March 29 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 29, 2014

• • • Saturday on track activity cancelled: Due to steady rain at the track, both NASCAR Sprint Cup practices, Truck Series qualifying and the Truck Series race were all cancelled Saturday. The Truck race has been rescheduled for Sunday at 5:30pm/et, after the Cup race concludes.(3-29-2014)
    • First Cup practice cancelled: Rain started at Martinsville Speedway just minutes before the first Cup practice was to get underway. NASCAR has cancelled the practice to try to get Truck Series qualifying completed. Final practice is still scheduled for 1:00pm/et.(3-29-2014)
    • NASCAR considering reducing horsepower to Cup cars next season UPDATE: NASCAR is planning on making significant engine package changes in 2015 to extend the life of Sprint Cup powerplants and reduce horsepower. And along with engine changes, there likely will be aerodynamic and tire changes for the Cup cars in 2015 as well. That’s the word from NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton. Pemberton said the sanctioning body has had four meetings so far with representatives from Chevy, Ford and Toyota and race teams about how to implement those changes. No consensus has been reached yet, according to Pemberton, but discussions are ongoing in advance of making the changes for next year. Although Pemberton declined to specify how many horsepower NASCAR is looking to cut, sources familiar with the discussions said the reduction would be in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 horsepower. Currently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series engines make about 860-900 horsepower at most tracks. Discussions are still in the early stages, Pemberton said, but given the fact that there are so few engine suppliers now, they will need plenty of lead-time to make changes for next year.
      Among the options being discussed are reduction in engine displacement and changes to throttle body size. Sources familiar with the discussions say that Chevy and Toyota are pushing for a reduction to 5.0-liter engines, while the Ford camp is pushing for the use of tapered spacers, such as are used in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series engines. Pemberton said any change in the engine package likely would necessitate other changes as well.
      “It’s not fully appreciated the fact that we’ve had the same engine for basically 25 or 30 years and it’s at 850 or 860 horsepower, where it used to be 500,” Pemberton said. “And we are at the same race tracks where we used to run 160 (miles per hour) we’re now qualifying at 190 and running 213 going into the corners. There’s been a lot of engineering and gains made across the board. Goodyear … we have the same tire patch as when we started.(FoxSports)(3-23-2014)
      UPDATE: NASCAR has another meeting scheduled in April with Sprint Cup engine builders to determine possible changes to the engine for next year, said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development. NASCAR has talked with teams since late last year about engine changes for 2015 that would reduce horsepower. “We’re all working together to find the solution,” Stefanyshyn told Motor Racing Network on Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “We have to make sure that the little guys, the smaller engine builders are OK with this and we don’t hurt them financially. It’s a balance, and we’ve probably got six different alternatives we’re looking at. We’re going to be needing to get to a decision here pretty soon.” Engine builders expect NASCAR to reduce horsepower by about 100 or so for next year.(Motor Racing Network)(3-29-2014)
    • CRC Industries returns to sponsor Cassill at Martinsville: For the third consecutive week CRC Automotive will partner with Hillman Racing and driver Landon Cassill as the primary sponsor of the #40 Sprint Cup Series entry. The exposure generated at the end of last Sunday’s event at Auto Club Speedway in Southern California – with Cassill leading the field under the final caution flag – helped propel the underdog team into the spotlight for the second time this season, complementing the team’s 12th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. CRC, a manufacturer of an extensive arsenal of automotive maintenance repair products, will showcase its widely-accepted cooling system additive, K&W FIBERLOCK Head Gasket & Block Repair, with Cassill driving the distinctive green #40 CRC/K&W FiberLock Chevy in Sunday’s STP 500.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(3-29-2014)
    • Final Fontana TV Ratings: All five NASCAR races this season have declined in ratings and viewership. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 from Fontana earned a 4.4 final rating and 7.1 million viewers on FOX, down 6% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (4.7, 8.0M), but up 16% and 15%, respectively, from rain-affected coverage in 2012 (3.8, 6.2M). The 4.4 rating is the second-lowest for the Sprint Cup at Fontana since 2000, ahead of only 2012. So far this season, all five NASCAR Sprint Cup races have declined in ratings and viewership. The season has seen the lowest rated and least-viewed Daytona 500 ever, the lowest rated second race of the season since 2000 (Phoenix), the third-lowest rated Las Vegas race ever, and now the second-lowest rated Fontana race in fourteen years.(Sports Media Watch)(3-29-2014)
