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Happy Hump day everyone!
Today In Nascar History
04/05/1953-Dick Passwater wins at Charlotte, win #1 of the season, and #1 of his career.
04/05/1958-Bob Welborn wins at Fayetteville, win #1 of the season, and #2 of his career.
04/05/1959-Lee Petty wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #39 of his career.
04/05/1960-Rex White wins at Columbia, win #1 of the season, and #8 of his career.
04/05/1964-Fred Lorenzen wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #13 of his career.
04/05/1970-Donnie Allison wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #3 of his career.
04/05/1981-Richard Petty wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #194 of his career.
04/05/1987-Dale Earnhardt wins at North Wilkesboro, win #4 of the season, and #24 of his career.
04/05/1992-Alan Kulwicki wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #4 of his career.
04/05/1998-Mark Martin wins at Fort Worth, win #2 of the season, and #24 of his career.
Today In Nascar History
04/05/1953-Dick Passwater wins at Charlotte, win #1 of the season, and #1 of his career.
04/05/1958-Bob Welborn wins at Fayetteville, win #1 of the season, and #2 of his career.
04/05/1959-Lee Petty wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #39 of his career.
04/05/1960-Rex White wins at Columbia, win #1 of the season, and #8 of his career.
04/05/1964-Fred Lorenzen wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #13 of his career.
04/05/1970-Donnie Allison wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #3 of his career.
04/05/1981-Richard Petty wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #194 of his career.
04/05/1987-Dale Earnhardt wins at North Wilkesboro, win #4 of the season, and #24 of his career.
04/05/1992-Alan Kulwicki wins at Bristol, win #1 of the season, and #4 of his career.
04/05/1998-Mark Martin wins at Fort Worth, win #2 of the season, and #24 of his career.
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Quote of the Day
"Some golfers go to certain golf courses and it fits their swing or their golf game better. This track fits my driving style. I love this place."
-- Elliott Sadler talking about Texas Motor Speedway
Top Ten Signs You've Been Watching Too Much NASCAR
Becca Gladden
10. At start of your kid’s school track meet, you yell out, “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!” instead of their name.
9. Friends and family members don’t bother calling on Sunday unless it’s NASCAR-related.
8. You know the weather forecast for the upcoming race city a week in advance.
7. You can recite 15 current NASCAR TV commercials from memory.
6. You memorize phone numbers by the corresponding NASCAR car numbers.
5. At least one room in your house has wall-to-wall NASCAR memorabilia.
4. You get extra Prozac for an off-weekend in the Nextel Cup schedule.
3. After the race, you immediately switch to Speed for more NASCAR coverage.
2. You postpone elective surgery ‘til the off season.
1. The first prayer you say on Sunday is simply for your driver to win.
Becca Gladden
10. At start of your kid’s school track meet, you yell out, “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!” instead of their name.
9. Friends and family members don’t bother calling on Sunday unless it’s NASCAR-related.
8. You know the weather forecast for the upcoming race city a week in advance.
7. You can recite 15 current NASCAR TV commercials from memory.
6. You memorize phone numbers by the corresponding NASCAR car numbers.
5. At least one room in your house has wall-to-wall NASCAR memorabilia.
4. You get extra Prozac for an off-weekend in the Nextel Cup schedule.
3. After the race, you immediately switch to Speed for more NASCAR coverage.
2. You postpone elective surgery ‘til the off season.
1. The first prayer you say on Sunday is simply for your driver to win.
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.
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Comments from the Peanut Gallery
from HM
from Bob S
from HM
HOW COME KENNSETH AND BUSCH GET HALF OF YOUR NEWSLETTER AND JIMMIE JOHNSON GETS MAYBE TWO LINES
How about B and K are true gentlemen, salt of the earth and JJ is a scum sucking egoist? -- Is that the answer you were seeking?
No seriously, I think Momma is about as fair and even handed as anyone, but it sounds like you are letting your favoritism cloud your judgement. Might want to lighten up.
Cheers, Bob
First of all I love this newsletter and all of momma's news, and I didn't ask for your opinion on anything. Sure I have my favorites. JJ is one of them. I was not talking about gentlemen, I havn't seen any gentlemen racers lately. Kennseth is no gentleman, when Jeff Gordon passed him a couple of weeks ago ON THE FINAL LAP he got held up in traffic, here comes k boy and rearends him knocking him from 3rd place to 21st, and I don't have to characterize B boy, everyone knows his character. I was talking about race car drivers and writeups. Go back and count the lines in the races Jimmie has won and scored high in. Sounds like you are a brown nosed Roush man to me. Maybe Roush should buy all the cars , then he could win them all. Isn't stewart wonderful climbing the fence. Go Chevies winners of the last 25 of 34 Championships. H.M. in Texas
Now now boys.....Behave. LOL...I appreciate everyone's comments, and sometimes things get a little out of hand. HM, I really believe that Bob was just kidding with you, but I always appreciate the comments. In the future, I will try harder to cover more of the drivers I don't like. I guess by covering more of the ones I don't like (with JJ the exception) I've forgotten the others.
from Michael S
I want to thank you for allowing me to join your group. I will do my best to spread the news about your group
from HM
from Bob S
from HM
HOW COME KENNSETH AND BUSCH GET HALF OF YOUR NEWSLETTER AND JIMMIE JOHNSON GETS MAYBE TWO LINES
How about B and K are true gentlemen, salt of the earth and JJ is a scum sucking egoist? -- Is that the answer you were seeking?
No seriously, I think Momma is about as fair and even handed as anyone, but it sounds like you are letting your favoritism cloud your judgement. Might want to lighten up.
Cheers, Bob
First of all I love this newsletter and all of momma's news, and I didn't ask for your opinion on anything. Sure I have my favorites. JJ is one of them. I was not talking about gentlemen, I havn't seen any gentlemen racers lately. Kennseth is no gentleman, when Jeff Gordon passed him a couple of weeks ago ON THE FINAL LAP he got held up in traffic, here comes k boy and rearends him knocking him from 3rd place to 21st, and I don't have to characterize B boy, everyone knows his character. I was talking about race car drivers and writeups. Go back and count the lines in the races Jimmie has won and scored high in. Sounds like you are a brown nosed Roush man to me. Maybe Roush should buy all the cars , then he could win them all. Isn't stewart wonderful climbing the fence. Go Chevies winners of the last 25 of 34 Championships. H.M. in Texas
Now now boys.....Behave. LOL...I appreciate everyone's comments, and sometimes things get a little out of hand. HM, I really believe that Bob was just kidding with you, but I always appreciate the comments. In the future, I will try harder to cover more of the drivers I don't like. I guess by covering more of the ones I don't like (with JJ the exception) I've forgotten the others.
from Michael S
I want to thank you for allowing me to join your group. I will do my best to spread the news about your group
No problem....thanks for joining and I hope you enjoy it!
from Jack
I've lost track of the issue about BUSCH WHACKERS. But I agree that any CUP driver should not be involved in the BUSCH championship points. They say the only reason they do the BUSCH thing is for the track time. YEAH! If that's the case, do as someone else suggested: No points. Also, give them only 'appearance money', which would leave more of the purse to the guys who deserve it. Let the championship be for the BUSCH drivers only! Now Kurt Busch wants a piece of the action and his only worry is getting used to the tire restrictions in BUSCH.
