 16th. Lowes Foods associate sponsorship will continue with the two Michael Waltrip Racing entries for the 600-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on Sunday, May 24th. Lowes Foods also announces their primary sponsorship of the No. 99 Toyota Camry driven by David Reutimann in the Nationwide Series race on Friday, October 16th. As part of this partnership, Lowes Foods customers will receive one free entry to Michael Waltrip Racing's Raceworld USA when a valid Lowes Foods receipt over $25 is presented at the entrance during the month of October. Additionally, Lowes Foods will hold a sweepstakes where two customers will have the opportunity to win a grand prize fantasy trip to the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 17, 2009, a second place prize, a shopping cart race with David Reutimann worth $500 of free groceries or a third place prize, a $250 Lowes Foods gift card and a Michael Waltrip Racing prize pack. More info at www.lowesfoods.com.(MWR PR)

Regan Smith close to landing full time ride in 2010? Reigning Sprint Cup rookie of the year No. 78 Regan Smith appears close to signing a deal for a fulltime ride in 2010. Smith lost his ride at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing before the start of this season due to lack of sponsorship. He has competed in five events for Furniture Row Racing, with a season-best 15th at Talladega two weeks ago. (ESPN Insider)

Goodyear test at Daytona; Stewart and others praise tires: A few minutes after finishing a 10-car Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway, both Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray jumped to the embattled tire-maker's defense. That's been a theme all season. "That's a tough job, you know," Bowyer said. "They never get to say when they did something right; you always hear about Goodyear doing something wrong. And they work hard at it. They try to do the best they can. They bring us drivers here to do tire tests to make sure that we have the tire we want to go racing. What more can you ask for?" Overall though, tire performance has improved this season and NASCAR's teams are noticing. "I've been impressed with how hard Goodyear is working," Tony Stewart said in Richmond. "They continue to not sit on their hands. I mean, they keep trying different things and keep trying to find combinations that make it better for us." (Associated Press)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Bruton Smith wants mandate standard for catch fences: The chairman of Speedway Motorsports says NASCAR should mandate a standard catch-fence system for all sanctioned tracks following the recent crash at Talladega Superspeedway. He already has begun construction on a new system at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that will be in place when the Sprint Cup series goes there next month. "Let's fix it because the sport is at risk," Bruton Smith said on Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Cables [that provide strength to the fence] are just like fishing lines. You have a certain test lines. Cables can be like a quarter inch and have a 90,000 PSI [pounds per square inch]. "That's the things we need to do at all these speedways to make sure we have the strongest there is." (ESPN.com)

NASCAR animated movie "NASCAR: The Secret Life of Cars" coming soon: Nascar is revving up plans to get into the animated film business, pairing up with Larry Kasanoff's Tinseltown Toons to produce "Nascar: The Secret Life of Cars." The direct-to-DVD pic will be distribbed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2011. The final title may change. Film, which will detail what happens in a Nascar garage when the humans have left and the cars come to life, is being eyed as a way for the racing org to try to lure a younger generation of fans at a time when the sport is watching its viewership head in reverse. Decision to venture into toon territory also comes after Disney and Pixar proved with "Cars" that animated auto racing can play big with audiences; pic not only was a winner at the B.O. but has continued to generate considerable coin from licensing and merchandise. (Variety)

SMI requesting a Cup date for Kentucky Speedway; N.H. or Atlanta to lose date? Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith says he is still confident that he can get Kentucky Speedway on the 2010 Sprint Cup schedule, even as a NASCAR spokesman says time is running out. Smith’s only hope to get on the schedule appears to be for the Kentucky Speedway’s founders to drop an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and sister company International Speedway Corp. “We’re trying to persuade these people to try to drop that appeal, and then they are out of the way of NASCAR, and it would make it much simpler,” Smith said Monday, two days after he was in Kentucky for the Kentucky Derby. “We haven’t been able to make that occur. There’s only two people [among the founders] that’s holding it up.” SMI currently has two Cup races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Atlanta and New Hampshire are considered the two candidates to lose a race. Smith said he has had discussions with NASCAR about where he would move the date but has not filed the formal request “because when I do, then I will have to name the place and that type of thing, and I have not done that. That will do a lot of damage to a lot of people if I sat here [and speculated].” (SceneDaily.com)

Could Richard Petty Motorsports be switching to Toyota? Could a possible move to Toyota have delayed the development of the new Dodge engine at Richard Petty Motorsports? According to RPM driver Kasey Kahne, that was one of several possible answers he's heard to his questions about RPM's development of the engine, which is already being used by Penske Racing. "It depends on who you talk to. Some people say Dodge, some people say money, some people say we're taking a break and going to Toyota," the driver told reporters Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "There's all different ways to look at it and say, 'Why aren’t we running it?’ I have my own theory on it all, but it's just a theory." (ThatsRacin.com)

