CheckersToWreckers.com

News Tidbits...

2009 Tidbits - March to April...

4/30: The Dale Jr. Foundation, in recognition of its special primary paint scheme that will be featured on the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet during the Sprint All-Star race, announced it will host an All-Star suite fundraiser to benefit several area charities. With the purchase of a Dale Jr. All-Star suite ticket, race fans can experience a variety of VIP activities surrounding the race, including an appearance by both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty. The money raised will benefit The Dale Jr. Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities. Dale Jr.’s All-Star suite tickets are still available for $288 a piece. Please visit www.dalejr.com and click on the All-Star banner to purchase...

4/29: Riverside Int'l Speedway will become the new home of the Antigonish Truck & Tractor Pull this summer. The event will be held August 14 and 15, running Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening. Further details continue to be finalized and will be announced as available...

4/28: SAD NEWS - Maritime motorsports has lost an avid and longtime supporter. Gordon (Gordie) Ewing, 58, from Noel Shore, passed away suddenly at home Friday April 24. Gordon owned and operated "Ewing's Auto Body" for many years. His passion for cars came early in the late 50s when he and his brother, Joe, got involved with dirt track racing in Chester. A lifelong friendship was forged with Bob Riley, Frank Jackson, Donnie Riley and Junior Kelly when they formed the No. 50 Modified Car which won countless races and championships all over Atlantic Canada in the late 70s and 80s. In the early 90s he helped his son, Chris, with his racing career. In the mid 90s he joined the crew of the No. 12 car driven by the late Scott Kelly. Gordie enjoyed watching NASCAR races and cheering on his favorite driver, Bill Elliot. He enjoyed camping, hunting with his son, Chris and his brother, Bobby. Both he and his wife, Mary, enjoyed many hours fishing on Bay of Fundy. He enjoyed working in his garden and growing his "Big Pumpkins" for his grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. Visitation Wednesday, April 29, 1-3 p.m. in Noel United Church, 4588 Route 215. Rev. Joan Conrad will officiate at a memorial service following visitation. Interment will be in Noel Shore Cemetery. Reception to follow at the church. Donations in memory of Gordon can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to Scott Kelly Memorial Trust Fund at the IWK Health Centre. Arrangements entrusted to J. Wilson Allen Funeral Home, Hwy. 354, Kennetcook, Hants Co. NS BON 1PO 1-902-362-2440. E-mail condolences at: allenfuneral@ns.sympatico.ca. Our most sincere condolences to Gordie's family and friends; he will be missed...

4/28: Talladega Fan Injury Update: One woman remains in a Birmingham hospital after debris flew into the grandstands during Car Edwards last lap wreck at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama Sunday. She is listed in fair condition...

4/27: Reports from the Birmingham (Alabama) area say seven race fans were injured in the last lap wreck at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday. Injuries were a result of debris that flew into the stands when Carl Edwards racecar flipped into the catch fence along the tri-oval. Two people were reprotedly air-lifted to a regional hospital, one for injuries and one for an existing medical condition...

4/25: Jeff Gordon's bad back isn't getting any better. Gordon gets muscle spasms which cause pain, and worse at some tracks than others. He has undergone an exercise program to help strengthen the affected area, but isn't expecting overnight results. "I’m getting stronger and I don’t expect it to happen overnight and go away. It’s going to take time," Gordon said in a Friday press conference at Talladega...

4/25: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he and Casey Mears are "cool" after last Sunday's run-ins at Phoenix Int'l Raceway that resulted in both driver being placed on probation by NASCAR. "What happens on the track stays on the track," commented Jr. in Friday's GM Racing press conference at Talladega. Jr. said he had no opinion on the probation...

4/24: Race fans can watch the ARCA Re/Max Series race from Talladega Superspeedway LIVE this evening starting at 6 p.m. on SPEED. Tom Hessert will start from the pole with a speed of 186.590 mph in qualifying time trials Thursday afternoon. Craig Goess was second quick and Kelly Bires third among the 41 cars that participated...

