Atwood back racing: Nashville’s Casey Atwood, once billed as NASCAR’s next Jeff Gordon, is back where he started over a decade ago: running Saturday night fender-benders at Fairgrounds Speedway. “I haven’t been in a race car for about three years now, and I’ve missed it,” says Atwood, 31, who will buckle in for Saturday night’s season opener at the 54-year-old track. “I’ve always loved racing, and especially enjoyed it at the Fairgrounds. I’ve had a lot of success there, and it’ll be good to get back.” Atwood will drive a car provided by two-time Daytona 500 champion Sterling Marlin, who will also be in the lineup. Atwood is married and the father of two daughters, six and four. He spends his time “piddling around” and occasionally helping his father Terry with his electronics company. The last time he was in a race car was in 2009 when he helped set up Nationwide cars for some Cup double-dippers at now-closed Nashville Superspeedway.(RacinToday)(4-13-2012)
- The rise and fall of Casey Atwood: The hullabaloo surrounding young NASCAR phenom Joey Logano is reminiscent of the media mania that engulfed Nashville teenager Casey Atwood nine years ago. At the time Atwood was breathlessly billed as “NASCAR’s next Jeff Gordon.” Hopefully Logano’s comet won’t flame out as quickly as Atwood’s. When Logano won this summer’s race at Kentucky Speedway shortly after his 18th birthday, he replaced Atwood in the record book as the youngest winner in the history of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. Logano has been accorded “can’t miss” status in terms of his superstar future. Atwood was given the same coronation when he came out of Fairgrounds Speedway. He was clean-cut, bright and personable, and a natural-born racer. He became an overnight success in the Busch Series and several top Sprint Cup team owners clamored for his autograph on a contract. See full story by Larry Woody at the Nashville City Paper.(8-19-2008)
- Casey Atwood in the #27 at Kansas With Special Paint Scheme: Casey Atwood will be making his first 2007 Busch Series start in the #27 VIVA / Breast Cancer Research Foundation Ford at Kansas. Atwood drove the #37 Brewco Ford at Dover last week. Beginning with the Yellow Transportation 300 at Kansas, VIVA brand towels will partner with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to help raise awareness and funds to combat breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the second consecutive year, VIVA will drive attention to this serious issue by showcasing a pink paint scheme and a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness. The #27 Brewco Ford will run the pink paint scheme at Lowes and Memphis as well as Kansas. Casey Atwood and the Brewco pit crew will wear the color pink for these three races. Also, the Kimberly-Clark trackside marketing display will have a special pink BCRF section.(Brewco PR)(9-26-2007)
Geoff Bodine opens Honda dealership in Florida: The sports world is filled with tales of what happens to athletes once the spotlight dims. More often than not, they are about personal problems or financial difficulties instead of successes and accomplishments. Consider Geoff Bodine the "not." Bodine, a popular NASCAR driver with a Daytona 500 win to his credit, can now add another accomplishment: Brevard County [Florida] businessman. Not that Bodine is fully retired from the racing circuit. He's cut back on the time he can devote to the sport even as he finds a team that wants a 63-year-old aging Baby Boomer to be its driver. Secondly, Bodine is a busy guy. Not only is he still involved in NASCAR and other racing events, but the New York native also makes bobsleds for the U.S. Olympic team under the banner of the "Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project." Now, there is Geoff Bodine's Honda Powersports of Melbourne, a venture with partner and longtime friend A.J. Hiers, a local automobile dealer. The Honda dealership, the largest of its type in Central Florida, sells everything from generators to motorcycles to personal watercraft. Sales have gone surprisingly well since its opening several months ago, especially considering the shaky economy, Hiers said.(Florida Today)(7-2-2012)
Geoff Bodine, sponsor have big Sprint Cup plans for 2012: In an industry that relies heavily on sponsors, the tough economy has brought uncertainty among many NASCAR drivers and teams this off-season. That's not the case for veteran driver Geoff Bodine, who has developed a bond with emerging 2011 stock car sponsor Luke & Associates Inc., which is looking to broaden its exposure in Sprint Cup. At 62, the Chemung native made a comeback of sorts this past season, competing in four of his six Sprint Cup races with sponsorship from Luke & Associates. "I'm very thankful that they gave me this opportunity," Bodine said Wednesday from his Melbourne, FL home.
The Florida-based health care provider to the U.S. military is stepping up its program in NASCAR in 2012 and beyond, with Bodine as its initial driver. "There's teams out there that want us and would like to work with us and we're happy about that," Bodine said. Bodine has sponsorship for a minimum of 15 Sprint Cup races next season. He said he and his sponsor are not just shopping this deal around to teams but instead want a partnership. "They are serious about it and they want some ownership with a team," Bodine said. "A little bit this year (2012), and next season a little bit more." Bodine has been working with Serena Brock of Charlotte, a marketing representative with Luke & Associates who has previous experience in NASCAR racing. "We've got a lot of data from different teams and we're looking through it so that we can try to make the best decision, business-wise and performance-wise," he said. Bodine said while it won't be a top-tier team, it will be a competitive team that already runs multiple cars. Bodine said a deal could be struck as early as the end of this week, but "for sure before New Year's." Depending on the team deal, Bodine could race fewer than 15 events himself or even a full season if more sponsors come aboard. Driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing this year, Bodine had a best finish of 30th in his four starts. "I had no problem as far as endurance," Bodine said. "I felt great. The only problem I had was I didn't go fast enough. That was strictly related to the vehicle." Baldwin is a small, relatively new team, and Bodine knows he can do better with the right equipment. "I'm thankful for what Tommy did for us last season, but I'm hoping next season we get in a better opportunity where I can show whether I can do a good job or can't do a good job," he said. "I think I can do well." Bodine said he would prefer to run a full season.(see full post at the Elmiria Star Gazette)(12-22-2011)
Luke & Associates Extend Partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that Florida-based Luke & Associates, Inc. extended the company's partnership to include associate placement on the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet driven by Dave Blaney. Luke & Associates previously announced a partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing fielding the #35 Luke & Associates Chevrolet driven by Geoffrey Bodine for five races. Luke & Associates will make the company's debut on both the #36 and #35 Chevys at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 on July 2. Luke will run associate logos on the #36 Chevrolet for the duration of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season. The company will adorn the hood of the No. 35 Luke & Associates Chevy at Daytona, Charlotte, Talladega, Texas and Homestead.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(6-30-2011)
Geoff Bodine Team up with Tommy Baldwin Racing: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) will field a second car for five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races this season. Geoffrey Bodine will pilot the #35 Luke Associates, Inc. Chevy for all five events, starting with the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) July 2nd. He will return to the Luke Associates, Inc.-sponsored Chevy at Charlotte (Oct), Talladega (Oct), Texas (Nov) and the season finale at Homestead.
Luke Associates, Inc. (Luke) is one of the largest providers of healthcare for the U.S. military and is rapidly expanding into national and local healthcare systems. Headquartered on the Space Coast of Florida, Luke formed in 2004 and has grown exponentially in the last six years. The company now has more than 1,300 medical and support personnel worldwide. Luke is responsible for recruiting, qualifying, hiring and retaining healthcare workers for positions that include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and ancillary personnel in addition to all dental positions. The company's primary focus is the company values, which include integrity, innovation, communication, community and a focus on the employees. Geoffrey Bodine made his NSCS debut in 1979. Over his 26-year NASCAR career, the Chemung, N.Y., native collected 18 wins, 100 top-fives and led over 8,600 laps. At age 62, Bodine ranks 16th all-time with 37 career poles.
TBR, formed in 2009, began the team's first full season of competition in 2011. Running all the races in 2011, TBR moved into the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points early in the year guaranteeing the team a spot in the race for the first time in the team's history. The #35 Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevy will make its debut with Bodine behind the wheel of the Luke Chevy at DIS for the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday, July 2nd. More details about the #35 TBR Chevy to follow. Tommy Baldwin Racing currently fields the #36 Chevy for Dave Blaney full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(6-7-2011)
AND Tommy Baldwin Racing had previously announced that Steve Park would run the "Ole Blue" Tribute #35 car at Daytona in July. TBR has moved the race date to the New Hampshire race on September 25th due to other sponsorship, choosing the later date because the donations received are far less than last year and no where near enough to run the race. New Hampshire was a given choice because it has such a deep history in modified racing.(6-8-2011)
Blaney and Bodine switch cars for rest of year: Tommy Baldwin Racing drivers Dave Blaney and Geoffrey Bodine will swap numbers and crews starting this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway in an effort to continue to build TBR and give the team the best chance to qualify both cars for Sunday's event. Dave Blaney will drive the #35 Big Red Chevy and attempt to qualify for the AAA Texas 500. Geoffrey Bodine will pilot the #36 Luke & Associates Chevy and is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday's race. Both cars will compete for kids to eat free in Golden Corral's â"Racing for America's Families" promotion, where kids eat free on Monday, November 7th if either car finishes in the top-10. The teams will keep the switch for the final two events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Blaney will drive the #35 Golden Corral Chevy and attempt to qualify for both events at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bodine will stay in the #36 Luke & Associates Chevy and be guaranteed a spot in both events.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(11-2-2011)
Geoff Bodine looking for a ride: Geoff Bodine, who raced in one event last season, is wanting to return to any of the three NASCAR national touring series. “I’ve been trying to get a ride and a sponsor, but I’ve had no luck. I’ve talked with Tommy Baldwin [#36 Chevy in Sprint Cup]. He has really good equipment I’ve also talked with a Nationwide [Series] team, but you need money to go racing.” Bodine, now age 62, said he is actively trying to find a way back into NASCAR. “I still think I can go out there and be competitive. If I didn’t feel that way, I would not want to look bad and ruin my reputation. I’d like to be the oldest winner in NASCAR.” Despite being out of the sport for almost a year now, Bodine had been keeping himself busy. “I have raced a little, but not enough,” stated Bodine. Bodine also said that he has done some charity work for Breast Cancer Awareness and the Chamber of Commerce Fireball Run for Melbourne, Florida. On top of those two activities, Bodine says that he plans to run a Wheelen Modified race this year at North Wilkesboro with Danny Bagwell. In addition to the above, Bodine says that he will be opening a new store down the road called Geoff Bodine Power Sports—which will sell motorcycles, accessories, and boats. Bodine also tries to alert people about the lack of nutrition in the foods we eat. “I have to programs called Protandim and Mona-Die. They are fantastic programs. It’s helping a bunch of people.”(TheRacingExperts)(3-22-2011)
Geoff Bodine to run #36 car at Pocono: 19-Sprint Cyp Series race winner and 1986 Daytona 500 winner, on Sunday at Charlotte announced he'll be in Tommy Baldwin's Sprint Cup #36 Chevy next weekend at Pocono Raceway.(MikeMulhern.net)(5-31-2010)
Geoff Bodine to run U.S. Olympic Bo-Dyn Bobsled Truck at Atlanta: In a nod to the U.S. Olympic bobsled medalists and his pastime, NASCAR veteran Geoffrey Bodine will compete in the E-Z-GO 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the #95 Bo-Dyn Bobsled paint scheme featuring the U.S. Olympic bobsled medalists, including Douglasville, Georgia’s Elana Meyers who won a bronze medal. A Bo-Dyn Bobsled will be on display in front of the Fan Stage in the Display Lot and the vehicle will arrive at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Wednesday, March 3. Bodine said: “We we’re going to put Bo-Dyn Bobsleds on the truck no matter what, but now that we’ve had success in the Olympics were going to put the names of the athletes that won the medal on the truck and it should look good.” On the importance of Bo-Dyn Bobsleds: “If I hadn’t gotten involved in 1992 in the American bobsled program, people have told me many times there would not be an American bobsled program. They were out of money, out of equipment, and out of help. So yeah, I feel proud that we kept it going and ended up with a Gold medal in these games. I’m real proud. I love our country and this is another way for me to show that.” On his emotions at the bottom of the run prior to the Gold medal attempt: “Standing there [at the bottom of the hill], I realized a long time ago there’s no point to bite your finger nails and be nervous, so I was just standing there pretty cool and calm. But part of the calmness came from the confidence I had in the team because they had been so consistent all week there. I had that confidence in their ability and, of course, I’m racer and I know one slip can mess you up.”(AMS), more info and see an image of the cool looking truck on the Jayski Camping World Truck Series site.(3-2-2010)
Geoff Bodine hope to run some NASCAR races in 2010: Geoff Bodine came up two laps short of potentially winning the inaugural Free State 500 stock car race at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in South Africa on Sunday. Bodine, who started on the pole, was leading when his Chevy ran out of fuel with two laps remaining.
