August 2010 News Archives

News from August 31, 2010


  • Chase Clinch Scenarios going into Atlanta: #29-Kevin Harvick and #24-Jeff Gordon have already clinched berths in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. A number of drivers can add their names to that coveted list. Leaving Atlanta, a driver must be 196 points ahead of 13th place to officially clinch a spot in the Chase. A few seem likely to do that; others have a chance; still others might have to wait until Richmond to cement a spot. Here’s the breakdown:

    There’s no such thing as a sure thing. But these guys are as close as it gets. Below are the finishing positions each driver would need to guarantee a Chase spot this weekend, regardless of how any other driver finishes:

    3) #18-Kyle Busch

    40th or better, no laps led

    42nd or better, at least one lap led

    43rd or better, most laps led

    4) #99-Carl Edwards

    21st or better, no laps led

    23rd or better, at least one lap led

    25th or better, most laps led

    5) #11-Denny Hamlin

    20th or better, no laps led

    22nd or better, at least one lap led

    23rd or better, most laps led

    Likely Candidates – Here are a few drivers who have a better than average shot at clinching this weekend:

    6) #14-Tony Stewart

    19th or better, no led

    21st or better, at least one lap led

    23rd or better, most laps led

    7) #31-Jeff Burton

    17th or better, no laps led

    19th or better, at least one lap led

    21st or better, most laps led

    8) #17-Matt Kenseth

    15th or better, no laps led

    17th or better, at least one lap led

    19th or better, most laps led

    Finally there are the remaining drivers who can clinch this weekend. They may have to wait until Richmond to lock up their spot:

    9) #48-Jimmie Johnson

    10th or better, no laps led

    11th or better, at least one lap led

    13th or better, most laps led

    10) #2-Kurt Busch

    9th or better, no laps led

    10th or better, at least one lap led

    11th or better, most laps led

    11) #16-Greg Biffle

    4th or better, no laps led

    5th or better, at least one lap led

    7th or better, most laps led

    12) #33-Clint Bowyer

    Currently 100 points ahead of 13th, Bowyer would need to gain 96 points. Therefore, there is no finish that would guarantee a Chase spot. He would need to finish strong, and get some help.(NASCAR)(8-31-2010)


  • New look for Hamlin’s #11 at Atlanta IMAGE: Sport Clips will serve as the primary sponsor of Denny Hamlin’s #11 Toyota this weekend at Atlanta. It is the first time the long-time Joe Gibbs Racing partner in the Nationwide Series has sponsored a Sprint Cup Car. Sport Clips is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas with more than 700 Sport Clips locations in 38 states. The franchise ranked in the top 100 overall and top 50 in growth for the sixth straight year in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500.”(JGR), see an image of the scheme on my #11 Team Schemes page.(8-31-2010)


  • Conway and ExtenZe Racing sign with RGM for rest of 2010: Kevin Conway, the leading 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year driver, and ExtenZe Racing announced that they will be teaming with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) for the balance of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season beginning this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. For Sunday’s running of the Emory Healthcare 500, fans will find Conway behind the wheel of the #7 ExtenZe Racing Toyota. Conway heads into the Atlanta race weekend leading Terry Cook in the Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie Standings by 154 points (192-38) and looks to better his 31st-place finish at Atlanta earlier this year. Prior to making this announcement, Conway had one start for RGM at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this month and 21 starts this year for Front Row Motorsports (FRM), capturing 21 straight Raybestos Rookie of the Race awards and giving FRM its best finish since its inception in 2005 with a 14th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway on July 3rd. “I am thrilled to finally be able to announce our signing with Robby Gordon Motorsports,” says Conway. “The Bristol race a couple weekends ago came together very late and gave everyone just a quick peek at what was possibly to come. Now that everything is in place I can’t wait to take to the track this weekend in Atlanta in the #7 ExtenZe Racing Toyota. I am very thankful for this opportunity Robby has given me and ExtenZe. I’m looking forward to helping keep the #7 in the top-35, gaining more seat time and finishing races while reaching my ultimate goal of claiming the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year title with RGM,” added Conway.

    “We are excited to have ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway join Robby Gordon Motorsports. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved, and I am excited to have Kevin behind the wheel of the #7,” added Robby Gordon. “I hope that we will be able help Kevin bring home the Rookie of the Year Award while expanding our team and his on-track experience.”(RGM/ExtenZe Racing)(8-31-2010)


  • Back To School Celebration with Stewart: #14-Tony Stewart will headline a special “Back To School Celebration” event on Thursday, Sept 2nd at a local Office Depot store in Atlanta. Stewart will be helping Atlanta-area kids begin the new school year with the tools they need to succeed. Stewart is partnering with Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation for a special “Back To School Celebration” to donate book bags to Atlanta-area children in need. During the event, Stewart will assist the Foundation in donating 4,000 book bags to representatives from local organizations as part of the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack Program. The Foundation donates backpacks and book bags across the United States in an effort to help kids succeed in school. This year, the Office Depot Foundation is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its National Backpack Program. Since the program began in 2001, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation have donated approximately 2.3 million backpacks and book bags to children in need.(Office Depot Racing)(8-31-2010)


  • Busch Artwork to be Added to Club One Wall of Champions: A photoillustration of race winner #2-Kurt Busch from the 2010 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be added to the Club One “Wall of Champions” during the 2010 Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 3-6. Atlanta-based photoillustrative artist Ardy Arani has created a unique image of each Atlanta race winner since the opening of Club One in October of 2006 and the eight-foot-long photo of Busch will be added to the “Wall of Champions” during this weekend’s events. Busch, a three-time winner in Atlanta, will be on hand to sign the art and will participate in a private question-and-answer session in Club One prior to the running of the Emory Healthcare 500 on Sunday, Sept. 5. Busch will answer questions from fans as a select bonus only for Club One ticket holders.(AMS)(8-31-2010)

  • Week 8 Daytona Repave Update: Concrete Pit Stalls Completed: The crew from Lane Construction completed the installation of the 18-foot wide concrete pit stalls this week as the massive 2010 Daytona Repave entered its eighth week. Construction continues in many different areas throughout historic Daytona International Speedway. The daunting 31-degree high banks in Turns 3 and 4 continue to be graded and compacted in preparation for the first layer of asphalt, which is expected to be put down early next week. Other highlights from the eighth week of work on repaving Daytona International Speedway include:

    · The first of two asphalt layers has been put down on the 500-foot skid pad extension along the Superstretch. The second layer, covering the existing skid pad as well as the extension, is expected to be installed in the next several days. Crews will leave an 80-foot gap closest to the racing surface which will be paved when the final asphalt layer is placed on the apron and race track.

    · Work has begun on the Superstretch to install a new under drain system which will run the entire length of the 2.5-mile Superspeedway.

    Race fans can view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience.(DIS)(8-31-2010)

  • Allison’s Grand Marshal’s at North Wilkesboro: Coming off a weekend of testing at North Wilkesboro Speedway bringing over 20 cars to an open testing session for the Labor Day Classic featuring the PASS Super Late Models, Stadium Stock, Limited Late Models, and Allison Legacy. North Wilkesboro Speedway saw legends returned to the track, over the weekend Chase Elliott son of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliott, graced the track turning solid laps for the upcoming 200 lap feature. Also turning laps this past weekend we saw the son of Dave Blaney turning laps and the 5/8th mile North Wilkesboro Speedway. On September 4th the 63 year old speedway will roar back to life when the ground pounding PASS Super Late Models run a 200 lap feature at the speedway, backed up by several support series.

    Returning back to the speedway for the Labor Day Classic will be legends Donnie and Bobby Allison who will be the Grand Marshalls for the weekend throwing out the first green flag laps at the speedway since 1996 when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series ran their final race at the speedway. “This is a awesome deal to have to great racing legends return to North Wilkesboro Speedway and we are honored to have them” said Alton McBride, President of Speedway Associates. Tickets for the upcoming weekend are on sale at North Wilkesboro Speedway Tickets.(NWS)(8-31-2010)



    News from August 30, 2010


  • The Entry List for the Emory Healthcare 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

    Not in top 35 of owners points:

    #09-Landon Cassill (2009 race winner as owner)(38/24)

    #13-Casey Mears (40/24)

    #21-Bill Elliott (past champ 1988)(45/8)

    #26-Patrick Carpentier (36/24)

    #32-Jason Leffler (49/9)

    #36-J.J. Yeley (39/24)

    #38-David Gilliland (37/24)

    #46-Michael McDowell (41/24)

    #55-Mike Bliss (44/24)

    #64-Todd Bodine (47/12)

    #66-Scott Riggs (43/24)

    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/24)

    In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

    the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,21,26,38,36,13,87

    missing the race would be [4]: #’s 66,55,64,32,

    See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Atlanta Entry List.(8-30/31-2010)


  • Newman’s Car to Pay Tribute to U.S. Army Reserve in Atlanta: The paint scheme on Ryan Newman’s #39 Chevy in Sunday night’s Emory Healthcare 500 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Army Reserve. Founded in 1908, the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) is the federal reserve force of the U.S. Army. Reserve Soldiers receive the same training as active-duty Soldiers and are offered the opportunity to serve near home until they are needed to deploy. Reserve Soldiers combine civilian experience with military training to provide specialized skills for military missions around the world. “The U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers have played a vital dual role in maintaining a strong nation – both in their military and civilian careers,” said Newman. “It is truly an honor for our team to recognize the dedicated Reserve Soldiers on our #39 Chevrolet in Atlanta. We like the ultra-fast Atlanta track and it is our goal to put the Army Reserve Chevrolet in position to contend for the race win.”(US Army Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(8-30-2010)

  • NASCAR Announces New Integrated Marketing Communications Dept: Following a comprehensive review of its communications function and public relations activity across the industry, NASCAR announced today that it will move immediately to create an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) department that will better position the sanctioning body to lead best practices and provide overall thought leadership in the communications space for the entire industry. The new communications structure will allow NASCAR to be even more effective on the competition aspects of the sport, an area where NASCAR was regularly cited in the review as being among the best when compared to other major league sports by media in all genres. It also positions the sanctioning body to take a much more strategic and offensive approach to selling the sport in a constantly-evolving traditional, digital and social media landscape. Three areas that will see greater communications resourcing and organizational focus moving forward include: brand and consumer marketing; digital and social media strategy and activation; and strategic collaboration with industry stakeholders.

    NASCAR IMC will be led by a Chief Communications Officer (CCO) who will become part of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps, with a direct line to Brian France. A global search, led by Korn/Ferry International, to identify and secure top-level talent to fill the CCO position and other critical roles within the planned IMC structure is under way. It is expected the leadership of NASCAR IMC will have broad consumer marketing communications experience with global brands, strong familiarity with integrated marketing communications and, preferably, deep experience in sports and entertainment marketing.

    Current Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter will continue to play a significant role in this evolution. NASCAR expects Hunter’s valuable experience and insight into the inner workings of the sport to continue to be important assets not only in this transition, but also to the new CCO for years to come. At the end of this season, Hunter will assume a new role as Vice President of Special Projects. Managing Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston has elected not to pursue a role within the new structure, but Poston will continue to lead the department on a day-to-day basis through the balance of 2010. He will then move into a consulting role for the sanctioning body. NASCAR also has retained Taylor to provide on-going strategic counsel throughout this process. That engagement will be led by Taylor Managing Partner Brett Jewkes, who has deep experience with NASCAR, in the sport and working with top brands that operate with an IMC model. It is anticipated the framework of the department and new leadership team will be in place by the start of the 2011 season with implementation of the new structure and approach accelerating throughout the balance of 2010.(NASCAR PR), see full PR on my NASCAR News page.(8-30-2010)


  • Latest on Walmart sponsor Jeff Gordon UPDATE No? Walmart’s potential move into NASCAR has led the retail giant deep into negotiations with Hendrick Motorsports over sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevy next season. There continue to be several moving parts to the Walmart discussions with Hendrick and NASCAR, which began in the spring and have progressed through the summer. Walmart’s play could have tentacles in both sponsorship and licensing at the team and league level, according to industry sources. The retailer has been hesitant to spend money on sports sponsorships in the past, so Walmart’s entrance to NASCAR would provide a huge boost to a sport that has been ravaged by the recession and attracted little new sponsorship money in the last two seasons. “It’s very significant,” said Mark Dyer, senior vice president at IMG and formerly chief of the licensing division at NASCAR until 2007. “We tried for years to get Walmart’s attention when I was at NASCAR and we made some inroads. If they truly decide to take a position in the sport, that’s a big deal to get a company that should have been in that space all along.”

    Gordon remains one of the sport’s most popular drivers and is a likely future hall of famer. DuPont has been his only primary sponsor since he became a full-time driver in 1992, but the most recent deal between DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports ends this year. While DuPont might be back on the #24, it is expected to be in a reduced role. Pepsi and National Guard also have associate sponsorships on Gordon’s car this year. Gordon, 39, has said that he plans to drive for four or five more years and that he’s over the back injury that at one time was considered a threat to his career. If Walmart completes an agreement for the #24 Chevy, it remains to be seen whether the retailer will keep its marks on the car or sell off races to vendors.(in part from Sports Business Journal)(8-24-2010)

    UPDATE: Walmart has issued a statement that they will not be sponsoring Jeff Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports team. NASCAR has been the subject of several published reports that the world’s largest retailer was in negotiations with Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor the #24 car for next season. On Wednesday August 25, Walmart released a statement as an Editor’s Note to an in-house newsletter that mentioned the “numerous news stories” and concluded with the following sentence: “While we continue to employ a range of marketing initiatives to deliver our message of Save Money Live Better to our customer [sic], this is not one will be doing.”(Bleacher Report)(8-30-2010)

  • Atlanta names Grand Marshal for Emory Healthcare 500: When Emory Healthcare and Atlanta Motor Speedway officials began searching for the grand marshal of this year’s Emory Healthcare NASCAR 500 Sprint Cup Series race, they didn’t have to search long or far to find the perfect candidate – and who already possessed the perfect tailor-made nickname for such an occasion. Lawrenceville native Terry “Mr. 500” Green has been named the grand marshal for this year’s race, to be held on Labor Day weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Green’s story – and how he came to be known as “Mr. 500” – actually had nothing to do with automobile racing when the title was created back in March 2008, after he became the 500th heart transplant recipient at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Green is also one of very few – if not the ONLY patient from Emory – who can actually say he was born twice in the same hospital and mean it. Not only did he receive his heart transplant at Emory almost 61 years to the day of his birth, but he was also born in the hospital, which no longer delivers babies (Emory University Hospital Midtown – previously Emory Crawford Long – has long since provided these services.)

    “It was a very special feeling to have a new chance at life because of my heart transplant, and the fact that I was also the 500th person to receive a new heart at Emory was extra special,” said Green, who is a fifth generation Gwinnett County native. “To be named the grand marshal for the Emory Healthcare 500, an event that is such an incredible show, and means so much to Georgia and the Atlanta metropolitan area each year, is beyond a special surprise – it is an honor. I am so excited to see my first race in person, and I will forever carry with me the memory by being a part of such a special event.” For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-30-2010)



    News from August 29, 2010



  • Roush Fenway Remains a Leader in Sustainablity: Its no secret that Roush Fenway Racing recycles 96 percent of every race car but it’s their continued efforts to become more sustainable that is really paying off for the environment. In 2009 the team recycled 65 tons of plastics, metal and paper and implemented small but impactful changes across all its facilities. These efforts helped the team meet its goal of an overall 10 percent improvement in indoor air quality; reduction of water consumption; increase in waste reduction and recycling; and improvement in energy usage over the last year.

    In total the team recycled 26,660 pounds of plastic in 2009, up from 12,427 pounds in 2008. The increased number reflects a company-wide education and an increase in the number of items that were recycled beyond drink bottles. The team also recycled 11,335 pounds of paper, down from 19,628 pounds the year before in part because of the efforts to either not print documents or use auto-duplexing.

    Additionally, the team has switched to biodegradable soy-based products where practical (instead of harmful chemical degreasers); eliminated Styrofoam cups; switched from 400w bulbs to 360w bulbs; mandated a managed forestry content for all paper, envelopes, etc.; and added additional occupancy sensors in the race and fabrication shops to reduce energy consumption. The effort doesn’t stop at the shop though, Roush Fenway is extending its efforts beyond the race team as well.

    Roush Fenway is a participant in the Cabarrus Sustainability Council, a joint effort between the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Cabarrus Economic Development that works to promote sustainability through public and private collaborations. Just this week, the Council announced a partnership between local school systems, the business community and local government to bring a comprehensive recycling program to local schools beginning this school year.(RFR)(8-29-2010)

  • $69 for Four-Day Entry to Atlanta Motor Speedway: NASCAR fans can attend four days of racing activities at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Emory Healthcare 500 for just $69 on Sept. 3-6, arguably making the Emory Healthcare 500 the most-affordable race weekend on the NASCAR circuit. By purchasing a $39 Turn 3 Elliott Grandstand ticket to the Emory Healthcare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race and a $30 general admission ticket to the Great Clips 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series night race, fans will also receive free admission to the Friday Fan Fest presented by Your Georgia Best Chevy Dealers and to Monday’s Breakfast on Bruton, a free Infield fan breakfast. In addition to NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series night races and a super late model race during the Friday Fan Fest presented by Your Georgia Best Chevy Dealers, additional fan activities during the Emory Healthcare 500 include concerts by Foreigner, Colt Ford and Drivin’ N Cryin’, the 2010 Boost Mobile FreestyleMX.com Tour and Big Green Egg cooking demonstrations, among others. The biggest Labor Day party in the USA is at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend on Sept. 3 -5. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-29-2010)

  • Talladega Offers Kid’s Free in Allison Grandstands: Talladega Superspeedway announced that kid’s 11 and under will be admitted free to select rows in the Allison Grandstands for the AMP Energy 500 weekend. “The Allison Grandstands are one of the best values in all of motorsports,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “With the tough economy weighing most heavily on families, we are looking to make it more affordable than ever to experience the excitement of Talladega Superspeedway.”
    Children 11 and under are free in the Allison Grandstands on Saturday for the Mountain Dew 250 and free in rows 1-5 and only $10 in all other rows of the Allison Grandstands on Sunday for the AMP Energy 500. Adult two-day Saturday and Sunday tickets are only $49.
    For more information on these special offers check out www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. To reserve kid’s seating, race fans must call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA. Kid’s seating must be reserved in advance.(TSS)(8-29-2010)



    News from August 28, 2010



  • NASCAR office tower lenders could take a $40 million loss: The owners of the NASCAR Plaza office tower have defaulted on a $95 million loan, according to a lawsuit filed by Regions Bank, which is urging fellow project lender Wells Fargo & Co. to do whatever it takes to collect, including foreclosure. The uncertain future of the 19-story, 390,000-square-foot office development is perhaps the largest example yet of growing stress in Charlotte’s commercial real estate market. Earlier this summer, Regions initiated foreclosure proceedings against the 302,000-square-foot EpiCentre complex uptown, prompting the property’s owners to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. NASCAR Plaza is one of four office towers added to the Charlotte skyline in just over a year. It was developed by Indianapolis-based Lauth Group Inc. and opened in May 2009, next to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.

    Regions filed suit against Wells Fargo late last month in federal court in Indiana. Wells and Regions made the $95 million loan in 2007 to Corporate Plaza Partners, which owns the property and is an affiliate of Lauth. Regions agreed to fund half of the loan, and Wells Fargo was designated as agent for both lenders and assumed the responsibility of administering the loan.

    An affiliate of Indiana-based Lauth Property Group Inc., Corporate Plaza Partners LLC, developed the 19-story tower next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Roughly two-thirds of the building’s 390,000 square feet is available for lease. NASCAR is the largest tenant with 118,000 square feet, followed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which has taken around 16,000 square feet. The office tower has struggled to attract tenants. Some companies may not want or need to be associated with NASCAR, said real estate analyst Andrew Jenkins of Karnes Research. “The banks and the like who own towers find it easier to attract tenants who want to do business with them,” he said. “NASCAR doesn’t have clientele who need to be in a building like that.”(in part from both Charlotte Business Journal / WCNC)(8-28-2010)


  • Mayfield vs. NASCAR could continue into 2011: Jeremy Mayfield’s quest to make NASCAR pay for what he says was a drug test that was a false positive for methamphetamines likely will stretch well into 2011. Mayfield, whose claims against NASCAR were dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge in May, must first defend himself against a countersuit by NASCAR before appealing the decision to throw out his claims. NASCAR claims that Mayfield breached his contract with NASCAR for competing while in violation of its substance abuse policy.

    According to a revised schedule filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, motions for summary judgment must be filed by Feb. 4, 2011. Those would have to be ruled on before any trial begins, meaning that it likely will be next spring, at the earliest, before that portion of the case could go to trial. Once a decision on NASCAR’s counterclaim is made by either the judge or a jury, the appeals process likely would proceed throughout 2011. Mayfield will meet with NASCAR on Sept. 8 in mediation to try to settle NASCAR’s breach-of-contract claim against him. Whether Mayfield could pay any claims is questionable. He has judgments of $874,000 against him and Mayfield Motorsports for unpaid bills and taxes.(in part from SceneDaily)(8-28-2010)

  • AMS Campgrounds Open: While the Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway is still more than 10 days away, fans have already begun lining up for unreserved camp sites for the marquee NASCAR night racing weekend. Unreserved campgrounds at Atlanta Motor Speedway open at 8:00am/et on Saturday, Aug. 28. And while four days remain before the campgrounds open, the first NASCAR fans queued in line at the Speedway on Friday, Aug. 20 to reserve their place for the Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend. In addition to unreserved camping options for the Emory Healthcare 500, the Speedway has a limited number of Infield tent campsites and Trackside Terrace RV sites with full hook-ups remaining, plus exterior tent campsite availability. For more information or to purchase tickets and camping for the Emory Healthcare 500 NASCAR night racing weekend, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-28-2010)



    News from August 27, 2010



  • The King to be inducted into High School Hall of Fame MORE: been told that on Friday, August 27th, Richard Petty, the all-time winningest driver in Sprint Cup Series history, will be inducted into the Randleman High School Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of the Tigers football game. The Randleman High School Athletic Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the colorful tradition of high school athletics in Randleman. The Hall of Fame seeks to highlight the past in order to insure a promising future for Randleman High School Athletics. Hall of Fame inductees shall receive an appropriate plaque and ring furnished by the Randleman High School Athletic department and shall be formally inducted at the first home football game. Space in the Randleman High School main lobby shall be set aside to commemorate the inductees.(8-26-2010)

    MORE: Randleman High School will forever honor five names as its inaugural Hall of Fame class. “Since 1904, Randleman High School has been blessed with a rich athletic heritage. It would be a shame to let this important part of RHS die and never be remembered,” said RHS Hall of Fame committee chairman Terry Linthicum, who has been a part of the project which started early this year and will become reality Friday night. “Also, our present athletes need role models and inspirations to reach a higher standard.” Charles Gregory, Joe Brookshire, Richard Petty, Don Rich and Shelly Whitaker Barnes will be the first to enter the hall when induction ceremonies formally take place Friday night during halftime of the Tigers’ football home-opener against Central Davidson at Charles R. Gregory Stadium.

    Richard Petty is arguably Randleman’s most famous alum. While not sporting such acclaimed athletic career bestowed with honors as his classmates, the three-sport athlete has maintained his steadfast commitment to his alma mater to this day. And as NASCAR’s still-reigning winningest driver since his retirement from racing in 1992, the King is still the benchmark for success, character and philanthropy in sports and life.

    Earlier this year, a Hall of Fame committee was formed based on the knowledge of Randleman High School athletics, their years attending RHS — involving different decades — and dedication to the school. A member was named from each decade, beginning with the 1950s and four members were nominated.(Courier-Tribune)(8-27-2010)

  • Racing Luminaries Hope to Inspire the Next Generation: Racing legends Dale Armstrong, Joie Chitwood, Alan Kulwicki, Jeremy McGrath, Ken Squier, Jerry Titus and Rich Vogler were inducted last night [Wed, August 25th] into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in the organization’s 22nd annual induction ceremony at the Fillmore Theater.

    Joie Chitwood III, Ken Squier, Eleanor Vogler, Dale Armstrong, Coby Brooks & Rick Titus with Honorary Chairman Chip Ganassi presiding, the induction ceremony was the culmination of the organization’s largest celebration ever, spanning two days of activities at the Detroit Science Center, now home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, and at the Fillmore Theater.

    “Family” and “future” were themes that pervaded this multi-generational celebration of motorsports that looked back at the lives of legends with an eye towards inspiring future generations of drivers, engineers and enthusiasts. “Driving is fun…it brings people together, it brings freedom and independence, and it is up to us to make sure that the next generation makes that connection,” said Ganassi.

    The black-tie ceremony was once again hosted by Jim Mueller, track announcer for Michigan International Speedway and other ISC tracks, with Ned Jarrett, Marty Reid, Kyle Petty, Neal Pilson, Jim Farley and Gary Lee serving as presenters.(MSHFA)(8-27-2010)



    News from August 26, 2010


  • added some schemes from Bristol including the #18 Doublemint, #39 WIX, #4 Alpha Natural Resources, #33 Hamburger Helper, #37 A&W All American, #78 Farm America to the Paint Scheme Gallery.


  • Post-9/11 GI Bill to Ride with TRG Motorsports at Richmond: The Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill will be a partner on the #71 Post-911 GI Bill/TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Air Guard 400 to be run at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 11. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as vocational/technical training. Landon Cassill will be the driver of the #71 Chevy. TRG Motorsports team principal, Kevin Buckler, is proud to be associated with the Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill and their introduction into NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing. The GI Bill has had a personal impact on his family. The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress in 2008, provides financial support for education and housing to veteran service men and women, and allows every eligible veteran, service member, reservist and National Guard member an opportunity to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as vocational and technical training. For more information refer to gibill.va.gov.(TRG Motorsports), see images of the scheme on my #71 Team Schemes page.(8-26-2010)


  • Furniture Row Racing re-signs Regan Smith: Furniture Row Racing announced that Regan Smith has signed a contract extension through the 2012 season to drive the team’s #78 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, is currently in his second season driving for the Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing team. Last year he competed on a part-time basis, entering 20 races. The 26-year-old native of central New York is running a full schedule this season and will do the same in 2011 and 2012. “Regan is a young, talented driver with an outstanding future,” said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. “He has done a great job as our athlete and also as a spokesperson for our organization. The contract extension does indeed express a serious commitment by both the race team and driver.” Garone added, “We have a team of proven employees, state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated partners. We are producing increasingly positive performances and strongly feel that we’re on the right path to become a contending team.”

