see more See other driver news, rumors, other series, one-off items below - click here

Elliott not officially retired, but not looking to race: Bill Elliott hasn't officially retired but he isn't itching to get back into a racecar these days. The 57-year-old driver, who has 828 career Cup starts but hasn't run full time since 2003, is more focused on the career of 17-year-old son Chase. Bill Elliott, the 1988 Cup champion who has 44 career victories, has competed in just seven races since the start of 2011 and 32 since the end of 2008. His last race was the Cup race in July at Daytona, where he qualified sixth in a Turner Motorsports car but got caught up in a crash to finish 37th. "I've thought about a lot of stuff," Elliott said Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Right now, I'm just kind of waiting to see where things go. It's kind of a two-fold deal. I still enjoy competing and that would be a neat deal. But unless you got in a caliber of car like I did a year ago, I really have a hard time justifying it after I got in such a good car. Why would I want to run and just kind of hang out? I'm going to look at a few things and decide here pretty soon what I'm going to do," he said.(Sporting News) (5-11-2013)

Carl Long's fine still hanging over his head: #11-Denny Hamlin's recent refusal to pay his $25,000 fine has reawakened the plight of Carl Long, a driver who lacks the financial resources to settle his debt with NASCAR. Long's career as a Sprint Cup Series driver essentially ended when his team was penalized for having an illegal engine at the 2009 All-Star race. Long's crew chief was fined $200,000, an amount he was unable to pay. Under NASCAR rules, the fine was reverted to the car owner, which was Long's wife, DeeDee. Unable to drive until the fine is paid, Long was still able to work in the Sprint Cup Series garage because his wife was technically responsible for settling the debt. But last year, Long said NASCAR transferred the fine to his name and he's no longer allowed inside the Cup garage. "Last year at Daytona, they issued me as the driver the fine, and I couldn't pay $200,000, so I was escorted out of the Cup garage," Long said at Bristol Motor Speedway. "NASCAR basically let me know that anybody on the crew roster could be held responsible for the fine, all the way down to the tire guy. Anybody on the crew roster, they can leverage the fine against him, no matter who. Actually, no matter what, if you are signed in on a crew roster, you are hanging by a thread." Long is allowed to work in NASCAR in any other series, and he's currently a jack of all trades for Rick Ware Racing in the Nationwide Series. He's also a part-time Nationwide driver, and has made 37 starts since the All-Star race incident. But he said he's clearing just over $35,000 a year after paying all his expenses, which means he'll likely never be back in a Sprint Cup car because he lacks the means to clear his debt with NASCAR.(Associated Press)(3-17-2013)

Former NASCAR driver Tyler Walker arrested after chase, drugs involved UPDATE: Two California residents were taken into custody Wednesday morning after leading Nevada, Arizona and Utah Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed pursuit. The driver, Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker, 33, and passenger, Raelie Hann McDonald, 30, both of Hermosa Beach, were arrested on a variety of drug and alcohol charges. UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson said his department was notified of a pursuit traveling northbound on I-15 in Arizona at approximately 7:30 a.m. The car had failed to stop for Nevada troopers, who were pursuing the vehicle for speeding and felony evading. Troopers searched the car, finding methamphetamines, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and alcohol in the vehicle. Walker is a former Nationwide and Truck Series driver suspended for violating NASCAR's drug policy in 2007.(The Spectrum, KSL.com and Sporting News)(2-1-2013)
UPDATE: A former NASCAR driver who led police on a high-speed chase through Nevada, Arizona and Utah is scheduled to appear in 5th District Court on Tuesday in St. George for his initial appearance. Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker, 33, failed to stop for police in Nevada for speeding early Wednesday morning. He then led police northbound on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge and reached speeds estimated at 150 miles per hour, according to a probable cause statement. Two Utah Highway Patrol officers were able to deflate the tires of Walker's 2007 BMW 750 Li sedan after releasing spike strips. The vehicle came to a stop 1.5 miles later. According to the statement, a UHP trooper attempted to approach the vehicle, but Walker allegedly drove off at 80 mph with flat tires. Walker stopped again, and was finally apprehended after trying to flee on foot. Walker was charged with two third-degree felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony charge of failure to stop for police, and misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of paraphernalia, unlawful transportation of alcohol and having an open container in a vehicle. Bail was set at $18,020. Walker and McDonald posted bail Wednesday night.(St. George Daily Spectrum)
(2-4-2013)

Earnhardt grandson to run ARCA Trucks: Bobby Dale Earnhardt, grandson of legendary NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, has announced plans to race full-time in the ARCA Truck Series in 2013. Bobby Dale Earnhardt moved to WV in March 2012 and teamed up with Wilson Motorsports and has created a three year plan to get to NASCAR. Bobby Dale Earnhardt is the son of Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt's son.(bobbydaleearnhardt.com)(1-18-2013)

Shane Hmiel returns to a racecar at Rockingham: Ever since Shane Hmiel's accident left him paralyzed while attempting to qualify for a USAC race in Terra Haute, Ind. on Oct. 9, 2010, his road to recovery has been nothing short of miraculous and has served has an inspiration to many. Hmiel now has the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a racecar with Accessible Racing at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, January 26, 2013 and is set to overcome another obstacle he was told wouldn't ever be done. Accessible Racing is the brainchild of co-founder and President Brian Hanaford and is built on the mindset of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for disabled Vets and civilians. The Accessible Racing driving experience provides an exciting and therapeutic experience that helps disabled individuals rediscover their capabilities.(Rockingham Speedway)(1-4-2012)

Randy Bethea featured in new documentary: Throughout the 1970s Tennessee racer Randy Bethea was a regular competitor in NASCAR's second tier series now known as the Nationwide Series. He made history in 1973 becoming the first Afircan American NASCAR racer to win a pole in an upper division race when he knocked Darrell Waltrip off the pole in the Late Model Sportman (Nationwide Series) Southern 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
In 1975 he made history again, starting the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and becoming one of only seven African Americans to compete at NASCAR's highest level, now known as the Sprint Cup Series. But, Bethea's dream of NASCAR success was unfulfilled for reasons he attributes to color. That color was green, and like the majority of up-and-coming drivers of that era Bethea didn't have enough green in his wallet to compete at his full potential.
Although Bethea did experience some racism during his driving career, he is quick to state he was 'Not a Black Racer', he was a racer who happened to be black. Currently employed as a high school automotive instructor in Newport, Tenn., Bethea still remains active in local racing and among the most popular drivers in Tennessee.
"Just Another Racer: The Randy Bethea Story" tells the story of Bethea's racing life, from sweeping the floors in legendary engine builder Banjo Matthews' shop, to his venture into Formula Super-V racing, which he attributes as the main reason he failed to maintain long term success in NASCAR. The 60 minute documentary was filmed and edited by Kingsport Times-News reporter Jeff Bobo and includes interviews with many of Bethea's NASCAR racing contemporaries including retired racers Paul Lewis, John A. Utsman, active Nationwide Series driver Brad Teague, and engine builder Stanley Allison. "Just Another Racer: The Randy Bethea Story" can be viewed for free on Youtube.(1-1-2013)

Jones wins the Snowball Derby: 16-year-old Erik Jones won the 45th annual Snowball Derby, in part by besting NASCAR star Kyle Busch at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL. Jones became the second consecutive 16 year old to win America's most prestigious short-track race, a year after Chase Elliott became the event's youngest winner. Jeff Choquette finished 2nd followed by Kyle Busch, Jeff Fultz and Chase Elliott. More info at snowballderby.com and 51sports.com.(12-3-2012)

Marty Smith article about Shane Hmiel: Admission for Shane Hmiel came by way of a throbbing right hand so painful the weight of a single bed sheet hit like an anvil and reduced him to tears. Even in his sleep. He had been partying hard at a local bar the night before when someone poured a beer down his back. They exchanged glances and half-breathed apologies. Minutes later, the guy did it again, and laughed this time -- and threw a haymaker. Hmiel threw a counter-blow, and it was on. Bouncers gouged Hmiel's eyes and fish-hooked his mouth, tearing his cheek from his gum line as they wrestled him away from the other men. That's all he remembers of the incident. He awoke crying and sped to the ER, certain the hand was broken. Doctors at the hospital X-rayed it, and delivered shocking news: His hand wasn't broken after all. There were teeth lodged in it. A pair, in fact, so deeply gouged into his knuckles they were invisible to the naked eye. And worse yet, infection had set in. If the teeth weren't removed immediately, amputation was a genuine possibility. "That's when I knew I had to get clean," Hmiel says now. "That fight was the stupidest thing you've ever seen. But I'm so thankful it happened. That was the moment that turned my life around." It was July 2007, and Hmiel was a drug addict in complete blind denial. He started smoking marijuana when he was 12, to look older and tougher because "that's what the badasses did."(see full article at ESPN)(11-23-2012)

Elliott Sadler close to deal for 2013; part-time Cup with Gibbs? UPDATE: Elliott Sadler said Tuesday that he is "close" to determining where he will be working next season, but said first he must focus on taking care of unfinished business this season. Sadler currently drives the #2 Chevy full-time for Richard Childress Racing in the Nationwide Series, where he is the current points leader by a slim margin. But he already has said he and RCR will be splitting ways at season's end. He also has said that he would like to make a return to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series as soon as possible, and reiterated that point Tuesday after an appearance at RCR where he helped promote the Bank of America 500 that will be run Oct. 13 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "My goal as a driver is to be back in the Cup Series and make the Chase as a Cup driver. That's my No. 1 goal," Sadler said. Asked if he expected to have that chance in 2013, Sadler hedged and replied, "Uh, I don't know. We're working on some different things. But my No. 1 goal is to have that opportunity, to be a part of the Chase again." Sources have confirmed that one of the teams he has been talking with is Joe Gibbs Racing, which appears willing to offer him a full-time Nationwide ride and a limited Cup schedule for 2013 with the possibility of a full-time Cup ride developing by 2014 if full-time sponsorship can be found for a fourth JGR Cup car. "We're close. We're talking to three teams right now, so we'll see," said Sadler, while declining to offer details on which teams he has been negotiating with. "I'm just kind of late to the party, getting out there and meeting and greeting with everybody."(NASCAR.com)(9-25-2012)
UPDATE: [Team president J.D.] Gibbs � confirmed the possibility that JGR could hire Nationwide Series point leader Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers to drive full-time in the Nationwide Series next season. "That's a potential,'' Gibbs said. "I think we have to wait a little while before we can say anything officially.'' Sadler, who has made it clear he will not return to Richard Childress Racing after this season, would drive one car with OneMain Financial as the primary sponsor. He also is expected to drive a part-time Sprint Cup schedule. Vickers would drive the second car with Dollar General as the sponsor. Gibbs said the plan is to field a third car for his Cup drivers and developmental drivers Drew Herring and Darrell Wallace Jr. to share.(ESPN.com)(10-1-2012)

Sadler out at RCR? going to JGR in 2013?: UPDATES: Richard Childress, owner of RCR, tells Claire B Lang on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Pre-Race Show that Elliott Sadler has not re-signed with the company[for 2013], Sadler currently leads the Nationwide Series points.(SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Rumors floating around have Sadler going to Joe Gibbs Racing to run full-time in the Nationwide Series and run a 4th JGR Sprint Cup Series car part-time in 2013.(9-2-2012)
UPDATE: Appearing Monday night on SPEED's Race Hub, Elliott Sadler confirmed he would not be back with Richard Childress Racing in 2013. He said he had not been offered an opportunity to stay at Childress next season and that he does not yet have a deal with a team for next year.(9-4-2012)
UPDATE 2: Sources close to the situation said Sadler is in negotiations with Joe Gibbs Racing for a full-time Nationwide and part-time Cup ride, and has one other option with another organization for next season. "Right now, I don't have anything with any team,'' Sadler said after the first practice for Friday night's Nationwide race at Richmond International Raceway. "We are working on some things and we are talking to some different teams, and hopefully some will come together.'' JGR has an opening after Joey Logano announced on Tuesday he would drive the #22 Sprint Cup car at Penske Racing next season. Logano was offered a full-time Nationwide and part-time Cup ride to stay at JGR in 2013. Sadler has made it clear it is his desire to return to Cup in some form.(ESPN)(9-7-2012)

Shane Hmiel back at the track: On Friday, Shane Hmiel, 32, the only driver banned for life under NASCAR's substance-abuse policy and paralyzed since a devastating sprint car crash in October 2010, was allowed by NASCAR into the Atlanta Motor Speedway garage and pit road as the guest of Camping World Truck Series team owner Billy Ballew. "Today is one of the biggest days in my life and my career," Hmiel said in an interview with Sporting News on pit road during Friday night's truck race. "For one, I embarrassed the hell out of my family. And for two, I straightened up enough to where NASCAR will let me be back in a great sport like auto racing. Being at the racetrack, watching this truck race is better than winning a race." Hmiel's return to the NASCAR garage was an emotional one as a steady stream of well-wishers visited him as he watched the truck race. It marked the first time many had seen him since his crash Oct. 9, 2010, at The Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, where his USAC Silver Crown car flipped and the top of the car�which had a roll cage but no roof�hit the track's concrete wall. Battling for his life with a bruised spine, a head injury, a broken shoulder and collapsed lungs before suffering pneumonia and other complications, Hmiel has limited use of his arms but has feeling in all his limbs. Said Hmiel, "It's great to see people that you haven't seen in years. It's been seven years since I've been in a NASCAR garage. I'm just very thankful that everybody at NASCAR let me come have a good weekend."(see full story at the Sporting News and see more info about Shane on his Facebook page)(9-2-2012)

Jeffrey Earnhardt to make MMA Cage Debut: On Tuesday night, NASCAR driver and grandson of Dale Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, will trade in driving gloves for a pair of MMA fight gloves. Earnhardt makes his MMA debut during Speedweek. "I've been using MMA as my training regimen so I�'m excited to show the fans that race car drivers are athletes just like in other professional sports. I've been preparing for this fight since December and think I'm ready. My next race is in a few weeks [Daytona, July 6th] so I felt comfortable that now was a good time." The fight is scheduled for Tuesday evening May 22. The Internet card starts at 8:30pm/et and can be viewed live online at www.jeimma.com, its $15 for the pay per view.(PR)(5-22-2012)

Hornish Jr. scheduled to make two Cup starts: Sam Hornish Jr. is scheduled to make two Sprint Cup Series starts for Penske Racing at Kansas in April and Talladega in October. SKF will be the sponsor. See an image of the scheme on the #12 Team Schemes page.(3-30-2012)

Lally looking to run some NASCAR road races: 2011 NASCAR Sprint CUp Series rookie of the year talked about possible NASCAR rides this year, in a recent Frontstretch interview: "I have a few nibbles here and there. I would love to find a good Cup team to do Watkins Glen with and a good Nationwide team to do the three road courses with. I think I can bring a lot to teams on the road courses and have a very good shot to run up front. I would love to get more oval races in as well for sure and will work towards that, but my focus right now is trying to get in touch with teams for Montreal, Road America and Watkins Glen."(Frontstretch)(3-15-2012)

Boris Said hopes to run in NASCAR road course races: a few tidbits from a one-on-one interview with road racers / sometime NASCAR race, Boris Said by Frontstretch:
Said: Hopefully, this year, I think I have the road races put together. I'm working on a lot of deals for the road races. I'm sure I'll do that in NASCAR this year. I'll probably only do two in Nationwide, or skip the Cup race [in Sonoma]. I haven't decided yet because Road America and Sonoma are on the same weekend. If I do the Cup race, I've got to commit to that. If I don't do it this year, then I'll go to Road America and do all three races since Grand-Am's there too.(in part from an interview at Frontstretch)(2-14-2012)

Almendinger to drive for Penske in IndyCar: Team Penske announced that AJ Allmendinger will join its IZOD IndyCar Series program in 2013. Allmendinger, who rose up through the ranks of open-wheel racing before transitioning to NASCAR, will compete in at least two IndyCar events for Team Penske this season, including the Indianapolis 500. Allmendinger will drive the #2 IZOD Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet at this year's Indianapolis 500, scheduled for May 26 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 31-year-old Allmendinger will also compete in the April 7 IZOD IndyCar Series race at the Barber Motorsports Park road course in Birmingham, Ala., in the IZOD machine for Team Penske. Today's announcement represents a homecoming for Allmendinger on a couple of different fronts. He will return to his roots as the Los Gatos, Calif., native raced in the Champ Car World Series from 2004-2006 when he earned five wins, two poles and 14 podium finishes over a three-year period. It also means a return to Penske Racing. Allmendinger drove for the organization's Sprint Cup Series team for the first 17 races of the 2012 season before he was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy. After successfully completing NASCAR's Road to Recovery program, Allmendinger returned to compete in four Cup Series events for another team at the end of the 2012 season. Allmendinger will next drive the No. 2 IZOD Team Penske car at the IZOD IndyCar Series spring training test sessions, March 12-13 at Barber Motorsports Park.(Team Penske)(3-8-2012)

Allmendinger to test IndyCar for Penske: AJ Allmendinger's career is coming full circle � albeit making left and right turns. Allmendinger, 31, will test an IndyCar for Penske Racing at Sebring International Raceway on Feb. 18 and 19. If the test is successful, Allmendinger will make his open-wheel debut for Penske Racing at Barber Motorsports Park on April 7. If everything goes according to plan and sponsorship can be acquired, Allmendinger will also run at Long Beach in preparation for the Indianapolis 500. "The first test is just to see how things go at Sebring," Allmendinger said late Wednesday by phone. "It's been seven years since I've been in one of those cars � and they've changed quite a bit. I know it won't be easy. But I know I'll be in the best possible equipment and I'll have Will Power there � one of the fastest guys in the sport � to help me get up to speed. I'm really looking forward to it. At least Sebring is a track I know. There are so many great things about getting back in a car for Roger. I can't begin to explain what it means that he believes in me enough to give me another chance. There's no pressure with this test, but I'll put the pressure on myself." Allmendinger has learned to cope with pressure over the past year. After working his way into the ride of a lifetime with Penske Racing's Sprint Cup team, Allmendinger failed a drug test administered at Kentucky Speedway on June 29 and was suspended from competition at Daytona International Speedway on July 7. Upon completing NASCAR's Road to Recovery, Allmendinger was reinstated Sept. 18, but Penske Racing released him from the No. 22 team Aug. 1. Still, Penske never gave up on his driver. Not only did Allmendinger remain on the payroll for the remainder of the year, but Penske also called him on a weekly basis.(Fox Sports)(2-7-2013)

Allmendinger has four race deal with #51 team: AJ Allmendinger has an opportunity to initially run four NASCAR Sprint Cup races for #51 Phoenix Racing as its driver roster starts to take shape. While Regan Smith will kick off the season in the #51 Guy Roofing Chevy at Daytona, Allmendinger has been offered the chance to drive [early season races] at Phoenix, Bristol, Auto Club and Martinsville. TAG Heuer will sponsor Austin Dillon in the car at Las Vegas. Both parties have agreed to keep their options open should an opportunity arise. Right now, they are working on a race-to-race basis.(FoxSports)(1-18-2013)

Dillon to run some race for Phoenix Racing? UPDATE: A.J. Allmendinger's 2013 NASCAR plans are less certain. He ran a pair of races for #51 Phoenix Racing late last year after being reinstated by NASCAR, and while team owner James Finch has said Allmendinger will drive for the team again this season, it will apparently not be a full-time effort. Regan Smith is slated to steer the car in the season opener at Daytona, and reliable sources say that third-generation driver Austin Dillon will also run a handful of Sprint Cup Series races for Phoenix Racing.(Godfather Motorsports)(1-11-2013)
UPDATE: Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress Racing's owner, will drive a Sprint Cup car with a Hendrick Motorsports engine at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Phoenix Racing owner James Finch said during Friday's Cup test at Daytona International Speedway that Dillon will pilot his #51 Chevy sponsored by TAG Heuer Eyewear at the March 10 race. Finch's cars are powered by HMS engines. Dillon is running a full-time Nationwide Series schedule and about six Cup races for his grandfather, Richard Childress, as he plans to move full-time into Cup in 2014 at RCR. He is at the three-day Daytona test driving RCR's #33 in preparation for his debut in the Daytona 500 next month. Asked how the deal came about, Finch jokingly said, "Richard is too old to mess with. Austin says they don't have no fun." In reality, Finch said, Tag Heuer's existing relationship with Dillon helped put the deal together.(ESPN)(1-11-2013)

