[PAmedic]

His cousin oddly enough named Brian Vickers...

a southern thing I guess. sorta like "this is my brother Darrell, and this is my other brother Darrell"

of course, that was supposedly in New England, so I guess that blows my argument. must be something in the sweet tea

[PAmedic]

Toyota to race Cup, Busch beginning in '07

Official Release
January 23, 2006
07:13 PM EST (00:13 GMT)

NASCAR and Toyota announced Monday the manufacturer's plans to expand its racing program by competing in the Nextel Cup and Busch series starting in 2007, fielding the Camry model.

The expansion will follow three years of Toyota competing in the Craftsman Truck Series, and will result in all three of NASCAR's national series having four manufacturers competing, as Toyota will join Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.

"NASCAR welcomes Toyota to the greatest auto racing in the world," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France, who made the announcement at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

"Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series is good for drivers, teams and the fans. This move provides for even more intense competition on the track between drivers and manufacturers, which will provide more excitement and fan interest. Toyota's entry also provides more options for drivers and teams, which will increase the competition between manufacturers."

"It's a great pleasure to announce Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup and NASCAR Busch Series with the Toyota Camry," said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president and chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

"Next year, 2007, will be a special year for Toyota in more ways than one. Toyota will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the United States, and we will be joining the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, America's premier racing series.

"Toyota has been an important part of the U.S. motorsports community for almost 25 years. We've competed and won in different series and on tracks across America. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in a variety of different series. But, if you want to compete against the best in America, that means NASCAR.

"We look forward to February of 2007 when the green flag waves to start the Daytona 500 and the starting lineup features the Toyota Camry."

Illingworth, who joined France in making the announcement, said more information -- regarding possible sponsor and driver lineups -- will be released Tuesday night, during a media gathering at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord.

This year, Toyota is celebrating its 24th year of participation in American professional auto racing. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in IMSA, CART, IRL and off-road racing. They have won such historic events as the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Baja 1000 and the Indianapolis 500.

Toyota moved into NASCAR in 2000, fielding the Celica model in the Goody's Dash Series. The following season, Robert Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR victory, at Kentucky Speedway. In 2003, Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR championship by capturing the Goody's Dash title.

In 2004, Toyota entered the Truck Series with the Tundra -- in the process becoming the first new manufacturer in one of NASCAR's top series in more than 50 years. In two seasons of Truck competition, Tundra drivers have recorded 13 victories and 18 poles.

[givemethemic]

Well for those of you NASCAR nuts I have Mark Garrow of PRN on my show all the time and back in June he basically broke down this whole Toyota deal... Darrell Waltrip is the main face and Michael Waltrip will be the main driver hince why he didn't sign a long deal with anybody cause he and Darrell will be the face of Toyota

[PAmedic]

this oughta be good:



Car of Tomorrow to make race debut in 2007

Implementation gradually introduces race vehicle to schedule
From Press Release
January 23, 2006
06:02 PM EST (23:02 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Monday that the Car of Tomorrow will begin competition in 2007. Teams will use the newly designed race car for 16 events next season, beginning with the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway -- currently the fifth event on the Nextel Cup Series schedule.

A five-year project overseen by NASCAR vice president for research and development Gary Nelson, the Car of Tomorrow offers important safety and performance upgrades. It also addresses cost reduction, providing teams with a more efficient car to produce and tune.

"The Car of Tomorrow represents one of the sport's most significant innovations, and we feel everyone involved in NASCAR will experience the benefits," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "No subject is more important than safety, and while the Car of Tomorrow was built around safety considerations, the competition and cost improvements will prove vital as well."

Aside from the 2007 Bristol events, teams will use the Car of Tomorrow at Phoenix, Martinsville, Richmond, Dover and New Hampshire.

It will also see action at Darlington, the fall event at Talladega and road-course events at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen.

With the exception of the 2.66-mile Talladega track and the two road courses, all tracks where the Car of Tomorrow will debut in 2007 are short tracks.

The 2008 Car of Tomorrow implementation schedule includes 26 events -- adding both races at Daytona, California, Pocono, Michigan, the spring event at Talladega and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Teams will run the entire 2009 schedule with the Car of Tomorrow, adding both events at Atlanta, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas, plus events at Chicagoland, Kansas, Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami. The rollout schedule could be sooner.

"All of our engineering staff and each of the teams and manufacturers that contributed will now be able see the product of their hard work in competition," Nelson said. "Many of the obvious safety and competition benefits have been a topic since the beginning of this project. We think one of the major benefits is yet to be realized as the car owners begin to build a more cost-efficient race car."

