NASCAR Past News June 21 - June 28

NEXT Race/RaceCast: Find NEXTEL Cup Next race information, including television, practice, qualifying times and more, also radio coverage information.. During the race find RacewayReport.com: RaceCast with running order, notes, and more..

June 28, 2005

• Sonoma Infractions and Fines: NASCAR announced Tuesday that penalties have been issued to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chiefs resulting from rule violations during opening day inspection at Infineon Raceway on June 24.  Doug Richert, crew chief of the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle, was fined twice for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-17.2 (unapproved seat belt) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book. He was fined $1,000 for an expired manufacturer's date on the lap belt and another $1,000 for an expired manufacturer's date on the shoulder harness.  Philippe Lopez, crew chief of the #07 Chevrolet driven by Dave Blaney, was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) for an unapproved steering wheel.
  Rodney Childers, crew chief of the #10 Chevrolet driven by Scott Riggs, and Pat Tryson, crew chief of the #6 Ford driven by Mark Martin, were each fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q for unapproved fire suppression agents. (NASCAR PR)

• Leffler in #32 WinFuel in Daytona: This Fourth of July weekend former NASCAR Busch Series winner, Jason Leffler, returns to Busch competition to drive the #32 WINFUEL Chevrolet for Braun Racing. Leffler, who is the driver of the #11 FedEx Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, captured his first career Busch Series victory last June at Nashville Superspeedway.  "We are really happy that we could work out a deal that allows Jason to drive the WINFUEL Chevy," team owner Todd Braun said. "Jason has some good Busch Series success to build on and we think that he's going to be a good match for our team. We were looking for a driver that will give us a chance to win races each time he competes, and we think Jason Leffler can do that." (Auto Racing Daily)

• Petty and Jones Scuffle: Postrace tensions boiled over once again at Infineon. After the race concluded, an irate Kyle Petty tried going after P.J. Jones in the garage area, presumably over a collision that took place at turn 11 midway through the race. Legendary driver Richard Petty, Kyle's father, reportedly had to step between the two to help break it up. After the 2004 race, Tony Stewart tried attacking Brian Vickers in the garage area while Vickers was still in his car. (contracostatimes.com)

• Sonoma Dodge/Save Mart Ratings down: Fox's broadcast of Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 Nextel Cup race at Infineon Raceway earned a 4.6 overnight rating from Nielsen Media Research and a 10 market share, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily reports. The rating is 4.2 percent lower than the 4.8 the race drew overnight in 2004, when it went on to earn a final 4.7/11.(NASCAR Scene Plus)

• RCR Fab Shop Manager dies: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) fabrication shop manager Paul Wise passed away Tuesday morning after a brief illness. He was 58. Wise was employed by RCR since January 2003 after spending two-and-a-half years in a similar position with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. All six RCR cars competing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, in both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series, will carry "In Memory of Paul Wise" decals. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Charity Baptist Church, 2420 Brantley Road in Kannapolis, N.C. The Rev. R.J. Hammond and the Rev. Gene Beaver will officiate. Born Jan. 6, 1947, in Cabarrus (N.C.) County, Wise was the son of C. Winfred Wise and Ethel Howell Wise of Kannapolis. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal. He worked with many NASCAR teams during his career.  Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Dancers for Cancer, c/o Carolina Dance, 2353 Concord Lake Road, Suite 110, Concord, N.C. 28025. (RCR)

• Toyota to leave IRL after 2006: Toyota will end a 12-year run as an engine supplier in U.S. open-wheel racing after the 2006 IRL season, the Japanese auto manufacturer said Monday night.  "This was simply a decision to move in a different direction after having our major U.S. motorsports emphasis on open-wheel racing since 1994," said Toyota vice president J. Davis Illingworth.  Toyota, which also fields two cars in Formula One, moved into NASCAR last year with a fleet in the Craftsman Truck series. There has been considerable speculation that the company will move up to the Busch series in 2006 or 2007 and eventually move into Nextel Cup, challenging Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge, which currently race in NASCAR's top stock-car series.  "We are continuing to explore our options in NASCAR," said Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports. "However, at the present time our continued focus is on the Craftsman Truck Series." (USA Today)

• Over 176,000 raised in Speedway Charity: It was a banner weekend for Sonoma County youth groups as two events held during the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup weekend combined to raise $167,944 for Speedway Children's Charities.  The Raceway Builder's NASCAR Grand Marshall's Banquet generated $96,000, while the 3rd annual Race-n-Rock Charity Auction raised $71,944. All proceeds will benefit qualified youth groups in Sonoma County through Speedway Children's Charities.  The Grand Marshall's Banquet was held on Friday night of race weekend at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma and featured comedian/entertainer Larry The Cable Guy, who served as the weekend's grand marshall. The sit-down dinner attracted more than 500 people, including several NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers.  The top-selling item in the charity auction, which took place on Sunday in the Winner's Circle, was a Brooks & Dunn guitar, which netted $9,000. The guitar was signed by both Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. A Snap-on Tools toolbox was the second top item ($6,500), with a Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed race helmet selling for $5,500. (Speedway Children's Charity)

