MISC DRIVERS news and rumors
Drivers without a ride [Truck, Nationwide, Cup] or other series who may run a Cup race or rumnored to Cup teams
Click on driver name to to the past news on that driver
- McGriff, 81, to attempt some West Series races: Hershel McGriff turned 81 in December but he scoffs at the idea of retirement. And he plans to prove it by entering three races in the Camping World West Series this summer. McGriff, a four-time winner in the Cup Series who made his NASCAR debut as a 22-year-old in the inaugural Southern 500 in 1950, plans to attempt to qualify at three road courses: June 20 at Infineon Raceway, July 19 at Portland International Raceway and Aug. 1 at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. "This is the first time they've run Portland since 1986, and I won that race, so I wanted to defend my title," said McGriff, who resided in nearby Bridal Veil for many years before moving to Arizona. McGriff's four Cup victories came during the 1954 season, as he traveled back and forth, running both the Grand National and Pacific Coast Late Model Series. McGriff won the 1986 Winston West championship and held Winston West records for most wins (35) and poles (35). He holds the record for most stock-car victories at Riverside International Raceway, where he won 14 times. He made his last Cup start at 65, finishing 43rd at Sonoma in 1993 after engine problems sidelined his #04 Chevrolet.(NASCAR.com)(5-12-2009) Comment here
- Castroneves and Motorsports agent aquitted: Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes. A federal jury acquitted Castroneves on six counts of tax evasion but was hung on one count of conspiracy. When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his attorneys for support. The jury also acquitted Katiucia Castroneves, 35, who is her 33-year-old brother's business manager, on the tax evasion counts but also hung on the conspiracy charge. Michigan motorsports attorney Alan Miller, 71, was acquitted on all three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy. The deliberations took six days after a six-week trial.(ESPN/AP)(4-18-2009)
- Skinner looking for a ride, has Daytona 500 ride: There are only three weeks until the NASCAR portion of Speed Weeks 2009 at Daytona International Speedway, and former Truck Series champion Mike Skinner is looking for a ride. Skinner has wheeled a Toyota for Bill Davis Racing since the end of the 2004 season. When Davis sold his team to Marty Gaunt and Mike Held last year, Skinner was told he had a job this season. "Two days before Christmas, I was told, 'Everything was fine,' " Skinner said Wednesday. "New Year's Day, they called me and said they weren't racing." Skinner's job loss came to light during a media conference call with Lee White, who directs Toyota Racing Development, the car company's racing arm. "There's a lot of effort going on right now to find a seat for Mike Skinner," White said. "Mike has been a great advocate for Toyota for four years. He's done a lot of great work for us. He and (wife) Angie are loved within the company, and we're working pretty hard with two or three other teams to find a quality seat in the Truck Series for him this year." Skinner said he's had discussions with several teams, including Randy Moss Motorsports. "What a great opportunity that would be," he said. "It would be a great mix, you know, NASCAR and the NFL. "We haven't gotten anything put together. I haven't seen a contract yet. I'm sure we'll get some help. I've only had five or six days to work on this." Skinner said he was upset not only about losing his ride, but the way the situation was treated by Triad Racing Technologies, owned by Gaunt and Held. "I've never had a contract jerked from under me because people handled it wrong," Skinner said. "I don't want to bad mouth anybody, but this was not very professional. I'm just glad Toyota is still behind us and wants to help us." Meanwhile, Skinner said he's "99 percent" sure he has a ride for the Daytona 500, just a one-race deal. He's not interested in returning to Sprint Cup as a full-time driver. "The Sprint Cup is fun, but I'm a racer, and I want to drive trucks," he said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-15-2009)
UPDATE: Angie Skinner writes on the discussion board -- Mike [Skinner] and I are driving up to NC today to meet with a potential team who seems excited to take on the #5 [Truck Series] guys and Skinner. Mike is looking to attempt the Daytona 500 in a car which Slugger Labbe is working on....this isn't a full time team…just a fun attempt at the great race.(Mike Skinner.com)(1-18-2009) Comment here
- see the #44 Team News and Links page
CASEY ATWOOD
Links:
- The rise and fall of Casey Atwood: The hullabaloo surrounding young NASCAR phenom Joey Logano is reminiscent of the media mania that engulfed Nashville teenager Casey Atwood nine years ago. At the time Atwood was breathlessly billed as “NASCAR’s next Jeff Gordon.” Hopefully Logano’s comet won’t flame out as quickly as Atwood’s. When Logano won this summer’s race at Kentucky Speedway shortly after his 18th birthday, he replaced Atwood in the record book as the youngest winner in the history of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. Logano has been accorded “can’t miss” status in terms of his superstar future. Atwood was given the same coronation when he came out of Fairgrounds Speedway. He was clean-cut, bright and personable, and a natural-born racer. He became an overnight success in the Busch Series and several top Sprint Cup team owners clamored for his autograph on a contract. See full story by Larry Woody at the Nashville City Paper.(8-19-2008) Comment here
- Casey Atwood in the #27 at Kansas With Special Paint Scheme: Casey Atwood will be making his first 2007 Busch Series start in the #27 VIVA / Breast Cancer Research Foundation Ford at Kansas. Atwood drove the #37 Brewco Ford at Dover last week. Beginning with the Yellow Transportation 300 at Kansas, VIVA brand towels will partner with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to help raise awareness and funds to combat breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the second consecutive year, VIVA will drive attention to this serious issue by showcasing a pink paint scheme and a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness. The #27 Brewco Ford will run the pink paint scheme at Lowes and Memphis as well as Kansas. Casey Atwood and the Brewco pit crew will wear the color pink for these three races. Also, the Kimberly-Clark trackside marketing display will have a special pink BCRF section.(Brewco PR)(9-26-2007)
- see the #66 Team News and Links page
- Said wins Bobsled Challenge: Boris Said has been bobsledding longer than any of the other drivers at the 3rd Annual Chevy Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering, but he's still learning new tricks. He utilized some of what he picked up Saturday morning to successfully defend his title. In his second championship run, Said shaved more than 1.5 seconds off his time to beat L.W. Miller and three other finalists. Said's two runs were 52.12 and 50.53 seconds, for a total time of 1:42.65. Miller, the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion, posted the fastest first run time at 52.11 and finished second overall at 1:43.37. Three-time NHRA Powerade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin was third with an overall time of 1:43.99, followed by former NASCAR driver Larry Gunselman at 1:44.90 and 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Donny Lia at 1:45.46.
See more on the Ongoing Charities page.
- Bodine wrecks in bobsled: former NASCAR Cup driver, Geoff Bodine was at Lake Pacid, NY on Sunday testing equipment. He crashed on his first trip, but changed runners and made it the next two runs down the course. Ironically, Bodine rolled it in the famous Trickle Turn (turn 18) where Dick was upended twice at the Bodine Bobsled Challenge in 2006.(PR)(10-18-2007)
- Ward's son to race at VIR in SCCA: Jeb Burton, 17-year old son of former NASCAR driver and Daytona 500 winner, Ward Burton, has been chosen as a guest driver for the season opener of Volkswagen of America, Inc.'s SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series, hosted by VIRginia International Raceway. Burton will also participate in all of the weekend's on and off-track events, including practice and qualifying and compete in the series' second race at VIRginia International Raceway at 2:00pm on April 26. The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. During the season, young, up and coming drivers between ages 16-26 compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season and the series champion will win $100,000. While Burton will be a full participant in the race at VIR, he is ineligible for driver points or prize money. Currently, Burton drives the No.27 State Water Heaters Chevy Impala in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway. He has participated in two races so far this season and finished in the top three at both.(Wardburton,com)(4-25-2009)
- Carpentier in the #55 for road course? UPDATE: hearing that Patrick Carpentier will drive the #55 NAPA Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing at the two road courses: Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen.(6-7-2009)
UPDATE: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced that Patrick Carpentier will drive the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry in the upcoming Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. “There are so many great road course racers competing in Sonoma this year, and as the owner and driver of the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, I am in a unique position,” said Waltrip who has two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in his NASCAR Sprint Cup road racing career. “If I see where I can improve my car’s performance then that’s exactly what I am going to do. I am a good road racer, but Patrick is a great road racer. I love being an owner and I want to get another win for NAPA. It will feel just as good if I get the victory for NAPA or watching from the pit box with Patrick driving the car. I appreciate NAPA allowing me to make these kind of personnel moves when I feel it is best for the team.”
Carpentier, who has 27 Sprint Cup Series and 12 Nationwide Series starts to his credit is also driving for MWR and sponsor NAPA in the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series event, the NAPA Auto Parts 200, at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on Aug. 30. He’ll be behind the wheel of the #99 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota with veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter calling the shots.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was approached with this opportunity. I am honored,” said Carpentier. “For me to work with a guy like Michael Waltrip, who is a legend in NASCAR, is an amazing opportunity. I really like driving these cars on the road courses. We will work hard and get some good things going at Infineon Raceway. It’s my goal to get a good finish and plenty of points for the NAPA Auto Parts team.”(MWR)(6-9-2009) Comment here
- Riggs-Baldwin parting ways after Coke 600 UPDATE: Scott Riggs is parting ways with #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing following the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the driver said Sunday. Riggs has qualified for eight of the first 12 races with a top finish of 25th in the Daytona 500. Riggs ran only 54 laps at Richmond and 101 laps at Darlington before his day ended because of mechanical issues. Riggs said Sunday he wasn’t optimistic that the #36 Toyota team could continue to compete for the full length of future events without significant sponsorship and that, combined with the team’s performance, made it time for him to leave. He will start the Coca-Cola 600 in the 43rd spot. “I’m a competitor and I’m a racer,” Riggs said. “… It kills my soul to know that we go to the race track and we’re not going to be competitive. Even if the car is competitive, we’re not going to be there around at the end to be competitive. I knew when we first started this deal it was going to be a possibility, I knew it was going to be hard and a struggle to get sponsorship and get it off the ground. … I just know we needed something to change.” Riggs said he and Baldwin talked about the situation this past weekend and the decision was made for him to leave.(SceneDaily)(5-25-2009)
UPDATE: on Monday's NASCAR Raceday, it was mentioned Mike Skinner will driver at Dover and races that do not conflict with the Truck Series races, Patrick Carpentier will run the five races that Skinner cannot and Brian Simo will run in the road courses.(5-25-2009) Comment here
- What's up with Patrick Carpentier? It's not exactly resurrecting a stagnant racing career, but Patrick Carpentier will be back behind the wheel for NASCAR's Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 2000 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August. The 37-year-old LaSalle native will drive the #99 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing Aug. 29-30 in what might be his only race action this year. Carpentier has been relocating from Las Vegas to a new home north of Montreal. He's also involved in the business of building and selling homes and has returned to Quebec, with his wife Anick and the couple's two children, to pursue studies to become a licensed contractor. "We've been buying and selling houses in the U.S., but to build houses and commercial properties here I need a license, so that's why I've gone back to school," he said. "People buy sports cars and things like that, but me I buy tools. I love tools (to build with). It's another passion besides racing and it's what I want to do after racing."(Montreal Gazette)(4-16-2009) Comment here
- see the #75 Team News and Links page
- Craven not retired, would take part-time ride: Ricky Craven hasn’t officially retired because he will still jump into a limited, part-time ride if the fit is right. And Craven still feels he can race competitively in any series, even though he has raced only once in any of the three major NASCAR divisions since 2005. But Craven maintains, as he has for the past two years, he is "no longer willing to give up all the other things it takes to be a [full-time] race car driver. The commitment requires being away from your family the majority of the year." So he keeps himself busy making up for lost time with wife K.K. and their three children (daughters Riley and Lydia and son Everett). And to help pay the bills, he writes a column on Yahoo.com, will do eight radio spots on Sirius Satellite radio, and he has launched a new career as a public speaker. The speaking career will take him to Afghanistan in the near future.(Bangor Daily News)(2-9-2008) Comment here.
