Tidbits...2007 - July & August...

• 8/31: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced that A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 42 Memorex Dodge in the next five NASCAR Busch Series races on the 2007 schedule, beginning with Friday’s race at California Speedway through the Oct. 12 event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Allmendinger is the full-time driver of the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Team Red Bull and CGRFS reached an agreement that would allow Allmendinger to drive the No. 42 Memorex Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series in order to get him added track time. Allmendinger is originally from Los Gatos, Calif. He started racing in open-wheel, in which just last year he collected five CHAMP Car victories.
  
  
• 8/31: NASCAR announced Thursday that Greg Tester, crew chief of the No. 71 Chevrolet driven by Ron Young in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined and penalized due to rule violations at Michigan International Speedway. Tester was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until December 31, 2007, for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A - 5.9D (4) (unapproved intake manifold modifications to the plenum area) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection on August 17.
  
  
• 8/30: Kyle Petty will be making his return to the #45 Dodge after missing the past two weeks with a broken hand suffered at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Petty regrets the episode (breaking his hand in a fit of frustration by hitting the wall), but team members say it showed the racing community he still has that competitive fire burning. Petty remains determined to keep the team inside the top-35 in owner points...
  
  
• 8/29: There's a new address for the IWK 250 hood auction. You can find it by clicking here (you will be redirected to eBay). With a little more than two days to go the high bid is $1,000 (U.S.). For more information on the auction, click here.
  
  
• 8/29: Georgetta Roush, mother of Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, passed away Tuesday at the age of 92. Georgetta Roush was a great fan of racing and was the designated owner for the #97 Nextel Cup entry from 1998 through 2005, including 2004 when the team won their first Nextel Cup championship. She was also the designated owner of the #26 Cup entry in 2006 and the #99 Cup entry in 2007. Roush is survived by her two sons, Jack and Frank, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
  
  
• 8/26: With five days down and five days remaining in the auction for the hood from Regan Smith's IWK 250 car, the bid sits at $560.00 U.S. For more info click here.
  
  
• 8/26: A report in a Halifax newspaper today indicates Wayne Smith has resigned himself to the fact he'll need to be successful in legal efforts in order to be the 07 series champion. With his fifth win on the season Saturday night in PEI, Smith closed the gap to 49 points of series point leader Shawn Turple, but with just on race remaining on the season, Smith says in the story: "...we ain't going to do it in one race. There’s only one race left. If the lawyer does his job and gets my points back for me, that’s all I can do." With the series season finale set for September 8, Smith is hoping his case is settled before then...
  
  
• 8/26: Reports, albeit unconfirmed, are rampant that Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will co-drive the No. 8 at DEI next year, filling the seat vacated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he leaves the family stable at the end of this season. The U.S. Army sponsorship is expected to move from the No. 01 to the No. 8. Regan Smith is said to be the leading candidate to drive the No. 01. Official announcements are expected to be made by DEI at Richmond in two weeks...
  
  
• 8/25: Jeff Burton's No. 31 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racecar is logo-less this weekend at Bristol as a result of the ongoing dispute between NASCAR and AT&T. The legal battle has been going back and forth in the courts for several months with NASCAR seeking to protect the integrity of exclusivity clauses with major series sponsors, in this instance NEXTEL - with whom AT&T is in direct competition. The initial injunction saw awards in favour of NASCAR, an appeal went in AT&T's favour, now a further appeal recently found in NASCAR's favour. In the wake of that finding, NASCAR this week ordered Richard Childress Racing (RCR), owner of the Burton's 31 car, to remove the AT&T logos. And so the logo-less car arrived in a bare black hauler, Burton's driver suit is bare except for required series logos, and team shirts and other equipment are also bare... Yet another motion was filed Friday afternoon by AT&T asking the court to allow its logos on the 31 car. RCR is said to be considering its options for future events...
  
  
• 8/24: Learned from a reader yesterday the Maritimes racing community recently lost another stalwart member of its family. Tom Maxwell of Wards Creek (NB) passed away August 11. He was 66. Tom Maxwell was a big name in regional racing in the 60s and 70s - mostly at River Glade, but he also served as announcer at McEwan's and Airport Raceway. Belated condolences to Mr. Maxwell's family and friends...
  
  
• 8/23: The regional racing rumour mill is running rampant that NBIS will host a PASS race next summer the same date as the annual 250 at Riverside International Speedway. NBIS management has confirmed with us this is not the case; they do not plan to host a PASS North show next July 19...
  
