April 20, 2016
- Bristol Warnings issued: NASCAR has issued written warnings to Sprint Cup teams following the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The teams of #4-Harvick, #19-Edwards, #88-Earnhardt, Jr were warned for failing template inspection twice in pre-qualifying inspection. The team of #6-Bayne was warned for failing laser inspection twice in pre-qualifying inspection. See the Bristol Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(4-20-2016)
- Drive to End Hunger joins Kahne: AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger campaign will continue its relationship with 11-time Sprint Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports with a one-year contract extension. In 2016, the groundbreaking cause awareness effort will become a primary sponsor of the #5 Chevrolet SS team of driver Kasey Kahne. For its sixth season in NASCAR, Drive to End Hunger will be primary sponsor of the #5 Chevrolet SS in two Sprint Cup races — Aug. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway and Nov. 6 at Texas Motor Speedway — and featured as an associate sponsor of the team in all other events. Unprecedented for a social cause, Drive to End Hunger was launched by AARP and AARP Foundation in 2011 via a primary sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. Utilizing education, engagement and collaboration, it has donated more than 34 million meals. The No. 5 Drive to End Hunger Chevy will feature a new paint scheme for the 2016 season. The design uses a black background with candy apple red and white accents, highlighted by a sleek matte finish. The hood will showcase a larger Drive to End Hunger “Forked D” logo.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(4-20-2016)
- #78 team makes pit crew change: Furniture Row Racing has made a change to its #78 pit crew. Tire changer Chris Taylor will be taking over front duties from Brian Eastlund for the foreseeable future. Taylor is a veteran changer who experienced success with Jamie McMurray at Chip Ganassi Racing and more recently on the #20 of Matt Kenseth. Taylor has spent most of his career as a rear changer and had worked with Kenseth’s crew up until this year when a change was made.(Pit Talks)(4-20-2016)
- Different look for the #14 at Richmond: Taking home the winner’s trophy remains Brian Vickers’ priority at Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway, but he and his #14 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Chevrolet SS team hope to educate race fans about NASCAR’s 2016 Race to Green initiative. Race to Green builds awareness around the governing body’s commitment to increasing the sport’s sustainability. As part of Mobil 1’s third year as an official program partner, Vickers’ Chevrolet will carry a special paint scheme at Richmond spotlighting its fuel-saving brands of motor oils – Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy and Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30. Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy is engineered for gasoline-powered engines to help increase efficiency and improve fuel economy by up to two percent. Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 is engineered to enhance fuel economy potential in heavy-duty diesel engines. The ExxonMobil motor oils with fuel-saving benefits will be represented throughout the NASCAR Race to Green activations, including a presence in the NASCAR-produced Green television commercial to air during Sunday’s race and in each remaining Sprint Cup race broadcast of 2016. Additionally, the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR’s multiyear efforts will serve as the focal point of NASCAR Green’s social media and online “Partner Spotlight” Friday.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #14 team paint schemes page.(4-20-2016)
- Kulwicki throwback scheme for Smith at Darlington UPDATE: #7-Regan Smith and Tommy Baldwin Racing will run a special throwback scheme at Darlington Raceway that pays tribute to 1992 Sprint Cup Chamipon Alan Kulwicki. The car, sponsored by Nikko and Road Rippers resembles the #7 Hooters car driven by Kulwicki.(4-9-2016)
UPDATE: Tommy Baldwin Racing’s #7 Chevrolet will pay tribute to 1992 NASCAR Cup champion Alan Kulwicki during Darlington Raceway’s throwback weekend in September. The #7 Road Rippers/Toy State design echoes the familiar paint scheme that Kulwicki drove to Victory Lane in three of his five career wins. “We’re proud to be part of such a unique promotion that helps connect fans to the history of NASCAR,” said Toy State President, Andy Friess. “It’s a privilege to recognize Alan Kulwicki as a champion, and as a man admired by so many, both inside and outside of the sport.”
“It’s an honor for us to pay tribute to a true champion of our sport,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Sharing the car number is a great way to celebrate his accomplishments, it is even more special because Alan achieved success as an independent team. We’re grateful to Darlington Raceway and NASCAR for giving us such a special platform.”(Tommy Baldwin Racing), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(4-20-2016) - Richmond Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same Goodyear tire set-up at Richmond this week . . . this is the first time either of these two tire codes have been run . . . this tire set-up was confirmed at a Goodyear test at Richmond on March 29 . . . drivers participating in that test were Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Danica Patrick . . . compared to what was run at Richmond last year, this set-up features a compound change on the right-side.(Goodyear), see more nots, tire codes, set limits and more on the Richmond Race Info page.
- Bristol warnings issued; #3 crew chief suspend 1 race: The #33 team of Brandon Jones has been given a written warning and lost 15 minutes of practice time at Richmond for failing laser inspection three times in pre-race inspection at Bristol.
