Cale Gale held off Steve Wallace through four green-white checkers to win the Shop’N Save 150 at Gateway International Speedway tonight. In an action packed race that saw the series lead change hands several times, Gale prevailed for his first ARCA series win in only his second start. Wallace led most of the race but being beat off of pit road in the final round of pits stops was unable to get back to the front. Brad Coleman, Pete Shepard and Jeremy Clements rounded out the top five. Blake Bjorklund, Ryan Matthews, Erin Crocker, Phil Bozell and Frank Kimmel finished 6^th through 10^th.

 

Series leader Frank Kimmel though suffering a late race engine problem that saw him dropping back through the pack was able to maintain the series lead when Erin Crocker wrecked Bobby Gerhart on the second green-white –checker. Gerhart went from 5^th to 15^th in the ensuing carnage and Kimmel not only retained the lead but also padded it with his 10^th place finish. An 11^th place finish helped Ryan Foster gain on rookie points leader Ryan Howard as Howard went a lap down early in the race and then ran out of fuel later on. Brett Rowe had mechanical problems late in the race and did not help his cause in the rookie point battle.

 

Brian Keselowski, winner at Berlin Speedway was running strong in the top ten until he was caught up in the incident with Crocker and Gerhart. ARCA Gateway Results SCR

Everett Mugg

 

 

 

 

Indianapolis, IN - The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will run in the month of July in 2007, moving up from the month of August where the race has been run since its inception. The race will take place July 29, 2007 a week earlier than this year.

 

In addition to being moved up a week, the Brickyard will also be the first Nextel Cup race televised on ESPN since 2000.

 

ESPN will launch an extensive multimedia campaign early next year to promote its return to NASCAR at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. That campaign will run through Race Day.

 

“We’re pleased to welcome ESPN and its team to the Brickyard in 2007,” said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief operating officer. “The promotional campaign that ESPN is planning for its first NASCAR telecast in seven years will create opportunities for the Speedway and our great sponsor partners, including our title sponsor, Allstate.”

 

Promotion of ESPN’s return to NASCAR and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will be included on the full suite of ESPN media, including its cable TV networks, ESPN2, ESPN360, ESPN Radio, Mobile ESPN, ESPN.com and affiliated international networks throughout the world.

 

“The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is one of NASCAR’s major races,” said Mike Helton, NASCAR president. “Indianapolis is a great place for ESPN’s return to NEXTEL Cup, as well as a great place to kick off the ABC/ESPN season every year.” SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

This morning Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR announced that ESPN's return to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing will begin with the prestigious Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 29, 2007.  The complete 2007 NASCAR schedule won't be released until later this year.

 

ESPN Statement

 

"The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard has always been a marquee event on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule and we cannot wait to provide our flag-to-flag coverage from such an historic race track," said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming. "We will dedicate unprecedented multi-media resources to the sport beginning with the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona, continuing with our opening NEXTEL Cup race at Indianapolis on ESPN, and until the season champions are crowned." SCR

 

 

STATESVILLE, NC – Billy Wilburn, crew chief of the No. 84 Chevrolet at Clay Andrews Racing (CAR), is on loan to JR Motorsports this weekend for the Busch Silver Celebration 250 presented by Shop ‘n Save at Gateway International Raceway.  He will be there in assistance to the No. 83 entry driven by Shane Huffman. 

 

This is only a one race deal as CAR will not be competing at the St. Louis-area track.  CAR is only running a partial schedule, a formula that they have had success with as a new team.  They will be back at the track when the NASCAR Busch Series heads to the Michigan International Speedway. 

 

“The guys at JR Motorsports asked me to help them out this week and, with Clay’s blessing, I said yes,” said Wilburn.  “I love to be around the racetrack and they are a solid team that we may be able to take a few pages from.” SCR

 

 

 

 

Open wheel star Max Papis will make his NASCAR debut at Watkins Glen August 12th. Papis will pilot the No. 36 Chevrolet for McGill Motorsports in the Busch Series race to be held at the track.

