The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's David Poole presents the
newspaper's third annual list of the most powerful people in
stock car racing and writes that "everything that really
matters in the sport flows through" the ISC and NASCAR
headquarters in Daytona Beach (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/26).
TOP TEN: The top power brokers are: No. 1) NASCAR
President & CEO Bill France; No. 2) NASCAR COO Mike Helton;
No. 3) NASCAR Senior VP Brian France; No. 4) NBC Sports
Chair Dick Ebersol and Fox Sports TV Group Chair David Hill;
No. 5) SMI Chair Bruton Smith; No. 6) Dale Earnhardt and
team Owner Richard Childress; No. 7) Crew chief Ray
Evernham; No. 8) Jeff Gordon; No. 9) NASCAR VP/Broadcasting
Bray Cary and No. 10) Winston Cup Series Dir Gary Nelson.
Other notables include No. 11) NASCAR VP/Marketing George
Pyne; No. 13) ISC Exec VP Lesa France Kennedy; No. 16) SMI
President Humpy Wheeler and No. 17) RJR Sports Marketing
Enterprises President Rick Sanders. Poole notes that
Ebersol and Hill and Evernham "jumped" into the list this
year after not being ranked in '99. Meanwhile, ISC Vice
Chair Roger Penske fell from No. 7 to No. 12, Smith dropped
from No. 2 to No. 5, Winston Cup team owner Jack Roush fell
from No. 11 to No. 18 and CBS Sports President Sean McManus
and Buena Vista Internet Group Chair Steve Bornstein dropped
from No. 4 to off the list (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/26).
THE CART-IRL BEAT: USA TODAY's Steve Ballard writes on
CART and IRL under the header, "Open-Wheel Racing Idles At
Crossroad," and subheader, "With Marquee Drivers Departed
And Split Ongoing, New Stars Denied Chance To Shine."
Ballard: "While [IRL Founder Tony] George remains determined
despite lagging fan and sponsor interest, many if not most
on the CART side are convinced the sport's self-immolation
has to stop" (USA TODAY, 5/26). In Dallas, Tony Fabrizio
writes, "For the IRL to take off, it needs a steady leader
with a commanding presence. George appears to be in denial
about the league's failings. He is unwilling to consider
every option that could lead to a unification with rival
CART" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/26). Meanwhile, USA TODAY's
Ballard profiles CART Senior VP/Marketing Pat Leahy and
writes, "His overall game is something of a two-pronged
attack: create a schedule based on survival of the fittest,
then invest heavily in grass-roots promotion. Leahy wants
CART to play hardball with its promoters by requiring they
provide a first-class facility and do everything possible to
fill it." Leahy: "We've got to get the CART name out there
and create some brand awareness. We've mixed up the message
so much the last few years that people are confused."
Instead of focusing on TV ratings, Ballard added that Leahy
"is adamant that for long-term health, the series needs to
concentrate" on filling up seats (USA TODAY, 5/26).
PIT STOPS: In NC, Monte Dutton writes on driver Bobby
Norfleet -- who is alleging that NASCAR "will not allow him
to compete" because he is an African-American -- under the
header, "NASCAR Guilty Of Many Things, But Racism Not One of
Them." Dutton: "The notion of NASCAR excluding a black
athlete is ridiculous" (GASTON GAZETTE, 5/26).
