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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News - Auto Racing</title>
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		<description>RUWT? News - Auto Racing</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:22:25 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:22:25 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Volkswagen program head in Homestead]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- The head of Volkswagen's motor sports
program is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, fueling speculation that
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 plans to meet with the sanctioning body. The
officials requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of
the meeting. The topic of the meeting was unclear.

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
production plants in the U.S.

Volkswagen has a plant under construction in Tennessee, and the
facility is scheduled to build midsize sedans in 2011.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/136028-Volkswagen-program-head-in-Homestead</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/136028-Volkswagen-program-head-in-Homestead</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:08:06 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Winners of 2009 NASCAR Truck Series Events]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[February 13  -- NextEra Energy Resources 250
                Daytona International Speedway
                Daytona Beach, Florida
                Winner: Todd Bodine, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 122.766 mph/$94,016
                Pole/Speed: Colin Braun, Ford, 177.441 mph

February 21  -- San Bernardino County 200
                Auto Club Speedway
                Fontana, California
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 145.838 mph/$60,950
                Pole/Speed: Kyle Busch, Toyota, 174.161 mph

March 7      -- American Commercial Lines 200
                Atlanta Motor Speedway
                Hampton, Georgia
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 130.188 mph/$56,300
                Pole/Speed: Kyle Busch, Toyota, 176.403 mph

March 30     -- Kroger 250
                Martinsville Speedway
                Martinsville, Virginia
                Winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 60.865 mph/$32,825
                Pole/Speed: Rick Crawford, Ford, 94.737 mph

April 25     -- O'Reilly Auto Parts 250
                Kansas Speedway
                Kansas City, Kansas
                Winner: Mike Skinner, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 92.680 mph/$57,875
                Pole/Speed: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 168.329 mph

May 15       -- North Carolina Education Lottery 200
                Lowe's Motor Speedway
                Concord, North Carolina
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 121.125 mph/$46,550
                Pole/Speed: Kyle Busch, Toyota, owner's points

May 30       -- AAA Insurance 200
                Dover International Speedway
                Dover, Delaware
                Winner: Brian Scott, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 92.819 mph/$63,175
                Pole/Speed: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 155.541 mph

June 5       -- WinStar World Casino 400
                Texas Motor Speedway
                Fort Worth, Texas
                Winner: Todd Bodine, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 153.133 mph/$72,175
                Pole/Speed: (R) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 179.485 mph

June 13      -- Michigan 200
                Michigan International Speedway
                Brooklyn, Michigan
                Winner: Colin Braun, Ford
                Speed/Earnings: 130.838 mph/$52,225
                Pole/Speed: (R) Brian Ickler, Toyota, 176.302 mph

June 20      -- Copart 200 at Milwaukee
                The Milwaukee Mile
                West Allis, Wisconsin
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 95.012 mph/$46,600
                Pole/Speed: (R) Brian Ickler, Toyota, owner's points

June 27      -- MemphisTravel.com 200
                Memphis Motorsports Park
                Millington, Tennessee
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 90.090 mph/$45,900
                Pole/Speed: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 117.662 mph

July 18      -- Built Ford Tough 225
                Kentucky Speedway
                Sparta, Kentucky
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 121.933 mph/$74,900
                Pole/Speed: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 173.383 mph

July 24      -- AAA Insurance 200 presented by JD Byrider
                O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis
                Indianapolis, Indiana
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 85.115 mph/$44,975
                Pole/Speed: Colin Braun, Ford, 109.965 mph

August 1     -- Toyota Tundra 200
                Nashville Superspeedway
                Lebanon, Tennessee
                Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 115.006 mph/$44,050
                Pole/Speed: Timothy Peters, Toyota, 159.312 mph

August 19    -- O'Reilly 200
                Bristol Motor Speedway
                Bristol, Tennessee
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 85.968 mph/$45,825
                Pole/Speed: Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 122.217 mph

August 28    -- EnjoyIllinois.com 225
                Chicagoland Speedway
                Joliet, Illinois
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 119.293 mph/$55,325
                Pole/Speed: Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 171.914 mph

September 5  -- Lucas Oil 200
                Iowa Speedway
                Newton, Iowa
                Winner: Mike Skinner, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 99.181 mph/$55,725
                Pole/Speed: Mike Skinner, Toyota, 137.052 mph

September 12 -- Copart 200
                Gateway International Raceway
                Madison, Illinois
                Winner: Mike Skinner, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 89.273 mph/$61,150
                Pole/Speed: Colin Braun, Ford, 133.956 mph

September 19 -- Heluva Good! 200
                New Hampshire Motor Speedway
                Loudon, New Hampshire
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 112.106 mph/$55,400
                Pole/Speed: Mike Skinner, Toyota, 127.992 mph

September 26 -- Las Vegas 350
                Las Vegas Motor Speedway
                Las Vegas, Nevada
                Winner: (R) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 127.593 mph/$45,600
                Pole/Speed: Todd Bodine, Toyota, 173.371 mph

October 24   -- Kroger 200
                Martinsville Speedway
                Martinsville, Virginia
                Winner: Timothy Peters, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 69.312 mph/$50,275
                Pole/Speed: Mike Skinner, Toyota, 95.733 mph

October 31   -- Mountain Dew 250
                Talladega Superspeedway
                Talladega, Alabama
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 127.837 mph/$71,950
                Pole/Speed: Colin Braun, Ford, 179.608 mph

November 6   -- WinStar World Casino 350k
                Texas Motor Speedway
                Fort Worth, Texas
                Winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota
                Speed/Earnings: 146.296 mph/$66,400
                Pole/Speed: Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 179.354 mph

November 13  -- Lucas Oil 150
                Phoenix International Raceway
                Avondale, Arizona
                Winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 99.743 mph/$37,675
                Pole/Speed: (R) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 131.019 mph

November 20  -- Ford 200
                Homestead-Miami Speedway
                Homestead, Florida
                Winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
                Speed/Earnings: 132.015 mph/$42,000
                Pole/Speed: Colin Braun, Ford, 168.251 mph

R-ROOKIE]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135848-Winners-of-2009-NASCAR-Truck-Series-Events</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135848-Winners-of-2009-NASCAR-Truck-Series-Events</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:03:37 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
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				<title><![CDATA[A twin win for Harvicks in Trucks Series finale]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Kevin and Delana Harvick were an extremely
happy couple Friday night.

