Entry List for the Toyota Save-Mart 350 Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #7-Justin Marks, #19-Alex Kennedy, #32-Boris Said, #33-Ron Fellows, #36-Victor Gonzalez Jr., #37-Yeley, #47-Labonte, #51-Jacques Villeneuve, #52-Paulie Harrake. The #98 Phil Parsons team is not entered. Since 43 cars/drivers are entered for 43 spots, no driver/team will miss the race.
UPDATE: Tomy Drissi is now listed as the driver of the #87 for Joe Nemechek.(6-18-2013)
See the full entry list at my Jayski's Sonoma Entry List

Three drivers making Cup debut: Three drivers will attempt to make their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on Sunday at Sonoma: #19-Alex Kennedy, #36-Victory Gonzalez Jr. and #52-Paulie Harraka. The last time three or more drivers made their debut in the same race was at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24, 2004 when Chad Chaffin, Mario Gosselin and Travis Kvapil all made their debut.(NASCAR)(6-20-2013)

Atlanta tire testing June 18 & 19 UPDATES: Gooodyear Tire testing is scheduled on Tuesday, June 18th and Wednesday, June 19th at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Sprint Cup drivers scheduled to attend one or both days: #9-Marcos Ambrose, #11-Denny Hamlin, #5-Kasey Kahne and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(AMS), the test will be closed to the public.(6-14-2013)
UPDATE: The first of two days of a Goodyear tire test is underway at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with #5-Kasey Kahne, #9-Marcos Ambrose, #11-Denny Hamlin and #17-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. taking part in Tuesday's portion of the test session. The tire test comes less than 80 days prior to the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR night race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where drivers expect tire wear to be more of a factor than other similar tracks. Goodyear will utilize data gained during the tire test to develop the tire supplied to race teams during Labor Day Weekend.(AMS)(6-19-2013)
UPDATE 2: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #9-Marcos Ambrose and #21-Trevor Bayne were the drivers taking part in the second and final day of a Goodyear Tire Test on Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as Goodyear works to develop the tire compound that will be provided to race teams during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR night race weekend Aug. 30- Sept 1, 2013. The test session saw cars lay down laps at a high rate of speed on the 1.-54-mile quad-oval. The AdvoCare 500 will be the first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with NASCAR's new Gen-6 cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and this week's tire test was the first time that the Gen-6 was on the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I think based on what we've seen is that the new car is definitely faster. I don't know if it is track-record fast, because that was set a long time ago," said Rick Campbell, NASCAR Project Manager for Goodyear. "It's certainly way faster than last year's car and I expect the speeds to be significantly faster than last year." Earnhardt Jr. posted the fastest lap of the day at a speed of 188.69 mph. Earnhardt Jr. and Bayne were substituting for respective teammates, Kasey Kahne and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who took part in the test on Tuesday and flew back to Charlotte to attend the funeral of Jason Leffler. Earnhardt Jr. and Bayne were driving test cars driven by Kahne and Stenhouse on Tuesday.(AMS)(6-20-2013)

Danica Patrick featured on "In the Game with Robin Roberts": The second season of espnW's In the Game with Robin Roberts presented by Lexus will debut Thursday, June 20, online at espnW.com and abcnews.com, as well as on ESPN's SportsCenter. In the Game, produced by espnW in partnership with ABC News, is a series of intimate interviews with top athletes in sports today. In the season premiere, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts  formerly a longtime ESPN anchor  sits down for a one-on-one with NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. The interviews will focus on "pursuit of perfection" in each athlete's career, sport, and life. In addition to Patrick, confirmed guests include US Women's National team forward Alex Morgan and Gold Medal gymnast Gabby Douglas.(ESPN)(6-20-2013)

Cessna returns to the #1 at Sonoma: Cessna Aircraft Company will be the primary sponsor once again this weekend on the #1 Chevy SS for Jamie McMurray. This marks just the second of seven races that the Cessna colors will adorn the race car.(Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #1 team paint schemes page.(6-20-2013)

Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Sonoma on the Sonoma Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

Sonoma Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will run the same Goodyear tire code on all four tire positions at Sonoma . . . this is the first time Sprint Cup teams have run this code (D-4590) at Sonoma . . . compared to what was run at this track last season, this tire features a slight compound change and a reduction in gage (tread thickness) . . . this code is also run as the right-side tire at Martinsville . . . Sprint Cup teams will run this tire on the circuit's other road course -- Watkins Glen in August . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Sonoma.(Goodyear PR), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limit on the Sonoma Race Info page.(6-20-2013)

