Stock Car Gazette

The Stock Car Gazette e-zine for Monday, 7/6/09

Monday, July 6, 2009 93 reads
Mike Irwin

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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/3836

Track Trash – Back in Daytuna
by: Racing Maniac

Oh, KidKyle, after watching the last lap, for once your smug face is so enjoyable to look at. Face it, dude. You got what you deserved.

For more of this writer, visit http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/track-trash
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N A S C A R * S P R I N T * C U P * S E R I E S
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Jeremy Mayfield issues a statement to his fans and fellow drivers
To all my fans, friends and fellow competitors:
First and foremost, Shana and I want to thank all of you who have supported us. To say that the last two months have been two of the worst months of my entire life is an understatement. The only event I can think of that brought me even [...]

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=MsyAy&m=1f6kQKUjWhX3DX&b=BnIyRIlO1qpA.SsKMvMnEw

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Courtesy of www.Frontstretch.com

Sprint Cup Race Recap
Busch Spins, Stewart Wins At Daytona
by Cami Starr

There are certain things we’ve come to expect from the July race at Daytona. Side-by-side racing, innocent bystanders caught up in “The Big One,” and friends turning into foes as the laps wind down tend to lead to plenty of fireworks… and not just the ones that light up the sky.

This year’s Coke Zero 400 hit on all of those themes, with one added twist nobody likely saw coming – a second straight restrictor plate race decided with a wreck on the final turn of the final lap. That left an almost remorseful race winner in Victory Lane, one of the sport’s biggest drivers distraught over the one that got away, and just a handful of cars making it through the entire 160 laps all in one piece.

First things first; when the smoke cleared, it was Smoke himself, Tony Stewart, standing in Victory Lane for his third victory in the last five Coke Zero 400s. But after spinning Kyle Busch heading to the checkered flag, he was a man clearly torn about how the last four laps had played out.

“That’s not the way I wanted to do it,” said the two-time champ. “I just don’t like it to end that way. You know, you work hard to get to this level and you don’t want to see races decided by guys wrecking coming to the finish line. That’s not what it’s about. Maybe I am being hard on myself, I don’t know. But I just don’t like the way that ended up.”

The final showdown was set up when Scott Speed brought out the eighth caution of the evening, crashing with six laps remaining. When the green flag waved on lap 156, Stewart opted for the inside line on the double-file restart, with Denny Hamlin alongside and Kyle Busch right behind him. With two to go, Busch and Hamlin made a move on their former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. Stewart held them at bay for one lap, but as the white flag flew in the air, Busch found the front with Hamlin’s help. However, Stewart cut off the No. 11 car, remained in second, and haunted Busch’s back bumper throughout most of the final 2.5 miles of the race. Coming off the final turn, Stewart finally found momentum, causing Busch to block his rival’s last gasp attempt at victory. But in doing so, he clipped the front of No. 14, contact that sent him spinning and Stewart to Victory Lane as the field both scattered and wrecked behind them.

For Busch, the night ended with a forced trip to the infield care center. Not only did the crash cause him to suffer contact with the wall, driver’s side first, but Kasey Kahne’s Dodge plowed into the back of his Camry — almost flipping Busch over in the process as he was hit by several other cars on the track. As he exited his demolished No. 18, Busch was surrounded by NASCAR officials who made him take the mandatory trip to be checked out. The driver then quickly, and quietly, left the track … but no words were needed to know just exactly what he was feeling.

Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson, who hadn’t finished in the top 20 in the last three Daytona races, came home in second place and had a front row seat for the final lap carnage.

“The guys are racing. Tony didn’t mean to dump him. Same thing with Talladega. It’s just the product of restrictor plate racing. Every time we use the restrictor plate tracks, there’s questions about how we can keep from having the big wreck and things like that… you just can’t,” he exclaimed. “When you run plates and we run wide open all the way around the track, situations like this come around.”

