Sirius-Speedway.com

MRN Radio Expands Rolex 24 Coverage

2012-01-27T13:57:00.001-05:00

Motor Racing Network has added seven hours of programming to its broadcast ofthis weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and will now have exclusive radio coverageof all 24 hours of the twice-around-the-clock classic.

Inpartnership with RadioLeMans.com, the overnight laps from 11 p.m. (EST)Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday will now be streamed live at MotorRacingNetwork.com.

Ryan Dalziel is on the pole for the Rolex 24

The50^th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will get thegreen flag Saturday. Pre-race coverage and the opening laps will air livestarting at 3 p.m. on MRN’s network of affiliates, which will broadcast a totalof six hours over two days including the closing laps on Sunday. All24 hours of the race will now be streamed live at www.motorracingnetwork.com.

“We’reprivileged to team up with Radio Show Limited, the people behind Radio LeMans,to make this additional coverage possible,” said MRN President and ExecutiveProducer David Hyatt. “Daytona International Speedway is celebrating the 50^thanniversary of this sports car classic and it’s a great way for Motor RacingNetwork to kick off its 43^rd year of racing coverage.”

Legendarydriver Dan Gurney won the first running of this race in 1962. MRN debuted eightyears later, evolving into “The Voice of NASCAR” and now embarking on its thirdyear providing live coverage of the entireGRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.This year’s broadcast from Daytona will be anchored by Eli Gold, Preston Rootand Mike Bagley; and produced by Ryan Horn.

Motor Racing Network’s 2012 broadcast schedule began Jan. 20 with exclusiveradio coverage of the third annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony inCharlotte, N.C. Following the Rolex 24 at Daytona, MRN will air the Feb. 18Budweiser Shootout to help kick off NASCAR Speedweeks leading up to the 54^thDaytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26.

MotorRacing Network / 50^th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
(All timesEST)

Saturday,Jan. 28
3-5 p.m.Radio & Web Streaming

5-7 p.m.Web Only
7-7:30 p.m.Radio & Web
7:30 p.m.– 12 a.m. Web Only

Sunday,Jan. 29
12 a.m. –9 a.m. Web Only
9-9:30a.m. Radio & Web
9:30 a.m.– 1 p.m. Web Only
1-4 p.m.Radio & Web

Photo Credit: Grand-Am.com

Annett Joins RPM For Nationwide Effort

2012-01-27T10:34:00.000-05:00

Richard Petty Motorsports has announced theformation of a new NASCAR Nationwide Series team with driver Michael Annett andhis long-time partner Pilot Flying J. The team will be run out of RPM’sConcord, N.C. race shop and will vie for the NASCAR Nationwide Serieschampionship.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, comes toRichard Petty Motorsports after spending last season at Rusty Wallace, Inc. Hehas posted 13 top-10 finishes in 105 Nationwide Series starts and drove to aninth-place finish in the championship points standings last season.

“They say that when one door closes, anotherdoor opens, and that is most definitely true,” said Annett. “We were leftscrambling a bit because of the situation with RWI and were unsure what the futureheld, but I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out. To havethe chance to race for Richard Petty and to be under the RPM umbrella isamazing. It has all come together really quickly, but together with PilotFlying J and Ford, this is the best opportunity I have ever had to race aNationwide Series car. There’s a lot to be done before we get to Daytona in afew weeks and I can’t wait to dive in and get started.”

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity topartner with a brand as prestigious as Pilot Flying J,” said team Co-ownerRichard Petty. “We are happy to welcome them to the Richard Petty Motorsportsfamily and to our partner family as well.

Michael Annett Joins RPM

“This has been an exciting couple of months forRichard Petty Motorsports,” said Petty. “We are looking forward to getting backinto the Nationwide Series full time and seeing what Michael can do in an RPMFord Mustang. Michael has improved every season he has raced in the NationwideSeries and has the dedication and drive to be a success.”

“Pilot Flying J is excited for Michael and ournew partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports,” stated Mark Hazelwood,Executive Vice President, Pilot Flying J. “PFJ has had a longstandingrelationship with both Michael and the Petty family. Richard Petty is a NASCARlegend and this opportunity further extends our commitment to Michael and thesport. We look forward to a great partnership.”

Annett began his own racing career in 2007competing in the ARCA Series. In only his fourth start, Annett drove his PilotTravel Centers machine to victory lane at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Hedrove to victory once again in the ARCA Series the next season at DaytonaInternational Speedway and also piloted an entry in the NASCAR Camping WorldTruck Series in eight events that season. In 2009, he moved to the NationwideSeries with Germain Racing and posted four top-10 finishes en route to a 10^th-placeeffort in the point standings. He remained at Germain through 2010 and in 2011competed for RWI.

Ward Burton Returns!

2012-01-27T10:20:00.004-05:00

Former Daytona 500 Champion Ward Burton will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of the No. 27 Hillman Racing Chevrolet in next month’s season-opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Burton will have sponsorship from State Waters Heaters

Ward Burton Joins Hillman Racing

Hillman Racing is making its NASCAR debut this season, but the organization is anything but new to the sport. Team owner Mike Hillman Sr. played a key role in the founding of Germain Racing and was the architect of the group's two NASCAR championships in 2006 and 2010. Hillman acquired the championship-winning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series assets following the conclusion of the 2011 season and is set to embark as the owner and general manager of Hillman Racing for the 2012 season.

“I have to thank Bob Germain for his friendship over the years; it’s because of that we were able to acquire the truck teams,” said Hillman. “I put my heart and soul into that organization and I wanted to continue the tradition of winning that we established there with the two Camping World Truck Series championships. I’m also appreciative of State Water Heaters for coming onboard as we continue to talk with additional marketing partners to grow this operation. Having a driver of Ward’s caliber entrusting me with the development of his son’s Jeb NASCAR career is a compliment to what I’ve been a part of in the Truck Series and the sport. I’m also looking forward to adding Ward to the list of drivers to win at least one race in each of the NASCAR National Series when we go to Daytona next month.”

In 375 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Burton has posted fives wins, seven poles and 24 top-five and 82 top-10 finishes. Burton also has four NASCAR Nationwide Series victories, seven poles, 23 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes in 161 starts.

“I am real excited about the things we have going on with Mike and his program. I think this is a real good thing for Jeb and his career,” said Burton. “Hillman Sr. is building a great team of people and we are hoping that we can bring some additional marketing partners on board with us to make this program a huge success. Jeb and I have our long-time supporter State Water Heaters on board with us and we are thrilled that they are going to be a part of our 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and helping to kick off Jeb’s NASCAR debut.”

A driver development program is being established for Jeb Burton, Ward's 19-year-old son. Since making his last NASCAR start, Burton has been using that time to focus on helping his son Jeb develop his racing career and his conservation efforts with The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation.

Being the son of NASCAR’s 2002 Daytona 500 winner, it's natural to think that Jeb Burton would hope to become a professional race car driver like his dad. Jeb has been racing since he was a kid, starting in go-karts and racing his way through the ranks in ASA and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Now, at age 19, he is ready to step into one of NASCAR’s top tier racing series with Hillman Racing in No. 27 Chevrolet Silverado, sporting the same number that he has been racing in his Late Model division.

“I’m excited to race in the truck series,” said Burton. “This is a big step from the NASCAR Whelen Series but I am ready for it. I am comfortable with my crew chief Trip Bruce and the team of guys here at Hillman Racing. There are a lot of resources here with this race team and I am real appreciative for State Water Heaters and Mike Hillman Sr. for giving me this chance.”

“State Water Heaters and Ward Burton have been partners since 2007,” stated Jeff Storie, Senior Marketing Manager for State Water Heaters. “We realized early on that Ward has a natural connection with our wholesalers and contractors. Because of that connection, Ward is a great ambassador for the State brand. We’re thrilled that our 2012 partnership is moving back on the track with both Ward & Jeb. We look forward to seeing what Ward, Jeb and the whole Hillman Racing team can do together and we’re glad to be a part of it.”

“Mike Hillman's results in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series speak for themselves. We're excited to see what the combo of Hillman Racing, the Burtons & State can produce.”

Complete details of the driver lineup for the remainder of the season will be announced at a later date.

Photo Credit: Autostock

France: NASCAR "In A Very Good Place."

2012-01-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

NASCAR Chairman Brian France made it clear today that the sanctioning body and its stakeholders intend to build on the success of 2011 as the new season begins with the Feb. 26 Daytona 500 and other Speedweeks events at Daytona International Speedway.

In his State of NASCAR remarks delivered during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, France said, “The sport is in a very good place and we’re going to work even harder to achieve the very best things for the sport of NASCAR well into the future.”

France pointed to initiatives begun a year ago – a simplified points structure in all three national series and a “Wild Card” twist in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ that placed a greater emphasis on race victories – which culminated in what France called “a championship battle that will be talked about for decades to come.”

While the 2012 season will be one of continuity rather than major change, NASCAR will introduce electronic fuel injection into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and implement rules designed to restore traditional “pack racing” at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

“We have had a breathtaking number of close finishes at those tracks, but the fans want a mixture of styles including a return to a more traditional ‘pack racing’ and that close side-by-side competition that’s unique to Talladega and Daytona,” France said. “NASCAR and the teams are working hard on this and based on the test earlier this month, we’re encouraged that we’re making progress.”

France also said the sanctioning body continues to operate on a more collaborative method of maintaining and growing the industry by taking into consideration the thoughts and needs of teams, tracks, media partners and especially its fans. “The goal of this effort is to help us better serve our great fans, grow our audience and ensure that our sport stays relevant, vibrant and highly-valuable to sponsors and other partners critical to the health of NASCAR,” said France.

“The industry has never been more united in growing the sport.”

France said the organization is “very encouraged” by increased television ratings across its three national series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He also pointed to attendance gains at a number of venues. “While we are still in a tough economic climate that is still difficult, we are pleased with some positive steps we saw last year,” he said.

France and Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president, competition and racing development, touched on how EFI and the introduction in 2013 of re-styled NASCAR Sprint Cup cars from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota will make the sport more relevant to manufacturers and technology companies.

“EFI excites the manufacturers and technology companies,” said France, responding to questioning about NASCAR’s embrace of technology. “To attract new companies (to the sport), we’ve had to take a little different view of that.”

Ford earlier this week unveiled its 2013 Fusion prototype with the other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to follow in the near future. A closed test of the cars is scheduled early next month with additional testing to follow before final specifications are drawn.

“This is certainly a milestone in our sport,” said Pemberton. “We’ve worked very closely with the manufacturers on the new car and the four new models are simply outstanding.

“I think the fans are going to love them and it is going to be such a positive step in helping our race cars become more and more relevant with our fans past, present and future.”

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood previewed next month’s 54th Annual Daytona 500 (Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio). He and his staff are committed to building on the enthusiasm of the 2011 season – and last year’s race that made 20-year-old winner Trevor Bayne a household name.

“We kicked off the (2011) season with energy and enthusiasm and that’s our goal for this year,” said Chitwood. “We want to produce that kind of event again.”Daytona’s season begins Saturday with the running of the 50th Annual Rolex 24. The twice-round-the-clock race, most of which can be seen live on SPEED beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, kicks off the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Series campaign.

Thursday’s event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame also introduced the 2012 Drive for Diversity class which will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and at selected NASCAR Whelen All-America Series tracks for Rev Racing. They are Jorge Arteaga, 25, Aguascalientes, Mexico; Mackena Bell, 21, Carson City, Nev.; Trey Gibson, 19, Easley, S.C.; Ryan Gifford, 22, Winchester, Tenn.; Kyle Larson, 19, Elk Grove, Calif.; and Bryan Ortiz, 22, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Pocono Founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli Dies

2012-01-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder and patriarch of Pocono International Raceway, died today at age 86.

Rest In Peace, Doc

Along with his wife, Rose, Mattioli carved Pocono Raceway out of a farm field, breaking ground on the distinctive, three-turn speedway in 1969. The track combined characteristics of three of the era's most successful venues. Turn One was modeled after the former Trenton (NJ) Speedway and Turn Two -- also known as "The Tunnel Turn" -- was copied from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Turn Three is similar to the legendary Milwaukee Mile, and the track's sharp corners and long straightaways make it one of the most unique and challenging courses in all of NASCAR.

Pocono hosted major, open wheel events under the USAC, CART and Champ Car World Series banners from 1971 to 1989, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events since 1974. It also hosted the legendary Race of Champions modified race from 1977 to 1991, first on the 2.5-mile tri-oval, then later on a three-quarter mile infield oval. Doc and Rose were a constant presence at the track, greeting media members and drivers by name while hosting nearly 70 races on the headline NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

He surprised many by announcing his retirement earlier this year, turning the reins over to his grandchildren. His successor as President, grandson Brandon Igdalski, said Mattioli announced his decision in vintage fashion. “We got a call about 30 minutes beforehand saying, `Be in the Media Center in half an hour,’" said Igdalski. "I had no idea he was going to retire. My jaw hit the ground.”

Mattioli continued to keep his thumb on the pulse of both the track and the sport, and ensured that NASCAR racing would continue at Pocono for years to come. "I put (the track) in trust," said Mattioli recently. (The grandchildren) can't touch it. They can't sell it. The (SOBs) are going to run it, or they're going to starve."

Igdalski announced his grandfather's passing this afternoon, writing, "Today I have lost my best friend, my mentor, my hero and most of all my grandfather. Pop, you have touched so many! I love and miss you!

"He set the bar so high," said Igdalski recently. "We feel if we can half fill his shoes, we've accomplished something, but he's a legend in this sport. He's a legend in the area for what he's done, not only for the sport as a whole, but for the whole Pocono Mountains and northeastern Pennsylvania."

Elliott, Walmart Set For Coke Zero 400

2012-01-26T10:23:00.004-05:00

Former champion Bill Elliott will drive a Walmart-sponsoredNo. 50 Chevrolet out of the Turner Motorsports stable in this July’s Coke Zero400 at Daytona International Speedway.

The 56-year old Elliott commented on the deal, saying, ““Turner Motorsports hasa lot of resources. I think they can do a really good job from what they’vedone in the Nationwide Series. I feel comfortable with it. I’m very excitedabout this program.” Elliott’s No. 50 Chevrolet will utilize horsepower fromHendrick Racing Engines.

The 1988 Sprint Cup Series champion has runat least five races each year since retiring from fulltime competition at theend of the 2003 season. He made five starts for Phoenix Racing and WhitneyMotorsports last year, with a best finish of 12^th in the Daytona500.

Notes From NASCAR's Media Tour

2012-01-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

NASCARannounced Wednesday that it will no longer assess secret fines to its drivers,crewmembers and team owners.

France: No More Secrets

Inrecent years, NASCAR has assessed at least three undisclosed fines to individualsfor comments deemed detrimental to the sport. Brad Keselowski was docked $25,000last season for questioning the motives behind NASCAR's conversion to fuelinjection. A year earlier, Denny Hamlin was sanctioned for accusing NASCAR ofthrowing unwarranted caution flags to tighten the field late in races. RyanNewman was also fined in 2010 after making critical comments following a crashat Talladega Superspeedway.

Whenthose fines became public, NASCAR found itself hip-deep in a public relations quagmire.The so-called “secret fines” gave the sport an unnecessary stigma of secrecy, makingit impossible for fans and media members to determine whether drivers were speakingtheir minds, or simply mouthing the company line.

NASCARchairman Brian France said late last season that he would review the policy andconsider a change. Wednesday, the sanctioning body issued a statement saying, “NASCARwill no longer issue fines that are undisclosed. We looked at this issue fromevery angle and gathered feedback from the industry. While there are alwayssensitivities related to sponsor relationships -- and (while) other leagues maycontinue issuing disclosed and undisclosed fines -- NASCAR has decided that allfines moving forward will be made public after the competitor or organizationthat has been penalized has been informed.”

…Kevin Harvick announced Wednesday the he andwife DeLana are expecting their first child. DeLana Harvick is 14 weeks pregnant,with a due date expected in late July or early August. The Harvicks disbandedtheir NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck team at the end of last season,and have clearly found a positive use for their newfound free time!

…Media Tour 2012 has featured a number of newsponsor announcements. Furniture Row Racing announcedthe addition of CSX Transportation and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers to itslist of associate sponsors for the 2012 season. CSX Transportation, the thirdlargest railroad in the United States – will highlight its “Play it Safe”campaign urging pedestrians and motorists to exercise caution around railroadtracks. Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers will spotlight the importance ofkeeping America's food supply produced in the United States.

RichardChildress Racing announced an extension of its longtime partnership withBB&T Corporation for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. BB&T willserve as primary sponsor on the No. 31 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton forfive races, retaining its status as official bank of the 43-year-old Welcome,N.C.-based organization. The No. 31 BB&T Chevrolet will debut in March atBristol Motor Speedway, with other appearances coming in April at MartinsvilleSpeedway and Richmond International Raceway and in May at Darlington Racewayalong with a special edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar at theNASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. BB&T’s burgundy and gray paint scheme willalso adorn the No. 31 entry at Dover International Speedway in June.

Snap-on Tools will expand its role with PenskeRacing, serving as primary sponsor of the No. 22 Dodge Challenger in four NASCARNationwide Series races this season. Snap-on will adorn the No. 22 car driven byBrad Keselowski and Parker Kligerman at Darlington Raceway (May 11), DoverInternational Speedway (June 2), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 14) andRichmond International Raceway (September 7). “We are excited to grow anddevelop our long-standing partnership with Snap-on,” said Roger Penske.“Snap-on has been a terrific partner with our organization now for 30 years andwe look forward to celebrating this milestone with a great season together in2012.” Snap-on will continue to serve as an associate sponsor on all of PenskeRacing’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and IndyCar Series teams.

The WURTH GROUP will sponsor Sam Hornish, Jr ‘sNo. 12 Nationwide Series Dodge out of the Penske stable in seven races, as partof a new, multi-year partnership. Hornish will compete in the full NationwideSeries this season, with sponsorship from WURTH and Alliance Truck Parts. WURTHwill be an associate sponsor for the remaining 26 Nationwide Series races, and anassociate sponsor of Penske’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series.

… MaxPapis will drive the #33 Richard Childress Racing Rheem/Menards Chevy when theNASCAR Nationwide Series visits Road America on June 23. In addition tocompeting at the 14-turn road course, Papis will serve as a driver coach forhis RCR teammates, assisting in strengthening their road-racing skills

…Motor Racing Network – “The Voice of NASCAR” – was honored by the NationalMotorsports Press Association last week with 13 awards for broadcast excellenceduring the 2011 NASCAR season, including first place in the Live Eventcategory. MRN Radio wasrecognized at the NMPA’s annual convention in Concord, N.C., with veteran radiovoice Steve Blevins named NMPA Broadcaster of the Year. The network also wontop honors for its broadcast of the Aaron’s499 Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway in April, whereJimmie Johnson edged Clint Bowyer by two one-thousandths of a second in a racethat featured 88 lead changes among 26 drivers. The network also won thirdplace in the same category for its broadcast of the Camping World Truck Seriesrace in November at Texas Motor Speedway, in which Ron Hornaday crashed earlyand fell out of title contention in the next-to-last race of the year.

In earningBroadcaster of the Year honors, Blevins contributed to MRN’s coverage of the2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – writing and producingbiographical features on Bud Moore and Lee Petty which earned him a sweep offirst and second place in the Short-Form Feature Radio category.

…The annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour always produces anumber of unexpected, controversial and humorous quotes. This year’s edition hasbeen no different.

Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnsonissued a candid assessment of his unsuccessful 2011 title defense, saying ofchampion Tony Stewart, "We got beat by our own equipment.” Stewart’s teamcampaigns chassis and engines purchased from Hendrick Motorsports.

Not to be outdone, DaleEarnhardt, Jr., raised a few eyebrows this week when asked why NASCAR NationwideSeries teammate Danica Patrick enjoys such a high degree of popularity. Said Earnhardt,“She's a woman."

AJ Allmendinger got adose of reality Thursday when Media Tour 2012 descended on his new PenskeRacing shops. "I finally realized I was a Penske driver this morning whenI put on my white Hugo Boss shirt,” said Allmendinger. “I thought, `Now it'sreal.’"

Sadler, Gaughan To Share RCR's #33 Chevy

2012-01-26T09:33:00.001-05:00

Richard Childress Racing will campaign its#33 Chevrolet in the first five races of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriesseason.

Brendan Gaughan returns to Cup

Elliott Sadler confirmed yesterday what SiriusXM Speedway first reported earlierthis week, that he will drive the team’s #33 Chevy in the “Great American Race”on Sunday, February 26, at Daytona International Speedway. Sponsorship willcome from Kroger.