Kevin Harvick made a late pass to cap a dominating show to win
the season-ending Trucks Series race at Homestead-Miami
Speedway, and wife Delana clinched the owners' championship when
Ron Hornaday Jr. - who had already wrapped up his fourth Trucks
title - finished eighth.

"That's the way to put an end to a year, right there!" Harvick
shrieked into the radio as he crossed the line.

Kevin Harvick went into the pit after Ryan Sieg went into the
wall and brought out a caution flag with seven laps left.
Harvick took four tires, exited pit road first and lined up just
behind Timothy Peters - who took a risk by staying out - for a
green-white-checkered finish.

Harvick passed Peters in the very first turn after the restart
and cruised to the win.

"I knew the 17 was a sitting duck there with four tires on our
truck," Kevin Harvick said. "So, it was a lot of fun."

And then he and Hornaday went side-by-side after the checkered
fell, sending thick plumes of white burnout smoke into the air.

The celebration was on.

"To close out the season like this, it's really what we wanted
to do," said Harvick, also the winner last week in Phoenix.

For Hornaday, adding the owners' title for Kevin Harvick Inc.
made his championship complete.

"To win the owners' title, you've got to do that," Hornaday
said. "It's everything. You can't just win the drivers' title,
because it takes a whole team."

Hornaday joined an elite list of drivers who have four national
series championships, joining names like Richard Petty, Dale
Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon. Jimmie Johnson could get there
Sunday, if he wins his fourth straight Chase crown.

History, though, mattered little to Hornaday on Friday night.
This one, he said, was for his owner.

"To come here and win them both ... good night all around for
KHI," Hornaday said. "Pretty cool."

Matt Crafton finished second, polesitter Colin Braun took third
and Peters finished fourth. It was Crafton's fifth runner-up
finish of the season.

"We were the bridesmaids a lot this year," Crafton said.

And when it was over, Kyle Busch - who seemed in position to
steal the show at times, plus looked poised to take the owner
title for Billy Ballew - was steaming mad.

Busch qualified eighth, then had to start at the back of the
36-truck pack because of an engine change.

Ordinarily, that might be devastating. For Busch, who came in
with 11 top-5 finishes in 14 Trucks Series starts this season,
all the lost ground was made up in about 10 minutes.

Instead, his real trouble came later.

Busch passed 10 trucks on the first lap alone, 18 - half the
field - in the first three laps and was 11th by the time the
drivers crossed the finish line for the seventh time. By the
25-lap mark, he was fourth, and when the first caution flag came
out 18 minutes into the race, Busch was in second place,
trailing only Kevin Harvick.

Meanwhile, Hornaday's No. 33 settled in nicely, not far from the
lead but well ahead of the pack, teetering around fifth for much
of the early going.

At that point, the only drama left was the owners' race. Kevin
Harvick Inc. came in with a 60-point lead over Ballew in the
owner standings, but thanks to Busch's worst-to-first climb,
they were even at the midpoint Friday night.

It didn't stay that way.

Running under green with about 50 laps to go, Busch pitted to
repair a blown-out tire - and then got flagged for a rear-tire
violation, forcing him to lose even more time by taking a
pass-through penalty. It dropped him to 22nd, two laps down and
at that point, an owners race that was even a few moments
earlier saw KHI holding a 108-point advantage.

Still, there was one challenge left for Harvick, and that came
from Peters at the end.

Even Peters didn't seem to mind the outcome too much.

"What a way to end a year," Peters said. "Just awesome to end
the year on this note right here. We didn't have anything to
lose."

Hornaday finished the season 187 points ahead of Crafton, the
third-largest title margin in series history. Jack Sprague won
in 1997 by 232 points, two more than Greg Biffle won his Trucks
Series title by in 2000.

In the owners race, Delana Harvick's final cushion was 73 points
over Ballew.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135833-A-twin-win-for-Harvicks-in-Trucks-Series-finale</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135833-A-twin-win-for-Harvicks-in-Trucks-Series-finale</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:33:05 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Johnson takes pole at Homestead]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Jimmie Johnson's run for his fourth
straight Cup title starts from the pole.

Johnson turned a lap of 173.919 mph on Friday to top qualifying
at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a big boost for the Hendrick
Motorsports star as he tries to become the first driver in
NASCAR history to win four consecutive championships.

"We did an awesome job today, and I feel that the start will go
smoothly," Johnson said.

The start could be tricky for the unflappable Johnson. Scott
Speed qualified second and Marcos Ambrose third, two drivers who
haven't spent very much time on the track racing up front and
around Johnson.

Johnson crashed on the third lap at Texas two races ago when he
was hit by Sam Hornish - another non-Chase contender. The wreck
spoiled Johnson's shot at possibly clinching his unprecedented
fourth straight championship last week.

Speed and Ambrose don't want to be the drivers who take out
Johnson and forever are tagged as the ones who spoiled history.

"Certainly you don't want to be the guy that takes out the 48,"
Speed said. "That doesn't look good on your resume. You give him
room, you race him as hard as you can."

Ambrose, who has only six top-10 starts this season, has a
similar fear.

"You don't want to be the guy that does that to him," he said.
"He's not going to do it on his own."

Johnson said the Texas wreck has made him somewhat apprehensive
that a similar scare could happen again. He did not return to
the track in that race until lap 115 in a rebuilt car. If he's
knocked out early in Sunday's 400-mile event, his title hopes
could be on the ropes and Mark Martin could have some new life
as he shoots for his first championship.

"I typically wouldn't be (worried), but with living through the
Texas experience, I'm not taking anything for granted," Johnson
said. "I'm happy to hear that both Marcos and Scott recognize
what's going on. Those guys have both raced for championships.
They know what it's like to get to that final race and you want
that halo, you want that space."

Johnson won his fourth pole of the season in the No. 48
Chevrolet hours after it was announced he signed a contract
extension to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the 2015
season. He has 23 career poles in 291 Cup races.

Johnson was so pumped at taking the pole he yelled, "Yes! Yes!
Yes! Wow!" over his radio. Crew chief Chad Knaus told him, "God,
I love you."

Johnson goes into Sunday's Chase for the championship finale
with a 108-point lead over Martin and needs only to finish 25th
or better to win the title.

He's not looking for any driver to concede the title to him.

