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#96 Team News and Links Page

2009 Races [?] that Ask.com is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Daytona - 2/15
Auto Club (California) - 2/22
Las Vegas - 3/1
Atlanta - 3/8
Martinsville - 3/29
Texas - 4/5
Phoenix - 4/18
Talladega - 4/26
Richmond - 5/2
Lowe's - All-Star - 5/16
Charlotte - 5/24
Dover / Autism Speaks- 5/31
Pocono - 6/7
Michigan - 6/14
Infineon - 6/21
New Hampshire - 6/28
Indianapolis - 7/26
Bristol - 8/22
Charlotte- 10/17, Pink

2009 Races [8-9] that DLP.com is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Chicago - 7/11
Pocono - 8/2
Watkin Glen - 8/9
Michigan - 8/16
Richmond - 9/12
Dover - 9/27
Auto Club [California] - 10/11
Martinsville - 10/25

2009 Races [5] that Academy Sports + Outdoor’s is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
Bristol - 3/22
Darlington - 5/9
Daytona - 7/4
Atlanta - 9/6, Erik Darnell
Talladega - 11/1, Erik Darnell
Texas - 11/8, Erik Darnell

2009 Races Unknown Sponsor:
Phoenix - 11/15, Erik Darnell
Homestead - 11/22, Erik Darnell

2009 Races [2] that Northern Tool+Equipment is scheduled to be the primary sponsor with Erik Darnell driving:
New Hampshire - 9/20
Kansas - 10/4

Races Darnell will drive [7]:
Atlanta - 9/6 - Academy Sports + Outdoor’s
New Hampshire - 9/20 - Northern Tool+Equipment
Kansas - 10/4 - Northern Tool+Equipment
Talladega - 11/1 - Academy Sports + Outdoor’s
Texas - 11/8 -Academy Sports + Outdoor’s
Phoenix - 11/15 - unkonwn sponsor
Homestead - 11/22 - none ran

Contract Status: Sponsor: 2009; Driver: 2009

#96 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)

Front Row could have three cars in Top-35: UPDATE: Front Row Motorsports General Manager Jerry Freeze told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that negotiations are underway to give all three of the team’s Fords guaranteed start status for the first five races of 2010. “We’ve been working on this for several weeks,” he said. “There are still some details to be ironed out, but we have a really close relationship with (Yates Racing owner) Doug Yates and Ford. This is something we’ve been working on with them, and I hope to have things buttoned up and ready to announce in a couple of days.” Freeze said driver Robert Richardson, III, will attempt to qualify FRR’s new #38 Ford for the Daytona 500 as part of a three-race sponsorship with Mahindra Tractors that includes both Daytona races and the spring race at Talladaga. David Gilliland will run a majority of the schedule for the team with sponsorship from Taco Bell, and Freeze said “a couple of races” have been left open for a possible limited return by the team’s 2009 #34 driver, John Andretti.(Sirius Speedway)(1-19-2010)
UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that talks are underway between Yates Racing and Front Row Motorsports to enable a transfer of owner's points that would lock all three Front Row Motorsports Fords into the first five races of the 2010 season. Reliable sources say Front Row Motorsports will assume the owner's points accrued last season by Yates' #96 and #98 Fords, which finished 31st and 33rd respectively in the final 2009 owner's standings. Talks are reportedly in their preliminary stages, but are progressing rapidly with an eye toward completing the deal by midweek. It is expected that in order for the dagreement to pass muster with NASCAR, Yates Racing owner Doug Yates will have to assume a minority ownership stake in Front Row Motorsports. Front Row's #34 car is already a guaranteed starter in the first five races after finishing 35th in owner's points a year ago.(Sirius Speedway), the #98 RPM Ford team of Paul Menard would use the #44 Owners Points from 2009, which ranked 24th. See the way it looks right now on my 2010 Owners Points Stadings for 1st Five races page to see how things are shaking out.(2-1-2010)

More layoffs after 2009 season?: Teams have predicted that the unemployment lines following the season finale at Homestead will exceed the numbers we witnessed following 2008. Under NASCAR's four-car rule, Roush Fenway Racing loses one team under its roof and another across the street at Yates Racing. While employees have been told there will be movement in the ranks with the potential of a Richard Petty Motorsports/Yates merger, in either case a minimum of two teams will dissolve — the #26 and the #44. The #96 Hall of Fame Racing team will no longer use the services of Yates Racing in 2010. However, the #98 team could remain under the Yates banner — and not RPM — in order to keep Paul Menard in the fold. Regardless, the four teams (98, 9, 19 and 43) are expected to operate under one roof.(FoxSports)(11-3-2009)

New driver of #1 announced this week? An announcement on the driver that will replace #1-Martin Truex Jr. could come this week, sources close to the situation said. Jamie McMurray, who is losing his ride at Roush Fenway Racing because the organization has to reach the four-car cap, is one candidate. Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, is the other. EGR co-owner Chip Ganassi wants McMurray. Bass Pro Shops, which will sponsor the #1 for 20 races next season, isn't sure he fits the image.(read more at ESPN Insider)(11-2-2009)
UPDATE: It's no secret that Bass Pro Shops has a contract to sponsor the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing car that McMurray is slotted to drive next year. And it's no secret that Bass Pro Shops wants to move to the #39 car with Ryan Newman. Now, this is not a knock on BPS, which has offered tremendous support to many racing programs in and beyond NASCAR. But McMurray's contract with EGR has been prepared but lacking signatures for some time. No, McMurray is not going to apply for his NRA membership any time soon, but he will go above and beyond for his sponsors whether it's Bass Pro or anyone else.(FoxSports)(11-3-2009)

TRG would like Labonte to return: Torrey Galida, a former Ford and Roush Fenway Racing executive who most recently was president of the motorsports division for sports marketing company Millsport, has taken a new job as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of #71-TRG Motorsports. One of his main priorities will be finding sponsorship so the team can race every race in 2010. Galida said the team plans to make its first partial-season sponsorship announcement in a few weeks. TRG Motorsports has run the full season, mostly with David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte in the driver's seat. Galida said the team would like for Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, to drive next year.(SceneDaily)(11-3-2009)

Bobby Labonte visits RGM? hearing that Bobby Labonte, who drove the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford for the majority of the 2009 season and will finish out the season in the #71 TRG Chevy, recently visited Robby Gordon Motorsports. Supposedly Robby Gordon is considering starting a 2nd team for 2009. Gordon owns and driver the #7 Toyota. And having a driver with a past champion provisional [Labonte won the 2000 Cup Championship] would be attractive to sponsors and a start up team with no owners points as Labonte has a past champions provisional to use.(10-29-2009)

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)

Darnell could be without a ride in 2010: Erik Darnell, Roush Fenway Racing’s last “Driver X,” appears to be without a ride in the organization for 2010. Darnell won the team’s “Gong Show” competition in 2004, earning a seat in what was is now known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But after running three full seasons in Trucks, Darnell was moved to part-time duty in the Nationwide Series for 2009. Darnell, who also has run a handful of Sprint Cup races for Roush Fenway affiliate #96 Hall of Fame Racing this season, may not have a seat with the team next year. “We’re open with Erik,” Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush said Tuesday. “We’re open to do something with Erik, and I’d very much like to. But right now, I don’t have a sponsor to stand in line that has singled out Erik. I’m just not certain.” Darnell has two victories in the Truck series with the team after winning the competition known as “Driver X: Race for the Ride” that was broadcast on the Discovery Channel. He has two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 13 Nationwide starts this year. “It’ll be a great sadness if we’re not able to continue to build his career,” Roush said, “but I’m not sure it’s going to be possible.”(SceneDaily)(10-14-2009)

Pink scheme for the #96 Ask.com car: When NASCAR comes home to Charlotte on Oct. 17 for the NASCAR Banking 500, Bobby Labonte will have more people on his tail than any other driver on the track – literally. More than 13,000 names of people affected by breast cancer will be featured on the rear of Labonte’s pink #96 Ford as part of a breast cancer awareness program with his sponsor Ask.com. The search engine transformed its homepage into a one-day memorial for those affected by breast cancer on Oct. 1 to celebrate the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its national partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Each Tribute made that day will be incorporated into the #96 paint scheme. Labonte, who will sport a firesuit and helmet inspired by the pink colors of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, appreciated his sponsors’ efforts. Ask.com, the Official Search Engine of NASCAR, recently announced a national multi-faceted partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure which included a pledge to invest $1 million to the organization. Throughout October, race fans can continue to participate in the Ask.com Search for the Cure program at www.Ask.com/cure. By downloading the special Komen search “skin” and answering questions about breast health, Ask.com will continue to make donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on behalf of users.(Ask.com/Taylor), see the scheme on my #96 Team Scheme page.(10-13-2009)

