ESPN's Griese's punishment fits |
![TV]( "TV") | Griese, of course, was suspended for one week after his remark that NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya was "out having a taco" during ESPN's Oct. 24 coverage of Minnesota-Ohio State.
Nearly two weeks later, the comment largely has been forgotten. ESPN commendably came through with swift and decisive action, Griese apologized immediately and repeatedly and Montoya blew the whole thing off. (The Grand Rapids Press) |
New ARCA rule a big boost for Nationwide recycling |
 | This week, ARCA approved the use of the chassis with a 105-inch wheelbase currently used in NASCAR's Nationwide and Camping World East and West series for 2010 competition at all tracks except Daytona and Talladega. (Thats Racin) |
Former Anheuser-Busch exec lands Petty deal |
| Tim Schoen, a 28-year marketing veteran of Anheuser-Busch, announced the launch of his new company, TeamCMO, a marketing and management company specializing in sports and entertainment. (St Louis Business Journal) |
Talk about Tulare Track...again |
| the proposed Tulare Motorports Complex along Highway 99 in Tulare, a 55,000-seat race track and quarter-mile-long drag strip, which would include four or five new 300-400-room hotels and 600,000 square feet of retail space. (ValleyVoicenewspaper.com) |
Wayne Spears |
| Heard at Iowa Speedway that Wayne Spears bought Bakersfield track. |
Brian France Sold Apartment for 18.8 Million in 08 |
| Gotham Makker, an investor and former portfolio manager at Ken Griffin's Citadel Investment Group, has taken a loss at 15 CPW. Makker and and his wife Vicky paid $18.8 million for NASCAR chairman Brian France's 34th-floor apartment at 15 CPW in September 2008. (CityFile.com) |
NASCAR chairman faces issues head-on |
| Question: What is your overall assessment of where NASCAR stands right now?
Brian France: There seems to be a little bit of optimism in the broader economy, and we are seeing that with better attendance in some places that we might have expected to do a little worse. So that's a good thing.
And the tracks have responded across the board to try to add value to our fans knowing how difficult it is with all of the things that they are facing, losing their jobs, or the fear of that, and what all of that means. I really want to applaud all of the tracks on the circuit for responding so quickly, not just in ticket prices but across the board in other things. (Savannah Now) |
NASCAR to crack down on restarts |
| NASCAR's managing director of events, David Hoots, issued a warning during the drivers meeting that a black-flag penalty will be thrown on drivers who do not adhere to the double-file restart. They will have to park for a lap and re-enter the race a lap down. (Post-Tribune) |
NASCAR challenges judge's decision |
| NASCAR asked a federal judge Monday to reverse the ruling that lifted Jeremy Mayfield's indefinite suspension for failing a random drug test.
The motion filed in U.S. District Court asked Judge Graham Mullen to reverse the injunction he issued Wednesday that cleared Mayfield to return to competition. NASCAR also filed notice of its intent to appeal to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
Mayfield was suspended May 9 for a positive drug test, and NASCAR has identified the substance as methamphetamine.
(Denver Post) |
Summer dirt racing series has Stewart’s interest |
| It’s like one of those inspired ideas sketched out on a restaurant napkin: Take about 25 of NASCAR’s top drivers, team them with some of the country’s best dirt late model drivers, and barnstorm the Midwest with a summer tour. (Dayton Daily News) |
Proposal for track in Aurora revs up |
| A group led by Colorado Springs developer Bill Schuck said Wednesday that it hopes to take advantage of a proposed state tourism tax incentive to build a massive auto-racing complex in north Aurora. (DenverPost.com) |
Offroad racing hit hard |
 | Off-road racing has been hit particularly hard in recent years, staggered by the 1-2 combination of the economy (particularly in the construction industry, which is the backbone of most off-road teams) and violence in Mexico. (San Diego Union Tribune) |
ISC still eyeing Colorado racetrack |
| International Speedway Corp., operator of 12 NASCAR auto racetracks, said Wednesday it still has not ruled out building its own track near Denver, despite the announcement of plans for a motor-sports complex by a local investment group. (Orlando Business Journal) |
Stock Car Commission Needs To Show Guts |
| Carl Long essentially is given NASCAR’s version of the death penalty – essentially ending his career with the heavy-handed penalties he (minus 200 driver points plus 12-race suspension), his wife (minus 200 owner points and 12-race suspension) and crew chief Charles Swing ($200,000 fine, 12-race suspension and placed on probation until Dec. 31) received – for having an engine that was 0.17 of an inch larger than allowed (Auto Racing Daily) |
Petty enjoys 1st competitive day as IndyCar owner |
 | Richard Petty got a full immersion into Indianapolis 500 competition on Saturday.
