No. 20 Car Too Low, But Fixed
For a few frightening minutes, all the smiles that came with a third-place finish at New Hampshire had disappeared off the faces of Tony Stewart's No. 20 teammates. After rolling the car into the postrace inspection bay in the New Hampshire International Speedway garage, the crew was suddenly faced with some sobering news: The left front fender was too low, and the evidence was right there for all to see.

Their faces turned to stone. But since NASCAR gives teams multiple attempts to get through inspection, the crew wheeled the car back around to the back of the garage. NASCAR inspectors surrounded the car, and officials began to drift over. Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby was on the scene, then NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton walked over and was followed closely by NASCAR President Mike Helton.

The inspectors and Darby examined the car further with a fender template, then brought the car back into the inspection bay. A couple dozen people gathered around this time, and NASCAR allowed the car to pass inspection on the second try. Though the car was indeed too low, NASCAR ruled that it was caused by race damage.

"We got hit in the right front fender [during the race]," crew chief Greg Zipadelli said. "And they put the fender template on there and put the gauge on there and everything was fine. Thank God it wasn't worse than what it was."

If the car had been deemed in violation of the rules, that could have meant a significant points penalty, which would have in turn had a big impact on the Chase For The Nextel Cup. Instead, Stewart is in third place in the standings - just 10 points behind co-leaders Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.(scenedaily.com)

Sylvania 300 Ratings Up
ABC drew a 3.3 fast national rating for its Sylvania 300 telecast Sunday from New Hampshire International Speedway, according to the network. Households (3,676,000) were up 7 percent from last year when the race was shown on cable (TNT). The telecast saw a two percent increase in males 18-34, an eight percent for males 25-54 and nine percent increase for males 18-49, according to the network.(scenedaily.com)

Ryan Newman's Fishing Tournament
Fans of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Ryan Newman know that when he’s not racing, the driver of Penske Racing’s #12 Alltel Dodge likes to take a break from his fast-paced life by fishing. He is inviting NASCAR fans and fisherman to join him and fellow NASCAR drivers Martin Truex, Jr. and Regan Smith at the second annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Fishing Tournament sponsored by Ranger Boats on Saturday, December 8, 2007at Queen’s Landing on Lake Norman in Mooresville, NC.

The foundation’s weekend of charity events will be kicked off on the evening of Friday, December 7, 2007 with the Ryan Newman Foundation’s third annual Charity Dinner and Auction, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, NC and is sponsored by Alltel and Outback Steakhouse. Guests will enjoy an Outback Steakhouse dinner and will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with NASCAR drivers and pro fisherman. Charity auction items will include autographed NASCAR memorabilia from Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex, Jr., autographed sports memorabilia, rods and reels, outdoor sporting equipment and more.

Newman says, “Conservation is very important to me, which is why my foundation has recently partnered with The Conservation Fund to develop a program we call Racing For Wildlife. Krissie and I want to be able to help more conservation groups, as well as animal welfare organizations, in the future. That is why we are building the Ryan Newman Foundation Endowment by raising funds with our special events. This year we decided to combine our two annual fundraisers into one fun weekend, so we’re holding our charity dinner and auction on Friday night and our charity bass tournament the next day. We’re excited about Ranger Boats’ sponsorship of our tournament and their donation of the Ranger Boat as the grand prize again this year. It’s a great boat!”

The bass tournament will be facilitated by FLW Outdoors. Fisherman will compete for the grand prize of a 198VX Ranger Boat with a 200 HP Evinrude motor, Minn-Kota Maxxum 80 trolling motor, Humminbird 767 depth finder and single axle trailer valued at $38,000. Other prizes include cash awards, trolling motors, GPS systems, depth finders, rod and reel combos, digital cameras and more.

Registration in the bass tournament for a team of two fisherman is $150 on or before November 8 or $200 after November 8. Fisherman may also enter a Big Fish Contest for $40 per team. The maximum is 250 teams. For complete event details, tournament rules, to download a flier and registration form, or to register online, visit www.ryannewmanfoundation.org. Those wishing to receive a printed registration form by mail should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Ryan Newman Foundation, Fishing Tournament Form Request, PO Box 5998, Statesville, NC 28687.

Tickets to the Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Dinner and Auction are $100 per person or $175 per couple. For complete event details, to download a ticket order form or to purchase tickets online, visit www.ryannewmanfoundation.org. To receive a ticket order form by mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Ryan Newman Foundation, Charity Dinner Form Request, PO Box 5998, Statesville, NC 28687.

Newman’s wife, Krissie, says, “Our charity dinner and auction and our fishing tournament are fun ways that NASCAR fans, fisherman, animal lovers and conservationists can get involved in making a difference by helping the Ryan Newman Foundation fulfill our mission. When we all come together for shared causes, we make a larger impact. We appreciate the support fans have given our foundation in the past. Their donations have made a big difference to humane societies, spay/neuter programs and conservation groups across the country.”