Hamlin, who led 63 laps Saturday night, second only to Stewart’s total of 86, wound up finishing in third after having to make the decision of whether to go with Busch or Stewart in the final laps.

“I felt like the best opportunity for our team to win was to stick with the 18, even though I was going to give up the bottom and I knew I was going to give up position to the 48,” he explained. “I felt like it was going to be two by two on the final lap, to tell you the truth, but Kyle just got that great run. He got to his quarterpanel so hard, it just bogged the No. 14 down so much that it let him clear getting off turn 4… I thought that was going to be the pass for the race right there.”

Lost in the hoopla of the electric finish was the awesome work on pit road by the No. 14 team the entire race. With qualifying rained out and the field set by points, crew chief Darien Grubb took the pit stall closest to the exit of pit road. It proved a great decision his boys made pay off all night long, repeatedly getting Stewart out front after each stop.

Coming through the last lap wreck to round out the top 5 were Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, who had to rebound after making contact and wrecking with David Ragan on lap 121. And while the bulk of the post-race attention will go to the Stewart/Busch melee that ended the race, there was another, larger wreck that significantly redefined the outcome. On lap 77, David Stremme bounced off the backstretch wall to spark the first Big One of the night. When all was said and done, a total of 13 cars received damage, including Jeff Gordon and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Forced behind the wall for repairs, Junior finished the night in 39th place and all but watched his Chase hopes slip away for good.

Marcos Ambrose, Brian Vickers, Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top 10.

The Race To The Chase (Top 12 In Points)
by Tom Bowles

As you might expect, Tony Stewart’s win gave him even more breathing room in the standings over Jeff Gordon. With the No. 24 falling victim to the aforementioned multi-car wreck, Gordon’s beat-up car came home 28th, the last car on the lead lap, to give Stewart a season-high 180-point edge heading to Chicagoland. That’s a number so large, the only scenario where Stewart could lose the point lead would be if he simply failed to show up and start the following race; and even then, Gordon would have to win in order to take over first place.

Sitting third in point remains reigning three-time champ Jimmie Johnson, closing to within 14 of Gordon after finishing Daytona a surging second. Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards continue to round out the top 5 in the standings, with Busch putting together back-to-back top 5 finishes for the first time since these same two races exactly one year ago. As for Carl, his fourth-place finish marked a third consecutive top 5 in the Coke Zero 400 — easily the three best finishes of what’s been an often mediocre career on the plate tracks.

With his third place finish in the race, Denny Hamlin held onto sixth in points, while Ryan Newman’s 20th place run allowed him to maintain the status quo in 7th. Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth also held serve to maintain their eighth, ninth, and tenth positions in the standings, respectively. Out of that group, Kenseth was the only one to score a top 10 finish at Daytona, his eighth place run stemming the bleeding from four consecutive drives outside the top 15.

Further back, Juan Pablo Montoya moved up one spot to 11th after utilizing two Lucky Dogs to get back on the lead lap; he, too, was the innocent victim of an early wreck. Staying patient and recovering strong for a top 10 finish, though, Montoya makes the turn towards Chicagoland with just one finish lower than 12th since Memorial Day weekend in May.

Rounding out the Chase is Kasey Kahne, who scored a 15th place at Daytona despite sending Kyle Busch airborne after he was left with nowhere to go but straight ahead. The last-lap wreck may have destroyed Kahne’s primary car, but it was well worth it considering the finish that kept up the recent momentum from Infineon and New Hampshire. How big was Kahne’s ascension on Sunday? Big enough that he went from one point out of 13th to a whopping 65 ahead of former Chaser Mark Martin for that all-important final shot at the playoffs. Martin and David Reutimann, on the other hand, suffered through restrictor plate wrecks that now leave them firmly on the outside looking in heading to Chicagoland.

