Doug Coby On The Pole For Valenti Modified Racing Series Season Opener At The Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD - Doug Coby will be defending his victory in last year's Valenti Modified Racing Series season opener from the best place to be Sunday at the Waterford Speedbowl.

Coby, of Milford, will be on the pole for the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series season opener, the showcase event of Budweiser Blastoff weekend at the Speedbowl.

Coby won the event last year, his second career VMRS victory at Waterford. He also won his first career VMRS event in 2009 at the shoreline oval.

"We'll just try to stay out front tomorrow," Coby said.

Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon will start second and Rob Summers of Manchester third.

Bob Bolheimer Al Bolinger Tom Bolles

Vitaly: ?We can be proud of our result?

Vitaly, congratulations: your first Formula One podium in your 20th grand prix start. Tell us how you are feeling right now? I feel ecstatic. It was a great feeling to be standing on the podium in front of my team, especially knowing what we have all been through over the winter with some very difficult moments. It shows that all the hard work and effort was worth it and I have to say thanks to everyone for giving me such a great car. I feel really good and I know we can have a great (...)

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News

Marv Acton Bill Adams Boyd Adams

Live Blogging Camping World Truck Series From Darlington (SPEED - 3:30PM ET)

It's a tight one-day show for the Camping World Series trucks in Darlington, SC. Qualifying is on SPEED at 3:30PM for approximately one hour. Krista Voda then hosts the pre-race show at 4:30PM and the trucks race at 5PM.

Rick Allen will call the action along with Phil Parsons. Micheal Waltrip is off this week, so Larry McReynolds will call the race. I am told this is not an audition, just a guest appearance. Hermie Sadler and Ray Dunlap will handle the pit reporting.

With each passing week, the truck series looks more and more like the feeder series for Sprint Cup. While the Nationwide Series has become clogged with drivers on various agendas, the trucks continue to be the place where drivers can stand-out against good competition.

Darlington in the daylight is a reminder of old-style racing, despite the fact that the start/finish line was flipped years ago to what was formerly the backstretch. This type of track makes great TV pictures, especially from low angles when the trucks are allowed to race into and then through a "speed shot."

SPEED produces its own races in this series and has a style that is very different from ESPN, FOX or TNT. Over the years, fans have simply come to expect that this TV team will describe the action, cover the racing and let the teams take centerstage. That is almost the opposite of FOX and ESPN, two networks that thrive on TV personality-driven telecasts.

Despite his TNT gaffs last summer, Parsons continues to be the informed voice of the series and offers a perspective that can't be beat. Allen was simply abused by Darrell Waltrip at Daytona, but can pump excitement into a live telecast and that is his role. It should be interesting to see how McReynolds adapts to this series.

This post will host your comments before, during and after the block of TV truck series programming on SPEED. To add your TV-related comments, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Juan Pablo Montoya Joe Nemechek Ryan Newman

More on GP2

The driver confirmations for GP2 2011 are now starting to flood in. Since I published the last entry on it, another three teams have confirmed their line-ups. DAMS were the first, as the update to the last post shows. Former Renault F1 driver Romain Grosjean will be joined by Norway’s Pal Varhaug. DAMS once again [...]

Sean Caisse Austin Cameron Jamey Caudill

ExxonMobil renews long standing Mobi1 partnership with McLaren F1 team

ExxonMobil this week announced the renewal of its long standing technology partnership with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, marking the start of the 17th year of the Mobil 1 and McLaren association.
The Mobil 1 brand will continue to be prominently displayed on the McLaren race cars, drivers overalls and helmets as it has [...]

Bill Elliott Robby Gordon P. J. Jones

Big Dog Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors

More bad news from the business sector this week, as reports are starting to come in that Big Dog Motorcycles has shut its doors after being taken over by the company’s creditors. With the banks halting the production line, this is effectively the end of one of the largest (if not the largest) custom motorcycle builders in the world. Cyril Huze broke the news on his blog on Monday that the company had closed its ...

Ray Atkinson W.H. Atkinson Roger Attard

Cartoon: After Martinsville

Frank Brantley Everett Brashear Andy Brass

Big Dog Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors

More bad news from the business sector this week, as reports are starting to come in that Big Dog Motorcycles has shut its doors after being taken over by the company’s creditors. With the banks halting the production line, this is effectively the end of one of the largest (if not the largest) custom motorcycle builders in the world. Cyril Huze broke the news on his blog on Monday that the company had closed its ...