Finch working on driver lineup for #51 UPDATE 3: Phoenix Racing team owner James Finch is close to settling on his lineup for 2013. Finch said Thursday that Regan Smith will run the Daytona 500 in the #51 Chevy. But with Smith concentrating on his new gig with JR Motorsports, there will be an opportunity for AJ Allmendinger as well. "Regan will go to Daytona for us, but I want to help AJ run some races, too," Finch said. "We're still working on the final schedule, but AJ will probably run Phoenix (International Raceway on March 3) for us." Allmendinger made his comeback with Phoenix Racing in October at Charlotte after completing NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program for violating the sport's substance-abuse policy. His top result with the team was 24th in that race.(Fox Sports)(12-21-2012)
UPDATE: James (Finch) telling Newschannel 7 Sports he's committed to run at least 18 Cup races in 2013, starting with the Daytona 500. He says he's secured a sponsor for both Daytona races in February, but won't announce that sponsor until after the first. James says Regan Smith will drive for Phoenix in the Daytona 500. Finch will use Smith for some other Cup races, though he'll have to share Smith, since he will drive the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Allmendinger is another driver Finch would like to use on the Cup Series. AJ ran the final four races of 2012 for Phoenix and James says he liked how AJ handled the car. Allmendinger though apparently considering some offers to race Indy cars. As for running the whole cup circuit, Finch says he's hoping for some early success and that more sponsorship will come along, making running a full slate more possible.(News Channel 7, Panama City Beach, FL)(12-28-2012)
UPDATE 2: As the clock winds down on 2012, Phoenix Racing, based in Spartanburg, is looking ahead to the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and it's going to be a season full of changes. "One of the biggest changes is the change in the Chevy body styles," Hendersonville's Steve Barkdoll, general manager of Phoenix Racing, said. "Sprint Cup is going to the Chevy SS and Nationwide to the Chevy Camaro. For a small team like us, that creates a lot more work, and our guys in the shop are doing an incredible job. They've been working non-stop to get ready for the season, and we've already got a couple of new cars in the shop that look really sharp." Just like last year, Phoenix Racing will be using multiple drivers. "For Daytona, we'll be going with Regan Smith, who also drives for Dale Jr.'s Nationwide team. Since Regan is committed to the Nationwide Series, he won't be able to run a full Cup schedule with us. We'll be looking to other drivers throughout the year, including A.J. Allmendinger again."(Spartanburg Herald Journal)(12-30-2012)
UPDATE 3: Phoenix Racing will put Regan Smith in its car for the Daytona 500 and plans to have Smith and AJ Allmendinger share driving duties for its Sprint Cup team in 2013. It also hopes to reunite with Kurt Busch for Nationwide Series races. Team general manager Steve Barkdoll said Tuesday that the team plans to field a Cup car for the entire season and a Nationwide car for restrictor-plate events plus other select races. Smith will drive the Cup car at Daytona and possibly in seven to 10 races throughout the season. Barkdoll said he expects Allmendinger's first race to be at Phoenix. The team plans to announce sponsorship for the Cup events at Daytona and Las Vegas as well as the Nationwide race at Daytona soon. Barkdoll said the current plan is to run a full season in Cup but if no sponsorship materializes during the season, the schedule could be cut back. The team will use Hendrick engines all season, Barkdoll said.(Sporting News)(1-8-2013)

Allmendinger to run the #51 at Charlotte: AJ Allmendinger will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Regan Smith, who will drive the #88 AMP/National Guard Chevy for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Earnhardt announced today that he will be sidelined for the next two races after suffering a concussion in a final-lap crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
�I hadn�t even planned on going to the track this weekend,� said Allmendinger today. �I went to the gym this morning, without my phone. When I got back at 9:00, it was blown up with calls and text messages. I got a voice mail from (Phoenix Racing general manager) Steve Barkdoll saying, `Can you get to the track as soon as possible? We kinda need a driver.�" For Allmendinger, Saturday night�s race will mark his first Sprint Cup Series start since being suspended by NASCAR on July 7 after failing a random substance abuse test. �This is obviously not the way I wanted this to happen,� said Allmendinger. �I don�t ever want to see anyone get hurt, much less a guy like Dale who�s in the running for the championship. I don�t have details on what will happen going forward, I�m just driving to the track to get fitted into a race car. I�m sure it�s going to be a little hectic today, trying to get comfortable in the car after not driving anything for so long, but I�m appreciative for the opportunity. I�m happy to have a ride for the weekend, and I�m going to do my best to get a good finish Saturday night for James Finch and Phoenix Racing.�(Godfather Motorsports)(10-11-2012)

Allmendinger visits Talladega: AJ Allmendinger upped his effort to find a new job on Friday by making his first appearance at a NASCAR event since his suspension for failing a drug test. The visit to Talladega Superspeedway is the first since Allmendinger's July 7 suspension. He was reinstated by NASCAR last month and is looking for a job for 2013 after being dropped by Penske Racing three months ago. "I'm looking, but from reading the Internet, there doesn't seem to be a lot of jobs out there," Allmendinger said. "Nobody has told me to get out yet," joked Allmendinger, who stopped in the Penske Racing garage stalls and visited with his former crew. "It's been a lot of fun to be back in the garage. It's been a rough few months, and I'm just really glad to be back here." James Finch, owner of the #51 car at Phoenix Racing, said he'll likely use Regan Smith next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway but isn't opposed to talking with Allmendinger. Kurt Busch is replacing Smith at Furniture Row beginning next week, and Finch has six races to fill this year. "I like AJ, I'd be willing to do something with him, but I don't know what sponsors would have to say about him," Finch said. "It's something I just don't have an answer for right now."(Associated Press/ESPN)(10-5-2012)

NASCAR Reinstates Driver AJ Allmendinger: NASCAR has reinstated driver AJ Allmendinger upon his successful completion of NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery Program. Allmendinger had been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR on July 24 for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy (NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
AND Allmendinger's statement: "I want to thank everyone for their support through this entire process," said Allmendinger. "I appreciate that NASCAR created the the Road to Recovery program, and am grateful for the opportunity to return to competition. The Road to Recovery program was really helpful to me in getting my priorities reset away from the race track. And, honestly, that helped find my love of racing again and why I began racing in the first place. I'm looking forward to taking this experience and be better for it moving forward."(ajallmendinger.com), see past news about Allmendingers suspension on the #22 Team News and Links page and NASCAR Drug Policy news page.(9-18-2012)

Penske willing to rehire Allmendinger: Roger Penske would consider re-hiring AJ Allmendinger, the suspended NASCAR driver who was at the IndyCar season finale as his guest. Allmendinger failed a NASCAR drug test in July and was released by Penske Racing when his backup "B" sample also tested positive. He's currently participating in NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program, and Penske said Saturday he felt the driver has been too reclusive during the process. "I told AJ I wanted him to come to a race; I think he had been kind of undercover for quite a bit of the time, and I thought it would be good for him to get out and see people here, talk to some of the team owners," Penske said before the IndyCar finale at Auto Club Speedway. Penske said once Allmendinger's suspension is resolved with NASCAR, he's a viable option for owners in both NASCAR and IndyCar. Allmendinger spent three seasons in Champ Car, and won five races in 2006 before moving to NASCAR. "I think hopefully we'll get some answer from NASCAR as quickly as possible because the Chase has started now, hopefully they'll give him a clean bill of health and he can move on," Penske said. "This is a speed bump in his career, but he's certainly an option for people on the NASCAR side and the Indy side. He did a great job when you think about what he did in Champ Car." Asked if he'd hire Allmendinger again, Penske said: "He could be an option for us, for sure."(Associated Press/ESPN)(9-16-2012)

Source disputes Allmendinger's defense: It is highly unlikely that AJ Allmendinger's positive test for amphetamines came from a single pill taken one time as the suspended Sprint Cup driver recently stated, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com. It also is highly unlikely that Allmendinger will complete NASCAR's Road to Recovery program necessary for reinstatement by the end of August as the driver stated, according to the source. "That's not going to happen," the source said. The driver said last week that the positive test resulted from prescription Adderal that he was given by the friend of a friend two days before he was randomly tested at Kentucky Speedway on June 29. Adderall is administered medically to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the source told ESPN.com that Allmendinger's one-pill defense is not consistent with the test results despite the fact Adderall can remain in a person's system up to 72 hours. And while Adderall contains compounds of amphetamines, experts in the field say there are other prescription drugs and illegal drugs that contain the same compounds. NASCAR denied ESPN.com's request to interview Dr. David Black, who heads up the Nashville-based Aegis Sciences Corp. that runs the drug testing program for the sport, regarding Allmendinger's claims. Allmendinger, according to the source, also did not reveal to the medical review officer during standard questioning given before the random test that he took anything given to him by another person that possibly could register a positive test. See more at ESPN.com.(8-15-2012)

Allmendinger tested positive for Adderall: AJ Allmendinger tested positive for prescription Adderall, the suspended NASCAR driver told ESPN in an exclusive sit down interview Tuesday. Adderall is typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Allmendinger said. He does not have ADHD and therefore had no prescription. He explained that he had been out in Louisville, KY, the Wednesday before the Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway, and was tired. A friend, Allmendinger said, handed him a pill and stated it was a workout supplement that would give him energy. Allmendinger ingested the pill. Two days later he was randomly-tested at the racetrack, a test he would ultimately fail. He said neither NASCAR nor its drug testing team from Nashville-based Aegis Labs would inform him of the specific substance in question until after the B Sample was tested July 24, only that he had tested positive for amphetamine. It was not until he was informed it was Adderall that he traced it back to that night in Kentucky. He said he does not abuse Adderall, rather that he took it just once. Allmendinger is currently going through NASCAR's Road to Recovery program, which he said he hopes to complete by the end of August. He said his case is being treated more as a stress-coping methodology than a drug rehabilitation (ESPN)(8-7-2012)

Shank wants Allmendinger in Grand-Am car: What's next for AJ Allmendinger? During a short telephone interview with FOXSports.com on Wednesday, Allmendinger expressed regret as well as gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans, which he acknowledged "helped me get through all of this." He said he has met with the administrator for NASCAR's Road to Recovery program and was given a "road map" to follow throughout the process. Team owner Michael Shank, who campaigns in the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and won the Rolex 24 with Allmendinger behind the wheel at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 29, said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he would field a car for the driver once he satisfies the sanctioning body's requirements for reinstatement. "He has to go through the Road to Recovery - which we all accept and we all agree with," Shank said. "That process, I'm told, can take anywhere from a month to three months. We'll be testing in Daytona in October and November with the Daytona prototype and some new stuff we have from Ford Racing coming. If that's the case, as soon as NASCAR says it's been satisfied, we'll get him back in."(Fox Sports)(8-3-2012)

Allmendinger released by Penske; statements by Allmendinger & Shell: Penske Racing announced today that AJ Allmendinger has been released as driver of the #22 Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Cup Series. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR last week for a positive drug test. "Penske Racing fully supports NASCAR's substance abuse policy and we are disappointed with AJ's positive drug test results," said Roger Penske. "AJ is a terrific driver, a good person and it is very unfortunate that we have to separate at this time. We have invested greatly in AJ and we were confident in his success with our team. The decision to dismiss him is consistent with how we would treat any other Penske Racing team member under similar circumstances. As AJ begins NASCAR's 'Road to Recovery' program, we wish him the best and look forward to seeing him compete again in NASCAR." Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the #22 Dodge at Pocono this weekend and for the foreseeable future. Penske Racing will evaluate its options for a driver of the #22 car for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.(Penske Racing)(8-1-2012)
Statement from Allmendinger: "Effective today, I have been released from Penske Racing as driver of the #22 Dodge Charger. I wish to thank Mr. Penske, Penske Racing, their sponsors, and especially all the of the #22 team for the opportunity they provided me and for their support in this difficult time. I also, again, would like to thank all the fans that really have been awesome through this. I apologize for the distraction, embarrassment, and difficulties that my current suspension from NASCAR has provided. As I stated last week, I have begun NASCAR's Road to Recovery program and look forward to using those resources and its completion to compete again in NASCAR in the near future."(Walldinger Racing)(8-1-2012)
Shell Statement: Shell and Pennzoil fully support NASCAR's substance abuse policy and Penske Racing's decision to release A.J. Allmendinger as driver of the #22 Dodge Charger following his indefinite suspension by NASCAR. We wish A.J. the best as he participates in NASCAR's Road to Recovery program. Shell and Pennzoil will continue to work closely with Penske Racing to determine plans for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.(Shell Pennzoil)(8-1-2012)

Penske to meet with Allmendinger this week: Team owner Roger Penske said he will meet with suspended driver AJ Allmendinger this week to discuss how they move forward as an organization. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday after his second urine sample confirmed the first sample that tested positive for amphetamines earlier this month. The 30-year-old driver has enrolled in NASCAR's Road to Recovery program that typically takes 4-5 months to be eligible for reinstatement, meaning his 2012 season is for all intents and purposes over. Penske said Sunday that he has released Penske Racing employees that have failed the company testing program in the past. He said the difference with Allmendinger is he's an independent contractor who was tested by NASCAR, not the organization, and sponsors are involved. Penske declined to comment on whether there was any possibility Allmendinger would return to the #22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge [Ford next season] in 2013.' "There are so many questions: does he keep the ride or not?'' Penske said before the Brickyard 400. "We don't know when he's going to be back. We have sponsor obligations. There's lots of things happening. At this point, from my perspective, I have a very open mind, but I want to sit down face to face with him to determine what's the best thing for the team, what's the best thing for him. We have a lot invested in him. I want to see him land on his feet. I've got to look at things from the overall standpoint.'' Penske said Sam Hornish Jr., who will be in the car on Sunday at Indianapolis as well as next week at Pocono, likely will remain the driver for most of season moving forward for the sake of continuity with the team and sponsor. Penske said there are a couple of races where Hornish already was scheduled to be in a third Penske Cup car that will factor into plans. He said those races might be used to try out another driver potentially for next season, reminding his phone has rung off the hook from drivers looking for rides. Penske said he has talked to Allmendinger almost every day to "try to keep his spirits up.'(ESPN)(7-30-2012)

Amphetamines caused Allmendinger's positive test: Suspended Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger tested positive for amphetamines, his business manager confirmed Wednesday. Tara Ragan, the vice president of Walldinger Racing Inc., said Allmendinger was told when initially suspended by NASCAR on July 7 that amphetamines were found in his drug testing sample taken a week earlier. She said the term was so broad that she opted to refer to it as a stimulant. Brand names of medications that contain or metabolize into amphetamines include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Desoxyn, Didrex, ProCentra and Vyvanse. Amphetamines also are used recreationally as a performance enhancer, often referred to on the street as "speed." When overused, they can be psychologically and physically addictive. "With amphetamines, there are a whole slew of things it can be," Ragan told ESPN.com. "When we say we don't know what it is, what we were trying to ascertain is what is it in that grouping? In our head, we don't know. In fact, when the (medical review officer) first called and said he tested positive for amphetamines, the first thing we said was, 'What does that mean?'" Ragan said the hope is Dr. David Black, who runs Aegis Sciences Corporation in Nashville, Tenn., which tested Allmendinger's "A" and "B" urine samples, will help clarify that Thursday when Allmendinger talks to him to be assigned a health care facility for assessment. Meanwhile, Ragan said there are plans to have Allmendinger tested again by an independent laboratory to see whether amphetamines still show up in his system. "We weren't being evasive," Ragan said. "In my head, no, we didn't know what the drug was. Amphetamines was too general for us when trying to figure out what it is."(more at ESPN.com)(7-25-2012)

Allmendinger Indefinitely Suspended From NASCAR Competition: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #22 Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. On July 24, Allmendinger was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (NASCAR's substance abuse policy) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book. As outlined in the rule book, NASCAR next will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.(NASCAR)
Penske Racing Statement: "In accordance with NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy, Penske Racing was notified today of AJ Allmendinger's positive B sample test. We respect NASCAR's policy and the process they have taken with this matter. Penske Racing is very disappointed with the result of the B sample test and will evaluate its course of action as it pertains to AJ over the coming week. Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the #22 Dodge Charger this weekend at Indianapolis and next weekend at Pocono."(Penske Racing)
Walldinger Racing Statement: Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville has delivered the results of the "B" sample test for Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger, which confirmed the results of the "A" test. Statement from Tara Ragan, Vice President, Walldinger Racing Inc. "This was not the news we wanted to hear and we will work to get to the source of what may have caused this. To that end, we have secured the services of an independent lab to conduct thorough testing on every product within AJ's home and motor coach to find what might collaborate with his test, which created results that were within nanograms of accepted standards. We are working closely with NASCAR and Penske Racing to identify the next action steps in this process. We continue to be extremely grateful by the breadth and scope of support for AJ from his fans and partners. We would like to again thank NASCAR, Penske Racing and all our sponsor partners for the open communication, and for helping us at every step in this process. We expect to have further updates in the upcoming days."(Walldinger Racing)(7-24-2012)
Shell / Pennzoil Statement: "Shell and Pennzoil believe that the process and procedures that NASCAR has in place as part of their substance abuse policy are appropriate and serve to ensure that the sport and its participants are held to the highest standards. We share Penske Racing's disappointment with the result of AJ's (Allmendinger) B sample test and will work closely with them to determine plans moving forward. We hope for the best for AJ during this difficult time."(Shell Motorsports)
Allmendinger Update: Road to Recovery: "While we await further information from testing to determine the cause, we have notified NASCAR that AJ will participate in the Road to Recovery Program starting immediately. As we have stated earlier, we respect NASCAR's drug testing policies. They are first and foremost in place to protect drivers and AJ being among those. We fully support the program, and and as more details become available, we will share them. We would like to personally thank Mr. Helton and John Bobo for helping worked through this in an expeditious manner." -Tara Ragan, Vice President, Walldinger Racing Inc.(7-25-2012)

Andretti's team up for Daytona 24: The worlds of NASCAR, IndyCar, USAC and the Rolex Series will come together next week as part of the No. 36 Yellow Dragon Motorsports Mazda RX-8 driver line-up for the 50th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The father and son team of John and Jarett Andretti highlight the entry and will race together for the first time. Joining them will be Mazda sports car racing veteran Taylor Hacquard, and promising Mazda open-wheel driver Anders Krohn, forming Yellow Dragon's most impressive Rolex 24 driver squad to date. With 12 Indy 500 and 14 Daytona 500 starts to his credit, John Andretti is one of America's most accomplished racers, and as the overall winner of the 1989 Rolex 24 At Daytona, returning to race at the storied endurance event with his son Jarett-and with the support of Window World--was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. "This will be my fourth Rolex 24, and the opportunity to race with Jarett was the deciding factor," he said. "The 50thAnniversary of the race is also a major motivation, and I'm looking forward to working with Window World, the team and other drivers in this historic event with a winning manufacturer like Mazda." After earning a USAC championship in 2011, Jarett Andretti is poised to show the kind of versatility that has become synonymous with his last name. Trading midget racing for the wail of a triple-rotor Mazda RX-8, the teenager will draw from the experience of his father and teammates during his professional road racing debut.(Yellow Dragon Motorsports PR)(1-27-2012)

Another Andretti Finds Victory Lane: The month of May for the Andretti racing family got off to a winning start this past weekend, and this time it was third-generation Jarett Andretti carrying the checkered flag for the first time in his young career. Jarett, the son of John Andretti and grandchild of Aldo Andretti won Saturday night's 35-lap Ford Focus Midget feature at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway. The 18-year-old high school senior grew up watching his father race both IndyCar and NASCAR-sanctioned events along with other national series including NHRA, CART and professional sports car racing. Jarett decided in mid-summer of 2010 to get behind the wheel, first starting in a go-kart. He quickly advanced to a Ford Focus Midget and competed in only a handful of events at the end of 2010. This year, Jarett is competing for the Eastern Ford Focus Midget Championship sanctioned by USAC. Saturday night's win came in only the second race of the season. The win compliments his runner-up finish earlier this year at Dillon Motor Speedway. Jarett will join his father and cousin Marco racing in Indianapolis later this month where he plans to compete in more midget races, but first will race his Ford Focus Midget at Ace Speedway located in Altamahaw, N.C. on Friday and back to Hickory Motor Speedway again this Saturday. Andretti also has plans to compete in sports cars, NASCAR modifieds and possibly the NASCAR Pro Series East later this season.(Breaking Limits)(5-12-2011)

John Andretti has ride for Indy 500 UPDATE: John Andretti will drive the fifth Andretti Autosport car in the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The others will be for IndyCar regulars Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Mike Conway and Danica Patrick.(Indianapolis Star)(3-11-2011)
UPDATE: Andretti Autosport announced it will join forces with co-entrant Richard Petty Motorsports and primary sponsor Window World, Inc., to field an entry for IndyCar veteran John Andretti in this year's 100 anniversary edition of the Indianapolis 500. John, who has made 11 prior Indy 500 starts including last year's run for the Petty-Andretti combo, will drive the #43 Window World car with a traditional "Petty Blue" and "Day-Glo Red" color scheme. However, the livery featured on this year's entry was inspired by the 1982 race-winning car of Gordon Johncock and designed to commemorate that historic car. In conjunction with the effort, Window World and ABILITY Magazine have created the "$1,000,000 WIN-WIN" promotion that will provide one, lucky contestant the chance to win $1 million should John win the 2011 Indianapolis 500. 2011 marks the third-straight year Window World has served as John's primary sponsor in the Indianapolis 500. Headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., Window World remains America's largest replacement window company with offices in more than 200 cities nationwide. This will also be the third-consecutive Indy 500 to include participation from Richard Petty, a racing icon and one of the most-recognizable figures in NASCAR history. A 200-time NASCAR race winner and seven-time NASCAR champion, Petty witnessed the Indianapolis 500 in person for the first time in 2007 and participated as a co-owner for the first time in 2009.(RPM)(3-15-2011)

Andretti hopes to run Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in 2010: Veteran racer John Andretti says he'd like to compete in both the Daytona and Indianapolis 500s in 2010 -- as he has the past two years -- but he won't return to Front Row Motorsports this season for a similar schedule as last year. "I'm going to be in Daytona, in the Daytona 500, but with what team how all that will play out is still to be determined, though this week should get something finalized," Andretti said Monday. "The focus is to do some other races, but the second major focus after the Daytona 500 is the Indy 500, similar to the same program I did in 2008, kinda free bird." John Andretti, who in 1994 became the first driver to complete a same-day "double" in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Cup race at Charlotte, said he hoped to possibly do some additional Cup races in a third Front Row car.
Travis Kvapil, the 2003 Truck Series champion, last week said on Sirius Speedway that he had a full-time Cup Series ride in 2010 with Front Row. The show's Web site also reported, according to unnamed sources, that Kevin Conway would drive owner Jenkins' second car. Conway has never started a Cup race but has 25 starts in the Nationwide Series and one in the Truck Series. Last month NASCAR announced a new qualifying format for the season-opening Budweiser Shootout event that kicks off Speedweeks at Daytona. Andretti is eligible, as the winner of Daytona's 1997 mid-summer Cup race, and hopes to use it as a bargaining chip.
Andretti said he hoped to possibly do some additional Cup races for Jenkins in a third Front Row car. "It would have to be, because the other two guys are going to do all the races -- though I don't know all the details because I don't need to know and I don't like to talk out of school," Andretti said. "I'd like to do a variety of races, because that keeps me happy, too. We'll probably do some racing together at Front Row this year because Bob and I have talked about that, and he knows there are certain events I really want to run in. It's not going to be a whole bunch of them because it's not fair to do them cherry-picking through the whole year while someone else has to do all the legwork. It's in the discussion stages and it's got to work for them as well as me, but obviously the door is wide open."(NASCAR.com)(1-6-2010)