Tracking The Top 35
by Tom Bowles

Scott Speed’s rough rookie season continued at Daytona, extending a slump which has made cracking the Top 35 for his No. 82 Team Red Bull Toyota an all but impossible task. Taken out in a wreck with six laps left, the crash (involving former TBR driver A.J. Allmendinger) erased an all but certain top 20 finish and left Speed’s car a whopping 173 points behind 35th place John Andretti and Front Row Motorsports. That team simply did what they had to do at Daytona, staying out of trouble while bringing their car home without so much as a scratch on it. The 27th place finish wasn’t exactly what they were looking for, but it was more than enough to put the top 35 out of reach unless they chose not to attempt this weekend’s race in Chicagoland.

Meanwhile, although unable to fight for a locked in qualifying spot, the No. 78 team of Furniture Row Racing continues to impress. Driving a part-time schedule with second-year driver Regan Smith, the team fought from a 39th starting spot to post a season-high finish of 12th. The team remains a distant 39th in owner points, 392 behind 35th place, but considering they have eight fewer starts than those competing around them … it’s one heck of an accomplishment.

For those “bubble” cars already inside the top 35, David Ragan and the No. 6 Ford team had their best finish on a rather mediocre day (13th place) to jump back into the top 30 in owner points. So far this season, Ragan’s top three performances have all come at the restrictor plate speedways of Daytona and Talladega (6th, 12th, and 13th for an average finish of 10.3).
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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News

http://www.insiderracingnews.com

Mayfield Looks For Funding To Race
Reinstated driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield hopes that his Mayfield Motorsports Inc. team can find the funding to go to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race next week at Chicagoland Speedway. Mayfield and his wife, Shana, released a statement Saturday indicating that they tried to make the race this weekend at Daytona International Speedway but weren’t able to prepare a car, assemble a team and secure sponsorship. Practice was Thursday, a day after U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen issued a preliminary injunction to lift Mayfield’s suspension for what NASCAR says was a May 1 positive test for methamphetamines. “I want to thank all of you who have supported us,” Mayfield said in the statement. “To say that the last two months have been two of the worst months of my entire life is an understatement. The only event I can think of that brought me even greater pain was the loss of my father in 2007.”

Mayfield Will Try For Chicago
Jeremy and Shana Mayfield issued a statement to fans, competitors and the media on Saturday and also reconfirmed their resolve to rejoin the Sprint Cup Series with Mayfield Motorsports, possibly as early as next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Mayfield successfully received a temporary injunction this week in federal court in North Carolina immediately releasing him from NASCAR’s suspension from his owner and driver’s role with his team on May 9 for a positive drug test. Mayfield Motorsports’ No. 41 Toyota hasn’t been on the race track since the May 24 Coca-Cola 600. One week after that race, the Mayfields were forced to lay off their team members, including crew chief Tony Furr. Gaining sponsorship money to revive the team is their primary goal. Furr, who was at Daytona International Speedway this weekend working as a consultant with owner Larry Gunselman’s Sprint Cup team — which was sent home Friday when qualifying was rained out — said he had a meeting set with Mayfield for Monday and that he saw no problem being ready for Chicagoland or anywhere else.

Petty Expects Chrysler Help
Chrysler is working on a deal to pay off some of its debt to Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owner Richard Petty said on Friday at Daytona International Speedway. Petty said last month that Chrysler’s bankruptcy put cash flow from the manufacturer to the organization on hold. The subsequent layoff of nine RPM employees also was blamed on anticipated cuts from the bankruptcy. “They’ve stopped everything,” he said of Chrysler’s support. Petty said on Friday that RPM should expect some money soon. “Yeah, we’ll get some money from them,” he said. “Right now we’re in the process of figuring out exactly what they can do to get back to us to see what we can do.” Petty’s initial comments increased speculation that RPM may leave Dodge for Toyota after this season. The organization is in the final year of its contract and has partnered with Toyota’s Braun Racing for five Nationwide Series races in 2009.
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Stewart wins at Daytona: #20-Tony Stewart won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2009 and the 35th of his career. #18-Busch passed Stewart coming to the white flag and led through turn 4, but Stewart gave him a bump and tried to pass on the outside, Busch moved up to block and Stewart moved him out of the way, spinning Busch into the wall. Busch was then hit by #9-Kahne and several other cars were collected at the start-finish line. #48-Johnson finished second followed by #11-Hamlin, #99-Edwards, #2-Busch, #47-Ambrose, #83-Vickers, #17-Kenseth, #42-Montoya, and #19-Sadler. There was also a big wreck on lap 77 that involved 13 cars. There were 8 cautions for 30 laps and there were 23 lead changes among 10 drivers.

