The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page C2

KENTUCKIANA TRACKS Sportsdrome Speedway NEXT RACE: May 14, 7 p.m., Xtreme Figure 8 Kool TRACK INFORMATION: Adults: $12; children (12 and under): $5. POINT STANDINGS XTREME FIGURE-8 1. Artie Ware6134. Jeff Roberts490 2. Mark Harmon5865.

Chris Harmon489 3. Calvin Crain570 DROMER FIGURE-8 1. Harold Murphy2504. Mike Bivens140 2. John Basham1505.

Ray Ewing95 3. Scott Brown140 OVAL XTREME 1. Terry Williams4404. Scott Burch298 2. Tony Thomas3955.

A. Williams Jr.235 3. T. Brown Jr.317 DROMERS 1. Ricky Rickets1654.

Steve Brading100 2. Travis Rogers1304. Richie Minton100 3. David Palmer124 Salem Speedway NEXT EVENT: May 15, Scott County Visitors Commission Spring Shootout: Late-models, super stocks, street stocks, Dash series. WEB SITE: www.salemspeedway.com.

POINT STANDINGS DASH SERIES 1. Todd Carr1934. Kyle Hatfield186 2. Ron Lasley1895. Don Murray185 3.

Martin Belcher187 SUPER STOCKS 1. Chris French1934. Matt Berg180 2. Will Kimmel1915. Skeeter Crum174 3.

Todd Kempf 187 STREET STOCKS 1. John Collins2024. Brian Bayer176 2. David Bayens1985. Beau Hendrich174 3.

Scott Beeler194 LATE-MODELS 1. Keith Gardiner1954. Brad Craven185 1. Joe Williamson1955. Martin Belcher177 3.

Chuck Barnes Jr.191 Bluegrass NEXT RACE: May 14, Sportsman $300 to Win, Street to Win; Late Models; Modifieds. TRACK INFORMATION: Adults $15; age 6-12 6 under free with a paid adult. Pit passes are $30. Pit gates open at 3p.m., main gates at 4, time trials at 6, first race 7. POINT STANDINGS LATE MODELS 1.

Shannon Babb254. Tim Tungate 18 2. Jimmy Owens225. Rick Combs16 3. Josh Williams20 MODIFIEDS 1.

Robbie Gullion254. Matt Bex18 2. Don Adams225. Dion Benningfield 16 3. Joey Kramer20 SPORTSMAN 1.

Danny Blackwell 254. James Russell18 2. Sam Huffer225. Roger Cecil 16 3. Jimmy Bryan 20 Whatever happened to Sarah Fisher? Fisher, Indy car former golden girl, is living in the back roads of the NASCAR Grand National West series, a West Coast-based division that is the equivalent of Class A baseball.

Her season consists of just 13 races, all on short tracks, with stops in Yakima, and Roseburg, Ore. hoping the experience will pave the way for a ride in Nextel Cup series. Fisher, 24, has found the heavier cars difficult to drive, and none of her three races ended with her smiling. She crashed once in qualifying and another time duringa race. Her average finish is 21.3 among an average of 28.7 cars.

she said. Having abandoned her Indy Racing League career after 48 winless races over parts of six seasons, Fisher insists she is committed to this challenge. She recently sold her waterfront condominium at Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis. Home now is a motor home parked at Cal Expo, site of the California State Fair in Sacramento. believe got a chance to make it if given a good said Richard Childress, who is supplying cars for NASCAR West Series effort.

is a process, and so far doing what it Fisher want to be anywhere else. She turned down a chance to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in a Dreyer Reinbold Racing car because she said participating would send the wrong signal to people helping her stock-car career. would say not serious about this, and I she said. Fisher also has resisted sponsor suggestions to pursue a ride in No.2 division the Busch series because she knows she lacks the experience and confidence. still learning my way around the technique, the braking, letting the car roll she said.

because the there to run Busch mean the right thing to do. got to learn first, and got a lot to learn. I want to look like a moron out NASCAR is monitoring the progression of Fisher, who was the most popular driver three years in a row (2001-03). marketing staff, which is committed to bringing women and minorities to its highest divisions, has hosted her at two Nextel Cup races this year. Still, Fisher often has to provide career highlights to those unaware of what she has accomplished.

have to tell them that girl that ran the Indy 500 for five she said. think cool, and supportive. But they really understand what done. is definitely a different Fisher learning ropes in NASCAR By Curt Cavin The Indianapolis Star Robert Images Former Indy-car driver Sarah Fisher is racing in the NASCAR Grand National West series. InsideAutoRacing THURSDAY MAY 5, 2005 C2 STAT OF THE WEEK The last time a Dodge car won at Darlington was March 17, 2002.

