The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 33

The Charlotte Observer charlotteobservercom SPORTS Wednesday May 19 2010 7C PIT CREW from 1C ical experience in the racing business Once I got a break I called my doctor to set up an appointment When I left the office I loaded up my mountain bike and hit the lake trails After riding the trails I headed to house to pick up my kids Wednesday April 7 5:15 am: A friend called to ask if I would make some body panels for his modified race car During my lunch hour I used the old panels for patterns and made the new panels I met with three or four guys with whom I work to begin discussing the schedule for a charity event we began this year We held the first Tour de Lila a bikerunwalk to raise money to help the family of a 5-year-old little girl with trifunctional protein deficiency pay for the generator she needs to keep all of her medical equipment running As the afternoon rolled around so did practice and training Once practice was it was time to ride again Today 183 miles was the distanced covered Thursday April 8 5:15 am: Our practicetraining time is scheduled for 10 am and training is going to involve activity at the YMCA for most of the crew members The first of the week is usually drill work to get the heart rate up and the end of the week is more athletic activities When practice was finished I got on my bicycle once again Today I wanted to ride 25 miles or more After playtime back at home I sat down with the kids to explain my work schedule for the weekend Since the Cup race is Saturday night and in Phoenix this weekend we are flying out Friday morning Friday April 9 4:30 am: Wow early! I walk into Jon Wallace sheds his duties in the chassis shop on race day to handle carrying the front grille clean of debris GREGG ELLMAN HHP the front tires He also must keep An invocation the national anthem and our team prayer begin each race As the green flag falls time to rely upon our training After the race we pack up the pit box and head to the airplane for the flight home Three hours 50 minutes later our flight arrives safely in Concord at 5:10 am I pull into my house in Winston-Salem at 6:30 am and crawl into bed Haung my wonderful kids wake me up Sunday afternoon signals much-desired time with my family Going to bed Sunday night means the cycle will repeat at 5 am Monday the airport terminal at 8:15 am My co-workers and I arc told we can get on the plane but are called back before we get onboard A hydraulic brake line had broken and leaked fluid Now we had to wait for another plane for at least 1 'A hours Some of the crew went to eat breakfast Now 11:15 am and we just got the message to report to the plane in 25 minutes At 2:50 pm we landed in Oklahoma City to refuel the plane The second leg into Phoenix will take about 1 hour 40 minutes Touchdown at 2:35 pm in and no scheduled events the rest of the day Saturday April 10 7 am After putting on my race day uniform I went to the hotel restaurant for a great breakfast After getting to the track our first responsibility is to set up the pit box in our pit stall When all of the prerace work is finished we sit back and relax until the race begins Finally time to get into my firesuit appropriate shoes grab my radio and helmet 'J Wheeler: I Increasing I I secrecy led to his exit By Jim Utter juttercharlotteobservercom HA Wheeler former Charlotte Motor Speedway president said his relationship with Speedway Motorsports Inc owner Bruton Smith was deteriorating during the five years leading up his abrupt 2008 retirement Wheeler attributes the problem to Smith who he said much more secretive and he began doing things without bothering to talk to me Wheeler offers the new insight into his CMS departure in a recently published book Up co-authored by Wheeler and Peter Golenbock just needed to get it off my Wheeler said Tuesday when asked why he decided to release more departure details make the book all about that was an isolated part of my life but it was also an important part of my The official announcement of retirement alter nearly 40 decades at the helm came on May 21 2008 just as two weeks of NASCAR racing was set to begin at the track Wheeler however left several unanswered questions as he described reasons for his exit of on our own terms -I say it all Wheeler said then of it is and let it rest at In an interview last season during race weeks at Charlotte Smith maintained the decision to leave CMS was entirely retired at his own will period Period Smith said any question about that like to get that all out here Smith declined the request this week for comment about the contents of book Smith said the arrangements for retirement were agreed upon mutually and Wheeler would announce his retirement after that Coca Cola 600 In the ncxt-to-last chapter of book titled Wheeler explained what led to his departure including projects started by Smith without his knowledge The first was the building of new office space