http://www.kentucky.com/305/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Auto Racing 60 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:43:59 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/505181.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/505181.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
NASCAR placed Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation Wednesday for the next six Sprint Cup Series races, the result of their on-track incident last weekend at the end of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

During the cool-down lap after Edwards' Ford took the checkered flag for Roush Fenway Racing, Busch drove alongside Edwards and bumped his car. Edwards responded by driving the nose of his car into the right side of Busch's Toyota, spinning him out.

The post-race incident was apparently a reaction to Edwards nudging Busch aside with 30 laps to go Saturday night.

Busch was unrepentant after the race, saying, "We'll go on, and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants to race." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/501096.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/501096.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:54 EDT
Like the old song says, .All the men will cheer and the boys will shout, the ladies they will all turn out. when the No. 66 Hunt Brothers Chevrolet rolls into Paris on Aug. 26 and Frankfort on Aug. 27.

Some will turn out to see a new addition to NASCAR racing while others will stop by for the prizes, like gasoline and Hunt Brothers Pizza .

Either way, the No. 66 Chevy represents more than just food and fuel to a company that calls Paris and Nashville its home bases.

No. 66 symbolizes the rise of a family company that began with the merger of four brothers. small town pizza businesses in 1990 and grew into 6,000 locations in 27 states in 2008. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/501072.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/501072.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:44 EDT
BRISTOL, Tenn. . NASCAR has a new rivalry: Carl Edwards vs. Kyle Busch.

Edwards called the latest installment payback, and Busch promised that retribution will come down the road.

During a season in which Busch and Edwards have dominated Victory Lane celebrations, their growing feud is adding spice to the Sprint Cup series and the upcoming Chase for the championship.

Edwards won the latest battle, nudging Busch aside with 30 laps to go Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway and continuing on to his second consecutive victory and sixth overall. Making it sting all the more for Busch was that he had led the previous 415 laps. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/500102.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/500102.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:52 EDT
BRISTOL, Tenn. . Casey Mears has a new home for the 2009 season. As expected, Mears was introduced Saturday as the fourth driver for Richard Childress Racing, joining Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer in RCR.s Chevrolet stable.

.I.ve watched Casey.s career from the time he first came in, and he.s always impressed me,. Childress said at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Recalling watching a race at Michigan with Mears in contention, Childress said, .I think I was pulling for you about as hard as I was for our cars..

Mears, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this season, will drive the No. 07 car with Jack Daniels as its primary sponsor, Childress said. Clint Bowyer, who is driving the 07 and is close to making it into the 10-race Chase for the championship, will move to the new No. 33 with sponsorship from Cheerios and Hamburger Helper. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/500075.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/500075.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:52 EDT
BRISTOL, Tenn. . It.s official now. Sprint Cup racing has itself a good old-fashioned rivalry.

All doubt about that ended Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, with Carl Edwards working past Kyle Busch just after a late-race restart to take away the lead and a victory that for most of the evening looked like it would be another notch in Busch.s belt.

Edwards gave Busch a bump in Turn 1 on Lap 470, sending the No. 18 Toyota up the track enough to allow Edwards to turn his No. 99 Ford to the low side and take the lead.

.I couldn.t get by him and I couldn.t get by him,. Edwards said. .... I just kind of ran into him. ... I just had to ask myself, .Would he do that to me?. And he has before. That.s the way it goes. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/499263.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/499263.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:52 EDT
BRISTOL, Tenn. . Carl Edwards is doing his best to slow Kyle Busch.s momentum.

Edwards won his first pole position of the season Friday, turning a lap at 121.860 mph in qualifying for Saturday night.s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Edwards, who trails only the dominating Busch in the point standings, is 222 points behind, but followed up his victory last weekend in Michigan with his fourth career pole.

.That.s as fast as I could go,. Edwards said. .The pole is huge for us. This track, obviously track position, pit stall selection, those things are really important.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/496913.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/496913.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:52 EDT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. . NASCAR's latest attempt to reel in the rule-breakers aimed at an unfamiliar target: the normally squeaky-clean Joe Gibbs Racing.

NASCAR's decision Wednesday to suspend seven JGR crew members indefinitely for attempting to manipulate a horsepower test after a Nationwide Series race last weekend put a serious dent in owner Joe Gibbs' reputation.

While NASCAR decided against banning the cars from future races, the penalties were among the harshest it has levied.

. Crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers were suspended and fined $50,000 each. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/496911.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/496911.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:51 EDT
Focus on: Auto racing this week

NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Sharpie 500

Where: Bristol, Tenn. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/495631.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/495631.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
The quest to bring a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to Kentucky Speedway will officially have to wait at least one more year.

NASCAR announced Tuesday its national series schedules for the 2009 season, and a date for Kentucky Speedway was not included.

The chances of getting a Cup date for next season were admittedly slim. But Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which agreed in May to buy the track at Sparta, said as recently as Aug. 9 that he was still holding out hope.

Yesterday's announcement dashed that. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/493480.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/493480.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
BROOKLYN, Mich. . Carl Edwards sent a not-so-subtle message to Kyle Busch on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

.We're winning races,. Edwards said after pulling away from runner-up Busch for his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the season. .We're gearing up for the Chase. I'm feeling stronger than ever. We're here to win championships. That's what we're shooting for..

With just three races remaining until the start of the 10-race Chase for the Championship, Edwards closed the gap on series leader Busch with his second victory in the last three races. Edwards also completed a rare weekend sweep on the 2-mile Michigan oval, adding the win in the 3M Performance 400 to a victory Saturday in the Nationwide Series event.

While the 23-year-old Busch has had a great season, winning eight times and building a big lead in the regular-season points, Edwards, who turned 29 on Friday, has kept the youngster in sight. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507589.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507589.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:51 EDT
Kyle Busch jokingly says Carl Edwards is his "bff," texting shorthand for best friend forever. Edwards stopped short of such a commitment, but he did say, "I feel like we really have been good competitors."

The two NASCAR Sprint Cup stars caused a sensation - and evoked images of great rivalries past - Saturday night at Bristol when Edwards nudged a dominating Busch aside to take the lead with 30 laps to go and the two then exchanged postrace bumps after Edwards won.

The fans at the Tennessee track ate up the action, hooting with glee. But the bumping prompted NASCAR to chastise the two drivers and later to put both of them on probation for six races.

Meanwhile, newspapers, Web sites and blogs were filled with stories about "the new rivalry."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507572.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507572.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:31 EDT
The pole victory was Johnson's fourth of the season and the 17th of his Sprint Cup career. It was his first pole at California.

"I grew up very close to this racetrack and raced a lot in this area," Johnson said. "Great day, great performance. We worked hard on this car throughout all of practice. I made some good changes and picked up a lot of speed, and went out when it was awfully hot and put up a lap that stuck."

A.J. Allmendinger qualified a career-best second after posting a time of 40.076 seconds.

"That was pretty cool," Allmendinger said. "I knew the lap that Jimmie put up, that was pretty fast, but I just wanted to put a solid lap in and be smooth, and just get as get as good of a starting spot as we could and make sure we make the race."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507510.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507510.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:26 EDT
Hill captured the 1961 F1 championship by a single point over his Ferrari teammate, Wolfgang Von Trips, who was killed in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza that year. He recorded three victories in 49 grand prix starts. Hill also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring three times each.

