After Exciting, Successful Season, NASCAR Celebrates Holidays
Newest champions, other drivers focus on holiday
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2004) – With one eye on next season and the
traditions of Daytona, the NASCAR community always embraces December holidays.
Engines are quiet. Facilities are at rest. It’s time to take deep breaths, enjoy
friends and family, and – not the least – count blessings.
Family, of course, is paramount. Beginning with NASCAR’s founding France family
and extending through the years, generations of stock-car racing’s cornerstone
families trace their interests and careers to the sport.
One such group is the Tennessee-native Marlins. Sterling Marlin (No. 40 Coors
Light Dodge), a fixture in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, was introduced to the
sport by his father, Coo Coo Marlin. Sterling Marlin introduced the sport to his
son Steadman, who’s competed in the NASCAR Busch Series, and now a new
generation of Marlins may be on the horizon. Steadman and his wife Mandy
welcomed their first child, Stirlin Blaise, on March 21, and according to
Sterling, the family Christmas will feature little Stirlin’s first holiday. All
will be going to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands for New Year’s celebrations.
Another new NASCAR arrival, Olivia Grace Compton, will be introduced to
Christmas holiday traditions. Olivia’s dad, NASCAR Busch Series driver Stacy
Compton (No. 59 Kingsford Ford) and his wife Vickie welcomed Olivia, their first
child, at 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 7. Her father expects Olivia to meet Santa Claus on
Christmas Eve since she enjoys being up all night long.
One of NASCAR’s newest families, the Busch family, also intends to huddle during
the holidays. Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford), the 2004
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, will celebrate with his parents, Tom and Gayle, and
his younger brother Kyle, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Busch
Series. But there’s a twist – they’ll do it in their new home state of North
Carolina.
“This will be the first Christmas that my entire family will be on the east
coast,” Kyle said. “We have finally all moved here from Las Vegas. So we will be
hanging out, spending time with family and friends and eating some of my Mom’s
awesome cooking for Christmas.”
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, Kasey Kahne (No. 9
Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge), will do the opposite this holiday season – he’ll head
for the west coast. Kahne, who also drives the No. 38 Great Clips Dodge in the
NASCAR Busch Series, hails from Enumclaw, Wash. So he’ll enjoy a northwest
holiday through Jan. 3.
Joe Nemechek (No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet), who also drives the No. 87 Cellular
One Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series, and his wife Andrea are heading west,
too, but they’ll stop in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Nemecheks are taking son John
Hunter, daughter Blair and eight-month-old daughter Kennedy Grace on a skiing
Christmas holiday. Joe’s parents Joe Nemechek Sr. and Martha also are along, and
the whole clan will stay at the ski lodge of Nelson Bowers, who owns MB2
Motorsports, Nemechek’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team. All except Grandpa Joe
and little Kennedy Grace plan to hit the slopes.
NASCAR Busch Series driver David Green already has his Christmas present – a new
car. Well, not really. Green will switch numbers and drive Brewco Motorsports’
No. 27 Kleenex Chevrolet in 2005. Or, as he puts it, “I will now be in touch
with every household out there.” Green and wife Diane plan a stay-at-home
Christmas in North Carolina with daughter Kaylie Rae and son Austin.
And finally, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline
Dodge), is spending his down time island-hopping. First, McMurray taped a
segment on NBC’s “The West Wing,” late last week, then flew to Hawaii for a
three-day photo shoot for FOX Sports with Kasey Kahne. The duo will be featured
in promos leading up to the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.
“I've never been to Hawaii, so I'm really looking forward it,” McMurray said. “I
mean, if you're doing a promo shoot, I can't think of a better place to do it
than Hawaii. After those two shoots, I'll be spending some time at home with my
family before we gear back up for the 2005 season with January testing.”
That’s right – Preseason Thunder, the annual preseason test sessions at Daytona
International Speedway – is only a few weeks away. It begins Tuesday, Jan. 11
through Jan. 13 with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams that finished in odd-number
car owner points. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams test from Jan. 15-16.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams that finished in even-number car owner points
test from Jan. 18-20, and NASCAR Busch Series teams test from Jan. 22-23.
“Once Jan. 1 hits, I’m off doing sponsor stuff, then testing through (the) first
of February,” Green said, referencing the West Coast edition of Preseason
Thunder, which occurs Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and from Feb.
1-3 at California Speedway.
For drivers like Ricky Rudd (No. 21 Motorcraft Ford), who finished 24th in the
point standings but enjoyed a late-season surge with the addition of new crew
chief Michael “Fatback” McSwain, testing can’t get here fast enough. Especially
since the series has worked through the inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup,” the new method of crowning a champion that was introduced in 2004. The top
10 drivers and any within 400 points of the leader following race No. 26 compete
for the series championship during the season’s final 10 races.
And Rudd intends to be in the Top 10 in 2005.
“I think it is a very realistic goal and we are going to have to work hard for
it,” Rudd said. ”But I feel like top 10 in the points at the cut off point is
not impossible. I think it is a realistic goal.”
Johnson's October Win at Atlanta Voted Top 2004 Moment
Media choose emotional victory as NASCAR season highlight
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 22, 2004) – A year filled with changes, history and
exciting “firsts” left no shortage of memories during NASCAR’s 2004 season.
But one moment does stand out, as selected by media voting at
www.nascarmedia.com
Jimmie Johnson’s (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) Oct. 31 win at Atlanta not only kept
him in contention for the inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup,” it helped
jump-start healing for Hendrick Motorsports, which had been shaken by a team
plane crash the previous week. As a result, Johnson’s win was selected by the
media as the top 2004 NASCAR moment.
A total of 153 votes were cast in week-long balloting, which began Dec. 15 and
ended Dec. 22. Johnson’s win received 31 percent of the voting, tops over the
next-closest moment – Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford)
overcoming a detached right front tire in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to clinch the 2004 series title on the
season’s last lap. Busch’s feat received 22 percent of the voting.
Finishing third was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) Daytona 500
win, which received 17 percent of the voting. Finishing fourth was Jeremy
Mayfield’s (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) Sept. 11 win at Richmond, the cutoff
point for the Chase. Mayfield’s win, which earned him a berth in the Chase,
received 10 percent of the voting.
Media voted Matt Kenseth’s (No. 17 DeWALT Tools Ford) photo finish with
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) at
North Carolina Speedway on Feb. 22 as the fifth top moment of 2004. Kenseth’s
and Kahne’s finish – Kenseth won – received eight percent of the voting.
Jeff Gordon’s (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) Brickyard 400 win, which tied him with
Al Unser, Rick Mears and A.J. Foyt for the most wins at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, was voted the sixth top moment of 2004. Gordon’s accomplishment
received five percent of the voting.
Two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series highlights tied for seventh and eighth place
in media voting. Bobby Hamilton (No. 4 Square D Dodge) winning the 2004 title as
the series’ oldest champion (age 47) and the first driver-owner to win a series
title since Alan Kulwicki in 1992, and the 2003 series champion, Travis Kvapil
(No. 42 Line-X Toyota), claiming Toyota’s historic first win on July 21 at
Michigan International Speedway, both received two percent of the voting.
Two NASCAR Busch Series moments tied for ninth and 10th in media voting: Mike
Bliss’ first series win in October at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and 2004 series
champion Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) beating team co-owner
Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega Superspeedway in April both received one percent
of the voting.
New Distance, New Name For The "Gatorade Duel At Daytona"
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. December 17, 2004 -- The qualifying races for the Daytona
500, which feature every Daytona 500 entrant and determine the starting lineup
for "The Great American Race," will carry a new name and distance beginning with
Speedweeks 2005.
The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, which has traditionally been two 125-mile
qualifying races, will now be a pair of 150-mile qualifying races. The extra 25
miles, equivalent to 10 laps, will force teams to re-think their pit strategy as
they fight to make the field for the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest, richest and
most prestigious race. In addition, there will be an extended break with live
entertainment between the 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying races.
"We're excited about adding a new twist into an already exciting day of racing,"
said Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig, "The new distance to
the Gatorade Duel At Daytona will give Daytona 500 entrants 10 more laps to
fight to make the field for NASCAR's signature event."
The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 17, is the largest
attended weekday sporting event in America, This is the second time in the
history of this event that the distance has been changed - from 1959-1968, the
Gatorade Duel At Daytona was 100 miles; beginning in 1969, the race was extended
to 125 miles.
"In addition to creating a more competitive racing environment for entry into
the Daytona 500, the Gatorade Duel At Daytona will deliver an even more
compelling and memorable experience to the race fans," said Scott Paddock,
senior manager, sports marketing for Gatorade. "We at Gatorade are very proud of
our long standing relationship with Daytona International Speedway and the role
we play in fueling the hydration needs of the sports drivers and teams."
The Daytona 500 uses a different qualifying procedure than any other race in the
world. On Budweiser Pole Day, Sunday Feb. 13, only the fastest two cars solidify
their starting spots for the Daytona 500.
The fastest qualifier will earn the pole for both the Daytona 500 and the first
150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race. The second fastest qualifier earns the
outside pole for the Daytona 500 and will start on the pole for the second
150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying race, held on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Drivers qualifying in odd-number positions will compete in the first Gatorade
Duel race while drivers that qualify in even-number positions duke it out in the
second Gatorade Duel race.
The top-14 finishers, not including the pole sitter in the first 150-mile
qualifying race, will line up behind the Daytona 500 pole sitter; while the
top-14 finishers, not including the outside pole sitter in the second 150-mile
Gatorade Duel qualifying race, will line up behind the outside Daytona 500 pole
sitter.
The next eight Daytona 500 starting positions (31-38) are awarded to the drivers
with the fastest speed after pole qualifying. The final five positions (39-43)
are given to teams that are entitled to a provisional.