behind office at the track an area Wheeler had planned for expansion of The Speedway Club Wheeler said after questioning Smith about purchases for the office space he discovered the office was intended for son Marcus who took over as SMI and speedway president upon departure Wheeler said he was also was kept in the dark about the construction of the zMax Dragway a state-of-the-art dragway across the street from CMS Wheeler said Smith canceled a campground project Wheeler had started on the property in order to build the dragway which Wheeler said he believe would be a highly profitable venture He also said he warned Smith it would be located too close to a residential subdivision but Smith proceeded with the plans Mayfield suit against NASCAR Judge drops By Cleve Wootson Jr cwootsoncharlotteobservercom A federal judge has dismissed a suit against NASCAR brought by former driver Jeremy Mayfield who was suspended after officials said he tested positive for drug use In court filing Judge Graham Mullen says Mayfield provide facts to support the defamation claims he made against the organization The ruling also says Mayfield signed several agreements as a NASCAR owner and driver that prohibit him from suing NASCAR in connection with the drug test results Attorneys for Mayfield and NASCAR could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday reputation have taken hits Mayfield told the court that the drug test has cost him dearly He lost a major sponsor he said and was unable to find smaller sponsors forcing him to lay off employees As the accusations swirled stepmother said in an affidavit that she saw the driver cook and smoke Meth In No- I vember he put his 475-acre Catawba estate up for auction Before Tuesday Mayfield was expected to have his day in court this fall still suspended from racing WCNC CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY Cleve Wootson Jr: 704-358-5046 NASCAR Chairman Brian France said after the test that the positive result could not have been caused by those prescription drugs but May-field sued for defamation I le also said an independent lab he contracted with at Frye Regional Medical Center showed a negative result with a same-day sample On July 1 Judge Mullen issued an injunction that let Mayfield return to racing but later that month NASCAR said Mayfield had again tested positive for Meth and asked the judge to reinstate the ban His case has raised issues about the fairness of the drug-testing policy and how safe drivers feel around each other And personal life and Charlotte Motor Speedway race weeks schedule Race weeks schedule for Charlotte Motor Speedway For tickets and information call 704-455-3200 1-800-455-FANS or purchase online at wwwcharlottemotorspeedwaycom Friday 9-10 am Truck series practice am Truck series final practice pm Final Sprint Showdown practice pm Final All-Star Race practice 3:30 pm Truck series qualifying (two laps all positions) 5 pm Sprint Showdown qualifying (two-laps all positions) Thursday May 27 2-3 pm Nationwide series practice pm Sprint Cup series practice pm Nationwide series final practice 7:10 pm Coca-Cola 600 qualifying (two laps all positions) Friday May 28 No track activity scheduled Saturday May 29 9:35 am Nationwide series qualifying (two laps all positions) NFL Notebook US District ruling is a powerful acknowledgement and affirmation of rulebook and its ability to police the NASCAR said in a prepared statement has been very clear with its competitors as to its policies and what is expected of them comprehensive substance abuse policy which is among the best and toughest in all of sports serves the safety of our competitors and NASCAR suspended Mayfield in May 2009 after the organization says he tested positive for Methamphet-amine use Mayfield said Claritin-D he took for allergies and Adderall he took for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contributed to a false positive 6 pm All-Star race qualifying (three laps with four-tire pit stop) 7:30 pm Truck series driver introductions 8 pm Truck series NC Education Lottery 200 (134 laps 201 miles) Saturday pm Concert 7 pm Sprint Showdown driver introductions 7:30 pm Sprint Showdown (two 20-lap segments) 9 pm (approx) Sprint All-Star race (segments of 50 20 20 and 10 laps) parel and stipends for the coaches in both sports But adidas recently did not renew a deal with Arkansas and Florning said the future of department-wide contracts between college athletics programs with adidas is something NC State officials will watch closely have two more years (with Horning said going to go as the contract allows us to renegotiate for an extension or take (bids) from other people if necessary at the appropriate Georgia DT picks NC State Thomas Niles a 6-foot-2 265-pound defensive tackle from Gainesville I ligh in Georgia has committed to NC State Niles helped Gainesville to a 14-1 record and a state Class 7 AAA runner-up finish last season He also plays high school lacrosse