Races [12] that the US Army is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Daytona - 2/26
Auto Club - 3/25
Texas - 4/14
Richmond - 4/28, Reserve
Charlotte - 5/27
Michigan - 6/17
New Hampshire - 7/15
Watkins Glen - 8/12
Atlanta - 9/2
Dover - 9/30
Talladega - 10/7
Homestead - 11/18

Race [9] that Quicken Loans is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Las Vegas - 3/11
Bristol - 3/18
Dover - 6/3
Infineon - 6/24, w/Children's Tumor Foundation
Indianapolis - 7/29
Richmond - 9/8
Martinsville - 10/28
Texas - 11/4
Phoenix - 11/11

Races [6] that Haas Automation is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Kansas - 4/22
Pocono - 6/10
Pocono - 8/5
Chicago - 9/16
Charlotte - 10/13
Kansas - 10/21

Races [4] that WIX Filters is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Bud Shootout - Daytona - 2/18
Phoenix - 3/4
Darlington - 5/12
Michigan - 8/19

Race [2] that Outback Steakhouse is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Martinsville - 4/1
Bristol - 8/25

Races [2] that Aspen Dental is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Daytona - 7/7
New Hampshire - 9/25

Races [2] that Tornados is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Charlotte, All-Star race - 5/19
Kentucky - 6/30

Races [1] that Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 2012:
Talladega - 5/6

Contract Status: Driver: 2012?; Primary Sponsors: 2012 (Army); 2012 (Tornados)

Military sponsorships could go away..if: The sponsorships of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [National Guard] and #39-Ryan Newman [U.S. Army] (as well as the Air Force deal with #43-Aric Almirola) could be in jeopardy as military sponsorships of motorsports have come into question in the U.S. House of Representatives. The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment Thursday to the 2013 defense appropriations bill that would prohibit funding of sponsorships of professional sports or sporting events. The amendment, passed by a voice vote and sponsored by Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), states that: "None of the funds made available in this act may be used to sponsor professional or semiprofessional motorsports, fishing, wrestling or other sports." The bill still needs to be passed by the House and then the provision would have to make it through any negotiations with leaders from the Senate and its defense appropriations bill. Last year, McCollum introduced an amendment banning motorsports sponsorships on the House floor and it was voted down 281-148.(Sporting News and USA Today)(5-18-2012)

Stewart hopes to re-sign Newman: #14-Tony Stewart would like Stewart-Haas Racing to have three full-time teams in 2013, but has not yet signed driver #39-Ryan Newman to a new deal. Newman agreed to drive for the team when Stewart became co-owner starting with the 2009 season. Newman is not yet signed for 2013. Danica Patrick is expected to drive for the team full time next season in the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevy after a 10-race Cup schedule this year. "I want him back next year," Stewart said Tuesday. "Obviously we're working on sponsorship to make sure we have got the funding to keep that going. Ryan and I are on the same page. He knows what we're trying to do and I have every intention of keeping him for next year."(Sporting News and PRN's Garage Pass)(5-17-2012)

NASCAR Issues Fines And Probation For Violations at Darlington: NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the #51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media).
Tony Gibson, crew chief for the #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members). Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the #39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.(NASCAR)(5-15-2012)

