Lakeland, FL – Two rookies stole the show in the Construct Corps – Palm Beach Garden 250 at the USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL Saturday night. Series rookies James Buescher making his first career start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and Bryan Clauson making his first career start in a stock car battled all night and through a green-white-checker finish before Buescher stock car experienced paid off as he took the win in his series debut.

 

Clauson, a Chip Ganassi Racing development driver who has a background in sprint cars finished second in his stock car debut followed by Wayne Anderson in third. Justin Allgaier and Brian Keselowski rounded out the top five. SCR

Matthew Blaylock/Everett Mugg

 

 

 

 

Point’s leader Carl Edwards held off his Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth on his way to winning the Sharpie Mini 300 at the Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). Kenseth finished second followed by Kyle Busch in third. Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer rounded out the to five Buschwhacker sweep.

 

Carl Edwards who is planning to run the full Busch schedule now leads last years series champion Kevin Harvick by 197 points. Kyle Busch sits third 248 markers back. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

Sharpie Mini 300 Results

 

 

 

 

 

Pos.	No.	Driver		Make	Speed
1	24	Jeff Gordon		Chevrolet	125.453
2	9	Kasey Kahne		Dodge	125.313
3	19	Elliott Sadler		Dodge	125.183
4	20	Tony Stewart		Chevrolet	125.117
5	26	Jamie McMurray		Ford	124.906
6	48	Jimmie Johnson		Chevrolet	124.824
7	22	Dave Blaney		Toyota	124.768
8	10	Scott Riggs		Dodge	124.759
9	66	Jeff Green		Chevrolet	124.622
10	11	Denny Hamlin		Chevrolet	124.573
11	16	Greg Biffle		Ford	124.565
12	01	Regan Smith		Chevrolet	124.508
13	1	Martin Truex Jr.		Chevrolet	124.331
14	4	Ward Burton		Chevrolet	124.251
15	21	Ken Schrader		Ford	124.242
16	25	Casey Mears		Chevrolet	124.202
17	96	Tony Raines		Chevrolet	124.122
18	07	Clint Bowyer		Chevrolet	123.993
19	49	Mike Bliss		Dodge	123.969
20	5	Kyle Busch		Chevrolet	123.913
21	14	Sterling Marlin		Chevrolet	123.890
22	12	Ryan Newman		Dodge	123.770
23	36	Jeremy Mayfield		Toyota	123.722
24	88	Ricky Rudd		Ford	123.714
25	83	Brian Vickers		Toyota	123.698
26	45	Kyle Petty		Dodge	123.666
27	78	Kenny Wallace		Chevrolet	123.666
28	43	Bobby Labonte		Dodge	123.578
29	31	Jeff Burton		Chevrolet	123.570
30	44	Dale Jarrett		Toyota	123.324
31	8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.		Chevrolet	123.269
32	99	Carl Edwards		Ford	123.253
33	40	David Stremme		Dodge	123.229
34	7	Robby Gordon		Ford	123.103
35	38	David Gilliland		Ford	122.937
36	42	Juan Montoya	R	Dodge	122.819
37	18	J.J. Yeley		Chevrolet	122.599
38	17	Matt Kenseth		Ford	122.521
39	41	Reed Sorenson		Dodge	122.482
40	29	Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet	122.380
41	6	David Ragan		Ford	121.520
42	2	Kurt Busch		Dodge	119.395
43	84	A.J. Allmendinger	R	Toyota	122.976
Failed to Qualify
44	37	Kevin Lepage		Dodge	122.701
45	00	David Reutimann	R	Toyota	122.584
46	55	Michael Waltrip		Toyota	122.365
47	13	Joe Nemechek		Chevrolet	122.154
48	70	Johnny Sauter		Chevrolet	121.497
49	15	Paul Menard	R	Chevrolet	120.702
R= Rookie

 

 

Denver N.C. - Front Row Motorsports announced they will be focus primarily on the #37 Dodge for the reminder of the 2007 season and that the team still plans on running the #34 with a limited schedule.

 

“We would love to continue entering two cars each week, but in today’s climate, we feel that focusing on one car will give us our best shot at making races,” said team owner Bob Jenkins.  “With the number of well-funded teams that are entered each week, it is very difficult for the independent teams such as ours to compete as a multi-car effort.  I am proud that both of our teams have been very competitive and have been consistent in out qualifying teams with much larger budgets.  As a team not in the top 35 it is not enough to be one of the 43 fastest cars each week.  In order to race on Sunday over the last three races non-top 35 teams had to qualify 33, 32 and 31st respectively.  At this point it’s not reasonable to expect our limited staff to be able to prepare two cars to qualify in the top 30 each week.  We look forward to the reminder of the season and feel this change will give us the best opportunity to qualify for races.”

 

Front Row Motorsports is still actively seeking sponsorship for both cars for the 2007 season and beyond.  Please contact 865-898-0946 for information about sponsorship opportunities.

 

Additional information about Front Row Motorsports can be found at www.frontrowmotorsports.com. SCR

 

 

 

 

LAKELAND, Fla - ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Roger Carter II has withdrawn as the driver of the No. 48 FreeFeds.org Dodge Charger for this Saturday’s Construct Corps-PBG 250 after suffering a personal injury in North Carolina Tuesday afternoon.

 

Newcomer Nick Tucker was entered in Carter-2-Motorsports second entry, the No. 67 Dodge, but will jump to take Carter II place behind the wheel of the No. 48 for the second ARCA RE/MAX Series event of the season.

 

FreeFeds.org, a very unique and promising new sponsor to the ARCA community in 2007 will continue to sponsor C2M (Carter-2-Motorsports) primary entry this weekend.

