Happy Friday! 

Today In Nascar History
 

November 30, 1952: Legendary mechanic, innovator and improviser Smokey Yunick makes his only NASCAR start as a driver and finishes 18th in the 19-car field of a Grand National race on the half-mile dirt track of Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Fla. Yunick doesn’t last long, bowing out after seven laps because of an ignition problem. Herb Thomas wins the race.

Bill Marx/The Sporting News

Quote of the Day

"Let your personality come out. This is what the fans want to see. This is what the audience wants to see. Their personalities have become a big part of this sport. It's not about what happens on the racetrack."

JEFF GORDON 

Comments from the Peanut Gallery

From Lisa B

Puuuuuhlllleeaaaseeee!  The reason that the overall ratings are down is because the broadcasts stink (too little racing, too much fluff), the announcers stink (only talk about whoever they think is having a good run or during the chase, the chasers), the number of commercials stinks (I know they are a necessary evil), the coverage stinks (constantly missing incidents, passing for the lead, not even mentioning reasons why someone gets laps down or out of the race, etc), the "chase" format stinks (only pay attention to 12 cars for the last 10 races), the point system stinks (winning should be worth so much more!) and qualifying is a joke (you qualify only to get "bumped" by owner points or provisionals - not even really sure how this is fair).  How dare he blame Dale or any other driver!  He needs to look around at his own people first.  If anyone knows how to get this message directly to Brian France, you have my permission to forward it word for word to him!

Lisa 

From Lou E

Hi Momma,

Now NASCAR is blaming Jr.’s poor season for their TV ratings being down.

I just don't guess NASCAR can see the real reason they are losing TV fans, as well as fans in the stands.

They are losing TV fans because of multiple things.

1. Poor TV broadcast coverage.

2. Too many, and poorly placed, commercials

3. Poor quality booth announcers

4. Inconsistent and over regulating of the Sport.

They are losing fans in the stands because of the extremely high prices charged for race tickets and the price gouging by the concession operators and the surrounding hotel-motel operators.

When they correct many of these things, the fans will return.

The chase was boring, not because of the drivers in it, but because of the way it was covered on TV and the fans want to see the 43 fastest cars race each week, not 35 or 36 drivers with gimmes and 7 or 8 who happen to make it on time.

I realize they think the sponsors must be appeased, but the fans need to be appeased also. NASCAR has the races so over regulated it almost makes it more exciting to watch "Talladega Nights" instead of a race.

Lou Elliott  

Bits and Pieces

Voda takes 3rd place in 'Sexiest Sportscaster' poll
CSD Staff

SPEED TV host Krista Voda finished third in a field of 12 in Playboy.com’s poll to determine America’s Sexiest Sportscaster, the Web site announced Wednesday.

ESPN’s Erin Andrews took first place with about 40 percent of the more than 50,000 votes cast, followed by Lindsay Soto of Fox Sports Net West.

Although she could not be reached for comment Wednesday, she told her hometown newspaper in Clinton Iowa earlier in the week she didn’t really expect to win and was just having fun with it.

She said she hoped her nomination was a reflection on the passion and skill she brings to her job, not just her appearance.

NASCAR Looks to Turn Slumping TV Ratings Around
CSD Staff

NEW YORK - NASCAR President Mike Helton said the sanctioning body is worried about slumping TV ratings; this despite the organizations assertion that fans are simply getting more information from other non-television sources.

According to Nielsen Media Research, ratings were down for 29 of the 36 races in 2007.

Ratings for this year's season ending race at Homestead, Florida, where Jimmie Johnson won the championship, slipped 11 percent, to 4.2 from 4.7 a year ago.

“If that's the measuring stick and it's going the wrong way, then you can find a lot reasons to say, `It is, but what are you going to do to turn it back around,''' Helton said Wednesday at Street & Smith's Motorsports Marketing Forum in New York. “That's what we're working on a lot.''

Ratings points are the percentage of the estimated 111.3 million television households in the U.S. that watched the broadcast. An average 6.98 million viewers watched NASCAR races aired on broadcast networks this season, compared with 7.37 million a year ago, according to Nielsen statistics.

“We obviously are not going to bury our heads in the sand and say everything's OK,'' Helton said. “You first look at your own product and see if it's as right as it can be, then if you feel like it is, then why is that still going on?''

2007 was the first year of a $4.5 billion, eight-year contract with Fox, Turner Sports, ESPN and ABC to telecast 36-race series. The deal was reached in 2005, when NASCAR’s ratings peaked.

Ratings for NASCAR overall are still second to the National Football League. The two compete directly during the final races of the NASCAR season. NASCAR’s ratings, though lower than the NFL's, are still improvement over other programs competing with the football league.

“From that perspective we're very happy with the numbers,'' said Jill Frederickson, coordinating producer for ESPN's NASCAR broadcasts, which along with ABC carried the final races of the year.

Smith gets some seat time in test at Kentucky Speedway
CSD Staff

SPARTA, Ky. – Rookie-of-the-Year hopeful Regan Smith laid the groundwork for his first full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season by testing his new Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), machine at Kentucky Speedway Wednesday.

The six-year NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran will compete in the No. 01 Army Chevrolet in 2008 and is part of a new five-driver DEI Sprint Cup line-up that also will include Paul Menard in the No. 15 and Martin Truex, Jr., in the No. 1. Newcomer Aric Almirola and veteran Mark Mark Martin will split time in the team’s No. 8 entry.

