March 25 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 25, 2009

• • • Wednesday Testing at the Rock: Two Sprint Cup teams tested at the Little Rock 1/2 mile track at Rockingham Speedway on Wednesday, March 25th: #41-Jeremy Mayfield and #09-Sterlin Marlin. They were joined by Johnny Benson and TJ Bell from the Camping World Truck Series.(3-25-2009)
  • • Sprint All-Star Race XXV To Feature Exciting 10-Lap Shootout For Final Segment: The 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will feature a 10-lap shootout as its final segment, reviving memories of some of the event’s most spectacular finishes. NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXV, set for Saturday, May 16 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (SPEED, 7 p.m.), will consist of four segments, concluding with a 10-lap sprint and a $1 million pay-out to the race winner. Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race start at $25 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
      The 2009 format is as follows:
      * Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.
      * Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.
      * Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the final starting positions for the fourth and final segment.
      * Segment 4: 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.
      The eligibility standards for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race remain the same: race winners from either the 2008 or 2009 season through May 9 or any past champions of the all-star event or NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (over the previous 10 years) are eligible for the race. In addition, the top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap preliminary race scheduled for 7:30pm/et and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote, all advance into the all-star race lineup. Kasey Kahne can thank the fans for giving him the opportunity to win the 2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, as he made it into the field after being voted in by the fans.(NASCAR PR), more info on the race on my 2009 All-Star Race page.(3-25-2009)
  • • Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Defends Embattled Crew Chief UPDATE: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has become accustomed to the topic. It’s been one of the primary debates in NASCAR for several years, but the heat has increased this season. Is the often-volatile working relationship between Earnhardt, Jr. and his cousin, Tony Eury, Jr. conducive to winning races? Eury serves as the crew chief on Earnhardt’s #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. The two often engage in animated discussions – even arguments – over the scanner during races. Entering Sunday’s Food City 500, Earnhardt ranks 24th in Sprint Cup points with just one top-10 finish. Many of Earnhardt’s loyal fans blame Eury. Earnhardt addressed his struggles as well as his relationship with his cousin during a wide-ranging press conference Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I have said it a hundred times – and it just doesn’t seem to make a dent – but the guy that I feel bad for is Tony, Jr. because he gets criticized so badly,” Earnhardt said. “Everybody in this room – and some of you have criticized him yourselves – know how smart a guy he is. He is a good mechanic and a solid crew chief.” Clearly, Earnhardt has become frustrated with the attacks on his cousin by fans and media types. “[Eury, Jr.] just wanted to do this for a living, just like I do, but I’ll take the fall,” Earnhardt said. “I would rather be crucified than him. Every time I read in the paper that people are on his case, I feel like I am sending my brother to jail for a crime I committed, you know what I mean. I feel bad for him because he just wants to work and have fun.” As for the free-flowing chats with his crew chief, Earnhardt said it comes with the territory in a hyper-competitive and emotional sport. “There are riffs between every driver and every crew chief, and they work it out or they don’t,” Earnhardt said. “I think me and Tony, Jr. do a pretty good job of working it out. Obviously, through everything we have been through, we still love each other to death and would do anything for each other.”(Bristol Herald Courier)(3-21-2009)