 

Carter II, a native of Sunfield, Michigan is expected to return to driving duties at Nashville Superspeedway in the PFG Lester 150 on April 7.

 

Carter-2-Motorsports (www.carter2motorsports.com) whose ARCA RE/MAX Series operation is based in Statesville, North Carolina will run Dodge Chargers in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (NNC) in 2007. The team will run the No. 48 handed over from the legendary James Hylton who retired from ARCA competition following the 2006 season finale at the new Iowa Speedway. The organization plans to run the No. 54 in the premier series of NASCAR, the NNC series later this year. SCR

 

 

 

 

BRISTOL, Tenn. - One of  NASCAR’s most popular drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr, is making a bold statement on and off the track as he prepares for the Sharpie® MINI 300 NASCAR Busch Series race this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS).

      

The new Sharpie/Dale Earnhardt, Inc. relationship will officially kick off Saturday when Dale Jr steps behind the wheel of the new DEI No. 8 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, co-sponsored by Sharpie and Budweiser.

      

Race fans will get a glimpse of the race when Sharpie introduces the first-ever Dale Jr No. 8 Sharpie marker, rolling out in stores now.  Dale Jr will unveil the marker and new paint scheme Thursday, March 22, at 5 p.m. at BMS’s Tower 8, where he will sign Sharpie’s giant autograph wall.  Dozens of children representing Speedway Children’s Charities will join him, lending their signatures and support to the Sharpie “Autographs for Action” campaign to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities with $10,000 in funds and supplies.   

 

Sharpie New No. 8 Paint Scheme

      

"Dale Jr runs a limited number of Busch Series races each year, and we feel very fortunate it will be with DEI and Sharpie in the Sharpie MINI 300," said Howard Heckes, president of Sanford, L.P., the maker of Sharpie products.

      

“We’ve had some success at Bristol,” said Earnhardt, “so we’re really looking forward to adding the Sharpie race to our program and taking Sharpie and Budweiser to Victory Lane.  Sharpie has such a great presence and history at Bristol, and I hope we can add to that.”

      

The Sharpie MINI 300 is Dale Jr's second Busch race this season. Dale Jr is a former winner at Bristol, going to Victory Lane in the 2004 Sharpie 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. 

Bold Bristol Billboard

      

DEI and Dale Jr’s new Sharpie partnership also includes a bold new addition to the Bristol Motor Speedway landscape - a giant three-story billboard covering Tower 8 and featuring Dale Jr’s larger-than-life likeness.  The banner, which also includes an image of the Sharpie No. 8 paint scheme and the new No. 8 marker, will be unveiled Thursday along with the No. 8 marker.  It will become a permanent fixture at BMS throughout the 2007 race season. 

 

Dale Jr., DEI and Sharpie

      

The Dale Earnhardt Jr No. 8 Sharpie marker is the only marker endorsed by Dale Jr.  Available in black fine point and imprinted with his autograph and No. 8, it is rolling out now in select stores nationwide where office products are sold. 

Sharpie markers are available in 39 colors and a variety of tip sizes – from Sharpie Retractable markers with one-click convenience to Sharpie MINI markers for perfect portability to Sharpie Accent highlighters for bold highlights. 

      

Dale Jr. is in his eighth full season of NASCAR Nextel Cup competition at DEI with 17 victories, including the 2004 Daytona 500. In the Busch Series, he has 22 wins and two championships. He is one of only three drivers to win the "Most Popular Driver" award four consecutive times, and the only third-generation NASCAR champion. He follows his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time Cup champion, and grandfather Ralph Earnhardt, who was a champion in NASCAR's Sportsman Series.

      

For more information on the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Dale Jr and Sharpie partnership, visit www.sharpie.com. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

GROVETOWN, GA  - The ‘Georgia Bandits’ eagerly await the return of the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series to the Peach state. This marks the second Clash event in as many years at Gordon Park Speedway. Defending winner Ed Basey hopes to repeat last year’s performance against fierce competition. He’ll have to cool off series point leader Ricky Weeks to do so.

 

After winning the Championship in 2006, Ricky Weeks stated his goal was to win more races. Weeks has came out swinging, by posting a pair of wins in the first two series events of 2007. Weeks and his fellow 'Carolina Bad Boys will have their hands full with the legendary ‘Georgia Bandtis’

 

The historic gates of Golden Park Speedway were first opened in 1947. The speedway has since evolved into a 130 foot wide 4/10 mile speedbowl. Track promoter Lennie Hobbs has done extensive work updating and improving the racing facility. Gordon Park is located at 3157 Gordon Highway (Hwy 78) just west of Augusta, Georgia. Speedway is only 10 miles from a variety of lodging and dining to suit any race fan.

  

This weekend marks the opening night of competition for Gordon Park’s 2007 season. Clash Late Models will qualify and race this Saturday, March 24th. Gates open at 4:30PM with racing beginning promptly at 7PM. Saturday night will feature the Carolina Clash series and main events for Hobby, Super St, Stock V8, Mini Stock and Road Warrior divisions. Come join the fun and excitement at the New Gordon Speedway.

 

Friday night will be an open practice for Super Late Models as well as heat races to determine Saturday's main events for the; Hobby, Super Street, Stock V8, Mini Stock and Road Warrior divisions. Friday night will also play host to a Crate Late Model main event. SCR

 

 

 

 

Memphis, TN - Richard Petty, lifetime spokesperson for Goody’s® Headache Powders, has been named Grand Marshal for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on Sunday, April 1 at Martinsville Speedway.  Petty will be honored throughout the race weekend as Goody’s celebrates 30 years in motorsports and Martinsville Speedway marks its 60th year.

