NEXT RACE: Texas Race Information/Stats page including.......

• Sprint Cup Series Live from Texas on ABC: The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is down to three races to go and this weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth for 500 miles on Sunday, Nov. 8. ESPN's live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Dickies 500 airs on ABC beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30pm/et. The race's green flag is scheduled for 3:30pm/et. Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN's coverage, with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage. Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.
  AND: Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be featured in episodes of the ESPN signature series SportsCentury airing this week on ESPN Classic. The episode featuring Earnhardt airs Thursday, Nov. 5, at 11:00am/et, while the Petty program airs Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8:00am/et.

• Jeff Gordon on pole at Texas: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway with a lap of 191.117mph for his 1st pole of the season and 68th career pole, Gordon has now won at least one pole every season for 17 straight seasons and has won 17 races from the 1st starting position. David Pearson holds the all-time record with at least a pole a year for 19 years [1962-1981], followed by Richard Petty at 18 years [1960-1977], then Jeff Gordon at 17. Ryan Newman is the next highest active driver at 9 straight years with at least one pole. #9-Kahne was 2nd fastest followed by #2-Busch, #14-Stewart, #18-Busch, #99-Edwards, #5-Martin, #16-Biffle, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #33-Bowyer.
  The non Top-35 drivers who made the race: #02-Gilliland, #70-Skinner, #71-Labonte, #82-Speed, #78-Smith, #87-Nemechek, #36-McDowell and #21-Elliott.
  The four drivers who failed to qualify: #37-Raines, #66-Blaney, #13-Papis and #09-Bliss.
  See qualifying results, pole progression and starting lineup on my Texas Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(11-6-2009)

• Where the 2009 Chase Drivers start at Texas:
  (in order of chase points standings coming into Texas)
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, starts 12th
  2) #5-Mark Martin, 7th
  3) #24-Jeff Gordon, POLE starts 1st
  4) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 20th
  5) #14-Tony Stewart, 4th
  6) #2-Kurt Busch, 3rd
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 8th
  8) #39-Ryan Newman, 26th
  9) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2nd
  10) #99-Carl Edwards, 6th
  11) #11-Denny Hamlin, 25th
  12) #83-Brian Vickers, 15th.(11-6-2009)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Texas:
  #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Dickies 500 with a lap of 28.255 seconds, 191.117 mph.
  This is his 68th pole in 579 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. He ha s now won a pole in 17 consecutive seasons.
  This is his first pole and 24th top-10 start in 2009. His last pole came at Texas Motor Speedway in November 2008.
  This is his second pole in 18 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
  #9-Kasey Kahne (second) posted his 18th top-10 start of 2009 and his seventh in 11 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
  #2-Kurt Busch (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his 17th in 34 races this season.
  #20-Joey Logano (14th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
  (NASCAR Statistics)(11-6-2009)

• Some Chassis selections for Texas: compiled from some pre-Texas press releases, some chassis selections and history:
  #00-David Reutimann will run chassis #625 this week. This Aaron's Dream Machine has seen action in three races with a best finish of 4th at Las Vegas.
  #07-Casey Mears will pilot Chassis #248 from the RCR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. This chassis previously raced this year at both New Hampshire Motor Speedway events finishing 11th in June and 13th in Sept., Pocono Raceway in June finishing 14th, Richmond International Raceway finishing 30th in September and Auto Club Speedway finishing 11th in October. This Choctaw Casino Resort Chevy was upgraded prior to the ACS race last month.
  The #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boat team will bring chassis #082 to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis finished sixth and led 61 laps at Darlington. The chassis was also used at Fontana (2/09), Dover (5/09), and Chicago (7/09).
  The #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Kurt Busch will be debuting their brand new "PRS-702" Miller Lite Dodge Charger at Texas this weekend.
  The #6 UPS Road Code Ford of David Ragan will be unloading chassis RK-615 at Texas this weekend which last ran Kansas and finished 35th.
  #11-Denny Hamlin team will unload JGR 256 this weekend at Texas. This car last ran two weeks ago at Charlotte where Hamlin led 54 laps before engine trouble forced him from the race. This car scored a fifth-place finish at Kansas and second-place finish at New Hampshire.
  The #12 Penske Dodge team and driver Brad Keselowski will use chassis PRS-708 during Sunday's 500-mile event. PRS-708 is a brand new car to the #12 Penske Dodge Charger fleet.
  #14-Tony Stewart and the Stewart Haas Racing team are bringing a brand new racecar [Chassis No. 14-564] to Texas which has only been tested in the wind tunnel.
  #18-Kyle Busch: Sunday's Dickies 500 will be the second-ever start for #257. It made its debut last month at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, where Busch started a distant 34th. The Las Vegas native survived a mid-race scrape with the wall and rallied for a 13th-place finish.
  The #26 Crown Royal Ford of Jamie McMurray will be unloading chassis RK-640 at Texas this weekend which last run at Dover Sept. 2009 and finished 28th.
  #29-Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis #285 from the Richard Childress Racing Sprint Cup Series stable. This Sheel/Pennzoil Chevy was previously raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June where it finished 34th, Richmond in September where it finished ninth and Martinsville Speedway last month where it finished 10th.
  #31-Jeff Burton will pilot chassis No. 289 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new Caterpillar Chevy that will be put through its first paces this weekend.
  
