NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 15, 2008

Kyle Busch Spirit Award Winner

“Sam Ard is one of the pioneers of this (series), and to be tied with at 10 wins is something that’s pretty spectacular and really, really special to me," Busch said after the win. “I’m going to try to help him out and see what I can do. It’s not much, but it’s something that can try to help."

The NMPA Pocono Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership. The 2008 overall winner will be announced during the NMPA's annual convention and awards ceremony in January 2009.

Also receiving votes were Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon and NASCAR.

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Juan Pablo Montoya was the first-quarter winner. Longtime NASCAR photographer T. Taylor Warren was the second-quarter winner with car owner Richard Childress claiming the third-quarter honor.

France Ninth On Most Influential List

France was ranked 10th last year by the magazine, which is published by the same company that operates SceneDaily.com. The magazine’s item on France in this week’s issue reads as follows:

“The foreword to the 2008 season was written when Brian France proclaimed NASCAR’s intent to get back to the roots of the sport. France set the tone in January by reaching out to those hard-core fans who felt left behind when NASCAR grew beyond its regional roots over the last 10 years. A NASCAR branding campaign followed and many of the sport’s stakeholders, from tracks to network partners, worked that theme into their promotions and broadcasts.

“With an industry that depends so heavily on sponsorship facing tough times in 2008 and tougher times in 2009, France’s leadership will be under close inspection. But it’s clear – as this season showed – that when he sets an agenda, most everyone in the sport falls in line.”

John Henry, whose Fenway Sports Group owns the Boston Red Sox and half of Roush Fenway Racing, is 20th on the list.

Topping the list is ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer.(scenedaily.com)

$16,500 Raised For Charity

Members of the Talladega Superspeedway and Thunder 92.7 staff encouraged listeners and race fans to bid on one-of-a-kind race packages on-air, while donations of baked goods, racing memorabilia and other items such as gift certificates from local merchants, flowed in throughout the day.

“We are very gracious for all the fan and listener support we received this year,” said Talladega Superspeedway Senior Director for Communications and Consumer Marketing Kristi King. “To have raised this much money, especially considering the times we are in, speaks volumes to the generosity and kindness of everyone who participated. Thanks again to everyone who tuned in and helped out.”

This year’s top selling items were flag stand panels used at Talladega during the final DieHard 500 and Winston 500 races. Those items combined with ticket packages to the 2009 Aaron’s Dream Weekend fetched over $1,500.

Tickets to the April 24 -26, 2009 Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visiting (www.talladegasuperspeedway.com). 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.