STOCK CAR NEWS

Former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb found dead

2009-05-06T21:52:00.001-07:00

RALPH N. PAULK TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: May 6, 2009

Kevin Grubb, whose NASCAR career was cut short because of alleged substance abuse, was found dead today morning at a motel in Henrico County.

According to a Henrico police spokesman, personnel at Alpine Motel on the 7000 block of Brook Road discovered the Mechanicsville native in his room about 11 a.m. Investigators did not speculate on the cause of death.

"Right now, it's an ongoing death investigation," said Henrico police Lt. Richard Cosby. "There doesn't appear to be anything unusual or suspicious [at the crime scene]."

Cosby said further details concerning Grubb's death are expected Thursday.

Grubb, 31, was suspended indefinitely in September 2006 for failing to comply with NASCAR's substance-abuse policy while competing in the then-Busch Series (now Nationwide). He was suspended for refusing to submit to required testing following a race at Richmond International Raceway.

That had been Grubb's second violation of the sport's drug policy for reinstatement. He was first suspended in March 2004 for testing positive for banned substances. He was reinstated to drive in June 2006, with part of the conditions being an agreement that he submit to periodic drug testing at anytime.

"He would not submit to a drug test. We even gave him some time to think about it," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter told reporters in 2006.

Grubb and brother Wayne were NASCAR drivers. Their father, W.O. Grubb, helped launch their careers with Grubb Motorsports. Kevin Grubb's career began with NASCAR's lower-tier series in 1997.

Grubb's only attempt in NASCAR Sprint Cup series came in 2002 in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at RIR. He failed to qualify with the No.54 Team Bristol Motorsports Chevrolet.

*NOTE*I am not confirming anything but I was told that he recently failed a drug test in some racing series, he said that he was being treated for a medical condition , and he was very depressed about the situation. Very sad story, he was a good talent and could have had a great career. God Bless him and his family.

Don Runkle

Talladega Video Highlights

2009-04-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Aarons 312

Matt Kenseth Flip

Aaron's 312 at Talladega NASCAR Nationwide Series Michael Waltrip Clint Bowyer Hard Crash

Aaron's 312 at Talladega NASCAR Nationwide Series Awesome Finish David Ragan Wins

Aaron's 499 at Talladega The Big One NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Aaron's 499 at Talladega The Second Big One NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Carl Edwards Horrible Flip into the Fence 2009 Aaron's 499 at Talladega NASCAR Sprint Cup Finish

Castroneves Acquitted Of US Tax Evasion Charges

2009-04-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

Brazilian Indy car driver, Helio Castroneves, was acquitted today in a Miami courtroom where he was facing charges accusing him of cheating the IRS out of $2.3 million in income taxes. He was looking at the possibly of more then 6 years in prison if convicted. His sister and business manager Katiucia Castroneves and attorney Alan Miller were also acquitted. The federal jury acquitted 6 counts of tax evasion but hung on a final count of conspiracy. The jury was deliberating for 6 day after the 6 week trial.

Castroneves driver for Team Penake in the IRL Indy Car series, and is a 2 time Indy 500 champ.

Former Goody's Dash Champion busted for Moonshining

2009-03-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

By Monte Mitchell

Winston-Salem JOURNAL REPORTER

NORTH WILKESBORO

When a production company recently needed film footage to tell the story of Junior Johnson running from revenuers back in the day, former champion driver Dean Combs got behind the wheel of a 1940 Ford and made a bootleg turn for the camera crew.

It was a make-believe reenactment of the legendary roots of moonshine and racing.

In real life yesterday, Combs was charged in connection with running a moonshine still that authorities blew up within the shadow of North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of the cradles of NASCAR.

Combs, 57, is a five-time champion of the series that started as the Baby Grand Nationals, a former Winston Cup driver and a former crew chief for a NASCAR team once owned by Johnson. When Johnson drove moonshine, he was considered a master of the bootleg turn in which he would slide his speeding car 180 degrees and then speed off in the opposite direction of his pursuer.

As rain fell yesterday morning, Combs used his cell phone's camera to snap photos of the remains of a moonshine still that lay broken and blown apart on a hill behind his home and just a couple of hundred yards from the speedway that Combs' father had once co-owned.

Combs said he used the still to make cold medicine or brandy.

"I'd drink it for a cold," he said. "It was mostly for cold medicine. There's not been any good apple brandy out here for years. It's better than what you buy at a store."

The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office destroyed the still in two explosions. Residents as far as four miles away reported hearing the loud booms Thursday night.

Authorities seized about 200 gallons of corn liquor, said Shon Tally, an agent with N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement. Twenty-four gallons were in plastic gallon jugs, and the rest was in glass jars. They also seized 3,000 pounds of sugar.

Combs was charged with manufacturing nontax-paid liquor, possessing nontax-paid liquor, possessing ingredients to manufacture nontax-paid liquor and possessing equipment to manufacture nontax-paid liquor.

It has been about a year-and-a-half since authorities found a still in Wilkes County, Tally said. They often make purchases of nontax-paid liquor, he said, "but to actually find a still, they're few and far between."

Authorities acted on a tip.

"He had just finished running that morning," Tally said. "When he was draining the water out of it so we could move it, the steam was rolling off it."

Combs owns a defunct go-cart track near the speedway, and he said that the still was in one of the buildings there. When Tally and other agents came to his door Thursday afternoon, he took them to the still, he said.

"The ALE man he was very nice and very helpful," Combs said.

The still was made of stainless steel, and just the boiler weighed about 1,000 pounds. Agents were trying to figure out how to get it out to destroy it.

"He got his tractor, he pulled it up there for us," Tally said. "That's how accommodating he was. You couldn't ask for a nicer fellow."

Combs said that authorities were complimentary of the quality of his moonshine.

"They even bragged on it, said they'd never seen spring water that clear," he said. "I said, ‘You need to put a label on it and stick it in the store.'"

Combs said that his interest in moonshine reflects part of Wilkes County's heritage.

"It's something I was always interested in," he said. "I wanted to see if I could make something drinkable. I guess I gave someone a quart I shouldn't have."

NSCS Shelby 427 Recap: Kyle Busch Rallies For Hometown Las Vegas Win

2009-03-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

LAS VEGAS (March 1, 2009) — So the last shall be first, and the first last.

For biblical scholars, that was Matthew 20:16. For NASCAR fans, it was Sunday’s Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Starting from the rear of the field because of an engine change during Friday’s practice session, pole winner and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch worked his way to the front throughout a race punctuated with a record 14 caution periods and streaked to a .411-second victory, his first of the season and his first at Las Vegas.

Matt Kenseth, first in the series standings entering the race, finished last, after his engine blew six laps into the race. That ended Kenseth’s bid to become the first driver to win the first three races in a Cup season.

“This is pretty cool,” Busch said after his celebratory burnout on the frontstretch. “I didn’t know exactly what it would mean, but when I was coming to the checkered flag, there were knots in my stomach.”

Clint Bowyer regained a lap he lost early and finished second, thanks to crew chief Shane Wilson’s decision to keep him on the track while the other front-runners pitted under caution on Lap 260 of the 285-lap race. Bowyer surrendered the lead to Busch off Turn 2 on Lap 269.

Jeff Burton, Bowyer’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing, took third, followed by David Reutimann and Bobby Labonte. Jeff Gordon (who assumed the series points lead by 18 over Bowyer), Greg Biffle, Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top 10.

Three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who led a race-high 92 laps, spun in Turn 2 to cause the final caution on Lap 280 and finished 24th.

“I’m sorry, guys,” said Johnson, who also had a tough day on pit road.

“It wasn’t meant to be today,” crew chief Chad Knaus responded over the team’s radio.

The race restarted with three laps left, and Busch pulled away from Bowyer and Burton.

Even though Busch started at the rear of the field, he still is credited for starting from the pole, making him the first to win from that position at Las Vegas. But that also meant Busch had to contend with traffic until he took the lead for the first time (other than during an early cycle of green-flag pit stops) on Lap 228.

“We just had to battle hard,” said Busch, 23, who won his 13th series race. “We didn’t have the best car today, but we had a car that we could keep working on and keep making it better.”

Bowyer credited Wilson, his new crew chief this season, for the call that gained him the runner-up finish.

“That’s where he shines,” Bowyer said. “He studies pit strategy real hard and really works on it. And that’s an area where I felt I could improve. I’m proud of him, proud of his call and glad it worked out.”

Notes: Busch has won nine of 39 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since moving to Joe Gibbs Racing to start the 2008 season. He won his first race for the new team last March at Atlanta, site of next week’s race. … Kenseth fell to third in points, tied with teammate Greg Biffle at 40 behind Gordon. … Johnson remained 19th in points, 145 behind the leader. … The only three drivers to score top-10 finishes in the first two races of the season — Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart — all had those short streaks broken. Kenseth was 43rd, Stewart 26th and Busch 23rd. … Rookie Joey Logano stayed on the lead lap and posted his best Cup finish to date: 13th. … For the second straight race, Mark Martin’s engine failed. He finished 40th and dropped to 34th in the Cup standings.

NASCAR Now Minute: Weekend Drive Las Vegas

2009-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

NASCAR Now Minute: Modifieds At Bristol

2009-02-28T13:57:00.001-08:00

NASCAR NEWS

2009-02-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

Johnson, Montoya could be called as witnesses in Castroneves trial:

Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya and Roger Penske are among the potential witnesses that could be called in the tax evasion trial of open-wheel racing driver Helio Castroneves, his sister, Katiucia, and his attorney Alan Miller. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court in Miami. If convicted on all counts, all three defendants could face 78 months in prison, according to pretrial briefs. Miller, a noted sports attorney, has Johnson among his clients and has put Johnson and team owner Penske on his witness list. Montoya and other open-wheel drivers will also appear on the witness list for Castroneves, who has driven for Penske in the Indy Racing League. The scope of their potential testimony is not listed, and their inclusion on the witness list is no guarantee they will actually be called to testify.

Restart Line changes again:

NASCAR is still experimenting with new distances for the restart zone. This weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it’s 90 feet. The zone two weeks ago was 50 feet at Daytona. Last week, it was 110 feet at Auto Club Speedway in California. NASCAR has created the restart zone to limit the area where the leader may restart the event. Nationwide Series drivers were told of the change during their prerace drivers meeting Saturday.

F1 possible in the future for Kyle Busch:

#18-Kyle Busch said the timing isn't right for him to race in Formula One for the new F1 team based in Charlotte. Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor are partnering to form the team, which hopes to begin racing to start the 2010 season. Busch's name has been mentioned as a candidate to drive one of the cars for the new operation. "I have not been talked to yet, but I do toss the idea around," Busch said. "It's something I'd love to give a shot one day. It's not something I would shoot down, but I don't think it's the right time in my career to do something like that." Busch, who turns 24 on May 2, wants to win a Sprint Cup title before taking a shot at F1. He won eight Cup races last season and started the Chase in first-place before finishing 10th overall. "I want to get it done here first," Busch said. "If I could win a championship in the next two or three years, I wouldn't mind going over there and running Formula One a couple of years, then come back. I'd only be 28 or so. It was never on my radar screen as a kid, but racers want to race different things. I also wouldn't mind trying Indy car and running in the Indy 500."

Dale JR in New Role as the Bad Guy?

2009-02-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

NSCS Recap: Kenseth Outlasts Gordon To Win Second In A Row

2009-02-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, Calif.—Matt Kenseth is making up for lost time—with a lot of help from his friends on pit road.

Winless in 2008, Kenseth backed up his victory in the season-opening Daytona 500 by holding off Jeff Gordon in Sunday’s Auto Club 500 Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.

With a lightning-fast pit stop, Kenseth’s crew made sure his No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford was first off pit road for a restart on Lap 216, after Kevin Harvick slammed the Turn 1 wall to cause the fifth and final caution of the 250-lap race.

Kenseth, who won for the 18th time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, stayed in front the rest of the way and beat Gordon to the finish line by 1.463 seconds to become the fifth driver in Cup history to win the first two races of a season. The last to do so? Gordon in 1997, at Daytona and Rockingham.

Kyle Busch finished third and fell short in his bid to sweep all three races in NASCAR’s top series at the same track in the same weekend. On Saturday, Busch won both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series races at the 2.0-mile racetrack.

Greg Biffle recovered from a pit-road mistake to come home fourth, followed by Kurt Busch. Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers completed the top 10.

Because Gordon had caught and passed him on the previous green-flag run, Kenseth wasn’t confident he could hold him off.

“I thought he was going to pass us,” Kenseth said. “Some people call me a pessimist—I think I’m more of a realist—but when we took off the run before, we got the lead and ran some real fast laps and we left Jeff 15 or 20 car-lengths (behind), something like that.

“In the middle of that run, he ran me right down, drove by me and took off. Greg drove by me, took off. ... I don’t even know what they (the pit crew) adjusted, but they got us in front again, which is obviously a big key to it. We took off, and right away I could feel that it was better. But I didn’t think it was that much better.

“As many laps as were left, I honestly thought we were going to be too loose at the end, and he was going to catch us.”

Gordon was ambivalent about the result, which showed marked improvement over last year but left him winless since October 2007.

“I think we’re head-and-shoulders above where we were,” Gordon said. “I know we’re just a couple races in, and this is one race, but I just loved the way the car was driving. To be able to battle and go to the front like that and have solid pit stops, I’m just really excited—and also really bummed out we didn’t win the race tonight.

“I felt like we had the car. Matt was awful good in the pits as well as on the track. That last run we made one little adjustment. I didn’t mind that he got out there on us. When I started running him down, I was like, ‘We’ve got him, we’ve got him,’ and then my car started getting tighter and tighter and tighter.

“I went to every groove that I could possibly find, and the car just wouldn’t turn, and I knew that, with about 20 (laps) to go, that if he didn’t make a mistake, we weren’t going to get him.”

Notes: The engine and right front tire blew on Harvick’s Chevrolet on Lap 208, and he retired from the race, ending a modern-era record streak of 81 races without a DNF. ... Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin suffered rare engine failures; they finished 39th and 40th, respectively. ... Drew Blickensderfer, who graduated from the Nationwide to the Cup series this year, is 2-for-2 as Kenseth’s crew chief. ... Kenseth opened an 81-point lead over second-place Gordon in the Cup standings. Kurt Busch and Stewart are tied for third, 91 points behind Kenseth. ... NASCAR called four of the five cautions because of light rain.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Stater Bros. 300 Post-Race Video

2009-02-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

Kyle Busch talks about nearly having a perfect day and going for the first national series weekend sweep in history.

Joey Logano talks about overcoming a hole in his nose to finish third at Auto Club Speedway.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES POST RACE VIDEO

2009-02-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

Kyle Busch talks about winning the San Bernardino 200:

Ricky Carmichael talks about adjusting to the speed of NASCAR:

NCWTS Recap: Busch Smokes Field In Fontana

2009-02-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, Calif. (February 21, 2009) -- It wasn't even close.

With a No. 51 Toyota truck that absolutely dominated the competition Saturday at Auto Club Speedway, polesitter Kyle Busch streaked to a 9.023-second victory over Todd Bodine, last week's winner at Daytona, in the San Bernardino County 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

In claiming his 10th win in the series and his second in two starts at the 2-mile California track, Busch led three times for 95 of the 100 laps and led all but two of the 92 green-flag circuits.

After a gas-and-go under green on Lap 91 -- thanks to new pit rules that prohibit truck series teams from taking both fuel and tires on the same stop -- Busch quickly overtook Colin Braun, who tried to stretch his fuel mileage but ran out of gas and rolled onto pit road with three laps remaining. Braun finished 20th.

Chad McCumbee came home third, followed by David Starr and T.J. Bell. Ron Hornaday Jr., Matt Crafton, Ricky Carmichael, Timothy Peters and Max Papis completed the top 10 in the series' second event of the season.

"This thing was just flawless," Busch said of his No. 51 Toyota, which was serviced through a cooperative effort with James Finch's Nationwide Series crew. "The guys did flawless. They worked so well and made this truck drive so well. . .

"It's really a lot fun to come out here and win two years in a row, and hopefully we can do some more."

Busch is the only driver doing triple duty at Auto Club Speedway. He also was scheduled to compete in Saturday evening's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, as well as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday.

Though still unsponsored, Bodine had an excellent truck, too, but his No. 30 Toyota was no match for Busch's ride.

"It's a little disappointing to have a Tundra that's that good and finish second," Bodine said. "That tells you how good Kyle was. Once the tires got heated up -- got a little slick -- we were just a little tight through the center of the corner. I couldn't quite hold it wide open."

Notes: Busch's win was also Doug George's first as a crew chief… Gabi Dicarlo finished 19th in her truck series debut... Busch leads Bodine by five points in the series standings after two races. Crafton is third, 77 points behind Busch.

Penalties and Suspensions

2009-02-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

Crew Member Paul Chodora In Violation Of NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2009) – Paul Chodora, a licensed crew member in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.

On Feb. 11, Chodora was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book.

Three NASCAR Nationwide Series Teams Fined, Penalized For Rule Violations At Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2009) – NASCAR announced today that three NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during last week’s event at Daytona International Speedway.

Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-18A (Once constructed and installed, the roll cage must be acceptable to NASCAR officials. Main roll bar (#1) was not round; was altered for clearance) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.

Jay Robinson was penalized with the loss of 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Townley was docked 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points.

Those infractions were discovered on Feb. 10 during opening-day inspection.

George Bartlett, crew chief of the No. 84 Chevrolet driven by Mike Harmon, has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 due to rule violations discovered during opening-day inspection and post-race inspection on Feb. 14, respectively.

Bartlett was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-2.3A (Weight containers welded to the outside of the main frame rails must not contain added weight in any form; added weight to the outside frame rail) and 20A-13E (Invalid SFI label).

Team owner/driver Harmon was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points and 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points for each infraction, totaling 50 points in each category.

Additionally Michael Hobson, crew chief for the No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violation of 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-12.1A(8) (Combined spring rate was less than specified. The left front spring rate was less than specified).

Johnny Davis was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points and O’Quinn forfeited 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points due to the violations, which also were found during post-race inspection.

No. 33 Team Penalized For Rule Infractions At Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2009) – NASCAR announced today penalties and fines to the No. 33 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as a result of rule infractions found last Friday at Daytona International Speedway.

The No. 33 truck was found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); Section 12-4-1 (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and Section 20B-12.3B (all approved shock absorbers must be of nitrogen-gas pressurized mono-tube, deflective disc valve type with an integral gas reservoir with all components as displayed on each manufacturer’s display board: unapproved shock absorber piston) of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rule book. The violations were found during post-race inspection on Feb. 13.

Driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driver points and truck owner DeLana Harvick has been penalized 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship owner points due to the violations. Crew chief Rick Ren has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until June 30, 2009 as a result of the infraction.

Reggie Jackson to Pace Field at Auto Club 500

2009-02-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

Auto Club Speedway PR

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (February 17, 2009) – Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who earned the nickname Mr. October for his World Series heroics with both the A's and Yankees, will be behind the wheel of the Auto Club Speedway’s 2009 Chevy Impala pace car as he leads the field before the start of NASCAR’s 2009 West Coast Premiere – the Auto Club 500 – on Feb. 22.

"In my lifetime I've played in six World Series, hob-knobbed with movie stars and been a part of the excitement of New York and the Yankees," said Jackson. "With all that, it’s hard to get excited over many things. But being behind the wheel of the pace car for the Auto Club 500, is right up there with some of the most exciting things I've ever done."

A five-year star with the California Angles (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Jackson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. In 27 Fall Classic games, he amassed 10 home runs - including four in consecutive at-bats - 24 RBI and a .357 batting average. As one of the game's premier power hitters, he blasted 563 career round-trippers. A terrific player in the clutch and an intimidating cleanup hitter, Jackson compiled a lifetime slugging percentage of .490 and earned American League MVP honors in 1973. He won three consecutive World Series titles as a member of the Oakland A's in the early 1970s and also won 2 consecutive titles with the New York Yankees. He also played one year with the Baltimore Orioles.

Jackson is the only position player to win the World Series MVP Award 2 times ('73 with the A's and '77 with the NY Yankees).

Jackson is just one of several celebrities taking part in Auto Club Speedway’s Auto Club 500 Weekend. In addition to Jackson, Grammy-nominated Little Big Town will perform the National Anthem before the Auto Club 500. Gavin Rossdale, who is currently enjoying the success of his Top 40 hit single “Love Remains the Same,” will perform a pre-race concert prior to the Auto Club 500 in the Opportunity, California FanZone, while Rev Theory, currently on tour with Theory of a Deadman and Ten Second Epic, will perform Saturday Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22 also at Auto Club Speedway’s Opportunity, California FanZone.

