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NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 3, 2008
Champions Week – Day 2Jimmie Johnson visited one of New York City’s most famous landmarks – Central Park – for a photo shoot Tuesday, as the first full day of Champions Week activities unfolded. Among the photos taken were Johnson in front of Wollman Rink, one of two ice skating rinks in Central Park and one of him on a bridge overlooking The Pond in Central Park. Johnson also plans to have his photo taken Thursday afternoon at the intersection of 48th and 3rd Streets, signifying Johnson’s No. 48 team winning its third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.“We took some cool photos in Central Park; I think those photos are going to be amazing,” said Johnson, who has an apartment in the Chelsea section of New York City. “I like to go running in Central Park when we’re in town and it’s always a good cut through when you’re on the East Side and have to go over to the West Side or Columbus Circle, so I spend a lot of time in Central Park.” Earlier in the day, Johnson visited two of the country’s most highly regarded news organizations – the New York Times and Associated Press. At both offices, Johnson met with print and online editors, discussing topics ranging from his record-tying third straight series championship, the type of physical and mental preparation he undergoes each week, how the team analyzes the video, audio and computer data that is available in helping them prepare for each race, the suspension of the testing policy for 2009, the challenges the current state of the economy is posing to the sport, and how he studies other drivers’ styles to help make himself better. Championship crew chief Chad Knaus accompanied Johnson on the Associated Press visit. Later Tuesday afternoon, Johnson participated in a Satellite Media Tour, taping interviews with affiliates from more than 10 of the country’s top television markets. Tuesday night he was scheduled to appear on Motor Racing Network’s NASCAR Live national radio program.
Economy Puts Squeeze On NASCARNASCAR's sponsorship revenue will grow at a slower rate next year, or even decline, as the professional stock car racing circuit gets hit by the economic slowdown and hard times in the auto industry, the racing organization's chief executive warned on Tuesday. The U.S. racing circuit has held discussions with some corporate sponsors about either pulling back or withdrawing from their roles completely, Brian France said at the Reuters Media Summit in New York.NASCAR also has had talks with some potential new sponsors, he said, but declined to identify companies in either case. NASCAR's sponsorship revenue rose this year by about $150 million -- or in the low single-digit percentage range -- growth that will not be repeated in 2009, France said. "Next year, we will not obviously make that kind of a gain. The question is, are we going to back up?" he said. Unlike most U.S. sports, NASCAR is heavily dependent on sponsorships, with corporations such as DuPont, Coca Cola and the three major U.S. automakers holding long associations with the sport. General Motors Corp -- which is already cutting NASCAR-related spending -- Ford Motor Co and Chrysler are big backers of the sport. Dozens of smaller sponsors spend millions to have their names linked with a team, race or track. France added he would welcome another automaker to NASCAR, but has had no formal discussions with another company. Japan's Toyota Motor Corp also supports NASCAR race teams. He noted the economic slowdown is putting pressure on advertising for its television partners, including News Corp's Fox, and has placed on hold any plans for NASCAR to expand to cities like New York, Seattle or Denver.(reuters.com)
Johnson Driver Of The YearJimmie Johnson, the second driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, is Sporting News' driver of the year, the magazine announced Tuesday. Johnson finished the 2008 season 69 points ahead of Carl Edwards to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive championships in NASCAR's premier division.Johnson drives for Hendrick Motorsports, and the organization won three of the five annual Sporting News awards. Rick Hendrick is owner of the year, and Chad Knaus is crew chief of the year. Knaus became the first crew chief to win three consecutive championships. Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Regan Smith won rookie of the year, and Roush Fenway Racing's Edwards, who won a series-high nine races and finished second in the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series, is the 2008 Dale Earnhardt Tough Driver. The awards, presented in the Dec. 8 issue, were determined by voting of Sprint Cup drivers, crew chiefs and owners.(sportingnews.com)
Childers Replaces PembertonRodney Childers will leave Gillett Evernham Motorsports, where he was crew chief for Elliott Sadler, to become David Reutimann's crew chief at Michael Waltrip Racing, according to sources familiar with the situation. An announcement should come later this week.Childers, a former racer who made one start in 2000 in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series, had been crew chief for Sadler since October 2007 after spending more than two years as crew chief for Scott Riggs at MBV Motorsports and GEM. The No. 19 team with Sadler ranked 24th in owner points this year. Childers will replace Ryan Pemberton, who left MWR to become Brian Vickers' crew chief at Red Bull Racing.(scenedaily.com)
