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Today In Nascar History
03/22/1959-Johnny Beauchamp wins at Atlanta, win #1 of the season, and #1 of his career.
03/22/1964-Fred Lorenzen wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #12 of his career.
03/22/1998-Dale Jarrett wins at Darlington, win #1 of the season, and #16 of his career.
“It means that NASCAR will do anything for money.”
-- NASCAR legend David Pearson When someone asked what it meant for NASCAR to have been sponsored for decades by Winston, the cigarette brand, and now to be receiving support from Nicorette, a smoking-cessation product.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~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.
NASCAR Racer Carl Edwards to Appear on The Weather Channel - Last Years Winner To Discuss Weather And Racing In Advance Of Golden Corral 500: Carl Edwards, one of the rising young stars of the NASCAR circuit, visits The Weather Channel Friday morning to discuss weather and how it affects cars and the track with Heather Tesch and Marshall Seese during "Your Weather Today" between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. ET. Edwards, known for performing backflips off the door of his car following his victories, finished third overall in both the Nextel Cup and Busch series races last year. NASCAR visits Atlanta this weekend for the races Saturday and Sunday with Edwards looking to repeat his victories in both races last year. Knowing what Mother Nature has in store could just give him the edge to win again. - Landmark Communications PR
Racing Surface Repaving Complete at LMS, Goodyear Tire Test Scheduled for March 28-29: Contractors have finished repaving the racing surface of the 1.5-mile oval at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Jeff Black, the Speedway Motorsports, Inc., paving engineer overseeing the project, says the result is "the best of any track we've ever done." Sunmount Corp., of Roanoke, Texas, completed work on the racing surface Monday night and Goodyear is scheduled to conduct a tire test March 28-29. "Everything is right on schedule," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "The weather has been very cooperative and the paving is finished between the inside white line and the outside wall." With paving crews now working on the aprons and pit road, workers have begun re-installing the SAFER barriers which were removed when the $3.5-million project started in early January. The repaving of the racing surface required in excess of 10,000 tons (20 million pounds) of asphalt which included a special polymer that increases the material's softening point. The new surface was applied in two layers, a two-inch "binder" went down first followed by a 1.5-inch "finish" layer. An additional 4,000 to 6,000 tons of asphalt will be used to repave the aprons and pit road. This marks the third time the entire 1.5-mile oval has been repaved since Lowe's Motor Speedway opened in 1960. The first new layer of asphalt was applied in 1973 and the entire track was paved again prior to the 1994 season. In between, the track's corners received fresh coats of asphalt in 1979 and 1987. Nearly 100 NASCAR teams are expected to participate in six days of testing on the new surface during early May. NEXTEL Cup cars will be on track May 1-3 with Busch Series teams slated to test May 8-10. Tickets for each of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 2006 NASCAR events, including the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening, May 28, can be obtained online at lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS. - Lowe's Motor Speedway PR
Under the Chex® banner for the second year, the Most Popular Driver Award has become the largest fan-based award in motorsports. Since General Mills started sponsoring the award in 2002 more than 13.4 million votes have been cast. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award the past three years.
This year more than 40 Nextel Cup Series drivers are eligible for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing. What started as a simple poll of the drivers has grown to include NASCAR members and has now become a completely fan-driven award.
Today, fans determine who receives the most popular driver award by voting on the General Mills’ Web site, www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans may vote on the site once each day beginning this weekend. Voting ends at11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, November 20, 2006. BR
News release / AllWaltrip.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Wife's surprise announcement at fundraiser stuns veteran NASCAR driver as she hands him helmet to the Aaron's Dream Machine
Aaron Rents, Inc., the nation's leader in the rental, sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, today announced that for the first time ever, Darrell Waltrip will take the wheel from younger brother Michael Waltrip to race the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine at the upcoming NASCAR Busch Series race at Martinsville Speedway on the evening of July 22, 2006.
NASCAR fans familiar with the Waltrip brothers and their long-standing relationship with Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership know that for years, Michael Waltrip has famously and repeatedly turned down older brother Darrell's requests to drive the Aaron's Dream Machine. However, in a surprise announcement made during the final moments of a Darrell Waltrip Roast benefiting the Boys' and Girls' Club of Tennessee, Darrell's wife Stevie dramatically handed the three-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion one of Michael's racing helmets along with her permission to drive the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine during the Martinsville race.
Despite the fact that Darrell Waltrip completed what he called his "One and Done" race this past October in the No. 12 Toyota Tundra at Martinsville, the driver jumped to his feet to accept the helmet and express his thanks at the opportunity that had eluded him until this point.
"I can't believe it," said Darrell Waltrip. "The Aaron's ad campaign has been a lot of fun for me over the years, but I seriously thought I would never get to race that car. I really appreciate Michael and Aaron's and, of course, my wonderful and supportive wife Stevie, for giving me this opportunity. Like they say, Dreams Come True at Aaron's!"
President of Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership Ken Butler stated, "When we let the fans vote on whether or not to let D.W. race the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine, the response was definitely in favor of letting him drive it. Now we can bring this very successful campaign and very important partnership with the Waltrip family full circle for Aaron's. I have a great respect for Darrell Waltrip and what he has accomplished in his career, including his 13 previous Busch series wins. We are honored to have him represent Aaron's behind the wheel in Martinsville."
The race scheduled for July 22 will mark the first time since 1994 that the NASCAR Busch Series has run at the .526-mile oval Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. In another first, the race will be held at night, under special lights brought in just for the event.
Darrell Waltrip wasn't the only attendee who had a dream fulfilled at last evening's roast. The Boys' and Girls' Club of Tennessee anticipates exceeding its fundraising goal of $150,000 from the event.
Aaron's stores offer customers access to high quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers for sale or on a lease-ownership arrangement. Customers have the option of buying their merchandise for an attractive cash price, or opting to lease their merchandise for even greater flexibility. With a lease option, customers make modest monthly payments and have the immediate use of the items they need without waiting for credit checks or other delays. Plus, Aaron's will take care of delivery, set-up, repairs and more for the duration of a customer's lease.
Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE: RNT) is a leader in the sale and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances, now with over 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 46 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. The Company also manufactures an exclusive line of furniture, bedding and accessories at 10 facilities in four states.
Not Surprisingly NASCAR Will Have "Full" Control Of The New Hall Of Fame
The Charlotte Observer reported last week NASCAR forced the Charlotte leaders to make some unusual moves in getting NASCAR's Hall of Fame to their city. The story titled "NASCAR Hall Deal Includes Unusual Twists," written by three reporters, Scott Dodd, Richard Rubin and Michelle Crouch had some interesting stuff.
They say a group "Secretly worked out of an office suite for a week of late-night negotiations." They say a "shell corporation" was created to take out bank loans. And "a private legal team was hired to navigate complex licensing deals. Agreeing to give NASCAR sponsors first crack at providing food, cups, T-shirts and any other products sold in the hall."
The article went on to say, "when it comes to making decisions about everything from designing exhibits to hiring an executive director, NASCAR will have veto power, although the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority will own and operate the building."
"It's certainly a very unusual arrangement," said Karen Bednarski, executive director of the International Sports Heritage Association, a trade group for sports museums and halls of fame. "None (of the other sports) has an arrangement like what NASCAR will have."
NASCAR has full control. "If the museum curator hired by Charlotte has a great idea for an exhibit that spotlights controversial NASCAR rule changes or the decline of speedways in the rural Carolinas -- if NASCAR doesn't like it, forget it."
The good news is don't plan on it being called The Gold Crown Lanes NASCAR Hall of Fame any time soon. I did some checking and they have no plans of selling the name to anyone. Unlike just about everything else NASCAR has their hands in.
Part of the 60-plus page contract says "Neither party (NASCAR nor the city of Charlotte) shall sell any naming rights or presenting sponsorship for the HOF without the other party's prior approval."
What About The "Other" Hall Of Fame? The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is in Talladega, AL and their web site calls it "the Canton, Ohio of motorsports." Canton is the home of the Football Hall of Fame. The site also says, "Those enshrined in this facility are not only the best of the best in motorsports. They are an important part of the history of our world.
