Hamlin holds on to win Martinsville!

Denny Hamlin finally broke through at Martinsville Speedway after two close calls, and it wasn't Hendrick Motorsports he had to beat.

Hendrick's drivers dominated all race, but Hamlin foiled Jeff Burton's late strategy of staying out while the rest of the leaders pitted, passing his fellow Virginia native on the 427th lap and holding on Sunday for his fourth career victory.

Jeff Gordon, who along with Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson combined to win eight of the previous 10 races on the smallest, tightest oval in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, rallied to finish second, followed by Burton, Johnson and Tony Stewart.

"First Virginia win for me," Hamlin said in Victory Lane. "Finally. The curse is over, I think. I hope. We've had such bad luck over these first few weeks."

Hamlin arrived 15th in the point standings, but held on after twice finishing in the top three as one of the only cars able to run with the Hendrick teams here.

He also had a chance to win at Bristol two weeks ago, but a fuel pickup problem on the restart of a two-lap sprint to the finish caused him to fade to sixth.

"It finally feels good to come here and get a win," said Hamlin, a native of Chester. "Can't wait, man. This is a sign of things to come, I believe."

The Hendrick cars dominated again, with Johnson, Gordon and Earnhardt all leading for long stretches, and Casey Mears running mostly in the top 10.

But Hamlin and Burton outsmarted the Hendrick drivers in the pits late, and likely benefited from the 18 cautions all coming before their moves put them in front.

"It came down to pit strategy, and Denny and those guys definitely did the right strategy," Gordon said, believing Hamlin had taken two late tires to his four.

When Gordon headed for pit road on lap 389, Burton was running second and decided to stay out. Most of the front-runners also pitted, including Hamlin, but he just stopped for fuel while the rest took tires, allowing him to beat Gordon off pit road.

Hamlin made quick work of the cars between his and Burton's, pulling onto Burton's bumper with 75 laps to go. He moved inside to challenge for the lead on the next lap, then did it again with 73 laps to go, passing Burton to take the lead for good.

Gordon passed Burton with less than seven laps to go, and the normally mild-mannerd and diplomatic Burton was left seething about rookie Michael McDowell's conduct.

"We had one driver that I thought was real inconsiderate," Burton said of McDowell, who was making his series debut for Michael Waltrip Racing and, in Burton's mind, could have been smarter about getting out of the way of the contenders for the finish.

"He better learn some manners or he's going to get taught."

Gordon, the pole-sitter, led 90 laps, while Earnhardt led a race-high 146 and Johnson, seeking his fourth straight victory on the paper-clip-shaped layout, led 135.

"Our car was unbelievable in the first half of the race," Gordon said. But after taking tires late, "the car just never took off," he said.

The race also went well for Jamie McMurray, who arrived 36th in points and having to race his way into the field. He did that, qualifying fifth, and then backed it up, running up front most of the day before finishing eighth. He's now 30th in points.

Holmes Gives Toyota First NASCAR Camping World Series Win!

ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Eric Holmes dashed into the lead from his starting spot on the outside of the front row and never looked back as he went on to win the NASCAR Camping World Series West season opener Toyota NAPA Auto Care 150 at All American Speedway before a sell-out crowd on Saturday.
Holmes held off the competition in a two-lap dash to the finish, as a late-race caution extended the race distance for a green-white-checkered finish. He won by a margin of .478 of a second, to give Toyota its first victory in the NASCAR Camping World Series.
David Mayhew, who had challenged Holmes throughout much of the event, battled back from a wild late-race scramble to take the runner-up spot. Defending champion Mike David was close behind in third. Johnny Borneman took the fourth spot, followed by Moses Smith in fifth.
The event marked a return to All American Speedway, where the NASCAR Camping World Series West last visited in 1982.
With the victory, Holmes became the first driver to secure a spot this year in the prestigious postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES WEST-TOYOTA NAPA AUTO CARE 150 Results
Saturday
At All American Speedway
Roseville, CA
Lap length: 0.333 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 153 laps, 43.577 mph, $7,550.
2. (3) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 153, $4,500.
3. (4) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 153, $3,600.
4. (22) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 153, $4,109.
5. (21) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 153, $2,560.
6. (18) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 153, $2,350.
7. (9) Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., Chevrolet, 153, $2,300.
8. (11) Jim Warn, Aurora, Ore, Chevrolet, 153, $2,065.
9. (8) Jamie Dick, Albuquerque, N.M., Chevrolet, 153, $2,200.
10. (19) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Ford, 153, $2,175.
11. (17) Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash., Chevrolet, 153, $1,650.
12. (20) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 153, $1,600.
13. (1) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 153, $3,575.
14. (14) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 153, $2,050.
15. (6) Jeff Barkshire, Auburn, Wash., Dodge, 152, $2,025.
16. (5) Eric Schmidt, Roseville, Calif., Chevrolet, 152, $1,500.
17. (7) Austin Cameron, El Cajon, Calif., Toyota, 148, $1,975.
18. (13) Jonathan Hale, Rio Linda, Calif., Chevrolet, 148, $1,450.
19. (23) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 143, $1,925.
20. (16) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 123, $1,900.
21. (25) Lloyd Mack, Los Angeles, Calif., Ford, 112, accident, $1,375.
22. (24) Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Chevrolet, 100, accident, $1,350.
23. (15) Ryan Philpott, Tracy, Calif., Ford, 72, accident, $1,325.
24. (12) Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford, 66, overheating, $1,300.
25. (10) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 54, accident, $1,800.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 10 minutes 9 seconds
Margin of Victory: .478 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Bowles (85.874 mph, 13.960 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 76 laps.
Lead Changes: 0 among 1 driver.
Lap Leaders: E.Holmes 1-153.
Standings: 1. E.Holmes, 190; 2. D.Mayhew, 170; 3. M.David, 165; 4. J.Borneman, 160; 5. M.Smith, 155; 6. E.Richardson, 150; 7. E.Hardin, 146; 8. J.Warn, 142; 9. J.Dick, 138; 10. J.Patison, 134.
Unofficial

Adidas making waves across Junior Nation

NASCAR's most popular driver has teamed with one of the biggest names in apparel and lifestyle gear to launch one of the best selling product lines of 2008. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Adidas inked a licensing agreement last summer that has spawned a comprehensive selection of Dale Jr. footwear, apparel and accessories for race fans of all ages.