"Everybody needs to race because we're all here for a reason,"
Johnson said. "Everybody is trying to finish as strong as they
can. It's not, let's not race. It's, let's race, but let's just
give each other a little bit more room."

Martin and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who still has second place
within reach, qualified 20th. Johnson, Martin and Gordon are
trying to give Hendrick Motorsports a 1-2-3 finish in the season
points standings.

Max Papis, David Stremme, Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek and Mike
Skinner failed to qualify.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135747-Johnson-takes-pole-at-Homestead</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135747-Johnson-takes-pole-at-Homestead</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:56:33 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[France thinks Johnson's dominance fine for Chase]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- NASCAR chairman Brian France wants Jimmie
Johnson to be commended for his four-year run atop NASCAR, and
not used as an example of why the championship format might be
flawed.

Johnson heads into Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
poised to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four
consecutive titles, all under the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship format implemented in 2004. His dominance has made
it easy for Chase critics to blast the system, which France
called unfair.

"The only way fair to look at it is not to pick apart the
format, but recognize excellence," France said Friday. "I don't
think historians could have predicted how good they are. What I
wouldn't want to do is take away from the accomplishment of
Jimmie and his team. In this format, dominating four straight
years is incredibly difficult to do."

The first year of the Chase was the most competitive, and five
drivers entered the finale mathematically eligible to win the
title. Kurt Busch beat Johnson by eight points for the
championship.

The next season was won by Tony Stewart, and Johnson began his
run in 2006. Although the 2007 Chase was a close fight between
Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, Johnson
has rolled into Homestead the past four seasons well in control.

This year, he needs only to finish 25th or better to beat
Hendrick teammate Mark Martin for the historic title.

France said NASCAR has no plans to tweak the format to prevent
one driver from dominating.

"This isn't a formula exercise in a computer," France said, "to
get you some result that you want. This is about sports and live
things that happen by the best drivers and the best teams in the
world and who performs at a high level."

France answered questions for nearly 45 minutes, covering
everything from the sport's economic difficulties, NASCAR's
toughened drug policy and Danica Patrick's potential move into
stock cars.

Patrick has met with several race teams about possibly running a
limited schedule in one of NASCAR's three series.

- On Patrick, where Nationwide Series team at JR Motorsports,
co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick, is believed to
be the front-runner:

"She has taken a very hard look at this sport," France said.
"She's a very recognizable, accomplished driver in her own
right. I would love to see her compete at the highest form of
racing in the world. I think she's thinking about it. I don't
know how well she'll do.

"She has a lot of talent. She will be good for NASCAR, and how
well she will perform is like any other driver that comes
through the front door and sits in the car. You never know until
they do it. And she probably doesn't know. She's certainly very
welcome in NASCAR. I've told her that directly."

- On young driver Brad Keselowski, who met with NASCAR last week
after yet another run-in with Denny Hamlin:

"We want drivers who are driving hard, that are driving to win.
When that happens, you're going to have some situations where
there's contact. What you're always worried about, with
retaliation, is escalation, unintended consequences. You have to
make sure that there are limits to hard driving and rivalries
and whatever. But we certainly want them. We know how important
they are. We're going to do what we can to encourage them with
some obvious limits as we go along."

- On potential changes to the NASCAR-designed Sprint Cup car:

"We will look at some things in the offseason going into Daytona
to see if we can make the car and the racing better than it is
now. That is absolutely our goal. That is always our goal.
Absent to having passes every three seconds and photo finishes
every race, which we would prefer (and) love to see that. If we
don't achieve that, we're going to keep pushing forward and
looking at ways to achieve somewhere between the great racing
that we have now and utopia."

- The economy, which has caused a decline in attendance,
sponsorship pullouts and manufacturer cutbacks:

"We don't feel that 2010 looks, from just a pure economy
standpoint from what we're hearing from our fans, an awful lot
better. Clearly the sponsorship market is tougher than it has
ever been in my memory, and I don't anticipate that getting
remarkably better."

- The drug policy that led to Jeremy Mayfield's suspension, and
a drawn out lawsuit between NASCAR and the driver:

"We believe we made the right decisions to make an already tough
policy even more tough. We have to do that with the
circumstances that go on in the country today and sports in
general. The fact that we have a 200-mile-an-hour race car, we
think it was very imperative that we improve our policy, which
we did. We will stand behind that very clearly."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135704-France-thinks-Johnsons-dominance-fine-for-Chase</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135704-France-thinks-Johnsons-dominance-fine-for-Chase</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:38:35 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Gordon wants to keep driving for Hendrick]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Jeff Gordon still has Cup title No. 5 in
sight. And his boss expects Gordon to stick around a few more
years to try and win at least one more.

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick waved off any idea that
Gordon's career was nearing the finish line. Hendrick, who
locked up three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson
through the 2015 season on Friday, said he expected Gordon to
drive at least "three or four" more seasons before retiring.

Hendrick has long said Gordon has a "lifetime" contract with
Hendrick Motorsports.

"As long as he's going to drive in Cup, he's going to drive in
our car," Hendrick said. "I'm hoping he's going to drive a bunch
of more years."

Gordon said on Friday that his chronic back pain has improved
and he's still having fun racing. Gordon is third in the points
standings and has one victory this season heading into Sunday's
finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"As long as I'm healthy and competitive and we have sponsorship,
we're out there enjoying ourselves, I'm going to keep doing it,"
Gordon said.

The 38-year-old Gordon won the last of his four titles in 2001
and hasn't won a Cup championship since the Chase for the
championship format started in 2004.

"I think the old points system favors us," Gordon said. "But I'm
more inspired than ever with the new system to win it under the
new format."

He'll try in his familiar No. 24 well into the next decade.
Gordon refused to put a number on how many years he has left. At
the end of last year's disappointing season - when he went
winless - he was considering only another year or two.

"Seasons like this add years to my career," he said. "Seasons
like last year, take away from them. Last year I was frustrated,
not feeling good. I was like, give me a couple more years. Now
I'm like, four, five, who knows?"

He has his aim on second place - only 61 points separate him
from teammate Mark Martin.

Gordon has 82 career victories in a Cup career that dates to one
race in the 1992 season. He went winless in his first full
season in 1993 - something he didn't do again until last year.
He has 24 top-10s this season.

