GFS Marketplace 400 (Michigan) Info

[Unklescott]

Entry List
Car Driver Hometown Make Sponsor Owner
#0 Ward Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet NetZero HiSpeed Gene Haas
#01 Joe Nemechek Lakeland, FL Chevrolet U.S. Army Nelson Bowers
#2 Rusty Wallace St. Louis, MO Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske
#02 Hermie Sadler Emporia, VA Chevrolet Zapf Creation Angela Sadler
#4 Jimmy Spencer Berwick, PA Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Larry McClure
#5 Terry Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Chevrolet Kellogg's/Delphi Rick Hendrick
#6 Mark Martin Batesville, AR Ford Pfizer/Batman Jack Roush
#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Budweiser Teresa Earnhardt
#9 Kasey Kahne* Enumclaw, WA Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW Ray Evernham
#09 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Nashville, TN Dodge Phoenix Racing James Finch
#10 Scott Riggs* Bahama, NC Chevrolet Valvoline James Rocco
#11 J.J. Yeley Phoenix, AZ Chevrolet Vigoro/The Home Depot J D Gibbs
#12 Ryan Newman South Bend, IN Dodge Justice League/ALLTEL Roger Penske
#15 Michael Waltrip Owensboro, KY Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts Teresa Earnhardt
#16 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford National Guard Geoff Smith
#17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford DeWalt Power Tools Mark Martin
#18 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL Joe Gibbs
#19 Jeremy Mayfield Owensboro, KY Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW Ray Evernham
#20 Tony Stewart Rushville, IN Chevrolet The Home Depot Joe Gibbs
#21 Ricky Rudd Chesapeake, VA Ford Motorcraft/U.S. Air Force Glen Wood
#22 Scott Wimmer* Wausau, WI Dodge Caterpillar Bill Davis
#24 Jeff Gordon Pittsboro, IN Chevrolet DuPont Rick Hendrick
#25 Brian Vickers* Thomasville, NC Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services Joe Hendrick
#29 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Richard Childress
#30 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet America Online Richard Childress
#31 Robby Gordon Cerritos, CA Chevrolet Cingular Wireless Richard Childress
#32 Ricky Craven Newburgh, ME Chevrolet Tide Calvin Wells
#38 Elliott Sadler Emporia, VA Ford M&M's Robert Yates
#40 Sterling Marlin Columbia, TN Dodge Coors Light Felix Sabates
#41 Casey Mears Bakersfield, CA Dodge Target Chip Ganassi
#42 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Dodge Texaco/Havoline Floyd Ganassi
#43 Jeff Green Owensboro, KY Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker Richard L Petty
#45 Kyle Petty Randleman, NC Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Kyle Petty
#48 Jimmie Johnson Los Gatos, CA Chevrolet Lowe's Jeff Gordon
#49 Ken Schrader Fenton, MO Dodge Schwan's Home Service Elizabeth Morgenthau
#50 Todd Bodine Chemung, NY Dodge Arnold Development Companies Don Arnold
#77 Brendan Gaughan* Las Vegas, NV Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines Douglas Bawel
#84 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Chevrolet CARQUEST Rick Hendrick
#88 Dale Jarrett Hickory, NC Ford UPS Robert Yates
#89 Morgan Shepherd Conover, NC Dodge Racing With Jesus/Red Line Oil Cindy Shepherd
#97 Kurt Busch Las Vegas, NV Ford IRWIN Industrial Tools/Sharpie Georgetta Roush
#99 Carl Edwards Joplin, MO Ford Green Lantern Jack Roush
#100 Kenny Wallace St. Louis, MO Chevrolet Aaron's Elizabeth Waltrip
#113 Greg Sacks Mattituck, NY Dodge ARC Dehooker/Vita Coco James Wilsberg
#133 Kerry Earnhardt Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops Richard Childress
#135 Kenny Hendrick Chino, CA Chevrolet Gary Keller Racing Gary Keller
#172 Kirk Shelmerdine Winston-Salem, NC Ford Freddie B's Kirk Shelmerdine
#179 TBA1 No Home Town Chevrolet Weld Mold/SBC John Conely
#198 Derrike Cope Spanaway, WA Ford Mach One Inc. William Edwards
#251 Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT Chevrolet NegotiationsSeminar.com Joe Auer
#280 Carl Long Roxboro, NC Ford Hover Motorsports Stanton Hover
______________________________ ______________________________ _____

Some interesting names in the 51 entered:
#09 Bobby Hamilton Jr.
#11 J.J. Yeley Phoenix, AZ
#113 Greg Sacks (good to see him back after his accident a few years ago)
#133 Kerry Earnhardt
#135 Kenny Hendrick
#179 TBA1 No Home Town WTH ?