Merchandise started hitting the shelves in February, and now more than a dozen items from the Adidas Dale Jr. collection are now on sale in the NASCAR.com SuperStore.

"I've been wearing Adidas my whole life. It's who I am. Throughout my career I've been fortunate to partner with brands that fit my lifestyle, and Adidas fits," says Earnhardt Jr.

"Because of that, I'm excited to bring Adidas into our sport, introduce them to our loyal fan base, and work with them to apply their performance technologies and innovation to create cutting edge products that will help me as a race car driver and allow me to remain true to myself. I'm also really looking forward to working with the Adidas designers to continually create cool Adidas gear for my fans."

As Earnhardt Jr. alluded to, the arrangement includes the design and production of the groundbreaking driver's uniform and shoes that he is wearing this season.

But for the JR Nation, the biggest news is the catalog of merchandise that will be available to Junior's legion of devoted fans. The product is inspired by his personal style, and he will work with the Adidas' design team to put his thumbprint on every item from the line.

"Adidas is all about getting to know the athlete and making products perfect for them," says Mark Clinard, business director for Motorsports, Adidas America. "Our philosophy has always been to work closely with athletes and have them involved in the design process. Dale Jr. has been involved every step of the way providing feedback, comments and opinions."

Many of the garments offered to consumers feature Adidas' patented ClimaCool technology. Developed by the highly-acclaimed Adidas Innovation Team, ClimaCool pulls sweat away from the skin to the outer fabric face for quick evaporation, enhancing the body's natural temperature regulation. It is the same technology incorporated into the design of Junior's firesuit.

"Working with Dale Jr., we realized NASCAR has a huge emphasis on technical innovations for the car, but not the driver -- and Adidas can provide that critical link to help drivers stay more comfortable, more focused and ultimately help them perform better," Clinard elaborates. "Adidas is bringing a fresh approach and innovation to NASCAR athletes, including drivers, the pit crews and other support staff. As we're making his race suit and race shoes to help Dale Jr. perform better in the car, we're able to translate technology like ClimaCool out to the fan gear."

Hang In There! This Snow Can't Last Long!

BAM Racing, Microsoft deal showcasing small business

OK, let's see, we have Big Brew (Coors, Budweiser, Miller) in NASCAR, Big Cola (Coke, Pepsi, about 100 energy drinks and the like) ... yep, it's time to add Big Tech.

According to a blog posting on the company Web site from Eric Ligman, Microsoft U.S. senior manager of small business community engagement, Microsoft is heading to NASCAR with BAM Racing, and it's happening this weekend. That's BIG Tech.

"Microsoft, through the Microsoft U.S. Small Business Team, has just become one of the sponsors of the No. 49 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team for the 2008 season," Ligman wrote. "This sponsorship provides a connection to approximately 75 million NASCAR fans here in the U.S. The Microsoft sponsorship will feature the Microsoft Small Business name as well as the Microsoft Small Business Specialist (SBSC) 'blue badge,' which designates those Microsoft Partners who specialize on servicing the needs of small businesses."

Cool, right? Another company seeing the benefit of NASCAR's voluminous reach and sledgehammer demographics, big deal. Well, this is Microsoft we're talking here, and that's big news in and of itself, especially for a single-car team like BAM Racing and driver Ken Schrader.

However cool the Microsoft deal is, and it is cool, it's the BAM part of the sponsorship agreement that is killer.

"This sponsorship, which showcases Microsoft Small Business as well as our Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners, will hopefully not only raise more awareness of the professional solutions, services and assistance available to small businesses everywhere from Microsoft and its partners, but it will also provide an opportunity for our Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners to tap into a marketing venue not seen as financially available to many before," Ligman wrote in the blog.

The Microsoft Small Business name and Small Business Specialist blue badge will appear on the No. 49 BAM Racing car for the remainder of the season. In return, team owners Tony and Beth Ann Morganthau have offered, according to the blog:

• A custom promo race video that can be used online or on TV for marketing purposes

• A custom sponsor promo-pack which includes a custom sponsorship icon, official sponsorship certificate and royalty-free image license

• A custom race Web site with the SBSC company's logo or name

• A custom VIP race weekend sweepstakes program designed to get the SBSC partner's customers coming back over and over to their custom race Web site

• Plus, a custom race weekly newsletter available to be automatically sent to all e-mail registrants from their Web site

• Custom "On Hold" messages for the SBSC company's phone system announcing that the company is a proud sponsor of BAM Racing

• Two general admission tickets to the race of their choice* (subject to availability)

• Possible free primary sponsorship -- one business will be chosen to receive a free primary race sponsorship, a $300,000 value, according to the team

• A custom press release for the Microsoft SBSC partner to use highlighting the new sponsorship

• An exclusive one-time promotional price of $3,995, which includes all of the above for the remainder of the 2008 season; this is a one-time fee only and it gets all of the items above, including a logo on the car in the Microsoft section for the remainder of the season

As promotional plans go, this is a monster. For $4,000 per SBSC partner, the team basically builds in a marketing program with a VIP program on the other end. This weekend at Martinsville, the entire car will be done up in Microsoft colors, with the emphasis on the Small Business Specialist Community.

"We think this is a very exciting opportunity to work with all of our Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners and BAM Racing to really drive some awareness and excitement around SBSC and Microsoft Small Business," Ligman wrote.

Think about that as a business model. Say there are 10,000 Microsoft Small Business Specialists, and each takes the opportunity to buy into the program. That adds up to $40 million. You could run a nice, tiddly little racing team for $40 million, maybe even more than one.

That's good news for the Morganthaus, who have been solid supporters of the sport for several years and embarked upon this kind of ambitious sponsorship program in an effort to keep up with bigger teams.

There might be as much to talk about regarding the sponsorship program from BAM's side as Microsoft's. This weekend at Martinsville, it will be fun to find out more.

Kennedy named crew chief for 55 in MWR role switch

CORNELIUS, N.C. -- Michael Waltrip Racing on Tuesday announced that Bobby Kennedy and Paul Andrews will switch managerial roles beginning this week at Martinsville Speedway.

