2009 Races [1] that DirecTV is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Atlanta - 3/8

Final race for Jack Daniel's in NASCAR MORE...image: After five years of partnership, Jack Daniel's announced in September they would be discontinuing their NASCAR sponsorship with the conclusion of this weekend's race. In honor of their association with Richard Childress Racing, Jack Daniel's has placed the name of every driver, crew member and administrative person who was part of their program at RCR on the hood of this weekend's #07 Chevy that Casey Mears drives. This will be the last time fans can purchase Jack Daniel's souvenirs from the #07 merchandise trailer. And, Mears will be making his final autograph appearance there on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 12:15pm/et and Mears will make his "last call" at the Jack Daniel's Experience on the same day at 12:00pm/et.(RCR)(11-19-2009)
MORE: Leave it to Jack Daniel’s to come up with a personal touch for their finale as primary sponsor for Richard Childress Racing’s #07 Chevy this weekend in Homestead-Miami Speedway. Just like Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel personally made sure his recipe for Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 was always carried out by human touch. After five seasons with RCR, Jack Daniel’s and the people of parent company Brown-Forman wanted to show their appreciation in a very personal way for this weekend’s race in South Florida. So, they placed the names of everyone who worked on the program since partnering with RCR in 2005 right on the hood of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy. Drivers, crew chiefs, crew members and administration personnel are all being honored with approximately 140 names placed all around the words “Jack” and “Thanks” on the hood. “The last five years in the sport has been fun and exciting, to say the least,” said Dave Stang, Assistant Vice President of Brand Awareness for Jack Daniel’s. “It took a ton of people, and all those fantastic fans, to help Jack get its responsible drinking message communicated throughout the USA and beyond. We recognize them all with this little token of appreciation, Jack would be proud.” During their time with RCR in NASCAR, three drivers drove the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet. Dave Blaney in 2005, Clint Bowyer 2006 to 2008 and Casey Mears in 2009, who collectively earned two victories, two pole awards, 21 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes.(RCR), see an image of the hood on my #07 Team Schemes page.(11-19-2009)

RCR, no wins at Homestead: Homestead has been a bit of an Achilles Heel for Richard Childress Racing and is one of the few race tracks where team owner Richard Childress hasn’t earned a Sprint Cup Series victory. As a company, RCR’s best finish at HMS came in 2003 and in 2008 when Kevin Harvick finished second. In 29 starts, RCR has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the mile-and-a-half, progressively-banked oval with drivers Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Green, Harvick and Mike Skinner. Auto Club Speedway, Kansas and Las Vegas are the other tracks on the current schedule where RCR has yet to visit Victory Lane.(RCR)(11-19-2009)

RCR, no wins at Homestead: Homestead has been a bit of an Achilles Heel for Richard Childress Racing and is one of the few race tracks where team owner Richard Childress hasn’t earned a Sprint Cup Series victory. As a company, RCR’s best finish at HMS came in 2003 and in 2008 when Kevin Harvick finished second. In 29 starts, RCR has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the mile-and-a-half, progressively-banked oval with drivers Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Green, Harvick and Mike Skinner. Auto Club Speedway, Kansas and Las Vegas are the other tracks on the current schedule where RCR has yet to visit Victory Lane.(RCR)(11-19-2009)

Mears getting married in January: #07-Casey Mears, along with his fiancée Trish Grablander and their daughter Samantha, went directly from Ft. Worth to Phoenix to spend time with friends and family. Phoenix is where they met and started the romance that will lead up to their January 2010 wedding.(RCR)(11-11-2009)

RCR Promotes Joe Foss Institute’s Veterans Program: Richard Childress Racing will run decals on its race cars this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway promoting the Joe Foss Institute’s Veterans Inspiring Patriotism program. The Joe Foss Institute, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization inspired and founded by Medal of Honor Recipient, General Joe Foss and his wife, Didi Foss. Its vision is to encourage an informed patriotism and to be nationally recognized as the premier organization promoting patriotism through personal contact in schools and with youth groups. The Veteran's Inspiring Patriotism program is designed to inspire patriotism, public service, integrity and an appreciation for America's freedoms. The program’s emphasis is on the freedoms, liberties and rights which are protected under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. This educational program is designed for grades K-12 and consists of a 30-50 minute presentation that includes a video, a personal testimony from a veteran and a question & answer period. This program is delivered at no cost to schools and does not promote any political, religious or military organization or agenda. In addition, all schools are eligible to receive free American flags for their classrooms and copies of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. For more information visit www.jfiweb.org.(RCR)(11-7-2009)