UNOFFICIAL Driver Points Standings [after Daytona, race 7 of 36]:
1) #14-Tony Stewart 2719 [2 wins], finished 1st
2) #24-Jeff Gordon 2539 -180 [1 win], 28th
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson 2525 -194 [2 wins], 2nd
4) #2-Kurt Busch 2414 -305 [1 win], 5th
5) #99-Carl Edwards 2317 -402, 4th
6) #11-Denny Hamlin 2302 -417, 3rd
7) #39-Ryan Newman 2235 -484, 19th
8) #18-Kyle Busch 2234 -485 [3 wins], 14th
9) #16-Greg Biffle 2215 -504, 18th
10) #17-Matt Kenseth 2201 -518 [2 wins], 9th
11) #42-Juan Montoya 2187 -532, 8th
12) #9-Kasey Kahne 2166 -553, 15th
Contenders for the top-12/chase: 13) #5 Mark Martin 2101, 65 points out of 12th, [3 wins], 38th
14) #00 David Reutimann 2092 -74, [1 win], 36th
15) #31 Jeff Burton 2061 -105
16) #33 Clint Bowyer 2031 -135

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Chicago:
No changes, but the spread between 35th and 36th is up to 172 points
34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 1468, +305
35) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 1335, 172 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 1163, 172 points out of 35th
37) #71-Gilliland/TRG: 1052, -283
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

Race Fast Facts – Daytona International Speedway:
* Tony Stewart won the COKE ZERO 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, his 35th victory in 374 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
* This is his second victory and 14th top-10 finish in 2009. The last driver-owner to win multiple races in a season was Ricky Rudd in 1997 (Dover and Indianapolis).
* This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 22 races at Daytona International Speedway. All of Stewart’s Daytona wins have come in the July race.
* Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 16 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2009.
* Denny Hamlin (third) posted his first top-10 finish in eight races at Daytona International Speedway.
* Tony Stewart leads the point standings by 180 points over Jeff Gordon.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-4-2009)

Almirola hasn’t discussed #1 ride: UPDATE: Earnhardt/Ganassi could have an opening in 2009 if, as expected, #1-Martin Truex announces this week he will leave for MWR, but Almirola says he had not spoken with Ganassi about it. “That’s not up to me,” he said. “Those have been internal discussions that really have not involved me. Whatever happens I will be ready, race there or race somewhere else.” Almirola said Ganassi has suggested he would allow him to leave if he finds work elsewhere.(St. Petersburg Times)(7-5-2009)
UPDATE: Aric Almirola was hanging out at the #42 transporter [at Daytona] with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing president Steve “Jake” Lauletta. If I [Lee Spencer] had to bet, Almirola will be back in the #8 Chevy by the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. The race pays exceptionally well and apparently EGR is close to securing sponsorship.(FoxSports)(7-6-2009)

Special silver scheme for Edwards at night races: #99-Carl Edwards is scheduled to drive the Aflac Silver Special scheme in the Lifelock.com 400 at Chicagoland on July 11, 2009 and in all the remaining night races during the 2009 season. See the scheme on my #99 Team Scheme page.(6-30-2009) http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2009/99cup.htm