Kennedy will now serve as crew chief for Michael Waltrip and his No. 55 Toyota Camry team as Andrews will continue in a leadership role to supervise Michael Waltrip Racing's test teams.

"Paul did a great job in helping us reach our top-35 goal and I know he will continue his diligence with our test teams for the betterment of our organization," Waltrip said.

Waltrip is 30th in owner points after five races. He finished 23rd at Bristol to move up three spots in the standings and secure an guaranteed starting position for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville (1:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX).

Despite being on the outside of the 2007 owner points, Waltrip has qualified for every race this season including a front-row starting spot for the Daytona 500.

Kennedy and Waltrip have worked together since the late 1990s when they forged a crew chief-driver relationship in the former Busch Series.

"Bobby has always been there for me and my NAPA Auto Parts Camry team to help with our decision-making process," Waltrip said. "We have known each other for a very long time and I guess you can say that we are made for each other. Going to Martinsville with Bobby knowing we have the luxury of being in the top 35, is a relief. Now, it is all about being successful in the race."

First Female Driver From Wallace Clan Debuts At Martinsville!

Chrissy Wallace (No. 03 Toyota) hopes to follow her father Mike’s footsteps into NASCAR national series competition.

If she’s successful in qualifying for Saturday’s Kroger 250, both father and 19-year-old daughter will have made their debuts at Martinsville Speedway.

Mike Wallace, a four-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck winner, finished second in his maiden NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Martinsville on Oct. 28, 1990.

He’ll also spot for his daughter, who in 2007 became the first female driver to win a late model stock car race at historic Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The younger Wallace would become the ninth female to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Rookies don’t always benefit from having top equipment. Not Chrissy, whose team has 14 wins and the 2006 championship with Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota).

“Obviously, this is a big opportunity for me. I have to thank the Germains, Mike Hillman and Toyota for putting this deal together,” she said. “Our goal is to go out there and run a smart race and finish.”

Her father is happy to be going along for the ride.

“When I got the call from Chrissy after the test, It was very nice. She just wanted to tell me ‘thank you,’” said Wallace. “She said everything I told her on the radio made her run faster and she said she realized I really did know what I was talking about.

“She asked me to spot for her. I don’t even need to say it, I’m sure, but yes, I’m very proud.”

World of Outlaws Return to SPEED!

World Racing Group announced today that SPEED will be the exclusive television partner for World of Outlaws racing in 2008. The partnership will be anchored by five super-sized multi-hour events, three of which will be broadcast live, including the highly successful World of Outlaws World Finals season finale.

There will be 25 hours of Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Late Model Series action, featuring a combination of live and tape-delayed broadcasts beginning on May 23 with the super-sized three-hour Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown broadcast LIVE from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“The World of Outlaws broadcasts in 2007 showed us how exciting dirt track racing can be on television,” said Rick Miner, SPEED Senior VP of Production and Network Operations. “The success of the World Finals show from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway gave us a gameplan for ’08, as part of that plan we will be treating the five new super-sized events just as we do any other major motorsports event on SPEED, which should significantly raise the profile of World of Outlaws racing.”

A return to SPEED in 2008 as the exclusive television outlet for World of Outlaws racing will bring consistency and awareness to the viewers.

“The broadcast agreement with SPEED continues the solid growth we realized in 2007,” said World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter. “The more than 75 million viewers on SPEED give our corporate partners, like Advance Auto Parts, as well as our teams and our promoters, the greatest opportunity to reach our fans on a consistent basis. SPEED is the home for racing on television and we’re excited to again have the World of Outlaws on SPEED this season.”

Among the 25 hours of coverage will be a three-hour LIVE event with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to kick off the 2008 TV schedule on May 23 from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway; a two-hour Firecracker 100 special from Lernerville Speedway featuring the World of Outlaws Late Model Series; a two-hour Kings Royal special from Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway; a three-hour LIVE broadcast from the National Open at Williams Grove Speedway; and, the three-hour LIVE season-finale from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

2008 World of Outlaws Racing on SPEED Television Schedule

Air date Time Day Track City Race Date

May 23 8-11 p.m. Friday Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, N.C. May 23

May 31 4-5 p.m. Saturday Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg, Pa. May 15

June 8 1-2 p.m. Sunday Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg, Pa. May 16

June 15 4-5 p.m. Sunday Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 6

June 21 4-5 p.m. Saturday Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 7

June 28 3-4 p.m. Saturday Dodge City Raceway Park Dodge City, Kan. June 20

July 6 4-5 p.m. Sunday Dodge City Raceway Park Dodge City, Kan. June 21

July 13 5-7 p.m. Sunday Lernerville Speedway (LM) Sarver, Pa. June 28

July 19 4-6 p.m. Saturday Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio July 12

July 26 4-5 p.m. Saturday Ohsweken Speedway Ohsweken, Ontario July 22

Aug. 2 4-5 p.m. Saturday Ohsweken Speedway Ohsweken, Ontario July 23

Aug. 16 4-5 p.m. Saturday Deer Creek Speedway (LM) Grand Meadow, Minn. July 9

Aug. 23 4-5 p.m. Saturday Eldora Speedway (LM) Rossburg, Ohio July 25

Aug. 31 12-1 p.m. Sunday Sharon Speedway (LM) Hartford, Ohio July 26

Sept. 7 6-7 p.m. Sunday Tri-City Speedway (LM) Franklin, Pa. Aug. 31

Sept. 27 8-11 p.m. Saturday Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg, Pa. Sept. 27

Nov. 1 8-11 p.m. Saturday Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, N.C. Nov. 1

(LM indicates a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event. All other broadcasts feature the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.)

Happy Easter!

How Soon Could We Be Watching Live Local Racing?

Well, this question is on a lot of minds right now!

