2009 Races [18] that Little Debbie's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Daytona - 2/15
California - 2/22
Bristol - 3/22
Martinsville - 3/29
Talladega - 4/26
Pocono - 6/7
Infineon Raceway - 6/21
New Hampshire - 6/28
Indianapolis - 7/26
Watkins Glen - 8/9
Michigan - 8/16
Dover - 9/27
Kansas - 10/4
California - 10/11
Martinsville - 10/25
Texas - 11/8
Phoenix - 11/15
Homestead - 11/22
2009 Races [2] that Bush’s Baked Beans is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Richmond - 5/2
Darlington - 5/9
2009 Races [6] that Kingsford Charcol is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Las Vegas - 3/1
Atlanta - 3/8
All-Star Race - 5/16
Charlotte - 5/24
others TBA
2009 Races [?] that Clorox is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Texas - 4/5
Phoenix - 4/18
others TBA
2009 Races [?] that Racesavers.com is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Dover - 5/31
Michigan - 6/14
others TBA
- Little Debbie sponsorship note: The #47 team primary sponsor, Little Debbie snacks, is run by Seventh Day Adventists. From sundown Friday till sundown Saturday, the team has to cover all Little Debbie logos on the hauler, wear non-Little Debbie attire and remove all Little Debbie decal from the race car.(Autoweek)(3-16-2006)
Contract Status: Driver: 200? ; Sponsor: 200?
- JTG/Daugherty not shopping: JTG/Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter categorically denied that the organization is shopping for a new arrangement for Marcos Ambrose. Ambrose's #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team currently operates out of Michael Waltrip Racing. Geschickter said Saturday at NHMS that the arrangement with Waltrip is a one-year deal with an option but emphasized that he isn't looking to move his operation. Rumors had linked JTG/Daugherty with both a possible fourth car at Joe Gibbs Racing or a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing. "We're not shopping," Geschickter said. About reports that sponsor Little Debbie Snacks recently had increased its financial commitment to the team, Geschickter said, "I'm not allowed to talk about the terms of the contract, but they're very happy with our program."(Sporting News)
AND: JTG Daugherty Racing doesn’t have enough sponsorship to continue running Michael McDowell beyond next week’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, team co-owner Tad Geschickter said Saturday. The team has sponsorship for Marcos Ambrose for the two Nationwide road-course events later this season but beyond that, Geschickter is not sure how many races the #47 car will run over the second half of the season. Tom’s snack company has sponsored the car for much of the first half of the season. Geschickter said the organization is concentrating on its Sprint Cup effort with driver Ambrose. The team is imbedded with Michael Waltrip Racing as part of a technical alliance. Whether that MWR relationship continues remains to be seen. “As far as what we’re doing next year, we haven’t started discussions with them yet,” Geschickter said. “We’ll have to renegotiate for the next year. … They’ve done a really good job. The secret’s been that we have integrated our people into their shop.”(SceneDaily)(6-28-2009) Comment here
- Ambrose Sports Special Bucket Hat for Aussie Army: This week #47-Marcos Ambrose received a letter and a camouflage Army bucket that he is wearing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that came from the Australian Embeds Task Force 633 International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since arriving in Afghanistan, the Task Force has been following the success of the JTG-Daugherty Racing team and Ambrose. The letter expressed thanks to JTG-Daugherty Racing for their support of the Australian troops and of an Australian driver. They also thanked the team for reminding them of the ‘enjoyable things in life’ and ‘making a difference in their lives.’
“Some Aussie troops from Afghanistan sent the bucket hat to me as a good luck charm for this weekend at New Hampshire,” said Ambrose, who wore the hat yesterday on his flight to Manchester and today in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. “I’m wearing it to support them and they’ve been wearing my Little Debbie hat to support us. They wished us the best of luck this season and told us that they have our backs.”(MWR)(6-28-2009) Comment here
- MWR Owner to broadcast from England: Even though Rob Kauffman [co-owner of MWR] will be in London, England, he will be watching closely as he makes his color commentator debut in the UK during the Sprint Cup Series Lenox Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway live on Sky Sports alongside presenter Keith Huewen and British Racing driver John Mickel, who has previously raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. “Michael Waltrip gave me some pointers being that it is my first time as a color analyst,” Kauffman said. “He said, ‘First, don’t make anything up and second try not to be boring.” Sky Sports broadcasts NASCAR Sprint Cup races across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sky Sports takes the feed via a satellite from the U.S. and supplements the coverage with their studio presentation. One night while watching the show, Kauffman emailed in to compliment Sky Sports’ coverage. The show's producer, Dawn White, then contacted Kauffman and invited him to be a part of Sunday’s show since he is co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing.(MWR)(6-27-2009)
- Ambrose to be featured on Sixty Minutes (Australia): #47-Marcos Ambrose will featured on Sixty Minutes on the Nine Network at 7.30pm this Sunday. A Sixty Minutes crew, headed by reporter Peter Overton, was treated to a “fly on the wall” experience with Ambrose at a NASCAR event in the US. The crew began their experience at Ambrose’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina where they spent some time with his wife Sonja and two young daughters. Ambrose then treated them to an afternoon of gold panning at the site of North America’s first gold discovery at Reed Mine just outside of Charlotte – panning is one of Ambrose’s sources of relaxation in his otherwise hectic life. For those fans outside of Australia, the Sixty Minutes website hosts a collection of online segments each week, so keep an eye on www.MarcosAmbrose.com for links to video coverage.(JTG-Daugherty Racing)(6-12-2009)
- New sponsor for Ambrose UPDATE: the entry list has RaceSavers.com listed as #47-Marcos Ambrose sponsor for the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway.(5-26-2009)
UPDATE: During the Autism Speaks 400 weekend at Dover International Speedway Marcos Ambrose’s #47 JTG-Daugherty Racing Toyota will have a new paint scheme and primary sponsor with RaceSavers.com.
RaceSavers.com is a website that offers race fans coupons and discounts on their favorite brands of consumer packaged goods and services. It also has a sweepstakes page where fans can enter to win behind the scenes access to races throughout the season.(MWR), see an image of the scheme on my #47 Team Schemes Page.(5-28-2009)
- MWR welcomes new Vice President Sales and Service: Michael Waltrip Racing announced Chris Marciani will serve as Vice President Sales and Service for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series operation. “The future is very bright for MWR and the company is enjoying a tremendous amount of momentum right now," Marciani said. “The race teams are competitive on the track and the company is anchored by great partners like NAPA, Aaron's, Best Western and Toyota. MWR has a great piece of inventory left to sell for 2010 and beyond, the second half of the #00 with David Reutimann. Since he has become the ‘Franchise’ I look forward to talking to corporate partners about his remarkable run for ‘The Chase’ and the value he brings to partners. MWR has a championship-caliber Nationwide Series team with a lot of inventory left, so it’s going to be exciting to sell national programs with real value.” Marciani joins the company following his two-year tenure as Vice President of Partnership Marketing at Bobcats Sports and Entertainment. While with the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, he managed the team’s existing corporate partnership base and new business development. Ty Norris, Vice President and General Manager, was instrumental in Marciani making his next career move.(MWR)(5-12-2009)
- Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty invite fans to visit Raceworld USA for a meet and greet during the second annual Fan Appreciation Day and driver autograph session at the state-of-the-art facility on Wednesday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Raceworld USA, 20310 Chartwell Center Drive, Cornelius, N.C. 28031.
Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann, Marcos Ambrose, Scott Speed, Michael McDowell and Ryan Truex will all be on site to sign autographs. Also, JTG-Daugherty Racing’s team owners will also sign autographs - - Tad and Jodi Geschickter and Brad Daugherty.