Chase Notes/Stats going into Chicago: #5-Mark Martin (38th) and #00-David Reutimann (36th) got in big trouble at Daytona and the result was everyone in the Top 12 gained big ground. #99-Carl Edwards and #11-Denny Hamlin went from being in the 161-point “danger zone” after New Hampshire to good cushions now. Mark Martin’s fifth Bottom 2010 finish of the year dropped him out of the Top 12. #42-Juan Pablo Montoya’s ninth at Daytona gained him 85 points over 13th place. Lots of racing left, but the #42 team has to feel great going to Chicagoland in 11th place, with an 86-point margin over 13th. Montoya has yet to record a top 5 this season. See full chase stats on my Chase stats after Daytona page.(7-6-2009) http://www.jayski.com/stats/2009/chase/18dis2009chase.htm

Lou Blaney Memorial Classic on Tuesday: Sharon Speedway holds the Lou Blaney Memorial Classic Tuesday, a combination Big Block Modified and 410 Sprint Cars. Blaney died this past January at the age of 69. Blaney began racing in 1958 and kept going through part of the 2004 season. It’s nearly impossible to summarize a career that spanned that length of time. Lou’s wife of 49 years, Kate, said they never counted Lou’s victories, but she said it is more than 600. Younger fans will remember Blaney as a Modified driver, but he made his mark in the Sprint Car. Blaney won four consecutive Lernerville Sprint Car titles from 1972-75. He also won the Sprint championship in 1977-78. During that run, he won an incredible 49 victories at the track.(Pittsburgh Tribune Review), Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney are scheduled to compete in the 410 Sprint car race.(7-6-2009)

Martin Truex Jr. will be named on Tuesday the newest addition to Michael Waltrip Racing, multiple sources confirmed on Saturday at Daytona. A press conference including sponsor NAPA is scheduled for noon at the team’s Cornelius, N.C., shop. Truex is in the final year of his contract with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. NAPA, the long-time sponsor of team owner Michael Waltrip, will be become his primary sponsor. Waltrip will move from a full-time to part-time schedule that will include the Daytona 500 in February. He could remain in his familiar #55 with Truex taking another number, possibly the #56.(ESPN.com)(7-5-2009)

Furr say Mayfield team can be ready for Chicago: Mayfield Motorsports’ #41 Toyota hasn’t been on the race track since the May 24 Coca-Cola 600. One week after that race, the Mayfields were forced to lay off their team members, including crew chief Tony Furr. Gaining sponsorship money to revive the team is their primary goal. Furr, who was at Daytona working as a consultant with owner Larry Gunselman’s #64-Sprint Cup team — which was sent home Friday when qualifying was rained out — said he had a meeting set with Mayfield for Monday and that he saw no problem being ready for Chicagoland or anywhere else. “I want to figure out what he wants to do, because all the stuff is still there at the shop,” Furr said. “We’re a day-and-a-half away from having [a car] ready to go to wherever. The full crew worked for a week after the Charlotte 600 — everyone worked together and left together.” Furr said he’d continued to speak to his former Mayfield Motorsports co-workers and that getting them back together wouldn’t be difficult. “I could have a team in place in less than an hour,” Furr said. “There are a lot of people out on the street right now and most of the guys that were there to start with will come back — I’ve talked to every one of them and been in touch with them since this [judge's] ruling.(NASCAR.com)(7-5-2009)

Did Not Finish Streak and stats: #14-Stewart and #19-Sadler have the longest current streak of finishing races at 41. #78-Regan Smith is at 51 but has not run all the races [Smith has never DNF'd in a Cup race]. The all-time record for the longest streak of NOT having an DNF is 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963 [Beam didn't run all the races, but didn't DNF in 84 straight consecutive races that he ran]. Clint Bowyer holds the modern day (1972-present) at 83, next is Kevin Harvick at 81 and 58, then Jeff Gordon at 56 and Dale Earnhardt at 53.(7-5-2009)
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Courtesy of Racin’ Today

http://www.racintoday.com

Woody: Pass The Butter, Earnhardt Is Toast – http://www.racintoday.com/archives/7336

