Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series News

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  • Drivers have fun clocking laps at Goodyear tire test at LVMS: Four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers enjoyed themselves on the track during Day 2 of a Goodyear tire test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Wednesday. #20-Matt Kenseth, #22-Joey Logano, #24-Chase Elliott and #1-Jamie McMurray clocked lap after lap at the 1.5-mile speedway on the sunny and windy day as Goodyear techs and the quartet of race teams banked valuable data to use in 2017 and beyond. The drivers enjoyed their time behind the wheel during the two-day test session. "It's fun to come out and test, and I like coming to Vegas," said Kenseth, the Kobalt 400 champion in 2003, 2004 and 2013. "It seems like everything has slowed down (on the track), which makes for better racing. I've always liked the race track, have had some good runs here and had some wins here. It's a fun race track, a fun town and always a good environment, so I enjoy racing here."
    Logano understands the importance of the tire tests and what they can do for the sport. "You're able to knock the rust off and try to come up with the best tire," said Logano, the 2014 Kobalt 400 pole winner. "This is Goodyear's test, and we're here for Goodyear to make the best tire, not only for us drivers, but for the fans to have the best race to watch. There's a lot of theories on what makes the best race, and we're able to go through those and figure out what makes the track wide and let us move around. There are constant conversations about how we can make it better, and this is a great opportunity for us to test a lot of that."
    Elliott got a lot out of the two-day session. "It's felt really good to get back going again," said Elliott, the 2016 NASCAR Rookie of the Year. "The time that passes between the last race and the first time you get back in a car seems like a long time. So, it's good to get back in, get acclimated and try to sharpen up your skills. This is a good place to do it, and it's similar to a lot of tracks we'll go to this season, so it's helpful in a lot of ways. Goodyear has been really good with how they've approached the test, and of all the tests I've done with them, this is as aggressive as I've seen them with making changes and trying new things with the tire. I think that's encouraging, and I hope they can take the data and try to help us provide some better racing down the road."
    LVMS' 2017 NASCAR Weekend begins on Friday, March 10, with Stratosphere Pole Day, continues with the Boyd Gaming 300 Xfinity Series race on Saturday, March 11, and concludes with the Kobalt 400 on Sunday, March 12. Tickets are available at lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444.(LVMS)(1-12-2017)

  • Phoenix Raceway to Host Open NASCAR Test Jan 31st: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars will appear at Phoenix Raceway for the first time in 2017 when the track hosts an open test session on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Phoenix Raceway will open its gates to fans from 9:00am to 3:00pm with general seating in the Bobby Allison Grandstand. Free parking is available and fans are asked to make a $5 donation to Phoenix Raceway Charities for admission.
    Several 2016 NASCAR Chase contenders including #4-Kevin Harvick, #22-Joey Logano, #19-Daniel Suarez (instead of #20-Matt Kenseth) and #3-Austin Dillon are scheduled to be participate, while #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be making his first public appearance behind the wheel in six months.
    With a new series sponsor, manufacturer changes and new faces to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, there will be plenty of excitement when the drivers look for valuable track time ahead of the 2017 season and Phoenix Raceway's Camping World 500 on Sunday, March 19. Tickets for the Camping World 500 start at just $25, and 2017 season tickets are available beginning at $99. Individual tickets and season tickets are available online at PhoenixRaceway.com, by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or in person at the PIR ticket office. Phoenix Raceway Charities is a Donor Advised Fund under The NASCAR Foundation, and its mission is to accelerate the development of children in Arizona by supporting education, children and families of our military and military veterans, and life enrichment programs for children and families in our community.(PIR)(1-12-2017)

  • NASCAR Summit Promotes Innovation, Safety, Preparation: Safety is a founding NASCAR tenet and as a contact sport with major multi-day events that span the calendar, it's vitally important that the professionals who will respond to incidents be prepared with the latest technology and best practices. That's why medical, safety, security and operations professionals from race tracks nationwide and abroad convened for the annual NASCAR Summit Presented by American Medical Response (AMR). The three-day gathering at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Concord, NC, concluded Tuesday and featured instruction from some of the nation's leading experts. It also provided an opportunity for the industry to share best practices and recognize and honor its best work.
    The Summit featured more than 30 general and discipline-specific breakout sessions that addressed topics ranging from weather contingency planning to incident scene management. Presenters included leading physicians, track services professionals and law enforcement agencies. Nationally known speaker, attorney Gordon Graham delivered the keynote presentation. A top expert in law enforcement and public service training, he specializes in risk management. During the event's final general session, awards were presented to top medical, security and track services personnel for their outstanding achievements and innovations from the 2016 season. Award winners were:
    Track Services
    " Mission Award: Daytona International Speedway
    " Teamwork Award: Kentucky Speedway
    " Innovation Award: Pocono Raceway
    " Excellence in Track Services Award: Jay Donnay, Homestead-Miami Speedway
    Medical
    " Above and Beyond Award: Dr. Angela Fiege, Dr. John Maino, Dr. Brian Nao
    " Nursing Director Award: Jackie Coats, Watkins Glen International
    " Teamwork Award: Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway
    Security
    " Security Director's Award: George Brazzale, Las Vegas Motor Speedway; Jim Hosfelt, Dover International Speedway
    (NASCAR)(1-12-2017)

  • Tommy Baldwin Racing returns to roots running Modifieds: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) announced plans to compete on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) with driver Donny Lia in 2017. Returning to his roots, Tommy Baldwin will bring back the iconic #7NY. The car number has a rich history in the NASCAR touring series and the local tracks on Long Island, New York, amassing a combined total 54 wins with the late "Tiger" Tom Baldwin, Sr. Lia, a two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion (2007 and 2009) and Long Island native, brings a wealth of experience to the team. With a career dating back to 2001, Lia raced Baldwin on the Tour. Baldwin and Lia have crossed paths before with Baldwin serving as the crew chief for Lia's first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in 2008. The program brings Baldwin back to his childhood and sparks great memories along the way.(TBR/140 BUZZ)(1-12-2017)

  • Darlington now hosts "The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR": It's now official! Darlington Raceway and its Labor Day race weekend are now being recognized as "The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR." The designation ensures that the official historical celebration of the sport will continue to take place at the famed 1.366-mile superspeedway in Darlington, South Carolina.
    The track's award-winning throwback campaign has earned rave reviews throughout the industry since its inception in 2015. The campaign has aligned all key stakeholders in the sport and provided a historical celebration that has earned much praise from fans and corporate partners. It was because of this collaboration over the past two seasons that NASCAR recognized the importance of the track's throwback weekend and in turn will now celebrate The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR at the sport's original paved superspeedway, which opened and began hosting NASCAR events in 1950.
    The track's 2016 throwback campaign last season featured a celebration of 1975-84 including the following highlights:
    " Over 36 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race teams competed with throwback paint schemes for the Bojangles' Southern 500, the most in any single NASCAR event in the sport's history.
    " Over 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series teams competed with throwback paint schemes.
    " Use of NASCAR's famed "NASCAR International" logo for the second consecutive year.
    " For the second straight year, Goodyear put the original white lettering on its race tires specifically for the Bojangles' Southern 500.
    " NBC did another throwback broadcast of the race featuring old station logos and graphics. NASCAR legends Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett did a special throwback broadcast during the race for the second straight year.
    " Honored 14 NASCAR Hall of Fame members at the Bojangles' Legends Breakfast.
    " 2017 NHOF inductees Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Mark Martin served as the Bojangles' Southern 500 grand marshals.
    " Unique food offerings from the 1975-84 time period, including the pimento cheese sandwich.
    " Pre-race concert by rock legends KANSAS and national anthem performance by Barry Williams (of The Brady Bunch fame).
    The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500® is set for Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway and get tickets at DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(1-12-2017)

  • Daniel Suarez named the driver of the #19 Toyota: 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Champions, Daniel Suarez has been named the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing's #19 Toyota for 2017 running for Rookie of Year award. Suarez replaces Carl Edwards who announced earlier that he was leaving the sport immediately. ARRIS, Stanley and Subway will return as sponsors. Sports Clips is listed on the car. No word if Comcast/XFINITY will return as a primary sponsor in 2017. Dave Rogers stays on as the crew chief. As for Suarez's XFINITY Series plans, team owner Joe Gibbs said Suarez would probably run around 10 XFINITY Series races with other JGR drivers filling in. See images of the #19 car on the #19 Team Paint Scheme page (1-11-2017)

  • Transcript: see the full transcript of Carl Edwards press conference from Jan 11, 2017 when he stepped away from racing: Carl Edwards Press Conference Transcript (1-11-2017)

  • Edwards steps away from racing; Suarez to drive #19 Toyota: Joe Gibbs Racing announced that driver Carl Edwards has stepped away from racing in NASCAR. 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Champion Daniel Suárez will drive the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series #19 Toyota Camry in 2017.
    Edwards, 37, joined Joe Gibbs Racing prior to the 2015 season and amassed five wins, 16 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes to go with nine pole awards in his two seasons with the organization. Over his 13-year career in NASCAR's premiere series he totaled 28 wins, 124 top-five, and 220 top-10 finishes, along with 22 pole awards. His 28 career wins ties him for 23rd all-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
    "This has been a very difficult decision for me, but I'm confident that it is the right one for several reasons," said Edwards. "It would be impossible for me to thank everyone I need to, but I do want to take a moment to say I greatly appreciate the support from Coach and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, especially my team and teammates, my sponsors and of course my fans. I could not have a better situation in racing than the one I currently have, so stepping away from that certainly took a lot of consideration."
    Edwards was the 2005 NASCAR XFINITY Series Rookie of the Year and captured the Series Championship in 2007. He amassed 38 wins in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in his career. Edwards also won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honor in 2003 and totaled six career wins in the Series. "Certainly this was not something that we were expecting as we prepared for the 2017 season," said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. "However, it was clear in our conversations with Carl that he had given this careful consideration and believes strongly that it is the direction he needs to go. We support him in that. We loved having him be part of our team the past two years and we will miss him, but we hope he is happy in whatever is next for his life."
    Daniel Suárez captured the NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship in 2016 in just his second full season in the Series. He is the first foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR Championship. He won three races and earned 19 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes along with three pole awards last season. "This is amazing. I really can't believe it. It is my dream, but I did not expect it right now," said Suárez. "I can't wait to get started. I have a lot to learn, but I couldn't ask for a better situation. I have the support of a great team around me. I have so many people to thank that helped get me to this point of my career, starting with my family of course, but it would be impossible for me to list everyone. I do want to thank Coach (Gibbs) and everyone at JGR for this opportunity,. and I also want to thank ARRIS, STANLEY, Subway, Interstate Batteries and Toyota for their support. I can't wait for Daytona." Suárez will make his first-career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017.
    "We are thrilled for Daniel," said Gibbs. "Once we learned that Carl would not return next season, Daniel was really the obvious choice to take the wheel of this newly redesigned 2018 Camry. He is a great fit for our team and our partners. He has worked extremely hard and proven to be a quick learner. He will have a great team around him and he will have great teammates to lean on. This might be a bit earlier than we anticipated, but he has earned the opportunity and we are excited for his future."(Joe Gibbs Racing)(1-11-2017)

