Backstretch Motorsports

Baldwin was With the Kyle Petty Charity Rides Since Beginning

Missoula,MT) — Carolina Harley-Davidson/Buell owner Click Baldwin died late Tuesday night after his motorcycle collided with a car around 9:00 a.m. Click was airlifted from the scene and underwent emergency surgery at St. Patrick’s Hospital in nearby Missoula, Mont. Fourteen fellow members of the Hamster’s Motorcycle Club accompanied Click at the time of the accident. They were meeting up with other members for the 68th Annual Sturgis Rally in South Dakota.

His generosity was demonstrated over the years through his participation in all fourteen Kyle Petty Charity Rides, involvement in numerous Poker Runs benefiting local charities and Victory Junction Gang Camp for chronically ill children.

Kyle Petty Statement on the Passing of Close Friend ‘Click’ Baldwin

“Words cannot describe what “Click” Baldwin has meant to me, my family and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Back in 1995, he and I, along with a few other close friends, were just a group of guys that wanted to ride our motorcycles across the country. We found out that we could raise some money for charity while doing it and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride was born. While it had my name on it, “Click” was a driving force behind the ride. There has never been a more giving human being. He was more than a friend; he was like a brother to me. Please keep his wife Diane, his daughter Chelsea, his Mom, his brother and his Carolina Harley-Davidson family in your thoughts and prayers. We have lost a great one.”

Jimmie Johnson is teaming up with Randy Moss in the Truck Series.

Statesville, NC) –Johnson will make his debut in the series on Aug. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway driving Moss Motorsports’ No. 81 Chevrolet.

“I have never run a Truck race, so it should be fun,” Johnson said. “Heck, my brother Jarit has run more than me, but it’s going to be a good time. I’m excited to run Randy’s truck. Hopefully we can get them a good finish.”

Moss, who plays football for the New England Patriots, purchased 50 percent of Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and renamed the team Moss Motorsports just in time for the race at Kentucky Speedway. The team also switched from No. 46 to No. 81, Moss’ uniform number.

No Fourth Team at Gibbs Gives Newman Green Flag for Stewart Haas Racing Deal

Huntersville, NC) — Sources close to Ryan Newman are saying the Indiana driver will join with fellow Hoosier Tony Stewart for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season at Stewart’s newly announced Stewart Hass Racing team.

Nothing is actually signed as it is a verbal agreement that hinges on sponsorship and other contingencies.

Newman, speaking through a Penske spokesperson, said he is still working on the 2009 plans and he has no timetable for finalizing anything at this point.

Newman reached the verbal agreement after Joe Gibbs Racing was unable to nail down sponsorship to start a fourth team. JGR president J.D. Gibbs confirmed on Sunday at Indianapolis that Newman no longer was a factor in the team’s plans and that a fourth team was unlikely for 2009.