• Biffle Comments about Johnson rough day: After finishing 14th at Sonoma, new point leader Greg Biffle said, "I saw the 48 was laughing at us when we went off the track (in) qualifying. And what comes around goes around, I guess. It's a good day for us." Greg Biffle may have been playing a little bit of a mind game with his comments after Sunday's race. People in the garage area love to try to start stuff from time to time. Jimmie Johnson had already made his qualifying run, and Biffle probably was told about Johnson's reaction when the 16 went off course. Somebody is taking it and trying to turn it into more than it really was.  But at the same time, it gives Biffle an opportunity to tell Johnson, "Look, big boy, you may be king of the hill for today, but I'm coming after you." On Sunday, the 16 team made a great recovery and had a little bit of a miscue on the timing on their pit stop. Otherwise, they probably could have finished better than 14th. They made a very solid run and took advantage of Johnson's problems, which occur quite often on road courses. Now, Biffle finds himself leading the point standings, and you're going to rattle him so it could present a challenge for Johnson and that Hendrick group. (Fox Sports)

• Dale Earnhardt, Jr. makes 200th career start:  Dale Jr. will make his 200th career start this weekend at Daytona. He has 15 victories through five-and-a-half seasons, 24th on NASCAR's modern-era win list. The following is a quick glance at Dale Jr.'s career totals and averages through 199 Nextel Cup starts: Starts: 199 (First was 5/30/99 -- Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway); Wins: 15 (First was 4/2/00 -- DIRECTV 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in his 12th start . Currently tied for 24th with Ernie Irvan and Buddy Baker on NASCAR's Modern-Era win list); "Non-Points" Wins: 4 (2000 Winston All-Star race, 2003 Budweiser Shootout, 2003 Daytona Twin-125, 2004 Daytona Twin-125); Most Wins in a Season: 6 (2004); Most Wins at a Track: Talladega (5); Top-3 Finishes: 38; Top-5 Finishes: 55; Top-10 Finishes: 84 To find more career stats visit the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. news page) (Budweiser Racing PR/Fingerprint, Inc.)

• #12 Crew wins Checkers®/Rally's® Double Drive-Thru Challenge: #12 ALLTEL® Team with driver Ryan Newman won the Checkers®/Rally's® Double Drive-Thru Challenge at the Dodge® Save Mart® 350 on June 26th at Infineon Raceway with a pit-road-service time of 95.230 seconds. As the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR®, Checkers/Rally's recognizes the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team with the best pit road performance each week with a $10,000 prize. At the end of the season, Checkers/Rally's will award the $100,000 grand prize to the team that garners the most Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge wins throughout the race season. (MARC Public Relations)

June 27, 2005

• Earnhardt denies RCR rumors: DEI, founded by Earnhardt Sr. when he was driving for Richard Childress, is now run by Earnhardt's widow, Teresa. Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother have had a rocky relationship. In an interview in Saturday's Orlando Sentinel, Earnhardt reiterated the notion that he might someday leave DEI. Reached Saturday at the track, Earnhardt said he was simply restating his desire to drive for Childress "years and years" down the road. "Nothing's going on, I promise you that," he said. Childress noted that Earnhardt was under contract to DEI through 2007. But should Earnhardt ever choose to leave DEI, Childress said, "He knows he's always got somewhere he can come and drive." (USA Today)

• NASCAR TV contract no expected huge increase: NASCAR officials may have backed off a little on their initial demand, quietly asked for earlier this year, for a 50 percent fee increase from the television rights holders on the next rights package. But in the aftermath of record household ratings for the first half of the season on Fox, those officials expect to be appropriately rewarded by whichever networks win the next package, which will take effect at the start of the 2007 season. "In a market where it has become increasingly difficult for sports to maintain their ratings, NASCAR continues to grow its ratings, and we expect to get a fair value back from our partners for this growth," said Dick Glover, NASCAR's vp of broadcasting and new media.. But the TV partners may not be so quick to open their wallets much wider. "I can understand the NASCAR folks saying, look at the growth, but they also have to look at the reality and economics," said Ed Goren, president of Fox Sports. He believes the current TV partners may have overpaid a bit five years ago under the existing agreement, because advertisers were slow to recognize the value of the Nascar telecasts and brand. (Media Week)

• Chevy and Ford submit prototypes: Ford and Chevrolet have submitted prototypes to NASCAR for the 2006 season. Ford's car is expected to be named the Fusion, and Chevrolet will retain the Monte Carlo brand. The big question surrounds Toyota. The NASCAR rulebook says "any new car model to be considered for approval for competition in the 2006 season must be submitted by the manufacturers to NASCAR for initial consideration not later than July 1." NASCAR officials will not confirm Toyota's intention to offer a stock car. There has been talk that Toyota will pull out of the Indy Racing League at the end of this season, which frightens the big three American automakers currently competing in NASCAR because of the generous budgets the Japanese company devotes to racing. An announcement regarding Toyota's intention could come as early as this weekend at Daytona--perfect timing for the July 1 deadline. (The Sporting News's Lee Spencer)