"It's great to be back in the Daytona 500,” said Sadler.“I've had a lot of success in this race in the past and want to thank GeneralMills, Kroger and Richard Childress for this opportunity. We're going to go outand have a legitimate chance to win the race. Speedweeks can't get here soonenough!"

Sadler’s red, white and blue paint scheme will feature the KrogerCo. family of stores, Fred Meyer Jewelers and several General Mills brands. Veterancrew chief Gil Martin will oversee the effort.

Brendan Gaughan will drive the car in thenext four Sprint Cup races, beginning at Phoenix International Raceway and running through Las Vegas, Bristol and AutoClub Speedway in Fontana, CA. Sponsorship will come from the South Point Hotel& Casino.

"The opportunity to run four races for Richard Childress inthe Sprint Cup Series is truly amazing,' said Gaughan. “Everyone deserves asecond chance and I am ecstatic that my second chance in the Sprint Cup Seriesis in the #33 Chevrolet with RCR."

TBR Adds Truex, Santos To Nationwide Lineup

2012-01-25T18:19:00.004-05:00

Tommy Baldwin Racing will expand its NASCAR Nationwide Series program with the addition of Ryan Truex and Bobby Santos, who will share driving duties with Ryan Blaney. Truex will compete in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25. Santos will race in the Subway Jalapeno 250 at DIS July 6. Blaney will run six NNS events with TBR, debuting April 27 at Richmond International Raceway.

Ryan Truex

Truex will make his first superspeedway start in the NNS season-opener. The 19-year-old racer made his NNS debut in 2010 at Gateway International Raceway and made 24 starts in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He compiled five top-10 finishes including a third-place finish at Kansas Speedway. Truex competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2009 and 2010 and won the championship both years with a top-10 average finish.

“I’m happy to be back in a race car,” said Truex. “I was back and forth between teams last year, so it is nice to be in a car for the first race of this season. I’m excited about racing at a superspeedway. This is my first restrictor plate race and first start at Daytona. It’s something I’ve never done, but it looks like a lot of fun. Superspeedway racing is something I need to learn as I progress in my career. Hopefully, I can find myself a good partner to work with and have a good finish at the end.”

Santos has competed under the TBR Development banner since 2010. He competed in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2010 and 2011 and won the championship in his first season in the series. The 26-year-old won the inaugural USAC National Pavement Sprint Car Series championship last season in a family-owned car. Santos made five starts in the NNS since 2007. His last start was at DIS February 2011 where he finished 17 ^th in a JR Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet.

Bobby Santos

“I’m thrilled to compete in the Nationwide series again,” said Santos. “The Daytona race last year was a lot of fun. It was kind of a last minute deal, so I’m glad we’ll have some time to prepare for it this year. Tommy and Al have done a lot to help my career, and I appreciate them giving me this opportunity in the Nationwide Series.”

This season will mark TBR’s fourth season of competition. TBR began as a part-time one-car NSCS team in 2009 and developed into a top-35 team by 2011. In 2012, TBR plans to compete with two NSCS teams. The part time NNS team will expand on TBR’s driver development program in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The team would like to increase the number of races in both the NSCS and NNS schedules, provided more sponsorship can be found.

“We are really working hard to develop young talent,” explained owner Tommy Baldwin. “The Nationwide series is a great place for young drivers to learn the ropes and compete at the same tracks as the ‘Cup series. It is important to give these kids opportunities to showcase their talents for their future and for the future of TBR.”

TBR NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule:
· February 25^th – Ryan Truex – Daytona International Speedway
· April 27^th – Ryan Blaney – Richmond International Raceway
· May 11^th – Ryan Blaney – Darlington Raceway
· June 29^th – Ryan Blaney – Kentucky Speedway
· July 6^th – Bobby Santos – Daytona International Speedway
· July 28^th – Ryan Blaney – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
· August 24^th – Ryan Blaney – Bristol Motor Speedway
· October 12^th – Ryan Blaney – Charlotte Motor Speedway

NASCAR Writer Benny Phillips Passes

2012-01-25T13:35:00.001-05:00

NASCARMedia pioneer Benny Phillips died Tuesday morning, following a brief illness.

Phillips’byline appeared in the High Point (NC) Enterprise for 48 years; the last 32 ofwhich were spent as the paper’s sports editor. He penned a monthly column forStock Car Racing Magazine for more than a quarter of a century, chronicling thesport and its stars. For 12 years, he contributed on-air commentary to theweekly MotorWeek Illustrated program on WTBS and ESPN; one of the firstnational television shows devoted exclusively to motorsports.

Prior tohis retirement in January of 2008, Phillips was honored as National MotorsportsPress Association Writer of the Year seven times. In 1986, he was the inauguralrecipient of the prestigious Buddy Shuman Memorial Award for outstandingcontribution and loyalty to the sport of auto racing. Other honors include theHenry T. McLemore Motorsports Press Award for excellence in journalism, the JoeLittlejohn Award for loyalty to auto racing, and the Sears Craftsman of theYear Award in 1983.

Phillipsalso wrote four books, including Dale Earnhardt’s authorized biography, “Determined.”

Former Stock Car Racing magazine editor Dr. Dick Berggren said of Phillips, "Benny was one of the longest-serving columnists in the history of the magazine. He was also an award winning feature wriiter for that magazine. Benny had polio as a child and got around on crutches during adulthood, but it never, ever impeded his ability to get the job done well. He had very close relationships with many drivers, but especially Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I was his editor for most of his tenure at Stock Car and found him a pleasure to work with. His copy was always accurate, interesting and needed nothing from any editor. Benny was a great guy who was liked by everyone."

Recentlyinducted NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Inman told the Enterprise, “He was one of mybest friends and a great fan of Richard’s. I spoke to him about two or threetimes a week, just to speak about sports. This comes as a shock to me. He wasone of the pioneer’s of NASCAR writing.”

Funeralarrangements are still pending.

NHMS Heralds Major Increase In Ticket Sales

2012-01-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

There is still some work to do, but there are indicators that the economy is beginning to loosen its death grip on NASCAR and its member tracks.

Officials at New Hampshire Motor Speedway say "The Magic Mile" has seen a spike in sales for both its July and September NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, compared to 2011. "We haven't seen this level of sales activity this early in quite some time," said the track's Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jerry Gappens this week. "We are up an average of double digits between the two races. Our fans and families have been struggling for quite a while in this economy. I take this as a sign that the recovery is underway."

Susan Colby, Vice President of guest services at NHMS said ticket sales for July's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 are up 4% from last year, with sales for the SYLVANIA 300 in September up a whopping 19%. "When times are tight for fans, one of the first things people cut from their budget is vacations and summertime extras," said Colby. "We are thrilled to see them coming back in big numbers." She added that increased sales of camping space and pre-race pit passes are also a good sign that fans have more discretionary funds this year than in the past.

Those statistics also speak well for the hard work being done at venues like NHMS to entice fans back through the gates. Speedway management conducted an aggressive, off-season ticket campaign, with mailers and email reminders to regular customers, as well as aggressive public relations efforts to keep Loudon in the spotlight for locals and fans.

"Strong sales don't just happen," said Gappens. "In this environment, you have to work harder to bring fans to the speedway. We use every tool at our disposal, from traditional media and mailers to social media. We are thrilled with the results and hopeful the trend continues. I believe we are a barometer for economic activity and this is certainly a hopeful sign of recovery."

Gappens stressed that tickets are still available for both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the Granite State oval, by calling (603) 783-4931. Specific seats can be requested through Feb. 1. After that date, all seats will be released to the public. Guests can also visit www.nhms.com for tickets and more information.

Ganassi Hopes To Improve On "Pathetic" 2011

2012-01-25T11:51:00.000-05:00

Chip Ganassipulled no punches Tuesday, calling his team’s 2011 performance “pathetic.”

EarnhardtGanassi Racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya finished a disappointing 21^stin Sprint Cup Series point last year, with only two Top-5 finishes in 36starts. Teammate Jamie McMurray fared even worse. After winning three of thecircuit’s most prestigious races the previous season, McMurray floundered badlyin 2011, recording only two Top-10 finishes en route to 27^th inpoints.

That kind ofperformance is far below Ganassi’s usual standards. On the second day of theannual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, the veteran NASCAR and IZOD IndyCar team ownercalled last season "pathetic for a team of our ability and ourresources." The team made a number of major personnel moves during the offseason,firing longtime Competition Director Steve Hmiel and team manager TonyGlover in late November. Hmiel had spent 11 years with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.before joining EGR when the teams merged operations in late 2008. Glover had beenwith the team since Ganassi joined NASCAR in 2000 by purchasing the formerSABCO Racing.

It remainsto be seen whether EGR can regain in 2010 form, and Ganassi dismissed talk ofexpanding to a three-car effort yesterday, saying that even if sponsorship wereavailable, his team is not sufficiently competitive to justify the move.

There arebright spots for EGR, however. Despite a still-lagging economy that has major organizationslike Roush Fenway Racing scrambling for sponsorship. Both Montoya and McMurrayare fully sponsored for 2012. The team debuted McMurray’s new Belkin, LiftMasterand Banana Boat-sponsored Chevrolets Tuesday, as that trio of new backers preparesto join Bass Pro Shops and McDonald’s as sponsors of McMurray’s No. 1 entry. Targetwill return as major sponsor of Montoya’s No. 42 Chevrolet.

Sadler Hoping For Daytona 500 Start

2012-01-24T17:09:00.000-05:00

Elliott Sadler confirmed today that talks are underway to put him in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet for the 2012 Daytona 500.

“I’ve said before if I got chance to be in competitive Cup car again, I would jump at the chance,” said Sadler in an exclusive interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody. “Richard Childress and I have had some conversations, but what we really need is sponsorship, We’re getting close to getting that done, but there’s nothing done yet. I can’t confirm anything right now, but I am damn sure pulling for it to happen.”

RCR will field full-time Sprint Cup Series entries in 2012 for drivers Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Paul Menard, but has an additional guaranteed starting spot in the first five races of this season; earned a year ago by Clint Bowyer’s #33 Chevrolet. Sadler is expected to wheel the #33, if a financial backer can be found.

The Emporia, Virginia driver said he is confident in his ability to race and win at Daytona, if the opportunity presents itself. “Look back over my last 10 Daytona 500 starts, and I don’t think there are many drivers with better average finishes than I have. Jeff Gordon may be the only one. I’ve had a lot of Top-5 and Top-10 finishes there, and I’ve been close to winning the 500 a couple of times. I really enjoy that race and I want to be a part of it. Maybe I can even earn a spot in the All Star race at the same time!”

Sadler said he is excited to open the season at Daytona, and as high hopes of contending once again for the Nationwide Series championship. “Even if we don’t run the 500, I’m exciting about my chances to win the Nationwide race. We’ve got a cool, new One Main Financial paint scheme, a new race team, a new race shop… a lot of good things going on right now.”

ModSpace Signs With Front Row Motorsports

2012-01-24T17:01:00.002-05:00

Modular construction provider ModSpace will partner with Front Row Motorsports in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a multi-race primary sponsorship and season-long associate sponsorship of the No. 38 Ford, driven by David Gilliland. The No. 34 Ford, driven by David Ragan, will also carry an associate sponsorship from ModSpace for the full season.

The new partnership expands an existing business relationship between the Berwyn, Penn.-based company and Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins. ModSpace is currently working with Jenkins' quick-service restaurant company to build new Taco Bell/Long John Silver's locations.

"I've been impressed with ModSpace and their modular construction concepts and the experience they bring to the table," Jenkins said. "Our companies share some of the same ideals, so it's a natural fit to team up. I'm excited they're going to partner with us on the racetrack now, too."

The new motorsports partnership will help with another type of "building" - the continued growth of Jenkins' Sprint Cup team, which is coming off the best season in its young history. The first appearance of the No. 38 ModSpace Ford is scheduled for the April 14 race at Texas Motor Speedway. ModSpace is a provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary or permanent space needs. Building on more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets - including commercial, construction, education, government, healthcare, industrial/energy and special events - through an extensive nationwide branch network throughout the United States and Canada.

"We are thrilled to partner with Front Row Motorsports for this upcoming Sprint Cup season," stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. "In the modular construction business, we understand the importance of speed while still delivering a high-quality product, so this motorsports alignment is perfect for our business model. ModSpace looks forward to a great season from both the No. 38 and No. 34 teams."

FIRST LOOK! The New 2013 Ford Sprint Cup Car

2012-01-24T14:17:00.001-05:00

Ford Motor Company is set to unveil its new, 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford Fusion; an all-new design that is much more stock-appearing than anything seen in NASCAR for many years. Take a look!

Notes From Media Tour: Logano Faces Pivotal Year

2012-01-24T13:12:00.000-05:00

When Mark Martin tabs you as a can’t-miss prospect at the ripe old age of 15, there’s pressure.

When you dominate the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in your rookie season, winning five times in 13 starts en route to the series championship, expectations escalate.
When you finish ninth in your first career NASCAR Nationwide Series start, people notice.

When you win your next two Nationwide races against fields jam-packed with Sprint Cup Series talent, the spotlight shines even brighter.

When you’re promoted to the headline Sprint Cup Series, replacing a former series champion and are dubbed “Sliced Bread;” all before you’re old enough to shave, people expect a lot.

Unfortunately, for Joey Logano, the weight of expectation has become a heavy burden indeed. Now a NASCAR veteran at 21 years of age, the Middletown, Conn., driver faces what many see as a make-or-break season in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing/Home Depot Toyota. During his four-year tenure with JGR, Logano has managed just one win in his 111 Sprint Cup starts; a rain-shortened victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2009. His best points finish was a 16th in 2010, and he faded to 24th last year, with just six Top-10 finishes along the way. Teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch posted a combined 24 victories in that span, along with five Chase appearances and a near championship for Hamlin in 2010.

Logano’s crew chief, Greg Zipadelli, jumped ship during the off season to rejoin old friend Tony Stewart and fill the vacant Competition Director’s post at Stewart Haas Racing. Barring a breakthrough season in 2012, most believe Logano will be the next to go.

Yesterday, on Day One of the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, Logano told reporters he feels the pressure to perform and understands that much is expected of him this season. He vowed to be a tougher, less easygoing driver in 2012, standing his ground and wrinking a competitor’s fender if necessary.

No more of the driver challenged by Zipadelli to “grow some balls and take care of it” by Zipadelli after being wrecked by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. last season at Martinsville.

No more smiling Joey. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

As the lights went out following JGR’s media reception, Logano tweeted, “Done with Media Day. It made me even more pumped about this year. #TakingNoPrisoners.”

Smoke Set For NatWide Run: Tony Stewart will look to extend his impressive NASCAR Nationwide Series win streak at Daytona International Speedway next month, driving a #33 Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing, with sponsorship from Oreos. Stewart has rolled to an Earnhardt-esque four consecutive Speedweeks Nationwide wins, and will rank as a heavy favorite for a fifth.

And Finally: The best quote of Media Tour to date came from always-colorful team owner Felix Sabates, who quipped, “I've had drivers who, with 40 laps to go, would get in the back (of the pack). One of them is doing TV now, with a wig." You figure it out!

Kyle Busch Just Can't Catch A Break

2012-01-24T12:11:00.000-05:00

Kyle Busch has often been a lightning rod for controversy during his 11-year NASCAR career; never more so than at the end of the 2011 campaign. A crash with championship contender Ron Hornaday, Jr. under caution at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4 resulted in him being “parked” by NASCAR from the weekend’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup events. Sponsor M&Ms elected not to take part in the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, and Busch feared he would lose his job over the incident.

Now, Busch says he’ll be a new man in 2012. He has to be.

"If you keep getting in trouble, you're not going to be here very long,” said the Joe Gibbs Racing driver during yesterday’s opening day of the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour. “I'm trying to change something."

That will be unwelcome news to many of Busch’s most ardent fans, who embrace their driver as much for his renegade persona as his indisputable skills behind the wheel of a race car. They worry that toning down Busch’s off-track demeanor will impact his race day brilliance, turning one of NASCAR’s most polarizing personalities into just another corporate yes-man, smiling at the cameras and thanking God, Goodyear and Gatorade for a seventh-place finish and a good points day.

“I've got fans that tell me all the time they don't want to see me change," admitted Busch yesterday. "I've tried to keep that, but ultimately, it's not going to work."

No matter how he tries, however, Busch cannot seem to avoid controversy. He was back on the hot seat again yesterday, when reporters asked about his new NASCAR Nationwide Series team. Busch confirmed recently that he will not race on the Camping World Truck Series this season; a change made at the request of JGR. He will, however, split a season of Nationwide Series competition with elder brother Kurt, driving a Monster Energy-sponsored Toyota out of his own Kyle Busch Motorsports stable. While that partnership was approved in advance by JGR President J.D. Gibbs, team owner Joe Gibbs pulled no punches in expressing his unhappiness with the arrangement.

"I will say that I was not in that meeting, or we would not be doing this," said Gibbs. "These two (Busch and J.D. Gibbs) got together and somehow, we are now racing against him."

No matter how hard he tries to toe the line, Kyle Busch just can’t catch a break.

Blake Shelton To Perform At Sprint All Star Race

2012-01-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

Blake Shelton, three-time GRAMMY nominee, CMA’s reigning Male Vocalist of the Year and a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform a pre-race concert for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, May 19, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Presented by Target, the concert will take place in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission to the show is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

“I cannot wait to help kick-off one of the biggest all-star events in pro sports, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Shelton. “We’re going to party!”

Fans can purchase a special Golden Ticket upgrade for just $20 to secure a prime location with special access to a reserved area directly in front of the stage. Charlotte Motor Speedway Season Ticket holders will have first opportunity to purchase the upgrade before it opens to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at noon. Approximately 2,000 Golden Tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

Shelton came on the music scene in 2001 when he released his debut single “Austin.” The song quickly rose to the number one spot on Billboard’s Country Music chart. Since then the Oklahoma native has gone on to record nine more number one hits including “Ol’ Red,” “The Baby,” “All About Tonight,” “Honey Bee” and his most recent, “God Gave Me You.” His newest single “Drink On It,” the third release off of his sixth studio album “Red River Blue,” is already a top 20 hit.

In addition to winning back-to-back honors as CMA Awards’ Male Vocalist of the Year, Shelton was named Favorite Country Male Artist by the American Music Awards, and is currently nominated for three GRAMMY Awards; Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song and Best Country Album.

Shelton is currently on his sold-out “Well Lit & Amplified 2012” tour, running through March. He can also be seen on NBC’s hit show “The Voice” as a musician coach, alongside fellow stars Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine.

In February, Shelton will perform a duet of “America the Beautiful” with his wife, GRAMMY award-winning artist, Miranda Lambert, at Super Bowl XLVI.

Danica Will Skip 2012 Indy 500

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

Danica Patrick solidified her commitment to being a full-time NASCAR driver this season, announcing that she will bypass the 2012 Indianapolis 500 in favor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Speaking during the Opening Day of NASCAR’s annual Preseason NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, Patrick confirmed that the Coca-Cola 600 will be included in her limited, 10-race schedule of Sprint Cup starts with Stewart Haas Racing this season. She will also make a full championship effort on the NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. In order to run the Coke 600 at Charlotte, Patrick will not compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series’ showcase event the same day. She has recorded six Top-10 finishes in seven career Indianapolis 500 starts, including a career-best third in 2009 for Andretti Green Racing.

Stewart said the decision to skip Indy was Patrick’s alone, adding, “We didn't tell her she couldn't run the 500." Stewart hailed the decision as a sign of her commitment to NASCAR and her new career in stock cars.

While admitting that Top-20 finishes are a reasonable expectation for her first part-time season of Sprint cup competition, Patrick said she believes she can contend for the win in next month’s Daytona 500 in her first-ever series start. New Stewart Haas Racing Competition Director Greg Zipadelli confirmed Patrick will have a guaranteed starting spot in the “Great American Race,” but declined to say how that position will be obtained. Team owner and defending series champion Tony Stewart could transfer his 2011 owner points to Patrick and rely on a Past Champion’s Provisional for the first five races of the season, or obtain owner points from another Top-35 team.

The 29-year old Patrick said she hopes to run the Indianapolis 500 again one day, adding, "I hope to do it in the future, and maybe it will be a double.”

Photo credit: UPI/Michael Bush/LANDOV

Gordon Wins NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award

2012-01-23T12:25:00.000-05:00

Jeff Gordon is the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award for 2011 for his work with children’s health issues. Gordon was one of four quarterly winners of the award, before being chosen by NMPA members as the overall winner for the year.

