NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 14, 2008

Loeb Wins Race of Champions

Edwards, who represented the USA with drifting standout Tanner Foust, narrowly edged the seven-time Formula One champ on the Wembley Stadium course. Edwards lost in the semifinals to former F1 driver David Coulthard, who fell to Loeb in a closely contested three-heat final.

Edwards defeated English Formula 3 champ Jaime Alguersuari in the first round. Foust also provided a big-name knockout, edging Jenson Button in a first-round matchup.

In the Nations Cup team competition, Schumacher paired with Sebastian Vettel to lead Team Germany to a repeat title. Schumacher and Vettel swept through the preliminaries undefeated before turning back the Team Scandinavia contingent of Tom Kristensen and Mattias Ekstrom.(usatoday.com)

Brienne Davis Honored

Davis was a 1997 graduate of the school who grew up in Jonesville. She went to Universal Technical Institute in Houston, and upon completing her studies there, moved to North Carolina and landed a job rebuilding engines at Dale Earnhardt Inc. A few years ago, she left DEI to work for NASCAR as a technical inspector, becoming one of the few females to work in the garage.

Davis died in an April car wreck in North Carolina, sending shockwaves through two tight-knit communities -- Jonesville and NASCAR -- that came together Friday morning at the school.

"I thought it would be the memorial and tree," said Freeman, referring to the newly-planted tree and marker that sit in front of the main entrance to the school, where Friday's ceremony took place. "I never thought it would involve technology for the entire school."

Neither did Robby Maschhaupt, who spearheaded the NASCAR effort to remember Davis by giving back to something she took great pride in -- her hometown and school. "I was hoping to raise enough money to get a laptop or two," admitted Maschhaupt, who works for Gillett-Evernham Racing as the transport driver and catch can man on the pit crew for the No. 10 team. "Then Best Buy and some of the drivers got involved."

The end result was unveiled Friday in the form of a computer lab of six computers, a SMART board, in-focus projector and laser printer as well as a second lab of six more computers in the school's library. Both are named after Davis. Freeman said it would have taken years for the school system to raise the money necessary to furnish the two computer labs. "It was quite exciting," she said. "We never dreamed" it would be this big.

Block assistant principal Buddy Trisler taught Davis and her mother. He said the labs have sparked interest in the students learning more about Davis and what she accomplished. "They're proud of her," Trisler said. "She was very positive and very motivated. Whatever she went after, she would accomplish."

Through the NASCAR Foundation, the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund has been established to provide an opportunity for a qualified female student who wishes to attend the NASCAR Technical Automotive Program at UTI's NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C.

Each year, a $10,000 scholarship will be presented to one student to attend NASCAR Tech Criteria. Application information for this scholarship is available on the UTI Foundation Web site at www.utifoundation.net.(thetowntalk.com)

Edwards Best In The World

Edwards, winner of nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2008, was selected as the best driver in the world from a panel of eight judges that analyzed the weekly performance of more than 150 drivers from Formula One, GP2, NASCAR and the World Rally Championship.

"It's a real honor to receive this award," said Edwards, who is competing in the Race of Champions for Team USA with Formula Drift racer Tanner Foust.

Foust replaced Travis Pastrana, who was injured during his motocross practice Monday. It was the second time in three years that the USA team had to have a late replacement – in 2006 Jimmie Johnson missed the race when he was horsing around riding atop a golf cart and got thrown off, breaking his wrist.(scenedaily.com)