Band from TV, noted celebrities from television’s Heroes, Desperate Housewives and House just to name a few is scheduled to rock the Opportunity, California FanZone Stage on Sunday and multi-platinum singer/songwriter and country superstar Billy Ray Cyrus will serve as Grand Marshal for the Stater Bros. 300 as well as perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the San Bernardino County 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, both scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21.

Daytona 500 Winner Matt Kenseth

2009-02-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Matt Kenseth Captures First Daytona 500 Win

2009-02-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. -- It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

NASCAR PR:

Matt Kenseth, winless a year ago, added the biggest jewel in NASCAR to his trophy collection Sunday, winning a dramatic, rain-shortened Daytona 500 before a capacity crowd of some 200,000 at Daytona International Speedway, plus a Fox national television audience.

Kenseth somehow dodged a huge pileup shortly after lap 125 that easily could have sent him to the scrap-pile like it did young sensation Kyle Busch.

Busch, who had led 88 laps to clearly establish himself as the race favorite, was a victim in a 10-car wreck that had cars sliding through the backstretch infield apron and down the end of the backstretch straightaway in a huge cloud of smoke and debris.

The accident was triggered when Brian Vickers moved over to block Dale Earnhardt, Jr. near the end of the backstretch. Earnhardt was forced off the track onto the apron and into the grass. When Earnhardt tried to steer his sliding car back on the track, he clipped the rear end of Vickers' Toyota, sending Vickers shooting across the track directly in front of the oncoming field of 200-mph stock cars. At that point, it was pure havoc. No one was injured, but the accident sent a number of cars to the junk heap.

Besides Busch, who finished 41st, others involved included Carl Edwards (18th), Kurt Busch (10th), Vickers (39th), Earnhardt (27th), Jamie McMurray (37th), Jimmie Johnson (31st), Robby Gordon (34th), and Denny Hamlin (26th).

Kenseth started the race from 39th position after his crew had to change an engine in his Jack Roush Ford sponsored by DeWalt.

Ironically, the runner-up in the abbreviated race -- 152 out of a scheduled 200 laps were completed -- and winner of the Daytona 500 two years ago, Kevin Harvick, also started in the rear of the field due to engine problems.

Third-place finisher AJ Allmindinger had a storybook finish since he just hooked up with the Valvoline Dodge team several weeks ago. His performance Sunday should help him find additional sponsorship.

Clint Bowyer finished fourth, Elliott Sadler fifth, David Ragan sixth, former Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip seventh, Tony Stewart eighth, and Reed Sorensen ninth. Truex was 11th.

It was a cool, overcast afternoon when the 51st running of this classic got underway. Drivers mashed the gas to the floor right from the git-go and three different drivers led the first three laps, Truex, Martin and "wild thing" Busch, who took over on the third lap and was leading when Almirola spun by himself on the eighth circuit.

When racing resumed, Busch remained out front with Martin, Labonte, Earnhardt and Edwards right behind.

A mandatory caution at lap 26 allowed the teams to check their tire wear after rain washed the rubber off the track Saturday night and Sunday morning. NASCAR officials informed the teams at the start of the race of the mandatory caution.

Once all the teams had pitted, Busch resumed his lead with Earnhardt on his bumper. Gordon was third, Hamlin fourth and Martin fifth.

Jeremy Mayfield, who started his own team about a month ago and was one of the feelgood stories in making the race, had his luck change at lap 33 when a problem cropped up with his motor.

At 40 laps, Busch had Kenseth on his bumper, who had started from the rear after changing motors. Ragan had moved to third, Earnhardt was fourth, Hamlin fifth and Ragan sixth.

Robbie Gordon dropped from the middle of the pack to 42nd when a punctured tire prompted an unscheduled pit stop.

At 50 laps, Busch still led and looked as though he clearly had the fastest car in the field but Earnhardt and Stewart were just a car length behind. Earnhardt and Stewart, however, blew past Busch on lap 53. One lap later, Busch pushed Stewart past Earnhardt. On the next lap, Travis Kvapil smacked the wall, bringing out the afternoon's second caution.

When the green flag fell again, it was Stewart out front with Gordon second. Busch was third. Also running in the front pack was McMurray, Hamlin, Edwards, Martin, Kenseth, Vickers, Ragan and Kurt Busch, who finished second in this race last year.

Earnhardt, who completely missed his pit stall and had to go around the track again, was way back in 35th on the restart.

By lap 70, Gordon led, followed by Busch, Hamlin, McMurray, Kenseth, Edwards, Vickers, Stewart, who was shuffled backwards by one of the famous Daytona drafts, Martin and Allmindinger.

Stewart's teammate and defending champion of the Daytona 500, spent considerable time in the pits and lost several laps, which pretty much ended his chance for winning "The Great American Race" again.

On lap 81, rookie Joey Logano, running back in the field to gain some experience, was in the wrong place at the right time. Another rookie, former Formula One driver Scott Speed, got loose coming out of four and had to ease off the throttle. Logano, right behind him, had to make a jerky turn left to stay off Speed and spun across the track. He smashed into the inside retaining wall almost head-on, tearing his Home Depot machine to smithereens. Logano was not injured.

On the restart at lap 85, it was Busch again and Hamlin moved into second. Allmindinger was third with Truex fourth. Gordon held on in fifth, followed by Edwards, Kenseth, Stewart, Ragan, McMurray and Burton.

The best race drivers in the world were mixing it up as though it was the last lap, rather than halfway. Gordon went from fifth to second with a nifty slingshot move down the backstretch, which resulted in Truex getting shoved back to 20th spot. Once Gordon made his move, others tucked in on his bumper and formed a freight train back to where Truex wound up.

The competition in the first half of this event was similar to what fans had seen in the Twin Gatorade 150 Qualifying Races last Thursday.

Back in Business

2009-02-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

Nascar is back this week with the Twin Duel races being on Speed TV Thur. Feb. 11th.

The first row of the 51st Daytona 500 has been set with Mark Martin starting 2nd and DEI top driver Martin Truex Jr starting on the pole. Both Truex and Martin will not have to race for their starting spots.

Those without SPEED TV can see the live stream of practice and the Duels here at Stock Car News.

Watch live video from New2it's Sports Chat Channel on Justin.tv

New Season, New News

2009-01-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

Stock Car News blog will be back with updates, news and video clips in the coming weeks.

I would like to thank everyone that has stayed with us and we look forward to the coming racing season

Shutting Down

2008-10-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

Until further notice Stock Car News Blog will be suspending any updates. This will only be temporary. Please check back often for news on when we will start up again.

Thank you

NASCAR Newscast: Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Race 4 Recap

2008-10-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

NSCS Recap: Stewart Emerges Wild Talladega Race With First Victory At Track

2008-10-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

ALLADEGA, ALA-- Tony Stewart survived a couple of huge wrecks and a record number of leaders to win the AMP Energy 500 here Sunday at a track that produces excitement by the barrel.

Stewart held off hard-charging rookie Regan Smith, who made a last-lap daredevil pass below the yellow line in trying to beat the two-time champion.

NASCAR rules prohibit passing below the yellow line that separates the racing track from the apron.

It was Stewart's first win ever at Talladega Superspeedway and came at the end of a wham-bam day in which many of the top contenders were knocked from contention in a wild and wooly wreck just 14 laps from the end.

The accident was triggered when Carl Edwards' Ford lost grip, creating a chain reaction that had cars spinning all over the place, including Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship contenders Edwards, teammate Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and a host of others not involved in the Chase.

Sidelined or seriously damaged in the accident also were race contenders Juan Pablo Montoya, Travis Kvapil, Dave Blaney, Michael Waltrip, and Reed Sorensen.

The race produced an all-time record number of leaders with 27.

Smith's teammate Paul Menard was second. Smith was moved back to 18th for his rule violation after officials reviewed the finish.

David Ragan was third, Burton was fourth, Bowyer fifth, Bobby Labonte finished six, Scott Riggs seventh, Robby Gordon eighth, Jimmie Johnson ninth and Elliott Sadler tenth.

Johnson's finish was unusual since he lost a lap early and was never fully competitive, even though he did lead at one point.

Kyle Busch, another leader, was 15th but never ultra-competitive. Harvick wound up 20th after being a serious contender.

Before a cheering Talladega crowd which typically watches on its tiptoes, NASCAR's best drivers gave them what they came for, side-by-side, bumper-to-bumper action right from the git-go.

Pole winner Kvapil led a lap, then Vickers led, then Edwards, back and forth, forwards, backwards, race cars jockeying for position like Big Brown down the stretch at the Kentucky Derby.

For example, Montoya was running second on Lap 11 and dropped to 24th by the 13th lap. Rookie Aric Almirola jumped up front to lead lap 15. Just a lap or two later, Ragan took the lead with a shove from Kvapil.

The crowd erupted with cheering and shouting on Lap 25 when Earnhardt took the lead for the first time. "Junior Nation" roared its approval. Johnson's day was not going nearly so well as he lost a lap when his Chevy had possible engine problems. Kvapil went back in front on Lap 30. The lead was changing so fast, it was hard to keep up with who was leading when. The first caution of the beautiful afternoon fell on Lap 34 with Earnhardt out front. The crowd was still on its feet.

Following pit stops, Gordon was the first car back on track, leader of the snarling pack with 37 of 188 laps complete. Truex, Jr., was second, Burton third, Mike Wallace fourth, Earnhardt fifth and Busch sixth.

Burton quickly went to the front but was passed by Kenseth. Vickers got a huge shove from Johnson, fighting to get his lap back, and the Toyota driver led for a lap. Sadler roared to the front and then Mears led a lap.

Another debris caution slowed the field on Lap 45 with Mears ahead. The crowd was still standing.

Sadler was the leader when the green flag fell at Lap 49. Ryan Newman's afternoon ended with a sick engine at this point and Kyle Busch streaked to the front with a push from teammate Hamlin.

Kurt Busch went out just before Gordon and David Reutimann spun on the 52nd lap. Jon Wood was also in the accident on the backstretch. Johnson's luck might have turned better during the accident as he barely missed this one after getting back on the lead lap by virtue of the "lucky dog" award.

During this caution period, Kurt Busch's crew raised the hood on his car and eventually took the Penske Dodge behind the wall.

Reutimann apparently cut a tire that triggered the accident.

Vickers went back out front on the 59th lap restart with Kvapil, Mike Skinner, Kyle Busch and Sorensen behind.

Kahne went to the front with McMurray in tow, then, lined up three abreast, Sorensen led, then Truex, Jr., tried to lead before Jamie McMurray took the top spot.

All of a sudden it was McMurray all alone before Earnhardt shoved Truex ahead.

If anyone took their eyes off the pack, you ran the risk of missing a lead change. Earnhardt went ahead, then Montoya and before you could blink an eye,

Talladega mayhem took over on Lap 68. Vickers cut a tire, sending his Toyota sideways into McMurray and triggering a domino-effect wreck that damaged several cars besides Vickers’ and McMurray's. Terry Labonte was involved, as was Almirola, Truex, Skinner, Kahne, Tony Raines and David Gilliland.

NASCAR officials red-flagged the race to clean up the debris.

After a 20-minute delay, action continued with Earnhardt leading, Paul Menard second and Burton third when the green flag waved on Lap 71.

On the next lap, Hamlin took the front spot. Once again, the lead changed hands several times each lap. Johnson led for the first time before Earnhardt returned to the front. Then, it was Johnson again. Stewart went out front on Lap 80 with Mike Wallace in his draft.

Another tire problem, this time for a failure on Mike Wallace's right rear, brought out the caution on Lap 81. Pieces of Wallace's tire tore up the front of Michael Waltrip's NAPA Toyota and his crew had to make repairs before he continued.

When the green waved on Lap 86, it was Kyle Busch ahead of Earnhardt and Montoya up front.

Busch and Stewart maintained the lead. before Earnhardt was pushed to the front by Almirola.

It was probably the best lap-by-lap race in the history of this 2.6-mile superspeedway.

NASCAR Newscast: Chase Race 4 Talladega Preview

2008-09-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

NSCS Recap: Johnson holds off Edwards' charge to take Chase lead

2008-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- It was probably one of the most spectacular finishes in NASCAR history.

Carl Edwards made a suicide run into the third turn underneath race leader Jimmie Johnson. He was determined to win.

Unfortunately, Edwards ran out of track before running into the wall, struggled to maintain control and watched Johnson go back by him for the victory at Kansas Speedway.

A sellout crowd stood, cheering the last-lap, do-or-die antics of the hard-driving Edwards, even though his banzai run tactics didn't work.

Greg Biffle made a last-lap pass of Jeff Gordon for third position. Matt Kenseth was fifth after a day of struggles, and Kevin Harvick finished sixth. Jeff Burton was seventh, David Ragan eighth, AJ Allmendinger ninth and Elliott Sadler 10th.

It was another sad day for Kyle Busch, who encountered mechanical problems again and wound up 28th. Busch was never a factor.

It was Johnson who led most of the way. Edwards, however, was a contender throughout the race, having to fight his way back from 25th spot after a pit road accident sent him back in the field for a restart.

Johnson's win establishes him as the man to beat in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship since he has two Sprint Cups in his possession already, but Edwards and Biffle plan to give him all the competition he could ask for in the remaining seven races.

The three up-on-the-wheel drivers -- Johnson, Edwards and Biffle -- will wear out the gas pedal at Talladega next weekend if Sunday's race was an indication of what to expect.

Talladega is a wide-open, 2.6-mile, high-banked speed palace where drivers draft together in a 40-car swarm.

Sunday in Kansas, popular driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., once again finished poorly in 13th position.

Under a steaming sun on a tacky track, two-time defending champion Johnson took the lead in his Lowe's Chevy and raced away from the field at the start.

Kenseth's yellow DeWalt Ford took over near the 20-lap mark with Martin Truex Jr. just behind. The rest of the field fanned out around the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway.

Truex passed Johnson at 30 laps for second spot. For the third race in a row, regular-season points leader Busch encountered some type of engine problem, dropping out of contention before 50 laps had been completed.

Busch established his Joe Gibbs Racing team as the favorite to win the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with eight wins during the regular season. He started the Chase atop the standings but fell to 12th out of 12 after the Dover race last weekend. At the 60-lap point in Sunday's race, no relief seemed to be in sight as both Kyle and brother Kurt struggled near the back of the pack.

Once the first round of green-flag, pit stops were complete, Kenseth was back out front with Truex and Johnson behind. Rounding out the top 10 were Casey Mears, Gordon, Sadler, Allmendinger, Brian Vickers, Biffle and Ragan.

Vickers lost several positions due to a run-in with Edwards during the pit stops. Edwards clipped the rear of Vickers' Toyota as he entered his pit while Vickers was exiting his. Both cars suffered minor damage. The incident shuffled Edwards back to 25th.

Ryan Newman slid into the wall on the 74th lap bringing out the first caution flag of the day.

During this pit stop, several cars banged together when Dave Blaney pulled in front of others leaving his pit. Allmendinger's crew let a tire roll across pit road, costing him a bunch of track positions.

On the restart at lap 79, it was Mears, Truex, Gordon, Johnson, Biffle, Earnhardt, Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Sadler and Mark Martin.

Kyle Petty brought out a caution on lap 94, spinning off the track in Turn 3. After a restart with Mears in the lead, Johnson charged back to the front on lap 110.

Much-heralded rookie Joey Logano brought out a caution at lap 117 when he brushed the wall.

Once the green waved again, Truex was in front, Johnson, Bowyer, Biffle, Gordon, Jeff Burton, Earnhardt, Harvick, Sadler and Mears. Shortly after the restart, Kenseth lost control and spun but did not make contact with anything. Again on the restart, a spin brought the caution back out. Tony Stewart spun off the track after a brief on-track exchange with Vickers.

At the halfway point (134 laps), Johnson led with Truex and Biffle in tow. Gordon was fourth, Edwards fifth and Bowyer sixth. Earnhardt, Burton, Harvick and Mears were seventh through 10th.

NSCS Recap: Biffle stays unbeaten in Chase

2008-09-22T21:54:00.002-07:00

Nascar Media.com:

DOVER, Del. -- Greg Biffle is up on the wheel. For the second consecutive week, Biffle outraced the field down the stretch and won the Camping World RV 400 Presented by AAA at Dover International Speedway.

Biffle, who ran with the leaders most of the day, turned up the adrenaline with 24 laps to go and dogged teammate Matt Kenseth for 15 laps before finally passing Kenseth with a eight laps remaining.

It was no-holds-barred, bare-knuckle racing at its best as Biffle tried to pass Kenseth lap after lap on the low side of the track. Kenseth kept fighting him off, and Biffle slipped to the outside lane. The two cars touched momentarily, and Biffle came out of the corner sideways, but in the lead.

Carl Edwards, who joined the free-for-all for several laps, eventually had to settle for third place. It was a 1-2-3 finish for Roush Fenway Racing.

Mark Martin was fourth in a Chevy, and two-time champion Jimmie Johnson was fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Michael Waltrip.

Eight of the top 10 finishers are competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, excluding Martin and Waltrip.

Tony Stewart, another Chase contender, was 11th. Denny Hamlin wound up 38t,h and the favorite coming into the final 10-race Sprint Showdown, Kyle Busch, had another dismal day, finishing dead last, 43rd.

A splendid day for racing with balmy, tropical weather turned stormy for former champion Kurt Busch just a lap into the race. David Gilliland barely brushed the left rear of Busch, causing Busch's Dodge to slam the outside retaining wall. The action on the high-banked Dover Downs track -- dubbed the "Monster Mile" -- continued shortly after the restart.

Patrick Carpentier lost control of his Dodge in Turn 1, spinning out of control and nicking the fender of Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup contender Carl Edwards. Both cars, as well as Kurt Busch and Gilliland, were able to continue.

Jeff Gordon showed his pole speed out front with Hamlin, Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in tow.

On lap 31, McMurray sped past Gordon for the lead and put a comfortable distance between himself and the rest of the field.

Joe Nemechek brought out another caution on lap 64 when his Chevy cut a right front tire and slammed the outside wall.

On the restart at lap 69, excellent pit work by his crew put Kenseth on the point, followed by Gordon, Martin, McMurray and Edwards. Rounding out the top 10 at the time were Reutimann, Johnson, Bowyer, Burton and Biffle.

McMurray chased Gordon down and passed him again on lap 83 for second place. Gordon dropped to fifth behind Kenseth, McMurray, Martin and Edwards.

Several notables had moved into contention shortly after 100 laps with Tony Stewart leading the way. Stewart raced from 33rd to 15th at 130 laps and Juan Pablo Montoya had moved from 35th to 17th.

Earnhardt brought out a caution on lap 141 when he lost control of what he termed "a loose race car" and did a solo spin down the front straightaway. Almost simultaneously, Kyle Busch's Toyota started spewing smoke, signaling the possibility of a rear end gear problem. When the green flag started them again on lap 148, it was Kenseth and Edwards up front, Martin, Gordon and Biffle just behind. Earnhardt and Kyle Busch were limping around the track in 22nd and 36th spots, respectively.

AJ Allmendinger's Toyota brought out another caution just a few laps later when he scraped the wall.

The fireworks continued shortly after the green flag when Robby Gordon slipped up into McMurray, who was passing Gordon's No. 7, a lap down, on the outside in Turns 3 and 4. The two cars made contact and spun. The accident ended McMurray's chances to win even though he continued in the race.

The top five remained the same with Kenseth on the point.

Sam Hornish Jr. brought out the seventh caution of the action-packed afternoon when he cracked the wall after being bumped from behind by another car.

The "Monster Mile" was certainly living up to its ugly reputation for wrecking cars.

During this caution period, Kyle Busch's car returned to the garage area to figure out what the problem was with his machine. Busch was the hottest driver on the circuit in the first two-thirds of the season, winning eight times to become the odds-on favorite in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. He had problems at New Hampshire last week and fell out of the race. Sunday's problem put him in 12th place in the Chase standings, from first to last in two races.

Hornish, who had returned to the track, spun again on lap 187 to bring out another caution, the eighth of the race.

Johnson went to the front shortly before halfway when some teams stopped and some didn't during the flurry of caution-flag stops.

Ryan Newman was second with Dave Blaney third. Gordon was next with Montoya on his bumper, followed by Reutimann, Allmendinger, Hamlin, Edwards and David Gilliland. Kenseth had dropped back to 11th with Biffle 12th. The complexion of the race changed completely at this point, but Johnson and company still had 200 laps remaining.