[football_chick]

#179 TBA1 No Home Town WTH ?

Ya...that is weird!

[veejer]

My husband and 12-year old son are going to this race, their first NASCAR race. My son has been a huge Bobby Labonte fan since he was 6 or 7 and is very excited.

[glennajo]

My husband and 12-year old son are going to this race, their first NASCAR race. My son has been a huge Bobby Labonte fan since he was 6 or 7 and is very excited.

They'll have so much fun at the race! There's nothing quite like being there in person to see one. The sound of the engines, the smell of the fuel... wish I was going!

My husband and I have gone to the Bristol night race for the past few years, but don't get to go this year. We did get tickets for Martinsville, though.

[Unklescott]

Rank Car Driver Make Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 192.761 37.352 Leader
2 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite 191.128 37.671 -0.319
3 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 191.088 37.679 -0.327
4 #97 Kurt Busch Ford Sharpie/Superman 191.063 37.684 -0.332
5 #16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard/The Flash 191.037 37.689 -0.337
6 #25 Brian Vickers* Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services 191.017 37.693 -0.341
7 #9 Kasey Kahne* Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 191.012 37.694 -0.342
8 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL 191.007 37.695 -0.343
9 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 190.911 37.714 -0.362
10 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 190.779 37.740 -0.388
11 #11 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet Vigoro/The Home Depot 190.537 37.788 -0.436
12 #6 Mark Martin Ford Pfizer/Batman 190.295 37.836 -0.484
13 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge Justice League/ALLTEL 190.074 37.880 -0.528
14 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts 190.044 37.886 -0.534
15 #31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 189.733 37.948 -0.596
16 #30 Jeff Burton Chevrolet America Online 189.499 37.995 -0.643
17 #77 Brendan Gaughan* Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines 189.424 38.010 -0.658
18 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 189.404 38.014 -0.662
19 #41 Casey Mears Dodge Target 189.294 38.036 -0.684
20 #0 Ward Burton Chevrolet NetZero HiSpeed 189.225 38.050 -0.698
21 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot/USA Olympics 188.961 38.103 -0.751
22 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools 188.902 38.115 -0.763
23 #32 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Tide 188.659 38.164 -0.812
24 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 188.556 38.185 -0.833
25 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft/Wonder Woman 188.472 38.202 -0.850
26 #10 Scott Riggs* Chevrolet Valvoline 188.388 38.219 -0.867
27 #43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker 188.353 38.226 -0.874
28 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 188.304 38.236 -0.884
29 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 188.304 38.236 -0.884
30 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service 188.211 38.255 -0.903
31 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny 188.201 38.257 -0.905
32 #22 Scott Wimmer* Dodge Caterpillar 188.073 38.283 -0.931
33 #84 Kyle Busch Chevrolet CARQUEST 187.642 38.371 -1.019
34 #50 Todd Bodine Dodge Arnold Development Companies 187.617 38.376 -1.024
35 #5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Kellogg's/Delphi 186.833 38.537 -1.185
36 #251 Kevin Lepage Chevrolet Marathon Oil 186.645 38.576 -1.224
37 #100 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Aaron's 186.437 38.619 -1.267
38 #4 Jimmy Spencer Chevrolet Lucas Oil Products 186.388 38.629 -1.277
39 #133 Kerry Earnhardt Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker 186.109 38.687 -1.335
40 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Green Lantern 186.013 38.707 -1.355
41 #09 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Dodge Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts 185.629 38.787 -1.435
42 #42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Texaco/Havoline 185.252 38.866 -1.514
43 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light 184.943 38.931 -1.579
44 #02 Hermie Sadler Chevrolet Zapf Creation 183.979 39.135 -1.783
45 #280 Carl Long Ford Commercial Truck & Trailer 182.922 39.361 -2.009
46 #135 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Gary Keller Racing 181.763 39.612 -2.260
47 #137 Stanton Barrett Dodge Carter's Royal Dispos-all 180.239 39.947 -2.595
48 #198 Derrike Cope Ford America's Most Wanted 179.207 40.177 -2.825
49 #172 Kirk Shelmerdine Ford Freddie B's 172.965 41.627 -4.275