Gordon said his team may have lost an advantage over the other
Hendrick drivers with all the crews sharing information, but it
made the Hendrick organization stronger overall. Johnson, Martin
and Gordon are trying to finish in some combination 1-2-3 in the
standings after Sunday's final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I think if you're confident in what you do and you put the
right people in place, your team is still going to prevail,"
Gordon said. "And the information you can get from your
teammates can be very valuable to you."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135678-Gordon-wants-to-keep-driving-for-Hendrick</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135678-Gordon-wants-to-keep-driving-for-Hendrick</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:19:37 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[RPM driver Kahne will look elsewhere after 2010]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Kasey Kahne might be maxed out at RPM.

Kahne is strongly considering bolting Richard Petty Motorsports
after his contract expires next season because of the
instability surrounding the organization and will start shopping
around for a new team in January.

Kahne has been disgruntled with many parts of RPM this season,
including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to
happen. Kahne says the company needs to become focused and
resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.

"The ups and downs of the team has made it difficult for me to
really say, 'Man, I'm going to be here for 10 years,"' Kahne
said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I really don't know
what's going to happen."

Kahne said he has not heard from majority owner George Gillett
Jr. about a new contract.

Kahne has given the struggling organization a huge boost this
season with two victories and a spot in the Chase for the
championship. He finished 38th in the Chase opener, has not been
a factor and is in 10th place entering Sunday's finale.

"I don't feel like I need to be done racing for the year," Kahne
said. "I'm still pretty excited at where we're at right now. ...
I think the season needs to get over with for the management
side of things and just figure out exactly what we're doing, get
us pointed in the right direction so that the teams can start
working and preparing for 2010."

The team has been plagued by problems since it was formed in
January from the merger between Gillett-Evernham Motorsports and
Petty Enterprises.

RPM didn't have enough new engines for Kahne to use full time,
and the team decided to shift from Dodge to Ford next season.
RPM fielded only two fully funded cars all season - Kahne and
Elliott Sadler. The team pieced together funding for AJ
Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson, and both drivers have forfeited
salary or race winnings to help keep their teams afloat.

Kahne took owner Richard Petty to Victory Lane for the first
time in 364 races by winning on the road course at Infineon
Raceway. It was the first time a Petty-owned car won a race
since John Andretti's 1999 victory at Martinsville. Kahne helped
secure his spot in the Chase in early September when he won at
Atlanta Motor Speedway.

He hopes a third win - even it's overshadowed by Jimmie
Johnson's fourth straight Cup title - will put a satisfying end
to a tumultuous season.

Kahne realizes the offseason might not bring him any answers.

"I used to try and stay in the loop, and then things don't
happen that they say will," Kahne said. "It's up to them what
happens. They do their things, and I'll do mine."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135696-RPM-driver-Kahne-will-look-elsewhere-after-2010</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135696-RPM-driver-Kahne-will-look-elsewhere-after-2010</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:29:08 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Far from track, suspended Mayfield holds auction]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

CATAWBA, N.C.(AP) -- Jeremy Mayfield sat in the back of his large
barn Friday morning about 800 miles from where NASCAR's
season-ending weekend was kicking off. Several hundred people
surrounded him, listening intently as a fast-speaking auctioneer
sold dozens of items.

Banned from driving by NASCAR after testing positive for
methamphetamines, Mayfield has become an auction fanatic. Only
this time, he was selling his own stuff, ranging from a second
home, land, cars, dirt bikes and bulldozers to weed-whackers,
humidifiers and sunglasses.

If it was all sold by the end of the day it would be worth about
$5 million, money needed to help his ongoing court fight to be
reinstated to the sport.

"Obviously, this will help financially," Mayfield said. "But
it's also what I like to do."

And for a guy who claims that, "All I've ever known was racing,"
it was an odd sight. Most of the crowd consisted of auction
veterans. Few paid any attention to Mayfield's presence, instead
staring at their seller sheets and fellow bidders.

And besides a few old pieces of sheet metal for sale and the
racing hats worn by some of the visitors, there were few signs
of NASCAR on the premises.

"Sold for $15! What's your number?" the auctioneer yelled after
selling a circular saw blade.

Mayfield walked around his land with a smile, but also
determined to prove that he's not a drug user. His wife, selling
clothes and shoes in another section of the facility, took a
harder stand against how others in the sport have treated them.

"It's hurtful when you've been with people who you thought were
your family for 17 years and then you're kind of left out here,"
Shana Mayfield said, referring to other drivers and their wives.
"You kind of feel like you're out in the middle of a field and
the vultures are after you. Nobody is standing up for you or
trying to help you. That's a hard feeling, and it hurts."

"And everyone will know the truth before it's over with."

Mayfield has been suspended since failing a May 1 random drug
test. NASCAR says he tested positive for methamphetamines then
and in another test on July 6. Mayfield claims a mix of the
prescription drug Adderall to treat attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder and the allergy medication Claritin-D
created a false positive.

Mayfield won an injunction July 1 to lift his suspension, but
did not attempt to make any of the three races before the U.S.
Court of Appeals upheld the suspension on July 24. A hearing on
the injunction appeal is tentatively scheduled for the first
week of December.

Mayfield has since hired prominent attorney Mark Geragos, while
NASCAR has been trying to delay the case by filing a motion that
would prevent the discovery phase from continuing until a new
motion could be heard. Mayfield acknowledged they've been
rebuffed in their efforts to depose NASCAR chairman Brian
France, Dr. David Black, who heads NASCAR's drug testing program
- and even France's ex-wife. France has filed a secret civil
complaint against her.

"Nothing surprises me with trial lawyers in the 21st century,"
France said Friday. "They are an amazing group of people."

But France said NASCAR will continue to try to keep Mayfield off
the track.

"It's regrettable because our preference is never to be in
litigation," France said Friday. "We make the rules and we hope
that everybody abides by them."

The legal fight has cost Mayfield his race team and has put him
into debt, although he disputed claims that he owes his former
attorney money.

"I've paid Bill Diehl a lot of money," he said. "We'll get it
worked out."

The auction helped Mayfield's finances. On farmland in this
rural town about an hour north of Charlotte - not far from where
race shops dot the landscape - business was brisk. An auction
official said about 500 people had registered and another 400
were making bids online.

"I love it, man. I buy a lot of stuff," said Mayfield, who
indicated he goes to an auction every couple weeks. "That's how
I got all this stuff. I had one last year and I was going to
have one this year and I kept saying, 'I'm going to take it to a
new level.' It's a great crowd, a lot of people, and it's pretty
neat."

