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Happy Hump Day.
Countdown to Daytona
11 Days, 1 Hour
"I love what I do; I love this business."
-- Bobby Hamilton Sr, March 2006 as he announced he had cancer
"While our drivers are probably not nearly in the physical condition of the NBA's All-Stars, the Daytona 500 is going to have 43 of the top drivers in the country, trained to drive at speeds in excess of 180 mph. Now that's intense! The NBA only has like 20 or 25 basketball players playing."
--Benny Parsons
Quote of the Day
"My grandfather did it the hard way; he was a heck of a driver. My dad did it the hard way; he's a good driver. I think you learn a ton of stuff about race cars whenever you do it all the hard way."
-- 17 year old Jeffery Earnhardt, son of Kerry and grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt.
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News gathered from multiple sources, including but not limited to: Jayski.com, Cup Scene Daily, Thatsracin.com, catchfence.com, nascar.com, yahoo!, espn.com and others.
from Shareen
Momma, Just wanted to say AGAIN how much I look forward to your newsletter. I'm leaving on Saturday to go to DAYTONA and I won't return until Feb 22nd. I won't have access to a computer to read your newsletter. I will miss it. YES, I did say DAYTONA.
I'll be in the infield ON my motorhome....drinking beer. Look for me. My arms will be permanently up in the air. Enjoy the 500 everyone & Thanks again.
Shareen from CA
Dang Shareen, enjoy yourself......I sure would like to be there too! Get those autographs! And don't forget those "postcards" that the drivers have! A Dale Jr. would be a lovely gift!!! LOL
Petty to broadcast while driving
TNT is expected make an announcement regarding its 2007 NASCAR coverage Wednesday.
Petty will be an analyst on its six Cup races this summer, and call one — the June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, Calif. — as he races in it.
"There's constant communication between drivers and their spotters and crew chiefs anyway," says Petty, 47. "Really, just pushing another button and talking to millions of people won't be a ton different. Maybe I'll have to clean up my language."
TNT's coverage of six Nextel Cup Series races begins June 10 with racing from Pocono followed by races at Michigan, Sonoma, New Hampshire, Daytona and Chicago. More below.....
Evernham Motorsports will run Erin Crocker in 12 ARCA Series races and four Busch Series races in 2007.
The team would also consider letting her drive for another team to gain seat time if necessary. Crocker ran the entire Craftsman Truck series schedule in 2006; her best finish was 16th, twice. The team lost its sponsor for 2007 and was closed.
She also ran six Busch races with one 19th place finish. In 2005 she ran four Busch races and two truck races failing to finish inside the top 20.
"The title is 'Fireball Roberts, his Daughter's Story of his Career,' " Roberts Trivette said. "This is letting everyone know this is coming from me who lived it, who is living to tell it. Mother (Doris) told it in any interview she was ever asked to do, whether it be newspaper or television, and she did an awesome job with it because my mother dedicated her life to preserve his memory." Roberts, born in Tavares and raised in Apopka, earned his nickname not from racing but from his prowess as a pitcher on a local American Legion baseball team. He went on to become one of the sport's premier drivers, winning 33 races -- including the 1962 Daytona 500 -- before being fatally injured in a fiery wreck at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964 when Pam was 13 years old.(more at Florida Today)
Ryan and Krissie Newman to sign copies of 'Pit Road Pets' during Speedweeks at Daytona
STATESVILLE, NC - NASCAR Nextel Cup driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge, Ryan Newman, and his wife Krissie will sign the book Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets during 2007 Daytona Speedweeks. The book signing, hosted by the Halifax Humane Society's 10th Annual NASCAR Memorabilia Auction, will take place Wednesday, February 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Daytona Club Tent on the Daytona International Speedway property. The Newmans will sign the book and one other item per person during the autograph session.
"The Halifax Humane Society is a wonderful organization, and we are proud to support their fundraising event for the third consecutive year," said Newman. "While the shelter has made tremendous strides to help combat the pet overpopulation problem – through pet adoption and spaying/neutering – there is always more work to be done. By attending the NASCAR Memorabilia Auction, people can help reduce the number of homeless animals euthanized in the Daytona community each year."
A ticket to the fundraising event is $10 per person and must be purchased in order to participate in the book signing. For more information about the book signing, visit www.pitroadpets.org. For more information about the NASCAR Memorabilia Auction and to purchase a ticket, visit halifaxhumanesociety.org or call 386-274-4703, ext. 19.
About Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets
Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets, a charity book published by the Ryan Newman Foundation, features first-person stories and intimate photographs of nearly 50 NASCAR celebrities and their pets – including Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Richard Petty and Dale Jarrett. The Ryan Newman Foundation is donating 100% of its portion of the net proceeds to humane efforts, including the creation of a low-cost public spay/neuter clinic that will serve eight counties in the heart of NASCAR country. The hardcover, 164-page book, part of the NASCAR Library Collection, is available from most major booksellers and PetSmart retailers nationwide. It can also be purchased online at www.teamcaliber.com or from any Motorsports Authentics merchandise trailer at NASCAR race events. Pit Road Pets, which was published in 2006 and sold out that same year, is currently in its second printing and presented by book partner Meaty Bone®. For more information about Pit Road Pets, visit pitroadpets.com.
About the Ryan Newman Foundation
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers. The Ryan Newman Foundation is a Proud Charity of NASCAR. For more information, please visit ryannewmanfoundation.org.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- The 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18, America's richest, biggest and most prestigious motorsports event of the year, will once again carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $18 million.
The posted awards for the "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 18 will be $18,386,023. The posted awards for the 2006 Daytona 500, which was won for the first time by Jimmie Johnson, was $18,035,635.
The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,443,250. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,041,525, $747,575, $593,550and $466,000 respectively.
Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be well compensated with a minimum of $226,295.
