March 25 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 25, 2015

• • • Part taken from #33 team by NASCAR UPDATE: on Friday at Auto Club Speedway, NASCAR confiscated a truck arm (rear suspension part) from the #33 Chevy driven by Brian Scott and owned by Joe Falk. The sanctioning body will take the part to its research-and-development center in Concord, North Carolina, for further evaluation.(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-22-2015)
      UPDATE: The #33 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered during opening day inspection March 20 at Auto Club Speedway. This infraction is a P4 level penalty and violates …. Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
      INFRACTION: The ¾ inch diameter magnetic steel truck trailing arm mounting bolt was not installed horizontally.
      INFRACTION: Truck trailing arm mounting bracket adapter was machined from Aluminum solid.
      The options for a P4 penalty are outlined in the …. sections of the NASCAR rule book
      As a result of this violation, crew chief Slugger Labbe has been fined $50,000 and suspended for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that time period. Labbe has also been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. In addition, car owner Joe Falk has been docked 25 championship car owner points.(NASCAR), see complete details on the penalalty on the 2015 NASCAR Penalties, Fines & Suspensions page.(3-25-2015)
  • • JD Gibbs being treated for symptoms impacting areas of brain function: Joe Gibbs Racing announces today that J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, is starting treatment for symptoms impacting areas of brain function. Gibbs has undergone a series of tests after experiencing a gradual onset of symptoms that includes speech and processing issues. Gibbs’ doctors believe the complications he has experienced were triggered by head injuries likely suffered earlier in life, but no specific injury was referenced or identified. Gibbs has always enjoyed an active life participating in several sports including mountain biking, snowboarding, football, racing, and other extreme-type sports. Gibbs will be undergoing more testing and receiving treatments to help manage the symptoms. During that time, it is expected that his presence at the race track will be limited; however, he will continue many of his day-to-day responsibilities at JGR’s headquarters in Huntersville, NC as well as involvement with his various ministry endeavors.(Joe Gibbs Racing)
      Statement from Brian France: “All members of the NASCAR and France family extend our thoughts and prayers to J.D. Gibbs and his loved ones. We’ve all watched J.D. grow up within our community, and he always has represented himself, his family, the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization and NASCAR with the utmost professionalism, enthusiasm and energy. We wish him the best during this time and eagerly anticipate his recovery.”(NASCAR)(3-25-2015)
  • • NASCAR reducing number of tires for teams at some tracks: NASCAR issued a bulletin Tuesday containing various updates to the Rule Book. The changes include a reduction in how many sets of tires a team can have for Sprint Cup races at Martinsville, Dover, Pocono, Michigan, Sonoma, Kentucky, New Hampshire Indianapolis and Watkins Glen. NASCAR cut the number of sets by one at each track for those races. Teams will be allowed 10 sets of tires for Sunday’s race at Martinsville. They’ll have nine sets of race tires available at Dover, Michigan, Kentucky and Indianapolis. Teams will have eight sets of tires for both Pocono races with seven sets available at New Hampshire’s July race and five race sets at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. With a set of tires costing about $1,900, having to buy one less set will save teams teams about $20,000. NASCAR also reduced how many sets of tires teams are allowed for practice and qualifying by one set at Talladega (now allowed three sets), Daytona (three), Sonoma (four), Watkins Glen (four) and the August Bristol event (four). This reduction will save teams about $10,000. NASCAR has not set the limits for tires for the races starting with Richmond in September through the end of the season. Those races could provide teams more savings.(NBC Sports)(3-25-2015)
  • • Elliott ready for Cup debut: Martinsville Speedway is one of the most exciting tracks on the Sprint Cup Series circuit. It also just so happens to be the one where Hendrick Motorsports has seen the most success – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2014 win was the organization’s 22nd at the track. And it’s where Chase Elliott will make his Sprint Cup Series debut, driving the #25 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy SS. It’s the first of five Cup races for Elliott in 2015. “When we first came up with these five races it didn’t really occur to me how quickly Martinsville came up on the schedule,” Elliott said. “I don’t know why I didn’t think it was so soon in the year. I thought it was later on and thought, ‘We’ve got a while.’ Then I get to looking at the schedule at Daytona and I’m like, ‘This race is coming up quick.’” Now that it’s here, the first priority will be a strong qualifying effort. That will be the same story for all five of Elliott’s 2015 Cup races – at Martinsville, Richmond, Charlotte, Indianapolis and Darlington. “The biggest goal, first, is to try to get into all of them,” Elliott said. “That is the first thing – you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. Just try to have good qualifying efforts at all of them but not forget about the race. We definitely want to focus on that and try to be good there.”(Hendrick Motorsports)(3-25-2015)