Smith shared the No. 01 seat with Martin last season under the Ginn Racing banner before the team merged with DEI later in the year. Smith competed in seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races and earned a season-best 24th-place finish at Talladega April 29. He started a season-best 10th at Watkins Glen International Aug. 12. He also raced in 17 NASCAR Nationwide Series events and registered a total of three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He took his only series pole award at Kentucky Speedway June 16 before finishing 19th in the “Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo.”

His brief but solid 2007 experience will help him approach his 2008 endurance test with confidence.

“I think I picked up a lot (last season). I got a lot of races in and completed most of the laps in those races. I tried not tear up equipment, that was one of the first goals, and I accomplished that for the most part with the exception of Watkins Glen.

“All of my races were Car of Tomorrow (COT) races except for Talladega and that’s a totally different beast anyway. There’s a lot I’ll be able to transfer to the upcoming season and a lot of new stuff I’ve learned since I’ve been with the DEI guys. We’re all going to be learning as we go with the car and with me being a rookie driver, but everything is going really well so far.”

Smith also will benefit from a deeper involvement with the veteran Martin and the opportunity to consult with his up-and-coming teammates Truex, Jr., and Menard throughout the season.

“I have a really good relationship with Mark. I respect him a lot and what he’s done throughout his career a ton. Not only am I going to still be able to work with him, I’ll actually be able to work with him at the racetrack. When I was racing last year, he wasn’t there. This year, he’ll be there for 26 races, so I’ll be able to see him after practices. There will be a lot of unknowns for all of us and I’ll be able to go talk to him.

“Likewise, Martin, who has been on fire lately, and Paul now have a couple years of Sprint Cup experience under their belts and I’ll be able to go get information from them,” Smith said.

He additionally likes that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will utilize a single car design for the entire season.

“There’s not going to be the unknown, ‘I wonder how the other car would’ve been like at this place.’ It’s our racecar, that’s what we have to work with and I think it’s better they went ahead and made a full season with the (one) car (design). By this time next year, I don’t think anyone will be talking about the other car. We’re going to work with what we have and make it good,” Smith said.

With several factors working in his favor, Smith set the goal of winning top series rookie honors next season.

“I think Rookie of the Year is a must for me, I want that title. I look at it and it’s all open-wheel guys. I want to carry the stock car banner and keep that going strong.

“If we can go out and get top fives and top 10s by the end of the year, consistently try to run up front, get good experience and finish races - those will be the biggest things.

“If we happen to get a win a some point, that would be great. Obviously, you want to win a race when you start the season. Anybody who doesn’t want to do that, doesn’t need to be out there. In reality, I’m going to have a lot that I’m learning at the same time I’m racing, so we want to get progressively better each weekend. If we do that, it will be a successful year,” he said.

He shaved away a portion of his learning curve Wednesday by making progress on his set-up.

“It (the COT) really isn’t a ton different here. It’s tighter across the center of the corner, just like anywhere, and you can’t be as aggressive. It’s just the typical stuff everywhere we’ve gone that you have to look out for,” Smith said. “We’re starting to figure out what these cars want for set-ups and they’re unloading closer to what they need to be. It’s different, but it’s not drastic.”

Smith also was joined on the track by his teammate Menard and USAC star Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who turned laps in a Roush Fenway ARCA RE/MAX Series car with guidance from 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil.

Nextel Cup Series Champions Week – Day 3: The usual cacophony of New York City traffic noise – the blare of the horns and screeching of brakes – was interrupted Wednesday morning as 10 of the world’s best drivers fired up their Nextel Cup Series cars for a Victory Lap through the city’s streets. With 2007 Nextel Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet leading the way, the drivers drove in a 1.5-mile loop through the heart of the Big Apple. The parade started in front of Good Morning America’s Times Square studios and finished up on 43rd Street and 7th Avenue in front of The Hard Rock Café. “It’s really an honor for us to drive through the streets of New York City and see everybody,” Johnson said. A crowd estimated at 150,000 lined the parade route. ABC-TV carried live coverage of the event.
The Victory Lap included the top 10 drivers in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series final standings: Johnson, Jeff Gordon (#24 DuPont Chevrolet), Clint Bowyer (#07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet), Matt Kenseth (#17 DEWALT Ford), Kyle Busch (#5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet), Tony Stewart (#20 Home Depot Chevrolet), Kurt Busch (#2 Miller Lite Dodge), Jeff Burton (#31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet), Carl Edwards (#99 Office Depot Ford), and Kevin Harvick (#29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet).
The day was kicked off with the drivers appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America. Following the parade, the drivers posed for a photo atop The Hard Rock Café marquee before attending the Sunoco Checkered Flag Breakfast, which included interviews with New York and national media. The event was broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. “This is what’s going to make me go into next year and work even harder to make sure I’m part of this again,” said Bowyer, who was making his first trip to New York City as a top-10 finisher. “That’s not your typical crowd – when you see all these people in suits watching you drive by. That was definitely a neat thing to see all the fans lining the street and seeing all the work and detail that goes into that.”
Also at The Hard Rock Café, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City of New York to NASCAR President Mike Helton declaring Nov. 26-30 as Nextel Cup Series Champions Week. This is the fourth year the Champions Week has included a Victory Lap, which has become the must-see event of the week for fans. Even those drivers who have participated in prior years were amazed at Wednesday’s show. “It’s neat to be able to drive a race car through downtown New York – that’s pretty crazy,” said Edwards, who was part of the Victory Lap in 2005. “It’s cool to see all the people amazed at what’s going on.” Johnson’s championship week activities continued Wednesday afternoon with the champion’s luncheon at the 21 Club with New York and northeast media.
Thursday, the NASCAR/National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Luncheon at Cipriani on 42nd Street will honor the Nextel Cup Series’ 12 Chase drivers, champions from all of NASCAR’s racing series and all Nextel Cup drivers who won seasonal awards. Afterward, all 2007 series champions will gather for the traditional champions’ photo shoot at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Johnson will also be part of a private dinner for all of NASCAR’s champions at the Waldorf=Astoria.
Friday, Johnson and his team will pose for formal photos on New York City’s Park Avenue before attending several pre-awards ceremony receptions. That night, Johnson officially will be crowned the 2007 Nextel Cup Series champion; the awards ceremony begins at 7:00pm/et in the Waldorf=Astoria’s venerable Grand Ballroom. ESPN Classic will air the ceremony at 9:00pm/et.(NASCAR PR)