Mark Gibson Butch Gilliland Charlie Glotzbach

Open Race Thread: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 | Martinsville Speedway

Eric McClure Michael McDowell Joe Nemechek

Scheckter to drive in 500

KV Racing Technology and SH Racing announced Tuesday they will join forces to field a car for veteran Tomas Scheckter in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.and i though i was the only one to see it this way

Mike Clark Mitchell Clark Paul Clark

Sepang will show just how far ahead Red Bull really are | 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix preview

Will Red Bull have the same huge performance advantage in Sepang that they had in Melbourne?

Steve Petty Andy Petree Ed Pimm

Tomas Scheckter to drive for KV Racing in Indianapolis 500

KV Racing Technology announced today that Tomas Scheckter will drive for the team in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.can believe what i am reading, so unfair

Wayne Grubb Larry Gunselman Dan Gurney

Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Texas - Samsung Mobile 500

The Sprint Cup Series heads to “The Great American Speedway” in Texas this weekend for the first night race of the season. The green flag is set to wave around 7:30 eastern time on Saturday night after a practice session and qualifying is held on Friday afternoon. The first of the two practice sessions this [...]

Jeff Green Mark Green Jason Keller

TV Police: Sprint Cup Series From California On FOX (Day Two Of Comments)

Ponch and John had something in common while patrolling the highways of California. They both looked good. In Hollywood, that certainly counts for a lot. On the racetrack, it's all about performance.

A drizzle made for dreary weather at the Auto Club Speedway. The Hollywood Hotel was the home for Chris Myers, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond. The pre-race show was a mix of topics that somehow always try to tie-in to Hollywood.

Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds called the race. The pit reporters were Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda, Matt Yocum and Dick Berggren.

The wide racetrack made for lots of green flag racing and limited passing once the field was stretched out. Denny Hamlin went out of the race after an engine problem and was interviewed quickly.

FOX made good pictures and had no technical problems. The telecast started in typical FOX style with tight shots and in-car cameras as the primary video. With about 60 laps to go, wideshots began to be used to show the intervals between cars.

The network was in commercial for the first round of green flag pitstops. This was surprising given that radio traffic indicated when the teams would begin to pit. The pit reporters were good with information and often provided a news item when the telecast slowed down.

FOX seemed confused in terms of what to cover on the track and often followed cars in the lead without providing a field recap of moving back to tell the stories of other teams. Eventually, Waltrip and McReynolds kind of ran out of things to say about the same few cars being covered.

The way that radio solves the problem of a boring race is by going back and telling the stories of the teams that are struggling or coming back from adversity. FOX has a problem doing that in any kind of coordinated manner. It is just not a part of the telecasts and has never been.

A restart with less than 10 laps to go jump-started the telecast and allowed it to end with some actual racing. Joy brought the race home and it was thankfully done.

Update: I am being flooded with email about fans not seeing their driver finish the race. FOX has consistently shown only the winner cross the finish line this season. Feel free to leave a comment referencing that topic below, but it does not appear that this is going to change.

This post serves to host your post-race wrap-up comments on the FOX telecast. To add your TV-related comments, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Barry Bodine Brett Bodine Eric Bodine

Back from OZ ? Whale Sorta...

David Mayhew Butch Miller Nelson Piquet, Jr.

Checa Checks Out!

Wade Day Frank Deiny, Jr. Dennis Demers

Behind-the-Scenes Look at the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Team

Curley Barker John Barker Johnny Barnes

Whacky World Of The NASCAR Media Making For Some Of The Most Attention Grabbing News In 2011

It was a year that started with a NASCAR television personality begging reporters covering the sport to be more positive. It moved on to many in the sport's media realm taking aim at an outside reporter who dared question NASCAR's fairness. And then it was an impromptu media celebration after a historic Daytona 500 finish that set off a firestorm of debate.

Thus far in 2011 one of the hottest media topics surrounding the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been the media itself and just how they go about covering the sport.

It all comes as no surprise in the world of NASCAR, where the lines of media objectivity have always been a little fuzzier than in other major league sports. And it seems as members of the traditionally trained media become more of the minority at major events, the lines of journalistic ethics are seemingly being erased by many of those wearing credentials to "cover" events.

