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Montoya wont push limits in pursuit of Sonoma win
The first trip to Infineon Raceway in 2007 was a pressure-packed race for Juan Pablo Montoya.
Two years later, the urgency to win today's race is gone for Montoya, replaced by an even bigger goal: making the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
TOYOTA/ SAVEMART 350
Start: 4 p.m. | TNT
SPRINT CUP
OTHER RACING
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NASCAR turns 60
MARCH 15, 1958: Champion Speedway, Fayetteville. A crowd of 5,200 saw Curtis Turner pace all but five of the 150 laps to edge Gwyn Staley by one car length. It was Staley's last Cup start, as he died eight days later in a NASCAR Convertible event at Richmond, Va.
Notable NASCAR moments
The greats raced here
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L.I. man has NASCAR race named after him
Serve your country proudly and you can have a NASCAR race named after you.
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HUNTER-REAY SIGNS ON WITH VISION RACING
Vision Racing has expanded to a two-car team for 2009 with the addition of Ryan Hunter-Reay.
The former Rookie of the Year in 2007 will pilot the No. 21 car alongside Ed Carpenter, who returns for a fifth season with the team.
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Sizzling Sebring: America's shrine of racing
An hour south of Disney World in Florida is a place where nothing, as opposed to everything, is fake. It's Sebring Raceway -- the oldest permanent road racing track in North America. This is America's shrine of sports car racing.
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Dixon off to a roaring start
New Zealand driver Scott Dixon led the first day of IndyCar testing at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama on Monday.
The 2008 Indycar champion clocked the top lap of one minute, 10.50 seconds on the 15-turn, 3.7km circuit .
Former series and Indy champ Dario Franchitti finished the day fourth quickest.
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HENDRICK STILL COMMITTED TO EARNHARDT JR DESPITE SLOW START
CONCORD, N.C. - Team owner Rick Hendrick won't split Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his embattled crew chief despite their slow start to the season.
Earnhardt heads to Martinsville Speedway this weekend ranked 19th in the standings.
Earnhardt also acknowledged that his team is not meeting expectations.
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MIT team chases sun in World Solar Challenge
But on a sunny day, the solar car can run nonstop at a cruising speed of 55 mph, and calculations show that it can reach 90 mph.
Here are the 2009 World Solar Challenge regulations:
Vehicle propulsion may be derived only from direct solar radiation.
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Earnhardt tickled with top-10, looks to put gaffes in rearview
LAS VEGAS — While qualifying and pit stops remain a work in progress for Dale Earnhardt Jr., he was relieved to finally overshadow them with performance.
For now, Earnhardt just wants a good follow-up Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"I just keep giving everybody ammunition," he said.
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Matt Kenseth's good luck might hold up at Las Vegas
Reporting from Las Vegas -- Even in a town where the house usually wins, it's a good bet Matt Kenseth will make NASCAR history this weekend.
Qualifying is scheduled today to establish the race's 43-car field at LVMS, located a few miles north of the Strip.
Edwards went on to win a series-high nine races last year.
Vegas notes
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Busch: Winning Cup title comes first
LAS VEGAS -- Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch said the timing isn't right for him to race in Formula One for the new F1 team based in Charlotte.
The Las Vegas native has raced cars since he was 5 years old in go-karts, but he has no major open-wheel experience.
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Perfect start: Top to bottom, Matt Kenseth's team is hot
FONTANA, Calif. — The No. 17 car on NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series brought new meaning Sunday to the term "streaking to victory."
The 17? It's all about streaks.
STANDINGS: NASCAR Sprint Cup
Roush promoted Blickensderfer to crew chief for the 17 car after Kenseth went winless in 2008, and he's glad he did.
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Swagger is back for confident Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick isn't much on predictions. The 2007 Daytona 500 winner would rather let his car do the talking.
"I'm not going to sit up here and promise you can we beat the 48 because they've been hard to beat the last three years," Harvick said.
Harvick didn't during the Shootout.
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Gordon Looking to End Winless Streak as Nascar Season Nears
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Among the signs that Jeff Gordon was in the worst slump of his Nascar career in 2008: the silence of the fans. The legion of longtime Dale Earnhardt Sr. devotees who packed the stands each week finally laid off the driver they loved to hate.
Even Gordon is not sure.
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Influx of new owners coming to NASCAR; NASCAR's going green
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Squeezed out by the emergence of multi-car teams when business was booming, single-car, independent teams are going to save NASCAR's starting lineups in the Sprint Cup Series during the economic downturn.
A 24-Hour Trophy Dash
NASCAR Goes Green
Quote of the Week
Quote of the Week II
Quote of the Week III
Quote of the Week IV
-- NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick on the economy.
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NASCAR's testing ban has become a joke
When NASCAR decided to suspend, in effect ban, testing at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, they did so to save teams money in an economy that seems to be bordering on the brink of collapse according to some.
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Tough economy fuels creative ticket plans for NASCAR tracks
CHARLOTTE — Techniques as basic as price cuts and as un-NASCAR sounding as "Tupperware" parties are being employed by NASCAR tracks to sell tickets for the 2009 season.
It's a sign of the tough economic times, track operators say.
Some tracks began planning for a rough 2009 long ago.
Shootout change:
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Maserati Brings Along a Vintage Indy Winner
DETROIT — Doom and gloom has seeped into just about every aspect of this year's Detroit auto show, even the perpetually sunny world of exotic Italian automobiles.
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Race Car Replicas: Ferrari Enzo Performance For Carpocalypse Prices
Did you suffer a major cut in pay due to the Carpocalypse? Did you have to remove your name from the list for the next Ferrari über-car? Then Race Car Replicas has your answer.
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Law, Farnbacher Run Fastest Laps Monday in Final Day of Daytona Testing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2009) - Darren Law and Dominik Farnbacher waited until the final day to set the fastest laps of the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.
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Ex-champs like Edwards chances in 2009
Wait until next year is a phrase some former NASCAR champions are using to describe Carl Edwards' Sprint Cup title chances.
He's twice finished 29th or worse in this Chase. Johnson's 15th-place finish last week at Texas was his worst showing in a Chase race in two years.
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NASCAR wants what Formula One has: exciting finishd
Moments after winning the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday, Carl Edwards mentioned how cool it was to see Lewis Hamilton win the Formula One championship on the final lap that day.
Last year, it was Hamilton who ended up a point short.
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The End of Their Own Cold War: Indycar in 2008
The 2008 Indycar Series season was going to a big year, one way or another.
The off season saw it lose, arguably, its two biggest names in reigning champion and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and multiple race winner and past champion Sam Hornish Jr to NASCAR.
Then the big one came.
On to 2009.
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Faulty transponder blamed for race confusion
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was initially shown as the winner of the season's final race because of a faulty transponder on his race car, the Indy Racing League said Monday.
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Castroneves a long shot for IndyCar title
Two of his 12 career victories have come in the Indianapolis 500, and just about everyone — including a lot of people who wouldn't know an IndyCar from a pickup truck — is aware that Castroneves won the 2007 "Dancing with the Stars" competition.