To ensure fans receive time with all drivers, 300 wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis beginning Tuesday, May 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on May 20th starting at 10 a.m. at the Raceworld USA retail store.
Entrance to the Raceworld USA lobby area to obtain driver autographs is free. To tour the entire facility there is a nominal fee described below. For each person that brings a pet food donation for a dog or cat will receive $2 off the price of admission. Also, some of the proceeds from the day will go to the Animal Adoption League. For more information about the Animal Adoption league visit www.mynextpet.com.
The Animal Adoption League is a non-profit organization. The Animal Adoption League’s mission is to provide veterinary care and temporary housing for homeless animals, to provide an adoption outlet for the permanent placement of these animals, to educate the general public in the proper care of animals and the importance of reducing pet overpopulation and to work for the welfare of all animals.
For more information on Raceworld USA, visit www.michaelwaltrip.com.(5-8-2009)
- #47 crew member returns after suspension: The crew member who chased a tire across pit road has returned from a four-race suspension and is in the pits at Talladega Superspeedway. Jimmy Watts returned on Sunday as the gas man on #47-Marcos Ambrose's crew. He is still on probation through the end of the year. Watts chased a rolling tire across pit road and into the infield grass when it got away from Ambrose's stall at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He put on his apron required of all gas men and went to work shortly before the green flag dropped at Talladega. NASCAR had suspended Watts under a rule that prohibits crew members from going onto the racetrack while cars are racing or while cars are running under yellow or red flags.(Associated Press)(4-27-2009) Comment here
- Crew Member Jimmy Watts Suspended Four Races UPDATE: Jimmy Watts, a crew member [gasman] for the #47 Marcos Ambrose team, was suspended for the remainder of the race after he ran onto the infield grass -- a prohibited area -- to retrieve a loose tire on [caused] the third caution of the race.(ESPN/AP), the caution would had been called anyway, due to the tire in the infield and it was still slowly moving towards the track.
AND A quiet and remorseful Jimmy Watts stood outside the NASCAR hauler during the Kobalt Tools 500 to meet with NASCAR officials after he had been suspended for the remainder of the event for running onto the frontstretch grass with the race under green-flag conditions to retrieve a tire from the JTG Daugherty Racing car on lap 67. Watts, a gas man who also works for the Charlotte Fire Department, said he has been in the sport for more than seven years and just made a mistake. NASCAR threw the caution as he chased the tire. The tire had rolled on to the frontstretch grass when it got loose from the JTG Daugherty team of driver Marcos Ambrose and was knocked away by the Yates Racing team. “I saw the tire going away and it was a reaction – the wrong one,” Watts said. Watts said he “certainly did not” think that the tire would roll that far across the grass and by the time he was in the middle of it, he realized he was in a bad position. Watts said he hoped to be back next week but was waiting to talk to NASCAR officials to see if any additional penalties would be issued.(SceneDaily)(3-9-2009)
UPDATE: Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the #47 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four Sprint Cup Series events (until April 22) for rule violations during last Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, Frank Kerr, crew chief for the #47, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team).(NASCAR PR)(3-10-2009) Comment here
- Kingsford colors return for Ambrose: This weekend Kingsford Charcoal is the primary sponsor of Marcos Ambrose’s #47 Toyota fielded by JTG-Daugherty Racing. Ambrose first drove the scheme last week at Las Vegas.(MWR). See images of the scheme on the #47 Team Schemes page.(3-5-2009)
- Ambrose’s #47 Toyota to have new look at Las Vegas: the #47 Toyota will have a fiery new look at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as Kingsford Charcoal is the primary sponsor for Marcos Ambrose and the JTG-Daugherty Racing team in the Shelby 427. Kingsford Charcoal, which was created in the 1920’s, has been a proud sponsor of JTG-Daugherty Racing since 1998 and today is the most popular charcoal in America. Ambrose developed a relationship with the sponsor when he made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the #59 Kingsford entry owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter at Daytona International Speedway in 2007. Now, Ambrose will carry the brand on his #47 Toyota for the big race on Sunday.(MWR/JTG-Daugherty Racing PR), see images of the scheme on my #47 Team Schemes page.(2-25-2009) Comment here
- Hallam ready for new life in USA with role at MWR: Steve Hallam, an engineer and manager the past 27 years in Formula One, is settling into his new office at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) and a new life in America after leaving his post as head of operations for team McLaren based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. In September, it was announced that Hallam would be making the move to MWR to work in NASCAR leaving behind a rich history in Formula One. He has now assumed his new role as Director of Competition after moving around the globe to North Carolina to set up shop in the 140,000 sq. ft. factory. "It would have been easy to stay at McLaren until I retired," Hallam said. "But what attracted me to Michael Waltrip Racing was the opportunity to work with a young team and, in particular, to be part of the continued development and growth of the multi-car Cup operation as they strive to provide the best equipment and support for their teams. This is a great opportunity to join a closely knit team who are looking to build success by harnessing Toyota engines and technical support to build cars at a level where we can improve upon the tremendous foundation that has already been built."(MWR PR)(1-7-2009)
- Ambrose voted Australian Driver of the Year: Marcos Ambrose has been voted as the Australian Driver of the Year by Australian motor racing magazine Auto Action for the second-consecutive year. Ambrose, who is currently at home with his family in his hometown of Launceston, Tasmania, won the award by receiving 41 percent of the vote, which was decided by readers of Auto Action as part of the magazine's annual 'Racer of the Year Awards' issue.(Marcos Ambrose PR)(12-21-2008)
- Bush's Baked Beans to sponsor Ambrose: JTG Daugherty Racing announced a 2009 Sprint Cup sponsorship agreement with Bush Brother’s and Company. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company will enter its 7th season as a partner. For the first time, Bush’s Baked Beans will serve as a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series for Marcos Ambrose’s #47 Toyota in Richmond (5/2) and Darlington (5/9). The brand will also serve as a major associate sponsor for 10 events next season. Jay Bush, Brand Ambassador and star of the brand’s advertising campaign added, “Duke and I are really excited about our partnership with Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Racing. They are a great team, and have represented our brand very well in the past. We are excited about continuing our relationship in the Sprint Cup Series. If I can just keep Duke from selling Marcos the Secret Family Recipe, we're in for a great season.(JTG Racing PR)(11-16-2008) Comment here
- Ambrose to drive final four Cup races: In preparation for Sprint Cup Series competition in a Toyota in 2009 with JTG-Daugherty Racing, Marcos Ambrose has agreed to drive the final four races of the season for Michael Waltrip Racing. The Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) Toyota team, which has carried the #00 this season, will switch to car #47 for remainder of 2008, starting this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway [as previously announced]. JTG-Daugherty, co-owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and former NBA All-Star Brad Daugherty, will field Toyotas through a technical alliance with MWR in 2009 for Ambrose, carrying sponsors Kingsford Charcoal, Clorox, Bush’s Baked Beans and Little Debbie [see image of the schemes on my 2009 #47 Team Schemes page]. Frank Kerr, who has been named Ambrose’s crew chief for the JTG-Daugherty entry in 2009, will serve as crew chief for the remaining MWR races this season. In 2009, JTG-Daugherty Racing will operate out of MWR’s 140,000-square foot facility in Cornelius, North Carolina, and receive cars, engineering, mechanical and other technical support from MWR’s existing infrastructure.(MWR PR)(10-24-2008) Comment here
- Driver for the #00 at Martinsville? Atlanta? UPDATE 4: hearing that J.J. Yeley could be running the #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota next week at Martinsville Speedway.(10-10-2008)
UPDATE: MWR Executive Vice President Cal Wells said there is a plan for the rest of the year [for the #00 team] that includes [rookie Michael] McDowell and wouldn't say who would drive next week at Martinsville. He said the situation is "fluid," but did say that J.J. Yeley, rumored to have been driving the car, will not be driving it.(SceneDaily)(10-12-2008)
UPDATE 2: Bob Dillner reported on SPEED Report that Mike Bliss will drive the #00 at Martinsville next weekend and Marcos Ambrose will be in the car at Atlanta.(10-13-2008)
UPDATE 3: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announces Mike Bliss will attempt to qualify and race the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series Tums QuikPak 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Bliss follows Kenny Wallace and AJ Allmendinger with the same agenda of repositioning the MWR team inside the top 35 owner points standings.(MWR PR)(10-13-2008)
UPDATE 4: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced Friday that Marcos Ambrose is scheduled to drive for the racing organization in the Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Little Debbie as primary sponsor. The #00 MWR Toyota team will switch to the #47 number for the final four events. At this time, the Michael Waltrip Racing #47 driver is to be determined for Texas, Phoenix and Homestead [Ambrose was scheduled to run all three races in the #21 Ford and #47 Ford, the the MWR changed that, but he could end up in the #47 Toyota for the 3 races]. “It’s really nice to have a head start on the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and integrate Marcos with our team,” Waltrip said. “We are pleased that NASCAR worked with us to switch our number so that Marcos and his sponsors have continuity. I, of all people, know the importance of car numbers to sponsors. We are very appreciative that everything worked out. This is a great opportunity for Marcos and it gives him a glimpse of what next season may look like for him. We are really happy about that.”