  #33-Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 257 from Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. A former #07 chassis, this Chevy debuted at Indianapolis in 2008, where Bowyer finished 19th. Most recently, Bowyer raced this Impala SS to a sixth-place finish at Charlotte last month.
  #39-Ryan Newman will drive Chassis No. 39-508, which has twice seen action during the 2009 season. It made its debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September finishing 9th. The car's second outing, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas resulted in a 22nd-place finish.
  The #42 Dream In Color team are bringing chassis #819 to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for Juan Pablo Montoya. This is one of the favorite chassis' in the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing stable. It has run at Atlanta in September (3rd), Michigan in August (19th), Pocono in August (2nd), California last month (3rd) and most notably Indy where Montoya led 116 laps and had a win in sight until a late race penalty eliminated his chances (11th).
  #48-Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe's Chevy will run Chassis #552 at Texas, this chassis has run four times in 2009, winning at Dover in September, a 3rd at both Michigan [June] and Chicago as well as a 4th in the 2nd race of the season at Michigan.
  The #78 Furniture Row Chevy team will roll out a new Furniture Row chassis for driver Reagn Smith at Texas.
  The #88 AMP / National Guard Chevy engineers and crew chief Lance McGrew will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis #88-556 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. The car was last raced at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 4, where he led 41 laps before suffering an engine issue with 41 laps to go. This was the first chassis that McGrew built for Earnhardt from the ground up. It debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
  The #99 Aflac team of Carl Edwards will be unloading chassis #RK-587 at Texas this weekend. This Ford Fusion last raced at Richmond in September and finished 15th.(Team/Driver PRs)

• Johnson needs 402 points: So, if #5-Martin wins the final three Sprint Cup races [Texas, Phoenix & Homestead] and leads the most laps, he would score 585 points [195x3] for a total of 6649 points. #48-Johnson has 6248, so Johnson needs to score 402 points in the final three race, IF Martin were to win all three. Which is an average of 134 points a race for the three remaining races. Finishing 10th is 134 points. So Johnson needs to finish 10th or better in the three remaining races [or total 402 points], and nothing Martin or any other driver can do to overtake Johnson.(11-1-2009)

• 14 Winners in 2009: #26-Jamie McMurray's victory at Talladega in November made it 14 different race winners in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season. There were 12 different race winners all of last season. There are six race winners from last season still awaiting their first victory of 2009: #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle, #33-Clint Bowyer, #31-Jeff Burton, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #39-Ryan Newman. The record for most different winners in a season is 19 in the 1956, 1958, 1961 and 2001 seasons.(11-2-2009)

• Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• Jeff Gordon on pole at Texas
• Starting Lineup
• Qualifying Order/Results
• Practice Speeds Page
• Goodyear Tire Notes
• Entry List
• Texas Motor Speedway News Page
  
  

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  LAST RACE RUNDOWN: Talladega Race Information/Stats page including.......

  
  
  • Chase Stats
  • McMurray wins at Talladega
  • Race Results/Awards
  • Drivers Points Standings
  • Owners Points Standings
  • Race notes, lucky dogs, penalties
  • To the Back (1): #9-Kahne (engine change)
  • Pit Stall Selections
  • Qualifying rained out; Johnson on pole
  • Starting Lineup
  • Qualifying Order/Results
  • Practice Speeds Page
  • Goodyear Tire Notes
  • Entry List
  • Talladega Superspeedway News Page
  • 2009 Chase Rules, Notes History
  • Qualifying Rules
  • 2009 Results, Points
  • All-Time Pole Winners page
  • 2009 Race Officials

• Fallen soldiers to be honored at Texas race: When practice ended Friday afternoon, a large U.S. Army logo was painted on the frontstretch grass at Texas Motor Speedway. The logo included a message: "God Bless Our Fort Hood Troops." This weekend is a somber time at TMS. NASCAR is racing only 130 miles up I-35 from the site of the tragedy at Fort Hood, where 13 people were killed and 31 others injured Friday in a senseless shooting rampage. TMS president Eddie Gossage decided to add the logo to honor the fallen soldiers. TMS employees are wearing black armbands the rest of the weekend. A moment of silence will be observed before the start of each race.(ESPN)(11-7-2009)

• Sorenson and Mears candidates for #09 ride in 2010: Casey Mears, currently running the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy for Richard Childress is a leading candidate for the #09 Phoenix Racing ride in 2010. Reed Sorenson, out of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports ride after the 2009 season is also a candidate for the #09 ride.(FoxSports)(11-7-2009)

• No news on a crew chief for Kurt Busch: from an Open Interview with #2-Kurt Busch:
  ANY UPDATE ON THE CREW CHIEF SITUATION FOR THE 2 CAR NEXT YEAR?
  Busch: "No news. We still have good candidates outside and inside. We've come this far, we might as well just finish it off is what the mentality is right now. We don't know what next week will bring us. There could be some changes, but it could just be the same thing. We don't' know."(Dodge Motorsports PR)(11-7-2009)

• Kvapil to Front Row ride in 2010: Travis Kvapil, who failed to qualify the #37 Front Row Motorsports Dodge at Charlotte and started and parked at Martinsville the following week, is expected to run the #37 car [Chevy? Dodge?] full-time in 2010.(FoxSports)(11-7-2009)

