#25 Team Past News and Rumors
Past 2007 News

  • #25 to run the '57 Chevy scheme at MIS: This weekend Casey Mears' #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy will feature a special paint scheme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Chevrolet, one of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history. The scheme will include decals replicating the iconic 1957 car design. In addition to the '57 Chevy paint scheme, Mears #25 Chevy will also recognize Sundance Chevrolet of Grand Ledge, Mich., on its deck lid this weekend. As a co-primary sponsor on the #25 Chevy, GMAC recognizes outstanding GM dealerships throughout the NASCAR season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), approx 10-12 Chevy's are scheduled to run the '57 Scheme, see my Paint Scheme Gallery Chart for the most recent list and some images.(8-15-2007)

  • Hendrick re-signs with GM: Hendrick Motorsports has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with General Motors, keeping HMS in Chevrolets through 2012. "We're done," team owner Rick Hendrick said after Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International. "We haven't signed it, but we've verbally agreed." GM is in the last year of all of its contracts with teams in the Nextel Cup series. Re-signing HMS was key, particularly with speculation that Joe Gibbs Racing may be leaving for Toyota. Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., GM's other top teams, remain in negotiations but are expected to re-sign. Two of the top three owners in Chevrolet expect Joe Gibbs Racing to move to Toyota in 2008. "I'd say they're gone," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who has agreed to a five-year deal with General Motors. Richard Childress Racing owner Richard Childress said there are enough signs to believe that JGR will make the jump, which he says will take Toyota to another level. "It's pretty well written in stone," he said on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Childress is so convinced JGR will bolt that he questions whether the organization should be included in Thursday's key partners' meeting at GM's headquarters in Detroit. "No, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them there," he said. "If the [other Chevrolet] teams have a feeling they're going to be there, we're not going to discuss openly with them in a room things we normally would discuss openly. You're sitting there working on stuff for next year and you don't want them to take that and help out the competition."(ESPN.com)(8-13-2007)

  • Eury Sr. talks about HMS/JRM merger: Tony Eury Sr, Director of Competition at JR Motorsports, talked with Claire B. Lang on XM Satellite Radio Tuesday about the developments in the JR Motorsports Busch operation this week. He told her that he and the JR Motorsports team visited the team at Hendrick Motorsports yesterday. JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports have merged their Busch operations and Eury told CBL he was amazed by what he saw. Eury Sr. said: "I had not actually been through Hendrick Motorsports until yesterday and I took my first tour through there yesterday and we all sat down and kind of tried to address this thing out how it's going to happen you know how it's going to work. Kelly (Earnhardt Elledge) and myself and Dale Junior and Rick (Hendrick) and Marshall (Carlson) and Doug Duchardt you know and Ken House and everybody thats involved in this deal we all just trying to figure out how we're going to make this thing work and no bumps in the road. And I actually took my first tour yesterday with Kelley through Hendrick Motorsports and I really was amazed at what I seen you know. I actually made a phone call to Tony Jr last night after I got back and told him we need to pat ourselves on the back if we ever outran a Hendrick Motorsports because it's one heck of a race shop no doubt about it.
    Claire B. : What was it that they had that you were so impressed with or that you saw?
    "They are just swarmed with engineering help I mean every building you go in is engineered very well they just have the seven post rig and they have just all kinds of engineering stuff to work with. They have the...the engine shop is just amazing the machine and equipment the CNC stuff thats running in there. You know it's it's just really amazing to walk in there and see so much stuff going on and they build a lot of carbon fiber seats for a lot of the drivers over there, they have a carbon shop. It was really just amazing to walk through there and see how much he has accomplished, you know, in his racing career because he has really built a really nice place over there.(XM Radio)(8-1-2007)

  • Mears Team Captures First Pit Crew Challenge Win: Casey Mears' over-the-wall crew captured its first Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win of the season by taking top honors in Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. The #25 National Guard/GMAC team spent 132.049 seconds on pit lane. The crew will be awarded $11,000 by Checkers/Rally's for winning the weekly competition. Mears' crew is the 10th different team to win the pit crew competition this season. The #25 Hendrick Motorsports team is made up of: Jason Hunt (jackman), Ben Fischbeck (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Chuck Efaw (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (eighth-man). The team's pit crew coach is Mark Mauldin.
    At the halfway mark of the 2007 Nextel Cup season, Mark Martin's/Regan Smith's #01 crew leads the season-long Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with four wins. Jeff Gordon's and Denny Hamlin's crews are second with three wins each. To date, Checkers/Rally's has paid out $198,000 to Nextel Cup pit crews. An $111,150 prize will be presented to the pit crew team with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule. To win the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge, teams are required to finish on the lead lap while spending the least amount of time on pit road. Checkers/Rally's is in its third season as title sponsor for the Pit Crew Challenge. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(7-12-2007)

  • Tire Specialist to take time off...to have baby: As tire specialist for the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy team, Lisa Smokstad is a recognizable face in the Nextel Cup Series garage and one of only a handful of women working on the competition side of the sport. The native of Shakopee, Minn., has worked for Hendrick Motorsports since 1999, but soon she'll be taking a hiatus from air-pressure gauges and tire-wear trends to take on the role of new mom. Smokstad, who joined the #25 team in 2005, and husband Craig, car chief for the #83 team, are expecting their first child in early September. The Smokstads anticipate that this weekend or next will be their last at the track together until the baby is born.(HMS PR)(7-5-2007)

  • Mears' share #25: In 1995, Roger Mears made his first foray into the NASCAR world and entered four Craftsman Truck Series races. In three of those races, his truck ran with a number borrowed from team owner Rick Hendrick. As fate would have it, that number was 25. Same as his son Casey drives now, for Rick Hendrick. Said Roger, "Rick (Hendrick) let us use that number when I was driving the Budweiser truck for a few races, and now it seems like it must have been a hint at the future. It's just a neat piece of history to have, and hopefully it's a little bit of good luck."(HMS PR)(6-12-2007)

  • Mears wins the Coca Cola 600: #25-Casey Mears won the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his 1st ever Nextel Cup Series win in his 156th career start. The race came down to fuel mileage and a few drivers/teams took the chance to finish well and hope for no cautions in the last 60 laps and there were none. Finishing 2nd was #18-J.J. Yeley for his first ever top-5 finish, 3rd was #45-Kyle Petty for his first top-5 since Sept 21, 1997 at Dover. 4th was #41-Redd Sorenson and 5th was #83-Brian Vickers which is Toyota's first ever top-5 finish. The rest of the top 10 were #20-Stewart, #88-Rudd, #8-Earnhardt Jr., #11-Hamlin and #48-Johnson. #24-Jeff Gordon crashed out early and finished 41st, so his points lead decreases to 132 over Johnson. Hendrick Motorsports now has 9 wins in the 12 races this season. There were 13 cautions for 61 laps and 15 drivers lead the race with 29 lead changes.
    Race Results on my Charlotte Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Charlotte page
    Race Rundown: see my Charlotte Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(5-27-2007)

  • Special scheme for Mears in Coke 600:: Casey Mears'#25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevy also will feature a special paint scheme this weekend as part of the American Heroes Memorial Day salute to the Armed Forces. The tribute, which includes the cars of eight Nextel Cup and two Busch Series drivers, is part of a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need. The #25 Chevy features an ACU pattern (camouflage) paint scheme with the names of National Guard soldiers who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror displayed on the car's deck lid. One of those names holds special significance for Jimmy "Biscuit" Parrott, who provides pit support and serves as the backup truck driver for the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series team. Parrott's older brother, Michael C. Parrott, was killed in action on Sept. 15, 2005, while serving with the National Guard in Iraq. The late Parrott, who made his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., will be recognized on Mears' car during Sunday's race.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(5-27-2007)

  • Dale Jr. leans toward Hendrick? UPDATE denied: The efforts to sign #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a NASCAR driving contract for 2008 and beyond has reached a critical point, and the top two teams on Earnhardt’s list are the Chevrolet teams owned by Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick, according to men familiar with the negotiations. Earnhardt today is leaning toward a deal with Hendrick [NOTE: where would Earnhardt go? HMS has four Cup teams and all three drivers signed for a couple more years, unless some sort of deal with Haas CNC Racing or Ginn Racing would be worked out], largely because of Hendrick’s very strong engine program, sources here said yesterday. Earnhardt and veteran crew chief Tony Eury Jr., his cousin and close confidante as well as the man who has led him to many of his 17 Cup victories, have talked with both the Hendrick and Childress camps in recent weeks about the positives and negatives each team owner would have to offer, sources said yesterday. And Eury will have a major voice in the decision, because Earnhardt’s primary goal now, at age 32, is to win a championship.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-9-2007)
    UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Marshall Carlson told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday that his team is fully stocked with drivers for 2008 and beyond, and that he has not spoken with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., about the possibility of joining the Hendrick stable.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(5-9-2007)

  • Mears' HANS device cracked after Talladega wreck: #25-Casey Mears says that his HANS Device suffered a minor crack in a crash last week at Talladega. Mears said he didn't see exactly how it was cracked, but he said that it was in the center area as if the left strap had been tugged hard. Mears wasn't too concerned with the cracks. "I mean in a hit like that it probably should have. It was hard," he said. He says that the device might still have been safe, but that he and his team opted to go with a new one this week. (SceneDaily.com)(5-5-2007)

  • Mears gives Dad a nice birthday present: Roger Mears, father of #25-Casey Mears, drives his son's motor coach from race to race during the NASCAR season and is a familiar face at the track. However, the former off-road racer won't be so easy to find this weekend in Martinsville. Roger Mears, who celebrated his 60th birthday last Saturday, will be at the Barrett-Jackson auction -- also known as the "World's Greatest Collector Car Event" -- in Palm Beach, Fla., from March 28 to April 1. The younger Mears, driver of the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, arranged for his father to attend the event as a birthday present and even slipped a blank check in with the ticket.(Hendrick Motorsports)(3-28-2007)

  • Hendrick going for 200th NASCAR win: Car owner Rick Hendrick now has 199 combined NASCAR victories: 151 at the NEXTEL Cup level, 23 in the Busch Series and 25 in the Craftsman Truck Series. The total includes a 1983 Busch Series win by the late Dale Earnhardt at Lowe's Motor Speedway in a car co-owned by Hendrick and Robert Gee.(HMS PR)(3-22-2007)

  • Mears to run run Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Hero of the Year" scheme at California: This weekend at California Speedway, Staff Sgt. Quinton D. Martin of Gulfport, Miss., will have his image displayed on the hood of the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy as the winner of the first-ever National Guard "Hero of the Year" award sponsored by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Martin served in Iraq with the 1,108th Aviation Support Detachment and has been a member of the National Guard for 24 years. For more information about the "Heroes of the Year" campaign, visit www.supporttheguard.com.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see the full Jack Hewitt PR at jacksonhewitt.com(2-22-2007)

  • Grubb named crew chief of #25 Chevy: Hendrick Motorsports named Darian Grubb crew chief of the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevys driven by Casey Mears in the Nextel Cup Series. The 31-year-old Grubb will lead the team into the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. "Darian is one of the most respected voices in our organization and has proven to be a terrific leader," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "He and Casey represent an exciting new combination for the #25 team, its sponsors and its fans." Grubb, who holds a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, joined Hendrick Motorsports from Petty Enterprises in January 2003, assuming the role of team engineer for the #48 Chevys led by crew chief Chad Knaus. A native of Floyd, Va., Grubb was interim crew chief during the first four races of the #48 team's 2006 campaign, leading driver Jimmie Johnson to a pair of victories [including the Daytona 500], one runner-up finish and a sixth-place effort. Grubb assumes the duties of Lance McGrew, who will remain with Hendrick Motorsports in a leadership role.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-5-2007)