  
• 8/22: Reports in Monday's Halifax newspapers say court paper's will be filed on Wayne Smith's behalf asking to have the racer's disqualification (DQ) of June 9 overturned. Smith has contended since days after the DQ that the CARQUEST Tour carburetor testing gauge used to determine the DQ is inaccurate; and has openly stated that he may pursue legal action. With just two races remaining on the series 2007 season Smith is third in the series standings, 58 behind point leader Shawn Turple. br>
  
• 8/21: A race fan will introduce the entire NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starting field of drivers during the pre-race show at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Oct. 28 Pep Boys Auto 500. Chosen by a select panel of AMS employees, the winner will call the name, hometown, number, car sponsor and car manufacturer of each of the 43 drivers that will start the Pep Boys Auto 500. In addition to the privilege of being the guest public address announcer, the winner will also receive two pre-race pit passes, a reserved parking pass and two weekend ticket packages, including tickets to Georgia-Pacific NEXTEL Cup Qualifying Friday night, Saturday’s EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 Craftsman Truck race and the headline event, the Pep Boys Auto 500 NEXTEL Cup event. Those interested should submit an audio clip of themselves calling the introductions for any 12 NEXTEL Cup drivers. Each entry should include the name, number and hometown of the driver, as well as the car sponsor and manufacturer. Selected entries will be posted in an online audio gallery and must be received by Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. Fans interested in submitting their entry can e-mail a digital file to youcalltherace@gospeedway.com or by mail a compact disc to: Atlanta Motor Speedway, The Call This Fall, P.O. Box 500, Hampton, GA 30228...
  
  
• 8/21: Rockwell Automation will finish its 11-year motorsports tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) at the end of this season. The No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet campaigned by JGR in the NASCAR Busch Series since 2003, being driven by Denny Hamlin this year, will see its final race in Rockwell Automation’s red and white livery at the Busch Series season finale Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. JGR will continue to field the No. 20 in 2008 for a full Busch Series campaign; driver and sponsor announcements are expected to be made in January 2008...
  
  
• 8/20: Ricky Rudd has formally announced his retirement at the end of the 2008 season. Rudd informed car owner Robert Yates this weekend that he would not return to the driver's seat next year, and that this time he plans to make it permanent. Rudd made a comeback this season after a few seasons "off"...
  
  8/20: Bill Elliott will finish the year in the Wood Bros. No. 21 car; Elliott took over earlier this year from Ken Schrader in what was supposed to be a temporary move...
  
  
• 8/19: NASCAR driver Ryan Newman announced an exciting new conservation program Saturday during a press conference at Michigan International Speedway: Racing For Wildlife. Racing for Wildlife will work to build an American land legacy for generations of race fans who share Newman’s love of the outdoors. Newman teamed up with The Conservation Fund to launch the program in an effort to help preserve America’s great outdoors and educate children about the importance of taking care of our nation’s land and waterways. To find out more about Racing For Wildlife visit www.racingforwildlife.org.
  
  
• 8/18: Lonnie Sommerville's crew are preparing a car for young Justin Labonte to drive in the September 2 Peterbilt 250 at NBIS. The car will be Irving blue and white and carry No. 44. Justin's dad, NASCAR champ Terry Labonte will also enter the race - marking the first time ever father and son will race each other. Thanks to Larry Sommerville for sending this picture...
  
  
• 8/18: Jeff Gordon said Friday it took longer than usual to get over the mistake he made last week at Watkins Glen that cost him the race win (spinning out while leading with less than two laps to go)..."I said 'I can't believe I did that' a thousand times Sunday. I said it maybe 500 times on Monday and another couple hundred on Tuesday. That was a very tough one to get over and I'm really good at letting things roll off my back and getting past them and this has been a tough week. The best therapy for me has been getting home, being with Ella and Ingrid, but anytime I have time to think and my mind kind of clears out I start thinking about it and I'm just glad to get here to the race track so I can put it behind us and move on."
  
  
• 8/18: Tony Stewart said Friday he's cool with Kyle Busch becoming a teammate next year: "I'm happy about it. Same thing I said a couple of weeks ago when everybody asked me about it. I think it's a great opportunity for Joe Gibbs Racing. He's the best young talent out there in my opinion so I think we definitely got the right guy."
  
  
• 8/17: SAD NEWS - John Blewett III, a 33-year-old driver in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, died Thursday night after being involved in a crash with his younger brother, Jimmy, during a race at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway. The two were racing for the lead on lap 107 of a 150-lap race when the crash occurred. The remaining drivers in the field declined to continue the race after the crash. No winner was declared.
  
  
• 8/16: Paul Andrews, who - until earler this week was crew chief for Bobby Labonte (see 8/15 tidbit) - was seriously injured in a 30 ft. fall late Wednesday. Andrews fell off a ladder in his own shop while changing a light bulb. He was airlifted to hospital and suffered a compression fracture of his spine, a crushed left ankle, and some broken bones in his right ankle...
  
  
• 8/15: NASCAR has won an appeal overturning an earlier court decision allowing the AT&T decals to be placed on Jeff Burton's No. 31 racecar...According to NASCAR, the 31 car would not be allowed to carry the AT&T logos, starting as soon as this weekend; according to AT&T, they are exploring their options and are unsure what the 31 car will look like at Michigan...NASCAR filed the suit to protect the interests of series sponsor NEXTEL, with whom AT&T is a major competitor...
  
  
• 8/15: Kenny Wallace and the No. 78 Furniture Rowe NEXTEL Cup race team have parted ways. Scott Wimmer is expected to drive the car at Michigan this weekend and Sterling Marlin at Bristol next week. Wallace says he's "relieved" - that it was time for a change...
  