I will highlight some races coming up in Iowa:

March 29th-
Precision Restoration and Paint Icebreaker 200

Iowa State Fair Speedway

Des Moines, IA

Pratice 1PM to 3PM

Enduro Starts a 4PM

April 4th-
Season Opener - Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa
Season Opener - Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa
"Frostbuster" - Marshalltown Speedway, Marshalltown, Iowa
World Dirt Racing League - Davenport Speedway, Davenport, Iowa

April 5th-
Season Opener - Algona Speedway, Algona, Iowa
"FrostBuster" - Boone Speedway, Boone, Iowa
World Dirt Racing League - Davenport Speedway, Davenport, Iowa

April 6th-
Season Opener - I-35 Speedway, Mason City, Iowa
Season Opener - Benton County Speedway, Vinton Iowa

April 11th-
Season Opener - Marshalltown Speedway, Marshalltown, Iowa
O' Reilly USMTS National Tour, Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa

April 12th-
Season Opener - Adams County Speedway, Corning Iowa
Iowa Enduro Series, Mineral City Speedway, Fort Doge, Iowa
Season Opener - Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa
Deery Brothers Summer Series, 34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa
Spring Championships, West Liberty Raceway, West Liberty, Iowa

April 18th-
Deery Brothers Summer Series, Davenport Speedway, Davenport, Iowa
Season Opener - Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Season Opener -Cedar County Speedway, Tipton, Iowa

May 2nd-
Season Opener - Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Landon Cassill "DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET!"

Driving the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet, 18-year-old Landon Cassill will make his first start for JR Motorsports and the seventh of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career this weekend at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2007, Cassill made six starts for Hendrick Motorsports with the National Guard as his sponsor. The rookie recorded his best start (sixth) in his Nationwide Series debut, which was July 21, 2007 at Gateway International Raceway. He recorded his career-best finish (18th) at Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Sept. 22, 2007.

Cassill, who will drive in 16 races this season for JR Motorsports, will be competing for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year honor. This season, Landon shares the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with top drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Adrian Fernandez, Ron Fellows and Martin Truex Jr.

He finished seventh in the ARCA Series race on Feb. 9 at Daytona International Speedway. He drove the No. 88 Chevrolet, which is owned by Earnhardt and operated out of JR Motorsports. Cassill, who qualified eighth, ran inside the top-10 for 55 of the total 80 laps.

When Landon got his big break -- an invitation to the GM Racing Development competition -- he took full advantage. The competition was held at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga., and concluded at Nashville Superspeedway. Cassill was one of 16 drivers to participate in the three-stage evaluation process and ultimately was offered a contract by team owner Rick Hendrick.

Testing with Hendrick Motorsports has helped Cassill not only develop familiarity with the Chevrolet Impala SS, but also with interim Nationwide Series crew chief Lance McGrew. He has gotten to know McGrew, Hendrick Motorsports' R&D crew chief, through testing with the organization's research and development team in 2007 and 2008. Landon continues to test the Impala SS for Hendrick Motorsports while racing for JR Motorsports.

The hood of the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet will honor Alabama's 128th Military Police Company this weekend. Most recently, the unit was activated on May 16, 2005 to aid hurricane recovery efforts in Louisiana and then again in the summer of 2006 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 128th awarded 16 Purple Hearts and 93 percent of the unit earned the Combat Action Badge for engaging or being engaged by the enemy. For 19 of the 21 National Guard-sponsored races this season, a different Army National Guard unit will be honored on the No. 5 Chevy.

"I'm just really excited to get back in the race car and go race. I'm excited to see the National Guard's men and women at the race track again, with the different brigades and units. I'm also looking forward to getting my season kicked off and get in a rhythm and get focused on running some races." Landon said. "I've been going to all the races this season and getting acquainted with the Nationwide Series and how it's run. I'm just getting focused on my first race this weekend at Nashville and doing as much testing as possible. I'm preparing myself physically and mentally for the race."

"I've learned a lot about how aggressive I need to be on the race track and when to be aggressive. I think I'm going to learn in these Nationwide Series races this year how to apply that. I'm also going to learn where your place is on the race track, when you need to use your bumper or your mirrors and also how to use your spotter."

Comparing his driving style to last year, Landon notes, "I think last year I was a little timid at times and needed that confidence. This year, I'm going to be able to hold some confidence. I'll go to the race track and not worry about who's next to me or who's behind me and just go out there and be aggressive and get after it."

"Seat time. Any time I can get in a race car, whether it's an Impala or Monte Carlo, that's the most important thing for me right now."

When asked about his expectations for the season, Landon says, "I definitely want to shoot high and run in the top-10. I also want to be a contender at every race I go to and be fast and represent my sponsor, the National Guard, as well as I can. We have great equipment at JR Motorsports, and I just want to make sure that I can be a driver who can get everything I can out of my race cars."

"It's going to be really cool to have some of the best Sprint Cup drivers racing in the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet this season. Seeing them run so well gives me a lot of confidence in my race cars and my team so that I can go out there and just focus on my driving. I'm hoping to learn a lot about how they approach the Nationwide Series events and what it takes to have successful races."

Good Luck this weekend Landon, we will be watching and cheering you on!

Reutimann Feels Pressure Of Replacing Dale Jarrett At Martinsville Speedway

David Reutimann understands the pressure of racing. He felt it heavy on his shoulders for more than a decade as he ran his own cars on short tracks throughout the Southeast, eking out a living race to race.

But he's probably never experienced the pressure that's in store for him when he crawls through the window of the UPS Toyota for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on March 30. That day he officially takes over for Dale Jarrett.

"There's always a certain amount of pressure no matter what you drive, but to step in that 44 car, knowing UPS and Dale Jarrett were instrumental in getting me behind the wheel of that car, you don't want to go out there and do anything stupid," said Reutimann. "It's a pretty daunting process. But hey, I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Reutimann began the season in the Aaron's Toyota, the same car he drove for Michael Waltrip Racing a year ago, but the plan was already in place for him to move into Jarrett's seat when the veteran stepped aside after Bristol. Rookie Michael McDowell will fill the opening left by Reutimann in the Aaron's Toyota.

"Driving the 44 car …that's a huge deal," said Reutimann. "There's always that uncertainty in racing and you're never going to know what's going to happen next, so this is something I could have never envisioned happening.

"I'm happy to be associated with UPS and be part of their program, but it still really bums me out that Dale Jarrett's stepping away from driving full time because he's done a lot for me.

"As happy as I want to be about having UPS as a sponsor and the relationship I have with them, I'm sad because he's not going to be over in that trailer for me to run over and ask a bunch of stupid questions which he always answered. He's always taken time for me."