NASCAR Newscast: Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Race 2

2008-09-22T21:54:00.001-07:00

Updates

2008-09-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry about no updates this week, technical issues forced me to not be able to update the site.

UPDATES:

RIR Weekend Photos

2008-09-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

All photos were taken by Kristina Runkle.

To see photos larger, click the picture and a new window will open.

Richmond: Chase Field Set

2008-09-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

The regular NASCAR season is over with the last race at Richmond Intl Raceway, as Jimmie Johnson battled with Tony Stewart, in the closing laps in take the win. Stewart, who is winless this year, is in his last year with Joe Gibbs Racing and was hungry for a win at RIR, the same track he got his first NASCAR Cup win back in 1999.

Johnson comes off 2 wins in a row, with a dominating win last week at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Ca. and a very strong run at RIR this week, he was asked if this now means that he is the favorite going into the chase.

Johnson: “Momentum is certainly something we are looking at and trying to carry, but more than anything, I think we are just confident in our stops and what I'm doing on the track, and the way we can adjust on the car.”

Not everyone left Richmond with good feeling as points leader Kyle Busch had contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr on lap 211 while battling for the lead. Back in the spring race both drivers had similar contact as they were fighting for position with Jr coming up short in that wreck.

This time Busch was the unlucky one, as he spun to the bottom of the track and had significant damage to the rear of his car. Busch pitted to fix his car and dropped near the back of the field.

During post race interviews Busch was asked about the contact between he and Jr:

Busch: “All I know is I wasn't able to spin off the wall as best I could and wasn't able to achieve that. Hard racing and leading the race and unfortunately things happened that way. We had a great M&M's Toyota today so the most disappointing part is that we were not able to show what we had there at the end of the race and race for a win with Tony and Jimmie up there towards the front and being able to try to get in another ten bonus points.”

Q. Do you think that was revenge?

KYLE BUSCH: “Was that revenge? Who knows?”

When Dale Earnhardt Jr was asked this is what he had to say:

DALE EARNHARDT JR: “He's racing hard. He was up front leading and I was a little I felt like I was a little quicker and was gaining on him a little bit on each corner and I was on the bottom real tight and that wasn't going to get by him. So I moved up to get next to him and race him hard and I got down into 1 too hard and got into the quarter panel and spun him out. It was an accident that it happened but you know and it was midway through the race.”

Q. The replays looked a little bit like he might have come down on you; did he? And also, can you address whether, in fact, this was had anything to do with the spring race here?

DALE EARNHARDT JR: “Well, I think if I wanted to if I wreck somebody, I ain't going to leave him in good enough shape to come back and get me in the same race, so that wasn't really my intentions. If I wanted to, I really ain't never wrecked anybody on purpose. I can go back and remember a couple of times but if I wanted to do it, I would do it really, really good.

So I don't know, he might have, he was pretty far up the racetrack. I had plenty of room. This is the deal. He might have come down, you know, whatever, but it's really the guys on the inside's job to take care of the guy on the outside. It's not his job to move out of my way even if I'm on his left rear quarter panel.

I tried to stop left front. We slid to left front for 15 to 20 yards and that thing vibrated the whole rest of that run and we sort of faded from there on out.”

The video replays of the wreck seemed to look as if both drivers were racing hard and I would count it as a racing deal, but I can surely tell you that when Kyle Busch spun, I was not able to hear the cars on the track anymore over the roar of the crowd.

Other drivers with problems were the #17 of Matt Kenseth and his teammate the #6 of David Ragan, who was racing for the last chase spot, as he was 13th in points going into this race.

On Lap 122, David Ragan started to slide in turn 1 and Matt Kenseth did the same as they made contact with each other damaging both cars. It appeared that Ragan may have gotten into some oil on the track. When asked his comments were:

DAVID RAGAN: “I just got really loose into turn one and chased up the hill and looked like Matt was just right tucked up underneath me and as I was spinning around, he actually I think he turned my left rung and kind of straightened me back up which hurt him but allowed me to keep on going and not hit so hard. I haven't seen a replay of it, but I told the guys that maybe we had a tire going down or seemed like something just happened pretty abruptly; that our car had not had that characteristic all weekend and it had that the rest of the race.

So that's something we'll have to diagnose when we get back to the shop.”

Later in the race Ragan also had contact with the #01 as Clint Bowyer went under the #01 sending Ragan Smith into the #6. David Ragan also commented on this incident:

DAVID RAGAN: “Bottom line is Clint was on the bottom and just punted the 01 and shot the 01 up the track. I was on his right rear quarter panel and ran right into him. Thought I might have had Clint boxed in where I could have got around the 01 and maybe put a car between us, but he did what he had to do. He just gave the 01 a shot and I happened to be on the outside of him.”

After a round of stops David Reutimann stayed out on the track to take over the lead, and when the field went back green, the #44 of Reutimann, built up a lead of 4.22 seconds on 2nd place Tony Stewart.

As the laps counted down Reutimann looked to get his first win, but as the field pitted for another yellow flag on lap 359 Reutimann’s day would go south, as the impact wrench jammed on the tire changer, the #44 fell back to 7th place, and he would finish 9th.

In the last 10 laps Johnson and Stewart fought side by side, as Stewart continued to try and stay low, but he just could not hold off Johnson, who would get his 2nd win in a row and his 4th win this year.

Now the Chase field is set and this is how they will be lined up in the points going into New Hampshire.

I would like to also take this time to personally thank Aimee Turner, PR at RIR, for the time she took to make sure that we had everything that we needed to cover the race, and to all the great staff in the Media Center at the track.

Thank You!

Chase Field :

Saturday Richmond Rain Day

2008-09-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

As most everyone knows by now NASCAR decided to change this weekends race schedule, from Saturday to Sunday, with tropical storm Hanna soaking the area with up to 2 inches of rain, the chance of any racing at Richmond Intl Raceway was out the door. A good call by NASCAR with the Sprint Cup drivers due to race at noon on Sunday and the Nationwide series right after that, the only problem I have is the fact of a lack of qualifying.

The Sprint Cup drivers were out on the track when I arrived at RIR yesterday, and practice was going on as planned, as the threat of rain was at least 4 to 5 hours away. After practice was over, nothing was on track, zero! Why? I didn’t understand why NASCAR didn’t decide to have both series's, or at least the Sprint Cup drivers, qualify.

The stands were almost completely empty, so its not like anyone cared about seeing the cars do their once around the track, and with this weekends race being the final run to see who is in the top 12 in points, why not have the drivers go out early?

I over heard many people in the media center saying the same thing. There is way too much on the line for the field to be set by points. With Kyle Busch, once again, starting on the pole. What is the reasoning behind not having qualifying a few hours earlier? All the cars were ready, and this is an impound race, so no changes would be made to the cars, everything was ready, all but NASCAR.

The call to have the races postponed until Sunday was the right one. Fans would not have to travel to the track in rough conditions, with the weather making the roads very dangerous, and the cost of having all the track personnel at RIR, would be a huge waste of money. So NASCAR did the right thing with the reschedule, but the no excuse for not letting the field qualify was a mistake, in my opinion.

So the media was hard at work to keep busy as the rain moved in, many drivers were in and out of the media center and took questions, here is what some had to say.

JEFF GORDON:

Q. The one thing you've really battled this year is consistency. You've had some weeks where you've run really well and some weeks where you haven't run well. Assuming you make it into the Chase, what's your personal forecast for -- do you think you'll have something for them, as they say?

JEFF GORDON: Yeah, you know, you're right. It has been inconsistent for us this year. You hear drivers talk a lot about it. If you were in our debriefs and our meetings, you would hear me talk more about it probably than anybody. The inconsistency isn't just with our performance, it's with these bump stops that we have to run on. I can't stand them, and trying to get them figured out is just near impossible.
Some have done a better job with it. Maybe it suits come guys' driving styles better, but it's one of the things that challenging us.
And especially this year -- you can go off last year and say you were good at this track and this track and this track. Yeah, that's true, but if we went back there with the same old setups, we wouldn't be as competitive just because teams have gotten better and we've learned more about how we set these cars up.
Then you add in the mile-and-a-halfs, and it's a whole 'nother challenge. That's the biggest inconsistency that we've had is whether we're on the left front bump stops, right front bump stops, front bumps upright, both bump stops, the timing of the bump stops, we've just had one heck of a time trying to get the front of the car to be consistent in and through the corner at a lot of tracks. And when you see us running good, it's usually because we've got those close and it allows me to do what I need to do.

CARL EDWARDS:

Q. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE ABOUT THIS WEEKEND OTHER THAN WINNING?

Edwards: “I’m watching David Ragan real close. That’s gonna be fun for the fans to watch that fight for the chase. I know how that feels. It doesn’t get anymore stressful than that – maybe going to Homestead with a chance to win the championship – but that’s what I’m watching. Really, I feel like we’re just out to win. This is our last real fun race, where we don’t have much to worry about.”

Q. WHAT’S THAT LIKE WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR KNOWING YOU HAVE TO RUN WELL TO MAKE THE CHASE?

Edwards: “In 2005 I will never forget. That race was the most stressful race I’ve ever been a part of because there was a wreck over in turn three and I was real close to getting caught up in it and we ended making the chase by just a real small margin. And then it led to us almost being able to win the championship. I felt like that Richmond race in 2005 was a bottleneck. I mean, so much stress went on in that race and I don’t envy those guys that are in that position right now.”

MATT KENSETH:

Q. WHY IS IT MORE DIFFICULT TO WIN?

Kenseth: “It’s definitely a lot different. This car, we can’t work on the bodies. What you have aerodynamically is basically what you have. Back a few years ago, even when Mark was there or Greg’s cars for that matter, you could really change the cars aerodynamically a lot for your own driving style and how you wanted to adjust it. Greg and I had totally opposite bodies on our cars with aero loads and all the stuff we had going on. We can’t do that anymore, so you kind of have to adjust to what that is and work on it from there, so that makes it a little bit difficult because if it’s not driving like you want, you can’t really do the things you used to do to try to fix that and make it run better in traffic and do that. So it is a big advantage to be in front and some guys have been able to figure their cars out better than others and they’re very sensitive to being in front and being in the clean air, and they’re also real sensitive to adjustments and things like that. So I think it’s made it a little bit better too. Carl and some of those guys, when they qualify better they can stay up there all day. I’ve watched some of these races and I see the top five cars – like at Bristol – I think the top five or six cars basically ran in the top five or six for 500 laps. It’s harder to come from the back than it used to be and get up front and challenge them.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON:

Q. YOU WENT THROUGH A FEW YEARS TRYING TO GET A CHAMPIONSHIP. HAS KYLE BUSCH GONE THROUGH THAT NOW WHERE HE IS READY TO BREAK THROUGH?

Johnson: “Definitely. I think he’s shown that all year long. I’ve said all along, even when he was a teammate with us, once he figures out how to win a race he’s not going to stop, and he’s done that. I feel the same for a championship. He’s been his own enemy at times with trying too hard and being too aggressive and forcing things. And growing up, like we all have, you run a short format races and everything is set at 100 percent and you go and these long Cup races have a different rhythm to them. I think Kyle is figuring that out and is going to be a serious threat this year and for the years to come in the championship.”

Q. IS HE TOO AGGRESSIVE?

Johnson: ”He’s aggressive in the right way. He can get in there and lean on someone without wrecking them. You can intimidate someone without knocking the side off their car. You can run a fast lap without knocking your own right side off your car. And if you think about how many times you’ve seen them pounding out the right side on one of his cars (laughs), the guy is just using every inch of the track. When you run out of room and you’re only giving yourself an inch to spare, you’re going to hit something. And he’s learned all that. And he’s had great teams that believe in him. And everyone at Hendrick believed in him. Now he’s at Gibbs and he’s earned their respect and those guys don’t care what he knocks off the car. They’re going to keep giving it too him and letting him go out there and do it.

KYLE BUSCH:

Q. How much does this track change in day conditions versus night conditions?

Busch: “Jimmie (Johnson) talked about it a little earlier that it’s just the pace will slow down and Carl (Edwards) said that he will be all over the place because he wasn’t driving too good today. It becomes real slick. The more rubber that gets down it will get even slicker yet and we will be running all over the race track trying to find where the grip’s at. Racing side-by-side, it will be a little harder to do that so there’s going to be more guys side-by-side because it’s harder to complete a pass. We’ll be fighting it all over trying to find something.”
Q. What are your thoughts on Sunday’s race?
Busch: “I think we’ve got a pretty good M&M’s Toyota for Sunday. We’ll see how it all plays out. Judging from practice today, feels like it was a top-five, top-10 car -- something to contend with. If you’ve got a contender then hopefully you can put it in the right positions all day to have a shot at being able to win the race. I feel good about it.”

Other drivers to watch this Sunday will be the #6 of David Ragan and the #07 of Clint Bowyer. Both drivers are right on the cut of being in the chase, Ragan is in 13th only 17 points out and Bowyer is in 12th only 17 point in the chase as of now.

Here are a few words from both:

CLINT BOWYER:

Q. Is the pressure of the situation you're in now the most you've ever been in or similar to some other situation you've been in, or how could you quantify it?

CLINT BOWYER: No, probably last year trying to figure out how to beat Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson to win the championship. That's a lot of pressure. But I like pressure. Pressure is good. There's no way of getting around it. But I'd rather be me in the Chase right now than them out of the Chase trying to figure out how to beat me at one of my favorite tracks.

Q. You seem completely over talking about this. How tired are you of discussing this?

CLINT BOWYER: It's been three weeks of it. I am over it. But I mean, obviously everybody has got a job to do and I understand that and respect that. But I owe it to my guys to give them 100 percent here and try to stay focused on the task at hand, and right now that's making the Chase.

Q. If you don't make the Chase, is the season a failure in your eyes?

CLINT BOWYER: It's just been a struggle all year. Definitely started off the way we wanted it to, the way we expected it to go and had a tough summer. The Chase could save that some, you know.

DAVID RAGAN:

Q. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE KICKER NOBODY WANTS TO TALK TO WITH TWO SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME?

Ragan: “Yes and no. It’s a deal where it’s certainly riding on our shoulders, but it’s not to that point yet. If you were to ask me that question before I sat down in the car before tomorrow’s green flag run and started to go, it might be a little different, but we’ve still got a lot of racing with the Nationwide race tonight and qualifying and 400 laps tomorrow. I’ve tried not to put a lot of pressure on myself. Certainly, if we make the chase it’s not gonna be because we had a good race at Richmond, it’s gonna be because we were pretty solid all year. If we don’t make the chase, it’s gonna be because we made some mistakes throughout the year. So Richmond, it’s an important race, but it’s not the only race of the year we’re gonna look at and say, ‘Hey, this is the race whether we’re in or out.’ I’m just trying to go out and not put a lot of pressure on myself. Certainly we’ll be a little more cautious at times and pay attention to the details, but I’m not putting that kind of pressure on just this one race.”

More updates to come…

All photos are courtesy of Fast Lane Photos by Kristina Runkle

Richmond Wet and Wild

2008-09-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

The stories keep pouring in and so does the rain.

Will Joey Lagano make his first start..... most likely NO. It is raining at RIR, as what is left of tropical storm Hanna is here and she is not a NASCAR fan. Nationwide cars were due to be at on the track at 4:05pm EST but as they were to go out on the track the rain is starting and will be dumping rain on the track.

This will also leave the Nascar Sprint Cup drivers out in the cold, as qualifying was due to start at 6:05pm EST and looks to be a wash out too. Which will mean the field will be set by points, and Kyle Busch will start on the pole and Joey Lagano will sit this one out.

Richmond Preview

2008-09-02T09:54:00.001-07:00

NSCS Recap: Johnson Boss Of Pepsi 500

2008-09-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(August 31, 2008)
FONTANA, Calif. -- Forget the rivalry between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.

In Sunday's Pepsi 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway, there was only one car that counted, the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson led 228 of 250 laps and held off a late-race challenge from Greg Biffle, who lost ground when the water temperature in his No. 16 Ford skyrocketed to 260 degrees when a paper wrapper stuck to his grille after a restart on Lap 223.

As the laps wound down, Biffle told his team, "Doing all I can, man. I can't catch him. He's beating me too bad in (Turns) 3 and 4."

Johnson beat Biffle to the finish line by 2.076 seconds. Denny Hamlin ran third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth.

In winning his third race of the season and the 36th of his career -- breaking a tie with Mark Martin for 17th on the all-time victory list -- Johnson also shattered Biffle's record of 168 laps led at Fontana, set in 2006.

Johnson also qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with one race to go, Saturday at Richmond, before the 12-driver field is set. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton also clinched spots. Busch and Edwards already had clinched spots.

Johnson's dominance forced other teams to gamble in the pits. Biffle, Edwards, AJ Allmendinger, Brian Vickers and Ryan Newman took two tires on Lap 163 and held the top five positions for a restart on Lap 166.

Less than two laps after the restart, however, Johnson had regained the lead after passing Biffle through Turns 3 and 4.

Two tires didn't work, but neither did four.

After a slower-than-usual pit stop on Lap 183 -- under caution for Robby Gordon's spin off Turn 4 -- Johnson restarted fourth on Lap 186. Within three laps he had run down David Reutimann, Edwards and Biffle to regain the top spot.

NASCAR Newscast: Auto Club Speedway Preview

2008-08-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

NASCAR Newscast: Sharpie 500

2008-08-24T20:22:00.001-07:00

No. 18 And No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series Teams Penalized For Rule Violations At Michigan International Speedway

2008-08-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 20, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that the No. 18 and No. 20 teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series have been penalized due to rule violations discovered by NASCAR inspectors prior to post-race testing on the chassis dynamometer Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway.

Both the No. 18 and No. 20 cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 8-9 (competitive analysis – from time to time, NASCAR may determine, in the interest of competition, that it is necessary or appropriate to undertake an analysis of the performance capabilities of a car, car part, component or equipment. The Competitor shall take whatever steps are requested by NASCAR Officials for this purpose. NASCAR also has the right to seal or impound cars, car parts, components and/or equipment for this purpose); 12-4-Q (1): (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules, detailed in Section 20A of the 2008 NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event, or is not required for the normal functional operation of the race car, or has been altered to detract from or compromise its integrity or effectiveness, whether operational or not); 12-4-K: (when NASCAR Officials mandate inspection during the Event, if any car, car parts, components, and/or equipment which have been used in the Event are taken from the racing premises without permission of a NASCAR Official, or are tampered with by any member of the team or anyone associated with the team: Magnetic spacer attached under the gas pedal with the intent of compromising the chassis dynamometer test).

Both of the drivers – Joey Logano of the No. 18 and Tony Stewart of the No. 20 – have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008. Joe Gibbs, owner of both of the cars, has likewise been penalized 150 championship owner points for each of those entries.

Both crew chiefs – Jason Ratcliff of the No. 18 and Dave Rogers of the No. 20 – have been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

From the No. 18 team, car chief Dorian Thorsen; engine tuner Michael Johnson; and crew member Toby Bigelow have been placed on indefinite suspension from NASCAR. From the No. 20 team, car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

In addition, the entire No. 18 and No. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008.

NASCAR Newscast: Bristol Preview

2008-08-20T11:55:00.001-07:00

Whats in a Number?

2008-08-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

Ryan Newman will not be behind the wheel of the #4 Chevy as reported during a press conference early this week, when Tony Stewart announced that Newman would be his 2nd driver at the newly formed Stewart/Hass racing team in 2009.

According the Morgan-McClure race team they still have the rights to use the #4 in NASCAR competition. The #4 has been with the team for 25 years, and say that the number will continue to be used by the team in 2009 when they return to the track for a limited amount of races.

"There's some sweat and history in that number 4. We feel like it's ours," MMM co-owner Tim Morgan said.

Newman will be now using the #39 starting in 2009 at Stewart/Hass Racing. A sponsor has yet to be named.

Another team that will be making some numbers changes soon is RCR, sources say that the #33 Cheerios Chevy will be driven by Clint Bowyer and the #07 Jack Daniels Chevy will be driven by Casey Mears starting in 2009.

NASCAR Newscast: Michigan Preview

2008-08-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

NASCAR Newscast: Centurion Boats at The Glen

2008-08-10T22:22:00.001-07:00

Auto Makers Want Some Changes In NASCAR

2008-08-07T21:48:00.001-07:00

The big Auto Makers are making it clear that changes need to be made if NASCAR expects the money to keep rolling in from them. Its no secret that many auto makers are indeed feeling the crunch with declining sales and the US economy on a big downturn, but just how serious are they? And what type of change do they expect NASCAR to make?