"I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, are extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company's values inside and outside the racing track," Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, said in a written statement.

Hill was born in Miami on April 20, 1927 and raised in Santa Monica, CA. He studied business administration at the University of Southern California for two years before his racing career began first as a mechanic and then as a driver. In 1955, he joined Ferrari's driver roster at Le Mans. When Ferrari drivers Luigi Musso and Peter Collins were killed in separate accidents in 1958, the manufacturer promoted Hill to an F1 ride.

After his retirement from racing in 1967, Hill went on to serve as a commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports and a contributing editor for Road & Track magazine. He also co-owned a car restoration business and collected over a dozen antique automobiles.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/506172.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/506172.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:12 EDT
The 1961 Formula Open champion and a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Hill died at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, said friend John Lamm, a noted automotive photographer and editor-at-large with Road & Track magazine.

"He raced at a time when racing was extremely dangerous and got through it all without a serious injury," Lamm said. "He had an extraordinary mechanical sense. He was very much in tune with the car."

Hill won the 1961 Formula One title by a point over Wolfgang von Trips, the Ferrari teammate who was killed in the team's final race of the year. Hill won three F1 races, taking the Italian Grand Prix in 1960 and 1961 and the Belgian Grand Prix in 1961.

"I, as well as all employees of Ferrari are extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari," Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said. "Phil and I have always kept in touch throughout the years and I know I will miss his passion and love for Ferrari very much."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/504293.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/504293.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:37 EDT
Busch and Edwards, the top two drivers in the Sprint Cup standings, will be on probation starting at this Sunday's Chevy Rock . Loudon, New Hampshire; Dover, Delaware; Kansas City, Kansas; and Talladega, Alabama.

The altercation on Saturday was set up when Edwards nudged Busch from behind with 31 laps to go. Busch got loose, allowing Edwards to move underneath him for the lead.

At the conclusion of the race, a frustrated Busch retaliated by intentionally bumping Edwards on the cool-down lap. Edwards, however, got the best of the post-race ruckus when he spun Busch around.

While Edwards celebrated in Victory Lane, Busch made a trip to the NASCAR hauler for a discussion with officials.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/506002.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/506002.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:01 EDT
The agreement to purchase of the track near Sparta, Ky., was announced in May with a 90-day period to conduct due diligence on the deal. That deadline passed Aug. 18, but after Thursday's announcement the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, subject to the satisfaction of remaining closing conditions.

"Moving forward on Kentucky Speedway allows our company to expand its geographic reach," said Bruton Smith, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, the company that owns Lowe's Motor Speedway and several other tracks.

When Smith announced the deal in May he said he believed Kentucky Speedway would get a Sprint Cup date in 2009. But the track is not on next year's schedule.

"We are optimistic about being able to promote a Sprint Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway," Smith said. "Once we secure a Sprint Cup Series event, we plan to expand seating capacity. ...Kentucky Speedway entertained sellout crowds for NASCAR Nationwide Series and IndyCar Series events this year. With a Sprint Cup date, season ticket sales, seat licenses and corporate sponsorship opportunities will increase tremendously."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505695.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505695.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:41 EDT
Keselowski was driving the Nationwide Series entry for team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Charlotte in May when he got into it with Denny Hamlin under caution. The final run-in involved Hamlin turning Keselowski's car as the race neared an end, prompting a post-race scuffle between members of their crews on pit road.

Later, Hamlin and Keselowski ended up sitting next to each other in the media center, answering reporters' questions after finishing second and third, respectively. Hamlin came across as arrogant and seemed to be speaking down to his younger rival. Keselowski stood his ground and stuck up for himself and his team.

Keselowski's performance that night was praised by his car owner, other competitors and the media.

"The incident in Charlotte really forged a bond ... it really welded those guys together very tightly," said Earnhardt Jr. "They felt very strongly they had some injustice done to them at Charlotte and I felt it really motivated them."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505591.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505591.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:02 EDT
Leicht, 21, will replace Scott Wimmer, who currently splits driving time in the car with Burton. Leicht earned his first series victory in 2007 and finished seventh in points while driving for Yates Racing. He moved to RCR in the offseason.

The No. 29 won the owner championship in 2007 with Burton and Wimmer as drivers. The team is currently fourth in the series standings this season.

"There is a lot of history at Richard Childress Racing and (this) team has had a lot of success on the track. It's going to be great having Jeff Burton as a teammate," Leicht said.

Team owner Richard Childress said he was confident of Leicht's ability.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505484.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505484.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:32 EDT http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505396.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/505396.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:27 EDT
Logano, who will replace two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Toyota in 2009, will make his Sprint Cup debut Sept. 6 at Richmond International Raceway in the No. 02 Toyota prepared by Gibbs. JGR will also field a car for Logano at Atlanta in October.

Hall of Fame Racing announced Wednesday that Logano will then drive in the No. 96 Toyota in five more races: at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 14, at Kansas Speedway on Sept. 28, at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Oct. 11, at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 18 and at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 2.

Hall of Fame Racing gets its engines and chassis from Gibbs' race team.

"We appreciate Hall of Fame Racing helping us get Joey ready for 2009," said president J.D. Gibbs. "They came to us with the idea before the August Michigan race and we think it's a great win-win for all of us."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504409.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504409.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:02 EDT
MY TWO CENTS

I can't help but laugh when people wring their hands about putting Joey Logano in a Sprint Cup car at the age of 18.

Is there risk involved in such a move? You bet there is.

Eighteen is young to be thrown into the deep end of the pool. There is no guarantee that Logano will be a success. But there is every indication he will have every opportunity to be.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504412.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504412.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:32 EDT
The speedway has a letter of commitment from Camping World, the world's largest retailer of RV equipment, to hold the annual "Heart of America RV and Outdoor Rally" there starting in 2010, Speedway President Jeff Boerger said. The rally would bring at least 6,000 people to the area, he said, and generate an annual economic impact of some $10 million.

Boerger said the rally, like the promises of a new track and a second NASCAR Sprint Cup race, is contingent on the state choosing Kansas Entertainment LLC partnership over three other bidders that want to build and manage the state-owned casino in Wyandotte County. The speedway is part of that partnership.

A 2007 state law provides for four casinos, including one in Wyandotte County. The law calls for the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board to choose the winner based on which applicant would bring the most revenue to the state, increase tourism and be in the state's best interest.

Boerger's announcement came a day after he promised that the speedway would build a 2 1/4-mile road course in its infield, designed for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and competition by various sports car clubs.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504341.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504341.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:44 EDT
Marc Davis will drive the Randy Moss Motorsports truck in the Camping World 200.

"This is a big day for me," said Davis, who in in his second season in the Camping World East series. "I have been preparing for it all my life a chance to race in NASCAR on a national level."

Moss, the New England Patriots receiver who bought into the team earlier this year, is happy to be working with Davis, one of the most promising black drivers in NASCAR's developmental pipeline.