 

 “We are privileged to have Richard as our Grand Marshal as we return to Martinsville for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.  Richard has played a pivotal role in defining the sport of NASCAR and made racing history at Martinsville, so it’s fitting that Richard should be the Grand Marshal,” said Goody’s Vice President of Marketing Darren Singer.

 

On Friday evening of race weekend, Petty will be honored at a Goody’s 30th Anniversary celebration hosted on the grounds of the Martinsville Speedway.  Guests will include NASCAR legends, Cup drivers, team owners and other friends from within the motorsports industry.  Petty will also handle the traditional grand marshal duties including saying “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” to start the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. 

 

“To be the Grand Marshal at Martinsville and continue to be a part of Goody’s rich racing history is truly an honor,” said Petty.  “Goody’s will always be the favorite pain reliever of race fans just as it has been for 30 years. I am a lifetime Goody’s user and look forward to a big weekend at one of my favorite tracks – Martinsville Speedway.”

 

Petty is NASCAR’s all-time record holder with 200 career wins and seven championships.  At Martinsville, Petty is the track’s all-time wins leader with 15 victories spanning from 1960 to 1979.

 

“Richard Petty and Goody’s are woven into the history of Martinsville Speedway. It’s truly like the three of us … Richard, Goody’s and the speedway … are one big family,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “We are honored that we can be a part of the celebration honoring Richard and Goody’s.”

 

In its 30 years in the sport, Goody’s has sponsored races at Daytona International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, North Carolina Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.  From 1983 – 2000, Goody’s sponsored the Goody’s 500, the NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville.  In 2006, Goody’s returned to Martinsville as the race title sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series Goody’s 250, won by Kevin Harvick.

 

In 2007, Goody’s returns as a Cup sponsor at Martinsville with the running of the Cool Orange 500, the first race in a new three-year sponsorship.  The race’s name recognizes Goody’s revolutionary new flavor - Cool Orange.  The first flavored powder pain reliever on the market, Goody’s Cool Orange provides the same fast pain relief as the original Goody’s with a new, fresh orange flavor, in a new convenient stick packs that were specially designed for race fans.  Race fans attending the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 will have the opportunity to sample the new flavor at the popular Goody’s Fast Relief Zone exhibit trackside at Martinsville Speedway. SCR

 

 

 

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - It’s been almost two weeks since motorcycles were soaring over mounds of clay in the five-acre tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway during the Daytona Supercross By Honda.

 

Now, the DIS grounds grew is busy reconstructing the historic tri-oval so it’ll be ready in time for the 49th annual Pepsi 400 Weekend on July 5-7.

 

Lead by Sam Newpher, the DIS Superintendent of Grounds & Turf, a five-man crew along with some outside contractors, are restoring the lush green tri-oval grass in time for the Independence Day holiday weekend.

 

“It’s a big task but it’s part of the job,” Newpher said. “You have to have a pretty good idea what’s going on to get it done.”

 

To create the eye-catching field of 419 Bermuda grass in the tri-oval, the clay from the Daytona Supercross By Honda course is first removed, leveled and mixed up. Following grading, on late Tuesday afternoon, sprigs of grass were planted into the tri-oval.

 

The tri-oval area will be watered heavily for the next 10 days and then fertilized once a week. It’ll take eight to 10 weeks for the grass to grow in.

 

By July, this highly visible real estate located between pit road and the start/finish line will showcase the signature “Daytona” logo seen by millions of TV viewers and gazed upon by more than 200,000 race fans that visit the hallowed grounds of DIS.

 

The Pepsi 400 Weekend is headlined by the 49th annual Pepsi 400 NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 7, the sixth annual Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo Busch Series race and Circle K Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 event on Friday, July 6 and the Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Series race on Thursday, July 5.

 

Tickets for the Pepsi 400 Weekend are available online at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. SCR

 

 

 

 

MOORESVILLE, NC - Wholesome Foods, Inc., producers of the popular Virginia’s Best Water, is stepping up its sponsorship of Key Motorsports and driver Mike Bliss in next week’s Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the Martinsville Speedway.

 

Already a product sponsor of Key Motorsports as the organization’s Official Bottled Water Supplier, Wholesome Foods will become the deck lid sponsor of the Bliss entry and the #40 Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet to further brand its popular Virginia’s Best Water.

 

Based in Edinburg, Virginia in the heart of the Shenandoah valley, Wholesome Foods bottles its unique Artesian water directly from a well on its corporate campus. Bolstered by natural minerals, Virginia’s Best Water has earned numerous tasting awards including a bronze medal at the world renown Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition – traditionally known as the Olympics of bottled water.

 

In addition to its traditional retail store distribution and sale to the general public, Wholesome Foods, Inc. offers a unique private label program for Virginia’s Best Water for all types of organizations.

 

Offering bright, high profile graphics and water proof labels for its private labeling program, Virginia’s Best Water can be packaged in 16.9 ounce plastic bottles, gallon jugs, 750ml glass bottles and 5-gallon containers for office consumption. Information on the private label program can be secured by visiting www.wholesomefoodsinc.com or by calling 1-800-723-6637.

 

“We are enjoying our relationship with Key Motorsports this race season and with Martinsville being the only Virginia-based race track at which the Craftsman Truck Series competes, it is only fitting that we step up our support of Mike Bliss and the race team by adding to our program in our home state and for the Kroger 200,” said Nathan Pence, Sales Director. SCR

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 30 Smith & Wesson/SKI Motorsports Chevrolet team, featuring veteran driver and 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Champion Mike Bliss, announced Wednesday that NOS Energy Drink, one of the fastest growing players in the energy drink market, has joined the organization as a major associate sponsor for 2007.