- Craven's Charity Ride raises $110k: Wind chills exceeding 25 degrees below zero couldn't dampen spirits on Saturday in Greenville, Maine as 400 riders joined Ricky Craven for the 10th annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity. Ricky led 250 sleds on a 50 mile ride before making presentations to the ride's charities [total of $110,000].(Ricky Craven site)(1-28-2007)
- Stremme? Mayfield to Haas? UPDATE 2 Mayfield in the #66 NOW: hearing that both David Stremme, currently driving the #40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has also talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008; also hearing that Jeremy Mayfield, currently driving the #36 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008. Haas CNC Racing has already signed Scott Riggs [now in the #10 Dodge at GEM] to drive one of their cars for them in 2008, either the #66 Chevy currently driven by Jeff Green], the #70 Chevy [currently Johnny Sauter] or a possible third team. Stremme is also being rumored to others rides, including #10 GEM Dodge, Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing [if Horish decides not to run Cup in 2008 in their third car].(10-9-2007)
UPDATE Mayfield to Haas? on Sunday's SPEED Report, Bob Dilner reported that it looks like current Haas CNC Racing drivers, Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter will not return in 2008 and that Jeremy Mayfield is now the leading candidate to join the team. Scott Riggs was recently signed to drive for the team in 2008. Dilner also mentioned that Tony Furr could ended up back with Haas as Mayfield's crew chief, but Furr denied that.(10-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the Haas CNC Racing #66 Chevrolet, effective immediately, team general manager Joe Custer said Monday morning.
Mayfield also will join Scott Riggs in the driver lineup for next season but the alignment of the two drivers with car numbers in 2008 has not been determined, Custer said. Green is 27th in the series points standings. "[Green] did a good job for us, and we appreciate everything he did," Custer said. His replacement in the #36 Bill Davis Racing team for this weekend at Atlanta has not been announced. As far as the status of current Haas CNC Racing driver Johnny Sauter, Custer said Sauter (who is 31st in points) is under contract with the team and that "we're working through that" for 2008.(SceneDaily.com)(10-22-2007)
- Latest on Buckshot: Last Monday morning, while many of his former NASCAR peers were preparing to run the rain-delayed Auto Club 500 in California, Buckshot Jones was working traffic, too. But he was on I-85, far from the hustle and bustle of Sprint Cup racing, chauffeuring his sons Kolton and Levin to school in Norcross. And even though his NASCAR career never reached its full potential, he wouldn't have it any other way. He's now earning his living as a land developer and spending quality time with his kids, something many NASCAR drivers have little time to do. Still, he said, there are some lingering regrets about his racing career, which essentially ended midway through the 2002 season when he was released at age 31 by Petty Enterprises.(See full story at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-2-2008) Comment here
- Where's Buckshot? Quick. Hide the women and children, and slap a straitjacket on Randy LaJoie. Buckshot Jones might be headed back to the Busch Series. After running the Snowball Derby in December, Jones is scheduled to make eight Hooters Cup races this season for DMT Motorsports owners David Bowen and Mike Phelps. It's not a full-fledged return to the sport, but there are plans for Jones to possibly enter a couple of Busch Series events later this year at New Hampshire and Bristol.(NASCAR.com)(3-16-2007)
- Buckshot back racing in 2007: DMT Motorsports announced that former NASCAR Cup and Busch driver, Roy "Buckshot" Jones of Gwinnett County, Georgia, will be driving the #01 Southern Division Chevy for Bowen Family Homes in the 2007 Hooters Pro Cup. Buckshot last drove the number #44 Georgia-Pacific Dodge for Petty Enterprises in the Nextel Cup Series [actually his last NASCAR race was a Busch Series race in 2004 at Kentucky in the #1 Dodge for Phoenix Racing, last Cup race was at Talladega in Oct 2003 in Michael Waltrip's #00 Chevy].(Flammer Relations PR/USAR site)(12-13-2006)
BOBBY LABONTE
Links:
- signed with the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team (1-14-2009)
- More info on the #09 Team News and Links page.
see the #41 Team News and Links page
see the #87 Team News and Links page
- Steve Park Ready To Get Rolling: Steve Park’s long and successful racing career has taken him all over the map – from his days running the short tracks of the northeast to racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Dale Earnhardt Sr. The winding road has had its up and downs, and it has taken him back to the beginning, as he prepares to enter his second season of his second go-around in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. When he first came through the series back in 1996, it was known as the NASCAR Busch North Series and primarily based in the New England and New York. Park took on the likes of Dave Dion, Kelly Moore, and the late Stub Fadden – guys who have made their careers on the bullrings around the region. Fast forward more than a decade later. The series has evolved, stretching from its New England roots down the Atlantic Coast to South Carolina — where the 2009 season will kick off with Saturday’s season opener at the historic Greenville Pickens Speedway. The faces behind the wheel have changed to, as a fresh crop of development drivers look to replace the likes of Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne and Austin Dillon as stars-of-tomorrow who made their mark in the series and are now looking to establish themselves in one of NASCAR’s three national series.(NASCARHomeTracks.com)(4-9-2009) Comment here
- Park back in the East Series in 2009: Steve Park and NDS Motorsports finished out the 2008 racing season 9th in points, with 3 top-five finishes and 8 top-tens and plan to battle for NASCAR East Series championship once again in '09.. "I'm really excited about the 2009 season. We had some really good results in 2008 and the team just kept getting stronger and stronger throughout the year. I am thrilled to be back with NDS Motorsports and everyone at Waste Management Recycle America. I think we will definitely be a contender for the championship this year and I'm really excited to get things started," stated Park.(Steve Park site)(1-14-2009) Comment here
- Park has a ride: Steve Park announced today on Press Pass on Sirius NASCAR Radio 128 that he has signed to run the full NASCAR Camping World East Series schedule with Waste Management as sponsor. He is in Daytona talking to numerous Craftsman Truck Series team owners as well and told hosts Alex Hayden and Steve Post "I just know in my heart that I can still win races."(Sirius NASCAR)(1-13-2008)
- Park to run Busch East race at Dover: former Cup driver Steve Park will be behind the wheel for the Dover Busch East event, piloting the #53 Waste Management car for NDS Motorsports on Friday, September 21st.(Steve Park site)(9-18-207)
- Steve Park searching for a ride: Steve Park, whose last NASCAR race was in a Busch car at O'Reilly Raceway Park last August, was in the garage at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday knocking on doors in the hopes of finding a ride for 2007. While driving a Cup car for DEI in 1998, Park was seriously injured in a crash at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He returned to race later that year, but in 2001 he suffered a brain injury in a violent crash during the Busch race at Darlington. In his only full season in the trucks (2004), Park finished ninth in points. The following year he won the second race of the season at California Speedway, but by the end of the season, Park and team owner Steve Gaughan went their separate ways. In 2006, Park started the season driving 10 races for James Harris' CTS team but moved over to the Busch Series to compete in six races for James Marsh. "I'm here looking for a job," Park said. "Atlanta is the first stop on the East Coast for a lot of these teams and I wanted to be here to talk to a few people about a ride in the truck or Busch series." Park says it's been tough for him to sit at home. "I was born to race," he said. "I should be on the race track right now." Park said he had a deal to get back in the Busch Series this season, but it fell apart a month before Daytona. "I spent a lot of time in the Craftsman Truck Series and enjoyed it," Park said. "I'd like to get back into one for the rest of this season." Park joked that during his time away from racing, he cut 10 strokes off his golf game. "Playing golf is great over the winter time when you know you have a job to go racing again in the springtime," Park said. "But when the spring time comes and you're not out there racing, it's a bummer."(Yahoo Sports)(3-17-2007)
- Danica Patrick to Hendrick? Dale Jr. to.....UPDATE denied: If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)(6-28-2009)
UPDATE - denied:been told by Hendrick Motorsports reps that there is absolutely no truth to this.(6-28-2009) Comment here
- Danica to Roush? Danica Patrick will be in a Jack Roush NASCAR Ford next season, bank on it. Well, don't bet the ranch, but there is a growing sense that that is the momentum on the issue, if the sexy Indy-car star does make the leap into stock car racing, as she has hinted. And in the NASCAR garage here at Infineon Raceway Roush himself pondered the Danica option Friday. Patrick herself has been talking around the NASCAR possibility for several weeks now but insists she won't be making any announcement of where she'll be racing next season until this fall [after the IRL's finale in Oct]. Last weekend Geoff Smith, head of Roush Fenway Racing, talked about the Danica Patrick option. What does Roush himself think about her as NASCAR stocker? "I don't know enough about her to know how much time she'd have to spend in the Nationwide series or Truck series," Roush said. "I'd say, as a minimum, two years in the Nationwide series would be required…and at the same time she could run six or seven Cup races, to maintain her rookie status. It just depends on how badly she wants it," Roush says of any Patrick move into NASCAR. Patrick has some big advantages, Roush points out: "I don't know of any problems with Danica Patrick. If a female is going to make it in NASCAR in the foreseeable future, it will be Danica Patrick.(mikemulhern.net)(6-20-2009) Comment here
- Danica Patrick to sign with Ganassi? Chip Ganassi is supposedly working on a deal at the moment that would not only keep open wheel racing's biggest name away from the clutches of NASCAR, it would likely advance her ascention in Indy cars. Ganassi is considering signing Danica Patrick for a third car on the Target team for 2010, joining Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti. Ganassi didn't return phone calls Wednesday but his veteran lieutenant acknowledged adding a car for Patrick could be possible. "We've always entertained having a third driver if we could get the comparable funding that Target provides us," said Mike Hull, managing director of Target/Ganassi. "If Danica has something and wants to talk to us, that would be great because I think she's ready to take that next step. But I can tell you we haven't spoken to her." Patrick's three-year contract with Andretti-Green Racing, which was sponsored by Motorola to the tune of $21 million, expires at the end of this season. And, if she wanted to test the waters in NASCAR down the road, Ganassi could slide her right into one of his seats on the team he shares with Teresa Earnhardt.(Robin Miller/SPEEDtv)(6-11-2009)
UPDATE:Danica Patrick will be in NASCAR next season. If NASCAR executives can pull it off. George Pyne -- the former NASCAR Chief Operating Officer, and thus one of the top officials in stock car racing, and now head of IMG sports and entertainment, the high-buck talent marketing agency – and key NASCAR executives are together working the entire Sprint Cup garage trying to put together a package for Patrick to run NASCAR next season. Finding sponsorship is quite likely not the big issue, as hot a property as Danica Patrick is. (mikemulhern.net)(6-15-2009) Comment here