"This is why I came to NASCAR," Moss said. "This is pretty cool deal. Marc has worked hard and raced his way up to this level.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504340.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504340.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:03 EDT
Reed Sorenson is leaving as driver of that car after the season to go to Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Lauletta said the Ganassi team will have two Cup teams in 2009. Juan Pablo Montoya drives the team.s No. 42 Dodges.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504329.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504329.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:32 EDT
Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are having magical seasons, and Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are more in danger of missing NASCAR's soon-to-start 10-race playoffs. Everything Dale Earnhardt Jr. does is news, Jimmie Johnson is trying to win his third championship in a row, Tony Stewart is hoping to win one as a parting gift to Joe Gibbs Racing, and Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick are among the best drivers never to win one.

Biffle doesn't mind at all, and is content to lurk in the shadows, at least for now.

"That's the way it's been, predominantly, a lot of the time," the veteran for Roush Fenway Racing said. "I think they kind of skip over me. I like that because it's less pressure for me. We just do the best we can, stay under the radar, I guess, and see what we can do."

So far, that's been a lot, especially since he remains winless this year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504300.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504300.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:02 EDT
The former champion and current TV broadcaster saw the expansive new tracks on the circuit with their spacious parking, gleaming seats and fan-friendly touches. Darlington, meanwhile, looked about the same as when Waltrip first raced it three decades earlier. So when NASCAR put the country track on its endangered list a few seasons back, Waltrip figured it wouldn't be long before Darlington became extinct like iconic Southern racing layouts before it in Rockingham, N.C., and North Wilkesboro, N.C.

"There had not been a lot of growing" at Darlington, Waltrip said earlier this month. "That worried me."

But five years later, the longtime home of the Southern 500 has become the track "Too Tough To Kill."

This week, Waltrip takes part in what track leaders hope becomes another enduring tradition when Darlington hosts its first historic racing festival. Raceway president Chris Browning says the two-day event could draw as many as 20,000 people on a holiday weekend long connected to stock car racing at Darlington.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504298.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504298.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:58 EDT
From the outside, the two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Series champion appears to be in the middle of another spectacular season. He heads to this week's race in California fourth in season points, has wins at Indianapolis and Phoenix, and will clinch a spot in the playoffs if he manages to keep his No. 48 out of trouble on Sunday.

Yet to hear the perfectionist in Johnson talk, 2008 has been a frustrating mix of hit-and-miss efforts. While he remains in position to become the second driver in series history to win three straight points titles, Johnson admits his Hendrick Motorsports team is still trying to figure out the car of tomorrow.

"Some weekends I feel like we have a dominant car and other weekends I feel like we're a fifth-place car or even a 10th-place car," Johnson said. "With the strong team we have, we seem to be able to rally back and get finishes out of it. So I still think that we are maybe behind."

While Johnson and superstar teammates Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are all likely to make the Chase for the championship, all three have spent most of the season chasing series leader Kyle Busch and red-hot Carl Edwards.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504291.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504291.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:58 EDT
"I used to get angry when this happened. Now I just get depressed," he said. "I think last year I was a little more angry. Now, I'm just rolling with the punches."

Considering the youth movement afoot in NASCAR, it's remarkable that Said is even striving to compete full time in Sprint Cup as his 46th birthday nears.

"I guess if 10 years ago somebody told me I'd be in NASCAR part-time or anything, I would have told them they were crazy," he said. "I feel proud of the kind of unique career I've carved out in motorsports. I just love being part of the sport."

Said's childhood wasn't the happiest - his parents split before he entered kindergarten and as a teen he hung out with the wrong crowd until he landed a job in a motorcycle shop. Instead of getting in trouble, he fixed motorcycles.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504202.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504202.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:44 EDT
NASCAR announced the penalty midday Wednesday. The probations begin with this weekend's event at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Edwards won at Bristol after executing a "bump-and-run" pass of Busch on Lap 470. Following the checkered flag, Busch banged into the side of Edwards' car. Edwards turned into the rear quarterpanel of Busch's car, spinning it around.

Busch was unrepentant after the race, saying, "We'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants to race."

Edwards wasn't backing down, either.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504000.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/504000.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:44 EDT
Elevator

UP - Brad Keselowski

Raced his way right back into the championship picture.

UP - Clint Bowyer]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/503187.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/503187.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:47 EDT
Grubb, who works with the Nos. 5 and 88 teams at Hendrick, is expected to remain with that organization for the remainder of this season, sources said Tuesday.

Stewart is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season to take 50 percent ownership in Stewart-Haas Racing, which will field Chevrolets for Stewart and teammate Ryan Newman.

Grubb was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman with Hendrick said the organization does not discuss the contract status of employees. Stewart-Haas Racing officials declined to comment.

Grubb was lead engineer for driver Jimmie Johnson's team in 2006 when he took over the crew chief position on an interim basis when Johnson's regular crew chief, Chad Knaus, was suspended. During his brief tenure, Rubb led the team to two wins, including the Daytona 500 victory.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502941.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502941.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:07 EDT
Rival beer sponsor Coors replaced Budweiser as the sponsor of the pole award for Sprint Cup races this season, so that signaled an end to having Cup teams earn Shootout spots based on being the top qualifier for each Cup race.

The change is bad news for Joe Nemechek, who won a pole at Talladega earlier this year with the single-car Furniture Row Racing team.

"It's just tough," Nemechek said. "Now winning a pole doesn't mean anything. Being in that race has always been a big bonus for the teams. ...Shame on NASCAR. It should have sold the whole thing to Coors and not Mickey Moused around with a half-and-half deal. It's disappointing it has turned out the way it did."

Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, said he understood Nemechek's reaction.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502796.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502796.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:12 EDT
Sorenson, 22, will leave the No. 41 Dodges at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates to join GEM. Tom Reddin, GEM's chief executive officer, said the team will announce Sorenson's sponsor and car number in the near future.

"He is a highly marketable young driver who knows how to win races, and has a long career full of promise ahead of him," Reddin said of Sorenson.

Sorenson will join Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler at GEM. Sorenson said the team is looking for a aponsor for Patrick Carpentier, who currently drivers the No. 10 Dodges for the Gillett Evernham team.