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to come to Michael Waltrip Racing,” Ambrose said. “There is a lot of synergy here and I am looking forward to qualifying the #47 Little Debbie Toyota. Racing with the organization gives me the chance to have an early start on getting to know my team, Michael Waltrip and how the company operates."(MWR PR)(10-17-2008) Comment here
- Ambrose/JTG Racing to MWR in 2009? UPDATE 3: hearing that Marcos Ambrose and Little Debbie's could be moving to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2009 and Ambrose would not run in the Cup Series for JTG Racing.(9-22-2008)
UPDATE: JTG Daugherty Racing hasn't named a manufacturer for next season when it moves full time to the Sprint Cup Series from the Nationwide Series but the team was working out of a Michael Waltrip Racing hauler on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. JTG Daugherty, which qualified on speed for Sunday's Cup race with driver #47-Marcos Ambrose, had a hauler fire in June that destroyed one of its transporters. The team got some help from Richard Childress Racing when it qualified for the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late July. But could the team working out of a MWR hauler at Kansas be a sign of a potential affiliation and a move to Toyota? JTG Daugherty currently fields Fords. "Obviously we have a really good relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing," Geschickter said. "At this point, we're not ready to announce anything. But we know them better than most in the fact that we were able to go straight over there and borrow some equipment."(SceneDaily.com)(9-28-2008)
UPDATE 2: JTG Daugherty Racing has signed what team co-owner Brad Daugherty called a "technical alliance" with Michael Waltrip Racing, and thus will field Toyota Camrys full-time in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2009. The deal will be announced formally Wednesday afternoon. Under the agreement, JTG/Daugherty receives the same chassis, engines and technological information-sharing that Waltrip gets through Toyota Racing Development. "This way we don't come out of the box already behind," said Daugherty, reached by phone Wednesday. "Actually, this puts us about two years ahead of where we would have been otherwise."
Daugherty, an ESPN NASCAR analyst, said the alliance includes the #47 team being housed under the MWR roof. Daugherty stressed there was still independence from MWR, however, saying it is not a merger and that the #47 is not a fourth Waltrip team.
"We'll work with Toyota Racing Development out of Costa Mesa [Calif.], and all their parts and pieces already flow through MWR," Daugherty said. "It just makes sense for us to be in-house over [at MWR]." Marcos Ambrose will drive the #47 Toyota, with sponsorship from Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Clorox.(ESPN.com)(10-1-2008)
UPDATE 3: JTG-Daugherty Racing announced it has chosen to field Toyotas during its inaugural Sprint Cup campaign in 2009, after forming a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) and Toyota Racing Development (TRD). JTG-Daugherty, co-owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and former NBA All-Star and current ESPN broadcaster Brad Daugherty, will enter the #47 Toyota sponsored by primary sponsors, Kingsford Charcoal, Clorox Laundry and Household Products, and Little Debbie’s Snack Cakes. JTG-Daugherty will move its Sprint Cup operation into MWR’s 140,000-square foot facility in Cornelius, NC, and receive cars, engineering, mechanical and other technical support from MWR’s existing infrastructure. TRD will support the JTG-Daugherty team with engines from its Costa Mesa, California, facility, and vehicle engineering support from its Salisbury, N.C., facility. Frank Kerr has been named crew chief of the #47 car. Marcos Ambrose, a former Australian V-8 Supercar Champion, has been named driver of the #47 Sprint Cup entry.
Michael Waltrip commented, “The alliance with Tad, Jodi and Brad happened because MWR has shown over the past few months that we can field a competitive product. This allows MWR to maintain the economies of scale we currently enjoy as a three-car team. We continue to invest in our development and this alliance helps keep the momentum we’ve gained in our fabrication and engineering departments this summer. We wanted to help Tad and Brad in their transition into NASCAR Sprint Cup ownership. If anyone can identify the hidden demons of a start-up team it is me. Having JTG-Daugherty operating in our shop helps our NAPA Toyota and our Aaron’s Toyota with David Reutimann. So this is one of the classic examples of win-win-win for everyone involved, most importantly JTG-Daugherty and MWR employees". This alliance does not change MWR’s desire to run a fourth car in 2009. “This doesn’t change anything from our original plans as our sales team is working hard on securing sponsorship for another MWR Cup entry. And those plans currently include [Michael] McDowell. That’s the same position we were in before the JTG-Daugherty alliance was formed.”(JTG/MWR PRs)(10-3-2008) Comment here
- MWR could add a 4th team, Ambrose? Dow?: UPDATE: While many teams continue to search for sponsorship for the 2009 Sprint Cup season and beyond, one team that seems confident about sponsorship is Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR Executive Vice President Cal Wells said Saturday that he believes the team has enough sponsorship for two cars and three-quarters of another. He said he could envision the team running a fourth car part time in 2009. “I believe we’re in really good shape,” Wells said. “I’m hoping we’re actually going to run a fourth car. I don’t know that we can get it off, but we have so much in the pipeline.” As far as who would be teammates with already signed #55-Michael Waltrip and #44[will be #00 in 2009]-David Reutimann, Wells said the team hopes to re-sign Michael McDowell, who has run most of the season in a third car for MWR. “We’re selling hard around McDowell,” Wells said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff we’re working on. I honestly don’t know. There’s some [more] talent out there.” Wells also dismissed the idea that MWR would merge with another team [Like the Ganassi rumor]. “We’re looking at doing some service providing stuff with some folks that are trying to come in, kind of like the Hall of Fame [Racing] deals [with Joe Gibbs Racing],” Wells said. “We’re not to the point of announcing anything yet, but we’re looking for business. We’re not looking at [merging].”(SceneDaily.com)
AND: hearing that Marcos Ambrose and Little Debbie's could be moving to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2009 and Ambrose would not run in the Cup Series for JTG Racing.