Drivers racing at East Lincoln Speedway: Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger will join Ray Evernham at East Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday night September 30th as Stanley presents a special night to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Charlotte Affiliate to help fund life-saving breast cancer community outreach programs. Kahne, Sadler and Evernham will be aboard specially designed open wheel race cars in a match race and Sadler will also be the guest commentator for the event.(East Lincoln Speedway PR)
AND: David Reutimann and Erik Darnell are set to join a host of NASCAR stars at East Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday night September 30th as Stanley presents ‘Real Drivers Wear Pink.’(Gaston Gazette)(9-29-2009)

#96 to feature new sponsor at NHMS: Erik Darnell returns to pilot the #96 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Sylvania 300. Darnell has made a total of four starts at NHMS – one Nationwide and three Truck Series. He has four top-10 and two top-five finishes. The #96 will sport the colors of Northern Tool + Equipment this weekend at New Hampshire. NT+E will also be the primary sponsor on Darnell’s Ford at Kansas in October, Darnell’s next Cup Series race.(HOF Racing)(9-16-2009)

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)

More details on the Petty 'buyout' of Yates: The deal that brought together Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing for next season is more of a buyout than a merger, minority owner Richard Petty said on Friday. "We're basically taking over their deal," the seven-time Sprint Cup champion said before qualifying at Richmond International Raceway. "As far as I know all of that whole operation will be Richard Petty Motorsports." Petty said George Gillett Jr., who declined to comment earlier Friday, would remain the controlling owner. He said Robbie Loomis, the executive director of race operations at RPM, will continue to run day to day operations. He was unsure what role Max Jones, who co-owned Yates Racing with Doug Yates, would take but speculated that he would stay on as the general manager. Jones declined to comment. Sources close to the situation said Yates would continue to run the Roush-Yates engine program that will supply engines to RPM's four teams -- Paul Menard from Yates and Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger from RPM. Petty said plans are to move from RPM's Statesville, N.C., shop to Yates' facility in Concord, N.C., to be closer to Roush Fenway Racing, which will continue to supply parts, pieces and technical support as it did with Yates. Because engines will come from Roush-Yates, RPM will have to shut down its engine department that employed more than 40 people. Petty said the potential of letting more people go during tough economic times was the tough part of the deal.(in part from ESPN.com)(9-12-2009)

Richard Petty Motorsports to run Fords in 2010, merge w/Yates: Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing announced today they have signed a letter of intent to merge operations in time for the 2010 season. The four-car team will race Fords under the Richard Petty Motorsports banner.
Richard Petty: “This is a pretty big deal for us. We’re thrilled to partner with Ford. We’ve talked with a lot of folks, but in the end it came down to the success the Gilletts and I think we can achieve with Ford Racing. Right now this deal is real new. There are lots of details still left to be ironed out so we don’t have a lot of answers for anyone right now. We’ll be working on all that in the coming days, weeks and months, but we do intend to have everything in place before the start of next season. I’ve won races with Ford and plan to again.”
Team Managing Partner Foster Gillett: “Richard and Kasey (Kahne) showed us Sunday night in Atlanta that they like winning quite a bit and Ford is going to provide the support that we need to go to victory lane more often. If you are going to compete with the other teams in this sport you need a lot of support. We bring a lot to this relationship as well. We’ve won twice this season and the power of Richard Petty is hard to beat, plus we have the support of some of the biggest names in corporate America.”
Yates Racing Co-owner Max Jones: “This is certainly a great opportunity for both Yates Racing as well as Ford Racing. I have had a long-term relationship with Ford and look forward to continuing that relationship at Richard Petty Motorsports. Over the coming weeks we will continue to work with Ford and Richard Petty to lay out the best plan for Paul Menard and all of the employees at Yates Racing. We will continue to field both the #98 and #96 Ford Fusions for the remainder of the season and look forward to continued success on the track with Paul, Bobby Labonte and Erik Darnell.”
Yates Racing Co-owner Doug Yates: “This plan is clearly in the best interest of the Ford Racing community. On a personal level, I am excited about the opportunity to focus my full energy on building Ford horsepower. We look forward to working with Richard Petty Motorsports to produce power second to none. There are many details to be worked out with Richard Petty Motorsports and as we finalize those details we will keep everyone informed.”
Director of Ford North America Motorsports Brian Wolfe: "I am very pleased that Richard Petty Motorsports has made the decision to switch to Ford for the 2010 season. They had choices to consider other than Ford and it's gratifying to us that they have enough faith in the Ford Motor Company and what we're doing to make the switch. We believe we can provide them with superior analytical tools and powertrain, and we will work with them closely on the technical front to help them become even more competitive than they are. What's also really cool to me is the chance to have someone with the class and the legacy of Richard Petty involved with Ford. Combine that with the chance to work with the Gillett family, who we have great respect for, and add some great drivers to the Ford camp, well, it's hard not to be excited about this opportunity."
Note: Paul Menard will be one of the drivers in the Petty team joining #9-Kasey Kahne, #19-Elliott Sadler and #44-AJ Allmendinger.(Richard Petty Motorsports)
and the PR doesn't mention Reed Sorenson or what car number Menard will run and with this merger, looks like the #26 Roush Fenway Racing team may now go away as they it not merge with Yates Racing now, since Yates and RPM merging is at the four car limit mandated by NASCAR. So unless something changes, two more cars/teams are lost: would expect RPM to run the #9, #19 and #43 so either the #44 team or the #98 team would go away and the #26 Ford that was rumored to be going to Yates.
UPDATE: on Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128, Sirius Speedway radio show, Reed Sorenson, current driver of the #43 RPM Dodge, was interviewed and said he knew a few weeks ago that he would not be back with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010 and he is looking for a ride in 2010. Sorenson says he has enjoyed working with all his current sponsors in 2009 and a few would like to stay with him.(9-10-2009)

Bobby Labonte in the #71 for seven races: After Bobby Labonte was dismissed from his driving duties for seven of the remaining 12 races in the #96 Yates Racing [Hall of Fame Racing] Ford, the 2000 Sprint Cup champ has agreed to pilot the #71 TaxSlayer Chevy for TRG Motorsports in those seven events starting this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Yates Racing announced on Monday that rookie Erik Darnell would share the ride with Labonte for the remainder of the year. David Gilliland, who has competed in 22 races for TRG this season, will continue driving for the team in the remaining events.(FoxSports), this move also affects the Past Champions Provisional, especially at AMS where three past Sprint Cup champions are eligible for the past champions provisional. #71-Bobby Labonte [2000 Champ], #08-Terry Labonte [1996 & 1984 Champ] and #21-Bill Elliott [1988 Champ] all are with teams outside the Top-35 in Owners Points and must qualify 7th or better among the 11 go-or-go-homers to make the race. If one or more does not, the 8th spot [43rd starting spot] would go to the most recent past champion. If all three race into the lineup, the 43rd spot goes to the 8th fastest of the eleven.
BUT, rules state: “If after starting position 1 through 42 are assigned and there remains an eligible car owner whose driver is the current or a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who participated as a driver in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and who was entered in the Event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline, a 43rd provisional starting position, the “Champion’s Provisional”, will be assigned to that car owner.” So since LBobby Labonte was not entered in the #71 prior to the deadline [13 days before the event usually], he will not be eligible to use the past championa provisional at Atlanta this week.(9-3-2009)

Darnell replacing Bobby Labonte for 7 races: UPDATE 2: Yates Racing, announced that former NASCAR Camping World Series Rookie-of–the-Year and current NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Erik Darnell will be behind the wheel of the #96 entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for seven races this season. Darnell will make his Sprint Cup Series debut Labor Day weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the #96 Academy Sports & Outdoors Ford Fusion. He also is slated to pilot the #96 at Loudon, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. Darnell will carry the familiar colors of Northern Tool + Equipment for the Loudon and Kansas races. Academy Sports & Outdoors will be Darnell’s primary sponsor at Atlanta, Talladega and Texas. Bobby Labonte will continue to race the#96 Ford under the Hall of Fame Racing banner with Ask.com and DLP as his primary sponsors at:
Richmond, Dover, Fontana, Charlotte and Martinsville.
“This is a move that will be beneficial to Yates Racing surviving this difficult economic time,” said Bobby Labonte. “Of course, I’m disappointed that the sponsorship environment is so challenging right now, but I intend to make the most out of the remaining races that I’m behind the wheel for Ask.com, DLP and Hall of Fame Racing.”(Yates Racing PR)(8-31-2009)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing would like to keep Bobby Labonte as its NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and likely will not be affiliated with Yates Racing next year, team co-owner Tom Garfinkel said Monday. The organization signed Ask.com as a sponsor and Bobby Labonte as a driver in January for the 2009 season and then landed a deal with Yates Racing for Yates to field the cars. Seven of the final 12 races were unsponsored, and Yates Racing has opted to put Erik Darnell in the #96 Sprint Cup car instead of Labonte. Garfinkel, in a phone interview, said his organization is still in discussions with Ask.com for next season but doesn’t anticipate the Yates Racing relationship to continue. The organization is looking for other teams to partner with and is in discussions with other sponsors as well, Garfinkel said.(SceneDaily)(8-31-2009)
UPDATE 2: Bobby Labonte has started 568 consecutive races, a streak that begun at Daytona in February of 1993 when he drove the #22 Maxwell House Ford for Bill Davis. He is second on the all time consecutive start list to #24-Jeff Gordon, who has started 569 straight races.(9-1-2009)