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Gibbs crew chiefs learn the hard way
Lesson No. 1 while going through a NASCAR inspection and test: Don't mess with the car in any shape, form, or fashion. If you don't believe me, ask Dave Rogers or Jason Ratcliff.
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NHRA Driver Kalitta Killed in Horrific Crash
Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
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Earnhardt Jr. fights hard for fifth-place finish at Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. - Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s fifth-place finish in the Food City 500 didn't come easy.
Earnhardt Jr. started 15th in Sunday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the handling on the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was off early in the race.
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Hamilton wins amid the chaos in Australia
MELBOURNE - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton avoided the mayhem around him to open the Formula One season with a pole-to-flag victory in a crash-strewn Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
"It's quite different to my first win in Montreal, just because that was really not expected," he added.
SAFETY CAR
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Sharp and RLR settle out of court
Scott Sharp and Rahal Letterman Racing have resolved their legal dispute with an out of court settlement.
But the two parties have now reached an agreement out of court.
Brown said Patron and Sharp were also pleased to have resolved the matter.
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Faultless Hamilton gets off to a flyer
Lewis Hamilton opened his second Formula One campaign with his fifth victory here in a race which saw only seven of the 22 drivers complete the course.
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Jarrett ready for Favre-like exit
Watching Brett Favre's emotional retirement press conference last week gave Dale Jarrett a fresh perspective on what it will be like to hang up his helmet and walk away from NASCAR.
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Aussie racer Power, Spain's Servia join Indy-car racing league
Australia's Will Power and Spain's Oriol Servia, both Champ-car veteran racers, were named drivers for a new Indy-car team Wednesday in the wake of the merger of US open-wheel rivals.
"And at the end of the year I want to be running like the sun."
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Power moves to KV Racing
Will Power has joined Indy Racing League team KV Racing for the 2008 season.
Power will line up alongside Spaniard Oriol Servia and hopes to adapt to oval racing as quickly as possible.
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Jarrett backs Stewart's tire complaints
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Jarrett on Tuesday called on Goodyear to listen carefully to Tony Stewart's complaints about the tires the company has produced this season.
"We're talking about race drivers that have a huge amount of talent and very seldom complain about things like that."
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Peugeot fastest at Sebring on Tuesday
Peugeot topped the time sheets again on the second day of testing ahead of the Sebring 12 Hours, which will take place this weekend. The Peugeot 908 was the quickest car out on the track, stopping the clocks on 1:43.710.
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Green race car
Green race car heads to Florida to debut in 12-hour race
After a shakedown test at Snetterton last week the greenest racing car to compete in the international arena is now heading to Florida where it'll debut in next week's Sebring 12 Hours.
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Kyle Busch faster than everyone else
Kyle Busch and Toyota's historic victory at Atlanta on Sunday reminded me of a song the Dave Clark Five sang in the '60s: "Catch Us if You Can."
There's fast, and then there's Busch. I've said it before, and over the weekend Busch proved once and for all he's the fastest driver in NASCAR.
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Coming off crash at Vegas, Stewart criticizes Goodyear tires quality
HAMPTON, Ga. - Tony Stewart took a hard lick last Sunday at Las Vegas when his right front tire blew out.
The two-time Cup champion wasn't injured, but he was still seething after arriving at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Fantozzi said tire development is a never-ending process.
-
Elliott Sadler has a different viewpoint.
-
-
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Busch leads Toyota to first Sprint Cup victory
HAMPTON, Ga. - The so-called All American sport of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing now has a Japanese nameplate in victory lane after Kyle Busch drove a Toyota Camry to victory in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"Overall, a great day for Joe Gibbs Racing," Busch said.
"They should just pull out."
Close
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Edwards looking forward to race after week of distractions
There are no distractions for Carl Edwards inside his race car.
Edwards figures he has been able to handle the situation pretty well.
"I believe the last year or two I've been hardened a lot," he said. "The only distraction is having to ... talk about it.
"We're just racing hard."
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Dead man takes spin around NASCAR track
TALENT, Ore. (AP) - Big George Helms had tickets for last weekend's NASCAR race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but died before he got to use them. He still made it to the track, though.
"It put tears in my eyes," said Helms' younger brother, Allen.
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AUTO RACING PACKAGE: After 12 trying years, IRL and Indy boss Tony George makes tough decision
After an enduring rivalry that probably cost him close to $200 million of his personal fortune and made him a villain to many, Tony George has finally put together what he once tore apart.
For more than a decade, George has been at the center of a raging controversy.
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Burton on missing lid: 'Typically things don't fall off the cars'
HAMPTON, Ga. -- There is a growing perception in the Sprint Cup garage that the oil tank lid in Carl Edwards' car didn't come off accidentally last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
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Robby Gordon Wins Appeal Against NASCAR
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Robby Gordon received a season-saving reprieve from a NASCAR appeals committee Wednesday when the three-member panel restored the 100 points he had been docked for an infraction at Daytona.
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Earnhardt's No. 3 dropping in
Area race fans can get up close and personal with a big piece of NASCAR history.
A car driven by the late Dale Earnhardt will be at the CPT Racing Experience, March 15-16 at the London Convention Centre.
"We're thrilled to have this car here," said Kevin Bulmer of CPT Entertainment.
IF YOU GO
Sports Headlines
Vikings sweep WOSSAA titles
OHL mandates neck protection
Beal, Oaks in medal hunt
Sportsbriefs
Packing it in
Yesterday's highlights
Brodeur solves Maple Leafs
Poor Yanks may be in trouble
Missing Bosh, Raps bounced
Baseball Notes
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Indy will not be championship round
The future of the Gold Coast Indy 300 event has been secured in a deal lasting until 2013, Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence said today.
But in a blow to this year's event, it will not be a championship round of the newly formed IndyCar Series.
Both racing events have been secured until 2013.
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Edwards wins in Vegas
Carl Edwards won his second consecutive NASCAR race, taking advantage of a late restart at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second followed by Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton.
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Five things you may have missed in auto racing over the weekend
1 Tony Stewart had a tough weekend at Las Vegas. He crashed hard into a wall in the Nationwide race, and then he crashed hard into the wall in the Sprint Cup race. The Cup-race crash was a biggie. He had to be assisted by track workers to an emergency vehicle.
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Vickers on the Rebound
LAS VEGAS -- Brian Vickers is perfect in qualifying this season and 11th in the standings, yet he still has trouble relaxing on qualifying day.
Although he qualified 23rd for Sunday's race, it's not going to get any easier for Vickers for at least another two weeks.
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EDWARDS CLAIMS ANOTHER WIN
Carl Edwards drove away with victory at the UAW Dodge 500 race in Las Vegas on Sunday, giving him his second Nextel Sprint Cup victory in a row.
Behind him was Dale Earnhardt Jr, who overcame a dreadful finish at Fontana to recover and finish second.
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Ducati North America Bringing 'Ducati Island' To Daytona
Cupertino, CA (February 28th, 2008) - Ducati North America announces the arrival of the inaugural Ducati Island to Daytona Bike Week.
