NASCAR News Sept. 13 - Sept. 20, 2006

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Sep. 20, 2005:

• Surprise no suspensions, NASCAR N.H. fines and penalties: NASCAR issued fines and penalties Monday to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, resulting from rule violations this past weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Dodge, was fined $25,000 because of an on-track altercation with another competitor during a caution period and placed on probation for the remainder of the year. Kahne violated Section 12-4-A of the series rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing). Kahne was also penalized 25 driver championship points and car owner Ray Evernham losing 25 owner championship points. "There have been a growing number of incidents lately where drivers have taken matters into their own hands. Such unsafe and inappropriate behavior has to stop," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. NASCAR will use whatever means necessary to stop it." Lance McGrew, crew chief for the #25 Chevrolet driven by Brian Vickers, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the year. The #25 team had its primary car confiscated after the weekend's initial inspection process, due to an unapproved car body. Vickers was penalized 25 driver points and car owner Mary Hendrick was penalized 25 owner points. The team was in violation of Section 12-4-A and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules). Robby Gordon, driver of the #7 Chevrolet, was fined $25,000 for attempting to hit another competitor's car during a caution period, and then throwing his helmet at another competitor's car. Gordon also was fined $10,000 for use of improper language during a television interview during the race. Each fine was accompanied by penalties against Gordon of 25 driver points and 25 owner points against James Smith. In addition, Gordon has been placed on probation for the remainder of the year. In each instance, Gordon was in violation of Section 12-4-A. So Gordon loses 50 drivers points and 50 owners points. #15 Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip, involved in the on-track altercations with Gordon, was fined $10,000 and penalized 25 driver points because of an inappropriate gesture during a televised broadcast, while car owner Teresa Earnhardt was penalized 25 owner points. Waltrip was also in violation of Secton 12-4-A.(NASCAR PR)

• Reiser Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award

• Stewart wins SPEED Channel's Third Quarter DOTY: Tony Stewart, who smoked the race tracks in NASCAR Nextel Cup series, fired up the voting among the media and the fans, easily winning the Speed Channel DRIVER OF THE YEAR third quarter, 2005. "It's an honor to be named the third quarter Driver of The Year," said Stewart, the 2002 Nextel Cup Champion. "I didn't do it alone, though, as I had a great race team in Joe Gibbs Racing providing me with great race cars. Stewart drove the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, into victory lane at the quarter's opening race, the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway and hasn't slowed to lookin his rear-view mirrors. Following an emotional win at the Allstate 400, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Stewart - known as "Smoke" - took over the points lead and held it as the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup started this Sunday. During the 12 weeks of the third quarter Stewart amassed an unmatched record of five wins and no finish worse than eighth. (SPEED)

• More on NW. Track, ISC and more: The company pushing for a Kitsap County NASCAR racetrack would pay the largest private portion ever for a professional sports stadium in Washington, an executive said Monday. International Speedway Corp. based in Daytona, Fla., is proposing the new track, which would seat 81,500 and cost more than $300 million. The facility would be publicly owned and leased to an ISC subsidiary.   Grant Lynch, an ISC vice president, said the company has not settled the details of a public-private financing package. But he said the company would shoulder a larger share of the costs than previous private partners have on new sports venues in Washington. Supporters also say the money the track generates could support much of the public financing needed to build it and improve the surrounding infrastructure. A recent study by Seattle consultants Berk and Associates pegs the proposed track's value to Washington's economy at nearly $140 million per year, assuming two major sold-out races and a smaller regional event. The ISC contributed about 30 percent of the cost of its new racetrack in Kansas City, Kan., Lynch said, and probably would kick in more for the proposed track south of Bremerton. Lynch said he's confident the financing plan will appeal to elected officials once they sit down to negotiate the possible public portion. (Kitsap Sun)

• TNT/NBC out after 06? word has already been leaked to the staff at NBC and TNT not to expect to come back following the 2006 season. (Yahoo! Sports)

Sep. 19, 2005:

• Teams are waiting on templates: Teams are concerned because NASCAR hasn't given them all of the templates for what's generally referred to as the car of tomorrow. Tests of the car are set for the Monday after the races at Talladega (October 2) and Atlanta (October 30). Organizations with in-house chassis programs need time to build a chassis that will complement the new body. NASCAR expects the car of tomorrow to enter competition in 2007. (Sporting News)