    “I am both happy and humbled about the contract extension,” said Smith. “Furniture Row Racing is a team on the move. I feel we’ve made some big gains this season and we are all encouraged about the future. I really admire the behind-the-scenes work ethic and commitment of each and every member of this team. They want to win as bad as I do and I am proud to be their driver.”(Furniture Row Racing)(8-26-2010)


  • Kyle Busch has tough night in TORC race: Kyle Busch endured a disappointing off-road racing debut in the Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL PRO 2WD class on Wednesday night at Route 66 Raceway in Illinois. Busch made a quick exit from the race, falling out on the second lap with a broken rear suspension. Even though Busch didn’t get the result he wanted, he still enjoyed the experience. “It’s fun,” said the driver who swept NASCAR’s three national series races last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I enjoy going out there and going out to the sand dunes and messing around and jumping some stuff out there. “Anytime you can put a big heavy vehicle up in the air like that, it’s always cool. For myself, running the Traxxas TORC Series PRO 2s, it’s fun.” While Busch may have gotten most of the attention, it was Ricky Johnson who earned the trophy, taking the victory at the end of the night. Johnson received another gift when PRO 2 points leader Rob MacCachren broke down at the white flag and finished seventh, his first non-podium finish of the year.(SPEED)(8-26-2010)


  • Special scheme for Kahne at Atlanta: The #9 Budweiser Ford Fusion will sport a different look at Atlanta Motor Speedway when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the track next weekend. Valvoline will have its colors featured on the usually all-red Ford Racing machine. Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion and defending race winner, has made 13 starts on the 1.54-mile Hampton, Ga. track. In addition to two victories, Kahne has earned one pole, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes at Atlanta (RPM). See an image of the scheme on my #9 Team Schemes page.(8-26-2010)


  • Yeley replaced by McDowell in the #46? Chevy? UPDATE3: have not seen anything ‘official’ but on J.J. Yeley’s Twitter, Yeley says he is out of the #46 Whitney Motorsports Dodge Sprint Cup Series ride and Michael McDowell is in, starting at Atlanta Sept 5th. No word who will drive the #55 PRISM Motorsports Toyoya McDowell has driven most of the 2010 season. McDowell said on his Facebook that he will be releasing an update soon on his Sprint Cup plans as he doesn’t want the rumor mill to get ahead of him too much.

    and later Yeley added on his Twitter “”Went and got my stuff today from the Shop. Never heard from the owner at all. I guess they are getting New cars and Chevy engines. Must B nice”, so the team may be switching from Dodge to Chevy?(8-24-2010)

    UPDATE: Michael McDowell will replace J.J. Yeley in the #46 Sprint Cup car for Whitney Motorsports, a team spokesman confirmed Tuesday.(SceneDaily)(8-25-2010)

    UPDATE 2: looks like Yeley will be in the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy at Atlanta per J.J. Yeley’s Twitter.(8-25-2010)

    UPDATE 3: Michael McDowell will replace JJ Yeley in the #46 Whitney Motorsports Sprint Cup Series Dodge [and Chevy], effective immediately. McDowell told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that the opportunity to run complete races for Whitney Motorsports was a major factor in his decision to change teams. “That’s the main factor for me,” he said. “Prism Motorsports was great and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me this year. But Dusty’s program will allow us to run full races, and that’s huge. We’ll run four or five full races the remainder of this season –- most likely Atlanta, Phoenix, Texas, Talladega and Homestead — and we’re committed to run 15 full races next year. We’ll almost certainly run the first five races in 2011, then keep going as long as the sponsorship holds out, starting and parking when we’re not fully funded.” McDowell said team owner Dusty Whitney will partner with Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines for this season’s remaining intermediate track events, fielding Chevys at Atlanta, Kansas, California, Charlotte, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. The team will continue to run Dodge Chargers at Richmond, Loudon, Dover, and Martinsville.(Sirius Speedway)(8-26-2010)


  • LaJoie reinstated by NASCAR: NASCAR has reinstated crew member Randy LaJoie upon his successful completion of a counseling program following his June 22 suspension for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.(NASCAR)(8-26-2010)

  • Chase Notes and Stats going into Atlanta: Only #33-Clint Bowyer is within one race of dropping out of the Top 12 with two to go, and nine drivers could clinch at Atlanta. This ties 2007, when only one driver was within range of dropping out. While #48-Jimmie Johnson’s ninth in the standings with two go before the Chase is the lowest positon he’s had in the seven years of the Chase, his 3077 points is still 18 ahead of the same point in 2007, and he went on to win his second championship that year. #1-Jamie McMurray may run out of time in chasing down Clint Bowyer, but he has made a great run, picking up five spots over the last five races and outscoring Bowyer by 81 points. #29-Kevin Harvick clinched at Michigan. #24-Jeff Gordon clinched at Bristol. After Atlanta [Sunday, Sept 5th] a 196 points margin over the driver in 13th place is needed to clinch a spot in The Chase.

    For season-to-season comparison after 24 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Bristol page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-26-2010)


  • The King to be inducted into High School Hall of Fame: been told that on Friday, August 27th, Richard Petty, the all-time winningest driver in Sprint Cup Series history, will be inducted into the Randleman High School Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of the Tigers football game. The Randleman High School Athletic Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the colorful tradition of high school athletics in Randleman. The Hall of Fame seeks to highlight the past in order to insure a promising future for Randleman High School Athletics. Hall of Fame inductees shall receive an appropriate plaque and ring furnished by the Randleman High School Athletic department and shall be formally inducted at the first home football game. Space in the Randleman High School main lobby shall be set aside to commemorate the inductees.(8-26-2010)


  • TBR & Wave Energy Drink still working together: Wave Energy Drink is still very involved with #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing and the Wave Franchise that Baldwin owns in the New York City and Long Island areas. Wave has neither parted ways or downsized the budgets initially set in place with TBR, however both decided to reallocate funds from the racing program to support the business side of launching the product on to store shelves in key market areas. The mutual goal is to grow this business up to the point that the race team is funded properly and becomes a competitive force in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Wave Energy Drink remain on the #36 Chevy each week as an associate sponsor and will do so for the remainder of the 2010 season.(WED)(8-26-2010)

  • ‘Big’ Announcement by Martinsville Speedway UPDATE: Speedway officials say it might be the track’s biggest announcement in 10 years. The Martinsville Speedway plans to make a major announcement Thursday afternoon about facility upgrades and additions. They aren’t releasing any more specific details about the announcement, but supposedly several state and local officials plan to attend.(WSET.com)(8-26-2010)

    UPDATE: Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and state and local officials announced today a Tobacco Commission grant and other initiatives that will help provide an enhanced fan experience at Martinsville Speedway. The Tobacco Commission awarded Martinsville Speedway a grant of $1.5 million dollars, which will be matched by Martinsville Speedway for a $3 million project to upgrade facility infrastructure. As part of the agreement with the Tobacco Commission, International Speedway Corporation (ISC) has committed to two Sprint Cup races annually at Martinsville Speedway for at least the next five years. Bolling, the Chief Jobs Creation Officer for the Commonwealth, also announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation had already begun work on the construction of a new on/off ramp on US 58 adjacent to the speedway, which will improve traffic flow on race weekends.

    The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has also committed to help promote Martinsville Speedway’s Sprint Cup events in its nation-wide marketing campaigns. Earlier this summer the VTC announced it would also sponsor Martinsville Speedway’s annual Late Model Stock Car event, which is now The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. According to Frith Construction Company, general contractor for the improvement project, the equivalent of 50 fulltime jobs will be created for the duration of that project. Also, 94% of all subcontractors and vendors will come from the immediate area. Work will begin on the first phase of the infrastructure upgrades immediately after the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24 and will be finished before Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3. Campbell said because of time constraints between events, the construction would be done in several phases between events.(Martinsville Speedway)(8-26-2010)

  • Racers Reunion – Occoneechee – Orange Speedway: On Friday and Saturday August 27th and 28th – The Historic Speedway Group will host the Fourth Annual Celebration of the Automobile Car Show & Racers Reunion. The Occoneechee-Orange Speedway is the only surviving dirt race track from NASCAR’s inaugural season in 1948. Racers Reunion will feature guest appearances by prominent NASCAR drivers and Car Owners as well as celebrities of the racing fraternity. More info at Historic Speedway Group.(8-26-2010)

  • Food Lion AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway: The world’s only collection of street legal bumper cars, a 70th anniversary display of 1940 Fords, custom vans and recent The Tonight Show guest 92-year-old Rachel Veitch are just a few of the attractions scheduled for the Aug. 26-29 Food Lion AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Also Including: Street Legal Bumper Cars, Custom Vans, Rachel Veitch and her “Chariot”, 1940 Fords, Speedway Children’s Charities and Tommy Pike Customs team up to build a high-performance roadster, Tailgate Vehicles, Fall Speedway Collector Car Auction, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson Autograph Signings, The Speedway Club open to AutoFair attendees, Legend Car and Bandolero Test Drives, Taste of Food Lion, Powerade Play Zone and Lego Build Zone for kids, Fair Foods at AutoFair including the Mac Daddy Dog (a hot dog encased in macaroni pasta and pimento cheese), Car Club Shows, Automotive Art, Huge Car Corral (1,500+ vehicles available for sale), Giant Flea Market, Manufacturers’ Midway and the Awards Ceremony for car club awards.

    AutoFair hours are 8:00 am to 6:00pm/et, Thursday through Saturday and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm/et, Sunday. Ticket prices are $10 for adults; children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking for the event is $5. For more information on the four-day event, contact the speedway events department at (704) 455-3205 or visit the website at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(8-26-2010)



    News from August 25, 2010



  • Blaney Tapped to Drive for Front Row: Dave Blaney will be back in the driver’s seat next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, taking the wheel of the #38 A&W All American Food Ford for Front Row Motorsports. Blaney will practice and attempt to qualify the car for the Emory Healthcare 500, a race that the #38 team must make on speed. The team intends to run the entire race.
    Blaney has 350 starts in his 13-year Cup career. The Atlanta event will be his first time driving for Bob Jenkins’ Front Row Motorsports.
    Front Row also fields entries driven by Travis Kvapil and David Gilliland. The third Cup Series entry was driven in the past two race events by Tony Raines, who is still with the team.(Breaking Limits)(8-25-2010)


  • Blaney to run for two teams: Dave Blaney thought his NASCAR Sprint Series racing was done for the year when he quit his association with Prism Motorsports [#66/#55 Toyota’s] before the Michigan race Aug. 15, but the crankshaft gods had other plans. Blaney didn’t skip a beat as he joined two racing teams to finish out the remaining 12 dates on the 2010 schedule. “I guess I just got to the point where I thought I wasn’t going anywhere,” Blaney said on Tuesday, a few weeks after parting ways with Prism. “It finally wore me down. I was going to be OK being done and not going back to any races this year, but then drivers started moving around a little and a couple seats opened up. So, I’ll finish out most of the year and see what happens.” Just when Blaney thought he’d use the down time watching the racing career of his son, Ryan, Dave got a call from Tommy Baldwin of Tommy Baldwin Racing. “We tried to run Bristol [Aug. 21], but didn’t make the race, but, between Baldwin and the 38 [or 34 & 37] of Front Row Motorsports — those two cars — I’ll probably run the majority of the races left.” As Blaney spoke, he was en route to Statesville, N.C. to finalize his plans with the Front Row team that will run Dave in six races. He’ll run five or six others in Baldwin’s #36. “I’ll jump back and forth between the two teams,” Blaney said of his latest arrangement. While FRM races every week (no start-and-park gimmick), Baldwin’s will be a mix. “I might get to race [full distance] the majority of them [the 12]. I don’t know for sure, but looks like I’ll, at least, have something else to go run. That may lead to something down the road or maybe not.” The Front Row seat opened on Aug. 13 when Kevin Conway and the #34 lost its ExtenZe Racing sponsorship. “It sounds like I’m going to run six races and Tony Raines will run the other six,” Blaney said of his schedule split with Front Row. With Baldwin, Blaney assumes the seat vacated when Baldwin lost Casey Mears, who jumped in the #13 car that Max Papis was in. “I got a couple chances to jump in here and there,” Blaney said. Of Blaney’s newest teams, Front Row is the better funded, running three cars fulltime. “Most weeks, either Long John Silver’s or Taco Bell is on the #38,” Blaney said. Sponsors for Baldwin aren’t as steady. Front Row’s other two teams are the 34 of Travis Kvapil and the #37 of Dave Gilliland.(Vindicator), no word which races for which team yet.(8-25-2010)


  • Two cars for RPM in 2010 and: [Richard] Petty said Tuesday that the main focus at Richard Petty Motorsports will be on two cars next year. The organization is running four teams this season, but Kasey Kahne is leaving to join Red Bull Racing next year before heading off to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Also, Paul Menard leaves after this season to join Richard Childress Racing.
    Richard Petty Motorsports signed #43-AJ Allmendinger to a multi-year contract extension and added Marcos Ambrose [in the #9 Ford] to its lineup for next season. Petty said the organization could add another car “if something falls out of the sky, then naturally we’re open.”(Roanoke Times), also Richard Petty says team has left it up to #9 crew chief Kenny Francis on if he returns and that they expect Best Buy back (all but contract done).(Dustin Long Twitter)(8-25-2010)


  • Five drivers raced into the Chase with 2 races to go: Five drivers in the past six seasons who came from outside the top 10 or 12 in the final two races before the Chase for the Sprint Cup to make the title run:

    Year, Driver, Deficit

    2004, Jeremy Mayfield, 35 pts.

    2004, Mark Martin, 35 pts.

    2005, Matt Kenseth, 11pts.

    2006, Kasey Kahne, 90 pts.

    2009, Brian Vickers, 39 pts.

    (USA Today)

    The five drivers who were in the top 10/12 with 2 races to go and fell out:
    Year, Driver, Pts ahead w/2 races to go

    2004, Kevin Harvick, 31 pts.

    2004, Bobby Labonte, 27 pts.

    2005, Jeff Gordon, 11pts.

    2006, Tony Stewart, 97 pts.

    2009, Matt Kenseth, 34pts.

    And see more chase stats on the Chase Stats after Bristol page.(8-25-2010)


  • Evernham looking to buy consulting firm: Ray Evernham confirmed on Saturday that he’s submitted an offer to purchase Motorsports Management International (MMI). MMI was founded by Los Angeles-based lawyer Cary Agajanian in 1995 as a driver management and motorsports consulting firm. Today, MMI lists Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray among its clients. From the grassroots development of drivers to the evolution of professional racing, Evernham would be equipped to offer a full-service program. “It’s public knowledge that myself and a group of partners have made an offer to Cary Agajanian,” Evernham said. “With the people that I’m involved with, it would be a really exciting project. We don’t have an answer yet. Cary is still thinking about the offer. He wants to get with us — I think there’s a meeting for the first week of September. So yes, it’s something I’m pursuing. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for the group of people that are involved. I’ve worked with that whole group before and we’ve been successful with other projects. “It’s not like I will have an office there that I’ll be at every day. My part will be some of the driver development and help with driver coaching, driver management of some of the current talent that they have.(in part from FoxSports)(8-25-2010)

    UPDATE: Statement from MMI’s president/founder: “Over the years, MMI has been approached several times about mergers or acquisitions. I have known Ray Evernham for over 20 years and have great respect for him and what he’s accomplished in the racing business, especially his mentoring work as a team owner for Kasey Kahne, one of MMI’s cornerstone clients. So it is flattering to have Ray’s group make an offer for an interest in MMI and build upon the talent management and driver development standard that MMI has set within the industry. We have an ongoing dialogue that will eventually determine if it makes business sense for us to take that next step at this time.” – Cary Agajanian, President/Founder of Motorsports Management International.(8-25-2010)


  • Reutimann’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Bristol: David Reutimann’s pit crew pocketed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was the second Tissot win of the season for Reutimann’s #00 crew, which moved into a four-way tie for third place in the weekly pit-road competition. Jeff Gordon’s #24 continues to lead the Tissot standings with four wins. The weekly Tissot winner receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Reutimann’s Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota spent the least amount of time on pit road – 199.713 seconds — during the 500-lap race at the half-mile oval. The quick work by the No. 00 crew helped Reutimann to a second-place finish. Coming in second was Kyle Busch’s #18 Doublemint Toyota – 199.763 seconds and third was Gordon’s #24 DuPont Chevrolet – 204.369. Reutimann’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Ryan Langley (front-tire changer), Chris Hall (front-tire carrier), Lee Cunningham (rear-tire changer), Donnie Marvel (rear-tire carrier), Tony Cardamone (jackman), Aaron Pieratt (gasman) and Jeff Seaberg (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Rodney Childers and the pit crew coach is Greg Miller.(Tissot), see past winners and standings on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(8-25-2010)

  • Papa John’s Offers VIP Package for Atlanta Motor Speedway: Atlanta Motor Speedway and partner Papa John’s Pizza are giving fans a chance to meet NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, NASCAR team owner Michael Waltrip and “Papa” John Schnatter at the Emory Healthcare 500 on Sunday, Sept. 5. Papa John’s Pizza will play host to a VIP Experience Papa John’s Pizza Party at Atlanta Motor Speedway where race fans will meet Burton, Waltrip and Schnatter, in addition to receiving Papa John’s Pizza, Coca-Cola beverages, a VIP tour and a goody bag. VIP Experience Papa John’s Pizza Party packages start at just $79 and include admission to the VIP Experience and one reserved grandstand ticket for the Emory Healthcare 500. Fans who have previously purchased a ticket to the Emory Healthcare 500 can upgrade their ticket to include admission to the VIP Experience for just $39. The VIP Experience Papa John’s Pizza Party will be held in the Infield Hospitality Village from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, order a pizza online from PapaJohns.com and save your order confirmation email. Then visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/PapaJohns/ and click the link to purchase tickets and enter the promotional code/order number located on the confirmation email to secure your VIP Experience.(AMS)(8-25-2010)



    News from August 24, 2010



  • Yeley replaced by McDowell in the #46? Chevy? have not seen anything ‘official’ but on J.J. Yeley’s Twitter, Yeley says he is out of the #46 Whitney Motorsports Dodge Sprint Cup Series ride and Michael McDowell is in, starting at Atlanta Sept 5th. No word who will drive the #55 PRISM Motorsports Toyoya McDowell has driven most of the 2010 season. McDowell said on his Facebook that he will be releasing an update soon on his Sprint Cup plans as he doesn’t want the rumor mill to get ahead of him too much.

    and later Yeley added on his Twitter “”Went and got my stuff today from the Shop. Never heard from the owner at all. I guess they are getting New cars and Chevy engines. Must B nice”, so the team may be switching from Dodge to Chevy?(8-24-2010)

  • Bristol TV Ratings: The live telecast of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Bristol International Raceway on ABC earned a final national household rating of 3.5, averaging 5,841,952 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on cable on ESPN (and averaged 5.3 million viewers).

    ESPN’s live telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.6, averaging 2,053,490 viewers. The rating was up from the 1.5 for last year’s race that aired on ESPN2. Five of the last eight Nationwide Series races have seen ratings growth over the corresponding event last year, while the other three were even. ESPN’s NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings are up 6% compared to this point last year.(ESPN), see race-by-race and last four years of TV Ratings and notes on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(8-24-2010)

  • Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2010 Bristol Race: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. ESPN on ABC was the broadcast team for this event.

    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:30 PM

    End time to record race/commercial periods: 10:30 PM

    Total minutes: 180

    Minutes of race broadcast: 136

    Minutes of commercials: 44

    Total number of commercials: 113

    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 68

    Number of missed restarts: 0 Although one restart occurred right as broadcast returned from commercial

    Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1

    Total race brdcst time 136 Total comm. brdcst time 44

    See full rundown, drivers highlighted, links and other races on my 2010 TV Commercials Page.(8-24-20101)

  • Congrats: to Gregory Lang of Davidson, NC who clinched the Charlotte Motor Speedway Legends Car Summer Shoot Out Semi-Pro championship recently. Gregory is the son of Bruce Silver, owner of Racing Electronics located in Concord, NC. Silver/Racing Electronics is a long time supporter/advertisier/friend of jayski.com.(8-24-2010)


  • Latest on Walmart sponsor Jeff Gordon: Walmart’s potential move into NASCAR has led the retail giant deep into negotiations with Hendrick Motorsports over sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevy next season. There continue to be several moving parts to the Walmart discussions with Hendrick and NASCAR, which began in the spring and have progressed through the summer. Walmart’s play could have tentacles in both sponsorship and licensing at the team and league level, according to industry sources. The retailer has been hesitant to spend money on sports sponsorships in the past, so Walmart’s entrance to NASCAR would provide a huge boost to a sport that has been ravaged by the recession and attracted little new sponsorship money in the last two seasons. “It’s very significant,” said Mark Dyer, senior vice president at IMG and formerly chief of the licensing division at NASCAR until 2007. “We tried for years to get Walmart’s attention when I was at NASCAR and we made some inroads. If they truly decide to take a position in the sport, that’s a big deal to get a company that should have been in that space all along.”

    Gordon remains one of the sport’s most popular drivers and is a likely future hall of famer. DuPont has been his only primary sponsor since he became a full-time driver in 1992, but the most recent deal between DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports ends this year. While DuPont might be back on the #24, it is expected to be in a reduced role. Pepsi and National Guard also have associate sponsorships on Gordon’s car this year. Gordon, 39, has said that he plans to drive for four or five more years and that he’s over the back injury that at one time was considered a threat to his career. If Walmart completes an agreement for the #24 Chevy, it remains to be seen whether the retailer will keep its marks on the car or sell off races to vendors.(in part from SportsBusiness Journal/Sporting News)(8-24-2010)


  • Conway looks to be with RGM for rest of season: Robby Gordon hopes to have a deal done soon to have Kevin Conway drive a Robby Gordon Motorsports car the rest of the season and possibly next year. Gordon put Conway in the #7 car at Bristol Motor Speedway last week and Gordon qualified the #07 for the Saturday night race. Conway, a rookie, started the year at Front Row Motorsports, but Conway and sponsor Extenze broke away from the team prior to the Aug. 15 race at Michigan. Conway still has the backing of sponsor Extenze and plans to move the sponsorship to RGM. Gordon says he plans to run the #7 car the rest of the year to remain in the top 35 and have one of those 35 guaranteed spots for the first five races next year. “I’ve got some things coming in for next year that are really good for our organization,” Gordon said last weekend at Bristol. “I believe it will give us the funding to do some races with the 7 car, and if we could do a good job for Kevin Conway, maybe we’ll get fortunate enough that he’ll come back next year and do some races with us as well. The plan is we’d like to [have him run the rest of year], but every weekend it’s see how it goes. … He’s got to build his confidence. The biggest thing is we need to build his confidence.”

    “It’s a great opportunity,” Conway said. “I’m very thankful for Robby Gordon and the whole team for giving us this opportunity here this weekend at Bristol and hopefully in the very near future we’ll have some exciting news to announce about what our longer-term plans are.” Although he has put two cars in the field in each of the last three races, Gordon said he won’t run two cars the rest of the year. “We’ll focus once we get toward the end of the season on one car,” Gordon said. “We’ll get ready for next year and get our inventory built up for Daytona and Vegas.”(SceneDaily)(8-24-2010)


  • Sadler unsure of 2010 plans: #19-Elliott Sadler says he doesn’t know what he will be doing next year in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, but for now he’s having a blast driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. in that organization’s Nationwide and Camping World truck series entries. Sadler is currently searching for a ride for the 2011 season. He said last month that he has had no talks with RPM about returning to the team next year. “I wish I had an answer,” Sadler said when asked about his plans following Friday night’s Nationwide event at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I’m not trying to dodge the question, I really don’t. A couple of weeks ago I really thought I had something lined up and it kind of slipped away. I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to regroup and try something else.’ But I can’t sit here right now and say, ‘I’m doing this, this or this.’ What I want to do is be competitive and run up front. I don’t care what the vehicle looks like that I run in.” Sadler said he hopes to drive for KHI in 2011 as well, but isn’t sure to what extent. “I’ve had a ball racing the trucks and I’ve had a ball racing the Nationwide car,” he said. “The coolest thing about racing for Kevin is they believe in me 100 percent. They believe in what I’m telling them, they believe when I get in the car or truck that they have a legitimate shot to run up front, lead laps and win races. To me, that’s a really good feeling. Where I’ll be next year? I have no idea. I’ve talked to Kevin about running some truck series stuff for him next year … 7-10 races, something like that. Really, other than that, I don’t know where I’m going to be.” His efforts in the Nationwide and truck series, Sadler said, have generated interest, if not job offers. With the 2010 season beginning to wind down, Sadler knows time is growing short to land a ride for the upcoming year. “I have gotten more phone calls in the last month and a half than I have in two and a half years,” he said. “Yes, people are taking notice. Phones calls not saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to give you a job,’ but phone calls going, ‘Man, we’re proud of you, we knew you could do it. Congratulations man, keep at it.’(in part from SceneDaily)(8-24-2010)


  • Penske Tranport Driver wins Bristol event: #2 Penske Racing team hauler driver Bill Lewis won the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge Bristol Chicane Event, beating the competition with a fast time of 3:16:62 and zero penalties. #20 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tom McCrimmon finished 2nd, followed by #83 Red Bull Racing driver Michael Williams. #56 Michael Waltrip driver Rocky Boggs leads the standings by 6 pts over #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Jerry Hess. The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge is a program for the NASCAR Sprint Cup truck drivers to compete and win a $50,000 grand prize along with second place ( $15,000 ) and third place ( $10,000 ) cash prizes. The Challenge is a Pilot Travel Centers safety initiative program. The program consists of chicanes, DOT checks and DOT quizzes along with Payback card visits and charity bonuses. The final event is in Charlotte in September More info, pics, etc at pilottruckchallenge.com.(8-24-2010)


  • SECAMA and NASCAR Teams Sponsor Aviation Conference Today: The Southeast Corporate Aviation Management Association (SECAMA) that its first annual Training, Standardization and Compliance Conference (TSCC 2010) will be held in Concord, NC on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. This event is co-hosted by the aviation departments of SECAMA members Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. TSCC 2010 is a day-long conference where a wide cross-section of Part 91, 121, 125, 135 and military operators, together with representatives from the FAA and NTSB, will gather and share information on how high-standards have defined their training and standardization programs and have delivered real value to their organizations. Robert Sumwalt, NTSB member, longtime aviation safety professional and former major airline Captain will provide the keynote address for the event. Attendance is free and open to interested aviation professionals, including all aviation departments of NASCAR race teams or those with relationships to the NASCAR community. Those desiring to attend should go to www.regonline.com/tscc to register. Seating is limited and attendance is first-come-first-served. SECAMA is a Southeast U.S. group of aviation professionals created to provide a venue where business aviation managers can proactively network and discuss industry issues, share best practices and liaison with other industry organizations for the betterment of business aviation. Learn more about SECAMA at www.secama.org.(PR)(8-24-2010)

  • Sad News – Mae Odom Beaty: Mae Odom Beaty, age 87 of Charlotte, died August 19, 2010 at her residence. She was a member of Durham Memorial Baptist and the Joy Sunday School Class. Mae was a wonderful, loving person who enjoyed life, her church and was the official ‘church hugger’ and loved traveling with her late husband, ‘Dick’ who was associated with NASCAR for many years [Former NASCAR Winston Cup director and NASCAR driver]. The family requests that memorials be made to Durham Memorial Baptist Church, 1601 Toddville Rd., Charlotte, NC 28214.(Charlotte Observer)(8-24-2010)

  • Colt Ford Added to AMS Race Weekend Music Lineup: Upcoming country music star and Georgia-native Colt Ford will perform a free concert prior to the Sept. 5 Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Colt Ford, best known for his hit single, “Cold Beer,” will perform on the frontstretch display area Coca-Cola Fan Stage at 1:00 pm. Colt Ford adds country music flair to a brimming Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend music lineup that also features popular favorites Foreigner and Drivin’ N Cryin’. Foreigner will perform a pre-race concert on the Atlanta Motor Speedway frontstretch prior to the Emory Healthcare 500, while Drivin’ N Cryin’ will perform two concerts during the Friday Fan Fest presented by Your Georgia Best Chevy Dealers and on the Fan Stage Sunday at 3:45 pm/et. Fans interested in exclusive and intimate access can purchase a Pre-Race Party Pass to gain stagefront admittance to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s famed frontstretch for the Foreigner performance and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions. Pre-Race Party Passes cost just $49 and only a limited number will be sold. In addition to performances by Foreigner, Drivin’ N Cryin’ and Colt Ford, the Emory Healthcare 500 will also feature a Battle of the Bands competition on the Fan Stage with performances beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4. Acts interested in performing can contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Events Department at (770) 946-3954. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-24-2010)



    News from August 23, 2010


  • Bristol Facts and Notes:

    • Kyle Busch won the Irwin Tools Race Night at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was his 19th Cup series victory in his 210th start. Busch became the first driver in NASCAR history to win a Nationwide, Truck and Cup series race in the same weekend.