"I'm pretty pumped up about this," Sorenson said. "I can't wait to get in their cars. ...I really believe in what they are doing with their program. ...Ray Evernham and the Gilletts are going to give us the equipment we need to go out and be a contender each weekend and eventually race for a championship."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/487003.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/487003.html Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:02 EDT
dpoole@charlotteobserver.com

That's Racin's weekly ranking of the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as of the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International (last week's ranking in parentheses):
1. (1) Kyle Busch -- car No. 18
So much for all of the talk about this team's "fall to Earth" after a pair of so-so finishes.
2. (2) Carl Edwards -- car No. 99
Michigan has historically been a Roush Fenway Racing kind of track, so watch out.
3. (3) Jimmie Johnson -- car No. 48
Without a cut tire at Watkins Glen this team and the No. 18 might have battled for the win.
4. (4) Kasey Kahne -- car No. 9
Cooled off since the May hot streak, but even the so-so days now wind up as top-10 finishes.
5. (7) Tony Stewart -- car No. 20
Perhaps confirming his plans for 2009 helped Stewart and his team refocus for what's left here.
6. (5) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- car No. 88
There's enough blame to go around as to why this team isn't performing at a championship level.
7. (6) Jeff Burton -- car No. 31
Sort of like a lot of teams above and below it -- these guys are getting by but not impressing.
8. (9) Matt Kenseth -- car No. 17
Hanging out on the dangerous fringe of the Chase zone. A couple of wins would help end that.
9. tie (8) Jeff Gordon -- car No. 24, (10) Greg Biffle -- car No. 16, (11) Kevin Harvick -- car No. 29 and (12) Denny Hamlin
Gordon has dropped back into this group in recent weeks. The rest of these guys have just been swapping positions from week to week. This week, we decided they all belong in one big knot.
13. (13) Clint Bowyer -- car No. 07
14. (14) David Ragan -- car No. 6
15. (18) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1
16. (16) Brian Vickers -- car No. 83
17. (15) Ryan Newman -- car No. 12
18. (17) Aric Almirola/Mark Martin -- car No. 8
19. (21) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2
20. (20) Elliott Sadler -- car No. 19
21. (19) Jamie McMurray -- car No. 26
22. (23) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42
23. (24) Casey Mears -- car No. 5
24. (22) Bobby Labonte -- car No. 43
25. (25) David Reutimann -- car No. 44
26. (27) David Gilliland -- car No. 38
27. (28) Robby Gordon -- car No. 7
28. (26) Travis Kvapil -- car No. 28
29. (32) AJ Allmendinger -- car No. 84
30. (33) Patrick Carpentier -- car No. 10
31. (28) Reed Sorenson -- car No. 41
32. (30) Sam Hornish Jr. -- car No. 77
33. (31) Scott Riggs -- car No. 66
34. (35) Ron Fellows/Regan Smith -- car No. 01
35. (34) Dave Blaney -- car No. 22
36. (36) Paul Menard -- car No. 15
37. (NR) Marcos Ambrose -- car No. 21
38. (38) Joe Nemechek -- car No. 78
39. (39) Michael Waltrip -- car No. 55
40. (40) Michael McDowell -- car No. 00 ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502170.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/502170.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:17 EDT
That's Racin's weekly ranking of the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as of the Sharpie 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. (last week's ranking in parentheses):



1. (1) Kyle Busch . car No. 18

If it.s wrong for him to bump and run isn.t it wrong when it.s done to him, too?



2. (2) Carl Edwards . car No. 99 ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/501765.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/501765.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:17 EDT
.I thought it was just going to be a little car that putt-putted around,. she said, remembering the quarter-midget her husband, Tom, bought for his 5-year-old son, Joey. .The first time I saw him race in it he was going like 30 mph. I said, .Oh goodness, this is a real race car!. .

Joey Logano is now a few months past his 18th birthday, and his newest race car is about as real as it gets. Logano was officially named Monday as Tony Stewart.s replacement in the No. 20 Toyotas for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Logano, who debuted in NASCAR.s Nationwide Series as soon as he could after his 18th birthday in May, will step up to the top-tier Sprint Cup Series beginning with selected races later this year. That will start in two weeks when he drives a No. 02 Toyota prepared by JGR at Richmond.

He also will run that car at Atlanta and will run an Automobile Racing Club of America race at Talladega. He also is expected to run up to five additional races in the No. 96 Toyotas in a cooperative effort between the Gibbs team and Hall of Fame Racing later this year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/145538.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/145538.html Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:03 EDT
Mayfield joined BDR this year as the team expanded to two cars, but he has qualified for only eight of the 21 events in the No. 36 Toyota.

"Jeremy has done all we asked of him and more as part of what has been an enormous challenge in 2007 for the entire BDR Cup program," Davis said.

"I've been in this sport long enough to know that it takes time to bring a brand new car up to speed in what is probably the most competitive racing series in the world," Mayfield said.

No replacement driver was named.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500915.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500915.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:55 EDT http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500665.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500665.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:52 EDT
Wrong.

"I feel like I was extremely justified to do what I did," Edwards said after his bump in Turn 1 on Lap 470 ended Busch's streak of 415 laps led and propelled Edwards toward his third victory in the past four Sprint Cup races.

"I needed to do it and that's the way it went," the unrepentant Edwards said.

"Let's make it real clear: I'm not apologizing for it and that's it. I feel like the score is even and it just cost him more than it cost me at the time, and that's the way it is."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500649.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500649.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:20 EDT
REAR-VIEW MIRROR | DAVID POOLE

Fairness and doing unto others

Don't ask me to draw the line between what's fair and what's unfair when it comes to bumping people to pass them for the lead late in a race at a place like Bristol.

Jeff Burton is good at things like that, and the other day he said a driver makes his own rules. But he didn't mean it maybe the way it sounds. What he said was the way you drive others determines, in almost every case, the way others drive you.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500291.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500291.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:06 EDT
I called Smith to check it out and was literally putting luggage into the car to go to the airport to fly to the race in California when Smith called back and said that was indeed something he was thinking seriously about.

Three days later, I was in a hotel in California. I know it was Saturday because the Appalachian State-Michigan football game was under way. I was flipping through my e-mail and saw that the National Hot Rod Association had put out a 2008 schedule that included at "to be announced" race on Sept. 11-14.

Curious, I thought. Wonder what that's all about? Shampoo was running into my eyes when it finally hit me what was going on.

I thought about all of that Wednesday morning while sitting in one of the four racing lanes at zMAX Dragway @ Concord, the $60 million facility that the public got to see for the first time at an open house on Saturday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500045.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500045.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:14 EDT
Keselowski, who won his second race of the season Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, spent last Tuesday visiting the Penske shop, where he met members of the organization and was offered the chance to drive the team's No. 12 Dodges next season, several sources confirmed Saturday.

Keselowski, 24, declined the offer, sources said. Keselowski did not immediately return a call for comment Saturday night.

The native of Rochester Hills, Mich., said earlier this summer he would return next season to the Nationwide Series to drive JR Motorsports' No. 88 Chevrolet, which is co-owned by Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his Cup team owner, Rick Hendrick.

David Stremme, already employed by Penske as a test driver, was considered the leading candidate to take over the No. 12 next season, which is being vacated by Ryan Newman.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500036.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/500036.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:39 EDT
Mayfield could drive the car as soon as next weekend at Auto Club Speedway of California. Mayfield started the season with Haas CNC Racing, but left the organization after the seventh race. He also drove one race for Chip Ganassi Racing, at Dover, Del.

Hall of Fame used veteran Ken Schrader in Saturday night's race at Bristol and plans to use Joe Gibbs Racing upstart Joey Logano in up to five races, beginning at New Hampshire. The organization's development driver, Brad Coleman, is also expected to drive some races in the car.

Mayfield has five wins and nine poles in 428 career Cup starts.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499984.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499984.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:30 EDT
All doubt about that ended Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, with Carl Edwards working past Kyle Busch just after a late-race restart to take away the lead and a victory that for most of the evening looked like it would be another notch in Busch's 2008 belt.

Edwards gave Busch a bump in Turn 1 on Lap 470, sending the No. 18 Toyota up the track enough to allow Edwards to turn his No. 99 Ford to the low side and take the lead.