DLP returns to the #96: The #96 Ford of Bobby Labonte will sport the black DLP paint scheme this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The #96 DLP Ford Fusion team will bring chassis RK-609 to Pocono this weekend. This is the same Ford that Labonte raced at Pocono earlier this year.(Yates Racing)(7-30-2009)

Menard back with Yates in 2010: Yates Racing co-owner Max Jones said Sunday morning that the team plans to be back up to at least two cars next season, with Paul Menard and the Menards sponsorship returning to the #98 Yates Racing Ford in 2010. Menard has had a disappointing first season with the team which had spurred rumors that the driver and sponsor might move to a different team next season. But Jones said the driver and his sponsor will both continue forward in 2010. “The Menards deal is in place,” Jones said Sunday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jones said he was unsure if Yates would campaign the HoF [#96-Bobby Labonte] car again in 2010, saying talks to extend the partnership are underway, but the outcome uncertain. Another possibility is to take the fifth Roush Fenway Racing Ford next season, when NASCAR will require that team to downsize from five to four cars [possibly the #26 Ford with Jamie McMurray...if he stays]. Jones said that one way or another, Yates expects to run at least two cars next year.(SPEEDtv)(7-27-2009)

Yates Racing hopes to have drivers back in 2010: Yates Racing team co-owner Max Jones says he hasn’t soured on his driver lineup [#96-Bobby Labonte and #98-Paul Menard] despite having seen some good days go bad and some bad days remain bad. “I won’t say I’m disappointed, but it’s not the outcome we were hoping for the first half of the year,” Jones says. “We’ve had some good runs from both teams, but we haven’t been consistent enough. We have a lot of work to do. … When we’ve had good cars and we’ve run up [near the] front, we haven’t been able to close the deal, and that’s what hurt us.” After a first year at Yates Racing where Travis Kvapil finished 23rd in points and David Gilliland was 27th in a pair of underfunded cars, Jones’ expectations rose with Menard bringing his family sponsorship and Hall of Fame Racing providing the Ask.com sponsorship with Labonte as the driver. The team has an alliance with Roush Fenway Racing and is housed in a building next to the Roush Fenway campus and gets its cars as well as technological and marketing help from the organization. “Everybody’s frustrated,” Jones says. “Our expectations coming into the year, I felt that Paul could be in the top 20 in points, and I felt like Bobby was a top-15 [driver] and maybe working our way into the Chase [For The Sprint Cup]. People may think that’s far-fetched, but I don’t think so. That’s attainable. Not this year, with the way we’ve dug ourselves in the hole, but I think that the organization and the drivers are capable of doing that if we put everything together.”
The Hall of Fame alliance, where Yates Racing fields the cars, is a one-year deal (as is the Ask.com sponsorship), and Jones hopes that it continues. He says that Menards is a two-year deal that runs through 2010. Whether Yates Racing gets another team siphoned from Roush Fenway Racing, which must cut from five teams to four after this season, is still to be determined, Jones says. Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith has said he hopes to move a team to Yates but that it would depend on sponsorship. “I’m sitting here today hoping I have two [cars],” Jones says about 2010. “I feel good about that. The Hall of Fame program, they’re working really hard on their end of it, and we’re working really hard on sponsorship, too. We have another year on Paul’s program. … I don’t know all what they’ve got going on [over at Roush Fenway].”(SceneDaily)(7-17-2009)

Labonte & Menard out at Yates? Hearing Yates Racing will clean house with its current driver roster at the end of the season. After the example that Tony Stewart has set at Stewart-Haas Racing on how a satellite operation should be run, is there any question why Jack Roush would not consider unloading #96-Bobby Labonte and #98-Paul Menard, who are 27th and 31st respectively, in the point standings? Yes, Menard brings decent money to the table, but with Ask.com shopping its sponsorship there is certainly reason for concern for the #96 Ford.(Fox Sports)(7-11-2009)

DLP debuts on the #96: This weekend the #96 Ford will make its debut with the DLP paint scheme and Texas Instruments DLP as primary sponsor.(Yates Racing PR), see an image of the car on the #96 Paint Schemes page.(7-8-2009)

Ask.com PSA Wins Two Awards: Ask.com was recently honored as a recipient of a CINE Award and a Telly Award for its Internet Safety Public Service Announcement featuring #96-, Web Wise Kids and NASCAR. The campaign features Internet safety tips delivered by Bobby Labonte, driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion. In addition to representing Ask.com on the race track, Labonte, who is the father of a 15-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, serves as the brand's spokesperson for its efforts to promote Internet safety for children. To date, the PSA has reached over 27 million viewers nationwide. To view the award-winning campaign, visit Ask.com and search Internet Safety.(6-25-2009)

Autism Speaks featured on #96 at Dover: The #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion of Bobby Labonte will sport an Autism Speaks paint scheme this weekend for the Autism Speaks 400. As part of the Askers on the #96 program, Xuhui Ao’s name will be placed on the nose of the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion for this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway. Ao leads Ask.com’s ranking team which plays a critical role for the relevancy of Ask’s search results. Ao works closely with the product development and engineering teams to integrate and rank algorithmic search results with Ask’s multiple answers and vertical products. With his great passion, dedication, and ability to work with other teams, Ao helps lead continuous improvements to make Ask.com the best place on the web for answers.(HOF)(5-28-2009)

Labonte’s Birthday Gift Inspired by Fans: Ask.com, the primary sponsor of Bobby Labonte’s #96 Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, today presented him with a special birthday gift. Hundreds of fans submitted their ideas to Ask.com to be considered as the gift the Official Search Engine of NASCAR presented to Labonte on his 45th birthday. The suggestion from Hilary Mathis of Danville, Ill., inspired the gift – a commemorative racing helmet that includes the names of each fan that sent their supportive wishes and gift ideas over the past week. Mathis has been a Labonte fan since 1997 and lists him and Brian Vickers as her top-two favorite NASCAR drivers. Labonte’s “positive and determined attitude and his passion for racing” are characteristics Mathis noted for reasons she’s a fan.(Taylor/Ask.com PR)(5-8-2009)

Yates Racing Inaugural Fan Day: Yates Racing announced it will open its doors on Friday, May 22 for the Inaugural Yates Racing Fan Day. Fans are encouraged to come out and see the Yates Racing campus and receive a VIP view of the Yates Racing shop. Special autograph appearances from Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard and Doug Yates will begin at 10 a.m. Vendors will also be onsite with free give-aways. Vendors and sponsors will be onsite both Thursday and Friday of the Coke 600 weekend at Yates Racing with interactive booths, games and give-aways. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and doors will close at 5 p.m. EDT. 150 autograph tickets will be distributed at 8 a.m. for the driver autograph session.(Yates Racing PR)(5-8-2009)

Sponsor asks fans what to get Labonte: Ask.com is asking fans for help in finding the perfect birthday present for Bobby Labonte, driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford, Labonte's birthday is Friday, May 8 and Ask.com wants ideas about what to get him. Ask.com plans to choose one gift idea and present it to Labonte on behalf of that fan. For more information visit ask.com.(5-4-2009)

Bobby Labonte gets new crew chief: Yates Racing today announced Ben Leslie, former crew chief for the #28 Yates Racing Ford, will serve as crew chief for Bobby Labonte and the #96 Hall of Fame entry for the remainder of the 2009 season. Previous crew chief Todd Parrot will assist the Yates organization as a whole. “Ben’s experience with Ford Racing is really an asset to our organization,” said Max Jones, co-owner of Yates Racing. “The #96 team is fortunate enough to have a Champion driver and a group of experts in the sport. I believe Ben will bring the right changes to this team to help it accomplish some solid finishes this season and climb a few positions in the points.” Prior to joining Yates Racing, Leslie served as a liaison between Ford Racing and NASCAR managing Ford’s development in all three series. Earlier in his career, Leslie worked with several notable drivers including Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Ricky Rudd. In 2001 Leslie led Martin to a second-place finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings, recorded 15 top-10 finishes and a win in the Coke 600. “I’m looking forward to working with Ben,” said Labonte. “He’s done a lot with Ford Racing specifically and I like that he has experience with many Champion drivers. I’m excited to see what we will do together on the track in the next few weeks.” Todd Parrot who aided in Labonte’s fifth-place finish in Las Vegas will remain with Yates Racing and assist with both the #96 Hall of Fame Racing entry as well as the #98 Menards Ford Fusion.(HOF Racing/Yates Racing PR)(4-22-209)

