NASCAR News Jan. 6 - Jan. 16, 2006

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Jan. 17, 2006:

• Today Tuesday. - NASCAR Session 2 Day 1 Testing underway: Drivers began NASCAR preseason thunder testing. Drivers scheduled to test this week are: Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and others.. NASCAR Daytona Thunder Preseason Monday AM/PM Testing Speeds

• Stewart OKd to race: #20-Tony Stewart got clearance Monday to drive in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona as well as the test session at the end of the month at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway following two separate flips last week in a U.S. Auto Club Midget race. Stewart left a Tulsa, Okla., hospital last Friday with his right arm in a cast, but doctors said there were no serious injuries during a follow-up visit on Monday, team president J.D. Gibbs said. "Everything checked out fine," Gibbs said. "We told him he's still driving in the Daytona 500 even if his arm was broken." Stewart was participating in the Chili Bowl, one of the premier Midget races of the team. Job Gibbs Racing teammate J.J. Yeley and Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne also participated in the race. Stewart flipped and crashed on Thursday during a heat race. He wasn't injured in that accident, Gibbs said, but he struck his right arm on the shifter when he flipped again on Friday. "The reality of it is, when he first started with us he did way more (races) than what he's doing now," Gibbs said. Gibbs said the race team has restricted Stewart from some of his outside races in the past, but the defending Nextel Cup Series champion has reduced his schedule in the past couple years. "For him to go back to the local tracks where he started, we think it's all right," Gibbs said. "He enjoys that." (Athens Banner-Herald)

• Crown Royal lineup announced: Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) officials announced today the driver field and race event schedule for the 2006 Crown Royal IROC Series. The four-race invitational all-star series, which matches 12 drivers from different disciplines of auto racing in equally prepared cars, will open its historic 30th season February 17 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Five-time Crown Royal IROC Series and 2005 champion Mark Martin will look to capture consecutive series crowns for the first time since Dale Earnhardt accomplished the feat in the 1999-2000 seasons. Martin won three in row from 1996-1998 and owns an IROC-record 13 checkered flags. The 2006 driver field will consist of representation from seven major racing series, including six drivers that captured their respective series championship in 2005. The 2006 Crown Royal IROC Series drivers vying for the $1 million championship purse include: Driver Series Representing Mark Martin NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (2005 Crown Royal IROC champion), Tony Stewart NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (2005 Series champion), Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Busch Series (2005 Series champion), Steve Kinser World of Outlaws (2005 Series champion), Ted Musgrave NASCAR Craftsman Truck (2005 Series champion), Frank Kimmel ARCA Re/Max Series (2005 Series champion), Max Angelelli/Wayne Taylor Grand American Road Racing (2005 Series champions), Max Papis Open-wheel and road racing disciplines, Carl Edwards NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, Sam Hornish, Jr. IRL IndyCar Series, Scott Sharp IRL IndyCar Series, Matt Kenseth NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series,

• Penske named Newsmaker of the year: Roger Penske was recently named 2005 Newsmaker of the Year by Crain's Detroit. According to the business publication, "Penske has transferred the business acumen he uses to run a wide-ranging organization of transportation, automotive sales and service, truck leasing and motor sports businesses into his role as Super Bowl XL Host Committee chairman." Penske and his colleague's on the committee will be put to the ultimate test on February 5th as all eyes will be watching the city of Detroit as it plays host to the biggest game of the year.  (Penske PR)

• Labonte outbids McMurray for hat: Eddie Montgomery has always been a NASCAR fan. What he didn't know until last weekend is that one of the drivers he admires, Bobby Labonte, is also a huge Montgomery Gentry fan. But once Labonte paid $12,000 at a charity auction for the hat Montgomery wore during his group's concert at Sprint Sound and Speed - A Celebration of Music and Motorsports - in Nashville, Tenn., Montgomery knew he had a fan. "It freaked me out. I couldn't see who was bidding, but later I found out it was him and (NASCAR driver) Jamie McMurray bidding against each other," Montgomery said. Montgomery wasn't sure what to expect when another driver, Owensboro native Michael Waltrip, came and took his hat to put in the auction to benefit a camp for children with chronic medical conditions and the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. (Advocate Messenger)

• Vickers recovers after surgery: Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy was sixth fastest in Monday's test session at Daytona International Speedway, but he was back home in North Carolina having surgery to repair a hernia. Team spokesman Chris Haid said Vickers, 22, was resting comfortably Monday evening after a successful operation. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Jan. 16, 2006:

• Parrott to return after illness: Petty Enterprises competition director Greg Steadman stepped back into his previous role as crew chief for Bobby Labonte last week at Daytona testing because new chief Todd Parrott was recovering from a bacterial infection in a Huntersville, NC, hospital. Parrott was expected to return to Petty Enterprises this week. The #43 team is scheduled to test for Goodyear at Texas Motor Speedway later this month and also will test its intermediate program starting January 30 at Las Vegas. Executive vice president of racing operations Robbie Loomis says Petty's immediate goal is to "focus on the moment" and build confidence among the teams. (Sporting News)

• Darlington tickets added to Smithsonian: The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum was the recipient of a valuable addition to its memorabilia collection on Wednesday, January 11. Fayetteville Christian School presented Raceway president Chris Browning with a complete set of original tickets from all three races run in Darlington during the track's 1950 inaugural season, including an AMA motorcycle race, a "Big Car" (later Indy car) race, and the legendary Southern 500 stock car event. More than 100 FCS middle-schoolers attended the press conference, prompting Browning to remark that the day represented a textbook blending of racing's past and its future. "It is so gratifying to look around the museum today and see what a valuable role Darlington Raceway has played, and will continue to play, in the evolution of NASCAR," he said.  A matching set of Darlington Raceway tickets was presented to the Smithsonian Institution in the fall of 2005, where they reside as part of the museum's American History collection. Curator Ellen Hughes said the Smithsonian was thrilled to receive what she described as "valuable memorabilia from a sport that has grown from southern heritage to widespread national prominence." The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA Hall of Fame are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The 2006 Dodge Charger 500, coming up on Saturday evening, May 13, will once again be run under the lights in its entirety. Greg Biffle is the defending champion. (Darlington Raceway PR)