The NMPA Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Gordon has always taken an interest in children’s health issues through his Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Treatment Research, but those efforts expanded in 2011.

Gordon brought a hands-on approach to his work with children this summer. Working with the Clinton Global Initiative, Gordon traveled to a refugee camp in the Congo in July in an effort aid with health issues. He witnessed first-hand what children in the area face and offered his personal assistance to the program.

Other quarterly winners for 2011 included JTG Daugherty Racing, which was honored in the first quarter. Driver Bobby Labonte and his team embraced a six-year old girl seeking a bone marrow donor, as well as others needing similar transplants. The team visited her in the hospital and placed her photo and the "www.getswabbed.org” website on their #47 Toyota during the 2011 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, in an effort to raise awareness for both her fight and the need for donors overall.

Jamie McMurray was recognized in the second quarter. Personally impacted by the tornadoes that devastated his hometown of Joplin, Mo., McMurray got involved with raising awareness and funds through promotion of Convoy of Hope, then visited the area and met with residents in an effort to raise spirits.

Greg Biffle was the fourth-quarter recipient. Biffle teamed with several partners to provide Charlotte-area children the opportunity to receive free dental care during the October race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Give Kids A Smile program was aimed at helping more than 200 young fans.

Stewart Named NMPA Driver of the Year

2012-01-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

Tony Stewart put together one of the most exciting NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons in recent history, riding a late wave of success to win his third series championship.
Not only did he top the Sprint Cup championship race, but he has also been named the winner of the NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year award.

It’s the third time the membership of the National Motorsports Press Association has voted Stewart as the winner of the award, which has been presented annually since 1969. The announcement was made Sunday during the NMPA’s annual convention in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s an honor to have earned the 2011 NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year award,” Stewart said. “Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing took the opportunity we had of being in the Chase and made the most of it. We took each race one at a time and never quit. It made all the difference. This award is as much theirs as it is mine.”

During the 2011 season, Stewart earned a series-leading five wins, all during the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He posted 19 top-10 finishes, nine of them top fives.

Stewart also won this honor in 2002 and 2005. Also receiving votes were Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch.

Determined by vote of the membership, the Richard Petty Driver of the Year award has been presented annually since 1969 to recognize the season’s most outstanding driver. It is named in honor of NASCAR’s all-time leader in Cup victories.

Past Richard Petty Driver of the Year Winners
2011 -- Tony Stewart
2010 -- Jimmie Johnson
2009 -- Jimmie Johnson
2008 -- Carl Edwards
2007 -- Jimmie Johnson
2006 -- Jimmie Johnson
2005 -- Tony Stewart
2004 -- Jimmie Johnson
2003 -- Ryan Newman
2002 -- Tony Stewart
2001 -- Kevin Harvick
2000 -- Bobby Labonte
1999 -- Dale Jarrett
1998 -- Jeff Gordon
1997 -- Dale Jarrett
1996 -- Terry Labonte
1995 -- Jeff Gordon
1994 -- Dale Earnhardt
1993 -- Rusty Wallace
1992 -- Davey Allison
1991 -- Harry Gant
1990 -- Dale Earnhardt
1989 -- Mark Martin
1988 -- Rusty Wallace
1987 -- Dale Earnhardt
1986 -- Tim Richmond/Dale Earnhardt
1985 -- Bill Elliott
1984 -- Terry Labonte
1983 -- Bobby Allison
1982 -- Darrell Waltrip
1981 -- Darrell Waltrip
1980 -- Dale Earnhardt
1979 -- Cale Yarborough
1978 -- Cale Yarborough
1977 -- Cale Yarborough
1976 -- Darrell Waltrip
1975 -- Richard Petty
1974 -- Richard Petty
1973 -- David Pearson
1972 -- Bobby Allison
1971 -- Bobby Allison
1970 -- Bobby Isaac
1969 -- LeeRoy Yarbrough

Carmichael: "Rug Pulled Out From Under" In KBM/Monster Energy Deal

2012-01-20T16:39:00.003-05:00

Multi-time AMA motocross and supercross champion-turned NASCAR driver Ricky Carmichael says he is uncertain of his plans for 2012, after sponsor Monster Energy elected to back brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch in a new NASCAR Nationwide Series effort.

In an exclusive interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s SiriusXM Speedway with Dave Moody, Carmichael said he initially was assured the Monster Energy sponsorship would remain with him in 2012, and that the 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series races announced yesterday for Kurt Busch would be his.

“I had a handshake with the CEO of Monster Energy,” revealed Carmichael. “But the weekend of Texas (Motor Speedway), it went away. We were good to go, but when Kyle had his issue (at Texas), it all went sideways.” Carmichael said he believes his shot at retaining the Monster Energy sponsorship disappeared for good when Kurt Busch parted company with Penske Racing after the conclusion of the 2011 campaign.

“Kyle sent (Monster) a letter asking if they were interested (in joining KBM),” he said. “When they got that letter, it put a bug in their ear.” He said he was initially supposed to be a part of those plans, but eventually learned he was just one of many drivers under consideration. “I think Kyle talked to eight different drivers, counting me,” he said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t know that. I let Turner Motorsports know we probably wouldn’t be coming back (in 2012), but once Texas happened, things changed. I think I stayed in the mix (with KBM) only because of Monster. I don’t think I ever had Kyle’s approval. He was looking at seven or eight other guys. It’s not like he was texting me every day saying, `I really want you to race for me.'”

Gradually, Carmichael said he realized KBM was not the right place for him.

“It wasn’t right,” he said. “It felt forced, but I felt it was disrespectful to Monster (to turn the deal down). I just go about racing a different way (than they do). KBM doesn’t represent what I represent; the Ricky Carmichael brand.”

Carmichael said he feared his image would suffer from signing with Busch, adding, “I had a feeling that if I went there, I would lose fans. I was afraid people would say, `I used to like Ricky Carmichael, but now I don’t because he races for Kyle.’ I felt it wasn’t right for me. I need everything to be positive, and nothing negative.

“I have no disrespect for Kyle Busch,” insisted Carmichael. “He’s a heck of a driver and he’s going to win a lot of races. I haven’t really come close to winning in NASCAR, so I’ve got no leg to stand on. I can’t complain about the decision. (Kyle and I) just have a different way of racing.”

Carmichael said he maintains a friendly relationship with Monster Energy, and could continue with them in some capacity this season. “I have no issues with Monster whatsoever,” he said. “I’ll be a part of their family forever. I feel like I played a huge (role) in bringing Monster to NASCAR in the first place. They gave me the money and said, `Go find your best NASCAR deal.’ We won two or three Supercross titles together, and two or three outdoor championships. They gave me some awesome opportunities over the years. I have nothing bad to say about them, they’ve been behind me 100% and always will be.”

The former supercross champion said that while he is trying to assemble a limited schedule of NASCAR racing for this season, his involvement will be “somewhat limited. It’s tough when you get the rug pulled out from under you in late December,” he said. “There’s not much to fall back on. It’s going to take some time to get things nailed down again, but hopefully, we can come back in 2013 and do it right.

“Things happen for a reason,” said Carmichael. “Hopefully, this will open up some other avenues for me.”

Turn One Racing Announces Sprint Cup Effort

2012-01-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

Turn One Racing announced today that it will field a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in 2012, starting with the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 4th. The team is building on the experience earned over the last three years of competition in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where the team earned a ninth-place finish in the 2011 championship standings with driver Cole Whitt.

“This is a great opportunity for Turn One Racing,” said team owner Stacy Compton. “It has always been our objective to grow the team and this is the next step in that plan. We have a great group of partners behind us and I feel like we are taking all the right steps to build a very competitive Sprint Cup team.”

Compton’s team has purchased cars from Richard Childress Racing and plans are in the works to race 8-10 events in their freshman year. The team will not attempt to compete in the season-opening Daytona 500, beginning instead at Phoenix and continuing each week thereafter. “We have partnered with one of our long-time supporters to run a handful of races this year," he said. "We’re also working on additional sponsorship that would enable us to run more races throughout the year.”

The team is also in the process of putting together a full-season program for the No. 60 NASCAR Camping World Truck, with drivers, crew chiefs and sponsors for both teams to be announced at a later date.

Compton founded Turn One Racing in 2006 to develop and promote young drivers of exceptional talent in the late model divisions across the Southeast. In 2009, the team expanded its involvement by purchasing the highly successful Wyler Racing NASCAR Camping World Car Series team, which had claimed three wins, 20 top-five, and 35 top-10 finishes in 90 starts. Since rebranding as Turn One Racing, the team has captured two pole positions, two additional top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in 47 starts. The company is based in China Grove, North Carolina.

Regan Smith Goes NASCAR Off-Roading

2012-01-20T11:42:00.000-05:00

Within the span of one week, Regan Smith drove his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway and also on the ski slopes of Telluride, Colo.

Why was the 28-year-old Smith, dressed in his Furniture Row firesuit, driving a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car at 9,000 feet above sea level on icy, snow-packed roads? It had nothing to do with last week's test session in preparation for the season-opening Daytona 500. Instead, the Telluride outing was designed to create footage for Warren Miller Entertainment's annual ski movie. The Telluride shoot was one of a number of locations around the world that will be utilized for the 2012 ski classic, which is scheduled for an October premiere.

Riding along with Smith in the race car, which was equipped with a ski rack and studded snow tires, was national and world tour freeskiing champion Jess McMillan.
"It's an interesting story why I was driving with Jess McMillan up a mountain," said Smith this week. "I can't say more about it until the movie is released. The conditions were tricky and the car was a handful to drive at times. It was a blast, but I did have my moments. Let's just say that the car didn't leave Telluride dent free."

McMillan, who has had her share of excitement in a success-filled freeskiing career, experienced a new thrill as a passenger in the Furniture Row Chevrolet. "There is nothing like riding in a race car," she said. "When Regan started his engine, my heart rate skyrocketed. I had a blast working with Regan and the Furniture Row team. It was an experience I will never forget. Car 78 looked so cool with a ski rack on its roof driving through snow-covered mountain passes. I can't wait to go to my first race."

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend Kicks Off Tonight!

2012-01-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

Charlotte, NC, becomes the epicenter of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend this week, culminating tonight when the NASCAR Hall of Fame inducts its third class. Inductees include the late Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough, who will take their place among the sport's elite tonight at the Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Yarborough was the first driver to win three consecutive NASCAR premier series championships, from 1976-78. During his three-year dominance, Yarborough won a total of 28 races; nine in 1976, nine in '77 and 10 in '78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points and was as much as 474 in 1978. He racked up 83 victories in his 31-year career; ranking him sixth all-time. He won the prestigious Daytona 500 four times -- 1968, 1977, 1983, 1984 -- second only to Richard Petty's seven wins. He was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Waltrip is a three-time champion of NASCAR's Cup series, after claiming top honors in 1981, 1982 and 1985; all three with legendary car owner and fellow Hall Of Famer Junior Johnson. Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison and Jeff Gordon for third in all-time series victories He won the 1989 Daytona 500 in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet and is currently a commentator on FOX's NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Inman served as crew chief for NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty for nearly three decades, and set records for most wins (193) and championships (eight) by a crew chief. He won seven titles with Petty (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1979), and an eighth championship with Terry Labonte in 1984.

The recognized "king" of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn. Evans ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers, and he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers racing team as a driver in NASCAR's premier series. Competing mostly at tracks near his southern Virginia home, Wood won four times at the legendary Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. He is best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Virginia-based team dates to 1950 and remains active, with a total of 98 Cup Series victories, including last year's Daytona 500 with driver Trevor Bayne.

This weekend's NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday with NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series drivers signing autographs in the ballroom and Exhibit Hall:

Driver Appearance Times (Ballroom)
9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth
10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson
11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski
12:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Greg Biffle
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman
2:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya
3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. - Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart

Driver Appearance Times (Exhibit Hall)
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - AJ Allmendinger, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, David Ragan, Justin Allgaier, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Timmy Hill, Blake Koch, Travis Pastrana, Timothy Peters

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Marcos Ambrose, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, Regan Smith, Brian Vickers, Aric Almirola, Trevor Bayne, Brian Scott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Sweet, Cale Gale, Justin Lofton, Todd Peck

12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Michael Annett, Elliott Sadler, Mike Wallace, Dakoda Armstrong, Johnny Sauter, Parker Kligerman, Brian Keselowski, Michael Waltrip, Jason Leffler, Todd Bodine

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Danica Patrick, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, Morgan Shepherd, Kenny Wallace, Joey Coulter, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Tim George Jr., Max Gresham

MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live coverage of tonight's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, with live coverage anchored by Barney Hall and Joe Moore beginning 7:30 p.m. ET. SPEED will present tape-delayed coverage on on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET,

Busch Brothers Team For Monster Nationwide Effort

2012-01-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

Kyle Busch will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, driving a new #54 Toyota Camry fielded by his own Kyle Busch Motorsports team with sponsorship from Monster Energy.

The effort will be a family affair, with big brother Kurt sharing the seat in the car. Kyle announced moments ago that he will run between 13 and 15 Nationwide races in the Monster Energy Toyota, with Kurt running the balance of the schedule. Kyle is scheduled to run the first four races of 2012 – through Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, before yielding the wheel to Kurt. Kurt Busch will run the Nationwide restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega in the #1 Chevrolet fielded by James Finch’s Phoenix Racing. Neither driver will be eligible for the Nationwide Series championship – since both will compete for points on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – but have targeted the 2012 owner’s championship as a major goal.

Kyle Busch said fielding an entry on the Nationwide Series has been a goal of his since chartering KBM in 2010. “With today’s announcement of Monster Energy as a primary sponsor and my brother Kurt as the second driver, we’ve accomplished that goal. (We) will settle for nothing less than adding a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship to the list.”

Kurt Busch said he is impressed with the job his brother has done with KBM, adding, “I’m proud to be a part of it. He won a Truck Series championship in his first year, and his team has kept on winning ever since. Now, it’s moving to the Nationwide Series, where the bar will remain high. His expectations are the same as mine, and we know each other better than anyone. We’re driven to win, and with Monster Energy driving us, we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will be atop the pit box for the Busch Brothers, after winning eight Nationwide Series races a year ago with Carl Edwards at Roush Fenway Racing. “I am excited to join the KBM team and to have Monster Energy as our sponsor,” said Beam. “Kyle and Kurt are two of the best drivers in NASCAR. To contend for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s championship with Monster Energy and to have all of the elements in place to make a great team, you cannot help being excited to be a part of this.”

Pena, Hattori Team For K&N East Bid

2012-01-19T13:03:00.000-05:00

Sergio Pena announced today that he will drive the No. 1 Toyota Camry for Hattori Racing Enterprises on the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

The 18-year old Winchester, VA native will enter his third season on the K&N Pro Series East, after previously being part of NASCAR's Drive For Diversity program with Revolution Racing. The highlight of his career to date came in his NASCAR debut, when he beat Sprint Cup driver Joey Logano for the pole and finished second in the 2010 Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (CA) Speedway; his first time in a K&N Pro Series car. Last season, he scored three wins and seven Top-10 finishes in 12 series starts, finishing fifth in the championship point standings.

“I am so excited for this opportunity,” said Pena, a freshman at Radford University. “I couldn’t be more thankful to Shige and the best group of guys behind me such as Matt Goslant and Andy Santerre. We all work together very well and with them behind me, I know we will definitely be one of the teams to beat this year.”

Hattori Racing Enterprises was formed in 2005, but will compete full-time on a NASCAR touring series for the first time this season. Owner Shigeaki Hattori is a championship-winning former racer, who earned the Formula Toyota title in 1994 before competing in the Indy Racing League’s Indy Light and IndyCar Series. He also drove a number of races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Born in Okayama, Japan, Hattori currently resides in Cornelius, NC, and said, "People are the key to the organization’s success. If you hire the right people with knowledge and experience, success will follow.” Four-time K&N Pro Series East Champion Andy Santerre will manage the operation, along with former West Series champion crew chief Matt Goslant, who led Pena's effort a year ago.

“I am excited to be working with Sergio again this season,” said Goslant, a Northfield, VT native. "He has the talent to be a champion and we are a good team together. We communicate well and he trusts me to put the car under him. He gives me 100%, and I could not ask for anything more in a driver.”

HRE will field Toyota Camrys with manufacturer support from Toyota Racing Development.

HRE is located in a state-of-the-art building owned by Germain Racing in Mooresville, NC and was designed by Hattori so he could continue to enjoy American stock car racing while developing young, talented drivers.

Here's Something For John The Masked Marvel

2012-01-19T11:50:00.002-05:00

Ryan Blaney Inks Nationwide Schedule With TBR

2012-01-18T17:18:00.000-05:00

Tommy Baldwin Racing has signed third-generation driver Ryan Blaney to compete in a limited schedule of events on the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. The 18-year old Blaney will drive the No. 36 SealWrap Repair Tape Chevrolet in six events this season, beginning with his debut on April 27 at Richmond International Raceway. Blaney will also run six NASCAR K&N Pro Series races in his family-owned DB Racing No. 10 SealWrap Repair Tape/Heavy Duty machine, beginning at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 17. Trent Owens will return as crew chief for the K&N Pro Series effort.

Blaney, son of Tommy Baldwin Racing Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, made a combined three starts last season in the Nationwide K&N East and West Series, winning in his third start and capturing his inaugural NASCAR victory at Phoenix International Raceway. Blaney also won the 2011 PASS South Super Late Model championship and found success in the ARCA Racing Series where he finished in the top-10 in his two starts.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to run a mix of K&N and Nationwide races this season,” said Blaney. “We were really competitive in the K&N Series last year, and I think we will be even more competitive this year. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to win all six races. We will have good equipment racing with TBR. It will be great to race with and learn from the Nationwide guys. To be able to run on bigger tracks will be a good learning experience, too. I’m grateful that SealWrap is supporting my progression in NASCAR and really excited to work with them throughout the season.”

The 2012 campaign will mark TBR’s fourth season of competition. It began as a part time, single-car Sprint Cup team in 2009 and developed into a top-35 team by 2011. This year, TBR plans to compete with two Cup teams. The new Nationwide effort effort will expand the team's driver development program in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; working toward an ultimate goal of increasing the number of races in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series schedules, pending sponsorship.

“We are really looking forward to restarting our Nationwide program, as we have had much success in the past in that series,” said Baldwin. “Watching Ryan the last few years, we are excited to get to the track and see him perform. As we look to the future, this Nationwide program is a stepping stone for the Cup program, and we are excited to start with Ryan.”

Blaney will join his father at TBR this season, and the elder Blaney said he is excited about the opportunity. “I’m proud that Ryan is making the next step in his racing career,” he said. “I think it is a great opportunity for him to run with TBR and still run some races in the K&N Series. He has learned very quickly in every series he has driven, so I am anticipating what competing in the Nationwide Series brings. Thanks to SealWrap and Heavy Duty, who have stepped up their programs as Ryan has moved through the ranks. It’s really refreshing to build a relationship with companies at this level and be able to grow together.”

Ryan Blaney’s Racing Schedule:
March 17th – NKNSE – Bristol Motor Speedway
April 26th – NKNSE – Richmond International Raceway
April 27th – NNS – Richmond International Raceway
May 11th – NNS – Darlington Raceway
May 19th – NKNPSE – Iowa Speedway
June 29th – NNS – Kentucky Speedway
July 28th – NNS – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 3rd – NKNPSE – Iowa Speedway
August 24th – NNS – Bristol Motor Speedway
September 28th – NKNPSE – Dover International Speedway
October 12th – NNS – Charlotte Motor Speedway
November 10th – NKNPSW – Phoenix International Raceway

MRN Radio Set For Hall Of Fame Coverage

2012-01-18T13:12:00.000-05:00

Motor Racing Network – “The Voice of NASCAR” – is poised to kick off its 43rd year of broadcasting with live coverage of Friday’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Charlotte, N.C.

The Class of 2012 will be formally enshrined as the sport honors its third group of inductees: Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glenn Wood and Cale Yarborough. MRN Radio’s live coverage will be anchored by Barney Hall and Joe Moore and produced by Amada Trautman. Air time is 7:30 p.m. (EST).

Friday’s broadcast will launch the network’s 2012 schedule that continues Jan. 28-29 with live coverage of the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race.

“We’re eager to get the racing year started and what better way to do that than by honoring five legends of our sport?” said MRN President and Executive Producer David Hyatt. “We’ve delivered complete Hall of Fame coverage of the first two classes going in and are equally proud to be part of this year’s ceremony.”

