December 2006
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series General News

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Gaughan, South Point Racing Team Announce Bid for 2007 Championship
There's nothing better than ending the season on a high note and that's exactly what Brendan Gaughan and the South Point Racing team did with a second place finish at Homestead Miami Speedway. "It was a great race," said Gaughan. "One of the boys made a mistake during a pit stop but he knows it and he's standing right here feeling bad. I love Robert Ewing. He's the man and he came back strong on the last stop." (High Sierra Photo)

Bjorklund Inks 12-Race Truck Series Deal with MRD Motorsports
Haas CNC Racing has signed Blake Bjorklund to pilot the MRD Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for the first 12 races in 2007.  This will be the first foray into the Craftsman Truck Series for Haas Racing as they partner with MRD Motorsports to develop drivers.  "Blake has what it takes to become a rising star in the motorsports world," said Haas CNC spokesman Carl Cline.  "He has been competitive in whatever he straps himself into.  He had a solid year in the ARCA/REMAX Series this year.  We are happy to welcome him into the fold here at Haas CNC Racing."

Circle Bar Team Caps 10th Year With Return To Top 10 In Standings
After spending most of the year on the offensive and in the top 5 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings, the month of November had the Circle Bar Truck Corral team playing defense at Homestead Miami Speedway. The previous two races ended early with blown right front tires and the Circle Bar Ford F-150 in the fence and the team dropping from 5th to 9th and trying to stay in the top 10.

Speed Puts Out Open Casting Call for Speed Road Tour Challenge
SPEED is looking for four serious NASCAR fans. The Charlotte-based network will conduct open auditions Dec. 9 at Michael Waltrip's new race shop in Cornelius, N.C. for SPEED Road Tour Challenge, a new reality show scheduled to debut Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET. SPEED is in search of four NASCAR fans willing to travel to 13 races from Daytona through Charlotte, competing with each other along the way for a prize package that will include an offer to join the SPEED Road Tour crew for the remainder of the NASCAR season.

Goodyear Develops New NASCAR Cam Drive Belt
Heading into the final ten-race chase for the title, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion Jimmy Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports made gambles on and off the track to find increased performance. One bet was made on a new ultra-high-tech Goodyear Gatorback automotive camshaft timing belt that contains carbon fiber found in advanced composites.

Medical Excellence: NASCAR Honors Dr. Jerry Petty
Distinguished Neurosurgeon Receives Top Industry Award For Career Service - As a physician, North Carolina neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty ranks among the top of his field.  He also ranks highly in the minds of many NASCAR drivers, officials and industry members – both past and present – whom he’s cared for during his 46-year medical career.  For those contributions, and his enduring commitment to the sport, Dr. Petty is being honored during this week’s 2006 Champions Week festivities in New York City. He’ll receive the Bill France NASCAR Award of Excellence during Friday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony in the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel’s historic Grand Ballroom.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio to Provide Unprecedented NASCAR Coverage in 2007
SIRIUS will take listeners inside the car with up to 10 "Team Talk" channels carrying driver-to-pit crew communications during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races - "Team Talk" channels will air the live "race call" and in-car audio simultaneously - SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it will present unprecedented live radio coverage of NASCAR races starting in 2007, making listeners feel like they are on top of their favorite team's pit box on race day.

NASCAR Champions' Week Comes To A Close
As NASCAR Champions’ Week came to a close in New York, the sport’s champions relished their final hours at one of the sport’s premier events, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  Friday was a day of rest and reflection for NASCAR’s local and regional series champions, who attended the Ceremony as a reward for their accomplishments. The champions of all of NASCAR’s racing series were brought together to celebrate alongside NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

Reutimann & Starr Supporting Hopkins Family Truckers 200
Reutimann & Starr Autograph Session on Saturday, December 9th, 2006 Starts at 5:30 pm ET - Meet NASCAR Drivers: David Reutimann & David Starr during an Autograph Session on Saturday Night, the 9th of December from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ET.  Drivers will take part in pre-race ceremonies