    • Busch led 515 of the 956 laps raced in the three series (54 percent). He led four times for 283 of 500 laps Saturday night, including the final 72. He led the most laps for the 20th time in his Cup career.

    • Busch has won three of the past four Cup races at Bristol. He has posted top-10 finishes in the past five Bristol races, the longest current streak.

    • Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 85th Cup win and eighth in 2010.

    • Toyota posted its ninth win in 2010.

    • David Reutimann (second) scored his best finish in six races at Bristol.

    • Jamie McMurray (third) climbed from 15th to 13th in points.

    • Twelfth-place Clint Bowyer (fourth) increased his points lead from 35 to 100 over 13th place.

    • Ryan Newman (sixth) has scored top-10 finishes in four of the past five Bristol races.

    • Greg Biffle (eighth) has posted top-10 finishes in the past three Bristol races.

    • Kurt Busch (ninth) scored his 150th career top-10 finish.

    • Denny Hamlin finished 34th in his 175th Cup start (all consecutive).

    • Jimmie Johnson (35th) has finished outside the top 10 in six of the past seven races. Johnson dropped from third to ninth in those seven races.(ESPN)(8-23-2010)


  • Goodyear tire test at Talladega on open to the public: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the Goodyear Tire Test on August 24 will be open to the public. Drivers scheduled to participate are Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, Joey Logano and Elliott Sadler. Parking lots open at 8:30am with the test officially kicking off at 9:00 am. The event is free to the public and food and beverages will be permitted.(TSS)(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE: The Goodyear Tire Test at Talladega Superspeedway on Tuesday, August 24 will be closed to the media. However, the grandstands will be open for public viewing, from 9 am – 5 pm. Standard admission rules apply – No glass containers, only soft-sided coolers permitted and coolers must meet size requirement: 6″x6″x12″ or smaller. Concession stands will not be open. The Infield will be closed to all non-essential personnel. (TSS)(8-23-2010)


  • NASCAR still debating Nationwide policy: Possible changes to eligibility requirements for the Nationwide Series title may be getting a second look, sources told Sporting News. The sanctioning body had contemplated making full-time Sprint Cup drivers ineligible to win the Nationwide championship and had discussed that possibility with the relevant teams. Recently, however, there are indications the restrictions against Cup drivers may not happen, based on what NASCAR has been telling the teams that would be directly affected by such a policy. NASCAR is still holding meetings on possible changes and hasn’t made a firm decision. Currently, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Paul Menard are the only drivers doing full-time double duty. Edwards says he plans to run a full Nationwide schedule next year, even if he’s not eligible for the title. Track owners are all for the participation of Cup drivers in Nationwide events, because it helps put fans in the grandstands. And there’s an undeniable coattail effect, where Cup drivers can help raise sponsorship money that also provides opportunities to younger, less experienced drivers.(Sporting News)(8-23-2010)

  • Sad News – Howie Lettow: Visitation for celebrated short-track stock-car crew chief Howie Lettow, who died Thursday, is scheduled for 5:30-9 p.m. Monday at Hafemeister Funeral Home, 611 E. Main St. in Watertown, WI. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 304 N. 6th St. in Watertown. One of the most respected crew chiefs in the Midwest, Lettow guided eight drivers to rookie of the year honors in the old American Speed Association and won three consecutive championships from 2005-’07 in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series. Lettow rejected offers from NASCAR teams, saying he preferred a comfortable family life to a larger paycheck, but his influence was still felt. At least eight drivers who worked regularly with Lettow went on to race full time in one of NASCAR’s three national series, including Johnson and 2003 truck series champion Ted Musgrave. In addition to his wife, Cheryl, survivors include son John and daughter Carin Eckes, son-in-law Jeremy Eckes and grandchildren Morgan and Jered Eckes. According to Cheryl, ESPN plans to do a piece on Howie at about 4:30 p.m. Friday with interviews with Tony Raines, who won the 1996 American Speed Association title with Lettow, and four-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Lettow’s most famous pupil.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(8-23-2010)


  • Kyle Busch Tests at Crandon for TORC Series Debut: Kyle Busch tested at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway earlier last week and impressed those in attendance. He shared the track with Rob MacCachren, the current PRO 2 points leader, and Jeff Kincaid, a winner last weekend in Bark River, and his fastest lap was only one-tenth of a second off the fastest time of the day. Busch will pilot a Traxxas-sponsored machine fielded by Mark Jenkins and Mike Jenkins, both of whom were at the test at the “Big House.” Mike said the Las Vegas native and former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion started the day with no experience and ended it as an off-road racer. Busch and the rest of the TORC Series run Wednesday and Thursday at Route 66 Raceway. For tickets to the race, visit TORCSeries.com or Route66Raceway.com. Fans can also watch the races live at TORCSeries.com and later in the year when the race is aired on the Discovery HD Theater program, “The Off Road Championship,” making its on-air debut Sept. 2.(TORC)(8-23-2010)

  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway Unveils A “Rock Solid” Finish Line: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has the “Yard of Bricks,” Augusta has the “Amen Corner,” and of course, Boston’s own Fenway Park has the mighty “Green Monster.” Now, New Hampshire Motor Speedway will have the same iconic item that every fan will remember. This September, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars will have to pass “The Granite Stripe” at the start-finish line. Swenson Granite, located in Concord, is creating a brand-new start/finish line on “The Magic Mile.” A six-inch-thick, two-foot-wide by 65-foot strip of Concord Gray colored granite will grace each race start and welcome home each winner. The Granite Stripe will feature three engraved logos documenting the history of the track: The Bryar Motorsports Park icon, New Hampshire International Speedway logo and New Hampshire Motor Speedway emblem will all have a permanent home at new rock solid finish line. The Granite Stripe is being cut and prepared this month to be ready for the next race at NHMS. Advanced tickets are still available for the SYLVANIA 300, September 16-19. Purchase your tickets now by calling our ticket hotline at (603) 783-4931 or at www.nhms.com.(NHMS)(8-23-2010)



    News from August 22, 2010



  • Nationwide Series purses to be slashed: NASCAR will cut the purses for the Nationwide Series by 20% next season, a move designed to make hosting the second-tier series a more profitable proposition for race tracks. It’s the second consecutive year the purse will be reduced in Nationwide. NASCAR also cut the purses in the premiere Sprint Cup Series before this season. “The health and maintenance of the tracks is essential to the health of the entire industry,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said, “Like in all facets of our business, we have made financial adjustments to ensure the long term strength of the sport.”(The Associated Press)(8-22-2010)


  • Ganassi named honorary chairman of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: Chip Ganassi, who is leading his racing teams through one of the most successful motorsports seasons in the history of the sport this year, has agreed to serve as the Honorary Chairman of the 22nd Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Ceremony, Wednesday, August 25, in downtown Detroit.

    As Honorary Chairman, Ganassi will preside over the formal black-tie induction ceremony at the Fillmore Theater in the heart of downtown Detroit on the evening of Wednesday, August 25. This year’s list of motorsports legends and pioneers that will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America includes NHRA mechanical genius Dale Armstrong, Sprint Car Champion, Indy driver and stunt driver Joie Chitwood, NASCAR Champion Alan Kulwicki, AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath, the dean of racing broadcasters Ken Squier, Trans-Am Champion Jerry Titus; and USAC Sprint and Midget Champion Rich Vogler.

    The Hall of Fame’s recently formed alliance with the Detroit Science Center will bring renewed focus to the technological innovations that are vital to success in motor racing. A highlight of the Induction Ceremony will be Ganassi’s Chairman’s Address that will touch on motorsports being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, how he has seen that role evolve and grow, and what could be in store in the future, based on Ganassi’s more than 30 years of involvement in the motorsports industry.(MSHoF)(8-22-2010)

  • Atlanta Motor Speedway Partners with 35 Fan-Friendly Hotels: Atlanta Motor Speedway has increased its list of fan-friendly hotels to 35 local partner hotels for the track’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend. Each partner facility guarantees a room rate of $120 or less without requiring a mutli-night stay during the Sept. 3-5 weekend. Because many hotels have limited availability for the NASCAR race weekend, fans are encouraged to act early to lock in the discounted rates.

    In addition to these options, great rates are also available through the Speedway’s official hotel, The Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta, and fans can also book options through the Speedway’s partnership with www.Vroomz.com. Race fans can access the complete list of partner hotel properties by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com and selecting the “Fan Friendly Hotels” link under the “Visitor’s Guide” tab. Fans can directly access the list at atlantamotorspeedway.com/fans/hotels/. For more information on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s hotel partners or to purchase tickets to the Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(8-22-2010)

  • Pocono crowd less then reported? The crowd estimated at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 1 fell far below the 100,000 people announced by NASCAR. How far? Try about half that number, according to an independent count by the Pocono Record. Attendance figures at the track long have been closely guarded by Pocono Raceway — though NASCAR does release its own estimates. But secrecy breeds curiosity, and perhaps even nosiness, so the Pocono Record conducted its own count based on aerial photographs and crowd-counting techniques. The images, captured near the start of the race, revealed half-filled grandstands and an infield with vast stretches of grass where vehicles once clustered during past races. The newspaper estimates that only about 48,000 spectators — a figure that includes a nearly 15% cushion to account for a margin of error — were on hand for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 that day. It is unclear what source NASCAR used as the basis for the 100,000 visitors it cited in official race results — whether it was from tickets sold or turnstile clicks. The sport’s governing body did not respond to requests for comment. When asked about the numbers, Pocono Raceway reiterated its long-standing policy of nondisclosure of attendance, which is a common stance among racing venues.
    “Pocono Raceway is privately owned and as such, we do not give out attendance figures,” raceway Vice President Bob Pleban wrote in an e-mail. Pleban did not dispute the Pocono Record’s numbers, reaffirming the raceway’s position that it does not release these numbers. But he did seek to explain them.(more at the Pocono Record)(8-22-2010)



    News from August 21, 2010


  • Kyle Busch wins at Bristol: #18-Kyle Busch won the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2010, 3rd at Bristol and 19th of his career. Busch won all three national series races at Bristol this weekend, winning the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series races, the first time ever a driver has done so. #00-Reutimann finished second followed by #1-McMurray, #33-Bowyer, #9-Kahne, #39-Newman, #42-Montoya, #16-Biffle, #2-Busch and #17-Kenseth. Bowyer’s 4th place finish and #5-Martin finishing 23rd now has Bowyer in 12th place by 100 points over #1-McMurray, who moved to 13th, Martin dropped to 14th. Many of the points leaders had problem with #11-Hamlin having a drive shaft problem and finishing 34; #48-Johnson wrecking midway and finishing 35th; #14-Stewart getting hit and spinning early, finishing 27th. #29-Harvick’s points lead dropped a bit to 279 over #24-Jeff Gordon. Only Gordon [along with Harvick] clinches a spot in The Chase after the race in Bristol.

    There were 15 lead changes among 9 drivers and 7 cautions for only 39 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 155,000 down from last years sold out 160,000.

    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Bristol Race Results/Awards page.(8-21-2010)

  • Race Fast Facts – Bristol:

    #18-Kyle Busch won the IRWIN Tools Night Race, his 19th victory in 210 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Busch became the first driver to win in all three of NASCAR’s national series in the same weekend.

    This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2010.

    This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 12 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    #00-David Reutimann (second) posted his first top-10 finish in six races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2010.

    #1-Jamie McMurray (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 16 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    #29-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 279 points over Jeff Gordon.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-21-2010)

  • 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:

    [after Bristol, race 24 of 36]:

    rank, car#, driver, points, behind

    1) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 3521 [clinched spot in the Chase]

    2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3242, -279 [clinched]

    3) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 3170, -351 [needs to start next 2 races to clinch]

    4) #99-Carl Edwards, 3113, -408

    5) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 3108, -413

    6) #14-Tony Stewart, 3107, -414

    7) #31-Jeff Burton, 3101, -420

    8) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3095, -426

    9) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 3077, -444, +257

    10) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 3073, -448, +253

    11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 3055, -466, +235

    12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2920, -601, 100 pts ahead of 13th

    Chase for the Sprint Cup – Contenders:

    13) #1-McMurray [2 wins], 2820, -701, 100 points out of the chase

    14) #5-Mark Martin, 2819, -702, -101

    15) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2802, -719, -118

    16) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2784, -737, -136

    2009 Chase Drivers not in top 16

    19) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya [1 win], 2728, -793, -192

    36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]

    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(8-21-2010)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Atlanta [in two weeks]:

    No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th and the #26 team remains 36th with the points spread from 35th to 36th drops to 125.

    33) #71-Cassill/TRG: 1794, 160 points ahead of 36th

    34) #37-Raines/Front Row: 1790, +156

    35) #7-Conway/RGM, 1759, 125 points ahead of 36th

    these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

    36) #26-Carpentier/Latitude43: 1634, -125 points out of the top 35

    37) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 1615, -144

    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-21-2010)

  • Fireworks in driver intros: Prerace driver introductions typically are a routine, humdrum affair. Not Saturday night at Bristol Motor Spedway. Fresh from Friday’s Nationwide Series victory, in which he dumped Brad Keselowski to take the lead on Lap 219 of 250, Kyle Busch was greeted with boos as he walked down the gangway toward a waiting pickup truck.

    “Aw, you’re so loving,” was Busch’s sarcastic response to the crowd. Moments later, Keselowski strode down the gangway. “I’m Brad Keselowski, driver of the #12 Penske Dodge,” he announced. “Kyle Busch is an ass.”

    AJ Allmendinger subsequently told the crowd, “I just hope I’m ahead of Brad and Kyle when this stuff goes down tonight.”(Sporting News)(8-21-2010)


  • ABC alternative TV coverage of Bristol race: Some ABC affiliates have commitments to NFL preseason games tonight and have made arrangements for NASCAR fans to be able to watch the race on alternate channels. The following markets will have alternate viewing options for ABC’s telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol tonight (DT2 = Digital Tier 2):

    Detroit (WXYZ) – will show 7:30 – 9 p.m. on its DT2 channel then switch to primary channel at 9 p.m. due to coverage of annual Woodward Dream Cruise.

    Houston (KTRK) – will show entire race on its DT2 channel due to coverage of Houston Texans preseason game.

    Richmond, VA (WRIC) – will show entire race on WUPV-TV (CW station in market) due to coverage of Washington Redskins preseason game.

    Weslaco, TX (KRGV) – will show entire race on its DT2 channel due to coverage of Dallas Cowboys preseason game.

    Madison, WI (WKOW) – will show entire race on its DT2 channel due to coverage of Green bay Packers preseason game.

    LaCrosse, WI (WXOW) – will show entire race on its DT2 channel and in-market on CW station due to coverage of Green Bay Packers preseason game.

    Wausau, WI (WAOW) — will show entire race on its DT2 channel and in-market on CW station due to coverage of Green Bay Packers preseason game.

    NOTE: Joplin, MO (KODE) and St. Joseph, MO (KQTV) are both showing Kansas City Chiefs preseason games. Neither station has DT2 channel and due to limited alternate clearance options in the markets, race will not air in either market.(ESPN)(8-20-2010)

  • ESPN.com Expands Coverage with RacingLive! NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com. RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Saturday night, Aug. 21, RacingLive! Bristol will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET to coincide with ESPN’s telecast of the 500-lap race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at espn.go.com/racing/nascar/.

  • some different schemes that will run at Bristol tonight: #12 Red Penske Dodge, #18 Doublemint, #33 Hamburger Helper, #37 A&W All American, #39 WIX Filters, #47 Bush’s Baked Beans, #78 Farm America, #98 Menard’s / Certainteed and
    #99 Aflac silver.(8-21-2010)


  • Vickers had heart surgery for blood clots: Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers announced on Saturday he has been medically cleared to return to the Sprint Cup series next season. Vickers said in late May that he would take the rest of this season off after blood clots were discovered in his left leg and lungs. Since then a clot was discovered in a finger in his left hand. That led to extensive tests that determined he had a hole between the right and left atrium in his heart, as well as May-Thurner Syndrone, a rare condition that puts a patient at risk of more blood clots and possible stroke. Vickers said he had heart surgery to repair the hole on July 12. A stent was placed in a vein in his left leg a day later. The driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota said he will be off blood thinners prescribed for the clots by early- to mid-January and ready to return to NASCAR’s premier series in time for the February Daytona 500. “[Doctors] gave me full clearance for next year,” Vickers said from the media center at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I will be back in January. I’m real excited about that. They feel I’m probably in the best shape of my life.” Red Bull recently announced that Kasey Kahne would drive one of its cars in 2011 as a stopgap before his contract with Hendrick Motorsports begins. General manager Jay Frye said at the time Kahne would drive either the 83, replace Scott Speed in the No. 82 or a third car would be added. Speed has one year left on his contract, but sources said there is an out if the driver ranks 16th or higher in points after this season. Speed currently is 27th. Speed told ESPN.com that there is more to the contract beyond the clause that could keep him in the #82.(ESPN)(8-21-2010)


  • No punishment for Kyle or Brad: NASCAR officials plan no punishment for Kyle Busch or Brad Keselowski over an issue between the drivers late in Friday night’s Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch admittedly “dumped” Keselowski after Keselowski got into the back of Busch’s car with 31 laps remaining. Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton called it “good, hard racing” and said no action would be taken against either driver. He added they would keep an eye on the two in case further incidents develop. Keselowski already is on probation for an incident involving him and Carl Edwards in the Sprint Cup race at Atlanta earlier this season.(ESPN)(8-21-2010)


  • Kyle Busch could make history with Cup win: With Kyle Busch’s win in Bristol’s Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races, it is only the 4th time a driver has won both the Truck Series and Nationwide Series race in the same ‘weekend’
    (Greg Biffle at Phoenix in October 2001 and Kyle Busch at Phoenix in November 2007 / Auto Club Speedway in February 2009 and now at Bristol). No driver has ever won all three races [Cup, Nationwide, Trucks] in the same weekend. At Auto Club in Feb 2009, Busch won the Truck and Nationwide race and finished 3rd in the Sprint Cup event.(8-21-2010)


  • Evernhan & Bruton to partner up: on Saturday afternoon, August 21st at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bruton Smith and Ray Evernham are scheduled to hold joint press conference about a new partnership that they say is preserving and protecting the future of racing for generations to come.(8-21-2010)

    UPDATE: Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., and Ray Evernham, CEO of Ray Evernham Enterprises, have partnered to launch a new dirt track racing series as part of U.S. Legend Cars International. The series will run an innovative dirt track version of the Legend Car, designed by Evernham. “The local tracks around the country are where the stars of the sport get their start, and we need to create the opportunities that inspire young racers today and hone their talents for tomorrow,” said Smith. “Grassroots racing is a passion of mine and of Ray’s, and through this partnership we can give back to our roots and support the future of grassroots racing.” The series will initially run at East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, N.C. next year, which is owned by Evernham, and expand to other top dirt tracks around the country. A special unveiling of the new car will be held on October 13, 2010, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, followed by an on-track demonstration in early November.(LegendsNation)(8-21-2010)


  • Special scheme designed by Gordon’s daughter: #24-Jeff Gordon will run a special paint scheme “designed” by 3-year old daughter Ella at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 5. Ella – with the assistance of some finishing touches by NASCAR’s first officially licensed artist Sam Bass — created the design for “My Papa’s Car.” The design also will feature the new logo of the newly renamed Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, and the car design and die-cast purchase information can be viewed at www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org. “I can’t wait to run Ella and Sam’s design, and I can’t think of a better way to showcase the new Foundation logo and name than on that car,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet. “DuPont has graciously allowed us to run this scheme during one of their races, and I really appreciate their continued support of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation in its efforts to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.”(HMS). see an image of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(8-21-2010)


  • Allison helps open playground in Bristol: NASCAR legend Bobby Allison was among more than 200 volunteers who participated in Friday’s building of a new, safe playground, which was based on drawings created by children, at Anderson Park. Allison, a four-time winner on the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway, was in town for the IRWIN Tools Night Race (Saturday, Aug. 21) and took time out of his schedule to assist in the build. Allison was a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the playground. More than 200 volunteers from IRWIN Tools, The Home Depot, Bristol Pioneering Healthier Communities, the Bristol Family YMCA, the United Way of Bristol, the City of Bristol, organizers from KaBOOM!, and residents of the local community joined Allison. “This is really a good deal,” said Allison, 72. “For a company like IRWIN to get behind a program like this to assist kids is just really special. When I was asked to participate, it was an easy answer. Everyone did a fantastic job.” The new playground, which is located at 341 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, will provide more than 500 children in the Bristol community a safe place to play. In the past, the children who frequent Anderson Park have not had a playground to enjoy. The playground build is one of more than 150 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2010 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The build began at 9:30 am and was completed by 3:30 p.m. Volunteers assembled brightly colored playground equipment and moved 51,840 square feet of safety surfacing by hand.(Irwin Tools/HB&M Sports)(8-21-2010


  • Edwards plans to run full Nationwide sched in 2011: #99-Carl Edwards said Friday he has committed to racing the full Nationwide Series schedule next season. Edwards said he will drive the full season in NASCAR’s second-tier series even if he’s not eligible to race for the Nationwide championship. NASCAR is currently discussing rule changes to the Nationwide Series to develop its brand. One of the proposals is making full-time Sprint Cup drivers ineligible for the title. Edwards is in his sixth season running a full Nationwide schedule. He won the championship in 2007 and is currently second in the standings behind Brad Keselowski. Like Edwards, he’s also a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver. Edwards doesn’t like NASCAR’s proposal of eliminating Cup drivers from Nationwide title contention because it only really affects a small handful of drivers. Edwards and Keselowski are the only two running the full schedule this year, although Cup drivers Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Paul Menard are all ranked inside the top 10 in standings despite running only partial schedules. And, the last driver who was not racing in the Cup Series to win the Nationwide title was Martin Truex Jr. in 2005.(Associated Press)(8-21-2010)

  • Kyle Busch wins Bristol Truck race & NNS race: Kyle Busch survived a crash-filled Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway and won the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday night. More info on the Jayski Camping World Truck Series page.(8-19-2010)

    AND Busch won the Nationwide race at Bristol, needing the win in the Sprint Cup race at Bristol to sweep the three races there this weekend. Nore info about the NNS win on the Jayski Nationside Series page.(8-21-2010)


  • AAA partners with Truex at Dover: Michael Waltrip Racing announced AAA Mid-Atlantic will join Martin Truex Jr. ‘s #56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota as an associate sponsor at the Sept. 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. The company’s decal will adorn the #56 Toyota’s lower quarter panels during the AAA 400 at the Monster Mile. In addition, AAA will be conducting the AAA Ultimate Monster Mile Sweepstakes which will include heavy involvement from Michael Waltrip Racing, especially Truex. The winner of the month-long sweepstakes will receive four tickets to the AAA 400, a meet and greet with Truex along with garage access passes, a pre-race tour of the #56 hauler, a pre-race meal with the Michael Waltrip Racing Team and participation in the pre-race driver introductions. Truex will record radio spots and AAA plans to feature the #56 Toyota in promotional collateral.(MWR)(8-21-2010)

  • IRWIN Tools Challenge Winner to Serve as Grand Marshal at Bristol: As a result of capturing the North American Championship of the 2010 IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Brandon, Mississippi’s Delwyn Thornton will serve as the Grand Marshal for tonight’s inaugural IRWIN Industrial Tools Night Race at the World’s Fastest Half Mile. Thornton, a shoe repairman and the owner of Soles and Heels Shoe Repair for over 27 years, will give the command for the 43 drivers to “Start Your Engines.” The IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, a skill-based competition that travelled across the U.S. and Canada for more than 50 events, challenged professional tradesmen to perform a series of precise tasks-such as gripping, sawing, marking, clamping and drilling-in a race against the clock. A total of 23 local competitors won an all-expenses-paid trip to Bristol, in addition to an IRWIN tool bag packed with IRWIN tools and genuine Cat footwear, to compete in the North American Championship, which was held Friday in BMS’s Exhibit Area. Thornton completed the Challenge in 28.50 seconds, edging out Frank Blatz (Abbotsford, BC), who was clocked at 30.75 seconds. In addition to having the opportunity to say NASCAR’s most famous words prior to the start of the race, Thornton won a year’s supply of Cat footwear and a custom IRWIN Tools Mustang GT Premium Pace Car – the official pace car of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. Thornton advances to the World Finals in March of 2011, again at Bristol Motor Speedway, where six tradesmen from around the world will compete to become the Worldwide IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman. The tradesman with the top time will win the grand prize – a chance to win $1 million.(Irwin Tools)(8-21-2010)



    News from August 20, 2010


  • Race Coverage of the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2010.

    Television (TV): ABC at 7:30 pm/et; pre-race show at 7:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:43pm/et

    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

    ESPN2, Sunday, August 22 at 2:30am/et

    SPEED, Wednesday, August 25 at 12:00pm/et

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live in Prime Time on ABC: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series appears on ABC for the first time this season when it races for 500 laps in prime time under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Aug. 21. The NASCAR Countdown pre-race show kicks off the evening at 7:00pm/et with the race telecast at 7:30pm/et. The race’s green flag is scheduled for 7:43 pm/et. Also from Bristol, coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying airs Friday, Aug. 20, at 5:30 pm/et on ESPN.

    Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.

    NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

  • ESPN.com Expands Coverage with RacingLive! NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com. RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Saturday night, Aug. 21, RacingLive! Bristol will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET to coincide with ESPN’s telecast of the 500-lap race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at espn.go.com/racing/nascar/.

  • Pit Stall Selections – Bristol: The selections of pit stalls for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #48-Johnson’s team chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

    Bristol is the only track in the Sprint Cup Series that utilizes two pit roads. It has 22 stalls on the frontstretch and 21 on the backstretch. Teams that pit on the backstretch used to be at a competitive disadvantage. Since the spring 2002 race at Bristol, teams will enter pit road in Turn 2 (the current backstretch pit entrance) drive around down the backstretch and around Turns 3 and 4 and exit in Turn 1. Under green-flag conditions teams will enter and exit pit road under the current two-pit-road scheme.

    Outside pole sitter #99-Edwards chose the 23rd stall, which is the first stall on the backstretch pits

    #20-Logano, who starts 3rd took the 2nd pit stall, behind the pole sitter.

