NASCAR: March 20, 2006
Posted: Monday March 20, 2006 4:00PM; Updated: Monday March 20, 2006 4:00PM
Kevin Harvick has set too high a price tag in his contract renegotiations with General Motors, and it now seems unlikely that car owner Richard Childress will renew the deal, according to sources. Toyota would likely be willing to support Harvick with a full Nextel Cup-Busch-Truck package, but it is unclear if GM is willing to match that. And it's unclear if Harvick would back down on his price in order to stay with Chevrolet.
-- Winston-Salem Journal
NASCAR will conduct its first short-track test of its "Car of Tomorrow" on March 27 at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR expects at least one car from Roush Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing to participate. NASCAR also will test its car. NASCAR has all but completed work on the design of the car, which will be 2 inches taller and 4 inches wider than current Cup cars and will include safety innovations. The new cars also are expected to be less aerodynamically sensitive.
-- Charlotte Observer
Canada's hottest young stock car driver will sign his first major professional racing contract today in Miami. Pete Shepherd III will be unveiled as the new driver for Nextel Cup series star Carl Edwards' No. 99 R.E. Technologies Ford powered USAC Silver Crown car at Homestead. The 19-year-old Shepherd won't waste any time getting to the race track either as he will be at the controls of the 750-horsepower open-wheel monster at Homestead in this weekend's race. It will be the fastest car -- by far -- that the 2004 CASCAR rookie of the year has driven.
-- Toronto Sun
After waiting nearly seven years for his opportunity, the rain delay in Atlanta didn't seem to matter to Bill Lester. But his family won't be there. Bill Lester Sr., a chemistry professor at Cal-Berkeley, and Lester's mother, Rochelle, had to fly back to northern California on Sunday night. And the driver's wife, Cheryl, is nearly nine months pregnant.
-- St. Petersburg Times
It was like old times at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. The wet weather was reminiscent of the early days of the track, then known officially as Atlanta International Raceway, but often referred to as Atlanta International Rainway. Eight of the first 10 races at the Atlanta track were rain-delayed or postponed, the added costs and lost revenue putting the track in such great financial peril that it barely survived to become the racing palace it is today.
-- The Tennessean
Penske Racing will use 2004 Dodge Intrepids through the April 9 Texas race, and president Don Miller said the team will likely have to soon switch back to the aerodynamically troublesome Charger. Dodge is letting its teams figure out their own remedies for the second-year chassis, but Miller knows his team will eventually have to commit to the Charger. Penske opted to use the more stable Intrepid for comparative purposes. Teams, by NASCAR rules, can use a phased-out model for three years.
-- St. Petersburg Times
Kyle Busch describes his relationship with Tony Stewart as "probably not very good" after last week's incident at Las Vegas. Busch shouted over his radio, "He's trying to kill me!" after being sent swerving by Stewart as they fought for position. Busch said he phoned Stewart last week to discuss the situation. Did Stewart have a positive response? "He did and he didn't," Busch said.
-- The Tennessean
Scott Riggs, Kevin Harvick, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte are the Nextel Cup drivers who have been chosen to participate in the Goodyear tire test on the new pavement at Lowe's Motor Speedway on March 28-29.
-- Charlotte Observer
In some ways, it's fitting that NASCAR's weather luck ran out on the same weekend that Bobby Hamilton told everyone he's beginning cancer treatments. Hamilton raced in Friday night's Truck race here, finishing 12th, just hours after walking into the media center and telling everyone about his diagnosis. It would be his last race, he said, but only for a while.
-- Miami Herald
NASCAR inspectors confiscated an unapproved side window from the No. 21 Ford of Ken Schrader and an unapproved weight from the No. 10 Dodge driven by Scott Riggs this weekend.
-- Charlotte Observer
Holiday Inn will be the primary sponsor for Jeff Burton's No. 29 Chevrolet in 10 Busch Series races this year, beginning with the May 5 race at Richmond. The May 27 Busch race at Lowe's Motor Speedway is also on the list.