"I couldn't get by him and I couldn't get by him," Edwards said. " ... I just kind of ran into him. ...I just had to ask myself, 'Would he do that do me?' And he has before. That's the way it goes.

"They keep talking about rivalries. We may have one now."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499943.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499943.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:41 EDT
That's all Casey Mears could muster sitting in his wrecked No. 5 Chevrolet after he cut off Michael Waltrip, causing a seven-car pile-up that collected two drivers - Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer - still trying to fight their way into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Mears passed Waltrip on Lap 217 of Saturday night's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Turn 1. Just as he did, Mears' spotter, Eddie Masencup, said "Clear, clear" over the radio.

But Mears wasn't.

He turned into Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota, which ignited the multicar wreck that required a nearly 13-minute red flag to clear the track of debris.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499710.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499710.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:29 EDT
Stewart is leaving the organization at the end of the season to join Stewart-Haas Racing, which he will co-own.

The Observer and ThatsRacin.com reported last week Logano would make his Cup debut this season at Richmond, Va., in a Gibbs car and run as many as five races with Hall of Fame Racing beginning with the September race at New Hampshire.

Logano, 18, has two poles, one win, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 10 starts in the Nationwide Series this season with JGR.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499706.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499706.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:14 EDT
Say what?

Bowyer is now driving the No. 07 Chevrolets at RCR, but next year he will be in the No. 33 Chevrolet sponsored by General Mills, which is the new car being added to that team.s stable.

Jack Daniels will remain as the primary sponsor of the No. 07 car but the team's new driver, Casey Mears, will move into that car after agreeing to a three-year contract with the Childress team. Mears is now in his final season in the No. 5 Chevrolets at Hendrick Motorsports.

The No. 07 team will retain the owner points that Bowyer earns this year, meaning that Mears will be guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races of 2009. It's Bowyer who might be forced to make those races on speed next year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499576.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499576.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:04 EDT
THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Track position or tires? It's how crew chiefs earn their salaries, deciding whether to come in under a late caution for fresh tires will lose or gain them finishing positions. Track position is often the "safe" call, but it isn't always the winning strategy.

2. Jimmie Johnson starts 34th and Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts 40th. Tha'.s not a good omen. In 97 Cup races held here, only eight winners have started from outside the top 15. Six of those have come in the past 18 races here, however.

3. Saturday night's race is a two-for-one. There's the race for the victory, but there's also the battle for the final Chase spots. It's 162 points from Tony Stewart in sixth back to Clint Bowyer and David Ragan, who're tied for 13th. Nobody in that pack can afford to falter.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499096.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499096.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:09 EDT
He got it on Lap 227 when then-leader Clint Bowyer got loose on the backstretch, allowing Keselowski - who had been on Bowyer's rear bumper for 27 laps - to whip around and take the lead.

Keselowski, driving his first full season for team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., pulled away and held Bowyer off for the victory in Friday night's Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The win is the second for Keselowki this season and second of his career, and thrust him right back into the championship picture, where Bowyer currently leads the standings.

"We were discussing on the last caution whether we could beat Clint or not," said Keselowski's crew chief, Tony Eury Sr. "If (Bowyer) hadn't slipped over there, I don't know if we would have beaten him or not."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499080.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499080.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:09 EDT
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't as quick to forgive and forget.

NASCAR suspended seven JGR crew members indefinitely this week for attempting to manipulate a horsepower test after a Nationwide Series race in one of the harshest rulings ever handed down by the governing body. The suspensions included both JGR crew chiefs in the series, and drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano were each docked 150 driver points.

The teams also were penalized 150 owner points each and placed on probation for the rest of the year after inspectors found magnets on the gas pedals of both cars after the race. NASCAR said it was an attempt to mask the true horsepower of the cars.

"I think there is a new promotion that all Toyotas are giving away free magnets with any purchase of a new car," Harvick said Friday when asked about his reaction to the cheating revelation. Harvick is a former Nationwide Series champion and owns a team in the series.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499026.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/499026.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:14 EDT
The No.33 Chevrolet driver for Kevin Harvick, Inc. circled the half-mile, high-banked oval in 15.727 seconds (122.007 mph).

Gale's first Nationwide pole came in his 23rd start. He joined Bryan Clauson (Daytona), Landon Cassill (New Hampshire), Brad Keselowski (Milwaukee), Joey Logano (Nashville) and Colin Braun (Mexico City) as first-time pole winners in the series this year.

"Our Chevrolet has been awesome all day, and the last few races I've run, it's been really good," Gale said. "It really feels good, and hopefully we can finish the race tonight with a good finish."

Starting alongside Gale on the front row will be Dario Franchitti, who posted the second-best time of 15.794 seconds.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498994.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498994.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:34 EDT
Despite trailing points leader Kyle Busch and runner-up Carl Edwards through the 2008 season, Johnson remains confident that he can make a run for the title when the Chase for the championship begins four weeks from now.

If the Chase began this week, Johnson, with two victories, would trail Busch, with eight wins, by 60 points and Edwards, with five wins - only four of them counting toward the Chase seeding because of a penalty - by 20 points.

"I think we are there," Johnson said. "I think we are close. I think we are competitive.

"We still need a little bit more speed to be in our comfort zone of what we want, but we have made a lot of progress over the summer. We just get into those final 10 (races) and see what happens."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498987.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498987.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:14 EDT
Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership will be the primary sponsor on that car for 18 races.

Team owner Michael Waltrip said Friday he's working to fill out the rest of the season's sponsorship program for Reutimann. Aaron's will also sponsor the No. 99 Toyotas in 10 Nationwide races in 2009, with Waltrip and Reutimann sharing the driving duties.

UPS, the sponsor for Reutimann's No. 44 team this year, will move to another team. David Ragan's No. 6 team for Roush Fenway Racing is believed to be in position to get that deal.

Waltrip said he still plans to field three Cup cars next year. Michael McDowell is driving the No. 00 this year, but Mike Skinner is driving it this weekend at Bristol. Waltrip said McDowell is still part of his team's plans for next year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498932.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498932.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:09 EDT
Carpentier remains under contract with GEM, but has agreed to a four-week extension on the deadline. The organization has an option on the driver's services for 2009, said Mark McArdle, GEM's vice president for competition.

"Until Patrick knows what his fate is with us, he is not able to negotiate a deal with anyone else. What we've done is asked him for another four weeks to make a more informed decision. We love him. He's a phenomenal driver," McArdle said.

The organization is currently seeking sponsorship commitments for Carpentier's No. 10 Dodge for next season. Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler currently also drive in the Cup series for GEM.

McArdle said GEM has also been in talks with other drivers about a fourth Cup team for 2009. He declined to name any of those contacted, but sources said Friday the driver at the top of the list is Reed Sorenson, currently with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Sorenson declined to comment on Friday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498919.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498919.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:09 EDT
Edwards sped to the pole for Saturday night's Sharpie 500 in Friday's qualifying, looping this .533-mile oval at an average speed of 121.860. It's the first time all season Edwards has earned the No. 1 starting spot, and only the fourth time in his Cup career.

