Cassill will drive for Front Row at Daytona: UPDATES: Landon Cassill, the Iowa youngster who formerly was a Hendrick Motorsports development driver and made a bunch more fans in 2011 through his near-full season of work in James Finch's Phoenix Racing Chevrolet, has an opportunity for the Daytona 500 in a Ford. To kick off his own 2012, Cassill will drive a third Front Row Motorsports Ford later this month at Speedweeks. Cassill's #26 Fusion will have backing from Morristown Driver's Service, an over-the-road trucking company based in Tennessee. Owner Bob Jenkins' third car last year wore #55, but Michael Waltrip Racing took that number in conjunction with its sponsor, Aaron's 55th anniversary, for the 2012 season.(NASCAR.com)(2-2-2012)
UPDATE: The story has been updated: Thursday morning, [Cassill] let Front Row general manager Jerry Freeze know he couldn't do it. "We gave [Cassill] an out if he got a full-time racing deal," Freeze said. "And it sounds like he has one. No idea on who we'll get for now."(2-2-2012)
UPDATE 2: If the NASCAR tea leaves are true, Cassill may race for the new ownership group that purchased the assets from Red Bull Racing and has set up shop in the old Randy Moss/Morgan Dollar Motorsports building in Statesville, N.C. Front Row Motorsports General Manager Jerry Friese said FRM intends to run three cars in the Daytona 500 and expects to name a driver that will join David Gilliland and David Ragan next week. The short list likely includes Travis Kvapil and Tony Raines. Both drivers have raced for the organization before.(Fox Sports)(2-3-2012)

National Speed Sport News to return: With an all-new monthly print publication launching in March and an aggressive plan for the future, Turn 3 Media, LLC, is bringing back the National Speed Sport News brand, identified for its namesake weekly newspaper that was widely recognized as the "Bible" of American auto racing news. Turn 3 Media, LLC, a North Carolina company founded by publishing veteran Curt Moon, former SPEED executive Joe Tripp, and motorsports television personality Ralph Sheheen, has acquired the exclusive rights to National Speed Sports News from The Kay Publishing Company. Founded in 1934 and edited by "The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism" Chris Economaki beginning in 1950, National Speed Sport News ceased publication of its venerable weekly newspaper following the March 23, 2011 issue. As Publisher, Sheheen will manage the editorial direction of the new SPEED SPORT Magazine and will help drive reach and brand awareness through his extensive television exposure. He will also lead efforts to expand the brand into video and television media. SPEED SPORT Magazine will debut with a March Season Preview issue, exactly one year after the original National Speed Sport News ceased publication.(NSSN)(2-3-2012)

Ganassi & TSOVET Watches announce partnership: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc. and TSOVET TIMING GAUGES, announced they are launching the new TSOVET "Limited Edition" Chronograph watch that commemorates the team's 14 championships and 145 wins. TSOVET has been a team partner since 2011 with logo placement on 2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon's # 9 Target Honda and firesuit in the IZOD IndyCar Series and 2010 Daytona 500 Winner #1-Jamie McMurray's firesuit in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(Chip Ganassi Racing)(2-3-2012)

Harvick inducted into Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame: #29-Kevin Harvick returned Wednesday to where his racing career began -- his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. -- to be inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. A sold-out gathering greeted their hometown hero, who went from racing go-karts around the Bakersfield area as a 5-year-old to winning the Daytona 500 in 2007. "It's been an honor to be selected," Harvick told the audience at his induction. "My friends and family and everybody in this town have been very supportive. From my go-kart days or my wrestling days at North High, no matter what it was, the town has been supportive. And you guys support our foundation events when we come back. It's truly an honor to see the support." Harvick, 36, was one of four enshrined during Wednesday's ceremony. Also inducted were Olympic swimmer Gabe Woodward; Pat Skrable, an outstanding baseball and football player at Bakersfield High School; and Arnold Kirschenmann, a golfing standout from Bakersfield. Harvick joins just three other drivers in the Hall -- four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, off-road champion Roger Mears and Indy 500 competitor George Snider.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-3-2012)

