Stewart Finds Trouble Again
Tony Stewart found himself in trouble again Saturday morning when he used an expletive during a live broadcast on ESPN2. Stewart used the language with an ESPN photographer when telling him to stop filming him. Stewart was being filmed during NASCAR Nextel Cup practice and the language was broadcast live.

"I think the tape speaks for itself," ESPN spokesman George McNeilly said. "We apologized immediately after the words were spoken. We apologized to our viewers and the matter is in NASCAR's hands."

McNeilly said ESPN turned its videotape over to NASCAR officials, who said they are looking into the matter. ESPN does not feel the need to use a tape delay for a broadcast "when working with professional athletes," McNeilly said. The photographer was alone and gathering video elements, McNeilly said. He added that ESPN does not feel this is part of Stewart's on-and-off grudge with the network.(scenedaily.com)

Johnson Wrecks In Happy Hour
Jimmie Johnson bobbled, spun and tapped the wall between turns 3 and 4 during final practice for the Nextel Cup Series LifeLock 400 on Saturday, requiring his team to pull out a backup at Kansas Speedway. As a result, the polesitter for Sunday's race will now start from the rear of the field.

"I just lost it getting into Turn 3," Johnson said. "The car was kind of loose. I thought it was coming to me and so I started opening up my entry into the corners and it just got out from underneath me getting into Turn 3. We definitely didn't need that. The car we've got [as the backup] is the car we won California with. I'll have to start in the back but this track is wide and good. And we can race anywhere. I really don't have any big concerns besides getting run over [from] behind us."

Though the damage to his primary car was not major, the team deemed it necessary to use a backup and immediately went into action after the wreck occurred. Johnson, who was uninjured, was in the seat and the engine was fired with 35 minutes left in practice.

"The damage ... is more significant than it may look from a cosmetic standpoint," Hendrick Motorsports Vice President Doug Duchardt said. "The entire left side of the car is caved in, so basically it is wrecked. We asked NASCAR and they said we could pull out the backup car. Aero here at Kansas is very important and given the option to use a backup car that we know is 100 percent, even to start in the back, is the best option in the Chase."(scenedaily.com)

Kerry Earnhardt Autograph Session
Kerry Earnhardt, driver of the No.37 GLOCK Chevrolet in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, will host an autograph session for fans prior to the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 on Friday, Oct. 5. The event is scheduled to last from 11:30 to 12:00 at the McCaig-Wellborn Research Library, located in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“The Earnhardt name is steeped in tradition at Talladega Superspeedway,” said track president Rick Humphrey. “I have known Kerry for many years now and while he is an excellent competitor on the track, I can’t think of a more approachable and humble driver. I am glad to welcome him back to Talladega Superspeedway.”

The autograph session with Earnhardt is free with paid admission to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 7 to 17 and free for kids age 6 and younger.

Earnhardt, the eldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. will be attempting to make his 12th career ARCA start during the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 on Oct. 5. Earnhardt is returning to the series after a six year absence.

Under the direction of car owner Jeff Spraker, the team will unload the same machine that NASCAR veteran Mark Martin finished second with in the 2007 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) will supply the engine for the car.

This is not the first time that Spraker and Earnhardt have teamed up to tackle the 2.66 mile superspeedway. In 2005, Spraker supplied Earnhardt with a Busch Series car in the Aaron’s 312. After running in the lead pack all day, Earnhardt steered the machine to a fifth-place finish, his highest for all series at Talladega Superspeedway.

The 2007 UAW-Ford 500 weekend at Talladega Superspeedway will be held on Oct. 5-7 and will consist of the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 on Friday, followed by the Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Car of Tomorrow will make its first appearance in a superspeedway race on Sunday, Oct. 7, which is also the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge on Friday and Saturday of race weekends in the general admission grandstands at Talladega Superspeedway. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342). For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available online at (www.racetickets.com) or in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CDT, Monday - Sunday.

NASCAR To Donate $500,000 To VJGC
This Sunday, The NASCAR Foundation will present a $500,000 check to the Victory Junction Gang Camp during pre-race activities at the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway (1:00 p.m. ET, ABC). Sprint Vice President of Experiential Marketing and NASCAR Foundation Board Member Tom Murphy will present the donation, which is made possible by funds raised mainly through NASCAR Day, The NASCAR Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year.