• Kentucky testing today with Evernham and McClure Motorsports tomorrow: Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne began his climb toward championship-level consistency at Daytona International Speedway last week and continued the quest with a one-day test at Kentucky Speedway today. Kahne experienced success in spurts in 2005. He ended his second season 23rd in the championship standings after earning two pole awards, his first career NEXTEL Cup Series win at Richmond in May, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. While 2005 season graded out significantly lower than his 2004 rookie season in which he finished 13th in the standings with four poles, 13 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, the 25-year-old from Enumclaw, Wash., is confident his experience and that of new Team Director Kenny Francis will deliver the consistency their No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge needs to make its debut in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. "Last year I learned a lot about ups and downs," Kahne said. "We weren't consistent and didn't finish enough races. We did get our victory, but we need to get more of those, be a lot more consistent and get top 10s. This year should be good. Kenny Francis is a great guy and has been really good to work with so far. We have a great race team here, we just have to improve on everything we're learning over the winter and hopefully we'll start out strong." The new combination has made handling the primary focus of its early-season tests. Testing continues at Kentucky Speedway tomorrow with Scott Wimmer and the No. 4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet. Fans can view testing from the designated area outside the speedway Fan Center for free. Testing usually begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Team schedules will vary based on objectives. Kentucky Speedway season and single race tickets are on sale now. The 2006 season begins May 13 with the ARCA RE/MAX Series "Kentucky 150" and Cowboy Crush prerace concert. Visit www.kentuckyspeedway.com for complete schedule and ticket information. (Kentucky Speedway)

• M. Shepherd and to run full season with Victory Motorsports: With backing from Christian businessmen nationwide, Victory Motorsports will field driver Morgan Shepherd on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for the entire 2006 season. The announcement was made Monday by Tony and Brian Mullet, two businessmen and brothers from Ohio, who are leading the effort. "This is a tremendously exciting time for me as a race car driver but is also tremendously exciting because of the possibilities in spreading the Gospel," said Shepherd, 64, who is becoming the oldest full-time driver in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series history. Shepherd has dedicated his career, as well as his life, to spreading the Gospel and the salvation story. He has competed in a car emblazoned with "Racing With Jesus." Shepherd is testing in Daytona Beach, Fla., through Wednesday, preparing for the Daytona 500 in February. Doug George is the crew chief of the #89 Dodge, and the team will be using Joey Arrington engines.  (Williams Co., Of America, Inc)

Jan. 15, 2006:

• Chili Bowl Coverage: Find the latest on the 20th annual Chili Bowl from Tulsa, OK at Oklahoma Race Connect including final night of racing Saturday night, as New York's Tim McCreadie wins the  20th annual Chili Bowl.

Jan. 14, 2006:

• Stewart Injured: Tony Stewart, the reigning champion in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, was taken to a local hospital for a preliminary examination after he flipped his Midget car in the opening laps of last night's qualifying race for the 20th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway. Complaining of pain in his right arm after the crash, Stewart was taken to the hospital where X-rays revealed no broken bones and a CT scan proved negative. In a precautionary measure, Stewart was fitted with a cast until a more extensive evaluation can be made by his own doctors on Monday. "I'm a little sore," said Stewart. "The doctors were great and did a pretty thorough evaluation of me. They didn't find anything broken, but just to be sure, they fitted me with a cast that I'll wear until I meet with my doctors on Monday. It looks a lot worse than it is. "In no way should this affect my upcoming test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, my plans to compete in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona or my participation in Daytona Speedweeks."(True Speed Communication)

• Stremme recovering and feeling better: #40 Coors Light/Lonestar Dodge Driver David Stremme is feeling better after twisting his ankle and tearing all the ligaments in his right foot while using a leaf blower. The injury occured at his home near Charlotte several weeks before Christmas. Stremme said, "I've been fighting with the landscape company.they've not been showing up and they've been a pain in the butt. All my leaves were blowing across the street into my neighbor Joe Nemechek's yard so I figured I needed to clean them up." Stremme made sure he was okay to start the season by testing his foot riding go-carts. Stremme added, "I wish it had been my brake pedal foot instead of my gas pedal foot." (PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)

Jan. 13, 2006:

• #78 Furniture Row to run full schedule, K. Wallace first 5: #78 Furniture Row Racing, one of the few sponsor owned Nextel Cup teams, is scheduled to run 36 Nextel Cup races with Kenny Wallac and Jerry Robertson driving. Wallace is committed to run the first 5 Cup races of the season for Furniture Row Racing. Kenny Wallace states, "Furniture Row Racing has the resources, Joe Garone has the knowledge, and I'm very excited to help this new team get started." Robertson's explains, "To race in Cup is my ultimate dream. We've got a year under our belts in the Busch Series, and the team is working very hard to get competitive for Cup. Everybody's really excited." Owner Barney Visser says, "Our original 2005 NCS [Cup] plans were based on Kenny's NBS [Busch] sponsor commitment and scheduling. Our intention of running Kenny in 15 NCS races and the remainder with Jerry did not fully pan out, but it was a year of tremendous growth. Now, in 2006, Kenny has been approved to run as many races as possible, without interfering with his NBS commitment. This has put Jerry in a pinch hitter position for Cup. We are actively pursuing any top NBS teams that may be interested in having Jerry drive for them, with Furniture Row Racing supplying race engines, sponsorship, and technology. This will keep Jerry behind the wheel in the NBS while Kenny is racing in his select cup races." Crew Chief is NASCAR vet Joe Garone. The Furniture Row Racing is Based in Denver, Colorado. Furniture Row operates more than 270 stores, in 30 states nationwide. (Furniture Row Racing site)