"The stakes will be high for this year's Daytona 500," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Not only will the prestige of winning NASCAR's signature event be on the line, competitors will also battle for an $18 million purse on the historic high banks of `The World Center of Racing.' "
Other purses for Speedweeks 2007 events are:
ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $277,936
Budweiser Shootout: $1,153,518 with the winner pocketing $215,000
Gatorade Duel At Daytona: $1,350,000, $675,000 for each race
Chevy Silverado HD 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: $865,733
Orbitz 300 NASCAR Busch Series race: $2,596,288
Tickets to any of the Speedweeks 2007 events are available online at racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
DO YOU HAVE OPTIONS TO WORK IN TV? "I've talked to the TNT people about numerous options. I did four or five races for them last year in the Busch Series. We had talked a month or so ago and obviously with Benny's passing and with the way things have gone there hasn't been a lot of communication lately. If I have an opportunity to do some stuff with them I would more than welcome the opportunity to do something at some point in time. If that's this year, great. If it's in two years or 10 years, that's great, too. I just want to keep that option open. I could possibly do anything. There's a couple of years there I sat out 10 or 15 just because I wasn't fast enough. I can sit out any amount."(Clear!Blue/Dodge PR)(1-24-2007) UPDATE 2: Kyle Petty said he's intrigued by the idea of becoming a broadcaster and might make the change, on a part-time basis, as early as this summer. Petty said he has talked to Turner Sports officials about a position. "They've got six or seven races right in the middle of the season; they've got NBA stuff; they've got golf stuff," Petty said. "If I wanted to go do something different and keep Kyle Petty's face in the public, what better place to do it than a place like that?" Jeff Pomeroy, senior director of public relations for Turner Sports, said there have been preliminary discussions with Petty, who has broadcast for the company in the past, but no final determination has been made.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-25-2007) UPDATE 3: TNT will make a major announcement regarding its 2007 NASCAR coverage. TNT's coverage of six Nextel Cup Series races begins June 10 with racing from Pocono followed by races at Michigan, Sonoma, New Hampshire, Daytona and Chicago.(TNT PR) AND: #45-Kyle Petty figures driving in a Nextel Cup race while he calls it on TV won't be that big a deal. So TNT will formally announce Wednesday that Petty will be an analyst on its six Cup races this summer, and call one — the June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, Calif. — as he races in it. "There's constant communication between drivers and their spotters and crew chiefs anyway," says Petty, 47. "Really, just pushing another button and talking to millions of people won't be a ton different. Maybe I'll have to clean up my language." Petty told TNT he didn't want to miss that race because he likes road courses. And, in planning to run all Cup races except ones he'll call for TNT, he says it's "still my No. 1 priority to drive cars. Or maybe I'd be begging for a seat in the (TV) booth." Kyle kept the idea of working on TV "at arm's length" and says he only appeared on some TNT Busch Series races this summer because TNT analyst Benny Parsons— whom Kyle says he's known "forever" — needed an occasional fill-in. Parsons was diagnosed with lung cancer in July and died last month after months of treatment that seemed to have been going successfully. Kyle says he's not a replacement: "I'll be really clear about this: Nobody can fill Benny's shoes. I'm not taking his place. I'm in his seat, but Benny will always be there." As an announcer, Petty says he'll avoid "guessing what drivers are thinking" and remember TV announcers "are just there for decoration." And, he says, he might want to pursue future TV work because it fits with his overall goal in life: "If I can float through and say I never had a full-time job, I'll see myself as successful."(USA Today)(2-7-2007) UPDATE 4: Turner Network Television (TNT) announced today a multi-year contract agreement with Nextel Cup Series driver Kyle Petty to serve as an analyst for the network's Nextel Cup Series race coverage. Petty will take a five-week hiatus as driver of the #45 Wells Fargo/Marathon/Tire Kingdom Dodge car for Petty Enterprises, marking the first time a Petty will not be behind the wheel in the Nextel Cup Series for an extended period of time since his grandfather, Lee Petty, raced in NASCAR's Elite Series in 1949. Kyle Petty will join announcers Bill Weber (play-by-play) and Wally Dallenbach (analyst) for TNT's six consecutive Nextel Cup Series races in 2007, beginning on Sunday, June 10 from Pocono Raceway and concluding on July 15 from the Chicagoland Speedway. On Sunday, June 24, Petty will provide analysis from behind the wheel of his #45 Dodge throughout TNT's coverage of the Nextel Cup Series race live from Infineon Speedway in Sonoma, CA. Petty previously served as an analyst alongside Weber and Dallenbach in 2006 for five Busch Series races on TNT.(TNT PR), no driver has been named for the five races Petty will miss, have heard no rumors...yet.
NASCAR drivers on their own to plan for 'worst-case scenario'
By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- In a world of million-dollar motorhomes, private jets and McMansions on nearby Lake Norman, it's hard to argue NASCAR drivers are underpaid.
But all that wealth can't hide this fact: No major league takes a more hands-off approach toward its competitors' future than NASCAR.
"You really have to plan for things you don't think are going to happen,'' said veteran Jeff Burton, who cautions fellow drivers to spend, save and invest conservatively because a career-ending injury could lurk around the next turn.
"You have to paint a worst-case scenario,'' he said.
At a time when nearly every other major sport has some sort of pension program for athletes past and present, NASCAR does nothing.
Drivers are beginning to wonder why.
"It doesn't mean that we need to be paid more in salary,'' said Tony Stewart, a two-time Cup champion. "But it'd be nice to see them take care of us after we race, or take care of the ones that came up before.''
In a sport that celebrates rugged individualism and personal responsibility, drivers are on their own to prepare for life after racing.
NASCAR vice president of communications Jim Hunter said that because NASCAR is not structured like other sports, it isn't fair to make a direct comparison on pension plans.
"We are not like other sports,'' Hunter said. "The drivers are not employees of NASCAR. They're independent contractors.''
Unlike their crew members, who get full benefits and 401(k) plans from their teams, drivers are responsible for their finances, health care, retirement and life insurance.
Although NASCAR has discussed a pension fund before, Hunter said the idea never went anywhere because of the difficulty of determining who might be eligible.
Would crew members get money, too? And what about Busch and Craftsman Truck series drivers?
And, of course, somebody would have to pay.
Hunter said NASCAR hypothetically could take a slice out of each race's prize-money pool to fund a pension, but wondered how that would be any better for drivers.
"Would the money be better served in a pension fund or being paid out now to where guys can set aside money on their own?'' Hunter said.
When it comes to talk of funding a pension, many in the garage area privately point to the staggering 65 percent chunk of television contract revenue that goes to racetracks -- 12 of which, including Daytona International Speedway, are owned by International Speedway Corp., a company run by the same France family that controls NASCAR.
Although Jeff Gordon and Stewart speak openly about the possibility of a pension fund, most drivers remain silent on what is seen as a sensitive issue within NASCAR. The Associated Press distributed 45 anonymous surveys during preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway in an attempt to determine drivers' insurance coverage. Only seven were returned.
This much is clear: Many top drivers carry disability insurance policies costing $100,000 per year or more. Such policies are arranged through high-end firms such as Lloyd's of London and will pay a driver's salary for a year or more after a serious injury. If the injury ends a career, the driver would receive a multimillion-dollar payout.
Health insurance isn't as costly as disability. NASCAR carries $1.05 million in medical insurance for competitors, but drivers consider it a "last to pay'' policy and don't count on it.
Still, some drivers skimp on insurance -- at their peril. Jerry Nadeau was able to pay his medical bills after sustaining serious head injuries in a 2003 crash, but he didn't have enough disability insurance to keep his house. He has no steady income today.
Players in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB all have strong unions that negotiated pension plans as part of their collective bargaining agreement with the leagues.
Athletes in other sports don't depend entirely on pensions to take care of them in the event of a career-ending injury. And others' pension plans aren't perfect -- a small group of retired NFL players have criticized the NFL's plan for providing only a few hundred dollars a month to old-timers who have crippling health problems.
But at least they get something.
NASCAR drivers have no union. In 1969, the top drivers, including Richard Petty, led a movement to unionize drivers, but it fell apart when NASCAR founder Bill France brought in replacement drivers.
"My concern is that if that communication doesn't get better and doesn't include more groups, then it's going to force the hand,'' four-time series champion Gordon said. "And I don't think that's a good thing.''
