March 31, 2011
- Final Auto Club TV Ratings posted: NASCAR on FOX notched a 4.6/10 (8.1 million viewers) this Sunday for racing from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. This was the fifth Sprint Cup points race of the season and there are several comparisons to be made to last year. The most relevant is that this week’s 4.6/10 is +5% better than last year’s fifth race, a 4.4/10 at Bristol. This year’s Fontana race aired against NCAA regional finals games, and from that angle there is no comparison to last year because the Martinsville race that would have faced similar basketball games last year was rained out. The least relevant comparison is to last year’s Fontana race, which aired in the post-Daytona window last year and earned a 5.6/11 (-18%). In addition to the overall +5% improvement over last year’s Bristol race, the Fontana race produced some positive returns among younger viewers. Sunday’s 1.6 among Men 18-34 is +14% better than last year’s 1.4 at Bristol. Through five races, the 2011 NASCAR on FOX season is now pacing +11% ahead of last year nationally (6.2/14 vs. 5.6/12), including gains among Men 18-34 (+28%, 2.3 vs. 1.8) and Men 18-49 (4.2 vs. 3.7). See overnights, final ratings for other races and 4 year comparison chart on the 2011 TV Ratings page.(3-31-2011)
- All Sport Body Quencher joins up with #36 team: All Sport Body Quencher will join forces with Tommy Baldwin Racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. TBR driver Dave Blaney will pilot the #36 All Sport Body Quencher Chevy in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, April 3rd. All Sport, a subsidiary of Big Red, Inc., is one of the nation’s leading sportsdrinks and has an extensive history in motorsports, including Tommy Kendall’s Championship in the Trans Am series. Launched in 1937, Big Red, with its distinctive flavor and widespread distribution in 44 states, was one of thenation’s fastest growing soft drink brands in 2010. “I’ve known Tommy for a long time and have tremendous respect for him and his program,” said Gary Smith, CEO of Big Red, Inc. “We are looking forward to a great race this weekend.” (Tommy Baldwin Racing)(3-31-2011)
- Auburn colors for Waltrip: #15-Michael Waltrip is scheduled to run a Auburn University Special paint scheme at Talladega on April 17th. See an image of the scheme on the #15 Team Schemes page.(3-31-2011)
- Some facts and notes:
• There have been 14 over the most recent five seasons including Kurt Busch’s (#22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge) winning pass of Ryan Newman (#39 Haas Automation Chevy) in February’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
• Harvick has been on the winning end of a last-lap pass four times in five seasons: on Sunday, last spring at Talladega, in 2009 when he beat Jamie McMurray (#1 Widia Chevy) to win the Budweiser Shootout and in 2007 when he beat Mark Martin (#5 Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Chevy) to the line to win the Daytona 500. His record is 4-1 after Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer (#33 BB&T Chevy) won last fall’s Talladega race.
Other indicators also point to 2011 as being among the most competitive NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons.
• Five different winners over the first five races are the most since 2005. Those five winners competed for five different race teams, the most since 2003.
• Chevy, Ford and Toyota have scored 31 Manufacturers’ Championship points apiece. The top four drivers in the points standings each drive a different brand of car.
• The new points system offers several levels of excitement. Fourteen points cover the top five positions. There’s also the opportunity to bounce back. Three drivers ranking 25th or worse after the Daytona 500 – Johnson, Harvick and Matt Kenseth (#17 Crown Royal Ford) – have managed to climb into the top 10 over the course of four races.