  • Another Hero chosen in Jackson Hewitt National Guard promotion: Sergeant First Class (SFC) Todd M. Tilkens, of Bravo Company 2/127th in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has been chosen as an honoree in the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" campaign. Sponsored by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax preparation, this year-long campaign recognized National Guard soldiers, families and even employers around the country who have made a difference in their states or on foreign shores. In his nearly twenty years of working with the National Guard, SFC Tilkens has held a variety of duties within the community and abroad. He has recently returned home from Kuwait, where he assisted in escorting convoys as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following the 9-11 attacks, he volunteered at the local airport working with security teams. On a local level, he has made the streets of Green Bay safer for trick-or-treating children as a volunteer working to patrol neighborhoods on Halloween. When not on active duty, he works for Moore Wallace, an RR Donnelley Company, as a printing press operator. He lives in Green Bay with his wife, Teresa, who nominated him, and his children.
    Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, in partnership with the Army National Guard, launched the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" campaign in early 2006 as a unique opportunity for people across the county to nominate a loved one, friend or neighbor who serves in the Army National Guard. This program recognizes the efforts of the thousands of Guardsmen and women - as well as families and employers - who are making a difference within our communities and abroad.
    Ten monthly honorees have been chosen, and Jackson Hewitt will soon announce the grand prize winner, who will have the opportunity of a lifetime - to have their image featured on a NASCAR race car [supposedly #16 Greg Biffle as seen on supporttheguard.com but National Guard is now on the #25 and Casey Mears] that will be raced at a 2007 Nextel Cup Series Race in February [that would be Daytona or California]. This is the first time that a non-celebrity's image will be featured on a NASCAR race car. In addition to spotlighting soldiers, the campaign also recognized families and employers who show exceptional support for, and service to, the core mission and values of the National Guard. To view the soldiers, families and employers who have been nominated for their dedication to and support of the National Guard's mission, visit www.supporttheguard.com. In each case, monthly nominees were selected based on service to their community, their support of the values of the National Guard and the unique ways they have enhanced their lives and the lives of those around them through their affiliation with the Guard.(Yahoo Biz)(1-21-2007)

  • Delphi to announce NASCAR plans at open house in Vegas UPDATE: Delphi Corp. will host a media open house on Monday, Jan. 8 from 3 - 5 p.m. at its exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center (#Exhibit 5206). Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Electronics & Safety and Francisco (Frank) A. Ordonez, president, Delphi Products & Service Solutions, will host the reception. Also hosting is: NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. Kyle will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans. Along with Kellogg's, Delphi was a major associate sponsor of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Busch during the past NASCAR season. Delphi will announce its 2007 sponsorship at the open house. During the event, a host of Delphi subject matter experts will be available for interviews and to demonstrate the new technologies.(Yahoo Biz)(12-21-2006)
    UPDATE: Delphi Product & Service Solutions announced today at a media reception held at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nev., that it will continue its major associate sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2007 NASCAR season. Nextel Cup Series driver Kyle Busch personally attended the reception to help kick-off yet another year with Delphi. An associate sponsor of all 2007 Hendrick Motorsports entries, Delphi will also be the primary sponsor of Busch's #5 Chevy in the Busch Series for five races. Delphi sponsored events in the Busch Series will include Las Vegas (March 10), Talladega (April 28), Daytona (July 6), Chicago (July 14), and Texas (Nov. 3). In addition, Delphi will receive preferred logo placement on both the #5 Chevy driven by Busch and the #25 Chevy of Casey Mears in select 2007 Nextel Cup Series races.(Yahoo Biz)(1-8-2007)

  • New Sponsor for the #25? hearing that Labor Ready will sponsor the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears in some form in 2007.(1-5-2007)

  • New Driver for Hendrick Motorsports? Landon Cassill UPDATE: The Gazette [of Cedar Rapids Iowa] is reporting: Landon Cassill, a 17-year-old senior at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, has signed a contract to drive for NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports, he told The Gazette today [1/2/2007]. Cassill joins a powerhouse race team that includes Nextel Cup champions #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon, as well as #5-Kyle Busch [and #25-Casey Mears]. "I feel really, really honored to be part of this organization," Cassill said. "I'm honored to be in such an elite group." it says to "See more of this story in Wednesday's Gazette."(The Gazette)
    AND Landon will move to North Carolina in March to begin working full time for Hendrick Motorsports.(kcrg.com), of note: Cassill can't drive in the NASCAR Cup, Busch or Truck series until he is 18 [July 7th] and since Hendrick Motorsports has four team in Nextel Cup [the limit], it won't be a full-time Nextel Cup ride, look for this to be a development program of some sort [ARCA, Trucks, Busch], also Cassill was part of the GM Racing Development Driver Evaluation program and made it to the final stages.(1-3-2007)
    MORE: Landon Cassill — most recently an ASA racer who surged from 30th to fourth in the October race at Iowa Speedway — will graduate high school in February and journey to Hendrick headquarters March 1, his father said. Roger Cassill said Landon has already tested cars for Hendrick, and his future role with the team will include more of that while he’s groomed as a developmental driver. Cassill said his son may test Gordon’s “Car of Tomorrow” next week. “Hendrick was really good about coming in and saying they think he’s got the talent and they are more interested in developing him rather than making a bunch of promises,” Cassill said. “If he’s not ready he’s not going to race. As soon as he’s ready, he’s going to race.”(Des Moines Register)(1-3-2007)
    UPDATE: Cassill will take part in two tests - one this month - while continuing to build a base of knowledge and experience. Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex said Cassill is the only driver with the organization other than defending Cup champion Johnson, four-time series champ Gordon, Busch and Mears. Cassill's progress toward a possible behind-the-wheel NASCAR career will be measured in baby steps. "Right now we're solely focused on seat time," Essex said.(Des Moines Register)(1-5-2007)

    Past 2006 News

  • Sponsor changes at the #25? UPDATE 2 National Guard official: hearing National Guard could end up being the sponsor, either whole or in part, of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. No word if current #25 primary sponsor, GMAC, stays as a co-sponsor or would leave the team. National Guard currently sponsors the #16 Roush Racing Ford of Greg Biffle, supposedly Subway could step up full time or be co-sponsors with Ameriquest [sponsors a slew of Roush Racing Busch cars] or 3M.(7-30-2006)
    UPDATE: been told the National Guard will move to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and will team up to co-sponsor the team with GMAC.(8-19-2006)
    UPDATE 2: Beginning in 2007, the Army National Guard will join forces with longtime Hendrick Motorsports partner GMAC to sponsor the #25 Chevry driven by Casey Mears in the Nextel Cup Series. "This is a fantastic day for our organization," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We take an enormous amount of pride in welcoming the men and women of the National Guard and continuing our time-honored relationship with GMAC. These are two incredible groups that share our vision for the #25 team and its bright future." Mears, 28, will drive the new-look #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy in the car's on-track debut this February at Daytona. "The National Guard is looking forward to joining the #25 Hendrick Motorsports team," said Col. Mike Jones, chief of the Army National Guard's Strength Maintenance Division. "NASCAR continues to be a vital component of our recruiting and retention programs, and we believe this new relationship will further enhance our involvement in the sport." GMAC's association with Hendrick Motorsports is one of the longest and most successful sponsor-team relationships in NASCAR. Headquartered in Detroit, the company joined Hendrick in 1993 and has since been featured in some form on 10 championship-winning race cars, including two as a primary sponsor. The red, white and blue #25 Chevy design will make its first public appearances during activities surrounding the Jan. 7 GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. New enlistees of the Alabama National Guard will be sworn in on the field prior to the game featuring Ohio University and the University of Southern Mississippi. For more information, visit the National Guard website at www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see an image of the paint scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(12-22-2006)

  • Hero of the Year to be announced in January, featured on a car: For the first time, a non-celebrity's image will be featured on a NASCAR race car that will be raced in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series. The national award winner will be featured on Greg Biffle's #16 NASCAR race car [or it could be #25 Casey Mears as the National Guard sponsorship will move to the #25 in 2007] and will be a VIP guest trackside at a race during the 2007 season. To nominate a hero of the National Guard, military family or employer, visit www.support theguard.com. The award is co-sponsored by the Army National Guard and Jackson Hewitt as a part of their National Guard Heroes of the Year campaign.(Biloxi Sun Herald)(12-20-2006)

  • Mears and National Guard in Turkey race: while not yet confirmed, it was reported a while back that the National Guard sponsorship would move from the #16 Greg Biffle Ford to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. It has been reported that Mears drove a sprint car at Irwindale Speedway in the Turkey Night Grand Prix and was sponsored by the National Guard and he was wearing a National Guard/GMAC Hendrick firesuit. It was recently announced that the National Guard would not return to the #16 [Ameriquest and 3M will sponsor Biffle in 2007](11-25-2006)

  • Agency honored on Vickers car at Texas: GMAC Insurance has declared Al Boenker Insurance of Fort Worth, Texas, as the winner of the GMAC Insurance Agency Pole Position promotion. As part of the grand prize, the agency will be honored with its name on the television panel of the #25 GMAC Chevy that Brian Vickers will drive in Sunday afternoon's Nextel Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-3-2006)

  • Vickers' Team Earns Pit Crew Win at Talladega: It was a double victory for Brian Vickers' #25 team Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Not only did the Hendrick Motorsports driver capture his first career Nextel Cup victory, the #25 over-the-wall crew also claimed its second win of the season in the weekly Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge. Vickers' GMAC Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road (247.112 seconds) to take top honors during the 188-lap, 500-mile race. "Having good pit stops at superspeedways are important because you always try to maintain contact with those cars you pit with in order to have a drafting partner when you leave," said crew chief Lance McGrew. "I'm really proud of the guys on the GMAC Racing team for their efforts on Sunday. Over the past several weeks, they've turned it up a notch which has helped us get some good finishes." The #25 pit crew will be awarded with the weekly $10,500 prize. In addition, Checkers/Rally's will also present the crew with the most victories at the completion of the 36-race schedule with a $100,500 bonus.
    Vickers' over-the-wall crew is made up of: Mike Moore (jackman), Jake Brzozowski (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fabian (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (windshield). The pit crew coach is Mark Mauldin. With six races remaining on the Nextel Cup Schedule, the pit crews of Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart lead the standings with four wins each. To date, Checkers/Rally's has paid out $315,000 in Nextel Cup Series prize money during this season. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(10-11-2006)

  • Bruton Smith Assigns Extra Security to Assist Brian Vickers during Bank of America 500 Week: In the aftermath of the controversial finish Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith has assigned extra security for driver Brian Vickers during this week's Bank of America 500 activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Monday, the speedway ticket office was inundated with calls from race fans angry about the finish in which Vickers initiated a wreck that took out race leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and second-place Jimmie Johnson on the final lap. "We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties," Smith said. "We will offer security escorts in and out of the speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance. We've done this in the past as well, I think the last time was for Rusty (Wallace) when he knocked Darrell (Waltrip) out of the way to win the all-star race back in 1989. We added security at his house and track the week of the Coca-Cola 600." Tickets are still available for all events and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-10-2006)

  • WOW! Wild Day at Talladega; Vickers Wins: #25-Brian Vickers won the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on the final lap after pulling out with 'teammate' #48-Jimmie Johnson to pass #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap, got into Johnson, who was along side with Earnhardt Jr, Johnson turned when he got tapped, going into Earnhardt Jr. sending both spinning, with Vickers taking the lead as the caution was thrown and the field frozen. After some time NASCAR released the results with Vickers winning his first ever Nextel Cup race after 107 starts [he won the non-points Nextel Open in the past], #9-Kahne finished 2nd, followed by #2-Busch, #17-Kenseth, #1-Truex Jr., #29-Harvick, #66-Green [1st top 10 of 2006], #6-Martin, #99-Edwards and #43-Labonte. #8-Earnhardt Jr. finished 23rd and #48-Johnson 24th a lap down and with an DNF. Points leader #31-Jeff Burton was running in the top 10 when he lost a right rear tire with 11 laps left, finishing 27th down a lap. Burton maintains the points lead, but only 6 over Kenseth and 10 over Martin. There were 63 lead changes by 23 drivers, and 6 cautions for 22 laps including a semi-big one with 10 cars that took out #24-Jeff Gordon, who finished 36th. For the most part it was a clean race with a ton of lead changes, but still had 13 cars not finishing the race.
    Race Results on my Talladega Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Talladega page
    Race Rundown: see my Talladega Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(10-8-2006)