Evans was recognized as the king of Modified racing. He won nine championships in a 13-year span, including eight straight from 1978-85. Evans ranked No. 1 in 2003 voting for NASCAR’s all-time Modified Top-10 and was named one of the sanctioning body’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Inman was Richard Petty’s crew chief for nearly three decades, setting records for most wins (193) and championships (eight) by a crew chief. Inman won seven titles with “King Richard” and got his eighth in 1984 with driver Terry Labonte.

Waltrip is a three-time Cup Series champion, tied with Hall of Famer Bobby Allison for fourth place on the all-time win list with 84. One of those victories came in the 1989 Daytona 500 while driving for car owner Rick Hendrick.

Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers as a NASCAR driver before transitioning to team owner with the venerable organization, which dates back to 1950. Wood Brothers Racing heads into Speedweeks 2012 as defending champion of the Daytona 500, scoring the upset win a year ago with rookie Trevor Bayne.

Yarborough was the first Cup Series driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships (1976-78). During that stretch, Yarborough won 28 races and his winning margin was 195 points or greater in all three years. His 83 career victories rank him sixth on the all-time list.

“Fans count on us as the clear radio voice for race coverage and NASCAR news,” Hyatt said. “Our Hall of Fame coverage is an extension of that and we’re privileged to be a part of NASCAR history once again.”

Motor Racing Network’s 2012 broadcast schedule will feature 86 live events from 33 different venues, including complete coverage of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway beginning with the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Retired Carpentier Mulling One-Off Return

2012-01-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

While officially retired from racing, former NASCAR, IndyCar, Champ Car and Grand Am star Patrick Carpentier says he could return to compete in this year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal.

Carpenter hopes to return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he made his inaugural NASCAR start in 2007, winning the pole and finishing a close second to winner Kevin Harvick. He finished second to countryman Ron Fellows the following season, before accepting an offer to drive for Gillett Evernham Motorsports on the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The highlight of his Cup campaign came when he claimed the pole position at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but Top-20 finishes were few and far between.

Since announcing his retirement from motorsports late last season, Carpentier has worked in real estate and construction near his adopted home of Las Vegas; purchasing houses, refurbishing them and “flipping” them for profit. He is also considering an offer to host an automotive television series in his native Quebec, and told Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper that he hopes to return for a one-off appearance at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August.

“Montreal would be the only race I would do,” said Carpentier, “and I would give most of the money to children’s charities. If the TV show works out, it will be part of that, too. And it looks like it is going to happen, so I will probably race in Montreal.”

Gresham Inks "Made In USA" Partnership

2012-01-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

Max Gresham has announced a new promotional association with the Made In USA Brand for the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season. Gresham, who will drive for Joe Dennette Motorsports in search of Rookie of the Year honors, will debut the new sponsorship in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway next month.

“We’ve got a great red, white and blue Made In USA Brand paint scheme for both our ARCA car and NASCAR truck,” said Gresham. “The Made In USA Brand Certification Mark is a perfect fit for me, my family and my JDM race team, because it stands for buying American products produced by American workers. That’s really important in today’s world, when creating and sustaining jobs is a priority for all Americans.

“We can all make a difference by checking for the Made In USA Brand Certification Mark on the products we purchase. That’s a message we are going to bring to the racetrack throughout the 2012 racing season and we think there are a lot of American companies out there that are going to want to partner with us and be a part of that.”

Gresham will open the 2012 season driving the No. 9 Made In USA Brand Chevrolet in the ARCA Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona on Saturday, February 18. He will then turn his sights to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he will pilot the No. 24 Made In USA Brand/Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado in the 250-mile event.

The Made In USA Brand Certification Mark is the only certification mark for identifying goods made or grown in the United States and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In the past year, the number of Made In USA Brand accredited companies has grown to more than 600. U.S. businesses that meet accreditation standards are invited to use the Made In USA Brand Certification Mark on their products to label and identify their American-made goods.

Companies interested in securing the Made In USA Brand Certification Mark for their products are encouraged to log on to www.madeinusabrand.com and race fans interested in pledging to purchase American-made goods can log on to www.PledgeForUSA.com.

Commentary: Nationwide and Truck Series' Will Have Less Star Power This Season

2012-01-17T14:13:00.000-05:00

Carl Edwards says he will not compete on the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season for the first time in seven years. Kyle Busch is set to announce a Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series schedule this week that will reportedly include only a small fraction of the events he drove a year ago. Kevin Harvick has divested himself of his Nationwide and Truck Series operation, and is expected to run only a limited schedule of events for Richard Childress Racing. Brad Keselowski will share his #22 Penske Racing Nationwide ride with youngster Parker Kligerman.

Even with the addition of Danica Patrick to the Nationwide ranks on a full-time basis, It appears the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ will have considerably less star power in 2012 than they did a year ago. The question is; is that necessarily a bad thing?

Promoters say drivers like Edwards, Busch, Harvick and Keselowski keep the turnstiles spinning when they drop down to Nationwide and Truck Series competition. Common sense indicates that television viewership also benefits from the addition of top drivers to the lineup. After all, a motion picture with Meryl Streep on its marquee sells more tickets than the same movie with a talented, but lesser-known actress in the lead role.

Does the absence of drivers like Edwards and Busch spell trouble for the Nationwide and Truck Series’ this season? The answer is yes. And no.

While a NNS or NCWTS race devoid of Cup drivers may have diminished appeal to fans long accustomed to Cup-rich Saturday fields, fewer superstars in the lineup will also open the door for Nationwide and Truck Series regulars to run better and win more. NASCAR made the right move a year ago by regulating Cup drivers out of title contention in the lower series, and the prospect of Kenny Wallace, Elliott Sadler, James Buescher and Jason Leffler visiting Victory Lane a time or two this season should appeal to as many ticket-buyers as the loss of the big names will drive away.

Sprint Cup drivers won 29 of the 34 Nationwide Series races run last season, with Ricky Stenhouse (2), Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier and Sam Hornish, Jr. the only Nationwide regulars to break through. On the Camping World Truck tour, 14 of 25 races were won by Sprint Cup interlopers, with Busch leading the pack with a half-dozen wins in just 16 starts.

Clearly, reduced involvement by Cup drivers will result in more trophies going home with Nationwide and Truck Series regulars this season. Over time, it will also allow younger drivers to grab a larger share of the national spotlight; building their own brands and accelerating their careers at a faster rate than previously possible.

If you’re a cost-conscious race fan who enjoyed seeing Sprint Cup stars at Nationwide and Truck Series prices in recent seasons, the pickings will be slimmer this year. If you enjoy rooting for Kyle Busch to sweep an entire, three-race NASCAR weekend, you’ll also have less to get excited about. But if parity, emerging young stars and a race that could go any of a dozen different ways is what you want, 2012 may just be your year.

Ragan Signs With Front Row Motorsports

2012-01-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Front Row Motorsports announced today that it will add former Roush Fenway Racing driver David Ragan to its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver lineup in 2012.

Ragan will drive FRM's No. 34 Ford this season, with David Gilliland wheeling the team's No. 38 Ford. A media release issued by the team makes no mention of driver Travis Kvapil, who drove the No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford last season.

Ragan joins Front Row Motorsports after a 2011 season that included his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. He also earned two poles, four Top-5 and eight Top-10 finishes.
His new No. 34 Ford is a guaranteed starter for the first five races of 2012, after finishing 31st in owner points last season.

Gilliland returns for his third season with Front Row Motorsports, and will also be locked into the first five races of 2012, including the season-opening Daytona 500, where he finished third a year ago.

The team said sponsorship for both Front Row Motorsports entries is being finalized, and will be announced soon.

KBM Scrambling To Finalize 2012 Nationwide, Truck Plans

2012-01-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

Kyle Busch Motorsports General Manager Rick Ren has spent the last few weeks scrambling to rebuild his driver and sponsor lineups after team owner Kyle Busch was asked not to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series’ in 2012.

Ren and Busch had assembled a sponsor lineup that included Dollar General, Traxxas, Toyota and others for the 2012 campaign, with Busch scheduled to play a leading role in both the Nationwide and Truck efforts. Sources close to the team say virtually all the team’s sponsors signed on believing that Busch would drive their entries in a significant number of events this season, only to learn last month that Joe Gibbs Racing had asked Busch to dramatically trim his involvement in all but the headline NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Ren confirmed in late December there was “a high probability” of Busch withdrawing from at least the 2012 Truck Series “at the request (of JGR). Not by demand, but by request. There is (also) a possibility of him running no Nationwide races under certain circumstances, as well,” said Ren. “There are a lot of things being discussed right now, which makes it pretty tough on me.

Since then, work has continued at KBM’s 77,000-square foot headquarters, with a fleet of Toyota Camrys and Tundras being assembled for the 2012 season. The team announced last week that veteran Jason Leffler will serve as primary driver of its potent, No. 18 Camping World Truck Series Toyota, driving a minimum of 14 races – beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway – with sponsorship from Dollar General. KBM continues to seek sponsorship to run Leffler in the remaining eight events on the 2012 Camping World Truck Series schedule

The 36-year old Leffler is a proven commodity in NASCAR National division competition. He finished in the Top-10 in Nationwide Series points in each of the last two seasons, and has two career wins on that series. In 46 career Truck starts, the California native has one win, 19 Top-5 and 29 Top-10 finishes, with a top point finish of fourth in 2002 with Jim Smith’s Ultra Motorsports team.

"As a racer, your ultimate goal is to win races,” said Leffler. “Driving the No. 18 Dollar General Tundra for KBM is definitely an opportunity where I expect to achieve that goal. Kyle has put together a first-class organization that builds top-notch equipment. I'm honored that he has the confidence in me as a driver to come in and carry on the winning tradition that his team has established. Dollar General is one of the premier sponsors in our sport and I'm looking forward to representing them on and off the track."

Mexican driver Germán Quiroga could also compete for KBM this season, if pending sponsorship arrangements can be finalized. Ren told NASCAR.com last week that Quiroga has “a verbal commitment” to cover most -- but not all – of the 2012 season, and has been approved by NASCAR to race in the 2012 lid lifter at Daytona. He warned, however, that time is running short for Quiroga to finalize the deal. "It is still a possibility,” said Ren. “Our negotiations have gone a lot more in-depth (and) right now he's got some verbal commitments. But we all understand in this industry what a verbal commitment means. It doesn't mean a lot.

“He's trying to finalize himself down there, and we told him that the clock is ticking. We drew a line in the sand, so to speak. We have to have an answer by such-and-such a day, or it's just going to be impossible for us to make Daytona.”

KBM is expected to announce its finalized Nationwide sponsor and driver lineups this Thursday. It is possible that Busch could compete in at least part of the Nationwide slate, but sources say he is unlikely to equal the 20 starts he made in NASCAR’s second division a year ago.
The team’s first on-track Nationwide test is scheduled for mid-February at Nashville Superspeedway.

Germain To Ford In 2012

2012-01-06T16:46:00.000-05:00

Germain Racing, owned by Bob Germain Jr., has announced that they will join the Ford Racing family for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The team’s move to Ford means their No. 13 GEICO entry will become the No. 13 GEICO Ford Fusion.

Germain explains that the move is well in line with long-term Germain family relationships. “The Germains have a long history with Ford Motor Company," said Bob Germain. "My grandfather worked with Henry Ford as an accountant and my father worked as a guide in the Henry Ford Museum. Our family currently owns and operates both Ford and Lincoln dealerships and we have many friends at Ford Motor Company. I'm excited to join the Ford Racing team."

Ford Racing has been competing for more than 110 years. That adds a significant amount of experience to Germain Racing’s seven-year tenure in the NASCAR community. The team has secured two NASCAR championships and 22 victories over the years. In 2012, the team is focused on getting top finishes with their GEICO Fusion program.

“Germain Racing is focused on getting strong results for our GEICO Fusion program. Heading into NASCAR’s first season of electronic fuel injection, we are extremely confident in the technology and engines from Roush & Yates Racing Engines that we will race this season,” said Germain, whose team has services agreements with Roush & Yates Racing Engines and Roush Fenway Racing for the coming year.

Germain Racing will again feature the talent of driver Casey Mears behind the wheel of the No. 13 GEICO Fusion entry. Mears joined Germain in 2010.

Martin To Nationwide For JGR In Las Vegas

2012-01-06T16:29:00.000-05:00

Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that Mark Martin will drive the team's Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

“We’ve always hoped to have the opportunity for Mark to drive for us, and to have him behind the wheel of our Interstate Batteries Toyota for the Nationwide race in Vegas is exciting,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “He is a great example to all drivers of the dedication it takes to be successful and certainly we’re honored to have him part of our efforts in 2012.”

While Martin is only currently scheduled to race in Las Vegas for JGR, the team is still working on opportunities for the veteran driver to secure additional races.
He currently has 49 career victories in 235 Nationwide Series starts, with 111 top-five and 151 top-ten finishes. His most recent series victory came last season when he piloted the No. 32 car to Victory Lane, ironically at LVMS. He made four Nationwide starts in 2011, with the one win and three Top-10 finishes.

“This is exciting,” said Martin. “No organization has been better in the Nationwide Series over the past three or four seasons and to have the chance to get behind the wheel of a Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide car will be a thrill. Maybe I can pick up a few more races and try to catch Kyle to get my record back again.”

Wanda Lund-Early Found Dead

2012-01-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

The widow of 1963 Daytona 500 champion DeWayne “Tiny” Lund was found dead last night at her home in Waynesville, NC, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Wanda Lund-Early was married to Tiny Lund when he died in a savage crash during the 1975 Talladega 500, and her death was initially announced on the TinyLund.com. A statement on the site said, "We know Wanda is at the 'big track in the sky, laughing it up with her beloved Tiny once again."

An official ruling on the cause of Lund-Early's death will come from state Medical Examiner in the next few weeks. but officials say foul play is not suspected. The investigation remains open, however.

Tiny Lund was a five-time winner in NASCAR's premier series, and authored one of the sport's greatest legends after rescuing fellow driver Marvin Panch from a fiery sports car crash at Daytona International Speedway in 1963. Panch repaid the favor from his hospital bed, convincing the legendary Wood Brothers to replace him with Lund. Just 10 days later, The 6' 6" Lund won the Daytona 500 for the Woods.

He died after being t-boned in the driver's door on Lap 8 of the 1975 Talladega 500, at the age of 45.

OFFICIAL: Rusty Wallace Racing Closes Doors

2012-01-06T15:52:00.000-05:00

Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC announced today that the team's on-track activities will be put on a temporary hiatus.

While the organization's day-to-day competition activities will temporarily cease, key elements of RWR's business staff will remain in place to continue development of future opportunities. The team is currently assisting driver Steve Wallace in exploring several opportunities for 2012, with backing from his current RWR sponsors. RWR will continue to maintain and manage those sponsor relationships on Wallace's behalf.

Driver Michael Annett has been released from the team and will pursue other 2012 opportunities with his longtime family sponsor, Pilot Flying J.

Team owner Rusty Wallace said, "This was a tough decision to make, but it was the prudent one from a number of perspectives. While we had several great partners -- such as Pilot Flying J -- on board for 2012, we just didn't feel like we had enough sponsorship in place to accomplish all of our goals.

"A lot of teams would have run with the level of funding we have now, but we want to ensure that our team has the resources necessary to compete and to improve our operations. I promised myself and my family long ago that if the team wasn't funded to a level with which we were comfortable, we just wouldn't run it. I've worked way too hard to put part of my life savings into a race team.

"So, we collectively decided to take a break, regroup and focus on the future. We'll keep working hard on sponsorship programs for Steve (Wallace) and for future seasons. This also allows us to focus on the other aspects of our companies and our brand as well, whether it's our car dealerships, new track design projects, licensing, personal services or even something new.

"Nearly all of our current partners are staying on board with us to support Steve in 2012 and we're really grateful for their support. We're working hard on an exciting 2012 program for Steve and hope to have an announcement on his plans soon. We're all very excited about working with our great group of sponsors both this year and well into the future.

"Most of all, I really want to thank all of our employees for their hard work and dedication. One of the hardest parts of this decision was knowing the impact that it would have on our employees and their families. It's just the unfortunate reality that our sport is facing right now. We wish all of our employees the very best in the future."

Wallace: "Hard Decision" Looming For RWI

2012-01-06T14:35:00.003-05:00

Rusty Wallace is in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this week, hosting his annual Charity Golf and Fishing Tournament. Next week, he’ll return home to make some difficult decisions on the future of his Rusty Wallace, Inc. NASCAR Nationwide Series team.

RWI fielded a pair of Nationwide Series Toyotas for son Steve Wallace and Michael Annett last season, with Annett finishing ninth and Wallace 10th in championship points. Major sponsor 5-Hour Energy departed at season’s end to back Clint Bowyer’s new Sprint Cup Series effort at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012, and the search for a replacement has yielded no results. Now, Wallace faces the prospect of closing the doors on a team he has devoted the last seven years of his life to building.

“I’m afraid we’re getting really close to that right now,” admitted the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. “I don’t want to do it. It breaks my heart even thinking about it. But if we don’t have the money to do this thing right, it’s not worth doing. We’ve got some sponsorship in place for next year, but not nearly enough to run the full season. Honestly, we’ve got just enough money to get ourselves in big trouble.

“My wife Patty and I are trying to decide what to do,” he said. “We’re looking everywhere for a way out; a way to avoid closing the doors. But I’m afraid that may be where we’re headed.”

Wallace said he is proud of the way RWI has performed in recent seasons, and believes the facility he built in Mooresville, NC, is second to none in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

“Our shop is a showplace,” he said. “We’ve got room for two complete Sprint Cup teams there. Everything is top notch; built the way it’s supposed to be built. We’ve assembled a group of people there that are like my own family, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished over the years. They’re great people, and the thought of having to turn out the lights is stressing me out, big-time.

“If we end up having to close the doors, I won’t be sad for me,” he said. “We’ll find a ride somewhere for Steven, and we’ll all be fine. Maybe once this crazy economy kicks back into gear, we can start things up again and go back racing. But right now, it doesn’t look good.

“I’m not saying yet that we’re shutting down,” he said. “But I’m also not going to lie to you. We’re pretty close to having to make a very hard decision.”

Reutimann Set For Truck Series Bid

2012-01-06T13:26:00.000-05:00

Less than a week after announcing a new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride with Tommy Baldwin Racing, David Reutimann now has a seat on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Reutimann has signed to run 13-15 races on the 2012 Camping World Truck Series for RBR Enterprises, which teamed with driver Clay Rogers to finish 20th in points a year ago, despite running only 15 of 25 events. Jason Overstreet -- who worked with Reutimann when he won the 2004 Truck Series Rookie of the Year title with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports – will serve as crew chief.

“RBR is a small team, but when they do something, they do it right,” said Reutimann today. “(Team owner) Ricky Benton did a nice job last year, and they have improved their trucks and engine program during the offseason. They need a little more budget to race full-time, but the races we run will be done right.”

“We’re definitely looking to add another marketing partner or two,” admitted Benton, who finished third in the 2011 opener at Daytona International Speedway with Rogers at the wheel, and led the Camping World Truck Series points early in the season. “We’ll have Black’s Tire and BTS Tire and Wheel on the No. 92 Chevrolet Silverado again this season, but those are my own companies. If we can find some additional sponsor help, there’s a chance we could run the entire Truck Series schedule.”

The team will debut in the 2012 lid-lifter at Daytona, with subsequent races to be announced.

Bayne Re-Ups With Wood Brothers Racing

2012-01-05T17:06:00.000-05:00

In an off-season filled with several surprising driver changes, there’s one combination that isn’t about to break up. Trevor Bayne will remain in the seat of the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion.

Bayne, who delivered the Woods their fifth Daytona 500 triumph in just his second start in the No. 21 Ford, said he’s pleased to be putting any off-season uncertainty behind him. “I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a big deal for me. It’s what I had hoped for. We’re all excited to be back together.”

Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he too is pleased to have Bayne back behind the wheel of his family’s race car. “It’s taken a long time to get to this announcement, but it’s good to be back together,” Wood said. “We all wanted to do what was best for Ford Motor Company and its young drivers, and to be sure everybody had a place to race.”

For one of the younger drivers in the Sprint Cup Series, driving for the sport’s longest tenured team is something he appreciates more as time goes by. He was made even more aware of the team’s history and heritage -– and its long-standing relationship with Ford Motor Company -– when he watched a video on the team’s history at the company Christmas party.

“There’s no question at all that since the beginning, the Woods and Ford were going to stick with each other,” he said. “The Woods are such a great racing family, and it’s amazing that they’re the only one of the original teams that has survived since the beginning.”