And Reutimann admits, Martinsville could be one of the tracks he could still use a few of Jarrett's pointers. He finished 17th in last fall's Cup race at the tough half-mile track and was 33rd in last year's Goody's Cool Orange 500.

"Martinsville is, quite honestly a race track I've never done very well at and so hopefully we're going to change that," said Reutimann, who had one top-15 finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Martinsville. "It's a tough place and you have to have a really good car and things have to go your way.

"Coming to Martinsville makes you feel different than any other race track we go to. The pressure is definitely there, even it there's not a sponsor change and driver change. Hopefully I can turn it around and make it one of my better race tracks."

And he's always got a friend to turn to if he still needs help.

"I have his (Jarrett's) cell phone number, even his home number. As long as he doesn't change his numbers on me, I'll be in good shape," said Reutimann.

Tickets for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, March 30, and the Kroger 250, on Saturday, March 29, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Ticket prices for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 range from $42 to $77.

Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $37 in advance, $42 on race day. Kroger 250 tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5.

The Goody's Cool Orange 500 weekend kicks off on March 28 with Carilion Clinic Pole Day with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying.

Martinsville Speedway's ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Kenny Wallace Takes Over No. 28 Chevrolet In NASCAR Nationwide Series

MONROE, NC - (March 18, 2008) - Jay Robinson Racing announced that veteran NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace will be behind the wheel of the No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Wallace will make his debut in the car in Nashville during the running of the Pepsi 300.

“Kenny brings some valuable experience and history of success to the JRR team,” stated owner Jay Robinson. “I am more than confident that he will have the No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy running competitively on a weekly basis.”

“Jay Robinson is a well respected car owner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” Wallace said. “I am excited about the challenge of taking the No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy to the front and competing in the top 10 every week. I am very grateful for the opportunity to become part of the JRR team and I’m ready to go racing. I feel especially proud that I am part of the U.S. Border Patrol team and I look forward to helping them continue to raise awareness to recruit men and women to protect our borders.”

ESPN will have live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pepsi 300 from Nashville Superspeedway starting at 2:00pm/et, Saturday, March 22, 2008.

Contact: Jay Robinson Racing (704) 641-4900

Farmer City Raceway ‘Illini 100’ On April 4-5

Farmer City, IL — By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

There’s never been a dirt Late Model event in the state of Illinois quite like this one.

The inaugural ‘Illini 100’ will be, plain and simple, the biggest dirt Late Model show ever run in the Land of Lincoln.

Set for April 4-5 at Farmer City Raceway, the blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series program boasts a headline-grabbing $20,000 first-place prize from a total purse of nearly $100,000. It also figures to attract the most talented field and biggest crowd in the history of the venerable quarter-mile fairgrounds oval.

“There’s been a need for a really big Late Model race in Illinois for a long time,” said Don Hammer, who is beginning his fourth season as the promoter of Farmer City Raceway. “Dirt Late Model racing is incredibly popular in Illinois and every year there’s a ton of great races all over the state, but we’ve never had one major, big-money event that really stands out like you see in other states.

“Hopefully the ‘Illini 100’ can be that big event everyone in the dirt Late Model world identifies with Illinois. If the support is there – and I’m sure it is – then this year’s race at Farmer City will definitely be the start of a show that just grows bigger every year.”

With the foreseeable future for Farmer City Raceway looking bright in the wake of the town’s announcement that weekly racing will continue at the track for at least three more years, Hammer sees a season-opening spectacular like the ‘Illini 100’ as a perfect way to provide the speedway even more feel-good momentum.

“I might be a little bit prejudiced because I grew up here and raced (a dirt Late Model) here, but I believe Farmer City is one of the premier tracks in Illinois,” said Hammer. “A big race like the ‘Illini’ gives us the opportunity to attract a bunch of new fans and show them how exciting racing here can be.”

Hammer and his staff have already fielded ‘Illini 100’ ticket inquiries from fans in such varied states as Michigan, New York, North Dakota and Tennessee – not to mention neighboring states like Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin – so he has a first-hand sense of the growing interest in the event. It’s his mission to give the influx of spectators a springtime weekend to remember.

In that vein, a full slate of fun and excitement will comprise the ‘Illini 100,’ starting with an open practice session on Thurs., April 3, from 5-9 p.m. Free admission to the grandstand will give early-arriving fans and intrigued locals a chance to check out the star-studded group of drivers expected to participate in the event.

The WoO LMS ‘Illini 100’ competition will be spread over two nights, beginning on Fri., April 4, with time trials, qualifying heats and a special $1,000-to-win Douglas Pontiac-GMC-Dodge Dash for heat winners and two fast-timers. Sat., April 5, is reserved for B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers Race offering Farmer City’s regular weekly UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model purse ($1,000 to win/$150 to start) as well as UMP DIRTcar points, and the 100-lap headliner.

Farmer City’s other weekly UMP DIRTcar Racing divisions will get a chance to perform in the spotlight during the weekend as well. With Friday night being Farmer City’s regular evening of racing, the track’s UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks will race a weekly show on the Fri., April 4, undercard, and then the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will return on Saturday night for a $1,000-to-win special.

Fans will enjoy a host of auxiliary activities during the weekend, including a chance to experience Farmer City’s fast quarter-mile layout alongside a WoO LMS driver with the debut of the track’s new two-seater dirt Late Model and an autograph session with the ‘Illini 100’ entrants in the grandstand area before Saturday night’s program.

The fans will be able to visit with many of the best national, regional and local drivers, including the all-star roster of WoO LMS regulars. Leading the WoO LMS contingent to Farmer City is the tour’s pair of standouts who hail from central Illinois – Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, who won last year’s WoO LMS event at Farmer City, and Brian Shirley of Chatham, who will shoot for ‘Illini 100’ glory just two days after celebrating his 27th birthday. Both Babb and Shirley cut their racing teeth competing at Farmer City.

The WoO LMS points-chasers also includes defending champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., ’07 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., and 2008 Rookie of the Year contender Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan.

Other well-known names with plans to pursue the ‘Illini 100’ trophy include Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who won the 2006 WoO LMS title and is currently a Richard Childress Racing Development Driver; defending UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national champ Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who won the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Summernationals event at Farmer City; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.; Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill.; and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.