• see images of the #12 Penske Racing Dodge and #6 UPS Road Code schemes that will run at Texas in the Dickies 500 on my Paint Scheme Gallery

• Some more 2010 schemes: added #16 Post-It and #17 Crown Royal for 2010, which joins others schemes recently added: #9-Budweiser Ford, #18-Interstate Batteries, #19-Stanley Tools Ford, #24-DuPont, #24-National Guard, #48-Lowe's, #48-Kobalt Tools, #99-Silver Aflac. See links to them on my Paint Scheme Gallery

• Newman meets with NASCAR over Talladega wreck: #39-Ryan Newman met with media at Texas on Friday and dicussed some issues:
  Q. Obviously a lot of frustration and concern for you last weekend. I believe you mentioned thinking about things from an engineering standpoint. Looking at it from an engineering standpoint, could you talk about what your frustrations were last week, what you see? I've had a lot of people email me and say did the wing cause the car to lift as opposed to a spoiler. Talk about everything from your helmet getting wedged in the roll cage, to the car lifting up. From an engineering standpoint, are there things you see that could be done differently that would have prevented some or all of that?
  RYAN NEWMAN: Always, because every crash is different and every situation is different, whether your car gets spun around by another car or it just takes air by itself. Ultimately, yeah, there's things that I feel can and should be done. I sat down with [NASCAR's] John Darby and Robin Pemberton Wednesday morning. We talked about two different things, the extra indication of myself from the accident scene and secondly the reason why we're in that position in the first place, which is to me more important. From an aerodynamic standpoint, ultimately our biggest thing is to keep the racecars on the ground. Crashes have always been a part of racing. There are fans that like that. Sometimes that adds to extra excitement, don't get me wrong. When we can bounce off each other, get the car fixed, go back out and try to win a race, I understand that part of it. Keeping the racecars on the ground is how we keep the drivers and especially the fans safe. So that's the one thing. From an ironic standpoint, that's why I was probably the most frustrated after the race last weekend, was I was in the media center talking about the very same thing on the last lap of the spring race. To live out what my frustrations were from six months before was difficult, as well.
  From an engineering standpoint, whatever we can do speed-wise and aerodynamically to keep the cars on the ground, in particular things in the back of the car, when it sees the air first for downforce, keep the lift out of the back of the cars is what we need to focus on. There has been testing done. I learned some of that stuff on Wednesday morning talking to Mr. Darby and Mr. Pemberton, that they have tested. But I don't know that they have tested everything. I don't know that you can test everything. But obviously more testing needs to be done in order to make it safer for everybody. Speed is a part of it. The faster you go, the more likely you are to take lift. We were talking before, an airplane takes off at 160 miles an hour. We're 40 miles an hour above that at times. There's plenty of potential for a car to take lift, whether it's going forwards, backwards or sideways. We have to take everything into consideration, as drivers, as teams, as a sanctioning body, to control that situation.
  Q. Specifically, do you think a spoiler on the back would not have caused the lift? Are there specific things you recommended to NASCAR?
  RYAN NEWMAN: That's kind of my point from our conversation, is 'Do you think' is not the answer. We have to do testing so that we know. Yeah, I think there might be potential for a spoiler to react differently than a wing for sure. I don't know that it's the answer. As we've seen before, I believe it was Matt Kenseth's Nationwide crash, his car got airborne with a spoiler on the back of it. That's not the answer, that's not the fix. I've been parts of crashes with spoilers on the back of them and a wing on the back of them unfortunately. That's not the fix. Can it be a part of the fix? Yeah, potentially. Is it a better alternative in conjunction with other things you can do to the car? Maybe. Those are the things that NASCAR and the teams have to test collectively so that we can make it safer and better for the drivers and, like I said, more importantly, the fans.(in part from a Chevy Racing transcript)(11-7-2009)

• Scott Wimmer to purchase speedway: NASCAR driver and Wausau native Scott Wimmer along with Wausau area land developed Ron Wimmer announced their purchase of State Park Speedway. The Speedway, located in the Town of Rib Mountain, just outside of Wausau, WI was put up for sale at the end of the 2009 race season. "State Park Speedway has always been special to me," says Scott Wimmer, "It's where I got my start in racing, so to be able to keep SPS as a racetrack and support the racing community that supported me is pretty exciting." More info at asamidwesttour.com.(11-7-2009)

• New publisher for NASCAR Yearbook: NASCAR fans will once again have the opportunity to recapture moments from the past season with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Yearbook as Round 5 Inc. announced today that it has been named publisher of this classic title, which is also part of the NASCAR Library Collection. The coffee-table publication includes season-ending statistics, a special preface outlining this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and an in-depth look at the final 10 races of the season that determine this year's champion. The 224-page collectible recaps the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season with in-depth editorial written by noted motorsports journalist Bob Zeller and full-color photos from today's best sports photographers. Yearbooks can be ordered by calling (888) 460-7169, or online at round5books.com. Orders will be shipped in early December.(NASCAR), more info about books, see my Book News page.(11-7-2009)

  