    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reutimann, who starts 5th

    To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Bristol Pit Stall Selection chart.(8-20-2010)

  • Johnson wins pole at Bristol: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Pole for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with a speed of 123.475mph for his 1st ever pole at Bristol, 1st pole of 2010 and 24th of his career.
    #99-Edwards will start 2nd followed by #20-Logano, #14-Stewart, #00-Reutimann, #39-Newman, #1-McMurray, #42-Montoya, #56-Truex, Jr., and #43-Allmendinger.

    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #09-Labonte, #26-Green, #66-Riggs, #38-Gilliland, #55-McDowell, #64-TBodine, #07-Gordon and #13-Mears.

    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (6): #36-Blaney, #87-Nemechek, #4-Lepage, #46-Yeley, #92-Keselowski and #32-Bliss.

    See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Bristol Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(8-20-2010)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, August 20, 2010 at 5:40pm/et.

    Television (TV): ESPN 5:30pm/et

    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) only on NASCAR.com

    Jayski.com: Jayski’s Semi-Live Qualifying Page

    Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled

  • Qualifying Order for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted. 49 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

    The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #11-Hamlin.

    The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #48-Johnson.

    The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #55-McDowell with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #36-Mears.

    See the full qualifying order on the Bristol Qualifying Page.(8-20-2010)

  • Happy Hour Practice for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:

    #39-Newman 121.190

    #99-Edwards 121.022

    #38-Gilliland 120.968 [was fastest in 1st practice]

    #48-Johnson 120.953

    #24-Gordon 120.930

    slowest: #92-Keselowski 114.371 & #7-Conway 116.270

    notes: Casey Mears in now in the #13 car; Dave Blaney is now listed in the #36 car

    incidents: none reported.

    See fast speeds, average speeds and laps run on my Bristol Practice Speeds page.(8-20-2010)

  • Bristol Happy Hour practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

    if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

    #38-David Gilliland, 3rd fastest overall

    #26-Jeff Green, 22nd

    #36-Dave Blaney, 25th

    #07-Robby Gordon, 28th

    #66-Scott Riggs, 33rd

    #55-Michael McDowell, 34th

    #09-Bobby Labonte [PC], 38th

    #13-Casey Mears, 39th

    these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

    #64-Todd Bodine, 42nd

    #87-Joe Nemechek, 43rd

    #46-J.J. Yeley, 44th

    #32-Mike Bliss, 45th

    #4-Kevin Lepage, 46th

    #92-Brian Keselowski, 49th

  • 1st Practice for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, after 120 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and many notes:

    #38-Gilliland 120.316

    #07-Gordon 119.529

    #88-Earnhardt Jr. 119.470

    #24-Gordon 119.455

    #43-Allmendinger 119.254

    slowest: #92-Brian Keselowski 113.317 & #7-Conway 115.702

    NOTE: Kevin Conway is in the #7 Toyota of Robby Gordon, Gordon is in the #07 Toyota.

    NOTE 2: Reutimann is not in the #00 car as he is ill with the flu, Aric Almirola is practicing the car, the plan is for Reuitmann to qualify and race the car. Reutimann ran some laps late in the practice

    incidents: #43-Allmendinger got sideways down the backstretch early in practice, didn’t hit anything and no other cars were involved, then late in practice he spun around on the frontstretch, doing a little damage to the right rear.

    See fast speeds, average speeds and laps run on my Bristol Practice Speeds page.(8-20-2010)

  • Bristol practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

    if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

    #38-David Gilliland, 1st fastest overall

    #07-Robby Gordon, 2nd

    #32-Mike Bliss, 15th

    #87-Joe Nemechek, 16th

    #55-Michael McDowell, 19th

    #64-Todd Bodine, 20th

    #46-J.J. Yeley, 23rd

    #09-Bobby Labonte [PC], 47th [would make it via a past champ prov]

    these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

    #26-Jeff Green, 27th

    #66-Scott Riggs, 40th

    #13-Max Papis, 42nd

    #4-Kevin Lepage, 43rd

    #36-Casey Mears, 45th

    #92-Brian Keselowski, 49th

  • Congrats – Dennis Terry: On Friday morning, #47 JTG Daugherty Racing front tire changer Dennis Terry and his wife Micki welcomed their first child Demi Addison Terry at 7:30 am. Demi weighed 8 pounds and 2 ounces. Both mom and baby are doing fine.(JTG)(8-20-2010)


  • Conway to run the #7 at Bristol and: Raybestos Rookie Kevin Conway will drive the #7 SpeedFactory.TV Toyota for car owner Robby Gordon in the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol. Conway spoke about his new opportunity between NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice sessions this afternoon.

    KEVIN CONWAY, #7 SPEEDFACTORY.TV TOYOTA:

    “We’re real excited. I think we had an a little bit of an unexpected transition and real excited to know that we have a sponsor like ExtenZe and Altril that stood behind us. It means a lot, especially as a rookie and when you’re getting your rookie season out of the way and you’re having all these firsts and you have a huge learning curve and we’re able to hopefully finish what we started and that’s to win the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title. It’s a great opportunity. I’m ver y thankful for Robby Gordon and the whole team for giving us this opportunity here this weekend at Bristol and hopefully in the very near future we’ll have some exciting news to announce about what our longer-term plans are.”

    HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN TODAY WITH A NEW TEAM, CREW CHIEF AND CAR?

    “Everything is new and this deal came together at about 10:15 last night. Got up about five this morning, actually four this morning to come here. Yeah, a lot of firsts. We’re still trying to get the seat fitted, get seat belts adjusted and all that stuff this morning. Pretty wild all things considered. We ’ve been focusing on race runs. I haven’t made any qualifying runs or anything like that since we’re locked in on points. Just focusing on getting to know these guys and driving an entirely different race car and working with a whole new group. It’s definitely jumping into the fire here at Bristol, a place where you have three or four tenths separating the field. I’m really excited to be back at Bristol for the second time. It means a lot to be able to hop in the car and have a little bit of an idea of what’s going on. I was confused because I thought I had these racetrack s figured out and I walked in the infield and I was lost. I forgot they had a whole new infield here [smile]. I was like ‘Wow, maybe I didn’t remember as much as I thought I did.’ I’m just really excited to have the opportunity with ExtenZe and with Robby Gordon for this weekend.”

    HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO LEAN ON ROBBY GORDON FOR INFORMATION?

    “Definitely. Robby has been a huge help even through practice and after practice debriefing. He’s able to go up and watch some of the stuff that’s going on. Obviously his car is running really well [second-best overall after the first practice]. They’ve worked strictly on qualifying trim and we worked strictly on race runs so we’re kind of at opposite ends of the board and now when we get ready to switch over to qualifying trim hopefully some of the things from his car will carry over and we can get both Robby Gordon Motorsports cars into the show here at Bristol.”

    ANY IDEA WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR ATLANTA?

    “Yeah, we’ll definitely be at Atlanta and we’re going to finish out the rest of the year. We’ll have some exciting announcements coming next week that will kind of outline that and detail what those plans are.”(Camp & Associates/Rabestos)

    ALSO been told that Gordon got the OK to put the Extenze decals on the #7 car Saturday for the race.(8-20-2010)

  • 2011 All-Star race shaping up: The lineup for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has added several names during the past five weeks. #00-David Reutimann, #16-Greg Biffle and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya have all claimed starting spots in next year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with their wins at Chicago, Pocono and Watkins Glen International. There are more than 20 races remaining to qualify for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. A number of high-profile drivers are not locked in, including #31-Jeff Burton, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #99-Carl Edwards. The 2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be held in May at Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR). For the driver list, history, past winners and rules, see my 2011 All-Star Race page.(8-20-2010)


  • Carpentier back in the #26 at Atlanta: When Patrick Carpentier climbed into the #26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway the bar wasn’t set very high. In fact veteran crew chief Frankie Stoddard said all the team wanted out of the 39-year-old Canadian pilot was a finish in the Top 35 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Carfax 400. Carpentier finished 29th. For Carpentier it was a tough welcome back to NASCAR Sprint Cup oval racing in the heat of August. With high track temperatures all afternoon at MIS he said it was a physical challenge. “My neck is sore, my bum is sore and my arms are sore,” he said when he got out of the car at the end of the race. “I forgot just how hard these (Sprint Cup) cars are to drive and how you have to battle every lap.” The chemistry between Carpentier and the team was so good in fact, that there is a possibility that the Canadian could resume a full-time Sprint Cup ride in the #26 Ford. “We have had discussions,” he said. “For sure I will race in Atlanta next month. But for me it I was very impressed with how these guys operate.” Stoddard said that the team has had its eye on Carpentier since last season when he was driving the #10 Dodge for Gillett Evernham Motorsports.(in part from the Toronto Star)(8-20-2010)


  • Goodyear Bristol Tire Notes: This is the first time NASCAR teams will be running either of these two Goodyear tire codes . . . this tire set-up came out of a tire test at Bristol on June 29-30 . . . drivers participating in that test were Denny Hamlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Scott Speed . . . compared to what was run at Bristol in the spring, this right-side tire code (D-4404) features a construction and mold shape change to bring it into line with what is run at other NASCAR speedways . . . this left-side code (D-4408) features a mold shape change to achieve a more optimum stagger when teamed with this new right-side . . . Bristol is the only track at which teams are scheduled to run either of these two tire codes . . . unlike on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, on which teams generally do not run inner liners, teams are required to run liners in their right-side tires only at Bristol . . . .air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 136-144 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup). See tire pressures, codes and more on Jayski’s Bristol Race Info News.(8-20-2010)


  • List of Driver song selections for driver intros: Bristol Motor Speedway is continuing a popular new tradition on Saturday night: Each NASCAR driver will pick a song to be played when he walks out for pre-race introductions. Here is the list of songs for this year:

    * AJ Allmendinger: “Bad Company” / Five Finger Death Punch

    * Bobby Labonte: “What Do Ya Think About That” / Montgomery Gentry

    * Brad Keselowski: “For Those About To Rock” / AC/DC

    * Carl Edwards: (Secret until Saturday night)

    * Casey Mears: TBA

    * Clint Bowyer: “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde” / Travis Tritt

    * Dale Earnhardt Jr.: (Secret until Saturday night)

    * Dave Blaney: TBA

    * David Gilliland: “I Get It In” / 50 Cent

    * David Ragan: “Thunderstruck” / AC/DC

    * David Reutimann: “The Game” / Motorhead

    * Denny Hamlin: “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” / Dropkick Murphys

    * Elliott Sadler: Opening to “2001: A Space Odyssey”

    * Greg Biffle: “For Whom The Bell Tolls” / Metallica

    * JJ Yeley: TBA

    * Jamie McMurray: “I’m Gonna Miss Her” / Brad Paisley

    * Jeff Burton: “Welcome To The Jungle” / Guns N’ Roses

    * Jeff Gordon: “Let’s Go” / Trick Daddy

    * Jeff Green: TBA

    * Jimmie Johnson: “Funky Cold Medina” / Tone Loc

    * Joe Nemechek: “Born To To Be Wild” / Steppenwolf

    * Joey Logano: “Play That Funky Music” / Wild Cherry

    * Juan Pablo Montoya: “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” / Nickelback

    * Kasey Kahne: “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer” / Billy Currington

    * Kevin Harvick: “Jump Around” / House of Pain

    * Kevin LePage: “Juke Box Hero” / Foreigner

    * Kurt Busch: “This Afternoon” / Nickelback

    * Kyle Busch: “Rowdy Busch” / 2012 f. Raytona 500

    * Landon Cassill: TBA

    * Marcos Ambrose: “Black Betty” / Spiderbait

    * Mark Martin: (Secret until Saturday night)

    * Martin Truex Jr.: “All About Tonight” / Blake Shelton

    * Matt Kenseth: “Miracle” / Nonpoint

    * Max Papis: “Fuel” / Metallica

    * Michael McDowell: “Earthquake” / Family Force 5

    * Mike Bliss: TBA

    * Paul Menard: “Cowboys From Hell” / Pantera

    * Reed Sorenson: “Not Afraid” / Eminem

    * Regan Smith: “Welcome To The Family” / Avenged Sevenfold

    * Robby Gordon: “Not Afraid” / Eminem

    * Ryan Newman: TBA / Bridgette Tatum

    * Sam Hornish Jr.: “Kickstart My Heart” / Motley Crue

    * Scott Speed: “OMG” / Usher f. Will.i.am

    * Todd Bodine: Theme for “The Three Stooges”

    * Tony Raines: “Last Dance With Mary Jane” / Tom Petty

    * Tony Stewart: “Bawitdaba” / Kid Rock

    * Travis Kvapil: “Bodies” / Drowning Pool

    (SB Nation/Jeff Gluck)(8-20-2010)


  • Some Chassis selections for Bristol:

    #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has elected to bring chassis #803 to Bristol this weekend. The chassis was last used in the 2009 season at both Pocono events and the second Auto Club Speedway event finishing 18th, 19th and 22nd. This chassis was also tested in June at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

    #2-Kurt Busch, crew chief Steve Addington and the “Blue Deuce” crew are racing their “PRS-709” Miller Lite “Vortex” Dodge in this weekend’s action at Bristol Motor Speedway. This is the car that the team debuted at Bristol in the March 21 Food City 500 in dominant fashion. Busch started second and finished third, leading 10 times for a total of 278 laps (led most laps). Quicker pit work by his “over-the wall gang” allowed him to beat eventual race-winner Jimmy Johnson off pit road for a late-race restart. However, Johnson had the preferred outside line and used it to take the victory. This car has been raced only once since. Busch started 16th and finished 18th in the May 1 battle at Richmond with this car.

    #5-Mark Martin: crew chief Alan Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-600 for Saturday night’s race at Bristol. This is the same chassis Martin raced to a fourth-place finish in the 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He also drove this car to a 15th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway last month.

    #6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-626 last ran Dover – finished 26th; Backup: RK-633 last ran Michigan in the fall of 2009. The Paris Center (SLIC 3820) will be recognized as the UPS Maximum Center this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Paris was the top-ranked center on the Mid-South District’s Rate and Rank report for July.

    #11-Denny Hamlin: and the FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 259 this weekend in Bristol. This car made its first start at Bristol in March of this year. JGR 267 will travel to Bristol as the backup. The #11 FedEx Ground Toyota will carry the letters CENT on the b-post this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in recognition of their excellence in package care.

    #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-720 during Saturday night’s Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski drove this chassis to a 19th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August.

    #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-530 was a brand new racecar for 2009 that, prior to its debut at Richmond in May, had only been tested in the wind tunnel. At Richmond, Stewart used Chassis No. 14-530 to qualify 16th and rally from the 17th position in the final 50 laps to score his second runner-up effort of the season. It saw action unexpectedly in June at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon when the team’s primary car was crashed in the opening minutes of the weekend’s first practice. The team got a reprieve when qualifying was rained-out and the field was set by car owner points, which allowed Stewart to start from the pole. He used that starting spot to his advantage, as he led 40 laps and was in contention to pick up the win. But rain cut the race 28 laps short of its scheduled 301-lap distance, aiding those who successfully gambled on fuel mileage and penalizing drivers like Stewart, who wound up fifth. Chassis No. 14-530’s third career start came at Richmond in the series’ return visit in September. It qualifyed 29th and finishing 17th. Its fourth career start and last of 2009 came at Martinsville in October. There, Stewart qualified 13th and was in contention for a top-five until a late-race caution thwarted his forward drive, forcing him to settle for ninth. The off-season brought about a complete rebuild for Chassis No. 14-530 in preparation for its first start of 2010 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where it qualified 11th and finished second. Its sixth career start and second of 2010 came in June at Dover. It started 16th and finished ninth, which was Stewart’s best result since his second-place run at Bristol.

    #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-645 (last raced at New Hampshire) This weekend at Bristol, Kenseth will pilot the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion

    #18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 249: Saturday night’s Irwin Tools Night Race will be the sixth start for Chassis No. 249. This chassis made its debut last August at Michigan, where Busch started 36th and finished 23rd. Its next start came last September at Richmond, where Busch qualified eighth and finished a solid fifth. It then participated in the October event at Charlotte, where Busch qualified 12th and finished eighth. At Martinsville last March, Busch qualified 10th and ran in second-place in the closing laps before an accident relegated him to a 22nd-place finish. In its most recent start, in June at New Hampshire, Busch started 22nd and ran in the top-five until a late-race spin and subsequent rally netted him an 11th-place finish.

    #19-Elliott Sadler: The #19 Hunt Brother’s Pizza Ford team has prepared chassis No. 278 for this weekend’s event. This is the same Ford Fusion the team ran in the first race at Bristol Motor Speedway this season.

    #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 297 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2010, Harvick started 35th and finished sixth at Darlington Raceway in May.

    #31-Jeff Burton: will pilot chassis No. 307 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2010, Burton drove this Caterpillar Chevy to a 25th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May after contact with another competitor, with fewer than 20 laps remaining, cut the left-rear tire on the Caterpillar Chevy. Most recently, this #31 racer finished eighth at Michigan International Speedway in June.

    #33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot Chassis No. 303 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new in 2010, Bowyer drove this Chevrolet Impala to seventh-place finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.

    #39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-516 has seen action on both concrete racetracks – Bristol and Dover – during the past two seasons. In four races during the 2009 season, the chassis never finished outside of the top-10. The car finished seventh and sixth at Bristol and eighth and 10th at Dover, respectively. Over the winter, crew chief Tony Gibson & Company updated the chassis in preparation for the 2010 season. The chassis saw action at Bristol last March and, although Newman flirted with a top-10 result, he finished a disappointing 16th following a late-race lug nut issue on a pit stop. At Dover, Newman qualified sixth and fought back from tire issues to finish 13th.

    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team are bringing chassis #903 to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis was last used in May at Dover where Montoya had mechanical problems forcing a 35th-place finish. Earlier in the season at Bristol, Montoya qualified sixth and finished 26th after being involved in a 13-car incident. This chassis also ran twice last year by the #42 team (Michigan- June, Chicago- July) where it finished sixth and 10th.

    #43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 RPM team led by crew chief Mike Shiplett has prepared chassis No. 265 for this weekend’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway. This car was run on one other occasion this season when the team utilized it for the spring event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allmendinger finished sixth in that event.

    #48-Jimmie Johnson: Chassis No. 580 will be the primary for Saturday night’s event. Johnson last piloted that car to a sixth-place finish at Michigan in June. Back up chassis No. 553 has collected three wins in four starts – the most recent coming at Auto Club Speedway in February

    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-578, which last was raced at Dover International Speedway in May where Earnhardt finished 30th.

    #98-Paul Menard: Chassis History: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 RPM crew have prepared chassis No. 561 for this weekend’s event. This is the same car the team ran at the June race at Pocono Raceway where Menard finished 16th.

    #99-Carl Edwards: The #99 team will bring chassis RK-596 for the weekend at Bristol. Edwards most recently raced this car at Dover in May (finished 8th) and Bristol in March (finished 6th).(from team PR’s/sites if reported)(8-20-2010)

  • CV Products purchases certain assets of HUTCHBSR: CV Products has purchased certain assets of the former racing component supplier HUTCHBSR. CV Products will continue to provide trackside sales at NASCAR, ARCA, IMSA and Grand AM sports car races. CV Products will also continue to provide sales and service of the “Thunder Gun” pit guns trackside and at the CV Products Mooresville NC location.(more info at CV Products site)(8-20-2010)

  • IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge winner to be Grand Marshal: Leave it to innovator IRWIN Tools to toss an exciting twist into the mix for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ most exciting race – the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. In an unprecedented move, IRWIN Tools, a world-class manufacturer and marketer of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, won’t let the world know who the Grand Marshal is until just 24 hours prior to the race. The winner of Friday night’s North American Championship of the 2010 IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will be the race’s Grand Marshal, and will give the famous command, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” The IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, a skill-based competition that has travelled across the U.S. and Canada for more than 50 events, challenges professional tradesmen to perform a series of precise tasks-such as gripping, sawing, marking, clamping and drilling-in a race against the clock. A total of 23 local competitors won an all-expenses-paid trip to Bristol, in addition to an IRWIN tool bag packed with IRWIN tools and genuine Cat footwear, to compete in the North American Championship of the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge on Friday.

    In addition to having the opportunity to say NASCAR’s most famous words prior to the start of the race, the 2010 North American Champion will win a year’s supply of Cat footwear and a custom IRWIN Tools Mustang GT Premium Pace Car – the official pace car of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. He will also advance to the World Finals in March of 2011, again at Bristol Motor Speedway, where six tradesmen from around the world will compete to become the Worldwide IRWIN Tools Ultimate Tradesman. The tradesman with the top time will win the grand prize – a chance to win $1 MILLION!(BMS/HB&M Sports)(8-20-2010)

  • Salute To Military Planned Prior To IRWIN Tools Night Race: Bristol Motor Speedway will proudly pay homage to our country’s greatest heroes with a military salute prior to the IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 21. Military anthems from all branches of the armed services – the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard – will be played as flags of each branch are flown in, via parachutists. Fans in the military who currently serve, are veterans, or who have family members who are serving or who have served in the past, will be asked to stand and be recognized.

    Bristol Motor Speedway’s fans will play a key role in the patriotic salute. Upon entering BMS that evening, they will be given a red, white or blue towel, which also commemorates the 100th Sprint Cup race at BMS. Once the flags have been flown in, fans will be asked to stand and wave their towels in unison to honor America and our military members.

    Two CH-53E helicopters from Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. will then fly over Bristol Motor Speedway, followed by the playing of God Bless the USA, at which time a parachutist will fly in, carrying the American flag. A pair of Harrier jets from the USMC VMFA-223 unit in Cherry Point will then perform a flyover.

    Presentation of the Colors will be provided by the Special Ceremonies Team Color Guard from the 14th Weather Squadron from Asheville, N.C. Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, will give the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegience, led by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. Children of NASCAR drivers, with assistance from Motor Racing Outreach, will sing the national anthem.

    A 60′ x 90′ American flag will be displayed on the BMS front stretch as the anthem is sung and fireworks will go off around the track. At the conclusion of the anthem, the Washington D.C. Air National Guard’s 121st Fighter Squadron [F-16’s] from Joint Base Andrews will perform the final flyover. To purchase tickets, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets also are available at www.bristoltix.com.(8-20-2010)



    News from August 19, 2010


  • Chase Notes and Stats going into Bristol: The back and forth battle for 12th place went to #33-Clint Bowyer at Michigan, but it could have been much better. His 13th to #5-Mark Martin’s 28th was good for a 45 point difference, and gave Bowyer a 35-point edge going to Bristol. #2-Kurt Busch has lost altitude of late, dropping six spots in the standings after Michigan, but still has a 215-point edge over 13th. #29-Kevin Harvick clinched at Michigan. After Bristol, a 391 points margin, ahead of the driver in 13th is needed to clinch.

    2004-2009 Points leaders after 23 races:

    2004-Jeff Gordon (68 pts in the lead, finished 3rd in the Chase)

    2005-Tony Stewart (+126, finished 1st)

    2006-Jimmie Johnson (+58, finished 1st)

    2007-Jeff Gordon (+276, finished 2nd)

    2008-Kyle Busch (+222, finished 3rd)

    2009-Tony Stewart (+284, finished 6th)

    Where did eventual Chase Champ stand after 23 races:

    2009-Jimmie Johnson, was 3rd in points, 303 pts out of 1st

    2008-Jimmie Johnson, was 3rd in points, -302 pts

    2007-Jimmie Johnson, was 6th in points, -512 pts

    2006-Jimmie Johnson, was 1st in points, +58

    2005-Tony Stewart, was 1st in points, +126

    2004-Kurt Busch, was 6th in points, -345

    For season-to-season comparison after 23 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Michigan page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-19-2010)


  • Mears to take over the #13 ride: Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5th, NASCAR star Casey Mears will slide behind the wheel of the #13 GEICO Toyota. Mears will be entered as the driver of the #13 GEICO Camry in the seven remaining GEICO sponsored races in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The 2011 season will feature Mears and the Gecko in the #13 Germain Racing entry at 18 events. “I’m excited at the opportunity to drive the #13 GEICO Camry for Germain Racing,” Mears said. “It’s a great opportunity and I believe with all the hard work that Germain Racing has put into their Cup program, as well as our relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing, that we’ll be able to do good things. I’ve known Bootie Barker (crew chief) for a long time, so I think we’ll work well together. I’m ready to get to work and do a good job for GEICO.”

    Max Papis, who has occupied the seat of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will take a new opportunity to race full-time in NASCAR. Papis will be piloting the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2011. The effort is fielded by Germain Racing. Papis will turn his attention to the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra effective immediately beginning this week in Bristol. In addition, Papis will compete in three additional races of the remaining 2010 Camping World Truck Series season in an effort to lay a solid foundation heading into 2011.(Geico Racing)(8-19-2010)

  • Kyle Busch wins Bristol Truck race: Kyle Busch survived a crash-filled Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway and won the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday night. More info on the Jayski Camping World Truck Series page.(8-19-2010)


  • Newman wins Bristol Modified race: Ryan Newman began his August race week on a high note taking home the victory in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday night after battling with modified legends Ted Christopher and Mike Stefanik at the front of the pack all evening. After leading much of the event, Christopher’s evening went up in smoke near the end of the race due to engine problems, leaving the door open for Stefanik to steal the win. Newman, however, had other plans and raced his way by Stefanik and in to victory lane. “This might be my best win here,” Newman said. “It was a fun race, and a great race at Bristol. Glad I ended up in victory lane. It was a good race at Bristol.” James Civali finished third, followed by Bobby Santos and Todd Szegedy.(BMS)(8-19-2010)


  • Tony Stewart “Smoke Show” raises $200k: The Tony Stewart “Smoke Show” fantasy camp, held Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway, raised more than $200,000 to benefit the Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter for the third consecutive year. The “Smoke Show,” a driving school extravaganza hosted by two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, raised a one-day total of $202,000 to push the program’s three-year charitable donations for SCC-Texas to $676,000. The “Smoke Show” remains the highest-grossing, single-day event for the Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter. The “Smoke Show” attracted 25 participants for this year’s edition of the ultimate motorsports fantasy camp hosted by Stewart. The fastest lap was posted by Kelly Reed, of Erath, La., at 148.350 mph (36.4 seconds) on Texas Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval.(TMS)(8-19-2010)


  • McMurray Tours Langley Air Force Base: #1-Jamie McMurray recently toured Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA before taking on members of the media and fans in kart racing action at G-Force Karts in Richmond, VA. McMurray’s stops were in advance of the upcoming “One Last Race To Make The Chase” NASCAR Doubleheader weekend, September 10-11, at Richmond International Raceway. At Langley AFB, McMurray met with members of the Virginia Air Guard and participated in a tour of the base, which included an up-close look at an F-22 Raptor, the same jets that will be flown by the 192nd Fighter Wing during the ceremonial flyby prior to the Air Guard 400 on September 11.