Sorenson and Mears candidates for #09 ride in 2010: Casey Mears, currently running the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy for Richard Childress is a leading candidate for the #09 Phoenix Racing ride in 2010. Reed Sorenson, out of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports ride after the 2009 season is also a candidate for the #09 ride.(FoxSports)(11-7-2009)

Milestone start for Mears: #07-Casey Mears will make his 250th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, a mark that started with a 21st-place start and 27th-place finish in the 2003 Daytona 500. Since then, the 31-year old driver has earned one victory (Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte, May 2007) 12 top-five and 46 top-10 finishes, along with three pole awards. For the first time, the #07 Chevy will have Choctaw Casino Resort on board as the primary sponsor this weekend. Located in Durant, Okla., this is Choctaw’s first venture into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing.(RCR)(11-4-2009)

Choctaw Casino Resort sponsoring Mears at Texas: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for a one-race primary sponsorship of the #07 Choctaw Casino Resort Chevy in the November 8 Dickies 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Choctaw Casino Resort, in Durant, Oklahoma, approximately 105 miles northeast of Texas Motor Speedway, is undergoing a major expansion. Projected to open in February 2010, the new casino will be 110,000 square feet and house approximately 3,000 slot machines, 30 poker tables and 40 table games. Jack Daniel’s, the primary sponsor of the #07 team for the majority of the season, will serve as an associate sponsor for the Texas Motor Speedway race and will return to its primary position for the final two races of the season.(RCR PR)(10-30-2009)

Forsyth Tech names motorsports school after Childress: The motorsports technology program at Forsyth Technical Community College has been renamed Richard Childress Race Car Technology at Forsyth Tech. Richard Childress Racing has a long-standing relationship with Forsyth Tech and employs a number of its graduates. Forsyth Tech has been named a Center of Excellence for Motorsports by the North Carolina Motorsports Consortium. Childress was on-hand for the announcement held on the campus in Winston-Salem, N.C.(RCR PR)(10-28-2009)

Ask.com? Menards to #07 team?
Sources say Ask.com could come aboard the fourth [Richard Childress Racing #07 Chevy] car for a partial schedule, but [Casey] Mears could just as easily lose the ride to Paul Menard, who can bring a full sponsorship. Doug Randolph [the new #07 crew chief], coincidentally, was Menard's crew chief at Dale Earnhardt Inc. And hearing John Menard is pushing for his son to drive for RCR in 2010, but Paul [#98 Menards Ford] wants to remain in his current situation.(FoxSports)(10-24-2009)

Where may some of the drivers looking end up in 2010? Those drivers looking for rides in 2010 — #07-Casey Mears, #96/71-Bobby Labonte, #43-Reed Sorenson and #12-David Stremme — qualified sixth, eighth, ninth and 11th, respectively at Martinsville. How their futures pan out could depend on the status of Jamie McMurray, who remains the top candidate for the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi ride. Mears could stay put in the #07 if sponsorship can be found. Labonte is a strong candidate for one of the two TRG [#71 team] Racing rides. Sorenson is the favorite for the vacancy at Braun Racing [Nationwide Series ride] and Stremme's name has been mentioned for the #34 Front Row Motorsports car[currently a Chevy] (where he would be reunited with crew chief Steven 'Bones' Lane) or in a Nationwide car with Rusty Wallace Inc.(FoxSports)(10-24-2009)