• Kerry at Speedway: It was too late to reach out to those NASCAR Dads for votes, but yesterday former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry showed up in NASCAR country and was escorted around the New Hampshire International Speedway garage by NASCAR officials and attended the drivers' meeting. But NASCAR executives almost forgot to introduce him at the drivers' meeting, where he had been expected to say a few words but never got the opportunity. (Salem-Journal)

• Vickers expected to receive penalty: Brian Vickers' No. 25 team also will receive penalties. NASCAR confiscated his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after the car failed to meet template inspection last Friday at Loudon. A similar incident occurred in February at California, and one official said HMS was warned not to bring a car with similar dimensions back to the track. (Sporting News)

• NW track a tough sell: In its continuing campaign to win public support for a NASCAR track near Bremerton, Florida-based International Speedway Corp. said yesterday a track would generate nearly $140 million in new revenue annually to the state. The estimate, which is millions more than a similar study done by the same group last year, was immediately panned by state Treasurer Mike Murphy, who called the numbers "hokey." "They've got a long, long way to go to show me some numbers that are within reasonable, rational thought," said Murphy, who in the past has opposed spending public money on a track. The International Speedway Corp. (ISC) presented its study, done by Berk & Associates, to a state House committee meeting yesterday. A 2004 Berk & Associates study paid for by a group of businesses and economic-development leaders estimated a track somewhere in the region would bring in between $85 million and $120 million in new revenue annually. The new study used more specific information about the design of the Kitsap track and new data on how much fans spend when they're at NASCAR races, said Michael Hodgins, of Berk & Associates. (Seattle Times)

• Sign of the times: Even though Sprint signage is replacing Nextel signage at NASCAR tracks, the championship reportedly will remain the Nextel Cup through next season. (AutoWeek)

• Lopez to HOF racing? Philippe Lopez, a veteran crew chief who worked with the Richard Childress-Dave Blaney team until last month when Childress decided to bring in Scott Miller to run that operation, has apparently moved to the new Roger Staubach-Troy Aikman team, which has been searching for sponsorship and a driver for a planned Nextel Cup effort in 2006. (Salem-Journal)

Sep. 18, 2005:

• Newman out races Stewart, NASCAR threatens suspensions: Twelve members of Kurt Busch's crew, two wielding orange mallets and one carrying a torch, scurried around his bashed-in stock car early Sunday afternoon. They were trying to salvage not just Busch's car, but also his season. Ryan Newman went on to win the Sylvania 300, but Busch's wreck was as important as anything else that happened at New Hampshire International Speedway. And a lot happened. A series of accidents late in the race ended with an irate Robby Gordon hurling his helmet at Michael Waltrip's car. This was the first of 10 races in the Chase to the Nextel Cup, and Busch, the defending champion, probably lost the title. He was nudged into the wall on the second lap by a car driven by Scott Riggs, fell 66 laps behind and finished 35th. "There are guys you race with and there are guys you can't," Busch said. Then, referring to Riggs, Busch said, "And he really doesn't know where he is most of the time." Tony Stewart led 173 laps Sunday, but he lost a crowd-pleasing duel to Newman on the next-to-last lap and finished second. Stewart did not lose ground otherwise. In fact, he extended his lead in the standings to 20 points from 5 over Greg Biffle, who finished fourth Sunday. "You're going to see some pretty stiff penalties coming out of this," the NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said in a postrace news conference. The penalties, which Hunter said could be announced Tuesday, could include suspensions of those involved Sunday in what he called shenanigans. Gordon, Waltrip and Kahne were summoned to a postrace meeting with NASCAR officials. (In part from NY Times - Results - Points)

• So how much does the military spend on NASCAR sponsorship? The military, battling enlistment shortfalls, spends more than $38 million annually to sponsor six NASCAR racers. Recruiters say the nation's 75 million NASCAR fans, a TV sports-audience base second only to pro football, are a perfect match for the military. Fans are loyal to drivers and sponsors, they're extremely patriotic, and they like speed. But officials concede they don't know how many race fans enlist. And critics say NASCAR is a poor way to attract recruits -- it costs too much for a dubious return on investment. During the past five years, the Pentagon has developed a burgeoning relationship with stock-car racing. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard each sponsor cars in NASCAR's two top racing circuits: the premier Nextel Cup and the second-tier Busch Series. (More at Times-Dispatch)