 

It was recently announced that parent company New Jersey-based FUZE Beverage, LLC, has been acquired the Coca-Cola Company.

 

“We are extremely proud to welcome NOS Energy Drink to our Smith & Wesson/SKI Motorsports Chevrolet effort for the 2007 season and beyond,” said Chris Lencheski, president of SKI Motorsports and its parent SKI & Company agency. “NOS Energy Drink certainly has the right attributes to partner with the SKI Motorsports NASCAR program.”           

 

“Partnering with Ski Motorsports and Mike Bliss gives us a tremendous opportunity to get NOS Energy Drink into the hands, hearts and minds of NASCAR fans.  The promotional legs we will be able to build out of this program with a proven team and driver will ensure a victory lane finish both on the track and at retail”, said Mike Fine, Brand Director of NOS Energy Drink.

 

“NOS Energy Drink is a perfect fit in our sport,” said Mike Bliss, driver of the No. 30 Smith & Wesson/SKI Motorsports Chevrolet. “Speed enthusiasts have relied on nitrous oxide systems (NOS) for that extra edge for years. NOS Energy Drink delivers the same effect in a beverage.”

 

SKI & Company will coordinate and execute a national retail promotion with a No. 30 NOS Energy Drink NASCAR Busch Series racecar. The showcar will tour the United States in a grassroots sampling and consumer intercept program with major NOS Energy Drink retailers such as Wal-Mart.

 

 “We are very proud to add NOS Energy Drink and Fuze Beverage, LLC to the growing client roster of SKI & Company,” commented Lencheski. “We have always stated that we wanted best-of-breed type companies as clients of our organization. NOS Energy Drink and the FUZE family of products certainly fit that bill. We look forward to working with them in achieving their goals in marketing with a NASCAR racecar entry.” SCR

 

 

 

 

CONCORD, N.C. - Have you ever said to yourself, friends or family, 'I am Roush Fenway Racing's ultimate fan!'?  Do you have a room dedicated to all things Roush Fenway Racing?   Do you have a special ritual you perform before each race or just have a great story to share?  If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then you have the chance to be Roush Fenway Racing's first-ever "Fan of the Year"!

Each week a winner will be selected from your entries and featured on the homepage of RoushRacing.com.  Once the season ends, all weekly winners will be displayed so the fans can select the overall winner.

 "Our fans are the most important thing we have," says director of internet marketing, Amy Rowell.  "It's time we really recognize them for all the support they have given us over the years.  The winner of this contest will be the ultimate representative for all of our fans and will be treated as such.

"The great thing about this contest is that the fans are going to be able to vote on who they think should be our 'Fan of the Year'.  I think that's very exciting and should make ours fans really pay attention to the nominees."

The person selected as Roush Fenway Racing's "Fan of the Year" will take part in a special ceremony at the 2008 Daytona 500 where s/he will be honored by Jack Roush and the Roush Fenway Racing drivers.  They will also be given personalized Roush Fenway Racing "Fan of the Year" merchandise and a trophy with a replica trophy to be displayed in the Roush Fenway Racing museum in Concord, N.C.  They will be featured on the Roush Fenway Racing website and have their own web column, chronicling their life as Roush Fenway Racing's first-ever OFFICIAL "Fan of the Year".  They will also receive additional gifts and prizes from Roush Fenway Racing and its sponsors and partners.

Log on to www.RoushRacing.com to enter today! SCR

 

 

 

 

Mooresville, NC - 26-year-old J.R. Norris, the 2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite Champion and Team Full Throttle™ Development Driver, will make his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut on April 7th at the Nashville SuperSpeedway. Norris will drive the Bobby Jones-owned Dodge which he tested this past week.

 

“I’ve had some really good success at Nashville in the Elite Series,” said Norris, “and I am excited about the opportunity to debut in ARCA with winning equipment.” Last month, Norris joined David Stremme at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a successful Busch Series test with Fitz Motorsports.

 

Bobby Jones has been a standout team over the years in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. He and his team most recently visited Victory Lane last season at Gateway International Speedway to celebrate an ARCA win with rookie Cale Gale.

 

“We are very prepared to run strong at Nashville with J.R.,” said Jones, “our test went exceptionally well and we have put together the resources to make a serious bid for the win.” SCR

 

 

 

 

Memphis, TN: – As determined by race fans, Tony Stewart is the winner of this week’s Goody’s Headache of the Race Award after he lost the race lead to Jimmie Johnson with just under three laps remaining in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  

 

Stewart, who had led 121 laps, had fought off a charging Johnson for several laps before being squeezed into the wall on the final pass on lap 323.  Johnson held on to win the race with Stewart finishing second.

 

In Saturday’s Nicorette 300, Kyle Busch won the Goody’s Cool Orange Headache of the Race award.  Busch, who led a race-high 143 laps had a missing lug nut after a pit stop on lap 170.  Busch was forced to pit a second time, in turn relinquishing the lead to finish third.

 

At the Nicorette 300, Tony Stewart drove the No. 20 Goody’s Cool Orange Chevrolet to a 10th place finish in the inaugural race for the new special paint scheme.  To celebrate the new Goody’s Cool Orange flavor, media members predicted Casey Mears and Michael Waltrip as the drivers most likely to win Saturday’s Headache of the Race Award.  No media member predicted Headache of the Race Award winner Kyle Busch.

 

Celebrating its 30th year in racing, Goody’s Headache Powders, the favorite pain reliever of race fans, presents the Headache of the Race Award each week to a driver from Saturday and Sunday’s race.  Both awards are given to the driver who experiences the worst luck or “biggest headache” during the races as voted by race fans on goodyspowder.com.  