• Tums to sponsor Reutimann: TUMS announced a multi-year partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) to sponsor David Reutimann's #00 Toyota Camry starting with the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. TUMS will be prominently displayed as the primary sponsor on the #00 Toyota Camry for five races during the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons with Coca-Cola 600 winner Reutimann as the driver. The brand also will have visibility as a full-time associate sponsor beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach. TUMS will continue to be featured as a primary sponsor for one race and a full-time associate sponsor on the #42 Chevy driven by Juan Pablo Montoya through a partnership with Target.(Michael Waltrip Racing), see an image of the scheme on the MWR site or on my 2010 #00 Team Schemes page.(11-6-2009)

• Stremme to run #09 at Homestead..and 2010?: David Stremme, who has been replaced by Brad Keselowski in the #12 Penske Dodge, will drive the #09 Chevy for Phoenix Racing at Homestead  a race Keselowski had signed on to do. For 2010, Stremme has two options to consider. One, return to the Nationwide Series and drive for Rusty Wallace (who Stremme accompanied to Las Vegas earlier this week) and/or drive for the Bob Jenkins' owned [#34 or #37] Front Row Motorsports.(FoxSports)(11-6-2009)

• Little Debbie re-ups with Ambrose: McKee Foods, a family bakery best known for their Little Debbie brand, announced that they will once again sponsor 'Awesome Aussie' Marcos Ambrose and the #47 JTG-Daugherty Racing Toyota Camry in 2010 [Little Debbie sponsored the #47 for 18 races in 2009]. Chris McKee, EVP of Marketing & Sales, says the sponsorship of Ambrose has paid dividends in 2009. "Marcos is a tremendous driver and a great spokesperson for our Little Debbie brand. Little Debbie is all about adding simple fun and enjoyment to life and Marcos' ever-present smile and upbeat attitude really illustrates our brand message. We are impressed with his performance in his first full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and we are excited about the possibilities for next year. 2010 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Little Debbie Brand so it's a big year for Little Debbie and I think it is going to be a big year for Marcos and JTG-Daugherty Racing." 2010 will mark the fifth consecutive season that Little Debbie has been a business partner with JTG-Daugherty Racing. Team co-owner Tad Geschickter is proud of the partnership. "Little Debbie is a great, family-oriented brand and we are proud to help promote their products. In a year when many sponsors are leaving the sport, I'm thankful for their continued support of our team. We look forward to rewarding them with an even bigger return next season on the track and in the stores."(JTG-Daugherty Racing), see images of the #47 Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcake scheme that is scheduled to run at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead on my #47 Team Schemes page.(11-6-2009)

• MAPEI returns to the #7 at Texas: The familiar blue and yellow MAPEI colors return to Robby Gordon's #7 Toyota Camry this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway for the Dickies 500.(RGM), see images of the #7 MAPEI scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(11-6-2009)

• Francis Ferko at TMS: Former Plano, Tex. resident Francis Ferko, who sued NASCAR and ISC earlier this decade for a second race at Texas Motor Speedway, now calls Chicago home. He's attended two Sprint Cup events this year. His seven-year-old grandson, Alex Ferko, is scheduled to meet Cup driver Tony Stewart at TMS today.(Racin' Today)(11-6-2009)

• Harvick to host kids at Texas: #29-Kevin Harvick and Shell-Pennzoil will host a group of at-risk children from area schools to attend Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The children are treated to a day at the track which includes lunch, a free Shell T-shirt and hat, which is all capped off with a personal visit by Harvick just before driver introductions. This program is in it's second season and the coordinator, California Police Officer Todd Smith, says it has grown from five students the first event, to the 75 that attended their recent race at Auto Club Speedway.(RCR)(11-6-2009

• Special 'Cup Cake' scheme for Ambrose at Texas: Little Debbie Racing's Marcos Ambrose will be driving the #47 Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcake Toyota in the final three races of the 2009 Sprint Cup season: Texas, Phoenix and Homestead (Little Debbie Flickr page), the scheme was designed by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. See images of the car on my #47 Team Schemes page.(11-6-2009)

• NASCAR takes ABC to task for 'boring' race: Almost everybody who watches TV sports is an instant critic. One exception: Sports leagues themselves, who almost never publicly criticize the networks that cover them. And when it comes to ESPN, and its various TV platforms including ABC, the last criticism you'd expect is that the worldwide leader in hype wasn't enthusiastic enough about something it had paid to cover. But NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston, in a blog posting on nascar.com, specifically knocked ESPN/ABC's coverage of Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Talladega, Ala. At issue: Whether the race was boring.
  Usually, TV sports analysts go to great pains to avoid even hinting what they're showing is boring. But Poston suggested ESPN/ABC analysts, including Dale Jarrett, "certainly weren't happy with the race and felt compelled to remind viewers of that virtually every lap. ... And along the way, ABC missed a lot of very good racing." On Sunday's race on a long track with steep banks, NASCAR cited safety reasons for prohibiting so-called bump-drafting to provide extra room between cars on turns. Although ESPN/ABC let viewers eavesdrop on driver Tony Stewart asking his crew during the race to tell him something interesting "so I don't fall asleep out here," Poston says the event had "seriously intense racing." ESPN, in a statement, said only that it had a "strong telecast" and had no comment on Poston's post.(USA Today)(11-6-2009)

