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KANAAN WINS LAST INDYCAR RACE IN 2007 AT MICHIGAN SPEEDWAY AND OTHER RACING NEWS

JOINED: Team owner Ray Evernham has completed his partnership with George N. Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team, creating Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

SPRINTING: A few drivers will head to this week’s 47th annual Knoxville Nationals with momentum. Pennsylvania driver Sean Michael picked up $30,000 for winning the inaugural Dream Race Extreme at Port Royal (Pennsylvania) Speedway. Shane Stewart and Kaley Gharst dominated the action at Knoxville Raceway during four nights of racing leading up to the four-day extravaganza that will pay $150,000 to the winner. Donny Schatz is the defending champion.

THE LAST ONE: Tony Kanaan won what for now will be the last IndyCar race at Michigan International Speedway this past Sunday. The two-mile that has hosted open-wheel races since the late 1960s is not on next year’s schedule.

NEW LEADER: With IndyCar driver Scott Dixon having trouble, Jeff Gordon used his 14th top five finish of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season to move to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings.

NEW COMPANY: Taylor Weld, former CEO of Weld Racing Wheels, has joined with Wheel Pros to form a new company, Taylor Weld Engineering, which will create wheels for the performance racing market.

RUMORS: It appears that Kyle Busch will sign with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, leaving J.J. Yeley looking for a drive.

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