Leffler's funeral held Wednesday afternoon: They came to honor Jason Leffler, but they left with instructions to do more. "We have something that all we have a part in, every single one of you,'' Jeff Dickerson said at a service Wednesday afternoon celebrating his friend's life. "We all have a responsibility in making sure that his son knows exactly who he was and how much he loved his son. From his grandparents to those who maybe met him in passing, we must make sure he is not forgotten. When we see Charlie and that same little playful grin that his dad had, we must let him know at every chance we get to tell him that he hung the moon with his dad. That Jason savored every minute he spent with his son. We must let him know about Jason as a driver, a man and a father. That's what Jason would want from us. It's up to all of us to make that happen.'' Dickerson spoke to hundreds of mourners, including about a dozen NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, at Grace Covenant Church. Among those who attended were Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne. President Mike Helton led a NASCAR contingent. Leffler raced in NASCAR's top three series from 1999 to this season. Leffler's passion for racing and his son were the themes of the nearly hour-long service that featured laughter, applause and tears.(Motor Racing Network)(6-19-2013)

see the latest news, reports, honors, service info, trusts set up for Charlie, Kahne offers LEFturn caps, links to many articles on Jason Leffler page

Drissi in the #87 at Sonoma: Tomy Drissi once again will head to Northern California for The Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2013. The Trans Am Champion was hired by NEMCO-JRR for the NASCAR road course event. Tomy has driven in both NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events. Tomy and the #87 team will be sponsored by The Wolverine [movie] opening in theaters, July 26, 2013. The Wolverine is an upcoming American/Australian superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Wolverine and is intended to be the sixth installment in the X-Men film series.(NEMCO-JRR)(6-19-2013)

Edwards, Biffle work to clear up confusion over Michigan issues: #99-Carl Edwards understood when #16-Greg Biffle wouldn't give up a big lead to help clean paper off his grille with about 40 laps remaining in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Edwards' issue with his Roush Fenway Racing teammate came around lap 70 when he wanted Biffle to drop about six car lengths to help with the same issue that was causing an overheating problem with them racing for sixth or seventh. "I want us to be the best teammates we can be," Edwards told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "I never want somebody to give up a shot at winning a race. ... My hope is he never heard the communication on lap 70." Biffle told ESPN.com he didn't recall getting a message from his spotter or crew chief on lap 70 and totally understood Edwards' frustration if there was a miscommunication that led to that. "I can see where he'd be upset under those circumstances,'' said Biffle, who went on to win the race. "All I can say is I'll help Carl absolutely anytime I can. We go out of our way to help each other. It's a team sport. None us do it all on our own." Edwards admitted he was frustrated the first time his spotter asked the #16 team for help. He said over his team radio that "he ain't my teammate'' when told Biffle wouldn't come back. After the race, when a reporter asked if Biffle should have helped and he responded with "it's his job to help," Edwards thought it was in reference to the first request. Edwards had no major issue with the second request as Biffle led by 20 to 25 car lengths. "That one I understood,'' Edwards said. "It was toward the end of the race and it was for the lead. And frankly, our car was pretty fast. That was probably wishful thinking [he would drop back]." The two discussed the situation briefly during Monday's team debriefing call, and even then Biffle was unclear they were talking about two different situations. They plan to meet on Friday at Sonoma to clear up any miscommunication there might have been so that it makes all RFR teams stronger moving forward.(ESPN.com)(6-19-2013)

Vickers pulling road course double duty: As the only driver pulling double duty across half the country this weekend, #55-Brian Vickers is well aware of the special challenges ahead. Still, he's more aware of some challenges than others. There's the logistics of getting from one place to the other. There's the transition from his full-time role in the NASCAR Nationwide Series to his part-time detail on the Sprint Cup circuit. The biggest hurdle, however, might be the actual task at hand, adapting from NASCAR's longest road course -- a circuit he's never competed on -- to its shortest. Vickers goes into the great unknown in Saturday's Johnsonville Sausage 200 for the Nationwide Series at 4.048-mile Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., before he returns to a more familiar track -- 1.99-mile Sonoma Raceway, site of Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 for the Sprint Cup tour. The unique Wisconsin-to-California doubleheader will mark the first time he's competed in NASCAR national series events in different states in the same weekend. Part of Vickers' divide-and-conquer strategy includes making just one commute. He'll start the weekend with his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team, focusing on regaining ground in the Nationwide title hunt. In the meantime, Jason Bowles will sub for him in the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in Sprint Cup practice and qualifying, meaning Vickers will have to start Sunday's race from the back of the field.(NASCAR.com)(6-19-2013)