Full details of the week's events, including a complete schedule, can be found at www.ducatidaydaytona.com and www.ducatiusa.com.
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Rebuilding A Race Car Legend
In the mid-to-late 1960s, Ford's GT40s drove their competitors into the ground at the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans - the pinnacle race on the endurance calendar.
The team will live in a pressure cooker environment until those cars roll out. Failure is not an option.
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Race car bears Marshall's name
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- With the roar of the engine resonating off the state Capitol, Gov. Joe Manchin unveiled the No. 75 Marshall University stock car Thursday.
Backers are hoping to drum up enough sponsors to enter the car on the NASCAR Nationwide circuit later this season.
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Champ Car finale is set for Long Beach
April 20 Grand Prix ends an era as open-wheel merger finalized
LONG BEACH - It's full speed ahead for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Now, there is no doubt.
The April 20 race will be run by Champ Car teams with their old equipment while their new IndyCar Series brethren are in Japan.
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Las Vegas: Tony Stewart preview
ATLANTA (Feb. 27, 2008) -- When it was announced on Aug. 14, 2007 that Kyle Busch would join Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2008, many thought that Busch's personality would conflict with the personalities of JGR's other two drivers -- Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart.
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Stewart Wins Second Straight Nationwide Series Race
For the second straight Nationwide Series race, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch drove their Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas to a 1-2 finish.
stops and when Stewart pitted from the lead on Lap 98, and the field cycle through a round of green-flag stops.
Cup Series (after finishing fourth in the Auto Club 500).
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Season 2008 - Open-wheel merger to rival NASCAR
Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series have joined forces once again. But will anyone care?When word leaked out a couple of weeks ago that a potential merger was in the works, it was met with a sigh of relief from open-wheel race fans.
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Open-wheel win to villian George
The Terminator of Indy Cars found and disposed of Sarah and John Connor. The Milosevic of the ovals won the Balkans War. The Lord Moldevort of a once-thriving sport killed Harry Potter.
But it was still his war, with massive casualties.
That didn't help the IRL. All it did was help NASCAR.
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100 in 100 Part II Photographing race cars at night
This week, we're going to focus on the best techniques and gear for catching action. On your mark, get set...
To see other exampled of Joe's automotive photography in the daylight as well as nighttime, please visit www.joefaraceshootscars.com.
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Brave new world
For the first time on the Cup circuit this century, it's going to happen Sunday in Fontana, Calif.: A foreign manufacturer will celebrate in Victory Lane.
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Kyle Busch drives attention to NASCAR
The folks at Mars are going to get their sponsorship money's worth this season.
Why, you ask?
Because Kyle Busch, the driver the candy-maker spends millions of dollars to sponsor, is going to make this NASCAR season fun.
He's also likely to make it scary at times.
He's likely to get some folks angry - very angry.
Not Busch.
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U.S racing rivals move close to unification
MIAMI (Reuters) - Single-seater motor racing in the United States is set to be re-unified in one competition -- 12 years after a bitter split -- as talks between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series near conclusion.
"We have never been this close," he said.
TALENT LOST
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Highcroft Racing Announces Scott Sharp and Patron Spirits to join team
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Grand-Am Inks Three-Year Agreement With Greenlight Collectibles
Among the Daytona Prototype machines to be featured include the 2007 championship-winning No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing machine and the familiar red, white, and blue of the No. 59 Brumos Porsche.
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NASCAR's desire to return to its racing roots a very good thing
Brian France is dang right: It is high time NASCAR took it back to the good ol' boys.
"We all have our work cut out for us now. We all got a little complacent. We're all guilty. And we all have to fix it."
Opinions vary.
Campbell is pleased that NASCAR has taken this stance.
And speaking of misperception ...
Marty,
-- Mark Contas, San Diego
Marty,
-- Craig, Cupertino, Calif.
Marty,
-- Drew, Starkville, Miss.
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Chevrolet completes three-day test at Estoril
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Jarrett to replace Wallace in ESPN broadcast booth
Dale Jarrett will have an expanded role on ESPN this season and will be in the booth for the full season of the channel's 2008 NASCAR coverage, ESPN officials announced today.
Rusty Wallace will move out of the booth and into a role as lead analyst for ESPN studio programs.
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An Earnhardt Revival Would Also Be Nascar s
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A sweeping color change is expected in Nascar's top series this season, when the distinctive red hue of the grandstands at each event suddenly turns a deep, dark shade of green. Dale Earnhardt Jr. can have that effect on a crowd.
Eury knows what is at stake.
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ALMS going green in a big way
• The use of renewable bio-based fuel or fuels
• The use of multiple engines, fuels and powertrain configurations
• The use of regenerative energy powertrain technologies
• The use of well-to-wheel energy analysis and GHG analysis
• The use of emission control strategies and systems
Quotes
- Margo T. Oge
- Ed Wall
- David L. Amati
- Ed Peper
General Manager Chevrolet, GENERAL MOTORS
- John Mendel
- Peter Schwarzenbauer
- Robert Davis
- Roger Penske
Team Owner, PENSKE RACING
- Lord Paul Drayson,
- Reece Nanfito
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Mazda Furai concept The embodiment of Zoom-Zoom
The 'Nagare' ethos is how Mazda's future production models will sustain the Zoom-Zoom spirit by exhibiting their strong affinity for motion.
The body surface provides ample opportunity to feature core design elements such as aggressive headlamps and Mazda's unique five-point grille.
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Ferrari unveils F2008 Formula One race car
With its principal rival McLaren scheduled to follow tomorrow, and the others (accept for Williams) in the coming days and weeks, Ferrari kicked off the unveilings of the 2008 F1 cars when it took the wraps off its new F2008 today in Italy.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis
Carbon-fibre and honeycomb
composite structure
Ferrari longitudinal gearbox
Limited-slip differential
Semiautomatic sequential
quick-shift
Number of gears: 7 + Reverse
Ventiled carbon-fibre
disc brakes
Independent suspension,
push-rod activated torsion
springs front and rear
Engine
Type: 056
Number of cylinders: 8
Cylinder block in cast
aluminium: V 90°
Number of valves: 32
Pneumatic distribution
Total displacement: 2398 cm3
Piston bore: 98 mm
Weight: <95 kg
Magneti Marelli static
electronic ignition
Fuel: Shell V-Power ULG 64
Lubrcant: Shell SL-1098
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At 84 legendary Carroll Shelby keeps pedal to metal
Shelby, 84, sits at the wheel of one of his 1965 Shelby Cobras at his warehouse in Carson. The latest Shelby GT, which will sell for about $45,000, is "the best car out there for the money," he says, though underpowered at only 340 horsepower.
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Must Get Car Ready Race Tomorrow
We were happy to find that the Carpet Pissers will be racing, though the Pissers themselves were nowhere to be found; perhaps they were rolling a few frames. Give us ze money!
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IS NASCAR THE DEER IN ITS OWN HEADLIGHTS
"Value, Return on Investment, Marginal Propensity to Consume, Upward and Downward Spirals, Depression, and the list goes on......."
The economic terms referenced above may all have specific significance in the coming year and to the future of NASCAR racing.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
NASCAR wins and fans lose.
