March 27 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 27, 2012

• Sprint All-Star Race Format Places Premium On Winning Segments Prior To 10-Lap Shootout:The 28th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will provide some additional incentive for drivers to win one of the four segments heading into the final 10-lap shootout, as the emphasis on winning and pit road strategy have never been more prevalent in this special night of NASCAR star-studded competition. Through the annual Sprint Fan Vote, under way now, fans can again cast ballots for their favorite eligible driver. The driver receiving the highest number of votes will earn a spot in the field. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race set for Saturday, May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (SPEED, 7 p.m.), will consist of four 20-lap segments, concluding with a 10-lap sprint and a $1 million payout to the race winner. This year’s format will place a higher premium for drivers who win one of the four segments, however, as the winners of the first four segments will move to the front of the field and line up 1-4 prior to the field coming to pit road for the final mandatory pit stop. When the drivers come down pit road, crew chiefs will have to decide on their best pit strategy, as multiple scenarios will unfold. The team that makes the best call, combined with the optimum performance on pit road, is likely to be in the driver’s seat for the final 10 laps of competition. Wherever the drivers are positioned as they come off pit road after that pit stop is where they will line up to start the final 10-lap segment. The eligibility standards for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race remain the same: race winners from either the 2011 or 2012 season through May 12 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 7:30 p.m. and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote, all advance into the all-star race lineup.
  Fans can vote by using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Android application on their Sprint phone, or by texting “VOTE” to 229466 on any wireless carrier (standard text messaging and data rates apply). Voting is also open at NASCAR.com/AllStar or by visiting the Sprint Experience, located in the midway at all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Voting will continue until 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 19.
  The eighth annual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge returns to kick off the all-star week’s competition, Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at the Time Warner Cable Arena. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The #11 FedEx Toyota team is the defending Pit Crew Challenge champion. Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at 800-745-3000.
  Drivers currently eligible for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (as of March 27) include: Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Regan Smith and Tony Stewart.(NASCAR)(3-28-2012)

• STP on the #43 at Kansas: STP signed their first deal with Richard Petty in 1972, forever changing the motorsports sponsorship landscape. This year they are proud to celebrate their 40th Anniversary with “The King.” As part of the celebration, STP will be back on the #43 Ford Fusion for the second consecutive year during the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway. The #43 STP Ford Fusion will feature the iconic Petty Blue and STP Day-Glo Red colors and will be piloted by new Richard Petty Motorsports driver, Aric Almirola. “I’ve been an STP man since ’72 and it’s hard to believe that it has been 40 years since I started working with STP,” said Petty. “They have remained a big part of my career and it’s been great having them back at the track. I look forward to seeing Aric in the driver’s seat at the STP 400 as we celebrate 40 years with STP.”(STP), see an image of the car on the #43 team paint schemes page.(3-27-2012)

• #17 to honor wounded U.S. Marine at Martinsville: In an effort to salute those who have given so much to protect our freedoms, Roush Fenway Racing and driver of the #17 Ford, Matt Kenseth, will be running a special paint scheme at Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Kenseth’s car will be the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and will feature a salute to United States Marine Corps Corporal Josh “J.B.” Kerns. Kerns was a combat engineer with the U.S. Marine Corps and was on a mine sweep on April 7, 2011 in Afghanistan during his third tour of duty. An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated nearby and Kerns lost both of his legs along with his right arm due to the blast. Almost a year later after that fateful day, Matt Kenseth will race the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford at Martinsville as a tribute to Kerns for the sacrifices he made for this country. As part of their Building for America’s Bravest program, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation announced that they will build a “smart home” for Kerns in his hometown of Ararat, Virginia which is located nearby to Martinsville Speedway. As part of the fundraising efforts associated with this program, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will create a die-cast of the #17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and a large portion of those proceeds will go to building Kerns’ new smart home.(Roush Fenway Racing), and more info about a fundraiser on Saturday, see my Racing Charities page.(3-27-2012)