Newman, Busch incident after Darlington race: UPDATE: Several of #39-Ryan Newman's crewmen confronted #51-Kurt Busch on Saturday night at Darlington Raceway following an ill-advised decision by Busch to do a burnout through Newman's pit box. After Busch had a flat tire and crashed with six laps remaining - an incident which also collected Newman - the Phoenix Racing driver lost his cool and began yelling on the team radio. When Busch completed his pit stop to fix damage shortly after the wreck, he & did a loud, angry burnout while leaving his pit box. The burnout startled fans in the stands and put up a huge plume of smoke, an expression of Busch's frustration at a promising night gone bad. But while doing the burnout, Busch drove through Newman's pit box as well - and several Newman crew members were still over the wall after recently completing service on the #39 car. Among the angry crewmen was Newman's gas man, Andy Rueger, who went to the #51 hauler to await Busch's arrival. Rueger planned to confront Busch immediately after the race. But Busch's team knew Newman's crew was upset, and so crew chief Nick Harrison instructed Busch to stop at the entrance of pit road and leave the car there instead. The driver was livid on the radio and had been screaming obscenities during the final few laps, and the team felt it would be a good idea for him just to get off the track. Words were exchanged between the crewmen and Busch, and a NASCAR official fell onto Busch's hood in the process. Though contact with Rueger sparked the official's tumble, NASCAR's Robin Pemberton said the official just lost his footing. It's unclear whether NASCAR will issue any penalties in this situation. If NASCAR feels its official tumbled onto the hood on his own, then Newman's gas man could go unpunished.(SB Nation)
AND: #39-Ryan Newman had strong words for #51-Kurt Busch after their incident Saturday night. Here's what Newman told [Dustin Long] in a one-on-one conversation about the incident:
(WHAT HAPPENED?)
"I'm not sure what happened. It's easy to see and it's easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again. I'm not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is. I think the chemical imbalance speaks for itself. Kurt drilled me in pit lane and said that he was taking his helmet off and he didn't see where he was going, which I'm pretty sure there were 42 other guys that are taking their helmets off and doing whatever for the last 10 years and that's the first time that's happened to me. Circumstances I think are that he lied and was so frustrated that he doesn't know how to deal with his anger.
(WHAT NOW?)
"From my standpoint, that's the second offense on Kurt when he did retaliation on (teammate Tony) Stewart's crew and the officials there. I can voice my opinion on what they should do to him but that's not going to solve anything.
(YOU WENT IN TO NASCAR HAULER VOLUNTARILY?)
"No. They asked me to come in because they didn't know everything that happened on pit road. They just really wanted to know my side of that story. That was it. They said you're good to go.
(HE SAID HE JUST HIT YOU ON PIT ROAD)
"He said he was taking his helmet off, which I think was a lie.
(ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT HIM AS A DRIVER)
"Everybody has for the last 10 years. He's proven that. When you can't keep a job, it's pretty obvious."(Posted to Twitter by Dustin Long)(5-13-2012)
UPDATE: NASCAR is reviewing the fracas to see if penalties are warranted, said vice president of competition Ryan Pemberton. A Sprint Cup official fell back on Busch's car, but Pemberton didn't think it was an aggressive move toward the official. "We're looking at film, we're still getting all the facts straight," Pemberton said after the race. "We haven't talked to Kurt; we talked to Ryan a little bit. He talked to Kurt afterwards and he told him he didn't mean to hit him, he was taking his helmet off and looked up and he'd run into the back of him. So right now that's really all the facts that we have." Busch did not talk to reporters following the Southern 500.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-14-2012)

Newman surprised Stewart wasn't fined: #39-Ryan Newman doesn't see any difference between his 2010 comments about the racing at Talladega Superspeedway that resulted in him being fined and what Tony Stewart said on Sunday. NASCAR has said Stewart will not be fined. "I guess there's a difference when you hold a straight face versus when you don't hold a straight face," Newman said during a Thursday promotion for the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I'm not sure exactly how that all works. I get criticized for being blah and straight-faced and all that stuff. I didn't know that saved you money." Stewart, in what the post-race transcript said was a tongue-in-cheek interview, went on for almost five minutes taking sarcastic shots at the racing at Talladega. In 2010, Newman was secretly fined for saying, "If they want to have these races for the fans, just let us do this, but don't let it affect our championship because it's not racing. We should be here for the Talladega Event Marketing, or something like that."(ESPN)(5-11-2012)

Seeing double at Talladega: NASCAR fans may think they're seeing double during the Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. The paint scheme that has adorned the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy moswt of the season will be shared with the Stewart-Haas Racing's Bass Pro Shops sponsored #39 Chevy driven by Ryan Newman for the Talledega race as a salute to men and women across America who enjoy the outdoor traditions of hunting, shooting sports, fishing, boating, camping and hiking. "Both Ryan and Jamie love to hunt and fish so we felt like this would be a great time to thank all the outdoor enthusiasts out there who love the outdoors and continue to pass on these traditions to future generations," stated Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. In addition, Bass Pro Shops wants to emphasize the outdoors is a great way to get away from our hectic fast-paced world and escape to the sights and sounds of nature.(Bass Pro Shops), see images of the schemes on the #1 Team schemes page and the #39 Team schemes page.(5-2-2012)