But Mayfield's top priority remains to clear his name.

"It's obviously very expensive, especially going to trial like
that," Mayfield said. "But I'm committed and I'm going to do
whatever it takes."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135705-Far-from-track-suspended-Mayfield-holds-auction</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135705-Far-from-track-suspended-Mayfield-holds-auction</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:29:08 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Johnson signs extension with Hendrick through 2015]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Jimmie Johnson, on the verge of a NASCAR
record fourth consecutive championship, signed a contract
extension Friday to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the
2015 season.

The announcement comes just two days before Johnson is likely to
wrap up the Sprint Cup championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Johnson goes into Sunday's finale with a 108-point lead over
Hendrick teammate Mark Martin and needs only to finish 25th or
better to win the title.

"Jimmie is charting new territory in our sport, and that's due
to a combination of natural talent and unsurpassed work ethic,"
team owner Rick Hendrick said. "How he's committed himself is
just incredible, and it shows in everything that he does - not
just on the racetrack.

"There's no question that he's one of the great champions in all
of sports, and he's not done yet."

Johnson's previous contract expired after the 2010 season. This
is his third contract extension since joining Hendrick in 2001.

Home improvement chain Lowe's also signed an extension as
primary sponsor of Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet through the 2013
season.

"So fortunate to have my team, job, situation at Hendrick
Motorsports," Johnson said. "Lowe's has been nothing but amazing
to Hendrick Motorsports, to myself. The only car I've driven in
the Cup Series has been a Chevy. It's been a Hendrick
Motorsports Chevrolet and a Lowe's Chevrolet. I'm very, very
proud of that stuff."

There was no immediate announcement on crew chief Chad Knaus,
who has previously extended his contracts to stay in line with
Johnson. But Hendrick said talks have begun with Knaus and they
are "in the process of putting it on paper."

Knaus' current contract is through the 2010 season, and he and
Johnson have been partnered since Johnson's 2002 rookie year.

"I think our goal and everybody's on the same page, keeping this
thing together for the foreseeable future," Hendrick said.

The Johnson extension locks up Hendrick's lineup in the Cup
Series for the next several years.

Martin this season agreed to a two-year extension through 2011,
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has three years remaining on his contract and
Hendrick said four-time series champion Jeff Gordon will drive
for several more years.

Gordon has a "lifetime contract" with Hendrick.

"Jeff and I have an agreement - as long as he drives in Cup,
he's going to drive our car," Hendrick said. "I'm hoping he's
going to drive a bunch of more years. We know it's going to be
at least three or four. So we're excited about that."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135662-Johnson-signs-extension-with-Hendrick-through-2015</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135662-Johnson-signs-extension-with-Hendrick-through-2015</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:40:46 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Comedian Caliendo will host NASCAR banquet]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LAS VEGAS(AP) -- Comedian Frank Caliendo will host NASCAR's
season-ending banquet in December in Las Vegas.

Caliendo, a noted impressionist, was featured in several videos
at last year's awards ceremony. He has appeared at postseason
events for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series.

NASCAR moved its season-ending party to Las Vegas this year
after nearly three decades in New York. The banquet will be held
on Dec. 4 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Singer David Gray and female electric string quartet Escala will
perform at the banquet.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135679-Comedian-Caliendo-will-host-NASCAR-banquet</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135679-Comedian-Caliendo-will-host-NASCAR-banquet</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:08:09 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Spokeswoman: Schumacher's return unlikely]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[FRANKFURT(AP) -- Although Michael Schumacher is keeping his
options open, his spokeswoman says his return to Formula One is
"highly unlikely."

Spokeswoman Sabine Kehm was reacting to an article in London's
Daily Telegraph on Friday that speculated the 40-year-old German
could be tempted to come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes
GP, which has bought out last season's champion team Brawn GP.

Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion who retired in 2006, called
off a temporary comeback this year with Ferrari because of a
persistent neck injury.

Kehm says: "You can never say never in this sport, but to me, it
is highly unlikely at the moment."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135673-Spokeswoman-Schumachers-return-unlikely</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135673-Spokeswoman-Schumachers-return-unlikely</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:12:24 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[F1 Williams sells minority stake to Austrian group]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CHRIS LINES
AP Auto Racing Writer

Frank Williams says he is not preparing to relinquish control of
the Williams Formula One team despite selling a minority stake
on Friday.

Williams and co-founder Patrick Head have been sole owners of
the team since its creation in 1977, but now have agreed to sell
an unspecified percentage of the team for an undisclosed amount
to an investment firm headed by former racing driver Toto Wolff.

"I want to emphasize he is a minority shareholder and the
company is still totally under my control," Williams said Friday
in a conference call. "I have no intention of losing control of
this company."

The team boss said he had "never taken any money out of the
business in 40 years" but was conscious of his advancing age,
adding the sale would provide funds for his private finances.

"I'm 67, I am not going to live forever, and I want to take care
of my private needs," Williams said. "The sale is entirely for
private reasons - its time I paid a few bills."

Williams said he intended to stay on as head of the F1 team as
long as possible.

Asked when he might retire, he replied: "I have got no idea.
Formula One is my life. As long as I am mentally and physically
healthy I will continue."

Wolff's investment firms Marchfifteen and Marchsixteen were
previously involved in financing companies involved in rally and
touring car racing, while having other significant non-sporting
interests.

Wolff used to race in Formula Ford in Austria and Germany, plus
GT, rally and touring car racing. He co-owns a management
company with ex-Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen.

Williams described him as "a very shrewd businessman" who had
the capacity to generate new sponsorship revenue for the team.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135652-F1-Williams-sells-minority-stake-to-Austrian-group</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135652-F1-Williams-sells-minority-stake-to-Austrian-group</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:32:50 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Penske gives Power full-time ride]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- Will Power won't be waiting around for a ride
next year.

Penske Racing has hired the 28-year-old Australian to drive full
time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a
part-time gig last season. He will drive the No. 12 Verizon
Wireless Dallara/Honda for a team that features three-time
Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.

"It is a dream come true," Power told reporters Thursday after
Penske made the announcement. "It's something I've worked very
hard for my whole career, to end up in a place like this."

Penske said the deal is a key element of a multiyear deal with
Verizon Wireless that began this year. Power's deal is only for
the 2010 season, and additional years haven't been discussed.