Hunter said drivers don't need a union, because officials have an open-door policy and look after drivers' interests.
But Gordon wants NASCAR officials to take drivers' concerns about benefits more seriously.
"I just think as it gets bigger, you've got to start dealing with some of these things that have been swept under the rug for so long,'' he said.
Budweiser Shootout practice Friday, Feb. 9 4 p.m. Speed Channel
Budweiser Shootout practice Friday, Feb. 9 6:30 p.m. Speed Channel
Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain,
Your![file:///C:/DOCUME~1/smonacel/LOCALS~1/Temp//attbc72c.gif]()
Momma
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants wins't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt Sr.
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
11 Days, 1 Hour
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Top Ten Driver Excuses For Not Winning a Pole In '06
by Kim DeHaven and Amy Henderson Frontstretch
10. Mark Martin: "I didn't HAVE to win one, I get in the Shootout forever-which is handy, `cause that's how long I'm gonna race!"
9. Robby Gordon: "Pole? I thought they said HOLE! I went off-road racing so much I thought I should avoid that…"
8. Clint Bowyer: "They gave all the fast cars to Burton and Harvick."
7. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: "Yeah, yeah. It was-wait, I can't blame the crew chief anymore…uh…at least I am popular!"
6. Sterling Marlin: Poles? I'm lucky I made all the races!
5. Ward Burton: "I always have the pole. It is in the bed of my truck beside the tackle box and bait."
4. Martin Truex Jr.: "Like, What was the question? Sorry, I had to go to the bathroom…"
3. David Gilliland: "No really people, I DID win a pole in '06. Seriously!"
2. Matt Kenseth: "At least I run up front when it COUNTS!"
1. Tony Stewart: "I would have won the pole for the Pepsi 400 but Boris beat me by a hair."
by Kim DeHaven and Amy Henderson Frontstretch
10. Mark Martin: "I didn't HAVE to win one, I get in the Shootout forever-which is handy, `cause that's how long I'm gonna race!"
9. Robby Gordon: "Pole? I thought they said HOLE! I went off-road racing so much I thought I should avoid that…"
8. Clint Bowyer: "They gave all the fast cars to Burton and Harvick."
7. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: "Yeah, yeah. It was-wait, I can't blame the crew chief anymore…uh…at least I am popular!"
6. Sterling Marlin: Poles? I'm lucky I made all the races!
5. Ward Burton: "I always have the pole. It is in the bed of my truck beside the tackle box and bait."
4. Martin Truex Jr.: "Like, What was the question? Sorry, I had to go to the bathroom…"
3. David Gilliland: "No really people, I DID win a pole in '06. Seriously!"
2. Matt Kenseth: "At least I run up front when it COUNTS!"
1. Tony Stewart: "I would have won the pole for the Pepsi 400 but Boris beat me by a hair."
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Quote of the Year"I love what I do; I love this business."
-- Bobby Hamilton Sr, March 2006 as he announced he had cancer
"While our drivers are probably not nearly in the physical condition of the NBA's All-Stars, the Daytona 500 is going to have 43 of the top drivers in the country, trained to drive at speeds in excess of 180 mph. Now that's intense! The NBA only has like 20 or 25 basketball players playing."
--Benny Parsons
Quote of the Day
"My grandfather did it the hard way; he was a heck of a driver. My dad did it the hard way; he's a good driver. I think you learn a ton of stuff about race cars whenever you do it all the hard way."
-- 17 year old Jeffery Earnhardt, son of Kerry and grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt.
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Comments from the Peanut Galleryfrom Shareen
Momma, Just wanted to say AGAIN how much I look forward to your newsletter. I'm leaving on Saturday to go to DAYTONA and I won't return until Feb 22nd. I won't have access to a computer to read your newsletter. I will miss it. YES, I did say DAYTONA.
I'll be in the infield ON my motorhome....drinking beer. Look for me. My arms will be permanently up in the air. Enjoy the 500 everyone & Thanks again.
Shareen from CA
Dang Shareen, enjoy yourself......I sure would like to be there too! Get those autographs! And don't forget those "postcards" that the drivers have! A Dale Jr. would be a lovely gift!!! LOL
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Bits and PiecesPetty to broadcast while driving
TNT is expected make an announcement regarding its 2007 NASCAR coverage Wednesday.
Petty will be an analyst on its six Cup races this summer, and call one — the June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, Calif. — as he races in it.
"There's constant communication between drivers and their spotters and crew chiefs anyway," says Petty, 47. "Really, just pushing another button and talking to millions of people won't be a ton different. Maybe I'll have to clean up my language."
TNT's coverage of six Nextel Cup Series races begins June 10 with racing from Pocono followed by races at Michigan, Sonoma, New Hampshire, Daytona and Chicago. More below.....
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Erin Crocker to run limited schedule; may get seat time elsewhereEvernham Motorsports will run Erin Crocker in 12 ARCA Series races and four Busch Series races in 2007.
The team would also consider letting her drive for another team to gain seat time if necessary. Crocker ran the entire Craftsman Truck series schedule in 2006; her best finish was 16th, twice. The team lost its sponsor for 2007 and was closed.
She also ran six Busch races with one 19th place finish. In 2005 she ran four Busch races and two truck races failing to finish inside the top 20.