4/23: Former NASCAR crew chief Barry Dodson suffered multiple injuries earlier this month when he crashed a car he was test driving. The accident happened on the dealership premises in Pawley's Island, SC when, according to Dodson, the accelerator hung open. Dodson remains under physicians care with head, shoulder and neck injuries...

4/23: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will kick of its 40th Anniversary Celebrations this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The celebration will run through the fall race at Talladega which is where RCR made its first start at the tracks inaugural event...

4/22: This weekend, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is being put to the ultimate fuel-efficiency test. A team of drivers, including NASCAR star Carl Edwards and world-record breaking hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process. The team will drive for more than 43 hours continuously to reach the 1,000-mile goal. The drivers will do stints of between two and three hours each and will have regular breaks to ensure safe driving is maintained. The Fusion Hybrid being used in the challenge will be a factory produced model with no modifications or alterations and will run on regular 87 octane gas. It will need to average at least 57 mpg to achieve its goal...

4/21: Talked to John Flemming yesterday about his PASS North run at Speedway 95 near Bangor (Maine) Sunday, where he finished eighth. Said he is really pleased with his new car (an '09 Jeff Taylor chassis) as well as with the performance of his crew. His next race is next weekend (May 2) at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway near Portland Maine for round two of the '09 PASS North Series. Flemming hopes to run the whole PASS North season - but is taking a methodical approach, saying he'll evaluate his situation after five or six races then decide from there. Current Maritime '09 race plans for the three-time CARQUEST Tour champ include the three Triple Crown 250's at Riverside Int'l Speedway (July 18), Scotia Speedworld (August 8) and Speedway 660 (September 6)...

4/21: Speaking of Beech Ridge next weekend, we also hear Fall River's Marty Prevost will debut his new racecar at the May 2 PASS North event. Prevost has purchased the car in which NASCAR's Regan Smith won the '08 IWK 250 at Riverside. Enfield's Shawn Turple and his No. 0 Steve Henderson team will also make the trek to "the Ridge" to start their season...

4/20: Speculation is running rampant that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears will be penalized by NASCAR for their post-race "activities" during Saturday's cool-down lap at Phoenix. The two tangled several times during the race and finally after the race ended. NASCAR's penalties are usually levied Tuesday or Wednesday following events - so stay tuned...update NASCAR announded Monday they will not penalize Mears or Earnhardt Jr...

4/17: The NASCAR Foundation has announced that NASCAR Day will “Go Pink” through a joint partnership with FOX Sports Supports and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® April 24-26. Celebrated on May 15, NASCAR Day is an opportunity for fans, corporations, schools and organizations across the country to donate to The NASCAR Foundation to raise funds to help thousands of children live better lives. Through the partnership between The NASCAR Foundation, FOX Sports Supports and Komen for the Cure, a portion of the net proceeds raised through the program will benefit Komen for the Cure, supporting its promise to save lives end breast cancer forever. Specifically, the money raised will support the Susan G. Komen Scholarship Fund – a fund specifically designed for children whose mothers have lost their battle against cancer...

4/16: SAD NEWS - Jack McCoy, a two-time champion and the winningest driver in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, died Tuesday at the age of 72. McCoy – who won series championships in 1966 and 1973 – registered a record 54 series wins, along with a record 57 career poles in the series. A native of California’s Central Valley, McCoy was well known for the Dodge he drove, which was usually purple in color. He was among the inaugural inductees into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002 and was among a list of drivers named to the “NASCAR Camping World Series West All-Time Top-10,” compiled by NASCAR and NASCAR Insider in 2005...

4/15: Three-time CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion John Flemming will start his '09 season this weekend at Speedway 95 near Bangor (ME) - running the PASS North Napa 150...

4/14: Riverside Int'l Speedway has announced a new sponsor for its September 19 NASCAR event; the '09 edition will be called the Komatsu 300...

