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Jun 19, 2010, 12:17:40 PM6/19/10

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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by http://MotorSportsNews.Net

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Dale Jr.: Honoring Soldiers, AMP Juice, Lightning Sugar Free, #3 Wrangler
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Dale Jr. AMP And NG
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E d i t o r ' s * N o t e s
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Happy Butterfly day. We have left and right hand turns this weekend in both series.

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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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IZOD IndyCar Series News and Notes – June 18, 2010

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines: 1.Road to Indy ladder on display together 2.Hometown heroes return to Hawkeye State 3.Racing For Kids representatives bring cheer to patients 4.Fisher's engineer gets feel for racing 1. Road to Indy ladder on display together: The Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer race weekend will mark the final time in 2010 that the Road to Indy developmental ladder series will run together. The system provides a natural career progression from the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda to the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear to Firestone Indy Lights and finally the IZOD IndyCar Series. Iowa Speedway's start/finish line

http://www.catchfence.com/2010/press/06/18/izod-indycar-series-news-and-notes-june-18-2010/

TRG Motorsports, 2010 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Qualifying Recap

TRG Motorsports Toyota/Save Mart 350 Qualifying Recap Track: Infineon Raceway Pole Winner: Kasey Kahne Pole Time: 76.30 seconds Pole Speed: 93.893 miles per hour Race Broadcast: TNT, 12 p.m. (PT) No. 71 Adobe Road Winery Chevrolet Starting Position: 8 TRG Motorsports and team driver

http://www.catchfence.com/2010/sprintcup/06/18/trg-motorsports-2010-nscs-toyotasave-mart-350-qualifying-recap/
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Courtesy of www.FrontStretch.com
Marcos Ambrose Leads Lone Sprint Cup Practice

Returning to the scene of his first Cup start, Marcos Ambrose dominated Friday’s opening practice at the Infineon Raceway. Ambrose’s No. 47 was atop the scoreboard through practically the entire practice session with a best lap of 93.800 mph. Martin Truex, Jr. kept his Michael Waltrip Racing housemate company for much of the session in 2nd, but fell to 10th by the end. Among the cars that sped past Truex were all three Richard Childress cars, led by Clint Bowyer in 2nd. Max Papis was the fastest “go-or-go-home” car, 13th overall at a speed of 92.913 mph. There were no incidents during the session.

Ambrose is looking to turn his season around after an ugly slump that's included six DNFs and just one top 10 in 15 starts. He finished third at the track last year.

Kasey Kahne on Pole For Sunday's Race

After practice, Ambrose was the clear favorite to win the pole on Friday, but when he locked the brakes in turn eleven early in the session, the No. 47 swung wide and lost valuable time. The Tasmanian’s lap of 93.270 mph was good enough to secure the provisional pole, but several banzai runs bumped him down to sixth. First Jeff Gordon, then Jimmie Johnson, and, finally, defending Infineon winner Kasey Kahne claimed the pole position for Sunday’s race at a speed of 93.893 mph. All three of these drivers were particularly aggressive in turn four, where they made full use of the paved runoff area.

Friday’s biggest surprise was Bobby Labonte, whose No. 71 qualified eighth. Thanks to returning sponsors Adobe Road Winery and TaxSlayer.com, the Texan veteran will also be able to run the entire race for the first time since the Coca-Cola 600. Boris Said was tops among the drivers not locked-into Sunday’s field, landing the No. 26 Air National Guard Ford in 17th spot. David Ragan was involved in the session’s only incident when he spun in the Esses and tagged the tire barriers. Ragan will line up 42nd, with no word yet on if he will go to a backup car.

Missing the race were Brian Simo in Tommy Baldwin’s No. 36, Michael Waltrip’s “Sponsafied” No. 55, and Oregon native Brandon Ash. For more on Ash, read on to the final segment of this article in a Frontstretch-exclusive interview.

Mark Martin: Road Course Driving More Important

Mark Martin has struggled this season, placing just 12th in the season standings without a top-3 finish this season. Can one of the sport's better road course drivers (he once won three straight at Watkins Glen in the mid-'90s) turn it around this weekend? He's had a rough go of it lately at Infineon and Watkins Glen, coming up with a gaudy average finish of 29th last year in one of the few places his No. 5 team was not up to par during a successful year.

When I asked Martin about what, if anything, he has done to brush up on his road course skills after struggling last year at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, he pointed out that road course skills and setups are valued more now than ever in today’s NASCAR, forcing veterans like himself to step up their game in order to remain competitive. “It used to be that two road course races were kind of a throw away for many of the race teams, " he said. "And now every race team puts everything they have - it’s amazing what everyone puts into the two road course races as opposed to 15 years ago.”

Given Martin’s driving career and the history of Hendrick Motorsports, Martin’s amazement with which he regards other Cup teams’ road course programs may account for the recent slew of surprise winners at these twisty tracks. New mile-and-a-half drivers like Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne, winners of the last two Sonoma races, are mixing it up more with Martin and his Hendrick teammates, knowing they must master every kind of track in order to contend for a championship.

Johnson: Road Course Losing Streak an “Irritation”

Although Jimmie Johnson made no secret of his desire to win on Sunday, he refused to call his lack of a road course win a “void” in his immaculate NASCAR resume. “It doesn’t weigh as much as a Brickyard win or a Daytona 500 win or even winning at Bristol,” he said Friday. “This is just an irritation, I know I can win this.” While Johnson has expressed similar frustrations in the past about Talladega, the four-time champion points to a different kind of unpredictability inherent in road racing. Here, races are lost not by multi-car wrecks, but by having the wrong pit strategy. The irritation stems from how a driver can run a flawless race at a road course and return with the car intact, but still leave without the checkered flag just because he pitted at the wrong time.

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Courtesy of Google Alerts

CUP: Fans Once Flocked To See The Flocks
FOXNews
With NASCAR's return to Road America this weekend for the first time since 1956, maybe there will be some media attention focused on the winner of that ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/06/18/cup-fans-flocked-flocks/

NASCAR dads to be honored; how to develop healthy relationsips with your kids
Examiner.com
While fathers across the country will be honored privately this weekend, three NASCAR drivers will get very public recognition for the roles they play in ...

http://www.examiner.com/x-24244-Huntsville-Healthy-Living-Examiner~y2010m6d18-NASCAR-dads-to-be-honored-steps-for-the-average-guy-to-be-a-fantastic-father

Jason Bowles wins pole for NASCAR K&N Pro Series race in Sonoma
Los Angeles Times (blog)
Jason Bowles, a driver from Ontario, won the pole for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma on Friday. ...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/06/jason-bowles-wins-pole-for-nascar-kn-pro-series-race-in-sonoma.html

Hendrick team slipping in NASCAR pack
The Virginian-Pilot
In order to get the best experience with our full-size images, you should enable JavaScript in your browser. Crew chief Chad Knaus, left, and four-time ...

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/06/hendrick-team-slipping-nascar-pack

CUP: Hamlin - Cautions Used To Liven Up Races
FOXNews
Denny Hamlin reiterated his stance Friday that NASCAR officials sometimes use caution flags for debris just to liven up a race or close up the competition. ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/06/18/cup-hamlin-cautions-used-liven-races/

Nascar With Wings — Air Racing Comes To New York
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Jonathan Welsh East coast auto racing fans have been frustrated for years as numerous organizers, promoters and sanctioning groups from Nascar to Formula ...