• All-Star Race announcement on Tuesday: The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 19. On Tuesday, March 27th there is a scheduled announcement for an exciting fan promotion and other new details of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.(CMS)(3-27-2012)

• added some schemes, including #29 Budweiser Prohibition, #39 Aspen Dental, #18 Red-White-Blue M&M;’s and #32 Green Smoke, #29 Jimmy John’s, #47 Charter and #17 Ford Eco Blast

• Martinsville Speedway History and Notes:
  � Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
  � The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
  � The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
  � The track was paved in 1955.
  � The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
  � Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
  � There have been 126 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
  � Curtis Turner won the pole for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville in 1949.
  � Red Byron won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
  � 56 drivers have won poles, led by Darrell Waltrip with eight. Jeff Gordon, with seven poles, can tie that mark this weekend.
  � Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip share the consecutive pole record, each with three.
  � 46 different drivers have won, led by Richard Petty’s 15.
  � Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with seven wins. Jimmie Johnson has six and Denny Hamlin has four.
  � 19 races have been won from the pole, the last by Denny Hamlin in October 2010.
  � Petty Enterprises has won 19 races, more than any other organization. Hendrick Motorsports, with 18 wins, can tie that mark this weekend.
  � Kurt Busch won the 2002 fall race from the 36th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
  � Three active drivers average a top-10: Jimmie Johnson (5.4), Denny Hamlin (6.4) and Jeff Gordon (6.8).
  (NASCAR)(3-27-2012)

• Chiquita inks deal for NASCAR Plaza space: Chiquita Brands International has signed a lease for more than 130,000 square feeet in the NASCAR Plaza building uptown, real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Monday. The banana giant announced last year it was moving its corporate headquarters from downtown Cincinnati to uptown. Chiquita will occupy six floors in NASCAR Plaza by September.(Charlotte Observer)(3-27-2012)

• NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing In Motion Set For 2012 Launch: NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion kicks-off the 2012 season by welcoming 18 partner schools from across the U.S. This innovative case study competition gives college students the opportunity to work through real-world business challenges and scenarios provided by NASCAR and its various industry stakeholders, such as Official Partners, teams and tracks. Since 2009 college students across the nation have spent a semester immersed in the NASCAR brand through NASCAR Kinetics. This grassroots program began with four schools and has grown to become NASCAR’s largest college initiative with 18 schools this semester. For more information on NASCAR Kinetics, please refer to the new website: www.NASCARKinetics.com.(3-27-2012)

• Sad News – Marie Foster: Marie Ann Foster, 72, of Mooresville, passed away on Monday, March 26, 2012 at Davis Regional Medical Center. She was born on February 2, 1940 in Akron, Ohio, to the late Jess and Elmira Miller Coffe. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who enjoyed time with her grandkids. She is survived by her husband, Bill Foster; daughters, Lindy Hornaday and husband, Ron Hornaday Jr., Alicia Dyer and husband, Dennis, Missy Foster; sister, Elmira Coffe; brothers, Jess Coffe, Bobby Chesebrough; grandchildren, Ronnie, Jeremy, Candice, Travis, Chris, J.D., Jesse, Amanda; and great grandchildren, Lacey, Viktoria, Slater, Lily, Maddie, Scarlett, and Violet. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 29 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home located at 494 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salvation Army, 2318 Julia Ave, Charlotte, NC 28202.(3-27-2012)

• Rodney Atkins to Perform at Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway announced that country superstar Rodney Atkins will perform a Saturday night infield concert on May 5 during the 2012 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. All fans with either an Aaron’s 499 race ticket or infield admission can catch the Platinum-selling singer/songwriter’s performance. To gain entry to the Saturday night concert, fans must present a ticket for the Sunday race or have an infield admission. The stage will be located near the intersection of Talladega and Eastaboga Boulevards in the infield. The concert will begin at 7:30pm and include an opening act to be announced soon. The most competitive racing in NASCAR combined with a mix of southern hospitality returns to Talladega Superspeedway May 4-6, 2012 for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend. For tickets and information visit talladegasuperspeedway.comor call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-27-2012)