• Special tire valves? Tires have been a headline issue in racing the past several weeks, and the latest twist concerns not the rubber or construction design but rather with the air-pressure valve. Some team engineers say they suspect rival teams of using special valves designed to bleed off excessive air pressure, to keep the tire at a constant pressure. That could be a significant advantage, because tires will typically build up as much as 16 psi over a 100-mile run, and tires with higher pressure handle much differently in corners. Such bleeder valves aren't new in racing, of course; however technology today could make such special valves virtually impossible to distinguish from ordinary valves. (Salem-Journal)

• McSwain wins Wypall Crew Chief Award

• DEI Engine Changes? Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been complaining about horsepower much of the season, and now it appears that DEI will be building a new engine shop, perhaps with Menard Engineering help. Owner John Menard's son Paul drives Busch cars for DEI. Menard Engineering also provides motors for Robby Gordon. John Menard owned the Indy-cars that Tony Stewart drove to the Indy Racing League championship in 1997. (Salem-Journal)

• Environmental Protection Agency at Pocono: The Environmental Protection Agency was reported to be at Pocono Raceway two weeks ago. It is unclear what its inspectors might have been interested in. The EPA would like NASCAR to switch to unleaded gasoline, which Formula One runs on. And NASCAR has had engine builders experiment with engines using unleaded gas, but there has been no timetable for any changeover. However Canadian law would require NASCAR to run unleaded gasoline in any race north of the border, which NASCAR has listed as its next frontier. (Salem-Journal)

• Penske #2 and Roush #6 rides: Two of the sport's top car owners, Roger Penske and Jack Roush, are trying to find new drivers to replace retiring Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Penske says he probably won't make a decision until September. (Salem-Journal)

• Everything but California Dreams for Earnhardt, Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s hopes of turning around a miserable season came to an early end Sunday - also as a result of a broken transmission. "I didn't have first or second gear from the first lap," the downcast Earnhardt said. "We tried a new transmission here and it hadn't given me troubles all weekend. Right from the first corner ... I couldn't get into second. Then it just tore it all out." He bounced off Mike Bliss then spun and slammed hard into the first turn wall, heavily damaging his car. Junior came into Sunday's race 17th in the standings after finishing 14th, 33rd, 22nd, 33rd and 17th in his last five races. He lost one spot Sunday to 18th, 543 points behind. "I'm just frustrated that we put ourselves in this position. The transmission was a new, trick transmission and it didn't work. So last year's transmission was pretty good," Earnhardt said. (FOX Sports)

• France, Bahre Families and Bruton Smith?  It's a story that refuses to die, despite denials: that the France family's International Speedway Corp. is buying the Bahre family's New Hampshire International Speedway, in Loudon, N.H., 90 minutes north of Boston. That story has been going strong, off and on, since 2001, and it's always denied. The newest twist, though, could involve Bruton Smith, the France family's biggest rival promoter. Smith and Bahre, long at odds, going back to the sale of North Wilkesboro Speedway 10 years ago, are now talking to each other on a regular basis. The so-far unasked question: if the Bahres were interested in selling, might there be a bidding war between the Frances and Smith? (Salem-Journal)

June 26, 2005

• Fans Have their say in Sexiest Driver: Not that the weekend was a complete bust for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. Fox named Earnhardt winner of its "Sexiest Driver" contest. The network reported about 17 million votes were tabulated, including 7 million the final week, when Junior edged the other finalist, Jeff Gordon, by 21,000 votes.

• Stewart wins in Sonoma, First in 2005: Tony Stewart found his way back to Victory Lane - and he did it with one hand. With fourth gear gone and third gear going in his Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet late in Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup Dodge/Save Mart 350, Stewart held his car in gear with one hand and steered with the other as he caught and passed Ricky Rudd for the lead and the win. The former series champion took the lead at Infineon Raceway when pole winner and race favorite Jeff Gordon faltered with his own transmission trouble. It was Stewart's first victory since last August at Watkins Glen International, the only other road circuit on the Cup schedule. This one was in doubt nearly to the end, though. "I was just holding (the gearshift) with one hand in the end stages," Stewart said, grinning. "That was getting tough, especially when you're trying to pass Ricky Rudd." (Modesto Bee - Results - Points) Top Ten Finishers: 1st) Tony Stewart, 2nd) Ricky Rudd, 3rd) Kurt Busch, 4th) Rusty Wallace, 5th) Dale Jarrett, 6th) Elliott Sadler, 7th) Jeremy Mayfield, 8th) Ron Fellows, 9th) Ryan Newman, and 10th) Brian Simo