Berrier to be Burton's new crew chief? UPDATE 2: Crew chief Todd Berrier has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Scott Miller on the #31 Chevy at Richard Childress Racing. Berrier is currently crew chief for RCR's #07 team.(FoxSports)(10-11-2009)
UPDATE - decision on crew chief is near: #31-Jeff Burton met with members of the media at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and discussed his thoughts on the status of his team: HOW CLOSE WOULD YOU SAY YOU GUYS ARE TO RESOLVING THE CREW CHIEF SITUATION ON THE #31 FOR NEXT YEAR? “We’re real close. I don’t have a definite date but we’re real close to having all that figured out. There’s a lot of things that are changing at RCR. There’s a new way of doing business going into next year and in the midst of that crew chief search for the #31. We’re really optimistic that we have that put to bed and we’ll be able to talk about that fairly soon.”(Chevy Racing)(10-16-2009)
UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing continues to retool team leadership with its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. Following this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, Todd Berrier will take over the crew chief duties of the #31 Caterpillar team with driver Jeff Burton while Doug Randolph assumes Berrier’s duties on the #07 Jack Daniel’s team with driver Casey Mears. Starting this week at Memphis Motorsports Park, Dan Deeringhoff will replace Randolph in his return to the #29 Holiday Inn team with drivers Burton, Clint Bowyer and Stephen Leicht in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Scott Miller, who has led the #31 team since 2005, will move fulltime to the director of competition position he was named to in September. Minimal changes will also be made among crew members for the #07 and #31 teams. The crew chief position for RCR’s development program will be named later. “I said previously that RCR would continue to adjust our team lineups in order to have the right personnel in place and this is the next step in that process,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Todd, Doug and Dan are all proven winners so the goal of these moves is to put them in the best situations to continue that success. I’m confident that making these changes now will be a benefit to the teams for the rest of this season as well as in preparing for 2010.”
Berrier’s RCR career began as a fabricator in 1994. The Kernersville, N.C., native has earned 19 victories as a crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. He is one of a select few crew chiefs to post victories in all three series. He won the 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, the 2003 Brickyard 400 and the 2007 Daytona 500, all with driver Kevin Harvick.
Randolph began his stock car racing career in 1984 and has been a crew chief in either the Sprint Cup Series or Nationwide Series since 2000. The Morristown, Tenn., native had earned two Nationwide Series victories, in 2003 with driver Scott Riggs, before joining RCR in May 2009. He has two Nationwide Series victories this season – July 3 at Daytona International Speedway and September 26 at Dover International Speedway – both with Bowyer behind the wheel. The #29 team is currently sixth in the 2009 owner point standings.
Deeringhoff is in his second stint at RCR, where he has been a crew chief since December 2005. His first tour of duty began in 2001 and culminated in 2003 as the car chief for the #21 team that earned the Nationwide Series’ owner championship with drivers Harvick and Johnny Sauter. The Walla Walla, Washington, native also led Bowyer and the #2 BB&T team to the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. He began the 2009 season as the crew chief for the #29 Holiday Inn team before assuming similar duties with RCR’s driver development program in May.(RCR)(10-21-2009)

RCR making big changes; #07 team could go away: Team owner Richard Childress, speaking on Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, addressed the struggles of Richard Childress Racing and the possible departure of Kevin Harvick when the driver’s contract expires at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. “All I’ve got to say is we are making a lot of changes,” said Childress. “We’ll probably be announcing more changes next week coming. We’re using these last races to get prepared for 2010. We know we have to be better. We’ve seen some improvements. I think if you look, we’ve been up front with the different [RCR] cars in the last few weeks. This [new] car is very touchy and right now Hendrick [Motorsports] is right up on top of it. They’ve got it figured out for the most part. Kevin’s going to be with us next year and [sponsor] Shell’s going to be with us. “We’ll just see how everything plays out in the future. I didn’t see his interview [at California]. I’ve heard some comments on it but whatever happens, happens. We just move forward.” Moving forward may not be an option with #07 entry of RCR’s Casey Mears without sponsorship for 2010. The departure of Jack Daniel’s, which has revealed its intentions to leave the company at the end of the season, leaves Mears without a sponsor. Without sponsorship in place by the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the #07 team will likely go away next season. “Right now we’re meeting with companies. We’ve had several meetings,” Childress said. “As you know, the economic times are tough right now for sponsorship. We’ve got interest in it. We’re wanting to run it. We can’t turn it into a park and start. I don’t want to do that. We’ve got some sponsorship for a few races next year but to be competitive that isn’t the way to do it, so we’re kind of weighing our options to see what we’re going to do.” Childress seemed pleased with the progress of Mears, who joined the organization this season. Despite being 19th in the standings, Mears has notched three top-15s in his last four starts. “We’re working hard,” Childress said. “We’re doing a lot of capital investments moving into next year on some new stuff. We’re making changes in our personnel, we’re going to be making more changes in the next weeks to come.”(SceneDaily)(10-17-2009)