AND II: also hearing that the other primary sponsor for Reutimann in the #00 Toyota in 2009 will be Dow Chemical Company.(9-22-2008)
UPDATE: JTG Daugherty Racing hasn't named a manufacturer for next season when it moves full time to the Sprint Cup Series from the Nationwide Series but the team was working out of a Michael Waltrip Racing hauler on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. JTG Daugherty, which qualified on speed for Sunday's Cup race with driver #47-Marcos Ambrose, had a hauler fire in June that destroyed one of its transporters. The team got some help from Richard Childress Racing when it qualified for the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late July. But could the team working out of a MWR hauler at Kansas be a sign of a potential affiliation and a move to Toyota? JTG Daugherty currently fields Fords. "Obviously we have a really good relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing," Geschickter said. "At this point, we're not ready to announce anything. But we know them better than most in the fact that we were able to go straight over there and borrow some equipment."(SceneDaily.com)(9-28-2008) Comment here
- Ambrose to debut #47 team at Indy: Little Debbie, Marcos Ambrose and JTG/Daugherty Racing hope to get a jump-start on their future during this week’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard when the new team makes its Sprint Cup Series debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team, which plans a full-time schedule next year, will make four selected appearances this year, kicking off with one of the biggest races of the stock car season. JTG Racing currently fields a pair of Nationwide Series cars with Ambrose and Kelly Bires as drivers. The team’s expansion into the Sprint Cup Series this year includes the use of the #47 Ford Fusion. “We’ve planned for this for years,” said team co-owner Tad Geschickter. “It’s every racer’s dream to compete at the highest level. This is our first step and we’re proud to take it with Little Debbie and Marcos. We have done a lot of testing leading up to this first race, and will use this weekend as our first benchmark versus the competition. We will leave this weekend with a clearer view on the things we need to work on as we prepare to run full time next season.”(JTG Racing PR)(7-25-2008) Comment here
- JTG Racing...to CUP? UPDATE: YES hearing JTG Racing could move up to Sprint Cup in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose driving and the team could switch from Ford to Chevy, no idea if Daugherty would be part of this deal. Other rumors have Ambrose going to the #21 of the Wood Brothers in 2009, that team would remain a Ford. Ambrose is schedule to run eight races this season in the #21 and four in the #47 Ford fielded by JTG Racing.(6-25-2008)
UPDATE: JTG Racing owner Tad Geschickter said Friday he hopes to move Marcos Ambrose to the Sprint Cup Series next season, in addition to having Nationwide and truck series teams in 2009. The Australian Ambrose, in his second season in NASCAR’s No. 2 series, made his Cup debut at Infineon Raceway last month for Wood Brothers Racing. Ambrose is slated to drive four Cup races later this year under the JTG banner. JTG currently fields two cars in the Nationwide Series, for Ambrose and Kelly Bires. Geschickter said Bires would stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009, with Coleman Pressley to drive for the team in the truck series. The team currently fields Fords but Geschickter said the manufacturer the team will be affiliated with next year is open.(SceneDaily.com)(7-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series racer Marcos Ambrose will become a full-time Sprint Cup driver next season, thanks to a new partnership former NBA player Brad Daugherty has with JTG Racing. Daugherty, now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, has become a part-owner of JTG Racing. The team will be renamed JTG Daugherty Racing. It will continue to field two Nationwide Series entries, but add a full-time Sprint Cup entry next year with Ambrose at the wheel. "I have a tremendous passion for racing," Daugherty said Tuesday. "This gives me another avenue to be involved in the sport. It's a big stake to do this at he Cup level, and I hope it opens doors in the sport for other minorities and women." Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor the car, which will use #47.(ESPN.com)(7-16-2008) Comment here
- Brad Daugherty starting truck team in '09? UPDATE JTG Racing...to CUP?: After discussion surrounding the recent announcement of Randy Moss' possible entry in the Truck Series [supposedly the Morgan-Dollar team] during ESPN's NASCAR Now television broadcast on Wednesday night, analyst Brad Daugherty announced he too is going racing in 2009 with his own Craftsman Truck Series team. [No details given.](The Daly Planet)(5-1-2008)
UPDATE: As part of an article about Kelly Bires, ESPN's Mark Ashenfelter reports...It's been a hectic year for JTG, which ended its relationship with Wood Brothers Racing on the competition side prior to the season. Since the year started, teammate Marcos Ambrose has swapped crew chiefs and the team has, at least temporarily, closed its Craftsman Truck Series team. And Brad Daugherty, a former team owner turned broadcaster, has bought into the team. [JTG Racing fields the #47 and 59 Nationwide teams and had fielded the #20-truck which has since ceased operations. [No word on if/when truck team will return to the Truck Series]. For complete article visit: ESPN.com.(6-24-2008)
UPDATE 2: hearing JTG Racing could move up to Sprint Cup in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose driving and the team could switch from Ford to Chevy, no idea if Daugherty would be part of this deal. Other rumors have Ambrose going to the #21 of the Wood Brothers in 2009, that team would remain a Ford. Ambrose is schedule to run eight races this season in the #21 and four in the #47 Ford fielded by JTG Racing.(6-25-2008)
- Ambrose tests at VIR with Wood Bros: Australian NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose has completed his first test with Wood Brothers Racing in preparation for his Sprint Cup debut at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California in three weeks time. Ambrose drove the famous #21 Wood Brothers Ford in an open test at Virginia International Raceway which was attended by the majority of the Sprint Cup field. Ambrose completed 38 laps for a total of about 85 miles (136kms) and was conservatively in the top five cars at the end of the day, which was not officially recorded or timed. Ambrose will make his debut in NASCAR’s top ranks in a Little Debbie-backed Wood Brothers Ford Fusion at Sonoma on June 22. He will then run a further seven events for Wood Brothers at New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Michigan, California, Dover, Texas and Phoenix. Ambrose will also drive four Sprint Cup events for JTG Racing, the first of which will be at Indianapolis in August. He will also run at Kansas, Atlanta and Homestead for that team.(BAM Media PR)(6-4-2008) Comment here
- Ambrose eyeing Cup: Marcos Ambrose was encouraged, but also somewhat realistic following his recent Sprint Cup test at Pocono International Raceway. The Tuesday-Wednesday test marked his first time in a Cup car [actually Ambrose practiced a 2nd Robby Gordon car at Watkins Glen in 2007 before qualifying was rained out] and his first time at the three-sided, 2.5-mile track in the mountains of northeast Pennsylvania. “It went OK, pretty good,” the 31-year-old Australian said Saturday at Dover International Speedway. “But it was a difficult place to get in a Cup car for the first time. I went there to get in laps and get a feel for that kind of [Cup] car. We ran in the middle of the pack most of the day. Another few tenths [of a second] would have been nice, but, still, I learned a lot about these Cup cars. The adjustment [from Nationwide to Cup COT car] is as tough as everyone said it would be. And Pocono is about as hard a track to learn as I’ve ever seen. I know we have plenty of work to do, but we got better as we went along and got a good feel for where we are.” Ambrose will run a handful of Cup races this season, some in the Wood Brothers’ #21 Ford and some with #47 Ford-based JTG Racing. He’ll run Sonoma and Watkins Glen for the Woods, plus a race in Michigan and one in Loudon [New Hampshire]. “I can’t remember the others he’ll do for us,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said Saturday. “It’s on a calendar somewhere at the shop. I’m sure of those four, but there are maybe three or four more he’ll do for us.” Ambrose also will do at least Indianapolis, Kansas, Atlanta, and Homestead in the #47 Fusion of JTG Racing.(Ford Racing)(6-2-2008)
