Front Row looking for a crew chief: hearing Front Row Motorsports #34 crew chief Brian Burns has left the team, no word on who will replace Burns as Travis Kvapil’s crew chief in 2011 but the team is supposedly looking for a crew chief. Hearing plans are to run Kvapil full time in the #34 Ford and David Gilliland full time in the #38 [using #37 owners points] with the #37 Ford being run part time [using #38 owners ppoints, which are not in the top 35 for the first 5 races].(12-20-2010)

Front Row to 2 cars? Kvapil returns in 2011: from an interview with driver Travis Kvapil:
Kvapil: For next year, we're going to up our goals. It looks like we'll have some better equipment and a better gameplan for next year. We probably won't have three teams. I'm not 100% sure on that, but it looks like we'll be able to focus our attention on two cars, two teams, and that should make us better.
Q) How much of a difference will a two-car shift make?
Kvapil: That's part of what I'm talking about [that] I don't think people understand. Going from Texas to Phoenix after the race, we have to pull ballast, lead, out of these cars for our Phoenix cars. We just don't have enough stuff. We have to pull sway bar arms, springs — we just don't have the components to really be prepared. Hopefully downsizing would be able to help that. We've got three cars on the track right now. We downsize to two, that frees up a lot of equipment and components to where it'd be easier to be better prepared.(Frontstretch)(11-11-2010)

Blaney uninjured in car wreck: Dave Blaney was uninjured in an auto accident Sunday night when he hit a deer while returning home from the airport after the Texas race.(Roanoke Times)(11-10-2010)

Front Row #38 to keep running despite points position: After Talladega, #7-Robby Gordon is in 34th place, 14 points ahead of #71-TRG, which is 116 points ahead of Front Row's #38 third car and 217 points clear of #26-Latitude 43. Since August, Front Row had put a lot of its focus on getting the 38 back in the top 35, where it comfortably sat until it was penalized 150 points in June for illegally modified tire-valve caps. Since Michigan in August, in three different three-race periods, Front Row had made up significant gaps on 35th: 87, 85 and 79 points, respectively. After the most recent three-race period, which ended at Charlotte, Front Row's car was only five points out of 35th going into Martinsville two weekends ago. But after breaking a rear-end gear there as Kvapil was running well ahead of the 7 and 71, and finishing 35th -- and now the Talladega debacle -- Freeze said the team would reshuffle its plan for the rest of this season. "We knew this weekend was going to be a challenge, so [breaking the gear] was a huge setback. Bob [Jenkins, team owner] and I talked about it [Sunday] morning and we're still going to run the 38 the last three races and make the best effort with it.(NASCAR.com)(11-2-2010)

Crew chief changes again at Front Row: The teams of Front Row Motorsports will have new leadership atop the pit boxes beginning with this weekend's race events in Fontana, Calif. Front Row has named Brian Burns crew chief of Travis Kvapil's Long John Silver's #34 team, and moved crew chief Greg Conner to lead the #37 A&W All American Food team, which will have Dave Blaney at the wheel at Auto Club Speedway. Burns has been an integral member of the Long John Silver's team, serving as its lead engineer since the beginning of the 2009 season. He gained experience calling the shots for Kvapil's car earlier this year when he served as interim crew chief for the June race at Michigan International Speedway. Before coming to Front Row, Burns spent six years with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, providing engineering support to its three race teams.
Conner moves over to the A&W team after serving as crew chief of the Long John Silver's team for the past three months. The racing veteran has experience in all three of NASCAR's top series and has called races for drivers including Marcos Ambrose, Ricky Craven and Kevin Lepage. "We still have seven races to run and we want to make the most of them," said Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports. "I think the world of both of these guys, and having them in these positions now is going to make us stronger at the end of this season and also help prepare us for next year." Peter Sospenzo remains the crew chief for the #38 Taco Bell team - Front Row Motorsports' third car - which is driven by David Gilliland.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(10-6-2010)

Blaney back in the #38: Dave Blaney returns to drive the #38 A&W All American Food Ford at Kansas Speedway this week, driving the Front Row Motorsports car for the second time this season. He and the A&W team look to qualify the #38 Fusion on speed for Sunday's Price Chopper 400. Always a strong qualifier, Blaney successfully put the same car in the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this month in his first run with Front Row. Travis Kvapil is in the #34 Long John Silver's Ford and David Gilliland is in the #37 Taco Bell Ford this week at Kansas for Front Row Racing.(Breaking Limits)(9-29-2010)

