NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 1, 2008

Testing Ban Will Hurt Tourism

Testing vehicles, a critical element to getting the teams and drivers familiar with elements of their race cars, takes place at a series of locations prior to NASCAR events. Testing is considered by many to be the "spring training" of NASCAR, and in early January, Daytona International Speedway hosted sessions leading up to Speed Weeks.

For hoteliers, retailers and restaurateurs in Volusia and Brevard counties, January testing provided a boost before tourist season officially kicked off in the spring. The ban means that tourists passing through Brevard County and Daytona won't do so this year.

"Testing and Speed Week are important occurrences for us," said Laurilee Thompson, manager of iconic restaurant Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. "The visitors who are interested in NASCAR stay in the hotels, they eat in our restaurants and they spend money on souvenirs. We definitely see an uptick in business during Speed Week and during the NASCAR testing and I know that certainly, every piece of lost business hurts us."(floridatoday.com)

Red Bull Teams Set

Teammate Scott Speed will return for his rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. He’ll drive the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota under the watch of returning crew chief Jimmy Elledge.

“We’re entering our third Sprint Cup season with driver and crew chief pairings that have what it takes to consistently compete at a high level,” said Jay Frye, RBRT Vice President and General Manager. “Brian and Ryan are each at a point in their respective careers where they can bring home wins and make a run for the championship. Scott earned his Sprint Cup ride by exceeding our expectations in ARCA and trucks. He has a great asset in Jimmy, who has experience working with both rookies and open-wheel drivers.”

Pemberton, 39, inherits a No. 83 team that earned a pole, three top-five and six top-10 finishes before Vickers finished 19th in points. His most recent crew chief role was with the No. 44 Toyota, guiding driver David Reutimann to four top 10s in 2008. A longtime crewman, Pemberton became a crew chief in 1995 in the Nationwide Series and took his first Sprint Cup job in 1997 at MB2 Motorsports. Since then, he has crew chiefed for the likes of Derrike Cope, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola. His first victory as a crew chief came when Nemechek won the 2004 race at Kansas Speedway.

After ruffling fenders in ARCA and the Craftsman Truck Series, Speed graduates to a full-time Sprint Cup ride in 2009. He drove the No. 84 in four races and the No. 83 in one to close last season. Speed, switching to a silver No. 82, will contend for rookie of the year and start the season locked inside the top 35 in car owner points.

He’s guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races, including the season-opening Daytona 500. He’ll also run a partial Nationwide Series schedule in the No. 99 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. After a two-year stint in the NASCAR garage, the No. 84 retires to the RBRT museum, also known as the race shop in Mooresville, N.C. (Red Bull PR)

Champion of Champions Awards

"We are looking forward to hosting this event once again and presenting this year's winner to the audience and as part of RaceFanRadio's live broadcast at the PRI Trade Show," stated Corinne Economaki, publisher of National Speed Sport News.

"It will be another fun and exciting program."

In alphabetical order, the nominees include: Justin Allgaier (ARCA RE/MAX Series); Johnny Benson (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series); Dale Blaney (All Star Circuit of Champions); Clint Bowyer (NASCAR Nationwide Series); Ted Christopher (NASCAR Whelen Modified Series); Jerry Coons, Jr. (USAC Silver Crown, USAC National Sprint Car Series); Jeg Coughlin (NHRA Pro Stock); Billy Decker (Super DIRT Series); Scott Dixon (IndyCar Series); Benny Gordon (Hooters Pro Cup Series); Eric Holmes (NASCAR Camping World West); Jason Johnson (American Sprint Car Series); Jimmy Johnson (NASCAR Sprint Cup); Matt Kobyluck (NASCAR Camping World East); Darrell Lanigan (World of Outlaws Late Model Series); Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner (American Le Mans Series); Raphael Matos (Indy Lights); Earl Pearson, Jr. (Lucas Dirt Series); Cruz Pedregon (NHRA Funny Car); the duo of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas (Grand Am Rolex Series); Donny Schatz (World of Outlaws); Tony Schumacher (NHRA Top Fuel) and Cole Whitt (USAC Midgets).

The field will be trimmed to 10 Finalists on Dec. 3. (Auto Channel)