The next round of Car of Tomorrow on-track testing will be scheduled following Speedweeks in Daytona, with officials from the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., refining car components and performance baselines.

The Car of Tomorrow is a collaborative effort, with Nelson's team leading the way. Manufacturers, teams and industry suppliers all contributed during the design phase, with Nextel Cup Series teams and drivers offering important feedback during the latest round of on-track testing.

NASCAR's prototype car, built by the Research and Development staff, is driven by director of cost research Brett Bodine, a former Nextel Cup competitor and team owner.

The Car of Tomorrow began as a design five years ago, progressing through simulation, laboratory and wind-tunnel tests. Of primary significance are the safety innovations -- the Car of Tomorrow is four inches wider and two inches taller than current NASCAR race cars. The driver compartment, or "roll cage," has been shifted three inches to the rear. The driver's seat has been shifted four inches to the right, allowing more protection from a driver's side impact. More "crush-ability" is built into the car on both sides, ensuring even more protection.

The Car of Tomorrow exhaust system is another safety innovation. It runs through the body, diverting heat away from the driver and exiting on the right side.

Another important Car of Tomorrow feature is performance -- how the car handles in traffic and reacts to downforce. The project represents the latest move by NASCAR to reduce current cars' aerodynamic dependence, and several innovations have addressed it:

• The windshield is more upright, designed to increase the amount of drag, thereby slowing the cars.

• The more box-like front bumper, which is three inches higher and thicker, catches air rather than deflecting it, another way to slow the car.

• The air intake is below the front bumper, which eliminates the problem of overheating. Wind-blown trash can cover current car grilles, blocking air flow.

Several components -- both those built into the Car of Tomorrow and those being tested -- will make the car easier to drive in traffic. Some of those components also are bolt-on, bolt-off pieces that teams can use to tune their cars, making them cost-efficient as well. Those include:

• The "splitter," a flat shelf below the front bumper that can be adjusted.

• A wing, like those commonly used in sports car series, also is a possibility. It fits on the car's rear deck lid, in the same spot where the spoiler is bolted.

• The spoiler, a NASCAR staple, is a straight line on the Car of Tomorrow, rather than curved, as on current cars. A straight spoiler yields more stability in traffic.

"We designed this car to run for a long time, at road courses, short tracks, intermediate-sized tracks all the way to Daytona," Nelson said. "You would be able to run the same foundation car, the frame, the cage, the body, all of the components that today are being swapped around as the cars are purpose-built for certain types of tracks. We're eliminating that with this car."

[PAmedic]

the top teams have unvieled their new car designs for the 2006 Cup season. I have a feeling SMOOTHIE and GIMME will be a little disappointed.

[givemethemic]

NO I think that you will be disappointed after I talk with the King here in an hour.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[PAmedic]

NO I think that you will be disappointed after I talk with the King here in an hour.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

WELLLL?

all the build-up and then- nothing. no report whatsoever.

did Richard take one look at you and say "outta my car ya big girly man"

thats about how I had it figured.

[El Scorcho]

I'm casting my lot with the #11 FedEx Express Chevy driven by Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs this season. I have a good feeling about this guy and his team.

My wife is sticking with Krappy Kahne.

[PAmedic]

Oh just great. We finally get rid of him as a driver and now he's gonna bore me to death as an announcer. (Hope Mrs2b doesn't read this or I'm sleeping in the car again- BIG #2 fan there)

Wallace to serve as lead analyst for ABC/ESPN

Networks begin full coverage of NASCAR events in 2007

Rusty Wallace believes that being in the broadcast booth is something he was born to do. Starting this season, he'll get to do it for a living.

Wallace, who climbed out of his No. 2 Dodge for the last time at the end of the 2005 Nextel Cup Series season, was introduced Wednesday as the lead auto racing analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports.

His first assignment will be on-site at the Daytona 500 for ESPN's SportsCenter coverage with host Chris Fowler.

Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR champion, will be the ESPN and ABC Sports lead Nextel Cup and Busch Series analyst when the networks return to televising NASCAR in 2007. This year he will report from at least 20 NASCAR races for SportsCenter, and will be an analyst for the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season, including the Indianapolis 500.

Additionally, Wallace, whose 25-year career included 55 Cup wins, will serve as analyst for ESPN2's upcoming daily motorsports series.

"This is a dream come true for me," Wallace said. "ESPN's been around for ever and ever and they helped build this sport -- NASCAR.

"I love talking about the sport and I love educating people about the sport. That's what I really want to do.

Wallace said he signed a six-year deal with the network.