Full time gig for Kvapil UPDATE 2 to Ford: per a Twitter post, supposedly by driver Travis Kvapil: I'm happy to announce my return to a full timeCup ride for 2010!! More details to follow. I can't wait to get back on track!".
Rumor had Kvapil in one of the Front Row Motorsports [#34, #37] cars in 2010. Kvapil drove a few races in the #37 Dodge/Chevy late in the 2009 season and John Andretti was in the #34 Chevy for 34 of the 36 races.(12-30-2009)
UPDATE: Travis Kvapil told Sirius NASCAR Radio�s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Wednesday that he will run the full 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for Front Row Motorsports. Steven Lane will serve as crewchief on the car � expected to be the #34 � with a new manufacturer to be announced in the near future. The team ran primarily Chevy's [#34 Chevy in every race, #37 a mixed bag] livery a year ago, with Dodges entered in selected events. �It will be a full-time, two- car operation next season,� said Kvapil, �but I can�t really say anything more until all the details are finalized. That�s all for the team to announce.� Sources tell Sirius Speedway that former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kevin Conway will fill the seat of the second Front Row Motorsports entry [which was the #37 in 2009, could run the #37, #23 or #70 in 2010], with sponsorship from Extenze Men's Health Supplement.(Sirius Speedway)(12-31-2009)
UPDATE 2: Front Row Motorsports will run under the Ford Motorsports banner in 2010 with Travis Kvapil driving the #34 with Steven Lane as his crew chief. Kevin Conway will pilot the #37 Ford with a crew chief to be named. Conway, 31, ran 12 races with the Extenze sponsorship in the Nationwide Series last season for three different owners -- Joe Nemechek, Robert Richardson and Dusty Whitney. His best finish was 15th at Kentucky in the #87 Chevy. The short list for Conway's crew chief candidates include Peter Sospenzo, who worked with Tony Raines on the #37 last season, as well as Larry Carter and Derrick Findley.(FoxSports)(1-1-2010)

Andretti uncertain of 2010 plans: Veteran barnstormer John Andretti said he is virtually certain to make another attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in May but said the demands of a NASCAR schedule have brought him to a crossroads in his 22-year career. Andretti, the 46-year-old nephew of legend Mario Andretti, competed in 34 Sprint Cup events, finishing 36th in points, in 2009. He placed 19th for Richard Petty Motorsports in his 10th Indy 500. "I'm kind of at a stage in my life where I want to enjoy everything, my family," said Andretti, who has won national series races in stock, sports, open wheel and drag racing cars. "This last year has been pretty taxing on me because I am gone all the time. So I need to really dig deep to see if I want to do it again. I enjoy the team I am with, I like the owner, and that's really what got me to do this [in 2009]. The Indianapolis 500, I would say just go ahead and write that in, but I don't know if I can go on the road and do 34 races. I am not young, but I am compared to Mark Martin, and I enjoy doing it, so it's tough."(CBS Sports)(12-3-2009)

Carpentier to retire: Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier says he will retire after the NASCAR Nationwide Series race next month at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. "It's been a few years that I've thought about it," Carpentier told QMI Agency. "I discussed it with my wife. We talked about my situation on several occasions and I came to the conclusion that I must move on. I remember when I was speed skating. When I decided it was over, it was over." For the 39-year-old from Joliette, it is fitting that he'll end his racing career in his native province. "My first big race was at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, my third race in the Atlantic series," he said. "It is important to finish my career in Montreal." Carpentier already figures he will regret his decision when he's driving in the NAPA 200 in Montreal. "Of course I'll say it did not make sense," Carpentier said. "I know I'll be down for two or three days after the race."(Toronto Sun)(7-7-2011)

Carpentier in the #32 at Kansas: - Patrick Carpentier will return to NASCAR this weekend in the #32 FAS Lane Racing Ford at Kansas Speedway. The Canadian driver, who now lives in Las Vegas, confirmed that he will compete in his first Sprint Cup Series race of 2011 on Sunday at the 1.5-mile track. "This will mark the first time in my Sprint Cup career that I will be driving a car that is already qualified for the race," said Carpentier, who will be making his 40th Cup Series start. "There will be a lot less pressure when we practice on Friday, because we will be able to work both on qualifying and race setups."(NASCAR.com)(5-31-2011)

Stremme leaves #26 team: UPDATE: David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve. We've been trying to put that program together," said Stremme. "We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn't really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We've barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn't even know if we were going to have tires to race on. "I went to Bill and said `If things aren't going to change, I don't think I want to stay involved.' We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that's fine. It's his choice." Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, "We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven't been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We've had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit." Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. "There's no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money," he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, "(Jenkins) hasn't returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It's a bad deal for me." Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, "There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don't want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn't get that in return."(Sirius Speedway)(8-10-2010)
UPDATE:Patrick Carpentier will again be driving the #26 Ford of Latitude 43 Motorsports for the Sprint Cup race at Michigan this weekend. Davis Stremme had been the driver until Sunday, according to owner Bill Jenkins and crew chief Frankie Stoddard. Stremme, however, announce Monday on Sirius XM Radio that he left the team. It was during the same show that Jenkins said Carpentier would probably be in his car at Michigan.(Rue Frontenac, translated by Google translate)(8-11-2010)

Carpentier not ready to give up on NASCAR: Veteran Canadian racer Patrick Carpentier broke into the Sprint Cup ranks a few years ago and he isn�t ready to give up on NASCAR. Carpentier, who competed in six Cup races last year and 33 in his career, said he is discussions with some teams about rides for 2010. After being released by Gillett Evernham Motorsports [#10 Dodge] at the end of 2008, four of those six events last year were for #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing, while he competed on the road courses for [#55] Michael Waltrip Racing. Carpentier said he is still committed to pursuing a NASCAR ride and not committing to any other forms of racing. Last year, the calls began coming in March. �Honestly, what I�m looking for right now is a team that wants to build, wants to grow and wants to do the full races,� Carpentier said. �The hardest is the first year. If you go back with a decent car and chief mechanic, it is fun. I am pretty hungry. � It�s my life. We�re starting to look at different businesses, but my primary stuff has always been racing. I�ve been racing for all my life pretty much. That�s what I do.�(SceneDaily)(1-11-2010)

McDowell in the #36; Carpentier out UPDATE: Michael McDowell will drive the #36 Wave Energy Drink Toyota of Tommy Baldwin Racing beginning this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Patrick Carpenitier is no longer driving the #36 because of a business conflict in Canada. McDowell has been driving full-time in NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota during the 2009 season and captured five top-10 finishes.(TBR PR), Carpentier was scheduled to run the #36 at Richmond, New Hampshire, Dover, Kansas and California. Mike Skinner was scheduled to run in the final six races. No word if Skinner or McDowell will run those races.(9-10-2009)
UPDATE: After being confirmed as the driver of Tommy Baldwin Racing's car #36 for six races, Patrick Carpentier has been pulled out of it after only one of his six scheduled starts. According to the website Jayski.com [via a TBR PR], Carpentier is no longer driving car #36 because of a business conflict in Canada. The possibility of a conflict between Carpentier being a Canadian citizen and the objectives of a new sponsor of the team was mentioned by some sources contacted by RueFrontenac.com.
Carpentier and Baldwin have confirmed Jayski.com's report. "We left on good terms," said Carpentier. "Obviously it's difficult for me to put aside everything that I prepare for my future in Canada just to qualify the car, run some laps and quit due to the lack of funds." Baldwin has similar thoughts. "Times are tough for everyone, but even more for small companies like us," said the owner and crew chief. "It's just normal that Patrick finds it difficult to put his life on hold whenever we need him and that it's simply to qualify the car." Moreover, with budget cuts everywhere in NASCAR, even Baldwin has had, in recent weeks, difficulties in purchasing enough sets of tires needed for practice and qualifying.(translated from French and in part from RueFrontenac.com)(9-12-2009)

Four more races for Carpentier: #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing has hired Patrick Carpentier for four additional races this year. Carpentier, who was scheduled to make two more starts for the team at Richmond and Dover, will now race at Atlanta, New Hampshire, Kansas City and California.(Translated from Rue Frontenac)(8-19-2009)

Carpentier to Return to the Driver�s Seat of the #55: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced that Patrick Carpentier will return to the driver�s seat of the #55 NAPA Auto PArts Toyota for driver Michael Waltrip at the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Watkins Glen International. Earlier this season, the Canadian driver produced an 11th-place finish for Waltrip at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. �Patrick is being rewarded for perserverence,� said Waltrip, who has 22 starts that equate to one top-five, four top-10 and 14 top-20 finishes at the 2.45-mile road course. �At Sonoma, he drove for me and started out with a car he wasn�t happy with. He worked with my crew chief Bootie (Barker) and my NAPA boys to get an 11th-place finish. We also had a little deal on the side. If he was able to finish solidly at Infineon Raceway and he deemed the experience of working with my team as fun and wanted to do again, then he and I would ask NAPA to allow him to drive again. We all agreed so Patrick will drive the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota for NAPA and me at Watkins Glen.� The NAPA Auto Parts team prepared for the upcoming event by testing with Carpentier at Virginia International Raceway on July 22nd.(Michael Waltrip Racing)(8-3-2009)

Cook leaves #46 team UPDATE Yeley in: per his Facebook page, Terry Cook announced - "Terry Cook, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, is no longer with Whitney Motorsports effective immediately. Terry, who has been serving as Team Manager/ Driver, was uncomfortable with the direction that the team was heading towards and opted to leave the team." No word who will drive the #46 Dodge at Darlington. Nothing mentioned [when this was posted] on whitneymotorsports.com or terrycook.com but confirms it on Whitney Motorsports Facebook page and now confirms at J.J. Yeley will drive the car at Darlington.(5-3-2010)

No more Cup races for Bill Elliott? Although it's been a quarter of a century, Bill Elliott remembers his first short track win at Bristol Motor Speedway like it was yesterday. In a recent interview, Elliott talked about that win, racing at BMS and his son Chase's career, among other topics. Following is a transcript in part about his plans to race in 2013:
Q) You competed some last year. Will that continue?
Bill Elliott: I ran twice last year and that was enough for me. Now about all I do is try to keep up with Chase and our Late Model program. We've helped Ben Kennedy some, T.J. Reed and Mason Massey and between those three and what Chase has going on, I haven't had time to do anything else. It was fun to run that car at Daytona last year for Turner. That was the best car I've been in in I don't know when. But, the way I look at it, if I keep doing that then I'm taking away from somebody else getting in a car so it's kind of a doubled-edge sword.(BMS)(1-29-2013)

Bill Elliott to run for NEMCO Motorsports in Daytona 500: NEMCO Motorsports announced that Bill Elliott, past Sprint Cup Champion and Daytona 500 winner, will pilot the #97 Toyota for the Daytona 500 to be held at the Daytona International Speedway. This synergy will bring Front Row Joe, Joe Nemechek and Million Dollar Bill, Bill Elliott together as a powerful pair to kickoff the 2012 NASCAR season. "I am really excited to be racing with NEMCO Motorsports and Joe Nemechek, who has been a friend and respected competitor through the years," said Bill Elliott. "This will be a great way to start off the 2012 NASCAR season in Daytona."
"This is a great and fun moment in racing for us at NEMCO Motorsports," said Joe Nemechek. "We believe the talent and skill of Bill will steer the 97 car to a great showing for us and I am excited to be racing right along with him, this time on the same team."(NEMCO Motorsports)(2-15-2013)

Bill Elliott & Walmart team up for Daytona in July UPDATE: Walmart announced Thursday that they will expand their merchandise program in 2012, the 50th anniversary of the retail giant. While the merchandise partnership isn't new, Walmart will take to the track for the first time with a Chevy built by Turner Motorsports and driven by Bill Elliott. However the effort, as of now, is for only one race; the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. The company wanted to get on the track this year with the #50 Chevy and Elliott to help celebrate the 50th birthday of the company in July and just wants to 'have a lot of fun with it', said Rand Waddoups, senior director Entertainment Properties and Brands for Walmart. The company has no shop has hired no personnel and has no plans beyond the single race. 'But we have six months yet', Waddoups added.(NASCAR Examiner), see images of the car on my #50 Team Schemes page.(1-26-2012)
UPDATE: Walmart announced it is expanding its Race Time 2012 program to give fans more accessibility to discounted race tickets, driver appearances and fan events at stores, a greater selection of authentic NASCAR merchandise and a special sponsorship of Bill Elliott at the Coke Zero 400. Walmart�s Race Time program, launched last year as the largest retail promotion in NASCAR history, gives fans authentic merchandise and fan events at Walmart stores in every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race market. This year, Walmart has more than tripled the number of companies offering displays of authentic merchandise, doubled the number of fan events at stores and increased the race markets where the $99 Walmart Family Track Pack will be offered. For more about Walmart�s Race Time 2012 program and the races the $99 Walmart Family Track Pack will be available at Walmart.com/NASCAR.(Walmart/Mitchell Communications Group)(1-30-2012)

Elliott's Atlanta streak to end: Since he starting in the series now known as Sprint Cup back in 1976, Bill Elliott has never gone a whole year without racing at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. But that streak is expected to end this week. Other than accompanying his son, Chase, to an appearance on behalf of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series that his son races in, Elliott won�t participate in the AdvoCare 500 weekend. Elliott, 55, has run 62 races at Atlanta, winning five times, snagging five poles and leading 1,017 laps. Elliott has made only five starts this year, four of them for Phoenix Racing, which released him after four starts. He said he still thinks he�s capable of performing at a high level in the right equipment, but the only offers he�s getting are from teams that want to hire him because as a past series champion, he can get a starting spot even if his qualifying speed isn�t fast enough. �I don�t want to get into that,� he said, adding that the money to be made is substantial. �It�s pretty tempting.� He acknowledges that unless he signs on with an underfunded team or a start-and-park outfit, his driving career might have ended, but he�s not ready to call himself retired.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(9-3-2011)

Bill Elliott Uncertain about plans: Bill Elliott isn�t sure when he�ll be driving again. He started the season with Phoenix Racing and had planned to run 17 races with the team throughout 2011. But since his release from Phoenix last month, he�s only qualified and started the Talladega race for #46 Whitney Motorsports. Elliott used a past champion�s provisional to get the team in the race, then turned the driving duties over to J.J. Yeley during the event. �I�m taking it one day at a time,� Elliott said. �I don�t know [what I�ll do]. I�m just kind of on the sidelines going fishing, you know what I mean? Ain�t much been happening. If you look at where the economy and stuff is, that�s pretty much status quo.�(SceneDaily)(4-20-2011)

Cassill to drive the #09 at Auto Club: Landon Cassill will return to the driver's seat of the team's Sprint Cup car, the #09 Chevy, beginning this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Team owner James Finch said he appreciates the contributions of Bill Elliott, who drove the #09 car in the first four Sprint Cup races of 2011 and helped the team achieve its goal of locking in a spot among the top 35 in car owner points, which assures starting positions for upcoming races. With one race remaining before the switch to this year's points, Phoenix is 26th in the standings, with a comfortable margin over the 36th-place team. "I am very thankful for what Bill has done for my team and sponsors to date, and we look forward to him running races later on this season," Finch said. In the meantime, Elliott plans to focus on working with his 15-year-old son Chase, who recently signed a driver agreement with Sprint Cup team owner Rick Hendrick.(Phoenix PR/Bill Elliott site), no word who will drive the #60 Toyota that Cassill was listed to drive at Auto Club.(3-22-2011)

past info at the #09 Phoenix Racing News and Links page

see #34 Front Row Motorsports News and Links page

Front Row cars in Top-35 UPDATE2 Alliance w/Yates Racing: Front Row Motorsports General Manager Jerry Freeze told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that negotiations are underway to give all three of the team's Fords guaranteed start status for the first five races of 2010. "We've been working on this for several weeks," he said. "There are still some details to be ironed out, but we have a really close relationship with (Yates Racing owner) Doug Yates and Ford. This is something we've been working on with them, and I hope to have things buttoned up and ready to announce in a couple of days." Freeze said driver Robert Richardson, III, will attempt to qualify FRR's new #38 Ford for the Daytona 500 as part of a three-race sponsorship with Mahindra Tractors that includes both Daytona races and the spring race at Talladaga. David Gilliland will run a majority of the schedule for the team with sponsorship from Taco Bell, and Freeze said "a couple of races" have been left open for a possible limited return by the team's 2009 #34 driver, John Andretti.(Sirius Speedway)(1-19-2010)
UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that talks are underway between Yates Racing and Front Row Motorsports to enable a transfer of owner's points that would lock all three Front Row Motorsports Fords into the first five races of the 2010 season. Reliable sources say Front Row Motorsports will assume the owner's points accrued last season by Yates' #96 and #98 Fords, which finished 31st and 33rd respectively in the final 2009 owner's standings. Talks are reportedly in their preliminary stages, but are progressing rapidly with an eye toward completing the deal by midweek. It is expected that in order for the dagreement to pass muster with NASCAR, Yates Racing owner Doug Yates will have to assume a minority ownership stake in Front Row Motorsports. Front Row's #34 car is already a guaranteed starter in the first five races after finishing 35th in owner's points a year ago.(Sirius Speedway)
Front Row Motorsports Announces Partnership with Doug Yates UPDATE: Solidifying an ownership alliance with Doug Yates and Yates Racing, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins announces a name change to the organization. With the addition of Yates, the team will now officially be titled Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing. Doug Yates will be the listed owner of the #37 and #38 Ford Fusions, with Bob Jenkins remaining the listed owner of the #34 Ford Fusion. The team will remain headquartered in Statesville, N.C. The alliance secures all three entries into the top 35 in owner points heading into the opening weekend of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. It also reunites Yates with his former drivers David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil. "There has been a lot of movement this past off-season inside the sport," said Yates. "The opportunity came up with Bob (Jenkins) and to continue in the ownership role. I didn't have to think long about making this decision. Bob is really putting together a strong team this season and has done so over the past few seasons. He's been smart and making all the right moves as an owner. He's capitalized on the changes in the sports landscape and has built a solid team with great factory support and drivers. That's what excited me about making this move. I had already learned a lot about Bob and the Front Row team over the past two months with their involvement with Ford Racing and leasing engines from Roush/Yates Engines. They are a fast-improving team and this move allows me to carry on the Yates Racing legacy created by my father over 20 years ago."
"There has been so much that has happened for us in the past two months," said Jenkins. "But, having Doug come on board is a big piece of our puzzle coming together heading into this season. He brings such a family tradition of winning and a lot of confidence to everyone here. His relationships with Ford Racing, Roush/Yates Engines, David and Travis immediately make us a stronger team."(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits), the #98 RPM Ford team of Paul Menard would use the #44 Owners Points from 2009, which ranked 24th. See the way it looks right now on my 2010 Owners Points Stadings for 1st Five races page to see how things are shaking out.(2-1-2010)

Full time gig for Kvapil: per a Twitter post, supposedly by driver Travis Kvapil: I'm happy to announce my return to a full timeCup ride for 2010!! More details to follow. I can't wait to get back on track!".
Rumor had Kvapil in one of the Front Row Motorsports [#34, #37] cars in 2010. Kvapil drove a few races in the #37 Dodge/Chevy late in the 2009 season and John Andretti was in the #34 Chevy for 34 of the 36 races.(12-30-2009)

Kvapil talking to Front Row, but still looking: Travis Kvapil could drive for Front Row next year when that organization plans to expand to two full-time teams. �Nothing yet,� Kvapil said. �I talked to the guys here at Front Row, and it sounds like they�re definitely interested in putting something together, but really we haven�t had any negotiation. We haven�t done anything to put any sort of agreement together. I�ve been talking to a lot of teams. There�s not a lot of opportunities out there. These guys, I really like the direction they�re going. They�ve got some things in the works to make them a better team manufacturer-wise, technical-wise.�(SceneDaily)(11-25-2009)

Kvapil to Front Row ride in 2010: Travis Kvapil, who failed to qualify the #37 Front Row Motorsports Dodge at Charlotte and started and parked at Martinsville the following week, is expected to run the #37 car [Chevy? Dodge?] full-time in 2010.(FoxSports)(11-7-2009)

Kvapil back in a Cup car in 2010?: Travis Kvapil fully expects to race in Sprint Cup next season after a year of unemployment. Kvapil has been in serious discussion with several respectable teams, he said, as well a few lesser ones and some in the Camping World Truck Series as an alternative. Sidelined when Yates couldn't find sponsorship, Kvapil expected to land a fill-in ride during the "silly season," but the traditional round of mid-season firings didn't happen. "There's a handful of guys that don't deserve to have rides if I don't have one - I know I can outrun them - and the demands of sponsors put a lot of pressure on the teams," Kvapil said. "It seems like teams were afraid to make a change and have it look to the sponsors like they're shaking things up."(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(9-11-2009)

Kvapil has a truck ride for Nashville: Travis Kvapil, the 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, will pilot the #51 Miccosukee Resort Billy Ballew Motorsports truck at Nashville Superspeedway Saturday, August 1, 2009. Kvapil won the 2007 Truck Series race in his last start at the 1.33-mile superspeedway just outside Nashville, Tennessee. The current Yates Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver [#28 Ford which suspended operations early in the season] has five previous Camping World Truck Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway, posting one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Nashville Superspeedway presents the winner of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race with a Gibson guitar hand painted artist Sam Bass.(Billy Ballew Motorsports)(7-29-2009)

Marlin done racing: Sterling Marlin, retired after 30 years as a driver in NASCAR's Cup Series, is involved in the sport in a new role: team owner. Well, sort of. Marlin is listed as co-owner of a new team, BD Racing, which plans to compete in the Sunoco National Tour this season, but Marlin said his role is mostly as an "advisor.'' BD Racing is named for Bryan Dant, an acquaintance of Marlin's from Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway. The team is fielded out of Performance Motorsports shop in Richmond, Mich. Brian Oritz, a 21-year-old kart champion from Puerto Rico, will drive for the team. The first of the 10-race schedule starts March 27 at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida. As for his own driving plans, Marlin � who had run a limited Cup schedule the last few years � has a Late Model car that he may race some at the Fairgrounds. A promoter hopes to run a final few races on the old track that's scheduled to close this summer. Marlin said he may also take an occasional trip to Montgomery. As for Sterling's Sprint Cup career: "It's over," Marlin said. "I won't be racing any more." Marlin said he hasn't attended any races this year, not even to Daytona as a spectator. "I don't think I'd enjoy just standing around watching," he said. "I might go down to Talladega when they run there � I haven't decided for sure." The budding racing career of his daughter Sutherlin has been put on hold while she undergoes treatment for an eye problem. Son Steadman has no ride prospect on the immediate horizon.(Racin' Today)(3-18-2010)

Sterling Marlin....retiring? denied: Sterling Marlin plans to enter Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway [Marlin is not on the entry list, but the #70 Chevy driver is listed as TBA-to be announced, so maybe.....] then, after over 30 years of life in the fast lane, will "probably" hang up his helmet. "Will I miss it? Yeah, in some ways," said Marlin, 52, who raced his way out of the Carter's Creek tobacco fields and into international fame with back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in '94 and '95. "But in some ways I'll kinda be glad when it's over. The sport has changed. It's not much fun any more."(Racin' Today)(11-17-2009)
UPDATE: been told that Marlin says he is not retiring but would think about retiring in the off-season because it just wasn't fun anymore. Marlin has no plans to drive at Homestead. Marlin can be heard on a scheduled radio interview, Thurssday, Nov 19th on Race 2 Win Radio around 1:20pm/et.(11-19-2009)

see all the Danica Patrick News on my Danica Patrick News page:

Raines has been running full time for Front Row Motorsports / Larry Gunselman for the #37 Team News and Links page.