    Following the visit to Langley, McMurray made the trek to Richmond where he was greeted by race fans at G-Force Karts, across the street from RIR. Members of the media challenged McMurray to a karting race on the 11-turn, indoor track, before McMurray participated in an engaging question and answer session with all of the fans assembled at the facility. After the session, McMurray returned to the track to take on several lucky fans.(RIR)(8-19-2010)

  • Bristol Transporter Parade: Fans line Bristol’s Volunteer Parkway as NASCAR’s multi-million dollar transporters make their way to “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” Fans may not know the names of these drivers, but they certainly recognize the colorful vehicles they pilot through Bristol during the wildly popular Ford/Bristol Motor Speedway Transporter Parade. One of a number of entertaining and fun-filled special events that takes place at BMS during August race week, the Transporter Parade, which is Thursday evening, Aug. 19, is truly a fan favorite. Thousands of fans in the area for the four NASCAR races at BMS that week come out early, staking their claim on their chosen viewing position along the 10-mile route from Bristol Mall to “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” Many of the haulers also will carry a child from either the Make A Wish Foundation or the Children’s Miracle Network.

    The parade starts at 9:00pm/et at the Bristol Mall, following completion of downtown Bristol’s Food City Race Night. More than 60 haulers then will make their way from the mall down Volunteer Parkway to BMS. The transporter leading the way will be the one belonging to the leader of the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings heading into the IRWIN Tools Night Race, currently Kevin Harvick. To add to the parade’s atmosphere, fireworks will light up the night from four different points along the route. The transporter drivers will be available prior to the start of the parade to sign autographs at the Bristol Mall. There also will be face painting for children, along with a “5-In-1 Sport” jump playhouse.(BMS)(8-19-2010)



    News from August 18, 2010


  • NASCAR Announces 2011 Schedules: NASCAR announced the 2011 schedule for its three national series, highlighted by several key changes for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. One of those changes comes early, as the second race of the season will be held at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 27, a week after the season-opening Daytona 500. PIR replaces Auto Club Speedway in Week 2. Texas Motor Speedway fills in the vacated Phoenix spot on Saturday, April 9. Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway will now run its race date on March 27. The series’ 36-race schedule will feature two realigned events. A second Kansas Speedway date follows the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and will be held on Sunday, June 5. And for the first time in a decade the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series realigns to a new track with a race at Kentucky Speedway. The Kentucky race will be held under the lights on Saturday, July 9.

    The 2011 “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” – consisting of the season’s last 10 races, during which the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship is decided – will begin at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 18.

    Chicagoland’s previous race date was in early July, a slot that went to the realigned event at Kentucky. New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which previously had the first Chase date, will now have the second, on Sept. 25.

    Also released today were the 2011 schedule for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, highlighted by a second race at Iowa and Chicagoland speedways, and the 2011 schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, which will see nine races moved to different dates on the calendar.

    All three national series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – will begin their seasons at Daytona International Speedway’s “Speedweeks,” with a weekend culminated by the Daytona 500. The traditional “non-points” Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will provide fans a NASCAR Sprint Cup preview, on Saturday night, Feb. 12, followed by qualifying for the “Great American Race” to be held on Sunday, Feb. 13.
    All three series will end their seasons with another tradition – Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 18-20.
    The NASCAR Nationwide Series will consist of 34 races [down from 35], all featuring the new car that is being run a total of four times this season. Iowa Speedway, which joined the schedule in 2009, receives a second date in 2011. The series will visit the Newton, Iowa, facility for the first time on Sunday, May 22 and return on Saturday, Aug. 6. A new date has been added at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, June 4.

    The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will consist of 25 races, one of which will be announced at a future date.

    See the schedule on Jayski’s 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule page.

    For more and past news about the 2011 Sprint Cup Series schedule, see my 2011 Sprint Cup Schedule news and rumors page.

    For the Nationwide Series sched, see Jayski’s Nationwide Series site or 2011 Nationwide Series Schedule page

    For the Camping World Series 2011 Sched, see Jayski’s Camping World Truck Series site or 2011 Camping World Truck Series Schedule page.(8-18-2010)


  • NNS to get the Chase? UPDATE doubtful: NASCAR officials are considering a possible Chase playoff format for the Nationwide Series next season that would exclude Sprint Cup competitors, sources confirmed Tuesday. NASCAR president Mike Helton met with Nationwide Series team owners, drivers and crew chiefs Monday in Concord, N.C., to discuss cost-containment ideas and possible changes that would allow a Nationwide-only driver to win the championship. If implemented, a Nationwide Series Chase probably would have fewer drivers and fewer races than the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which has 12 drivers for the final 10 events. Full-time Sprint Cup drivers have won the past four Nationwide Series titles and a Cup driver probably will win it again this season. Brad Keselowski holds a commanding lead over Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, all three of whom are Cup regulars. NASCAR wants to bring more attention to Nationwide Series drivers who don’t compete regularly in the Cup series. Officials discussed the possibility of limiting or eliminating points for a Cup driver who ranks in the top 35 in the Cup standings. Cup drivers still could compete in all the Nationwide events, but not compete for the championship. The team owner of those cars would continue to receive owners points, which would allow the car to win the owner’s championship, but not the driver championship. Teams also talked about making sure the new Nationwide car, which is the same chassis as the Cup car with the same safety features, remains different from the Cup version.(ESPN.com)(8-17-2010)

    UPDATE: Whether that proposal will become a reality remains a question, as NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France told ESPNDallas.com’s Richard Durrett that he doubted the Nationwide series would get a Chase. “I don’t think so. It’s a shorter season, for starters with 10 fewer races or so. That would create some issues,” France said. “We have four national divisions, so we’ve got to distinguish them and doing too many things wouldn’t do that. I don’t think you’ll see that.” However, France said creating a structure where a Nationwide regular can win that series instead of a Sprint Cup regular remains a goal.(ESPN)(8-18-2010)


  • Newman still ticked at Loganao:

    Turnbull: “Last week, you had the well-documented incident with Joey Logano in the race. I know you probably have a lot of opinions about it. One that was expressed by Logano was that you were racing too hard, too early in the race. A lot of fans, when I wrote about that quote told me they were completely in favor of racing hard the whole time. What is your take on that? Do you, in fact, race too hard? Is there such a thing?”

    Newman: “I don’t know that there is such a thing as racing too hard. There’s a level of respect out there that every driver expects. And I guess racing too hard was what I was doing for Joey with that many laps to go. Four races to go before a Chase, and we are trying to get ourselves back in that top 12. He’s not smart enough to understand this position, but he needs to take the time and realize that it’s not all about him”.

    Turnbull: “If he were a driver that had more seniority and had gained that respect, would it have been a different situation?”

    Newman: “I raced around a lot of guys, and they didn’t have that problem all day Sunday, with the exception of Joey. I race hard, and the racetrack at Michigan is different than when you race on Darlington, where you have to give and take. There was no need to give and take at Michigan. He just wanted me to [give him room], and I wasn’t going [to be] in the position or [even] want to be that giving — especially to him. He for sure now shouldn’t expect any give and take [going forward], since he has a hard time controlling his racecar inside of somebody else”.(Frontstretch)(8-18-2010)


  • Ekstrom back in the #83 car at Richmond? There is a possibility that Mattias Ekstrom will return to drive the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota at Richmond International Raceway on Sept 11th. Ekstrom, a Red Bull Racing driver, made his Sprint Cup debut at Infineon Raceway in June, starting 38th and finishing 21st. Due to a DTM race on Nürburgring, Ekstrom was unable to run the car at Watkins Glen, Boris Said drove the car there.(Motorsport Total – translated in part)(8-18-2010)


  • Brian Keselowski enters Bristol Cup race UPDATE testing: Brian Keselowski tested at Toledo Speedway Monday to prepare for his Sprint Cup Debut this weekend at Bristol in his #92 Dodge. As long as testing goes well and they get the car to what they feel is a properly handling setup, Brian will attempt to qualify and will race the entire event.(8-17-2010)

    UPDATE: Monday, August 16th, Brian Keselowski was out at Toledo Speedway working on the set up of his #92 NASCAR Sprint Cup Dodge hoping to get it ready for his Sprint Cup debut at Bristol Motor Speedway this Saturday night. Keselowski, older brother of Brad who drives the #12 Dodge in Sprint Cup, said testing went pretty well.(see images at drivenagency.com)(8-18-2010)

  • Stewart’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Michigan: Tony Stewart’s pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. It was the first Tissot win of the season for Stewart’s #14 crew and the 15th different winner of the weekly pit-road competition. Stewart’s Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road – 205.605 seconds — during the 200-lap, 400-mile race. The speedy pit stops helped Stewart post a sixth-place finish. Placing second was Kevin Harvick’s #29 Pennzoil/Shell Chevrolet – 208.766 seconds and third was Denny Hamlin’s #11 FedEx Toyota – 214.896.

    The #14 over-the-wall crew consists of: Kelly Kellis (front-tire changer), Todd Drakulich (front-tire carrier), Daniel Smith (rear-tire changer), Mike “Shrek” Morneau (rear-tire carrier), Mike Casto (jackman), Jeff “Gooch” Patterson (gasman), Rick Pigeon (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Joe Piette and the crew chief is Darian Grubb.

    The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. After 23 races Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew leads the Tissot competition with four wins while Jamie McMurray’s #1 crew is second at three wins.(Tissot). See standings and past news on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(8-18-2010)

  • 2011 Pet Calender to be released: The 2011 NASCAR Pets Calendar will be released for sale Thursday, August 19th and Greg Biffle will be at Food City Race Night in Bristol to sign them. More info on my Racing Charities page


  • WIX Filters on Newman’s car: Ryan Newman and his #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy will be sponsored by WIX Filters at Bristol Motor Speedway in a one race deal (SHR), see an image of the WIX scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)


  • Triple Duty for four drivers: four Sprint Cup drivers are scheduled to run three of the four races running this week at Bristol Motor Speedway. Three drivers will run the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races: Kyle Busch [all #18 Toyota’s], Brad Keselowski [#12, #22 & #29 Dodges] and Elliott Sadler [#19 Ford, #33 Chevy & #2-Chevy]

    Ryan Newman will run the Spriont Cup race [#39 Chevy], Nationwide [#1 Chevy] and the Modified race [#7NY].(8-18-2010)


  • Special scheme for Bowyer: Clint Bowyer’s #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevy will replace its traditional yellow and red colors this weekend in Bristol for a red and black Hamburger Helper paint scheme.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #33 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)


  • Silver scheme for Edwards: The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the silver Aflac paint scheme at Bristol, the scheme runs at most of the night races in 2010 (RFR). See images of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(8-18-2010)

  • Sam Bass To Commemorate 100th Race at Bristol: To commemorate the 100th race at Bristol Motor Speedway, track officials called NASCAR’s first officially licensed artist, Sam Bass to capture the track’s decades-long racing heritage. Since 1995, Bass has created original illustrations for the Tennessee track, including spring and fall program cover art as well as the cover illustration for the inaugural NHRA event held there in July 1999. Bass’ artwork titled “100!” for the Irwin Tools Night Race, combines historic and modern-day race cars, side-by-side, taking the green flag at Bristol Motor Speedway. His use of color and black and white pays tribute
    to the heritage of the track while looking into the future. For race fans who have watched NASCAR grow from its humble roots to the
    lifestyle it is today, “100!” is a must-have souvenir. Fore more information to purchase the poster and locations of appearances/autographs by Sam Bass, see my Image Links page.(Sam Bass PR)(8-18-2010)


  • Morgan McClure to attempt Bristol race UPDATE2 more races? The Morgan McClure website says that the #4 team will attempt the race at Bristol next week. No other details posted, but hearing that Kevin Lepage will be the driver.(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE: Nearly 20 years after scoring their first Sprint Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, Morgan-McClure Motorsports will return to the high banks for the running of the Irwin Tools 500. The Abingdon, VA-based organization announced that Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a leading United States coal producer, and Joy Mining Machinery, a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution, and service of underground mining equipment have partnered together to bring the “hometown team” back to the track to attempt the 100th Sprint Cup Series race at BMS. Kevin Lepage, a native of Vermont, will pilot the familiar #4 Alpha Natural Resources/ Joy Mining Machinery Chevrolet Impala at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and veteran Larry Carter will serve as the team’s crew chief for the event. (MMM)(8-16-2010)

    UPDATE 2: The team returned to the track for the first time since 2007 last August for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol. Relying on several crew members from the MMM glory days, veteran driver Scott Wimmer qualified 26th in the black Alpha Chevrolet. He finished 29th. MMM also attempted to qualify for the second Dover race last season. Morgan said the latest revival for the MMM group began to develop around three weeks ago. Larry Carter, who has worked in NASCAR for 27 years, has been working as the crew chief. Longtime employees Robbie Holt, Billy Brownlow and Robert Larkins are also helping to prepare the car. If Lepage qualifies, Morgan said the team plans to run the entire race. Lepage has competed in 16 Nationwide races this season. The Vermont native won the 1998 Food City 250 with car owner Doug Taylor. Lepage drove for MMM in 2001 and 2004. As for future racing plans, Morgan said it all depends on sponsorship. The goal for this weekend is to make the field and attract attention. Morgan said the expansive Morgan-McClure race shop, which was for sale last year, is no longer listed. While Morgan said the team wants to continue racing with proper funding, he will still listen to potential buyers for the shop.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-18-2010)

  • Texas announces NASCAR dates & changes: Texas Motor Speedway unveiled dynamic and historic changes to two of its marquee races during a special 2011 race schedule announcement extravaganza Tuesday night before a standing-room only crowd of more than 1,600 at the House of Blues in Dallas. The Samsung Mobile 500 will become the first Saturday evening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the 15-year history of Texas Motor Speedway when the event runs on April 9. The event also will be the first night race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The news highlighted Tuesday evening’s special event hosted by Texas Motor Speedway for its season-ticket holders and the production had the atmosphere of an awards ceremony with an array of special guests and entertainment.

    The Samsung Mobile 500 race week, featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, will have an entirely new look as the majority of on-track activity will be run in the evening. The week opens with The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days, with the Nationwide Series teams qualifying Thursday, April 7, for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 and Sprint Cup Series teams qualifying Friday, April 8, for the Samsung Mobile 500. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, which has been a Saturday daytime race since 1997, will also have a historic footnote as it becomes the first Nationwide Series race run at night in Texas Motor Speedway history when it moves to 8:00pm/ct Friday, April 8. The Nationwide race will be preceded by the final “Happy Hour” practice for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers for the Samsung Mobile 500. The Samsung Mobile 500 moves from its traditional Sunday afternoon slot to a night show on Saturday, April 9, which will be the first evening race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The race will be broadcast live in primetime on FOX beginning at 7:00pm/ct.

    The 2011 Texas Motor Speedway season will close with the Nov. 3-6 NASCAR triple-header weekend that is highlighted by the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The race week will kick off Thursday, Nov. 3, with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying for the Longhorn 350k. On Friday, Nov. 4, qualifying for the AAA Texas 500 and O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge Nationwide Series race will be held in the afternoon and then followed that evening by the Longhorn 350k starting at 8:00pm/ct. Final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Happy Hour” practice will open Saturday, Nov. 5, and then be followed by the running of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge with the start time still to be determined. The race week culminates Sunday, Nov. 6, with the AAA Texas 500, which has proven to be a pivotal race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series battle for the championship. The AAA Texas 500, which begins at 2:00pm/ct, will be broadcast live on ESPN. Season tickets for 2011 will go on sale Wednesday at 9:00am/ct and are available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Individual tickets for the 2011 Samsung Mobile 500 and Firestone Twin 275s race weekends will go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 30. The availability of individual tickets for the 2011 AAA Texas 500 will be announced at a later date.(TMS)(8-18-2010)

  • Wilkes County Bristol Stop: Set in the Brushy Mountains of western North Carolina, lays Wilkes County with a deep history of NASCAR. It is the site of the North Wilkesboro Speedway which hosted NASCAR events for 50 years. This year on the way to Bristol for the races Wilkes County will be hosting the First Annual “Bristol Stop” on race weekend, Wilkes County hotels will be offering deeply discounted hotels at several of the local hotels that include, Wilkesboro Holiday Inn, Addison Inn, and the Hampton Inn all in the Town of Wilkesboro and close to the North Wilkesboro Speedway, and within 2 hours of Bristol, TN. Anyone stopping in town on race weekend with a Bristol ticket will be able to take their ticket down to the North Wilkesboro Speedway and take a lap around the track in your street car. Also that weekend on August 21st at 7:00pm, Tim Dugger will be performing in concert at West Wilkes High School, tickets prices are $10 each and will be available during check-in at all participating hotels, all proceeds from the Tim Dugger concert will go to the Benny Parsons Athletic Complex to be built at West Wilkes High School. More info at savethespeedway.net.(8-18-2010)

  • 10 Years of Championship Racing at Homestead: For the 10th consecutive year, Homestead-Miami Speedway will serve as host to NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend in 2011. South Florida again will be the site when NASCAR crowns its Champions in all three of its top national divisions—the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series— the weekend of Nov. 18-20, 2011. Ford Championship Weekend 2010 is set for Nov. 19-21, and tickets—starting at just $55 for the Ford
    400 Sprint Cup Championship finale—are available now by calling (866) 409-RACE or by visiting THEChampionshipTrack.com.(HMS)(8-18-2010)



    News from August 17, 2010



  • NNS to get the Chase? NASCAR officials are considering a possible Chase playoff format for the Nationwide Series next season that would exclude Sprint Cup competitors, sources confirmed Tuesday. NASCAR president Mike Helton met with Nationwide Series team owners, drivers and crew chiefs Monday in Concord, N.C., to discuss cost-containment ideas and possible changes that would allow a Nationwide-only driver to win the championship. If implemented, a Nationwide Series Chase probably would have fewer drivers and fewer races than the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which has 12 drivers for the final 10 events. Full-time Sprint Cup drivers have won the past four Nationwide Series titles and a Cup driver probably will win it again this season. Brad Keselowski holds a commanding lead over Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch, all three of whom are Cup regulars. NASCAR wants to bring more attention to Nationwide Series drivers who don’t compete regularly in the Cup series. Officials discussed the possibility of limiting or eliminating points for a Cup driver who ranks in the top 35 in the Cup standings. Cup drivers still could compete in all the Nationwide events, but not compete for the championship. The team owner of those cars would continue to receive owners points, which would allow the car to win the owner’s championship, but not the driver championship. Teams also talked about making sure the new Nationwide car, which is the same chassis as the Cup car with the same safety features, remains different from the Cup version.(ESPN.com)(8-17-2010)

  • Michigan TV Ratings down: ESPN’s live telecast of the Carfax 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.6, averaging 4,916,636 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 4.1 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN. ESPN’s live telecast of the CARFAX 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at MIS on Saturday earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,799,711 viewers. The rating was the same as last year’s race that aired on ESPN2 but viewership was up 10%.(ESPN) see race-by-race and year-by-year chart on past news on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(8-17-2010)


  • Ambrose to RPM’s #9 in 2011 UPDATE: Big announcement coming from Richard Petty Motorsports tomorrow [Tuesday, Aug 17th] about a new driver/sponsor combination for 2011 (Ford Racing Facebook), Ambrose?.(8-17-2010)

    AND: Richard Petty Motorsports will make a “driver and sponsor announcement” Tuesday at 1:00pm/et, and sources say the team will announce … that Marcos Ambrose will drive the team’s #9 Fords next season, replacing Kasey Kahne. Stanley Tools –- current sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s #19 Ford at RPM -– will reportedly sponsor Ambrose’s 2011 effort.(Sirius Speedway)(8-17-2010)

    UPDATE: In preparation for the 2011 season, Richard Petty Motorsports announced that driver Marcos Ambrose has signed a multiyear agreement with the organization to drive the #9 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Long-time RPM sponsor Stanley Black & Decker will be the primary sponsor of the #9 team. “I’m very excited to join Richard Petty Motorsports,” said Ambrose. “It’s an incredible honor to be able to race for a legend like The King and be a part of this organization. I’m also happy to be back with Ford Racing. The #9 team has been a very successful team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. With the support of Ford and everyone at RPM, I believe we can continue that tradition of success. I’m also excited to join forces with Stanley.”(RPM), no word on how many years or races per season the deals are for.(8-17-2010)


  • Budweiser to sponsor RCR / Harvick UPDATE 4 images posted: Sources tell [ESPN’s Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol’ boy, red label demographic. I’m told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February — beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company’s new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)

    UPDATE: Officials with Anheuser-Busch and Richard Childress Racing are close to finalizing a sponsorship package that would put the popular Budweiser beer brand on the team’s #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick beginning in 2011, sources said. An announcement is expected to come within the next week. Budweiser currently sponsors the # 9 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 and is slated to move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he will replace veteran Mark Martin in Hendrick’s # 5 Chevy. Budweiser, which has a long history in NASCAR, is not expected to remain at RPM. “Budweiser has decided to go in another direction with regard to its driver/team sponsorship and will announce those plans in the very near future,” Mark Wright, Vice President, Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said in a statement provided by the company. “We enjoyed our three-year relationship with Kasey Kahne and wish him all the best in the future.”(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE2: Richard Childress Racing has called a press conference for Tuesday morning at team headquarters for a “major announcement regarding 2011 season and beyond”.(8-15-2010)

    UPDATE3: Budweiser will sponsor the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy that Kevin Harvick drives, a three-year deal [2011-2013] and be the primary sponsor for the majority of Sprint Cup races each season (RCR/Bud Video Press Conference).

    UPDATE4: Budweiser announced Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick will become the next star to take the wheel of the iconic Budweiser car when the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season begins in February. “Budweiser’s involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we’re excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser,” said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. “Kevin also benefits from having the support of a highly respected owner in Richard Childress and the great people of Richard Childress Racing, who will help put the #29 Budweiser Chevy in a position to challenge for Sprint Cup championships.”

    Under the terms of the [3-year] deal, Budweiser will serve as primary sponsor of the #29 Chevy for 20 points races, two non-points races during Speedweeks [Bud Shootout & Gatorade Duel] and co-primary sponsor of the Sprint All-Star Race. Budweiser will remain an associate sponsor for the remaining races on the schedule. Harvick is the two-time and defending champion of the Budweiser Shootout (2009-2010).(RCR)(8-17-2010), see images of the car on my 2011 #29 Team Schemes page.(8-17-2010)


  • Mobil 1 to the #14? Stewart Haas Racing has emerged as the leading candidate to get the Mobil 1 sponsorship that Penske Racing will vacate in 2011, when it switches to Pennzoil as sponsor for Kurt Busch (in the #22 Dodge). If SHR lands Mobil 1, it will replace Old Spice as the co-primary sponsor of Tony Stewart’s #14 Chevy. The team’s other car, Ryan Newman’s #39, will have the U.S. Army and Tornado’s back for part-time schedules next year and is trying to woo Wix Filters for a partial schedule as well.(Ford Racing), Wix Filters will be the sponsor for Newman this week at Bristol, see an image of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(8-17-2010)


  • New Labonte team, to be RCR 4th team in 2011? The fourth [Richard Childress Racing] team is preparing for [Paul] Menard’s arrival already as RCR will field the equipment and personnel for Terry Labonte in the three races he is doing this year for [#10 Gander Mountain Chevy] Stavola Labonte Racing to get that future Menard team up to speed. It’s certainly a possibility that crew chief Doug Randolph, who is working as crew chief for Labonte in those races, could take the [crew chief] role with Menard next season.(FoxSports)(8-17-2010)


  • California tragedies highlight dangers of racing: Safety concerns for both drivers and fans are swirling in California after two tragic accidents over the weekend that killed the driver of a racing big rig and eight spectators of an off-road race in the desert. In Marysville, about 40 miles north of Sacramento, Merle Shepard, the 56-year-old driver of a racing big rig, was killed when he overturned after becoming tangled with another truck. Shepard’s truck had no roll cage, and questions remained whether there should have been one. The racetrack announced it would cancel the rest of its racing season, which was to continue through Oct. 23. A message on the raceway’s Facebook page Sunday said that due to the accident, “the track is closed for the rest of 2010.” Earlier Sunday, race promoters Paul and Kathy Hawes said the racetrack would permanently close after 46 years. The Haweses said they made their decision to close the track after consulting with track owner Richard Sinnott. However, when reached later in the day Sunday, Sinnott would neither confirm nor deny the course’s permanent shutdown.

    AND At the California 200 off-road competition in Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino County, an off-road racing pickup went out of control coming off a jump and plowed into a crowd of spectators, killing eight people and injuring 12 others. On Saturday, when 28-year-old Brett M. Sloppy lost control of a modified Ford Ranger during the annual California 200 in Lucerne Valley, near Los Angeles. No barricades separate the track from spectators in the Mojave Desert race track, and the races there are infamous for fans’ ability to get so close to the action that you can literally reach out and touch the trucks as they race by. The California Highway Patrol estimates, Sloppy – who isn’t expected to face any charges in the incident – was going about 45 to 50 miles per hour when he flipped into the crowd.(in part from abcactionnews.com and Appeal-Democrat)(8-17-2010)


  • Brian Keselowski enters Bristol Cup race: Brian Keselowski tested at Toledo Speedway Monday to prepare for his Sprint Cup Debut this weekend at Bristol in his #92 Dodge. As long as testing goes well and they get the car to what they feel is a properly handling setup, Brian will attempt to qualify and will race the entire event.(8-17-2010)


  • Farm American returns to the #78 at Bristol: The paint scheme on Regan Smith’s #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy at this weekend’s Sprint Cup race in Bristol will once again pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher. The car is designed to promote the importance of U.S. agriculture, which is responsible for employing more than 22 million people in the American workforce.(Furniture Row Racing), see an image of the car on my #78 team paint schemes page.(8-17-2010)


  • Truex lauches website for NASCAR, hunting, fishing: #56-Martin Truex Jr. announced the launch of the Martin Truex Jr. Authentics website,, an online destination for NASCAR fans and outdoor enthusiasts. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and two-time Nationwide Series champion driver is known for his interest in hunting and fishing. The MTJ Authentics website provides an interactive forum for those that share his passion for these sports. Visitors to the site can share their own photos of outdoor triumphs, as well as rate and comment on other users’ pictures. Fans can also shop products hand-picked and used by Truex.(Truex PR)(8-17-2010)

  • Bristol names National Anthem singers: Southern pop artist Jessie James will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the Food City 250 Aug. 20, while the children of NASCAR drivers again will sing prior to the IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 21. The Mercury Records star recently released her second album, “Boys in the Summer,” which is already making its way up both pop and country charts. Always one of the most popular groups to sing the anthem, the children of NASCAR drivers, with assistance from Motor Racing Outreach, will sing prior to the start of the IRWIN Tools Night Race Saturday night.(BMS)(8-17-2010)



    News from August 16, 2010


  • Morgan McClure to attempt Bristol race: UPDATE: The Morgan McClure website says that the #4 team will attempt the race at Bristol next week. No other details posted, but hearing that Kevin Lepage will be the driver.(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE: Nearly 20 years after scoring their first Sprint Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, Morgan-McClure Motorsports will return to the high banks for the running of the Irwin Tools 500. The Abingdon, VA-based organization announced that Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a leading United States coal producer, and Joy Mining Machinery, a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution, and service of underground mining equipment have partnered together to bring the “hometown team” back to the track to attempt the 100th Sprint Cup Series race at BMS. Kevin Lepage, a native of Vermont, will pilot the familiar #4 Alpha Natural Resources/ Joy Mining Machinery Chevrolet Impala at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and veteran Larry Carter will serve as the team’s crew chief for the event. (MMM)(8-16-2010)

  • The Entry List for the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 50 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

    Not in top 35 of owners points:

    #07-TBA (51/3)

    #09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(38/23)

    #4-Kevin Lepage(0/0)

    #13-Max Papis (40/23)

    #26-TBA (2009 race winner as owner)(36/23)

    #32-Mike Bliss (47/8)

    #35-Jeff Green (55/1)

    #36-Casey Mears (39/23)

    #38-Travis Kvapil (37/23)

    #46-J.J. Yeley (41/23)

    #55-Michael McDowell (44/23)

    #64-Todd Bodine (46/11)

    #66-Dave Blaney (43/23)

    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/23)

    #92-Brain Keselowski(57/1)

    In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

    the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26, 09, 38, 36, 13, 46, 87, 66

    missing the race would be [7]: #’s 55, 64, 32, 07, 35, 92, 4

    See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Bristol Entry List.(8-16-2010)

  • Michigan News & Facts:

    • Kevin Harvick won the Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway. It was Harvick’s 14th Cup victory in 345 starts and his third in 2010. It was Harvick’s first win at Michigan in 20 starts.