Stremme switches to Toyota: Inception Motorsports announced today their partnership with Toyota and the engine support of Triad Racing Technologies for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS). "It is a great boost for our team to have the support of Toyota and Triad engines heading into Daytona and this season," said David Stremme, driver of the #30 Toyota. "Our team is excited to have their support especially with their success in the sport." Triad currently supplies horsepower for teams in ARCA, NASCAR's Truck, Nationwide and Cup Series and have over 50 race wins since 2009. This is the first full season for the newly formed Inception Motorsports. The team continues to look for sponsorship support for Stremme's Toyota for 2012. "Our team has grown over the off-season," continued Stremme. "We have a great group of talented people in our race family who have been working hard to get us to where we need to be for this season. We are looking for the final pieces to the puzzle and hopefully our track presence will help find that sponsorship piece."(Inception Motorsports)(2-2-2012)

Daytona 500 will have purse of more than $19 Million: The 54th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26 will carry a record purse of more than $19 million as well as a new contingency award that will payout $200,000 to the driver leading at the completion of Lap 100. The posted awards for "The Great American Race" are $19,142,601 with the winner collecting a minimum of $1,431,325. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,050,075, $759,600, $609,900 and $486,550. The Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award will reward the driver leading the midway point of the historic 200-lap, 500-mile race with a $200,000 bonus. If the race is under caution at Lap 100, the leader of the race at the completion of the fifth consecutive green flag lap following the caution will receive the award.(DIS)(2-2-2012)

Former Ganassi crewmen get probation: Telling a North Carolina judge that they have learned their lesson, two former Earnhardt Ganassi Racing crewmen avoided jail and were sentenced to 18 months probation Wednesday for possession of marijuana. Trevor Lysne and Jerome Frey appeared in North Carolina Superior Court on charges stemming from their arrest Aug. 9, 2011, after authorities seized 10.62 pounds of marijuana from an apartment that belonged to Lysne. Lysne, a former EGR tire changer for Juan Pablo Montoya, and Frey, a mechanic, were charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana. Lysne also faced an additional charge of maintaining a dwelling to sell a controlled substance. Those charges were reduced as part of a plea agreement. Frey, 28, and Lysne, 41, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of marijuana. The judge could have sentenced each of them to up to 15 months in jail. Lysne and Frey could return to NASCAR by completing NASCAR's Road to Recovery program, where they must complete a prescribed rehabilitation program following an evaluation by a substance abuse professional.(Scene Daily)(2-2-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame To Offer Local Rate: The NASCAR Hall of Fame is introducing a special Local Rate throughout the months of February and March. Available for a limited-time only, the special rate offers North and South Carolina residents visiting the interactive, entertainment attraction a discounted admission price of $15.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and $9.95 for children. Guests with a valid photo ID and proof of residency, such as a North Carolina or South Carolina driver's license, can receive the special price when purchasing at the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office during regular operating hours. Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at www.NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)(2-2-2012)

Racing Electronics Honored: The Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce (NC) has presented Racing Electronics with its Small Business of the Year award at a recent luncheon held at Embassy Suites in Concord, NC. The Chamber's Small Business of the Year Awards recognize the entrepreneurial achievements of Cabarrus County's smaller for-profit companies who display strong financial performance,achievement in management, workplace excellence, product innovation,and community and social responsibility. Racing Electronics is the worldwide leader in providing radio communications products to the motorsports industry and was grown from a home-based business. Bruce Silver, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, began the business in 1988 out of a need to enhance the race fan experience. Through innovation and diversity, Racing Electronics has developed high quality scanners and headphones for race fans; they have advanced technologies for radio wiring and two-way radio equipment. In 2005, the company relocated its world headquarters to Concord and has created over 70 jobs.(Speed51)(2-2-2012)

2013 cars to be tested at Homestead: UPDATES: All four 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car models are scheduled to be tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway February 1st&in a test that will apparently be closed. That may be the first time crewmen get to see all four models. Why is NASCAR, and its big marketing operation, taking such seemingly a low-keyed approach? Apparently because the sanctioning body has not yet 'aero-matched' the four models in the wind tunnel. Ford is billing its new model as a Fusion (not Mustang, as once planned), and when the car maker officially unveiled its 2013 street version, it was then free to take the wraps off the NASCAR version  which is decidedly different from the current Sprint Cup model, the still controversial and not greatly liked by many car-of-tomorrow. Chevrolet, for example, still hasn't officially named its model for its 2013 NASCAR Cup racer.(MikeMulhern.net)(1-25-2012)
UPDATE: #5-Kasey Kahne tweeted that he will be participating in the test. No other drivers have been announced.(2-1-2012)
UPDATE 2: #18-Kyle Busch (Toyota), #17-Matt Kenseth (Ford), and Sam Hornish, Jr. (Dodge) are also participating.(PRN Garage Pass)(2-1-2012)

