Kentucky Lawsuit News
A federal judge said lawyers for NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation and Kentucky Speedway should consider returning to the bargaining table. U.S. District Court judge William Bertelsman said Monday an expected month-long trial, followed by several years of appeals, could be avoided if the two sides continue mediation.

NASCAR and ISC lawyers asked Bertelsman for a summary judgment Monday, arguing the speedway has insufficient evidence to prove NASCAR and ISC worked together with other tracks to keep the Kentucky track from acquiring a NASCAR Nextel Cup race. Bertelsman said he won't rule on the motion until January at the earliest. A March 4, 2008 trial date already has been set. "If you want to, now would be a good time to return to mediation," Bertelsman said. The two sides met for five hours in June with no success, and Bertelsman said it was his understanding neither side wants to settle.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said it was "premature" to say whether NASCAR and ISC would be willing to return to mediation. Cincinnati lawyer Stan Chesley, a co-counsel for the track, said track officials are "always willing to sit down and talk."

In the lawsuit, the speedway alleges NASCAR conspired to leave the Sparta, Ky., track and some other tracks out of the coveted Nextel Cup schedule despite their superior amenities. The speedway is asking ISC be ordered to sell at least eight of the 12 tracks it owns that host Nextel Cup races and that the Kentucky speedway be awarded in excess of US$200 million in damages.(canadianpress.google.com)

Hornaday Collects $370,119 Check
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) collected a record $370,119 in point fund awards along with special awards of $52,000 during Monday’s Champions Award ceremonies to bring his 2007 season total to $1,137,044, a new single-season record.

Hornaday, the second driver to win three series championships, was honored along with Kevin Harvick Inc. owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick and crew chief Rick Ren. Both KHI and Ren are celebrating their first championship. Hornaday’s winnings pushed his career total to $5,297,266, second on the all-time list behind fellow three-time champion Jack Sprague (No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota) ($6,846,738). The champion’s season winnings include special awards from Chevrolet, Goodyear and Sunoco.

More than $1.8 million in point fund awards were distributed to the top 20 drivers in the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. Runner-up Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) won $997,980 for the season. That total is the fourth highest all-time and the highest for a non-champion driver. Skinner’s race winnings of $737,520 is also a new record.

Willie Allen (No. 13 ThorSport Chevrolet) was the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, topping Tim Sauter (No. 07 Lester Buildings Chevrolet). Allen became the first rookie to win the award in a Chevrolet since Travis Kvapil in 2001.

Johnny Benson (No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) was named the Most Popular Driver for the second consecutive season. He is the first driver to repeat, and only the second driver to win the award more than once. Hornaday was named Most Popular Driver in 1997 and 2005.