• F1 and Infeonon? Formula One's American troubles, after the Indianapolis fiasco, are so deep that there may be only one man who can save F1 in the United States: Bruton Smith. Smith, a veteran promoter, said he's willing to give Formula One and Bernie Ecclestone a hand - Smith is suggesting a Formula One race at his Sonoma road course. But Smith said that Ecclestone would have to bring money. If Ecclestone accepts, that would be quite a turnaround, since Ecclestone typically charges tracks a big fee for bringing the Grand Prix circus to town. Indianapolis Motor Speedway pays about $15 million a year for the right to run an F1 race. Smith said that if Ecclestone really wants to save Formula One in America, he'll have to dance to a different tune. Ecclestone, according to some reports, has made about $3.7 billion since taking over Formula One's TV operations 20 years ago. (Salem-Journal)

June 25, 2005

• Kitsap track certainly daytime racing: If International Speedway Corp. locates a NASCAR track in Kitsap County, the races will almost certainly be during the day, said Sue Santa, public affairs spokeswoman for the ISC. In other parts of the country, searing afternoon heat often means races are held at night.  Here, she said, with long summertime daylight and moderate temperatures, day racing would be more likely, especially since it would result in prime time TV coverage on the East Coast. A night race here would continue past bedtime in New York. Daytime racing would be better for the local economy, she said. ISC has found the average race fan spends eight hours at the track for a day race, and 14 hours for one at night, soaking up the atmosphere and taking advantage of collateral events at the track. Comments from her and other ISC officials about whether a top-line NASCAR event, those sponsored by Nextel, would be assured here ebbed and flowed at the Thursday announcement.  Santa said that, especially in the wake of the Enron scandal, ISC has to maintain an arm's length relationship with NASCAR, its sister company and with the NASCAR officials who could make that guarantee. But privately, she said, "Our corporate board wouldn't let us go this far" toward development of a Kitsap racetrack if there weren't a high likelihood of moving a Nextel date from another of its tracks to the new one. (More at  Kitsap Sun)

• Residents wait anxiously about Kitsap details: Kitsap County is still waiting to hear the details of the new proposal announced Thursday. "It's a completely different set of circumstances," said ISC spokesman Stan Tate. Kitsap County residents are wary. "No one's provided folks like me with any good analysis of what it means to the county, so that leaves us all to speculate," said county resident Tom Donnelly, treasurer of Kitsap Citizens for Responsible Planning. He says there aren't enough "hotel and motel rooms, camping sites, tents and wigwams" for 80,000 track fans. "We'll get all the pollution, all the congestion and a lion's share of the cost," Donnelly said. "They'll block access to my house, and at the end of the day, I'll be poorer for it." In Gig Harbor, near Tacoma to the south, author Hank Searls worries about area roads. "Not being a NASCAR fan, I don't really feel much empathy to the project," he said. "But substantially, my objection is that it will overtax an already highly taxed highway system." Says Earl Sande, who owns 10 acres that border the site: "I never have been a NASCAR fan, but I could be." In the community of Belfair in nearby Mason County, the track could add to many "exciting things on the horizon," said Don Atkinson, executive director of the North Mason Chamber of Commerce. (Olympian)

• Doc in Charlotte for Physics of a Crash special: Brain surgery and NASCAR rarely appear in the same sentence, but the two will intersect soon on a CNN medical special. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, an Atlanta neurosurgeon and the network's senior medical correspondent, was in Concord this week at Lowe's Motor Speedway filming an hourlong show scheduled for Sept. 25 about motor sports from a medical perspective. Among the topics: whether great racers are born that way or learn through training; staying hydrated on race day; and the survivability of crashes. "People are fascinated by the physics of a crash," says Gupta, who interviewed driver Carl Edwards in a Huntersville park for a segment on drivers as athletes. (ThatsRacin)

• Lake Speed and others Vintage Car racing: Gus Traeder hopes to build on the interest created in this year's Super Vintage Kart Olympics. The participation of former NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Lake Speed introduced the vintage event to more people than ever, and Traeder, the longtime Quincy promoter, hopes to soon have confirmation from some other former big-name talents to add to the 2006 kart lineup at TNT Kartways. "Not only has Lake Speed agreed to return next year, but we are talking with Scott Goodyear, Mark Dismore and Scott Pruett," Traeder said. Speed, Goodyear, Dismore and Pruett all raced in Quincy, West Quincy or both early in their careers. Goodyear and Dismore gained their fame in the Championship Auto Racing teams (CART), IndyCar and Indy Racing League series. Pruett is best known as a road racer and also has experience in CART, IndyCar and NASCAR. (WHIG)

• J. Gordon and Stewart on F1 debacle: Tony Stewart didn't mince words, but does he ever? So it was when he was asked this week about what happened last Sunday at the U.S. Grand Prix of Formula One. "When you look at what happened there, it was a disgrace," Stewart said while preparing for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 on the Nextel Cup circuit. "If Michelin can't provide a safe tire for a race, then Bernie Ecclestone (the head of the FIA governing body for F-1) should ban them from the series for the rest of the season." Stewart and Jeff Gordon said they were certain nothing like that could happen in NASCAR. "Yes, we are going to put on a show," Gordon said. "There's going to be 43 cars out there on Sunday. Whether I'm driving it or if someone else is driving it, there's going to be a show." (Inside Bay Area)