-- ThatsRacin.com
Posted: Monday March 20, 2006 4:00PM; Updated: Monday March 20, 2006 4:00PM
Kevin Harvick has set too high a price tag in his contract renegotiations with General Motors, and it now seems unlikely that car owner Richard Childress will renew the deal, according to sources. Toyota would likely be willing to support Harvick with a full Nextel Cup-Busch-Truck package, but it is unclear if GM is willing to match that. And it's unclear if Harvick would back down on his price in order to stay with Chevrolet.
-- Winston-Salem Journal
NASCAR will conduct its first short-track test of its "Car of Tomorrow" on March 27 at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR expects at least one car from Roush Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing to participate. NASCAR also will test its car. NASCAR has all but completed work on the design of the car, which will be 2 inches taller and 4 inches wider than current Cup cars and will include safety innovations. The new cars also are expected to be less aerodynamically sensitive.
-- Charlotte Observer
Canada's hottest young stock car driver will sign his first major professional racing contract today in Miami. Pete Shepherd III will be unveiled as the new driver for Nextel Cup series star Carl Edwards' No. 99 R.E. Technologies Ford powered USAC Silver Crown car at Homestead. The 19-year-old Shepherd won't waste any time getting to the race track either as he will be at the controls of the 750-horsepower open-wheel monster at Homestead in this weekend's race. It will be the fastest car -- by far -- that the 2004 CASCAR rookie of the year has driven.
-- Toronto Sun
After waiting nearly seven years for his opportunity, the rain delay in Atlanta didn't seem to matter to Bill Lester. But his family won't be there. Bill Lester Sr., a chemistry professor at Cal-Berkeley, and Lester's mother, Rochelle, had to fly back to northern California on Sunday night. And the driver's wife, Cheryl, is nearly nine months pregnant.
-- St. Petersburg Times
It was like old times at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. The wet weather was reminiscent of the early days of the track, then known officially as Atlanta International Raceway, but often referred to as Atlanta International Rainway. Eight of the first 10 races at the Atlanta track were rain-delayed or postponed, the added costs and lost revenue putting the track in such great financial peril that it barely survived to become the racing palace it is today.
-- The Tennessean
Penske Racing will use 2004 Dodge Intrepids through the April 9 Texas race, and president Don Miller said the team will likely have to soon switch back to the aerodynamically troublesome Charger. Dodge is letting its teams figure out their own remedies for the second-year chassis, but Miller knows his team will eventually have to commit to the Charger. Penske opted to use the more stable Intrepid for comparative purposes. Teams, by NASCAR rules, can use a phased-out model for three years.
-- St. Petersburg Times
Kyle Busch describes his relationship with Tony Stewart as "probably not very good" after last week's incident at Las Vegas. Busch shouted over his radio, "He's trying to kill me!" after being sent swerving by Stewart as they fought for position. Busch said he phoned Stewart last week to discuss the situation. Did Stewart have a positive response? "He did and he didn't," Busch said.
-- The Tennessean
Scott Riggs, Kevin Harvick, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte are the Nextel Cup drivers who have been chosen to participate in the Goodyear tire test on the new pavement at Lowe's Motor Speedway on March 28-29.
-- Charlotte Observer
In some ways, it's fitting that NASCAR's weather luck ran out on the same weekend that Bobby Hamilton told everyone he's beginning cancer treatments. Hamilton raced in Friday night's Truck race here, finishing 12th, just hours after walking into the media center and telling everyone about his diagnosis. It would be his last race, he said, but only for a while.
-- Miami Herald
NASCAR inspectors confiscated an unapproved side window from the No. 21 Ford of Ken Schrader and an unapproved weight from the No. 10 Dodge driven by Scott Riggs this weekend.
-- Charlotte Observer
Holiday Inn will be the primary sponsor for Jeff Burton's No. 29 Chevrolet in 10 Busch Series races this year, beginning with the May 5 race at Richmond. The May 27 Busch race at Lowe's Motor Speedway is also on the list.
-- ThatsRacin.com