RCR Honors Fallen Winston-Salem Police Officer: Richard Childress Racing will run a memorial decal on its race cars [#'a 07,29,31,33 in Cup] this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in honor of Sgt. Mickey Hutchens, the Winston-Salem, N.C., police officer who passed away October 12, 2009, after being critically wounded October 7 in the line of duty. RCR will donate $1 to the Hutchens family for every mile completed by its four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and one NASCAR Nationwide Series team. A total donation of $2,300 will be made if each team completes every lap, 500 miles per Sprint Cup Series team and 300 miles for the Nationwide Series team.(RCR)(10-15-2009)

Childress Honoring Chevy's Manufacturer's Championship: A decal honoring Chevy's 2009 Manufacturer's Championship in NASCAR's premier division will be affixed to all four Richard Childress Racing entries [#07, #29, #31, #33] for this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Chevy earned its 33rd Manufacturer's crown when Tony Stewart won last weekend's Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway, and continues to lead all other manufacturers in the sport with the most championships. The congratulatory decals are prominently displayed on all RCR-prepared Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet's above the B post, directly behind the driver's name.(RCR PR)(10-10-2009)

RCR looking for first California win: Richard Childress Racing has earned a Sprint Cup Series victory at 18 of the 22 tracks on the 2009 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned wins are Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Sprint Cup Series wins at 21 tracks overall, including North Wilkesboro (N.C.), Riverside (Calif.) and Rockingham (N.C.) which are no longer on the schedule.(RCR PR)(10-8-2009)

Menard says he will not be going to #07 car: #98-Paul Menard denied speculation that he is a candidate to replace #07-Casey Mears in the fourth car [Chevy] at Richard Childress Racing next season. Reports this past weekend from Dover International Speedway had Menard, sponsored by his father's company, touring the RCR facility in Welcome, N.C. He supposedly is unhappy with the merger between Yates and Richard Petty Motorsports and is looking for a new home.(see more at ESPN Insider)(9-28-2009)

Mears uncertain of 2010: With the announcement this week that Jack Daniels will not continue as a sponsor for the #07 Chevy, Casey Mears finds himself in a predicament for 2010. "I don't know what we're doing yet," Mears said. "I do know that Richard (Childress, team owner) is working hard to secure sponsorship for the fourth team." According to team sources, several potential sponsors toured the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, N.C. this week. Possible driver/sponsor combinations for the fourth team could include a deal with Hall of Fame Racing/Ask.com or Paul Menard with the Menards brand. Another name that continues to be mentioned is Bobby Labonte. Childress admitted on Friday that there has been interest from sponsors, but would not elaborate on specifics. Mears signed a three-year deal last August that locked him in for 2009. The final two seasons were contingent on performance and Mears said that he is "just short" on the stipulations.(FoxSports)(9-26-2009)
UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing hasn't picked up the option on Casey Mears' contract and likely won't unless a sponsor is found to keep four cars in the organization. And even that's not a given. "If we don't have the funding to do it, I don't want to hold him back from getting another ride," team owner Richard Childress said Friday at Dover International Speedway. Mears signed a one-year deal, with an option for a second, to drive the#07 with Jack Daniel's as the sponsor. Jack Daniel's announced earlier in the week it will not return in 2010. Childress said the goal is to remain a four-car organization, noting a personal responsibility for keeping as many RCR employees as possible under tough economic times. If potential suitors aren't interested in Mears, who is 20th in points, sources said the organization may be forced to turn to another driver. "It all depends on sponsorship," Childress said. "Casey has done a good job. It's just unfortunate circumstances around Jack Daniel's to have to leave the sport."(ESPN.com)(9-27-2009)

