New Crew Chief For Kurt Busch ~ Pat Tryson
Penske Racing announced today that Pat Tryson will become crew chief effective immediately of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge driven by Kurt Busch. Tryson replaces Troy Raker who has served as interim crew chief of the team since Texas. Troy will return to his previous role within the Penske engineering department.

Tryson, a 10-year veteran NASCAR NEXTEL Cup crew chief, led Mark Martin to the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup in each of the last three seasons while working for Roush Fenway Racing. Most recently, he served as crew chief for Greg Biffle and the No. 16 team.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to the races,” said Tryson. “Working with Kurt and the Penske organization is a great opportunity and I’m confident that we can accomplish great things together.”

“We have been knocking at the door and I think Pat can really help take us to the next level,” said Kurt Busch. “Troy has done a great job filling in for Roy McCauley and I think Pat’s presence will add even more depth to our Team.”

“Pat is a racer who is well respected in the garage area and we look forward to the experience and leadership he will provide to the No. 2 team,” said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Performance, Inc. “Competing for championships is our goal and Pat’s proven that he has the ability to get top level teams and drivers into the Chase. He will be a true asset to our company as we continue to build for our future.”

Petty On Air ~ In Car
This weekend, Kyle Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge head to the 10-turn, 1.99-mile Infineon Raceway, located in Sonoma (Calif.) for Sunday’s SaveMart 350. Petty will give live, in-car analysis during Sunday’s race as part of his role with TNT this summer. Petty’s love for road course racing put him back into the #45 Dodge for this weekend’s event. He will be giving viewers one of the most unique experiences as to what it’s like racing a Nextel Cup car in road course competition.

The countdown to 800 career starts picks back up this weekend. The road to Indianapolis, the location of Petty’s 800th career start, will roll through Sonoma for career start 799. Petty has 16 starts at Sonoma with two top-10 and one top-five finish. Comments from Petty as he prepares for Sunday’s SaveMart 350:

“Why not, that was the way I felt about driving and analyzing the race in Sonoma. Why can’t you? I think we can take the viewer to the next level. We have all the technology to do it from a broadcast perspective. We can do it from the team perspective. I think it’s going to be pretty cool for TNT and all the fans. I don’t think we are out there reinventing the wheel, but hopefully we can break some new ground with what we are going to do.

“Sonoma is a probably the most unique track to do something like this. Sonoma is a pretty technical road course. You are on the gas, off the gas, on the brake, going up hills and going down hills. There is so much going on in one lap that fans know about, but maybe they never had an insider’s view. It’s a lot of work in these cars to get around Sonoma.

“That’s what I enjoy about it. I’ve always enjoyed running the road courses. Looking at the schedule this year, and what we were doing with TNT, this race was one that I wanted to run. I’m grateful to TNT for making this work.

“It’s a big race for Wells Fargo too. They do a lot of business in the west. The track, being in wine country and close to Oakland, San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, it’s a big deal for Wells Fargo to get in front of these customers. We want to put on a good race for them.

“Chad (McCumbee) and John (Andretti) did good jobs for us at Pocono and Michigan. Billy (Wilburn) and the guys have been working hard. The guys have been working with different drivers, but they are doing a great job. They are preparing good cars. This team is a pretty strong group of guys. Sonoma is a different challenge, being a road course, but I think we can get a good run on Sunday.

“A lot of this is about attitude. I have a liking for the road courses. That’s going to make for a big advantage. I’ll have millions of my closest friends along for the ride on Sunday too. We’re going to give them a good ride. Everyone will learn something on Sunday.

Ron Fellows Fills In For Raines
Veteran road racing driver Ron Fellows will pilot the No. 96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet in the upcoming NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series road course events at Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.) and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Bill Saunders, general and managing partner of Hall of Fame Racing announced June 19. Fellows will take over for Tony Raines, who has driven the No. 96 car in all Nextel Cup events in 2007.

“Tony has done a great job for Hall of Fame Racing and DLP this year,” Saunders said. “We’re very happy with what he’s done so far this season and look forward to getting better throughout the summer and the fall. I’ve known Ron for many, many years and he is a tremendous road racer and we’re thrilled to have him drive the DLP car at Infineon and Watkins Glen. We look forward to great things from him. We’re also really appreciative of Tony being a true team player. As a former driver I know how hard it is to sit out a race, so for Tony to put the team in front of himself speaks volumes about what kind of a class act he is.”

Fellows, 47, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has a road racing resume second to none. He won 19 races in 95 starts in SCCA Trans-Am competition before becoming the primary development driver for General Motors’ Corvette C5-R program. That association produced victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona (Fla.), 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring (Fla.), and virtually every road racing circuit in North America.

