Waltrip Names Partner
Team owner Michael Waltrip has announced an agreement with investor Robert Kauffman that makes the pair equal partners in the newly formed Michael Waltrip Racing Holdings LLC, the team that will compete under the Michael Waltrip Racing banner.

MWR plans to continue fielding three full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup teams in 2008. Waltrip will drive the No. 55 NAPA-sponsored Toyota, David Reutimann will drive the opening five races in the No. 00 Toyota and then move over to replace Dale Jarrett, who will drive the opening five (official announcement says it will be six) races in the No. 44 UPS Toyota. Exact plans for the No. 00 beyond the opening five races have not been ironed out, though Waltrip said that development drivers Josh Wise and Michael McDowell, who has been running races in the ARCA series, could drive some races in that car.

Kauffman is pursuing this opportunity with what he deemed a personal investment. He is a founder and managing partner in Fortress Investment Group, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

"In the past 18 months, it is amazing what our small group has been able to accomplish," Waltrip said. "We did what no one else has ever tried, forming three Cup teams with a new manufacturer, and we've made it through the toughest time. Now I have a business partner in Rob Kauffman who is as passionate as I am to make this team successful." (scenedaily.com)

Red Bull Wants To Buy Yates Shop
Team Red Bull has approached Robert Yates Racing about purchasing its racing and chassis manufacturing shops in Mooresville, N.C. The offer comes in the heels of Yates' announcement that it wants to move to Concord, N.C., to a shop currently occupied by Boris Said's No Fear team (next to Roush Fenway) to expedite their sharing of technology in 2008. Yates will use Roush-built chassis next season.

Red Bull is in dire need of more space. It gets engines from Toyota Racing Development and buys chassis, but wants to start departments in both areas. Buying Yates' facilities would give them the room to do that. Red Bull is also sponsoring ex-Formula 1 driver Scott Speed in ARCA next season with Eddie Sharp Racing and would like to run him in some Craftsman Truck or Busch races. The team needs extra space to do that, too.

DEI Vice President Richie Gilmore, who heads DEI's engine department, has been in serious negotiations with Red Bull to become the team's general manager. But Gilmore was hospitalized briefly with a mild aneurysm last weekend in Alabama, and it's unclear how his medical condition might impact their discussions.(sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

Jarrett To Run Six Races, Then Retire
Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, today announced he would retire from full-time competition in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2007 NASCAR season. While Jarrett is retiring from full-time competition, he will compete in six races during the 2008 season, including the season-opening Daytona 500.

The Hickory, N.C.-native made his first career start in NASCAR’s top touring series at Martinsville Speedway on April 29, 1984. Jarrett’s full-time Nextel Cup Series career started in 1987 when he was hired to drive for legendary NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough. The most successful stint of Jarrett’s career came during the 12 years he spent driving for Robert Yates Racing. From 1995 to 2006, Jarrett won the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series championship, 29 races and earned 16 Bud Pole Awards.

“This is obviously a decision that required a lot of thought and consideration and it is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” said Jarrett. “I’ve been fortunate to have one of the best NASCAR sponsors in UPS, and I’m first and foremost a competitor. The desire to compete is the reason why I have continued as a driver in the Nextel Cup Series. But I’ve come to the decision to get out of the racecar and while I’ll miss being a driver, I am looking forward to the next phase of my life and career.”

UPS, the Official Delivery Company of NASCAR, has been the primary sponsor for Jarrett since 2001. UPS will continue as a partner and primary sponsor of the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Camry and although Jarrett is retiring from competition, his relationship with UPS will continue off the race track.

“Dale Jarrett has been a terrific ambassador for the UPS brand during these seven years of our relationship,” said Ron Rogowski, director of sponsorship for UPS. “We support Dale in his decision to step from behind the wheel of the racecar and are thrilled to be able to continue the mutually beneficial relationship that started in 2001. We wish Dale and his family all the best in the future and will always count them as part of the UPS family.”

Jarrett, a 32-race winner in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition, is scheduled to make his final career start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 17, 2008.

NASCAR Day Generates 1.6 Million For Charity
Thousands of NASCAR fans and companies participated in NASCAR Day on May 18th in an effort to raise money for the charitable causes supported by The NASCAR Foundation. A grand total of over $1.6 million was raised through donations made by fans, corporate partners and the NASCAR Day Telethon.

The money raised from NASCAR Day goes to support The NASCAR Foundation and its Family of Charities which helps children’s causes, animal welfare and wildlife conservation. As a result of this overwhelming support of NASCAR Day, a $500,000 check was presented at Kansas Speedway to Kyle and Pattie Petty for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The funds raised this year from NASCAR Day will also help open the doors to a brand new racing-themed Speediatrics® Children’s Emergency Room at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Fla.

"We are excited to bring Speediatrics to our Children's Emergency Room," said Bill Duquette, chief executive officer of Homestead Hospital. "The atmosphere that Speediatrics creates helps ease the fears of our youngest patients and is uplifting to the staff as well."

NASCAR Day is an annual charitable celebration of the NASCAR spirit and its fans. For just a $5 donation, participants receive a 2007 collectable lapel pin. Since it began in 2004, NASCAR Day has continued to grow from year-to-year and to date has raised over $4 million for charitable causes.

NASCAR Day’s success relies heavily on the support of corporate partners. NASCAR’s Official Partners rallied in a big way for this worthy cause. In April, The Home Depot®, “The Official Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR,” ran the first-ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series NASCAR Day car, adorning the hood of Tony Stewart’s No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet® with the NASCAR Day logo. They also became the exclusive retailer of NASCAR Day pins and through this program raised $400,000 for NASCAR Day – a portion of the funds raised from The Home Depot promotion will benefit KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

“We know that NASCAR fans are a devoted, loyal group of consumers who love to support their drivers as well as their respective charities,” said Roger Adams, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of The Home Depot. “Our customers came out in strong numbers to show their support for this charitable initiative and we could not be happier with the final result.”

Coca-Cola, the Official Soft Drink of NASCAR, celebrated NASCAR Day again this year by making a donation on behalf of their employees and by distributing over 6,000 NASCAR Day pins at its headquarter location in Atlanta, Ga.

Several other NASCAR partners showed their support on NASCAR Day in various ways. DIRECTV featured NASCAR Day footage on their weekly HotPassTM coverage and celebrated with employees at their customer contact centers across the U.S. Fathead celebrated NASCAR Day with a special promotion that gave fans who purchased a NASCAR Fathead during the month of May a NASCAR Day pin.

MAHLE Clevite Inc., “The Official Engine Parts & Gaskets of NASCAR Performance,” and Klondike have also shown their support with a donation to NASCAR Day.

NASCAR Day will celebrate its 5th year anniversary in 2008. To learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference visit (www.nascar.com/foundation).

Goodyear Tire Notes
This is the same specific combination of left-and right-side tires that Goodyear brought for teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series to run at Charlotte in October 2006 -- this is the fourth straight Charlotte race weekend that teams in these two series have run this right-side tire code (D-4022), dating back to May '06 -- in addition to Charlotte, Cup and Busch teams ran this right-side code at Las Vegas earlier this season -- as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte -- air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

Biffle On Busch Series Pole
Greg Biffle is on the pole for Friday night's Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Biffle set the mark with a lap of 29.519 seconds around the 1.5-mile track for a speed of 183.511 mph. Biffle's Roush Fenway racing teammate Matt Kenseth sits on the outside of the front row. Jamie McMurray starts third followed by Dave Blaney, points leader Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, David Reutimann, Stephen Leicht and David Ragan to round out the top ten.