What are these proposals? Here are the main issues that GM, Ford and Chrysler plan on discussing in the very near future with NASCAR management in meetings to be held in Detroit:

1. Brand Recognition.
It's no secret that there are factions within these Detroit manufacturers who are none too pleased with NASCAR's "CoT" and the fact that literally all brand distinctiveness has been eliminated with the "spec" bodywork required in Sprint Cup. The Hot Idea? The Detroit manufacturers want their "pony" cars to be made eligible for the Sprint Cup in 2010, with stock bodywork dimensions, no less. They want more of a direct connection between what they run in NASCAR and what they sell on the street. That means putting all of the CoT safety developments within the production body dimensions of the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger, with an entry from Toyota to be determined. It also means a return to NASCAR's old days, when every race weekend's technical inspection became a forum for lobbying and intense carrying-on by the manufacturers searching for an advantage. The reality? NASCAR got wind of this idea at Indy and suggested that the Nationwide Series would be a better forum for "pony" cars, but the manufacturers have already dismissed that idea out of hand. They want their "pony" cars to have a raison d'etre, and one way to do it is to race them in NASCAR, which would do wonders to enhance their marketing programs. That's why the manufacturers want them in Sprint Cup by 2010. NASCAR, on the other hand, feels a nightmare coming on while envisioning trying to balance the manufacturers' competitiveness with each other on the track. They better get used to it.

2. Elevate the technology.
This is something that NASCAR better get on board with, because the manufacturers are more than adamant about it. They're tired of NASCAR's head-in-sand approach when it comes to applying technology to Sprint Cup. On the manufacturers' wish list? Direct fuel-injection, overhead cams and alternative fuel. And that means walking away from "spec" engines too - and doing away with the common bore centers that NASCAR is requiring. And the fact that NASCAR just went to unleaded racing fuel not long ago isn't cutting it with Detroit, either. They're thinking E85 instead. The reality? NASCAR will argue that these kinds of changes will add to the cost for the teams, but that argument isn't likely to hold water with the Detroit manufacturers. NASCAR's "yester-tech" comfort zone with 60s automotive technology will have to finally be put out to pasture, if they want the Detroit manufacturers to stay interested, that is.

3. A total reevaluation of the road racing program. Right now NASCAR has two road races on their schedule, but two of the three Detroit manufacturers want to add at least two more road races to the schedule without adding to the total number of races (see the next point below). Not only that, these manufacturers want all-new cars mandated for the road races, meaning that special cars would have to be built just for the road racing events. What these cars would look like and what their specifications would be is yet to be determined, but suffice to say there's room for a radical interpretation with this aspect of Detroit's NASCAR "wish" list. The reality? One of the reasons NASCAR went to their vaunted CoT was to eliminate the need for having to build different cars for different tracks (super speedways, intermediate ovals, short tracks, road races, etc.), so this proposal is likely to meet intense pushback from NASCAR management. But then again, if cooler heads prevail in Daytona Beach, they might just realize that if the manufacturers are enthused about this then it might just be better to go with the flow, because the alternative is not looking so appealing at this point.

4. Cut the schedule. To the manufacturers this is a "no-brainer." You want to cut costs? Then cut the number of races, which will allow the manufacturers to reduce their overall expenditures. One manufacturer in particular has already suggested eliminating at least four races from the overall schedule, while adding two more road races, which means effectively cutting six existing races from the schedule. The easiest solution to get there? Do away with the double visits to certain tracks during the season. The reality? Them's fighting words in Daytona Beach. Nobody messes with their schedule and nobody tells them what to do when it comes to their tracks. We'll see about that.

5. Eliminate the truck series. The implosion of the casual-use pickup truck market in the U.S. does not bode well for NASCAR's truck series. And the fact that NASCAR hasn't been able to land a sponsor to replace Craftsman doesn't bode well for the truck series either. The Detroit manufacturers wouldn't mind if NASCAR's truck series went bye-bye. As a matter of fact, one of the manufacturers has already let it be known that they're as good as through with the truck series. The reality? NASCAR may not have much choice here.

6. Make the Nationwide Series a true driver development series. The majority of the Detroit Three want the Nationwide Series to be strictly a driver development series, which means Sprint Cup drivers wouldn't be allowed to compete. Sounds simple enough, right? The reality? NASCAR doesn't take too kindly to people telling them what they can or cannot do when it comes to a competitive aspect in one of their series, but who knows? Once NASCAR gets use to grappling with all of these other ideas from the manufacturers, this might be the easiest one to go along with.

These are the key proposals - at least the "high hard ones" anyway - that the Detroit Three plan on discussing with NASCAR in the next few weeks.

Woman Suing NASCAR has Questionable Past

2008-08-07T21:32:00.001-07:00

Former NASCAR Official Mauricia Grant, who has accused NASCAR of racial discrimination and sexual harassment, has had a restraining order filed against her by an ex-boyfriend and she was also arrested for a DUI, according to the Associated Press.

Grant, who filed a $225 Million lawsuit against NASCAR, was also charged with driving with a suspended license when she still was an employee of NASCAR as a technical inspector in the Nationwide series.

Grants attorney said that his client is not refuting anything that is in her past and that her pervious actions have no bearing on the suit that she filed against NASCAR in June.

"Ms. Grant's alleged prior actions are totally irrelevant to this suit," attorney Benedict P. Morelli said in a statement. "NASCAR must obey the law and should focus its full attention on improving the discriminatory and hostile work environment to which employees are subject."

NASCAR has stated that her past actions are a direct reflection on Ms.Grant’s character, and will continue to fight the claims she has made against the racing series.

"Clearly, these revelations show that there are always at least two sides to every story," NASCAR said in a statement to the AP. "We are confident that over the course of this process even more facts will come to light and justice will be served."

Court documents show that Grant has had legal issues as far back as 2002 when a restraining order was filed by an ex-boyfriend against her.

Willie Lowery was granted a temporary restraining order by the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging Grant threatened his life and harassed him with repeated phone calls at home and at work.

"She has made many threats on my life and job. She called my job ... up to six times attempting to slander my name and have me fired," Lowery wrote in his complaint. “She has been spotted in front of my home on several occasions. She has contacted all of my family and friends attempting to make threats and slander my name. She has also contacted my current girlfriend and I feel she is in jeopardy as well."

Grant also was jailed for two days in July 2004, for driving under the influence in Los Angeles. She pleaded no contest a month later, but failed to meet the terms of her probation and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in January 2005.
A spokesman for firm representing Morelli and Grant in this suit said the case was never settled because Grant began working for NASCAR and was busy traveling for her new job.

Grant also was charged with driving with a suspended license in Atlanta last October while working for NASCAR. She was fired later that month, and NASCAR has declined to say why Grant was terminated.

Grant, who is black, claims in her suit she was fired for complaining about how she was treated by fellow officials during her employment. The suit alleges she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time." She also claimed she was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan.
Grants attorney said that NASCAR actions are father proof that her claims are indeed valid.

"Despite this apparent smear campaign against Mauricia Grant, NASCAR has not refuted one single claim Ms. Grant has made about the discrimination and harassment she endured," Morelli said. "Instead, NASCAR suspended two officials in the course of its interminable internal investigation, and had previously fired an employee later named in the suit for an undisclosed reason."

NASCAR Newscast: Watkins Glen Preview

2008-08-06T21:34:00.001-07:00

NASCAR Newscast: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500

2008-08-04T21:35:00.001-07:00

Race Recap: Fellows Wins In The Rain At Montreal

2008-08-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

MONTREAL, Canada -- "Rain man" Ron Fellows took advantage of pit strategy and an early end to Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 to score the fourth NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of his career -- and his first at a track other than Watkins Glen International.

In the first NASCAR points race on rain tires -- tires constructed in 1999, no less -- Fellows, a road course specialist and a two-time class winner in the rain at Le Mans, held the lead when NASCAR called the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 25 laps short of its scheduled distance of 74 laps.

Fellows, 48, had pitted early on Lap 22 and gradually worked his way to the front, taking the lead when Jacques Villeneuve pitted on Lap 42.

"That was difficult," Fellows said as he climbed from the No. 5 Chevrolet fielded by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports. "We’ve had a little bit of that over in France with the Corvette at Le Mans.

"But this was good fun. Now I’ve got to make Dale Jr. let me run next week (when the NASCAR Nationwide Series goes to Watkins Glen)."

Earnhardt is scheduled to race in the No. 5 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next week. Fellows will drive the No. 01 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the Sprint Cup race.

Patrick Carpentier, a native of Quebec, finished second for the second straight year at the 2.709-mile road course. Carpentier gained ground after NASCAR red-flagged the race on Lap 8 because of rain and required all cars to change from slicks to rain tires that featured a tread pattern designed to push water away.

"The rain tire -- everybody had questions about it, but it worked," Carpentier said. "I don’t know if I would have wanted to be out there on dry tires that were nine years old, but the (rain) tires held up very well."

Third-place finisher Marcos Ambrose led a race-high 27 laps, but a penalty for speeding on pit road deprived him of the chance to win.

"I feel a little jinxed," Ambrose said. "I felt like I dominated the race. I feel really disappointed. I felt like it was our race today."

Ron Hornaday Jr. ran fourth, followed by Boris Said, Carl Edwards, Jason Leffler, Greg Biffle, series points leader Clint Bowyer and Scott Wimmer.

With the skies getting darker and visibility becoming a major problem, NASCAR called a halt to the proceedings after cars started wrecking under caution. Villeneuve was running sixth when he sustained severe damage to the front end of his Toyota, and minutes later, Joey Logano lost a fourth-place finish when he ran into the lapped car of Alex Garcia.

Notes: Legendary Hollywood stunt man Stan Barrett, who hadn’t competed in a NASCAR race since 1990, qualified 42nd and finished 39th, 14 positions behind his son, Stanton Barrett. That marked the first time since June 30, 2002 -- when Tim Sauter and sons Jay, Johnny and Tim raced together at the Milwaukee Mile -- that a father and son competed in the same NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Barrett, 65, was the first person to exceed the speed of sound in a land vehicle (739.666 mph in 1979). ... Under the third caution of the race, Edwards drove with one hand, and with the other, used a Swiffer to wipe the rain off his windshield. The No. 60 Ford team opted not to mount a windshield wiper when the crew changed to rain tires under the first caution.

CLOSEST FINISH in Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series (with video)

2008-08-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,Montreal

Close finishes continue to be a common occurrence in the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series as Friday's Montreal 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve produced the narrowest margin yet in series history.

Canadian Mark Wilkins, a native of Toronto, passed another Toronto-born driver, Darren Law, and Spaniard Antonio Garcia on the last of 69 laps when Law ran out of fuel on the main straightaway. It was a first career victory for Wilkins and co-driver Brian Frisselle, as the former beat Garcia to the line by just 0.064secs.

Frisselle had started the AIM machine and jumped from third to first on the opening lap, but contact between him and points leader Scott Pruett sent the #61 Ford Riley spinning to the rear of the field. Undeterred however, Frisselle marched the car quickly back into the top ten, before handing off to Wilkins on lap 23.

“It started off a little bit rough," Frisselle said later, "Scott got into the back of me at the start and spun me around, which pretty much put me dead-last. We came from the back of the pack though and the car was great. I think we had the fastest lap of the race during my stint, and I think I passed all the way to seventh.”

Pruett, meanwhile, kept the #01 Ganassi car out front until his driver change, but Law took the lead from the American's co-driver Memo Rojas on lap 57 and held off Joey Hand – who led a strong charge before retiring after running out of fuel on the final lap – then Garcia and Wilkins. Later on the lap, however, the #58 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley slowed as it approached the chequered flag.

Garcia, co-driving for the first time this season with Christian Fittipaldi, tried to go left and then right when he saw Law slow, but Wilkins was already making the pass. Wilkins shot past both drivers, taking the flag first - the only lap the AIM Autosport team led all race. The victory was the first for a Ford engine in the Daytona Prototype class since Barber Motorsports Park in July 2006, and preserved the series' jinx on pole winners, who also have not won a race since late last season.

NASCAR Newscast: Pocono Preview

2008-08-01T10:49:00.001-07:00

Lakeland Speedway to Close

2008-07-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL will host the second leg of the Florida Triple Crown late model race this Saturday night, then the track will close its doors.

Track officals have confirmed that the 3/4 mile track will close all operations and be razed to make room for an imdustrial park.

“As far as I know, the owner decided to sell it out,” said an emotional Barry Williams, the track’s operations manager. “All I can say is to come out and watch the race.”

USA Internatial opened in 1995 with camping amenities, aluminum grandstands and lighting comparable to many NASCAR tracks. It hosted races for the Auto Racing Club of America (ARCA), American Speed Association and the season opener and finale for the Hooters Pro Cup Series.

According to the Polk County Property Appraiser’s Web site, the speedway was bought in May 2007 by USA International Speedway Holdings, LLC, which is based out of Clearwater, for $6.2 million.

Corporate agent, Thomas C. Little and track owner Anthony Amoco, both of Clearwater, could not be reached for comment.

USA International Speedway President Billy Martino told the The Ledger in Lakeland that the track had been sold but that specifics regarding the sale, including the purchasing party and amount, would not be disclosed until the official statement is made Monday.

He said it would be torn down and that warehouses would be built on the site.

“It kind of happened fast. It wasn’t planned,” Martino said. “The current owners had a chance to get out, and, with no potential sponsors, it was probably a good business decision.”

Martino said that after the death of Robert Brooks, founder of the Hooters of America restaurant chain and the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Hooters decided to take their marketing in a direction that lessened its focus on racing.

As a result, the speedway lost its primary Hooters sponsorship and the number of USAR Pro Cup races scheduled at USA Speedway was cut.

“We had about a year to prolong this and make it work,” Martino said. “The highest use for this track is just not racing.”

In the end, the economic reality forced USA Speedway’s owners to sell.

Martino added that there won’t be any extra festivities during this weekend’s race to celebrate the track. He said they plan to go out silently with the final race.

“It’s emotional for me,” Martino said. “I’ve been here for 25 years. I’ve tried hard to keep it alive. … It’s the end of an era. It’s the last checkered flag at USA International Speedway.”

There are still three events on the schedule at USA Speedway after this weekend’s race, including a FASCAR race scheduled for September and a USAR Pro Cup race in October. Martino said both will be rescheduled and moved to other sites.

An auction will be held at the speedway Aug. 9.

Fans will be invited to bid on pieces of Polk County racing history. Martino said that everything, down to the pens on his desk, would be for sale. The only possible exception to that might be the concrete slab that is dedicated to the Nemechek family. Martino said the slab would be given to the Nemechek family if they wanted it.

“That’s pretty cool that they even thought about that,” said NASCAR Sprint Cup

driver and Lakeland native Joe Nemechek. He said he wasn’t sure how moving something like that would even be possible.

News of the track’s closing reached Ocala Speedway owner Mike Peters early Wednesday. He said that the buyers in 2007 had plans for the property that did not involve racing.

“It happens in this business,” he said. “It’s a difficult business to be in.”

Race Recap: Kyle Busch Wins Record 15th Race Of Year With VIctory At ORP

2008-07-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Brahler
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

CLERMONT, Ind. (July 26, 2008) -- Kyle Busch led 197 of 200 laps in winning the Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday night and captured his his series-leading sixth NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the season.

Busch now has 15 wins across NASCAR's top three series, surpassing the record set by two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kevin Harvick in 2006. It was the 14th NASCAR Nationwide Series win for Joe Gibbs Racing this season, also a new NASCAR Nationwide Series mark, and the 15th win overall for Toyota. Richard Childress Racing had 13 wins last season.

"I was kind of disappointed because I feel like that 15 horsepower cost me the pole," Busch said. "I really got to thank my competitors for doing the complaining they did, because we were able to have good traction control all night long. I feel like that was important, to get off the corners a little bit better than everybody," Busch said from victory lane.

Had Busch not been around, Roush Fenway Racing's up-and-comer, polesitter Colin Braun, 19, may have walked away with his first piece of NASCAR hardware but instead settled for second. Mike Bliss, despite spinning in Turn 2 on Lap 22, came back to finish third, while Scott Wimmer and Josh Wise finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Wise's finish was the best of his series career.

Rookie Cale Gale was sixth, also scoring his best finish to date, besting an eighth-place run earlier this season in Nashville. Fellow rookie Landon Cassill, working with a new crew chief this week in Cam Strader, finished seventh. Busch's JGR teammate Joey Logano, David Ragan and Steve Wallace rounded out the top 10.

There were seven caution flags through the event, four of them coming within the last 100 laps. On Lap 119, Indiana native Bryan Clauson was involved in a wreck after contact from Brad Keselowski. Nearly simultaneously, Kelly Bires smacked the wall after cutting a tire in Turn 3.

The remainder of the caution flags were single-car incidents.

Clint Bowyer continues to lead Keselowski in the season standings with a 173-point lead. Neither driver was a factor during the 200-mile race, with Bowyer finishing 18th and Keselowski 19th.

Race Recap: Benson Holds Off Hornaday For Second Straight Win

2008-07-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Brahler
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

CLERMONT, Ind. (July 25, 2008) -- Johnny Benson claimed his second straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on Friday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, holding off the challenge of Ron Hornaday, Jr. during a final two-lap run to the checkered flag in the Power Stroke Diesel 200.

Benson has claimed three wins this season in the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, all falling over the last four races. He was also the 10th different winner in the last 10 truck races at ORP.

Benson started the race eighth, the farthest back any truck series driver has started and won. Previously, nobody had won the event starting outside the top five.

Though falling short at the finish, Hornaday dominated the event, taking the lead from polesitter Bobby East on Lap 5. He led a race-high 153 laps before Benson swooped in for the lead by using the high lane in Turn 2 on Lap 162.

"There was no doubt we were the best two trucks," Benson said of himself and Hornaday from victory lane. "I started running his groove, it wasn't too bad. We made that pass on the outside of Ron. I didn't think it was going to stick."

Erik Darnell and Matt Crafton finished third and fourth, while Crafton's ThorSport Racing teammate Shelby Howard, who will make his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start of the season Saturday -- the first for NCTS staple ThorSport -- was a career-best fifth. The race also marked the first time that both ThorSport teams finished in the top five.

There were 11 caution flags through the event, with Kyle Busch again stirring up some controversy after he sent Chad McCumbee into the wall on Lap 136.

With 13 laps remaining, on Lap 187, Crafton got into Todd Bodine between Turns 1 and 2. Bodine hit the wall, also collecting Jack Sprague. The caution set up a restart on Lap 192, lining the field up for a single-file restart.

Hornaday was given one more chance to reclaim the lead as the 11th caution flag of the night dropped on Lap 195 when Benson's Bill Davis Racing teammate, Michael Annett, spun while pressuring Rick Crawford for the third position.

The final restart fell on Lap 198 of the 200-lap race. Hornaday gathered a final charge at Benson but his Chevrolet slipped high, allowing Benson to pull away.

Benson now leads Hornaday by 15 points in the season standings.

Brendan Gaughan, T.J.Bell, Busch, Mansfield winner Donny Lia and Mike Skinner closed out the top 10.

Was Newman Fired?

2008-07-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

Former Penske driver, Rusty Wallace, is saying that the reports that Ryan Newman asked to part ways with Penske Racing is untrue, Wallace is saying that in fact Ryan Newman was fired. On July 14, 2008 Ryan Newman announced that Roger Penske and him had ""mutually agreed" that Newman would leave the #12 Alltel Dodge after the 2008 season.

Rusty Wallace said this:

"He didn't leave, I've read many, many stories that said that. Roger Penske called Ryan Newman up to his office and said I don't need your services next year. Ryan Newman didn't come to him and say I'm leaving. You all need to write about that. That's exactly how it went down. I love Roger Penske, so I'm going to help clear up the story for him."

More From Wallace,

"I read the official press release from Penske when it came out,'' Wallace said. "Roger doesn't like anybody telling him that his equipment is junk. Obviously, Ryan and I never got along. That's for sure. You guys all know that. This guy (Penske) will give anybody anything they want. Engineers, whatever. Ryan knows that. We hyped up forever and ever that he is the engineer. For years and years. And they can't get that car figured out. I talked to Roger. He didn't like it. He didn't like all the negative stuff. I knew that they needed to move on quick. That's the key. He needed to move on and find a driver rather than Ryan saying I don't know if I want to come back, I might or I might not. Roger is not like that. He's not going to be held hostage by somebody else. You're in or you're out. There's no waffling, and Ryan was waffling. Roger says I'm not waiting, I'm moving."