Randy Couch Vince Cougineri Les Covey

ExxonMobil renews long standing Mobi1 partnership with McLaren F1 team

ExxonMobil this week announced the renewal of its long standing technology partnership with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, marking the start of the 17th year of the Mobil 1 and McLaren association.
The Mobil 1 brand will continue to be prominently displayed on the McLaren race cars, drivers overalls and helmets as it has [...]

Bob Brunell Laird Bruner Andy Bruni

Brake Issue Stops Smith From Posting Strong Finish in Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 3, 2011) -- It appeared that Regan Smith was heading to a top-10 or better finish with 35 laps remaining in Sunday's 500-lap Sprint Cup race at the historic Martinsville Speedway short track.

 

But the bad luck that has plagued Smith this season struck again when the right-front brake rotor broke on his No. 78 Chevrolet. The incident at the .526-mile oval sent Smith's Furniture Row Chevrolet into the Turn 2 concrete wall. Though the car suffered major damage, Smith was able to drive the injured Chevrolet to the finish with a frustrating 31st-place result.

 

At the time of the incident, Smith was running in 14th place and did not need to pit for the remainder of the race, which meant he would have jumped a number of spots in track position once cars ahead of him came down pit road for the final stop of the race.

 

"Unfortunately that scenario didn't play out for us," said Smith, who qualified 10th. "This one hurt, because we had a strong finish in sight. We've had more than our share of bad luck and we've only run six of 36 point races." 

 

Smith continued, "Our Furniture Row Chevrolet was getting better as the race went on and it sure felt good. We deserve a good result, but can't seem to finish a race unscathed so far this season. All we can do is continue to be mentally tough and come back next week with an even better performance."

 

The Goody's Fast Relief 500 race winner was Kevin Harvick, his second straight win. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon.

 

The next Cup race is Saturday night (April 9) at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gerald Chamberlain Ted Chamberlain Charlie Chamblee

Daily TV News Shows Come Of Age

The sports spotlight might have been on the NCAA men's basketball championship game, but NASCAR held its own Monday thanks to two very important TV series that have finally come of age.

ESPN2 has been through all kinds of changes, but has now settled into a very nice rhythm with the daily NASCAR Now program. Allen Bestwick is the usual Monday host, with Mike Massaro and Nicole Briscoe alternating weeks in the studio. All three of these "talent" also travel and report from the field.

While Bestwick was clearly the right host for the one-hour Monday show, the network was slow to figure out just who to surround him with as panelists. These three slots have been filled by a variety of ESPN analysts, NASCAR personalities and one-hit wonders like Geoff Bodine over the last few seasons.

Emerging from the wreckage has been the singular presence of Ricky Craven. This season with Ray Evernham's surprise departure, Craven has been put front-and-center on the big Monday show and on the racing weekends. He has emerged as ESPN's top NASCAR studio analyst.

Monday, Craven joined two faces that were new to the show but familiar to many NASCAR TV viewers. The network went outside of the ESPN family to sign NASCAR veterans Kenny Schrader and Johnny Benson for frequent appearances this season. The results have been wonderful.

It's been many years since Schrader and Benson shared an hour of NASCAR TV on Monday nights, but the chemistry remains. Paired with Craven and Massaro filling-in for Bestwick, the Monday show had a completely different vibe with veteran observations about the weekend combined with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor long missing from this program.

Network personalities like Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty have never fit-in on this show. They are too politically correct, conflicted by personal racing interests and unable to speak their mind. While reporters like Marty Smith and Ryan McGee are media professionals, the perspective they bring is that of a journalist.

It should be very interesting to watch the informal styles of Schrader and Benson influence the show as the season moves forward. Earlier on Monday, Schrader appeared on ESPN's flagship SportsCenter show. He was paired with a news anchor who had absolutely no idea about NASCAR.

Schrader's patience and sense of humor served him well once again as he made all the relevant points and analyzed the action. Perhaps, after five years of constantly struggling to get NASCAR content onto other ESPN programs, the secret all along was to use a 55 year-old veteran driver from Fenton, Missouri.

NASCAR Now has Schrader, Craven and McGee next Monday with Bestwick returning to host. Massaro hosts the weekday shows while Briscoe travels to Texas as a reporter. After some early stops and starts, this series is now a must see for NASCAR fans throughout the season.


It took SPEED several years of being challenged before the network stopped protesting and embraced the concept of a Monday through Thursday show to fill the gap left between programming from the race tracks. The resulting series is RaceHub.