• Harvick and Ganassi rumors persist: Kevin Harvick has been noticeably unhappy this season. And even Friday's unusual announcement by car owner Richard Childress that he and Harvick would be living up to their contract and sticking together through the 2006 season hasn't diminished speculation that Harvick has something in the works. There's speculation that he might have a 2007 game plan with car owners Roger Penske or Chip Ganassi. The Ganassi option seems logical. Jamie McMurray has signed a 2007 contract to take Mark Martin's place with Jack Roush, so Ganassi has that hole to fill. So this year's version of NASCAR's annual game of musical chairs has taken on an unusual tone. Now, might Ganassi release McMurray to Roush for 2006, if Ganassi could get Harvick from Childress, and would that be enough inducement for Roush to release Kurt Busch to Penske for 2006? (Salem-Journal)

• A Special session NASCAR Fl. tags to pay for part of Daytona HOF? Daytona Beach has some high-powered opponents in the race to land the NASCAR Hall of Fame museum, and it is important that the state step up to sweeten the offer One plan that met near-universal support during the last legislative session was a specialty Florida license plate featuring NASCAR, the proceeds of which could be earmarked to pay for a portion of the museum's cost and maintenance. The idea was lumped in with an omnibus sports bill that collapsed in the session's last days. Now lawmakers are gearing up for a special session as soon as next month to set up rules for voter-approved slot machines. That would be an excellent time to expand the list of topics legislators can tackle to include the tag. NASCAR may make its decision in December. This is a vital issue for Daytona, Volusia County and, indeed, all of Central Florida. History and civic pride dictate that the museum of the sport that was invented on the sands of Daytona Beach and boosted into a national obsession by the Daytona 500 be built here. One problematic aspect of the proposal last session by DeLand Republican Rep. Pat Patterson is that NASCAR would be getting far too much of the money from the tag proceeds. That bill designated 85 percent of the license-plate proceeds -- up to $1.2 million a year -- toward the museum's construction. Another 10 percent would go to NASCAR's pocket to advertise Florida race events. That's too much, and it's a lot more than other sports organizations get. It would be more fair to pay NASCAR up to 5 percent for licensing and royalty fees. Spend the rest for motor-vehicle safety or another noble cause. (In part from Orlando Sentinel)

Sep. 17, 2005:

• Tony Stewart wins the Pole: Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet, qualified on the pole for Sunday's Sylvania 300 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. "We definitely have a good race car," said Stewart. "Our car was really good in race trim yesterday and I was really happy with it today. I think that was the best lap I've ever run at Loudon. This is the perfect place to start when you're in the Chase." Stewart toured the 1.058-mile oval in 29.043 seconds with an average speed of 131.143 mph. Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing teammates - Bobby Labonte and J.J. Yeley - qualified 17th and 29th, respectively. Labonte clocked a time of 29.435 seconds with an average speed of 129.396 mph, while Yeley timed in at 29.651 seconds with an average speed of 128.454 mph. This was Stewart's ninth career Bud Pole position in 239 races, with his most recent pole coming 10 races ago at Daytona (Fla.). JGR has now accumulated 35 Nextel Cup pole positions in its 14-year history. Rounding out the top-five in qualifying were Jeff Gordon (29.058 seconds at 131.075 mph), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (29.124 seconds at 130.777 mph), Matt Kenseth (29.149 seconds at 130.666 mph) and Scott Riggs (29.194 seconds at 130.465 mph). (Joe Gibbs Racing PR)

• Harvick back in 06 with RCR: Kevin Harvick will be back behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Speculation has fueled rumors that the 2001 NEXTEL Cup Series Rookie of the Year would move to another team at the end of this season. RCR President and CEO Richard Childress hopes to put that speculation to rest. "Kevin will be the driver of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevy next season," said Childress. "He and I have committed to moving forward together in fulfilling our current agreement, which runs through 2006, and we anticipate being together for many years beyond that. Our focus is on continuing to improve our performance this year and being a championship contender in 2006." Harvick is in his fifth year of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition, all with RCR, and has five victories, 30 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes, and four poles. He is currently 14th in this season's point standings with one victory, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. In his sixth season of driving in the NASCAR Busch Series for RCR, he has 16 victories, 60 top-five and 85 top-10 finishes, and 13 poles. "Richard has made key additions to RCR that will benefit the organization," said Harvick. We are both committed to make 2006 a successful season. I've always intended to fulfill my obligations to Richard, RCR and all of our sponsors." (Richard Childress Racing PR)