COST TO ATTEND RACES
THE CAR
SOUVENIRS AND MEMORABILIA
TWO WAY COMMUNICATION
DRIVER DISJOINTEDNESS
IMAGE
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Rule 12 4 A Exploring NASCAR s ultimate catch can
However, there is no specific rule about four-letter words in the rulebook.
No problem. The sanctioning body went with an old standby -- Rule 12-4-A: "actions detrimental to stock car racing."
So what does the rule actually say Earnhardt violated?
Here is the rule in its entirety:
The vagueness of the rule can be frustrating.
fighting on race premises;
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Nissan GT R Detects When Car is on a Race Track Disables Speed
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MRF launches new racing car
Budding drivers will now find it easier to emulate their adrenalin rush, by training on a revolutionary new MRF racing car.
Priced at Rs 15 lakh excluding the engines, it will soon be provided to up and coming young drivers to race.
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Slater racing legend Ken Taylor helped Marshall man take a chance in racing
Editor's note: This article is the latest installment in a continuing series that features the people and history of the Saline County auto racing scene.
He began his racing career in 1958 manning the wheel of a Go-Kart. He won several trophies in that event.
(Contributed photo)
[Click to enlarge]
Contact Rachel Harper at
marshallcity@socket.net
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History Lesson JCCA Car Festival
The F2 group, being the largest class, is rounded out by an M10A Familia Rotary Coupe, a '73 Toyota Celica, a '72 Toyota Levin, a '65 Lotus Elan 26R, a TE27 Toyota Trueno and a TA22 Celica 1600GT.
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Ekstrom beats Schumacher in RoC
Mattias Ekstrom has retained the Champion of Champions crown, beating Michael Schumacher in the Race of Champions final at Wembley.
Schumacher didn't have to face Heikki Kovalainen this time, as the Finn crashed out of the competition in spectacular fashion.
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All muscle
Classics | Only acceptance was slow for the Z28
BY DAN JEDLICKA Chicago Sun-Times Auto Editor
The Z28 was built to win the Sports Car Club of America's hot new Trans-Am racing series championship and beat the rival Ford Mustang in the process.
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Rising star Rosberg opening eyes in F1
Rosberg's name was also linked with Ferrari.
AT&T Williams Toyota team co-owners Frank Williams and Patrick Head, however, had no intention of letting go of their star protegee.
Rosberg rounded off the season with a fourth place in Brazil, a race he rates as one the highlights of the year.
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Busch, Hornish allowed to swap owner points
Three-time IndyCar champ now locked into first 5 NASCAR races in 2008
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said the sanctioning body had signed off on the transfer.
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David Starr I love Rockingham it is a great race track
"It's a great place to test, we're working on a lot of suspension stuff - you always heard this place would wear out a lot of tires but it's not bad on tires, actually you can run about 30-35 laps on a set of tires. "
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Top-30 drivers: David Ragan
David Ragan won the sweepstakes to replace Mark Martin in the familiar No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford and started the season on a high note at Daytona International Speedway before settling into a position just outside the top 20 for the remainder of the year.
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Bobby Labonte And Ron Hornaday Participate in Goodyear Tire Test at Atlanta Motor Speedway
On an unseasonably warm day at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 2000 NASCAR Cup champion Bobby Labonte and three-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. hit the pavement testing tires for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
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Loeb thrilled by Renault F1 test
World Rally Championship star Sebastien Loeb had his first taste of Formula 1 performance at Paul Ricard today, when he swapped cars with Renault's Heikki Kovalainen for a Total-Elf promotional event.
It was a truly exceptional day."
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Valiante joins SunTrust Racing in 2008
Canadian Michael Valiante got an early Christmas gift, being named the full-time co-driver for Wayne Taylor Racing's Grand-Am team for 2008.
Valiante and the SunTrust team begin preparations for the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month in Florida.
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Cup regulars will have their hands full in new Nationwide Series
True, Cup regular Carl Edwards ran away with the points title and his teammate and fellow Cup regular David Ragan took the rookie honors. It's also true that the final standings were littered with Cup regulars among the top 10.
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Junior ready for 2008
When Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about leaving for vacation last Thursday, he talked about how he wished he wasn't going on vacation.
Last year was his final year at DEI as he gets ready to move to Hendrick Motorsports next season.
But that didn't make his trip painful to handle.
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Race-car driver Castroneves captures 'Dancing' honor
The big question -- could Marie Osmond pull off a beloved-underdog sort of win on "Dancing With the Stars"? -- was answered early in the show Tuesday night with a resounding "no."
It's Hough's second trophy; she won last year dancing with athlete Apolo Anton Ohno.
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Jay Howard to Join Roth Racing For 2008 Season
Howard said any negotiations were dispensed with during one brief phone conversation.
"It might take a year for everyone to sort of settle in and me get more experience with things like pit stops, but I've been training unbelievably hard. I'm really fired up.
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Stock car racing going green -- at own pace
"I think we have to -- for the same two reasons the country needs to do it: energy dependence and environmental concerns," France said at the Reuters Media Summit in New York.
Meanwhile, France said today's high energy prices were pinching fans of the racing circuit.
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The Three J's of NASCAR Nextel Cup: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Junior
Dale Earnhardt Jr. blows an engine and spins at California Speedway in February. It's the first of six blown motors in races and why he misses the Chase for the second time in three years.
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From JJ's incredible title run to things that need fixing, it's the Blitz Awards
The 2007 season will go down as the year of change in NASCAR. Toyota entered the Nextel Cup Series, the Car of Tomorrow made its debut and Dale Earnhardt Jr. said goodbye to Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Double Greatness
Best Newcomer
Biggest Disappointment
Things will change in 2008 with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Toyota stable.
Biggest Letdown
Worst Season
Most Improved
Best Finish
Worst Finish
Biggest Story
Biggest Spender
Executive Of The Year
Best Debut Race
Best Organization
Biggest Surprise
Too Late
Too Long
Ugh.
Get Out Of My Way
Overhyped Fake Punch
Best Helmet Slap
Personal Sadness
Brightest Future
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Dale Earnhardt Jr Crashes on Pit Road in his Final NASCAR Nextel Cup Race with DEI
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s career driving the red No. 8 Chevrolet came to an ignominious end.
Then, on the restart, Earnhardt again was hit from behind, this time by Jeff Burton. That sent Earnhardt hard into the wall a second time and he finished 36th after repairs.
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Franchitti to Make NASCAR Busch Series Debut this Weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today driver Dario Franchitti will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut Saturday, October 27th at Memphis Motorsports Park in the Sam's Town 250 (ESPN2, 3:00pm ET).
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Big names sign up for F1 forum
The forum, which will take places in Monaco on December 5-6, will be attended by nine F1 team bosses as well as top executives from some of the world's biggest motor sport sponsors.
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Glock joins Toyota
Toyota have confirmed that Timo Glock will race for them in next year's Formula One World Championship.
Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina said: "It is with great pleasure that we confirm Timo Glock will race for Panasonic Toyota Racing in 2008.
Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport
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Earnhardt Jr. ready for next step
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - There will be a lot of lasts on Sunday as the curtain closes on the 2007 Nextel Cup season.
"That'll be a shame."
It was also apparent that the time had come to move on.
— Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt's long-time crew chief.
Elledge recalls "the joy and excitement" shared between father and son as the No. 8 team blossomed.
Photos:
Atlanta COT test
Dale Jr.'s new ride
Analysis:
Spencer: Junior's first ride
DW: HMS will 'Get her done.'
DW: The importance of 8
Hammond: No. 88's history
News:
Eury set to get head start
Press conference transcript
Buy:
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Georgia Stock Car Racing.com Nov. 22-29, 2007
Stacy Holmes, of Munford, AL, won OSAS Rookie of the Year. www.southern-allstars.com
The show includes a $3000 to win feature for Fastrak crate LMs and a $1200 to win Limited LM race. Hot laps start at 6:00 Fri. and 4:00 Sat.
---- Schedule ----
www.toccoaspeedway.info
Nov. 23-24 Swainsboro 7th Annual Turkey 100 at the newly resurfaced Swainsboro Raceway:
www.swainsbororaceway.com
---- TV ----
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Kurt Busch: "We finished seventh overall. That's a nice feather in the cap"
Kurt Busch's second-place finish in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway allowed the Las Vegas native to gain three positions in the standings to place seventh, his best performance in the points since he won the series title in 2004.
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Johnson Claims 2nd Straight NASCAR Title
Johnson Claims 2nd Straight NASCAR Title
By JENNA FRYER - 15 hours ago
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Totally calm and cool, Jimmie Johnson left the pre-race drivers' meeting Sunday afternoon flashing the peace sign at people wishing him luck. Two fingers. Two straight championships.
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Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award after finishing 15th in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
As to the team, he says that they enjoyed winning the rookie honor - again.
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McLaren Brazilian Grand Prix Appeal Venue Shifted From Paris To London
McLaren's appeal over the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix will now be heard in London on Thursday.
The meeting will take place as scheduled on Thursday morning, but in the British capital. AFP
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Car enthusiasts help one of their own
LOVELAND - On Oct. 28, Dan and Sue Baker, owners of Trackside Collectibles, held the second annual Race Car Show in the Orchards Mall parking lot in front of their store.
Martinez is due to have brain surgery Nov. 20.
Organizers said the show was a complete success.
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Fortune Market Race Team to Appear at LA Auto Show
"The LA Auto Show is the perfect opportunity to reach the fans who want to meet the driver, hear about everything in the car from the engine to the tires, and get in on the action," said Kats.
About Fortune Market Media Inc.
About Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series
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Crew Chief Of Matt Kenseth Fined For NASCAR Violating
The infractions were discovered during post-race inspection on Nov. 10 at Phoenix International Raceway
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Former NHIS Owner Says He Got No Promises On Future Races
UNDATED (AP) -- Bob Bahre says he doesn't think the new owner of the New Hampshire International Speedway will move either of the speedway's two NEXTEL races to another track.
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Johnson Opens 86-Point Lead Over Gordon
AVONDALE, Ariz. - Jimmie Johnson took command of the Nextel Cup championship Sunday, winning at Phoenix International Raceway to open a daunting lead over teammate Jeff Gordon in the race to the title.
Johnson was subdued in Victory Lane, and refused to claim the title.
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Toyota Supra HV-R hybrid race car wins Race Engine of the Year 2007
The Toyota Supra HV-R hybrid race car which made history by being the first hybrid race car ever to win a competition (the Tokachi 24-Hour Race, 14/15 July), has gained further honours winning the award for Race Engine of The Year 2007.
Three Electric Motors
Specially Designed Capacitor
Specifications of Toyota Supra HV-R
Vehicle name
Denso Toyota Supra HV-R
Entry Class
GT/TP1
Engine
Engine displacement
4,480cc
Air restrictor
29.6mm i2
Maximum output
480ps min/6,800rpm
Maximum torque
510 Nm at 5,600rpm
Electric motor
Rear motor: 150kW
Vehicle weight
1.080 kg
Team name
TOYOTA Team SARD
Drivers
Katsuyuki Hiranaka (Japan)
Andre Couto (Portugal)
Akira Lida (Japan)
Tatsuya Kataoka (Japan)
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Five things you may have missed in auto racing
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Upton wins stock car championship
Upton has appeared with his No. 66 racecar at the Gila Valley Family Festival for the past two years. In addition, Upton makes regular appearances with his racecar at car shows in the Phoenix area with Auto Trader Publishing, one of his primary sponsors.
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Gordon Still Leads, Johnson Closes In
The frustration poured out of Jeff Gordon over his two-way radio. His racecar was "loose," he said. It was "terrible." He once described it as "hell."
Knaus made a decision to put two tires on Johnson's car when most pit stops Sunday had been four-tire stops.
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NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver Elliott Sadler
DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO OF THE CONFLICT WITH EDWARDS AND KENSETH? "I have not watched the video. I have been in the woods all week so I haven't had any access to any computer. I heard what had happened but I have not seen any video."
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Edwards looks to clinch at Memphis
Edwards exerted his dominance in the first half of the Busch season, winning four times in the first 15 races and building a 662-point lead over Kevin Harvick in second. Since then, Edwards' luck has turned.
Edwards needs to lead by 585 points after Saturday's race to clinch the title.
Fast facts
What: Sam's Town 250.
TV: ESPN2, 3 p.m. ET.
2006 winner: Kevin Harvick.
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Italian Race Car Builder Picchio to Collaborate with Cheever Group
respective engineering staffs currently work side-by-side and we already see this level of collaboration paying dividends."
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Racing with the stars at Grand Prix tracks
Yet in a year when the spy scandal between the McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari teams showed the world just how devious teams may become in their efforts to win, one might wonder whether the Hollywood glamour is little more than a lavishly cultivated business image.
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This Week in Auto Racing October 26 - October 28
Pep Boys Auto 500 - Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, GA
There are just four races left in the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup and barring a complete collapse it appears to be an intra-team battle between four-time Nextel Cup champion Jeff Gordon and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Busch
Craftsman
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Solar racing cars blaze across Australia
The world's most environmentally friendly car race has set off on an epic 1,864-mile course - fuelled only by the sun.
The Nuon Solar team from Holland holds the race record of 29 hours and 11 minutes
"They'll go through pain and anguish and a lot of suffering I'm sure."
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1 podium, 3 champions, 1 watch brand!
The Number One Luxury Watch Brand In Motor Sports
With Kimi Räikkönen F1 World Champion 2007, TAG Heuer is more than ever the brand that partners with the world's greatest drivers.
TAG Heuer ambassadors rule the world of Formula 1
TAG Heuer and the next racing generation: The ones to watch!
The Saga Continues!
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John Andretti race report
"Good luck today, John," radioed team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau. "Thanks to everyone on the team for all of your hard work this weekend. Let's have a good day on pit road and give him all the help we can."
