“That took some ovaries to do because I wasn’t really excited to do it — but I did it,” Patrick said. “I can’t say the other one,” said Patrick, hinting at the version a male driver might employ. “That just sounds like I’m swearing. I figured I’d use the accurate one.”

The car was a manufacturer’s vehicle and wasn’t registered in anyone’s name, Stone said. The officer said he asked Busch why he was driving at such a high rate of speed. “He said ‘this is just a toy,’” Stone said. He said Busch indicated the car, a two-seat sport coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car and a racing prototype, was on loan to him from the manufacturer. He said Busch was cooperative. “He wasn’t arrogant or anything,” he said.

“I up Monday morning, and I had three emails from him explaining different scenarios about what he thought went on with the car and how to make our stuff better,” Johnson said. “And then I looked at who he had sent it to, and it was the engineers, the crew chiefs, and myself. “I don’t know what he was like before, but he, like he has always been, (is) committed to his team and is doing his best job.”

“I flew commercial to California and hitched a ride home. I flew to Vegas (for an appearance) and then I flew Vegas to California on Southwest. I sat in the back. (sit in a middle seat?) No, I paid $19 to get a window seat.’’

Overall NASCAR in-broadcast exposure statistics for primary team sponsors in the series are down from a year ago.  On average, per hour cumulative exposure time accumulated by team sponsors fell from 1:05:43 at the same point a year ago to 49:06 this season. Overall team sponsor exposure fell 25% compared to the same point in the season a year ago.

Source: Bodog

Here is the 2010 data:

Pro football: 31%
Baseball: 17%
College football: 12%
Auto racing: 7%
Men’s pro basketball: 6%
Hockey: 5%
Men’s soccer: 4%
Men’s college basketball: 4%
Not sure: 3%
Men’s golf: 2%
Track & field: 2%
Bowling: 2%
Men’s tennis: 2%
Boxing: 1%
Horse racing: 1%
Women’s tennis: 1%
Swimming: 1%