Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Waltrip To Host Dinner
Driver Michael Waltrip and his wife, Buffy, will host a gala dinner at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover on Jan. 15 in hopes of raising $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang and other charitable causes. The public is invited to the black-tie event known as `Michael Waltrip and Friends,' which will benefit Operation Marathon, a program the Waltrips developed in conjunction with the Victory Junction Gang. Musician Edwin McCain will perform at the gala. For more information, contact Jill Skowronek at (704) 604-4368.(charlotte.com)
RCR Will Host Engine Builder's Contest
RCR will be hosting the first round of the 2005 Clevite Engine Builder's Contest this Wednesday, Jan. 5, and Thursday, Jan. 6, in the RCR meeting building. There will be four builds each day, at noon, 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. RCR’s Lanny Barnes and Todd Hamm took top honors in last year’s final round. They will begin the defense of their title Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Everything kicks off Wednesday at noon when RCR’s Ron Liddell and Freddie Turza go up against RCR’s Wes Adams and John Goodwin. 2002 runners-up Danny Lawrence and Greg Gunnell step into the ring Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. The six quickest competitors will move on to the second round.
Burton-Spencer Join Fitness 500
Jeff Burton and Jimmy Spencer join the slate of drivers scheduled to appear at the Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500 on January 8 at the LJVM Coliseum. Saturday, both Burton and Spencer will lead a team during the Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500 to capture the title of “Most Fit.” Other NASCAR drivers and personalities scheduled to appear at the Wake Forest Baptist Fitness 500 include: Rusty Wallace, Jerry Nadeau, Carl Edwards, NASCAR President Mike Helton, Bobby Allison, Ray Evernham, Chocolate Meyers, Ron Hornaday and Teri MacDonald. Ann Schrader, wife of Kenny Schrader; Kim Labonte, wife of Terry Labonte; Kim Burton, wife of Jeff Burton; and Nancy Andretti are scheduled to compete on the Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports (WAM) team.
New Fireball Roberts Web Site
Previously "Cheers and Jeers" announced a new book ‘Fireball’ to be out in February, written by motorsports journalist Godwin Kelly and published by Carbon Press. We've found a comprehensive website on the legendary Fireball Roberts at FireballRoberts.com. There’s a collection of some of the best pictures and stories we have seen on Roberts. You can also receive updates by request at the site.
"St. Dale" To Be Published In February
In another example of NASCAR stock car racing moving into the mainstream of the American public, the first novel completely based on the sport’s lifestyle and fans will be published within the next few weeks and distributed nationally. Sharyn McCrumb, a Virginia writer best known for her Appalachian "Ballad" novels, including New York Times Best Sellers She Walks These Hills and The Rosewood Casket, has based her new novel on another Southern tradition: stock car racing. St. Dale, the story of a modern-day group of racing fans on an “Earnhardt pilgrimage” to the Southeast speedways from Tennessee to Florida., will be published in February, 2005, by Kensington Publishing Corporation of New York.
Nemechek Hires Teacher
In an era where most rookie drivers in the top NASCAR series are young enough to still be in school, NEMCO Motorsports opted for a different approach by entering a teacher instead of a student for four NASCAR races in 2005. Chris Cook, a driving instructor for NASCAR drivers including Tony Stewart, Dave Blaney, Kenny Wallace and Tim Fedewa for more than a decade, will enter the road-course events at Mexico City (Busch Series), Watkins Glen (Nextel Cup and Busch Series) and Infineon Raceway (Nextel Cup) with the NEMCO Motorsports team. Cook, 33, who owns the driver coaching and testing company Shift Into Gear, has more than 20 years of racing experience. He has raced everything from late-model stocks at the Nashville Fairgrounds (“Rookie of the Year” in 1992), to less traditional categories like the Alaska Ice Racing Series, Grand-Am Racing Series and the Formula Drift Series. Cook has one previous start in a NASCAR Busch Series event at Watkins Glen in 1999. He ran as high as second place until a mechanical failure ended his race.
Martinsville Changes Cooler Policy
To help insure quicker and easier access into events, Martinsville Speedway will have a new policy for carry-in items beginning with the 2005 season. Fans may bring one soft side bag or cooler, no larger than 6 x 6 x12 into the venue. They may also bring in one clear plastic bag, no larger than 18 x 18 x 4. Binoculars, scanners, headsets and cameras, not placed in a bag, but worn separately over the neck or on the belt, and seat cushions carried separately are also allowed. The new policy will go into effect with the Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend which is April 8-10. Examples of approved soft side bags or coolers include a soft side cooler, a scanner bag, a fanny pack, a purse, a diaper bag, or a binocular bag. This one bag may be carried in any manner * by the handle, with shoulder straps or on a belt. The soft side cooler may contain ice. The approved clear plastic bags may not contain ice. Seat cushions with compartments will be reviewed on an individual basis. Fans may continue to bring their own food and beverages into the grandstands as long as it is brought in the approved bags or coolers. All items brought through the grandstand gates will be inspected.