Haas Automation to sponsor Newman at Kansas: It was 10 years ago this September that Haas Automation - the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world and founded by Gene Haas - made its first start as a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. The company's name and red "H" logos adorned the hood and quarter panels for the #60 Haas-CNC Racing machine for driver Jack Sprague, also owned by Haas. Fast forward to April 2012 and there's no doubt the sponsor (Haas Automation) and the race team (then Haas-CNC Racing) have come a long way since that first Kansas outing. Today, founder Haas shares ownership of what is now known as Stewart-Haas Racing with three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. The merger, which took effect in 2009, has resulted in 16 Sprint Cup points paying wins, a Sprint All-Star race win and a Sprint Cup championship. And Haas' company, Haas Automation, serves as one of multiple primary sponsors for Ryan Newman and the #39 Chevrolet, including Sunday's STP 400. Newman's #39 Chevy will also carry the Web site address, "BeRyansBoss.com" on its TV panel this weekend to encourage fans to enter the "Quicken Loans You're the Boss Sweepstakes.". Fans can enter until April 30.(SHR)(4-20-2012)

Students Get Revved-Up For Interactive Racing Challenge: The U.S. Army and Ten80 Education announced a partnership focusing on immersing students in real-life applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. The U.S. Army was seeking a high-performance educational initiative that is research-based, compelling for youth and reaches a widely underserved audience. The level of engineering and teamwork on display at the race track is reflective of the Army's leading-edge technology and the powerful, realistic training of its Army Strong Soldiers making this program the right fit for the U.S. Army and for the NASCAR STEM Initiative. A complete list of Army STEM-focused programs can be found at www.ArmyEdSpace.com. Just like today's Soldiers, students' physical, mental and emotional strength will be put to the test as they work in teams and compete to optimize performance of a 1:10 scale radio-controlled (RC) racecar. Four regions are sponsored by the Army: Boston (March 22), Dallas (April 12), Atlanta (May 3) and Charlotte, N.C., (May 12). The May 2012 National Finals will be held at the Stewart-Haas Racing Shop in Kannapolis, N.C. Stewart-Haas Racing's Ryan Newman, driver of the Army's #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy and holder of an engineering degree, will join Tony Schumacher, driver of the Army's NHRA Top Fuel dragster, and Antron Brown, his teammate and Top Fuel rival with Don Schumacher Racing, to participate in the regional events. Their sponsorship makes it possible for new teams to join the STEM league and to benefit from regional competitions and support events with professional mentors. Teachers benefit from professional development focused on project-based education and learn how to integrate STEM ideals into science and math classrooms. The U.S. Army also is sponsoring one winning team from each region to travel to the 2012 Ten80 National Finals in Charlotte. More info at Ten80 Education.)(U.S. Army Racing)(4-15-2012)

Children's Tumor Foundation on Newman's car at Sonoma: Quicken Loans is partnering with the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) to help "Fuel the Cure" for neurofibromatosis (NF) with the recent announcement that the nation's largest online lender has donated one of its nine primary races as sponsor of Ryan Newman and his #39 Chevy to the CTF. As part of the Fuel the Cure campaign, Newman's car will feature a special CTF paint scheme during the Toyota/Save Mart 350k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 24 - marking the Foundation's first entrance into professional stock car racing. In addition to the special paint scheme, Quicken Loans, its partners at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and Newman aim to help CTF raise $390,000 for NF research through the website www.fuelthecure.org. If the goal is met, "Fuel the Cure" and its related programs will have raised $1 million for CTF before 2012 reaches the mid-year mark.(Quicken Loans)(4-6-2012)