But the Woods and Bayne aren’t just interested in celebrating the past. Beginning next week, they’ll be back at Daytona International Speedway for Preseason Thunder testing and trying to figure a way to adapt to a new rules package and defend their 500 victory.

“It’s going to be very different at Daytona,” Bayne said, referring to a rule change that will block off air to the car’s radiator and thereby limit the two-car tandem racing that Bayne so quickly adapted to. “It’ll be like starting all over again, but that’s OK.

“We’ll just go try to do it again.”

Pocono Announces Half-Price Kids' Tickets

2012-01-05T14:04:00.000-05:00

Pocono Raceway, home of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events annually, has announced its latest initiative. Kids age 12 and under will now be admitted at half price to ALL Concourse Grandstand sections for the June 10th Pocono 400 and the August 5th Pennsylvania 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. These sections include: Concourse Gold (adult price $55.00, kids price $27.50), Concourse Vista (adult price $50.00, kids price $25.00) and Concourse (adult price $45.00, kids price $22.50.)

The Concourse Grandstand runs the along the frontstretch at Pocono Raceway (nearly 3,000 feet), so fans purchasing kids' tickets have the option of choosing seats anywhere from Turn Three to Turn One. All Concourse Gold sections contain body contoured bucket seats. Kids tickets must be purchased with at least one full-priced ticket, and all seating is subject to availability. Everyone must have a Sunday grandstand ticket for race day admission. Gate validation at time of entry is also required.

As in the past, kids age 12 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult to all grandstand sections on Friday and Saturday for practice, qualifying and companion races including the Camping World Truck Series race in August. Grandstand parking is always free at Pocono Raceway.

Tickets can be purchased on line at www.poconoraceway.com, toll free via phone 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929). An easy to use, print-at-home option is available for online customers.

Johanna Long Signs With ML Motorsports

2012-01-05T11:16:00.000-05:00

Johanna Long will graduate to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2012, driving the #70 ML Motorsports Biomet/Foretravel Motorcoach Chevrolet Impala in both 2012 and 2013.

Long made 17 starts on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last season for her family owned Panhandle Motorsports team, with a best finish of 11th at Texas Motor Speedway in June. The second-generation driver -– daughter of former All-Pro Series driver Donald Long -– has progressed from go-karts through Legends cars and Late Models to NASCAR, becoming the first female track champion in the history of Florida’s Five Flags Speedway at age 15 and winning the prestigious Snowball Derby in 2010 before turning her attention to the Truck Series.

Long will join an ML Motorsports team owned by Mary Louise Miller, one of the few female owners in NASCAR. “I’m excited to join ML Motorsports," said Long, "and I’m honored to have the support of Mary Louise. As a female team owner in NASCAR, Mary Louise is an inspiration to me. I believe all the pieces are in place at ML Motorsports to achieve success in 2012, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“Johanna is a strong driver and a dynamic young lady, and we are excited to have her on board”, said Miller. “She has a great competitive spirit; we believe she has everything it takes to succeed at the highest levels of NASCAR competition."

Indiana-based ML Motorsports fielded entries for drivers David Stremme, Dennis Setzer, Scott Wimmer, Shelby Howard, Blake Koch and Angela Cope in 2011, with Stremme claiming the team’s only Top-10 finish – a ninth – at Richmond International Raceway in April.

Cole Whitt Confirmed At JR Motorsports

2012-01-04T15:37:00.000-05:00

Cole Whitt has been tabbed to drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced today that the 20-year old native of Alpine, Calif., will compete for Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year honors with JRM this season. He comes to the team from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he finished ninth in last year’s championship standings with one pole, two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. To date, he is the youngest driver ever to win the USAC National Midget championship, as his title-winning effort in 2008 put him alongside former USAC National Champions Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

“Cole is the guy we wanted, and we’re lucky to get him,” said Earnhardt. “He’s got raw, untapped talent, but we are most impressed with his ambition. I sought advice and input from people I respect in the industry, and the overwhelming consensus was that Cole has the potential to do great things in this sport.”

The signing of Whitt completes the 2012 driver line-up for JR Motorsports, which will compete in Nationwide Series competition with Whitt in the No. 88 Chevrolet, Danica Patrick in the No. 7 Chevrolet, and Earnhardt Jr. in select races in the No. 5 Chevrolet. All three drivers will compete in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

“This is a big opportunity for me, and I’m happy to be a part of the JR Motorsports team,” said Whitt, who was introduced to employees Wednesday morning. “I’m grateful to Dale, Kelley and everyone at JR Motorsports for giving me this chance. It’s an honor to work with the Eurys, and I will do everything in my power to put this No. 88 team where it belongs in Victory Lane.”

Whitt got his start racing karts and saw immediate success with eight International Karting Federation championships and two World Karting Association grand national championships. He was the Hoosier Sprint Car Rookie of the Year in 2006 and earned 34 top-10 finishes in 60 USAC starts in 2007 before winning the championship in 2008. Whitt advanced to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010, promptly notching two poles and finishing fourth in points in his first year.

JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Whitt's longtime association with Red Bull will end in 2012, in an effort to avoid a conflict with Earnhardr, Jr.'s AMP Energy sponsorship.

In other JR Motorsports news, the team has hired Bruce Cook as crew chief for the No. 5 team, which will run primarily with Earnhardt Jr. in select Nationwide Series races this season. Cook comes to JR Motorsports from Kevin Harvick, Inc., where he served as crew chief in 2011 in the Camping World Truck Series, predominately for the No. 2 KHI Chevrolet, which won the owner’s championship. With Cook atop the pit box, his team scored six wins, 19 top-fives and 22 top-10s. He was also the winning crew chief of the Nationwide Series season-opener

CONFIRMED: Aric Almirola To RPM's No. 43

2012-01-04T11:28:00.000-05:00

Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that Aric Almirola will drive the legendary #43 Ford Fusion in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition beginning in 2012.

Almirola has made 35 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series, his most recent coming in 2010 when he finished the last five races of the season in the #9 Ford. During the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Almirola posted a career-high, fourth-place effort. Almirola drove a JR Motorsports entry [#88 Chevy] in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011 and capped off a successful season with a fourth-place finish in the championship point standings.

"One of the things I am most excited about is to have the chance to drive a car as iconic as the #43," stated Almirola. "There is so much history surrounding that number and to have my name above the door will be really special for me. This is the first real opportunity I've had to drive in the Cup Series full time. Last year the #43 team had a lot of speed and was competitive on a weekly basis. Greg Erwin is a great crew chief and I'm excited to work with him. Everyone at Richard Petty Motorsports has a lot of enthusiasm and drive and I'm really looking forward to getting to work."

Almirola will join a team that is poised to compete for a spot in the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Paired with veteran crew chief Greg Erwin, Almirola will get behind the wheel for a team that earned one top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2011 en route to a 15th-place finish in the owner point standings.

"We are thrilled to welcome Aric Almirola into the RPM family," said RPM co-owner Richard Petty. "We feel extremely fortunate to have had a number of very talented drivers interested in joining our organization, but ultimately we felt Aric would be the best fit for the team and for our current and potential partners. We have had the chance to watch his progress for the past several years and we had success with him in the past. We are really confident in his potential as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. We think Aric has all the makings to be the next bright star in our sport."

TRG Motorsports Will Not Return In 2012

2012-01-04T11:23:00.000-05:00

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that the No. 71 TRG Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team will not return in 2012.

TRG ran 33 of the 36 point-counting races last season, with sponsorship from Super Eco-Fuel Saver and Interstate Moving Services. They claimed Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors with driver Andy Lally, despite replacing Lally with veteran Mike Bliss in the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway. Sources close to the team say TRG will announce later this week that it has shuttered its NASCAR operation and will compete only on the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series in 2012. TRG finished 36th in Sprint Cup owner points last season, and would not have been a guaranteed starter for the season-opening Daytona 500.

TRG Motorsports made a total of 106 starts since joining the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009, with a pair of Top-10 finishes to its credit. Bobby Labonte claimed a 10th-place finish for the team at Talladega in the fall of 2009, while Mike Bliss finished ninth in the 2010 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

Team owner Kevin Buckler did not immediately return a call seeking comment today.

Martinsville Construction Progressing Well

2012-01-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

With the help of mild and dry winter weather, work on the latest major construction project at Martinsville Speedway is well ahead of schedule and should be completed well before the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 1.

The project includes demolition of all the restrooms under the Richard Petty Tower on the fourth-turn end of the front stretch and construction of larger, modern restrooms. The new restrooms are being built about 30 feet further back, allowing for a much wider concourse area to help improve pedestrian traffic. In fact, the width of the concourse in that area will be almost doubled.

“We have been very fortunate that with the exception of a couple of days, the workers haven’t been slowed by weather,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “It also helps that the general contractor (Frith Construction Co. of Martinsville) is very efficient. They haven’t wasted any time.”

The new restrooms will be almost twice as large as the present ones and contain amenities comparable with any large entertainment venue. Fans will also notice a refurbished ticket office when they return for the Goody’s Fast Relief weekend this spring, which includes a new facade and a redesigned and refurbished interior.

Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway March 30-April 1 with the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. Tickets for both events are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

SAFER Barriers Going In At Rockingham

2012-01-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

The SAFER barriers are going in at Rockingham Speedway.

Work crews were greeted by sunny but cool conditions when they invaded the legendary North Carolina oval today to begin the final phase of installation for the impact-absorbing barriers, setting the stage for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to compete there on April 15 of this year. The barriers were installed on the track's backstretch late last year, and are scheduled to be erected in the turns over the next two weeks.

Rockingham has not hosted a NASCAR race since February 22, 2004, when Matt Kenseth drove his DeWalt Ford to Victory Lane in the Subway 400. Since then, the track has hosted events on the ARCA, USAR Pro Cup, CRA Late Model and Frank Kimmel Street Stock Series, and is home to Hillenburg’s Fast Track High Performance Driving School. The one-mile oval and companion half-mile short track – built in 2008 – have been popular testing venues for many NASCAR teams.

Waltrip Negotiating To Purchase Red Bull Racing

2012-01-03T11:32:00.000-05:00

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Michael Waltrip Racing is negotiating to purchase the assets of the former Red Bull Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

A spokesperson for the team declined to comment on the story today, but multiple sources say Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull are close to an agreement on the sale, awaiting NASCAR approval for an owner point swap that would allow MWR to field a third Toyota Camry in the 2012 Daytona 500.

MWR finished 18th and 28th in Sprint Cup owner points with drivers Martin Truex, Jr. and David Reutimann last season, and holds two guaranteed starting spots for the upcoming Daytona 500. MWR is expected to field three cars in the Great American Race for Truex, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin, using one of the guaranteed starting spots held by Red Bull Racing. Those points would transfer to MWR in the event of a sale. Michael Waltrip could also compete in the 2012 Daytona 500, but is believed unlikely to do so in an MWR Toyota.

Sources say MWR is also interested in acquiring cars and equipment from Red Bull, including fabrication equipment and a shaker rig. If included in the sale, the former Red Bull Racing building would likely be used by MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman to house his RK Motors muscle car restoration and performance company, as well as his personal collection of classic and vintage automobiles.

Red Bull Racing closed its doors last month, after failing to find a buyer to continue operations.

Reutimann Signs With Tommy Baldwin Racing

2012-01-03T10:44:00.002-05:00

David Reutimann will drive for Tommy Baldwin Racing on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, joining veteran Dave Blaney in the two-car TBR stable.

Reutimann, a native of Zephyrhills, Fla., made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in 2005. He ran four full seasons with Michael Waltrip Racing, compiling two wins, 12 Top-5 and 26 Top-10 finishes, along with four poles. He also has a pair of victories in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.

“Tommy has built a really good organization from the ground up in a really short amount of time,” said Reutimann. “One of the things I like about Tommy and what’s refreshing about him is that he is just a racer. There are lots of things he could be doing, but instead he is at the shop every day working hard to build the organization from the ground up. There are not a lot of true racers in the garage, and he is one of them. It’s the way I was raised with my Dad, so we are on the same page. I’m really looking forward to the season to see what we can do.”

TBR competed in all 36 Sprint Cup races last season, and accomplished their main goal by securing a spot in the Top-35 in Owner Points. Blaney finishe third in the October event at Talladega Superspeedway, and TBR also fielded a second car for veteran Geoff Bodine in five races during the second half of the season.

“Reutimann will be a great addition to our program and to Dave Blaney,” said Baldwin. “Last season, we met our goal of running the entire schedule and making the top-35 in points. This season, our goal is to continue our progress on the competition side. Having two veteran drivers in Reutimann and Blaney is a very important step in our program’s growth.

Sources say TBR has approximately 26 races sold for Reutimann in 2012, with efforts underway to secure additional backers for both drivers.

“We are still working on funding for next year, but having a car guaranteed in the first five races -- including the Daytona 500 -- is a big step for our team,” Baldwin said. “Although Golden Corral will not return in 2012, they were very happy with the exposure they received. We hope they have shown other companies the value of our program and that our program will once again align with their business objectives.”

Details regarding sponsorship, car numbers and team members will follow in the upcoming weeks.

Kahne, Turner Team For Limited Nationwide Run

2012-01-02T15:40:00.000-05:00

Turner Motorsports and Great Clips announced today that Kasey Kahne will compete in 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series events this season, driving the team's No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet. Up and coming driver Brad Sweet, who has competed on a limited basis in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the last two years and in the USAC Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Series for Kasey Kahne Racing in each of the last four seasons, will run for the Nationwide Rookie of the Year title in the balance of the 33-race schedule when Kahne is not behind the wheel.

Kahne began his NNS career wheeling the No. 38 car with Great Clips as sponsor. Together,they captured Kahne's first career series victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2003. In 2005, Kahne captured his second career win at Texas Motor Speedway before stepping out of the ride on his way to the Sprint Cup ranks. In 2010, Kahne returned to the Nationwide Series on a limited basis at the helm of the No. 38 machine, once again carrying the banner for his longtime sponsor. Kahne piloted the car for eight races in both 2010 and 2011, racking up four Top-5 and six Top-10 finishes.

Kahne said he is looking forward to another season representing the Minneapolis-based company, adding, "I have had a long-standing relationship with Great Clips and it's been great teaming up with them again. They gave me my first real shot in this sport and that is something I have never forgotten."

Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Sweet made a name for himself in Open Wheel racing. After being tapped to drive for Kasey Kahne Racing in 2008, Sweet became a superstar in his own right with USAC victories in the Belleville Midget Nationals, Knoxville Midget Nationals and both the Sprint Car and Midget "Four Crown Nationals" at Eldora Speedway. He will make his Nationwide debut in 2012 with Turner Motorsports. He is no stranger to the Great Clips Racing family, having made 18 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts and one career Nationwide start under their banner in the last three seasons.

Sweet said he is ready to jump into this next phase of his career with Great Clips, Turner Motorsports and Kahne. "I can't begin to say how excited and grateful I am for this opportunity to compete in the Nationwide Series and join Kasey in representing Great Clips both on and off the track," he said. "Turner Motorsports is a first class organization with equipment capable of contending for wins week in and week out. I don't think I could be in a better position to take the next step in my racing career."

New Policy For Sirius-Speedway.com Posters

2012-01-02T09:08:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends;

Due to a recent influx of posts that violate our longstanding policy against profanity and name-calling, we are instituting a change on the Sirius-Speedway.com blog, effective immediately. Beginning today, all posts will be reviewed by the moderator BEFORE appearing on the blog. As a result, comments will now see the light of day only after they have been reviewed and approved by the moderator. In some cases, this may result in delays between the time a post is submitted and the time it appears on the blog. For that, we apologize.

The good news is that we will now eliminate 100% of the nastiness, name-calling and vulgarity from this site, once and for all.

This change was necessitated by a very small group of people who sadly are unable (or unwilling) to communicate without insulting others. Those people will not be missed. To the others -- the vast majority of you who have supported this site and abided by the rules -- I appreciate your input, your opinions and your many kind words of support. I also look forward to making you a part of a kinder, gentler, Sirius-Speedway.com.

Best Always --

Dave Moody

"Breast Gate" Provides Valuable Lesson In Social Media

2011-12-29T13:38:00.000-05:00

Kasey Kahne was shopping in a Mooresville, NC, grocery store yesterday when he unexpectedly encountered a woman breastfeeding her baby. What followed was a textbook example of the power of social media, and explains why some public figures, athletes and celebrities are now reluctant to comment candidly on social networking sites.

“Just walking through supermarket,” wrote Kahne on Twitter yesterday. “See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn't!" He described the scene further, tweeting, “One boob put away, one boob hanging!! #nasty,” before adding, “I don't feel like shopping anymore or eating."

His comments ignited a firestorm of controversy and a torrent of negative feedback. One woman wrote, “I hope someday you have a kid and someone tells your wife that feeding your child looks nasty." Kahne then poured additional fuel on the fire, calling the woman, “a dumb b*tch" to which she replied, “Stay classy a**hole."

While Kahne eventually deleted many of his more colorful comments, “Breast-gate” was eventually picked up by news outlets and wire services around the world. Late yesterday, the driver issued an apology via Twitter and a more lengthy explanation on his Facebook page, writing, "I understand that my comments regarding breastfeeding posted on Twitter were offensive to some people. For that, I apologize.

“It was in no way my intention to offend any mother who chooses to breastfeed her child, or, for that matter, anyone who supports breastfeeding children,” wrote Kahne. “I want to make that clear. In all honestly, I was surprised by what I saw in a grocery store. I shared that reaction with my fans on Twitter. It obviously wasn't the correct approach, and after reading your feedback, I now have a better understanding of why my posts upset some of you. My comments were not directed at the mother's right to breastfeed. They were just a reaction to the location of that choice, and the fashion in which it was executed on that occasion.

"I respect the mother's right to feed her child whenever and wherever she pleases."

Whether or not you agree with Kahne’s stance on breastfeeding in public, there is no question that he violated the cardinal rule of social networking: “Never say something you may later regret.” Used properly, social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are valuable tools for professional athletes and other public figures. Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is a poster boy for proper Twitter use, communicating daily with fans and displaying a sense of humor that is not always on display at the race track. Like Johnson, Brad Keselowski uses social networking to his advantage, speaking directly to followers, answering their questions and sharing snippets of information on both his private life and racing career. Even controversial figures like Kurt and Kyle Busch use social networking, showing their calmer, more human side in a series of spontaneous interactions with fans.

Clearly, there are both good and bad sides to social media. Today’s digitally connected world allows an unprecedented degree of contact and interaction with the general public. But as Kasey Kahne learned this week, not all interaction is of the positive variety.

An Open Letter To Sirius=Speedway.com Readers

2011-12-29T09:22:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends,

When I started Sirius-Speedway.com, I did not allow visitors to post comments. Honestly, I feared having this site become the kind of profanity filled cesspool so many other online racing sites have become over the years. I was eventually convinced to allow visitor commentary, and the vast majority of readers have made the most of the opportunity.

Unfortunately, a handful of our "Anonymous" posters have taken advantage of this forum to post a series of extremely hateful, expletive-filled comments in recent weeks.

One way or another, it's going to stop.

If you are physically incapable of communicating without four-letter words, we don't want you here. If you are incapable of having a discussion without insulting those who disagree with you, you are also not wanted. If you cannot discuss NASCAR without wishing someone dead, I invite you to spend your online time elsewhere.

I will continue to delete offensive comments; every single one of them, without fail. They take 15 minutes to write, and less than a second to delete with a single click of the mouse.

It's really very simple.

Sirius-Speedway.com is my site. I pay the bills, I post the content, and I make the rules. If you love NASCAR and enjoy talking with people who share that love, you are welcome here.

If you're a foul-mouthed lout who cannot abide by the "no profanity, no name-calling" rule, feel free to boycott this site and go elsewhere. You will not be missed.

J-Mac, Dinger Tune Up At Daytona

2011-12-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. -- 2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray and fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star AJ Allmendinger, who recently signed to drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge for Penske Racing, are enjoying their off-seasons by returning to their roots; karting.

The drivers are among approximately 1,200 entrants participating in the annual Daytona KartWeek World Karting Association events at Daytona International Speedway. Practice began today, with races scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Hundreds of karters from across the country are spending their holidays at Daytona International Speedway participating in World Karting Association events on three different courses; the 3.56-mile road course, the sprint track located in Turns 3 and 4 and the quarter-mile dirt track outside Turns 1 and 2.

Tickets for Daytona KartWeek can be purchased at Ticket Booth E above the Turn 1 tunnel. A two-day pass for racing events on Thursday, Dec. 29 and Friday, Dec. 30 is $25. Single-day passes for races on Friday, Dec. 30 only are available for $15.