Hamlin runs over foot of #07 crew member UPDATE 2: during 2nd caution pit satops of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, #11-Hamlin ran over the foot of Clint Pittman, the rear tire changer for #07-Mears. Pittman went to the Infield Care Center for Xrays.(9-20-2009)
UPDATE: Clint Pittman, rear tire changer on the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy of Casey Mears, was clipped by #11-Denny Hamlin during pit stops on Lap 69. Pittman injured his foot and was replaced by Shane Church, who practices with the backup crew at Richard Childress Racing. Mears restarted 27th following the accident and remained outside the top 25 until a call to stay out on Lap 193 by crew chief Todd Berrier. Mears restarted sixth and finished 13th, his third top 15 finish in the last six races. Pittman will see an orthopedic doctor on Monday. Doctors at the track infield care center suspected a small fracture to the top of his foot, according to RCR pit crew coordinator Matt Clark.(FoxSports)(9-21-2009)
UPDATE 2: Last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Clint Pittman, rear-tire changer on the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy, was injured when another car ran over his right foot during a pit stop. X-rays and medical consultation this week showed his foot was fractured, which has resulted in him being sidelined for the rest of the season while it heals.(RCR PR)(9-22-2009)

Jack Daniel’s to Conclude NASCAR Program: Brown-Forman will conclude its Jack Daniel’s NASCAR program and will not extend its sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing’s #07 team. A change in Brown-Forman’s spending priorities led to the decision to conclude the sponsorship that began in 2005. The Brown-Forman/Jack Daniel’s partnership with RCR will continue for the remainder of the 2009 racing season and the entire team is committed to being competitive on the track each and every race. “Jack Daniel’s has enjoyed a good five-year run with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and NASCAR, and we are pleased with the overall performance of our sponsorship program,” said Tim Rutledge, vice president and brand director for Jack Daniel’s. “We have enjoyed building strong relationships with the people in Richard’s organization and throughout NASCAR. While it is difficult for us to end our formal relationship with RCR, the current economic environment has compelled us to revaluate our spending and we’ve concluded that other areas in the marketing mix require additional investment. We want to thank the many friends and fans of the Jack Daniel’s 07 Racing Team, and we can’t say enough about your incredible support over the last five years. And, as we have since 1866, we will continue to find ways to thank you and keep your loyalty of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.” Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel’s, and RCR are particularly pleased to have taken a leadership role in communicating a responsible drinking message throughout its NASCAR sponsorship through its core message of Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly, featured in all NASCAR promotional materials, including on the race car itself.
“Brown-Forman has been a great partner of RCR for the past five years through its Jack Daniel’s brand,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “They quickly became a NASCAR-industry leader in the promotion of the Jack Daniel’s brand through the Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly messaging, which our fans have embraced. We understand the shift in their spending priorities during these tough economic times and the #07 Jack Daniel’s Racing program will continue to provide that successful platform for the rest of the 2009 season. We have built many valuable relationships with the loyal Brown-Forman employees and their distributors during our partnership and look forward to maintaining those relationships in the future.”(RCR)(9-21-2009)

Bobby Labonte to the #07? #1?: Bobby Labonte's popularity has picked up considerably in the last few weeks. Apparently, his name is being presented as a possible candidate for the #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to sponsor Jack Daniels this week. Also hearing that he could be competition for Jamie McMurray in the #1 Chevy at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.(FoxSports)(9-13-2009)

RCR cars to honor Fallen Heroes of 9/11: A decal honoring the fallen heroes of 9/11 from the City of New York Police Department, the City of New York Fire Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is affixed to the five Richard Childress Racing entries [4 Sprint Cup, 1 NNS] in this weekend’s NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway. Police Officer Victor Dipierro, of the NYPD’s 47th Precinct, has provided the Fallen Heroes decals to RCR each year since 2003 to mark the anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy. Part of the 47th Precinct’s 9/11 Memorial contains sections of sheet metal from the three RCR cars which carried the decals in the Fall 2003 race at Richmond International Raceway.(RCR)(9-12-2009)