Hendrick taps Burdett as Gordon's new car chief

Former employee replaces Meendering on No. 24 team

By David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM

NEW YORK -- Steve Letarte's new right-hand man is a familiar face at Hendrick Motorsports. Jason Burdett, who once worked for the four-car organization, is returning to become the car chief on Jeff Gordon's No. 24 team.

Burdett, most recently the crew chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 44 car at Michael Waltrip Racing, will replace Jeff Meendering, who was recently announced as the new crew chief for Bobby Labonte's No. 43 car at Petty Enterprises. Burdett was a car chief with the merged Hendrick teams of Gordon and Jimmie Johnson before leaving to pursue a crew chief opportunity.

"He came up in the 24/48 shop, and was a car chief there before he left," team owner Rick Hendrick said Wednesday during Nextel Cup Champions Week activities. "He's got crew chief experience, but wants to come back to be a car chief. The maturity he has, plus he's already worked with those guys, he should be a natural."

Meendering spent 13 years at Hendrick, the last two and a half as car chief. He served as interim crew chief for six races in 2007 while regular crew chief Letarte was serving a suspension for illegal modifications made to a Car of Tomorrow chassis at Sonoma, Calif. Gordon's team finished inside the top-10 in each of those starts, with a top result of second.

Meendering's new boss at Petty is Robbie Loomis, Gordon's former crew chief at Hendrick. He left with his teammates' blessings.

"You can't ever not support a guy like that," Gordon said. "Here's a guy who was great in our organization, and has an opportunity to be a crew chief where he didn't have that opportunity at Hendrick. He really had gotten as high up as he was going to get, certainly for the next few years anyway. When a guy like that gets that kind of opportunity, you thank him for all that he's done, you support him, and you make an easy transition for him.

"You never know what might happen down the road in the future. Plus, we have a great relationship with Petty Enterprises and Robbie Loomis, my former crew chief. It wasn't like somebody came and stole him away or anything like that. It's kind of how the business works."

Earnhardt humbled by Most Popular vote
By Lee Spencer, FOXSports.com

NEW YORK - No, that wasn't the ghost of Dale Earnhardt Jr. that showed up at the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Luncheon Thursday in New York — that was indeed Junior picking up his fifth consecutive Most Popular Driver Award.

But Junior, wasn't it widely reported that you were going on holiday in Australia?

"Later," Earnhardt said with a smirk, not wanting to discuss his plans to leave for "Down Under" Thursday night.

Earnhardt said he didn't think anyone is surprised that he won the "Most Popular Driver" distinction — again. But that doesn't mean that he's any less humbled by the experience.

"Comically, it's sort of like a cycle," Earnhardt said. "The award humbles you, which makes you more down to earth, which makes you more easy to relate to, which cycles into another award.

"The year I had, the year I put my fans through, the year I had off the track — which was a struggle — the struggles on the track, I thought we'd lose fans. But I think we might have even gained some. Normally, when you don't have contract issues and change owners, you just go through the year not trying to do anything stupid or say anything stupid. But this year I had to do some things and say some things that I didn't think people would understand. So I was honored that my fans backed me up and win that award for me again. I really was."

Earnhardt admits he struggled with staying real. He wanted to take the high road throughout the separation process from Dale Earnhardt Inc., but he didn't always "feel what (he) was saying" at times, even when it would have been easy to release his "bad vibes and thoughts" in the media.

Certainly what was difficult to disguise was his disappointment in not winning a race for the first time in his Cup career. After all, he is an Earnhardt.

"I'm pissed off I didn't win a race," Earnhardt said. "That's going to bother me for a while. That bothers me every day. I think about it every day. Otherwise, I was proud of my performance, my team's performance. I think I should win. I really was proud of my team for their work ethic. That was cool. But not winning, that's going to bother me."

He has less than 80 to dwell on it.

Sights and sounds from Manhattan

·  On Wednesday, Tony Stewart joked that had already found trouble in Metropolis. During lunch at the world renowned Carnegie Deli, Smoke passed on the fluffy matzoh ball soup, potato pancakes and pastrami, choosing instead to order a cheeseburger — a decision which prompted owner Sanford Levine to guilt him into sampling a little taste of New York soul food, including the sinful strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

"I'm not a big New York city guy," says the two-time champion, who prefers his Indiana farm. "My first day in the hotel room I turn the TV up just loud enough so I can't hear the horns and people screaming. But the whole atmosphere (at the Deli) was neat. The atmosphere was really cool and the guy running the place made it a memorable experience."

On deck for Stewart? A lot of R&R and no discussion of contract negotiations. Although Stewart is flattered that Joe Gibbs Racing wants its driver under a longer-term contract, he feels no urgency to sign.

