FAILED: Mario Andretti said, “I almost cried,” when he learned that the meeting he had arranged between Indy Racing League head Tony George and Champ Car’s Kevin Kalkhoven was cancelled at the last minute. Andretti says both Champ Car and IRL leaders “are in denial” of the challenges facing their respective series.
NEW NAME: For the third time in six years NASCAR’s premier stock-car series will undergo a name change. The change comes as the result of the merger between Sprint and Nextel. The Nextel Cup Series will be known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2008.
ON TOP: Jamie McMurray defeated Kyle Busch by mere inches to win his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race in 166 starts Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.
BIGGER AUDIENCE: The Rolex Grand American Road Racing Championship reports a 10% increase in attendance at its events this season.
A CLUB: In part to help ensure the future of the historic road course, Lime Rock Park officials have created The Club at Lime Rock Park, offering memberships for $100,000 each. The membership will offer individuals exclusive track time, while the funds will be used to preserve and improve the 50-year-old facility.
NEW SITE: National Speed Sport News will debut its redesigned website on July 25. While the site will still offer the same password-protected information for subscribers that is offered in the hard copy of the nation’s oldest auto-racing publication, it will also offer daily news stories and features, along with reader interaction.
TOP RUNG: Indy Racing League IndyCar Series point leader Dario Franchitti remained at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. Franchitti finished third at Watkins Glen International. World of Outlaws point leader Donny Schatz jumped to second in the standings after a victory and a runner-up finish in two races over the weekend.
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