  • Vickers not allowed in Hendrick Meetings: #25-Brian Vickers, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season to drive for Toyota's Team Red Bull, no longer takes part in the customary Hendrick race weekend team meetings. Only crew chief Lance McGrew is allowed to attend the at-the-track meetings where strategy and race setups are discussed among crew chiefs and drivers. "We all know there are few secrets in this sport and it's important to keep as many as possible," Vickers' teammate #48-Jimmie Johnson said.(Yahoo! Sports)(9-30-2006)

  • Gordon says Vickers not a teammate: Technically, Brian Vickers is Jeff Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate. Well, for nine more races at least. Certainly, Gordon doesn't seem to mind that Vickers is leaving after this season, especially not after some hard driving led to some harsh words on Friday. "He's my teammate, but he's not my teammate because he's moving on next year," Gordon said. "I raced him harder than he wanted me to race him earlier in the race. I could give all the reasons and excuses, but it doesn't do any good." The two raced each other hard at New Hampshire, and Vickers rankled Gordon when he wouldn't let the former champ pass. Gordon, fourth in the points standings, even complained on the radio to his team that he hoped Vickers knew that he was racing for a championship. "It did cost us time, Gordon said. "Right now he's in a tough position. He's moving on to a new team. He hasn't been able to win races like other guys at Hendrick Motorsports. He wants it bad and he's driving hard and I think it was just a little lapse in judgment." Vickers finished fifth; Gordon third. Vickers will drive for Team Red Bull in 2007. "It's not a guy that's out there trying to help you win a championship," Gordon said.(FoxSports/AP)(9-24-2006)

  • Medaire Provides Lifesaving Medical Solutions to Vickers: MedAire, a company that serves the business and general aviation industry with lifesaving medical solutions, is providing a MedLink medical advisory subscription service and medical kits for #25- Brian Vickers, Nextel Cup Series Driver and 2003 Busch Series Champion. Vickers is the first motor-sports driver to take advantage of MedAire’s medical offerings. Should Vickers or his associates become ill while traveling by private aircraft or while on the ground, they will have 24/7 access to MedAire’s MedLink Global Response Center located in Phoenix, Ariz., where board-certified emergency care physicians will assess the medical emergency and help treat the patient remotely. During flight-based emergencies, MedLink physicians access MedAire medical equipment on board and recommend treatment for ailments ranging from heart and asthma attacks to respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. More info on MedAire can be found at www.MedAire.com.(MedAire PR)(9-21-2006)

  • O.A.R. Scheme for Vickers at Richmond: Hendrick Motorsports' #25 GMAC Chevy will have a different look for this weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Richmond. As part of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Brian Vickers' #25 will feature the colors of his favorite band, O.A.R.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-8-2006)

  • Vickers going green at California: Brian Vickers' #25 Chevy will sport a different look this weekend at California Speedway. Garnier, the popular unisex haircare brand, will be featured on the hood of the bold bright-green design. The scheme will adorn the car in one more NextelL Cup Series event this season -- Kansas Speedway in October.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see an image of the scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(9-1-2006)

  • Foamy mess at Hendrick hanger: Maintenance workers at Hendrick Motorsports have a foamy mess to clean up at the company’s airline hanger after the building's fire extinguishing system activated. The foam covered Hendrick aircraft inside the hanger at Concord Regional Airport and workers used fans, shovels and cardboard boxes to push the foam out. The building holds about 1,200 gallons of the foam and firefighters estimated that 500 to 700 gallons of the foam discharged. The foam does not pose any environmental impact and can be dissipated with water, firefighters said. Firefighters have not determined how the system was tripped. The aircrafts were not damaged.(WCNC.com)(8-31-2006)

  • Sponsor changes at the #25 and #16? UPDATE 3: hearing National Guard could end up being the sponsor, either whole or in part, of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. No word if current #25 primary sponsor, GMAC, stays as a co-sponsor or would leave the team. National Guard currently sponsors the #16 Roush Racing Ford of Greg Biffle, supposedly Subway could step up full time or be co-sponsors with Ameriquest [sponsors a slew of Roush Racing Busch cars] or 3M.(7-30-2006)
    UPDATE: been told that Ameriquest has signed a multi-year deal with Roush Racing to sponsor the 16 Ford and Greg Biffle. As for the #25, GMAC will back in some form in 2006.(8-10-006)
    UPDATE 2: been told the National Guard will move to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and will team up to co-sponsor the team with GMAC.(8-19-2006)
    UPDATE 3 - Roush still waiting on National Guard: Roush Racing is still awaiting word on whether the National Guard will return as primary sponsor on the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle next year. "We don't have an indication on what they are going to do for next year," Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Saturday. "That is being more closely maintained by them. Sometimes it's typically later in the year when they have all of their options decided." Even if the team loses that sponsorship, there are other sponsors to fill in the gaps. That car has had several sponsors, such as Subway, which have been the primary sponsor for select races in the past couple of years. "We're covered," Smith said. "It's only a question of how the car is going to be allocated among those sponsors."(SceneDaily.com)(8-28-2006)

  • #100 for Wimmer and Vickers: #4-Scott Wimmer and #25-Brian Vickers are scheduled to make their 100th starts in Nextel Cup this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.(8-15-2006)

  • Vickers to drive for Red Bull Racing MORE: it was announced by Brian Vickers on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain that Vickers has signed with Red Bull Racing to drive one of their two Toyota's in 2007. Bill Elliott will drive for the team in three races and could run for the team full time in 2007, he will supposedly drive Dodge's in the three 2006 races.(6-25-2006)
    MORE: As revealed this evening on Speed TV, Team Red Bull formally announces a multi-year agreement with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Brian Vickers, the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion, to race the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry starting with the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Rumors notwithstanding, more official information on the new team, including the second 2007 driver, will be made available later this year.(Red Bull Racing PR)(6-26-2006)

  • Vickers to run West Series race in special scheme UPDATE 2 wins the race: Along with running Sunday's NEXTEL Cup event at Infineon Raceway, #25-Brian Vickers will enter Saturday's NASCAR Grand National West Series race at the 1.99-mile road course. Making his first-ever start in the series, Vickers will drive a #17 GMAC Chevrolet with a paint scheme identical to the Busch Series car driven by the late Ricky Hendrick.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-23-2006)
    on the Pole: Brian Vickers won the pole position for today's West Series race at Infienoen Raceway, had a best speed of 90.872 mph in a Chevrolet. Eric Holmes was second and Brian Ickler will start in the third spot.(San Francisco Chronicle)(6-24-2006)
    UPDATE 2: Brian Vickers held off Boris Said to win the Blue Lizard Australian Suncream 200 NASCAR AutoZone West Series race Saturday afternoon at Infineon Raceway. Running the race to gain more road-course experience, Vickers sat on the pole and led 61 of the 64 laps. Said had to start from the back because of an engine change and worked his way to second. NASCAR West rookie Brian Ickler finished third and was the best series regular. Ken Schrader also competed in the race but was penalized for being too fast on pit road and finished 18th.(SceneDaily.com)(6-25-2006)

  • Vickers' Team Captures Pit Crew Win In Michigan: Brian Vickers' pit crew claimed the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Sunday's rain-shortened 3M Performance 400, becoming the 10th Nextel Cup team of the season to capture the weekly competition. The victory was the result of Vickers' #25 Chevy spending the least amount of time on Michigan International Speedway's pit road - 337.524 seconds. "It was a solid performance by the GMAC Racing team on pit road at Michigan," said Hendrick Motorsports pit crew coach Mark Mauldin. "We had all of our regulars on the crew back in place and it showed. We expect to be able to win this award a couple of mores times before the season is finished." Vickers' over-the-wall crew includes: Mike Moore (jackman), Jake Brzozowski (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fabian (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (windshield). Crew chief for the #25 team is Lance McGrew. The program awards $10,500 per week to the pit crew of the car spending the least amount of time on pit road. In addition, a bonus of $105,000 will be awarded to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Jimmie Johnson's crew leads the season standings with three Checkers/Rally's Drive-Thru Challenge wins. Tony Stewart's, Elliott Sadler's and Kyle Busch's crews are tied for second with two wins each. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(6-21-2006)

  • Highlights from Rick Hendrick's teleconference: [#5, #24, #25, #44, #48] Car owner Rick Hendrick says his entire organization is excited about having Casey Mears on board beginning next season. Mears will take over the #25 GMAC Chevy for Brian Vickers who has decided to seek a fresh start [in 2007]. Vickers’ decision to move on has been especially emotional for Hendrick saying “It’s both the car and the driver that’s been a real emotional deal for me. This was my Dad’s team and he and Ricky decided to joint venture this car and the Busch Series car. Brian was Ricky’s pick and Brian has been like a part of our family...and I think that’s been good and bad for both Brian and I. I think it’s created a feeling that something’s missing for Brian that Ricky’s not here and I think it’s made it hard for me in trying to talk to Brian and treat Brian like just another driver. But at the same time I want what’s best for Brian...Brian and Ricky were close but Ricky and Casey were close so this deal is almost like one of my children is going on to do something else and I’m getting one of my other children back in the car. So, that way I think it’s been a little bit easier for me. I want the best for Brian whatever that is and I want him to be comfortable and have every opportunity to do everything in the sport he wants to do.” As far as the on-track run-ins between Casey Mears and Kyle Busch, Hendrick said both drivers have addressed their problems. Hendrick said “I think that deal has already been put to bed. I think there were a lot of things that have happened that the two guys just never got a chance to sit down and talk. That’s already happened now...that’s history and I don’t think there will be any problem at all.” If neither driver makes the Chase for the Championship Hendrick has no immediate plan to try and put Mears in the 25 car before the end of the season, but he also said never say never. “I think a lot of things have to fall into place said Hendrick. We want to do what’s best for our sponsor and look after our team and right now we’re focused on running the 25 with Brian Vickers. Chip Ganassi and Felix (Sabates)...I don’t know what their plans are...there could be a time in the future where we could all sit down and talk and it might make sense to do something different...but...we’re just keeping all of our options open. Right now we’re just going to focus on Brian and the 25.”(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(6-16-2006)

  • OFFICIAL - Mears to Hendrick #25 team in 2007: Car owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of driver Casey Mears to pilot Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevys in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed. Mears, 28, inked a multi-year agreement that will keep him with the team through at least the 2009 racing season. He will replace Brian Vickers, who is slated to complete the current schedule after being granted a release from contractual obligations to Hendrick Motorsports beyond 2006. "Casey is a talented driver and a high-character person who is going to be a great fit with our organization," Hendrick said. "He has the ability to win races and ultimately contend for championships, so we're thrilled to welcome him to Hendrick Motorsports." In the midst of his fourth full season, Mears has posted two pole positions, five top-five finishes and 21 top-10s on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. The Bakersfield, Calif., native kicked off the 2006 campaign with a career-best second-place performance in the Feb. 19 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, where on Jan. 29 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team. "I'm committed to winning races and going after championships with the #25 team," said Mears, the son of legendary off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears. "This is an opportunity for me to work with close friends and start fresh with one of the top organizations in all of sports. It's an exciting situation for me, both personally and professionally."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-14-2006)

  • Vickers looking to get out of contract? UPDATE 2: Hearing that Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports is now looking to get out of his contract with Hendrick after the 2006 season.(6-7-2006)
    UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports has given driver Brian Vickers permission to seek a ride elsewhere in racing. Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said Thursday that the driver of the team's #25 GMAC Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series had asked team officials for permission to pursue "employment opportunities outside our operation." Essex said "multiple years" remain on Vickers' contract at Hendrick.
    AND rumors have Vickers going to the #88 Robert Yates Racing ride or one of the Red Bull Racing rides.(6-8-2006)
    UPDATE 2: There's been speculation that Vickers might drive a Toyota for Team Red Bull next season. Team Red Bull general manager Marty Gaunt indicated in an e-mail that there's no deal yet with any driver. "Frankly, it is flattering to have this much interest in our new program, but the reality is that the driver search is still very open right now," Gaunt said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(6-9-2006)

