New records filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles shed light on what transpired in late March as the News & Observer began asking questions about two cars the Easley family had been driving but did not own.

One vehicle was a Honda Accord driven by Mary Easley, but owned by a Rick Hendrick dealership in Charlotte.

The other was a GMC Yukon driven by Mike Easley Jr., but owned by the dealership of Robert F. Bleecker in Red Springs.

The newspaper first posed questions in detail to Hendrick on March 25 and to the Easleys and Bleecker on March 26, Andy Curliss reports.

   Comments (5)

Mike Easley took time out for two inductions.

The former governor used a state plane at least twice to present a North Carolinian with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, according to state flight logs:

* Joe and Mary Hendrick, parents of Nascar team owner Rick Hendrick, Concord, June 1, 2004

* Bob Timberlake, painter, Lexington, Jan. 19, 2006

In both cases, the listed purpose of the flight was to present the award. 

During his two terms, Easley inducted more than 4,000 people into the order. 

Hat Tip: Andy Curliss 

Former Gov. Mike Easley will help push Early College High School week.

The Southport Democrat will serve as a national spokesman for an initiative to encourage high schoolers to take community college courses from May 4-10.

"In today's economy, a college education is a must for every student," he said in a statement. "That's why I'm proud to share my enthusiasm for our early college high schools across the country and to tell parents, teachers, students, policymakers, and others about the success we are seeing in North Carolina — successes that mirror the national initiative."

The promotion is part of Easley's part-time work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation promoting early community college.

It's a bit of a change from recent months. 

Since leaving office in January, Easley has kept a low profile, turning down interview requests and not speaking publicly about joining a law firm or an investigation into his relationship with a Nascar owner.

Former Gov. Mike Easley was close friends with Rick Hendrick.

Easley crashed one of Hendrick's race cars, went to receptions at his races, and traveled on his racing team jet to his retreat in Florida.

Mary Easley has been driving a $30,000 Honda Accord that belongs to a Charlotte dealership owned by Hendrick. Mike Easley Jr. has been driving a 2000 GMC sport utility truck also owned by a dealer.

At the same time, Hendrick's racing businesses have received tax breaks for corporate jet fuel and other government help, sometimes with Easley's assistance.

In an e-mail, Easley wrote that he would not talk about his trip to Key West with Hendrick.

"I don't discuss personal business on personal vacation on personal time," he wrote. (N&O)

Pat McCrory is doing well with Nascar.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee has picked up at least $70,000 from executives and owners of car-racing businesses and their wives.

Donors include such racing bigwigs as Brian France, chairman and CEO of Nascar; Hendrick Corp. Chairman Rick Hendrick and his wife; Gillett Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham; and team owner Felix Sabates.

He's also received donations from Charles Ricks, Robert Rice and Scott Lampe, executives with Hendrick Motorsports; Greg Fornelli, president of Stock Car Steel; Nascar executives Paul Brooks and Rex Caton; and Marcus Smith, who sits on the board of directors of Speedway Motorsports.

McCrory had a major fundraiser including Nascar driver Brian Vickers and team owners Hendrick and Sabates in February, but he doesn't have the racing vote entirely locked up.

Democratic rival Beverly Perdue had a Nascar fundraiser of her own, headlined by Hendrick, Sabates and Fornelli, back in October.

It's not clear if the Nascar folks have changed lanes or not.

Pat McCrory received $2.2 million in donations by the end of June.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee raised $1.1 million from donors in the second quarter of 2008, according to a report filed with the State Board of Elections.

Major donors included Belk executive John Belk, former U.S. Sen. Jim Broyhill, Bojangles owner Joseph Drury, Nascar team owner Rick Hendrick, Raleigh real estate executive John Kane, CaptiveAire Systems owner Bob Luddy, Variety Wholesalers executive James Pope and Duke Energy president Ellen Ruff.

He received only $450 in the second quarter from political action committees. 

His campaign has received no loans.

He had cash on hand of $709,448 at the end of the second quarter. 

Pat McCrory will hold his first major fundraiser Wednesday.

The Republian gubernatorial candidate's new campaign manager, Jack Hawke, said the event has already drawn $400,000 in contributions, the Charlotte Observer reports.

That's roughly the amount of money that McCrory transferred from his mayoral campaign when he first announced his run for governor. 

Among the headliners: Bank of America chief Ken Lewis, Duke Energy head Ellen Ruff, Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Skipper Beck; Showmars restaurants founder George Couchell; NASCAR driver Brian Vickers; and NASCAR team owners Ray Evernham, Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates. 

The event will be held at the home of developer Mel Graham, the nephew of the Rev. Billy Graham. 

The campaign will not have to report its total contributions for two months. 

Rudy Giuliani will hold a NASCAR-flavored fundraiser next week in Charlotte.

Brian France, owner of NASCAR is hosting a fundraiser for the former New York City mayor on November 7th, according to Jim Culbertson, the Winston-Salem businessman who is Giuliani's state chairman.

The cocktail reception will be held at the home of Jennifer Frances Bates and Ward Bates with costs ranging from $1,000 per person to $2,300 per person for a photograph, Rob Christensen reports.

Culberston said hoped the event would raise "a couple of hundred thousand" dollars. He said some of the racing figures who have given to Giuliani include Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and NASCAR's top two drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

This is the second North Carolina fund raiser for Giuliani. One was held for the GOP presidential candidate in Greensboro in April.

Maybe we should call him Racin' Rudy.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is popular with some high-profile members of NASCAR, according to campaign finance reports filed today with the Federal Election Commission.

NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears all contributed $2,300 to Giuliani's Republican presidential campaign during the most recent quarter.

But they may have just been taking orders from the pit. Gordon, Johnson and Mears all drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Rick Hendrick, the head of Hendrick Motorsports, also contributed to Giuliani.