April 2, 2008
- Cask No. 16 scheme returns at Texas: This weekend at Texas, Jamie McMurray will pilot the #26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion. The #26 Ford will also sport the autism puzzle pieces in support of autism awareness and the Jamie McMurray Foundation. McMurray will have two special guests with him at the track this weekend – Chris Dake and Dawn Litteken from Springfield, Mo., who bid more than $4,200 for a VIP weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The auction helps kick off “National Autism Awareness Month.”(Roush Fenway Racing), see image of the car on my #26 Team Schemes page(4-2-2008)
- Prilosec OTC colors for Burton at Texas: Prilosec OTC’s major associate sponsorship of RCR’s #31 Chevy kicks into high gear this weekend in Texas as Burton and the #31 team transform their bright orange #31 AT&T; Chevy into a purple Prilosec OTC racing machine for the Samsung 500. Prilosec OTC, marketed exclusively by Procter & Gamble, is available in food, drug, mass, and club stores in the U.S. Prilosec OTC is available over-the-counter for the treatment of frequent heartburn, with one pill taken every day for 14 days and is the No. 1 selling over-the-counter heartburn medication. Prilosec OTC Victory of a Lifetime Sweepstakes winner Kathryn Cooley continues her ultimate NASCAR Fan’s season at Texas Motor Speedway’s Samsung 500 this weekend. This will be Kathryn’s fifth race of her 20-race schedule with RCR’s #31 Cup Series team and will be a race that Kathryn’s husband, Jack Cooley, will not soon forget. This weekend Jack will truly become part of the No. 31 team as an honorary pit crew member. Jack will dawn his very own Prilosec OTC pit crew uniform and firesuit as he takes a spot in the pits with the rest of the #31 crew. And while Jack is working hard in the pits, Kathryn and her guest will enjoy a bird’s eye view from one of Texas Motor Speedway’s exclusive luxury suites.(RCR PR), see image of the car on my #31 Team Schemes page(4-2-2008)
- BAM Racing withdraws from Texas UPDATE 2: One week after announcing a sponsorship program with Microsoft Small Business and qualifying seventh at Martinsville, BAM Racing’s #49 Toyota was withdrawn from this weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. No details were available as to the reasons behind the decision by owner Beth Ann Morgenthau, who has operated a team in NASCAR’s premier series since 2002. The #49 was 42nd in owner points following a 37th-place finish at Martinsville, having made three of six races this season. Driver Ken Schrader finished 21st at Las Vegas and 41st at Bristol earlier in 2008.(NASCAR.com)(4-1-2008)
UPDATE: been told the team will return to the track next weekend at Phoenix and Microsoft Small Busisness Systems Center will next sponsor the car at Talladega in April. Added some images of the car from Martinsville to my #49 Team Schemes page.(4-2-2008)
UPDATE 2: BAM Racing has decided to skip the next two Sprint Cup races in Texas and Phoenix. Team co-owner Tony Morgenthau released the following statement about the decision: “Switching manufacturers was a taller order than we initially realized. While BAM Racing has a very strong short track program, our intermediate track program needs some work. Since we haven’t had time to adequately test the cars on shaker rigs and pull down rigs; since historically we don’t run that well at either Texas or Phoenix – even with a proven, tested racecar; since we intend to improve our on-track performance and not to take a step backwards; our organization has decided to take the next three weeks to focus on the remainder of the racing season. We recognize that we will sacrifice our 42nd position in owner’s points, but that only guarantees our team a spot if qualifying is rained out. Ultimately every car that is 36th or lower must qualify on time in order to race. While skipping the next two races will hurt our points position in the short term, returning to the track at Talladega ready to move forward with fully-tested Toyota Camry’s will enhance our program overall. This has been a very difficult, “big picture” decision; by taking a little time to regroup now, we should be a much stronger team for the rest of the year. Finally, for all the naysayers who may predict this to be the death knell for one of the few remaining independent teams in Sprint Cup . . . wait until Talladega, then tell us if we’re dead or not!”(BAM Racing PR)(4-2-2008) - Bobby Labonte Comments on Remainder of 2008 Season: Bobby Labonte continues to be totally focused on returning Petty Enterprises back to victory lane. He will concentrate on those efforts for the remainder of the 2008 season. Contrary to reports, he has made no contractual agreements with any team beyond 2008. “I’m very humbled by the level of interest in my future, but at this time I’m concentrating all my efforts in getting Petty Enterprises back to victory lane. I feel good about all the positive steps that Petty Enterprises has made and continues to make. General Mills has been a huge part of making the 43 team what it is today. I worked diligently with Petty Enterprises to continue General Mills involvement with the team. Today, we all learned they have made a decision. I truly appreciate all they have done to contribute to our success at Petty Enterprises. Moving forward, I’m going to work hard each week to win races. I want to do the best I can for Petty Enterprises and everyone who puts great cars under me each week. That’s our focus, and that’s what I feel is the right thing to do for all our partners. At this time, I have no intention to talk about my plans after 2008 because of the immediate tasks at hand. I respectively ask for everyone’s patience in this matter and, again, am humbled by everyone’s interest.”(Breaking Limits PR)