'Throwaway Year' Sets Stage for Key Motorsports '07 Rebound
Key Motorsports founder and team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. has simply stated that 2006 was a "throwaway year" for his fledgling, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race organization. The experience the team gained from entering all 25 races last season, and seeing action in 20 of them, "will only make us stronger and more competitive in 2007", Key predicted. (High Sierra Photo)

Waltrip Raceworld On Track
Fans Can Audition for SPEED Road Tour Challenge at Michael Waltrip Racing's fabrication shop (19340 Liverpool Parkway, Cornelius, NC 28031) on December 9th and 10th.   Michael Waltrip has a huge undertaking with Michael Waltrip Racing and Waltrip Raceworld (formerly called Waltrip Racing World), but seated comfortably on a blue sofa at his office earlier this week he couldn't seem more confident and at ease when asked about the progression of his race teams and racing complex. (Action Sports Photography)

NASCAR Foundation Launches Red Carpet Charity Auction
Every year NASCAR drivers trade their firesuits for formal wear for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. This year, several drivers and other celebrities in attendance will donate articles of clothing to The NASCAR Foundation Red Carpet Charity Auction that is scheduled to launch online immediately following the start of tonight’s ceremonies.

Earnhardt, No. 13 ThorSport Team Part Ways
Kerry Earnhardt and ThorSport Racing have announced that they will part ways after the 2006 season.  Earnhardt drove the No. 13 Chevrolet Silverado entry for ThorSport Racing throughout the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.  "I want to thank ThorSport Racing for the opportunity they've given me to drive the No. 13 Silverado in the Craftsman Truck Series this year," Earnhardt said.  "I have truly enjoyed getting to know all the team members from ThorSport Racing.  We had a young and aggressive group of rookies on the #13 team this year, including myself that accomplished many of the goals we set out at the beginning of the year.  I have enjoyed racing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this past year and know that I'm a better racer because of it.  The competition is really tough in the Truck Series and I've had a lot of fun learning the ropes and being a full-time competitor.  The No. 13 team and I had some really good races during the season that proved that we could be a strong team, although we had some really bad luck during a number of races which didn't help us get the finishes we deserved." (Ronda Greer Photo)

Toyota Tundra Production Begins In San Antonio
Toyota celebrated the opening of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX), the company's new $1.28 billion plant in San Antonio. Toyota officials, including Toyota Motor Corporation honorary chairman Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda and president Katsuaki Watanabe, joined Texas Governor Rick Perry and other local officials to witness production of the first two all-new Tundra pickup trucks. (Photo Courtesy of Toyota)

Mayer Named to Kansas Speedway's Sales and Marketing Staff
Bob Mayer has been named corporate account manager for Kansas Speedway, track officials announced. Mayer joins Kansas Speedway from Richard Petty Driving Experience in Overland Park, Kan., where he was a corporate event sales manager and developed corporate client relationships, planned and implemented special events, and developed and executed new sales strategies.

McCumbee Aims for 2007 Craftsman Truck Title
Green Light Racing Team Gaining Momentum after Solid 2006 Season - Chad McCumbee and Green Light Racing are proud to announce their intentions for chasing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship during the 2007 season. After a successful rookie season in the No. 08 Green Light Racing Chevrolet, McCumbee will once again be behind the wheel for the team that finished second in the series' Rookie of the Year standings in 2006. "I am really excited about next year," said McCumbee. "It is really nice to know what you are going to be doing next year and to be able to start preparing things for the next racing season even though the 2006 season just ended. I can't thank Bobby (Dotter) and Gene (Christensen, co-team owners) enough for allowing me the opportunity to live my dream." (David M. Vaughn Photo)

Season Pass Available for 8 NASCAR Events at Lowes
For the first time, Lowe's Motor Speedway is offering a Season Pass featuring a frontstretch grandstand seat for each of the eight events during the track's three NASCAR weekends.

Ambrose Unveils New Team Australia Car at Super School
Australian motorsport ace Marcos Ambrose made his first media appearance on home soil today since joining the ranks of NASCAR in North America at the beginning of this year. Ambrose took the opportunity to talk about his first season in NASCAR competition as part of the Craftsman Truck Series and his move up to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007. (Team Australia Photo)

Milwaukee Mile Launches Merchandise Website
Race fans will have an opportunity to go shopping 24/7 for Milwaukee Mile merchandise through the speedway’s newly-launched website, www.milwaukeemilestore.com , in conjunction with Event Merchandising Inc (EMI), the official merchandiser of The Milwaukee Mile.