A bevy of Farmer City favorites are also expected to defend their home turf against the invaders, including former Farmer City titlist Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.; defending track champion and 2007 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Rookie of the Year Scott Bull of Fairbury, Ill.; Eric Smith of Shirley, Ill.; 2007 Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill.; Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill.; and Junior Shickel of Bloomington, Ill.

Reserved seats for the ‘Illini 100’ – encompassing the top-10 rows of the covered grandstand and the south bleachers – are now on sale. The remaining seats will be general admission.

Two-night weekend pass tickets are $40. Single-night tickets will be $15 for Friday and $30 for Saturday, with ages 6-15 admitted for $5 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. Children 5 and under will receive free admission to the spectator area.

Two-night adult pit passes are $60. Kids 4-11 will be allowed in the pit area for $15 each day, and children 3 and under will be admitted to the pits free of charge.

Camping on the Farmer City Raceway grounds is free for the weekend (no hookups). The 60 drive-in parking spots around the outside of turns one and two, meanwhile, can be reserved for the weekend at a price of $50.

Farmer City Raceway is conveniently located on Route 150 just off Exit 159 of Interstate 74, at the Farmer City/Dewitt County Fairgrounds.

For more information on the ‘Illini 100,’ visit www.farmercityraceway.net or call 217-737-7134 or 217-828-0078.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Build another Bristol? It's not as simple as it sounds!

From David Carviello of NASCAR.com

The seats climb inconceivably toward the Tennessee sky, the racetrack tilts to an impossibly steep angle, and on an overcast day the Blue Ridge Mountains cast the entire place in a spooky haze. But at Bristol Motor Speedway, nothing matches the noise. Once cars roll onto that white concrete surface, the wall of sound builds to an ear-splitting crescendo. The place almost vibrates from a horsepower-induced decibel level that can be felt right down to the bones.

It's part of what makes this place so ... well, the only word is overwhelming. It's far from the prettiest speedway you'll ever see, far from the fanciest, far from just about anything but mountains, horses and cows. But experiencing all those people and all that power in such a small, confined place can be staggering. It's easy to see why 160,000 spectators pack this place with regularity, and why the speedway doesn't have to spend a dime advertising a Sprint Cup race. The place sells itself.

It also makes you wonder -- why hasn't anyone built another Bristol? Why hasn't some executive from Speedway Motorsports Inc. or International Speedway Corp. taken the blueprint of this massively popular facility and constructed an exact replica in some other region that NASCAR is trying to court? Why is there this insistence upon building nearly identical 1.5-mile tri-ovals, when one race day at Bristol makes it so obvious what kind of action the race fans prefer to see?

It seems like such a no-brainer, except that it isn't. Racetrack companies like big tri-ovals for the same reason cities once favored multi-purpose sports facilities, because they're capable of hosting more than one kind of event. A short track, by nature, is more limited. But even if somebody built another big soup bowl of a racetrack and plunked it down in Los Angeles or Seattle or Denver, there would be no guarantee of success -- particularly success of the magnitude this place has experienced in the last decade. Bristol Motor Speedway flourishes because of the unique confluence of circumstances that created it, circumstances that cannot necessarily be manufactured somewhere else.

The place really has no business being this popular. Located deep in Appalachia, far from any major metropolitan area, in a region of the Volunteer State with just 6,000 hotel rooms, Bristol is demographically and geographically akin to places like Rockingham and North Wilkesboro and Darlington, small-town Southern tracks that struggled to keep up with progress and lost races as a result. There are so few places to stay that roughly 40 percent of attendees camp. Others find lodging wherever they can, from offseason ski areas in North Carolina to unused dorms at nearby Virginia Intermont College.

This isn't, by any stretch of the imagination, the kind of new or emerging market targeted by NASCAR executives. The nearest big city is Knoxville, two hours away, and a stretch of the definition of a big city. The Tri-Cities is a peaceful, bucolic region full of friendly people and striking scenery, the kind of place where you see livestock grazing in fields next to the road. Its sporting arena bookends are the Mini Dome, East Tennessee State's multi-purpose athletic facility, and the big speedway looming over highway 11E.

Everything tells you that this rural Southern track should be struggling just as so many other rural Southern tracks have, living in constant fear of schedule realignment or the whims of Bruton Smith's imagination. Yet for two weekends a year, people clamor to the place. Bristol's growth in many ways mirrored the explosive growth of NASCAR itself, mushrooming from the 70,000-seat facility purchased by SMI in 1996 to the behemoth on display today. The waiting list was cut off at 84,000 before it was replaced by a lottery for the few season tickets that become available each year. Former track owner Larry Carrier, or so the story goes, once issued a press release urging spectators not to show up. He didn't have room for any more of them.

Bristol deals with the same factors that have weighed down so many other venues, but prospers in spite of them. That's partly due to the impact of Smith, who has spent $180 million turning this place into the celebrated venue it is today, stopping at nothing -- even the side of a mountain, which he detonated out of the way -- to meet the ever-increasing ticket demand at his short track. That's a stark contrast to what happened at North Wilkesboro and Darlington, which withered from neglect. But talk to the people who run Bristol, and you'll find there's another reason for its strange success -- one that actually has nothing to do with the speedway at all.

In this case, Bristol's location on the map works in its favor. The racetrack may be Southern, but its fan base speaks with a distinct Midwestern accent. The facility's position in northeast Tennessee makes it accessible to fans in places like Ohio and Indiana, for whom Bristol is an easy drive. The place has added roughly 90,000 seats since SMI purchased it 12 years ago, and the vast majority of those have been sold to race fans in the lower Midwest who can drive straight into town via Interstates 77 and 81. The NASCAR market saturation that exists in other parts of the South is absent here, because so many of Bristol's ticket holders come from somewhere else.

Yes, the scarcity of short tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule surely helps, as does the theatric nature of the venue itself. But there's no single thing that makes Bristol the extraordinary place that it is, nothing that can be easily transplanted to another city and stamped out like a car license plate. And even if they tried -- and they might, given that one or more of ISC's future speedway ventures are projected as short tracks -- the imitation would always pale when compared to the majesty and spectacle of the real thing.

