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Golobic to drive for John Taylor Motorsports
	Young Open Wheel star Shane Golobic of Fremont, CA has been selected as the new primary driver for championship sprint car owner John Taylor Motorsports of Roseville, CA. The team will compete at Placerville Speedway for 2010. (Anonymous )
New sponsors for Tiffany Daniels
	Tiff Daniels announced today that the #19 Marc Davis Motorsports Toyota Camry, one of only two entries piloted by female drivers in the invitation-only historic ASA Transcontinental ‘Freestate 500’ in Phakisa, South Africa - will have three new sponsors. The #19 SnowTheRacehorse.com Toyota will be supported by the upcoming children’s book series about a racehorse teaching kids valuable life lessons. Upscale Swiss skincare line Skincode.com becomes an Associate sponsor, with Daniels as primary spokeswoman for their UK distribution; and HINT Water becomes a product sponsor, distributing their vitamin-based water to teams & humanitarian visits during the trip. (Girl Racer)
Lower ratings lead NASCAR to change start times
	NASCAR will attempt to halt its sinking television ratings through consistent, earlier start times that appeal to longtime race fans. NASCAR chairman Brian France said Wednesday that Fox, ESPN/ABC and Turner agreed to the earlier start times after research showed "our core fans want to begin watching NASCAR a little earlier in the afternoon." (TheHeraldSun.com)
The Bowlesy Awards: the best and worst of NASCAR i
	In their fourth year of existence, the Bowlesy Awards celebrate the best and worst of NASCAR Racing in 2009, taking one last look before we prepare for the next year of Danica ... er, Cup Series competition in 2010. As long as you pass your drug test (and NASCAR Santa checks it twice!), we've got a front row seat reserved for you -- because unlike the banquet in Vegas, everyone's guaranteed to leave this column a winner. (SI.com)
NASCAR newbie Danica Patrick plans to race Fontana
	Indy car driver who's branching out aims to enter the Nationwide Series event at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 20. (Los Angeles Times)
Jimmie Johnson doesn't forget So Cal roots
	With the Charger bandwagon about to exceed its maximum capacity as fair-weather fans clamber aboard, and the Hot Stove League stoked up over a potential trade of homegrown Padre luminary Adrian Gonzalez, some area residents may have overlooked the unprecedented sporting accomplishment of another homegrown star. (San Diego Tribune)
ESPN's Griese's punishment fits
	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)