Harvick Wins All-Star Race
Kevin Harvick fought off the advances of Jimmie Johnson late in the final segment of the 23rd NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night. After pitting several times for a tire rubbing Johnson fought his way back to the front to put pressure on Harvick. It was almost a given that Johnson was going to blow by Harvick, but Harvick changed his line slightly, to mirror Johnson's tire tracks -- not to mention Harvick started backing off the gas a little sooner entering the turns in order to allow him to run the bottom. That way Harvick did not slide up the track and Johnson couldn't get a run beneath him. The strategy worked.

Harvick won his first All-Star race and gave his car owner, Richard Childress, his fourth victory in the prestigious race. Dale Earnhardt won the other three for Childress. There were several wrecks during the night but the big fireworks were when brothers Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch wrecked. Kyle's car broke loose with Kurt on the high side. The result was a trip to the outside wall for both drivers. Kyle Busch refused comment after the race but Kurt said that the two would talk. He also mentioned that wouldn't be eating Kellogg's anytime soon.

Mark Martin threatened to take the race from both Harvick and Johnson but had to settle for third. Jeff Burton was strong all night and he finished fourth followed by Tony Stewart, Johnny Sauter, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his teammate Martin Truex Jr. to round out the top ten.
Full results and race details to follow...

Andretti Makes Indy 500 Field
Camping World Panther Racing driver John Andretti officially made his return to the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday when he qualified in 24th position for the 91st Running of the Indianapolis 500. Andretti, who learned early in the morning that his grandfather had passed away, will now look to make his first start in the Indianapolis 500 since 1994.

His four-lap average was 221.756 mph.

Andretti continues to make his name as one of the world’s most versatile drivers. He is the winner of an Indy-car race (Australia) and two NASCAR Winston Cup races, including a win at Daytona International Speedway, during his career. In addition, the cousin of Michael Andretti has driven dragsters, sports cars and, if you ask the 44-year-old, “anything with four wheels.”

He was also the first driver in history to complete “The Double”, competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the same day in 1994 – his last run in the ‘500’.

This will be the third time that Panther Racing has entered three cars in the Indy 500, the last coming in 2005 when Buddy Lazier finished fifth – the team’s best career effort at the Speedway – and Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge were both taken out by then-rookie Danica Patrick. The only other time the team has run three cars at the 2.5-mile oval was in 2003 with Sam Hornish, Jr., Billy Boat and Robby McGehee.

Michael McSwain Back To Crew Chief
Michael McSwain is returning to his familiar role as crew chief for the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford, effective immediately. McSwain begins his role by working with Jon Wood in tonight's Nextel Open at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He became a crew chief in 1997, earning his first win in 2001 with driver Ricky Rudd at his family-owned team. He had three wins, 37 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes in three-and-a-half seasons with Rudd.

In 2003, he joined Joe Gibbs Racing with driver Bobby Labonte, earning two wins and five poles that season. He joined the Wood Brothers in August 2004, reuniting him with Rudd as a crew chief. He was serving as competition director for the team.(scenedaily.com)

Sprint-Nextel Joins Lawsuit
Nextel has become an official party to the federal lawsuit with NASCAR and AT&T. Sprint Nextel had not been an official defendant in the lawsuit but had filed motions and its lawyers testified on its behalf during hearings as part of NASCAR's defense in the case.

AT&T won an injunction Friday to put its logos on the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing car for today's Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR, citing its sponsorship agreement with Nextel for its premier series, had banned the change from Cingular to AT&T. Cingular, which had been grandfathered in as a sponsor when Nextel signed the NASCAR deal in 2003, merged with AT&T in 2006.

Sprint Nextel has argued that AT&T is on the list of banned car sponsors and cannot just replace Cingular on the car. Cingular and AT&T merged in December 2006.

"In response to the ruling by the court, we have formally filed to join this proceeding," said Dean Kessel, director of Nextel Cup Series marketing for Sprint Nextel. "We intend to vigorously protect our sponsorship from these unfounded claims of AT&T. This weekend is for celebrating NASCAR's best and the best fans in sports."(scenedaily.com)

Sprint Nextel Execs Raise $646,000 For Charity
Sprint Nextel played host to corporate leaders from across the country Thursday, May 17 at River Run Golf and Country Club in Davidson, N.C., for the Sprint Nextel All-Star Charity Golf Classic and raised $646,000 to be split equally between the American Red Cross and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Ditech Networks, Research in Motion, Nokia/Nokia Siemens Networks, Gemalto and Samsung served as platinum-level sponsors, the highest level of sponsorship at the tournament. An additional 23 companies sponsored the event at various levels.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, Charlotte Bobcats’ Dell Curry and Brevin Knight, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Petty and former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Steve Park were among the athletes who participated.

The four-ball modified scramble featured two groups. Curry, Knight, Danny Harden (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro) and Jay Howard (JHE Production Group) won the morning round. Park (NASCAR driver), Jake Sharp (NASCAR), Pat Malone (Enterprise) and Ken Carrick (American Red Cross) won the afternoon round.