Ryan Newman has been rumored to join Tony Stewart and the newly formed Stewart/Hass Racing team in 2009. When asked about the comments from Rusty Wallace this is what Newman had to say,

"I don't know what Rusty's grounds are, what he's trying to prove by saying that," Newman said. "That wasn't the case. Point blank. Roger and I decided mutually to not continue. It was more my decision than it was his. I had said our goals didn't align and for that reason and that reason alone, we decided not to continue after 2008."

NASCAR Newscast: Indianapolis Preview

2008-07-24T15:43:00.001-07:00

Stremme to Penske?

2008-07-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Sources close to Stock Car News, are saying that driver David Stremme will be announced as the new driver of the #12 Penske Dodge in 2009. Current driver Ryan Newman is leaving Penske after the 2008 season to reported go to the newly formed Stewart/Hass Racing.

Stremme, who drove for Chip Ganassi Racing, before being released at the end of last season, has been a test driver for Penske this year.

Stremme is also currently running in the Rusty Wallace Racing #64 in the Nationwide series

New Sponsor For NASCAR Truck Series

2008-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

News reports are saying that Kobalt Tools will be taking over as new series sponsor for the NASCAR Truck Series starting in 2009. Craftman Tools has been the series sponsor since the NASCAR Truck series started back in 1995, but will not renew their contact after this year.

Nascar has also been talking to NAPA Auto Parts and Stanley Tools as title sponsors but Kobalt seems to be the front runner, with a reported cost to title series rights to be in the mid to high seven figure range. This will include advertising commitments on Speed channel, the home of the Truck Series TV broadcast.

Kobalt Tools has ties to NASCAR with Jimmie Johnson and Lowes sponsorship. The deal could also give Kobalt Tools the title of "Official Tools of NASCAR" and with Lowes being the "Official Home Improvement Store of NASCAR" which is currently held by The Home Depot, who's deal also runs out at the end of the year

RYAN NEWMAN LEAVING PENSKE

2008-07-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

Penske Racing announced that driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge, Ryan Newman will not be returning to the team after the 2008 season.

"We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years" said owner Roger Penske "We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we'll continue to focus out efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season"

No announcement has been made for a replacement in the #12 Alltel Dodge, but according to Penske Racing a driver will be named soon.

Rumors around the garage area are saying that Newman will be in a 2nd car at the newly formed Stewart/Hass Racing team. ESPN is reporting that the deal between Stewart and Newman is already done and an announcement will be made at Indianapolis in 2 weeks.

Newman has said there are 3 serious options, and that one is part ownership of a team.

It was no secret the Newman has been unhappy with the performance of his team as of late. He said the team has made some improvements, but not enough to challenge for a championship.

NASCAR Newscast: LifeLock.com 400

2008-07-14T11:06:00.001-07:00

Kyle Busch Completes Weekend Sweep With LifeLock.com 400 Victory

2008-07-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

JOLIET, ILL. (July 12, 2008)NASCAR MEDIA.COM

Kyle Busch is hoping his good-luck streak continues.

Other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are hoping some of his good fortune rubs off on them.

After Busch led a race-high 165 laps in Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, defending series champion Jimmie Johnson took the lead for the first time with 17 laps to go. Busch figured Johnson was heading to Victory Lane, especially after Johnson drove away on a restart.

But David Gilliland's blown engine brought out another caution with just five laps remaining. And Busch took advantage of a slow restart, laying on Johnson's bumper and zipping past the two-time champion down the backstretch with just two laps left.

He continued his incredible Cinderella season, winning in NASCAR's top division for the seventh time this season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Many in the garage area would say that's what's known as making your own luck, or the most of an opportunity, something Busch has certainly done this year.

He also has won five times in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and twice in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He led more laps than anyone in his latest effort and his only snafu of the balmy night occurred when he drove through the grassy part of the tri-oval and got his No. 18 M&M's Toyota stuck in the mud.

His crew gladly pushed him out and Busch seemed incredulous that he got by Johnson at the end.

"I don't know how I did that," he said. "I sort of gave up on myself when I lost the lead but those guys over there (his jubilant pit crew) didn't give up."

Trailing Busch and Johnson at the finish were Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, Martin Truex, Jr., and Ryan Newman.

Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon was 11th after 267 laps. Neither Gordon nor Dale Earnhardt, Jr., were factors in the race. Earnhardt finished 16th, just ahead of Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Carl Edwards, who appeared to have a solid shot at winning, came to the pits on Lap 237 thinking he had a flat tire. It turned out his splitter on the front of his No. 99 Office Depot Ford broke and was hitting the track. He was never a factor afterwards, finishing 32nd, a lap behind the leaders.

There were nine caution periods during the race, several for debris. One of the debris cautions occurred on Lap 237 when Paul Menard ran into the rear end of Jason Leffler's car, knocking the rear valance off Leffler's car and into the middle of the track.

The race started after a spectacular flyover by four F-14's and a driver's meeting at which “The King”, Richard Petty, was recognized for his 50 years in the sport. The popular Petty, holder of many NASCAR records including most victories (200) and seven series championships, received a rousing standing ovation from his peers when introduced.

Things didn't start nearly as well for J. J. Yeley. His car was held until after the green flag waved due to a pre-race weight rule infraction.

David Reutimann also started the race on a down note when Leffler squeezed him into the wall after just a few laps.

The younger Busch took over like one of the F-14's, racing away to a comfortable lead in the early stages. He was the class of the field when NASCAR waved a mandatory caution on Lap 35 lap to allow the teams an opportunity to check tire wear. Rain on Thursday and Friday night had turned the race track green, leaving no rubber on it.

When racing resumed on Lap 40, Busch took up where he left off, but Edwards stayed with him. Edwards badgered Busch for several laps before passing him at Lap 45.

Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota shut off at Lap 48, prompting a second caution, which helped Burton, who had dropped way back in the field after missing his pit stall on the first caution.

After pit stops, Gordon took the lead by not pitting. He was trailed by Biffle, Vickers, Newman and Busch.

Hamlin came back on the track after a trip to the garage where his crew switched ignition panels. The trip cost him four laps.

Biffle passed Gordon for the lead on Lap 58 and the top 10 included Vickers in third, then Busch, Stewart, Edwards, Kenseth, Johnson, Truex, Jr., and Harvick.

By 100 laps, Stewart had taken the lead and Truex was threatening to do so.

The third caution of the race waved on Lap 111 when Michael Waltrip fell victim to a miscue out of turn four by Patrick Carpentier, whose car slid into the wall right in front of Waltrip. When Waltrip backed off, Burton nipped him in the rear, sending him on a spin through the grassy infield.

Busch worked his way back to the front by Lap 20 while Kenseth fell back in the field with a flat tire and unscheduled pit stop.

Stewart was second with young David Ragan third. The two Red Bull Racing Toyotas with Allmendinger and Vickers were next in line.

At the halfway point of 130 laps, Edwards was sixth, Harvick seventh and Martin eighth. Johnson and Biffle rounded out the top 10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., was running back in 19th position and did not appear to be a factor at this point in the race.

OLD SCHOOL RACING SERIES STILL GOING ON STRONG

2008-07-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Old School Racing Series is still going on after some delays from sponsorships deals; the series will indeed make the first start at Music City Motorplex on July 18th 2009. The event called “The Old School – Racing Reunion.com Shootout” will be the inaugural start for the new series.

OSR, in conjunction with RacersReunion.com, will bring the July 18th
event live to the web with the veteran racing analyst Randy Pemberton
in the broadcast booth with many special guest that will bring the
fans racing stories that may never be heard again. Fans not attending
the event will be able to view it live in it’s entirety at
www.RacersReunion.com.

Some of the greatest drivers of all time have been slated to compete
in this long anticipated inaugural event. Harry Gant, Sterling
Marlin, Geoff Bodine, Dave Marcis, Jack Ingram, Larry Pollard,
Charlie Glotzbach, Joe Ruttman, Tommy Houston, Mike Alexander, and
Randy LaJoie will treat racing fans to a night of racing they’ll
never forget.

Drivers will be available for autographs between qualifying and race
time. Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm and the green flag
drops for the Shootout at 8:30 pm. One of the must see events during
the live broadcast will be a round table discussion with four of
these racing legends. It will be hosted by Randy Pemberton and is
sure to bring out some great stories from these “old school” drivers.

“It’s great to finally give the fans something they’ve wanted to
see,” said OSR Managing Partner Gene Weaver. “These guys are my
hero’s and putting these legends back on the track is not just a
thrill for the fans, but also to everyone involved in the Old School
Racing Series. We’re excited about this opportunity to bring this
inaugural event to the fans along with RacersReunion.com and our
sponsors.”

This special event will also serve as the national launch of the
“Suitcase Jake Commemorative Fund” established to raise money for
Jake Elder, one of motor racings true living legends. The “Jake Elder
Crew Chief of the Race Award,” sponsored by Darrell Waltrip, will go
to the winning car’s crew chief. In addition, OSR will offer, for
sale at the track and on their website (www.osrct.com), a “Suit Case
Jake” commemorative coin. All proceeds from the sale of the coin
will go to assist Jake.

“One of our goals at Old School Racing is to establish the Retired
Racers Foundation to help support retired racers that may need some
extra help,” said OSR Managing Partner Gene Weaver. “Pioneers of
racing, like Jake Elder, did not get the huge paychecks that these
guys get today, yet they paved the way and we want to try to pay them
back for everything they have done for this sport. Helping “old
school” racers is a lofty goal, but one that is long overdue.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to participate in this event with OSR,”
said Jeff Gilder, of the RacersReunion Network. “Our goal is to bring
recognition to the roots of stock car racing and to keep these
legends of the sport in front of their fans. This is a perfect fit
for us.”

Tickets for the event start at just $15.00 and can be purchased
online at www.ticketmaster.com. And the three hour-live broadcast can
be seen for FREE at www.RacersReunion.com.

NASCAR Newscast: Chicagoland Preview

2008-07-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

ITS OFFICAL STEWART/HASS RACING in 2009

2008-07-08T23:03:00.000-07:00

ESPN.com is reporting that #20 Cup driver Tony Stewart has been granted a release from the final year of his contact at Joe Gibbs Racing. It is reported that Stewart will make an announcement on Wednesday about his leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.

On Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway it is believed he will make a formal announcement on his move to HASS/CNC Racing, and that he will be a co-owner and driver, with the team being renamed to Stewart/Hass Racing in 2009.

ESPN reports that Stewart's deal will make him the highest paid driver ever in NASCAR. Is is thought that Tony Stewart will carry the #14, which was made famous in Indy Car by Stewart's hero AJ Foyt, the number is currently available in the Sprint Cup Series, but the number change is not confirmed yet.
Stewart will have a 50% stake in the organization, but what his out of pocket investment is was not reported
No sponsors have been announced yet, but talk is that Office Depot is involved. Driver Ryan Newman is said to be the lead candidate to drive Stewart Haas' second car, but no confirmation has been made yet.
The new Stewart Haas team will continue to receive chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports. No word yet on the fate of current HASS/CNC drivers, Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter, they are ranked 36th and 44th in the NASCAR Cup Owner Standings.
Tony Stewart will be able to use his Champion Provisional for the first 5 races of 2009 if the current team standings do not improve to above the 35th place in Owner standings.

UPDATE: A formal announcement is expected on Thursday. Fans can watch the news conference live on NASCAR.COM at 2:30 p.m. ET

UP TO SPEED

2008-07-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

Some news to get you up to speed this week:

The NASCAR Sprint Cup team of Martin Truex Jr was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-3.8A (roof of the car does not conform to the specifications) of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book.

As a result, Truex Jr. and car owner Teresa Earnhardt have been penalized 150 championship driver and 150 championship owner points, respectively. Both the crew chief, Kevin Manion, and the car chief, Gary Putnam, have been suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, suspended from NASCAR until Aug. 27 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, Manion has been fined $100,000.

The infractions were discovered July 3 during opening day inspection.

JR Motorsports will be looking for a sponsor for Brad Keselowski next season after being informed that the Navy will not return as a sponsor for the Nationwide Series team. "We were informed last week that our sponsorship with the U.S. Navy will not renew at the end of the year,” team spokesman Mike Davis said Tuesday. “It's been an exceptional partnership since 2005, and we look forward to a strong finish to the season.”

Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway is reporting that Teresa Earnhardt has enlisted the services of Bear, Stearns and Company [actally there is no more Bear Stearns as JP Morgan acquired them] to find a buyer -- or at least a major financial investor -- for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Bear Stearns is an investment bank, securities trading and brokerage firm based in New York City, and has been charged with finding a buyer for the entire operation. Barring that, Earnhardt is said to be interested in selling at least a minority interest in the team. DEI president Max Siegel on Tuesday refuted the Internet report that company owner Teresa Earnhardt had commissioned investment banking firm Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. to locate a buyer or financial investment partner. "We have not engaged Bear, Stearns or Goldman Sachs or anyone else," Siegel said. "We are contacted all the time by outside firms about getting involved in the sport. We are not for sale right now. Nothing is imminent. Are we constantly weighing that as an option? Does that make sense? Quite frankly, we don't know," Siegel said. "Every team is looking for a way to bring in appropriate resources. Every single one. We haven't engaged anybody. People obviously approach us -- they're approaching everybody. We're looking to be around for a long time in future. We're feeling pretty damn good about where we're going, competition-wise." Siegel was forced to approach his driving corps with assurance that the team is currently not for sale. "I have assured them it's not true," Siegel said. But reports also say that Siegel himself my have an interest in bying DEI.

Mauricia Grant Speaks On Why She Filed A Lawsuit Against NASCAR

2008-07-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

FROM ESPN.com

Race Recap: Kyle Busch Takes Sixth Win In Daytona Thriller

2008-07-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

From NASCARMEDIA.com
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. -- Fireworks started the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola Saturday night. Fireworks ended the race as well, both on and off the track.

In a wild and wooly finish so typical of races at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Busch won by a whisker over hard-charging Carl Edwards with a chain-reaction accident behind them sending up a cloud of smoke that covered the track.

The race ended in a green, white, checkered finish after a spectacular night of racing that more resembled a Saturday night short track event where rubbing fenders and banging bumpers is a rule rather than exception. The bumping continued on a restart when Edwards tapped Gordon, who was second at the time, in the rear and sent him spinning off the track.

The untimely collision sent Gordon from second to 31st in the race rundown.
Following Busch and Edwards across the finish line were Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Brian Vickers, Mark Martin and Travis Kvapil.

Kasey Kahne was 11th after racing with the leaders most of the night before a sideswipe with another driver cut a tire and forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop.

Former Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish, Jr., was next after another impressive run. Hornish kept his Dodge in contention throughout the 160-lap event before being caught up in the late race melee that scattered car parts all over the track. Michael Waltrip, Dave Blaney, Paul Menard and several other drivers were a part of the domino-type accident at the end. So was J. J. Yeley, who kept the Home Depot Toyota in contention after relief driving for Tony Stewart, who was under the weather and had to climb out of his car shortly before the halfway point.

Denny Hamlin, winner of Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide race, ran with the fastest cars before a shunt with this year's Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman ended his chances. Newman's night wound up a nightmare. He was involved in three accidents, the last one crippling his already-damaged machine.

Hamlin wound up 30th with Newman 36th.

It was Busch's sixth win of the season and he managed to do it after almost spinning out himself. A mishap earlier in the race put him way back in the pack but he made it back to the front by the end. He heads to Chicago still leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup points chase by a comfortable margin.

After a spectacular pre-race show with typical Fourth of July fireworks and the rollout of an enormous American flag, Menard led the 43-car from the pole in his DEI Chevrolet. Fan favorite Earnhardt quickly moved into second place with Johnny Sauter third.

At Lap 10, Menard still led but all eyes were on the No. 20 of Tony Stewart, who spent several hours in the care center prior to the race trying to figure out why he felt a little out of sorts. Stewart moved from 17th starting position to seventh. Sauter fell off the pace since he used a qualifying setup to make the race as did sports car ace Boris Said, who went from seventh starting position to 41st after 20 laps.

Earnhardt passed Menard for the lead on Lap 20, just before A. J. Allmendinger blew a right front tire after starting the race on a qualifying setup.

After a pit stop that included the entire field, Kyle Busch came out first, trailed by Menard, Smith, Blaney, Ragan, Kvapil, Kenseth, Vickers, Kevin Harvick and Stewart on the 24th lap.

It didn't take long for NASCAR's best drivers to produce some fireworks of their own. With Kyle Busch still leading, guys swapped positions behind him every lap. At times, the first 20 cars were running so close together, a matter of inches separated them on all sides. Earnhardt streaked to the front on the 36th lap with Busch second, Blaney third and Stewart once again storming towards the front in third place. The top 10 included Martin, Vickers, Kahne, Gordon, Kenseth and Kvapil.

Ryan Newman got a little help from Jamie McMurray exiting turn two and spun off the corner bringing out a caution on the 43rd lap.

Fortunately, Newman's Dodge made no contact with the walls and continued the race.

When racing resumed, it was Busch and Earnhardt up front with Stewart, Martin and Gordon right behind. Menard had fallen well back in the pack. By Lap 55, Earnhardt was back up front again with Martin and Gordon in tow.

Greg Biffle and Juan Pablo Montoya got together on the 70th lap coming out of turn four to bring out another caution.

Stewart, too sick to continue, was replaced by Yeley. The driver switch shoved Yeley back to 39th but he remained on the lead lap. Johnson had the lead when the race resumed and before you could blink an eye, teammate Gordon got a shove from Earnhardt and took the lead.

Point leader Busch almost lost control just a lap past the halfway point and swerved all over the track before regaining control of his Toyota. He dropped from a top five spot to 37th.

Kyle Busch Takes Sixth Win In Daytona Thriller

2008-07-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

2008-07-06T08:48:00.001-07:00

Saleen's Little Girl Making First NASCAR START

2008-07-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

Sources close to STOCK CAR NEWS are telling me that Molly Saleen, daughter of Steve Saleen founder and president of Saleen, Inc., a specialty vehicle manufacturer, is making her first NASCAR start, in the #07 Ford owned by Baker Curb Racing (formerly Brewco Motorsports), sponsors on board are reportedly Arctic Ice and Mag-Z. She will be testing the next couple weeks but is due to start in the Camping World East race at Music City Motorplex on July 19 in the Camping World Series 150.

Her father Steven Saleen started Saleen Autosport in 1983. Saleen began improving the appearance and performance characteristics of the Ford Mustang. By 1984, Saleen had completed the first Saleen Mustang. He equipped the car with special aerodynamic, suspension and handling packages, and an attractive and highly functional cockpit. Proving that his car could successfully compete against the world’s top sports cars, Saleen brought home a win at the grueling 24-hour race in Mosport, Canada.