• Vickers car impounded:  Brian Vickers' Chevrolet was taken by NASCAR officials after it failed to fit its templates during inspection. The car was sent to the sanctioning body's research and development office in North Carolina, where it was be examined before any penalties are announced. Vickers was forced to use a backup car and will start 30th. (Jacksonville.com)

• 21 Wood Brothers close to 3rd sponsorship: The Wood Brothers, #21 Ford with Ricky Rudd as the driver, are close to securing a final sponsor for next year. Motorcraft will return as a primary sponsor for a selected number of races, and the Air Force is expected to return as well. A third primary sponsor still is being sought. (Roanoke Times)

• Busch out before end out season? sources close to Jack Roush say that Roush may indeed be releasing Busch to Penske before the end of the season, though it still isn't clear just who Roush might have in mind to take that seat. Roush has steadfastly insisted he has no plans to release Busch. (Salem-Journal)

• Petty sits out qualifying and practice: Still fighting feelings of grief from his son's death at New Hampshire International Speedway more than five years ago, Kyle Petty will skip Friday's practice sessions and Saturday's qualifying at the track. Petty still plans to race on Sunday. "It's a funny thing, because I thought the longer I went, the easier it would get," Petty said in a telephone interview. "The truth is, the longer it goes, the harder it gets." Adam Petty was killed in an accident during a practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway in May 2000. NASCAR officials determined that he died of a neck injury, the same injury that would kill Dale Earnhardt nine months later. Petty has raced at New Hampshire several times since the accident, but it hasn't made him any more at ease there. He said the most recent race weekend at New Hampshire, in July, was particularly tough. (USA Today)

Sep. 16, 2005:

• Newman in Mobil 1 this week: Mobil 1 will return as the primary sponsor of the No. 12 Penske Racing South Dodge this weekend at NHIS. The Mobil 1 colors were also displayed earlier this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Newman has posted two top-10 finishes in the Mobil 1 car this year. (Alltel Weekly Release)

• McMurray donates to relief efforts: McMurray, who has a niece with autism, is taking his ongoing commitment to the Autism Society of America (ASA) a step further in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. McMurray is making a $50,000 donation to ASA's relief fund, and is pledging, along with ASA, a long-term, active commitment in the coming months to helping and supporting families of individuals with autism during this relief effort. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.autism-society.org or www.jamiemcmurray.com (Ganassi Racing Weekly Release)

• Texas Motor Speedway names bridge after Stewart: A pedestrian bridge built to relieve traffic jams at Texas Motor Speedway will be named in honor of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, who friends say has a reputation for being crabby about congestion. "Tony for years complained about gridlock at the south tunnel," speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage joked Thursday during a media preview of the Nov. 6 NASCAR Nextel Cup race, the Dickies 500. The walkway, paid for by the speedway, opened this year. "We spent $1.7 million to shut him up," Gossage quipped, "and now he keeps demanding a plaque." During an interview by satellite link from New York, Stewart playfully returned fire: "It's still going to take a lot more than that to keep me quiet." (Star-Telegram)

• Drivers donate to auction: World famous NASCAR teams, drivers and sponsors donated rare, collectible memorabilia for an auction to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The items will go up for auction tomorrow at noon Mountain Time on Overstock.com Auctions(TM) , http://auctions.overstock.com/, with more anticipated in the coming weeks as donations continue to pour in. RACE DAY CHARITIES, founded by Rob D'Amico and Michele Rahal of Fox Sports Radio's internationally syndicated morning show "Race Day," is hosting the 10-day auction and will donate all of the proceeds to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. D'Amico and Rahal rallied support from the racing industry for an auction to help their loyal listeners and the hundreds of thousands of other people affected by the tragedy in New Orleans. Donations came in from champion race car drivers Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Tony Pedregon and Martin Truex Jr. and rock bands, Nickelback, who recently performed at the Richmond International Raceway, and 3 Doors Down, who were born, raised and live in the hurricane-stricken region of Southern Mississippi. Every item is autographed, and most were actually used by their famous owners. The NASCAR memorabilia expected to garner the most attention are a racing suit worn by 2002 Busch Grand National Series Champion Greg Biffle in a winning race and a Pennzoil commemorative racing jacket autographed by the legendary Mark Martin, both of whom are currently in the Chase for the NEXTEL Championship. "We had a lot of callers from New Orleans in the days leading up to Katrina," said D'Amico. "We encouraged them to evacuate and many did, but for some, it was not an option. Our only option is to help. We made one phone call, and within days, the racing community responded. The donations keep coming in, and thus we expect to add more items on Overstock Auctions soon for this relief effort." The RACE DAY CHARITIES auctions may be viewed at http://auctions.overstock.com/. (Overstock.com PR)