- Wood Brothers, JTG Split Stock-Car Operation: Wood Brothers Racing and JTG Racing have changed their business model, but the two are still working together in a marketing and technological partnership, JTG Racing owner Tad Geschickter said Saturday afternoon. Geschickter will still be responsible for finding sponsorships for both the teams he owns and the Wood Brothers teams. The teams will have separate directors of competition and separate budgets. The Wood Brothers will field the #21 Sprint Cup Ford (with multiple drivers likely including Ken Schrader, Jon Wood and Marcos Ambrose [......and Bill Elliott]) and the #21 truck with Jon and Keven Wood in the seat. JTG Racing will field a Cup car in four races for Ambrose as well as Nationwide Series cars for Ambrose (#59) and Kelly Bires (#47) and a truck for Scott Lagasse Jr. (#20). Geschickter said that he changed crew chiefs for Ambrose in the Nationwide Series as Walter Giles (a fellow Australian to Ambrose) has come over from his position as director for race engineering at DEI.(SceneDaily.com)
AND This season, the two organizations will continue to work out of a 120,000-square-foot shop in Harrisburg, N.C., that currently houses pairs of teams in Cup, Nationwide and the Truck Series. [Bill] Elliott will test the #21 car Monday-Wednesday at Daytona and compete in all Speedweeks events that car will contest, including the Feb. 9 Bud Shootout, the Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Feb. 14 and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. The team has sponsorship for nine Cup races from the U.S. Air Force, with Jon Wood driving; and for 14 weekends from the Little Debbie brand of snack cakes. Little Debbie will be on the car for the Daytona 500, but Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose will be the primary driver of the #21 in the other Little Debbie races. Elliott will drive the #21's other Cup races, with most of their sponsorship in place, Eddie Wood said. He said the team had primary sponsorship available for six races. Geschickter said Ambrose would also drive four races in JTG Racing's #47 Little Debbie Sprint Cup car, at Indianapolis, Kansas, Atlanta and Homestead.(NASCAR.com)(1-13-2008)
- Congrats: Marcos Ambrose’s decision to pass up an opportunity to make his Nextel Cup debut at Dover Sunday was justified when his wife Sonja gave birth to their
second child at 3pm in Charlotte, NC. Ambrose finished 20th in the Busch Series race on Saturday in his #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion and then flew directly back to Charlotte to be with his wife. Ambrose had been offered the chance to make his Nextel Cup debut in a second #77 Robby Gordon Motorsport entry, but kindly declined the opportunity because he knew it would be “cutting it fine” with the impending birth. onja went into labor at 8am this morning and was driven to hospital where Adelaide Elizabeth Ambrose arrived at 3.04pm weighting 7lbs 11 ounces. Adelaide is a sister for two-year-old Tabitha. Ambrose will continue his Busch Series campaign at Kansas City, KS this weekend.(Marcosambrose.com)(9-24-2007)
- Multiple drivers in #21 in 2008, Air Force returns UPDATE: Officials with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing are finalizing their Cup sponsor and driver lineup for next season. More than one driver will race the #21 Ford. Jon Wood appears set to compete in races with Air Force as sponsor.(Roanoke Times)(9-22-2007)
UPDATE: ABC's Dr. Jerry Punch said during the broadcast of the race at Dover that Bill Elliott, Jon Wood and Marcos Ambrose would be the drivers who would share the #21 ride in 2008.(ABC's Race Coverage of the Dover Cup race)(9-23-2007)
- Wood returning to Cup at Kansas UPDATE 2: in the #47: Jon Wood is scheduled to return to the NASCAR Nextel Cup ranks for the Sept. 30 race at Kansas Speedway. Wood has been competing for the team in the Craftsman Truck Series, but will make his return to the Cup series for this event. Wood drove for the Wood Brothers in the #21 Cup Ford at Las Vegas earlier this season. He originally planned to run the full Busch Series schedule and compete in more races in the #21, but was sidelined with health issues before returning to the truck series. "We're going to run two cars at Kansas ... - Jon will be in one with Sunbelt Snacks on it, and I'm guessing that Bill Elliott will be in the other with Little Debbie's," team co-owner Len Wood said. Gene Nead, who parted company with Robby Gordon Motorsports Monday, will be the crew chief for the car. Nead started with the Wood Brothers team on Thursday. He and team co-owner Eddie Wood have known one another for a long time and had talked in the past about doing some work together in the Busch Series. Len Wood said that the team is also testing the car of tomorrow on Tuesday, and Nead will lead that effort. "Him being able to come on now and start I think will be a benefit for next year," he said. "We have not had the best COTs - it's supposed to be equal and all that, but somehow they are not equal. Hopefully he can help us get turned around on that too. And [crew chief Michael McSwain] can focus on running the rest of the races."(SceneDaily.com)(9-21-2007)
UPDATE: Jon Wood will be behind the wheel of the #21 at Kansas next week, where he’ll make his 2nd Nextel Cup start [he made his debut in the #21 at Las Vegas in March]. Regardless of how Ken Schrader fares Sunday at Dover, the team cannot fall out of the top 35 [since #22-Dave Blaney missed the race and is 36th in owners pts]. Turning the wrenches for Wood next weekend will be Gene Nead, who recently separated from Robby Gordon Motorsports, and is expected to replace Michael Fatback McSwain next season. At Kansas, the team will run a second car [#47 Ford] for Bill Elliott, who would make the race based on his past-champion’s provisional.(Ford Racing with corrections made)(9-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: The Wood Brothers/JTG race team has announced that next week, the team will indeed enter two cars on the entry list for the Lifelock 400 Nextel Cup Event at Kansas. The team would like to clarify that the #47 McKee Foods Ford will be driven by Jon Wood, who is set to make his second career Nextel Cup start in 2007. The #47 Ford will have Gene Nead calling the shots from the pit box. McKee Foods is the parent company of the Little Debbie brand of snack cakes. The #21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion will be driven by Bill Elliott, with Michael “Fatback” McSwain continuing his duties as crew chief for the team. (Wood Brothers PR)(9-22-2007)
- New crew chief for Robby? UPDATE 2: hearing crew chief Gene Nead has parted ways with the #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports team, no word on the new crew chief or what Neads plans are.(9-20-2007)
UPDATE: hearing that Nead will head to the #21 Wood Brothers/JTG Racing team, to take over for Michael 'Fatback' McSwain, who will step down at the end of the season. Hearing former Hendrick Motorsports/Ginn Racing crew chief, Peter Sospenzo, going to crew chief for Robby Gordon.(9-21-2007)
UPDATE 2: #7-Robby Gordon is at Dover International Speedway this weekend without a crew chief after parting ways with Gene Nead on Monday. Gordon said that he and Nead parted amicably. When asked what he was looking for in a crew chief, the Cup owner/driver answered simply, "I don't know." This weekend he plans to use either a car chief or team engineer in that role. He is currently looking for a crew chief, though. "Yes, I'm looking," he said. "Gene and myself just have differences in philosophy on how things need to be operated." He added that Peter Sospenzo, who was one of the crew chiefs eliminated by Ginn Racing when two of the companies teams ceased to exist earlier this year, is someone that is high on the list of potential replacements.(SceneDaily.com)(9-21-2007)
