April 16, 2012
- The Entry List for the STP 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Not in top 35 of owners points:
#12-Sam Hornish Jr. (none/0)
#19-Mike Bliss (45the in owners pts/3 attempts)
#23-Scott Riggs (44/7)
#26-Josh Wise (40/7)
#30-David Stremme (37/7)
#33-Tony Raines (36/7)
#49-J.J. Yeley (39/7)
#74-Reed Sorenson (47/4)
#79-Tim Andrews (none/0)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/7)
#98-Michael McDowell (41/7)
In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 33,30,49,26,98,87,23,74
missing the race would be [3]: #’s 19,12,79
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Kansas Entry List.(4-16-2012) - Turner Motorsports announces crew chief for Sprint Cup debut: Turner Motorsports announced that Trent Owens will serve as crew chief of the #50 Walmart Chevy with driver Bill Elliott in the team’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) debut at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in July. Owens currently calls the shots for Turner Motorsports’ #30 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) entry and recently led the team to victory in the 2012 season-opener at DIS. A former driver himself, Owens is a long-time fixture in the NASCAR garage. The Darlington, SC, native served as crew chief for six years for Braun Racing and remained with the organization through its acquisition by Turner Motorsports two years ago. Turner Motorsports’ NSCS debut is in conjunction with Walmart’s Race Time program, launched last year as the largest retail promotion in NASCAR history. Race Time 2012 gives customers more accessibility to discounted race tickets, driver appearances and fan events at Walmart stores. It also offers a greater selection of authentic NASCAR merchandise available at Walmart stores and www.Walmart.com/NASCAR. The goal for Elliott is to qualify and compete at the Coke Zero 400. He will also visit Walmart stores with his show car before select races. Walmart’s sponsorship of the #50 entry at DIS was announced in January as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. “It’s exciting to be part of Turner Motorsports’ first Cup race with Bill Elliott and support from Walmart,” said Owens, who has four NNS wins as a crew chief. “We’ve come a long way in just the last two years, so to take this step is really going to be a milestone for everyone who works so hard for this team every day.” Fans will also get to participate in Elliott’s return to the 2.5-mile superspeedway by voting on what driver’s suit and helmet he will wear for the race. Three different driver’s suit and helmet combinations have been specifically designed for Elliott and fans can vote by visiting www.Walmart.com/NASCAR between March 28and May 14.(Turner Motorsports)(4-16-2012)
- Phoenix Racing may not run full season? UPDATE: In an interview Sunday night on [SPEED’s] “Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain,” Sprint Cup Series team owner James Finch said “there’s a question” whether he will be able to run the full Cup season with driver #51-Kurt Busch. Asked by Despain if there was a question whether his team could do all the races, Finch answered: “Well, we’re trying. There’s a question. We’re off and running and trying. We’re talking to some people and going from there. We’re headed to Kansas this weekend and hopefully get in the top 10 there and then come back to Talladega and have a really good run. We’re optimistic about it. Kurt has put a lot of effort in it. It’s kind of like a small team getting a big-time quarterback,” Finch said.(in part from the Charlotte Observer)(4-16-2012)
UPDATE: Dave Despain: Dealing with the sponsorship issue, are you feeling good to go for the season or is there a question of whether you guys will be able to do all the races?