The #3 team of Ty Dillon was given a P3 penalty for the following violations: Sections 20.4.13 ; 20.4.13.1 a,b,c,d [spoiler deck lid assembly]; 12.5.3.4.1 c. Crew chief Nick Harrison has been fined $10,000, suspended for one race, and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. The violation was found on opening day inspection. See the Bristol Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(4-20-2016) - Travis Kvapil driving the #15 in Richmond: Rick Ware Racing and B.J. McLeod Motorsports announced that former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil will return to XFINITY Series competition in Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Kvapil will pilot the #15 Ford Mustang in his first XFINITY Series race since 2009. His return will be backed by his longtime supporters, CorvetteParts.net and Keen Parts. The Milton, Wisconsin native has 16 starts at RIR in NASCAR’s pinnacle level of Sprint Cup competition. Veteran industry crew chief Jason Houghtaling will call the shots for the #15 CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts Ford Mustang. Additionally, Lilly Trucking and Carport Empire will serve as associate marketing partners this weekend.(BJ McLeod Motorsports)(4-20-2016)
- Tifft in the #18 for Gibbs at Richmond: Matt Tifft had his first XFINITY Series start with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015 when he earned his first top-10 result at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. While he’s completed three XFINITY Series starts this year, the 19-year old Hinckley, Ohio native will return to Joe Gibbs Racing and the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota this week at Richmond International Raceway for series race number eight. In addition to this week’s Virginia short-track, partner NOS Energy Drink will increase it’s JGR #18 team presence with Tifft again at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30th, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on July 16th, Iowa Speedway on July 30th and Texas Motor Speedway on November 5th.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(4-20-2016)
- Earnhardt, Jr. in the #88 at Richmond: In five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns three wins, a runner-up finish, and led 605 of 1,250 total laps. He also qualified fourth or better in four of those five races. His most recent NXS start at the track came in September 2002. Saturday’s race marks Earnhardt’s first NXS short-track start since April 2012 at Bristol. Earnhardt started 11th and finished fifth in his lone NXS start this season two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway.(JR Motorsports)(4-20-2016)
- XCalibur Pit School sponsoring Sieg: RSS Racing welcomes XCalibur Pit School as the primary sponsor for the NASCAR XFINITY race Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. XCalibur Pit School is a one stop shop professional pit crew training facility based in Mooresville, NC. Ryan Sieg is currently 11th in driver points after posting top 15 finishes the last two races.(RSS Racing)(4-20-2016)
- Red Horse Racing and Ben Kennedy Part Ways UPDATE: Red Horse Racing announced that, effective immediately, it will part ways with driver Ben Kennedy. Kennedy and the team had an agreement through the first three races of 2016, but he will not continue in the #11 Toyota Tundra for the remainder of the season. “We wish Ben all the best in his career,” said team owner Tom DeLoach. “Red Horse Racing will continue to focus on pursuing the championship with Timothy Peters and the #17. We expect to field two teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and we will announce further plans as they are confirmed.”(Red Horse Racing)(4-15-2016)
UPDATE: Matt Tifft will pilot the #11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra starting at Kansas Speedway next weekend. Tifft has also signed on to drive for two following races at Dover and Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team has confirmed. Tifft, 19, competed in 12 races in the Camping World Truck Series last season and finished in the top 10 five times. This season, Tifft has three starts in the #24 JGL Racing Young Guns Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Hinckley, Ohio native has 15 starts in the truck series with six top 10s. His best result was eighth – four times. Scott Zipadelli will continue on as crew chief for the #11 Toyota. Most recently, Zipadelli worked with Ben Kennedy. Kennedy and Red Horse Racing parted ways last week. Kennedy is still looking to secure a full-time ride for the remainder of 2016.(Motorsport.com)(4-20-2016)
AND: Up-and-coming driver Matt Tifft will join the Red Horse Racing stable for several races beginning at Kansas Speedway. Nineteen-year-old Tifft has 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts under his belt, recording six top-10 finishes. He also has four NASCAR XFINITY Series starts with one top-10. Tifft will pilot the #11 Toyota Tundra at Kansas Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and possibly additional races with veteran crew chief Scott Zipadelli leading the team.(Red Horse Racing)(4-20-2016) - Kipor Power Equipment partners with MB: Kipor Power Equipment, Inc. (KPE), a leading manufacturer of Portable, Standby, and Prime power solutions, has partnered with MB Motorsports for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The North American Branch headquartered in Clackamas Oregon, Kipor Power Equipment has maintained continued sales increases and has expanded its market penetration into Outdoor Power Equipment, RV, Rental, Industrial, and Hardware markets since its establishment in 1998.(MB Motorsports)(4-20-2016)
- Trent Harmon to Perform National Anthem at Richmond: From the Hollywood stage to the River City, American Idol Season XV winner Trent Harmon will perform the National Anthem prior to the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 this Sunday, April 24 at Richmond International Raceway. Harmon previously performed at the Auto Club 400 alongside Idol’s Top 5 contestants in March. The Mississippi native has traveled coast-to-coast since earning the ultimate American Idol honors, debuting his Country single “Falling.” The track was written by Idol judge and Country superstar Keith Urban with Dallas Davison and Brett James. Harmon performed his coronation song during the series finale surrounded by Idol alumni and fellow contestants. Harmon will serve as the headliner to the Pre-Race Ceremony for the TOYOTA OWNERS 400, which will also include a performance of “God Bless America” by the USAF Heritage of America Band, skydivers and a six-plane flyover by the Bandit Flight Team.(RIR)(4-20-2016)
- Talladega adds “Talla-Mento Dogwich” to GEICO 500 Weekend Menu Fans will be sinking their teeth into Talladega Superspeedway’s new signature hot dog – the Talla-Mento Dogwich -during the track’s upcoming GEICO 500 race weekend, April 29-May 31. The Talla-Mento Dogwich is a grilled, all beef hot dog, split in two and placed on top of melted Yancey’s Fancy buffalo cheddar cheese, topped with a generous helping of Pimiento Cheese, then placed between two slices of golden brown, grilled Texas toast and cut down the middle. Talladega is cutting no corners on this dish, using Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan signature spicy buffalo cheese and cheddar cheese to drive home the flavor. Yancey’s Fancy has specialized in hand crafted cheeses for more than 60 years, with a reputation for producing high quality products. The Talla-Mento Dogwich ($5) will be sold in the O.V. Hill North and South Grandstands as well as the Tri-Oval Tower and all Infield Locations. The Big One Meatball ($13) will be sold at concession stands in the Gadsden and O.V. Hill South Grandstands, along with the Tri-Oval Tower along the frontstretch.(TSS)(4-20-2016)
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