    • Harvick became the first driver to lock down a position in the 2010 Chase.

    • Harvick led five times for 60 of the 200 laps, including the final 11.

    • It was Harvick’s first win on a non-restrictor-plate track since Phoenix in 2006.

    • Richard Childress Racing posted its 92nd series win and third win in 2010 (all Harvick). RCR posted its third win at Michigan.

    • Chevrolet scored its 12th win in 2010 and 19th victory at Michigan. Toyota has eight, Dodge has two and Ford has one.

    • The top 10 included four Fords, three Chevys and three Toyotas.

    • Denny Hamlin (second) extended a four-race streak of top-10 finishes at Michigan.

    • Hamlin extended a four-race streak of leading at least one lap at Michigan.

    • Carl Edwards (third) extended an eight-race streak of top-15 finishes at Michigan, including top-10s in seven of the past eight races there. Edwards has scored top-10 finishes in the past six races, the longest current streak, and he extended a 13-race streak of lead-lap finishes at Michigan.

    • Greg Biffle (fourth) extended a 16-race streak of running at the finish at Michigan.

    • Matt Kenseth (fifth) scored his first top-10 finish in his past four Michigan races.

    • Jimmie Johnson (12th) has scored just one top-10 finish in his past six races in 2010. Michigan is one of four active tracks where Johnson has not won.(ESPN.com)(8-16-2010)

  • Richmond announces 2011 race dates: Richmond International Raceway officials announce America’s Premier Short Track will once again host two doubleheader weekends, including the Spring season opener, as well as “One Last Race to Make The Chase” in September. And for the eighth consecutive year, the September NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race – scheduled for Saturday, September 10 – will set the field for next year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.(RIR)(8-16-2010)


  • Keselowski spending the day at ESPN: #12-Brad Keselowski will be in the other Bristol – Bristol, Connecticut – this afternoon as a guest on the ESPN campus. His day will consist of an ESPN.com chat (1:00pm/et), live afternoon SportsCenter (2:20pm/et), Sports Nation (3:30pm/et), as well as evening appearance on SportsCenter and ESPNews.He will end his trip to the global sports giant with an appearance on the weekly roundtable discussion on NASCAR Now at 6:00pm/et on ESPN2.(Penske Racing)(8-16-2010)


  • NASCAR plans to take engines after Michigan: UPDATE: NASCAR will confiscate at least 18 Sprint Cup engines following this weekend to run on the dynamometers at their technical center back in Concord, N.C. The engines of the #46 and 66 cars that failed to qualify for the Carfax 400 were taken by officials on Friday. “They want to see where everyone stands in comparison,” said Tony Furr, crew chief of the #46 car. Another motor man was told by an official that it would be “the largest lot of engines” NASCAR has ever tested and they expected to be “dynoing engines until after Bristol.”(Fox Sports)(8-14-2010)

    UPDATE: According to NASCAR, they took 16 engines after the Michigan race to conduct dyno testing: #48-Johnson, #14-Stewart, #29-Harvick, #42-Montoya, #11-Hamlin, #83-Sorenson, #56-Truex, Jr., #47-Ambrose, #66-Riggs, #87-Nemechek, #77-Hornish, #12-Keselowski, #46-Yeley, #99-Edwards, #9-Kahne, #26-Carpentier.(8-14-2010)


  • Latest on Budweiser to RCR: Announcement Tuesday: Sources tell [ESPN’s Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol’ boy, red label demographic. I’m told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February — beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company’s new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)

    UPDATE: Officials with Anheuser-Busch and Richard Childress Racing are close to finalizing a sponsorship package that would put the popular Budweiser beer brand on the team’s #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick beginning in 2011, sources said. An announcement is expected to come within the next week. Budweiser currently sponsors the # 9 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 and is slated to move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he will replace veteran Mark Martin in Hendrick’s # 5 Chevy. Budweiser, which has a long history in NASCAR, is not expected to remain at RPM. “Budweiser has decided to go in another direction with regard to its driver/team sponsorship and will announce those plans in the very near future,” Mark Wright, Vice President, Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said in a statement provided by the company. “We enjoyed our three-year relationship with Kasey Kahne and wish him all the best in the future.”(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has called a press conference for Tuesday morning at team headquarters for a “major announcement regarding 2011 season and beyond”.(8-15-2010)


  • Hendrick says Red Bull made most sense for Kahne: The owner of Hendrick Motorsports says he had four legitimate options for Kasey Kahne in 2011, but Red Bull Racing made the most sense because sponsorship wasn’t an issue. “Three of them wanted to start a new team and two of them had plans beyond to keep going,” Rick Hendrick said before Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. “A couple wanted me to make sure I could help them with the sponsors because the sponsor was going to have to stay. Well, I couldn’t control that. The more I thought about it, [Red Bull is] a top-flight team with a sponsor that is OK with a one-year deal. The sponsorship saying they are going to be with the guy for a year is a plus.”(ESPN.com)(8-16-2010)


  • Gordon consulting on Canadian track: The proposed Canadian Motor Speedway is in the final regulatory stages before the Ontario Municipal Board and construction could begin in 2011. What has #24-Jeff Gordon so excited is that the planned one-mile tri-oval on 823 acres of land between Fort Erie and Niagara Falls will be only the second race track in North America designed with specific input from a current NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. The first was Iowa Speedway, designed by Rusty Wallace and opened two seasons ago. It now hosts a NASCAR Nationwide series, NASCAR Camping World Truck and an IZOD IndyCar series race. Gordon, in an exclusive interview with the Toronto Sun, said he envisions that kind of track action at CMS – a facility designed to seat 65,000 with the potential to expand to 100,000 – within two years of its opening. Gordon warns, however, that Canadian NASCAR fans shouldn’t be thinking that NASCAR will plop a Sprint Cup race north of the border the minute the track opens. But he does think that eventuality is not out of the question somewhere down the road, especially with the kind of support for all forms of auto racing there is in Canada.(Toronto Sun)(8-16-2010)


  • Race and Commercial Breakdown of the Carfax 400:
    For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. ESPN was the broadcast team for this event. Please note that in addition to the commercials and promos listed below there is always a sponsor’s logo that changes throughout the race in the corner of the screen beside the race ticker.

    Total number of commercials: 110

    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 60

    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 27

    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM

    End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:06 PM

    Total minutes: 186

    Minutes of race broadcast: 136

    Minutes of commercials: 50

    Number of missed restarts: 1

    Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1

    See more, past races and links to full reports on my 2010 TV Commercials page.(8-16-2010)

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame to Offer Back-to-School Savings: Students can enjoy a week of back-to-school special programming, activities and discounted admission at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Students who donate a pack of pencils to the Classroom Central School Tools drive at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Saturday, Aug. 14 – Sunday, Aug. 22 receive 50% off general admission to the 150,000 square-foot interactive, entertainment attraction. Classroom Central equips students to effectively learn by collecting and distributing free school supplies. College and K-12 students can support the drive by donating school supplies (packs of pencils preferred) at the entrance of the NASCAR Hall of Fame to receive 50% off admission. During their visit, guests also will be treated to a variety of special activities including caricatures, storytelling with the NASCAR Hall of Fame historian, student-only pit crew challenges and mascot appearances. Guests can visit www.NASCARHall.com for daily programming and updates.
    After enjoying their pencil pack donation savings, guests can pack in the high-octane fun with more than 50 interactive stations, iRacing simulators, authentic NASCAR artifacts, historic stock car exhibits and more. Also, on exhibit for a limited time, guests can get a close-up look at the #3 Wrangler Chevrolet Impala that Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove to victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race July 2, 2010 at Daytona International Speedway. For more details, visit www.NASCARHall.com.(NHOF)(8-16-2010)

  • Sad News – Frank Millikan: Joseph Frank Millikan, 85, of Randleman NC died Sunday, August 15, 2010 at his home. Millikan was a native of Pleasant Garden and a Navy Veteran of WWII. He coached baseball with the Randleman and Level Cross Little Leagues for many years. He was part owner/operator of Frank and Larry’s Restaurant. Millikan’s son, Joe, ran 80 Sprint Cup races from 1974 thru 1986 with 10 top-fives, 38 top-tens and a pole. Joe was also part of a talented 1979 Rookie of the Year class which included ROTY Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant and Terry Labonte. Another son, Blue, works in the Truck Series. For service info and guest book, go to pughfuneralhome.com/(8-16-2010)

  • All Day Food Fest at Auto Club Speedway: On October 10, not only will NASCAR fans get their fill of “The Chase,” they’ll also get their fill of great food when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup comes to Auto Club Speedway. For a limited time only, for just $35 (ages 13 and over) or $20 (ages 12 and under) fans can fill up on their favorite food as part of Auto Club Speedway’s special all you can eat “All Day Food Fest” package. The advance purchase only package is available for the day of the Pepsi MAX 400 on Sunday, Oct. 10 at participating Auto Club Speedway concession stands scattered throughout the property. The “All Day Food Fest” package does not include a ticket to the race and all “All Day Food Fest” guests must have a valid grandstand admission or infield ticket to enjoy the all you can eat package. An “All Day Food Fest” wristband will be issued and is valid for (1) entrée, one (1) snack and one (1) non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line at participating locations and each pass is only valid for one person (no sharing). Hungry race fans must act now, as the All Day Food Fest package expires on Oct. 7.(ACS)(8-16-2010)


    News from August 15, 2010


  • Harvick wins at Michigan: #29-Kevin Harvick won the CarFax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway for his 3rd win of 2010 and 14th of his career. It is his first win and a non-restrictor plate race since Phoenix in 2006. #11-Hamlin finished second followed by: #99-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #42-Montoya, #56-Truex, Jr., #19-Sadler, and #20-Logano. Harvick increased his lead to 293 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. There were 17 lead changes among 9 drivers and 5 cautions for 25 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 105,000, up slightly from last year which was 103,000.

    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Michigan Race Results/Awards page.(8-15-2010)

  • Race Fast Facts – Michigan:

    Kevin Harvick won the CARFAX 400, his 14th victory in 345 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

    Harvick also clinched a spot in the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

    This is his third victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2010.

    This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 20 races at Michigan International Speedway. His previous best Michigan finish was second in 2003.

    Denny Hamlin (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in ten races at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 10th top-10 finish in 2010.

    Carl Edwards (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 13 races at Michigan International Speedway.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-15-2010)


  • Two drivers can clinch chase spots: UPDATE: With four races remaining until the chase beings, drivers can begin clinching chase spots at Michigan. To guarantee a spot, a driver needs to leave Michigan with a 596 point lead over the 13th place driver in the standings. #29-Kevin Harvick (currently 579 ahead) and #24-Jeff Gordon (currently 394) can clinch with a good run Sunday.(NASCAR)(8-15-2010)

    UPDATE: Harvick’s win increased his point lead over 13th place #5-Martin to 680 points and locked him into the chase. Gordon lost ground on 13th and is 387 points ahead.(8-15-2010)

  • 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:

    [after Michigan, race 23 of 36]:

    rank, car#, driver, points, behind

    1) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 3400

    2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3107, -293

    3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 3047, -353

    4) #14-Tony Stewart, 3020, -380

    5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 3014, -386

    6) #99-Carl Edwards, 2986, -414

    7) #31-Jeff Burton, 2986, -414

    8) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 2975, -425

    9) #17-Matt Kenseth, 2961, -439

    10) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 2935, -465, +215

    11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2913, -487, +193

    12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2755, -645, 35 ahead of 13th

    Chase for the Sprint Cup – Contenders:

    13) #5-Mark Martin, 2720, -680, 35 points out of the chase

    14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2652, -748, -103

    15) #1-McMurray [2 wins], 2650, -750, -105

    16) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2629, -774, -126

    17) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2626, -774, -129

    2009 Chase Drivers not in top 17

    19) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya [1 win], 2582, -818, -173

    36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]

    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(8-15-2010)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Bristol:

    No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team fell to 35th and the #26 team remains 36th. The points spread from 35th to 36th is now at 161.

    33) #34-Raines/Front Row: 1719, 176 points ahead of 36th

    34) #37-Gilliland/Front Row: 1711, +168

    35) #7-Robby Gordon/RGM, 1704, 161 points ahead of 36th

    these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

    36) #26-Carpentier/Latitude43: 1543, -161 points out of the top 35

    37) #38-Kvapil/Front Row: 1530, -174

    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-15-2010)

  • Penalty Report – Michigan:

    Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty

    #2 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #26 33, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #09 60, Pitting before pit road is open,tail end

    #39 149, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #5 149, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #12 149, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #24 155, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #31 155, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #77 176, Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires

    (NASCAR Statistics)(8-15-2010)

  • Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Michigan: (and their finish)

    Caution 1: #71-Labonte, 33rd

    Caution 2: #34-Raines, 31st

    Caution 3: #6-Ragan, 11th

    Caution 4: #88-Earnhardt, Jr., 19th

    Caution 5: #39-Newman, 23rd

    (8-15-2010)

  • Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Michigan (or seemed to)?

    43rd: #87-Nemechek, 14 laps run

    42nd: #55-McDowell, 20 laps

    41st: #13-Papis, 27 laps

    39th: #07-Gordon, 34 laps

    with NASCAR’s new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #587 this week

    (only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(8-15-2010)

  • Interesting Stat – only TWO Birthday winners EVER: Cale Yarborough is the only Sprint Cup driver to ever win a points paying race on his birthday, which is March 27. In 1977 at North Wilksboro Speedway AND 1983 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
    NOTE, since much email was first recieved with guesses, a few items were covered and checked: Richard Petty never won on his birthday [July 2nd] [in Cup] and neither did Jeff Gordon [August 4th]. In fact, the Brickyard 400 was only been held on Gordon’s birthday once, in 2002, when Bill Elliott won. Gordon’s first Brickyard 400 came on August 6, 1994.
    ADD #18-Kyle Busch won at Richmond on May 2, 2009, to become only the 2nd driver EVER to win on their birthday, and only the third time ever.(5-2-2009)
    WHY bring this up? #99-Carl Edwards birthday is today, Sunday, August 15th and he could be the 3rd driver on this list if he can win the Carfax 400 at Michigan today.(8-15-2010)


  • Mears replacing Papis? UPDATE: As for Casey Mears, a source close to his situation said that he likely will replace Max Papis in the Germain Racing #13 car no later than the Atlanta race at the end of the month. He will drive for the team, which has a half-season sponsorship from GEICO, in 2011 as well. The team, which has gone to every race this year but not run the full event at venues where it is unsponsored, needs sponsorship for 18 races in 2011.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has confirmed that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal will be completed and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. The car will “start and park” at both Michigan and Bristol with drivers TBA, before Mears takes over at Atlanta. He will also drive the car in the full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Papis, meanwhile, will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable.(Sirius Speedway)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Germain Racing’s Max Papis expects to remain a GEICO-sponsored driver but whether he competes in another full Sprint Cup race with the sponsor this year remains to be seen. Casey Mears is expected to replace Papis in the #13 Germain Racing car in the Sprint Cup Series for the next sponsored race in September at Atlanta. The insurance company also is expected to sponsor Mears for a part-time Cup schedule in 2011. Papis could end up in the Camping World Truck Series with GEICO sponsorship. The company has sponsored him for 18 Cup races this year, and Papis has been to the rest of the races to start-and-park. “It would benefit a lot for me to run a full season, and that’s what GEICO wants,” Papis said Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, where he made the Cup race but doesn’t plan to run the full event Sunday. “We’re working to make that happen. I don’t know what that will mean on the Cup side. That’s only what I know right now. If I could run a full season, it would help quite a bit. It will not be in the Cup series.”(Scene Daily)(8-15-2010)


  • Two drivers can clinch chase spots: With four races remaining until the chase beings, drivers can begin clinching chase spots at Michigan. To guarantee a spot, a driver needs to leave Michigan with a 596 point lead over the 13th place driver in the standings. #29-Kevin Harvick (currently 579 ahead) and #24-Jeff Gordon (currently 394) can clinch with a good run Sunday.(NASCAR)(8-15-2010)


  • NASCAR plans to take engines after Michigan: NASCAR will confiscate at least 18 Sprint Cup engines following this weekend to run on the dynamometers at their technical center back in Concord, N.C. The engines of the #46 and 66 cars that failed to qualify for the Carfax 400 were taken by officials on Friday. “They want to see where everyone stands in comparison,” said Tony Furr, crew chief of the #46 car. Another motor man was told by an official that it would be “the largest lot of engines” NASCAR has ever tested and they expected to be “dynoing engines until after Bristol.”(Fox Sports)(8-14-2010)


  • NTSB issues preliminary report on Roush crash: The National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report on Jack Roush’s plane crash that happened last month at Oshkosh, Wis. The report does not assign blame for the incident but does provide a few more details of what happened. In the report, it states that Roush’s “airplane appeared to overshoot the runway centerline during this turn (a left turn for the runway) and then level its wings momentarily before entering a slight right bank simultaneously as the nose of the airplane pitched up. The airplane then turned left toward the runway centerline and began a descent. During this descent, the airplane’s pitch appeared to increase until the airplane entered a right bank and struck the grass area west of the runway in a nose down, right wing low attitude.” The report — remember this is a preliminary report, a final one will come later — did not mention the traffic “conflict” he encountered upon landing that he said contributed to the incident. Such details are likely to be examined in the final report. The preliminary report stated that air traffic controllers were interviewed, amateur video was reviewed, the NTSB spent two days examining the plane before giving it back to Roush and found “no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies” in the on-scene inspections of the “airframe structure, flight control systems, or two turbo-fan engines.” The report also states that “several non-volatile memory devices were removed from the airplane and were retained for future download. A cockpit voice recorder was recovered and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division in Washington, D.C. for readout.”(Hampton Roads)(8-15-2010)


  • Kyle Busch to Make Off Road Debut: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch is scheduled to make his Pro 2WD off-road racing debut in the Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL Aug. 24-25 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. The 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion will face drivers such as seven-time AMA champion Ricky Johnson; off-road star Rob MacCachren; and motocross legend Jeremy McGrath, who is being inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America that same week. Many drivers have raced in off-road prior to their careers in NASCAR, Brendan Gaughan and Jimmie Johnson to name a few. Busch has previous dirt racing experience, driving a dirt late model in the annual “Prelude to the Dream” race founded by NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The event, held the same week as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ and IZOD IndyCar Series’ events at the speedway, puts the The Traxxas TORC Series and its drivers right in front of a whole new group of enthusiastic motorsports fans.(TORC PR)(8-15-2010)

  • Carfax, MIS extend carbon offset program: Carfax and Michigan International Speedway are teaming up for the second straight year to help neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from travel, energy and auto use during this weekend’s “Show Me the CARFAX” Race Weekend at MIS. This precedent-setting initiative is the result of a partnership between Carfax, MIS and The Conservation Fund to help curb climate change and restore habitat for wildlife. Carfax and MIS are working with The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero® program to zero out the CO2 emissions that result from the facility’s energy use during the race weekend and fuel used by fans traveling to and from the festivities. The effort will also cover the emissions from the race cars during both NASCAR events at MIS – the CARFAX 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday and CARFAX 250 Nationwide Series race on Saturday, and qualifying and practice sessions on Friday and Saturday. Nearly 4,000 trees will be planted at Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge in east central Louisiana as part of Carfax and Michigan International Speedway’s efforts. This marks the fourth straight year Carfax and MIS have neutralized the activities of its NASCAR programs at MIS.(MIS)(8-15-2010)


    News from August 14, 2010


  • Saturday Happy Hour practice for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, the fastest, slowest, notes:

    #48-Johnson 185.845

    #6-Ragan 185.214

    #24-Gordon 184.971

    #29-Harvick 184.772

    #16-Biffle 184.743

    slowest: #13-Papis 177.738 & #7-Jones 173.942

    The start of the session was delayed a few minutes because Nationwide Series qualifying took longer than expected. #19-Sadler slid up into the wall coming off turn 4 but the team will fix it.

    See fastest laps, ave speed, most laps run on my Michigan Practice Speeds Page.(8-14-2010)

  • Michigan announces 2011 race dates: Michigan International Speedway will hosts its 84th and 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2011, track officials announced Friday. The track’s opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in 2011 will be a return to Father’s Day on June 19. The series will visit Michigan later that summer on August 21.(MIS)(8-14-2010)

  • Saturday’s first practice for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, the fastest, slowest, some notes:

    #16-Biffle 187.052

    #39-Newman 186.466

    #9-Kahne 186.191

    #31-Burton 186.157

    #2-Busch 186.133

    slowest: #13-Papis 178.860 & #7-Jones 178.713.

    notes: #11-Hamlin & #18-Busch swapped cars for a practice run so each to evaluate different setup options.

    See fastest laps, ave speed, most laps run on my Michigan Practice Speeds Page.(8-14-2010)

  • Pit Stall Selections – Michigan: The selections of pit stalls for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway have been made. Pole sitter ##9-Kahne chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

    Outside pole sitter #48-Johnson took pit stall 23, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

    #33-Bowyer, who starts 3rd took the 22nd pit stall, the first stall with an opening behind it.

    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #17-Kenseth, who starts 7th.

    To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(8-14-2010)

  • Sad news – Frank “Scoop” Vessels: Frank “Scoop” Vessels, a prominent Southern California breeder of racehorses and the grandson of the founder of Los Alamitos Race Course, died Wednesday in a twin-engine plane crash in southeastern Oregon. He was 58. Before taking over the family’s horse breeding enterprise, Vessels excelled in a different form of racing – off-road trucks. He competed in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 desert races among others, was voted the sport’s rookie of the year in 1974 and in the late ’70s won a string of off-road class championships. Vessels, also, was among a small group of Southern California truck driver-owners who persuaded NASCAR to add a truck division to its stock-car racing series. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Bonnie; and three sons, Bryan, Colt and Kash. [Mike Chase and PJ Jones drove for him in 1995. Jones had best finish – 2nd at Tucson/NASCAR PR] (L.A. Times)(8-14-2010)


  • Sadler still working on 2011 plans: Elliott Sadler said he’s trying to find a Sprint Cup ride but would consider driving in the Nationwide or Camping World Truck series if those were his only viable options. Sadler announced a month ago he didn’t expect to be back at Richard Petty Motorsports after this season. Although an RPM official said publicly that the team had interest in keeping Sadler, the Virginian said he’s not had much dialogue with the organization. Sadler said that some plans have fallen through in the last month and that he’s focused talks with one Cup team that he wouldn’t name. Sadler said that plans are being put together to have him run a few more truck races for Kevin Harvick Inc. next season. If his Cup plans falter, Sadler said he would look to other series. “I’d rather go somewhere and win then go somewhere and just ride around,” Sadler said. “If I have to go back to Nationwide or go back to the Truck (series) and get my chance and opportunity to win races, you’ll see Elliott Sadler do that instead of go somewhere where there’s a start-and-park (car) or ride around. That’s not me. I’m way too competitive for that. I don’t have a big enough ego to where I have to be labeled a Cup driver. I want to be a driver that’s competitive.”(Roanoke Times)(8-14-2010)


  • Regan Smith offered contract extension: #78-Regan Smith has been offered a contract extension with Furniture Row Racing. Although the contract has not been signed yet, Smith says, “I’m very comfortable here and want to keep working on moving forward. I feel very good about Furniture Row. We’ve made a lot of progress over the last (year) and they’re at the point where things are really starting to take off. Smith, 26, has forged a patient path with Sprint Cup team owner Barney Visser and Furniture Row. After being named rookie of the year in 2008 and nearly winning the fall Talladega event the same season for Dale Earnhardt Inc., Smith moved to FRM. Smith made 18 starts his first season in the #78 Chevy. This year, the organization returned to full-time competition. The team’s engineering department developed a program to polish up Smith’s driving skills. The organization has benefited from a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing this season and will run Earnhardt Childress Racing engines in 2011.(Fox Sports)(8-14-2010)


  • Red Bull committed to NASCAR; open to 3 teams in 2011: UPDATE: Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that there is no truth to rumors that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz may pull the plug on the team. “There is a huge commitment from Austria to this program,” said Frye. “Red Bull came here in 2006 as an owner and a sponsor, and they have done everything right. It’s become a joke in our team meetings every month. I usually have to say, `Everything’s fine, don’t believe the rumors.’ I guess it’s a compliment that they’re talking about us, but it’s also bothersome. There is a long term commitment by Red Bull to doing this program,” Frye said. “They want to win and compete at a high level. That’s their expectation, and we feel the same way. We still young with a ways to go, but getting a guy like Kasey Kahne — even for one year — makes us better. This team isn’t going anywhere.” Frye also said that options exist for the team to field three Toyotas for Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Scott Speed, if necessary. Vickers is still months away from knowing whether he will be able to return to the cockpit in 2011, and Frye confirmed that the team is still evaluating Speed’s performance, before making a final decision on his status for next season.(Sirius Speedway)(8-13-2010)

    UPDATE: Although Red Bull Racing might not have a Sprint Cup seat for him next year, Scott Speed said Friday he has a contract with the team for 2011. The team announced Tuesday that Kasey Kahne would drive one of its cars in 2011 but did not say whether either of its drivers, Brian Vickers or Speed, is out of a ride. Vickers has been sidelined since May because of blood clots. He is undergoing treatment for the clots and likely won’t know until November if the treatment is successful, whether he can remain off blood-thinners and race again. Speed indicated Friday that he cannot negotiate with other teams about 2011. “I have a contract with Red Bull,” Speed said prior to practice at Michigan International Speedway. “It’s not like I’m out. I can’t even go out and look for other rides at the moment.” Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye said Tuesday that the organization could possibly go to three teams but didn’t confirm that Speed would be in a car in 2011.(Scene Daily)(8-14-2010)


  • Hendrick still working on sponsorship for Gordon: #24-Jeff Gordon was asked about the status of sponsorship for 2011 Saturday in Michigan:

    Q: Are you getting close to sponsorship and knowing waht it is going to look like next season?

