April 30, 2014
- Montoya expected to drive third Penske car in some races UPDATE: Team Penske is expected to announce on Wednesday that Juan Pablo Montoya will return to Sprint Cup competition in the Brickyard 400 on July 27. However, Montoya’s NASCAR homecoming could come sooner than that. Don’t be surprised if Montoya runs a third Penske Racing car (likely the #12 Ford) at Sonoma Raceway on June 22. Montoya’s first career Cup win was earned at the track in 2007. He could also compete at Watkins Glen on August 10, the site of his second Cup win in 2010. Both dates are open on the IndyCar calendar. Sources say Montoya tested a Team Penske NASCAR Ford last week at Nashville Speedway. Veteran Greg Erwin, who was retained after serving as Sam Hornish’s crew chief last year, would likely fill that role with the third Cup car.(Motorsport)(4-29-2014)
UPDATE: Team Penske announced that Juan Pablo Montoya will make two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts for the team in 2014. Montoya will pilot the #12 SKF Ford Fusion at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on June 15 and he will also compete for Team Penske in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on July 27. The #12 car sponsor for the Brickyard 400 will be announced at a later date. NASCAR veteran Greg Erwin will work with Montoya as crew chief of the #12 Ford entry. Since joining Team Penske in 2012, an SKF-sponsored entry has made three NASCAR Cup Series starts. SKF earned its first NASCAR victory with Team Penske and Keselowski in the Nationwide Series last season. In addition to the race at MIS with Montoya, the #12 SKF Ford will also compete at Kansas on May 10 and at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19 with Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney.(Team Penske)(4-30-2014) - NASCAR meets with Michelin: Just days after several Sprint Cup champion contenders had issues with where the rubber meets the road in Richmond, NASCAR officials met with representatives from Michelin at the R&D Center in Concord, NC. The timing of the Tuesday meeting is coincidental considering the rash of failures experienced by competitors in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series last weekend. According to a Michelin source, however, it was a “mid-level meeting” that was scheduled before the Richmond race. “It was generally a get-acquainted and get-familiar with the tech center, and some relationship building,” said the source. It likely also involved some regional and “grassroots” possibilities that could involve NASCAR and Michelin to partner. Michelin already supplies tires for the NASCAR Europe series, and also is a supplier for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s GT-Le Mans class. The TUDOR Championship is the NASCAR-controlled sports car series that was formed by combining Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series.
The other three classes in the TUDOR Championship have Continental as the lone supplier. The GT-Le Mans series competitors can run whatever tire brand they choose. At the 24 Hours of Daytona, the tire of choice was Michelin. At the 12 Hours of Sebring, the only team that did not run Michelins was the Falken Tire-sponsored car. Michelin North America is based Greenville, S.C., about 100 miles south of NASCAR’s Research and Development Center. Michelin reportedly is interested in bidding against Continental when the TUDOR Championship rights expire. Continental renegotiated its contract following the merger of the series and is in the first season of a multi-year deal. The exclusive Goodyear contract with NASCAR’s top three touring series, including Sprint Cup, runs through 2017.(Motorsport)(4-30-2014) - Ragan to sport new sponsor at Talladega: KFC‘s patented Go Cup is designed for maximum portability, fitting in the cup holders of more than 80% of cars on the road today. On Sunday, the Go Cup will take portability to an extreme level when it goes “along for the ride” as defending NASCAR Aaron’s 499 champion David Ragan takes to the track. “It’s great to have KFC backing the team for the Talladega race,” Ragan said. “We’re excited about again contending for a Talladega win, this time in the KFC Go Cup Ford Fusion. The Go Cup is specifically designed for on-the-go consumers, and guys who race cars for a living definitely fit into that category.” Besides leading a NASCAR team respected for its growth and accomplishments in its short history, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins is also a KFC franchisee, operating restaurants in Kentucky, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.(Front Row Motorsports), see an images of the scheme, go to the #34 Team Schemes page.(4-30-2014)
- Driver wins before age 25: 67 of 2,398 NASCAR Sprint Cup races for which the winner’s age is known have been won by drivers under 25. Those 17 drivers and number of wins under 25 years of age:
1. Kyle Busch, 17 [turned 25 the day after his 17th win on May 2, 2010]
2. Jeff Gordon, 15
3. Kurt Busch, 7
3. Richard Petty, 7
5. Junior Johnson, 5
6. Joey Logano, 5 [won’t be 25 until May 24, 2015]
Eleven drivers with one win: Trevor Bayne [won’t be 25 until February 19, 2016]; Bob Burdick; Bobby Hillin Jr.; Parnelli Jones; John Kieper; Terry Labonte, Ryan Newman, Bill Rexford; Fireball Roberts; Donald Thomas; Brian Vickers.(4-30-2014) - NASCAR Numbers:
173: The race-high number of laps led by Jeff Gordon Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, bringing his RIR career total to 1,637, most among active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. Gordon has been a consistent frontrunner all season long, leading to the points lead after nine races.