COMMENTARY: Is JGR Justified In Removing Busch From Nationwide, Trucks?

2011-12-28T16:00:00.000-05:00

Sirius-Speedway.com first reported last week that Kyle Busch will slash his involvement in the NASCAR Camping World Truck and (possibly) NASCAR Nationwide Series next season at the request of Joe Gibbs Racing. That report unleashed a torrent of debate that shows no sign of subsiding.

Kyle Busch Motorsports has fielded one of the most successful Truck Series operations in recent years, with Busch winning six times in just 16 series starts last season. KBM will field Toyotas on the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the first time in 2012, and initial plans called for Busch to compete regularly in both Nationwide and Trucks, in addition to his full-time Sprint Cup championship effort with Gibbs. But KBM General Manager Rick Ren confirmed last week that Busch will probably not run any Truck Series races in 2012, and may not compete in the Nationwide Series either; all at the request of JGR.

Since that announcement, Sirius-Speedway.com has hosted a lively debate on the topic, with Kyle Busch fans protesting what they consider unfair treatment of Busch by JGR and its sponsor M&Ms, while Busch’s detractors argue that he got what he deserved.

The debate raises some interesting questions about just how much control a team should have over its driver; both on and off the race track. There is no doubt that both JGR and M&Ms were damaged when Busch wrecked Ron Hornaday under caution at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch was parked by NASCAR and not allowed to take part in that weekend’s Sprint Cup Series race, with substitute driver Michael McDowell finishing a disappointing 33rd. In light of the controversy that followed, M&Ms chose to remove itself from JGR’s #18 Toyota for the final two races of the season at Phoenix and Homestead, costing them exposure and the team money. Busch’s Texas ban – and two more bad days at Phoenix and Homestead – dropped him to 12th in the final championship standings; resulting in another significant financial blow to the team.

Does Joe Gibbs Racing have the right to restrict Kyle Busch’s participation in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series? As an employer that pays him millions of dollars each year to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series -- dollars that almost certainly helped finance the construction and continued operation of Kyle Busch Motorsports – is JGR within its rights to have Busch race only for them in 2012?

For the record, Joe Gibbs has not always restricted his drivers to the Sprint Cup Series, or even to NASCAR. Tony Stewart is notorious for racing Sprint Cars and midgets on off weekends from Sprint Cup competition, and Kasey Kahne raised a few eyebrows by flipping a 410 Sprint Car out of the park at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway last summer.

In the past, other team owners have also requested that their drivers avoid taking part in non-Sprint Cup Series events. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon rarely compete in the Nationwide and Truck Series, honoring team owner Rick Hendrick’s wish that they concentrate on their Sunday jobs and not endanger themselves by taking part in other forms of racing.

Nobody – Joe Gibbs Racing nor anyone else -- can force Busch to withdraw from the Nationwide and Truck Series. They can, however, make it a condition of his continued employment and allow him to decide where his priorities lie. If Busch insists on running the Nationwide and Truck Series’ next season, he can do so, full-time, immediately after resigning from the seat of JGR’s #18 Sprint Cup Toyota.

None of us expect him to do so.

My bosses here at MRN Radio do not allow me to work for other motorsports media outlets; a restriction I consider to be both fair and reasonable. Joe Gibbs Racing seems to be asking the same of Kyle Busch. At the very least, Joe and JD Gibbs seem to want Busch to drive JGR equipment – and only JGR equipment -- next season. That way, if he does something goofy that jeopardizes their team and its sponsors, at least he'll have done it on their watch.

Randy Hill Racing Splits With Spraker Enterprises

2011-12-28T13:12:00.000-05:00

Officials from Randy Hill Racing announced today that the team has parted ways with Spraker Racing Enterprises and crew chief/team manager Jeff Spraker, effective immediately.

The change leaves both companies with sufficient time to solidify new opportunities and options for the 2012 racing season. “We are extremely appreciative to Jeff and all of his employees for helping ignite our program in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and NASCAR Nationwide Series,” said Randy Hill, owner of Randy Hill Racing. “Our team wishes them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”

Hill, a Texas entrepreneur who still plans to field an entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next season added, “We’re very close to finalizing everything for 2012. We will be at Daytona for the Nationwide race and we’re looking forward to having Casey Roderick at the helm of our Zer08 (No. 08) Ford Mustang.

"I also feel that the ARCA Racing Series is a great stepping stone," said Hill. "ARCA was incredibly welcoming to us when we made our debut at Iowa Speedway in July. We brought Ross Chastain to their open test at Daytona International Speedway two weeks ago and we’re hoping to open the door for newer talent as the season draws near. We’re confident in the direction of our team and looking forward to the future and impending seasons ahead.”

Further details on the team’s 2012 effort will be forthcoming after the New Year.

Allgaier Inks Northeastern Supply For 2012

2011-12-28T12:18:00.000-05:00

Northeastern Supply, one of the nation’s leading regional distributors of plumbing, heating, HVAC, air conditioning, water systems and hardware supplies will return as a sponsor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2012 for the 19th consecutive year; serving as an associate sponsor with Turner Motorsports on the #31 Brandt Chevrolet team and driver Justin Allgaier.

“Our NASCAR program has grown significantly over the years, and because of the strong support it receives from our customers and vendors each year, it was a no brainer to make it 19 straight seasons in 2012,” said Steve Cook, Northeastern Supply’s President and CEO.

“The support we have given so many NASCAR teams in the Nationwide Division over the years has been an interesting journey for our company, and because of how they do business and treat their sponsors, it was an easy decision for us to remain with Turner Motorsports for another season,” Cook explained.

“We enjoyed three good seasons backing the efforts of the Great Clips team and drivers Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne. Now we’ve decided to move over to Justin Allgaier and the #31 Brandt Farm Equipment Chevrolet team in 2012 in hopes of helping them challenge for the championship,” Cook added.

Allgaier has posted two victories in his two seasons of Nationwide competition, finishing fourth and third, respectively, in the 2010 and 2011 driver championships. The 25-year-old Riverton, IL native competed for Penske Racing in 2010, before moving to Chevrolet and Turner Motorsports last season. He recorded six Top-5 and 17 Top-10 finishes, trailing only champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and runner-up Elliott Sadler in season-ending points.

Nicknamed “Little Gator” at a young age because of his small size and ferociousness behind the wheel, Allgaier began developing his talents driving quarter midgets and by the time he was 12 had already earned more than 100 feature wins and five championships. He moved to Late Models at age 13, and in 2001 -- at just 14 years of age -- made national headlines by becoming the youngest driver to qualify for the famed Chili Bowl indoor midget event in Tulsa, OK.

Two years later, he debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with a team owned in part by former NASCAR star Ken Schrader. In three starts that season, Allgaier earned a best finish of 11th. He ran all 23 ARCA races the following year, finishing fourth in points with one win, four Top-5 and 11 Top-10 finishes, in addition to winning five UMP Late Model main events and three midget races.

Allgaier eventually won the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship, earning himself a driver development contract with Penske Racing. He made his Nationwide Series debut that same year, before competing full-time in 2009 en route to sixth in championship points. A lack of sponsorship dollars kept Allgaier from continuing with the Penske organization beyond the 2010 season, when he posted his first Nationwide Series victory, two poles, and a fourth-place effort in driver points.

“We’re excited to have Northeastern Supply back in the Turner Motorsports family next year,” Allgaier stated. “I know they have several big events scheduled throughout the year and I’m honored to have the chance to be included and play an integral part in them.”

Allgaier is the latest in an impressive series of drivers who have been sponsored by Northeastern Supply over the years; including Jason Leffler, Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley, brothers Mike and Kenny Wallace, Jason Keller, Phil Parsons, Sterling Marlin, Hank Parker, Jr. and Kevin Lepage.

Kyle Busch Unlikely To Race In Truck Series Next Season; Nationwide Schedule Also In Doubt

2011-12-23T11:41:00.003-05:00

Kyle Busch is unlikely to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012, at the request of Joe Gibbs Racing and their Sprint Cup Series sponsor, M&Ms.

Kyle Busch Motorsports General Manager Rick Ren confirmed today that there is “a high probability” that Busch will withdraw from the 2012 Truck Series. “That topic is being discussed almost constantly around here right now,” he said, adding, “It is not necessarily something that Kyle chose. If he doesn’t run Trucks this year, it will be at the request (of JGR). Not by demand, but by request.”

After winning six races in 16 Truck Series starts last year, Busch was involved in a controversial crash with championship contender Ron Hornaday at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4. He did not take part in the NCWTS season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, and M&Ms pulled their sponsorship from his JGR Sprint Cup Series entry for the balance of the season.

“Things change on an hour-by-hour basis,” said Ren today, “but if I had to answer you right now, I’d say he will probably not race in the Truck Series next year. There is a possibility of him running no Nationwide races under certain circumstances, as well. There are a lot of things being discussed right now, which makes it pretty tough on me.

“I’ve been trying to figure out whether Kyle’s going to be available to run our Trucks and Nationwide cars, then determine whether the individual sponsors will stay around without him behind the wheel.” Ren said many of the team’s sponsors came aboard with the understanding that Busch would drive a specified number of races in their entries. Now, with Busch’s participation uncertain at best, many of those negotiations are back to square one.

“I believe Kyle will drive a KBM Nationwide Series Toyota in a certain number of races next year,” said Ren. “I can’t swear to it, but that’s what it looks like today.”

Red Horse Partners With Joe Gibbs Engines

2011-12-22T17:14:00.000-05:00

Red Horse Racing has signed an agreement to participate in Joe Gibbs Racing's engine program for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign. As part of the agreement, JGR will also provide Red Horse Racing with additional technical support.

JGR's engine program provides engines for NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series teams. JGR has been one of NASCAR's most dominant teams in the Nationwide Series over the past four seasons, with three owner's championships in 2008, 2009, 2010. Over that four year span, JGR has won 59 races, with 143 top fives and 205 top-ten finishes.

"We're honored to have Red Horse Racing participate in our engine program," said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. "Everyone in our Nationwide Series program has done an outstanding job over the past several years and certainly our engine program has been a big part of that success. We look forward to helping teams elevate their programs in both the Truck and Nationwide series through our engine program and added technical support."

Red Horse Racing enters its eighth year of Truck Series competition in 2012. Thus far the team has amassed five wins, 46 top-five and 99 top-10 finishes. With their success Red Horse Racing with its drivers and team members have established themselves as one of the premier Truck Series operation in the garage area.

"We are thrilled to announce we are making the move to use Joe Gibbs Racing engines and receive technical support from such an outstanding organization," said Red Horse Racing Managing Partner Tom DeLoach. "JGR has established themselves as the leading Toyota team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series'. As we look toward our new relationship in 2012, our goal is for Red Horse Racing to put Joe Gibbs Racing engines in victory lane for the first time in the Truck Series and to compete for the 2012 Truck Series championship. We are very excited about this opportunity to grow Red Horse Racing and we feel that this new technical and engine relationship combined with the people we have in place is the combination we have been looking for."

It's Official: Kurt To Phoenix Racing In 2012

2011-12-22T16:56:00.000-05:00

Kurt Busch says, “I just want to get back to having fun in the race car.”

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion will chase that goal with Phoenix Racing, driving the team's #51 Chevrolet in the full 2012 Sprint Cup schedule.

“I’m very happy to join Phoenix Racing and after entertaining a lot of quality offers, there’s no better place for me,” said Busch, winner of 24 Sprint Cup races, as well as the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the 2011 Gatorade Duel and the 2011 Budweiser Shootout. “We’re going to run the full schedule together, and we’re going to have fun doing it.

“It’s going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win. And if we don’t win, we’ll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. That’s the way we all started racing, and it’s great to get back to that.”

Phoenix Racing owner James Finch celebrated his 20th year as a NASCAR team owner in 2011. His Spartanburg, S.C.-based team has won 13 NASCAR races; most notably the April 2009 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

“All we want to do is win,” Finch said. “Winning is why I’ve been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning – especially at the Sprint Cup level – is hard. But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He’s a past champion and he’s proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands.

“We have excellent equipment and a hard-working group of guys who want that trophy at the end of every race. Kurt’s the guy who can deliver it to them.”

Busch will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Impala in 2012, and his first race will be the non-points Budweiser Shootout at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway where he is the defending winner.

“James Finch has always had pretty stout cars for the restrictor plate races and I know we’ll be very competitive at Daytona,” Busch said. “We’ll participate in the test down there in January to get a good handle on our Daytona 500 car, but also to win another Budweiser Shootout.

“Christmas came early for me this year, and I honestly can’t wait for the season to begin.”

The 33-year-old Busch has made the Chase for the Sprint Cup six times since the inception of the Chase in 2004, when he won the series title. His Sprint Cup championship followed the International Race of Champions (IROC) title he won in 2003. And before joining the Sprint Cup ranks in late 2000, Busch was the 1999 NASCAR Southwest Tour champion, where at age 21, he was the youngest driver to win that series’ championship.

Kurt Busch To Phoenix Racing: Ragan/Petty Announcement Could Come Tomorrow

2011-12-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

Expect an announcement tomorrow from Phoenix Racing that former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch will drive the team’s No. 51 Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Today Chevrolet in 2012. Team owner James Finch confirmed the signing to FOX Sports NASCAR reporter Lee Spencer today, and sources close to the team say an official announcement of Busch’s signing will be made tomorrow morning.

The deal is reportedly for one year, and Finch told Fox Sports he is not worried about reining-in his often controversial driver. “I’ve worked with iron workers, I worked with construction workers, so working with a driver is not going to be a problem,” he said. “All we want to do is win.”

Busch parted company with Penske Racing after a profanity laced tirade directed at ESPN pit reporter Jerry Punch and his camera crew at Homestead Miami Speedway in November. Penske Racing announced yesterday that AJ Allmendinger will replace Busch in the team’s No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge next season. Sources say David Ragan is likely to replace Allmendinger in the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, with an announcement possible as soon as tomorrow.

Phoenix Racing will campaign Chevrolets built by Hendrick Motorsports again in 2012, after finishing 30th in championship points with driver Landon Cassill last season.

Baxter Confirmed At Eddie Sharp Racing

2011-12-21T17:14:00.000-05:00

Eddie Sharp Racing confirmed today what Sirius Speedway first reported last Thursday; that veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter will join the team to compete for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with driver Cale Gale next season. With 20 years of experience in the motorsports industry, the San Diego, Calif., native will lead the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado team.

“I’m excited to join the team at Eddie Sharp Racing and have the chance to work with Cale Gale,” said Baxter. “Cale has a tremendous desire to be a good driver, the team is keyed up for a new season, and everyone at Rheem seems greatful to have that kind of enthusiasm surround our entire program makes me excited to walk in the shop every day.”

After spending the last few years working with young drivers at Michael Waltrip Racing and Pastrana Waltrip Racing, Baxter will join Eddie Sharp Racing on January 1, 2012. He has previously worked with a roster of drivers that included David Reutimann, Scott Speed, Trevor Bayne, and Ryan Truex.

“I’m really looking forward to this season,” said Baxter. “It’s another challenge with another young driver, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Cale is a great guy.”

“I’m very excited to have Jerry on-board for the 2012 season,” said team owner Eddie Sharp. “He’s a veteran crew chief and has the ability to bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to our team. His enthusiasm for the job has everyone else excited for the upcoming season, and I can’t wait to see what he and Cale are able to achieve in the No. 33 Rheem Chevy Silverado.”

Bullins Tapped To Lead Penske Nationwide Team

2011-12-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

Penske Racing announced today that Jeremy Bullins has been named crew chief of the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Bullins makes the move from Richard Childress Racing where he most recently served as race engineer for Kevin Harvick's No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet.

“We are pleased to welcome Jeremy to the Penske Racing team,” said Roger Penske. “His experience and engineering background will allow him to integrate well with our approach to preparing our race cars and executing at the track. We are excited for Jeremy to lead the No. 22 team and to continue with the winning tradition that has been established over the last two seasons.”

Bullins will join a team that has quickly become one of the most successful in NNS competition. Over the course of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the No. 22 Dodge has scored 12 wins with Brad Keselowski as its primary pilot. In its first season of existence, Keselowski led the No. 22 team to the 2010 NNS title, the first-ever NASCAR championship for Penske Racing. Bullins will take over for Todd Gordon, who last week was promoted to crew chief of the Penske Racing No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to join Penske Racing and lead this successful program,” said Bullins, who was race engineer for seven Cup Series point-paying wins on the No. 29 car over the last two years. “The No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team is one of the premier teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Not many people get the opportunity to work with a driver of Brad’s caliber in their first crew chief position. I am excited to get to work and get ready for the 2012 season.”

Keselowski will share the driving duties with Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman in the No. 22 car during the 2012 campaign. Keselowski, the former series champion, is looking to continue his rise up the NNS all-time wins ladder. With five more victories, Keselowski will enter the top 10 in career wins.

“I am very proud of what we have been able to build over the last two seasons with the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team,” said Keselowski. “I am confident Jeremy can continue to build on that. He brings an impressive resume from a solid organization. It is also good that we were able to move quickly to bring Jeremy aboard Penske Racing so we can all start working together to prepare for 2012.”

"Legends Helping Legends" Set For Feb. 4

2011-12-21T14:28:00.000-05:00

The Sixth Annual "Legends Helping Legends" will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10 am to 2 pm at Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, NC.

Home of the Racers Reunion Hall of Fame, Memory Lane will honor NASCAR's fabulous Flock Family; which consisted of brothers Tim, Bob, Fonty and sister Ethel. All four were extremely talented drivers and hold a number of records to this day. Youngest brother Tim led the family in wins and on-track accomplishment, and his widow, Frances, will be an honored guest at the Feb. 4 event.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the medical fund of the Old Timer’s Racing Club, which helps early racing veterans in need. The group is under the leadership of Mike Sykes, who devotes much of his time to supporting those who served as the true back bones of early auto racing.

The Statesville (NC) Shrine Club will provide food and refreshments for the event, and will have a raffle car on site with proceeds going to the Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

More than 50 racing personalities -- including drivers, mechanics, car owners and others are expected to attend the annual event, supporting the Old Timers Racing Club, meeting fans and signing autographs. Admission to the event is just $10.00 per person. Raffle and door prize drawings will be held, with proceeds also going to the Old Timers Racing Club Medical Fund.

As drivers and racing personalities commit to this year's gathering, they will be posted on the Memory Lane Museum website: www.memorylaneautomuseum.com. Memory Lane is located at 769 River Highway in Mooresville, NC.

Computer Theft Compromises NASCAR Driver Information

2011-12-21T14:00:00.000-05:00

NASCAR has informed more than 1,000 drivers and crew members that a laptop computer containing social security numbers, driver’s license numbers and other personal information was stolen last month from an employee of Aegis Laboratories, the company that oversees the sanctioning body’s substance abuse testing program. Aegis administers planned and random drug tests to NASCAR license holders throughout the season, screening samples for banned substances and reporting back to the sanctioning body.

The laptop computer was reported stolen on November 22nd, but many licensees were not informed of the theft until this week.

NASCAR Director of Communications Kerry Tharp said the stolen laptop contained no medical or lab records, only driver’s license and Social Security numbers. He said there have been no reports of any identity theft, adding, “in all likelihood, the person who stole the laptop sold it at a local Pawn Shop without ever knowing what was on it.”

Asked why it took more than 30 days for the involved parties to be notified, Tharp said, “It has taken a while to call everybody and get in touch with them. Aegis first had to notify the appropriate state agencies, and once Aegis reported the theft it to us, we began calling people immediately. Everyone has been notified at this point.”

A written statement from NASCAR said the sanctioning body “is taking every precaution possible to address this situation including contacting all individuals whose names appear on the file. Aegis also is providing outreach and consultation.”

Since the computer file in question was created in 2009, NASCAR and Aegis have instituted a new data-processing system that prevents such an incident from happening again. Aegis is revising its security procedures, encrypting data on laptop computers, and retraining affected employees on confidentiality and security procedures. Aegis has also agreed to supply all involved parties with two years of complimentary credit monitoring.

NASCAR said it “apologizes to the affected individuals for this unfortunate incident involving one of our vendors, and we are pressing Aegis to do everything necessary to mitigate this situation.”

CONFIRMED: Allmendinger To Penske In 2012

2011-12-21T12:03:00.001-05:00

After five years of trying, AJ Allmendinger has finally hit the NASCAR lottery.

Penske Racing confirmed today that Allmendinger will drive the team's No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, replacing Kurt Busch. The former Champ Car World Series star has competed in the Sprint Cup Series since 2007, and recorded a career-best 15th place finish in the 2011 championship standings.