RCR reorganizes management: Richard Childress Racing has reorganized the management of its competition department to provide its race teams and sponsors with consistent improvement in on-track performance. “This reorganization is the result of a process that took place over the past few months to improve our performance,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “On-track performance is the lifeblood of RCR and everything we do is impacted by how competitive our cars are week-in and week-out. Our common goal remains the same: win races and compete for championships. The creation of these new processes and priorities, with greater accountability, will improve our performance and every aspect of our organization. “
Mike Dillon retains his position as vice president of competition, but with revised responsibilities. His primary focus will continue to be competition department oversight. He reports directly to Childress.
Scott Miller, crew chief for RCR’s #31 Caterpillar Racing team with driver Jeff Burton in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been named to the revised position of director of competition. His primary responsibility is oversight of the key areas of race car performance: speed, handling and durability. Miller reports directly to Dillon and will continue his dual responsibilities until the conclusion of the 2009 season. The crew chief position for the #31 team will be filled at a later date.
Kent Day, RCR’s technical director of competition, now reports directly to Miller. Day’s primary responsibility is in setting the technical direction of race car development.
Will Lind, an employee of RCR since 1982 and the director of competition the past two seasons, will assume the new role of business director of competition. Lind will continue to report directly to Dillon.
“Scott’s experience as a team engineer and a crew chief gives him a solid foundation in both disciplines and provides a unique perspective on the direction the sport is taking from the competition side,” said Childress. “We’ve also shifted some responsibilities in other areas of the competition department to maximize performance and efficiency. RCR has some of the best people in the business and they will only become better by working within this new structure.”(RCR)(9-2-2009)

Changes at RCR? Changes are coming at Richard Childress Racing. "We're getting ready to make a lot of changes to hopefully change [the performance]," Team owner Richard Childress said last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. He wouldn't get any more specific, but those close to the situation said there will be some major restructuring announced early this week that hopefully will improve performance. The organization already has made some changes within the teams to put the best at-the-track personnel with Clint Bowyer, the only one of RCR's four drivers with a shot at the Chase. Bowyer is 15th in points, 112 points out with two races remaining before the field is set. Jeff Burton is 18th, Casey Mears is 20th and Kevin Harvick is 24th. Childress has already switched the crew chiefs of Harvick and Mears in an attempt to improve performance, so any further changes likely will come in a shakeup of managerial or engineering structure.(ESPN)(8-24-2009)

NASCAR Drivers Help Assemble Care Packages For Military: Some seven hours before Saturday night's Sharpie 500, NASCAR drivers #07-Casey Mears and #31-Jeff Burton weren't thinking about how they would travel the fine line between making their living and risking their lives. Rather, Mears and Burton were inside a bustling Jack Daniel's tent some 500 yards outside the Bristol Motor Speedway, helping more than 100 volunteers pack 10,000 huge plastic bags of supplies – lotion, tissue, trail mix, shaving razors, puzzle books, cotton swabs, camouflage pouches, candy, raisins, beef jerky, packets of powdered orange drink and more – bound for American military troops serving overseas. In the hours before the Sharpie 500, Mears and Burton weren't obsessing over how to win a race and lift their arms in victory. Rather, they were making a sacrifice – of time, attention and hands – to lift the morale of those far away, bearing arms in combat. "It means something to me to do this, because I know how much getting these means to those soldiers," Mears said, stuffing items, one after another, into bags that kept steadily coming his way. Added Burton: "Spending some time doing this doesn't compare to the work those troops are putting in over there. So, I don't feel like this is a sacrifice for me at all. If it is one, I'm happy to make it."(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-23-2009)