Rain washes out qualifying for Sunday's Food City 500

Steady rains at Bristol Motor Speedway forced NASCAR to cancel Friday's Sprint Cup qualifying session for Sunday's Food City 500 at the .533-mile short track.

Based on NASCAR's rainout rules, which order the field for the first five races based on the previous year's owner points, reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole for the fifth points race of 2008, with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon beside him on the front row.

Forty-six cars were to contend for 43 starting spots. With qualifying rained out, the lowest three cars in current owner points failed to make the field -- the No. 10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by Patrick Carpentier, the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet driven by John Andretti and the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford driven by Jeff Green.

Both Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett qualify for the race as past Cup champions. Among those required to make the field on speed, Ken Schrader, Joe Nemechek, Mike Skinner, Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers and David Reutimann will race on Sunday, based on their standing in 2008 owner points.

Johnson was happy to claim the top starting position, even if he didn't win it on the track.

"This is one of the most important tracks for qualifying position and pit road pick," he said. "We worked awfully hard last year to be where we are, and we'll take it."

It was another hard-luck day for the Wood Brothers, who had put Green, a previous pole winner at Bristol, in the driver's seat this week. Bill Elliott had attempted to qualify for three of the previous four races in the No. 21 car and would have qualified for the race as a past champion under rainout rules.

Notes: NASCAR chose to cancel Saturday's scheduled Nationwide Series qualifying, setting the grid based off 2007 owner points. Due to the schedule change, Saturday's track action begins with Nationwide practice at 8:30 a.m. ET and lasting until 10 a.m.

Guess who I ran into today...

Sorry I Couldn't Resist!

Hawkeye Downs Speedway

2008 Hornets Rules

Chief Tech Inspector: Don Burkey (319) 929-6979 or (319) 472-5081

Hornet Tech Inspector: TBD

Competition Director: Chris Stocks (319) 395-8656

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW THE RULES. IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE!

The rules and/or regulations set forth herein are designed to provide for the orderly conduct of racing events and to establish minimum acceptable requirements for such events. These rules shall govern the condition of all events, and by participating in these events, all participants are deemed to have complied with these rules. NO EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM PUBLICATIONS OF, OR COMPLIANCE WITH, THESE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS. They are intended as a guide for conduct of the sport and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to a participant, spectator, or official.

The Race Director and Track Officials shall be empowered to permit reasonable and appropriate deviation from any of the specifications herein or impose any further restrictions that in their opinion do not alter the minimum acceptable requirements. NO EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM SUCH ALTERATION OF SPECIFICIATIONS. Any interpretation or deviation of these rules is left to the discretion of the officials. Their decision is final.

The rules set forth shall be effective for Hawkeye Downs Speedway’s 2008 racing season. Management reserves the right to amend, alter, suspend, delete, or supplement these rules as conditions warrant and without any prior notice. Any changes will be posted in the inspection area. It is your responsibility to be aware of changes posted. These rules shall govern the condition of all Hawkeye Downs Speedway events. Auto racing is a competitive sport, and like any other sporting event that depends on fan support, there is a great deal of showmanship and public relations required. Starting on time, running events in a professional manner, proper uniforms or attire, racecars brightly painted and the conduct of the competitors both on and off the track must be established.

Hawkeye Downs Speedway is private property. Any person on this property without the permission of the owners or management is guilty of trespassing and subject to the penalties prescribed by law. Through your registration you have been given the authority and the right to be on this property in conjunction with your racing activity only. However, the management of the race track reserves the right to revoke and cancel this authority at any time it is felt that your presence or conduct is not in the best interest of auto racing, your fellow competitors, the fans, management, or employees of Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

ALTHOUGH EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARD COMPLETE, UNDERSTANDABLE, AND CORRECT RULES, AS WELL AS THE SAME FACTORS IN PUTTING THEM INTO PRINT, HAWKEYE DOWNS SPEEDWAY OFFICIALS

CANNOT POSSIBLY ANTICIPATE EVERY SITUATION, CIRCUMSTANCE, OR INTERPRETATION.

THE DEFINITION OF STOCK MEANS "NO MODIFICATIONS TO FACTORY PARTS OR FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS."

HAWKEYE DOWNS SPEEDWAY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INSPECT, TECH, OR "TEAR DOWN" ANY COMPETING CAR AT ANY TIME

ELIGIBILITY

1. Drivers can be racing in any other HDS class during 2008. Non – regular, or visiting drivers can not start better than 12^th position, also the previous week’s winner starts last.

2. This is a low budget, beginners' division. Hawkeye Downs Speedway reserves the right to refuse competition for any car deemed not in the spirit of the rules.

3. Front Engine, Front wheel drive only. (Front Wheel Drive Pick-ups and Front Wheel Drive Station Wagons OK).

4. No Hondas or Acura’s.

GENERAL SAFETY RULES FOR DRIVERS--SEE GENERAL RULES FOR RULES COMMON TO ALL HAWKEYE DOWNS CLASSES

1. Snell SA 95 or SA2000 helmet required and must be worn at all times car is on the track.

2. SFI approved full fire suit, fire retardant neck brace, and fire retardant gloves required (Fire retardant shoes and socks recommended)

3. Head and neck restraints strongly recommended. Flame retardant Head Sock and Undergarments recommended.

4. Driver’s eye protection mandatory. Full face helmets or goggles mandatory.

5. Five point safety belts, sub belt, shoulder harness required. Belts and shoulder harness must be mounted securely to roll cage.

FRAMES/CHASSIS

1. Stock, unaltered frames only. No modifications to frame of any kind allowed. No added weight or ballast.

2. Maximum wheelbase of 104 inches. Minimum ground clearance of frame: 6 inches. Maximum left side weight 56 percent.

3. Tow hooks on front and rear of car mandatory.

BODY

1. Body must be completely stock sheet metal.

2. Stock appearing, aftermarket nose piece, allowed.

3. All doors must be bolted or welded shut. Doors may be gutted for installation of roll cage and side door bars.

4. Fenders may be trimmed for clearance. All edges must be rounded.

5. Max of 1 rub rail per side of car, between wheels, only. Rub rails may not be lower than center of hub, no higher than tire.