"They are the drivers, riders and pilots that took us along as mankind continued its quest to break through new limits. They are the designers, engineers, and builders that shaped the motorsports world. They are the great leaders like Enzo Ferrari and Ferdinand Porsche that built empires that still achieve at the highest level today. We must all honor their achievements and be thankful for what they have done for us."
In fact Brian France's grandfather "Big" Bill is the founder and a 1990 inaugural inductee and of course Brian's dad Bill is also a member. In fact I counted 111 members. When they add Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Janet Guthrie, Jack Roush and Humpy Wheeler on April 27 the number grows to 116.
Granted they aren't all from NASCAR. But a bunch of the exhibits are. I'm guessing a bunch of these guys will surely make it into the new Hall of Fame. It'll be interesting to see what makes one a Hall of Famer.
For more information on The International Motorsports Hall of Fame check out www.motorsportshalloffame.com/index.htm.
Quote Of The Week: "I guess I have to thank NASCAR for this because Chad (Knaus) is home seven days a week prepping cars and making them faster. I talk to him at night about the changes we're making at the track but it makes it pretty simple when you have a car that good and a driver this good." That was Darian Grubb, the "fill-in" crew chief for the No. 48.
So I guess keeping one of a companies 300 plus (or is it 400+) employees home really isn't much of a penalty. I'm sure it drives Knaus stir crazy on the weekend but is not having him at the track really a "penalty?" I'd have to say no.
Loose Lug Nuts: NASCAR has this new toy that keeps track of where everyone is running a bunch of times per lap (they call it loop data). I bet you thought Matt Kenseth dominated last weekend's event (hard to call that a race). In fact Tony Stewart who came home 21st had the best average day in the running order with a 3.548 average. Matt Kenseth's (finished 2nd) average was 3.607. Others and where they finished were Kyle Busch (3) 3.870, Jimmie Johnson (1), 4.637, Mark Martin (6) 5.867, Greg Biffle (8), 6.378, Kasey Kahne (4) 7.785, Jeff Gordon (5) 8.793, Jeff Burton (7) 9.126, and Kevin Harvick (11) 9.485.
• Johnson, with two wins and a runner-up finish, is a surprising sixth in the mile leader's category, leading only 61.5 miles so far. Kenseth tops the list leading 369 miles. Biffle and Stewart are next with 347.5 miles and 187 miles respectfully. Martin sits fourth with 135 miles, 53 miles better than Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Kyle Busch leads the field in quality passes (passing cars under green while in the top 15) with 355 passes. Jamie McMurray is next with 338, followed by Martin (307), Kahne (293) and Earnhardt Jr. (282).
• Going into last weekend's event four active drivers had been running at the finish of all eight events held at Vegas. They were Burton, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Ken Schrader. You can remove Schrader from that list because he only ran 187 of the 270 laps and wasn't on the track when the checkers flew.
• Martin is the only Cup driver who has been on the lead lap for all 724 laps completed so far this season. Burton and Kahne have been off the lead lap for just one lap, while Kyle Busch, Gordon and Dale Jarrett have been off the lead lap for just two laps. And before you ask, Johnson hasn't been on the lead lap for six laps.
• Not since 1997 (Gordon) has a Cup driver started the season with three top 5s in the first three events. Johnson has a two wins and a second.
• Attendance at the Busch race in Mexico a couple of week's ago was 72,428. A year ago that figure was 94,229. That's a drop of 23 percent.
• Darlington Raceway is going to be paved within the next two to four years. The track is sorely in need of some new pavement but for track president Chris Browning he doesn't want to mess up the great racing there.
"One of the things I've talked about with our asphalt and paving gurus down in Daytona, and one of the things I've challenged them with is, 'Look, guys, we've got a real racy place here. How can we repave this place and still keep it racy like it is now?'" said Browning.
From The Mailbag: A couple of readers wrote asking why I haven't commented on the Cup guys stealing all the Busch cash lately. John wrote, "You used to keep track of how much money the Buschwhackers were stealing. I miss that."
Paula wrote, "Will NASCAR ever stop the Cup drivers from racing Saturday? And while I am at it, I don't need to see Mark Martin in a truck race anytime soon."
Sorry to disappoint you all (well most of you) but I gave up. It's not going to change. I seldom watch a Busch race anymore but they seem to be selling lots of tickets for them. It's not the drivers that bug me as much as the whole teams all the way down to the pit crews. If you don't have Cup resources you aren't going to win a Busch race.
I didn't look it up but I heard that of the four races this season the Cup guys have 32 of the 40 top 10 spots. And Steve Waid, from NASCAR Scene, one of the handful of writers out there who I still enjoy reading because he tells it like it is and hasn't "sold-out" wrote recently, "I remain steadfast in the belief that, with NASCAR's silent support, speedways count on Nextel Cup drivers to sell tickets to Busch Series races. At California, it was a necessity."
Your
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
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
Today In Nascar History
03/22/1959-Johnny Beauchamp wins at Atlanta, win #1 of the season, and #1 of his career.
03/22/1964-Fred Lorenzen wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #12 of his career.
03/22/1998-Dale Jarrett wins at Darlington, win #1 of the season, and #16 of his career.
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Quote of the Day“It means that NASCAR will do anything for money.”
-- NASCAR legend David Pearson When someone asked what it meant for NASCAR to have been sponsored for decades by Winston, the cigarette brand, and now to be receiving support from Nicorette, a smoking-cessation product.
CHECK IT OUT!
Unconfirmed but this may be the last season at Sumter Speedway that some well known NASCAR drivers ran here years ago!! Movie Thunder in Carolina had portions filmed here in 1960 with Rory Calhoun. The old dirt track has quite a history. www.SumterSpeedway.com
Sumter Speedway's 50th Anniversary! Saturday night April 1, first race of the 2006 season. Come out and see great dirt track racing. Pits open at 5;30 pm and Stands open at 6:00 pm. Racing starts at 7:30 pm. Track is located on Wedgefield Rd, Sumter SC.
Admission Prices: ACTIVE MILITARY FREE TO THE STANDS!!!!!
Grandstands Pits
Adults $10.00 Adults $20.00
Kids 6-11 $3.00 Kids 6-11 $10.00
Under 5 FREE Kids Under 5 FREE
Thanks
Pops
Unconfirmed but this may be the last season at Sumter Speedway that some well known NASCAR drivers ran here years ago!! Movie Thunder in Carolina had portions filmed here in 1960 with Rory Calhoun. The old dirt track has quite a history. www.SumterSpeedway.com
Sumter Speedway's 50th Anniversary! Saturday night April 1, first race of the 2006 season. Come out and see great dirt track racing. Pits open at 5;30 pm and Stands open at 6:00 pm. Racing starts at 7:30 pm. Track is located on Wedgefield Rd, Sumter SC.
Admission Prices: ACTIVE MILITARY FREE TO THE STANDS!!!!!