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/06/18/nascar-with-wings-air-racing-comes-to-new-york/

Switch to spoiler throws Martin's team for a loop
The Associated Press
Crew chief Alan Gustafson puts the shortcomings squarely on himself and his failure to properly adjust when NASCAR switched from the wing to the spoiler ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-dVKWaXaDt4Q3kF9_7AjKsSgfYAD9GE0RSG0

GBM InkShow: NASCAR Fanview and Android App
Gotta Be Mobile (blog)
I'm working on a number of videos and articles about how NASCAR teams use technology, which I'll share here and over at Notebooks.com in the coming days. ...

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2010/06/18/gbm-inkshow-nascar-fanview-and-android-app/

Double-duty drivers had day to learn long 4.048-mile Road America course
Scene Daily
The three NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who will practice today at Infineon Raceway and then fly to Wisconsin to compete in the Nationwide Series race at Road ...

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/nationwideseries/Double-duty_drivers_had_day_to_learn_long_4048-mile_Road_America_course.html

Sonoma poised to provide more drama year after heated finish
CBSSports.com
Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski will run both the Sprint Cup race at Infineon and Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Road America in Elkhart ...

http://www.cbssports.com/autoracing/story/13538364/sonoma-poised-to-provide-more-drama-year-after-heated-finish

Hamlin not backing off show business claim
The Associated Press
Denny Hamlin did not back off last week's insinuation that NASCAR sometimes calls caution for debris just to liven up a race. ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDCLUWGq9WHsWE-ffQSr3j9eMq8wD9GE0OL80

NASCAR driver Rick Crawford back on Gulf Coast with mind on business
al.com (blog)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Rick Crawford, center, presents the hood of his No. 14 Ford to Ken Suda, left, senior vice president of operations ...

http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2010/06/nascar_driver_rick_crawford_ba.html

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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
http://www.insiderracingnews.com
Infineon Raceway Pit Notes & Track Facts

Infineon Raceway will host the Toyota/Save Mart 350 this weekend, June 18-20. Below are points of interest regarding previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Infineon Raceway:

· Jeff Gordon is the only driver to win five NASCAR races at Infineon Raceway (1998 – 2000, ‘04, ‘06). There have been four two-time winners: Ernie Irvan, ('92, '94), Ricky Rudd (‘89, ‘02), Tony Stewart (‘01, ‘05) and Rusty Wallace (‘90, ‘96).

· A total of 13 different drivers have tasted victory on the Infineon Raceway road course: Ricky Rudd ('89, ‘02), Rusty Wallace ('90, ‘96), Davey Allison ('91), Ernie Irvan ('92, ‘94), Geoffrey Bodine ('93), Dale Earnhardt ('95), Mark Martin (`97), Jeff Gordon (‘98-‘00, ‘04, ‘06), Tony Stewart (‘01, ‘05), Robby Gordon (‘03), Juan Pablo Montoya (’07), Kyle Busch (’08) and Kasey Kahne (’09).

· Dale Earnhardt won his only NASCAR road-course race at Infineon Raceway in 1995.

· Juan Pablo Montoya holds the track record for the greatest winning improvement when he started 32nd and won in Sonoma in 2007. He was also the first rookie ever to win a NASCAR Cup event at Infineon Raceway.

· The closest margin of victory for a NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway occurred at the inaugural race in 1989 when Ricky Rudd held off Rusty Wallace by .05 seconds.

· Jeff Gordon holds the record for the most poles at Infineon Raceway with five (‘98, ‘99, ‘01, ‘04, ‘05).

· Ernie Irvan (1994), Mark Martin (1997) and Jeff Gordon (1998, ‘99 and 2004) are the only drivers to win a race in Sonoma starting from the pole.

· Michael Waltrip holds the record for most laps completed at Infineon Raceway. Through 21 races, or 1,999 laps, Waltrip has completed 1,770.

· Kyle Busch’s 2008 victory marked Toyota’s first-ever win at Infineon Raceway. Brian Vickers earned Toyota its first pole in Sonoma in 2009 (93.678 mph).

· Terry Labonte and Michael Waltrip share the track record for the biggest improvement from qualifying to finish at 36 positions. In 2002, Labonte started 39th and finished in 3rd place. Waltrip started 40th and finished 4th in 2004.

· Jeff Gordon is the top money winner with $2,229,749, competing in 17 of 21 NASCAR events at Infineon Raceway. He leads second-place earner, Tony Stewart, by more than $716,000.

· Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon are tied for the record for the most top-10 finishes at Infineon Raceway at 13. Gordon is also tied for the most top-five finishes with Ricky Rudd (10).

· Eight of the top-15 finishers in the 2009 NASCAR event at Infineon Raceway started farther back than 20th.

· The first lap of the 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350 will mark the 2,000th lap of Cup Series competition at Infineon Raceway.

· Circuit/Race Length: Infineon Raceway is a 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course for all NASCAR-sanctioned events. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is measured in kilometers. The race distance is 218.9 miles or 110 laps around the 1.99-mile road course.

· Entries: Forty-seven drivers attempted to qualify for last year’s event. The starting field in 2010 will feature 43 cars. (Kasey Khane is on pole)

· Purse: A purse of $5,520,395 in posted awards will be up for grabs.

· 2000 Laps: The first lap of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 will make the 2,000th lap of NASCAR Cup Series competition at Infineon Raceway. ...Daily Headlines

Kasey Kahne On Infineon Pole

Kasey Kahne didn't have the perfect lap at Infineon Raceway in Friday's qualifying session -- he nearly spun half-way through his run, but it was still good enough to take the pole away from four-time champion Jimmie Johnson. Kahne turned a lap of 76.300 seconds -- for a speed of 93.893 mph -- around the winding, ten-turn, 1.99-mile California road course. Johnson will start on the outside pole for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, Kurt Busch rolls off third and points leader Kevin Harvick fourth. Jeff Gordon qualified in the fifth spot followed by Marcos Ambrose, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr. to round out the top ten. Three drivers failed to qualify, Brandon Ash, Brian Simo and Michael Waltrip. ...Daily Headlines
Sprint Cup Starting Lineup... (Insider Racing News)

Infineon Goodyear Tire Notes

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will run the same tire code on all four tire positions at Infineon Raceway this weekend -- this is the same tire that Sprint Cup teams ran at this track last year -- Infineon is the only track at which Cup teams will run this tire code -- this tire is slightly different than the one Cup teams will run at the series' other road course at Watkins Glen -- the Infineon tire is slightly softer than the Watkins Glen tire, giving the cars a bit more grip -- as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Infineon. ...Daily Headlines

Mears Back To TBR

· After being released from Red Bull Racing this week, Casey Mears will return to Tommy Baldwin Racing's No. 36 Toyota for the Sprint Cup Series race on June 27 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Team owner Tommy Baldwin said the decision was finalized Wednesday afternoon. "Casey is going to come back and we are excited. We hope to rebuild on some of the momentum created before he left." This weekend at Sonoma, road course specialist Brian Simo will pilot the No. 36 at Infineon Raceway. Steve Park will slide behind the wheel on July 3 at Daytona and drive the Richie Evans tribute car for TBR. After performance issues -- a best finish of 22nd in four races -- and wrecking a teammate -- a mid-race dust-up with Scott Speed last Sunday at Michigan, Mears was released from Red Bull Racing's No. 83 Toyota. ...More
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com

