April 21, 2014
- Entry List for the Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #26-Whitt & #30-Kligerman are listed but that may change, others include #35-Reutimann, #33-Stremme, #32-Kvapil, #95-McDowell.
The drivers who must qualify on speed and cannot use a provisional: #35-Reutimann, #77-Blaney.
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Richmond Entry List - Congrats – Clint Bowyer: #15-Clint Bowyer is now a married man. Bowyer and his fiancee Lorra tied the knot in the Bahamas over the weekend.(FoxSports)(4-21-2014)
- Construction worker injured at Daytona: A construction worker employed working on the new grandstands at Daytona International Speedway had his head compressed between a steel beam and a scissor lift in a jobsite accident on the Daytona Rising project, Daytona Beach fire officials said. The 43-year-old unidentified man was working 94 feet above ground on the third floor level Saturday, said Daytona Beach fire Lt. Larry Stoney. Reports indicate that the worker was controlling and ascending the lift when incident occurred. The worker was rescued by his co-workers before firefighters arrived on scene, Stoney said. Firefighters had to immobilize and carry the worker from the third floor to the awaiting ambulance due to his injuries. The worker was transported in serious but stable condition to Halifax Health Medical Center. The Daytona Rising project is renovating the Speedway’s frontstretch grandstands by the 2016 Daytona 500.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-21-2014)
- Lack of sponsorship could shut down Swan Racing UPDATE 4: Swan Racing [#26-Cole Whitt & #30-Parker Kligerman] issued the following statement Thursday afternoon: “Swan Racing is in the process of reviewing its current situation and the ability to continue to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team has been unable to secure the kind of sponsorship required to effectively operate the team. As a result, the team management is exploring every available option. We hope to be in position to provide a detailed update in the near future.”(Swan Racing)(4-17-2014)
UPDATE: Team spokesperson Ramsey Poston told Motorsport.com that Swan is assessing its current situation. Other sources familiar with the situation said it’s unlikely that Swan will field more than one car — if any — for the Apr. 25-26 NASCAR events at Richmond International Raceway.(Motorsport)
UPDATE 2: The Swan Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team released a number of employees today [Thursday] and may not compete in the circuit’s next race at Richmond International Raceway On April 26. Team employees were reportedly informed today that the team is suspending operations, and many of them are already seeking employment with other teams. Sources say there is a possibility that Whitt’s #26 Toyota could be absorbed into the existing BK Racing operation, if Swan Racing is unable to continue.(Godfather Motorsports)
UPDATE 3: Swan Racing co-owner Anthony Marlowe tweeted on Thursday afternoon: “My mission is to ensure @ColeWhitt races in every #NASCAR Sprint Cup event this season.”(4-18-2014)
UPDATE 4 Cole Whitt, a Sprint Cup rookie who is fourth among the 2014 rookie class at 33rd in the overall standings, is scrambling to find a ride for this weekend’s race at Richmond. A representative for Fuel Sports Management Group confirmed that as of Monday morning, Whitt did not have a ride for Richmond.(Sporting News)(4-21-2014) - Stremme back in the #33 at RIR with new sponsor: Circle Sport Racing announced that Newtown Building Supplies, Inc. (NBS) will be the primary sponsor of the #33 Chevy driven by David Stremme April 26 in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway (RIR). This will be the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship for Newtown Building Supplies, which markets windows, doors, siding, installation and a range of building materials to commercial builders and residential home owners in Hampton Roads, VA.
D.J. “Jimmy” Rogers, the president and principal owner of Newtown Building Supplies (a member of the Tidewater Builders Association), has turned NBS – not even a year old – into a force among the building community in southeast Virginia. He’s excited to partner with Stremme, a veteran racer with nearly 200 starts in the Sprint Cup Series. “NBS is thrilled to sponsor Circle Sport, the #33 car and David Stremme,” says Rogers. “We are fierce competitors and know David is too. We believe he has what it takes to make a splash ‘under the lights!’”
