Phoenix - Hot Topics
Phoenix, Az.

Friday

Dodge Rumblings - There has been a lot of talk about one of the current manufacturers involved in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition making plans to exit the arena. John Fernandez, Director, Dodge Motorsports Operations, says he's heard the rumblings, but isn't the focus.

“I’ve heard the rumor, but obviously we’re not involved in it. I haven’t heard anything from General Motors or Ford that indicates they’re in any jeopardy. Obviously their total companies right now are having a tough time in the marketplace, but that’s happened before and it’ll happen again I’m sure. As far as I know, GM and Ford are still committed to NASCAR and committed to racing in the Cup Series. As far as I know right now it’s only a rumor.”

So how long is Dodge's current commitment to NASCAR?

“I don’t think there’s anything set out there right now as far as how long we’re committed for. I think we still believe it’s the right place to be to show off the image we’re trying to project for the Dodge brand performance, the capableness of our cars. Quite frankly we’re just getting in position now to win some races and show some strength with our program. They’re starting to mature to the point where hopefully we can take a run at it this year. We’ve built up our drivers to the point where we’ve got four or five capable drivers with some young guys coming along. That’s strong. It’s the second year for the Charger, and it’s starting to show some strength. You’ve heard me say this before. Inherently that’s a better car than we’ve ever had. It’s taken awhile to figure out and there were some complications last year, but I think we’ve shown and demonstrated this year that the car is capable of winning races. We’ve won three of the first seven and we probably should have won Daytona. We had a good enough car to win there, but it was a we just didn’t win kind of thing. I’m pretty comfortable with where we’re at. We’ve got a long way to go before we want to quit.”

Thursday

Busted - NASCAR announced that Joe Shear Jr., crew chief of the No. 43 Ford driven by Aaron Fike and Chris Wright, crew chief for the No. 35 Ford of Regan Smith, have each been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until December 31, 2006 following rule violations at Nashville Superspeedway on April 15, 2006.

Shear was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20A-12.8.1A: Roof height too low in post-race inspection) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book.
Additionally, Fike was penalized 25 NASCAR Busch Series driver championship points and team owner Mike Curb was penalized 25 NASCAR Busch Series owner championship points for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (20A-12.8.1A).

Wright was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20A-12.3: Shock Absorbers). 

Win One for the Troops - As the driver of the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet, Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway takes on a special meaning for Joe Nemechek. 

Billed as "Salute to Military Families", Nemechek knows the significance of the race and making soldiers and their families proud of the 01 Army car.

"Every race is special, and with this weekend's event focused on the military families it makes it even more special for me," offered Nemechek. "We take great pride in what our soldiers do for our freedom, and yet, we can never overlook the sacrifices of the soldiers' families. I want to run up front and have all of the soldiers and their families cheering for their 01 Army Chevy."

Though he doesn't need it, the added incentive is welcomed by Nemechek, who is looking for a breakthrough race at the eighth Nextel Cup event of the season.

"We haven't hit full stride and it's time to get into gear," said Nemechek. "Everyone is working closely together to get us on the right path. We've run well at Phoenix in the past and I have a good feeling about this weekend.”

At last year's spring race at Phoenix, Nemechek finished 10th, but ran as high as second before a pit-road glitch shoved him to the back of the field.

"We know what it takes to be competitive at Phoenix," noted Nemechek. "It's just a matter of putting it all together and avoiding mistakes and accidents."

Things just keep falling his way – Don’t expect the just-completed Easter off-week to slow Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet). He began the break as one of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ hottest drivers and ended it by winning this past Sunday’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Nashville Superspeedway, his first NASCAR Busch Series win this season.
Harvick – one of seven drivers running fulltime schedules in both series – also leads the NASCAR Busch Series standings.

Back in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 for the first time since last year’s June event at Michigan, Harvick has jumped from 23rd to ninth place in three races. He’s done it on the strength of three consecutive top-10 finishes, his most recent a fifth two weeks ago at Texas.

Harvick has one top-five finish (fourth in 2004) in six Phoenix events.
Things also are going well for Harvick the team owner. He and wife DeLana own Kevin Harvick Inc., which fields the NASCAR Busch Series team of Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Burney Lamar (No. 77 Dollar General Chevrolet) and the No. 33 Outdoor Life Channel Chevrolet, to be driven at Phoenix by Ron Hornaday Jr. Lamar, who finished seventh behind Harvick at Nashville, is now 10th in that series’ standings.

KHI also owns the No. 33 Chevrolet driven by Hornaday in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The Pink Slips - Several teams made leadership moves during the off-week, meaning new faces atop different pit boxes in Phoenix. Roush Racing led the way by moving Bob Osborne, formally Carl Edwards’ (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) crew chief, to Jamie McMurray’s (No. 26 Crown Royal Ford) team.
McMurray’s crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, will oversee Roush Racing’s NASCAR Busch Series teams and assumes the new title of senior crew chief. Fennig also will be crew chief for Matt Kenseth’s (No. 17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford) NASCAR Busch Series team, the No. 17 Ameriquest/Pennzoil Ford. Wally Brown, Roush Racing’s head engineer, becomes Edwards’ crew chief.

On Monday, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that Steven Lane will become the new crew chief for David Stremme (No. 40 Coors Light/Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Dodge). Former crew chief Jeff Vandermoss, who began the season as Stremme’s crew chief, will assume Lane’s old position as car chief for Reed Sorensen (No. 41 Target Dodge).

Return to Contents

Return to Contents