Commerce City has been dropped as a potential site for a NASCAR racetrack, making opponents happy and bringing hope to other possible sites - including Aurora.
The International Speedway Corp. said Wednesday in a letter to Commerce City Mayor Paul Natale that sites in other cities have emerged as better overall opportunities for the racetrack.

A few weeks ago, I reported in this column that Brian France and other NASCAR Party members spent a week in Communist China to “discuss possible projects with government, sports, and business officials in Beijing.” Well, it appears that Brian had some good discussions.

Bill Elliott and the Wood Brothers racing team are giving long-time Ford fans something to celebrate next week in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Elliott has agreed to come out of his semi-retirement to drive the Wood’s famous #21 Ford.

It might be difficult to see a ride better than with Roger Penske, one of the most famous names in racing. But Ryan Newman’s name is suddenly out in the rumor mill.

Sales of Dale Earnhardt Jr. merchandise has skyrocketed 107 percent in the week since NASCAR’s most popular driver said he was leaving his late father’s company at the end of the season.

The #12 Alltel Dodge team led by crew chief Mike Nelson won the third annual Nextel Pit-Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman in a thrilling all-Dodge final. The team edged the #43 Cheerios Dodge team led by Paul Andrews by .33 seconds to grab the championship and the $70,300 prize.

The Toyota teams competing in all-star weekend activities at Lowe’s Motor Speedway won’t have different engines than they’ve had so far this year, but they will have a new combination in their engines aimed at helping them compete better. Lee White, senior vice president for Toyota Racing Development, said Wednesday that the changes are [...]

The classic battle between Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott at the Winston in 1987:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4y7MJfeIs[/youtube]

The task facing Joe Nemechek is quite simple. He will need to win the 30-lap preliminary race to gain a berth in the ensuing big show — the Nextel All Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The name for Saturday night’s qualifying race — the Nextel Open — doesn’t have the right “kick” to it, according [...]