Shepherd, Parsons Make News Amid NASCAR New York City Media Blitz
In a week filled full of news as NASCAR took the circus to the ‘Big Apple,’ perhaps the most unusual piece of PR to come out of the New York awards bash was that video game giant Nintendo had included NASCAR driver Morgan Shepherd among 100 honorees for their ageless endeavors.

Names Six Finalists for Inaugural SPEED Performer of The Year
SPEED has named six finalists for the inaugural SPEED Performer of the Year, including Fernando Alonso (Formula One), Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Nicky Hayden (MotoGP), Sebastien Bourdais (Champ Car), Sam Hornish Jr. (IRL) and Tony Schumacher (NHRA). The winner will be announced in February as part of the one-hour SPEED Performance Awards television special presented by BF Goodrich.

Revitalized Format Set for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
NASCAR’s national short-track program, recently bolstered by the announcement of a new title sponsor, will also feature a renewed and revitalized championship structure and points system heading into the 2007 season.

Sean Murphy Claims Top 10 in His First Ever Snowflake Derby
Sean Murphy Qualified 26th out of 69 entries into the Allen Turner Snow Flake Derby on Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola (FL). Murphy piloted the No. 52 ASI LIMITED; Akzo Nobel, Spectrum Metal Finishing Chevy to an impressive 10th place finish out of the 39 car field. The Snowflake Derby witnessed some of the toughest competition in the country. It was Murphy’s first-ever time at the famed track. But his top ten finish was not without some pre-race adversity.

Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era Debuts on ESPN2
NASCAR fans will get inside access to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team Michael Waltrip Racing in the all new television series Michael Waltrip Racing: A New Era, part of ESPN2 Garage, debuting this Sunday, Dec. 10, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Talladega Races Hold Top Spots On 2006 NASCAR Loop Data Charts
Talladega Superspeedway’s fans have been in the loop for a long time when it comes to knowing the best place to witness the most exciting and competitive racing on the NASCAR circuit, but new statistical data provided by the sanctioning body backs it up with astounding numbers.

California Speedway Invites Others to Help Spread Holiday Cheer
A $1 Donation will be Made for Every California Speedway Holiday Card Sent Over the Internet in December - What better way to celebrate the holiday season than by sending good cheer to friends and family? How about by sending cheer and giving meals to those in need!

Martinsville Speedway Offers New Ticket Gift Certificates
Martinsville Speedway is offering gift certificates for sale just in time for Christmas. The gift certificates are good for the purchase of tickets for any of Martinsville Speedway’s big race weekends in 2007.

Expect Kvapil to Pick Up Where Martin Left Off
With a championship, five career wins, 40 top five and 64 top 10 finishes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Travis Kvapil certainly has something to look forward to in 2007. Piloting the No. 6 Ford F-150 for Jack Roush in 2007 will be no small task but Kvapil is up for it and knows he can contend for his second championship. "I definitely think that everyone's goal going into the year is to go for the championship and have a successful season," stated Kvapil. "Everything that I'm told so far is that the team is sticking together and the same crew chief is going to be onboard. It's basically just plugging in a new driver, and with my experience - I've raced in the Truck Series for four years - I feel like I'm a better driver now than I was two years ago. I just feel that I've had to step up as a driver, and I'm looking forward to going back to the Truck Series where I plan to be successful." (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

Talladega Superspeedway Rolls Out Overnight Park Expansions & Improvements
Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that it is making room for even more race fans in its thousands of acres of overnight parking areas, including some areas that are free of charge for ticket holders.

SPEED, FOX Sports Announce 8 More Years of NASCAR Truck Series Coverage
SPEED and FOX Sports will offer team coverage of the 45th running of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona on Jan. 27-28, adding Sports Car racing to the growing list of events benefiting from expanded audience reach in 2007. In addition to the Rolex 24, SPEED and FOX Sports also recently announced they will work together on coverage of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the next eight years and Formula One™ for the next three years.