Grandstands Pits
Adults $10.00 Adults $20.00
Kids 6-11 $3.00 Kids 6-11 $10.00
Under 5 FREE Kids Under 5 FREE
Thanks
Pops
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Bits and PiecesNASCAR Racer Carl Edwards to Appear on The Weather Channel - Last Years Winner To Discuss Weather And Racing In Advance Of Golden Corral 500: Carl Edwards, one of the rising young stars of the NASCAR circuit, visits The Weather Channel Friday morning to discuss weather and how it affects cars and the track with Heather Tesch and Marshall Seese during "Your Weather Today" between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. ET. Edwards, known for performing backflips off the door of his car following his victories, finished third overall in both the Nextel Cup and Busch series races last year. NASCAR visits Atlanta this weekend for the races Saturday and Sunday with Edwards looking to repeat his victories in both races last year. Knowing what Mother Nature has in store could just give him the edge to win again. - Landmark Communications PR
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NASCAR Nextel Cup #10 Stanley Race Car to Be on Display at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Riding For A Reason Charity Ride: The North Texas chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be hosting the first Riding For A Reason Charity Ride on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at American Eagle Harley-Davidson/ Buell in Corinth, Texas. NASCAR fans will enjoy the thrill of viewing the Nextel Cup #10 Stanley Race Car, driven by Scott Riggs. The car will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Eagle Harley-Davidson/Buell. Motorcycle charity ride registration begins at 9 a.m., rain or shine, and is open to all motorcycle riders. The last bike out is at 10:30 a.m. For a $20 donation, riders start at the Harley dealership, and collect raffle tickets along a route in North Texas. Each stop along the route will provide the rider with directions to the next venue, along with five additional raffle tickets. Riders must complete the route by 2 p.m. and enter their collected raffle tickets for chances to win several great prizes, including the grand prize -- two tickets to the Samsung/RadioShack 500 Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Tickets include entrance to the hospitality tent and a pit tour. Rolling tool boxes from Stanley Vidmar and MAC Tools, and autographed NASCAR items from Ray Evernham Sports and Joe Gibbs Racing, are also among the list of raffle prizes. The first 100 riders to register for the event will receive a free gift. Interested motorcycle enthusiasts can pre-register at American Eagle Harley-Davidson/Buell on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Riders may also register by contacting Michele Story at (800) 800-6702, ext. 8321. One hundred percent of proceeds benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society PR~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Who's Your Daddy Kicks-Off 2006 NASCAR Season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in NEXTEL CUP SERIES: Who's Your Daddy, Inc. (OTCBB:WYDY) is pleased to announce it has entered into a sponsorship agreement to be the exclusive primary sponsor of Sacks Motorsports for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES. Greg Sacks will drive the Who's Your Daddy Car # 13 during the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP season, debuting at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Golden Coral 500, this Sunday, March 19, 2006. Starting time for the race will be 1:00 EST. The race will be televised by Fox Sports and the TNT channel. Check your local listings. Greg Sacks began his racing career in 1980 and has been a consistent winner. In 1994 Sacks set the track record at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when he won the pole position. Edon Moyal, CEO of Who's Your Daddy, Inc. says, "We are extremely proud to be associated with Greg Sacks, who is one of the finest drivers on the circuit. We are looking forward to the debut of the Who's Your Daddy Car at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend." Mr. Moyal continued, "We are looking forward to a long term relationship in which Who's Your Daddy will become a formidable presence at NASCAR. Moving from the BUSCH SERIES to the NEXTEL CUP SERIES this year is a major step in the Company's overall progress and places Who's Your Daddy amongst some of the greatest racing teams, NASCAR fans and global brands across the country." Sacks responded to the Who's Your Daddy sponsorship by saying, "I cannot remember a time when I have been as enthused about a sponsor as I am about Who's Your Daddy. The company is young, vibrant and exciting, and has a tremendous product in the Who's Your Daddy 'King of Energy' Drink, which is a product destined for stardom." During Sacks' impressive career he has raced for such teams as Proctor & Gamble, Coors Brewing Company, Miller Brewing Company, Kendall Motor Oil, and US Airways. Who's Your Daddy is also pleased to announce the launch of the new "King of Energy" website (kingofenergy.com) in conjunction with the Atlanta race. - Who's Your Daddy, Inc. PR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will Ferrell To Serve As Grand Marshal For Aaron's 499 At Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that actor Will Ferrell, star of the upcoming Columbia Pictures comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race set for Sunday, April 30 (1:30 pm ET on Fox). "With all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the movie this summer, it made perfect sense to ask Will Ferrell back to participate in our Aaron's Dream Weekend," said Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. "We were very happy when he agreed to return for the Aaron's 499, and look forward to his participation in our pre-race festivities." Both Ferrell and the movie have been embraced by NASCAR since crews began shooting scenes at Talladega last year during the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend and in the weeks following. Fans attending the Oct. 1 ARCA RE/MAX Series race watched and participated as select scenes were filmed on the frontstretch of the 2.66-mile track prior to the start of the event. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is set for release by Columbia Pictures on Aug. 4. Co-written by Ferrell and director Adam McKay, the film tells the story of NASCAR racing sensation Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo that thrill their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight Girard for the right to be known as racing's top driver. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller. The executive producers are Ferrell, McKay, David Householter, Richard Glover and Sarah Nettinga. - Talladega Superspeedway PR
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NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion and Las Vegas Native Kurt Busch Teams With Water Works Industry Solutions (WWIS) to Help Train Workers in the Waterworks Field: NASCAR Nextel Cup champion and 2 Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch is taking a step to help provide a consistent training program for laborers in the waterworks industry, which will aid in proper installations and ultimately help to conserve water loss throughout the valley and across the nation. As a former Las Vegas Valley Water District employee, Busch returned home last week to help unveil a new DVD training series to help train waterworks employees around the United States. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEXTEL Cup's Newest Team, the No. 78 Furniture Row(R) Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Plans to Get a Little Help From Kenny Wallace and 'The Benchwarmers' - The No. 78 Chevrolet, Driven By Kenny Wallace, to Sport Title Art From the Film 'The Benchwarmers,' While Cheered on by the Film's Stars, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Jon Heder: At this weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Golden Corral 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (airing on FOX at 1 p.m.), "The Benchwarmers," the new comedy from Adam Sandler and Jack Giarraputo's Happy Madison Productions and Revolution Studios, will serve as an associate sponsor of the No. 78 Furniture Row(R) Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which will feature the title of the film on the car's hood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
McGlynn Racing / Derrike Cope Update: McGlynn Racing announced today that Derrike Cope and the #74 Dodge will compete in the Golden Corral 500 this weekend in Atlanta as well as the Food City 500 at Bristol the following week. The team had a serious mechanical problem with its hauler while enroute to Las Vegas for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and was unable to compete for a starting spot. "We are still growing as a team and anyone that hopes to make it at this level is going to experience setbacks along the way. We have a great group of sponsors behind us and we want to ensure we represent them well on the track and we intend to do just that, " said Ray McGlynn, owner of McGlynn Racing. With the backing of our current sponsors and others in the works, we look forward to each and every race. Our thanks go out to My Guardian 911, Sundance Vacations, Royal Administration and all our team sponsors and our fans for standing behind us. - McGlynn Racing PR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newman going for a record: #12-Ryan Newman leads all active drivers with six Atlanta Motos Speedway poles, all of them coming in the past six races at the track. Buddy Baker, Newman's mentor and coach, has a record seven AMS poles. In his eight appearances at AMS, Newman has qualified on the front row for seven of them. In October 2002, qualifying was canceled due to rain, placing Newman sixth on the starting grid. The current record for consecutive poles is held by David Pearson, who earned 11 straight pole positions at Charlotte Motor Speedway [now Lowe's Motor Speedway] from 1973-1978. Newman's average AMS start of 1.75 leads all drivers.(Penske Racing)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BDR/Lester plan full 2007 season: Bill Lester’s #23 Waste Management Team is scheduled to compete at Atlanta Motor Speedway, at Michigan Speedway in June and at California Speedway in September. More races are expected to be added to the 2006 schedule as additional sponsorship and Lester’s commitments in the Craftsman Truck Series permits, with an eye on the entire NEXTEL Cup schedule in 2007. Atlanta’s Championship Group handles program management and business development, and is expected to announce additional program details over the coming months.(Bill Davis Racing)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Voting Begins Under the Chex® banner for the second year, the Most Popular Driver Award has become the largest fan-based award in motorsports. Since General Mills started sponsoring the award in 2002 more than 13.4 million votes have been cast. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award the past three years.
This year more than 40 Nextel Cup Series drivers are eligible for the esteemed NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). It has been awarded annually since 1956 and is one of the oldest awards in racing. What started as a simple poll of the drivers has grown to include NASCAR members and has now become a completely fan-driven award.
