Jeff Gordon Wins At Lowe's

Gordon Celebrates * CIA Stock Photo

Jeff Gordon didn't know if he'd have enough fuel to finish the race, the car had sputtered on the final two restarts and each time his Chevrolet did come to life, Gordon would run as fast as anyone on the track. After a lengthy red flag, for oil on the track, the race restarted with Gordon in the lead -- but his car sputtered and pole sitter Ryan Newman shot past him for the point. It looked like Newman had the field covered and there would be no catching him. But Newman overdrove the corner and crashed, giving the lead back to Gordon. That set up a green-white-checkers finish. It took several extra laps to clean up the mess and still Gordon's engine was missing as though it was starving for fuel. Gordon rode the low line of the track so the gas would pick up better and on the final restart, managed to hold off Clint Bowyer to win the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Gordon had failed to finish the last five races at Lowe's and his goal when the race started was just to finish the 500 miles. Jeff Gordon won his first Cup race at this track in 1994, thirteen years ago. The win on Saturday night was his 81st career victory.

It was the second straight victory for Gordon, he also won the Talladega Superspeedway race last Sunday. It was the sixth victory for Gordon in 2007 and is the win leader for the year. Gordon also stretched his Nextel Cup point standings over Jimmie Johnson to 68 and 78 over third place in the standings, Clint Bowyer. -- Kyle Busch finished third and RCR driver Jeff Burton was fourth. Carl Edwards had a good run, driving to a fifth place finish followed by Dave Blaney in a Toyota, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, David Stremme and Michael Waltrip to round out the top ten. Six drivers in the Chase for the Championship suffered troubles of one sort or another. Kevin Harvick pitted twice early in the race for tire problems and finished 33rd (seven laps down), Matt Kenseth crashed and finished 34th. Kurt Busch had several encounters, once in a pit collision and then the car sounded like it was running down one cylinder, he finished 26th. Denny Hamlin was 20th with transmission troubles, Jimmie Johnson was 14th after spinning and then stopping for fuel with three laps to go. Tony Stewart had a pit collision with two different cars but managed to drive back to the seventh position. The Nextel Cup Series moves to Martinsville Speedway next Sunday, October 21st for the Subway 500. This will be the 32nd race in the 36 race schedule.
To read the full article...     (Insider Racing News)
For full final race results...     (Insider Racing News)
For top-40 Nextel Cup drivers points...     (Insider Racing News)

Worst To First ~ Burton Wins Busch Race

Jeff Burton's 4th Win * CIA Stock Photos

Jeff Burton, driving a Richard Childress prepared car, because of an engine change before the race, started dead last on the field and took advantage of a spin by Clint Bowyer, taking the lead with 61 laps to go and he never looked back. NASCAR Busch Series points leader Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, who sat on the pole for the Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, both crashed out of the race leaving it wide open for Burton's fourth victory of the season in the series. Biffle finished 30th -- Edwards 33rd.

Kyle Busch also started deep in the field at 24th and quickly made his way to the front, finished second but had nothing for Burton in the end. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving in his final Busch Series start for DEI, finished third and Aric Almirola was fourth. Denny Hamlin nailed down the fifth spot followed by Robby Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kelly Bires and Kevin Harvick to round out the top ten. The victory was the eleventh for Richard Childress Racing this season in the Busch Series.

The race was filled with crashes. Turn four was the most treacherous on the smooth track surface and harder than usual tires. There were ten caution flags in the race and Burton said the final one, on Lap 182, gave him the win. "We got lucky with that last caution," Burton said. "Junior was coming hard and I'm sure he would have gotten by us. But, after we got the tires cooled down during the caution, my car was fast, as fast as it had been all night."
(Dollar General 300 Results)

Brewco Motorsports Signs Brad Coleman
After a successful rookie season in the NASCAR Busch Series, teenage driving sensation Brad Coleman has decided to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to pilot a full-time ride in the No. 27 Kleenex Ford Fusion with the new owners of Brewco Motorsports. In only 15 races to date for JGR in 2007, Coleman has posted three Top 5’s, five Top 10’s, seven Top 15’s, and nine Top 20’s, winning the Pole at Talladega and posting the highest finishing average of any non-Cup experienced driver in the series. Extraordinary statistics considering he was the youngest driver in the series for most of the season, seeing many of the race tracks for the very first time, and competing against a host of Nextel Cup drivers.