Bodine, who led the most laps at 89, was credited with ninth in the American Speed Association-sanctioned event. Bodine's good run has given the 60-year-old more incentive to want to return to racing. "I wish I could get the opportunity to do some more (NASCAR) racing," Bodine said. Bodine had hoped to get a ride for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, but nothing materialized. He did hook up with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner Danny Gill in South Africa and Gill may put Bodine in one of his trucks for the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 6. Bodine said he also is working on a deal to run in NASCAR'S All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, and working on a Sprint Cup deal for the second race at the Atlanta track on Sept. 5.(Elmira Star Gazette)(2-4-2010)
2nd Baldwin team: UPDATE3 Bodine....no: per Tommy Baldwin Racing's facebook page, looks like the team will run a 2nd team at Auto Club Speedway in February with Johnny Sauter driving the #35 Tommy Baldwin Chevy, see images on my #35 Team Scheme page.(1-30-2010)
UPDATE: Sauter is scheduled to run at least three races: Auto Club in Feb., Martinsville in March and Pheonix in April.(1-31-2010)
UPDATE 2: rumors have Geoff Bodine running one of the two Tommy Baldwin Racing entries in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, either the #35 or #36 car.(2-3-2010)
UPDATE 3: Bodine says in the Elmira Star Gazette that the ride for the Shootout didn't materialize and Bodine, nor the #35 car are on theBudweiser Shootout Entry List.(2-4-2010)
See Bodine Bobsled Challenge news, results and info on my Bodine Bobsled Challenge Charities page
- Bodine wrecks in bobsled: former NASCAR Cup driver, Geoff Bodine was at Lake Pacid, NY on Sunday testing equipment. He crashed on his first trip, but changed runners and made it the next two runs down the course. Ironically, Bodine rolled it in the famous Trickle Turn (turn 18) where Dick was upended twice at the Bodine Bobsled Challenge in 2006.(PR)(10-18-2007)
- Ward's son to race at VIR in SCCA: Jeb Burton, 17-year old son of former NASCAR driver and Daytona 500 winner, Ward Burton, has been chosen as a guest driver for the season opener of Volkswagen of America, Inc.'s SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series, hosted by VIRginia International Raceway. Burton will also participate in all of the weekend's on and off-track events, including practice and qualifying and compete in the series' second race at VIRginia International Raceway at 2:00pm on April 26. The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. During the season, young, up and coming drivers between ages 16-26 compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season and the series champion will win $100,000. While Burton will be a full participant in the race at VIR, he is ineligible for driver points or prize money. Currently, Burton drives the No.27 State Water Heaters Chevy Impala in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway. He has participated in two races so far this season and finished in the top three at both.(Wardburton,com)(4-25-2009)
- Ward Burton to serve as sports marshal of festival: former Sprint Cup driver, Ward Burton, winner of five Nextel Cup races, is scheduled to be the sports marshal of the 2009 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and appear in many functions of the festival May 1-2. More info at thebloom.com.(4-18-2009)
- What's Up with Ward Burton? Ward Burton would like to see every youngster get the same opportunities that he had. And the 2002 Daytona 500 winner is not talking about winning NASCAR races. Rather Burton is concerned that many of the youth of today do not know what it is like to enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. In 1996, he founded the nonprofit Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, an organization aimed at providing outdoors opportunities to the future hunters and fishermen. Burton, who made an appearance recently at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, is working through the school system in his native Virginia, something that may take more work to accomplish in Pennsylvania, where most school districts have done away with the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s hunter education programs. Recalling a recent outing with a seventh grade class from a Virginia middle school, Burton said, “You would not believe the percentage of kids who had never been fishing, or never had seen a beaver swamp or didn’t recognize a raccoon track on a bank, just simple common things.” He said he is concerned about the loss of the rural culture which, he said, is responsible for today’s young people having what he called “nature deficit disorder.” He said, “They don’t understand the things that we take for granted because of the way that we were brought up.”(see the full article at the Daily Item)(2-23-2009)
- Jeff Burton comments on Ward: Jeff Burton couldn’t leave the gathering without being asked what his older brother [Ward Burton] was up to these days. “I don’t know what he’s doing. He says he’s working but I doubt it,” Burton said with a laugh. “Ward’s conservation program always has been the thing that woke him up in the morning. It’s always been the thing that drove him, and that continues today. Obviously, he has quite a bit more time to spend on that now and he has done a lot of great things. And his oldest son, Jeb (now 16) is racing Late Models — he’s aging quickly, Ward is — and that’s required quite a bit of his time as well.”(Peoria Journal Star)(12-12-2008)
- Ward's son to race at South Boston: South Boston Speedway is steeped in history in its 51 years of racing action and the name Burton is one of the many reasons America's Hometown Track has garnered so much success over the years. Saturday night, a new generation of Burton competitors will make his debut at South Boston Speedway in the Italian Delight 150 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race program. The five-race program will get underway at 7pm/et. Ward Burton's son, Jeb, who turned 16-years-old on Aug. 6, will make his debut in racing action on the four-tenths mile when he competes in a pair of 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division events. When Jeb Burton straps into his number 27 Limited Sportsman Division ride Saturday, he will be able to look toward the grandstands and see sections named in honor of his father and also his uncle, Jeff, who is still competing on the Sprint Cup Series. And, that is something young Jeb hopes to be able to duplicate someday in the future. Before garnering success on the Sprint Cup Series, both Ward and Jeff Burton cut their racing teeth at South Boston Speedway, much the same way Jeb hopes to do. Jeff Burton won eight Late Model Stock Car events at America's Hometown Track, while Ward Burton collected four Late Model triumphs on the famed track. Jeb Burton's plans in 2008 are to finish out the remaining Limited Sportsman Division races at South Boston Speedway and then set his sites on a Limited Sportsman Division championship in 2009 before hopefully continuing his climb up the NASCAR ladder.(South Boston Speedway PR)(8-16-2008)
- Ward has no ride in the works: in a Daytona 500 past champion chat, Ward Burton was asked if would run any races this season, he said "I don't have any plans to at this moment but I don't know what could happen - it really doesn't look like any opportunity will happen now."(Wardburton.com)(2-6-2008)
- Ward close to being named #4 driver in 2007: After a long hiatus, Ward Burton is slated to be the full-time driver of the #4 next year. "We haven't completely signed the deal, but we've agreed on one," team owner Larry McClure said. "So it looks like he'll have a good shot at being back in the car next year." Burton's last gig as a full-time driver ended here at Phoenix back in 2004 when he broke a rear end about two-thirds of the way through the event and finished a disappointing 40th in Gene Haas' #0 [now #66] Chevy. To the consternation of his fans, Burton fell off the NASCAR landscape for a time after that. Offers came Burton's way for rides that would have been less than competitive, and he has admitted in the past that perhaps he was a little too picky when he turned them down. When McClure and driver Scott Wimmer agreed to part ways this fall, an outcry from Burton's fans was answered. McClure put the Virginia native behind the wheel of the #4 Chevy for a one-off race at Burton's hometown track in Martinsville in October. Burton started 35th in the Subway 500 and ran respectably all afternoon. Simply staying on the lead lap is an accomplishment on the half-mile Virginia bullring, and Burton kept the Chevy on the same circuit as the leaders to go the full 500-lap distance and finish 26th. Todd Bodine already was slated to start in the #4 car at Atlanta the following week, so Burton's rabid fans had to wait a little while longer to see if he would return. He did just that at Texas Motor Speedway, qualifying in the back of the pack in 37th and finishing one lap off the pace in 25th. Burton's fan base is a big part of the reason why the team is about to put him behind the wheel for the 2007 season.(Yahoo Sports)(11-11-2006)
- Bodine back in the #4 at Atlanta; Ward at Texas? SPEED's Bob Dilner reported on the SPEED Report that Todd Bodine is scheduled to be back in the #4 Morgan McClure Sports Chevy at next weeks Atlanta race and Ward Burton could be back in the car at Texas on the first weekend in November.(10-23-2006)
- Ward NOT signed to run more races with #4, but could be; #4 has sponsor for 2007: Ward Burton hasn't been offered a deal for next season to drive the #4 Chevrolet that he will drive in Sunday's race, but he is the front-runner. "We're looking awfully hard at him,'' said car owner Larry McClure. "From the looks of the tremendous popularity of Ward here, it's hard to discount what he's worth.'' McClure said he's agreed to a sponsorship deal for the #4 next season and is trying to get a deal to start a second team.(NASCAR.com)(10-22-2006)
- Ward's plans UPDATE: Ward Burton told Sirius Speedway (MRN/Sirius Satellite Radio) Monday that there is still an outside chance that he might team-up with Robert Yates Racing in the future, but he now believes the team is looking elsewhere for a driver. "Teams need economic support to race," he said. "If Robert Yates Racing aligned itself with someone like me -- an older driver -- they could lose an opportunity elsewhere that they don't know about yet. It takes a concerted effort by the driver, the team and its marketing department to make a sponsorship deal happen, and I guess I don't feel like that concerted effort has been made. Nothing against Robert and Doug Yates. They're in a situation that they haven't been in before, and it's foreign to them." Burton said there is a possibility that this weekend's one-off ride with Morgan-McClure Racing could turn into something more long-term, but stressed that talks are still at a very early stage.(Sirius Speedway)(10-17-2006)
UPDATE: Ward Burton, a five-time Nextel Cup winner who hasn't raced since the fall of 2004 at Phoenix, will return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Burton will drive the #4 Chevy for Morgan-McClure Motorsports through the end of the season and is a candidate to drive the car full-time next year.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-20-2006)
- Ward to run the #4 at Martinsville UPDATE: Ward Burton will return to the Nextel Cup Series for the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway, attempting to make his first series start in almost two years. He will be driving the #4 Lucas Oil Chevy for Morgan McClure Racing out of Abingdon, VA. "He's expressed a lot of interest in driving," said Chris Carrier, crew chief for the Morgan-McClure team. "He's a Virginia driver and we're a Virginia team. That makes for a great combination at Martinsville." One of Burton's seven NEXTEL Cup poles came at Martinsville (1997) as did one of his four Busch Series victories (1993). Burton and the team hope to test at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford this week to help prepare for the SUBWAY 500. Ticket prices for the SUBWAY 500 range from $42 to $77. Tickets for the Kroger 200 are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the event. Kroger 200 tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-15-2006)
UPDATE: Virginia is the name of the game at Morgan-McClure Motorsports as the announcement of Ward Burton as the driver for Martinsville this weekend was made official at noon today. Burton last competed at the Nextel Cup level at Phoenix in 2004 in the NetZero car fielded by Gene Haas. In his 356 race Cup career, Burton has accumulated five wins, 24 top fives, 82 top tens and seven poles with an average start of 20th and average finish of 21.8. Morgan-McClure President and Team Manager Larry McClure is excited to have the Virginia native in the car at one of the three tracks the Virginia-based team calls "home". "We have been talking with Ward (Burton) about driving for us and it just so happened that we got everything worked out for him to drive at Martinsville. We are searching for options for the 2007 season and Ward is certainly a consideration. We plan to test with him this week and then head to Martinsville. His seat was completed this weekend and we have been installing it today with his help. I've known Ward for a long time and we are happy to have him in our car for some of the remaining races."
Burton too is excited about returning to the sport, "I've been gone long enough and now I'm ready to get back behind the wheel and race. I know there have been some changes since I last drove with the tires used and different set-ups but that just means I have to step up and get used to those changes faster and be ready to race this weekend. I'm anxious to get back in the car and be on track again and get back out there with our fans. I appreciate the opportunity from Larry and Morgan-McClure to get back in the car and I'm looking forward to having a good time with them at Martinsville. " Morgan-McClure Motorsports sits 39th in Nextel Cup owner's points so Burton will be required to qualify on time at Martinsville.(Morgan-McClure Motorsports PR)(10-17-2006)
- Ward Burton signs with Toyota team? UPDATE Denied by Ward: Ward Burton supposedly has signed with one of the new Toyota teams which will be running full-time in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007, the three are Bill Davis Racing (very doubtful), Red Bull Racing (one spot open) and Michael Waltrip Racing (one spot open) are the three teams. Burton and the team supposedly plan to make their debut this season. The news site that had the story posted has pulled the story and requested it be removed, but I don't do that as folks have already seen it. So it was re-writen here and may or may not be true...as Ward has said he back in July he at that point had not had any discussions with Toyota.(8-22-2006)
UPDATE: Ward Burton told PRN's Garage Pass there is no truth to the story he's got a deal done with any of the Toyota operations or any other Nextel Cup, Busch or Craftsman Truck Series team. Burton says he feels he can still get the job done on the track and is confident he'd do a great job for any sponsor.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(8-22-2006)
- Ward Burton...MWR? "Is it a coup for our team? I guess it's fair to say it is," Michael Waltrip said of the new two-year UPS sponsorship, which he said now sets the stage for a three-car, Nextel Cup operation. "We don't have it done yet, but we think we'll be able to announce in the next week or two who the driver will be," Waltrip said of Team Three, which will be jointly sponsored by Burger King and Pizza Hut [actually the sponsor is Domino's Pizza]. And it could very well be Ward Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 winner, idle this season, Waltrip said.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-8-2006)
- WIth the loss of UPS, what is up with RYR? Leicht? Ward? Tide? [#88 Team Owner Robert] Yates made it clear he has no ill feelings toward the UPS executives who opted to make the move [to Waltrip and leaving RYR]. He placed blame on himself for allowing the team's performance to decline the past few years. Yates, though, is optimistic things will turn around soon and still envisions a scenario in which Robert Yates Racing fields four Cup teams next year. First, though, he must find a driver and sponsor for Jarrett's #88 Ford. A leading candidate on the sponsorship front is CitiFinancial, which sponsors RYR's Busch Series team. Stephen Leicht could move into that seat as well. "We think enough of him and we feel like with enough effort this year and energy put forth, I think he'll be able to drive this Cup car very easily," said Yates, adding that Leicht could make a few Nextel Cup starts later this season. Ward Burton's name has also been linked to RYR and the owner said that's a possibility. If CitiFinancial were to move up to replace UPS, and Burton brought a sponsor with him, that would give Yates at least a three-car program for next year. "We certainly have room. He's talking to some really good sponsors and if they want to jump in and do something, I think that's a good package," Yates said of Burton. "If somebody believes in Ward, and Ward believes in them and he believes in us, I think that that would fill out 25 percent of our deal." While there is still speculation #38-Elliott Sadler [the other Yates driver] could opt to move elsewhere for next year, Yates said his goal is to make the team so attractive that Sadler wouldn't consider leaving.(SceneDaily.com)
AND Citi Financial, which sponsors Yates's Busch efforts, may be ready for a major role, Doug Yates said. He also noted that Tide, which has backed Cal Wells's team since 2000, will be contractually free after this season and may be available.(Speed Channel)(7-8-2006)
- Ward Burton looking to make comeback in 2007 UPDATE: Ward Burton will be at Daytona International Speedway on Friday as a part of a ceremony honoring the past 10 winners of the Daytona 500. He hopes his next trip to NASCAR's crown jewel will be as a driver. The 2002 Daytona 500 winner said Monday he is negotiating with two "established teams'' a return to the Nextel Cup Series that he hasn't been a part of since being fired by owner Gene Haas in 2004. One possibility is the #88 car of Robert Yates Racing that is open in 2007 because of Dale Jarrett's departure to the new Toyota team of Michael Waltrip Racing. "That would certainly be an opportunity if it came to fruition,'' Burton said. "It would pump me up. I'd be just excited as when I first made Cup in '94, maybe more so.' Burton would not confirm discussions with RYR, but indicated his talks have been with owners of multi-car organizations which have struggled recently. Burton said there have been no discussions with Toyota, which will field at least six cars under three owners in 2007. "One of the things we're working on is the sponsor,'' said Burton, which makes the #88 car more viable since its deal with UPS is up after this season. "I'm working on a couple of things to try to bring something home.''
Burton, 44, said there'd been negotiations about putting him in a car this weekend at Daytona that fell through at the last minute. He'd like to enter a couple of races before the end of this season to begin his comeback. Burton has spent much of the past year-and-a-half focusing on family and The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, which has a mission to "conserve America's land and wildlife through wise stewardship while educating children and adults about the natural resources that will shape America's future.'' Burton tried to mend a few bridges after his split with Haas, but that never happened. "There were phone calls, either hung up on or whatever,'' he said. "That's just the way they handled things.'' Burton is confident he can return to the top-10 form he had in 1999 and 2000, when he had a combined 33 top-10s for Bill Davis Racing with Tommy Baldwin Jr. as his crew chief. Baldwin Jr. now is Sadler's crew chief at RYR, which gives Burton another connection to that organization. "I wish I could tell you more,'' Burton said. "I can tell you I am talking to a sponsor as we speak and car owners as well. I've got my fingers crossed that one of these exciting deals will come true.''(more at NASCAR.com)(6-27-2006)
UPDATE: latest fro Lastcowboys.com:
It’s been almost two months since I [Lastcowboys.com] dropped the Ward Burton to Robert Yates Racing rumor on all of you, and it continues to swirl around in the rumor mill. Have now been anonymously informed that this is a done deal. As said, this was anonymous, so have no way of substantiating it, unless Ward or someone in his camp would like to confirm or deny it personally. According to this anonymous source (as well as from Ward’s recent satellite radio interview), Ward’s silence or state of limbo is not due to the absence of a deal, but rather because he is waiting on the green light from both sponsor and team before he can make it official to the media and race fans.(LastCowboys.com)(6-29-2006)
- What is up with Ward?: on Sunday's [6/11] Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain [Speed Channel, Sunday's 9:00pm/et], Ward Burton was interviewed from South Boston Speedway. Burton said he is activity pursuing a ride in 2007, preferring a Nextel Cup ride. Burton said he has talked to a few teams [including some Toyota teams] and sponsors [hearing one he talked to is Under Armor] but has nothing signed and plans to come back if the opportunity presents itself. Burton also gave Dave odds that his return is 50/50.(6-14-2006)
- Ward to Yates? UPDATE denied...but... from LastCowboys.com: ... couple of little birdies have told me in the last couple of weeks that Ward Burton is off the market in terms of driver availability. And while it is claimed that this information comes from people we would all consider ‘official’ type people, these ‘official’ type people are being coy in regards to whom or what has taken him off the market. One rumor that has gained momentum has Ward taking over the #88 UPS Ford owned by Robert Yates Racing when Dale Jarrett bolts for Toyota. Again, Jarrett hasn’t officially said that he is going to Toyota, but he hasn’t exactly denied it either. Another little nugget of information floating around out there states that if Jarrett bolts, UPS will stay with Yates, but they don’t want the next ‘potential’ Cup star. They want a proven competitor, not just some cat with little or no experience.(LastCowboys.com)(5-11-2006)
UPDATE: While there is no truth to the rumor driver Ward Burton and car owner Robert Yates have struck a deal to drive the #88 UPS Ford if Dale Jarrett leaves for Toyota, Burton says he would like to talk with Yates and other teams looking for an experienced pilot. “I’ve defiantly been ready” said the former Daytona 500 and Southern 500 champion. “I have a strong desire to be competitive on the race track and I don’t think I’ve lost anything that I’ve always had. I’m looking for a good opportunity so I can get back out there.” Burton added that it wouldn’t take him much to get back up to speed.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(5-12-2006)
- Ward looking to race again: Ward Burton was back in the garage at Martinsville Speedway on Friday wishing he were wearing a driving suit instead of jeans. "I've been carrying on some communication, seeing what kind of dominoes need to fall to get back in," he said, adding that he no longer is as insistent on getting a Nextel Cup ride as he was last year. "I'm getting a little more open-minded to the possibility of another series," he said, indicating that he'd be willing to make a comeback in the Craftsman Truck or Busch series. Burton, a five-time Cup winner who hasn't raced since the fall race at Phoenix in 2004, said he enjoyed his year layoff, but he's ready for it to end. "I had a whole year to get a good breather, and I probably needed it," he said. "But when it got close to Daytona and I wasn't testing and doing appearances, I started having a longing, like I had lost a friend in my heart."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(4-1-2006)
- Ward Receives State Conservation Award: The A. Willis Robertson Award was first established in the year 2000 and is awarded annually to the Virginia citizen who has exercised outstanding conservation practices on his/her own land or who has made significant contributions to conservation activities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This year’s recipient was Ward Burton, 2002 Daytona Winner and Halifax County conservationist. The award was granted by the state biologist professional organization, known as the Wildlife Society, Virginia Chapter. Its members are 10,000 strong nationally. Ward Burton is the founder and President of the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. See full story at wardburton.com.(3-9-2006)
- Ward looking for a ride: Ward Burton is quite matter-of-fact when reasoning his yearlong absence from NASCAR competition: The phone didn't just sit idle. He had opportunities to get back in the seat. Just couldn't get excited about any of them. So he held out. But as one of the most active Silly Seasons in recent memory came and went without resolution, Burton began to realize something: Some of this is my fault. It's not just going to fall in my lap. "There were a few offers," Burton said. "It wasn't as good as I'd have liked, and some of that is my fault, not being as proactive as I needed to be and relying on other people to do things for me. I didn't take time within the racing fraternity as I should have." That's not to say it was time wasted. Quite the contrary, in fact. Burton spent the year working on land conservation projects and spending considerable QT with his wife and children. "The loss of that year made me realize how much I love the sport, like the competition, like the camaraderie and intermingling with the fans, building sponsor programs, all of it," he said. Easier said than done. Anyone that knows NASCAR knows it is the consummate out of sight, out of mind business. Just walking back in after a year off is difficult for everyone, impossible for some. Burton is committed. He plans to be more visible at the racetrack in 2006, and is discussing possible sponsorship opportunities with NASCAR's brass and other industry movers and shakers "so I can bring something other than just myself to a team."(in part from NASCAR.com)(2-3-2006)
- Ward Named 2005 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Ward Burton has been honored by the Virginia Piedmont Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2005 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. With his family present, the award was given to him on National Philanthropy Day (NPD) at Boonsboro Country Club. Having received the award, he joins some of Virginia's most distinguished citizens who have given the honor in the past. NPD has been observed since 1986 to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy has made to the lives, communities, the nation as a whole and the world. "I have been very fortunate with the opportunities that I have been given. I believe in giving back and helping others whenever possible," stated Ward Burton.