Drivers visiting Walter Reed: NASCAR's annual visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center is set for Thursday, with a total of 10 drivers scheduled to attend along with NASCAR President Mike Helton. Drivers expected to visit include #43-AJ Allmendinger, #16-Greg Biffle, #2-Kurt Busch, #38-David Gilliland,#17-Matt Kenseth, #12-Brad Keselowski, #98-Paul Menard, #87-Joe Nemechek, #39-Ryan Newman and #82-Scott Speed. Show cars on display are expected to be #39 U.S. ARMY Chevy, #88 National Guard Chevy, #99 Scotts Ford, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, #11 FedEx Toyota, #24 National Guard Chevy, #10 Sprint show car and a NASCAR/Walter Reed Army Medical Center car.(NASCAR)(9-22-2010)

Front Row sues Conway and Extenze: Front Row Motorsports is suing its former driver Kevin Conway and his sponsor Biotab Nutraceuticals, which sells Extenze, over alleged non-payment of part of a $5.4 million sponsorship deal for Conway to drive a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in 2010. The lawsuit was filed Monday [Sept 13] in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. A Front Row Motorsports spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit, which asks for damages to cover the $2.754 million that will eventually be due under the terms of the contract, payment of $734,201 in sponsorship fees, hard card fees, race licenses and other expenses for services rendered and $135,000 advanced to Conway as part of his base compensation. "It's really unfortunate that they've made some pretty outrageous allegations against us and the good thing is we'll have our day in court, and the truth will all come to light in the months ahead," Conway said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Unfortunately, I can't really comment on the specifics."
According to the complaint and contracts attached as exhibits, Extenze was to pay Conway's marketing company Exclaim $5.4 million in 50 weekly installments of $108,000, and that money was then to be sent to the race team. The $5.4 million was designed to cover the first 15 races, and then Extenze would have the option of funding the remaining 21 events through revenues generated by a product placement contract. The team would get 15% for product placement at dollar stores, retail stores or wholesale auto parts stores.
Conway's base compensation, according to a contract that is an exhibit in the lawsuit, was $540,000 plus 10% of any other sponsorships brought in for the car. He also would get paid 15% of all purse money and season point fund money, with the percentage increasing to 30% for any top-20, 35% for a top-10 and 45% for a top-five. Front Row was obligated to put Conway in a car that was in the top 35 in owner points, and if he failed to make the field in two consecutive races or any three during the season, the contract could be terminated. The deal between Conway and Front Row went sour during the summer, according to the complaint, when Exclaim allegedly began paying only half of its $108,000 payments beginning June 21. Exclaim is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit. Front Row notified Conway on Aug. 8 that he would not be back in the car beginning with the Aug. 15 race at Michigan if his sponsor could not pay its $108,000 weekly fee. Conway did not compete at Michigan but then ran the next three events for Robby Gordon Motorsports. He is scheduled to run seven of the final 10 events for RGM but will not be in the car this weekend because team owner Robby Gordon has sponsorship for the New Hampshire race. The lawsuit was filed by Charlotte attorney Ron Skufca, who represents the North Carolina-based Front Row Motorsports. Biotab is based in California.(SceneDaily)(9-15-2010)

Front Row could drop down to 2 teams in 2011: When asked about the future of the team's third car, the #38 squad that currently sits outside the top 35 in owner points, Front Row Motorsports Jerry Freeze didn't mince words. “It's a big question mark right now. Unless we have some phenomenal success in finding sponsorship, I don't see any way we can carry three cars next year. I think the likely scenario is that FRM will run two cars next year. We really like David [Gilliland] and Travis [Kvapil], we're planning on those guys coming back and we're talking with them about it, so that's the direction I think we'll be going in. Then again, maybe we start next year running that third car if it's in the top 35. If it's not, it may just go away.” That said, the team is also very much aware of just how valuable team number three is. They know just how close they are to locking a third entry into the Sprint Cup field, and what that means from both a competitive and fiscal standpoint. “Now we get that car back in the top 35, we have a lot of options for next year," Freeze explains. "That's why we're working so hard ... I would bet the house that if we had a third car in the top 35 at the end of this year that we could find a driver with a sponsor to run the Daytona 500. That's a great-paying race, and could be a great value to FRM.”(Frontstretch)(9-10-2010)