James Finch: “Well, we’re trying. There’s a question. We’re off and running and trying. We’re talking to some people and going from there. We’re headed to Kansas this weekend and hopefully get in the top 10 there and then come back to Talladega and have a really good run. We’re optimistic about it. Kurt has put a lot of effort in it. It’s kind of like a small team getting a big-time quarterback. Last night (at Texas), it was 480 miles before we got a lap down. The pit crew did a real good job with all the green-flag stops. We’re just trying to catch up with Kurt. Kurt’s got the speed. We’re trying to get the crew chief up. We’re trying to get the pit crew up to be able to handle what Kurt can do. Hopefully, we’re getting there.”(full interview at SPEED)(4-16-2012) - Ford Focus Electric Becomes First All-Electric Pace Car in NASCAR: Ford’s innovative marketing campaign for the 2012 Focus Electric continues as NASCAR selected the car to be the first-ever all-electric pace car, leading the field for the Sprint Cup Richmond 400 on April 28. Ford was also first to use a hybrid to start a NASCAR event when the Fusion Hybrid served as pace car for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2008 Ford research shows that approximately 35% of new car intenders are motorsports fans and 78% of them support NASCAR. Ford also was the first to show off a 2013 model race car when it unveiled its new 2013 Fusion stock car in January. Ford Motor Company is again making NASCAR history this month as the all-new Focus Electric becomes the first all-electric pace car to ever lead the field for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Richmond 400. The all-new Focus Electric will perform all pace care duties at Richmond International Raceway on April 28. The Focus Electric pace car will be unveiled for the public at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on April 25. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will deliver the Focus Electric to Richmond International Raceway, where it will serve as pace car for that weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.(PRNewswire/Ford)(4-16-2012)
- Ganassi honored as history maker: The Heinz History Center will honor NASCAR, Grand-Am and IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi for his contributions to the [Pittsburgh] region and the nation at the 20th Annual History Makers Award Dinner on April 13.(Pittsburgh Post Gazette)(4-10-2012)
UPDATE: Floyd “Chip” Ganassi Jr. received the history maker in sports award. “A fixture in the auto racing industry for more than 25 years, he has won worldwide renown as one of the sport’s most successful and innovative owners. A fierce competitor with a passion for winning, he is also known as a sharp businessman and industry leader.”(North Hills Patch)(4-16-2012) - Pastrana to drive for RAB?: When Travis Pastrana, who was in attendance at Texas Motor Speedway, makes his NASCAR debut next weekend at Richmond International Raceway, it may be in a car associated with #09-RAB Racing. Pastrana’s Pastrana 199 Racing has an alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing, but the team hasn’t run it’s #99 Nationwide car since last season and does not have a guaranteed starting spot. A deal with RAB, who is a Toyota team and short on sponsorship for regular driver Kenny Wallace, would ensure Pastrana a starting spot for his first Nationwide race. Ryan Truex ran for RAB at Texas, and Wallace is expected to return to the seat of the #09 for the Talladega race, but a driver for Richmond has not yet been announced. If the rumored deal is completed, expect an announcement in the coming days.(NASCAR Insiders)(4-16-2012)
- King to make first Kansas start; CONSOL returns as sponsor:This will mark John King’s first visit to the 1.5-mile track of Kansas Speedway. CONSOL Energy returns as primary sponsor for the Red Horse Racing #7 Toyota Tundra for this weekend’s SFP 250 at Kansas. The leading diversified fuel producer in the Eastern United States, in both coal and natural gas, is nearing its 150th anniversary. The Pennsylvania based company, began production in 1864.(Red Horse Racing PR)(4-16-2012)
- Dugger picks up additional sponsorship: Russ Dugger Racing is excited to announce the addition of Vacuworx Global as a secondary sponsor during their 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Vacuworx Global’s innovative products afford the safest, fastest, and smartest way to handle large and bulky items in the field. The agreement between RDR and Vacuworx Global provides secondary sponsor placement on the #12 JPO Absorbents Chevrolet Silverado at the six races in which Dugger is slated to compete, including Bristol, Talladega, Martinsville, Homestead, Kansas, and Texas Motor Speedway.(Russ Dugger Racing PR) [Prior team news can be found on the March News Archives page.](4-16-2012)
- Monday Rundown – Racing Resources:
*Kasey Kahne won the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 on Sunday at Rockingham Speedway. It was his fourth Truck series win in his fifth start. He became the only driver to win in four of his first five starts in that series. His lone non-win was a second place at Pocono in July 2010.
*Kahne led once for the final 46 laps.
*Turner Motorsports posted its first Truck series win.
*Chevrolet posted its 179th Truck series win and second victory of 2012.
*James Buescher (second) had his second top-5 finish of 2012, tying his best career finish for the fourth time.
*Matt Crafton (third) had his best finish of the season, his first top-15 finish in the past four races.
*Johnny Sauter (fourth) posted his first finish better than 24th in 2012.
*Timothy Peters (fifth) is the only driver with top-5 finishes in all three races of 2012.
*Nelson Piquet Jr. (seventh), who led 107 laps, was penalized for driving too fast exiting the pits on Lap 181 while running second.
*Tyler Young finished 28th in his series debut.)(ESPN.com)(4-16-2012)
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