B.S.!
Smilin' Jack
from Jack
I've lost track of the issue about BUSCH WHACKERS. But I agree that any CUP driver should not be involved in the BUSCH championship points. They say the only reason they do the BUSCH thing is for the track time. YEAH! If that's the case, do as someone else suggested: No points. Also, give them only 'appearance money', which would leave more of the purse to the guys who deserve it. Let the championship be for the BUSCH drivers only! Now Kurt Busch wants a piece of the action and his only worry is getting used to the tire restrictions in BUSCH.
B.S.!
Smilin' Jack
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Bits and Pieces
NASCAR's primary sponsor staying put
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer
The head of marketing for Sprint-Nextel says the company's commitment to its 10-year, $70 million sponsorship in NASCAR remains strong despite some upcoming high-level personnel changes.
Mark Schweitzer, the chief marketing officer for the giant telecommunications company that sponsors NASCAR's top series with its Nextel brand, said in a telephone news conference Tuesday that he was trying to ``end any speculation that might be out there about our commitment to the sport.''
Rumors that Sprint-Nextel might get out of the stock car sport or sell its contract to another company have swept through the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage since it became known that Jill Gregory, director of Nextel Series marketing since 2004, and Michael Robichaud, vice president of sports marketing for Sprint-Nextel, both are leaving the company.
Gregory is set to join Bank of America in its new NASCAR marketing program, and Robichaud has told the company he is looking for a new challenge and will leave later this year.
Nextel replaced R.J. Reynolds' Winston cigarettes as the primary sponsor of the series in 2004.
Schweitzer, joined on the phone conference by Tom Murphy, the company's vice president of non-traditional marketing, said that early in the third year of the contract with NASCAR the company is extremely happy with the deal that was struck before the merger with Sprint late in 2004.
``The commitment is very much here for two simple reasons: One, it works. And, second, the deal was struck in such a way to help ensure the sport has the stability of a long-term sponsor and we're very comfortable with how that deal was struck,'' Schweitzer said. ``It represents a very significant investment for us in the way we do business.
``I've seen reports that we might consider selling it. That's not an option. It's not one we would pursue and, again, we were very comfortable with those protections being built into the agreement.''
One change likely at some point is a change in the name of the Nextel Cup Series to reflect Sprint taking control of the company, but even that remains up in the air.
``We made a commitment to meet with NASCAR by Daytona (in February) to discuss it,'' Schweitzer said. ``Tom and I met with (NASCAR chairman) Brian France and (senior vice president) Paul Brooks and we shared information at that time that said to us that it was not the right time to consider a change.''
NASCAR's primary sponsor staying put
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer
The head of marketing for Sprint-Nextel says the company's commitment to its 10-year, $70 million sponsorship in NASCAR remains strong despite some upcoming high-level personnel changes.
Mark Schweitzer, the chief marketing officer for the giant telecommunications company that sponsors NASCAR's top series with its Nextel brand, said in a telephone news conference Tuesday that he was trying to ``end any speculation that might be out there about our commitment to the sport.''
Rumors that Sprint-Nextel might get out of the stock car sport or sell its contract to another company have swept through the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage since it became known that Jill Gregory, director of Nextel Series marketing since 2004, and Michael Robichaud, vice president of sports marketing for Sprint-Nextel, both are leaving the company.
Gregory is set to join Bank of America in its new NASCAR marketing program, and Robichaud has told the company he is looking for a new challenge and will leave later this year.
Nextel replaced R.J. Reynolds' Winston cigarettes as the primary sponsor of the series in 2004.
Schweitzer, joined on the phone conference by Tom Murphy, the company's vice president of non-traditional marketing, said that early in the third year of the contract with NASCAR the company is extremely happy with the deal that was struck before the merger with Sprint late in 2004.
``The commitment is very much here for two simple reasons: One, it works. And, second, the deal was struck in such a way to help ensure the sport has the stability of a long-term sponsor and we're very comfortable with how that deal was struck,'' Schweitzer said. ``It represents a very significant investment for us in the way we do business.
``I've seen reports that we might consider selling it. That's not an option. It's not one we would pursue and, again, we were very comfortable with those protections being built into the agreement.''
One change likely at some point is a change in the name of the Nextel Cup Series to reflect Sprint taking control of the company, but even that remains up in the air.
``We made a commitment to meet with NASCAR by Daytona (in February) to discuss it,'' Schweitzer said. ``Tom and I met with (NASCAR chairman) Brian France and (senior vice president) Paul Brooks and we shared information at that time that said to us that it was not the right time to consider a change.''
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Said, Stoddard to start new Nextel Cup teamBy Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports
Veteran driver and Nextel Cup semi-regular Boris Said and veteran crew chief Frank Stoddard have formed their own Nextel Cup team, Yahoo! Sports has learned. They are partnering with long-time Said associate and former driver and team owner Mark Simo.
The team, which is slated to run four or five races this season, will work with Roush Racing, which has offered to supply the team with cars, engines and technical expertise.
Stoddard recently left MB2 Motorsports and speculation was that he was set to rejoin Roush. But Stoddard, who used to be crew chief for Roush's No. 99 car when Jeff Burton was behind the wheel, instead has been working with Roush officials on forming the new team.
Said has been frustrated with his inability to find a regular Cup ride this season after running nine races with MB2 in 2005 with Stoddard as his crew chief. After Simo's No Fear clothing company purchased a building adjacent to Roush Racing headquarters in Concord, N.C., for a planned East Coast distribution center, Said, who has been working as a consultant for Roush's teams, began talking with Roush about possibly starting a team.
"When I first talked to Jack, he suggested the idea and I immediately brought it to Mark," Said explained.
Simo, who has been out of the racing game for several years, is no stranger to team ownership. He and former Cup star Ernie Irvan formed Irvan-Simo Racing in 1995. The team was one of the original NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams and a regular contender from series inception in 1995 through 1998. The team also gave Said his first start in a Cup car in 1999 at Watkins Glen.
This season, Said has made one NASCAR stock car start. He won the pole for the Busch race at Mexico City in early March and finished second in that race.
The current plan is for the new team to run the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at the Infineon Raceway road course in June, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July, the Brickyard in August and the Watkins Glen road course, also in August.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Said said.
The team has secured sponsorship for at least four races, with an announcement regarding sponsorship details to come.
Veteran motorsports writer Bob Margolis is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR reporter.
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Kevin Harvick Inc., and Chris Rice Part WaysKevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced today that Chris Rice, crew chief of the No. 33 NASCAR Truck Series team and two-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, have agreed to part ways.