• Gossage says Patrick needs to promote NASCAR: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage believes Danica Patrick needs to take advantage of her entry into NASCAR by doing more to promote her involvement. "She needs to understand that she has to take an active role in the promotion of the sport," Gossage said Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway. "If I were one of her advisors, I would encourage her to do a lot more." Patrick is close to reaching an agreement to drive a partial Nationwide Series schedule next season for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his JR Motorsports team, while she continues to race full time in the IndyCar Series. Gossage wants to see Patrick make the most of her NASCAR debut by helping track promoters, sponsors and NASCAR take advantage of her mainstream celebrity status. "That's something that I don't think some people around her in Indy car emphasize to her as much as they should," Gossage said. "I think people in NASCAR will encourage her to take a more active role."(ESPN)(11-6-2009)

• Goodyear Tire Notes: While teams in all three NASCAR series in action this weekend will be running the same right-side tire code (D-4136), teams in the Sprint Cup Series will be running a different left-side code (D-4220) . . . Sprint Cup teams will be on the same tire combination they ran at Texas in April . . . Cup teams also ran this right-side code with a different left-side at both Texas races in 2008 . . . Cup teams will run this same exact tire set-up at Homestead in two weeks . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . air pressures in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage. See tire pressures, codes and more on my Texas Race Info page.(11-6-2009)

• Conway to attempt Phoenix triple: Kevin Conway and ExtenZe Racing announced that they will attempt to run all three NASCAR national series races  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (no team named or mentioned), NASCAR Nationwide Series (#26 ExtenZe Chevy) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (#71 ExtenZe Chevy)  at Phoenix International Raceway next weekend. Conway has never raced at Phoenix International Raceway, much less competed in NASCAR's top three divisions in one weekend, but he is set to attempt to qualify for his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series debut at the one-mile oval. "I've never been accused of doing things normally," said Conway. "To make my Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series debut at a track that I have never even seen is pretty ambitious but I am excited to have this opportunity with ExtenZe. For ExtenZe Racing to pull this together in such a short amount of time is nothing short of a miracle. Everyone on this ExtenZe team is pumped to give it our best shot in Phoenix." ExtenZe will appear as Conway's primary sponsor in all three races. Together they will attempt to compete in 850 miles of racing at Phoenix International Raceway.(ExtenZe Racing PR)(11-6-2009)

• Gossage to pay tribute to "The Boss": Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage always has been the boss at the speedway since it opened in 1997, but Friday he will be paying tribute to "The Boss." No, not Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith, but Bruce Springsteen. Gossage was presented the special invitation to serve as guest DJ on E Street Radio, a dedicated channel for Springsteen on both XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Gossage, a Springsteen fan for more than three decades, will choose his favorite songs and share some stories related to his appreciation of Springsteen throughout the one-hour show beginning 3:00pm/ct Friday on XM's Channel 58 and Sirius' Channel 10.(11-6-2009)

• Bobby Labonte could be 26th driver with 200th top 10: #71-Bobby Labonte could earn his 200th series top 10, becoming the 26th driver to do so. Those who have are:
  Year: Date, Track, Driver
  2008: 7/12, Chicago, Tony Stewart
  2008: 4/12, Phoenix, Jeff Burton
  2003: 6/15, Michigan, Sterling Marlin
  2002: 6/16, Michigan, Jeff Gordon
  2001: 6/17, Pocono, Dale Jarrett
  1997: 8/31, Darlington, Mark Martin
  1996: 7/21, Pocono, Rusty Wallace
  1993: 10/3, N. Wilkesboro, Harry Gant
  1992: 3/29, Darlington, Bill Elliott
  1991: 8/24, Bristol, Ricky Rudd
  1990: 8/25, Bristol, Terry Labonte
  1989: 6/18, Pocono, Dale Earnhardt
  1984: 10/21, Rockingham, Dave Marcis
  1984: 2/26, Richmond, Darrell Waltrip
  1979: 10/14, N. Wilkesboro, Benny Parsons
  1978: 3/19, Atlanta, Cale Yarborough
  1977: 10/9, Charlotte, Buddy Baker
  1974: 7/20, Nashville Fairgrounds, Bobby Allison
  1971: 7/18, Trenton, James Hylton
  1969: 6/26, N.C. Fairgrounds, David Pearson
  1966: 9/5, Darlington, Jim Paschal
  1966: 4/9, Greenville, Richard Petty
  1965: 5/15, Winston-Salem, Ned Jarrett
  1958: 7/25, Monroe, Buck Baker
  1957: 6/15, Tenn.-Carolina, Lee Petty
  (NASCAR)(11-6-2009)