Villeneuve to drive some Nationwide races: The probable association between Jacques Villeneuve and Go Canada Racing, as reported by Le Journal de Montreal in August, has resurfaced. Villeneuve could run a dozen races (and maybe more) this year in the Nationwide Series driving a car owned by Toronto businessman Steve Meehan. Meehan declined to elaborate on the issue, while acknowledging that he had discussed with Villeneuve in recent weeks. Andrew Ranger will not drive for the team at Daytona, contrary to earlier reports. His debut will take place two weeks later at Las Vegas and possibly at Phoenix, the second week of the season. David Ragan, who has six years experience in Sprint Cup, wll take over the wheel of the Go Canada Ford at Daytona. In addition, the team has acquired a new Dodge Challenger that will be used at Phoenix.(Montreal Journal - translated using Google translate and edited for clarity)(1-31-2012)

Danica to get owner points from Baldwin? Reutimann in the #10? UPDATES: Danica Patrick will be a guaranteed starter in the 2012 Daytona 500, using owner points from Tommy Baldwin Racing. Multiple sources say a deal is nearly complete to make Patrick a guaranteed starter in Stewart Haas Racing's #10 Chevy in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season opener, using owner points accrued last season by driver Dave Blaney in TBR's #36 Chevy. Blaney will now be forced to qualify for the "Great American Race" on time. Patrick is scheduled to run approximately 10 Sprint Cup races this season, and TBR driver David Reutimann will run many of the events Patrick does not; also in the #10 machine. While Patrick will drive Stewart Haas cars purchased from Hendrick Motorsports in her 10 races, Reutimann will steer Baldwin's cars in his outings. TBR will reportedly receive technical and pit crew support from SHR as part of the deal.(Sirius Speedway)(1-30-2012)
UPDATE: Go ahead and pencil Danica Patrick into the Daytona 500 starting lineup. Stewart Haas Racing has finalized an alliance with Tommy Baldwin Racing that guarantees Patrick a starting spot in the Sprint Cup opener and keeps her #10 car on the track for the entire Cup schedule, team owner Tommy Baldwin said on Tuesday. Patrick will be locked into the Feb. 26 race with the owner's points accumulated last season by TBR driver Dave Blaney, who was 33rd. The top 35 in owner's points from last season are guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races, meaning Blaney now will have to qualify his way into the 500 field. Since Patrick is scheduled to compete in only 10 Cup races while participating fulltime in the Nationwide Series, TBR driver David Reutimann will drive the remaining 26 races in the 10 car. The goal is to keep the 10 locked into the top 35 so Patrick will be guaranteed a starting spot for the first five races of 2013 when she runs her first full Cup schedule. TBR will receive technical and pit crew support as a part of the deal. Baldwin said there were no conflicts with NASCAR or Chevrolet in having Patrick use Hendrick Motorsports engines as all the SHR cars do and Reutimann using Earnhardt-Childress Engines as all TBR cars do. Greg Zipadelli will remain the crew chief for Patrick's Cup races. Baldwin said he and Zipadelli will work with Reutimann in the other 26. Reutimann will not drive another TBR car in the non-Patrick races. Baldwin said this is all about getting Patrick "prepared for 2013."(ESPN.com)(1-31-2012)
UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing has entered into a collaborative partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing where TBR will field the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevy for all 10 of Danica Patrick's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2012. The alliance guarantees a starting spot for Patrick in her Sprint Cup debut  the 54th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. TBR's #36 car, which finished the 2011 season 33rd in points, becomes the #10 for 2012. For the 26 races where Patrick is not scheduled to drive, David Reutimann will pilot the #10 car. TBR has sponsorship inventory available for these 26 races.(Stewart-Haas Racing)(1-31-2012)

Several treated for smoke inhalation at Joe Gibbs Racing: Several people were treated for smoke inhalation at Joe Gibbs Racing in Huntersville Tuesday afternoon, officials said. According to Huntersville police, some machinery at the racing compound caught fire. Firefighters were called in to battle the blaze around 2:45 p.m. The fire is under control, fire officials said. Medic officials said units responded to the fire, but had not yet transported anyone. No one has commented on what caused the fire or how much damage was done as a result of the fire. Almost a year ago, a similar fire happened at the facility that caused two people to be treated for smoke inhalation. According to officials, the 2011 fire started in an engine dyno during a test.(WSOC)(1-31-2012)
UPDATE: A piece of equipment in the machine shop caught fire today at our Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters in Huntersville, NC. The fire department was called and the fire was quickly contained and extinguished. A few of our employees received treatment on site for issues related to smoke inhalation. All employees were able to return to work within the hour to continue preparations for the 2012 NASCAR season.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(1-31-2012)