  
• 8/15: Petty Enterprises has announced veteran Doug Randolph as crew chief for the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge driven by 2000 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Randolph, who takes over the crew chief duties from Paul Andrews, will be on top of the pit box for this weekend’s 3M Performance 400 at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway. Andrews has left the employ of Petty Enterprises....
  
  
• 8/14: For the next five Wednesday's, ABC will air a new show called "NASCAR in Primetime." In producing the series, ABC was - for the first time - granted full access to the inner workings of NASCAR, spending six months following drivers, fans and officials. The show airs Wednesday's at 10 p.m./ET (11 p.m./AT) August 15 through September 12.
  
  
• 8/14" CMT will debut the movie DALE Tuesday September 4 at 8 p.m./ET (9 p.m./AT). DALE is the only authorized film on Dale Earnhardt, the legendary NASCAR driver who lost his life in a last lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. DALE will encore at 8:00pm on Wednesday, Sept. 5 and Thursday, Sept. 6, with those being the only additional scheduled airings of DALE on CMT prior to the film’s release on DVD next year.
  
  
• 8/13: We're working on sorting out the PASS announcement Saturday at Scotia Speedworld saying they will make just one stop in Nova Scotia next year - for the Atlantic CAT 250; a report in a Halifax paper carries that a step further to say the Atlantic CAT 250 is the only stop in Canada next year for PASS. We've contacted the other two maritime tracks that had PASS dates this year - NBIS and Riverside - for clarification, so stay tuned...
  
  
• 8/13: Reports today say that Kyle Busch will officially be announced as joining Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) tomorrow, as driver of the No. 18, replacing J.J. Yeley. Busch, who has yet to confirm the move, supposedly chose JGR over Chip Ganassi Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Interstate Batteries will reportedly remain at least a partial sponsor of the No. 18. Speculation is also high that Toyota will replace General Motors as the manufacturer of choice for JGR, starting in 08.
  
  
• 8/13: Regan Smith was an early victim in Sunday's NEXTEL Cup race at Watkins Glen International. The U.S. Army driver, who grew up near the historic road course, was involved in an accident on Lap 12 of 90, which resulted in a 37th place finish. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Smith, referring to the incident that put him out of contention. Brian Vickers spun in front of Smith; the result was major suspension damage to the right front of the 01 machine. It was Smith's first NEXTEL Cup start at his "home track," and his first for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated - with whom Smith hopes to land a full-time ride for 08...
  
  
• 8/12: According to a report in today's Halifax Herald, the Forbes-sponsored race at Scotia Speedworld will become a "big money" race for regional racers, starting in 08. The Forbes event has been sanctioned by PASS for several years, as is the Atlantic CAT 250 at Speedworld. The CAT race will be the one and only stop in Halifax for the U.S.-based series next year...
  
  
• 8/10: Bill Davis Racing has announced they will part ways with driver Jeremy Mayfield at the end of this season. No replacement driver has been named for the No. 36 car...
  
  8/10: Bobby Gerhart, injured during last Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series Pennsylvania 200 at Pocono Raceway, has been released from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Gerhart, diagnosed with a left brachial plexus injury and a T6 compression fracture, has been fitted in a neck brace for comfort. The veteran driver has also been fitted with a back brace to be worn at all times in the upright position, and will undergo physical therapy under a physician’s care in his hometown of Lebanon, P
  
  
• 8/10: Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race at Watkins Glen will be the last one for Juan Pablo Montoya. The driver will turn his full-time attention to his No. 42 NEXTEL Cup car. Montoya says the decision was made by team owner Chip Ganassi. "He thought it maybe was better to take part of that program and invest more into the car of tomorrow to make ourselves more competitive," said Montoya...
  
  
• 8/10: A rather unique promotion in advance of upcoming CARFAX 250 Busch Series race at Michigan Int'l Speedway: track President Roger Curtis and NASCAR Busch Series driver Stephen Leicht will pump gas next Tuesday at a Sunoco station in Plymouth, Michigan. Customers will get gas at $2.50/gallon - saving an average 0.30/cents a gallon from regular prices...
  
  
• 8/9: Got an email from a reader yesterday with a tip that Brian Northrup will be entering the Atlantic CAT 250 at Scotia Speedworld this weekend. Northrup has been a driver in just about all regional divisions since the late 70s when he started at Onslow Speedway. Have no idea at this point whose car it is...We're waiting for confirmation and more details, so stay tuned...
  
  
• 8/8: According to reports by the Associated Press (AP), Kyle Busch has decided where he will drive next year. In the AP report, Busch's agent confirms the driver had made his selection but that but that a public announcement would be delayed until all the details are worked out. The same report indicates "a source close to Busch" said he had selected Joe Gibbs Racing...
  
  
• 8/8: Tickets are now available for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Riverside International Speedway September 15. Track manager Paul McLean says sales have been swift with over 40% of the reserved seats sold in the few days since Saturday when the tickets went on sale. If you are interested in reserved seats you better get your tickets soon; with the bigger seating area (see tidbit posted 8/5), there will be only 1,500 reserved seats in the main grandstand and 500 in the licensed area...The track box office also has tickets available for the August 18 Antigonish Mall 100 for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. For more info, or to get your tickets, call 902.863.2410.
  