After trying to rotate various on-air talent through the host position, it became rather clear that in order to validate the series there had to be a full time host. Steve Byrnes got the call and made a big professional and personal decision to head into the studio.

The next suggestions included increasing the programs to an hour in length and finding a reporter who could work the NASCAR shop beat full time. SPEED made the decision to do both this season, hiring relatively unknown local sports reporter Danielle Trotta and setting the show times at 7PM ET. Both moves had surprising results.

Trotta has been a natural at speaking to drivers, crew chiefs and owners. She has developed a friendly style that still gets plenty of information and opinion from her interview subjects. Using SPEED's Charlotte, NC location to full advantage, Trotta is usually the only national TV reporter in the shops on Mondays.

Byrnes has embraced the one-hour format, regularly bringing various SPEED and FOX analysts into the studio for updates on topics and issues. Chad Knaus is also a favorite of Byrnes and he appeared on the program Monday.

It's easy to overlook the decades of experience Byrnes has under his belt. He does not call attention to himself and his humor is self-effacing. His true gift is interviewing subjects who are not very polished on TV. From young drivers like 18 year-old Johanna Long to Hall of Famers like 79 year-old Junior Johnson, Byrnes listens first and then asks the right questions.

The executives at SPEED have continued to keep Jimmy Spencer on RaceHub, constantly tinkering with his act. Although not a very convincing leprechaun, Spencer is best when he is answering viewer feedback and interacting directly with the fan base. It should be interesting to see what the new management at SPEED ultimately does with Mr. Excitement.

On Tuesday, RaceHub has Martinsville truck series winner Johnny Sauter and his crew chief Joe Shear in studio. Matt Kenseth will also be interviewed. There will be a recap of the K&N East Series race from Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Ray Dunlap will update the issues surrounding Rick Ware Racing, including the strange dust-up with driver Jeffrey Earnhardt.

We invite your opinions on these two television programs. To add your comment, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Ward Burton George Bush Darrell Busham

Going Bonkers!

Ken Bouchard Ron Bouchard Tim Boulton

Your View: Who will win in Malaysia?

By now, I trust, you know the drill. A race weekend is coming up, and so before there’s too much said and absolutely nothing done on the track, get into the conversation with your picks for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Who will win and who will claim the other two podium steps? Who will get [...]

Fred Dagavar Clyde Dagit Don Dahle

Back from OZ ? Whale Sorta...

Chris Diamond Eduardo Dibos Jimmy Dick

Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Martinsville - Goody?s Fast Relief 500

After the checkered flag waved at Fontana, I had to sit back and rub my eyes; did Kevin Harvick just beat Jimmie Johnson at one of his best tracks? I think most NASCAR fans–myself included–breathed a sigh of relief that this could possibly be the year that Johnson gets knocked off of his throne. Of [...]

Larry Carroll Lynn Carroll Jim Carrusso

CPR News Feed - Facebook & Blogger Page now synch'd

CPR now offer full news feed from our News-Blog page to be published on the CPR Facebook Group Page.
This means that quick and easy Blog's made at carplanetracing.blogspot.com by our staff will feed automatically onto our Facebook page.
Supporters and customers can now easily receive the latest updates from our workshop and trackside during our motorsport racing season.

Bob Connor Paul Connors Al Conroy

Checa Checks Out!

Mark Krogh Randy LaJoie Scott Lagasse

Does Brian France Know NASCAR's Regional Divisions Exist?

The big news in the world of NASCAR on Wednesday was the announcement by NASCAR CEO Brian France that major changes were coming to the points systems for all NASCAR divisions.

Yes, a major change to the points system in "all" NASCAR divisions, that's exactly what France announced Wednesday.

And NASCAR officials wonder why participants involved in regional divisions feel like the sanctioning body hardly recognizes their existence?

Yes, NASCAR's three national divisions, the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series - a division France referred to Wednesday as the "Craftsman World Truck Series" Wednesday - will have a new points system in 2011.

Bubba Adams Carl Adams Eddie Adams

Welcome to CPR - Car Planet Racing News Blog

CPR - Car Planet Racing welcome visitors to their News Blog, where all updates and news will be posted in conjunction with their Motorsport Preparation and Performance Tuning Services.

Please subscribe to this Blog for updates from Car Planet Racing Motorsport Activities, including the latest results from the UK Time Attack Series.