Ask.com employee on the #96: Ask.com will honor employee Eve Chaurand-Fraser in Phoenix this weekend by placing her name on the hood of the #96 Ask.com Ford. Chaurand-Fraser is Ask.com's associate general counsel. She keeps the Ask legal engine finely tuned, revved up, and race-ready. Whether it's focusing on syndication deals, privacy policies, or partner contracts, Chaurand-Fraser is always poised and focused on doing whatever she can to help grow the business.(Yates Racing PR)(4-16-2009)

Labonte, Smith inducted into Texas Motorsports HOF: #96-Bobby Labonte and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith were inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame during Wednesday evening’s gala at The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway. The two were honored along with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, #99-Carl Edwards and IndyCar Series driver Scott Dixon. Labonte and Smith join previous inductees A.J. Foyt (2003), Johnny Rutherford (2003), Terry Labonte (2004), Lee Shepherd (2004), Kenny Bernstein (2005), Jim Hall (2005), Eddie Hill (2006), Mark Martin (2007) and Jim McElreath (2007) into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. Labonte’s presenter for his induction was none other than his older brother and 2004 inductee, Terry Labonte. “It’s a great honor,” Labonte said. “Just having the career and starting out in Texas. This is just a neat factor to come to this. This is pretty cool. I always enjoyed following in Terry’s footsteps.” Labonte was honored with a special announcement at the conclusion of the ceremony. Interstate Batteries CEO Norm Miller and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch unveiled the special paint scheme Busch will run during Sunday’s Samsung 500. The paint scheme is a replica of the #18 Interstate Batteries car that Labonte drove during his 2000 Sprint Cup Series championship year while at Joe Gibbs Racing. The scheme pays tribute to Labonte’s induction with “Congrats Bobby Labonte! Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame 2009 Inductee” on the deck lid of the car [see images of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page]. Smith brought back NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing to Texas in 1997 with the construction of Texas Motor Speedway. Since then, he has continued to develop “The Great American Speedway!” into one of the premier sporting venues in the country. Smith, with the help of racing star Curtis Turner, opened Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1960 and hosted the first World 600 that year. Since that time, Smith has set the standard in marketing and promoting motorsports as he has turned SMI into one of the most recognizable brands in NASCAR.
Hendrick was awarded this year’s Bruton Smith Legends Award. The honor is a lifetime achievement award given to a legendary figure in motorsports. Hendrick is known for establishing one of the winningest organizations in NASCAR. The team owner of four of NASCAR’s most recognizable drivers (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin) has set the standard of excellence in motorsports.
Edwards, who became the first Sprint Cup Series driver to sweep both races at Texas Motor Speedway last year (the Samsung 500 and Dickies 500), earned the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year. Edwards led nearly half the Sprint Cup Series laps run last year at TMS, leading 335 of 673 laps. His two wins placed him atop the list for most wins by a Sprint Cup Series driver at “The Great American Speedway!” with three. Dixon received the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award. Dixon earned his first TMS victory during last year’s Bombardier Learjet 550k en route to the IndyCar Series championship.(TMS PR)(4-2-2009)

Labonte to provide ride to school: Texas native #96-Bobby Labonte and Ask.com are going to provide one lucky Dallas/Fort Worth-area fifth grade student the opportunity to get a ride from Labonte in the Ask.com Ford Fusion on Thursday, April 2 in conjunction with the Ask.com Safe Search Schools program. The program promotes the importance of parents playing a key role in keeping kids stay safe online. Along with a visit from Labonte, the winning school will receive new computers and a donation of Web Wise kids' fun which are computer games that teach Internet safety to parents and students through real-life simulation. Students will submit their Internet safety plan and a panel of judges will select the best entry.(TMS PR)(4-2-2009)

#18 team to honor Labonte UPDATE & IMAGE: Kyle Busch’s #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota will feature a special paint scheme for the Samsung 500 in honor of Corpus Christi, TX native Bobby Labonte, who will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Labonte was behind the wheel of the #18 Interstate Batteries car for 10 years with team owner Joe Gibbs, which includes his 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship and 21 Sprint Cup career victories. Busch took over the #18 Toyota in 2008, which is sponsored by Interstate Batteries this weekend. The special paint scheme will be on display between 6-7 p.m. at the Speedway Club, with a photo opportunity with Busch, Labonte, CEO of Interstate Batteries Norm Miller and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman/CEO Bruton Smith at 6:30pm. #96-Bobby Labonte and SMI Chairman Bruton Smith, who brought NASCAR back to Texas with the construction of Texas Motor Speedway, will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 1 in The Speedway Club's Grand Ballroom at Texas Motor Speedway. Labonte and Smith will be available for media interviews between 6-7 p.m. and the dinner ceremony will begin at 7:30pm. Proceeds of the event will benefit Happy Hill Farm, an academy and home for at-risk children.(TMS PR)(4-1-2009)
UPDATE and IMAGE: Kyle Busch will attempt to deliver something that has been high on the wish list for Interstate Batteries in their home state – a win at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in Fort Worth, located approximately 30 miles from Interstate’s company headquarters in Dallas. Busch will look for that elusive Sprint Cup victory at TMS in Sunday’s Samsung 500 Sprint Cup race. To add to the nostalgia of the coming weekend for Busch and the #18 team, their Toyota will sport the retro green and bright-red paint scheme that is similar to the one used on Labonte’s car during his 2000 championship season. The scheme coincides with Labonte’s induction into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Wednesday evening, a ceremony that Busch and Miller will attend. Busch will also sport a logo in honor of Labonte’s induction on the rear decklid of his Interstate Batteries Toyota. While Interstate has gone to victory lane at 12 different racetracks in the last 17 years, including prestigious venues such as Daytona International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Interstate and its distributors and dealers desperately want to add Texas to that list.(True Commincations/JGR PR), see an image of the scheme amd tribute on the #18 Team Schemes page.(4-1-2009)

Labonte and Andretti Discuss Benefits of 2009 Testing Rules: In response to the troubling economy, NASCAR implemented a new policy for the 2009 season that banned testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks. Although several teams were skeptical of the change when it was first administered, most teams now agree that it has helped make everyone more competitive with their given budget. NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte and John Andretti discuss the effects of the new policy.
Bobby Labonte, Driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford and President of Breaking Limits: “I think the new policy that NASCAR implemented this year was the right thing to do. Looking back on it, if they (NASCAR) didn’t do anything and we were testing like normal, it would be disastrous for a lot of teams. I’m sure it’s saving them a lot of money in that area. I’m sure they’re spending it in another. I can’t see the difference at the race track, basically. I’m not sure that you’d want to do this every year, but it’s definitely been good not having some teams waste or spend their money. At this point in time, all the teams are pretty strong because they’ve been able to figure things out pretty fast and they’ve adapted quickly to it.”
John Andretti, Driver of the #34 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet: “I think the new testing policy has served its purpose. It’s helped reduce the separation between the 'haves,' 'have-nots' and even the 'have-less.' Some of the more well-funded teams have found ways to test. There are still tracks that you can test at that might help you prepare for an upcoming race, but it’s only a slight advantage. When you arrive for a race weekend, there won’t be a team with a head and shoulders advantage over anyone else. Everyone will begin at nearly the same starting point and that’s because of the testing policy, so it’s definitely helped keep the playing field level in the tough economic times.”(Breaking Limits PR)(3-26-2009)

Special scheme for the #96 at Martinsville: This week in Martinsville, Bobby Labonte fans might be surprised to see Tracy Pan of San Francisco riding alongside him as the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion aims for Victory Lane. Well, not literally riding alongside him, but her name will adorn the hood of the Hall of Fame Racing machine thanks to her superior work as an Online Marketing Manager for Labonte’s primary sponsor, Ask.com. The ‘Askers on the #96’ program will continue throughout the 2009 NASCAR season to recognize the hard work of Ask.com employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. As the ‘Official Search Engine of NASCAR’ Ask.com continues to reward both fans and employees for their loyalty through offerings like ‘Askers on the #96’ and the Ask.com NASCAR Trivia Challenge, a sweepstakes rewarding fans with $100,000 for downloading the Ask.com NASCAR toolbar for free or answering a new racing question everyday at Ask.com.(Taylor PR)(3-25-2009)