Michigan TV Ratings: Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Michigan drew a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.5 million viewers on TNT, down 13% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (3.2, 5.3M), and down 3% and 7%, respectively, from 2011 (2.9, 4.9M). The 2.8 rating is the lowest for the season's first Michigan race since at least 1996, falling below the previous mark of 2.9 in 2011 and 2010. So far this season, both NASCAR Sprint Cup races on TNT have earned a 2.8 rating  tied as the lowest of the season for a regular points race. Despite the lower numbers, Sunday's race was the top sporting event of the week on cable, finishing ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports Network (2.0, 4.0M). Overall, the race ranked as the third-most viewed cable program of the week.(Sports Media Watch / Bloomberg / TV By the Numbers)(6-19-2013)

Alex Kennedy making Sprint Cup debut: Alex Kennedy is attempting to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway this weekend driving for Humphrey Smith Racing, LLC (HSR). Kennedy, who is familiar with the 2.52-mile road course, will pilot the #19 MediaMaster/Dream Factory Toyota Camry. As an aspiring race car driver, Kennedy, then 12, competed in multiple Legends Car events at the hilly, 12-turn course. Known for its motto, "Think Outside the Oval", Sonoma Raceway is one of only two road courses on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Kennedy brings NASCAR racing experience with him, having competed in 14 events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, nine of which were on the road courses of Watkins Glen, Road America and Montreal. He earned his best finish of 15th last year at Montreal. Kennedy will pilot HSR's chassis No. 318, which was last raced by Jason Leffler at Pocono Raceway on June 9th. As a tribute to Leffler, who was tragically killed in a sprint car accident last week, Kennedy's Toyota will carry the familiar "LEFturn" decal above the right side door.(Humphrey Smith Racing)(6-19-2013)

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company sponsoring Burton: Jeff Burton will drive the #31 Utility Trailer Manufacturing Chevy this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Utility Trailer Manufacturing is America's oldest privately owned, family-operated trailer manufacturer. Founded in 1914, the company designs and manufactures dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans, Tautliner curtainsided trailers and side skirts. Utility currently operates five trailer manufacturing facilities across the United States(Richard Childress Racing)(3-19-2013)

Gilliland gets associate sponsor for Sonoma: The #38 Long John Silver's team will welcome Pick-N-Pull as an associate sponsor on its Ford Fusion for the race weekend. The California-based company is a chain of self-service auto parts stores providing recycled original equipment manufacturer parts.(Front Row Motorsports)(6-19-2013)

Great Clips increases its sponsorship on the #5 in 2014: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said that just recently Great Clips, which has/will sponsor #5-Kasey Kahne for three Cup races this season, has also extended its support. Sources say Great Clips will expand its involvement to 10 races in 2014.(FoxSports)(6-18-2013)

Michigan Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:11 PM (all times are EST). I did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage. TNT was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 113
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 71
Number of times TNT utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 0
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 34
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 3 min. 30 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:11 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 191
Minutes of race broadcast: 136
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 55
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 136 Total comm. brdcst time 55
See past races, links, more info on the 2013 TV Commercials page.(6-18-2013)

Top 12 Driver Rating at Sonoma:
#78-Kurt Busch................................ 107.8
#14-Tony Stewart............................. 107.5
#9-Marcos Ambrose....................... 106.8
#24-Jeff Gordon.............................. 101.1
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya................... 97.8
#48-Jimmie Johnson.......................... 96.6
#15-Clint Bowyer............................... 93.3
#18-Kyle Busch................................. 92.8
#39-Ryan Newman............................. 89.9
#99-Carl Edwards.............................. 84.9
Elliott Sadler............................... 84.9
#1-Jamie McMurray.......................... 84.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (eight total) among active drivers at Sonoma Raceway.
Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.(NASCAR)

Caymus Vineyards to be associate sponsor for Mears: Germain Racing announced that Caymus Vineyards, part of the prestigious Wagner Family of Wine, will be on board the #13 GEICO Ford Fusion of driver Casey Mears as an associate sponsor for the upcoming Sonoma Raceway event. "We are very proud to have Caymus Vineyards and the Wagner Family of Wine partner with us on the #13 GEICO Ford Fusion at Sonoma this year. I had an opportunity to visit Caymus with friends in 2011 and Chuck Wagner actually took the time to give us a personal tour. The Wagners are certainly one of the most well respected families in the wine-making business and we're looking forward to representing them on the track," said Bob Germain Jr., team owner of Germain Racing.
"We are pleased to be an Associate Sponsor of Casey Mears from Germain Racing and supporter of NASCAR for this year's Sonoma race. In addition to enjoying this great sport, Caymus has many friends connected with NASCAR and we are happy to be able to support them in some way," said Chuck Wagner, Owner/Winemaker, Caymus Vineyards and Wagner Family of Wine.(GEICO Racing)(6-18-2013)