Newman wins at Martinsville: #39-Ryan Newman won the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 1st win of the year, his first at Martinsville, and 16th win of his career.
#22-Allmendinger finished 2nd (his career best finish) followed by #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #17-Kenseth, #56-Truex, Jr., #11-Hamlin, #14-Stewart, #43-Almirola, #2-Keselowski, and #15-Bowyer.
The race ended after a second green-white-checker attempt. #24-Gordon and #48-Johnson led the race on the first restart, but had stayed out on old tires. #15-Bowyer got a good jump on the start to move up along Gordon in turn one, pinching the cars together and setting off a spin by Gordon and Johnson. Gordon then ran out of gas before the final restart and finished 14th. Johnson finished 12th.
The pole sitter, #5-Kahne, didn't lead a single lap and spent numerous laps behind the wall before falling out of the race with a blown engine. He finished 38th.
There were 7 cautions for 56 yellow flag laps. There were 19 lead changes among 10 drivers. The estimated attendence was 63,000, up from 60,000 in 2011.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Martinsville Race Results page (pdf).
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings page (pdf).
and Owners Points on the Owners Points Standings page (pdf).(4-1-2012)

Ryan Newman Foundation Helps Reunite Soldier with Dog: The Ryan Newman Foundation is helping fly a dog home to be with his Soldier owner who lives 3,000 miles away. The assistance was prompted by an email regarding a dog saved by US soldiers in Afghanistan and the request for help with his transport home. The Ryan Newman Foundation immediately agreed to assist other animal groups and get the lonely boy from New York to his owner in Washington State. Trigger, a 70 pound stray saved by US soldiers in Afghanistan, began his new life as an all-American dog in February after arriving at JFK Airport. Trigger's new leash on life came courtesy of Guardians of Rescue, the group which provided the funds to bring him from Kabul to their rescue based in Port Jefferson, Long Island in New York. Trigger's final homecoming is scheduled for March 9th. Much more info and video's at ryannewmanfoundation.org.(3-8-2012)

Congrats to Ryan & Krissie Newman: Krissie Newman tweeted Tuesday evening, "[Daughter] Brooklyn is pretty excited tonight, we told her she was going to have a little sister in July!"(2-29-2012)

Military and Motorsports to Announce Historic Collaboration: The N.C. Motorsports Industry and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) announced a strategic partnership to grow North Carolina's defense and homeland security economy and increase soldier safety and capabiilty. The historic collaboration was announced by N. C. Gov. Bev Perdue; Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Jr., Commanding General, USASOC; and NASCAR President Mike Helton during the opening weekend of Daytona Speedweeks.
The formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)  facilitated by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Military Foundation, the N.C. Motorsports Advisory Council and USASOC Mobility  will allow the nation's most respected motorsports companies and the world's premier special operations force to mutually benefit through shared capabilities, knowledge, requirements, expertise, and training specific to vehicle performance. "The motorsports industry and Special Ops have forged a historic partnership that is unique to North Carolina," said Gov. Perdue. "This partnership will have worldwide implications. It improves safety and performance of military vehicles for our troops and creates jobs and investment opportunities in North Carolina."
Lt. General Mulholland explained that Special Operations Forces are "constantly seeking innovative methods to make our operators more effective, and the amazing technologies developed by N.C. motorsports companies have direct applications to the many complex problems we face. Army special operators are expected to thrive and succeed in the most challenging environments against dynamic threats. Likewise, the people who work at this level of the motorsports industry are constantly seeking to improve their performance  to dominate the competition  under the most extreme conditions. Ultimately, this is an opportunity for each institution to better serve our nation."
Increased interaction between N.C.'s motorsports industry and Army Special Operations Forces highlighting dual-use technologies increased significantly following the release of the N.C. Military Foundation's Defense Asset Inventory and Target Industry Cluster Analysis. This forward looking analysis, assembled with expert support from the N.C. Department of Commerce, pinpoints where the state's strengths in industry, academia and R&D coincide with the emerging needs of the military and homeland security. In addition to improved vehicle performance for both military and motorsports, there will be increased economic opportunities for North Carolina's defense and motorsports industries. Combined, the motorsports and defense sectors have close to a $30 billion economic impact in the state.(NASCAR)(2-21-2012)

Sandvik Coromant Extends Partnership With Stewart-Haas Racing: Sandvik Coromant, the market-leading producer of tools for the metal-cutting industry, is pleased to announce the renewal of its longtime partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2012 season. This is the fourth consecutive year that Sandvik Coromant has served as the official technical sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.(Cision)(2-11-2012)

