DPR Sports & Racing News

DPR Sports & Racing News 

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CASTRONEVES CLIMBS FENCE AFTER WINNING AGAIN AT TEXAS

FORT WORTH, Texas (Saturday, June 6, 2009) - Helio Castroneves won for the third time at Texas Motor Speedway, grabbing the lead off a Lap 175 pit stop and going on to a 0.3904 of a second victory over Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe.

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/helio_castroneves

Spiderman III for Castroneves - Helio Wins 3rd Indy 500

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Castroneves Nearly Perfect...Emotional in 3rd Indy 500 Victory

Former NFL quarterback McNair killed in Tennessee

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair,  whose most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head Saturday afternoon in a downtown condominium. Police said a pistol was discovered near the body of a woman also shot dead.

Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron identified the woman as 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, whom he called a “friend” of McNair’s. She had a single gunshot wound to the head.

Police said the 36-year-old McNair was found on the sofa in the living room, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor. Aaron said the gun was not “readily apparent” when police first arrived.

Autopsies were planned for Sunday.

Aaron said McNair’s wife, Mechelle, is “very distraught.”

“At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved,” he said. “Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no.”

Fred McNair, Steve McNair’s oldest brother, said some family members likely will travel to Nashville on Monday to consult with Steve McNair’s wife.

“It’s still kind of hard to believe,” Fred McNair said. “He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids.”

He said he did not know who Kazemi was.

The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair’s longtime friend Wayne Neeley, who said he rents the condo with McNair.

Aaron said Neeley told authorities he went into the condo, saw McNair on the sofa and Kazemi on the floor but walked first into the kitchen before going back into the living room, where he saw the blood.

Neeley then called a friend, who alerted authorities.

Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi’s vehicle was already there. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans’ stadium.

Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a DUI charge while driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn’t break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.

The arrest affidavit said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying “she was not drunk, she was high.”

In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.

On the restaurant’s windows were messages: “We will miss you Steve” and “We love you Steve.”

A note attached to a small blue teddy bear read, “We will never forget you, Steve. Once a Titan, always a Titan.”

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Bowyer Wins At Daytona In Overtime
 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With cars spinning wildly behind him in Turn 4, Clint Bowyer claimed his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the season and the seventh of his career in Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway

http://danspitstopracing.com/nascar_nationwide_series

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Taylor Earnhardt Completes First Runs in RCR No. 3 Chevrolet Her Father Made Famous

http://danspitstopracing.com/richard_childress_racing

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The End of an Era…Tony George Steps Down from From IRL.. The Series Future uncertain?

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/2009_indy_car_series

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DIXON WINS AT RICHMOND, TIES HORNISH'S ALL-TIME VICTORY RECORD

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Carl Edwards for second straight year..1st victory of the year.. at the Milwaukee Mile..

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/the_milwaukee_mile

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Happy Birthday Ron... Dominates and wins Copart 200

Photo (Above)  By Summer Peters

Indy Car Series in Iowa this weekend... The Iowa Corn 250

For Race Preview .....

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/iowa_speedway

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Penske to buy Saturn, Return Marque to its “Original Roots

General Motors Corp. has a tentative deal to sell its Saturn brand to former race car driver and dealership group owner Roger Penske, both companies said Friday.

For Complete Story ... Visit The Automotive News & Penske Racing Pages:

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/automotive_news

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/penske_racing

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DIXON WINS AT MILWAUKEE..TAKES POINTS LEAD

Photo By Mark Rotor

IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon became the first driver to win for the second time in 2009, taking the checkered flag at The Milwaukee Mile ahead of last year’s winner Ryan Briscoe, who dominated for most of the race.

Dixon also took over the points lead for the first time since the end of the 2008 season.

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/the_milwaukee_mile

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BRISCOE WINS POLE FOR ABC SUPPLY/A.J. FOYT 225

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Hot Times at the Indy 500

Castroneves nearly Perfect

Castroneves capped a perfect month of May with the biggest win of all, pulling away to capture his third Indianapolis 500 just 5 1/2 weeks after being acquitted of tax evasion charges.

For complete story.... http://www.danspitstopracing.com/indianapolis_500

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The 2009 Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade

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Chicago Bulls Make some changes... in the Front Office

Gar Forman has been promoted to general manager of the Chicago Bulls, replacing John Paxson, who will remain with the team as executive vice president of basketball operations.

The Bulls announced the move Wednesday in a release promoting a Thursday news conference.

Forman has been director of player personnel the past five years. He joined the organization as a scout in 1998 and became the team’s director of player personnel in January 2004.

Paxson is expected to retain a major say in personnel moves, but was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. He had been GM since April 2003, when he was officially hired as executive vice president of basketball operations.

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony To Be Held In Las Vegas

 

NASCAR Nationwide Series And NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Events To Be Held in Miami
Grand-Am Banquet Moved To Hollywood, Fla.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that Las Vegas formally becomes the “Official Host City of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week.” NASCAR’s annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. The move to Las Vegas provides for greater flexibility for driver and fan events.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events will be combined and held at the Loews Miami Beach on Monday, Nov. 23. The Grand-Am Rolex Series banquet will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. on Monday, Oct. 12.

NASCAR had held the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in New York City every year since 1981. After exploring several options, NASCAR formed a partnership with Las Vegas Events, making the change of venue a reality.

“I can’t say enough about the warm reception from Las Vegas,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Las Vegas really made it a priority to get the awards ceremony moved there. We were able to come to an agreement on reasonable room blocks, banquet facilities, and approvals to hold fan activities on the famous Las Vegas Strip.”

“I also want to thank New York City and especially the Waldorf=Astoria for being such an important part of NASCAR’s history over the years. We look forward to a continued presence in the Big Apple where we have so many dedicated fans,” said France.

“Las Vegas is known for having marquee special events and this partnership further enhances the relationship between Las Vegas and NASCAR,” said President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “The strength of the Las Vegas brand leveraged with the brand of NASCAR will generate increased awareness and excitement.”

“We are certainly proud to be the host city for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week and Awards Ceremony,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “The addition of this prestigious event provides another dimension to our December calendar. This is a great way to end the year and highlight the achievements of NASCAR’s best drivers and crews.”

Las Vegas is a current race market where the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Activities being planned for the days leading up to the Awards Ceremony include the return of the “Victory Lap,” a procession of the top 10 NSCS drivers in their race cars, the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon, the Pit Stop Tour and the NASCAR Street Tour to include stock cars and mobile marketing units placed throughout the city.

The awards ceremony for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be consolidated in south Florida. This is designed to provide another great venue for the ceremony as well as help save NNS teams from making an additional trip following the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The top-five finishers from the NNS and NCWTS will be honored at the combined banquet celebration.

The Grand-Am Rolex Series banquet this year moves to the Seminole Hard Rock the Monday after its October season finale, also at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The change in venue also provides a great location for the banquet and helps teams manage budgets by reducing extra travel and accommodations following the season.

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Chicago Bulls Basketball

Photos by Mark Rotor

 

Tyrus Thomas Gives Chicago an Unexpected Scoring Boost

Ben Gordon Comes Alive

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Mark Martin... Still going strong