• Nextel drivers hitting the local tracks: This is usually a dark weekend for local motorsports racetracks, giving fans an opportunity to make the trek to Sonoma for NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend. But Stockton 99 Speedway and Altamont Raceway and Arena will be hopping tonight with headline events. Four Nextel Cup drivers will fly to Altamont via helicopter for a "Race of Champions" exhibition. Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Sterling Marlin and Jimmy Spencer will sign autographs and run ASA Late Models in twin 10-lappers. The NASCAR drivers highlight an evening of regular divisions, including a 50-lap ASA Late Model event, Spec Motor Modifieds, Pro Trucks and Baby Grands. Stockton 99 Speedway rolls out with the first of its Triple Crown sprint car events. (Modesto Bee)

• More drivers in Southwest Division: Escalon's Eric Holmes qualified for the pole Friday for today's Blue Lizard Australian Suncream 200 race on NASCAR's Southwest Tour for lighter stock cars with smaller engines than the Nextel Cup cars have. Holmes drove his Chevy to a lap of 90.546 mph in a time of 1 minute, 17.132 seconds, beating out Burney Lamar of West Sacramento. Boris Said, who will be one of the favorites, qualified eighth, and rookie Travis Kvapil was the top qualifier among the Nextel Cup regulars entered in the race at 11th. Kyle Busch, another Nextel Cup rookie and brother of Nextel Cup defending champion Kurt, was 13th. (Inside Bay Area)

• Lowes changes coming: Bruton Smith, chief executive and chairman of the board of Speedway Motorsports Inc., wouldn't reveal details Friday, but said there would be "a lot of things'' done to the Lowe's Motor Speedway surface before the series returns there in October. Many drivers complained about the track surface in May. The track underwent a grinding process called levigation. The change was intended to create more side-by-side racing. Instead, the Coca-Cola 600 had a series-record 22 cautions -- 16 for accidents and spins. "You'll be hearing about" the changes, said Smith, whose company owns Lowe's Motor Speedway, along with five other tracks that host Cup races. "We've had engineers out there for the past week, so we're making some decisions and they're going to be the right ones. (Roanoke)

• NASCAR TV Guides on Newsstands: This week, the June 26th issue of TV Guide is featuring four pairs of teammates: #38-Elliott Sadler and #88-Dale Jarrett from Robert Yates Racing; #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michale Waltrip of DEI; #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports; and #99-Carl Edwards and #6-Mark Martin of Roush Racing.

• Fox Daytona 500 Exclusive? In NASCAR's negotiations for a new network package, some expect Fox to push for exclusive rights to the Daytona 500, since it doesn't have a shot at carrying NASCAR's new 10-race championship playoffs. (Salem-Journal)

• Martin and Wallace on Wall: Infineon Raceway president and general manager Steve Page and Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith were on hand Friday morning as Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin were honored in Victory Circle as the first inductees into the track's "Wall of Fame." Each driver was presented with granite plaques etched with their respective likeness. Both plan to retire from full-time Nextel Cup competition at year's end.  Copies of the plaques will be displayed in the Wall of Fame, behind Infineon's main grandstand. "To be put on the Wall of Fame here at Infineon Raceway is really cool," Wallace said. "I've won here a couple of times, and this has always been one of my best tracks -- I've always qualified well and run up front. (NASCAR)

• Jr. on Childress and Teresa: "Yeah. Richard and I haven't really sat down at a desk to talk about it, but he owns the number '3' and I want to drive the No. 3 race car before I retire. I've told Richard I want to finish my career in his race car, or in a No. 3 car if he and Teresa [Earnhardt] can come to some agreement or whatever." He means a transfer of ownership of the number. His stepmother, Dale's widow Teresa, owns Dale Earnhardt Inc. and has the ultimate say, although Richie Gilmore runs the company for her. She rarely comes to races or appears in public and doesn't speak with the media. Earnhardt Jr. is under contract to her through 2007. But could something be worked out? And how long would it take? "Oh, if everybody was for it, less than 24 hours, I would assume," Earnhardt said. "But I don't see that happening. I mean, not everybody's going to be cool about it. I don't think Teresa would want me to leave, in the first place." (Fl. Sun-Sentinel)

• Rumble strips problem at Pocono: A postrace review of the racing surface at Pocono, where more than 20 left-front tires went flat in the tunnel turn during the race two weeks ago, shows that the track is probably to blame for the tire problems. So the tunnel turn will be repaved, and the controversial rumble-strips on the inside edge will be redone. Some of those rumble strips, upon closer examination, showed sharp edges, which cut the tires. Plus, asphalt patches in the tunnel turn were poorly done, creating bad bumps, which accentuated tire/chassis problems. Goodyear will apparently not be changing the tire compounds for the race at Pocono in July. (Salem-Journal)