Crew changes at Front Row: A Front Row Motorsports crew chief swap will put NASCAR veteran Peter Sospenzo at the helm of the #37 Taco Bell Ford team of David Gilliland beginning this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Randy Seals, who previously led Gilliland's team, will call the shots for teammate Dave Blaney in the #38 A&W All American Food Ford. The team and pit crew working under each crew chief will switch also.(FRM/Breaking Limits)(9-2-2010)

Blaney to run for two teams: Dave Blaney thought his NASCAR Sprint Series racing was done for the year when he quit his association with Prism Motorsports [#66/#55 Toyota's] before the Michigan race Aug. 15, but the crankshaft gods had other plans. Blaney didn’t skip a beat as he joined two racing teams to finish out the remaining 12 dates on the 2010 schedule. “I guess I just got to the point where I thought I wasn’t going anywhere,” Blaney said on Tuesday, a few weeks after parting ways with Prism. “It finally wore me down. I was going to be OK being done and not going back to any races this year, but then drivers started moving around a little and a couple seats opened up. So, I’ll finish out most of the year and see what happens.” Just when Blaney thought he’d use the down time watching the racing career of his son, Ryan, Dave got a call from Tommy Baldwin of Tommy Baldwin Racing. “We tried to run Bristol [Aug. 21], but didn’t make the race, but, between Baldwin and the 38 [or 34 & 37] of Front Row Motorsports — those two cars — I’ll probably run the majority of the races left.” As Blaney spoke, he was en route to Statesville, N.C. to finalize his plans with the Front Row team that will run Dave in six races. He’ll run five or six others in Baldwin’s #36. “I’ll jump back and forth between the two teams,” Blaney said of his latest arrangement. While FRM races every week (no start-and-park gimmick), Baldwin’s will be a mix. “I might get to race [full distance] the majority of them [the 12]. I don’t know for sure, but looks like I’ll, at least, have something else to go run. That may lead to something down the road or maybe not.” The Front Row seat opened on Aug. 13 when Kevin Conway and the #34 lost its ExtenZe Racing sponsorship. “It sounds like I’m going to run six races and Tony Raines will run the other six,” Blaney said of his schedule split with Front Row. With Baldwin, Blaney assumes the seat vacated when Baldwin lost Casey Mears, who jumped in the #13 car that Max Papis was in. “I got a couple chances to jump in here and there,” Blaney said. Of Blaney’s newest teams, Front Row is the better funded, running three cars fulltime. “Most weeks, either Long John Silver’s or Taco Bell is on the #38,” Blaney said. Sponsors for Baldwin aren’t as steady. Front Row’s other two teams are the 34 of Travis Kvapil and the #37 of Dave Gilliland.(Vindicator), no word which races for which team yet.(8-25-2010)

Front Row Appeal UPDATE: Front Row Motorsports' [#38-Travis Kvapil] appeal for violations at Pocono will be Tuesday in the Charlotte area.(Roanoke Times), no word when an announcement on a decision will be made.(6-22-2010)
UPDATE: On June 22, 2010, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of Front Row Motorsports regarding the #38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. The appeal concerned two penalties issued by NASCAR stemming from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2010. The penalties concern Section 12-1 of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing”; Section 12-4-J: “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR Rules”; and Section 20-10.7J: “Unapproved modification to valve stem hardware.” Originally, a total of 5 penalties were assessed for the infractions, including a deduction of 150 NSCS owner points for Doug Yates; a deduction of 150 NSCS driver points for Travis Kvapil; and a $100,000 fine, 12-race suspension, and probation for crew chief Steven Lane. Subsequently, those 3 penalties were withdrawn from the appeal, and the crew chief has begun serving his suspension. The two remaining penalties were appealed:
-suspension from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing events; suspension from NASCAR until Sept 15, 2010, and probation until December 31, 2010 for crew member, Richard Bourgeois (car chief)
-suspension from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing events; suspension from NASCAR until Sept 15, 2010, and probation until December 31, 2010 for crew member, Michael Harrold (tire specialist)
The Appellants requested and were granted a deferral of these suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened. The Appellants and team representative argued that, unbeknownst to the team management or the Appellants, valve stem caps designed to bleed air were developed by rogue elements of the team; that for some reason this hardware was mistakenly brought to the Pocono event on the team hauler; and that the caps were then accidently placed on the race car just prior to the start of the race. A small hole had been drilled in the top of each of the valve stem caps in question, and a foam material had been added to the interior of each cap. These valve stem caps were located on the left front and both rear tires of the race car upon discovery. The Panel did not find the Appellants explanation to be plausible. The Panel found the penalties to be correct for the nature of the infraction. Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The periods of suspension shall be adjusted from the date of the hearing. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer. The panel who heard the appeal were: Leo Mehl, Waddell Wilson and Humpy Wheeler along with George Silbermann - Appellate Administrator and non-voting member.(NASCAR)(6-22-2010)