"I'm taking the off-season off," Stewart said. "I'm not doing anything in the off-season. I've got two years to work on the contract. I'm not in a big hurry right now." ...

·  As Kurt Busch took a breather from the post-luncheon mediafest, he checked his watch knowing wife Eva was enjoying a little retail therapy.

"I have to meet her at 47th and 5th — which is the diamond district — in a half hour," Busch said. "She's picking out ice for the banquet. Supposedly, we get to return all this stuff. She's just borrowing it. That's the way I like to do it. When you look at the guy, it's like, 'Well, maybe we'll buy something, we'll just have to wait and see.' She deserves it."

Busch is grateful for both Eva and crew chief Pat Tryson's support after a long season. He believes that with additional testing that "hopefully we'll withstand the bloodbath from Hendrick a little easier." ...

·  NASCAR VP Robin Pemberton was subjected to a cabbie complaining about the congestion in Times Square following the barricading of streets for the top 10 Chasers' Victory Lap through the Big Apple. Then he heard a thunk. All Pemberton could think of was Bill France Jr. and the karma police sending a message to the driver as the former crew chief suggested the noise originated in the car's rear end, then jumped out of the cab for an alternative ride. ...

·  From Raybestos Rookie of the Year winner Juan Pablo Montoya, who found it comical that he was expected to run for freshman honors but admitted after a 36-race schedule, "I've never raced so hard to finish 20th in my life." ...

·  For Carl Edwards, winning the final Busch Series title was a cool deal, but watching his alma mater Missouri topple Kansas 36-28 last weekend at Arrowhead Stadium — just hours from his hometown of Columbia, Mo. — was equally satisfying. It's not surprising that Edwards will be the guest of Tigers coach Gary Pinkel at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday for the Mizzou-Oklahoma rematch.

NASCAR's Victory Lap may have crossed finish line for final time
By Don Coble, Morris News Service

NEW YORK - It's called the Victory Lap, a run by the top-10 drivers in the Nextel Cup Series through the middle of busy Manhattan. To the people trying to get to work on Wednesday, it went by a variety of other names - all bad.

The result was massive gridlock.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday night he was going to investigate why anyone at City Hall issued the permit to NASCAR. The delays were so severe the city was forced to issue a gridlock alert.

The drivers didn't seem to mind.

"This is what's going to make me go into next year and work even harder to make sure I'm part of this again," Clint Bowyer said. "That's not your typical crowd when you see all these people in suits watching you drive by. That was definitely a neat thing to see all the fans lining the street and seeing all the work and detail that goes into that."

Carl Edwards said it was fun to watch people stop in their tracks to watch the drive-by.

"It's neat to be able to drive a race car through downtown New York," he said. "That's pretty cool. It's cool to see all the people amazed at what's going on."

According to officials close to Sprint Nextel, the series sponsor, and NASCAR, the Victory Lap may have crossed the finish line for the final time. It's not likely the roar of stock cars will be heard in the concrete canyons again.

Hail to the champion

After making at least 20 official appearances since Sunday, Jimmie Johnson's schedule finally wraps up tonight with the NASCAR Awards Banquet.

The posh ceremony will start at 7 p.m. Television coverage on ESPN Classic will start at 9 p.m.

The top 10 drivers from the Chase for the Nextel Cup will all pick up checks from NASCAR and Sprint Nextel. Johnson's haul is expected to be about $7 million in bonuses, pushing his season earnings to nearly $15 million.

Johnson's day will start with a team photo on Park Avenue in front of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. He also will host a private party after the banquet.

Other awards

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was voted the most popular driver for the fifth year in a row.

"When I became a Cup driver in 1999, I never would have imagined that we'd be talking about five consecutive most popular driver awards," Earnhardt said. "I'm honored to add another one to the collection."

Earnhardt received his award during the Myers Brothers Luncheon on Thursday. The top-10 drivers, along with Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., Busch Series champion Carl Edwards and rookie of the year Juan Pablo Montoya, were honored at the luncheon.

Earnhardt received 1.4 of 3.8 million votes by fans.

"I don't want it to sound like a cliché, but this award really does mean a lot to me after all we've been through this year," Earnhardt said. "This year has marked a significant transition in my life and career.

Richard Petty and Bill Elliott are the only other drivers to win the award five years in a row. Elliott holds the record with 16 most popular driver awards, including a run of 10 in a row starting in 1991.

Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting, followed by Michael Waltrip in third and Kasey Kahne in fourth.

Hold the mayo

Tony Stewart learned an important lesson while visiting the famed Carnegie Deli for lunch: Don't order a cheeseburger in a New York deli.

The two-time champion, who rarely ventures out into the city, went to the deli for the first time Wednesday afternoon. When he ordered a cheeseburger, Carnegie general manager Sanford Levine told Stewart, "I won't tell you how to drive a race car; you don't come here and eat a cheeseburger."

Levine gave Stewart samples of his pastrami and corned beef. Stewart then changed his order to a corned beef sandwich. Levine also convinced Stewart to eat a 5-inch-tall slice of cheesecake.