Clyde Dagit Don Dahle Darrell Dake

John Hopkins?s Track Notes at the Spanish GP

� 2011�Asphalt & Rubber /�Creative Commons ? Attribution 3.0

Jerry Cranmer Ricky Craven Freddie Crawford

Jason Bowles Tops Preseason Hunter Index Voting, Wallingford's Keith Rocco Close Behind In Second

Jason Bowles, winner of the January Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, Calif. topped the voting for the preseason edition of NASCAR's Hunter Index.

The Hunter Index, introduced in 2010, is a monthly poll ranking the top drivers of NASCAR's regional divisions and the Whelen All-American Series short track program. Drivers are voted on by a panel of 12 media members covering NASCAR and two NASCAR representatives.

Bowles earned six of 14 first place votes in the first poll of the year and had a one point edge in total points over defending Whelen All-American Series national champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford.

Rick Carelli Tom Carey, Jr. Jackie Carithers

Tilt Shift Fontana

Thanks to Matt at Jalopnik.com for the hat tip on this video. �They spoke to cinematographer Eric B. Shanks who was at Fontana this past weekend for the races at Auto Club Speedway. �Shanks told Jalopnik, “I brought a couple cameras and tilt shift lenses to a NASCAR event this past Sunday, I went to [...]

Tony Anderson Jeff Andretti Mario Andretti

Engines Fired For Day One Of Budweiser Blastoff Weekend At The Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD - The roar has returned.

After a long winter off season the Waterford Speedbowl roared to life this morning for day one of Budweiser Blastoff weekend, the official kicking off point for the 2011 local racing schedule.

With a chill in the air and the sun shining above, practice began this morning for the plethora of divisions competing at the two-day Blastoff spectacular.

Dick Denise Jack Deniston Arnold Denley

Redlining a Ferrari - The Sequel

Johnny Rumley Lonnie Rush, Jr. Tim Schendel

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Experts Picks: 2011 Goody?s Fast Relief 500

Expert
Website
Pick to Win
Finish
Experts Avg


Josh Lobdell
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Jimmie Johnson�
�
16.60


Jerry Lagger
One and Done Game Winner
�
�
19.40


Dennis Michelsen
RaceTalkRadio.com
Jimmie Johnson�
�
18.60


Steve Wronkowicz
On Pit Row
�
�
19.00


Eric McClung
KFFL
Jimmie Johnson��
�
18.60


Eric McGuire
free agent
�
�
24.20


Dan Beaver
Fantasy Racing Games
Jimmie Johnson��
�
14.80


Matt Mercer
On Pit Row
�
�
23.80


Adam Ansell
Roto Experts
Jimmie Johnson��
�
12.00
�


Chris Leone
On Pit Row
�
�
16.00


Bob Ellis
NASCAR Ranting and Raving
�
�
13.60


CharlieTurner
On Pit Row
Jimmie Johnson
�
11.80


Jordan McAbee
On Pit Row
�
�
17.20


Jon Rodgers
Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner
Jimmie Johnson�
�
13.80


James Jones
On Pit Row
Denny Hamlin�
�
5.60


Mike Wells
Racing4Glory.com
�
�
10.00


Darren Fauth
FantasyRacingCheatSheet
�
�
10.00


P [...]

Johnny Clements Roger Clemmens Bill Cleveland

Tuesday TV/Media Notes

Some items of interest that came our way this week:

Monday night was the conclusion of The Bachelor on ABC. Emily Maynard, the former fiance of the late Ricky Hendrick and the mother of his daughter was the contestant chosen to marry Brad Womack. Various websites continue to report that the two are not going to get married in real life. Maynard is a TV veteran, having hosted the syndicated 3 Wide Life show several years ago. It should be interesting to see if Maynard winds-up on TV again and if her new role is associated with racing.

Rusty Wallace will move up from the infield and join Marty Reid and Andy Petree for the Nationwide Series race this Saturday afternoon on ESPN. Dale Jarrett has the weekend off.

Nicole Briscoe hosts NASCAR Now this week on ESPN2. Mike Massaro will travel to Bristol, TN as a reporter for the weekend edition of the show.

The most recent double-super top-secret NASCAR Fan Council survey asked if more of the actual pre-race activity, including concerts by musical groups, should be on TV. Fans have been asking to see the Bristol, TN pre-race either on TV or online for years. Wonder what the NFC is thinking about?

The History Channel has announced that it will be sponsoring the Nationwide Series race in May at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Top Gear 300 incorporates the name of a TV series with versions produced in both the US and UK. This sponsorship is from the US budget, so expect to see Rutledge Wood, Tanner Foust and Adam Ferrara front and center.