- Patrick eyeing NASCAR...the latest: A Hulman-George family feud may provide IndyCar star Danica Patrick with the nudge she needs to jump to NASCAR. Patrick was asked about that scenario by SI.com at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday and said stability of the racing series will factor into her decision. She is in the final year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing and has said she will look at any and all options, including a jump to NASCAR. That option didn't diminish last week as reports of strife within the Hulman-George family surfaced. Never mind that Tony George's position as Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO seems safe for now; the turmoil raised some concerns. "That's kind of an interesting question," Patrick said. "What you want in a league is stability and upward momentum. I have no idea what that is right now. There seems to be conflicting answers and ideas on what is really happening." Patrick has hired IMG [many NASCAR connections there] to represent her as she negotiates her next contract.(Sports Illustrated), of interest, the NASCAR.com store now carries a few Danica Patrick items.(6-2-2009)
- Danica will consider NASCAR: Even as Danica Patrick answered questions about her chances in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, Indy Car's most famous driver said Thursday that she remained open to a future in NASCAR. Patrick, who will start 10th Sunday, said she will listen to offers from any NASCAR teams interested in signing her, but reiterated, "this is my home" referring to the Indy Car Series. Her contract with Andretti Green Racing (AGR) is up at the end of the season and speculation has put her everywhere from NASCAR to Formula One to returning to the championship AGR organization. "It's a contract year and I'm going to look at everything," Patrick said. "I will look at NASCAR." Patrick, 27, said she can't begin negotiations until June. And when asked during Thursday's annual Indy 500 Media Day at the Speedway if she was courting offers, Patrick smiled and said, "I'm not bringing it up, I'm not slipping it into conversations. .. I'm purely answering questions that people are asking me."(FanHouse)(5-23-2009)
- Danica Patrick to NASCAR ... Again? Speculation that Danica Patrick could be headed to NASCAR is heating up once again because she is in the final year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing of the IRL. In a recent story published in the New York Times, Patrick didn't deny there could be an interest in the Sprint Cup Series. "I'm very flattered everyone is curious," Patrick was quoted. "It's interesting to me as well. Do I stay where I am? Do I try to change? It's all about evaluating options, and I think that's something any good business person does. One of the things I think of is the exposure level that you get in NASCAR with the ratings and viewership. Their numbers are so much larger than ours and with that comes a bigger following, comes more popularity, comes more demand for you to endorse other products. So I think it would be an exponential sort of growth." Patrick said these things before when her last contract was up in 2006. Some would argue she used NASCAR as leverage for a better deal in the IRL, that she had no real intention of leaving, and that she is doing so again. Patrick does have ties with several of NASCAR's top organizations. She drove in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Casey Mears for Richard Childress Racing. Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush extended her an open invitation to join his organization the last time she explored options. To make the jump to NASCAR's top series most agree Patrick would need at least a full schedule in the Nationwide Series, which she may consider a step backward. If she did transition to NASCAR, she likely would demand a top ride, and most of the top organizations don't have an opening. But at the age of 27, this may be Patrick's last legitimate shot to make the jump and have time to hone her skills in stock cars. Until she signs somewhere her name will remain a hot topic.(ESPN Insider)(5-7-2009) Comment here
- Patrick talked to Roush Fenway recently: Officials from Roush Fenway Racing "had a conversation" with IndyCar driver Danica Patrick as recently as two weeks ago when the Sprint Cup Series was in Phoenix for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. And while Jack Roush, the founder and co-owner of the organization, said that he was not part of the conversation, he also said Friday from Talladega Superspeedway that he believes Patrick has an interest in eventually pursuing a future that would include at least some stock-car racing. He even offered to lay out a program for her indoctrination into NASCAR. "I think Danica, from what I understand, has got an interest in stock-car racing," Roush said. "Any sponsor, any team owner that felt the need to have more of a diverse situation in their driving lineup would look at Danica very favorably."(more at NASCAR.com)(4-26-2008) Comment here
- Danica to stay in IRL...with Andretti team? UPDATE: It appears Danica Patrick will be on the move in 2007, but not to NASCAR. Instead, it appears she will move over to a rival Indy Racing League team. Indianapolis TV station WXIN reports Andretti-Green Racing has made a serious overture for Patrick, whose contract with Rahal-Letterman Racing runs out at the end of this year. The network cited unnamed sources but neither Andretti-Green or Rahal-Letterman would comment on the report. Andretti-Green co-owner Michael Andretti indicated late last week that he would be interested in signing Patrick, who was being touted for a possible move to the Nextel Cup series next year. AGR currently fields cars for Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta. Franchitti and Herta's contract with the team are set to expire at the end of this season.(TSA.ca)(7-17-2006)
UPDATE: Danica Patrick signed with Andretti Green Racing on Tuesday, deciding to stay in the Indy Racing League instead of switching to NASCAR. Patrick will start driving for her new team in 2007. Her current contract with Rahal Letterman expires at the end of the season. Though she toyed with joining NASCAR, Patrick said last week she was leaning toward saying in the IndyCar series.(Associated Press)(7-25-2006)
- Petty opens site: Kyle Petty has re-opened his website, see more at kylepetty.com.
- Richard comments on Kyle's remarks: from a Dodge Motorsports NSCS Teleconference Transcript:
KYLE (PETTY) WAS VERY VOCAL DURING DAYTONA REGARDING THE 44’s PAINT SCHEME, HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS COMMENTS?
A: "It kind of upset him because that’s where he started. He started with the 44 car at Daytona and was lucky enough to win the race. When we did our deal with Boston Ventures, we never had a place for Kyle at Petty Enterprises. He sort of got out of the loop. When he got out of the loop, he’s been doing his own thing…he run the 24 (Rolex 24) and doing some TV. I’ve not seen him since Christmas. He’s been so busy, I’ve been so busy. He got snow-bound in Pittsburgh for a few days one time; we just really never have gotten together. I’ve really not talked to him. I spoke to him a couple of times on the phone; you can’t get much done on the phone. He talked to his mother. He was really crushed that we didn’t include him in that part of it, and I can understand that. We were so busy trying to get our end of the deal done and make it work with a new team that it fell through the crack and I’m sorry that it did."(Dodge Motorsport PR)(2-18-2009) Comment here
- Petty not happy bout merger: Kyle Petty is displeased with the way Petty Enterprises was consumed by Gillett Evernham Motorsports — then renamed Richard Petty Motorsports — and was "crushed" the new team co-opted a bit of his personal history.
"Petty Enterprises ceased to exist when it left (ancestral home) Level Cross, N.C.," said Petty, who does not have a Sprint Cup ride for the first time since 1979. "It further ceased to exist whenever the other group bought it, and that's just a fact of life." But Petty was perhaps most irked by RPM's move to use, without consultation, a No. 44 Dodge for A.J. Allmendinger with the paint scheme Petty bore in winning in his first start, a 1979 ARCA race at Daytona. Petty drove the #44 at Petty Enterprises until his son Adam was killed in 2000, then he switched to his son's #45. "I was crushed. I was hurt and I'm not going to get over it for a while," Petty, 48, said. "And that's a personal thing. That's me. That's not … anything to do with anything else. That was my paint job and my car and my number and my stuff from my first win. Not for Petty Enterprises or GEM or whoever that is."(St Petersburg Times)(2-15-2009)
- Wells Fargo Sponsorship goes away: Kyle Petty raced a limited schedule in 2008 before the company merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports last month. The result of the merger is a four-car team that will race this season under the name Richard Petty Motorsports, and without Petty behind the wheel. Petty also said that Wells Fargo & Co. effectively ended its sponsorship of the driver after its deal in October to acquire Wachovia Corp. “With all the things that have gone on in the banking industry and with their merger with Wachovia, they’ve taken a step back,” Petty said. “At worst it went away. At best, it’s on hold.” (Bloomberg)(2-13-2009)
- No Ride for Kyle Petty: Kyle Petty said he had a couple of opportunities for rides, but they weren't worthwhile. "I'm not at the stage where I want to come down and beat your head against the wall and be there," he said. "I've been doing that for the last five or six years, coming down here with cars that were uncompetitive. I don't want to get in somebody else's car that is uncompetitive. I just ended up without a ride. I'm on the other side of the fence looking in, but not at my choice." Petty drove in the 24-hour race at Daytona last month, but mechanical issues limited him to one shift. He plans to compete in more road races, but he's uncertain which ones. He also will be back as an analyst with TNT for its six Cup broadcasts in June and July, which will keep him from racing during that period. While Petty sits out, he continues his work with the Victory Junction Gang Camp. A second camp, which will be located in the Kansas City area, is expected to have its groundbreaking around September.(Virginian-Pilot)(2-7-2009)
- Petty would like to find Cup ride: [Kyle] Petty's plans for the 2009 season include driving in some Grand American races and continuing his television work. He also would like to obtain a Cup ride, but he knows that his efforts could be harmed by the economic downturn.(Associated Press/ESPN)(1-11-2009) Comment here
- New ride for Petty? UPDATE denied: hearing that after the Daytona 500 with James Hylton, the #08 EM Motorsports team will run Kyle Petty in up to 14 races with sponsorship from Wells Fargo and others TBA.(1-2-2009)
UPDATE: been told that this is not true and nothing is signed.(1-2-2008) Comment here
- Kyle has no clue about what is up at PE: If you want to know what's going down at Petty Enterprises these days, don't ask Kyle Petty. So says Kyle Petty, son of Richard and grandson of Lee, who founded the race organization in Level Cross, N.C., in 1949. Richard Petty is part owner of Petty Enterprises, which currently is in merger discussions with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Petty Enterprises entered into a partnership agreement with outside investment firm Boston Ventures this past May. "I don't work for Petty Enterprises," Kyle Petty said Monday. "When they did their deal and sold to Boston Ventures, Chad [McCumbee] was going to drive the second car and Bobby [Labonte] was going to drive the first car; they pretty much let me know there wasn't a place for me there going into '09. My deal runs out at the end of the year, but I don't go over there [to the shop in Mooresville, N.C.] because I don't work there. It was a different business and it got into a different place than where Boston Ventures wanted to be -- and I just don't think they have the stomach for it. It's their company and they can do with it what they want to. That's the way it works."
When Boston Ventures came on board, Richard Petty said he would still be heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of Petty Enterprises. But Kyle Petty made it sound as if those from the investment company are pulling most of the strings for the organization now. "I don't know what the division is, and it's got nothing to do with me because it's my father's company," Kyle said. "So it's between Richard Petty and Boston Ventures. Me talking about it is about like anybody else talking about it from the outside looking in. I was not privy to any of the meetings. I was not a part of it. Once David Zucker took over as CEO, then I was out of the loop. So I've got no skin in this game."
