NASCAR Daily News Headlines * May 1, 2008

Stewart To Pay Shepherd's Tire Bill At Richmond

Two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart and broadcaster Matt Yocum will provide tire sponsorship to the #89 team this weekend in an effort to help Shepherd build on last week's 13th place run at Talladega.

Shepherd was a surprise call-in guest to the Tony Stewart Live radio show on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio on Monday evening, and before the conversation between Shepherd and the two hosts was over the duo had come aboard as tire sponsors for Friday night's Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond.

“You say you need some tires for this weekend,” Yocum said during the interview. “How about if Smoke and I each buy you a set of tires.”

Stewart and Yocum said they would each set Shepherd up with a set of tires for this weekend’s 250-lap event at the .75-mile track at the Virginia State Fairgrounds. Stewart followed up by saying he would provide as many tires as Shepherd might need this weekend.

Stewart went on to talk about how many modern-day fans of NASCAR don’t appreciate the personal dedication that Shepherd and many other racers from his era put into the sport.

“I know how much you put into it personally and I can appreciate it,” Stewart said. “We’ll make sure you have plenty of tires for this weekend.”

The gesture nearly overwhelmed Shepherd.

“You’re my heroes, Shepherd told the duo. "You, Matt, Kevin Harvick and the Jarretts. We just have so many friends in racing,” Shepherd said, referring to many of those who have helped him over the years. “That is what is so great about NASCAR racing is all the good friends we have in racing. No one owes me anything, but you and so many others just continue to give.”

But while most of the conversation focused on Shepherd’s upcoming efforts at Richmond, part of the conversation touched on Stewart’s win at Talladega last weekend and Shepherd’s best run of the season, a 13th place finish on which the team hopes to build this weekend.

“You had an awesome run this weekend,” Stewart told Shepherd. “I looked up the mirror and asked where Morgan was running and they said you were in ninth and I didn’t know you got up to as high as eighth.”

Shepherd countered by saying “I know you looked in the mirror and saw that big ole yellow Jesus logo and said ‘Jesus is after me!’ ”

“I did say, ‘You know there is good possibility that before this is over with we are going to have to deal with him. I know how crafty you are at being able to stay in the lead group like that. That was all you needed to do to really to have a shot at it,” Stewart said.

Discount Tire Will Back Kvapil

“This has been such a tremendous week for our No. 28 team,” stated Kvapil. “We just left Talladega with our best finish of the season so far, and now we have Discount Tire as our sponsor for Richmond this weekend. There’s a lot of momentum right now at Yates Racing, and thanks to all the wonderful sponsors we’ve enjoyed partnerships with already this year, we’re very grateful that companies recognize our increased performance both on and off the track. Discount Tire is a fantastic company and I am proud that they chose to partner with our No. 28 team at Richmond.”

“Discount Tire is proud to sponsor Travis Kvapil and the No. 28 Ford Fusion at Richmond this weekend,” commented Michael Zuieback, Discount Tire’s Senior V.P. of Strategy. “Travis and the No. 28 team have already achieved two top-10 finishes this season, and he is fresh off a sixth-place finish at Talladega last weekend. Yates Racing is one of NASCAR’s premier racing organizations and when the opportunity was presented to us to sponsor the No. 28 this weekend, we were thrilled to be a part of the team.”

Saturday night’s race will mark the first time Discount Tire has been a primary sponsor in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. Discount Tire has been a sponsor in the Nationwide Series since 2004. Kvapil is currently 23rd in the driver point standings for the Sprint Cup Series as he enters this weekend’s race at Richmond. The Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 will be broadcast on FOX Saturday, May 3rd with coverage beginning at 7:00 pm EST.

Discount Tire provides sales of tires, wheels and related accessories and services through mail order, Internet and retail stores. They currently operate more than 650 stores across the country.

Race Fever Raises $171,000

Auto Skills Competition

"In Michigan, we've got a 3,000-employee staff that services the automobile industry,'' team owner Jack Roush said. "So, in addition to the race team activities that we've got in Charlotte, we've also got great interest in what goes on in Michigan.''

Roush listed several of his employees who had taken part in the competition, including truck shop mechanic George Stone, fabrication shop worker Wade Moore and parts manager Sean Ballantine.

"They have all acquired and developed the skills, the experience, that let them be successful today in our work force through this program,'' he said.

The competition for high school automotive technology students is the largest in the country. The 2008 National Finals will be held June 24 at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.