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Kimmel and Hillenburg team up for Daytona 500: Eight-time ARCA Series Champion, Frank Kimmel will attempt to make his first career start in the Daytona 500 Nextel Cup Series race with the help of fellow ARCA Champion Andy Hillenburg. Kimmel will pilot the #71 FastTrack Ford for the Speed Week events including Sunday's qualifying round as well as Thursday's Gatorade Duels which will determine Kimmel's spot in the starting field for the Daytona 500. Kimmel has made seven previous Nextel Cup Series starts in his career with his best starting position coming at the Talladega Superspeedway in 2002 of 29th and his best finish of 26th came at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in October of 2002 while competing for team owner, Travis Carter. Kimmel has many starts at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway including 15 ARCA Series starts, one Craftsman Truck Series start where he finished eighth in 2004 and last season's IROC start where he finished in the third position. "There are a lot of very strong cars and drivers that put a tremendous amount of work into their cars just to come to Daytona and attempt to make the field," said Kimmel. "The FastTrack Racing team is no exception, Andy (Hillenburg) and his team has put together a great car and it would be a great accomplishment for all of us to earn a starting position in the Daytona 500. I do think there is some advantage to having a lot of experience drafting when it comes to making this race because of the unique qualifying format of the Gatorade Duels. That race will be all about keeping my nose clean, but finishing high enough to earn a place in Sunday's race." Kimmel will compete in Saturday's Daytona ARCA 200 event prior to Sunday's initial qualifying round for the Daytona 500 and will have only two practice sessions in preparation for Thursday's Gatorade Duels.(LM Motorsports Marketing PR) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sponsor joins Hylton's Daytona 500 effort: Retirement Living TV has come aboard as a co-sponsor of James Hylton's #58 Chevy at Daytona. The channel is available on Comcast and DirecTV and is geared toward senior citizens.(St Petersburg Times) AND Retirement Living TV is proud to announce a primary sponsorship of the #58 Retirement Living Chevy driven by James Hylton. The sponsorship begins this weekend when the JC Weaver-owned team begins their quest to race in this year's Daytona 500 at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. Retirement Living TV aims to inform, involve and inspire fans and improve America's image, attitudes and perception of aging. Hylton,72, hopes to go down in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest driver to qualify for the prestigious Daytona 500. "TV for Your Freedom Years" can be seen in over 26 million homes nationwide. Its programming highlights topics that include health, lifestyle, finance and politics. The network is the first created for viewers age 55 and up. Hylton begins preparation for the Daytona 500 this Saturday when the team hits the track for practice. The team will then participate in pole qualifying on Sunday. Retirement Living TV (rl.tv) launched on September 5, 2006 and can be seen in 26 million homes.(Moore Consulting Group PT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Fireball's' daughter wants to document 'Daddy's' life: Roberts Trivette wants to write a book to share her side of the story about the man whose friends knew as Glenn, his family knew as "Bubbie" and Daddy and the millions of old-time NASCAR fans knew as "Fireball.""The title is 'Fireball Roberts, his Daughter's Story of his Career,' " Roberts Trivette said. "This is letting everyone know this is coming from me who lived it, who is living to tell it. Mother (Doris) told it in any interview she was ever asked to do, whether it be newspaper or television, and she did an awesome job with it because my mother dedicated her life to preserve his memory." Roberts, born in Tavares and raised in Apopka, earned his nickname not from racing but from his prowess as a pitcher on a local American Legion baseball team. He went on to become one of the sport's premier drivers, winning 33 races -- including the 1962 Daytona 500 -- before being fatally injured in a fiery wreck at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964 when Pam was 13 years old.(more at Florida Today)
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Junior to meet with DEI representatives: Representatives of DEI and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will meet on Wednesday(today) to discuss Dale Jr.'s contract and ownership stake in the team. Earnhardt Jr., his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who serves as his business manager, DEI competition director Richie Gilmore, and DEI's new president, Max Siegel are expected in the meeting. Teresa Earnhardt, the owner of DEI who also is Earnhardt Jr.'s stepmother, will not be at the meeting, by design. Gilmore said the parties wanted to try to keep the emotions to a minimum, and they wanted to keep Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Jr. separate. Dale Jr.'s contract with DEI expires in 2007, and he said during testing at Daytona that he wanted a greater stake in DEI, the company that his father started. Gilmore says the ownership stake in the team is still the major determining factor in the contract negotiation process for Dale Jr.(ESPN.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alltel puts name on race: Alltel Wireless, sponsor of Ryan Newman's #12 Alltel Dodge, will make a major announcement early next week regarding what is rumored to be a race unlike any other - the Alltel "My Circle 500." The pursuit begins February 13, 2007. To learn more, fans can visit mycircle500.com. Also two time champion ('84 & '96) Terry Labonte is getting back into racing this season. Labonte is making his return in the highly anticipated Alltel "My Circle 500."(alltel Racing PR)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Motorsports This Week on ESPN: In advance of ESPN's return to live NASCAR racing coverage, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, four of the most successful and popular Nextel Cup drivers, will participate in a special roundtable discussion with ESPN motorsports analyst and 1989 NASCAR Cup champion Rusty Wallace to be aired on the 11:00pm/et edition of ESPN's SportsCenteron Sunday, Feb. 11. The discussion will originate from Daytona International Speedway and portions of the roundtable will also be available on ESPN.com; ESPN360, ESPNEWS and ESPN Radio. As the 2007 NASCAR season begins to kick into high gear, NASCAR Now, ESPN's first-ever daily news show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will be aired at a special time of 6:00pm/et on Friday, Feb. 9, on ESPN2. Host Erik Kuselias will be joined in the NASCAR Now studio by NASCAR driver Stacy Compton for analysis and NASCAR insider Tim Cowlishaw, columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Beginning Monday, Feb. 12, the show will originate from Daytona International Speedway in advance of ESPN2's telecast of the NASCAR Busch Series Orbitz 300 on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:15pm/et. ESPN will air an hour-long version of the show at 5 p.m. Monday, followed by a half-hour episode on ESPN2 at 6:30pm/et. Reporters Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake and NASCAR Insiders Angelique Chengelis and Marty Smith will also contribute to NASCAR Now, and Doug Banks will share the host role. ESPN2, which will have more than 1,100 hours of motorsports programming this year, will continue to help NASCAR fans get ready for the coming season by re-airing four episodes of NASCAR Drivers Non-Stop this week. The hour-long program gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR drivers and their families during the busy racing season. NASCAR Drivers Non-Stop will air at 5:30pm/et starting Tuesday, Feb. 6, and episodes will follow on Wednesday and Thursday, preceding ESPN2's NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now at 6:30pm/et NASCAR Drivers Non-Stop will move to 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 9, followed at 6:00pm/et by a one-hour NASCAR Now. A repeat episode of Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era will air on ESPN2 Sunday, Feb. 11, at 10:00am/et. Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era is an 11-episode series that chronicles Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota's new partnership in the Nextel Cup Series. A new episode of SpeedFreaks will highlight the week's programming in the ESPN2 Garage block of automotive and motorsports shows on ESPN2. The episode will air at 11:30am/et on Saturday, Feb. 10. A motorsports and lifestyle show, SpeedFreaks blends superstar motorsports pilots with actors and musical guests, all while positioning `The Freak Nation' in a unique, cutting edge format unlike anything else in the racing world. The Freaks also ask their own brand of questions en route to covering the broad spectrum of the industry.(ESPN PR) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATESVILLE, NC - NASCAR Nextel Cup driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge, Ryan Newman, and his wife Krissie will sign the book Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets during 2007 Daytona Speedweeks. The book signing, hosted by the Halifax Humane Society's 10th Annual NASCAR Memorabilia Auction, will take place Wednesday, February 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Daytona Club Tent on the Daytona International Speedway property. The Newmans will sign the book and one other item per person during the autograph session.
"The Halifax Humane Society is a wonderful organization, and we are proud to support their fundraising event for the third consecutive year," said Newman. "While the shelter has made tremendous strides to help combat the pet overpopulation problem – through pet adoption and spaying/neutering – there is always more work to be done. By attending the NASCAR Memorabilia Auction, people can help reduce the number of homeless animals euthanized in the Daytona community each year."
A ticket to the fundraising event is $10 per person and must be purchased in order to participate in the book signing. For more information about the book signing, visit www.pitroadpets.org. For more information about the NASCAR Memorabilia Auction and to purchase a ticket, visit halifaxhumanesociety.org or call 386-274-4703, ext. 19.
About Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets
Pit Road Pets: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets, a charity book published by the Ryan Newman Foundation, features first-person stories and intimate photographs of nearly 50 NASCAR celebrities and their pets – including Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Richard Petty and Dale Jarrett. The Ryan Newman Foundation is donating 100% of its portion of the net proceeds to humane efforts, including the creation of a low-cost public spay/neuter clinic that will serve eight counties in the heart of NASCAR country. The hardcover, 164-page book, part of the NASCAR Library Collection, is available from most major booksellers and PetSmart retailers nationwide. It can also be purchased online at www.teamcaliber.com or from any Motorsports Authentics merchandise trailer at NASCAR race events. Pit Road Pets, which was published in 2006 and sold out that same year, is currently in its second printing and presented by book partner Meaty Bone®. For more information about Pit Road Pets, visit pitroadpets.com.