 

This week, Goody’s Headache Powders will donate $250 to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for seriously ill children in the names of both Stewart and Busch.  Each driver will also receive a $250 cash prize from Goody’s.

 

Race fans are invited to help determine each week’s Goody’s Headache of the Race recipients and be eligible for prizes courtesy of Goody’s Headache Powders.  For every race, fans can log on to goodyspowder.com and vote for the driver most deserving of the Goody’s Headache of the Race in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races. SCR

 

 

 

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – California Dreamin’ finally turns to racing reality for driver Kevin Conway this weekend as he straps himself behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing’s (JGR) No. 18 Z-Line Designs Chevrolet for Saturday’s Sharpie Mini 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

 

A month ago this weekend at California Speedway, Conway watched from the sidelines as NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star Tony Stewart wheeled the Z-Line Designs car to an 11th-place finish in the Stater Bros. 300. It was a bittersweet day for Conway as he enjoyed the thrill of seeing the Z-Line sponsorship deal he personally worked so long and hard for take to the track for the very first time. But deep down inside, his mind was already focused on Bristol, where he’ll get his first chance to drive the Z-Line Designs Chevrolet at one of the most action-packed venues on the NASCAR circuit.

 

Saturday’s 300-lap event around the high-banked, half-mile concrete oval will be only the seventh career Busch start for Conway, who finished 33rd at Bristol a year ago in the No. 58 Carver Racing entry. But the 28-year-old from Lynchburg, Va., is something of a modern-day racing renaissance man, having left his mark in AMA Motocross, the World Karting Association, USAC Midgets, Late Model Stocks, the American Speed Association, ARCA and NASCAR’s West Series since becoming the youngest driver to win a Legends national title at the age of 15. He’s also logged thousands of laps at NASCAR tracks all over the country as a test driver for various Nextel Cup teams and as a Richard Petty Driving Experience instructor.

 

As the newest member of the JGR driver lineup, Conway feels more than ready for his greatest racing opportunity to date. Saturday’s Sharpie Mini 300 will be his first of eight scheduled Busch Series events of 2007 in the No. 18 Z-Line Designs Chevrolet, and he’s counting on making the most of it. In addition to his vast array of racing experience, Conway credits his marketing degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte – and his ability to use it – for making this opportunity a reality.

 

A mutual friend led him to Z-Line Designs CEO Jim Sexton several months ago, and the two began exchanging e-mails as Conway set out to reveal the benefits of using NASCAR to market the highly successful but relatively little-known brand leader in the ready-to-assemble furniture marketplace. After countless presentations, meetings and late nights spent putting all the pieces in place, Conway and Z-Line now find themselves in the elite company of one of racing’s most successful organizations.

 

Riding along with Conway and Z-Line this weekend on the No. 18 Chevrolet – as it will be all season – is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which has grown to be synonymous with Z-Line’s sponsorship in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in recent years. The company hopes to achieve a whole new level of awareness for the organization – which grants the wishes of terminally ill children – by reaching out to the NASCAR audience. SCR

 

 

 

 

BRISTOL, Tenn. – If you’ve ever wanted to leave your mark at Bristol Motor Speedway, look no further than the new Bristol Walk of Fame.

 

The Bristol Walk of Fame is the area located directly in front of the Speedway’s main entrance which is part of the new sidewalk. A total of 7,200 pavers, 12” x 12” in size, are now being made available to the public for purchase.

 

The granite pavers are available in either black or white and can have two lines of copy with up to 16 characters on each line. Spaces and symbols will count as characters. Once pavers have been engraved, a photo will be sent to the purchaser, via email, with its exact location on the Bristol Walk of Fame.

 

The Bristol Walk of Fame pavers are $199 each and will go on sale Thursday, March 23 at the Bruton Smith Building at BMS. Each purchase is tax deductible, up to $149, as all proceeds will benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.

 

Payment may be made in the form of cash, check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa or Discover). An order form will also be placed on the Speedway’s website at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com for anyone wishing to purchase a paver who may may not be attending Food City race weekend events. Those may be returned via fax at (423) 989-6964. SCR

 

 

 

 

NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will host a live call in show tonight from 8-9 pm est. on XM Sports Nation channel 144. Fans can call into the show by calling 1-866-xmsn-144. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

  

 

 

 

HAMPTON, Georgia - In only his fifth race paired together with Juan Pablo Montoya, crew chief Donnie Wingo guided his rookie driver to his first NEXTEL Cup Series top-five finish. Prior to the weekend, the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger's best finish was nineteenth. By the end of the Kobalt Tools 500, the Chip Ganassi team was celebrating its most impressive finish to date. Amazingly, it was at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a track that Montoya had never seen until two days earlier. Wingo used his vast knowledge of the track to overcome this obstacle, and it was evident by the preparation of the race car. For his exceptional set-up of the car and excellent adjustments, Wingo earned the WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race.

 

"Everybody did a great job," said Montoya following the race. "My Dodge was amazing. Everybody at Texaco/Havoline, Chip Ganassi, my crew guys, my crew chief, everybody did an amazing job today. It's nice to get a top-five here."

 

For as quick as Montoya was to praise the rest of his team, his crew chief was just as fast to praise him. "Juan Pablo is getting more used to NASCAR," said Wingo. "He is beginning to really get a hang of things. We were able to do some more things this week to free him up. We are setting the car up to give him a lot more freedom." SCR

 

 

 

 

KING GEORGE, VIRGINA - Fridell Racing Enterprises has announced plans to unveil a strong NASCAR Busch Series program competing in a limited NBS (NASCAR Busch Series) schedule this season beginning with the New England 200 from New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) on June 30.