Front Row & Carson-Newman University partner up for Bristol: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Front Row Motorsports and Carson-Newman University (C-N) have forged a one-race partnership featuring the University on Front Row's #35 Ford Fusion. The Carson-Newman car will be driven by Josh Wise during the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 24. "We are very excited about this unique opportunity that specific University donors and Front Row Motorsports have afforded us," said Carson-Newman President Randall O'Brien. O'Brien says he is impressed with both the integrity and humbleness in which Front Row owner and Dandridge, Tenn., resident Bob Jenkins operates his team. "To be able to partner with Mr. Jenkins and his organization in showcasing Christian higher education on a national stage - well, it just doesn't get much better than that," O'Brien said. "One of the most gratifying parts of running a Sprint Cup team is bringing new partners into the sport," said Jenkins. "And when it's an organization as respected as Carson-Newman, it's even better. Throw in that it's one of the biggest races of the year and that's going to make it a pretty special weekend." The Front Row car will also highlight several area C-N supporters including Knoxville's Ted Russell Automotive Group and Premier Building Maintenance Corporation, as well as Oak Ridge's Denton Financial Group. Planning is also under way for a Carson-Newman/Front Row VIP event that will take place on C-N's Jefferson City campus during the week leading up to the race. Proceeds from the event will go to the local Boys & Girls Clubs of Dumplin Valley. Details will be announced at a later date.(FRM)(6-18-2013)

Sonoma Raceway Facts & Notes:
· The track opened as a 2.52-mile road course and drag strip in 1968.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 11, 1989  won by Ricky Rudd at a speed of 76.088 mph.
· The first nine races were 300 kilometers and switched to a 350k format in 1998.
· The track was reconfigured to 1.949 miles in 1998 with the installation of an 890-foot chute between the original Turns 4 and 7.
· The track was reconfigured to 2.0 miles in 2001 and re-measured at 1.99 miles in 2002.
· There have been 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma Raceway since the first race there in 1989  one race per season.
· 184 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Sonoma Raceway; 131 in more than one.
· Mark Martin and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Sonoma with 21 each; followed by Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon with 20 each.
· Rusty Wallace won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Sonoma in 1989 with a speed of 90.041 mph.
· 15 drivers have Coors Light poles at Sonoma, led by Jeff Gordon with five.
· Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Sonoma Ricky Rudd and Jeff Gordon. Ricky Rudd holds the record for most consecutive poles at Sonoma with three; fall 1990 through 1992.
· Jeff Gordon is the only active driver to have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Sonoma: 1998-'99 and 2004-'05.
· 16 different NSCS drivers have won at Sonoma Raceway, led by Jeff Gordon with five wins. Tony Stewart has the second most wins (two) among active drivers at Sonoma.
· Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in road course wins with nine (Sonoma, five; Watkins Glen, four); Tony Stewart has the second most road course wins all-time with seven (Watkins Glen, five; Sonoma, two).
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison holds the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series record for the most wins (six) at a single road course track - Riverside International Raceway.
· Jeff Gordon is the only driver to post consecutive wins (three total) at Sonoma Raceway (1988 and 1989 each from the pole and 2000 from the fifth starting position).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Sonoma in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with six: Jeff Gordon (five) and Jimmie Johnson (one).
· Six different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Sonoma; led by Chevrolet with 10 victories; followed by Ford with six.
· Five of the 24 (20.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jeff Gordon in 2004. Gordon is the only NSCS driver to win from the pole at Sonoma more than once.
· The Coors Light pole position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more wins (five) than any other starting position at Sonoma Raceway.
· Eight of the 24 (33.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma have been won from the front row: five from the pole and three from second place.
· 18 of the 24 (75.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two of the 24 (8.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Michigan was 32nd, by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007.
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Sonoma with four; followed by Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart with three each.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Sonoma with 12; followed by Ricky Rudd with 10.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-10 finishes at Sonoma with 16; followed by Mark Martin with 13.
· Marcos Ambrose leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Sonoma with a 5.000.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Sonoma with an 8.550. Clint Bowyer (9.714) is the only other active driver with an average finish in the top 10.
· All but one of the nine active NASCAR Sprint Cup winners at Sonoma Raceway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Juan Pablo Montoya won at Sonoma in his rookie season and his first appearance at the 1.99-mile track, the fewest previous starts among the active NSCS winners.
· Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin competed at Sonoma Raceway eight times each before visiting Victory in Lane; the longest span of any the nine active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners. Johnson won in 2010 and Martin won in 1997.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway was the June 27, 1999 race won by Jeff Gordon over Mark Martin with a MOV of 0.197 second.
· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup races resulting in a green-white-checkered finish at Sonoma Raceway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2008 (110/112); 2009 (110/113) and 2012 (110/112).
· None of the 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Sonoma Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway.
· Boris Said posted his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Sonoma Raceway (6/22/2003).
· Juan Pablo Montoya posted his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Sonoma Raceway (6/24/2007).
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Sonoma with 450 laps led in 20 starts.
· Danica Patrick will attempt to become the first female driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to compete at Sonoma Raceway.
· Patty Moise is the only female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on a road course, running two races at Watgkins Glen in 1988 & 1989.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)(6-18-2013)