  • Vickers Interview: Brian Vickers was in Somerset making an appearance for the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team, Mike Ashmore of the Hunterdon County Democrat asked Vickers some questions:
    About Toyota coming into the sport: "I think it's great. The more support we have from the more manufacturers, the better. It's irrelevant who it is. With NASCAR, I guess one of the rules is they have to produce the cars they race in Cup in America, which Toyota does. Those are the requirements, that they make most of their cars in America. You've got Chevy, Ford, Dodge and now Toyota, and it's only going to bring more attention to the sport. If more want to come, I think it'll be even better."
    About backlash from the NASCAR fanbase about Toyota's foreign roots: "There's no way to predict that, but I don't think so. You look in the parking lot at a race or anywhere else, and there's cars from every manufacturer. There's always been a lot of support in NASCAR from the big three manufacturers, and everybody's always going to respect that. But the fact is, Toyota employs a lot of people here, and if they want to be here, they deserve to be here."
    About Red Bull and Yates Rumors: "Who we've talked to is private. We're in the process right now...the only thing that's going on is Hendrick Motorsports and I are trying to figure out what we're going to do, and right now it looks like we're both going to look at other options next year for the betterment of both of us."
    About a hot commodity: "It could potentially be a good position. Right now, we're focused on handling this thing the best we can with Hendrick Motorsports and we're looking at other options. What we decide to do is going to be held private until the time is right, and then we'll announce it."(Hunterdon County Democrat/Mike Ashmore)(6-9-2006)

  • Mears to Yates? or is it Hendrick? hearing that Casey Mears, current driver fo the #42 Texaco Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing could leave and go to Robert Yates Racing to drive the #88 Ford in 2007....no word yet on sponsor.
    MORE: but hearing now that Mears is more likely headed to the #25 Hendrick Chevy that Vickers is leaving....(6-8-2006)

  • RYR Hopes to hear from UPS on decision soon; 4 Cup teams? UPDATE 2 Mears? Vickers?: Robert Yates Racing hopes to hear in the next two to three weeks whether UPS will return as a sponsor [on the #88 team], team general manager Eddie D'Hondt said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. UPS is trying to decide whether to stay with RYR, move with current RYR driver Dale Jarrett over to Michael Waltirp Racing, where Jarrett will run a Toyota starting in 2007. or go to another team. "We're still talking with them," said D'Hondt, who added that there is no timeline for UPS to decide. "In three weeks time, I think we'll all know what we're all doing." The team is still in the early stages of looking for a replacement. It has two development drivers - Stephen Leicht and Matt McCall - currently running part-time Busch schedules. "There is a chance you may see them in a Cup car to get a race under their belt as the year goes on," D'Hondt said. "That's not written in stone, but it has been talked about. We're not going to rush them beyond what they are capable of. ... A year from now, I think Matt and Stephen will be ready." D'Hondt said eventually RYR would like to have four Nextel Cup teams and two Busch Series teams. "We're setting ourselves for a good future; we just have to live with what we're going through now," D'Hondt said.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2006)
    UPDATE: RYR is also waiting to hear if #88 team sponsor UPS will remain with RYR next year, move to the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota team with Dale Jarrett or go to another team entirely. If UPS moves to Waltrip’s organization, that may bump the team from two to three cars. Waltrip’s own Toyota will be sponsored by NAPA and a second team car will fly the Burger King colors in 2007, leaving UPS as a possible sponsor for a third MWR car. On the driver front, the Yates crew is said to be hot after Casey Mears, the biggest remaining name free agent.(Speed Channel)
    AND Who's the lead candidate for the #88 (possibly UPS) Ford in 2007? One name mentioned more than once is Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy owned by Rick Hendrick.(CircleTrackPlus.com)
    UPDATE 2: In response to the CircleTrackPlus.com posting up on the site today. The "Unsubstantiated Rumors' as they're classified as on the Web-Site are in fact just that. Vickers and Hendrick Motorsports remain committed to each other.(Hensrick Motorsports)(5-22-2006)

  • Inside Nextel Cup Show returns on Feb 13th: Dave Despain will once again climb into the host's chair for SPEED's popular Monday night program Inside Nextel Cup, beginning Feb. 13 at 7:00pm/et. Joining Despain, will be veteran drivers Michael Waltrip and Kenny Schrader, both in new rides for 2006. Brian Vickers, the Hendrick Motorsports driver who joined the show late last season, will return for 20 shows in 2006. "I think 2006 should be exciting for everyone - especially the fans of Inside Nextel Cup," said Vickers, the youngest national series champion in NASCAR history. "Kenny (Schrader) and Michael (Waltrip) are driving for new teams, the GMAC Racing team and I are ready and we're all optimistic about a new season. I've gained some valuable experience working with them and Dave (Despain) on the set, so hopefully I'll pass the SPEED rookie stripe to someone else and we'll bring viewers even more insight and entertainment. I appreciate the opportunity they've presented by welcoming me back to the program."
    "It took a lot of courage for Brian to step onto a show that had changed for the first time in 10 years last year," said Chris Long, VP of Studio Production for SPEED. "We made some aggressive changes to a fan favorite SPEED show midway through the year and Brian did a great job blending in with the team. We're thrilled to have him back for 20 shows in 2006."(Speed Channel)(1-31-2006)

  • Vickers cleared to test: #25-Brian Vickers, who missed the Daytona test earlier this month because of sports hernia surgery, received clearance from his doctor Wednesday to participate in the Nextel Cup test at Las Vegas later this week. David Green will be on standby as a backup driver.(Charleston Post and Courier)(1-27-2006)

  • Hendrick offer bonus for The Chase: Hendrick Motorsports Team owner Rick Hendrick said he will split a $1,248,525 bonus between his four full-time teams if they qualify, figuring to increase his odds of winning the title. Last season Roush Racing placed its five Fords in the 10-race playoff among the top 10 drivers. Hendrick's lone qualifier, Jimmie Johnson, finished fifth. "We're thankful for what we've done, but that doesn't count," Hendrick said Wednesday during the media tour of Nextel Cup garages. "We're hungry for another championship here. We want to win Busch and Cup titles, we want to all be in the Chase, we have bonuses, we have coins that say all four are in the Chase ..." The bonus amount is comprised of the car numbers of four-time champ Jeff Gordon (24), Johnson (48), '05 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch (5) and Brian Vickers (25).(USA Today)(1-26-2006)

  • Hendrick makes $3 million donation in Ricky's name: Carolinas Healthcare System announced the commitment of $3 million from the Rick and Linda Hendrick family to benefit Levine Children's Hospital. In recognition of the gift, Levine Children's Hospital will dedicate its Pediatric Intensive Care Centers in honor of the Hendrick's late son and youngest child, Ricky Hendrick. Encompassing the sixth floor of the new hospital, the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care will house the facility's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the region's first Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. The Centers will feature a five-room sleep inn for parents, two private family waiting areas, a large open waiting space and a state-of-the-art business lounge. "Our family is proud to make this pledge in Ricky's name," said Linda Hendrick, Ricky's mother. "He was a young man who would run, not walk, to wherever he was going. This hospital will make certain that others have the same opportunity." Lauded by planners as the hospital's "heart and soul," the Centers will treat the most critically ill and injured children from across the region. Upon completion in summer 2007, the 234-bed facility will be the third-largest of its kind in the southeastern United States and the largest between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. "Our son placed a great importance on doing one's part to help others," said Ricky's father, Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports. "He had a passion for making a difference in people's lives, which is exactly what Levine Children's Hospital will do for families of this region." Currently under construction on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center, Levine Children's Hospital will have the capacity to provide daily treatment to hundreds of patients from all walks of life. Its forward-thinking design will foster a warm and loving environment that is also state of the art. Levine Children's Hospital, already under construction on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center, will be dedicated solely to the needs of children and their families. Expanding upward to 12 stories, the new children's hospital will feature several of the region's "firsts," including a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit and a 24-hour pediatric emergency department.(Carolinas Healthcare System PR)(1-25-2006)

  • Mountain Dew signs on as sponsor for Hendrick Motorsports: Mountain Dew will be an associate sponsor of Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy throughout the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series season announcing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports. The season will mark the 20th anniversary of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports team, which has 29 pole positions and 15 wins since 1986. Vickers will also pilot #57 Mountain Dew Chevys in three Busch Series races in 2006: Feb. 25 at California, May 12 at Darlington, and Aug. 19 at Michigan. Vickers will be featured in Mountain Dew advertising and on in-store display materials. He joins teammate #24-Jeff Gordon as part of the Pepsi-Cola racing team. Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew's parent company, has been involved with stock car racing for more than five decades. Today, Pepsi serves its products at 15 of the 22 NEXTEL Cup tracks and is the title sponsor of the Pepsi 400, which is held annually at Daytona International Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(1-19-2006)

  • Vickers to skip Daytona testing: Vickers comments from brianvickers.com: "I hate having to miss any time, but given the timing of it all and making sure the impact was minimal, the conclusion was for me to have the surgery, skip Daytona testing and rest in order to be able to get back in the car for the Las Vegas test. I appreciate very much David Green, who agreed to go to Daytona a few days early to help out with the #25 Cup test, and Justin Labonte, who will drive the #57 car during Busch Series testing."(Brian Vickers site), no word on what the surgery was for.(1-14-2006)

    Past 2005 News

  • Vickers to test 'Car of Tomorrow' at Atlanta: Following Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway #25-Brian Vickers will remain in Atlanta to conduct a test session for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports. He will be driving the next-generation NEXTEL Cup Series car, known as the "car of tomorrow." Several other teams that have built the new cars will be testing as well.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-28-2005)

  • Georgia Pacific to Hendrick? hearing that Georgia Pacific, current sponsor for #45 Kyle Petty, will go to Hendrick Motorsports in some capacity. Could be as a full associate and part-time primary one or more of the Hendrick teams, which are #5-Kyle Busch, #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers, #44-Terry Labonte, #48-Jimmie Johnson. Petty had announced midseason Georgia Pacific would not be back, they were also rumored to be the new sponsor for Roush Racing's #6 with Mark Martin driving but looks like AAA will be the sponsor there. Georgia Pacific is scheduled to make an announcement of some sort at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday.(10-26-2005)

  • Hendrick unsure about attending Martinsville: Car owner Rick Hendrick won't decide until Sunday whether he’ll travel to Martinsville for the Subway 500 cup race. It was one year ago this weekend when a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed into Bull mountain near Martinsville while attempting to land in foggy conditions.10 people lost their lives, including his son Ricky, brother John and head engine builder Randy Dorton. Hendrick told PRN'S Garagepass; “I’ve learned since the accident that I have to take things day by day. I can have three or four days great and then I’ll get really down and thinking about things. It could be somebody’s birthday or Ricky’s daughter comes over to the house or whatever and it just unleashes a lot of emotions so I just try not to make too many plans. I want to go back to support the guys and I also feel like you just can’t run from it. But, if that morning if it doesn’t feel right then I won’t go.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-20-2005)

  • OT to be paid: Hendrick Motorsports will pay more than $350,000 in back overtime wages to employees after an investigation found the racing company violated federal labor laws. The company, which designs, builds and races cars in NASCAR, acknowledged it failed to pay 214 salaried production workers $351,783 in overtime between July 2003 and July 2005. The U.S. Labor Department said it determined Hendrick violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. "We certainly wanted to make sure our employees received any compensation to which they were entitled, so we were glad to make the appropriate payments," Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex told The Associated Press on Saturday in an e-mail. "We've updated our internal policies and do not anticipate any ongoing issues."(ESPN.com/AP)(10-2-2005)

  • Fines, Penalties and Probations Result from New Hampshire Infractions
    NASCAR issued fines and penalties Monday to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, resulting from rule violations this past weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway.
    • Lance McGrew, crew chief for the #25 Chevrolet driven by Brian Vickers, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the year. The #25 team had its primary car confiscated after the weekend’s initial inspection process, due to an unapproved car body. Vickers was penalized 25 driver points and car owner Mary Hendrick was penalized 25 owner points. The team was in violation of Section 12-4-A and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules).(NASCAR PR)
    updated points on Jayski's Drivers/Owners Points after New Hampshire page.(9-19-2005)