Also on tap the same day as the Gatorade Duel at Daytona will be NASCAR Busch
Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Crown Royal IROC practice sessions as
well as Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying under
the lights.
Tickets for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona are available online at
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
High resolution logos of the Gatorade Duel At Daytona are available by replying
to this e-mail.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher, the nation's leading sports drink, is backed by 35
years of research. Gatorade is scientifically formulated and athletically proven
to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes and provide carbohydrate
energy to enhance athletic performance. Gatorade is the official sports drink of
the NFL, NBA, WNBA, AVP, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Major
League Lacrosse and numerous professional, collegiate and amateur teams and
events throughout the world. Gatorade is manufactured by PepsiCo Beverages and
Foods, a division of PepsiCo. For more information, visit
www.gatorade.com .
RUSTY WALLACE APPEARING ON LETTERMAN SHOW
-Tuesday’s Gig On CBS's LATE SHOW Unofficially Kick’s Off “Rusty’s Last Call’ Tour-
NEW YORK (Dec. 18) – Former NASCAR racing champion Rusty Wallace is scheduled to be a featured guest on Tuesday’s (Dec. 21) edition of CBS's LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN. Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR champ and 55-race winner, announced last August that the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season would be his last as a driver. A season-long celebration of his illustrious career is planned and the popular driver’s final tour behind the wheel of his Miller Lite Dodge has been dubbed “Rusty’s Last Call.” “Even though we’re not officially into the 2005 season just yet, we’re looking at this appearance on Dave’s show as our kickoff for the big year ahead,” said Wallace, 48, of Letterman’s popular late night show that first aired on August 30, 1993 and has since garnered eight Emmy Awards and 39 Emmy nominations. “David Letterman is known as a big racing enthusiast and we’re really looking forward to being a guest on his show. He is a part owner of an IRL team with Bobby Rahal and we’re hoping to be able to shed a little light on NASCAR racing during our visit. It could be a wild night and it could be very unpredictable. But one thing is for sure and that’s the fact that we’re going to have a ton of fun while we’re there.” Joining Wallace as a guest on Tuesday’s LATE SHOW will be awardwinning actor Dennis Quaid, known for his diverse acting roles in films such as “The Big Easy,” “Far From Heaven,” “The Right Stuff” and “Any Given Sunday.” Also included on the bill with Letterman will be The Calling, the popular Los Angeles rock quintet featuring lead singer Alex and. Tuesday’s LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is set to air at 11:30 p.m. ET on CBS-TV.
New Website Brings Competitive Balance to Motor Sports by Helping Race Car Teams to Find Sponsorship
NASCORP, a St. Paul-based services and consulting firm, today announced the
debut of their new online web site for motor sports teams. The site, http://www.nascorp.us,
provides tools and know-how to help motor sports teams find sponsorship dollars
in an increasingly demanding market.
ST. PAUL, MN (PRWEB) December 16, 2004 -- NASCORP has built the site in response
to the needs of teams to find more sponsorship dollars as the cost to funding a
team continues to rise. Jim Jensen, CEO of NASCORP hopes that by showing motor
sports teams what a business looks for in a marketing proposal, the teams will
be better equipped to offer potential sponsors viable marketing vehicles. With
more sponsorship dollars flowing to the under-funded teams, the competitive
balance of racing can be restored. “Understanding what a potential sponsor is
looking for will increase a team’s odds of obtaining sponsorship dollars,” says
Jensen.
While there are currently many Internet sites offering similar assistance to
motor sports teams, Jensen asserts that the Motor Sports industry needs help
from the business community, not marketing companies that specialize in the
Motor Sports industry. “Even the top teams in racing are finding it is more and
more difficult to find sponsors, despite the fact that motor sports are
experiencing unparalleled popularity. Many teams are still using the same
outdated techniques and brochures that worked for them twenty to thirty years
ago, and they seem surprised that potential sponsors aren’t interested anymore.
Our approach is that of a modern business-to-business proposition. Potential
sponsors want to see a marketing plan that is more sophisticated than just
plastering their logo on a 200 MPH billboard.”
The web site offers members access to information, graphics and templates to
help build a modern business proposal, as well as knowledge and techniques to
provide insight into today’s business environment. Membership is $9.95 per
month, a low-risk incentive to try it out, according to Jensen. “There is no
magic pill to get a sponsor; building a proposal is hard work. For a small
monthly fee, members can find what they need to build an effective marketing
campaign in one place.”
About NASCORP
NASCORP is a provider of financial and technological products and services to
growing businesses in a wide variety of industries. NASCORP’s goal is to bring
their knowledge of business to the Motor Sports industry to help racing teams
secure the funding they need to make their teams competitive. Restoring the
competitive balance to Motor Sports will help to maintain the wide spread
popularity of the sport and build upon its success.
NASCORP is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Michigan International Speedway Adds Club Seating for 2005
MIS FURTHER ENHANCES POSITION AS MICHIGAN’S LARGEST SPORTING VENUE WITH ADDITION OF CLUB SEATING AREA FOR 2005 SEASON
BROOKLYN, Mich. – Further enhancing its position as the host of Michigan’s
largest sporting events twice annually in June and August, Michigan
International Speedway President Brett Shelton announced today the addition
of a Club Level seating area high above the start finish/line of the
facility, which will include 870 new outdoor club grandstand seats as well
as an indoor entertainment area called the “Champions Club.”
“We are excited to have this opportunity to introduce Club Level seating at MIS,” said MIS president Brett Shelton. “Even though we are the largest sporting facility in the state, fans have asked for new ways to enjoy the sport of auto racing. The Champions Club certainly does that.”
The project will make the MIS Champions Club one of the finest club seating areas among the region’s major sporting facilities. With the addition of approximately 870 Club Level seats, it will be the first seat addition since 10,800 seats were added prior to the 2000 race season and raise the seating capacity at the facility to 137,243 for the 2005 racing season which begins Father’s Day weekend June 17-19.
With the additional seats, MIS becomes the eighth largest motorsports venue on the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule.
The addition of the “Champions Club” seating area is just one part of the largest renovation project in the 37-year history of the track. Further details, including several additional elements of the project, will be announced at a preview at MIS on Tuesday, December 14.
The new Club Level seating along with the indoor entertainment area will be the first of its kind at MIS. The area will feature wide seats with cup holders, in-seat service, and an indoor air-conditioned hospitality area with private restrooms. These are just some of the features that fans will enjoy as a part of their “Champions Club” experience.
The addition of the Champions Club area is scheduled to be completed in time for the season opening NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event on Father’s Day weekend. Along with the debut of the renovation project, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will make its June debut on Saturday, June 18 along with the first of two 2005 ARCA RE/MAX Series events on Friday, June 17. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will make its 2005 MIS debut on Sunday, June 19.
Maintenance staff workers have already started preparing for the project by removing the old skylounge structure above the MIS grandstands at the start/finish line. The structure that was removed had been in place since the track’s opening in 1968.
The new “Champions Club” seats are now available to existing MIS customers. For fans who are not current MIS ticket holders, deposits are now being taken by calling the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010.
Michigan International Speedway is wholly‑owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation, a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events at 13 major motorsports facilities annually. For more information regarding MIS, visit www.MISpeedway.com.
CONTACT:
Bill Janitz
Michigan International Speedway
Public Relations/News Manager
517-592-1272
email:
bjanitz@mispeedway.com
From NASCAR Media.com:
Dec 16, 2004
Look Back at 2004: Season of Change Becomes One of NASCAR's Finest
NASCAR builds new traditions, provides unprecedented excitement, drama
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2005) – The historic finish to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season was one of this year’s most compelling sports stories. The championship was won on the last lap of the last race by driver Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford), who edged out Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) by only eight points.
Such a finish was the result of a change by NASCAR in the season format known as the “Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup,” which, after race No. 26, provided for a 10-race shootout among the Top 10 drivers.
For the NASCAR Busch Series, it was the fairy-tale ascent of a then-unknown driver with a then-unknown team – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) with Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Chance 2 Motorsports – who drove all the way from a part-time existence to the series championship.
For the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, it was the triumph of veteran Bobby Hamilton (No. 4 Square D Dodge), who became the oldest series champion at age 47, and the first driver-owner to clinch a series title since the late Alan Kulwicki did it in 1992.
Here, by series, are other highlights:
3 Doors Down To Perform National Anthem, Concert During Budweiser Shootout
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Dec. 16, 2004) -- Republic/Universal recording
group 3 Doors Down, one of America's most popular rock and roll bands, will
sing the National Anthem during the 27th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday
night, Feb. 12 at historic Daytona International Speedway. The performance
will be nationally televised on FOX and comes just days after the release of
their new album Seventeen Days which hits stores on February 8th.
3 Doors Down will perform and then sing the National Anthem before the start
of the All-Star race, which features last year's pole winners as well as
previous Budweiser Shootout champions.
Following the conclusion of the 70-lap no-holds barred, non-points race under
the lights that helps jumpstart the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, 3
Doors Down will kick off their world tour with a post-race concert, which will
be included in the race admission.
"We're thrilled to have 3 Doors Down perform during the Budweiser Shootout,"
Speedway President Robin Braig said. "3 Doors Down has a popular sound and
they will be an excellent addition to an already exciting night of racing."
The award-winning rock band exploded on the music scene in 2000 with its debut
album The Better Life featuring #1 hit singles "Kryptonite" and "Duck and
Run." The group's sophomore album Away from the Sun again produced #1 hit
singles such as "When I'm Gone" and "Here Without You." To date the band has
sold over 12 million albums and has written six #1 hit singles. Their new
single "Let Me Go" is quickly moving up the charts.
Twenty drivers are eligible for the Budweiser Shootout, two shy of the record
22 in 2002. Among the 2004 pole winners eligible to compete in the Budweiser
Shootout under the lights include 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Kurt
Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman.
