Full Throttle

You are browsing the archives of 2009 January.

Here are a few of the items that have crossed the wires in the last few hours. But first a couple related stories on NASCAR tracks and their promotion.

McLaren and Ferrari, once the most bitter of Formula One rivals, are forging ever closer ties off the track as teams present a united front to the sport’s rulers.

NASCAR does not anticipate suspending any drivers who took their preseason drug tests last week in North Carolina, sanctioning body spokesman Ramsey Poston said today.

Dover Motorsports owns and operates four tracks that host NASCAR-sanctioned races: Dover International Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway and Memphis.

Think fast … Who was the first and only driver in NASCAR history to start a mass, on-track autograph session in the middle of a race?

Bristol Motor Speedway and the state of Tennessee are fighting in court over money the racetrack brings in from the broadcast of NASCAR races.

Reports early in the day suggest Rahal Letterman Racing has pulled out of the 2009 IndyCar Series because it cannot find a sponsor to support its program.

Kyle Busch driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota spent the afternoon with local San Bernardino County middle school students from Etiwanda Intermediate School to unveil the Auto Club Speedway Kid’s Club mascot Lefty.

In time for the kick off ofSpeedweeks 2009 and the 51st annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Daytona International Speedway has launched its new redesigned Web site.

Hard as it is to keep up with the current financial tentacles that are becoming more convoluted with each merger or “alliance” of NASCAR teams it’s understandable some things sail under the radar of daily news.

According to a report a technical alliance is being formed between Front Row Motorsports and John Andretti with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for the Daytona 500 and future Sprint Cup races.

Rome is weighing up a proposal for a Formula One grand prix through streets on the outskirts of the Italian capital, the city’s deputy mayor said on Tuesday.

Speedcar Series announces night race in Qatar. The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) will host Speedcar Series’ first night race at the Losail International Circuit on 12-14 February, 2009.

The World Racing Group, Lernerville Speedway and DIRTcar Racing join countless others who are saddened to learn of Lou Blaney’s passing on Sunday, Jan. 25.

No women, no points. That’s the decision motor racing governing body FIA made with the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation after learning that women were not allowed to compete in Hail Baja Rally, a four-day event that starts tomorrow.

GP2 organisers have followed Formula One’s lead and scrapped testing during the season in a bid to reduce the cost of competing. A reduction in the cost of parts has also been agreed with supplier Dallara, who build the GP2 cars, and series bosses will also allocate credit for spare parts to the teams.

It appears as if FOM Chief Bernie Ecclestone has decided to try and use the current economic meltdown to his advantage this week by offering the teams more financial freedom in return for a bigger commitment to the pinnacle of Motorsports.

Drive for Diversity member Kristin Bumbera will drive for Hamilton Racing during the 2009 season. Bumbera and team owner Bobby Hamilton Jr. will team up for a full season of competition in the NASCAR Camping World East Series.

Pardon me if I have a bit of a chuckle over this, but it is comical. Jimmie Johnson sliced his left middle finger with a knife while in Daytona Beach, Fla., for the Rolex 24 where his team finished seventh in class.

Drivers accepted for the 2009 Drive For Diversity program were recently announced as the program moves with an expanded driver lineup and a new management group headed by Max Siegel through his new sports and entertainment marketing company, 909 Group.