Different look for Labonte at Bristol: The #96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford of Bobby Labonte will make its debut this weekend with an Academy Sports + Outdoors paint scheme; the first of five races with one of the nation’s largest sporting goods retailers as primary sponsor.(HOF Racing PR), see image of scheme on the #96 Team Schemes page.(3-19-2009)

Bobby Labonte to be Inducted to Texas Motorsports Hall Of Fame: Corpus Christi's [TX] own #96-Bobby Labonte will soon be part of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. He'll be inducted April 1 at Texas Motor Speedway. Still going strong on NASCAR's Sprint Cup Circuit, Labonte has notched 21 career victories and nearly 200 top ten finishes, to go with the series championship he won in 2000. He currently sits 23rd in points after four races. His best finish this year was fifth at the Shelby 427 in Las Vegas.(kristv.com)
The Flowserve Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremony benefits Happy Hill Farm Academy in association with Speedway Children’s Charities. The 500-acre working farm located just south of Granbury, Texas, provides specialized services for children who need another start in life. Happy Hill Farm Academy serves children with a broad range of behavioral and academic issues sometimes a result of abuse and neglect. The environment provided at Happy Hill Farm Academy allows residents to flourish in a non-traditional setting. Tables for this year’s gala range from $1,500 to $10,000. To reserve your table, call (254) 897-4822.(TMS)(3-17-2009)

Marine to visit Labonte's Pit at Atlanta: #96-Bobby Labonte will have a special guest this Sunday during the Kobalt Tools 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Labonte will host Sergeant Justin Hussey of the United States Marine Corps. Hussey, currently stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, NC, has already made two tours overseas for both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Hussey will meet Labonte on the starting grid prior to Sunday’s event. “You never want to take our military for granted,” said Labonte. “If there is a way to recognize the people who are sacrificing for our country, I think it’s important to help. If we’re making a special day for Justin, that’s pretty cool. He has already done a lot for me.”(Breaking Limits PR)(3-6-2009)

School visits by Labonte and Johnson: #48-Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to visit Hampton’s Lovejoy High School to donate a set of Kobalt Tools as part of the Tough Tools for Cool Schools program on Friday at 10:00am/et. Lowe’s, Kobalt Tools and SkillsUSA have partnered to provide approximately $300,000 worth of Kobalt Tools to more than 500 SkillsUSA Building and Construction Trade Classes and Labs across the county. Johnson’s #48 Chevy will also showcase a Tough Tools for Cool Schools paint scheme, which he will race on April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. See an image of it on the #48 Team Schemes page.
AND Prior to qualifying at for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bobby Labonte will give a deserving fifth grader a ride to school before presenting Cotton Indian Elementary in Stockbridge with a computer donation on behalf of Ask.com and the Safe Search School program. The Safe Search School presentation featuring Bobby Labonte will take place on Friday, March 6 at 7:30am/et. Launched in the Atlanta area last month as a partnership between Ask.com, Web Wise Kids and NASCAR, the Safe Search School Program promotes internet safety education and awareness. Local Atlanta teachers and students participated in the program by visiting www.safesearchschools.com, conducting Internet safety lessons and submitting their own ideas for how teach fellow students to be safe online. Cotton Indian Elementary was selected from nearly 200 entries by a Blue Ribbon Panel, comprised of Jim Safka, chief executive officer of Ask.com; Mike Helton, president of NASCAR; Judi Westberg Warren, president of Web Wise Kids; and Bobby Labonte.(AMS PR)(3-5-2009)

#96 Hall of Fame Racing goes green: JuicedHybrid.com, a sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series with Hall of Fame Racing’s #96 car, is joining together with Hall of Fame to further the team’s green initiative. In an effort to offset the #96 team's carbon footprint, a green associate sponsorship partnership was developed among Hall of Fame Racing, Ask.com, primary sponsor on the #96 car, and JuicedHybrid.com, the leading supplier of auto accessories for hybrid cars and trucks, for the first 18 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.The program will measure and offset carbon emissions for the #96 Sprint Cup entry during each practice session, qualifying session, and the race. It will also offset the carbon emissions for the #96 Ask.com transporter and Bobby Labonte’s travel to and from each NASCAR race. Carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions, the principal cause of global warming. The amount of the emissions created during standard racing activities of the #96 Ford Fusion will be offset through investments made by Ask.com and Juicedhybrid.com in clean energy projects such as solar energy and wind farms by purchasing credits though TerraPass. These projects result in verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In support of additional efforts to address the environment, NASCAR, the sport’s sanctioning body, is developing an industry-wide green initiative led by Dr. Mike Lynch. The initiative will include the sport’s various stakeholders and will seek to mobilize the NASCAR fan base in this important issue.(Volume PR)(3-3-2009)

#96 to carry 2nd name on car at Vegas: For the first time, the #96 Ask.com Ford scheme will include a name other than Bobby Labonte on the car. Ask.com has created an employee initiative program which awards outstanding employees with a space on the Hall of Fame Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry each week. This week’s employee is Steve Orr.(Yates Racing PR)(2-26-2009)

Yates Names Business Development Team: Yates Racing announced Jon Sands as Vice-President and Mark Gendle as Director of Business Development for the three-tiered Sprint Cup Series entry to include the #98, #28 and #96 Hall of Fame Ford. The duo will also support the #98 Nationwide Series entry with Paul Menard. Sands joined Roush Fenway Racing in 2001 after excelling in numerous areas of motorsports marketing. Sands experience ranges from Phoenix's Firebird International Raceway, New York-based Cohn & Wolfe where he oversaw Pennzoil Sprint Cup Series program, and Coors Brewing Company's Cup Series endeavors. At Roush Fenway Racing, his responsibilities included securing primary sponsorships as well as developing specialized, integrated marketing communication programs that make such sponsorship programs profitable to the client. Gendle joined Roush Fenway's marketing team after a four-year tenure with Raycom Sports. At Raycom, Gendle developed sales and marketing strategies for regional television coverage of both basketball and football in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference. His motorsports experience began at Elevation Motorsports where he worked with clients like General Mill, UPS and Masterfoods USA.(Yates Racing PR)(1-30-2009)

Academy Sports + Outdoors sponsoring Labonte for 5 races: Hall of Fame Racing announced that Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leader in the sports and outdoor industry, will sponsor Bobby Labonte and the #96 Ford for five races in the Sprint Cup Series in 2009. Academy Sports + Outdoor's will debut with the # 96 Academy Sports + Outdoor Ford at Bristol Motor Speedway. The retail leader will again race at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500, Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Pep Boys Auto 500 and Talladega Superspeedway in the Amp Energy 500. (Yates Racing PR)(1-28-2009)

Search Engine, Ask.com, Clarifies NASCAR Partnership: Search engine, Ask.com, and operating business of IAC, has issued clarification with regard to its recent announcement concerning the Hall of Fame Racing Agreement. The arrangement involves Ask as the primary sponsor of the #96 Ask Ford in the Sprint Cup Series. Mary Osako, SVP Worldwide Communications at Ask.com remarked, ''To clarify, Ask.com will be the primary sponsor on the #96 car in 18 of the first 21 races, but the overall agreement with Hall of Fame Racing entails the purchase of primary sponsorship rights to 29 races in total for the 2009 season. We apologize for any confusion.''(Hosting News)(1-21-2009)

Menard to get owners pts from other Yates team UPDATE: from a NASCAR Press Conference at Daytona for the Fanfest. NASCAR Ramsey Poston asked the questions: Has any determination been made at Yates what the point affiliation will be for your team? Are you going to start from scratch? Are you going to get one of the other cars on points, and is there more concern or more excitement about starting out the year with a totally new bunch and how critical is it going to be to gel quickly with that group?
PAUL MENARD [#98 Menard's Ford]: As far as I know we're getting points so we'll be locked in. I'm not sure if it's #28 or #38 points, but one of them will slide over.(NASCAR PR)(1-17-2009)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing today the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion and Bobby Labonte as the manufacturers’ wild card entry into the famed Budweiser Shootout following NASCAR’s rule change on Friday. “The #96 joined the Ford family at the right time,” said Hall of Fame Racing Co-Owner, Tom Garfinkel. “We’re pleased to get Hall of Fame and Ask.com into the Shootout and have an early chance to start working towards solid top-five and top-10 finishes this season. We are pleased to be working with Bobby Labonte and Yates Racing and look forward to seeing this combination of talent come together for the first time in the Shootout.” Labonte and the #96 will also receive Yates Racing points from the #38, piloted by David Gilliland in 2008. The transfer will put the #96 in 27th position going into the Daytona 500 in February. Yates Racing’s #98 Menards Ford Fusion will start the 2009 season in 23rd position after a points transfer from the #28. Paul Menard will drive the machine for the full 2009 season. Travis Kvapil will start the season as a fresh entry in the #28 Yates Racing Ford. Sponsorship opportunities are available; please contact Jon Sands with Yates Racing at 704-720-4621.(Yates Racing PR)(1-19-2009)