15: The series leading number of bonus points scored by both Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick through nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Bonus points are awarded for winning races (3 points), leading at least one lap and leading the most laps in an event (1 point each). Logano and Harvick are the only two-time winners in the series.
59: In points, Jimmie Johnson’s deficit to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leader Jeff Gordon through nine races. After a 32nd-place finish at Richmond, the six-time champion is in eighth place, already more than a full race out of the lead with 17 events left in the regular season. Of course, in the new championship format, a Johnson win will render points practically meaningless.
14.2: The average finish at Talladega Superspeedway of Brad Keselowski and David Ragan, best among active drivers with at least 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts there. There are those who would contend Ragan’s win at the 2.66-mile track last year was a fluke. The stats argue otherwise.
11: The combined number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories at Talladega posted by Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon (6 wins) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5). No other active driver has more than two victories at NASCAR’s biggest race track.(NASCAR Wire Service)(4-30-2014) - Shell Saver Cardholders Can Save When #22 Ford Wins: Joey Logano took the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion car to victory lane at Richmond, and now it’s time for Shell customers who have a Shell $averSM Card to save! Shell is offering Shell Saver Cardholders the opportunity to save 22 cents per gallon in Fuel Rewards savings on all three grades of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and Shell Diesel, up to 25 gallons at participating stations, this upcoming Wednesday, or WINsday, April 30. For additional information, visit www.shell.us/winsday.(Shell)(4-30-2014)
- Kahne in the #5 at Talladega: A 16-time winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Kasey Kahne joins perennial Chase contenders Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick working with the Ernie Cope-led #5 team this season. Great Clips, the world’s largest hair salon brand, will be featured as primary sponsor of Kahne’s #5 Chevy at Talladega. Returning for its second year with JR Motorsports, Great Clips is also an associate partner on Chase Elliott’s #9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy this season. Kahne is currently scheduled for two Nationwide Series starts this season with the #5 team. In addition to driving the #5 Great Clips Chevy at Talladega, the Enumclaw, Wash., native will pilot the #5 Hellmann’s Chevy at Daytona in July.(JR Motorsports)(4-30-2014)
- Jeremy Clements names Talladega sponsor: Jeremy Clements Racing announced that All South Electrical Constructors, Inc. will return as primary sponsor of the #51 Chevy at Talladega for the Aaron’s 312, as part of a multi-race deal this season. In addition to All South Electric, BRT Extrusions will return for the first time this season as an associate sponsor. The Ohio based company, which delivers high quality aluminum extrusions from standard or custom dies, plans to serve as associate sponsor for additional races later this season.(Clements Racing PR)(4-30-2014)
- RSS names Talladega sponsors UPDATE: RSS Racing announced that two Hot Springs, Arkansas based business have come on board as sponsors for the Aarons 312 at Talladega. Flurry Racing Stables will be a major associate sponsor the race and Avant Agency will serve as an associate for the race Saturday afternoon. Driver Ryan Sieg is looking to better his career best 9th place finish he earned at the season opening race at Daytona.(RSS Racing)(4-28-2014)
UPDATE: Smart Cell is partnered with RSS Racing and Ryan Sieg for this weeks Aaron’s 312. Smart Cell, a manufacturer of cellphone accessories has a new fundraising program they are offering High School Booster Organizations, and other organization that need a program.(RSS Racing)(4-30-2014)
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