"We're extremely proud that our first new on-air hire, following the announcement that NASCAR is returning to ABC Sports and ESPN, is that of the legendary Rusty Wallace," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president, studio and remote production. "Rusty earned the respect and admiration of fellow drivers and fans with his engaging personality and unquestioned racing ability, attributes that will continue to entertain race fans."

Williamson added that no other on-air decisions have been made concerning ESPN/ABC's NASCAR coverage.

The two current driver/analysts covering NASCAR on the network level, Darrell Waltrip for FOX and Wally Dallenbach from NBC/TNT, couldn't be more different. As for how Wallace will fit in there, he said fans can expect a no-nonsense approach.

"I'm not going to be merciless," Wallace said. "I'll try to get the good stories. I think I know the right questions to ask," Wallace said. "I want to educate people and really get inside their head."

He said a lot of people currently covering the sport ask the wrong questions or phrase them the wrong way.

"Drivers don't mind being asked what's wrong," Wallace said. "But they don't want to be asked what's wrong and how to fix it.

"If they knew that, they wouldn't be in the spot they're at."

[bigsmooth]

even though im not a crusty fan, he will be a good TV guy. anything beats "cheesburger" benny parsons!!

[givemethemic]

Sorry for not giving you a report.. with traveling to High Point and Being in Birmingham for 4 days didn't really have a lot of time to fill you in...It was pretty cool.. they didn't do the driving because there was some rain in the area and it was a little wet... but the interview was cool... Just for the record I love Rusty Wallace being in the booth... I have had the pleasure to interview him on several occasions and he has done different liners for my show over the last few years... ESPN made a great hire... Go Hendirck "2006 the year of Brian Vickers"......

[PAmedic]

Hendrick. yeah- ok. good luck w/ that!

[bigsmooth]

i love how roush fans think they are so great!. i will give you that you had a great year, but put a few more cup championships together, then talk some smack. out of the past ten champions hendrick has four titles, gibbs has three, roush two and yates one. plus you guys are in a new ford car, which im sure you know will take time to work out the kinks.GMTM, i did not know you were a hendrick fan. i knew you were a smart man.

[PAmedic]

blah blah blah

[PAmedic]

this was such a shame, thoughts and prayers with the organization and family members.

NTSB: Hendrick crash linked to crew error

The Associated Press
February 7, 2006

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Flight crew errors probably caused a Hendrick Motorsports plane crash in October 2004 that killed 10 people with ties to one of NASCAR's top syndicates, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.

The crew improperly read instruments and missed a landing approach to Blue Ridge Airport, resulting in the Beech King Air 200 crashing into fog-shrouded Bull Mountain in the foothills of the Appalachians, the NTSB said in a synopsis of the report e-mailed to The Associated Press.

"Contributing to the cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use all available navigational aids to confirm and monitor the airplane's position during the approach," NTSB staff wrote.

The crash killed the son, brother and two nieces of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick.

Hendrick did not join the flight from Concord, N.C., to a race at Martinsville Speedway because he wasn't feeling well.

Killed in the crash were: Ricky Hendrick, 24, Rick Hendrick's son; John Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's brother and president of Hendrick Motorsports; Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, John Hendrick's 22-year-old twin daughters; Joe Jackson, an executive with DuPont; Jeff Turner, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports; Randy Dorton, 50, the team's chief engine builder; Scott Lathram, 38, a pilot for NASCAR driver Tony Stewart; and pilots Richard Tracy, 51, of Charlotte, N.C., and Elizabeth Morrison, 31

[PAmedic]

Hey Penske- good luck w/ this!

[PAmedic]

Las Vegas track slated for stylistic infield facelift

Fan-friendly garage, higher banking, new pit road among changes
Official Release
January 30, 2006

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is going to raze its infield -- and raise the bar for all speedways in the process.

A multimillion-dollar renovation project set to begin following this year's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 will create a new, fan-friendly garage, add banking to the superspeedway, relocate pit road closer to the grandstands and provide a state-of-the-art media center.

"We are going to make Las Vegas Motor Speedway the greatest speedway in the world," Speedway Motorsports chairman Bruton Smith said. "Las Vegas is all about glitz and glamour. This speedway will be as spectacular as anything on the Las Vegas Strip when we are finished."

The centerpiece of the project will be the new garage area for the Nextel Cup teams and fan interactive area. The garage buildings will be constructed in a diamond shape with the team haulers parked on the outside and fans allowed on the inside.

The two-level, four-building garage area will encompass 32,000 square feet. A 52,000-square-foot roof deck will allow fans to look directly down into the individual garage stalls as the teams work on their cars. There also will be windows on the lower level where fans can watch the teams work.