 

Roger Carter II, a competitor in the ARCA RE/MAX Series has been selected to drive the team’s entry. Carter II pilots the No. 48 FreeFeds.org Dodge Charger in the ARS (ARCA RE/MAX Series) competition under the Carter-2-Motorsports banner owned by the legendary James “Harvey” Hylton.

 

The group will combine engineering and technical assistance to advance both programs.

 

The team will hoist Dodge Chargers in competition with longtime racing supplier Arrington Motorsports supplying the horsepower. The team also hopes to utilize No. 54 in their inaugural year of racing.

 

“This is an exciting day for our organization,” said car owner Chuck Fridell. “We’ve put this program together in a timely and professional manner. The NASCAR Busch Series offers a lot of exposure and signage and that’s what we are looking for. We’ve joined with some successful organizations in the Motorsports industry and I think it will play a huge factor in the success of our operation.”

 

Fridell continued, “We are looking forward to New Hampshire with our main goal to qualify and finish the event.”

 

Carter II is equally excited about his new endeavor.

 

“I’m very honored to have been chosen to drive for Fridell Racing Enterprises,” said Carter II, a native of Sunfield, Michigan. “We’re enjoying our time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, but the opportunity to compete in the secondary series of NASCAR offers a lot for any team and driver.”

 

He continued, “I am able to expand my racing resume, learn more about the Dodge Chargers (Carter II also carries the Dodge emblem in ARCA) and compete with the best stock car drivers in the world, it’s an exciting opportunity for everyone involved. Our main goal is to unload as strong as possible, make some laps, learn and gather the best finish possible. This team has the potential to be a longtime-successful team in the NASCAR Busch Series and I plan to do whatever I can to help make that possible.”

 

“I truly believe that Roger has the knowledge and talent to get the job done,” Fridell added. “He is a great spokesperson for our team while also bringing additional traits that make him a perfect fit for Fridell Racing Enterprises.”

 

The team will announce a crew chief and sponsorship for the effort in the near future. SCR

 

 

 

 

Castile, NY: LESCO®, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, has announced its associate sponsorship of JC Stout and the Stellar-Quest Racing Team, LLC for the 2007 NASCAR® Craftsman Truck Series season.

 

Competing in the NASCAR® Craftsman Truck Series on a partial schedule since 2003, Stout enters this season with renewed promise and dedication. An exciting season is ahead and LESCO® is happy to be on board.

 

"LESCO® takes great pride in its long history of helping people with talent and a passion for hard work to achieve their dream, as we have done for so many lawn and landscape professionals across the country," noted Chris Paczak, LESCO’s® Associate Vice President for Marketing. "Our sponsorship of JC Stout is another way in which we hope to help an up-and-coming star realize his potential."

 

LESCO® provides lawn and landscape products and expertise through more than 340 LESCO® Service Center locations, 114 LESCO Stores-On-Wheels® vehicles and other direct sales efforts. To locate the nearest Service Center, visit

www.LESCOdirect.com or call 1-800-321-5325.

 

In return for its support, Stout’s #91 Chevy Silverado will feature the LESCO® logo on its rear quarter panel for all of Stout’s races in 2007. Arrangements for public appearances for LESCO® customers and employees are in the works as well.

 

"I’m looking forward to getting back to the race track and am thrilled to take LESCO® with me and my team to such big name venues as Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Nashville Super Speedway, and New Hampshire International Speedway, " Stout commented. "This partnership will enhance our team’s efforts significantly." SCR

 

  

 

 

HAMPTON, Ga. – JR Motorsports on Friday unveiled the No. 88 Navy SEALs Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS that Shane Huffman will drive in the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway in July. In honor and recognition of the Navy’s maritime Special Forces, the No. 88 Navy Chevrolet will feature a special black paint scheme with the SEAL Trident on the hood for that event.

 

“The Navy’s partnership with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Shane Huffman and the entire JR Motorsports organization has provided us with a very special opportunity to highlight our Navy SEALs,” said Senior Chief Jeff Priest, the Navy’s Motorsports Program Manager. “We look forward to honoring our special forces at Daytona.”

 

Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) take their name from the elements in and from which they operate as they strike from and return to the sea. Their stealth and clandestine methods of operation allow them to conduct multiple missions against targets that larger forces cannot approach undetected.

 

“The Navy SEALs do an awesome job for our country. The special paint scheme will honor them and highlight the Navy Recruiting Command’s desire to recruit more young men for the SEAL program,” said team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “We want to help get the message out today that the U.S. Navy is still hiring the best.”

 

Because of the dangers inherent to Naval Special Warfare (NSW), prospective SEALs go through what is considered by many military experts to be the toughest training in the world. The intense physical and mental conditioning it takes to become a SEAL begins at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, which is conducted at the Naval Special Warfare Center in San Diego, Calif. Candidates must complete a mentally and physically demanding six-month basic training course, three weeks of parachute training and a 15-week advanced training period prior to becoming a SEAL and earning the Trident – the warfare pin insignia of all operators.

 

“It’s incredible to see what the SEALs go through to earn the Trident,” Huffman said. “We visited their training grounds in California last year and I was blown away by how demanding it is. Those guys are the best of the best, and the JR Motorsports team and I are proud to honor them.” SCR

 

 

 

 

Jimmie Johnson followed up his Las Vegas win with another checkered flag in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

      

After leading much of the race and having one of the most dominant cars, Johnson was borderline on fuel and running second to a strong Tony Stewart when the caution waved with 16 to go, giving him the chance that he needed. 

      

After a four tire change, Johnson restarted third behind leader Stewart and Matt Kenseth with 11 laps to go.  Quickly dispensing with Kenseth, Johnson set his sights on Stewart.  A spirited battle ensued, but Johnson finally got by Stewart with three to go.  Stewart brushed the wall while trying to hold Johnson off and was unable to get back to him, granting Johnson his second win of the short season.