Chaotic Finish Gives Stewart The Victory At Daytona – http://www.racintoday.com/archives/7317

Texas Motor Speedway Has Straightened Out Its Act – http://www.racintoday.com/archives/7352
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Your ad could be displayed here… very reasonable rates. E-mail Mike@MotorSportsNews.Net
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Courtesy of That’s Racin’

http://www.thatsracin.com

Plate racing + blocking = hard wrecking
Saturday night’s race at Daytona ended a lot like April’s event at Talladega, with the leaders colliding and cars flying. Kyle Busch escaped injury, but his efforts to keep Tony Stewart behind him didn’t work and ruined some race cars.

http://www.thatsracin.com/105/index.html?galleryid=13562

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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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TONY STEWART, NO. 14 BURGER KING IMPALA SS – Winner
TELL US ABOUT THE LAST LAP. YOU SAT IN THE CAR FOR A WHILE JUST THINKING ABOUT THINGS:
“Well, I don’t know that I was real proud of that, but I don’t know what else I could have done there. I went where I had to go and he (Kyle Busch, No. 18 car) went where he had to go. You hate seeing a guy that’s been up front all day; and especially a guy that helped me the whole race get wrecked like that. I don’t like winning them like that.”

WELL IS IT MORE OF A THING WHERE EVERYBODY IS DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO?
“Well, yeah, it is. But you still don’t like it. You’re kinds of forced in that position. I made my move to the outside and I got up to his right-rear tire and then when he went to block us, we were already there. But it still doesn’t mean you like it and like to win them that way. That’s not the way you want to win these things. We had a good car all day. You know you just feel bad because you want him to have a good day too. But we weren’t going to give it to him. But if I did something wrong, I’m sorry. I don’t think I did. I was out there when he moved so I don’t know. You just feel bad about it. That’s not the way you want to win these things.”

FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE EMOTION AT POCONO. YOUR GUYS ON PIT ROAD TODAY WERE SEVEN FOR SEVEN. YOU NEVER LOST THE RACE ON PIT ROAD
“No, these guys on this Burger King/Old Spice/Office Depot/U.S. Army Chevrolet team did an awesome job. And I’m proud of Coke Zero and everything they do for our sport. But these guys did an awesome job; man they had awesome stops all night long. They were just consistent. I gotta thank Hendrick engines and chassis and our body shop at Stewart-Haas. These guys really worked extra hard on this car. I’m proud of everybody that’s a part of this program that believed in us and Coca-Cola was one of the first to come on board; Coke and Chevy. I really appreciate everything they do for us.”

TAKE US THROUGH THAT LAST LAP?
“Well we just tried to split the Gibbs cars up and that was all we could do and they got a run and Kyle got by us there and we backed up to the forty-eight car and got a run on the backstretch and got a really good run off of four and got up to his right rear going into the tri-oval and I hate to see him get crashed like that and I don’t like winning them this way but I don’t think I did anything wrong there. I got beside him to his right rear before he came up and he was doing what he had to do. He had to protect his line also. So we did the best we could do there.”
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N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Bowyer wins at Daytona: #29-Clint Bowyer won the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway for his first Nationwide win of the year. The caution flag came out during a green-white-checker finish, freezing the field with one lap to go and securing the win for Bowyer. #18-Kyle Busch finished second. The rest of the top 10: #60-Carl Edwards, #20-Joey Logano, #10-Kasey Kahne, #88-Brad Keselowski, #32-Brian Vickers, #12-Justin Allgier, #6-David Ragan, and #33-Kevin Harvick. There were 7 cautions for 31 laps and 15 lead changes among 10 leaders.

