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1966: The last of Marvin Panch’s 17 Grand National victories comes in the World 600 at Charlotte … but he isn’t in the car when it takes the checkered flag more than two laps ahead of G.C. Spencer. That honor goes Richard Petty, who drives the final 42 laps. Panch gives up the ride because the seat of his Petty Enterprises Plymouth is rubbing old burns on his back. One other interesting fact, according to DecadesofRacing.net – Panch drives Petty Enterprises' dirt car in the race, which is a year old.

MOTHERS DAY POEM TO TERESEA EARNHARDT

Mike Bianchi ORLANDP SENNTINEL

Mother's Day poem from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Teresa Earnhardt:

Stepmommy Dearest, I wish to say,

That I hope you have a happy Mother's Day,

But let us forgo the hugging and embracing,

'Cause I'm leaving you for Childress Racing.

learned life's lessons upon your knee,

You made me cornbread and sweet tea,

I can't tell you all you've meant,

But I'm outta here unless I get 51 percent.

bring you flowers, I bring you candy,

I bring you a bottle of the finest French brandy,

Now pour a glass and drink it dry,

'Cause now there's no DE in your DEI.

Last Wednesday we opened the doors of Raceworld USA to the public. When you do something new and different, you are always curious of how it is going to turn out. What will people think of what they see? I have been walking around the shop and the experience, making my prescence known, so the fans can see me and talk to me. I really wanted to know what the fans thought about Raceworld USA.

The response has been over-the-top positive and I am very pleased and thankful for that. This full-access race shop and experience has never been done before. And I take a lot of pride in the fact that we can say, "we were the first". When the fans come to Raceworld USA, they are going to see parts of the team and the shop that they have never seen before. That's why I created it. I am a race fan. That's how it all started for me.

When I was born, my brother Darrell was 16 years old and I spent the first 12-15 years of my life looking through the fence at the cars and drivers, because back then, no kids were allowed in the garage area. I wanted to see and know what was going on in there. When I walk through the garage area now and I see a kid looking through the fence in amazement, I always think, "hey dude. I know you." That was me. I was that kid back then.

There are times at the race track where things are hectic, that you never get to slow down and appreciate people's interest in what you do and the commitment they make to be there. But when I am here at the shop, I am able to look around and see people enjoying what we have build and that warms up my heart to go out and say, "thanks for coming. I'm glad you are here and hope you enjoy your tour."

Everyday we will refine and add to the tour. Our goal is to keep it fresh for the fans. Something I have learned right from the start, is that this is a concept that people embrace and appreciate. I spoke to a guy yesterday that had been here for six hours. He was just soaking it all up and trying to see everything he could and learn about all the various aspects of our team and racing in general. Now, that was a Sunday afternoon, when we don't have a ton of activity here. Regardless, when you see something for the first time and you are a fan, there is probably no limit to how long you could be here. I know it makes our employees feel good to have fans looking down on them and appreciate their commitment and hard work.

So far this has been everything I had dreamed it would be. I hope you get a chance to come see us.

Whats up with juan pablo looked like he was trying to wreck the whole field.

By RON GREEN JR. / The Charlotte Observer
CONCORD -- Kurt Busch stood a few feet away from his mangled bronze race car late Saturday night, still almost dazed by how quickly and how bitterly his run at winning the Nextel All-Star Challenge had gone away.

One moment Busch was rushing toward the front and that's when he caught a glimpse of a car beside him on the inside.

It was his brother, Kyle, and suddenly they were tangled up. Sheet metal rubbed, sparks flew and two nights ended the wrong way for the Busch brothers.

"I've been waiting for the day" Kurt Busch started after climbing from his car, working to subdue the frustration of a fractured night.

Waiting for the day when he and his brother ran into each other at the wrong time.

That time came Saturday night in the final segment of the big-money race when both brothers had the idea they could win a race that ultimately belonged to Kevin Harvick.

"Inevitably, the Busch brothers had to get together," Kurt said. "We did it in an all-star race. A million bucks were up for grabs and I'm sure that's why he didn't lift and I'm sure that's why I didn't give an inch. We wrecked two good race cars."

Kurt Busch was about to move around Jeff Burton when his brother roared up beside him. He was surprised by the aggressive move by his brother on the second lap of the final segment. "It startled me," Kurt said.