AND: Petty Enterprises lost the sponsor of its famed #43 car to Richard Childress Racing on Tuesday, but officials don’t expect the driver to follow. Robbie Loomis, the vice president for racing operations at Petty Enterprises, said the organization is in the final stages of negotiating a deal that would keep 2000 Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte there for the remainder of his career. He said losing General Mills, the current sponsor of Labonte’s car, will have no bearing on that. “I’m not worried about that at all,” Loomis said of losing Labonte to RCR. “I feel as good about it as anything I’ve felt about in a long time.” Meanwhile, Childress is left with finding a fourth driver. Scott Wimmer is a potential candidate. He already has a Nationwide Series win for RCR this season and is scheduled to drive a handful of Cup races in a fourth RCR car.(ESPN.com)(4-2-2008) - TI DLP to re-sign with HOF Racing, Staubach retiring UPDATE: DLP HDTV is expected to sign a contract extension through 2009 to continue as the primary sponsor of the #96 car. Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman became minority owners in Hall of Fame Racing, a Sprint Cup organization, when a group led by Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel bought controlling interest late last season. Aikman plans to invest in the team and attend some races every year. Staubach said he’s ready to retire from racing, probably after this season. “It’s not a goal of mine to continue,” said Staubach, who made it clear he likes the new management of Hall of Fame Racing. “They’ve given me an opportunity to stay involved, but I told them I’ve got a lot going on. I don’t like to be partly involved in things.” Aikman also has other business interests, including his job as analyst for Fox’s No. 1 announcing team. He said his role this Cup season isn’t much different than what it was the first two years of the team’s existence. Aikman was a majority owner, but Bill Saunders ran the daily operations. Now Garfinkel handles much of that role. Aikman will also be around at least through 2009 because he trusts and respects Moorad, Aikman’s agent and longtime friend. Aikman said he’s proud of what the one-car team has done. But to consistently finish in the top 20, it needs to get a second car and more resources. Moorad and Garfinkel plan to provide that. The second car could run as early as next season [supposedly with Brad Coleman as the driver].(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2008)
UPDATE: DLP HDTV officials announced that they will extend their sponsorship of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota driven by J.J. Yeley in the Sprint Cup Series. DLP HDTV, which has been the primary sponsor on the #96 car since its inception in 2006, will remain in that role through the 2009 season. “We’ve been extremely pleased with our sponsorship of the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota,” said Dave Duncan, sponsorship marketing manager, DLP Products, Texas Instruments.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(4-2-2008) Comment here - Mike Ford named Wypall Wipers “Crew Chief of the Race”: Mike Ford, crew chief of the #11 Fed Ex Freight Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin, was named the Wypall Wipers “Crew Chief of the Race” for his team’s first-place finish in Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. After Hamlin fought an ill-handling car for most of the race, Ford’s direction for a combination of air pressure, wedge and track bar adjustments paid off with Hamlin running consistently in the top five for the last 100 laps of the race and eventually taking the lead for good with 74 laps to go. Ford will receive a $1,000 check as a result of his leadership and successful strategy during the most critical moments of the race. The 2008 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge is a season-long contest that will determine the best crew chiefs in the Sprint Cup garage. Following each event, a panel will vote to determine which crew chief demonstrated the most outstanding strategy and leadership during the race. It isn’t necessarily the crew chief that goes to victory lane, but the crew chief who made the biggest difference to his team. Representatives from Wypall Wipers, together with Hammond, and three of NASCAR’s top crew chiefs, who represent Wypall, make up the panel of judges. The crew chiefs include Todd Berrier of the Richard Childress Racing #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevy team, Bob Osborne of the Roush Fenway Racing #99 Office Depot Ford team, and Kenny Francis of the Gillett-Evernham Motorsports #9 Budweiser Dodge team. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will display signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly top wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the remainder of the 2008 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.Wypall.com.(Wypall PR)(4-2-2008)
