NEWTON, Iowa (Feb. 4, 2009) – Kyle Busch, the winner of the recent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will race at Iowa Speedway. Busch, who has won nine of 39 Cup Races since moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, is scheduled to compete in Newton Sunday, May 17, in the NASCAR Camping World Series East/West Challenge.

Busch said he’s looking forward to racing at Iowa Speedway.

“Iowa Speedway is an amazing race track with exciting racing and its going to be a great show for the fans,” Busch said. “For some reason, Iowa Speedway has a history of somehow picking the winner of the All Star race in Charlotte by inviting a Cup guy out to run their race. I hope the tradition continues for us this year.”

The NASCAR Camping World Series East/West Challenge has drawn large crowds to Iowa Speedway in its first two seasons. In fact, the race is increasingly popular with NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers since the last two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers – Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne – each won the million dollar NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Challenge in Charlotte the night before competing at Iowa Speedway.

Continue reading “Kyle Busch adds Iowa Speedway to his schedule”

She’s Here!  NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Burney Lamar and Wife Niki Taylor Welcome Daughter Ciel Taylor Lamar

MOORESVILLE, NC (March 5, 2009) – Braun Racing’s Burney Lamar and wife, supermodel Niki Taylor, welcomed daughter Ciel Taylor Lamar to their family yesterday at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 4th. Weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, Ciel is the first child for the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and the third for Taylor, who is mom to twin 14-year old sons, Jake and Hunter.  The Braun Racing and Dollar General families wish to extend their congratulations!

Milestone Marker:  Rick Crawford To Make 300th Start In Series
Rick Crawford is set to make his 300th career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday – and become the series’ start leader. (Team owner Tom Mitchell marked his 300th start as a team owner at Auto Club Speedway.)

Crawford, who has spent all of his 13 seasons with Mitchell and Circle Bar Racing, has five wins, 72 top fives, 150 top 10s, and five poles.

The Mobile, Ala. native has finished inside the top 10 in championship points six times with a best finish of second in 2002.

Top 35: Two Races To Go Before Current Points Determine Automatic Starts
Three races have been run thus far this season, meaning there are two more to go, before the weekly 35 guaranteed starting spots will be based on this season’s car owner points.

A look at this week’s owner points shows three notable teams precariously close to the dangerous 35th and final cut-off spot.

The No. 20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano (owned by Joe Gibbs) is 32nd.

The No. 39 Chevrolet driven by Ryan Newman (owned by Tony Stewart) is 33rd.

The No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Mark Martin (owned by Rick Hendrick) is 34th.

Of course, if Newman happens to be outside the top 35 during the course of the season, it might not matter that much. He is arguably the sport’s premier qualifier, although he is struggling overall in his new Stewart-owned entry.

Continue reading “Top Drivers in Danger, near 35th in Points”

Edwards Capitalizes On Vegas Luck To Take Standings Lead

Carl Edwards “cashed in” at Las Vegas last Saturday during the Sam’s Town 300, finishing second behind Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle. He also took the lead in the series point standings for the first time since claiming his 2007 series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Kyle Busch, the standings leader coming into Las Vegas, was involved in an accident on Lap 21 that dropped him to a 39th-place finish at his home track. It also dropped him four spots to fifth in the standings.

Edwards capitalized and opened a 48-point lead over 2003 series champion Brian Vickers when he posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Las Vegas.

Edwards has rattled off impressive finishes thus far in 2009: Second at Daytona, fourth at Auto Club Speedway and the aforementioned runner-up result at Las Vegas.

Edwards isn’t the only driver at Roush Fenway to jump to a good start this year.

Continue reading “Nationwide Series: Off Weekend”