• Johnson has scored the most points over the last four races (156) followed by Newman and Harvick (154).(NASCAR)(3-31-2011) - Hermie Sadler in the #71 at Martinsville: Hermie Sadler, an Emporia, Virginia native, will be back behind the wheel of the #71 Eco Fuel Saver Chevy in this weekend’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500. This will mark Sadler’s 11th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway and his second start for TRG Motorsports. “I had a lot of fun running for TRG Motorsports last fall at Martinsville,” said Sadler. “Kevin Buckler asked me if I would be willing to do it again, and I jumped at the chance. It’s always fun to get back behind the wheel and it’s an added bonus to do it at Martinsville Speedway, a track that is close to home. It means so much to me to be able to race at one of my favorite tracks in front of my hometown fans. I am truly appreciative of the opportunity.” Sadler, who will be making his 61st career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, has one prior start in the #71 machine for TRG Motorsports. The 41-year-old driver piloted the Kevin Buckler owned Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway in October 2010, bringing home a 26th-place finish, a career best for Sadler and the TRG Motorsports team at the 0.526-mile oval.(TRG)(3-31-2011)
- Different look for McMurray’s car at Martinsville: WIDIA colors will adorn the #1 Chevy this weekend at Martinsville as Jamie McMurray’s primary sponsor. WIDIA is the industry-leading manufacturer of cutting tools. They offer thousands of milling, turning, holemaking, and tooling system products, taking pride in being the metalworking’s oldest and most trusted brand (EGR), see images of the car on my #1 Team Schemes page.(3-31-2011)
- TRG drops plans to build facility in New Jersey: The Racers Group [TRG Motorsports], a high-profile diversified motorsports company, has dropped plans to build a $5 million headquarters and racing facility at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
TRG also began removing equipment Monday from leased garages at the facility, though several months remain on the company’s one-year lease agreement. Kevin Buckler, the company’s founder and CEO, criticized the performance of the park’s management in a statement explaining the decision. The TRG project represented a major potential commercial investment in the park, as well as an opportunity to enhance its reputation in the racing community. TRG’s announcement comes as the Motorsports Park’s owners are in federal court trying to salvage their business while retaining control of the three-year-old racetrack facility. “When TRG first came to New Jersey Motorsports Park, we had very high hopes on our future plans together as did the park and its management,” Buckler stated. “It was a major East Coast expansion for us, adding to our current successful operations in Petaluma, Calif., and Mooresville, N.C. We loved the local town and its people and their enthusiasm for our involvement in the community. The park has obviously had some challenges and things did not develop as we had hoped for,” Buckler added. “We no longer support the management of the facility or its vision for the future.”(Daily Journal)(3-31-2011) - New Gasman staying with Biffle’s team UPDATE: Brian Carr who served as the gasman for the #16 3M team in Bristol will also be fueling the car this weekend in California. Carr is also the gasman for the #6 Nationwide team at Roush Fenway Racing.(RFR)(3-23-2011)
UPDATE: Ryan Dextraze, who was the catchcan guy for the team in 2010 and has been in charge of windshield tear-offs during pit stops this year, will be the gasman for the 3M team this weekend in Martinsville.(RFR)(3-31-2011) - Raikkonen to NASCAR? UPDATE 2 approved: after years of rumors, there is a report that 2007 Formula One champ, Kimi Raikkonen, will drive some NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this summer. Raikkonen has been out of F1 for a while and driving in the World Rally Championship. According to a newspaper in his native Finland, Raikkonen will drive some time this summer in NASCAR’s Truck Series and eventually move to Nationwide and Sprint Cup. Raikkonen supposedly will drive for a new team called ICE1 that will have Foster Gillett as a partner. Gillett, of course, is the son of sports magnate George Gillett and until last year was running Richard Petty Motorsports.
From Turun Sanomat: The world champion of Formula One and current rally star Kimi Raikkonen expands his field of experiences: The 31-year-old Finn is going to race in the most popular North American race series NASCAR. The NASCAR debut for Raikkonen will be before the becoming summer. Kimi is going to carry on with WRC Rally, too. He has agreed to do eight more rallies this year. There will bea brand new team to race in NASCAR level: ICE1 Racing. Raikkonen joins forces with Foster Gillett. He will be the major partner of the Finnish team. Among others Foster’s family was the former majority owners of the Montreal Canadiens NHL franchise and the former co-owners of Liverpool football club.
Last year Foster Gillett was operating with Richard Petty Motorsport in NASCAR. Now he is about to break new ground with Raikkonen and ICE1 Racing.