Among the past Budweiser Shootout champions eligible are Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace.
Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 and the Budweiser Shootout are available online at
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Davis shuts down Busch team; Dodge lawsuit update: Bill Davis Racing
has shut down the #23 Busch Series [the article incorrectly refers to the series
as Grand National, which it hasn't been since 2002] team in the wake of driver
Kenny Wallace leaving and taking sponsor Stacker2 with him. Wallace is expected
to become the new driver at ppc Racing. The plate includes one full-time effort
in the Cup series with the #22 Dodges driven by Scott Wimmer, a possible
part-time effort with the #Dodges in the Cup series, and three full-time Toyota
entries driven by #22-Bill Lester, #5-Mike Skinner and #23-Johnny Benson in the
NASCAR truck series. Wile said fielding the #23 team in the Cup series is
dependent on sponsorship and it is unlikely Davis would do it out of his pocket
as he did this year. Davis' plate also includes fighting an on-going legal
action brought by Dodge parent Daimler-Chrysler in May of 2003. The case, once
set for trial next Monday, is now scheduled to be heard in federal district
court in Detroit beginning May 3. A pre-trial conference is scheduled April 26.
The delay, according to court documents, was granted because both sides had
trouble getting depositions during the racing season. Daimler-Chrysler alleges
Davis violated his contract for Dodge factory support for his Cup teams by
aiding a competitor when he helped Toyota with development work as it prepared
for entry into the truck series this year. Daimler-Chrysler is asking that Davis
return over $1 million dollars in factory support for the balance of 2003 after
the lawsuit was filed. Daimler-Chrysler terminated its contract with Davis when
it filed the suit. Davis filed a counter-suit in late June 2003 claiming
Daimler-Chrysler had no grounds to terminate the contract because Toyota is not
a competitor of Dodge in the Cup series. Wallace replaces Jason Keller at ppc
Racing, which won the 2000 Busch Series title with Jeff Green. Wallace joined
Davis when he brought Stacker2 as sponsor of the #23 Cup team in 2003. He
dropped down to replace Wimmer in the Busch Series car this year when Stacker2
decreased its sponsorship. Wallace finished this season ninth in points with no
top-five finishes. Davis leaves the Busch Series tour after fielding a team for
the past seven years and a total of 12 seasons since beginning his operation
with Mark Martin in 1988. Davis' drivers won a total of 11 Busch Series races.
Wimmer won five times, and Martin and Gordon won three times each. Wimmer
produced Davis best Busch Series season with four wins and a third-place in
points in 2002. He added another victory in 2003. Martin had single victories in
selected races in 1988, 1989 and 1990. He was replaced in 1991 by Gordon, who
won three times in 1992. Davis moved to the Cup level the next season and
disbanded the Busch Series team until reviving it in 1998.(High
Point Enterprise) 12/15/04
Stewart Donates Award Prize Money to Victory Junction Gang Camp
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2004) – Tony Stewart was recognized for his
philanthropy by being named NASCAR’s 2004 USG Person of the Year.
The award, presented to Stewart Dec. 3 at the National Motorsports Press
Association's Myers Brothers Breakfast in New York City, is designed to honor
NASCAR drivers for their community service contributions and charitable efforts.
The annual award carried a $100,000 payment, which was to be split between the
winning driver and his charity of choice. However, Stewart once again showcased
his charitable compassion by donating the entire amount to Kyle and Pattie
Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp, a facility for chronically ill children
located in Randleman, N.C.
"It's an honor to be selected as the NASCAR USG Person of the Year,” said
Stewart. “This is a special award, because it's not about what you do on the
race track, it's about what you do with your heart. I know that the previous
winners of this award were some very deserving people, and to join them means a
tremendous amount to me."
Stewart was among four quarterly finalists for the award that is chosen by a
select group of panelists. The other finalists were: Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler
and Dale Jarrett.
"We cannot be any happier that Tony Stewart is this year’s USG Person of the
Year,” said Julian Francis, vice president, marketing, USG Building Systems. “We
commend all of the finalists for their endless work and dedication in serving
the community. While these four drivers were the finalists, we recognize the
work that all the drivers and teams do for numerous community and charitable
organizations. Like USG, these drivers have dedicated their time and resources
to help bring a better quality of life to individuals and communities.”
Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet in the Nextel Cup Series, was
the fourth quarter winner for his efforts in hosting a benefit concert that
raised more than $270,000 for the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Easter Seals
West Kentucky, the Dream Factory-Paducah Chapter and the Luther F. Carson Four
Rivers Center.
Stewart, the 2002 NASCAR Cup champion, also supports other charities through his
Foundation that assists groups caring for chronically ill children and drivers
injured in motorsports.
The other charities that Stewart’s Foundation supports include organizations in
the protection of animals, the Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation,
Indiana Special Olympics, Greyrescue (Greyhound Rescue Organization) and the
Charlotte (N.C.) Metropolitan Zoo.
Contact:
David Ferroni
DMF Communications
763-593-1505
LAS VEGAS, NV – Dec. 9 – North America’s top local speedway
operators gathered Thursday to form a new international coalition, unified by a
forceful, positive message: their industry provides a unique, exciting, live
entertainment and motorsports drama at the home-town level coast to coast.
More than 100 short tracks from diverse markets and missions in the United
States and Canada are represented in the inaugural Short Track Racing Summit at
The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 9-12.
Friday morning’s initial presentation segments included discussions on
promotions to increase ticket sales, selling sponsorships, website production
and effective use of radio advertising and programming.
The three-day summit is produced by ConvExx, a leading trade show and
sports-conference production company with the support of industry-leaders
including the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).
“As individuals or business operators, you build life around relationships,”
said NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter in his opening remarks. “We are here to
build a relationship between America’s short track operators who today become
the cornerstone of a new coalition that will represent our industry in the best
possible way.”
In the current tough business climate, Director of NASCAR Regional Touring Don
Hawk encouraged track operators in saying that “tough does not mean impossible.”
“In today’s business environment, the successful realist sees not only light at
the end of the tunnel, but the next tunnel and the light at the end of it,
always looking forward.”
In his remarks via video, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, Lowe’s Motor Speedway president
reminded the pioneering coalition members that his parent company, Speedway
Motorsports, operates several short tracks located at their superspeedway sites
and has a vested interest in their success.
“This is one of the most important conferences in the history of the American
short track industry,” Wheeler said. “We can build a new business model in the
face of a tough economy. What are the new answers? America’s middle class is the
backbone of our audience. Those are our fans, and we need to keep them within
our embrace.
“For their children, who have entertainment options from video games to virtual
reality games, we’ve got to focus on offering them bright facilities and
fast-paced action. We sell pleasure. Our audience buys tickets for the
adrenaline rush they feel by the excitement at our tracks.”
Wheeler is also a long-time proponent of three-hour, three division short track
race nights.
Brett Yormark, NASCAR’s Vice President for Marketing in the sanctioning body’s
New York office offered numerous tips for successfully creating, building,
maintaining and growing business and sponsorship relationships.
His remarks, which included a discussion of untapped assets most local speedways
have built in to their facilities can become new sources for track revenue and
sponsor/fan relations, including naming rights for parking lots by local car
dealerships, as well as grandstand and food service/refreshment sponsorships.
Yormark’s presentation led to the day’s most lively Q&A discussion following his
prepared remarks.
XM Satellite Radio’s NASCAR radio reporter and anchor Claire B. Lang led a
conversation on effective uses of local radio outlets.
The Short Track Racing Summit continues Friday, Dec. 10, with America’s Top-10
Promotional Ideas, a discussion of Diversity in Motorsports led by NASCAR’s Tish
Sheets, a presentation on use of television led by ABC Sports’ Jack Arute, and a
panel discussion on publicity opportunities featuring Las Vegas sportswriter
Jeff Wolf, along with NASCAR’s Hunter, and professional publicists Ernie Saxton
and Chip Williams.
The Summit concludes with sessions on Saturday, December 11.
STATESVILLE, N.C. (December 8, 2004) – Evernham Motorsports announced today that it has signed sprint-car star Erin Crocker to a development deal that will allow the hottest young female driver in racing to compete next year in the Silver Crown, ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series.
Crocker, the first female to win a World of Outlaws race, caught the attention of Ray Evernham and Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year Kasey Kahne for her performance in open wheel racing.
Evernham Motorsports partnered with Kasey Kahne Motorsports and has signed Crocker to an agreement that involves her running the Silver Crown Series in a Kasey Kahne Motorsports car, along with three Busch races and three ARCA races in an Evernham Dodge. Sponsors for the program have not yet been announced.
“This is like a dream come true,” said Erin Crocker. “When Ray Evernham called, I was considering several options. But once that phone rang, my mind was made up. It is an unbelievable opportunity to race for him – if you consider what he done with other rookies such as Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne. This is a chance for me to learn as much as I can, in several different types of cars, from the best in the business. I get to race with a team that focuses on innovation and inspiration, and drive for a leader who puts teamwork, engineering and technology first. It’s absolutely incredible.”
Crocker, who grew up in Wilbraham, Mass., in a racing family, ran her first event – a quarter midget race – at age seven. She soon progressed through the ranks of open wheel racing, collecting awards at every level. Crocker also graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York in the spring of 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering. Last season, she competed in the World of Outlaw series in 410 winged sprint cars for Woodring Racing. She won a race at Tulare, California and brought home the “410 Wild Card” award, previously won by Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne.
“We’re thrilled to sign a driver with Erin’s talents to Evernham Motorsports,” said Ray Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports. “I’m a big fan of open wheel racing and the talented drivers who come out of those series. I’m always watching the sprint car and Silver Crown series because it’s exciting racing, but it’s also a great place to find talented, young drivers,”
Evernham said the addition of Erin Crocker furthers his team’s efforts to diversify. “We believe that NASCAR and all forms of racing should be open to everyone, whether you want to drive the car or work on the team. This is part of our ongoing growth initiative – we not only want to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship but we want to provide opportunities and help people succeed at all levels.”
