Associated Press
The NASCAR notebook …
AMES, Iowa— Brad Keselowski won’t run in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide race in Iowa following a head-on crash into a wall at Road Atlanta on Wednesday.
Penske Racing says Thursday that Parker Kligerman will drive the No. 22 Dodge in Friday’s practice sessions, but Sam Hornish, Jr., will run both qualifying and the race.
Keselowski crashed during a testing run in Atlanta. He walked from the car and was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. Penske says it will evaluate Keselowski’s condition and provide information when it becomes known.
Keselowski won the inaugural Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway in 2009.
HENDRICK DONATION
CHARLOTTE — Hendrick Automotive Group is giving $250,000 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg middle schools so the district can continue to offer 13 sports
Because of falling revenues, the district planned to cut girls softball, baseball, boys and girls golf and boys and girls soccer for the upcoming school year in middle schools.
But the sponsorship agreement announced Wednesday will allow those sports to still be played. In exchange, Hendricks will gets signs at middle and high school games and will be announced as sponsors in stadiums.
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick says he will not put his automotive group’s decals on uniforms.
Hendrick says the sponsorship is for one year and he will review the deal with the school district next summer.
STEWART RACES IN N.D.
WEST FARGO, N.D. — Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart once again failed to make it to victory lane at a dirt track in North Dakota, but he came closer than he did earlier in the summer.
Stewart races occasionally at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, where operations are handled by the father of Donny Schatz, who has won championships for Stewart on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car circuit.
The Forum reports that Stewart on Wednesday night finished fifth in the Sprint Car feature, in which Tim Shaffer out-dueled Schatz for the win.
During a trip to the track in June, Stewart crashed out of the feature in the opening laps.