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Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch will drive 2004 Dodge models rather than Chargers at California and Las Vegas, the second and third stops on the Nextel Cup schedule, a Penske representative confirmed Sunday. Penske Racing South will race the older style because they believe it has better aerodynamic balance. Newman and Kasey Kahne also ran '04 Dodges in last year's finale at Homestead, but the strongest Dodge in the race was a Charger driven by Casey Mears.
  -- Tampa Tribune

Denny Hamlin's Budweiser Shootout victory, the first by a rookie, was overshadowed by aggressive driving, which defending Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart said could "kill somebody." An emotional Stewart, who finished third in the Shootout, lamented the reckless nature of many of the drivers for constantly bump drafting during the 70-lap nonpoints race. Stewart admitted he engaged in bump drafting because several other drivers did, but he called on NASCAR to find a solution.
  -- Miami Herald

NASCAR vice president of communications Jim Hunter said NASCAR probably would not introduce a rule that would penalize drivers for bump drafting before the Daytona 500. He added officials would continue to solicit feedback from drivers and crew chiefs.
  -- Miami Herald

Just before the Shootout, three-time Daytona champ Jeff Gordon said bump drafting is one of the "worst things that has come to this sport.'' Jim Hunter singled out Gordon for being hypocritical, saying the three-time Daytona 500 winner was the first to bump draft during the Shootout.
  -- Miami Herald

Dale Earnhardt Jr. dismissed the pedestrian effort of the three Dale Earnhardt Inc. teams in Daytona 500 qualifying Sunday, saying they'll be fine in the race. Earnhardt, the 2004 Daytona 500 winner, posted only the 39th-fastest speed (185.124 mph) out of 58 drivers who made qualifying attempts.
  -- Tampa Tribune

Nearly five hours after qualifying ended, NASCAR officials sprung a surprise by tossing out the times posted by Jimmie Johnson and Terry Labonte after their cars failed a post-qualifying inspection. The rear window of Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, which had the fifth-fastest time in Sunday's time trials, was found to be changed between the pre-qualifying inspection and after his qualifying run. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Johnson's car has been impounded and could be taken from the team if other violations are discovered. The carburetor on Labonte's No. 96 Chevrolet, which was 28th fastest, failed a post-qualifying inspection, Hunter said.
  -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bill Elliott seems to be trying to downplay the fact that he's driving a Chevy in this year's Daytona events. Elliott's father, George, who died in 1998, hated Chevrolets so much he didn't even like to take one on trade-in at his small Ford dealership in Dahlonega.
  -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Carl Edwards became incensed with NASCAR officials during Sunday's Budweiser Shootout after twice being penalized for driving below the yellow line and caught once for speeding on pit road. After his second violation for going below the yellow line, Edwards reacted angrily over his radio, telling his crew chief, Bob Osborne, he would not pull onto pit road to serve the penalty.
  -- Charlotte Observer

Having angered fans, competitors, officials, his previous bosses and law enforcement in five years as a driver in NASCAR's top series, Kurt Busch has an image problem as he enters the 2006 season. His success as the new driver and the public spokesman for the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge will depend not only on how well he performs on the track, but how well he behaves off it.
  -- New York Times

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick reacted angrily to a lawsuit filed last week in which the wife of a former Hendrick employee alleged that the company showed "conscious and intentional disregard" for her husband's safety just before the fatal crash of a company plane in 2004. The Hendrick plane crashed en route to a race at Martinsville Speedway, killing 10 people including Hendrick's son, Ricky, his brother, John, and two nieces.
  -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Nextel Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne will make his first trip to Washington this week as a newly appointed member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The driver leaves Monday afternoon for Washington and has dinner with Council members Monday night. The Council meets at the White House at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
  -- Charlotte Observer

Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, have started a foundation to fund existing charities including the American Red Cross, Victory Junction Gang Camp and Make-A-Wish. The foundation's initial fund-raising effort is an eBay auction of racing and sports memorabilia, plus chances to bid on experiences with celebrities and sports figures including Atlanta Braves players Marcus Giles and Mike Hampton.
  -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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