Sep. 15, 2005:

• New Sunoco commercials: Sunoco, which has a 10-year, $8 million a year sponsorship as the official fuel of NASCAR, will launch two national TV spots this month, using Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick in humorous spots. (Salem-Journal)

• NASCAR testing at Lowes: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 20, and Wednesday, Sept. 21 in preparation for the UAW-GM Quality 500 on Saturday night, Oct. 15. Teams fielding cars for the following drivers have indicated their intention to participate with more expected: #6-Mark Martin, #16-Greg Biffle, #18-Bobby Labonte, #20-Tony Stewart, #22-Scott Wimmer, #31-Jeff Burton and #97-Kurt Busch. Fans can attend both of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing sessions free of charge. Lowe's Motor Speedway's frontstretch grandstand will be open both days and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office. (LMS PR)

• Wally's World raises 16k for Katrina relief efforts: Turner Network Television (TNT), in a unique effort to raise funds for the American Red Cross' Hurricane Relief Fund, today announced the winning bid of $16,100 for the recently auctioned opportunity to ride along with TNT/NBC NASCAR analyst Wally Dallenbach and appear in his signature pre-race segment Wally's World driven by State Farm. The winner of the auction was Kris Rose of Lexington, KY, who bid on the once in a lifetime experience via NASCAR.COM as a 14th year wedding anniversary gift for her husband, Jamie. The ride along will take place on Friday, Sept. 16 and will air on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m. ET during the network's pre race coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Series Cup Racing from Loudon. "It's not everyday that you get a chance to help people whose lives have been so completely uprooted. NASCAR and TNT's joint effort to organize this auction in less than a week was an amazing feat," said Rose, a stockbroker and mother of six. "I am very proud that so many Americans have opened their pocketbooks and hearts to those affected by Hurricane Katrina." The Roses will also receive: airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, suite tickets and VIP Access at the track, which includes a garage tour for two. This marks the first time that TNT has auctioned off the highly coveted shotgun seat in the Wally's World pre-race segment, usually reserved for celebrities, such as Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Lisa Marie Pressley and Quentin Tarantino. "Of all the great people I've had in the car, this one is special to me because it has the added benefit of helping a worthy cause," said Dallenbach. (Turner Sports, Inc. PR)

• Burton judging duck stamp competition:  Ward Burton is in Memphis this week attending the Federal Duck Stamp Contest as a judge, one of only five chosen. The Department of the Interior contacted Burton and asked for his participation in the event. With Burton's passion for conservation, he considered the invitation an honor and graciously accepted. This year marks a significant departure from previous Federal Duck Stamp Contests; for the first time the Federal Duck Stamp Contest will be held outside Washington D.C. The contest is a week long event sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners. There are many events throughout the week to celebrate the Duck Stamp, conservation, history, and tradition. While at the event, Burton has not only enjoyed judging the wonderful artwork but attending the various exhibits as well. "I have been able to see some fantastic Duck Stamp entries; it is going to be tough to pick a winner. This is a great family event and there are many exhibits to learn about conservation," stated Burton. Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as "Ducks Stamps," are pictorial stamps produced by the U.S. Postal Service for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They are not valid for postage. Originally created in 1934 as the federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl, Federal Duck Stamps have a much larger purpose today.  For more information on the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, please visit www.twbwf.org. (NASCAR.com)