  
• 8/7: Twenty-five time Grammy Award winner, Stevie Wonder, will serve as Grand Marshal of California Speedway’s Sharp AQUOS 500 to be held on September 2, 2007, Speedway President Gillian Zucker announced today. Wonder will announce the, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” command to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers in front of the live audience and millions of fans watching at home on ESPN’s race broadcast...
  
  
• 8/6: With the 366-point lead he's got in the current NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, all Jeff Gordon needs to do to clinch his spot in the 2007 edition of "Chase for Championship" is start his No. 24 racecar in the next five "Race to the Chase" events...The Chase starts September 16 in Loudon (NH)...
  
  
• 8/5: Dartmouth (NS) native Dean Clattenburg finished 12th in Saturday's PASS South race at Lanier National Speedway in Georgia. Corey Williams, Preston Peltier, and Joey Senter finished top three, respectively...Clattenburg, who now resides in North Carolina, was second in series point standings entering the event, just 34 markers behind Ryan Lawler, who finished seventh at Lanier...
  
  
• 8/5: Racing legend A.J. Foyt narrowly escaped injury this past Thursday when the ground below a bulldozer he was operating gave way and the heavy machine slipped 15 feet into a lake, with Foyt onboard...Foyt said he got a little panicked, and attributes the cage around the driver to protecting him as the machine slipped uncontrollably into the water. The machine was totally submerged when Foyt got out of the cab and reached the surface, and safety. He refused to go to the hospital...
  
  
• 8/5: Riverside International Speedway (Antigonish) is making their reserved seat space a little larger...Each row will have two seats less, allowing more room for the rest of them. While this will mean more comfort for those with reserved seats, there will be less reserved seats available. The next race at Riverside with reserved seating is the Sept. 15 Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event...
  
  
• 8/4: Three-time CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion John Flemming will miss today's race at Riverside after having laser eye surgery this week...
  
  
• 8/3: Robby Gordon says, in his opinion, the road course at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal is the closest NASCAR has ever been to a street circuit: "In Mexico City, the walls are farther back and you have more vision. I’m going to say, turn six, the blind right-hander it reminds me of some places like Long Beach, Toronto, Vancouver, back when we used to run Trans-Am and Indy cars in those place where you’re definitely reliant on the flag man because you can’t see around the corner because your busting around there 70, 80, 90, 100 miles an hour, whatever it may be. This is more like a street circuit and I love street circuits. You have to be smooth and I think all the road racing in the past and the off road racing really teaches you to control your rear tires and I think that’s going to come into play. Since obviously we don’t have traction control, it’s the guy that can control the throttle, power down the best and save his tires for the end of the race is the one that’s going to be the fastest at the end.” Gordon, now a regular on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit, is an accomplished road racer in Montreal for this weekends Busch Series race. He was second fastest in Thursday practice sessions...
  
  
• 8/2: Members of SPEED TV's RaceDay show will compete in a school bus race next Tuesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Scheduled to compete are: Jimmy Spencer, Hermie Sadler, John Roberts, Wendy Venturini and Rutledge Wood. Venturini is the defending champion of the race
  
  
• 8/1: Good Luck to Mike MacKenzie who leaves today for Montreal - to compete in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series road race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. With the event entries numbered at 43, all cars - including MacKenzie - will start the race. Time trials go Saturday at 1:10 p.m./AT to determine starting positions; the race is set for Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m/AT; both qualifying and the race will be televised live on TSN-HD. Read more about MacKenzie's venture in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald - click here to be redirected to the Herald website. OR in today's edition of The Daily News - click here to be redirected to The Daily News website.
  
  
• 8/1: July 2007 proved to be yet another growing month for this website, with a record 1.15 million hits over the 31 days of July. We continue to be blown away with the numbers, and appreciative of your support...
  
  
• 8/1: Wood Brothers/JTG NASCAR driver Jon Wood was treated and released from a local hospital Tuesday morning following a single vehicle accident on his way to work. He was treated for a cut on his head and a bruising on his arm, and released shortly thereafter...
  
  
• 7/31: NASCAR is reviewing Tony Stewart's use of the "BS" word during the winner's interview at Indianapolis, which was carried on ESPN. If precedent is followed, it would seem Stewart would be subject to penalty, as the series fined dale Earnhardt Jr. a couple of years ago for using the "S" word in a Victory Lane interview...NASCAR penalties are usually announced Tuesday afternoons, so stay tuned...
  
  
• 7/31: While Kevin Harvick was summoned to the NASCAR trailer after tapping Tony Stewart in Sunday's cool-down lap, there will be no penalty. Harvick convinced NASCAR the act was nothing more than a congratulatory "love tap" for the winner, with whom Harvick had raced hard, and rubbed, in the closing stages of the event at Indy...
  
  
• 7/31: Steve Wallace, Busch Series driver and son of NASCAR champ Rusty Wallace, is OK after being mugged Sunday night while leaving a convenience store in Indianapolis (IN). A group of at least three men jumped Wallace in the store parking lot after commenting on his watch in the store. Wallace will compete as scheduled in the NAPA 200 in Montreal this weekend...
  