"This was a difficult decision,” said Kevin Harvick, owner and CEO of Kevin Harvick Inc. “While we feel like we’ve got a driver and a crew chief capable of running up front, the combination of the two has not produced the results that we expected. This deal is all about chemistry and we felt like we needed to go in a different direction. We appreciate all of Chris’ efforts and wish him the best of luck in the future."
A replacement for Rice will be named at a later date.
The Trucks Series returns to action on April 29th at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway.
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FOX Collison Center, Inc., To Sponsor The Front Row Motorsports #92 Chevy At Texas Motor Speedway: Front Row Motorsports announced today that FOX Collision Center will sponsor the Front Row Motorsports #92 Chevrolet driven by Chad Blount at Texas Motor Speedway, for the Samsung/RadioShack 500. “I look forward to driving the FOX Collision Center Chevrolet at Texas,” commented driver Chad Blount. “Our team is ready to build on our effort from Martinsville and we’re excited about our chances this weekend.” FOX Collision Center, Inc., with 11 full service body shops is owned and operated by Kansas native Todd Fox, an industry veteran with over 20 years experience in collision repair. He began his collision repair business in Wichita and operated four facilities before moving onto Tulsa, Oklahoma in spring of 2001. After just a few short months, FOX quickly became Tulsa’s premier Collision Center. There are currently four FOX Collision Centers in Wichita, one in Kansas City, Kansas; four in Tulsa and one in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. FOX Collision launched in Arkansas last week with the opening of their newest shop in Springdale. “Our partnership with Front Row Motorsports in 2005 provided a tremendous amount of exposure for our Collision Centers and was a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” said Todd Fox owner of FOX Collision. “This gives us the chance to connect with the core of our customer base. We look to strengthen our relationship with our existing customers while exposing our business and the services we offer to new people and potential customers.” “We appreciate the support of FOX Collision Center for the Texas race,” said team owner Bob Jenkins. “They were great to work with last year and we are excited about partnering with them for additional races in the future. We’re confident the FOX Collision Center #92 team will make a strong showing this weekend.” For more information about Fox Collision please visit foxcollision.com - Front Row Motorsports PR
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It's The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Teams Turn At Testing Richmond Next Week: After more than 40 NASCAR Busch Series drivers tested at Richmond International Raceway last week, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will take their turn for three consecutive days starting next Tuesday, April 11. Testing each day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the grandstands will be open for fans each day. Admission and parking are free and concessions will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day.
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Elliott Sadler's Team Captures Pit Crew Win In Martinsville: Elliott Sadler’s M&M’s pit crew claimed its first win of the season in the weekly Checkers® / Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition, helping boost the Robert Yates Racing driver to a sixth-place finish in Sunday’s (April 2) Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. “I’m so proud of my guys,” offered Sadler. “Martinsville is the toughest pit road we visit during the season. It is just so tight to maneuver. I think track position is the key to being successful at Martinsville. It is a tough place to pass and I think we picked up spots every time we came on to pit road.” Sadler’s over-the-wall team edged out other participating crews by spending the least amount of time in the pits during the DIRECTV 500. Sadler’s No. 38 Ford spent 279.774 seconds on pit lane. “You’ve got to have good pit stops and my guys were definitely on it on Sunday,” continued Sadler, whose crew earned $10,500 for the win. “This M&M’s team needed a good run. I think we are definitely back on track.” Sadler’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Rodney Fetters (jackman), Ryan McCray (front-tire carrier), Mike Lingerfelt (front-tire changer), Lance Hanna (rear-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Brian Dunaway (gasman), Frankie Good (catch can) and Toby Mellott (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Tommy Baldwin Jr. and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward. After the sixth race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, Jimmie Johnson’s and Tony Stewart’s pit crew are tied in the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with two victories each. The season champion will receive a $105,000 bonus. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. - DMF Communications
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Crown Royal and NASCAR's Jamie McMurray Promote Designated Driving with 'Safe Rides Home' Event - Fleet of No. 26 Ford Fusions Provide Patrons in Downtown Fort Worth with Free Rides Home from Area Hotspots: NASCAR fans are accustomed to seeing Jamie McMurray race at speeds upwards of 180 mph whenever he visits Texas Motor Speedway. On Thursday, April 6, fans will have the opportunity to witness McMurray test his driving skills on the streets of Fort Worth during the Crown Royal "Safe Rides Home" program. As part of this designated driver initiative, McMurray will team with his primary race sponsor, Crown Royal, to deploy a fleet of replica purple and gold No. 26 Ford Fusion cars that will be offering local bar patrons free, safe rides home for the night. To show his commitment to the program, McMurray will get behind the wheel of one of the vehicles and provide free rides home to select consumers who sign up at a special Crown Royal No. 26 taxi stand. The marked kiosk in the heart of Rodeo Plaza will accept "fares" from 8:00pm - 1:00am. In total, 10 Crown Royal Ford Fusions will be in rotation and residents within a 20-mile radius of Fort Worth that are 21 years of age or older are eligible. There is a four-passenger limit per car. The annual "Safe Rides Home" initiative to help promote responsible decision making and getting home safely has provided rides for hundreds of patrons and NASCAR fans since its inception in 2003. The program was created by Crown Royal's parent company Diageo to reinforce the importance of assigning designated drivers.
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“The King”, Bobby Labonte and STP To Unveil A “New Classic”: On Friday, April 7, 2006 around 2 p.m. at the Texas Motor Speedway, Richard Petty and Bobby Labonte will unveil a special No. 43 retro paint scheme that pays tribute to STP -- one of the longest running sponsors in the history of stockcar racing. The retro ride will race in the Aaron’s 499 in Talladega at the end of April. Petty and Labonte will also discuss future plans concerning the historic partnership of Petty Enterprises and STP and make a special announcement regarding STP donation to Victory Junction Gang Camp. The Victory Junction Gang was founded in memory of Richard’s grandson, Adam Petty, and is designed to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. - Ketchum Sports Network PR
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Robby back in Black: Jim Beam Black will take the spotlight for the first time this year with the #7 Chevy at Texas Motor Speedway. Race fans can also enjoy the limelight for a day by entering the inaugural Jim Beam 1100 sweepstakes. The ultimate racing adventure includes an all expense paid trip to see the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 - all on the same day, more info at jimbeam.com. Menards, Harrah's and CarLoan.com will serve as associate sponsors.(RGM PR)
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Robby to deliever Meals On Wheels: Robby Gordon will make a special delivery to a homebound person on Thursday, April 6 in Ft. Worth, TX in his #7 Harrah's Chevy via police escort. He will assist Carla Jutson in delivering the 10 millionth meal served in Tarrant County since Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County began meal deliveries in 1973. In 2002, Harrah's became a national prime sponsor of the Meals On Wheels Association of America's "March For Meals" campaign, committing $1 million over three years and an additional $1 million from 2005 to 2009. Since 2004, Harrah's Entertainment and Gordon have teamed up to aid Harrah's nationwide efforts to drive public awareness for the association's campaign. This is the first of six deliveries in race markets this season.(RGM PR)
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Little League Baseball scheme for #16: This weekend the #16 National Guard Ford of Greg Biffle will run a special Subway/Little League Baseball paint scheme. Subway is a proud sponsor of Little League Baseball.(Roush Racing)
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Cope plans to attempt Texas: Derrike Cope and the #74 Dodge are heading to Texas. Cope told derrikecope.com: "It looks as if we will have the My Guardian/Sundance Vacations/YRA Dodge at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend! I am looking forward to this opportunity after last weekend. I really enjoy The Texas race track. It is very fast and always produces a great race. I have had some very good runs there as of late, both in the Busch Series as well as the Cup series." The team is not listed on mine or nascar.com's entry list as of yet.