Today, fans determine who receives the most popular driver award by voting on the General Mills’ Web site, www.mostpopulardriver.com. Fans may vote on the site once each day beginning this weekend. Voting ends at11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, November 20, 2006. BR
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Harvick's price tag too high for GM? #29-Kevin Harvick has set too high a price tag in his contract renegotiations with General Motors, and it now seems unlikely that car owner Richard Childress will renew the deal, according to sources. The two have set an early April deadline. Harvick drives Nextel Cup [and Busch] cars for Childress, and also fields a Truck for Ron Hornaday and two Busch cars, for Burney Lamar, Ron Fellows, Tony Stewart and himself, all under Kevin Harvick Inc. Toyota would likely be willing to support Harvick with a full Nextel Cup-Busch-Truck package, but it is unclear if GM is willing to match that. And it's unclear if Harvick would back down on his price in order to stay with Chevrolet. That is all raising speculation about who Childress might hire to replace Harvick if Harvick does move on.(Winston Salem Journal); Harvick has been rumored to the Red Bull Toyota team and to Michael Waltrip Racing's 2nd team.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rusty to help with COT: Rusty Wallace has been asked by NASCAR officials to help with the development of the new car [COT - Car of Tomorrow]. Wallace is scheduled to drive one at an upcoming Bristol test session scheduled for March 27, the day after the Nextel Cup race. Wallace knows the high-banked track extremely well, having won there nine times.(Yahoo Sports) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Latest on AT&T and Cingular II: Life goes on for Cingular Wireless, even though the brand is mere months from dying away. AT&T, which plans to take full control of the cellphone provider as part of its acquisition of BellSouth, intends to drop the 5-year-old Cingular name. Although Atlanta-based Cingular has spent more than $4 billion advertising itself since the company was born, its services will be renamed with the historic AT&T brand. Cingular's president and chief executive, Stan Sigman, supports the change, saying the company has been at a "competitive disadvantage" in pitting itself against rival Verizon Wireless, which shares the same name as other services offered by Verizon Communications. Cingular, meanwhile, has been distinct from its current corporate parents, AT&T and BellSouth. One thing isn't up for debate: Because the Cingular brand will continue to exist for months, the carrier can't afford to stop spending money on marketing. Thus you'll see plenty of Cingular ads, notably during the NCAA men's basketball tournament — which began this week — and during Fox TV's hugely popular "American Idol." Cingular will come full circle if, as expected, AT&T buys BellSouth for $67 billion in stock, taking full control of Cingular in the process. AT&T's plans to eliminate the BellSouth and Cingular names, and move to the single AT&T name, would save hundreds of millions of dollars on ads.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), no mention in the column what happens with the #31 team, but would assume it will be rebranded AT&T at some point.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jarrett plans to run through 2008: Before the Daytona 500, #88-Dale Jarrett described the 2006 Nextel Cup season as critical to determining how long he would extend his career. After three races of evaluating his team, he has a timetable. "I'm pretty sure now I'm going to drive through 2008," he said Friday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I feel like if we can stay on pace with what we're trying to do, that would be sufficient time to leave it in a good situation."(USA Today)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hamilton Taking Time Off from 2006 Season for Health Reasons: 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton regretfully is stepping out of his #18 Fastenal Dodge for the 2006 season effective after the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway due to health reasons. Hamilton has been diagnosed with cancer in the right side of his neck and will be replaced for the season by his son Bobby Hamilton Jr. "Nobody wants to go through this and the word cancer is a stout word to hear," Hamilton said. "But I will be starting my treatment right after the race in Atlanta so I have to take care of me for awhile. The hardest thing I've done is stepping out of this truck, but I will be back by Homestead or by Daytona bext year. When I told Dodge and Fastenal that I had to do this, they were right on board with me. It says a lot for companies of this magnitude to stay with our program during such a difficult time. We have a huge family at BHR and their support will enable our program to continue to be a success." (NASCAR PR) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two More New Races in 2007? Despite NASCAR's insistence that the current 36-race Nextel Cup tour is maxed out and that no new race dates can be added, without cutting a date from a current track, there have been rumblings that two new races may well be added in 2007. Bruton Smith is politicking heavily for a second Nextel Cup race at his Las Vegas track. And he says he wants to buy Darlington. And Kentucky Speedway's suit against NASCAR to get a Nextel Cup date may have taken a twist in Kentucky's favor, with the judge indicating he wants to learn more about how NASCAR and the International Speedway Corp. operate. A similar suit resulted last year in NASCAR granting a Nextel Cup date to Texas Motor Speedway, effectively at the expense of North Carolina Motor Speedway, which was then closed.(Winston Salem Journal)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruton willing to buy Darlington - to move race back to Labor Day weekend: [Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton] Smith said he would be willing to buy a track with an existing Nextel Cup date, for "$200 million to $250 million, something like that," to bring that date to Las Vegas [Motor Speedway]. And he said he was "trying every week" to make just such a purchase. "What we need to do is buy a speedway ... and I'm hoping one day somebody will give me a phone call or knock on the door, and within 15 minutes the deal will be done," Smith said. "They know I'm here and willing and can write a check." Smith also said he would be interested in buying Darlington Raceway, and picked a $100 million price tag - but not to move the date here, rather he said to return the Southern 500 to its historic Labor Day weekend, to "get it back where it belongs." Smith said his Speedway Motorsports operation is "six to seven years behind this sport. And we are going to work like hell to catch up.(Winston Salem Journal)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darrell Waltrip's Dream Comes True News release / AllWaltrip.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Wife's surprise announcement at fundraiser stuns veteran NASCAR driver as she hands him helmet to the Aaron's Dream Machine
Aaron Rents, Inc., the nation's leader in the rental, sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, today announced that for the first time ever, Darrell Waltrip will take the wheel from younger brother Michael Waltrip to race the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine at the upcoming NASCAR Busch Series race at Martinsville Speedway on the evening of July 22, 2006.
NASCAR fans familiar with the Waltrip brothers and their long-standing relationship with Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership know that for years, Michael Waltrip has famously and repeatedly turned down older brother Darrell's requests to drive the Aaron's Dream Machine. However, in a surprise announcement made during the final moments of a Darrell Waltrip Roast benefiting the Boys' and Girls' Club of Tennessee, Darrell's wife Stevie dramatically handed the three-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion one of Michael's racing helmets along with her permission to drive the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine during the Martinsville race.
Despite the fact that Darrell Waltrip completed what he called his "One and Done" race this past October in the No. 12 Toyota Tundra at Martinsville, the driver jumped to his feet to accept the helmet and express his thanks at the opportunity that had eluded him until this point.
"I can't believe it," said Darrell Waltrip. "The Aaron's ad campaign has been a lot of fun for me over the years, but I seriously thought I would never get to race that car. I really appreciate Michael and Aaron's and, of course, my wonderful and supportive wife Stevie, for giving me this opportunity. Like they say, Dreams Come True at Aaron's!"
President of Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership Ken Butler stated, "When we let the fans vote on whether or not to let D.W. race the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine, the response was definitely in favor of letting him drive it. Now we can bring this very successful campaign and very important partnership with the Waltrip family full circle for Aaron's. I have a great respect for Darrell Waltrip and what he has accomplished in his career, including his 13 previous Busch series wins. We are honored to have him represent Aaron's behind the wheel in Martinsville."
The race scheduled for July 22 will mark the first time since 1994 that the NASCAR Busch Series has run at the .526-mile oval Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. In another first, the race will be held at night, under special lights brought in just for the event.
Darrell Waltrip wasn't the only attendee who had a dream fulfilled at last evening's roast. The Boys' and Girls' Club of Tennessee anticipates exceeding its fundraising goal of $150,000 from the event.
Aaron's stores offer customers access to high quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers for sale or on a lease-ownership arrangement. Customers have the option of buying their merchandise for an attractive cash price, or opting to lease their merchandise for even greater flexibility. With a lease option, customers make modest monthly payments and have the immediate use of the items they need without waiting for credit checks or other delays. Plus, Aaron's will take care of delivery, set-up, repairs and more for the duration of a customer's lease.
Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE: RNT) is a leader in the sale and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances, now with over 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 46 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. The Company also manufactures an exclusive line of furniture, bedding and accessories at 10 facilities in four states.
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Richard Childress Racing hopes to continue its resurrection this weekend at Atlanta
BY GREG ENGLE
NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, the fastest track on the circuit. And for all drivers of the Richard Childress Racing team this will be a busy one indeed. All three of the drivers will be staging a ‘double-duty’ weekend as they compete in two events.
This is also a weekend that the RCR teams will hope to continue to show the early season resurrection their boss hoped for after he set about rebuilding the team following several less than stellar years.