4/14: The eighth annual Dale Earnhardt Day will be celebrated this year on May 15 at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in Mooresville, NC. Festivities to celebrate the life of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt will start at 8 a.m. and run all day until 5 p.m...

4/14: In front of the Samson City Hall, Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey presented Mayor Clay King with 1,000 tickets to the April 26 Aaron’s 499 in hopes of providing some relief and excitement to the devastated Geneva County town. Samson was the site of a horrific mass shooting on March 10 that left 11 people dead and an entire community grieving. Residents that attend the Aaron’s 499 will be seated in a special section along the frontstretch. During pre-race ceremonies the group will be recognized and a moment of silence will be observed for the fallen...

4/13: GoDaddy.com, the world's dominant Web hosting domain registrar, has signed on to become the presenting sponsor of the 2009 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, track president Chris Browning announced. The Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com will be run on May 9, 2009. Go Daddy has continued to increase its support of NASCAR – expanding its sponsorship of Go Daddy spokesmen and NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his protégé, Brad Keselowski. In fact, Keselowski intends to race the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolets in this season’s Southern 500...

4/11: Friday was practice day for the PASS South Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) - or at least supposed to be...Bad weather forced the day's activities to be scrapped. There were 29 Super Late Model haulers in the pits Friday - including Saint John's Lonnie Sommerville...

4/10: Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has signed a letter of understanding with a group who hope to develop a $200 million 65,000 seat speedway in Fort Erie, Ontario. John Bickford, Gordon's stepfather and general manager of Jeff Gordon Inc., confirmed this week that Gordon is involved in the project, but no agreement has been signed as yet - as the proposal is still working it's way through municipal red tape. If it goes, the facility would reportedly be located on a 660-acre parcel of land near the QEW...

4/9: Numerous reports have the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing No. 8 and driver Aric Almirola parked, effective immediately, until sponsorship is found - leaving only Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex Jr. as active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers for the team...

4/8: LAST CALL for Driver Profiles for teams that plan to compete in either the 2009 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour or 2009 Maritime Legends Tour. The information submitted on the form will be used for the 2009 Fan Guides/Souvenir Programs. These need to be submitted post haste in order to guarantee your profile space in the publications - click here to be linked to the online form...

4/7: The annual Scotia Speedworld pre-season test session is scheduled for May 17. Gates open at 9 a.m. with Bandoleros on the track from 9:30 until 11, and the rest of the weekly racing divisions from 11:30 until 5:30 p.m. Pit admission is $5; grandstand admission is free. All teams wishing to test must be registered with Scotia Speedworld for the '09 season...

4/7: The Jeff Gordon Foundation is holding a raffle to give away Jeff Gordon's personal 2008 Z06 Corvette. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold; they are $100 each and available through October 18/09 - while supplies last. Gordon will present the keys to the winner November 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Visit www.jeffgordonfoundation.org to get your ticket...

4/7: Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, will perform the National Anthem prior to the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, in addition to appearing in the Dodge Speedway Sports Club and Pepsi Pit Tour Experience Zone hospitality areas on Sunday, April 26. "Being from Indiana, naturally I'm a race fan,” said Stam. “I'm thrilled to sing the National Anthem at Talladega and be a part of a great racing tradition!"

4/6: Officials for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour have announced May 9 as the date for its annual pre-season open test session, hosted by Scotia Speedworld from Noon until dusk. Admission is $5 to the pits and free to the grandstand. The rain date, if necessary, is May 10. Teams wishing to practice must be registered for the '09 season...

4/3: Continuing a program to provide fans with reasonably-priced hotel accommodations when attending NASCAR events, Atlanta Motor Speedway is working with approximately 30 Atlanta-area hotels who have agreed to offer fair rates and no multi-night minimums for fans traveling to Atlanta for the Sept. 5-6 Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend. Each participating hotel and motel is offering Atlanta Motor Speedway race attendees rooms priced at no more than $129 and some rates are as low as $60. Each participating hotel will not require multiple-night stays and will provide locked-in rates for fans using the promotion code, “AMS Discount.” A complete list of participating properties can be found online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com under the “Visitor’s Guide” tab...