[Unklescott]

RAIN OUT Starting Position Based on Owner Points
Pos. Car Driver Make Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's N/A N/A N/A
2 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont N/A N/A N/A
3 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser N/A N/A N/A
4 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot/USA Olympics N/A N/A N/A
5 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools N/A N/A N/A
6 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's N/A N/A N/A
7 #97 Kurt Busch Ford Sharpie/Superman N/A N/A N/A
8 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench N/A N/A N/A
9 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL N/A N/A N/A
10 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW N/A N/A N/A
11 #9 Kasey Kahne* Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW N/A N/A N/A
12 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge Justice League/ALLTEL N/A N/A N/A
13 #6 Mark Martin Ford Pfizer/Batman N/A N/A N/A
14 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS N/A N/A N/A
15 #42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Texaco/Havoline N/A N/A N/A
16 #41 Casey Mears Dodge Target N/A N/A N/A
17 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts N/A N/A N/A
18 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite N/A N/A N/A
19 #31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Cingular Wireless N/A N/A N/A
20 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light N/A N/A N/A
21 #5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Kellogg's/Delphi N/A N/A N/A
22 #25 Brian Vickers* Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services N/A N/A N/A
23 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Green Lantern N/A N/A N/A
24 #16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard/The Flash N/A N/A N/A
25 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army N/A N/A N/A
26 #22 Scott Wimmer* Dodge Caterpillar N/A N/A N/A
27 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft/Wonder Woman N/A N/A N/A
28 #30 Jeff Burton Chevrolet America Online N/A N/A N/A
29 #0 Ward Burton Chevrolet NetZero HiSpeed N/A N/A N/A
30 #77 Brendan Gaughan* Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines N/A N/A N/A
31 #10 Scott Riggs* Chevrolet Valvoline N/A N/A N/A
32 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny N/A N/A N/A
33 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service N/A N/A N/A
34 #43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker N/A N/A N/A
35 #32 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Tide N/A N/A N/A
36 #50 Todd Bodine Dodge Arnold Development Companies N/A N/A N/A
37 #172 Kirk Shelmerdine Ford Freddie B's N/A N/A N/A
38 #4 Jimmy Spencer Chevrolet Lucas Oil Products N/A N/A N/A
39 #198 Derrike Cope Ford America's Most Wanted N/A N/A N/A
40 #89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Racing With Jesus/Red Line Oil N/A N/A N/A
41 #09 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Dodge Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts N/A N/A N/A
42 #02 Hermie Sadler Chevrolet Zapf Creation N/A N/A N/A
43 #280 Carl Long Ford Commercial Truck & Trailer N/A N/A N/A

Did not Qualify
44 #251 Kevin Lepage Chevrolet Marathon Oil - - -
45 #133 Kerry Earnhardt Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker - - -
46 #84 Kyle Busch Chevrolet CARQUEST - - -
47 #100 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Aaron's - - -
48 #11 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet Vigoro/The Home Depot - - -
49 #135 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Gary Keller Racing - - -
50 #179 Stan Boyd Chevrolet Weld Mold/SBC - - -
51 #137 Stanton Barrett Dodge Carter's Royal Dispos-all - - -
______________________________ ______________________________ _____
That's a shame for some of these guys. I would like to have seen Earnhardt & Kenny Wallace in the field.

[Unklescott]