• Loomis to join Petty Enterprises:  Kyle Petty, CEO of Petty Enterprises, today announced the organization's addition of championship-winning crew chief Robbie Loomis as executive vice president of race operations. In his new role, Loomis will head the day-to-day operations of Level Cross-based Petty Enterprises and its two full-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams -- the No. 43 Dodges driven by Jeff Green and the No. 45 Dodges piloted by Petty. "We are excited that Robbie will be rejoining Petty Enterprises," Petty said. "Robbie won races as a crew chief here, and then won a lot of races and a championship with Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports. We have great respect for the entire Hendrick organization, and know that Robbie's experience with the Hendrick team has prepared him well for the role he will take on at Petty Enterprises. "Robbie Loomis will direct our entire race operation, and we expect his experience and his ability to mold a team to help us get to the next level. Robbie has been a part of our family for a long time, and we're happy to have him come home." Loomis, 41, will leave his position as crew chief of Hendrick Motorsports' No. 24 Chevrolets. Before joining Petty, the Forest City, Fla., native will work as a consultant to Concord-based Hendrick as the operation pursues the 2005 NEXTEL Cup championship with the No. 48 Chevrolets. "We still have a job to do," said Loomis, who won a Cup title with driver Jeff Gordon in 2001 after coming to Hendrick from Petty Enterprises in 2000. "Our goal is winning that championship with Jimmie (Johnson), Chad (Knaus) and the No. 48 team. I'm here to support them in any way I possibly can. (Williams Company)

• Hendrick names Letarte Gordon's crew chief: With Robbie Loomis' move back to Petty Enterprises, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today introduced Steve Letarte as crew chief of the #24 entries driven by Gordon, a four-time Cup Series champion. Letarte will call his first race Sunday at Loudon, N.H., less than 70 miles from his hometown of Cornish, Maine. Letarte, 26, has been with the #24 team full-time since 1996, winning three Cup titles under the tutelage of crew chiefs Ray Evernham, Brian Whitesell and Loomis. He has worked as a tire specialist, mechanic and car chief. "To have a chance like this with Hendrick Motorsports is incredible," Letarte said. "I couldn't ask to work with a better driver or a more talented group of people. I'm committed to continuing the winning tradition of this team, closing 2005 on a positive note and pushing toward Jeff's fifth championship next year." Letarte takes over a crew with a pair of pole positions and three victories this season. Only two NEXTEL Cup teams have more wins in 2005. "I'm sad to see Robbie leave," Gordon said. "We made a great team and had more wins ahead of us, but the Pettys presented him with a fantastic opportunity. For him, it was time for a change and I'm happy he's found the right fit. "I've worked with Steve for more than 10 years and we already communicate extremely well, both on and off the track. The team has a ton of confidence in his abilities, so we're looking forward to the last 10 races of 2005 and getting an early jump on next year." (Hendrick Motorsports PR)

Sep. 14, 2005:

• DEI officially announce Eury and Earnhardt, Jr. reunion: Dale Earnhardt Incorporated announced Wednesday that, starting this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, Tony Eury Jr., will take over as crew chief for the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. Eury Jr., who has been crew chief for DEI's No. 15 Chevrolet this season, will be reunited with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who Eury Jr. worked with for eight seasons prior. The two will be paired for the remaining races of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season in preparation for 2006 where they will compete together for the NASCAR championship. "This is the best plan for us as a company," Eury Jr. said. "We haven't been in the same pit box this year, but we've been working closely as a team. Looking at where we want to be for 2006, it made sense to switch now and get that much further ahead." With the 2005 chase contenders decided, Richie Gilmore, DEI's Vice-President of Motorsports, knew now was the best time for the restructuring. "After evaluating our programs for next season, we went back and looked at all the resources at our disposal," Gilmore said. "By putting Tony Jr. back with Dale Jr. now, it enables us to start working towards our goals for next season. Those two can start finding their rhythm for next year, while Steve Hmiel can return his full focus on the technical aspect of our programs." Hmiel, who has been the interim crew chief for the No. 8 team since May, will return to his position as Technical Director for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Tony Gibson, car chief for the No. 15 team, will serve as the No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet crew chief for the remainder of this season. (DEI PR)