Molly Saleen is reportedly receiving training for her first race by a driver not named, but is a team mate of hers at Baker Curb Racing

Brain France On Drug Testing in NASCAR

2008-07-04T18:48:00.001-07:00

NASCAR NEWS FOR THE WEEKEND

2008-07-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Top Sponsors Fuel the Return of TNT's 'Wide Open Coverage': TNT announced its full lineup of sponsors for this year's highly-touted Wide Open Coverage race telecast, which will air once again during the primetime Coke Zero 400 race from Daytona International Speedway on Sat., July 5th. The ten national sponsors, which matches last year's sponsorship commitment, featured in this year's innovative telecast include Coke Zero, Coors Light, HP, Papa John's, Sprint, Subway, Toyota, US Army, Viagra and Warner Bros. TNT's exclusive Wide Open Coverage telecast is a groundbreaking television presentation format that provides continuous race coverage free of national commercial breaks and features 22% more unobstructed race action than that of a standard telecast by using a letterbox widescreen format. In place of the national ads, the telecast features a variety of animated sponsor messages, unique branded content and distinct on-screen graphic elements. Wide Open Coverage debuted on TNT during the 2007 Daytona 400 race and showcased extended non-stop green flag racing, missing only three laps of green flag racing. The network's race coverage begins at 6:30pm/et with the NASCAR Live pre-race show hosted by Marc Fein with analysts Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds, followed by the Allstate Countdown to Green at 7:30pm/et with Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach and Petty with reports from pit reporters Marty Snider, Matt Yocum, Ralph Sheheen and Lindsay Czarniak. The race will begin at 8:00pm/et with a brief Wide Open Coverage introduction by Sprint Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle

Martin back to fulltime in 2009, to the #5 HMS car: Mark Martin has signed a two-year agreement to drive for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009. Martin will race the full 2009 Sprint Cup schedule in the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy, becoming teammates with #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. It will mark his first full season of Cup competition since 2006, when he finished ninth in points. A Batesville, Ark., native, Martin also is slated to run a partial Sprint Cup schedule for Hendrick Motorsports in 2010, sharing the #5 Chevys with a to-be-determined second driver. Martin will enter 26 events, including the non-points Budweiser Shootout and Sprint All-Star Race. “Mark is an incredible racer and one of the classiest guys around,” said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, whose organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009. “He is a driver who makes everyone around him better, and our entire company is going to benefit from his presence.”
“I feel very fortunate to have this chance to win races and go after a championship with Hendrick Motorsports,” Martin said. “Coming back full time wasn’t something we planned, but driving the #5 car, with all its history, was an impossible opportunity to pass up. Rick and I have enjoyed a great relationship over the years, and we’ve always talked about doing this. Now it’s working out, and we’re both excited about the possibilities.” Martin, 49, will be paired with crew chief Alan Gustafson, who now is in his fourth season at the helm of the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevy team. Gustafson has posted four Sprint Cup wins as a crew chief and has a history with Martin, having worked with him in multiple Nationwide Series events

Menard and Yates? John Menard, the wealthy businessman (Menards, the privately owned home improvements company), may be losing interest in NASCAR racing after so many years, according to sources. Menard, whose son #15-Paul is driving for DEI, is reportedly in negotiations with Ford’s Jack Roush, perhaps to help fellow owner Doug Yates keep afloat in this sport, which would involve a move from Chevrolet to Ford. “I don’t have any idea what might be going on there,” DEI’s Story said. “We just met with John, and everything is good.

NASCAR Newscast: Daytona Preview

2008-07-03T22:00:00.001-07:00

NASCAR Newscast: Lenox Industrial Tools 301

2008-06-30T16:17:00.001-07:00

Hornaday Wins NCTS O'Reilly 200

2008-06-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

By Tim Tuttle, Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (June 28, 2008) -- Ron Hornaday Jr. led the final 129 laps and survived a green-white-checkered finish to win the O'Reilly 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Hornaday's victory in the Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet was his third of the season and boosted him into the points lead, 27 in front of Matt Crafton. It was Hornaday's 36th career victory in the series, tops all-time.

Erik Darnell was second in a Roush Fenway Racing Ford and Crafton third in his ThorSport Racing Chevrolet.

Hornaday led 139 of the 204 laps, four over the scheduled distance on the .75-mile track. He pulled away from Darnell on the overtime restart, leading by two truck lengths into the first corner, and was never threatened. Hornaday's margin of victory was .269 seconds.

Each Memphis race winner is presented with a statuette of Elvis Presley, a copy of the full-size statue on Memphis' famous Beale Street.

"That Elvis (Presley) Trophy is the coolest in the world," Hornaday said. "I really wanted that trophy."

Hornaday started third and passed polesitter Johnny Benson for the lead on the inside in Turn 1 on the 44th lap. He tapped Benson's Bill Davis Racing Toyota in the rear in Turn 4 to set up the pass.

"Benson got loose and I got into the back of him," Hornaday said. "I'll take the blame. I didn't want to pass him that way, and Johnny knows that."

Hornaday was seventh and Benson eighth for a restart on Lap 58 following their first pit stops, trailing trucks that had either not pitted or pitted earlier.

The two blasted in tandem to the front, passing Stacy Compton on the inside of Turn 1 on Lap 76.

On the next restart on Lap 83, Benson's truck didn't accelerate. He limped around the track with an engine that didn't have any power and dropped out, finishing 33rd. Benson, who led 43 laps, fell from first to fourth in the points, 56 behind Hornaday.

"Benson had the truck to beat," Hornaday said. "He needed to break for us to win. I don't know if we want to be in the points lead. Everybody who gets in it seems to have problems."

Darnell's second-place run was his third straight top-five and fifth of the season.

"It was a really good night," Darnell said. "We qualified well and kept it up front most of the night. We were good on long runs. Ron (Hornaday) was better on restarts all night."

Darnell was 10th for the restart on Lap 83 and steadily worked his way forward. He passed Rick Crawford for second on the inside in Turn 1 on Lap 139 and stayed there to the checkered flag.

Crafton started 16th and charged to third, passing Crawford for the position on Lap 181 and holding it to the end. Crawford was fourth and David Starr finished fifth.

Stewart bags fifth Nationwide win at Loudon

2008-06-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

By Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

LOUDON, N.H. (June 28, 2008) -- Aside from Tony Stewart becoming the 22nd different winner in 22 Nationwide Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the outcome of Saturday's Camping World RV Sales 200 was more of the same for NASCAR's Triple-A division.

Stewart's victory was the eighth of the season for the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, which has carried four different drivers to victory lane this year -- Stewart on five occasions and Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and rookie phenom Joey Logano once each.

Hamlin and Busch, in fact, chased Stewart for the final 64 laps, after Stewart took the lead for good on Lap 136. Hamlin, driving Braun Racing's No. 32 Toyota, was within a half-second of the leader when Greg Biffle crashed on Lap 200, the final circuit. The race ended under caution with Stewart, Hamlin and Busch in the top three spots, followed by Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.

Stewart credited crew chief Dave Rogers, a native of the neighboring state of Vermont, with the consistently excellent performance of the No. 20 Camry.

"There've been four drivers (to) win in this car, so it's not the drivers -- that's for sure," Stewart said. "We're the fortunate ones to be able to drive this thing."

A two-tire call on Stewart's final pit stop in Lap 129 got the No. 20 Toyota out in third place for a restart on Lap 133. Three laps later, Stewart took the lead from Edwards, who had taken fuel only on the pit stop, with a smooth pass entering Turn 1.

On Lap 138, Hamlin passed Edwards for second, and Busch followed into third position three laps after that, but neither could overtake the leader.

"We didn't know it would come down to a track position race," said Busch, who took four tires on his final pit stop, restarted eighth and had to work his way through traffic. "We got out-strategized there at the end."

Notes: Todd Braun's No. 32 and No. 38 Toyotas were painted black, with no sponsor decals on either car. The cars were a symbol of mourning for the team owner's mother, Linda Braun, who died Wednesday. . . The race marked the first 1-2-3 Nationwide Series finish for Toyota. . . Stewart led 75 laps and Busch 63, as the Gibbs cars dominated. . . Series points leader Clint Bowyer finished ninth. . . Polesitter Landon Cassill had to start from the rear of the field because of an engine change. He gained 28 positions before a tap from Bobby Hamilton Jr. sent his No. 5 Chevy into the wall and out of the race on Lap 47. He finished 34th.

MacDonald Takes NCWS East Checkered Flag at New Hampshire

2008-06-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

LOUDON, N.H. (June 27, 2008) - Eddie MacDonald reached Victory Lane for the first time in 16 NASCAR Camping World Series East career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Friday evening in the Heluva Good! Summer 125.

MacDonald (No. 71 Grimm Construction/NEMO Chevrolet) and Trevor Bayne (No. 1 Dale Earnhadt Chevrolet) traded the lead several times down the stretch before the final caution came out on lap 122. On the ensuing restart MacDonald got the jump on Bayne to pull away for the win by half a second.

"This is just awesome," MacDonald said. "The one goal we had this year was to win Loudon, and we got it."

The victory for MacDonald was the fourth of his NASCAR Camping World Series East career. A native of Rowley, Mass., his previous best career finish at New Hampshire was seventh in 2004. His last trip to Victory Lane was on June 18, 2007 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.

"We've led a lot of laps here," MacDonald said, "but never seemed to be able to finish it off."

Bayne, a rookie, wound up as the runner-up, followed by Matt Kobyluck. It was the best career finish for Bayne, who had been third twice. Kobyluck tied his best New Hampshire finish in his 25th start at the 1.058-mile oval.

Rookies Austin Dillon and Ricky Carmichael registered top-five finishes in their first race at New Hampshire.

Marc Davis, Mike Olsen, John Salemi, Brad Leighton and Brian Ickler rounded out the top 10.

The NASCAR Camping World Series East will return to New England for the sixth race of the 2008 season on Saturday, July 12 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.

NASCAR Camping World Series East-Heluva Good! 125 Results
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.058 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (10) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 127 laps, 81.011 mph, $13,900.
2. (6) Trevor Bayne, Knoxville, Tenn., Chevrolet, 127, $10,215.
3. (4) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 127, $8,450.
4. (1) Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 127, $7,400.
5. (12) Ricky Carmichael, Clearwater, Fla., Chevrolet, 127, $6,500.
6. (7) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, MD., Toyota, 127, $5,900.
7. (21) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 127, $5,100.
8. (24) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 127, $4,600.
9. (22) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., Chevrolet, 127, $4,100.
10. (2) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 127, $4,200.
11. (18) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 127, $3,550.
12. (8) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Chevrolet, 127, $4,000.
13. (11) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 127, $3,900.
14. (33) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 127, $4,800.
15. (16) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 127, $3,200.
16. (19) Max Dumarey, Gent, Belgium, Chevrolet, 127, $3,068.
17. (23) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 127, $3,000.
18. (31) Charles Lewandoski, Stafford Springs, Conn., Toyota, 127, $2,950.
19. (15) Jamie Hayes, Norlina, N.C., Chevrolet, 127, $3,400.
20. (32) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes, N.J., Chevrolet, 127, $2,850.
21. (28) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Me., Chevrolet, 127, $2,800.
22. (17) Craig Goess, Greenville, N.C., Toyota, 127, $2,750.
23. (13) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 127, $3,200.
24. (26) Derek Thorn, Lakeport, Calif., Ford, 126, $2,675.
25. (36) Chase Mattioli, Long Pond, Pa., Ford, 125, $2,650.
26. (35) Antonio Perez, Mexico City, Mex., Dodge, 120, accident, $2,625.
27. (29) Scott Bouley, Wolcott, Conn., Chevrolet, 120, $2,600.
28. (3) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118, $3,100.
29. (14) Peyton Sellers, Danville, VA., Chevrolet, 118, $3,100.
30. (20) Ryan Duff, Hazard, Ky., Chevrolet, 108, accident, $2,600.
31. (34) Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y., Dodge, 108, accident, $2,600.
32. (9) Rogelio Lopez, Aquascalientes, Mexico, Chevrolet, 102, $3,100.
33. (30) Todd Peck, Glenville, PA., Chevrolet, 81, accident, $2,600.
34. (5) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 34, accident, $3,100.
35. (25) Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Nashville, Tenn, Dodge, 23, accident, $2,600.
36. (27) James Pritchard, Wharton, N.J., Dodge, 0, engine, $2,600.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 39 minutes 31 seconds
Margin of Victory: .515 secs
Fastest Qualifier: Field set as per rulebook, rain.
Caution Flags: 7 for 44 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M.Kobyluck 1-35; R.Lopez 36-41; E.MacDonald 42-70; B.Ickler 71-104; J.Hernandez 105-106; M.Kobyluck 107-118; T.Bayne 119-120; E.MacDonald 121-124; T.Bayne 125; E.MacDonald 126-127.
Standings: 1. A.Dillon, 807; 2. M.Kobyluck, 759; 3. B.Ickler, 731; 4. T.Bayne, 731; 5. M.Davis, 702; 6. E.MacDonald, 690; 7. J.Hernandez, 677; 8. S.Park, 669; 9. R.Carmichael, 654; 10. J.Earnhardt, 631.

‘In The Loop’ At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

2008-06-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth have combined for seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.
They’ve also combined for zero wins in 2008. According to the statistics, the “slump” will be busted sooner than later.
All three are either strong at this weekend’s track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, or over the 10-race Race to the Chase. Below is a rundown of the three drivers, and their chances of victory:

Tony Stewart

Of the three, Stewart has the least to worry about. He is a notorious late bloomer. In seven of his nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons, it took Stewart until after race No. 10 for his first victory (2002 and 2006).

Last season, it took him until race No. 19 at Chicagoland to capture his first win. His stats suggest this season’s first victory may come two races earlier – this weekend at New Hampshire, race No. 17.

His statistics there are phenomenal. Over the past six races, Stewart has a win, two runner-up finishes and a third-place finish. Below is Stewart’s race-by-race log over the last six races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the site of Sunday’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301 (all driver race logs can be seen at NASCARMedia.com):

Stewart at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Date Finish ARP FLR LT15% DR
7/05 1 2.2 80 100% 149.2
9/05 2 2.9 71 97.7% 143
7/06 37 29.2 8 29.2% 89.9
9/06 2 9.2 9 85.3% 109.5
7/07 12 10.4 5 87.0% 92.9
9/07 3 3.7 16 99.3% 122.8
Total 9.5 9.6 189 82.9% 117.9
ARP: Average Running Position
FLR: Fastest Laps Run
LT15: Percentage of Laps in the Top 15
DR: Driver Rating

But if a victory doesn’t happen this weekend for Stewart, it very well could happen before the Chase begins.

At the upcoming 10 tracks in the Race to the Chase – the 10 races prior to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – Stewart has 18 career wins, 59 top fives and 91 top 10s. And over the last three seasons, Stewart has series-best numbers in Driver Rating (107.2), Average Running Position (10.5) and Laps in the Top 15 percentage (76.2%).

Jeff Gordon

Like Stewart, Gordon excels at New Hampshire and has strong numbers at the Race to the Chase tracks.
Over the last three races at NHMS, Gordon has done just about everything but win. He finished second in both 2007 NHMS races, and third in the second race of 2006. Check out his numbers during that span:

Gordon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Date Finish ARP FLR LT15% DR
9/06 3 3.5 49 98.7% 125.1
7/07 2 4.1 38 97.3% 125
9/07 2 5.5 40 93.0% 119.8
Total 2.3 4.4 127 96.3% 123.3

Over the next 10 tracks, Gordon has a Driver Rating of 96.3 and an Average Running Position of 11.8 since 2005.

Matt Kenseth

Even without a Victory Lane trip, Kenseth is the hottest driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series right now. Over the last six races – all top-10 finishes – he has tallied more points than any other driver (934). And over the next 10 tracks, only Stewart boasts better numbers.

Over the last three seasons, Kenseth has a Driver Rating of 98.2 and Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 73.8% during the Race to the Chase. Both figures are second-best in the series.

"Smoke" Runs To HASS

2008-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Tony Stewart has been very tight lipped about his future in racing, and the rumors have been soaring. Maybe the question is finally answered.... Sources are saying that Tony Stewart is going to HASS CNC Racing, as a part or full time owner, and is getting a buy-out of the last year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing by manufacture Chevy. Stewart has a long relationship with Chevy, as Stewart's racing teams outside of NASCAR all have Chevy chassis's and are sponsored by Chevy.

Another twist to this news is the fact that Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Penske Dodge, is reportedly going with Stewart to HASS Racing. Newman has made it very clear that in the last few weeks that if improvements were not seen at the #12 team then he would go elsewhere.

Reported sponsors for the drivers are to be Burger King, and Office Depot, which recently announced they would not be with Roush/Fenway Racing after this season.

So who will be in the #20 and the #12? Well it is mostly likely Rookie Joey Lagono will take the place of Stewart in the #20. Lagono has had a great start to his NASCAR career with a win in his 2nd Nationwide race and a couple of front row starts, for JGR.

No driver yet has been named to the #12 if Newman leaves.

Tony Stewart leaving JGR.... done deal?

2008-06-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

I was told by a source that Tony is gone at the end of this year and that Chevy is buying out his contract. He is going to the same place that has been reported on, HASS Racing, and that Ryan Newman is going too. With sponsors Burger King and Office Depot. No news on who will be replacing Stewart in the #20 but word is that Rookie driver Joey Logano who has been very strong in his early runs in the Nationwide series.

More on Stewart and Haas CNC

2008-06-26T07:45:00.001-07:00

Tony Stewart is shopping for car sponsorships in anticipation of a potential partnership with Haas CNC Racing, multiple sources told ESPN.com. Although Stewart has a year left on his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing and JGR officials insist he hasn't asked for a release, the two-time Sprint Cup champion appears prepared to share ownership of Haas Racing's two-car team in 2009. One source close to the situation said there have been discussions with Ryan Newman as the second driver. Newman has said he will not return to Penske Racing if the performance of that team doesn't improve quickly. Newman's name definitely would help draw sponsorship to Haas. "He's talking to every major sponsor that is available out there for this Haas deal," one source said of Stewart and his representatives. "I don't know if it's done, but it sounds like it's very close." Office Depot and Old Spice have emerged as the favorites for at least one of the cars. Office Depot lost its bid to remain with Carl Edwards of Roush Fenway Racing when Aflac was chosen as the primary sponsor of the #99. Sources said there have been discussions with Stewart's representatives that would make Office Depot and Old Spice co-primaries with Office Depot as the lead sponsor. Old Spice already has a relationship with Stewart in the Cup and Nationwide Series. Stewart would not address his future following Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway. JGR president J.D. Gibbs insisted Stewart had not closed the door on signing a long-term deal with the company that brought him to Cup racing in 1999 and helped him win titles in 2002 and 2005. But there is widespread speculation that the reason JGR has rushed Joey Logano into the Nationwide Series is to prepare him to take Stewart's place should Stewart leave. Stewart admitted two months ago there had been inquiries from other teams. He acknowledged there had been talks with Haas CNC that included ownership.(ESPN.com)

With Haas partnership possible, Stewart has eye on sponsorship

2008-06-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

By David Newton
ESPN.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tony Stewart is shopping for car sponsorships in anticipation of a potential partnership with Haas CNC Racing, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Although Stewart has a year left on his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing and JGR officials insist he hasn't asked for a release, the two-time Sprint Cup champion appears prepared to share ownership of Haas Racing's two-car team in 2009.

One source close to the situation said there have been discussions with Ryan Newman as the second driver. Newman has said he will not return to Penske Racing if the performance of that team doesn't improve quickly.

Newman's name definitely would help draw sponsorship to Haas.

"He's talking to every major sponsor that is available out there for this Haas deal," one source said of Stewart and his representatives. "I don't know if it's done, but it sounds like it's very close."

Office Depot and Old Spice have emerged as the favorites for at least one of the cars. Office Depot lost its bid to remain with Carl Edwards of Roush Fenway Racing when Aflac was chosen as the primary sponsor of the No. 99.

Sources said there have been discussions with Stewart's representatives that would make Office Depot and Old Spice co-primaries with Office Depot as the lead sponsor. Old Spice already has a relationship with Stewart in the Cup and Nationwide Series.

Stewart would not address his future following Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway.

JGR president J.D. Gibbs insisted Stewart had not closed the door on signing a long-term deal with the company that brought him to Cup racing in 1999 and helped him win titles in 2002 and 2005.

But there is widespread speculation that the reason JGR has rushed Joey Logano into the Nationwide Series is to prepare him to take Stewart's place should Stewart leave.

Stewart admitted two months ago there had been inquiries from other teams. He acknowledged there had been talks with Haas CNC that included ownership.

Joe Custer, who is running Haas CNC while owner Gene Haas serves jail time for tax evasion, would not comment on where things stood.

"Nothing can happen until they let him out of his contract," he said of JGR. "They hold all the cards. Go figure out what they are going to do. When he becomes available we want to talk to him."

Custer said it was not appealing to have Stewart as a co-owner while still driving for JGR next season if the company holds him to his deal.

Both Haas cars, the No. 66 of Scott Riggs and the No. 70 that has been driven by multiple drivers, are outside the top 35 guaranteed a spot in the field each week. Riggs is 36th in owner points and the 70 is 44th.

Haas admitted a partner like Stewart could turn things around for a program that already has support from Hendrick Motorsports.

"It would be extremely helpful to have Tony Stewart or a franchise type player," Custer said. "Those folks have an enormous impact on a team. Would it help us? Yes. It would help us significantly."