Newmans break ground on animal facility: #39-Ryan Newman and wife Krissie began discussing plans for an animal rescue facility in Iredell County a few years ago, and the first step in the process took place a couple of miles from their home in Statesville, NC. The facility is called "Rescue Ranch" and will lay on 87 acres off NC Highway 21 and has been a dream of Krissie's. The Ranch will have similarities to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. where a good friend Mike Arms is the President. The facility will have a number of phases; the first consisting of offices and classrooms. Future phases will consist of a boarding facility, veterinary clinic, horse stalls and pastures, riding trails, educational camps and a small animal and creepy/crawly building. The first phase of the project has been awarded to Mooresville based R.L. Smith, Inc. owned by Ronnie Smith. The projected completion date is early fall 2012. "My wife Lee and I [parents of Regan Smith] have been supporters of the Ryan Newman Foundation from the beginning," Smith noted. "We are huge animal lovers and honored to be part of Rescue Ranch and the building of phase one. The facility is something that I believe our county will be proud of and I commend Ryan and Krissie for their efforts."(Ryan Newman Foundation)(1-31-2012)

Wix Filters to sponsor Newman: WIX Filters announced plans to be the primary sponsor for Ryan Newman of Stewart-Haas Racing for four races during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. WIX Filters will debut its primary sponsorship of Newman and his #39 Chevy at the season kick-off Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18. WIX will be Newman's primary sponsor for three additional NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events this year  at Phoenix on March 4, Darlington on May 12 and Michigan on Aug. 19. "Ryan Newman, Stewart-Haas Racing and their fans bring tremendous enthusiasm and excitement to the racing season," said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters. "We can't wait to be onboard with them again in 2012. Our partnerships with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan have been some of our most successful in racing thanks to the support offered by the team and the way Ryan's fans have embraced our brand." WIX has been the Official Filter for Stewart-Haas Racing since the team's creation in 2009. In three starts with WIX Filters on the hood of the #39, Newman has three top-10 finishes  a sixth-place effort at Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2010, a third-place finish in last season's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway and a fifth-place effort at Michigan International Speedway in August 2011. "I'm excited to have WIX Filters back as a partner in 2012," said Newman. "They have a great support program, find cool ways to get fans involved and most importantly provide us with superior filters to protect our engines."(WIX Fix Filters)(1-28-2012)

Aspen Dental to sponsor Newman in two races: Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the United States, has reached a multi-year agreement with Stewart-Haas Racing. The Syracuse, N.Y.-based company, with more than 330 locations in 22 states, will be the primary sponsor of SHR's #39 team with driver Ryan Newman at the July Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway and the September event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. When not serving as primary sponsor, Aspen Dental will be an associate sponsor with placement on the lower-rear quarter panel of the #39 Chevy and on the upper chest of Newman's uniform. The company also secured rights to utilize Stewart promotionally.(True Speed Communications)(1-23-2012)

Newman Foundation Charity Events Raise $333,000: The 7th Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Dinner and 6th Annual Charity Fishing Tournament raised $333,000 for its animal welfare, education and conservation efforts. The dinner, presented by the Gene Haas Foundation, was held at the Statesville Civic Center in Statesville, NC on Friday, December 9th. Former Miss Sprint Monica Palumbo emceed the evening's festivities. Country music singer/song writers Kendell Marvel, Billy and Randy Montana and Heidi Newfield took to the stage providing entertainment for the sold out crowd of 500 sponsors, NASCAR drivers, professional anglers, outdoorsmen and fans. Guests had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items and participate in the "Fishing for Fun" Raffle. The big items of the evening were a John Deere Gator, Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV and a Holstein Hyde Lounge. Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart walked away with the lounge.(see more at the Ryan Newman Foundation website)(1-8-2012)