4/2: The Scotia Speedworld tech guys have announced mid-size pickups will be allowed to race in the hobby stock division this year - in a move that will eventually see the hobby stock division phased out, replaced by the trucks. Speedworld officials have also banned chemical additives from being used on tires. The new policy will see random testing at each show with zero tolerance and "strict penalties"...

4/2: There is a story circulating on the "net" that President Obama has told GM and Chrylser to pull their NASCAR support. DON'T BELIEVE IT - the article was posted by a well known U.S. automobile publication as an April Fools hoax; it has stirred the ire of many in NASCAR insiders...

4/1: With just a little more than six weeks before the start of the '09 stock car racing season in the Maritimes, regional race teams are reminded to send along photos of their cars/shops as they prepare for the season - as well as any other developing news they may have for the upcoming season. Send photos via email to admin@checkerstowreckers.com...

3/31: Scotia Speedworld has posted a reminder on its website asking all weekly racing series drivers planning to compete in '09 to please register by TOMORROW - April 1. Visit ScotiaSpeedworld.ca for more info...

3/29: The CENTRE for Speed (near Shediac, NB) has announced the South East Sportsman Class - a new Sportsman class in hopes of narrowing the gap between various facilities to allow Sportsman cars form each to travel more freely from track to track. Rules can be found here - you will be redirected to the track website...

3/28: A member of the Martinsville media corps asked Jeff Gordon how he would compare Kyle Busch to Dale Earnhardt Sr.... “Please tell me you aren’t trying to compare those two.” YOU DON’T THINK SO? HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THOSE TWO? “There’s no comparison.” NO COMPARISON. ON ANY TRACK? “Well I didn’t race against Earnhardt when he was in his early twenties. Maybe they would have been the same then. Kyle is just this incredible talent. He can put a car on the edge like nobody I’ve ever seen. The difference is that up until maybe this year, I really see him maturing so much over the last couple of years. But up until this year, he was a guy that he would put it so far on the edge that he was making mistakes or would take it too far. And there’s a big difference between that and what Earnhardt would do. Earnhardt was rarely on the edge to be honest with you. But he was more of a bully. He’s a guy that you never count him out. He was just tough as nails. He’d be a lap down and come back and be battling for the win at the end of the race and was just a totally different type of racer and how he approached it, than Kyle. As far as results, I guess you could maybe compare results because they both really get the results. But to me, how Kyle goes about getting the results is still a little bit young and like this guy trying to tame a bull, you know. And when he first started, he was riding that bull in a china shop. But now he’s learned how to ride it in a rodeo arena, you know (laughs) and control it, and maybe back off just a little bit when he needs to and get it to the end and have the results. I’m way more nervous about Kyle this year than I ever have been. I think he really needed to go through last year, his first year at Gibbs, and learn some of the pitfalls and learn how to just continue to mature. I think this year, he could be way more of a threat for the championship when this season is all over.”

3/27: Not stock car racing - but...TV's Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey (pictured right) was at Homestead-Miami Speedway this week at a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars Series co-driving with a team he co-owns. The Dempsey duo posted the fifth-fastest time during day two of the session.

3/26: Anyone heading to Dover in May might want to check the track website for a list of "fan-friendly" hotels. The track has been working with area hotel operators to reduce the minimum night stay requirement as well as room rates. A list of participating properties is available at DoverSpeedway.com...