So for now, Kyle Petty is just another Cup driver without a ride for 2009. He's looking at possibly not suiting up to drive any Cup races for the first time since 1979 -- when he ran five races for Petty Enterprises at the age of 18, and Richard won the last of his seven championships. "I'm going to do my six TV races for Turner [Sports]," Kyle said. "I'm still working with SPEED, doing [the] Tradin' Paint [show] and I'll be able to do a couple different things with them, maybe with the Grand American division or a couple other things. I'm just going to take a step back and see what goes on, and see where the sport goes and see where motorsports goes for the next little bit and try to figure out what I'm going to do. I'm going to run the 24-hour [Rolex] race at Daytona. That may be my only race of the year; maybe I'll run more races. I don't know what I'm doing. If the right opportunity came along, I think I'm like Bill Elliott. I'm not ready to retire. I may not be there every week, but I don't consider myself retired. You know what I mean? So if the right opportunity came along where I thought we could be competitive, with the right leadership and the right group, I think I would be [interested]. But right now, just [looking at it] as a sports fan over the last eight or 10 years, it's a business decision. If somebody has the money -- if you have the sponsorship and you have the dollars -- it's easier to find something. But right now, there aren't a lot of people out there with money."(in part from NASCAR.com)(12-9-2008) Comment here
see past news on my #45 Petty page
- Raines in the #70 for two races: during SPEED's TV coverage of Sprint Cup practice at Pocono Raceway, it was mentioned that Tony Raines, who is running the #70 Haas CNC Racing Chevy at Pocono, will also run the car at Michigan in two weeks. Max Papis will be in the car next week at Watkins Glen. Unless #66-Scott Riggs, currently in the top-35 of owners points and guaranteed a spot at Pocono, slips out of the top-35. At Infineon Raceway, Riggs and Papis swapped teams, trying to get the #66 back in the top-35 of owners points.(8-1-2008) Comment here
- Raines Looking, maybe other NASCAR series: Hall of Fame Racing driver Tony Raines, who will not drive the #96 next season as J.J. Yeley takes over, said he knows the chances of earning a Cup ride in 2008 are slim. He hopes to drive in one of NASCAR's other series. "I'm disappointed, but I understand the decision," said Raines, who ran into Jeff Green on the eighth lap of Saturday's race and finished 35th. "When you don't have the results that are expected, changes are made. It's tough, but that's what happens."(Dallas Morning News)(9-10-2007)
- Riggs-Baldwin parting ways after Coke 600 UPDATE: Scott Riggs is parting ways with #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing following the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the driver said Sunday. Riggs has qualified for eight of the first 12 races with a top finish of 25th in the Daytona 500. Riggs ran only 54 laps at Richmond and 101 laps at Darlington before his day ended because of mechanical issues. Riggs said Sunday he wasn’t optimistic that the #36 Toyota team could continue to compete for the full length of future events without significant sponsorship and that, combined with the team’s performance, made it time for him to leave. He will start the Coca-Cola 600 in the 43rd spot. “I’m a competitor and I’m a racer,” Riggs said. “… It kills my soul to know that we go to the race track and we’re not going to be competitive. Even if the car is competitive, we’re not going to be there around at the end to be competitive. I knew when we first started this deal it was going to be a possibility, I knew it was going to be hard and a struggle to get sponsorship and get it off the ground. … I just know we needed something to change.” Riggs said he and Baldwin talked about the situation this past weekend and the decision was made for him to leave.(SceneDaily)(5-25-2009)
UPDATE: on Monday's NASCAR Raceday, it was mentioned Mike Skinner will driver at Dover and races that do not conflict with the Truck Series races, Patrick Carpentier will run the five races that Skinner cannot and Brian Simo will run in the road courses.(5-25-2009) Comment here
see the #36 Team News and Links page
- Riggs to drive for Baldwin: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced today Scott Riggs as the driver of the #36 Toyota for the 2009 NASCAR season. Riggs, formerly with Haas CNC Racing will start his sixth season in Sprint Cup competition. The 2009 season finds the 38-year-old native of Bahama, NC, eager to embark on a new chapter of his racing career, driving for the newly formed TBR team. Tommy Baldwin, who will hold the title of both owner and crew chief, announced the formation of his new race team earlier this month. "I look forward to working with Tommy," Riggs said. "I think we can work together to build something really strong. I feel fortunate to work with someone like Tommy who has so much experience." Riggs, with multiple years of experience at the Cup level and time behind the wheel in NASCAR's COT, brings credibility and marketability to the new team. TBR, located at 604 Performance Road, in Mooresville, NC, plans on competing in the 51st running of the Daytona 500 in February with plans to run a full schedule in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. "Having Scott Riggs on board is a huge stepping stone for Tommy Baldwin Racing," Said Baldwin. "He's a top caliber driver, and I look forward to seeing the success we can have together." No sponsor has been named yet for the #36 Toyota.(TBR/Everest Marketing Group)(1-19-2009) Comment here
- Hunt Bros Pizza & State Water Heaters hope to be back in 2009: There’s been a dearth of new companies coming into NASCAR recently. But Hunt Brothers Pizza (HBP), which joined with Haas-CNC Racing [#66 & #70] in what was termed a “sponsorship test” in 2008, apparently liked what it saw. “HBP plans on participating in the 2009 racing season,” says Malea Barron of Hunt Brothers PR firm Gish, Sherwood and Friends. “However, at this time, HBP has not signed a contract with a team.”
Can current Haas-CNC driver Scott Riggs stay in the Sprint Cup Series by bringing his sponsor to a new team? Apparently State Water Heaters has some interest in that scenario. “We are still working on our plans for ’09,” says Jeff Storie, the brand manager for State Water Heaters. “Scott has been a great asset for us and many of our hard-working plumbing contractors have enjoyed spending time with him. I hope we can remain together next year but we haven’t reached anything final at this point.”(Long Island Press)(11-8-2008)
- Riggs still looking for ride: Scott Riggs, who is out of the #66 after the season, says he's unsure when he'll get another Cup deal. He says he continues to talk to teams but the issue is that teams are looking for sponsorship and until they have sponsors they're not making as many moves for drivers.(Roanoke Times)(11-1-2008) Comment here
- Riggs has ride for 2009? during ABC's TV coverage of the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Dr. Jerry Punch said that #66-Scott Riggs said he has a contract in hand to sign that would settle his 2009 plans. No word on what team Riggs will drive for, rumors include DEI, Petty Enterprises and Ganassi Racing.(10-5-2008)
- Robby Gordon would love to add Riggs/2nd team: #7-Robby Gordon may not have full sponsorship for his Sprint Cup team next season, but he doesn't seem too worried about his prospects. In fact, the driver is talking about the potential of adding a second team to his Robby Gordon Motorsports organization. For now, though, Gordon is focusing on running a pair of races on the Watkins Glen International road course this weekend. Based on his history, the driver expects to excel. Gordon finds himself pelted with questions about his sponsor lineup for next season. As the economy tightens and a list of teams seek sponsorship, Gordon has found himself running some races without a primary sponsor. "Right now, next year looks a lot like it did this year, where we have sporadic events," the owner/driver told a national teleconference with reporters Tuesday. "So there is opportunity. Obviously, sponsors and everybody wants to be involved with a team that can win races. I look at this weekend as an opportunity of putting our team in victory lane. There's only been three teams this year that have been in victory lane. So if we could pull it off, that would be big."
Gordon says that his role as owner/driver has built in a little more flexibility than some would have when it comes to racing with a car that needs sponsorship. This season, he has primary backing from Jim Beam, Mapei, Camping World and Charter, and he picked up a race from Valvoline. He has also run some races without anything on the hood, including the road course event at Infineon Raceway. Still, Gordon remains confident that his team will weather the storm. He has formed an alliance with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, one in which he gets support from the three-car Dodge organization, and has never fallen out of the top 35 in owner points despite changing manufacturers shortly before the season-opening Daytona 500. Gordon knows that a second car would likely boost the performance of his organization, but he's not rushing to add another effort. He admits, though, that Scott Riggs, whose status with the team now known as Haas CNC Racing is unclear as Tony Stewart prepares to take it over next year, would be someone he'd look at should that become a possibility. "I think Scott Riggs is a very good race car driver," Gordon said. "[Am I] committed to running a second car? You know, we'd love to run a second car. I think our team and our facility and our systems and procedures and policies, all that stuff, is in place now to run a second car. Gordon seems confident that the sponsorship will work itself out for next season. Gordon will run the full Sprint Cup schedule either way, but full sponsorship would certainly make his task less difficult. "We know what it takes as far as sponsorship to go and do this thing," he said. "And I feel confident that we'll get a sponsor for next year, and we'll able to continue on. I also have a lot of confidence that Jim Beam will return with us, as well."(SceneDaily)(8-6-2008) Comment here
- Riggs looking around, pretty sure he is out at Haas UPDATE: Scott Riggs, driver of the #66 for Haas CNC Racing which will become the #4 Stewart-Haas car next year, is already talking with others about his future. "I'm 99.99999 percent sure I won't be here next year," Riggs said Friday. Joe Custer, the team's general manager, said, "no one is out," but expect a decision on the driver lineup next week. "We're wide open on it," he said. "A deal is not done until it is inked so for us to say we're about there means we are not there. I can tell you we are working on them."(NASCAR.com)(8-2-2008)
UPDATE: With the thought that Scott Riggs won't be asked to stay with the Stewart-Haas, Riggs said he has been in talks with other teams about 2009. "I've been having a lot of conversations," he said. "I'm trying to figure out what is going to happen with me. I know this organization is on the way up and going to have a great group of guys and drivers coming on board. It will be interesting to see where my feet land and I've been talking to a lot of people, but right now I'm focused on what we are doing and trying to be the best we can be for the rest of this year."(NASCAR.com), hearing that Riggs has talked to Bill Davis Racing, Yates Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports and that sponsor State Water Heaters could move with him.(8-5-2008) Comment here
- Sauter to Thorsport Racing? Hearing that Johnny Sauter toured the Thorsport Racing shop in Sandusky, Ohio last week. It's not clear if an indicator that there may be a potential driver change for the #13 team?(12-1-2008)
- Sauter meets with some of our Troops: Johnny Sauter spent his weekend in Fort Bragg, NC in support of the Warriors Promise Foundation. Joined by Pro Beach Volleyball player Angie Akers, Sauter met with troops to thank them for their service on behalf of FUBAR, Sauter’s NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsor for EM Motorsports. The Warrior’s Promise Foundation is a non-profit organization with the charter of providing support to the United States military community at the grass roots level. As part of the Warriors Promise Foundation a percentage of all FUBAR sales goes to the members of military communities in need.(PR)(11-24-2008)
- Triple Duty for Johnny Sauter: Fresh off a top-20 finish at New Hampshire [in the #70], Johnny Sauter looks forward to a triple duty weekend at Dover International Speedway. Sauter will pilot the #08 FUBAR All Natural Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series. In addition, he will be behind the wheel of the #78 Chevy in the Nationwide Series and the #12 Dodge in the Camping World East Series. “I just want to race as much as I possibly can,” said Sauter. “Anytime someone comes to me with an opportunity to race, no matter what series or division, I’m all for it.”(9-17-2008)
- Schrader fine without Sprint Cup ride: Ken Schrader was at Green Valley Speedway [Glencoe, AL ] to compete in the 12th annual Bama Bash open-wheel modified race. On a chilly night with track conditions that made passing difficult Schrader finished second to Jimmy Hiett of Lincoln in the 50-lap event. "Off weekend and didn't have anything to do," Schrader said after the race. "Just wanted to have some place to play." Schrader, who drove for #96 Hall of Fame Racing in the Cup Series last year, does not have a ride this year. But he said he is talking to a couple teams about possibly doing a limited schedule of races. But if it doesn't work out, he said, he really doesn't care. "It doesn't make no difference," he said. "I've had a day job now for a while. I mean I really don't care, I'm glad I'm not in Fontana."(Alabama Live)(2-23-2009) Comment here
- Phoenix Racing announces 2009 plans UPDATE: Phoenix Racing announced today that they are expanding their Sprint Cup schedule to include the entire 2009 season. Driver announcement will be forth coming. Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming will continue their partnership with James Finch and Phoenix Racing as primary sponsor of the #1 Nationwide Chevrolet driven by Mike Bliss and the #09 Chevy for ten Sprint Cup races starting with the Daytona 500.(Phoenix Racing PR)(1-22-2009)
UPDATE: Phoenix Racing will run Brad Keselowski in the #09 Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming Chevy for 10 races with Hendrick engines and the remaining races in Dodges bought from Ganassi with Ernie Elliott engines. The drivers for the #09 Dodge will be a combo of Sterling Marlin, Mike Bliss and Ken Schrader.(1-23-2009) Comment here
- Schrader may be back with BAM and/or RCR: Don't expect to see Ken Schrader in a Sprint Cup race anytime soon. But when it happens, he will drive for Beth Ann Morgenthau [#49 Toyota] and perhaps Richard Childress [#33 Chevy]. "The BAM team swears they're coming back," Schrader said. "Childress said I might run a couple of races. I don't give a (care). Whatever happens. I've got a bunch of stuff I want to do. It isn't any problem." In the past two years, Schrader has raced only 18 times in 57 races, including just five of 21 this season, earning $496,309. In those five events, he has driven for BAM, Childress, Chip Ganassi and Haas CNC Racing. His best finish came with BAM at Las Vegas on March 2 when he wound up 21st. He last hit the track in Charlotte on May 25 where he finished 33rd in the Coca-Cola 600 while driving for Childress. Since then, Schrader's name can't be found in the Sprint Cup results, which suits him just fine. "I'm not retiring," he stressed. "There just comes a time when you don't have anything to drive." After a 37th-place finish at Martinsville on March 30 with Morgenthau, the team announced it was switching to Toyotas from Chevrolets and would miss the next two races at Texas and Phoenix. There was hope the team would be up and running by Talladega on April 27. But a primary sponsorship deal once planned for the majority of the season has been scaled back to a portion of the season. Now it looks like BAM may return in the fall. That means Schrader can do anything he wants. And even though the NASCAR silly season is in full swing, Schrader's name is never mentioned as a possible replacement driver for 2009 because of his advanced age. "It's not going to be. It's not going to be," he said. "That's just the way the sport is. I don't have a problem with that. I was there a long time and it isn't any biggie."