Awards are given to acknowledge outstanding individual across the entire spectrum of services provided by the nonprofit sector and recognized the profound impact that philanthropy has on the fabric of society. NPD is observed in November each year. It is a time to honor exemplary philanthropist, volunteer fundraisers, corporations, foundations, media outlets, children, young adults and professional fundraisers for their outstanding work and contributions to the community. Ward Burton is the founder and President of the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. Established in 1996, the WBWF is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 whose mission is to conserve America's land and wildlife through wise stewardship while educating children and adults about the natural resources that will shape America's future. For more information about the WBWF please visit www.twbwf.org.(11-22-2005)
- Ward selected to Board: Ward Burton was selected Tuesday to sit on the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Gov. Mark R. Warner, who announced the selection, called Burton "a strong addition" to the board that oversees the troubled Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Burton is the president and founder of the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, which provides conservation education programs and manages a wildlife refuge system of protected land. He has served as spokesman for the Virginia State Parks in public service announcements since 2003. Burton succeeds C. Wilson McNeely IV, who resigned last week after six years of service.(USA Today.AP)(11-2-2005)
- Ward NOT going to HOF Racing but.... been told that Ward Burton is definitely NOT going to Hall of Fame Racing BUT is supposedly working with a sponsor that might bring him back to Nextel Cup fulltime in 2006 or 2007. Burton has been contacted by several Truck Series teams, but he still considers himself a Cup driver and that's what he wants to do, however, the right Truck Series team with the right sponsor presented itself, he would give it serious thought, but for right now, he's happy with working with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and spending time with his family.(10-13-2005)
- Hall of Fame Racing still looking for driver..Ward is under consideration: Bill Saunders, managing partner for the Hall of Fame Racing team of Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, said they hope to announce their driver within the next two weeks. Ward Burton is reportedly one of the drivers the team is considering. Burton won the Daytona 500 in 2002. "We're very close," Saunders said about the driver decision. "We have it down to a couple of people, and we just have to decide what strategy we want to use." Saunders said it's possible the new Nextel Cup team will use two drivers next year. Saunders also said most of the team's personnel already are in place.
New crew chief Philippe Lopez also is the competition director. The team is partnering with Joe Gibbs Racing and using the old JGR facility in Statesville, N.C.(Dallas Morning News)(9-30-2005)
- Latest on Ward Burton: Though he hasn't completed a lap of Cup racing this season, Ward Burton is still on the minds of many NASCAR observers. Burton, 43, of South Boston, started at least nine Cup races every season from 1994-2004. He has been without a ride this season. When will he return? Only he knows for sure, but his brother, Jeff Burton, who is also a Cup driver, has his own ideas. "He's gotten caught up in the youth movement," said Jeff Burton, who was referring the glut of under-30 drivers on the circuit. "I'd like to see him drive a truck or a Busch car because he's a great driver and he's still got a lot left in him." Ward finished 32nd in the points standings last year driving the #0 Chevrolet for the Gene Haas-owned racing team. His best points finish came in 1999 when he was ninth. He is working full-time to promote his wildlife foundation this year.(Daily Press)(5-14-2005)
- Leffler out of the #11? Ward in? UPDATES - DENIED Motorsport.com reports it has learned that the #11 Fedex Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy team may be planning on replacing Jason Leffler with Ward Burton as soon as Darlington. While denied by team officials, insiders say Burton would fill the seat for the remainder of the season before a permanent driver [Yeley?] would be named to take over the ride. Burton stated that he has not been spoken to in regards to the #11 car but currently had several other offers in play.(Motorsport.com)(4-16-2005)
UPDATE - more on Ward, Indy 500?: With rumblings that the Nextel Cup Series "Silly Season" of driver hirings and firings could be ready to kick into gear, Ward Burton made an appearance at Texas Motor Speedway yesterday. The South Boston, Va., native was announcing a new marketing partnership between his wildlife foundation and Beretta that will promote firearm safety for kids, but he also spent several minutes answering questions about his NASCAR future. An Internet report yesterday linked the 43-year-old with possibly replacing Jason Leffler in the #11 Chevrolet of Joe Gibbs Racing. With the impending retirements of Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, and the expected departure of veterans such as Sterling Marlin from established teams, several other quality rides could be open by the end of the year. Burton, who has stayed busy managing his Halifax County preserve, doing charity work and developing an outdoors show for TV, said he wasn't in serious discussions with any team. He reportedly has been offered rides in the Cup, Busch and Truck series. "I won't come back if the right situation isn't there," he said. "I won't say Cup is my only choice, but it's the only one I'm considering." Burton said he also had been contacted about attempting the Indianapolis 500.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-17-2005)
UPDATE 2 DENIED: Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs on Sunday denied published reports that Jason Leffler is on the way out of the #11 Chevrolet and Ward Burton is on the way in. Gibbs called Leffler on Saturday night at Texas to give a vote of confidence. "I called Jason and kind of laughed," Gibbs said. "We have a multi-year deal with Jason and with FedEx, so there is no truth to that. "I said, 'You don't have to worry about that,' and he said, 'I know.'" Joe Gibbs Racing has never released a driver on the Nextel Cup Series level in its history, and Gibbs said that Leffler has a three-year deal to drive the car. "We like long-term relationships with sponsors and team drivers," Gibbs said. "He's has been great, everything off the track. We have got to finish first and show improvement, which we have been doing." A source close to Burton also denied the rumor.(NASCAR.com)(4-17-2005)
- Ward wants Cup..not Busch/Truck ride: Ward Burton has been spending extra time this spring with his Wildlife Foundation, but he'd still rather be back racing. Burton has been idle this season, waiting for a car owner to make the call. And he's not willing to run Busch or Trucks. "Right now I still consider myself a Cup racer," Burton said. "Whether I get the opportunity to go back in the fashion I was before, we'll have to wait and see. I won't go back just to ride around. I'll go back with something exciting, with a name team, with the kind of support you need now more than ever. I miss a lot of it. But there's some of it I don't miss. The schedule going from this weekend until Thanksgiving with only one weekend off doesn't appeal to me."(Winston Salem Journal)(4-9-2005)
- Ward could take a Busch or Truck ride: As for familiar question of his brother Ward, Jeff Burton said to stay tuned. The veteran driver does not have a ride on any of the NASCAR circuits right now. "Ward is doing well," Burton said. "He wants to be racing, but he’s stuck to his word that he’s only going to drive if gets a really good ride. The more offers Ward gets to run a good truck or Busch car, the more he is interested. I don’t think it will be long before you see Ward in a Busch or truck."(Bristol Herald Courier)(3-23-2005)
- Ward to appear at Martinsville...no ride: Ward Burton said he plans to attend qualifying day [4/8] at Martinsville Speedway on April 8, his first visit to a Nextel Cup event this year. "I want to say hey to everybody," said the South Boston native, who has been out of Cup since last November. "I have no desire to stay the whole weekend." Burton, who reportedly has received offers to race in NASCAR's top three touring series, has kept busy with managing his Halifax County wildlife foundation and doing charity work. The noted outdoorsman also has filmed two segments for the Outdoor Channel; the next appears at 3:00pm/et on March 29.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-17-2005)
- Some Ward News AND: have heard NOTHING about a Cup, Busch or Truck ride for Ward Burton, but this is posted on his website [wardburton.com]: Initial planning for a new TV outdoor show is underway - Ward is working with writer/producer Jason Thomas whose book on the life of Doris Duke, Too Rich, was made into the CBS miniseries Too Rich. The show will be an opportunity for Ward to share his love of nature with viewers of all ages.(1-19-2005)
AND Jeff Burton's comments on brother Ward not having a ride: "Ward doesn't have a lot going on at the Cup level, and there's really nothing out there right now," Burton said. "Until some changes start happening - and things will start happening - there won't be a whole lot for him, unfortunately. But certainly he'll be on the top of the list when changes do start happening."(Winston Salem Journal)
AND II Jeff Burton said his brother, Ward, does not have any firm racing plans for this season. "He's a capable driver," Burton says. "Unfortunately, he's gotten caught up in the fact that people want to hire 12-year-olds."(USA Today/AP)(1-20-2005)
- Ward Burton, USSA team to make dreams a reality: A.J. Benson and Jordy Kudrna got quite an early Christmas present this week. The two teen-age boys spent three days hunting with Ward Burton as part of a joint effort between the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and the United Special Sportsman Alliance. The USSA is a Chistian non-profit agency that is sort of a Make-A-Wish for outdoorsmen. A.J., 16, and Jordy, 13, are battling cancer, and the USSA hoped to provide the two boys an outdoors adventure of their dreams. The Outdoor Channel was there to film much of the activity, which will be shown on their Outdoor World program.(See full story at NASCAR.com)(12-24-2004)
- Ward out? UPDATE confirmed: hearing that Ward Burton and the #0 NetZero team have parted ways? Supposedly Mike Bliss will drive the #0 Chevy at Darlington.(11-8-2004)
UPDATE: Mike Bliss has replaced Ward Burton in Haas CNC Racing's #0 NetZero Chevrolet for this weekend's Nextel Cup Series Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Owner Gene Haas released Burton after last weekend's Checker Auto Parts 500, a Burton spokesman said, ending negotiations with Haas for Burton to continuing as the team's driver. Bliss has 33 career Cup starts and two top-10s, including a career-best fourth at Richmond in September 2004.(NASCAR.com)(11-9-2004)
RICKY CRAVEN
- Craven not retired, would take part-time ride: Ricky Craven hasn’t officially retired because he will still jump into a limited, part-time ride if the fit is right. And Craven still feels he can race competitively in any series, even though he has raced only once in any of the three major NASCAR divisions since 2005. But Craven maintains, as he has for the past two years, he is "no longer willing to give up all the other things it takes to be a [full-time] race car driver. The commitment requires being away from your family the majority of the year." So he keeps himself busy making up for lost time with wife K.K. and their three children (daughters Riley and Lydia and son Everett). And to help pay the bills, he writes a column on Yahoo.com, will do eight radio spots on Sirius Satellite radio, and he has launched a new career as a public speaker. The speaking career will take him to Afghanistan in the near future.(Bangor Daily News)(2-9-2008)
- Craven's Charity Ride raises $110k: Wind chills exceeding 25 degrees below zero couldn't dampen spirits on Saturday in Greenville, Maine as 400 riders joined Ricky Craven for the 10th annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity. Ricky led 250 sleds on a 50 mile ride before making presentations to the ride's charities [total of $110,000].(Ricky Craven site)(1-28-2007)
- Craven to run race in Maine: Ricky Craven will hop into a Johnny Clark Motorsports car this summer, returning to his roots with the 34th running of the prestigious TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. It will mark the first time Craven races in his home state since 1992. "I'm really excited about this," said the 39-year-old Craven, who has no other racing on his calendar this year. "This race has been such a big part of my life. I sat in the grandstands and watched it in the '70s, and I fulfilled a dream when I won it in 1991." Though no concrete plans have been laid out, Clark and Craven expect to test the car on a couple of occasions before the race weekend. Even then, Craven will be in attendance all weekend to participate in the numerous practice sessions for the 250.(Maine Today)(3-31-2006)
- Craven Charity Ride Raises Another $135,000: Despite some challenging weather conditions, Ricky's annual Snowmobile Ride for Charity completed a 35 mile ride on Saturday afternoon. The event raised an additional $135,000 for some of Ricky's favorite charities, bringing the Charity Ride's 9 year total to over $1.1 million. Ricky would like to thank the volunteers, sponsors, and participants that helped make this year's event a success.(Ricky Craven Site)(1-30-2006)
- Craven may start Truck team, looking for Cup ride: Ricky Craven said Monday he doesn't expect to race full time next year. "I'm not going to pursue full-time Busch or Truck Series opportunities and it's late in the game for Nextel Cup," said the 39-year-old Craven, who has run 278 Nextel Cup races in his career. "I'm not saying it won't happen [in Nextel Cup], but I don't expect it this late." He reiterated he doesn't want to drive for a single-car Cup team or a team that doesn't have the resources to be competitive. "I'm not interested in just racing. I don't want to be a field-filler. That's not how I want to race," said Craven. "I've established my criteria for that. I am interested in racing in the Truck Series part time. It's a wonderful series. I may even pursue that with my own team. If I did that, I would still have an opportunity to race Nextel Cup." He indicated he would be interested in a part-time ride for a good, established Nextel Cup team, also. There are rumors circulating that Bobby Hamilton Jr., who replaced Craven in the Tide #32 Nextel Cup Chevy 16 months ago, won't return to drive for PPI Motorsports and team owner Cal Wells III next season. Would Craven return to the team with which he won two Nextel Cup races, the only single-car team to do so over the last five years, and posted 10 top-fives and 24 top-10s in their 3 1/2-year relationship? "I certainly have an interest in helping Cal. We're friends. We'll see. But it needs to be a different situation," said Craven, referring primarily to Wells' ability to land a second team and sponsor.(Bangor Daily News)(11-22-2005)
- Craven may sit out 2006 season: Ricky Craven said he is prepared to sit out next season if he doesn't get the opportunity he desires. He currently is finishing up his year with Roush Racing [#99] in the Truck Series. "I've had some opportunities in the Busch and Truck series but I've made it clear I want to get back to the Nextel Cup Series next year and I want it to be a quality opportunity," said the 39-year-old Craven on Tuesday. He won't be a noncompetitive field filler in Nextel Cup, he insisted. "My odds have diminished in the last few weeks because the opportunities are starting to fill up. We live in a world of statistics and numbers don't lie. The youth movement has gained so much momentum," said Craven. "[Twenty-four-year-old] Denny Hamlin is going to drive the 11 car next year [for Joe Gibbs Racing]. He clearly has talent and deserves the opportunity. He has done a very good job. That type of opportunity simply didn't exist when I was a rookie in 1995," Craven added. "You had to race a minimum number of years in Busch to get considered for a Cup ride. Drivers under 30 years of age who got top 10 Cup rides were few and far between. Young drivers short on experience are getting those rides now. That's how the sport has changed," said Craven, the 1995 Cup Rookie of the Year. There are two races left in the truck series and Craven, currently 11th in points, said he hopes to make a decision on his future in the Nextel Cup Series within the next two weeks. Retirement isn't an option, he said. Nor is seeking another job within the NASCAR garage (i.e. crew chief). If he doesn't land a Nextel Cup ride, he said he will "re-evaluate" his future. He said he may eventually decide to seek a ride in the truck or Busch series but only if the team can challenge for the points championship.(Bangor Daily News)(11-9-2005)
JEFF GREEN
- Stremme? Mayfield to Haas? UPDATE 2 Mayfield in the #66 NOW: hearing that both David Stremme, currently driving the #40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has also talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008; also hearing that Jeremy Mayfield, currently driving the #36 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing [but out of a job at the end of 2007] has talked to Haas CNC Racing about driving for them in 2008. Haas CNC Racing has already signed Scott Riggs [now in the #10 Dodge at GEM] to drive one of their cars for them in 2008, either the #66 Chevy currently driven by Jeff Green], the #70 Chevy [currently Johnny Sauter] or a possible third team. Stremme is also being rumored to others rides, including #10 GEM Dodge, Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing [if Horish decides not to run Cup in 2008 in their third car].(10-9-2007)
UPDATE Mayfield to Haas? on Sunday's SPEED Report, Bob Dilner reported that it looks like current Haas CNC Racing drivers, Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter will not return in 2008 and that Jeremy Mayfield is now the leading candidate to join the team. Scott Riggs was recently signed to drive for the team in 2008. Dilner also mentioned that Tony Furr could ended up back with Haas as Mayfield's crew chief, but Furr denied that.(10-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: Jeremy Mayfield will replace Jeff Green in the Haas CNC Racing #66 Chevrolet, effective immediately, team general manager Joe Custer said Monday morning.