Front Row Motorsports to appeal penalties UPDATE 2: The Front Row Motorsports #38 team. Crew chief Steve Lane was fined $100,000 and suspended for 12 weeks, along with car chief Richard Bourgeois and tire specialist Michael Harrold. Driver Travis Kvapil and car owner Doug Yates were docked 150 points each after the infractions [illegal valve stem caps] were discovered at Pocono. Team co-owner Bob Jenkins took responsibility for the "unintentional" mistake and plans to appeal the penalty. The violation was found following a rain delay in last Sunday's race. Kvapil's rear tires were almost flat, and NASCAR discovered that the valve stem caps on the tires had been altered to allow air to gradually leak out -- an act that would help the car with its speed during a long run. Though Jenkins recognizes the need to discipline the team, he believes the penalties were "excessive." [Supposedly Lane has been released from the team] "It was obvious to me, and I think to others, that there was no intent," Jenkins said. "Obviously it is a big fine and it is a lot of points. ... I understand there should be a fine, but I felt that 12-week suspensions and that level of points are pretty high." Jenkins pointed to the timing of the infraction, early in the race, as evidence the mistake was innocent. "If you look at the specifics of it, it just doesn't make sense," Jenkins said.(Associated Press)(6-12-2010)
UPDATE1: No date has been set for Front Row Motorsports' appeal of penalties leveled on the team earlier this week. An appeal is expected to be scheduled after next weekend's race at Infineon Raceway.(Ronaoke Times)
UPDATE 2: Lane is not at the track this weekend to attend his daughter's graduation. The car chief is at the track, while the tire specialist is not with the team -- he was a one-week replacement for the team's regular tire specialist, who had a family emergency. An internal investigation continues with the team. They are unsure how the bleeder valve stems (meant to relieve tire pressure as it builds, thus maintains tire consistency) found their way on the car.(Virginian Pilot)(6-12-2010)

Front Row Motorsports Names Burns Interim Crew Chief: Front Row Motorsports named Brian Burns interim crew chief for the #38 team for the race weekend at Michigan International Speedway. He has served as the team's engineer since the beginning of the 2009 season. Burns takes the place of Steven Lane, who is serving a NASCAR-imposed suspension for rule infractions at last weekend's Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.(Breaking Limits)(6-11-2010)

