SETTLEMENT: NASCAR reached a settlement with former series official Mauricia Grant in her discrimination lawsuit against the sanctioning body. The arrangements of the December 18 settlement were not released.
NO GO: The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix has been canceled for the 2009 season because of the Michigan economy. The event featuring the IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series was scheduled for Labor Day weekend.
CLOSED: Mansfield Motorsports Park has closed its gates and the NASCAR Camping World Series race at the track has been moved to Iowa Speedway. The half-mile asphalt oval originally opened as a three-eighths-mile dirt track in 1959.
INDOOR ACES: Lou Cicconi, Tony Stewart, Jerry Coons Jr., Bryan Clauson, Billy Wease and Jon Stanbrough each won indoor midget races during the holiday season.
NEW EVENT: The NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, the sanctioning body’s oldest division, will make its debut at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway August 19.
AN OLD ROOKIE: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Brendan Gaughan will race for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, driving for team owner Rusty Wallace.
CONFIRMATION: Just before the Christmas holiday, NHRA Top Fuel team owner Alan Johnson confirmed that two-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon will drive for his new Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing team in 2009.
SOLD: Bill Davis Racing has been sold to Triad Racing Development, which is a partnership between Mike Held and Marty Gaunt.
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