- Ambrose not to race Cup at Dover..to take a raincheck: Marcos Ambrose has chosen family over money, turning down the chance to compete in this weekend's Nextel Cup race in Delaware [Dover]. The former V8 Supercar champion was entered to drive a #77 Robby Gordon Motorsport Ford at the race at Dover International Speedway. The deal was meant as a payback after Ambrose and Gordon clashed in the Montreal Busch Series race. However Ambrose has rescheduled his deal with Gordon as his wife Sonja is expecting the couple's second child this weekend. "We'll try and hook up down the road," Ambrose said yesterday. Ambrose will have a private plane on stand-by to make sure he can rush home to North Carolina as soon as his racing commitments finish. Despite his delay getting to Nextel Cup, Ambrose has the support of Ford and is expected to move to the series at least part-time next year while still driving in the Busch Series. Any deal to move up to the Nextel Cup would come with his current team, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.(Herald-Sun)(9-18-2007)
- Ambrose may run for Robby at Dover: Marcos Ambrose gets a do-over. One of the feel-good stories of this year happened when Robby Gordon provided a Nextel Cup car for Australia's Ambrose at Watkins Glen, a week after an on-track confrontation cost both of them a victory in the Busch race in Montreal. The only problem was, qualifying was rained out and Ambrose never got an opportunity. Gordon says he's going to enter Ambrose in one of his Ford Fusions for Dover.(Sports Illustrated)(9-4-2007)
- Ambrose to run some Cup in 2008: Former Australian V8 Supercars star and current Busch Series regular Marcos Ambrose is set to make his Nextel Cup debut next year. John Sazymanski, Ford Racing Technology’s director of sponsor development, told the Charlotte Observer that the Blue Oval plans for the Australian to have at least a part-time Cup schedule in 2008, pending on adequate sponsorship being found.(SPEEDtv.com)(8-28-2007)
- Ambrose will not run at Watkins Glen for Wood Bros UPDATE will run for Gordon: Wood Brothers/JTG Racing has decided that the team will again focus their attention on the team’s full-time #21 Cup entry [with Bill Elliott], putting on hold plans to run a second Cup [#47] entry for [Busch Series driver Marcos] Ambrose on the Watkins Glen road course. At the beginning of the season, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing announced its plans to enter Marcos Ambrose in both of the Nextel Cup road course races in 2007. Several circumstances have delayed Ambrose’s Cup debut and he will not be competing in Nextel Cup at Watkins Glen with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing this weekend, according to team co-owner, Tad Geschickter. “We want to be totally prepared when we embark on Marcos’ Cup career,” said Geschickter. “We have no doubts that he will succeed at the top level of our sport. The combination of our #21 Cup car fighting to regain a guaranteed starting position in points and the unforeseen complexities of the new ‘Car of Tomorrow’ introduction has forced us to rethink our earlier plans. Combine these factors with Marcos having a real opportunity to finish well inside the coveted top 10 in Busch Series points and we felt that stretching our resources to rush his Cup debut was the wrong thing to do at this time.”(Wood Brothers/JTG Racing/BAM Media PR), but hearing Ambrose will drive a 2nd Ford for Robby Gordon in the Cup race at Watkins Glen.(8-7-2007)
UPDATE: But ESPN has learned that Ambrose may yet get the chance to make his Cup debut -- thanks to Robby Gordon. The owner/driver of Robby Gordon Motorsports has offered Ambrose the chance to qualify for the Centurion Boats at the Glen in a second RGM [#77] Ford. It's not certain whether Ambrose will be cleared to accept the offer, but the offer has been made. An announcement could come as soon as Tuesday evening.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2007)
UPDATE 2: Robby Gordon Motorsports will field Australian Marcos Ambrose in the Busch Series rookie's Nextel Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen this weekend. After one of the most controversial incidents in NASCAR's recent history last weekend, Ambrose has accepted a "peace offering" from Gordon to drive the #77 Camping World Ford Fusion, which will also carry some signage from Ambrose's regular sponsor Kingsford Charcoal. Ambrose led 37 laps, more than any other driver in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal last weekend and was on course to record his first NASCAR Busch Series win when he was turned around by Gordon while leading at the second corner at a restart with two laps remaining. As a penalty, Gordon was eliminated from the following day's Nextel Cup race, and while he strongly disagreed with the calls during the Busch race, he has accepted NASCAR's decision and wants to put the incident behind him. Ambrose will continue his NASCAR Busch campaign on Saturday in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, but will now do "double duty" in the Robby Gordon Motorsports entry. Gordon will drive the #55 Verizon Wireless Ford Fusion in the Busch race and the #7 Jim Beam Ford Fusion in the Nextel Cup Series race. The Sunday event will be a joint effort between Robby Gordon Motorsports and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, with Ambrose's regular Kingsford crew
doing the pit work and his new Crew Chief Ernie Cope calling the shots from the box on Sunday. Ambrose was originally scheduled to make his Nextel Cup debut in a Wood
Brothers/JTG Racing entry this weekend, but several circumstances meant the team had to put their plans on hold. Ambrose currently sits eighth in the Busch Series points and second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.(RGM/Wasserman Media Group PR)(8-7-2007)
- Ambrose skipping Sonoma, concentrates on Busch Series, to attempt the Glen: Marcos Ambrose will be looking to cement himself in the Busch Series top 10 in the AT&T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin this weekend in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford.
Ambrose was originally to pull ‘double duty’ this weekend in both the Busch car at Milwaukee and in an Aussie Vineyards Ford in the Nextel Cup event at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. With Ambrose positioned well inside the Busch Series top 10 and the
Raybestos Rookie of the Year title within reach, it has been decided to delay the Australian’s Nextel Cup debut until August 12 at Watkins Glen International. The Watkins Glen event will be better suited for Ambrose to pull ‘double duty’ and race both Busch and Cup races, with both events at the same circuit that weekend. This also allows for pit crew and personnel to assist both entries. Ambrose’s schedule for this weekend, with Race 17 of the Busch Series at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Cup race in Sonoma, CA some 2150 miles away, would have seen Ambrose miss all of practice and qualifying for the Busch event and only fly in for the race on Saturday
night.(BAM Media PR)(6-20-2007)
- New website for Wood Bros: The Wood Brothers/JTG Race Team has undergone an extreme makeover regarding
their official team website, located at www.woodbrothersjtg.com. After months of careful planning, the redesigned site hit the Internet over a week ago in a Beta Test Phase and now is ready for fans and visitors alike to browse the updated offerings.(PR)(3-27-2007)
- Former Ford Executive Specht hired by Wood Brothers/JTG Racing: Recently retired Ford Racing Technology employee Greg Specht couldn't stay "retired" for long. After a 30-year career with the Detroit-based auto manufacturer, many of which were spent on the racing side of the equation, Specht returns to his roots after signing on to lend his assistance to the Wood Brothers/JTG Race teams in 2007 [which run the #21 Ford for Ken Schrader and Jon Wood in the Cup Series and have two Busch abd Truck teams]. "He's been a fixture among us for a long time," said co-owner Eddie Wood. "What we've come up with makes a lot of sense for us both and I think we stand to make some pretty big gains in areas where, quite frankly, we've needed some help," he added.
Greg Specht's lists of accomplishment at the Ford Motor Company are numerous. He began with the company in March, 1977 and first handled positions in facilities engineering and finance. For eight years, he was in charge of Ford's test and proving grounds in Dearborn, Michigan, Naples, Florida and Minnesota. He moved into his final position with the company in 1996, serving as the North American Operations Manager, where he oversaw all racing operations with the Ford. In that time span, Ford's teams won three Nextel Cup Titles.
