NW&GFs OF THE WEEK
Raygan Swan, former fiancee of Anthony Foyt IVThe former Indianapolis reporter (IndyStar.com, INTake Weekly, That's Raygan) recently accepted a writing gig for NASCAR.com. She'll pick up her pen, er... laptop starting in April and will hit the road for several races. Congratulations and good luck to her! I do believe Raygan is the first female writer to hold such a position for the official site of NASCAR.
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Connie Freidel, wife of Juan Pablo Montoya
"I love motorhome living. I love the cooking and cleaning and having friends and family around. We've been to Monaco and Barcelona and done all the hotels and restaurants. We just want to feel like we are home.'' [AP, Q&A w/ JPM]
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LAS VEGAS HOMETOWN COUPLE

Brendan Gaughan and Tatum Hayes
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HOT FAQs
Too rarely observed are the hotties behind the scenes in the garage and coming over the wall. (Perhaps this should be the theme of my next visit to Cali Speedway?) Whenever possible I will attempt to call your attention to such fine specimens.
Name: Travis Mack
Team: #24 Dupont Chevrolet
Position: Front End and Suspension Mechanic/Second Can
Previously: Worked for Frank Kimmel's ARCA team for 3 years; served as car chief for two championship seasons
Education: 2001 Graduate of Louisville Male Traditional High School
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Birthdate: April 15, 1983
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Hobby: Golf
Bonus pic: Jeff Gordon and Travis
Sorry, girls
Status: Taken (Girlfriend: Lyndsay)
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MISQUOTE OF THE WEEK
From Michael Waltrip, on the announcement he will pilot the #32 Braun Racing Toyota Camry in the Nicorette 300 this weekend at AMS:
"I have missed being behind the wheel of a NASCAR Busch Series car this season, so I am thrilled Braun Racing asked me to represent them Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway."
I think he meant, "I have missed being behind the wheel of a car this season."
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LAS VEGAS FAQs
Q. Who was the blonde in the back of the pickup with Kasey during driver intros?
A. A fan.
Junior and Elizabeth
Q. Did Junior and Elizabeth get married in Vegas?
A. Yes.
Q. Are you kidding?
A. Yes! Just wanted to see if y'all are paying attention. Does anyone seriously think that I wouldn't have posted by now if I had knowledge of a Vegas wedding?
Q. Was Elizabeth in Las Vegas with Junior?
A. Popular question. I do not believe so. I have no confirmation and have heard of no reported sightings, nor have I seen photos suggesting she was there. I have seen numerous photos that suggest she was nowhere is sight. Junior seems to have flown solo this weekend, save for entertaining his buddy Matthew Good.
Q. Are you suggesting they are no longer together?
A. Mmmm... not yet.
Q. When will we get the This... is Elizabeth Peschock post?
A. Don't hold your breath. It may have been premature for me to say it was coming "soon." Perhaps I should have said "as soon as [fill in the blank]." At this point there is not much new to be published in a "This... is Liz" post, and I hear rumblings that the relationship could fizzle out before the upgrade from "this girl he's seeing" to "girlfriend" comes through.
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NEXT GEN FAQ
ABF Freight System, Inc., is sponsoring Chase Elliott in the Bandolero Bandits Series this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This will be the inaugural race for Chase, son of 1988 NASCAR Cup Champion Bill Elliott, in this type of race car. He is moving up from last season's success in the Go-Karts ranks.
Chase will be adorning his father's famous car number 9 and will carry associate sponsorships from The Georgia Hall of Fame and his father's favorite hometown spot, the Dawsonville Pool Room.
Quoting this...
Danny Loe, ABF Director of Marketing and Public Relations: "We are excited about adding Chase Elliott to the ABF Racing family. He is a fresh face with a timeless name. We are proud to be a part of the next generation of this legendary racing family.
"Even though Chase is just 11 years old, it is obvious this Georgia peach didn't fall far from the family tree. Chase won his age division in the Colorado Sprint Championships mini max series last season and placed 3rd driving an 80cc shifter kart against the older competition. Chase is scheduled to drive in the Thursday Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway beginning May 31st as well as various events in the Summer Shootout Series at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2007."
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In case you missed this...
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. pics from Anheuser-Busch Convention in New Orleans
- Team Red Bull is notorious for the parties it throws in Formula One, and Vegas gave the team a proper venue for its first NASCAR celebration. The first-year NASCAR team rented out the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at Palms Casino, then put together an exclusive guest list for the seven-hour bash. The doors opened at 9 p.m., and NASCAR president Mike Helton made his brief appearance shortly thereafter. Drivers Greg Biffle and David Gilliland were also among the first on the scene - as well as the last to leave. Johnson and wife, Chandra, arrived with driver Casey Mears, while Kasey Kahne showed up with Elliott Sadler.
Red Bull drivers Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger worked the crowd, which danced to tunes spun by rocker Tommy Lee and sipped on drinks passed out by Playboy Playmates. The party got rocking halfway through when a handful of girls got naked by the Playboy pool, in front of the glass end wall with a spectacular view of the Strip behind them. A hired photographer captured the scene, while 20 men with camera phones tried for their own souvenir. Although the party rocked, Team Red Bull did not: Both its drivers failed to qualify for Sunday's race." AP - Mar. 14, 2007
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REMINDERS