Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Canada

Chrysler Bankruptcy Not Expected To Affect Sprint Cup

Michael J Smith — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:12:49 +0000

Despite announcing that it would file for bankruptcy protection and its recent partnership with Fiat SpA, Chrylser said that it remains committed to the Sprint Cup series and NASCAR.

Mike Accavitti, an official with Dodge Motorsports, said:

The partnership not only will transform Chrysler into a new, stronger car company with many strategic advantages, it will enable the company to better serve our customers with a broader and more comprehensive lineup of vehicles. NASCAR is a strategic part of our marketing plan and the Dodge brand. We plan to continue our Dodge sponsorship and relationship into the foreseeable future.

The Treasury Department is planning on giving Chrysler as much as $3.5 billion, while the Canadian and Ontario governments are going to provide ths company without about $800 million in exchange for 2 percent equity.

Companies With NASCAR Ties Eliminating Jobs

Michael J Smith — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:28:53 +0000

Four companies with ties to NASCAR, Sprint Nextel, General Motors, Caterpillar, and Home Depot all announced that they are cutting jobs in light of current economic conditions.

Sprint Nextel, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series sponsor, announced that it will be cutting about 15% of its workforce, or 8,000 employees. This move is expected to save the company $1.2 billion annually. Sprint has been losing customers to larger rivals AT&T and Verizon.

GM announced that it is eliminating about 2,000 jobs, as well as decreasing production at plants in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the cuts will affect plants in Michigan and Ohio.

Following a 32 percent drop in profits, Caterpillar, sponsor of Richard childress Racing’s No. 31 Chevy, driven by Jeff Burton, announced that it is cutting 20,000 jobs, or about 18% of its workforce. That includes 12,000 employees and 8,000 contractors. Caterpillar is also cutting production schedules and costs in light of the economic turmoil.

Home Depot, sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota, and driver Joey Logano, announced that it will be cutting 7,000 jobs, or two percent of its workforce. It will also close nearly 50 stores.

Fellows Wins Rain-Shortened NAPA Auto Parts 200

Michael J Smith — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:23:38 +0000

Ron Fellows was in the right place at the right time; leading the NAPA Auto Parts 200 when the race was called due to rain, earning the victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, in JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevy.

Fellows took advantage of Marcos Ambrose’s pit road speeding penatly to earn the lead.

History was also made, when NASCAR called a caution and teams switched to rain tires, and added a windshield wiper, for the first points-paying race run on grooved Goodyear rain tires.

Top 5: Fellows, Patrick Carpentier, Ambrose, Ron Hornaday, and Boris Said.

Carl Edwards, Jason Leffler, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer finished sixth through 10th respectively.

Notables: Brad Keselowski (12th), David Ragan (13th), Jacques Villeneuve (15th), Joey Logano (16th), David Reutimann (18th), Max Papis (20th), and Scott Pruett (22nd).

Villeneuve and Logano both had trouble seeing, as not all teams added windshield wipers, both wrecked under caution. Villeneuve was running sixth when he ran into the back of another car.