Illegal bleeder valves on the #38 at Pocono? UPDATE 2 penalties announced: Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that NASCAR discovered clandestine [secrecy or concealed] air pressure bleeder valves on the tires of Travis Kvapil's #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Following the rain delay, NASCAR officials reportedly observed two soft tires on the rear of Kvapil's car and held him from rolling back onto the track for the start of the race. Closer examination of those tire and wheel assemblies allegedly revealed illegal bleeder valves, which purge excess air pressure from the tires as it accumulates under race conditions. If confirmed, the team would likely face a major NASCAR penalty, since tires are considered to be one of the sanctions "untouchable" items, along with engines and fuel.(Sirius Speedway)(6-8-2010)
UPDATE: After yesterday’s story about Front Row’s possible infraction at Pocono, [NASCAR Insiders] are hearing today that the penalty from NASCAR could be the biggest ever handed down. When NASCAR makes the announcement later today or tomorrow, expect the penalty to include a $250,000 fine and 300 driver and owner points for Travis Kvapil and owner Bob Jenkins. A suspension for crew chief Steven Lane will also be included. This penalty tops the sanctions handed down last season to Carl Long’s team after his engine was discovered to be too large at Charlotte. No word yet on how this will affect the team’s status moving forward. Expect the team to appeal the decision. (NASCAR Insiders)(6-8-2010)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the #38 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions committed during last Sunday’s event at Pocono Raceway. The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-10.7J (unapproved modification to valve stem hardware) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. As a result, crew chief Steve Lane has been fined $100,000, suspended for the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Richard Bourgeois and tire specialist Michael Harrold have also been suspended from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Travis Kvapil and owner Doug Yates have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and 150 owner points, respectively.(NASCAR)(6-9-2010)
APPEAL: Front Row Motorsports supports NASCAR in its efforts to enforce competition rules and to maintain integrity throughout the sport. Therefore, Front Row accepts that NASCAR must penalize the team for a rules infraction regarding valve stem caps on the #38 car at Pocono Raceway on June 6. "We take the rules of this sport very seriously, and we support NASCAR in its enforcement of those rules," said Bob Jenkins, team owner. "It was not our intent to put unapproved valve stem caps on our car at Pocono, a track where such a maneuver would clearly not provide any advantage. We are conducting our own internal investigation to determine how those parts got into our inventory and onto our car last weekend. "While we recognize we have to pay for our mistake, this was an unintentional, isolated incident," Jenkins continued. "We plan to immediately submit an appeal through NASCAR's formal appeal process as outlined by the NASCAR rule book." The team's three entries will compete this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.(Breaking Limits)
OWNERS POINTS: The loss of 150 owners points drops the #38 team to 36th in owners points and out of the top-35 by 66 points. #7-Robby Gordon moves up into 35th in owners points, 66 points ahead of the #38, so Gordon now has a guaranteed starting spot at Michigan and the #38 team doesn't. #26-David Stremme's team is still 37th, but is not only 87 points out of the top 35. HOWEVER, with the appeal, the penalty could be deferred and the points not yet deduected and Lane and Bourgeois not under suspenion.(6-9-2010)

Richardson Ready to Run at 'Dega: Robert Richardson Jr. returns to the cockpit of a Front Row Motorsports Ford for the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend - his second of three races with the team during the 2010 season. The college quarterback-turned-racer brings the colors of Mahindra USA Tractors to the #37 Ford Fusion for Sunday's race at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Richardson finished 31st in the season-opening Daytona 500 with Front Row [running their #38 Ford there] and will return to the team for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. He brought home a top-20 finish in his first, and only other, Sprint Cup start at Talladega last fall when he finished 18th. Richardson Jr. on Talladega Superspeedway: "Front Row Motorsports has been a great fit for me, being able to come over from our Nationwide Series team of R3 Motorsports to a team on the Cup side with experienced drivers like Travis Kvapil and David Gilliland has been good for me this year. Being able to exchange notes with those guys definitely helps. Bob Jenkins has given me the opportunity to run their Sprint Cup car at Talladega, and also in Daytona in July. I'm just honored to have the couple of opportunities to run in the Sprint Cup series."(Front Row Motorsports)m Richardson Jr. is scheduled to run in whatever car # Gilliland is in at the time of the race, could be #37 or #38 deoending on owners points position.(4-23-2010)

Wife of Slain Alabama Policeman Named ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief: When a hero loses his or her life in service to community or country it is those left behind that are forced to display heroism in coping with the loss. Paula Davis, the 39-year-old widow of slain Pelham Officer Philip Davis, is admirably showing this courage and has been named the 'ExtenZe Local Hero' and ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief for the upcoming NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway.
In the early morning hours of December 4, 2009, Policeman Philip Davis was patrolling I-65 in Pelham, Alabama. Officer Davis, 33, had pulled over a driver for speeding when he was shot and killed during the routine traffic stop. The suspect then fled the scene, but was apprehended two hours later and charged with capital murder. In the Pelham Police Department's 45-year history, Davis became the first officer to be killed in the line of duty. He had been with the Pelham force for almost five years, and had previously worked for the Calera Police Department after beginning his law enforcement career with the University of Alabama Police Department. Left behind was Paula, Philip's wife of five years, and two small toddlers.
"Paula is a dedicated mother and strong woman dealing with the unimaginable," said Kevin Conway, driver of the ExtenZe Racing #38 Ford Fusion and leading Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate. "Her family and friends, as well as the Pelham Police Department and people in the community, have all joined together to provide support. When ExtenZe Racing learned of her story we thought it would be nice to pitch in and honor her by providing a fun, one-of-a-kind experience at Talladega Superspeedway."
'ExtenZe Local Hero' recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red #38 ExtenZe Ford Fusion. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe, the world's best selling male enhancement product. Fans can visit www.ExtenZeRacing.com to nominate their own local heroes or review who has been previously chosen. Also check in on blog/twitter feeds for the latest information on ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway.(ExtenZe Racing/Breaking Limits)(4-23-2010)

ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief for Texas named: When a small plane was intentionally crashed into an Austin, Texas, building that housed Internal Revenue Service offices, Robin De Haven was on the scene and rushed to aid people stranded in the raging inferno. For his bravery, 28-year-old De Haven has been named an 'ExtenZe Local Hero' and will be the ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief at the upcoming Texas Motor Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend. It was Feb. 18 and De Haven, a window-glass repairman, was on his way to a job site when he saw a plane flying uncomfortably low. The plane soon disappeared and thick, black smoke began to rise and fill the sky. Unsure of what happened, De Haven opted to drive over and investigate.
When he arrived on scene, De Haven was met with smoke, flames and chaos. He pulled into a parking lot, spoke with a 911 operator, and learned from bystanders that people were trapped on the building's second floor and yelling for help. He grabbed a 20-ft. long ladder from his truck and headed for the fiery, twisted mess. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, De Haven hastily placed the long ladder against the building and managed his way up unsteady rails.
Upon reaching the second story, De Haven pushed by a shattered window and entered the building. There he found six people trapped with no exit due to a smoke-filled hallway. After calming their nerves, he realized the precarious ladder he came up wouldn't do the trick for getting everyone to safety. The stranded group then broke through another window and De Haven climbed out on a skinny ledge. He hollered to people on the ground and had them move his ladder to a fastened position and instructed them to lean it to the ledge. De Haven then helped all six people shimmy to the ground and was the last person down the ladder to safety.
The 'ExtenZe Local Hero' program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference. Those selected have faced danger, sacrificed their own safety for others or in some way displayed leadership that changed their community for the better. Award recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red #38 ExtenZe Ford Fusion. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe in recognition of their selflessness. Fans can visit www.ExtenZeRacing.com to nominate their own local heroes or review who has been previously chosen. Also check in on blog/twitter feeds for the latest information on ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway.(ExtenZe Racing)(4-17-2010)

Gander Mountain Sponsors Gilliland at Martinsville: Gander Mountain will be the primary sponsor of Front Row Motorsports' #37 Sprint Cup entry at the Martinsville Speedway on March 28. The car will be piloted by David Gilliland, currently 35th in driver point standings in the Sprint Cup Series. Gander Mountain became a sponsor because of the number of NASCAR fans who also enjoy the outdoors, according to Steve Uline, Gander Mountain's executive vice president of marketing. The company will also sponsor Gilliland's car for the August 1 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway. "David Gilliland is an avid outdoorsman, as are many NASCAR fans," Uline said. "One of David's favorite pastimes outside of NASCAR is fishing. He understands Gander Mountain's 'We Live Outdoors' culture and is the perfect driver to help us take our message to race fans." Gander Mountain, with 119 stores in 23 states, is the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, boating, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle apparel, products and services. The company offers thousands of products in its online store and now includes free standard shipping. In addition, the site now offers a firearms department with a broad selection of ammunition, rifles, handguns, shotguns and accessories. Gander Mountain is also the parent company of Overton's (www.overtons.com) a leading catalog and Internet based retailer of products for boating and other water sports enthusiasts.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits), see images of the car on my #37 Team Schemes page.(3-22-2010)

New sponsor on the #38: Welcoming sponsorship from Charter Air Transport this weekend, David Gilliland and the #38 Charter Air/Taco Bell Ford team head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. Charter Air will adorn the lower hood and upper-rear quarter panels. This will be Charter Air Transport's second time being a sponsor in the sport. The company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in 30-passenger turbo prop planes. They have been a carrier of teams in NASCAR for the past five years. They also service collegiate athletic teams and business professionals with their fleet of turbo props and jets. The company takes pride in being environmentally friendly, with its fleet of EMB-120 aircraft burning only 150 gallons of fuel an hour. For more information, visit www.charterairtransport.com (Breaking Limits/FRM), see an image of the scheme on my #38 Team Schemes page.(3-4-2010)

