Level Cross, N.C. - Seven-time Nextel Cup champion Richard Petty will be a guest on the naval aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday, October 31, 2007.  It will be Petty’s first visit on an aircraft carrier. Petty will travel to the Halsey Field Naval Air Station in San Diego , California where he will be taken to the ship.  The USS Abraham Lincoln is currently out to sea preparing for its next deployment.

 

Petty will spend the afternoon aboard the ship watching and participating in various naval base drills with the sailors.  Petty is expected to take part in a landing on the flight deck in a dual-prop plane and spend time on the flight deck.  He will also entertain troops by taking pictures and signing autographs for those on board.

 

“It’s going to be an honor to be on board,” said Petty.  “I want to show the sailors my support because they are out there fighting for our freedom.  We are in the racing business, but it’s because of sailors like these that we can go do what we love to do.”

“It’s going to be a neat experience,” continued Petty.  “They have some stuff planned for me on the ship.  We’re going to be out in the ocean and I’m sure it’s going to be a different experience. I’m humbled that they asked me to come out and see what they do as they prepare to defend our country.”

 

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is America ’s fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The ship was named in honor of our nation’s 16th president and is the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear his name.

 

Abraham Lincoln’s keel was laid Nov. 3, 1984 at Newport News , Va. The ship was christened less than four years later and commissioned Nov. 11, 1989 in Norfolk , Va. After shakedown and acceptance trials, the ship departed Norfolk in September 1990 and transited around South America before arriving in Alameda , Calif. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mooresville, NC – With his win Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS), Jimmie Johnson along with his Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) team, sponsor Lowe’s, and the Chairman of Speedway Motorsports, Bruton Smith more than $1 million were contributed to the American Red Cross in the relief efforts of the California wildflowers. The check will be presented to the Red Cross before Sunday’s race at the Texas Motor Speedway (TMS).

 

"I am very proud of everyone who has jumped on board with us to donate winnings to the victims of California fires," said Johnson whose Hendrick Motorsports team earned $343,861 in race winnings on Sunday. "I appreciate Lowe's, Hendrick Motorsports and Bruton Smith, Sonic Automotive and the NASCAR community for their effort to help out the people in Southern California during this devastating time."

 

In addition to matching the race winnings, Lowe's designated each of its 85 stores in California as cash donation sites for customers and employees. Those donations plus another match by Lowe's raised an additional $10,000. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

 

 

 

TROY, Mich. - Delphi Product & Service Solutions announced today at a press conference held at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas that it will continue its major associate sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2008 NASCAR season.

An associate sponsor of all of the 2008 Hendrick Motorsports entries, Delphi will also be the primary sponsor for the No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet fielded by JR Motorsports for four races. In addition, Delphi will receive preferred logo placement on the No. 5 Sprint Cup Series car driven by Casey Mears at Las Vegas, Indianapolis and the second Texas race.

Hendrick newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 5 Delphi Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in July. Mark Martin will drive the other two races for Delphi -- at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and Texas Motor Speedway in November.

"Delphi is proud to continue our great association with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 NASCAR season," says Francisco A. (Frank) Ordoñez, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions, and vice president, Delphi Corp. "We are very excited to welcome Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin to the Delphi family, and look forward to another winning year with the entire Hendrick team."

Earnhardt will be Hendrick Motorsports' newest driver for the 2008 season, joining 2006 champion Jimmie Johnson, four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon and race winner Mears. Delphi will continue to be featured on the uniforms of all of the Hendrick drivers.

"We have had a tremendous relationship with Delphi over the past seven years," says Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This association has been extremely important to our organization, especially from a technology standpoint, and we look forward to having Delphi continue as a key partner in 2008."

For more information about Delphi's involvement in motor sports, please visit www.delphi.com/about/motorsports or for more information about Delphi, visit www.delphi.com. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myrtle Beach, S.C.—After his fourth-place finish at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Bobby Gill quipped, “I guess we’re going to Lakeland, race and not worry about points.”