North Carolina Motorsports Association Launches Short Track Council
The North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) launched the NCMA-Short Track Council with a roundtable meeting held recently at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber office. Track owners and promoters gathered to discuss current issues facing short tracks and ways they can join together in creating solutions that will foster new growth. Out of the initial meeting surfaced constructive communication.

Schrader Set to Pilot the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge
Four-Time Cup Winner Partners with BHR and Fastenal for Majority of 2007 NCTS Campagin - NASCAR fan favorite Ken Schrader has been tabbed to drive the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge for Bobby Hamilton Racing during the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Schrader will drive the BHR entry in the majority of NCTS events with a to-be-determined driver filling in when Schrader has NASCAR Nextel Cup responsibilities that prevent him from competing in NCTS races. Schrader and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton have been both friends and competitors throughout their NASCAR careers and now they have joined forces to help re-establish BHR as a championship caliber NCTS team. "I am thrilled to get the opportunity to drive the Fastenal Dodge," Schrader said. "Bobby Hamilton and I have been friends for a long time so to get the chance to work with him is just an ideal situation for me." (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

Sprague Focused on Another Championship Run after 2006 Season Finish
3-Time Champ, Team and Sponsor Head to Season Ending Banquet - With the checkered flag having waved on the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Jack Sprague and his No. 60 Con-way Freight team are preparing and already looking forward to bigger and better results in 2007. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Truck Series Champion Bodine Sets Sights on Nextel Cup Racing
On the heels of winning the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, Todd Bodine and Germain Racing have announced that they will take their success to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007. In what will be Toyota's inaugural season of Nextel Cup racing, Bodine, Toyota's first ever NASCAR champion, will pilot the No. 03 Toyota Camry in 15 select events. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Off & Silent Auction Returns to Talladega Feb. 10
Cook teams are mobilizing and the auction list is growing for the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) Wild Game Cook-Off & Silent Auction at Talladega Superspeedway set for Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 in the track’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garage. The event will be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and will feature taste testing of savory wild game recipes, unique auction items combining the worlds of outdoors and motorsports, great door prizes and more!

Speedway Children's Charities Distributes $589,000
More than 50,000 children in the Charlotte region will benefit from the more than $589,000 distributed by Speedway Children's Charities Thursday night during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Goodyear Statement on Las Vegas Testing
In tire testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Thursday, Greg Biffle hit the wall on the 36th lap of a 40-lap test run on the reconfigured track. Biffle experienced a right-front tire failure with no prior warning. Fortunately, he was unhurt.

North Meets South as Deborah Renshaw and Shawn Parker Wed
Kentuckian Deborah Renshaw and New Yorker Shawn Parker were united in marriage November 25, 2006 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Deborah drives in the Craftsman Truck Series and Shawn is now the Director of Competition for Brewco Motorsports.

Borland, Carter and Hyder Named Nextel Cup Crew Chiefs for Michael Waltrip Racing
Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Matt Borland, Larry Carter and David Hyder have been named crew chiefs of the organization for the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season.

Key Motorsports Nears Completion of Shop Expansion
A 4,000-square foot expansion to the ever-expanding Key Motorsports, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race shop is nearing completion. The expansion to one of the two 9,000-square foot racing facilities that sit on the 5.5-acre property in the new Mooresville Performance Park owned by team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr., will bring to 16,000 square feet the amount of workspace from which the fledgling race organization will now operate.