Kahne wins pole at Infineon: #9-Kasey Kahne won the Coors Pole for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway with a speed of 93.893mph for his 1st pole of 2010 and 17th of his career. It is Kahne's first pole since Infineon Raceway in June 2008. #48-Johnson will start 2nd followed by #2-Busch, #29-Harvick, #24-Gordon, #47-Ambrose, #14-Stewart, #71-Labonte, #16-Biffle and #56-Truex Jr. #6-Ragan wrecked on his lap, getting in to a tire barrier, and will go to a backup car for the race and will fall to the rear before the start of the race, but he'll start 42nd, so he is already in the rear. Mattias Ekstrom, in the #83 Red Bull Toyota this week, will start 38th.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #26-Said, #38-Gilliland, #87-Nemechek, #13-Papis, #09-Magnussen, #07-Jones, #46-Yeley and #66-Blaney
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #36-Simo, #02-Ash and #55-Waltrip [no word if the sponsifier scheme will move to the #66 or other Toyota for the race.
See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Infineon Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(6-18-2010)

· Qualifying Fast Facts - Infineon Raceway:
#9-Kasey Kahne won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 with a lap of 76.300 seconds, 93.893 mph.
This is his 17th pole in 232 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and 10th top-10 start in 2010.
This is his second pole in seven races at Infineon Raceway. This will be fifth consecutive top-10 start at the track.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2010 and his third in nine races at Infineon Raceway.
#2-Kurt Busch (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Infineon Raceway. It is his ninth in 16 races this season.
#34-Kevin Conway (41st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(6-18-2010)

· Infineon Tire Notes: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will run the same tire code on all four tire positions at Infineon Raceway this weekend . . . this is the same tire that Sprint Cup teams ran at this track last year . . . Infineon is the only track at which Cup teams will run this tire code . . . this tire is slightly different than the one Cup teams will run at the series' other road course at Watkins Glen . . . the Infineon tire is slightly softer than the Watkins Glen tire, giving the cars a bit more grip . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Infineon. See full notes, tire pressures and more on the Infineon Raceway Race Info page - Goodyear section.(6-18-2010)

· Road Course Wins: All-Time
Driver, Wins
Jeff Gordon, 9
Tony Stewart, 7
Rusty Wallace, 6
Bobby Allison, 6
Richard Petty, 6
Ricky Rudd, 6
Darrell Waltrip, 5
Tim Richmond, 5
Dan Gurney, 5
David Pearson, 4
Mark Martin, 4
Ernie Irvan, 3
Geoff Bodine, 3
Tim Flock, 3
Cale Yarborough, 3

· There are five race tracks the Sprint Cup Series currently races at that #48-Jimmie Johnson has not won a Sprint Cup race at:
Michigan: 0 for 17 with a best finish of 3rd in 8/2007
Infineon: 0 for 8 with a best finish of 4th in 6/2009
Chicago: 0 for 8 with a best finish of 2nd in 7/2004 & 7/2008
Watkins Glen: 0 for 8 with a best finish of 3rd in 8/2007
Homestead: 0 for 9 with a best finish of 2nd in 11/2004
plus Johnson ran five races at Rockingham Speedway and didn't win there.(6-13-2010)

· Three drivers doing the double: From Thursday night through Sunday night, #99-Carl Edwards, #98-Paul Menard and #12-Brad Keselowski will log some 5,800 miles in the air to practice, qualify and race their Nationwide cars at Road America and their Sprint Cup cars in Infineon Raceway. They'll also give up track time for both events. The three participated in the 5 ½-hour test session Thursday in preparation for the inaugural Bucyrus 200 at Road America. But they'll miss practice Friday while in Sonoma and miss final practice there Saturday to qualify and race at Road America. Whereas in the recent past, double-duty drivers went from Sonoma to the Milwaukee Mile on this weekend, now at least they'll be driving the same style of racetrack at each venue. "Every time we go to Sonoma, that's our first road course of the year," Menard said. "For us to be spending all day here logging laps, I think it's going to help us for Sonoma and for missing on Saturday. "Obviously there's nothing like being on track on Saturday afternoon, but me, I've got Bill Elliott in my car out there for Saturday, and I can't think of a better guy." #2-Kurt Busch will practice in Keselowski's car as well as his own Saturday in Sonoma, and the early plan for Edwards' car is to leave it in the garage. Former Indy-car driver Michel Jourdain Jr. will practice Friday for Menard at Road America, where Roush Fenway Racing teammate Erik Darnell will fill in for Edwards and Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman will drive Keselowski's car. The drivers' odyssey began Wednesday, when they came to Wisconsin. Edwards flew his own plane and then took it to California, where it will remain until he goes home from there. He'll do the Friday night / Saturday night commute with Menard aboard the Citation X owned by Menard's father, home-improvement magnate John Menard, the fastest non-military plane available.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), it was also mentioned during SPEED's practice and qualifying coverage, that Elliott would also practice the #99 Ford as well as the #98 Fordn on Saturday.(6-18-2010)