Chevrolet has won four and Pontiac has won once since then. Ford leads the standings with 67 points and five wins, followed by Chevy with 62 and four wins. Dodge has no wins this year. SERIES GLANCES Quick news, notes and numbers: Feds crack down on illegal merchandise A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement task force cracked down on unlicensed and illegal merchandise, seizing 7,100 items worth an estimated $160,000 during last Nextel Cup event at Talladega Superspeedway.

Marc A. Raimondi spokesman for the agency, told The Associated Press that 10 teams of agents, working with state and local law- enforcement officials, impounded everything from T-shirts and hats to a 36-foot vendor truck and trailer. was similar to an operation we ran during the Super Raimondi said. is not mom and pop silk screen stuff, organized injured crewman goes home Josh Yost a crewman on Jeff team, was released from a Birmingham, hospital after being treated for torn ligaments and a severe cut on his right ankle that required 13 stitches. Yost was injured Sunday during the 499 at Talladega Super- speedway when Rusty Wallace hit him during a pit stop.

Michelin might start tire bidding war NASCAR bid adieu to longtime fuel supplier Unocal last season in favor of Sunoco. So could a new tire supplier be in the offing? Goodyear, the exclusive tire manufacturer for NASCAR since 1997, may get in a bidding war with Michelin when its contract expires after the 2007 season. NASCAR officials said they have been contacted by Michelin. Net gambling sites want to sponsor cars When NASCAR lifted the hard liquor sponsorship embargo, did it open a box? The next wave of sponsors pushing to get into the garage are Internet gambling sites, which have approached several teams with big checks but have not yet gotten the green flag from NASCAR. FROM THE HEADSET INDIANAPOLIS Put Tony Stewart behind a steering wheel, and bound to test the limits of aggressiveness.

Swap the wheel for a hammer and nails, and he becomes a softy. In Junethe 2002 NASCAR champion will embark on a project he calls more rewarding than any Victory Lane celebration building playgrounds for children across the United States. not just a break from the track for Stewart, an opportunity to do something more fulfilling. time I do a project like this, I feel he said. you see what the kids do the first time they get on the playground equipment, what makes it all worthwhile.

been 100 percent Stewart seldom shows his softer side in public. Most know him as a NAS- CAR bad boy because of his run- ins with series officials, other drivers and reporters an im- age he may never shed. But take him away from the track, and he becomes a different man. This summer devote some of his rare days off to working for children. Stewart took his charitable efforts to another level in 2003 when he started the Tony Stewart Foundation an organization that donates thousands of dollars to programs including the Victory Junction Gang Camp, Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and organizations designed to help injured race-car drivers.

The rewards started coming in 2004, when NASCAR selected him as its Person of the Year. USA Weekend named Stewart and Kyle Petty Caring The Sporting News gave him the ironic title of Good But Stewart insists his contributions never have been about the glory. good thing is it brings awareness to the groups we support, but never really done it for the publicity or to change my he said. why I tell people. I do it because the right thing to This summerthat means spending hours in the blazing sun with crew members, teammates Bobby Labonte and Jason Leffler and other volunteers to build NASCAR-themed playgrounds in needy communities.

The project, Racing To Play, combines the resources of The Home Depot, primary sponsor of the No.20 Gibbs Racing, Ka- Boom, a nonprofit organization with a seemingly impossible goal putting a playground within walking distance of every child in America. Stewartand others pitchin before drivers start practice at nearby tracks. The kickoff will be June16 at Jackson, near the home of the Michigan 400. Then the Gibbs team will travel to Daytona, Joliet, Indianapolis; Fontana, Richmond, Talladega, Kansas City, Phoenix. By the end of this year, The Home Depot and KaBoom hope to have finished nearly 400 playground projects.

not the first time Stewart and his team have taken on a daunting task. In years pastStewart has worked with team owner Joe Gibbs, the Washington Redskins coach, The Home Depot and Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for needy families. But those projects always come with one caveat no power tools were allowed in hands. never wanted me to work with them because he want me to cut off a finger or Stewart joked. still not sure if that rule will be in place this summer.