Brewco Motorsports’ new owner and CEO Gary Baker feels fortunate to have Coleman on his roster. “We believe Brad is one of the hottest young prospects on the circuit and when we found out he was not going to be in a full ride at Gibbs, we made a run for him,” stated Baker. “He is an impressive young man with a bright future ahead of him and is the kind of guy we want to build our organization around. He is not only talented on the track, but off the track as well and will add significant value to our sponsors. We think he can contend for the Nationwide Championship next year and the guys on the team are already excited about 2008.”

In the move, Coleman will reunite with his former Crew Chief, Shawn Parker. Running Brewco’s development program in 2006, Parker guided Coleman to a successful ARCA debut, posting eight Top 5’s in just nine races and garnering a win at Kentucky in a double green-white-checker restart against nine time series champion Frank Kimmel. He knows his young driver is destined for a successful career in NASCAR and is enthusiastic about the 2008 outlook for Brewco.

Carpentier Introduced As No. 10 Driver
Patrick Carpentier was introduced to the media today at a press conference prior to the Montreal Canadiens game at the Bell Centre. Foster Gillett welcomed Carpentier on behalf of the Gillett family, who owns the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club and recently purchased ownership in Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Carpentier, a Quebec native, has had success driving in the IRL, Champ Car and CART series. He made three starts in NASCAR this season including securing the pole and a second-place finish at the inaugural Montreal Busch Series race. Carpentier’s Nextel Cup Series debut came this past August at Watkins Glen International where he led the race while driving for Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

“There is tremendous local support for our hometown sports figures here in Quebec and Canada,” said Foster Gillett. “That is why we wanted to introduce Patrick to the local media and fans here at the Bell Centre.”

“These past few months have been a dream come true for me,” said Carpentier, driver of the No. 10 Dodge Avenger. “I look forward to working with the Gillett family, Ray Evernham and my teammates Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler.” Appropriately, the Montreal Canadiens presented Carpentier with a personalized No. 10 hockey jersey.

”Tout un départ!” (”Wow! What a great start!”), added Carpentier.

Michael Waltrip Names Business Partner
Team owner Michael Waltrip has announced an agreement with investor Robert Kauffman that makes the pair equal partners in the newly formed Michael Waltrip Racing Holdings LLC, the team that will compete under the Michael Waltrip Racing banner.

MWR plans to continue fielding three full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup teams in 2008. Waltrip will drive the No. 55 NAPA-sponsored Toyota, David Reutimann will drive the opening five races in the No. 00 Toyota and then move over to replace Dale Jarrett, who will drive the opening five (official announcement says it will be six) races in the No. 44 UPS Toyota. Exact plans for the No. 00 beyond the opening five races have not been ironed out, though Waltrip said that development drivers Josh Wise and Michael McDowell, who has been running races in the ARCA series, could drive some races in that car.

Kauffman is pursuing this opportunity with what he deemed a personal investment. He is a founder and managing partner in Fortress Investment Group, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

"In the past 18 months, it is amazing what our small group has been able to accomplish," Waltrip said. "We did what no one else has ever tried, forming three Cup teams with a new manufacturer, and we've made it through the toughest time. Now I have a business partner in Rob Kauffman who is as passionate as I am to make this team successful." (scenedaily.com)

Jarrett To Run Six Races In 2008, Then Retire
Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, today announced he would retire from full-time competition in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2007 NASCAR season. While Jarrett is retiring from full-time competition, he will compete in six races during the 2008 season, including the season-opening Daytona 500.

The Hickory, N.C.-native made his first career start in NASCAR’s top touring series at Martinsville Speedway on April 29, 1984. Jarrett’s full-time Nextel Cup Series career started in 1987 when he was hired to drive for legendary NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough. The most successful stint of Jarrett’s career came during the 12 years he spent driving for Robert Yates Racing. From 1995 to 2006, Jarrett won the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series championship, 29 races and earned 16 Bud Pole Awards.

“This is obviously a decision that required a lot of thought and consideration and it is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” said Jarrett. “I’ve been fortunate to have one of the best NASCAR sponsors in UPS, and I’m first and foremost a competitor. The desire to compete is the reason why I have continued as a driver in the Nextel Cup Series. But I’ve come to the decision to get out of the racecar and while I’ll miss being a driver, I am looking forward to the next phase of my life and career.”

UPS, the Official Delivery Company of NASCAR, has been the primary sponsor for Jarrett since 2001. UPS will continue as a partner and primary sponsor of the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Camry and although Jarrett is retiring from competition, his relationship with UPS will continue off the race track.

“Dale Jarrett has been a terrific ambassador for the UPS brand during these seven years of our relationship,” said Ron Rogowski, director of sponsorship for UPS. “We support Dale in his decision to step from behind the wheel of the racecar and are thrilled to be able to continue the mutually beneficial relationship that started in 2001. We wish Dale and his family all the best in the future and will always count them as part of the UPS family.”