About the Ryan Newman Foundation
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers. The Ryan Newman Foundation is a Proud Charity of NASCAR. For more information, please visit ryannewmanfoundation.org.
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2007 Daytona 500 Purse Exceeds $18 MillionDAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- The 49th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18, America's richest, biggest and most prestigious motorsports event of the year, will once again carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $18 million.
The posted awards for the "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 18 will be $18,386,023. The posted awards for the 2006 Daytona 500, which was won for the first time by Jimmie Johnson, was $18,035,635.
The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,443,250. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,041,525, $747,575, $593,550and $466,000 respectively.
Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be well compensated with a minimum of $226,295.
"The stakes will be high for this year's Daytona 500," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Not only will the prestige of winning NASCAR's signature event be on the line, competitors will also battle for an $18 million purse on the historic high banks of `The World Center of Racing.' "
Other purses for Speedweeks 2007 events are:
ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race: $277,936
Budweiser Shootout: $1,153,518 with the winner pocketing $215,000
Gatorade Duel At Daytona: $1,350,000, $675,000 for each race
Chevy Silverado HD 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: $865,733
Orbitz 300 NASCAR Busch Series race: $2,596,288
Tickets to any of the Speedweeks 2007 events are available online at racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
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'NASCAR Essential: Everything You Need to Know to be a Real Fan'
Do you know someone who thinks they are a NASCAR expert? Even the most rabid fans can't remember every single driver, statistic or race. However, they now have something to reach for to find the answers to those trivia questions that always come up on race day.
NASCAR Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! by David Poole and Jim McLaurin promises to give NASCAR fans everywhere a one-stop book that contains everything they would want to read about NASCAR. Packed with anecdotes, history, explanations of traditions, statistics, trivia and photos, NASCAR Essential is the primary source for anyone wanting to be an expert on anything NASCAR related.
Test yourself on your own NASCAR expertise. If you can't answer all of these questions without doing research, NASCAR Essential is a necessity for you:
When was the first televised NASCAR race?
What car number has won the 2nd most races?
Who are the youngest and oldest drivers ever to win the Nextel Cup?
Which two drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500?
What historic event happened in the Turkey Day 200 on December 1, 1963, in Jacksonville, FL.?
No matter what era you started following NASCAR, NASCAR Essential has something for you. Whether your favorite driver is or was Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Benny Parsons or Kyle Busch you'll learn something new and read stories – often hilarious, occasionally heart-breaking – that you haven't read before.
Do you know someone who thinks they are a NASCAR expert? Even the most rabid fans can't remember every single driver, statistic or race. However, they now have something to reach for to find the answers to those trivia questions that always come up on race day.
NASCAR Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! by David Poole and Jim McLaurin promises to give NASCAR fans everywhere a one-stop book that contains everything they would want to read about NASCAR. Packed with anecdotes, history, explanations of traditions, statistics, trivia and photos, NASCAR Essential is the primary source for anyone wanting to be an expert on anything NASCAR related.
Test yourself on your own NASCAR expertise. If you can't answer all of these questions without doing research, NASCAR Essential is a necessity for you:
When was the first televised NASCAR race?
What car number has won the 2nd most races?
Who are the youngest and oldest drivers ever to win the Nextel Cup?
Which two drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500?
What historic event happened in the Turkey Day 200 on December 1, 1963, in Jacksonville, FL.?
No matter what era you started following NASCAR, NASCAR Essential has something for you. Whether your favorite driver is or was Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Benny Parsons or Kyle Busch you'll learn something new and read stories – often hilarious, occasionally heart-breaking – that you haven't read before.
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Petty to TNT? to run less races UPDATE 4 yep: hearing that Kyle Petty, driver of the #45 Petty Racing Dodge, will be part of the TNT broadcast crew that airs six Nextel Cup races in June and July of 2007 and that Petty would not drive in some or all those six races, being replaced by another driver, no idea who that driver may be. Bill Weber will return as TNT's play-by-play announcer and Wally Dallenbach returns as a race analyst.(1-20-2007) UPDATE: from a Clear!Blue/Dodge PR, Kyle Petty quotes during the Nextel Media Tour, day 2: DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO QUIT DRIVING? "No. All that stuff is back like it was last year. Wells Fargo has come back. We have a multi-year deal with Wells Fargo, with Marathon, with Tire Kingdom, with Coca-Cola. We had a huge promotion around the Nextel All-Star race last year with Coca-Cola. There is so much going on right now. I'm like one of those guys if you ever thought about cutting back, it just keeps getting busier with camp with Victory Junction with everything we do there. With everything that's going on at Petty Enterprises, that's good. I'm glad that's story keeps moving because last year about this same time this was a hot story."DO YOU HAVE OPTIONS TO WORK IN TV? "I've talked to the TNT people about numerous options. I did four or five races for them last year in the Busch Series. We had talked a month or so ago and obviously with Benny's passing and with the way things have gone there hasn't been a lot of communication lately. If I have an opportunity to do some stuff with them I would more than welcome the opportunity to do something at some point in time. If that's this year, great. If it's in two years or 10 years, that's great, too. I just want to keep that option open. I could possibly do anything. There's a couple of years there I sat out 10 or 15 just because I wasn't fast enough. I can sit out any amount."(Clear!Blue/Dodge PR)(1-24-2007) UPDATE 2: Kyle Petty said he's intrigued by the idea of becoming a broadcaster and might make the change, on a part-time basis, as early as this summer. Petty said he has talked to Turner Sports officials about a position. "They've got six or seven races right in the middle of the season; they've got NBA stuff; they've got golf stuff," Petty said. "If I wanted to go do something different and keep Kyle Petty's face in the public, what better place to do it than a place like that?" Jeff Pomeroy, senior director of public relations for Turner Sports, said there have been preliminary discussions with Petty, who has broadcast for the company in the past, but no final determination has been made.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-25-2007) UPDATE 3: TNT will make a major announcement regarding its 2007 NASCAR coverage. TNT's coverage of six Nextel Cup Series races begins June 10 with racing from Pocono followed by races at Michigan, Sonoma, New Hampshire, Daytona and Chicago.(TNT PR) AND: #45-Kyle Petty figures driving in a Nextel Cup race while he calls it on TV won't be that big a deal. So TNT will formally announce Wednesday that Petty will be an analyst on its six Cup races this summer, and call one — the June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, Calif. — as he races in it. "There's constant communication between drivers and their spotters and crew chiefs anyway," says Petty, 47. "Really, just pushing another button and talking to millions of people won't be a ton different. Maybe I'll have to clean up my language." Petty told TNT he didn't want to miss that race because he likes road courses. And, in planning to run all Cup races except ones he'll call for TNT, he says it's "still my No. 1 priority to drive cars. Or maybe I'd be begging for a seat in the (TV) booth." Kyle kept the idea of working on TV "at arm's length" and says he only appeared on some TNT Busch Series races this summer because TNT analyst Benny Parsons— whom Kyle says he's known "forever" — needed an occasional fill-in. Parsons was diagnosed with lung cancer in July and died last month after months of treatment that seemed to have been going successfully. Kyle says he's not a replacement: "I'll be really clear about this: Nobody can fill Benny's shoes. I'm not taking his place. I'm in his seat, but Benny will always be there." As an announcer, Petty says he'll avoid "guessing what drivers are thinking" and remember TV announcers "are just there for decoration." And, he says, he might want to pursue future TV work because it fits with his overall goal in life: "If I can float through and say I never had a full-time job, I'll see myself as successful."(USA Today)(2-7-2007) UPDATE 4: Turner Network Television (TNT) announced today a multi-year contract agreement with Nextel Cup Series driver Kyle Petty to serve as an analyst for the network's Nextel Cup Series race coverage. Petty will take a five-week hiatus as driver of the #45 Wells Fargo/Marathon/Tire Kingdom Dodge car for Petty Enterprises, marking the first time a Petty will not be behind the wheel in the Nextel Cup Series for an extended period of time since his grandfather, Lee Petty, raced in NASCAR's Elite Series in 1949. Kyle Petty will join announcers Bill Weber (play-by-play) and Wally Dallenbach (analyst) for TNT's six consecutive Nextel Cup Series races in 2007, beginning on Sunday, June 10 from Pocono Raceway and concluding on July 15 from the Chicagoland Speedway. On Sunday, June 24, Petty will provide analysis from behind the wheel of his #45 Dodge throughout TNT's coverage of the Nextel Cup Series race live from Infineon Speedway in Sonoma, CA. Petty previously served as an analyst alongside Weber and Dallenbach in 2006 for five Busch Series races on TNT.(TNT PR), no driver has been named for the five races Petty will miss, have heard no rumors...yet.