Truck Series Driver Buys Montgomery Speedway

2008-06-25T22:10:00.001-07:00

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rick Crawford has reached an agreement in principal to buy the half-mile track, according to Doug Carwyle, a local businessman who helped broker the deal. The only stipulation to the sale is that the city of Montgomery grant a license allowing the track to hold races. Kevin Radvany, who handles public relations for Crawford's race team, said track representatives will make the request with the city licensing board July 17. "Outside of that one thing, it's a done deal," said Carwyle, who is expected to help manage the track once Crawford takes ownership. "Rick and (current owner) Bill Manfull have agreed on the price. Rick sent the retainer -- $50,000 -- to the auction company. All that's left is getting that license. If that happens, we go back racing." Carwyle said Crawford, a Mobile native who is currently fifth in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings, has been involved in the sale of MMS since the auction a month ago. Radvany said Crawford's purchase of the track would have no effect on his participation in the Truck Series. "This is no different than Tony Stewart owning Eldora Speedway (a small dirt track in Ohio)," Radvany said. "This is something Rick has always said he wanted to do."(Montgomery Advertiser)

NASCAR Newscast: Toyota / Save Mart 350

2008-06-23T11:05:00.001-07:00

NASCAR Newscast: Toyota / Save Mart 350

2008-06-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

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Infineon Post Race Report

2008-06-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

The twists and turns of Infineon Raceway was not going to get in the way of Kyle Busch on Sunday as he took his #18 Toyota to his 5th victory of the year, giving him 50 bonus point so far going into the chase, for the final 10 races of the year. Anyone who is doubting this kids ability needs to look back at the different types of tracks he has won at this year. Atlanta (1.5 Mile Oval) Talladega (restrictor-plate track) Dover, (high banked concrete oval) Darlington (toughest track) and Infineon ( roadie).
This kid is the real deal. What Hendrick's Motorsports must be thinking? We kept Mears and got rid of Busch? All the na-sayers were talking about how bad Kyle would do at Gibbs, with a new car in Toyota and everyone saying that Gibbs would not be able to handle 3 hot-headed drivers. Well right now Joe Gibbs Racing look like the smartest team in the garage.

Race Results:

1st Kyle Busch - 5 wins in 16 races this year...... ummmm WOW!

2nd David Gililland - Why is it such a shocked that he got 2nd, this guy has more laps around this track then most Cup drivers. Its called the Nascar West Series.

3rd Jeff Gordon - Nice Improvement, but all expected more from him at a roadie

4th Clint Bowyer - Wait, wait.... Bowyer can turn right too?

5th Casey Mears - Great top 5, but too little, too late. Gone after this season?

6th Juan Montoya - Great run most of the race, bad luck, and he is mad at Marcos Ambrose for spinning him out.

7th Ryan Newman - Nice solid run for the Daytona 500 winner

8th Matt Kenseth - Great finish for a bad start, still in the top 12 in points, but only 2 ahead of Harvick

9th Carl Edwards - No backflip here, but he won the Nationwide Race, oh and no backflip there too.

10th Tony Stewart - Can we expect a phone call from Kevin Harvick? Tony had a solid top 3 or 5 until the #29 changed that.

Other Notables:

12th Dale Earnhardt Jr - Glad to be anyway from a road course for a while.

18th Jamie McMurray - You gotta feel for him, last year at Infineon he was almost there, and this year Harvick takes him out.

19th Elliott Sadler - If you feel bad for McMurray then you have to cry for Sadler, flat right rear tire does him in after the red flag

33rd Kasey Kahne - went from first to...... well 33rd

NASCAR CAMP WORLD WEST SERIES

2008-06-22T10:00:00.001-07:00

Jason Bowles won a spirited three-way battle around the twisting 1.99-mile road course of Infineon Raceway to take the victory in the Bennett Lane Winery 200 presented by Supercuts on Saturday.

Bowles held off fierce challenges from Eric Holmes and Jim Inglebright in the closing laps to score his first win of the year in NASCAR Camping World Series West competition.

Bowles opted to pit early for fuel and not change tires. That strategy helped him get out front by lap 31 and avoid much of the rough and tumble action that eliminated some of his competition, who were trying to work their way to the front of the record 41-car field after making pits stops. Holmes and Inglebright used a similar plan of taking on fuel, but not stopping for tires.

Their early pit stops became a concern later, when the race distance was extended for a green-white-checkered finish due to a late-race caution. Bowles, who had shut off his engine and coasted around portions of the track during cautions to conserve fuel, was able to make it to the finish despite his fuel pressure gauge dropping to zero in the final lap.

Tom Hubert followed the trio across the finish line in third, followed by Ken Schrader.

The win gave Bowles a victory on the only road course where he did not win in 2007, having encountered mechanical problems in last year’s race at Infineon Raceway. The win also secured him a spot in the prestigious post-season NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.)

Holmes’ second-place finish, meanwhile, gave him a slight lead in the championship standings over Mike David, who battled back to ninth after being spun by another car. Holmes, who won the 2006 championship, leads defending champion David – 971 to 969. Bowles moved to third in the standings, with 905.

Most insane crash of the day

Scott Kalitta, Drag Racer, Dies in Crash

2008-06-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 22, 2008

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) — The drag racer Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his funny car burst into flames, crashed and exploded during qualifying for the N.H.R.A. SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The National Hot Rod Association said the 46-year-old Kalitta, who had 18 career victories and was the 1994 and 1995 top fuel season champion, was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.

Witnesses told The Star-Ledger of Newark that Kalitta’s Toyota Solara was traveling an estimated 300 miles per hour.

Kalitta of Palmetto, Fla., started his career at Old Bridge in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as the Bounty Hunter. His cousin, Doug Kalitta, also races.

“We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family,” the N.H.R.A. said in a statement. “Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie.”

Kalitta retired in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for 10 races in 1999. He sat out three seasons, then returned in 2003, joining his cousin on the family’s racing team.

He is survived by his father; his wife, Kathy; and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.

The Nascar Nationwide driver Brad Keselowski, a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta’s hometown, Mount Clemens, said he learned the news from a television report.

“That really hits close to home,” Keselowski said. “I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That’s tough to hear.”

Last year, the funny-car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident at a testing session in Gainesville, Fla.

Infineon Raceway and Milwaukee Mile

2008-06-19T11:48:00.001-07:00

Earnhardt In Victory Lane, In Pursuit Of Series Point Lead

Kyle Busch is hearing the footsteps. Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke a 76-race winless streak this past Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, and as a result closed the gap between himself and Busch, the NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader. Earnhardt, third in the standings, trails Busch by only 84 points.

The last time Earnhardt led the series points: after race 27 at New Hampshire in 2004.

Earnhardt has yet to win a road race in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. In eight career starts at Infineon, he has yet to post a top-10 finish. The track likely also posts some other, inner challenges to Earnhardt. In 2004, during a sports car practice session for another racing series, a Chevrolet Corvette he was driving crashed and burst into flames. Earnhardt escaped serious injury.

Emphasis On Winning: Earnhardt Win Boosts His Potential Chase 'Seeding'

Earnhardt's win at Michigan had ramifications both immediate and down the road: He earned 10 bonus points that will be applied toward his "seeding" if he makes the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR's "playoffs" contested over the final 10 races.

The Michigan victory places Earnhardt fifth in the current seeding lineup. Kyle Busch, with four victories, is the prospective top seed.

Prior to the Chase, all drivers who qualify have their point totals re-set to 5,000. Bonus points for victories are then applied, meaning that right now, Busch has a potential starting total of 5,040, with Earnhardt at 5,010.

Gordon Always a Favorite

At this point last season, Jeff Gordon had four wins and was first in the points standings. This year, he's still in the top 12, but has yet to visit Victory Lane. That could all change this weekend. Gordon is the all-time leader in road course wins with nine – five of which have come at Infineon Raceway. He last won there in 2006 and won three straight from 1998-2000.

Montoya Returns To Site Of Historic Win

Juan Pablo Montoya's struggles this season are well-documented; he's 22nd in series points. Chances are he welcomes this week's stop; Montoya notched his NASCAR Sprint Cup win – and his only one, to date – last year at Infineon Raceway.

Seeing Red (Bull): Teammates Vickers, Allmendinger On The Upswing

Team Red Bull's drivers – Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger – are looking better all the time in their respective Toyotas. Vickers has posted consecutive top-five finishes at Pocono (second) and Michigan (fourth); Allmendinger had consecutive top-20 runs (12th and 19th).

Allmendinger -- from Los Gatos, Calif. -- has had past success on road courses; in the 2006 Champ Car season he won four road-course events.

Vickers is closing in on the top 12 in points – and a potential berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He's 16th in points, 97 out of 12th.

Road Course Ringers Time to Shine?

Races at the Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International road courses add a wrinkle to the event, and another challenge to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars – the road course ringers.

This season is no different. This Sunday’s field will include road course aces Boris Said, Brandon Ash, Max Papis, Ron Fellows, Brian Simo and Marcos Ambrose, who his also a regular in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Said is the most successful of the bunch, with four top-10 finishes in eight starts at Infineon Raceway.

But the surprising statistic to this storyline: A road course ace hasn’t won a road course event in over 30 years. The last to do so was Mark Donohue at Riverside International Raceway in 1973.

Ken Clapp Central To Track's 40 Years, 20 NASCAR Events

Infineon Raceway will be hosting its 20th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday – the highlight of the track's 40th anniversary season.

The person responsible for bringing NASCAR to Northern California back in 1989, Ken Clapp, will be on-hand all weekend and will be inducted into the raceway's Wall of Fame on Friday.

Clapp, who has spent nearly 60 years in auto racing, was also instrumental in the creation of Infineon Raceway.

Clapp, from Danville, Calif., worked for NASCAR in a variety of capacities for more than 20 years and was a personal mentor of Chairman/CEO Brian France.

Clapp's resume spans many different areas in racing:

• From 1966-2006, he promoted 4,150 single-day NASCAR-affiliated racing events in Calif., Washington and Oregon.
• From 1967-1970, he was a VP at Infineon Raceway, where he promoted NASCAR late model races, IndyCar Series events, Trans Am sports car racing, NHRA drag racing and motorcycle events.
• He promoted more than 40 "World of Outlaw" Sprint Car events in Oregon and Calif.
• From 1977-99, Ken served as a Commissioner on the NASCAR National Commission.
• Other key roles at NASCAR: 1970 - 1983: Director of PR and Marketing for Western US, Japan, Australian and Mexico; 1983-1995: NASCAR VP of Western Operations; 1995-1999: NASCAR VP of Marketing Development; 1999 – present: Sr. Consultant to NASCAR Digital Entertainment.
• From 1990-2002, he made 17 trips to Japan to plan the NASCAR Japan exhibition effort.
• In 2002, he was inducted into the West Coast Hall of Fame and in 2006 inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame (Calif.).

Kenseth Comeback: Former Champion ‘Chasing the Chase'

Matt Kenseth has proven it before – never, ever, count him out.

After making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in each of the four seasons since its 2004 inception, earlier this season it looked as if Kenseth might not make it five-for-five in 2008.

After race No. 10 (Richmond), Kenseth was in 22nd place, 204 points out of the Chase cut-off of 12th place.

Unbelievably, he has made up all but 14 points of that deficit thanks to five consecutive finishes in the top-seven, including a third-place finish at Michigan this past Sunday.

This improbable launch up the standings isn't a new practice for Kenseth. In 2005, Kenseth was in 24th place after race No. 14 (Pocono). It took him only until race 25 (Fontana) to climb back into the top 10. (In 2005, the top 10 drivers made the Chase.)

Tight Races Throughout The Standings

Though NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Kyle Busch picked up 11 points on second-place Jeff Burton this past weekend, he finds another driver in hot pursuit – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, 145 points out of first going into Michigan, closed the gap considerably with his dramatic win. Earnhardt slashed the deficit by 61, and is now only 84 points behind Busch.

And it gets tighter as you go down the standings – especially at the all-important 12th-place position.

Clint Bowyer failed to crack the top 20 for his fourth consecutive race, and has fallen from fourth after his win at Richmond all the way to 12th. There's more bad news. That 12th-place cushion couldn't be much smaller. Bowyer is only 10 points ahead of 13th place David Ragan, and 14 points ahead of 14th place Matt Kenseth.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

Milestone Marker: Kenny Wallace To Join Exclusive Club

Kenny Wallace has over 750 starts in NASCAR's national series and No. 400 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series is slated for Milwaukee. A start Saturday will put Wallace in select company – only two other drivers have 400 starts in the series. Tommy Houston was the first and ended his career with 418 before Jason Keller (whose last win was at Milwaukee in 2003) passed Houston last fall and holds the current mark at 438 – and counting.

Wallace's first series start came at Martinsville in 1988. He's accumulated nine wins and 10 poles. He'll be sharing his monumental start with brother, Mike, and nephew Steve who are also entered at Milwaukee.

Logano An Immediate Hit

His crew chief, Dave Rogers, said it best. "Three races, two poles, one win. He's okay." "He" is Joey Logano, an 18-year-old talent who is living up to plenty of hype. He'll make his fourth start for Joe Gibbs Racing Saturday at The Milwaukee Mile and goes in as one of the favorites. Logano became the youngest driver in series history to win when he did so from the pole at Kentucky last Saturday eclipsing the mark set by Casey Atwood at Milwaukee in 1999 (18 years, 10 months, 9 days). Logano was 21 days past his 18th birthday. The No. 20 car won the race and pole at Milwaukee last year and this year has won a series-best seven races with four different drivers. But the one constant has been Rogers at the helm.

Caterpillar to take over for AT&T at RCR

2008-06-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

With AT&T's NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship coming to an end, Richard Childress Racing has found a replacement sponsor for Jeff Burton.

FOXSports.com has learned that Caterpillar has agreed to become the primary sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Burton beginning next season. The deal, which is expected to be announced on Wednesday, is a multi-year agreement.

Burton has 20 career victories, including one this season at Bristol Motor Speedway. He is currently second in the Cup series standings.

Based on an agreement reached by AT&T and NASCAR last year, the telecommunications giant had to give up their sponsorship deal at the end of this season. The agreement came after a protracted legal battle between AT&T and Sprint after Sprint phased out the Cingular brand — one of two brands which were grandfathered in when Sprint (formerly Nextel) took over sponsor rights for the Cup Series.

Currently, Caterpillar sponsors Bill Davis Racing's No. 22 Toyota Camry driven by Dave Blaney. The manufacturer of industrial equipment has been involved in NASCAR since 1993, when it was an associate sponsor for Kyle Petty's No. 42 Pontiac. They joined Bill Davis Racing in 1999 and have sponsored the No. 22 Sprint Cup entry since.

CAT has five Sprint Cup wins to its record, including the 2002 Daytona 500 when Jeff's brother Ward drove them to Victory Lane.

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Toyota/Save Mart 350 At Infineon Raceway

2008-06-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Montoya Returns To Defend First NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to wine country this weekend — Sonoma, California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.

While all the drivers are preparing for the first of two road-course races on the schedule, Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge) and new crew chief Brian Pattie will be intently focused on defending Montoya’s only series win.

Montoya ended his rookie season with one win, at Infineon, three top-five and six top-10 finishes putting him 20th in the final series driver standings in 2007.

This season hasn’t gone quite as he had planned only with one top-five finish (Talladega). He currently is 22nd in the standings and has had to deal with two crew chief changes thus far. The team started the season with Donnie Wingo, then Jimmy Elledge, before settling with Pattie.

This weekend though, look for Montoya to be up front. NASCAR Pre-Race Loop Data Statistics for Infineon Raceway has Montoya near the top of several key categories: Driver Rating (115.3) is ranked first in the series, Average Running Position (10.588). “Last year I felt a ton of pressure heading into Infineon because everyone expected to me to run well and win because of my background,” Montoya said. “This year I don’t feel any pressure. Our goal is to run well, and if we have a shot at the win obviously we are going to take it.”

HORNADAY vs BUSCH POST RACE

2008-06-14T23:16:00.001-07:00

Race Recap: Logano Becomes Youngest Winner In NASCAR Nationwide Series History

2008-06-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Brahler
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

SPARTA, KY. (June 14, 2008) -- Everybody knew Joey Logano would win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. It was just a matter of how quickly he could get it done.

In only his third career start, Logano answered that question Saturday night in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway, becoming the youngest driver to win in NASCAR Nationwide Series history at 18 years and 21 days.

"It's definitely awesome," Logano said. "We didn't unload this morning the way we wanted to. (Crew chief) Dave (Rogers) and the guys never gave up. They worked hard on it and changed everything. That last pit stop we got it about right. Overall, it was a pretty good night."

Kentucky has now produced three straight first-time winners and eight different race winners in as many races.

Logano won the pole for the 300-miler, his second in as many weeks, and led 76 of the 200 laps, second only to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. Busch led a race-high 85 laps.

Logano took the lead from Busch on Lap 147, passing him on the outside of Turn 4. On Lap 164, Busch's charge to reclaim the position ended after he lost control of his Toyota on the backstretch, spinning and slamming the outside retaining wall.

Busch started the event 43rd after flying into Kentucky following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Michigan. He slid into the lead for the first time on Lap 40.

Following Busch's wreck, the race was Logano's to lose. With the race running green flag to the finish thereafter, Logano crossed the finish line 2.259 seconds over second place Scott Wimmer.

"It was unfortunate to see Kyle hit the fence there," Logano said. "The whole last 20 laps I was praying it would go green."

The win was the 10th overall on the season for Joe Gibbs Racing and the seventh for the No. 20 team, with four different drivers, led by Rogers.

"When you are in good equipment, you are going to run well," Wimmer said. "Joey is a great driver. The 20 car has been the class of the Nationwide Series all year long. We need to do our homework."

"Three starts, two poles, one win. He's okay," Rogers said of young Logano with a smile.

Mike Wallace picked up a position to finish third at the finish after Jason Leffler lost a tire on the last lap. Leffler finished 16th.

Nashville winner Brad Keselowski and rookie Bryan Clauson finished fourth and fifth. Clauson who turns 19 on Sunday, notched his career-best finish. Keselowski is now second in the point standings behind leader Clint Bowyer.

Marcos Ambrose, David Ragan, Mike Bliss, Bowyer and Jason Keller rounded out the top 10.

Race attendance was a track-record 73,195. It was the eighth straight sellout at the facility in which Speedway Motorsports Inc. agreed to purchase earlier this year.

Race Recap: Darnell Nips Benson For Win At Michigan

2008-06-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

By Tim Tuttle Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 14, 2008) Erik Darnell surged past Johnny Benson in the final 50 yards to win by inches Saturday in the Cool City Customs 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

Benson drove his Bill Davis Racing Toyota inside Darnell's Roush Fenway Racing Ford in Turns 3 and 4 on the 100th and final lap and had a half-truck length lead coming onto the frontstretch.

Darnell dove down to run alongside Benson, who was on the apron beneath the white line, and they ran side-by-side to the finish.

"The way these trucks draft, the way you can side-draft with them, especially in the air at a bigger place like Michigan, I knew he was going to be able to suck up to the side of me and pull off and get a run, so I had to do the same thing to him," Darnell said. "And, fortunately for me, I got it right at the start-finish line and we were able to beat him by just a little bit."

Darnell wasn't sure that he'd won.

"It's so hard to tell from inside the truck," Darnell said. "I thought I may have had him by a little bit, but if we did, it wasn't by much. It was close and then you get done and you don't really know whether to come back around and try to grab that checkered flag. You're just kind of in a state of confusion there for a little bit, but once you get it figured out, it's alright."

Benson lost by .005 seconds, the closest margin of victory in the truck series since NASCAR began electronic timing a decade ago.

"I thought I'd try on the last lap way down low," Benson said. "I timed it perfectly. I was able to get alongside him, got ahead of him. I just couldn't stay ahead of him. I don't know what I'd do differently if I had to do it again."

Darnell's victory was the second of his NASCAR career and the first this season for both Roush Fenway Racing and Ford in the series. Roush Fenway has won the past two years and four of the nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Michigan. It was the 17th Michigan win for Roush, whose Roush Industries headquarters are in nearby Livonia, Mich.

"This is my favorite place," team owner Jack Roush said. "This is home for me."

Scott Speed was third in a Bill Davis Racing Toyota, followed by Todd Bodine's Germain Racing Toyota and Brendan Gaughan's Circle Bar Racing Ford.

Ron Hornaday Jr. and team owner Kevin Harvick had an angry confrontation with Kyle Busch in the garage after Busch's contact spun out Hornaday on the final lap in Turn 1.

Hornaday, the points leader going into the race, was running fourth. Busch's Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota tapped him in the left rear. Hornaday finished 23rd, the last truck on the lead lap, and fell to third in the points, 21 behind Benson, the new leader.

Darnell led the final 25 laps and was in control until a late caution forced a restart with three circuits to go on the two-mile track. Darnell pulled away on the restart, but Benson closed on the final lap.

"I think the finish was a little more exciting than I wanted it to be," Darnell said.