Ragan to Drive #34 Hauler Cross-Country to Sonoma: Before David Ragan climbs into his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for Sunday's race at Sonoma Raceway, he's going to climb into the driver's seat of the 18-wheeler that will carry that race car 2,700 miles from North Carolina to California. The driver of the #34 Taco Bell Ford will be at the wheel of the team's 80-foot, 80,000-pound transporter early Tuesday morning when it pulls out of the Front Row Motorsports race shop for the cross-country trip. Team truck driver Mike Smith, the rig's primary operator throughout the season, will accompany Ragan and split the seat time during the 42-hour journey. "I've always had a fascination with big trucks," Ragan said. "I wanted to get my CDL (commercial driver's license), so I got that a little while ago. And I thought it would be fun to take a trip across the country on the open roads and see everything, and at the same time get to spend some time with my truck driver." Smith had his doubts when Ragan first told him he wanted to drive the hauler to one of the race venues, much less the farthest one on the Sprint Cup Series map. "At first, he didn't really believe me," Ragan said. "But I showed him my license and told him I'd been driving the transporter for my late model team a little. Now, I think he's excited. It's going to be something different and something fun. Although he's probably going to sleep with one eye open just to make sure I'm not driving too crazy." The 27-year-old Ragan, who has been racing within NASCAR's top three series since he was 18, received his commercial learner's permit last year and earned his full provisional CDL several months ago. "I was surprised when he said he wanted to do it, but it should be neat," truck driver Smith said. "I think he's the first driver to ever do this. But we're going to have a good time and he's going to be just fine behind the wheel." On Sunday, Ragan will strap into his #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion to drive 219 miles on the winding Sonoma Raceway road course. After 110 demanding laps on the twisting terrain, will he have to climb back into the hauler for the 2,700-mile trip back to North Carolina? "I'll be taking a plane home."(FRM)(6-17-2013)

New sponsor for Earnhardt Jr? UPDATE: #88 Team owner Rick Hendrick on Monday said Hendrick Motorsports was "very close" to a new multi-year sponsorship deal for Dale Earnhardt's #88 ride in the Sprint Cup Series. "I've not been worried about it because we could sell it if we wanted to piecemeal it. We've been looking for the future," Hendrick told the Charlotte Observer. "We don't want to get into (sponsor relationships) where you see somebody one time and you don't seem them anymore after that. I am very confident that in the next couple of weeks we should have not only this year (covered) but we should have a lot done for next year, too." The majority of the #88's season is currently sponsored by the National Guard, Diet Mountain Dew and AMP Energy.(Charlotte Observer)(6-10-2013)
UPDATE: The sponsor Hendrick Motorsports is close to signing to a multiyear deal for Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be new to NASCAR. HMS owner Rick Hendrick said the deal likely won't be completed in time for the sponsor to be on the hood for the July 6 race at Daytona International Speedway -- the first race in which the No. 88 was unsponsored. Hendrick said National Guard likely would be on the car at DIS. "We're going to have to switch some stuff around,'' Hendrick said before Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR's most popular driver entered the season with 13 unsponsored races. Hendrick insisted in February there was plenty of interest and he was looking for a long-term fit for the 88 and not a quick fix for this season. "This will be a pretty neat deal when we get to announce it, but I think we're in good shape,'' said Hendrick, not naming the sponsor other than to say it is new to the sport. "There hasn't been a lot of new sponsors in the sport just because of the economy and the way people go to market, a combination of a lot of things. [But] there's always been a lot of interest in him.''(ESPN)(6-17-2013)