For an instant, it looked as if both drivers might escape with nothing more than a scare, but it didn't happen. Once Kyle Busch's blue car started sliding up the banking in the first turn, there was no saving either Busch brother.

"Maybe I should have given an inch and maybe he shouldn't have taken that inch," Kurt said. "I'm pretty sure we'll discuss this. We can't just let it go.

"He's wrecked a lot of Busch (series) cars right now. I've got to say that. I've been trying to tell him to calm down a little bit and back off. Instead of running 100 percent maybe he should run at 98. He was at 102 right there."

Not far away, Kyle Busch's car sat behind his team's transporter. The rear end was almost gone. A saw was out and crew members were cutting through what was left of the machine that been among the fastest cars throughout the evening.

There wasn't much left to save.

"I really didn't know it was him, but I knew it was a pretty aggressive move underneath me," Kurt Busch said. "Guys race on the track all the time and cars run into each other.

"We were running the high groove making sure we didn't get in a wreck and, lo and behold, we got into a wreck."

Will there be any hard feelings?

"I don't think I'll be eating Kellogg's anytime soon," Kurt said, referencing the sponsor of his brother's car.

Associated Press
Posted: 2 days ago

Kelley Earnhardt Elledge said Friday she has spoken to several teams and is prioritizing the options based on the best fit for Earnhardt. He announced last week that he is leaving DEI, his late father's company, at the end of the season.

"We have all along said we would talk to everyone, specifically Chevrolet teams," Elledge said. "We have not eliminated any options at this point."

Elledge, who is Junior's business manager, said the focus is currently on top Chevrolet teams, followed by everyone else. Elledge said that fielding his own Nextel Cup team out of JR Motorsports, the team Earnhardt owns, is "a last resort."

Earnhardt is the most prolific free agent in NASCAR history, and most of the top car owners have said they'd like a chance to talk to him.

Three of the top four Chevrolet teams - RCR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Ginn Racing - have indicated a desire to speak to Earnhardt. Only Hendrick Motorsports, winner of eight of the past nine races this season, has been silent on the issue.

Elledge would not reveal what teams already have been in contact, but said she's met with a few already and has scheduled meetings with others.

Richard Childress, who fielded cars for six of the elder Earnhardt's seven championships, has indicated he will talk to Junior. And Bobby Ginn, who took over a midlevel team last summer, said he plans to aggressively pursue the driver.

J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said last week that he'd like to talk to Earnhardt but indicated it might not be a good fit. JGR promotes a family values image, and Gibbs said the organization would have a hard time accepting Budweiser, Earnhardt's longtime sponsor.

Dodge owners Ray Evernham, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske all have said they'd like an opportunity to sign Earnhardt, but acknowledge they are long shots because of Junior's loyalty to Chevrolet. Even so, they all are in line waiting to see if Elledge gets that far down the list.

"It's like trying to get a date with Jennifer Aniston - if you see her, you've got to at least ask," Evernham said.

Earnhardt has stayed out of the spotlight this week, asking for a little time to decompress following his decision to leave DEI. He's cited a desire to win championships - something he doesn't think he can do at DEI - as his reason for leaving. But contract talks with his stepmother, Teresa, were contentious and he demanded majority ownership in the company during negotiations.

Suffice it to say, if your favorite driver won, you're thrilled. If you don't like the winner, well then it's time for the whining and more Monday morning quarterbacking.

Two weeks ago everyone's moaning about the COT. Well today, it's the "New Car," and they're complaining a lot less about it now that some of the safety features built in to it (i.e.: the Dow door foam) kept the infamous 'Darlington Stripe' from affecting the car's aerodynamics adversely. Cars stayed truer to form. I've said it before, but the Car of Today, Tomorrow (or whatever they're calling it this morning) is here to stay. NASCAR wants it that way, and so it is. Like it, hate it . . . just learn to adjust. Teams that understand that fact, and have accepted the task at hand, are developing it accordingly. Names like Hendrick, Gibbs, Childress and Penske know this, and no amount of belly-aching and whining is going to make a difference. They must learn to win in it.