· Some Chassis selections for Infineon Raceway:
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion has elected to bring Chassis number #1012 to Infineon Raceway this weekend. This chassis has yet to be raced, but has been tested at Virginia International Raceway. The car carries McDonald's colors this week
#2-Kurt Busch driver Kurt Busch, crew chief Steve Addington and the "Blue Deuce" crew are racing their new "PRS-722" Miller Lite Dodge in this weekend's action at Infineon Raceway. "It's a brand new car that we've built to attack the road course tracks with," offered team engineer Dave Winston. "We tested with this car at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) a few weeks back (June 1) in a final shakedown for this weekend's race out at Sonoma."
#5-Mark Martin: crew chief Alan Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-608 for the first road course race of the 2010 season. This chassis never has been raced or tested.
#6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-627 Last ran Watkins Glen '09 finished 24th and recently tested Road Atlanta. Backup: RK-660 Last ran Sonoma '09 finished 33rd. The Concord Center (SLIC - 9452) in the North California District was selected as the Maximum Center for the June 20, Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Sonoma, CA. The Concord Center was selected as the Best-in-Class "Most Improved" center based on their achievements on the district's Balanced Scorecard from January through May 2010.
#11-Denny Hamlin: and the FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 241 this weekend in Sonoma. This car has two starts to date, posting top-ten finishes both at Sonoma and Watkins Glen in 2009. JGR 208 will serve as the backup this weekend. The #11 FedEx Express Camry will carry the letters LAX on the B-posts this weekend at Infineon Raceway in recognition of the AGFS and U.S. Operations teams in the Los Angeles (Calif.) area market. The market is being recognized for achieving cost savings, and exemplifying both teamwork and efficiency. Additionally, the top performing station in this market, APVA, is ranked #1 the region on the divisional scorecard for all Level 1 stations in FY 2010. FedEx has launched the FedEx Race Time Promotion providing an opportunity for an eligible small business owner to have its company logo placed on the #11 FedEx Toyota for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire on Sept. 19, 2010.
#12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-723 during Sunday's 350-kilometer race at Infineon Raceway. Brad Keselowski drove this car to a 12th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in March.
#14-Tony Stewart: is running Chassis No. 14-546, this car made its debut last June at Infineon Raceway, where Stewart used it to qualify fourth and lead twice for 11 laps before finishing second. Prior to Sonoma, Chassis No. 14-546 tested at the Virginia International Raceway. In preparation for its second career start in August at the Watkins Glen International road course, the car was brought back to VIR for a single-day test on July 27. The time at VIR paid off, as Stewart used Chassis No. 14-546 to qualify 13th and then lead twice for a race-high 34 laps to record his fifth Sprint Cup win at Watkins Glen. Chassis No. 14-546 tested again at VIR on May 11 in preparation for its return to Sonoma for this weekend's Toyota/SaveMart 350k.
#17-Matt Kenseth: primary chassis for the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford will be Primary: RK-663, no word on where it may had run before.
#18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 240 made its debut in June 2009 at the Infineon Raceway road course in Sonoma. Busch qualified second and led 10 laps, but brake issues led to contact with another car. As a result, Busch went a lap down but rallied to post a 22nd-place finish. The #18 team brought this chassis to the other road course race in 2009 Watkins Glen International where Busch started eighth and finished a solid fourth. Busch will run the Pedigree Dog Food colors this week
#19-Elliott Sadler: The #19 Stanley Ford Fusion team led by crew chief Wally Rogers has prepared chassis No. 243 for this weekend's event. This Ford Fusion was run in both road course events last season and it was also tested at Virginia International Raceway earlier this month.
#20-Joey Logano: The #20 Team is taking chassis #234 to Sonoma this weekend for the 110-lap event. Logano drove this chassis in both road-course races in 2009 finishing 19th at Infineon and 16th at Watkins Glen. The back-up chassis is #180 which has never competed but served as the back-up car last year. The Home Depot associates from store #722 from Bellevue, Tenn. will adorn the lower rear quarter panels of the #20 this weekend at Infineon Raceway. Bellevue is one of the many towns affected by the severe flooding in Tennessee in May. The Home Depot Foundation committed $100,000 to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which has mobilized two relief funds, the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 241 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2009 and updated for 2010, Harvick raced this chassis at both road course events last year, finishing 29th at Infineon Raceway and 35th at Watkins Glen International.
#31-Jeff Burton: will race chassis No. 245 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new in 2009 as a #07 racer, this machine was put through two short track tests and then shelved before being converted to a road course #31 racer. Sunday's 110-lap event will put the first time this RCR entry will be put through competition.
#33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot Chassis No. 300 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new Chevrolet Impala that will be put through its first paces this weekend.
#39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-545 saw action for the #39 team at both road-course races last season. Last June at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Newman qualified seventh and finished 17th. At Watkins Glen, Newman qualified sixth. However, Newman's #39 Chevrolet was plagued with alternator issues, which caused the car to run at only about 75% throughout most of the race, leading to a 21st-place finish. During the offseason, the car was made lighter and the bodywork was rebuilt. Newman and the #39 team tested the chassis in May at the Virginia International Raceway road course near Danville, Va., in preparation for the car's first race this season
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team will bring Chassis #1014 to Infineon Raceway this weekend. This chassis is brand new and has been tested at Virginia International Raceway.
#43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 Richard Petty Motorsports team led by crew chief Mike Shiplett has prepared chassis No. 257 for this weekend's event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. The team tested this car at Road Atlanta earlier this month.
#48-Jimmie Johnson: Primary chassis No. 543 was last piloted from the pole to a 12th-place finish at Watkins Glen International last August. Johnson drove backup chassis No. 442 to a seventh-place finish at Watkins Glen in August 2008.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: This weekend at Infineon Raceway, crew chief Lance McGrew and the No. 88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-514. The car was tested last month at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C., and Earnhardt raced it twice last year -- at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International, finishing 26th at Infineon. Earnhardt has won a road course race, at Watkins Glen in the Nationwide Series in 1999.
#98-Paul Menard: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 RPM crew have prepared chassis No. 254 for this weekend's event. This Ford Fusion was utilized last season but has been completely rebuilt for the race at Infineon Raceway. This car has not been tested, though the team has tested at several road courses in the past couple of weeks. CertainTeed returns to the hood of the #98 Ford this weekend. CertainTeed has earned a reputation as a premier build-ing materials manufacturer for more than 100 years.
#99-Carl Edwards: The #99 Aflac team will be bringing chassis RK-656 this weekend to Sonoma. It raced at Watkins Glen last year where Edwards finished third. The Aflac Ford will also feature characters from the new movie "Toy Story 3" on the hood.
(from team PR's/sites if reported)(6-18-2010)

· Hamlin doesn't back off :on comments about cautions #11-Denny Hamlin maintained his belief that NASCAR throws debris cautions when it wants at times, echoing similar statements after last weekend's win at Michigan. Hamlin was asked on Friday at Infineon Raceway about any feedback he had heard from his comments last week about how he expected a debris caution late in that race (as he held a 10-second lead) and how he understood it was best for the fans to have the field closer. Here's what Hamlin said Friday: "At no point was I the one to get pissed off about that caution because I knew it was going to happen,'' Hamlin said. "Legitimate or not, the odds are that we were going to have some non-wreck caution in the last half of the race. Pocono it was the same way (the last of 3 debris cautions in the race came 25 laps from the end), we had a long green flag spell and I knew it was going to be a matter of time before we see a caution for one reason or another. I think there's always debris around the track. Without a doubt you can call anything debris. I can look out right now and I can see debris pretty close to the race track (as he looked out the window to the track). You can say that's a legitimate safety hazard. I think it's the timing there. It is right there. Let's pick it up to tighten things up. Let's regroup. For the sake of show, it's OK but the sake of competition it's not always the right thing. I think if we weren't talking about that last week, if NASCAR would have let it go,then people were going to be talking about a boring race. That's something that we don't need right now.''(Virginian Pilot)(6-19-2010)

· Could Kahne stay in a Ford for 2011?: And after qualifying at Infineon Raceway, Robbie Loomis, team manager for #9-Kasey Kahne, raised the intriguing idea that Kahne might stick around with his team for one more season "Wouldn't that really be nice? And it sure would help us out." Whether Loomis was just raising an idea or whether there might be more to the issue was not clear. Kahne has signed a contract with Chevy rival Rick Hendrick beginning with the 2011 season; however Hendrick and Kahne have given no indication of what their game plan for 2011 might actually be. There is speculation that Hendrick might 'farm' Kahne out to team owner James Finch for 2011. Owners are now only allowed four Cup teams, and Hendrick already has four, before adding Kahne. But Loomis did work for Hendrick for several years, with Jeff Gordon, winning the 2001 NASCAR championship. And team owner Jack Roush, who provides engines and engineering for the Loomis-Kahne-Richard Petty-George Gillett operation, has expressed interest in how Hendrick might deal with that whole dilemma....particularly in light of NASCAR's own ruling that just forced Roush himself to cut back from five teams to four.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-18-2010)

· Junior & Shaq Set For Head-to-Head Race at Concord Speedway: The challenge has been issued and accepted. Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal has swapped his size-23 basketball shoes for racing Velcro; traded his breezy, cool basketball jersey for a heavy, fire-retardant driver's suit; forgone the familiarity of basketball hardwood for the cramped quarters of a stock-car cockpit all 7-foot-1, 325 pounds of him. His reason: challenge NASCAR's most popular driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to a one-on-one race in a test of skill, endurance and speed. The competition will be featured in the second season of Shaq Vs., the popular television series that is part of ABC's new summer season. The show's premise is simple: O'Neal takes his top-level skills and athletic prowess from the basketball court and transfers it to a different and unfamiliar sporting event. The first season pitted Shaq in a head-to-head match-up against Albert Pujols in a homerun-hitting contest, Michael Phelps in a swimming race, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in beach volleyball, and Oscar de la Hoya in a boxing match. The race between O'Neal and Earnhardt Jr. will take place at 4:00pm/et on Wednesday, June 23, at Concord Speedway, a tricky, half-mile tri-oval that features some of the best weekly racing in North Carolina. The event is open to the public free of charge. Gates will open at 1:00pm/et. No cameras or phones will be allowed inside the facility. Terms of the race will be negotiated by O'Neal and Earnhardt Jr. on the day of the race. Shaq Vs. will premiere its second season on ABC Tuesday, Aug. 3.(JR Motorsports)(6-18-2010)