At the Wood Brothers/JTG Organization, Specht will work closely with Director of Competition Michael "Fatback" McSwain and their
newly-revamped engineering staff, of which is headed by long-time Wood Brothers employee Hoyt Overbaugh. The team has recently added nine engineers, bringing the total engineering staff to 21.(Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)(1-24-2007)
- Wood Brothers/ JTG Racing sign development driver: Jonathan Cash, driver of the Strutmasters.com 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series late model car, signed a five year contract with the Wood Brothers/ JTG Racing. Cash will pilot the famous number #21 NASCAR Busch Grand National East Touring Series ride for the full 2007 race season as part of the developmental driving program overseen by Competition Director Michael “Fatback” McSwain. The NASCAR Busch East Series represents NASCAR’s top regional touring series. In this series drivers compete in cars that are similar to those used in the NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series. Cars are powered by 600+ Hp V-8 engines, with a minimum weight of 3,300 pounds, and are equipped with Goodyear bias-ply tires. Strutmasters.com is the primary sponsor on the new Busch East #21 Ford Fusion as well as an associate sponsor on the teams’F-150 Craftsman Trucks. John Goss, a key crew member of the Strutmaster.com team, will also make the move to Charlotte with Jonathan Cash from their home town of Oxford, NC. Many local fans wish them well and will continue to follow their careers with great pride and anticipation of success. (eastseries.com)(1-22-2007)
- Wood to make Cup debut at Las Vegas: Jon Wood, third-generation driver for one of NASCAR’s most respected teams, will make his Nextel Cup debut for Team Ford Racing in March. He’ll get 10 starts in the famous #21 Ford Fusion of Wood Brothers Racing and drive the team’s #47 Ford in another. He’ll drive for team veteran Ken Schrader in 10 races and be Schrader’s teammate in the other, at Las Vegas. Wood will debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the second Sunday in March, then race at Texas Motor Speedway a month later. He’ll run the Coca-Cola 600 near Charlotte in May, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona Beach in July, the second race (in July) at Pocono International Raceway and the Saturday night race at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. The fall portion of his schedule includes dates at Richmond and Dover in September, back to Charlotte in October, then to Texas and Phoenix in November. Except for the spring race in Texas, (where he’ll carry #47), he’ll be in the team’s familiar #21. He didn’t come to Daytona Beach for Cup testing, choosing, instead, to fly in Thursday for the three-day Busch Series test in his #47 Ford Fusion. (He’ll continue to run the full Busch schedule in cars fielded by JTG/Wood Brothers Racing). (Ford Racing)(1-18-2007)
- Wood Brothers/JTG Racing sign delvelopment driver: 17-year old Georgia native John Wes Townley has signed a developmental driver contract with the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Organization. Townley will continue his late model campaign in 2007 with backing from long-time sponsor Zaxby's, as well as BB&T Bank, Coca-Cola and Lang Signs. He intends to run the entire 2007 ASA Late Model South schedule in addition to five selected USAR Hooters Pro Cup events. Currently, Townley is enrolled in the Future Stars in Racing Training and Development Academy, where he is working on his skills outside the race car.(Wood Brothers/JTG Racing PR)(1-7-2007)
- Ambrose to Make Announcement on 2007 Plans UPDATE: A press conference is scheduled to Wednesday evening where Marcos Ambrose will announce further plans for 2007. From the release, "Australian driver Marcos Ambrose will make one of the biggest announcements in Australian Sport this year by confirming an extended schedule in America during 2007."(Ambrose PR)(12-20-2006)
UPDATE: Australian businessman Craig Gore has finalized a deal with Wood Brothers-JTG Racing which will see Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards branding on the back quarter panel of Ambrose’s #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford for all 35 rounds of next year’s Busch Series. Part of the agreement will also see a full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in a minimum of two, and up to 10, NASCAR Nextel Cup events. Ambrose will campaign the full Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in Nextel Cup road course events at Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, California on June 24 and at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York State on August 12.(BAM Media PR)(12-21-2006)
- Crew Chief Changes at the #21: With sponsorship and driver lineup announcements for 2007 expected by Labor Day, Wood Brothers/JTG racing will make several personnel moves effective this weekend. Michael "Fatback" McSwain will assume the duties of crew chief for Ken Schrader's #21 Nextel Cup car. David Hyder will take over Crew Chief duties for Jon Wood's #47 Busch Series car, as the third generation driver prepares for his anticipated entry into Nextel Cup next season. Ernie Cope will move from his duties as Crew Chief for Stacy Compton's Busch Series car to assist Michael "Fatback" McSwain. Jay Guy, Jon Wood's Busch Series Crew Chief will move to teammate Stacy Compton's #59 Busch Series car. Team co-owner Eddie Wood explained the transition. "Our goal is to improve our performance this year, while giving our drivers and crew chiefs an opportunity to work together in preparation for next year. We have made a lot of changes this season, including the merger with ST Motorsports' Busch Series teams and the expansion of a driver development program in the Truck Series. We have been playing catch up and wanted to get a jump on next year to see how everyone progresses with these management moves."(Wood Brothers Racing)(7-19-2006)
- Wood Brothers Racing: One, Two or No Teams? UPDATE 2 will be back: Eddie Wood isn’t being flippant when he says, “We might have one car, two cars or no cars next year. Heck, we might all be gone from here. Who knows? Right now, I don’t.” The co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing expects to have at least one Ford next year, either for his son, Jon, or current driver #21-Ken Schrader. “Jon’s not under contract, so I’ll let him go if he gets a good offer somewhere else,” Wood said minutes before the Pepsi 400. “The deal with us is, our sponsorships are year-to-year. Little Debbie is pleased and the Air Force is pleased, and we think MotorCraft is pleased. We’d really like to have all three of them back. We can’t make a lot of plans until we get all those deals in place. Ideally, we’d like a Fusion for Jon and another for Ken. We’d like to get the Clorox people to come aboard on a car for Jon. But, honestly—right now—I can’t begin to say what we’re gonna do next year. But, yeah, I think we’ll have something out here.”(Ford Racing)(7-3-2006)
UPDATE: Eddie Wood's family has been in the racing business on the NASCAR circuit since 1953. Team owner Eddie Wood said he's not sure it will last beyond this season. Wood said he doesn't have sponsorship lined up yet for next season and without it, the family operation might have to close. The team hopes to have two full-time Nextel Cup Series cars next year - one for Ken Schrader and a second for Wood's son, Jon. "We can't make a lot of plans until we get all those (sponsorship) deals in place," Wood said. "Ideally, we'd like a Fusion for Jon and another for Ken. Honestly, right now I can't begin to say what we're going to do next year, but I think we'll have something out there."(Augusta Chronicle)(7-6-2006)
UPDATE 2: Things are alive and well at Wood Brothers/JTG Racing contrary to previous reports. Eddie Wood told MRN Radio's NASCAR Today weekday news program that the reports of the Wood Brothers possibly closing their doors at season's end are totally inaccurate. "Some stuff I said was taken out of context, it got in the media and there's absolutely no truth to it. When we (Wood Brothers Racing and ST Motorsports) set out on this project our goal was to have 2 - 2 - 2 (2 Craftsman Truck, 2 Busch Series, and 2 Nextel Cup teams). We have 2 Truck and 2 Busch teams and the 1 Cup team. We are working to expand the Cup program to 2 teams and we are really close to getting that done. We're alive and well and looking forward to 2007."(7-10-2006)
- Wood expects to be in #21 car in 2007: Busch Series regular Jon Wood [#47], third-generation member of NASCAR's Wood Brothers Racing, said Wednesday he is "90 percent sure" he will drive the #21 Ford full time in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-23-2006)