  • • Update on pit road officiating: Officials in NASCAR’s Pit Road Officiating (PRO) trailer called 12 of the 22 penalties issued during Sunday’s Auto Club 400, the second fewest through this year’s first five races. Six of the 12 were for tire violations — failure to control an outside tire. Only Phoenix saw fewer total violations (19) and those made by officials in the PRO trailer (nine). There have been 158 penalties thus far this season, including 60 that were called by the PRO group. Officials in the tower continue to call infractions for speeding when entering/exiting pit road, pitting before pit road is open and various safety-related violations. Officials in the PRO trailer use video to respond to potential infractions such as too many crewmen in contact with the pit service area, crewmen over the wall too soon and pit box tire violations.(NASCAR.com)(3-25-2015)
  • • NASCAR fans remain most sponsor-loyal: NASCAR fans continue to demonstrate the greatest loyalty toward a sponsor’s brand among all sports fans in the U.S., according to SponsorLink research released by Repucom. Seven out of 10 NASCAR fans said they are loyal to a sponsor’s brand when the brand supports their sport, which is nearly 20% higher than a typical sports fan. Repucom, a trusted advisor in sports and entertainment intelligence, is again monitoring and evaluating the performance of more than 1,000 brands appearing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck series in 2015. By using leading technology and advanced data analysis, Repucom monitors the value and quality of exposure and messages getting through to fans and advises clients on how to stand out in the highly competitive commercial space. Repucom analyzes more than 350 hours of NASCAR programming per year, and evaluates how changes to the race schedules, sponsors, teams and broadcast channels impact value versus prior years and among the entire field of entries. In total, sponsors in NASCAR’s top three national series earned nearly $1.3 billion in television exposure value in 2014. In addition to audience size, Repucom considers factors such as exposure duration, size, quality and the number of competing messages when determining value. Repucom also measures the value and impact of brand exposure in digital and social media, areas that are becoming increasingly important as media consumption patterns change.(Repucom)(3-25-2015)
  • • Auto Club TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Fontana earned 1.4 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 Saturday afternoon, down 21% from last year’s race on ESPN (1.8M) and down 19% from the 2013 race, also on ESPN (1.7M). Viewership was the lowest for the race since at least 2008, when it was rained out and postponed to Monday. All four Xfinity Series races on FS1 have had year-over-year declines.(Sports Media Watch via ShowBuzz Daily)(3-25-2015)
  • • Behavioral Penalties issued to #8 team members: NASCAR has issued Behavioral Penalties to five crew members for their actions during pre-race March 21 at Auto Club Speedway. The crew members were working for the #8 NASCAR XFINITY Series team when the violations occurred. The crew members violated the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
      12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in a pre-race incident; failure to comply with a directive from Track Security
      12.8a: Behavioral Penalty
      Crew member Mark Armstrong has been fined $1,500, suspended from NASCAR until April 21 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Crew members Tyler Bullard, Nathaniel House, Jeremy Howard and Ryan Mulder have all been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(3-25-2015)
  • • NASCAR clarifies rookie testing: NASCAR issued a bulletin Tuesday containing various updates to the Rule Book. NASCAR clarified to teams that any driver entered in the Xfinity or Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year program is eligible for two additional tests at any track during the calendar year. Each test can be no longer than two days. Multiple drivers can participate but all drivers must meet the definition of a rookie in that series. The tests can take place at a NASCAR-sanctioned track or any other track. Veteran drivers will be allowed to “shake down” each primary vehicle used for testing but must do so in a limited number of laps.
      Drivers in the Xfinity Series who are competing for Rookie of the Year program include Darrell Wallace Jr., Daniel Suarez, Cale Conley, Ross Chastain, Harrison Rhodes and Josh Reaume.