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Stewart Quietly Helping Drivers in Need
By CHRIS JENKINS /AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Tony Stewart is one of several top drivers who say they would contribute money from their own pockets if NASCAR officials established a fund to help retired drivers. Stewart isn't waiting for them to act.
Since joining NASCAR's top series in 1999, Stewart quietly has handed out money to lesser-known racers who have fallen on hard times. It's his attempt to pay forward the favors the racing community granted him early in his career.
"When I started running midgets and sprint cars full time, that was my job," Stewart said. "But there's no health benefits. If you get hurt, you're (done), basically. So a $5,000 hospital bill for one of these guys, it could take you three weeks to try to make that. Let alone you've got to have your travel costs still, you've got to pay your rent, make your groceries."
Stewart established a charitable foundation in 2003, mostly to raise money for children's causes. He has raised more than $1 million for the Petty family's Victory Junction Gang camp for children with chronic illnesses.
The two-time Cup champion also donates memorabilia to fundraising auctions through the foundation.
Still, sometimes when Stewart hears about a driver in need, he simply handles it himself, whether it's leaning on a safety equipment manufacturer to replace a grass-roots racer's cracked helmet for free or paying off a four-figure medical bill.
Stewart also has provided financial help to Red Farmer, a member of racing's famed "Alabama Gang" who survived Davey Allison's fatal helicopter crash in 1993 and still tries to make money racing short tracks in his 70s.
"Red's like a family member to us, and it's hard for him sometimes to go race," Stewart said. "And every now and then, a couple bucks here and there is helping him get to the racetrack. That's the stuff that makes it worthwhile for us."
Stewart's mother, Pam Boas, who oversees his foundation, said any money that made its way to Farmer came out of Stewart's pocket.
"That doesn't go through the foundation," Boas said. "But Tony kind of fell in love with ol' Red Farmer."
Stewart said he doesn't keep track of the money he gives away outside of the foundation.
"It's not about keeping score," he said. "To me, it's just doing what's right. When somebody needs help, it's nice to finally be in a position in my career and in my life where after all these people helped me - whether it was a family that let me stay the night somewhere, or whether somebody bought a T-shirt knowing that they didn't really need a T-shirt, but they bought a T-shirt because they knew it was going to give me enough gas money to get home that day.
"It's just nice to be able to give something back finally, and it just kind of helps complete the circle."
By CHRIS JENKINS /AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Tony Stewart is one of several top drivers who say they would contribute money from their own pockets if NASCAR officials established a fund to help retired drivers. Stewart isn't waiting for them to act.
Since joining NASCAR's top series in 1999, Stewart quietly has handed out money to lesser-known racers who have fallen on hard times. It's his attempt to pay forward the favors the racing community granted him early in his career.
"When I started running midgets and sprint cars full time, that was my job," Stewart said. "But there's no health benefits. If you get hurt, you're (done), basically. So a $5,000 hospital bill for one of these guys, it could take you three weeks to try to make that. Let alone you've got to have your travel costs still, you've got to pay your rent, make your groceries."
Stewart established a charitable foundation in 2003, mostly to raise money for children's causes. He has raised more than $1 million for the Petty family's Victory Junction Gang camp for children with chronic illnesses.
The two-time Cup champion also donates memorabilia to fundraising auctions through the foundation.
Still, sometimes when Stewart hears about a driver in need, he simply handles it himself, whether it's leaning on a safety equipment manufacturer to replace a grass-roots racer's cracked helmet for free or paying off a four-figure medical bill.
Stewart also has provided financial help to Red Farmer, a member of racing's famed "Alabama Gang" who survived Davey Allison's fatal helicopter crash in 1993 and still tries to make money racing short tracks in his 70s.
"Red's like a family member to us, and it's hard for him sometimes to go race," Stewart said. "And every now and then, a couple bucks here and there is helping him get to the racetrack. That's the stuff that makes it worthwhile for us."
Stewart's mother, Pam Boas, who oversees his foundation, said any money that made its way to Farmer came out of Stewart's pocket.
"That doesn't go through the foundation," Boas said. "But Tony kind of fell in love with ol' Red Farmer."
Stewart said he doesn't keep track of the money he gives away outside of the foundation.
"It's not about keeping score," he said. "To me, it's just doing what's right. When somebody needs help, it's nice to finally be in a position in my career and in my life where after all these people helped me - whether it was a family that let me stay the night somewhere, or whether somebody bought a T-shirt knowing that they didn't really need a T-shirt, but they bought a T-shirt because they knew it was going to give me enough gas money to get home that day.
"It's just nice to be able to give something back finally, and it just kind of helps complete the circle."
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Dale Earnhardt Inc. signs Jeffery Earnhardt
By Greg Engle/Editor Cup Scene Daily
Teresa Earnhardt announced Wednesday that Dale Earnhardt Incorporated has signed Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 17-year-old son of Kerry and grandson of Dale Earnhardt to a development contract.
The nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will share time between Busch East, the UARA Late Model touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (formerly the Dodge Weekly Series). A handful of Late Model dirt track starts could also be in the offing.