Well, not exactly.

 

Gill can’t just cruise to his series-high fourth title. Mathematically, five drivers could pass him if he suffers a DNF in the Robert H. Brooks Memorial Aaron’s 250 presented by NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour at USA Int’l Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 3.  

 

Trevor Bayne, second in points, would have to win, lead halfway and the most laps and hope that Gill finishes 15th or worse without scoring any bonus points. If he does that, Bayne would erase the 80-point deficit and, at 16, become the youngest Hooters Pro Cup Champion.

 

Mike Garvey and Gary St. Amant, who are tied for third, would have to finish first, lead the most laps and halfway and have Gill finish 28th or worse without scoring any bonus points.

 

Brandon Ward, fifth in points, would have to win, lead halfway and the most laps and hope that Gill finishes 29th or worse without scoring any bonus points.

 

Mark McFarland, sixth in points, would have to win, lead halfway and the most laps, grab the Hard Charger bonus and have Gill finish last without scoring bonus points. If that happened, the two would be tied, but McFarland would have the tie-breaker advantage because of his three wins.

 

But don’t expect Gill to lose sleep over the five guys chasing him for the title. A top-10 finish at USA Int’l would give Gill the title, regardless of what anyone else does. In 30 races at the .75-mile track, Gill has racked up 24 top-10 finishes, and 12 of those were wins.

 

“I’ve always liked [USA Int’l],” said Gill, driver of the No. 06s USG Sheetrock Ford. “I like the fast tracks on the schedule. We don’t run superspeedways, so this is kind of like our superspeedway.”

 

Knowing the situation, Gill’s closest pursuers can’t—and won’t—play it safe in the season finale.

 

“I very seriously doubt that we have a shot at the title,” said Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 29s STRUTMASTERS.com Chevrolet. “Now we’ve just got to win a race. We’re not going to do the points racing that we would’ve had to do if we were closer. We’re going to go to Lakeland with a whole different attitude. We’re going to have fun and try to win the race.”

 

The Robert H. Brooks Memorial Aaron’s 250 at USA Int’l Speedway is scheduled for a green flag at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. Fans are encouraged to come out early for the two-hour practice session starting at 11 a.m.

   

Awesome Awnings Pole Qualifying will begin at 4 p.m. and be followed by the BFGoodrich Tires Pit Crew Challenge at 5:15 p.m. The Wraps INK Autograph Session will start at 6:15 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies for the Aaron’s 250 will start at 7 p.m.

 

For ticket information, contact USA Int’l Speedway at 800-964-7223. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kannapolis, NC – For 10 years, veteran short-track driver Mike Herman, Jr. has called the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series home.  This Saturday night at USA International Speedway Herman will make his 90th and last scheduled Pro Cup start of his career.

 

Flashback to May 23rd, 1998.  Concord Motorsport Park would host the fledgling Hooters Pro Cup Series for the first time.  In the race was Herman, who at the time was the defending Concord Late Model Stock champion.  At the young age of 24, Herman would embark on a new career path that would see its peaks and valleys.

 

Peaks would include point leads, laps led, and second place finishes at Hickory (2000) & Winchester (2001).  Recently at the first 2006 Pro Cup event at Peach State Speedway Herman would lead with 3 laps remaining with victory in sight.  However, a late caution and worn tires would allow his elusive victory to slip away once again.

 

On the opposite end of the spectrum were part failures that led to destroyed cars at Lakeland (2000) and Kenly (2002) that would set the financial tone of the future.

 

In between the highs and lows were plenty of fun times on the road and many battles on the race track. 

 

Expect those times for Herman to continue in the future, but not at the Pro Cup level.

 

The year 2007 brought about a new chapter in his career by working with Joe Gibbs Racing while continuing to compete full-time in the Pro Cup Series.  Herman was hired by JGR to guide young development driver Marc Davis on his climb through the racing ranks.