• Judge to rule on dismissal motion of Ky. Speedway vs. ISC: A federal judge said Thursday that he would rule "as quick as I can" on a motion to dismiss the Kentucky Speedway's $400 million antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. U.S. District Judge William O. Bertelsman heard about two hours of testimony from a roomful of lawyers representing both sides but gave no indication as to how he might rule. "I know everyone wants a decision," Bertelsman said as he gathered up a high stack of cases, rulings, briefs and documents at the end of the hearing. "I'll make it as quick as I can," he said. Operators of the 5-year-old Speedway have gone to court to land a Nextel Cup auto race. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

• LMS renames Coca-Cola 600 trophy: The perpetual trophy honoring winners of the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway has been renamed in honor of speedway founder O. Bruton Smith. The Bruton Smith Trophy is on display in the second-floor lobby of the track's Smith Tower. It features the familiar manganese sculpture, which has been awarded to each NEXTEL Cup Series race winner at Lowe's Motor Speedway since 1981, atop an oak base which bears two brass plagues inscribed with the name of each Coca-Cola 600 winner. "This is quite an honor," Smith said when the trophy bearing his name was unveiled during a recent gathering of speedway employees. "We are extremely proud that the Coca-Cola 600 has grown into one of the world's most prestigious sporting events, and this trophy pays tribute to the 25 men who have won the race." While building Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1960, it was Smith who decided to make the track's inaugural race a 600-mile event. "Bigger is always better," Smith said about his concept of hosting a 600-mile stock car race. "I just thought it would be unique to run 600 miles. The extra 100 miles made it a bigger, more demanding event."  The 2006 edition of the Coca-Cola 600 will be run Sunday evening, May 28. Tickets, starting at just $39, can be purchased online at lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.

• Car of Tomorrow tested at Daytona: NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" turned its first laps at Daytona on Thursday. NASCAR vice president for research and development Gary Nelson and his group began the latest round of on-track data acquisition for the car using the prototype produced by the research center and driven by Brett Bodine, director of cost research. Previous on-track sessions at Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway set performance baselines. Now, the quest to fine-tune those baselines begins at Daytona. The car, which is 2 inches taller and 4 inches wider than current NASCAR cars, represents a major step in safety and competition enhancements, as well as cost reductions. NASCAR is in the final stages of the five-year project. "The last part of the Car of Tomorrow is, 'How does it run in traffic,' " Nelson said. "The only way you can do that is in traffic." Teams that have built the new prototypes are scheduled to test Jan. 19 with NASCAR at Daytona. (USA Today)

• NASCAR teams at Autosport International Racing Show in England: NASCAR teams raided the Autosport International Racing Car Show in England this week in a quest for new technology to keep them ahead of rivals in Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck competition. Engineers from the Richard Childress Racing, Evernham Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing were combing the 500 booths at Britain's biggest motorsports show. "With NASCAR closing the box on what teams can do to the cars, we are looking for everything from materials to engineering and products, wind tunnels and aerodynamic resources," said RCR boss Richard Childress, who was making his first visit to the show. He was accompanied by his new director of engine research and development - former Formula One engine designer Nick Hayes. "Nick is showing us a lot of new ideas here to get RCR back where we need to be," Childress said. "We will do 600 engines this year for our team programs. When you're talking numbers like that you're looking for specialized items that give you an advantage over your competition - something a little lighter or more durable. If we can find just a little thing it helps. "We've met companies from all over Europe in Motorsports Valley (an exhibitor meeting point organized by Britain's Motorsport Industry Ass'n). We already have a car in a wind tunnel in Germany." Charles Jenckes, the chief development engineer with DEI, said the quality requirements in Nextel Cup are getting closer to F-1. "The technology isn't the same, but what we're looking for is quality, repeatability and the ability to hold that tolerance exactly," Jenckes said. "We have 250 engines and we'll do 350 engine rebuilds this year. We can't afford to check every part that comes in. The people that supply to F-1 supply consistency." As he surveyed some of the 25,000 buyers who visited the show during its four-day run, Jenckes added: "Motorsports technology is now worldwide, and you have to look for suppliers all over. (More at National Speed Sport News)

Jan. 12, 2006:

• The future of Car of Tomorrow? NASCAR's proposed "car of the future" appears to be dead in the water for the moment. Detroit car makers are putting on hold their own operations for the time being, saying that NASCAR executives aren't offering any clear directions on body configurations or timetables. NASCAR has planned an exhibition here today of its own in-house built version of the car, which was originally set to debut this fall at Talladega. But it appears no other stock-car teams will be participating. (Salem-Journal)

• Report: Las Vegas Motor Speedway to add banking: "Our company has announced it is going to make a significant capital expense investment at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but on the specifics of those projects I'm not ready to comment," said Chris Powell, the speedway's general manager since late 1998. He did say he expects the speedway to make an announcement about major improvements soon, possibly during an official NASCAR testing session at the track that runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The Review-Journal has reported that most of the structures in the infield of the 1.5-mile tri-oval will be razed and rebuilt, including most of race-car garage buildings and the combination media center and suite building, after the March race. Pit road also is expected to be replaced by one moved closer to the main grandstand. A source close to the speedway said banking in the corners will go from 12 degrees to 21 degrees, which would allow cars to race faster through the corners at higher speeds and produce more exciting races. Corner banking is 24 degrees at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., Texas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, which also are 1.5-mile ovals like the one in Las Vegas that are owned by publicly-held Speedway Motorsports Inc. Although Powell would not discuss the plans, the Richard Petty Driving Experience is working on a deal that will allow it to maintain a presence at the speedway, where it operates around 160 days a year, should the oval be unusable for around six months this year. (The Review Journal)

• Bill Davis Racing-Dodge suit update: The Bill Davis-Dodge lawsuit is to go to jury trial in federal court in Michigan next week and could last two weeks. The long-running legal battle is over Dodge's decision two years ago to withdraw financial sponsorship of Davis' NASCAR team because of his racing ties with Toyota. Davis has Toyota truck teams and is expected to have one of Toyota's lead teams when Toyota steps up to the Nextel Cup tour in 2007. (Salem-Journal)