      

Stewart held on to finish second and moved into the top 10 in points for the first time this year.  Kenseth finished third.  Jeff Burton was fourth.  After running in the top five through most of the latter stages of the race, Juan Pablo Montoya held off Clint Bowyer to finish fifth, his first top five in Nextel Cup.  Bowyer was sixth. 

      

Martin Truex Jr. got a much needed boost to his season with a seventh place run.  Carl Edwards was eighth.  Hometown kid Reed Sorenson finished ninth.  Mark Martin, who will not be in the car next week at Bristol, kept a temporary hold on his points lead with a 10th place result. SCR

Jordan Grubich

 

 

 

 

LANCASTER, SC - On a cold South Carolina Saturday night,  Ricky Weeks was red hot. Fresh off his dominating performance in last weeks season opening Carolina Clash event at Carolina Speedway, Weeks went flag to flag at Lancaster Motor Speedway,  for his second $5,000 victory in as many weeks.

   

 Weeks and PBM Performance Parts Rookie of the Year contender Brent Robinson made up the front row for the start of the 50 lap main event. As the green waved Weeks marched to the point over Robinson, 'Rambo Franklin and Furman Parton. Jeff Smith quickly flexed his muscle as he took the high side of the big half-mile oval. Smith motored by Royce Bray, then by Parton to climb into the top five. Mooresville, North Carolina's Larry Blankenship also moved to the top side and began to march toward the top ten.

   

 As the field took the half-way sign action really began to pick up. Franklin used the extreme outside to move into second, with Smith following suit two laps later, bumping Robinson back to fourth. Franklin and Smith chased down Weeks, and the trio showed their combined experience to race all over the smooth surface. Smith blasted by Franklin for second on the outside of turn two as the three leaders raced nose to tail, but a caution for the slow car of Deano Long negated Smith's move.

   

This set up a nine lap sprint to the checkers, but Weeks was up to all challenges as he motored his Time-Out Family Restaurant/Henderson Amusement/Ezell's Restaurant/Starrette Trucking/Parton Lumber/JP Enterprises/Clements Automotive/Rocket Grand Prix to the victory. Franklin held off Smith for second with Robinson fourth and Bray fifth. Sixth through tenth went to; Parton, Casey Roberts, Blankenship, Kelly Guy and Dan Breuer.

 

Weeks was the Cabinets by Design fastest qualifier for the second week in a row. Larry Blankenship took the win in the TRT Trailer Sales first B-Main. Benji Cole led every lap in the Erson Cams second B-Main to earn a starting spot in the main event. Defending Lancaster Speedway track champion Chad Paxton was the Heintz Brothers Performance Hard Charger of the Race. Jack Pennington rallied from an early race spin to collect the Beaver Bail Bonds Bailed-Out Award.

 

  Weeks will lead the strong contingent into Augusta, GA's Gordon Park Speedway on Saturday night March 24th. The 40 lap event will pay $4,000 to win.

 

CAROLINA CLASH FINISH: 1. Ricky Weeks, Dennis Franklin, Jeff Smith, Brent Robinson, Royce Bray, Furman Parton, Casey Roberts, Larry Blankenship, Kelly Guy, Dan Breuer, Jack Pennington, Chad Paxton, Jimmy McCormick, Benji Cole, Brandon Ifft, Phillip Seifert, Deano Long, David Smith, Randy Smith, Scott Autry, Ed Basey, Travis Pennington, G.R. Smith, Doug Sanders. DNS; Billy Thompson, Brian Nuttel, Johnny Pursley, Bruce Hall, Mike Duvall, Noel Tucker, Randy Harmon, Dale Hammond, Craig Shuffield, Scott Shirey, David Boggs, Ronald Blankenship. SCR

 

 

 

 

Stating that NASCAR rejected a proposed paint scheme and that the company had not been told that it could not change the name on the car, AT&T is seeking a temporary injunction as well as a permanent injunction for it to put its logo on the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Nextel Cup car.

 

The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, also asks for unspecified damages as it alleges, among other things, that "NASCAR has violated the implied covenant of good-faith and fair dealing in the Cup Series agreement by its purposeful attempt to exclude Plaintiff from NASCAR."

 

AT&T and Cingular finalized a merger in December and plans to cease using the Cingular name. AT&T then submitted a proposed paint scheme to NASCAR, which was rejected in January, apparently because of Nextel's sponsorship of the premier series, states the suit. The paint scheme only had the AT&T trademark logo on the rear quarter panel.

 

In its complaint, AT&T says that when it was negotiating the Nextel contract in 2003, NASCAR never mentioned that Cingular would not be able to change its name, only that it could not increase its branding presence and could not move to another team.

 

AT&T said Cingular has invested more than $100 million in the seven years of sponsorship of the No. 31 car, a contract that is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

 

"NASCAR met with plaintiff in June 2003 and promised to 'grandfather' Plaintiff as a NASCAR sponsor, provided only that Plaintiff (1) did not increase its brand position on the vehicle or (2) shift to another race team," the complaint states.

 

"NASCAR not only made this pledge to Plaintiff, but also incorporated it into its agreement with RCR and, on information and belief, Sprint Nextel."

 

In essence, AT&T is arguing that NASCAR has changed its requirements, one which Cingular (now AT&T) relied on when deciding to commit to the NASCAR program.

 

"NASCAR's effort to block Plaintiff from altering the design of the #31 Car is directly contrary to the promises NASCAR made to Plaintiff and incorporated into its agreements with RCR and Sprint Nextel," the complaint states, adding later, "NASCAR never communicated to Plaintiff that as a continuing sponsor of NASCAR, Plaintiff would be precluded from changing its trade name, brand, logos or marks."