      UPDATE: Car owner Rick Hendrick says he is fully committed to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and embattled crew chief Tony Eury Jr. The team has been under fire for its slow start this season. Earnhardt last week asked for relief from the constant criticism Eury has faced from fans and media. Hendrick says the driver and crew chief were part of a three-hour meeting Wednesday to figure out what’s wrong with the #88 team. He says the team is under great pressure, but everyone is committed to turning this season around. After five races, Earnhardt has just one top-10 finish and is 19th in the standings.(Associated Press)(3-25-2009)
  • • Hamlin on TV Thursday UPDATE: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEX Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, is scheduled to appear on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning [March 25th] at 8:25am on the Fox News Channel to help promote FedEx’s involvement in the March of Dimes.(JGR), will run a March of Dimes scheme at Phoenix in April.(3-25-2009)
      UPDATE: the announcement was: Join me, Denny Hamlin, in the driver?s seat as FedEx and its racing team champion a healthy start for All babies. While you are walking for March of Dimes, I will be racing for the March of Dimes at the Phoenix NASCAR race! You can help FedEx by donating at least $11 today. Your donation will be in support of my #11 car as we dedicate the April 18th Phoenix NASCAR race to March for Babies…the same day you will be walking at the Phoenix March for Babies event! Together we can make a difference for all babies. The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality (FedEx Racing).See the video at Fox News, see images of the car on the #11 Team Scheme page.(3-25-2009)
  • • Boy Scouts honor Jeff Gordon: #24-Jeff Gordon has something in common with 13 presidents, Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Hank Aaron and Colin Powell. He’s a Silver Buffalo. Or at least he received the Silver Buffalo award, Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor given to volunteers. Gordon got the award Tuesday during the annual BSA Mecklenburg County Council’s Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center. He was recognized for his work recruiting boys to Cub Scouts and other humanitarian ventures involving children. Gordon, whose stepfather is an Eagle Scout, has been the honorary chairman and spokesman for the “Race Into Cub Scouting,” a national campaign to recruit boys into Cub Scouts. He made PSAs and personal appearances for Cub Scouts. The foundation he started in 1999 has raised million to help children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. “Jeff has been a great supporter of scouting the last three years; he’s been very instrumental in the successful campaign to recruit kids into Boy Scouts,” Bob Mazzuca, BSA’s chief scout executive, told the Observer before the dinner. “He’s been very generous with his time. Just his stature has been a huge help for us to recruit kids.”(JeffGordon.com)(3-25-2009)
  • • Odd race in DC with Kyle Busch: The Smell My Face Beltway Race 2! Elliot of the Elliot In The Morning radio show in Washington DC announced a new EITM promotion, introducing The Smell My Face Beltway Race 2 with Flounder and #18-Kyle Busch. Flounder beat out Hélio Castroneves in the same race 3 years ago. This Thursday morning {March 26th], Flounder defends his title when he takes on NASCAR’s Kyle Busch in a lap around the DC beltway. The first man back to the station wins the coveted Smell My Face Beltway Race trophy.(EITMfans)(3-25-2009)
  • • Latest news on #19 crew chief, Buskirk: from a Dodge Motorsports Teleconference Transcript with Robbie Loomis, Vice President of Race Operations, Richard Petty Motorsports:
      Q: Can you give us an update on the health status of Kevin Buskirk (crew chief, #19 Stanley Dodge Charger)?
      A: I spoke with Kevin last night, we’ve been texting each other back and forth; he’s actually getting better and better. Some of the medicine that they’ve been giving him has been making him a little bit dizzy and sleepy. He got some type of ‘bug’ down there (Bristol) in his intestines that were causing some trouble for him. He soldiered through on Friday and Saturday and just did a tremendous job. On Sunday he was like, “Man, I just can’t go.” Mark McArdle made the call to put me on the pit box and things really worked out well. It was quite different for me to be in that role. It was something that I enjoyed at the same time, being there for Elliott Sadler, Best Buy and Stanley as a fill-in.
      Q: Is Kevin Buskirk back for Martinsville?