Mayfield also will join Scott Riggs in the driver lineup for next season but the alignment of the two drivers with car numbers in 2008 has not been determined, Custer said. Green is 27th in the series points standings. "[Green] did a good job for us, and we appreciate everything he did," Custer said. His replacement in the #36 Bill Davis Racing team for this weekend at Atlanta has not been announced. As far as the status of current Haas CNC Racing driver Johnny Sauter, Custer said Sauter (who is 31st in points) is under contract with the team and that "we're working through that" for 2008.(SceneDaily.com)(10-22-2007)
BUCKSHOT JONES
- Latest on Buckshot: Last Monday morning, while many of his former NASCAR peers were preparing to run the rain-delayed Auto Club 500 in California, Buckshot Jones was working traffic, too. But he was on I-85, far from the hustle and bustle of Sprint Cup racing, chauffeuring his sons Kolton and Levin to school in Norcross. And even though his NASCAR career never reached its full potential, he wouldn't have it any other way. He's now earning his living as a land developer and spending quality time with his kids, something many NASCAR drivers have little time to do. Still, he said, there are some lingering regrets about his racing career, which essentially ended midway through the 2002 season when he was released at age 31 by Petty Enterprises.(See full story at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-2-2008)
- Where's Buckshot? Quick. Hide the women and children, and slap a straitjacket on Randy LaJoie. Buckshot Jones might be headed back to the Busch Series. After running the Snowball Derby in December, Jones is scheduled to make eight Hooters Cup races this season for DMT Motorsports owners David Bowen and Mike Phelps. It's not a full-fledged return to the sport, but there are plans for Jones to possibly enter a couple of Busch Series events later this year at New Hampshire and Bristol.(NASCAR.com)(3-16-2007)
- Buckshot back racing in 2007: DMT Motorsports announced that former NASCAR Cup and Busch driver, Roy "Buckshot" Jones of Gwinnett County, Georgia, will be driving the #01 Southern Division Chevy for Bowen Family Homes in the 2007 Hooters Pro Cup. Buckshot last drove the number #44 Georgia-Pacific Dodge for Petty Enterprises in the Nextel Cup Series [actually his last NASCAR race was a Busch Series race in 2004 at Kentucky in the #1 Dodge for Phoenix Racing, last Cup race was at Talladega in Oct 2003 in Michael Waltrip's #00 Chevy].(Flammer Relations PR/USAR site)(12-13-2006)
- Buckshot back racing: former Cup and Busch Series driver, Buckshot Jones has entered a #00 in the 39th annual Snow Ball Derby for Mid-South Motorsports owned by Skoot Rice.(Buckshot Jones Group MSN), other drivers with NASCAR connections include Dave Mader, III, Stanley Smith, Butch Miller, Steve Wallace and Travis Kittleson.(11-8-2006)
- as far as I have heard Jones is done with racing and retired.(6-3-2005)
- Buckshot back: Buckshot Jones will be driving the #09 Miccosukee Resorts & Gaming Dodge for Phoenix Racing and team owner James Finch in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He will be filling in for Mike Wallace who is subbing for Jerry Nadeau in the #01 US Army Pontiac.(Buckshot PR)(6-13-2003)
- Buckshot back? hearing Buckshot Jones will test at Atlanta towards the end of February, could be a possible ride Michael Waltrip in the #00.(2-3-2003)
- Buckshot News: Congratulations to Buckshot Jones and his wife Jina, on the arrival of their second child. Jack Lavine, was born on the 15th January, at 4.31pm. 8lbs 1.6oz and 20 inches long. Jones announced in Nov 2002 that he would not be racing full-time in 2003, closed his website and suspended operations of his fan club for 2003.(1-17-2003)
- Buckshot not racing in 2003: per the Buckshot00.com site [now not working and down] and Buckshot Jones - "It is with great sadness that I must tell you that as of right now I have no plans to race full-time next season. Unfortunately, without a sponsor, there isn’t anything that we can do. We will be closing the website on November 30th. We will not continue the fan club in 2003. However, if an opportunity to race full-time arises, we will start the fan club and website back up. I can’t begin to tell you how much your support has meant to me throughout the years. Thank you for everything that you have done for me.(11-23-2002)
Steve Park returning to the #36 at Daytona: Tommy Baldwin Racing will team up with NASCAR veteran Steve Park for the second annual modified tribute car at Daytona International Speedway. Park will run the #36 "Old Blue" Chevy to tribute owner, car-builder and mechanic Len Boehler in the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday, July 2nd. Boehler started BRE Racing Inc in 1957. From the late 60's to the early 70's, Boehler ran a coupe modified that was beat up with dents, rusty and built with junkyard parts but had a fast big-block engine. Competitors called the car "Old Blue" and the name stuck. "Old Blue" won six NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championships from 1967-69 and 1994-96 and collected over 400 feature wins in the team's 54-year history. Beginning Monday, April 18th, fans will have the opportunity to be a part of history by sponsoring the #36 "Old Blue" Chevy with contributions from $20 to $10,000. All proceeds exceeding $100,000, the cost to race the Coke Zero 400, will be donated by Tommy Baldwin Racing to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.(TBR), Park ran the #36 last year at Daytona in July in a Richie Evans Tribute car and is also entered in the #35 Chevy this weekend at Talladega for Tommy Baldwin. See an image of the scheme on the #36 Team Schemes page.(4-13-2011)
Steve Park returns to race at the site of his biggest win: Most race fans remember Steve Park’s last NASCAR Winston Cup victory. Coming just one week after car owner’s Dale Earnhardt tragic death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Park edged Bobby Labonte for the emotional win in the Dura Lube 400. The track? The Rockingham Speedway. Park makes his return to the track for the Oct. 9, 2010 running of the ARCA Racing Series. “It is always great to have former winners back to race at ‘The Rock,’” said track president Andy Hillenburg. “Steve’s win here was one of the most memorable races I have ever seen, being such a fantastic finish and coming on the heels of such tragedy for that team and race fans everywhere. We are thrilled to have him back racing at Rockingham in the American 200.”
Also scheduled to race in the American 200 is Ricky Carmichael. A 30-year-old native of Clearwater, Fla., Carmichael is best known for his successful motocross career which includes 10 AMA Motocross Championships, five AMA Supercross Championships, and two World Supercross Championships. Carmichael has driven to six top-10 finishes in 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season. Rockingham will mark Carmichael’s fifth ARCA Series start of the year, with a best finish of seventh in the season-opener at Daytona.
For more info about the American 200 race weekend, annual Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham and tickets for the races, contact the Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Tickets, starting at $20 in advance, and suite packages are still available.(Rockingham Speedway)(10-5-2010)
Steve Park to run Cup race at Daytona? UPDATE: from the Tommy Baldwin Racing Facebook page: "Steve Park & TBR Daytona july race. We [Tommy Baldwin Racing] want to do a Richie Evans replica design", posted by TBR.(5-22-2010)
UPDATE: Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Steve Park announced that they will be entering a fan sponsored, Richie Evans tribute car at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona on July 3. The #36 Chevy will feature a throwback orange and black paint scheme with the fans’ names sponsoring the car integrated into the design. Richie Evans, “The King of Modified Racing”, won eight consecutive Modified Championships from 1978 to 1985. In 1979, Evans posted 54 top-five finishes in 60 Modified races. From Quebec to Florida, Evans racked up more than 400 career victories. His achievements have been heralded by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame as, “One of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports.”
“Richie Evans is one of the guys we all worked hard to beat and to be around,” Baldwin said. “I always looked up to him." Evans was fatally injured at the age of 44 during practice for the Winn-Dixie 500 Triple header at Martinsville Speedway in 1985. At the time of the accident he had already clinched the Winston Modified Tour championship, now known as the Whelen Modified Tour. "I hope that this will be the first in a line of tributes to some of the best racers in the world who inspired me and many others - modified racers,” Baldwin said. Two-time Sprint Cup Series winner Steve Park will drive the TBR machine in the Daytona race. This will be Park’s first trip back to Daytona since he won the pole in 2003. “I’m extremely honored to be driving a car that pays homage to one of the greatest race car drivers of all time,” said Park. “Richie is respected by so many drivers and he really made his mark in this sport. This is a really neat way to get the fans involved while paying homage to one of the greats.”Fan sponsors will choose from different tiers of sponsorship that range from $20 -$10,000 allowing them to actively participate in a memoriam of the greatest racers in the Modified Series, a junior league to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. More info at the Tommy Baldwin Racing website.(5-27-2010)
Steve Park back in victory lane: former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and winner Steve Park showed he hasn’t forgotten his way to Victory Lane, leading the final five laps Saturday evening at Adirondack International Speedway in Lowville, N.Y. en route to the win in The Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems. It was Park’s first NASCAR Camping World Series East victory in 13 years [1996 at Nazareth Speedway]. Since then, he has collected wins in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Series Truck Series. He has also won on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. With the win, Park locked up a secured spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The prestigious postseason race is scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2010 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.(NASCAR)(8-2-2009)
- Steve Park Ready To Get Rolling: Steve Park’s long and successful racing career has taken him all over the map – from his days running the short tracks of the northeast to racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Dale Earnhardt Sr. The winding road has had its up and downs, and it has taken him back to the beginning, as he prepares to enter his second season of his second go-around in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. When he first came through the series back in 1996, it was known as the NASCAR Busch North Series and primarily based in the New England and New York. Park took on the likes of Dave Dion, Kelly Moore, and the late Stub Fadden – guys who have made their careers on the bullrings around the region. Fast forward more than a decade later. The series has evolved, stretching from its New England roots down the Atlantic Coast to South Carolina — where the 2009 season will kick off with Saturday’s season opener at the historic Greenville Pickens Speedway. The faces behind the wheel have changed to, as a fresh crop of development drivers look to replace the likes of Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne and Austin Dillon as stars-of-tomorrow who made their mark in the series and are now looking to establish themselves in one of NASCAR’s three national series.(NASCARHomeTracks.com)(4-9-2009)
- Park back in the East Series in 2009: Steve Park and NDS Motorsports finished out the 2008 racing season 9th in points, with 3 top-five finishes and 8 top-tens and plan to battle for NASCAR East Series championship once again in '09.. "I'm really excited about the 2009 season. We had some really good results in 2008 and the team just kept getting stronger and stronger throughout the year. I am thrilled to be back with NDS Motorsports and everyone at Waste Management Recycle America. I think we will definitely be a contender for the championship this year and I'm really excited to get things started," stated Park.(Steve Park site)(1-14-2009)
- Park has a ride: Steve Park announced today on Press Pass on Sirius NASCAR Radio 128 that he has signed to run the full NASCAR Camping World East Series schedule with Waste Management as sponsor. He is in Daytona talking to numerous Craftsman Truck Series team owners as well and told hosts Alex Hayden and Steve Post "I just know in my heart that I can still win races."(Sirius NASCAR)(1-13-2008)
- Park to run Busch East race at Dover: former Cup driver Steve Park will be behind the wheel for the Dover Busch East event, piloting the #53 Waste Management car for NDS Motorsports on Friday, September 21st.(Steve Park site)(9-18-207)
- Steve Park searching for a ride: Steve Park, whose last NASCAR race was in a Busch car at O'Reilly Raceway Park last August, was in the garage at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday knocking on doors in the hopes of finding a ride for 2007. While driving a Cup car for DEI in 1998, Park was seriously injured in a crash at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He returned to race later that year, but in 2001 he suffered a brain injury in a violent crash during the Busch race at Darlington. In his only full season in the trucks (2004), Park finished ninth in points. The following year he won the second race of the season at California Speedway, but by the end of the season, Park and team owner Steve Gaughan went their separate ways. In 2006, Park started the season driving 10 races for James Harris' CTS team but moved over to the Busch Series to compete in six races for James Marsh. "I'm here looking for a job," Park said. "Atlanta is the first stop on the East Coast for a lot of these teams and I wanted to be here to talk to a few people about a ride in the truck or Busch series." Park says it's been tough for him to sit at home. "I was born to race," he said. "I should be on the race track right now." Park said he had a deal to get back in the Busch Series this season, but it fell apart a month before Daytona. "I spent a lot of time in the Craftsman Truck Series and enjoyed it," Park said. "I'd like to get back into one for the rest of this season." Park joked that during his time away from racing, he cut 10 strokes off his golf game. "Playing golf is great over the winter time when you know you have a job to go racing again in the springtime," Park said. "But when the spring time comes and you're not out there racing, it's a bummer."(Yahoo Sports)(3-17-2007)
- Note from Steve Park: I want to personally thank all of you for your continued support during this transitional time. At this point, I will not be in Kentucky for the Built Ford Tough 225. I wanted to make this public as soon as possible, so you fans planning to attend the race would be aware of my absence. I am hoping to be back in the saddle for the July 15th, O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. I want to thank Jim Harris and everyone at Harris Trucking Motorsports for such a wonderful opportunity. Again, I want to thank all of you fans for your continued support. Hope to see you all trackside very soon. Sincerely, Steve Park.(steve-park.com)(7-6-2006)
- Park has a ride? UPDATE 2 Busch Series: hearing Steve Park will drive a limited number of Busch Series races in 2006, possibly with the #31 Whelen Racing team.(1-31-2006)
UPDATE: From the Steve Park site "I'm thrilled to announce that I will be back in the #31 Whelen Engineering Monte Carlo for 10 select races during the 2006 Busch season. Everyone at Whelen & Marsh Racing has always been so good to me and I am so excited to be back behind the wheel of the Whelen machine."(2-1-2006)
UPDATE 2: Steve Park will be driving the Marsh Racing # 31 Chevy sponsored by Whelen Engineering in 10 select races during the 2006 season. "It is like a family member coming back home" said Phil Kurze, Whelen's Director of Motorsports. Kurze went on to say that "The kickoff race will be Las Vegas and we will probably be racing in both Richmond events, Darlington, New Hampshire, both Dover races, the October race at Lowe's and finish the season with Texas and Homestead. If Steve is able to secure a Craftsman Truck ride we will make some adjustments to our schedule to accommodate his obligations."(Whelen Racing)(2-3-2006)
- Have not heard any news or rumors concerning a ride for Steve Park.(1-19-2006)
- Petty opens site: Kyle Petty has re-opened his website, see more at kylepetty.com.
- Richard comments on Kyle's remarks: from a Dodge Motorsports NSCS Teleconference Transcript:
KYLE (PETTY) WAS VERY VOCAL DURING DAYTONA REGARDING THE 44’s PAINT SCHEME, HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS COMMENTS?
A: "It kind of upset him because that’s where he started. He started with the 44 car at Daytona and was lucky enough to win the race. When we did our deal with Boston Ventures, we never had a place for Kyle at Petty Enterprises. He sort of got out of the loop. When he got out of the loop, he’s been doing his own thing…he run the 24 (Rolex 24) and doing some TV. I’ve not seen him since Christmas. He’s been so busy, I’ve been so busy. He got snow-bound in Pittsburgh for a few days one time; we just really never have gotten together. I’ve really not talked to him. I spoke to him a couple of times on the phone; you can’t get much done on the phone. He talked to his mother. He was really crushed that we didn’t include him in that part of it, and I can understand that. We were so busy trying to get our end of the deal done and make it work with a new team that it fell through the crack and I’m sorry that it did."(Dodge Motorsport PR)(2-18-2009)
- Petty not happy bout merger: Kyle Petty is displeased with the way Petty Enterprises was consumed by Gillett Evernham Motorsports — then renamed Richard Petty Motorsports — and was "crushed" the new team co-opted a bit of his personal history.
"Petty Enterprises ceased to exist when it left (ancestral home) Level Cross, N.C.," said Petty, who does not have a Sprint Cup ride for the first time since 1979. "It further ceased to exist whenever the other group bought it, and that's just a fact of life." But Petty was perhaps most irked by RPM's move to use, without consultation, a No. 44 Dodge for A.J. Allmendinger with the paint scheme Petty bore in winning in his first start, a 1979 ARCA race at Daytona. Petty drove the #44 at Petty Enterprises until his son Adam was killed in 2000, then he switched to his son's #45. "I was crushed. I was hurt and I'm not going to get over it for a while," Petty, 48, said. "And that's a personal thing. That's me. That's not … anything to do with anything else. That was my paint job and my car and my number and my stuff from my first win. Not for Petty Enterprises or GEM or whoever that is."(St Petersburg Times)(2-15-2009)
- Wells Fargo Sponsorship goes away: Kyle Petty raced a limited schedule in 2008 before the company merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports last month. The result of the merger is a four-car team that will race this season under the name Richard Petty Motorsports, and without Petty behind the wheel. Petty also said that Wells Fargo & Co. effectively ended its sponsorship of the driver after its deal in October to acquire Wachovia Corp. “With all the things that have gone on in the banking industry and with their merger with Wachovia, they’ve taken a step back,” Petty said. “At worst it went away. At best, it’s on hold.” (Bloomberg)(2-13-2009)
- No Ride for Kyle Petty: Kyle Petty said he had a couple of opportunities for rides, but they weren't worthwhile. "I'm not at the stage where I want to come down and beat your head against the wall and be there," he said. "I've been doing that for the last five or six years, coming down here with cars that were uncompetitive. I don't want to get in somebody else's car that is uncompetitive. I just ended up without a ride. I'm on the other side of the fence looking in, but not at my choice." Petty drove in the 24-hour race at Daytona last month, but mechanical issues limited him to one shift. He plans to compete in more road races, but he's uncertain which ones. He also will be back as an analyst with TNT for its six Cup broadcasts in June and July, which will keep him from racing during that period. While Petty sits out, he continues his work with the Victory Junction Gang Camp. A second camp, which will be located in the Kansas City area, is expected to have its groundbreaking around September.(Virginian-Pilot)(2-7-2009)
- Petty would like to find Cup ride: [Kyle] Petty's plans for the 2009 season include driving in some Grand American races and continuing his television work. He also would like to obtain a Cup ride, but he knows that his efforts could be harmed by the economic downturn.(Associated Press/ESPN)(1-11-2009)
- New ride for Petty? UPDATE denied: hearing that after the Daytona 500 with James Hylton, the #08 EM Motorsports team will run Kyle Petty in up to 14 races with sponsorship from Wells Fargo and others TBA.(1-2-2009)
UPDATE: been told that this is not true and nothing is signed.(1-2-2008)
- Kyle has no clue about what is up at PE: If you want to know what's going down at Petty Enterprises these days, don't ask Kyle Petty. So says Kyle Petty, son of Richard and grandson of Lee, who founded the race organization in Level Cross, N.C., in 1949. Richard Petty is part owner of Petty Enterprises, which currently is in merger discussions with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Petty Enterprises entered into a partnership agreement with outside investment firm Boston Ventures this past May. "I don't work for Petty Enterprises," Kyle Petty said Monday. "When they did their deal and sold to Boston Ventures, Chad [McCumbee] was going to drive the second car and Bobby [Labonte] was going to drive the first car; they pretty much let me know there wasn't a place for me there going into '09. My deal runs out at the end of the year, but I don't go over there [to the shop in Mooresville, N.C.] because I don't work there. It was a different business and it got into a different place than where Boston Ventures wanted to be -- and I just don't think they have the stomach for it. It's their company and they can do with it what they want to. That's the way it works."