“Richard has made some personnel changes that were key, and we’ve picked up in every area,” rookie driver Clint Bowyer explained about the preseason changes for the organization. “It wasn’t just like we found 100 horsepower in the engine shop and that’s why we’re running good. Our aero program has picked up, engineering has picked up, engines have picked up.”
The transformation seems to be working as all three of the Childress drivers have put forth solid efforts during the first three events of the season.
Kevin Harvick travels to Atlanta on the heels of an 11th place finish in Las Vegas. Harvick ran in and out of the top-five for 202 of the 267 laps last weekend and was sitting in the third position with 30 laps to go before a tight racecar doomed his chances of a top-five finish. Nonetheless, Harvick was happy with his team’s effort and looks to bring that success with them to another 1.5-mile track this weekend.
He’s also on firmly in control and on top of the Busch Series standings and will wear two hats, one as driver and the other as team owner as he pilots his own car in Saturday’s Busch Series race. This will make just his second start in a Kevin Harvick Incorporated car. Harvick’s first start was three weeks ago at California Speedway where he finished eighth.
“It was pretty cool being able to drive a KHI Chevrolet in the Busch Series a few weeks ago at California. I’m really proud of the hard work that the guys have put into all the teams and their efforts on and off the track. It was cool to able to driver for the team I own, and get to experience first-hand what we’re (KHI) putting on the track each week. ”
Harvick always travels to Atlanta with the poignant memories of his first ever Nextel Cup win. In just his third race in the NASCAR Cup Series, Harvick beat Jeff Gordon by mere inches to win at AMS in March of 2001. One of the most memorable wins in the history of NASCAR, the victory brought a small amount of joy to a grieving Richard Childress Racing organization, following the passing of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt. Harvick continued his success at AMS in the fall event of that year finishing third and solidifying the No. 29 team as a force to be reckoned with at the 1.5-mile track.
“I remember how emotional it was for everyone, including myself, and RCR,” Harvick said. “It almost felt like a dream. I think that race was very important to the beginning of the healing process that still goes on to this day.”
Jeff Burton finished seventh at Vegas last week and climbed from 14th to 10th in the standings, his first appearance in the top 10 since Pocono in July 2003, ending a 90-race absence.
Burton has competed in 23 races at Atlanta, scoring 10 top-10 finishes. He finished 15th in this race one year ago and eighth there last October. He too will be pulling double duty this weekend, driving RCR’s No. 21 Coast Guard Chevrolet in Saturday’s Busch race.
“Atlanta’s been a place where we’ve run well since I’ve come over to RCR,” Burton said. “I do think that our better engine program and our better aero program will improve our performance even more.”
To add to all the normal pressure of a NASCAR weekend, Burton will have his busy week leading into the race weekend at Atlanta documented for ‘7 Days’, a new program on SPEED. The cameras will join Burton as he hosts television programs, participates in team meetings, work out with his trainer, meets the Governor of Georgia, speaks at a luncheon, holds a press conference at the track and visits sponsor guests at hospitality, in addition to his on-track activities surrounding the race weekend. Burton’s 7 Days program will be aired Monday, March 20 at 8 p.m. EST on SPEED
Rookie Clint Bowyer has charged out of the starting gate in the 2006 season, scoring three top-15 finishes, the best record among the Rookie of the Year contenders. He finished 15th at Las Vegas and climbed from eighth to seventh in the standings, the highest points position of his short career
This weekend will mark his first Nextel Cup race at Atlanta and his fourth career start.
“Atlanta separates the men from the boys, that’s for sure,” said Bowyer. “You’ve got to let it all hang out and go for broke. It’s a very fast racetrack. The coolest thing about Atlanta is that it’s fast, but it’s not that one-groove fast, kind of like Texas. You can race there two- and three-wide.”
While he may not have any Nextel Cup series starts, Bowyer has started two Busch races at Atlanta and had a best finish of 20th in 2004. He’ll once again return to the seat of RCR’s No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet on Saturday in the Busch Series race.
“We’ve had some bad luck there,” Bowyer said. “We led the race last year, but ran into some bad luck and finished in the middle of the pack. We’re working on getting the speed that we need and should run good this weekend.”
All three of the teams will not only be working on great finishes at Atlanta this weekend, but will also continue their efforts at building the foundation for the Richard Childress Racing team’s return to glory. Bowyer says the foundation based on the strong runs so far seems to be evident in the mood of all the employees at RCR.
“Just walking through the shop,” Bowyer said. “There’s definitely a pep in their step and they’re eager to go each and every week to the racetrack. RCR as a whole, you walk through the shop and everybody is upbeat and ready to go. It’s been a huge confidence booster and momentum builder for everybody.”
Qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Golden Corral 500 is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m. EST Friday, March 17 and will broadcast LIVE on SPEED (TV), PRN (radio) and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144. The 500-mile event is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. EST Sunday, March 19, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BY GREG ENGLE
NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, the fastest track on the circuit. And for all drivers of the Richard Childress Racing team this will be a busy one indeed. All three of the drivers will be staging a ‘double-duty’ weekend as they compete in two events.
This is also a weekend that the RCR teams will hope to continue to show the early season resurrection their boss hoped for after he set about rebuilding the team following several less than stellar years.
“Richard has made some personnel changes that were key, and we’ve picked up in every area,” rookie driver Clint Bowyer explained about the preseason changes for the organization. “It wasn’t just like we found 100 horsepower in the engine shop and that’s why we’re running good. Our aero program has picked up, engineering has picked up, engines have picked up.”
The transformation seems to be working as all three of the Childress drivers have put forth solid efforts during the first three events of the season.
Kevin Harvick travels to Atlanta on the heels of an 11th place finish in Las Vegas. Harvick ran in and out of the top-five for 202 of the 267 laps last weekend and was sitting in the third position with 30 laps to go before a tight racecar doomed his chances of a top-five finish. Nonetheless, Harvick was happy with his team’s effort and looks to bring that success with them to another 1.5-mile track this weekend.
He’s also on firmly in control and on top of the Busch Series standings and will wear two hats, one as driver and the other as team owner as he pilots his own car in Saturday’s Busch Series race. This will make just his second start in a Kevin Harvick Incorporated car. Harvick’s first start was three weeks ago at California Speedway where he finished eighth.
“It was pretty cool being able to drive a KHI Chevrolet in the Busch Series a few weeks ago at California. I’m really proud of the hard work that the guys have put into all the teams and their efforts on and off the track. It was cool to able to driver for the team I own, and get to experience first-hand what we’re (KHI) putting on the track each week. ”
Harvick always travels to Atlanta with the poignant memories of his first ever Nextel Cup win. In just his third race in the NASCAR Cup Series, Harvick beat Jeff Gordon by mere inches to win at AMS in March of 2001. One of the most memorable wins in the history of NASCAR, the victory brought a small amount of joy to a grieving Richard Childress Racing organization, following the passing of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt. Harvick continued his success at AMS in the fall event of that year finishing third and solidifying the No. 29 team as a force to be reckoned with at the 1.5-mile track.
“I remember how emotional it was for everyone, including myself, and RCR,” Harvick said. “It almost felt like a dream. I think that race was very important to the beginning of the healing process that still goes on to this day.”
Jeff Burton finished seventh at Vegas last week and climbed from 14th to 10th in the standings, his first appearance in the top 10 since Pocono in July 2003, ending a 90-race absence.
Burton has competed in 23 races at Atlanta, scoring 10 top-10 finishes. He finished 15th in this race one year ago and eighth there last October. He too will be pulling double duty this weekend, driving RCR’s No. 21 Coast Guard Chevrolet in Saturday’s Busch race.
“Atlanta’s been a place where we’ve run well since I’ve come over to RCR,” Burton said. “I do think that our better engine program and our better aero program will improve our performance even more.”
To add to all the normal pressure of a NASCAR weekend, Burton will have his busy week leading into the race weekend at Atlanta documented for ‘7 Days’, a new program on SPEED. The cameras will join Burton as he hosts television programs, participates in team meetings, work out with his trainer, meets the Governor of Georgia, speaks at a luncheon, holds a press conference at the track and visits sponsor guests at hospitality, in addition to his on-track activities surrounding the race weekend. Burton’s 7 Days program will be aired Monday, March 20 at 8 p.m. EST on SPEED
Rookie Clint Bowyer has charged out of the starting gate in the 2006 season, scoring three top-15 finishes, the best record among the Rookie of the Year contenders. He finished 15th at Las Vegas and climbed from eighth to seventh in the standings, the highest points position of his short career
This weekend will mark his first Nextel Cup race at Atlanta and his fourth career start.