Full time gig for Kvapil UPDATE 2 to Ford: per a Twitter post, supposedly by driver Travis Kvapil: I'm happy to announce my return to a full timeCup ride for 2010!! More details to follow. I can't wait to get back on track!".
Rumor had Kvapil in one of the Front Row Motorsports [#34, #37] cars in 2010. Kvapil drove a few races in the #37 Dodge/Chevy late in the 2009 season and John Andretti was in the #34 Chevy for 34 of the 36 races.(12-30-2009)
UPDATE: Travis Kvapil told Sirius NASCAR Radio�s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Wednesday that he will run the full 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for Front Row Motorsports. Steven Lane will serve as crewchief on the car � expected to be the #34 � with a new manufacturer to be announced in the near future. The team ran primarily Chevy's [#34 Chevy in every race, #37 a mixed bag] livery a year ago, with Dodges entered in selected events. �It will be a full-time, two- car operation next season,� said Kvapil, �but I can�t really say anything more until all the details are finalized. That�s all for the team to announce.� Sources tell Sirius Speedway that former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kevin Conway will fill the seat of the second Front Row Motorsports entry [which was the #37 in 2009, could run the #37, #23 or #70 in 2010], with sponsorship from Extenze Men's Health Supplement.(Sirius Speedway)(12-31-2009)
UPDATE 2: Front Row Motorsports will run under the Ford Motorsports banner in 2010 with Travis Kvapil driving the #34 with Steven Lane as his crew chief. Kevin Conway will pilot the #37 Ford with a crew chief to be named. Conway, 31, ran 12 races with the Extenze sponsorship in the Nationwide Series last season for three different owners -- Joe Nemechek, Robert Richardson and Dusty Whitney. His best finish was 15th at Kentucky in the #87 Chevy. The short list for Conway's crew chief candidates include Peter Sospenzo, who worked with Tony Raines on the #37 last season, as well as Larry Carter and Derrick Findley.(FoxSports)(1-1-2010)

2nd Whitney Motorsports car at Darlington: Scott Riggs is entered in the #81 Whitney Motorsports Chevy in the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Hearing the team will run as many races as possible to help support the #46 Whitney Motorsports team that J.J. Yeley drives for.(5-2-2011)

New driver named for #90 Keyed-up Motorsports ride: Keyed-Up Motorsports team owner Raymond Key announced that Scott Riggs will drive the #90 Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevy at Phoenix and Texas. �We are thrilled to have Scott in our car,� Key said today. Riggs, the current driver for the #09 RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will make his 2010 Sprint Cup debut at Phoenix in the #90 Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevy. The team started the season with Casey Mears behind the wheel, but Mears� contract was for the first six races only, and he opted to be a back up driver for Denny Hamlin in the #11 FedEx Toyota while Hamlin recovers from ACL surgery. �Casey is a great guy and did a good job for us,� Key said. �Both parties fulfilled the 6-race deal and parted on good terms, we have even discussed the possibility of having Casey back later this year.� The team has qualified for only one (1) of the first six (6) races this season. Key added, �We had competitive speeds this year in qualifying attempts but the �Top 35� rule has kept us from racing. We now look to Scott for his input on how we can succeed in getting into the top 35 in points with him behind the wheel.�(Keyed-Up Motorsports)(3-30-2010)

What is up with Scott Riggs: Scott Riggs has had a lot of free time lately, 6 months to be exact. So when the former Nascar Sprint Cup series driver got a call from his former late model team, the Bahama, NC native jumped at the opportunity to go out and play. The recent free agent is looking for his second career Myrtle Beach 400 race victory, and recently spent Monday November 16th Testing at Myrtle Beach. He spent the day getting reacquainted with the track regarded as one of the toughest short tracks in the country. �The track has a lot less grip than it did 10 years ago,� Riggs stated after spending some time out on the track before making some changes to the car. But he said the lack of grip and the challenging nature is what gives Myrtle Beach its character, and that�s what makes it so gratifying when you run well. So on Saturday November 21st and Sunday November 22nd the crafty veteran will make his return to Myrtle Beach Speedway driving the Romeo Guest Construction #2 Ford Fusion.(Myrtle Beach Speedway)(11-19-2009)

Raikkonen returns to F1: Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Formula One. The 2007 World Champion made the announcement official Tuesday confirming the speculation that had been around for weeks. Raikkonen will race for Renault which will change its name to the Lotus F1 Team in 2012. Raikkonen left F1 in 2009 to pursue a career in the World Rallying Championship. He also made a brief appearance in NASCAR in America racing in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series one time each [this past May at Charlotte].(Formula One Examiner )(11-29-2011)

Raikkonen headed back to F1? UPDATE: Red Bull is planning to pair Sebastian Vettel with his friend Kimi Raikkonen in 2012. That is the sensational claim of the high-circulation German newspaper Bild-Zeitung, less than two days after Mark Webber ignored team orders at the end of the British Grand Prix. Finn Raikkonen, 31, left Formula One at the end of 2009, and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was quoted on Monday as saying, "I believe he has put F1 behind him." Bild said the plan to replace Australian Webber with 2007 World Champion Raikkonen is "top secret" but divulged the information of a source "at the highest level." German Vettel remains friends with Raikkonen, the pair often meeting in Switzerland to play badminton. Asked recently who his ideal teammate is, the reigning World Champion replied: "Kimi." The former Ferrari and McLaren race winner had talks with Red Bull last year and has now "apparently changed his mind" about wanting to stay in rallying and NASCAR.(SPEED)(7-13-2011)
UPDATE: Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, along with a team representative, is denying that Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula One in a Red Bull machine replacing Mark Webber next season. Webber�s contract with Red Bull is set to expire at the end of this season. But team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told German media that Webber�s seat is secure. "There is still no doubt about Mark's contract extension,� he said.� He feels comfortable with us and within the team is very popular. He can not get a better car, and we can not get a better driver from the market.� As for the rumor that the incident will mean that Webber will lose his seat to Raikkonen, Horner dismissed it. "I think his head is in a different place than Formula One at the moment,� Horner said of Raikkonen. �So far I've seen no signs that he wants to come back."(F1 Examiner)(7-13-2011)

Raikkonen plans after Charlotte unknown UPDATE: Kimi Raikkonen was vague Thursday about his NASCAR plans, indicating little more than he'd like to do a Sprint Cup race, maybe on the road course on Sonoma. The former Formula One world champion will run the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and revealed nothing more about his schedule. The most telling update came from Kyle Busch, who said he has nothing else planned with Raikkonen after this weekend. That's a change from when their deal was announced: Busch said Raikkonen would run three to five races for Kyle Busch Motorsports. What's changed? Money. "The contract states that we're supposed to receive so much, and we have not. We've only received enough for these two races," Busch said. "It's either up to Kimi or up to the financial people that run Kimi's business side of things and decide that they need to find the sponsorship funds in order to carry the experience for him further." Raikkonen said he heads back to Europe on Saturday after the race. "I have other things to do," he said. "After that, I don't know when I will be back. I have rally in Greece and some other rallies."(Associated Press)(5-27-2011)
UPDATE: Kimi Raikkonen says there was a misunderstanding with Kyle Busch on the financial arrangement concerning Raikkonen's venture into NASCAR. Busch said Thursday that Kyle Busch Motorsports was "supposed to receive so much, and we have not" in the deal to run in three to five Truck Series races. Raikkonen said Saturday he has paid in full for driving Busch's truck last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and for driving a Nationwide Series car for Busch and Joe Nemechek Saturday at CMS. He said further payment will depend on whether he drives another Truck Series race for Busch. "I mean, it's a situation we paid," Raikkonen said after qualifying 22nd for Saturday's race. "Who knows if we want to do more." Todd Hirschfeld, who manages Raikkonen's racing efforts in the United States, said Raikkonen's situation changed when he added the Nationwide race to the schedule. "It was taken out of context. Kimi doesn't know what he wants to do, but everything so far has been paid for."(ESPN)
AND Kimi Raikkonen has paid for the races he has run for Kyle Busch Motorsports and does not owe the team money, KBM General Manager Rick Ren said Saturday.(SceneDaily)(5-29-2011)

Raikkonen tests Cup car at VIR; and wrecks: Kimi Raikkonen spent Tuesday testing a Sprint Cup car for Robby Gordon Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway. "I called Robby because Kimi wanted to test a Cup car," said Todd Hirschfeld, who is managing Raikkonen's racing effort in the United States. "It worked out because Robby had another obligation. So Kimi is taking care of the car today, and Robby will show up tomorrow. And it's up to Kimi whether he stays tomorrow, heads back to Finland or stays to run the Nationwide race Saturday at Charlotte". Raikkonen has reportedly committed to running Saturday's Nationwide event, but Hirschfeld says otherwise. "I've seen the story where he's committed to run the Nationwide race at Charlotte, but he has not told me personally whether he'll do it or not," Hirschfeld said. "There's a car and team ready to go, but Kimi himself has not yet committed. He's taking this whole experience day by day. I was told before I started working with him, but this is the truth -- Kimi does what Kimi wants to do."(ESPN)
AND Kimi Raikkonen tested at Virginia International Raceway, the 3.27-mile road course in Danville, on Tuesday. And, according to multiple sources at the track, it took only a half-dozen laps for the former Formula One champ to rip the nose off the front end of the #7 Dodge he was testing for Robby Gordon Motorsports.(FoxSports)(5-25-2011)

Raikkonen to make Nationwide debut; Cup at Infienon? UPDATE 2: Kimi Raikkonen, who makes his NASCAR debut tonight in the Camping World Truck Series, spoke to the media Friday for the first time, indicating that he would like to run in Cup later this year and also hinting that if things go well tonight, he might drive a Nationwide car next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion, is driving for Kyle Busch's team tonight. Raikkonen made it through both practice sessions Friday morning without any major incidents (he did scrape the wall). He ranked 30th quickest among 36 drivers in the first practice session and was 30th among 37 drivers in the final truck practice session. Raikkonen, who is slipping his NASCAR events in between rally races he's scheduled to do, said he wanted to come to NASCAR because "I want to try different things. I was interested to see how it is. I don't have any plans for next year in anything I do. If I completely suck, there's no reason to come back. Hopefully, it goes better than today.'' As for his NASCAR schedule this year, Raikkonen said: "I'm looking at this weekend and hopefully next weekend I'm here. Then after that, there's no real plans yet. Hopefully, I can get to run some Cup races that would be nice. There's not awful lot of planning. I'll try to do the best now and see what happens.''(Virginian Pilot)(5-20-2011)
UPDATE: The pieces to the Kimi Raikkonen Nationwide Series puzzle are coming together. FOXSports.com has learned that the car is being assembled by Kyle Busch Motorsports but the owner points will come from Joe Nemechek's #87 entry, registered under NEMCO Motorsports, which is currently 19th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings. The crew will come from NEMCO with additional support from KBM employees. NEMCO will provide transporter, equipment and back up car for the race. Raikkonen finished 15th in his NASCAR Camping World Truck debut. The 2007 Formula One champion was approved to compete in next Saturday's Nationwide Series race prior to Friday night's event.(FoxSports)(5-21-2011)
UPDATE 2: Kimi Raikkonen will make his Nationwide Series debut Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a car fielded by Joe Nemechek and Kyle Busch. Raikkonen's name was on the official entry list released Monday in the #87 under the ownership of NEMCO Motorsports run by Nemechek, who formed an alliance with Busch to make the deal work. Nemechek, who also fields Toyotas, agreed to let Raikkonen drive his car that is guaranteed a spot in the field ranked 19th in owner's points. There is also speculation Raikkonen will make his Sprint Cup debut next month at the road course [Infineon Raceway] in Sonoma, CA.(ESPN)(5-24-2011)

Raikkonen interested in running Cup races: UPDATE: Kimi Raikkonen is testing well in NASCAR. So good, in fact, that he is already matching lap times with Kyle Busch, the owner of the truck the Formula One world champion will race. Raikkonen did more testing Thursday in Rockingham, N.C., after two days earlier this week at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia attended by Busch. All this comes less than a week after Raikkonen signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports to make his NASCAR debut next month in a Trucks Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "The test went really well at Gresham. Kimi is a race car driver, so he does know how to drive race cars and drive them well," Busch said Thursday. "I got to see it firsthand, and then got to get in the truck myself and run some laps just to kind of see where I compared to where he was at on tires and stuff, and we ran identical lap times. So he's right there, he knows what he's doing." Busch said Raikkonen has also expressed interest in running Sprint Cup and Nationwide races, but Busch said will be re-evaluated after the first race in the truck. "As far as the Nationwide and Cup stuff goes, we haven't had any discussions on that," Busch said. "He has asked after the truck debut in Charlotte, which is what our first focus is, kind of evaluating and seeing where he's at and how he feels and what he wants to do."(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(4-8-2011)
UPDATE: With former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen preparing for his Camping World Truck Series debut with Kyle Busch Motorsports, it would seem the natural progression to Nationwide and Sprint Cup would be with Joe Gibbs Racing, the team that fields cars for Busch in those series. But JGR President J.D. Gibbs said it would be hard for his organization to run a fourth car in either series and it would be more likely that JGR could provide equipment for Busch, and allow him to field the team himself through his KBM effort.(Scene Daily)(4-9-2011)

Kimi Raikkonen, Left Turns Equal Right Move At GMP: Reporters and photographers were the first to open the gates at Gresham Motorsports Park this morning as they awaited the arrival of Kimi Raikkonen, former F1 Champion. Raikkonen arrived in America this past weekend to make his first test run at GMP today. He has signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports to run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series and will make his NCWTS debut at Charlotte on May 20, 2011.
The 2007 Formula One Champion is a native of Finland and currently drives in the World Rally Car Series since leaving Formula One in 2009. Raikkonen will be a familiar face to some of the NASCAR drivers including Juan Pablo Montoya and Nelson Piquet Jr., who were both former F1 drivers. �Gresham Motorsports Park is proud to have Raikkonen choose this track for his first-ever NASCAR test,� said Gresham Motorsports Park�s General Manager, Dan Elliott. �We know that Kimi will be successful no matter where he competes.� Raikkonen plans to run a two-day closed test at GMP in preparation for his NCWTS debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway�s Education Lottery 200 on May 20, 2011.(Gresham Motorsports Park)(4-4-2011)

Kimi Raikkonen to run Truck races for Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced that they have signed former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen to drive a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series during the 2011 season. Raikkonen is scheduled to make his NASCAR debut as a teammate to owner Kyle Busch in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20.
Raikkonen comes to NASCAR with a resume that includes the 2007 Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship. Over his nine year career in Formula 1, the Finnish driver registered 18 wins and 62 podium finishes. The 31-year old is currently competing for a World Rally Car Championship for his own team, ICE 1 Racing.
"We are honored that Kimi Raikkonen, a former Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion and proven winner, has chosen to start his career in NASCAR with Kyle Busch Motorsports," said Busch. "Adding one of the most talented drivers in the world is a continuation of building a team of proven winners and champions at KBM. I look forward to assisting in Kimi's transition to NASCAR as both an owner and teammate."
"I am really excited to have the opportunity to start my venture into NASCAR with Kyle Busch Motorsports," said Raikkonen. "Kyle is one of the best in NASCAR, and being able to draw on his knowledge will be a valuable asset as I make my transition to a new form of racing. He has put together an experienced team that builds fast race trucks. I look forward to being a part of a team that has proven to be a winner on and off the race track."
"We are extremely excited to have Kimi Raikkonen begin his transition to NASCAR behind the wheel of Kyle Busch Motorsports' Toyota Tundra's," said KBM General Manager Rick Ren. "As NASCAR looks to expand their fan base and generate further interest in certain demographics, having a former Formula 1 Champion with worldwide appeal is a huge deal not just for KBM but for the sport as a whole." Details of sponsorship and a schedule of races that Raikkonen will compete in will be released at a later date.(KBM)(4-2-2011)

Raikkonen to NASCAR? UPDATE 3: after years of rumors, there is a report that 2007 Formula One champ, Kimi Raikkonen, will drive some NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this summer. Raikkonen has been out of F1 for a while and driving in the World Rally Championship. According to a newspaper in his native Finland, Raikkonen will drive some time this summer in NASCAR's Truck Series and eventually move to Nationwide and Sprint Cup. Raikkonen supposedly will drive for a new team called ICE1 that will have Foster Gillett as a partner. Gillett, of course, is the son of sports magnate George Gillett and until last year was running Richard Petty Motorsports.
From Turun Sanomat: The world champion of Formula One and current rally star Kimi Raikkonen expands his field of experiences: The 31-year-old Finn is going to race in the most popular North American race series NASCAR. The NASCAR debut for Raikkonen will be before the becoming summer. Kimi is going to carry on with WRC Rally, too. He has agreed to do eight more rallies this year. There will bea brand new team to race in NASCAR level: ICE1 Racing. Raikkonen joins forces with Foster Gillett. He will be the major partner of the Finnish team. Among others Foster's family was the former majority owners of the Montreal Canadiens NHL franchise and the former co-owners of Liverpool football club. Last year Foster Gillett was operating with Richard Petty Motorsport in NASCAR. Now he is about to break new ground with Raikkonen and ICE1 Racing.
"I'm really looking forward to get there to familiarize to the world of NASCAR. I have been following it for a long time. I know, it's a very tough and open top racing series. I just love the American spirit of racing. It feels just great to get involved with that. Obviously, it will be very challenging and great fun for me", Raikkonen told the Turun Sanomat. The negotations for the car for ICE1 Racing team are just about to be finished. Raikkonen will race both in ovals and normal track circuits.(Turun Sanomat)(3-29-2011)
UPDATE - Evernham: Ray Evernham, a former partner of Foster Gillett at Richard Petty Motorsports was a little bit astounded when he learned of the rumor of Kimi Raikkonen coming to NASCAR with a new team owned by Foster Gillett. "I really don't know why Kimi would partner with people who continually fail with sports franchises," Evernham told Auto123.com. "I don't know how they could leave with so many unpaid bills and return to the sport," Evernham added. Evernham says he was not paid over $19USD million and brought a lawsuit against his former partner earlier this year in a state court in North Carolina.(Auto123.com)(3-29-2011)
UPDATE 2: Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen has received approval from NASCAR to compete in the Camping World truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20th. Raikkonen is slated to make his debut in the truck series later this summer with a team that includes former Richard Petty Motorsports principal Foster Gillette as a partner. Gillett's father George was the owner of RPM before financial issues forced them to sell the remaining assets of the team to an investor group led by Richard Petty (CBS Sports)(3-31-2011)
UPDATE 3: Raikkonen is set to have his maiden stock car test next week, driving for Kyle Busch's Truck Series team. Raikkonen is set to drive a Toyota Tundra for Busch, who has fielded the #18 Truck entry since 2010. Team officials confirmed contact with Raikkonen and also a test being set for Monday at Gresham Motorsports Park, a half-mile track in Jefferson, GA, where the former Ferrari and McLaren racer will get his first taste of an oval.(Autosport)(4-1-2011)