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Former Hendrick Development team signs Munter: SS Racing has signed race car driver Leilani Münter for the 2006 racing season. Leilani will run a combination of ASA, USRA Super Late Model Series and NASCAR Elite division along with an extensive testing program. Three time ASA Champion and Winston Cup veteran driver Butch Miller will serve as Leilani's mentor and coach. Münter and SS Racing plan to run approximately 30 races this season including events in the ASA Southern Division, ASA Northern Division, and ASA Challenge Series. Leilani and SS Racing will race in the USRA Super Late Model event on June 10 at Texas Motor Speedway during the race weekend with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Indy Racing League. Her last race of the season will be on November 9 at Phoenix International Raceway in the NASCAR Elite Southeast Series during the NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend which also features the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. Leilani will carry the colors of Konica Minolta as her primary sponsor in 2006. In addition to racing in the NASCAR Elite Division and ASA, she is a race instructor at Fast Track High Performance Driving School and a special correspondent for NASCAR.com. She is a Hostess "Race Diva" alongside IRL's Danica Patrick and NHRA's Melanie Troxel.(leilanimunter.com
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Stewart puts his racing greyhounds up for adoption
By DON FASNACHT, Palladium-Item
RICHMOND, Ind. – Three members of Tony Stewart's racing team have retired to Richmond.
None of them know anything about stock cars.
They are all greyhounds.
Stewart, who races the NASCAR circuit, maintained a "stall" of 62 racing greyhounds. He decided one form of racing was enough, so he disbanded his dog racing team. Instead of selling the dogs, he put them up for adoption through greyhound adoption agencies.
"When we have responsible greyhound owners, they do the responsible thing," Tammy Rhoades said. "What Tony Stewart did was incredibly responsible."
Rhoades and her husband, Randy Wisehart, got Maggie as the result of Stewart dissolving his racing team.
Her racing name was Abby, but Rhoades and Wisehart's longtime greyhound companion was already named Abby.
When the new greyhound arrived a month ago, she was called Abby Also for a while, then the moniker was changed to Maggie. Both the dog and the owners adapted quickly to the new name.
Another of Stewart's dogs went to experienced greyhound rescuers Linda Przybysz and her family.
Their Stewart dog came with the name TSR Gooch (the TSR stood for Tony Stewart Racers), but he's now known simply as Gooch. He joins Smart Sybil in the Przybysz household.
Sharon and David Kaiser are new to the network of greyhound rescuers. Their new friend is named Daisy. But they are not new "dog people."
"We had just adopted one of the 'Kinsey Street dogs' when we got word that Daisy was on the way," Sharon Kaiser said. "They're good friends now." The "Kinsey Street dog" is one of 42 taken from a home on Kinsey Street in an animal abuse investigation.
Dog lovers are attracted into greyhound rescue because all owners are not as responsible as Stewart.
The lean and lank animals are bred and trained as athletes. When their racing days are done at a relatively early age, they are often destroyed.
"It brings tears to your eyes," Sharon Kaiser said.
There is a network of greyhound rescuers around the country. The Przybysz family met Gooch while they were attending a picnic for greyhound adopters in Lafayette.
"My son got attached to this one," Linda Przybysz said.
Adopting a greyhound isn't just a matter of saying "yes." The placement services check out the new owners. The Kaisers visited Daisy at a foster home in southern Indiana before she came to stay with them.
Sharon Kaiser came to greyhound rescue in a roundabout way. Several years ago, she was making a choice where her contribution to the federal employees Combined Federal Campaign should go. One choice was greyhound rescue. She checked the box because she likes dogs.
A group in Florida contacted her to thank her for the gift. They sent along more information. She thought about it.
Then Kaiser, a NASCAR fan, was standing in line to get an autograph when Tony Stewart appeared in Richmond several months ago. A car pulled up with a greyhound inside. It was Gooch.
Przybysz was in line, too. She's not a NASCAR fan, but she thought in would be fun to get Stewart's autograph on a collar for the dog. She and Stewart had a chat about Gooch. He's named after one of Stewart's friends. Stewart told Przybysz his mom wanted to keep all 62 dogs when he got out of the racing business.
Most of Stewart's dogs have found new homes. Rhoades said only one remains. Her name is TSR Betsy.
If she comes to Richmond, she can join her sisters in Sunday afternoon runs at the FOP baseball field. Greyhound people like to get together regularly.
By DON FASNACHT, Palladium-Item
RICHMOND, Ind. – Three members of Tony Stewart's racing team have retired to Richmond.
None of them know anything about stock cars.
They are all greyhounds.
Stewart, who races the NASCAR circuit, maintained a "stall" of 62 racing greyhounds. He decided one form of racing was enough, so he disbanded his dog racing team. Instead of selling the dogs, he put them up for adoption through greyhound adoption agencies.
"When we have responsible greyhound owners, they do the responsible thing," Tammy Rhoades said. "What Tony Stewart did was incredibly responsible."
Rhoades and her husband, Randy Wisehart, got Maggie as the result of Stewart dissolving his racing team.
Her racing name was Abby, but Rhoades and Wisehart's longtime greyhound companion was already named Abby.
When the new greyhound arrived a month ago, she was called Abby Also for a while, then the moniker was changed to Maggie. Both the dog and the owners adapted quickly to the new name.
Another of Stewart's dogs went to experienced greyhound rescuers Linda Przybysz and her family.
Their Stewart dog came with the name TSR Gooch (the TSR stood for Tony Stewart Racers), but he's now known simply as Gooch. He joins Smart Sybil in the Przybysz household.
Sharon and David Kaiser are new to the network of greyhound rescuers. Their new friend is named Daisy. But they are not new "dog people."
"We had just adopted one of the 'Kinsey Street dogs' when we got word that Daisy was on the way," Sharon Kaiser said. "They're good friends now." The "Kinsey Street dog" is one of 42 taken from a home on Kinsey Street in an animal abuse investigation.
Dog lovers are attracted into greyhound rescue because all owners are not as responsible as Stewart.