Driver standings following Daytona:
1) #18-Kyle Busch 2756
2) #60-Carl Edwards 2584 -172
3) #88-Brad Keselowski 2488 -268
4) #38-Jason Leffler 2367 -389
5) #20-Joey Logano 2200 -556
6) #12-Justin Allgaier 2006 -750
7) #1-Mike Bliss 1986 -770
8) #62-Brendan Gaughan 1956 -800
9) #66-Steve Wallace 1950 -806
10) #27-Jason Keller 1907 -849

Bliss out at Phoenix? hearing that #1-Mike Bliss and Phoenix Racing have parted ways. Bliss is currently 7th in points and has a win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(7-5-2009)

Sad News – Dan Slike: The racing community lost one of its long time members and supporters as Dan Slike lost his long time battle with cancer at 5:00 am July 4. Dan was a long time member of the NASCAR Busch Series(now Nationwide) family and worked on several teams, most notably being the BACE Motorsports three time NASCAR Busch Series Championship team with drivers Johnny Benson and Randy Lajoie. Dan had also worked with the late Rob Moroso and the CC Welliver race teams. A memorial service will be held Monday, July 6, 2009 at M.L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home in Lake Wylie, SC, 29710, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Dan will then make the trip to his home state of New York to his final resting place.(7-4-2009)

JTG Daugherty Racing will show up at Chicagoland Speedway for the Nationwide Series race next week but how much it will race in the event and whether Michael McDowell will be in the seat remains to be seen. Funding to field a competitive ride for McDowell has run out, but team co-owner Tad Geschickter said Friday night the #47 car will show up at Chicagoland.(SceneDaily)(7-4-2009)
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C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski

http://www.jayski.com

Update on Johnny Benson: It has been determined that Johnny has a grade 4 shoulder separation that will require surgery. Because of the bruise on his lung it has been recommended to wait another 10 days before proceeding with surgery. We are waiting to hear from the surgeon to find out what date has been scheduled but we are expecting sometime the week of July 20. It sounds silly to say but Johnny is actually excited about the surgery. His shoulder is what has caused him the most pain and is also what he has worried about healing correctly. He is glad that a procedure exists to fix it!! He does have a burn on his elbow that Nurse Deb [JB's wife] washes, treats and bandages once a day.(JohnnyBenson.com)

The Milwaukee Mile office is closed, and all 12 staff members have been laid off at least temporarily. Whether the oldest auto racing facility in the country lives to see its 107th birthday is in grave doubt even among its biggest boosters. “It depends totally if I’m able to get some investors,” promoter Claude Napier said Thursday in a telephone interview from Texas. Napier, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Motorsports, admitted to the Journal Sentinel for the first time that he had no other financial backers when he entered into a deal in February with State Fair Park, where the track is located. “I’ve got a hunch it’s over,” said Dominic Giuffre, a former promoter with his brother Frank. “It’s too late.” The Giuffres, promoters at the Mile from 1983-’91, have expressed interest in returning to that role. It is “very uncommon” for NASCAR to stage a race without being paid in advance by the promoter, said Ramsey Poston, a NASCAR spokesman. The races were already scheduled and television contracts in place when Napier took over. Given its dealings this year, NASCAR is not expected to grant credit to the track – no matter who operates it – to return for 2010.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-2-2009)
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA

http://www.arcaracing.com

Tom Hessert Joins RAB Racing for Remainder of 09 Season; Starts with Open Testing Today at KY

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8260

Live Timing & Scoring All Day at ARCAracing.com from Kentucky Speedway Open Testing…..

“GOAT”, Kimmel, Coulter, Dillon on for KY Test

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8256

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U S A R (United Speed Alliance Racing)
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Courtesy of USAR

http://usarprocup.com

USARacing To Debut On Fox Sports Net – http://www.usarprocup.com/?p=434
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Other motorsports news…
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2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown Schedule Announced

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2009) – NASCAR announced today that its premier short-track racing showcase, the 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, will be run Jan. 29-30 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

The sixth running of the event, which brings together the top racers from across North America for the ”Daytona 500 of short-track racing,” will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR Camping World Series all-star race.

