Ricky Carmichael, the reigning and four-time AMA Supercross Series champion, is expected to announce his racing plans today.
Carmichael has been considering shifting his focus to stock-car racing and has become good friends with NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kasey Kahne. Last summer, Kahne set up a test for Carmichael in a Late Model stock car owned by Ray Evernham.
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"He's an unbelievable athlete, unbelievable Supercross rider, motocross rider," Kahne said Feb. 1 during a break in preseason NASCAR testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"When he's done with (motocross racing) and maybe wants to do something on four wheels, he's definitely got the talent."
It has been reported that Carmichael's annual income last year was $8 million to $10 million.
Carmichael, 26, is scheduled to participate in this morning's news conference at Sam Boyd Stadium with fellow riders Chad Reed and James "Bubba" Stewart in preparation for Saturday night's season finale at the stadium.
The riders are locked into the closest season championship race in the 34-year history of Supercross.
Carmichael and Reed are tied for first place in the AMA Supercross standings, with Stewart five points behind. Stewart leads the World Supercross standings, which includes 15 of the 16 AMA races this year and two Canadian events in December.
* NASCAR -- NASCAR Nextel Cup rookie Denny Hamlin is expected to drive in today's Busch series race and Saturday's Cup race in Richmond, Va., despite receiving stitches in his left hand for a cut sustained Wednesday during horseplay after a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway. ...
Dale Jarrett will meet with the media at the Richmond track today to discuss reports that he might leave Robert Yates Racing after this season to drive a Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the Cup series. ...
NASCAR on Wednesday announced 11 penalties among five Busch Series teams as a result of rules violations last weekend at Talladega.
Among those punished was former Las Vegas resident Shane Wilson, crew chief for the No. 21 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick.
* LVMS DRAGSTRIP -- The first 500 racers and 1,000 spectators at tonight's Midnight Mayhem series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's dragstrip will receive a special addition "Pontiac Night at the Races" T-shirt.
Gates will open at 10 p.m.
The following are winners from events last weekend at the dragstrip:
Steve Cox (Hesperia, Calif.), Super Pro; Scott Parsons (Utah), Pro; and Rick Emanuel (Las Vegas), Sportsman, in the Las Vegas Bracket Nationals Qualifier;
Jody George (Bakersfield, Calif.), Open Comp; Justin Lamb (Henderson), Super Quick; Mwana Escaleras (North Las Vegas), Pure Stock; and Kayla Sewell (Henderson), High School in the Show 'n' Go event;
Bobby Dye Jr. (Ontario, Calif.), Super Pro; John Irving (Boulder City), Pro; Paul Wong (Las Vegas), Sportsman; Dave Phillips (Las Vegas), Motorcycle; Bill Dudley, Sport Compact; Luke Winters (Las Vegas), Jr. Dragster Lightning; and Tony Peterson (Richfield, Utah), Jr. Dragster Thunder in the Jerry's Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series.
* LVMS BULLRING -- Justin Johnson has plenty of time to savor his third win of the NASCAR Weekly Series.
Johnson's victory Saturday moved him to first in series points after five races.
Other winners were Doug Hamm, Late Models; Lee Hatch, Speed Trucks; Johan Timmer, Thunder Roadsters; B.J. Bollman, Legends Masters; Johnny Morrissey, Legends Pro; Austin Murphy, Legends Semi-Pro; Marvin Reeder, Bullring Bombers.