• Darlington offers new Too Tough to Tailgate Zone: Tailgating is a big part of the culture that race fans enjoy each and every time they visit Darlington Raceway. To accommodate the ever-growing demand for tailgating prior to the track’s events, the raceway is offering a new area outside turn two, the Too Tough to Tailgate Zone, specific for fans who are tailgating prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Saturday, May 12. For $50 per spot, fans will receive a 20×20 space in the Tailgate Zone, big enough to accommodate one passenger vehicle, a pop-up tent, tables, chairs and a grill. There are no limitations to how many guests can tailgate at the space. Admission to the Bojangles’ Southern 500 is not included in the price. Tickets to the race must be purchased when you order your tailgating spot in order to obtain admission. Additionally, the Darlington Raceway ticket office hours are changing to accommodate race fans that might not be able to purchase their tickets during normal business hours. From now until the race weekend, the ticket office will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 can still be purchased anytime at DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(3-27-2012)

• Stantec helping the Kentucky Speedway prepare for crowds: A nationally-recognized transportation planning team from Stantec in Kentucky is helping the Kentucky Speedway prepare for crowds at the June 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” at the 107,000-capacity venue. The 2011 “Quaker State 400,” the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the speedway, drew national attention when an overwhelming race-day crowd resulted in a gridlocked roadway system and parking shortages. In response, Kentucky Speedway acted aggressively to address and resolve the problems identified last year. Kentucky Speedway has partnered with Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to implement multi-million dollar infrastructure and program improvements.
  More info on the Stantec’s microscopic traffic simulation at kentuckyspeedway.com. Tickets, campsites and daily infield Fan Zone passes for the Quaker State 400 tripleheader weekend can be purchased at kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling 859-578-2300 or visiting the Kentucky Speedway corporate offices.(Kentucky Speedway)(3-27-2012)
• California TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Saturday, March 24, earned a 1.7 household coverage rating, averaging 2,278,265 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was up six percent from the 1.6 for last year’s race. The pre-race NASCAR Countdown program earned a 1.0 rating, up 25 percent from a 0.8 rating for the program prior to last year’s event. Across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings are up five percent so far this season.(ESPN)(3-27-2012)