Team owner Haas being sued: A Miami-Dade lawsuit over a real estate deal gone awry could put a significant dent in NASCAR team owner Gene Haas' Sprint Cup [#14-Tony Stewart] championship spoils. Haas made the winning bid on two multimillion-dollar Golden Beach mansions at a public auction just days before NASCAR's season-ending race in Homestead. Yet the sellers of the homes, brothers Robert and Steven Fox, say Haas  through a proxy  reneged on the deal, and in turn forfeited the $1 million deposit that auction rules mandated be paid up front."He simply refused to sign the contracts," said attorney Eric Isicoff, who is representing the Foxes in the suit."In my 30 years in this business, this is the first time this has ever happened," added auctioneer (and Pompano Beach Mayor) Lamar Fisher, who handled the sale. Calls to Haas' attorneys, both in Fort Lauderdale and in California, were not returned Wednesday. A spokesman for Haas' primary business, the machine-tools company Haas Automation, declined comment.(full story at Miami Herald)(1-5-2012)

Zippy back with Stewart? UPDATE 3: hearing that Greg Zipadelli, currently the crew chief for #20-Joe Logano, could be headed to Stewart-Haas Racing in the future. Greg Zipadelli would take over as the crew chief for #14-Tony Stewart, who he won two Sprint Cup titles with [2002, 2005]. Current #14 crew chief, Darian Grubb, would move into Bobby Hutchens old position of director of competition. Hutchens and Stewart-Haas recently parted ways. Hutchins was Stewart-Haas Racing's Director of Competition and Stewart said they are looking for a replacement. Matt Borland was promoted to vice president of competition and is serving as Stewart-Haas Racing's interim director of competition. Stewart said recently that "once that position is filled, the director of competition will report to Matt."(6-21-2011)
See past denials and news on my #20 Team News page.
UPDATE 3 - Zipadelli Named Competition Director for Stewart-Haas Racing: Greg Zipadelli, winner of two championships and 34 victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been named competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). He will work with Vice President of Competition Matt Borland and oversee the #14 and #39 teams, while also building the #10 team for which Danica Patrick will run a 10-race Sprint Cup schedule with in 2012. Zipadelli comes to SHR from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) where he served as crew chief for the #20 team since 1999. It's where the 44-year-old from Berlin, Conn., began a 10-year tenure with Tony Stewart, the co-owner of SHR along with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. From 1999 through 2008, Zipadelli was Stewart's crew chief, with the duo winning Sprint Cup titles in 2002 and 2005 while claiming 33 victories and 10 poles. When Stewart left JGR following the 2008 season to form SHR, Zipadelli stayed and spent three years as the crew chief for Joey Logano, where he helped deliver Logano's first career Sprint Cup victory on June 28, 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. "We're very proud to have Greg Zipadelli join Stewart-Haas Racing," said Stewart, the three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion. "Greg and I have a long and successful history together. I know him and he knows me, and we both know what it takes to build race teams. We took our time in searching for a competition director because it's an important role with a lot of responsibility. Greg knows all that goes into the job, understands the importance of teamwork and communication across all levels of the organization, and is ultimately someone I have a great deal of trust in."
The addition of Zipadelli to the SHR family is a reunion on two fronts  Stewart, of course, but also with Steve Addington, who spent 2004-2008 at JGR and is now Stewart's crew chief at SHR with the #14 team. (Tony Gibson serves as crew chief for the #39 team and driver Ryan Newman.)
"Joe Gibbs always says that you win with people, and Tony Stewart is a winner," Zipadelli said. "We won a lot together at Joe Gibbs Racing, and it was a sad day when he left. But Tony had an unbelievable opportunity with Stewart-Haas Racing, and he's obviously made the most of it. To become a part of what he's already built, but to do it in a new role with a new set of responsibilities, was a challenge I wanted. I really appreciate Joe and J.D. Gibbs for all that that they've given me over the years and for allowing me to seize this opportunity."(Stewart-Haas Racing)(12-16-2011)

Zipadelli unable to get release from Gibbs? Darian Grubb's future with the Stewart-Haas, if any is unknown, although the Competition Director position remains unfilled. Greg Zipadelli [crew chief for #20-Joey Logano], according to several sources has been the frontrunner for that job but has been unable to secure a release from his Joe Gibbs Racing contract. Signed through 2012, those sources say the former crew chief for Stewart and current head wrench for Joey Logano has met with strong internal opposition from J.D. Gibbs to secure his release.(Frontstretch)(11-28-2011)

