Current Press Releases

Another approach to testing
By Allen Gregory
Bristol Herald Courier,January 19

Forget baseball’s Hot Stove League. For many sports fans, no event generates more anticipation and discussion than preseason NASCAR testing.

Sessions have been held at Daytona and Talladega over the past two weeks. In fact, the Abingdon-based Morgan-McClure Motorsports team took its No. 4 and No. 73 Nextel Cup cars to Talladega last week with test driver Keith Segars and Eric McClure.

Morgan-McClure at work in the garage atea at Daytona Tuesday

"I ran my first Nextel Cup race at Talladega in April," said McClure, son of MMM co-owner Jerry McClure. "Talladega is probably the most intense place you could make your Cup debut. It was definitely an experience, the most fun I’ve ever had."

McClure hopes to have plenty of fun this season. The 2000 Emory & Henry graduate is currently working out the details for a Cup deal with a new Nextel Cup team. He also hopes to compete in the Busch Series, pending a sponsorship agreement.

Meanwhile, MMM general manager Larry McClure reached a sponsorship agreement with Lucas Oil Products on Monday. Mike Wallace has been selected to drive the No. 4 Chevrolet, while Bristol’s Chris Carrier continues as crew chief.

Lucas was also associated with Morgan-McClure last season.

"We still have space for a secondary sponsor that we’re entertaining inquiries for, but Mike is going to test the car and we’d like for him to drive it all season," McClure said.

Kevin Lepage, Jimmy Spencer and Wallace split last season driving for Morgan-McClure. Wallace was in the car for the final four races, posting a top finish of 29th. Spencer announced Monday that he will reunite with veteran owner Jim Smith in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Wallace, winner of the July Busch race at Daytona, was eighth fastest in Tuesday morning’s NASCAR Preseason Thunder Nextel Cup single-car test at Daytona with a lap of 183.722-mph. McClure (182.760) posted the 11th fastest time among the 26 drivers in the No. 73 MMM test car. Scott Riggs topped the charts at 185.109.

Many drivers and team members hate testing. It’s monotonous, time-consuming and expensive. McClure, 26, takes a another approach.

"Anytime you get in a car, it’s a lot of fun," McClure said. "Even when you are testing at (Talladega) and everybody is saying it’s easy, you’re always focusing. I love Talladega. Whether I’m by myself or in a pack of cars, it’s a blast."

Last April’s Aaron’s 499 at the massive 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway featured a record 11 cautions. McClure not only survived the carnage, he led briefly and finished on the lead lap in 26th.

ORIGINAL STORY-Bristol Herald Courier

Hamilton hires Atwood to drive in truck series
By Larry woody
The Tennessean,January 19

Casey Atwood has received a last-minute racing reprieve.

With his hopes of racing this year fading fast, the young Nashville driver has hitched a ride for the season's first three NASCAR truck series races. He will drive a truck provided by Bobby Hamilton Racing.

Atwood will compete in the Feb. 18 season opener at Daytona, followed by races at California and Atlanta. Maintaining his visibility in the early season could lead to other opportunities.

Casey Atwood has signed to drive in the first three Craftsman Truck Series events for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

Timothy Peters, a rookie who won last year's track championship at South Boston (Va.) Speedway, will replace Atwood for races four through 16 as part of a new sponsorship arrangement with BHR.

''We have been looking for young drivers that fit the mold of our operation,'' Hamilton said. ''We are trying to align ourselves with young talent and we see this (new addition) as a success.''

Atwood has been testing at Daytona and has been unavailable for comment.

The new Atwood/Peters deal will not affect any of BHR's original plans for the season. Hamilton, the defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, will run the full schedule as well as field full-time entries for Chase Montgomery and Deborah Renshaw.

Hamilton has secured a 12-race sponsorship with Bailey's Cigarettes and additional sponsors are expected.

Atwood, 24, was released from his Busch Series ride with FitzBradshaw Racing five races before the end of last season. He has filed suit against the team, claiming he was not paid all he was due from last season.

Specifically Atwood's suit seeks $80,000 in back salary (from a base of $240,000), $177,774 in points standings money (40% of the winnings), $52,580 in travel expenses, and one-third of the team's souvenir sales (unspecified amount.)

Armando Fitz, a Nashville native who owns the team in partnership with Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, told The Tennessean Atwood will ''get the money he's entitled to'' if he will sign a release absolving the team of any further obligations. The legal wrangling may revolve around what ''entitled to'' encompasses.

Atwood's attorney said the suit could drag on for as long as nine months. During that time Atwood is free to seek another driving job.

Hamilton in IROC? Hamilton is expected to receive an invitation within the next few days to join this season's elite International Race of Champions (IROC). The series matches 12 top drivers from all forms of racing in a four-race series at various tracks.

Hamilton is expected to receive an invitation based on last year's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Other drivers likely to get invitations include defending NASCAR Cup and Busch champions Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., Indy Car champ Buddy Rice and fellow IRL star Helio Castroneves.

IROC's first race is at Daytona next month. The championship is worth about $1 million

ORIGINAL STORY-the Tennessean

Fans invited to watch California Speedway testing
January 19

As part of NASCAR's Preseason Thunder, several Nextel Cup and Busch Series teams will participate in a test session at California Speedway from Jan. 31-Feb. 3. As of early January, nine NASCAR Busch Series drivers have confirmed for the first two days of the test and 32 Nextel Cup Series drivers have confirmed for the remaining two days of the test.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series test dates, February 2-3, will be open to the general public, free of charge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"This open test will officially kick off our 'Speed Month' as we build toward the upcoming NASCAR Tripleheader, Feb. 25 27," said Speedway President Bill Miller. "The test is very important to the teams, but it is also very important to us in launching this final ticket sales drive. A sneak peak like this will help whet the appetite of fans, or those who are curious and wanting to learn more about NASCAR racing, to witness the sport up close in anticipation of the big event weekend."