· Sorenson in the #83 car for 3 races: Reed Sorenson is scheduled to drive three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Red Bull Racing, but the organization may make more driver changes with it's #83 team as the season progresses. Sorenson will take over the driving duties when the series travels to New Hampshire next week, as will be in the car for races at Daytona and Chicago. "I would venture to say the next three is certainly possible, because you have a natural break with the off weekend [after Chicago]," Red Bull Racing General Manager Jay Frye said Friday at Infineon Raceway. "We understand it's not fair to throw somebody in the car for a week, necessarily; we try to do a little program with them." Swedish driver Mattias Ekstrom, a former DTM champion in Germany, is competing for the team in this weekend's Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.(SceneDaily)96-19-2010)

· Monster returns to the #7 car: #7-Robby Gordon will return to his home state with the familiar Monster Energy colors on the hood of the #7 Toyota Camry. Gordon won the 2003 race at Infineon Raceway and has contended for the win at the 1.99-mile road course on several occasions since that trip to victory lane. Robby Gordon's SPEED FACTORY is a reality show that features a behind-the-scenes look at a world-class race shop and its day-to-day operations and will be featured on a second Robby Gordon Motorsports entry, the #07 Toyota with P.J. Jones driving the car. Gordon will start 16th and Jones will start 35th.(RGM)(6-19-2010)

· Martin presents check to hospital: #5-Mark Martin not only made hundreds of Auto Club Speedway Hard Card season ticket holders happy, he made thousands of children at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (LLUCH) and one little boy in the audience feel the same way. On Thursday, fresh off his 16th place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, the driver of the #5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet made a quick trip South, en route to this weekend's race in Northern California to take part in an exclusive Auto Club Speedway Hard Card Members Q&A session with over 300 season ticket holders at Impulse, located in the Speedway's Opportunity, California FanZone. Martin also took part in a check presentation ceremony which saw Auto Club Speedway and Stater Bros. Supermarket officials present a check for more than $26,000 to LLUCH and The NASCAR Foundation. Present to accept the check on behalf of LLUCH was Jaylen Morris, a four-year-old heart patient who has a dream of becoming a NASCAR driver when he grows up. All were elated at the presentation. The monies raised were a result of two Auto Club Speedway "Jaylen's Car Washes" in support of NASCAR Day across the nation. More than 600 cars were washed at the Speedway on pit road to kick off NASCAR Day festivities on May 10 and two weeks later another car wash was held at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga. Turtle Wax®, the world leader in car care, donated all of the car care product used during "Jaylen's Car Wash" and each participant drove away with a sample of Turtle Wax's latest product Turtle Wax ICE. Additionally, over 3,500 NASCAR Day collectible lapel pins were given to customers who stopped by Stater Bros. Supermarkets in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and Kern counties in exchange for a $5 donation.(Auto Club Speedway)(6-19-2010)

· Sacramento-area resident to be Honored at Infineon: Bill Cathcart has devoted much of his life to the military, including service in World War II and both the Korean War and Vietnam War. The resident of Diamond Springs, outside Sacramento, will be honored for his service at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, June 20. Cathcart was selected as the winner of the raceway's Hometown Hero contest; he served 24 years combined in the U.S. Marines, California National Guard and U.S. Army. He was nominated by his daughter, Cindy. Cathcart earned several awards over his stellar career, including: two Purple Hearts; Bronze Star; a Commendation Medal; and the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest medal that can be awarded). He served from 1942-1968 (he took two years off). "I was a kid when World War II broke out and I guess I was patriotic," said Cathcart, 85. "I quit in the middle of my senior year of high school and joined the Marines. I spent 37 months in the Pacific in World War II. & I enjoyed the service all those years. I didn't enjoy the fighting but I enjoyed the service. I guess you could say I grew up in the service." As it turns out, this is the perfect honor for Cathcart, whose son-in-law, Rick Bray, is a team member for Joe Gibbs Racing and works on Denny Hamlin's race team. "We follow NASCAR pretty close," Cathcart said. "I just love the racing and the competition and it makes it even better that Rick is in the sport. He's married to my daughter Cindy. "This is quite a surprise and obviously a very great honor for me, especially to have my daughter Cindy nominate me. It's very special and I'm looking forward to coming out to the races." Cathcart will be honored during pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, June 20, as the raceway continues its season-long "Sonoma Salutes Our Troops" campaign. More info about A Sonoma Salutes Our Troops dedicated page at infineonraceway.com/military.(Infineon Raceway)(6-19-2010)

· Fuel mystery at Infineon: Jeff Gordon's #24-Chevy, for some reason no one really wanted to explain, wound up with a tank of gasoline that wasn't the right stuff, when it was filled up at the Sunoco gas pumps Friday morning. Sunoco officials said they couldn't discuss the situation and referred questions to NASCAR officials NASCAR officials said they were studying the situation and didn't have anything to say just yet. "We'll know more after qualifying," NASCAR's Robin Pemberton said. Doug Duchardt, one of the top bosses at the Gordon-Rick Hendrick operation, likewise said he couldn't say much about the situation either. Chevrolet officials also declined to comment. A look at the three fuels available at the garage gas station shows two leaded fuels, one 114 octane, one 116 octane, and a third labeled 'unleaded' read "GTX260" at 98 octane. NASCAR teams are to be using the unleaded fuel. It would appear and this is what some rivals were told that a gas pumper inadvertently put some of the 'leaded' fuel in Gordon's car. The issue was apparently noted when the see-through fuel lines didn't show the blue-dye that NASCAR's official fuel carries, that it was instead clear. If there were other cars that also got the wrong fuel, it was unclear. But teams were told later to make sure the fuelers put the right fuel in their cars. There was some question that the 'wrong' fuel in Gordon's car might have been some new E-15 racing fuel, which is being tested for possible use next season in NASCAR. Duchardt said the fuel in question was not related to any fuel the team might have used in any recent testing: "We went to the pumps (Friday morning) and got the fuel. It wasn't the color we were used to. But I don't know if the contents of the fuel were incorrect or not. I haven't been in the middle of it with NASCAR so I don't know the specifics. They tested the fuel; they have the results."
Richard Childress: "I heard it (the fuel in Gordon's car) had some discoloration. It could have come from somewhere they were testing the car; they might not have gotten all of that (other fuel) out of the car. That would be easy to do." Gordon recently tested at Watkins Glen. Whether or not he might have tested with E-15 racing fuel is unclear. NASCAR teams have been testing with E-15 for some time, to help NASCAR with the planned changeover.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-18-2010)

· Hendrick says many options for Kahne in 2011: Rick Hendrick says he has a lot more options for Kasey Kahne in 2011 than he expected when he first signed the Richard Petty Motorsports driver in April. The owner of Hendrick Motorsports offered no timeline for when a decision might be made, even though he originally said a deal should be in place within 90 days. "A lot of it is just waiting for the right time and the right deal," Hendrick said Friday at Infineon Raceway after being inducted into the track's Wall of Fame. "I haven't been in a hurry. We've got some good options and there are new deals coming out every day. I get unbelievable calls from people in this garage. We're just not ready to pull the trigger yet." Hendrick discounted a report that said Kahne would drive the #09 car for James Finch and Phoenix Racing next year before replacing Mark Martin in the #5 at HMS in 2012. That report also said Martin could take over part ownership of Phoenix Racing in 2012. Phoenix Racing officials said no conversations with Hendrick have taken place. "I don't know where that rumor came from," Hendrick said. Kahne said he and Hendrick spoke on Friday and that his 2011 situation wasn't part of the conversation. "I didn't even ask anything about next year and he didn't bring it up, either," Kahne said. "We were just talking about other stuff, so I would say there is no new news." Among the speculated possibilities for Kahne next year, in addition to Phoenix Racing, have been Stewart-Haas Racing and Red Bull Racing. Hendrick did say that Kahne would be in a Chevrolet, and Red Bull currently fields Toyotas. "The biggest problem with us, with me and the whole situation is I want to make the right decision for him and our company," Hendrick said. "I'm not really procrastinating as much as I'm trying to let everything unfold."(ESPN.com

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Courtesy of Racin' Today
http://www.racintoday.com

Villeneuve: Road America One Of World’s Best

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/18754

Views On Road Racing Have Come Full Circle

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/18773

Force Hood No. 1 In Bristol

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/18766

Rojas Red Hot At Mid-Ohio

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/18762

Kahne Soars To Pole At Infineon

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/18758

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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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SONOMA, Calif. -- Jason Bowles won the Coors Light Pole Award in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West qualifying at Infineon Raceway on Friday as he continues his quest for his third straight win in the Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200.

