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NASCAR Daily News Headlines * October 28, 2009
Dick Thompson DiesDick Thompson, a pioneer in auto-racing public relations during nearly 40 years at Martinsville Speedway, died Wednesday, the track announced. He was 74. Thompson was working as a racing writer for The Roanoke Times in 1966 when the late Martinsville Speedway founder, H. Clay Earles, hired him to help publicize events at the track, said W. Clay Campbell, Earles' grandson and now the track's president.Thompson was the track's first public relations director and was only the second full-time public relations representative in NASCAR, the speedway said in a news release. Using innovative strategies and gimmicks to attract interest, Thompson helped usher the half-mile track - and NASCAR - into an era of sponsorships and other growth. When he retired in January 2005 after nearly 40 years, NASCAR was the fastest-growing sport in America, routinely drawing more than 60,000 people for races at Martinsville. "Dick Thompson was one of the pioneers in track public relations," Campbell said. The track's press box is named for Thompson. Thompson's funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Martinsville. Burial will be at Roselawn Burial Park in Martinsville. (canadianpress) And a statement from NASCAR..."Dick Thompson was an integral part of making Martinsville Speedway one of the most successful tracks in all of motorsports. In 1966, Dick became only the second full-time public relations person in the sport, and through nearly 40 years of service, helped NASCAR grow until his retirement in 2005. The NASCAR family will remember Dick as a close friend. Our condolences go out to his family and many friends."
Talladega Hotpass LineupNASCAR HOTPASS™ on DIRECTV is back, and it’s FREE to all DIRECTV customers. Four dedicated driver channels offering viewers multiple camera angles, real-time statistics and audio of the network broadcast augmented by live communication between the drivers and their pit crews is available for all 36 point-paying races during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The NASCAR HOTPASS lineup for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway is as follows:
Kurt Busch will make his 325th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his 18th at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway … The 31-year-old Las Vegas native has scored 19 wins and 133 top-10 finishes in 324 Sprint Cup starts … Has 12 top-10 finishes in 17 Sprint Cup starts at Talladega, including four third-place results … Won April 2003 IROC race at the 2.66-mile oval … 2009 marks Busch’s ninth full season of Sprint Cup competition and he won the points championship in 2004 … Finished sixth in April race at Talladega … Started 37th and finished 17th last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … Ranks sixth in Sprint Cup points with one win and 18 top-10 finishes.
Mark Martin will make his 755th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his 44th at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway … The 50-year-old Batesville, Ark., native has scored 40 wins and 415 top-10 finishes in 754 Sprint Cup starts, meaning he has finished 10th or better in 55 percent of the races he has entered … Has two wins (April 1995 and May 1997), two poles (May and July 1989) and 22 top-10 finishes in 43 starts at Talladega … In seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at the 2.66-mile oval, Martin has scored one win (April 1997), but has no other top-10 results … Won from the pole in October 2006 in his only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Talladega … 2009 marks Martin’s 27th season with at least one Sprint Cup start … Has run a full Sprint Cup schedule 20 times and finished a career-best second in points in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 … Finished 43rd in April race at Talladega … Started fourth and finished eighth last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … Ranks second in Sprint Cup points with five wins, seven poles and 19 top-10 finishes.
Jimmie Johnson has won the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships (2006-2008) and has never finished worse than fifth in points … The 34-year-old from El Cajon, Calif., will make his 288th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his 16th at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway … Has one win (May 2006), six top-10 finishes and two poles (April and October 2002) in 15 starts at the 2.66-mile oval … Johnson has won 46 races and has 177 top-10 finishes in 287 Sprint Cup starts, meaning he has finished 10th or better in 61.6 percent of races he has entered … Finished 30th in April race at Talladega … Started 15th and finished second last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … Ranks first in Sprint Cup Series points with six wins and 21 top-10 finishes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., will make his 360th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his 20th at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway … The 34-year-old from Kannapolis, N.C., has won 18 races and eight poles and scored 88 top-fives and 142 top-10s in 359 Sprint Cup starts … Earnhardt has won five Sprint Cup races at Talladega, (October 2001, April and October 2002, April 2003 and October 2004) … Between the October 2001 race and the October 2004 race, Earnhardt scored five wins and two runner-up finishes in seven starts … Also has 11 top-10 finishes in 19 starts at Talladega … Has seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Talladega, with five top-10 finishes, including a win in the April 2003 event … Captured 1998 and 1999 Nationwide Series titles … 2009 marks Earnhardt’s 10th full year in Sprint Cup with a career-best point finish of third in 2003 … Finished second in April race at Talladega … Started 12th and finished 29th last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway … Ranks 24th in Sprint Cup points with five top-10 finishes.
New Crew Chief For EdwardsRoush Fenway Racing announced that they have made a crew chief change among their No. 6 and No. 60 Nationwide teams. For the final three races of the 2009 season, Mike Kelley will assume crew chief duties with the No. 60 team and Carl Edwards while Dan Stillman moves to the No. 6 team with David Ragan and Erik Darnell.Edwards is in second place in the series standings, 215 points behind leader Kyle Busch. The change is effective immediately and was made in an effort to strengthen both teams moving into the 2010 season.
NASCAR Hands Down PenaltiesJay Robinson, owner and crew chief of the No. 49 Chevrolet driven by Mark Green, has been fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12-4B (Washers used to conceal slotted holes in the lower A-frame spring bucket) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Robinson also was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Green was docked 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points.
The infractions were discovered on Oct. 23 during opening-day inspection.
Wallace has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009, for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Hitting another competitor’s car on pit road after the completion of the race) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.
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