IRL Sounding Like The CART Of Old
March 25, 2004
With the recent defection of Rahal and Fernandez to the IRL, the series lineup is really starting to sound like the good old days of CART. Think about it, the only legendary CART names not running in the IRL these days are Newman/Haas and Forsythe. You have Penske, Ganassi, Andretti/Green, and now Patrick Racing with Al Unser, Jr. Quality of performance aside - even the Foyt family name, legendary in open wheel racing, runs in the IRL.
Roush Drivers Speak Out On Scheduling
March 25, 2004
With all the discussion of scheduling changes to the 2005 NEXTEL Cup season, we asked the Roush Racing drivers what their thoughts were on the hot topic and here’s what they had to say:
Mark Martin, Driver No. 6 Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Ford Taurus:
“There is always a lot of talk about this and just as many opinions. My thoughts are this, there is room for a few more races, as long as they give some time off between races and not go for ten weeks in a row. For example, the all star race could run the same week as a NEXTEL Cup race like on a Friday night or so. That would loosen one weekend up there. They could shorten speed weeks to speed week. One week should be enough time to get everything done in Daytona without decreasing anything that we do on track. That would loosen up another week. We could also run once at Martinsville and New Hampshire instead of twice. There is four dates we could move. And the schedule could stay at 38.”
Harvick Gets Shoe Endorsement Deal
March 25, 2004
Did you read that right!? Yes. In yet another step towards NASCAR becoming more like the other mainstream “stick and ball” sports, Kevin Harvick has signed an endorsement deal with a sneaker company. Lugz, a boot and shoe company looking to expand beyond its mostly “urban-based” clientele into the “redneck” market will slap its name on the side of Harvick’s #29 Richard Childress Racing ride and feature Kevin in commercials.
Arend Back In Funny Car
March 25, 2004
The Funny Car field will grow once again as former Keystone Nationals winner Jeff Arend returns to the POWERade Drag Racing Series fulltime beginning April 1-4 at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Arend, a Canadian who won his only national event in 1996 at Maple Grove Raceway, hopes to get in the mix for the 2004 POWERade championship.
Headlines I Wish I Wrote
March 25, 2004
Yes, there are many creative people writing about all aspects of sports, racing in particular. The title of this JPM story is brilliant, even if the point is somewhat off the mark.
Up The Roller Coaster And…
March 24, 2004
…back down again. Yeah, I’ve done it to myself yet again. Haul my sorry butt out of the Champ Car doldrums by reading some positive info and actually start feeling good about the series, when Bam!, down I go again. This time I can thank Roger “The Turncoat” Penske.
Half The Answer….
March 24, 2004
…to the question “who will be the drivers at Williams F1 next year?”, apparently is Mark Webber. Long rumored to be coveted by Frank, the Jaguar team allege they won’t let him go without a fight. As if they had a say in it!
Teams And Drivers To Date
March 24, 2004
In response to a readers question (yes, you Alegria!) here is the current line-up for the Long Beach race on April 18. So far there are 11 commited teams and drivers, with another five or six likely and one possible, which will get the 18 cars needed to make it interesting.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway To Get SAFER Barriers
March 24, 2004
Lowe’s Motor Speedway will have steel and foam energy-reducing barriers, known in the motorsports industry as SAFER barriers, installed in time for its NASCAR events in May.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway Puts $7.5M Into Infield Renovations
March 24, 2004
Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s $7.5 Million Infield Renovation Adds Amenities for Spectators, Participants and Track Rental Customers
CONCORD, N.C. (March 24, 2004) – A $7.5 million infield renovation project is underway at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, featuring just over 64,000 square feet of new construction that will be ready for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 22, and the 45th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 30.