Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Notebook ~ Saturday An Opinion
July 29, 2007
By Connie Felix
Win TV Commercial Laptop
Only a few days, August 5, 2007 to be exact left to visit Office Depot Racing and sign in to win a A135-S4527 widescreen 15.4" Toshiba Satellite Notebook. The computer, loaded with the latest technology and autographed by NASCAR Nextel Cup No. 99 Ford driver Carl Edwards, is the one used in his recent Office Depot Commercial.
The humorous spot is said to poke fun at Carl's forgetful qualities, airing on ESPN during NASCAR Now, the NASCAR Busch Series races and throughout ESPN's NASCAR coverage as well as on ABC's NASCAR telecasts.
Rain Doesn't Stop Music
If you like music Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the place to be this weekend during the running of the NASCAR Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Country music star, Tracy Lawrence, who's current single is "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" put on a concert. Gretchen Wilson also did a concert, her 2004 debut album, "Here for the Party," went quadruple platinum. DJ Orion, The Jolie Holliday Band and Jeff Taylor put on several performances over the race weekend. CURB Records artist, Jo Dee Messina had a concert prior to the NASCAR Allstate 400 At The Brickyard. Messina made the record books by becoming the first female country artist to score three multiple-week number-one hits from the same album, thanks to the hit singles “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright” and “Stand Beside Me.”
Trumpet National Anthem
Indiana National Guard Sgt. Byron Bartosh will play the national anthem on his Trumpet at the NASCAR Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday. A native of Garland, Texas, Bartosh attended high school at the Indiana Academy at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and lives in Bloomington, Ind., following a tour in the United States Marine Corps. Bartosh has also played “Taps” at the Indianapolis 500 in 2006 and 2007.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Goodyear Tire Facts
Number of Tires: Left-side -- 1,800
Right-side -- 1,800
Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.4 in.
Right-side -- 88.6 in.
Technical Inspection Inflation: Left Front -- 26 psi
Left Rear -- 26 psi
Right Front -- 36 psi
Right Rear -- 36 psi
Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 17 psi
Left Rear -- 17 psi
Right Front -- 37 psi
Right Rear -- 33 psi
Estimated Pit Window: Every 36-38 laps, based on fuel mileage.
Tires were tested at Indianapolis by Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Labonte and Ricky Rudd in April.
This is the first time Goodyear has brought this combination of left- and right-side tires to Indianapolis and the only track which they will be ran this 2007 season.
NASCAR ovals greater than one-mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Indianapolis, with a air pressure of 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.
Damon Lusk's Mother Passes
Julie Lusk passed away peacefully in her home with her family by her side on July 25, 2007 from pancreatic cancer. Services were held at Lake Forest Community Church, in Huntersville, North Carolina is weekend. Julie Lusk, 50 (1957-2007) was born in Arlington, Washington and celebrated her 32nd Wedding Anniversary with her husband, Doug just a week before. She is survived by her children Damon, Derek, Danielle, and husband Doug. Damon has ran ARCA and last competed in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Homestead in 2006. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Baseball Honeymoon
Congratulations to Brian Wilson, team engineer for the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, who married Alison Copper last Saturday night at a service held in Mooresville, N.C. The newlyweds enjoyed their Major League Baseball themed honeymoon, first they ventured to Atlanta to take in a Braves game. Then it was off to Dallas, where the couple stayed in Fort Worth and took in a Texas Rangers game. They closed out their celebratory week in Phoenix for a Diamondbacks game, before heading to Indianapolis for this weekend’s “back-to-work 400,” as Brian calls it. “Hey, it was her idea to spend our honeymoon like that, not mine,” Brian offered."
Crew Member Misses Race Keeps Rescue Dog Working
John Ilowiecki, race day scorer for the No. 21 NASCAR Nextel Cup team owned by Wood Brothers JTG Racing, will miss his first Indy race in eleven years. Ilowiecki's, 4 year old dachshund, Bella, will be participating in the Wiener Dog Nationals at the Woodlands Racetrack in Kansas City, Kansas while the NASCAR Nextel Cup race is going on at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bella is a rescue dog and has been kept busy since being adopted two years ago, appearing in the movie "The Trouble with Cali,” produced and directed by Paul Sorvino. She was featured in a scene with ice cream moguls Ben and Jerry. Bella was recently voted most beautiful dog in the SPCA Contest in Abington, Pennsylvania, plus appears in many parades and festivals and is the founder of the pet advocacy group “Pets for Paws-itive Change.” She is also a member of “My Dog Votes” and “The Doggie Actors Guild.”
Win 2008 Daytona 500 Weekend
Check out Klondike and enter the Klondike Ultimate Race and Family Vacation Sweepstakes before October 31, 2007. It is easy and they will give you the UPC code if you don't have one handy. Grand Prize: A trip for the winner & four guests to attend the NASCAR Daytona 500 weekend races in 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida plus theme park tickets.
ESPN Brings Indy 85 Cameras And Draft Track
ESPN along with SportVision gave football the "First and Ten Line", Tennis now has "Shot Spot", Baseball the "K Zone", and now NASCAR has "Draft Track". Initially the new effect will be used on replays. Viewers will see air flowing over and behind race cars as they speed around the track. The Draft Track airflow visualization will change as the cars, in relation to each other change position in real time on the racetrack, including passing, side by side or lined up nose to tail. If properly explained by the announcers this should prove to be a magnificent creation.
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