Dennis Setzer Signs With Spears Motorsports
Veteran NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor Dennis Setzer will drive for one of the tour's pioneer teams in 2007. Setzer has joined the California-owned team of Wayne and Connie Spears in pursuit of their first series championship. The 46-year-old Newton, N.C. native has committed to Spears Motorsports for 2007-08. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Rockets Red Glare Add Excitement to Champions' Week
VIDEO! Throughout everyone's life, there are moments which will forever be remembered. For most race fans, sitting in the grandstands for their first NASCAR race is something that is never forgotten. For our 2006 champion Todd Bodine, the feeling he experienced after Homestead is something that will forever remain in his memory. For myself, there are several things that I can remember exactly how they happened even to this day. My first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol in 1999 is one of those memories. Of course, the birth of my daughter is something that has had a deep and profound impact on my life and that day is seared into my memory. The nervous energy I felt watching the first lap of the 2005 Truck Series race at Daytona from the press box is another racing memory I will cherish my entire life. Through a confluence of circumstances on the Saturday of NCTS Champions Week in Orlando, the opportunity to add another one of those lifelong experiences was presented to me, TruckSeries.com publisher Steve Keller, and one of our contributing photographers Christina Ramzel. (Christina Ramzel Photo)

Gaughan is the Marathon Man
In 2004 driver Brendan Gaughan once drove the Punisher car in the Nextel Cup series. Fast-forward to 2006 and Gaughan became the punished. What changed for of the Las Vegas native? A short 13.1-mile jaunt through the streets of his hometown. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Annual ARCA RE/MAX Series Press Conference Yields News for 2007
As a preamble to the 54th annual ARCA RE/MAX Series national championship awards banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, several key announcements took center stage during the annual series press conference in Covington, Kentucky Saturday afternoon. SPEED, the worldwide leader in motorsports television coverage, has announced coverage of 14 ARCA RE/MAX Series races in 2007.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions Week
Todd Bodine waited years – two decades to be exact – to win a NASCAR national touring series championship. Now he’s done it and in the process the 42-year-old Bodine of Chemung, N.Y. set a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series single-season winnings record. The team’s grand total broke the 2000 winnings record of Greg Biffle – the only previous competitor to win $1 million in a season – of $1,002,510.

Benson Captures Most Popular Driver Award
Johnny Benson, driver of the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra, knew he would accept his trophy for finishing second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings Sunday evening during the Series awards ceremony at  the Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando, Fla.  What Benson did not know was that he would also accept the trophy for the Series' Most Popular Driver. After being selected by both the fans and media, Benson captured the coveted award for the first time in his NCTS career. Benson has been a steady competitor in the Craftsman Truck Series garage for three years. The NASCAR veteran always has a positive attitude, and his willingness to promote NASCAR and the Truck Series is infectious. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native has always been a fan favorite and understands that his life-long dream of racing in NASCAR has come true in part due to the support of NASCAR's devoted fans. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

Bodine Collects Championship Trophy in Orlando
Todd Bodine clinched the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with a 21st-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17. Following the race, he was proclaimed the champion in a post-race ceremony on the frontstretch , doused with champagne by his teammates, and blasted by flashbulbs from dozens of photographers as he posed with the series championship trophy. Following Sunday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Awards Banquet at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the trophy is now officially Bodine's to take home with him. Bodine was the guest of honor in a ceremony during which nearly one and a quarter million dollars in point fund awards were distributed among the top ten finishers in the series championship standings. As champion Bodine took home the lion's share, walking off stage with a check for $345,120. (Nate Mecha/High Sierra Photo)

Chaffin, HT Motorsports Part Ways
HT Motorsports and driver Chad Chaffin have mutually decided to part ways. Chaffin piloted an HTM entry in 13 races in 2006, earning a season-high eighth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in October. HT Motorsports will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 with a new driver behind the wheel of the No. 59 Toyota Tundra. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

SPEED, FIM World Superbike Extend Deal Through 2009
FIM World Superbike was Charter Series on SPEED in '96 -  SPEED has renewed its contract with FGSPORT, the organizers and rights holder of the FIM SBK Superbike World Championship, signing a deal that keeps the high-powered series on the network through 2009. FIM World Superbike was the network's charter racing series when SPEED went on the air as Speedvision in 1996.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Crew Member Suspended for Violating Substance Abuse Policy
NASCAR announced today that Derek Lusk, a crew member for the No. 25 Dodge in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been suspended indefinitely for violation of the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Lusk was tested for banned substances the day of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 10.