a very physical very strong kid especially in the lower part of his said Gainesville coach Bruce Miller not just a good lineman a good the second known commitment in NC class along with safety Juston Burris of Broughton High Scoutcom ranks Niles as a three-star prospect on a five-star scale Ken Tysiac: 919-829-8942 named as Duke captains Life without Ben: Steelers search for temporary QB pm Sprint Cup series practice pm Sprint Cup series final practice 2 pm Nationwide series driver introductions 2:30 Nationwide series Tech Net Auto Service 300 (200 laps 300 miles) Sunday May 30 5:30 pm Driver introductions 6 pm Sprint Cup series Coca Cola 600 (400 laps 600 miles) Ustream site to vv in a $1000 bet I le said after the voluntary workout on Tuesday that at first he thought it was a joke but added CLEVELAND: The Browns have signed free agent kicker Shaun Suish-am With veteran Phil Dawson skipping the voluntary workouts in an apparent contract dispute the Browns signed Suisham who spent last season with Dallas and Washington TENNESSEE: Chris Johnson has some online fan support in his bid for a big pay hike from the Titans to reward him for his record-setting season A new petition titled CJ2K (Get Chris Johnson A New has been set up to support Johnson and had 64 signatures by Tuesday afternoon Johnson is staying away from the offseason program after becoming the sixth player in NFL history to run for at least 2000 yards and earning the Associated Press 2009 Offensive Player of the Year award He signed a five-year $12 million deal in 2008 as the 24th draft pick overall He is due to earn $550000 in 2010 ACC Notebook Singler Smith By Ken Tysiac ktysiaccharlotteobserver com Coach Mike Krzyzcwski announced Tuesday that he has named seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith to captain the team Singler considered leaving school early for the NBA draft but decided to return after being named the most outstanding player of the Final Four Smith the third-leading scorer last season at 174 points per game is expected to be a first-team All-ACC candidate along with Sin-glcr Both players are first-time captains They will fill a void created by the loss of three senior starters leading scorer Jon Scheyer forward Lance Thomas and center Brian Zoubek really excited about naming our co-captains so early this year and the reason is obvious Nolan and Kyle are our Krzyzcwski said in a statement have big shoes to fill Losing the three seniors who were all outstanding leaders is the biggest gap we have to fill But confident that these two young men can do Singler averaged 177 points and 70 rebounds per game last season while leading the Blue Devils to a 35-5 record He ranks 18th on the career scoring list with 1767 points and was named the most valuable player of the 2010 ACC tournament Although Singler is naturally soft-spoken Krzyzcwski said when Singler announced his return that becoming more of a leader is the next step for him and I have grown so much over the last three years and now it is time for both of us to step forward and become vocal Singler said 174 points per game last season were a 9-point increase over his sophomore season I le was named the most outstanding player of the South Regional in the NCAA tournament after scoring 29 points in a regional final win over Baylor in FIous-ton have high goals set for this team and the only way we can accomplish them is through hard work and great Smith said NC State keeps eye on adidas deal One early item on the agenda after NC State hires a new athletic director is likely to be careful consideration of the apparel contract with adidas The deal for basketball expires June 20 2012 with the football contract to end on June 30 2012 senior associate athletic director David Florning said Tuesday Florning said adidas provides NC State with $420000 for football and $250000 for basketball with payments coming in the form of free ap Associated Press PITTSBURGH These might be the most scrutinized May practices in Steelers history The team resumed its voluntary offseason workouts Tuesday without suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger He remains banned from attending and there is no indication when the NFL will allow him to participate Roethlisberger did join teammates at a charity golf tournament Monday in Canonsburg Pa During absence Byron Leftwich the backup when the Steelers won the Super Bowl 15 months ago is taking most of the snaps with the starters There is no sign from coach Mike Tomlin that Charlie Batch who spent most of last season as the top backup or third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon will get similar work with the regulars AROUND THE LEAGUE ARIZONA: Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett has apologized for posting an online streaming video of him taking a hower Dockett a second-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowl starter last season took a shower live on the i H'l'WlUJWilliJi.