• Goodyear News Release -- Daytona test: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company brought 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the Daytona International Speedway for a test this past Monday and Tuesday for Daytona 500. The goal was to build upon the information gathered during a test at Daytona on September 22-23 and finalize the tire recommendation for next year's Daytona 500.
  Participating in this week's test were A.J. Allmendinger (#44 Ford), Marcos Ambrose (#47 Toyota), Kurt Busch (#2 Dodge), Kyle Busch (#18 Toyota), Erik Darnell (#96 Ford), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Chevy), Sam Hornish (#77 Dodge), Matt Kenseth (#17 Ford), Brad Keselowski (#12 Dodge), Sterling Marlin (#09 Chevy), Jamie McMurray (#26 Ford), Paul Menard (#98 Ford), Juan Pablo Montoya (#1 and #42 Chevy), David Ragan (#6 Ford), David Reutimann (#00 Toyota), Regan Smith (#78 Chevy) and Scott Speed (#82 Toyota).
  The September test featured four teams and provided a baseline from which to start. Goodyear returned this week with a greater number of cars to better simulate race conditions. Cars tend to move around more when running in a big pack at Daytona, which then has an effect on the tires with the highly worn track surface. The highlight of this week's test was three different drafting sessions involving all the cars. The group ran a 25-lap run on Monday afternoon, a 15-lap run early Tuesday morning and a 30-lap run shortly after that. In the Monday session, all the cars were on the same tire set-up. On Tuesday, four different combinations were used throughout the field. One other wrinkle was that the teams integrated a new rear shock package mandated by NASCAR. Overall, Goodyear was pleased with the results. "We're very happy with the results of this week's test," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of race tire sales. "Overall grip and wear was good, and we also improved the appearance of the tire over the course of a run compared with the past. Like always, our engineers will review all the data and finalize the race recommendation for next year's 500 so we can start production. This was a big undertaking, not only for us but for NASCAR and all the teams that made time in their schedules to come down to Daytona and participate. With the large draft runs, we were able to more accurately simulate race conditions."(Goodyear PR)(11-6-2009)

• Chase Notes / Facts: Chad Knaus pitted #48-Jimmie Johnson at the right time and stole a sixth place at Talladega, putting tons of daylight between the #48 and the nearest contenders. Texas doesn't look promising for his challengers as Johnson has four podium finishes [1st, 2nd, 3rd] in his last six starts at TMS. He ran his Top 15 or better Chase streak to a simply amazing 33 races. Update on the highlights of that streak:
  * No finish worse than 15th
  * 29 Top 10s out of 32 races
  * 22 Top 5s
  * 20 Podium Finishes
  * 11 Wins
  Kurt Busch threatened to clinch Chase I early in 2004, but a blown engine in race #6 at Atlanta caused a 42nd place finish and allowed Johnson to make a strong run that stopped just 8 points short of overtaking Busch at Homestead. Johnson led by 183 points at this time last year but only managed a 15th at Texas and that kept the #48 from clinching at Phoenix. #5-Mark Martin leads #24-Jeff Gordon by only 8 points heading to TMS. #42-Juan Pablo Montoya is 55 behind in 4th place and #14-Tony Stewart is 95 out in fifth. If Johnson decides to skip Texas to make it interesting, all four would be knee deep in the championship hunt. #11-Denny Hamlin's blown engine at Dega dropped him 11 points behind Carl Edwards for 10th place and the final speaking spot at the Las Vegas banquet. See year-by-year comparision after 7 races, race-by-race for 2009 on my Chase Stats page after race 7 page and Chase history, see how things would had looked back to 1975 if the Chase was used, Chase rules and more on my 2009 Chase Rules and History page.(11-5-2009)

• Final Talladega TV ratings: ABC's live coverage of the AMP Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway on Nov. 1 earned a final national household rating of 4.2, the highest rating so far among the seven races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The telecast averaged 6,627,058 viewers. In the past two seasons since ESPN returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007, the Talladega race has been the highest-rated race among the 10 races in the Chase. The race scored a 4.6 rating in both 2007 and 2008 (ESPN). View race-by-race TV Ratings, the TV Ratings Chart, comparisions and more on my 2009 TV Ratings page.(11-5-2009)

• Congrats: NASCAR's Richard Walkup and Martha joyfully announce the arrival of Anna Kaitlyn Walkup, born October 24th, 6 lbs, 8 oz, 18 3/4 in.(11-5-2009)

• Special Operation Homefront scheme for Kurt Busch: #2-Kurt Busch continues racing to support fundraising efforts for Operation Homefront this weekend at Texas. Miller Lite is donating $200,000 to the organization dedicated to serving our military families in need. This amount will grow by an additional $10,000 if Kurt and the #2 Miller Lite Dodge can achieve another top-10 finish in this weekend's race at Texas. He already scored one such bonus when he finished 10th in the Oct. 17 NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Kurt is also asking for fans to help in this worthy cause. You can do so in several manners. To make a $5 donation, just text the word T-R-O-O-P-S to 90999. The charge will appear on your wireless bill. Alternatively, visit millerlite.com/vets to make a donation and learn more about the great work of Operation Homefront. Fans attending this weekend's race can contribute to Operation Homefront by purchasing a "postcard" from the Kurt Busch (or Penske Racing) souvenir trailer. Fans will be able to inscribe the card with a personalized message to a serviceman or woman overseas. Penske Racing will submit the cards and 100% of the proceeds collected to OHF and the cards will be included in care packages sent directly overseas. The "Blue Deuce" will carry another cool paint scheme this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.(Tom Roberts PR), see images of the scheme on my #2 Team schemes page.(11-5-2009)