When Boston Ventures came on board, Richard Petty said he would still be heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of Petty Enterprises. But Kyle Petty made it sound as if those from the investment company are pulling most of the strings for the organization now. "I don't know what the division is, and it's got nothing to do with me because it's my father's company," Kyle said. "So it's between Richard Petty and Boston Ventures. Me talking about it is about like anybody else talking about it from the outside looking in. I was not privy to any of the meetings. I was not a part of it. Once David Zucker took over as CEO, then I was out of the loop. So I've got no skin in this game."
So for now, Kyle Petty is just another Cup driver without a ride for 2009. He's looking at possibly not suiting up to drive any Cup races for the first time since 1979 -- when he ran five races for Petty Enterprises at the age of 18, and Richard won the last of his seven championships. "I'm going to do my six TV races for Turner [Sports]," Kyle said. "I'm still working with SPEED, doing [the] Tradin' Paint [show] and I'll be able to do a couple different things with them, maybe with the Grand American division or a couple other things. I'm just going to take a step back and see what goes on, and see where the sport goes and see where motorsports goes for the next little bit and try to figure out what I'm going to do. I'm going to run the 24-hour [Rolex] race at Daytona. That may be my only race of the year; maybe I'll run more races. I don't know what I'm doing. If the right opportunity came along, I think I'm like Bill Elliott. I'm not ready to retire. I may not be there every week, but I don't consider myself retired. You know what I mean? So if the right opportunity came along where I thought we could be competitive, with the right leadership and the right group, I think I would be [interested]. But right now, just [looking at it] as a sports fan over the last eight or 10 years, it's a business decision. If somebody has the money -- if you have the sponsorship and you have the dollars -- it's easier to find something. But right now, there aren't a lot of people out there with money."(in part from NASCAR.com)(12-9-2008)
see past news on my #45 Petty page
2nd Baldwin team: UPDATE2 Bodine? per Tommy Baldwin Racing's facebook page, looks like the team will run a 2nd team at Auto Club Speedway in February with Johnny Sauter driving the #35 Tommy Baldwin Chevy, see images on my #35 Team Scheme page.(1-30-2010)
UPDATE: Sauter is scheduled to run at least three races: Auto Club in Feb., Martinsville in March and Pheonix in April.(1-31-2010)
UPDATE 2: rumors have Geoff Bodine running one of the two Tommy Baldwin Racing entries in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, either the #35 or #36 car.(2-3-2010)
- Sauter to Thorsport Racing? Hearing that Johnny Sauter toured the Thorsport Racing shop in Sandusky, Ohio last week. It's not clear if an indicator that there may be a potential driver change for the #13 team?(12-1-2008)
- Sauter meets with some of our Troops: Johnny Sauter spent his weekend in Fort Bragg, NC in support of the Warriors Promise Foundation. Joined by Pro Beach Volleyball player Angie Akers, Sauter met with troops to thank them for their service on behalf of FUBAR, Sauter’s NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsor for EM Motorsports. The Warrior’s Promise Foundation is a non-profit organization with the charter of providing support to the United States military community at the grass roots level. As part of the Warriors Promise Foundation a percentage of all FUBAR sales goes to the members of military communities in need.(PR)(11-24-2008)
- Triple Duty for Johnny Sauter: Fresh off a top-20 finish at New Hampshire [in the #70], Johnny Sauter looks forward to a triple duty weekend at Dover International Speedway. Sauter will pilot the #08 FUBAR All Natural Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series. In addition, he will be behind the wheel of the #78 Chevy in the Nationwide Series and the #12 Dodge in the Camping World East Series. “I just want to race as much as I possibly can,” said Sauter. “Anytime someone comes to me with an opportunity to race, no matter what series or division, I’m all for it.”(9-17-2008)
Schrader inducted in Missouri Sports Hall of Fame: Ken Schrader never envisioned starting 744 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, making millions of dollars along the way and becoming a hall-of-famer. "All I ever wanted to do was ride around in circles," Schrader said this week. "I never thought it would go quite this far." Tonight, when he trades his firesuit and helmet for a suit and tie, Schrader will add the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame to his vast résumé. Fellow St. Louisan Rusty Wallace, a retired NASCAR great, and the late Larry Phillips, a renowned short-track champion from Springfield, already are in the Missouri hall.(Springfield News Leader)(1-30-2011)
Schrader to run in Bud Shootout? hearing that NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran driver, Ken Schrader, who won the Bud Shootout in 1989 and 1990 [and is now eligible to run the race] will drive the #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota in the 2010 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 6th. Schrader became eligible for the race when the eligibility requirements were changed recently. For more info on the race, the new format and rules, see my 2010 Budweiser Shootout page.(1-6-2010)
Schrader still racing: Ken Schrader told me [Dustin Long] that after he races this weekend, he will have competed in 82 races this calendar year. That’s down from the 119 he ran two years ago but is still quite impressive. Why “only’’ 82 races this year?
SCHRADER: "We didn’t go just every place that there was a race. We went more where (sponsor) Federated wanted us to go."
What will you do in 2010?
SCHRADER: "I’d like to run the Truck or ARCA car more. We’re going to run some races in both of them with Federated and Federated sponsors all the dirt car races. Now, we’ve still got some cars that … we’re renting out to other people. We’ll have two cars at Daytona for the ARCA race. Bill Baird and Josh Richards (will drive).(Hampton Roads)(12-11-2009)
Ken Schrader - 5 races in 6 days: Former Sprint Cup driver, Ken Schrader, on track to race in at least 100 events this year - a pace he's been on for the last 30 years - the Fenton, Missouri favorite will add five more next week, including ARCA RE/MAX Series events at Toledo Speedway (Friday, September 4) and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile-dirt (Monday, September 7). "Yah, I get tired," said Schrader, "but I never get tired of it." That's a good thing because Schrader's itinerary next week is going to keep him hopping from Wednesday through Monday. It starts at Macon Speedway (Illinois) Wednesday night where Schrader is scheduled to race a modified on the tight, high-banked Macon dirt bullring. "Thursday night I'm going to bond with Drager (ARCA president Ron Drager)," added Schrader. And that's because Schrader will head from Macon to Toledo Speedway for Friday night's ARCA RE/MAX 200 presented by Federated and Belle Tire. Schrader is a four-time winner at Toledo with victories in '97, '04, '05 and '06. From Toledo, Schrader will steer west to his own I-55 Speedway in Pevely, Missouri where he'll climb in his dirt late model for more short-track fun Saturday night. On Sunday, it's off to Eagle, Nebraska to race a dirt modified. Schrader will wrap things up Labor Day Monday at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds where he'll race in the ARCA RE/MAX Series Southern Illinois 100.(ARCA PR)(8-26-2009)
What is up with Schrader?
Ken Schrader participated in just his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event of the year as he finished 16th in the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. But the 54-year-old Schrader has already raced more than 50 times this year, mostly at dirt tracks throughout the country. He also has competed in three events run by ARCA. “We ran Martinsville this year [in the Truck series] and have run some ARCA races,” Schrader said. “It was another race [tonight]. Nothing different. I [messed] up missing the drivers meeting, and we just got the thing too tight. You can’t drop in two times a year and race with these guys. But it wasn’t too bad.” In addition to his dirt racing, Schrader also went to Argentina, where several Roush Fenway Racing vehicles were used in an exhibition to promote stock-car racing to the Turismo Carretera Racers Association. “It was cool,” Schrader said. “It was just an exhibition thing. Jack had some cars over there. It was neat. They were very enthusiastic fans. They’re not driver fans; they’re manufacturer fans. They wanted to see the car and hear it, V-8 power.” Schrader, who has 732 career starts in what is now known as the Sprint Cup Series, said he is happy with what he’s doing. His plans for the rest of the year include a variety of dirt tracks as well as ARCA races Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Sept. 4 at Toledo and Sept. 7 at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds. “I’d like to run the truck or the ARCA car more,” Schrader said. “But things are fine.”(SceneDaily)(8-22-2009)
NASCAR in Argentina; Schrader to drive: On Sunday July 19th, three NASCAR vehicles from Roush Fenway Racing arrived at the Buenos Aires City Port. On August 2, those cars will hold a special exhibition during the celebration of a Turismo Carretera Series racing weekend at Potrero de los Funes, a racetrack located in the San Luis Province. The American team will bring Ken Schrader who also has four wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Argentinean drivers Matías Rossi (3M driver in Turismo Carretera) and Diego Aventín will drive with Schrader in the 6250 meters (3.88 miles) circuit. The vehicles that will be showcased around the circuit on Saturday -in between the Turismo Carretera and TC Pista qualifying sessions, and on Sunday before the feature race of the mayor series in Argentina, come from the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Series. Turismo Carretera was the first series created in the world, which earned it a Guinness Record Book mention. The first race was held in 1937 and over these 72 years has become a huge passion for Argentineans, just second to soccer. Every Turismo Carretera race attracts an average of 40,000 fans. For the event on August 2, at the track known as “Potrero de los Funes,” it is expected that a record number of more than 60,000 fans will attend, since it is a street course around a lake. Roush Fenway Racing will bring their crew chief and two mechanics that will travel with Ken Schrader.(Media Racing)(7-27-2009)
- Schrader fine without Sprint Cup ride: Ken Schrader was at Green Valley Speedway [Glencoe, AL ] to compete in the 12th annual Bama Bash open-wheel modified race. On a chilly night with track conditions that made passing difficult Schrader finished second to Jimmy Hiett of Lincoln in the 50-lap event. "Off weekend and didn't have anything to do," Schrader said after the race. "Just wanted to have some place to play." Schrader, who drove for #96 Hall of Fame Racing in the Cup Series last year, does not have a ride this year. But he said he is talking to a couple teams about possibly doing a limited schedule of races. But if it doesn't work out, he said, he really doesn't care. "It doesn't make no difference," he said. "I've had a day job now for a while. I mean I really don't care, I'm glad I'm not in Fontana."(Alabama Live)(2-23-2009)
- Phoenix Racing announces 2009 plans UPDATE: Phoenix Racing announced today that they are expanding their Sprint Cup schedule to include the entire 2009 season. Driver announcement will be forth coming. Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming will continue their partnership with James Finch and Phoenix Racing as primary sponsor of the #1 Nationwide Chevrolet driven by Mike Bliss and the #09 Chevy for ten Sprint Cup races starting with the Daytona 500.(Phoenix Racing PR)(1-22-2009)
UPDATE: Phoenix Racing will run Brad Keselowski in the #09 Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming Chevy for 10 races with Hendrick engines and the remaining races in Dodges bought from Ganassi with Ernie Elliott engines. The drivers for the #09 Dodge will be a combo of Sterling Marlin, Mike Bliss and Ken Schrader.(1-23-2009)
- Schrader may be back with BAM and/or RCR: Don't expect to see Ken Schrader in a Sprint Cup race anytime soon. But when it happens, he will drive for Beth Ann Morgenthau [#49 Toyota] and perhaps Richard Childress [#33 Chevy]. "The BAM team swears they're coming back," Schrader said. "Childress said I might run a couple of races. I don't give a (care). Whatever happens. I've got a bunch of stuff I want to do. It isn't any problem." In the past two years, Schrader has raced only 18 times in 57 races, including just five of 21 this season, earning $496,309. In those five events, he has driven for BAM, Childress, Chip Ganassi and Haas CNC Racing. His best finish came with BAM at Las Vegas on March 2 when he wound up 21st. He last hit the track in Charlotte on May 25 where he finished 33rd in the Coca-Cola 600 while driving for Childress. Since then, Schrader's name can't be found in the Sprint Cup results, which suits him just fine. "I'm not retiring," he stressed. "There just comes a time when you don't have anything to drive." After a 37th-place finish at Martinsville on March 30 with Morgenthau, the team announced it was switching to Toyotas from Chevrolets and would miss the next two races at Texas and Phoenix. There was hope the team would be up and running by Talladega on April 27. But a primary sponsorship deal once planned for the majority of the season has been scaled back to a portion of the season. Now it looks like BAM may return in the fall. That means Schrader can do anything he wants. And even though the NASCAR silly season is in full swing, Schrader's name is never mentioned as a possible replacement driver for 2009 because of his advanced age. "It's not going to be. It's not going to be," he said. "That's just the way the sport is. I don't have a problem with that. I was there a long time and it isn't any biggie."
To replace his NASCAR fix, and as has he has done all his life, Schrader does not sit still. He can be found racing a car in the ARCA series and at his first love — racing on a dirt track some place in the United States. He was at his own track, I-55 Raceway in Pevely, last Saturday night, racing his late model in the Tri-Track Challenge, where he finished fifth in the 40-lap feature. He also owns a NASCAR Craftsman Truck team, and he will race that truck at Bristol on Aug. 20. As well, he owns a car that is driven by former Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael in the Camping World East Series.(St Louis Post Dispatch)(8-9-2008)
- Tracy testing with Germain at Chicagoland UPDATE 3: One-race deal; switch from LVMS to Texas: Open-wheeler Paul Tracy, who made his NASCAR debut in NASCAR's #2 series in 2006, will return to the oval-track for a one-day test at Chicagoland Speedway on Wednesday, May 28th. While this will be Tracy's first experience in a truck, he is known as one of the most cerebral wheelmen in the business and he will adapt quickly. Versatility is a trademark of the 2003 Champ Car World Series Champion, as Tracy has raced open-wheel cars, Grand-Am cars, NASCAR, and off-road trucks, all in the last two years. (Player Mgmt. PR)(5-26-2008)
UPDATE: Possibility for 09? It was just an engine test with a driver currently out of work, as the 40-year-old Canadian has been unsuccessful in attempts to land a ride in the new unified IndyCar Series. Then again, it's perhaps the most interesting pairing of a former open-wheel driver with a truck team. "We haven't talked about specifics -- it's been more about maybe trying to think about that next year," team owner Bob Germain said. "Though if we saw something come together, you're so much further ahead if you can run some races this year to get everybody familiar with each other. But realistically, we've got a lot on our plate right now. We won't rule out the possibility we'd do that, but this process just started." This week, Tracy's goals were modest: namely, to get acclimated to a race truck and to provide some feedback for the #30 team. Bodine tested all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning, then got to pass the wheel and rest for Friday's race at Dover.(ESPN.com)(5-30-2008)
UPDATE 2: A few weeks ago, Paul Tracy tested Todd Bodine's truck at Chicagoland Speedway and impressed Bob Germain enough to get a one-off deal. Tracy will drive the Germain Racing Toyota on September 20 at Las Vegas. "Paul did a nice job so we got a little bit if support and decided it would be fun to run him in his hometown," said Germain, who along with his two brothers owns 19 car dealerships in Ohio and Florida. "We're going to run Chrissie full-time in the trucks next year and we've got another year for sure with Mike (sponsored by Geico)," said Germain. "I know Todd would like to run the Nationwide series and we've got about a dozen different possibilities we'll be looking at. "And running Paul full-time in the trucks is one of those."(Robin Miller- SPEED/TV)(6-19-2008)
UPDATE 3: Canadian open-wheel star Paul Tracy will drive a Germain Racing Toyota Oct. 31 at Texas Motor Speedway, not at his current hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway as previously planned. A Texas-based sponsor was the catalyst behind the move.(ESPN.com)(9-12-2008)
- Tracy Committed to Champ Car; will not run NASCAR in 2007: Paul Tracy has decided to remain loyal to Champ Car and abandon plans to participate in NASCAR in 2007. Tracy participated in six NASCAR Busch Series races in 2006 and showed signs of potentially having a successful career in stock cars.(Player Management International PR)(10-27-2006)
Villeneuve to drive some Nationwide races: The probable association between Jacques Villeneuve and Go Canada Racing, as reported by Le Journal de Montreal in August, has resurfaced. Villeneuve could run a dozen races (and maybe more) this year in the Nationwide Series driving a car owned by Toronto businessman Steve Meehan. Meehan declined to elaborate on the issue, while acknowledging that he had discussed with Villeneuve in recent weeks. Andrew Ranger will not drive for the team at Daytona, contrary to earlier reports. His debut will take place two weeks later at Las Vegas and possibly at Phoenix, the second week of the season. David Ragan, who has six years experience in Sprint Cup, wll take over the wheel of the Go Canada Ford at Daytona. In addition, the team has acquired a new Dodge Challenger that will be used at Phoenix.(Montreal Journal - translated using Google translate and edited for clarity)(1-31-2012)
Villeneuve interested in Red Bull: UPDATE: Brian Vickers says he isn't feeling pressure to prove himself on the track, but that doesn't mean his future is secure or he knows where he'll be racing in 2012. Red Bull announced in late June that it was selling the team and it's been nearly three months with no announcement of a buyer. Vickers has even worked to line up potential buyers but nothing has materialized. There could be some rides available with other teams, depending on sponsorship. Among those who have inquired about purchasing the Red Bull assets is former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve. His business manager confirmed that Villeneuve has inquired about buying the team, but gave no indication of whether talks have been productive. Villeneuve has never hidden his interest in Cup racing and if the Canadian driver can find investors to put him in a seat, he likely would do it. He also could have investors purchase the team with the idea of him running a partial Cup schedule along with another driver.(Scene Daily)(9-21-2011)
UPDATE: In June it was reported that Red Bull will put the brakes on its involvement with NASCAR at the end of this year but this seems to be premature. [Red Bull owner Dietrich] Mateschitz says "this is not yet a final decision but we had many reasons to re-analyse our involvement with the goal of either to confirm our participation in NASCAR or to question it." He adds that the key factors which will affect Red Bull's decision are target groups, marketing, media values, the engine, the fact that NASCAR is a purely American series and of course success and the cost to benefit ratio.(PitPass)(9-23-2011)
Villeneuve looking for Cup or Nationwide ride: Jacques Villeneuve came to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday to shop -- for a race team. While the 1997 Formula champ's first choice would be acquiring a full-time ride in either the Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series, Villeneuve realizes providing his own seat my be the best option to join the sport. "There's two things, if I can get a good ride, I probably would not be looking at (buying a team) but the way the budgets are right now you might as well bring it yourself," Villeneuve said. "If I could get a full-time ride, I probably wouldn't bother." Villeneuve said his first preference is Sprint Cup. But he would prefer a solid Nationwide Series team to a struggling Cup operation. Villeneuve said he's "very sad" that nothing has been lined up yet for Watkins Glen, but he would love the opportunity to race there as well.(Fox Sports)(7-17-2011)
Villeneuve was offered the #43 for Watkins Glen UPDATE2 not happening: Dominic Fugère of Rue Frontenac reports that Jacques Villeneuve will run the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International. Villeneuve said "It's already qualified a car, a good car" [meaning a car/team that is in the top-35 of owners points, looking thru the list a few stand out as possible teams: #12-Stremme, #6-Ragan, #34-Andretti]. But no team is mentioned in the article.(Rue Frontenac - translated)(8-5-2009)
UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve will be back in Sprint Cup this weekend at Watkins Glen. Villeneuve, who is currently in Europe, has received an offer from Richard Petty Motorsports replace Reed Sorensen at the wheel of the #43 Dodge [for Watkins Glen]. Villeneuve, said that in talks with the new team USF1 for a possible return to Formula 1, and said that other proposals to run in NASCAR by the end of the season.(Translated from monvolant.cyberpresse.ca)(8-5-2009)
UPDATE 2: Jacques Villeneuve came close to a return to Sprint Cup this weekend at Watkins Glen. Villeneuve received an offer from the Richard Petty Motorsports team to replace Reed Sorensen at the wheel of the # 43 Dodge. Sorenson, injured last weekend [had not heard this] at Pocono, had agreed with his team to skip the demanding road race circuit and be back in the #43 for the remainder of the season.(translated from monvolant.cyberpresse.ca)(8-5-2009)
- Villeneuve trying to find ride: Jacques Villeneuve appeared at the Canadian Motorsports Expo at the International Centre and spelled out just how hard it has been for him to attract enough sponsorship dollars to get his newly minted NASCAR career back on track. "It's tough going," he said. "There are still a bunch of (NASCAR) teams that are looking at getting funding for 2009 and I am spending virtually all my time trying to get (a deal) done." The frustrating thing, of course, is that Villeneuve should be able to stand before any corporation in Canada, shake hands with a few company directors and come out with a wheel barrow full of cash to back any kind of racing venture that he wanted. After all, he has one of the most recognizable names in all of sports; his late father is worshipped on two continents and he is a two-time Canadian male athlete of the year. And at 37 years old, he still is young enough to drive at least five more seasons at the top of his game in NASCAR. All this, however, amounts to a hill of beans with the auto manufacturing world in a death spiral. "I am at my core an optimist," Villeneuve said. "So I believe that even with current conditions something will happen to get me back in a race car this season." One of the options he has is to go racing V8 Super Cars in Australia, a NASCAR-style series that races stock cars on road courses. "But I doubt I will do that," he said. "My family is settled in Montreal and it wouldn't be fair to uproot them for a few months racing in Australia." Still, Villeneuve was adamant that his desire to compete in high-speed, high-level racing is as strong as it was when he won the CART championship back in 1995. Villeneuve is so focused on breaking into NASCAR that he has decided to forego another opportunity with team Peugeot to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans this spring. "Going back to Le Mans would take too much time away from pursuing NASCAR," he said.(Toronto Sun)(1-19-2009)
- Villeneuve tests truck at Chicago, debut at Vegas, could run Cup race UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner, will drive seven races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing in anticipation of racing full time next season. Villeneuve tested in a Craftsman truck [the #27 Toyota], which uses a stock-car chassis with a pickup body, in Chicago on Monday. He is expected to make his debut on the third-tier NASCAR circuit at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. "We're planning on running him in the last seven truck races, starting in Vegas," said Michelle Marckwardt of Bill Davis Racing. "It's possible he may run a Nextel Cup car at the end of the year."(Detroit Free Press)(8-28-2007)
UPDATE: Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve made his debut behind the wheel of a Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra machine Monday and Tuesday at Chicagoland Speedway. Villeneuve, who has not raced on an oval track since 1995, when he won both the Indianapolis 500 and the CART Indy Car Championship, spent Monday acclimating himself to the #27 truck. After watching teammate Mike Skinner run a few laps, Villeneuve hit the track in his Tundra. By his 12th lap, Villeneuve's lap time was 31.67 seconds [170.508mph] around the 1.5-mile tri-oval and within six tenths of a second of Skinner's times. Villeneuve finished the day only two tenths of a second slower than the Craftsman Truck Series Championship leader. The team made a number of changes to the truck throughout the two-day test session, but Villeneuve never slowed. His lap of 31.00 seconds [174.194mph] Tuesday proved to the other Craftsman Truck Series teams attending the test just how talented he really is. "It was a great test," Villeneuve said. "I missed racing on ovals, so it has been a lot of fun the last few days. I definitely learned a lot. The truck has a lot more grip then I thought it was going to have. It turns very well. It took a little getting used to at first, but I am very comfortable in it now."