There were tricky winds, delays between qualifying rounds and all those tenuous moments his team debated whether to send John Andretti onto the track. The visit even came with a ruling more reminiscent of Petty's NASCAR days — Justin Wilson's early penalty for failing post-qualifying inspection. (Associated Press) |
NJ race track getting racing team, club |
| A group of car racing teams says it is putting its East Coast operations at a new track in New Jersey.
The Racer's Group based in Petaluma, Calif. announced its plans to build a $5 million facility at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville next year. (Mercury News) |
Practice lap turns deadly at Spokane Raceway Park |
| A sports car doing practice laps at Spokane Raceway Park in Airway Heights lost control and killed a contractor working alongside the track around 1:50 p.m. Friday. (KREM.com) |
No. 8 Chevy falls on hard times |
| For years, the No. 8 was the flagship car of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The number has enjoyed a richhistory in NASCAR Cup racing but fell victim to the current economy. (Los Angeles Daily News) |
Why Car & Driver's NASCAR prank backfired |
| Car and Driver’s April Fools’ prank ended up being a serious misfire. The prank stated that President Barack Obama had made Chevrolet’s and Dodge’s departure from NASCAR mandatory if the companies wanted to receive further financial support. NASCAR fans blew their tops. People in the racing community were offended. Members of the media picked up on the story and treated it as if it were true. Even NASCAR wasn’t pleased. (Las Vegas Sun) |
NASCAR moves Cup banquet to Vegas |
| A NASCAR tradition nearly three decades old is coming to an end.
The season ending awards banquet celebrating the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will move from New York City to Las Vegas starting this year. (Las Vegas Examiner) |
Jimmie Johnson testifies in Castroneves tax trial |
 | NASCAR race driver Jimmie Johnson has testified in Miami federal court in the Helio Castroneves tax evasion case. (Associated Press) |
Kansas Speedway resubmits casino bid |
| Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger drove to Topeka in the speedway’s new, black show car today and personally hand-delivered to the Kansas Lottery offices a resubmitted bid for a Hard Rock Casino at the track. (KansasCity.com) |
Jeff Burton on the NASCAR Economy |
| "Anybody that's in NASCAR that doesn't have a real clear picture of the economic status right now is an idiot," Burton said. "Our sport works because of fans being able to go to racetracks. Our sport works because of corporate America being able to sponsor these cars, sponsor races, buy TV time, all those things. If anybody is looking around thinking we're immune to this, they're pretty stupid. (International Herald Tribune) |
NASCAR refutes Speedway claim |
| NASCAR is refuting a claim contained within a document filed earlier this month by the owner of Kentucky Speedway. (NKY.Com) |
Examining Ownership: The Limitations of Limitation |
| Jack Roush and Rick Hendrick field the dominant two teams in Sprint Cup racing and have done so for many years now. Oh, Joe Gibbs and his sometimes volatile mix of drivers win a bunch of races, Roger Penske finds the occasional victory and Richard Childress isn’t exactly ready to throw in the towel just yet, but year in and year out, Roush and Hendrick teams dominate the big show.
The drivers for these two owners have won five of the last six Cup championships and a combined 10 since 1995. Last year the two teams, led by Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, won 19 of 36 points-paying races. In 2007 the two superteams won 25 of 36, with every driver from both squads — with the exception of rookie David Ragan — posting at least one Cup win. Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush, won the first two Cup races this season and Jeff Gordon, an HMS driver his entire career, currently leads the point standings.
And as our friends Sonny and Cher used to warble, “And the beat goes on …” (AthlonSports.com) |
