__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

What: Race 25 of 36 on Nextel Cup circuit
Where: California Speedway, Fontana, CA
When: September 2, 2007
Laps: 250
Track Length: 2. miles
Race Length: 500.00 miles

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Sharp AQUOS 500
California Speedway
September 02, 2007
Race 25 of 36

CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN MAKE SPONSOR OWNER

00 David Reutimann* Zephyrhills, FL Toyota Burger King Calvin Wells, III
1 Martin Truex Jr. Mayetta, NJ Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Teresa Earnhardt
01 Aric Almirola Tampa, FL Chevrolet U.S. Army Bobby Ginn
2 Kurt Busch Las Vegas, NV Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske
4 Ward Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Lucas Oil / State Water Heaters James Finch
5 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Chevrolet Cheez-It / CARQUEST Rick Hendrick
6 David Ragan* Unadilla, GA Ford AAA Insurance Mike Dee
7 Robby Gordon Orange, CA Ford Original Roadhouse Grill / Jim Beam Robby Gordon
07 Clint Bowyer Emporia, KS Chevrolet DIRECTV Richard Childress
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Budweiser Teresa Earnhardt
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
10 Scott Riggs Bahama, NC Dodge Valvoline / Stanley Tools James Rocco
11 Denny Hamlin Chesterfield, VA Chevrolet FedEx Express J D Gibbs
12 Ryan Newman South Bend, IN Dodge Kodak Roger Penske
15 Paul Menard* Eau Claire, WI Chevrolet Johns Manville / Menards Bobby Ginn
16 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford Aflac Jack Roush
17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford R+L Carriers John Henry
18 J.J. Yeley Phoenix, AZ Chevrolet Interstate Batteries Joe Gibbs
19 Elliott Sadler Emporia, VA Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
20 Tony Stewart Rushville, IN Chevrolet The Home Depot Joe Gibbs
21 Bill Elliott Dawsonville, GA Ford Motorcraft Glen Wood
22 Dave Blaney Hartford, OH Toyota Caterpillar Bill Davis
24 Jeff Gordon Pittsboro, IN Chevrolet DuPont Cromax Pro Rick Hendrick
25 Casey Mears Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet National Guard / GMAC Mary Hendrick
26 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Ford Sharp AQUOS Geoff Smith
29 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet Pennzoil Platinum Richard Childress
31 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress
36 Jeremy Mayfield Owensboro, KY Toyota 360 OTC Gail Davis
38 David Gilliland Riverside, CA Ford M&M's Robert Yates
40 David Stremme South Bend, IN Dodge Target Felix Sabates
41 Reed Sorenson Peachtree City, GA Dodge Target / Memorex Chip Ganassi
42 Juan Montoya* Bogota, Colombia Dodge Wrigley's Big Red Floyd Ganassi
43 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Dodge Cheerios / Totinos Pizza Rolls Richard Petty
44 Dale Jarrett Hickory, NC Toyota UPS Michael Waltrip
45 Kyle Petty Randleman, NC Dodge Wells Fargo Kyle Petty
48 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon, CA Chevrolet Lowe's / Jimmie Johnson Foundation Jeff Gordon
49 John Andretti Indianapolis, IN Dodge Paralyzed Veterans of America Elizabeth Morgenthau
55 Michael Waltrip Owensboro, KY Toyota NAPA Auto Parts Buffy Waltrip
66 Jeff Green Owensboro, KY Chevrolet Best Buy Joe Custer
70 Johnny Sauter Necedah, WI Chevrolet Haas Automation Joe Custer
78 Joe Nemechek Lakeland, FL Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing Barney Visser
83 Brian Vickers Thomasville, NC Toyota Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz
84 A.J. Allmendinger* Los Gatos, CA Toyota Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz
88 Ricky Rudd Chesapeake, VA Ford Snickers Robert Yates
96 Tony Raines La Porte, IN Chevrolet DLP HDTV Bill Saunders
99 Carl Edwards Columbia, MO Ford Office Depot Georgetta Roush

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Kodak will be offering a pair of tickets to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sharp AQUOS® 500 race on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 for your old inkjet printer.

The first 75 fans to bring an old printer to Hollywood and Highlands on Saturday, Sept 1 from 11am to 3pm will receive two free tickets to the Sharp AQUOS 500 race, complements of Kodak, along with a coupon for dollars off a new KODAK All-in-One Printer. All old printers will be sent to an electronics recycling center.