"In his young career to date, Jeffrey has displayed many of the attributes we are looking for in a driver," said Teresa Earnhardt. "Experience will be key to developing and preparing Jeffrey to progress to and compete at higher levels."
Earnhardt has competed on the Late Model series, and most recently took part in the General Motors Developmental Program.
"Signing with DEI is a dream come true," said Earnhardt. "To progress as a driver at the premier organization that Dale and Teresa built means a lot to me. I know I'll be surrounded with the right equipment to take me to the next level, so now it's up to me to prove myself."
Jeffery just completed his third season in a full-bodied stock car at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford Virginia and was one of the development drivers who made the finals and was showcased by General Motors last October in a diversity combine at Nashville Speedway.
Earnhardt's driving skills were a pleasant surprise to observers.
"He did very good," said Alba Colon, GM Racing's NASCAR Nextel Cup program manager. "You see him; it's like an Earnhardt Junior. He's like a little Intimidator, the same way he acts, everything. He reminds me a lot of his grandfather really."
He started his career when he turned 12; a year after his famous grandfather lost his life in a crash on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
Jeffery got his start in the entry-level "Hornet" class at Wythe Raceway in Virginia, a half-mile dirt track in Rural Retreat less than a mile from stepmother's childhood home. His parents weren't exactly keen on the idea of the young man racing, but when a family friend offered to field Jeffrey's first car, an old Yugo, his parents relented.
"I was wanting to get in the car," Jeffery said in a recent interview. "It took me a couple years to actually convince my parents. Finally, they let me."
"He may be the only person in the United States that started his racing career in a Yugo," track owner Fred Brown said "You couldn't have probably picked a worse car to race in that class."
Jeffery knows that his last name carries with it the legacy of a champion, and knows that if his famous grandfather were around he would approve of his career and the direction its taking.
"My grandfather did it the hard way; he was a heck of a driver," Jeffery said. "My dad did it the hard way; he's a good driver. I think you learn a ton of stuff about race cars whenever you do it all the hard way."
"I think he'd be pretty proud of me," said Jeffrey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~By Greg Engle/Editor Cup Scene Daily
Teresa Earnhardt announced Wednesday that Dale Earnhardt Incorporated has signed Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 17-year-old son of Kerry and grandson of Dale Earnhardt to a development contract.
The nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will share time between Busch East, the UARA Late Model touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (formerly the Dodge Weekly Series). A handful of Late Model dirt track starts could also be in the offing.
"In his young career to date, Jeffrey has displayed many of the attributes we are looking for in a driver," said Teresa Earnhardt. "Experience will be key to developing and preparing Jeffrey to progress to and compete at higher levels."
Earnhardt has competed on the Late Model series, and most recently took part in the General Motors Developmental Program.
"Signing with DEI is a dream come true," said Earnhardt. "To progress as a driver at the premier organization that Dale and Teresa built means a lot to me. I know I'll be surrounded with the right equipment to take me to the next level, so now it's up to me to prove myself."
Jeffery just completed his third season in a full-bodied stock car at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford Virginia and was one of the development drivers who made the finals and was showcased by General Motors last October in a diversity combine at Nashville Speedway.
Earnhardt's driving skills were a pleasant surprise to observers.
"He did very good," said Alba Colon, GM Racing's NASCAR Nextel Cup program manager. "You see him; it's like an Earnhardt Junior. He's like a little Intimidator, the same way he acts, everything. He reminds me a lot of his grandfather really."
He started his career when he turned 12; a year after his famous grandfather lost his life in a crash on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
Jeffery got his start in the entry-level "Hornet" class at Wythe Raceway in Virginia, a half-mile dirt track in Rural Retreat less than a mile from stepmother's childhood home. His parents weren't exactly keen on the idea of the young man racing, but when a family friend offered to field Jeffrey's first car, an old Yugo, his parents relented.
"I was wanting to get in the car," Jeffery said in a recent interview. "It took me a couple years to actually convince my parents. Finally, they let me."
"He may be the only person in the United States that started his racing career in a Yugo," track owner Fred Brown said "You couldn't have probably picked a worse car to race in that class."
Jeffery knows that his last name carries with it the legacy of a champion, and knows that if his famous grandfather were around he would approve of his career and the direction its taking.
"My grandfather did it the hard way; he was a heck of a driver," Jeffery said. "My dad did it the hard way; he's a good driver. I think you learn a ton of stuff about race cars whenever you do it all the hard way."
"I think he'd be pretty proud of me," said Jeffrey.
Three years after accident, Nadeau longs to race again
By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jerry Nadeau isn't looking for sympathy, and he's not interested in charity. What he wants is another shot at a NASCAR career.
Nadeau was a promising young star when his career was cut short by a horrific accident 10 races into the 2003 season.
After winning the pole that May 1 afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, Nadeau crashed hours later in the final Friday practice session when his car skid, spun halfway around and slammed driver's side first into the wall between the first and second turns.
"Boom, in one-split-second, my life ended,'' said Nadeau, who suffered massive head injuries.
Three years later, he's still trying to revive that life.
"I really can't go back to racing, but I almost want to because I feel like there is something for me to do,'' he said. "I feel like I need to do something.''
Nadeau, now 36, had every reason to believe he had a long future ahead of him. He'd driven for car owner Rick Hendrick, winning the 2000 season finale for his first career Cup victory and just had moved over to MB2 Motorsports to drive its flagship car.
Then his life changed forever.
Like many drivers, Nadeau had a "it will never happen to me'' mentality and skimped on disability insurance, taking out a bare-bones policy that paid $1 million after the accident.
"I'm sure no driver likes paying for the insurance, but if I had known that my accident would have happened like it did and I would never race again, I would have never taken the smallest portion of insurance,'' he said. "But I'm the one who got caught. It's a harsh, helpless feeling, and I would never put this on any other driver.''
Nadeau's medical bills totaled almost $1 million. He said he believes NASCAR paid the first $30,000, and his personal workman's compensation policy covered the rest.
Nadeau still has lingering effects from the injury, including a constant tingling on the left side of his body that he describes as annoying.
He also longs to race again and hasn't given up trying. While testing a BMW on the road course in Sebring, Fla., late last month, he learned his father, Gerald, had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Nadeau immediately flew to Durham, N.C., putting his life on hold to be with his father during treatments.
He considers himself a victim of bad timing -- his accident happened three months before Richmond began installing SAFER barriers that likely would have prevented his extensive injuries.
"My whole life turned upside down that split second I had that accident, and sometimes it's like 'Damn, why didn't NASCAR put the walls in one week earlier?''' he wondered.
Still, he expects nothing from the sanctioning body.
"Yes, NASCAR basically said 'Sorry. Hope you get better.' And yes, it would be really, really nice if there was some sort of situation where a driver can at least be taken care of,'' Nadeau said. "But this is the chance you take, and I don't blame NASCAR. It's my problem, and I am fine with it.''
By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jerry Nadeau isn't looking for sympathy, and he's not interested in charity. What he wants is another shot at a NASCAR career.
Nadeau was a promising young star when his career was cut short by a horrific accident 10 races into the 2003 season.