  • Statement from NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France on Carl Edwards: "Carl Edwards has made an indelible mark on NASCAR. His hard-charging driving style has led to memorable moments that will live forever in the history of our sport. Carl's passion and personality will greatly be missed - as will the signature backflips that NASCAR fans have come to expect following his victories. We wish Carl nothing but the best as he enters this next phase in life."(NASCAR)(1-11-2017)

  • Carl Edwards to retire immediately? UPDATE Press Conference: #19-Carl Edwards is expected to announce Wednesday that he will retire immediately from NASCAR racing, according to sources familiar with his plans. Edwards, 37, spent 13 years in the Cup Series and won 28 times in 445 starts. No immediate reason was available for why Edwards would retire. Daniel Suarez will be named the replacement for Edwards at Joe Gibbs Racing, sources said. Suarez, from Mexico, became the first foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR national series when he earned the Xfinity Series title in 2016.(ESPN)
    AND: Joe Gibbs Racing is scheduled to hold two separate news conferences [Edwards retirement? Hamlin contract extension?) starting at 10:00am/et on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from its headquarters in Huntersville, NC.(JGR)
    MORE: Edwards is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to pursue other interests outside of driving and will not compete in 2017. On Wednesday, JGR will announce at a press conference that Daniel Suarez will replace Edwards as the driver of the team's #19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota. Suarez is the reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion. Representatives of Edwards and Joe Gibbs Racing declined comment. David Wilson, president of TRD, U.S.A., also declined comment on Edwards' departure.(FoxSports)(1-10-2017)
    UPDATE: As the NASCAR world waits to hear Carl Edwards' explanation for his sudden retirement, one reason can be ruled out. Edwards is not leaving for a TV job at Fox Sports or NBC Sports. "We were as surprised as anyone to hear the news about Carl Edwards' expected retirement, and we will be following the story alongside everyone else," said John Entz, president of Fox Sports Production and an executive producer, in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "Fox Sports has really enjoyed having Carl in the booth and on our air in various capacities over the years, but speculation that he may be climbing out of the car to join the Fox NASCAR broadcast team is unfounded. Our team is set for the near future and we wish Carl well in whatever he chooses to do next." A spokeswoman for NBC Sports told USA TODAY Sports that Edwards was not joining that network, either.(USA Today)
    PRESS CONFERENCE: JGR will hold two separate news conferences starting at 10am/et on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, from its headquarters in Huntersville, NC. Both press conferences will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com also via radio at Motor Racing Network the MRN App and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.(1-11-2017)

  • Dodge and NASCAR meet at Auto Show: on December 4 of last year, Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which is the parent of Dodge, said with substantial conviction that he wants to get Dodge back into NASCAR. "Yes, I'd love to," he said. "I talked to Jim France (executive vice-president of NASCAR) about this just last night." Marchionne made those statements at Daytona International Speedway during a press conference during the Ferrari Finali Mondiali, the annual gathering of Ferrari racers and fans. Ferrari is owned by the company Marchionne runs. Dodge left NASCAR in 2012, the year Dodge won the title with Penske driver Brad Keselowski. Penske moved to Ford at the end of the season, and Dodge pulled the plug on its NASCAR program.
    Until now, there hasn't been much news about the possible reconciliation, until now: Monday morning, during the main press day of the North American International Auto Show (in Detroit), NASCAR and Dodge executives had a private meeting. Among those present was NASCAR President Mike Helton and Tim Kuniskis, whose title is Head of Passenger Car Brands, which includes Dodge. Of course, it could have been a casual how-ya-doing meeting, but given the brutal schedule for all automotive executives on Monday at the Detroit show, that seems unlikely.(The Drive), see past news on Dodge's possible return to NASCAR on the Dodge News and Links page (1-11-2017)

  • Roush Fenway Racing renews with Performance Plus; to sponsor Bayne: Roush Fenway Racing announced a team-wide partnership with Kleen Performance Products and Performance Plus, its premium motor oil brand. Performance Plus will serve as the official oil partner of NASCAR's winningest team, as well as the primary sponsor for multiple races with driver Trevor Bayne and the #6 Ford. Performance Plus is the premium brand of motor oils and lubricants that perform better even under the most extreme conditions. The brand uses conventionally refined oils and proprietary, twice-refined oils, blended with industry-leading additives, to meet or exceed all industry certifications, licenses, approvals and OEM warranty requirements. Kleen Performance Products is part of Safety-Kleen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clean Harbors.(RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #6 Team Paint Scheme page.(1-11-2017)

  • NASCAR Considering Significant Changes To Race Formats, Point Distribution: The Sports Business Daily is reporting that NASCAR and industry stakeholders are considering significant competition changes to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series that could be implemented as soon as this season. Sources said that stakeholders across the industry including teams, drivers, tracks, media partners, Monster and NASCAR have been meeting to discuss the prospective changes which involve the format of the races themselves and how points are awarded for them. If implemented, the changes could address the length and format of Cup races and may result in race breaks, similar to other series where "heat" formats are used to break up the competition to feature multiple, shorter races rather than one longer one. NASCAR declined comment. It could not be determined how far along the discussions are, but timing is of the essence as NASCAR's season starts in mid to late February. Its season-opening media tour, when major announcements are often made, is in two weeks in Charlotte.(The Sports Business Daily)(1-10-2017)

  • Hamlin close to announcing contract extension: #11-Denny Hamlin said Monday his contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing is essentially done and just awaiting an official release by his team and sponsor. "It's just whenever they want to announce something," Hamlin told NBC Sports after helping Toyota Racing Development unveil a redesigned Camry model that will make its debut with the 2017 season. "It's probably a better question for Gibbs and (sponsor) FedEx, but I think they'll release something when they're ready." Multiple sources familiar with the deal said the sides had agreed to terms. The sources requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. Hamlin, 36, is entering the final season of a four-year extension that he signed in June 2012 (while he still had more than a year left on his current deal).(NBC Sports)(1-10-2017)

  • Congrats Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch announced on Twitter / Facebook that he and Ashley Van Metre are married: "My life completely changed when fate brought us together. So happy to call you my wife."(1-10-2017)

  • Tire Testing at Las Vegas Tues & Wed: The start of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is more than one month away but four competitors will be back behind the wheel much sooner. #1-Jamie McMurray (Chevy), #24-Chase Elliott (Chevy), #22-Joey Logano (Ford) and #20-Matt Kenseth (new 2018 Toyota Camry) are scheduled to take part in the season's first Goodyear tire test Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 10-11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two-day Las Vegas tire test is the first of seven on the 2017 schedule. Other Goodyear tire tests for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams are on tap for Michigan (April 4-5), Indianapolis (April 25-26), Kentucky (May 9-10), Chicago (June 6-7) and Atlanta (Aug. 8-9). All are for 2017 races with the exception of AMS, which will be focused on 2018 as AMS will be repaved following the race in March 2017. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will participate in a Goodyear tire test at Eldora Speedway May 16-17. Eldora is the only dirt track hosting a race among NASCAR's three national series. Also, with news of a repaving and reconfiguration at Texas Motor Speedway, Goodyear could add a test there as well.
    OPEN TESTS: NASCAR's first organizational test, open to all but limited to one team per organization, will take place at Phoenix Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Additional organizational tests for the series are scheduled for May 30-31 at New Hampshire, Aug. 15-16 at Chicago, Oct. 10-11 at Martinsville and Oct. 24-25 at Homestead. An organizational test for NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series teams is set for Charlotte May 2.
    One change of note in the 2017 testing schedule is the addition of separate tests for the manufacturers' wheel force transducer (WFT) cars. The vehicles, provided by teams and fitted with various data-gathering devices, were previously allowed for each organizational and Goodyear tire test. NASCAR will also hold a two-day test April 11-12 at Daytona, using the first day to sort through potential safety/competition initiatives while Goodyear is expected to conduct a tire test with any potential changes on the second day. The 2017 season will be the third in which team testing is limited to participation in Goodyear tire tests, organizational tests or any developmental-type tests set by NASCAR. Private team testing has been prohibited since the start of the 2015 season.(NASCAR)(1-10-2017)

  • BK Racing hit with $1.46 million judgement: Five days after a $1.46 million binding arbitration award was levied in a Mecklenburg County, NC case involving Ron Devine and BK Racing, Kickin' the Tires has confirmed through public documents that Devine encumbered the company's equipment, supplies and racecars in a UCC filing for a $15 million line of credit from Virginia Racer's Group, a company managed by his wife. The binding arbitration award involved Race Engines Plus (REP) and money proven to be owed by BK Racing for engines and parts provided from 2013 forward. Additionally, the award required REP to return equipment and engines to Devine's BK Racing. That arbitration ruling came on December 12, 2016. An order to that affect was signed by the Honorable Judge Richard Doughton of Cabarrus County on January 3, 2017, after the Mecklenburg County records were filed in Cabarrus County to secure the money owed.(See full article and links to documents at Kickin' the Tires)(1-10-2017)

  • Pocono Raceway considered for driverless car proving ground: Pennsylvania State officials hope to bring automated vehicle testing to Monroe County. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced plans to establish and expand testing at three facilities, including one at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond. "This technology is coming," said PennDOT Spokesperson Erin Waters-Trasatt on Tuesday. "Pennsylvania is a leader in seeing that this technology is developed as safely and efficiently as possible." Automated vehicle testing has started in the commonwealth already. In June, PennDOT formed an Autonomous Vehicle Task Force to draft policies for guide testing in Pennsylvania. The department and task force also worked with state lawmakers to introduce regulatory legislation, slated for enactment this year. The U.S. Department of Transportation solicited applications for its new Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Pilot Program in November. PennDOT proposed three sites in the commonwealth, each with a varied testing environment.
    First listed is the city of Pittsburgh, where automated vehicle testing has begun already. Carnegie Melon University researchers have also worked with city officials to implement "smart" technologies, such as adaptive control systems for traffic signals and streetlights. With safety precautions in place already, Pittsburgh offers the opportunity to test connected vehicles in an urban setting, the application says.
    PennDOT also lists a test track at Penn State University in State College. The closed track would provide a test site safely away from public exposure. It would also allow for highly controllable surface conditions; researchers could simulate weather conditions by "wetting or icing the surface" at various temperatures.
    Pocono Raceway's closed track would be "ideal for testing higher speeds" and "multiple connected vehicles," says the PennDOT application. The racetrack fulfils a specific role, wherein researchers can operate vehicles that "cannot be tested in a laboratory or live roadway test simulation."(Pocono Record)(1-10-2017)