Power drove for Penske last season while Castroneves dealt with
legal issues. After Castroneves returned, Power stayed on
temporarily and finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500. Penske
eventually brought him back, and Power finished third at Toronto
and won at Edmonton.

"The results speak for themselves," Penske Racing president Tim
Cindric said. "We're excited to be able to give him the
opportunity to come on full time because he's done an excellent
job in a very difficult situation."

A crash on Aug. 22 in Sonoma, Calif. ended Power's season. He
broke four bones in his back, had a concussion and chipped his
left front tooth in a collision.

Power said he's on pace to recover in time for next season.

"I'm feeling really good," he said. "Everything's going well.
It's actually ahead of schedule, the way my back healed. I don't
think there going to be any problem getting back in the car in
January."

Penske felt it couldn't afford to take a chance on Power going
elsewhere.

"With the result he had last year, there was probably going to
be more people knocking on his door if they found out he was
available," Cindric said.

Power said he wanted to stay all along because of Penske's
quality.

"Every time I was in a car, it was a good car," he said.
"There's no use running around in the back of the field in a
team that's not up to the job. You don't do yourself any
favors."

Now, instead of hunting for a ride, Power is talking about
winning a championship.

"That's what I'm aiming for," he said. "I want to be running at
the front all year, and I'll really want to be one of the
contenders. I'll be doing my absolute best."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135385-Penske-gives-Power-full-time-ride</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135385-Penske-gives-Power-full-time-ride</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:46:56 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[For Hendrick, a 1-2-3 finish might make history]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

CORAL GABLES, Fla.(AP) -- For Hendrick Motorsports, this NASCAR
season might seem easy as 1-2-3.

OK, maybe it only looked easy.

No matter if Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin leaves
Homestead-Miami on Sunday with the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship, Hendrick Motorsports - which owns both cars - will
have plenty to celebrate. The title, whomever delivers it, will
be Rick Hendrick's ninth in NASCAR, tying him with Petty
Enterprises for the most. And it will be his record-setting 12th
overall, joining three truck titles.

But there's a piece of history still out there for Hendrick to
chase.

Johnson, Martin and Jeff Gordon, all of whom race under the
Hendrick flag, enter the finale 1-2-3 in the standings. If they
finish in those spots, Hendrick Motorsports would become the
first team in NASCAR history to truly pull off that feat.

"I hate to be greedy when you think about really wanting to be
1-2-3, but we're sitting there right now with one race to go,"
Hendrick said Thursday. "That would be so good for the
organization. If it happens, it'll be just icing on the cake.
We've all thought about it. We've all talked about it. That's
our goal."

Has it happened before?

Depends on perspective, really.

Buck Baker, Herb Thomas and Speedy Thompson finished in the top
three spots in the 1956 standings after a 56-race schedule.
Baker and Thompson both raced for Carl Kiekhaefer, as did Thomas
for much of that season. But NASCAR records show Thomas started
that season listed as his car's owner-driver, plus also spent
some time that year with Smokey Yunick as his team owner.

So technically, if Hendrick pulls this off Sunday, he would
stand alone.

"I'm actually living a dream," Hendrick said. "I grew up and all
I knew was racing and cars and working on cars. You didn't get
paid to do it. You did it because you loved it and you take
whatever you made to do it. So to be able to look back and see
what we've been able to accomplish, I've just been really
fortunate being around a lot of great people."

His team is often likened as the Yankees of NASCAR, with good
reason.

The results, especially of late, show that whatever is going on
in the Hendrick garage tops what everyone else is doing.

At 50, Martin is having what he calls the happiest season of his
life. Gordon will likely finish fourth or better in the final
standings for the 10th time. And Johnson is on the brink of
history, needing only a 25th-place finish to clinch his fourth
straight title, breaking the record he shares with Cale
Yarborough.

Johnson often tells the story how Hendrick once sat across the
table from a team of Lowe's executives, convincing those
potential and eventual sponsors how the driver really would be
good enough to win a race someday. Johnson never forgot the
faith Hendrick showed that day, and has paid it back many times.

"Somehow, some way, what he possesses in connecting with people,
looking for the right skills, the desire, the drive that an
individual may have to perform well and do well, there's
something that he can see and recognize," Johnson said. "I think
it speaks volumes to the company and the success of the company.
He can pick something up, pick something out ... piece
everything together."

The respect level the drivers have is clear. Even Martin, a
venerable elder statesman in NASCAR, calls the owner "Mr.
Hendrick."

Said Hendrick: "I want to go on the record, I'm only 10 years
older than he is. I want it to be Rick."

His life only seems the stuff of Hollywood now.

Hendrick's cap will be turned backward in Victory Lane on
Sunday, a tribute to his son Ricky, one of 10 people killed when
a Hendrick plane crashed in 2004. Rick Hendrick always tried to
get his kid to wear his cap the right way, and his son rarely
would listen to Dad on that point.

There's been so much other drama along the way, too. A rare form
of leukemia, which he beat. A guilty plea to federal mail fraud,
which was eventually pardoned by President Clinton. Financial
challenges, especially when he was beginning to build his
empire.

Now here he stands, about to pull into a tie with Petty
Enterprises for the most titles in the stock-car series.

"An opportunity to be around Mr. Hendrick and all the fine
people, teammates and people at Hendrick Motorsports, has really
made my life rich this year with people and with quality
relationships above and beyond any other year that I can ever
remember," Martin said Thursday, with Hendrick sitting
immediately to his right.

Hendrick bowed his head a bit, hearing those words.

Richard Petty still might be The King, and Johnson might be on
the verge of etching his name on a blank page of NASCAR history,
but Sunday night will be as much a tribute to Hendrick as anyone
else on Victory Lane. His 25th anniversary season in NASCAR will
be his best, maybe the best by any team ever.

"I would have to say," Hendrick said, "this is probably as good
as it gets."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135410-For-Hendrick-a-1-2-3-finish-might-make-history</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135410-For-Hendrick-a-1-2-3-finish-might-make-history</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:44:50 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Rusty Wallace to field Toyotas next season]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its
Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota next season.

Wallace, who is a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, also will represent
the Toyota brand on a national basis.

His team will field cars for Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan.
RWR had used Chevrolets the past two seasons.

Wallace says he toured Toyota's racing facility in North
Carolina and became convinced that the manufacturer has the best
products for the Nationwide Series.

