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• Goodyear now reports going back to the drawing board following the first tire test at Lowe's Motor Speedway. One week later, Goodyear returned with 75 tires using three different compounds in search of the best combination to use for the Coca Cola 600.
The chosen tire reduces grip, slowing lap times a bit more than a full
second over the first test. (4-8-2006)
• When Red Bull Racing debuts their two Toyota teams at Daytona in February of 2007, rumor has it the organization is looking to pair a rookie with a veteran, taking an approached used by Evernham Motorsports with Dodge. Veterans on the Red Bull list are said to be Kevin Harvick and Dale Jarrett. No word on a rookie, but it could easily be an accomplished veteran from another of the Motorsports arenas.
• Is the Goodyear tire leasing program about to go bust? A check of the Goodyear mounting compound following the first six races of the season reveals teams have not cut back on the number of tires purchased for use during the race, which was the purpose of the program in the first place.
"The amount you receive back from an unused tire isn't enough," Steve Hmiel explained. "That's why you see more teams changing tires when caution periods are close together." (4-7-2006)
• One of the most famous car designs in all of NASCAR history was the No. 43 STP design driven to victory lane all over the country by Richard Petty. It
appears the STP name will once again grace a Petty-owned car as a primary
sponsor, this time with another NASCAR champion at the wheel, Bobby Labonte. (4-7-2006)
• Rumors of a major announcement coming at Martinsville Speedway next weekend have been denied. The team, the No. 14 Chevrolet driven by Sterling Marlin, is hoping to make an announcement very soon concerning a three-race deal.
That announcement could be made either just before the Martinsville event
opens on Friday or at Martinsville. There is still hope of making a major announcement, just not at Martinsville. (03-26-2005)
• Is Bruton Smith, CEO of SMI, in a buying mood?
Smith, during an announcement for a new construction project called Trophy Towers, a 127-unit Condo facility to be built outside the first turn at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, did not deny questions about purchasing another speedway.
Smith is anxious to bring a second NEXTEL Cup date to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. To achieve his goal, Smith said he is interested in facilities in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Smith also mentioned by name Darlington Raceway, but said, "I would buy it to restore the Labor Day event, not to get a date for Las Vegas."
Smith would also like to spend money purchasing the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). He says Jeff Byrd, President of Bristol Motor Speedway, is heading up efforts to come to an agreement, which would include the five facilities owned by the NHRA. Purchase of the Glendora California based sanctioning body might also include the construction of a state of the art facility at Texas Motor Speedway. (03-10-2006)
• Does Casey Mears know something we don't? In a teleconference transcript from Dodge Motorsports, Mears responded to a question about being the Nextel Cup Series points leader and here's what he said, "We kinda thought about that, too. We thought about the scenarios if they are going to take points away from the 48 car. In that case we'd be leading the points. It's awesome. Obviously it's one event. Next week everything can completely turn around and go backwards, but leading into California we've got a lot of confidence. That's been a good race for me. It feels great. Obviously I've left Daytona in worst shape." CircletrackPlus.com contacted NASCAR immediately and 1:30 PM, EST, a source stated that Casey was not the points leader but Jimmy Johnson. Who's right here? Mears or NASCAR? (2-21-2006) Follow-up - NASCAR issues decision
• Could it be possible Goodyear has come up with the first true cost saving measure team owners can't circumvent? CircleTrackplus.com has learned the new leasing program actually pays a rebate to car owners at the end of the year. More to the story as it unfolds. (2-17-2006)
• One garage source says the current opposition by NEXTEL Cup Series car owners to building cars that meet NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow specifications is the current state of the specifications - in flux. If NASCAR could clearly define the specifications construction would begin almost immediately. Teams that have built cars have complained no sooner than they get a car finished, they have to cut part of it up because the specs changed. (2-14-2006)
• A respected source in the garage area reports NASCAR officials had a little help discovering the ingenious manner of cheating which lead to the ejection of Chad Knauss from the remainder of the Daytona activities. To add salt to the wound inflicted on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, this source reports the finger pointing that led officials to the infraction came from within the Chevrolet camp. - (2-14-2006)
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