To replace his NASCAR fix, and as has he has done all his life, Schrader does not sit still. He can be found racing a car in the ARCA series and at his first love — racing on a dirt track some place in the United States. He was at his own track, I-55 Raceway in Pevely, last Saturday night, racing his late model in the Tri-Track Challenge, where he finished fifth in the 40-lap feature. He also owns a NASCAR Craftsman Truck team, and he will race that truck at Bristol on Aug. 20. As well, he owns a car that is driven by former Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael in the Camping World East Series.(St Louis Post Dispatch)(8-9-2008)
- signed with the #78 Furniture Row Racing team (1-14-2009)
- Smith still in limbo over 2009 Sprint Cup ride: Regan Smith doesn’t expect to be part of the new Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team but said Wednesday he continues to have promising discussions with other teams. Smith, talking at the New York City bar Foley’s as part of his winning NASCAR’s top Sprint Cup rookie award, said he has little dialogue with the new leadership at Earnhardt-Ganassi in the weeks since he completed his first Sprint Cup season at Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI and Chip Ganassi Racing are merging and the #01 car Smith drove in 2008 will not be around next season. “I’m not going to say there’s no chance of it, but I haven’t had very much conversation with them [at Earnhardt-Ganassi] about it,” Smith said. “It’s probably more of a slim chance than some of the other opportunities I’ve got right now.” Among the teams Smith has visited was Furniture Row Racing in Colorado. That team likely will run a partial schedule next season. “I’ve been to the shop, and it’s a great place, a great organization and they’ve got a lot of tools to work with out there,” Smith said. “I was definitely very impressed with it. I didn’t realize there was a shop with that much technology outside of North Carolina.”(SceneDaily)(12-5-2008) Comment here
- Smith named Rookie of the Year: Rean Smith in the #01 The Principal Finacial Chevy clinched the Raybestos Rookie or the Year in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The year-end payout for 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is $75,000, the same amount Darrell Waltrip earned from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for his 1982 Cup series championship. Smith will earn a grand total of $91,500 from Raybestos brand Brakes for his efforts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season. Smith became the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the 52-year history of the program without a DNF (did not finish). He was running at the finish in all 34 starts he made this season.
· This is the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year title for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
· Smith led or shared the lead in Raybestos Rookie standings in the 26 of the 36 Sprint Cup Series races this season.
· Smith scored a 34th-place finish in the Ford 400 and captured Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the 11th time in 2008.
SMITH: YOU WERE THE UNDERDOG FOR RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BUT HAD A SOLID SEASON ALL YEAR LONG? DO YOU TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEATING SOME BIG NAMES FOR THIS AWARD? “I do. You know, there were a lot of big names that I was racing against and you look at the stuff at the beginning of the year, not very many people had me chartered as one of ‘em that was going to contend for Raybestos Rookie of the Year championship. So definitely had a little bit of a chip on the shoulder about that and wanted to go out there and prove that there is still a good ol’ stock car path and NASCAR path to get to this series. I feel like we did that to a certain extent. Obviously there were weeks I wanted to run better and there was weeks where we ran good and didn’t get what we deserved or ran good and got what we deserved. All in all, I'm very proud to win the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. You look at the names that are on there and some good names to be included with. At the end of the day you can’t change that. It’s going to be there forever.”
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO HAVE THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT HAVE YOUR FUTURE BE SO UNCERTAIN? “This time of year if you don’t figure out what you’re doing it’s always difficult but it’s something at the end of the day you can put that on the shelf at the house and have that accomplishment. I’m very confident in my abilities as a race car driver. This year’s been a tough year and was a tough year for all the rookies. No excuses for that. It was a difficult year with the new car and that’s all their way to it. I’m pretty confident I’ll be driving a Cup car for somebody next year. I just don’t know which one and if not then I’ll look to the other two series and work hard to get back to this level.”(Camp and Assoc/Raybestos PR)(11-17-2008) Comment here
PAUL TRACY
Links:
- Tracy testing with Germain at Chicagoland UPDATE 3: One-race deal; switch from LVMS to Texas: Open-wheeler Paul Tracy, who made his NASCAR debut in NASCAR's #2 series in 2006, will return to the oval-track for a one-day test at Chicagoland Speedway on Wednesday, May 28th. While this will be Tracy's first experience in a truck, he is known as one of the most cerebral wheelmen in the business and he will adapt quickly. Versatility is a trademark of the 2003 Champ Car World Series Champion, as Tracy has raced open-wheel cars, Grand-Am cars, NASCAR, and off-road trucks, all in the last two years. (Player Mgmt. PR)(5-26-2008)
UPDATE: Possibility for 09? It was just an engine test with a driver currently out of work, as the 40-year-old Canadian has been unsuccessful in attempts to land a ride in the new unified IndyCar Series. Then again, it's perhaps the most interesting pairing of a former open-wheel driver with a truck team. "We haven't talked about specifics -- it's been more about maybe trying to think about that next year," team owner Bob Germain said. "Though if we saw something come together, you're so much further ahead if you can run some races this year to get everybody familiar with each other. But realistically, we've got a lot on our plate right now. We won't rule out the possibility we'd do that, but this process just started." This week, Tracy's goals were modest: namely, to get acclimated to a race truck and to provide some feedback for the #30 team. Bodine tested all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning, then got to pass the wheel and rest for Friday's race at Dover.(ESPN.com)(5-30-2008)
UPDATE 2: A few weeks ago, Paul Tracy tested Todd Bodine's truck at Chicagoland Speedway and impressed Bob Germain enough to get a one-off deal. Tracy will drive the Germain Racing Toyota on September 20 at Las Vegas. "Paul did a nice job so we got a little bit if support and decided it would be fun to run him in his hometown," said Germain, who along with his two brothers owns 19 car dealerships in Ohio and Florida. "We're going to run Chrissie full-time in the trucks next year and we've got another year for sure with Mike (sponsored by Geico)," said Germain. "I know Todd would like to run the Nationwide series and we've got about a dozen different possibilities we'll be looking at. "And running Paul full-time in the trucks is one of those."(Robin Miller- SPEED/TV)(6-19-2008)
UPDATE 3: Canadian open-wheel star Paul Tracy will drive a Germain Racing Toyota Oct. 31 at Texas Motor Speedway, not at his current hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway as previously planned. A Texas-based sponsor was the catalyst behind the move.(ESPN.com)(9-12-2008)
- Tracy Committed to Champ Car; will not run NASCAR in 2007: Paul Tracy has decided to remain loyal to Champ Car and abandon plans to participate in NASCAR in 2007. Tracy participated in six NASCAR Busch Series races in 2006 and showed signs of potentially having a successful career in stock cars.(Player Management International PR)(10-27-2006)
- Villeneuve trying to find ride: Jacques Villeneuve appeared at the Canadian Motorsports Expo at the International Centre and spelled out just how hard it has been for him to attract enough sponsorship dollars to get his newly minted NASCAR career back on track. "It's tough going," he said. "There are still a bunch of (NASCAR) teams that are looking at getting funding for 2009 and I am spending virtually all my time trying to get (a deal) done." The frustrating thing, of course, is that Villeneuve should be able to stand before any corporation in Canada, shake hands with a few company directors and come out with a wheel barrow full of cash to back any kind of racing venture that he wanted. After all, he has one of the most recognizable names in all of sports; his late father is worshipped on two continents and he is a two-time Canadian male athlete of the year. And at 37 years old, he still is young enough to drive at least five more seasons at the top of his game in NASCAR. All this, however, amounts to a hill of beans with the auto manufacturing world in a death spiral. "I am at my core an optimist," Villeneuve said. "So I believe that even with current conditions something will happen to get me back in a race car this season." One of the options he has is to go racing V8 Super Cars in Australia, a NASCAR-style series that races stock cars on road courses. "But I doubt I will do that," he said. "My family is settled in Montreal and it wouldn't be fair to uproot them for a few months racing in Australia." Still, Villeneuve was adamant that his desire to compete in high-speed, high-level racing is as strong as it was when he won the CART championship back in 1995. Villeneuve is so focused on breaking into NASCAR that he has decided to forego another opportunity with team Peugeot to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans this spring. "Going back to Le Mans would take too much time away from pursuing NASCAR," he said.(Toronto Sun)(1-19-2009) Comment here
#see the 27 Team News and Links page
- Kenny Back with Jay Robinson: Larry McReynolds reported during SPEEDtv's coverage of Nationwide Series happy hour, that Kenny Wallace is expected to return to the #28 Nationwide team next season.(11-14-2008)
- Gunselman Motorsports taps Mike Wallace for Pocono race: Gunselman Motorsports has called upon veteran driver Mike Wallace to drive the #64 Toyota for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Wallace has gone to victory lane three times at the 2.5-mile track in ARCA competition. Being without a full-time ride right now, the St. Louis-native is making his second Sprint Cup points-race attempt of the year. The underfunded team has gone to a reduced schedule to concentrate on making races and returning to full-time competition. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “I am glad Mike Wallace was able to come on board the No. 64 Toyota team this week for Pocono. He’s been around long enough to know what it takes to make these races. Doug (Richert, crew chief) and the guys are looking forward to working with someone of his knowledge and experience. “If he can help us get better and return to our goals of becoming a full-time team, then all the better. It helps he’s been to victory lane at Pocono a few times in ARCA cars and has a pretty good record in Cup cars, too. Todd and Geoff Bodine have both been very helpful to this point and I hope we can build on what they started with Mike this week.”