Rank Car Driver Make Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 188.487 38.199 Leader
2 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 188.393 38.218 -0.019
3 #25 Brian Vickers* Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services 188.294 38.238 -0.039
4 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 188.275 38.242 -0.043
5 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 188.245 38.248 -0.049
6 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools 188.073 38.283 -0.084
7 #6 Mark Martin Ford Pfizer/Batman 187.999 38.298 -0.099
8 #42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Texaco/Havoline 187.990 38.300 -0.101
9 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL 187.960 38.306 -0.107
10 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite 187.882 38.322 -0.123
11 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 187.833 38.332 -0.133
12 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge Justice League/ALLTEL 187.740 38.351 -0.152
13 #16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard/The Flash 187.529 38.394 -0.195
14 #30 Jeff Burton Chevrolet America Online 187.422 38.416 -0.217
15 #97 Kurt Busch Ford Sharpie/Superman 187.329 38.435 -0.236
16 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 187.281 38.445 -0.246
17 #41 Casey Mears Dodge Target 187.193 38.463 -0.264
18 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 187.130 38.476 -0.277
19 #9 Kasey Kahne* Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 186.901 38.523 -0.324
20 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts 186.746 38.555 -0.356
21 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 186.442 38.618 -0.419
22 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Green Lantern 186.316 38.644 -0.445
23 #77 Brendan Gaughan* Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines 186.181 38.672 -0.473
24 #31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 186.152 38.678 -0.479
25 #22 Scott Wimmer* Dodge Caterpillar 185.859 38.739 -0.540
26 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light 185.548 38.804 -0.605
27 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service 185.405 38.834 -0.635
28 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft/Wonder Woman 185.366 38.842 -0.643
29 #10 Scott Riggs* Chevrolet Valvoline 185.314 38.853 -0.654
30 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot/USA Olympics 185.309 38.854 -0.655
31 #5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Kellogg's/Delphi 185.104 38.897 -0.698
32 #09 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Dodge Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts 185.052 38.908 -0.709
33 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny 184.696 38.983 -0.784
34 #43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker 184.549 39.014 -0.815
35 #50 Todd Bodine Dodge Arnold Development Companies 184.521 39.020 -0.821
36 #0 Ward Burton Chevrolet NetZero HiSpeed 184.332 39.060 -0.861
37 #32 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Tide 183.645 39.206 -1.007
38 #4 Jimmy Spencer Chevrolet Lucas Oil Products 182.136 39.531 -1.332
39 #280 Carl Long Ford Commercial Truck & Trailer 179.457 40.121 -1.922
40 #89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Racing With Jesus/Red Line Oil 179.395 40.135 -1.936
41 #02 Hermie Sadler Chevrolet Zapf Creation 179.278 40.161 -1.962
42 #198 Derrike Cope Ford America's Most Wanted 178.055 40.437 -2.238
43 #172 Kirk Shelmerdine Ford Freddie B's 176.289 40.842 -2.643

[Unklescott]

Rank Car Driver Make Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 187.539 38.392 Leader
2 #9 Kasey Kahne* Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 187.295 38.442 -0.050
3 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite 187.222 38.457 -0.065
4 #97 Kurt Busch Ford Sharpie/Superman 186.906 38.522 -0.130
5 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 186.770 38.550 -0.158
6 #6 Mark Martin Ford Pfizer/Batman 186.751 38.554 -0.162
7 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 186.572 38.591 -0.199
8 #30 Jeff Burton Chevrolet America Online 186.345 38.638 -0.246
9 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 186.316 38.644 -0.252
10 #25 Brian Vickers* Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services 186.287 38.650 -0.258
11 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts 186.263 38.655 -0.263
12 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft/Wonder Woman 186.124 38.684 -0.292
13 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL 186.114 38.686 -0.294
14 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 185.970 38.716 -0.324
15 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 185.970 38.716 -0.324
16 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 185.644 38.784 -0.392
17 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Green Lantern 185.577 38.798 -0.406
18 #16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard/The Flash 185.572 38.799 -0.407
19 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 185.371 38.841 -0.449
20 #77 Brendan Gaughan* Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines 185.323 38.851 -0.459
21 #42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Texaco/Havoline 185.123 38.893 -0.501
22 #10 Scott Riggs* Chevrolet Valvoline 185.066 38.905 -0.513
23 #43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker 185.023 38.914 -0.522
24 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light 184.895 38.941 -0.549
25 #5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Kellogg's/Delphi 184.819 38.957 -0.565
26 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot/USA Olympics 184.786 38.964 -0.572
27 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools 184.540 39.016 -0.624
28 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge Justice League/ALLTEL 184.483 39.028 -0.636
29 #0 Ward Burton Chevrolet NetZero HiSpeed 184.096 39.110 -0.718
30 #22 Scott Wimmer* Dodge Caterpillar 183.852 39.162 -0.770
31 #41 Casey Mears Dodge Target 183.819 39.169 -0.777
32 #09 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Dodge Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts 183.683 39.198 -0.806
33 #32 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Tide 183.580 39.220 -0.828
34 #4 Jimmy Spencer Chevrolet Lucas Oil Products 183.402 39.258 -0.866
35 #50 Todd Bodine Dodge Arnold Development Companies 183.201 39.301 -0.909
36 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service 183.006 39.343 -0.951
37 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny 182.992 39.346 -0.954
38 #31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 182.496 39.453 -1.061
39 #02 Hermie Sadler Chevrolet Zapf Creation 181.077 39.762 -1.370
40 #280 Carl Long Ford Commercial Truck & Trailer 178.758 40.278 -1.886
41 #89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Racing With Jesus/Red Line Oil 178.594 40.315 -1.923
42 #198 Derrike Cope Ford America's Most Wanted 177.187 40.635 -2.243

[Unklescott]

http://aolsvc.sports.aol.nascar.com/...win/index.html
THOMPSON, Conn. (AP) -- Race car driver Tom Baldwin was killed in a crash at Thompson International Speedway during a Featherlite modified race.