Apparently things are not working very well for the 2011 version of Inside NASCAR on Showtime. It looks like Randy Pemberton has been pushed aside for the new presence of Kyle Petty, but that has not made a dent. The show was downsized from one hour to thirty minutes and is struggling in this format. Showtime is leaning on uncensored scanner highlights that essentially keep the profanity on the team radio as an attraction for viewers. There is little in the way of conversation and analysis due to the time restrictions. Should be interesting to see if the series hangs in there after this season.

SPEED is front and center on Friday from the Bristol Motor Speedway as the network handles all the on-track activity for both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. The network comes on the air at 11:30AM ET and ends with Trackside at 7:30PM. Even on Saturday, SPEED will handle the Nationwide Series qualifying in the morning before ESPN takes over for the 2PM race.

The television voice of the AFLAC duck, Gilbert Gottfried, has been fired. Gottfried is a comedian by trade and he posted several poor attempts at humor using the Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami as a topic on Twitter. AFLAC does 75% of its total business in Japan. One in four homes in Japan has residents insured by AFLAC. Gottfried was fired immediately after his social media blunder.

Jeff Gordon continues to be a popular talk show guest. He will appear on the Ellen DeGeneres show on Friday, March 25. Check TV listings for the time of the show in your area.

Country star Billy Ray Cyrus will sing the national anthem on Sunday for the Sprint Cup Series race. Family musical group "Carter's Chord" will handle the anthem duties on Saturday for the Nationwide Series race. That country group is currently signed to Toby Keith's record label.

This post will be updated on Tuesday as more news items appear as the sport heads to Bristol. We invite your comments on the topics above. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Bill Adams Boyd Adams Bubba Adams

Does Brian France Know NASCAR's Regional Divisions Exist?

The big news in the world of NASCAR on Wednesday was the announcement by NASCAR CEO Brian France that major changes were coming to the points systems for all NASCAR divisions.

Yes, a major change to the points system in "all" NASCAR divisions, that's exactly what France announced Wednesday.

And NASCAR officials wonder why participants involved in regional divisions feel like the sanctioning body hardly recognizes their existence?

Yes, NASCAR's three national divisions, the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series - a division France referred to Wednesday as the "Craftsman World Truck Series" Wednesday - will have a new points system in 2011.

James Cox Lonnie Cox Tom Cox

Starting Line Up by Row Auto Club Speedway 15th Annual Auto Club 400

Richard Childress Ronnie Childress Jack Choquette

Friday TV/Media Notes

Here are some TV and media notes for Friday. The Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series head to Martinsville this weekend. That can mean only one thing, hot dogs.

It's still two dollars for the pink dogs Martinsville Speedway has been serving up for years. Crews keep running totals on a board above the concession stand. Hot dog pride is on the line.

First off, Friday is a big day for our friends at ESPN. After several failed attempts at figuring out what ESPN2 was supposed to be, the "cloning" of ESPN finally did the trick. Now, the network that launched in October of 1993 will celebrate April Fools Day in style.

When the clock slips past midnight, ESPN2 will officially pass the 100 million home mark for distribution in the US. That is a big number. NASCAR's other cable partners include TNT with 102 and SPEED with 82 million.

The success for ESPN was to craft ESPN2 as just another cable outlet for live event programming. Both the Nationwide Series and the daily NASCAR Now program certainly will benefit from those new numbers. While the morning shows on ESPN2 have found some traction, it is the fact that ESPN can now use either of two networks to reach over 100 million homes that is the big deal.

Over at SPEED, new EVP Patti Wheeler is happy to boast about a new live event. The network is going to carry Denny Hamlin's Short Track Challenge on April 28 from Richmond International Raceway.

"SPEED jumped at the chance to broadcast the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown live because not only does some of the best racing of the year usually come out of Richmond, this event will showcase NASCAR stars out of their comfort zone a bit,? said Wheeler in a media release. ?The Showdown promises to be fun for all involved, will benefit a great cause and should get everyone pumped up for Friday?s Nationwide Series race.?

Hamlin's charity event benefiting his foundation used to be held at Southside Speedway, a Richmond area favorite. Unfortunately, owner and promoter Sue Clements recently suffered a stroke. The racing season has been postponed until she recovers. The good news for Southside Speedway is that it was NASCAR sanctioned in December and the staff continue to be hopeful of holding some NASCAR regional events later this season.