"Jacques did very well," said BDR Truck Team Manager Mark Chambers. "He gives incredible feedback and adapted to the truck extremely well. Overall, I would have to say that he was very impressive on and off the track. He will be a great asset to BDR." Villeneuve will make his first career NASCAR start in the Craftsman Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. He will then compete in the remainder of the NCTS events for Bill Davis Racing. The 36-year old champion could possibly make his Nextel Cup Series debut before the end of the 2007 season.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-28-2007)
- Villeneuve could be headed to Cup in 2008: Bill Davis Racing plans to field a full-time Sprint Cup entry for former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve in 2008, team owner Bill Davis said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Davis said the plan right now is to run Villeneuve in the #22 Craftsman Truck Series entry later this season, as well as test the Car of Tomorrow. BDR will also field a car for Villeneuve in the ARCA race at Talladega in October in preparation for the Daytona 500 in 2008, Davis said. Then? "And then we'll go Cup racing next year," Davis said. Davis said that Villeneuve's jump to Cup doesn't necessarily mean he'll be in the #36 Toyota and that a three-car team "is a possibility." Veteran Nextel Cup crew chief Slugger Labbe will lead Villeneuve's team, Davis said. Villeneuve will debut in NASCAR during a CTS test at Chicagoland Speedway on Monday. The hope right now is debut him in a CTS race next month in Las Vegas. "It is an experiment, if you will," Davis said. "But he's pretty confident he can do it, and we are, too. I think it'll work out just fine."(ESPN.com)
AND: If all goes according to plan, 1997 Formula 1 World Driving Champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve will replace #36-Jeremy Mayfield next year in a Bill Davis Racing Nextel Cup Toyota. Team General Manager Mike Brown said over the next six weeks, Villeneuve will undergo an intensive testing program that will include seat time in a Craftsman Truck Series entry and possibly an ARCA car at Talladega Superspeedway in October. “That’s what we hope to do, that’s what he feels like he’d like to do,” Brown said when asked if Villeneuve would drive a BDR Cup car next season. “Obviously, the whole NASCAR program is new to him, so we’re going to put together an aggressive test program for him. The truck … is much like the COT car we’ll be racing next year. Obviously, he’s got to go through the validation process with NASCAR, so we’re looking at places we can go run him in trucks, maybe in the ARCA series … an aggressive test program, not only with the trucks, but with the COT cars … Kentucky (Speedway), all the different places we can go to.” Brown said sponsor 360 OTC likely will not be back with BDR next season.(SPEEDtv.com)(8-25-2007)
- Villeneuve to test truck for Bill Davis Racing: Following an invitation from Toyota NASCAR team Bill Davis Racing, former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will make his NASCAR debut behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra truck on Monday, August 27 at Chicagoland Speedway in Illinois. Having won both the IndyCar series and the legendary Indy 500 event, Villeneuve is no stranger to oval racing, although he last did so in 1995. For a driver with an almost unequalled resumé, the 36-year-old father of one is fully accepting of his ‘rookie’ status, and is focused on learning as much as he can, as quickly as he can. Speaking from Bill Davis Racing’s High Point, N.C. HQ, Jacques Villeneuve commented, “We have spent the last few months considering a number of NASCAR options and were in agreement that the truck offers the closest reference point to the Car of Tomorrow. Bill Davis Racing was aware of my interest in NASCAR and approached my management team with a view to allowing me to test within its truck program. I’m glad we were able to work that out, and having spent the day with the team for my seat fitting, I am really looking forward to working with Bill and his staff.” Villeneuve’s long-term manager, Craig Pollock, added to the picture, stating, “There’s been a lot of speculation about when Jacques would arrive in NASCAR. Bill Davis’ kind invitation coincided with our decision to start within Craftsman Truck, so the fit was both timely and natural.”(BDR PR)(8-23-2007)
- Villeneuve Confident of NASCAR Future: Former Canadian Formula One star Jacques Villeneuve leans over and coos to his infant son, who is parked close beside him in the mother of all strollers. Since this time last year, Villeneuve has a new wife, a new baby and a new home. He's still waiting on word about the new career on the NASCAR circuit. "I'm confident it will happen," says the former Indy Car, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One champ. So confident that he and his wife have moved from Switzerland to Montreal, where he is within easy travelling distance of the weekend races throughout NASCAR season.(Toronto Star)(4-7-2007)
- Latest on Villeneuve: Former Indy Car, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One champion, Jacques Villeneuve, from Iberville, Quebec is close to getting started in NASCAR and will also race the famous Le Mans 24-hour event June 16-17 in France. "It's something he's never done before," agent Craig Pollock said Monday at Villeneuve's record launch. "He's done open wheel racing. People might find him going to NASCAR unusual, but which Formula One champion has ever had a chance to win the NASCAR series?" Pollock said Villeneuve is "very close" to lining up a title sponsor for a NASCAR ride. Villeneuve may do some driving in ARCA, the Craftsman truck series and the Busch series, which has a race in Montreal on Aug. 4, before moving up to Nextel Cup.(FoxSports/AP)(2-20-2007)
- Villeneuve's sponsorship drive stalls UPDATE...maybe not? Former Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve's road to NASCAR continues to hit speed bumps. After weeks of searching for a sponsor to come up with the roughly $18-million (U.S.) he needs to secure a ride in the NASCAR Busch Series [plans were to team up with Roush Racing], the 1997 world champion driver has apparently set his sights a bit lower. A source close to the 35-year-old native of Iberville, Que., said he is now looking into other ways of getting into a stock car. "He's even talking about doing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series now and then, do some Busch, to try to get into it," the source said. On his official website, Villeneuve's Christmas message alluded to a forthcoming deal, but did not specify where he might land. (Globe and Mail)(1-3-2007)
UPDATE: Craig Pollock, Villeneuve's manager, said Friday that talks are ongoing with several NASCAR teams to secure a drive for the 35-year-old former Formula One champion in the coming weeks, despite published reports to the contrary. ``What's appeared in newspapers has been absolutely ludicrous,'' Pollock told CanWest News Service. ``The fact is we're putting together a package which is necessary for Jacques. We're in a very strong position with any team he wants to go to and there are many, many teams really interested in Jacques. We're hoping by the end of the month, NASCAR-wise, as far as knowing which direction we want to go.'' Pollock's comments were in response to a story in the Globe and Mail this week, which was subsequently picked up by a myriad of racing websites. A Toronto newspaper reported Villeneuve's efforts to join NASCAR's Busch Series [NOT Busch Grand National Series since 2002] had stalled because of the absence of a sponsor ready to invest about $18 million US on his behalf. Other reports suggested the cost might be as high as $23 million to secure a ride in NASCAR's premier Nextel Cup series. The Toronto story also reported Villeneuve's sights were now set on NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series as a last option in an attempt to resurrect his racing career following an abrupt departure from BMW Sauber last August, which ended a 10-year mostly tumultuous run in F1 for the 1997 world champion. Earlier reports said Villeneuve who became a father in November when his wife, Johanna Martinez, gave birth to a son, Jules was close to signing a deal with Roush Racing, which runs six cars [actually five, the sixth was part time in 2006] in the Nextel Cup series. The deal supposedly fell through, however, when Villeneuve insisted Pollock be given a major role in the management of the team. Pollock denied the account as ``the biggest load . . . I've ever heard'' and said talks were continuing with team owner Jack Roush, with whom Pollock said his relationship was ``excellent.''(Canada,com/Montreal Gazette)(1-7-2007)
- Villeneuve Closer to NASCAR Deal: According to RDS, the former Formula One champion has reached an agreement with Roush Racing to help facilitate his move into NASCAR next spring. Team president Geoff Smith tells XM Satellite radio that Villeneuve would begin his career in the Craftsman Truck Series before graduating to the Busch Series. Smith adds that there's a 50-percent chance Villeneuve could be in Montreal next August for the inaugural Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Villeneuve reportedly needs to find between $16-million and $18-million in sponsorship before the deal can be finalized.(TSN.ca)(11-30-2006)
- Still a chance for Villeneuve in Cup..with his own team? UPDATE: There remains an outside chance that former Formula 1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve could end up behind the wheel of a Nextel Cup car in 2007. That’s the word from Roush Racing President Geoff Smith, who said Roush would help Villeneuve put together a team, if his handlers can bring the money to make it happen. “We’re open to it, we’re willing to work with them, but, really the ball is in their court right now,” Smith said Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “His (Villeneuve’s) manager, Craig Pollock, he’s the man behind the marketing of that, and … I’ve heard in the garage that certain sponsors are being pitched by him, so there is some activity going on.” If a deal were to happen, it would not be in a Roush car, since that would exceed NASCAR’s team-size limit. Instead it would be a squad the Canadian driver and his minions would assemble, with Roush providing the technical muscle. “There’s two kinds of chances, and they’re both related to whether or not his marketing organization, which supports him, can close on financial support,” Smith said. “If they’re able to close on full-time Cup support in the next few minutes, few days, then we can support that team with cars, engines, gears, all the hardware stuff — enough to get it up and running. If they’re not able to do that shortly, but they’re able to get a support for commitment next year that’s partial, then we’ll have a little more time to be able to put an infrastructure around helping them,” Smith said.(Speed Channel)(11-19-2006)
UPDATE: The US$100 million Canada's Jacques Villeneuve banked during his five years with Formula One's BAR-Honda team may end up being the stake for his entry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. After lengthy negotiations with Roush Racing failed to produce more than just promises, Villeneuve and his manager Craig Pollock appear headed toward buying their own Cup team. Roush general manager Geoff Smith told Speed TV that the organization will help Villeneuve and Pollock put together their own team if they come up with the money. That help would be in the form of Roush-built chassis and engines from the Roush-Yates Ford motor program. The 35-year-old Villeneuve, meanwhile, became a father this week for the first time after his wife Johanna gave birth to a baby boy, named Jules, on Tuesday.(Toronto Sun)(11-20-2006)
- Roush finalizing plans with Villeneuve: UPDATE: Roush Racing appears to be finalizing plans to put former Indy 500 champion and F-1 star Jacques Villeneuve in a Ford for several Busch Series races next year. Although the schedule isn't set, it'll almost certainly include the Saturday afternoon, Aug. 4 road race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his hometown of Montreal.(Ford Racing)(10-13-2006)
UPDATE:Any hopes that Canada's Jacques Villeneuve might be part of NASCAR's Roush Racing team next season appear to be over. Villeneuve had been in talks with the elite team about driving in 2007 as part of their Busch Series squad as a prelude to jumping to the Nextel Cup side. But yesterday Roush Racing general manager Geoff Smith said there is now only a remote chance of Canada's only Formula One champion joining the team next season. "We're nowhere in that regards for '07," he said yesterday. "There are just general discussions that are going on, but I don't see us being able to make an arrangement to pull together a program where we are today. It's possible that we do something. It's an outside shot given the timing of the year."(Calgary Sun)(11-12-2006)
- More Villeneuve Rumors...Roush discussions, Yates? Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Jacques Villeneuve, a former F1 champion is ready to give stock cars a try. The Villeneuve story heated up with news that the Canadian driver has been in contact with Roush Racing. Asked if the 35-year-old Villeneuve could be in a Roush entry in 2007, team owner Jack Roush said, "That's a possibility. I know we're in discussions. He came to see us in Detroit and he's been in Charlotte and had discussions around our program and what he can do and the rate of which he could get up to speed, if he's got the stomach for it, and if we can find the sponsorship for it, that's certainly a possibility." Efforts to reach Villeneuve and his agent, Craig Pollock, for comment were not successful. The Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that Villeneuve already has signed a deal with Roush Racing and will move back to Canada from his current base in Europe. When contacted by ESPN, Roush Racing said the story is not true and that Villeneuve has not signed with them. There were reports Friday that Villeneuve has also been in contact with Robert Yates Racing about the opening in the #88 Ford. Dale Jarrett will leave Yates at the end of the season for a ride with Michael Waltrip's new Toyota team. But Yates officials were not available for comment.(ESPN.com/AP), see the initial rumors and more on the Drivers Looking/Rumored page.(10-7-2006)
- Villeneuve to Roush Racing? UPDATE 2 DENIED: [note: the verbage is odd as it was translated thru google.com] First Juan Pablo Montoya, now also Jacques Villeneuve. NASCAR 2007 receives to open arms the former-pilots of F.1. Of the Columbian already one knew, inasmuch as after the liberatoria of the McLaren a Dodge of the Ganassi team has already tried the slid week, while the news that regards the Canadian is recent. Villeneuve has defined in fact an agreement with the structure of Jack Rousch [should be Roush], one of largest and competitive of the series, for the next season. The team, that it represents the official square of Ford, has conquered the title it NASCAR with Matt Kenseth in the 2003 and Kurt Busch in 2004. And at the moment it lines up 5 cars very, than they will be reduced to four in 2007 [actually not until 2009/2010 range]. One will be for the formerones of F.1. With annexed and connected of marketing: the series in fact from the next year will land also in Canada, just to Montreal where Jacques would go to living with the moglie and the son in arrival.(the verbage is odd as it was translated thru google.com from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italian to English)(10-3-2006)
UPDATE: nothing new, just more in English: According to reports in the Italian press, Jacques Villeneuve has already signed a deal with Jack Roush to race for the Roush Racing outfit in NASCAR next season. Even before his departure from F1 this summer, the French/Canadian had made clear his interest in the series.(Planet-F1.com) and According to websites, grandprix.com and planet-f1.com, Villeneuve has signed on with Roush Racing and will compete on the Busch circuit next season.(sportsnet.ca)
UPDATE 2 - Denied: Another Formula One driver is reportedly making the leap to NASCAR next year. Jacques Villeneuve has signed a deal with Roush Racing and will move back to Canada from his current base in Europe, according to a report in the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport. When contacted by ESPN, Roush Racing said the story is not true and that Villeneuve has not signed with them. However, according to a report on TSN of Canada's Web site, reporters for La Presse spotted Villeneuve and his wife Tuesday in Montreal. When asked about the Italian report, Villeneuve smiled and said, "I'm retired." Villeneuve also said "they're only rumors" when asked if he was moving to Montreal but didn't deny the report. If Villeneuve were to sign with Roush Racing, he would likely take the opening left by Mark Martin, who is scheduled to retire at the end of the season. Roush also has six cars in the Busch Series, but Villeneuve has said that if he were to run in NASCAR, it would likely be at the Nextel Cup level.(ESPN.com)(10-4-2006)
- NASCAR a viable option for Villeneuve: Jacques Villeneuve believes that NASCAR is his only viable alternative should he, as seems likely, not continue racing in Formula 1 next year. The former world champion acrimoniously split with BMW after the Hungarian Grand Prix, after the 35-year-old was dumped in favour of test driver Robert Kubica for the race in Budapest. With no competitive options available in F1 for 2007, the 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar champion seems set to follow Juan Pablo Montoya to the Nextel Cup. “These days, NASCAR isn’t a step down from F1,” Villeneuve said in an interview with F1 Racing. “And, because of that, it’s something you can do without thinking you’re giving up on your career – just as Montoya has done. “Le Mans, sports cars, DTM, IRL, Champ Car? Well, I’m sorry, but they’re all a step down from F1. NASCAR isn’t.” If the Canadian continues to race, he says it will only be in a top category, and while the Indy 500 is still a blue riband event, Villeneuve considers the current IndyCar Series to be shadow of its former guise when he was a front-runner. “An F1 team wouldn’t seriously consider a Champ Car driver or an IRL driver these days, but they look closely at GP2 drivers all the time. In fact an F1 team would probably consider a NASCAR driver before a Champ Car driver or an IRL driver – perhaps they’d even prefer to consider a Moto GP rider."(itv.com/f1)(8-20-2006)
- Villeneuve signed with NASCAR team? no....Tagliani yes? Jacques Villeneuve must now forget formula 1, even if the 1997 champion of the world refuses to believe in it. According to information's obtained by the Newspaper of Montreal, Villeneuve could be in NASCAR as soon as next year. According to received information, Villeneuve has already signed a conditional agreement with a NASCAR team if he does not find a ride in Formula 1. Villeneuve would spend a first season in the Busch series so that he can be familiarized with the world of the professional stock car before reaching the Nextel Series.