Both Kahne and Evernham agree that Crocker is the “real deal” with the talent to win races.
“I’ve seen her out-run the guys I used to compete against, so I know she’s got talent and confidence,” said Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. “She really knows how to handle a race car, and I think she’s going to be great in every series in which she competes.”
Crocker has already moved to Charlotte, N.C. to prepare for her intensive training program. When not racing, Crocker likes to participate in outdoor sports, shop and spend time with her friends and family.
About Evernham Motorsports
Evernham Motorsports is a leading team in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.
Founded by CEO Ray Evernham in 2000, the team is in its fourth season of
competition at the highest level of NASCAR racing; with drivers Jeremy
Mayfield in the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 Dodge
Dealers/UAW Dodge and Bill Elliott in the No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge.
For more information on Evernham Motorsports, visit
www.evernhammotorsports.com.
TRANSCRIPT:
MEDIA NOTE:
Evernham Motorsports announced today that it has signed sprint-car star Erin Crocker to a development deal that will allow the hottest young female driver in racing to compete next year in the Silver Crown, ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series.
Erin Crocker is the first female to win a World of Outlaws race, and she won the National Sprint car Hall of Fame 410 “Wild Card” award this year. She has been racing since the age of seven in a variety of series on both pavement and dirt, and brings a lot of great experience to Evernham Motorsports. In addition to her racing career, she recently earned her degree in Industrial and Management Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY.
Ray Evernham (President, CEO, Evernham Motorsports)
“It’s a big day for us. We’re very happy, very excited to announce our partnership with Erin, along with the partnership with Kasey and I on the Silver Crown side of things. Erin will be driving a second car to Kasey’s race team in all of the USAC Silver Crown pavement races. She’ll be doing ARCA races, a minimum of three ARCA races for me, and a minimum of three Busch races in Evernham Dodges. So, we’re excited about that. If you’re not really familiar with Erin, she’s done a great job working her way through midgets and some races in the Pro Truck Series, which is not quite like the Craftsman Truck, but more along the late-model stock vehicle. And has just done a tremendous job on the WoO series. I’m certainly a big open-wheel fan. I really believe in talent of Sprint Car drivers, and we were fortunate to talk to Erin. I really believe in diversity and that everybody deserves a fair shot in NASCAR racing. We’re very excited to be able to put a program together with Erin to be in a Dodge for some races next year. Our goals are to help her grow her career, and hopefully get her into a fulltime Busch ride. I’d like to be able to look back and say I was part of Erin becoming the first woman to win a major NASCAR event. We believe she has the talent to do it. We’re going to bring her along slowly, and have her surrounded with some good mentors like Bill Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne, and do the best that we can to mold her career. You’ll see when you meet her that she’s an attractive young lady, full of life and fun, and we’re really looking forward to working with her.”
(On finding and signing development deals)
“I think it’s extremely important if you look at what Rick Hendrick has built, and what Jack Roush has built, a lot of what they have done has based upon their development teams. Chip Ganassi is working on it. I think to compete in the future, you’ve got to be able to have a triple-A team. Every good pro series has one. This is a little bit more different than a standard development program, because I really believe in being able to give something more to the sport. We’re going to be making announcements with our diversity program shortly, but we believe in what we’re doing with Erin. I want to make sure that a female driver has a fair shot at this sport. I think there’s been some good people that have gone before, like Patty Moise, Shawna Robinson, Lyn St. James, people like that, and I want to make sure that Erin has a fair shot at making it in today’s day in age, and I really believe that she can be competitive. I think that once the ice is broken, that the first female comes in and stays competitive over a certain amount of time, that will open the door for a lot of people and a lot of sponsors.”
(On characteristics he looks for in up-coming drivers)
“I look at the open-wheel stuff a lot – not that great drivers haven’t come from other series, because they have. I just feel that somebody that can handle a WoO sprint car can handle almost an ill-handling machine, something that you’ve got to point. They have to have a quick response, certainly, and good physical conditioning and tremendous hand-eye coordination. If you’re going to run a sprint car, you really have to be able to stay on top of that thing and react. You have to be able to stay on top of that steering wheel and stay ahead of what the car is doing. I feel like anybody who can drive a sprint car well and win… Again, when you win a WoO race it’s pretty impressive, because there’s a list of great drivers in NASCAR right now who have not been able to accomplish that. Those things, being able to react quickly, good hand-eye coordination and have a feel for staying ahead of that car…”
(On who first told him about Erin)
“Several people have told me about Erin. I follow WoO quite a lot myself. Actually, Kasey Kahne and his brother, Kale, were some of the first people to bring her to my attention, what a great job that she does and, actually, how tough she is. I think Kasey’s brother’s words were, ‘Look, this girl is the real deal. You need to pay attention to her.’ Of course, my good friend, John Bickford, and Fred Wagenhals from Action Performance, those guys really got me to take a more serious look at what she was doing and what we could do with her. As we’ve grown our Dodge program and worked with driver development and diversity, it just ended up being a perfect. But, actually, the first comments about Erin came from Kasey Kahne and his brother, Kale.”
(On the process of signing drivers)
“Erin, as with Kasey, were great drivers looking for rides, and we had a place to put her. The only thing I ask when a driver comes to interview with me is if they have a contractual agreement with somebody that could cause a problem, and once they say no it really doesn’t matter to me anymore. The issue is there’s a lot of great young drivers out there, and all of the car companies, all of the other teams, everybody is throwing offers out to them. You’ve got to be able to put something down. A lot of these kids are being offered, ‘Well maybe this will happen. Or, maybe we can do this. Or, maybe we can do that.’ When I sit down with somebody, I tell them, ‘Look, I have this amount of races. Here’s what I can do for you. Maybe it’ll be more, but it won’t be any less.’ And as I sat down with Kasey, and as I sat down with Erin, those are the things that I did. Once they say to me that they are not under a contractual agreement with another competitor or with anybody that can stop them from coming to race for us, then I start to negotiate with them. I don’t want any litigation, so the first thing we do is make sure that we don’t have any problem with that. What those drivers decide to do if they’ve had a connection or a relationship with a car company or a competitor in the past, I really can’t speak to that.”
QUOTES FROM ERIN:
Erin Crocker (Driver, Evernham Motorsports)
“Signing with Evernham Motorsports is truly a dream come true. I’ve always hoped for the opportunity to someday race for someone like Ray Evernham. Growing up I watched what he had done with Jeff Gordon and this past year I saw what he accomplished with a rookie driver, Kasey Kahne. I believe working with Evernham Motorsports will provide me all of the ingredients to become a successful stock car driver. Starting next year, driving a variety of different racecars will certainly be the next step to get me on pavement and get started. Also, having that opportunity to spend time with Kasey Kahne and Bill Elliott, and spend time at the race shop and at the track, to provide me a chance to learn from some of the best in the business... I started racing when I was seven years old, and I grew up watching my two brothers race. I think they taught me a lot about earning respect from the men and just how to be competitive. Next year, I want to learn as much as possible, and gain as much experience as I can, which in turn will hopefully create some strong performances. My ultimate goal is to be successful in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, but I want to take the right steps in getting there. I think Ray Evernham has the same plan in mind for me, so I believe it is a perfect fit. I thought winning a World of Outlaws feature this past October was the highlight of my career, but getting a call from Ray Evernham certainly ranks right up there.”
(On where she gets her fire to drive, compete)
“Honestly, I don’t know where it comes from. I’ve always been very competitive. I’ve played every sport in the book. I’ve played ice hockey, and I’ve played all of these sports with my brothers. I’ve always just had a really competitive fire inside me.”
(On what it would mean to be NASCAR’s first female race-winner)
“It would obviously be an incredible honor. But, I’m really not doing this because I want to be the first woman to win a NASCAR event – that would just be a bonus. I’m just really competitive, and I love racing. I just want to go out there and run hard and be competitive, so that just comes as an extra honor.”
(On possibility of racing World of Outlaws in ’05)
“I think that’s something that Ray and I have discussed a little bit, and if time permits and it’s not going to conflict with any testing or any races, there’s a chance that I may be able to get in a winged sprint car again. I’ve definitely enjoyed driving winged sprint cars, but this is the path I want to take. I want to be in NASCAR. I’ll probably miss the sprint cars a little bit, but I’m very excited about my opportunities here.”
(On what she’d do if she weren’t racing)
“If I couldn’t drive I would certainly still be in the racing world. I would probably put my engineering degree to use and hopefully go to work for a big team or even a manufacturer. I’ve been offered opportunities in the past. If driving doesn’t work out, I’ve been offered shop specialist opportunities and different things. I’m sure I’d still be involved in racing and, hopefully, using my engineering background.”
(On whether stockcar racing as a long term goal of hers)
“I was never really sure which direction I wanted to go. I knew I wanted to be successful, and I knew I wanted to make it to the top. I definitely, at one point, said I wanted to go open-wheel racing. But, in the last few years, I’ve gone to a lot of NASCAR races, and I’ve gone to a lot of open-wheel races. And, quite frankly, all of my heroes growing up, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, and people I used to watch run USAC races, came from the NASCAR world. So, I feel like if I want to run with the best, and I really want to be on top of the sport, then this is where I want to be.”
(On female drivers in racing)
“I wouldn’t necessarily consider them heroes, but I certainly watched what they did and tried to learn from it. And I give them a lot of credit, people like Lyn St. James, Janet Guthrie and Sarah Fisher herself, have opened people’s eyes to the possibility of a female being successful in this sport. So, I definitely have followed them, and I’ve admired what they’ve done, and I’ve tried to learn from what they’ve done.”
