March 24, 2008
- Nationwide Series Testing at Richmond: Nationwide Series teams will test Monday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 25. Testing is from 1:00 to 9:00pm/et each day. In case of rain, teams will test on Wednesday. More than 30 drivers representing more than 20 teams are expected to participate and gather notes for the remaining three short tracks on the 2008 series schedule. See the complete release on the Richmond Testing Page. Speeds will be posted when available.(3-24/25-2008)
- #21 Crew chief leaves team: Gene Nead, crew chief for the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Sprint Cup car, has left the team, team officials confirmed Monday morning. Nead joined the Wood Brothers in November 2007 after a stint with Robby Gordon Motorsports. With a variety of drivers this year – Bill Elliott, Johnny Sauter and Jeff Green – the Wood Brothers have failed to qualify for four of the five events. The team is 44th in owners points and has had to qualify for races on speed but should be OK for the race in Martinsville because with Dale Jarrett’s retirement and Kurt Busch now being locked in with points, Elliott is expected to be the only past champion who isn’t locked into the field. The team has not yet named a replacement for Nead.(SceneDaily)(3-24-2008)
UPDATE: “We had a whole bunch of testing planned, to go out and just race more and go through some things and figure them out,” [#22-Dave] Blaney [of Bill Davis Racing] said. “We needed the days to try to learn something, but we missed out on a couple.” Instead, the #22 Cat team will attempt to make up for lost time this week before going to Martinsville. Monday’s workout will be at a short track in [Caraway Speedway in Asheboro] North Carolina in preparation for Martinsville, while Tuesday and Wednesday in Nashville are for general testing. “We’ll try to learn all we can this week,” Blaney said. Since Bristol, the Cat team has added Gene Nead, who left a year ago to join another team. “He’s coming back,” Blaney said of the crew member whose role will most likely be that of engineer. “He’s very good,” Blaney said of Nead, who will help crew chief Tommy Baldwin in all phases. “If you can add some people to make your team stronger, no matter when, that’s a good thing. Hopefully, it’ll give us a little shot in the arm and turn it around.”(Youngstown Vindicator)(3-24-2008) - Justice Dept Approves XM-Sirius Deal: The Justice Department approved Sirius Satellite Radio’s $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio on Monday, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers. The deal was approved despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry. The buyout received shareholder approval in November. The companies said the merger will save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs – savings that will ultimately benefit their customers. The Justice Department, in a lengthy news release explaining its decision, said the two companies compete not just with each other but also with other forms of radio and entertainment.(Associated Press), no word how this will effect Sirius or XM’s coverage of NASCAR.(3-24-2008)
- McDowell to make Cup debut at Martinsville; Aaron’s to sponsor next 5 races: March 30th is significant to Michael McDowell because he will make his long-awaited Sprint Cup Series debut with Michael Waltrip Racing in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As the 23-year-old steps into the #00 Toyota Camry, Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership announces today that their partnership will continue with the Michael Waltrip Racing team through Richmond International Raceway. “We are thrilled to continue to be on the #00 for the next five races and help introduce Michael McDowell to the Cup side.” stated Ken Butler, President of Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership. “We are proud to be able to extend our involvement in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Michael Waltrip Racing and look forward to having McDowell in the Aaron’s Dream Machine especially at Talladega Superspeedway for our race, the Aaron’s 499. I have seen Michael race in the ARCA Series last year and was impressed with his driving. I think he will do well at this level and everyone at Aaron’s will be behind him 100 percent.” This may be McDowell’s first race in the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, but this is his second visit to the .526-oval. “In October, I raced for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the biggest thing I learned is you have to be patient,” McDowell said. After Bristol Motor Speedway, all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries were locked into the top 35. McDowell is glad the pressure to make the race is no longer there.(MWR PR)(3-24-2008)
- Chrissy Wallace to make CTS debut: Germain Racing will field the #03 Germain Motor Company/Chase Toyota Tundra this weekend at Martinsville Speedway for Chrissy Wallace’s Craftsman Truck Series debut. Wallace’s NASCAR career is set to kick off, by strange coincidence, at the same track where her father, NNS driver Mike Wallace, began his career in 1990. Mike will spot for Chrissy. Mike Abner, who has served as crew chief for Ted Musgrave and Justin Marks at Germain Racing, will lead the #03 team effort at Martinsville.(Germain Racing PR)(3-24-2008)
- Milestone coming up for Stewart…laps led: after Bristol, #20-Tony Stewart has led 9,892 laps in his Sprint Cup career, which is 13th all time and 108 laps short of 10,000. Bill Elliott is 12th at 11,416. #24-Jeff Gordon is the leading active driver with 19,557. Richard Petty is the all time leader with 52,194 [racing reference or 51.382 NASCAR Stats], followed by Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson. #8-Mark Martin is 11th at 11,437.(data from RacingReference.info and NASCAR Statistics)(3-24-2008)
- After five Sprint Cup Races parity has reigned in the first five races of this Sprint Cup Series season. All four manufacturers have at least two cars in the top 12. Only 96 points separate first-place Kyle Busch from fifth-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet). Six drivers have Driver Ratings above 100.0, and one other – Earnhardt – is one-tenth off at 99.9.