      Drivers in the Camping World Truck Rookie of the Year program include Austin Theriault, Ray Black Jr., Korbin Forrister, Spencer Gallagher, Daniel Hemric, Justin Boston, Cameron Hayley, Cody Ware and Wendell Chavous.(NBC Sports)(3-25-2015)
  • • Decker looking to run some XFINITY races: Super late model racer Paige Decker has been approved to run Camping World Truck Series short track races and is looking to make her series debut at Martinsville Speedway, pending funding. Decker hopes to run truck events in order to get NASCAR approval to potentially run three Xfinity Series events later this season.(Paige Decker)(3-25-2015)
  • • Tifft returns with Venturini, honoring those battling Ebola epidemic: Matt Tifft, a Kyle Busch Motorsports driver, will pilot the Venturini Motorsports prepared #25 Clinical Research Management Toyota Tundra and carry a special message honoring a vast group of partners who’ve collaborated with ClinicalRM and their recent global efforts fighting the Ebola Virus epidemic. Saturday’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville marks the first NCWTS event since the season opener in Daytona- it’s also the site of Tifft’s 2014 series debut and career best 8th place finish. ClinicalRM has been part of a large effort in West Africa to fight the Ebola Virus epidemic. Although currently on the decline, the Ebola virus disease remains a concern and is a serious, life-threatening disease with a high rate of fatality. Many partners continue to make this a priority to proactively halt the potential for new outbreaks in other countries. Tifft, also a University of North Carolina at Charlotte freshman, will make his fourth career NCWTS start and second consecutive effort with VMS. After qualifying 16th at Daytona, Tifft settled for a disappointing 19th place finish after getting caught up in a mid-race incident which knocked him out of competition early.(See an image of the truck on the #25 Team Paint Schemes page)(Matt Tifft Racing)(3-25-2015)
  • • Griffin to debut with MB: At age 14, Jake Griffin became the youngest winner in NASCAR touring series history. On Saturday, March 28th, Griffin will make his NASCAR Camping World Series debut behind the wheel of the MB Motorsports #63 Mittler Brothers Machine & Tool / People Against Distracted Driving / Melloway Fast Wraps / Motoroso Chevy Silverado. With more than 300 top five finishes to his credit, Jake has amassed over 68 feature wins, 1 regional championship, and 6 track championships since his start in quarter midgets at age seven. Since then, he has raced in the UMP A-Modified, B-Modified, Crate Late Model, NASCAR and Super Late Model series. Griffin became the youngest driver in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history to win a Feature race with a victory at Lebanon I-44 Speedway (MO). Jake then added another milestone when he became the youngest driver in the history of Nashville’s famed Fairgrounds Speedway to win a pole. 14-year-old Griffin out-qualified the 27-car field in the Pro Late Models portion of the 29th Running of the All-American 400. MB Motorsports will once again be supporting Eagle Rock Camp, a faith-based, holistic sports camp where military families learn to re-connect and re-integrate.(See an image of the truck on the #63 Team Paint Schemes page)(MB Motorsports)(3-25-2015)
  • • Custer ushers JRM into truck competition: JRM enters new territory this weekend as the organization makes its debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with driver Cole Custer and the #00 Haas Automation Chevy Silverado. In addition to its NCWTS entry, JRM has competed at the regional late model level since 2002 and in the NASCAR XFINITY Series since 2006. The company amassed two track championships with its late model teams and holds a championship and 23 overall victories in NXS competition. This weekend’s event in Martinsville marks the first of 10 NCWTS races Custer will compete in for JR Motorsports. Custer will also drive the #00 Haas Automation Chevy Silverado in events at Dover International Speedway (May 29), Gateway Motorsports Park (June 13), Iowa Speedway (June 19), Eldora Speedway (July 22), Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 19), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Aug. 30), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 26), Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 31) and Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13). In 2014 alone, Custer twice etched his name in the NASCAR history books in NCWTS competition. First came a pole award at Gateway Motorsports Park, which made him the youngest pole winner in NASCAR national series history. Then by virtue of an impressive win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in which he led 148 of 175 laps, Custer became the youngest victor in NASCAR national series history.(See an image of the truck on the #00 Team Paint Schemes page)(JR Motorsports)(3-25-2015)
  • • Jones to begin string of races: Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 MasterForce Chevy, kicks off his 17-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule for GMS Racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend in the Kroger 250. Jones will pilot the #33 Chevy Silverado for the next eight consecutive NCWTS races. In 2014, Jones made two NCWTS starts with GMS Racing, driving the #33 Chevy. Last October at Martinsville, Jones ran inside the top five before a late race incident negated his impressive run. At Phoenix International Raceway, Jones posted his best finish with GMS Racing of 12th last November. He competed full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, scoring his first-career win at Iowa Speedway. Jones also earned two consecutive victories in three ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (ARCA) starts at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.(See an image of the truck on the #33 Team Paint Schemes page)(GMS Racing)(3-25-2015)