  • Chevy SS to end, no replacement planned: General Motors Co. will end sales of the Chevrolet SS car for the U.S. market by the end of the year, with no replacement planned, a GM executive confirmed Monday at the Detroit auto show. GM North America President Alan Batey said the sporty car built in Australia, will go away by the end of 2017. The car is what Chevy uses in some NASCAR racing and has been on sale for consumers in the U.S. since 2013. "Using the old adage, 'win on Sunday, buy on Monday,' we decided that in small numbers we'd introduce it the U.S. because we could, frankly, at a pretty low cost," Batey told reporters Monday after introducing a new Chevrolet Traverse SUV. "I would say the vehicle has been really well-received. It's small volumes, but it's been really well-received." In 2016, GM sold 3,013 Chevy SS sedans, up 4.1 percent from 2015. The SS is based off the Holden Commodore. Batey said the decision comes because GM is ending vehicle production in Australia. It will continue to sell vehicles in Australia. GM in late 2013 announced its planned to stop producing vehicles in Australia by 2017, cutting 2,900 jobs and closing an assembly factory and engine plant. GM said the decision stemmed from the sustained growth of the Australian dollar, high cost of manufacturing and the small domestic market (Detroit News)(1-9-2017)


  • Toyota Unveils 2018 NASCAR Camry: Toyota unveiled its 2018 NASCAR Toyota Camry race car in unison with the debut of the 2018 production Camry at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Following a dramatic redesign to its show room counterpart, the Camry race car will compete on the race track in 2017 as Toyota defends its NASCAR Premier Series manufacturer's championship. "The 2018 Toyota Camry NASCAR race car has been years in the making, and to unveil it simultaneously with our new production Camry is a milestone moment for our organization," said Ed Laukes, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Operations for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. "The collaboration between Calty Design Group and TRD has produced a NASCAR Camry that showcases aggressive styling that is sure to turn heads on the race track and among our fans in Toyota showrooms across the country. Reimagining both the Camry race car and its production counterpart has been a tremendous undertaking and our goal has been to maintain parallel design characteristics so our fans can enjoy driving a Camry that closely resembles the one their favorite NASCAR driver races each weekend."
    Spearheaded by Camry chief designer Masato Katsumata, the production Camry received a radical redesign for 2018 and engineers from Calty Design Research, Inc., Toyota's North American design studio, and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) worked together to ensure the NASCAR Camry showcased the same aggressive attributes as its updated production sibling. TRD and Calty worked together with NASCAR throughout the process. Calty previously worked with Toyota and TRD to update the NASCAR Camry when NASCAR introduced its Gen-6 models in 2013, and again when Toyota updated the Camry race car in 2015. The design group also worked with TRD on the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series Camry, the 2014 Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the current NHRA Funny Car Camry.
    Toyota entered NASCAR Premier Series competition with the Camry in 2007 and the manufacturer won its first driver's championship in 2015, followed by its first manufacturer's championship in 2016. Camry drivers have won 95 NASCAR Premier Series races over 10 seasons. The NASCAR Camry will make its debut on-track in 2017 prior to the 2018 production Camry hitting showroom floors at Toyota dealerships later this year. The NASCAR Camry will first compete at Daytona International Speedway on February 18 in The Clash at Daytona before defending its Daytona 500 title on Sunday, Feb. 26.(Toyota), see more images of the car on the Toyota News and Links page (1-9-2017)

  • Is it time for NASCAR to make format changes? With speculation of format changes for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, one track president said he doesn't want to see anything "radical," but would be for a halftime break or quarter breaks in a race. Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, said Friday he would be for breaks in races but is against anything that shortens races. Discussion of any format changes has increased with Monster Energy becoming the title sponsor for NASCAR's top series. Some believe this could be a natural time to make such changes. See full article and vote on the poll there at NBC Sports (1-9-2017)

  • Sponsor for Buescher? UPDATE: hearing that Korger will be the primary sponsor for Chris Buescher on JTG Daughtery Racing's new #37 Chevy in 2017. No word how many races or if Kroger will still sponsor AJ Allmendinger on JTG Daughtery Racing's #47 Chevy, but Bush's Bean's, Scott Products and others are expected to return to the #47 (1-6-2017)
    UPDATE: change of plans?.......been told that Kroger will be the full time primary sponsor on the #47 of AJ Allmendinger and the combination of sponsors, Bush's Beans, Clorox, Cheerios, Kingsford and others will be the sponsors of #37-Chris Buescher (1-9-2017)

  • Denis, Denny & Mark's Pro-Am Jam nears $1 million raised: The Denis, Denny & Mark's Pro-Am Jam hosted by Student Transportation Inc. nearly toppled $1 million in funds raised over the five-year span of the annual celebrity concert and golf event held every October at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C. The 5th annual event, held this past Oct. 24-25, raised a Pro-Am Jam record amount of $270,000, bringing the five-year fundraising tally to $990,000. The fundraiser again featured the partnership of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, Hootie & the Blowfish founding member and lead guitarist Mark Bryan, and Denis Gallagher, CEO of Student Transportation Inc. Proceeds from the event were recently donated to the charitable organizations represented by the three partners, which have a common mission in creating better opportunities for children in the Lowcountry. Joining the three hosts at this year's Pro-Am Jam were celebrities from the worlds of racing, music, entertainment and sports. NASCAR personalities included Hamlin, Danica Patrick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, Michael Waltrip, Joe Gibbs and Rick Allen. Bryan once again led an incredible "Jam" concert with his friends in the music industry including fellow Hootie & the Blowfish band members Darius Rucker and Jim Sonefeld, plus musicians Gary U.S. Bonds, Edwin McCain, Kevin Kinney of Drivin' N Cryin', Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC, Javier Colon and Preston Pohl of NBC's The Voice, Patrick Davis, 14-time Grammy winner Dan Tyminski, and Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez of the E Street Band among others. The 2016 golf event also featured a hole-in-one by a Wounded Warrior who won a complimentary Toyota truck for achieving his accomplishment. With proceeds from this year's celebrity-packed event, the three partners have donated $90,000 to Carolina Studios, $90,000 to Student Transportation Inc. Cares Foundation, and $90,000 to The Denny Hamlin Foundation, which in turn donated $25,000 of its portion to The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children's Hospital. With its $25,000 donation to MUSC, The Denny Hamlin Foundation continued its longstanding support of Cystic Fibrosis research at children's hospital facilities in Richmond, Va. and Charleston, S.C. The Pro-Am Jam has donated $190,000 of its proceeds to The Cystic Fibrosis Center at MUSC Children's Hospital over the event's five-year span. The 6th Annual Denny & Mark's Pro-Am Jam hosted by Student Transportation Inc. will again return to the Daniel Island Club next October 23-24, 2017. For updates on the event, please visit Facebook.com/TheProAmJam (PR)(1-9-2017)

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame Glory Road ICONS: Since opening in 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Glory Road has served as a prominent focal point that greets guests as they enter the Hall. In its third generation, the signature exhibit is receiving a complete makeover with 18 new vehicles and a new theme-ICONS. Glory Road: ICONS features a combination of unforgettable race cars, larger-than-life personalities, exciting tracks, and iconic moments that have been etched into the minds of fans young and old throughout the history of NASCAR.
    The list of ICON cars on Glory Road:
    1939 Chevrolet Coupe, Richie Evans
    (but hearing this car is actually not one of Evans cars)
    1952 Hudson Hornet, Marshall Teague
    1957 Ford Fairlane, Fireball Roberts
    1964 Plymouth Belvedere, Richard Petty
    1966 Ford Galaxie, Wendell Scott
    1966 Dodge Charger, David Pearson
    1976 Chevy Monte Carlo, Darrell Waltrip
    1978 Ford Thunderbird, Bobby Allison
    1982 Oldsmobile Omega, Sam Ard
    1987 Ford Thunderbird, Davey Allison
    1989 Ford Thunderbird, Neil Bonnett
    1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass, Harry Gant
    1992 Ford Thunderbird, Bill Elliott
    1995 Chevy Silverado (truck), Mike Skinner
    1999 Chevy Monte Carlo, Dale Earnhardt
    2005 Chevy Monte Carlo, Jeff Gordon
    2013 Chevy SS, Jimmie Johnson
    2015 Toyota Camry, Kyle Busch
    See images of the cars at nascarhall.com (1-8-2017)

  • Martin inducted into Ozark Area Racer's Hall of Fame: One of the most recognizable names in NASCAR made a pit stop in Springfield on Saturday. Mark Martin was at the fairgrounds Saturday afternoon for his introduction into the Ozark Area Racer's Hall of Fame. In addition to an autograph session, those in attendance could check out memorabilia and vintage cars. Martin said when he hit the Springfield track in the 70s that he thought he had made it to the big time. "I'm grateful for the time that I had racing in this area. It was a very important time in my young career. I learned from some of the greatest race car drivers ever." Martin said. In just a couple weeks, Martin will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.(Ozarks First)(1-8-2017)

  • Gordon readies for racing return, aiming for elusive Rolex 24 victory: Jeff Gordon doesn't just pay attention to details. He's a details hound - meticulous, precise - even for a guy who's retired. "I never said I was retiring," Gordon said. That was a big detail to remember Friday as Gordon drove a sleek, new Cadillac prototype on a sun-drenched Daytona International Speedway. He turned laps on the road course in preparation for the upcoming Rolex 24, the twice-around-the-clock pinnacle of American sports car racing. The race isn't until Jan. 28-29, but Gordon needs all of the track time he can get right now. "I treat this as if I am a rookie," said the 45-year-old Gordon, a description that's profound, even if it's inaccurate. His "rookie" stripes are obscured by his numbers. Before he stopped racing full-time after the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Gordon won 93 races and three Daytona 500s. And combined with his four championships, Gordon's resume makes him a sure-fire, first-ballot NASCAR Hall of Famer when eligible. But Gordon knows that one superlative is lacking from his racing resume -- a coveted Rolex 24 win. His only Rolex start came in 2007, when he finished third overall as a member of Wayne Taylor Racing. Ten years later, he's back with Taylor, co-driving the #10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R with veteran Max Angelelli and Taylor's sons, Ricky and Jordan. And it's not a joy ride for Gordon, whose full-time racing career ended after the 2015 NASCAR season. "I'm pushing myself to be as strong as I can possibly be," Gordon said. "I never like to be the weak link in an organization or a team and I have three phenomenal drivers who are going to push me. I'm enjoying it very much and having fun, but this is a race I'd like to win." That presents a special challenge for Gordon, who quickly learned last November that IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship racing isn't easy. When he first tested the new Cadillac at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, he was stunned by the G-forces, the acceleration, the braking.(MRN/NASCAR Wire Service)(1-8-2017)

