NASCAR News

PPI Motorsports and driver Ricky Craven have confirmed that they will split at the end of the current season, but denied speculation that the parting of the ways may come before this weekend's New Hampshire Cup round.

NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing will resumes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today (Monday) with 12 drivers, including past Brickyard 400 winners Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott and former NASCAR champions Tony Stewart and Terry Labonte, scheduled to test.

Aki Okamoto became one of the few Japanese drivers to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR when he tested a Weekly Racing Series car at the Hickory Motor Speedway on Thursday [15 July].

Construction is underway at Dover International Speedway in preparation for the fitting of new SAFER barriers, beginning with the complete reconstruction of the inside backstretch wall.

Joe Gibbs Racing is currently hunting for a replacement crew chief for Bobby Labonte's #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, having released Michael McSwain from his duties.

Kasey Kahne's Nextel Cup crew chief Tommy Baldwin has been fined $10,000 for the incident that occurred at last weekend's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

It has been confirmed that Michael Waltrip and primary sponsors NAPA will return to Dale Earnhardt Incorporated for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series after a series of strong races by the double Daytona 500 winner.

Tony Stewart had plenty to talk about at the end of Sunday's Tropicana 400, for although he was the dominant driver at the Chicagoland Speedway, the road to Victory Lane was far from smooth.

Tony Stewart boosted his season by taking the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet to victory at Chicagoland, but only after an on-track clash with Kasey Kahne that led to a scuffle on the pitlane. Stay tuned to crash.net for a full report and results coming soon.

1985 Pepsi Firecracker 400 winner Greg Sacks will attempt to make his first NASCAR Cup Series start in more than six years this weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway in a new team owned by James Wilsburg.

Although the Pepsi 400 victory went to Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated didn't leave the Daytona International Speedway winless after Michael Waltrip's #15 NAPA pit crew scooped the honours in the latest round of the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fuelled by Powerade.

Double Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip announced this afternoon he will run the Las Vegas Marathon on January 30, 2005, and has made a commitment to raise $1 million benefiting Victory Junction Gang Camp in an effort called "Operation Marathon, Going the Distance for Kids."

Volatile NEXTEL Cup driver Tony Stewart has been fined $50,000, penalised 25 points and placed on probation until 18 August following his post-race altercation with fellow driver Brian Vickers at Infineon Raceway last Sunday.

Elliott Sadler's pit-crew pocketed its second victory in as many weeks by winning the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fuelled by POWERade in Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

Chevrolet has confirmed that the popular Chevy Rock and Roll 400 will revisit Richmond International Raceway during the current NASCAR Nextel Cup season, revealing at the same time that legendary act KISS will be the first to be featured in the race.

Bill Elliott, Ray Evernham and Visteon's Greg Gyllstrom take questions about Elliott's return to NASCAR Nextel Cup action with Visteon backing in this year's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Former NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and perennial fan favourite Bill Elliott will make just his third points start of the season in August's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with backing from new NASCAR sponsors Visteon.

The pit crew for Casey Mears, which has been close many times in the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fuelled by POWERade, can now lay claim to winning the weekly contest with a solid effort in Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway.

Russell Riggs will travel to Michigan International Speedway this weekend to watch his son, NASCAR Nextel Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, Scott Riggs try to give him the best Father's Day present imaginable, a win in Sunday's DHL 400.

Arnold Motorsports have announced that they will feature the NASCAR Day logo on their No. 50 Dodge Intrepid this weekend at Michigan International Speedway with driver PJ Jones.

Michigan International Speedway may not be the best NASCAR Nextel Cup venue for Ricky Craven to start a season-turnaround with the #32 PPI Motorsports Tide team for in 14 career NASCAR Cup starts at the two-mile venue, he has but one top five and two top ten finishes.

Legendary singer/songwriter Bob Weir will sing the national anthem at Infineon Raceway for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event next weekend.

Kerry Earnhardt, elder brother of current NASCAR Nextel Cup points leader Dale Earnhardt Jr, will attempt to qualify for Sunday's DHL 400 at the Michigan International Speedway in a fourth Chevrolet Monte Carlo entered by Richard Childress Racing.

Tony Stewart's pit crew took home the $20,000 first-place cheque as a result of winning the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fuelled by POWERade in Sunday's MBNA 400 'Salute to Heroes' event at Dover International Speedway.