In addition to the close proximity of fans and race teams, the fan area will feature concession stands, an area where live bands and other entertainers can perform and other amenities that will set Las Vegas Motor Speedway apart from all others.

"This area will offer a perspective on the sport of auto racing that never has been available to the average race fan," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "And the fan interactive area will bring an element of entertainment that is befitting of the culture of Las Vegas. The possibilities will be limitless."

All architectural work on both the garage area and fan interactive area has been done by AI Design of Charlotte, N.C. AI Design also provided the plans for the Dale Earnhardt Terrace and the soon-to-be-opened Richard Petty Terrace at LVMS.

"I congratulate Chris Powell and LVMS for launching this improvement project," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "The new garage area will give race fans an opportunity to see their favorite drivers up close. The strong relationship between fans and drivers is a NASCAR hallmark, which will be alive and well at LVMS."

The most dramatic changes for the race teams will be the added banking to the superspeedway and the new pit road. The speedway's turns will change from 12-degree banking to 20 degrees. The new pit road will be 150 feet closer to the grandstands than the current pit road.

Eberly and Associates of Atlanta designed the speedway's new configuration. Eberly was responsible for the redesign of Atlanta Motor Speedway as well as the current configuration of Texas Motor Speedway.

"The new track design will offer more side-by-side racing and give our speedway one of the most competitive tracks on the circuit," Powell said. "By moving pit road closer to the grandstands, race fans will have a much crisper view of the exciting action in the pits."

The relocated pit road also will allow for the construction of a quarter-mile oval in front of the main grandstand. This track will feature Legends, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster races.

"Bruton has been a visionary since he began building speedways," Powell said. "But the improvements that he has authorized here in Las Vegas will set a new standard."

Construction crews will begin their work immediately following the March 10-12 NASCAR weekend.

[PAmedic]

Busch sentenced to community service

PHOENIX -- Kurt Busch was ordered Wednesday to perform 50 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement over a reckless driving citation he received near Phoenix International Raceway.

His lawyer, Lee Stein, said his client admitted to speeding, a misdemeanor, and two civil citations: following too closely and passing in a no-passing zone. In exchange, the reckless driving charge was dropped. The community service must be completed within a year, Stein said. Busch also paid $580 in court fines.

Busch was stopped in suburban Tolleson in November after allegedly running a stop sign while speeding. A police report said the deputy smelled alcohol on Busch, and the driver became belligerent. A breath test showed Busch was far below the legal limit for DUI.

Busch said he was returning from dinner with his fiancee.

"You're only doing this because you're a Jeff Gordon fan," Busch was quoted as saying to the officer in a police report.

Busch later apologized for being "disrespectful."

The traffic stop came the night before the Checker Auto Parts 500 at the Phoenix track. As a result of his run-in, Busch was suspended from the final two NASCAR races of the season by his former team.

[PAmedic]

finally here!

[PAmedic]

I came home and found, to my dismay- the Bud Shootout posponed until tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at 4PM. At least this way I'll have something constructive to watch while snowed in- then have to surf back and forth at 6 when the Pro-bowl airs.

[bigsmooth]

why would you be watching the pro bowl medic? did any eagles make the team??? i too was disappointed about the shootout! i had my food and beverage ready, the shootout on the main screen, UVA/VT on picture in picture, and the flames on the internet. looking fwd. to a hendrick victory today preferrably the "24".

[A.G.]

The 24?
What did you do in place of the Shootout, watch the pairs figure skating? Guess you'll have a Brokeback Mountain movie review for us, too...

(nothing like some pre-season NASCAR smak to get the blood flowing)

[bigsmooth]

if you do not know anything about NASCAR, keep your piehole shut. the 24 is jeff gordon-4 time cup champion, ever heard of him? as far as the brokeback reference, get a life brother.

[A.G.]

Smoothie--relax. I know pleanty about NASCAR--and the unfounded rumors about Gordon perpectuated by Earnhardt fans. I know enough to change the channel off the olympics and go to the Speed Channel to watch the rest of qualifying. I suppose what I don't know, is enough about you so that I avoid "tweeking" you in the future.

Me? I like Gordon--nothing against a guy who drives fast cars and always has a hot woman at his side. What's not to like, there? Personally, I like Elliott Sadler--a good old Virginia boy.

[PAmedic]

ignore SMOOTHIE- he has evidently lost him mind. The 24. PUHLEEZE

the 6 sportin new colors this year will be right there as always, watch out for the 99 but the biggest shock for all you Roush-doubters will come in the form of the other little guy- driving the new (again) 26- Jamie McMurray