Mike Wallace, driver: “Larry and the rest of the Gunselman Motorsports group are a young team trying to find a foundation to build on. They’ve showed up and attempted most of the races, but like a lot of teams starting out they’ve had some rough times. As far as I’m concerned, that just makes them hungrier and more determined to make races. I like that in a team. I’m fortunate they’ve given me this opportunity to work with them and looking forward to seeing how we can both help each other out.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(6-2-2009) Comment here
- Mike Wallace looking for ride: The roar of the engines after Daytona Speedweeks has silenced and the series is heading west to Auto Club Speedway in California. For one driver with victories in two out of NASCAR three series racing this weekend, the silence is deafening. Mike Wallace, with four NASCAR Nationwide and four Camping World Truck Series victories to his credit, will not be competing. “I think people thought I was all set during Daytona because I was in both the Cup and Nationwide Series garages,” said Wallace. “I had a one-race deal with TRG to make the Daytona 500 in their #71 car. “Then, I had a one-race deal with JD Motorsports in the Nationwide race down there. We did okay there earning a top-20 in 19th place. In addition to the eight victories; he’s amassed a total of 56 top-fives and 130 top-10 finishes. “Right now, I am open to talking with owners about driving for their team,” said Wallace. “I’m sure there is a need for an experienced driver like myself and I’m willing to talk. If I can obtain a sponsor, I have several quality teams that I can take it to and we can be competitive right from the start. Basically, I just want folks to know I am available and ready to drive.” Wallace will be a co-host on ESPN2’s “NASCAR Now” Sunday morning, March 8 and on ESPN News following the Sprint Cup Series race. The following day, he will be a panelist on the Monday edition of “NASCAR Now” on ESPN2.(PR)(2-20-2009) Comment here.
- Mike Wallace has ride for Daytona 500 UPDATE: Mike Wallace says he's secured a ride in a "competitive car" for the season-opening Daytona 500, providing he can get through the arduous Daytona qualifying process. But beyond Daytona, Wallace said this week he just doesn't know what's going to happen. "We're still talking to people, and they're still interested in possibly doing something," Wallace said. "The only thing that I'm thinking is that I wish it was, like, three months ago -- because the way they're thinking and the way I'm thinking, knowing how close the beginning of the season is, causes me a little bit of concern." Wallace just doesn't know exactly what he's doing beyond Speedweeks -- though he'd consider racing any of NASCAR three national tours.(in part from NASCAR.com)(1-1-2009)
UPDATE: TRG Motorsports announced today their entry in the 51st running of the Daytona 500. The team is taking its experience garnered at the top levels of professional sports car racing and in the Camping World Truck Series, where they posted their first win in 2008, to NASCAR's biggest stage. The team will have veteran driver Mike Wallace pilot the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday, February 15 at the World Center of Speed. "This is a huge opportunity for TRG Motorsports," Kevin Buckler, team principal said. "With the group of partners we have and very competitive team and package we decided to put a program together and race at the 500. We have been on a very steep growth curve with our entries in the Truck Series and ARCA. With the economic situation, it is always nice to be able to look for opportunity wherever possible and that what we have done. This will be defining moment in our team's history. The plan we crafted two years ago is in place, objectives are being met and we are trying to reach our goals." With more than 55 entries expected to compete for 43 starting positions in the 200-lap Daytona 500, the biggest goal for TRG Motorsports is to make it in the show. TRG has enlisted one of the most competent super speedway drivers in the world to pilot their entry in "The Great American Race". Mike Wallace, who has often been regarded as a restrictor plate specialist, will drive for TRG in their debut in Daytona Beach, Florida. "I'm excited about the opportunity to work with TRG Motorsports in regard to their new Sprint Cup effort," Wallace said. "With all of the success that they've had in road racing and the championship caliber organization that they've put together on the NASCAR side, I'm really excited about he opportunity to race for them at Daytona. They are true racers and that's the type of group that I want to be associate with. They've proven that they can win in the Truck Series and to be able to help with their first effort in Sprint Cup is exciting." Wallace will have a solid chance after pairing with TRG Motorsports and veteran Crew Chief, Butch Hylton. Hylton is a Daytona winner, having led Kevin Harvick Inc.'s #33 Nationwide team to a win in the 2005 Daytona 300. Hylton was also responsible for helping Yates Racing place two cars on the front row for the 2007 Daytona 500. TRG Motorsports has purchased a super speedway car from one of the most powerful teams in NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing. Through their association with Chevrolet, TRG and RCR have entered into a technical alliance which will benefit both teams. "With a former Richard Childress Racing car and engines supplied by ECR Engines we have accelerated our learning curve substantially," Buckler explained. "Couple that package with the experience that Mike brings and I believe we have a very competitive package. While the competition will be very, very tough with Mike behind the wheel and Butch calling the shots as the crew chief, we should have a legitimate shot at qualifying our way into the field and making our Sprint Cup debut in this prestigious race! This will be a real honor to be able to see our time take that green flag." TRG Motorsports is based in Mooresville, North Carolina where they run two Camping World Truck Series teams as well as a two car ARCA series effort. The company founded in 1993 has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 25, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. More info about the team at theracersgroup.com.(TRG Motorsports PR), see images of the car on my #71 Team Schemes page.(1-22-2009) Comment here
- No full time ride for Chrissy Wallace? in a NASCAR.com article about Mike Wallace it was mentioned: Mike's not the only one in the family on pins and needles these days. He said Chrissy's 2009 schedule with Germain Racing is far from definitive, with that ugliest of terms -- "sponsorship" -- being the apparent hang-up. "Chrissy started out looking at a full schedule in the Camping World Truck Series, but now it doesn't look like that's going to happen," Mike said. "There was talk about doing the full Camping World East Series, but we're not sure about that, either. We're waiting to see what happens."(NASCAR.com)(12-13-2008)
- Mike Wallace says GEICO has decided 2010 plans UPDATE 2 GEICO to Cup: Mike Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that sponsor GEICO has indicated what it wants to do after next season, and it appears it won’t be sponsoring Wallace. GEICO, an insurance company, is not allowed in the Nationwide Series in 2010 as part of a non-competing sponsor agreement with the series sponsor. Nationwide began sponsoring NASCAR’s #2 series this year. "We have an indication of what they’re going to do," Wallace said of NASCAR. "Who really knows? I’ll just leave it at that." GEICO has been one of the most visible sponsors in the series, with its popular commercials featuring fictional Wallace relative Lauren Wallace. NASCAR has told GEICO it could remain as a team sponsor in the Sprint Cup or Craftsman Truck series, but Wallace indicated that didn’t seem likely. "In my case, for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor," Wallace said.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
NOTE: GEICO is allowed to stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009 if they remain with Wallace and Germain Racing. GEICO does have the option to move to another series at any point if they choose. The story at SceneDaily.com has been updated accordingly.(6-14-2008)
UPDATE: During an interview on ESPN2 Friday during Nationwide qualifying #7-Mike Wallace stated that his team was looking for a sponsor for next year. No word on what GECIO has decided to do.(9-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway has learned that GEICO Insurance will team with Italian road course expert Max Papis to run as many as 18 Sprint Cup Series races next season, in Toyotas fielded by Germain Motorsports. GEICO currently sponsors veteran Mike Wallace on the Nationwide Series, but cannot remain in NASCAR’s number two series beyond 2009, due to language in the sanctioning body’s contract with major sponsor, Nationwide. They can, however, move to either the Sprint Cup or Truck ranks. Wallace said recently that he is already looking for a new backer, adding, “We have an indication of what (GEICO is) going to do, (and) for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor." A spokesperson for Germain Motorsports declined to comment earlier today.(Motorsports Soapbox)(9-10-2008)
- Wimmer shares his trip to Iraq: Scott Wimmer was given the opportunity of a lifetime this past December. He and three other racers [Geoff Bodine, Arie Luyendyk Jr. Drag racer Hillary Will.] spent 12 days in Iraq visiting different bases and talking with troops. Wimmer says, "It's something that I was looking to do for a long time. I really wanted to go overseas and see what the men and women of America were doing over there to help Iraq." Scott Wimmer says this trip to Iraq is something he'll never forget. He not only brought home hundreds of pictures to share, but also these short home videos. Some of their top experiences include getting to drive Bradley Tanks, Abrams and Humvees.(WKOW.com)(1-13-2009) Comment here
- Wimmer may have Daytona 500 ride: Scott Wimmer, a part-time racer for Richard Childress this year, won a [Nationwide] race and finished in the top ten eight times. He's a six-time winner in the Nationwide Series. However, he was cut loose by RCR Racing after the season. He spoke with some owners this week and would love to drive both Sprint Cup and Nationwide next year. Scott Wimmer: "I talked to a team about running Daytona 500 so hopefully I can make a start down there again and run a Nationwide Car. I might be running both series so it might be a real busy year next year."(WAOW.com)(12-1-2008) Comment here
- Bodine, Wimmer to tour military bases: Geoff Bodine, Hillary Will, Scott Wimmer, and Arie Luyendyk will tour United States Military bases as part of the Racing Heroes 2008 goodwill military tour. The tour, which begins on December 9th and concludes on December 20th, will include visits to U.S. Military Bases in Iraq and Kuwait. The Racing Heroes 2008 goodwill tour is geared toward military personnel stationed overseas. The program focuses on raising spirits and providing inspiration to servicemen and women serving abroad. David Chavez, president of Pro Sports MVP says, "The UFC fighters' and models' visit will have a tremendous impact on the troops. We are certain that the Racing Heroes 2008 tour will be very entertaining and a welcome and needed break from the routine". The participants will attend autograph/photograph sessions, lead clinics and demonstrations, hold meet and greets, and visit hospital patients and staff.(Pro Sports MVP PR)(11-13-2008)
- Wimmer looking for Sprint Cup ride: In addition to preparing for this week's Nationalwide Series race, at Texas, Scott Wimmer is also in the process of tracking down a ride for next season. Richard Childress Racing announced Aug. 28 that Wimmer would not be back next season, making him a free agent. "I've had some good talks with several car owners," he said. "I feel real confident something will turn up. With the economy the way it is, it's a crazy time in the sport, definitely for the drivers." He is concentrating his efforts on landing a Sprint Cup ride, but he knows the Nationwide Series will be an option if he can't make the jump. "Fortunately, there are some teams that will have openings. There are some teams that will be making changes," he said. "I've got my name on their lists."(Wausau Daily Herald)(10-28-2008) Comment here
- Wimmer out at RCR after 2008:#29-Scott Wimmer, who combined with Jeff Burton to give Richard Childress Racing the 2007 Nationwide Series owners' title, isn't part of the team's plans for '09, he said Thursday. Despite his status as a part-timer, the 32-year-old from Wausau [Wisconsin] has won as many races as the rest of the Chidress drivers so far this season - one - but his chances presumably were hurt by his inability to take a checkered flag last year in a car with which Burton won five times. Wimmer was a candidate for Childress' fourth Sprint Cup team but wasn't the choice of sponsors.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(8-22-2008) Comment here