• NASCAR producer to produce NHL hockey telecast: Sam Flood has produced NBC's successful National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing broadcast for the past five years, but he also has a background in hockey. He played at Williams College in Massachusetts. His father was a high-school coach. "Sam was a tremendous -- not a good -- but a tremendous hockey player in college," said TSN analyst Pierre McGuire, who will work on the NBC telecasts and has known Flood's family for years. "In the States, networks have always tried to plug other sporting people into hockey, but this guy's a hockey man." NBC's telecasts, which will start on Saturday, will use innovations such as a lipstick-sized camera that fits into a goaltender's helmet. (Globe and Mail)

• NEXTEL Cup team not testing at Watkins Glen: NASCAR Nextel Cup testing is in full swing this week at Daytona International Speedway as teams prepare for next month's season-opening Daytona 500. However, for the first time in several years, NASCAR's top division won't test its cars at Watkins Glen International. Eiron Smith, WGI's senior manager of public relations, said Wednesday the annual Glen test, usually held a few weeks before its Nextel Cup race in August, will not take place this year. "The Cup teams won't be testing at the Glen, but we will still have the Busch Series teams here," Smith said. NASCAR's new testing rules for 2006 set schedules of where and when teams can test and also limit the number of Nextel Cup tracks where teams can test to six. And Search for Race Sponsor: As the new year begins, Glen officials are turning their focus toward finding title sponsors for the track's two biggest race events: NASCAR Nextel Cup and IRL IndyCar Series.  "We're working on both title sponsorships right now," Smith said Wednesday. Track officials were surprised to learn last month that the Glen's Nextel Cup sponsor, satellite radio provider Sirius, had opted out of its three-year contract renewal that began in 2005. "It wasn't something that we planned on, but we're already talking to new potential sponsors," Smith said. "It's looking pretty good so far. We hope to announce something at some point not too far down the road." Smith said race ticket prices, which are already set, won't be affected by any loss of income from a title sponsor. "We look at it as a benefit," she said. "We have good (Nextel Cup) TV numbers and a well-attended event." (Star-Gazette)

Jan. 11, 2006:

• Today Wed. - NASCAR Day 3 Testing underway: Drivers began NASCAR preseason thunder testing. Drivers scheduled to test this week are: Jimmie Johnson, Mike McLaughlin, Elliott Sadler, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, two-time Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, David Stremme, Reed Sorenson, Ken Schrader, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Greg Sacks and Scott Wimmer. NASCAR Daytona Thunder Preseason Monday AM/PM Testing Speeds

• Domino's Pizza to sponsor Michael Waltrip #55: Domino's Pizza, the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, is going the distance with two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip as they extend their partnership into the 2006 NASCAR racing season. Domino's will have an associate sponsorship throughout the 2006 racing season on Waltrip's No. 55 NAPA Dodge. Additionally, Domino's will be a primary sponsor on Waltrip's No. 55 Dodge during one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. The agreement also provides Domino's the opportunity to continue featuring Waltrip in NASCAR-themed commercials and promotions. "Michael has done a great job in our commercials and serving as a Domino's Pizza spokesman," said Ken Calwell, chief marketing officer for Domino's Pizza. "We are happy to build on our relationship and to continue our participation in this exciting sport." Domino's became the "Official Pizza of NASCAR" in 2003. "Since our original announcement of being named the Official Pizza of NASCAR, we have propelled from the number three pizza choice among NASCAR fans to number one," said Calwell. "Our research shows that NASCAR fans are six times as likely to order Domino's because we are the Official Pizza. Our advertising message, 'Make Race Day Domino's Pizza Day,' has been well received by NASCAR fans." (Domino's Pizza, Inc. PR)

• Busch, Edwards to tire test: Kurt Busch sported new colors today at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dressed in a brand new blue firesuit, Busch took his first laps in the historic #2 Miller Lite car. Busch and three-time Atlanta Motor Speedway winner, #99-Carl Edwards, were at the track today to assist Goodyear Racing Tires with the first of a two-day test session. Busch's new crew chief, Roy McCauley said, "Today, Goodyear is looking at wear, heat, overall lap times, grip level and load. Based on all the data taken during the test, they will choose the tire that will not generate too much heat, but provide enough grip to make the driver comfortable." Edwards posted the fastest unofficial time of the day with a lap of 189.993 mph (29.18 seconds), while Busch's fastest lap was 187.869 mph (29.51 seconds). Both times were comparable to race speeds. "Atlanta...man, this place is fast," said Busch. "I enjoy coming here. I think all the drivers enjoy coming to this race track. With the new testing rules, this test is beneficial for our team," said Busch. "Goodyear gets to use our resources to test their tires, but the biggest thing is we get track time." Tickets are on sale now for all three days of racing excitement during the March 17-19 Golden Corral 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with ticket prices starting at $30. For fans who want to attend all three days or racing action, including the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Busch and NEXTEL Cup races, three-day tickets start at $70 (quantities are limited). For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, 1-877-9AMSTIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. (AMS PR

• Don't expect new Charger nose: While Dodge teams are lobbying for concessions to make the one-year-old Dodge Charger more competitive, Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said Jan. 10 that it is unlikely they will get them. "We'll continue to watch the Dodge, but there are no changes on the table," Darby said. Dodge teams, which won only two races in 2005, still have the option of using the 2004 Intrepid, which two teams used at Homestead-Miami Speedway last season. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

Jan. 10, 2006:

• Dupont PRS Scheme: Dupont will continue the partnership with PRS Guitars by joining them in January at the NAMM show, the world's largest trade-only music product show with more the 74,000 attendees and over 1,300 exhibiting vendors. Dupont will be bringing along Jeff Gordon's new Dupont Hot Hues NASCAR machine to the annual PRS Party being held at the Grove of Anaheim on January 20, 2006. This display is the latest in a series of cooperative efforts between the two companies. For over five years, Dupont Coatings have been used on virtually every PRS guitar as the final high gloss coating that gives the guitar mirror-like sheen. Dupont's Hot Hues line offers a metallic opaque paint so impressive that PRS brought a discontinued guitar line back into production to take advantage of the colors. PRS' use of these colors opened the door of opportunity to join Dupont in 2004 and 2005 at the SEMA Automotive Show in Las Vegas Nevada, the largest aftermarket auto show in the world. In September 2005, PRS designed and built the trophy for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 which matched the Dupont Hot Hues pace car. (PRS)

• M.I.S. and AAA brings NASCAR to Detroit Auto Show: Starting with the public kickoff to the 2006 North American International Auto Show, MIS will bring motorsports to the Motor City as auto racing will be celebrated at a special MIS and AAA display throughout the show scheduled to run January 14-22 in Detroit, including a special day that auto racing fanatics will especially enjoy on Thursday, January 19. MIS and AAA will partner in a two-part display located in Michigan Hall of Cobo Center's lower level. The MIS display will feature the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship trophy, along with the championship winning No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Tony Stewart showcar, the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Kevin Harvick showcar and the Chevrolet SSR official pace car. The AAA Display will feature the #6 AAA Ford Mark Martin showcar. In addition to the display in Michigan Hall, MIS will have a ticket booth located in Cobo Arena with tickets on sale to all 2006 MIS events, including both NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races which will be held June 18 and August 20. To add to the excitement of this year's show, MIS and AAA will be the presenting sponsors of "Racing Day at the Auto Show" on Thursday, January 19. During Racing Day at the Auto Show presented by MIS and AAA, the upstairs lobby of Cobo Hall may look more like the NASCAR garage area at MIS. The area will feature several showcars, including the No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the No. 24 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon and the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson, along with the public debut of the 2006 MIS Chevrolet SSR pace vehicle.  (MIS PR)

• Gordon to be keynote speaker at  Vegas Children's charity: Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Speedway Children's Charities will honor Las Vegas legend Mel Larson at the inaugural "Night of Champions" Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. All proceeds from the dinner, which features four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon as keynote speaker, will go to the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. Plans call for the event to be conducted on an annual basis, each year honoring a member of the community.  "This is a fitting tribute to Mel Larson," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "Mel has worn many hats in the motorsports world, and he also was a pioneer in marketing in Las Vegas during his days with Circus Circus. Mel's done it all, from driving, publicizing and promoting motorsports events to bringing hundreds of thousands of people to Las Vegas with his marketing innovations. Few have meant more to our community." Larson provided much of the inspiration and guidance in conceptualizing Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He worked closely with the speedway's original ownership during the early and mid-1990s and is a longtime friend of O. Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports, LVMS's parent company. "I've known Mel for 50 years, since his driving days and his days of promoting events in the southwest," Smith said. "He's been a true innovator in everything he's done, and he's long been a champion of charitable causes. Neither the racing world nor the city of Las Vegas would be the same without his contributions. We're thrilled to honor Mel in this way." In addition to his speech, Gordon will take part with Larson in a meet-and-greet session during the reception. The speedway also will recognize the 2005 season champions at its drag-racing facility, The Strip, and its 3/8-mile oval, The Bullring. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30. The meet-and-greet, limited in number, with Larson and NASCAR's Gordon is set for 7-7:30 with dinner and the program to follow. To purchase a table or tickets for this event, please contact Janae Melvin at (702) 632-8242. (LVMS PR)

• UNC offering Alan Kulwicki scholarship nominations: The Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is now accepting applications for the 2006-2007 Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship. Lee College annually awards the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship to an outstanding high school graduate who has an affiliation with NASCAR and who exemplifies the late Alan Kulwicki's commitment to education and love of auto racing. With the financial support of R.J. Reynolds Company, UNC Charlotte established the Kulwicki Scholarship in 1994. The Kulwicki Scholarship is awarded to freshmen entering the motorsports engineering program at UNC Charlotte. It is given in memory of late NASCAR Winston Cup points champion Alan Kulwicki, who lost his life in a plane crash in 1993. Alan was an engineer himself, and a strong supporter of engineering and science education. Kulwicki was the first college graduate to win the NASCAR Winston Cup championship, an honor he deeply cherished. To be considered for the Kulwicki Scholarship, students must: (1) apply and be admissible to UNC Charlotte, (2) show evidence of NASCAR affiliation, and (3) show evidence of academic achievement and financial need. Scholarship application must be submitted to the Lee College of Engineering no later than February 1. For more information and an application see the scholarship link under the prospective student's page at www.coe.uncc.edu

Jan. 9, 2006:

• NASCAR Day 1 Testing underway: Drivers began NASCAR preseason thunder testing. Drivers scheduled to test this week are: Jimmie Johnson, Mike McLaughlin, Elliott Sadler, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, two-time Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, David Stremme, Reed Sorenson, Ken Schrader, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Greg Sacks and Scott Wimmer. NASCAR Daytona Thunder Preseason Testing Speeds

• Petty Family sad news: Elizabeth Toomes Petty, wife of NASCAR champion Lee Petty and mother of NASCAR champion Richard Petty, passed away Sunday morning at age 88. She is survived by sons Richard and Maurice, as well as nine grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, two sisters and two brothers. Funeral services are to be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations by made to Level Cross United Methodist Church, Victory Junction Gang Camp or to Hospice of Randolph County. (Williams Company)

• Bill Davis to have three teams at Daytona: Bill Davis Racing will field three teams at Daytona; Mike Skinner will pull double duty between trucks and the #23 Cup car. Former Penske South [#2] crew chief Larry Carter has been retained as a consultant and will primarily assist Skinner's team through Speedweeks. Dave Blaney returns to BDR in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge and will be reunited with former Richard Childress Racing crew chief Kevin Hamlin. Michael Waltrip will make his debut for the organization in the #55 NAPA Dodge in February--the #22 and #55 will test next week, but former Winston West driver and current rear tire changer Tom Hubert will sub for Waltrip. Tony Anderson, a six-year BDR veteran who was the chief mechanic for the 22, has been promoted to car chief. (Sporting News)