3/26: NASCAR announced Wednesday that the crew chief, owner and driver for the No. 72 NASCAR Nationwide Series team have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during this past weekend’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition to having the qualifying time disallowed for the No. 72 Ford driven by Benny Gordon, crew chief Andy Punch has been fined $10,000 and suspended for the next four NASCAR events from April 4-29, 2009 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009, for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-15 (NASCAR reserves the right to have all cars use the same brand of fuel in a given event) and 20A-15.2C (the gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers, or other oxygenates and it must not be blended with aniline or its derivatives, nitro compounds or other nitrogen-containing compounds) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Team owner Frank Varischetti was penalized with the loss of 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Gordon also was docked 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points. The infractions were discovered on March 20 during opening-day inspection...

3/25: Mark Martin will host his fifth annual Fan Appreciation Days at his car dealership and museum in Batesville, Ark., on April 9-10. Martin, driver of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 5 Chevrolet, will be in attendance both days. Two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart will be on hand April 9 at 3 p.m. local time, while Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick will make an appearance April 10 at 10 a.m. Martin's teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be there April 10 at 2 p.m. All guests will participate in a question-and-answer forum as well as an autograph session. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Visit www.MarkMartinMerchandise.com for more information...

3/24: Bobby Labonte will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 1, during the Flowserve Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala. Labonte will join brother, Terry, and other legends of the sport as part of an elite group instrumental to the growth of Texas motorsports. The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame honors outstanding individuals in Texas motorsports, active or retired. Proceeds from the ceremony will benefit Happy Hill Farm, a Texas children’s academy and home that works to rehabilitate at-risk children...

3/23: Reports during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 television broadcast reported the No. 28 Yates Racing entry driven by Travis Kvapil will be parked before Martinsville next weekend - unless the team comes up with a sponsor this week...

3/21: Avondale Speedway in Newfoundland is hosting a meeting Sunday March 22 at 2 p.m. in the Avondale Coffee Shop...

3/19: Country music superstar and multi-faceted entertainer Trace Adkins will be the Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 29. Adkins has achieved unprecedented success as a musician, author, philanthropist and actor. Trace Adkins, as Grand Marshal, will lead 500 men, women and their families as honorary Grand Marshals. Goody’s Headache Powders and Martinsville Speedway identified these hardworking people through outreach to local businesses in the Martinsville/Henry (VA) county area. Goody’s and Martinsville Speedway salute all hardworking people and are honored to have these 500 people as guests and honorary grand marshals...

3/18: A reminder to Jeff Burton fans that his taped appearance on ABC daytime television drama General Hospital will air today. Burton plays himself. Check local listings for broadcast times...

3/18: Richmond International Raceway is working with hotels in the Richmond region to promote special lodging rates and offers to race fans for the NASCAR Doubleheader weekend May 1-2 at America’s Premier Short Track. In conjunction with the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Richmond International Raceway is reaching out to area hotel owners and management and offering the opportunity to promote compelling lodging deals to race fans. The hotel offers for the May 1-2 weekend can be found online at www.rir.com/hotelspecialoffers/...

3/18: The ARCA Re/Max Series test at Rockingham Speedway (NC) yesterday saw Patrick Sheltra back in a race car for the first time since his February accident in Daytona that caused a compound fracture in his back and a dislocated knee cap. “It is a little sore getting in and out of the car today but it is something I’m gonna have to deal with and my knee is hurting a little bit but it is not as bad as I was expecting it to be and everything feels pretty good,” said Sheltra. Eight teams tested in preparation for next months running of the Carolina 200 at the historic facility...

3/16: SAD NEWS - The Rev. Hal Marchman, a Baptist preacher who delivered the invocation before the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959 and continued as the Daytona International Speedway’s unofficial chaplain through 2004, died “unexpectedly” on Sunday at Indigo Palms Memorial Care Facility in Daytona Beach, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal Web site, news-journalonline.com. Marchman, who was asked by his friend and NASCAR founder Bill France in 1959 to deliver the inaugural invocation, was a familiar sight at the speedway throughout the years for fans and drivers alike...