(On making transition to pavement racing)
“I think I’ll keep just as busy of a schedule. I might be a little bit more in one area. But I think that I’ll have enough things going on between spending time at the shop and testing, and the races I’m going to run. Hopefully, I’ll get to do some midget sprint car stuff as well. I think I’ll keep myself just as busy, maybe not as much time on the road, but that could be a good thing.
“That’s definitely going to be a big learning curve. I’ve run a little bit of pavement in the past, and it’s a lot different. I think that running a sprint car teaches you so much about car control that once I get the feel of these bigger, heavier cars, I’m confident it will go well. I’m sure I’m going to have a lot to learn, and it’s going to be quite the process, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
(On not competing in Turkey Night at Irwindale)
“Well, before I decided to go to Tucson on Turkey Night, I kind of had
to let them know about long-term plans. So, instead of going there and
continuing things, I knew there were some other opportunities coming about, so
I just kind of backed out. This was not the only other opportunity that was
presented to me. There were a few other things going on, so I just thought
it’d be best at that time if I decided not to go to those races.”
Patrick Mason
Clear!Blue
350 N. LaSalle, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60610
pmason@clearblue.biz
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Busch Collects More Than $5 Million in New York
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion tops $9.6 million in 2004 winnings
NEW YORK (Dec. 3, 2004) – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/ IRWIN Tools Ford) will receive $5,356,181 in point fund money at Friday night’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony in the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. Once Busch accepts the official check, his season winnings will total $9,677,543.
Busch’s point fund payout comes from NASCAR and series sponsor Nextel, which is completing its first season as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series sponsor.
Prior to Friday night’s celebration, Busch
also received a total of $105,000 in various contingency awards during the
annual Myers Brothers Breakfast on the Waldorf=Astoria’s historic 18th-floor
Starlight Roof.
Busch’s 2004 race winnings total $4,200,332. His career winnings stand at
$22,860,894.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 runner-up Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) will receive a point fund payout of $2,404,137 from NASCAR and Nextel. Third-place finisher Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) will receive a point fund payout of $1,766,527 from NASCAR and Nextel.
(Note: A complete breakdown of season-ending money totals follows.)
For more information, contact:
Denise N. Maloof, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 947-6773, or
dmaloof@nascar.com.
2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
Race
Special NASCAR/ Leader Season Career
Driver Winnings Awards Nextel Bonus
Total Total
1 Busch, Kurt $4,200,332 $105,000
$5,356,181 $16,030 $9,677,543 $22,860,894
2 Johnson, Jimmie 5,692,624 170,000 2,404,137 8,960
8,275,721 19,931,839
3 Gordon, Jeff 6,437,665 227,000 1,766,527 8,190
8,439,382 66,964,439
4 Martin, Mark 3,948,497 1,523,087
7,420 5,479,004 46,135,779
5 Earnhardt, Dale Jr. 7,201,380 195,000 1,510,480 6,650
8,913,510 29,555,869
6 Stewart, Tony 6,221,710 385,000 1,218,217 5,880
7,830,807 34,905,161
7 Newman, Ryan 5,152,666 100,000 1,096,480 5,110
6,354,256 18,304,885
8 Kenseth, Matt 6,223,892 75,000 1,102,077 4,340
7,405,309 26,501,894
9 Sadler, Elliott 5,158,362 35,000 1,047,672
3,920 6,244,954 19,429,249
10 Mayfield, Jeremy 3,892,573
1,023,269 3,500 4,919,342 22,515,017
11 McMurray, Jamie 3,676,311
1,000,000 4,676,311 8,653,059
12 Labonte, Bobby 4,570,545
630,852 5,201,397 40,843,154
13 Kahne, Kasey 4,759,022 50,000 606,589
5,415,611 5,415,611
14 Harvick, Kevin 4,739,012
582,325 5,321,337 19,709,874
15 Jarrett, Dale 4,539,334
558,062 5,097,396 46,915,666
16 Wallace, Rusty 4,447,302
533,798 4,981,100 43,670,500
17 Biffle, Greg 3,583,342
509,535 4,092,877 7,293,323
18 Burton, Jeff 3,695,075
359,235 4,054,310 35,642,417
19 Nemechek, Joe 3,872,415
473,139 4,345,554 19,327,669
20 Waltrip, Michael 4,245,688
448,876 4,694,564 27,640,029
21 Marlin,
Sterling 4,117,753 339,690
4,457,443 32,970,362
22 Mears, Casey 3,250,317
212,306 3,462,623 6,101,801
23 Gordon, Robby 4,025,545
200,174 4,225,719 14,452,181
24 Rudd,
Ricky 3,717,099 188,042
3,905,141 36,120,592
25 Vickers, Brian 3,044,898
90,988 3,135,886 3,399,370
36 Sauter, Johnny
1,333,521 39,428 1,372,949
1,654,284
37 Edwards, Carl 1,410,571
43,809 1,454,380 1,454,380
38 Blaney, Dave 1,461,638
27,634 1,489,272 10,613,812
74 Inglebright, Jim 70,550
3,033 73,583 119,323
Totals
24,895,631
Post Season Awards:
Driver
Award Amount Total
Kurt Busch
Sunoco $75,000
Goodyear Tire
30,000 $105,000
Jimmie Johnson Outback Steakhouse 75,000
Mechanix
75,000
Clevite 20,000
170,000
Jeff Gordon Goodyear Belts & Hoses 75,000
Wix
75,000
Clevite
77,000 227,000
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mobil 1 100,000
McDonald’s/PowerAde 75,000
Clevite
10,000
Grands
10,000 195,000
Tony Stewart MBNA 85,000
USG
100,000
McDonald’s/PowerAde
200,000 385,000
Ryan Newman Bud Pole
100,000 100,000
Matt Kenseth Waste Management
75,000 75,000
Elliott Sadler
McDonald’s/PowerAde 35,000 35,000
Kasey Kahne Raybestos
50,000 50,000
Total
$1,157,000
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion's Week – Day 5
* Job well done – Kyle and Pattie Petty receive Myers Brothers Award
* Champions say cheese – Kurt Busch joins other NASCAR titlists for signature
photo
NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2004) – Giving back is a Petty family theme, but on Friday,
Kyle Petty (No. 45 Georgia-Pacific Dodge) and his wife Pattie got a little
something in return.
That little “something” carries a lot of prestige. During the Myers Brothers
Breakfast at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, Kyle and Pattie received the 45th annual
Myers Brothers Award for their Victory Junction Gang Camp – a recreational
retreat for children with life-threatening illness in Randleman, N.C. A labor of
love that honors the Pettys’ late son Adam, the camp opened this summer.
Voted upon by National Motorsports Press Association members, the Myers Brothers
Award honors outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing. The
Myers Brothers Breakfast, hosted by the NMPA and Sunoco, is the first stop of
the day on Friday during Champion’s Week. The early-morning gathering also is
where NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season-ending contingency award winners are honored.
Later Friday evening, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Kurt Busch (No. 97
Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford) will be formally crowned during the annual awards
ceremony in the Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom. But earlier in the day, on the
Waldorf’s historic 18th-floor Starlight Roof, the Pettys were honored for their
ceaseless efforts to offer fun and recreation to seriously-ill children.
“There’s no way, I think, that we could have brought in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars that we have without the help of everyone in this room,”
said Pattie Petty, who accepted the Myers Brothers Award.
The morning’s most poignant moment came when Diane Dorton accepted the Clevite
Engine Builder of the Year Award for her late husband, Randy Dorton, one of 10
Hendrick Motorsports employees killed in an Oct. 24 team plane crash; Dorton
oversaw Hendrick Motorsports’ engine department.
“Randy probably would be the first to say that he shouldn’t be up here accepting
this award,” said Diane Dorton, who also accepted a $77,000 check on behalf of
HMS engine-builders. “He would want all 105 of his specialists to do that.”
Leading off the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver honorees was Ryan Newman (No. 12
ALLTEL Dodge), who received his third consecutive Bud Pole Award ($100,000).
“I really look forward to the new year and making it four-in-a-row in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series,” Newman said.
Also recognized was Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet), who won his
second consecutive Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver
Award. Earnhardt Jr. joked that “I’ve been trying to make this a lunch for two
years in a row, now.” He also won $100,000 for the Mobil 1 Command Performance
Driver of the Year Award. Other Myers Brothers Breakfast award winners include:
• Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet) won $85,000 for the MBNA
Mid-Race Leader Award. He also won the USG Driver of the Year Award, which
allocates $50,000 to the winner and $50,000 to the charity of the winner’s
choice; Stewart immediately announced he would donate his portion of the award
to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
• Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) was the third driver to win two awards
Friday. He won $75,000 for the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award and $75,000
for the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award. Gordon, who was unable to attend Friday’s
breakfast, was represented by his crew chief, Robbie Loomis.
• The 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Kurt Busch, won $75,000 for the
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.
• Busch’s Roush Racing teammate, the 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth (No. 17
DEWALT Tools Ford), won $75,000 for the Waste Management Picking up Places
Award.
• Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) won $75,000 for the Outback
Steakhouse Bloomin’ Favorite Driver of the Year Award. Johnson’s crew chief,
Chad Knaus, accepted $75,000 and the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew of the Year Award,
an honor voted upon by other NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series pit crews.
• Stewart’s No. 20 team won $200,000 for the McDonald’s/POWERade Drive-Thru Pit
Championship Award. The team’s pit-crew coach, Paul Alepa, accepted the award.