- Thomas to Red Bull? UPDATE: Brandon Thomas, who recently was replaced by Steve Boyer as crew chief for #96-J.J. Yeley at Hall of Fame Racing, is apparently bound for Red Bull Racing, though his exact duties remain to be seen.(SPEEDtv)(3-31-2008)
UPDATE: hearing that Thomas will go to Red Bull Racing as Chief Design Engineer.(4-2-2008) - Sprint Cup Series testing at Kentucky Speedway: some Sprint Cup drivers are scheduled to test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, April 2 Infield, including Jason Keller of Gillett Evernham Motorsports Research & Development Team; #84-Mike Skinner [also will test a truck for Bill Davis Racing]; #01-Regan Smith of DEI; #45-Chad McCumbee of Petty Enterprises [will also test a truck for MRD Motorsports]; #34-John Andretti of Front Row Motorsports. Fans can view test sessions from the designated area outside the Fan Center in Turn 3. The Fan Center is located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 North. Schedule subject to change daily. Test times vary.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(4-2-2008)
- Foyt says Firestone just as bad: #20-Tony Stewart doesn’t think much of the job Goodyear is doing in NASCAR, and A.J. Foyt is no fan of Firestone’s performance in the Indy Racing League. Asked before Saturday night’s Gainsco Indy 300 what he thought of Stewart’s rant about Goodyear a few weeks ago after NASCAR’s Atlanta race, Foyt took aim at the IRL’s tire supplier. “Firestone’s just as bad,” he said. “We’ve got junk for tires. They’ve got one heat cycle, and they screwed us up the other day for qualifying; they fall off two or three tenths.” Foyt, who will compete in next weekend’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as a team owner for Darren Manning, was a Goodyear driver through much of his legendary racing career. Arch-rival Mario Andretti ran on Firestones. Stewart raced Firestones in the IRL when both tire companies were in the league. “I have no love for Firestone, they have no love for me,” Foyt said, adding that the tires made by Bridgestone Firestone in Japan are “a lot better” than those built domestically.(Tampa Tribune)(4-2-2008)
- Hamlin, FedEx Kinko’s and March of Dime Team up in Texas: #11-Denny Hamlin will be in Texas early this week, on hand to make a special announcement with FedEx Kinko’s and the March of Dimes. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2 at White Rock Lake Park in Dallas. As part of the announcement, Hamlin will be presented with a specially designed helmet by five year old Dallas native Tiffany Bell-Nunez and will unveil the start/finish line for the 2008 March for Babies – to be held at the park later this month.(JGR PR)(4-2-2008)
- Harvick leads March Madness Picks: #29-Kevin Harvick currently leads the washingtonpost.com celebrity NCAA tournament pick challenge. Harvick has a one-point lead over second place Byron Mouton (former University of Maryland Basketball player) and a five-point lead over third place Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards All-star Forward). Harvick has the University of North Carolina (UNC) and University of Memphis meeting in the finals with UNC winning the National Championship.(RCR PR)(4-2-2008)
- Buescher to make Nationwide Debut at Phoenix: UPDATE 2: ARCA RE/MAX Series and NASCAR Camping World East Series driver James Buescher will attempt to make his Nationwide Series debut at Phoenix for Braun Racing. Buescher, who holds the record as the youngest winner in ARCA RE/MAX Series history is scheduled to drive the #32 Great Clips Toyota for Braun Racing, a former ARCA RE/MAX Series team.(Catchfence.com)(3-31-2008)
UPDATE: Braun Racing announces the addition of James Buescher to the driver line-up of the #32 Camry. The Plano, Texas native joins Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, who all share driving duties in the #32. Buescher will make his first start in the Nationwide Series at Phoenix International Raceway on April 11th. It will be his first race in one of NASCAR’s top-three divisions. Buescher, who just recently turned 18, focused his efforts on competing in both the Hooters Pro Cup Series and the ARCA/Remax Series and quickly made a name for himself during the 2007 season. Buescher will pilot the #32 Braun Racing Camry at Phoenix, Kentucky, Milwaukee, Gateway, O’Reilly Raceway Park and Memphis.(Braun Racing PR)(4-2-2008) - DLP HDTV on the #18 at Texas: Anytime NASCAR visits Texas Motor Speedway, it’s a big deal for Dallas-based Texas Instruments and its DLP HDTV brand. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series head to the Fort Worth track this weekend for the first of two visits this season, and for DLP, the usual excitement will be doubled this time around. In addition to primary sponsorship of the J.J. Yeley-driven #96 DLP HDTV Toyota for Hall of Fame Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the familiar black and blue colors of DLP will also adorn Joe Gibbs Racing’s #18 Toyota in the Nationwide Series, where Kyle Busch will make his seventh career Nationwide Series start at Texas and the 115th Nationwide Series start of his career.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(4-2-2008)