BUT Jacques Villeneuve did not sign anything in NASCAR. The person in charge for the public relations of the Canadian driver contradicted Friday the news of the Newspaper of Montreal. Yan Lefort clearly explained the steps of Villeneuve to find a ride in 2007. “Jacques asked his entourage to take information and to make research concerning all the options which could be offered to him for the future, Mr. Lefort specifies. Options being absolute priority BMW and F1; option 2 elsewhere, and elsewhere it has there only the NASCAR which interests it. Therefore, there are contacts in F1 as in NASCAR, but there is no preliminary agreement as it is mentioned in the Newspaper of Montreal this morning.”
Another driver from Quebec, Alexandre Tagliani declared Thursday that he had offers on the table for two races in Busch series this year and that it was probably going to agree to try the experiment.(Translated and Paraphrased from French thru Google from radiocanada.ca and canoe.com)(8-4-2006)
- Villeneuve eyes NASCAR: Jacques Villeneuve has mentioned that NASCAR might be an option for him if he finds himself out of a ride on the Formula One circuit next season. Speaking to the paddock publication Red Bulletin, which is distributed by Red Bull, Villeneuve says he is determined to stay in F1 but is open to other options. "Going to NASCAR might not be such a bad career move, because it's the most exciting race series in the US and it's a very different discipline to F1," says the former world champion. "I would not consider it a step down. Villeneuve adds he likely wouldn't make the return trip stateside to join either the Champ Car series or the Indy Racing League in its current form. "As it stands now, CART and the IRL are looking tired. I would not consider a switch from F1 to either series a good career move. You only do that if you have no other choice, unless you do what Nigel Mansell did - win the F1 title, quit, and then take the Indy championship in your rookie year. That was amazing." Villeneuve says he would also have to take into considering his family when considering a move to NASCAR as that would mean moving back to the United States full time.(tsn.ca)(7-3-2006)
Kenny Wallace wins Late Model race: Kenny Wallace won Saturday night's UMP Modified 50-lap special at the I-96 Speedway half-mile dirt track in his yellow and black #36 Jegs Performance Parts car, and he had to come from the back of the pack to do it. Wallace started ninth in the main but was forced to the back of the 20-car field after being pinched to the inside of the track in Turn 1 on the third lap and spinning out. Wallace darted back through the pack and overtook Spring Lake's Jacob Poel for the lead on lap 23. Wallace ran away from Poel once action resumed from the mandatory fuel stop at the halfway point. He won both the races he entered at I-96. He finished first in the eight-lap preliminary heat in his first start in three years, winning that one in dramatic fashion, too. Wallace started last in the seven-car field but needed just four laps to roar to the front, overtaking Johnny Deyoung for the lead. Wallace, who has raced dirt tracks for four years, last competed at I-96 in 2006.(Michigan Live)(8-16-2009)
- Kenny Back with Jay Robinson: Larry McReynolds reported during SPEEDtv's coverage of Nationwide Series happy hour, that Kenny Wallace is expected to return to the #28 Nationwide team for the 2009 season.(11-14-2008)
- Gunselman Motorsports taps Mike Wallace for Pocono race: Gunselman Motorsports has called upon veteran driver Mike Wallace to drive the #64 Toyota for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Wallace has gone to victory lane three times at the 2.5-mile track in ARCA competition. Being without a full-time ride right now, the St. Louis-native is making his second Sprint Cup points-race attempt of the year. The underfunded team has gone to a reduced schedule to concentrate on making races and returning to full-time competition. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “I am glad Mike Wallace was able to come on board the No. 64 Toyota team this week for Pocono. He’s been around long enough to know what it takes to make these races. Doug (Richert, crew chief) and the guys are looking forward to working with someone of his knowledge and experience. “If he can help us get better and return to our goals of becoming a full-time team, then all the better. It helps he’s been to victory lane at Pocono a few times in ARCA cars and has a pretty good record in Cup cars, too. Todd and Geoff Bodine have both been very helpful to this point and I hope we can build on what they started with Mike this week.”
Mike Wallace, driver: “Larry and the rest of the Gunselman Motorsports group are a young team trying to find a foundation to build on. They’ve showed up and attempted most of the races, but like a lot of teams starting out they’ve had some rough times. As far as I’m concerned, that just makes them hungrier and more determined to make races. I like that in a team. I’m fortunate they’ve given me this opportunity to work with them and looking forward to seeing how we can both help each other out.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(6-2-2009)
- Mike Wallace looking for ride: The roar of the engines after Daytona Speedweeks has silenced and the series is heading west to Auto Club Speedway in California. For one driver with victories in two out of NASCAR three series racing this weekend, the silence is deafening. Mike Wallace, with four NASCAR Nationwide and four Camping World Truck Series victories to his credit, will not be competing. “I think people thought I was all set during Daytona because I was in both the Cup and Nationwide Series garages,” said Wallace. “I had a one-race deal with TRG to make the Daytona 500 in their #71 car. “Then, I had a one-race deal with JD Motorsports in the Nationwide race down there. We did okay there earning a top-20 in 19th place. In addition to the eight victories; he’s amassed a total of 56 top-fives and 130 top-10 finishes. “Right now, I am open to talking with owners about driving for their team,” said Wallace. “I’m sure there is a need for an experienced driver like myself and I’m willing to talk. If I can obtain a sponsor, I have several quality teams that I can take it to and we can be competitive right from the start. Basically, I just want folks to know I am available and ready to drive.” Wallace will be a co-host on ESPN2’s “NASCAR Now” Sunday morning, March 8 and on ESPN News following the Sprint Cup Series race. The following day, he will be a panelist on the Monday edition of “NASCAR Now” on ESPN2.(PR)(2-20-2009)
- Mike Wallace has ride for Daytona 500 UPDATE: Mike Wallace says he's secured a ride in a "competitive car" for the season-opening Daytona 500, providing he can get through the arduous Daytona qualifying process. But beyond Daytona, Wallace said this week he just doesn't know what's going to happen. "We're still talking to people, and they're still interested in possibly doing something," Wallace said. "The only thing that I'm thinking is that I wish it was, like, three months ago -- because the way they're thinking and the way I'm thinking, knowing how close the beginning of the season is, causes me a little bit of concern." Wallace just doesn't know exactly what he's doing beyond Speedweeks -- though he'd consider racing any of NASCAR three national tours.(in part from NASCAR.com)(1-1-2009)
UPDATE: TRG Motorsports announced today their entry in the 51st running of the Daytona 500. The team is taking its experience garnered at the top levels of professional sports car racing and in the Camping World Truck Series, where they posted their first win in 2008, to NASCAR's biggest stage. The team will have veteran driver Mike Wallace pilot the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday, February 15 at the World Center of Speed. "This is a huge opportunity for TRG Motorsports," Kevin Buckler, team principal said. "With the group of partners we have and very competitive team and package we decided to put a program together and race at the 500. We have been on a very steep growth curve with our entries in the Truck Series and ARCA. With the economic situation, it is always nice to be able to look for opportunity wherever possible and that what we have done. This will be defining moment in our team's history. The plan we crafted two years ago is in place, objectives are being met and we are trying to reach our goals." With more than 55 entries expected to compete for 43 starting positions in the 200-lap Daytona 500, the biggest goal for TRG Motorsports is to make it in the show. TRG has enlisted one of the most competent super speedway drivers in the world to pilot their entry in "The Great American Race". Mike Wallace, who has often been regarded as a restrictor plate specialist, will drive for TRG in their debut in Daytona Beach, Florida. "I'm excited about the opportunity to work with TRG Motorsports in regard to their new Sprint Cup effort," Wallace said. "With all of the success that they've had in road racing and the championship caliber organization that they've put together on the NASCAR side, I'm really excited about he opportunity to race for them at Daytona. They are true racers and that's the type of group that I want to be associate with. They've proven that they can win in the Truck Series and to be able to help with their first effort in Sprint Cup is exciting." Wallace will have a solid chance after pairing with TRG Motorsports and veteran Crew Chief, Butch Hylton. Hylton is a Daytona winner, having led Kevin Harvick Inc.'s #33 Nationwide team to a win in the 2005 Daytona 300. Hylton was also responsible for helping Yates Racing place two cars on the front row for the 2007 Daytona 500. TRG Motorsports has purchased a super speedway car from one of the most powerful teams in NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing. Through their association with Chevrolet, TRG and RCR have entered into a technical alliance which will benefit both teams. "With a former Richard Childress Racing car and engines supplied by ECR Engines we have accelerated our learning curve substantially," Buckler explained. "Couple that package with the experience that Mike brings and I believe we have a very competitive package. While the competition will be very, very tough with Mike behind the wheel and Butch calling the shots as the crew chief, we should have a legitimate shot at qualifying our way into the field and making our Sprint Cup debut in this prestigious race! This will be a real honor to be able to see our time take that green flag." TRG Motorsports is based in Mooresville, North Carolina where they run two Camping World Truck Series teams as well as a two car ARCA series effort. The company founded in 1993 has been competing at the top level of motor racing ever since. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 25, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. More info about the team at theracersgroup.com.(TRG Motorsports PR), see images of the car on my #71 Team Schemes page.(1-22-2009)
- No full time ride for Chrissy Wallace? in a NASCAR.com article about Mike Wallace it was mentioned: Mike's not the only one in the family on pins and needles these days. He said Chrissy's 2009 schedule with Germain Racing is far from definitive, with that ugliest of terms -- "sponsorship" -- being the apparent hang-up. "Chrissy started out looking at a full schedule in the Camping World Truck Series, but now it doesn't look like that's going to happen," Mike said. "There was talk about doing the full Camping World East Series, but we're not sure about that, either. We're waiting to see what happens."(NASCAR.com)(12-13-2008)
- Mike Wallace says GEICO has decided 2010 plans UPDATE 2 GEICO to Cup: Mike Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that sponsor GEICO has indicated what it wants to do after next season, and it appears it won’t be sponsoring Wallace. GEICO, an insurance company, is not allowed in the Nationwide Series in 2010 as part of a non-competing sponsor agreement with the series sponsor. Nationwide began sponsoring NASCAR’s #2 series this year. "We have an indication of what they’re going to do," Wallace said of NASCAR. "Who really knows? I’ll just leave it at that." GEICO has been one of the most visible sponsors in the series, with its popular commercials featuring fictional Wallace relative Lauren Wallace. NASCAR has told GEICO it could remain as a team sponsor in the Sprint Cup or Craftsman Truck series, but Wallace indicated that didn’t seem likely. "In my case, for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor," Wallace said.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
NOTE: GEICO is allowed to stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009 if they remain with Wallace and Germain Racing. GEICO does have the option to move to another series at any point if they choose. The story at SceneDaily.com has been updated accordingly.(6-14-2008)
UPDATE: During an interview on ESPN2 Friday during Nationwide qualifying #7-Mike Wallace stated that his team was looking for a sponsor for next year. No word on what GECIO has decided to do.(9-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway has learned that GEICO Insurance will team with Italian road course expert Max Papis to run as many as 18 Sprint Cup Series races next season, in Toyotas fielded by Germain Motorsports. GEICO currently sponsors veteran Mike Wallace on the Nationwide Series, but cannot remain in NASCAR’s number two series beyond 2009, due to language in the sanctioning body’s contract with major sponsor, Nationwide. They can, however, move to either the Sprint Cup or Truck ranks. Wallace said recently that he is already looking for a new backer, adding, “We have an indication of what (GEICO is) going to do, (and) for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor." A spokesperson for Germain Motorsports declined to comment earlier today.(Motorsports Soapbox)(9-10-2008)
- Wheldon Talked to Ganassi About Move to NASCAR: Dan Wheldon might be driving in the Sprint Cup Series this season instead of Dario Franchitti had team owner Chip Ganassi let him. Wheldon said on Monday he had several conversations with Ganassi about making the jump this year from the IndyCar Series, which he won in 2005, to NASCAR. "I talked to Chip enough about it to know that for whatever reason he didn't want to let me move from the Indy car,'' Wheldon said on the first day of the 2008 Sprint Cup media tour. "He definitely wants to keep me [in the IndyCar Series]. We'll see. "I've got some big decisions to make at the end of next season. The main thing is I need to put myself in a strong position so I can make the decision I want to make."(ESPN.com)(1-22-2008)
- No NASCAR for Wheldon in 2008: Dan Wheldon won't be the next open-wheel driver to move to NASCAR so long as team owner Chip Ganassi has the final say. And Ganassi does. Wheldon said Ganassi wants him to remain in Indy-car racing at least for the time being, which includes 2008. Wheldon is completing his fifth full season in the IndyCar Series, his second with Ganassi Racing. "It's not a difference (of opinion), it's just a difference of timing," Wheldon said of Ganassi's position. "He doesn't really say why, but he thinks I should stay in Indy-car racing -- for Honda."(Indianapolis Star)(8-27-2007)
- Dan Wheldon thinking about NASCAR UPDATE denied: Dan Wheldon loves to race, and a visit to NASCAR country with the IndyCar Series only highlights that passion - and makes him think more about moving over to stock cars and getting to do just about all the driving he can handle. 'In my position, you always want to be making yourself better and you always want to be involved in a series that's getting bigger and better,'' he said. "I think everybody knows that I certainly would consider NASCAR. For me, I want to look at the IndyCar Series this year and really consider .. is it going to get a lot bigger than this? Are we going to continue to go to races where we fill the grandstands?"(TSN/AP)(7-1-2007)
UPDATE: team owner Chip Ganassi doesn't foresee open wheel star Dan Wheldon moving to stock cars anytime soon. "I personally don't see it on his radar screen [for] next year," Ganassi told ESPN.com Monday. Ganassi did say he and Wheldon discussed the proposition several months back, but discontinued those talks with the plan to resume them later in the summer. They've yet to do so, Ganassi said. "Having said that, we've had discussions along the lines of 'Hey, let's renew our deal,' and there's some other opportunities within the team for him," Ganassi said. "To be honest, I don't see [NASCAR] as one of the top-five things I'm conversing with him about. I do not consider [a move] imminent." Ganassi said Wheldon's true interest presently is winning a second IndyCar championship. Wheldon won the 2005 crown, then surrendered last season's title to Sam Hornish Jr. by way of a tiebreaker. The drivers finished with an equal number of championship points, but by rule Hornish was awarded the title due to having scored more victories during the year. Wheldon recently expressed interest in NASCAR. In fact, he was especially intrigued by that which deters many open-wheel drivers from jumping to stock cars -- the lengthy schedule.(ESPN.com)(7-3-2007)
- Wheldon to test Busch car? Former IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon has been fitted in Charlotte for a NASCAR stock car seat and will test a Busch Series car at some point, but when and where has yet to be determined. A Chip Ganassi Racing spokesperson said Wheldon's primary focus this season is winning a championship and Indy, but at some point Ganassi would have the Englishmen test a Busch Car.(Daytona Beach News Journal), Wheldon has been rumored to be testing at Las Vegas in a Cup or Busch car, he didn't in a Cup car at Vegas this week, Busch tests at Vegas Feb 5-6th.(2-1-2007)
MISC Driver News 2009
Doctor says Massa up and about: Felipe Massa is already planning a return to racing and joking about keeping Michael Schumacher away from his car as he recovers from a high-speed crash. Massa's family doctor Dino Altman said Thursday the Brazilian driver was eating and walking around his hospital room. He also appeared to have no problem in the left eye, which doctors feared had been badly injured in the crash during qualifying Saturday for the Hungarian Grand Prix. "He is back to normal," Altman said. Massa has been recuperating at the AEK hospital in Budapest after undergoing surgery on multiple skull fractures. The 28-year-old driver was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier.(Associated Press)(7-31-2009)
