Ray Cooper Spirit Award Winner
Award-winning sportswriter and longtime manufacturer’s representative Ray Cooper has been named the third quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Pocono Spirit Award. Cooper, diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, remains active in the sport despite curtailing his work with Dodge as a manufacturer’s rep in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series this year while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. A former recipient of the Joe Littlejohn Award, he was also the 1986 winner of the George Cunningham Award for excellence in writing. Cooper received 46 votes cast by the membership. ...More
UPDATE.. Ray Cooper passed away on Friday, funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are released.

ISC Looked To Buy Kentucky Speedway Before Suit
Before it sued NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. in 2005 for allegedly monopolizing big-time racing, Kentucky Speedway apparently discussed a possible sale of its Gallatin County track. But ISC was only interested if it could buy it on the cheap, according to a sworn statement filed last week by Jerry Carroll, the track's chairman and developer. Carroll could not be reached for comment.

The allegation is included in a confidential 2002 memo Carroll sent to Kentucky Speedway partners and referenced in the court record. Carroll said in the sworn statement the memo is consistent with his recollection of the meeting, at which Lesa France Kennedy, now ISC's president, said "ISC would only purchase Kentucky Speedway if it were a 'steal.'"

In its amended complaint filed earlier this year, the speedway said Kennedy and other ISC officials visited the track several times from 1999 through 2004 to assess a possible purchase.(bizjournals.com)

Dodge Sets Land Speed Record
Russ Wicks, who holds World Speed Records of more than 200 miles per hour on both land and water, has set a stock car world record of 244.9 miles per hour, which has been confirmed by Guinness World Records. Wick successfully achieved the record on Tuesday, October 9 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Northwestern Utah while driving a 2007 Dodge Charger built to NASCAR specifications. The new mark shatters Wicks’ previous stock car world speed record of 222 miles per hour. Wicks’ vehicle was developed with the backing of the Dodge Motorsports Engineering Group and Arrington Engines. Autodesk software was leveraged to make integral performance modifications. Wicks is the only living person to hold world speed records over 200 miles per hour on land and water.

"I'm totally thrilled," said Wicks. "It's an amazing feeling to push yourself to the edge and emerge victorious. I couldn't have done it without Autodesk and Dodge, who have supported me in my attempt from the very beginning."

Wicks' vehicle was developed with the backing of the Dodge Motorsports Engineering Group and Arrington Engines. Autodesk software was leveraged to make integral performance modifications.

Throughout the testing and development phases, Wicks used Autodesk Buzzsaw -- an on-demand collaborative project management solution -- to simplify and centralize project related documents and streamline the design review process.

"The Autodesk manufacturing solution was indispensable to the development of this record-breaking vehicle," said Wicks. "From communication and collaboration, to visualization and engineering, Autodesk provided the best possible tools for the vehicle development process."

"Wicks is a true American original, and we congratulate him on his new world speed record," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "With his triumph, Wicks has helped demonstrate to the world how the innovation, performance and superior technology of Autodesk software can be harnessed to develop a truly world- class vehicle."

About Russ Wicks

Russ Wicks is the only living person to hold world speed records over 200 MPH on land and water. For his accomplishments he has been featured on ESPN, the National Geographic Channel, included in the Guinness World Records Book, and also appeared on the cover of WIRED Magazine. For more information, visit .

Worst To First ~ Burton Wins Busch Race
Jeff Burton, driving a Richard Childress prepared car, because of an engine change before the race, started dead last on the field and took advantage of a spin by Clint Bowyer, taking the lead with 61 laps to go and he never looked back. NASCAR Busch Series points leader Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, who sat on the pole for the Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, both crashed out of the race leaving it wide open for Burton's fourth victory of the season in the series. Biffle finished 30th -- Edwards 33rd.

Kyle Busch also started deep in the field at 24th and quickly made his way to the front, finished second but had nothing for Burton in the end. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving in his final Busch Series start for DEI, finished third and Aric Almirola was fourth. Denny Hamlin nailed down the fifth spot followed by Robby Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kelly Bires and Kevin Harvick to round out the top ten. The victory was the eleventh for Richard Childress Racing this season in the Busch Series.