• NASCAR & ISC ask court to throw out Kentucky suit: NASCAR wants a federal court to throw out Kentucky Speedway's anti-trust lawsuit on the grounds that the race track has no standing on a claim that has no merit. Kentucky Speedway, the Sparta race track that opened in 2000, is seeking to force its way onto the coveted NASCAR Nextel Cup Series circuit through an antitrust lawsuit filed in federal court in Covington in July. The track has tried unsuccessfully to attract a Nextel Cup race since it opened in 2000, and attorneys for the speedway argue that NASCAR has a monopoly on elite races that it has abused by refusing to award the track a Cup race. The lawsuit asks the court to order NASCAR to award Kentucky Speedway a Nextel Cup race in 2006 and the right to compete for a Cup race annually beginning in 2007. It also seeks $400 million in damages. In a motion filed Monday, NASCAR heaped criticism on the speedway's claim, stating that it is rife with contradictions. NASCAR said the speedway is understandably disappointed in not receiving a Nextel Cup race, but that disappointment doesn't equal to an anti-trust violation. "This fundamental defect in (Kentucky Speedway's) case - the lack of antitrust standing is the subject of this motion to dismiss," the motion charged. Stan Chesley, attorney for the speedway, said it would fight the motion. (Cincinnati.com)

• Mears testing at Nashville: Nashville Superspeedway is hosting Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #41 Target Dodge car with driver Casey Mears and crew chief on Tuesday [9/13] and Wed [9/14]. Here are some quotes from Tuesday's test: Jimmy Elledge - Crew Chief "We're here at the Nashville Superspeedway for a two-day test and we're researching the way the #41 Target Dodge reacts aerodynamically. This is a good, smooth, sensitive track so I think we'll take away some positives." (Nashville Superspeedway PR)

• Crew Chiefs on Weekly NASCAR Performance Live Radio: NASCAR fans will get the opportunity to hear from the crew chiefs of the drivers competing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup on the NASCAR Performance Live radio show Wednesday. The special two-hour program will air from 7-9 p.m. at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) nationwide on XM Satellite Radio's NASCAR Radio (XM Channel 144) and on more than 100 Motor Racing Network (MRN) affiliates. Steve Post and Larry McReynolds are NASCAR Performance Live hosts and will preview the upcoming Chase for the Nextel Cup, which begins Sunday at the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway (TNT, 12:30 p.m.) with the crew chiefs. Crew chiefs from the drivers ranked 6-9 in this week's point standings will be on the program from 7-8 p.m. Those include: Pat Tryson (No. 6 Ford), Slugger Labbe (No. 19 Dodge), Bob Osborne (No. 99 Ford) and Robbie Reiser (No. 17 Ford). Crew chiefs from the drivers ranked 1-5 in the standings will be on from 8-9 p.m., including Greg Zipadelli (No. 20 Chevrolet), Doug Richert (No. 16 Ford), Larry Carter (No. 2 Dodge), Chad Knaus (No. 48 Chevrolet) and Jimmy Fennig (No. 97 Ford). (XM/MRN PR)

• So what's up with Waltrip and NAPA? (Michael) Waltrip will finish the season with Tony Gibson calling the shots for his crew. When he leaves at the end of the season, he is expected to take sponsor NAPA with him. That means that Earnhardt and Martin Truex Jr., who is moving up from the Busch series, will be the only two full-time teams at DEI next season. The team may field a third car on a part-time basis with Paul Menard driving it, Gilmore said. (Newsday)

• Burton testing: Burton and Team Cingular tested Homestead-Miami Speedway Sept. 13-14 in preparation for the November 20 season finale. (RCR Weekly Release)

• Stewart media tour, includes Late Show tonight, NBC Today, ESPN: Riding a 12-race summer hot streak that includes five wins, a pole and 12 straight top-10 finishes, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Tony Stewart has caught the attention of mainstream media. The driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing will appear tonight on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman." There, Stewart and Letterman - both of whom are Indiana natives - will no doubt discuss their stirring victories at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart won the Aug. 7 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard as a driver, while Letterman won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as an owner with his driver, Buddy Rice. Stewart will maintain his national television presence with a Thursday morning visit to NBC's "Today" show. Following his trip to 30 Rockefeller Center, Stewart will appear on a variety of ESPN outlets, most notably ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" and ESPNEWS' "Hot List." Continuing the ESPN theme, Stewart is on the cover of this week's ESPN Magazine. Writer Tom Friend spent a day with Stewart prior to the Labor Day weekend Nextel Cup race at California Speedway, and before the interview, talked with numerous friends and family members to complete one of the most in-depth profiles of the 24-time Nextel Cup race victor. (JGR PR)

• Blaney testing for NH: Dave Blaney and the Jack Daniel's Racing Team tested at The Milwaukee Mile on Wednesday, August 31 in preparation for the Sylvania 300 at NHIS. (RCR Weekly Release)