NEWS AND NOTES

2008-06-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

NASCAR Calls mandatory meeting for all Cup drivers Friday: NASCAR called a mandatory meeting for Sprint Cup drivers and owners before Friday's practice at Michigan International Speedway in which president Mike Helton encouraged everyone to keep the fans first. NASCAR officials and drivers both agreed this simply was a reminder that during these tough economic times when fans are paying $4 a gallon for gas to travel to tracks that drivers should be more positive about the sport. In other words stop complaining about the new car that has become a target for everything that is wrong in NASCAR's premier series, from creating boring races to being so hot that the drivers are at risk. "My interpretation was that the drivers should be thankful for the position they're in and should be more positive in where this car is going to be in a year or two," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Jeff Burton agreed. "In today's conversation you could have heard whatever you wanted to hear," he said. "I bet if you asked every driver what they heard they would have said something different. What I heard was things aren't bad. Let's don't forget we can make things better."
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said this so-called "Come to Jesus" was a reminder of chairman Brian France's preseason back-to-basics message. That the timing was a few days after the lawsuit, he added, was merely coincidental and that the lawsuit wasn't discussed. "We remind them if it weren't for the fans we wouldn't be here," he said. "The fans are paying over $4 a gallon for gasoline. [We told them] to keep the fans in mind when you're talking, to show your appreciation to the fans. Without them this wouldn't be like it is." The criticism reached an all-time high last weekend at Pocono. Denny Hamlin and several others implied the car was much hotter than the older car and possibly put drivers at risk. Series director John Darby understands. He said there are a lot of things available to keep the cars cooler "that's not being used." He reiterated that NASCAR has no plan to change the car until it's been through an entire season.(in part from ESPN.com)

Two officials named in a $225 million racial discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit against NASCAR have been placed on administrative leave for violating company policy, The Associated Press has learned. The officials, who were not immediately identified, were sent home from Kentucky Speedway on Friday evening, a person familiar with the NASCAR investigation told the AP. The person requested anonymity because NASCAR's investigation is ongoing. NASCAR sent a team of investigators from its human resources and legal offices to Kentucky this weekend to interview those named in the suit. Of 27 interviews conducted away from the track Thursday and Friday, two officials were found to have engaged in behavior that violated NASCAR policy. Their leave is indefinite. In addition, investigators failed to uncover a single instance where Grant complained to her supervisors or other NASCAR employees about the way she was treated, the person familiar with the investigation told AP. Grant has said she followed the chain of command all the way to Nationwide Series director Joe Balash, but stopped short of telling human resources because she was reprimanded by that department for a separate incident two weeks after lodging her complaint. She said she viewed the reprimand, which included a threat of termination, as retaliation for complaining to Balash. Balash was not one of the officials placed on leave Friday. Grant's lawyer, Benedict P. Morelli of Morelli Ratner PC, was not immediately available for comment.

Brian France says NO WAY in Discrimination Suit

2008-06-11T13:17:00.001-07:00

NASCAR big cheese Brian France says the suit filed by former official, Mauricia Grant, is a no no. He is saying that she never reported any type of racial discrimination, sexual harassment to her supervisors.

Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR on Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination.

France said Wednesday the detailed filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims.

France also said:

"The disappointing thing is, she makes a lot of claims,'' France said. "None of them are reported. It's inconsistent with anything of our policies and how we operate the company and the sport and so the fact that it went on as she stated ... for many months I guess but never bothered to tell anyone in management what was going on, which is what our policy says, is very disappointing because we would like, if those type of things were in fact going on, we would have loved to have been able to do an investigation and review of such an allegation and we'll still do that because now that she has made these claims, we'll do like what we always do which is a very clear review. She didn't do that and that's what every employee at NASCAR is instructed to do if they think they're in a situation of discrimination or harassment or whatever it might be. She just didn't do that. Then in fact has filed a lawsuit as a remedy to this problem. We'll deal with that as well. That's really where we are.''

Q: Did you have any indication that this was coming?

"No. I knew about it this week when the suit was file. Again, our policy is such that it's very clear. We talk to employees all the time making sure that their work environment is a good one. If it's not, if there's any problems, they have a very clear path to get it solved. It's just inconsistent with anything that we would tolerate at NASCAR.''

THE LAWSUIT CAN BE SEEN HERE: NASCAR LAWSUIT

New Investor For Petty Enterprises

2008-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

In a press conference today at Lowes Motor Speedway, Kyle Petty, along with NASCAR's Brian France, #43 driver Bobby Labonte, Richard Petty, new CEO David Zucker and Andrew C. Davis, Managing Director of Boston Ventures, announced a partnership between Boston Ventures and Petty Enterprises. Zucker becomes the first non Petty to be in chargeof Petty Enterprises, and he said that he plans to expand to more cars in the future. No announcement was made about sponsorships past 2009. General Mills/Cheerios will leave the #43 after 2008 season. The portfolio of businesses that Boston Ventures has include American Media Inc. (The National Enquirer), Billboard Publications, Continental Cablevision, Marshall & Swift, Motown Records, River City Broadcasting, Six Flags Entertainment, Survey Sampling, Inc., and Vue Entertainment.

Also announced was a 4 year extension for driver Bobby LaBonte, which will keep LaBonte in the #43 until 2012. “I have known all along this is where I want to finish my racing career,” said Labonte.

NASCAR SUED BY FORMER OFFICIAL

2008-06-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer is reporting that a former NASCAR Official has filed a lawsuit against NASCAR for $250 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

Mauricia Gant, who is black, was a technical inspector,her job was to certify cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series from January 2005 until October 2007 when she was fired.

Grant stated that she was subjected to sexual advances from male co-workers, two of which she says allegedly exposed themselves to her and made graphic and lewd jokes.

"NASCAR perpetuated, condoned and actively participated in perverted and disgusting sexual conduct designed to demean and diminish (Grant) and the handful of other women employed by NASCAR as officials," according to the suit.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston issued this statement:

"As an equal opportunity employer, NASCAR is fully committed to the spirit and letter of affirmative action law," Poston said. "NASCAR provides equal opportunity employment to job candidates and employees without regard to race, religion, creed, age, gender, or any other characteristic protected by law. Personnel decisions are made based on factors such as performance and adherence to corporate policy."

Grant says that she told her supervisors many times about how she had been treated, but nothing was done. She stated that she was told to "deal with it" by her immediate supervisor.

The lawsuit details a series of alleged incidents:

• Grant was forced to work outside more often than the white male officials because her supervisors believed she couldn't sunburn because she was black.

• While riding in the backseat of her carpool at Talladega Superspeedway, co-workers told her to duck as they passed race fans. "I don't want to start a riot when these fans see a black woman in my car," she claims one official said.

• When packing up a dark garage at Texas Motor Speedway an official told Grant: "Keep smiling and pop your eyes out 'cause we can't see you."

• When she ignored advances from co-workers, Grant was accused of being gay. She also claimed co-workers questioned the sexual orientation of two other female officials.

Grant said that she was warned a few weeks after a her last complaint that she had engaged in "conduct unbecoming of a NASCAR representative", and that she would be dismissed unless she changed her actions.

About 2 months later Grant was fired, NASCAR said due to her poor work performance. The lawsuit states that she had never been disciplined for her job performance, other than a warning for using "street" language, and that she received positive reviews

My take on this lawsuit is why did she wait so long to file? This is something that could have come out back in October when she was fired. Also why wait until you are fired to hire a lawyer? NASCAR says they have not received the lawsuit yet, so some more detils may come forward.

NASCAR Newscast: Pocono 500

2008-06-08T19:52:00.001-07:00

Pocono gets Kahne'd

2008-06-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Kasey Kahne wins his 3rd race out of the last 4 starts (including All-Star Race), as bad luck hits Tony Stewart and points leader Kyle Busch. Busch now leads by only 21 points as contact with Jamie McMurray ends his day with a 43rd place finish. Busch was trying to clear McMurray and had a mis-cue with his spotter, as Busch went to go high, he was not clear of the #26 and hit the wall with the front of his car.

Kahne and Kyle Busch have combined to win the last five races. Busch won at Darlington, Kahne in the all-star race and the 600 and then Kyle at Dover and now Kahne at Pocono. Busch nearly won at Richmond, finishing second, which came a week after his Talladega win. So, if Kyle had won at Richmond, this streak would be even longer. This matches a streak of wins by two drivers from last year when Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch combined to be the only winners in a five-race stretch last summer from Chicago to Michigan.

Stewart once again gets bit by pit road, with 28 laps to go NASCAR deemed Tony too fast exiting pit road which put him 1 lap down after getting a pass-through penalty. Stewart finished 35th. Stewart falls to 12th in the points the last transfer spot for the Chase. He leads 13th-place David Ragan by seven points, 14th-place Ryan Newman by 10 points and 15th-place Matt Kenseth by 38 points.

His season of bad luck started at the Daytona 500 as he lost the lead a mile from the finish of the Daytona 500 and placed third.

He crashed at Las Vegas, finishing last and bruising his foot. Hits wall after blowing right front tire.

Two laps from the finish at Bristol, Harvick and Stewart race for second. Harvick goes under Stewart, wiggles and hits Stewart, sending him spinning. Stewart finishes 14th.

Leads a race-high 61 laps at Talladega but is involved in late-race crash and finishes 38th.

Elliott Sadler crashes into Stewart on lap 2 at Darlington. Stewart, who started fourth, finishes 21st

Stewart has a right front tire go flat while leading with three laps to go in the Coca-Cola 600. He finishes 18th.

Sadler spins in front of Stewart, who has nowhere to go, on lap 18 at Dover. Stewart crashes into Sadler. Stewart finishes 41st.

Then on the other side of lady luck there is Kasey Kahne, and the upswing improvement of his team.

"We've been running good all year,'' team director Kenny Francis, noting problems at Texas, Phoenix and Talladega that kept the team out of the 20 in those races. "I've felt like and the whole company has been on a ... we're going to take this slow and steady and build it back up from where we were at and that's what we've done. We've still got a long way to go. We keep learning every week and trying to get better.

Results:

1. Kasey Kahne ... has pit road problems, comes back and gets win #9

2. Brian Vickers ... been drinking his Red Bull!

3. Denny Hamlin ... Great rebound after Dover mess, climbs 4 spots to 5th in points.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... records 10th top-10 this season, tying Kyle Busch for series best.

5. Jeff Burton ... huge boast in points, old guys still can get it done, 21 behind Busch

6. Jimmie Johnson ... was having his own race, and tried some off sequence pit stops

7. Matt Kenseth ... has finished 7th, 4th, 7th, and 6th in last 4 points races.

8. Kurt Busch ... recovers from early spin, and is the "Fastest Busch today"

9. Carl Edwards ... flat left rear forces extra pit stop late and goes from 33rd to 9th.

10. Mark Martin ... not bad for a retired guy, says he will win Indy next month

11. Bobby Labonte ... solid run all day, just short of a top 10

12. AJ Allmendinger ... earns career-best finish.

13. Kevin Harvick ... effort keeps him 10th in points.

14. Jeff Gordon ... worst finish since placing 19th at Talladega in late April

15. Greg Biffle ... SPEEDER!!! victim of pit road speeding penalty late in the race

Keselowski Gets First Series Win In Nashville

2008-06-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Brahler
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

LEBANON, Tenn. (June 7, 2008) After narrowly missing victories on multiple occasions this season, Brad Keselowski claimed his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series win on Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway, taking the lead from points leader Clint Bowyer with five laps remaining in the Federated Auto Parts 300.

Keselowski led early in the event, staying on track on Lap 79 when then-leader Joey Logano led other lead-lap cars down pit road. That set the stage for the evening, putting Keselowski on a different pit strategy than most of the leaders. With his counterparts opting to make their final stop of the night with 77 laps remaining, Keselowski, under the guidance of crew chief Tony Eury Sr., made his final stop of the night 41 laps from the finish.

It initially appeared that David Reutimann would run away with the race (though he was pushing it on fuel mileage), but a caution flag fell with just 10 laps remaining after Brad Teague spun off of Turn 2. That bunched the field back up behind Reutimann for a restart on Lap 217 of 225.

On that restart, Reutimann was ambushed by Bowyer and Kyle Busch. Bowyer took the lead after contact with Reutimann but only temporarily, as Keselowski dropped his No. 88 Chevrolet to the inside of Bowyer's No. 2, taking the position.

"That's what we needed to catch back up to the 99 (Reutimann)," Keselowski said. "For some reason, David didn't go. I got behind him, took the air off of him and the next thing I knew I got by David and next was taking on Clint," Keselowski said.

"I feel like I paid some dues," he added after hoisting his first NASCAR Nationwide Series trophy, which came in the form of a Gibson Guitar.

"To catch that break like I did with Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. and this Navy Chevrolet, it vindicates it. I've got a team that just keeps getting better every week, and I keep getting better every week. I felt like this was just a matter of time."

As Keselowski drove towards the checkered flag, things got dicey behind him. Reutimann continued to get pushed around, as he dropped back to third as David Stremme slid into the second position.

Bowyer also had contact with Stremme, dropping him to fourth at the finish.

David Ragan closed out the top five finishers.

Reutimann, Bowyer, Ragan, Busch, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Jason Leffler all flew to Nashville to compete in Saturday's race after taking part in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Busch finished the second leg of his historic attempt at a triple, competing in his second national series race in as many days. Pocono represents the third and final segment.

Polesitter Logano led 64 laps in what marked his second series event. The early favorite to win, the 18-year-old was the victim of a four-wide race through Turn 4 on Lap 89. His No. 20 Toyota got clipped by Greg Biffle's Ford, sending him sideways into Busch's machine before shooting up track and into the outside wall. He ended the event 31st.

Kyle Busch crashes in Cup practice

2008-06-07T08:43:00.001-07:00

Kyle Busch has gone to a backup car and will start at the rear of the field Sunday at Pocono after crashing on pit road in practice Saturday.

Busch got loose off turn 3 and collected his sliding car. He then headed to pit road but lost the car entering the pits and it slammed against the inside pit wall near the pit entrance. Busch's car suffered heavy right front damage. Speed Channel reported that Busch radioed his crew and said that he "lost it.''

Busch was third quickest in that car in that practice session. That leaves him with the final practice session to make adjustments.

What this means is that Busch will start all three NASCAR races at the back of the field. He started at the rear in Friday's truck race since someone else qualified the truck for him there. He bounced back to finish second to Ron Hornaday Jr. Busch also will start at the rear in Saturday's Nationwide race at Nashville because someone else qualified the car. Now he'll start at the rear of the field for the Cup race.

Ron Hornaday Win at Texas

2008-06-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

By Tim Tuttle, Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FORT WORTH, Texas (June 6, 2008) -- Ron Hornaday Jr. made one of his trademark masterful restarts on a green-white-checkered flag restart and kept Kyle Busch in his mirrors for the final two laps to win the Sam's Town 400 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Busch started at the back of the 35-truck field after missing Thursday's qualifying and practice sessions. He flew to Fort Worth after qualifying Friday for the Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

For the next-to-last restart on Lap 157, Busch was fourth, the highest he'd been to that point in the race. He darted to the inside to pass Jack Sprague's Chevrolet in Turn 1 and went past Johnny Benson's Toyota on the backstretch to move up to second.

Hornaday had a comfortable lead over Busch, but an accident involving Scott Speed and Marc Mitchell sent the race, scheduled for 167 laps on the 1.5-mile track, into overtime.

"I wanted to win this race so bad and Kyle got up there," Hornaday said.

On the final restart, Hornaday's Chevrolet hugged the inside, as the driver of the No. 33 put his left-front wheel next to the grass exiting Turn 4, to take away the move Busch had used to overtake Sprague.

"I think maybe he (Busch) spun the tires," Hornaday said. "We were having some problems in Turn 2 and we got the truck up on the high side to get through there."

Busch's Toyota closed up on Hornaday's bumper on the backstretch, but never was able to get alongside.

Hornaday won by .283 seconds, about two truck lengths.

"I drove my heart out", Hornaday said. "I wanted to win this race bad. I won Texas, woo-hoo! But it was a team victory."

It was Hornaday's first win at Texas in 11 starts, his second of the season and the 35th of his CTS career. Hornaday moved into the points lead by 45 over Matt Crafton, who finished seventh.

Hornaday led 140 of 172 laps, including the last 57.

Busch climbed into the top 10 in 70 laps, but needed another 50 to get into the top five.

"The truck was terrible at the beginning," Busch said. "It was absolute junk. We had about an 11th place truck at the start and got it to about an eighth-place truck."

J.R. Norris practiced and qualified Busch's Toyota.

"J.R. and the guys did what they could do, but nobody drives like I do," Busch said. "It's hard to find a guy to set it up how I like it. We finished second for (owner) Billy Ballew. That's what matters most."

Benson finished third, followed by Sprague and Todd Bodine. Hornaday reclaimed the points lead by 45 over Matt Crafton, who finished seventh.

Staying, Going, and Gone

2008-06-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

Staying is Clint Bowyer, RCR has used an option to keep Bowyer for the 2009 season and "we are just working on a long-term deal right now,'' Boywer said.

Bowyer was asked if RCR is where he wants to be long term and he responsed:

"Yes, absolutely. Nobody wants to shuffle around year to year, you want to know where you are at and know you that your team is underneath you and every thing’s put in place for long term. Nobody wants to be bouncing back and forth and see the guys in the silly season year after year, that has to be torture. Not knowing where you are going to be and worrying about that all the time and trying to stay focused on the task at hand at the same time; I think that would be pretty tough.”

Going, well not according to him, is Jamie McMurray. When asked about leaving Roush/Fenway Racing he said:

THERE IS PLENTY OF SILLY SEASON SPECULATION GOING ON. ARE YOU PUTTING OUT ANY FEELERS?

“No, I have not.”

HAVE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES?

“Not that I am aware of.”

HAVE OTHER TEAMS INQUIRED ABOUT YOU?

“Not that I'm aware of. It’s hard to answer questions because anything I answer will lead to the next question, and there’s not really anything to talk about. I don’t know where Utter got his story, and so it’s certainly drawn attention to something that – it’s, I don’t know how you can say it, it’s like whenever there’s not anything to talk about, and you tell the truth, you feel like you need to add to the story so you can make people believe you. But, there’s not anything to talk about.”

DO YOU WANT TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR?

“Yes.”

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT IT?

“No.”

ARE YOU HAPPY?

“Yes. Certainly, we want to run better. I’m at an incredible organization, and we have all the cars and people that are capable of running to win every weekend. So, the move from Ganassi to here I really hoped was going to be able to put me in the chase every year, and that we’d contend to win races on a regular basis, and our performance hasn’t been as good what’s expected – whether it’s from me, the race team or the sponsor. So, you want to continue to get better, and the car of tomorrow has brought some new challenges. The first four or five races we didn’t run bad, but we just seemed to have bad luck or freaky things would happen to us, and it just put us in a really bad position. But the last four or five weeks have been pretty good, and you just try to continue and build on that. The thing about racing is that if you run well for four weeks everything’s great, and if you run bad for two it seems like you need to go find somewhere else to drive, they say. Everything is fine here. I don’t really know what the basis of Utter’s story was.”

HAVE YOU TALKED TO JACK ROUSH OR GEOFF SMITH ABOUT IT?

“Well, when all of it came up, we just all talked and I never asked to get out of my contract and they never said that they were going to release me from my contract. There was never any discussion of any of that. So, we just were all trying to figure out where it came from.”
and who is gone....

Matt Martin, who? The son of veteran driver Mark Martin, is no longer racing. Matt Martin Matt's career began in Quarter Midgets when he just was seven years old, and his racing experience also includes Bandoleros, Legend cars, the Fastruck Series, and the FASCAR Pro Truck Series.

In 2005, he won two races while competing against drivers 10 to 20 years his senior in the FASCAR league. He raced the No. 66 Ford F-150 Truck. In the game NASCAR 06 which takes place in the year 2005, Matt Martin can be noticed as a fantasy driver for the Whelen Modified Tour.

In 2006, at 14 years of age, he ran a limited schedule in the ASA Late Model Southern Series, as well as running in the FASCAR Pro Truck and Sportsman Series. He won a late model race at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida.

During the 2007 season; young Matt has been moved over from the Ford Motor Company development program to Ginn Racing's development program; headed up by Mark Martin. Matt plans on running a late model schedule very similar to teammate Ricky Carmichael. Mark and Matt plan on working together throughout Mark's limited NEXTEL Cup schedule.

During a March 8th, 2008 airing of Speed Channel's Trackside, Mark Martin (Matt's father) announced that his son Matt ended his racing career. Mark Martin stated his son wants to concentrate on his education but didn't rule out a possible return to racing.