Tony Stewart, the Kings Royal and the Dream/ Erin Crocker Turns Down Grand Ole Opry Chick Fight Round 3/ Drunk Bus Driver/ TV Notes
Tony Stewart, the Kings Royal and the Dream
All this week we are prying into the mind of Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart, courtesy of an interview conducted by the General Motors PR staff. In our final installment in this three part series, we will looks at Eldora’s biggest events. This past weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Stewart announced that the 2006 Kings Royal would be sponsored by Crown Royal. The two time NASCAR Cup Champion says that he expects to see cars from both the World of Outlaws Sprint Series as well as drivers from the National Sprint Tour.
“Obviously, my team will be there and Steve Kinser has already committed to participate,” said Stewart. “Having Steve's involvement I think shows how much the Kings Royal event means to everybody, no matter which sanctioning body they have come from.”
A lot of teams will compete for a lot of money that weekend at Eldora but Tony Stewart will not be one of the drivers.
“If I were to get behind the wheel, I would probably mid-pack in the C Main,” said Stewart. “Trust me. I ran a winged car there at Eldora last year for the first time. I ran a 360 motor, not even a 410, and gained a huge, huge respect for those guys. I have been running a lot of the 360 races trying to get ready for a 410 but even though I am a Nextel Cup driver and ran Indy Cars, I am not ready to run a 410 sprint car around Eldora. It is one of those places that is very intimidating in a sprint car like that.”
A week ago, Tony Stewart announced Mopar’s sponsorship of the Four Crown Nationals at Eldora. The Big “E” other crown jewel, The Dream, will also see a repeat of Cup stars gracing the legendary high banks prior to the late model showcase. Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, J.J. Yeley, Denny Hamlin, Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney, Red Farmer, Ron Capps and Elliott Sadler are all expected.
“It was our second biggest event of the year,” said Stewart. “I think the atmosphere that was created around that was so huge, I don't think you can recreate it and truly appreciate what happened without being there and actually seeing it. It was so much fun to see guys like Kevin Harvick who literally was shaking when he buckled in his car. I have never seen Kevin nervous in my life, but I was standing there when he buckled in his car and his hands were shaking. I asked him what he was so nervous about, that we run around Bristol faster than he was going to go here. He told me he knew what he was doing at Bristol; he didn't know what he was doing there at Eldora. I told him not to worry, it would come to him. Then the bill came to me for the car he destroyed, $9,000 later.”
Harvick may not return but Stewart says he is working on a few other drivers.”I know Mark Martin wants to come this year. We are going to invite Rusty Wallace, see if we can drag him out of part-time retirement and put him in some selected events and let him have fun. My goal is to have 24 guys come to this event this year and from what I learned last year, I think it is something that is just going to be bigger and better.”
Tony Stewart says that the list of participating drivers will be updated on Eldora Speedway’s website.
Erin Crocker Turns Down Grand Ole Opry
Erin Crocker has passed on an opportunity most musicians would kill for, a chance to appear live on the Grand Ole Opry stage. According to her weekly diary on NASCAR.com, it is not that she hates country music, but rather that this weekend’s races at Nashville Superspeedway are too important to mess up. Crocker is slated to compete in the ARCA Re/Max Series as well as the NASCAR Busch Series event at the 1.33 mile tri-oval. Friday, she will practice both cars and qualify the ARCA car. On Saturday she is scheduled to qualify the Busch car, run the 130-lap ARCA race and then the 225-lap Busch race. So standing in the country music limelight is out of the question. Erin Crocker says in the article that she is a big country music fan, but this time business will have to step in the way of pleasure.
IRL, CCWS Merger News
In his column on www.speedtv.com, David Phillips reveals how both sides of the potential IRL, CCWS merger came together this past weekend in Long Beach.
IRL Website Features PJ Chesson
The Indy Racing League’s website www.IndyCar.com is featuring former World of Outlaws driver P.J. Chesson today. The story gives us an inside look on how PJ is living in the IndyCar world.
The Perfect Honeymoon
Catherine Bennett and Jason West getting married on the Mike & Mike's Mike & Mike in the Morning show on ESPN radio, their treat for winning a contest. As part of their winnings, the newlyweds will receive VIP treatment, attending the Indianapolis 500. Not a bad deal, throw in a trip to the Four Crown or Knoxville Nationals and I may be looking to get married too.
Chick Fight Round 3
Ok it wasn’t an actual fight but words (we don’t know what was said) were exchanged. So what happens in NASCAR when two people get in a squabble? They get a talking to by the folks in charge. According to the SCENE Daily http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/2006/04/10/scene_daily176.html, NASCAR is planning to sit down and talk with Nicole Lunders (Greg Biffle’s girlfriend) and Eva Bryan (Kurt Busch’s fiancée) before the next Cup race
Launders (left, dark hair) visited Bryan (blond, wisely remaining on the No. 2 pitbox)
Sunday at Texas after Busch got into the back of Biffle’s car, ending the day for a team that had one of the fastest cars all weekend.