Biffle Claims Ford's 1,000th NASCAR Victory: Henry Ford's win over Alexander Winton on Oct. 10, 1901 in what proved to be his only race as a driver was a milestone victory that helped launch the Ford Motor Company. Since then there have been several more memorable moments with the latest coming today at Michigan International Speedway, where #16-Greg Biffle took the checkered flag and registered Ford's 1,000th all-time NASCAR victory. That total includes 100 wins from Lincoln-Mercury in what is known today as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and 900 combined Ford-branded victories in NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Series competition.
· Ford Motor Company has won 1,000 NASCAR races in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series combined.
· Jim Roper won the very first NASCAR-sanctioned stock car race in a Lincoln when he was deemed the winner at Charlotte on June 19, 1949.
· Ford Motor Company has won 20 manufacturer titles and 13 driver championships in NASCAR's top three series.
· The victory is the first of the season for Biffle and third of the year for Ford Racing in the Sprint Cup series.
· The record win comes on the June 16, the 110th birthday of Ford Motor Company.(Ford Racing)(6-17-2013)

Villeneuve to drive #51 at Sonoma: There will be a familiar name to road course racing next weekend as Jacques Villeneuve takes over the #51 TAG Heuer Eyewear Chevy for Phoenix Racing at Sonoma Raceway. The 42-year-old native of Montreal, Quebec, CAN isn't a stranger to NASCAR competition making three previous Sprint Cup Series, nine Nationwide and seven Camping World Truck Series starts. His best results were in the Nationwide Series where he earned four top-fives and six top-10 finishes; all on road courses. Villeneuve has also competed in F1, CART, and USAC races. He was most successful in F1 winning 11 times and CART where he won five times and was the series champion in 1995. "We wanted to put a driver in our #51 Chevy who would give us the best chance to win at Sonoma Raceway," said James Finch, team owner. "When the opportunity came up to have someone like Jacques Villeneuve in our car, we were very happy to make that happen. It's a long way out there to not be competitive. He gives us the chance to not only do really well, but to actually win the race. We led laps there last year and almost did win it; we plan on getting the trophy this time." Sponsorship from TAG Heuer Eyewear isn't a new thing for Villeneuve as the two were partnered up during his F1 competition days. "We are very happy to have Jacques Villeneuve representing our eyewear in the race at Sonoma Raceway," said Robert Cooper, Racing Director for TAG Heuer Eyewear. "He was an excellent ambassador for us during his F1 days and we're glad to be part of his return to NASCAR racing. We'd like to thank James Finch and Phoenix Racing for making this possible. We know Jacques is going to be looking good in our TAG Heuer Eyewear, and on the track in the #51 Chevrolet."(PR), see an image of the scheme on the #51 Team Schemes page.(6-17-2013)

added all 44 schemes that made the attempt to qualify for the race at Michigan:
#1 McDonald's, #2 Miller Lite, #5 Farmers Insurance, #7 SAVY, #9 DeWalt, #10 GoDaddy, #11 FedEx Express, #13 GEICO, #14 Bass Pro Shops, #15 5-Hour Energy, #16 3M Give Kids a Smile, #17 Zest, #18 M&M's, #19 Toyota, #20 Husky Tools, #21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane, #22 Shell-Pennzoil, #24 Drive to End Hunger, #27 Menards / CertainTeed, #29 Budweiser, #30 Widow Wax, #31 Caterpillar, #32 Federated Auto Parts, #33 American Ethanol, #34 Taco Bell, #35 MDS Transport, #36 Chevy, #38 Long John Silver's, #39 Quicken Loans, #42 Target, #43 Eckrich, #44 No Label Wataches, #47 Charter, #48 Lowe's, #51 Phoenix Racing, #55 Aaron's, #56 NAPA Auto Parts, #78 Furniture Row / Serta, #83 Burger King, #87 Toyota, #88 National Guard / Man of Steel, #93 Burger King, #98 Ford, and #99 Fastenal