Yates and HOF partner up, new sponsor UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing [#96] and Yates Racing [#28, #38, #98], are forging a relationship that is expected to include sponsorship from Ask.com, one of the few companies with new money to spend in the sport.(Sports Business Journal)(1-12-2009)
UPDATE - Ask.com Enters NASCAR with Multi-Faceted Partnerships: Ask.com, a leading search engine and an operating business of IAC, announced it has entered into partnerships NASCAR, NASCAR.com, and Hall of Fame Racing. Under the terms of the partnership with NASCAR, Ask becomes the Official Search Engine of NASCAR, with category exclusivity and a broad set of promotional rights in order to reach the sport’s estimated 75 million loyal fans.
“As part of our strategy to go deeper into the highest-volume categories and provide the best answer, the first time, every time, we want to be the first place fans search online for NASCAR information,” said Ask.com Chief Executive Officer Jim Safka. “Through these partnerships, we will break new ground by applying our semantic search technology capabilities to NASCAR-related content while also tapping one of the largest marketing channels in America. Our goal is to win over the millions of loyal fans by providing them with the best NASCAR search experience on the Web, and introduce them to all of Ask’s capabilities when they come.”
Ask.com’s agreement with Hall of Fame Racing will make Ask the primary sponsor of the #96 Ask Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, the sport’s premier level, giving the brand a frequent presence in front of NASCAR’s massive at-track crowds and broadcast audiences. Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will pilot the car in 2009, beginning with the Daytona 500 in February. Ask.com is also in discussions with NASCAR-sanctioned track operators and media rights holders to identify strategic opportunities that will allow the brand to reach the sport’s 75 million fans through on- and off-line channels during the 2009 NASCAR season, including at-track displays and in-arena media. Tom Garfinkel, Owner, Hall of Fame Racing: “Jeff Moorad and I are excited to add Ask.com as a primary sponsor on the #96 car. We’ve been working closely with Ask.com for several weeks now, and their talented management team has come up with more creative ideas to serve NASCAR fans than I’ve seen in a long time. With our new Yates partnership and having a true champion and class person in Bobby Labonte behind the wheel, we’re expecting great things on the race track as well.”
Bobby Labonte, Driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford: “I’m excited to be part of what Ask.com is bringing to our sport. In a time like this, it’s great to see a sponsor come in with technology and ideas that will help all of the competitors in NASCAR and enhance the experience for all of our fans, no matter which driver or team they cheer for.”(Ask.com/Taylor PR)(1-14-2009)

Yates and HOF partner up, new sponsor UPDATE2 Labonte to drive: Hall of Fame Racing [#96] and Yates Racing [#28, #38, #98], are forging a relationship that is expected to include sponsorship from Ask.com, one of the few companies with new money to spend in the sport.(Sports Business Journal), no other details mentioned.(1-12-2009)
UPDATE: Yates Racing and Hall of Fame Racing (HOF) announced an alignment of their two teams. Under the agreement, Yates Racing will operate the #96 Sprint Cup entry of Hall of Fame Racing for the full 2009 Sprint Cup schedule. Doug Yates and Max Jones will continue as co-owners of Yates Racing, while Tom Garfinkel and Jeff Moorad will continue as co-owners of Hall of Fame Racing. With the recent expansion of the Yates Racing facilities, the #96 Ford Fusion will operate out of the Yates Racing complex, located in Concord, N.C. “This partnership with Hall of Fame is a great stepping stone for the Yates organization,” said Max Jones, co-owner and General Manager of Yates Racing. “Through this partnership, we are able to continue the expansion of our shop and field another Sprint Cup entry. We, along with Ford Racing, welcome Hall of Fame Racing and look forward to a very successful season.”
“Jeff Moorad and I knew it would take time to construct the right model to improve our competitive position in the sport and we think we’ve come a long way to achieving that through our association with Yates Racing,” said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. “We’re proud to be associated with Doug and Max and Ford Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.” The Hall of Fame Racing entry will make its competitive debut at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, February 12 during the Gatorade 150 qualifying races.(Yates Racing PR)(1-13-2009)
UPDATE 2: sources tell me that Labonte could drive for Yates Racing, which may be the #96 Ford which makes sense since the #96 is out of the top 35 in owners points and Labonte is a past Cup champ, so he would have a past champions provisional to use [since Labonte was the Champ in 2000, he would get the spot before #21-Bill Elliott, who was the 1988 champ, but after #14-Stewart, who was a champ in 2005], also hearing the #98 Yates Racing Ford will use the #38 Yates Racing owners points for the 1st five races, guaranteeing Paul Menard and sponsor Menards of making the 1st five races of 2009.
AND Labonte will drive the #96 car for Yates Racing, multiple sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday. Hall of Fame Racing announced earlier in the day that it has aligned itself with Yates Racing to run the 96 for the entire Sprint Cup season. Team officials said a driver announcement would come on Wednesday. Sources said Labonte, who had been in discussions with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for the #8 car, will be that driver as part of a three-car operation. Sources said the car will be sponsored by Ask.com. Labonte and Yates officials could not be reached for comment regarding Labonte.(ESPN)(1-13-2009)
AND II:NASCAR.com is reporting: Bobby Labonte will drive the #96 Ford in 2009, three sources on Tuesday evening. A formal announcement is to be made Wednesday, according to the sources, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.(NASCAR.com)(1-13-2009)

Hall of Fame Racing done? UPDATE 2 denied: hearing from many sources that Hall of Fame Racing, which ran many drivers in the #96 Toyota in 2008, is selling off cars and equipment and most of the work force has been laid off and is not expected to start the season, if run at all.(1-6-2009)
UPDATE: Unless something surprising happens, it appears the Hall of Fame Racing team won't be competing full-time in the 2009 Cup season, if at all. No one involved on the #96 car has said anything official, but the shop is dormant at the moment. One individual involved in the team said the organization already has sold some of its equipment. The team does not have a manufacturer lined up and hasn't announced a driver. DLP/Texas Instruments, which was the primary sponsor since the team's inception in 2006, is only on the car for a few races in 2009. No other sponsors have been announced. The best-case scenario for the team is to sell the number, and whatever sponsorship the #96 has, to a larger Cup team. Team co-owner Jeff Moorad is finalizing a purchase of the San Diego Padres after resigning this week as CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Clearly, the Cup team isn't his top priority at the moment. Moorad and Tom Garfinkel bought HOFR in 2007 from original owners and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, who partnered with Bill Saunders to form the team.(ESPN.com)(1-6-2009)
UPDATE 2: Hall of Fame Racing will compete in the Daytona 500 and race during the 2009 Sprint Cup season, according to a team co-owner. Tom Garfinkel, an Arizona Diamondbacks executive who owns the single-car organization along with Jeff Moorad, said in an e-mail that Hall of Fame "will be racing at Daytona and in 2009." Speculation has swirled around the #96 operation since the team cut ties with Joe Gibbs Racing -- with which it had a technical alliance -- laid off several employees, and reportedly slowed production. The team has sponsorship from DLP, but that deal is not believed to be for the entire season. Moorad, formerly chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks, resigned from that position this week to spearhead an ownership bid for the San Diego Padres. It is unclear whether Moorad's move will affect the race team. Garfinkel, the Diamondbacks' executive vice president, said more details on Hall of Fame Racing's 2009 plans will follow in the coming weeks.(NASCAR.com)(1-6-2009)

HOF Racing owner resigns from MLB job: #96 Hall of Fame Racing co-owner Jeff Moorad has resigned as Arizona Diamondbacks chief executive officer and says he has reached an agreement in principle to buy the San Diego Padres. Moorad said Friday he heads a "small but significant" group of investors that has an exclusive right to complete the specifics of negotiations with Padres owner John Moores. Moorad said he hopes the transaction can be completed in the next three months.(ESPN.com), no word how or if this will effect the running of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota team. Rumors have the team laying off most of the employees, losing support from Joe Gibbs Racing and having only partial sponsorhip for the 2009 season.(1-3-2009)