“I’m really looking forward to get there to familiarize to the world of NASCAR. I have been following it for a long time. I know, it’s a very tough and open top racing series. I just love the American spirit of racing. It feels just great to get involved with that. Obviously, it will be very challenging and great fun for me”, Raikkonen told the Turun Sanomat. The negotations for the car for ICE1 Racing team are just about to be finished. Raikkonen will race both in ovals and normal track circuits.(Turun Sanomat)(3-29-2011)
UPDATE – Evernham: Ray Evernham, a former partner of Foster Gillett at Richard Petty Motorsports was a little bit astounded when he learned of the rumor of Kimi Raikkonen coming to NASCAR with a new team owned by Foster Gillett. “I really don’t know why Kimi would partner with people who continually fail with sports franchises,” Evernham told Auto123.com. “I don’t know how they could leave with so many unpaid bills and return to the sport,” Evernham added. Evernham says he was not paid over $19USD million and brought a lawsuit against his former partner earlier this year in a state court in North Carolina.(Auto123.com)(3-29-2011)
UPDATE 2: Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen has received approval from NASCAR to compete in the Camping World truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20th. Raikkonen is slated to make his debut in the truck series later this summer with a team that includes former Richard Petty Motorsports principal Foster Gillette as a partner. Gillett’s father George was the owner of RPM before financial issues forced them to sell the remaining assets of the team to an investor group led by Richard Petty (CBS Sports)(3-31-2011) - Martinsville Honorary Starter, Grand Marshal Named: For the 62nd running of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, Goody’s Headache Powder, title sponsor of the race since 1983, has designated Wounded Warrior Project heroes Joe Brazzle, Rashe Hall and Sue Downs as the grand marshals, and Victory Junction camper Garon Parris as the honorary starter for the 500-lap event. Through the Goody’s and BC Powder Pick A Powder campaign rivals and spokesmen – country music superstar Trace Adkins and racing legend Richard Petty – have formed a closer partnership with Adkins chosen charity, Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of BC and Petty’s chosen charity Victory Junction on behalf of Goody’s, making both service-oriented charities a pivotal aspect of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Pick A Powder, the friendly rivalry to see which brand –BC or Goody’s– is most effective on pain and has the most loyal users, will take a back seat on April 3 as Wounded Warrior Project and Victory Junction take center stage. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-31-2011)
- Some track activities at Martinsville: The Virginia Military Institute Glee club will perform a prerace show of patriotic songs from the front stretch Sunday afternoon and then sing “God Bless America” before Trace Adkins sings the National Anthem. The VMI Glee Club, which has been in existence since 1858, has entertained groups from coast-to-coast, singing for everything from gubernatorial inaugurations to the National Shrine in Washington, DC, to PGA Tournaments. Their version of the anthem is authentic and traditional. The VMI Glee Club is made up of 30 cadets from all classes, academic majors and ROTC affiliations at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. It is the oldest performing group at VMI. VMI is the nation’s oldest state supported military college, founded in 1839.