Jarrett, a 32-race winner in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition, is scheduled to make his final career start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 17, 2008.

NASCAR Day Generates 1.6 Million For Charity
Thousands of NASCAR fans and companies participated in NASCAR Day on May 18th in an effort to raise money for the charitable causes supported by The NASCAR Foundation. A grand total of over $1.6 million was raised through donations made by fans, corporate partners and the NASCAR Day Telethon.

The money raised from NASCAR Day goes to support The NASCAR Foundation and its Family of Charities which helps children’s causes, animal welfare and wildlife conservation. As a result of this overwhelming support of NASCAR Day, a $500,000 check was presented at Kansas Speedway to Kyle and Pattie Petty for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The funds raised this year from NASCAR Day will also help open the doors to a brand new racing-themed Speediatrics® Children’s Emergency Room at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Fla.

"We are excited to bring Speediatrics to our Children's Emergency Room," said Bill Duquette, chief executive officer of Homestead Hospital. "The atmosphere that Speediatrics creates helps ease the fears of our youngest patients and is uplifting to the staff as well."

NASCAR Day is an annual charitable celebration of the NASCAR spirit and its fans. For just a $5 donation, participants receive a 2007 collectable lapel pin. Since it began in 2004, NASCAR Day has continued to grow from year-to-year and to date has raised over $4 million for charitable causes.

NASCAR Day’s success relies heavily on the support of corporate partners. NASCAR’s Official Partners rallied in a big way for this worthy cause. In April, The Home Depot®, “The Official Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR,” ran the first-ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series NASCAR Day car, adorning the hood of Tony Stewart’s No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet® with the NASCAR Day logo. They also became the exclusive retailer of NASCAR Day pins and through this program raised $400,000 for NASCAR Day – a portion of the funds raised from The Home Depot promotion will benefit KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

“We know that NASCAR fans are a devoted, loyal group of consumers who love to support their drivers as well as their respective charities,” said Roger Adams, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of The Home Depot. “Our customers came out in strong numbers to show their support for this charitable initiative and we could not be happier with the final result.”

Coca-Cola, the Official Soft Drink of NASCAR, celebrated NASCAR Day again this year by making a donation on behalf of their employees and by distributing over 6,000 NASCAR Day pins at its headquarter location in Atlanta, Ga.

Several other NASCAR partners showed their support on NASCAR Day in various ways. DIRECTV featured NASCAR Day footage on their weekly HotPassTM coverage and celebrated with employees at their customer contact centers across the U.S. Fathead celebrated NASCAR Day with a special promotion that gave fans who purchased a NASCAR Fathead during the month of May a NASCAR Day pin.

MAHLE Clevite Inc., “The Official Engine Parts & Gaskets of NASCAR Performance,” and Klondike have also shown their support with a donation to NASCAR Day.

NASCAR Day will celebrate its 5th year anniversary in 2008. To learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference visit (www.nascar.com/foundation).

Race and Commercial Breakdown For The Bank of America 500

Bruton Smith May Move Track Anyway
Lowe’s Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith now says there is a “90%” he will move his track out of Concord for another site around Charlotte. And if he leaves Concord, Smith said, he will raze the track and sell the property piecemeal. Smith’s comments to the Observer on Monday are the latest twist in an episode that began when the city of Concord moved to stop work on a $60 million drag strip on speedway property.

After the City Council’s Oct. 1 vote to rezone the property to ban drag strips, Smith threatened to move the track. Last week, the city reversed its position on the drag strip and started talking about offering incentives to help reduce noise from the drag strip, a concern among neighbors. Smith said he would feel obligated to buy back the 52 condominiums at the speedway from their owners.

A final decision on the move won’t be made until after the Concord City Council revisits the issue Oct. 26, Smith said.(autoracingsport.com)

ISC Looked To Buy Kentucky Speedway Before Suit
Before it sued NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. in 2005 for allegedly monopolizing big-time racing, Kentucky Speedway apparently discussed a possible sale of its Gallatin County track. But ISC was only interested if it could buy it on the cheap, according to a sworn statement filed last week by Jerry Carroll, the track's chairman and developer. Carroll could not be reached for comment.

The allegation is included in a confidential 2002 memo Carroll sent to Kentucky Speedway partners and referenced in the court record. Carroll said in the sworn statement the memo is consistent with his recollection of the meeting, at which Lesa France Kennedy, now ISC's president, said "ISC would only purchase Kentucky Speedway if it were a 'steal.'"