  • Brian France: 'We want everybody to be a NASCAR fan': NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France took the stage Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show to discuss how the sanctioning body is using technology to enhance the fan experience and engage with the next generation of fans. France was on the Sports Business Innovation panel with National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner Gary Bettman and United States Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Scott Blackmun. See some of the high points at NASCAR.com (1-8-2017)

  • Austin Dillon visits Dow and hockey game: Officials for the Ontario Hockey League Saginaw Spirit and Dow Chemical's Michigan Division in Midland welcomed rising NASCAR driver #3-Austin Dillon to the Dow Event Center Friday. Dillon dropped a ceremonial first puck prior to the Spirit game. He also spent time with workers from the Site Shared Services Pool or S-S-R-P at Michigan Division who package a wide variety of chemical products for delivery.(WSGW)(1-8-2017)

  • Goodyear won't be able to do tire test after Texas repave: Goodyear stated that it will not be able to conduct a tire test at Texas Motors Speedway following completion of the repave and reconfiguration project the track announced Friday morning. In addition to the repave, the track is reducing the banking in Turns 1 and 2 from 24 degrees to 20 degrees. The racing surface's width will expand from 60 to 80 feet in those turns. The banking and racing surface in Turns 3 and 4 will not change. The project - which begins Monday - is scheduled for completion in early March, but Goodyear said in a statement that the narrow window before NASCAR's April 7-9 race dates at Texas prevents the tire manufacturer from holding a test.
    "We have been kept completely in the loop as the folks at SMI and Texas Motor Speedway considered this move and now, with the announcement that they will both repave and reconfigure their track starting next week, there is no question Goodyear will have to bring a new tire set-up for the NASCAR weekend scheduled there in April," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's Director of Racing, in the statement. "Because of the tight schedule, we will not have time to do a tire test at Texas, so we will look at the details of the new configuration and understand the asphalt mix that will be used, which is planned to be similar to what was used most recently at Kentucky. That being said, this project will take on a similar feel to the one at Kentucky because that was also both a repave and reconfiguration. Having that recent history, along with our experience with a wide range of track configurations and surfaces - including many that have been repaved over the recent years - we will determine the appropriate tire set-up in advance of the event, giving teams plenty of time to prepare."
    Currently, Goodyear has seven tire tests planned for the year, six of them involving Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams. One test occurs the week of the Texas race, at Michigan International Speedway. Here are Goodyear's planned test dates:
    - Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Jan. 10-11
    - Michigan International Speedway: April 4-5
    - Indianapolis Motor Speedway: April 25-26
    - Kentucky Speedway: May 9-10
    - Eldora Speedway (Trucks): May 15-16
    - Chicagoland Speedway: June 6-7
    - Atlanta Motor Speedway: August 8-9
    (NBC Sports)(1-7-2017)

  • Martinsville Speedway Offers Replica Grandfather Clocks With STP 500 Ticket Purchase: As part of its 70th anniversary celebration, Martinsville Speedway is offering fans a little something extra when they purchase a ticket to the STP 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on April 2. Any fan who purchases the "Grandfather Clock Ticket Package" will receive a six-inch commemorative replica of the track's iconic grandfather clock trophy. The $70 ticket package includes a race ticket in select seat locations throughout the track and a voucher to be redeemed at the track to pick up the clock. The "Grandfather Clock Ticket Package" will be available while supplies last or until January 31. In addition, each person who purchases a ticket will be entered into the Fans 500 Sweepstakes, where one lucky ticket holder will receive the same grandfather clock trophy the winners take home. Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway for the STP 500 race weekend, March 31-April 2, 2017. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com.(PR)(1-7-2017)

  • Circle Sport and TMG merging, using #33 Charter? UPDATE: hearing Circle Sport #33 team owner, Joe Falk has a controlling interest in TMG Motorsports and that the team is making changes to their crew and personnel. Supposedly Pat Tryson will be the crew chief, the team could change to Toyota (ran Chevy in 2016) but no driver has been named. Falk has a Charter from his #33 Circle Sport team and leased it in 2016 to the #95 Leavine Family Racing team. Some of the personnel could come from that team (12-24-2016)
    UPDATE: Joe Falk of Circle Sport (CS) and Curtis Key, Sr., of The Motorsports Group (TMG) announced that it will combine resources and participate in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS). The team will be led by Circle Sport owner, Joe Falk, utilizing manufacturer Chevrolet and participate in the full 2017 season under the number thirty-three (#33). The managing partnership of the two Chesapeake, VA business men merged to increase sponsorship opportunities and enhance their performance on the track. TMG owner Curtis Key has obtained a percentage of Circle Sport NASCAR Charter in the deal. The Charter will give the #33 guaranteed entries into all 2017 MENCS events. "It's great to join forces with Curtis Key, I've known him for a very long time and know we share the same feelings about racing", said Falk. CS/TMG will be housed out of the facility that has been the home of The Motorsports Group in Mooresville, NC. In the off season, the facility and equipment has been upgraded including purchase of updated cars.
    Pat Tryson has been named Crew Chief of the team. Tryson, a veteran Cup Series crew chief will return to the TMG shop after heading up TMG in 2015 during its transition from the Xfinity Series into the Cup Series. "It's great to have Pat back with us, he was instrumental when we got started with our Cup program and we look forward to his insight in 2017", said Key. Gary Showalter, a tenured employee of TMG will serve as the team's General Manager. Showalter started with TMG in the Camping World Truck Series in 2005 and was a in TMG's climb from the Truck Series to the Cup level in 2015. He will oversee the day to day race facility duties as well as race team personnel.
    CS/TMG has yet to name a driver the #33 Chevy but officials are adamant to that an announcement will come in the next few weeks. Also, released today is the revamped logo combining the two teams' monikers. "The Circle Sport w/ TMG logo was necessary to rebrand the team into one entity rather than the using two logo's side by side", added Falk. The #33 Chevy will debut at Daytona International Speedway for Speedweeks in February. There are several sponsorship opportunities available for associates as well as primary partners. The #30 car may be available to enter events on a part-time basis.(CS/TMG)(1-6-2017)

  • NASCAR Announces 2017 Charter teams: NASCAR revealed in February 2016 a landmark new ownership structure, awarding 36 Charters that guarantee entry into every points event in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Since then, some leasing and buying of Charters has occurred. The table below shows the Charters (which were awarded following the 2015 season) for 2017. Teams listed alphabetically.
    Notes:
    (A) Premium Motorsports sold this Charter to Furniture Row Racing for its second team, the #77. In 2016, the Charter was leased by the #46 team of HScott Motorsports.
    (B) Richard Petty Motorsports is leasing the #44 Charter to the #32 team of Go Fas Racing in 2017.
    (C) Roush Fenway Racing will lease the #16 Charter to JTG Daugherty Racing's newly formed second team (#37) in 2017.
    (D) Near the end of the 2016 season, Tommy Baldwin Racing sold its Charter to Leavine Family Racing.
    (E) HScott Motorsports' #15 Charter was sold to Premium Motorsports.
    (F) Go Fas Racing is leasing the #32 Charter to the #21 team of Wood Brothers Racing.
    (G) Circle Sport and The Motorsports Group merged operations to field the #33 team with the Charter Circle Sport had.
    In 2016, Circle Sport partnered with Leavine Family Racing to field the #95 for the season.
    2016 Car #; 2017 Car #; Organization with charter for 2017 (36 teams listed)
    23 23 BK Racing
    83 83 BK Racing
    1 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
    42 42 Chip Ganassi Racing
    34 34 Front Row Motorsports
    38 38 Front Row Motorsports
    46 77 Furniture Row Racing (A)
    78 78 Furniture Row Racing
    13 13 Germain Racing
    44 32 Go Fas Racing (B)
    5 5 Hendrick Motorsports
    24 24 Hendrick Motorsports
    48 48 Hendrick Motorsports
    88 88 Hendrick Motorsports
    11 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
    18 18 Joe Gibbs Racing
    19 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
    20 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
    16 37 JTG Daugherty Racing (C)
    47 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
    7 95 Leavine Family Racing (D)
    15 TBD Premium Motorsports (E)
    3 3 Richard Childress Racing
    27 27 Richard Childress Racing
    31 31 Richard Childress Racing
    43 43 Richard Petty Motorsports
    6 6 Roush Fenway Racing
    17 17 Roush Fenway Racing
    4 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
    10 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
    14 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
    41 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
    2 2 Team Penske
    22 22 Team Penske
    32 21 Wood Brothers Racing (F)
    95 33 Circle Sport w/The Motorsports Group (G)
    (NASCAR.com)(12-22-2016/1-7-2017)

  • Texas to re-pave, reconfigure turns, improve drainage: Texas Motor Speedway will begin a major capital improvement project Monday consisting of a complete repave, construction of an extensive drainage system and a re-profiling of the 1.5-mile oval configuration at the world-renowned motorsports facility that annually plays host to NASCAR and INDYCAR events. The renovation will add a new layer of asphalt over the existing pavement, an expansive French drainage system on the frontstretch and backstretch, and reduce the banking in Turns 1 and 2 by four degrees. Barring extensive weather delays, the project is expected to be completed by early to mid-March in anticipation of the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR doubleheader scheduled for April 7-9. The repaving and drainage system come as a result of issues the facility was incurring in attempting to dry the racing surface, in particular this past year when both NASCAR race weekends and the INDYCAR race were affected by weather-related delays. While the aged track surface at Texas Motor Speedway is lauded by drivers, speedway officials made the decision to repave in the best interests of their fans that had to deal with the inconveniences of the delays. The repave will feature an asphalt mix similar to the surfaces at SMI sister tracks, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The mix used in conjunction with the construction method will aid in the track's properties of an "aged" track. For the installation of the French drainage system, trenches will be cut in numerous locations on the frontstretch and backstretch to provide multiple points for water to drain away from the facility more quickly and efficiently than the current system. In addition to the repaving and drainage system, Texas Motor Speedway will undergo a re-profiling in Turns 1 and 2 to give the venue a more unique layout from its currently symmetrical 24-degree banking in all four turns. While Turns 3 and 4 will remain unchanged, the banking of Turns 1 and 2 will be decreased to 20 degrees with the racing surface width expanding from 60 to 80 feet in that section of the track. The reduced banking, which will decrease lap speeds and potentially open up additional passing opportunities in Turns 1 and 2, will provide Texas Motor Speedway with a new, distinctive layout for a 1.5-mile oval that will be more challenging to the drivers and add more action for the fans.(Texas Motor Speedway)(1-6-2017)

  • Pizza sponsor for Kurt Busch? on Thursday, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Hunt Brother's Pizza would sponsor Kevin Harvick for four 2017 XFINITY Series races in SHR's #41 Ford. Hearing that Hunt Brother's Pizza will also sponsor the #41 Ford of Kurt Busch in a race or two (1-6-2017)