UPDATE: Jon Wood said Saturday that he expects to be behind the wheel of a Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Nextel Cup car full-time in 2007, but not the #21 currently driven by Ken Schrader. Published reports last week had the driver in the #21 next year. “The plan all along was to have two Nextel Cup Series teams in 2007 if we can find appropriate sponsorship for a two-car operation,” Wood said. “Right now, I plan to compete in as many as seven Cup races this year in preparation for running full time in Cup in 2007 as the second driver on a two-car Cup team.”(Speed Channel)(3-26-2006)
AND - Schrader back in 2007? Jon Wood fully expects to move to a full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup ride next season with his family's Wood Brothers/JTG Racing team. But it won't be in the team's #21 Ford Fusion, as was reported last week by a Texas newspaper. If all goes according to Hoyle, a second full-time sponsor will be lined up, Schrader will stay in the #21 and Wood will campaign a second team car, the number [#47?] of which is to be determined.(Ford Racing)(3-26-2006)
- Wood to run 7 Cup races, McSwain to crew chief UPDATE: Michael “Fatback” McSwain, who stepped down as crew chief from the Wood Brothers #21 Ford to oversee the team’s move from Mooresville, NC, to Harrisburg, NC, and the competition end of the team’s merger and expansion, will be back atop the pit box later this season. McSwain will be the crew chief for Jon Wood’s #47 Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford, which will be entered in seven Cup races. And there could be more such work in the future. “Have I done my last (full-time) crew chiefing? Have I been on the pit box for the last time? I don’t know,” McSwain said. “Me personally, the only thing that I’d like to do that I haven’t done … I’d like to win a championship. If I could take a young guy who’s learning to be a Cup crew chief and help him or teach him, that’d be equally as gratifying as me doing it myself.”(Speed Channel)(1-26-2006)
UPDATE: Jon Wood will run a limited Cup schedule starting midsummer. Wood, a third-generation racer, will drive the #47 Ford, which is likely to be sponsored by the Air Force. It will be the first time in 14 years Wood Brothers Racing has fielded a second car. Fatback McSwain will be the crew chief.(Sporting News)(1-30-2006)
- The New Wood Brothers Racing Shop to open: A new racing company expected to open Jan. 25 in Harrisburg, NC could help the town become a destination for auto racing enthusiasts. Wood Brothers Racing/JTG Racing Inc. will bring a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team [#21-Ken Schrader], two NASCAR Busch Series teams [#47-Jon Wood and #59-Stacy Compton] and two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. A second Nextel Cup team will arrive in 2007. The teams' drivers are Ken Schrader, Stacy Compton, Jon Wood, Bobby East [CTS #21] and Marcos Ambrose [CTS #20]. The company will have a staff of 120, he said. Plans include hiring 20 more employees by the end of this year. It will cost about $750,000 to upgrade the 129,000-square-foot former warehouse on N.C. 49 at Caldwell Road. It will be able to house up to 70 racing cars and trucks. Wood Brothers Racing/JTC Racing Inc. has said it planned to invest $6.5 million and will bring new jobs in exchange for $76,914 in tax incentives from Cabarrus County and $20,787 from Harrisburg.(Charlotte Observer)(1-9-2006)
- Jon Wood's 2007 Plans: from a Ford Racing PR: WHAT ARE YOUR [Jon Wood, #47 Bisch driver] RACING PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
“As they stand today, I will do a minimum of seven Cup races. The 21 thing, that’s still up in the air, and I want to do it like Carl’s (Edwards) doing and that’s whenever that opportunity would come, which would be in ’07 with the worst-case scenario, being able to run the Busch car and the Cup car. Running both series at the same time would be ideal because at the Cup level you’re racing against Tony Stewart and those guys have been racing these cars forever, so any additional track time you can get is a plus. If the trucks were in companion with the Busch cars every week, I would be campaigning to have a truck. I think with the new testing rules going into place next year that I need to be on the track before my main focus, the series that puts the bread on the table.”(Ford Racing)(10-12-2005)
- Wood to practice/Qualify the #21 at Calif UPDATE: Jon Wood, driver of the #47 Clorax Busch Series Ford, will practice and possibly qualify the #21 Motorcraft Ford as driver Ricky Rudd is with family following the death of his father Al Rudd Sr. Plans are for Rudd to run the race Sunday night and extend his consecutive start streak to 777 races.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show/Sporting News)(9-2-2005)
UPDATE: For the first time since 1964, a man with the last name of Wood is behind the wheel of the famed #21 Ford. Jon Wood filled in for Ricky Rudd during Friday's practice session at California Speedway in preparation for Sunday's Sony HD 500. Rudd was not at the track after attending the funeral of his father, Al Rudd Sr. earlier on Friday in Virginia. Al Rudd, Sr. died on Tuesday after a lengthy illness. Many teams, including all five Roush Racing Fords, are sporting decals on their cars in memory of Rudd Sr. Glen Wood, founder of the family-owned team, drove from 1953-64 and won four times. He competed twice in 1964, capturing one pole and one third-place finish. He earned a grand total of $530. Rudd's status for the remainder of the weekend is still to be determined.(Ford Racing)(9-3-2005)
- Wood Brothers and ST Motorsports partner up UPDATE 2: The owners of Wood Brothers Racing and ST Motorsports today announced the formation of a new partnership—Wood Brothers/TJG Racing—in a press conference today at Michigan International Speedway. The new enterprise will bring together two of the most tenured teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series’ garage, combining the racing heritage of the Wood Brothers and the marketing savvy of ST Motorsports. Glen Wood, his children Eddie, Len and Kim, along with Tad and Jodi Geschickter, will join forces to establish a racing enterprise that competes in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck Series. The structure will provide all employees, including drivers, the opportunity to develop his or her career path with a single, Ford factory-backed company. The Wood Brothers have been running exclusively Ford Motor Company products in NASCAR racing for 55 years, and are the automaker’s all-time winningest team. ST Motorsports has been in existence for 11 years, the last two as a Ford-supported Busch Series program.
In 2006, Wood Brothers Racing will continue to campaign the #21 Ford Fusion in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series. ST Motorsports will continue to field the #47 and #59 Busch Series Fusion entries. The partnership intends to build an additional Nextel Cup team and two Craftsman Truck Series teams. Wood Brothers/JTG Racing will include a centralized fabrication shop and an engineering department, with the assistance of Ford Racing Technology engineers. Wood and Geschickter took their business plan to Ford Racing. When they learned that executives there were equally enthused about the idea, the partnership was formed. The group will begin work immediately by establishing a base of operation, and by developing its employee, driver, and sponsor base. Partial season sponsorship in 2006 for the #21 Wood Brothers entry from Motorcraft is in place as well as full season sponsorship for the #47 and #59 Busch Series entries from Clorox Bleach and Kingsford Charcoal.(Ford Racing site)
NOTES - sponsor? doesn't mention if Ricky Rudd, driver of the #21 Ford will return as the driver. Jon Wood currently drives the #47 Clorax Ford for ST Motorsports in the Busch Series, supposedly Wood will move up to Cup in 2006, either full-time or a limited schedule depending on sposnorship, one sponsor being runored is Armour All.(8-19-2005)
UPDATE: Wood said Michael "Fatback" McSwain, current crew chief for Wood Brothers #21 car driven by Ricky Rudd, will oversee the construction and setup of the cars. He added that the partnership has already locked up partial 2006 season sponsorship for Rudd's car as well as full sponsorship for two other cars to run in the Busch Series.(ESPN.com/AP)(8-20-2005)
UPDATE 2: according to Eddie Wood the Wood Brothers team is seeking sponsorship for two teams next season. If they can't find two they'll have to decide between Ricky Rudd and Jon Wood for the #21 Ford [Motorcraft is scaling back their support]. No decision has been made yet but Wood says they're not worried about it right now.(ESPN's SportsCenter/Mike Massaro)(8-21-2005)
- Wood splits with Roush: Busch Series driver Jon Wood no longer is under contract with Roush Racing, with the split reported to be mutual. Wood, 23, had been considered to be a candidate for a Roush [#6] seat, but apparently the family-owned Wood Brothers have other plans. Wood had been on loan fom Roush to ST Motorsports in Busch [#47 Ford] this season.(Speed Channel)(8-6-2005)
