NASCAR Wants AT&T Logos Off
NASCAR expects the AT&T logos to be removed from the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing car for the Nextel Cup events this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mandate Tuesday that its decision be followed that NASCAR is not legally required to allow the AT&T logos on the car driven by Jeff Burton, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Tuesday night.

The appellate court also clarified its Aug. 13 ruling that the logo issue return to U.S. District Court in Atlanta for consideration of other legal issues other than breach of contract, Poston said. AT&T had won the injunction on breach of contract grounds as U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob ruled May 18 that NASCAR's grandfather clause in its licensing agreement that gives RCR a car number allowed for the Cingular logos to be changed to AT&T following their December 2006 merger.

But the appellate court ruled that because the grandfather clause (enacted in 2004 when Nextel became the primary sponsor of the Cup series) was designed to benefit RCR and not necessarily Cingular, that AT&T could not sue under breach of contract grounds.(scenedaily.com)

Kenny Wallace In For Petty
Kenny Wallace, one of the sports most personable and talented drivers, will fill in for Kyle Petty in the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge in Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at the .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway. Petty’s broken hand will again keep him out of the driver’s seat for the second consecutive week. Petty is hopeful to return to the car at the California Speedway.

Wallace will be making his 20th Nextel Cup career start at Bristol this weekend. He has two top-10 finishes at the track and one pole in Cup competition. Wallace is a winner at the track in the NASCAR Busch Series. His talents also reach beyond the track where he is one of the fans most popular racers. Wallace was voted by the fans into this year’s NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge.

“I look at this from two ways,” says Wallace. “First, I feel terrible that Kyle can’t drive this weekend. I know he was very determined to get back behind the wheel at Bristol. Everyone is feeling good that he’ll be back in California, but I know he wants to race this weekend. Secondly, it’s an honor that Kyle and Wells Fargo are letting me fill in for him. Racing is what we all love to do. I know Kyle wants to be racing at Bristol. I’m going to give this car the best ride I can.”

Petty is still recovering from a broken hand suffered at Watkins Glen International. Petty had successful surgery on the hand and it continues to heal.

“It’s disappointing not to be able to race at Bristol,” said Petty. “I had every intention of getting back at Bristol, but I have to let the hand heal. You can’t rush this along. Kenny is a good friend and a talented driver. I’m confident that he’ll do a great job for our team and sponsors this weekend.”

Almirola Makes DEI Debut
Aric Almirola will make his debut in the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet in Saturday night’s Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It will be the second career Cup race for the 23-year-old driver and his first with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Almirola joined DEI after a whirlwind week in mid July. In a matter of a few days after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to sign with Ginn Racing, he found himself headed to DEI when the company merged with Ginn. The Tampa, Fla. native will share the 01 Army ride with veteran Mark Martin in selected races of the current season and also during the 2008 campaign.

"In less than a week, I went from Joe Gibbs Racing to Ginn Racing to DEI," said Almirola. "Everything is great and I'm excited to get strapped into the Army Chevy and do battle at Bristol. It's an awesome track and it's important for me to show our soldiers and DEI that I am capable of doing a good job for them."

Bristol's famed half-mile bullring, which usually produces more sheet metal carnage than any other track on the NASCAR circuit, is obviously not the ideal place for making a driving debut.

"I might be a Cup rookie, but I know all about the pitfalls of the Bristol track," offered Almirola, who has competed in two previous Busch races at Bristol. "It's a demanding track, but luck is also a big factor there. I don't plan on finishing with a clean car, but I do plan on finishing all the laps. My goal is to be competitive and run strong."

Almirola is also scheduled to compete in Friday night's Busch race at Bristol for Joe Gibbs Racing. In his two previous Busch races at the high-banked short track -- August 2006 and March 2007 -- he qualified 15th in both events. He finished 20th in last year’s race and was involved in an accident in the March race.

"I don't have a lot of experience at Bristol, but I have had enough to know that you have to be patient and totally focused," noted Almirola. “It’s a demanding track and you can’t ever let your guard down.”

Ryan Pemberton, crew chief for the 01 Army Chevy, said the goal is simple for Saturday night’s race.

“Aric is a talented driver and I don’t have to tell him that patience is golden at Bristol,” said Pemberton. “He knows what it takes to get the job done. We just want to put a whole race together and run every lap. This is without a doubt the toughest race and toughest track to make your first start.”

In the March race at Bristol, Pemberton also assisted a rookie driver when Regan Smith made his debut after Martin drove the 01 car in the first four races.

“This race is equally different, but equally as important,” added Pemberton. “In March we went into Bristol leading the driver points. Now, we go into Bristol hoping to maintain our top-12 spot of making the Chase for the owner’s championship.”

In Almirola’s first Cup race – at Las Vegas in March – he retired from the event early after being involved in an accident.

Race and Commercial Breakdown For The 3M Performance 400