Coleman out at Hall of Fame UPDATE: #96-Brad Coleman's fortunes changed quickly [after leaving Baker Curb's Nationwide Series team and planning on a Cup ride with Hall of Fame Racing]. According to Hall of Fame Racing, Coleman is now a free agent. He is no longer under contract to Hall of Fame. (ESPN.com)(11-13-2008)
UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said Saturday he hopes to bring driver Brad Coleman back to the team’s Nationwide Series operation in 2009. Coleman was a part-time Gibbs driver in 2007 but left for a full-time ride with Baker Curb Racing this season. Coleman left Baker Curb for a shot at Hall of Fame Racing’s Sprint Cup ride, but that deal didn’t work out, and Coleman was on the sidelines for the latter stages of 2008. “All the non-combo events, we would love to have Brad,” Gibbs said. “We’re kinda working with [Brad’s father] Brandon, and hopefully we can work something out. Brad’s awesome to work with. We wish we could’ve kept working with him. It just didn’t work out.”(SceneDaily)(11-25-2008)

HOF Racing layoffs? UPDATE: on Monday, a large layoff at #96 Hall of Fame Racing, supposedly due to lack of full sponsorship. Also, the current Hall of Fame Racing shop building is up for sale.(11-18-2008)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Arizona Diamondbacks executives, will cut its staff even if it secures sponsorship to run a full 2009 season. HoF general manager Tyler Epp said Tuesday employees were told no one will be laid off before the end of November, as team officials search for more funding. But with 44 employees for a single car operation, Epp said the team is overstaffed. "The reality is we ran 39th in points this year and personnel changes are going to be made," Epp said. "And we simply have too many people for a one-car team. We're going to have a reduction no matter what happens." Epp said the team is close on several possibilities, but a merger with another small NASCAR team is not likely at this time. The team has partial sponsorship from DLP HDTV for next season. Hall of Fame originally was formed by former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, but they sold their interest in the team last year to Diamondbacks executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel. Moorad is the Diamondbacks' chief executive officer, and Garfinkel is the chief operating officer. The team had a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, but Epp said the agreement most likely will not carry into 2009 as the team searches for a new partner. Depending on whom they lease their motors from - and JGR is still a possibility, Epp said - the team could also have a manufacturer switch.(Associated Press)
AND: Epp said it was unlikely his team – whose ownership group is led by Arizona Diamondback executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel – would merge with another team for 2009. “It’s been a rough year of transition, but that doesn’t change the intent and the model we’re trying to build,” Epp said. “Whenever you merge two different groups, you have to compromise on things, and we don’t want to compromise [certain] things.” As far as a driver for next year, Epp said he has had talks with at least six drivers whom he would be interested in having for 2009. “I can’t say enough about Ken Schrader and the job he’s done this year,” Epp said. “He’s certainly on the list.” Epp added that the team most likely will not be an affiliate of Joe Gibbs Racing next season, but he would like to remain with Toyota. He said the team likely would contract a body hanger, and the team also would need to find an engine supplier. Epp also said the team also is working on extending its lease for the building from Herzog Motorsports. The lease runs through December.(SceneDaily)(11-19-2008)

Woods and HOF? UPDATE: Len and Eddie Wood [#21 Ford] say they've got their sponsorship deals in place for 2009, with Ford Motor Company and Motorcraft. But they are noncommittal about reports that the six team owners of the one-car Hall of Fame Racing operation (which runs #96 and is officially owned by Jeff Moorad,) are negotiating with the Woods to become Ford partners next season [Jayski Note: Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Bill Saunders and Mark Griege are no longer part of the ownership group on the #96 as of about a month ago]. Ken Schrader, a former driver for the Woods, is the Moorad team's current driver. Moorad has been running a Toyota operation this season, with engineering support from Joe Gibbs; but that support contract is apparently up at the end of this season.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-27-2008)
UPDATE: A relationship with the legendary #21 Wood Brothers and Ford is an option for the #96 team owned by Arizona Diamondbacks' executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel. "It's fair to say we're assessing all of our options," said Moorad. "We should know in the next couple of weeks. Our intention is the 96 continues, but we're open-minded. We've talked to a couple of teams about some interesting merger possibilities and yet we may be in business on our own." The team currently gets its Toyota chassis and engines from Joe Gibbs Racing, a deal that expires at season's end. Multiple sources told The Republic it's not expected the #96 will continue with Toyota. The Wood Brothers have long been with Ford.(Arizona Republic)(11-11-2008)

Congrats - John Fuller: Comptroller at Hall of Fame Racing, John Fuller and his wife Tami welcomed a new member to the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team yesterday [Wednesday] evening as Allison Mae Fuller was welcomed into the world at 5:58pm. Allison weighed 7 lbs. 14 ounces and her length was 21.5 inches. Mother and daughter are doing very well.(11-6-2008)

HOF Racing looking at changes in 2009, needs sponsorship: The new owners [Diamondbacks' executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel] inherited a contract to get engines and chassis from Joe Gibbs Racing, which switched to Toyota from Chevrolet [after 2007]. Driver J.J. Yeley soon discovered he didn't have the same equipment as Gibbs' drivers Busch, Tony Stewart or Denny Hamlin. There wasn't an exchange of technical information, as often happens between other teams with similar deals. "Hall of Fame Racing thought the relationship it had with Joe Gibbs Racing was better than it was," Yeley said. "Because they thought they had a better product than they really did, it almost made them blind that they had a problem." Garfinkel admitted, "We inherited a contract that didn't have a lot of flexibility to it. It was more of a customer-supplier relationship than an alliance. We were hopeful we could evolve the relationship in that direction, and that didn't take place." Joey Logano, who takes over Stewart's #20 Camry next year, drove the #96 twice and didn't finish better than 32nd. "It was different than what I was used to driving after doing a lot of testing with Gibbs," he said. Yeley struggled even after a crew chief change. "They (owners) started hanging that blame and pressure on me. I hope now they realize it wasn't the driver. There were promises of big-name crew chiefs and a lot of testing. These were things we never really got to do." Yeley didn't qualify for four of 21 races, triggering a clause that reduced DLP's sponsorship. He said he renegotiated his contract to free-up money and that about a half-dozen employees were let go with him. Garfinkel said the changes were performance related. Yeley won the prestigious 4-Crown USAC midget feature in September but isn't entered in PIR's Thursday night Copper World Classic. He hired a marketing firm and said about $12 million in sponsorship would get him into a Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy next season. The #96 isn't fully sponsored for 2009, and there's no new contract with Gibbs. "The team will be in a different sort of model next year," said Garfinkel. "Jeff and I are going through different options."(Arizona Republic)(11-5-2008)

Hall of Fame Racing, JGR decide to remove Logano from #96: Joey Logano will no longer pilot Hall of Fame Racing's #96 Toyota in 2008, team co-owner Tom Garfinkel told ESPN.com Tuesday. Garfinkel said the decision was mutual between his team and Joe Gibbs Racing, for whom Logano is under a multi-year driving contract. "It's a joint decision," Garfinkel said. "We talked to Gibbs and both decided that, for [Logano's] development and for our team, this the best thing for all of us. The best thing for all of us is for them to focus on Joey's development, and us to focus on our team." Seeking to gain experience in preparation for his 2009 rookie campaign in Gibbs' #20 Toyota, Logano was scheduled to run five of the final 10 races of the current season in the Hall of Fame #96 -- a Gibbs satellite operation. He was to return to the #96 at Lowe's Motor Speedway next week, and also was scheduled to drive for Hall of Fame at Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Sprint Cup veteran Ken Schrader will drive the #96 at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, and likely the rest of the season. Joe Gibbs Racing officials were not immediately available for comment.(ESPN.com)(9-30-2008)