Saturday, September 1, 2007 11:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.

The Kodak Theatre, Hollywood and Highland Center Awards Walk, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA. 90028

Kodak will also unveil a never-before-seen, custom-designed paint scheme for Ryan Newman’s No. 12 KODAK Dodge. The winning design was selected from over 3,000 contest entries, which were judged by driver Ryan Newman, NBA alum and TV co-host John Salley from “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” and online votes. After its unveiling, Newman will drive the newly inked car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sharp AQUOS® 500 race on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, at the California Speedway.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I really hope Menard has a strong weekend. Cali has been good to him.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

The extended forecast for Fontana, Calif., currently calls for sunny and hot conditions throughout the race weekend. Friday’s high is projected to reach 104 degrees with a low Friday night of 72 degrees. Saturday’s high is 102 degrees and low of 71 degrees. Sunday’s race day forecast calls for a high of 101 degrees and a low of 71 degrees. There is only a 10 percent chance of any precipitation during the three-day period. The race is expected to get under way at 5:00 p.m. PDT under sunny skies, with the temperature around 95 degrees. The sun will set at 7:15 p.m. local time on Sunday. ...Daily Headlines

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

RacingOne Staff

A look at some NASCAR NEXTEL Cup facts and figures at California Speedway as the series gets ready to run Sunday's Sharp AQUOS 500.

0 - There have been zero caution-free or shortened races at California.
1 - There has yet to be a race winner at California that started in the first or second positions.
2 - Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch have both won two pole positions at California and are the only repeat pole winners at the track.
3 - Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with three victories at California. Matt Kenseth is the only other repeat winner there, having captured his second victory this spring.
4 - California Speedway is one of four tracks where Tony Stewart hasn't visited victory lane on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule.
5 - Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing have won five races at California, more than any other team.
6 - Six of 14 races at California Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
7 - Jeff Gordon has finished in the top five in seven of his 14 starts at California.
8 - Last year's race winner, Kasey Kahne, will be making his eighth California Speedway NEXTEL Cup start.
9 - Nine of the top-12 drivers in pre-race Driver Rating currently sit in the top 12 of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points standings.
10 - Three drivers have finished in the top 10 seven times at California Speedway; Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin.
15 - The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at California Speedway for the 15th time this Sunday.
31 - Matt Kenseth won in February 2006 from the 31st starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
66 - Tony Raines lost a friendly wager with Jeff Green after last week's Bristol race and will sport a No. 66 hat this weekend in California. Green beat Raines to the finish line at Bristol to win the bet.
68.5 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s driver rating of 68.5 at California doesn't lend much hope to him making up much of his 158-point deficit behind 12-place Kurt Busch.
116.4 - Matt Kenseth has the best driver rating at California Speedway of 116.4.
188.425 - Kurt Busch holds the current track qualifying record of 188.425 mph at California, set in qualifying Feb. 25, 2005.
196 - Any driver 196 points ahead of 13th place after Sunday's race will lock up a spot in the Chase.
250 - The number of laps in Sunday's 500-mile Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway.
457 - Jeff Gordon has led 457 laps at California Speedway, the most of any driver.
900 - Ricky Rudd will become only the second driver to start 900 races when he starts Sunday's Sharp AQUOS 500.
1,185 - Richard Petty is the only driver with more starts than Ricky Rudd, having started 1,185 races during his career.
2004 - California Speedway hosted its first night race in 2004, in a year that also saw the beginning of twice-a-year racing at the track.
6,097,134 - The posted awards for Sunday's Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Sears joins forces with Valvoline, special scheme for #10: Two great American names in automotive service announced an alliance that will provide consumers with great automotive products. The agreement calls for Valvoline to be the primary brand of motor oil offered at all 850-plus Sears Auto Centers. Through its partnership with Valvoline, Sears Auto Centers will have a sponsorship presence on a Nextel Cup car at various times over the next three seasons. Sears Auto Centers will be primary sponsor on Scott Riggs' #10 Dodge at Nextel Cup events at California this Sunday and Atlanta this fall.(Valvoline PR), see an image of the scheme on my #10 Team Schemes page.(8-30-2007)

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

NASCAR team reports as the Nextel Cup tour makes its second visit of the season to California Speedway:

Jeff Gordon

No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: Gordon has had a lot of success at California Speedway — three wins, seven top-fives and two poles in 14 races. He finished second there in February and has led eight of his 14 races for 457 laps. ... Although the format of the Chase may have cost Gordon the 2004 title, he believes it's a good format. "It's good news, in my opinion, for the whole sport," Gordon said. "I don't see a negative to it at all because it creates great racing. If a championship is going to be decided down to the final race, it's anybody's championship to win. I still feel we're one of the teams to beat based on just how good we've been week in and week out. We're consistent, we're solid and we're just constantly getting better, so even though we're going to lose that points lead that we have, I still think that we've got a heck of a shot at it." ... Gordon believes with the new format, there should be a differentiation from champions before 2004 and those who have won it with the current format. "Definitely. To me there should be an asterisk next to the (2003) season because once the Chase format was formed, champions were decided in a much different way," he said. "We talked about modern-era championships and races won in a single season, comparing it to the past. I think it's the same thing with the Chase format ever since that's come along. In my opinion, though, it's a move for the better. I think it's more exciting. It's more challenging, which makes it more rewarding to win the championship."

Last week: Gordon struggled to an uncharacteristic 19th-place finish at Bristol after starting 18th.

Etc.: Having clinched a spot in the Chase, Gordon can take a win-or-go-home attitude to the next two races because bonus points for victories will be the key once the drivers are seeded. "I feel like that's really where we're at," Gordon said. "We're just in the mode of 'How can we be better? How can we step everything up to get better for the Chase and get 10 more bonus points?' That's what it's all about for us right now."

Tony Stewart

No. 20 Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing

This week: Stewart, who is locked into the Chase, continues to prove he's a late-season driver. The two-time Cup champion has climbed to second in the standings with three victories, eight top-fives and 17 top-10s. He has three top-fives and six top-10s at the Fontana track, including an eighth-place finish there in February. He has led five of his 12 California Speedway races for 213 laps. "It seems a lot slicker than Michigan does," Stewart said of the track surface at California. "It may be the mix of asphalt that they use there, but it seems like you can still move around like you can at Michigan ... it seems like you're either all the way down or all the way the up. It's one or the other."

Last week: Stewart's fourth-place finish at Bristol allowed him to leap-frog into second in the standings.

Etc.: Stewart will drive chassis No. 120. This is the car that delivered all three of Stewart's wins during last year's 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup, when Stewart was ineligible to compete for the 2006 championship because he didn't finish in the top 10 during the "regular season." Last year's fall California race marked the debut for chassis No. 120; Stewart rallied from 22nd to finish ninth in a race dictated by fuel mileage. But its second start at Kansas went even better — Stewart won in another race dictated by fuel mileage. He led the last five laps, spending much of the final lap coasting along the track's apron. But he had just enough momentum to make it across the finish line first, beating a handful of others who also tried to go the last 71 laps on one tank of fuel. Its third career start came at the fall Charlotte race, where it struggled in practice and qualifying, as its 31st-place starting spot proved. But the team continued to make adjustments to the car throughout the 334-lap race, and the end result was a gain of 18 positions to nab a solid 13th-place finish. And in chassis No. 120's fourth career start, at Atlanta, Stewart dominated by leading seven times for a race-high 146 laps to score his 28th Nextel Cup victory and the 53rd for Joe Gibbs Racing. Because of chassis No. 120's success at Atlanta, the decision was made in Victory Lane to quickly turn the car around and prepare it for Texas. The decision proved to be a wise one. Chassis No. 120 delivered an overpowering win at Texas, leading eight times for a race-high 278 laps.

Denny Hamlin

No. 11 Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing

This week: After slipping a spot in the standings, Hamlin prepares for his fourth race at Fontana, where he has one top-10 in three races and was 11th in February. He has led one time there for 29 laps. "I enjoy it; it's a lot like Michigan," said Hamlin, who has qualified for the Chase. "I'm specifically excited about going there because we ran really good in the Busch race at Michigan and a lot of things transfer. And in the Cup race things transfer. It's hard to get excited when that place holds so many seats that when people are there, it doesn't look sold out and it just doesn't get the kind of buildup that a lot of other race tracks do when the stands are packed, no matter how many people are there. I think it tends to make for good racing, but the cars just get so strung out there it tends to be kind of a snoozer of sorts."

Last week: Hamlin crashed and finished last at Bristol to drop to third in the point standings.