NASCAR champions pose for commemorative photo … Following the Myers Brothers
Breakfast, Kurt Busch joined NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr.,
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR Dodge Weekly
Series champion Greg Pursley, Busch North Series champion Andy Santerre, West
Series champion Mike Duncan, Midwest Series champion Justin Diercks, Northwest
Series champion Jeff Jefferson, Southeast Series champion Jeff Fultz, Southwest
Series champion Jim Pettit II and Featherlite Modified Series champion Tony
Hirschman for a special photo at New York's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
The once-a-year gathering of current NASCAR champions took place aboard the
former U.S.S. Intrepid, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony.
Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498.
3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony
Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler
6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.
11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.
Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
vocalist Brian McKnight
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion's Week – Day 4
* Taking Manhattan – Kurt Busch leads Victory Lap procession, Top 10 press
conference
* Friday sneak preview – Busch to participate in champions’ photo, attend awards
ceremony
NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2004) – Nothing says New York City like the hustle, bustle and
color of Times Square, and on Tuesday, NASCAR introduced the roar of stock-car
engines to Broadway.
Kicking off Thursday’s very busy schedule, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
champion Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford) began his morning with a
traditional photo session at Times Square’s Military Island. Backed by his IRWIN
Tools show car, he and crew chief Jimmy Fennig were joined by team owner Jack
Roush for a shot against the Times Square milieu. He also received proclamations
for NASCAR Day in New York from the offices of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New
York Gov. George Pataki.
Next, Busch and other Top 10 drivers Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DeWalt Tools Ford),
Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra Ford), Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet),
Ryan Newman (No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge) and Elliott Sadler (No. 38 M&Ms Ford) joined
NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne, Nextel CEO Tim Donahue, New York
City Sports Commissioner Kenneth Podziba and President and CEO of the Trump
Organization, Donald Trump to open the trading day at NASDAQ.
The group then moved outside to Broadway, where Busch and the other Top 10
drivers climbed into their show cars – Busch into his Sharpie show car – and
awaited a very familiar command. This time, the words, “Gentlemen, start your
engines!” came from Trump, a New York icon, and the show-car procession, led by
a pace car, roared away from the curb for a quick cross-town drive to NASCAR’s
New York office on Park Ave.
Once there, Busch and the Top 10 drivers visited with employees before heading
several blocks south to Cipriani, the restaurant site of the traditional
Thursday press conference. Along with Busch, Top 10 drivers and NASCAR and
Nextel executives, other participants included NASCAR Busch Series champion
Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton and
NASCAR’s weekly and touring series champions.
And Busch wasn’t done: Still to come were a special photo with girlfriend Eva
Bryan in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, an autograph session at
the nearby NBC Experience at Rockefeller Center and a special visit to New
York’s Ronald McDonald House to visit with children undergoing cancer therapy
who are staying there, and their families.
What’s on tap tomorrow for the champion … Friday is the big day for Kurt Busch,
who will begin it with a special breakfast and end it as the newly-crowned 2004
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion. In between, he’ll pose for myriad photos. His
first stop will be the Myers Brothers Breakfast, the traditional Friday-morning
gathering that honors annual contingency award winners; breakfast begins at 8:30
a.m. ET at the Waldorf=Astoria’s historic Starlight Roof. Here’s the rest of
Busch’s Friday schedule:
At 11 a.m. ET, Busch will join NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr.,
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton and all of NASCAR’s weekly
and touring series champions for a group photo at the Intrepid Sea-Air Space
Museum at Manhattan’s Pier 86. The champions will be photographed against the
city skyline.
Later Friday morning, Busch will participate in a rehearsal for the evening’s
award ceremony.
At 3:45 p.m., attired in tuxedos, Busch, Jimmy Fennig, Jack Roush and the No. 97
team will be photographed with their show car and a Nextel show car at the
Waldorf=Astoria’s Park Ave. entrance. Following the show-car photos, Busch will
participate in indoor photo sessions with Nextel executives and family and team
members.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. ET, Busch will receive a traditional small gold
replica of his No. 97 car from Goodyear. He’ll attend the France family
reception from 6-6:30 p.m., then make his red-carpet arrival – actually a black,
gold-trimmed carpet in honor of Nextel – in the Silver Corridor outside the
Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and will end at
approximately 11 p.m. Busch will end his day – and celebrate his title – at the
traditional champion’s party, which begins 30 minutes following the end of the
awards ceremony.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony
Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498.
3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony
Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler
6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.
11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.
Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
vocalist Brian McKnight.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion's Week - Day 3
* Important day – Kurt Busch visits with regional and business media members
* Thursday’s sneak preview – Busch to open NASDAQ, lead Victory Lap procession
NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2004) – On a rainy, windy Wednesday in New York City, Kurt
Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford) got a bird’s-eye view of one of
Manhattan’s traditional industries.
His third day as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion began with a visit to the
Canadian International Bank of Commerce trading floor. And the occasion was all
for a good cause: CIBC, an international investment bank, was hosting its annual
Miracle Day fundraiser for children’s charities – including the March of Dimes.
The CIBC donates the day’s trading fees to charities – and Busch was one of many
celebrities whose visit drew attention to CIBC’s charitable efforts.
Amid the keyboard-clacking and traders’ shouts, Busch roamed the floor and
visited with CIBC staff members, signing autographs and posing for photos. The
CIBC has hosted Miracle Day since 1984 and has raised over $100 million to date.
“That was mind-boggling to see all those computers and that many people yelling
at each other,” Busch said, “but yet all working together for a common goal of
charity.”
Busch also met two celebrities who appeared at CIBC at the same time: Miss USA,
Shandi Sinnessey, and actor Michael Imperioli, who portrays Christopher
Moltisanti on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
“Had a chance to hug her and take a picture,” Busch said of Miss USA.
Still battling wind and rain, Busch traded the hustle and bustle of CIBC for the
warmth and tradition of the 21 Club, one of New York’s historic restaurants.
There, he met with regional and business media, taking time for sit-down
discussions along with team owner Jack Roush. Later, both Roush and Busch
enjoyed a luncheon with media attendees.
After the 21 Club event – and after the sun had broken over the top of
Manhattan’s skyscrapers – Busch spent much of his afternoon doing satellite
media interviews with national television outlets as well as local affiliates.
Later Wednesday evening, Busch would attend a media reception and dinner with
NASCAR and Nextel executives. Also squeezed into Wednesday’s schedule: Two
opportunities to practice his speech for Friday’s Awards Ceremony at the
Waldorf=Astoria.
Gracious with his time, Busch acknowledged the importance of Wednesday’s
activities.
“Today has been one of those cool media days where you get to talk to different
media that you don’t normally get a chance to talk to,” Busch said.
What’s on tap tomorrow for the champion … Thursday will be the busiest day yet
for Busch, who’ll be up early for the traditional champion’s photo shoot in
Times Square. At 8:30 a.m. ET, he’ll have his photo taken with a show car
against the pedestrian-busy, neon-filled expanse of Times Square. Here’s the
rest of Busch’s Thursday schedule:
After the Times Square photo shoot, Busch – along with Nextel CEO Tim Donahue
and NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne – will open the day’s trading
activity at NASDAQ (approximately 9:15 a.m. ET).
At 10 a.m., ET, Busch will lead the rest of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10
in a Victory Lap procession from NASDAQ’s Times Square location to NASCAR’s New
York office on Park Ave. The drivers will strap into their show cars and wait
for Donald Trump, Chairman, President and CEO of the Trump Organization, to say,
“Gentlemen, start your engines!”
Following the Victory Lap, Busch will participate in the Chase for the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup media luncheon. He’ll be joined by the rest of the Top 10 drivers,
along with the 11th-place driver, Jamie McMurray (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge),
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge), NASCAR
Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion
Bobby Hamilton and all of NASCAR’s weekly and touring series champions.
Busch’s mid-afternoon schedule will include a 3 p.m. ET photo opportunity in
front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and a 3:30 p.m. ET autograph
signing at the NBC Experience at Rockefeller Center.
Later Thursday afternoon, Busch and Top 10 drivers Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DeWalt
Tools Ford), Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra
Ford), Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet), Ryan Newman (No. 12
ALLTEL Dodge) and Elliott Sadler (No. 38 M&Ms Ford) will visit New York City’s
Ronald McDonald House at 5 p.m. ET, meeting with children undergoing cancer
therapy who are staying there, and their families.
At 7:15 p.m. Busch will visit with NASCAR’s touring and weekly series champions
at their celebration dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.
Busch will end his day at a Nextel party at the Marriott Marquis.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony
Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498.
3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony
Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler
6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.
11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.
Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
vocalist Brian McKnight.
NASCAR’s Top Drivers to take a “Victory Lap” in the Big Apple
Donald Trump to give “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” command as cars roar down Broadway
NEW YORK (Nov. 29, 2004) — NASCAR fans will see the top NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers roar down Broadway for an unprecedented “Victory Lap” commemorating the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, on Dec. 2. The 10 drivers who competed in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup will make the Great White Way the sport’s newest road course for a day, as part of the annual NASCAR Champion’s Week celebration held in New York, it was announced today by NASCAR and Nextel Communications (NASDQ: NXTL).
The loud and unforgettable Victory Lap starts at 9:45 a.m., when the 10 contenders in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup will strap into their machines outside the NASDAQ in Times Square. Donald J. Trump, chairman, president and CEO of the Trump Organization, will then say the most famous words in racing – “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” – and wave the Green Flag. The race cars will roar down Broadway, turn left on 42nd Street and finally take a “checkered flag” at NASCAR’s New York office on 52nd Street and Park Avenue.
The 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers – Kurt Busch (the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion), Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart – will be chaperoned by the two Chevrolet pace vehicles and the NYPD.
“New York is big, NASCAR is big, and this is going to be a big happening,” Trump said. “People in this city are used to seeing some interesting things. I can guarantee that the sight and sound of 10 NASCAR stock cars revving 800 horsepower on the most famous street in the world is going to be unforgettable.”