A look at the Loop Data box score tells some other interesting tales:
For instance, there is a reason Jeff Gordon (#24 DuPont Chevrolet) hasn’t been his usually dominant self. The statistics show a huge dip in the way he closes out races this year. Gordon’s “Closer” number (the positions gained/lost in the last 10% of races) is last at -31. Last season he led the stat with a +78. Furthermore: Gordon’s average starting position this season is 3.4. At mid-race, he’s averaging a sixth-place position. His average finish, though, takes a huge dive at 18.6. But the stats show Gordon’s been better than his finishes – as his Driver Rating of 102.9 is fourth-best in the series. The side of that scenario explains the huge comeback year Greg Biffle (#16 Jackson Hewitt Ford) is having. Biffle, improving throughout, averages a start of 13.0, a mid-race of 9.2 and a finish of 7.4. Overall this season, Biffle has a Driver Rating of 102.1 (fifth-best), an Average Running Position of 9.5 (fourth) and 1,372 (88.6%) Laps in the Top 15 (second-best).
Another storyline: The speed Carl Edwards (#99 Office Depot Ford) has flashed this season. He has 213 Fastest Laps Run, by far the highest total in the series (second most is Kyle Busch at 125). The statistical story of points leader Kyle Busch begs to be told. The stats show his tremendous passing ability this season – he’s first in Pass Differential (passes minus times passed) at 126. Busch is the only driver in triple-digits in the stat, and is far ahead of second-place Tony Stewart (#20 Home Depot Toyota) with 72.
Another week in the books and the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings are still tight as Sprint Cup teams take the week off and prepare for Martinsville. Dario Franchitti leads the rookie standings with 50 points, just one point over Sam Hornish Jr. and Regan Smith who are tied with 49. Smith was the highest-finishing rookie at Bristol posting a 26th, after finishing 38th at Atlanta. Smith is the only rookie this season to have competed at Martinsville; he posted a 26th-place finish last April in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Hornish Jr. finished 26th at Atlanta and 29th at Bristol, but has never raced at Martinsville. Patrick Carpentier (#10 Valvoline Dodge) sits fourth in the rookie standings with 21 points. Carpentier finished 35th at Atlanta, but due to qualifying being cancelled, did not start at Bristol. This will also be the first time Carpentier has competed at Martinsville.
Competition amongst manufacturers is extremely close, with all four manufacturers represented in the top 12 of the driver standings, and all four manufacturers having won at least one race in the first five races of the season. Plus, for the first time in Bristol Motor Speedway history, 42 cars finished the race last Sunday, a clear testimony to the “new car” being used in the Sprint Cup Series. In the Manufacturers’ Standings, Ford and Chevrolet both have 31 points, but Ford has two wins to Chevrolet’s one. Chevrolet grabbed its first win of the season at Bristol and has the most wins by a manufacturer at Martinsville with 43.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-24-2008) - Sauter denies Phoenix’s claim that his removal was sponsor-driven: Phoenix Racing General Manager Marc Reno said over the weekend at Nashville that the removal of Johnny Sauter as driver of the team’s #1 Chevys was sponsor-driven. The team is sponsored by a resort owned by the Miccosukee Indian tribe, and Reno said, “It was a sponsor request to take Johnny out of the car. This is the first time that they’ve ever disapproved one of our drivers,” Reno said. “That’s why we took Johnny out.” Sauter, in a statement, disputed Reno’s account of why he was let go. “I guess they found out that I don’t like to gamble,” Sauter said jokingly. “No seriously, I guess the Miccosukees are under the impression that the driver has the power to turn the organization around, and I respect that opinion. But to be perfectly honest, J.J. Yeley, Mike Wallace and Johnny Benson are all great drivers who struggled in Phoenix Racing equipment and were replaced. How many drivers do you have to fire before you realize that they’re not the problem? “As far as sponsors are concerned, Yellow Transportation is an international brand that put its support behind me for three years, and I take pride in the fact that they thought enough of me as a representative to follow me to Haas when I left Phoenix Racing in 2006.” Former Cup driver Sterling Marlin drove the No. 1 at Nashville, but Reno said that is likely only a temporary arrangement. Marlin doesn’t want to do more than 10 to 12 races, and a search for another driver is under way.(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2008)
