DAYTONA BEACH, FL: A Chevrolet Corvette carrying a NASA ÒAstronautÓ is part of the pre-race festivities at Daytona International Speedway, giving a plug to the Kennedy Space Center attraction. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL: A Chevrolet Corvette carrying a NASA ÒAstronautÓ is part of the pre-race festivities at Daytona International Speedway, giving a plug to the Kennedy Space Center attraction. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
All News Cup News O'Reilly Auto Parts Series News Today in History Truck Series News

March 30 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 30, 2020 at 6:14 AM

March 30, 2010

      • TV Guide teams with NASCAR to produce guide: TV Guide Magazine has partnered with NASCAR to create the TV Guide Magazine: NASCAR Special Collector’s Issue, the ultimate must-have collector’s guide for every NASCAR fan. The 88-page, special interest publication will be sold online and on newsstands for two months beginning today, March 30.ccTV Guide Magazine: NASCAR Special Collector’s Issue will feature unique content from NASCAR journalists, insider access, unparalleled insight, and the latest up-to-the-minute information and news features on NASCAR.ccFans can purchase the issue at stores nationwide for $6.99. The guide is also available now on NASCAR.com’s Superstore for $7.99 or free with a $50.00 purchase.(SKPR)(3-30-2010)
      • New driver named for #90 Keyed-up Motorsports ride: Keyed-Up Motorsports team owner Raymond Key announced that Scott Riggs will drive the #90 Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevy at Phoenix and Texas. “We are thrilled to have Scott in our car,” Key said today. Riggs, the current driver for the #09 RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will make his 2010 Sprint Cup debut at Phoenix in the #90 Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevy. The team started the season with Casey Mears behind the wheel, but Mears’ contract was for the first six races only, and he opted to be a back up driver for Denny Hamlin in the #11 FedEx Toyota while Hamlin recovers from ACL surgery. “Casey is a great guy and did a good job for us,” Key said. “Both parties fulfilled the 6-race deal and parted on good terms, we have even discussed the possibility of having Casey back later this year.” The team has qualified for only one (1) of the first six (6) races this season. Key added, “We had competitive speeds this year in qualifying attempts but the ‘Top 35’ rule has kept us from racing. We now look to Scott for his input on how we can succeed in getting into the top 35 in points with him behind the wheel.”(Keyed-Up Motorsports)(3-30-2010)
      • Successful Charlotte Test has Elliott, Woods Ready to take on Texas: Bill Elliott and the #21 Wood Brothers Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion shed their wings and spent Tuesday and Wednesday getting reacquainted with an old friend – the conventional rear spoiler. The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team was among 40 Sprint Cup outfits that participated in the two-day test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The wing that was on the Car of Tomorrow for its first 93 races will be replaced by a flat blade rear spoiler beginning with this week’s race at Martinsville Speedway. Elliott and the Woods, running a limited schedule this season, won’t race with it until the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 16-18. Elliott posted the ninth fastest speed in Wednesday morning’s session, turning a lap at 185.134mph. But he said that although that speed got his car number on the upper side of the speed chart it wasn’t the true measure of what the team accomplished at the test. “The important thing is we learned a lot,” he said. “The test went well, and we collected a lot of data.”
        (Wood Brothers Racing)(3-30-2010)
      • Hamlin to have knee surgery on Wed: Surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in #11-Denny Hamlin’s left knee will not limit the Sprint Cup driver behind the wheel for the next race, according to one of the doctors that will perform the operation on Wednesday. “I anticipate by the time he gets to Phoenix [April 8-10] he’ll have a pretty normal knee for all intents and purposes,” said Dr. Bill Heisel, who will assist Dr. Patrick Connor of OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, N.C. Heisel said the winner of Monday’s race at Martinsville Speedway may be in some pain or discomfort for a few weeks after the surgery, but added that range of motion to use the brake or clutch won’t be impacted. “He’s going to feel something, even at Phoenix,” Heisel said. “The big thing is to control the swelling to get the motion going. Straight ahead he should be pretty good. Obviously, what you don’t want him to do is wreck the car. But I anticipate he’s going to be able to clutch and brake pretty quickly.” Heisel said the procedure will involve making tunnels through Hamlin’s shin bone and thigh bone to pass the tendons from a cadaver into place and lock each end with a screw. He said physical therapy will begin immediately to improve mobility and strengthen the quadriceps, and that Hamlin will have to wear a brace for a while when not in the car. “He’ll be back running in three months,” Heisel said. Surgery was delayed until Wednesday after Sunday’s race was rained out.(ESPN)(3-30-2010)