Raikkonen: I could race in NASCAR...but: 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen reveals that his options are entirely open as to what the future might hold. Kimi Raikkonen has joked that he could race in the North American NASCAR series in 2010 should he so desire � as he remained adamant that he still has 'no plans' beyond the end of the current F1 season. The 2007 world champion is being dropped by Ferrari � for whom he has driven since that title-winning campaign � at the end of the year in favour of Fernando Alonso, the man Raikkonen beat by just a single point two years ago. However, Raikkonen insists he has yet to make any decisions regarding next season, when it has similarly been suggested that he might further indulge his nascent forays into rallying by way of a more full-time switch, or even follow in the wheel tracks of fellow former grand prix stars Jacques Villeneuve and Juan-Pablo Montoya by heading across the Pond to NASCAR, a mooted destination for 'Singapore-gate' protagonist Nelsinho Piquet too. "I have no plans," Raikkonen is quoted as having said by The Associated Press, almost two years to the day to when he claimed his first and thus far only F1 title at Interlagos. "I do what I want with my life. I could race there (in NASCAR) if I wanted � but I'm not one of the biggest fans of NASCAR."(Crash.net)(10-20-2009)

Ekstrom & Sorenson to share #83 ride: Red Bull Racing plans to have Mattias Ekstrom and Reed Sorenson share the #83 Toyota the rest of the year but decisions about 2011 as far as crew chief for Kasey Kahne and what happens with #82-Scott Speed remain looming for the organization. Red Bull Vice President Jay Frye said Friday that there has been no determination on Scott Speed for next season or whether the organization could expand to three teams. Red Bull already has Kahne scheduled to drive one of its cars. Brian Vickers has been sidelined because of blood clots since May He must remain clear of blood clots, which he said the doctors have told him have been eliminated because of the heart surgery, to return. That would seem to leave Speed, who drives the #82 Toyota, out of a ride. He has a contract with the team that currently does not allow him to seek another ride. �[Having three teams] is still possible,� Frye said Friday at Richmond International Raceway. �A lot of this dictates [on] Brian. Right now, everything looks great, which is great, but he is only halfway through the process so we�re keeping our different options open. The doctors have said everything looks good, but we don�t know until the process is done. We�re optimistic about it.� As far as Kahne�s team for next year, Frye said he has not finalized who will crew chief the car for Kahne.
This week, Frye will be looking forward to seeing Ekstrom compete for the first time on an oval after he made his debut at Infineon Raceway in June with a 21st. He could see more races later this year. Reed Sorenson, who has been driving the #83 for most of the summer, will drive the races that Ekstrom does not. �We�re going to see how he does this weekend first,� Frye said. �There is a possibility that some things can happen with him between now and the end of the year to do another race. � Reed has been doing a great job. Mattias, we�ve been working on this before Sonoma [in June].� Ekstrom said he has three more races left this year driving for Audi in the DTM touring series in Germany. The Swede has a contract to drive the Audi again next year.(in part from SceneDaily)(9-11-2010)

Sorenson to stay in #83: Reed Sorenson is expected to remain in the #83 Toyota for Red Bull Racing at Indianapolis and Pocono, the next two Sprint Cup races. Saturday night was originally the last of a three-race deal he had with the team with regular driver Brian Vickers out this season because of blood clots.(Roanoke Times)(7-11-2010)

Sorenson in the #83 car for 3 races: Reed Sorenson is scheduled to drive three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Red Bull Racing, but the organization may make more driver changes with it�s #83 team as the season progresses. Sorenson will take over the driving duties when the series travels to New Hampshire next week, as will be in the car for races at Daytona and Chicago. �I would venture to say the next three is certainly possible, because you have a natural break with the off weekend [after Chicago],� Red Bull Racing General Manager Jay Frye said Friday at Infineon Raceway. �We understand it�s not fair to throw somebody in the car for a week, necessarily; we try to do a little program with them.� Swedish driver Mattias Ekstrom, a former DTM champion in Germany, is competing for the team in this weekend�s Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.(SceneDaily)96-19-2010)

Sorenson gets part-time Nationwide ride: Braun Racing announced the 2010 driver line-up for the #32 Dollar General Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Brian Vickers and Reed Sorenson will share time at the helm of the #32 Dollar General Toyota. Crew chief Trent Owens will return for his sixth year at Braun Racing to lead the Dollar General team. Vickers, 26, returns to Braun Racing for his fourth consecutive season. Sorenson joined Braun Racing in 2009, driving the #32 Dollar General entry at Gateway. His stellar performance earned his return to the seat at Phoenix International Raceway, in addition to three starts in the #10 Braun Racing Camry.(Braun Racing PR), Vickers will run at least 10 races and Sorenson will run 23, with two races (Montreal and Road America) to be determined.(1-7-2009)

Speed to drive 3 races in the #37: Max Q Motorsports has signed Scott Speed to drive the #37 Ford. The team will start running Speed this weekend in Indianapolis, at the 18th annual Brickyard 400. The 28-year-old former Formula One driver Scott Speed, who drove for Red Bull Racing in the Sprint Cup Series the last two years, will make his first start since 2010. Speed has 76 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, with one top-five and three top-10s, eight top-10s in 13 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and one win, four top-fives and nine top-10s in 16 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team will be running Speed in a Ford Fusion with the FR9 Roush Yates engines. The duo plans to run at the next three races - Indy, Pocono and Watkins Glen with hopes of continuing the rest of the 2011 season pending sponsorship.(Speed PR)(7-25-2011)

Speed gets lien against Red Bull: Former Red Bull Racing driver Scott Speed has obtained an order of attachment against the team, placing a lien on its real property in North Carolina until Speed's lawsuit against the team is resolved. The order, covering the Red Bull shop in Mooresville, N.C., and the property on which it sits, was served Tuesday. The property was purchased for approximately $3.3 million. Such orders can be issued only in very limited circumstances in North Carolina. After Red Bull fired Speed, he sued the organization in December, claiming breach of contract and seeking damages of at least $6.5 million. In March, an N.C. judge denied Red Bull's request to dismiss the suit. A discovery motion in Speed's case is scheduled to be heard on July 11 in Iredell County Superior Court in Statesville, N.C. William Bray, Speed's attorney in the case, said his client sought the order because of Red Bull's recent announcement that it was looking to end its ownership role in NASCAR at the end of the 2011 season. Red Bull can contest the order, but as of Friday had not done so. Through a spokesperson, the team declined to comment.(Charlotte Observer)(7-2-2011)

Speed to attempt Indy 500, Vegas: Dragon Racing will field NASCAR and Formula One veteran Scott Speed in the Indianapolis 500 and also in the Izod IndyCar Series finale at Las Vegas. Speed would be eligible to compete for a $5 million bonus posted by IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard for any driver for another series who wins the race. As a teammate to Ho Pin Tung, Speed would be sponsored by Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka, American Racing Wheels and Vizio in his attempt to make the Indy 500 for Dragon. If he makes the field of the centennial running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, it would mark the IndyCar debut for Speed. Dragon Racing owner Jay Penske, son of 15-time-winning Indianapolis 500 car owner Roger Penske, recently returned to IndyCar at the Long Beach Grand Prix with Paul Tracy after a sponsorship shortage forced his team to close during the offseason. Speed will test at Chicagoland Speedway on May 9th and begin practicing at Indy on May 14.(USA Today)(5-6-2011)

NC Judge denies Red Bull request to toss Speed's lawsuit: A North Carolina judge has allowed Scott Speed to proceed with his $6.5 million lawsuit against Red Bull Racing as she denied the race team�s request to make a judgment based solely on what each side has presented in court without any investigation into Speed�s claims. Judge Sharon Barrett�s ruling came after a 35-minute hearing Monday in North Carolina Superior Court. She denied Red Bull�s argument that it could release Speed for not meeting the performance clause in his contract that states if he didn�t finish 15th in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series standings he could be fired. Speed filed the lawsuit Dec. 10 after he was fired by the team following his second season in Cup. In the lawsuit, Speed claimed that Red Bull did not fund the team as necessary to compete at the Cup level nor did it put forth the required technological resources for him to have a competitive car.(SceneDaily)(3-22-2011)

Scott Speed upset over lawsuit: Scott Speed is shocked and ill he was put in the position of having to file a $6.5 million lawsuit against Red Bull Racing, the organization that gave him his shot in motorsports. The suit was filed in Statesville, N.C., last Friday, about two weeks after Speed received a termination letter from the Sprint Cup organization and about seven months after Speed says the team agreed to a three-year extension through 2013. "They can't say 'We'll give you three more years' and then at the end of the season say 'Just kidding,'" Speed said Wednesday. "They think they have a way of getting out of my contract. I think they're crazy." Red Bull Racing officials said prior to Speed's release there was a provision in the contract that allowed for dismissal if the driver wasn't in the top 16 in points. Speed, who finished 30th in points, said that isn't "100% the truth" and that proof will come out later in the process. In addition, Speed claims in the lawsuit that Red Bull Racing did not provide sufficient funding for him to compete at a level necessary to be in the top 16. He cited layoffs before the season and other financial cutbacks that had the team below par in aerodynamics and other technical aspects. Red Bull officials declined to comment on any aspect of the suit. Speed was released to make room for Kasey Kahne, who will drive the #4 for Red Bull Racing for one season before moving into the #5 at Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Brian Vickers, who missed most of this past season after being diagnosed with blood clots, will drive the second Red Bull [#83] car. While shocked he was released after Red Bull invested seven years in him between Formula One and NASCAR, Speed was most upset that the organization would not give him permission to talk to other teams when it was obvious he wouldn't return to the Cup car. Speed said he repeatedly asked for permission to look around "and they wouldn't let me do it." With the release coming so late and no quality Cup rides available Speed said he is relegated to looking for a quality Nationwide or Truck Series ride in 2011, even if on a limited basis.(in part from ESPN)(12-16-2010)

Speed suing Red Bull: UPDATES: According to a tweet by Scott Speed, "today should be the day my lawyer files this lawsuit against Red Bull...Had to tell my loyal twitter followers before they saw it online". In a later post he made clear that he is looking for a ride for next season, "Sure not easy to find something when u start looking in December but we workin on it! Ill keep ya posted. sure we will find something".(12-8-2010)
UPDATE: The former Formula One driver finished 30th in the standings in his second year in Sprint Cup and said he was notified by fax Nov. 24 that he would not be retained for 2011 by the team operated by the Austrian-based energy drink company. "I'm obviously stupid disappointed that I didn't even get a phone call, not a conversation, not anything from anyone from Austria," Speed said Wednesday in a phone interview. "They all showed up at Miami. None of them spoke a word to me. I got a fax." Speed has said he had a contract for 2011 declined to discuss details, saying he has spoken to a lawyer about his options. "I can't describe how upset I am just over the morality of it," Speed said. "I don't understand how you can treat people like this. Whatever. I know that's not how I treat people." Speed would not comment on the terms of his Red Bull contract because of advice from his attorney. "They thought it was OK to kick me to the curb and not try to do absolutely anything for me," Speed said. "They didn't want to pay me anything. They didn't want to help me get into any other kind of ride. Nothing. They were, 'OK, we're done with you. Thank you for seven-and-a-half years.' Speed wants to continue racing stock cars and would consider a competitive Nationwide or truck team.(Scene Daily)(12-8-2010)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR driver Scott Speed filed a $6.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit Friday afternoon against Red Bull Racing, the team that released Speed following the 2010 season. In the lawsuit, filed in North Carolina Superior Court in Statesville, N.C., Speed claims that Red Bull did not fund the team as necessary to compete at the Cup level. According to the lawsuit, Speed signed a three-year deal in September 2007 for a salary of $300,000 in 2008, $500,000 in 2009 and $1 million in 2010. He would receive 50 percent of prize money for each top-10 finish, 45 percent for finishes 11th-20th and 40 percent of prize money for finishes of 21st or worse. In June 2008, the deal was amended to include 2011 at a salary of $1.5 million and options for 2012-2013 at raises of $500,000 annually. In January 2010, the deal was revised to cut Speed's pay from $1 million to $500,000 for 2010, according to the complaint. In May 2010, Red Bull picked up Speed's option through 2013, according to the complaint, but then fired him Nov. 23. The $6.5 million figure represents the salary Speed would have received from 2011-2013, in addition to the $500,000 reduction for 2010. Speed said Wednesday that the filing of the lawsuit was in hopes of being able to pay bills due next year, given that the chances of now getting a ride for 2011 are slim. Red Bull Racing officials indicated Wednesday that they would not comment on Speed's release or any pending litigation.(Scene Daily)(12-11-2010)

Scott Speed is officially out at Red Bull Racing: According to Speed's Twitter account, he got the official termination letter last Tuesday. "Not [a] huge surprise," Speed wrote. Speed became expendable when Red Bull Racing signed Kasey Kahne to drive its second Sprint Cup car for the 2011 season before moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. His only hope to remain with the company was if Brian Vickers, who missed most of last season after being diagnosed with blood clots, was unable to return. General manager Jay Frye said before the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway that no complications were expected when Vickers went off blood thinners.(ESPN.com)
AND Red Bull Racing officials confirmed Wednesday the team's contract with Scott Speed has been terminated, effectively ending a seven-year association with the brand. Earlier in the afternoon, Speed revealed on his Twitter account that he had received a termination letter as of Nov. 24. "We have exercised our rights to end the relationship at the end of 2010," according to a statement from the team. "We wish Scott the best of luck in his career." But with Brian Vickers scheduled to return to the team following successful heart surgery -- and Kasey Kahne signed to a one-year deal before heading to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 -- Speed found himself as the odd man out. It "will for sure be weird being a free agent," Speed wrote.(NASCAR.com)(12-1-2010)

Scott Speed still has no idea of 2011 plans: #82-Scott Speed's future remains a mystery at Red Bull after Sunday's race. Kasey Kahne joins the team and provided Brian Vickers has no issues after going off blood thinners, that puts him in the other Red Bull car and Red Bull has said that it will have only two cars next year. So what about Speed? "I haven't honestly been told very much,'' Speed said. "I'm under contract with Red Bull, so we'll see what happens with that. I'm not planning anything. There's nothing to plan. I plan to run in a Red Bull car in Daytona and if it's not that, then I have absolutely no idea what it even could be.'' Asked if he'd mind running in the Nationwide Series, Speed said: "There's no question that I think I'm ready for what we're doing in Cup. I proved that at the beginning of this year. When good cars have been underneath us, we've been fast. It's certainlny took the first full year. The first full year I think we went in a little bit too early but as of this year I felt where I've developed as a driver and where I'm at at the moment is a really good level.''(Virginian Pilot)(11-20-2010)

See the #30 Team News and Links page

Nationwide deal for Stremme?: Speaking to the "Inside Alabama Racing" radio program broadcast on Mobile, AL's WSNP Sports Radio 105.5 FM [Wednesday night], David Stremme said he is really close to signing a sponsor for 2011 that would be a full time Nationwide ride.(11-12-2010)

Stremme leaves #26 team: UPDATE: David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve. We've been trying to put that program together," said Stremme. "We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn't really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We've barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn't even know if we were going to have tires to race on. "I went to Bill and said `If things aren't going to change, I don't think I want to stay involved.' We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that's fine. It's his choice." Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, "We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven't been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We've had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit." Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. "There's no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money," he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, "(Jenkins) hasn't returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It's a bad deal for me." Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, "There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don't want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn't get that in return."(Sirius Speedway)(8-10-2010)
UPDATE:Patrick Carpentier will again be driving the #26 Ford of Latitude 43 Motorsports for the Sprint Cup race at Michigan this weekend. Davis Stremme had been the driver until Sunday, according to owner Bill Jenkins and crew chief Frankie Stoddard. Stremme, however, announce Monday on Sirius XM Radio that he left the team. It was during the same show that Jenkins said Carpentier would probably be in his car at Michigan.(Rue Frontenac, translated by Google translate)(8-11-2010)

Stremme back in the #26 at Martinsville: David Stremme, who was out of the Sprint Cup Series since last fall before stepping-into Latitude 43 Motorsports' #26 Ford at Bristol, will get another shot this weekend at Martinsville. Stremme, who scored the new team's best finish in its five-race history, 24th at Bristol; was named Wednesday to replace entered-driver Boris Said in the car tuned by crew chief Frank Stoddard. Stoddard said Stremme did a good job for the team in Bristol, despite the team falling from a locked-in spot in the top 35 in owners' points, which means Stremme is a go-or-go-home qualifier on Friday at Martinsville.(NASCAR.com)(3-26-2010)

Stremme in the #26 at Bristol? UPDATE: NASCAR's entry list for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway lists David Stremme in the #26 for Latitude 43 Motorsports. Boris Said had driven the first four races, but has never made a start at Bristol.(3-15-2010)
UPDATE: Vermont-based Latitude 43 Motorsports will see its first-ever driver change as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hits Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. David Stremme, a veteran of 108 NSCS starts, will take over for Boris Said at the controls of the #26 Ford for Latitude 43 at the Food City 500. The Food City 500 is the fifth race of the season, and Jenkins sits 37th in owner points, just 24 points out of 35th place; after Bristol, all cars outside the top-35 will have to qualify on speed during time trials without the benefit of a provisional. South Bend, Ind., native Stremme, an accomplished short track racer, has been tabbed to drive the car at the treacherous Bristol half-mile. The change, says Jenkins, was Said's idea. "Boris came to me last week and said he thought we needed a different driver for Bristol," Jenkins told Vermont Motorsports Magazine. "Boris is as big a part of this team as anyone, and I can't thank him enough for his willingness to help the whole program. We need to put all of our chips on the table at Bristol, and we need to come out of there strong and inside the top-35. Boris thought putting Stremme in the car was the right move, and I stand behind his decision." Stremme has been idle in NASCAR's three national series since being released from Penske Racing's #12 NSCS Dodge last November. Said has a best finish of 25th in the season-opening Daytona 500. In 39 career Sprint Cup starts, Said has only raced once at a track shorter than 1.5 miles in length, at Loudon, N.H., in 2007.(Vermont Motorsports Magazine)(3-16-2010)

Stremme looking to firm up 2010 plans: NASCAR driver David Stremme said Friday he�s still working to firm up his 2010 plans. �We�re still talking to quite a bit of people,� said Stremme, who lost his Sprint Cup ride with Penske Racing in late October. His immediate focus is trying to win Sunday�s 42nd annual Snowball Derby. Stremme�s biggest Late Model victory came a year ago when he won the Winchester 400. �This is a big race,� Stremme said. �I won the Winchester 400 last year. I definitely want to win this one. It�s a big short track race. You just got to look at the names on the trophy and that tells what it is. This is a pretty stout field. It�s probably the toughest field I�ve seen in a long time.�(Racin' Today), keep up with the Snowball Derby at 51sports.(12-6-2009)

Latest on Stremme's possible 2010 plans: �Stremme has got lots of people who are talking to us about him,� said David Stremme�s agent, Jeff Dickerson. �What�s really cool about David is it seems like people go out of their way to help him. So that�s encouraging, because I don�t feel like David is going to be left with nothing. We�re obviously late in the game. The next few weeks are important for him. We�ve got to see if people�s goodwill generates an actual offer somewhere.� Stremme, who drove most of 2009 for Penske Racing, wrecked during qualifying Friday, which could have hurt his chances to get in the Phoenix Racing car full time.(SceneDaily)(11-26-2009)

Keselowski in the #12 at Texas? UPDATE: Brad Keselowski will begin driving a Penske Racing Dodge in the Sprint Cup series starting this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Keselowski will take over for David Stremme in the #12 Dodge, multiple sources have told FOXSports.com.Keselowski, who finished eighth in Sunday's Amp Energy 500 and is currently third in Nationwide Series points, was announced as Roger Penske's latest addition on Sept. 1.(FoxSports)(11-2-2009)
UPDATE: Brad Keselowski will compete for Penske Racing in the final three NASCAR Cup Series races of the 2009 season. Keselowski will drive the #12 Penske Dodge in the upcoming races at Texas (Nov. 8), Phoenix (Nov. 15) and Homestead (Nov. 22). Over the final three Cup Series events of 2009, Keselowski will step in for David Stremme and work with the Penske Dodge team in the car that will become his full-time ride next season. "Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the race car as we prepare for the 2010 season," said Roger Penske. "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year. Penske Racing also thanks David Stremme for his contributions to the team this year. We wish David the very best moving forward."(Penske Racing PR)(11-2-2009)

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

No solid plans for Stremme: David Stremme [who is out of the Penske #12 at the end of the year to make way for Brad Keselowski] on his future: "I think there are a couple of things. When you look at the teams that are going away and don't have sponsors, I think there is going to be so much change for our sport with the teams. We are talking to some people. I don't have nothing solid. I can't even say, "Hey, I feel good about stuff.' Our sport is going through a lot of changes and the thing is if I've got to run Nationwide, Truck, whatever it is, I'm willing to do it. Last year, I had a lot of fun driving for Rusty (Wallace) in the Nationwide. It was a blast and I'd do it again."(Virginian Pilot)(10-10-2009)

Menard & Stremme to reach milestones: #98-Paul Menard and #12-David Stremme are scheduled to make their 100th career Sprint Cup starts this weekend when they race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, becoming the 177th and 178th drivers to reach the century mark in Sprint Cup Series history.(Team PR's.NASCAR)(9-2-2009)

Keselowski officially signs with Penske for 2010: Penske Racing announced that Brad Keselowski will compete for the team full-time, beginning with the 2010 NASCAR season. Keselowski, a 25-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich., will drive the #12 Penske Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season. He will also run a full-season schedule in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series, where he will compete for a championship with the team. "We are very excited to welcome Brad to the Penske Racing family," said Roger Penske. "Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing. He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team."
A third-generation driver, Keselowski has won at every level in which he has competed. He is currently ranked third in the Nationwide Series standings with three wins to his credit in 2009, including a dramatic victory in August at his home track at Michigan International Speedway. Keselowski also scored his first Cup Series win earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway and he has produced three top-10 finishes in just eight Cup Series starts this season.
"Penske Racing is one of the top teams in all of motorsports and I am honored to join Roger Penske's organization and compete for wins with his Cup and Nationwide Series teams," said Keselowski. "This is a great opportunity for me to continue competing in the Nationwide Series and to run my first full season in the Cup Series with a strong and experienced team."(Penske Racing), no word on Stremme's plans for 2010.(9-1-2009)