• All-State 400 Tickets on Sale:  Tickets will go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Jan. 10 for the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time. Reserved seats start at just $35. The 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6. Indiana native and resident Tony Stewart earned his emotional first victory at the Speedway in last year's race in the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, holding off Kasey Kahne in the closing laps. (IMS PR)

• K. Petty runs Marathon: Kyle Petty finished the Walt Disney World Marathon in 4 hours 42 minutes. He laughed when asked if he thought about ``going behind the wall.'' Petty said his knee began to bother him a lot around Mile 15. ''I walked a bunch so I wouldn't hurt it,'' he said. ``This is not what I do for a living. I do drive race cars, so I don't need to blow my knee out doing this. But it was a lot of fun. And the fans here are great, lining the course. Then you feel bad for walking, man.'' Some of the competitors recognized Petty and talked to him along the way. Petty said next year he might try to get in good enough shape to run Disney and the Miami Marathon, which is at the end of January. Petty was talked into running his first marathon by fellow NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip. They ran the Las Vegas Marathon last year. Petty finished in 4:14. (Miami Herald)

• New Roush sponsor: One of the nation's leaders in the trucking industry, R+L Carriers has joined Roush Racing as a full-time associate sponsor on the No. 17 DeWalt Ford Fusion team and driver, Matt Kenseth for the 2006 Nextel Cup season.  Based out of Wilmington, Ohio, R+L Carriers is a family owned and operated company that with 40 years of committed service to their customers, has grown to be one of today's leaders in the Less than Truckload (LTL) industry. With nearly 10,000 employees, R+L Carriers Inc. currently services 47 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and all of Canada. With future expansions already in progress, R+L Carriers will cover the remaining states, (Washington, Oregon, and California) by year 2007. In addition to becoming a full-time associate sponsor, R+L Carriers will become the primary sponsor for the No. 17 Ford in three Nextel Cup events in 2006 beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, then again at Daytona International Speedway in July and Martinsville Speedway in October. "We are pleased to be working with R+ L Carriers on the No. 17 Nextel Cup car this season," said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing. "We understand the importance of getting where you need to go safely and timely, as we are in the business of doing that on a weekly basis. R+ L Carriers is a leader in their industry and it seems only natural that they would team with Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser on the No. 17 Ford Fusion, as they have been at the top of the NASCAR game for some time now." This marks the second foray into auto racing for R+L Carriers, who in 1997 sponsored a car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. (Roush Racing PR)

• Busch/Penske testing: Kurt Busch was at Lakeland Speedway last Wednesday getting acquainted with his new team. Breaking in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge with Busch was crew chief Roy McCauley and new car chief Corey Tucker, who honed his skills on Ryan Newman's Penske team that won six races in nine Busch Series starts last year. (Sporting News)

Jan. 8, 2006:

• Parson's named Grand Marshall of Rolex 24hrs:  In honor of BMW's 30th anniversary of their 1976 Rolex 24 At Daytona triumph, Benny Parsons, a former Rolex 24 competitor with BMW and 1975 Daytona 500 champion, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 44th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29 at historic Daytona International Speedway. Throughout the Rolex 24 weekend, Daytona International Speedway and Rolex will celebrate BMW's 30th anniversary of their Rolex 24 victory as well as their continued commitment to sports car racing. The winning No. 59 BMW that Brian Redman, Peter Gregg and John Fitzpatrick drove will be on display in the NEXTEL FANZONE and will return to the race track in the Rolex 24 Heritage Exhibition that will be held the Saturday morning before the start of the Rolex 24. In addition, BMW will also have a display in the Grand-Am Cup garage that looks back on their past cars and storied racing history. Parsons, currently an analyst for NBC and TNT's NASCAR coverage, competed in 1976 Rolex 24 co-driving a BMW with David Hobbs. The duo's car was in third place before losing 90 minutes to rebuild the transmission. Parsons settled for a 10th-place finish, making him the highest finisher among the eight NASCAR drivers that competed in the prestigious sports car race that year. After overcoming mechanical issues that began with five-hours remaining, the team's lead car driven by Redman, Gregg and Fitzpatrick captured BMW's only Rolex 24 triumph by a 14-lap margin over the Al Holbert and Claude Ballot Lena Porsche. "This is going to be a big thrill for me," Parsons said. "I'm very impressed with what Grand American has been able to accomplish in such a short time. I remember the first year when they had only six Daytona Prototypes on the grid at Daytona. This year they might have more than 35. To come that far in only four years is just incredible. "The 1976 Rolex 24 was my first experience at running 24 hours. It was also my last. It was quite a race. It was a really, really neat experience. It's an honor to return as the event's Grand Marshal." (Rolex 24/ DIS)

• Motorsports Expo includes NASCAR personalities: Motorsports 2006, presented by VP Racing Fuels, is a three-day show kicking off on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Fort Washington Expo Center (Philadelphia PA). There will be free autograph sessions for show attendees featuring many local and regional racing stars along with former NASCAR Winston Cup champions Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace along with Nextel Cup racers Dave Blaney, Jeremy Mayfield and Kyle Busch. Also scheduled to appear are FOX TV commentator and former winning Winston Cup crew chief Jeff Hammond along with Busch Series stars Randy LaJoie, David Green and NASCAR Modified champion Ted Christopher. For show schedule and ticket information check in at http://www.aarn.com/ms-about.html.

