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Week of 7/9/06
Stewart donates another million to Victory Junction
Tony Stewart Foundation Makes Second
Million Dollar Donation to Victory Junction Gang Camp
LOUDON, N.H., (July 14, 2006) - Two-time and reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart today announced his foundation's second donation of $1 million to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Located in Randleman, N.C., the Victory Junction Gang Camp is dedicated to creating empowering experiences for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. The camp was founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in memory of their son Adam.
"I really admire Kyle and Pattie Petty for the people they are and for the work that they do," said Stewart. "The Victory Junction Gang Camp was their idea, and they've done so much to make it happen. The Tony Stewart Foundation is proud to donate $1 million to the Victory Junction Gang Camp so that Kyle and Pattie can continue to provide incredible experiences to kids who need it most."
"Having Tony's support has been huge for Victory Junction," said Petty, an eight-time race winner in the Nextel Cup Series. "He was one of the first drivers to get on board with us, and beyond the money he and his foundation have donated to the camp, he's brought notoriety, which has helped fuel interest in the camp. It's just one more example of how when we're on the track we're fierce competitors, but off the track we're all united in trying to improve the lives of others, especially children. I've always admired his charitable work and it's an honor to have him as a part of the Victory Junction family."
This is Stewart's third major contribution to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, with his first donation having come in 2001 thanks to the collective efforts of Stewart, The Home Depot, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. When Stewart competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, he pledged $100 for every lap he completed, with The Home Depot, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing each matching Stewart's donation. And after completing all 600 laps, $240,000 was raised for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
In November of 2003, the Tony Stewart Foundation pledged $1 million to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The Foundation met that goal by hosting benefit concerts at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center in Paducah, Ky., and by staging the Nextel Prelude to the Dream - a dirt track race among Nextel Cup drivers at the Stewart-owned Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
The Tony Stewart Foundation Benefit Concerts featured recording artists Diamond Rio, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar and Kid Rock, who made a surprise appearance at last year's event. And the 2005 Nextel Prelude to the Dream featured a who's who of NASCAR drivers, as Petty, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney and Kenny Wallace raced to a packed crowd, who in addition to seeing a great race, saw a portion of their admission fee go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
This year's Nextel Prelude to the Dream was originally scheduled for June 7, but rain postponed it to Sept. 6. Nonetheless, drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley will join Prelude veterans Petty, Harvick, Kenseth, Labonte and others in raising even more money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Stewart now has cumulative unrestricted donations totaling over $2 million to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. He is a founding member of the Victory Junction Gang Camp, along with the Pettys, actor Paul Newman and the Bahre family - owners of New Hampshire International Speedway.
About the Victory Junction Gang Camp:
Founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie in honor of their late son Adam, the Victory Junction Gang Camp is a year-round, multi-disease camp serving children from the Carolinas and Virginia. The camp provides sessions to children ages seven to 15 with life-threatening illnesses. The Victory Junction Gang Camp has a racing theme that allows campers to begin their experience by entering the camp through a tunnel and crossing a starting line into the world of racing. The Victory Junction Gang Camp's 75-acre site has more than 36 buildings, including a dining hall, gym, pool, theater, therapeutic equestrian center, arts and crafts center, race shop and 16 camper cabins. The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a proud charity of NASCAR, opened in June 2004 and is free to children and their families. For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org.
About the Tony Stewart Foundation:
Established in August of 2003, the Tony Stewart Foundation was created to raise funds for future donation to groups caring for chronically ill children and drivers injured in motorsports activities, as well as to support other charitable organizations in the protection of various animal species. Charities actively supported by the Foundation include the Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Indiana Special Olympics, Greyrescue (Greyhound Rescue Organization), the Charlotte (N.C.) Metropolitan Zoo, and Kyle & Pattie Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp. For more information, visit www.tonystewart.com.
July 15, 2006
600th consecutive start for Roush driver
Mark Martin will make his 600th consecutive start this weekend in New Hampshire. The streak goes all the way back to February 14th 1988 and all have been with owner Jack Roush. During this time, Mark has 35 Cup wins, 41 polls, 366 top 10's and was championship runner-up 4 times. July 13, 2006
Who's hot going into this weekend?
Jeff Burton sits 4th in points after his second place run last week
Kurt Busch has 5 straight top 10's
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is doing it with consistency, 8 top 15's in 9 races July 13, 2006
TRACK STATS | NEW HAMPSHIRE
Only 8 races left until The Chase for the Championship
Distance: 1.058-mile oval
Banking/Turns 1-4: 12 º
Front and backstretches: 1,500 ft.
Miles/laps: 317.4 miles, 300 laps
Last year's poll sitter: Brian Vickers
Last year's winner: Tony Stewart
Up for grabs: $5.2 million July 13, 2006
Edwards to run triple duty
Carl Edwards will try a triple duty weekend at New Hampshire. He'll run in his normal rides in the Busch and Cup Series, but he'll also run in the Whelen Modified race as well driving a Mustang. If he completes every lap, he could end up driving 634 miles. July 13, 2006
Burton to drive for Harvick's Busch team
Jeff Burton will drive the Kevin Harvick owned #77 Busch car this weekend to try and help the team evaluate how they are doing. The cars regular driver Burney Lamar will be back at Martinsville. July 13, 2006
Gordon spins Kenseth for Chicago win
Race Recap: Chicagoland
JOLIET, ILL. -- Jeff Gordon won his 75th career victory Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway after accidentally bumping race leader Matt Kenseth just a few laps from the finish.
The tap to the rear of Kenseth's Roush Ford sent his car spinning down the track but he restarted the race in ninth position.