Jeff Gordon On "Tonight Show"
Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR Series champion and driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, is scheduled to appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" this Wednesday, January 5. Gordon, set to begin his 13th full season in NASCAR's premier series, will make his second appearance in less than a year on the Emmy-Award winning late night talk show. Please check local listings for time and channel in your area.
DEI Gets Jump On Mexico Busch Race
Dale Earnhardt Inc. is trying to stay a step ahead of the competition. With the 2005 racing season rapidly approaching and a new road race in Mexico City slated for the NASCAR Busch Series schedule, DEI recently enrolled members of its driver development program into the Advanced Road Racing two-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving near Phoenix. The goal was to sharpen the drivers’ road-race skills under the supervision of some serious road-course masters. The students included Shane Hmiel, who has shown great promise since joining the Busch Series at the end of 2001, and Ryan Moore, a 21-year-old upstart who only recently signed with DEI after earning Busch North Series rookie-of-the-year honors in 2003. Driver Paul Menard, another DEI hopeful, was also on hand for a day of instruction. To help accelerate the learning curve, GM Racing called upon veteran Corvette driver Ron Fellows. Fellows’ role was to assist Bondurant’s expert team in teaching advanced road-racing skills to the DEI drivers in both the classroom and on the track.
To read more...(AutoWeek)
Robby Gordon Denies Being Fired At RCR
Despite published reports suggesting (Robby) Gordon was released from his job driving the No. 31 Chevrolet following the 2004 season, it was Gordon himself that told car owner Richard Childress in August of his plans to run a full NASCAR Nextel Cup Series program under his own banner. In fact, for several years it has been Gordon’s goal to operate his own team, just as he has done before in the NASCAR Busch Series, the SCORE Off-Road Desert Series, the CART series, the Indy Racing League (Indy 500) and the former Winston Cup Series. “On the surface, leaving RCR was very difficult, and I told Richard in the middle of the season that I would never leave his organization to drive for a team other than one I owned,” Gordon said. “RCR is one of the all-time greatest NASCAR teams, and having an opportunity to work for Richard is what prepared me properly to be a team owner. We talked long and hard about my plans for 2005, and Richard asked me to consider staying in one of his cars for next season and beyond. “I gave it a lot of thought, but in the end, when I realized that sponsorship would come together for our own program, I decided that venturing out on my own was what was in my own best interest.”(robbygordon.com)
Toxic Cleanup at NASCAR Site Will Be Done By Spring
A decade-long effort to clean up petroleum contamination at the former GATX oil tank farm in Bloomfield, where developers want to build a NASCAR track, could wrap up as early as this spring. Oil leaks, spills and accidents have soaked tons of soil on the roughly 440 acres of industrial land, which was purchased last month for $100 million by track developer International Speedway Corp. (ISC). But the property's former owner, Chicago-based GATX Corp., has been doing state-mandated environmental work since the early 1990s, and site manager Greg Worobey said the bulk of the work should be finished in April. State Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman Maureen Wren wouldn't say if the property would be clean enough for a NASCAR track, explaining that the agency hasn't received any formal proposals for the site yet. "DEC's going to continue to monitor the cleanup on the site to ensure that it's protective of public health and the environment," she said.(Staten Island Advance)
Two Thrilling Premieres On CMT
CMT presents a night of NASCAR with two thrilling premieres including CMT 40 GREATEST NASCAR MOMENTS on Friday, Jan. 28 at 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT,* followed by DALE EARNHARDT JR. UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL at 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT.*
• CMT 40 GREATEST NASCAR MOMENTS: Strap in and hang on as CMT looks at the most thrilling moments in stock car racing history in a new two-hour original special. It's full throttle when CMT counts down 40 of the most memorable wins, wrecks and rivalries in NASCAR history. Narrated by veteran race announcer Ken Squier, CMT 40 GREATEST NASCAR MOMENTS drives fans through more than 50 years of their favorite moments, from the first "Strictly Stock" race in 1949 to Dale Earnhardt's first Daytona 500 win, and features new interviews with Robert "Junior" Johnson, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Richard Childress, Jeff Gordon, Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip, NASCAR President Mike Helton and more.