Bowles, competing in only his second series race this season after winning the championship last year, turned in the fast time on the 1.99-mile road course with a lap of 78.127 seconds (91.697 mph). It marked his 10th career series pole.

"It was a good lap," Bowles said of his qualifying run. "The car drove really, really good. We made some adjustments there at the end of practice, because we didn’t get a chance to make a mock run. The car drove substantially better. I’m really happy with it. The guys did a great job. It’s a new car that we just got last week. I’m really looking forward to the race tomorrow."

Road race ace Boris Said was second quickest in qualifying, turning a lap of 78.570 seconds (91.180 mph). He was followed by David Mayhew, who enters the event leading the championship standings; Greg Pursley; and David Gilliland, who is gunning for another win to go with his 2007 victory at Sonoma.

Rounding out the top 10 in qualifying were Tom Dyer, Brandon Davis, Andrew Ranger, Luis Martinez Jr., and Paulie Harraka.

Bowles will lead the 37-car field to the green flag at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Qualifying Results

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST - THUNDER VALLEY CASINO RESORT 200 Lineup

Race Saturday; Qualifying Saturday

at Infineon Raceway

Sonoma, CA

Lap Length: 1.99 miles

1. (31) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Chevrolet, 91.697

2. (57) Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford, 91.180

3. (17) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 91.176

4. (26) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 91.104

5. (45) David Gilliland, Riverside, Calif., Dodge, 91.038

6. (86) Tom Dyer, Corte Madera, Calif., Ford, 90.911

7. (10) Brandon Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Chevrolet, 90.902

8. (35) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Chevrolet, 90.693

9. (6) Luis Martinez, Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Ford, 90.539

10. (12) Paulie Harraka, Wayne, N.J., Toyota, 90.253

11. (84) Mattias Ekstrom, Falun, Sweden, Toyota, 90.197

12. (22) Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 90.094

13. (20) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 90.091

14. (21) Blake Koch, West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 89.989

15. (38) Troy Ermish, Fremont, Calif., Chevrolet, 89.800

16. (13) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 89.676

17. (1) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 89.490

18. (65) Stan Silva, Jr., Castroville, Calif., Chevrolet, 89.345

19. (11) Dave Smith, Novato, Calif., Chevrolet, 89.136

20. (16) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 88.589

21. (89) Brian Wong, Newport Beach, Calif., Toyota, 88.566

22. (88) Michael Self, Park City, Utah, Chevrolet, 88.311

23. (9) Josh Combs, Sacramento, Calif., Ford, 88.183

24. (4) Dennis Dyer, Palmdale, Calif., Ford, 87.980

25. (08) Brad Lloyd, Napa, Calif., Ford, 87.436

26. (74) Scott Ivie, San Ramon, Calif., Ford, 86.828

27. (60) Rick Boysal, San Ramon, Calif., Toyota, 86.689

28. (3) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Dodge, 86.581

29. (82) John Davis, San Jose, Calif., Ford, 86.102

30. (14) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Chevrolet, 84.624

31. (81) Garland Self, San Jose, Calif., Ford, 83.972

32. (07) Greg Rayl, Roseville, Calif., Ford, 83.468

33. (15) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 82.729

34. (5) Johnathan Hale, Rio Linda, Calif., Chevrolet, 82.223

35. (2) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 81.622

36. (0) Paul Pedroncelli, Jr., Sonoma, Calif., Chevrolet, 81.121

37. (33) Brian Jackson, Colton, Calif., Chevrolet, 78.862

* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender

_

N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S
_

Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com

NEXT RACE: Bucyrus 200, 3:30pm/et, Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Road America

· Some different race procedures for Road America: Nationwide Series director Joe Balash said Thursday that NASCAR has altered some of its procedures for the inaugural Bucyrus 200 at Road America this weekend, including letting teams decide if and when they can put dry tires back on after wet-weather tires have been used. The Nationwide Series is a rain-tire series, as demonstrated by back-to-back races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal run in the rain. NASCAR dictated when rain tires would go on and off at those races, but Balash said that will be different should wet-weather tires be needed at Road America. Balash also said NASCAR has mandated a rear light for all cars, which should help with vision in the rain. Caution laps on road courses take longer than oval tracks, and that's an even bigger issue at the 4.048-mile Road America course, the longest of any NASCAR track. Balash said NASCAR will use two pace cars to try to cut down on the length of yellow-flag laps. "We can kind of cut the track in half by using multiple pace cars, and that'll speed things up a little bit," Balash said. "Wherever the leader is, the closest pace car will pick him up and close up the field. That'll help us speed up our process." One pace car will be on the frontstretch as always, with a second in the Carousel.(NNS Racing)(6-18-2010)

· Villeneuve fastest in Happy Hour: #32-Jacques Villeneuve was quickest during the final practice session at Road America with a speed of 106.773mph. He was followed by: #35-Tony Ave, #12-Justin Allgaier, #90-Patrick Long, #88-Ron Fellows, #27-Owen Kelly, #62-Brandan Gaughan, #7-J.R. Fitzpatrick, #81-Michael McDowell & #23-Alex Kennedy. Complete results are posted on the Road America practice results page.(6-18-2010)

· Coleman fastest in Friday's first practice: #18-Brad Coleman was the fastest in the third practice session of the week for the Bucyrus 200. The rest of the top 10: #33-Ron Hornaday Jr, #16-Colin Braun, #32, #98-Michel Jourdain Jr (subbing for Paul Menard), #32-Jacque Villeneuve, #6- Ricky Stenhouse Jr, #88-Ron Fellows, #81-Michael McDowell, #27-Owen Kelly & #62-Brendan Gaughan. There were a few slide offs into the gravel, but no major problems, during the session. Complete results are posted on the Road America practice results page.(6-18-2010)

· Goodyear Tire Notes: NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will run the same tire code on all four tire positions at Road America this weekend . . . this is the same tire code that Nationwide teams ran at Watkins Glen last year . . . this year's tire recommendation for Watkins Glen has yet to be released, but this tire is slightly different than the one Nationwide teams will run at the road course in Montreal in August . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Road America. See full notes, codes, pressures and more on the Road America Raqce Info page.(6-18-2010)

· Edwards fastest in second practice: #60-Carl Edwards was the fastest in the second practice session at Road America with a speed of 107.177mph, followed by #98-Menard, #18-Coleman, #16-Braun and #32-Villeneuve. Results are posted on the Road America practice results page.(6-17-2010)