Jack Roush reveals Ford Racing alliance with Penske Racing: Jack Roush had been around long enough to know that something had to change for his Roush Fenway Racing program to be successful. Roush explained how the team had doubled its engineering efforts. After the race, Roush elaborated more on what had transpired to make the Ford Fusion Gen 6 car more competitive. "We had a summit meeting with the Penske guys last week, and talked about some of the strategies,'' Roush said of the launch of two Ford Racing teams working together. "We have had one cooperative wind tunnel test. We just scratched the surface. It will be great to have someone to share information with.'' Penske Racing, with drivers #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano, switched over to Fords this season. Roush identified aerodynamics and front suspensions as the areas the Ford Fusion needs to make up ground. "We have to find that last tweak in the front suspension or aerodynamics,'' Roush said. "When we started on Gen 6 (car development), it was a jump ball, and the car changed during its development to have more downforce than was anticipated to start with. We are on the path, and we have nice, light cars that I'm not the least bit unhappy about.''(Michigan Live)(6-17-2013)

Paint Scheme change on the #11 at MIS to honor Leffler: Joe Gibbs Racing has changed the paint scheme of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. Denny Hamlin will run the original FedEx paint scheme from the 2005 season as they pay tribute to the late Jason Leffler who ran the car for 19 races that season (Denny Hamlin Facebook), see images of the scheme on the #11 Team Schemes page.(6-16-2013)

Carlisle extends with Penske Racing: Penske Racing announced Friday that it has extended its partnership with Carlisle Companies Incorporated through the 2016 season. In addition to Carlisle's continued support of the #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion driven by 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, the new agreement will also include associate branding for the company on a Team Penske IZOD IndyCar Series car beginning in 2014. Carlisle Companies joined the #2 Miller Lite Ford team prior to the 2011 NASCAR season  the same year that Keselowski began competing in the iconic race car.(Penske Racing)(6-16-2013)

Military Veteran Father and Son Receive Special Father's Day Surprise at Michigan: Joel Correll, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and his 15-year son, Jarrett, who lives with cystic fibrosis, received a Father's Day surprise of a lifetime today at Michigan International Speedway. Joel and Jarrett Correll, along with Jarrett's mother, were on a VIP tour of the track - or at least that's what they thought - when Aric Almirola, "The King" Richard Petty and representatives from Operation Homefront and Victory Junction surprised the family with an experience they will not soon forget.
As part of the "tour," the family was brought to the facility's media center to listen to a press conference involving Almirola and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Petty. In the middle of the press conference, Almirola called the family to the front. The driver of the famed #43 announced that Eckrich, part of the John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, would be providing Jarrett with a week at Victory Junction, a camp founded by the Petty family that hosts children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.
But, the surprises weren't over yet. "The King" then offered Joel and his son Eckrich crew uniforms and asked them to be a part of the race team on Sunday as special guests of the team, Eckrich and Operation Homefront. Petty and Almirola also informed Joel and Jarrett that they would have their names on the #43 Eckrich Ford on Sunday to honor them and help celebrate Father's Day. This Father's Day surprise was a part of "Operation Inspiration," a campaign launched by Eckrich and Operation Homefront earlier this year to help honor, thank and support the military families who inspire their fellow Americans. Eckrich is providing additional assistance to military families by donating up to $250,000 to Operation Homefront this year through the contribution of five cents from the purchase of specially-marked packages from May 1 through July 4.(RPM)(6-15-2013)

Keselowski says rivals stole Ford employees, information: #2-Brad Keselowski met with Ford Motor Co. employees in Dearborn on Thursday and signed autographs and answered questions. The defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion also found time to chat with reporters and take a sharp jab at Chevrolet-backed Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, which runs Toyotas. Keselowski criticized Hendrick and Gibbs for "stealing away" employees and information from Ford Cup teams, including his own Penske Racing outfit and Roush Fenway Racing. Keselowski didn't mince words about Hendrick and Gibbs' recruitment techniques when he was asked by the media about the recent efforts of Ford teams like Penske and Roush coming together and sharing information. "There are little things you can do," Keselowski said of Ford-backed teams opening up lines of communication in an effort to improve performances on the track. "What keeps it from going too far is the fact that Hendrick and Gibbs have this nasty little habit of going to other teams and outbidding other people and taking those employees and stealing our information, and, when that happens, that puts walls up between the camps because you are giving up more than one piece of information  you are giving up two companies' information and trying to protect yourself against that, it forces you to put up walls.It doesn't necessarily lend itself to working together. But still, we are going to put in a valiant effort where we can and where it makes sense to put Ford in a position to have the best results possible."Keselowski cited two incidents where he claimed Hendrick and Gibbs  who between them run the likes of series points leader and five-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.  lured away Ford team employees with big offers."Gibbs stole the Roush aero director and took all the information," said Keselowski. "And Hendricks took three employees from our Chase-winning team last year."(USA Today)(6-14-2013)
GIBBS STATEMENT: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) released the following statement from Owner Joe Gibbs in response to the recent comments made by driver Brad Keselowski: "We were surprised to read the recent comments and accusations made by Brad Keselowski. Clearly those comments are misguided and irresponsible. Brad's candor is well documented, but he would do well to only speak to subjects on which he is properly informed. Obviously NASCAR is a very competitive environment and we take our hiring processes seriously at JGR. The individual he referenced in his comments was working outside of the sport of NASCAR at the time we hired him. We have a great deal of respect for Roger Penske and his organization and I feel like I have always had a good personal relationship with Roger. We look forward to competing with Brad on the racetrack, but hope that he will use better judgment in the future before making such misinformed claims and accusations."(JGR)
HENDRICK STATEMENT: HMS owner Rick Hendrick also took offense to what Keselowski said. "The comments Brad reportedly made were misinformed,'' Hendrick said. "The truth is that we hired one tire changer, who was a backup for Penske and whose contract was up. We also brought over one mechanic from their Nationwide program and, when the Penske engine shop was closing, added a few of those people. What Brad left out was that his organization also hired one of our tire changers. All of this was above board and is part of doing business in a competitive environment. I take no issue with any of it, and I expect Roger [Penske] would say the same. Brad misrepresents the facts and spends a lot of time making insinuations and accusations about other teams when he should be focused on his own program and competing at a high level. I hope he figures that out and begins representing himself and the sport with more class."(ESPN)(6-15-2013)