 

The relationship with JGR & Marc Davis will continue to grow in 2008, which forced Herman to make several tough decisions.  One of which was a step back from the Pro Cup Series.

 

When asked about his decision, Herman replied, “It was a tough decision to make, but at some point a man has to look at the big picture.  I’ve been fortunate to call the Hooters Pro Cup Series home for 10 years.  As a team we are proud of our longevity because we have watched many teams and drivers come and go.  We might not have always had the best equipment, but we were always there trying to entertain the fans of the series.”

 

“I not only watched the Pro Cup grow, but I feel like I played a big part in it as well.  The great people in this series made it what it is, whether it was the USAR officials or the teams.  USAR has been a great organization to work with, and there is no doubt that the teams in this series are the toughest short-track racers in the world,” Herman said.  “But it’s time to move on, especially with my job with JGR & Marc Davis.”

 

“I enjoy working with the young guys.  I joke all the time that I’m like the character Crash Davis in the movie Bull Durham.  I’m the experienced catcher who deserved to be in the show but never got the chance, who’s brought in to teach the young fastball pitcher.  There’s not a scenario on the race track that I haven’t been through, and it’s my job to pass that experience along.  The USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series gave me that experience, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

 

Fans of “The Hermanator,” as he is affectionally known, shouldn’t worry that they won’t see him behind the wheel anymore.  He is adamant that this is not a retirement.

 

“I’ll still be racing next year, but it’ll be on off nights from my JGR work schedule,” said Herman.  “I wish we could continue in Pro Cup, but this is a series in which you have to be 100% focused on to be competitive.  It would be extremely tough to race Pro Cup part-time so we’ll regroup and go have some fun when we can.”

 

Where ever Herman races in 2008 expect his car to be adorned by the Fireside Hearth & Home logo once again.  Fireside and Herman have one of the longest running partnerships in all of racing with the upcoming 2008 season being their 14th together.

 

Herman touched on his relationship with Fireside and others:  “I have so many people to thank for my Pro Cup career, but the main ones are my Mom & Dad and the loyal members of Fireside Hearth & Home.  My Dad, everyone knows him as Pop Herman, has worked side by side with me since I started racing go-karts in 1983, and he’s still right there working full-time for MHR.  Mom has been a tremendous supporter of my career as well.  I couldn’t have done this without them.  My partnership with Fireside started in 1995, and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without their support.  All three have molded my future, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

 

“One more person I’d like to thank is Don Sprouse,” said Herman.  “2001 was my best year ever in Pro Cup and I owe that to him.  Don was the only person to ever give me a chance to drive a car other than my own.  Everyone knows Don didn’t have the best equipment, but in a way he took great pride in that.  He enjoyed doing more with less.  When we’d have a good finish, and I had a lot with Don, he’d ask me if I knew what we just did.  Like nearly winning a race with a car he drug out of the field and straightened on his body shop floor.  I’ll never forget that year and the chance that Don gave me.”

Even with all the reminiscing, Herman knows he has a job to do this Saturday night at Lakeland.

 

“It’ll be an emotional day but this team is focused.  We’ve loaded our guns to go out in style.”  Herman remarked.  “We’ve had good cars this year, like at Kenly and Iowa, but bad luck kept us from showing it.  We’re 110% prepared to go to Florida to have a chance to win this race.  There’s nothing more in this world that I’d rather do than go out on top for this team, Fireside, and all my loyal fans.” SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

NASCAR officials are considering alterations to the point system for the Nationwide Series that would deny points for most, if not all, Sprint Cup drivers in 2009, several sources have told NASCAR Scene.

 

Beginning in 2009, drivers in the top 35 in the Sprint Cup standings would not be eligible to receive points in the Nationwide Series, under a proposal being considered by NASCAR.

 

NASCAR officials declined comment on the plan since it is under consideration. The sanctioning body, sources said, has also talked to teams in the series about other possible rules changes for 2009 in an attempt to differentiate itself from the Cup series.

 

If the proposed point system were in effect for this season, the series standings would be drastically different.