• San Antonio NASCAR style track proposed?  Near the SBC Center, the company has proposed a rodeo village, a NASCAR track, professional football and baseball stadiums, and condominium towers. It's also looking to bring Grand Prix racing back to San Antonio. And then there's everything else in its Alamo City portfolio: the development of South Port, an industrial and retail park across the road from Toyota's pickup plant, the build-out of the Briggs Ranch golf community, and the planned construction of a 16-story condominium tower on the River Walk.  (San Antonio Express)

Jan. 7, 2006:

• Said & Lepage wins Bobsledding events, Trickle flips: Boris Said and Kevin Lepage came out with victories, while Dick Trickle added another memorable chapter to his remarkable career. Said won the first race of the Chevrolet Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge on Saturday at Mount Van Hoevenberg, Lepage took the second race, and the 64-year-old Trickle got a turn named after him when he flipped his sled on consecutive runs. The unique event, which pitted 10 NASCAR drivers against each other on ice instead of asphalt, concrete or dirt, was an effort by Bodine to raise funds to keep the U.S. men's and women's bobsled teams at the forefront of international racing. Judging by the reaction of the drivers and the nice crowd, which was larger than recent World Cup events, it probably won't be the last. "Everyone is excited about this and wants to come back,'' Geoff Bodine said. "It makes me feel good. Next year is going to be twice as big, maybe three times as big.'' When Lepage jumped from his sled, he hugged brakeman Matt Brice and raised his arms in triumph as though he had just won the Daytona 500 as a fan yelled, "Do a burnout!'' "This is something I can take with me for a long time,'' said Lepage, who grew up just 90 miles away in Burlington, Vt. "Now I can go back and sell it. It was awesome.'' And emotional for Said. His late father, Bob, drove in the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics for the U.S. bobsled team, and Boris was reunited this week with 61-year-old Phil "Brown Bear'' Duprey, the brakeman for his father. (CNNSI)

• Belmont to attempt Daytona 500: FansCrew.com announced this week that they will be in the ARCA 200 and will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in February. "We've entered into a sponsorship agreement with Andy Belmont," David Westrick, co-founder of FansCrew.com said. "We will be working with Andy throughout the ARCA season and will be on the car he attempts to qualify for the Daytona 500." The website, www.FansCrew.com, is a membership site offering a number of benefits. Members of FasCrew.com are eligible to receive garage and pit credentials at certain races, may become part of a race crew for a race, and will help to build a race team for FansCrew.com. The site offers giveaways each race week, a chance to have your name on a racecar as Fan of the Week, and get a true behind the scenes look at what goes on before, during and after a race. "This is a unique opportunity," Andy Belmont said, "for fans to get a chance to experience what it's like on the inside of the track. For the fan who has dreamed of participating, just to see what it's like, FansCrew.com could be the place for that fan to fulfill the dream." (FansCrew.com PR)

• Bodine wins pole in Bobsledding event: Todd Bodine heads into Saturday's Chevrolet Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge "on the pole" after qualifying runs for the event wrapped up on Friday afternoon at the Verizon Sports Complex. The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, founded by Geoff Bodine (9th fastest), provides American-made bobsleds to the United States bobsled teams free of charge. The two Bodine brothers, along with eight other NASCAR drivers, including Tim Fedewa (2bd fastest), Kevin Lepage (3rd), Boris Said (4th), Dick Trickle (5th), Brad Noffsinger (6th), Stanton Barrett (7th), Steve Park (8th), and Joel Kauffman (10th), will compete in the challenge on Saturday. All NASCAR racers were in competitive but high spirits when they arrived in Lake Placid for the Challenge, as they joked with each other and signed autographs for adoring fans. More info at bodynbobsled.com or Lake Placid Olympic Site.

• Jackson Hewitt to sponsor Daytona Preseason testing days: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, the nation's second largest tax preparation service and the tax service of NASCAR, will serve as the sponsor for all of the NASCAR testing at historic Daytona International Speedway as well as the popular FanFests. The event will be known as NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder. "We are honored to have this opportunity to sponsor the highly anticipated, fan-favorite series of events that is NASCAR Preseason Thunder," said Michael Lister, Chairman and CEO of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. "As the tax service of NASCAR, we're committed to providing 'Fast, Accurate and Professional Service.' Sponsoring these events, which focus on fast-action and providing a great 'service' to fans, is just where we want to be." "We're delighted to welcome Jackson Hewitt aboard as a sponsor," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "The NASCAR testing sessions at "The World Center of Racing" are vital to every team participating in Speedweeks 2006 and the FanFests are a great way for race fans to get a sneak peek at their favorite teams for the 2006 season."Throughout the month of January, Daytona International Speedway will be the nerve center of the motorsports world with numerous testing sessions in preparation for Speedweeks 2006.  (DIS PR)

Jan. 6, 2006:

• T. Labonte to drive final NEXTEL cup season: Hendrick Motorsports today unveiled the 2006 schedule of two-time champion Terry Labonte, who will appear in 10 races with the organization during his final year of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition. The team will again campaign its No. 44 Chevrolets with primary sponsorship from Kellogg Company, GMAC and CARQUEST Auto Parts. Kellogg's will continue its 12-year relationship with Labonte as primary sponsor in half of the planned events. "This is an opportunity for me to have a little more fun," said Labonte, 49, who has 22 career Cup victories and two series championships (1984 and 1996) to his credit. "I've been fortunate to do this for nearly three decades and I'm excited to go back to some of the places that have meant so much to me, my team and my family over the years." Labonte, who began racing at the Cup level in 1978, will appear at six different venues during his 2006 Hendrick Motorsports "Shifting Gears - Lone Star Style" schedule, including multiple races at Texas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway. A Corpus Christi, Texas, native, Labonte will compete April 9 at Texas Motor Speedway, followed by dates at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway. The July 23 event at Pocono will open the second half of the 10-race slate, prior to dates at California Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway. The final race of Labonte's storied career will come Nov. 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. (Hendrick Motorsports PR)