June 24, 2005

• Gordon on Pole at Sonoma: Jeff Gordon broke his own qualifying record at Infineon Raceway to win the pole Friday, and combined with teammate Jimmie Johnson to give Hendrick Motorsports the front row for Sunday's race. Gordon, the last of 48 drivers to attempt qualifying laps, raced around the twisting 1.99-mile road course at 94.325 mph, breaking the mark of 94.303 he set last year. It was his fifth pole at the course. Gordon won from the pole last year. Nextel Cup points leader Johnson, also driving a Chevrolet, took the second spot for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at 94.165, followed by Mark Martin at 94.012, road course ace Boris Said at 93.975, and Robby Gordon at 93.885. (NASCAR)

• Rest of Top 10: 1st) Jeff Gordon - 94.325, 2nd) Jimmie Johnson - 94.165, 3rd) Mark Martin - 94.012, 4th) Boris Said - 93.975, 5th) Robby Gordon - 93.885, 6th) Kurt Busch - 93.690, 7th) Tony Stewart - 93.574, 8th) Terry Labonte - 93.296, 9th) Scott Pruett - 93.269, and 10th) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 93.184 (Complete starting grid at NASCAR.com)

• Traffic heavy in Sonoma: As the NASCAR Dodge/Save Mart 350 race nears on Sunday, local public safety agencies are "gearing up" to reduce the amount of gridlock on Valley roads. While official attendance figures are not released, the race draws a huge amount of spectators, which means that traveling outside the Valley by using Highway 121 will be nearly impossible, said California Highway Patrol Officer Bill Brewer. Brewer said the CHP is asking that Valley residents use other roads when traveling out of town, as it will help alleviate some of the congestion caused by spectators. (Sonoma News)

• Officials want more details on Kitsap Track: A proposed $250 million NASCAR racetrack would be the economic boon that Kitsap County has tried to lure for decades, say proponents, but elected officials are taking a wait-and-see approach before making a decision. That's how several Kitsap movers and shakers reacted Thursday to an announcement by International Speedway Corp. that it intends to build an 80,000-seat track on 950 acres south of Bremerton National airport.  "This will transform the community," said David Porter, executive director of the Kitsap Economic Development Council and part of a group of county business leaders who have worked to woo ISC officials to build a racetrack here. However, local government officials are waiting for more detailed information on ISC's proposal. Specifically, they want to know what type of financing ISC will ask for from local and state agencies to build the stadium and fund local infrastructure needs like transportation and sewer upgrades. "I feel an obligation to make sure that our taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively," said state Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who represents the 26th District. "And so even though we're not Missouri, we still need to be the 'show-me' state on this. We need to see what the potential benefit will be." (Kitsap Sun)

• Zucker named California track president: California Speedway returned to the forefront of the motorsports industry on Thursday by announcing Gillian Zucker as its new track president, the first woman in the country to hold such a position at a major speedway. It will mark her second work assignment in San Bernardino County. Zucker, 36, served as assistant general manager for the High Desert Mavericks of the California League in 1993-94. Zucker will replace William Miller, who resigned from the position in March following the track's NASCAR Nextel Cup Auto Club 500. Zucker will assume her duties as the fourth president in nine years on July 5. (Daily Bulletin)

• Earnhardt, Jr. and 11 year old race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. already has one victory this week at Infineon Raceway, but the driver he beat has a pretty good story to tell. Earnhardt Jr. won a five-lap race Wednesday against Andrew Wolocatiuk, an 11-year-old from Petaluma, Calif. They raced in go-karts around a 16-turn, three-quarter-mile karting track on the grounds of the road course where Earnhardt Jr. will drive Sunday. "I didn't realize what a cool guy he was, but he was great," said Wolocatiuk, a regular competitor in the Jim Russell Karting Series at the track. Wolocatiuk had a 12-horsepower kart, while Earnhardt Jr. had a kart with 15 horsepower. That was designed to even out the weight difference. (Charlotte Observer)

• Hornish content with IRL, but possible Wallace replacement: For Sam Hornish Jr., the No. 2 of the Nextel Cup Series is an intriguing possibility, but the Indy Racing League will remain his No.1 priority for now. With Rusty Wallace scheduled re from full-time duty in Penske Racing's No. 2 Dodge after this season, NASCAR speculation on a replacement often has focused on Hornish, who drives for Penske in the IRL. "Right now, I'm pretty happy what I'm doing," he said yesterday while settling in at Richmond International Raceway for tomorrow's SunTrust Indy Challenge. "Somewhere down the line, I might wake up one day and decide [NASCAR's] what I want to do, but right now it's not. I don't see that changing in the next year or two." (Times-Dispatch)