Gaughan Returns to the Desert to Relax
Brendan Gaughan began his racing career in the desert, actually winning the first race he entered back in 1991. His love of the desert grew over the years and offered him the thrill of the challenge and an opportunity to race with his family, most of which are 'desert rats' at heart. (Team PR Photo)

Race Weekend Volunteers Raise Over $560,000 for Service Groups in 2006
Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that race weekend work provided during Talladega Superspeedway’s two major event weekends by volunteers from various service groups throughout the region produced a total of more than $560,000 to be shared by the respective organizations.

Elvis, Madonna, Prince Head Star Studded Neon Garage Lineup
“The King of Rock and Roll” and “The Material Girl” have played on some of the biggest stages around the world, and come March they’ll be adding the center stage of the Neon Garage to their resumes. Elvis Presley, Madonna and many of the biggest names in the music industry have signed on to entertain race fans in the Neon Garage, Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s newest attraction.

NASCAR Partners with Lauth Property Group to Build Office Tower
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that it has exercised its option to partner with a developer to build an office tower as part of the Hall of Fame project. Construction is set to begin early next year in Charlotte, N.C.

Brewer, Smith, Chengelis, Blount, Newton Join ESPN
Championship winning crew chief Tim Brewer and award winning journalists Marty Smith, Angelique Chengelis, Terry Blount and David Newton have joined the experienced team of hosts, analysts and reporters for NASCAR’s return to the ESPN’s multimedia platforms in 2007.

2006 Kansas Speedway Toy “Drive” Ends
Kansas Speedway employees have once again teamed with Dr. Ron Malcolm and his wife, Sherrie, to help bring smiles to local children. For the second straight year, Kansas Speedway employees have answered Dr. Malcolm’s call to assist with the toy drive and to date, approximately 140 items have been donated by Kansas Speedway staff.

Woodard Racing Suspends Derek Lusk
Woodard Racing owner Rick Woodard announced today the indefinite suspension of crew member Derek Lusk for violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. Earlier this week, NASCAR also suspended Lusk from attending any NASCAR sanctioned events after failing to meet the guidelines of their policy.

SIRIUS to Put Listeners in 'The Driver's Seat'
SIRIUS Satellite Radio the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR starting in 2007, announced today that it will debut The Driver's Seat, an exclusive daily talk show hosted by veteran broadcaster John Kernan and a roster of current and former NASCAR drivers, on January 1.

2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Review
With three consecutive victories to end the 2005 season - and a charge from the middle of the championship standings at mid-season to an eventual placing of third - Todd Bodine entered the year as the driver to beat. He didn't disappoint the prognosticators. Despite two green-white-checker losses to veteran Mark Martin at Daytona International Speedway and California Speedway, Bodine and his No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota team didn't lose sight of the bigger prize: a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title that would be based upon consistent finishes rather than early victories. Bodine finally got the better of his rival at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March posting the first of three victories. And when Martin's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series took different forks in the road, Bodine was there to claim a point lead he'd hold for a record 21 consecutive races. (Christina Ramzel Photo)

Racer Profile: Joe Ruttman
Raymond “Joe” Ruttman began his racing career with assistance from his older brother Troy Ruttman, who would become an Indy 500 winner, and his father Ralph Ruttman, who would become a highly awarded racing mechanic. Ruttman was born in Upland, California. His father worked at the former Kaiser Steel Mill in Fontana, California now the present site of the California Speedway.

Huge PRI Show Photo Gallery Posted on StewartComponents.com
The 2006 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show proved to be bigger and better than ever as more than 1.400 different exhibitors - including EMP Stewart Components - filled up the more than one million square feet of exhibit space in the Orlando Convention Center December 14-16. (StewartComponents.com Photo)

3rd Generation of Kimmel Family Turns Laps at ARCA Daytona Testing
Toyota Tops ARCA RE/MAX Series Speed Charts After 3-Day Test - In 54 consecutive years of ARCA RE/MAX Series racing, the renowned national tour has taken its share of twists and turns with a variety of interesting personalities and poignant story lines.

Holidays Provide Little Break for Construction Crews at LVMS
While many Americans will be taking an extended holiday throughout the end of December, construction crews at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be hard at work. Workers are in the midst of LVMS’ most ambitious construction project in years as they continue building the Neon Garage and new media center.