“Atlanta separates the men from the boys, that’s for sure,” said Bowyer. “You’ve got to let it all hang out and go for broke. It’s a very fast racetrack. The coolest thing about Atlanta is that it’s fast, but it’s not that one-groove fast, kind of like Texas. You can race there two- and three-wide.”
While he may not have any Nextel Cup series starts, Bowyer has started two Busch races at Atlanta and had a best finish of 20th in 2004. He’ll once again return to the seat of RCR’s No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet on Saturday in the Busch Series race.
“We’ve had some bad luck there,” Bowyer said. “We led the race last year, but ran into some bad luck and finished in the middle of the pack. We’re working on getting the speed that we need and should run good this weekend.”
All three of the teams will not only be working on great finishes at Atlanta this weekend, but will also continue their efforts at building the foundation for the Richard Childress Racing team’s return to glory. Bowyer says the foundation based on the strong runs so far seems to be evident in the mood of all the employees at RCR.
“Just walking through the shop,” Bowyer said. “There’s definitely a pep in their step and they’re eager to go each and every week to the racetrack. RCR as a whole, you walk through the shop and everybody is upbeat and ready to go. It’s been a huge confidence booster and momentum builder for everybody.”
Qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Golden Corral 500 is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m. EST Friday, March 17 and will broadcast LIVE on SPEED (TV), PRN (radio) and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144. The 500-mile event is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. EST Sunday, March 19, and will broadcast LIVE on FOX (TV), PRN and XM Satellite Radio Channel 144.
Could Jeff Gordon’s ‘Drive for Five’ theme be changed to ‘Retire in Five’?
By Greg Engle
Cup Scene Daily
Could Jeff Gordon’s ‘Drive for Five’ theme be changed to ‘Retire in Five’ sometime in the near future?
The four-time champ seemed to indicate that this week while on a promotional visit to Texas.
John Sturbin of the Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram asked Gordon what the likelihood was of Gordon still racing in five years.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be racing at 41, put it that way," Gordon said. "I don't know about 40."
Gordon is in the first year of a five-year contract. It's a three-year deal covering his current sponsors through 2008, plus a two-year option that everyone expects to be picked up.
Granted Gordon has a lot on his plate; he’s an equity owner in his No. 24 Chevrolet team and the No. 48 of teammate Jimmie Johnson as well as Hendrick Motorsports.
Gordon has also been dabbling in real estate in the last few years, a ‘hobby’ that no doubt has chewed up more of his valuable time.
"I like building things. I like fixing things around the house," Gordon told Sturbin. "That's the crazy thing. My schedule is so ridiculous that there's so many things I would like to do that ... I don't get the opportunity and I have to call somebody to do it. Not because I can't do it or don't want to do it, it's because I just don't have time to do it.
Whether it'd be fixing up an old car ... I bought some property in Colorado and I really look forward to developing it and building some things. I'd like to some day do something with my own hands that I can say, 'Hey, I built that ... or I helped build that.'"
So is the plate becoming too full perhaps? Are the demands on the 34, soon to be 35, year old driver becoming so much that its worn him down to the point that he’s considering hanging up to old HANS and stepping out of a racecar for good when the last candle on the 40th birthday cake is blown out?
Here’s the scenario that you’ll see five years from now when Gordon gets ready to announce his retirement from the sport:
-Bruton Smith, president of Speedway Motorsports, NASCAR czar Bill France Jr. and president Brian France will all be living together in a mansion overlooking Long Island International Raceway.
-Robby Gordon will have won his fourth championship…in a row. (Sorry Robby, love ya’ mean it)
-Queen Elizabeth will have graced the cover of Maxim magazine. (Hopefully you’re not eating lunch as you read this.)
-Jennifer Love-Hewitt will have returned my phone calls and agreed to a date…despite the judge’s order.
-And pigs will be flying on a regular basis.
In other words boys and girls, Jeff Gordon will still be racing well into his 40’s, because he knows what made him famous and what continues to keep him famous. Witness 47-year-old Mark Martin, who is not only still racing but is competitive and winning races. And that campers is the key; remaining competitive and as long as Gordon continues to be and there’s certainly no reason he won’t, then look for him to be racing for a long time to come.
In fact Gordon seemed to indicate that when Sturbin asked him if he has signed his last driver’s contract.
"You know, I just want to continue to enjoy it, be healthy and have a good race team," said Gordon. "If at the end of those five years all those things are still happening, then I might sign for another five years. I just can't say."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~By Greg Engle
Cup Scene Daily
Could Jeff Gordon’s ‘Drive for Five’ theme be changed to ‘Retire in Five’ sometime in the near future?
The four-time champ seemed to indicate that this week while on a promotional visit to Texas.
John Sturbin of the Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram asked Gordon what the likelihood was of Gordon still racing in five years.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be racing at 41, put it that way," Gordon said. "I don't know about 40."
Gordon is in the first year of a five-year contract. It's a three-year deal covering his current sponsors through 2008, plus a two-year option that everyone expects to be picked up.
Granted Gordon has a lot on his plate; he’s an equity owner in his No. 24 Chevrolet team and the No. 48 of teammate Jimmie Johnson as well as Hendrick Motorsports.
Gordon has also been dabbling in real estate in the last few years, a ‘hobby’ that no doubt has chewed up more of his valuable time.
"I like building things. I like fixing things around the house," Gordon told Sturbin. "That's the crazy thing. My schedule is so ridiculous that there's so many things I would like to do that ... I don't get the opportunity and I have to call somebody to do it. Not because I can't do it or don't want to do it, it's because I just don't have time to do it.
Whether it'd be fixing up an old car ... I bought some property in Colorado and I really look forward to developing it and building some things. I'd like to some day do something with my own hands that I can say, 'Hey, I built that ... or I helped build that.'"
So is the plate becoming too full perhaps? Are the demands on the 34, soon to be 35, year old driver becoming so much that its worn him down to the point that he’s considering hanging up to old HANS and stepping out of a racecar for good when the last candle on the 40th birthday cake is blown out?
Here’s the scenario that you’ll see five years from now when Gordon gets ready to announce his retirement from the sport:
-Bruton Smith, president of Speedway Motorsports, NASCAR czar Bill France Jr. and president Brian France will all be living together in a mansion overlooking Long Island International Raceway.
-Robby Gordon will have won his fourth championship…in a row. (Sorry Robby, love ya’ mean it)
-Queen Elizabeth will have graced the cover of Maxim magazine. (Hopefully you’re not eating lunch as you read this.)
-Jennifer Love-Hewitt will have returned my phone calls and agreed to a date…despite the judge’s order.
-And pigs will be flying on a regular basis.
In other words boys and girls, Jeff Gordon will still be racing well into his 40’s, because he knows what made him famous and what continues to keep him famous. Witness 47-year-old Mark Martin, who is not only still racing but is competitive and winning races. And that campers is the key; remaining competitive and as long as Gordon continues to be and there’s certainly no reason he won’t, then look for him to be racing for a long time to come.
In fact Gordon seemed to indicate that when Sturbin asked him if he has signed his last driver’s contract.
"You know, I just want to continue to enjoy it, be healthy and have a good race team," said Gordon. "If at the end of those five years all those things are still happening, then I might sign for another five years. I just can't say."
Kyle: Trying to be cool is bush; just being Busch is cool
All things are not equal. Attractive women get to jump lines at nightclubs, while the rest of us have to wait; a suave man gets to flirt with a female co-worker, while the plump fella in horn-rimmed glasses would be reprimanded; and if Kyle Busch were cool, he wouldn't be taking as much heat for reckless driving.
If Busch were more popular, Tony Stewart wouldn't be making him Public Enemy No. 1. But as it is, Busch is an easy target — no one likes him, so what does Stewart have to lose?
