Across the river
By Jerry Bonkowski
Yahoo! Sports, December 5

NASCAR's Field of Dreams struck out even before it had a chance to step up to the plate.

Fans line the street as the top ten NASCAR drivers celebrate the end of their season with a lap through Times Square in New York November 29, 2006

(REUTERS/Chip East)

It wasn't a matter of build it and they will come. If that had been the case, construction would be well under way right now on Staten Island to build NASCAR and its International Speedway Corporation's proposed eight-tenths-mile, 80,000-seat Taj Mahal in the shadow of New York City.

There was even hope that the track would be up and running and hosting its first race by 2010 or 2011. But Staten Island was the wrong place for all the wrong reasons.

First off, the cost of what likely would have been an extremely costly cleanup of the area would have been substantial, as the track was to be built upon the same site as an abandoned oil tank farm. Who knows what environmental hazards lurked under the surface, which NASCAR was just only beginning to explore?

Secondly, while they welcomed progress and economic investment to the island, local environmentalists did not want to lose valuable wetlands and bird habitats.

Third, while some local politicians dreamed of a big cash influx, local residents didn't seem to care. They like their way of life, away from the hustle and bustle of the other four New York City boroughs. Heck, if they didn't want their own New York Yankees and New York Jets when there was talk in years past that both teams wanted to build new stadiums in Staten Island, there was no way NASCAR was going to get a positive nod.

Kodak to sponsor Newman in three Cup races
December 5

Eastman Kodak Company will serve as primary sponsor of the #12 Dodge driven by Ryan Newman at three Nextel Cup races in 2007.

Kodak will also sponsor Newman’s car in seven Busch Series races next year, and will be an associate sponsor of Penske Racing’s IndyCar Series entries driven by Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish, Jr.

At 33 other Cup events, Kodak will be an associate sponsor of the #12 Alltel Dodge. The seven Busch Series races where Newman will drive a Kodak EasyShare Gallery-sponsored car are Bristol, Texas, Darlington, Chicagoland, Watkins Glen, Fontana, and Richmond.

Kodak was the primary sponsor for the third Penske Cup team with driver TRavis Kvapil in 2005. That effort was shut down prior to 2006.

Biffle/Kyle Busch to test Goodyear tires at Las Vegas this week
December 5

Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s new high banks will be tested by NASCAR Nextel Cup cars for the first time this week.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet, and Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Roush Racing Ford, will participate in a two-day tire test for Goodyear on Wednesday and Thursday. It will mark the first time Nextel Cup cars have turned hot laps on the superspeedway since the banking in the turns was raised from 12 degrees to 20 degrees and the entire tri-oval was repaved.

“I’m anxious to get out on the new surface at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,” Busch said. “Last year the No. 5 team wasn’t selected for any tire tests. But the Hendrick Motorsports teams that were selected brought back great information. Another bonus is that it’s also the first time I will be on the new banking so I hope it helps us when we go back to Vegas for the race in the spring. We have two top-fives there and nothing would be sweeter than a win in my hometown.”

Goodyear engineers will use this test to help determine a tire compound to be used in the March 11 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. This test also will determine the tire race teams will use during the NASCAR-sanctioned test for all Nextel Cup teams Jan. 28-29.

Bobby Labonte Racing to field cars for Pearson Jr.

December 5

Bobby Labonte Racing has reached an agreement with Dunn-Benson Motorsports and will field Late Model cars for the Jacksonville, Florida resident and three time Dirt Late Model National Champion Earl Pearson Jr. beginning with the 2007 season.

The team will be based out of the Bobby Labonte Racing shop in Archdale, NC. The 2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Crew Chief of the Year Jason Fitzgerald will continue to handle the crew chief duties along with Matt Langston as additional full time crew for Bobby Labonte Racing.

Bobby Labonte Racing and Earl Pearson Jr. are finalizing sponsorship for the team and working on their schedule for the 2007 season. A special press conference announcing more details and sponsorships about the new team is tentatively scheduled for the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando on December 14th.

The View From Fanville
Hey Santa…You Wanna See My List?
By Amy Hair
Cup Scene Daily,December 4

The speeches are over, and most of our fellows have returned home and climbed into their favorite casual attire…relieved that for awhile anyway, they won’t have to sit through another formal dinner while wearing a suit that isn’t even close to being comfortable.