July 31, 2007 — Speed Released By Toro Rosso

• The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Scott Speed has been dropped by Toro Rosso. He will be replaced by Sebastian Vettel. Speed was Formula One's lone American driver.

Steve Wallace Mugged In Indianapolis

• Nineteen-year-old RWI Racing NASCAR Busch Series driver, Steve Wallace, is OK following being attacked in an attempted mugging Sunday evening in Indianapolis. Wallace suffered only minor cuts and abrasions in the attack and will compete as scheduled in this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.
Wallace was attacked by a group of at least three men upon exiting a convenience store in Indianapolis Sunday night, where he stayed to watch the running of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Wallace participated in the NASCAR Busch Series event at O’Reilly Raceway Park the previous evening.
Upon entering the convenience store, the men commented on Wallace’s watch, a gift given to him by a sponsor after he earned his second career pole position at Nashville Superspeedway in June.  After exiting the convenience store, Wallace was jumped and attacked by the group of men, who were attempting to rob him of his watch.
The men later fled the scene after being unsuccessful in robbing Wallace.  A suspect was apprehended later that evening and is being held in an Indianapolis jail.

Salisbury Atop Petty Short List

• Salisbury, N.C., which will be home to Toyota Racing Development's NASCAR support facility, is reportedly atop a short list for Petty Enterprises's relocation plans. Petty Enterprises has plans to move its operations from Randallman, N.C.

Herb, Racing Professionals Set For MIS

• Racing Professionals will compete in the upcoming IndyCar Series Firestone 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Jon Herb will drive the No. 19 Aercon Dad’s Root Beer Special Honda Dallara in the Aug. 5 race. This is the team’s first appearance since competing in the Bombardier Learjet 550 at Texas Motor Speedway. Although this will be Herb’s first open-wheel race at MIS, he previously competed in two ARCA stock-car events at the facility.

“The team is very excited about racing at Michigan. It is a great facility with a long tradition of open wheel racing. This will be my first open wheel race at this track but I always raced well here in stock cars.  I have many friends and supporters who will travel over from Chicago and I hope to have a great race," said Herb.

July 27, 2007 — Report: Kyle Busch Close To Deal With Gibbs

• Reports coming from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of this weekend's Allstate 400 at The Brickyard as well as Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races at O'Reilly Raceway Park, say that Kyle Busch is close to a deal that would have him joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008.

K & N Filters New Title Sponsor For Silver Crown

• K & N Engineering of Riverside, Calif., a leading manufacturer of performance air and oil filters for racing and passenger cars, is now the entitlement sponsor of USAC’s prestigious Silver Crown Championship Series. The series will be known as the K & N USAC Silver Crown Championship Series through 2008.

July 26, 2007 — Reports: Newman Hass Lanigan To Buy Yates

• Several news outlets reported Thursday that Newman Hass Lanigan Racing would be entering NASCAR with the purchase of Robert Yates Racing. Newman Haas Lanigan, which includes actor Paul Newman among its principal owners, is currently involved in the Champ Car World Series with point-leader Sebastien Bourdais. The team recently celebrated its 100th Champ Car victory. Carl Haas has previously been a NASCAR owner.
There has been no comment from Yates Racing or NHL, but a press conference has been scheduled for Friday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss the "future of Yates Racing."

Dominguez Fills In For Dalziel

• Champ Car veteran Mario Dominguez, 32, will drive the No. 28 PCM/DP01 for injured rookie Ryan Dalziel, beginning this weekend at the San Jose Grand Prix.
Dalziel was injured in a cycling accident while training earlier this week and will be out of action for several weeks.
“Mario brings a wealth of experience to our rookie program and we are pleased that he is able to step-in for us at the last minute to drive the No. 28 car.  Mario is a proven race winner and a very knowledgeable driver, we think he will be a great fit within our organization,” said team director Tyler Tadevic.

Logano Tests Car Of Tommorrow

• Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver Joey Logano turned his first laps in a Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race car Wednesday at the Milwaukee Mile. The 17-year-old phenom logged an estimated 80 laps Wednesday and was to return Thursday to help the team, which features drivers Tony Stewart, J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin, gather critical information for the team’s Car of Tomorrow development. No times were reported. Logano is still a year away from being old enough to compete in the Nextel Cup Series.