Notes: Burton's team makes quick logo switch

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - It didn't take long for Richard Childress Racing to slap AT&T logos on Jeff Burton's car.

Hours after a federal judge again refused NASCAR's request for a stay, the RCR team had a large AT&T logo on the front and side of the No. 31 car in the garage before Saturday's Nextel All-Star Challenge. The team's pit crew members also sported AT&T logos on the front and back of their firesuits.

"I'm really happy for AT&T that we're able to rebrand our car to AT&T and get back to really trying to win this championship," Childress said. "We're really excited about the new look for the car."

U.S. District Judge Marvin Shoob in Atlanta issued a preliminary injunction Friday barring NASCAR from stopping AT&T from placing its logo on the car. NASCAR filed an emergency appeal, but Shoob again denied NASCAR's request Saturday. NASCAR then went to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to grant a stay.

NASCAR claims its deal with Sprint Nextel to sponsor the top racing series prevents AT&T from sponsoring a race team. Cingular's sponsorship deal Jeff Burton's team was grandfathered in when Sprint Nextel became the title sponsor, but Cingular was later bought by AT&T.

"Right now, we're zeroed in on the appeal. That's what we're going to focus our attention on," NASCAR chairman Brian France said.

Childress is hopeful the matter will be cleared up so he can discuss a contract extension with AT&T.

Childress also hinted he and Jeff Burton are close to a contract extension.

"Jeff's very happy where he's at and I'm very happy with Jeff," Childress said.

JORDAN'S SPORTS TOUR: Just over two weeks after Michael Jordan played golf with Tiger Woods in a much-publicized pro-am at the Wachovia Championship, Jordan had another visible role in a North Carolina sporting event by serving as grand marshal for the All-Star race.

Jordan, part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, also attended the driver's meeting, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave him a box of Jordan's Nike sneakers to autograph.

Jordan, who declined to speak to reporters, prefers motorcycles to stock cars. He owns an AMA Superbike team that races Suzukis.

"His dad was a huge NASCAR fan, but Michael hasn't really gone to too many NASCAR races," Bobcats president Fred Whitfield said. "These days it's been more motorcycle racing. I'm actually a huge NASCAR fan, so we've had some spirited discussions between NASCAR and motorcycle racing."

Jordan, rarely seen for months after he joined the Bobcats, has become more visible. Jordan is buying a condominium in downtown Charlotte, and he recently purchased a luxury box with Bobcats owner Bob Johnson for the upcoming Carolina Panthers' season.

MONTOYA WRECKS: Juan Pablo Montoya lasted less than a lap in his first race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Montoya got loose at the start of the Nextel Open, causing a six-car wreck that ended Menard's chance to make the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

"Juan just went three wide right away. These tires are so hard, you can't be doing that," Menard said.

In a TV interview, Menard then described the incident, and some listeners thought he said "Pedro" to refer to Montoya, the Colombian-born former Formula One driver.

NASCAR officials pulled the tape, arguing Menard said "A.J." to describe A.J. Allmendinger, who was in the vicinity of the wreck.

Menard could not immediately be reached for comment.

Montoya acknowledged he was at fault in the wreck.

"I just got a little loose," Montoya said. "I touched (David Gilliland's car). I slowed down when he hit the wall, but I was right in front of him. Then two or three cars came straight to me."

CREW CHIEF RACING: There's a reason crew chiefs manage and don't drive.

A race involving current and former crew chiefs turned into a wreck-fest before Saturday's All-Star race. Using the quarter-mile oval inside the main track, the "drivers" slammed their small open-wheeled cars into each other with alarming regularity.

Andy Petree, who helped the late Dale Earnhardt win two points championships, held off Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, in a green-white-checkered finish for the win.

"All these guys are frustrated race car drivers," Petree said.

After the race, Knaus sneaked up behind Petree in Victory Lane and poured water on his head.

"The only person to hit me all night was Chad and he did it under caution. So I knew I needed a good clean restart or he was going to lay it to me," said Petree, now a television analyst. "I didn't know he was going to lay it to me in Victory Lane."

Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Kyle Busch, nearly drove his car on top of another, sparking a five-car wreck and laughter from the drivers watching nearby.

"I tried to check the replays of the wrecks on the Jumbotron when I would come around," Petree said. "I was afraid we were going to have too many cautions."

Petree will donate his $10,000 prize to charity.

PIT STOPS: Jimmie Johnson's pit crew members are donating the uniforms worn in Nextel Cup races to an online auction to benefit the Benny Parsons Museum. Parsons, a former Winston Cup champion and television analyst, died of lung cancer in January. His widow is raising funds for a museum near North Wilkesboro, N.C. ... Junior Johnson, the legendary bootlegger-turned-NASCAR champion, is cashing in on his past. Johnson has put his name on a legal moonshine product. "The only difference is we're paying taxes on this," the 75-year-old Johnson said.

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