Allmendinger came to NASCAR from the Open Wheel ranks, after winning the 2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series championship and the 2003 Toyota Atlantic Series title. He claimed Champ Car World Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, then won five races en route to a third-place finish in the 2005 Champ Car standings. He moved to NASCAR in 2007 with Red Bull Racing, which pushed him immediately into Sprint Cup competition despite an almost complete lack of stock car experience. He struggled to adapt, failing to qualify for eight of the first 10 races in 2007 before being pulled from the ride temporarily in favor of veteran Mike Skinner. Allmendinger ran just 17 times in his rookie season, with a top finish of 15th.

He ran 27 of 36 races for Red Bull in 2008, recording a pair of Top-10 finishes en route to 36th in points, before being dropped by Red Bull and moving to Richard Petty Motorsports. He has driven for RPM in each of the last three seasons, most recently at the wheel of Petty's iconic No. 43 Ford. The California native posted one Top-5 and 10 Top-10 finishes this season.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to join Penske Racing and drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012,” said Allmendinger today. “I have always admired Roger Penske and the way his teams compete and win in every series where they race. It is a privilege for me to represent such iconic and respected brands as Shell and Pennzoil, AAA and Dodge. I am honored to join Penske Racing and I will do my very best to continue to build on the standard of excellence established across the organization.”

Allmendinger joins a team that won twice in 2011 with driver Kurt Busch, and claimed three poles, 16 Top-10 finishes and a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He will be teamed with newly announced crew chief Todd Gordon, who led the Penske Racing No. 22 Nationwide Series team to six victories last season.

“AJ is a very talented and motivated driver and we believe he will be a terrific fit with our team,” said Roger Penske. “He has shown great promise and consistent results on the track over the last few seasons and working with Todd and the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team will allow him to take the next step and compete for race wins and a spot in the Chase in 2012.”

“Shell and Pennzoil are extremely pleased by Penske Racing’s selection of AJ Allmendinger to drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge,” said Lisa Davis, President of Shell Oil Products U.S. “AJ has consistently demonstrated great potential and continuous improvement as a driver, and with Penske’s track record, our employees and customers can look forward to seeing him contending for wins and ultimately a championship in the NASCAR Cup Series. We know he will represent our brands well on and off the track and we look forward to a successful 2012 with AJ behind the wheel.”

Sources: Allmendinger Talking To Penske Racing

2011-12-21T10:11:00.000-05:00

NASCAR Silly Season remains in full swing this week, with multiple sources saying AJ Allmendinger is now a leading candidate to drive Penske Racing’s No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge next season.

Former Roush Fenway Racing driver David Ragan met with Penske Racing officials and their sponsors recently, hoping to replace the departed Kurt Busch. Those negotiations reportedly ended early this week when Best Buy announced plans to leave Allmendinger’s No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford for a limited schedule of races with Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards at Roush Fenway Racing. That move left Allmendinger without a guaranteed ride for the 2012 campaign, and talks were quickly initiated between the former Champ Car World Series star and Penske Racing.

An announcement of Allmendinger’s signing could come as quickly as this week, and talks are reportedly underway to have Ragan replace Allmendinger in the legendary #43 Ford.

Best Buy Jumps To Roush Fenway, Petty Restates Desire To Remain A Two-Car Team

2011-12-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

Best Buy announced today that they will not return to the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford next season, moving instead to Roush Fenway Racing for a limited schedule of sponsorship with teammates Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth.

The electronics retailer will serve as primary sponsor of Edwards' #99 Ford for two races and Kenseth’s # 17 machine for nine races next season, in addition to appearing as an associate sponsor on both vehicles. Best Buy has been a NASCAR sponsor for the past seven years, first with Haas Automation (now Stewart Haas) Racing, and more recently with Richard Petty Motorsports, where they backed drivers Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger.

"Best Buy is thrilled to announce this new NASCAR sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway Racing," said Drew Panayiotou, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Best Buy. "Roush Fenway Racing is a great fit for Best Buy Racing. NASCAR continues to be a relevant way for us to connect with our customers. Our goal is to reach our target audiences in a meaningful way, while maximizing the value of our marketing and sponsorship investments."

RPM co-owner Richard Petty expressed sadness with the departure of Best Buy, saying, "We have had a successful and rewarding relationship with Best Buy for the past few years and appreciate all they have done for us. Although it is very disappointing that Best Buy is changing directions at this late date, we wish all our friends there the best in their future endeavors.”

Petty said the team still intends to field a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Fords in 2012, saying, “our plan has always been to run a two-car team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series… and we are continuing down that path. We have several partners that remain committed to the #43 team (and) we will move forward and explore all of our options in regard to the #43 program in the coming weeks." Petty made no specific mention of either Allmendinger or teammate Marcos Ambrose in his statement today.

NASCAR Moves To Stop Two-Car Drafts

2011-12-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

NASCAR has announced changes to the rules package for January's Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway, in preparation for the Speedweeks 2012. The changes were implemented as a result of information gathered during recent tests at Talladega Superspeedway in October and Daytona in November.

The new rules package includes changes to the cooling system in an attempt to reduce the two-car drafting. It is headlined by a smaller radiator – maximum two-gallon capacity – with a smaller, half-gallon overflow tank and a radiator inlet located closer into the center of the front bumper. The new package also includes a mandated softer sprint rate, a reduction in rear spoiler size and a restrictor plate size of 29/32 inch; 1/64 inch larger than that used in the 2011 Daytona 500.

CONFIRMED: Zipadelli To Stewart Haas

2011-12-16T13:26:00.001-05:00

Greg Zipadelli, winner of two championships and 34 races as a crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been named Competition Director at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). He will work with Vice President of Competition Matt Borland and oversee the Nos. 14 and 39 teams, while also building the No. 10 team for which Danica Patrick will run a 10-race Sprint Cup schedule with in 2012.

Zipadelli comes to SHR from Joe Gibbs Racing, where he served as crew chief for the No. 20 team since 1999. It’s where the 44-year-old from Berlin, Conn., began a 10-year tenure with Tony Stewart, the co-owner of SHR along with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation.

From 1999 through 2008, Zipadelli was Stewart’s crew chief, with the duo winning Sprint Cup titles in 2002 and 2005 while claiming 33 victories and 10 poles. When Stewart left JGR following the 2008 season to form SHR, Zipadelli stayed and spent three years as the crew chief for Joey Logano, where he helped deliver Logano’s first career Sprint Cup victory on June 28, 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

“We’re very proud to have Greg Zipadelli join Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Stewart, the three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion. “Greg and I have a long and successful history together. I know him and he knows me, and we both know what it takes to build race teams.

“We took our time in searching for a competition director because it’s an important role with a lot of responsibility. Greg knows all that goes into the job, understands the importance of teamwork and communication across all levels of the organization, and is ultimately someone I have a great deal of trust in.”

The addition of Zipadelli to the SHR family is a reunion on two fronts – Stewart, of course, but also with Steve Addington, who spent 2004-2008 at JGR and is now Stewart’s crew chief at SHR with the No. 14 team. (Tony Gibson serves as crew chief for the No. 39 team and driver Ryan Newman.)

“Joe Gibbs always says that you win with people, and Tony Stewart is a winner,” Zipadelli said. “We won a lot together at Joe Gibbs Racing, and it was a sad day when he left. But Tony had an unbelievable opportunity with Stewart-Haas Racing, and he’s obviously made the most of it. To become a part of what he’s already built, but to do it in a new role with a new set of responsibilities, was a challenge I wanted. I really appreciate Joe and J.D. Gibbs for all that that they’ve given me over the years and for allowing me to seize this opportunity.”

Zipadelli’s career began humbly. His first job in racing was working on a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car owned by his uncle at age seven, and by age 14, he was preparing race cars for his family-owned Sherwood Racing Team. By the time he was 20, Zipadelli was a championship-winning crew chief, leading Modified Tour driver Mike McLaughlin to the series title on the heels of five wins and 15 top-five finishes. When McLaughlin moved up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with prominent New England car owner Mike Greci, Zipadelli followed and the tandem recorded five wins between 1990 and 1993.

McLaughlin departed Greci’s operation at the end of the 1993 season, but Zipadelli stayed with the team and worked with a handful of drivers in 1994 and 1995. Zipadelli’s perseverance paid off in 1996 when driver Mike Stefanik joined the team. While no wins were recorded that year, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes made way for a championship season in 1997. Stefanik marched to the series title that year riding a wave of consistency with two wins, 14 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, giving Zipadelli his second NASCAR touring series championship in less than a decade.

With two championship rings before age 30, Zipadelli headed south in January 1998 to join Roush Fenway Racing’s Sprint Cup operation as the chassis specialist for the No. 99 team of then driver Jeff Burton. As Burton won two races, earned 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes and finished fifth in points, Zipadelli’s talent was noticed.

In late 1998 when team owner Joe Gibbs began laying the groundwork for a second team with Stewart behind the wheel, he tabbed Zipadelli to be the No. 20 team’s crew chief. Now, after 13 highly successful years at JGR, Zipadelli’s career ascension continues with his new role as competition director at SHR.

Zipadelli Set To Join Stewart Haas Racing

2011-12-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

The off-season crew chief shuffle is expected to continue later today, with official confirmation that longtime Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Greg Zipadelli will leave the team to assume the vacant Competition Director’s post at Stewart Haas Racing.

Zipadelli has served as crew chief for Joey Logano’s #20 Home Depot Toyota since 2009, finishing 24th in championship points last season. His contract with JGR runs through the 2012 season, but multiple sources say he has negotiated an early release, in order to rejoin former driver Tony Stewart at Stewart Haas Racing. SHR has functioned without a Competition Director since the midpoint of the 2011 campaign, when veteran Bobby Hutchens was released.

Zipadelli will reportedly be replaced by Jason Ratcliff, who has led JGR’s #18 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for the last six seasons. He has been with the team since 2000, and won the Nationwide series championship with driver Kyle Busch in 2009, and the owner’s title in 2010 with a number of drivers sharing time at the wheel..

Norris Denies Talk Of Pastrana Waltrip Shutdown

2011-12-15T14:20:00.002-05:00

Michael Waltrip Racing General Manager Ty Norris is moving to quell speculation that the team will shut down its Pastrana Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team and highly successful NASCAR K&N Pro Series East operation due to lack of sponsorship.

Former Pastrana Waltrip Racing crewchief Jerry Baxter left the team recently to accept a new position as Cale Gale’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series crew chief at Eddie Sharp Racing. Since then, rumors have circulated that MWR will shutter its Nationwide and K&N Pro Series East operations and lay off a number of employees. Norris denied those reports today, saying, “I know where they came from, and they are absolutely untrue.”

Norris revealed that PWR is contractually committed to run seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2012 with Pastrana and sponsor Boost Mobile, saying the team “will absolutely honor that commitment. The plan was to run the full K&N Pro Series East schedule with Travis, then use the personnel from the K&N team to support our Nationwide effort,” said Norris. “But we simply don’t have the funding to do the K&N East Series right now. We’ve been hanging onto those (employees) since September because we don’t want to break up a championship team. The question is, how long do we wait when the funding is not there?

“We’re actually looking at doing some additional things with Travis next season; things I hope to be able to talk about more in January,” said Norris, who doubles as MWR’s Executive Vice President of Business Development. “There are three companies talking to us about doing more, and we absolutely want to. But right now, seven Nationwide races are all we have sold.”

This season, Pastrana Waltrip Racing ran 10 of the first 14 Nationwide Series races with driver Ryan Truex, posting a best finish of eighth at Richmond International Raceway in April. Pastrana was scheduled to take the wheel of the #99 Toyota for the second half of the season, but suffered a badly broken right foot and ankle in X Games competition on July 28; just days before his scheduled Nationwide debut at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. He underwent surgery to repair the breaks, and never raced in the Nationwide Series. The team made its final start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October, with Truex finishing 34th after a mid-race crash.

MWR’s K&N Pro Series East team has dominated the circuit in recent years, claiming the 2009 and 2010 series championships with Truex at the wheel. MWR won three of 12 series races this year with driver Brett Moffitt, en route to third place in the final championship standings.

Report: Wheldon Died When Head Hit Fence

2011-12-15T12:07:00.001-05:00

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2011) - A comprehensive review of the racing accident that claimed the life of IndyCar star Dan Wheldon is now complete.

A press release issued by IndyCar states that Wheldon, the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, suffered a non-survivable head injury Oct. 16 in a 15-car crash in Turn Two at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the final race of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

"There are multiple factors that are not uncommon to racing that came together in a way that claimed Dan's life," said Brian Barnhart, President of Operations, INDYCAR. "It is a tragedy. Our thoughts and support will always be with Dan's family."

The accident review revealed that Wheldon's path on the lower portion of the racetrack was blocked by the multi-car crash he was approaching. His No. 77 car became airborne and ultimately impacted a vertical post of the track fencing. The pole intruded the cockpit, and the impact with the driver's helmeted head produced non-survivable blunt force trauma.

The response to the scene by INDYCAR's Holmatro Safety Team was rapid and decisive, according to the review.

INDYCAR analyzed data from accident data recorders carried on board each race car involved in the crash, the on-board data acquisition system from teams, timing and scoring data, video, still photographs, physical evidence and eyewitness reports from participants. Third-party experts with Indianapolis-based Wolf Technical Services provided independent assurance that the investigation protocol, evidence examined and reviewed, and the conclusions reached are consistent and appropriate to standard scientific and engineering investigation methods.

Examination of video of the incident revealed the type of "pack racing" that is common on high-banked ovals. However, there was almost unlimited movement on the track surface under race conditions not previously experienced that is attributed to track geometry beyond banking. Such freedom of movement outside of normal racing grooves not only increased the probability for car-to-car contact, but made it more difficult for drivers to predict the movement of other drivers. As a result, the opportunity for this incident was increased.

While this incident could have occurred at any track at any time, the dynamic of the current car and the overall track geometry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under race conditions appear to have been contributing factors in the incident.

The 34-car starting field was determined to be acceptable based on factors such as length and width of the racetrack and pit space capability. This incident and its consequences could have occurred with any size starting field at any track.

"INDYCAR's commitment to safety was enhanced by Dan Wheldon's testing throughout 2011 of the new car to be used by INDYCAR in 2012," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season ushers in an era of a new race car and the opportunity for continued safety advancements. Dan Wheldon was instrumental in the testing and development of this new car and the safety innovations that it represents. We are thankful for his efforts and commitment to racing."

The 2012 Dallara Automobili chassis enhances safety components such as side intrusion panels and wheel tethers. The cockpit is longer and wider than the decommissioned monocoque, which allows for additional padding underneath and behind the driver. Also, a "floating headrest" works in conjunction with the mandatory FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) attached to the helmet. Driver positioning allows for better sightlines.

Roush, Edwards Re-Up With Kellogg's

2011-12-15T11:55:00.001-05:00

Roush Fenway Racing and Kellogg Company have announced a multi-year extension of their NASCAR partnership. Kellogg will serve as a primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford for four Sprint Cup races in 2012, teaming Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal and Cheez-It crackers with championship contender and fan favorite Carl Edwards.

Kellogg has been involved with NASCAR for many years, including serving as a primary sponsor of the No. 99 Ford with Roush Fenway for the past two seasons. Edwards finished as runner up in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup and has accumulated 19 wins during his Sprint Cup career. He also has 89 top-five finishes, 144 top-10 finishes and 10 pole awards in just over 250 starts.

Edwards has secured a position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup NASCAR “playoff” six times in seven attempts, and finished second in 2008 and 2011. In addition, he won the 2007 Nationwide Series Championship. This season, Edwards and the No. 99 team led the Sprint Cup point standings for 23 of the 36 weeks.

“It’s an honor to be involved with Kellogg,” said Edwards. “They have tremendous commitment to quality in everything they do and racing fans love their products. They are a fun partner to go racing with and I’m excited about continuing the relationship.”

“Our involvement with racing gives us a great opportunity to interact with our consumers in a fun, exciting environment,” said Brad Davidson, president, Kellogg North America. “We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Carl and Roush Fenway Racing, and we look forward to seeing Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and Cheez-it crackers on the No. 99 car next season.”

Busch Extends Deal With TAG Heuer

2011-12-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

TAG Heuer Eyewear announced today that it has re-signed NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kurt Busch to a multi-year contract extension in his role as an ambassador for the company and its eyewear products. Busch, who joined the TAG Heuer family at the beginning of 2010, exclusively wears TAG Heuer sunglasses and is featured in Eyewear print, billboard, in-store and Internet advertisements. He will continue to display the TAG Heuer Eyewear logo on the racing helmet that he wears in NASCAR competition, as well as in other forms of motorsport. In 2011 TAG Heuer created a Kurt Busch collector edition sunglass that was made available at U.S. retailers.

“Kurt has been an excellent ambassador for the TAG Heuer Eyewear brand,” said Guillaume Pottecher, President of Premiere Vision, the U.S. distributor for TAG Heuer Eyewear. “TAG Heuer is affiliated with leading personalities and properties around the sports and entertainment world and Kurt fits that role perfectly. He is unquestionably one of the premier talents in NASCAR and in his work for us on every occasion he has gone above and beyond what we could expect of him. We very much look forward to the future together with Kurt.”

“I’m thrilled to continue my ambassador role for TAG Heuer Eyewear,” said Busch. “It’s an honor to be affiliated with TAG Heuer which is globally recognized as a blue chip brand. Our working relationship has proven effective and enjoyable. I’ll continue to take a great deal of pride in representing TAG Heuer Eyewear in the years to come.”

Beam Leaves Roush Fenway For New Job At KBM

2011-12-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that former Roush Fenway Racing crew chief Mike Beam has left the organization to accept a new position as crew chief for the Kyle Busch Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series team.

Beam’s resume’ as a NASCAR crew chief dates back to 1981, with stints atop the pit box for a list of drivers that includes Richard and Kyle Petty, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Craven, Kenny Wallace and Bobby Hamilton, Jr. He has three career Cup Series wins; two with Elliott and one with Craven. He most recently served as crew chief for Carl Edwards’ #99 NASCAR Nationwide Series effort at Roush Fenway Racing, leading the team to eight victories in 33 starts last season.

Beam revealed that he also considered the vacant Competition Director’s position at Turner Motorsports, overseeing the team’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series operations before deciding to sign with KBM. “I won eight races with Carl last year, and I really like that winning part,” said Beam. “This cat (Busch) is going to get it done. It’s going to be hard work, but I really like the look of this deal.”

Beam said no driver has been selected for the KBM’s new Nationwide Series Toyota, adding that he hopes a decision is coming soon. “I think Kyle’s getting close on a driver,” he said. “He’s on vacation this week, but I know they’re working on it. I’m not sure who it’ll be yet, but we need to get some seats ordered pretty soon. It’s tough to get anything done through the holidays, so from my point of view, we need to get busy right now.”

Biffle Set For Rose Parade Appearance

2011-12-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle will help Natural Balance Pet Foods make a “splash” in the upcoming 123rd Rose Parade on January 2nd, 2012. In 2010 the Natural Balance float rolled into the Guinness Book of World records as the world’s longest float and in 2011, took the record for the world’s heaviest float.

This year the Natural Balance float will be 116 feet long and feature a tropical floral setting. After extensive training, the dogs on the float will actually surf on 65-foot long waves in over 6,600 gallons of water on a float weighing more than 100,000 pounds. A specially designed “wave” machine is incorporated into the design of the float and creates a wave every minute.

The Rose Bowl Parade will air live from Pasadena, Calif. on ABC at 11:00 a.m. EST. Check out Biffle and Tillman, the World’s Fastest Skateboarding Bulldog at www.GregBiffle.com and get a sneak peek at the building of the float at www.naturalbalanceinc.com.

“I can’t wait to see the float,” said Biffle. “I’ve heard a lot about this year’s float and I’ve seen video of the floats from the last couple of years. Tillman came to our shop at Roush Fenway Racing last month and we got to see him skateboard. I heard he’ll be surfing on the float this year so I can’t wait to see that. It was definitely an honor to be asked to ride on the Natural Balance float because we share the same passion for the well-being of animals.”

In addition to the ABC broadcast, the 123rd Rose Parade will be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel, HGTV, KTLA (Tribune), NBC, RFD-TV and Univision. The Parade is also seen in more than 200 international territories and countries.

The Natural Balance float is 54th out of 91 parade entries. It is preceded by a high-school band and succeeded by the Southern California Peruvian Paso Horse Club Riders. The parade will make an unprecedented pause for 45 seconds when the Natural Balance Float, a float of "high visual interest", passes the viewing stand, in order to ponder "dogs that surf". For the very first time in Rose Parade history there will be a robotic camera on the float, which will be powered by Ford's latest version of the 6.8L 3v engine.