      • Win 189 for #11: with #11-Denny Hamlin’s win in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, it was car #11’s 189th win in the Sprint Cup Series, only 9 wins behind the #43, which has 198 wins in 2252 Sprint Cup races. See more on my Wins by Car Number page. A car running the number 11 has won 14 times at Martinsville, by four drivers: Cale Yarborough won 5 times while running the #11, Darrell Waltrip 4, Denny Hamlin 3 and Geoff Bodine with 2.(3-30-2010)
      • Kurt Busch to be honored: Las Vegas native and 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch will be honored at the annual Mel Larson Night of Champions on April 14 at Rain in the Palms Casino Resort. All proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. This is the fifth year for the event in which a community member is recognized for his contributions to motorsports. Previous Mel Larson Night of Champions honorees include: Mel Larson, Dr. Dale Carrison (LVMS medical director and University Medical Center’s chairman of emergency medicine), NHRA Pro Stock championship team owner Ken Black and automotive legend Carroll Shelby. The speedway also will recognize the 2009 season champions at its drag-racing facility – The Strip at LVMS – and its 3/8-mile oval, the Bullring. The event begins at 6:30pm and Kurt will participate in a private meet-and-greet reception prior to dinner. Event tickets include dinner and an open bar.(LVMS)(3-30-2010)
      • Showtime to sponsor Southern 500: Showtime Networks Inc., the home of popular cable series like “Dexter” and “Weeds,” agreed to a multiyear deal to become the title sponsor for Darlington Raceway’s Southern 500. “I think they bring a lot to the table,” track president Chris Browning told The Associated Press, ahead of an official announcement expected later Monday. This is a first for Showtime, which launched its “Inside NASCAR” program in February. Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, said the sponsorship is the next step in linking the network with one of the country’s most popular sports. The May 8 race will be known as the Showtime Southern 500. Like many sporting events, Darlington Raceway has struggled to find corporate backing in a floundering economy. Showtime will be Darlington’s third title sponsor in the past three races, after a five-year deal with the Carolina Dodge Dealers ended in 2008. Last year, Browning signed GoDaddy.com to underwrite the event about a month before the green flag dropped. “Inside NASCAR” is a weekly highlights and analysis show along the lines of its “Inside the NFL” series. The NASCAR show is hosted by Chris Myers, Randy Pemberton, former NBA star Brad Daugherty and driver Michael Waltrip. Getting more than a one-year commitment from Showtime means both the network and the track can take full advantage of each other’s resources leading up to the 2011 race. One wrinkle is a contest where a viewer can win a VIP experience to Darlington’s race on Mother’s Day Weekend. Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio said along with an up-close look at the Sprint Cup race, the winner will show up in Victory Lane and be presented a replica of the trophy that will go to the race champion. The network also expects to have a hospitality tent for fans on Darlington grounds, with perhaps some celebrities from its cable shows popping by.(AP/ESPN)
        AND: Showtime, which debuted its “Inside NASCAR” show last month, is climbing deeper into the sport by title-sponsoring the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The sponsorship is a multiyear agreement between the network and the historic track.(Sports Business Journal)(3-30-2010)
      • Keller headed toward 500 starts: Jason Keller continues his quest for a record 500th Nascar Nationwide Series start, which will take place in his home state of South Carolina. Keller will reach that achievement at Darlington on May 15th. As his team continues to build cars and equipment for the 2010 season, despite missing races in Daytona and Las Vegas, Keller and his group will continue to race for the season long points championship in the #35 Chevy. TriStar is currently seeking sponsorship for the remaining 31 races on the Nationwide schedule.(TriStar Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Nashville Rookie Notes:
        • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Scotts Turf Builder 300 at Bristol. Stenhouse Jr. was a 25th-place finish and grabbed top rookie honors for the first time this season.
        • A different driver has claimed top Raybestos Rookie honors in each of the four races this season.
        • James Buescher leads Brian Scott by three points (43-40) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Nationwide 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.
        • Scott Lagasse Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 Nashville 300, claiming a 10th-place finish.