 

“I’m excited to get the opportunity to drive in NASCAR,” Papis said.  “I’ve been working hard for a long time to make this happen and I thank team owners John and Nancy McGill for giving me the opportunity.  He continued, “It means a lot to me that Sport Clips, who was my Indy 500 sponsor, has stepped up to support my Busch Series effort.  Sport Clips CEO Gordon Logan and I have had a great relationship and I’m looking forward to giving him a great finish.”

 

McGill Motorsports team owner, John McGill is pleased with the opportunity to have Max in the #36 car in Watkins Glen.

 

“This is very exciting for McGill Motorsports and we believe that having a high-profile driver like Max Papis in the car will give us the opportunity to showcase our abilities on a road course,” McGill said.  “It will also bring us extensive exposure and allow us to compete against the Cup drivers and give us the opportunity to run up front and win a race.  Max is a great person with an intense, competitive personality and we’re looking forward to working with him.” SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

Fastenal and Bobby Hamilton Racing have joined forces and will be pulling double duty,competing at both venues. Bobby Hamilton Jr. will drive the No. 04 Fastenal Dodge in the NASCAR Nextel Cup event at the Brickyard (The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard) and he will drive the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park (The Power Stroke Diesel 200). In pre-race testing at the Brickyard Hamilton Jr. was the 11th fastest driver posting a time of 50.406 which equates to a 178.550 mile per hour lap around the 2.5 mile oval.

 

 

Mooresville, NC – Former NBA player Rodney Rogers has become a partner in the Key Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team.

 

Rogers will assume a role as a marketing partner initially with team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. and has not ruled out becoming financially involved. Whatever he does with his involvement in NASCAR and the race team, (Barry) Dodson said that Rogers would dive in just as hard as he did on the basketball court.

 

Rogers played 12 seasons in the NBA with seven different teams. He earned the leagues sixth man award in 1999-2000.  

 

Team owner Curtis Key said “I can see him helping us in the boardroom talking to a potential sponsor or giving a pep talk to our crew before a pit stop. And Barry said he wouldn’t be surprised if he one day wanted to drive the hauler to the races. He really wants to get involved and not just lend his name to a race team like other professional athletes have done. NASCAR should also see some opportunities to have Rodney help the sport in the diversity area. We’re excited to have him with us.”

 

His agent is still fielding some inquiries from some NBA teams for his services for this coming basketball season, Rogers says he believes his playing days are over. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

CONCORD, N.C. –  What do baseball, golf and racing have in common?  They are all on Todd Kluever’s schedule while he is in Minnesota for the 3M Championship next week.

    

Kluever’s week will kick off Monday, July 31 with a visit to a local children’s hospital to sign autographs for the patients.  That evening he will be on hand at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis to drive his No. 06 3M Ford Fusion onto the playing field and throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Twins game.

    

After several media stops on Tuesday, Kluever will play in the 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., on Wednesday.  Many of the best-known golfers on the Champions Tour, including Arnold Palmer, Fuzzy Zoeller, Craig Stadler and Tom Purtzer, have committed to play.  The tournament will help raise more than $1 million for several Twin Cities health care programs.

    

“I haven’t had a lot of time lately to practice my golfing, or my pitching,” Kluever said.  “I’m hoping the pros can give me some tips to improve my golf game.  I love the game, but the game doesn’t love me.  I’d be happy to help them drive a car faster if they can show me how to drive a golf ball farther.

    

“I’m really looking forward to the events 3M has planned for me next week while I’m in Minnesota.  It should be a lot of fun and it will also help support some great causes at the same time.” SCR

 

 

Memphis Motorsports Park officials announced yesterday that Elvira will serve as the grand marshal of the Sam’s Town 250 Busch Series race at the track October 28^th. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

Wood Brothers Racing's Ken Schrader is being featured in a new advertising campaign for team sponsor Little Debbie.

 

The commercials will be broadcast nationally, beginning with NBC's coverage of the Aug. 6 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the 30-second spot, Schrader appears in a convenience store with a mouthful of the company's donuts. It's the first time the driver has been featured in an ad for the company that signed with the Wood Brothers in October 2005.

 

The company is in negotiations with Wood Brothers concerning sponsorship in 2007.