While Gordon was racing to the checkered flag, Kenseth's car sputtered and ran out of gas. In just a few laps, the former champion went from leading the race to a 21st place finish. To conclude a terrible day, Kenseth tangled with David Stremme on the frontstretch coming to the start-finish line for the final lap and crashed into the outside wall.
Gordon raced near or at the front of the field throughout the day but Kenseth led more laps.
Jeff Burton was second and Kyle Busch third.
The crisp, sunny day started with a startling morning announcement by Chip Ganassi Racing. Former Indianapolis 500 winner and current Formula One star Juan Carlos Montoya from South America will chuck his Formula One career and take over driving duties for Ganassi's Texaco-sponsored Dodge in 2007.
With Montoya watching, pole winner Jeff Burton led the 267-lap race until the first scheduled pit stop. Four-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon took the lead coming out of the pits and held it until Kevin Harvick went to the front at about the 100-lap mark. Bobby Labonte, driving the popular Petty Enterprises #43 Dodge, moved into contention behind Harvick.
Following another caution for debris, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., took his Budweiser Chevy to the front for a while before former champion Matt Kenseth charged to the front.
Reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart ran with the leaders for most of the day, but ran out of fuel late in the race and had to settle for a 32nd place finish.
Point leader Jimmie Johnson struggled throughout the race with an ill-handling Chevrolet but managed to finish sixth. July 9, 2006
NASCAR Statement: Juan Pablo Montoya
NASCAR Statement Regarding Juan Pablo Montoya’s Entry Into NASCAR
“Juan Pablo Montoya’s entry into NASCAR is historic,” said NASCAR president Mike Helton. “It encompasses all the things that are important to NASCAR, the things that we've worked very hard to establish. Juan Pablo is someone who touches not only the Hispanic fan base, but also is a driver with an international following. NASCAR has had success with drivers from other racing backgrounds who have come to NASCAR and done well, but to have Juan Pablo say, 'I want to compete here,' is historic,” Helton said. July 9, 2006
Ganassi signs F1's Montoya for 2007
Montoya to Join Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Drive No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge
CONCORD, N.C. (July 9, 2006) --- Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has signed a multi-year deal with the organization to compete in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series beginning in 2007. Montoya will become the first Formula 1 regular to ever join the NEXTEL Cup ranks when he assumes the driving duties of No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger next season.
“We are thrilled to be getting a driver of this caliber to put into the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge,” said Chip Ganassi. “Juan Pablo is one of the best race car drivers in the world. He is a former CART Champion, Indy 500 winner and Formula 1 driver that will bring a much needed veteran presence to our team.”
"We are very happy to have such an accomplished driver behind the wheel of the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge” said Mark Nelson, president of Chevron Global Lubricants. “His impressive CART, IndyCar and Formula 1 record is sure to translate into success on the NASCAR circuit as well."
The 30-year-old Montoya joins CGRFS with impressive open-wheel credentials. He has made 137 starts between the CART, IndyCar and Formula 1 Series’ where he’s tallied 18 wins, 26 poles, 60 top-five and 79 top-10 finishes. Over his five complete seasons in Formula 1, Montoya has finished sixth or better in the standings. He will become the first Formula 1 driver in the 58-year history of NASCAR to compete on the circuit full-time.
The Colombia native and Team Owner Chip Ganassi are no strangers. Montoya drove for Ganassi’s open-wheel team during the 1999 and 2000 CART seasons. Montoya captured the CART Championship and Rookie of the Year honors in 1999, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the series. The following year he visited victory lane three times for the Ganassi team, including a win at the prestigious Indianapolis 500. He and legendary British driver Graham Hill are the only two drivers in history to win both the Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix of Monaco (2003). Following his two years with Ganassi, Montoya made the jump to Formula 1.
“I am so happy to be entering the fastest growing racing league in the world,” said Montoya. “I’ve thought about this for quite some time but the opportunity had to be right. I’ve known and worked with Chip for a number of years and this situation could not be better for me. I have a lot of confidence in my ability as a race car driver and in Chip and Felix as owners. I know the transition will not be easy but I can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”
Montoya began racing karts in 1981 at the age of six and by nine he won the Children’s National Kart Championship. In 1986 he won the junior division of the National Championship and finished his karting career by taking the Kart Junior Championships in 1990 and 1991. In 1998 won the prestigious Formula 3000 Championship.
Montoya will pilot the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger while running for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year title along with an assortment of NASCAR Busch Series races. Texaco/Havoline will also be celebrating its 20th season as a primary NASCAR sponsor in 2007. July 9, 2006
Evernham on Mayfields comments
In response to Jeremy Mayfield's claim that his owner Ray Evernham is not around the racetrack enough.
RAY EVERNHAM (CEO Evernham Motorsports)
NOTE: Statement from Chicagoland on Sunday morning.
“My commitment to building a championship caliber motorsports organization for numerous racing series and multiple teams has never wavered. Neither has my commitment to providing the best people and resources for our race teams. What has changed is my job. I'm running a significant business with operations in the US and the UK. I have tremendous responsibilities to our sponsors and business partners away
from the race track. That's been my focus this season. And, that's why I've put smart, talented people such as Sammy Johns, competition director, Mark MArdle, engine program director, and Dr. Eric Warren, engineering director, in charge of day-to-day operations at the track.”
”Jeremy and I talked this weekend, and we're on the same page. We're both unsatisfied with the performance of his team. We know the potential is there and that Jeremy is a talented driver. It's frustrating when you can't quickly find the solution. That doesn't mean we aren't trying. Jeremy and I are going to continue to work on getting this team where it needs to be. There's a lot of racing left this season and I'm confident that we can get this program on track.” July 9, 2006
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