- New Crew Chief for Ambrose: A JTG Racing spokesman confirmed that crew chief Walter Giles has left the #59 team and driver Marcos Ambrose. Gary Cogswell takes Giles’ place immediately, beginning with Monday’s test at Richmond.(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2008)
- Phoenix Racing Using Fellows & Cassill at Mexico: Phoenix Racing officials say the team will run two cars in the race in Mexico City on April 20. General manager Marc Reno said last weekend at Nashville that Ron Fellows will drive the team’s full-time car, the #1 Chevy, at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Reno also said Landon Cassill will drive the #4 Chevy for Phoenix in Mexico. Cassill is a part-time driver for JR Motorsports who wasn’t scheduled to race in Mexico.(SceneDaily.com)(3-24-2008)
- Schrader entered at Martinsville: Ken Schrader is listed on the preliminary entry list for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway driving the #52-Federated Auto Parts Toyota. This will be Schrader’s first series start in 2008. Schrader is also listed as owner.(3-24-2008)
- Chrissy Wallace to make debut at Martinsville: UPDATE: Abner as crew chief; Mike Wallace to spot: Chrissy Wallace told all the boys she one day would be a NASCAR driver. The 20-year-old Wallace, a daughter and niece in the popular Wallace family of racers, is set to make her NASCAR debut March 29 in the Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Tapped to drive for a championship-caliber team, Wallace said she will drive five Truck races and five ARCA races for Germain Racing. On top of that, Wallace will continue racing Late Model events around the Carolina tracks where she has found Victory Lane four times and was named most popular driver at Hickory Speedway, making her the first female to win in a Late Model stock car at the track in its 57-year history. Her father is Nationwide Series driver Mike Wallace, who pilots the #7 Camry [for Germain Racing]. The venture will make Mike and Chrissy the first father-daughter duo racing for the same team in NASCAR. [#03-Chrissy Wallace was 11th on the speed charts in the final test session at Martinsville.](nascar.com)(3-14-2008)
UPDATE: Germain Racing will field the #03 Germain Motor Company/Chase Toyota Tundra this weekend at Martinsville Speedway for Chrissy Wallace’s Craftsman Truck Series debut. Wallace’s NASCAR career is set to kick off, by strange coincidence, at the same track where her father, NNS driver Mike Wallace, began his career in 1990. Mike will spot for Chrissy. Mike Abner, who has served as crew chief for Ted Musgrave and Justin Marks at Germain Racing, will lead the #03 team effort at Martinsville.(Germain Racing PR)(3-24-2008) - Braun to run Nationwide race at Mexico City: Colin Braun just competed in his second-career Nationwide Series race last weekend at Nashville [#16-Citifinancial Ford] where he brought home a 15th-place finish. He will also run the NNS race at Mexico City on April 20.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(3-24-2008)
- Cogswell to JTG Racing Nationwide team: A JTG Racing spokesman confirmed that crew chief Walter Giles has left the #59 team and driver Marcos Ambrose. Gary Cogswell takes Giles’ place immediately, beginning with Monday’s test at Richmond. [Gary Cogswell has been working as crew chief for the #20 truck team with driver, Scott Lagasse Jr. No word on new crew chief for #20.](Scene Daily.com)(3-24-2008)
- Skinner going for three-peat; double-duty: Mike Skinner [#5-Toyota] swept both Martinsville races last year and is looking for the three-peat this weekend. If he succeeds, he will become the first driver to win three consecutive Craftsman Truck Series short track races at the same track. He will also tie Ron Hornaday Jr. for the most Series short track wins. Skinner will attempt to make the Sprint Cup race for the third consecutive weekend as he will attempt to qualify the Red Bull Toyota Camry for Team Red Bull.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(3-24-2008)
- Marks to make second ARCA appearance at Rockingham: Justin Marks tested at Rockingham Speedway this past weekend in preparation for his second ARCA RE/MAX Series race of this year which will be at Rockingham. [Marks was third in overall speeds at 143.472 mph]. Mike Abner will call the shots for Marks at Rockingham.(Germain Racing PR)(3-24-2008)
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