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• If Jack Roush can believe what he’s been told, the scheduled test of the COT (Car of Tommorrow) at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday isn’t much more than an exercise in creating turbulence.
“I had a conversation with Mike Helton and I told him ‘if you want me out there creating turbulence then I’ll be there,’ however Roush knows his current stock of COT’s is not close enough to the current specifications to provide beneficial information to his organization. And, again, if his sources are correct, none of the cars on the track for those two days will conform to the current design specifications.
“It’s my understanding no one will have a car that currently conforms to the specs and that NASCAR has determined there is a front to rear imbalance in the current design which could result in a five to six inch reduction in the length of the rear.” (5-27-2006)
• Many of the teams are wondering why NASCAR won't back off the decision to run 14-gallon fuel cells in the Coca Cola 600. NASCAR has met those ponderings in an unwavering manner saying, "We are married to the use of the smaller fuel cell during the Coca-Cola 600."
However, that decision does not include the race October. That decision will be based on performance seen in the Coca Cola 600. (5-20-2006)
• Drivers and crew chiefs were publicly praising Goodyear for bringing such a hard tire to the racetrack. Privately, thos same individuals were wishing the compound was slightly softer to help prevent a condition called "chattering." Chattering occurs when the tire bounces up and down while rolling down the track at speed. Chattering reduces the grip of the tire. (5-20-2006)
• Who's the lead candidate for the No. 88 (possibly UPS) Ford in 2007? One name mentioned more than once is Brian Vickers.
Vickers is the driver of the No. 25 GMAC Chevrolet owned by Rick Hendrick. (5-20-2006)
• Several of Slugger Labbe's peers were not surprised when the National Commission upheld the four race suspension imposed on the crew chief for an issue at Richmond Int'l Speedway.
"He was told not to come to the racetrack with that setup. He pressed the issue and NASCAR gave him what he deserved," said one team manager.(5-20-2006)
• Michael Waltrip has scheduled a press conference for Saturday 12:30 to be aired live on SPEED Channel's "NASCAR LIVE" concerning the future of Michael Waltrip Racing, Inc.
Waltrip is rumored to be ready to announce the signing of Dale Jarrett as his teammate driving a Toyota Camry in 2007 and 2008. It is not known if the question of the involvement of UPS will also be announced. (5-12-2006)
• The consensus in the NEXTEL Cup Series garage sends Slugger Labbe home for four weeks. Evidently his mounting of the anti-roll bar is something NASCAR officials have seen more than once this year and each time the word went out it was unacceptable.
One team manager admitted he had considered the mounting procedure two years ago but decided the wording in the rulebook made the mounting illegal.
On the other hand, according to one crew chief, if NASCAR had seen the mounting previously without accessing penalty then Labbe's suspension should be struck down upon appeal and NASCAR officials should rewrite the rule for better clarity. (5-12-2006)
• It would appear Dale Jarrett is in the driver's seat when it comes to where he will drive in 2007. UPS has not renewed with car owner Robert Yates and will not until they are assured Jarrett's services have been secured. Jarrett, on the other hand, is being wooed by Toyota, with the full knowledge wherever Jarrett goes, UPS goes. (4-22-2006)
• 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. (4-21-06)
• 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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