 

Nextel Cup drivers currently hold the top two positions, four of the top five and five of the top 10. Cup driver Carl Edwards leads the points standings, with Cup drivers David Reutimann second, Kevin Harvick fourth and David Ragan fifth.

 

The first non-Cup driver is Jason Leffler in third, 758 points out of the lead.

 

Harvick won last year's Busch championship while also running full time in Cup, while Edwards has all but clinched this year's title.

 

The specifics of the plan are apparently still being worked out, but Cup drivers would still be eligible for money and victories. It's also unclear what effect, if any, the rule changes would have on the owner point standings.

 

Also, NASCAR is reportedly still working out how points would be awarded. For example, if a Busch-only driver such as Leffler finished 10th behind nine Cup drivers, it's unclear whether he would receive 10th-place points or first-place points.

 

Proponents of the plan say it would greatly reduce the involvement of Cup drivers in the series, which might create a more level playing field for independent Nationwide teams.

 

One owner said he is "holding out for 2009" to be able to field a more competitive team, under the proposed new system. As many as 25 Cup drivers have been entered in any one Busch race this season.

 

Opponents of the plan want to include a caveat that if a driver such as Edwards is running all the Nationwide races, he should be eligible for the championship. Edwards, Reutimann and Ragan have run all 32 Busch races to date.

 

Opponents also don't want to eliminate the presence of Cup teams, which make up a large percentage of the series. If Cup drivers were not eligible for points, Cup teams might lose interest.

  

 

 

  

 

 

Dover, DE. – The 2007 Busch East Series Champion Joe Logano announced this past weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) that he'll make his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series on May 31, 2008 at Dover International Speedway. His debut is set to take place one week after his 18th birthday.

 

Logano signed with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2005, and just days after turning 15, made his debut in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. Less than a month later on June 11, Logano scored his first Hooters Pro Cup win at Mansfield Motorsports Park. The 2006 season saw continued success in Hooters Pro Cup, with Logano winning two races and a pole en route to a solid fifth-place finish in the Southern Division point standings. It was a precursor to the success Logano would attain in 2007. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle was the fastest in testing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) Monday afternoon. Biffle had a speed of 185.158 mph, he was the only one in the afternoon session to crack the 185 mph mark. Denny Hamlin was second quick at 184.874 mph; Hamlin was followed by Kyle Busch, David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr.

 

In the A.M. Session Kyle Busch led the pack. Busch cracked the 186 mph mark at 186.190 mph. Busch was followed by Hamlin, Reutimann, Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Wyler and Michael Gaughan jointly announced Monday the formation of Wyler-Gaughan Racing, LLC (WGR), which will field two full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) teams and will run a partial NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) team during the 2008 season.  WGR will field the No. 77 Toyota Tundra with driver Brendan Gaughan and the No. 60 Toyota Tundra. The driver of the No. 60 Toyota Tundra and sponsors for both teams will be announced at a later date.  Gaughan will also be behind the wheel of the team’s Toyota Camry in at least six Sprint Cup races. 

 

“We have watched with great interest the recent partnerships that have formed in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garage, and we believe that this is the wave of the future,” Wyler said. “To have a competitive race team at any level in NASCAR, it is crucial to have an almost endless supply of resources available to your team. By combining our efforts, we now have double the talent and double the resources. Our two trucks will work as one team and have the common goal of winning.  By merging our teams together and forming WGR, we believe that we will be one step ahead when we make our move into the Sprint Cup Series in the coming years.” SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Saturday's Bandit Bandolero race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 11-year-old Chase Elliott claimed his third Bandolero victory on the quarter-mile track on AMS' frontstretch. He won two races in AMS' summer Thursday Thunder Series. Chase, who will celebrate his 12th birthday a month from today, now has four Bandolero wins on his resume.

           

“At the first, we got some new tires put on,” Chase said in describing his race. “We started the race really loose. Then the tires finally came in and we ended up winning it.”

