SECURED: With Tony Stewart’s victory Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in California, Chevrolet clinched its 34th manufacturers championship in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.
FUELED TO FINISH: Stewart Friesen made his last tank of gas last 132 laps, which was long enough to win the SEF Small Engines Fuel 200 for big-block modifieds Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse worth $50,000.
INJURED: USAC standout Shane Hmiel suffered a broken neck and back during a crash while qualifying for the USAC Silver Crown Series Sumar Classic 100 at the Terre Haute (Indiana) Action Track Saturday night. He is currently recovering in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
BARRED: Judge Matthew Kennelly of the United States District Court for the North District of Illinois has barred Ron Varney Jr., who operates the ASA Late Model Series, from using the ASA name. Dennis Huth, who operates Racing Speed Associates LLC, owns the ASA trademark and all rights now revert to Huth.
FORMULA BOUND: Volkswagen is reportedly considering entering the Formula One World Championship through either its Audi or Porsche brands sometime in the next few years.
NEW HORSES: Wayne Taylor Racing’s SunTrust Dallara prototype will be powered by Chevrolet engines during the 2011 Grand Am Rolex Series season.
INDY BOUND: SH Racing will team with KV Racing Technology to field an entry during the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with backing from Redline Xtreme Energy Drink.
TOP ROOKIES: Jeff Diehl (Funny Car), Shane Gray (Pro Stock) and L.E. Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the contenders for the NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award.
BACKING: Telecommunications giant Telmex has signed a partnership agreement with the BMW Sauber Formula One team. As part of the deal, 20-year-old Mexican driver Sergio Perez will be a teammate to Kamui Kobayashi in the 2011 Formula One World Championship.
PENTALY REDUCED: John Middlebrook, the chief appellate officer for NASCAR’s National Stock Car Auto Racing Appeals Panel, reduced the fines and suspensions levied against Richard Childress Racing for an infraction discovered after a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September. He did not reduce the 150-point penalty.
CHASING GOLD: The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series and the USAC Mopar National Midget Series have been added to the 2011 edition of the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California.
SPONSORSHIP: Mobil 1 will sponsor Tony Stewart in 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events next season.
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