[bigsmooth]

hey medic, the cheating thing is getting tired bro. all NASCAR teams cheat, it is just a matter if they get caught or not. congrats to the roush crew on the weekend sweep. but it is very early, dont get too happy. though im a hendrick guy, i like what i see from joe gibbs racing with hamlin and yeley. heck even petty enterprises is doing better this year. i really think it's gonna be a wild year in NASCAR!

[PAmedic]

hey medic, the cheating thing is getting tired bro.

???

that last one was AG man. not PA. and he was talking smack about Roush, not Hendrick.

[PAmedic]

Report: Hall of Fame headed to Charlotte

The Associated Press
March 1, 2006
01:54 PM EST (18:54 GMT)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A report in Wednesday's editions of The Charlotte Observer said NASCAR's Hall of Fame appears headed to the North Carolina city.

The Observer cites three anonymous sources and reports that Charlotte has beaten out Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., for the stock car racing museum. The newspaper says an official announcement is expected Monday.

NASCAR officials did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

In the past week, several NASCAR sources have told The Associated Press that Charlotte is indeed the leading candidate to land the shrine, but that negotiations are ongoing.

Charlotte has been viewed as the favorite to land the hall for some time. The city is home to most of the teams and drivers who compete in the series. NASCAR has several offices in the city, and NASCAR chairman Brian France recently purchased a home here.

Atlanta also submitted a strong bid, but its proposal has hit a red flag. State legislators had planned to divert about $22 million in surplus money from Atlanta's rental car tax to the NASCAR project.

But The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in Wednesday's editions that officials already have committed the money to help the city's homeless.

[A.G.]

Quick--someone call the Auto Club

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/13999666.htm

No. 6 Truck series team penalized by NASCAR
ThatsRacin.com Report

NASCAR announced on Thursday that the No. 06 Craftsman Truck Series team had been hit with three penalties after last week's race at California Speedway.

Crew chief Bryan Berry was fined $5,000, driver Chad McCumbee was docked 25 points and owner David Malcolmson was penalized 25 owner points.

Penalties were assessed for use of an unapproved carburetor main body modification and use of components and/or equipment that failed to conform to NASCAR rules.

The violations were found during opening-day inspection for the Racetickets.com 200.

[givemethemic]

Sounds like Rousch had a cheating weekend..... you guys cheated twice we only cheated once so I guess that makes Rousch bigger cheaters!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[PAmedic]

No. 06 Truck series team penalized by NASCAR

NASCAR announced on Thursday that the No. 06 Craftsman Truck Series team had been hit with three penalties after last week's race at California Speedway.Crew chief Bryan Berry was fined $5,000, driver Chad McCumbee was docked 25 points and owner David Malcolmson was penalized 25 owner points.
Penalties were assessed for use of an unapproved carburetor main body modification and use of components and/or equipment that failed to conform to NASCAR rules.
The violations were found during opening-day inspection for the Racetickets.com 200.

wrong truck, wrong team, wrong driver.

NOT ROUSH RACING

* this team is actually listed as the #106 truck, however, thats not practical to put on a door- so in the races you will see them as the "06" truck. As opposed to the REAL #6.

[A.G.]

Well silly me. My appologies, Medic. Guess I need to make like DW and get the truck out of here.

[PAmedic]

I'll let it go- you'll come over to the dark side eventually. No wait, you're already there!
Welcome aboard.

[A.G.]

I...
...am the Dark Side

[bigsmooth]

in responding to the post on the hall of fame, charlotte is the right place. i know NASCAR is progressing to be a global sport, but i think at times that have forgot their roots. hopefully charlotte will get the nod!

[El Scorcho]

i know NASCAR is progressing to be a global sport, but i think at times that have forgot their roots.

Like leaving Rockingham for 17,000 empty seats in California?

I understand what they're trying to do, but I don't understand how they can be so cold to the towns and fans that kept the sport alive long before the pretty boy drivers and big sponorship deals came along. It's really sad. Darlington, Rockingham, North Wilkesboro...if you ask me, NASCAR should stick around and let the little towns in on the big market money. At the very least, they could let the Featherlite series run at North Wilkesboro instead of just shutting the track down and abandoning the town. NW was the worst example of this behavior so far. The town was the original headquarters of Lowe's. Once NASCAR left, Lowe's left. And when they were both gone, there was nothing left for that town. The money, the jobs and the economy are all gone.

Thanks, France family.

[Sly Fox]

So I guess you guys would prefer if the NFL franchises were all in Akron, Canton and Portsmouth, Ohio.

There are going to be a few bumps along the way in building the sport here in America. In fact, I wish NASCAR were taken out of the hands of one family.

As for NASCAR being global, that has been its biggest impediment. Outside of the Continental Uinted States, its nothing more than an occassional curiosity. The rest of the world is into open-wheel. I know all about the "exhibitions" in Japan & Mexico. But the rest of the world is buying into yet. Japan is so infatuated with American culture that they will likely be the first to accept stock cars.