Edwards has won two of the past three Cup races, at Pocono and Michigan, and has five victories this season. Busch, who starts ninth after a lap at 120.550 mph, won for the eighth time this year the race in between, at Watkins Glen, and before that won three times in a four-race stretch ending July 12 at Chicagoland.

That means Edwards and Busch have combined to win six of the past eight races.

"I don't think it's going to be a two-man Chase, honestly," said Edwards, looking ahead to the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup that begins in three weeks at New Hampshire.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498556.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498556.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:54 EDT
All three teams had problems clearing the template inspection and were still addressing their issues when practice started.

Marlin eventually made it onto the track for 14 laps of practice and Sauter got three laps. Barrett never made it onto the track.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498521.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498521.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:49 EDT
Sauter said he is still searching for a full-time ride for the 2009 season, in Cup or the Nationwide Series.

"As a driver, I'm just happy people think of me when they have openings to fill, whether it's for a few races or a single event," he said. "I'm happy to be busy and just thankful for the chance to contribute to these organizations."

Sauter has one top-five and three top-10 finishes in 72 Cup races. He has three wins and four poles in 191 races in NASCAR's second-tier series, which now has the Nationwide branding.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498435.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/498435.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:49 EDT
Earlier this year, Jeff Gordon made wrecked in the area that is now protected by the SAFER barrier.

"Following this year's Cup (race) we consulted with NASCAR officials and our own engineers. We all agreed that installing the barrier on the backstretch was the proper course of action," said track general manager Chris Powell.

The new barrier covers 1,700 feet of the inside backstretch wall. SAFER barriers now cover 7,800 feet of the retaining walls around the 1.5-mile superspeedway.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/497699.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/497699.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:49 EDT
The track notorious for its beating and banging got a new paving job before last year's August night race. Trucks and Nationwide Series races leading up to the Sharpie 500 were memorable and there was great anticipation for the Sprint Cup race.

Perhaps because those expectations were so high, a lot of folks went home disappointed after that race. There were 10 cautions, but only 12 lead changes among eight drivers in a race dominated by two cars. Kasey Kahne led 305 laps, but wound up second behind Carl Edwards, who led 182 of the other 195.

There were plenty of possible explanations for the new look and feel of what has long been considered one of NASCAR's most popular events. Saturday night's running marks the 30th anniversary of the night race at Bristol and will be the track's 53rd straight Cup ticket sellout.

The most obvious reason was the new track surface, which was smoother than the previous concrete pavement. While being repaved, the contours of the transitions in and out of the turns and the banking in the turns themselves were also altered in an effort to give Bristol a second racing groove.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/497475.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/497475.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:43 EDT
A three-way fall switch on the Cup schedule, with Atlanta Motor Speedway moving to Labor Day weekend (Sept. 6), Auto Club Speedway (California) sliding back to Oct. 11 into Talladega's current slot, and Talladega moving to No. 1 in Atlanta's old slot. That makes Talladega the seventh of 10 races in the 2009 Chase.

An additional off weekend in September for Cup cars, thanks to how the calendar falls. The Sunday before the new Atlanta race will be open, giving teams a break before the season's final 12 races.

Montreal's Nationwide race moving to Aug. 30, putting it on that new open Cup weekend.

Iowa Speedway getting a Nationwide race, on Aug. 1, replacing Mexico City.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496700.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496700.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:40 EDT
Busch's victory in Wednesday night's O'Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway ended Johnny Benson's quest to set a Craftsman Truck Series record for consecutive wins. Benson, the series points leader, had won the past three races.

The win was the 17th for Busch in NASCAR's three national series this season. He has eight Sprint Cup wins and six Nationwide Series wins to go with his three in Trucks.

Busch held off Todd Bodine in a green-white-checkered overtime in a race slowed by a track record 12 cautions. Red Bull Racing development driver Scott Speed finished third, Benson was fourth and Rick Crawford completed the top five.

"We had a lot of fun here tonight," said Busch, who encouraged cheers from the fans on the frontstretch while doing his victory burnouts after the race. "This is a great race team and I've had a lot of fun racing with (team owner) Billy Ballew.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496673.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496673.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:00 EDT
Team spokesman Dan Passe said the fire occurred Wednesday morning outside Cheyenne, Wyo., en route to Sunday's race at Sonoma, Calif.

There were no injuries.

Penske had two other cars already in Sonoma because the team was testing there last week. The team is now trying to get those cars into race condition.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496668.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496668.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:00 EDT
Drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Patrick Carpentier and Chase Miller have taken turns racing the No. 9 Dodge this year, and team officials said each will race at least once in the final 10 events of the season.

Kenny Francis will serve as crew chief when Kahne drives the Nationwide car at Charlotte. Mike Shiplett will oversee Carpentier's races at Dover and Phoenix, and Rodney Childers will do the same with Sadler at Bristol, Richmond, and Kansas. Kevin Kidd will serve as crew chief when Miller races at California, Texas and Homestead and when Miller races the No. 19 at Charlotte. A crew chief for Miller's Memphis race will be picked later.

"This allows our Sprint Cup crew chiefs and drivers to gather more data in the Nationwide Series races, which we think will aid our Sprint Cup programs," said Mark McArdle, GEM's vice president of competition.

The No. 9 Dodge is 15th in owner points going into Friday night's race at Bristol.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496656.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496656.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:54 EDT
Elevator

UP - Carl Edwards

Look out Clint Bowyer, this guy is full steam ahead.

UP - Landon Cassill]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496524.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/496524.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:53 EDT
The No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota driver rounded the half-mile, high-banked oval in 15.491 seconds (123.865 mph).

Speed captured his first pole in his ninth Truck Series start. He returns to the series since finishing third at Michigan in mid-June.

Speed, the current ARCA RE/MAX points leader, will run the first of eight remaining truck races left on his schedule this year for BDR.

Starting on the front row with Speed will be Johnny Benson, who posted a time of 15.507 seconds.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/485312.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/485312.html Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:58 EDT
SPARTA . As Helio Castroneves emerged from his No. 3 Penske Dallara/Honda Saturday evening, he flung his hands in the air, dropped his head in dismay and exclaimed to all within earshot, .What do I do?.

One turn was all that separated the two-time Indy 500 champion from ending his season-long winless streak. One corner was all he had to navigate to finally gain an advantage over his unshakable nemesis this year.

In an effort to keep his championship hopes alive, Castroneves knew he had to try something desperate.

But as has been the case repeatedly for Castroneves this season, his rival Scott Dixon managed to do him one better. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/485213.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/485213.html Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:58 EDT
SPARTA . If Bruton Smith is having second thoughts about buying Kentucky Speedway, it's all news to track founder Jerry Carroll.

Speculation arose this week that Bruton's Speedway Motorsports Inc. may not complete its purchase of the Sparta track after Bill Brooks, SMI's chief financial officer, said during a conference call with financial analysts Wednesday he couldn't definitively answer whether the company had decided to move forward with the deal by its Aug. 18 deadline.

But prior to the running of Saturday's Meijer Indy 300, the last race at Kentucky Speedway under his ownership, Carroll said Brooks' statements were simply legalese and that the deal was as good as done.

