NOTEBOOK: NASCAR FEELS THE PINCH AT THE PUMP.

Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer

FONTANA - Transporters carrying NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup cars are on the highway today, moving from shops in Mooresville, N.C., to California Speedway.

With oil and gasoline prices at an all-time high, and airfares also on the rise, traveling cross country for nearly 90 teams has become an expensive proposition. It's part of doing business.

``As a team, the increased fuel costs, naturally, affect your budget,'' said Eddie Jones, general manager of BAM Racing, which owns Ken Schrader's Dodge. ``When you have a budget to operate in, anything that takes you out of that budget hurts you. Figure this: The semi (transporter) that we run up and down the road gets about 6 1/2-7 miles per gallon at best; 4 1/2 at worst.

``Obviously, the increased fuel cost makes a considerable difference. Any time you're out of budget, you can see it ... and we're definitely outside our budget when it comes to travel expenditures.''

According to Petty Enterprises general manager Jerry Freeze, the smaller Nextel Cup teams might be impacted ever greater.

``I think we are seeing more of the crunch than the larger teams,'' Freeze said. ``It's an economic scale. We have to do a little bit more because we have two cars. The bigger organizations, the ones who can take advantage of having more cars, don't have to haul equipment as much. They can save a lot more, where we have to spend it. It's part of the deal.''

Ricky Pearson, crew chief for the T.J. Bell, is concerned about fans attending races.

``I don't know how far they can, or will, come to go see a race,'' Pearson said. ``A guy with a family of four who takes a week's vacation to come and see a race, and a lot of them do that, they may not be able to do that right now. They may not have the funds to go to a race 300 or 400 miles away.

``It doesn't matter if you are flying or driving, because this gas hike is changing everything.''

The fuel increases also affect crew members attending races.

``We also are seeing it in our aircraft,'' Freeze said. ``Our charter company, because we charter our team planes, has given us an extra charge directly due to the raise in fuel costs. That has been a big deal. We still need to fly our guys to the tracks. Transporting the cars and crew has become more expensive.''

--Hush, hush: Ever-outspoken Kyle Petty had an interesting take on drivers, under contract, signing new contracts for the future, as Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch did earlier this month.

``The problem isn't necessarily the driver signing a contract in August of 2005 to race for another team in 2007. The problem is everybody knowing about it,'' Petty said. ``What would be the big deal about signing a contract and not saying anything for six months, or eight or 10? Obviously, keeping secrets in this garage isn't particularly a tradition or anything.

``You have the three main methods of communication: telephone, telegraph and tell-somebody-in-the-Cup-garage.''

Ken Schrader thinks it's just another racing deal.

``I can't blame the drivers for making the move, and I can't blame the owners for being upset,'' Schrader said. ``Anytime anybody moves like that, it's not always a pleasant situation. Usually, somebody is going to be mad.

``Doing something this far out is pretty unconventional, but you have to do what you have to do. For a driver, finding that security that far out, planning your life out, it's a pretty big thing. Keep in mind, this ain't like the real world, where you work somewhere and you can stay 40 years.

``Being able to see where you are going just a few years ahead is a pretty cool deal, and it doesn't happen too often in any sport, much less stock-car racing.''

Louis Brewster, [phone]

l-brewster(at)dailybulletin.com

CAPTION(S):

4 boxes

Box:

(1) AND THE WINNER IS ...

- Louis Brewster

(2) WHO'S HOT

(3) NASCAR NEXTEL CUP FAST FACTS

(4) DID YOU KNOW?