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers. Proceeds raised at the fishing tournament will be used to build the Ryan Newman Foundation Endowment that will be a source for grants to nonprofit organizations that fulfill the foundation’s mission.

Top 12 Crew Chiefs On Radio Special
On Wednesday, Sept. 19, NASCAR’s top 12 crew chiefs in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup will go full throttle on a special two-hour NASCAR Performance Live radio show broadcast originating in front of a live audience at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) in Mooresville, N.C., from 7-9 p.m. ET.

The two-hour radio special will be hosted by MRN Pit Road Reporter Steve Post and former crew chief and current color analyst for NASCAR on FOX, Larry McReynolds. The first hour will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup crew chiefs ranked seven thru 12 in the point standings, while the second hour will showcase those ranked one thru six. The broadcast will air nationally on NASCAR Sirius Radio and the Motor Racing Network (MRN) from 7-9 p.m. ET.

For listeners, the program will be an all-access pit pass to a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and teamwork it takes to win races and championships as crew chiefs tackle the hottest competition topics in the NASCAR garage. Audience members will have the opportunity to interact with the best personalities in the racing business and get the latest insight into each team’s strategy heading into the final nine weeks of the season.

“NASCAR Performance Live” is about the great professionals who prepare the cars for competition and the incredible work and strategy that goes into winning races and the ultimate: “a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship,” said Odis Lloyd, NASCAR’s managing director of automotive licensing. “The two-hour broadcast will celebrate the crew chiefs and team members that put the machines under our great drivers, and allow listeners to get to know and appreciate the people behind the scenes who keep their teams performing at the highest levels at the racetrack, week in and week out.”

All top twelve NASCAR NEXTEL Cup crew chiefs with teams currently in the title hunt will be on hand at NTI to represent their teams on the Sept. 19 show. They include Chad Knaus, Steve Letarte, Greg Zipadelli, Mike Ford, Robbie Reiser, Bob Osborne, Scott Miller, Alan Gustafson, Gil Martin, Pat Tryson, Kevin Manion and Todd Berrier. Also making a guest appearance will be Shannon Wiseman, host of NASCAR’s reality television show, NASCAR Angels. Wiseman will hold a 6:30 p.m. autograph session prior to the show and will also serve as MRN audience reporter during the broadcast.

NASCAR Performance Live can be heard weekly on NASCAR Sirius Radio and approximately 145 Motor Racing Network (MRN) Radio affiliates throughout the country. The program’s talk show format airs live Wednesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. ET and features a rotating line-up of NASCAR crew chiefs giving fans insight into the technical aspects and team side of racing. Keeping with NASCAR Performance’s goal of bringing exposure to the automotive industry, SPEED reporter Ray Dunlap joins each program with a relevant “Car Care Know-How” Tip of the Week featuring NASCAR’s automotive partners.

Steve Wallace Gets Another Crew Chief
Rusty Wallace Inc. officials confirmed that recently hired crew chief Tony Liberati has left the No. 66 Busch Series team of Steve Wallace. Liberati joined the team in early August, replacing Bryant Frazier. Steve Darne was named as the interim crew chief for the remainder of the season.

"Steve Darne is a tremendous asset to our organization, and he has once again stepped up and risen to the challenge," team owner Rusty Wallace said in a statement. He has served in this role several times before, and I have the utmost confidence in his abilities. There's not a doubt in my mind that he'll do another great job for our team."

Darne served as interim crew chief after Frazier left earlier this season. Darne and Wallace won three ARCA races in 2006 before Wallace moved full time to the Busch Series this year. The team tested at Iowa Speedway last week.(scenedaily.com)

"Paint My Ride" Contest
Think you can do a better job designing the No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 than their professional designer did? Here's your chance. Northern Tool + Equipment has launched the "Paint My Ride" promotion that allows race fans to design their own paint scheme for Erik Darnell's No. 99 truck.

Now through October 5, 2007, fans will be able to download a template of the No. 99 Ford via Northern Tool + Equipment's website, NorthernTool.com to create their own paint scheme. All designs submitted will be placed on their website for popular voting. The winning paint scheme will be chosen by the official judges and will adorn the No. 99 on November 9 at Phoenix International Raceway. The winning contestant and a guest will be flown to the race, where they will receive hotel accommodations, two race day tickets, pit passes, $250 in spending cash and a meet-and-greet with Erik Darnell and the No. 99 team. The winning design and contestant will also be featured on the Northern Tool website.

"I'm pretty excited to see what the fans can come up with for a paint scheme," said Darnell. "The scheme on the truck looks pretty cool now so it'll be a challenge to top it, but I am sure that someone will do it. The No. 99 team had a strong run in Phoenix last year. It would be great to put the winning scheme in Victory Lane when we're out there later this year, so we'll work hard to do just that."