• Hendrick could be break record with a 1-2-3 finish: #48-Jimmie Johnson is almost assured of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title, but Hendrick Motorsports has another dominance record it can achieve. Rick Hendrick can become the first team owner in NASCAR history to sweep the top three spots in the standings. With three races remaining, Hendrick drivers hold down first, second and third with Johnson, #5-Mark Martin and #24-Jeff Gordon, respectively. #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, who drives for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, is 4th, 47 points behind Gordon and #14-Tony Stewart [tech alliance with Hendrick] is 87 points behind Gordon in 5th. Hendrick is the only organization to claim the top two spots in the standings since the modern era began in 1972. Terry Labonte won the 1996 championship when teammate Jeff Gordon finished second. Gordon also was second to Johnson in 2007.(read full story at ESPN)(11-5-2009)

• Some Season Stats so far:
  With three races remaining some stats:
  * 14 different race winners
  * 10 different Coors Light Pole winners
  * 42 drivers led at least one lap
  * 35 drivers have scored at least one Top 10 this year
  * Average Margin of Victory of 1.138 seconds
  * 16 races with an MOV under one second
  * Average of 10 leaders per race
  * Average of 20 lead changes per race
  * Average of 25 green flag passes for the lead all along the track
  * Average of 3,131 green flag passes per race
  * 53% of the cars finished on the lead lap
  * 83% of the cars were running at the finish.(NASCAR)(11-5-2009)

• Texas Rookie Notes/Facts: #20-Joey Logano was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the November 1 AMP Energy 500 at Talladega. Logano scored a third-place finish, his third top-five and seventh top-10 of the season. He claimed top rookie honors for the fourth consecutive race and for the 24th time in 2009. Logano scored top-10 finishes in both Talladega races this season (he finished ninth in the Aaron's 499 in April). Logano leads #82-Scott Speed by 37 points (236-199) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the November 8 Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in four fall races at Texas is fifth-place by Clint Bowyer in 2006. Bowyer is the only Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five in four fall races at Texas. Only once in 17 races at Texas has a Raybestos Rookie won the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win by 5.920 seconds over Jeff Burton in 2000. The best start by a Raybestos Rookie in four fall races at Texas is third by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Patrick Carpentier. Carpentier captured the top starting spot for the 2008 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (53 races).(Camp & Assoc./Raybestos), see rookie standings, history, facts and more on my 2009 Rookies page.(11-5-2009)

• Special guest in #43 pit: Air Force Gen. William M. Frasier III will sit on the #43 Valvoline Dodge pit box this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway as a guest of driver Reed Sorenson and Richard Petty Motorsports.(RPM)(11-5-2009)

• New Cup team to debut in 2010: Raymond Key, younger brother of NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner Curtis Key, announced he is currently assembling a Sprint Cup Series team with assistance from Key Motorsports. Key's Sprint Cup team, Keyed Up Motorsports, plans to debut in the 2010 Daytona 500. Key Motorsports, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, is providing technical and engineering support as well as engines, personnel and shop space to Keyed Up Motorsports for the Sprint Cup effort. Key Motorsports, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, is providing technical and engineering support as well as engines, personnel and shop space to Keyed Up Motorsports for the Sprint Cup effort. "I am excited to be working with Raymond and Keyed Up Motorsports on the Sprint Cup program," Curtis Key said. "Raymond has traveled with our Truck and Nationwide teams and has been a lot of help to us. He has wanted to start his own team and he feels it is the right time." Keyed Up Motorsports will field Chevrolets purchased from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., with the team being committed to the the first five races on the 2010 Sprint Cup Series schedule which include Daytona, California, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Bristol. Curtis and Raymond Key, both Virginia businessmen who developed their companies from humble beginnings, have selected #90 for the Keyed Up Motorsports entry, a number that is rich in Virginia racing history [#90 was run for decades by Virginia based Junie Donlavey, winning once at Dover]. While no announcements were made regarding a driver or sponsor for the #90 Keyed Up Motorsports Sprint Cup Series team, team owner Raymond Key says it will not be a start and park team.(HardcoreRaceFans)(11-4-2009)

• No Danica at Phoenix UPDATE but Daytona? Don't look for Danica Patrick to make her first NASCAR Nationwide Series start in the #5 JR Motorsports car at Phoenix International Raceway in two weeks, according to NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick. When asked before Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega if Patrick, who has signed to stay in the IndyCar Series with team owner Michael Andretti, would make her first NASCAR start near her Scottsdale, Ariz., home, his answer was short and simple. "No," Hendrick said. "That's not going to happen."
  According to sources within the NASCAR garage area, Patrick's asking price to compete in Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races is $300,000 per race. If she were to run a truck race and a Nationwide race on the same weekend, the price is $600,000. Even with the sheer amount of publicity that Patrick would bring to NASCAR, team owners don't appear interested in paying that price.(Sports Illustrated)(11-4-2009)
  UPDATE: Danica Patrick is nearing completion of a two-year contract with JR Motorsports, the NASCAR Nationwide Series operation owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a source close to the negotiations described them as "in the final phase." The partnership is expected to make its on-track debut during next February's Daytona Speedweeks. Both the Patrick and Earnhardt camps declined comment. Patrick will compete in NASCAR's second-largest series for JR Motorsports while continuing to race full-time for Andretti Green Racing in IndyCar. Earnhardt and Patrick already have a corporate connection, in current sponsorship deals with GoDaddy.com. The Web site registration service is a sponsor on JR Motorsports' #88 Chevy, which has been earned four Nationwide Series wins this season with Brad Keselowski at the wheel. Keselowski is leaving the team at season's end to drive for Penske Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. GoDaddy.co, also recently signed on to sponsor Hendrick's #5 Chevy beginning in 2010. That car is currently driven by Mark Martin, who is signed through 2011.(ESPN)(11-4-2009)