Etc.: Hamlin believes the Car of Tomorrow will have a big impact in the 10 "Chase" races. "We're definitely looking forward to it," Hamlin said. "We've been very, very strong in the new car, and we felt like we had a good chance to win here (Bristol), but I think it's going to play a large role in who wins the championship, for sure. Even though the new-car races are (at) short tracks, so it's going to have that element of 'you can get in trouble anyway,' I think it's the teams that are going to stay up front — the Hendricks, the Gibbs and those guys that have a good grasp on it right now. Those are the guys I'd really look for as far as championship contenders."

Matt Kenseth

No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Kenseth, another driver already locked into the Chase, has two wins (including the race last February), four top-fives and seven top-10s in 11 California Speedway starts. He has been a leader for eight of those races, for 379 laps. While some drivers are concerned about five of the 10 Chase races being Car of Tomorrow events, it doesn't change Kenseth's normal anxiety. "To be honest with you, I'm concerned about every race," Kenseth said. "I don't know what race we're going to run good or bad in. Last year going into the Chase, we had won Michigan and Bristol and thought we had a lot of momentum. We ran real good at Chicago and were leading all the way through and then we went to Kansas, which is almost just like Chicago, and we ran last all day and we beat whoever dropped out. You just never know. It's real competitive, and you never know when you're gonna hit it right or be off. I feel a little better about our Car of Tomorrow stuff. Carl Edwards ran really well the last couple of races. Dover was a pretty decent race for us, so I think we're making progress."

Last week: Kenseth was another victim of the finicky Bristol track as he finished 39th to drop one spot to fourth in the point standings.

Etc.: Kenseth addressed how team owner Jack Roush and his crew are preparing and testing the Car of Tomorrow. "They talk about it a lot, but, honestly, I haven't seen that big of a difference," he said. "There are people working on stuff and we're trying to get going. There have been a couple of more tests, but I haven't been in a car and tested anywhere since the last time we've all talked about it. I haven't seen a huge change in it. There has been a little bit."

Carl Edwards

No. 99 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Edwards would flip for his first victory at California after a 29th-place finish there in February. He has four top-fives and five top-10s in six races there and has led in three races for 56 laps. He's already in the Chase, so he can go after the bonus points that come with another victory, which would tie him with Tony Stewart at three apiece. "I have the big picture in the back of my mind, but I don't know if I'm taking any more chances," Edwards said. "I just think the one I took at Watkins Glen was just more obvious. I think everyone is really hanging it out. Look at a guy like Kurt Busch. They're doing everything they can. I know all of the teams are feeling the pressure. Some guys are in a position where it's all or nothing now ... other guys are right on the inside of it trying to not give up too much, and we're kind of in-between."

Last week: Edwards wasn't challenged at the end of his Bristol victory, which he called the biggest win of his career.

Etc.: While other drivers have been obsessed over the Chase, Edwards admits he has not let it dominate his thoughts. "The last few weeks I personally haven't been looking at the Chase yet," he admitted. "We've been so busy doing everything we can, and there are still so many hurdles. ... I don't think I'll get into points racing and Chase mode until after Richmond."

Jimmie Johnson

No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: It's a trip home for the driver from El Cajon, Calif., as he looks for his second win at California Speedway. He has five top-fives in nine races there for an average finish of 7.4. He finished third in February and has led in five Fontana races for 135 laps. But while track promoters try to act as if this race has a major impact on the Chase, Johnson doesn't necessarily agree, mostly because he's already in the Chase assuming he simply starts the next two races. "California, we don't have a track like that in the Chase," Johnson said. "There are some things that you can take over to a mile-and-a-half track from there, but the current car is pretty well sorted out so I don't think it's going to be a big technical race for a lot of people. It might be an engine race."

Last week: Johnson was another big name that struggled at Bristol, finishing 21st.

Etc.: Johnson visited his high school this week as well as hold the Jimmie Johnson Foundation's first charity auction and golf tournament in the San Diego area. ... Johnson will drive in Saturday's Busch Series race with his car painted in a Kobalt Tools scheme. On Sunday, the Nextel Cup car will carry a Habitat for Humanity/ Jimmie Johnson Foundation scheme. "I'm actually embarrassed to go back to the school, in a weird way," Johnson said. "I remember being a kid being in school and somebody would come to class and we were only excited because it got us out of school and were like 'All right, we got to listen to somebody talk.' I am excited to go back. I am nervous, I don't know why. I'm just going back to (my) hometown and back to the school. It's hard to explain. Maybe I'm afraid they're going to post my grades for everybody to see, or my detention slips. It's going to be fun and I'm happy to see that the school is excited to have me back ... from what I understand the students are excited, and they're going to do some real nice stuff out there. (I'll) just go back and check it out. I don't know what to expect, and I assume it's going to be a little overwhelming but fun at the same time. What's weird, too, is a lot of the people that I went to school with are now teachers and stuff inside the school, so it'll be nice to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time."