  • Michael Waltrip says he will run 2017 Daytona 500 UPDATE: two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip was asked if he would be racing in the Daytona 500 this year (2017) and tweeted back: "Yes! In the @AaronsInc @ToyotaRacing #Camry". No word on the team or car number but assumptions would be BK Racing as Waltrip ran their #83 Toyota in the 2016 Daytona 500, Premium Motorsports or TMG Motorsports who supposedly is changing to Toyota.(12-24-2016)
    UPDATE: hearing Waltrip will run the Daytona 500 for Premium Motorsports, probably in the #55 Toyota. (1-6-2017)

  • Garone a finalist for award in Denver: Furniture Row Racing (#77 & #78 teams) president Joe Garone was a Mile High Sports Magazine finalist for Executive of the Year. Other's nominated were: Jeff Bridich, Colorado Rockies - General Manager; John Elway, Denver Broncos - Exec. VP of Football Operations and GM; Rick George, University of Colorado - Athletic Director; Tony Seaman, Denver Outlaws - GM; and the winner: Colorado Rapids team President Tim Hinchey. See full article at milehighsports.com.(Furniture Row Racing PR)(1-6-2017)

  • Free NASCAR Hall of Fame Admission, Driver Autographs highlight NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day: In what has become a much-anticipated season kick-off event, NASCAR will offer FREE admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day. That's just one of the many exciting offerings during the day-long celebration of NASCAR's passionate fans, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21 in Charlotte, NC. NASCAR stars past and present will participate in autograph and Q&A sessions throughout the day, in addition to free access to the Hall. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket. Doors open at 8:00am/et. However, tickets to some of the autograph sessions must be secured in advance. Tickets for these autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10:00am/et on Saturday, Jan. 7. Each fan can secure up to two tickets for one of the seven autograph sessions (one ticket for an individual or two tickets for an individual and their guest). More info and list of drivers at nascarhall.com.
    NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will follow the previous evening's NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony (Jan. 20, 8:00pm/et on NBCSN). As in previous years, current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars will help present each inductee. Scheduled to present at this year's induction ceremony are seven-time premier series champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon. For tickets to the Induction Ceremony, visit nascarhall.com/inductees/induction-ceremony. (1-6-2017)

  • McDowell and Parrott return to Leavine Family Racing in 2017: Leavine Family Racing (LFR) announced the return of veteran NASCAR driver Michael McDowell for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. McDowell will once again pilot the #95 Chevy and is signed on to be the primary driver for LFR in all 36 races next season, making the team Chase eligible for the first time since its inception in 2011. Additionally, LFR is excited to welcome back championship winning NASCAR crew chief Todd Parrott for the 2017 season. Parrott, who took on the crew chief responsibilities for the team full-time in October of the 2016 season with only seven races remaining, led the #95 to earn six Top-25 finishes. "With both Michael and Todd returning to the team this season we are looking to maintain the consistency we found towards the end of last year and continue to push forward and build off the positive momentum," said Jeremy Lange, Vice President of Leavine Family Racing. "We had great performances on the track last year and we're hoping that continuing in that direction will lead to more sponsorships for the team. We do have some partner renewals that we will be announcing soon and are excited to add more." McDowell, who is entering his 10th year competing in NASCAR, earned his first NASCAR national touring series win last year at Road America in the XFINITY Series and recorded 16 Top-25 finishes with LFR in 2016. "I'm excited to be returning full time with LFR for the 2017 season," stated McDowell. "I look forward to continuing to work with Todd as well and kicking off our season with a strong start at the DAYTONA 500 in February." Crew Chief Todd Parrott echoed his driver's thoughts about the upcoming season. "I can't wait for the 2017 season to get here and look forward to having a great year with Michael and the team," said Parrott. "I'm appreciative of the opportunity LFR has given me to once again assume the crew chief role for the team and am ready to get started on the upcoming season."(LFR)(1-5-2017)

  • Harvick to be TV analyst for 8 races in 2017: #4-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to return to the FOX NASCAR television booth as a race analyst for eight NASCAR events in 2017, beginning with the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener from Daytona in February on FS1. Harvick also will contribute as an analyst on FS1's NASCAR RACE HUB joining a solid rotation of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers and crew chiefs. He says he agreed to eight races, in part, to gain reps for what he hopes could become his post-racing career. "I really enjoy calling races," Harvick said. "I enjoy the perspective of sitting up there and trying to figure out what's going on. I also want to be a part of watching these young guys come up through the NASCAR Camping World Truck and XFINITY Series and have the experience of having been in the booth when they raced because, ultimately, it's something I want to do down the road when I'm done driving."(FoxSports)(1-5-2017)

  • Stewart withdraws appeal concerning insurance company: Court documents indicate Tony Stewart has tentatively withdrawn an appeal of a ruling that determined Axis Insurance Company does not have to cover legal costs and claims by the family of Kevin Ward Jr. against the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. A federal judge ruled in July that Stewart's policy did not cover the Empire Super Sprints, the series Stewart was racing Aug. 9, 2014, when Stewart's car struck and killed Ward at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park. On Wednesday, Stewart's attorneys filed to withdrawal the appeal (no reason given and no indication of whether any settlement discussions are ongoing) with the option that the appeal could be reinstated no later than Jan. 30. The Ward family's wrongful death suit remains pending in federal court. Without insurance, it would be up to Stewart -- who was not charged and claims Ward was under the influence of marijuana and attempted to contact his car after approaching it on foot under caution -- to solely determine how much he spends on legal costs and whether to settle.(Bob Pockrass / ESPN Now)(1-5-2017)

  • PR Specialist Joins Furniture Row Racing: David Hart, a respected motorsports communications professional, has joined Furniture Row Racing to manage the public relations program for the team's #77 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry that will be driven in 2017 by rookie Erik Jones in NASCAR's Cup series. Hart will work closely with David Ferroni, who will continue to handle the public relations for Furniture Row Racing's #78 team and its driver Martin Truex Jr. Ferroni will also oversee Furniture Row Racing's corporate communications. Hart, a 28-year veteran in motorsports public relations, previously worked in NASCAR as the corporate communications director for Richard Childress Racing from 1999-2013. He was most recently employed as public relations manager at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey, CA. His varied motorsports experience also includes public relations director at Sonoma Raceway, media relations manager for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and director of communications for the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).(FRR)(1-5-2017)

  • NASCAR Crewman breaks through for indoor racing triumph: Ryan Flores finally won a race in the Len Sammons Indoor Auto Racing Series. Then he turned around and did it again the next night. Flores won both Friday and Saturday in the three-quarter midget series races at Allentown's PPL Center. Flores is a New Jersey native who works full time in the fabrication shop for Penske Racing's NASCAR outfit near Charlotte, North Carolina. On weekends, he's a tire changer for the Wood Brothers and driver Ryan Blaney, who are associated with Penske Racing.(York Dispatch)(1-5-2017)

  • Belmont Abbey College to Host Inaugural Motorsport Symposium: In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of its Motorsport Management degree program, Belmont Abbey College brings the leadership of the racing world to its campus for the inaugural Motorsport Symposium and Wheeler Awards on Tuesday, January 17. "We are very excited to gather our students, alumni and industry veterans to celebrate ten years of hard work and dedication in building this program," said Pat Wood Executive Director of Belmont Abbey's Motorsport program. Featuring a VIP panel of team presidents and leaders from IndyCar, NASCAR and other racing series, the symposium will discuss various topics vital to the industry such as the state of the racing industry and the promise of a great future in its youngest drivers. Notables such as Steve Lauletta/Chip Ganassi Racing, Jonathan Gibson/Penske Racing, Dave Alpern/Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Traeger/NASCAR and Ben Geisler/World of Outlaws will give their insights into the world of Motorsport.(more info at motorsportprogram.com)(1-5-2017)

  • Target reducing sponsorship of Larson UPDATE: Target will reduce the amount of NASCAR races it serves as the primary sponsor of Chip Ganassi Racing's #42 Chevy driven by Kyle Larson in 2017 to allow other companies to work with him. Target, which along with its handful of vendor partners has been Larson's sole major sponsor since he joined NASCAR's premier series, will still have the majority of races on the # 42. Target previously had all the races, though it passes through a number of them annually to brands it works with like Energizer and Axe. The deal is part of a mutual agreement between CGR and Target. Sources said the move frees up about 5-10 primaries worth of inventory on the #42. Target's deal expires on the NASCAR side after 2017, and the retailer ended a 27-year partnership on Ganassi's IndyCar side after the '16 season.(Sports Business Daily)(12-19-2016)
    UPDATE: hearing that Credit One, which sponsored CGR's #1-Chevy of Jamie McMurray for five races in 2016, will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Larson on he #42 Chevy for a few races in 2017.(1-4-2017)

  • Buescher expects to return to Roush in a third car in 2018: Chris Buescher spent last season with (#34 Ford) Front Row Motorsports one season removed from winning the XFINITY Series championship for Roush Fenway Racing. As a member of Front Row, Buescher was still under the RFR umbrella and made the Chase thanks to his win at Pocono Raceway. "It was incredible," said Buescher. "I'm proud of Front Row Motorsports and the #34 team for what we were able to accomplish ... to get that first win, have a lot of good runs along the way and be competitive at different types of tracks was a blast. Unfortunately, we didn't perform as well in the Chase as we would have liked. I learned a lot along the way."
    But the off-season saw more maneuvering behind the scenes that ended with Buescher moving to JTG Daugherty, where he'll team with AJ Allmendinger in a brand new #37 ride as the team expands to two entries. He's still under Roush auspices but will transition from a Ford to a Chevrolet as part of the new arrangement. "Everything has been a process to work through," Buescher said. "It's tough to still be under contract with Roush - it being a different manufacturer. But this is the best way to go on the racetrack and be competitive, get more seat time and be ready to come back for 2018 in whatever that brings. Right now, Roush has said the plan would be to get three teams started back again in 2018 and me go back there."(Motor Racing Network). Roush Fenway Racing has scaled to a two-car team (#6-Bayne and #17-Stenhouse Jr.) with the #16 team being shut down for a season and the #16 Charter being leased by JTG Daugherty Racing's #37 team for 2017. #16 driver Greg Biffle parted waysa with RFR and has not announced his 2017 plans yet.(1-4-2017)

  • Monster hires NASCAR industry executive: Monster Energy has hired longtime NASCAR industry executive and lawyer Tom Norwood as its new Director of NASCAR as the brand becomes the title sponsor of NASCAR's premier series. Confirming the move, Monster VP/Sports Marketing Mitch Covington last week said Norwood was hired "to facilitate the business negotiations with tracks and other partners [like TV partners]." Norwood was most recently Dir of Business Operations at HScott Motorsports, which folded after last season. Norwood used to serve as counsel to former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon, who was sponsored by Monster, which made him familiar with the company. Covington noted that Monster Senior Sports Marketing Manager Cari Cellini, who has headed up Monster's NASCAR program in recent years when it was solely a team sponsor, will continue to head up Monster's hospitality and trade-guest activation programs.(Sports Business Daily)(1-4-2017)