  • Vickers car impounded UPDATE 2: the primary #25 Chevy failed inspection before the first practice and the team worked on the car and presented it before the 2nd practice [Happy Hour] and it failed inspection again and was impounded and confiscated by NASCAR. The team worked feverishly to get the back up car out and ready to pass inpsection to make a practice run but looks doubtful the car will get on the track, if so, Vickers will be qualifying a backup car with no laps at on it...and probably faces penalties/fines by NASCAR early next week.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)
    NOTE: The #25 team was able to get the backup car thru inspection and Vickers got some laps in. Hendrick Motorsports says the car was not confiscated by NASCAR but the team forfitted the car to NASCAR when they decided they could do no more to make the templates fit.(9-16-2005)
    UPDATE: The #25 Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports brought to New Hampshire International Speedway as the primary Nextel Cup car for Brian Vickers was in NASCAR's possession Friday after it failed inspection five times. "This was a brand new body that had never been raced," said Doug Duchardt, vice president of development for the Hendrick team. "We learned of a measurement issue during the inspection process and made attempts to correct it. But, after several tries, we decided to forfeit the car [to NASCAR] and go with our backup." The frustrated Vickers missed the first practice and got in just five laps in the second session for Sunday's Sylvania 300. "We made the decision to forfeit the car because we didn't feel it could be repaired in a reasonable amount of time," Duchardt said. "It was important to get out on the racetrack in the backup and prepare for Sunday. We have a very thorough system that should prevent these things, but something obviously fell through the cracks."(ESPN.com/AP)(9-17-2005)

    UPDATE 2: Brian Vickers is running his backup car and feels glad to have it. His primary Chevrolet didn’t get through inspection on Friday, and NASCAR officials wouldn’t even let Vickers’ team go to a backup for qualifying without confiscating the primary car. What was the Hendrick Motorsports strategy in trying to slip the car through? Was the Vickers car used as a test to see what the team could get away with? Had it passed, would the car have been passed to teammate Johnson, a title contender, at a later date? Or would its construction have been been mimicked in Johnson cars? Are there cars in Johnson’s stable with those characteristics already in place? The problem was reportedly related to how, not whether, the car fit the aerodynamic templates used by inspectors. Officials “didn’t like the way” the templates fit.(Gaston Gazette)(9-18-2005)

  • Congrats: Multi-team [#5, #24, #25, #44, #48] team owner, Rick Hendrick welcomed new granddaughter, Josephine Riddick “Ricki” Hendrick, today [June 29th] at 2:49am/et. Ricki is the daughter of the late Ricky Hendrick, Rick's son, who passed away in the Hendrick Motorsports airplane crash near Martinsville, VA last Oct. Ricki and mother Emily are doing fine.(6-29-2005)

  • Executive Changes at Hendrick: In a tactical realignment of his business entities, Rick Hendrick today announced personnel changes affecting the Hendrick Automotive Group (HAG), Hendrick Motorsports and, now, the Hendrick Companies. As part of the refreshed business model, Hendrick introduced longtime Automotive Group executive Jim Huzl as president and chief executive officer of Charlotte-based HAG. In his new role, effective July 1, Huzl will oversee the direction of one of the nation's largest privately held auto retailers with 68 franchises, 4,000 employees and more than $3.5 billion in revenue. Sharing Huzl's former duties as HAG's chief operating officer will be three new senior vice presidents: Tom Blocker, East Division; Kirk Heppler, West Division; and Gary Davis, who will manage retail operations support. Huzl succeeds Jim Perkins, who will transition to become the first president and COO of the Hendrick Cos., an organization recently formed to manage strategic initiatives relative to Hendrick's various business enterprises. Perkins will continue to serve as a member of HAG's partnership committee.
    Bobby Rice, a trusted friend and business associate of Hendrick since 1976, was named executive vice president of the Hendrick Cos. and special adviser to the chairman. Rice also will work in a consultative capacity with Hendrick Motorsports, which fields multiple stock-car racing teams in two different divisions of sanctioning body NASCAR..(HMS PR)(6-20-2005)

  • Vickers visit camp: On Tuesday, #25-Brian Vickers made the first of four scheduled trips to GMAC’s community outreach program, Team Focus. The weeklong summer camps provide fatherless boys ages 9-18 with leadership skills, guidance, Godly values and a continual relationship with a mentor. Vickers routinely spends time speaking with the youngsters about leadership, answering questions about racing and occasionally catching up with them on the baseball diamond or basketball court. In addition to visiting the Team Focus camp in Mobile, Ala., this week, Vickers will attend sessions in Michigan and Tennessee later this summer.(Brian Vickers site)(6-9-2005)

  • Vickers takes flight: It's fair to say that NASCAR driver #25-Brian Vickers has enjoyed a variety of unique and special opportunities as a result of his occupation. But on Thursday, the 21 year-old enjoyed arguably one of his most memorable personal experiences ever. He joined a very small group of civilians fortunate enough to ride in a U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat from the VF-101 "Grim Reapers" fighter squadron, currently based at Naval Air Station Oceana (Virginia Beach, VA). Visit www.brianvickers.com for the complete story and photo gallery on Vickers' ride.(5-14-2005)

  • Chevy Rock and Roll Schemes to be unveiled UPDATE 2 - IMAGES: Chevrolet will give race fans a taste of what they will see when they return to Richmond International Raceway in September for the Crown Royal IROC, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 200, Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series and Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. As an official partner and longtime race sponsor at Richmond International Raceway, Chevrolet plans to unveil three Rock & Roll themed stockcars on Friday afternoon.(RIR Fact Sheet)(5-10-2005)
    UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have 3 Doors Down on his car. Others: #31-Jeff Burton / Big & Rich; #29 Kevin Harvick / e Gretchen Wilson; #10-Scott Riggs / Nickelback and #07-Dave Blaney / Drive by Truckers.(5-11-2005)
    IMAGE added the #10 Nickelback and #29 Gretchen Wilson images to the #10 Team Schemes and #29 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Chevrolet is mixing the red carpet with black asphalt announcing today that more stars and cars than ever will be part of the popular Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 10. NASCAR drivers #29-Kevin Harvick, #10-Scott Riggs and #25-Brian Vickers helped Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper unveil their musical artist-themed Chevy Monte Carlo racecars for the event. Chevrolet also will host a pre-race concert with Nickelback performing and Gretchen Wilson singing the national anthem.
    Three of the specially themed cars that will compete in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 were revealed:
    · Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Gretchen Wilson.
    · Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Green Day.
    · Scott Riggs' #10 Valvoline Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Nickelback.
    This is the sixth consecutive year that Chevrolet will be the title sponsor of the fall race at Richmond International Raceway. With more than 107,000 fans attending, the race will mark the 28th consecutive sell-out of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at the track and will be broadcast live during primetime. The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is the 26th race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season and will determine the participants in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship." Today's announcement is the first of many musical pairings to be announced prior to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Additional vehicles that will be participating in the event will be announced later.(Chevrolet-GM/Action Performance/RIR), see updated images and the #25 car on my #25 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)

  • Vickers learning a new language: #25-Brian Vickers this week participated in the first of his many upcoming Spanish lessons. The Thomasville, N.C., native had his initial tutorial with Berlitz International, a company renowned for its language instruction. Vickers is working to complete the first level of proficiency (10 courses), which should take approximately seven weeks.(HMS)(4-14-2005)

  • Hendrick may attend Martinsville: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick is leaning toward attending today's Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway. It's the first event at the track since a Hendrick plane crashed on the way to Martinsville last October. Engine builder Randy Dorton, General Manager Jeff Turner, President John Hendrick and Vice President Ricky Hendrick were among the 10 killed in the crash. Besides his brother and son, Rick Hendrick also lost two nieces.(Richmond Times Dispatch)
    NOTE: Hendrick is at the track today for the race.(4-10-2005)

  • Scooby Doo on the #25 UPDATE Johnny Bravo on the #5: #25-Brian Vickers is scheduled to run a Scooby Doo scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. See an image on my #25 Team Schemes page.(4-6-2005)
    AND #5-Kyle Busch will run a Johnny Bravo scheme at Bristol in August. See an image on my #5 Team Schemes page.(4-7-2005)

  • Busch and Vickers on Country Music Television Awards: On Monday, April 11, Hendrick Motorsports teammates #5-Kyle Busch and #25-Brian Vickers will travel to Nashville, Tenn., where the pair will be presenters at this year's Country Music Television Awards. Other attendees include Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Jeff Daniels, Gina Gershon, Dennis Hopper, Larry the Cable Guy, William Shatner and many more. The show will air live on CMT beginning at 8:00pm/et.(Hendrick Motorsports)(4-7-2005)

  • Vickers to test Bristol next week: #25 GMAC Racing Chevy and Brian Vickers are scheduled to test at Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday, March 15. The team already has completed tests at California, Daytona and Las Vegas this season..(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(3-10-2005)

  • Busch and Vickers on Country Music Television Awards: On Monday, April 11, Hendrick Motorsports teammates #5-Kyle Busch and #25-Brian Vickers will travel to Nashville, Tenn., where the pair will be presenters at this year's Country Music Television Awards. Other attendees include Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Jeff Daniels, Gina Gershon, Dennis Hopper, Larry the Cable Guy, William Shatner and many more. The show will air live on CMT beginning at 8:00pm/et.(Hendrick Motorsports)(4-7-2005)

  • Chevy Adds Vickers to Endorsement Roster: Chevrolet’s Racing division announced the addition of Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, to their already impressive list of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup endorsers that includes 4-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon, Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and HMS teammate Jimmie Johnson. The personal services partnership is the first official manufacturer endorsement for Vickers and compliments an already extensive history between GM’s flagship racing brand and the 21 year-old sophomore Cup Series driver. For more information on Chevrolet and Brian Vickers, please visit www.chevrolet.com or www.brianvickers.com.(Brians Vickers PR)(3-2-2005)

  • More changes at Hendrick? UPDATE: hearing that Eddie Dickerson, Manager of Hendrick Motorsports Chassis Shop, which was responsible for building all of the Chassis, and hanging all of the bodies, has left the organization.(2-16-2005)
    UPDATE: Eddie Dickerson, the director of chassis engineering at Hendrick Motorsports, left the team. Team spokesman Jesse Essex said Dickerson's duties likely will be split among several team members, including Doug Duchardt, who who left his position as director of GM Racing two weeks ago to become Hendrick's vice president of development.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-17-2005)

  • Brian Vickers & Carolinas Pizza Hut Stores Partner to Benefit VJGC: Representatives of North and South Carolina Pizza Huts announced they have entered a personal services partnership with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Financial Services Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, which will specifically focus on their mutual support of the Victory Junction Gang Camp.   The partnership will include Vickers endorsing and representing 325 participating Pizza Hut stores located in North Carolina and South Carolina, which will include their efforts to help raise funds in support of the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a designated charity of both Pizza Hut in the Carolina’s and Vickers. The Carolinas Pizza Hut Stores previously committed support to Victory Junction and hope to raise funds and awareness through in-store promotions. Vickers supports the Camp as one of his designated charities and is a friend of the Petty family and fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and wife Pattie, who founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son, Adam Petty.   In-store promotions at participating Pizza Hut stores will include the opportunity for customers to win one of two special VIP Race Experiences awarded on behalf of Victory Junction. The VIP Race experience will give a customer a birds-eye view of what the pit area is like during a Nextel Cup Race. The winner will get two tickets, two pit passes and a “meet and greet” with Brian Vickers. For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org, www.pizzahut.com or www.brianvickers.com.(Brian Vickers, LLC PR)(2-10-2005)