Jack Daniel’s Salute to the Troops at Bristol: Tennessee National Guard service members and their spouses, members of the NASCAR community, USO volunteers and Jack Daniel’s employees will assemble 10,000 USO care packages at Earhart Campground East adjacent to Bristol Motor Speedway as part of the Jack Daniel’s/USO “Toast to the Troops” program. The event will be held prior to the Sharpie 500 race at Bristol on Aug. 22, and is the 11th stuffing party since Toast to the Troops was launched in 2005. Through Toast to the Troops, Jack Daniel’s collects personal messages of support, or “toasts,” to include in USO care packages. Following the care package stuffing party, ten-year Army veteran and country music star Craig Morgan will perform a free concert for all volunteers and fans attending the race. Citizens can go to www.jackdaniels.com to fill out the special “toasts” that will be included in USO care packages for troops deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas locations, as well as troops arriving and departing on rest and recuperation (R&R) flights. The care packages, sponsored for $25 each, include approximately $75 worth of items requested by service members, such as prepaid international calling cards, toiletries, sunscreen, playing cards, disposable cameras and snacks. Due to heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages addressed to “Any Service Member.” The Operation USO Care Package program is the best way to send a message of encouragement directly to a service member and provide a touch of home. The USO has distributed more than 1.5 million care packages since the program’s inception in 2003. More information on the Operation USO Care Package program and other USO programs can be found at www.uso.org.
SPECIAL SCHEME: The familiar black background and white lettered #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy will have a different look this weekend. In keeping with the same color scheme, the #07 Jack Daniel’s car will have a “snow camo” look in conjunction with their Toast to the Troops event taking place on Saturday, August 22. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Jack Daniels Experience throughout the weekend and fill out a personalized Salute Card that will be included in the package. In addition to the paint scheme, the team will also have a special pit wall banner to mark the occasion.(JD/RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2009)

Sadler to RCR?: UPDATE: Rumors persist that Elliott Sadler [currently in the #19 Dodge for RPM] will move into the #07 Chevrolet next season. Jack Daniels wants to return, but for a limited schedule. Sadler would be a bargain for RCR. Another option? JTG Racing, if Tad Geschickter expands his operation [currently #47-Ambrose]. Sadler still has a year on his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports but would be doing that company a favor if he left. The organization would be stronger with a three-car squad than stretching resources to run four teams.(FoxSports)(8-16-2009)
UPDATE: Sadler declined to comment specifically on the story today, saying simply, “I am committed to my race team, and have a contract through the end of the 2010 season.” While Richard Childress and the Emporia, Va., driver do speak from time to time, it’s generally about hunting, not racing. And well-placed sources at sources at RCR tell Sirius Speedway that there have been no talks about bringing Sadler to the team in 2010.(Sirius Speedway)(8-17-2009)

RCR & Jack Daniel’s to Salute the American Auto Worker: Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR, will recognize the hard-working American auto worker this weekend in Michigan International Speedway. Because of its proximity to Detroit and General Motors’ headquarters, Childress and primary sponsor Jack Daniel’s have teamed to showcase a special hood design for the CARFAX 400. In addition to the race car, the Jack Daniel’s show car will feature the phrase “Jack Salutes the American Auto Worker” at all its stops in the area. Fans can also see the specially-themed Chevy on Sunday at the Chevy display, located inside the MIS midway area. Mr. Jack’s Crew will unload chassis No. 282 from the Richard Childress Racing garage. This Chevrolet Impala SS was last raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July where it finished 19th. This will be the second time this chassis has seen race action.(RCR)(8-13-2009)

#07 to honor Jack Daniel's Master Distiller: Jimmy Bedford, former Master Distiller for Jack Daniel’s, passed away suddenly on Friday, Aug. 7, at his home in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Bedford is one of only seven Master Distiller’s the company has ever had; a position he held for 20 years from 1988 to 2008. Bedford, 69, was born and raised in Moore County, the home of Jack Daniel’s, and worked for the distillery for 41 years. In his memory, the Old #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy, driven by Casey Mears, will carry a special decal with the famous Jack Daniel’s logo on it for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. In addition to the logo, the decal will say “In Memory of Jimmy Bedford.” The other three Sprint Cup Series cars of Richard Childress Racing; Kevin Harvick in the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, Jeff Burton in the #31 Caterpillar Chevy and Clint Bowyer in the #33 Hamburger Helper/Cheerios Chevy, will carry a black and white decal [see above] with the saying “In Memory of Jimmy Bedford.”(RCR)(8-8-2009)