Baldwin, 57, of Moriches, N.Y., is the father of Tommy Baldwin Jr., the crew chief for Nextel Cup rookie star Kasey Kahne. The elder Baldwin died at Hubbard Hospital in Webster, Mass., after Thursday night's accident.

Tommy Baldwin Sr. tried to avoid a collision with several cars coming out of a turn, state police said. His car went into the infield and struck three cement blocks near a light post.

State police said Baldwin's car was struck by a second car, driven by Ronald Silk, that had gone out of control and ended up in the infield. The 150-lap NASCAR race was postponed after 10 laps because of the accident and late hour.

Police said they would work in with NASCAR officials in the investigation. Both vehicles were taken to the state police barracks in Danielson.

______________________________ ______________________________ _____

Baldwin says father would want him to stay

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Tommy Baldwin will be stationed atop the pit box Sunday during the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, directing Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 crew as usual.

Baldwin said he'd already taken care of the necessary arrangements leading into the early portion of next week, so his father would want him to stay at the track and remain focused on the task at hand.

"I feel like my Dad would be pretty mad if I left and didn't finish doing what I've got to do," Baldwin said Saturday afternoon. "He was a racer and he didn't really want to do anything but race.

"He'd be pretty disappointed if I went home right now. There's nothing to do.

"His body won't be getting back until tomorrow to Long Island. He's standing up there watching, and he's going to push for us. Hopefully we can get a win for him."

That's highly likely. Kahne finished second here in June, and was making a furious charge on race leader and eventual-winner Ryan Newman when the caution flew on the final lap. Kahne also posted the second-fastest lap during Happy Hour practice.

"We're trying to accomplish a lot of things for the team," Baldwin said. "My dad has been one of our biggest supporters through thick and thin here.

"From all the conversations I've had with him, he's first worried about what he's got to do with his modified (car) and his next step was what we were doing on the Cup car. It'll be big (to win).

"It'll be good to get one for him. Obviously our main concern and our thoughts are with my Dad. It really probably hasn't hit me yet. I'm just trying to maintain right now and trying to just do what I need to do. We'll probably have a couple bad days after tomorrow."

Baldwin said the next plan of action is to go back to Long Island and determine how to ensure continued operation of Tom Sr's auto repair shop.

"We'll go back home and work on his business and try to keep that going, put a good plan together for that and try to keep his legacy alive," Tommy said. "(My father) really was a superstar in a lot of people's minds in this garage, and that's pretty touching."

Indeed. Tom Sr. provided racing educations for many in the Nextel Cup garage.

"He touched a lot of people in here," Baldwin said. "A lot of people that have touched the NASCAR world think a lot of him, and that means a lot to me.

"That means he did his job. He was an ornery man, but he was ornery because he cared so much. He cared about all his customers' vehicles at the repair shop, wanted no problems there.

"He cared about his racecar and his race team. He was a hard dude to work with, but he taught so many. I bet you there's probably 30, 35 people in this NASCAR garage that have touched his racecar over the years, worked on it, and that says a lot. He's taught a lot of people in this garage, about life and about repairing cars, back home."

Baldwin said any contributions or donations should be sent to the Victory Junction Gang in Tom Sr.'s memory.

"It's awfully hard for the family," he said. "It's going to be tough not seeing him around. He's been my mentor for a lot of years, and he taught me everything I know or I wouldn't be here. He was my best friend, on top of being my Dad.

"We appreciate all the support. My Dad enjoyed his life thoroughly. Those (Victory Junction) kids, going to that camp through the week and having a blast, maybe my Dad with this tragedy can touch some more hearts."
______________________________ ______________________________ _____

I'm sure this is going to be tough on Tommy this weekend.

[glennajo]

How sad. I don't think I'd be able to stay and do my job if my father had just died. Hopefully they have a good race tomorrow.