  • Vicker to run limited Busch schedule, Ore-Ida as an assoc on Cup car: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick announced that 21-year-old Brian Vickers will return to the NASCAR Busch Series for four races in 2005 with support from primary sponsor Ore-Ida and its Extra Crispy French-fry brand. As part of the agreement, Vickers will drive his four Busch Series races in Ore-Ida-wrapped #57 Chevrolets. In addition to its support of Vickers' Busch Series appearances, Ore-Ida will become a major associate partner of the #25 NEXTEL Cup Series team with Vickers as driver. Vickers, the 2003 Busch Series champion is scheduled to make his first Busch Series start of 2005 at Lowe's Motor Speedway May 28, followed by events at Daytona International Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in August and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-8-2005)

  • Hendrick announces new VP's: Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson announced that competition director Ken Howes and longtime General Motors executive Doug Duchardt have been named vice presidents over the organization's racing operations. Transitioning from his role of competition director, Howes has been tabbed as vice president of competition. The Johannesburg, South Africa, native will oversee Hendrick's day-to-day competition-related activities, now encompassing teams, crew chiefs and pit-crew trainers, along with at-track logistics and execution.
    Duchardt, who most recently managed General Motors' North American motor sports initiatives as director of GM Racing, has been named Hendrick Motorsports' vice president of development, a position in which he will control race-car evolution through design, engineering and production in the chassis and engine areas.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-7-2005)

  • Vickers gets a major associate sponsor - Garnier Fructis: Garnier Fructis and Hendrick Motorsports announced a multi-year agreement featuring Garnier Fructis as a major associate sponsor of the #25 Chevys driven by Brian Vickers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The deal marks the first foray into motor sports by Garnier Fructis, the wildly popular unisex haircare brand owned by L'Oreal USA. In addition to the associate-sponsorship on the #25 GMAC / ditech.com Chevrolets in 2005, the union will be highlighted when Vickers and the #25 car don the trademark bright green Garnier Fructis color scheme in two races -- April 17 at Texas Motor Speedway and Aug. 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Under the associate sponsorship agreement, Vickers will serve as a spokesperson for Garnier Fructis haircare and styling products. His likeness will be featured in print advertising, at point-of-purchase and in-store displays, and throughout public relations campaigns and Internet initiatives.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), more info on Garnier Fructis at garnierfructis.com, image of the scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(1-25-2005)

  • New Spotter for Vickers: after many years with Richard Childress Racing, Spotter Danny Culler has left RCR and will be the spotter for #25-Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports. Culler takes over for the late Ricky Hendrick.(1-12-2005)

    Past 2004 News

  • Hendrick Awarded: Team owner Rick Hendrick is the latest winner of the Buddy Shuman Award: Buddy Shuman was a popular NASCAR driver in the early 1950s who died in a hotel fire in 1955. The award has been given annually since 1957, honoring someone from the NASCAR community for contributions to the sport. Hendrick, a popular figure in the garage area, lost his son, his brother, two nieces and two key team officials among the 10 persons who died in an Oct. 24 crash of a team plane on the way to a race in Virginia. Hendrick's team has won five Cup championships and fields cars in both the Cup and Busch Series.(Augusta Chronicle/AP)(12-5-2004)

  • Dorton Honored: The late Randy Dorton, the chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports, who was killed in an October plane crash, was honored as Clevite Engine Builder of the Year. The award was accepted by his widow, Diane Dorton.(ESPN/AP)(12-5-2004)

  • Rick Hendrick at the track: mulit-team owner [#5,#24,#25,#48], Rick Hendrick, is at the track and made a statement today in the media center, thanking the racing community and fans for their support in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash. No questions were taken, to see Hendrick's comments in full, see my Hendrick Tragedy Page.(11-20-2004)
  • Crew Chief Changes at Hendrick? UPDATE 3: hearing Hendrick Motorsports will make some changes with the #5 Kelloggs team [2005 driver Kyle Busch] and #25-Brian Vickers, supposedly starting with the crew chiefs.(11-18-2004)
    UPDATE: Nextel Cup rookie Brian Vickers is expected to get a new crew chief next season and be reunited with Lance McGrew, the crew chief with whom Vickers won the 2003 Busch Series championship, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Vickers’ crew chief for the #25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet this season, Peter Sospenzo, will remain with the Hendrick Motorsports organization in another capacity, sources said. Officials with Hendrick said Sunday no announcements on personnel changes will come until after the season.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-21-2004)
    UPDATE 2: After a lackluster rookie year in the #25 car, Brian Vickers will be reunited with his Busch Series crew chief, Lance McGrew. They won the Busch title in 2003, and some were surprised when McGrew didn't join Vickers during his rookie year in Cup. Vickers' current chief, Peter Sospenzo, will join Terry Labonte's limited run in 2005 [in the #44], and Jim Long, who was crew chief for Labonte's #5 Kellogg's Chevy, will work on the NBS program with rookies Boston Reid and Blake Feese and possibly a driver or two from the Cup stable. Alan Gustafson, who previously was the team engineer for the #25, will be Kyle Busch's crew chief on the #5.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-22-2004)
    AND Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today announced key personnel changes affecting each of his organization's stock-car teams going into the 2005 NASCAR campaign. Racing veterans Jim Long, Lance McGrew and Peter Sospenzo will each assume fresh responsibilities next season, while lead engineer Alan Gustafson has been promoted to crew chief. As part of the restructuring effort, team executive Brian Whitesell will also transition into a new role. "With a new shop opening and drivers moving to different teams, it made sense for us to look at our organizational structure in a different light," Hendrick said. "These changes will create more opportunities for our folks and help us work together more efficiently."
    GUSTAFSON TO LEAD KELLOGG'S RACING: Gustafson, 29, has been named crew chief of Hendrick's #5 Kellogg's Chevrolets, which next season will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie Kyle Busch as driver. A native of Ormond Beach, Fla., Gustafson cut his racing teeth working as a mechanic at local short tracks in his home state while taking mechanical engineering courses at nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Gustafson moved to North Carolina in 1996 to pursue a career in motor sports, gaining experience with various teams before joining Hendrick's in-house chassis effort in 1999. He was named lead engineer for the No. 5 Cup Series team the following year.
    LONG MOVES TO BUSCH SERIES: After leading the No. 5 NEXTEL Cup team for the past three years, Long will slide into the crew chief position with the No. 5 Lowe's-sponsored NASCAR Busch Series operation. The team has earned a championship, eight victories and six pole positions over the past two seasons. An announcement regarding driving duties for the No. 5 Busch Series team is forthcoming.
    McGREW AND VICKERS REUNITED: A Baton Rouge, La., native, McGrew, 36, has been named crew chief of the NEXTEL Cup No. 25 GMAC Financial Services team, a move that reunites him with driver Brian Vickers. The duo already has an impressive track record, winning Hendrick Motorsports' first-ever Busch Series championship together in 2003.
    SOSPENZO JOINS LABONTE EFFORT: A three-time winner on the NEXTEL Cup circuit, Sospenzo will work exclusively with two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte as crew chief of the new #44 Hendrick Motorsports team, which will attempt a 10-race schedule in 2005.
    WHITESELL NAMED TEAM MANAGER FOR 5, 25 & 44: Whitesell, 40, will take on the newly created position of team manager for the Nos. 5, 25 and 44 NEXTEL Cup teams. A native of Stuarts Draft, Va., he most recently held an identical post with Hendrick Motorsports' Nos. 24 and 48 efforts.
    Shop foreman Mark Thoreson and lead engineer Darian Grubb will share Whitesell's former duties with the "24/48" operation. The Nos. 5, 25 and 44 teams will be housed together in a new facility adjacent to the 24/48 building on the Hendrick Motorsports grounds. The new state-of-the-art shop is scheduled to open before the 2005 season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-22-2004)

  • Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown: The event began with a moment of silence, but the roar of 600-horsepower engines soon filled the room as Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group employees gathered this week for the third annual Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Sponsored by Dana Corp., the two-day contest teamed Hendrick Motorsports engine builders with Hendrick Automotive Group certified master technicians for head-to-head competition. Twelve pairs were clocked until their respective powerplant established a one-minute run after complete assembly, with the shortest elapsed time taking home first-place honors. Monday's qualifying round set the grid for Tuesday's finals, with the team of Jon Young and Mike Maiwald posting a build of 20 minutes, 52 seconds to tie the event record and earn the victory. Young is a Hendrick certified master tech from Gwinnett Place Honda in Atlanta, while Maiwald, of Hendrick Motorsports, is NASCAR's defending Engine Builder of the Year. For his efforts, Young was presented with an all-expenses-paid trip to the February 2005 events at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Runner-up Vince Bonfiglio, who teamed with Larry Zentmeyer, was also presented with a Daytona vacation package. Bonfiglio represented Hendrick BMW of Charlotte." This is a wonderful event that recognizes the > '> best of the best> '> in our industry," said Jim Perkins, Hendrick Automotive Group CEO. "It gives us the opportunity to bring the two companies together and acknowledge the contributions of our top-level staff." The brainchild of Rick Hendrick and the late Randy Dorton, the Showdown draws from more than 800 Automotive Group technicians, taking the 12 that are deemed most qualified by a one-of-a-kind Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exam created specifically for Hendrick employees. Those 12 are then paired with Hendrick Motorsports engine builders. Hendrick is owner of NASCAR operation Hendrick Motorsports, and chairman of the Hendrick Automotive Group, an organization comprised of 64 car dealerships across the United States, from the Carolinas to California. Dorton, recognized as one of the most gifted engine builders in NASCAR history, won nine championships during his two-decade tenure as head of Hendrick Motorsports' engine department before tragically losing his life Oct. 24. The Showdown was officially renamed in his honor shortly afterward. A silent moment of remembrance opened the competition at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum in Charlotte, and many of the participants wore red -- Dorton' s favorite color -- throughout the two-day experience.(HMS PR)(11-20-2004)

  • GM head of racing to Hendrick? General Motors' Doug Duchardt, head of the company's world-wide racing operations, is apparently being wooed by car owner Rick Hendrick to move to North Carolina to take a key position at Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick's racing operations were hard-hit by the plane crash three weeks ago that killed 10. Among those killed were John Hendrick, the company's president; Randy Dorton, the legendary engine builder and head of the company's engine department; and general manager Jeff Turner.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-13-2004)

  • Hendrick Motorsports update: Ken Howes, Hendrick Motorsports’ director of competition, played a major role in “talking the team through” the aftermath of the plane crash that killed seven employees of the team on Oct. 24. “He just took responsibility for taking us through that,” said Jimmie Johnson. A team spokesman, Patrick Perkins, said that Bobby Rice, a close business associate of Rick Hendrick, would oversee the operation for the time being while Hendrick recovers from the loss of his brother John, son Ricky and nieces Kymberly and Jennifer. Also lost in the crash were general manager Jeff Turner and head engine builder Randy Dorton. Jeff Gordon’s stepfather, John Bickford, will take on a more prominent role in the business side, and controller Scott Lampey will oversee financial operations. Jeff Andrews and Jim Wall will combine in directing the engine department.(Gaston Gazette)(10-30-2004)

  • Vickers wants to build a better reputation: #25 Rookie Brian Vickers has come under fire for his role in crashes during the last three races. The most notable was a Watkins Glen crash involving Dale Jarrett that may prove costly to Jarrett in his bid to get in the top 10 of the Nextel Cup points standings and qualify for the 10-race playoffs that begin in four weeks. “I’m embarrassed about what’s gone on during the last three races,” said Vickers. “Some were just racing incidents, and some were solely my fault. What happened at Watkins Glen with Dale (Jarrett) was a huge mistake on my (part) It was a case of me being way too impatient at that point in the race. It’s been a learning year for us. I’ve tried to build a reputation as a patient driver that’s around at the end of races. It seems like all the boneheaded moves I’ve avoided over the years have been dumped into the last three weeks. We’re going to move on, and I’m looking forward to getting things turned around this weekend in Michigan.”(Gaston Gazette)(8-20-2004)