On Friday the NASCAR on FOX team of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds will call the Sprint Cup Series on-track sessions for SPEED. Meanwhile Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip will handle the Camping World Truck Series action.

At 7PM Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford will appear on SPEED's Trackside. Steve Byrnes hosts with Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond as the expert panel.

We welcome your comments on these topics as well as the Friday coverage from Martinsville on SPEED. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Scott Lagasse Brad Leighton Tracy Leslie

2011 F1 Opener in Bahrain is called off

The scheduled opening race on the 2011 F1 calendar has been called off due to the civil unrest being currently experienced in the Gulf Kingdom.
The season opener has been in serious doubt for over a week and Bernie Ecclestone said over the weekend that he would leave the final decision over cancelling or postponing the [...]

Gary Clark Gene Clark George Clark

Red Bull planning A1 Ring demonstration | F1 Fanatic round-up

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will do a demonstration at the revised A1 Ring.

David Pearson Hugh Pearson Larry Pearson

Wilson, Beatriz injured in Sunday?s IndyCar race

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers Justin Wilson and rookie Ana Beatriz suffered wrist fractures in Sunday’s Izod IndyCar Series race in St. Petersburg, Fla., their team confirmed Monday.maybe this will change things

Bob Derrington Leroy DeShields Geoffrey Dessault

Bourdais debut never gets going after crash

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some days it just doesn’t pay to be at the racetrack. Sebastien Bourdais had one of those days Sunday.this is bogus, who would think

Kevin Harvick Shelby Howard Kasey Kahne

Friday Funny: David vs. Hamburger

so much for David vs. Golliath – now it’s Reutimann vs. a Hamburger!

Johnny Benson Dave Blaney Colin Braun

The Liuzzi affair?

I rate all four of Force India’s contracted drivers quite highly. I’m a big Adrian Sutil fan and feel he has a lot more to give than he’s already shown, Paul di Resta I’ve rated since he beat Vettel in F3 and am delighted to see in F1, Nico Hulkenberg’s a rough diamond but a [...]

T.J. Clark Travis Clark Jack Clarke

Golden wings for LRGP in Malaysia

Lotus Renault GP's cars will have a makeover next week with the creation of special edition gold leaf bodywork in time for the Malaysia Grand Prix. The gold leaf elements will be made from 22 carat yellow gold and will appear on the front wing, sidepods and engine cover of the R31. Only two sets will be available for Nick and Vitaly, and will be used for qualifying and the race. Production of the bodywork took place in a secret location at Enstone with special security measures being put (...)

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News

Mike Bliss Derrike Cope Carl Edwards

Quote of the week from Inside NASCAR on Showtime

Leonard Brock Pete Brock Larry Brolsma

PETER ANDREWS

Friends and Fellow racers,
It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that I bring you the sad news that our fellow competitor Peter Andrews has lost his fight against cancer and died at the weekend.
Few of us knew that Peter was seriously ill as despite this he continued to race for most of last [...]

Regan Smith Tony Stewart Martin Truex Jr.

Dani Pedrosa Will Undergo Surgery after Jerez

It’s a tough day for Spanish MotoGP fans as Dani Pedrosa has confirmed that he will be going back in for surgery on his shoulder after the Spanish GP at Jerez. Pedrosa’s injuries were diagnosed today as stemming from an intermittent compression of the subclavian artery, which in-turn was causing his lack of strength and numbness in his left arm. After this weekend’s race, Pedrosa will go in for his surgery where the titanium plate ...

Jamie Dick Wayne Edwards Chris Fontaine

Open Race Thread: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 | Auto Club Speedway

L.W. Miller Sean Murphy Jeff Oakley

Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 Primer -- Jimmie is the King and Fontana is his Throne

Serge Adams Allen Adkins Billy Adkins

Keeping Petrov ?not an easy decision? ? Boullier | F1 Fanatic round-up

Eric Boullier says he'd have "no excuses" if Vitaly Petrov "failed for a second year."

Rich Bickle Larry Foyt Jeff Fuller

GP2 grid taking shape

The 2011 GP2 grid seems to be developing into one of the most interesting seasons for a number of years. This year, for one, sees the introduction of a new car, which will take an appearance more like that of the current breed of F1 car, with a wide front wing, narrow rear wing, and [...]

Chris Bingham Gordon Birkett Gordon Bishop