• Childress open door if Earnhardt, Jr. chooses to leave DEI: Richard Childress does not see Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., after the season, but if that happens, his door is open. "Junior has his own deal working good at DEI, and I hope it all works out for him," said Childress, who won six Nextel Cup championship with the late Dale Earnhardt. "I think it will (work out), 'cause it's a really good organization. I also would say if he ever left there, I'd sure hope he'd come this way." (The State)

• NEXTEL and Sprint Confirm Name Change: Sprint and Nextel confirmed Thursday that once their merger is completed later this year the new company will be marketed as Sprint, but that for 2006, at least, NASCAR's top series would still be called Nextel Cup. A decision on whether to change the name for 2007 and beyond would be made before next year's Daytona 500, said Mark Schweitzer, Nextel's senior vice president of marketing. ThatsRacin.com and the Observer reported that timetable earlier this month and said the name being considered for 2007 and beyond is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. If the name does change from Nextel Cup to Sprint Cup for 2007, it would be the third name for NASCAR's top series in five seasons. (ThatsRacin)

June 23, 2005

• NASCAR NW track in Kitsap county: South Kitsap County is the preferred spot for a NASCAR racetrack, the Kitsap Sun learned Wednesday. Racetrack developer and promoter International Speedway Corp. will announce this morning that it intends to build an 80,000-seat track south of the Bremerton National Airport.  The ISC released some details of the proposal early to the Kitsap Sun on Wednesday afternoon but did not release information on a financing package or naming rights. The proposed track would be 7/8 mile to 1.2 miles, surrounded by parking and camping areas on 950 acres near Lake Flora Road and Highway 3, along the Kitsap-Mason county line. The announcement could mark an end to a nearly two-year Northwest track site search that included the announcement of a preferred spot in Snohomish County last September. That deal fell apart two months later. Today's announcement is the beginning of what is expected to be a long process. The company must gain acceptance from the Legislature and go through the permitting process in Kitsap County before construction can start in 2007 or 2008. And the company will have to answer many questions from the public and commissioners. Today's Announcement Puts Openning in 2010. (Kitsap Sun) (After Snohomish 'Debacle,' Builders Back on Track) The Numbers: Acres: 950 Seats: 80,000,  Length of track: 7/8 mile to 1.2 miles, Buildings expected on site: 40, Proposed first season: Summer 2010, Major race weekends: Three a year, Season ticket price: $190 and up, Out-of-staters expected at racing events: 60 percent (Source: International Speedway Corp.) (image)

• Ford better tire results? According to some engineers in the garage, Ford's tire-analysis program this season has been superior to General Motors' tire program, and that has been a key to the strong runs by Jack Roush's teams, including Biffle's. "I think we're doing the right things," Johnson said. "Top 10s are what will win the championship. We're definitely in championship form. (Salem-Journal)

• Fox Happy, Goren dismissed buying second half, and side by side:  FOX Sports president Ed Goren can afford to be coy when talking about his relationship with NASCAR.  It was easy for Goren to joke around during a Wednesday teleconference that reviewed the first half of the season. FOX projects its season ratings to rise 5 percent from last year, which would set a record for any NASCAR TV package. It's the first time a major professional sport has recorded an all-time season high since the NFL in 1981. Goren dismissed suggestions that FOX could buy the entire season contract (NBC currently broadcasts the second half). The network's NFL telecasts in the fall would be an obvious conflict, and placing the Chase for the Cup races on cable channels FX or SPEED doesn't make sense, he said. "It would be a mistake for NASCAR to make a deal like that," he said. "I believe in the end that the place for the Nextel (Cup) Series is on network television." Goren also addressed the complaints of fans who say FOX misses too many restarts and shows far too many commercials. "I'm convinced that there must be something that happens on the track when the drivers know we're in commercial," he said. "The only way to avoid that is to get rid of the commercials, and we're not PBS."  (Rocky Mountain Telegram)

• NASCAR Day in Tucson: In conjunction with a NASCAR fan festival at Tucson Mall, mayor Bob Walkup has declared Monday as NASCAR Day in Tucson. NASCAR 101, the event held at Tucson Mall by Phoenix International Raceway at 6:30 p.m. Monday, will feature drivers Kurt Busch and Brendan Gaughan and Fox Sports analyst Jeff Hammonds. (AZ Daily Star)

June 22, 2005

• NASCAR penalties includes Kahne and Mears: NASCAR announced today that two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chiefs have been fined for infractions during last weekend's events at Michigan International Speedway. Both violations were found during pre-qualifying inspection. Tommy Baldwin, crew chief for the #9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne, was fined $10,000 for an unapproved front air dam extension, a violation of Section 12-4-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (parts and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rulebook. Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for the #41 Dodge driven by Casey Mears, was fined $1,000 for unapproved body modifications after inspection, a violation of Section 12-4-1 and Section 12-4-Q.(NASCAR PR)

