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Texas - Hot Topics
SundayBeing Cautious – Goodyear Update: Goodyear's Rick Campbell showed caution when asked how speeds for the NEXTEL All-Star race and the Coca Cola 600 would compare with last year's numbers. Saturday
Getting Ahead? -Fines and suspensions clearly are not enough to stop teams from trying anything to make a race. Evidence of that statement sat on the stainless steel bench inside the NASCAR transporter on Saturday morning. Sitting side by side, for anyone in the garage interested in looking, an intake manifold submitted by Dodge and approved by NASCAR and an illegal manifold taken from the No. 74 MyGuardian911.com Dodge of McGlynn Racing and driven by Derrike Cope. Raynard McGlynn of Wilkes Barrie, Pennsylvania owns McGlynn Racing. John Darby, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Director of Competition, jokingly commented the infraction, exterior illegal modifications, was "too cool" to warrant a penalty. On the serious side, Darby commented it wasn't "Tuesday" the day NASCAR typically issues penalties for infractions from the previous weekend.
FridayTough Rubber - Goodyear has settled on a tougher, more durable tire to be used at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600. The new tire reduces grip, slowing lap times over the first test held one week prior. Dale Jarrett put 80 laps on a set of the new tires during the second test. Kevin Harvick also found the new tires to his liking but limited his runs to 40 laps. More Bounce to the Ounce - NASCAR's Jim Hunter reiterated that the sanctioning body will be going with a 14-gallon tank on the Nextel Cup cars for the upcoming event in Charlotte. Hunter said it was decision made on safety. "In the past there were problems with the racing surface," Hunter said. "But, the track has been resurfaced and is much smoother than it used to be. A smoother racing surface makes for more speed." A smaller tank creates more pit stops. Hunter estimates instead of 70 lap runs, the cars will pit at 40. In those stops, it is anticipated the cars will take on new tires more often lessening the risk of tire failure. King of the Retro - Richard Petty and STP created a bond for decades that lasted the longest of any in NASCAR. Today, the combination announced a return together with a retro paint scheme. "STP is the longest sponsor deal," Petty said. "We're working on getting them back on the car." Petty smiles when he thinks that STP's $43 donation to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for every lap the car completes at Talledega and Richmond. Petty said, "Every dollar counts. This brings back a lot of memories in the 43. It would really be great to win a few races. I made most of my name with STP. I see the team is going back in that direction and it would be neat to do that with STP." Driver Bobby Labonte remembers the 43 days. "When I was 5 I had stickers all over my quarter midgets," Labonte said. "I thought that's all there was. I thought STP stood for super tonic Petty. To see the famous 43 with the red and blue colors would be really great." We love Tots - Building on a successful 2005 campaign, Dale Jarrett and the UPS Stores have partnered with the Marine Reserves Toys for Tots program again in 2006. Last year Dale drove a special Tots for Tots paint scheme at the November Texas race. Aikman Plays Tough – It has to come sooner or later considering NASCAR is in town and the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman is now a team owner. “With Dallas signing a controversial player to replace another one, could you see yourself hiring a very controversial but very talented driver for your team?” the reporter asked. Aikman didn’t answer immediately. "That is a great question,” Aikman said. “It is somewhat difficult for me to answer because I don't know the drivers as well as I know the football players. I will tell you this, my philosophy is that I would much rather have a less talented player, but someone who is a team guy, who worked hard, who knew what team was all about, I was fortunate enough to play with those guys and that is one of the big reasons we were able to win three world championships during the 12 years that I played. I don't think talented players alone win anything for you, especially selfish, talented players. Some of the drivers I know that are somewhat controversial, as someone new to the sport, it seems to me and I don't want to speak out of turn, I kind of like it. I kind of like the intensity, I like the aggressiveness of these guys. Just who is Troy Aikman a fan of? Tony Stewart.
“The No. 48 Lowe’s team has done some great family-themed paint schemes in the past few years,” said Johnson. “This Shamu scheme is no different. All kids love Shamu. I know I did growing up in San Diego. Now, I’ll be able to bring Shamu to the beaches of Daytona and hopefully introduce him to victory lane.” Lowe’s is the official Home Improvement Store of all the Busch Entertainment Corp. (BEC) theme parks, including SeaWorld. The paint scheme is part of SeaWorld’s introduction of its all new Shamu show, called “Believe” at each of the SeaWorld parks this year. In addition to the Shamu paint scheme, a lucky race fan will have the opportunity to see the new show and watch as Jimmy Johnson races the Shamu No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Fans can log onto www.lowesracing.com, sign up for a free Team Lowe’s Racing fan club membership, then race the specially designed No. 48 Chevrolet online. The fan with the fastest time will win a trip to Orlando to visit SeaWorld and Discovery Cove as well as the opportunity to watch Jimmie race. The contest will run from April 7 to May 12. Mid-Atlantic Connection - What do Red Bull Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing have in common? Both have former Mid-Atlantic Weekly Racing Series Champions working for them. Curtis Markham (Chesterfield, Va.) and Elton Sawyer (Chesapeake, Va.) were regional champions in the Late Model Stock division and both raced at Southside Speedway in Richmond and Langley Speedway in Hampton. Markham, working for Gibbs, brought the talents of current rookie Denny Who will be the NEXTEL Red Bulls? - 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.
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Whale of a Deal – Lowe’s and SeaWorld will team up with Jimmie Johnson to feature a Shamu paint scheme when the Daytona 500 champion returns to the superspeedway on July 1.© CircleTrackPlus, EZine Media, Inc. 2006
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