• Newman testing at Kentucky: #12 Penske South Racing driver Ryan Newman wouldn't be surprised if the last wound up first when the 10-race "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" ends at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. "As far as the points go, we deserve to be 10th and 10th is what gets us in," he said. "We were a 10th place team after the 26th race and we'd like to be better than that, hopefully first team after the 36th. We have a team that's capable of being first. We'll see if we can do that." The 27-year-old driver opened his bid for his first series title with a test at Kentucky Speedway today. He said he is comfortable starting his second "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" just 45 points behind series leader Tony Stewart. The South Bend, Ind., driver used today's track time to acquire data that may help him improve on last season's seventh-place showing in "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup." He drove to a total of three top-three finishes during the 2004 title chase including a win in Dover, Del., a second-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway and a third-place finish in Martinsville, Va. (Kentucky Speedway PR)

• PPI and #32 donates $10,000 to relief: This week PPI Motorsports is giving a $10,000 donation to the American Red Cross Katrina Relief operation. Monies raised by the Red Cross will help provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of the massive storm that hit the Gulf Coast. (PPI Weekly Release)

Sep. 13, 2005:

• Sorenson making Cup Debut: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that NASCAR Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson will make his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut during the Oct. 31 race weekend at his home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Discount Tire Co., the primary sponsor of Sorenson's #41 Dodge in the Busch Series, will increase its support of the 19-year-old driver by serving as the sponsor on his #39 Dodge Charger. In addition, Sorenson will attempt to qualify for the NEXTEL Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in the #39 Discount Tire Dodge in November. The paint scheme that Sorenson will be running in Atlanta and Texas is also a sneak peek at what his #41 Discount Tire Dodge will look like for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season. Discount Tire Company made its foray into racing in 2004 with its sponsorship of a CGRFS entry in the NASCAR Busch Series. After running eight races in 2004, Discount Tire expanded its sponsorship to a full season this year. Discount Tire will continue its support of Sorenson in the Busch Series in 2006. (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)

• Schrader and Edwards racing: The third annual American Short Track Nationals, with special appearances by NASCAR Nextel Cup Drivers Carl Edwards and Ken Schrader, is Tuesday at Lee County Speedway. Special guests include Kenny Edwards, who will be competing in the 4-cylinder Wild Things and Ramo Stott, the 1976 Daytona 500 pole sitter. Hospitality tickets are available. The price of the hospitality ticket includes a meet and greet with Edwards and Scrader, dinner, drinks, race ticket, pit tour, autographs and photo session and more. Racing includes Late Models, Hobby Stocks and Wild Things. Tickets are $15 general admission and $13 for seniors and students. Children 10-and-under get in free. VIP tickets are $55, and a pit pass is $25. (Daily Gate)

• McMurray to 97? When Jamie McMurray joins Roush in 2007, he may drive Busch's No. 97 car rather than Martin's No. 6 car as originally planned, Roush said. McMurray is scheduled to join Roush in 2007, after his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing expires. Busch is leaving no later than 2007 to take over Rusty Wallace's No. 2 Dodge at Penske Racing South in 2007. Busch's contract with Roush runs through next year. (Tampa Bay Tribune)

• Vegas first day sales up: A high volume of telephone ticket orders and an equally heavy dosage of Internet orders kept Las Vegas Motor Speedway's ticket office working at maximum capacity Monday as tickets went on sale for the 2006 NASCAR Weekend. "This was one of the busiest and most successful first days of ticket sales since the inaugural event," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "We are very pleased with our first-day results. This also is our first year using Ticketmaster, and we believe that has helped us fill orders more efficiently." LVMS also has processed a record number of renewals from last year's event. "Today's tremendous number of ticket sales is a direct result of the appeal of our facility and our great city," Powell said. "Combine that with the momentum NASCAR is carrying nationwide and it should come as no surprise that ticket sales are way ahead of any previous pace. We also have seen an increased amount of interest in the now-under-construction Richard Petty Terrace. Those seats, as well as the seats in the Dale Earnhardt Terrace, have proven to be the most popular seats in the facility." First-day sales of weekend pit passes and pre-race activities passes also saw increases over last year. Race fans can purchase tickets to the March 12 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and March 11 Sam's Town 300 by calling 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to www.lvms.com. (LVMS PR)

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