[bigsmooth]

no actually NASCAR did the right thing by leaving wilkesboro and rockingham. even though california speedway was not sold out, it still drew more fans than wilkesboro and rockingham. those tracks were outdated and no effort was made to add amenities. darlington still has one race, and they have even added lights. im sure martinsville will eventually lose one race, but they have made the effort to expand and offer more to the fans. but for a hall of fame it needs to be where the sport was born. though i do agree the europeans and south americans are formula one, NASCAR will have a real cup race in japan before too long.

[El Scorcho]

See, I disagree. I can concede moving the Cup series out of N. Wilkesboro. However, why abandon the track entirely? I'm talking Featherlite series here. Not Busch, not Truck just regional Featherlite racing. I understand growing the sport, but I don't understand crushing small towns in the process.

[bigsmooth]

a lot of the busch series races coincide with the sprint/nextel cup races, so it poses a logistical problem. i hate to see some of the samller towns lose races, but that is the price of progress.

[El Scorcho]

a lot of the busch series races coincide with the sprint/nextel cup races, so it poses a logistical problem. i hate to see some of the samller towns lose races, but that is the price of progress.

No, that's why I said NOT Busch, and NOT truck, but the Featherlite or other "Touring Series" races. No logistical problems there, at all. And, it would seem that it would help the regional drivers out, as they'd get to compete on former Cup level tracks as well as the smaller tracks they're racing now.

[PAmedic]

we had the same issues up here when they closed Nazareth- the Andretti's home track!

not only did we lose a local Busch race (they don't race Pocono in that series), we also lost a CART race.

the issue there was that the same group that owns Watkins Glen owned Nazareth, so they pulled the bleacher seats out and sent them up north, effectively ruining the track, other than for testing purposes. Its all about the money.

I do agree that between the ARCA series, the Hooters Series and the regional Busch series- they could and SHOULD utilize these smaller, older tracks- as long as they're safe.

[PAmedic]

for those of you that missed it- Denny Hamlin (Gibbs racing #20) won the race down south today- leading 40+ laps.

Boris Said finished 2nd, Happy Harvick 3rd.

On to Vegas next week!

[bigsmooth]

congrats to denny! good to see a virginia boy do well. in regard to the old tracks, wilkesboro and rockingham did not do what they needed to do to keep those events, and of course combine that with the france family dealings it was bound to happen. last i heard wilkesboro had grass growing through the pavement.

[PAmedic]

on Windtunnel last nite, Despain floated the idea (tongue in cheek) of building the Nascar Hall of Fame in the infield at North Wilkesboro and using the money generated to fund the refurbing of the track! pretty good stuff!

[Flamesfanva]

I was glad to hear Charlotte was awarded the NASCAR Hall of Fame. One reason was so it wouldn't be that far to travel to, but the other reason was because it was a natural fit.

[PAmedic]

thanks for the reminder- forgot to post this:

Charlotte's Hall of Fame bid a true team effort

Money wasn't only factor in deciding on location of sport's venue
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
March 6, 2006
07:37 PM EST (00:37 GMT)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The slogan used in Charlotte's platform to lure the NASCAR Hall of Fame to the Queen City is now official creed:

Racing was built here. Racing belongs here.

As expected, NASCAR on Monday announced its Hall of Fame will reside in Charlotte, N.C., a conclusion one key decision maker on the project called "the tipping point for Charlotte being the Hollywood of NASCAR."

"The one thing Charlotte has been lacking is a real tourism magnet," said Mark Dyer, NASCAR vice president of licensing and a lead negotiator on NASCAR's behalf throughout the site-selection process. "This provides it. This is the tipping point for Charlotte being the Hollywood of NASCAR."

Dyer said Charlotte won out over Atlanta and Daytona Beach mainly due to NASCAR's stability in the market and importance in the community's overall economic structure.

In short, Charlotte will tout the facility as the focal destination point for NASCAR fans to coincide with the numerous race shops and museums in and around the area, as well as a centerpiece in the rapidly expanding downtown infrastructure.

"This is home to the drivers, and there's no place like home," said Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory.

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley added, "Charlotte, start your economic engines. This thing's gonna be big."

"Add all that up, and fans can spend a whole week in Charlotte and really experience the sport and its history," Dyer said. "It puts an exclamation point on the experience."

Dyer said plans are in the works to organize a coordinated touring business to simplify seeing all Charlotte-area racing attractions.

"Charlotte sees the Hall of Fame as a catalyst for economic development downtown -- and there is a lot of momentum downtown already with office and residential and restaurants in place and on the move," Dyer said.

"Charlotte worked very hard to put themselves in this position. They had a terrific proposal, and did a great job when we visited in the summer. They were very resilient as we questioned them and requested more information.

"Their core team hung in there on this thing and represented their side extremely well over hours and hours of negotiations. They got the best deal representing the city against our viewpoints, and we ended up being very close on everything."

Pooling resources

Dyer cited a collaboration of resources by Charlotte-based banking giants Bank of America and Wachovia as key in the Queen City's triumph.

"They're really strong rivals, headquartered in the same city just a few blocks apart, and deserve a ton of credit for working together to make this happen," Dyer said.

