NASCAR - Take Note at how to Treat Violations

The McLaren team apologized Thursday for its role in the Formula One spy scandal.

McLaren was fined a record $100 million in September by the WMSC for unauthorized possession of confidential Ferrari materials. The team was also kicked out of the constructors' championship.

NOW That's how you put a cap on cheating!!

See the whole article over on That's Racin

Another Merger - Brewco Motorsports

Nashville businessman Gary Baker and record executive Mike Curb have officially joined forces to take over full ownership of the NASCAR Nationwide Series team formerly known as Brewco Motorsports , the team announced in a news release.

Scene Daily

Ryan Pemberton

On Sirius NASCAR Channel 128, The Morning Drive, they noted that Ryan Pemberton is headed to Michael Waltrip Racing.

Ryan Newmans Sprint 2008 Look

Here's a link to the new look Ryan Newman will be sporting in the 2008 Sprint Cup Series.  Ryan Newman Info.

Mike Wallace to Join the Germain Team

Mike Wallace is hoping a move to Germain Racing will help fuel a championship run in what will be known as the Nationwide Series next season.

He and sponsor GEICO will move to Germain's No. 7 Toyotas next season, Germain's first fielding a full-time entry in the series. Germain won the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series championship with driver Todd Bodine.

(There has been no rumored interviews with Lorren Wallace yet, but we surmise he'll be as stoic as ever with his goals to "put Mike Wallace in the wall".)

That's Racin

NASCAR Contest for Daytona

One lucky race fan will be get two tickets to every race during Daytona's Speedweeks and will participate in the victory lane celebration following the 50th running of the Daytona 500 after being chosen as the "Mayor" of Speedweeks.

To campaign for this post, fans must tell Daytona International Speedway "in 100 words or less" why they should be selected. Essays may be mailed to:
Mayor of Speedweeks
c/o Daytona International Speedway
P.O. Box 2801
Daytona Beach, FL, 32120
Entries also can be emailed to daytonaspeedway@daytonainternationalspeedway.com or dropped off at the Daytona 500 Experience. Fans can also get information on-line at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

The entry deadline is Jan. 7.

Some Bits and Pieces - DEI, Johnson, Nationwide, BHR, Bruton Smith stuff

Crew chief Ryan Pemberton has left Dale Earnhardt Inc., and the team said Doug Richert will replace him beginning Wednesday.  (What's that phrase, Git while the Gittin's good?)  More details at ESPN
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Jimmy Johnson is no longer part of the Gillette Young Guns gang.  The ties have been severed so Jimmie can capitalize on his back to back championships with the type of off-track deals that will broaden his appeal and take his endorsement reach beyond the race track."  Jimmie, Jimmie Jimmie.. I hope that's not your agent talking.  Many a football career has been dinged from agents.  I'm kind of surprised that the millions he's making isn't enough.  Maybe his wife needs new shoes.. ok, that's ok by me!   Scene Daily
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A quote from Greg Biffle:  "Don't tell anybody, but if we never got any money or points and they didn't pay me, I'd still race the Busch Series," he said. "Just because I love driving the cars. It's my passion. But I don't feel like Cup guys should be eligible for the championship. They just shouldn't be."

There are many who are calling for NASCAR to curb the Cup driver participation in some form or fashion, and chairman Brian France has indicated changes are on the way.  (But, Cup drivers have always been a part of the secondary series and the series still flourishes today, despite all the "issues" people see.)  You can read the entire article, and there is lots more to read, over at Fox Sports.
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Another race team bites the "buy in" bullet, as Bobby Hamilton Racing has formed an alliance with Arrington Manufacturing.
Scene Daily
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Wow, when does it mean for a sport when most of the teams need outside funding and prize purses aren't enough to keep the participants funded.

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Is this kissing backside, or what?  Goodbye Speedway Boulevard; hello Bruton Smith Boulevard.  With nothing more to say, I turn you over to the link at ThatsRacin.
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Schedules and Such

It sure is quiet around here. Thought I'd dig up some info for our edification.

Below are links to the different series schedules, as put out by NASCAR.com:

2008 Schedules:
Sprint Cup
Nationwide
Craftsman Truck

And their own tracking of drivers and where they're at:
Silly Season

Then, if you want to see some testing schedules, check out Fox Sports

Separate Points System for Chase Contenders - NO

Before the final race at Homestead this year, I saw a snippet with Darrell Waltrip making an emphatic point that the chase contenders need their own points system.

It got me to thinking and in a quick email conversation with David Poole who was very quick to point out it would not matter.

I tend to believe David in some of the things he says, but I want to know for a fact if this is true, and sure enough, it's true... A separate point system would make no difference.

I simulated 1 to 10 points per driver in the chase, 10 going to the highest placed driver, 1 the lowest. I picked up a ten race gap of time, and whether they had a 1 to 10 point system, or used the points given them in a race, starting at the top, of 185 decreasing from there, the same guy won, the same guy came in second, the same guy came in third.. well, you get the point.

A separate points system would be moot. The only, I repeat, ONLY thing it could do, would fabricate a close points race, which would be some tricky tool to make it look like a close points scenario, when in fact, it would only seem close.

Thanks David for setting me in the right direction.

Coca-Cola Re-Ups It's Contract

Coca-Cola announced Friday that it is expanding its 40-year relationship with NASCAR through an extension that will last through 2017.

NASCAR