Edwards drives 1901 car Henry Ford used to win match race: #99-Carl Edwards got to drive a 1901 Ford driven by Henry Ford himself to win in a two-automobile race at a horse racing track in Grosse Pointe on Oct. 10, 1901. Edwards drove the vintage racer while visiting Greenfield Village in Dearborn earlier this week. NASCAR is at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. "We got it up to 20 or 25 miles per hour on the road there, but they said it would go 73 back in 1901," Edwards said. "It was scarier driving that thing 25 miles per hour than it was driving the corner here at 205." The car was named "Sweepstakes" because the 1901 race was a sweepstakes race. Ford, struggling after the failure of his Detroit Automobile Company, entered a race against fellow automobile maker Alexander Winton in hopes of re-establishing some credibility. Ford trailed early, but rallied to defeat Winton. With his reputation restored, Ford went on to start Ford Motor Company in 1903.(Michigan Live)(6-15-2013)

NHRA racer tests at Bristol: Accustomed to streaking down straightaways at speeds in excess of 300 mph, Top Fuel driver Antron Brown tested his command of left turns Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. In town for the NHRA Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, Brown circled the world's fastest half mile in a Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure car that was previously run on the NASCAR Nationwide circuit. Brown was enthusiastic following his 20-lap run but expressed uncertainty about piloting 500 circuits around the half-mile. "That was so much fun," he said. "The car drove great, but it took me a few laps to get the feel for the track and what line to take. This was my second time running laps at Bristol but my first time in a true stock car, and it was an awesome experience. I'm definitely not in round track shape though. I don't know how those guys stay focused for 500 laps."(BMS)(6-15-2013)

Harraka to attempt Sonoma in the #52 UPDATE: Look for the #52 BKMotorsports "Ford" at Sonoma on June 23rd with driver Paulie Harraka at the wheel in his 1st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Brian Keselowski will return the following week at Kentucky on June 29th to pilot his #52 Toyota (BKMotorsports Favebook)
UPDATE Next weekend, Paulie Harraka will attempt to qualify for the Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. If Harraka, 23, makes the field, he will be the first Drive for Diversity graduate to compete at the Sprint Cup level. Since 2010, Harraka has competed in more than a dozen races between the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series. His best results were a pair of 17th-place finishes last year in the #5 truck, at Dover and Kentucky Speedway. At Sonoma, Harraka will drive the #52 HASA Pool Products Ford for Go Green Racing team owner Archie St. Hilaire. Veteran crew chief Ben Leslie will oversee the team. Harraka has three starts at Sonoma in the K&N Pro Series West and an average finish of 9.2, with a career-high result of second. "Archie St. Hilaire and I have worked together in three Nationwide races already, and it's there that we built the platform to run this Cup race," Harraka said. "I feel like it's a great opportunity for both of us  me and the team  to make the step into the Sprint Cup Series and start learning what that's like together. St. Hilaire said realistically he would be pleased with a finish around 25th to 28th. If everything goes according to plan, Go Green Racing would also attempt the Cup races at New Hampshire and Watkins Glen later this summer.(FoxSports)(6-12-2013)