NASCAR and Turner restructure and extend digital partnership: UPDATE: NASCAR and Turner Sports announced a restructuring and extension of their long-standing digital partnership. The new agreement takes the relationship through 2016, with NASCAR managing business and editorial operations for its digital platforms beginning in 2013 and Turner Sports continuing to oversee advertising sales and sponsorships across NASCAR-branded digital platforms. Under the new partnership, NASCAR will assume operational control in 2013 of all of its interactive, digital and social media rights including technical operations and infrastructure of all NASCAR digital platforms. Turner will continue to represent sponsorships and advertising for all NASCAR digital platforms, with the unique users from the NASCAR digital properties continuing to roll up to the Turner digital portfolio. NASCAR's comprehensive digital and social media portfolio includes NASCAR.COM. NASCAR.COM, and the sport's other digital and social media platforms, have been managed by Turner Sports since 2001.(NASCAR)(1-30-212)
UPDATE: In a phone interview Monday, NASCAR Vice President of Digital Media Marc Jenkins said NASCAR is at the "tail end" of the process of thinking of what it wants to do with its website. He said NASCAR is working toward having several camera angles for fans to watch a race on the website, like what was done during the Chase For The Sprint Cup on the current website. "That drives a better fan experience when watching the race," Jenkins said. "In my mind, more important than just a pure stream of the race broadcast is the alternate camera angles, it's the dynamic leaderboard, it's the [car] data, it's all those things that help people enjoy the race more." Jenkins said they also hope the NASCAR site will help drive traffic to the drivers' websites and could offer a content management system teams and drivers could use in production of their websites.(Scene Daily)
AND: The lack of an iPhone app for the sport has been a glaring, gaping hole in the interactive experience. "I can assure you it will be an important thing for us moving forward," NASCAR chief marketing officer Steve Phelps said last week. "Whether we have it for '12 or not, it's probably not something that's going to happen. But digital and social media is going to be a major plank for us as a sport. It's going to be a way for us to engage our fans, candidly, in a way we've never been able to before. We think our sport lends itself (to an app) as well as any sport - maybe better - because of the community nature and social nature of the sport. It clearly is coming." But fans may begin to see changes in the app world even earlier than expected. Tim Considine, Sprint's director of sports marketing, told SB Nation in a statement Monday: "Sprint is working with its internal partners to develop NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile for the iPhone, with an expected launch in the first half of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season."(SB Nation)(1-31-2012)

ISC profits rise even with fewer seats: International Speedway Corp. saw an increase in profits in 2011 while also cutting seating capacity at nine of its 12 tracks that play host to Sprint Cup races. ISC, a publicly traded company with more than 71 percent of its stock owned by the NASCAR-controlling France family, saw its stock remain in the $26 dollar range since the release of its annual financial report Thursday that listed a 4.5% increase in profits from core operations. ISC began significantly decreasing the number of seats in 2010, when it cut capacity at several tracks. The most significant drop came at Phoenix, which saw its capacity shrink from 67,000 to 55,000. Daytona remains ISC's biggest track at 147,000 grandstand seats and has not seen a significant seat change in the last two years while the remainder of the Cup facilities have had a combined decrease of 15%. ISC sold 83-87% of its capacity for Cup events, ISC President John Saunders said in a conference call Thursday with investors. Overall ticket sales revenue, though, was down 10% from $160.5 million in 2010 to $144.4 million - and down 43% from $253.7 million four years earlier in 2007. Ticket prices will remain basically the same for 2012, after a drop of about 3% for Cup races for an average ticket price of $82.17. While ISC took in $144.4 million in ticket sales, it took in much more from television rights. Its broadcast revenues from the NASCAR television contract, where it took in $202 million in 2011, will rise 3.5% in 2012.(Scene Daily)(1-31-2012)