    A: “Yes. We’re getting close to the timing of it. We don’t have anything to announce yet. You’ll know when we know man, we don’t know much yet. We’ve been continuing to have our conversations with DuPont, Pepsi and everybody. We’re going through the processes right now trying to figure out what we are going to do.”(Chevy PR)(8-14-2010)


  • Edwards to induct cancer survivor into crew of courage at Michigan: Aflac announced that Michigan resident and cancer survivor Donald Selfridge will be inducted as the newest member of the Aflac Crew of Courage. The ceremony will happen during the Carfax 400 race at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 15. The Aflac Crew of Courage is a program spotlighting stories of amazing bravery. Selfridge, a resident of Big Rapids, Mich., has overcome kidney cancer while facing the added problem of living some 200 miles away from his hospital and doctors. As a result, he regularly drove more than 400 miles round-trip to receive treatment in Dearborn, Mich. Selfridge’s Aflac cancer insurance policy helped cover his travel costs and other expenses. In select race markets this season, Aflac Racing and Edwards are welcoming inspirational Aflac policyholders into the Crew of Courage and giving them VIP experiences at their local racetracks. Selected Crew of Courage members share one-on-one time with Edwards and receive special access to the garage and pit areas, as well as tickets to the race. What’s more, Edwards honors Aflac Crew of Courage members by wearing their names on feather-shaped stickers on his helmet throughout the season. Aflac Crew of Courage members also receive autographed replica race helmets as mementos of their experiences.(Roush Fenway PR)(8-14-2010)

  • Commemorative casino chip for September NASCAR race at Dover: Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, in conjunction with sister company Dover Motorsports, will release the inaugural, limited edition Monster Mile commemorative casino chip for the upcoming Sept. 24-26, 2010, NASCAR race weekend at Dover International Speedway. The $5 commemorative chip is the first in a planned series to be designed for each subsequent NASCAR race weekend at the speedway. The $5 chips can only be purchased at the casino table games area of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and only 5,000 chips are being produced. The chip depicts Miles the Monster, Dover International Speedway’s signature icon. The concrete monster is spawned from the track’s nickname, “The Monster Mile,” and is also featured on the winner’s trophy, tickets, memorabilia, and of course, the 46-foot-tall Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, presented by AAA. The first Monster Mile casino chip will be available for sale beginning Wednesday, Sept. 22, only at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.(Dover PR)(8-14-2010)


    News from August 13, 2010



  • Jack Roush back at the track: NASCAR team owner Jack Roush was back at the racetrack Friday, having permanently lost vision in his left eye but otherwise feeling lucky to survive yet another plane crash. And yes, he expects to fly again. Roush, who crashed his jet just over two weeks ago while trying to land at an air show in Wisconsin, said he ruptured his left eyeball in the crash and doesn’t expect to ever be able to see out of it again. “Everything will come back, except for the eye,” he told reporters at Michigan International Speedway. Roush then joked that he uses his right eye to examine spark plugs anyway. Wearing sunglasses and his trademark Panama-style hat, Roush was present on pit road for qualifying. He had left the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., earlier this week. In addition to his eye injury, Roush said he broke his jaw, sustained a compression fracture in his back and hurt his left cheek.(Associated Press)(8-13-2010)

  • Chitwood replaces Brag at Daytona: International Speedway Corporation announced it has named Joie Chitwood III President of Daytona International Speedway effective immediately. Current DIS President Robin Braig will leave to pursue other opportunities. Chitwood, 41, has been Vice President of Business Development for ISC since 2009. In this position, he led strategic development and oversaw business execution across the Company’s 13 motorsports facilities and Americrown Service Corp., ISC’s catering, concessions and merchandising subsidiary. Prior to joining ISC, Chitwood served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Before joining the IMS executive staff, Chitwood was Vice President and General Manager of Raceway Associates, LLC, which oversaw construction and operation of the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., from 1999-2002. Also of note, Chitwood, beginning at the age of five, was an integral part of his family’s motorsports entertainment business, the well-known Chitwood Thrill Show.(DIS)(8-13-2010)

  • Martinsville Cup Races Both Week Later In 2011: Martinsville Speedway will again host two NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011, but both races will be a week later than in recent years. NASCAR announced that the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 3 while the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be held on Sunday, October 30. “There was quite a bit of shuffling in the schedule for next year and we are really pleased with the new dates NASCAR has for us,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “Our spring date is a little further into spring and our second date still falls at a very comfortable time in this part of Virginia. We think that both of our 2011 dates are great for our fans and should provide two great weekends.”(Martinsville PR)(8-13-2010)

  • Kahne wins pole at Michigan: #9-Kasey Kahne won the Coors Pole for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway with a speed of 187.1833mph for his 2nd pole of 2010 and 18th of his career. #48-Johnson will start 2nd followed by #33-Bowyer, #14-Stewart, #42-Montoya, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #29-Harvick, #56-Truex, Jr., and #98-Menard.

    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #09-Cassill, #13-Papis, #87-Nemechek, #26-Carpentier, #21-Elliott, #38-Kvapil, #07-Gordon, and #55-McDowell.

    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (4): #32-Bliss, #46-Yeley, #66-Riggs, and #36-Mears.

    See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Michigan Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(8-13-2010)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts – Michigan:

    Kasey Kahne won the Coors Light Pole Award for the CARFAX 400 with a lap of 38.465 seconds, 187.183 mph.

    This is his 18th pole in 239 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Two of his 18 poles have come with Richard Petty Motorsports. Interestingly, this pole ties him for 37th on the all-time poles list with Lee Petty (as well as Donnie Allison and Joe Weatherly).

    This is his second pole and 12th top-10 start in 2010. His last pole came at Infineon Raceway.

    This is his second pole in 14 races at Michigan International Speedway. His first pole at Michigan came in June of 2006.

    Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 18th top-10 start of 2010 and his 13th in 18 races at Michigan International Speedway.

    Clint Bowyer (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 10th in 23 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-13-2010)

  • Friday practice for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, the fastest, slowest:

    #31-Burton 187.115

    #42-Montoya 186.635

    #29-Harvick 186.417

    #99-Edwards 186.239

    #16-Biffle 186.037

    slowest: #7-Jones 178.771 & #37-Gilliland 178.771

    See fastest laps, ave speed, most laps run on my Michigan Practice Speeds Page.
    (8-13-2010)

  • Michigan practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

    if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

    #21-Bill Elliott [PC], 25th

    #36-Casey Mears, 27th

    #38-Travis Kvapil, 33rd

    #13-Max Papis, 34th

    #09-Landon Cassill, 35th

    #87-Joe Nemechek, 36th

    #46-J.J. Yeley, 38th

    #32-Mike Bliss, 40th

    these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

    #07-Robby Gordon, 42nd
    #55-Michael McDowell, 43rd

    #66-Scott Riggs, 44th

    #26-David Stremme, 45th

    [PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]


  • Conway’s job in danger? UPDATES: Kevin Conway’s days might be numbered at Front Row Motorsports. It sounds like the team has grown tired of Conway’s poor performance, and this group will struggle mightily to make races if the #34 falls out of the top 35 in owners points. They are currently 35th in the standings, only 182 points ahead of 36th. A few more bad finishes, and Conway will be on the outside looking in. To this point in the season, Conway has had a guaranteed starting position in every race, due to some fancy number wrangling by owner Bob Jenkins. With one team already outside the top 35 however, thanks to the tire debacle at Pocono earlier in the year, Jenkins can’t afford to have another team fall out. Word is that Extenze would continue sponsoring the team, but another yet-to-be-named driver would be brought in.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Comments from ExtenZe Racing regarding recent Internet rumors about Kevin Conway:”Contrary to some Internet reports out there that recently surfaced after the NASCAR race weekend concluded at Watkins Glen, ExtenZe and Alteril are 100% committed to Kevin Conway and the sport of NASCAR,” said Robert Wilhovsky, Director of Motorsports Marketing. “While we are currently evaluating our options for 2011, Kevin Conway has been and will continue to be the foundation of our NASCAR program in the years ahead.(ExtenZe PR)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE 2: Tony Raines has replaced Kevin Conway on the Michigan entry list.(8-13-2010)

    UPDATE 3:Tony Raines will drive the Front Row Motorsports #34 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, starting immediately. Raines, 46, replaces Raybestos rookie candidate Kevin Conway. “We decided to make a driver change,” said Front Row general manager Jerry Freeze. “ExtenZe (Conway’s sponsor) has asked to take a hiatus. They’re taking a break and could be back later this fall. “Tony is also on the entry blank for Bristol and then we‘ll reevaluate.”(Fox Sports)(8-13-2010)

    UPDATE 4: Kevin Conway and ExtenZe Racing announce that they are suspending their program with Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing effective immediately. “As was released earlier this week, ExtenZe and Alteril are 100% committed to Kevin Conway and the sport of NASCAR,” said Robert Wilhovsky, Director of Motorsports Marketing. “While we are currently evaluating our options for the rest of 2010 and next year, Conway has been and will continue to be the foundation of our NASCAR program in the years ahead.(ExtenZe PR)(8-13-2010)

  • Qualifying Order for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

    The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #39-Newman.

    The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #7-Jones.

    The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #36-Mears with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #38-Kvapil.

    See the full qualifying order on the Michigan Qualifying Page.(8-13-2010)


  • Riggs driving for PRISM Motorsports at Michigan: Scott Riggs will make his PRISM Motorsports debut driving the #66 Toyota in the August 15 Carfax 400 at Michigan. “Scott clearly has an impressive racing resume and we are excited to bring a driver with his experience to PRISM Motorsports,” said Phil Parsons, who serves as a co-owner of the team, along with Randy Humphrey. “Dave Blaney has been instrumental in getting our team started and to this point in the 2010 race season, so we are thankful to him and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”(PRISM PR)(8-13-2010)

  • Daytona repaving hits a snag: The winning streak could not last forever. The repaving of Daytona International Speedway’s famous 2.5-mile tri-oval hit a minor snag Wednesday after heavy showers washed away some of the exposed lime rock base in Turns 3 and 4. “It’s no big deal,” project manager Bill Braniff said Thursday. “We’ll go back, re-grade it and repack it again. We expect things like that to happen, and it underscores the importance of not removing the old asphalt in Turns 1 and 2.” Up until Wednesday’s weather situation, the paving project has been nearly flawless. In the last week, Lane Construction has laid three layers of asphalt over the entire length of the tri-oval and backstretch, started to grade the backstretch skid pad extension and pulled up asphalt along pit road. The pit road project is in focus right now.(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(8-13-2010)


  • Red Bull committed to NASCAR; open to 3 teams in 2011: Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that there is no truth to rumors that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz may pull the plug on the team. “There is a huge commitment from Austria to this program,” said Frye. “Red Bull came here in 2006 as an owner and a sponsor, and they have done everything right. It’s become a joke in our team meetings every month. I usually have to say, `Everything’s fine, don’t believe the rumors.’ I guess it’s a compliment that they’re talking about us, but it’s also bothersome. There is a long term commitment by Red Bull to doing this program,” Frye said. “They want to win and compete at a high level. That’s their expectation, and we feel the same way. We still young with a ways to go, but getting a guy like Kasey Kahne — even for one year — makes us better. This team isn’t going anywhere.” Frye also said that options exist for the team to field three Toyotas for Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Scott Speed, if necessary. Vickers is still months away from knowing whether he will be able to return to the cockpit in 2011, and Frye confirmed that the team is still evaluating Speed’s performance, before making a final decision on his status for next season.(Sirius Speedway)(8-13-2010)


  • Robby Gordon in the #07: UPDATES: Robby Gordon tweeted that he will be in the #07 this week and the driver for the #7 will be announced soon.(8-11-2010)

    UPDATE: An updated entry list shows P.J. Jones as the driver of the #7 for Robby Gordon Motorsports.(8-12-2010)

    UPDATE 2: Why the switch to the #07 for Robby? In two tweets made Thursday evening [here and here] Robby said, “Why am I in the #07 this wkend? Because the #7 is already in the show. I feel most comfortable trying to qualify it myself than someone else. Can’t have anymore wrecked race cars especially during practices.”(8-13-2010)


  • Morgan McClure to attempt Bristol race: The Morgan McClure website says that the #4 team will attempt the race at Bristol next week. No other details posted, but hearing that Kevin Lepage will be the driver.(8-12-2010)


  • Kyle Petty to be Enshrined in Little League Museum Hall of Excellence: The name “Petty” is synonymous with auto racing in America and is arguably the most recognizable name in the sport. But, Kyle Petty also understands that he would not be in the position he is in without the hard work of other people. He also understands the need to give back to society and how living your life the right way sets a positive example for others. So it is fitting Little League Baseball and Softball will honor Mr. Petty with enshrinement in the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum’s Hall of Excellence during the 64th Little League Baseball World Series this month in South Williamsport, Pa. Mr. Petty will attend the Little League Baseball World Series and be present for his induction in the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence. The induction ceremony will take place on Aug. 29 prior to the World Championship game which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.(Little Legue Online)(8-13-2010)

  • Michigan Tire Notes/Facts: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will be running a slightly different tire set-up than those in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Michigan this weekend . . . while teams in both series will be running the same right-side tire code (D-4272), they will be running distinct left-side codes . . . Sprint Cup teams will be running the same combination of left- and right-side tires they ran at Michigan earlier this season . . . they have also run this right-side code with a different left-side at the last two races at Dover . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Michigan . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 42-44 laps, based on fuel mileage.(Goodyear), see full notes, tires pressures and codes on the Michigan Race Info page.(8-13-2010)


  • Michigan Rookie Notes: Joey Logano was the top Raybestos Rookie in the 2009 CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Logano scored a seventh-place finish, one of seven top-10 finishes he racked up during his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the August race at Michigan (since 1975) is third-place by Tony Stewart (1999). Davey Allison is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position for the August race at Michigan (since 1975). Allison captured the top starting position for the 1987 race. The most recent Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the August race at Michigan is Clint Bowyer, who led twice for six laps in 2006.(Raybestos), see full rookie notes, history, streaks and standings on my 2010 Rookies page.(8-13-2010)


  • Some Chassis selections for Michigan:

    #1-Jamie McMurray: The #1 Philips Norelco Bodygroom Pro team will bring chassis #1006 to Michigan this weekend. This chassis has been used twice this season at Darlington and Chicagoland. Both events saw McMurray capture the pole and finish in the top-five placing second and fifth. McMurray has led 143 laps with this chassis.

    #2-Kurt Busch: crew chief Steve Addington and the “Blue Deuce” crew are racing their “PRS-734” Miller Lite “Vortex” Dodge in this weekend’s action at Michigan. “This is a brand new Miller Lite Dodge Charger that we’re bringing to Michigan,” Addington said. “We still have the ‘725,’ the car we raced there in June, in our rotation and will likely race it again at Atlanta or another track on down the line. We finished third there in June and are determined to be there up front again this weekend.”

    #5-Mark Martin: Gustafson has chosen Chassis #5-550 for Sunday’s race at Michigan. This is the same chassis that Martin drove to a seventh-place finish at Pocono two weeks ago. In July, Martin raced this car to an 11th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    #6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-640; Last ran Michigan – finished 34th. Backup: RK-620; Last ran Vegas – finished 23rd.

    #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge team will use chassis PRS-726 during Sunday’s Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This chassis last competed at the first race at Pocono in June.

    #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-564: This car debuted at Texas last November, where it delivered a strong performance by qualifying fourth and finishing sixth. The 2009 season finale at Homestead-Miami marked the car’s second career start. There, it qualified fifth and led twice for 43 laps before two separate on-track incidents with Juan Pablo Montoya relegated it to a 22nd-place finish. It saw action during the off-season when it was used for a Goodyear tire test at Texas Jan. 19-20. Chassis No. 14-564 returned to competition in February at Auto Club Speedway, where in the second race of the 2010 campaign, it started 16th and finished ninth. It returned to Texas in April for its fourth career start, where it qualified on the pole and led five times for 74 laps before a late-race accident relegated it to an undeserved 32nd-place finish. It was repaired and fitted with a new body for the series’ June stop at Michigan, where it qualified 17th and finished a solid fifth. It’s been idle since, but will return to the 2-mile Michigan oval for this weekend’s CARFAX 400.

    #16-Greg Biffle: Car 571 – Last Raced: Chicagoland

    #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-672 (last raced at Charlotte)

    #18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 280: This is a brand new racecar that will turn its first competitive laps in Sunday’s CARFAX 400 at Michigan.

    #19-Elliott Sadler: The #19 RPM team has prepared chassis #282 for this weekend’s event. This is the same Ford the team ran earlier this year at Chicagoland and at Las Vegas.

    #20-Joey Logano: The #20 Home Depot Team is taking chassis #275 this weekend for the Carfax 400. This will be the second time this chassis will be raced this season, Logano piloted chassis #275 to a ninth-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The back-up chassis is #272 which has competed in three races 2010: Chicagoland (18th) the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (16th) and in June at MIS (10th).

    #29-Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis #288 from the RCR Sprint Cup Series stable. Earlier in the year, this Chevy scored a runner-up finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at Auto Club Speedway finished ninth at Atlanta, and finished seventh at Dover. Additionally, Harvick raced this chassis three times in the latter part of the 2009 season, finishing 18th at Charlotte, fifth at Texas and third at Homestead-Miami.

    #31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton will race chassis #317 from the RCR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new this season, this is the same Caterpillar Chevy Burton drove to an eighth-place finish at Pocono on August 1.

    #33-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis #315 from the RCR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new Chevy that will be put through its first paces this weekend.

    #39-Ryan Newman: Chassis #39-596 has seen race action twice in 2010. The car, which was built over the offseason, previously raced at Las Vegas and Texas. Newman qualified the #39 third at Las Vegas, but was plagued by handling issues and long pit stops throughout the 267-lap event, both of which led to him being mired in traffic. The lost track position was too much to overcome, and Newman finished 18th. At Texas, Newman qualified 10th, but a tight-handling racecar caused him to lose several positions. Newman narrowly avoided a multi-car incident just 17 laps from the end of the race, which put him in position to make a solid run in the closing laps. He finished 11th. Since the Texas race, Chassis #39-596 has been given a new-style body. The car was wind-tunnel tested Aug. 4.

    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Brian Pattie will bring chassis #1015 to Michigan this weekend. This chassis is the same Montoya used at the first 2010 NSCS event at Michigan where he finished 13th.

    #43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 Richard Petty Motorsports team led by crew chief Mike Shiplett has prepared chassis #288 for this weekend’s event at Michigan. This car has been run on quite a few occasions this season. Most recently the #43 team utilized this car for the event at Chicago. It also saw action at the first Pocono event, Dover and at Bristol. Allmendinger finished inside the top 15 in three of those four events.

    #48-Jimmie Johnson: Chassis #610 will be the primary for Saturday’s event. Johnson has driven that chassis once before – to a 25th-place finish in Chicago. Back up chassis #553 has collected three wins in four starts – the most recent coming at Auto Club Speedway in February.

    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis #88-599. Earnhardt notably drove this chassis to two recent top-10 finishes. He took seventh on June 13 at Michigan. In April, Earnhardt raced this chassis at Texas, starting ninth and leading 46 laps before finishing eighth.

    #98-Paul Menard: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 RPM crew have prepared chassis #683 for this weekend’s event. This is the same car the team ran at the June race at Michigan. It has also seen action at Auto Club Speedway and Charlotte.

    #99-Carl Edwards: RK-695. Last outing: Indy, July ’10 – finished 7th(from team PR’s/sites if reported)(8-13-2010)

  • Midnight Blue performing concert before Darlington truck race: Local rock group Midway Blue has signed on to perform a pre-race concert prior to the Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 14. After first coming together in late 2008, Midway Blue began touring throughout South Carolina and recently won the top prize on the SPEED program Fast Track To Fame. The pre-race concert is free of charge and will begin at 6:00 pm and will take place on the driver introduction stage at the start finish line.(Darlington Raceway)(8-13-2010)


    News from August 12, 2010


  • Watkins Glen race to move back a week in 2011: The excitement level surrounding the 25th consecutive running of NASCAR at The Glen is still climbing high and fans can already start making their plans for the 2011 event weekend. Watkins Glen International officials confirmed today that Juan Pablo Montoya will defend his title at The Soul of American Road Racing one week later in 2011, August 11-14. The announcement comes on the heels of a highly successful Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, including increased overall weekend attendance at the historic road course compared to 2009.(WGI)(8-12-2010)


  • Mears replacing Papis? UPDATE: As for Casey Mears, a source close to his situation said that he likely will replace Max Papis in the Germain Racing #13 car no later than the Atlanta race at the end of the month. He will drive for the team, which has a half-season sponsorship from GEICO, in 2011 as well. The team, which has gone to every race this year but not run the full event at venues where it is unsponsored, needs sponsorship for 18 races in 2011.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has confirmed that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal will be completed and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. The car will “start and park” at both Michigan and Bristol with drivers TBA, before Mears takes over at Atlanta. He will also drive the car in the full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Papis, meanwhile, will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable.(Sirius Speedway)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Max Papis will remain in the car this week at Michigan and will likely stay in at Bristol before stepping out for Mears.(8-12-2010)


  • Robby Gordon in the #07: UPDATE: Robby Gordon tweeted that he will be in the #07 this week and the driver for the #7 will be announced soon.(8-11-2010)

    UPDATE: An updated entry list shows P.J. Jones as the driver of the #7 for Robby Gordon Motorsports.(8-12-2010)


  • Judge denies Mayfield request to reverse decision: U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen, who in May dismissed Jeremy Mayfield’s claims against NASCAR over a May 2009 drug test that NASCAR said was positive for methamphetamines, issued a ruling Thursday denying a request from Mayfield to vacate the decision. Mullen had ruled in May that Mayfield had waived most of his rights to sue NASCAR when he signed the NASCAR-driver agreement and NASCAR-owner agreement. He also indicated that Mayfield did not have enough evidence to support his claims. “Plaintiffs [Mayfield] have repeatedly asserted that they can and will bring viable claims of tortious interference with contractual or business relations, but have yet to state a single example as to how they will do this or submit a proposed amended complaint,” the judge wrote in his decision released Thursday. “Plaintiffs maintain in their motion they are ‘confident’ that they can bring valid claims for tortious interference unrelated to NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, yet in their next sentence Plaintiffs state that these ‘causes of action must involve implementation of the policy. The logical inconsistencies in Plaintiffs’ arguments are further compounded by the fact that they propose no specific amendments to their prior claims and have not shown how any amended complaint would remedy the many other deficiencies that caused the Court to dismiss Plaintiffs’ claims. As Plaintiffs have failed to hint at any additional allegations upon which relief could be granted, granting Plaintiffs’ leave to amend will be an exercise in futility.”(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)


  • Roush released from hospital: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was released from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., yesterday. “I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and concern I have received the past two weeks,” Roush said. “Our teams and drivers have not missed a beat in my absence, and I am proud of the effort they have put forth. I look forward to rejoining them at the track soon.” It has not yet been determined when Roush will return to the race track.(Roush Fenway PR)(8-12-2010)


  • Latest on Budweiser to RCR: UPDATE: Sources tell [ESPN’s Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol’ boy, red label demographic. I’m told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February — beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company’s new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)

    UPDATE: Officials with Anheuser-Busch and Richard Childress Racing are close to finalizing a sponsorship package that would put the popular Budweiser beer brand on the team’s #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick beginning in 2011, sources said. An announcement is expected to come within the next week. Budweiser currently sponsors the # 9 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 and is slated to move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he will replace veteran Mark Martin in Hendrick’s # 5 Chevy. Budweiser, which has a long history in NASCAR, is not expected to remain at RPM. “Budweiser has decided to go in another direction with regard to its driver/team sponsorship and will announce those plans in the very near future,” Mark Wright, Vice President, Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said in a statement provided by the company. “We enjoyed our three-year relationship with Kasey Kahne and wish him all the best in the future.”(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)


  • Penske says Hornish will stay in NASCAR: Team owner Roger Penske said driver #77-Sam Hornish Jr. will be competing in NASCAR in 2011 and there are no plans for the three-time IndyCar champion to return to open-wheel competition. “We’ve said publicly that we want to run Sam next year (in NASCAR); he’s not going back to open-wheel racing,” Penske said. “He’s going to be in NASCAR racing.” Mobil 1 currently sponsors Hornish’s #77 team, but the company will not return next season. “It’s a matter of us getting the sponsorship stuff together,” Penske said. “As you know, budgets are tight. We’ve got a number of opportunities out there that we’re working on. That’s a decision that we’ll make as we get toward the end of the season and we’ll make it transparent to everyone.”(Sporting News)(8-12-2010)


  • Stavola Labonte Racing announce 2010 plans: Veteran NASCAR team owner Bill Stavola is back on the racing scene, joining with two-time Sprint Cup Series Champion Terry Labonte to form Stavola Labonte Racing. The duo have partnered with award-winning sports marketing and sponsorship professional Bill Henneberry who will oversee their sales and marketing efforts.
    Stavola Labonte Racing makes its 2010 debut in the #10 Gander Mountain Chevy on Sept. 11 in Richmond, followed by Oct. 16 in Charlotte and finishing strong on Nov. 7 at Labonte’s home track in Texas. An expanded 2011 season will be announced soon.