· Menard fastest in opening practice: #98-Paul Menard was the fastest in the opening practice session for the Bucyrus 200 with a speed of 106.721 mph, followed by #27-Owen Kelly, #18-Brad Coleman, #88-Ron Fellows and #60-Carl Edwards. 35 of the 43 teams made session 1 runs, 8 teams did not practice. Results are posted on the Road America practice results page.(6-17-2010)

· Entry List: There are 43 cars [for 43 spots] on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Bucyrus 200 at Road America. Some notes as there are many road course drivers in the field:
J.R. Fitzpatrick takes over the #7 Chevy for JR Motorsports,
Colin Braun is back in the #16 Con-way Ford;
Matt Dibenedetto to drive the #20 JGR Toyota;
Alex Kennedy looks to make decut in the #23 car
Tim George Jr. makes series debut in the #21 RCR Chevy
Jacques Villeneuve set to run the #32 Braun Racing Toyota
Road race expert Ron Fellows drives the #88 for JR Motorsports.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is listed back in the the #6 Ford.
Joey Scarallo is listed in the #56 Toyota
See the complete list on the Road America entry list page.(6-14/16-2010)

· If qualifying is rained out or canceled the teams making the race would be [all of them]:
#35-Tony Ave [32nd in owner points, 14 attempts], #6-Ricky Stenhouse [33rd, 14], #05-Victor Gonzalez Jr. [34th, 14], , #70-Mark Green [35th, 14], #26-Brain Keselowski [36th, 14], #61-Matt Carter [37th, 14], #89-Morgan Shepherd [38th, 14], #04-Kevin Lepage [40th, 10]; #56-Carlos Contreras [41st, 14], #92-Dennis Setzer [42nd, 14], #90-Patrick Long [43rd, 12], #31-Stanton Barrett [54th, 2]; #59-Kyle Kelley [none, 0]
0 missing the race would be: none, only 43 entered

· NASCAR Nationwide Series Makes Road America Debut on ESPN2: The NASCAR Nationwide Series holds its first-ever race at one of America's most famous racing circuits this weekend and ESPN2 will have live coverage of the Bucyrus 200 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The 4-mile road course is hosting its first NASCAR race on Saturday, June 19. NASCAR Countdown airs at 3:00pm/et, while the race telecast starts at 3:30pm/et with the green flag at 3:51pm/et. ESPN2 is the home of the series all season, with selected races airing on ESPN and ABC.
Allen Bestwick will be the lap-by-lap announcer for the race and also will host NASCAR Countdown. Analysts will be 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Mike Massaro. Reports from two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer will air from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.

· McCkure to miss Road America? UPDATE 2: per Eric McClure's facebook page - "A little unexpected (minor) surgery in the AM..status in question for road america". McClure drives the #24 Chevy for Ed Rensi. No word who the team would use as a driver if McClure is unable to race at Road America.(6-15-2010)
UPDATE: Eric McClure had a minor tear in a muscle that had been a previous issue. The procedure went well today and he has been cleared to race. The plan is for McClure to at least start the race with the hopes of remaining in the car through the duration. If he is unable to go the distance, Chris Cook will be on stand by.(6-15-2010)
UPDATE: According to a team representative, Chirs Cook will take over the #24 Hefty Ford for Eric McClure during the first caution at Road America on Saturday.(6-18-2010)

· Nationwide races for Conway? From an interview the Kevin Conway: "We're going to have a Nationwide car later in the year, and I can't wait to get in it because I've learned so much. Not so much in terms of the feel of the car, but in terms of racing. The guys in the Cup Series race really hard every single lap."(Frontstretch), no details mentioned on the car or team.(6-18-2010)

· Key Motorsports gets sponsor for Road America: Key Motorsports announced Thursday morning a last minute arrangement with Sheboygan Chevrolet to partner with the #40 Chevy team for Saturday's Bucyrus 200, the NASCAR Nationwide Series inaugural event at Road America. The Sheboygan Chevy #40 with driver Mike Bliss arrived in Wisconsin with a guaranteed starting position as a result of their current status in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings. Currently occupying 22nd, Bliss and crew chief Gary Showalter are looking for a strong performance at Road America that will add to the teams recent momentum with a steady gain in points.(Key Motorsports), see an image of the scheme on the #40 Team Schemes page.(6-18-2010)

· Three drivers doing the double: From Thursday night through Sunday night, #60-Carl Edwards, #98-Paul Menard and #22-Brad Keselowski will log some 5,800 miles in the air to practice, qualify and race their Nationwide cars at Road America and their Sprint Cup cars in Infineon Raceway. They'll also give up track time for both events. The three participated in the 5 ½-hour test session Thursday in preparation for the inaugural Bucyrus 200 at Road America. But they'll miss practice Friday while in Sonoma and miss final practice there Saturday to qualify and race at Road America. Whereas in the recent past, double-duty drivers went from Sonoma to the Milwaukee Mile on this weekend, now at least they'll be driving the same style of racetrack at each venue. "Every time we go to Sonoma, that's our first road course of the year," Menard said. "For us to be spending all day here logging laps, I think it's going to help us for Sonoma and for missing on Saturday. "Obviously there's nothing like being on track on Saturday afternoon, but me, I've got Bill Elliott in my car out there for Saturday, and I can't think of a better guy." Kurt Busch will practice in Keselowski's car as well as his own Saturday in Sonoma, and the early plan for Edwards' car is to leave it in the garage. Former Indy-car driver Michel Jourdain Jr. will practice Friday for Menard at Road America, where Roush Fenway Racing teammate Erik Darnell will fill in for Edwards and Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman will drive Keselowski's car. The drivers' odyssey began Wednesday, when they came to Wisconsin. Edwards flew his own plane and then took it to California, where it will remain until he goes home from there. He'll do the Friday night / Saturday night commute with Menard aboard the Citation X owned by Menard's father, home-improvement magnate John Menard, the fastest non-military plane available.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-18-2010)

· Sargento to sponsor #21 car at Road America: Sargento Foods Inc. will serve as primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's #21 Chevy driven by Tim George Jr. in Saturday's Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America . Sargento, a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients and sauces, will have primary branding on the #21 Sargento Chevy for the race, while Zaxby's, the Southeast favorite for chicken fingers and Buffalo wings, will serve as an associate sponsor. Sargento Foods Inc. has demonstrated its passion for cheese and cheese-based solutions throughout its history. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Sargento is a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients and sauces.(RCR) see an image of the car on my #21 Team Scheme page

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Courtesy of The Hot Lap
http://www.TheHotLap.com

The Latest News

Kasey Kahne captures the poll at Infineon Raceway 0 CommentsPosted by THL on June 18, 2010 under Cup Series News, News Links, THL Highlights

Kasey Kahne won the pole Friday at Infineon Raceway in the same car he drove to victory in last year's race on the road course. Kahne turned a lap of 93.893 mph around the 11-turn, 1.99-mile course in a Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. He knocked four-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson from the pole. Johnson, who has never won on a road course, qualified second at 93.809 mph in... more.

Final Practice Results for Road America 0 CommentsPosted by THL on under Nationwide News, Pre Race, THL Highlights

1 32 Jacques Villeneuve Dollar General Stores Toyota 136.484 106.773 8 11 ---.--- ---.--- 2 *35 Tony Ave TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 137.668 105.855 6 6 -1.184 -1.184 3 12 Justin Allgaier Verizon Wireless Dodge 137.702 105.829 2 2 -1.218 -0.034 4 *90 Patrick Long System High Corporation Toyota 137.840 105.723 1 4 -1.356 -0.138 5 88 Ron Fellows AER Manufacturing Chevrolet 137.912 105.... more.