      A: He’s not back yet. He’s still recovering. I told him that I’m about ready to come over there and start giving him IVs and medical stuff to get him back soon, get him back there in Martinsville. He’s getting better and better and I’m sure he’ll be back with us in Martinsville.(Dodge Motorsports)(3-25-2009)
  • • Record for brotherly wins in a row: What brothers currently hold the record for most consecutive wins by brother combinations? It’s been done three times by two different families. Tim, Bob and Fonty flock won four in a row in 1952, as did Herb and Donald Thomas. The Flock brothers, minus Bob, also won four straight in 1955. The Buschs [Kurt & Kyle] could do it again more than 50 years later.(ESPN)(3-25-2009)
  • • Special scheme for the #96 at Martinsville: This week in Martinsville, Bobby Labonte fans might be surprised to see Tracy Pan of San Francisco riding alongside him as the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion aims for Victory Lane. Well, not literally riding alongside him, but her name will adorn the hood of the Hall of Fame Racing machine thanks to her superior work as an Online Marketing Manager for Labonte’s primary sponsor, Ask.com. The ‘Askers on the #96’ program will continue throughout the 2009 NASCAR season to recognize the hard work of Ask.com employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. As the ‘Official Search Engine of NASCAR’ Ask.com continues to reward both fans and employees for their loyalty through offerings like ‘Askers on the #96’ and the Ask.com NASCAR Trivia Challenge, a sweepstakes rewarding fans with $100,000 for downloading the Ask.com NASCAR toolbar for free or answering a new racing question everyday at Ask.com.(Taylor PR)(3-25-2009)
  • • Chase Elliott to Make First Late Model Start: Chase Elliott. Bill Elliott’s son, will mark a major career milestone this weekend when he climbs behind the wheel of the #9 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine for his first Late Model start at South Georgia Motorsports Park (Cecil, Ga.) in the ASA Late Model South Series on Saturday, March 28. Thirteen-year-old Elliott tested the Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine last weekend at Lanier National Speedway (Braselton, Ga.) for his first laps in an asphalt Late Model.(Bill Elliott Racing PR)(3-25-2009)
  • • School to give tours of Martinsville Speedway: Patrick Henry Community College Students Giving Tours of Martinsville Speedway. Motorsports Association will give tours every hour starting at 9am and ending at 5pm. Tour starts at the speedway and continues to HT Motorsports, Arrington Engines & PHCC Motorsports; returning to the Speedway. Cost $10 for adults; $5 children 10 & under.(PHCC PR)(3-25-2009)
  • • Frank Kerr Named Crew Chief of the Race at Bristol: Frank Kerr, crew chief for the #47 Little Debbie Toyota driven by Marcos Ambrose, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead.(Wypall PR)(3-25-2009)
    • Driver change at ML Motorsports: UPDATE: hearing that ML Motorsports #70 has released Mark Green and that Shelby Howard will take over the driving duties at Texas.(3-25-2009)
    • Gordon Qualifying Time Disallowed: UPDATE 3: Penalties #72-Benny Gordon’s qualifying time was disallowed after a post-qualifying fuel sample did not meet specifications. #96-Dennis Setzer is now in the field.(NASCAR PR)(3-21-2009)
      UPDATE: Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said there could be more penalties coming for North South Motorsports’ Benny Gordon after his fuel did not meet NASCAR specifications following his qualifying lap Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon’s qualifying time was disallowed and because he did not have one of the guaranteed positions based on top-30 owners points from last year, Gordon did not compete in the race. Would he have been disqualified from the event if he had a guaranteed spot? “We probably would have had deeper discussions about that type of a penalty,” Balash said Sunday. “We didn’t have any of those conversations because they weren’t [guaranteed].” Balash chose his words carefully when talking about what happened and whether it was possible that there were remnants of another fuel from other series that Gordon competes in.(Scene Daily)(3-22-2009)
      UPDATE 2: A statement from the team: After qualifying, NASCAR tested [Gordon’s] car’s fuel as with everyone’s fuel. To Gordon’s surprise his fuel did not meet NASCAR’s specifications. Gordon and crew were baffled by these results because the only fuel used at anytime in this car was the required Sunoco 260GTX. Gordon had bought some 260GTX and used it to do his shake down of the car the day before. Once at the track Gordon received the free Sunoco supplied 260GTX and filled his car to start the practice day. After his practice runs and before qualifying, he topped off his car with the Sunoco 260GTX he had purchased. Inadvertently, this fuel must have been different. The fuel is being tested by independent labs on Monday and Gordon will have this matter resolved as he and his crew has worked around the clock to provide a competitive race team without any errors. Gordon stated “There has been an error that did not allow our fuel to pass technical inspection. I’m disappointed for my team, sponsors, family and friends who put forth such an effort to only see it be cut short. We will be working hard to get the answers to what happened”. Gordon will start working this week on his Nashville Nationwide car and is excited about his future in the Nationwide series.(Benny Gordon PR)(3-23-2009)