.Between Oct.1 and Oct. 15 we'll close this deal out. I have no doubt in my mind that the deal will happen,. Carroll said. .Something would have to really blow up not to close the deal. If you're legally trying to do this deal, Bill Brooks had nothing else he could say. If he said, .Yes we're going to close,' then all the legal documents had to be done and he was making the commitment that it was done. There were certain papers that have to be filed. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/484643.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/484643.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:04 EDT
SPARTA . They can see it in the stands even as they sail by at 220 mph, and they hear it in the influx of voice mails now filling up their phones.

So far, the long-awaited merger between IndyCar and Champ Car is having the effect most drivers were counting on.

When the two rival leagues finally ended their feud and joined forces this year, the hope was that the venture would revitalize open- wheel racing and help restore it to its past glory when it . not NASCAR . was the king of motorsports.

Although the gap between IndyCar and NASCAR remains prominent, some drivers believe the league is already seeing a surge in both popularity and commercial interest. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/484625.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/484625.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:58 EDT
SPARTA . With every qualifying lap Scott Dixon turned at Kentucky Speedway on Friday night, he would get a little faster, a little stronger, putting a little more distance between himself and the rest of the field.

It's a sight his IndyCar Series competitors have become accustomed to seeing this year. And, quite frankly, they're a little worn out by it.

Series points leader Dixon added to his already impeccable year when he earned his sixth pole of the season after scorching his way to a four-lap average speed of 218.968 mph for Saturday's Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

Vitor Meira will join Dixon on the front row after posting an average speed of 218.409 while Dixon's Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dan Wheldon will roll off in third. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/483356.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/483356.html Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:35 EDT
Ryan Briscoe doesn't mind if people are shocked by his level of success this year because, really, he's still wrapping his head around it himself.

He was, by his own admission, an unproven commodity in the IndyCar Series before this season, and then he was handed the almost impossible task of trying to fill the shoes of one of the sport's greatest champions.

He knew no one would have blamed him if this year was more struggle than success. But he also knew he would never forgive himself if he failed to take advantage of an astonishing opportunity.

When Briscoe was pegged to take over the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda after three-time series champion Sam Hornish Jr. jumped to NASCAR, most figured it would be up to longtime Penske star Helio Castroneves to carry the team's burden for 2008. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/477050.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/477050.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:21 EDT
Danica Patrick has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Twice. She's yukked it up with Letterman. Just last month, she found herself seated on the front row at the ESPYs next to Becks and Posh.

Yet, of all the cool things that have happened to a former cheerleader from Roscoe, Ill., since she became a national sports phenomenon at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, one moment tops all.

Patrick's telephone rang. Jay-Z was making the call.

The .retired. hip-hop star was plotting his return. He had a video treatment in mind for his comeback song, Show Me What You Got . ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/466029.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/466029.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:24 EDT
SPARTA . Johnny Benson was 110 races into his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career before he ever earned the title of series points leader.

The way the veteran driver has been running of late, he may well hold on to that distinction over the final 12 races.

Benson, who led the Truck Series points standings for the first time in his career after Michigan on June 14, reclaimed the overall lead Saturday night when he survived a wreck-filled outing to win the Built Ford Tough 225 before a crowd of 31,308 at Kentucky Speedway.

Benson had a 50-point lead coming off his win in Milwaukee last month but fell to fourth in the overall standings after a blown engine at Memphis left him limping home in 33rd place. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/465972.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/465972.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT
SPARTA . There aren't many owners in the Craftsman Truck Series who can spark an overflow presence in a media center simply by stopping by for a handful of minutes.

And for all the new owners who have joined NASCAR over the years, they most likely weren't given a custom-made jacket by a track vice president to commemorate their team's first outing.

As he is quick to point out, however, NFL star Randy Moss is not like any other owner NASCAR has seen.

The New England Patriots receiver had the most anticipated arrival for someone not named Kyle Busch at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday when he turned out to watch the debut of his Randy Moss Motorsports team in the Built Ford Tough 225. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/465425.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/465425.html Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:08 EDT
Rick Crawford has always been one of the more candid voices inside the Craftsman Truck Series garage, so it's no surprise the longtime driver didn't mince words when asked about facing Sprint Cup Series leader Kyle Busch this weekend.

.I'd just like to catch him,. Crawford proclaimed during a national teleconference on Tuesday.

If Crawford can pull off that feat Saturday night, he'd be the first driver to do so in several weeks.

After a four-week hiatus from the Truck Series, the ridiculously red-hot Busch is starting in the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/442969.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/442969.html Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:09 EDT
SPARTA . A chocolate-covered ice cream bar cost a dime back in Bruton Smith's high school days.

The son of a farmer and the youngest of nine children, Smith learned the value of hard work by getting his hands dirty. And to see another kid strut around the lunch room devouring ice cream day after day when Smith could afford a treat maybe once a week . boy, did that stir something inside him.

.I thought, .Man, someday I hope I have enough money that if I want a Dove bar, I can buy one,' . he said.

Visit Smith's office today in Charlotte, N.C., or the owner's suite at any of his seven racetracks, and you'll find Dove bars stocked in the freezer. You can bet there will be Dove bars at Kentucky Speedway, too, when it belongs to Speedway Motorsports Inc. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507537.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507537.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:50 EDT
The California native is poised for a repeat performance after easily winning the pole Friday for Sunday's Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway.

So far this season, Hendrick Motorsports - and Johnson in particular - has struggled at times on NASCAR's bigger speedways. Johnson hopes that Friday's pole kicks off a weekend that will show how many gains his No. 48 team has made.

"Last year (the win) just started the confidence in our minds that we're ready for the Chase. So, you're looking at what you need to do to be as good as you can in the Chase and building the confidence around yourself and the team that you can be a contender."

Johnson, fourth in the series standings with two wins this season, is brimming with confidence so far this week at his home track.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507519.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507519.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:41 EDT
With only Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway and next week's event at Richmond left on the regular-season schedule, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer are trying to hold onto the final two spots in the 12-man Chase, while David Ragan and Kasey Kahne are hoping to catch them.

Heading into the Pepsi 500, 11th-place Hamlin is only 21 points behind Matt Kenseth in 10th, but he's also just 57 points ahead of 13th-place Ragan.

Bowyer is in an even more precarious position, 45 points behind Hamlin and just 12 in front of Ragan and 66 ahead of 14th-place Kahne.

Bowyer, who made the Chase for the first time and finished third in the points last year, said this weekend is no time to be doing anything different. But there is a real feeling of urgency.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507514.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507514.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:36 EDT
"I knew that was a possibility," Carpentier said. "(NASCAR) is a sport that is sponsor dependent. I know (GEM) has been working hard to find sponsorship and I'm amazed that (they) found all the sponsorship this year. Mr. Gillett is paying for some of it out of his pocket. I don't expect them to do that every year.

"For sure it's a shock to learn someone else is taking your spot. But they are still working to get that fourth car out there - a lot of teams want to go to four cars and this is one of them."

If it doesn't work out, Carpentier, who has made 19 of 24 races this season and is 37th in the points, said there are other opportunities for him.