  • Papa Joe Hendrick Passes Away: Joseph R. Hendrick Jr., father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and company president John Hendrick, passed away Wednesday evening at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He was 84. Fondly referred to as “Papa Joe,” Hendrick began his auto-racing career in the early 1960s with longtime friend Frank Edwards, winning races throughout the state of Virginia at tracks like South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will be immediately followed by a 1 p.m. memorial service at the Central Church of God, 5301 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270. For friends and family in Virginia, a Sunday graveside service will be held at Union Chapel Methodist Church in Palmer Springs at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Nazareth Children's Home, P.O. Box 1438, Rockwell, NC 28138, or the Papa Joe Hendrick Fund, care of the Hendrick Marrow Program, 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262.(Hendrick Motorsports Site - more there)(7-15-2004)

  • Stewart goes after Vickers UPDATE: #20-Tony Stewart again finds himself in the middle of controversy, this time involved in an alleged physical confrontation with rookie #25-Brian Vickers. Following Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway, Stewart brought his #20 Chevrolet to a rest on pit road, exited his car and hurried quickly to Vicker's car. Witnesses said the two engaged in what appeared to be an amicable conversation at first, with Stewart leaning over the driver's-side window of Vicker's car. After a few moments, Stewart became quite animated, began reaching into the car and tried to pull Vickers out, witnesses said. Members of Vicker's team quickly grabbed Stewart and hustled him away from the car. Stewart and Vickers both made a trip to the NASCAR hauler after the race. Late Sunday, NASCAR President Mike Helton said the sanctioning body was still gathering information about the incident. Vickers, who remained at the track well after Sunday's race while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon celebrated the win, said he had no idea why Stewart was upset. "He hit me earlier in the race and then he wrecked us in Turn 11 and that's why we spun there. Then after the race he came over to the car and then it just went from there. "I was still strapped in the car with my helmet off. He came after me in the car. He reached for me and knocked the breath out of me. It was not a fist and he didn't hit me in the face." Vickers said he laughed when Stewart yelled at him because he had no idea why Stewart was so angry. "He said that I laughed about the situation and when I laughed I pissed him off and that's why he did it. I'm not going to lie to him and say that I didn't smile about it," Vickers said. "Somebody is upset at me because they wrecked me and I thought it was funny."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-28-2004)
    AND from a Raybestos ROTY report/PR: BRIAN VICKERS, #22 GMAC CHEVROLET:
    NOTES: Vickers finished 22nd and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the fourth time this season.
    WHAT WAS TONY STEWART SO UPSET ABOUT?
    "To be honest with you, I have no idea why he is upset. He hit me earlier in the race and then he wrecked us in turn 11 and that's why we spun there. Then after the race he came over to the car and then it just went from there."
    YOU WERE STILL SITTING IN THE CAR?
    "I was still strapped in the car with my helmet off."
    WAS HE YELLING AT YOU?
    "At first it was a discussion about why he hit me and I thought it was kind of funny. I was trying to figure out why he was coming to me, mad at me, when he hit me. I was a little confused there and I thought it was kind of funny and that's when he came in the car after me."
    WHAT DID NASCAR SAY ABOUT ALL THAT?
    "You'll have to ask them for that. That's a question that you will have to ask NASCAR."
    WHAT PREVENTED IT FROM GETTING OUT OF HAND?
    "My team grabbed him off and pulled him off of me. He came after me in the car. He reached for me and knocked the breath out of me. Here's the deal: it was not a fist and he did not hit me in the face. He hit the armrest and he reached in the car and he grabbed me in the chest and when he did he hit me. It was kind of open-palm, grabbed my shirt. It was hard enough to knock the breath out of me and then he tried to pull me out of the car and that's when my guys grabbed me."
    DID STEWART APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU GUYS MET WITH NASCAR AFTER THE RACE?
    "He said that I laughed about the situation and when I laughed it pissed him off and that's why he did it. I said 'Yeah, I did laugh. I thought it was funny that you were mad at me because you wrecked me.' I thought it was funny. I'm not going to lie to him and say that I didn't smile about it. That's how I was raised. This is not a situation that I'm going to make a big deal out of. Somebody is upset at me because they wrecked me and I thought it was funny. He was always behind me. I never passed him, I was never behind him."
    HAVE YOU EVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH TONY BEFORE TODAY?
    "No, actually Tony I get along. Well, we used to [laughs]. We used to get along fine, actually, I guess as well as can be."
    ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS WILL SORT THEMSELVES OUT?
    "I'm sure NASCAR will do the right thing. I'm sure they will handle the situation. They'll take care of it. If this happened at a restaurant, it would be my problem to handle. This happened at their racetrack and they're running the deal. It's their problem to handle and I'm sure they'll do the right thing. Right now, I'm looking forward to next weekend. What happens down the road happens. Am I happy with the guy right now? No, not really but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. That's NASCAR's job to penalize people for things like that, not mine. Whatever NASCAR decides is their decision and I' support them in whatever they do."(Camp and Assoc.)
    AND II After his visit to the NASCAR hauler Sunday, Stewart left without comment. But he and Vickers did speak afterward.(see another story at NASCAR.com)(6-28-2004)
    UPDATE: Tony Stewart could get word today or Wednesday from NASCAR officials about his run-in with rookie Brian Vickers after Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-29-2004)

  • Off to F-1 for the day: Teammates #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers and #48-Jimmie Johnson and several Hendrick Motorsports team members hopped aboard a helicopter and then a private plane and headed for Indianapolis immediately after the final practice Saturday. They made the quick trip to Indy in time to watch qualifying for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix and take a tour of the Formula One garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We're going to show these guys a little bit about what Formula One is like and how it works," said Gordon, who earlier this year caught an F1 race in Barcelona, Spain. Joining the drivers, who will start 1-2-3 in Sunday's race, were Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief, Hendrick Motorsports competition manager Ken House and Brian Whitesell, team manager for Gordon and Johnson.(Michigan Live/AP)(6-19-2004)

  • Papa Joe Honored: "Papa Joe" Hendrick, the father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick who planted the seed that has grown into one of NASCAR's most successful organizations, was presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by N.C. Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday. The award is the State of North Carolina's highest honor presented to an individual for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization. Gov. Easley made the presentation at Hendrick's headquarters near Lowe's Motor Speedway, in front of nearly 450 of the organization's employees, including Hendrick Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson, who won Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. "Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick you really have helped the weak grow strong and you've made the strong grow great," Easley said. "Because of the work that you two started many, many years ago, you have improved the quality of life of thousands of North Carolinians and those beyond this state."
    "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., 84, has been in and out of a Charlotte, N.C., hospital battling cancer in recent months. He and his wife, Mary, were on hand Tuesday to receive the honor. Johnson and former Hendrick driver Ken Schrader made remarks during the presentation. Johnson lauded "Papa Joe" for his courage in the face of adversity. "Pop, you make us all wake up every morning and work a little harder seeing how hard you've fought through everything," he said. "You give us all a lot of inspiration to wake up each morning, put a smile on our face and get to work." "Papa Joe" Hendrick co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 Nextel Cup series teams with his grandson, Ricky Hendrick. "Papa Joe" Hendrick began racing modifieds in the early 1960s. While fielding a car with driver Ray Hendrick (no relation), the team won races throughout Virginia at such tracks as South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-2-2004)

  • Vickers testing at road courses: Only two of Nextel Cup's 36 races are on road courses, but the events are important enough that rookie Brian Vickers is doing extensive road-course testing before the tour travels to Infineon Raceway on June 27. Two weeks ago, Vickers tested at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C., with veteran Hendrick Motorsports teammate Terry Labonte. "Terry is very smart when it comes road racing," Vickers says. "I really learned a lot from him in Kershaw." The team also plans on testing at Virginia International Raceway, Infineon and Watkins Glen prior to the two Cup events.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-31-2004)

  • Hendrick to build new shop: Hendrick Motorsports plans to build a new shop for its #5 and #25 teams, a team source confirmed to NASCAR.COM on Friday. The shop will be built next to the two-year-old shop that houses the No. 24 and 48 teams in Harrisburg, N.C., near Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hendrick's pairing of Jeff Gordon's #24 and Jimmie Johnson's #48 teams in one location has proven successful, as Johnson has won seven times and Gordon eight times in the two-plus seasons they have been together. Hendrick hopes the 25/5 shop - which will be headquarters for drivers Brian Vickers and Terry Labonte, respectively - will be done by the end of 2004. Vickers' and Labonte's teams are currently in separate buildings, but Hendrick wants all four Nextel Cup teams as close to each other as possible. The #25 team is housed next to the current museum, which could expand slightly into the old shop. Or Hendrick's chassis engineering department, which needs more room, could take over the old #25 shop. Labonte's #5 team moved into Gordon's old shop. Plans for that building are unclear.(NASCAR.com)(5-22-2004)

  • New Book about Hendrick: UMI Publications, in conjunction with Hendrick Motorsports, is pleased to announce a new book celebrating 20 years of NASCAR competition by one of the most outstanding organizations in motorsports history. What began as a chance meeting between a semi-retired crew chief and a successful businessman with a passion for racing ultimately grew into a motorsports empire that garnered well over 100 victories and nine NASCAR championships in just its first 20 years of competition. "Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" documents the history of Rick Hendrick's racing organization from its inception, in 1983, and recounts each racing season leading up to and including Hendrick Motorsports' historic milestone, its 20th season, in 2003.
    Perhaps no other racing organization has accumulated such a record of success in such a short period of time, and "Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" tells the whole story of how these achievements were accomplished. Quite simply, this is a story that needed to be told, and UMI Publications is honored to bring it to the public eye with award-winning writing and outstanding photos, many of which have never before been published.
    "Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" is available directly from the publisher for $34.95 plus shipping & handling, and may by ordered by contacting UMI Publications, Inc., at 1-800-747-9287 or by visiting their website at www.umipub.com. Book excerpts may be viewed at www.ThatsRacin.com.(5-20-2004)

  • Hendrick Motorsports Fan Festival - May 26-28: As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Hendrick Motorsports will host a fan festival at its Charlotte-based headquarters May 26-28 prior to the May 30 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Free and open to the public, the festival was designed as a way to thank fans for their support of the team since its 1984 inception. Scheduled to run 8:30am until 6:00pm each day, the event will include interactive games, show cars, sponsor displays, product sampling and autograph sessions from past and present Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Townsend's Gourmet will sell food throughout the festival, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Hendrick Marrow Program. The 15,000-square-foot Hendrick Motorsports Museum will offer festival-goers a free-of-charge glimpse into HMS history, including championship trophies; three of Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolets; Tim Richmond's #25 Chevy; the very first #5 "All-Star Racing" car; and the "Days of Thunder" Lumina driven by Tom Cruise. The facility has recently been updated with new trophies, cars and other memorabilia. Lowe's Motor Speedway will provide free festival parking, which can be accessed at "Lot Z" off Speedway Boulevard in Concord. Trams will be available to transport fans from the parking area to the festival grounds. For additional information, including directions and schedule updates, fans may visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com or call 877-467-4890 toll free.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(4-28-2004)

  • Hendrick Motorsports 20th Anniversary 2004 Schemes: Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports goes to Lowe's Motors Speedway with special paint schemes on the Chevy's for the race in October 2004. #25-Brian Vickers, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, and #5-Terry Labonte of the HMS team will be racing together to commemorate the first twenty years of Hendrick Motorsports. These cars will be based on their primary paint schemes, but the colors will be replaced with a "silver on silver" paint palatte, giving them a platinum or chrome effect. Each car will have the Hendrick Motorsports commemorative 20th Anniversary logo.(4-23-2004)

  • Rick Hendrick gives CPCC $1 million: Rick Hendrick [#5, #24 and #48 Cup team owner], chairman of the national car sales company Hendrick Automotive Group, has donated $1 million to Central Piedmont Community College to build a center that will train mechanics in the latest automotive technology. CPCC will start construction on the Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology, on the Levine Campus in Matthews, by fall. It should be completed by December 2005. The $4 million, 25,000-square- foot building will be named for Rick Hendrick's father, who has been involved in auto racing for more than 40 years. The other $3 million will come from bonds, donations and other sources, according to the college. Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., 83, co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 NEXTEL series teams with grandson Ricky Hendrick. He is in a Charlotte hospital with an undisclosed illness.(Charlotte Observer)(4-22-2004)