Logano's Cup debut up in the air UPDATE 3 NO #02, to the #96 NHMS: a Joe Gibbs Racing spokesman said team officials were discussing options for when Joey Logano's Cup debut would occur and in what vehicle. Hall of Fame Racing, a JGR ally, had previously announced Logano would run that team's #96 Toyota next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(NASCAR.com)(9-6-2008)
UPDATE: J.D. Gibbs said Sunday that Joey Logano will race next week in the Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As-yet undecided is whether the 18-year-old phenom will be driving the #02 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota he was scheduled to drive this weekend at Richmond International Raceway, or whether he’ll stick with the #96 Hall of Fame Racing ride he’s supposed to be in. If he does drive for HoF, the #96 will carry Home Depot sponsorship, Gibbs said, although he acknowledged he has not talked to Hall of Fame officials about what the final plan will be. “We’ve still got to work out some more details,” Gibbs said Sunday morning at Richmond International Raceway. “Right now, we want the first race to be in the Home Depot car and we’ve got a few options to figure out, but next week, he will be in the car racing.”(SPEEDtv)(9-8-2008)
UPDATE 2: Forty-five cars are currently entered for the Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 this weekend, but Joey Logano will be entered in an additional entry since Joe Gibbs Racing has decided to field a fourth car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano originally was supposed to drive the #96 Hall of Fame Racing car at New Hampshire. The 18-year-old driver, who takes over JGR's #20 Cup car next year being vacated by Tony Stewart, was supposed to make his Cup debut last week at Richmond but did not qualify when rain washed out time trials. JGR wanted Logano to make his debut in a Home Depot car and therefore plans to enter the #02 for the New Hampshire race, according to a team spokesman. Ken Schrader will drive the #96 car for Hall of Fame. Other entries for this weekend's race include Chad McCumbee in the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge in place of Kyle Petty. It is not uncommon for Petty to skip a race at New Hampshire, the site of where his son, Adam, was killed in a crash during Nationwide Series practice in 2000.(SceneDaily)(9-9-2008)
UPDATE 3: Despite reports putting Joey Logano in the #02 car for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend, a source with direct knowledge of the situation tells Rowdy that Joey will in fact pilot the #96 car as originally planned this weekend in the Sylvania 300. Home Depot, Logano's 2009 sponsor, will be the primary sponsor on the car replacing the #96's usual primary, DLP, which will assume an associate role for the race.(Rowdy.com)
AND Hall of Fame Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing officials announced Wednesday that Joey Logano will attempt to qualify the #96 Home Depot/DLP HDTV Toyota for this weekend’s Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ken Schrader, who was listed on the entry list in the #96 Toyota, is scheduled to return to the car for next weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing has withdrawn the #02 Toyota which had been entered at New Hampshire for Logano. The #96 Toyota will have a Home Depot/DLP HDTV paint scheme similar to the #02 Home Depot Toyota that Joe Gibbs Racing fielded for Logano last week at Richmond. Logano did not race at Richmond as qualifying was cancelled due to rain and the #02 did not have enough owner points to make the 43-car starting field.(HOF Racing PR)(9-10-2008), see the New Hampshire Entry List.

Coleman Expects to drive #96 again this year: Brad Coleman was hoping to be racing at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. Now he's unsure of exactly when he will get back in the seat of a race car. But he expects it will be before the end of the year. The 20-year-old driver started the season as a development driver for Hall of Fame Racing and is under contract with the team for 2009. Coleman drove the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Sprint Cup car at Michigan, but has not raced the car since then. "I've learned how to deal with adversity in this business," Coleman said. "You can have something bad happen at any time. You can be having the best year of your career and then before the year is over, it will turn into your worst pretty quickly. You've always just got to remember to keep your head up and never give up. … I have no idea [about my 2009 schedule]. I want to get as much seat time as I can." Coleman tested the Cup car this past week at Kansas Speedway in a Goodyear tire test and the team has indicated that it is still committed to his development.(SceneDaily.com)(8-31-2008)

Hall of Fame Racing announces Driver Plans for Upcoming Races: Rookie Joey Logano will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in five Sprint Cup Series races for Hall of Fame Racing, team officials announced Wednesday. Logano, who is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and will drive the #20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in Sprint Cup starting in 2009, will pilot the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in five Sprint Cup races in 2008, beginning at New Hampshire. Logano will also drive the #96 at Kansas, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Martinsville and Texas. Logano, 18, will make his Sprint Cup debut next weekend at Richmond driving the #02 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hall of Fame Racing receives chassis, engines and manufacturing support from Joe Gibbs Racing. Veteran Ken Schrader, who started seventh and finished 21st in the DLP HDTV Toyota last weekend at Bristol, will drive the #96 Toyota in this weekend's Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif then at Richmond, Dover and Talladega. Brad Coleman, who has been under contract as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, will continue to test for the team in the coming weeks. "Ken Schrader brings practical experience and stability to our race team that will help in a lot of ways," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "Brad did a great job testing for us at Kansas this week, and Ken will be an asset to Brad as we continue to get him more laps in a Sprint Cup car."(Hall of Fame Racing PR), Logano is also schedule to run TWO races for JGR in the #02 Home Depot Toyota, at Richmond and Atlanta.(8-27-2008)

Hall of Fame Racing looking at options UPDATE mergers and Mayfield? The joke among teams at the back of the garage is that it's the mergers and acquisitions section, a reference to all the talk of teams selling to investors or merging. "Just about everything you can imagine in this garage, people talking to people,'' said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing [#96 Toyota], of all the possibilities. So, what about Hall of Fame Racing? "We're evaluating all our options for next year ... to be able to build a great team and be competitive in the future,'' Garfinkel said. Garfinkel said that the team would like to remain with Toyota, "but as we look at other team situations, some of them require different manufacturers and so we're having those conversations as well.''(Roanome Times)(8-24-2008)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing doesn’t have a full-time driver for the rest of 2008, and the team is looking at a variety of options for 2009 on both who will drive and how many cars the team will have. Those options include a possible merger/acquisition of another team, Hall of Fame Racing co-owner Tom Garfinkel said Saturday. “As we look at other teams’ situations, some of them require different manufacturers and we’re having those conversations as well,” Garfinkel said. As far as a driver, the team had Ken Schrader in the car at Bristol. It likely will put Joey Logano in the car later this year, but Garfinkel said he would not comment on those reports until after Joe Gibbs Racing’s announcement Monday, where it is expected that Logano will be named the full-time driver of the #20 Cup car next year. The team used Brad Coleman at Michigan and plans to use him more. He will participate in a Goodyear tire test this week at Kansas Speedway. As far as 2009, it could depend on whether Hall of Fame increases to two or more cars with a merger or acquisition. “We obviously still think a lot of Brad and [are] trying to get him ready,” said Garfinkel, whose team is outside the top 35 by 241 points. “At the same time … we want to put ourselves in the best position every weekend.”(SceneDaily) and also hearing Jeremy Mayfield could run some races in the #96 this season.(8-24-2008)

Schrader in the #96 at Bristol UPDATE2 Logano?: Ken Schrader is now listed on the Bristol entry list as the driver of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing/DLP Toyota for the Sharpie 500. Brad Coleman ran the car last week at Michigan and is scheduled to run in 7-10 races in the #96 for the rest of the season. See my updated Bristol Entry List.(8-20-2008)
UPDATE: Ken Schrader will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota for Hall of Fame Racing in this weekend's Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Ken Schrader has a lot of experience at Bristol and we felt with as competitive as the field will be this weekend, he gives us the best chance to be successful," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "Brad Coleman will test for us next week at Kansas Speedway and we plan on having Brad compete in more races throughout the remainder of the year. We look forward to working with Brad as he continues to gain experience at the Sprint Cup level." Coleman, who has served as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, made his Sprint Cup debut last weekend at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn [finished 38th.(True Speed Communications/Hall of Fame Racing PR), hearing Joey Logano could run a few races in the #96 also.(8-20-2008)
UPDATE 2: Between now and the end of the 2008 season, Joey Logano likely will make his Sprint Cup debut. Logano is expected to get his feet wet in a few races with the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team, which in the last four weeks has employed Ken Schrader, Brad Coleman, P.J. Jones and the since-sacked J.J. Yeley. Nothing is firmed up, HoF sources said, but a Logano debut later this season is likely as a prelude to the 18-year-old phenom taking over Tony Stewart’s #20 ride at Joe Gibbs Racing next season.(SPEEDtv)(8-23-2008)

Coleman to make Cup debut: For 20-year old Brad Coleman, historic Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, the 2-mile D-shaped oval nestled in the scenic Irish Hills region, will serve as the setting for his Sprint Cup Series debut. Coleman will drive the #96 DLP Hall of Fame Racing Toyota in 7-10 races in 2008 and starts from the 43rd place Sunday at MIS.(8-17-2008)

Yeley to sit Watkins Glen out? UPDATE 5 Yeley released, Coleman in rest of year: hearing that P.J. Jones will drive the #96 DLP Hall of Fame Racing Toyota at Watkins Glen in place or regular driver J.J. Yeley. Yeley failed to qualify for the last road course race at Infineon Raceway in June. Jones recently tested the #96 at Road Atlanta.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE: Jones has replaced Yeley on the Watkins Glen Entry List.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: P.J. Jones will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in Sunday's Centurion Boats at The Glen Sprint Cup Series race at the Watkins Glen International road course. Jones, who has seven Sprint Cup starts at The Glen with two top-10 finishes, takes over for Hall of Fame Racing's regular driver J.J. Yeley. "We appreciate P.J. helping out the team this weekend at Watkins Glen," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "P.J. is an experienced road racer and we look forward to having a great run with him in the DLP Toyota."(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 3: hearing that Yeley may not return to the #96 ride after Watkins Glen, no word if Jones takes over or if Tony Raines would come back or if the team has Brad Coleman take over.(8-6-2008)
UDPATE 4: hearing that Brad Coleman will drive the #96 starting at Michigan and for the rest of the year.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 5: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced that Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman, who has been under contract as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, will make his Sprint Cup Series debut by piloting the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in the Aug. 17 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Coleman will replace J.J. Yeley who has been released by the team.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(8-6-2008)

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