Earnhardt stumps for track in Washington
The biggest name in NASCAR used his one-evening cameo in Seattle this week as an opportunity to amplify the need for building a racetrack in Washington state.
But Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not stopping here.
“I’ve always just wanted to race everywhere I could, as many places as I could,” said the 31-year-old driver. “I hope there comes a day when we have one race at each track and we’re racing all over the place.”
As in, beyond the Northwest.
“I think we should be racing up in Canada a little bit. Mexico is an opportunity. Maybe South America a little bit,” Earnhardt said.
Earnhardt took part in a “One Night Stand” event before a few thousand race fans Thursday at The Paramount Theatre. He flew from his home in Charlotte, N.C., to Seattle in the afternoon, then flew on a private jet a few hours later to Sonoma, Calif., to race in this weekend’s Dodge/Save Mart 350.
At Sonoma on Friday, Kurt Busch won the pole with a lap of 93.055 mph, followed by Jamie McMurray at 92.948.
• A NASCAR team owner accused of defrauding the government of more than $20 million in taxes has been released on $10 million bail.
Gene Haas, the 54-year-old owner of Oxnard-based Haas Automation and NASCAR’s Haas CNC Racing, was arrested Monday for investigation of conspiracy, filing false tax returns and witness intimidation.
IRL qualifying canceled
A thunderstorm washed out qualifying for the Indy Racing League’s SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and series points leader Helio Castroneves was awarded the pole position.
Castroneves got the pole based on combined practice speeds from two sessions earlier in the day. He averaged 173.472 mph over 75 laps.
Benson repeats in trucks
After winning his first career NASCAR Craftsman Trucks series race last week, Johnny Benson made it two in a row with a victory in the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at West Allis, Wis.
Benson, who won at Michigan International Speedway last Saturday, drove his Toyota past Ron Hornaday Jr. with 41 laps to go at the Milwaukee Mile, then held off Hornaday on a restart with 25 laps to go for the victory.