The SCENE reports that NASCAR could take action to punish Lunders for her actions but probably will not do so immediately, due to the upcoming Easter weekend.
Drunk Bus Driver
Well go ahead and make your jokes about Tennessee. When some one from the state allegedly does something this stupid, the whole state does need to be ridiculed. A woman in Knoxville (Tennessee not Iowa) allegedly picked up a bunch of kids from school soused. Here is the link to the story. http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4744862 I need to point out that the alleged driver of the "Drunk Bus" was from Knoxville, in the eastern part of the state. That is my only defense for living in a state where people do things this stupid.
A Bigger Bang
Apparently I am having a bigger effect on people than I thought. Earlier this week we posted information of the flight path of an aircraft presumably carrying John Calipari. Apparently some fans Googled the coaches name, saw the story and decided to meet the coach in Olive Branch with the media that also found out because of the story. In today’s Commercial Appeal, columnist Geoff Calkins http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/sports_columnists/article/0,1426,MCA_468_4614958,00.html talks about how the fans knew where the presumed plane was going.
TV Notes
ESPN to Return to NASCAR with Daily Motorsports Show
Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times sat down for a question and answer session with George Bodenheimer, president of ABC Sports/ESPN. In the article, Bodenheimer tells the Times that the ESPN/ABC broadcasts will have a different look to them. Expect to see Rusty Wallace and granite Motorsports reporter Jerry Punch to play a large role. Bodenheimer says that ESPN will utilize their website as well as other outlets to keep fans in touch with what is going on the track while the networks are in commercial break. The network boss told Long that ESPN will return with a daily Motorsports show. No word if the show would be NASCAR only or feature other types of racing as well. Here is the link to the full article http://www.roanoke.com/sports/racing/wb/60628 .
TV Listings (all times eastern)
Saturday
11:00 am NASCAR Busch Qualifying Nashville (LIVE) SPEED
1:30 pm ARCA RE/MAX Series Nashville (LIVE) SPEED
3:30 pm Busch Series Race Nashville FX
7:30 pm Speed News SPEED
Sunday
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (LIVE) SPEED
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of R.E. Technologies, FOX and NASCAR Digital Entertainment.
All this week we are prying into the mind of Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart, courtesy of an interview conducted by the General Motors PR staff. In our final installment in this three part series, we will looks at Eldora’s biggest events. This past weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Stewart announced that the 2006 Kings Royal would be sponsored by Crown Royal. The two time NASCAR Cup Champion says that he expects to see cars from both the World of Outlaws Sprint Series as well as drivers from the National Sprint Tour.
“Obviously, my team will be there and Steve Kinser has already committed to participate,” said Stewart. “Having Steve's involvement I think shows how much the Kings Royal event means to everybody, no matter which sanctioning body they have come from.”
A lot of teams will compete for a lot of money that weekend at Eldora but Tony Stewart will not be one of the drivers.
“If I were to get behind the wheel, I would probably mid-pack in the C Main,” said Stewart. “Trust me. I ran a winged car there at Eldora last year for the first time. I ran a 360 motor, not even a 410, and gained a huge, huge respect for those guys. I have been running a lot of the 360 races trying to get ready for a 410 but even though I am a Nextel Cup driver and ran Indy Cars, I am not ready to run a 410 sprint car around Eldora. It is one of those places that is very intimidating in a sprint car like that.”
A week ago, Tony Stewart announced Mopar’s sponsorship of the Four Crown Nationals at Eldora. The Big “E” other crown jewel, The Dream, will also see a repeat of Cup stars gracing the legendary high banks prior to the late model showcase. Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, J.J. Yeley, Denny Hamlin, Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney, Red Farmer, Ron Capps and Elliott Sadler are all expected.
“It was our second biggest event of the year,” said Stewart. “I think the atmosphere that was created around that was so huge, I don't think you can recreate it and truly appreciate what happened without being there and actually seeing it. It was so much fun to see guys like Kevin Harvick who literally was shaking when he buckled in his car. I have never seen Kevin nervous in my life, but I was standing there when he buckled in his car and his hands were shaking. I asked him what he was so nervous about, that we run around Bristol faster than he was going to go here. He told me he knew what he was doing at Bristol; he didn't know what he was doing there at Eldora. I told him not to worry, it would come to him. Then the bill came to me for the car he destroyed, $9,000 later.”
