International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. are petitioning NASCAR to alter the 36-race Cup schedule to accommodate date or track changes.
ISC is lobbying for a second Cup date in Kansas. SMI wants a second race at its Las Vegas venue and one for its 1.5-mile track in northern Kentucky, the Cup race its former ownership group has coveted. SMI President Bruton Smith said NASCAR should feel "morally obligated" to bring a second Cup race to Las Vegas.
If we want your opinion … The Associated Press reports NASCAR has fined at least two star drivers — one as much as $50,000 — for comments considered destructive to the industry. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed that some action had been taken but didn't discuss details.
"It is the sanctioning body's obligation on behalf of the industry and our fans to protect the sport's brand," Poston said. "Any action taken by NASCAR has nothing to do with the drivers expressing an opinion — it's focused on actions or comments that materially damage the sport. We have specifically discussed this in meetings with teams, drivers and stakeholders."
NASCAR officials warned teams during the offseason that public criticism of the sport no longer would be tolerated.
Baby boomers: The wives of Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish Jr. are pregnant, the drivers recently confirmed. The wives of Jeff Gordon and Sunday's Brickyard winner Jamie McMurray are also pregnant. Gordon's wife is due in the coming weeks. Hornish's child is due Dec. 30.
Pets and hockey pucks: Thumbs up to Newman. His foundation recently formed a partnership with the Southern Professional Hockey League, focused on educating people about animal welfare.
The partnership will feature game-night events with each of the SPHL's eight teams, in addition to a leaguewide contest that includes a trip to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Newman and his wife established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. Their focus is to "educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers."
— George Diaz