The schedule also includes a 100-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race and a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race. Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED as part of full weekend of racing on SPEED that includes the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports-car event.

“The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is, without question, the pinnacle event of our touring and weekly series calendar,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR’s managing director of racing operations. “The excitement and competition has grown with each running of the event. The all-star weekend is a perfect way to cap a tremendous 2009 season, and also get drivers and fans ready for another great year of racing.”

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown was held in the fall for its first five years. It was moved to January last year to give competitors more time to prepare and also to increase exposure for drivers and teams.

The result was an event that had everybody talking. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Joey Logano went for the win on the final turn of the final lap and collected race leader Peyton Sellers. Instead of a second straight showdown victory, Logano was penalized for the move, and the victory went to Matt Kobyluck.

It was just another of a long line of exciting finishes to the all-star race.

Kobyluck, who won the NASCAR Camping World Series East title, became the first reigning series champion to cap the season with a NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown victory.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown main event – contested in NASCAR Camping World Series cars – is open to any driver approved to drive on a half-mile or longer tracks in the NASCAR Camping World Series. Current Sprint Cup Series drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Logano launched their careers in the NASCAR Camping World Series. The series is the top development step for drivers looking to make the jump to one of NASCAR’s national series.

“The Toyota All-Star Showdown is NASCAR’s most prestigious short track racing event featuring some of the finest talent this segment of motor racing has to offer and Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is honored to again serve as its host,” said Bob DeFazio, Toyota Speedway at Irwindale track operator. “It continues to grow in popularity as a ‘must attend’ event and we can’t think of a better way for race fans and NASCAR short track racing’s elite to put the finishing touches on 2009 and kick-off the 2010 NASCAR racing season!”

Each race winner during the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series season will become eligible for a protected starting spot. In addition, 2009 series champions of NASCAR’s regional touring series – the NASCAR Camping World Series East, NASCAR Camping World Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, and NASCAR Mexico Series – and the 2009 national champion for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series are also eligible for protected starting spots.

In addition to eligible 2009 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, limited provisionals for NASCAR Camping World Series regulars, and the last-chance “Open” race that provides drivers one final chance to make the grid.”

New this year, the top five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state champions – as determined by the final national standings – entered in the Late Model race will be eligible for protected starting spots.
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C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
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Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/070409.html

‘Reduce and Remember’ to Make Your Hall of Fame Pick
by Brenda Benedict

The Nascar Insiders
The NASCAR Week That Was: June 28-July 4
I’m starting to feel like a broken record, but another week, and Jeremy Mayfield leads the headlines.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/Osdf7bg_BTw/

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RF/070509.html

Late Fireworks At Daytona Hands Stewart The Win
by Ron Felix

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BW/070509.html

How to Save Money on NASCAR Memorabilia
by Brian Watkins

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/KR/070609.html

NASCAR Safety On Display At Daytona
by Kim Roberson

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/MP/070609.html

Can Earnhardt Turn His Season Around in Time?
by Matthew Pizzolato

RaceTalkRadio.com:
WWPS (What Would Poole Say?) by Dennis Michelsen

http://www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id294.htm

RaceTalkRadio.com:
Wrenchmen Snubbed in Hall of Fame Nominations by Dennis Michelsen

http://www.racetalkradio.com/soz/id293.htm

The Nascar Insiders
Montoya Making Strides
I have to say when Juan Pablo Montoya entered NASCAR in 2006 I was a skeptic.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/L2sY_Rz9-Bs/

Craven And Knaus Headline Monday Night – http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/07/craven-and-knaus-headline-monday-night.html

TNT Sets The New NASCAR TV Standard – http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/07/tnt-sets-new-nascar-tv-standard.html

NASCAR Coverage On ESPN At A Crossroads – http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/07/nascar-coverage-on-espn-at-cross-road.html
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