           

The young Elliott plans to compete in his Bandolero in the Winter Flurry Series at Atlanta , but his 2008 racing plans have yet to be determined. Chase said he enjoys the Bandolero cars because he learns a great deal from them, such as car control.

           

Bill Elliott, who won his 1988 NASCAR championship at Atlanta in season finale and has claimed six Cup victories at the 1.5-mile track, said his son was “doing a good job.”

           

“You know how it is. The farther you go up the ladder the harder it is,” Bill said. “I just don't want to over-push him. I just want to let him go at his own deal, have a good time, and go from there.”

           

Bill said his son's performance in the Winter Flurry Series, which begins Nov. 9, would determine the direction the team takes in 2008. SCR

  

 

 

  

 

 

NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers will test at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) today. Drivers will test the Car of Tomorrow (COT) on the 1.5 mile speedway in preparation for the car going full-time in 2008.

 

“It’s the first opportunity for everyone for be on that size race track at the same time at those speeds,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “It’s also the first opportunity for some new combinations of drivers and crew chiefs to work together.”

 

This test will be the fourth this season dedicated to the new car (previous tests for the new car took place at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway).

 

The COT will race one more time in 2007 at the Phoenix Int. Raceway. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concord, NC - On his way east from California to Charlotte for the inaugural Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Jason Meyers made a stop at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock , Arkansas over weekend for the 20th Annual Short Track Nationals. He would continue his trip $20,000 richer, after winning the 40-lap contest.

 

After finishing third on Friday night in a preliminary feature, the native of Clovis , California , who is fifth in the World of Outlaws championship point standings, locked himself into the main event on the high-banked ¼-mile for the finale on Saturday.

 

He won the dash on Saturday night to earn the pole position for the main event, with 2005 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Shane Stewart alongside him. Stewart, who won at Grays Harbor Raceway in Washington with the World of Outlaws in August, took the lead on the opening lap and would set the pace for the first 38 circuits.

 

Meyers, who has four World of Outlaws A-Feature wins this season, dove under Stewart with just two laps remaining and would go on to claim the win in the event sanctioned by the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS). Ironically, Meyers driving his No. 14 Primerica Financial Maxim became the 14th different winner in the history of the event. Stewart, a native of Bixby , Oklahoma , now calling Indianapolis home finished second.

 

Tim Shaffer, who is currently 10th in World of Outlaws points finished third, after winning the preliminary feature on Friday night.

 

Sam Hafertepe Jr., who is currently second in the World of Outlaws rookie standings, was ninth, with Daryn Pittman, who has won six World of Outlaws A-Feature events this season finishing in the 10th position.

 

Other World of Outlaws drivers that competed in the event included: Jason Sides who finished 12th, as well as Paul McMahan, and Tony Bruce Jr. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAMPTON, GA - Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing announced Sunday that the team will field two full-time entries in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series.  Two-time 2007 pole winner, Steve Wallace, will continue full time in the team’s No. 66 car for 2008, while its new No. 64 entry will feature several drivers.  NASCAR Cup Series veteran, David Stremme, will pilot the No. 64 in at least 17 2008 events, while 18 year-old Kansas native, Chase Austin, will drive the 64 car in 15 races during the 2008 season.  The team plans to put a well-known road racer behind the wheel of the No. 64 for the three Nationwide Series road course events in 2008.  Team officials are currently in discussions with several drivers regarding that role and plan to name a driver in the near future.

 

Noted Rusty Wallace Racing team owner, Rusty Wallace, “Our entire team is thrilled about our prospects for the 2008 season.  David Stremme has proven that he can get the job done in the Busch Series and we’re ecstatic to have him on our team.  He ran the Michigan ARCA race for us last year and literally lapped the field; we’re looking forward to even more success with him next year,” he continued, “Steve (Wallace) has shown a ton of potential and has been really fast many times this season.  With a full year of experience under his belt, we’re excited to watch him progress even further.  Chase Austin is another talented young driver and we’re planning on putting him through the same program we did with Steve in 2006.  In addition to his Nationwide Series races, we’ll run him in at least five ARCA events as well.”