The lean and lank animals are bred and trained as athletes. When their racing days are done at a relatively early age, they are often destroyed.
"It brings tears to your eyes," Sharon Kaiser said.
There is a network of greyhound rescuers around the country. The Przybysz family met Gooch while they were attending a picnic for greyhound adopters in Lafayette.
"My son got attached to this one," Linda Przybysz said.
Adopting a greyhound isn't just a matter of saying "yes." The placement services check out the new owners. The Kaisers visited Daisy at a foster home in southern Indiana before she came to stay with them.
Sharon Kaiser came to greyhound rescue in a roundabout way. Several years ago, she was making a choice where her contribution to the federal employees Combined Federal Campaign should go. One choice was greyhound rescue. She checked the box because she likes dogs.
A group in Florida contacted her to thank her for the gift. They sent along more information. She thought about it.
Then Kaiser, a NASCAR fan, was standing in line to get an autograph when Tony Stewart appeared in Richmond several months ago. A car pulled up with a greyhound inside. It was Gooch.
Przybysz was in line, too. She's not a NASCAR fan, but she thought in would be fun to get Stewart's autograph on a collar for the dog. She and Stewart had a chat about Gooch. He's named after one of Stewart's friends. Stewart told Przybysz his mom wanted to keep all 62 dogs when he got out of the racing business.
Most of Stewart's dogs have found new homes. Rhoades said only one remains. Her name is TSR Betsy.
If she comes to Richmond, she can join her sisters in Sunday afternoon runs at the FOP baseball field. Greyhound people like to get together regularly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NASCAR's top tour awaits word on possible name switch
By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY
NASCAR and Sprint Nextel executives will meet this summer on whether the name of the Nextel Cup Series will be changed for the 2007 season.
Nextel Communications took over the title sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series in 2004, but the company merged last year with Sprint Corp., and Sprint became the lead brand name.
Sprint Nextel Chief Marketing Officer Mark Schweitzer had hoped to decide on the title of NASCAR's premier circuit by February. The timetable changed as the wireless company researched how a new name would be received by fans and its impact on the Nextel brand that still accompanies many of its products.
"Fans are saying it's not broken," Schweitzer said. "We want to make sure that if we were to make the change, it isn't detrimental to the equity we've built up, particularly in support of the Nextel products."
Schweitzer said the company's 10-year contract with NASCAR allows for one name change to the Cup series.
"That has a cautionary effect on snap decisions," he said. "We're in a very competitive environment, and we're most mindful of not giving anyone an advantage in hurting our Nextel product momentum."
If Sprint Nextel chooses to switch brands in NASCAR, the name would be the third in five years for the Cup series, which was known as Winston Cup from 1972-2003.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body wouldn't object to another overhaul.
"Whatever is best for them is going to be OK with us," Hunter said. "Anytime you've got the commitment to a sponsorship that is as big a commitment as this is, we want to make sure they get everything they deserve. If they think a name change is in order, that's OK with us."
Schweitzer dispelled a recent report in the Winston-Salem Journal that Sprint Nextel might be pulling back on its 10-year, $700 million sponsorship or shopping the deal to another company. Schweitzer said the contract couldn't be transferred, and Sprint Nextel wouldn't pursue the option anyway.
"The commitment is very much there for two simple reasons," he said. "One, it works. And second, the deal was struck in such a way to help ensure the sport has the stability of a long-term sponsor, and we're very comfortable with that. It represents a very significant investment for us. There are obligations for media spending. NASCAR was mindful of a company that might remain as sponsor but cease to invest in the marketing growth of the sport."
Two key players in Sprint Nextel's NASCAR sponsorship will be leaving the company this year: Director of Nextel Cup Marketing Jill Gregory and Vice President of Sports Marketing Michael Robichaud. Tom Kelly, who was the chief operating officer at Nextel before the merger and played a major role in negotiating the NASCAR sponsorship, also is leaving this month.
"Those personnel changes are not unexpected as a result of two large corporations coming together," said Tom Murphy, the company's vice president of non-traditional marketing. "It's bound to happen in a company that is a Fortune 40. It doesn't impact our commitment to the incredible sponsorship of the Nextel Cup Series. It has yielded incredible results for our corporation."
Murphy said use of the company's products at NASCAR tracks has increased 20% this year, and about 20% of the estimated 65,000 fans at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday were Sprint Nextel customers.
"The ability to track the growth of our customer base in the sport is very compelling," Murphy said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY
NASCAR and Sprint Nextel executives will meet this summer on whether the name of the Nextel Cup Series will be changed for the 2007 season.
Nextel Communications took over the title sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series in 2004, but the company merged last year with Sprint Corp., and Sprint became the lead brand name.
Sprint Nextel Chief Marketing Officer Mark Schweitzer had hoped to decide on the title of NASCAR's premier circuit by February. The timetable changed as the wireless company researched how a new name would be received by fans and its impact on the Nextel brand that still accompanies many of its products.
"Fans are saying it's not broken," Schweitzer said. "We want to make sure that if we were to make the change, it isn't detrimental to the equity we've built up, particularly in support of the Nextel products."
Schweitzer said the company's 10-year contract with NASCAR allows for one name change to the Cup series.
"That has a cautionary effect on snap decisions," he said. "We're in a very competitive environment, and we're most mindful of not giving anyone an advantage in hurting our Nextel product momentum."
If Sprint Nextel chooses to switch brands in NASCAR, the name would be the third in five years for the Cup series, which was known as Winston Cup from 1972-2003.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body wouldn't object to another overhaul.
"Whatever is best for them is going to be OK with us," Hunter said. "Anytime you've got the commitment to a sponsorship that is as big a commitment as this is, we want to make sure they get everything they deserve. If they think a name change is in order, that's OK with us."
Schweitzer dispelled a recent report in the Winston-Salem Journal that Sprint Nextel might be pulling back on its 10-year, $700 million sponsorship or shopping the deal to another company. Schweitzer said the contract couldn't be transferred, and Sprint Nextel wouldn't pursue the option anyway.
"The commitment is very much there for two simple reasons," he said. "One, it works. And second, the deal was struck in such a way to help ensure the sport has the stability of a long-term sponsor, and we're very comfortable with that. It represents a very significant investment for us. There are obligations for media spending. NASCAR was mindful of a company that might remain as sponsor but cease to invest in the marketing growth of the sport."
Two key players in Sprint Nextel's NASCAR sponsorship will be leaving the company this year: Director of Nextel Cup Marketing Jill Gregory and Vice President of Sports Marketing Michael Robichaud. Tom Kelly, who was the chief operating officer at Nextel before the merger and played a major role in negotiating the NASCAR sponsorship, also is leaving this month.
"Those personnel changes are not unexpected as a result of two large corporations coming together," said Tom Murphy, the company's vice president of non-traditional marketing. "It's bound to happen in a company that is a Fortune 40. It doesn't impact our commitment to the incredible sponsorship of the Nextel Cup Series. It has yielded incredible results for our corporation."