Vickers expects to be in a Cup ride this season: Brian Vickers, who will miss the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2007, vows he will be back in a Sprint Cup car in 2012. In a video posted on Facebook before Saturday's Budweiser Shootout, the former Red Bull Racing driver explained why he doesn't have a ride for the Daytona 500 and what his plans are for the future. "I'm right now sitting at home, but that's OK," Vickers said in the video. "I've got some great ideas that I'm very excited about. We're working with and talking to several of the sponsors in exploring a lot of options. I'm not going to fill you all in yet, but some options I'm pretty excited about. The point of the story is, I plan on being in a race car in 2012, hopefully in a car that I can win with and contend for championships with. I will keep you up to date. There will be more updates to follow, hopefully soon, as to what those plans are." Vickers did not return messages from ESPN.com. He began his remarks by thanking everyone from fans to media for their support over the past few years. The 2003 Nationwide Series champion explained that he explored many options for this season, but none that "were the right fit."
"It has to be a two-way street and it has to be a fit for them as well as for me, where I feel I can be happy," Vickers said. "But most importantly, (to) compete at a level to win races and contend for championships. Unfortunately, I was not able to find that fit that made sense for me." Vickers said he expects to be at Daytona International Speedway at some point this weekend.(ESPN)(2-21-2012)

Red Bull Owners Points changing hands? UPDATE 2: Been told that Thomas Ueberall [Red Bull's race director] is now listed as the owner of the #83 and now #93 [was #4] team owner points. Sinica Motorsports attempted to run Homestead running the #93, but their website now shows no car number and facebook and twitter pages no longer work. Ueberall may be listed as the owner when the new owners take place, due to the points. Supposedly part owners of TRG Motorsports are rumored to be buying the assets from Red Bull Racing.(2-3-2012)
UPDATE: Sinica Motorsports will be running a partial Sprint Cup schedule this year with a new car number to be released soon. The team will continue to run Chevys.(Sinica Motorsports)(2-6-2012)
UPDATE2: Landon Cassill is going racing at Daytona International Speedway with a new, yet-unnamed race team, at the wheel for a #83 Toyota purchased from the former Red Bull Racing team. In an exclusive interview with Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius/XM Speedway with Dave Moody, Cassill said the team is preparing two cars for a full schedule of Sprint Cup Series racing, beginning with the Daytona 500. "We're going to announce a sponsor in the near future," said Cassill. "At this point, I can tell you that Doug Richert will be the crew chief, with (former Roush Fenway Racing executive) Harry McMullin serving as General Manager.
Multiple sources say Virginia resident and former TRG Motorsports minority partner Ron Devine is a leading player in the new ownership group. The team will reportedly be owned and sponsored by Devine and a group of his fellow Burger King franchisees. Cassill declined to speak specifically about the new owners, but confirmed they were involved with TRG Motorsports majority owner Kevin Buckler a year ago. "They broke away from TRG at the end of last year," said Cassill. "They want to go racing the right way and do it efficiently. They know what their goals are. They're going to be announcing the team name and our sponsorship information very soon. All I can say at this point is that they are investors. It'll be a company owned team from the sponsorship side of things." The team will operate out of the former Randy Moss Motorsports building in Statesville, NC, and will run with, with horsepower supplied by Triad Racing Technology.
"The guys are really hustling to get ready for Daytona," said Cassill, "and this will be my first time going into a season knowing there's a full-time ride with my name on door. I'm going to be locked into the Daytona 500 for the first time in my life, and that's an emotional deal for me." He confirmed that the team will field two cars in every race this season, beginning at Daytona. "They're working on signing the second driver right now, and there are some pretty good guys out there that still need a ride."
"This has been a tough deal to keep quiet," laughed Cassill. "They've had to make a lot of decisions before the story gets out and things begin to spin out of control. They've been working hard, 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week thrashing on things. Fortunately, Red Bull built really nice race cars that gave us a chance to pull things together quickly. A lot more is set in place than we can talk about yet, but the work is getting done. Cassill said he understands the team is behind the eight-ball at this point, and will need time to reach its full potential. "I think you'll see us shine 10-12 weeks into the season, once we get our feet underneath us," he said. "We need to establish a baseline on setups and find out what our cars and teams are capable of."(Sirius Speedway)
AND the AP's Jenna Fryer @JennaFryer is hearing Travis Kvapil could be second driver of the 2nd car [which was #4 with Kahne in 2011, but have heard it'll be #93](2-9-2012)
a couple UPDATES: Speculation is that former Red Bull driver Brian Vickers will be named Cassill's teammate in a second entry.(MRN)
AND II While Harry McMullen will act as general manager of the two-car operation, Cassill could not confirm nor deny that the team will be called BK Racing, a name that stems from Burger King franchisees that are expected to be associated with the deal. Sources said Ron Devine, of Virginia, and Wayne Press, of Florida, two former TRG partners, will be part of the new ownership group. Travis Kvapil has been mentioned as the driver for the team's #93 Toyota. Kvapil could not be reached for comment.(FoxSports)(2-10-2012)

Red Bull Racing closes Thursday: Red Bull Racing's five-year run as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team will come to an end [Thursday], when the last of approximately 150 employees will be laid off and the competition shop shut down, presumably for good. After 284 Sprint Cup starts, over 106,000 competitive laps and two victories, the team informed its remaining employees this week that Thursday will be the final day of operation. A memo was distributed by the team's Human Resources Manager outlining severance procedures and establishing a schedule for exit interviews. After a brief team meeting �. the team will raffle off sheet metal, mementos and photos that have hung at the Red Bull shop and distribute cases of Red Bull to departing employees. "We know it will be a difficult day for everyone," said the memo, "as a large number of employees will be exiting the facility."(Sirius Speedway)(12-8-2011)

Vickers says he has options for 2012: Brian Vickers won a race and qualified for NASCAR's Chase For The Sprint Cup during his five-year tenure with Red Bull Racing. Now that the two-car organization's run in the Cup Series appears to be over, however, Vickers finds himself looking for work. "I'm working on several options right now in the Cup Series that I'm very excited about, but until they're done they're not done," Vickers said Sunday after finishing 17th in the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead. "I'm looking forward to hopefully continuing a strong career here in the Cup Series. I love this racing and I love what I do, especially with everything I went through last year. It taught me just how much I really do love it."(Scene Daily)(11-25-2011)

NASCAR didn't see Kenseth-Vickers wreck as retaliation: NASCAR officials didn't see Sunday's incident at Phoenix International Raceway between Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth as retaliation. Kenseth disagreed. "Had we felt it was more than a racing incident we would have reacted,'' Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said afterwards. Kenseth called NASCAR out for not responding to Vickers wrecking him the way the governing body responded to Kyle Busch deliberately running Ron Hornaday Jr. into the wall during the Truck Series race last week at Texas Motor Speedway. "Obviously, it is retaliation for retaliation, I guess,'' said Kenseth, whose championship hopes basically ended three weeks ago when he and Vickers got into several on track exchanges at Martinsville Speedway. "I was out of brakes and I was up on everybody and I saw him coming and I lifted at least 10 car lengths before where I normally would lift, and he drove in there at 165 miles per hour and cleaned us out.'' Kenseth reminded NASCAR that Vickers vowed payback after Martinsville. "If NASCAR is going to start parking people for being mad 25 seconds after you wreck and wrecking somebody, then you would park somebody for that,'' he said. "It was so premeditated. It just surprises me that [NASCAR] didn't do anything. I am disappointed, but I expected it.'' Vickers told reporters that he didn't intentionally run over Kenseth, and that he was surprised when Kenseth lifted. "If he wants to doubt us, that's fine," Vickers said. "He wrecked me at Martinsville, he got wrecked here, but it actually wasn't (payback). I'm not saying I wasn't going to pay him back, but I'm just saying that wasn't it."(ESPN)(11-14-2011)

Vickers would return to Red Bull but keeping options open: #83-Brian Vickers hasn't ruled out a return to Red Bull Racing if investors can be found to keep the two-car Sprint Cup organization running beyond this season. "I'm going to keep all my options open," Vickers said Friday at Infineon Raceway. "I built a home here for five years. I'm really happy here. There's a lot of great people at Red Bull Racing. I was one of the first employees and I've watched it grow from the beginning and would like to think I contributed to that process. Yeah, there's a huge part of me that wants to stay. There are so many other dominoes that have to fall first," he said. Vickers is optimistic investors can be found, adding he knows "there are a couple of them out there" that general manager Jay Frye and Red Bull executives in Austria are talking to. He would not elaborate on who those investors might be.(ESPN.com)(6-25-2011)

Scott Wimmer to purchase speedway: NASCAR driver and Wausau native Scott Wimmer along with Wausau area land developed Ron Wimmer announced their purchase of State Park Speedway. The Speedway, located in the Town of Rib Mountain, just outside of Wausau, WI was put up for sale at the end of the 2009 race season. �State Park Speedway has always been special to me,� says Scott Wimmer, �It�s where I got my start in racing, so to be able to keep SPS as a racetrack and support the racing community that supported me is pretty exciting.� More info at asamidwesttour.com.(11-7-2009)

Morgan-McClure hopes to return to the track: #4 MMM Chevrolet returned to the track for the first time since 2007 Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, and team co-owner Tim Morgan is hopeful that the Sharpie 500 can spark a revival. �I�m talking to one particular company that says they�re going to get into racing next year, and hopefully this race will serve as notice that we�re still out here,� Morgan said. Except for a sponsor, Morgan said the MMM team has all the essentials to resume action on a regular basis. �We�ve got the cars and engines,� Morgan said. �In fact, we�ve got six of the COTs [Car of Tomorrow], and I think we�ve got 18-20 race-ready engines. We�ve got everything it takes except the money.� Several former members of the MMM team are now working other jobs, but there were some familiar faces in the #4 pits Saturday. The old gang included Steve Gray, Robert Larkins, Robbie Holt and Todd Cooper. The regular pit crew for the #24 Hefty Ford driven by Eric McClure in the Nationwide Series assisted MMM driver Scott Wimmer Saturday. Abingdon-based Alpha Natural Resources, the third-largest coal producer in the United States, sponsored the #4 car at BMS. Wimmer finished 29th(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-24-2009)

Morgan-McClure and Wimmer to run Bristol: Morgan-McClure Motorsports and Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a leading U.S. coal producer, will join forces with driver Scott Wimmer for this year�s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The one-race sponsorship announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for both Abingdon, Va.-based organizations. Attempting to qualify the #4 entry for the Aug. 22 night race at the �World�s Fastest Half-Mile� signals a possible rebirth for MMM, which has been on an approximate two-year hiatus from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Meanwhile, it caps off a monumental week for Alpha, one in which the company completed a merger with Foundation Coal Holdings to become the nation�s third-largest coal producer. MMM, founded in 1983, is a three-time winner of the season-opening Daytona 500 and boasts a successful history that includes 14 wins, 63 top-fives, 146 top-10s and 13 poles. �Our team, much like Alpha�s owners, was born in coal country; and the first few years we were funded by dealerships that make their income by serving coal miners,� says Tim Morgan, MMM�s co-owner and president. �We couldn�t be prouder to represent a progressive company like Alpha � a recognized leader in producing coal to meet the nation�s energy needs, with an outstanding reputation for being good stewards of the environment while taking care of their customers and employees.� With the Foundation Coal merger, Alpha now operates more than 60 coal mines and 14 preparation plants, maintains one of the most expansive geographic footprints in the industry, and controls reserves of more than 2.3 billion tons of coal.
Wimmer, who has experience in all of NASCAR�s top three divisions � the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series � has collected 30 top-fives, 73 top-10s and one pole in his career. The 33-year-old Wausau, Wisc., native is currently 16th in the Nationwide Series point standings. For more info about Alpha Natural Resources see alphanr.com.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports)(8-6-2009)

Cook leaves #46 team UPDATE 2 Yeley In: per his Facebook page, Terry Cook announced - "Terry Cook, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, is no longer with Whitney Motorsports effective immediately. Terry, who has been serving as Team Manager/ Driver, was uncomfortable with the direction that the team was heading towards and opted to leave the team." No word who will drive the #46 Dodge at Darlington.(5-3-2010)
UPDATE: per the Whitney Motorsports Facebook page, J.J. Yeley will drive the #46 Dodge at Darlington. This will be Yeley's first attempt in a Sprint Cup race since the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when he tried to qualify Mayfield's #41 Toyota but failed to make the race.(5-3-2010)
UPDATE: Whitney Motorsports announced yesterday that JJ Yeley will be in their Whitney Motorsports Dodge #46 Nascar Sprint Cup car at Darlington Raceway this weekend in the Showtime Southern 500. Yeley will be in the #46 for two races, Darlington and possibly Charlotte. If things go well more races could be added. JJ is excited to get back on track and give it all he's got to get the #46 a great finish.(JJ Yeley site)(5-4-2010)

J.J. Yeley - Ready to Race Again: For J.J. Yeley, being forced to sit idle and watch races as opposed to driving in them has been one of the toughest things he�s had to endure since he first began racing 16 years ago. Everything changed the night of Aug. 22 for the Phoenix native when the Sprint Bandit car he was driving at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., quickly turned Yeley into a passenger on a wild, hair-raising ride. The race had just restarted for the third time when the 2003 USAC Triple Crown champion, who was running third at the time, took off into turn one. As he went into the corner, his car caught the track, flipped and barrel-rolled at least eight times. Although Yeley thought he had nothing more than a sore neck following the crash, he soon learned that he had fractured three vertebrae. Since that night, Yeley has worn a neck collar and undergone neck surgery, where doctors fused two vertebrae with screws and a metal plate. And now, just a month after the outpatient surgery, the 33-year-old is working out daily to rebuild the muscles in his neck and shoulders. So far, his healing process has been speedy, above average according to the specialists and doctors Yeley has spoken with in the last two months. With one more test to pass, he hopes to be cleared by doctors in December, which he says is just in time for the 2010 racing season. With that in mind, Yeley, who has 95 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts and 118 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, has been working the phones, talking to prospective teams and sponsors about a return to the sport that he loves. Being a spectator has refueled Yeley�s passion, and he is ready to race again.

What happened in that Aug. 22 accident at Lakeside Speedway?
�For the most part it was a typical Sprint Car type of accident. At the start of the race, the racetrack had a lot of grip, so it was real tacky. It was actually the third restart from cars that had already flipped. I just went in the corner by myself, caught a rut, the car bicycled and started flipping off the left side of the cage. It did a good amount of barrel rolls, probably close to eight or 10. It hit two or three times really hard and I�m thinking the next to last hit was the one that jarred me in a way that was kind of like a major whiplash that would have stretched my neck and fractured the vertebrae. It wasn�t necessarily a break as much as it had taken two of the vertebrate in my neck and perched them on top of each other.�

What kind of rehab have you had to undergo?
�That�s the beauty of the surgery that I ended up having. I could�ve went the natural healing route, which would�ve put me in a neck collar for a good three to four months, and at the end of that time the vertebrae would�ve fused themselves. I chose to go ahead and do the surgery with Dr. (Dom) Coric (a neurosurgeon with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates in Charlotte) in North Carolina who is one of the best neck surgeons in the United States. It was an outpatient procedure. I went in at 7 a.m. and was home by 1 o�clock in the afternoon. They went through the front of my neck, so I will always have a little tiny scar in the front to show my little battle wound. It�s the first time I�ve ever been injured in a racecar. For me, I guess I should consider myself lucky that I�ve made it right at 16 years racing professionally without any kind of major injury. The major thing for me is just basically taking it easy, letting the fusion heal 100 percent for where they inserted the screws and the plates. I do some laser treatments. I do some small things that help speed up the process of the fusion with the bone. It�s been more than a month now since my surgery, so I can start to get back to a regular exercise program just to kind of make up for the muscle I�ve lost from not doing much for the last two months.�

You said that you�re at a point where you can start exercising and working out to get re-conditioned to get back into a racecar. How long will you have to be in rehab? How long will it be before every day, normal things are easy for you?
�They�ve been very easy for me, and I know from talking to some of the different doctors and people who have been in related situations to what I�ve been in that a lot of people are surprised of how far along I already am with my recovery. I�m back to doing all the things I�ve always been able to do. With regard to lifting weights, I�m just taking it easy. I don�t want to push myself too far, too fast. But as far as everyday stuff, I�m able to do regular yard work. I�ve played golf a couple of times and I play just as bad now as I did before I hurt myself ,so I guess I�m back to as normal as possible. For the most part, I feel fine. I have a little more aches and pains than I did before. Racing as long as I have and just racing in general takes a toll on a body, regardless. I do have some lower back pain that I get all the time, so it�s just one added pain that I didn�t have before. For the most part, it almost seemed more like a dream of having this happen to me, and the next has been a reality. I�m just thankful for all the people who have helped out. I guess I never really thought about it or took it seriously � the fact that another quarter-inch or an eighth-inch of movement in my neck, I could�ve been paralyzed or I could�ve been killed, according to the doctors. For me, I had a little bit of a sore neck when I got out of the racecar. Then at the hospital, everybody was in a panic because they thought that it was more severe than I ever would�ve thought.�

Do you still see Dr. Coric on a routine basis? Do you have weekly appointments or physical therapists? Where do you stand with the doctors at this point in your recovery process?
�At this point, I�ve had a follow-up with Dr. Coric. They�ve taken X-rays. They are very happy with the alignment and the way everything looks. Right now, I think I have one hurdle left that I have to get over. They want to do another X-ray in December, and at that time, at the rate I�ve been going, they see no problems to clear me to go back to racing. Obviously, that gives me plenty of time to get ready for the 2010 racing season. For the most part, I�ve got 80 to 85 percent of my original range of motion in my head and neck. I�m able to turn my head fine. I�m just a little slow from looking up. I think that�s probably my most challenging maneuver is to try to look up at the sky. I just don�t have quite the movement I did before. I also understand that by fusing two vertebrae, I�m going to lose a little bit of motion anyway. From the people and specialists I�ve seen, they are already very surprised at how far and advanced I am in getting back to normal.�

When do you think you will be cleared to get back into a racecar?
�I think a lot of that is up to me and how hard I really want to push the envelope. I know that I�ve had a couple of calls and a couple of opportunities to maybe fill-in some rides at the end of the season. I also know that this injury I have � it is very, very serious and pushing it too soon, too fast could either slow down my healing process or obviously put me back into danger. For me, I�ve definitely written off the 2009 season. They want to do another X-ray in December. If they see no problems with it, then I�ll be clear. The doctors tell me that by doing the fusion with the screws and the plates that those vertebrae are actually stronger in that portion of the neck than they would�ve been naturally. Obviously, it�s going to make it a little bit weaker above and below in the natural area, and that�s why I have to focus on getting the strength back in my neck and my shoulders to help support everything. For the most part, the area is stronger now than it was before the accident.�

You said you�ve written off the 2009 season. Is your plan to be able to run the Chili Bowl in January?
�It is my plan. I�ve been spending a lot more time on the phone, talking with different sponsors and scouting out different opportunities. Getting back into NASCAR, it does look like there are some pretty good possibilities for getting back into a Nationwide ride next season. I have some meetings in the next couple of weeks that could secure the sponsorship and make that all happen. As far as looking forward to the Chili Bowl and some of the bigger races that guys always get a chance to go do, I would probably be healed by then. We will just kind of play it by ear and see how things go as far as the big plans for next year.�

Has this accident refueled your passion and desire to get back into NASCAR?
�It makes the passion for me even stronger. I had some opportunities coming up that I basically had to abort because of the injury. It�s different when you�re forced not to be able to do something versus not having the opportunity or the chances or passing up on different rides. Being told that you have to sit idle, that you can�t do something, I guess makes you want it even more. It�s easy to take for granted just the simple things in life when you�re not allowed to do them. For so long I was told not to lift anything over five pounds. I couldn�t do certain things and different activities. It really makes you think about the things you love and the things you want to do. The beauty of it is, I�ve obviously gotten to spend a lot of time with my family and my daughter. In between Kristen (wife) and Faith (daughter), they�ve made this whole process a lot easier on me. But it�s time for me to get back into a racecar and prove myself and get back to doing what I always loved, and that�s trying to win races and go out and do a good job."
�I was out at the racetrack at Charlotte on Friday for a good portion of the day. For the first month before I had the surgery, I was in a collar. Even though I felt fine and there was no real serious injury, just the visual aspect of walking around in a collar, people just form an opinion immediately. I wanted to make sure that I got out to the racetrack, especially at Charlotte, and walk around and talk to some old friends and some prospective teams and let people know that rumor mills run wild in racing and we all know that. I know a lot of people thought I was in a halo, that my neck was broken that it was a lot more serious injury than it actually was.�
�I think it�s something that�s important for everyone to know. As serious as the injury was, it wasn�t a broken neck it and it wasn�t as severe as it could�ve been. Whenever I am cleared, I will be 100 percent ready to go racing. I�ve been doing this for so long, I�m lucky I�ve made it this long before I�ve had any kind of real injury. I just want to educate the people and the fans, let them know that I�m fine and ready to get back to it. I�m just trying to put some of those rumors to rest. Let people know that I�m healthy and hopefully will be ready to go here pretty soon.�

Will you have an announcement soon about your plans for 2010?
�That�s been the major hurdle. Obviously, the economy has hurt every form of racing there is. We�re getting closer and closer to getting something 100 percent signed. Hopefully, in the next two to three weeks, things will go like they are looking and we�ll be able to make an announcement and let everyone know what�s going on with J.J. Yeley and the future for 2010.�(True Speed Communication)(11-11-2009)

