NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 31, 2008

Petty-GEM Complete Deal

A deal was inked between Petty Enterprises and team owner George Gillett on Christmas Eve, but the terms of that agreement have yet to be divulged. A formal announcement is expected early next week.

Robbie Loomis, Petty Executive VP of Racing Operations, is expected to assume a managerial role under the new partnership, which will likely be rebranded under the Petty banner. Former car chief Ray Fox Jr. will assume a similar role at JTG-Daugherty Racing with the No. 47 team.

David Zucker, who was named CEO of the team when private equity firm Boston Ventures purchased controlling interest in June, is expected to be reassigned to the Petty Driving Experience.(foxsports.com)

MMI Files Bankruptcy

The company landed a licensing deal with NASCAR in June that allows it to publish “Chase for the Cup,” a 160-page promotional magazine that would feature photos, driver and crew interviews, track profiles and other race-related stories in time for the start of the final 10 races of the NASCAR season in September known as the “Chase for the Sprint Cup.”

MMI’s goal is to explore “mutually beneficial relationships with organizations that own the marketing rights to major sports” or events, its Web site says, using high-end sports annuals and commemorative event publications. MMI maintains other offices in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Florida Citrus Sports of Orlando has the largest unsecured claim against MMI, court documents say, with an unliquidated claim of $253,000. MMI also owes $150,000 to the Miami Dolphins as well as another $119,000 to Chicago publisher R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.(bizjournals.com)

Bobsled Race This Weekend

Recently crowned Truck Series champion Johnny Benson heads a list of six NASCAR drivers set to slide into bobsleds. Todd Bodine, Joey Logano, Brian Loftin, Philip Morris and Boris Said will round out the NASCAR contingent.

The event will once again be sponsored by Whelen Engineering, title sponsor for three of NASCAR's weekly and touring series

The Bodine Bobsled Challenge will see NASCAR drivers pilot specially made bobsleds down the track in Lake Placid's Olympic Sports Complex, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. In Race 1, all the drivers will be compete against the clock as they take two runs down the track. Race 2 will feature head-to-head racing between NASCAR and NHRA drivers, with the winner from each division set to square off in the final heat for bragging rights. The NHRA will be represented in the challenge by POWERade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas, JR Todd and Bob Vandergriff.

Also set to compete in the event is road-course racer Eric Curran and Sprint Car driver Tom Tolbert.

Said, a part-time NASCAR driver and analyst for ESPN's NASCAR coverage, will enter the event as the favorite. A five-time Bodine Bobsled Challenge winner, Said's only loss in the first three years of the event, either during the timed or head-to-head portions, came in a match-up against Kevin Lepage in 2005.

Benson, who captured his first Truck Series title in 2008, will compete in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge for the second year in a row. The same can be said for Logano, who will be a Sprint Cup Series rookie in 2009. Todd Bodine, brother of event founder and former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine and 2006 Truck champion, has competed in the Bodine Bobsled challenge each year of its existence.

Champion drivers Loftin and Morris will represent NASCAR's touring and weekly ranks. Loftin captured his first Whelen Southern Modified Tour title in 2008 and will make his debut at Lake Placid this weekend. Morris, who also participated in the 2007 Bodine Bobsled Challenge, earned his second career Whelen All-American Series crown this past season.

SPEED is set to televise four hours of the Bodine Bobsled Challenge at noon ET on Jan. 18 and at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. MRN Radio has signed on to provide live coverage all three days of the event.(nascar.com)

Smokey Yunick's Son Dies

Sam was the son of racing legend, Henry Smokey Yunick and Patricia Hankins Judge Yunick of Daytona Beach, both deceased. Sam is survived by Margie Yunick, his stepmother. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2009 in Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations may be made to Seamark Ranch, The Mission House, Jacksonville Beach, Florida or the Jacksonville Humane Society.(legacy.com)