  • • Decker hoping to debut at Martinsville UPDATE: Super late model racer Paige Decker has been approved to run Camping World Truck Series short track races and is looking to make her series debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, pending funding. Decker hopes to run truck events in order to get NASCAR approval to potentially run three Xfinity Series events later this season.(Paige Decker)(3-24-2015)
      UPDATE: Decker will drive the #74 for Mike Harmon Racing at Martinsville.(3-25-2015)
  • • Martinsville to honor long-time photographer: The first year Mike Wray shot photos at Martinsville Speedway, Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty visited victory lane, the Beatles were still a band and Lyndon Johnson was in the White House. Since those first races in 1968 the recently-retired Martinsville Bulletin photographer shot more than 340 feature races at Martinsville Speedway in about 10 different divisions. When you add in the many heat races that used to accompany the track’s double and triple-headers, that total number of races photographed is closer to 700. Wray did more than cover races at Martinsville Speedway for the local daily paper. He shot countless other events and activities at the track every year of his more than four decades of work. He and his wife Ginny Wray, who was the Bulletin’s editor, both retired earlier this year. For his diligent work and dedication to Martinsville Speedway, the track announced it was naming its photo center the “Mike Wray Photo Center.” The Mike Wray Photo Center is the work area for photographers covering NASCAR events at Martinsville Speedway. About 50 regional and national photographers work out of it, disseminating images around the world.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-25-2015)
  • • Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame names inductees: Renowned NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick headlines this year’s list of honorees for the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities on Thursday, April 9, in The Speedway Club’s Grand Ballroom at Texas Motor Speedway. Hendrick’s induction into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame culminates an evening of recognizing some of the most outstanding individuals in motorsports. Along with Hendrick, other honorees include NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip; four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon; 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott; and Texas Motor Speedway’s April race title sponsor Duck Commander. Duck Commander, which has played a major role in supporting the initiatives of Speedway Children’s Charities, will receive the Maj. General Thomas Sadler Award. The company, made famous by the Robertson family of the popular A&E reality show Duck Dynasty, officially joined Texas Motor Speedway as a race sponsor in 2014. Since becoming a member of the Texas Motor Speedway family, the organization has made key contributions that included unique hunting experiences with TV personality John Godwin, along with signed memorabilia for Speedway Children’s Charities Live Auctions. The generosity of Duck Commander has helped Speedway Children’s Charities raise more than $55,000 to benefit children in North Texas in the last year. The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame, located in the outdoor atrium adjacent to The Speedway Club, is free to the public and remains open year round. The Hall of Fame atrium features pedestals of the inductees with a portrait painting and career highlights.(TMS)(3-25-2015)
  • • Future of of Mansfield Raceway unsure: Even at 80, even after a lifetime of distinction, even after a successful career, Grant Milliron learned a lesson. He bought his way into a business he did not know, trusted the wrong guy and last week found his reputation was in jeopardy. That’s not what one of Richland County’s best businessmen set out to do on a cold day in January of 2013 when he bought Mansfield Motorsports Park at a sheriff’s sale for $800,000. “The last thing I want to do is hurt this community,” Milliron said. But that’s what threatened to happen. Milliron is from the old-school where handshakes mean something. To break an agreement with a partner is unthinkable. A deal is a deal – good ones and even the bad ones. However, Milliron had never done business with someone like Kevin Ruic. The 71-year-old motorsports promoter from Avon Lake held events and ran shows for 50 years. He had contacts in the industry, and he proposed to Milliron a win-win proposition for the newest property in the portfolio. So the future of the track goes back to being uncertain. “Maybe I was foolish and naive to even think we could even bring this thing back. Maybe I should have dismantled it the day I bought it to tell you the truth,” Milliron said. See much more at Mansfield News Journal.(3-25-2015)

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