- Wheldon Talked to Ganassi About Move to NASCAR: Dan Wheldon might be driving in the Sprint Cup Series this season instead of Dario Franchitti had team owner Chip Ganassi let him. Wheldon said on Monday he had several conversations with Ganassi about making the jump this year from the IndyCar Series, which he won in 2005, to NASCAR. "I talked to Chip enough about it to know that for whatever reason he didn't want to let me move from the Indy car,'' Wheldon said on the first day of the 2008 Sprint Cup media tour. "He definitely wants to keep me [in the IndyCar Series]. We'll see. "I've got some big decisions to make at the end of next season. The main thing is I need to put myself in a strong position so I can make the decision I want to make."(ESPN.com)(1-22-2008) Comment here
- No NASCAR for Wheldon in 2008: Dan Wheldon won't be the next open-wheel driver to move to NASCAR so long as team owner Chip Ganassi has the final say. And Ganassi does. Wheldon said Ganassi wants him to remain in Indy-car racing at least for the time being, which includes 2008. Wheldon is completing his fifth full season in the IndyCar Series, his second with Ganassi Racing. "It's not a difference (of opinion), it's just a difference of timing," Wheldon said of Ganassi's position. "He doesn't really say why, but he thinks I should stay in Indy-car racing -- for Honda."(Indianapolis Star)(8-27-2007)
- Dan Wheldon thinking about NASCAR UPDATE denied: Dan Wheldon loves to race, and a visit to NASCAR country with the IndyCar Series only highlights that passion - and makes him think more about moving over to stock cars and getting to do just about all the driving he can handle. 'In my position, you always want to be making yourself better and you always want to be involved in a series that's getting bigger and better,'' he said. "I think everybody knows that I certainly would consider NASCAR. For me, I want to look at the IndyCar Series this year and really consider .. is it going to get a lot bigger than this? Are we going to continue to go to races where we fill the grandstands?"(TSN/AP)(7-1-2007)
UPDATE: team owner Chip Ganassi doesn't foresee open wheel star Dan Wheldon moving to stock cars anytime soon. "I personally don't see it on his radar screen [for] next year," Ganassi told ESPN.com Monday. Ganassi did say he and Wheldon discussed the proposition several months back, but discontinued those talks with the plan to resume them later in the summer. They've yet to do so, Ganassi said. "Having said that, we've had discussions along the lines of 'Hey, let's renew our deal,' and there's some other opportunities within the team for him," Ganassi said. "To be honest, I don't see [NASCAR] as one of the top-five things I'm conversing with him about. I do not consider [a move] imminent." Ganassi said Wheldon's true interest presently is winning a second IndyCar championship. Wheldon won the 2005 crown, then surrendered last season's title to Sam Hornish Jr. by way of a tiebreaker. The drivers finished with an equal number of championship points, but by rule Hornish was awarded the title due to having scored more victories during the year. Wheldon recently expressed interest in NASCAR. In fact, he was especially intrigued by that which deters many open-wheel drivers from jumping to stock cars -- the lengthy schedule.(ESPN.com)(7-3-2007)
- Wheldon to test Busch car? Former IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon has been fitted in Charlotte for a NASCAR stock car seat and will test a Busch Series car at some point, but when and where has yet to be determined. A Chip Ganassi Racing spokesperson said Wheldon's primary focus this season is winning a championship and Indy, but at some point Ganassi would have the Englishmen test a Busch Car.(Daytona Beach News Journal), Wheldon has been rumored to be testing at Las Vegas in a Cup or Busch car, he didn't in a Cup car at Vegas this week, Busch tests at Vegas Feb 5-6th.(2-1-2007)
- Yeley to sub for Mayfield, No? Yes? UPDATE 3: J.J. Yeley will drive the #41 Toyota for Mayfield Motorsports starting this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Yeley replaces Jeremy Mayfield, who was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR on Saturday after violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy [see story below]. "We believe in J.J.'s talent," said crew chief Tony Furr. "He's available for every race. So we won't be changing drivers. J.J. has something to prove just like we all do. We want someone that's hungry just like us. Everybody on this team has at one time or another worked for a larger organization. We're all racers who are all hungry, who all want to make the most of second chances and J.J. sort of fits that mold." The team is expected to name an owner of record shortly.(FoxSports - link gone)
UPDATE: Who will replace the suspended Jeremy Mayfield? That's the question on everybody's mind after Tony Furr, crew chief of the #41 Jeremy Mayfield Motorsports entry, rescinded earlier comments to FOXSports.com that J.J. Yeley was tabbed for the position.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Shana Mayfield said no decision has been made but Yeley is on the short list. Mayfield was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR on Saturday after violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. The team is expected to name an owner of record shortly, as Mayfield is not allowed to be owner of record during his suspension.(FoxSports)(5-11-2009)
UPDATE 2: also hearing that Todd Bodine and Mike Wallace are other candidates to drive the #41 Toyota.(5-11-2009)
UPDATE 3: Mayfield Motorsports will field a #41 Toyota for J.J. Yeley in this weekend's Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap qualifying race for the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, with Shana Mayfield the owner of record following last weekend's indefinite suspension of her husband, owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield, for a violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. The Mayfields plan to file her owner's paperwork with NASCAR Competition on Tuesday morning, followed by the driver change. Crew chief Tony Furr and team manager Bobby Wooten along with their crew members compiled a "short list" of candidates Monday morning and when the Mayfields arrived, they met with the team and then, Yeley, before making their final decision. The new owner said Yeley also would drive the car in the following weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's -- where Yeley finished a career-best second in 2007 -- and for what she and her husband hope will be a brief interlude as they resolve Jeremy Mayfield's positive drug test. "We didn't want to be switching drivers every week," Shana Mayfield said. "The thing about J.J. that we really liked is he lives close to the shop and he came over [Monday] while we were there. He told the guys it wasn't about money -- he just wanted to race, he wanted another chance like Jeremy did when he started the team." Shana Mayfield said her team is intact since Mayfield got the news of a positive result for "a drug of concern" in a random test given on Friday of the Richmond race weekend, followed by his "B sample," on Mayfield's request, also testing positive. Mayfield issued a statement this past Saturday at Darlington saying he believed the positive result came from a combination of a prescription drug and an over-the-counter allergy medication.(NASCAR.com)(5-12-2009) Comment here
- Yeley hopes to get back in Cup ride soon: J.J. Yeley would welcome the opportunity to return to Sprint Cup this season. He tried to get into MWR's #00 Toyota for Martinsville, but the team hired Mike Bliss. "He had a little sponsorship and he won," Yeley said. Yeley has spoken with Chip Ganassi about the #41 [Target Dodge] being vacated by Sorenson at the end of the season. It's the only fully funded car left in the Cup garage. "Chip hasn't said no," Yeley said. "My name is still on the list. It would be a great opportunity." A.J. Allmendinger's name has been linked to that seat, too. Other seats with established teams are available, but they need funding and a driver with some of it will have an edge. Yeley is working with a marketing company to bring something to the table if he doesn't land the job at Ganassi. "I've had lots of discussions with a lot of teams," Yeley said. "If you can bring a little bit of money, they can bring the rest. It puts you at the front of the line. I want to race at the highest level, I'd love to do Cup. If I can't, then I'll look at Nationwide and [Craftsman] Trucks."(Sports Illustrated)(10-15-2008) Comment here
- 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) Comment here
MISC
Links:
- Davis to attempt New Hampshire race: Marc Davis’ [a former Joe Gibbs development driver who has been running a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series] next race will be an attempt for the Sprint Cup race in two weeks at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Harry Davis [Marc's father] said they will attempt three or four Cup races before the Chase For The Sprint Cup and then attempt additional Nationwide Series events.(Scene Daily)(6-14-2009)
- Cup races for Steve Wallace in 2010? Rusty Wallace Racing’s plans to move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2010 are on hold, as Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that his two-car team will remain in the Nationwide Series next year. “My goal is still to get in Cup, but not now. Too much weird [stuff] is happening with this economy. Our Nationwide cars are funded real well. I’m happy with that. It’d be too much for me to bite off [to move to Cup].” Wallace said he is working on a deal to get son Steve as many as 10 Sprint Cup races next season, pending sponsorship. “There’s a good chance I can pull that off,” Wallace said. “Then I’d want to partner with an existing Cup team that already has points. Maybe they could run 26 and we could run 10.”(Scene Daily)(6-13-2009) Comment here
- Marc Davis to attempt some early NNS races, Cup later: Here they come already: the Davises. Driver Marc, 18, and his father, Harry, are doing it the old-fashioned way. They're fielding a family-owned, barely sponsored, one-car team, fighting the odds and the big money. Marc and Harry Davis hope to open some sponsorship wallets with a part-time, family-owned venture in 2009. Marc Davis will try to qualify for six Nationwide races in a row, beginning just after Daytona, this winter. He'll run two Toyotas his father has acquired. Then later this year they plan to enter a handful of Cup races. They're still friends with Joe Gibbs Racing, where Marc has been a developmental driver and maintains a relationship, and with Randy Moss Motorsports and Roush Racing -- all of whom tried to find major sponsorships to run Marc regularly in Nationwide or Trucks this season, but failed. But no more waiting. The Davises will do it themselves.(ESPN.com)(1-9-2009) Comment here
- P.J. Jones to ARCA? In addition to the cast of ARCA RE/MAX Series regulars and a brand new crop of rookies, several well known racing personalities were seen in the ARCA garage during the [Daytona] test, including PJ Jones. Jones, a veteran of NASCAR and the IndyCar Series, is the son of open wheel racing legend and 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones. So just what was Jones doing in Daytona, testing the #37 Spraker Racing Chevy? "PJ and I go way back, and we're trying to put a deal together for him to run here in '09," stated Jeff Spraker, the team owner. "It's interesting. I've been out trying to put some sponsorship together for next year, and one of the companies I talked to was looking for a way to make a little more impact. When I mentioned the possibility of PJ, they said ‘Parnelli's kid?' I said yes, and we agreed to continue to talk."(ARCARacing.com) Comment here
- Miko Salo to NASCAR? UPDATE: not much reported, but during SPEED's broadcast of "The Petit Le Mans" American Le Mans Series Sports car race from Road Atlanta, it was reported that Miko Salo is talking to NASCAR teams about running there in 2009, no series was mentioned [Cup, Nationwide or Trucks].(10-4-2008)
UPDATE: Former Formula One racer Mika Salo is pondering moving to NASCAR and has been in talks with a number teams to try to arrange a first test at the wheel of a stock car. The Finnish driver was in attendance at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the race weekend, as he explores the possibility of making a first approach to NASCAR to evaluate if he would like to commit to it in the future.