 

The suit asks for AT&T to be allowed to alter the marks anywhere on the car.

 

"Plaintiff seeks a declaration that it can place the name, brand, logos and marks of its own choosing on the #31 Car, driver uniforms and helmets, and in all merchandising and licensing rights, including a change of its name, brand, logos and marks to 'AT&T' "

 

According to the court's online case information system, no date has been set for a temporary injunction hearing.

  

   

 

 

Baytown, TX - Last season the World of Outlaws raced on seven different sizes of track, and Donny Schatz won on six of those. The only size track he did not visit the winner’s circle on in 2006 was a ¼-mile. He made sure on Friday night that he will have that column checked this season, as he won on the recently reconfigured high-banked ¼-mile at Houston Raceway Park.

 

Schatz, the reigning World of Outlaws Champion started the 35-lap event on the pole and led wire-to-wire, as he picked up his second consecutive win and third overall on the season. He nearly made a clean sweep of the night, as he won the third heat and the dash to earn the pole position for the A-Feature. He is the current championship point leader on the strength of seven Top-Five finishes in the first eight events of the year.

 

“It was a good start to the weekend,” said Schatz, driver of the Parker Store J&J. “The race car was good all night long. We thought it might get slicker than it did. The short track was pretty good. I’m just glad to get back to victory lane.”

 

Schatz charged to the lead in the first turn on the initial start, but a caution before that lap was completed led to a complete restart. On the second start, he again powered his way into the first turn, and began to quickly pull away from Daryn Pittman and Jason Solwold.

 

In the middle of the race, the native of Fargo, North Dakota had to battle heavy traffic and was steadily putting cars a lap down. While he was fast in open race track, his car seemed just as stout when weaving his way through the slower machines. A couple of late cautions bunched the field up, and under World of Outlaws rules for 2007, the lapped cars were placed at the rear of the field.

 

“When you take lapped traffic out, there is one guy that is going to lose everything that he gained, and that would be me leading the race,” said Schatz. “We had to keep passing guys. I passed some cars two and three times. That’s just part of the deal. It makes me a better racer and we like seeing that traffic. I feel like we have an advantage in traffic and we can’t wait to get to it.”

 

Daryn Pittman used a couple of strong restarts as the laps wound down, to keep Schatz in his sights. He used every bit of momentum he could find on the high side of the ¼-mile, as he looked for his second win of the season.

 

“We could run with him (Schatz) on the top for a lap or two at most,” said Pittman, driver of the Titan Garages Maxim. “I knew he was not going to make a mistake on the bottom, and I knew that if I wanted to get back him I would have to make the top work. We were close. We were within striking distance.”

 

For Schatz, it was his second consecutive win at Houston Raceway Park. He won in 2005, the last time the series raced at the state-of-the-art facility, when it was a 4/10-mile track. He was very pleased with the improvements that had recently been made to the track surface that put on a thrilling race for the fans, who he thanked from victory lane.

 

“It still very quick, even though they narrowed the corners a little bit,” said Schatz. “There are a lot of tracks around the country that should take awareness of what they did here to help make better racing. It was a great track tonight. It was big and wide and everyone could run everywhere. There was no rubber and that’s what we want to see.”

 

One of the most entertaining battles of the race came in the last five laps, as Craig Dollansky, Joey Saldana, and Steve Kinser all went after the third position. They traded that spot countless times, with Dollansky ultimately edging them out for the final podium position. Lap after lap the trio ran wheel to wheel and entered each corner as hard as they could seeking that one more spot.

 

“Considering where we started, I would have liked to have seen a few more laps at the end,” said Dollansky, driver of the Karavan Trailers Maxim. “A few breaks here or there and things could have turned out different for us, but all in all it was a pretty good run for us.”

 

Joey Saldana set fast time on the night and charged from the 9th starting spot to pick up his fifth Top-Five of the year, as he was fourth in the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI. He is currently second in points and received five bonus points for setting quick time.

 

“I got up there to second and was probably good enough to get by (Daryn) Pittman,” said Saldana, a native of Brownsburg, Indiana. “We were racing pretty hard. We had that yellow and I started dialing on my shocks and wing, and I just dialed my car right out. I had a car good enough to at least run second. The yellows can sometimes help you and sometimes hurt you.”

 

Steve Kinser, charged from the 11th starting spot to pick up his second Top-Five of the campaign, as he was fifth in the Q Oil Maxim. The 20-time World of Outlaws Champion is the all-time win leader at Houston Raceway Park with five triumphs. After starting in the sixth row, it only took him one lap to crack the Top-10. On the 19th circuit, he found his way into the Top-Five.

 

The rest of the Top-10 was Jac Haudenschild in sixth in the Wright One Construction Maxim. Justin Henderson was seventh in the Dan Dan the Sonic Man Rocket. Jason Solwold was eighth in the City Wide Insulation Maxin. Jason Sides came home ninth in the Wetherington Tractor Services Maxim. Kerry Madsen was 10th in the Selma Shell Maxim.

 

The World of Outlaws return to action on Saturday night at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Mississippi. SCR

 

 

 

 

Jimmie Johnson ran Stewart high and Stewart slapped the wall as the two drivers raced with three laps to go in the Kobalt Tools 500 Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Johnson went on to take the win his second straight and 25^th of his career. Stewart who could not race with Johnson after getting into the wall crossed the line in second. Finishing third was Matt Kenseth followed by Jeff Burton and rookie Juan Pablo Montoya. SCR

Matthew Blaylock

 

Kobalt Tools 500 Results