• Aflac Partners with ScottsMiracle-Gro on the #99: Aflac, primary sponsor of Roush Fenway Racing the #99 Aflac Ford that Carl Edwards drive, has announced a partnership with ScottsMiracle-Gro, giving the company primary sponsorship for six Sprint Cup races in the 2010 season. The partnership extends Scotts relationship with Carl Edwards, who earned his first Sprint Cup victory in 2005 in the Scotts-sponsored car. Scotts currently is the co-primary sponsor of Carl Edwards in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The Scotts paint schemes will appear on the #99 Ford for the following races: Daytona Shootout (February), Atlanta (March), Bristol (March), Texas (April), Richmond (May), and Charlotte (May). The 2010 season will mark the sixth consecutive season that Edwards will compete full time in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series.(RFR)(11-4-2009)

• Milestone start for Mears: #07-Casey Mears will make his 250th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, a mark that started with a 21st-place start and 27th-place finish in the 2003 Daytona 500. Since then, the 31-year old driver has earned one victory (Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte, May 2007) 12 top-five and 46 top-10 finishes, along with three pole awards. For the first time, the #07 Chevy will have Choctaw Casino Resort on board as the primary sponsor this weekend. Located in Durant, Okla., this is Choctaw's first venture into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing.(RCR)(11-4-2009)

• Special scheme for Montoya at Texas UPDATE: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special paint scheme on his #42 Target Chevy for the Dickie's 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.(TMS)(10-27-2009)
  UPDATE:Target partnered with four Hispanic influencers to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual Dream In Color campaign, which celebrates diversity. The campaign features Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Juan Pablo Montoya. The #42 Target Chevy team will run a very special Dream In Color paint scheme at Texas Motor Speedway. The 2009 dreamers were selected by Target for their compelling and encouraging stories and their passion to inspire greatness in others. Please visit target.com/dreamincolor for more information.(EGR)(11-4-2009)

• #6 car to support Boys and Girls Clubs: The #6 UPS Ford of David Ragan will carry a special Boys and Girls Clubs of America design in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The UPS Foundation and BGCA launched a program - Road Code- this year to help teach teens across the country the importance of safe driving. On Nov. 5, NASCAR driver David Ragan will unveil his newly designed UPS-sponsored race car which sports a Boys & Girls Club logo and the handprints of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas members who participate in the UPS Road Code safe driving program. These Club teens were on hand to assist Ragan in presenting his new Ford Fusion car and to enjoy watching a racing demonstration in Dallas. The Salt Lake City UPS Freight Center will be the featured Maximum Center at Texas Motor Speedway. The center will have its three-letter alpha code, SLC, on the wing of the #6 UPS Ford.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the scheme on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(11-4-2009)

• Dickies American Worker of the Year gets shot at $1 million: On Saturday, Nov 7th, 2009 Dickies American Worker of the Year Michael McGee to randomly select one of the 12 Chase drivers at Texas Motor Speedway. If the driver McGee selects takes the checkered flag at the Dickies 500 on Sunday, McGee will become an instant millionaire. McGee, an agricultural teacher and horse training business owner from Broken Bow, OK, was named the 2009 Dickies American Worker of the Year on Friday, October 30 at the Professional Bull Riders World Finals in Las Vegas. As the promotion's winner, McGee received $50,000 and an all-access, VIP trip for two to the Dickies 500 this weekend, which includes all track activities, a tour of the track's garage, a view of the race from exclusive seats in the Dickies suite, and most importantly, the chance to turn his $50,000 prize into $1 million.(Dickies/Edelman)(11-4-2009)

• Make-A-Wish helping boy meet Dale Jr.: Life hasn't always been easy for 4-year-old Bryce Tory, a Simi Valley youngster born with a congenital heart defect. But on Sunday, Bryce was all smiles when he learned his ultimate wish, to meet his favorite professional race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Texas this week, had been granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties. The foundation surprised Bryce and his parents, Yvonne and Dave Tory, on Sunday with a party at MB2 Raceway in Newbury Park to announce the news. Bryce and his family will be given a police and firefighter escort as they leave their home in Simi Valley for the airport on Thursday. Once in Texas, they will catch a helicopter ride to the racetrack to meet NASCAR driver Earnhardt Jr. and possibly see his #88 race car.(see full article at the Ventura County Star)(11-3-2009)

• Sad News - Johnny Fultz: Johnny Fultz, son of Jeff [part-time NNS/ARCA driver] and Angela Fultz, tragically lost his life in an automobile incident (supposedly Friday night/Sat morning). He was 21 years old.(Jeff Fultz site), no other details found.(11-1-2009)
  SERVICES: There will be a viewing on Sunday, November 8, and the funeral will take place on Monday, November 9, at Hodapp Funeral Home in Westchester, Ohio. Address is 8815 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, Weschester, Ohio 45069; 513-777-843. In lieu of flowers a contribution fund has been set up at Bank of America for his baby son: Bank of America, 368 W. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117 - Payable to: Jonathan Edward Fultz, Jr. Contribution Fund.(11-3-2009)

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