  • Hendrick Motorsports signs prospects: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of drivers Blake Feese, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff, who will each compete under the Hendrick banner in 2004 thanks to a pair of developmental alliances that were also unveiled. Feese and Reid will each start a minimum of three ARCA Series events this season in the No. 5 Chevrolets of Bobby Gerhart Racing (BGR). The six-race schedule will serve as a driver-technology development project for Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engines and chassis to the Gerhart team, headquartered in Lebanon, Pa. In addition to the alliance with Gerhart, Hendrick Motorsports has inked an agreement with Indianapolis-based SS Racing that will allow Krisiloff to compete in 13 American Speed Association (ASA) events in 2004. In only his second career start on the ARCA circuit, Feese won at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on April 9, leading 29 of 113 laps in the #5 BGR Chevrolet powered by a Hendrick engine. Although unannounced at the time, the race was part of the Hendrick-BGR developmental program. In addition to his ARCA victory at Nashville, the Saybrook, Ill., native is scheduled to compete on the circuit at Kentucky Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway, both in the month of May. Driving the #5 BGR Chevrolets, Boston Reid will enter ARCA events at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway in May, Kansas Speedway in June and Kentucky Speedway in July. Krisiloff, 18, will race full-time in ASA competition with SS Racing beginning on May 29 at Lake Erie (Pa.) Speedway. Driving the No. 06 Chevrolets, he will be a teammate of three-time ASA champion Butch Miller.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
    Cup team owner Rick Hendrick will be interviewed via telephone this evening on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel (10pm/et), discussing today's HMS announcement that Hendrick has signed drivers Blake Feese, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff.(4-21-2004)

  • Update on the #25 Draftshaft Problem: Drive shaft failures are rare. In fact, prior to Brian Vickers' broken drive shaft at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series had gone more than a year since the last drive shaft failure, which seemingly victimizing the #10 Pontiac during practice at the 2003 Daytona 500. Whether or not the 10 car was a victim was answered in rather concrete terms when NASCAR levied a penalty against the team's crew chief for the use of an illegal, and excessively lightweight, part in the drive train. Vickers'#25 GMAC Chevrolet has now lost two drive shafts in the last three races, first during Happy Hour at Atlanta and next during the race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Answering the obvious questions, NASCAR sources say that the two failures were caused by different problems. The first one was the result of improper installation while the second one was attributed a weak part that failed in battle. There is no evidence indicating that the team is doing anything irregular.(Ford Racing)(4-5-2004)

  • Get Well The father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., is at a Charlotte, N.C., hospital with an undisclosed illness. "Papa Joe" Hendrick co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 Nextel Cup series teams along with his grandson, Ricky Hendrick. "I just like to say my thoughts and prayers are with Papa Joe," said Kyle Busch, who drives the No. 5 Chevrolet and finished third in Saturday's race at Bristol, Tenn. "He's a little bit sick right now. I don't know exactly what it is, but my prayers are with him. "We just want to make sure that Papa Joe and Rick and everybody is OK at home."
    "Papa Joe" Hendrick began racing modifieds in the early 1960s. While fielding a car with driver Ray Hendrick (no relation), the team won races throughout Virginia at such tracks as South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-28-2004)

  • NASCAR looking at the #25: Nextel Cup series director John Darby said officials at NASCAR's research and development center will look into an incident involving Brian Vickers' car during a practice session at Atlanta on Saturday. The driveshaft on Vickers' car broke, apparently punching a hole in the bottom of the car and sending a small chunk of metal through the catchfence and into an unoccupied area of the grandstands. A broken driveshaft is relatively rare in NASCAR, and it certainly got Vickers' attention. "When it comes apart, it's pretty big," Vickers said. "But luckily I wasn't hurt, nobody else was hurt. I could have sworn it sounded like a bomb went off. I thought we were under attack."(USA Today)(3-15-2004)

  • Vickers fan club and website unveiled: Representatives of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie contender Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, have introduced his all-new official website, www.brianvickers.com, and 2004 Brian Vickers Fan Club (BVFC). For info on Vickers fanclub and other drivers fanclubs, see my Fan Club Info page. Cool note: portion of all BVFC proceeds donated to Brian’s designated charities.(2-18-2004)

  • Hendrick Motorsports Website Re-launched: Hendrick Motorsports today unveiled its new-look Internet presence, www.HendrickMotorsports.com, with a fresh design and unique features found nowhere else on the Web. The latest version of the site, which received more than 1 million visits in 2003, marks the second re-design since HendrickMotorsports.com was initially launched in 1998.(HMS PR)(2-10-2004)

  • Brian Vickers and T. Wayne Robertson Fund Team Up to Sponsor Camper Cabin at the Victory Junction Gang Camp: When NASCAR driver Brian Vickers won the 2003 Busch Series Championship, he carried a photo of Adam Petty in his driver’s uniform to remind him of his close friend and to keep his memory alive. Now, the 20 year old champion has teamed up with another friend, fellow racer Toby Robertson, and the T. Wayne Robertson Fund to permanently honor Adam and the memory of T. Wayne Robertson by sponsoring a camper cabin at the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The donation will simply be acknowledged as, “a gift from the friends of Adam Petty and T. Wayne Robertson in their memory.” Vickers and Robertson, son of the late T. Wayne Robertson – former head of RJR’s Sports Marketing Enterprises, are both friends of the Petty family and their son, Adam, in whose honor the Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded. “Our families and the Pettys have enjoyed a relationship for years,” said Toby Robertson, “and we’re proud that the T. Wayne Robertson Fund can continue giving back to the community by honoring the memory of Adam and my father.” The funds will be used to underwrite the cost of a camper cabin. Victory Junction will have sixteen 2,300 square foot cabins capable of accommodating up to 10 campers and 10 counselors each session. During family weekends and specialized retreats, the cabins will accommodate two families per cabin. The maximum capacity for the cabins will be 160 during camper sessions or up to 32 families during the weekend sessions. The T. Wayne Robertson Memorial Fund was established in 1998 and is managed by the Winston-Salem Foundation. The fund benefits a variety of local North Carolina charitable and public service-related efforts dear to Robertson, including the racing, police and fire department sectors.(Victory Junction Gang Camp PR)(1-29-2004)

  • EMP becomes an assoc sponsor for the #25: Hendrick Motorsports announced a multi-year agreement that will feature Engineered Machined Products Inc. (EMP), the world leader in automotive thermal cooling and oil management systems, as an associate sponsor of the #25 Chevrolets driven by Brian Vickers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "EMP has already enjoyed a successful association with Brian and we're delighted they've chosen to continue that relationship by joining the #25 team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We're looking forward to many years of partnership." EMP began its relationship with Vickers in 2001 as a primary sponsor in the USAR ProCup Series and continued into the following year on the driver's NASCAR Busch Series entry.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(1-20-2004)

  • Ditech to move up to Cup: Ditech.com has elected to continue its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports in 2004 and will expand its involvement by joining the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series next season. Ditech.com will sponsor Hendrick Motorsports’ #25 Chevy driven by Brian Vickers.(Ditech Site), see images on the 2004 Cup Paint Schemes page or the #25 Team Schemes page (all will load, may take a bit)(1-1-2004)

    Past 2003 News

  • New Spotter for Vickers: Ricky Hendrick, owner of the #5 GMAC Busch Chevy, has assumed Winston Cup spotting duties for Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet. Hendrick made his spotting debut last week at North Carolina Speedway and will continue at Homestead.(Hendrick Motorpsorts PR)(11-13-2003)

  • Delphi to be major assoc of the #5 and Terry Labonte in 2004: Delphi Product & Service Solutions, part of Delphi Corp. announced today that they are renewing their relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and will become a major associate sponsor of the #5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2004. "We are very excited about the new sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports on the No. 5 car," said Francisco A. (Frank) Ordonez, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions and vice president, Delphi Corporation. "Our relationship with Hendrick Motorsports has been successful both on and off the racetrack during the past three years, and this new agreement demonstrates our commitment going forward. We are thrilled about having the Delphi brand associated with the winning tradition of the No. 5 team." Delphi will be prominently featured on the #5 Chevy in all Nextel Cup races during the 2004 season. In addition, Delphi will be the primary sponsor of the car at the Brickyard 400, along with three other events, yet to be determined.(Yahoo Biz)(11-4-2003)

  • Hendrick buying the #01 and half of the #10? UPDATE Denied: hearing Hendrick Motorsports/Rick Hendrick may be purchasing the #01-US Army MB2 team and half of the #10 MBV Valvoline team. Joe Nemechek drives the #01 Pontiac and Scott Riggs will drive the #10 Valvoline Pontiac in 2004. Johnny Benson is the current driver.(10-24-2003)
    UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports [HMS] officials on Friday denied an Internet report that it was considering buying into MB2/MBV Motorsports which currently fields Pontiacs for Winston Cup drivers Joe Nemechek and Johnny Benson. Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said HMS is not interested in buying any or all of the MB2/MBV teams. The interest in Hendrick's relationship with MB2/MBV has been fueled by several arrangements recently between the two organizations, including the move of Hendrick's former driver, Nemechek, to MB2's #01 team. Hendrick also had a tentative arrangement to place its Busch driver, Brian Vickers, in MB2's #01 the final four races of this season. That deal was nullified when Nemechek left for the #01, and Vickers moved to HMS' #25, which he will run full time in 2004. Also, HMS currently provides all the engines for the MB2 and MBV teams.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-24-2003)

  • Vickers not the Youngest UPDATE well...looks like he is: Brian Vickers will come to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series next season driving for Rick Hendrick [#25]. When the season begins he'll be 20 years old, making him one of the youngest full-time drivers in series history. But he won't be the youngest. That distinction belongs to Bobby Hillin Jr., who was 19 years old at the start of the 1985 season. Of course, you could also throw in Richie Panch, who was 19 and drove 28 races during the 1974 season. Panch, though, gets an asterisk in this statistical category: there were 30 races in the 1974 season, leaving him two short of true full-time status.(NASCAR PR)(9-10-2003)
    UPDATE: According to research, if Brian Vickers starts every Winston Cup race next season, he will be the youngest driver ever to run a full season [all 36 races] in the modern era. Panch was younger in 1974, but he didn't start every event on the schedule that year [28 of 30]. Actually Hillin was born in June of 1964, so he turned 21 in June of 1985, his first full season. Vickers will turn 21 in October of 2004. Some asked about Kyle Petty, his first full year was 1981 and he turned 21 in June of that year.(9-11-2003)

  • and....Vickers to drive final four Cup races in the #25: Brian Vickers will drive the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet in the final four NASCAR Winston Cup Series races of 2003 it was announced today by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. Vickers will succeed Joe Nemechek, who was named driver of the #01 Winston Cup entry this afternoon. Nemechek, 40, will compete at Martinsville Speedway in the #25 Chevy before moving full-time to MB2 Motorsports the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This opportunity affords both Brian and Joe the chance to get a jump on next season with their new teams," Hendrick said. "It's something that we all feel is mutually beneficial for the drivers and organizations alike. Joe led the #25 team back to Victory Lane and handled himself like a genuine professional from Day One. We truly appreciate everything he's done for Hendrick Motorsports, both on the race track and off." Originally scheduled to drive the #01 car in the final four Winston Cup events of 2003, Vickers will pilot the #25 Chevy at Atlanta, Phoenix, Rockingham, N.C., and the season finale at Homestead, Fla. He will drive the car full-time next season with primary sponsorship from GMAC Financial Services. Vickers, who will turn 20 on Oct. 24, made his Winston Cup debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday, starting 20th and finishing 33rd in the #60 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(10-13-2003)

  • Nemechek close to 2004 ride? UPDATE 3: not sure who, but hearing Joe Nemechek, currently in the #25 Hendrick Motorpsorts Chevy, is close to signing a deal with an established Cup team, not PPI Motorsports 2nd team. Hearing it could be the #01 US Army team.(10-11-2003)
    Nadeau part time in 2004? UPDATE Nemechek in th