NASCAR Daily News Headlines * November 26, 2007

Jeff Meendering Takes Reins Of No. 43 Car

“The opportunity to lead a team with the winning tradition of the ‘43’ car and work for a legend in Richard Petty, felt like the perfect fit,” said Meendering. “I started out as a teenager sweeping floors at Hendrick Motorsports and saw firsthand the commitment it takes in the shop to win races and championships. Robbie Loomis gave me the opportunity to join the ‘24’ team in 2001 and I learned from him, and Steve Letarte, how to prepare and execute at the track. Bobby Labonte is a champion and a driver of the highest caliber. From what I have seen this team has all the pieces in place to compete for wins and make the ‘Chase.’ I have been fortunate to visit Victory Lane several times with the ‘24’ team and I fully expect to be a part of getting Bobby and the ‘43’ car there again.”

Meendering will step into an organization that is showing a commitment to winning. Petty Enterprises recently announced that they will move into the Mooresville, N.C. shop the previously housed Robert Yates Racing. The hiring of Meendering will provide a talented leader to ease in the transition period.

“We see Jeff as another very important piece in our process of growing Petty Enterprises back into a championship-contending team,” said Vice President of Race Operations Robbie Loomis. “I’ve known Jeff for many years and I realize how truly lucky we are to have someone of his caliber join our organization. He will be tremendously valuable in helping us with all of the transition we have this off-season, with the move and competing with the Car of Tomorrow at all of the tracks next year. With the knowledge, experience and leadership he brings to our team I am confident he will be a cornerstone of our organization for years to come.”

Martinsville Now Provides Ticket Insurance

The coverage, an optional purchase in addition to the ticket, will be $6.25 per ticket, and is available for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series events at Martinsville Speedway. With the insurance provided by World Access, fans will be reimbursed if a medical issue, traffic accident, jury duty, employment commitments or termination, or any other covered reasons prevents the insured from attending a race. Additional covered reasons are included in the policy.

“We always work hard to make sure the fans’ experience at Martinsville is a positive one and our new partnership with World Access is another step in that direction,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “World Access gives fans a comfort zone. They know if something unforeseen happens and they can’t come to the race, their tickets are covered.”

World Access is a leading specialty insurance and assistance provider. They also offer Event Ticket Protector Insurance coverage for concert and other sporting tickets, including NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series races at all ISC facilities.

Insurance coverage is currently available online with ticket purchases for Martinsville’s Sprint Cup and Truck Series races, and hospitality packages. For more information visit (martinsvillespeedway.com).

Tickets are on sale for both the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on March 30 and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, March 29, and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at (Martinsvile Tickets).

TNT Will Bring Back Wide Open Coverage

Trish Frohman, executive vp of Turner Sports sales, said Sprint will definitely return for next year’s July 5 telecast, while talks are underway with the other marketers including Auto Zone, DirecTV, Ford, Goodyear, Miller Brewing Co., Principal Financial Group, Subway and Toyota.

Coca-Cola has replaced Pepsi as the on-track sponsor of next year’s race, which will be known as the Coke 400. Turner is also talking with Coke about becoming TV sponsor of the race and buying branded spots in the telecast.

All the branded spots, as in this year’s telecast, will be produced by Turner Sports Creative Sports Services, in partnership with the clients. Each will run between 30 seconds and two minutes apiece.

The Wide Open Coverage concept was a hit with viewers because without national commercial breaks, racing fans got to see more than an hour of additional live coverage during the three-hour telecast.

This year’s Pepsi 400 was not only ad-supported cable’s highest-rated program of that week among adults 18-49 and 25-54, but also the top-rated show on July 7 in those demos in all of television, including broadcast. The telecast drew 3 million adults 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall.(mediaweek.com)