3/14: Lowe's Motor Speedway officials have announced that Ric Flair, 16-time World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, will serve as Honorary Race Director for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16. As Honorary Race Director, Flair will attend the drivers' meeting, assist SPEED personalities with driver introductions for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and serve on the panel of judges for the second annual Pennzoil Victory Challenge during the pre-race entertainment. Known for his flamboyant ring presence, Flair has enjoyed a 36-year professional wrestling career, winning 16 World Heavyweight Championships and in 2008 he became the first active wrestler ever inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame...

3/14: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver David Starr and his wife Kim became proud parents of their first child this past Thursday. David Starr Jr. weighed in at seven pounds; both baby and mom are doing great... weekends race...

3/12: SAD NEWS - Stub Fadden, a veteran driver on the NASCAR North and NASCAR Busch North Series, passed away Wednesday. He was 75. Fadden, from North Haverill, NH, also made 11 starts between 1987 and 1995 on what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with one top 10 finish. In recent years Fadden Racing has fielded cars for Fadden's grandson Mike Olsen, a two-time NASCAR Camping World Series East champion. Stub Fadden was honoured this past December at the NASCAR Camping World Series banquet, but unable to attend due to his health; the award was accepted for him by Olsen who now operates Fadden Racing as a mentor preparing young drivers for a future in racing...

3/12: The PASS South season opener, which was scheduled for this weekend in Dillon, SC, will have to wait a week. A forecast of cool temps and rain has forced series and track management to postpone the event to next weekend, March 20-21...

3/11: Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events (until April 22) for rule violations during last Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, Frank Kerr, crew chief for the No. 47, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team)...

3/10: NASCAR has established a formula for determining the length of the restart zone on the track. NASCAR officials will take the pit-road speed limit, double that figure and then set that as the distance in feet of the restart zone. At the start of this season, NASCAR created a zone where the leader must restart the race instead of giving the leader discretion from a certain area coming out of Turn 4 up to the starting line to restart the race. The rule is designed to create a more consistent restart at each track. Pit-road speeds typically range from 30 to 55 mph, depending on the length of the track. That means the restart zone will vary from 60-110 feet, depending on the track...

3/9: Chase Elliott (son of NASCAR's Bill Elliott) might already be a racer in his own right, but he had never been around Atlanta Motor Speedway’s high banks in a full-size race car - until Saturday. After filming a TV segment to promote Atlanta’s Labour Day night racing event, Bill Elliott had the opportunity to take son Chase, 13, on a ride around the 1.54-mile quad-oval. The younger Elliott tried to play it cool as he exited the car, but his beaming grin told the tale. “He was trying to play it cool, but he was so excited,” his mother Cindy Elliott said...

3/8: Ever wonder how Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels about NASCAR's COT; no need to wonder any more. Yesterday at Atlanta Jr. was asked how much the tire issues have to do with the car. His reply: "100%. This is a hell of an excuse for a race car. It is hard to drive. It makes everybody's job harder, even Goodyear's." Hmmm - tell us how you really feel, Jr...

3/6: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Burney Lamar and wife, supermodel Niki Taylor, welcomed daughter Ciel Taylor Lamar to their family Wednesday, March 4 at 11:30 a.m. Both mother and daughter are doing well. The baby, born in Nashville, Tenn., weighed in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. She is the first child for Lamar and the third for Taylor, who is mom to twin 14-year old sons, Jake and Hunter...

3/5: Lincoln Electric and NASCAR have announced a five-year extension of their agreement in which Lincoln Electric remains an exclusive automotive partner under the NASCAR Performance brand and retains its competition contingency sponsorship which includes the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009. In 2009, Lincoln Electric will add contingency sponsorships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with weekly prize money provided to eligible teams based on finish position. Lincoln Electric will also continue their programs in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. In addition, a year-end award of $5,000 and a Lincoln Welder will be presented to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion car owner during the season ending banquet...