Penske Racing to form test team: #2-Kurt Busch said Penske Racing has plans to form a designated test team to prepare for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season when all 36 races will feature the car of tomorrow. "We need more laps, more time with the new car to be more competitive," said Busch, who finished seventh in points this year, following the NMPA Myers Bothers Awards Luncheon at Cipriani's. With the addition of new teammate Sam Hornish Jr. in the #77 Dodge, the fourth team is expected to focus solely on testing. Busch said teammate Ryan Newman, Hornish, himself or an "outside driver" could all be involved in the tests. Busch, who has already tested at Atlanta, said the remainder of his offseason schedule includes scheduled stops at Daytona International Speedway, Lakeland, California and Las Vegas. Nashville is also a possibility if the weather cooperates, he said. With the Cup series already running twice in the COT at Bristol this year, Busch is comfortable heading into the first handful of races in '08. "We feel like we're prepared really well for the first five or six, then we hit tracks like Texas [and Charlotte], and that's where the teams that are ready to go will prevail," he said, adding, "I hope not to be in a Cup car until January. I might end up doing a shakedown test for the Rolex 24. Penske's putting together a team. It might be double top secret until now. But we're having some fun with that."(SceneDaily.com)

#48 Team wins 4th Qtr and year-end most valuable Pit Crew Award: The #48 Lowe's Team can add another important honor to their long list of accomplishments for the 2007 season - the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew of the Year Award. The #48 Lowe's Team also won the year-end award in 2004, making them the first-ever repeat winner of the award. The #48 Team follows the #24 Dupont Team (2nd Quarter) as the second team from Hendrick Motorsports to win a Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew quarterly award in 2007. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award is given quarterly throughout the Nextel Cup Season. At the end of each quarter, the winning pit crew is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award and a check for $100,000 awarded at the 2007 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon in New York City on November 29, 2007.(Mechanix Wear/Clear!Blue PR)

Long has sponsor, looking for team: Millstar, an industry leader in producing die and mold profile tooling and solid carbide tools, has announced their continued sponsorship support of Carl Long and his 2008 racing endeavors. Millstar has been an active part of Carl Long Racing since 2006. In addition, Delcam, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CADCAM software product development solutions for the manufacturing industry, has announced their commitment to sponsor Carl Long in 2008. The Birmingham, United Kingdom company has had a history in motorsports, with most recent involvement in Formula One racing. Carl Long and Delcam will kick off their new partnership at the 2007 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show next month. Carl Long will be on-hand at the Delcam booth during the 2007 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida from December 6th through the 8th. Carl Long welcomes all race team representatives to stop on by and chat. [Note: this event is not open to the public, you must be a member of a racing industry company to attend] "With Millstar and Delcam aboard, all we need now is the right race team to step up to the plate to make a successful combination", Carl Long states. "Being ready to run the 2008 [Daytona] 500 is definitely a realistic possibility at this point." Also in 2008, Carl has plans to run selected NASCAR Nationwide Series races with his own team, as well as USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series races with Long Brothers Racing.(Carl Long Racing PR)

NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon Award Winners
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award: Juan Pablo Montoya (#42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge)
Manufacturers Championship Award: Chevy
Marketing Achievement Award: ESPN Marketing
Chex Cereals Most Popular Driver Award: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#8 Budweiser Chevy)
Buddy Shuman Award: Robert Yates (owner, Robert Yates Racing)
Home Depot Humanitarian Award: Don Miller
Budweiser Pole Award: Jeff Gordon (#24 DuPont Chevy)
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge Award: Jeff Gordon
Commit Lozenges Commit to Win Award: Jeff Gordon
Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award: Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowe's Chevy)
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award: Jeff Gordon
Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: #48 Lowe's Chevy
Mobil 1 Command Performance: Kurt Busch (#2 Miller Lite Dodge)
USG Improving the Finish Award: Matt Kenseth (#17 DEWALT Ford)
DirecTV Crew Chief of the Year Award: Mike Ford (#11 FedEx Chevy)
Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award: Earl Wheeler (Engine builder for Hendrick Engines)
Dow Automotive Strategic Call of the Race Award: Jimmie Johnson
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Jimmie Johnson
Goodyear Award: Jimmie Johnson
Champion Sponsor Award: Robert Niblock (CEO, Lowe's)
Champion Crew Chief Award: Chad Knaus (#48 Lowe's Chevy)
Myers Brothers Award: Bill France Jr., accepted by Betty Jane France.(NASCAR PR)

British driver headed to stock cars: British driver Ed Tilley is set to launch his bid to join the NASCAR grid after securing the chance to take part in the 2008 ARCA series. Tilley, team principal of aspiring touring car entrants Encke Sport, will take part in his debut test at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on December 7th at the wheel of a Chevy Monte Carlo in preparation for the 2008 season. "All my life I've had one interest, racing cars and winning," he said. "To be given a chance to prove myself in the ARCA series is a very special opportunity that I could not turn down." Tilley will be mentored initially by former NASCAR driver Randy Baker who said he was looking to help the Briton made an impact in his American move. "We are very excited about working with Ed," he said. "His career has been on hold over the past year as Ed took some time out due to a family bereavement, but we are looking forward to working with him and his sponsors to help him reach his goals in motorsport. We have a great team around us here to point him in the right direction and achieve great things."(crash.net)