      UDPATE 3: NASCAR announced that the crew chief, owner and driver for the #72 NASCAR Nationwide Series team have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during this past weekend’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition to having the qualifying time disallowed for the #72 Ford driven by Benny Gordon, crew chief Andy Punch has been fined $10,000 and suspended for the next four NASCAR events from April 4-29, 2009 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009, for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-15 (NASCAR reserves the right to have all cars use the same brand of fuel in a given event) and 20A-15.2C (the gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers, or other oxygenates and it must not be blended with aniline or its derivatives, nitro compounds or other nitrogen-containing compounds) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Team owner Frank Varischetti was penalized with the loss of 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Gordon also was docked 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points. The infractions were discovered on March 20 during opening-day inspection.(NASCAR PR)(3-25-2009)
    • New crew chief for Compton at Martinsville: Marcus Richmond has come onboard as the new crew chief for Wyler Racing’s #60-Wyler.com Toyota with driver Stacy Compton. [Richmond was the crew chief for the #18 BHR-VA team and Dennis Setzer in 2008]. “We’re excited to have Marcus Richmond on board. Obviously we hated that things didn’t work out with Gary [Cogswell], said Compton. “Gary is a great guy and a great Crew Chief, but things just didn’t work out. I think he had some other opportunities as well.”(Wyler Racing PR)(3-25-2009)
  • • Kile to make series debut with BKR at Martinsville: Mikey Kile has partnered with Brad Keselowski Racing and Greased Lightning for seven Camping World Truck Series races during the 2009 season beginning with the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Kyle piloted the #29 Greased Lightning Chevy in the season-opening ARCA event in Daytona and is also slated to run eight additional races in ARCA with BKR. That team will be led by crew chief Wayne Setterington Jr., a veteran crew chief and former racer. Bolstering Kile’s efforts in 2009 will be the addition of Greased Lightning as primary sponsor. Greased Lightning has a storied history in motorsports marketing and Kile hopes to add a few chapters this season.(BradKeselowskiRacing.com)(3-25-2009)
  • • Benson & Bell test at the Rock: Two Truck teams tested at the half mile “Little Rock” track at Rockingham Speedway on Wednesday, March 25th. Also testing were the Sprint Cup teams of #41-Jeremy Mayfield and the #09-Sterling Marlin.(3-25-2009)
  • • Fontaine & the CFI team to trucks; first race, Martinsville UPDATE 2 Glenden Enterprises/Yellowstone Energy Services to sponsor #84: Chris Fontaine and the CFI team are shifting gears to run the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series after running their best ever Late Model season in 2008. The team has purchased three trucks from TRG Motorsports and is in the process of preparing them for the March 28 NCWTS race at Martinsville. The race will be televised on FOX network. Fontaine will be driving the #48 Glenden Enterprises Chevrolet in the team’s season debut. The 27 year old Lakeland, Florida native also plans to run six other NCWTS races in 2009, including Dover, Memphis, Indianapolis, Bristol, Madison, and the fall race at Martinsville. The lack of sponsorship is holding us back from running more races, and we are able to do what we are doing with the support of Glenden Enterprises” Fontaine said. Fontaine said his goal for the 2009 NCTWS season is to be able to finish a race in the top ten. Chris ran three NASCAR Craftsman Truck races driving the #4 for Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2005.(Chris Fontaine PR)(2-10-2009)
      UPDATE: Chris Fontaine Inc. has announced that Yellowstone Energy Services has come on board for the NASCAR Camping World Truck race at Martinsville next week. Yellowstone Energy Services is a premier supplier of Construction, Startup, Commissioning and Operations personnel for Power Generation Facilities with a global reach with locations in Georgia and Florida.(Chris Fontaine Inc .PR)(3-19-2009)
      UPDATE 2: Fontaine will be driving the Glenden Enterprises/Yellowstone Energy Services Chevy Silverado #84 in the Kroger 250.(Chris Fontaine Inc. PR)(3-25-2009)

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