Bloggin' is Racin'

Countdown to Daytona

Are you suffering from NASCAR withdrawal? If your answer is yes, then we've got some good news. Testing at Daytona International Speedway is set to begin next month, and SPEED TV will provide 22 days of testing coverage from the high banks in Daytona Beach, as well as Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway, beginning Jan. 7.

The comprehensive coverage will include test sessions for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series.

Want some better news? SPEED is finally making the switch to HD on Feb. 7 with 100 hours of coverage from Daytona Speedweeks. Beginning with the Gatorade Duel 150s on Feb. 14 and Craftsman Truck race on Feb. 15, SPEED will broadcast all NASCAR programming leading up to the 50th Daytona 500 in HD.

-- Dusty Schwab

DEI locks up crew chief

Kevin "Bono" Manion signed a three-year extension to remain at DEI as crew chief for Martin Truex Jr.

Manion helped guide Truex to his first Cup victory and first berth in the Chase in 2007. Truex finished 11th in the Chase and recorded seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in addition to his lone victory.

-- Dusty Schwab

It's all for charity

This really isn't news, but when times are slow, like they are now, anything about Cup champ Jimmie Johnson and Jessica Simpson's ex hubby deserves a post.

Jimmie Johnson and good friend Nick Lachey, left, told The Associated Press on Thursday they have partnered to form the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic, which will be held in Scottsdale, Ariz., in conjunction with the Super Bowl in February.
Ironically, it was during a similar celebrity tournament last winter that Johnson fell off a golf cart and broke his wrist. Reports say he was horsing around. Johnson admitted he could be persuaded to board another golf cart for his tournament.
“I might be talked into such a thing, if I can get some bindings to hold me on and make sure I won't fall off,” he joked. “It is for charity, after all.”
“We're going to play chicken on top of the golf carts,” Lachey quickly chimed in.

We're guessing Tony Romo won't be invited.

-- Michele Vincze