• DALE EARNHARDT JR. UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL: With Mike Wallace premieres exclusively on CMT with never-before-seen footage of one of NASCAR's elite, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the in-depth special, Earnhardt Jr. discusses everything from his fiery crash in Sonoma, Calif. to his legendary father, Dale, to Dating for Dummies. Champion driver and friend Tony Stewart guests. Earnhardt Jr. crashed while practicing for a road race during a NASCAR off-week, suffering second-degree burns when his car was engulfed in flames. In the 14 seconds it took to get out of the car, it occurred to him that he might not make it out. Earnhardt Jr. thinks it's possible that his late father Dale provided the way out. Earnhardt Jr. also talks about his personal life - growing up as part of a racing dynasty, how he relaxes in his off time, and dating - on DALE EARNHARDT JR. UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL.(PR)
Nadeau Considers Retirement
Nextel Cup driver Jerry Nadeau told MRN Radio/Sirius that he might never get back in a race car. The former No.01 U.S. Army Chevrolet driver was severely injured in a practice crash at the Richmond International Raceway in May 2003. "I can't find the fire I used to have," said Nadeau, "and I'm getting sick of waiting for that light switch to turn on in my brain. My doctors say it could take another year for me to get everything back that I'm going to get, and while I feel like I'm getting better every day, I'm starting to face the fact that I might not be able to race for a living anymore." The 32-year-old veteran of 177 Nextel Cup races needed to be cut out of his car after losing control between turns one and two and hitting the outside wall heavily during a Saturday practice session. He appeared motionless when he was removed from the vehicle and was later airlifted to the Medical College of Virginia. He suffered a severe head injury, a fractured left scapula and injuries to his lungs and ribs.(Houston Chronicle)
Office Depot Joins NASCAR
Office Depot has entered into a multiyear agreement with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to become the sport's first official office products partner, beginning with the 2005 race season. The relationship with Daytona Beach-based NASCAR is Office Depot's primary national sponsorship platform this year and will include NASCAR-themed customer promotions; television, print and radio advertising; NASCAR displays in Office Depot stores; and advertising during NASCAR race telecasts on NBC, FOX and TNT. Also, NASCAR will become an Office Depot customer for office supplies and services. Office Depot's alliance with NASCAR signals a shift in the company's overall sponsorship portfolio, creating a national marketing platform that reaches millions of customers, the company says.(BizJournal)
NASCAR Mandates HANS Device In 2005
Beginning this season, competitors in NASCAR's top three series -- Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Trucks -- will be required to wear the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device during practice, qualifying and race competition, NASCAR officials confirmed Monday. Until this season, drivers could choose between the HANS (a semi-hard collar made of carbon fiber and Kevlar) and the Hutchens (primarily composed of chest and waist safety straps) to meet NASCAR's requirement of use of a head and neck restraint. However, the Hutchens failed to meet minimum standards from testing by SFI Foundation Inc., NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said.
To read more...(That's Racin')
More Pain For A.J. Foyt
A.J. Foyt has had a painful few months. Still recovering from a torn rotator cuff suffered when he fell off a tractor, the four-time Indy 500 winner suffered multiple facial scratches when he got caught in a tree limb while working on his ranch. "I look like I was in a fight with the wrong end of the shovel," he said.(Indy Star)
Busch Joins Teammates In Rolex
Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch will join two Roush Racing teammates, 2003 champion Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle, behind the wheel of the No. 49 Ford in the Rolex 24 on February 5 and 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Considering the exposure such Chevrolet drivers as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have received at the event, it's not surprising Ford called on its star power.(FOX Sports)
Trial Period For Stoddard?
Although Said's deal is for just a minimum of 10 races in 2005, the phone wasn't ringing off the hook with job offers after Stoddard was released from Bill Davis Racing. Expect Stoddard's trial period at MB/Sutton Motorsports to be just that. My guess is Stoddard has his eye on the No. 10 Chevrolet, which is in need of an overhaul after finishing 29th in points. Scott Riggs is the driver for the No. 10, with Doug Randolph as the crew chief.(FOX Sports)
What Makes A Real Race Fan?
Is it how many races you've attended, watched on television, bought the most merchandise, been around the sport longer than most people, or is it something else? In our second edition of "Point-Counterpoint", Mike Contreras and Patty Kay have their own ideas of what constitutes a "Real Race Fan" and both present their views on the subject.
To read the full article...
Point-Counterpoint: What Makes A Real Race Fan?