- Keller Testing Wednesday: Hearing that Jason Keller is testing his #11 CJM Racing Chevy at Carolina Motorsports Park today.(4-2-2008)
- GoDaddy.com Sponsoring Earnhardt at Texas: This weekend’s race marks the first of two events this season in which Earnhardt will pilot the #5 GoDaddy.com Chevy. His next GoDaddy.com race will be at Watkins Glen on Aug. 9. Earnhardt will run a total of eight Nationwide Series races this season in the #5 JR Motorsports Chevy.(JR Motorsports PR)(4-2-2008)
- Parkway Chevy on the #1 at Texas: Parkway Chevy of Tomball, TX announces that they will be an associate sponsor on Phoenix Racing Nationwide Series car for the race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX on Sat April 5th. Parkway Chevy will be featured on the #1 Miccosukee Gaming & Resort car driven by Mike Bliss during the race.(PR)(4-2-2008)
- Cottonelle brand urges NASCAR fans to Be Kind to Your Behind: The Cottonelle bath tissue brand wants to help make race fans more comfortable this season by encouraging each fan to Be Kind to Your Behind. During the Texas Motor Speedway race weekend April 5-6, the Cottonelle brand will distribute several thousand seat cushions and urge fans in the stands to participate in the Cottonelle brand’s Lap 100 Stretch – creating the motorsports version of the seventh-inning stretch as seen in baseball. “With three-hour races and metal seats, watching a NASCAR race can be tough on bottoms,” said Kelly Stephenson, Associate Brand Manager for Cottonelle. “The Cottonelle brand encourages fans to consider these rigors and participate in the Cottonelle brand’s Lap 100 Stretch – another thing fans can do to be more kind to their behind.” A Be Kind to Your Behind logo adorns the Cottonelle brand seat cushions reminding fans to stand at lap 100 to stretch.(Cottonelle PR), #27-Brad Coleman will run a special logo on the car at Texas. An image of the car is available on the Nationwide Series Paint Schemes page.(4-2-2008)
- Nationwide launches ´08 Driving While Distracted campaign `DWD´ Events to involve NASCAR Drivers at local high schools: Nationwide Insurance officially launched its 2008 DWD – Driving While Distracted – national campaign in conjunction with its sponsorship of the Nationwide Series. Nationwide will bring NASCAR drivers to local high schools throughout the country to drive home the message that multitasking behind the wheel puts drivers and their fellow motorists at risk. Students and community members will receive a firsthand look at the impact driving while distracted has on their driving abilities while racing in a NASCAR simulator. The first event in Nationwide´s national campaign kicks off Wednesday, April 2, 2008 with drivers Kenny Wallace and Brad Coleman in the Dallas/Fort Worth area at Southlake Carroll Senior High School. In addition to spreading the message of dangers of driving while distracted, the local events will provide race fans an opportunity to get driver autographs, clock the fastest time in a NASCAR racing simulator, meet local Nationwide agents and win prizes. The grand prize for the sweepstakes at the local event is the Nationwide VIP Experience at Texas Motor Speedway, which includes behind-the-scenes NASCAR and ESPN tours. No purchase is necessary, and fans age fourteen and over can enter at the events. Fans can look for similar events throughout the 2008 NASCAR season. Nationwide and the National Safety Council developed www.NationwideSmartRide.com, a Website to provide parents and teens free tools and resources to help develop safe drivers and reinforce smart behavior. It is available free to anyone regardless of whether they are a Nationwide customer.(Nationwide PR)(4-2-2008)
- No penalties from Martinsville truck incident: NASCAR will not levy penalties against Bill Davis Racing or Billy Ballew Motorsports for the crews’ shoving match that followed the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, a NASCAR spokesman confirmed Tuesday. The BDR crew paid a visit to the pit stall where the Ballew crew was located after Ballew’s Kyle Busch attempted a pass on the inside for second against BDR’s Johnny Benson on the final lap – a move that was unsuccessful and resulted in Busch’s truck tapping Benson’s and sending both into a spin.(SceneDaily.com)(4-2-2008)
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