Let's not forget the dreaded "debris cautions" either. Ah, yes . . . here we go. Is the "fix" in on that one this week as well? Again, I guess that depends on who your favorite driver is. Sure Hamlin's upset, but is he just "whining" or justified in his disappointment with NASCAR's seemingly arbitrary calls with regards to cautions? In listening to interviews on television after the race, seems many feel NASCAR may get a "pass" on not throwing a late flag this time. Debris was low and outside of the main racing groove and of little concern. . .unless you had some serious catching-up to do. With single digit laps left, and the "debris" not a huge safety concern, I say let them race. Isn't that what we came to see? Complaints will abound regardless, though. If you get any finish with another flag alongside the checkers, we complain. Worse yet, the story changes when all some do is hate Gordon for a living. If he's the one leading, then NASCAR "handed" him the race. If it's anyone BUT Gordon, then it's okay. God forbid Jeff is the guy in second place and NASCAR throws a caution so he can "catch-up". There would be rioting in the streets, along with some REAL debris on the track. (Lest we forget Talladega).

It's now the 'current' talk of the town, but Dale Jr. is quite the savvy businessman, and I applaud his action in separating himself from DEI. It's a wise CAREER decision for him, and sad as it is to say, DEI is neither overly competitive right now, nor is it a happy family. Ms. Earnhardt is clearly not "Mother Teresa". In that same vein, be fully aware that she will not trade nor give up the number "8". Adjust your wardrobe and tattoos Junior fans. Oh, the color red is still good. Bud's contract coinsides with his, with both ending after this season. They're free to go as well. Sorry Teresa. RCR may, indeed, be the best fit for Dale, but it's unlikely it'll be in the #3. Too much history, too much pressure, and really . . .would it be the same without the black color and the GM Goodwrench on the hood? #33 is okay though. Same graphics, same windswept design of the number . . . just twice the fun.

Some final thoughts: Hendrick engines are incredible. Jeff Gordon, while being a 'little' lucky, is one amazing and talented driver. Denny Hamlin is a rising star and talented in his own right. He must, however, learn when to bite his tongue and try not to point blame on his teammates or NASCAR. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, buddy! Juan Pablo is not doing a good job in the "making friends" department. If he keeps up his arrogant racing attitude, his destiny will be solidified with his car spinning backwards across tracks all over the place. Godspeed, Mr. Montoya.

(Borrowed from SportingNews.com)

By Jim Pedley
The Kansas City Star

What does it take to drive your way into the Nextel All-Star Challenge by way of winning the Nextel Open Qualifying event?

It takes speed, nerves, luck and, apparently, the ability to string together cliches.

Last year, Scott Riggs drove his way into the all-star race, which is scheduled for this evening at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., by winning the Open.

In talking about how tough that was, Riggs had no problem with the cliche end of things.

"Yeah, it's pretty hard," Riggs said "I think that everyone puts really, they go with both barrels loaded. Everyone does all they can in their cars to make them as fast as they possibly can for only 25 or 30 laps, something like that. So it's definately no holds barred where everyone takes the gloves off and give it all they can."

The Open is run right before the all-star race. It features all drivers not already qualified for the all-star race.

Tonight, it gives the wannabes one last chance to join the drivers who won a race last year, won a race this year, had their car owner win a race the last two years, was series champion in the last 10 years or is a past winner of the all-star race.

This year, the top two drivers in the Open will transfer to the all-star race.

Also, one driver will be voted in by fans.

The only thing more confusing that the qualifying procedure is the race format. This year, it is four 10-lap segments with optional pit stops and crazy starting orders.

Still, the drivers in the field like the race, they like the fact it is near their homes and they like the $1 million check that goes to the winner.

It's just a fun race, it's a fun racetrack," said Ryan Newman, the winner of the 2002 race. "I think the track and the tire combination will be a lot better this year for racing. It's all about the glory of the night."

Newman has better work on the cliches just a bit more if he wants to beat Riggs.

Five things to watch for:

1. Strategy. Teams will have the option of pitting after the first segment. Will they stay out and keep track position or opt to improve their cars?

2. Jimmie Johnson. He rules this track. He has won five points races at Lowe's, and he has won the all-star race twice.

3. The grandstands. This event has not done well in the turnstiles in recent years. Some, including Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger, would like to see it moved to a new location.

4. The glitz. Promoters and television stations turn up the volume on activities. It comes off almost like professional wrestling.

5. Jeff Gordon. The current Nextel Cup points leader has won the event three times. But he hasn't won it since 2001.

NEXTEL ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

Where: Lowe's Motor Speedway
Start: 7 p.m. ET / SPEED CHANNEL
Last year's winner: Jimmie Johnson