Planet Hollywood to be #34 & #38 assoc sponsor at Vegas: The glitz of the Las Vegas strip is coming to the cars of Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing. The NASCAR Sprint Cup team will showcase Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas with associate sponsorships on Travis Kvapil's #34 and David Gilliland's #38 Ford Fusions during this weekend's Shelby American 500 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans will see the resort and casino's logo on the lower-rear quarter panels of the teams' Fords at the 1.5-mile tri-oval in the Nevada desert.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(2-22-2010)

Gilliland Prepares for Season Debut with FRM: Preparing for his first event of the 2010 season, David Gilliland will step into the #38 Taco Bell Ford for his debut with Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing this weekend during the Auto Club 500 at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway. Gilliland competed with another team [#49 BAM Racing] during the season-opener in Daytona and failed to make the Daytona 500. Gilliland will race the majority of the season behind the #38 Taco Bell Ford owned by Bob Jenkins. This will also be the first time that Gilliland will work in race conditions with crew chief Randy Seals, who leads the #38 crew. Seals worked with Sprint Cup rookie Robert Richardson Jr. during the Daytona 500, finishing 31st. This week the #38 car will also carry an associate sponsorship from Metal Jeans for the Auto Club 500.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits) see an image of the #38 Taco Bell Ford on my #38 Team Schemes page.(2-17-2010)

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

Andretti in #34 at Daytona: John Andretti will drive the #34 Front Row Motorsports Ford as one of three entries from the newly expanded team in the 2010 Daytona 500. Andretti will also race in the Budweiser Shootout. Andretti's eligible for the season-opening special event due to winning Daytona's 1997 mid-summer Cup race, the Pepsi 400. Travis Kvapil, who's signed to wheel the #34 the rest of the season, will drive FRM's #37 at Daytona in place of rookie Kevin Conway, who NASCAR wouldn't approve to race on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Robert Richardson Jr. will drive the team's third full-time car, the #38. A Nationwide Series regular, Richardson will drive the season's first three restrictor-plate races for FRM. Kvapil will switch to the #34 at Fontana the second week of the season; Conway will drive the #37; and David Gilliland will step into the #38, which he'll drive in the majority of this season's races. Team owner Bob Jenkins said Andretti, who secured the #34's locked-in spot in the top 35 to start this season in the 34 races he ran for FRM in 2009, will also do a handful of other races this season in the #38.(NASCAR.com), hearing that Window World will sponsor Andretti and the #34 Ford in Daytona, at the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500. Window World sponsored Andretti in five races in 2009 on the #34 and in the Indy 500.(2-1-2010)

Front Row names crew chief for #38 team: Randy Seals will crew chief the #38 Front Row Racing Ford for David Gilliland. Seals returns to Front Row after a short stint as crew chief on the #61 car with Chad Chaffin in 2006. Seals worked as a crew chief for Bobby Hamilton Racing for five years prior to moving to the Sprint Cup Series. For the last two seasons, he worked in the research and development as validation manager at Richard Petty Motorsports. “I think it’s a really good opportunity,” Seals said. “When Ray hired me in 2007, he wanted me to start a second group for Pete Rondeau in the R&D department. We shifted and became a separate component but the leadership skills that Pete taught me will make me better prepared for the crew chief’s role this time around. I’m really happy to be a crew chief again and have an opportunity to work with David Gilliland. It’s a great opportunity to get back up on the pit box.” GIlliland, who just returned from Costa Rica, met Seals for the first time Monday morning. "He’s eager to get back in there," Gilliland said. "He’s had a couple of years of being home on the weekends, and I think he’s ready to go again. He feels he’s recharged his batteries. We both know it’s going to take a little bit of time to get up to speed with having three teams, but I think we can get where we need to be."(FoxSports)(1-26-2010)

Front Row could have three cars in Top-35: Front Row Motorsports General Manager Jerry Freeze told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that negotiations are underway to give all three of the team’s Fords guaranteed start status for the first five races of 2010. “We’ve been working on this for several weeks,” he said. “There are still some details to be ironed out, but we have a really close relationship with (Yates Racing owner) Doug Yates and Ford. This is something we’ve been working on with them, and I hope to have things buttoned up and ready to announce in a couple of days.” Freeze said driver Robert Richardson, III, will attempt to qualify FRR’s new #38 Ford for the Daytona 500 as part of a three-race sponsorship with Mahindra Tractors that includes both Daytona races and the spring race at Talladaga. David Gilliland will run a majority of the schedule for the team with sponsorship from Taco Bell, and Freeze said “a couple of races” have been left open for a possible limited return by the team’s 2009 #34 driver, John Andretti.(Sirius Speedway)(1-19-2010)