Gordon Named Crewchief By Penske Racing

2011-12-14T16:33:00.000-05:00

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 14, 2011) – Penske Racing announced today that Todd Gordon will be the new crew chief of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The move comes on the heels of a successful 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series campaign, during which Gordon led the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger to six wins and six pole positions.

“Our first priority is always to look within the walls of Penske Racing when making personnel decisions,” said team owner Roger Penske. “We want to reward success. The path we are taking with Todd mirrors what we did with Paul Wolfe who led the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge to a Chase berth in 2011. We think Todd can get the job done in the same manner.”

Gordon joined Penske Racing in January of 2011, and he and Brad Keselowski quickly developed a driver-crew chief rapport that made the No. 22 Dodge one of the premier entries in NNS competition.

“I can’t thank Roger and everyone at Penske Racing enough for this vote of confidence,” said Gordon. “It’s an honor to step into a race-winning team. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is an organization full of talented people that know how to get the job done. I look forward to getting the Shell/Pennzoil Dodge back in Victory Lane.”

Penske Racing officials say they continue to evaluate drivers to fill the seat of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge.

2012 Budweiser Shootout Field Announced

2011-12-14T14:46:00.000-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR has announced the list of eligible competitors for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout. The 34th annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18 with start time set for 8:10 p.m. FOX Sports and MRN Radio will broadcast live nationally. Eligibles drivers must have been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season, with spots in the Budweiser Shootout awarded to the 25 highest-ranked competitors in 2011 Driver Points and previous event winners at Daytona; including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, and Budweiser Shootout.

“The criteria for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout ensures race fans that the best NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will battle for a coveted victory on the historic high banks,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “Throughout its long history, the Budweiser Shootout has produced plenty of fireworks on the track and race fans can expect another exciting star-studded night of racing as we kick off the new NASCAR season.”

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combine that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), divided into two segments of 25 and 50 laps. Green-flag and yellow-flag laps will all count toward the total. Following the first segment, there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on their cars and perform any function done on a normal pit stop in any NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

Tickets for the Budweiser Shootout start at $39, with special advance pricing available for tickets purchased in January, and admission is free for children 12 and under. Tickets for all 2012 Speedweeks events -- including the Budweiser Shootout -- can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout include:

2011 Top 25 Driver Points
Tony Stewart
Carl Edwards
Kevin Harvick
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Jimmie Johnson
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Newman
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Clint Bowyer
Kasey Kahne
A.J. Allmendinger
Greg Biffle
Paul Menard
Martin Truex Jr.
Marcos Ambrose
Jeff Burton
Juan Pablo Montoya
Mark Martin
David Ragan
Joey Logano
Brian Vickers

Others (criteria in parentheses)
Bill Elliott (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)
Terry Labonte (Budweiser Shootout)
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)

Scott Speed Signs New Sprint Cup Deal

2011-12-14T11:19:00.000-05:00

Scott Speed has joined Leavine Family Racing for a limited, 15-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for 2012, driving the team's No. 95 Ford.

A veteran of all three of NASCAR's premier national touring series, Speed joins Leavine Family Racing after making 13 Sprint Cup starts with Whitney Motorsports in the No. 46 Ford last season. He will be competing in his fifth Sprint Cup Series season, after running full-time with Red Bull Racing in 2010; earning two top-10 finishes and leading 21 laps.

"We are pleased to have Scott Speed join our team," said team owner Bob Leavine. "We, as a team, want to give Scott the equipment and the resources he needs to win - and that is what I believe he will do for us in return. Scott is a proven driver. He was the first American to race in Formula One since Michael Andretti and has a lot to offer our program as a teammate and a competitor."

Speed has made 18 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and 16 starts in the Camping World Truck Series over the past four years. He posted a truck series win at the Dover International Speedway in 2008. His best Nationwide Series finish came on the road course at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last year where he placed sixth.

He began his racing career in arting at the age of 10. Making his way through the open-wheel racing ranks throughout the West Coast, he made his Formula One debut in 2001. From there he has successfully competed in Formula One making 28 career starts before making the transition to stock-car racing in 2007 with the ARCA Racing Series.

The 28-year-old driver is thrilled to have the opportunity to compete with Leavine Family Racing.

"I am excited to team up with Bob Leavine and his guys at Leavine Family Racing," Speed said. They have a solid group of guys working on the team and I think it will be a real fun deal. Our goal is to build this race team to become competitive. We know it will be baby steps, but we are all excited to get it rolling."

BRANDT Back With Algaier In 2012

2011-12-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

Turner Motorsports has announced that BRANDT will return to the team as primary sponsor of the No. 31 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet driven by championship contender Justin Allgaier.

Allgaier finished the 2011 season third in the overall NASCAR Nationwide Series championship point standings, notching one win, six top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes. His lone win came at Chicagoland Speedway, the home track of both BRANDT and Allgaier.

BRANDT President and CEO, Rick C. Brandt, is enthusiastic about the company's return to NNS competition with Turner Motorsports, saying, "We are extremely pleased with the outcome of our first season in NASCAR and look forward to returning as a championship contending team with Turner Motorsports and Justin Allgaier in the Nationwide Series. We look to expand on the successes we had with the program both on and off the track in 2011 and take the program to the next level in 2012."

Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner said he is pleased to welcome BRANDT back on board as an integral part of his NNS program. "We are thrilled to have BRANDT back as a primary partner for the 2012 season," said Turner. "Just like Turner Motorsports, BRANDT is a family-based company, whose values and ideals align well with ours. Also, Justin [Allgaier] is a great fit for BRANDT, having grown up not far from the company headquarters. We believe 2011 was a great start to our partnership, but plan for the 2012 season to be even better as we contend for more wins, and ultimately, a Nationwide Series championship."

A native of Riverton, Ill., the "Little Gator" began in Midget and Sprint cars at age six before moving onto stock cars as a teenager. After capturing the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2008, he graduated to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, claiming Rookie of the Year honors with three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. The 25-year-old scored his first series victory in 2010 at Bristol Motor Speedway and rounded out the season with two pole awards, eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.

RPM Considering Busch For #43 Ford

2011-12-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

Kurt Busch may return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in a quality ride, after all.

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that in an effort to retain sponsor Best Buy, Richard Petty Motorsports has proposed replacing AJ Allmendinger as driver of the legendary #43 Ford with Busch. RPM struggled to re-sign Best Buy a year ago, negotiating until early January before inking a one-year contract. The electronics retailer served as major sponsor of the #43 team in 26 events this season.

Richard Petty Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Robbie Loomis confirmed today that discussions have been held regarding Busch, saying, “Best Buy has been a great partner for a long time, and AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. He’s coming off his best season yet, but I can tell you there is a lot of interest on our part in having Kurt Busch in the fold. It makes sense to have Kurt with our team, if we can make it work.

“Our main focus is to continue building on what we finished the season with last year,” said Loomis. “But right now, I feel like I’m running down two different sets of train tracks. From a personal standpoint, nothing has excited me more than when I heard Kurt had become available. I’m excited about the opportunity to add a driver like Kurt Busch to Richard Petty Motorsports.

“I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team,” said Loomis. “We value what he has done on the race track. He has won a (Sprint Cup) championship and worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing. Guys like that don’t come along every day.”

Allmendinger finished 15th in 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship points, with one Top-5 and 10 Top-10 finishes. His best finish was a fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. Busch won a pair of races this season at Infineon and Dover en route to 11th in points, tallying eight Top-5 and 16 Top-10 finishes. He parted company with Penske Racing earlier this month, in the aftermath of a much-publicized verbal confrontation with ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch during the 2011 season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.

As a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Busch would almost certainly be a guaranteed starter for all 36 races next season. That Past Champion’s Provisional is of little use to the #43 team, however, which finished solidly in the Top-35 in owner’s point last season and is already locked into the first five races of the 2012 campaign.

Darlington Raises $5,000 For Toys For Tots

2011-12-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

Fans of Darlington Raceway were in a giving mood this holiday season with several hundred participants donating a toy or $20 donation during the track’s Toys for Tots Drive Saturday.

The event, which gave fans the opportunity to take their personal vehicles for laps around the historic Darlington Raceway for a donation, generated over $5,000 worth of toy and cash donations for the local U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program just in time for the holidays. The collection, the largest for the area’s U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program, will benefit five local counties surrounding the track, including Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion and Williamsburg, respectively.

“We’re very pleased with the turnout and want to thank our fans for their generosity this holiday season,” Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning said. “We were able to collect many toys and donations for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program and to be able to help families that need assistance right before Christmas.

“We’re more than happy to open up our racing facility for a day and give our fans the chance to take their vehicles on the high banks of Darlington Raceway and in turn give back to the local communities that have supported us for more than 60 years!” Browning continued.

Vehicles of all kinds participated in the event, some traveling hundreds of miles from all parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and beyond. John Bachman, from nearby Hartsville, S.C., heard about the drive on the local radio and donated toys and cash for the opportunity to take his truck on the track with his son.

“What a great opportunity to take a few laps around Darlington Raceway and also give back to the community,” John Bachman said. “Giving back to people who are less fortunate, especially kids, is so important and we were happy to participate in the event. My son, Jonathon, lives in North Carolina so I thought this would be a fun thing for him to be able to say he took laps around this great track.”

The local U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program assisted over 10,000 children in 2010, including over 5,000 in Darlington and Florence counties alone. Events like the Darlington Raceway drive make a tremendous impact in its efforts to make sure every child has a toy(s) to unwrap during the Christmas season.

“We truly appreciate the efforts by track president Chris Browning and his staff to open up Darlington Raceway and allow its fans to participate in this special event, which is our largest collection event of the season,” Jim Williams, U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Program Coordinator said. “Because of the generosity of great local community members like Darlington Raceway, a child in need will be able to open a gift this Christmas season.”

Darlington Raceway -- or the track Too Tough To Tame as it is known to many -- has been a NASCAR staple since 1950, and seen some of the sport's most talented drivers fight their way to Gatorade Victory Lane. On Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12, 2012, NASCAR’s biggest stars return to battle the track Too Tough To Tame in the Sprint Cup Series Southern 500 and Nationwide Series Darlington 200.

Tickets for events at Darlington can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets.

Gordon Tops Best Seller List

2011-12-12T15:44:00.001-05:00

Lionel NASCAR Collectables announced their Top-10 Best Selling NASCAR diecast collectable cars for 2011 today, and perhaps surprisingly, NASCAR's Most Popular Driver was not at the top of the list. In fact, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet was only the number-four selling diecast for the season just completed.

Jeff Gordon's new No. 24 AARP/Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet topped the list of best sellers for 2011, followed by Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet. Trevor Bayne's Daytona 500-winning No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford was third, followed by Earnhardt's Chevrolet. Members of Earnhardt Nation can take heart, however, as their driver accounted for no less than three of the Top-10 sellers.

The complete Top-10 list included:

1. Jeff Gordon No. 24 AARP/Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet

2. Kevin Harvick No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet

3. Trevor Bayne No. 21 Motorcraft Daytona Win Ford

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 Amp Energy Chevrolet

5. Tony Stewart No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet

6. Dale Earnhardt No. 96 Cardinal Tractor Ford

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 National Guard Heritage Chevrolet

8. Tony Stewart No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 Dale Jr. Foundation/Vh1 Save the Music Chevrolet

10. Kevin Harvick No. 29 Budweiser Military Tribute Chevrolet

Armour Backs RCR In Nationwide, Trucks

2011-12-12T14:02:00.000-05:00

Pinnacle Foods Group and Richard Childress Racing have reached a partnership agreement for sponsorship of two of RCR's teams for 2012. Pinnacle's Armour brand will serve as the primary sponsor for three races on the team's #33 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet with Kevin Harvick at the wheel; March 18 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway; May 6 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway; and September 8 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Armour canned meats will also appear as an associate sponsor of Childress' #33 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and on one of RCR's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams. The specific team and races will be announced at a later date.

Martinsville President Climbs Pole For Charity

2011-12-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell could have made an early descent from atop the track's entrance sign Friday afternoon, but he knew the longer he stayed, the more money he raised to help needy children in the Martinsville and Henry County area.

Campbell had vowed to stay perched 38 feet in the air until he raised $20,000 for the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation. That total was hit by mid-afternoon, but Campbell made the decision to stay put as temperatures dropped later in the afternoon.

By the time he descended at 4 p.m. contributions had topped $25,000.

“It wasn’t nearly as cold as it was last year, so I figured I would stick it out up there as long as I could and help as many children as we can,” said Campbell. “It always amazes me how generous the folks of Martinsville and Henry County and our friends in our racing family are. In today’s economy, to be able to raise this much money in a single day is incredible.”

The temperature hovered just below freezing when Campbell was hoisted to his perch. The temperature rose only into the high 40s during midday, then dropped as the afternoon wore on. The only time he descended during the eight-hour stretch was for a couple of TV and radio interviews.

The Christmas spirit revs up at Martinsville Speedway Saturday with the 15th Annual Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive to help needy youngsters in the Martinsville and Henry County area have a good Christmas. During the Toy Drive, fans will drive their personal vehicles around Martinsville’s famous half-mile oval for a donation of a toy or a $10 cash contribution. Volunteers from the Grace Network will be at the pit gate to collect donations.

For fans wanting to make a little quicker trip around the track, Campbell will give five hot laps in one of Martinsville Speedway’s pace cars for a $25 donation. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Campbell. Fans will also be able to walk into the infield via the pedestrian tunnel and drop off toys and monetary donations at a table set up close to the infield concession stand.

Martinsville Speedway staff members will be making and selling the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog and Pepsi products for $1 each, with proceeds going to the Grace Network. The Grace Network, a local group comprised of almost 100 churches, will distribute the collected toys to families in need. The monetary donations from Saturday will be used to purchase additional toys. All of the toys will remain in the Martinsville and Henry County area.

Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance at the track from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Vote Smoke Onto The SI Cover

2011-12-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

For nearly 60 years the cover of Sports Illustrated has defined the story of the day in sports. The magazine's iconic cover always stirs passionate dialog, debate, celebration and criticism; and for those who believe in jinxes, fear. But there has always been one constant. The choice of who appears on the sover of SI has always rested in the hands of the magazine's editorial team.

Today, that all changes.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST, sports fans can visit SI’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sportsillustrated) to rank the top five sports moments from 2011 drawn from a selection of 15 images which correspond to the editorial staff’s selections for the best sports moments of 2011. The image receiving the most votes as of December 16, will appear on the cover of the year-end double issue.

“Sports Illustrated has always been an advocate and voice for sports fans,” said Terry McDonell Time Inc. Sports Group Editor. “This is an extension of that mission, letting fans in on one of the most important and discussed decisions of the year.”

Tony Stewart's dramatic -- and championship clinching -- victory in the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway is among the 15 nominees, as is Abby Wambach’s goal in the 122nd minute of the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals; Derek Jeter’s dramatic home run for his 3,000th hit; paralyzed former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand leading his Scarlet Knights on the field against West Virginia, and David Freese's dramatic Game Six World Series home run for the St. Louis Cardinals.

The complete list of SI's Top-15 moments includes:

Pack on Top— February 6: Aaron Rodgers throws three TDs to lead Green Bay to a 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV

Griffin’s Dunk— February 19: In the 2011 NBA slam dunk contest, the Clippers’ Blake Griffin soars over a Kia sedan to jam home the title

UConn Survives— March 10: Kemba Walker hits a buzzer-beater to defeat Pitt 76-74 in the Big East quarters; the Huskies roll to the NCAA title

Messi and Barça Reign—May 28: Lionel Messi and Barcelona overwhelm Manchester United 3-1 to win the Champions League title and stake a claim as the greatest team ever

Mavs Win— June 12: Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks beat LeBron James and the star-studded Heat in Game 6 of the NBA finals for Dallas’s first title

Bruins Hoist the Cup— June 15: Behind a historic performance from goalie Tim Thomas, the Bruins defeat Vancouver to win their first Stanley Cup since 1972

McIlroy Majestic— June 19: After his epic Masters meltdown, Rory McIlroy bounces back to win the U.S. Open in historic fashion

Jeter’s 3,000th— July 9: On a home run at a packed Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter becomes the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits

U.S. Women Stun Brazil— July 10: Abby Wambach scores a 122nd-minute equalizer against Brazil in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, and the US wins on penalties

Djoker’s Wild— September 10: Novak Djokovic fights off two match points to defeat Roger Federer in five sets in the U.S. Open semis on the way to the title

Michigan State’s Hail Mary— October 22: After unbeaten Wisconsin had staged a wild fourth-quarter rally, Michigan State stuns the Badgers on a last-second Hail Mary to win 37–31

Cardinals Magic— October 27: David Freese’s World Series Game 6 heroics—a ninth-inning, two-out triple and an 11th-inning walkoff homer—save the Cardinals

Eric LeGrand Returns— October 29: A year after his devastating injury, paralyzed former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand leads the Scarlet Knights onto the field against West Virginia

Slater Soars— November 6: Kelly Slater advances at the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco, securing his record 11th world surfing title

Stewart Triumphs— November 20: Tony Stewart outraces Carl Edwards on the final day to win the Sprint Cup, capping NASCAR’s greatest title chase ever

Grubb Confirmed As New Crew Chief At JGR

2011-12-09T13:04:00.001-05:00

Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed today that Darian Grubb will serve as crew chief for the #11 FedEx Toyota and driver Denny Hamlin on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"Darian is a great addition to our organization and the person to lead our #11 FedEx team," said team owner Joe Gibbs. "Obviously he has proven the ability to guide a team to a championship and we are excited to have him working with Denny toward achieving that goal here at Joe Gibbs Racing."

Grubb is coming off a 2011 season with driver Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing which included winning five of the 10 Chase races en route to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. He spent the past three seasons as crew chief for the No. 14 car after Stewart left JGR to start his own race operation. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Grubb spent six years with Hendrick Motorsports; rising through the organization's engineering ranks and gaining invaluable crew chief experience.

"I'm thrilled to join Joe Gibbs Racing," said Grubb. "The chance to work with Denny is something I'm excited about. When you sit down with Joe and J.D. Gibbs, you can't help but be excited about this opportunity and the team aspects of JGR. There is no question about the level of support you get here and I'm looking forward to working with everyone across the entire organization."

Joe Gibbs Racing will hold a teleconference to discuss the hiring at 3 PM ET today. It can be heard live during Sirius Speedway on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Driver Appearances Set For NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint

2011-12-08T17:35:00.000-05:00

Driver appearance times for many NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have been confirmed for the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint preseason fan event scheduled for Jan. 21 in Charlotte, N.C.

Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, four-time champion Jeff Gordon, 2011 Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 11 other top names from the sport join previously announced 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart on the roster of Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for two-hour appearances at the , all-day fan event located inside the Charlotte Convention Center. Driver appearances will include driver autograph and on-stage question-and-answer sessions.

NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint is a new addition to the annual calendar. Reminiscent of popular season-preview events of the past, the festival-like event will feature driver and show car appearances, simulators, games, prizes and a host of other fan-friendly and interactive activities. The event is part of the three-day NASCAR Acceleration Weekend from Jan. 20-22 in Charlotte, N.C. that gives race fans a combination of events and activities featuring the legends of the sport and stars of today.

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend kicks off Friday, Jan. 20, with the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2012; Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Dale Inman, Richie Evans and Glen Wood. Following Saturday’s NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint event will be the unveiling of the Class of 2012 exhibits in the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Stewart and other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will sign autographs in the Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday. Fans with event tickets are eligible to receive one of a limited number of wristbands to receive autographs. Wristbands will be distributed beginning at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center Ballroom.

Driver Appearance Times (Jan. 21, 2012)

9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. – Kyle Busch & Matt Kenseth

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson & Denny Hamlin

11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Brad Keselowski

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Kevin Harvick & Greg Biffle

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Kasey Kahne & Ryan Newman

2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Juan Pablo Montoya

3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. – Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards & Kurt Busch

Additional drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, along with all four living members of the 2011 Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be announced at a later date. Appearance times are subject to change.

Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase new 2012 NASCAR merchandise at the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint. New items for 2012 include NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee merchandise, new 1:24 and 1:64 scale die cast cars, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule T-shirts and new driver merchandise featuring Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and more.

Tickets to NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint start at just $10 for individual event admission. A discounted $20 combo ticket includes admission to both the Preview event and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, while a $299 VIP weekend package includes all NASCAR Acceleration Weekend events, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

For additional information, visit www.NASCARAcceleration2012.com.