“I’m very excited to get the opportunity to drive the No. 96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet for Hall of Fame Racing,” Fellows said. “They’ve done a tremendous job in just a year and a half of being in Nextel Cup and I hope to give them two great results at Infineon and Watkins Glen. I’ve known Bill (Saunders) for many years and I really appreciate him, DLP and Tony giving me this opportunity.”

Fellows has competed in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions and has scored two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories (Watkins Glen – 1997 and 1999) and three NASCAR Busch Series victories (Watkins Glen – 1998, 2000 and 2001). Both his Truck Series victories and his 2000 Busch Series win came from the pole, while his 1998 and 2001 Busch Series wins came from the second starting spot.

In 15 career Nextel Cup starts – with all but one having come at either Infineon or Watkins Glen (New Hampshire, August 1998) – Fellows has finished second twice, in 1999 and 2004, both at Watkins Glen. His 2004 runner-up effort came after starting 43rd. He has two other top-10 finishes, both at Infineon, where he was seventh in 2003 and eighth in 2005. He has had plenty of success at Infineon, as he has scored five wins in American Le Mans Series competition, tying him for the series record for wins at a racetrack.

“I had a chance to test with the DLP team last month at Virginia International Raceway,” Fellows said. “I got a chance to know Brandon (Thomas, crew chief) and the team. It was my first time in the Car of Tomorrow and it was a pretty good test. Hall of Fame Racing is a solid organization and I’m looking forward to racing with them.”

The Toyota/Save Mart 350k at Infineon Raceway is scheduled for June 24 and will be broadcast on TNT. The Nextel Cup at the Glen race at Watkins Glen International will be Aug. 12 and broadcast on ESPN. Both event will be broadcast in high-definition.

Wimmer To Throw Out First Pitch
Wisconsin native and Richard Childress Racing driver Scott Wimmer will throw out the first pitch at Miller Park when the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Kansas City Royals on Friday, June 22. Wimmer, a five-time winner in the NASCAR Busch Series and driver of the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, is hoping that his days as a little league third baseman will aid his first pitch effort.

“I haven’t played baseball in quite a long time but it is exciting to go out to Miller Park and throw out the first pitch,” said Wimmer. “I am not a baseball player anymore but I think that it is going to be neat to be out there and see all of the fans and hopefully the Brewers will win the game.”

The Wausau, Wis., native is looking forward to making his first trip to Miller Park.

“I used to go to games at County Stadium but never made it to the new stadium,” Wimmer remarked. I lived in Wisconsin the whole time they were building Miller Park but I never got to a game. It is going to be neat to go out there, see the place and take in some baseball.”

Wimmer is slated to throw the first pitch at 6:50 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) and the game starts at 7:05 p.m. CDT. Fans interested in attending the game can visit (www.brewers.com) for ticket information.

Jerry Rice Takes Hot Laps
Jerry Rice has won three Super Bowls and caught more passes than any wide receiver in NFL history, but nothing could have prepared him for what he experienced on Monday at Infineon Raceway. Rice was treated to four laps around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course in the Sonoma Valley in the passenger seat of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stock car, supplied by the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Rice, who will serve as Grand Marshal of this weekend’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, was in the passenger seat of the Burger King Toyota, with driver Shane MacMillan as his tour guide. The two reached speeds in excess of 100 mph over the twists and turns of Infineon Raceway. The stock car featured 700-horsepower.

“I had no idea it was going to be that fast,” said Rice, who will be attending his first NASCAR race this weekend. “My heart was pumping big-time. To feel the sheer power of these cars was just amazing, and it takes a pretty special athlete to go 110 laps around this place. I have so much respect for these NASCAR drivers and what they do.”

One of those drivers Rice hopes to meet is five-time Infineon Raceway champion Jeff Gordon, who is a native of nearby Vallejo.

“I’ve watched his career on television for a lot of years and I’ve always idolized him,” Rice said. “I’m really hoping I get a chance to meet him and spend some time with him this weekend. I also hear he’s a big San Francisco 49ers fan so that’s pretty cool, too.”

Rice, best known as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, will be honored throughout the weekend, most notably at the Raceway Builder’s Grand Marshal’s Banquet on Friday night, June 22, at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. All proceeds from the banquet benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway.

Rice will also join the Northern California Toyota Dealers on Sunday in giving the start command, “Gentleman, start your engines,” prior to the start of the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Rice won three Super Bowls while playing for the San Francisco 49ers from 1985-2000. During his stellar 21-year career, which included stints with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, he basically rewrote the NFL record book for wide receivers.