Jeff Burton

No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: Stripped of his sponsor decals as NASCAR continues its war against AT&T, Burton arrives in Southern California with four top-fives and five top-10s in 14 Fontana races. He finished fourth in the February race and is looking for his second victory of the season, which would be the 20th of his career. He is hoping the controversy regarding his sponsor logos will be settled with a compromise among NASCAR, series-sponsor Nextel and AT&T. "I've said all along that reasonable people can come to reasonable solutions, and I'm still holding onto that," Burton said. "In order for that to work, people have to be willing to be reasonable. Hopefully we can get there — we haven't gotten there yet. I'm still holding onto the fact that we can come to a reasonable solution. I can't see where it's in the sport's best interests to ask a sponsor that's been part of this thing for years to not be here."

Last week: Burton finished 12th at Bristol.

Etc.: Burton isn't the only member of the AT&T Racing team with driving experience in California. Crew chief Scott Miller was behind the wheel on six occasions at the now-defunct Riverside International Raceway from 1981-84, with a top finish of 14th. Miller raced in the NASCAR Winston West Series from 1983-86, accumulating two poles, one win and six top-five finishes.

Kyle Busch

No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: The driver nicknamed "Shrub" has one win, four top-10s and one pole in six races at California Speedway. He scored his first career Cup victory in this race in 2005. He finished ninth in February and has led in four of the six races.

Last week: Busch finished ninth at Bristol.

Etc.: While so much has been made about the fact that his replacement at Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr., will have to give up the "8" car, Busch doesn't think a number makes any difference to him. "A number's a number," Busch said. "I came into this deal and been driving the 5 car, which is Rick Hendrick's number. It's been that way since the beginning with All Star Racing. The 8's just been a part of the Earnhardt family, with Ralph (Earnhardt) driving it years ago, and I think Dale (Earnhardt) had it a little bit in his Busch Series career, ... It's really not that big of a deal. Slap an 81 on the thing and be happy and go."

Clint Bowyer

No. 07 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: Bowyer has one top-five and two top-10s in his three starts at Fontana, including a sixth-place finish in February. He has led one race for two laps. "California has been a good race track for us, I am looking forward to getting out there," Bowyer said. "We have a good car that we are going out there with. We have a lot of confidence going in there. As long as we keep doing what we are doing, top-10s or top-15s on the outside, they can't catch us. If we scratch, break or something like that, they win and we have a 40th-place finish, they will catch us pretty quick. We just have to stay focused and honed in on what we can control. If we do that, we will be just fine."

Last week: Bowyer is coming off an impressive third-place finish at Bristol.

Etc.: Bowyer likes to have fun and said he's had more fun this year than in his rookie season of 2006. "I have a good team behind me, everything is going well and we are having fun this year," he said. "So you have to get that first year in and then tie up the to-do list."

Kevin Harvick

No. 29 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: Harvick, who is from Bakersfield, Calif., hopes to find his way back to the front at Fontana, where he has two top-10 finishes. He was 17th there in February and has led four of his 10 races there for 31 laps. "It just seems like it's hit-and-miss," Harvick said of the two-mile oval. "California and Atlanta have become our worst tracks, for some reason ... places where I can't seem to get the car like I need it to. I just struggle finding the right feel for me to feel comfortable. It is just something that I need to get better at and really focus on getting my car right and know how I need it to drive in practice to focus on the race. It is nice to go out there, but I don't treat it as time to get to see my family and friends. I treat it as a job and go out like everybody else. We get there the day before everything starts on track, so I don't spend a lot of time with them. It is cool to have them all there and obviously we are supported well there, but we still have to go out and make it happen."

Last week: Harvick finished 16th, just one spot ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, with whom he had a celebrated pushing incident with at Watkins Glen earlier in August.

Etc.: Before the start of this weekend's festivities at California Speedway, Harvick planned to return home on Thursday to attend "A Night with Kevin Harvick" at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. The fundraiser will benefit the Kern County High School Racing Series.