Fines, Points and Suspensions for the 24 & 48

From the Crossville Chronicle - Crossville, TN. June 29, 2007

By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com

Nascar announced the expected penalties for the Hendricks Motor Sports teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. The same as DEI got for the infraction at Darlington, 100 Drivers points, 100 Owners points, 6 week suspension of crew chiefs, Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus and both placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007.

Both cars were found to have the left front fenders altered during initial inspection at Sonoma, Ca. last Friday. If you listened to anybody from HMS, or even some of the former crew chief TV guys, it was all a misunderstanding and the infraction was a ‘gray’ area. The fact is, with the body of the Car of Tomorrow, there is no gray area. Besides the multi-point template that NASCAR uses on the car, each team was given specific instructions on the entire body, with the warning that NO Variations of any kind will be allowed without prior Nascar approval.

For the teams to get any less a penalty than DEI did would have been a slap in the face to all of the teams. With the history of Chad Knaus and the 48 team in skirting the rule book, many folks felt that they got off light and should have been forced to sit out the race. The penalties imposed will realistically have little effect on the two teams.

The Nextel Cup and Busch teams will be headed to New Hampshire this weekend while the Truck series will be at Memphis.

Drivers to watch for Sunday include Jeff Burton, who leads all drivers with four wins at the track. Jeff Gordon has three wins followed by Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson with 2 each. Last years winners at NHIS were Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick in the fall race.

Local racing action from last weekend -

Friday night racing action at Wartburg Speedway was another action packed night where the $2000 bounty on Anthony white in the Super Late Models went unclaimed. But the best race of the night was the final feature with the Front Wheel Drive cars. Chris Morrison made a late race pass on David Hall Sr, to claim the checked flag in an action packed, caution free 15 lap race.

Wartburg top 5’s - SLM 1. Anthony White, 2. Steve Smith, 3. Curt Williams, 4. Billy Ogle Jr., 5. Stacy Boles

Sportsman - 1. Darrick York, 2. Jeff Hamby Jr., 3. Mark Rosner, 4. Keith Longmire, 5. Jeff Adkisson

Pure Street - 1. Jonathan Sims, 2. Joe Seiber, 3. Doug York, 4. John Smith, 5. Michael Millsap

Pure mini - 1. Jason Manley, 2. David Christmas, 3. Jim Frost, 4. Shawn Shoan, 5. Lance Frost
Front Wheel Drive - 1. Chris Morrison, 2. David Hall Sr., 3. Mike Ellis, 4. Wayne Lewis, 5. Billy Freytag
Saturday night action at Crossville Raceway came to an abrupt stop during the Mini Stock feature and heavy rain hit the track. After attempts to dry the track to resume racing, it was determined that the track was unsafe to continue. The limited Late Model, Open wheel, Street Stock and front wheel drive features will be run in conjunction with the regular racing program on Saturday July 7th. That means fans will be treated to 9 feature races that night.
Mini Stock top 5 - 1. Brian Gregory 2. John Ross 3. Randy Goolsby 4. Joseph Howell 5. Mike Gales
This weekend Wartburg will run a full race program tonight with Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Pure Street, Pure Mini, and Front Wheel drive with racing starting at 7:30 pm (et) Saturday Crossville Raceway will host the Advanced Auto Parts Tennessee Thunder series for the running of the Freedom 60. The 60 lap Super Late Model race will pay $5,000 to the winner. The full field of racing will accompany the Freedom 60, with the Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stock, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive races. Gates open for fans at 5:00 pm with racing action starting at 7:00 pm (ct)
I-40 Dragway will hold their Bounty series Saturday, gates open at 4:00 pm
Next week Wartburg Speedway will host the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th . The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day. The Sportsman division will also compete for a $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s. Restaurants Independence 70 on Wednesday July 4th will mark the largest Super Late Model event ever held on the grounds of Wartburg Speedway. The $10,000 to win one-day event will feature a complete show of Time Trials, Dash, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the 70-lap A-Main on America’s Independence Day.
The Sportsman division will also compete for a nice paying $2,000 to win 30-lap main event. There will also be a complete show of Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, and Pure Mini’s the night of the Shoney’s Restaurants Independence Spectacular at Wartburg Speedway. Fans will also be treated to a Huge Fireworks display.
Get off that couch and bring the family out to a local dirt track and support the local racers. You may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.

#8 Another Ploy to Discredit Teresa?

From Speedwaymedia.com - June 26,2007

By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com


It’s been a big question since Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that he was leaving DEI, will he take the #8 with him? The story got more fuel when Jr announced his deal with HMS, where he stated that he would like to keep the eight but didn’t know how much Teresa would want for it.

Again this past weekend Rick Hendrick announced that he would like to BUY the #8. This all sounds good, but is it really nothing more than a PR stunt? Jim Utter of the Charlotte Observer went to heart of the matter when he talked to Ramsey Poston, spokesman for NASCAR. "NASCAR owns the numbers and licenses them to teams on an annual basis," Poston said. "A team may allow another team to use the number for that year pending NASCAR's approval."