"There are a lot of cars that haven't decided (on a driver) yet," the former open-wheel star said. "Ganassi and Penske and a few other teams. ... Yates and a few guys want to add some cars or change. So we'll see what it is. There are a lot of (drivers) out there knocking on doors."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507513.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507513.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:36 EDT
Schrader tends to race somewhere every chance he gets, and this holiday weekend is no exception.

After taking part in Sunday evening's Pepsi 500 on the 2-mile, high-banked oval here in the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Chevrolet, Schrader will fly overnight to DuQuoin, Ill., to compete in Monday's Southern Illinois 100 ARCA RE/MAX Series event on the 1-mile dirt oval at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Schrader has done the long-range double a few times before, although he didn't race at Fontana last year. And he said he couldn't get it done this year without some help from longtime friend and competitor Tony Stewart, who has also helped him out in the past.

"Tony has been awful good to me," he said. "After the race, I'll get on a helicopter with Tony and fly to the airport. We'll get on his plane and he'll drop me off at the Carbondale, Ill., airport, I'll hop in the rental car, grab a shower at the hotel and then meet the boys in the lobby because I think practice is at 9 a.m.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507495.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507495.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:41 EDT
"We're friends, man. I even joke around with guys with myself that Carl is 'BFF Carl.'

"We're best friends. I don't believe it's a rivalry," Busch said at Auto Club Speedway. "I believe that we can still be friends and stuff like that and have that relationship on the race track."

Both Edwards and Busch were placed on probation by NASCAR officials for six weeks after the two traded bumps on the track after last Saturday's race at Bristol, Tenn. Edwards nudged Busch out of the way late in the race to take the lead and held on for the win.

"All that stuff doesn't matter to me. We're here to race," Edwards said of the incident and fallout.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507340.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507340.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:41 EDT
Bowyer, who thought Waltrip had caused the multicar accident during the Sharpie 500, called the driver of the No. 55 Toyotas "the worst driver in NASCAR."

"I do have a little bit of concern about why they would have replayed a comment that he made like that. That's hurtful to me. It's hurtful to my family," Waltrip said on his XM Satellite Radio show this week.

"You know, my mom doesn't need to hear that. My daughter doesn't need to hear that.

"So I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not the worst driver in NASCAR. But I will say there's a chance I could be the worst driver in NASCAR to win two Daytona 500s and the all-star race. I'd take the record."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507336.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507336.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:01 EDT
"I know that is a huge weight lifted off Zippy (crew chief Greg Zipadelli) and the guys' shoulders at the Home Depot team to get that announcement out of the way, finally," the two-time Cup champion said this week on his SIRIUS satellite radio show, "Tony Stewart Live."

Stewart is leaving Gibbs to co-own and drive for the team now known as Haas-CNC.

"It couldn't have happened to a better kid," Stewart added. "Joey is a really, really good kid and very, very fast. He's going to win a lot of races and I couldn't think of anybody better to take my place."

Logano didn't drive his first race in NASCAR until May, when he drove in a Nationwide Series event right after turning 18. He has yet to drive in a Sprint Cup race, but Stewart said the Gibbs team made a good choice.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507303.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507303.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:01 EDT
.. Goodyear has tire tests scheduled Sept. 3 at Dover, Del., Sept. 16 at Atlanta and Oct. 14 at Homestead, Fla. The tire company, in conjunction with NASCAR, has also scheduled two tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Sept. 22-23 and Oct. 6-8 - to work on finding a solution on the problems which plagued this season's race at the 2.5-mile track.

.. Kenneth Campbell, team manager for the Nationwide Series team at Jay Robinson Racing, died Friday. He is survived by his wife, Kim; sons, Carson and Braden; and daughter, Taylor.

.. The next edition of ESPN's primetime newsmagazine show, "E:60," will feature an around-the-clock look at 18-year-old Joey Logano, who was named last week to drive Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Toyotas next season in the Cup series. The show airs at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/506785.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/506785.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:41 EDT
The 1961 Formula Open champion and a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Hill died at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, said friend John Lamm, a noted automotive photographer and editor-at-large with Road & Track magazine.

"He raced at a time when racing was extremely dangerous and got through it all without a serious injury," Lamm said. "He had an extraordinary mechanical sense. He was very much in tune with the car."

Mario Andretti is the only other American F1 champion. Born in Italy, Andretti won the 1978 title.

Hill won the 1961 Formula One title by a point over Wolfgang von Trips, the Ferrari teammate who was killed in the team's final race of the year. Hill won three F1 races, taking the Italian Grand Prix in 1960 and 1961 and the Belgian Grand Prix in 1961.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/507773.html http://www.kentucky.com/305/story/507773.html Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:54 EDT
Aiming to build some momentum heading into NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson got off to a good start Friday, winning the pole at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

The two-time reigning Cup champion was easily the fastest driver on the 2-mile oval in qualifying for Sunday's Pepsi 500, turning a fast lap of 180.397 mph.

"I'm really very proud of that lap," said Johnson, the defending race winner.

For much of the session, it appeared that the front row would be all Hendrick Motorsports, with Jeff Gordon sitting in the second spot. But A.J. Allmendinger, one of nine drivers who had to qualify on speed, elbowed his way into second. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507594.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/507594.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:01 EDT
The two-time reigning Cup champion was easily the fastest driver on the 2-mile oval in qualifying for Sunday's Pepsi 500, turning a fast lap of 180.397 mph.

"I'm really very proud of that lap," said Johnson, the defending race winner.

For much of the session, it appeared that the front row would be all Hendrick Motorsports, with Jeff Gordon sitting in the second spot with a lap of 179.565. But A.J. Allmendinger, one of nine drivers who had to qualify on speed, elbowed his way between the teammates with a lap of 179.659.

Kasey Kahne was fourth at 179.158, followed by Gillett Evernham Motorsports teammates Patrick Carpentier at 178.860 and Elliott Sadler at 178.492. Rounding out the top 10 were Martin Truex Jr. at 178.434, Dave Blaney at 178.381, Kurt Busch at 178.165 and rookie Aric Almirola at 178.134.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507574.html http://www.kentucky.com/614/story/507574.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:41 EDT
Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also held the top spots in their divisions on the first of three days of qualifying in the 18th and final regular-season event.

The six-race Countdown to 1 playoff begins in two weeks with the Carolinas Nationals.

Hight's run put him in position to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 27th of his career.

"I don't think (the 4.114) will hold up (Saturday) night, we're running a little later so the track will be a little better so we'll have to run better than a 4.114 and I honestly think we can improve," said, Hight, whose John Force Racing teammates provisionally qualified 12th (Mike Neff (4.349), 13th (Ashley Force, 4.357), and 14th (John Force, 4.416).]]> http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/495631.html http://www.kentucky.com/748/story/495631.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
The quest to bring a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to Kentucky Speedway will officially have to wait at least one more year.

NASCAR announced Tuesday its national series schedules for the 2009 season, and a date for Kentucky Speedway was not included.

The chances of getting a Cup date for next season were admittedly slim. But Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which agreed in May to buy the track at Sparta, said as recently as Aug. 9 that he was still holding out hope.

Yesterday's announcement dashed that. ]]>