  
• 7/29: Regan Smith, who many Maritime's met last weekend at Riverside International Speedway, is just as confused with the DEI/Ginn merger and its ramifications as many others. Smith, a developmental driver for Ginn this year, was two weeks ago named to a full-time ride for Ginn in the No. 14 car (replacing Sterling Marlin). Last week, when the merger details were announced, the No. 14 car was removed from competition - and Smith was left wondering, and waiting. Smith is quoted in today's Charlotte newpaer as saying: "It has been an interesting week. A lot of stuff happened from Monday on. There is a lot of stuff that is still unknown, a lot of stuff that I don't know, a lot of stuff that has to be figured out among different groups of people.”
  
  
• 7/29: Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) NEXTEL Cup Series teams will honor Skip Prosser, the former Wake Forest University men’s basketball coach who died unexpectedly on Thursday, with Wake Forest decals in Sunday’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I grew up in Winston-Salem and have spent my entire life living and working in the area,” said RCR president and CEO Richard Childress. “We just want everyone in the Wake Forest Community to know that we’re thinking about them during this difficult time.”
  
  
• 7/28: The NASCAR Busch Series race at Montreal will be held August 4 - rain or shine. Busch Series director Joe Balash said Friday the series plans to use rain tires - if necessary - at both upcoming road course events, Montreal and Watkins Glen (NY). All cars will need to be equipped with windshield wipers, defrosters and rear lights...
  
  
• 7/28: Ray Evernham, owner of Evernham Motorsports which owns NASCAR NEXTEL Cup cars driven by Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Scott Riggs, as well as ARCA and Busch Series cars for Erin Crocker - for the first time publicly acknowledged Friday that his personal relationship with 26-year-old Crocker may have hurt her racing career. Evernham, 49, even went so far as to say Crocker would be better off with another team: “The proper thing to do, and something her and I would like to do, is move her to another race team. I think the girl has a lot of talent. But if I sit here and say to somebody, ‘Look, she’s got a lot of talent, you should sponsor her,’ my credibility is not good because of the personal relationship.”
  
  
• 7/27: During The Parts For Trucks 100 at Riverside International Speedway August 4 the company that is doing the filming for the made for TV movie The Circuit will be on hand to shoot some footage of the grandstand and special in car shots will be done during the break after practice and time trials. They are currently look for extras if interested in being part of The Circuit e mail a photograph and contact information to racecarmovie@gmail.com For further info contact Tara Doyle at 1-902-429-3803.
  
  
• 7/26: Monday, July 23, marked the grand opening of Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Wine Tasting Room and Racing Museum located in North Wilkesboro, N.C. The vineyard and wine tasting room were dreams of Benny Parsons and he was working diligently to bring them to fruition when he passed away in January. Parsons began working with wine maker, Mark Terry on his dream two years ago by leasing grapes from Windy Gap, Carnegie and Copeland vineyards. He enjoyed the task of picking each type of grape that he leased from neighboring North Carolina vineyards to start the production of his 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and his personal favorite BP's Blush. Parsons also dreamed of moving back home and he began the construction of a new home that rests on Rendezvous Ridge surrounded by the vineyard that he created.
  
  
• 7/26: NASCAR announced Wednesday that Doug Chouinard, crew chief of the No. 03 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine and Chuck Meyers, crew chief of the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by J.J. Yeley in the NASCAR Busch Series, have been fined due to rule violations at Gateway International Raceway. Chouinard was fined $5,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-5.10.1B(6) (thickness of the throttle shaft and throttle plate was less than 0.197 inch) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. Meyers was fined $500 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-16.1C (fuel cell foam not used as provided by the manufacturer; open areas cut out of foam). The infractions were discovered during opening day inspection on July 20.
  
  
• 7/26: Robert Yates Racing has scheduled a press conference this FRiday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to unveil plans for their future...
  
  
• 7/25: According to a report yesterday on ESPN, today will see the announcement that DEI has acquired Ginn Racing. The story goes that DEI will take over the massive Ginn headquarters and that Bobby Ginn will remain a partner. The new DEI will supposedly field four cars this weekend at Indianapolis: No. 1 Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr., the No. 8 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the No. 15 driven by Paul Menard and the No. 01 driven by Mark Martin. Last week Ginn announced a major reorganization releasing Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin, putting Smith in Marlin's car full-time and announcing that Aric Almirola would share driving duties with Martin for the rest of the season. According to the report, the new deal would see Smith back to Plan A, finishing the season with Martin; no word on Almirola - who was released by Joe Gibbs Racing last week after being hired by Ginn...Confused yet? Stay tuned...If the deal is announced, we'll have all the details... UPDATE A report published this morning in the Charlotte (NC) newspaper concurs with the ESPN report except that Alimirola will stay in the 01 car with Martin, and that Regan Smith's status is uncertain...
  