• Sponsorship woes may cost Kenny Wallace his ride: UPDATES: After 867 career starts in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, Kenny Wallace may be facing the end of the line. The nine-time Nationwide Series winner has sponsorship from American Ethanol and Family Farmers for just five races this season, including the just-completed Drive For COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Now, Wallace has been informed that unless he is able to secure additional backing, his run with RAB Racing will likely come to an end. “(Team owner) Robby Benton came to me and said, `We’re going to run you for first five races of year,” revealed Wallace today. “`If we don’t have any sponsorship after that, I’m going to have to sell the ride.’ He’s already got some little rich kids calling about buying races, so I may be out of the car pretty soon. I’m heartbroken,” said Wallace. “I worked my ass off last year to get my dignity back and prove to everyone that we could still run up front. And look at me now, running around like a bozo in a plain black car. It’s demoralizing. I can’t find any more money, so it looks like I’m not going to be a full time driver this year. If I don’t have any money after California, the ride will go to whoever has money. Robby has to pay his crew, and I understand that.”(GodfatherMotorsports.com)(3-2-2012)
  UPDATE: Team owner Robby Benton told SB Nation he takes exception to Wallace’s approach. Benton said he’s been trying to find sponsorship for Wallace over the past 14 months and is running a black, unsponsored car at Phoenix in an effort to show the ride is available. But Benton feels Wallace’s desperation is undermining his efforts to strike a deal with a potential sponsor. “He thinks what he’s doing is generating interest,” Benton said. “But at the end of the day, it’s making me and our race team look (unprofessional) and trying to get people to feel sorry for him. That’s not productive. You don’t want people to feel sorry for you. We’re trying to sell a strong, marketable program.” Benton said RAB Racing is not broke and has the structure in place to field a strong program. But it will be broke if sponsorship isn’t found, which is why Benton said he’s in a position to make some difficult choices. “For what it costs to be associated with us, to get the performance we exhibit and to get the popularity Kenny has got, we’re one of the best bargains in the garage,” Benton said. “And we still can’t sell it.So in order to not break myself and put us in a position where we’re destitute, I’ve got to make some tough decisions.” That includes listening to offers from drivers who could potentially bring funding to the team. Wallace was particularly vocal on Twitter about the rent-a-ride philosophy.(SB Nation)(3-3-2012)
  UPDATE 2: In response to the recent news concerning the welfare of RAB Racing with Brack Maggard, team owner Robby Benton is looking ahead, and reaffirming the team’s commitment to fielding entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. “As a NASCAR race team, we are faced with the obstacle of procuring the proper sponsorship to be able to field a strong, competitive, marketable team,” said Benton. “We are committed to our current driver, Kenny Wallace, for as many events that we can find sponsorship for. Although we are facing an immediate lack of sponsorship over the next few races, we are fortunate to have events sponsored later in the season with Kenny as the driver. We, as a team, have committed to keep Kenny in our #09 Toyota for the next few races, regardless of sponsorship. We will get to a point, should substantial progress in our sponsorship hunt not be made, that we may take the opportunity to pair up with someone who has aligned themselves with a sponsor that could benefit from becoming a part of the RAB Racing team, and becoming a teammate to Kenny Wallace.”(RAB Racing)(3-7-2012)
  UPDATE 3: Kenny Wallace posted the following note to Facebook on Tuesday, “My race team RAB Racing is not shutting down and I will never quit racing, however here is the situation. We need money to keep paying our employees at RAB Racing, I will race for sure race at Talladega and both Chicago races and Kansas and Michigan because i have sponsorship from “Family Farmers and American Ethanol” If another driver comes along and has money to drive my car I will support that because we need to keep our employees.”(3-27-2012)
• Double-duty for Harvick at Martinsville: In addition to driving the #29 Budweiser is Back Chevrolet in Sunday’s race, Harvick will pilot the #2 Tide/Kroger NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry for Richard Childress Racing in Saturday’s Kroger 250. SPEED will provide live race coverage starting with the NCWTS Setup show at 1:00pm/et. In 13 starts at the Martinsville, Va. Speedway, Harvick has earned two wins, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(3-27-2012)

• Ty Dillon making first Martinsville truck start: Saturday’s 250-lap affair will mark Ty Dillon’s [#3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet] first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the half-mile speedway. The 20-year-old racer has one previous start at Martinsville Speedway. In 2010, the Dillon took the wheel of a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East car for Team Dillon Racing where he started in the ninth position and finished 22nd. Dillon has participated in three test sessions with his #3 RCR team since Daytona. The group has traveled to Nashville Superspeedway, Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C., and Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. With five weeks off between the season opener in Daytona and this weekend’s Kroger 250, Dillon found a way to keep his driving skills sharp by dirt racing. The Welcome, N.C., native competed in nine dirt races with Team Dillon Racing. He is slated to make numerous other appearances in the #41 car from the TDR camp throughout the season.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(3-27-2012)
• Steak-umm on board with Coulter: Steak-umm Company is on board the #22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with driver, Joey Coulter for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Coulter has two previous starts at Martinsville Speedway. In the fall race last year at the half-mile race track, Coulter started 12th and finished fifth for his career-first top-five finish at the speedway. During the break between Speedweeks and this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Coulter has taken on a new hobby dirt racing. Coulter’s most recent escapade on dirt was at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. The 21-year-old won the Pro Late Model class in only his second-career dirt outing and his first at the Volunteer Speedway. Coulter drives the #2 Wolf-Pack Racing entry.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(3-27-2012)