Yeley injured in Saturday night race: Former NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley reportedly suffered three broken vertebrae during a crash at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. on Saturday night. Yeley was competing in a race in the Sprint Bandits Series at the half-mile dirt Lakeside track when he was involved in a wreck early in the feature event. Yeley�s car flipped in Turn 1, said Lakeside owner Marc Olson. The flip did not look severe but Yeley complained about neck pain. Yeley was transported to a local hospital late Saturday night. From there, he was transported back to North Carolina.(Racin'Today)(8-25-2009)

Bruno Senna considering NASCAR? Bruno Senna is considering NASCAR as a back-up option should his F1 journey end for now. That is the claim of the Italiaracing website, in the wake of the Brazilian's loss of his Renault/Lotus race seat. It is rumored Senna, 28, could return to the team's reserve role for 2012, but Italiaracing said NASCAR is another option, where his countryman Nelson Piquet Jr headed after his own F1 career foundered in 2009. Senna's fabled uncle Ayrton was F1's last fatality in 1994, when Bruno was 10.(SPEED)(12-22-2011)

Papis brings NASCAR to Monza Rally Show: This past weekend, Max Papis Racing gave Italian fans and racing enthusiasts a little taste of NASCAR at the historic track of Monza in Italy during the Monza Rally Show. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2-seater car, provided by Joe Gibbs Racing and driven by Italian, Max Papis, quite simply, "stole the show." The Monza Rally Show included 9 special stages, in which racing celebrities such as Sebastien Loeb, Valentino Rossi, Dindo Capello, amongst others, competed in the historic event which attracts tens of thousands of fans. Max Papis was the "opening act" during each special stage, showing off his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car and thrilling the crowd with the almost 800-horsepower Toyota Camry.(Max Papis Racing)(12-2-2011)

Kerry Earnhardt doesn't expect to race anymore: Kerry Earnhardt hasn't competed in a NASCAR race since July 2009, and the 41-year-old driver wants to do what he loves. That means he wants to spend his time outdoors, but not necessarily at the race track. The oldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. still hopes to have a connection to racing but hopes it's through drivers appearing on the outdoors television show he's working on or at the track when son Jeffrey is racing. But with 106 starts in NASCAR's three national series - seven in Cup, 72 in Nationwide and 27 in trucks - Earnhardt doesn't expect to have another one. "I do get bored a little bit," Earnhardt said. "I still have the thought [to race] but I just don't have the desire to drive. You can attribute it back to a lot of opportunities that I had that weren't successful, they weren't competitive opportunities.(Scene Daily)(11-27-2011)

Carmichael uninjured in crash on Phoenix area road: Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series driver, Ricky Carmichael, was collected in an accident on a Phoenix-area road Friday night. He and his wife were uninjured. Carmichael said he was driving on a two-lane road when a vehicle crossed the center line and hit the car in front of Carmichael's car. "Wheels fell off and hit our car, the thing was flying in the air like a torpedo,'' Carmichael said after qualifying for Saturday's Nationwide race at Phoenix International Raceway. "Something I don't want to really experience again. Luckily, everyone was OK. How they were, I have no clue. I was driving and had my wife and a friend of mine in the back. It's not fun when you see a truck coming into your lane the other way.''(Virginian Pilot - see images of the cars there)(11-12-2011)

Motorcross star Stewart signs with Gibbs; NASCAR races planned: James "Bubba" Stewart has signed a multi-year contract to race with the motocross division of Joe Gibbs Racing, JGRMX. Additionally, JGRMX has extended its relationship with Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. racing exclusively Yamaha motorcycles through 2014. Stewart, who began racing at the age of four, is one of the most decorated riders in motocross history. "I am excited about joining the Gibbs racing family," said Stewart. "My goal in Supercross is to pass Jeremy McGrath's record of 72 Supercross wins. I am more than half way there and look forward to realizing that dream during my time with JGR. I have also had an interest in car racing and we are going to explore my potential in that sport through the NASCAR side of the operation."(JGR)
AND: In signing a multiyear deal with JGRMX, Stewart, 25, is expected to race full time on a bike for at least the next three seasons, but he will begin dabbling immediately in stock cars. A test in a Late Model car is scheduled in a few weeks, and he hopes to squeeze in races in the K&N and Nationwide Series (feeder circuits to Sprint Cup, NASCAR's premier series) as early as next season. Stewart's eventual transition from motorcycle racing to NASCAR might give a jolt of attention to a sport that actively craves a more diverse driver lineup. A charismatic black man in a mostly white sport, Stewart has starred in a reality TV show and has been among the few transcendent riders in Supercross.(USA Today)(10-26-2011)

Hmiel's team wins: On the one-year anniversary of Shane Hmiel's wreck in Terra Haute, Ind that left him paralyzed, Levi Jones of Olney, Ill., wheeled Hmiel's #56 3 Wide Life Midget to victory Saturday night in the Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL giving Shane his first win as a team owner with RW56. It was Jones' second start for Hmiel and the first time Shane has been back to Victory Lane since the accident that almost claimed his life a year ago.(3 Wide Life)(10-11-2011)

Jeffrey Earnhardt to run in Grand Am Series: The Earnhardt family has accomplished nearly every goal set in racing. Jeffrey Earnhardt will now set his goal on a family first��winning the championship in the NASCAR owned Grand Am Series. Jeffrey Earnhardt has signed a deal to place him in a full season of Grand Am Racing in 2012 in the Rolex GT Class with Rick Ware Racing. Earnhardt made his series debut at the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with RWR in a GT3 Porsche and finished 11th in class and 25th overall. "I have never experienced any type of racing like that before. It was definitely a rush and look forward to competing in the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2012 with RWR again," stated Jeffrey Earnhardt. Earnhardt will be displaying the #15 for the 2012 season, a number his late grandfather, Dale Earnhardt, competed with 30 years ago in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Earnhardt will also make his Indianapolis Motor Speedway debut as the Grand Am Series heads to the "Brickyard" for the inaugural event during the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend. Earnhardt and Rick Ware Racing will be making announcements for the car manufacturer, sponsors and co-drivers in the upcoming weeks.(Rick Ware Racing)(9-1-2011)

Pastrana Nationwide debut delayed until 2012: Pastrana Waltrip Racing announced that Travis Pastrana will not make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut until the 2012 season due to injuries suffered during the 17th annual X Games last week. The 11-time X Games gold medalist broke his right ankle and foot while attempting a Rodeo 720 with a back flip during the Best Trick competition in Los Angeles, forcing him to miss his scheduled NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last Saturday. The injuries required surgery, which was completed by Dr. Tom Dennis at Riva Road Surgical Center in Annapolis, Md., Wednesday evening. Dr. Dennis said the operation was a success and that Pastrana should make a full recovery following a strict healing process which will require Pastrana to be immobilized in traction for at least one month and unable to apply weight on his right leg for another month. �To give my ankle and foot time to heal properly we have decided to wait until 2012 to make my NASCAR debut,� Pastrana said. �I probably could have been ready for the final couple of races in 2011, but it just makes more sense to start fresh in 2012. We are already starting to talk about testing and what I need to do to prepare for next season. My sincere apologies go out to my NASCAR team, fans and sponsors for this delay. Thanks for all of the support. This will be a fun ride � eventually.� Pastrana made his NASCAR debut on January 29 when he finished sixth in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Pastrana was scheduled to run a total of seven Nationwide Series races this season with his debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. on July 30.(Pastrana Waltrip Racing PR)(8-6-2011)

Update on Shane Hmiel - Starts team: Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel doesn't know if he will walk again. He doesn't know exactly how he will be involved in racing again. He doesn't even know why he's alive. There's one thing Shane Hmiel believes, though: He's lucky, despite an Oct. 9 accident in a Silver Crown car that damaged his brain and spinal cord. He might not know for another four or five years how much he will need the wheelchair he currently has to use, but the 31-year-old Hmiel has an incredibly upbeat attitude about his life. See full article at SceneDaily and a video from a NASCAR Race Hub episode at SPEED.(7-30-2011)
UPDATE: Shane Hmiel announced RW56, Inc as his newest endeavor in the world of motorsports. The ambitious project comes just months after suffering extensive injuries in a racing accident last October that left him confined to a wheelchair. Hmiel is embracing his new title as team owner, adding to his already extensive and impressive racing resume. With support coming from Steve Pruett, founder of the motorsports television program 3 Wide Life, and USAC team owners Rotondo Weirich of RW Motorsports, Hmiel will use the team and television show to build on the momentum he created before the accident in hopes of finding the next American open wheel star. In preparation for a full 2012 schedule, Hmiel and RW56 Inc, will field the No. 56 / 3 Wide Life dirt midget in the 7 remaining USAC National Dirt Midget races of 2011 beginning in Sun Prairie, Wisc. August 21. Five-time National USAC driver champion Levi Jones has been tapped to drive for those remaining races. See full post at 3widelife.(8-3-2011)

Travis Pastrana to make NASCAR National Series Debut UPDATE injured in Xgames: After back-flipping his way through the ESPN X Games, Travis Pastrana will catch a red-eye flight to Indianapolis to make his first ever start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway. The long awaited arrival of the action sports star is finally here. Pastrana has 16 X Games gold medals in addition to multiple titles in supercross, motocross and rally cars. He'll make his series debut for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing #99 Boost Mobile Toyota. Pastrana got a taste of NASCAR racing, having run a combination of five NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West races this year including his best finish of sixth in his NASCAR debut in January at the Toyota All-Star Showdown. His other NASCAR K&N Pro Series races were Phoenix (25th), Richmond (33rd), Iowa (22nd) and Loudon (22nd).(NASCAR)(7-27-2011)
UPDATE: Action sports star Travis Pastrana crashed on back-to-back "TP Roll" attempts Thursday night in X Games 17 Moto X Best Trick, ending the Pastranathon during its first event. Pastrana, who was taken off on a stretcher and transported to a hospital for X-rays, broke his right foot and ankle, according to medical officials working with ESPN. He was discharged from the hospital Thursday night. The injury will require surgery at a later date, Pastrana's planned NASCAR debut on Saturday will be put on hold. He is also out of the X Games. "I am sorry this happened and will be back in action as soon as I can. I look forward to Pastranathon 2012 at X Games 18," Pastrana told ESPN following his release from the hospital. Going into the X Games, Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday. X Games 17 will be the first X event since 2002 that Pastrana has been out of medal contention. Pastrana crashed while attempting the corked 720 that had made him a gold medal favorite in Best Trick. Riders usually get one shot each round at throwing tricks, but Pastrana tried the 720 twice after under-rotating the first time. His second attempt ended in identical fashion and he immediately grabbed his lower leg as medical staff rushed to his side on the landing ramp.(ESPN)(7-29-2011)
UPDATE 2: Pastrana Waltrip Racing announced Friday it will withdraw the #99 Boost Mobile Toyota from Saturday's race at Lucas Oil Raceway where action sports star Travis Pastrana planned to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut. Pastrana broke his right foot and ankle after back-to-back crashes during the Moto X Best Trick competition at the X Games in Los Angeles Thursday. "Like fans everywhere we were so excited about Travis' debut Saturday night," said team owner Michael Waltrip. "We have a long term vision with Travis which includes lots of NASCAR. We can't wait to get him healed and in our race cars. We talked to our sponsor Boost Mobile and agreed to withdraw from Indy and delay our debut. We've waited a long time for someone like Travis Pastrana. I guess we'll just have to wait a little bit longer." Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday.(Pastrana Waltrip Racing)(7-29-2011)

Bill Lester wins Grand-Am event: former NASCAR dirver Bill Lester became the first black driver to win a Grand-Am Road Racing event, teaming with Jordan Taylor to top the Rolex Series' GT class Saturday in the Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway. "We're ecstatic," Lester said. "Everything came together for us. We knew at the beginning of the season that this team had a lot of potential." The breakthrough victory in the Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro came in the hometown of auto racing pioneer Wendell Scott, the only black driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. "I'm sure that the Scott family would be happy about what I was able to accomplish," Lester said. "I actually spent some time at the Scott residence in Danville and saw Wendell's old garage and sat in one of his race cars. It was quite an honor for me."(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-15-2011)

Bowles wins Toyota Showdown: Jason Bowles won the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Saturday night, beating Canadian D.J. Kennington by 0.501 seconds on the half-mile track. Bowles, the 2009 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion from Ontario, Calif., took the lead on the final restart in the 225-lap race that was slowed by 11 cautions. Kennington, the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion, gave Toyota a sweep of the top two spots in his first start at Irwindale. Jonathon Gomez was third, followed by Luis Martinez Jr., Johnny Borneman, action sports star Travis Pastrana, Derek Thorn, Travis Motley, Moses Smith and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Steve Wallace.(Associated Press/ESPN)(1-30-2011)

Kevin Swindell wins Chili Bowl: It took 25 years for a back-to-back winner to happen at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire, and it was only fitting that it was a Swindell to do it on the event�s Silver Anniversary. [part time Nationwide Series driver] Kevin Swindell added a Silver Driller to his trophy case that will likely sit beside the Golden Driller he won in 2010, as he held off a late charge from his father and five-time Chili Bowl champ, Sammy, on the final lap to take the victory in the 50-lap main event. Sammy Swindell notched his third straight podium finish at the QuikTrip Center, while hard-charging New Zealander Michael Pickens overcame an early incident to charge his way back into the third spot. Native Oklahoman Jonathan Beason finished fourth after starting Saturday night in the B Main, and Bryan Clauson, who led the race�s first 12 laps, finished fifth.(Chili Bowl site)(1-17-2011)

No Daytona 500 or Nationwide races for Hornish UPDATE: Sam Hornish Jr. will not be in anything Penske-owned in Daytona. He is basically done. Penske Racing downsized not only Hornish's NASCAR Sprint Cup organization, but also its Nationwide Series crew. [Penske] cannibalized the #77 crew of Hornish and what was left of the #12 Nationwide crew to make up the best for one with Brad Keselowksi's organization, whatever they were lacking in Nationwide, but also to beef up what is now the #2 car for Keselowski for the Cup season. (Fox Sports)
BUT Brad Keselowski said on his twitter that Hornish would be his Nationwide Series teammate in 2011, driving the #12.(1-15-2011)
UPDATE: Sam Hornish Jr. will compete in at least 10 NASCAR Nationwide races this season, beginning with the DRIVEFORCOPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, team owner Roger Penske confirmed by email on Saturday. Chad Walters will serve as Hornish's crew chief. Penske's acknowledgment confirms a report earlier this week by FOXSports.com�s Jeff Hammond, who said Hornish would not return to Sprint Cup competition in a Penske car this season. Penske also verified that the #77 car's [owners points, was 30th in 2010] points will be used by Stephen Wallace, who is attempting to make his Cup debut at Daytona. Wallace, 23, currently drives the #66 Toyota for his father at Rusty Wallace Racing [in the Nationwide Series].(FoxSports), so Wallace is guaranteed making the Daytona 500.(1-15-2011)

Milka Duno to run ARCA race at Daytona: Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard�s Champion, has signed Milka Duno to run the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Duno, a driver in the IndyCar Series, will begin her foray with Sheltra Motorsports piloting the #63 Dodge Charger at the newly-repaved Daytona International Speedway for three days of ARCA Racing Series testing January 11-13. Champion crew chief, Jon Wolfe, will work with Duno throughout the test session to get her comfortable, fast and ready for the ARCA Racing Series season opener at DIS on February 12th. �I�m very excited and grateful for this opportunity to test with the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard�s Championship winning team,� said Duno. �Patrick, Jon and Brandon head a very skilled and dedicated organization and having met with them and visited their facility it is easy to see why they are the 2010 champions!� Additional information about Milka Duno�s 2011 season will also become available in the next several weeks.(Sheltra Motorsports)(1-10-2011)

J.C. France back on track: The Grand-Am Road Racing community welcomed J.C. France back with open arms on the first day of testing for the upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona. France, out of pro racing for more than a year after charges of drug possession and street racing in 2009 that were later dismissed, is one of five drivers assigned to the #9 Action Express Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype owned by Bob Johnson. France, grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., was suspended from Grand-Am competition only days before the 2009 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 45-year-old driver was arrested by Daytona Beach police that October on a variety of charges ranging from street racing, DUI and possession of crack cocaine. The case was dismissed based on a technicality introduced by France's defense team. Daytona Beach police witnessed France run a red light in Holly Hill, a different municipality. Between his arrest and dismissal of the case, France underwent rehabilitation and drug testing required by Grand-Am, which is owned by NASCAR. Once cleared of charges, he was immediately reinstated by Grand-Am.(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(1-9-2011)

Another Aussie looking to make a future in NASCAR: Andrew Hagen is helping dig tunnels under the tropical city of Brisbane, not far from where he grew up in Australia. A few weeks ago, he was living in White Lake, pursuing a dream of making it as a NASCAR driver. Hagen, 24, isn't giving up. He returned Down Under in November to see his family and make some seed money. He will be back in Michigan in the New Year to resume his racing career, competing in the Must See Racing Extreme Sprint Series, one of the fastest short-track oval series in the country. In the past Hagen drove in the Super Late Model Series at tracks like Toledo Speedway and Auto City Speedway in a car owned by Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski. Hagen said he would like to run the series again, doubling it up with his dirt and pavement sprint-car program. "It's going to get busy on the track," said Hagen, a regular in the Michigan International Speedway media room since arriving in the U.S. a couple years ago. "Every time you get behind the wheel of a racecar is valuable. You learn something different." Right now, Hagen is working 20-hour shifts under Brisbane. He drives a truck hauling dirt out of the tunnels. "It's not glamorous but the pay is great," Hagen said. "Driving a truck underground at night is a little crazy but it all helps." Hagen drove a couple of sprint-car races late in the 2010 season, one at Berlin Raceway near Grand Rapids and the other at Anderson Speedway in Indiana. He will drive next year for Don and Suellen Wilshe, owners of Wilshe Motorsports Bio-Based USA team.(Detroit Free Press)(1-1-2011)

Former Cup owner charged with fraud: Jeffrey Stec, owner of a Sprint Cup team that competed in 2005 and 2006, was charged Monday with commercial loan fraud and a money laundering conspiracy. Stec was owner of Peak Performance Motorsports, which competed in 37 Cup events, mostly with Hermie Sadler and Kevin Lepage as the drivers. The charges were filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. The owner of Peak Performance Training and Fitness Management Group, Stec allegedly engaged in a commercial loan fraud scheme to fund the purchase of a $915,000 luxury beach condo. According to the charges filed, Stec got loans of $4.39 million in 2007 and 2008 to buy property and construct three new health clubs by claiming he was owner of Fitness Management Group, which he wasn't at the time. The money was not used to build the health clubs, according to the charges, and Stec did not have sufficient liquid assets at the time to obtain the loans partly because of the "substantial funds" he had spent on the race team.(Scene Daily)(7-13-2011)

Pastrana to Make NASCAR Debut in Toyota All-Star Showdown: Motocross and rally racer-turned-budding NASCAR competitor Travis Pastrana announced Tuesday that he would be making his NASCAR debut on January 28th and 29th in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA. Pastrana will compete for the first time with his newly-formed Pastrana-Waltrip Racing team in a K&N Pro Series East car. Pastrana completed a test in a NKNPSE car at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) on Monday and Tuesday (Speed51)(12-15-2010)

Johanna Long wins Snowball Derby: Debris littered the half-mile oval one final time Sunday at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL. This time, though, no crew was about to clean it up. Pensacola teenager Johanna Long shed tears of joy after hoisting the Tom Dawson trophy to celebrate an historic victory in the 43rd annual Snowball Derby. Long became the youngest, and just the second [the first was Tammy Jo Kirk], woman to win the Derby in one of the wildest finishes short-track racing�s most prestigious event has seen. She joins Eddie Mercer (2005), Dickie Davis (1971,�73) and Wayne Niedecken Sr. (�68) as hometown heroes to find Victory Lane at the Derby. Long, led 23 laps Sunday, including the final 13. Donnie Wilson finished 2nd followed by Scott Hantz, Landon Cassill and Dennis Schoenfeld. David Stremme finished 13th, Chase Elliott 17th, Ross Kenseth 19th, David Ragan 27th out of 37 cars. More info at snowballderby.com.(12-6-2010)

Bobby Hamliton Jr. pulls gun: Race car driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. is in the middle of a controversy involving a gun. Members of a race crew said Hamilton pulled a gun on them Saturday night at the Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, TN. Anthony Walker had entered a super stock car in the race. Walker and Scott Thompson, a member of his crew, said they got into a heated argument with Hamilton, who runs the track, about whether their car was the proper weight. They said Hamilton disqualified them from the race, and Walker and Thompson wanted a refund of their entry fee. That's when Thompson says Hamilton pulled a gun out of his back pocket. "He cocked it back and started waving it around. Saying, I'll pop it, I'll pop it. I'll pop it,� Thompson said. "I've never had a gun pointed at me, and I definitely didn't like it," Thompson said.
Hamilton's story is different. He said he was going to his truck to refund the crew's entry fee, when the members of the crew followed him. "I was almost surrounded," Hamilton said. He said he felt threatened when he saw the men reach into their pockets. Hamilton said he saw that the men had pocket knives. Thompson said no one had knives or guns. Hamilton said he was well within his legal rights. "I kept watching their hands, watching their gestures, they kept getting more frustrated, about the time their hands go in their pockets, about the time they were coming out, they charged, and that's when I said, �not today, not today,�" Hamilton said. Hamilton said he lifted his shirt to show the men the gun in his pocket. That contradicts the statement he gave police. It quotes Hamilton as saying that he took the weapon out of his pocket. Walker said Hamilton had no right to point a gun at the crew. "In no way could he have felt threatened from me, because I never once told him I wanted to hit him. I never acted like I was going to hit him. I never did anything of that fashion," Walker said. Hamilton said he�s married, with a young child, and he wasn�t going to risk his life that night. "I'm going to protect my business. And I'm going to protect my life," Hamilton said. Millersville Police Chief Ronnie Williams said Hamilton does have a carry permit and that no charges were filed because it's a �he-said, she-said� situation. The chief said either side can go to before a commissioner and swear out a warrant for a private prosecution.(wsmv.com)(11-30-2010)