Stewart and Sirius announce winners of "The Stewies": Winners of the inaugural 'Stewie Awards' were announced tonight by two-time Nextel Cup Series Champion and SIRIUS Radio host Tony Stewart at the SIRIUS Satellite Radio Studios in New York City. The 2007 'Stewie Award' winners were decided by fans around the country who logged on to www.SIRIUS.com to vote for the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2007 NASCAR season. The 'Stewies' were awarded during a special broadcast of Tony Stewart Live, the weekly talk show hosted by Stewart and Matt Yocum on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio channel 128, in the midst of the 2007 Nextel Cup Series Champions Week. Winners in 12 categories including "Best Duet," honoring outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief, "Best Original Drama," honoring the year's most exciting race moment, "Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange," "Best Stunt Sequence" and others were honored. Among the evening's highlights was the presentation of the "Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award" to two legends of NASCAR - former NASCAR Chairman and CEO Bill France, Jr. and Hall of Fame driver/broadcaster Benny Parsons, both of whom passed away in 2007. The winners of the 2007 'Stewie Awards' are:
Stewie Lifetime Achievement Award
* Bill France, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of NASCAR
* Benny Parsons, Hall of Fame driver/broadcaster
Golden Stewie Award - Honoring a legendary driver from the Golden Era of racing (1960-85)
* A.J. Foyt
Best Duet - For outstanding teamwork by a driver and crew chief
* Clint Bowyer & Gil Martin: Martin keeps Bowyer calm and team performs only one adjustment all day to get Bowyer's first career Nextel Cup win in Sylvania 300 (Sept. 16)
Best Original Drama - For year's most exciting race moment
* Kevin Harvick edges Mark Martin to win his first Daytona 500 (Feb. 18) New Kid on the Track Award - For year's most outstanding performance by a rookie
* Juan Pablo Montoya: Wins first Nextel Cup race in Toyota Save Mart 350 (June 24)
Best Stunt Sequence (Hal Needham Award) - For year's most spectacular crash
* Clint Bowyer: Crosses finish line at Daytona 500 on his roof (Feb. 18)
Best Original Comedy - For year's most entertaining on track "incident" or occurrence
* Robby Gordon performs "victory celebration" burnout despite losing Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villaneuve in Canada (Aug. 4)
Best Vocal Performance - For year's most memorable quote or sound bite
* Actor Kevin James: Provides memorable "Start Your Engines" command before Pepsi 400 (July 7)
Best Engineering and Special Effects (Smokey Yunick Award) - For year's most creative - and ultimately illegal - modifications to a race car
* Crew Chief David Hyder & MWR VP of Competition Bobby Kennedy: Illegal fuel in #55 car at Daytona 500 (Feb. 18)
Dazed and Confused Award - For year's the most baffling move
* Teresa Earnhardt and DEI allow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to leave for Hendrick Motorsports
'I Got Dumped' Award - For year's most memorable on-track bumping
* Kyle Busch: Wrecked by brother Kurt in Nextel All-Star Challenge (May 19)
Best Driver2Crew Chatter Exchange - For year's most memorable driver-to-pit crew communication
* Denny Hamlin/#11 team: Discuss "plan of attack" against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #8 car during Subway 500 (Oct. 21)
(see more at Sirius.com)

Dancin' fool Castroneves steals NASCAR's thunder

By David Newton/ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- A female staffer grabbed Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson by the arm on Wednesday morning and moved him toward the main set of ABC's "Good Morning America," where newly crowned "Dancing with the Stars" champion Helio Castroneves was performing.

Johnson was playfully chest bumping with the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion 30 minutes earlier, but the thought of dancing on the same stage sent fear down his spine.

"Hell no!" he said when asked if he would perform. "That's why I slid back. I was, 'No way. It's not going to happen.'"

That's too bad. NASCAR could use a little personality these days.

Castroneves earned more fame after one night of dancing a sexy rumba in front of 31 million viewers than he did for either of his Indy 500 wins. He definitely upstaged what was supposed to be an event focused on Johnson and NASCAR on "Good Morning America."

"I put my arm around Jimmie and said, 'Sorry this had to happen on the day [they honored you],'" 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch said with a laugh.

Busch and Johnson are perfect examples of why NASCAR needs a personality makeover. Both are model champions, saying and doing all the right things on and off the track.

But to much of the general public they're boring because they don't show the personality that their friends and family members see. Four-time champion Jeff Gordon believes that's an issue NASCAR needs to address in order to grow and stop the decline in television ratings.

He misses the days when Busch would lock horns with Jimmy Spencer, when 2002 and 2005 champion Tony Stewart would knock a tape recorder out of a reporter's hand.

"I look at it as entertaining," Gordon said. "If they said something that was silly or people laughed about it or talked about it or criticized it, it still was generating entertainment or buzz.

"Now Tony doesn't knock cameras out of his way. You don't hear him getting riled up. You don't see the controversy. Some of that has taken away some of the entertainment package."

Gordon said Busch's press conferences have been so focused on saying the right thing that they all sound scripted.

"It's keeping him out of trouble," he said. "It's keeping him out of being involved in controversy, so for him it probably works out better that way. But for the sport, it takes away from it."

Gordon would like to see NASCAR lighten up, not fine drivers for occasionally getting into shoving matches and encourage everybody to be themselves.

"Let your personality come out," he said. "This is what the fans want to see. This is what the audience wants. The drivers, their personality has become a big part of the sport. It's not just about what happens on the racetrack."

Wednesday morning's event, which moved from a drive around Times Square for the top 10 Chase drivers to the main ballroom of the Hard Rock Café, could have used more personality. Outside of Kyle Busch putting a dent in the back of Matt Kenseth's car, it was as dry as many of the races were this past season.

They could have used cardboard cutouts at times, the drivers were so stiff.

"The reason is because we're representing the sport, fans, sponsors, and you have to be cautious about letting yourself get too far out there," said Gordon, who has shown more personality than most with appearances on "Regis and Kelly" and "Saturday Night Live."