Tickets for September 2007 Race Weekend at Dover Avaiable December 20
The green flag waves this Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007, as tickets go on sale for the September 21-23, 2007 NASCAR tripleheader at Dover International Speedway. Tickets for the June 1-3, 2007 race weekend are currently on sale. Race fans can gain an advantage over the competition with even more choices by purchasing early.

Bake a Christmas 2006 Raises Over $13,000 for Area Children
The coordinated efforts of Talladega Superspeedway, local radio station WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM and generous individuals throughout the community raised more than $13,000 during Bake A Christmas 2006 held Friday, Dec. 15, exceeding last year's total by more than $1,000.

Dodson Nets Two Top-10 Finishes in Florida Finale
Eighteen year-old Rising Star Driver Development wheelman Cameron Dodson shined brightly in the Florida season finale to his diverse 2006 racing schedule. Dodson piloted midgets, winged and non-winged sprints, Silver Crown cars and trucks with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series during the season as he honed skills and emerged as one of the nation's most promising development drivers.

New NASCAR 'Car of Tomorrow' Photo Gallery on CloseFinishes.com
The 2006 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show featured more cool racecars than you could count, but the one car that probably drew more looks than any other was the new 2007 NASCAR 'Car of Tomorrow.' The vehicle, set to debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, will ring in a new generation of NASCAR Nextel Cup racecars. (CloseFinishes.com Photo)

NMPA Honors Kearns With Pocono Spirit Award
Owen Kearns, manager of communications for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been named the fourth quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award. Kearns, who began his racing career as a journalist, joined NASCAR in 1983 to run what was then known as the Winston West Series. In addition, he has worked with NASCAR's Weekly, Southwest and Northeast series. He began working with the truck series upon its inception, and worked 288 consecutive events before health issues forced him to the sidelines for a single race - the 2006 Easy Care 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - in October of 2006. (CloseFinishes.com Photo)

Hamilton Updates Fans on His Cancer Battle
After many questions and rumored negative publicity NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton addresses all the supporters on his current cancer battle. In August after extensive treatment from chemotherapy and radiation Hamilton and his doctors were optimistic about findings in his post-treatment CT Scan. However, microscopic cancer cells still remained in the right side of his neck. Since that time, Hamilton is continuing his chemotherapy treatment and has gone through several procedures to keep the cancer at bay. "There are two things that I've truly learned from an unfortunate battle like this. One thing is that some people really go out of their way to sincerely support my battle. The flip side to that unfortunately is people really use the circumstances to say or write the story based on complete speculation and don't think about the repercussions it causes. Cancer is an ongoing battle, and once you are diagnosed you always live with the thought of the disease in your body. It is the worst thing you could ever imagine. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Preseason Test Dates Finalized for Daytona
Dates for the 2007 edition of NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder Fan Fests at historic Daytona International Speedway have been finalized.Fans will be able to get a sneak peek on NASCAR teams as they prepare for Speedweeks 2007 with inquisitive fan forums with many of their favorite drivers as well as enjoying all the state-of-the-art amenities in the popular NEXTEL FANZONE.

Milwaukee Mile and Briggs & Stratton Team Up
Benefits of Visibility At Historic Speedway Key Component -  Two Milwaukee institutions, The Milwaukee Mile and Briggs & Stratton, have once again teamed up as corporate partners for the upcoming 2007 racing season at the historic speedway.

NASCAR's Steve Peterson Recipient of SAE Motorsports Achievement Award
Steve Peterson, NASCAR's Technical Director who has been heavily involved in helping introduce a wide range of safety initiatives within the sport, was recently the recipient of the 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Motorsports Achievement Award. Peterson received the award at the annual SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference and Exhibition Dec. 5 in Dearborn, Mich.

Ambrose to Compete in NEXTEL Cup for Team Australia
Australian motor racing ace Marcos Ambrose will compete at the highest level of US motorsport next year when he competes in up to 10 NASCAR Nextel Cup events under the Team Australia and Aussie Vineyards banner.