After winning the pole that May 1 afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, Nadeau crashed hours later in the final Friday practice session when his car skid, spun halfway around and slammed driver's side first into the wall between the first and second turns.
"Boom, in one-split-second, my life ended,'' said Nadeau, who suffered massive head injuries.
Three years later, he's still trying to revive that life.
"I really can't go back to racing, but I almost want to because I feel like there is something for me to do,'' he said. "I feel like I need to do something.''
Nadeau, now 36, had every reason to believe he had a long future ahead of him. He'd driven for car owner Rick Hendrick, winning the 2000 season finale for his first career Cup victory and just had moved over to MB2 Motorsports to drive its flagship car.
Then his life changed forever.
Like many drivers, Nadeau had a "it will never happen to me'' mentality and skimped on disability insurance, taking out a bare-bones policy that paid $1 million after the accident.
"I'm sure no driver likes paying for the insurance, but if I had known that my accident would have happened like it did and I would never race again, I would have never taken the smallest portion of insurance,'' he said. "But I'm the one who got caught. It's a harsh, helpless feeling, and I would never put this on any other driver.''
Nadeau's medical bills totaled almost $1 million. He said he believes NASCAR paid the first $30,000, and his personal workman's compensation policy covered the rest.
Nadeau still has lingering effects from the injury, including a constant tingling on the left side of his body that he describes as annoying.
He also longs to race again and hasn't given up trying. While testing a BMW on the road course in Sebring, Fla., late last month, he learned his father, Gerald, had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Nadeau immediately flew to Durham, N.C., putting his life on hold to be with his father during treatments.
He considers himself a victim of bad timing -- his accident happened three months before Richmond began installing SAFER barriers that likely would have prevented his extensive injuries.
"My whole life turned upside down that split second I had that accident, and sometimes it's like 'Damn, why didn't NASCAR put the walls in one week earlier?''' he wondered.
Still, he expects nothing from the sanctioning body.
"Yes, NASCAR basically said 'Sorry. Hope you get better.' And yes, it would be really, really nice if there was some sort of situation where a driver can at least be taken care of,'' Nadeau said. "But this is the chance you take, and I don't blame NASCAR. It's my problem, and I am fine with it.''
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By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- In a world of million-dollar motorhomes, private jets and McMansions on nearby Lake Norman, it's hard to argue NASCAR drivers are underpaid.
But all that wealth can't hide this fact: No major league takes a more hands-off approach toward its competitors' future than NASCAR.
"You really have to plan for things you don't think are going to happen,'' said veteran Jeff Burton, who cautions fellow drivers to spend, save and invest conservatively because a career-ending injury could lurk around the next turn.
"You have to paint a worst-case scenario,'' he said.
At a time when nearly every other major sport has some sort of pension program for athletes past and present, NASCAR does nothing.
Drivers are beginning to wonder why.
"It doesn't mean that we need to be paid more in salary,'' said Tony Stewart, a two-time Cup champion. "But it'd be nice to see them take care of us after we race, or take care of the ones that came up before.''
In a sport that celebrates rugged individualism and personal responsibility, drivers are on their own to prepare for life after racing.
NASCAR vice president of communications Jim Hunter said that because NASCAR is not structured like other sports, it isn't fair to make a direct comparison on pension plans.
"We are not like other sports,'' Hunter said. "The drivers are not employees of NASCAR. They're independent contractors.''
Unlike their crew members, who get full benefits and 401(k) plans from their teams, drivers are responsible for their finances, health care, retirement and life insurance.
Although NASCAR has discussed a pension fund before, Hunter said the idea never went anywhere because of the difficulty of determining who might be eligible.
Would crew members get money, too? And what about Busch and Craftsman Truck series drivers?
And, of course, somebody would have to pay.
Hunter said NASCAR hypothetically could take a slice out of each race's prize-money pool to fund a pension, but wondered how that would be any better for drivers.
"Would the money be better served in a pension fund or being paid out now to where guys can set aside money on their own?'' Hunter said.
When it comes to talk of funding a pension, many in the garage area privately point to the staggering 65 percent chunk of television contract revenue that goes to racetracks -- 12 of which, including Daytona International Speedway, are owned by International Speedway Corp., a company run by the same France family that controls NASCAR.
Although Jeff Gordon and Stewart speak openly about the possibility of a pension fund, most drivers remain silent on what is seen as a sensitive issue within NASCAR. The Associated Press distributed 45 anonymous surveys during preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway in an attempt to determine drivers' insurance coverage. Only seven were returned.
This much is clear: Many top drivers carry disability insurance policies costing $100,000 per year or more. Such policies are arranged through high-end firms such as Lloyd's of London and will pay a driver's salary for a year or more after a serious injury. If the injury ends a career, the driver would receive a multimillion-dollar payout.
Health insurance isn't as costly as disability. NASCAR carries $1.05 million in medical insurance for competitors, but drivers consider it a "last to pay'' policy and don't count on it.
Still, some drivers skimp on insurance -- at their peril. Jerry Nadeau was able to pay his medical bills after sustaining serious head injuries in a 2003 crash, but he didn't have enough disability insurance to keep his house. He has no steady income today.
Players in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB all have strong unions that negotiated pension plans as part of their collective bargaining agreement with the leagues.
Athletes in other sports don't depend entirely on pensions to take care of them in the event of a career-ending injury. And others' pension plans aren't perfect -- a small group of retired NFL players have criticized the NFL's plan for providing only a few hundred dollars a month to old-timers who have crippling health problems.
But at least they get something.
NASCAR drivers have no union. In 1969, the top drivers, including Richard Petty, led a movement to unionize drivers, but it fell apart when NASCAR founder Bill France brought in replacement drivers.
"My concern is that if that communication doesn't get better and doesn't include more groups, then it's going to force the hand,'' four-time series champion Gordon said. "And I don't think that's a good thing.''
Hunter said drivers don't need a union, because officials have an open-door policy and look after drivers' interests.
But Gordon wants NASCAR officials to take drivers' concerns about benefits more seriously.
"I just think as it gets bigger, you've got to start dealing with some of these things that have been swept under the rug for so long,'' he said.
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"Championships have always driven me to win races. That 3 car pulling into the track would cause people to look around and wonder what we were doing, to see how to beat us."
-Dale Earnhardt
-Dale Earnhardt
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NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEKBudweiser Shootout practice Friday, Feb. 9 4 p.m. Speed Channel
Budweiser Shootout practice Friday, Feb. 9 6:30 p.m. Speed Channel
Nextel Cup practice Saturday, Feb. 10 10:30 a.m. Speed Channel
Nextel Cup practice Saturday, Feb. 10 1:30 p.m. Speed Channel
Budweiser Shootout Saturday, Feb. 10 8 p.m. FOX
Daytona 500 qualfying Sunday, Feb. 11 2 p.m. FOX
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Nextel Cup practice Saturday, Feb. 10 1:30 p.m. Speed Channel
Budweiser Shootout Saturday, Feb. 10 8 p.m. FOX
Daytona 500 qualfying Sunday, Feb. 11 2 p.m. FOX
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
Your
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants wins't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt Sr.
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
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