Stewart might be right when he complains about Busch's aggressiveness on the track, but there's no way he would be harping as much if it were Dale Earnhardt Jr. he had a problem with.
As long as Busch allows himself to be the whipping boy — ''If I might have aggravated Stewart a little bit, then I apologize to him for that,'' he said after Sunday's race at Las Vegas — he'll get whipped. As long as he keeps trying to be something he's not, namely cool — have you seen the sunglasses he tries to pull off? — fans will boo him. And as long as fans boo him, he'll be an easy target.
The only way to change this is to make himself appealing, and since he's never going to convince anyone to cheer for him because he's cool, he has to work with what he's got, and what he's got is a brash, I-do-it-my-way attitude. That's who Kyle Busch is. He just needs to embrace that.
Once he does that, the fans will come and the criticism will, in part, go away.
Here are three questions to ponder as the tour heads to Atlanta for Race No. 4:
Should Chad Knaus return to Jimmie Johnson's pit box?
Johnson has two wins and a second place in three races without Knaus at the track. This isn't to say Johnson can win without Knaus, who was suspended for four races for cheating, but it does lend support to an idea that the team is better served with its crew chief spending all his time at the shop preparing for next week's race.
''Chad's at home seven days a week working on these cars,'' explained interim crew chief Darian Grubb. ''It's pretty easy to unload fast when you've got a mind like that back at the fab shop working on it.''
When asked directly if Knaus should step aside and let Grubb be the permanent crew chief, Johnson didn't say no.
How good can Johnson be in 2006?
It's still early, but Johnson is establishing a foundation for one of NASCAR's greatest individual seasons since the modern era began in 1972.
Jeff Gordon's 1998 season was arguably the best ever. He won 13 races, had 26 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s in 33 races. Richard Petty's 1979 season (five wins, 23 top-fives, 27 top-10s in 31 races) and any of Cale Yarborough's three straight championship seasons ('76: nine wins, 22 top-fives, 23 top-10s in 30 races; '77: nine wins, 25 top-fives, 27 top-10s; '78: 10 wins, 23 top-fives, 24 top-10s) are also among the best ever.
Who among the preseason favorites is already in trouble?
It's said that if a team doesn't have its act together leaving Atlanta, the rest of the season will be a struggle. So count Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray among those desperate for a solid finish.
Among them, they have just one top-10 finish (McMurray at California) this season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All things are not equal. Attractive women get to jump lines at nightclubs, while the rest of us have to wait; a suave man gets to flirt with a female co-worker, while the plump fella in horn-rimmed glasses would be reprimanded; and if Kyle Busch were cool, he wouldn't be taking as much heat for reckless driving.
If Busch were more popular, Tony Stewart wouldn't be making him Public Enemy No. 1. But as it is, Busch is an easy target — no one likes him, so what does Stewart have to lose?
Stewart might be right when he complains about Busch's aggressiveness on the track, but there's no way he would be harping as much if it were Dale Earnhardt Jr. he had a problem with.
As long as Busch allows himself to be the whipping boy — ''If I might have aggravated Stewart a little bit, then I apologize to him for that,'' he said after Sunday's race at Las Vegas — he'll get whipped. As long as he keeps trying to be something he's not, namely cool — have you seen the sunglasses he tries to pull off? — fans will boo him. And as long as fans boo him, he'll be an easy target.
The only way to change this is to make himself appealing, and since he's never going to convince anyone to cheer for him because he's cool, he has to work with what he's got, and what he's got is a brash, I-do-it-my-way attitude. That's who Kyle Busch is. He just needs to embrace that.
Once he does that, the fans will come and the criticism will, in part, go away.
Here are three questions to ponder as the tour heads to Atlanta for Race No. 4:
Should Chad Knaus return to Jimmie Johnson's pit box?
Johnson has two wins and a second place in three races without Knaus at the track. This isn't to say Johnson can win without Knaus, who was suspended for four races for cheating, but it does lend support to an idea that the team is better served with its crew chief spending all his time at the shop preparing for next week's race.
''Chad's at home seven days a week working on these cars,'' explained interim crew chief Darian Grubb. ''It's pretty easy to unload fast when you've got a mind like that back at the fab shop working on it.''
When asked directly if Knaus should step aside and let Grubb be the permanent crew chief, Johnson didn't say no.
How good can Johnson be in 2006?
It's still early, but Johnson is establishing a foundation for one of NASCAR's greatest individual seasons since the modern era began in 1972.
Jeff Gordon's 1998 season was arguably the best ever. He won 13 races, had 26 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s in 33 races. Richard Petty's 1979 season (five wins, 23 top-fives, 27 top-10s in 31 races) and any of Cale Yarborough's three straight championship seasons ('76: nine wins, 22 top-fives, 23 top-10s in 30 races; '77: nine wins, 25 top-fives, 27 top-10s; '78: 10 wins, 23 top-fives, 24 top-10s) are also among the best ever.
Who among the preseason favorites is already in trouble?
It's said that if a team doesn't have its act together leaving Atlanta, the rest of the season will be a struggle. So count Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray among those desperate for a solid finish.
Among them, they have just one top-10 finish (McMurray at California) this season.
The real deal is knowing when to hold off
Lee Spencer/Sporting News
Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls it "the killer instinct."
It's that innate take-no-prisoners attitude a driver must possess if he's going to make it at NASCAR's Nextel Cup level. But it must be controlled aggressiveness for a driver to flourish and be respected in the process. A driver can be a hard charger without making idiotic moves that compromise his and his competitors' finishes.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the master, and Junior was the perfect student. He idolized his teacher and observed every line, every zig, every zag on the racetrack and absorbed even more moves that are likely to hit him as "aha" moments when he least expects.
Psychologists would have a field day trying to determine whether it was nature or nurture that helped Driver 8 evolve into the star that he is. My deduction is it's a combination.
Junior knows what traits it takes to make a successful racecar driver. He's not-and I repeat not-known for taking risks that put other drivers in harm's way. As an owner, he wants to project those same expectations onto his Busch Series driver, Mark McFarland.
It's not a bad lesson for other 20-somethings, either.
Here's Junior's recipe for success: "You have to bring out that temper a little bit but still be able to control it at the same time. You've got to drive these cars with some rage. You can't always be strategic and pace yourself. There are times you have to get after it and show these guys who the boss is."
When Dale Sr. was on the racetrack, there was no doubt who the boss was. He feared no one. Junior has adopted the boss role at restrictor-plate tracks and has the ability to do so at short tracks, especially Bristol. His stock on intermediate tracks will improve with time.
Where Junior differs from his dad is his reluctance to win at any cost. He won't risk dumping another driver to take home the trophy, and that has gotten him tremendous respect among his peers and the drivers who raced his father.
Many racers who competed during Earnhardt Sr.'s tenure have retired. The trend in Cup has moved toward youth, which has led to an increased level of aggressiveness on the racetrack. Many of the young drivers haven't had the seat time in the feeder series that would have helped them learn to be patient. But that up-on-the-wheel exuberance sells tickets and attracts viewers. Fans don't want to watch racers out for a Sunday drive.
Yet as the transition between mature racers and young guns continues, NASCAR must find a way to restrain the recent over-the-top aggressiveness before someone gets seriously injured.
Staff writer Lee Spencer covers NASCAR for Sporting News.
Lee Spencer/Sporting News
Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls it "the killer instinct."
It's that innate take-no-prisoners attitude a driver must possess if he's going to make it at NASCAR's Nextel Cup level. But it must be controlled aggressiveness for a driver to flourish and be respected in the process. A driver can be a hard charger without making idiotic moves that compromise his and his competitors' finishes.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the master, and Junior was the perfect student. He idolized his teacher and observed every line, every zig, every zag on the racetrack and absorbed even more moves that are likely to hit him as "aha" moments when he least expects.
Psychologists would have a field day trying to determine whether it was nature or nurture that helped Driver 8 evolve into the star that he is. My deduction is it's a combination.
Junior knows what traits it takes to make a successful racecar driver. He's not-and I repeat not-known for taking risks that put other drivers in harm's way. As an owner, he wants to project those same expectations onto his Busch Series driver, Mark McFarland.