Hamlin Crew Chief: Nothing but frustration at Richmond: Hamlin, who led a race-high 148 laps, entered pit road with the lead on lap 274. Car owner Joe Gibbs said two lug nuts fell off the right front tire, costing Hamlin time. Hamlin exited pit road eighth and got stuck in traffic the rest of the race. His team later changed two tires instead of four for track position, but the plan backfired and Hamlin fell to 14th at the finish. “You don’t take anything out of it,” Hamlin’s crew chief Mike Ford said of the finish, “other than frustration.” (Carroll County Times)

Just how bad is Dale Jr? Watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggle to a 27th place finish at Richmond Saturday night, I became curious about NASCAR's most popular driver. Just how bad has this stretch of mediocrity become? The 15 wins Earnhardt Jr. posted in his first five full seasons on the circuit was pretty impressive. Since that really impressive six-win season in 2004, Earnhardt Jr. has gone parts of five seasons (136 races) with just three wins. That's a pitiful showing by someone who has proven he can compete in NASCAR's top echelon. (Birmingham News)

Darlington Raceway president optimistic about sell-out: Darlington Raceway’s sellout streak will be put to the test this week. The track has sold out its previous four Mother’s Day events with last year’s sellout happening the day before the race. But, like every NASCAR track, Darlington Raceway is feeling the effects of the economy. As of Sunday night, there were less than 3,500 tickets left for Saturday’s Southern 500. So far this season, Bristol is the only track to announce a sellout. Richmond, which had its 33-race sellout streak snapped last year, didn’t sell out Saturday’s Russ Friedman 400. Still, Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning thinks a sellout is a possibility. He said ticket sales have spiked in recent weeks and is hoping the trend continues. “We are optimistic about our chances of selling the event out again,” Browning said Friday. “It seems to be the trend that folks are waiting a little bit to buy tickets and we know that.” (SCNow.com)

Raines to replace Andretti at Coke-Cola 600? Tony Raines said Saturday that he would be surprised if he is not in the #34 NASCAR Sprint Cup car for Front Row Motorsports next week at Darlington Raceway while John Andretti attempts to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Team owner Bob Jenkins has said that Raines would likely fill that seat for the events at Darlington and Lowe’s Motor Speedway while Andretti is in Indianapolis. Raines competes for the team in the Nationwide Series and has run in select Cup races for the team this year.(SceneDaily.com)

Hornish surprised about short track success: Sam Hornish Jr. took sixth Saturday, the second time he has set his career-best Cup finish in the past three races. He was ninth at Phoenix. "We were able to get out of here with another top-10 finish. I like the short tracks more all the time," Hornish said. "I wouldn't have thought my first top-10s would come on short tracks." (News-Observer)

Kyle Busch wants to win 200 races: When he was reeling off victories at a record pace last season, Busch said that 200 in his career was his goal. But even he knows despite flying high now that might be a lofty expectation. "It could if I can keep this pace up," he smiled. "But I know the older I get I'll start slowing down some way. You know, hopefully I can achieve that goal. It would be sure nice to get that. I know it's not 200 Cup victories like Richard Petty has. It will still be a phenomenal mark for me." "I don't know how long I'll be in the Truck Series or Nationwide Series, but hopefully for as long as [owner] Joe [Gibbs] will let me in the Truck Series, and as long as there's a Nationwide car at Joe Gibbs that we can run, I'll be there running races and fulfilling some duties and deals there." With the way Busch is going, Gibbs has no thoughts about letting his star driver go anywhere else. And in fact the former NFL head coach thinks Busch's success is starting to win over more people than just the ones who work at the team. (Sportsline.com)

Kurt Busch: wants Dodge in the news as much as we can: When the night was over, Kurt Busch had led eight laps, but finished 12th, and a bit disappointed. "I do feel a small bit of responsibility carrying the Dodge banner in NASCAR," Busch said. "We want to get Dodge in the news as much as we can." Sam Hornish showed he could move his Dodge product last night. "We sure would have loved to give them a win tonight," Hornish said. "We stand behind Chrysler and Dodge. They've been really good to us. The best thing we could have done is give them a win. We weren't able to accomplish that today. "About 100 percent of my family business work is with the big three. They're hurting. We're hurting. We believe it's going to get turned around." (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

DIS begins renovations: Robin Braig climbed into the cockpit of a giant backhoe, then used the large, metal claw to take a bite out of the old Daytona Beach Kennel Club Wednesday morning. The 60-year-old clubhouse will be completely demolished in the next few weeks as Daytona International Speedway begins the transformation of the blighted property into a park-like addition to the track. "Not only is this property a wonderful gateway statement to our community but we'll match it up to Daytona Live!; the vegetation, trees, the whole theme will match Daytona Live!," said Braig, the Speedway's president. "We're going to demolish this building, add some tram stops here and move the grandstand gates out." In the near term, for the July 4 Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Speedway plans to use the property as a parking area for the main grandstands. By February, 2010, the land will be turned into a new grandstand entrance with plenty of grass and trees. (Daytona News-Journal)