Outback Steakhouse Joins Stewart-Haas Racing: Award-winning Outback Steakhouse, with more than 750 locations nationwide, has formed a partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by two-time series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. Outback Steakhouse will be the primary sponsor of SHR's #39 team and driver Ryan Newman for two races in 2012, and when not serving as a primary sponsor, will be an associate sponsor with placement on the B-post of the #39 Chevrolet Impala. Outback Steakhouse joins the U.S. Army, Quicken Loans and Tornados as primary sponsors of the #39 team.
"We're thrilled to partner with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman who are recognized for their leadership and performance on and off the track," said Mike Kappitt, chief marketing officer, Outback Steakhouse. "It's especially meaningful to us to continue Outback's longstanding commitment to supporting troops and their families by being a sponsor on the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet."
"I've always been a huge fan of Outback Steakhouse, and I know why it's been voted the best steak year in and year out," said Newman, winner of 15 Sprint Cup races, including the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. "They have a quality product that I'm very familiar with and we're certainly proud to be representing Outback Steakhouse on the racetrack."
In officially launching the partnership, Outback Steakhouse's logo, along with a special message to United States Veterans, will be featured on the decklid of Newman's #39 U.S. Army Chevy during this weekend's Sprint Cup event at Phoenix International Raceway. Fittingly, the U.S. Army Chevy carries a special paint scheme during this Veterans Day weekend at Phoenix honoring Army Vietnam Veterans. A collage made up of hundreds of photos of those who served is incorporated into the car's design.
"We're honored to have Outback Steakhouse join Stewart-Haas Racing," added Stewart, who in his three years as a Sprint Cup team owner has qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup each season while scoring 10 of his 43 career Sprint Cup victories, the most recent of which came last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. "The company's reputation for quality and great service is second to none in the restaurant industry, and it's a true pleasure to be associated with a company and a product that is admired by so many, including myself. We're looking forward to doing some great things together on and off the racetrack."(Stewart Haas Racing)(11-11-2011)

Outback to sponsor Stewart-Haas next season: Stewart-Haas Racing is adding yet another sponsor to its lineup on the #39 team driven by Ryan Newman. Outback Steakhouse, a restaurant chain based in Tampa, Fla., will serve as primary sponsor on the #39 in at least two Sprint Cup Series races in 2012, multiple sources said. A formal announcement of the sponsorship addition is expected Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.(Charlotte Observer)(11-8-2011)

Vietnam Veterans to ride along with Newman at Phoenix: As a Veterans Day tribute, the U.S. Army Racing cars for drivers Tony Schumacher and Ryan Newman will be adorned with more than 350 faces of Army Vietnam Veterans during this weekend's NHRA and NASCAR races. The Army race teams are honoring the Veterans for their service and sacrifice during the Vietnam conflict that started 50 years ago. "What a cool way for us to say 'thank you' and honor the Vietnam Veterans," said Newman, a 15-time NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner. "History tells us that many who served in Southeast Asia were not properly recognized upon their return. It will be a sincere privilege and inspiration for our race team to have the Army Strong Vietnam Soldiers ride along with me in the Phoenix race." The special paint scheme will serve as an extension of Veterans Day (Nov. 11) when, as a country, we honor and remember the heroism, courage and dedication displayed by our Veterans. While the nation remembers the service of its Veterans, the millions at home and at the track watching Newman and Schumacher will get a chance to see some of the faces who represent true heroes.(TrueSpeed Communications)(11-8-2011)