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Edwards and Kenseth not getting along on or off the NASCAR track
What happens on the track between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson stays there, as the teammates have mastered the balance between competition and friendship.
Kenseth went on to finish second, and was perplexed by Edwards' anger.
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Firefighters bring diverse experience to the track
Fire on the track doesn't worry him. He's seen worse than anything a NASCAR track has to offer.
“It looked just like that one (Dale Sr.) did, just the way he got hit and angled into the wall,” Schmitt said of Dale, Jr.
“Luckily, it didn't turn out as bad.”
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History favors Hendrick drivers
The good news for drivers chasing Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is that five opportunities remain to cut into their lead and end their seasonlong domination.
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TeamVodafone Friday notes
V8 Supercar Championship Series leaders, TeamVodafone will start tomorrows first of three 27-lap V8 Supercar races with two drivers on top ten grid spots, following a successful qualifying session at the Lexmark Indy 300 today.
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Former drivers still have big presence in garage
The two former drivers are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
"One of the toughest things in the world to do was to realize that you're going to the racetrack and there's no chance you're going to get in a racecar today. "
It didn't happen, and in that, there was disappointment.
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Salemi Hopes Third Toyota All-Star Showdown's a Charm
Upgrades to Salemi's No. 63 Chevrolet should ensure a competitive effort in California. A fresh spec engine has been fitted and the bodywork cleaned up before the car was loaded onto Mike Johnson's hauler for the trip west. Salemi will meet the car on Thursday.
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Schatz Officially Joins Tony Stewart Racing with Backing from Armor All
Donny Schatz has had one of the most remarkable seasons in World of Outlaws history.
Stewart, who says he got a first-round draft pick with Schatz, is counting on Schatz to continue his current pace in 2008 on the World of Outlaws trail, which will feature more than 90 events.
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Gordon extends lead
Jeff Gordon conceded the win to one teammate, worried another would take it from him and stressed about a fuel issue he feared would prevent him from finishing Saturday night's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.
The four-time Cup champion turned it around.
Hendrick then called for Busch.
Chasing the Cup
Driver Pts behind
Jeff Gordon leader
Jimmie Johnson 68
Clint Bowyer 78
Tony Stewart 198
Carl Edwards 240
Kyle Busch 280
Kurt Busch 315
Kevin Harvick 328
Denny Hamlin 349
Jeff Burton 366
Martin Truex Jr. 378
Matt Kenseth 442
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The revolutionizing of NASCAR in 2008
A change here, a tweak there, adding the Chase, all of these factors are changing the face of NASCAR. But starting next year, it will be the same, but different, very different. Next year marks the new Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series.
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Jarrett moves from full-time to selected races in 2008
As fate has it, Robert Yates stepped down as team owner just recently. In a way it seems fitting that the two who dominated the series in 1999 would end their prestigious careers in the same year.
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HIGH POINT RACING AND HUDDLESTON WIN CHAMPIONSHIP
After twenty years of racing, Tim Huddleston has now won two championships in the past three years in the Auto Club Late Model division. He plans to continue racing in the late model division at Irwindale Speedway in the 2008 season.
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kangaroo leaps into australian bathurst 1000 v8 supercar championship survives
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Wurz retires from Formula One
Williams driver Alex Wurz of Austria announced his immediate retirement from Formula One on Monday and said that he would not be taking part in the season's final race in Brazil.
"I'd like to thank to team for accepting my decision and I wish them all the best for the last race of the year."
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Gordon bites lip, bides time before making his move
With as far behind the lead draft as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson ran all day, they should have been required to buy a ticket to Sunday's UAW-Ford 500. Fans in the grandstands were closer to the leader than the Nos. 24 and 48.
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Ready for the big time
If former Ferrari racecar driver Carlo Berro is correct, fellow Hesperian Joel Miller could someday be guzzling a cold bottle of milk after conquering the Indianapolis 500 field.
“I could be in the [Indianapolis] 500 in three years for sure,” Miller, 19, said.
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Jarrett knows his future, world will learn Thursday
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Dale Jarrett will race in 2008, but we'll have to wait until Thursday to find out where, when and how much.
After making his qualifying attempt Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, Jarrett said he would announce his future plans at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
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We have had a better racecar than a qualifying car all year
IRWIN Racing has put in its best qualifying performance of the season at the biggest race of them all, the Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst.
Warren Luff qualified the Ford in 22nd position and just missed the chance to make the top 20 and another qualifying segment.
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Former Racecar Driver Tries to Return Speed to 'the Rock'
Time appears to have stopped here at North Carolina Speedway, a track better known as the Rock.
It seems almost as if the place is waiting for cars and fans to return. And now, it might actually happen.
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Speeding allowed on this roadway
Bob Deaton had a need for speed. Not usually a speed demon, he knew of no highway where he could floor it legally.
But his daughters did.
So for Father's Day, his present was a trip to the Daytona International Speedway. But he had to wait until September before he got to ride in a NASCAR-style stock car.
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Students build racecars
Rutgers Formula Racing works year-round to build a formula-style racecar from scratch, to compete in the annual Formula SAE, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
"They've gotten in the top 20 more often than not," Spattaco said.
The car costs approximately $20,000, Sproul said.
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Statement from Kenny Bernstein following Dallas incident
Transcript of Bernstein's comments:
"I remember seeing my body up there and driving through it and then his body. When I came out of that I saw John's car going towards the wall and it hit the wall really, really hard.
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Hanks racing visits Olmstead School
A racecar coloring contest was also held and the winner was third grade student Bethany Pearson. Bethany also received a Keeton Hanks race tee shirt.
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We were so fast out there we should have won this
McGilton restarted in the tenth position on lap 23. Running behind lap-down cars, McGilton was heavy on his brakes trying to stay off their back bumpers.
On lap 106 the fourth caution of the night came out with McGilton running in the eighth position.
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Lone Wolf Racecar Takes Itself For A Spin
Unmanned, computer-driven Lotus Elise employs forward-thinking technology from progressive manufacturers for autonomous operation.
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NASCAR driver Mears meets with Guard Soldiers
Master Sgt. Donnie Woodruff, who said he has been watching races since “the Richard Petty days,” was pleased to get an autograph. “It's good to actually meet the guy in the car and get to talk to him,” he said.
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Kyle Busch Dominates Busch Series Race at Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. - Kyle Busch dominated the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway Friday night.
Coming close to "Racing Perfection," Busch led a near-record 227 (of 252) laps in beating Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Mike Bliss.
On lap 182, Matt Kenseth wrestled 4th from Ryan Newman.
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Actor Patrick Dempsey To Debut Mazda RX-8 Racecar
Companion series to the Grand-Am is the KONI Challenge. Mazda is among ten brands competing in the Street Tuner (ST) class. Look for RX-8s from SpeedSource and Roar Racing along with MX-5s from BSI Racing.
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Motor racing-F1 qualifying set to be shortened next year
Formula One teams have agreed to tweak qualifying next season in a move that will rid the sport of one of its more environmentally-unfriendly practices.