The three American manufacturers in NASCAR have had to reduce
their support for Nationwide teams during their financial
restructuring.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135419-Rusty-Wallace-to-field-Toyotas-next-season</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135419-Rusty-Wallace-to-field-Toyotas-next-season</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:57:28 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Button takes pay cut to join McLaren]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LONDON(AP) -- Formula One champion Jenson Button admitted Thursday
he took a pay cut to join McLaren and team with 2008 winner
Lewis Hamilton.

"I am actually earning less than I would have been at Brawn, so
it's not about the money and everybody involved knows that is
not the case. It's because it's something new," Button told BBC
Radio.

Button said he was sad to leave the team but happy to join
fellow British driver Hamilton, even though they will remain
rivals.

"I knew it would be a challenge to go up against Lewis in his
environment and my goal since I was eight years old was to win
the world championship," Button said. "I've done that now and I
feel in need of something else, a new challenge."

Button had won only one grand prix before capturing the 2009
title in a Brawn car. He finished 11 points ahead of Red Bull's
Sebastien Vettel of Germany.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135368-Button-takes-pay-cut-to-join-McLaren</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135368-Button-takes-pay-cut-to-join-McLaren</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:19:36 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[F1's Raikkonen confirms sabbatical year in 2010]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LONDON(AP) -- Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen confirmed
Thursday that he will take a one-year sabbatical from Formula
One next season and said it's uncertain whether he will return
in 2011.

The Finnish driver, who was replaced by Fernando Alonso at
Ferrari, said he prefers to take a year off and wait for a spot
with a competitive team after failing to reach a deal with
McLaren. McLaren opted to sign current champion Jenson Button to
partner with Lewis Hamilton.

"I could not agree to terms with McLaren so I have decided to
take a one-year sabbatical," the 2007 world champion told F1's
official Web page. "And to be honest, I will only return in 2011
if a competitive drive is available."

Raikkonen said he has not held talks with Button's former Brawn
team - now Mercedes GP - which is still looking for a
replacement. The 30-year-old Finn said he saw McLaren as his
"best opportunity to win races and challenge for the drivers'
championship."

Raikkonen said he thinks Mercedes will look to field two German
drivers after buying out the British team.

"I do not want to race just to make up the numbers. That does
not interest me," Raikkonen said. "But there's a lot of time
until then, so let's wait and see what happens in the months
ahead."

Button reportedly came at a lower price for McLaren, but
Raikkonen said he is worth his asking price.

"I feel a good driver can make a bigger difference nowadays. If
you look at how close the whole grid was this year, if a driver
can lap two-tenths faster that is worth many positions on the
grid," he said. "That could easily be the difference between
winning and losing."

Raikkonen said he would likely look at competing in rally racing
while spending more time with family and friends next season. At
the same time, he said he was "very keen to return" to the
circuit.

"I have enjoyed my time in F1 and I still have ambitions," he
said. "The door is open. Let's see what the future brings."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135328-F1s-Raikkonen-confirms-sabbatical-year-in-2010</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135328-F1s-Raikkonen-confirms-sabbatical-year-in-2010</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:38:07 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Ganassi hires McMurray to drive No. 1]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Jamie McMurray has been hired to drive the
No. 1 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

The hiring has long been in the works, and gives one of the last
remaining open seats for 2010 to McMurray. It also reunites
McMurray with car owner Chip Ganassi, who gave the driver his
first Cup ride in 2002.

McMurray drove 114 races for Ganassi, but left after the 2005
season to join Roush Fenway Racing. He is losing that ride
because Roush must drop one team to meet NASCAR's four-car limit
that begins next season.

McMurray has three career Cup wins, including his victory at
Talladega earlier this month. He set a NASCAR record by winning
in his second Cup race while driving for Ganassi in 2002.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135139-Ganassi-hires-McMurray-to-drive-No-1</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135139-Ganassi-hires-McMurray-to-drive-No-1</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:26:09 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Knaus succeeding by learning how to handle failure]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla.(AP) -- Chad Knaus was clearly distracted as he
leaned against a cart during a casual conversation before last
week's race in Phoenix. His eyes darted around, finally settling
on an aerosol can and a box of towels.

"Move," he ordered, just as he began spraying cleaner across the
top of the nylon cover on the tool cart. He wiped away the
offensive dust and dirt, rolled the towels into a ball and fired
them into a nearby trash can.

"So, I was saying," he started.

Yeah, sure he's mellowed out.

Knaus, the most intense crew chief in NASCAR, is one step from
guiding driver Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick
Motorsports team to a record fourth consecutive Cup
championship.

He's meticulous, relentless and maybe even a bit obsessive.

And that's the improved version.

Those close to Knaus insist he's matured tremendously during
Johnson's reign, evolving from a maniacal taskmaster who came
close to being removed as Johnson's crew chief to an effective
communicator and motivator of the best team in NASCAR. Johnson
will wrap up the Sprint Cup title in Sunday's finale at
Homestead-Miami Speedway with a finish of 25th or better.

"The one thing he has always possessed is the fire, the will and
the determination to win," boss Rick Hendrick said. "He's
willing to dedicate everything he has to be successful, and he
really, truly leaves no rock unturned. But I think the thing
he's learned is that not everybody can run at that pace, and I
don't think that Chad could have continued at his pace from
three, four, five years ago because you burn out."

Knaus was certainly headed in that direction at the end of 2005,
when he and Johnson fell short of a championship for a second
consecutive season. He'd had Johnson in contention every year
since their 2002 debut, but their best opportunities came in the
first two years of the Chase for the championship.

When they came up empty - Johnson fell eight points short in
2004, and blew a tire in the 2005 finale to fall out of
contention - Knaus knew no way of handling the defeat other than
to work more and push his team harder. His methods had driven a
wedge into his relationship with Johnson, and Hendrick intended
to split the two during the infamous "milk and cookies" sitdown.

Because they'd been behaving like children, Hendrick served them
what he felt was an appropriate snack. Point made, Knaus and
Johnson aired their issues and resolved to repair their
relationship.

But doing so meant Knaus would have to put some balance into his
life. Johnson, the laid-back Californian, urged the type-A Knaus
to chill out once in a while and enjoy life.

On his own since he was a teenager, Knaus had clawed his way
from a mechanic working on his father's race car to the
opportunity to build a team from scratch for NASCAR's most
successful team owner. That path had instilled a
take-no-prisoners work ethic in Knaus, but little else to show
for his efforts.