  
• 7/24: We learned yesterday that Regan Smith missed his 7 p.m. flight home Sunday night; Smith was given the option of getting out of his IWK 250 racecar at the halfway break so he could leave for the airport, but opted to stay in with a vision to win the race...After finishing third in the race, Smith dashed for a waiting car and headed for Halifax, but was too late. He caught a later flight and had to overnight in Toronto before catching a connecting flight home Monday morning. All this after postponing he originally scheduled flight Sunday afternoon (because of Saturday's rain postponement). Kudos and thanks to Regan Smith...He'll have many more fans from the Maritimes watching him this Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he debuts his new NEXTEL Cup ride in the No. 14 car...
  
  
• 7/23: For those of you at the IWK 250 Sunday that watched Mike Rowe and Ben Rowe dash through the back gate on their way to board a private plane to Oxford...Apparently they got to the Maine classic in time to see the green flag, but neither had a car to race; their back-up drivers had failed to qualify for the event...
  
  
• 7/22: While the debate over the format change for TDBanknorth 250 has raged for nearly a year with strong supporters on both sides of the pro stocks and late models, it seems Maine car owner Jay Cushman may have hit the nail on the head...Cushman was quoted in a Maine newspaper story Saturday saying: "You wouldn't take the Super Bowl and put two high school teams in there." This year Cushman will miss his first 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway as a fan since 1978, and as a car owner since 1998...Cushman owns the No. 29 car driven by Trevor Sanborn on the PASS North circuit. They are at Riverside International Speedway for the IWK 250 this weekend.
  
  
• 7/19: NASCAR has announced that Chad Beahr, crew chief of the No. 89 Dodge driven by Morgan Shepherd in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined due to rule violations this past weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Beahr was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12.1A(8) (jacking bolt must be made of solid magnetic steel) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during opening-day inspection on July 13.
  
  
• 7/18: NASCAR announced Tuesday that Mike Beam, crew chief for the No. 6 Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been fined $10,000 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4Q (track parts, components or equipment that doesn’t conform to NASCAR Rules) and 20B-12.8.1A (minimum roof height). Driver Travis Kvapil has been penalized with the loss of 25 championship driver points and truck owner Jack Roush has been penalized 25 championship owner points due to their crew chief’s infraction. The infraction occurred during post-race inspection at Kentucky Speedway on July 14.
  
  
• 7/18: BAM Racing has announced that former crew chief David Hyder will return to the fold this week, reuniting with former driver Kenny Schrader. Schrader has been on the Nextel Cup sidelines since being replaced in the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford by Bill Elliott a few weeks ago. He will reunite with Hyder at BAM, beginning at the Brickyard 400 on August 4...UPDATE 7/18 Apparently the deal with Schrader is yet to be finalized - so hold that thought...
  
  
• 7/17: Reminder to those with SIRIUS Satellite Radio...Tune in to "The Driver's Seat" show at Noon/AT today on the NASCAR Channel 128. John Kernan's co-host will be Ricky Craven; if time allows, Ricky will be talking about competing in this Saturday's IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway near Antigonish...
  
  
• 7/17: Maine's Cassius Clark will be driving a car out of the Truro-based Steve Henderson stable in Saturday's IWK 250. Clark's own racecar has a crate engine, which he doesn't believe to be powerful enough for him to challenge for the win on the high banks of Riverside. Henderson, who fields the No. 0 entry for Shawn Turple, has a backup car with a "big" motor - which is the car Cassius will drive...Turple hopes being a being a teammate to one of PASS's top runners will allow him to get over the hurtle that has seemingly separated the Americans from the Canadians in recent PASS competition...No word on how Clark's car will be numbered or lettered...
  
  
• 7/16: North Carolina Motor Speedway - commonly called "The Rock" - located in Rockingham, North Carolina, is scheduled to go on the auction block October 2 of this year. The 1.014-mile track opened in 1965 and hosted NASCAR's top series (Cup, Busch and Truck) until 2004 when it got up in series expansion. The track was acquired by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. as part of a lawsuit settlement. The auction is listed as "absolute" which means it will go, regardless of the sale price, i.e. no reserve...
  
  
• 7/16: A reminder to Maritime track owners/promoters: Send us your info (in a usable format) and we'll be happy to include on our site...All we ask is that you are accurate and consistent, i.e. if you send event advances then we need results. Email news@checkerstowreckers.com...
  
  
• 7/15: More on Mike MacKenzie's bid to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal August 4 - click here to see the story in today's "The Chronicle Herald" - you will be redirected to their website.
  
  
• 7/13: Reminder that SPEED, this Saturday at 11:30 p.m./AT, will show Tony Stewart's Prelude to a Dream race, held last month and then broadcast only on Pay Per View...
  
  
• 7/13: According to a report in today's "The Daily News", Dartmouth's Mike MacKenzie confirmed yesterday he will be entering the August 4 NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal. The report says MacKenzie will drive the No. 63 Spraker Racing Enterprises car owned by Jeff Spraker of Latham, N.Y...
  