"I have a little interest, yeah, so just having a look to see if there's any opportunity or anything for me to at least try the thing and know if I like it," Salo told autosport.com while visting the Sprint Cup garage. "I've driven everything else in the world, not NASCAR, so that's why I want to try it." Salo has recently been competing in the American Le Mans series driving a Ferrari 430 GT for Risi Competizione, winning a couple of weeks ago in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Salo confirmed he has already approached a couple of teams hoping to get an opportunity to drive a stock car for the first time. He said he still hasn't signed a contract for next year - although he expects to do so next week – but would like to sample the car first before progressing into further talks with teams. "I've been in contact with a few teams and yeah, there's serious contact," Salo said. "But I'd like to try the car first before I sort of go any further. Just trying to work on a test day for now and see then. I haven't signed anything for next year yet but I will probably next week. Then I'm stuck but maybe next year I can try one." The 41-year-old says he has followed NASCAR more closely since former Formula One colleague Juan Pablo Montoya made the switch two years ago. However, he admits he would like to have a first go on a road course, given that he has never raced on an oval before.(Autosports)(10-15-2008) Comment here
- Ricky Carmichael to attempt ARCA 'Dega race UPDATE: Ricky Carmichael, a 10-time AMA national motocross champion from 1997 - 2006, will attempt to make his ARCA RE/MAX series debut at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 3. Carmichael, a rookie on the Camping World East Series this season for Ken Schrader Racing, has been entered into the event at the 2.66-mile speedway by Kevin Harvick Inc. With three top-5 finishes and six top-10's Carmichael, 28, is eighth in the Camping World East Series standings after 11 of 13 events this season.(Hartford Courant)(9-17-2008)
UPDATE: Two Talladega rookies, Joey Logano and Ricky Carmichael, were at Talladega Superspeedway today as part of a two-day ARCA RE/MAX Series Open Test. While both drivers have extensive racing resumes, neither had tackled the high banks of Talladega until today. “It’s pretty fun, I’ve had a good time with it so far,” said Logano. “This is my first time doing superspeedway stuff. I did some Proving Grounds stuff with the Cup guys before, but that’s the only similar thing I’ve been through.”
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Carmichael. “Everyone was saying ‘oh we’re just doing single car runs this morning’ but it’s new for me. I’m having a good time. The guys at KHI (Kevin Harvick Inc.) are fast. I’m just enjoying it and trying to get as much seat time as I can.” Although Carmichael has competed at Daytona before, he says the 2.66-mile Talladega seems much larger than the 2.5-mile track in Florida. “My first thought when I came to Talladega was ‘wow this place is huge’. I couldn’t believe how much bigger it was, and I mean, I thought Daytona was big.” Both drivers are expected to compete in the Oct. 3rd ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 at Talladega.(TSS PR)(9-17-2008) Comment here
- Hamilton Jr. to Cup? Nationwide Series driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. said Team Rensi Motorsports [#25 Ford] will close its doors in December if a new sponsor to replace Smithfield Foods isn’t found by then. Efforts to reach team president Ronnie Russell were unsuccessful, but a source close to the team confirmed Hamilton Jr.’s statements. Crew chief Chris Wright remains with the team, though a source said nearly half of the team’s payroll was cut via layoffs. Hamilton Jr. said he has been “fishing around” for other rides. “I’m about 40 percent, talking to a Cup deal,” Hamilton Jr. said. “I’ve been on the phone several times with a top-notch organization on the truck side. The Nationwide cars, there’s just none out there. Everybody I’ve talked to, if you’ve got a sponsor, they’ll take you. There are some when you could run a handful of races whenever a Cup guy doesn’t want to. I wouldn’t turn my back to that because it’s in really good equipment. I’d like to run full time but if you can’t, you’ve got to take what you can take.” Hamilton Jr. said he even could end up owning his own Nationwide team next season. The five-time series winner isn’t ready to quit driving.(SceneDaily)(9-15-2008)
- Another F-1 driver attends Cup race: Formula One Toyota driver Jarno Trulli snuck into Michigan International Speedway on Sunday without the fan crush he's accustomed to when he races in Europe. "A few people asked me for autographs when I first arrived but it basically cooled down," Trulli said. "In Italy or France, you would basically be surrounded." Trulli, an Italian, competed in the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal this month, where he finished sixth, and decided to stick around and pay a surprise visit to former F1 drivers Juan Pablo Montoya (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates) and Scott Speed (Bill Davis Racing), who are running in NASCAR. "They were the first two people I visited with," Trulli said. "They were surprised to see me." Trulli, eighth in F1 points, said he watches NASCAR on television, but Sunday's was the first stock car race he'd attended. Would he take a crack at ovals if given a chance? "Maybe one day -- a test or something," said Trulli, who began his F1 career with Minardi in 1997. "I like the U.S. and having another (racing) experience would be good." Though Trulli has never raced a stock car, he drove at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., in 1994. "I competed in the Race of the Americas karting series in 1994 and 1995 on the road course at Charlotte," Trulli recalled. "I finished first and second."(Detroit Free Press)(6-17-2008)
- WoO Champ considering NASCAR: Donny Schatz doesn't have to prove to anyone how good he is behind the wheel. He's won back-to-back World of Outlaws titles, making him the king of dirt tracks. Yet when Schatz agreed to drive for Tony Stewart this year, he had to prove to his new boss that he has what it takes to three-peat -- and, maybe, compete in either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup series. Schatz said yesterday that he'll consider all options if Stewart decides to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to form a NASCAR team. Stewart acknowledged last month that he has considered opting out of the final year of his contract with JGR to explore ownership options. "I don't know exactly what Tony is thinking of doing," Schatz said. "If something else comes along, I'll evaluate it and maybe want to make a move. The main focus for us right now is to be on the dirt [tracks]. I feel like I can race with those [NASCAR] guys, and sure it's in the back of my mind. It's not something I'm dead-set on doing, and I'm not going to trade the ranch for it, but it's definitely something I would try given the right opportunity."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-24-2008)
- Castroneves considering moving to NASCAR UPDATE Denied: Helio Castroneves, who is seeking to win his third Indianapolis 500 this weekend, said he is considering following several other open-wheel racers and moving to NASCAR but has made no decision yet. "I won't deny that I'm thinking about it," Castroneves said Monday night. "It would be great to one day try the [stock] cars. But at this point I'm focusing on Indy cars and winning the Indianapolis 500 again." IndyCar is making a stepped-up effort to market its drivers, much as NASCAR already does, especially Castroneves and Danica Patrick, who last month became the first woman to win an Indy car race. Castroneves said the renewed interest in the IndyCar Series sparked by the merger and Patrick's victory is one reason why he might not switch. However, Castroneves said he's also intrigued how other open-wheel drivers have migrated to NASCAR and is debating whether such a move is appropriate for him. "It depends on the opportunity," he said. "It's all about the timing and I'm not sure if the timing is right." Castroneves' opportunity is better than many other drivers, though. He now drives for Team Penske, whose owner Roger Penske already has a three-car Sprint Cup team and could add one more under NASCAR's rules. And one of Penske's stock cars is driven by three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr., Castroneves' former teammate, who switched to NASCAR this season. (Penske's other Cup drivers are Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.) Hornish was the latest big name former open-wheel racer to jump to NASCAR, a growing list that includes Juan Pablo Montoya, 2007 Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier. Castroneves said his contract with Team Penske is up for renewal after this season. Asked if he had talked to Roger Penske about his interest in NASCAR, Castroneves said, "We're going to talk after Indy."(Los Angeles Times)(5-21-2008)
UPDATE: Castroneves said Wednesday he doesn't plan to leave the IRL's IndyCar Series for NASCAR any time soon. Refuting a story in Wednesday's editions of the Los Angeles Times that speculated on Castroneves following former IRL stars Sam Hornish Jr. and Dario Franchitti to NASCAR as early as the 2009 season, Castroneves said his comments were taken out of context. "It's kind of strange to print a statement like that," said Castroneves, who will start fourth in Sunday's 92nd running of the Indy 500. "I did not understand much. I found my English is apparently getting worst. (They) definitely took it out of context."(ESPN.com/AP)(5-22-2008)
- Road Racer looking for Cup Options: In the midst of a hectic stretch of sports car races in both the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Series, Atlanta-area race car driver David Murry is also beginning to cast his NASCAR line out in an effort to land a Sprint Cup ride for the road course races at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen. "The timing is right to look at those teams that might be able to use my help," said Murry. "Specifically, those teams that aren't in the Top 35 in points and who don't have an experienced road course driver might just need to look elsewhere to get them in the show. I'm hoping they look my way. I'm ready, willing and able." Murry is no stranger to Sprint Cup road course events. He's recorded numerous qualifying attempts at both venues and even made a start at Watkins Glen with the defunct Phoenix Air Racing Team.(PR)(4-26-2008) Comment here
- Pressley adds page to family's GPS legacy: Asheville's [NC] Coleman Pressley became the first third-generation driver to see the checkered flag at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. "This is my biggest win, ever," Pressley said. "I have been trying so hard here. My grandfather won here, and my dad [former Busch and Cup driver Rovert] won here, and this is just terrific. We got flames (on his car) this week, and maybe they made the difference. I've been trying so hard and we finally got it all together." Richard Childress's grandson, Austin Dillon was third. See full story at the Greenville Pickens Speedway site.(4-14-2008)
- Bubba In The Garage? Could James "Bubba" Stewart leave motocross to pursue a career in NASCAR? "I'm trying to convince him four wheels are better than two," said Max Seigel, the president of global operations at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Stewart was Siegel's guest on Sunday at Daytona, the first Cup event he has attended. The 22-year-old phenom said Siegel has "hinted around with it a lot" about putting him in a developmental program. "Yeah, I'd like to try it," he said. "Once I came down saw all the people, all the merchandise, that definitely interests me." Stewart reminded that there were five times as many people at the 500 [185,000] as there are at a motocross event.(ESPN.com)(2-18-2008) Comment here
