March 27 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

Logano, Hamlin exchange texts: Roger Penske said Wednesday that Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin have exchanged text messages since their final-lap crash at Fontana last weekend that left Hamlin hospitalized with a fractured vertebra. Penske said he’s also sent text messages to Hamlin, who is expected to miss at least six weeks. Penske and Logano, one of his drivers, were playing in the pro-am leading up to his week’s PGA Houston Open. Logano twice turned down interview requests. “I’ve texted back and forth with him and said that we’re thinking about him,” Penske said. “Obviously, we’re hoping for a speedy recovery. It’s never good to have a driver out for a period of time.” He didn’t know what Logano and Hamlin said to one another in their text messages. NASCAR returns to action April 7 at Martinsville Speedway, and Penske said it’s time for everyone to “settle down.”(Associated Press)(3-37-2013)

Sadler expected to fill in for Hamlin: Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin. All that’s preventing an official announcement, as of Wednesday morning is a few details to work out with sponsor Fed Ex. Sadler, who was long pegged as the likely choice is driving full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series and was scheduled to drive a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule later this season. There are no conflicts on the Nationwide schedule that would affect Sadler until early June.(Frontstretch)(3-27-2013)

No penalties from Auto Club Speedway UPDATE: Kerry Tharp, NASCAR Director of Communications, tweeted Tuesday, “NASCAR will issue no penalties from last weekend’s events at [Auto Club Speedway]”.(3-26-2013)
UPDATE: Sprint Cup Series director John Darby addressed the media Tuesday afternoon and discussed the decision to not issue fines;
Q. Going back to the decision not to penalize anybody there, Stewart did cut off Logano on pit road, and started an incident there. Can you tell me why the governing body decided there was nothing wrong there?
JOHN DARBY: Yeah, all of the post-race incidents, a few years ago, we backed away from micromanaging drivers’ emotions. You would hope in today’s world that if somebody didn’t win a race, they would be upset about it for whatever reason. That’s what our drivers do is they try to win races. So the emotions that follow a race sometime, as long as stuff — and keep in mind, there’s the checks and the balances, but a couple of drivers at the end of the race arguing a little bit doesn’t create a foul in our world today. The crews did a great job of managing their drivers to make sure that it didn’t cross the line to where there was physical violence or anything like that, and that’s what you would hope. That’s just another example of the state of competition in NASCAR racing, and the disappointments that come sometimes when you don’t win the race. I don’t see any foul there at all.(NASCAR)(3-27-2013)

France takes responsibility for decision to fine Hamlin: [NASCAR CEO Brian] France has been busier than usual to start the season. He met with reigning champion Brad Keselowski in late February to discuss questionable comments the Penske Racing driver made in a newspaper article. Then came a suspension of Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements for using a racial slur in front of an MTV reporter, followed by a $25,000 fine to Hamlin for criticizing the new Gen-6 car and the quality of racing at Phoenix. France acknowledged it was primarily his decision to penalize Hamlin, and he stood by that decision. “There’s always going to be, when we make decisions that are not black and white per se, we’re always going to have people all over the organization that may not have made that call,” France said. “But I did. I’m crystal clear with everybody about where the line is, what we can accept, and about how the sport is going today. And that is we give more latitude than any professional sport to criticize, speak their mind and say whatever they want. We encourage it, actually, including criticism that gets directed at us. But when the driver . . . begins to call out the quality of the racing or the rules packages, we have to make that call or opinions will shape what may not be reality.” France met with Hamlin, who dropped his right to appeal the fine, and believes they are on the same page now.(ESPN)(3-27-2013)

Efland, JD Motorsports part: UPDATE: Danny Efland posted on Facebook Tuesday evening, “Looks like JD Motorsports and I have parted ways after a short start to the season.”(3-26-2013)
UPDATE: In an amicable agreement, JD Motorsports w/Gary Keller has, effective immediately, parted ways with driver Danny Efland. Efland drove the #4 Chevy for the team through the past two seasons, but not on a full-time basis. His departure now opens up the opportunity for someone else to continue on in that car. “I would like to thank Danny for all his time and effort this year,” said Johnny Davis, owner. “This is a move to make our organization better. As a team, we need to constantly improve our communication in order to improve our finishes on the track. I believe this change will make both the #01 and the #4 Chevy teams stronger throughout the year.” The team’s #01 entry will continue to be driven by Mike Wallace; who has been with JD Motorsports through the past five seasons.(JD Motorsports)(3-27-2013)

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March 27 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history