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French Connection
ZOLDER, Belgium -- Alphabetically or any other way, Circuit Zolder languishes near the bottom in the pantheon of great European road courses. Of course, the most famous driver in the field in these parts is Sebastien Bourdais, who will be looking to pad his championship lead over Doornbos.
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Darkness Lurks
Flying fighter jets in a high school gymnasium. A bunkhouse stampede in your little brother's bedroom. Thunder Valley, USA. Where Jeff Gordon shoved Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick did a flying leap onto Greg Biffle's head and Juan Montoya's reaction after his first competitive lap was, "You have got to be @#!$ kidding me."
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By A Thread
READING, Pa. -- After rain extended the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway to an agonizing seven days, the NHRA POWERade Series' Countdown to the Championship finally concluded Wednesday. But Herbert might be wrong about that. Capps said he is a fan of the new system -- sort of.
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Deuce Is Wild
LONG POND, Pa. -- It's been one hurdle after another for Kurt Busch. But you know what? He hung around. "Awesome day for me, for Penske," declared Busch, who celebrated his 29th birthday Saturday. "The engine was stout." Untouchable, too. The Chase picture is much brighter for Busch these days. In the war of beers, Miller Lite got the best of Budweiser.
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Dream Chaser
In 1996, when John Force was looking to add a second driver to his Team Castrol Funny Car brigade, he was besieged with overtures from a laundry list of hopefuls who brought measurable experience to the table. The age of the multicar Funny Car team was born. And now, Force is about to do it all over again. Enter Mike Neff. I like his odds.
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Survivor: Michigan
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- What may be the last IndyCar race atMichigan International Speedway turned out to be one of thewildest. "Then it came down to the two of them -- Marco and Tony. Theytook care of each other and put on a great show. It was funwatching."
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Not So Groovy
LEBANON, Tenn. -- Traffic was the hot topic before and after the Firestone Indy 200 -- and not just on the permanent construction zone that is the greater Nashville freeway system.
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Resurgent Roush
JOLIET, Ill. -- What a difference a month makes. Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing have gone from winless in mid-June to two victories each in mid-July. You can't get too comfortable in Nextel Cup racing. Someone is always gaining on you. So what changed? Maybe the answer to that is what didn't change.
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Swing Town
Here are the most conspicuous examples: Hot Rod Fuller continues to lead the Top Fuel points after dominating in Denver and picking up his second win of the year -- with a team that still is searching for a full-time, big-budget sponsor for team owner David Powers.
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Montoya Mania
In the year since Chip Ganassi announced to the world that Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya would drive his No. 42 Dodge in 2007, many pundits, myself included, have pondered what effect a star of such international celebrity might have on NASCAR racing. He needed all of 17 races. Marty, -- Alfonso, Bogotá, Colombia Marty, Marty, -- Brian, Spokane, Wash. Marty, -- Calvin Corver, Miami Marty, -- Brad Endicott, New York Marty, -- Larry Gilbert, Arizona
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Happy Times
The "Dario Franchitti Championship Cruise" docks at New York's Seneca Lake this weekend for the Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix (Sunday, 3:30 p.m., ABC). Last year at WGI, Dixon led only the final nine laps in a race that was decided by pit-stop strategies.
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Leader Of The Pack
NEWTON, Iowa -- Maybe Tony George's original vision for the Indy Racing League wasn't so far off. The Scotsman watched his rivals drop like flies and happily extended his IndyCar Series championship lead to 51 points. Franchitti was almost eliminated in the same wreck. "So I guess I was lucky."
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Driving Schooled
SONOMA, Calif. -- The real road-racing expert made history Sunday. Not Jeff Gordon. Not Tony Stewart. Not Robby Gordon. All of them were beaten Sunday at Infineon Raceway by the rookie with three names and a funny accent. It's a virtuoso performance of skill and daring talent. Excuses, excuses.
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Who's Watching Who?
Kyle Busch seemed surprised to learn that his former agent talked to other teams about his future and used that as leverage in negotiations to sign an extension with Hendrick Motorsports. He shouldn't have been. Not everybody agrees. And Smith isn't just talking about drivers and crew chiefs.
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The Big 4-Oh!
The NHRA's ProCare RX SuperNationals have come a long way. And making the Winner's Circle at Englishtown has always meant just a little bit more.
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Toyota Time?
Lee White believes Toyota can win a Cup race this year. So does crew chief Doug Richert. And drivers David Reutimann and Dave Blaney also are in agreement. From whence all the positive mojo? Already, the improvements are visible, at least in a tangible way. The "them," of course, was Toyota. Get those fireworks ready.
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Dream Scenario
INDIANAPOLIS -- There were upwards of 100,000 people at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the weekend at the United States Grand Prix. A 20-year-old from Nazareth, Pa., was a particularly keen observer. Like everyone else, Andretti was deeply impressed by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
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Back To Back
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Lewis Hamilton is as surprised as anybody byhis sensational start in Formula One. Another is his lead in the points. The two finished 1-2 for the third time this season, but thistime the order was reversed from Malaysia in April and last month'srace at Monaco.
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The $10M Question
INDIANAPOLIS -- This much we know: Michael Schumacher will not win the U.S. Grand Prix Sunday. Schumacher is off in retirement Shangri-La, enjoying his vast fortune and lovely family. Instead of Schumacher dominance, we could see a historic moment if Lewis Hamilton takes the checkered flag.
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No Answers
For those who have been around NHRA drag racing long enough, it's difficult to remember a time when 14-time Funny Car champion John Force has been in as unrelenting a winless streak as the one he now finds himself in.
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Chicago Fire
Last weekend it was Topeka, Kan. This weekend it's Chicago. Then in two weeks, it's Englishtown, N.J., for the first of six national events in six weeks. This week it will be all about speed, and in the weeks ahead, all about endurance. Here's a preview:
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First Impressions
It is May 3, 1999, midway through my first day at NASCAR, and I take a break from orientation-by-fire to tiptoe down the hallway to the restroom, mindful not to make any ill-advised movements for fear Big Brother might round the corner and lay the smackdown on me.
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Weather Permitting
DOVER, Del. -- Rick Hendrick finally met his match. Her name is Mother Nature. Hendrick Motorsports drivers were kept out of Victory Lane on Sunday for the first time in six weeks -- not counting the All-Star Challenge -- and only the second time in three months. But it had nothing to do with losing a Nextel Cup race. Stay tuned.
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Full Steam Ahead
CONCORD, N.C. -- In the middle of a new brick building about 20 minutes from where Rick Hendrick stood in Victory Lane at Lowe's Motor Speedway late Sunday night is a red 1931 Chevrolet. He called it a labor of love. "It's people. It's all about having the right folks working together." And he would if he could. No. Far from it.
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Shades Of Gray
CONCORD, N.C. -- Greg Biffle doesn't have a lot of answers. But the questions are plentiful -- and often painful. The one most folks want answered: What's wrong with Greg Biffle? Biffle has heard these questions more than he'd like to admit. Can Erwin help Biffle recapture the magic of '05? Just not good enough.
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Who's Got Next?