  • Forbes honors NASCAR driver on 30 Under 30 Sports list: Forbes Magazine has selected NASCAR Next driver Julia Landauer to this year's Sports 30 Under 30, a list of the "brightest young entrepreneurs, innovators and game changers." Forbes released its selections Tuesday, highlighting 600 outstanding figures under age 30 from 20 industries. The honorees were chosen by a panel of prominent reporters, legends in each field and former 30 Under 30 recipients. Landauer, 25, completed her first full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016. She finished fourth in the overall standings, sealing top-10 finishes in all but one of her 14 starts.(NASCAR.com)(1-4-2017)

  • NASCAR Chief Sales Officer Jim O'Connell Resigns: Longtime NASCAR Chief Sales Officer Jim O'Connell has resigned after 11 years with the sanctioning body. O'Connell informed NASCAR two weeks ago of his intentions, and his final day was last Friday. O'Connell said, "I've spent the last three years heading up the search for our top-tier entitlement partners. We successfully brought in Xfinity, we successfully brought in Monster, and with the combination of the facts -- there's no more big deals to do, I haven't had a vacation in 18 months, and I wanted to go out on top after 11 years -- the timing just seemed right. I'm really happy with my decision." NASCAR VP/Integrated Marketing Communications David Hidgon in a statement said O'Connell was "key to countless successful sales efforts and partner renewals," and his contributions "will be felt for years beyond his departure." O'Connell, who said he was not ready to comment on his next step, worked on four new entitlement deals and two renewals during his time with NASCAR, including deals with Sprint, Xfinity, Camping World and Monster. He has prior stops at Frito Lay, Viacom and a 10-year stint at the NFL, where he worked with current NASCAR Exec VP and Chief Global Sales & Marketing Officer Steve Phelps for most of his tenure.(Sports Business Daily)(1-4-2017)

  • Robby Gordon skipping Dakar Rally: Robby Gordon - who has starred in IndyCar, NASCAR, off-road racing and is also the founder of the Stadium Super Trucks Series - will not be participating in this year's Dakar Rally (Asuncion in Paraguay to Resistencia in Argentina). "The reason for not running Dakar is that I have been just way too busy with my other projects," Gordon said in an email to MotorSportsTalk. "Stadium Super Trucks continues to grow, as we have a full schedule in 2017 with races on 3 continents, including 5 races in the US with IndyCar and 2 of our own Stadium Style events. In Australia we have a relationship with V8 Supercars where we have 2 events. And now we are going to China with Stadium Super Trucks for 2 events in 2017." Gordon is also working on new projects within his Speed Energy drink, the Arctic Cat 4-wheel platform and continues development of the Gordini Dakar race cars, which will not be ready for this year's Rally. NBCSN will carry updates on the Dakar Rally, check listings for dates/times.(NBC Sports)(1-4-2017)

  • Atlanta Motor Speedway to be re-paved: Twenty years after it was last resurfaced, Atlanta Motor Speedway's historic racing surface is scheduled to be repaved this spring, following the March 3-5 NASCAR Weekend triple-header. Work is scheduled to begin in late March with an expected completion in mid-April. The current asphalt at AMS is the second-oldest racing surface on the entire NASCAR Cup Series circuit, and officials credit its longevity to a combination of the mild Georgia winters and a meticulous maintenance program over its entire two-decade lifetime. Since its last repave in 1997, the track has hosted 31 premier NASCAR series races, 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races, 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, eight ARCA Racing Series races, four IndyCar Series races and countless U.S. Legends and Bandolero car races on its quarter-mile "Thunder Ring." Despite the wear and tear of aging in recent years, the track has been a favorite of many competitors who have raved about the challenging nature of the track. Its aged surface, slick driving conditions and multiple racing grooves have produced not only exciting races and close finishes for fans in attendance, but a technical challenge for drivers who have battled slick corners, fast straightaways and ample opportunity for passing. The repaving project calls for a brand-new asphalt surface to be lain over top of the current surface. AMS's quad-oval layout and 24-degree banking in the turns will remain unchanged. While a smoother surface and blended seams will accompany the new repave, the high speeds and multiple racing grooves unique to Atlanta Motor Speedway are expected to endure and produce the same, thrilling racing experience for both fans and drivers for many years to come. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(1-3-2017)

  • Trent Owens to serve as Buescher's crew chief: Trent Owens will oversee JTG Daugherty's new entry in the Monster Energy Cup Series for 2017 with driver Chris Buescher. Owens started his duties with the #37 team on Monday. Owens honed his crew chief skills on the XFINITY Series tour. He led Kyle Larson to the 2013 NXS rookie-of-the-year title before joining Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of season. In his first year with Aric Almirola, the #43 Ford returned to Victory Lane in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. The win was the first for Almirola and Owens and the organization's first Chase berth since 2009 with Kasey Kahne. Owens, who is Richard Petty's nephew, was released from RPM in October. RPM has since down-sized to one team with Almirola.(Motorsport)(1-3-2017)

  • Hamlin working on staying with JGR: Denny Hamlin finished sixth in the standings last season after advancing to the Round of 8 in the Chase. Although his contract expires at the end of the 2017 season, JGR has no plans on letting Hamlin go. "We'll announce something pretty soon, I believe," Hamlin said. "I feel like I have all the tools I need to win championships. I have great sponsors, a great manufacturer and team right there in front of me. It's just a great situation that I was put in in 2005 and to me, I don't see anything changing. I love competition. That's what I feed off of. I like being in a pressure situation and having to perform. I love it. That's why I love racing because t's going to be me against 39 other people. Now that I've got teammates that challenge me every single week, it pushes you to be better. I definitely feel now that I'm better than I've ever been but now we're spreading the wealth around a little bit, so it's a little different."(Motorsport)(1-2-2017)

  • Dunlap not returning to Fox: Asked on Twitter if he was returning to Fox Sports' "NCWTS Setup" pre-race show this season, Ray Dunlap said, "Fox Sports did not renew my contract for 2017. It was 16 great years with a really talented group of friends.".(1-2-2017)

  • Congrats: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR's most popular driver, married longtime girlfriend Amy Reimann on Saturday night. Earnhardt and Reimann have dated since 2009 and got engaged in June 2015 in Germany at a church where Earnhardt's ancestors had attended seven generations and 300 years ago. "I'm so excited, so thrilled to be a part of it and look forward to our future," Earnhardt said four weeks prior to the ceremony. The wedding Saturday night was at the Childress Vineyards -- owned by NASCAR race team owner Richard Childress -- in North Carolina.(ESPN.com)(1-1-2017)

  • Massaro leaves NBC: NBC Sports' Mike Massaro announced on his Facebook page that he would not return to NBC in 2017:
    "With a new year comes new challenges.... Since 1996, Broadcasting NASCAR Races, whether it be radio or TV, has been my life. I fear, however, 2016 may have been my final season. With great sadness I concluded recently, for a wide ranging variety of reasons, my role with NBC Sports was not a good fit and consequently will not return this coming season. My contract will officially expire at midnight tonight. It was a gut wrenching decision. Not one I 'wanted' to make but felt necessary. The reasoning will remain personal. The sadness however is real. Not only because I'm walking away from my dream job, that I worked incredibly hard to achieve (remember the helipads? LOL) but because I can't stand the thought of drifting from a group who've become nothing short of family. Over the course of 20 seasons and over 500 races, relationships have grown. Television pros, drivers, crew chiefs, crew members, PR reps and fellow media members have all become a very real part of my life. I hope one day to see all of you again, but realize there are no guarantees and although I'm exploring other opportunities in the sport, there's a legitimate chance that might not happen."(1-1-2017)

  • Fans can helicopter to Las Vegas races: Maverick Helicopters offers 2017 NASCAR Weekend attendees transfers to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 11, 2017 and Sunday, March 12, 2017. Guests who book before Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 will save $50 per person, per day. On the expedited, 15-minute flight, passengers can sit back and relax in the company's Airbus ECO-Star helicopters while taking in stunning, bird's-eye-views of the Las Vegas Strip and NASCAR race grounds. To add to the experience, passengers are often surprised by NASCAR drivers, team members or sponsors on the aircraft. Transfers start at $499 per person, per day if purchased before Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. Regular prices start at $549 per person, per day beginning Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Private and custom charters are also available throughout the weekend.(Las Vegas Informer)(1-1-2017)

  • Two drivers in the top 10 all season: Just two drivers spent the entire 2016 Cup season in the top 10 in points: #18-Kyle Busch and #19-Carl Edwards.
    Busch spent four different weeks at the top - after Atlanta (Feb), Las Vegas (March), Texas (April), and Richmond (Sept). His lowest point in the standings was 9th, following Michigan and Sonoma in June.
    Edwards led the points after Richmond in April. He was 10th after New Hampshire and Dover in September.
    (NASCAR)(12-31-2016)

  • Haas involved in purchase of Concord, North Carolina building: A Concord building developed by racing legends Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon has sold for $11 million. The 180,000-square-foot commercial and industrial structure, called Motor Speedway Commerce Center, remains in the NASCAR racing family. It was bought by a West Coast investment buyer, Pegh Investments, which is owned by Gene Haas, a principal in the Kannapolis-based Stewart-Haas Racing. The building, located at 6301 Performance Drive, is currently split between the corporate office and distribution center for Lionel and distribution space for Fanatics Retail Group. The structure was built in 1997 by a joint-venture group including Earnhardt, Gordon and Ken Barber. It's built on 16 acres within sight of the Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Charlotte Business Journal)(12-31-2016)

  • Sad News - Steve Allen: Steven Wayne Allen III, 33, of Advance, NC, and formerly of Rockingham, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Baptist Hospital. Steve was an employee of Lanier Hardware in Lexington. His main love was his daughter Lexi, sports, being at the lake with his mom Debbie and Kevin, and spending time with his dad Steve who works for ECR Engines.(Carter Funeral Home)(12-31-2016)

  • NASCAR Europe launches new Elite Club Division: Building on the success of the past several seasons of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series throughout Europe, the series has announced the creation of a new division in the popular series. Drivers and stock car newcomers will be able to experiment in the NASCAR-sanctioned series by contesting four events in a new division. In addition to the regular Elite 1 and Elite 2 classes, the new Elite Club division has been specifically designed to attract drivers wanting to discover this NASCAR-sanctioned stock car championship based in Europe. The new division will stage meetings on Thursday and Friday at the following four road courses: Valencia (Spain), Hockenheim (Germany), Franciacorta (Italy) and Zolder (Belgium). Each meeting will feature three, 30-minute track sessions. These won't be races per se, but track sessions where speed and lap time consistency will be crucial. Each driver will be offered 90 minutes of track time at each of the four events. Series' officials will determine a "Reference Lap Time" for the track and the objective for each Elite Club driver will be to constantly produce lap times that are as close as possible to the Reference Lap Time. Each meeting will conclude with a podium ceremony. At the end of the year, the top three drivers in the Elite Club final standings will receive an invitation to attend the NASCAR Night Of Champions Touring Awards, plus an invitation for two persons to attend the upcoming NASCAR Daytona 500 or a contribution to the budget needed to compete in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race weekend in 2018.(Motorsport)(12-30-2016)