 

In addition to its driver announcement, the team also announced an agreement with General Motors and its Chevrolet nameplate, under which each Rusty Wallace Racing entry will be a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in 2008.  The move to a GM make is a homecoming of sorts for Rusty Wallace, who seemingly dominated the NASCAR Cup Series in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s from behind the wheel of a GM product.  During his GM tenure, from 1984 to 1993, Wallace earned 31 victories, 91 top-five finishes, 150 top-tens and 15 pole positions; his record with GM includes the 1989 Cup Series Championship and a whopping ten-win season in 1993 with Penske Racing.

 

Noted Rusty Wallace, “This move was a hard decision after all of the great seasons with Dodge.  They’ve been great partners for us over the years.  The bottom line though, is that Chevrolet is willing to provide us with more resources to make our race cars go faster—that’s what it’s all about.  Our passion is winning races; that’s what drives us and we believe that this move is going to help us do that.  Some of the best runs of my career came in GM products; this is almost like a homecoming to me.”

 

Providing backing for both teams in the majority of the 2008 events will be Atlanta, GA-based Atreus Homes and Communities.  Currently known as HomeLife Communities, the national builder known for affordable dream homes will take on the Atreus name effective January 1, 2008.  Team officials plan to announce additional partnerships within several weeks.

 

Further, in an effort to emphasize Rusty Wallace Racing’s relationship with HomeLife and Atreus Homes, the team announced an arrangement with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, under which Stremme’s No. 40 Cup Series car will carry the current HomeLife Communities paint scheme for next weekend’s Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway.  HomeLife Communities is also featured on the lower rear quarter panels of the No. 40 in today’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

Noted Rusty Wallace Racing team owner, Rusty Wallace, “Atreus Homes and Communities is an exceptional company that is led by exceptional people, such as CEO Jon Been.  They’ve been a great partner for us in 2007 and I couldn’t be more excited to expand our partnership for 2008.  I’m looking forward to helping them make even more homebuyers’ dreams come true next year,” he continued, “While Atreus Homes will be on board for the majority of our team’s races in 2008, we have several other exciting partnerships that we plan to announce very shortly.  We’re feeling good about our sponsorship situation right now, but there are still several opportunities for other great partners to get involved with our 2008 efforts as well.” SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

When David Reutimann returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday night after winning his first-ever Busch Series race at Memphis , he received an interesting reception from his Michael Waltrip Racing NEXTEL Cup team. He was greeted at Waltrip's plane by the head of Aaron's, which sponsored his winning Busch effort. Then he quickly backed away and Reutimann said he heard what sounded like a “herd of cattle” headed towards him.

           

“I turned to see my entire Cup team was running at me,” Reutimann said. “They had secured bottles of champagne and they pretty much doused me on the runway out there. It was pretty neat to get off the plane, have such a great day in Memphis, and then have all your Cup guys – with the rough start we had to the weekend – to come out and meet me. They made me a sign, but I'm not going to tell you what it said. It's something I will always remember.  It caught me by complete surprise. So it was pretty neat.” SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budweiser team's car chief Mike Moore who mans the pit sign as Dale Jr. comes into his pit box, was struck in the mouth by a lugnut that had been shot like a bullet from underneath the spinning tire of a car leaving the pits two stalls in front of the Bud pit area. A bloodied Moore was taken to the infield care center where he was given four stitches in his upper lip. He was taken to a dentist immediately after the race to have his loose front teeth treated. Despite the injuries, Moore returned to the Bud pits after being released from the care center, and resumed his duties for the final 130 laps. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jimmie Johnson wrapped up his third sweep of the 2007 season Sunday with his win at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Johnson who had already swept both races at Martinsville in Richmond this season swept the races at AMS with his win in the Pep Boys 500.

 

Johnson won under caution after the caution flew right after the restart of the green-white-checker (GWC) finish.