R&D Center Wins AwardThe Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Motorsports Engineering Conference Award was presented to the NASCAR Research and Development Center on Tuesday for its efforts towards “designing safer and more competitive vehicles.”NASCAR’s new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car, a seven-year project undertaken at the R&D Center, made its debut on the track in 2007 and was fully implemented into the series at the beginning of the 2008 season. The new car was designed with three primary goals in mind: improving driver safety, improving competition, and helping teams be more cost efficient. Peter Wright, FIA Technical Consultant and the conference’s keynote address speaker, presented the award to Mike Fisher, NASCAR’s Managing Director of the R&D Center. “The NASCAR R&D Center is honored to receive this award and our thanks and appreciation go out to all of the people in our industry who have been involved with the development of the new car, including the race teams, owners, manufacturers, and the staff here at the R&D Center,” said Fisher. “Safety is our No. 1 priority and is certainly an initiative that we work on every single day.”
Dale Jr. Makes AppearanceOn December 4th, at 5 PM/ Eastern, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sports’ five-time most popular driver will be at Macy’s Herald Square to present the new Godinger NASCAR Collection of crystal and silver gifts and barware, featuring the No. 88 National Guard Crystal Car collectible.Dale Jr. is a third generation competitive driver in his family. He is the son of legendary seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Dale Earnhardt. This year marks his ninth season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. He is the first rookie to win NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and is a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion. He drives the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Impala SS. Beginning at store opening that day, the first 100 guests to make a $150 purchase of the new Godinger NASCAR Collection will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get in line to meet Dale Jr., and have their photo taken with him. In addition, the first 50 guests to make a $75 purchase will receive a pre-signed photo.
Awards Banquet Live on ESPN ClassicSurrounded by the glitz and glamour of New York City, Jimmie Johnson will officially be crowned as the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion during the series’ annual awards banquet Friday night, Dec. 5, at the Waldorf-Astoria. ESPN Classic will have live coverage at 9 p.m. ET.In addition to Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports team, the rest of the top 10 NASCAR drivers of the season also will be honored. The banquet will feature a musical performance by Matchbox 20, stand-up comedy from John Pinette and a special historical segment with actor Kevin Costner. Dr. Jerry Punch, lead announcer for ESPN’s NASCAR racing coverage, will be the onstage master of ceremonies for the banquet. ESPN Classic, which has televised live coverage of other awards ceremonies such as the Baseball Hall of Fame, is a 24-hour, all-sports network devoted to connecting today's sports fan to the timeless elements of sports by airing the greatest games, moments, stories and personalities in sports history. ESPN Classic brings a current perspective and creates bridges between two generations of athletes and fans by illustrating the connections between the past and present. -- The banquet re-airs on Monday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
Talladega Promotes George DennisTalladega Superspeedway announced today the promotion of George Dennis to Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. Dennis previously served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the track since his hiring on April 1, 2002.“Since coming to us in 2002, George has been an integral part of the Talladega Superspeedway staff,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “The Sales and Marketing department has grown under his leadership and we look forward to him continuing that trend. George’s new title is a reflection of his hard work and dedication to Talladega Superspeedway.” Dennis came to Talladega Superspeedway after previous experience as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Birmingham Barons baseball team and Special Events Coordinator for The Birmingham News. He is a 1996 graduate from Samford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway proudly celebrates forty years of the most competitive racing in NASCAR. While the track has seen changes made to the cars that circle its high-banks, the surface that they race on and the grandstands that thousands of fans fill twice a year, one constant remains; Talladega Superspeedway is authentic NASCAR racing at its finest. Race fans should make plans now to experience part of Talladega’s history in 2009 during the triple-header, Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 24-26, featuring the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. For information on tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.
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