Guests will be invited to park inside the oval in the Suite Parking Lots and view the test session from above the Terrace Suites on Pit Road to get up close to the action. A few additional entertainment-type opportunities are also being worked on for guests who attend the test, including a Terrace Suite opening, which will allow guests to experience how the NASCAR weekend's Suite Action puts them right on top of the action in one of the Speedway's well-appointed luxury suites. A three-day Suite Action package for February 25-27 is $1,100 and a two-day for February 26-27 is $950.

Individual tickets for the upcoming race weekend will also be on sale, and guests who purchase tickets at the test to any one of the three February 25-27 race dates will receive a free license plate frame. Those that have already purchased tickets and bring a friend to the test who purchases a race ticket will receive a free license plate frame as well as the ticket purchaser.

Sunday's Auto Club 500 tickets are on sale for $65 and $105. Saturday's ticket, which includes NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series qualifying, the NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300, the Miller Lite Rock 'n Racing Concert and a fireworks show, is $40 and $50. Friday's ticket, which includes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying, Nextel Cup and Busch Series practice and the "night time thunder" of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series American Racing Wheels 200, are $30 with children 12 and under free with a paid adult admission.

Party Zone passes, featuring driver question and answer sessions on race weekend, are also on sale. This fan hospitality area is located inside the Infield and every Party Zone pass includes a pit pass for the day purchased. Saturday's pass is $85, Sunday's pass is $125 and a combined two-day pass is $175. A weekend pit pass, which will allow guests to tour pit road prior to each day's race, is also available. Guests can sign the Start/Finish Line on Sunday prior to the Auto Club 500. For guests 18 and over, a weekend pit pass is $55 - those under 18 are free on Sunday when accompanied by a paying adult. A grandstand ticket is required to use the Party Zone pass or pit pass.

Daytona 500 qualifying still up in the air
January 19

When NASCAR announced its new qualifying procedures for 2005 last week, questions surrounded the Daytona 500, which has a unique qualifying format, which in the past has included Bud Pole Qualifying, two qualifying races, qualifying speeds and provisional starting positions.

With the exception of the so-called "Champion's Provisional," the provisional system has been done away with. The qualifying races have been extended to 150 miles each, from 125 in the past.

The only sure thing at this point, according to NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo, is that the top 35 team owners from the 2004 Nextel Cup owners' standings are guaranteed starting positions in the "Great American Race."

Beyond that, Zizzo said, the qualifying format is "still being tweaked," with the details expected when the race's entry blank is available.

Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports and Slim-Fast team up to drive weight loss success during the 2005 season
January 19

To drive awareness of convenient and affordable ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Slim-Fast and the women of NASCAR have created an unprecedented partnership for the 2005 NASCAR racing season.

The Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports, an official NASCAR charity, and Slim-Fast, a leader in the weight loss industry, are working together to promote a healthy lifestyle during the 2005 NASCAR racing season and encourage people to get on track to their weight loss goals. Led by Ann Schrader, wife of fan favorite Ken Schrader and president of the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports, the women have formed the "Champions of Healthy Weight" team.

The program previews today at Fanfest in Daytona Beach and officially kicks off at NASCAR's Daytona 500. The "Champions" will meet fans and share their personal weight loss stories at ten races including Las Vegas, Atlanta, Charlotte and Indianapolis.

"I know first-hand how difficult it is to keep my weight on track. This partnership is right for the women and fans of NASCAR because we're always on the go, but looking for ways to eat healthy," says Ann Schrader. "The Slim- Fast Optima Diet is a program I can follow, either at home or on the road. WAM is excited to partner with Slim-Fast to achieve our healthy weights, and it's a bonus to be able to share this message with other women."

Throughout the racing season, registered dietitians will be on hand with the Slim-Fast Champions of Healthy Weight offering weight loss tips to NASCAR fans. The dietitians will help fans establish weight loss goals, provide tips and distribute materials including The Little Book of Weight Loss Success and a personal success tracker to monitor progress.

According to Julie Upton, M.S., R.D., "It is possible to lose weight and keep it off, even if you have a busy lifestyle. The Slim-Fast Optima Diet is an easy-to-follow program that combines favorite foods with delicious, convenient products. Not only does the Diet simplify calorie and portion control, it also provides healthy, balanced nutrition, all of which is in line with the newly released 2005 Dietary Guidelines."

The new Optima Diet mixes and matches more of your favorite foods with great-tasting new range of Slim-Fast Optima meal and snack bars, smoothies and shakes, so dieters can lose weight and keep it off. There are hundreds of food choices that are included as part of the plan. In addition, the new Slim-Fast Optima products contain up to 55 percent less sugar than the classic Slim-Fast product line. The Diet is formulated to help dieters achieve their healthy weight, which is determined by their individual needs and goals, not societal standards.

"Since obesity is such a public health crisis, we know it is critical for Americans to learn about healthy eating and lifestyle choices. The Slim-Fast Optima Diet is easy to follow and will fit into anyone's lifestyle, whether you are the wife of a NASCAR driver or a working mom," says Terry Olson, General Manager, Slim-Fast. "We are thrilled to be working with the women of NASCAR, who exemplify our busy lives, to teach Americans that successful weight loss is attainable with the right program. Slim-Fast is the only diet plan with 30 published clinical studies that prove the diet works."