“The NASCAR Foundation supports many worthy causes and the Victory Junction Gang Camp is one that truly resonates with NASCAR fans,” said Murphy. “Without the overwhelming support of the Foundation, fans and our industry partners, donations like this one would not be possible.”

Victory Junction Gang Camp is part of The NASCAR Foundation Family of Charities. The camp enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.

“We are always humbled and honored when we see how the entire NASCAR community has embraced Victory Junction,” said Pattie Petty, CEO of Victory Junction Gang Camp. “The support of all the NASCAR Day participants and fans are blessing thousands of children and families with chronic illnesses lives through the Foundation’s gift. On behalf of all the staff and campers at Victory Junction, thank you.”

NASCAR Day is a one-day celebration of the NASCAR spirit and its fans. In exchange for a $5 donation, participants including NASCAR fans, corporations, schools and organizations across the country received a commemorative 2007 NASCAR Day lapel pin.

Kansas Speedway was one of more than 2,000 organizations across the country to participate in the fourth-annual celebration of NASCAR Day on Friday, May 18. As a result of their outstanding efforts, Kansas Speedway is one of the top three fundraising tracks for NASCAR Day. To learn more about NASCAR Day and The NASCAR Foundation visit (www.nascar.com/foundation).

Kyle Busch Wins Busch Series Race
Kyle Busch was served a speeding penalty just before half-way through the Yellow Transportation 300 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. The penalty didn't slow Busch down, in fact it only served as motivation for the young driver. Busch caught and then passed the leader Matt Kenseth with 23 laps to go. Once Busch was at the point, it was his job to keep it but Kenseth raced him hard, battling side-by-side for ten laps before Busch was able to secure the victory. It was his third win this year in the Busch Series and the tenth of his career.

“I got to thank Matt for racing me clean," said Busch. "Being able to race him and beat him was pretty special. He’s beat me a few times.” Busch has won three of the last six races in the series. Kenseth held on for second place and a good run by Casey Mears, put him in the third spot. Hometown favorite Clint Bowyer drove from the rear of the field to finish fourth and Jamie McMurray was fifth. Denny Hamlin finished sixth followed by Paul Menard, Jeff Burton, Brian Vickers and Greg Biffle to round out the top ten.

Points leader Carl Edwards got into a spat with Matt Kenseth that left Edwards with a flat left front tire, an altercation that Edwards claimed that Kenseth did it purpose. On a restart Edwards passed Kenseth on the right and it appeared that Kenseth moved up to touch Edwards -- to show his displeasure. Later on lap 151 something broke on the No. 60 Ford of Edwards. He hit the wall head on and when he climbed from his wrecked vehicle, he gave Kenseth two thumbs up, a sarcastic here's to you gesture.

"Something came loose in the front end and I (was) real, real loose in. I think my sway bar was – something broke, I thought. I overcorrected and turned into the fence. That was a pretty hard hit. It hurt a little bit,” said Edwards. "The reason I was mad, someone like a teammate would race me like that. He may or may not have done it on purpose. He’s my teammate and we’ve really got a good relationship, so hopefully we can get by this.” MORE. “It is difficult. There is a lot of pressure. I’ve got great fans, and I do have great teammates. And, Matt’s done a lot for me. Hopefully, that’s just a one-time deal, a little lapse there that he might’ve had. We’ll move on.”

Kenseth acted like he didn't have a clue as to what was going on.

"If I spun him out or something I guess I would, (feel a need to smooth things out with Edwards) but I don’t really feel like I did anything wrong," said Kenseth. "My job’s not out there to get out of his way all of the time; we’re supposed to race each other like we always race each other and race each other with respect. And I thought I left him enough room. I mean, he kind of took a cheap run out there, which any of us could’ve done because it was a slow start, but, gosh, whatever it was, 70 miles into the race, 90 miles into the race, I didn’t know why we had to be really four-wide going into turn one on a re-start when we were all in line. So, I thought I left him enough room, and we did make just barely any contact and it was just bad luck that I got his tire, and everything else that happened to him I don’t really think was my fault.”