"I really dedicated everything I had to (2005) to try to win the
championship, and we came up short, and Mr. Hendrick and Jimmie
showed me at the end of that season, 'Look, you can't do this.
You can't do it at the level that you're trying to do it,' "
Knaus said. "It wasn't the level of success, it was the level of
intensity, because ... I was losing that edge that I had, and I
was beginning to flame out."

So Knaus began to pick up outside interests - travel, scuba
diving and yoga, to name a few - and now occasionally takes time
off to unwind. Added up, he probably takes off no more than two
weeks a year. But it's a start.

"I'm enjoying things, I'm going places, and I owe all that to
Jimmie," he said. "I had never had a vacation until 2002 when
Jimmie and I went to Cabo San Lucas together, and it was like,
'Man, there's something else to do other than racing.'

"Still, to this day, I don't do as much stuff as what I would
like. But I definitely take time off and enjoy myself."

It's not always smooth sailing, though, as Knaus is still
determined to win every race by crushing the field. That nonstop
push can be grating, particularly to Johnson when he's inside
the race car and Knaus is asking for more. It happened at
Charlotte in October, when Johnson threatened to strangle Knaus
over their team radio during a midrace dispute.

"When he is on the box and he's frustrated that the car is not
going anywhere, and he thinks that I'm sitting on some speed and
I can just magically make the car go a little faster, those are
the things that frustrate me," Johnson said. "I am learning how
to handle him more and more each year that goes by. The fact
that we're so different really helps. If we both had similar
personalities, I think we really would kill one another.

"I'm pretty patient; he's not so patient. And in more instances
I find that ... patience really prevails."

The theory proved true two races ago at Texas when Johnson was
wrecked three laps into the race. Knaus angrily slammed his fist
on top of the pit box, took a deep breath, then spent the next
90 minutes calmly instructing his crew during a total rebuild of
the car. It was controlled chaos, but it got Johnson back on
track and proved why the No. 48 team is the best in the
business.

Then Knaus set a plan to bounce back in commanding fashion at
Phoenix, pushing his team to a dominating win last Sunday that
put Johnson back in control of the standings.

"He still has that very unreal goal of perfect, but that's OK
because when he can't get there, instead of just going all to
pieces, he starts working toward fixing it," Hendrick said. "He
can handle failure better now. That's been the big difference of
where he was and where he is now."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135064-Knaus-succeeding-by-learning-how-to-handle-failure</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135064-Knaus-succeeding-by-learning-how-to-handle-failure</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:40:49 GMT</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[F1 champ Button teams up with Hamilton at McLaren]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LONDON(AP) -- Formula One champion Jenson Button signed with
McLaren on Wednesday to partner with Lewis Hamilton, giving the
English team a potent lineup for next season featuring the most
recent title holders.

McLaren said Button signed a "multiyear deal" after leaving
constructors champion Brawn GP in the wake of its takeover by
Mercedes-Benz this week.

The 29-year-old Button, who is replacing Heikki Kovalainen, was
out of contract with Brawn GP after capturing his first F1
drivers' title last month and talks about a new deal had
stalled. McLaren opted to sign the British driver instead of
2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen - leading the Finn to announce he
will take next year off after being let go by Ferrari.

Button had taken a significant pay cut to ensure he had a car
for 2009 with Honda pulling out of the sport and reforming under
Ross Brawn's ownership.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said Button's decision
was "in no way motivated by money," insisting that they were
paying him "no more than he could be getting elsewhere."

"Although I won the world championship with Brawn GP last year,
and I'll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted
to continue to set myself fresh challenges," Button said in a
statement. "So that's why I've decided to join McLaren Mercedes.
You can't help but be affected by this team's phenomenal
history.

"McLaren is one of the greats of world sport, and its
achievements and list of past champions read like a Who's Who of
Formula One."

Button said Wednesday that it is a "great pleasure" teaming up
with fellow Englishman Hamilton, who won the 2008 championship.

"It's fantastic that we'll be forming an all-British lineup. I
know that we both fly the flag with pride," Button said. "Lewis
has achieved an incredible level of success in a very short
period of time, and he's a wonderfully gifted driver who has
earned the respect of every Formula 1 driver.

"I'm sure there's plenty that we can learn from each other, and
I'm really looking forward to using our combined knowledge to
push the team forward."

The last time a team had a pairing of two British world
champions was in 1968 when Lotus united Graham Hill and Jim
Clark, who both won two titles.

"I already know Jenson, and we get on very well together,"
Hamilton said. "We both really want our team to succeed.
Although we'll be pushing each other hard, I'm sure we'll very
quickly establish a great working relationship."

Button, who began his career at Williams in 2000, only joined
the list of champions last month.

After fearing he wouldn't have a team in 2009, Button took
advantage of the Brawn car's early dominance to win six of the
first seven races and maintained a comfortable lead in the
championship standings.

Button's move to McLaren ends his seven-year association with
the Brackley-based outfit, which he joined in 2003 when the team
was known as BAR. He established himself as the team's No. 1
driver before Honda's takeover in 2006.

While Button's McLaren will be adorned with No. 1, Hamilton, who
won the 2008 championship, has been nurtured by McLaren for a
decade since he was in karting.

Whitmarsh, who had to quell infighting between Hamilton and
Fernando Alonso during the 2007 season, has no concerns about
the partnership with Button.

"I'm confident that we'll be able to successfully balance and
harness Jenson's and Lewis' complementary skill sets," he said.
"Our engineers are already looking forward to working with
Jenson, and I'm convinced that such a strong and dynamic driver
lineup will make us an even more complete and competitive
operation.

"Now we have to provide Jenson and Lewis with race-winning
machinery."

Hamilton had a difficult third season in Formula One with
McLaren but had a strong last half of the year to finish fifth -
46 points behind Button.

"The results from the second half of 2009 speak for themselves,
and I'm convinced we can carry that momentum through the winter
and into the new season," Hamilton said. "I've been closely
following the development of our 2010 challenger, the MP4-25,
and I think it's going to be a state-of-the-art car that will
enable both of us to consistently fight for victories."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[racing]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135020-F1-champ-Button-teams-up-with-Hamilton-at-McLaren</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/racing/news/135020-F1-champ-Button-teams-up-with-Hamilton-at-McLaren</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:20:56 GMT</pubDate>
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