Now DEI knew along that Nascar does not allow selling of the number and so did HMS and Dale Jr., in fact almost anybody that has been around racing since before the death of Dale Earnhardt was aware of that. Of course Ricky Rackman the MTV guy that shows up on the pre-race shows didn’t, but then again he really knows nothing about NASCAR and proves it weekly.

So the big question is WHY all this smoke screen over the number? Simple, it’s all about money, lots and lots of money. Rick Hendrick, and Dale Jr stand to make a windfall on the sale of shirts, jackets, diecast and souvenirs with the change of the car number, color and sponsor. And what better way to boost those sales that to infuriate the Junior Nation into believing it is all Teresa’s fault. Show your spite for the wicked step mother and buy all these new Jr. items. Let her know that the fans are loyal to HIM and not her and DEI.

If Teresa really wanted to hurt Dale Jr, she would release the number and ask NASCAR to give it to HMS and then insist that Budweiser go with it. That small thing would cost Rick and Junior $Millions. But Teresa is a businesswoman, she will keep the 8, try to keep Budweiser by filling the car with a talented driver and keep her focus on DEI.

So in the end, the only one that will really be hurt by this whole number deal is the Junior fans who will be forced to shell out some pretty big $$$$ for all new Junior merchandise.

NASCAR heads West for road Course

From The Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN. Friday June 22, 2007

By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com

The Nascar Nextel Cup teams head to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sunday.
As usual some road course ‘ringers’ will be replacing some of the regular drivers. Michael Waltrip is taking no chances this week putting Terry Labonte in the 55 NAPA car, not only is Terry and experienced and successful road course driver, he also brings that guaranteed ‘Past Champion’ provisional with him. MWR will also replace David Reutimann in the 00 Burger King car with Open Wheel expert PJ Jones. Ron Fellows will sub for Tony Raines in the 96 DLP car, while German road racer Klaus Graf will take over the 49 Bam racing car of Mike Bliss.
All eyes of course will be on Juan Pablo Montoya as he gets his first chance to show his ‘stuff’ in his environment. Fans will get a chance to see if his win of the Busch race at Mexico was a real example of where he ranks with the Nascar crowd or if it was just a run over of the second tier drivers.
NASCAR announced last Sunday that they have filed a $100Million countersuit against AT&T, this time charging a violation of Nascar rules when AT&T followed a court ruling and put their logo on the 31 car. AT&T of course followed this up by signing a 3 year contract extension with RCR on the 31 car, and Jeff Burton and RCR have come to an agreement on a contract extension for the driver.
The Nascar Busch Series and the Nascar Craftsman Truck Series both head to Milwaukee this weekend.
Local Racing Results and News;
There was some great racing action over the weekend Wartburg Speedway and Cookeville Speedway on Friday night and at Crossville Raceway on Saturday night. Without a doubt the best race of the weekend was the Super Late Model race at Crossville where Lancing’s Curt Williams battled the whole race wheel to wheel with Junior Brown while a similar battle behind them for third between Johnny Stout and Duke Lowe’
Friday June 15; Wartburg Speedway top 5’s
Super Late Models- 1. Anthony White, 2. Steve Smith, 3. Curt Williams, 4. Jeff Smith, 5. Perry Delaney
Sportsman- 1.Jeff Hamby Jr, 2. Derrick York, 3. Josh Collins, 4. Jeff Adkisson, 5. Johnny Lane
Street Stock- 1. Jason Capps, 2. Troy Brown, 3. Eric Hall, 4. Reagan Williams, 5. Doug York
Mini Stock- 1. Jason Manley, 2. David Christmas, 3. Jim Frost, 4. Nick Nelson, 5. Rocky McNabb
FWD- 1. Chris Morrison, 2. David Hall Sr, 3. Mike Ellis, 4. Billy Freytag, 5. Blake Hall

Saturday June 16; Crossville Raceway updates: Street Stock winner after review is Chris Croinex. Brandon Williams declared ‘official’ winner of the Limited Late Model race, after inspection of equipment showed it to be legal.


After a short 4 week season, and following what fans and drivers called the best race yet last Friday, the owners of Cookeville Speedway (formerly Tennessee Motor Speedway in Baxter) announced that they are closing. That leaves the area with only one Friday night race at Wartburg Speedway, which is under new management this season. The folks there have been putting on a good show weekly and slowly gaining more support. To show their determination, the owners of Wartburg Speedway have enlarged the pit area, added more tier parking and new building are under construction to replace the old concession stand and tower.
Mark your calendar for these events - Saturday June 30th, the Advance Auto Parts Tennessee Thunder Series returns to Crossville Raceway for a $5K to win Super Late Model race with all supporting classes. Wednesday July 4th, Wartburg Speedway will host the Independence 70, a $10K Super Late Model event along with a $2K Sportsman race and Fireworks. Saturday July 7th, is Armed Forces night at Crossville Raceway with discount admission for all active and retired military with ID.
This weekend, Friday night Wartburg has a $2K Bounty for anyone that can beat Anthony White in the SLM, plus a full race card, Sportsman, Stock, Mini and FWD starting at 7:30 pm (ET). Saturday night the action at Crossville Raceway with Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stock, Mini Stock, Front Wheel Drive and Cruiser Cars starts at 7:00 pm (CT)
Get off that couch and come on out to a local Dirt Track and support the local racers, you may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.