3/4: Many of our readers were disappointed this past Sunday when TSN decided to cut the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from Vegas short - just a few laps from its conclusion. Kudos to those who let TSN know their dismay - and thanks for sharing their reply, as follows: "...During Sunday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Shelby 427, TSN left the broadcast before the completion of the race due to our commitment to broadcast the Finals of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. TSN attempted to stay with the race as long as possible before joining the curling finals in progress - approximately 20 minutes late. The reason for the unfortunate overlap in programming was due to the fact that the Shelby 427 ran dramatically longer than its scheduled timeslot. This was due to an unforeseeable number of cautions and a record number of caution laps. When yet another caution occurred at approximately 8:19 p.m. ET, TSN made the difficult decision to switch to coverage of the national curling final. The entire race had been simulcast on both TSN and Fox and TSN's announcers directed NASCAR fans to their local Fox stations for the conclusion of the race..." Guess we need to imagine how frustrated we'd be if we were curling fans and waiting for that coverage to start...

3/4: Scotia Speedworld is asking all drivers who intend to race during the 2009 season to register as soon as possible. Changes are being made to the souvenir program to include a list of drivers and car numbers for each division - one of the most popular requests from fans. Drivers who wish to be included in the program must register prior to March 20. Your cooperation is appreciated. Please visit www.ScotiaSpeedworld.ca for more info...

3/4: Lonnie Sommerville has delayed the start of his '09 season, which was originally set for this weekend in Alabama. Preparation of Sommerville's car is behind schedule - and - Lonnie is a new daddy! Madison Leeann Sommerville was born Februrary 13. Lonnie's wife Laura and Madison are both doing well. His first race for '09 is now set for April 11 at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) - the first race of the PASS National Series...

3/4: Talladega Superspeedway has partnered with its concessionaire Americrown Service Corporation to reduce the cost of attending a race for fans, by dramatically reducing concession prices. Beginning in April, combo meals will be packaged at nearly a 25% savings over the cost of the meal if each item were purchased separately. “We realize the impact the economy has had on our fans,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “When our guests told us that food prices were weighing on their decision to attend a race, we knew we had to act. Through close cooperation with our concessionaire, we are now offering value pricing on several combo meals. We truly believe this will help our fans with their decision.”

3/4: CENTRE for Speed has posted a note on its website "asking all competitors to attend an important meeting to be held on Sunday March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Moncton Dart Club, 80 Mark Ave, in Moncton. Your feedback is requested on several significant rules issues and on the final schedule for 2009. Your input and opinion will be critical to the success of the sport in our region so we ask you to please attend. The detailed schedule and rules will be finalized immediately after the meeting on the following Tuesday"...

3/3: While tires did not seem to be an issue in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas, they were reportedly linked to the engine failures experienced by three Roush Racing entries. A report in today's edition of the Charlotte Observer quotes team owner Jack Roush as saying: I think we misjudged how fast this tire was," Roush said. "The engine turned more. It's the same spec on the engine we had all of last year. It wasn't something new or experimental. It was something we had great confidence in." Roush went on to say his team will be better prepared this coming weekend for the series race in Atlanta - another fast 1.5-mile oval...

3/3: Jeff Gordon hit another milestone in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career this past Sunday at Las Vegas: he surpassed 20,000 laps led in his 17 years with the series, making him seventh on the all-time laps led list. Gordon was out front for 17 circuits Sunday bringing his career total to 20,006. Richard Petty tops the list at 52,194; Darrell Waltrip is sixth with 23,131 - 3,125 ahead of Gordon...

3/3: Ricky Carmichael has been entered in the No. 4 Monster Energy/ KHI All-Stars team Chevrolet Silverado for Saturday’s American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). Carmichael was not scheduled to run the Atlanta race, but because of the on-track success for the No. 4 team in the first two races of the season, Kevin Harvick Inc. decided to enter Carmichael after an eighth-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in California. Carmichael has qualified sixth and third in his two career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts and is currently tied for 14th-place in driver’s point standings. After two races, Carmichael’s overall ‘driver rating,’ according to NASCAR Loop Stats, is eighth best in the Truck Series...

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