As we bid adieu to crisp spring sunrises and slap on the SPF 48, the two biggest questions swirling through the Nextel Cup garage center on the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet: Who's leaving, of course, and then who's assuming? Greg Biffle, to me, is a perfect choice. Speaking of Biffle & Marty, -- Josh, Dallas Marty, -- Jackson, Birmingham, Ala. "It's weird," he said. Marty, Marty,
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Million Dollar Man
CONCORD, N.C. -- Cars were churning hard going into Turn 2 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night when the No. 29 car got sideways and the No. 5 car went over the hood. A few laps later, there was another pileup between Turns 3 and 4. It was nonstop action. "I just felt it and he did," she said. There weren't.
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All-Star Overhaul
The annual Nextel All-Star Challenge has produced some exciting racing over the years, but calling it an all-star event is a bit of stretch. Hey, Michael Waltrip actually won this thing once. The main show now consists of four 20-lap segments (or quarters) with no caution laps counted in the last segment.
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What Will Junior Do?
Exactly one week has passed since Dale Earnhardt Jr. triggered the NASCAR Richter scale with the seismic announcement that his tenure at Dale Earnhardt Inc. officially had come to pass -- a landmark decision that set off a landslide of residual effects. And at the pinnacle, no less.
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Penalty Killer?
No one is above the law, not even the prince himself, Dale Earnhardt Jr. And if you mess with the Car of Tomorrow, we're going to make you regret it. So for all you conspiracy theorists who thought NASCAR never would come down hard on the golden boy, think again. Nonsense.
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Hot Topics
DARLINGTON, S.C. -- The Nextel Cup season is starting to look like the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs (Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and occasionally Kyle Busch) hang around the lead for three quarters while the Phoenix Suns (Denny Hamlin or Tony Stewart) look poised for victory.
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Threepeat?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't say where he would drive next when he announced Thursday that he is leaving the company his father built after this season, but he certainly narrowed the choices. Or Hall of Fame Racing, which is supplied by Gibbs. But the more likely options are Hendrick and RCR.
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Making A Move?
RICHMOND, Va. -- Roger Penske raised his arms into the air and held up two fingers on each hand as he approached Kurt Busch following Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. He was smiling as though one of his drivers had won. That cost him the lead and any chance at victory.
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Out Of Focus?
"It hurt because we had a car that could battle for the lead. It was definitely a mistake that cost us a lot and we're going to address it as a team. We need to turn the page and move forward."
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The Unexpected
CONCORD, N.C. -- David Stremme arrived at Chip Ganassi Racing on Tuesday wearing blue jeans and a faded T-shirt with the words "Pool boy" in barely visible white letters across the chest. No, the driver of the No. 40 Dodge never has been a pool boy. "My job is to drive them."
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Tiger Who?
As we await the end of the world, which could come as early as Saturday night with Jeff Gordon riding into Victory Lane at Talladega on the late Dale Earnhardt's birthday, it's a good time to assess just exactly who Gordon is and who he isn't in the world of NASCAR. Gordon is married to one. How do we know this?
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Any Questions?
HOUSTON, Texas -- Sebastien Bourdais has won 50 percent of the Champ Car events since the start of the 2004 season. Fifty percent. Take a moment to soak that in. Victory No. 22 of the last 44 Champ Car events came Sunday in the Grand Prix of Houston, an event the 28-year-old Frenchman also won last year.
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Finding Footing
The 2007 NHRA POWERade season is now five events old and the Pro Stock Motorcycles were on the card at two of those events. Women have won both races. And, neither of them were riding a Harley-Davidson or a Buell. "But I'm still learning and that's an experience I won't forget."
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The Good Life
Add Gary Scelzi's name to that list. Scelzi insisted the recent death of Funny Car driver Eric Medlen in a test crash did not play a role in his decision to step back.
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Rare Sunday Off
LAS VEGAS -- John Force failed to qualify for eliminationsfor the first time in 395 races and nearly 20 years Saturday,leaving the 14-time Funny Car champion on the sideline in theSummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. Kalitta's best run of 4.641 was well off the pace.
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Moving Forward
John Force said Tuesday that his team will return to NHRA competition this weekend at Las Vegas, but first will test new safety devices Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on all the John Force Racing Funny Cars.
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Fast Start
LAS VEGAS -- Two things stood out about the Champ Car World Series' season-opening Vegas Grand Prix: • 1. The solid foundation established by the inaugural event. First up, the Las Vegas event itself. The Las Vegas Review Journal estimated total race day attendance as 40,000-plus.
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No Circus Act
MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Clint Bowyer's walk from the tunnel at Martinsville Speedway to the No. 07 Nextel Cup hauler took longer than it did a year ago. He didn't care. That's because his hauler was about 10 spots closer to the front end of the garage where the top teams park. "The further you have to walk here the better." RCR's High-Rent District
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Plan B?
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Moments after Ron Capps blasted down the track at more 307 mph to earn his second consecutive NHRA victory, he got out of his Funny Car, pulled off his helmet and started to cry. Those weren't tears of joy. J.R. Todd, who won in Top Fuel, knew exactly what Capps was feeling. Everyone did.
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Healing Begins
Despite that challenge, these devoted competitors will put their best foot forward and race as hard as they can as a tribute to their beloved friend, who was one of the sport's most popular personalities. Here's a preview:
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Sweet St. Pete
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- In just two years, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has become one of the most popular events on the IndyCar Series schedule.
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Door-To-Door
Since the advent of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow concept, many crew chiefs and owners have complained to me that the ingenuity that defined legends like Smokey Yunick and Ray Fox and Junior Johnson, and in turn helped define the sport, is virtually extinct. Smith summed it up well. Classic.
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Still Hurting
John Force has not missed an NHRA event in 20 years, but he will not compete this weekend in the O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Force has competed in every NHRA event since 1987, qualifying for a record 395 consecutive times. But no one on the teams is concerned with that for now.
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Waltrip scrambling to find answers
HAMPTON, Ga. -- Sitting in his motorcoach at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday Michael Waltrip could hear the roar of Nextel Cup cars participating in the first practice. Waltrip would like to see a few key engineers move from TRD's Concord, N.C., office to his new shop in Cornelius, N.C.
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McLaren hoping for Australia
The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team heads into Sunday's 2007 season-opening Australian Grand Prix looking to reverse its winless streak. That's three years -- 49 races -- without a win. McLaren team boss Ron Dennis doesn't mind when that fact is mentioned.
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Sending Shivers
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- For 19 of the 20 drivers in the IndyCar Series, the XM Satellite Radio 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a pretty demoralizing way to spend a Saturday night. But for Dan Wheldon, things couldn't have gone any better.
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Taking A Turn
If the Nextel Cup teams thought it was hard to get the Car of Tomorrow to turn at Bristol, wait 'til they get a load of Martinsville. A high-speed turn in downtown Charlotte is easier to negotiate than the flat Virginia track.
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Get SAFER
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NHRA Top Fuel racers Cory McClenathan and J.R. Todd said Sunday the NHRA should consider installing the SAFER barrier at tracks that host NHRA events. McClenathan and Todd were at Bristol Motor Speedway to help promote the upcoming NHRA event at BMS in May.
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