Nextel News - Homestead-Miami Speedway

Nov. 15, 2005 - Homestead-Miami Speedway
 
Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup 
Key Dates to Keep in Mind

 
Race weekend
 

A   Nov. 17 - Championship Weekend Press Conference at 12:00 p.m. EST
A   Nov. 18 - Nextel Wake-Up Call at 10:00 a.m. EST with Rick Hendrick, J.D. Gibbs, Jack Roush and Ray Evernham
A   Nov. 18 - Have a Scoop with Ricky at 6:30 p.m. EST
A   Nov. 19 - Bud Pole Qualifying at 1:10 p.m. EST (Impound)
A   Nov. 20 - Ford 400 at 4:10 p.m. EST (267 laps/400.5 miles)


Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Media Opportunities
*      Nextel Wake-Up Call
On Friday, Nov. 18, at 10:00 a.m. EST, the Nextel Wake-Up Call will feature J.D. Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Ray Evernham and Jack Roush for a question-and-answer session. Breakfast will be served at 9:00 a.m. in the media center.
*      Championship Weekend Press Conference
Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will partake in the FORD CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND CONTENDERS PRESS CONFERENCE PREVIEWING THE NASCAR NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE at Hotel Sofitel in Miami on Thursday, Nov. 17, from noon-2 p.m. (lunch will be served at noon). Please RSVP by calling (305) 230-5249 or emailing    PR@homesteadmiamispeedway.com.
 
*      Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Driver Availability 
The following driver will be available this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway for a question-and-answer session.  It is slated to take place behind his respective team hauler and is subject to change.
 
Friday
10:15 a.m. - Carl Edwards, No. 99 Office Depot Ford
( back <> )

Nextel FanZone
*      2005 Nextel Race to the Chase Sweepstakes Fueled by Sunoco
We are excited to be crowning the winner of the 2005 Nextel Race to the Chase Sweepstakes fueled by Sunoco in Miami during NBC's national broadcast of the Ford 400. The winner, who correctly selected the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion, will receive $250,000 and more than 9,000 gallons of quality Sunoco* gasoline. As a sweepstakes finalist, the winner traveled to a Chase track earlier this season, met a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver and enjoyed VIP treatment throughout the weekend.  
*      Ford and Nextel Race to the Dream Sweepstakes Winner
For Richard Fraser, winning on the racetrack is just the beginning of the Ultimate Fan Experience.  Fraser, from Bangor, Maine, is the winner of the "Race to the Dream" Ultimate Fan Experience after out-driving eight other contestants over a three-day driving experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 
 
As part of the grand-prize, Fraser will receive VIP treatment during the upcoming Ford Championship Weekend at the track. Among other activities, Fraser will drop the green flag for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ford 200, and receive VIP all-access passes to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Ford 400, where he will view the start of the race from atop the NEXTEL Vision Deck located behind pit road, will serve as an honorary crew member with Ricky Rudd's No. 21 Motorcraft Genuine Parts team, and join VIPs on stage for the presentation of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup to the 2005 Series Champion.
*      Sprint Nextel Community Initiative Concludes at Homestead
Sprint Nextel has partnered with three nonprofit youth organizations to raise money for the groups through unique designs featured on the hood of the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup show car at each of the final three races. The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Hood Program launched at Texas and will conclude this weekend at Homestead. 
o        Victory Junction Gang Camp camper Kayla Rose designed a heart on wheels for the hood, which will be displayed this weekend at Homestead. Rose, 15, of Highpoint, N.C., was diagnosed with a heart condition several years ago. A scaled-down version of this hood will be autographed by the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion and will be available on eBay Nov. 28 to Dec. 5. 
o        A brother and sister team -- Michael, 8, and Lisa Gilliland, 6, from Plano, Texas  -- drew a Texas-themed hood to benefit Speedway Children's Charities in Fort Worth, Texas. A scaled-down version of the hood was autographed by Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Office Depot Ford and winner of the Dickies 500. 
o        The student governing council of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), comprised of approximately 15 high-school students, created a hood with the message "We only smoke the competition" for last weekend's race in Phoenix. A scaled-down version of the hood was autographed by rookie Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet and winner of the Checker Auto Parts 500 and is available for bidding on eBay until Nov. 21. 
 
(back) <>   

Racing Tidbits
*      Ricky Rudd set to celebrate 25 years of consecutive starts
On Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m., Sprint Nextel, Ford and Motorcraft will honor Ricky Rudd for 25 years of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series consecutive starts. Please join us at the beach in the driver/owner lot at Homestead-Miami Speedway to honor this racing veteran.  Credentials can be obtained on Nov. 18 from a member of the Sprint Nextel PR team; Marti Rompf, PR representative for the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford; or Dan Zacharias, Ford PR representative.
*      Nextel Leader Bonus         $80,000 
Last chance in 2005 to win the Nextel Leader Bonus which now totals $80,000. Tony Stewart and the No. 20 Home Depot team are poised to win the Nextel Leader Bonus if they maintain the points lead and take home the checkered flag.  
(back) <> 

2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony
*      Flair for the Dramatic
Sprint Nextel is gearing up to make this year's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony the most interactive yet for the fans, including allowing subscribers to vote for the 2005 Most Dramatic Moment on their mobile phone. Voting will begin the day after the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion is crowned, Nov. 21, and end during the NNCS Awards Ceremony, on Dec. 2.  Look for more information in the coming weeks and contact Joel Shadle   with any questions.
 
*      Sprint Nextel Media Center Hours; Norse Suite at the Waldorf=Astoria (subject to change)
Tuesday, Nov. 29: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
*      2005 Awards Ceremony Schedule (subject to change)
Tuesday, Nov. 29
3:00 p.m.: New York Fire Department: Fire Academy
Wednesday, Nov. 30
9:30 a.m.: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Victory Lap presented by Sprint
Thursday, Dec. 1
9:30 a.m.: New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell
11:00 a.m.: Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Luncheon
3:00 p.m.: Times Square Photo Shoot
4:30 p.m.: 6:00 p.m. - Ronald McDonald House Visit
Friday, Dec. 2
8:30 a.m.: NMPA Myers' Brothers Breakfast
7:00 p.m.: 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Ceremony
For more information regarding the 2005 Awards Ceremony schedule, please contact Crystal Carraway  .



© 2005 Sprint Nextel Corporation

Hot Topics

Weather Forecast For Miami, FL
11/18 Sunny, 79*
11/19 Mostly Sunny, 80*  
11/20 Mostly Cloudy, 80*
*According to weather.com

Chase Tracker Leaders
Kenny Bruce, 164
Jason Christley, 157
Ryan Smithson, 141
Wendy Watts, 134
For more information on the Chase Tracker, please contact Kurt Culbert  .

2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Points Standings

Tony Stewart
0

Jimmie Johnson
-52

Carl Edwards
-87

Greg Biffle
-102

Mark Martin
-162

Ryan Newman
-207

Matt Kenseth
-228

Rusty Wallace 
-399

Kurt Busch 
-441

Jeremy Mayfield
-476