  
• 7/13: Dennis James, 57, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starter since 2003 passed away on July 11, 2007. Dennis, a Fletcher N.C. resident, had been involved in racing since the mid 1970s when he was a competitor at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. In the 1980s he moved on to become the starter at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, N.C. and later became the Chief Steward at Tri-County Speedway. Later in his career he returned to Hickory Motor Speedway to serve as Chief Steward. Prior to being hired by NASCAR in January of 2003 Dennis worked closely with the day-to-day operations of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Series. Dennis is survived by his wife Cathy, father Earl James, two daughters Kristen and Kim, grandson Cody and two sisters Cathy and Eva. Funeral arrangements are pending...
  
  
• 7/13: NASCAR has announced that Greg Conner, crew chief of the No. 59 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined due to rule violations at Daytona International Speedway. Conner was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A – 2.1E (unapproved aerodynamic modification) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infractions were discovered during opening pre-qualifying inspection on July 6...
  
  
• 7/13: On Thursday Bill Elliott's website saw posted a statement on his behalf addressing the IWK 250. The statement claimed Elliott had decided the event schedule was going to take up too much of his time, and that the track had been notified weeks ago he was not coming. With all due respect, we have to wonder why Elliott's website reflected that he would indeed be at Riverside July 21 until just Tuesday of this week, the day after Riverside announced he would not be attending??? Bottom line is the IWK 250 goes next weekend, and the stage is set for a heck of a show at perhaps the best racing facility in Canada - and will see the participation of not one, but TWO NASCAR drivers - that are excited to be there...Kudos to Riverside Speedway!!!
  
  
• 7/12: Aaron Fike, driver of the No. 1 Toyota in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation occurred July 7. Cassandra Davidson, a crew member for the No. 1 team, has also been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR as a result of this same violation.
  
  
• 7/11: Brad Keselowski will drive the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the next three NASCAR Busch Series races for JR Motorsports, starting with Saturday’s USG DUROCK 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Keselowski will also pilot the Navy Chevrolet at Gateway International Raceway and O’Reilly Raceway Park. The new driver selection comes one week after Earnhardt Jr. announced that he was replacing Shane Huffman after a midseason evaluation of the team’s performance. “I’ve watched Brad for a while and he’s shown a lot of promise in the few Busch races he’s run,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He became available at a time when we were looking to make some changes to our program and everything just lined up for us to put him in the Navy Chevrolet for the next three races.”
  
  
• 7/10: According to a report in Monday's Halifax Herald newspaper Mike MacKenzie has yet to finalize all the details that will collectively allow him to enter the NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal August 4; the Dartmouth racer hopes to have more to say on the matter within the week...
  
  
• 7/10: Management at NBIS continue to work with management of the PASS series to secure a make-up date for the race that was rained out May 19 and than again May 20...
  
  
• 7/10: Upon further evaluation at the NASCAR Research and Development Center, the front springs from Kyle Busch's Winn-Dixie 250-winning Chevrolet did meet the minimum spring rate, NASCAR spokesperson Tracey Judd said. NASCAR rules require both front springs to have a total spring rate of 3,000 pounds, and the springs from Busch's car were initially slightly under that total when measured in Daytona International Speedway's garage area after Friday's race. But measurements on a more precise device at the R&D center in Concord, N.C., proved Busch's springs to be legal, so no penalties will be levied against Busch's No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team...
  
  
• 7/10: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was arrested in an amusement park parking lot after authorities found a substance believed to be heroin in his sport utility vehicle, police said. Mason police said Fike, 24, and his fiancee were arrested Saturday afternoon on charges of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. Bond hadn't been set and both remained in Warren County Jail late Sunday...Red Horse Racing, owner's of Fike's Truck team, announced Monday that David Green will drive the No. 1 Toyota in Kentucky.
  
  
• 7/10: Scott Alexander will not get back behind the wheel of his racecar this year. The Dartmouth driver had hip replacement surgery this spring and had hoped to only need to sit out the first half of the season, but recovery is taking longer than he expected. Better safe than sorry, Scott...In the meantime his racecars have been rented to a production company that will film parts of a movie at Scotia Speedworld and Riverside Speedway later this summer...
  
  
• 7/8: It's been whirling around the rumour mill for the last couple weeks - and it was announced Saturday night at Scotia Speedworld....Dartmouth's Mike MacKenzie, with the support of longtime sponsor Forbes Chev Olds, will enter the August 4 NASCAR Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Stay tuned for more on this developing story...
  
  
• 7/7: Seven-time Daytona 500 champion and NASCAR legend Richard Petty will drive a specially designed Daytona International Speedway/NASCAR tribute car in honor of the late Bill France Jr. prior to Saturday night’s Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. The on-track tribute highlighted by Petty is just one of several tributes that are taking place during the Pepsi 400 Weekend at Daytona International Speedway. France, who helped build Daytona International Speedway in the late 1950s and served as President between 1982-87, passed away last month at the age of 74...
  
  
• 7/6: Rumour has it that Saturday could see a name change announced for NASCAR's top league, starting in 2008. Sprint will reportedly replace Nextel as title sponsor, with the series becoming the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...Stay tuned... r>
  
• 7/6: Another report says NASCAR has decided suspended crew chiefs are no longer welcome at the track. Under the new policy, a suspended crew chief is not allowed anywhere on track property. That includes the grandstands, parking areas or campgrounds around the track. While NASCAR won’t be posting guards to make sure nobody violates the new policy, they will be depending on the eyes and ears of other teams and fans to help them, according to NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, who added that any suspended person who violates the policy risks having his suspension extended and that additional penalties would also be possible...
  