Schrader scheduled to run nine races for FAS Lane: Continuing its long and successful partnership, Federated Auto Parts will once again sponsor NASCAR legend Ken Schrader and his race teams during the 2012 season. "Kenny Schrader has become synonymous with Federated Auto Parts and we are honored to continue our long and winning association with this racing legend," said J.R. Bishop, director of racing and event marketing for Federated. "Kenny is extremely popular with our members, their customers and race fans everywhere. Whenever we host a hospitality event with him, we get rave reviews." Federated will be the primary sponsor for Schrader and FAS Lane Racing in nine NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2012 beginning with the Las Vegas race on March 11. For the remaining Sprint Cup Races this season, Federated will serve as an associate sponsor for FAS Lane Racing. Schrader will continue in his role as the official spokesman for Federated and will once again host the annual "Get Dirty with Kenny" promotion at Schrader's own dirt track, the newly named Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. Federated will also serve as the official parts supplier to Ken Schrader Racing.(Schrader Racing)
AND the nine scheduled races are: Las Vegas on March 11; Martinsville on April 1; Michigan on June 17; Kentucky on June 30; New Hampshire on July 15; Bristol on Aug. 25; Richmond on Sept. 8; Texas on Nov. 4 and Homestead on Nov. 18.(Schrader Racing Facebook)(1-30-2012)

Means Hamilton plans change UPDATE: With Daytona less than eight weeks away, co-owner Jimmy Means says that the newly formed team will try to attempt all 36 races in 2012. "Our intentions are to run every [race]," says Means. "But we've got do to [approach] them one at a time and take it from there." This will be Jimmy Means' second stint as an owner in NASCAR's top division. Once an owner-driver, over half of Means' starts in Sprint Cup came from 1978 to 1993. As any team at any level in NASCAR has experienced, sponsorship is harder to find in a shaky economy. However, Hamilton-Means Racing plans on their #52 Ford Fusion to show up at the track, with or without financial backing. "We're not relying on sponsorship to determine where we go or not," says Means. "We're just trying to get all the pieces together and have some different equipment to have a legitimate chance of making the races. Sponsorship is not really an issue at this time, but [we're] looking for it." The team is also willing to start and park events to keep afloat. "That's probably what we will have to do to start this." With a long list of free agents available this off-season, HMR has narrowed its list of possible drivers for 2012, but no formal announcement has been made. "[We will announce] probably in a few weeks." Means also told us his Nationwide team plans on keeping the #52 car running full-time with a driver announcement for that ride coming soon.(HMR)
BUT: HMR's Twitter says the car will be a Toyota and at Phoenix, so no word if they will attempt to make the Daytona 500.(1-29-2012)
UPDATE: HMR's plan of attempting the Daytona 500 have been put on hold. With a delay in obtaining some essential equipment needed for the effort, the team has decided to push the first start of the season back to Phoenix [in March] or Bristol [in March]. Engines and cars have been purchased, certification process is near completion, and the team plans further announcements later this week.(HMR)(1-30-2012)

Bill Elliott & Walmart team up for Daytona in July UPDATE: Walmart announced Thursday that they will expand their merchandise program in 2012, the 50th anniversary of the retail giant. While the merchandise partnership isn't new, Walmart will take to the track for the first time with a Chevy built by Turner Motorsports and driven by Bill Elliott. However the effort, as of now, is for only one race; the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. The company wanted to get on the track this year with the #50 Chevy and Elliott to help celebrate the 50th birthday of the company in July and just wants to 'have a lot of fun with it', said Rand Waddoups, senior director Entertainment Properties and Brands for Walmart. The company has no shop has hired no personnel and has no plans beyond the single race. 'But we have six months yet', Waddoups added.(NASCAR Examiner), see images of the car on my #50 Team Schemes page.(1-26-2012)
UPDATE: Walmart announced it is expanding its Race Time 2012 program to give fans more accessibility to discounted race tickets, driver appearances and fan events at stores, a greater selection of authentic NASCAR merchandise and a special sponsorship of Bill Elliott at the Coke Zero 400. Walmart's Race Time program, launched last year as the largest retail promotion in NASCAR history, gives fans authentic merchandise and fan events at Walmart stores in every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race market. This year, Walmart has more than tripled the number of companies offering displays of authentic merchandise, doubled the number of fan events at stores and increased the race markets where the $99 Walmart Family Track Pack will be offered. For more about Walmart's Race Time 2012 program and the races the $99 Walmart Family Track Pack will be available at Walmart.com/NASCAR.(Walmart/Mitchell Communications Group)(1-30-2012)