  • NASCAR unsure if they will use "Premier Series" with "Cup" staying: NASCAR Senior VP & CMO Jill Gregory said it is to be determined whether the recently introduced term "premier series" will remain part of the NASCAR lexicon now that the term "Cup" remains in its top series' title. While NASCAR deliberated about whether to keep "Cup" in the days leading up to its Dec. 1 announcement naming Monster Energy as its new title sponsor, the sanctioning body, teams and tracks in the sport began referring to the top series as its "premier series." Some in the industry favored dropping "Cup," which has been in use since '71, believing that fans had gone from saying "the Sprint Cup Series" to simply saying "Cup Series" or "Cup," as opposed to NASCAR's secondary series, the Xfinity Series, where fans refer to it as "Xfinity." Some believed that made the entitlement less valuable. However, now that "Cup" is being retained after Monster saw value in keeping it, some wonder whether "premier" will be used at all. Gregory last week noted that "premier series" will not play a leading role in marketing materials going forward, but was not ready to comment beyond that. The new name -- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series -- still is somewhat of a switch from the past in that it places the brand name prior to the "NASCAR Cup Series" wording.(Sports Business Daily)(12-29-2016)

  • Record number of entries for Chili Bowl: The 31st annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire has reached a record number of entries only weeks ahead of the event at the Tulsa Expo Raceway in Oklahoma on Jan. 10-14. The 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire set the previous record mark at 349 entries, but the 31st edition just smashed that record at 358 entries with even more still expected. Entries can be accepted all the way up until the final preliminary night on January 13. Of the 358 entries, 19 of those are still looking for drivers. One of the most notable is Loyet Motorsports, who found the original driver of one of their No. o5 machines was not going to be able to make the trip. Also on the that list is Clauson-Marshall Racing, Frank Manafort, Fisher-Hartman, Swindell, Mounce, RayPro Motorsports, and Felker, just to name a few. While the list of Chili Bowl veterans continues to read like a Hall of Fame induction, the list of rookies is grown at a rapid pace as well as 71 drivers will take their first swing at mastering the Tulsa Expo Raceway.(Speed Sport)
    The complete entry list can be found at chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx. Some of the NASCAR drivers currently entered include: J.J. Yeley, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and 2015-2016 Champion Rico Abreu.(12-28-2016)

  • Richard Petty to be inducted into NC Drag Racing Hall of Fame: Richard Petty, the "King of NASCAR" will be inducted into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame on Saturday February 18, at the 15th Annual Shriners Hot Rod & Drag Racing Expo at the Greensboro Coliseum. Richard Petty drag raced his "Outlaw 43 Jr." Plymouth Barracuda all across the country from 1964 until 1966 after NASCAR banned the 426 Chrysler Hemi engine from major league stock car racing. In 1966 Petty resumed his NASCAR career as the engine was once again made legal. During his two-year stint of drag racing, Petty raced all across the country match racing against the likes of Sox & Martin and others. The restored car and Petty himself will both be at the Expo. In addition to Richard Petty, other 2017 inductees are Frank Teague of Hickory, Jean Howard of Polkton, and Terry Adams of Millers Creek. The Jeff Byrd Award will go to Thomas Pope, the sports editor at the Fayetteville Observer.(WLOS)(12-27-2016)

  • Hope For The Warriors celebrates success in year two: Operating in its second year within the NASCAR garage, Hope For The Warriors' Drive For Hope program achieved unprecedented success in 2016. In total, over 250 service members, veterans and military family members attended Drive For Hope events, 62 fallen service members were honored on three racecars during the Coca-Cola 600, more than 20 drivers, crew chiefs and media personalities came together to support Hope For The Warriors while participating in a NASCAR-themed PSA, three drivers and teams donated space on their racecars to help gain attention for the national military nonprofit, and those within the NASCAR industry graciously gave their time for countless meet and greets, photo opportunities and at-track experiences with service members throughout 2016. Other highlights from the 2016 season included a series of 30-second PSAs that brought together more than 20 drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and media personalities to support Hope For The Warriors. With some of the sport's biggest names participating, including Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Childress, the group donated their time to help advance the cause and increase support for service members, veterans and military families. To learn more about the program visit HopeForTheWarriors.org.(PR)(12-27-2016)

  • Will Tony Stewart open Columbus ranch for hunting? Retired NASCAR driver Tony Stewart could be opening his Columbus (IN)-area ranch for some commercial deer and turkey hunting, potentially becoming one of the first hunting grounds to take advantage of a law passed earlier this year legalizing high-fenced hunting in Indiana. Hidden Hollow Ranch, Stewart's 414-acre property west of Columbus, would host guided deer and turkey hunts for groups of up to 12 paying guests, who would likely stay overnight at the residence, according to a Bartholomew County zoning application. County zoning officials voted 4-0 on Dec. 19 to allow conditional use of the property for a bed-and-breakfast-like hunting and fishing facility. It's unclear who would be invited to hunt on Stewart's property, or whether the hunting parties would be open to the public. The application noted that most hunts would accommodate five or fewer guests. Each hunter would have to hold a license to hunt, according to Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Stewart's representatives were not immediately reachable for comment.(full article at the Indianapolis Star)(12-26-2016)

  • Indoor Racing in PA & NJ: In addition to over 100 Three Quarter (TQ) Midget, Champ Kart and Slingshot racers, and thousands of spectators, sponsors will play a big part in the second annual Indoor Auto Racing fueled by VP events to be held inside Allentown's PPL Center on Friday and Saturday, December 30th and 31st. VP Racing Fuels is the title sponsor of the entire Indoor Auto Racing Series which started a week ago in Trenton, NJ and ends inside Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 27th and 28th. Steve Post, a veteran NASCAR pit reporter for the Motor Racing Network will join the announcing staff of the Indoor Auto Racing Series for events in Allentown, Pa. and Atlantic City, N.J. Post will join the 'Voice of the Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets', Bob Marlow, and Pocono Raceway's chief announcer Earl Krause on the series starting with the Allentown event held inside the PPL Center on December 30 and 31. Post will also play a major role on the team at the Gambler's Classic inside Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on January 27 and 28. More info at indoorautoracing.com.(12-26-2016)

  • Furniture Row Racing adding more personnel: As most know, Furniture Row Racing, is expanding to two cars. #78-Martin Truex Jr. ill be joined by #77-Erik Jones, who was the Camping World Truck Series champion in 2015. "There's a lot of work that has to be done," #78 crew chief Cole Pearn said. "We're adding 40 people to Furniture Row. But Martin's team, including myself, will stay intact. We want to build off what we accomplished this season. We're just going to keep plugging away and working hard."(Press of Atlantic City)(12-25-2016)

  • Sad News - Ryan Copeland: Ryan Copeland, 42, passed away December 22, 2016 as a result of injuries from a snowmobile accident. He graduated the University of Akron in 1998 Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He was employed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 18 years, the last 12 years in the NASCAR Race Tire division. He is survived by his loving wife, of 12 years, Maria; their three children, Tyler, Vincent and Gina. Full obituary, guest book and service info at Akron Beacon Journal and/or schermesserfh.com and GoFundMe (12-26-2016)

  • Michael Waltrip says he will run 2017 Daytona 500: two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip was asked if he would be racing in the Daytona 500 this year (2017) and tweeted back: "Yes! In the @AaronsInc @ToyotaRacing #Camry". No word on the team or car number but assumptions would be BK Racing as Waltrip ran their #83 Toyota in the 2016 Daytona 500, Premium Motorsports or TMG Motorsports who supposedly is changing to Toyota.(12-24-2016)

  • Gray Gaulding returns to the #30 Chevy at Homestead; Full-time in 2017? UPDATE on the team, Circle Sport? Eighteen year old Gray Gaulding with 17 starts in NASCAR's national touring series will make his debut at a 1.5-mile speedway in Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the #30 Feed the Children TMG Chevy. Last week at Phoenix a fuel pump failure neglected Gaulding to a 37th place finish (GGR Enterprises)
    AND Add Gray Gaulding to the list of drivers who will compete full-time in NASCAR's premiere series in 2017 and a candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors. "Our plan is to run full-time in the Cup Series," Gaulding said. "I'm really excited about [it]. We'll probably announce in the next couple weeks, the sponsor and the manufacturer, so got a lot of good things rolling, but you should see me full-time next year in the Sprint Cup Series." Gaulding said "the plan right now" is to run the #30 car next season for The Motorsports Group.(The Racing Experts)(11-18-2016)
    UPDATE: from the TMG website: "Season Greeting from The Motorsports Group. We want to thank all the fans, friends, family and partners for all the support this past season. 2017 brings in a lot of changes, including some key team changes and a new title sponsor. We look forward to our participation in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series".
    AND hearing Circle Sport team owner, Joe Falk has a controlling interest in TMG Motorsports and that the team is making changes to their crew and personnel. Supposedly Pat Tryson will be the crew chief, the team could change to Toyota (ran Chevy in 2016) but no driver has been named. Falk has a Charter from his #33 Circle Sport team and leased it in 2016 to the #95 Leavine Family Racing team. Some of the personnel could come from that team (12-24-2016)

  • Kahne named one of best interviews of 2016: At least those were the takeaways for Jeff Haden, a contributing editor for Inc. who named Kahne one of the best interviews he undertook in 2016. Haden then included some tidbits of advice from Kahne in an article published Friday that was entitled, "11 Ways to Achieve Incredible Success: TheBest Interviews of 2016." See more at FoxSports and at Inc.(12-24-2016)

  • more 2017 schemes added:
    #1 GearWrench,
    #2 Miller Lite, Alliance Truck Parts, Wurth, AutoTrader,
    #3 Dow, American Ethanol, AAA,
    #4 Busch Beer FORD,
    #5 Farmers, Great Clips, LiftMaster,
    #10 Nature's Bakery FORD,
    #14 Mobil1 FORD,
    #17 Sunny D,
    #22 Shell Pennzoil, AAA Insurance, AutoTrader,
    #23 Best Furnishings,
    #24 NAPA Auto Parts, Kelley Blue Book, SunEnergy1,
    #27 Menards: Richmond,
    #31 Caterpillar,
    #41 Monster Energy, Haas Automation FORD,
    #43 Smithfield, US Air Force,
    #48 Lowe's, Kobalt Tools,
    #77 Five-Hour Energy,
    #88 Nationwide