Practice 3 Results from Road America 0 CommentsPosted by THL on under Nationwide News, Pre Race, THL Highlights

1 18 Brad Coleman SafeWay Driving Centers Toyota 137.048 106.334 1 8 ---.--- ---.--- 2 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Longhorn Chevrolet 137.282 106.152 7 7 -0.234 -0.234 3 16 Colin Braun # Roush-Fenway Racing Ford 137.315 106.127 5 6 -0.267 -0.033 4 98 Michel Jourdain Jr. Mastercraft/Menards Ford 137.418 106.047 2 4 -0.370 -0.103 5 32 Jacques Villeneuve Dollar General Stores Toyota 137.492 105.9... more.

Sargento Foods Inc as Primary on No. 21 for Road America 0 CommentsPosted by THL on June 17, 2010 under Nationwide News, Pre Race

Sargento Foods Inc. will serve as primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's No. 21 Chevrolet driven by Tim George Jr. in Saturday's Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The race, which airs live on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, June 19, marks the NASCAR Nationwide Series' inaugural appearance to Road Americ

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C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of Jayski
http://www.jayski.com

Iowa Speedway - Lucas Oil 200, Sunday, July 11, 2010, 2:00pm Eastern

SPEEDtv: Prerace - 1:00pm; Race - 2:00pm

· Crawford visits home town; talks about future: Rick Crawford is a big Elvis Presley fan. So you know he'd go for "A Little Less Conversation" -- both the song and in his professional life. But talk is what the Mobilian is up to these days, on Sirius Satellite Radio on Tuesdays and with potential sponsors as he attempts to get back on the racetrack. "I'm answering a lot of phone calls," Crawford said. "We have a lot of irons in the fire. They just aren't hot enough to get us back on the racetrack. But we hope to be back on the track soon." Crawford, 51, hasn't driven in the past four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races after sitting out just one of the previous 328. Circle Bar Racing's #14 Ford started 2010 without a primary sponsor. Crawford raced in the season opener at Daytona with a one-shot sponsor, then soldiered on without a primary sponsor for three races. Despite two top-10 finishes in those events, the Circle Bar operation was shuttered by the lack of funding. Crawford filled in at Kansas for a part-time team and has been sidelined since. Of the four races he missed, Crawford was at the track for three of them -- two as a consultant and one as a spotter. He said the time out of the truck has given him a broader perspective on the series, but it's also made him want to mix it up with old rivals such as Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine all the more. "It's made Rick Crawford tougher," he said. "I'll come back hungrier. I'm working real hard to put some deals together, and we're coming back to win." Crawford visited Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile on Thursday, presenting the company with a truck hood as thanks for serving as a sponsor for the #14 Ford at Talladega Superspeedway last season. But Crawford said his first visit to the area since the Gulf oil spill had two purposes. Even with his professional problems, Crawford said he knows the home folks are hurting, too. "I came to Mobile to say thank you to some people, but also to check out our businesses that are suffering because of the oil spill," Crawford said. "I want to let everyone know that Alabama is open for business.(al.com/Press Register)(6-18-2010)

· Dillon to run NHMS Nationwide race: Richard Childress Racing is consolidating the #21 Nationwide Series team following the restructuring of the Zaxby's sponsorship. The organization released crew chief Dan Deeringhoff, car chief Tony Hamm and engineer Paul Flury this week as the company reorganizes its Nationwide program. Tim George Jr. will race the car this weekend at Elkhart Lake with veteran crew chief Gere Kennon at the helm. Austin Dillon, who won his first career truck pole at Michigan and finished fifth, will drive the car at New Hampshire with his truck crew chief Danny Stockman calling the shots. Clint Bowyer returns to the seat for Daytona.(Fox Sports)(6-16-2010)

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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
http://www.arcaracing.com

A Personal Note from Bill & Dianna Krick

(TOLEDO, Ohio - June 18, 2010) - After having the opportunity and blessing of serving the ARCA racing community for over 14 years, Chaplain Bill and Dianna Krick feel God's leading to introduce Rev. Frank Arney as the new series Chaplain, effective July 1, 2010.

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=9785

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N A S C A R * C A N A D I A N * T I R E * S E R I E S
http://localracing.nascar.com/news/6
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Canadian Tire Series race to star Steckly, Dilley; Fellows to be sponsored for ...
Toronto Star
Facilitate the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race as a companion to the NAPA Auto Parts 200 Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal Aug. ...

http://www.thestar.com/sports/autoracing/article/825263--canadian-tire-race-to-headline-honda-indy-saturday

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C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
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Insider Racing News
http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/BB/061910.html
Fatherhood is "Extremely Important" to Max Papis
By Brenda Benedict

Menard comes home for Nationwide race

http://www.mtrmedia.com/nationwideseries/2010/06/menard-comes-home-for-nationwide-race.html

Stewart blows a gasket ... again

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100618/SPORTS/100619459?Title=Stewart-blows-a-gasket-again
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fan TV
http://www.racefantv.com/

SATURDAY, JUNE 19
12:30P-1:30	SPEED	*NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, HD, L*
1:30P-3:00	SPEED	*NASCAR Sprint Cup FINAL PRACTICE, Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, HD, L*
3:00P-3:30	espn2/TSN2	*NASCAR Nationwide Series COUNTDOWN: The Bucyrus 200, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, HD, L*
3:30P-7:00	espn2/TSN2	*NASCAR Nationwide Series The Bucyrus 200, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, HD, L* (expect green at 3:51P)
5:00P-8:00	SPEED	*Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series EMCO Gears Classic, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, HD, L*
6:00P-7:00	VS	*IZOD Indycar Series QUALIFYING, Iowa Corn Indy 250, Iowa Speedway, Newton, IA, L*
7:00P-9:00	espn2	*NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series QUALIFYING, E3 Spark Plugs Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN, SDD*
SUNDAY, JUNE 20 (FATHER’S DAY)
8:00A-9:00	SPEED	*FIM MotoGP World Championship AirAsia British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, L*
12:00n-2:00P	SPEED	NASCAR RaceDay: preview of today’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, HD, L
12:00n-1:00P	TSN	*NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Vortex Brake Pads 200, Mosport International Raceway (road course), June 13/10, HD, N*
1:30P-4:30	VS	*IZOD Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250, Iowa Speedway, Newton, IA, HD, L* (expect green at 2:30P)
2:00P-3:00	TNT/TSN2	*NASCAR Sprint Cup COUNTDOWN, Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA*
3:00P-6:30	TNT/TSN2	*NASCAR Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA, HD, L* (expect green at 3:19P)
4:00P-7:00	espn2	*NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series ELIMINATIONS, E3 Spark Plugs Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN, SDD*
6:00P-7:00	SPEED	FIM Moto2 World Championship Silverstone, England, SDD, N
7:00P-8:00	SPEED	The SPEED Report, HD, N
8:00P-9:00	SPEED	NASCAR Victory Lane: Toyota/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, HD, L
9:00P-10:00	SPEED	Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, HD, L
11:00P-1:00A	TSN2	*IZOD Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250, Iowa Speedway, Newton, IA, HD, SDD*
MONDAY, JUNE 21
7:30P-8:00	SPEED	NASCAR Race Hub, N
TUESDAY, JUNE 22
12:00m-1:00A	espn2	NASCAR Now, SDD
7:30P-8:00	SPEED	NASCAR Race Hub, N
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
12:00m-12:30A	espn2	NASCAR Now, SDD
10:00P-10:45	SHOW	Inside NASCAR, N

We do not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/

Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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