        • In 17 previous Nationwide Series races at Nashville, three Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions, two coming in the spring race: 2002: Shane Hmiel (Nationwide 300), 2005: Reed Sorenson (Nationwide 300), 2006: Todd Kluever (Federated Auto Parts 300)
        • A Raybestos Rookie has won three Nationwide Series races at Nashville Superspeedway, all coming in the spring race: 2001: Greg Biffle, 2002: Scott Riggs, 2005: Reed Sorenson(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Baker Curb Car Chief Co-Writes Andy Griggs song: As the NASCAR Nationwide Series invades Music City this week, a true culmination of music and racing comes together with the release of an Andy Griggs special event song “Drink Champagne.” Get a sneak preview of the racing themed song, co-written by Baker Curb Racing Car Chief John Reese, by going to www.andygriggs.com. The song will be available to download on Andy’s site and NASCAR.com on April 1st. A free download will be available to the first 100 new Andy Griggs fan club members. “Drink Champagne” is currently being played on the Conman Radio Show aired on 100 stations nationwide or you can hear it online at http://www.conmanradio.com where you can also request it.(Baker Curb PR)(3-30-2010)
      • McClure tests at Infineon: Rather than resting during the series’ third off weekend, Eric McClure had other plans in mind. He headed to Infineon Raceway to participate in a two day road course school with road race veteran Chris Cook in preparation for the series’ three road course races. Piloting southwest touring cars, McClure was able to practice turning right and left and while learning both braking and shifting techniques that will build his confidence when returning to the road courses for the second time in his career. The series’ first road course event is in June at Elkhart Lake’s Road America.(McClure PR)(3-30-2010)
      • CitiFinancial back on the #6: The #6 Ford will have the familiar colors of CitiFinancial on board this weekend. This is the third of 18 races that CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor for Ricky Stenhouse.(Roush Fenway PR)(3-30-2010)
      • “Sponsor Scott” car for #09 at Nashville: In appreciation of the “Sponsor Scott” Fan Car for Nashville, the #09 Ford will be carrying new colors; white with grey and red. Scott Riggs fans came together just over two weeks ago to show their support for the veteran driver by “Sponsoring Scott”. This was a unique opportunity to get your name in the fast lane for the Nashville 300 this weekend. There were different levels of sponsorship but over 75 dedicated fans raised more than $30,000 through various efforts including a “Chicken Plate Fundraiser” sponsored by Scott’s old school mates from the Durham, NC area. Fellow NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Justin Allgaier and his family also stepped up to help the 39-year-old driver and the entire RAB Racing team.(RAB Racing PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Mobile-Shop returns to the #81: After its debut two weeks ago at Bristol Motor Speedway, Mobile-Shop returns to the hood and quarter-panels of the #81 Dodge for its second race with Michael McDowell and MacDonald Motorsports. McDowell finished a season-best 18th at Bristol.(MacDonald/MMI PR)(3-30-2010)
      • 50 starts for Richardson: Robert Richardson, Jr. and the #23 Chevy team of R3 Motorsports comes to Nashville Superspeedway as their driver celebrates a mini-milestone in his NASCAR Nationwide Series career; and a personal one. The native of McKinney, Texas will be making his 50th NNS start on Saturday; then celebrating his 28th birthday on Sunday. The team is still seeking primary and associate marketing partners for single, multiple or full-season partnerships.(R3 Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Keselowski making 2010 debut at Nashville: Brad Keselowski will make his 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend behind the wheel of the #29 Brad Keselowski Racing Dodge Ram, the first entry of the season for the driver-owned team. Currently, Keselowski plans are to enter three more races before the end of 2010.(Penske Racing PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Buescher doubles up at Nashville: Stringer Motorsports is pleased to announce that Plano, Texas-native, James Buescher, will pilot the #90 Toyota Tundra in the April 2nd NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Nashville Superspeedway. Buescher is running a limited schedule in the series for Turner Motorsports in addition to competing for the Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) for Phoenix Racing. Trip Bruce is crew chief for the #90 Stringer Motorsports team.(Stringer Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Nashville: Austin Dillon was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 27 Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Dillon scored a 16th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the second time this season. Dillon leads Brett Butler by three points (32-29) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the April 2 Nashville 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Dillon is ninth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He trails eighth-place Tayler Malsam by 23 points and has a one-point edge over 10th-place David Starr. Carl Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Nashville. Edwards won the 2003 race by 1.209 seconds over Ted Musgrave in 2003. He is also the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps at Nashville, holding the top spot twice for 76 of 150 laps. This is the first spring race for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Nashville Superspeedway.(Raybestos PR)(3-30-2010)
      • Busch, Dollar General team up at Nashville UPDATE Image added: Dollar General, the nation’s largest small-box retailer, will sponsor Kyle Busch’s #18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra in Friday night’s 200-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. The one-race sponsorship will give Dollar General a solid presence at Nashville as they also sponsor Braun Racing full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The 200-mile race at Nashville will be the fourth for Busch as driver/owner for Kyle Busch Motorsports. . He and Brian Ickler split time in the #18 Toyota Tundra, while 21-year old Tayler Malsam drives the #56 Toyota Tundra full-time for KBM.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)
        UPDATE: Image of the #18- Dollar General Toyota to be driven by Kyle Busch at Nashville Superspeedway is posted on the #18 Paint Schemes Page.(3-30-2010)
      • Carmichael makes first start at Nashville: Friday night’s running of the Nashville 200 at Nashville Superspeedway will mark Ricky Carmichael’s first start at the track. Last week at Martinsville Speedway Carmichael scored his second top-10 of the season with a 10th place finish. Three weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway he scored his career best Truck Series finish by crossing the finish line in sixth place. It was a much needed confidence booster for the team after a mid-race crash ended the race for the #4 Monster Energy Team at Daytona in February.(Turner Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)
      • RMHC of Nashville children named Grand Marshals at Nashville: On April 1, MAKE Motorsports’ driver GR Smith will make an appearance at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville House on Fairfax Avenue to spend time with the families and sign autographs. Smith will drive the #50 Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville Dodge on April 2 at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Eight RMHC of Nashville children have been chosen as grand marshals for the Truck Series and will have the supreme honor of announcing the most famous words in NASCAR, “Drivers, start your engines!”(MAKE Motorsports PR)(3-30-2010)

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