F1 Management Chair BERNIE ECCLESTONE yesterday admitted “to paying a Munich banker [US$44M] to stop him from making allegations about a family trust to the Inland Revenue which he claimed could have made him liable for billions in back tax.” Ecclestone “appeared as a key witness” in a Munich court case “involving payments and alleged bribery totaling more than [US$88M].” He told the court that he paid banker GERHARD GRIBKOWSKY in ’06 “to prevent him from making what he said were unfounded allegations that he controlled a family trust called Bambino.” Ecclestone: “I thought if I give him the money, it might help to keep him quiet and peaceful and not do silly things” (London INDEPENDENT, 11/10).
NOW HIRING: In Baltimore, Julie Scharper reports execs from Baltimore Racing Development, the organizers of the IndyCar Series Baltimore Grand Prix, “have been interviewing candidates to take the helm of the group.” Baltimore Racing Development COO PETER COLLIER said that former Constellation and Goldman Sachs exec FELIX DAWSON “is among the candidates under consideration.” BRD CEO JAY DAVIDSON “stepped down in the face of mounting financial woes” (Baltimore SUN, 11/10).
NAMES: Martinsville Speedway President CLAY CAMPBELL “will sit atop the track’s entrance sign Dec. 9 in an effort to raise at least $20,000 for the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation.” He raised “$24,837 doing that last year” (ROANOKE TIMES, 11/9)....In Las Vegas, Steve Green reported a “confidential settlement was reached” after a lawsuit closed Tuesday claiming Ravens OT JONATHAN OGDEN’s foundation “failed to pay for use of a Southern Nevada golf course for a charity event.” The suit claimed the foundation “had failed to pay $13,226 in expenses from a June 2006 fundraising tournament” (VEGASINC.com, 11/9)....The Lions are featured in a new NFL Play 60 commercial. The ad shows 13 members of the team and front office driving through Detroit with school-age children looking to exercise (MLIVE.com, 11/8)….Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN “has invested $250,000” in L.A. social gaming company Mention Mobile, a development firm that specializes in integrated social gaming apps for use on mobile devices (LATIMES.com, 11/9)….Lakers G KOBE BRYANT will serve as Honorary Chair for the United Way’s HomeWalk in L.A. on Nov. 19 (United Way)….ESPN's ERIN ANDREWS and Cardinals 3B DAVID FREESE presented Album of the Year last night at the CMA Awards (THE DAILY)....NBC’s BOB COSTAS will host the American Giving Awards Presented by Chase on Dec. 10 (NBC)….Aramark, the official concessionaire at Mall of America Field, was awarded best restaurant honors at the Taste of the Vikings event in Minneapolis on Monday (Aramark)….Singer KID ROCK will open the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony with a live performance at the Wynn Las Vegas on Dec. 2 (NASCAR).