"We had a firm commitment from both companies from the very beginning to do what it took to secure the Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

"This is a huge economic development opportunity for downtown Charlotte, and they realized that immediately and joined arms and acted really as one voice. That's extraordinary."

Extraordinary, yes. But far from the lone determining factor, Dyer said. Charlotte's local government had to prove its mettle to the selection committee, as well.

"The state of North Carolina and Charlotte, in the metropolitan area, at a governmental level has done a lot of work to study and recognize the importance of motorsports in the area, and because of that they stepped up with a great financial package that was geared towards long-term security for the facility," Dyer said.

"Those were two very big factors that weighed heavily into the decision."

Easley said NASCAR's approach was so straightforward, the Charlotte committee almost didn't know how to react.

"It was unlike anything I've ever dealt with in economic development," Easley said. "They walked in and said here's what we need. I appreciate them showing the confidence in Charlotte and in North Carolina."

Late push raises questions

Atlanta officials said last week they'd increased the city's planned investment from $5 million to $77 million. The State of Georgia had already pledged $25 million.

News of Atlanta's proposal left many with an impression that NASCAR was playing a bidding game with its candidates to increase NASCAR's payday.

Dyer said that isn't the case, rather that intricate contractual details held up the finalization of the project.

"The toughest part of a situation like this is you don't know you absolutely have a final deal until the last day or two, because there are so many loose ends," Dyer said. "And you owe it to other cities to keep the communication lines open. So it starts to take the look of a big sweepstakes.

"We didn't run it that way. We really tried hard to address the concerns of the long-term security of the project. The discussions and things you saw in the media weren't predicated on NASCAR getting paid, more the arrangements of financing the facility and giving the facility the best long-term financial future."

The Hall of Fame project is important enough to NASCAR that its royalty package isn't guaranteed. If the Hall of Fame suffers a financial loss in any given year, NASCAR forgoes a portion of its royalty guarantee.

"It's important to note that we placed no financial guarantees on the facility," Dyer said. "If the facility ran a deficit in a year we wouldn't get paid our full royalties. We won't let our royalties take the facility into a deficit in any given year.

"The facility is a non-profit, and while everybody thinks we're doing this thing for money -- and yes, we'll make royalties off of the use of our name -- but the negotiations in the past few weeks weren't predicated on us trying to up the bidding on what we'd be paid. It was about ensuring the financial future of the facility."

Not just NASCAR

One of Atlanta's greatest assets was its standing among destination cities for corporate conventions -- second only to Las Vegas. The Hall of Fame is expected to greatly improve Charlotte's allure.

"This will be a tremendous boon to tourism, not just in Charlotte, but this entire region," McCrory said.

The budget for the entire project is $150 million, with $43 million of that set aside for a banquet hall/ballroom that should assist Charlotte's growth as a destination for corporate conventions.

"The ballroom is a terrific feature," Dyer said. "Induction banquets will be held there, as well as other NASCAR official events. The banquet hall is owned by the city and run by the city, so lots of non-NASCAR events will be held in banquet hall, too. They really need a facility of this size."

Dyer said organizers and developers will need another year to finalize the building's design, and namely the interior design. He estimates construction will begin next spring, and a grand opening in 2010.

NASCAR has the option to build an office building on the Hall of Fame site, for which the City of Charlotte bears no financial responsibility. Instead, NASCAR would be required to foot the bill for the office building.

What makes a NASCAR Hall of Famer?

To date, NASCAR's sole focus has been location, location, location.

Little thought has been given to induction criteria, or what individuals will make up the first official class.

"By the time this building opens, we'll have 61 or 62 years of racing in our history, so how many people do you induct in your charter class? Too many wouldn't be meaningful," Dyer said. "How high is the bar for induction?"

Presumably, quite lofty.

"I do know one thing we've already talked about -- the induction process has to have the highest integrity among fans, drivers, teams, sponsors. Everybody in the sport has to view this as highly credible," Dyer said.

"I think the bar will be pretty high. I don't think I'll have a vote but I think the bar will be high."

In the end, NASCAR projects it will have the finest professional sports hall of fame in the country.

"Absolutely. The advantage we have over Cooperstown or Canton is we're able to build a brand new building with all the technological know-how of the years 2006 through 2010, so this will be the finest professional sports hall of fame ever built in America at the time it opens," Dyer said.

"And because we're in Charlotte, with the industry around us and willing to embrace us, we can create that same heart and soul connection for inductees that inductees in Cooperstown and Canton have.

"I'd like to think we can have the best of both worlds -- a state-of-the-art facility that also captures the heart and soul of the sport."

[givemethemic]

Johnson wins baby how about 3 out of the top 5 for Hendrick!!!!! yeah baby

[El Scorcho]

Kasey in the top 5, Denny in the top 10. Our home was a happy one today.

[PAmedic]

Yeah- watched the finish and thought, wonder what the 48 cheated with this week?

J/K- that was a strong car at the end, when it mattered. Anyone else find it interesting that every truck, Busch and cup race this year has finished green/white, checkered? Not that I'm accusing Nascar of a conspiracy. Like trying to tighten up the finishes to keep one guy from running away w/ the race, or anything.