  
• 7/5: North American short track legend Nova Scotia native Jr. Hanley was back behind the wheel of a racecar last Saturday - kind of... Hanley drove a vintage Don Biederman car in the pace laps for the Don Biederman Memorial at Cayuga Speedway in Ontario - a track where Hanley and Biederman battled many laps during the 70s and 80s. Biederman passed away in 1999; Hanley retired from racing full-time two years ago... The vintage racecar was on loan from the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame of which both Biederman and Hanley are members...
  
  
  June 30/07 - Pace car for the Don Biederman Memorial at Cayuga Speedway - a vintage Don Biederman racecar...
  
  
• 7/5: NASCAR announced Wednesday that three teams in the NASCAR Busch Series have been fined and penalized due to rule violations this past weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. Pierre Kuettel, crew chief for the No. 60 Ford driven by Carl Edwards, was fined $5,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A–12.3S (right rear shock absorber would not compress within the specified period of time) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. Additionally, Edwards was penalized with the loss of 25 championship driver points and team owner Jack Roush was penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points due to the same violations. The infractions were discovered during post-race inspection on June 30. Also at New Hampshire, Ricky Pearson, crew chief for the No. 36 Chevrolet of Brent Sherman, was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A–5.10.2 (carburetor spacer plate tapered and beveled; and Wally Rogers, crew chief of the No. 77 Chevrolet of Bobby Labonte, was fined $500 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 16.1C (fuel cell foam not used as provided by the manufacturer; open areas cut out of foam). The infractions were discovered on the No. 36 during pre-race inspection on June 30, while the violations on the No. 77 were found during practice on June 29.
  
  
• 7/4: Just in case you're wondering where Andy Campbell's View From the Tower is this week...Andy's on vacation this week. We'll hope for a "double-header" edition of his popular column next week...
  
  
• 7/4: The regional racing rumour mill is running rampant saying a BIG NASCAR star will race in the Peterbilt 250 at NBIS September 2. No name yet, but a trusted source tells us to expect an announcement later this week. The pro stock classic has featured NASCAR's Johnny Benson the last two years, along with many of the best short track racers from the Maritimes and New England.
  
  
• 7/4: Dartmouth native Dean Clattenburg finished 14th in Tuesday nights PASS South race at Peachstate Speedway in Georgia. The raec recap shows Dean running sixth on lap 94 of 125; evidently something happened in the closing laps to drop him to 14th... The top three finishers were: 1. Corey Williams; 2. Preston Peltier; and 3. Ryan Crane.
  
  
• 7/4: Statement from the Wood Brothers/JTG race team regarding Ken Schrader's driving duties for the No. 21 Nextel Cup entry... "The plan in place now is the plan that has always been in place. Bill Elliott continues to drive the #21 car on a weekly basis with the emphasis on the guaranteed starting spot, while the team works to regain its standing in the top-35 in NASCAR Owner Points. At such time that the team is able to reach this range of points, it is our continued intention that we will be able to return Ken Schrader to his driving duties with the team."
  
  
• 7/4: Rewind to June 24 and Kyle Petty's uttering of a cuss word during the Nextel Cup race broadcast from Sonoma. According to a report this past weekend on SPEED TV, Petty will not face penalties. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said that due to a number of mitigating factors, NASCAR won’t fine Petty points and/or money as the sanctioning body did to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2004 after he uttered an obscenity in victory lane. Poston said the mitigating factors included that Petty wasn’t aware he was on TV at the time, that the clip wasn’t live but shown and replay, and the fact that the FCC recently loosened its own regulations regarding on-air obscenities...
  
  
• 7/3: This website hit yet another milestone record last month - accumulating a whopping 961,508 hits in the 30 days of June. Our previous record for one month was in May of this year, with just over 775,000 hits. Many thanks for your continued support!!!
  
  
• 7/3: Kennetcook's Bobby White is the latest of the maritime pro stock racers to join the crate engine "club." White gave the GM powerplant a try for the first time at PEI's Raceway Park last Saturday - and won the race in his No. 81 Russell White Lumber Pontiac..."It's a monster," said White. "You don't feel a whole lot of power, but there is plenty of bite and torque - which is what it's all about."
  
  
• 7/3: Gordon is scheduled to make his 10th appearance as co-host on the popular daytime talk show “Live with Regis and Kelly” on Monday, July 9. The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet will fill in for host Regis Philbin. Check local listings for time and channel.
  
  
• 7/2: Richard Petty, “The King” of NASCAR will celebrate his 70th birthday in his hometown of Randleman, North Carolina Monday. Petty is looking forward to be at home for the occasion. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been home to celebrate my birthday,” stated Petty. “I’ve always been in Daytona. That was fine, too. We won a lot of races there, but it will be nice to be around the family. It’s just the way the date landed this year. I don’t know what anyone has planned,” continued Petty. “I leave that up to my wife. She will let me know and we’ll do that.”

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