California Speedway Donates $5,000 to Meals on Wheels Ontario
Hot meals were delivered by hot wheels today when Gillian Zucker, president of California Speedway, presented a $5,000 donation to Meals on Wheels Ontario and delivered food to those in need with the help of an official NASCAR race car - the No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet - provided by the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Tim Sauter To Pilot Lester Buildings Chevrolet in 2007
Chad McCumbee Will Return in No. 08 The GPS Store/Garmin Chevrolet Fielded by Green Light Racing - For the fourth consecutive year, Tim Sauter and Lester Building Systems LLC are together, for all 25 races in the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Lester Buildings will be the primary sponsor of Green Light Racing's No.07 Chevy Silverado and Sauter will be a teammate to sophomore Chad McCumbee, who will pilot the No. 08 Silverado with support from The GPS Store/Garmin. Tom Borgman, Lester Building's Marketing Manager is confident that the move to the NASCAR Truck Series will bring dividends the company needs. "After a taste of the Busch Series, we spent a lot of time on this decision. While every decision has its own set of nuances, we just felt that it was better to compete full time in the Craftsman Truck Series, with a team that has been competitive - and will continue to become more so - than settle for a partial schedule in the Busch Series." (Lester Motorsports Photo)

Gaughan Looks Back at Funky Season
While the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season didn't treat the Orleans Racing team as well as it could have the glimmers of greatness always kept the team digging. In the end it wasn't Brendan Gaughan's 15th place finish in the points that mattered, rather it was his second place finish in the season finale at Homestead, Fla. that proved a year's worth of hard work had paid dividends. "I've said a couple times in 2006 that I don't envy Robert Yates," said driver / co-owner of Orleans Racing, Brendan Gaughan. "He's got a tough task ahead of him and rebuilding a once great race team can be more difficult than starting from scratch. "This team has spent a couple years now getting things straightened out," Gaughan continued. "Tony Liberati did a fantastic job this year of getting our chassis and all the big stuff going in the right direction. Now we have the last little part to fine tune, which is even harder." (Ronda Greer Photo)

Over 56,000 Fans Vote for Inaugural SPEED Awards
More than 56,000 votes were cast for the inaugural SPEED Performance Awards as fans voiced their opinions on nine fan-vote categories. The results, gathered over four weeks of video voting on SPEEDtv.com, will be unveiled as part of a one-hour television special to debut Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. ET.

ESPN2 Garage Programs Set for January 6 Debut
New Programming Block To Complement Network Racing Coverage Motorsports and automotive enthusiasts will be able to continue their celebration of the New Year during the first weekend of January with three new television programs that will premiere on ESPN2.

Schrader to Drive No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford in Bud Shootout
The United States Air Force has announced that they will be returning as both a primary and associate sponsor of the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team. Driver Ken Schrader will kick-off the 2007 Season by driving the No. 21 Air Force Ford Fusion in the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 10th. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

Truck Series Banquet on SPEED
SPEED will air a 90-minute special highlighting the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series banquet held earlier this month at the Grand Floridian Hotel and Resort located in Disneyworld on Friday , December 29th at 9 pm Eastern. SPEED will re-air the banquet again at 1 am Eastern on Saturday morning. SPEED, which began broadcasting NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races live and exclusively in 2003, will continue as the home to the series for at least the next eight seasons. SPEED, now in nearly 70 million U.S. households, has added more than 10 million homes since adding the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in '03. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

Benson Ranks Third In Top-10 Moments at Michigan
As 2006 comes to a close, Michigan International Speedway has compiled a "Top 10 Moments of 2006" list. Many race moments and community achievements are listed in what was truly an exciting year of racing for the 2-mile oval. Local Michigan native Johnny Benson won his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 60 starts by taking the checkered flag for the Con-way Freight 200 on June 17. (Ronda Greer Photo)

ThorSport Selects Allen to Drive No. 13 Chevy in 2007
Willie Allen has joined ThorSport Racing as driver of the No. 13 Chevrolet Silverado for '07, the organization announced on Thursday. Several stock-car racing publications named Allen one of NASCAR'S hottest prospects in '06. "It's a dream come true for me to have an opportunity to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I'm excited to join the ThorSport Racing team," said Allen. (Team PR Photo)