Garone Leaves Michael Waltrip Racing
Joe Garone, former Director of Competition for Michael Waltrip Racing, has left that position to accept a crew chief job with a brand new NASCAR Busch Series team, Furniture Row Racing, based in Denver, Colorado. Furniture Row Racing and Garone are a perfect match considering Colorado is his home state. The newly-formed team will field Chevrolets driven by NASCAR Regional Champion Jerry Robertson. Robertson will compete in a limited schedule through the 2005 season with aspirations of running an entire Busch Series season beginning in 2006.(Jayski)
Labonte's To Team Up For Rolex 24
NASCAR Nextel Cup stars Bobby and Terry Labonte will be teaming with Andretti-Green Racing's Bryan Herta and Dane Jan Magnussen for the February 5-6 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The four will be in one of two team cars fielded by Doran Racing, headed by team-owner Kevin Doran, who additionally heads Daytona Prototype constructor Doran Designs, builder of the Doran JE4 in which the Labonte's will compete with Pontiac power at their backs. While the upcoming Rolex 24-Hour will be Bobby Labonte's first such race, older brother Terry ran in five 24-hour races at Daytona in the early to mid-1980s, in 1984 scoring a GTO-class victory after a sixth-place overall finish in a Chevrolet Camaro co-driven by Gene Felton and car-owner Billy Hagan.(crash.net)
Robby Gordon Wins First Leg Of Dakar Rally
Stock car racer Robby Gordon won the opening leg of the Dakar Rally on Friday, the first American to capture a stage in the car division of the world's most difficult road race. Gordon, driving a Volkswagen in his first Dakar Rally, covered a six-kilometre sprint along a beach outside this Spanish city in four minutes 20 seconds. He was two seconds ahead of Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan and three seconds ahead of Giniel De Villiers of South Africa. The 8,936-kilometre race begins in earnest Saturday with a 917-kilometre leg from Barcelona to Granada. It ends Jan. 16 in Dakar, Senegal, completing a course that also runs through Morocco, Mauritania and Mali. A record total of 696 vehicles - cars, motorbikes and trucks - took part Friday and 39 countries were represented.(Auotnet.ca)
UPDATE..Gordon wins 4th stage - Holds overall lead
Robby Gordon (VW – n°317) has just clocked the fastest time of the day's 123km special between Rabat and Agadir. The US driver managed a time of 1h14'01" beating Peterhansel (MIT – n°306) by 53" and Saby (VW – n°307) at 1'08". Gordon conquers the new overall lead ahead of Peterhansel, 1min adrift.(robbygordon.com)
UPDATE...Gordon Drops To Seventh Overall
NASCAR driver Robby Gordon took the overall lead on Monday when he won the fourth stage but fell to seventh overall with a ninth-place finish Tuesday in the Dakar Rally. Former World Rally champion Colin McRae of Scotland reclaimed the overall lead Tuesday with his victory in the fifth stage -- his second win of the competition. His Nissan covered 237 miles between Agadir, Morocco, and Smara, in 3 hours, 37 minutes, 14 seconds, and McRae now leads teammate Giniel de Villiers by 5 minutes, 28 seconds. The 5,566-mile event ends Jan. 16 in Dakar, Senegal.(SI)
Steve Wallace Will Run Hooters ProCup Series
While Rusty Wallace is preparing for his "Last Call" with longtime sponsor Miller Lite, his son, Steve, is busy planning his own partnership with the Milwaukee Brewer in the Hooters ProCup Series. "Our first goal next year is to win the Rookie of the Year," said Wallace, who will compete in the $90,000 Miller Lite Rookie of the Year Program next season in Hooters ProCup. "We also set a goal to win the championship." Lofty goals for 17-year-old, but the son of the 1989 Winston Cup Champion is coming into 2005 fresh off his win in the prestigious Snowball Derby, a feat his dad was unable to complete in nine tries. "I think [winning the Snowball Derby] definitely gives us some momentum going into next year," said Wallace. "[The Snowball Derby] is one of the biggest races of the year. Some of the best short-track racers in the country were there. But before that, we won at Bristol, Music City and Coastal Plains in UARA." Wallace will be aided in his growth as a driver next season by Barry Dobson, veteran NASCAR crew chief. It will be Dobson's second stint mentoring a young Wallace. In 1989, Dobson was the crew chief during Rusty's 1989 Winston Cup championship campaign. "Barry is going to help out, and we're bringing two guys from our Late Model team," said Wallace. "Dad isn't that hands-on. He makes sure we have good equipment, but it's our job to go out and tame the short tracks." Wallace will run the family-familiar No. 27 in the Southern Division. Wallace's Dodge engines will be supplied by Maurice Petty and the chassis was built by Steve Levitt.(motorsport.com)