• NASCAR narrows done HoF cities, K.C. and Richmond out: NASCAR has narrowed the possible sites for its first official Hall of Fame to Atlanta, Charlotte or Daytona Beach, Fla., and expects to pick a winning city by the end of March. "Based upon the proposals that we have reviewed internally for the past several months, we believe these three cities provide us with the best opportunity to build and develop a world-class NASCAR Hall of Fame for our millions of loyal fans," Mark Dyer, NASCAR's vice president for licensing, said Thursday in a statement. The decision eliminates Richmond, Va., and Kansas City., Kan. from consideration. "Both of their proposals were outstanding and the passion and enthusiasm the people involved showed for the NASCAR Hall of Fame has made a lasting impression on all of us," Dyer said. Earlier this year, NASCAR officials toured the five cities that submitted bids for the Hall of Fame. The stock-car racing series has said it wants the attraction to appeal to both race fans and those new to the sport. (USA Today)

• Martin to appear in AAA teen PSAs: Jack Roush will join AAA officials in previewing its new 2006 NEXTEL Cup race car sponsorship in Detroit's Cobo Center, at the AAA Motorsports exhibit in Michigan Hall in the lower level on Tuesday, January 10th. AAA has signed a contract with Roush Racing to sponsor the #6 Ford Fusion, driven by Mark Martin, at NEXTEL Cup Series races in 2006. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the #6 AAA Ford racecar will be on display, as well as a racing simulator for media members to test their driving skills in a virtual experience of roaring around the track at over 200 miles per hour. In addition to announcing the new AAA-Roush sponsorship, AAA officials will discuss the Auto Club's plans to advocate for improved teen driver safety and will preview a series of public service announcements featuring Mark Martin. (GMR PR)

• Leno to pace the Daytona 500 with Corvette Z06: A specially outfitted 2006 Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the 48th running of the Daytona 500, on Feb. 19. "Tonight Show" host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno will drive the pace car. Selection of the Z06 model marks the second consecutive year that a Corvette has been selected as the Daytona 500 pace car. The Corvette Z06 that will serve as the Daytona 500 pace car is mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships. It is the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. It also differs from other production Corvette models with extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon-fiber front fenders and a chassis comprised of aluminum and magnesium. A racing-ready suspension and large, 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels help keep it glued to the tarmac, so it requires no drivetrain modifications to satisfy its role in front of the racing pack. In its official capacity, however, the pace car is outfitted with a variety of safety equipment and highly visible strobe lights. The Corvette Z06's 505-horsepower (377 kw) output is actually more than the power produced by the race cars that will compete in the Daytona 500 - a first for a pace car. This is because of the unique "restrictor plate" rule established for the Daytona and Talladega. racetracks. On these 2.5-mile-long super speedways, the restrictor plate reduces airflow into the engine to limit horsepower and keep race car speeds below 200 mph. With a restrictor plate, racing engine power is reduced from about 750 horsepower to about 450 horsepower. Race cars can still average more than 190 mph on Daytona's long straights. The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by the hot-to-cool color transition of a space capsule entering Earth's atmosphere at a high rate of speed. The paint scheme is carried out with an elaborate, interlocking scallops design - a twist on hot rod-style flames - that blends "hot" Lemon Drop yellow at the nose of the Corvette with Lemon Glow, Amber Ecstasy, Blazing Copper and Hot Poppy. The colors culminate with a cool Sapphire Trance blue color at the rear of the vehicle. DuPont, the sponsor of Jeff Gordon's #24 Monte Carlo, supplied the colors, which are from the company's "Hot Hues" line of automotive paint. (GM Racing PR)

• Foyt out, looking for ride: Larry Foyt, Dave Tomasello and Zekko Racing have ended their business relationship after two months. Foyt cited differences in business philosophy as the underlying reason for the termination of the relationship. Foyt, son of A.J. Foyt, is now looking for a ride in one of the NASCAR-sanctioned series for the 2006 season. "I don't think there is enough time to secure sponsorship for the 2006 season in the NASCAR Busch Series, so I am focusing now on landing a ride," said Foyt, who has driven in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series. "While I haven't ruled out running my own team, it has been really difficult to secure sponsorship and the time is getting critical to field a car for the opening race at Daytona," said the 28-year-old Texan. "I really want to get back to driving so I'm looking seriously for a ride with an established team. Obviously if one of my sponsorship pitches works out, we'll spare no effort putting a program together that works best for everyone. However, right now my focus is on getting a ride." Foyt, who graduated from Texas Christian University in 2000 with a degree in communications, has competed in NASCAR since his debut there in 2001. He also is a two-time starter in the Indianapolis 500 driving for his father's Indy car team. (A.J. Foyt Racing PR)

• IROC Series Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Road Course Event in '06: Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) Series officials announced today that it will hold one of its 2006 races on a road course for the first time in 14 years. As part of its 30th anniversary season, the Crown Royal IROC Series will race on the famed road course at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on Thursday, June 29, in conjunction with the NASCAR Cup race weekend. The Daytona road course event is Race Three of the four-race invitational all-star series, which also includes events held at one superspeedway and two intermediate tracks. The series will make return engagements to three of the tracks it competed at in 2005. The season-opener will be contested at Daytona on the 2.5-mile, high-bank tri-oval on Friday, February 17, followed by a pair of intermediate tracks: Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, April 7 and the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 28. Daytona and the Crown Royal IROC Series share plenty of history, with its road course being the site of the inaugural 1973-74 IROC Series season finale. Legendary open-wheel driver Mark Donohue won that race and solidified his IROC championship in its first season. A road course event was a regular stop in the series from 1973 to 1991, with NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace winning the last road course event at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) in 1991. "We've missed the road racing element of the series over the years and I can't tell you how thrilled we are to add a road course back into the mix," said Jay Signore, IROC President and General Manager. "This will be the first time the Crown Royal IROC Series will race on the Daytona road course since our inaugural season. I want to thank Robin Braig (President, DIS) and his staff, as well as everyone at NASCAR and the Grand-Am Series for working with us on the schedule to make road racing once again a part of the challenge for the Crown Royal IROC Championship." The Crown Royal IROC team will begin testing on Daytona's 3.56-mile course on January 5, in conjunction with Rolex 24 of Daytona testing, and will return to the track in early February for the superspeedway season opener. (IROC PR)