Montoya Third Foreign Driver To Win
Juan Pablo Montoya is the third foreign-born driver to win a race in NASCAR's top series. The Colombian driver joined Italian-born Mario Andretti, who won the 1967 Daytona 500, and Earl Ross of Canada, who won on the short oval at Martinsville in 1974. Montoya also joins Andretti and Dan Gurney as the only drivers who have won races in NASCAR, Formula One and American open-wheel racing.(espn.go.com)

NASCAR: Don't Mess With New Car
NASCAR is determined to take any guesswork out of its new Car of Tomorrow. With a new system of templates and sensors to measure the parameters of the taller, wider and reputedly safer car, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sanctioning organization wants to leave no doubt that it will come down hard on infractions.

"We have to lay down the law," France said Sunday at Infineon Raceway, where the Nextel Cup cars raced in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.

That doesn't bode well for the teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who were parked for Friday's practice and qualifying after NASCAR inspectors found front fenders on their COT Chevrolets had been illegally modified.

Asked if NASCAR is taking all the creativity away from the teams, France said, "There will always be room for imagination and ingenuity in the sport. But we don't want this thing to revolve around technology. It's important to keep it in the hands of the drivers."(espn.go.com)

Special Charity Auction
A local, online charity auction is being held as a part of Team Hemophilia, a fundraising program supported by the Andretti Green Racing (IndyCar) team to raise money for the Tennessee Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Foundation, your local chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. Participants can bid to win a weekend race package for the Firestone Indy 200 on July 14 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Winners will have a chance to meet the Andretti Green Racing team, tour the pit, and hang out in the VIP hospitality area. The auction, which is open to everyone, is currently live and will continue through Saturday, June 30. For information on the program and details on how to bid, www.teamhemophilia.org/.

Martin Visits Washington
Mark Martin spent two days last week in the nation’s capital as a guest of the United States Army, his primary sponsor in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The Washington D.C. trip included stops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to meet with wounded soldiers, a tour of the Pentagon and a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he, his wife Arlene and son Matt had the honor of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“It was just an awesome experience all around,” said Martin. “I’ve been involved in a lot of sponsorships in my career, but this one with the U.S. Army is very special. It’s an honor to drive the car for the Soldiers and it’s an honor to get to do things like this."

“Visiting the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed was an experience that I’ll never forget,” added Martin. “They are truly an inspiration to me. They have given so much and yet are so positive and upbeat. They have the best attitudes that you can imagine and when you see it you have a new found respect for everyone involved in the fight for freedom. I was there to visit them, but it was those guys who inspired me.”

Martin and his family were also inspired following a private tour of the Pentagon.

“The Pentagon is really cool,” said Martin. “I had never been there before. My son Matt is a huge military history buff and I know that he had a really good time looking at all of the historical artifacts. There is so much history there, and we had a lot of fun enjoying that together.”

Regarding the emotional visit to Arlington National Cemetery Martin said, “That was really an honor for all three of us. When you look out across the cemetery at all of those thousands of headstones, it really hits you. So many have given so much for our country and our freedom and I know that we all take that for granted sometimes. It was a great trip, as it allowed us to appreciate the effort and sacrifices made by so many.”

Race and Commercial Breakdown For The Toyota/Save Mart 350