“New York City is proud to host NASCAR's Champion’s Week," said New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth Podziba. "We are pleased to partner with NASCAR as the sport continues to build its fan base in the five boroughs and the industry celebrates another successful season at its culminating event – the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria."
Tim Donahue, president and chief executive officer of Nextel, the title sponsor of racing’s premier series, will open the NASDAQ trading market on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004. Donahue will be joined by George Pyne, chief operating officer of NASCAR, and the top 10 drivers of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
Prior to opening NASDAQ, Busch, along with crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, NASCAR officials and Nextel executives, will participate in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ annual Times Square photo shoot. A representative from Mayor Bloomberg’s office will read a proclamation recognizing Friday, Dec. 3 as NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Day in New York City. Additionally, a representative of the Governor of New York, George Pataki, will proclaim Friday, Dec. 3 as NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Day in the Empire State.
In addition to the Victory Lap, NASCAR and Nextel have planned a range of advertising, promotional and marketing activities for Champion’s Week (Nov. 28 – Dec. 3):
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series NYC Pit Stop Tour Collect and Win Sweepstakes Game: NASCAR fans will be encouraged to visit race cars for sponsors Best Western, Budweiser, Dodge, Kodak, M&Ms, Maxwell House, The Home Depot, and Unilever stationed at high-traffic areas including the Army Recruiting Station in Times Square, The Plaza Hotel, Madison Square Garden, Bryant Park, Union Square, Madison Square Park, Intrepid Sea Air Museum and the NASCAR office on Park Avenue. New Yorkers who visit the show cars will get NASCAR-related giveaways and collect rubber stamps for chance to win free NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series cell phones, a trip to the Richard Petty Driving Experience or the grand prize trip to the Feb. 20, 2005 Daytona 500. The “Pit Stop Tour Collect and Win Sweepstakes” will be promoted by the New York Daily News.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Chase Contenders’ Autograph Session and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Trophy Photos: Several of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 drivers will appear in an autograph-signing at the NBC Experience Store at 30 Rockefeller Center on Thursday, Dec. 2, from 2:30-4:30. The 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Trophy, produced by Tiffany and Co., will also be available for photo opportunities.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion’s Week Awards Ceremony Press Luncheon: A special media luncheon for the Top 10 Chase Contenders will take place on Thursday, December 2 at Cipriani Restaurant on 42nd Street at Grand Central Station.
Nextel Mobile Marketing: Nextel will place a mobile marketing unit and simulator at the Intrepid Sea Air Museum on December 3. Other locations will be determined shortly. Nextel will have extensive signage throughout the city during Champion’s Week. The company’s signature black and yellow colors will wrap 10 airport shuttles, 25 taxi tops, 25 phone kiosks surrounding the Waldorf=Astoria, 30 street vendor carts and 250,000 coffee cups throughout the city. The Waldorf=Astoria, traditionally clad in red and gold, will have a heavy Nextel presence through its key cards, newspaper bags, door hangers and city maps bearing vibrant yellow-and-black NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series logos.
Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel: Since 1981, NASCAR has honored the season’s champion in New York. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Ceremony from the Waldorf=Astoria will be broadcast live on TNT on Friday, Dec. 3 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET. The 2004 NASCAR awards show will feature top entertainers and musical entertainment, a result of NASCAR Digital Entertainment’s efforts establishing a presence and communicating value within the entertainment industry. Viewers of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 3, will enjoy the comedy of Jay Mohr and musical performances by former front man of the multi-platinum rock band Creed Scott Stapp and Brian McKnight. Collective Soul and ‘Last Comic Standing’ alumnus Gary Gulman will appear during the NASCAR Busch Series Awards Ceremony.
Other events occurring during Champion’s Week include the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Challenge between Busch and the Fire Department of New York and a visit with the Ronald McDonald House.
Additionally, Nextel will play host to an A-list of celebrities and the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers at a special Champion’s Celebration at the premier New York night club, Marquee, on Thursday, Dec. 2.
About NASCAR in New York
New York is the fourth largest NASCAR market in the country in terms of homes tuned to the average NASCAR events. On average, more households in the New York market tuned in to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events on network television than Knicks and Ranger games on their local affiliates in 2003. NASCAR is the second-highest-rated sport on network television. NASCAR’s New York office was opened in 1998 to draw corporate interest and involvement to all levels of the sport. NASCAR has more Fortune 500 involvement than any other sport. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events rank second in television ratings among all professional sports.
The Victory Lap Route
Start: NASDAQ building – Times Square
• Travel south on Broadway, turn left on 42nd
Street.
• East on 42nd to Madison Avenue.
• Left on Madison and travel north until 46th Street.
• Right turn on 46th Street to Park Avenue.
• Left on Park to NASCAR’s New York Office at 52nd Street and Park Avenue.
2004 NASCAR Awards Program Features Top Comic, Music Entertainers
Line-Up Includes ‘Last
Comic Standing’ Standouts Jay Mohr, Gary Gulman
Musical Performances by Scott Stapp, Brian McKnight, Collective Soul and more
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 30, 2004) – NASCAR Digital Entertainment has announced a diverse and talented line-up of performers for the 2004 NASCAR awards show season, which honors the champions from NASCAR’s three national series – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – and is the celebratory checkered flag for the entire NASCAR family at the close of another exciting season of competition.
Headlining the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 3 are comic and actor Jay Mohr, former front man of the multi-platinum (over 30 million) rock band Creed, Scott Stapp, and the multi-platinum singer/songwriter and producer Brian McKnight. Co-creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy Award-nominated series on NBC, Last Comic Standing, and alum of Saturday Night Live, Mohr is the featured guest at the invitation-only black tie event at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. The banquet celebration includes musical performances by Wind-up Records recording artist Stapp and McKnight and will be telecast nationally on Dec. 3 on TNT with a repeat broadcast on NBC.
“The word is out. NASCAR is a successful marketing platform that reaches over 75 million fans, and we have favorably communicated our value within the entertainment industry,” said Sarah Nettinga, director, film, television and music entertainment, NASCAR Digital Entertainment. “The extension of the successful partnerships we’ve established and continue to develop is the incredible talent slate for the 2004 NASCAR award banquet season.”
“What I love and continue to love about NASCAR, is the people,” said Mohr. Notice I didn't single out the drivers, crews or sponsors. NASCAR is the single most exciting sport in America today and the growth and rise in its popularity is no doubt related to its one-of-a-kind accessibility. I am proud to be a part of an evening that recognizes what special people all in attendance are.”
The multi-platinum group Collective Soul and comedian Gary Gulman will perform at the NASCAR Busch Series Awards Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 10 at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando Fla. Collective Soul, who appears in the latest NASCAR Image campaign, will perform new music from their Nov. 16 El Music Group release, Youth. Known to television audiences as one of the finalists on Last Comic Standing this past summer, Gulman’s comedic talents have also appeared on Showtime’s Gary Gulman ˝ Hour Special, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend. Gulman is the featured guest at the event, which will be broadcast on TNT.
Last Comic Standing participant and featured talent at the 2003 Just for Laugh’s Montreal Comedy Festival Dave Mordal was the featured guest at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Awards Ceremony event. Singer/songwriter Toby Lightman performed from her soulful Lava Records debut, Little Things, at the Nov. 20 banquet, which was held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion’s Week – Day 2
* Active day – Kurt Busch completes training exercises with FDNY recruits
* Wednesday sneak preview – Busch to visit CIBC Trading Floor, famous 21 Club
restaurant
NEW YORK (Nov. 30, 2004) – Tuesday brought another national morning-show
appearance for Kurt Busch (No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford), the first stop on
his second full day of Champion’s Week activities in New York City.
As the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Busch joined FOX and Friends
hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy in an outdoor area of FOX’s New York
facility. Backed by his blue and gold IRWIN Tools show car, Busch chatted with
Kilmeade and Doocy on what it took to win his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup title, and
the feelings and celebration of that achievement.
From FOX and Friends, it was off to a commemorative photo shoot; Busch had his
picture taken on venerable Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan skyline behind
him. His next stop was a quieter locale, and one laced with contemplation. Busch
paused at Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 memorial, for a few moments’ repose.
His next stop was a natural extension of the Ground Zero stop – an upbeat visit
with recruits at the FDNY Fire Academy on Manhattan’s Randall’s Island. But it
wasn’t a leisurely occasion. Accompanied by NASCAR.com’s Marty Smith, Busch
donned full firefighting attire and embarked on a timed training exercise with
FDNY recruits. Among the tasks: Uncoiling and pulling a fire hose around a
corner, pushing up a fire ladder, driving a sledgehammer against a hydraulic
pad. Then came the finale – dragging a 175-pound dummy the length of a 35-foot
area, around a cone, and back to the starting point.
“I thought it was going to be cake until we came to that 175-pound dummy,” Busch
said. “My lap time was going great until I got to that point.”
Actually, his lap time was very respectable. Busch completed the entire training
exercise in 1:53. Smith’s time was 1:46. The FDNY recruits averaged 1:18.
After all the physical activity, Busch spent some quality time with the FDNY
recruits. He also donated Nextel-logo-ed firefighting hats to the recruits who
competed against him in the training exercise, while one of his sponsors, IRWIN
Tools, donated equipment – vise grips, tool boxes – to the FDNY Fire Academy.
“The recruits were a nice, competitive blend of personalities,” Busch said. “The
ones who were in uniform were very polite and nice, and the guys who were in the
training exercise were telling me how they were going to kick my butt.”
A few hours’ break was a welcome tonic, then Busch again hit the streets of
Manhattan, stopping first at Time-Life, Inc., to visit with editor-in-chief
Norman Pearlstine, then to tape a segment for Tuesday’s Late Show with David
Letterman.