"Sometimes we get caught up in trying to be, and I'm a perfect example of this, what we think the fans want us to be or the sponsors want us to be. You still have to be yourself, but you also have to have limits on that because we are under a microscope. There's a lot of criticism that comes on if you step out of line. ''

Kurt Busch learned that in 2005 when he was detained by police two days before a late-season race at Phoenix. He was accused of everything from drunk driving to verbal assault, when the records show he simply had a traffic violation.

"It used to be where you jumped out of your car and had a fight on the back straightaway," said Busch, who was suspended by Roush Fenway Racing the final two races because of the incident. "The first Daytona 500 ever broadcast on live TV, that's what happened.

"Nowadays, your sponsor would call you and tell you they're going to drop you. Or your car owner would say they didn't like you getting pulled over and getting a harmless traffic deal. It is tough to balance out the racing world versus the real world."

Carl Edwards agreed.

"People to this day still come up to me and say, 'Ah, [Kurt's] a jerk,'" he said.

Edwards understands. He was scrutinized more than any driver this season after physically pushing teammate Kenseth while on camera and raising his fist as though he were going to hit him after the October race at Martinsville.

"Here's the whole problem with that," Gordon said. "Here are two guys that had an issue. It gets publicized and televised, and now they're going to sit on their hands. Certainly Carl. He's not going to say anything. He's not going to do anything. We're going to miss out.

"I'm just looking at it from the outside in. Carl has an awesome personality. An incident like what happened at Martinsville shouldn't stop him from continuing to be himself. It's OK to be angry or mad. Maybe don't act like you're going to punch the guy with a smirk on your face."

Not to worry. Edwards doesn't intend to stop being himself. He went so far as to ignore attempts by his public relations person to get him to change the subject while sitting on stage at the Hard Rock.

"If somebody pisses me off they're going to know it," he said. "It's complex. The biggest thing to me is to remember this is a great thing and I'm very grateful to be a part of it. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. It's a sport."

Right now it's a sport without a strong personality outside of Gordon or maybe Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It's a sport that could use a little of the flair that Castroneves showed on the set of "Good Morning America." It's a sport that needs to see drivers turn their heads and gawk when "Dancing with the Stars" professional Edyta Sliwinska walks by.

Yes, they all gawked.

"Anybody that's on there and makes it to the end and wins is going to get a tremendous amount of publicity," Gordon said. "But there is no way any NASCAR driver, in the Cup series for sure, can do it. It doesn't fit in the schedule.

"And the other thing, our sport is solid enough that we've still got good enough numbers that as a marketing idea I don't think it's necessary."

But if anybody could pull it off, most agree it would be Gordon.

"I've seen him break-dance before, so he has the best range," Johnson said.

Gordon doesn't think there is anybody in NASCAR, including himself, who would have the guts to take such a risk on the dance floor any more than they would risk losing a sponsor by saying or doing the wrong thing at the track.

"It's unfortunate in some ways, because I think that our sport has grown into something that is about entertainment, television ratings," Gordon said. "Fans in the stands want to see more personality. It's a tough balance.

"Sometimes I wish that we could find a way to stretch those limits a little more so more of our personality could come out."

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@....

Recognizing the “Other” Drivers        

Written by Gerald Hodges - The Racing Reporter   

Jimmie Johnson’s efforts in winning his second Nextel Cup championship were amazing and exciting to watch. His accomplishments during the 10-race Chase finale were nothing short of sensational. His second consecutive championship was hard earned and well deserved and he is to be congratulated.

Johnson has always represented NASCAR well, but there are 42 other drivers who start every race, and many of them are deserving of recognition, too.

Ricky Rudd and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are two of many.

The Ford 400 at Homestead, Fla., was the final race for Ricky Rudd. Race fans can all say goodbye to a true class act.

“I am so very happy with the career that I’ve had,” Rudd said. “It’s sad to think that I will never again run laps around a racetrack. I’ve been fortunate enough to have achieved so many things in my life both on and off the track. As much as I will miss racing on Sundays, I look forward to the next adventure in my life.”

Rudd had the opportunity to drive in the Nextel Cup Series at the young age of 18. Shortly after his first series start, Rudd earned “Rookie of the Year” honors in 1977, and the Virginia native saw his racing career take off. Rudd went on to win at least one race in 16 consecutive seasons, which is a record he shares with NASCAR veteran Rusty Wallace.

Over the course of his career, Rudd has achieved numerous accolades including being named as one of NASCAR’S “50 All-Time Great” drivers, 1992 IROC Series Champion, 1997 Brickyard 400 Champion and the 2006 Virginian of the Year to name a few.

Rudd competed for 30 straight seasons before taking the 2006 season off in an effort to evaluate his career and decide on his next steps. After taking a year away from the sport, Rudd decided he missed the thrill of competition and returned in 2007 as the driver of the No. 88 Snickers Ford for Robert Yates Racing.

On Sept. 2, 2007, Rudd set a career milestone at California Speedway as he earned his 900th career start, which is an accomplishment only one other driver has achieved. Richard Petty holds the record for most career starts with 1,184 and Rudd made his 906th and final start in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rudd is also known as NASCAR’s “Iron Man” since he currently holds the record for the most consecutive starts at 788.

“I just would like to be remembered as a guy who gave 120 percent, won a few races, and came close to a championship once or twice,” Rudd continued. “I look back at my career and I still am amazed at the opportunities that I have been able to enjoy. I entered this sport with nothing and 31 seasons later, I’m able to walk away knowing that I’m happy with all that I was able to accomplish on the racetrack. I have worked with so many tremendous sponsors, teams and drivers and I just would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support.”