Quicken Loans to sponsor Newman: UPDATE: Stewart-Haas Racing has obtained a new sponsor which will help fill a sponsorship hole on its #39 Chevy next season. Quicken Loans Inc., headquartered in Detroit and the largest online mortgage lender in the country, is expected to serve as primary sponsor on the #39 driven by Ryan Newman in at least half a dozen Sprint Cup Series races beginning in 2012, multiple sources confirmed. SHR has scheduled a news conference Tuesday at its headquarters in Kannapolis, N.C., to announce the new partnership.(Charlotte Observer), see an image of the car on my #39 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2011)
UPDATE: Quicken Loans Inc., the nation's largest online retail mortgage lender, has formed a partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing. Quicken Loans will be the primary sponsor of SHR's #39 team and driver Ryan Newman for nine races in 2012, and when not serving as a primary sponsor, will be an associate sponsor. Additionally, Quicken Loans will be an associate sponsor on the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy of Stewart throughout the 2012 Sprint Cup season. To kick off this partnership, Newman and the #39 team will carry a special paint scheme to highlight the upcoming Quicken Loans Carrier Classic during this weekend's Sprint Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The Quicken Loans Carrier Classic pits #No. 1 North Carolina Tarheels against the Michigan State Spartans in an unprecedented season-opener to the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball schedule, as the game will be played on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson on Nov. 11, 2011 - Veterans Day.(Stewart Haas Racing)(11-1-2011)

Kraft Foods extends partnerships with NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing: NASCAR, Stewart-Haas Racing and Kraft Foods jointly announced an extended agreement for Kraft Foods to continue as the Official Cookie (Oreo, Nilla and Nutter Butter) and Cracker (Ritz and Wheat Thins) of NASCAR, and that the iconic Oreo and Ritz brands would continue to serve as Associate Sponsors of Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, respectively, in the Sprint Cup Series. Kraft Foods, an Official NASCAR Partner since 2000, will continue its long tradition of creating NASCAR-themed, specially-marked packages of Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers for a national consumer sweepstakes. For the first time in 2012, Ritz will host a national digital and social media sweepstakes on its Facebook page where a fan will have the chance to win a prize package to go to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony.(NASCAR)(10-26-2011)

Newman & Thompson to be inducted into Talladega Walk of Fame: The fans have spoken... and #39-Ryan Newman and Speedy Thompson will be the next drivers enshrined to the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in downtown Talladega is both a focal point saluting NASCAR's greatest names and a tribute to one of racing's brightest stars  the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans' vote chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines. This year's active driver honoree, Newman, 33, is not your ordinary NASCAR driver. A graduate of Purdue University, Newman not only has immense talent behind the wheel, he also has an in-depth understanding of what a car is designed and built to do on the racetrack. It is that combination that has made him one of the most successful and respected figures in modern motorsports.
Inactive driver nominee, Alfred "Speedy" Thompson was one of the most successful drivers of the late 1950's. He made 198 starts from 1950  1971, winning 20 races along with scoring 78 top-fives, 106 top-tens, and 20 poles. Over the course of the 1957 season, Thompson made 38 starts, notching two wins, 16 top five finishes, and 22 top ten finishes. He earned four poles, won almost $27,000, and his average finish position was 10.2. In over 21 years of racing, Speedy started 198 races, posting 105 top ten finishes, of which 77 were top fives and 20 were victories. Speedy earned just shy of $115,000 over his career, but for four consecutive seasons, the only four he raced anywhere near a full schedule, he was the third greatest stock car racer in the country. Thompson left the sport as a pioneer in stock car racing and is considered to be among the top 50 greatest NASCAR drivers in history. Thompson passed away April 2, 1972.
In the park, Davey Allison is remembered with a large marble monument, while drivers inducted into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame have bronze plaques placed around the park, accessible by walkways that form the shape of Talladega Superspeedway.(Talladega Walk of Fame)(10-21-2011)

Newman wins at New Hampshire: #39-Ryan Newman won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his 1st win of 2011 and 15th career win. His teammate, #14-Stewart finished second [the first one-two finish for Stewart-Hass Racing] followed by #11-Hamlin, #20-Logano, #48-Johnson, #4-Kahne, #47-Labonte, #56-Truex, Jr., #9-Ambrose, and #22-Busch. The race came down to fuel mileage with several drivers running out of gas during the last few laps.
The points leader going in to the race, #18-Busch, blew a tire early and hit the wall. He finished 36th and lost the points lead to #99-Edwards, who goes to the points lead by 7 points over #48-Johnson.
There were 21 lead changes among 14 drivers; 10 cautions for 44 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 95,000, up from 91,000 last June.
Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, July 20 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's New Hampshire Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(7-17-2011)