• Hmiel Out until at least 2007:  Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from NASCAR competition until at least 2007, NASCAR officials said Wednesday.  At that time, NASCAR will evaluate whether or not he will be allowed to return to competition. Hmiel was suspended indefinitely June 3 after failing a substance abuse test. It was Hmiel's second offense. He was first suspended in September 2003 after failing a substance abuse test. He completed a prescribed rehabilitation program and was reinstated for NASCAR competition in February 2004. NASCAR will lay out a road map for Hmiel's possible reinstatement in 2007, including a rehabilitation program that will include medical and psychological reviews, as well as frequent testing. (NASCAR)

• Ratings Up, NASCAR TV Boom Again: With the new racing season now well under way, ratings are back on their climb. Just why isn't entirely clear, but it appears part of it is the delayed effect of new championship rules introduced last year. At first many fans were unhappy with the new playoff-like format, but this season they seem to have embraced it. Another reason for the bump may be the bad fortunes of love 'em or hate 'em driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who's struggling this year. That opens up the field for other drivers and gives fans someone to root against. All this excitement over NASCAR has given a big boost to advertising. Rates are up and many races are sold out, with an increase in new and more mainstream advertisers. Coors, Office Depot, FedEx, State Farm, and Paramount Pictures are among the new advertisers on Fox this season. Season-to-date Fox has averaged a 6.1 household rating for its coverage of NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series, up 5 percent from 2004. The network has set or tied ratings records for six of its 12 races, including a 10.9 rating for the Daytona 500. Cable household ratings for Nextel Cup races on FX are up 18 percent. (Media Life)

• Sadler's M&M's Crew wins: For the third time this season the M&M'S Chocolate Thunder Pit Crew won the Checker's/Rally's Double Drive Thru Pit Crew Challenge Award. The M&M'S Team spent a total of 191.077 seconds on pit road to beat out their other competitors. This victory positions the Chocolate Thunder Crew in a three-way tie with the #2 and #12 Penske Teams for the season lead. (M&M's Motorsports)

• Petty Enterprise sends cars to German Win Tunnel: As the ever-expanding engineering and technical side of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing continues to grow, Petty Enterprises took a huge step to the forefront of wind tunnel testing this week. Accepting an invitation from Dodge Motorsports, Petty Enterprises spent this week in Stuttgart, Germany, at one of the world's state-of-the-art wind tunnels. The wind tunnel in Stuttgart, Germany is equipped with a rare and unique "Rolling Road" wind tunnel system. Cars travel on a belt and can simulate different pitches and angles. Used by Mercedes, Petty Enterprises hopes the facility will provide them with unmatched information. "The 'Rolling Road' wind tunnel can actually give us better, more realistic data comparable to on-track conditions," stated Petty Enterprises General Manager Jerry Freeze. "We're hoping to use this data and compare it to the 'static' wind tunnels we use here in the States." (ThatsRacin)

• R. Wallace on hand for Iowa Track groundbreaking: Groundbreaking for a $70 million NASCAR-style auto racing track along Interstate 80 in central Iowa brought scores of racing fans to Newton. The track's co-designer, NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, was on hand on Tuesday to tout the 7/8 mile asphalt oval that will be built by U.S. MotorSport Entertainment Corp. Track organizers say it will be the industry's first driver-designed speedway. "We're going to build this facility. We're going to showcase this facility, and I'll promise you we're going to have some great races," a bulldozer-driving Wallace said. (WCFCourier)

June 21, 2005

• Ramirez hopes to start at Infineon: The Pro30.com racing team's red No. 52 Ford Taurus with blue trim is driven by Jose Luis Ramirez. On Friday, he will attempt to qualify for Sunday's Nextel Cup race. Ramirez is the same height and weight as Danica Patrick. He hopes to grow as famous in Mexico as Patrick has in this country. He is attempting to become only the second Mexican-born driver - and the first in 34 years - to qualify for a NASCAR event. Pedro Rodriguez drove in six Winston Cup races from 1959-71. Ramirez's good fortune is that his boss is Coleman. Both are novices looking for their niche in NASCAR. "I feel 100 percent confidence in him," Ramirez said. "I feel he's like me. I'm living my dream. He's living his dream. So we are connected in that relationship and we will try to do the best we can do." (Marinij)

• Hamilton Sr. Advance to son, "Find something else to drive":  When NASCAR veteran and reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton Sr. was asked about his son's struggles at PPI Motorsports' No. 32 Chevrolets in the Nextel Cup Series, he offered this advice: "Find something else to drive." In his first full season with PPI in the Cup series, Bobby Hamilton Jr. is 37th in points with no top-10 finishes and failed to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., last month. Hamilton Sr. offered up his own candid assessment of his son's team. "I mean, there's too many chiefs and not enough Indians there. They've got just enough employees to survive, barely get to a race track and survive a Nextel Cup deal," Hamilton Sr. said. (ThatsRacin)

Featured Pages
NEXT Race Checkout the next upcoming NASCAR Nextel races.  Including race, stats, track information and much more! NASCAR Stats Who won?  Who has the most top 5's?  Checkout the NASCAR stats. Includes results, points and more!   for past NASCAR news...[click here]