Murphy said use of the company's products at NASCAR tracks has increased 20% this year, and about 20% of the estimated 65,000 fans at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday were Sprint Nextel customers.
"The ability to track the growth of our customer base in the sport is very compelling," Murphy said.
Tom Higgins' Scuffs
A Heavy Toll, Happy Ending
By TOM HIGGINS
ThatsRacin.com Contributor
As April arrives, action generally starts to roll at local auto racing short tracks around the nation.
This has been among the rites of spring for decades, inspiring renewed dreams among young drivers to someday reach the NASCAR big time.
And so it was for a teenaged South Carolina farm boy in the late 1950s. Except for one thing...
He had no ride and no prospects of getting one.
Things were tough beyond this.
The U.S. economy was in recession, and the youthful fellow had no money to pay his bills. The electric company had sent notice it was planning to cut off power to the modest home he shared with his wife, a high school sweetheart.
And then came a phone call.
A car owner wanted him to come to Savannah and drive in a Saturday night show on a little dirt track. He offered to pay half of whatever purse the car won.
The youngster borrowed $10 from his mother for gas and food, and he and his bride headed to Savannah.
In Walterboro, S.C., he was stopped for speeding. The fine was $10--all the money they had.
Returning home seemed the best option, but they continued on toward the Georgia coast. And then they remembered: There was a toll bridge ahead and they didn't have a cent to pay to cross it.
In desperation they stopped and pulled the back seat out of their car, hoping to find change that might have fallen from the pockets of people riding back there. They found 15 cents. The toll fee was a quarter.
Even so, they drove on.
A kind toll-keeper laoned them the dime they needed to cross the river, and they continued to Savannah.
Prior to the race the cars were being warmed up on pit road. Suddenly there was a popping sound and a plume of smoke. The engine in the car that the farmboy was to drive had blown up. There wasn't going to be any prize money.
Other drivers took up a collection, raising enough money for the down-on-their-luck couple to buy burgers for supper, get enough gas to return home and, importantly, pay the toll to re-cross the river. And, yes, repay that tollkeeper his dime.
For many, many people, this sour experience would have ended the dream of becoming a race driver right then. But this chap persevered.
He eventually manged to get a job sweeping the floors at the shop of the famous Holman-Moody Racing Team in Charlotte. And he talked his way into rides with lesser car owners.
Finally, he got a relatively good car and on June 27, 1965 he won a NASCAR 100-miler on a half-mile dirt track in Valdosta, Ga. In his first victory, he outran a field that included future hall-of-famers Ned Jarrett, Tiny Lund, and Buck and Buddy Baker.
He was on his way, and for the next 23 years he never looked back.
His record grew to show 83 victories at NASCAR's top level, including four Daytona 500s and five Southern 500s at Darlington Raceway--a track he sneaked into at age 11 to watch the first Southern 500 in 1950 because he didn't have the money to buy a ticket.
He remains the only driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive driving championships.
Retired as a driver since 1988, he's now a highly successful businessman in South Carolina, operating auto dealerships, restaurants, a dry-cleaning chain and a large farm. He's a board director for banks.
Nowadays he could BUY toll bridges.
Shows what determination and uncommon grit can do.
There's an ancient adage that sometimes "It's darkest before the dawn." This probably seems especially true when the power company is planning to turn off your lights.
Count racing hall-of-famer Cale Yarborough among the adage's most ardent believers.
By TOM HIGGINS
ThatsRacin.com Contributor
As April arrives, action generally starts to roll at local auto racing short tracks around the nation.
This has been among the rites of spring for decades, inspiring renewed dreams among young drivers to someday reach the NASCAR big time.
And so it was for a teenaged South Carolina farm boy in the late 1950s. Except for one thing...
He had no ride and no prospects of getting one.
Things were tough beyond this.
The U.S. economy was in recession, and the youthful fellow had no money to pay his bills. The electric company had sent notice it was planning to cut off power to the modest home he shared with his wife, a high school sweetheart.
And then came a phone call.
A car owner wanted him to come to Savannah and drive in a Saturday night show on a little dirt track. He offered to pay half of whatever purse the car won.
The youngster borrowed $10 from his mother for gas and food, and he and his bride headed to Savannah.
In Walterboro, S.C., he was stopped for speeding. The fine was $10--all the money they had.
Returning home seemed the best option, but they continued on toward the Georgia coast. And then they remembered: There was a toll bridge ahead and they didn't have a cent to pay to cross it.
In desperation they stopped and pulled the back seat out of their car, hoping to find change that might have fallen from the pockets of people riding back there. They found 15 cents. The toll fee was a quarter.
Even so, they drove on.
A kind toll-keeper laoned them the dime they needed to cross the river, and they continued to Savannah.
Prior to the race the cars were being warmed up on pit road. Suddenly there was a popping sound and a plume of smoke. The engine in the car that the farmboy was to drive had blown up. There wasn't going to be any prize money.
Other drivers took up a collection, raising enough money for the down-on-their-luck couple to buy burgers for supper, get enough gas to return home and, importantly, pay the toll to re-cross the river. And, yes, repay that tollkeeper his dime.
For many, many people, this sour experience would have ended the dream of becoming a race driver right then. But this chap persevered.
He eventually manged to get a job sweeping the floors at the shop of the famous Holman-Moody Racing Team in Charlotte. And he talked his way into rides with lesser car owners.
Finally, he got a relatively good car and on June 27, 1965 he won a NASCAR 100-miler on a half-mile dirt track in Valdosta, Ga. In his first victory, he outran a field that included future hall-of-famers Ned Jarrett, Tiny Lund, and Buck and Buddy Baker.
He was on his way, and for the next 23 years he never looked back.
His record grew to show 83 victories at NASCAR's top level, including four Daytona 500s and five Southern 500s at Darlington Raceway--a track he sneaked into at age 11 to watch the first Southern 500 in 1950 because he didn't have the money to buy a ticket.
He remains the only driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive driving championships.
Retired as a driver since 1988, he's now a highly successful businessman in South Carolina, operating auto dealerships, restaurants, a dry-cleaning chain and a large farm. He's a board director for banks.
Nowadays he could BUY toll bridges.
Shows what determination and uncommon grit can do.
There's an ancient adage that sometimes "It's darkest before the dawn." This probably seems especially true when the power company is planning to turn off your lights.
Count racing hall-of-famer Cale Yarborough among the adage's most ardent believers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True test
By Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports
Have a conversation with Martin Truex Jr. and there's a good chance he'll end up talking about fishing and playing computer games like Spider Solitaire, a game he readily admits he's addicted to.
But sooner or later the talk will get around to his rookie season in the Nextel Cup Series, and that's when he'll begin to mutter the word "frustrating" more than any other.
There is glamour and excitement in racing at the Cup level, but transitioning to a full-time Nextel Cup team has been tough for the two-time Busch Series champion.