  • Evernham Supports Dodge Return: Ray Evernham believes a return by Dodge to NASCAR competition would be good for the sport. Earlier this month at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali at Daytona International Speedway, officials from the manufacturer hinted in recent days that Chrysler was considering coming back to NASCAR racing after stepping away in 2012. The possibility triggered much buzz around the NASCAR world including with Evernham, who fielded a two car Cup team between 2001-2007 before departing as a team owner. After Evernham closed his doors, Dodge continued in the sport until the end of the 2012 season when the manufacturer's business challenges forced an exit from NASCAR competition. If Dodge were to return, Evernham believes it would be a good thing for NASCAR. "To me the more manufacturers that come in it shows that NASCAR can provide a global environment, a global opportunity for any manufacturer," Evernham said. "Hopefully Dodge will come back again. You can't fault them because they had financial issues. The fact that they are looking to come back says they never really wanted to leave. The more manufacturers that put money into this sport and make our racing economy better, if you will, is better for everybody." Although Evernham remains proud of the effort his team gave under the Dodge umbrella and wishes success to a future should the manufacturer come back to NASCAR. "There isn't anything better for NASCAR to remain healthy and grow stronger than participation from the automobile manufacturers," he said. "Dodge has a long history in the sport and I'm sure they'd like nothing more than to be able to come back and add to that history. I'm hoping it happens."(Motor Racing Network)(12-23-2016)

  • Truex Jr. Named National Driver of the Year by EMPA: Martin Truex Jr. has been named the 2016 Eastern Motorsport Press Association National Driver of the Year. The award was voted on by members of the EMPA. Driving the #78 Toyota for Denver-based Furniture Row Racing, Truex's stellar 2016 season in NASCAR's premier division included four wins, five poles and a series' leading 1,805 laps led, all career season highs for the native of Mayetta, NJ. His dominating victory at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte set a NASCAR record for miles led (588) and an event record for laps led - 392 out of 400. "Martin had an impressive season, winning two of the triple crown events - the Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500 (Darlington, S.C.)," said Earl Krause, a veteran motorsports journalist, EMPA board member and lead announcer at Pocono Raceway. "He nearly pulled off NASCAR's version of the triple crown but came up inches short of winning the Daytona 500. He also had exciting Chase victories at Chicago and Dover. I covered Martin since his early racing days at Wall Stadium in New Jersey, and like his father - Martin Truex Sr. -- he has always been a class act both on and off the track." This is the second time Truex will be the recipient of the EMPA Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year trophy. He received the prestigious hardware after winning the 2004 XFINITY Series championship.
    "My racing roots are in the Northeast and to be recognized by the EMPA takes on a special meaning for the entire Truex family," noted Truex. "My family has spent many days and nights racing at Northeastern tracks, and that's why I always feel like I'm going home when the NASCAR series competes at Dover, Pocono and New Hampshire." Truex added, "I want to thank the EMPA members for this humbling honor. The real heroes are my teammates at Furniture Row Racing for bringing fast race cars to the track on a weekly basis. I also want to thank our team owner Barney Visser, team president Joe Garone and our sponsors - Furniture Row, Denver Mattress, Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, TRACKER Boats, Auto-Owners Insurance and Visser Precision."
    Truex joins an elite list of drivers from different racing disciplines who have garnered the EMPA National Driver of the Year award, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart and Terry Labonte from NASCAR; Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti and Mark Donohue from IndyCar; and Joe Amato and John Force from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The annual EMPA convention will take place Jan. 6-8 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in King of Prussia, Pa. The awards banquet will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday evening Jan. 7.(FRR)(12-22-2016)

  • Official 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Yearbook Almost Sold Out: Round 5 Books publisher of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Yearbook reports that the 2016 edition is close to selling out earlier than in previous years. The increased sales pace is primarily attributed to Jimmie Johnson winning his 7th NASCAR Championship tying him with NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt making the 2016 edition a true collectible. The NASCAR Yearbook has been published since the mid 1980's and continues to be the acknowledged "must have" publication. It includes stories and results for each race featuring exciting photography by the sports best. A very limited number of 2016 NASCAR Yearbooks remain available at round5books.com.(12-22-2016)

  • Front Row Motorsports owner gets surprise Christmas present: When two of the Davids of NASCAR team up to beat all of the Goliaths, it's a big deal. And that's exactly what happened at Talladega Superspeedway in May 2013, when David Ragan used a great last-lap push from then-teammate David Gilliland to win the second race of his NASCAR Premier Series career and the first for Front Row Motorsports. After the race, the joy and elation from the two Davids and team owner Bob Jenkins were palpable. Jenkins fielded his first Premier Series car in 2005 and to hear the emotion from him that day after finally making it to Victory Lane was very special. And makes what is team did for him as a holiday surprise even better. Jenkins thought Ragan's race-winning car had been sent to the crusher, but his team restored it and gave it to Jenkins as a Christmas present.(FoxSports)(12-22-2016)

  • Richard Childress Racing Announces 2017 Team Lineup: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will return with three full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entries and five full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series teams for the 2017 season. It will be the first time in team history that RCR will field five full-time XFINITY Series entries, and the first time since 2011 the team has fielded eight full-time teams. #3-Austin Dillon, #27-Paul Menard and #31-Ryan Newman return to carry the banner for the RCR Cup Series program in 2017. Richard "Slugger" Labbe, Matt Borland and Luke Lambert have been assigned crew chief duties, respectively.
    With the addition of rookie driver Daniel Hemric, RCR will operate five entries out of its XFINITY Series stable. The #2 and #3 Chevys in the XFINITY Series will include multiple drivers. Austin Dillon and Paul Menard will be primary drivers for the #2 Chevy, with second-year crew chief Justin Alexander atop the pit box. Ty Dillon will remain with the #3 Chevy team and will partner with rookie crew chief Matt Swiderski, who has spent 10 years at RCR in its engineering department. Swiderski made his debut as crew chief last season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he led the #3 team to a second-place finish. Additional drivers for RCR's #2 and #3 teams will be named at a later date. Brandon Jones and Brendan Gaughan return with full-time driving duties of the #33 and #62 Chevys, respectively, and will compete for the XFINITY Series driver championship. Jones and veteran crew chief Nick Harrison will be paired together, while Gaughan returns with his long-time crew chief Shane Wilson for their 12th season together. In 2017, RCR will welcome back the storied #21 entry with Daniel Hemric behind the wheel. Hemric and two-time NASCAR championship winning crew chief Danny Stockman will work together as Hemric competes for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the XFINITY Series driver championship.(RCR)(12-21-2016)

  • Joey Gase to runs some races with BK Racing: BK Racing announced a multiple race partnership with Best Home Furnishings to sponsor the #23 BK Racing Toyota with driver, Joey Gase. The Best Home Furnishings Toyota will be on track at the Daytona 500 in February, the night race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and additional races throughout the 2017 season. The Daytona 500 will be Gase's first race with BK Racing. "We're thrilled to have Joey and Best Home Furnishings, one of the largest furniture manufacturers, join us for the Daytona 500 in February, said BK Racing team owner Ron Devine. "It is the largest race of our series and a wonderful event for Joey to debut his BK Racing relationship. We've been watching Joey's growth for quite some time and looking forward to seeing what he can do behind the wheel of a BK Race car."
    "I cannot put into words how thankful I am for the opportunity everyone at Best Home Furnishings and BK Racing has given me," said driver Joey Gase. "Racing in the Daytona 500 and the Bristol night race has been a dream of mine since I can remember. It's very exciting to share this experience with everyone at Best Home Furnishings and those who have helped me get to this point in my career."
    Best Home Furnishings is becoming one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world. With five locations throughout the US and over 1,000 employees they have a very simple theme, make the best quality product at the most affordable price. "We are thrilled to be partnering with BK Racing and Joey Gase," said Glenn Lange, CEO of Best Home Furnishings. "Joey is a young, energetic and up-and-coming driver who has shown to be competitive from an early age. His heavy involvement with the non-profit, Donate Life exemplifies our shared values and passion to exude excellence in all facets of our business and personal lives. Our family has been involved with the collection of classic and sports cars for decades. To have our company's name as a primary sponsor on a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car is a dream come true," said Lange.(BK Racing), see images of the scheme on the #23 Team Schemes page.(12-20-2016)

  • Kyle Busch to compete in Race of Champions: Kyle Busch is the latest star in the field of racing legends who will compete at the first Race Of Champions on American soil - inside Marlins Park in Miami on January 21-22, 2017. Busch joins a star-studded ROC Miami field that features many of the greatest stars in world motor sport. Along with the American drivers, other competitors include Formula 1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, fellow F1 greats Felipe Massa and David Coulthard, 'Mr Le Mans' Tom Kristensen, Indianapolis 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Kanaan, IndyCar star Gabby Chaves plus double FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg. Even more big names will be announced in the run-up to January's event. The Race Of Champions is an annual contest which has been held for over 25 years. It brings together some of the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's major disciplines - including Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Le Mans, MotoGP, Touring Cars, World Rally and action sports - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery. All the racing takes place in a stunning range of superfast cars. The ROC event is run over two days: first comes the Race Of Champions itself (on Saturday, January 21) featuring a flat-out battle for individual glory. Then on Sunday, January 22 comes the ROC Nations Cup when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of 'World's Fastest Nation'. In 2017, this will see America take on the rest of the world in a special contest in celebration of the host venue.(Race of Champions)(12-20-2016)




  • NASCAR announces Premier Series name, logo: NASCAR unveiled a new official brand identity which will replace the bar mark used by the sanctioning body since 1976. The announcement was made in conjunction with the news that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be the new name of the sport's premier series beginning January 1, 2017. The new brand mark and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mark, which prominently features the iconic Monster Energy logo, together represent a new era in NASCAR and were first shared today across NASCAR social and digital media channels. The NASCAR brand identity has been in development since early 2016 as part of a broader effort to refresh the NASCAR brand. It was designed to pay tribute to the storied history of NASCAR, incorporating elements of all four previous marks since the company's inaugural season of 1948. "Our new NASCAR mark is modern, timeless, and embraces the heritage of our sport," said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "It was important for us to recognize our history and implement a piece of each previous mark in the new design. Our goal was to evolve the sport's visual identity to make it concise, relevant and functional, while respecting and maintaining the unique qualities of the original mark."(NASCAR.com)(12-19-2016)

  • NASCAR Preview and Press Guide returns in 2017: The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide Returns for 2017, signaling the end of a four-year wait for the fan-favorite season-launch magazine. Produced by Professional Media Group (PMG), The Official 2017 NASCAR Preview and Press Guide, will be an all-new publication and include features and profiles in addition to traditional season preview information across the three NASCAR national series. The perfect way to prep for the new season, The Official NASCAR 2017 Preview and Press Guide will debut at the DAYTONA 500. The refreshed publication will take fans of all types, novice to avid, on a journey of what to expect throughout the year. The 2017 edition will include new fan elements, too.(Professional Media Group)(12-19-2016)


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