Latest on F1's Felipe Massa: Formula One driver Felipe Massa took his first steps Wednesday since a high-speed crash last weekend left him near death. Massa's father said his improving son had moved out of AEK hospital's intensive care unit. "Felipe speaks, can sit upright and was even able to take his first steps," Ferrari said in a statement. "From the clinical and radiological point of view, everything is going extremely well." The 28-year-old Brazilian was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier at 120 mph during qualifying Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He sustained skull fractures and a concussion. Also on Wednesday, Brazilian driver and friend Popo Bueno said Massa had asked about his chances of racing in Valencia in three weeks, the next race on the F1 calendar. Seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher will replace Massa at the European GP on Aug. 21-23.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-30-2009)
Update on F1 Driver Massa: Formula One driver Felipe Massa was awake and talking to family members Monday, making significant improvement after his high-speed crash two days earlier. The chief surgeon at AEK hospital said Massa is now breathing unassisted and moving his limbs. In addition, a drain from his skull wound was removed. Chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros said the 28-year-old Brazilian is groggy but able to answer questions. Zsiros says further improvement can be expected. Zsiros said Massa didn't have a fever and remained in stable condition in the military hospital's intensive care unit alongside family members, including wife Anna Rafaela. Massa crashed into a tire barrier at 120 mph Saturday during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix and was near death for two days. Raffaela, Massa's wife who is six months pregnant with their first child, doesn't think he will have any long-term physical injuries and hopes he can return to racing. Massa had multiple skull fractures in the accident and xperienced some brain swelling. Dr. Robert Veres, part of the three-man crew that performed the two-hour operation, said Massa would not be able to race again this season. The Brazilian's long-term career plans are also uncertain. Massa was struck by a loose part from another car that bounced up and hit him in the helmet, causing a concussion. Several fragments of bone from the skull had to be removed during the operation, Veres said. Doctors are concerned about injuries to Massa's left eye. F1's governing body said Monday it will investigate the accident. The report will also address last week's death of an F2 driver who was struck in the head by a loose tire from another car.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-28-2009)
F1 Driver Massa Seriously Injured: Formula One Ferrari driver Felipe Massa remained in "life-threatening" but stable condition on Sunday following surgery on multiple skull fractures. Peter Bazso, the AEK hospital medical director, told reporters that Massa would remain sedated until Monday, but will be woken up periodically during that time. When asked whether Massa's life remained in danger, Bazso answered: "Yes, of course." A spring, from fellow Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car, bounced into Massa's helmet as the 28-year-old driver reached speeds of about 120 mph during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The impact concussed Massa, who then plowed into the protective tire barrier. The impact of the rear suspension part, believed to be made of steel, damaged the left side of Massa's helmet, ripping out the visor and leaving a long dent on its side. Blood was visible on Massa's left brow. The crash came less than a week after Henry Surtees, the son of former F1 champion John Surtees, died in similar circumstances in an F2 race last Sunday. Surtees was struck in the head by a tire from another car, causing him to lose consciousness and drive into a barrier. FIA would investigate the crash, which is commonplace for the governing body.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-27-2009)
F1 Champ Hamilton may consider NASCAR? The reigning F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, was quizzed on his future by Sun readers in an exclusive Q&A session. McLaren ace Hamilton, 24, said: "I'm into all kinds of sports, a bit like Michael Schumacher. I'd love to try a MotoGP bike but not particularly race one. I would love to try one of Malcolm Wilson's rally cars - and one day I might try a NASCAR. But if Mercedes-Benz want to go to Le Mans one day and take me, I'll do that." Hamilton ruled out chasing glory at the gruelling Indy 500, though. He said: "To do the Indy 500 you have to be going at it. It would be unreasonable for me to expect to get in the car and go and win it.(The Sun)(7-20-2009)
- McGriff makes history, starts NASCAR race at 81, finishes 13th: Ever the gentleman, Hershel McGriff was good-natured about finishing 13th in a national NASCAR series race at age 81. "My competition was faster," he deadpanned. Although he certainly would have taken a victory, McGriff seemed nevertheless pleased with his showing in the Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 on the road course at Portland International Raceway, part of the NASCAR Camping World West Series. Jim Inglebright of Fairfield, Calif., won the race. McGriff was the defending champion in Portland winning the only other time the series -- then known as Winston West -- visited the track in 1986. McGriff, who last raced in 2002, broke his own record as the oldest driver. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, he has four NASCAR Cup series victories and 37 wins on the West series. He is a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame.(ESPN/AP)(7-20-2009)
- Bill Lester's Sprint Cup days behind him:The good news for Bill Lester: He's back, racing at Daytona International Speedway . The bad news: His race starts at 2 p.m. He'd really rather be racing at 8 p.m. Lester is entered in the Brumos Porsche 250 Grand-Am race, teamed with Orlando's Ryan Dalziel, a former Champ car driver, in the Riviera Beach-based Orbit Racing Dinan BMW in the Rolex series. At 48, Lester knows he is likely to finish out his racing career where it began, in sports cars, instead of his ultimate goal: NASCAR Sprint Cup. Lester became the first black driver to compete in the Cup series in 20 years when he made two starts in 2006 for Bill Davis Racing. Most of his NASCAR career, though, was spent in the Camping World truck series, where he made 142 starts, won three poles and had seven top-10 finishes. He would liked to have raced longer, and more often in NASCAR, "but I've been fortunate do be able to do what I have on the limited amount of support and funding that I've been able to find." Even when his driving career is over, Lester said he doesn't plan to stray far from motorsports, possibly working to fund minority drivers for the future. "I'd definitely be interested in working with a developmental project, maybe helping find the next Bill Lester, Willy T. Ribbs or Wendell Scott."(Orlando Sentinel)(7-4-2009)
- Davis to attempt New Hampshire race: Marc Davis’ [a former Joe Gibbs development driver who has been running a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series] next race will be an attempt for the Sprint Cup race in two weeks at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Harry Davis [Marc's father] said they will attempt three or four Cup races before the Chase For The Sprint Cup and then attempt additional Nationwide Series events.(Scene Daily)(6-14-2009)
- Cup races for Steve Wallace in 2010? Rusty Wallace Racing’s plans to move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2010 are on hold, as Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that his two-car team will remain in the Nationwide Series next year. “My goal is still to get in Cup, but not now. Too much weird [stuff] is happening with this economy. Our Nationwide cars are funded real well. I’m happy with that. It’d be too much for me to bite off [to move to Cup].” Wallace said he is working on a deal to get son Steve as many as 10 Sprint Cup races next season, pending sponsorship. “There’s a good chance I can pull that off,” Wallace said. “Then I’d want to partner with an existing Cup team that already has points. Maybe they could run 26 and we could run 10.”(Scene Daily)(6-13-2009)
- McGriff, 81, to attempt some West Series races: Hershel McGriff turned 81 in December but he scoffs at the idea of retirement. And he plans to prove it by entering three races in the Camping World West Series this summer. McGriff, a four-time winner in the Cup Series who made his NASCAR debut as a 22-year-old in the inaugural Southern 500 in 1950, plans to attempt to qualify at three road courses: June 20 at Infineon Raceway, July 19 at Portland International Raceway and Aug. 1 at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. "This is the first time they've run Portland since 1986, and I won that race, so I wanted to defend my title," said McGriff, who resided in nearby Bridal Veil for many years before moving to Arizona. McGriff's four Cup victories came during the 1954 season, as he traveled back and forth, running both the Grand National and Pacific Coast Late Model Series. McGriff won the 1986 Winston West championship and held Winston West records for most wins (35) and poles (35). He holds the record for most stock-car victories at Riverside International Raceway, where he won 14 times. He made his last Cup start at 65, finishing 43rd at Sonoma in 1993 after engine problems sidelined his #04 Chevrolet.(NASCAR.com)(5-12-2009)
- Castroneves and Motorsports agent aquitted: Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes. A federal jury acquitted Castroneves on six counts of tax evasion but was hung on one count of conspiracy. When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his attorneys for support. The jury also acquitted Katiucia Castroneves, 35, who is her 33-year-old brother's business manager, on the tax evasion counts but also hung on the conspiracy charge. Michigan motorsports attorney Alan Miller, 71, was acquitted on all three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy. The deliberations took six days after a six-week trial.(ESPN/AP)(4-18-2009)
- Riggs to drive for Baldwin: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced today Scott Riggs as the driver of the #36 Toyota for the 2009 NASCAR season. Riggs, formerly with Haas CNC Racing will start his sixth season in Sprint Cup competition. The 2009 season finds the 38-year-old native of Bahama, NC, eager to embark on a new chapter of his racing career, driving for the newly formed TBR team. Tommy Baldwin, who will hold the title of both owner and crew chief, announced the formation of his new race team earlier this month. "I look forward to working with Tommy," Riggs said. "I think we can work together to build something really strong. I feel fortunate to work with someone like Tommy who has so much experience." Riggs, with multiple years of experience at the Cup level and time behind the wheel in NASCAR's COT, brings credibility and marketability to the new team. TBR, located at 604 Performance Road, in Mooresville, NC, plans on competing in the 51st running of the Daytona 500 in February with plans to run a full schedule in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. "Having Scott Riggs on board is a huge stepping stone for Tommy Baldwin Racing," Said Baldwin. "He's a top caliber driver, and I look forward to seeing the success we can have together." No sponsor has been named yet for the #36 Toyota.(TBR/Everest Marketing Group)(1-19-2009)
- Skinner looking for a ride, has Daytona 500 ride: There are only three weeks until the NASCAR portion of Speed Weeks 2009 at Daytona International Speedway, and former Truck Series champion Mike Skinner is looking for a ride. Skinner has wheeled a Toyota for Bill Davis Racing since the end of the 2004 season. When Davis sold his team to Marty Gaunt and Mike Held last year, Skinner was told he had a job this season. "Two days before Christmas, I was told, 'Everything was fine,' " Skinner said Wednesday. "New Year's Day, they called me and said they weren't racing." Skinner's job loss came to light during a media conference call with Lee White, who directs Toyota Racing Development, the car company's racing arm. "There's a lot of effort going on right now to find a seat for Mike Skinner," White said. "Mike has been a great advocate for Toyota for four years. He's done a lot of great work for us. He and (wife) Angie are loved within the company, and we're working pretty hard with two or three other teams to find a quality seat in the Truck Series for him this year." Skinner said he's had discussions with several teams, including Randy Moss Motorsports. "What a great opportunity that would be," he said. "It would be a great mix, you know, NASCAR and the NFL. "We haven't gotten anything put together. I haven't seen a contract yet. I'm sure we'll get some help. I've only had five or six days to work on this." Skinner said he was upset not only about losing his ride, but the way the situation was treated by Triad Racing Technologies, owned by Gaunt and Held. "I've never had a contract jerked from under me because people handled it wrong," Skinner said. "I don't want to bad mouth anybody, but this was not very professional. I'm just glad Toyota is still behind us and wants to help us." Meanwhile, Skinner said he's "99 percent" sure he has a ride for the Daytona 500, just a one-race deal. He's not interested in returning to Sprint Cup as a full-time driver. "The Sprint Cup is fun, but I'm a racer, and I want to drive trucks," he said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-15-2009)
UPDATE: Angie Skinner writes on the discussion board -- Mike [Skinner] and I are driving up to NC today to meet with a potential team who seems excited to take on the #5 [Truck Series] guys and Skinner. Mike is looking to attempt the Daytona 500 in a car which Slugger Labbe is working on....this isn't a full time team…just a fun attempt at the great race.(Mike Skinner.com)(1-18-2009)
- Marc Davis to attempt some early NNS races, Cup later: Here they come already: the Davises. Driver Marc, 18, and his father, Harry, are doing it the old-fashioned way. They're fielding a family-owned, barely sponsored, one-car team, fighting the odds and the big money. Marc and Harry Davis hope to open some sponsorship wallets with a part-time, family-owned venture in 2009. Marc Davis will try to qualify for six Nationwide races in a row, beginning just after Daytona, this winter. He'll run two Toyotas his father has acquired. Then later this year they plan to enter a handful of Cup races. They're still friends with Joe Gibbs Racing, where Marc has been a developmental driver and maintains a relationship, and with Randy Moss Motorsports and Roush Racing -- all of whom tried to find major sponsorships to run Marc regularly in Nationwide or Trucks this season, but failed. But no more waiting. The Davises will do it themselves.(ESPN.com)(1-9-2009)
- Riggs to drive for Baldwin: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced today Scott Riggs as the driver of the #36 Toyota for the 2009 NASCAR season. Riggs, formerly with Haas CNC Racing will start his sixth season in Sprint Cup competition. The 2009 season finds the 38-year-old native of Bahama, NC, eager to embark on a new chapter of his racing career, driving for the newly formed TBR team. Tommy Baldwin, who will hold the title of both owner and crew chief, announced the formation of his new race team earlier this month. "I look forward to working with Tommy," Riggs said. "I think we can work together to build something really strong. I feel fortunate to work with someone like Tommy who has so much experience." Riggs, with multiple years of experience at the Cup level and time behind the wheel in NASCAR's COT, brings credibility and marketability to the new team. TBR, located at 604 Performance Road, in Mooresville, NC, plans on competing in the 51st running of the Daytona 500 in February with plans to run a full schedule in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. "Having Scott Riggs on board is a huge stepping stone for Tommy Baldwin Racing," Said Baldwin. "He's a top caliber driver, and I look forward to seeing the success we can have together." No sponsor has been named yet for the #36 Toyota.(TBR/Everest Marketing Group)(1-19-2009)
- Tommy Baldwin Announces New Sprint Cup Team UPDATE 2 Blaney? #36?: Tommy Baldwin, a five-time Sprint Cup and former Daytona 500 winning crew chief announced the formation of a new Sprint Cup Series race team under the existing Tommy Baldwin Racing banner. The team, located at 604 Performance Road, in Mooresville, NC, is aggressively preparing its Toyota race cars with plans to compete in the 51st running of The Daytona 500 in February. The team plans to compete full-time in the Sprint Cup series. Baldwin is excited about his new program, "With tough economic times upon us, the timing for starting this team is right. Our overhead is low and we have a great group of talented mechanics and specialists to choose from. We can offer sponsors the chance to get into Sprint Cup racing at a fraction of the costs, without compromising on-track performance, due to our low overhead," Baldwin said. Baldwin is no stranger to team ownership as he formed a successful Nationwide program which was responsible for bringing Unilever into the sport. Baldwin, a 12 year Sprint Cup veteran, later sold the team to what is now known as Gillette-Evernham Motorsports.
It was during his ownership of the Nationwide team that Baldwin began a business relationship with Joey Arrington, of Arrington Manufacturing, Inc., located in Martinsville, Va. Baldwin will secure his Sprint Cup engines in 2009 from Arrington Manufacturing who works closely with Toyota. "We are honored to be working with Tommy again, this time on his Cup efforts. He has always been great to work with and we are looking forward to a successful year," said Arrington.
"We will do everything we can to support NASCAR and its fans," Baldwin said. "We are thankful for the opportunity NASCAR offers as we are able to prepare our own car to compete in one of the nation's top sporting events. That's what makes NASCAR so different from the other major sports. It's still attainable to be an owner, if you are willing to put the work in and I'm no stranger to hard work," Baldwin added.(Everest Marketing PR), no driver, car# or sponsor was mentioned in the PR.(1-6-2009)
UPDATE: hearing that Dave Blaney will be the driver for Baldwin's team.(1-7-2009)
UPDATE 2: hearing the car number will be #36, no word on a driver past the Blaney rumor.(1-12-2009)
