NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 27, 2007

SPEED Will Go To High Definition In 2008

SPEED Preseason Lineup Announced

Testing coverage will be comprehensive as SPEED will cover sessions for the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. In addition, for the first time, SPEED will offer multiple shows from the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway.

John Roberts will anchor SPEED's Sprint Cup coverage on-site, with assistance from Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and Bob Dillner. Roberts also will host the Craftsman Truck Series session, with analysis from Ray Dunlap and Phil Parsons; and Nationwide Series testing, with Dunlap providing analysis. The full NASCAR on SPEED on-air team will participate in the 30-minute shows throughout the month, both on-site and from the Charlotte-based SPEED studios.(nascar.com)

Labonte Takes On First Client

General Mills has sponsored the No. 43 since 2000, when it replaced longtime Petty sponsor STP. General Mills has been the only primary sponsor for the car since then.

General Mills previously was an associate sponsor for Roush Racing's No. 6 Valvoline car driven by Mark Martin.

Wallace Hires Harold Holly

One of the most well-known crew chiefs in Nationwide Series history, Holly dominated the series during the 1999-2001 seasons. During that time, he and driver Jeff Green combined for 13 wins, 11 poles, 56 top-five finishes and 72 top-tens en route to the 2000 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. His 72 top-ten finishes equate to scoring a top-ten in three of every four races during that 96-race span. Holly’s run during that time still holds the records for top-five finishes in single season (27 in 32 starts) and greatest championship margin of victory (616 points). Prior to his appointment by Rusty Wallace Racing, Holly served as crew chief on the No. 66 HAAS / CNC Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

As a result of this move, Steve Darne, interim crew chief on the No. 66 in 2007, has been named crew chief for the team’s newly-founded No. 64 entry, which will compete for the 2008 Nationwide Series Owners’ Championship with former Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, David Stremme, 2004 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Champion, Max Papis and teenage sensation Chase Austin, behind the wheel.

Noted team owner, Rusty Wallace, “I’m really excited to have Harold Holly on board to lead our No. 66 team in 2008. His record of success in the Nationwide Series is second to none and with his Cup experience, Harold should really be able to help take our team to the next level. Everyone knows that we didn’t run quite as well as we had hoped last year, but our new General Manager, Rick Carpenter, has done a tremendous job of assembling what we believe is a championship-caliber team. I can’t think of anyone better to lead that team than a former champion like Harold Holly. I’m really excited about our program in 2008.”