NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said Thursday that the car scheduled to be used in the series in 2009 will have a different front suspension package than the Sprint Cup version. The Nationwide car of tomorrow will have a spring package like the one used in current cars, Balash said. Sprint Cup cars, which will all be the model formerly known as the COT beginning in 2008, use "bump-stops" on the front suspension instead of the "coil-binding" setup on current Nationwide cars.

"We want the car to drive different," Balash said at ESPN Club during media day for the final Busch Series awards banquet. The Busch Series becomes the Nationwide Series in 2008. We've gone down the path of having two very similar cars and very easily taking the technology that makes the car turn both aerodynamically and with suspension interchange between the garages. "As we go forward, we want more difference there. We want to have our cars use a more conventional spring setup. We're not going to use the bump-stops on the cars."

Balash also said plans call for the Nationwide COT to be rolled out in all races in 2009. Nextel Cup teams ran the new car in 16 races this year, with the older version used in 20. The Nationwide cars also will use a different body style, with a higher hood and shorter deck lid. Manufacturers are still deciding what model to use, though it appears likely Ford will run a Mustang, Chevrolet a Camaro and Dodge a Challenger. Toyota likely will stick to the Camry, sources said.

Balash said all four manufacturers have been involved in the design of the new car. The car has one more round of wind tunnel tests before NASCAR can lock down the ¹09 rules, Balash said. Balash said the new rules package will likely be announced in January.(scenedaily.com)

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Kevin Harvick Inc. co-owner and driver Kevin Harvick will return to the driver's seat of the No. 33 KHI Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series in 2008. Harvick, a two-time Busch Series champion, will pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet for 22 of the 35 races throughout the season. Joining Harvick behind the wheel will be Cale Gale for 11 races and defending Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday for two races.

"I'm really looking forward to racing for KHI in the Nationwide Series in 2008," Harvick said. "This will be the first year that I will only race for KHI in this series. My goal is to go out and be consistent, competitive and win races for KHI."

Both Harvick and Hornaday are proven champions and know how to win. Harvick displays the 2001 and 2006 Busch Series championships on his resume, as well as the Busch Series owner's championship in 2003 for Richard Childress Racing. Hornaday is one of only two drivers to have won three Truck Series championships, including the 2007 championship driving for KHI. Gale returns to KHI where he will continue to learn and gain valuable experience both on and off the track.(nascar.com)

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Camping World adds title sponsor to its NASCAR resume
By Michael Smith
Special to the Sporting News Wire Service
December 27, 2007

Camping World/FreedomRoads, a stalwart sponsor in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, signed last week to become the official outdoor and RV retailer of NASCAR, as well as the title sponsor of a developmental series.

Previously known as the Busch East and West Series in NASCAR's Grand National Division, the developmental series will be known as the Camping World Series for the next five years.

Terms of the deal were not released, but it is believed to be valued in the low seven figures annually, according to industry analysts. The official status deal and title sponsorship will run concurrently through the 2012 season.

FreedomRoads is the national network of RV dealerships, while Camping World is the retailer for RV and outdoor accessories.

"We'll sell about 15 to 18 percent of the RVs in the marketplace, and we're trying to lock up the category," said Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World. "It's about brand awareness, product awareness and trying to grow our market share, as well as doing a better job of activating."

The sponsorships broaden Camping World's already significant presence in the sport. Camping World is the title sponsor of three Nationwide Series races at California Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. The retailer also was the primary sponsor for driver Ron Hornaday Jr., who won the Craftsman Truck Series title in 2007.

In 2008, Camping World will sponsor Nationwide Series cars from Kevin Harvick Inc. and Richard Childress Racing.

Camping World also has a presence at tracks, where NASCAR events become a home away from home for anywhere from 3,000 RVs to as many as 35,000 at Talladega. Camping World has used those settings to set up retail outlets for anything from toilet paper to grills and generators.

"It's a real store, with 7,000 to 10,000 square feet of accessories. We bring the products to the track," Lemonis said. "We're going to continue doing that in markets where it makes sense."

Michael Smith is a reporter with SportsBusiness Journal.

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SCENEDAILY
BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

Joe Gibbs Racing officials say Z-Line Designs will serve as a primary sponsor for the team's Nationwide Series cars in 11 races in 2008. The company will sponsor the No. 18 Toyota for six races and the No. 20 Toyota for five events.

Driving duties for the two cars will be split among Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Stewart will drive the No. 20 Z-Line-sponsored Camry at California Speedway on Feb. 23.

Hamlin's races under the sponsorship will March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway, April 11 at Phoenix International Raceway and May 2 at Richmond International Raceway.

Busch's races will be March 22 at Nashville Superspeedway, July 11 at Chicagoland Speedway, July 26 at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Aug. 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Aug. 30 at California Speedway, Sept. 20 at Dover International Speedway and Nov. 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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SCENEDAILY
JANUARY 7, 2008
BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Travis Kvapil regrets that he will not be able to compete in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing as originally planned, but the Yates Racing Sprint Cup driver says that there are benefits to that decision as well.

Preparing to run full time with the Yates' organization, which is now primarily owned and run by Doug Yates, Kvapil says that competing in only one series will give him more time to concentrate on that ride.

"I am glad that I can really focus on the Cup car and be 100 percent on that, mentally, just be in the notebook," Kvapil said Monday at Sprint Cup testing at Daytona International Speedway.

He says that with no sponsor for his car in the Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series, the idea of running for the championship was abandoned. Roush Fenway has an alliance with Yates Racing to provide equipment and support for the team. Yates Racing has not announced a sponsor for either of its Cup teams for 2008.

"That's what we were planning on was going after the championship, but we've got Cup cars that are unsponsored, the Busch car didn't have a sponsor, so it didn't make a lot of sense to go out there and hope for something to come along," he said. "If they do get some deals here and there, I think they'd definitely want me to run some races ... we don't have anything planned right now."

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