Known for its wide selection of building materials and superb customer service with builders, NBS is marking its foray into NASCAR with Circle Sport as a way to reach the Hampton Roads NASCAR community. “NASCAR is the perfect arena for Jimmy to showcase his entrepreneurial spirit and market Newtown Building Supplies to thousands of race fans and potential customers,” says Stremme. “Richmond is not only the home track of NBS but also Little Joe’s Autos, and I know that team owner Joe Falk has this race circled on his calendar. With the emphasis on this race from within the organization, we’re looking forward to putting on a good show in front of the fans and all of our Virginia-based guests.”(Circle Sport), see image of the scheme on the #33 Team Schemes page.(4-21-2014) - Darlington TV Rating Hits Low, But Viewership Hits High: In an interesting quirk, last week’s NASCAR race from Darlington both matched a record-low and hit a three-year high. Last Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Southern 500 from Darlington earned a 3.6 final rating and 6.0 million viewers on FOX, down 5% in ratings and up 2% in viewership from last year (3.8, 5.9M), and down 5% and up 6%, respectively, from 2012 (3.8, 5.7M). The 3.6 rating is the lowest for NASCAR from Darlington since 2000 (3.5) and tied as the lowest ever for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race on FOX. Despite the 14-year low in ratings, viewership was the highest for the Darlington race since 2011 (7.0M). The 2% increase in viewership also marked NASCAR’s first increase in either ratings or viewership this season. Of note, Saturday’s NASCAR coverage earned more viewers than the third round of The Masters on CBS earlier in the day (5.9M).(Sports Media Watch / Sports Business Daily)(4-21-2014)
- Special America Salute Scheme for Harvick: on the July 4th weekend at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR will launch its third annual “NASCAR: An American Salute” industry-wide initiative that honors our U.S military, veterans, and their families. Kevin Harvick will be driving the #4 Chevy in the ultimate patriotic makeover. Debuting at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and painted from bumper to fender in red, white and blue, Harvick’s Chevrolet SS will be running the Budweiser “Folds of Honor” Chevy (Lionel Racing). See an image of the scheme on the #4 Team Schemes page.(4-21-2014)
- Sad News – Richard ‘Dick’ Duff: Richard S. Duff, of Sylvania, OH died peacefully Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania, OH. On weekends, he and and his wife Fran worked scoring major events at numerous short tracks throughout Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. When not traveling throughout the Midwest, they both worked as chief scorers for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and at both Flat Rock (MI) and Toledo Speedways. Dick frequently contributed news articles from the races to the National Speed Sport News, MARC Times, and Mid-American Racing News. Additionally, he was a Charter Member of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club since 1965, and served as the group’s publicity director until he moved to North Carolina in 1985.
Once in Charlotte, he served as head of accounting for DiGard Racing and later Hendrick Motorsports. While at Hendrick Motorsports, Dick was part of an organization that won over 100 NASCAR races and 6 championships. He retired from Hendrick Motorsports shortly after being honored by team owner Rick Hendrick for 20 years of service in 2007. Dick’s grandson, Charles Krall, is the play-by-play voice of the ARCA Racing Series broadcasts on ARCARacing.com as well as the public address announcer at Michigan International Speedway. See services and the full post on the - Sad News Page.(4-21-2014)
- More stats at NASCAR’s Spring Break: After eight races, three of the top five drivers in the series standings are winless – #24-Jeff Gordon, #20-Matt Kenseth and #48-Jimmie Johnson. Those three drivers have won 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships (and 185 wins) collectively.
Two drivers with race victories aren’t even in the top 16 in points, starting with #4-Kevin Harvick who is “mired” – talk about another outdated term due to the new format – in 22nd. Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate #41-Kurt Busch is 26th but he has a Martinsville victory and a likely Chase berth.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Daytona 500, has three runner-up finishes plus one third. He has been running near the front seemingly all season – with the exception of Texas, when he ran into the grass early in the race.
#14-Tony Stewart, coming back from being sidelined for much of last year by injury, is winless but has four top-10 finishes in the last five races, including an incredibly strong Texas run where he was the Coors Light Pole Award winner.
Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy Chevy, was never a factor at the Daytona 500 but had her second-best finish of the year thus far at Bristol’s half-mile.
Team Penske has both of its drivers in the victory column, with #2-Brad Keselowski winning at Las Vegas and #22-Joey Logano at Texas. That’s two wins on 1.5-mile tracks. There are five 1.5-mile tracks in the Chase lineup.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule resumes Saturday night April 26 at three-quarters mile Richmond International Raceway.(NASCAR)(4-21-2014) - Hendrick pit coach is leaving for a job outside of racing: One of the best pit coaches in NASCAR is leaving racing for work outside of the sport. As of Darlington two weeks ago, Hendrick Motor Sports pit coach Lance Munksgard will no longer be at HMS. Munksgard will be taking a new job in McGregor, Texas at Fourseventy Claim Management. Pit Talks talked with Coach Munksgard, he had this to say. “I was blessed to have been able to live a dream of working with the best mechanics and pit crew members in NASCAR over the years which was an unforgettable experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better organization than HMS to finish my NASCAR career. HMS is a truly professional company that starts from Mr. Hendrick down through the management, crew chiefs, and through the pit crews. It was a true pleasure to work with a strong coaching staff and pit crew members at HMS and watch them progress each week. I will truly miss the competition on pit road each week and wish all the guys on pit road the best of luck.”(Pit Talks)(4-21-2014)
- Nationwide Entry List:There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond International Raceway. A few notes:
Kevin Harvick is back in the #5;
Eric McClure remains in the #14;
The Joe Gibbs #20 is TBA;
Ryan Blaney will drive the #22 for Penske;
The #23 is TBA;
Jimmy Weller will make his NNS debut in the #55;
Joe Nemechek will be in the #86;
The #93 is TBA.(4-21-2014)
See the complete list on the Richmond entry list page. - BUBBA burgers sponsoring Nemechek in select races: BUBBA burgers, the nation’s #1 branded frozen hamburger, has announced a multi-race sponsorship with DRG Motorsports for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. NASCAR veteran Joe Nemechek will be behind the wheel of the #86 DRG Motorsports Bubba burger Chevy at Richmond, and selected additional events. Along with the Richmond event, BUBBA burgers will serve as primary sponsor for the May 24th Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the June 27th event at Kentucky Speedway. BUBBA burgers will also see action as an associate sponsor on the No. 86 DRG car at additional selected races during the 2014 season.(DRG Motorsport), see an image of the car on the #86 team paint schemes page.(4-21-2014)
- Teams testing Charlotte: Multiple Camping World Truck Series teams will spend Monday and Tuesday testing the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway in preparation for next month’s N.C. Education Lottery 200. Some of the participating teams include ThorSport Racing, Brad Keselowski Racing, Red Horse Racing, WinTron Racing, and Wauters Motorsports.(Charlotte Motor Speedway Twitter)(4-21-2014)
- Miller Lite Party Zone relocates to RIR’s Midway: With the help of fan feedback, Richmond International Raceway enhanced the old and added some new. So what’s changed in 2014? The Miller Lite Party Zone relocates to the Midway prior to the Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 NASCAR races. RIR took the fan-favorite atmosphere and moved it to a more fan-friendly area. The ultimate tailgate party just got that much better. Situated on prime real estate near the Virginia Is For Lovers Frontstretch Gate, it has never been easier to enjoy live music, tailgate games, a mechanical bull, food, a full-service cash bar with Miller Lite specials, and the #2 Miller Lite show car of Brad Keselowski. Open to ALL fans and FREE of charge, be sure to check out the scene on Friday before the ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series & Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races, and Saturday prior to the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The April NASCAR weekend at RIR begins on Friday, April 25, with two races in one night. Catch the ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, where kids 12 & younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Your Friday ticket also includes Farm Bureau Insurance Pole Qualifying for NASCAR Sprint Cup and NBC12 Pole Qualifying for NASCAR Nationwide Series. Go to rir.com or or call 866-455-7223 for tickets.(RIR)(4-21-2014)
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