• Sauter heads to Martinsville as defending race winner: Johnny Sauter, driving the #13 Hot Honeys/Curb Records Toyota for ThorSport Racing, heads to Martinsville Speedway as the defending winner of the spring race at the 65-year old facility. Sauter had a perfect record in the March event in 2011, starting the race from the pole position before bringing home the famous grandfather clock trophy. In his eight previous starts at the 0.526-mile oval, Sauter has earned two top-five and two top-10 finishes. New Country Q 104.1 returns to the #13 as an associate sponsor this weekend in Martinsville. The Greensboro, N.C. country station was on board for last year’s win and will appear on the tonneau cover of the Hot Honeys Toyota Tundra for this year’s event.(ThorSport Racing PR)(3-27-2012)

• Gale featured on NCWTS Setup at Martinsville: Cale Cale, driver of the #33 Rheem Chevrolet for Eddie Sharp Racing, recently took the checkers to garner the hometown win for the inaugural Mobile ARCA 200 at Mobile International Speedway. While in Mobile, Ala. for the event, Cale Gale showed the crew from SPEED’s NCWTS Setup show around his hometown as they filmed a rookie profile set to air prior to the Martinsville NCWTS race. With stops ranging from Gale’s alma mater, to a local race-parts store, to his former car owner and sponsor, a few funny tales about Gale’s past are sure to arise along with some great memories of growing up racing along the Gulf Coast. NCWTS setup airs at 1:00pm/et on Saturday, March 31.(Eddie Sharp Racing PR)(3-27-2012)
• Paludo to help raise diabetes awareness: Miguel Paludo is one of 346 million people worldwide who suffer from diabetes. To help raise awareness about diabetes, Paludo will run a special Stop Diabetes decal on bedtop of his Turner Motorsporrts #32 Duroline Brakes and Components Chevrolet this weekend at the Martinsville Speedway. To learn more about helping the cause visit Diabetes.org. Paludo’s finish at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opening event at Daytona International Speedway was not indicative of his night. The Brazilian driver captured his first career pole position in addition to leading over half of the event. In his first start for Turner Motorsports, Paludo led 56 laps, which more than doubles the number of laps he has led in his short NASCAR career. In his two starts at Martinsville Speedway, Paludo has completed 100% of the laps he has attempted. He has an average start of 19.0 and an average finish of 14.0.(Turner Motorsports PR)(3-27-2012)

• Sad News – Marie Foster: Marie Ann Foster, 72, of Mooresville, passed away on Monday, March 26, 2012 at Davis Regional Medical Center. She was born on February 2, 1940 in Akron, Ohio, to the late Jess and Elmira Miller Coffe. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who enjoyed time with her grandkids. She is survived by her husband, Bill Foster; daughters, Lindy Hornaday and husband, Ron Hornaday Jr., Alicia Dyer and husband, Dennis, Missy Foster; sister, Elmira Coffe; brothers, Jess Coffe, Bobby Chesebrough; grandchildren, Ronnie, Jeremy, Candice, Travis, Chris, J.D., Jesse, Amanda; and great grandchildren, Lacey, Viktoria, Slater, Lily, Maddie, Scarlett, and Violet. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 29 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home located at 494 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salvation Army, 2318 Julia Ave, Charlotte, NC 28202.(3-27-2012)
  QMI teaming up with RBR Enterprises for remainder of season: QMI, a leading manufacturing of automotive preventive maintenance products and equipment, is joining forces with the Ricky Benton Racing Enterprises #92 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado team and driver David Reutimann as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2012 season. QMI served as primary sponsor of the #92 entry at the fall 2011 Bristol race.(RBR Enterprises PR)(3-27-2012)

2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997