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Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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'Tecmo Bowl' recreation of Super Bowl XLIV
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Do IT this week: Layering
Visit sparks speculation that foreign manufacturer might want to join sport
By Jenna Fryer
Associated Press
Published on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
HOMESTEAD, FLA.: The head of Volkswagen's motor sports program is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, fueling speculation that the automaker is interested in joining Toyota as the second foreign manufacturer in NASCAR.
Top NASCAR officials confirmed to the Associated Press that Hans-Joachim Stuck met with the sanctioning body Saturday at the track. The officials requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the meeting.
Volkswagen officials expressed interest in entering a racing series but indicated that they are more inclined to pick a series that showcases technology, according to a person who attended the meeting but also requested anonymity. NASCAR features competition over technology.
A second option for Volkswagen could be the Grand-Am Road Racing Series, which is owned by NASCAR and uses foreign engine makers.
Earlier this season, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sanctioning body is open to accepting new manufacturers into the sport. The only requirement is that manufacturers must have plants in the United States.
Volkswagen has a plant under construction in Tennessee, and the facility is scheduled to build midsize sedans in 2011. That coincides with NASCAR's tentative plans to replace carburetors on Sprint Cup Series cars with fuel injection.
NASCAR held a Nov. 3 meeting with representatives from all four current manufacturers, as well as engine builders from five race teams and two independent suppliers to discuss the potential move to fuel injection.
A move to that system apparently interests Volkswagen, whose $1 billion plant in Chattanooga would qualify the German manufacturer to compete in NASCAR.
France opened the door for more foreign participation in June when he admitted the sanctioning body has had continued discussions with interested automakers.
BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz all have manufacturing plants inside the United States — the same requirement Toyota met when NASCAR accepted it into NASCAR in 2002.
''We have companies that are interested in particular in developing the North American market as robustly as they can,'' France said. ''And we're all aware that there are lots of foreign manufacturers producing cars here in America. That was part of the rationale that Toyota used.
''We're the pre-eminent place in North America for car manufacturers to build their business with an auto racing group. We remain that and clearly there's some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have even been there in the past that could be presented in the future.''
Allowing more foreign automakers into the sport could rankle hard-core race fans, who objected to Toyota and think NASCAR should include only American manufacturers. But the decline of the automotive industry has wreaked havoc on racing budgets, and most NASCAR teams either received cutbacks in funding this season or were cut off entirely.
Even deep-pocketed Toyota has had to reduce its spending, and the Japanese automaker is currently not taking on any new factory-supported teams.
McMurray at home
Jamie McMurray feels right at home at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
He should. He's been there before.
McMurray's ride for Roush Fenway Racing on Sunday will be his last after four years with the team. He signed this week with EGR, where he was reunited with Chip Ganassi, the owner who gave the driver his first Cup ride in 2002.
McMurray expressed no regret about signing with owner Jack Roush after the 2005 season. But he sometimes felt lost in the shuffle as part of the organization's five-car lineup, something he won't have to worry about next season at EGR.
''I remember telling him that day he was making the right decision, when he left us,'' Ganassi said. ''Those were the days when it looked like he needed a big, four-car teams. I hope our team has shown this year maybe you don't need to have all that to do well.''
McMurray was hired to drive the No. 1 Chevrolet, a spot left open when Martin Truex Jr. defected to Michael Waltrip Racing. The hiring has long been in the works, and gives one of the last remaining open seats for 2010 to McMurray.
Busch wins Nationwide
Kyle Busch made it a double dose of celebration, winning the Nationwide Series championship before completing a lap and capping his night at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his ninth trip to Victory Lane.
Busch held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards to win the 300-mile race, fitting because the two NASCAR stars finished 1-2 in the final standings.
Team owner Joe Gibbs led the Joe Gibbs Racing team in a short prayer shortly after Busch won the race.
Busch only needed to start the race Saturday to win his first NASCAR title. When the green flag dropped on the race, Busch was the champ.
Busch finished with nine wins in the second-tier series and had 11 second-place finishes. He entered with a 190-point lead over pole sitter Edwards. Busch had led 2,625 laps entering the race.
''I wanted to win this race badly,'' Edwards said.
HOMESTEAD, FLA.: The head of Volkswagen's motor sports program is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, fueling speculation that the automaker is interested in joining Toyota as the second foreign manufacturer in NASCAR.
Get the full article here.
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