The VFA-31 Tomcatters out of the Naval Air Station in Oceana, VA, are back for their second turn opening the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 with a flyover. Lieutenant Commander Kevin Robb and Lieutenant Dustin Packer put on quite the show from the pilot seats for their F/A-18E Super Hornets. The Tomcatters will have a set of experienced eyes watching them Sunday afternoon. Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Remington, a three-star Air Force general, will be taking in a day at the race on Sunday. Remington knows a thing or two about piloting a jet. He is a command general with over 4,100 hours flying mostly F-15s and F-16s. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-31-2011) - Truex has wrist surgery: UPDATE: #99-Ryan Truex had minor wrist surgery Tuesday, but the Nationwide Series rookie is not expected to miss any races while recovering. The 19-year-old Stafford Township native broke the bone about two years ago, and it had started bothering him in recent months, his father, Martin Truex Sr., said in a telephone interview shortly after the surgery in Cornelius, N.C. He planned the surgery for this week since the Nationwide Series does not race again until April 8. “I’m good,” Ryan said in a phone interview later Tuesday. “Everything’s all right. It wasn’t really bothering me (while driving). The bone was just broken and needed to be fixed for the future.” (Press of Atlantic City)(3-30-2011)
UPDATE: Pastrana-Waltrip Racing announced that David Reutimann will drive the #99 Toyota Camry in the April 8 Nationwide race at Texas Motor Speedway while Ryan Truex recovers from wrist surgery. Reutimann replaces rookie points leader Truex who underwent corrective surgery this week to repair a fractured right wrist. Truex will return to the #99 driver’s seat at Nashville Speedway on April 23. (Pastrana Waltrip PR)(3-31-2011) - Crawford has big plans for Mobile, but not ready to retire from NASCAR: Rick Crawford isn’t worried about what he’ll do for an encore. The sort-of-but-not-really-retired NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran driver made his debut as track operator last weekend at Mobile International Speedway and packed in the fans. Crawford has a lot of plans for shows to put on — things like bluegrass, country and gospel music and driving schools. And he also has his sights set on bringing the ARCA Series to Mobile. ARCA mostly races in the Midwest but does make an annual trip to Talladega and many of its races are at short tracks similar to Mobile. “I’m thinking it’s in the future, maybe the near future, maybe 2012 or 2013,” Crawford said. And one day, he said, he’d like to bring NASCAR’s Truck Series to Mobile. That would take some substantial improvements to the track — like more walls and SAFER barriers, an improved pit road and more seating. Crawford has 330 starts in the Truck Series with five career wins and 160 top 10s. His longtime affiliation with Ford and Circle Bar Racing ended last year when sponsorship dried up and he has raced for a few other teams since. “I’m committed to be hands on at Mobile Speedway,” he said, “but at the same time I haven’t retired yet.” “I think I can still get the job done. In fact, I know I can,” he said. If the right situation comes along with the right team, he said, he’ll return to NASCAR. In the meantime, he’s got another full slate of racing to host on April 9.(AL.com)(3-31-2011)
- Randy Moss Motorsports #25 team shut down? UPDATE 2 #25 team will not be at Martinsville: Speedtv announcer Ray Dunlap is reporting that the #25 Iron Horse jeans NCWTS team at Randy Moss Motorsports has closed down as of noon Wed March 23rd. No word as to the future plans of driver Tayler Malsam. The team missed the first two events of 2011 and lost an engine at the most recent event in Darlington.(3-23-2011)
UPDATE: “Due to various circumstances outside of our control, we are re-evaluating the status of the No. 25 Toyota Tundra,” commented David Dollar, co-owner of Randy Moss Motorsports. “Tayler Malsam is a very talented young driver, and we are extremely appreciative of everything he, One Eighty, and Iron Horse Jeans have done for us. We have an entry filed for the April 2nd race at Martinsville Speedway and are currently evaluating our options for that event.”(Randy Moss Motorsports PR)(3-24-2011)
UPDATE 2: Although the #25 RMM Toyota is listed on the Preliminary Entry List for Martinsville, a team representative has just confirmed that the #25 team will not be racing at Martinsville.(Nancy/Jayski)(3-31-2011)
- Piquet to run RedCross.org at Martinsville: The No. 8 Qualcomm/Autotrac Chevrolet driven by Nelson Piquet Jr. will be running a special initiative in an effort to help support Japan this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Three weeks ago in Darlington after the first earthquake and Tsunami hit, Nelson Piquet Jr.’s No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado was the first truck to display a decal in support of Japan. This week, the No. 8 team will go one step further by supporting the American Red Cross’ earthquake and Pacific tsunami response efforts. The American Red Cross website, RedCross.org, will appear on the No. 8 truck’s tonneau cover, lower rear quarter panels and B-post, along with the Japanese flag and call to action: “Donate Now” in order to encourage donations to the American Red Cross. [Images of the #8 Qualcomm/Autotrac Chevrolet’s Red Cross initiatve are posted on the #8 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page.](Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(3-31-2011)
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997