Maximum 1 1/2 inch round tube or 3 inch X 1/4 inch flat steel. Must be welded to body. No sharp edges.

6. Must have full floor in trunk area.

7. Hood pins only for trunk and hood removal.

8. Ground effects, stock or after market and spoilers up to 4 inches allowed.

ROLL CAGE

1. Minimum 4 post roll cage made of at least 1.750 inch O.D. tubing with minimum wall thickness of .095 in. (Must have 3/16 inch inspection hole).

2. Cage must be welded to frame or unibody with plates, and have loop around top connecting the four posts.

3. Cage must have horizontal bar behind driver to fasten seat belt to.

4. Minimum 3 three driver's side door bars. Minimum 2 passenger side door bars.

5. Driver's side must be plated with minimum 1/8 inch steel.

6. All bars in driver's area must be padded.

7. Driver's head must not protrude above cage with helmet on and driver in normal driving position.

8. Cage must include feet protection bars. Must have foot box plated with minimum 1/8 inch steel.

WINDOW OPENINGS AND WINDSHIELD

1. All glass and plastic must be removed, except front windshield.

2. Front windshield may be replaced with lexan or screen.

3. Front Windshield opening must have at least 3 three upright braces for protection.

4. Driver's side Ribbon or Mesh Window Nets mandatory. Must be mounted to roll bars and so latch is at the top front of window.

SEAT & INTERIOR

1. Labeled On/Off master switch is required and must be located in driver's compartment so it is accessible from both sides of car.

On/Off master switch must be connected to the battery cable in such a manner that it will cut off all electrical power to the car.

2. Must have full floorboard. Must have Firewalls between engine and driver and between fuel cell and driver.

3. Dash, steering, and pedals must remain stock for make and model of car. Dash skin may be removed, except drivers side and VIN plate must remain visible in the OEM location. Console may be removed. No additional weight required to offset.

4. Aluminum High Back Racing Seats only. Must be bolted to frame and roll cage.

5. No Mirrors or Radios

6. Quick release steering wheel allowed. Steering wheel must be padded, minimum 2 inch thickness.

7. On board fire extinguisher recommended.

ENGINE

1. Must be 4 Cylinder. Factory Stock for year, make, and model of vehicle. Engine must remain in stock location. No adjustable motor mounts.

2. Engine replacement parts must meet factory stock OEM specifications in every detail and remain unaltered.

3 No Turbo, no Superchargers, no Rotary Engines.

4. No Dry Sump Oil Systems

5. Stock type water pump only. Impellers maybe altered.

6. Crankshaft must be OEM stock specification with no changes allowed (except balancing).

7. Stock, OEM Heads Only. No porting or polishing of cylinder head allowed.

8. Stock, OEM Rods only. No aftermarket Rods.

9. Aftermarket Oil Pan OK.

ELECTRICAL

1. Stock Ignition. Stock Coils. No MSD type units.

2. All cars must have functional starter, button starter allowed. No Mini starters.

3. No Dual Point Distributors

CARBURETOR/FUEL INJECTION

1. Stock 2 barrel carburetor or stock fuel injection. (Must provide car engine manual showing carburetor or fuel injection number)

2. Butterfly choke of carburetor may be removed.

3. Maximum carburetor spacer 1 inch (Including gasket).

4. Stock, dry type paper air filter only.

5. No tubes, funnels, or any device controlling the airflow allowed in air cleaner area.

6. No Air intake ducts that direct air from any high pressure area to the air cleaner allowed.

7. No controlled vacuum leaks.

EXHAUST

1. Stock Exhaust manifold, no headers.

2. Mufflers Mandatory. (98 db maximum).

RADIATOR

1. Stock radiator, in stock location.

2. Must have functional fan. Electric fans allowed.

3. No Antifreeze. No Icing, Freon type chemical, liquid spraying systems or refrigerants may be used anywhere in the car.

4. Overflow reservoir (minimum 1/2 gallon) catch can required. Must exit passenger side of engine.

FUEL & FUEL CELL

1. Racing Fuel Cell (Maximum 16 gallons) Recommended. If used must be behind rear axle, centered in frame and secured with a minimum 1/8 inch X 1 inch steel strap. Minimum 3/8 inch hardware

2. Aftermarket fuel pump may be used if using racing fuel cell.

3. Remainder of fuel system must be stock. If using stock tank, must be in stock location in front of rear axle.

4. Gasoline only, no fuel additives of any kind.

5. No Fuel lines passing through interior (driver's compartment).

6. No nitrous or other performance enhancing systems.

DRIVE TRAIN

1. All Drive Train parts must remain stock for make, model, and year of car.

2. Stock OEM transmission only. Transmissions must have a working reverse gear.

3. Stock OEM clutch only. All bell housings must have a 2 inch inspection hole. Clutch must be visible.

4. Stock half shafts.

BRAKES

1. Stock brakes only

SUSPENSION

1. Stock suspension only. Maximum left side to right side offset 1 inch (measured hub to hub).

2. Right front wheel may be cambered using existing parts only. Only ONE spacer in right front spring allowed.

3. No adjustable struts.

4. No aftermarket sway bar.

WHEELS

1. Maximum 6 inch wide and maximum 16 inch diameter, also steel racing wheels acceptable within offset limits. All Wheels must be the same size.

2. Steel Lug Nuts Only. Stud threads must extend past outside edge of lug nut.

3. Wheel Weights NOT allowed.

4. No bead locks of any kind.

TIRES

1. Hawkeye Downs reserves the right to refuse any tire for competition. No 50’s, must be at least 60’s.

2. Only tires speed rated M, N, P, Q, R, S, & T allowed. No tires rated U, H, V (VR), W (ZR) or Y (ZR) allowed.

3. 7 inch maximum tread width (ground print).

4. All front tires must be the same size and all rear tires must be the same size.

5. The same four tires run in the heat race must be run in the feature.

6. No recaps

7. No Snow Tires.

8. No shaving, heating, soaking, softening, grinding, buffing, or changing the composition and character of tire allowed.

9. Self adjusting, automatic, air bleeder valves NOT allowed.

10. Camber settings cannot exceed -5 degrees right front and +2 degrees left front.