NASCAR Rules May Increase Accidents
U.S. researchers have determined safety regulations enacted by NASCAR over 21 years have resulted in an increase in accidents.

West Virginia University Professor Russell Sobel and former graduate student Todd Nesbit examined 21 years of NASCAR accident reports and the introduction of various safety requirements.

"When safety regulation makes automobiles safer, drivers may drive more recklessly, partially or completely offsetting effects on the overall level of safety," the researchers said.

Sobel had been interested in exploring whether improved safety in automobiles would be offset by safety incentives. But he found gathering data was difficult, especially for the cars driven by most Americans, because of variations in road conditions, laws and weather factors across the nation. However, he said many of those factors are controlled in NASCAR races, making the sport a perfect subject for the study.

"We are essentially able to test how the same drivers, on the same tracks and in the same weather conditions, alter their behavior in response to changes in automobile safety," Sobel said.(physorg.com)

Martins Adds Three Cup Races
Three races have been added to Mark Martin's limited 2007 schedule with Ginn Racing. The additional races include Pocono (Aug. 5), Richmond (Sept. 8) and Dover (Sept. 23).

“It has been nothing but a pleasure driving that U.S. Army Chevrolet for Ryan Pemberton and this team,” said Martin. “The three races we've added are tracks where I typically enjoy racing. We were already set to run the first race at those tracks and now we’ll look forward to going back for a second time.”

Martin's 2007 schedule now includes 26 races -- 24 Nextel Cup point races and the two non-point events -- this weekend's Nextel All Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway and February's Bud Shootout at Daytona.

Currently Martin has competed in eight of 11 events this season and is ranked 15th in the Nextel Cup driver points - ahead of 18 drivers who have competed in three more events. Martin and co-driver Regan Smith have the No. 01 Ginn Racing entry ranked sixth in the Nextel Cup owner points.

Martin will compete in the No. 01 in the next five races, before handing the wheel back to Smith for the June 24 road race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Kahne Will Run Speed World Challenge
Woodhouse Performance announced today NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 13 Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper Competition Coupe in the SPEED World Challenge series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Kahne joins fellow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competitor Jimmie Johnson in the SCCA Pro-Racing GT Series race, which will take place following CTC’s presentation of NEXTEL Cup qualifying Thursday night May 24.

“This is a neat opportunity to better myself as a road course racer,” Kahne said. “With the upcoming races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, it gives me a chance to learn more about this style of driving. I appreciate Ray Evernham giving me the opportunity to participate and have some fun at the same time.”

Kahne, driver the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge for Evernham Motorsports, has competed in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for the last three years. He has accumulated seven-career NEXTEL Cup Series wins, 30 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2004. Last season he won six races and secured a spot in NASCAR’s Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. He finished eighth in the driver points standings, completing his most successful year to date. Kahne is one of NASCAR’s most well-known drivers and is considered a superstar in the series.

Woodhouse Performance has been competing in the SPEED World Challenge GT Series for the past four years with team owner Bob Woodhouse, 61, behind the wheel of the No. 13 Viper. The 2006 season saw Woodhouse post eight top- 10 and four top-five finishes in 10 races in the same chassis Kahne will drive at Lowe’s. Woodhouse Performance has become proficient at the aerodynamic balance of the Dodge Viper, reducing drag and maintaining a top performing racecar in the tightly contested SPEED World Challenge series.

“A lot of NASCAR fans have no clue what the World Challenge Series is. Having Kahne in the series gives them a chance to learn,” Team Owner Bob Woodhouse said. “On the flip side, World Challenge competitors get to learn from the masters, how they make a really great show.”

Teammate to Kahne at Charlotte will be Woodhouse Performance driver Jeff Courtney, who pilots the No. 99 Kenda Tires/ProMPI Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. He is looking forward racing alongside the NASCAR superstar.

“I can’t say enough about the potential this event and these NASCAR drivers bring to our series, teams, sponsors and drivers,” Courtney said. “Its exciting that we have another big name racing in our series at Charlotte, and the fact one is joining Woodhouse Performance as a teammate is a bonus.”

Courtney sits 11th in the series championship points standings, after posting top-15 finishes in the first two races of the season.

Limited Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact: Delayne Hunt, Woodhouse Performance, (704) 400-9040 or David Jessey, Evernham Motorsports, (704)-924-9404.

Bill Davis Team Penalized
NASCAR announced today that the No. 23 Toyota team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has been penalized for rule violations committed last week during a test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Three penalties have been assessed to the No. 23 Toyota team for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-J (permitting a non-NASCAR licensed driver to drive the No. 23 truck) of the 2007 NASCAR Rule Book.