 

Under a late caution restart the No. 11 of Denny Hamlin did not pit and when the green flag flew Hamlin ran out of fuel and Martin Truex Jr. plowed into the back of Hamlin bringing out the caution again and giving Johnson the lead with Carl Edwards in second. As the green flag flew under the GWC Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his back left tire as it completely off the car bringing out the caution one more time and giving Johnson the win.

 

Edwards finished second followed by hometown boy Reed Sorenson in third. Finishing fourth was Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton rounded out the top five.

 

Positions six through 10 went to Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers.

 

With the win and Gordon’s seventh place finish Johnson cut Gordon’s points lead to 9 points. Clint Bowyer still sits third 111 markers out of the lead. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Jacques Villeneuve has apparently completed a buy-in of Bill Davis’ High Point-based Toyota operation, according to sources close to the team, and Villeneuve will have at least a majority interest in the operation, perhaps even full ownership. Last Sunday, when asked about the report of a planned Villeneuve buy-in, Davis said he wasn’t in a position to give a specific answer but did say he was considering a number of options.

 

It is unclear what a purchase price might be. It is also unclear why Villeneuve, who lives in Montreal, would want to buy a NASCAR team, or if Villeneuve might move the team from High Point, where Davis has operated for more than 15 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying, Michael Waltrip said that Darrell Waltrip Motorsports (DWM) has finalized the sell of his team and this weekend DWM will run its last truck series race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Waltrip has sold his team to The Racers Group (TRG), Kevin Buckler ,but Waltrip retained his No. 17 for future use if needed. Waltrip has owned a team in the truck series since the series inception. Andy Lally will drive the three remaining races in 2007 for TRC and run the full 2008 truck series schedule. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Biffle just edged out Kurt Busch Friday night to win the pole for Sunday’s Pep Boy’s 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Biffle ran a speed of 192.453 mph to edge out his former Roush Fenway Racing teammate Kurt Busch, Busch ran a speed of 192.426 mph. Starting behind Biffle in Busch in third and fourth will be Dale Jarrett and Kasey Kahne. Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five.

 

Second in points Jimmie Johnson will roll off sixth followed by David Stremme seventh, point’s leader Jeff Gordon eighth. Ryan Newman and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top 10.

 

Kevin Harvick was the lowest qualifying Chase driver, he will roll off 34^th.

 

David Reutimann was one of five drivers that failed to make Sunday’s race. Other drivers include Burney Lamar, Sam Hornish Jr. Ward Burton and Mike Skinner. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW ALBANY IN - After winning their ninth ARCA RE/MAX Series championship, Frank Kimmel and Tri-State Motorsports have parted ways.

 

Kimmel, along with his brother and long-time crew chief Bill Kimmel, will compete in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series under the Kimmel Racing banner as co-owners of the new race team. A car number and primary sponsor for the new team have not been determined.

 

Car owner/Tri State Motorsports team owner Larry Clement (pictured next to Kimmel) is yet to announce his plans for the 2008 racing season.

 

"This was a challenging decision to make," said Kimmel. "Larry Clement and I have enjoyed a lot of success in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and he has given me a lot of great opportunities to achieve success. We are excited about this new endeavor of Kimmel Racing for 2008 and beyond -- we wish Larry and Tri-State Motorsports the best as they also move forward."

 

After spending more than a decade together, Kimmel and Tri-State Motorsports have earned a record nine ARCA RE/MAX Series championships, including the 2007 championship. Kimmel has also earned 71 wins, 209 top-five finishes and 259 top-10 finishes during his ARCA career spanning back to the 1990 season.

 

Kimmel and Clement will celebrate their final ARCA RE/MAX Series championship together on December 8 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky. SCR

Photo:James S. Langley

  

 

 

 

 

 

FORT WORTH, Texas – Texas Motor Speedway has secured just over 1,200 prime frontstretch tickets from corporate sponsors for next Sunday’s Dickies 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race t