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Even that trucker hates Danica.

Jerry Springer could sponsor Kurt Busch? OK, it's only in the proposal stages, but a NASCAR team might soon sport a car bearing a likeness of salacious TV talk-show host Jerry Springer. And fittingly, given recent events, the team involved is Phoenix Racing's #51, which typically is driven by NASCAR bad boy Kurt Busch. Phoenix Racing general manager Steve Barkdoll on Saturday showed FOXSports.com mock-ups of the #51 Chevy sponsored by "The Jerry Springer Show." Before Darlington Raceway weekend, Springer representatives asked Phoenix Racing to submit a proposal for a possible sponsorship, and the team delivered an image of the green and white car bearing Springer's likeness and the show's logo on the hood. The Springer request came after Busch drove the #51 with a "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" paint scheme the previous week in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.(Fox Sports)(6-10-2012)

The North Carolina Industrial Commission has levied fines against Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey, owners of HP Racing, now Phil Parsons Racing, for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for most of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Parsons, who also works as a television analyst for SPEED, and Humphrey were also ordered to pay medical bills and wages to an HP Racing employee who suffered a work related injury last summer.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission, the state agency that handles disputed workers’ compensation claims when people get hurt on the job, determined that Parsons and Humphrey failed to have the proper workers’ compensation insurance from February 11, 2011 – October 27, 2011. Workers’ compensation insurance was obtained by HP Racing just five days before the claim was initially set to be heard before the Deputy Commissioner of the Industrial Commission. The Commission also determined that the HP Racing employee had sustained a compensable injury by accident during the non-insured period. The North Carolina Assistant Attorney General’s Office, Fraud Unit was also involved in the claim against HP Racing, Parsons and Humphrey.

HP Racing competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2011, entering driver Michael McDowell in 32 events and earning over $2.4 million in race winnings. The team changed names in 2012, becoming Phil Parsons Racing, a joint effort between Parsons, Whitney Motorsports and new partner Mike Curb, owner of Curb Records. Humphrey formed his own team for 2012, joining forces with Mark Smith to form Humphrey Smith Racing, fielding cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for driver Mike Bliss.

The Workers’ Compensation Act requires any employer who employs three or more employees to provide workers’ compensation coverage. The North Carolina Industrial Commission has begun cracking down on business owners like Parsons and Humphrey, who fail to provide proper workers’ compensation coverage. Roughly 100 employers who failed to provide workers' compensation insurance to their employees were recently told by the Commission to pay as ordered or face the possibility of jail.

The injured HP Racing employee is still awaiting approval from Parsons and Humphrey for necessary medical treatment, as well as payment of his wages and related medical expenses as ordered by the Industrial Commission. The employee has been unable to work since his accident last summer - and is ineligible for unemployment compensation - due to his injury and physician’s orders preventing him from returning to work or seeking employment.

Sprint Cup tech bulletin: side skirt ground clearance increased by ½ inch; next step for aero package for intermediate tracks
Right side skirt min 4.5/max 5; left side skirts min 5/max 5.5 as well as rear sway bar change
Rear sway bar connecting link must be perpendicular to ground at any angle at ride height; changes effective 6/27