Andretti Will Make Hockey Appearance
The Indiana Ice is excited to announce that John Andretti will be the club's special guest on NASCAR Night, when the Ice battles the Waterloo Black Hawks on Friday, January 21 at 7 p.m. from Conseco Fieldhouse. As part of the event, Andretti will be dropping the puck, participating in intermission activities and signing autographs. In addition, fans will have an opportunity to have their photo taken with a NASCAR show car which will be at the arena.(OSC)
Mike Wallace Stunned With Loss Of Ride
"Scrooged" does not even begin to describe how Mike Wallace feels about being rideless for the holidays in 2004. On the day after Thanksgiving, Wallace was released from his Busch Series ride with Biagi Brothers Racing, despite being a minority owner of the team. He finds himself out of work on the verge of New Year's Eve and the 2005 NASCAR season. "Without a doubt it's heartbreaking, is actually what it is," Wallace said. "It caught me totally off guard. Three years before, Wallace, 45, formed Biagi Brothers Racing with California businessman Fred Biagi. Wallace organized the team out of his personal shop and acted as its manager, in addition to driving in first a limited half-schedule in 2002 that blossomed into the full campaign in 2004. But despite scoring one of his biggest career wins last summer at Daytona, and nearly following it up a week later with a second win, a month ago Wallace found a message on his answering machine informing him his driving services were no longer required. "I was totally shocked and devastated all at the same time," Wallace said. "I was out of town and came home to find out about it via a voice mail. Some people took it that I left the team on my own, and that's not at all what happened. "Only six days before we had announced our sponsorship program for 2005 with Pet Brands, continued support from Ford Motor Company and GEICO, with me being the driver." To say the future is unclear is totally accurate, Wallace said.(nascar.com)
Stewart Wins “Rumble in Fort Wayne” Midget Feature
Tony Stewart fought off the advances of Dave Darland Wednesday night to win the Midget feature event in the “Rumble in Fort Wayne” at the Fort Wayne, Indiana – Memorial Coliseum Expo Center. Stewart started second in the 60 lap race, took the lead on the 14th lap and never looked back. The top-ten finishers were: 1. Tony Stewart, 2. Dave Darland, 3. Rich Corson, 4. Tony Elliott, 5. Mel Kenyon, 6. Aaron Pierce, 7. David Thompson, 8. Derek Bischak, 9. Doug Cross, 10.
Smoke Fools Crowd With Pseudo Name
USAC Triple Crown winner and 2002 NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, racing under the pseudonym Mikey Fedorcak, stole the thunder in Wednesday’s 60-lap “Rumble in Ft. Wayne” USAC midget feature, winning the event at the 1/10-mile Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Memorial Coliseum. Stewart, who didn’t even have a ride for the event until Tuesday evening, led the final 47 laps of the race after passing polesitter Billy Wease on lap 14. He ran away with the race in his WTFD – Our Poker Gang Munchkin/Voltswagen in a car he purchased Tuesday from veteran Mike Fedorcak, holding off a hard-charging Dave Darland. “I’m just so proud of my dad Mike Fedorcak Sr. tonight; he did such a great job,” Stewart joked in victory lane. “We just had a lot of fun. The holiday season is about the only time I can get home, and I was with a lot of the USAC guys last night…We just had fun tonight. I was going to go as Smoke Johnson tonight, but everybody knows who Smoke Johnson is, so I tried something new and wanted to stump some people, at least until the feature was over. The good thing was that I only hit one guy tonight.” Stewart’s history with the car extends to several years ago, when he watched the car on television. He had also competed in the car indoors in multiple events. “I put a down payment on the car tonight,” said Stewart, who has now won a USAC-sanctioned race in every calendar year since 1991. “I remember watching this car on TV when it ran – the first Munchkin. It’s pretty amazing to have driven this car at the Hoosier (RCA) Dome and at Ft. Wayne. Ever since then, I’ve been trying to get the nerve to ask him if I could buy that car, and finally at 11:30 last night at the poker game it happened, so that’s why our sponsor is Our Gang Poker, because $105 was collected as part of the sponsorship. It just shows how much the guys at USAC always welcome me back and how much fun my friends had.”(Who Won)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Prenuptial Poll
The popular television program "The Insider" ran a poll on December 28th asking the question.."Would you marry Dale Earnhardt Jr. if he insisted on a prenuptial agreement?" The results were revealed on Wednesday December 29th. -- 69% of the respondents said that they would.
