Heavy Fine and Probation For Robby Gordon
NASCAR announced today that Robby Gordon, driver and owner of the No. 55 Ford in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined $35,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007 due to a rule violation during last Saturday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Gordon was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The fine and probation also carried the stipulation that if, during the remaining NASCAR events in 2007, there is another action by Gordon that is deemed by NASCAR officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, he will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR.

New Car Tests At Lowe's
Drivers got a taste of a car of tomorrow on an intermediate track as a select group did a Goodyear tire test Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Penske Racing's Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing's David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s Martin Truex Jr. and Team Red Bull's Brian Vickers conducted the test on the 1.5-mile track in extreme heat and had another day of testing set for Tuesday.

Newman said his team had not been asked to use different wing angles or front-splitter lengths by Goodyear.

"It drives pretty good - I think mostly because it's a smoother race track," Newman said Monday afternoon. "There's things to learn. We're not here testing for us. If we'll get an opportunity, we'll do some things to try to make the car better for this type of race track, but we haven't done that yet.

"The car drives pretty good. It definitely has an aero-balance shift, and that feels better. It's a matter of how they race together, and we'll see what that's like next year."(scenedaily.com)

Ambrose Won't Run Cup Race At The Glen
Marcos Ambrose's Nextel Cup debut remains on hold, officials with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing confirmed. Ambrose was scheduled to drive in both Cup road-course races this season, but the team said "several circumstances" affected the decision not to run Ambrose at Infineon Raceway or Watkins Glen International.

"We want to be totally prepared when we embark on Marcos' Cup career," team co-owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement. "We have no doubts that he will succeed at the top level of our sport. The combination of our No. 21 Cup car fighting to regain a guaranteed starting position in points and the unforeseen complexities of the new car of tomorrow introduction has forced us to rethink our earlier plans.

"Combine these factors with Marcos having a real opportunity to finish well inside the coveted top 10 in Busch Series points and we felt that stretching our resources to rush his Cup debut was the wrong thing to do at this time."

Ambrose said he supported the decision, though his goal remains to race in Nextel Cup one day. (scenedaily.com)

Carpentier In For Riggs
Valvoline Evernham Racing officials say the team opted to put veteran road-course driver Patrick Carpentier in its No. 10 Dodge car for this weekend's race at Watkins Glen International in an effort to move closer to the top 35 in NASCAR Nextel Cup owner points. Driver Scott Riggs has driven the car all season but failed to qualify for four races as his team sits outside the top 35 in owner points and a locked-in position each week.

Carpentier debuted in NASCAR last Saturday, driving for Fitz Motorsports in the Busch Series race at Montreal. The Canadian finished second in that race and will turn his attention to the Cup road course at Watkins Glen International this weekend.

Carpentier has competed in CART, IRL, CASCAR and Grand-Am series events. He'll debut in the Cup series with the Evernham team that is two spots outside of a locked-on position and 134 points behind Dave Blaney, who holds the final spot in that field. (scenedaily.com)

Regan Smith In Army Car At The Glen
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Regan Smith at this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen International. The 23-year-old driver will not only compete near the area where he grew up, but he will also rejoin his teammates on the No. 01 U.S. Army team. Smith, who was raised in Cato, N.Y., approximately 75 miles north from the Watkins Glen road course, will drive the 01 Chevrolet in Sunday's race. It will be his first Cup event under the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. racing banner.

It will also be a New York, New York tandem for the 01 team. Smith's crew chief -- Ryan Pemberton -- is also a New York native. His hometown is Saratoga Springs, located 225 miles east of Watkins Glen. "So many things have happened in a short period of time, but the bottom line is that I am thrilled to be driving the Army Chevy for the first time at my home track," said Smith. "Growing up in upstate New York and being a huge race fan, I've always considered Watkins Glen a historic landmark. It's a special feeling to go back home to compete in front of family and friends."

This will be the sixth career Cup start for Smith, who has shared the 01 Army ride with Mark Martin this season. Smith's last Cup start was July 1 at New Hampshire. "Driving for the 01 team has been a great experience," said Smith. "It's a talented team and I have all the confidence in them when I get behind the wheel. We've learned a lot about each other in the previous five races. I am confident that we can put together a solid performance this weekend."

Smith was also behind the wheel of the Army car at the only other Cup road race of the season -- June 24 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. He started 26th and finished 30th. "Regan did everything we asked of him in Sonoma," said Pemberton. "We just didn't do our job in getting the car set up properly early in the race. But once we got the car hooked up, we were better. Hopefully the second-half-of-the-race data from Sonoma will transfer for Sunday's race at the Glen."

Though he has run in only five Cup races this season, Smith is getting familiar with the Car of Tomorrow. Four of the five races he competed in were with the COT. Sunday's race will make it five out of six. The only race he drove that wasn't a COT event was in April at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. "I think Mark (Martin) will agree with me when I say that we've come a long way with our COT program," said Smith. "At first, the COT was a handful and we were all going through a learning curve. I think we've graduated to another COT level. I am really pumped about driving the soldiers' car this weekend."

In February's Mexico Busch road race, Smith was running fifth heading into the final lap. But a brake issue sent him to the middle of the pack. "I like road racing and can't wait to get to the Glen," offered Smith. "I continue to have a lot of positive vibes about this weekend."