"We've had a couple of good runs that didn't turn out so good," said Truex Jr., who is piloting the No. 1 DEI Chevy. Truex gives his team a "C" grade thus far.
"C is kind of mid-pack and that's kind of what we've been," said Truex, who sits 20th in points after six races with a best finish of 15th at California.
Truex's Bass Pro Shops-sponsored team had great success in the Busch Series but is new to Nextel Cup, and every race so far this season has been a challenge for everyone on the team.
At Bristol, for example, they had a good car in practice and at the start of the race. But as the race progressed, the handling on the car got worse.
"The stuff that we put in it, when the rubber got built up on the track – it just wouldn't run," Truex said. "Then we did the same exact thing this past weekend in Martinsville. It ran good for about 30 to 40 laps and then the rubber built up on the track and we were junk."
Theirs is not an unusual situation for a new team.
An essential tool for success in Nextel Cup is the notebook – that bible of knowledge about race tracks and how they change, and the setups necessary to win. Usually, the notebook writes itself over time.
And all new teams have is time – time to gain experience, that is. Truex and crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion would love to have more completed pages in their notebook to help them do battle on a weekly basis so that they might better be able to keep up with the race track.
"There are guys out there that know how to do that and you can see it," Truex said. "They're out there running 25th- or 30th-place speeds in times in practice and then in the race they go to the front."
No one knows better the problems Truex and his team face better than teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose own Cup team also started out as a Busch team. He's confident that over time, they'll figure it out.
"I think it'll just take for them to understand what they're doing with the cars where Martin can drive fast all day long," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He had a couple of times where he was progressively moving forward in the race in Atlanta and then they dialed him right out with a couple of decisions they shouldn't have made. They know what they did."
Kicking it up a notch
Car setups aren't the only concern at the Cup level. There also is the competition, as every weekend Truex and Co. are battling with the best stock car racers out there.
"The coolest thing about doing it is that you know there are only 43 guys in the world that can race in the greatest, most competitive motorsport there is," Truex said. "It's not like football where you've got nearly 50 guys on every team."
That's not to say that the level of competition in the Busch Series isn't tough, but racing on Sundays means going up against drivers like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch on a weekly basis.
Although he already had run a handful of Cup races heading into this season, Truex admits his team might have misjudged how tough racing in Cup really is.
"I knew how competitive it was but I really thought we could have come out of the box and done a better job," Truex said. "I guess I kind of underestimated the competition a little bit. Or maybe I was just too confident in what we could do. I don't know."
For a rookie, it seems like everything happens faster over a longer period of time in Cup races. Then there's the endurance factor, as Cup races are longer. And unlike in the Busch Series, the intensity level is higher with drivers literally running qualifying speeds on every lap during the race.
Of course, there also are the egos. Sometimes it seems that there isn't enough room on the track for everyone. Truex found this out the hard way at Bristol a few weeks ago when he became the pinball in a 100-mph pinball machine being played by Gordon and Stewart.
"Sometimes they do things that don't make much sense," Truex said. "I guess they feel like it's their series – they're the guys that have been there, they're the guys who have been champions and the guys that everybody needs to respect."
"I try to do that with everybody, regardless of who they are or what they've done. But I think that they need to give it back also."
Added pressure
Before the start of the season, Truex topped nearly everyone's list as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year title. Unfair perhaps, according to Truex, who points out that most of the other drivers in contention are driving for teams already established on the Cup level, unlike his own.
Despite the pressure, Truex is confident that once his team gets experience running at each track on the schedule, the second time around will be much easier.
Although he isn't leading the rookie standings, Truex enjoys seeing friends Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin sharing the spotlight in the rookie battle. Bowyer and Truex fought down to the wire for the '05 Busch Series title and maintain a competitive relationship that Truex likens to the friendly rivalry between Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
"I remember Junior and Kenseth did the same deal when they came in and they're still doing it," Truex said. "You spend a lot of time during the year at the race track and around those people and it's good to have relationships with them."
Looking ahead
Winning a race or two, securing the rookie title and getting into the Chase aren't out of the reach for this team, but Truex admits that they need to start having better results, beginning this weekend in Texas.
"We can't be making these mistakes like we've done the past few weeks," Truex said. "We've got potential. We just need to do everything right and just try and get better each week."
Earnhardt Jr. believes they will.
"He knows exactly how tough this series is," Earnhardt said. "I'm not too worried about it because I've seen the bright spots being that close to it. I've seen when they've gotten it right."
Truex does find himself enjoying his new life in the spotlight as a Cup driver. He still finds some time to relax, although the demands on his time can become a bit annoying.
"There's always somebody who wants a piece of you, a piece of your time or talk to you or bother you when you sometimes don't want to be bothered," Truex said. "But that's a small price to pay, I guess."
Veteran motorsports writer Bob Margolis is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR reporter.
By Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports
Have a conversation with Martin Truex Jr. and there's a good chance he'll end up talking about fishing and playing computer games like Spider Solitaire, a game he readily admits he's addicted to.
But sooner or later the talk will get around to his rookie season in the Nextel Cup Series, and that's when he'll begin to mutter the word "frustrating" more than any other.
There is glamour and excitement in racing at the Cup level, but transitioning to a full-time Nextel Cup team has been tough for the two-time Busch Series champion.
"We've had a couple of good runs that didn't turn out so good," said Truex Jr., who is piloting the No. 1 DEI Chevy. Truex gives his team a "C" grade thus far.
"C is kind of mid-pack and that's kind of what we've been," said Truex, who sits 20th in points after six races with a best finish of 15th at California.
Truex's Bass Pro Shops-sponsored team had great success in the Busch Series but is new to Nextel Cup, and every race so far this season has been a challenge for everyone on the team.
At Bristol, for example, they had a good car in practice and at the start of the race. But as the race progressed, the handling on the car got worse.
"The stuff that we put in it, when the rubber got built up on the track – it just wouldn't run," Truex said. "Then we did the same exact thing this past weekend in Martinsville. It ran good for about 30 to 40 laps and then the rubber built up on the track and we were junk."
Theirs is not an unusual situation for a new team.
An essential tool for success in Nextel Cup is the notebook – that bible of knowledge about race tracks and how they change, and the setups necessary to win. Usually, the notebook writes itself over time.
And all new teams have is time – time to gain experience, that is. Truex and crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion would love to have more completed pages in their notebook to help them do battle on a weekly basis so that they might better be able to keep up with the race track.
"There are guys out there that know how to do that and you can see it," Truex said. "They're out there running 25th- or 30th-place speeds in times in practice and then in the race they go to the front."
No one knows better the problems Truex and his team face better than teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose own Cup team also started out as a Busch team. He's confident that over time, they'll figure it out.
"I think it'll just take for them to understand what they're doing with the cars where Martin can drive fast all day long," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He had a couple of times where he was progressively moving forward in the race in Atlanta and then they dialed him right out with a couple of decisions they shouldn't have made. They know what they did."