It's not a bad lesson for other 20-somethings, either.
Here's Junior's recipe for success: "You have to bring out that temper a little bit but still be able to control it at the same time. You've got to drive these cars with some rage. You can't always be strategic and pace yourself. There are times you have to get after it and show these guys who the boss is."
When Dale Sr. was on the racetrack, there was no doubt who the boss was. He feared no one. Junior has adopted the boss role at restrictor-plate tracks and has the ability to do so at short tracks, especially Bristol. His stock on intermediate tracks will improve with time.
Where Junior differs from his dad is his reluctance to win at any cost. He won't risk dumping another driver to take home the trophy, and that has gotten him tremendous respect among his peers and the drivers who raced his father.
Many racers who competed during Earnhardt Sr.'s tenure have retired. The trend in Cup has moved toward youth, which has led to an increased level of aggressiveness on the racetrack. Many of the young drivers haven't had the seat time in the feeder series that would have helped them learn to be patient. But that up-on-the-wheel exuberance sells tickets and attracts viewers. Fans don't want to watch racers out for a Sunday drive.
Yet as the transition between mature racers and young guns continues, NASCAR must find a way to restrain the recent over-the-top aggressiveness before someone gets seriously injured.
Staff writer Lee Spencer covers NASCAR for Sporting News.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not Surprisingly NASCAR Will Have "Full" Control Of The New Hall Of Fame
The Charlotte Observer reported last week NASCAR forced the Charlotte leaders to make some unusual moves in getting NASCAR's Hall of Fame to their city. The story titled "NASCAR Hall Deal Includes Unusual Twists," written by three reporters, Scott Dodd, Richard Rubin and Michelle Crouch had some interesting stuff.
They say a group "Secretly worked out of an office suite for a week of late-night negotiations." They say a "shell corporation" was created to take out bank loans. And "a private legal team was hired to navigate complex licensing deals. Agreeing to give NASCAR sponsors first crack at providing food, cups, T-shirts and any other products sold in the hall."
The article went on to say, "when it comes to making decisions about everything from designing exhibits to hiring an executive director, NASCAR will have veto power, although the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority will own and operate the building."
"It's certainly a very unusual arrangement," said Karen Bednarski, executive director of the International Sports Heritage Association, a trade group for sports museums and halls of fame. "None (of the other sports) has an arrangement like what NASCAR will have."
NASCAR has full control. "If the museum curator hired by Charlotte has a great idea for an exhibit that spotlights controversial NASCAR rule changes or the decline of speedways in the rural Carolinas -- if NASCAR doesn't like it, forget it."
The good news is don't plan on it being called The Gold Crown Lanes NASCAR Hall of Fame any time soon. I did some checking and they have no plans of selling the name to anyone. Unlike just about everything else NASCAR has their hands in.
Part of the 60-plus page contract says "Neither party (NASCAR nor the city of Charlotte) shall sell any naming rights or presenting sponsorship for the HOF without the other party's prior approval."
What About The "Other" Hall Of Fame? The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is in Talladega, AL and their web site calls it "the Canton, Ohio of motorsports." Canton is the home of the Football Hall of Fame. The site also says, "Those enshrined in this facility are not only the best of the best in motorsports. They are an important part of the history of our world.
"They are the drivers, riders and pilots that took us along as mankind continued its quest to break through new limits. They are the designers, engineers, and builders that shaped the motorsports world. They are the great leaders like Enzo Ferrari and Ferdinand Porsche that built empires that still achieve at the highest level today. We must all honor their achievements and be thankful for what they have done for us."
In fact Brian France's grandfather "Big" Bill is the founder and a 1990 inaugural inductee and of course Brian's dad Bill is also a member. In fact I counted 111 members. When they add Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Janet Guthrie, Jack Roush and Humpy Wheeler on April 27 the number grows to 116.
Granted they aren't all from NASCAR. But a bunch of the exhibits are. I'm guessing a bunch of these guys will surely make it into the new Hall of Fame. It'll be interesting to see what makes one a Hall of Famer.
For more information on The International Motorsports Hall of Fame check out www.motorsportshalloffame.com/index.htm.
Quote Of The Week: "I guess I have to thank NASCAR for this because Chad (Knaus) is home seven days a week prepping cars and making them faster. I talk to him at night about the changes we're making at the track but it makes it pretty simple when you have a car that good and a driver this good." That was Darian Grubb, the "fill-in" crew chief for the No. 48.
So I guess keeping one of a companies 300 plus (or is it 400+) employees home really isn't much of a penalty. I'm sure it drives Knaus stir crazy on the weekend but is not having him at the track really a "penalty?" I'd have to say no.
Loose Lug Nuts: NASCAR has this new toy that keeps track of where everyone is running a bunch of times per lap (they call it loop data). I bet you thought Matt Kenseth dominated last weekend's event (hard to call that a race). In fact Tony Stewart who came home 21st had the best average day in the running order with a 3.548 average. Matt Kenseth's (finished 2nd) average was 3.607. Others and where they finished were Kyle Busch (3) 3.870, Jimmie Johnson (1), 4.637, Mark Martin (6) 5.867, Greg Biffle (8), 6.378, Kasey Kahne (4) 7.785, Jeff Gordon (5) 8.793, Jeff Burton (7) 9.126, and Kevin Harvick (11) 9.485.
• Johnson, with two wins and a runner-up finish, is a surprising sixth in the mile leader's category, leading only 61.5 miles so far. Kenseth tops the list leading 369 miles. Biffle and Stewart are next with 347.5 miles and 187 miles respectfully. Martin sits fourth with 135 miles, 53 miles better than Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Kyle Busch leads the field in quality passes (passing cars under green while in the top 15) with 355 passes. Jamie McMurray is next with 338, followed by Martin (307), Kahne (293) and Earnhardt Jr. (282).
• Going into last weekend's event four active drivers had been running at the finish of all eight events held at Vegas. They were Burton, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Ken Schrader. You can remove Schrader from that list because he only ran 187 of the 270 laps and wasn't on the track when the checkers flew.
• Martin is the only Cup driver who has been on the lead lap for all 724 laps completed so far this season. Burton and Kahne have been off the lead lap for just one lap, while Kyle Busch, Gordon and Dale Jarrett have been off the lead lap for just two laps. And before you ask, Johnson hasn't been on the lead lap for six laps.
• Not since 1997 (Gordon) has a Cup driver started the season with three top 5s in the first three events. Johnson has a two wins and a second.
• Attendance at the Busch race in Mexico a couple of week's ago was 72,428. A year ago that figure was 94,229. That's a drop of 23 percent.
• Darlington Raceway is going to be paved within the next two to four years. The track is sorely in need of some new pavement but for track president Chris Browning he doesn't want to mess up the great racing there.
"One of the things I've talked about with our asphalt and paving gurus down in Daytona, and one of the things I've challenged them with is, 'Look, guys, we've got a real racy place here. How can we repave this place and still keep it racy like it is now?'" said Browning.
From The Mailbag: A couple of readers wrote asking why I haven't commented on the Cup guys stealing all the Busch cash lately. John wrote, "You used to keep track of how much money the Buschwhackers were stealing. I miss that."
Paula wrote, "Will NASCAR ever stop the Cup drivers from racing Saturday? And while I am at it, I don't need to see Mark Martin in a truck race anytime soon."
Sorry to disappoint you all (well most of you) but I gave up. It's not going to change. I seldom watch a Busch race anymore but they seem to be selling lots of tickets for them. It's not the drivers that bug me as much as the whole teams all the way down to the pit crews. If you don't have Cup resources you aren't going to win a Busch race.
I didn't look it up but I heard that of the four races this season the Cup guys have 32 of the 40 top 10 spots. And Steve Waid, from NASCAR Scene, one of the handful of writers out there who I still enjoy reading because he tells it like it is and hasn't "sold-out" wrote recently, "I remain steadfast in the belief that, with NASCAR's silent support, speedways count on Nextel Cup drivers to sell tickets to Busch Series races. At California, it was a necessity."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll apologize to them after they get me to the front!" -Dale Earnhardt back to pit when warned he was hurting his tires and told to save them during an early race charge
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Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain,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:
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