Those who know Stewart best, and have a stake in his racing success, believe this is where he does his best work. think it shows the real side of said John Costello, executive vice president for marketing and merchandising at The Home Depot. is a talented racer who also is very interested in helping other Darrell Images In June Tony Stewart will start a project he calls more rewarding than winning races building playgrounds for children across America. Stewart has soft spot for kids Hard-core driver with bad-boy image finds helping others fulfilling By Michael Marot Associated Press time I do a project like this, I feel good. When you see what the kids do the first time they get on the playground equipment, what makes it all worthwhile.

been 100 percent Source: NASCAR Gannett News Service Distance 1.366-mile oval Grandstands 65,000 seats 400.2 miles, 293 laps Pits Turn 2 25 Turn 1 25 Turn 4 23 Turn 3 23 Frontstretch 2 Backstretch 2 Backstretch 1,229 feet Frontstretch 1,229 feet Darlington Raceway THIS NEXTEL CUP TRACK: UPCOMING NEXTEL CUP RACES May American Revolution 400, Richmond, Va. May 600, Concord, N.C. June America 400, Dover, Del. June 500, Long Pond, Pa. June 400, Brooklyn, Mich.

June Save Mart 350, Sonoma, Calif. July 400, Daytona Beach, Fla. July 400, Joliet, Ill. July England 300, Loudon, N.H. July 500, Long Pond, Pa.

Aug. 400, Indianapolis. Nextel Cup NEXT RACE: Saturday, Dodge Charger 500, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. DISTANCE: 500 miles (367 laps). QUALIFYING: 5 p.m.

tomorrow (Speed Channel) TV: Fox-41, 7 p.m. RADIO: WXXA-790. 2004 WINNER: Jimmie Johnson. LAST WEEK: Jeff Gordon fought off challenger after challenger on the way to winning the 499at Talladega. WEB SITE: www.nascar.com.

POINT STANDINGS 1. Jimmie Johnson136811. Mark Martin1066 2. Kurt Busch 123812. J.

Mayfield1064 3. Jeff Gordon121713. Rusty Wallace1057 4. Greg Biffle118114. Carl Edwards1046 5.

Elliott Sadler116415. Ryan Newman1045 6. Tony Stewart108816. Michael Waltrip1036 7. Dale Jarrett108517.

Sterling Marlin1029 8. Kevin Harvick108318. Jeff Burton1013 9. D. Earnhardt Jr.107019.

Scott Riggs934 10. J. McMurray106720. Casey Mears912 Busch Series NEXT RACE: Tomorrow, Diamond Hill Plywood 200, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. DISTANCE: 200 miles (150 laps).

QUALIFYING: 3:30 p.m. tomorrow (Speed Channel) TV: FX, 8 p.m. RADIO: WXXA-790. 2004 WINNER: Greg Biffle. LAST WEEK: Martin Truex, Jr.

won his second consecutive Busch series race at Talladega WEB SITE: www.nascar.com. POINT STANDINGS 1. Carl Edwards148211. David Green1069 2. Clint Bowyer133512.

Greg Biffle1059 3. Reed Sorenson132913. Jason Keller1054 4. Martin Truex Jr.126014. Shane Hmiel986 5.

Ashton Lewis120715. Randy LaJoie957 6. David Stremme115416. Justin Labonte949 7. Kevin Harvick114917.

Stacy Compton914 7. Denny Hamlin114918. Paul Menard890 9. Jon Wood114719. Kasey Kahne880 10.

Kenny Wallace114620. Tim Fedewa838 Craftsman Trucks NEXT RACE: May 15, UAW-GM Ohio 250, Mansfield, Ohio, Mansfield Motorsports Speedway. DISTANCE: 110 miles (250 laps). TV: Speed Channel, 2 p.m. RADIO: WXXA-790.

