Associated Press
The NASCAR notebook …
If Jack Roush has anything to say about it, propane soon will be used for more than grilling hamburgers and hot dogs at the infield cookout.
In the wake of Sunday’s Daytona 500 victory by Roush-Fenway NASCAR team driver Matt Kenseth, Roush was back at his headquarters outside Detroit this week to promote his company’s new line of propane-fueled Ford trucks and vans.
A veteran of racing and the automotive industry, Roush loves the sound of a snarling gasoline-powered V-8 as much as the next guy ó probably more. But Roush sees alternative fuels as a positive step in the struggling U.S. auto industry’s journey out of the economic wilderness.
Roush said alternative fuels are “certainly not a fix-all,” but represent potential good news for an industry beleaguered by talk of bailouts and bankruptcy.
BURTON
NASCAR star Jeff Burton will trade in his fire suit and helmet this week for an appearance on ABC soap opera “General Hospital.”
The Richard Childress Racing driver is scheduled to visit the set Thursday to take part in scenes with actor Jason Thompson’s character, neurosurgeon Dr. Patrick Drake.
Drake is an avid fan of racing on the award-winning series.
“I’m excited about going to the set of General Hospital and taking on a role with Jason,” Burton said.
NEW CHASE
Following NASCAR’s lead in setting up a 10-race Chase for the championship, voting for the 2009 Most Popular Driver Award will include its own version of the Cup postseason.
Voting has already begun at www.chexmostpopulardriver.com.
The big change comes after the Sept. 23 race at Richmond. The list of drivers will be narrowed to those with the top 10 vote totals, and the vote count will be reset to zero. Fans then have until Nov. 23 to cast ballots once a day.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the award for the sixth consecutive year in 2008.