Kyle Busch Picks Joe Gibbs Racing
Kyle Busch chose to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season and began informing other NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams Monday of his decision.

A source close to Busch told The Associated Press that the driver had selected Gibbs after a seven-week search that began when Hendrick Motorsports released the 22-year-old to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season. The source requested anonymity because the deal isn't final.

"Kyle has made his decision and is in the process of informing the teams of his preference," said Jeff Dickerson, who represents Busch through Motorsports Management International. "As there are many details that still need to be worked out, Kyle will not be making that decision public at this time."

Two car owners who had actively pursued Busch told the AP the driver informed them Monday he had not selected their teams.

Gibbs fields cars for two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, who is in the final year of his contract. Most observers expect Busch to replace Yeley. ()
AND FROM THAT'S RACIN'....
The Kyle Busch sweepstakes appears to be over. Busch, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season, signed a letter of intent last week to join Joe Gibbs Racing and drive its No. 18 Chevrolets beginning next season, the Charlotte Observer has learned. Reached by phone on Monday, Busch’s agent, Jeff Dickerson, would neither confirm nor deny a deal had been reached with Gibbs.

“Kyle has made a decision and has a first choice,” Dickerson said. “There are a lot of details that have yet to be worked out.”

The letter of intent is not binding and Busch could still theoretically change his mind. The 22-year-old driver’s two finalists were Gibbs and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, multiple sources said.

Dale Earnhardt Inc. was considered a favorite, but sources said over the past couple weeks Busch had seriously considered joining Ganassi’s organization, which fields Dodges for Juan Pablo Montoya, David Stremme and Reed Sorenson. An official announcement of Busch’s move to Gibbs is expected within the next two weeks at the JGR headquarters in Huntersville, N.C.

At Gibbs, Busch would join two-time Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart and upstart Denny Hamlin. Sources confirmed Busch would replace driver J.J. Yeley, who has struggled in the No. 18 Chevrolets since moving fulltime to the Cup series in 2006.(thatsracin.com)

Nardelli Takes Helm At Chrysler
Chrysler’s new chairman and CEO made his debut this (Monday) morning at the automaker’s Auburn Hills headquarters. Chrysler’s Tom LaSorda, who had been CEO under DaimlerChrysler’s ownership, introduced Bob Nardelli, former head of Home Depot, at a morning press conference. Nardelli stood behind a curtain before being unveiled. He stood next to a gray and newly designed Dodge Grand Caravan.

“As a private independent company, we’ll move forward with speed and a renewed focus on meeting the needs of our customers. It’s clear to me that Chrysler has an experienced, intelligent management team of men and women that is deeply familiar with Chrysler’s business and has many talented and dedicated people. Working together I am confidant that we will continue the momentum of Chrysler’s recovery and reestablishing this great American icon on a path of global growth and competitiveness,” Nardelli said.

Later he told reporters, "What I bring is a fresh set of eyes. A new perspective, if you will. As I’ve indicated, I am not from the automotive industry, so it’s important to know what you know and to know what you don’t know.”

He added: “The combination of the talent that is here and the opportunity to bring a new fresh perceptive, working closely with my partner here Tom, I think we have the opportunity to really make a sign change in Chrysler and the automotive industry.”

Cerberus Capital Management took 80.1% ownership of Chrysler on Friday. In its first bold move, it has named Nardelli as CEO and chairman of Chrysler. LaSorda keeps his president title and become vice chairman. He reports to Nardelli.(freep.com)

NASCAR Levies Heavy Fines For Busch Series Violations
NASCAR announced today that Robby Gordon, driver and owner of the No. 55 Ford in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined $35,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2007 due to a rule violation during last Saturday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Gordon was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The fine and probation also carried the stipulation that if, during the remaining NASCAR events in 2007, there is another action by Gordon that is deemed by NASCAR officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, he will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR.

Additionally, three other NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs and/or drivers and owners were fined or penalized following rule infractions at Montreal.

• Charles “Cully” Barraclough, crew chief of the No. 90 Ford driven by Stephen Leicht, was fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-12.3C (3): divider pistons in both front shock absorbers were not installed to the manufacturer’s specifications and 12A-12.3I: oil volume did not meet the minimum one-inch specification.

• Robert Yates, owner of the No. 90 Ford, was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship owner points, while Leicht was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship driver points.

• Paul Wolfe, crew chief of the No. 22 Dodge driven by Patrick Carpentier, was fined $5,000 after violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.1A(2): front spring inside and outside coil diameter exceeded the 1/8-inch limit.

• Armando Fitz, owner of the No. 22 Dodge, lost 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship owner points, while Carpentier was docked 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship driver points.

• Also, Chris Wright, crew chief for the No. 35 Ford driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $2,000 for violating 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.1A(8): unapproved jacking bolts; two hollow bolts. The infraction was discovered during opening-day inspection on Aug. 4.

• Jeff Spraker, crew chief of the No. 63 Chevrolet of Mike MacKenzie, was fined $2,000 after being found in violation of 12-4-A, 9-4-A: the crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members, 9-15-G: permitting individuals, without a proper NASCAR license, into the car servicing area and 20A-17B & 17.1A: entering the car service area without the proper safety equipment. These infractions took place during the event.