Kicking it up a notch
Car setups aren't the only concern at the Cup level. There also is the competition, as every weekend Truex and Co. are battling with the best stock car racers out there.
"The coolest thing about doing it is that you know there are only 43 guys in the world that can race in the greatest, most competitive motorsport there is," Truex said. "It's not like football where you've got nearly 50 guys on every team."
That's not to say that the level of competition in the Busch Series isn't tough, but racing on Sundays means going up against drivers like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch on a weekly basis.
Although he already had run a handful of Cup races heading into this season, Truex admits his team might have misjudged how tough racing in Cup really is.
"I knew how competitive it was but I really thought we could have come out of the box and done a better job," Truex said. "I guess I kind of underestimated the competition a little bit. Or maybe I was just too confident in what we could do. I don't know."
For a rookie, it seems like everything happens faster over a longer period of time in Cup races. Then there's the endurance factor, as Cup races are longer. And unlike in the Busch Series, the intensity level is higher with drivers literally running qualifying speeds on every lap during the race.
Of course, there also are the egos. Sometimes it seems that there isn't enough room on the track for everyone. Truex found this out the hard way at Bristol a few weeks ago when he became the pinball in a 100-mph pinball machine being played by Gordon and Stewart.
"Sometimes they do things that don't make much sense," Truex said. "I guess they feel like it's their series – they're the guys that have been there, they're the guys who have been champions and the guys that everybody needs to respect."
"I try to do that with everybody, regardless of who they are or what they've done. But I think that they need to give it back also."
Added pressure
Before the start of the season, Truex topped nearly everyone's list as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year title. Unfair perhaps, according to Truex, who points out that most of the other drivers in contention are driving for teams already established on the Cup level, unlike his own.
Despite the pressure, Truex is confident that once his team gets experience running at each track on the schedule, the second time around will be much easier.
Although he isn't leading the rookie standings, Truex enjoys seeing friends Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin sharing the spotlight in the rookie battle. Bowyer and Truex fought down to the wire for the '05 Busch Series title and maintain a competitive relationship that Truex likens to the friendly rivalry between Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.
"I remember Junior and Kenseth did the same deal when they came in and they're still doing it," Truex said. "You spend a lot of time during the year at the race track and around those people and it's good to have relationships with them."
Looking ahead
Winning a race or two, securing the rookie title and getting into the Chase aren't out of the reach for this team, but Truex admits that they need to start having better results, beginning this weekend in Texas.
"We can't be making these mistakes like we've done the past few weeks," Truex said. "We've got potential. We just need to do everything right and just try and get better each week."
Earnhardt Jr. believes they will.
"He knows exactly how tough this series is," Earnhardt said. "I'm not too worried about it because I've seen the bright spots being that close to it. I've seen when they've gotten it right."
Truex does find himself enjoying his new life in the spotlight as a Cup driver. He still finds some time to relax, although the demands on his time can become a bit annoying.
"There's always somebody who wants a piece of you, a piece of your time or talk to you or bother you when you sometimes don't want to be bothered," Truex said. "But that's a small price to pay, I guess."
Veteran motorsports writer Bob Margolis is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR reporter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Championships have always driven me to win races. That 3 car pulling into the track would cause people to look around and wonder what we were doing, to see how to beat us."
-Dale Earnhardt
-Dale Earnhardt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enduring Performance
1999 Primestar 500
By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
The eyes of Texas were truly upon Terry Labonte at the end of the 1999 Primestar 500.
A crowd of 200,000 -- including Governor George W. Bush -- were on hand to see the Corpus Christi native pass Dale Jarrett with 11 laps to go and take the checkered flag under caution when Jimmy Spencer wrecked seven laps later.
"I saw the crowd and they were all standing up, cheering," Labonte said. "All the other drivers pulled up beside me and congratulated me. That's a good feeling.
"When you don't win a lot of races like some of these other guys do, guys will do that."
Labonte's younger brother, Bobby, made it two Texans in the top three with his third-place finish, despite driving with a broken shoulder. Matt Kenseth was standing by as a relief driver in case Bobby couldn't go the distance.
Avoiding tire troubles that put Jeff Gordon, Mike Skinner and Mark Martin hard into the wall, Terry Labonte ran steadily in the top four for most of the race, leading a total of 124 laps and overtaking Jarrett for the final time when the leader was slowed by lapped traffic.
"I thought maybe if I could use up enough race track, I could keep Terry behind me," Jarrett said. "But the lapped cars were wanting to stay on the lead lap, I guess. As I caught one of them in 3 and 4, my car pushed up as I tried to get back in the throttle and that hurt me then."
While Jarrett was trying to deal with Robert Pressley and teammate Kenny Irwin, Labonte was able to get his Chevrolet to the outside of Jarrett's Ford and make the pass.
"I was wearing his tires out, I wasn't wearing [Jarrett] out," Labonte said. "The groove had come in pretty good. I was surprised to get a run off Turn 4 and get by him."
For Labonte, it was the first time he had won a Cup race in his home state. Terry Labonte would add a 22nd victory -- the 2003 Southern 500 at Darlington -- four years later.
"To me, this is the biggest race I've ever won," he said.
Rusty Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield completed the top five, while rookie Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin and first-year driver Elliott Sadler rounded out the top 10.
Gordon's hit left him with bruised ribs and a 43rd-place finish.
"It's pretty much the hardest I've ever hit a wall, that's for sure," Gordon said. "Somehow the right front tire went down, but we're not exactly sure why yet. I'm real sore, but I don't think anything's broke. We took some X-rays the next couple of days, I'll be pretty stiff, but I believe I'll be all right."
Texas remains one of four tracks where Gordon has not won, although he's come close, finishing second in 2002 and third in 2003 and 2004.
Skinner's crash resulted in a broken right shoulder, almost the exact same injury he had the previous season.
"There was no warning," he said. "No nothing. The car was running great and then, all of a sudden, we were into the wall."
Jarrett lost that race but won the 1999 championship by 201 points over Bobby Labonte, who has never won at Texas but has two poles there.
Three drivers named "Junior" -- Johnny Benson Jr., Kenny Irwin Jr. and Wally Dallenbach Jr. -- competed in the 1999 race at Texas. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wouldn't make his Cup debut for another six races.
NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK
Qualifying: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Friday, April 7 4:30 p.m. Speed
Practice: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Saturday, April 8 2 p.m. FX
Busch Series O'Reilly 300 Saturday, April 8 3 p.m. Fox
Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Sunday, Aprill 9 1:30 p.m. Fox
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
Qualifying: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Friday, April 7 4:30 p.m. Speed
Practice: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Saturday, April 8 2 p.m. FX
Busch Series O'Reilly 300 Saturday, April 8 3 p.m. Fox
Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Sunday, Aprill 9 1:30 p.m. Fox
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain,
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
Your
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants wins't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt Sr.
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
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