Both Front Row Motorsports teams locked in top-35? Kevin Conway has only 25 career Nationwide Series starts and a career-best finish of 15th, but he’s going to find himself on the starting grid of the Daytona 500. The 31-year-old North Carolina native will drive for Front Row Motorsports [ran #34-Andretti and #37-Raines/Kvapil] in 2010, and he said Saturday that his team is locked into the first five races of the season thanks to the points earned by John Andretti last year. Conway’s teammate, Travis Kvapil, is also expected to be locked in to the first five races after obtaining owner points from another top-35 team [#96-Hall of Fame Ford team?]. Conway will bring sponsor Extenze to the team and also will have other sponsors to announce Tuesday. Peter Sospenzo will be his crew chief. Conway hopes manufacturers support from Ford and having Kvapil as a teammate will help him drive well enough to crack the top 35 in owners points and not have to qualify for races on speed. Conway, how has been racing since he was 6 years old, comes from a racing background as his uncle was an engineer at Robert Yates Racing and Penske Racing.(SceneDaily), a few owners points sceneios for the #37 team could be either the #44 Richard Petty Motorsports team that had to close when RPM merged with Yates Racing and will be Fords. The #96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford team which has not announced any 2010 plans OR maybe it could be the #26 team which a 'new' owner bought from Roush, who had to get rid of the 5th team. Unlikely that the #07 RCR Chevy team, which shut down with no sponsor, would make a deal with a Ford team.(1-18-2010)

Front Row Motorsports Announces 2010 Plans: Front Row Motorsports announced it will continue its growth by adding an additional full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup program in 2010. The teams will be the newest members of Ford Racing and receive engines from Roush/Yates Racing Engines and technical support from Ford Racing. "We're pleased to have Front Row Motorsports switching to Ford for the 2010 season," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "We have said all along that we wanted to add additional teams to our program, and are pleased Front Row will transition to Ford cars, engines and technology support in 2010. We welcome Front Row to the Ford family and will do all we can to assist them, and look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial relationship."
The team also confirmed that Travis Kvapil will pilot the Long John Silver's Ford [supposedly #34] and Kevin Conway, who will compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors, will drive a second full-time entry in the Sprint Cup Series with sponsorship [supposedly #37 Extenze] to be announced in the coming weeks. Both teams will make their debut at the Daytona 500 in February. "Obviously this is the next step for our guys and the organization," said Bob Jenkins, team owner. "To have support from Ford, along with the quality engines from Roush/Yates, this is a big leap forward for us. Travis is a champion and a veteran of this series. We expect him to take us to the next level and at the same time be a great mentor to Kevin who is competing for rookie of the year. I have confidence that they can help us get to the next level."
Kvapil, 33, returns to the Sprint Cup Series after a successful 2008 season at Yates Racing where he finished 23 in driver in points with four top-10 finishes. He has a total of six top-10 finishes and one pole on his Sprint Cup resume. Kvapil is also the 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion. "It's great to be back racing on the Sprint Cup tour again with Front Row Motorsports and Ford Racing," said Kvapil. "This is a team that created a real solid base last year. They have a lot of talented guys at the shop and the addition of Ford and their support will only allow the guys to get better. I have experience with Ford and Roush/Yates Racing Engines and I feel good about what we can do on the track this season."
Conway, 30, will make his Sprint Cup Series debut with Front Row Motorsports this season. He has experience at various levels of NASCAR racing including numerous starts in the Nationwide Series in 2009. His goal is to compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. "This is a great opportunity to compete at the highest levels of NASCAR," said Conway. "The goal is to gain experience as quickly as possible with the cars and compete for solid finishes as the season goes along. Having Travis as a teammate and being backed by Ford and Roush/Yates Racing Engines gives me a lot of confidence that we can perform up to the highest standards."(FRM/Breaking Limits)(1-6-2010)

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