    • MWR cars paying tribute to Bobby Waltrip: Bobby Waltrip, the middle brother of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and FOX analyst Darrell Waltrip and NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner and FOX announcer Michael Waltrip, died of natural causes last Sunday. The middle Waltrip formerly managed Darrell’s race team and was best known as a promoter and announcer of go-kart races in both the American Karting Association and the World Karting Association. To memorialize Bobby, the two Michael Waltrip Racing Toyotas of #15-Clint Bowyer and #55-Brian Vickers are carrying the name “Bobby Waltrip” over their respective driver’s doors, as well as decals honoring his memory this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.(FoxSports)(3-29-2014)
    • Second Annual NASCAR Race To Green Initiative: Celebrating the sport’s commitment to protecting and preserving the environment, NASCAR officially kicked off its second annual NASCAR Race to Green initiative at Martinsville Speedway. NASCAR is sports’ sustainability leader and this effort is intended to build awareness around the programs the sanctioning body, industry, and a wide range of partners have in place to help reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. A key pillar of the initiative is a call-to-action for fans and the industry to donate trees that will be planted across the country as well as in a number of areas recently devastated by natural disasters. NASCAR fans can visit www.NASCAR.com/green to donate trees – $1 per tree for a 2-3 foot sapling – to be planted in those areas with the support of The Arbor Day Foundation. Fans are encouraged to share their own efforts around green innovation by using the hashtag #NASCARGreen. Social media highlights of the industry’s sustainability efforts will be featured on NASCAR.com/Green. NASCAR will go “green” throughout the month-long initiative with visual reminders reinforcing the importance of this campaign. The color green will be prominently displayed on race vehicles and at tracks across the three NASCAR national series, NASCAR Home Tracks and International Series.(NASCAR)(3-29-2014)
    • Stewart presented with lifetime membership to Code 3 Associates: Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #14-Tony Stewart was presented with lifetime membership to Code 3 Associates by president Eric Bagdikian and executive assistant Jane Giese on Friday, March 28 prior to Sprint Cup practice at Martinsville Speedway. Code 3 Associates is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas and is a partner of Stewart-Haas Racing, the Sprint Cup team Stewart co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. The continued operation of Code 3 Associates relies totally on the generosity of donors and bravery of its responders. Membership educates the populace on pet preparedness during disasters, lends a larger voice to animal-related legislation and policy, and supports first-responder and officer training across the United States. Code 3 Associates is featured on Stewart’s #14 Chevy SS this weekend at Martinsville.(Stewart Haas / TrueSpeed Communications)(3-29-2014)
    • Sad News – Sharon Grubb: Sharon Grubb, 62, passed away on March 18, 2014. She was born to Reginald C. Stokes and Billie J. Updegraff on January 20, 1952. She was preceded in death by her father, Reginald; and her son, Kevin Grubb. Sharon is survived by her husband, William Grubb; her mother, Billie J. Updegraff; daughter, Michelle Grubb-Solaimani and husband, Michael; son, Wayne Grubb and wife, Holli. She was a proud grandmother to Rylee, Taryn and Reygan Solaimani, and Jordin and Alivia Grubb. Sharon is also survived by her sisters, Carol S. Jones and Reggie S. Loth; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family received friends on March 21 at the Woody Funeral Home, Atlee Chapel, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., Mechanicsville, Va. 23116, and the funeral service was held at the funeral home on March 22. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family would like to give a special thanks to Star Austin, her caregiver. In lieu of flowers, honor her love of NASCAR Racing by sending donations to the Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp at [email protected] or Victory Junction, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, N.C. 27317.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-29-2014)
    • Headrush sponsoring JGL Racing at Texas: Derek White has been tagged to drive the JGL Racing #28 at Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300. Headrush will be sponsoring the #28 and also the #13 driven by Matt Carter and owned by Derek White. Headrush is a popular clothing line in action sports such as MMA Fighting. They are hoping to build a larger customer base in the NASCAR market with Derek White and Matt Carter this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. JGL Racing is currently 19th in owned points and looking forward to another good weekend, JJ Yeley will be back behind the wheel of the #93.(JGL Racin)(3-29-2014)
    • Kroger 250 delayed until Sunday:The Kroger 250 from Martinsville is delayed until Sunday, March 30 due to persistent rain. The race is scheduled for an approximate 5:30 pm/et start, following the conclusion of the Sprint Cup Series race.(3-29-2014)
    • Virginia529 College Savings Plan renews Richmond NNS sponsorship Richmond International Raceway officials announced the Virginia529 College Savings Plan has extended its partnership with America’s Premier Short Track through the 2015 season. The Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race kicks off the September NASCAR Doubleheader weekend “under the lights” on Friday night, September 5. The Virginia529 College Savings Plan remains the Official College Savings Plan of the track, presenting sponsor of the Family Section presented by Virginia529 College Savings Plan and the Virginia529 Kids Zone powered by the Science Museum of Virginia.(RIR)(3-29-2014)

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