Yeley to drive for Robinson-Blakeney IMAGES: Newly established Sprint Cup team Robinson-Blakeney Racing has tabbed J.J. Yeley to drive its #49 Toyota for the 2012 season. In addition, Yeley will be reunited with crew chief Tony Furr, who has been hired to coordinate and direct the upstart endeavor. "I am energized and looking forward to working with [owner and manager] Jay Robinson and our team beginning at Daytona in the Duel 150 race and building success all the way to Homestead," said Yeley, who has 11 top-10 finishes in his Cup career. "I have enjoyed a good working relationship in the past with Tony Furr as my crew chief and am happy to be partnered with him again on this team." Furr brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and has the tools available to formulate a competitive effort at Robinson-Blakeney Racing. "I am excited to again be working with a talented driver like J.J., as well as the rest of the team and owners at Robinson-Blakeney Racing," Furr said. In addition to its first year in Cup, Robinson-Blakeney Racing returns for its 12th season of competition in the Nationwide Series in the #28 car. "We are preparing the team for a very successful 2012 season and we are very pleased to announce our partnerships with Tony and J.J.", Robinson said.(NASCAR.com)(1-25-2012)
IMAGES: see images of the car on my #49 Team Schemes page.(1-30-2012)

Allmendinger wins Rolex 24 At Daytona: On his ninth attempt, team owner Michael Shank finally captured America's most prestigious sports car race  the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team of Oswaldo Negri, John Pew, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Wilson in the #60 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Ford Riley survived a tight battle for the lead in the final hours to take home the grueling twice-around-the-clock challenge. Finishing a few seconds behind the #60 Ford was the pole-winning #8 Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley and Ryan Dalziel, Alex Popow, Lucas Luhr, Allan McNish and Enzo Potolicchio. Shank Racing took the final spot on the podium with the #6 Ford Riley with Michael McDowell, Jorge Goncalvez, Gustavo Yacaman and Sunoco Rolex 24 Driver Challenge winner Felipe Nasr. In the competitive GT class, the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche with John Potter, Andy Lally, Richard Lietz and Rene Rast were victorious.(Daytona International Speedway)(1-29-2012)

Hendrick says deal with #51 team doesn't circumvent four-team cap: Rick Hendrick bristled at the suggestion that his Hendrick Motorsports team might be seen as gaining an unfair advantage through its relationship with #51 Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch. Hendrick, who says Finch has been a "good friend and a good engine customer" through the years, scoffed at the idea that the single-car team is a satellite operation of his own four-team program and might be seen as a fifth entry for the 10-time championship group. "Every car he runs, he owns," Hendrick said of Finch. "Every motor he gets, he pays for." Phoenix Racing is a single-car operation in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, and has typically fielded cars for select events each season. The Spartanburg, S.C.-based team, which has purchased chassis and leased engines from Hendrick in the past, did compete in all 36 races in 2011, however, with four drivers. Now that Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, has joined the #51 team, Hendrick said the change could result in a move to a more proven product as far as engines are concerned. Since 2006, NASCAR has allowed team owners to field no more than four full-time teams, with an exception for an organization that seeks to field a fifth car on a limited basis for an up-and-coming driver. Organizations such as Hendrick, Richard Childress Racing and Roush Fenway Racing (through its Roush Yates Engines group) provide such assistance, at a price. In return, in addition to any monetary profits (such as any vendor would receive) such programs can provide feedback and validation for the hardware being supplied. Owners cannot receive financial consideration based on the performance of those cars to which they provide services, and they may not have an ownership stake in the team or teams. NASCAR can ask to look at contracts and other financial documentation that show the pricing is legitimate.(SceneDaily)(1-29-2012)

Wurth Group joins #2 as associate sponsor: Penske Racing welcomes a new partner to its NASCAR Nationwide Series program in 2012 as The Wurth Group will sponsor the Dodge Challenger driven by Sam Hornish, Jr. The #12 Wurth Dodge will be featured as primary sponsor in seven races as it marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between Wurth and Penske Racing. Wurth will also be an associate sponsor for the remaining 26 Nationwide Series races and also as an associate sponsor of #2 Miller Lite Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series. A leading supplier of high-quality automotive and industrial parts, cabinet supplies and fasteners, Wurth has more than 40,000 customers across the nation. With Wurth on board as a sponsor for 2012, Hornish and the #12 team will compete for the full Nationwide Series season, racing with Alliance Truck Parts as a partner as well.(Penske Racing)(1-29-2012)

Time Magazine ranks Jayski.com: pretty neat honor by Time magazine, see time.com for The 50 Best Websites of 2011: "We honor the scrappy newcomers and established players that make the Web so useful, entertaining and just plain indispensable".