Next up: Another taping segment, this time for the Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Busch was scheduled to end his day with an appearance on MRN’s Champion’s Show
from the Museum of Television and Radio, then a dinner with Nextel executives. A
special perk: Busch and his girlfriend, Eva Bryan, also were planning to be at
the traditional Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.
What’s on tap tomorrow for the champion … On Wednesday, Kurt Busch will begin
his day with a visit to the CIBC Trading Floor. There, he’ll participate in the
March of Dimes’ Miracle Day event. It’s sponsored by CIBC World Markets, and
raises money for many children’s charities. Commissions and fees from
transactions made that day by other institutions go to charity. Here’s the rest
of Busch’s Wednesday schedule:
• After his Miracle Day appearance, Busch will attend a luncheon for regional
and business print media at the 21 Club. He’ll visit with New York City press,
as well as other northeastern journalists, over lunch at one of the city’s
historic dining venues.
• Later in the afternoon, Busch will participate in several satellite media
tours for national and regional television outlets.
• Busch will end his Wednesday schedule with a media reception and dinner at The
View restaurant at the New York Marriott Marquis.
NASCAR.com follows in Busch footsteps … NASCAR.com’s Marty Smith has a unique
assignment this week. He’s trailing Kurt Busch on his daily schedule of
appearances and even participating on a few occasions, as he did during
Tuesday’s visit to FDNY Fire Academy. Smith is documenting Champion’s Week – and
Busch’s experience as the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion – on a daily
basis.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony.
Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498.
3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony
Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler
6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.
11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.
Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
vocalist Brian McKnight.
For more information contact:
Denise N. Maloof, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 947-6773 or
dmaloof@nascar.com .
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion's Week – Day 1
* Early-morning whirlwind – Kurt Busch makes national television appearances
* Tuesday sneak preview – Busch to visit FOX and Friends, FDNY training facility
NEW YORK (Nov. 29, 2004) – It’s one day down and four to go, but for Kurt Busch
(No. 97 Sharpie/IRWIN Tools Ford), a full New York itinerary means nothing but
good things.
“You haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face,” Busch said, referring to
one of the busiest periods of his young career – NASCAR’s traditional Champion’s
Week in New York.
As the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Busch is embarking on an
extensive array of media, public and commemorative appearances this week. He
began Monday with two national morning show guest spots and will rev up his
schedule with more activities each day.
Here in the Big Apple, Busch said he was particularly excited to see the early
crowd appeal of his sponsors’ show cars – the Sharpie car parked at NASCAR’s New
York office on Park Avenue, and the IRWIN Tools car that was positioned at
Rockefeller Center on Monday morning.
“Every car is drawing attention,” Busch said, “and to see all the people, that’s
special.”
Busch’s first Monday appearance was on The Today Show, where he helped kick off
the show’s annual Toys for Tots campaign by collecting items from viewers
gathered around the Rockefeller Center Plaza. Clad in dark clothing and a black
and yellow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion’s jacket, Busch plopped a red and white
Santa’s hat on his head, then set off on his rounds with a big fabric bag.
The toy of choice?
“Lots of big bears,” Busch said, noting the many teddy bears that viewers
plunked in his bag.
Following his toy-collecting duties, Busch participated in an interview with
co-host Matt Lauer; his blue and yellow IRWIN Tools show car sat in the
background.
From Rockefeller Center, it was off to another part of Manhattan and an
appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly. As hosts Regis Philbin’s and Kelly
Ripa’s first Monday guest, Busch chatted about the title-clenching season-finale
at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his feelings about winning his first NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup title and a couple of fun, offbeat topics.
“It was great to see the knowledge from the hosts,” Busch said of Lauer, Philbin
and Ripa, and their line of questioning. “It was cool to see their knowledge of
the sport.”
While on Live with Regis and Kelly, both hosts mentioned the guest appearance by
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 on Sept. 16. Part of a New York media tour to kick
off the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup,” the new method of crowning the series
champion, the appearance featured the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 in a fashion show
previewing fall fashion.
On Monday, the show replayed the clip of Busch modeling a striped sweater, jeans
and suspenders, and he, Philbin and Ripa enjoyed an on-air laugh at the memory.
"That was great for all 10 of us, and then to close the loop with me coming back
was great,” Busch said.
What’s on tap tomorrow for the champion … It’s a busy Tuesday for Kurt Busch,
who’ll begin his morning with an appearance on FOX and Friends. Here’s the rest
of his Tuesday schedule:
• After FOX and Friends, Busch will visit the Fire Department New York Fire
Academy on Randal’s Island in Manhattan. And it won’t be a sedentary visit;
Busch will join some current FDNY recruits on a few training exercises at the
Academy, plus he’ll spend time with FDNY personnel at the training site.
• Later in the afternoon, Busch will tape a segment for Tuesday’s edition of the
Best Damn Sports Show Period.
• On Tuesday evening, he’ll visit the Museum of Television and Radio on West
52nd St., where he’ll be the featured guest on MRN’s Champion’s Show; he’ll be
the Champion’s Show guest from 7-8 p.m.
• Busch will round out his evening with a dinner with Nextel executives.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony.
Where: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.
When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 3.
TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Kurt Busch 6,506. 2. Jimmie Johnson 6,498.
3. Jeff Gordon 6,490. 4. Mark Martin 6,399. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,368. 6. Tony
Stewart 6,326. 7. Ryan Newman 6,180. 8. Matt Kenseth 6,069. 9. Elliott Sadler
6,024. 10. Jeremy Mayfield 6,000.
11th-place driver: Jamie McMurray.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Kasey Kahne.
Special Guest: Comedian Jay Mohr, host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Musical Entertainment: Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, and R&B
vocalist Brian McKnight.
For more information contact:
Denise N. Maloof, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 947-6773 or
dmaloof@nascar.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HENDRICK SHUFFLES CREW CHIEF LINEUP FOR 2005
3 SWITCH TEAMS; GUSTAFSON PROMOTED; WHITESELL MOVES
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 22, 2004) - Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick
today announced key
personnel changes affecting each of his organization's stock-car teams going
into the 2005 NASCAR
campaign.
Racing veterans Jim Long, Lance McGrew and Peter Sospenzo will each assume
fresh responsibilities
next season, while lead engineer Alan Gustafson has been promoted to crew chief.
As part of the
restructuring effort, team executive Brian Whitesell
will also transition into a new role.
"With a new shop opening and drivers moving to different teams, it made
sense for us to look at our
organizational structure in a different light," Hendrick said. "These changes
will create more opportunities
for our folks and help us work together
more efficiently."
GUSTAFSON TO LEAD KELLOGG'S RACING:
Gustafson, 29, has been named crew chief of Hendrick's No. 5 Kellogg's
Chevrolets, which next season
will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie Kyle Busch as driver.
A native of Ormond Beach, Fla., Gustafson cut his racing teeth working as a
mechanic at local short
tracks in his home state while taking mechanical engineering courses at nearby
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University.
Gustafson moved to North Carolina in 1996 to pursue a career in motor
sports, gaining experience with
various teams before joining Hendrick's in-house chassis effort in 1999. He was
named lead engineer for
the No. 5 Cup Series team the following
year.
LONG MOVES TO BUSCH SERIES:
After leading the No. 5 NEXTEL Cup team for the past three years, Long
will slide into the crew chief
position with the No. 5 Lowe's-sponsored NASCAR Busch Series operation. The team
has earned a
championship, eight victories and six pole positions
over the past two seasons.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Long, 47, is going into his sixth NASCAR
campaign with Hendrick Motorsports,
including a two-year stint in the mid-1980s. The 2005 season will mark his 10th
as a NASCAR crew
chief.
An announcement regarding driving duties for the No. 5 Busch Series team is forthcoming.
McGREW AND VICKERS REUNITED:
A Baton Rouge, La., native, McGrew, 36, has been named crew chief of the
NEXTEL Cup No. 25 GMAC
Financial Services team, a move that reunites him with driver Brian Vickers. The
duo already has an
impressive track record, winning Hendrick
Motorsports' first-ever Busch Series championship together in 2003.
After joining Hendrick in 1999, McGrew was soon named crew chief of the
organization's part-time Busch
Series effort, which quickly led to full-time positions in the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series (2001) and
Busch Series (2002-04).
SOSPENZO JOINS LABONTE EFFORT:
A three-time winner on the NEXTEL Cup circuit, Sospenzo will work
exclusively with two-time Cup Series
champion Terry Labonte as crew chief of the new No. 44 Hendrick Motorsports
team, which will attempt a
10-race schedule in 2005.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sospenzo led the No. 25 NEXTEL Cup team to one
victory, a pair of pole
positions and 13 top-10 finishes over the past two-plus seasons. The 47-year-old
came to Hendrick from
Penske Racing in 2002.
WHITESELL NAMED TEAM MANAGER FOR 5, 25 & 44:
Whitesell, 40, will take on the newly created position of team manager for
the Nos. 5, 25 and 44 NEXTEL
Cup teams. A native of Stuarts Draft, Va., he most recently held an identical
post with Hendrick
Motorsports' Nos. 24 and 48 efforts.
Best known as one of the architects of Hendrick's No. 24 DuPont team,
Whitesell has been with the
organization since 1992, following a championship-winning stint with Alan
Kulwicki Racing. He was
named No. 24 team manager in 1999 and was a principal influence in building the
No. 48 Hendrick squad beginning in 2001. Shop foreman Mark Thoreson and
lead engineer Darian Grubb will share Whitesell's former duties with
the "24/48" operation. The Nos. 5, 25 and 44 teams will be housed together in a
new facility adjacent to the 24/48 building on the Hendrick Motorsports grounds.
The new state-of-the-art shop is scheduled to open before the 2005
season.
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Jesse Essex, Hendrick Motorsports
704-455-0527
jessex@hmsracing.com
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