Ken's NASCAR Notebook  -  June 27, 1996

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Miller #2 wins Miller 400
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Rusty Wallace won the Miller 400 at Michigan by conserving fuel, and 
 broke the track record in doing so.  Davey Allison's old mark of 5 
 years ago was beat by just over 5 mph for a new race average speed of 
 166.033 mph.

Bobby Hamilton put the new nose of the King's #43 STP Pontiac on the 
 pole for the race, which was the first time the #43 was in the pole 
 position since Richard won his last career pole in 1979 for the fall 
 race at Bristol.  However, since the #43 car doesn't sport the Busch 
 sticker on it, Richard is not eligible for the Busch Pole award and 
 Bobby may not be eligible for the Busch Clash in Daytona.  Petty says 
 he doesn't run the sticker because he doesn't drink beer.  Hamilton 
 managed to finish 15th overall.

Morgan Shepard surprised everyone by leading 44 laps in the Miller 400, 
 thats 9 more laps than the total of 35 laps he led in all the races 
 last year.  Some say that the reason is the team is now stronger under 
 the direction of Butch Mock Motorsports new crew chief, Gere Kennon.  
 Kennon, who replaces Troy Selberg, was a chassis specialist for Roush 
 Racing's & Ted Musgrave's Family Channel Ford.

Jimmy Spencer, who was forced to take a provisional spot and started 
 dead last in the 40 car field, was able to finish 4th overall - a 36 
 position difference.  This was his best finish since winning the 
 DieHard 500 in Talladega, back in July of 1994.

On the other hand, or is that foot, Derrike Cope in Bobby Allison's car 
 gets the honors of dropping the most positions, by starting second and 
 finishing dead last - a difference of 38 positions.


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Spam sports new colors
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The #9 Ford Thunderbird that normally sports the sparkling blue Spam 
 can paint job was red for the race at Michigan.  Why?  To celebrate 
 the sponsor's 50th anniversary.  But can anyone tell me why red?


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Brett Bodine loses sponsor
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Brett Bodine, owner and driver of the #11 Lowe's Ford Thunderbird is 
 reportedly losing his current primary sponsor at the end of this 
 season.  Brett says he is still looking for a primary sponsor for next year.

Rumor says that Lowe's may be making the move over to the new team of 
 Richard Childress' second car next year.

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Ford Credit Motorsports Online
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Ford Credit is now online with a web page dedicated to their 
 motorsports program, which includes their two sponsored teams in the 
 Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck series.  See their home page at:  
 http://www.fordcredit.com/motorsp/


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N. Wilkesboro fate is near
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An apparent agreement has been reached between the co-owners of North 
 Wilkesboro Speedway that will finally provide some insight to the fate 
 of Winston Cup racing at North Wilkesboro, but an official 
 announcement will not take place for another week or two.

Co-owners Bruton Smith and Bob Bahre told the The News & Observer of 
 Raleigh, North Carolina that they have reached an "amicable agreement" 
 with regards to the fate of the NASCAR Winston Cup races at the the 
 track. The proposal reportedly aligns itself with rumors surrounding 
 the loss of both N. Wilkeboro races, with one going to Bahre's New 
 Hampshire International Speedway and the other to Smith's new Texas 
 Motor Speedway.


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Speed Racer teams up with NASCAR
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The NASCAR Licensing Group, the National Association for Stock Car Auto 
 Racing's in-house licensing department, will team up with television's 
 animated Speed Racer character to sell officially licensed items 
 including t-shirts, headwear, pennants, key rings, die cast toys and 
 trading cards. 

Speed Racer first took to the track in 1967 with his famous futuristic 
 Mach 5 race car, and continues to reach millions of people on the 
 Cartoon Network.  The relationship, which also celebrates the 30th 
 Anniversary of the Speed Racer character, is NASCAR's latest effort to 
 provide race fans of all ages with exciting new ways to enjoy the 
 country's fastest growing sport, NASCAR racing. 

 As part of a NASCAR promotional campaign, ESPN is airing 12 different 
 NASCAR/Speed Racer spots that feature nearly 20 NASCAR Winston Cup 
 Series drivers.  Two of the spots include 1995 champion Jeff Gordon 
 and seven time champion Dale Earnhardt commenting on Speed Racer's 
 possible participation in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, and 
 NASCAR officials determining if Speed Racer's Mach 5 race car is 
 eligible for NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition. 

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Daytona RaceFest -- "A Celebration of NASCAR"
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The seventh annual Daytona RaceFest event is being held in conjunction 
 with the 38th Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race July 6th at 
 Daytona International Speedway.

RaceFest will feature autograph sessions with NASCAR Winston Cup 
 drivers { Bobby Allison (7-8 p.m.), Johnny Benson  (5-6), Derrike Cope 
 (5-7), Bobby Hillin (5:30-7), Bobby Labonte (6-8), Rick Mast (TBA), 
 Jeremy Mayfield (6-7), Ken Schrader (7-8) and Morgan Shepherd (6-8) } 
 and "legendary" competitors from the beach racing days, show cars and 
 souvenir trailers, the "Junior 400" child's "Big Wheel" tricycle race 
 and a NASCAR simulator. 

RCA recording artists Keith Gattis and Lari White will perform at 7 
 p.m. and 8:30, respectively.  A fireworks display following the 
 Daytona Cubs game will be visible.  Admission to RaceFest, on Beach 
 Street and Riverfront Park, is free and free
parking is available behind the Beach Street stores. 

For RaceFest information call The Chamber, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area, 
 at (904) 255-0981. For Pepsi 400 ticket information call the Daytona 
 International Speedway Ticket Office at (904) 253-RACE (7223).

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Happy Motoring :-)
=Ken=

Email: 	Ken_Corpus@wb.xerox.com or 76734.1003@compuserve.com
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