Harvick may not return but Stewart says he is working on a few other drivers.”I know Mark Martin wants to come this year. We are going to invite Rusty Wallace, see if we can drag him out of part-time retirement and put him in some selected events and let him have fun. My goal is to have 24 guys come to this event this year and from what I learned last year, I think it is something that is just going to be bigger and better.”
Tony Stewart says that the list of participating drivers will be updated on Eldora Speedway’s website.
Erin Crocker Turns Down Grand Ole Opry
Erin Crocker has passed on an opportunity most musicians would kill for, a chance to appear live on the Grand Ole Opry stage. According to her weekly diary on NASCAR.com, it is not that she hates country music, but rather that this weekend’s races at Nashville Superspeedway are too important to mess up. Crocker is slated to compete in the ARCA Re/Max Series as well as the NASCAR Busch Series event at the 1.33 mile tri-oval. Friday, she will practice both cars and qualify the ARCA car. On Saturday she is scheduled to qualify the Busch car, run the 130-lap ARCA race and then the 225-lap Busch race. So standing in the country music limelight is out of the question. Erin Crocker says in the article that she is a big country music fan, but this time business will have to step in the way of pleasure.
IRL, CCWS Merger News
In his column on www.speedtv.com, David Phillips reveals how both sides of the potential IRL, CCWS merger came together this past weekend in Long Beach.
IRL Website Features PJ Chesson
The Indy Racing League’s website www.IndyCar.com is featuring former World of Outlaws driver P.J. Chesson today. The story gives us an inside look on how PJ is living in the IndyCar world.
The Perfect Honeymoon
Catherine Bennett and Jason West getting married on the Mike & Mike's Mike & Mike in the Morning show on ESPN radio, their treat for winning a contest. As part of their winnings, the newlyweds will receive VIP treatment, attending the Indianapolis 500. Not a bad deal, throw in a trip to the Four Crown or Knoxville Nationals and I may be looking to get married too.
Chick Fight Round 3
Ok it wasn’t an actual fight but words (we don’t know what was said) were exchanged. So what happens in NASCAR when two people get in a squabble? They get a talking to by the folks in charge. According to the SCENE Daily http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/2006/04/10/scene_daily176.html, NASCAR is planning to sit down and talk with Nicole Lunders (Greg Biffle’s girlfriend) and Eva Bryan (Kurt Busch’s fiancée) before the next Cup race
Launders (left, dark hair) visited Bryan (blond, wisely remaining on the No. 2 pitbox)
Sunday at Texas after Busch got into the back of Biffle’s car, ending the day for a team that had one of the fastest cars all weekend.
The SCENE reports that NASCAR could take action to punish Lunders for her actions but probably will not do so immediately, due to the upcoming Easter weekend.
Drunk Bus Driver
Well go ahead and make your jokes about Tennessee. When some one from the state allegedly does something this stupid, the whole state does need to be ridiculed. A woman in Knoxville (Tennessee not Iowa) allegedly picked up a bunch of kids from school soused. Here is the link to the story. http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4744862 I need to point out that the alleged driver of the "Drunk Bus" was from Knoxville, in the eastern part of the state. That is my only defense for living in a state where people do things this stupid.
A Bigger Bang
Apparently I am having a bigger effect on people than I thought. Earlier this week we posted information of the flight path of an aircraft presumably carrying John Calipari. Apparently some fans Googled the coaches name, saw the story and decided to meet the coach in Olive Branch with the media that also found out because of the story. In today’s Commercial Appeal, columnist Geoff Calkins http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/sports_columnists/article/0,1426,MCA_468_4614958,00.html talks about how the fans knew where the presumed plane was going.
TV Notes
ESPN to Return to NASCAR with Daily Motorsports Show
Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times sat down for a question and answer session with George Bodenheimer, president of ABC Sports/ESPN. In the article, Bodenheimer tells the Times that the ESPN/ABC broadcasts will have a different look to them. Expect to see Rusty Wallace and granite Motorsports reporter Jerry Punch to play a large role. Bodenheimer says that ESPN will utilize their website as well as other outlets to keep fans in touch with what is going on the track while the networks are in commercial break. The network boss told Long that ESPN will return with a daily Motorsports show. No word if the show would be NASCAR only or feature other types of racing as well. Here is the link to the full article http://www.roanoke.com/sports/racing/wb/60628 .
TV Listings (all times eastern)
Saturday
11:00 am NASCAR Busch Qualifying Nashville (LIVE) SPEED
1:30 pm ARCA RE/MAX Series Nashville (LIVE) SPEED
3:30 pm Busch Series Race Nashville FX
7:30 pm Speed News SPEED
Sunday
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (LIVE) SPEED
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of R.E. Technologies, FOX and NASCAR Digital Entertainment.
posted by Blake Johnson at 2:39 PM
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