IRL driver - Tony Kanaan on possible NASCAR trucks future:
Q) What is the status of your discussion with Kyle Busch of racing for his NASCAR truck series team?
Tony Kannan: Right now it's just talk. I'm going to go watch the race in Homestead. But obviously, I'm still trying to get something in IndyCar. That's where I have been all my life. I've been in talks with a lot of teams, but financially it's a very difficult situation for everybody. A lot of teams don't even have the budget for a full car, forget about paying me. So I've got to explore all my options. Me and Kyle know each other because we shared the same sponsor (Mars) and did a lot of the same functions. He has his own truck team and doesn't do all the races, so he called me up and I said, "Why not? Let's talk." People are making a big deal like I am going there already. Well, I've got to listen to anybody. Right now I don't have a deal. If I did I would have said 'no'. It's still baby steps. Right now I don't think he even has the sponsorship to run it, as well. You need to put all the ideas together. When did he call, because originally 2005 IndyCar series champion Dan Wheldon had been linked to that supposed opening? Two weeks ago. He's probably talking to other people as well, not just me. He's looking for a driver to do seven or eight races that he's not going to do.
Q) So there's been no formal offer?
Tony Kannan: No, not even talk of doing a test or anything. It was a friendly phone call. "Come over. Come watch it. Maybe then we'll sit down." And it wouldn't be a full-time job unless he can find a sponsor to put trucks out there and it would be financially worth it for him to run a full season. I can't say that right now.(Jamestown)(11-13-2010)

Wheldon to NASCAR rumor returns: from the Indianapolis Star 'Ask the Expert' column:
Q) As a huge fan of Dan Wheldon, I have been extremely concerned as to his future plans. Have you heard any directions as to his future plans?
Curt Cavin Answer: "I�m told he has explored an opportunity in NASCAR�s Camping World Truck Series � with Kyle Busch�s team � and I have said for weeks that his options in IndyCar are limited at best. I�m sure he feels otherwise about his ability to remain in IndyCar."(Indianapolis Star)(11-11-2010)

Travis Pastrana heading to NASCAR? many reports out there that Travis Pastrana will leave Subaru Rally Team USA and head to NASCAR, supposedly siging with Michael Waltrip Racing / Diamond Waltrip Racing, supposedly running either the NASCAR K&N Racing Series or Nationwide Series in 2011. Supposedly Pastrana posted an image on his Twitter [but has since removed it] and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday. A few sites reporting this 'news' include: CBS Sports, NASCAR Examiner, AutoBlog.com [with an image of the car], SpeedFreaks and AutoWeekRacing.(11-10-2010)

Villeneuve will focus on finding NASCAR ride: Jacques Villeneuve has put an end to his quest to return to Formula One. The 1997 series champion said on Thursday that he will not pursue any more F1 opportunities after his partnership with Italian-based Durango failed to earn a spot on the grid for the 2011 season. Instead he's decided to turn his attention to his budding NASCAR career. "All the other stuff we're doing took to the back burner, like NASCAR. I think it's time to just focus on one thing." Villeneuve has driven intermittently for Braun Racing in NASCAR at both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series levels the past four seasons. He's yet to win a top-level stock car race, but has three top 10 finishes in the Nationwide Series. He came close to earning a podium at the Bucyrus 200 this season when he was running second with two laps to go until a mechanical failure dropped him to 25th. "Last week I was in Australia doing a V8 race and that was interesting, but right now my focus is on NASCAR."(National Post)(10-30-2010)

McReynolds to make NNS debut: Brandon McReynolds will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) debut this Saturday at Gateway International Raceway with Team 42 Racing. The 19-year-old driver will make his entrance in the NASCAR ranks piloting the #42 Dodge in the 5 Hour Energy 250. "I am excited for this opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series," McReynolds said. "I grew up in the NASCAR garages, so it is thrilling to be able to compete this weekend at Gateway. I'm honored to have opportunity to compete against the best in the sport. I have to thank Eddie Smith and everyone at Team 42 Racing for their support. It means everything to me to have the shot to compete in the Nationwide Series. " McReynolds is the son of Larry McReynolds, two-time Daytona 500 winning crew chief with Davey Allison and Dale Earnhardt, and current NASCAR TV analyst on SPEED, Fox Sports and TNT. The young driver spent his childhood at the track with his father and continues to make a name for himself in the racing industry. This season, McReynolds competed in the UARA Series and clenched two wins, both at the historic Rockingham Speedway. Also in the 2010 season, McReynolds competed in select events in the ARCA Racing Series.(activ8 communications)(10-19-2010)

Latest on Shane Hmiel's condition: Shane Hmiel, banned for life from NASCAR in 2006 after failing three drug tests, was critically injured Saturday night during qualifying for the U.S. Auto Racing Club's Silver Crown race at Terre Haute Action Track. USAC said the 30-year-old Hmiel, from Pleasant Garden, N.C., was airlifted to Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital, where he was in critical condition with head injuries. The Tribune-Star of Terre Haute reported that Hmiel's #17 Silver Crown car slammed into the outside wall between the third and fourth turns and rolled over several times, damaging the protective roll cage. "We are very concerned about Shane and offer our resources and our support to his family during this time of healing," USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said. Hmiel's father, Steve, is director of competition for NASCAR's Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The Sumar Classic went on as scheduled, with Levi Jones winning the race.(ESPN/AP)(10-10-2010)
UPDATE: USAC issued a new release on Shane Hmiel's condition on Sunday. It stated that he remains in critical but stable condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. It states that Hmiel suffered fractures of the neck and back and is in the hospital's intensive care unit awaiting surgery expected sometime in the next 24 hours. According to the release: Steve Hmiel says his son has a "long road to recovery'' and is quick to thank all the fans and friends who offered their concerns and prayers in the hours following the accident. Also in the release: USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller said: "We are optimistic for Shane's recovery. We will monitor Shane's hospitalization adn will provide updates on his progress.''(Virginian Pilot)(10-10-2010)
Latest Update: from Hmiel's Road to Recovery Facebook page: had a little bumpy road nothing to be too alarmed about first surgery got postponed due to irregular heartbeat nothing uncommon then we had some build up of yuck in lungs they they removed breathing much smoother and easier has slight fever not uncommon resting.(10-16-2010)

NHRA Driver Considering a NASCAR try: Antron Brown admitted he'd be interested in NASCAR during lunch last week at the Charlotte Motor Speedway's Speedway Club, in town to promote this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at the zMax Dragway [in Concord]. Brown is the only racer to ever make a successful jump from Pro Stock Bikes to Top Fuel. He's led the point standings in both divisions, winning 16 races on the bike and, so far, eight in the dragster. He's also ridden shotgun with the USAF Thunderbirds, set sprinting records at New Jersey's Mercer College, ran a 100-meter dash fast enough to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials, hangs out with NFL players and, as the folks at zMax Dragway have documented, he can do just about anything in four seconds.
When Randy Moss became a Truck series team owner in mid-2008, he started chatting up Brown about the possibility of testing one of his team's Toyota Tundras. "Randy's serious about it. But we just haven't been able to get the schedules synced up. We chatted about it over the winter, but once the season gets going I'm all over the place, and now Randy's a little busy too, you know?"
"I think anyone would like to give oval racing a shot. I follow NASCAR and I also love to go over to Indianapolis to the see the Indy Cars. But I'm still a young guy and I have things I need to accomplish over here first." Brown is a sponsor's dream. He's a smart, good-looking racer who makes a memorable point nearly every time he opens his mouth, a la Jeff Burton. His stick-and-ball sports background, along with his skin color (which he has to be coaxed into talking about) crosses into demographics that racing has long struggled to reach. And no one works harder along the autograph ropes of Nitro Alley, citing the examples set by his childhood hero, Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, who once went out of his way to spend time with young Antron. The general consensus among motorsport marketers is that Brown could become a media superstar if given the right stage. Some believe that stage exists only in NASCAR. Brown is not one of those people. "I love where I am. I grew up at the dragstrip with my father and my uncle (who still compete in the NHRA's Division 1 Top Sportsman class). I like where the NHRA is right now. And I like where they are headed."(ESPN)(9-17-2010)

Wimmer's house burns down: The family known in Wausau for its racing roots suffers the loss of its home in Rib Mountain. Ron and Joan Wimmer's home on Hummingbird Road was destroyed by fire. The Rib Mountain deputy fire chief says the fire likely started in the garage a little after 4pm. Tuesday at the Wimmer's home. It destroyed a car inside, and quickly spread to the rest of the house, damaging another car parked outside. "The garage appears to be a total loss. The house, we're going to try and get in and get some personal affects," said Matt Savage, the Rib Mountain Deputy Fire Chief. Three people were inside. And escaped safely. One was treated for smoke inhalation, and released. Two dogs were also rescued. The source of the fire is still being speculated. The house sits on ten acres, and has several nearby buildings. Firefighters contained the fire to the house and close trees. Savage said the concern of the fire spreading beyond the house was minimal but was an issue. Ron and his son, Scott, own State Park Speedway. This Thursday marks the annual Larry Detjens race at State Park Speedway. Scott races in NASCAR'S Nationwide series. His brother, Chris, competes on the ASA circuit.(waow.com)(7-28-2010)

Another Motorcycler heads to NASCAR: Brian Deegan, the pioneering innovator of Freestyle Motocross and the most decorated Freestyle Motocross rider in X Games history, is going to bring his brand of over-the-edge racing to the world of NASCAR stock car racing. In doing so, Brian brings an entirely new audience to NASCAR -- millions of young, insanely loyal Deegan fans who idolize this hard-driving iconic figure. Deegan announced at Charlotte Motor Speedway that he will be joining the NTS Motorsports driver development program with the objective of moving through the ranks of NASCAR to Sprint Cup as quickly as possible. Deegan will become part of a two-car program that NTS fields, along with current driver Brennan Newberry.(PR at ESPN)
AND Deegan will begin his NASCAR career in June at Irwindale Speedway in the Super Late Model race. He will remain in late models with a goal of moving up to the Camping World West Series by the Phoenix race in November. After that, the timetables are off and it comes down to comfort level.(nascar.com)(5-29-2010)

Larry Mac's & Elliott's sons win at the Rock: Brandon McReynolds, son of championship crew chief and TV commentator Larry McReynolds, dominated the UARA STARS 75 Saturday morning at Rockingham Speeday. "It was fun" quipped McReynolds after the race. "We got to move around a lot. We were sliding around - it was just how it played out." Asked about running close with runner-up Paddy Rodenbeck, McReynolds added: "he gave me all the room in the world. I'd be about the stupidest 18-year-old in the world if I didn't talk to Larry McReynolds," joked Brandon after a question about how often he talks with his father. Racing returns to the one-mile Rockingham Speedway on October 9, 2010 with the running of the ARCA American 200.(Rockingham Speedway)(5-15-2010)
AND Chase Elliott, son of #21-Bill Elliott, dominated the Sunoco National Tour race Friday afternoon at "The Rock" en route to a victory in his first start at the track. In fact, it was his first start at a track over a half-mile in length. "Pacing myself was the big thing," Chase Elliott said. "This is a very long race for these kind of cars. The biggest thing was to have a set of tires at the end. Everyone who put a hand on this car did a great job getting ready to come race here." Chase Elliott led all 100 laps of the event. "He ran well today," said Bill Elliott, outside of victory lane. "He has a good understanding of what it takes to go fast here."(Rockingham Speedway)(5-15-2010)

Who's Your Daddy settle's lawsuite with Greg Sacks: Who's Your Daddy, Inc. has entered into a Settlement Agreement with Sacks Motor Sports Inc. and [former NASCAR Driver] Greg Sacks, to mitigate $1.8 million in debt. In total over the last 90 days the Company's management has compromised over $3,296,000 in debt prior to liquidating 2,044,428 of common stock provided by two former officers. The Company will immediately begin the process of changing its corporate name to FITT Energy, Inc. and will apply for a new trading symbol to properly reflect its innovative marketing direction. See Full article at marketwatch.com.(4-2-2010)

Rahal to look for NASCAR ride: IndyCar driver Graham Rahal said the chances of participating in the IndyCar season opener next month in Sao Paulo, Brazil are "zero," leading him to meet next week with NASCAR officials to see if there's something available for him in stock car racing. "Every minute going by and by seems to cause more of a concern," Rahal said Tuesday from his home outside Columbus, Ohio. "I should be there" [testing IndyCar at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama]. Rahal, 21, son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, joined the free agent market late in the offseason after parting with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing when McDonald's withdrew its sponsorship to focus on the Olympics.(Indianapolis Star)(2-26-2010)
UPDATE: Graham Rahal figures by the time the IZOD IndyCar Series begins March 14 in Brazil, he will have essentially earned an advanced degree in marketing and promotion. What the 21-year-old really wants, however, is a job behind the wheel of a race car -- preferably a car without fenders. "I know there have been a lot of NASCAR rumors, but right now my focus is 100 percent on being in the IndyCar Series,'' Rahal told FanHouse this weekend. "I'm not just an IndyCar driver, but very much a fan of the sport and to make a big switch like that takes time to consider. As of this second, everything I have going is for IndyCar.'' So instead of joining Danica Patrick in the stock car ranks -- even as a part-time gig -- Rahal has been visiting America's corporate boardrooms hoping to attract financial backing for the 2010 IndyCar season. The timing, however, couldn't be worse.(Motorsports FanHouse)(3-3-2010)

Driver from India hopes to run NASCAR: Starbeast Motorsports wants to be a startup team plucking talent from around-the-world to tap into the interest of the international market. In doing so they�ve entered a technical alliance with JTG-Daughtery [#47 Toyota], which is, itself, aligned with Michael Waltrip Racing [#00, #55, #56 Toyota's]. Last weekend at the ARCA test at Daytona International Speedway, Starbeast imported two stars of its� own from Asia. Narain Karthikeyan from India and Darryl O�Young from Hong Kong. Narain Karthikeyan, a veteran of Formula One, the 24 Hours of LeMans (which feels to him like a single seater) and A1GP, had a blast adapting to the closed cockpit cars on Daytona International Speedway�s high banks. The first shock was climbing in through the window to get seated. �The weird thing, it was difficult getting into the car -- literally. Putting your legs inside the car and twisting your body. A couple of times I had my helmet on and it got battered and scratched. When we come here it�s a daunting task you have to start from scratch,� said Narain. �The only thing in common (to his experience) is the high speeds. You need to get a good feel of the car, honestly I think after three for laps I was okay and I got the hang of it. It�s quite bumpy and the car moves around a lot.� He said adding the most important aspect is �leeping it flat and hang on to it.� He added �there�s no downforce and it�s comparatively slow,� to the cars he�s driven. He�s hoping to get a shot at a NASCAR-type ride saying it�s �one of the options for next year if these guys can put it together. I�d love to have a go at it.(Auto123.com)(12-27-2009)

Duno to test ARCA car for Braun Racing: [Indy car driver] Milka Duno will make her stock car debut during the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test at Daytona International Speedway December 18, 19 and 20, 2009. Milka will participate in the test behind the wheel of Braun Racing's #90 Toyota. While no stranger to the Daytona Beach, FL-based track, this will be Milka's first opportunity to go around the 2.5-mile tri-oval in a metal-skinned stock car. Her #90 Camry will have less downforce than either the IndyCar Series cars she's driven the past three seasons, or the Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes that she competed in for the three seasons before that. With a second-place finish in 2007, Milka holds the record for the highest finish ever by a female driver in the 45-year history of the 24 Hours of Daytona at Daytona International Speedway. Starting with her four-win season in the American Le Mans Series in 2001 and continuing through her thee-win Rolex Series years, Milka has been offered opportunities to compete in stock cars and in the NASCAR Series virtually every season since.(Braun Racing PR)(12-12-2009)

F1 Drivers check out NASCAR at Homestead: Sebastian Vettel believes Formula 1 can learn something from NASCAR after making a visit to the Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead. The world championship runner up made his first visit to a NASCAR race courtesy of Red Bull, and got to spend some time with the team's drivers and learn about the series and its appeal in America. Vettel said F1 should take note of the spectacle NASCAR provides for its fans. "Here in NASCAR you have more than 100.000 people coming to see the races, it's always a big show," said Vettel. "So I think there's a lot of things we can learn because sometimes that's what people complain about, that Formula 1 is not exciting enough. Obviously the cars are very different, so it depends on what you like, but still if you're interested in motorsports, I think you can be very passionate about Formula 1, but I think for the show there are things we can learn. "It's always a huge crowd, always packed and I think this is something we can learn in Europe, to make it more interesting for that many people." The German admits to being curious about driving a stock car on an oval, and would like to have the chance to test one day, while stressing that his focus is on F1 for the forseeable future. "To have a try probably yes [I would like to], and to see how it is on the oval," said Vettel. "Speaking to Juan and other drivers, obviously the cars are much heavier, lazier, there's a lot more movement, whereas a Formula 1 car is very sharp and reactive and everything happens very fast - you have to catch the car quickly. Here you're sliding and making a lot of movements with the steering wheel. To have a try in a test would be nice." As well as Vettel, former McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen also visited Homestead this weekend as a guest of Penske Racing.(Autosport)(11-23-2009)

James Hylton injured in ARCA race: ARCA RE/MAX Series driver James Hylton, who was transported to a local hospital following an on-track incident on lap 147 in Sunday's American 200, has been treated and released as of Sunday evening. Hylton's family indicated that the veteran driver was diagnosed with an ankle injury.(ARCA Racing)(10-12-2009)

Franchitti wins IRL title: Dario Franchitti's return to IndyCar racing couldn't have gone better. He's the IRL champion once again. Franchitti successfully emerged from one of the closest points races in series history Saturday, winning the season-ending Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first caution-free IRL race ever. The 2007 champion - who skipped 2008 to explore NASCAR [running the #40 for Chip Ganassi until the merger with DEI when the team closed] - held off Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon and Penske Racing's Ryan Briscoe.(Associated Press)(10-10-2009)

Another F1 Driver looking to move to NASCAR: Nelson Piquet Jr., who became the source of a recent scandal known as �crash-gate�, will be testing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with an eye towards a future in NASCAR�s Sprint Cup Series with in two years. Piquet Jr., will get behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing on October 12th [at Rockingham, NC]. He is expected in the team�s Mooresville, NC shop Monday for a seat fitting. The Renault F1 team fired the 23-year-old Brazilian earlier this season for underperformance. Shortly after details emerged that Piquet had been ordered to cause a crash in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that allowed his teammate Fernando Alonso to win. After an investigation and hearing, Formula One�s governing body, the FIA, held a hearing and banned Renault F1�s team boss Flavio Briatore for life and the team�s technical engineer Pat Symonds for five years. They also placed the team on a �suspended ban� for two years. Piquet Jr., was given immunity from sanctions in exchange for his testimony and many in Formula One now consider the son of two time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet to be �damaged goods�.(SPEEDtv)(10-4-2009)

Cobb hopes to race Sprint Cup: Jennifer Jo Cobb will be attempting her 4th NASCAR Nationwide Series start as well as her 8th ARCA Re/Max Series start at her hometown track, the Kansas Speedway, this week. Cobb�s ultimate goal is to be the first woman competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in over 8 years. For now, she will focus on the next step to that lofty goal in this week�s Kansas Lottery 150 scheduled for Thursday, October 1 and the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday, October 3. Capitol Federal Savings will serve as the primary sponsor on Cobb�s #79 CapFed.com Dodge,for team owner Derrike Cope, Inc. with Rick Markle Racing. Cobb will have two teammates, owner/driver, Derrike Cope and the inaugural Kansas Speedway race pole sitter, Kevin Lepage. Cobb works as one of the instructors for the Richard Petty Driving Experience and has logged thousands of laps at Kansas Speedway. Cobb has developed Driver Boutique; her own clothing line for female motorsports fans and www.DrivenMale.com a new clothing line for male race fans.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(10-1-2009)

F1 driver to test for Waltrip?: Former F1 driver, Miko Salo, supposedly will test for Michael Waltrip Racing in one of the team's Toyota Camry Sprint Cup cars at an undisclosed venue at some point in November. The 42-year-old former grand prix driver has been racing in sportscars since the end of his Formula 1 career in 2002 and won the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series in 2007. He has had a seat fitting with Michael Waltrip Racing. "It will be great to get to test a NASCAR at last," Salo told this week's AUTOSPORT magazine. "After two years of trying, I finally met the person who could make it happen. Racing sportscars in the US has definitely helped. My hope next year is that I can do some races in Nationwide, maybe even a full season - but I understand that I may have to raise some money to make it happen."(Autosport)(10-2-2009)

NHL star retires; wants NASCAR career now: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois retired Thursday, ending his 18-year NHL career with plans to drive on NASCAR's Canadian series. The 38-year-old Brisebois spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens, retiring in third place on the franchise list for games by a defenseman (896), fourth for goals by a defenseman (87) and fifth in points by a defenseman (371). On March 14, he became the 11th player to play 1,000 games for the Canadiens. Brisebois said he's seeking sponsors to fund the next phase of his career, as a driver in NASCAR's Canadian Tire Series. "It's a great team sport, like hockey," Brisebois said of auto racing. "Your mechanic is kind of like your coach, and there's a game plan, race strategy, so it's a bit like a hockey team. I'm going to try and go as far as I can in auto racing. I'd love to be able to move on to the Nationwide or Sprint series, but it's going to be very tough. Another dream of mine would be to do the 24 hours of Le Mans."(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(9-25-2009)