The sport needs a lot more drivers like Rudd.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets my number one rating for 2007. The Red Army and Junior didn’t get the going away present they were hoping for. He ran into trouble throughout the last race at Homestead and struggled to a 36th-place finish for his last ride in a car belonging to his late daddy’s team.

Any race fan that follows the sport knows there have been lots more downs than ups for Junior this season.

I guess the thing that has impressed me the most about him is his refusal to talk down about anyone; fellow competitors, team, or even his contentious stepmother.

The entire season was winless.

He failed to qualify for the Chase, managed only seven top-five finishes and wound up 16th in the final point standings.

“It’s been hard, man,” he said. “This whole season’s been hard. I just want to get to where I’m in a good place and can run well, and win races like I know I can.”

He moves to Hendrick Motorsports next season and will be driving the No. 88.

“I thought I would be sadder, but I’m not,” he continued. “I’ve still got these guys as my friends. That’s even better than the working relationship.”

Other Racing Tidbits

Another driver who needs recognition is Jeff Green, driver of the No. 66 Best Buy Chevrolet. Green was released from his driving duties before the season ended, and replaced by Jeremy Mayfield.

Green is a veteran and hard racer, but because he failed to have enough top-10 finishes, he was released. I believe his poor finishes had more to do with the team than personal racing abilities. He deserved better.

I hope Mayfield can turn the No. 66 team around in 2008, but rarely does a driver change improve a team’s performance.

Michael Waltrip has collected a truckload of troubles this season by failing to make 22 of 36 races including the final one at Homestead-Miami.

Whether you like this Owensboro, Ky., driver doesn’t matter. You must give him credit for hanging tough and staying with his programs.

2007 also marked the final race for the traditional, down force stock cars with spoilers. Now, we fly into the future on cars with wings.

The 2007 Nextel Cup Banquet will be held Friday, Nov. 30, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. It will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

Racing Trivia Question: Do you feel this year’s Chase was a letdown? Send us your comments, and if we use them, we will send you an 8-by-10 of your favorite driver.

Last Week’s Question: Which Cup driver won the most races in 2007?

Answer: Jimmie Johnson won 10 races.

You may contact the Racing Reporter at hodgesnews@...

Run-in with Kenseth proved educational for Edwards

By Marty Smith/ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- Carl Edwards is sitting on a stage inside the Hard Rock Café in Manhattan, wearing his driving uniform, feet dangling over the edge. Per usual he is relaxed, jovial, proudly recalling his personal introduction earlier to "Dancing with the Stars" professional Edyta Sliwinska on the set of "Good Morning America."

He approached her, see. Shamelessly. Just up and did it. It felt right, so he went for it.

That's his mantra these days. If he feels it's right, it is right, and it's what he's going to do regardless of what someone else may think. Edwards isn't overly concerned with outside opinions at present.

He learned a difficult yet valuable lesson on Oct. 21, 2007. He'd had an on-track run-in with teammate Matt Kenseth in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway, and after the race a festering disdain for one another finally came to a head.

Edwards confronted Kenseth, pushed him away from a reporter and ultimately faked a punch. On camera.

The residual effect of the incident shocked Edwards. It didn't change him, per se, but it opened his eyes a bit to the world in which he lives.

"It just made me realize how people are so quick to point fingers and judge people, and how hypocritical people are," Edwards said, his usual grin concealed by a clenched jaw and a thoughtful gaze.

"It's amazing. Somebody said it really well -- we live in a society where, if somebody does really well, people literally, actively look for ways to bring that person down. That [incident] kind of opened my eyes to that a little bit more."

In the days following the confrontation, Edwards felt folks piled on the ridicule. He'd heard criticism before, about everyone. So much, in fact, that more often than not he tuned it out. But this was different.

"People saying negative things about you -- I read that stuff about me and it's like, wow, that doesn't feel very good," he said. "It kind of made me rethink what I believe, as far as things I read, and how you always just have to say, 'Hey, we all make mistakes and it's not cool to point fingers and stuff.'

"That's what I learned -- stay true to yourself, do what you know is right, be the best you can be and screw all those people that want to say negative things."

Edwards feels fortunate that he's remained close to hometown friends and family back in his native Missouri, people who "aren't caught up in all the PR B.S."

"Because I'm telling you, it's some crap," he continued. "Some of the things I read, and certain people, what they said [was] straight hypocrisy. It was very frustrating. But that being said, it's almost like that happens and then next week those same people come up and say hi. It's crazy. It's just the way it goes."

All said, Edwards feels stronger emotionally.

"Nobody likes negative things, but I think it makes you stronger," he said. "My parents raised me a certain way. I grew up a certain way. I try to do the best I can and you've just got to be confident the decisions you make are OK, and when you make a mistake, hell, say that was a mistake and move on.

"Show me a person that's never screwed up or did something they regretted, I'd be amazed."

So Edwards will reinvest himself in what he deems right. He'll stick to his guns.

"The deal is, I'm sitting here in front of you, and I've had the success I've had because I've gone and done what I think is right," he said. "I've done the best I can, and it's like my dad said, 'You're no better than anybody else, but you're sure as hell no worse.'

"Honestly, I've got my friends, and if people don't like me, that's fine, it doesn't really matter to me. I'm not going to walk around and not say what I got to say, so don't worry about that. If somebody pisses me off they're going to know it. If I'm happy, they're going to know it. It's straightforward. If that's wrong to some people, that's too bad."

Marty Smith is a contributor to ESPN's NASCAR coverage. He can be reached at ESPNsider@....