Mark Dyer Named CEO For Motorsports Authentics
Mark Dyer, a seasoned licensing executive with over 25 years in sports business, has been named president and chief executive officer of Motorsports Authentics, the merchandise retailer owned in a 50/50 joint venture between International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI).

Dyer, 48, who currently serves as vice president of licensing and consumer products for NASCAR, will assume his duties immediately, and will report to the Motorsports Authentics Board of Managers, which is comprised of ISC President Lesa France Kennedy; SMI Executive Vice President, National Sales and Marketing, Marcus Smith; ISC Chief Marketing Officer Roger VanDerSnick; and SMI Board Member Mark Gambill. Former President Ruth Crowley has elected to leave Motorsports Authentics to pursue a new business opportunity. She will assist Dyer in the coming week(s) to ensure a smooth transition.

As president, Dyer will oversee the acquisition and development of intellectual property licenses, coordinating with teams, drivers, sanctioning bodies, promoters and sponsors to enhance industry opportunities. In addition, Dyer will develop partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and manufacturers, develop and implement strategies with in-market retailers in all distribution channels, and liaise with promoters to optimize the trackside retail footprint, maximize points-of-sale and improve the fan experience.

“Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise both in motorsports licensing and sales to Motorsports Authentics,” said France Kennedy. “His extensive relationships and background, specifically his most recent experience in Charlotte as the head of global licensing for NASCAR, will allow him to immediately contribute to the growth of the joint venture.”

Added Smith: “Over the last several years, Mark has overseen and directed a period of significant growth for NASCAR’s licensing business and we anticipate his tenure at Motorsports Authentics will be very successful. We also sincerely thank Ruth for all of her contributions to Motorsports Authentics, and wish her great success in her future endeavours.”

As VP at NASCAR, a position held since 2002, Dyer led the day-to-day management of the sanctioning body’s Charlotte operation. In this position, Dyer oversaw all aspects of a $2.1 billion industry that now has companies putting the NASCAR brand on a broad spectrum of quality products.

In addition to traditional licensing, Dyer also oversaw NASCAR’s automotive aftermarket licensing program, retail program development, promotional marketing, publishing and The NASCAR Foundation. Finally, Dyer was NASCAR’s lead negotiator throughout the Hall of Fame site-selection process.

Dyer said, “I have been involved in the motorsports industry for over a decade and I welcome this opportunity to work more closely with drivers, teams and distributors to further elevate the popularity of the sport. It has been an honor to work with NASCAR and to be part of growing its brand. I look forward to building upon my prior experiences and working closely with the strong team already in place to enable Motorsports Authentics to flourish as the pre-eminent source for quality licensed merchandise.”

Prior to NASCAR, Dyer owned and operated NASCAR Café in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was formerly the president and CEO of H&C Racing, Inc., the company that launched the NASCAR Café concept. Dyer was also an executive at Host Communications from 1989 to 1996, where he oversaw the communications company’s University Group.

Motorsports Authentics is the leader in the design, promotion, marketing and distribution of licensed motorsports merchandise. The Company’s products include a broad range of motorsports-related die-cast replica collectibles, apparel, souvenirs and other sports-inspired memorabilia. Motorsports Authentics markets and distributes products through a variety of channels including the Action Racing Collectables network of dealers, the Racing Collectables Club of America, QVC, goracing.com, trackside at racing events, direct corporate promotions, mass retail and department stores, and select online retailers. For more information about Motorsports Authentics and its many subsidiaries, please visit the company’s corporate Web site at www.motorsports-authentics.com. Motorsports Authentics, based in Concord, NC, is a 50/50 joint venture between International Speedway Corporation and Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Two Busch Races For Vickers
Braun Racing is pleased to announce Brian Vickers will pilot the No. 32 Braun Racing Toyota Camry in two NASCAR Busch Series races this season at Daytona International Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Vickers will drive the No. 32 at Daytona and Lowe’s with sponsorship from Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation of Arizona.

“I’m looking forward to this opportunity to drive for Braun Racing.” said Vickers. “It was important to race a Toyota and with their support, Braun has been running really well this season, so I’m confident that the car they are putting together for me will be just as competitive. We appreciate Team Red Bull’s cooperation and the support Braun receives from the Ft. McDowell Resort Destination. I’m just ready to get back behind the wheel of a Busch car. We’re not racing for points, just wins!”

Vickers began his Busch Series career in 2001. In 2003 he took home the Busch Series Championship in his first full season of competition, becoming NASCAR’s youngest-ever champion at 20 years of age. In 73 series starts, Vickers captured three wins, 16 top-fives and 28 top-10 finishes.