2004 WINNER: Jack Sprague. LAST WEEK: Ted Musgrave dominated the Dodge Ram 200 from start to finish, leading all but two laps en route to a 0.935-second victory over Dennis Setzer. WEB SITE: www.nascar.com. POINT STANDINGS 1. Ted Musgrave79611.

Jack Sprague606 2. Bobby Hamilton78312. Terry Cook592 3. Ricky Craven74813. David Starr586 4.

Jimmy Spencer74514. Mike Skinner566 5. Todd Bodine67815. Steve Park552 6. R.

Hornaday Jr.66016. Robert Pressley547 7. Dennis Setzer64817. Rob. Huffman542 8.

Johnny Benson64318. D. Reutimann532 9. Chad Chaffin63319. Rick Crawford517 10.

Matt Crafton63120. Bill Lester508 ARCA NEXT RACE: May 14, Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150, Kentucky Speedway. LAST WEEK: Idle. WEB SITE: www.arcaracing.com. POINT STANDINGS 1.

Frank Kimmel6256. Norm Benning450 2. Joey Miller6207. Todd Bowsher435 3. Ken Weaver5558.

Mark Gibson390 4. Chad Blount5408. C. McCumbee390 5. T.J.

Bell45510. Joe Cooksey365 Formula One NEXT RACE: Sunday, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Circuit of Catalunya (road course, 2.937 miles). DISTANCE: 193.842 miles (66 laps). QUALIFYING: 7 a.m. Saturday (Speed Channel) and 4 a.m.

Sunday (Speed Channel, noon, tape). TV: CBS-32, 1p.m., delayed (race starts at 8 a.m. EDT). 2004 WINNER: Michael Schumacher. LAST WEEK: Fernando Alonso held off Michael Schumacher by 0.2 seconds to win the San Marino Grand Prix for his third straight victory and fourth in a row for Renault.

WEB SITE: www.formula1.com. POINT STANDINGS 1. Fernando Alonso 366. D. Coulthard9 2.

Jarno Trulli186. R. Barrichello8 3. G. Fisichella108.

J.P. Montoya8 3. M. Schumacher109. K.

Raikkonen7 3. R. Schumacher109. Mark Webber7 Champ Car World Series NEXT RACE: May 22, Monterrey, Mexico. LAST WEEK: Idle.

WEB SITE: www.champcarworld series.com. POINT STANDINGS 1. S. Bourdais346. Timo Glock19 2.

Paul Tracy297. Ronnie Bremer18 3. Bruno Junqueira27 8. A.J. Allmendinger 15 4.

Justin Wilson249. Jimmy Vasser14 5. M. Dominguez2210. Crist.

de Matta11 IRL IndyCar Series NEXT RACE: Indianapolis 500, May 29, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. DISTANCE: 500 miles, 200 laps. 2004 WINNER: Buddy Rice. LAST WEEK: Dan Wheldon became the first IndyCar Series driver to win three of the first four races of a season. WEB SITE: www.indyracing.com.

POINT STANDINGS 1. Dan Wheldon1846. Scott Sharp99 2. Tony Kanaan1387. D.

Manning98 3. Sam Hornish Jr.1318. Vitor Meira96 4. Bryan Herta1049. Dario Franchitti95 5.

H. Castroneves10110. P. Carpenter89 NHRA NEXT EVENT: Southern Nationals, May 15, Commerce, Ga. LAST WEEK: Gary Scelzi raced to his first Funny Car victory of the season and 30th overall last week, beating Jeff Arend in the final of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Doug Kalitta earned his 21st career Top Fuel victory to move into the series lead. WEB SITE: www.nhra.com. POINT STANDINGS TOP FUEL 1. Doug Kalitta4744. Morgan Lucas370 2.

T. Schumacher4515. David Grubnic366 3. Larry Dixon405 FUNNY CAR 1. Whit Bazemore4334.

Gary Scelzi 370 2. John Force3755. Robert Hight360 3. Cruz Pedregon373 PRO STOCK 1. Warren Johnson5364.

Greg Anderson365 2. Dave Connolly4865. Ron Krisher316 3. Jason Line379 PRO STOCK BIKE 1. Steve Johnson1854.

GT Tonglet131 2. Karen Stoffer1835. Andrew Hines115 3. Craig Treble144.