    Gander Mountain will serve as the primary sponsor for all three races, with American Cement serving as associate sponsor. Stavola, who managed teams with Rookies of the Year Dick Trickle and Jeff Burton and veteran drivers such as Bobby Allison, will serve as the team’s Chief Executive Officer after nearly a decade out of the sport. Stavola and Labonte will back their decades of experience and history of winning with the right combination of technology and equipment provided through their partnership with Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, who will supply RCR-built Chevrolet Impala race cars and ECR-built Chevrolet power plants.(Stavola Labonte Racing), see an image of the car on my #10 Team Schemes page.(8-12-2010)


  • Mastercraft on the #98: Mastercraft will adorn the hood of the #98 Ford this weekend in Michigan. Mastercraft Cabinets has a long tradition of quality craftsmanship and dedicated employees who take tremendous pride in providing great products.(RPM)(8-12-2010)


  • Joe Gibbs Racing Launches New App For Mobile Devices: Joe Gibbs Racing announces that it has launched Joe Gibbs Racing iCrew, a new application for mobile devices that will allow fans to follow all news related to the team’s NASCAR and Motocross operations. The new app allows JGR fans to follow all the latest news, information and special features with ease from wherever they might be. JGR fans will now have the ability to receive instant notifications on qualifying and race results, as well as breaking news, special events, and contests. In addition, content includes exclusive JGR and JGRMX photographs, videos, and features. The app also allows fan interaction syncing comments through Twitter and Facebook accounts. Joe Gibbs Racing iCrew is available for free in the Android Market and the App Store.(JGR PR)(8-12-2010)


  • Goodyear tire test at Talladega on open to the public: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the Goodyear Tire Test on August 24 will be open to the public. Drivers scheduled to participate are Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, Joey Logano and Elliott Sadler. Parking lots open at 8:30 with the test officially kicking off at 9 am. The event is free to the public and food and beverages will be permitted.(TSS)(8-12-2010)

  • Evander Holyfield, Saving Abel among Michigan grand marshal lineup: Five-time heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield has been named co-grand marshal for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield is the only professional boxer to win the heavyweight boxing title five times and is one of the greatest boxers in history. Virginia Craig, a 17-old native of Hickory, N.C., is also co-grand marshal Sunday. Her wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to say the most famous words in motorsports: “Gentlemen, start your engines!” Craig, who was born with spina bifida, is a life-long NASCAR fan whose favorite driver is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Rockers Saving Abel, along with Matthew Stamm, son of Asbury Automotive Group Vice President John Stamm, will handle the duty for the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 on Saturday.(MIS)(8-12-2010)

  • Budweiser Acceleration One Night Stand Hospitality at MIS: Michigan International Speedway just launched a new fan hospitality option that finally satisfies the late-night, NASCAR fan searching for the ultimate party. And the best part? It’s free. Oh, and if you like to party with NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, then “Budweiser Acceleration ONE NIGHT STAND” is for you. This Friday-night hospitality alternative for the thousands of Michigan International Speedway guests who just can’t leave the track Friday night is inside the Budweiser Acceleration Club. The club is in the New Holland Fan Plaza at MIS, near the SPEED Stage. Budweiser Acceleration ONE NIGHT STAND is open from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kahne will stop by to mingle with guests from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no cover charge to attend and features live music from three bands – Ashes of Soma, Lifeline and Sore Eyes. Budweiser Acceleration ONE NIGHT STAND is for guests 21 years of age and older. IDs will be checked at the door. Budweiser products and food are available inside the club for purchase. No coolers allowed.(MIS)(8-12-2010)


    News from August 11, 2010



  • Stremme leaves #26 team: UPDATE: David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve. We’ve been trying to put that program together,” said Stremme. “We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn’t really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We’ve barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn’t even know if we were going to have tires to race on. “I went to Bill and said `If things aren’t going to change, I don’t think I want to stay involved.’ We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that’s fine. It’s his choice.” Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, “We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven’t been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We’ve had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit.” Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. “There’s no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money,” he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, “(Jenkins) hasn’t returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It’s a bad deal for me.” Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, “There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don’t want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn’t get that in return.”(Sirius Speedway)(8-10-2010)

    UPDATE:Patrick Carpentier will again be driving the #26 Ford of Latitude 43 Motorsports for the Sprint Cup race at Michigan this weekend. Davis Stremme had been the driver until Sunday, according to owner Bill Jenkins and crew chief Frankie Stoddard. Stremme, however, announce Monday on Sirius XM Radio that he left the team. It was during the same show that Jenkins said Carpentier would probably be in his car at Michigan.(Rue Frontenac, translated by Google translate)(8-11-2010)

  • Bristol announces 2001 race dates: NASCAR’s two Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Bristol Motor Speedway will remain in March and August in 2011, with the August date moving back one week. Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR’s most popular track, returns to its customary August race date, the weekend prior to the Labor Day holiday, Aug. 26-27. NASCAR kicks off the BMS spring weekend with Ford Fan Friday March 18, followed by the Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide Series event March 19, and the Food City 500 Sprint Cup race March 20.(BMS)(8-11-2010)

  • New Hampshire announces two race weekends for 2011: With anticipated crowds exceeding the Super Bowl, Final Four, NBA Finals, World Series games, and even the Stanley Cup Playoffs , New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the three the biggest sporting events in New England during its 2011 racing season. For the 15th consecutive season, the “Magic Mile” will host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. Moving from its recent late-June date, NASCAR’s elite series makes its season debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 17 for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will make its second trip to the “Granite State” on Sunday, September 25, as the SYLVANIA 300 lights up the competition for the second race in the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.” In addition to the two Sprint Cup Series races at NHMS, a “New Breed of Speed,” invades the track when the IZOD IndyCar Series returns after a 13-year hiatus. On August 14 Dario Franchetti, Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, and all of the IZOD IndyCar Series stars will bring close wheel-to-wheel action and speeds reaching up to 200 miles per hour. Gappens also announced that there will not be a price increase for NASCAR events in 2011.(NHMS)(8-11-2010)


  • Menard moving to Richard Childress Racing: UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing and Menards, the third-largest home improvement company in the United States, have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR’s fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard. “Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR. Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We’re also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history.” Further announcements about the program will be forthcoming.(RCR)(8-11-2010)

    UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports issued the following statement in regards to the announcement that Paul Menard, driver of the #98 Menards Ford, will depart the team in 2011. “We have enjoyed having Paul Menard and the Menard family as a part of the Richard Petty Motorsports team this season,” said NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty. “Paul is in the middle of his best season of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we feel like our strong commitment to him and that team in addition to the great support from Ford Racing has been a major part of that,” added Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. “With 14 races to go, we expect the #98 team to finish just as strong as it started this year.”(RPM)(8-11-2010)

  • Infineon NASCAR Date Moves Back to Final Weekend in June for 2011: Infineon Raceway will return to its more traditional date for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend in 2011. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 will take place, June 24-26, the final weekend in June. The race had been held on Father’s Day each of the last two years.(Infineon PR)(8-11-2010)


  • Robby Gordon in the #07: Robby Gordon tweeted that he will be in the #07 this week and the driver for the #7 will be announced soon.(8-11-2010)


  • Toyota ok with having Kahne for only one year: [Some people] claim it’s impossible for a future Hendrick/GM driver to run under a different manufacturer. But consider Hendrick isn’t exactly a full-time Chevy guy, either. He has a handful of Toyota dealerships, just like he sells Dodges and BMWs, too. “Rick Hendrick is a friend to our company,” said Toyota President Lee White, who immediately pointed out those connections and reconfirmed his company’s commitment to Red Bull through 2012. So there was no need for Hendrick to even jump over the Toyota hurdle, as White didn’t know of any potential signing until the weekend of Watkins Glen. Some might wonder how Toyota ends up a winner despite only having Kahne for one year. But in talking to White, he emphasized how growing organizations like Red Bull need to have drivers with the veteran experience to win races. “With this economy, you don’t own people,” he said, stressing the fact one year could lead to long-term benefits for Red Bull. “All we care about is a driver’s potential to win races.” That’s why White gave Red Bull his blessing, stressing the ability for a team to make its own decisions. And with a Red Bull/Toyota commitment that lasts through 2012, he hopes for long-term improvement while looking forward to milking the Kahne connection for all its worth. “I can’t wait to see the sponsifier commercial for Kahne,” he joked about the popular award-winning campaign for the manufacturer.(Sports Illustrated), and Kahne is driving for two different manufacturers this season: Fords is Cup for Richard Petty Motorsports and Toyotas in Nationwide for Braun Racing.(8-11-2010)


  • Upgrades planned for Kentucky Speedway: Yes, it’s official. Kentucky Speedway will host its first Cup race on Saturday night, July 9, 2011. But Bruton Smith’s just getting started. Before he could get the huge banner outside the front gate unrolled he was lobbying the governor to build an airport large enough to land 747s on these sprawling hills. “All you camera guys, are you looking at me?” Smith said as he began his rundown of planned improvements. “Look at me!” Smith then promised to spend between $90 million and $100 million expanding seating capacity from 66,000 to 116,000, building new restrooms, adding 200 more acres of campground space and putting in more elevators. When you see what he has accomplished already and what he promises, you almost believe one day he’ll convince NASCAR to move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(ESPN.com)(8-11-2010)


  • Earnhart “Drive the Guard” scheme at Michigan: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will show his support for the National Guard’s “Drive the Guard” program by showcasing a red, white and blue paint scheme on his #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in this Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan. The “Drive the Guard” program is an enlistment option offered to new recruits and current National Guard Soldiers interested in obtaining their commercial driver’s license (CDL) while performing their regular duties in the National Guard. Learn more by visiting www.NATIONALGUARD.com/DrivetheGuard.(Hendrick PR)(8-11-2010)


  • Racing in America on the #19 at Michigan: The #19 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, driven by Elliott Sadler will go Petty Blue at Michigan this weekend to help highlight awareness of Racing in America, a planned American racing exhibition set for permanent display in the Dearborn, Mich.-based Henry Ford Museum. The one-of-a-kind exhibition will cover all forms of American auto racing through the lens of innovation, powered by highly interactive displays and frontier-stretching technologies. Racing in America will bring auto racing to life with history’s greatest and most significant vehicles, the personal stories and collections from the most legendary leaders and drivers in the industry, as well as on-site demonstrations of today’s technological advancements. Fans can get a first look at plans for the exhibit, see parts of the collection, and help donate to the exhibit by visiting Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, or by going to www.racinginamerica.com.(RPM), see an image of the car on my #19 team paint schemes page.(8-11-2010)


  • Cat Financial on the #31: Cat Financial’s associate sponsorship of RCR’s #31 Chevy kicks into high gear this weekend as Burton and the #31 team transform their track-type tractor #31 Caterpillar Chevy into a primarily yellow, red and black Cat Financial racing machine for the CARFAX 400. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation is the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc., see a drawing of the car on my #31 team paint schemes page.(8-11-2010)


  • Kyle Busch’s Crew wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Watkins Glen: Kyle Busch’s pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International. It was the second Tissot win of the season for the #18 crew, which moved into a tie for third place in the season standings. Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew continues to lead the Tissot competition with four wins while Jamie McMurray’s #1 crew is second at three wins. Busch’s #18 M&M’s Toyota Camry spent the least amount of time on pit road during the 90-lap race in central New York – 84.438 seconds. Coming in second was Carl Edwards’ #99 Aflac Ford (84.821) and third was Kurt Busch’s #2 Miller Lite Dodge (85.358). The quick work by the #18 crew helped Busch post an eighth-place finish. The No. 18 over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver (Tissot). See standings and past news on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(8-11-2010)

  • Week 5 Daytona Repave Update: The Daytona Repave entered its second month as new asphalt continues to be put down on the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval while removal of the old asphalt is also ongoing. Here are the highlights from the fifth week of work on repaving Daytona International Speedway:

    · The first two layers of asphalt have been paved on both the Frontstretch and Superstretch

    · The grading of Turn 3 is now complete

    · The asphalt in Turn 4 has now been removed and is currently being graded

    · Asphalt primer has been placed in Turn 3

    · The concrete patch in Turn 2 was removed

    Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, will use an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway and has a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011. Speedweeks 2011 will kick off with the 49th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Jan. 29-30 and conclude with the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Race fans will be able to view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience. For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(8-11-2010)


    News from August 10, 2010


  • Kentucky Speedway to host Cup race: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith announced that Kentucky Speedway will play host to its inaugural 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 9, 2011. The Sparta, Ky., venue will become the 23rd motorsports facility on the 36-race Sprint Cup Series schedule and the first facility to be added to the national tour since Chicagoland Speedway made its debut July 15, 2001 and Kansas Speedway staged its first series race on Sept. 29, 2001.(Kentucky PR)(8-10-2010)

  • Las Vegas race weekend returns to first week of March: Las Vegas’s annual NASCAR Weekend will return to its traditional March weekend in 2011. The annual NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be held March 4-6, 2011. Earlier this year, the event was held on the final weekend in February due to a quirk in the calendar. “In reality, it’s on the same weekend as the 2010 event, but our race fans have been used to coming here on the first weekend in March, so it’s good to be back on those dates,” said LVMS president Chris Powell. “We’ve been blessed with great weather on this weekend the past few years, and we look forward to having another great weekend with a packed house in 2011.”(LVMS)(8-10-2010)


  • Watkins Glen TV Ratings: ESPN’s live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sunday, Aug. 8, earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.6, averaging 4,931,881 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was the same as the 3.6 earned by ESPN for the race telecast in 2008, the last year the event was run and telecast as scheduled. Last year’s race was rained out and run on a Monday.(ESPN), see all the TV Ratings for 2010, plus 4 year comparison chart on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(8-10-2010)

  • Ekström testing: Hearing that Mattias Ekström is testing a Red Bull Car today and Wednesday at Greasham Motorsports Park.(8-10-2010)

  • Stremme leaves #26 team: David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve. We’ve been trying to put that program together,” said Stremme. “We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn’t really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We’ve barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn’t even know if we were going to have tires to race on. “I went to Bill and said `If things aren’t going to change, I don’t think I want to stay involved.’ We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that’s fine. It’s his choice.” Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, “We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven’t been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We’ve had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit.” Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. “There’s no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money,” he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, “(Jenkins) hasn’t returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It’s a bad deal for me.” Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, “There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don’t want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn’t get that in return.”(Sirius Speedway)(8-10-2010)

  • Kansas announces two race dates for 2011: Kansas Speedway and International Speedway Corporation announced that NASCAR has approved ISC’s request for realignment and beginning in 2011, Kansas Speedway will host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend will be held June 4-5 and the second event weekend will be the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Oct. 8-9.(Kansas Speedway)(8-10-2010)

  • Phoenix announces 2011 race dates: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that the track has been awarded two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends in 2011, marking seven consecutive seasons for PIR to host a pair of nationally-televised event weekends featuring the brightest stars in NASCAR. Phoenix will maintain two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends in the face of widespread schedule realignment that saw multiple race dates moved amongst multiple facilities. As part of the NASCAR’s schedule realignment, Phoenix International Raceway’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will move from April to February 27 – just one week after NASCAR’s largest event, the Daytona 500. PIR will look to capitalize on the season-opening excitement of Daytona with a new Sunday day-race format, allowing fans to take in the 500 km race in Phoenix with a more traditional local start time of 1 p.m. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will be televised nationally on FOX. Phoenix will continue to host the semi-final race in NASCAR’s playoffs – the Chase for the Sprint Cup – on November 13. The Kobalt Tools 500, a race in which fans have come to expect heavy championship implications, also starts at 1 p.m. locally and will be televised nationally on ESPN. NASCAR will conclude its season the following week at Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida.(PIR)(8-10-2010)

  • Auto Club Speedway will have one race for 2011: Auto Club Speedway will host one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend – March 25-27 – returning to its traditional spot on the schedule beginning in 2011. Speedway officials also continue to work in earnest to add events to the Speedway’s race schedule in an effort to diversify on-track activity for the 2011 year. “Moving our Auto Club 500 event from February to March provides us the opportunity to show off the area’s beautiful ‘Chamber of Commerce’ weather,” said Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker. “Our staff and the thousands of Southern California loyal race fans look forward to the return of NASCAR’s most talented drivers in both the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series as well as Southern California’s own four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.(ACS)(8-10-2010)


  • Kahne to Red Bull in 2011? UPDATESL Red Bull Racing has emerged as the likely place for Kasey Kahne in the 2011 Sprint Cup season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. Under a proposed arrangement, Kahne would drive one of Red Bull Racing’s Toyota’s next season as he waits to take over Hendrick’s #5 Chevy in 2012, sources close to the situation confirmed Sunday. Mark Martin, as he has maintained since news of Kahne’s signing by Hendrick became public in April, would drive the #5 next season, his last with Hendrick. Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing’s general manager, would neither confirm nor deny his organization has been in discussions with Hendrick Motorsports to have Kahne drive a Red Bull car next season. Sources maintained that the deal to put Kahne at Red Bill has not been completed, but insisted that it is the most viable option for the 30-year-old driver from Enumclaw, Wash. An HMS spokesman declined to comment on the Kahne-to-Red Bill scenario after Sunday’s race. Kahne’s agent did not respond to a request for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has completed a deal to put Kasey Kahne in a Red Bull Racing Toyota in 2011, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. An announcement could come as early as Tuesday. Which Red Bull car Kahne will drive is still to be determined. Neither of Red Bull’s current drivers are guaranteed to drive for the team in 2011. Team general manager Jay Frye has said a decision should be announced on Scott Speed’s status by the end of August. Brian Vickers, who has been sidelined since May for the treatment for blood clots, won’t know until November if the treatments worked well enough for him to return next season, although the team is optimistic. Hendrick had originally said that he expected to be able to place Kahne in a Chevy for 2011, but it appears it will be a Toyota, which signed a contract extension with Red Bull last year.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)

    UDPATE 2 Kasey Kahne will drive a Red Bull Racing Team Toyota in 2011, the team announced. “We were fortunate to have the opportunity to hire a very talented driver for the 2011 season and we took it,” said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team Vice President and General Manager. “This is a unique situation that doesn’t happen every day. Kasey is a perfect fit for our company, team and Red Bull.” “This opportunity places me with an established, competitive team that has proven they can win races and make the Chase,” Kahne said. “I have great respect for Red Bull, so to have the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011 is a great fit for me, both personally and professionally. It feels good to be able to finally put this to rest and focus my energy on finishing the season strong for the 9 team and our sponsors.” “This obviously all happened very quickly,” Frye added. “Over the next month, we will finalize the specific team details.”(Red Bull Racing PR)(8-10-2010)

    UPDATE 3: Statement from Rick Hendrick: “Kasey is going to a competitive organization that made the Chase last season and has great leadership and resources,” said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Of everything we looked at, he and I agree it’s the best opportunity for him to be successful in 2011, which was always our number-one priority. The process went on longer than any of us anticipated, but I’m glad that we took our time to make sure it was right. And although I’m not looking forward to racing against him next year, I’m comfortable knowing this is the best situation for Kasey.” As announced in April, veteran Mark Martin will continue to drive Hendrick Motorsports’ #5 Chevys in 2011. “We’re looking forward to another year with Mark Martin, one of the true class acts in racing, driving for Hendrick Motorsports,” Hendrick said. “There aren’t many things in this world I’d rather do than win a championship with him, and that will be our goal with the #5 team for the rest of this year and in 2011.”(Hendrick PR)(8-10-2010)


  • Hall of Fame attendance short of estimates: Three months after it opened, the NASCAR Hall of Fame said Monday its total attendance passed 100,000 last week. The hall’s daily attendance has averaged 1,140 people over the first 90 days of operation. If that attendance level holds up for the year, the hall would have about 410,000 visitors for its first year. The hall projected it would have 800,000 visitors in its first 13 1/2 months of operation, and then 400,000 people annually after that. The hall also said 70 percent of its customers are from 100 miles or beyond, and 26 percent of its customers have come from 500 miles or farther. The average distance driven to visit the hall in its first 10 weeks of operation was 368 miles.(Charlotte Observer)(8-10-2010)


  • Norelco sponsoring McMurray at Michigan: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Philips brand Norelco announced that the new, all-in-one dual-end Bodygroom Pro groomer, will serve as the primary sponsor on the #1 Chevy, driven by Jamie McMurray at the Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Along with sponsoring the #1 Chevy, Philips Norelco will host race fans, on the midway, trackside at the Philips Lifestyle Lounge throughout the weekend at MIS. The lounge will allow race fans the opportunity to test Philips innovative products that focus on people and improving the quality of their lives, including Philips Sonicare toothbrushes, Philips Norelco shaving and grooming and a selection of consumer electronics.(EGR PR), see an image of the car on my #1 team paint schemes page.(8-10-2010)

  • Congrats to #43 Jackman Big Ed Watkins and Wife Vonda welcomed a new baby boy into the world with the late-night arrival of Rhylen Edward Watkins on Saturday [8/8/2010] morning. Watkins, who mans the jack for the #43 RPM Ford on race day, had to do his own AJ Allmendinger impression as he raced to the hospital in the dead of night, passing state troopers while on the phone with 911 just in case things happened faster for Vonda than was planned. But his speedy driving did the trick as the duo arrived at the hospital just minutes before baby was delivered. Rhylen posted for his first-ever weigh-in at 8 lbs, 11 oz and is happy and healthy, and already studying schemes for a 4-3 defense. Mom is fine, too! Ed was back at the track in time for duty on Sunday on the Insignia/Best Buy Ford Fusion.(AJAllmendinger.com)(8-10-2010)

  • Chase Notes and Stats going into Michigan: #33-Clint Bowyer’s trip behind the wall at Watkins Glen put him a couple of laps down and ended up knocking him out of the Top 12 with four races to go. #5-Mark Martin could have taken better advantage of the break, but his 19th did move him 10 points ahead of Bowyer. #39-Ryan Newman got a 12th and it was good enough to gain him 55 big points on 12th, pulling him within 83 of the cutoff for the Chase. #1-Jamie McMurray continued his late charge with a sixth and now lurks 94 points out. #9-Kasey Kahne recorded a 17th and moved up 35 points, now 133 out and still with a puncher’s chance. #99-Carl Edwards’ fifth and #17-Matt Kenseth’s 13th were good enough to gain them 54 and 23 points respectively, and now both have a one-race cushion on staying in the Top 12.
    So a few drivers still have a shot at the Chase who are out: Bowyer is 13th only 10 pts out; Newman is 14th, 83 pts out; #1-McMurray is 15th, 94 pts out; Earnhardt Jr. is 16th, 121 pts out; and Kahne is 17th, 133 pts out; .
    For season-to-season comparison after 22 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Pocono page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-10-2010)

  • Saving Abel returns to MIS for Budweiser Acceleration Concert: If fans couldn’t get enough great rock ‘n’ roll when Saving Abel performed at Michigan International Speedway in June, the popular band will return during the Show Me the CARFAX Race weekend on August 14-15 and rock the house again. Saving Abel will perform at the speedway’s Budweiser Acceleration Concert following the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 on Saturday, August 14. The popular Saturday night concert in Lot 10 has always been a crowd staple and fan favorite at MIS for nearly a decade. Saving Abel follows a long list of spectacular concerts that have been held at MIS including Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, 3 Doors Down, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and most recently Sick Puppies last June. Saving Abel performed at MIS in June following the Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 with much fanfare. The band will return to MIS on August 14 to support its sophomore album “Miss America” which hit stores on June 8. The post-race concert featuring Saving Abel and Sore Eyes will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Nationwide Series CARFAX 250. A Saturday ticket is no longer needed to attend.(MIS)(8-10-2010)


    News from August 9, 2010


  • Watkins Glen News & Facts:

    • Juan Pablo Montoya won the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. It was his second Sprint Cup Series victory in his 131st start. It was his first win in 2010 and the second of his career, the first coming at Sonoma in 2007. He ended a 113-race winless streak and led 74 of 90 laps. He led the most laps for the second time in 2010 (Indy) and for the fourth time in his career, but the first he has won after leading the most. He has led in 13 of the 22 races in 2010. Montoya is the fourth driver to win in 2010 who broke winless streaks of 50 or more races, joining (Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle.

    • Montoya is the 10th different race winner in 2010 and the 17th different race winner in 28 races at Watkins Glen. It was his third straight top-10 finish at Watkins Glen and his seventh top-10 finish in eight career road course races.

    • It was the third win in 2010 for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Jamie McMurray won at Daytona and Indy. It was the team’s first win at Watkins Glen. Ganassi won the Rolex Grand-Am race with Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett at Watkins Glen on Saturday and won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio with Dario Franchitti on Sunday.

    • Chevrolet earned its series-leading 11th win in 2010. Toyota has eight, Dodge two and Ford one. It was Chevrolet’s 16th win at Watkins Glen, the most of all manufacturers. Chevrolet has won 12 of the past 14 races at Watkins Glen.

    • Crew Chief Brian Pattie earned his first Cup win.

    • Kurt Busch finished second in his 350th career series start and posted best finish in his 10 races at Watkins Glen; he extended a three-race streak of top-10 finishes at Watkins Glen.

    • Marcos Ambrose (who finished third) posted third straight top-three finish in three Watkins Glen races. Ambrose has finished sixth or better in the past five road course races.

    • AJ Allmendinger (fourth) posted his career-best road course finish.

    • Carl Edwards (fifth) posted his fifth straight top-10 finish in six races at Watkins Glen.

    • Tony Stewart (seventh) has finished 11th or better in 11 of his 12 races at Watkins Glen.

    • Kyle Busch (eighth) has scored top-10 finishes in his past five races at the Glen.(ESPN.com)(8-9-2010)


  • Conway’s job in danger? DENIED; Kevin Conway’s days might be numbered at Front Row Motorsports. It sounds like the team has grown tired of Conway’s poor performance, and this group will struggle mightily to make races if the #34 falls out of the top 35 in owners points. They are currently 35th in the standings, only 182 points ahead of 36th. A few more bad finishes, and Conway will be on the outside looking in. To this point in the season, Conway has had a guaranteed starting position in every race, due to some fancy number wrangling by owner Bob Jenkins. With one team already outside the top 35 however, thanks to the tire debacle at Pocono earlier in the year, Jenkins can’t afford to have another team fall out. Word is that Extenze would continue sponsoring the team, but another yet-to-be-named driver would be brought in.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Comments from ExtenZe Racing regarding recent Internet rumors about Kevin Conway:”Contrary to some Internet reports out there that recently surfaced after the NASCAR race weekend concluded at Watkins Glen, ExtenZe and Alteril are 100% committed to Kevin Conway and the sport of NASCAR,” said Robert Wilhovsky, Director of Motorsports Marketing. “While we are currently evaluating our options for 2011, Kevin Conway has been and will continue to be the foundation of our NASCAR program in the years ahead.(ExtenZe PR)(8-9-2010)

  • The Entry List for the Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:

    Not in top 35 of owners points:

    #09-Landon Cassill (2009 race winner as owner)(39/22)

    #13-TBA (41/22)

    #21-Bill Elliott (1988 Champ)(45/7)

    #26-David Stremme(2009 race winner as owner)(37/22)

    #32-Mike Bliss (48/70

    #36-Casey Mears (38/22)

    #38-Travis Kvapil (36/22)

    #46-J.J. Yeley (40/22)

    #55-Michael McDowell (44/22)

    #64-Tony Raines (46/11)

    #66-Dave Blaney (43/22)

    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/22)

    In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:

    the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 26,09,21,38,36,13,46,87

    missing the race would be [4]: #’s 66,55,64, 32

    See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Michigan Entry List.(8-9-2010)


  • It’s a boy for Gordon: From JeffGordon.com, “Announcing the arrival of Leo Benjamin, born to the proud parents Jeff Gordon & Ingred Vandebosch, August 9, 2010 at 8:52am, 7 lbs, 2oz, 19in.”(8-9-2010)


  • Mears replacing Papis? UPDATE: As for Casey Mears, a source close to his situation said that he likely will replace Max Papis in the Germain Racing #13 car no later than the Atlanta race at the end of the month. He will drive for the team, which has a half-season sponsorship from GEICO, in 2011 as well. The team, which has gone to every race this year but not run the full event at venues where it is unsponsored, needs sponsorship for 18 races in 2011.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)

    UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has confirmed that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal will be completed and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. The car will “start and park” at both Michigan and Bristol with drivers TBA, before Mears takes over at Atlanta. He will also drive the car in the full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Papis, meanwhile, will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable.(Sirius Speedway)(8-9-2010)

  • Chicago to host first Chase race in 2011: Chicagoland Speedway will celebrate its 10th year of operation in undisputed style – square in the national media spotlight as the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Chicagoland Speedway’s NASCAR weekend, historically held in early July, will now take place in the fall – Sept. 16-18, 2011. The move places Chicago front and center as the world’s best drivers compete for the most coveted championship in professional motorsports. Next year also marks the return of Pole Day, the qualifying day popular among families with young children. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday of race weekend. The Nationwide Series will compete on Saturday, with the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup during the day scheduled on Sunday.(Chicagoland PR)(8-9-2010)

  • Race and Commercial Breakdown of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. ESPN was the broadcast team for this event. Please note that in addition to the commercials and promos listed below there is always a sponsor’s logo that changes throughout the race in the corner of the screen beside the race ticker.

    Total number of commercials: 98

    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 62

    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 25

    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM

    End time to record race/commercial periods: 3:49 PM

    Total minutes: 169

    Minutes of race broadcast: 125

    Minutes of commercials: 44

    Number of missed restarts: 0

    Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0

    Number of times selected drivers were focused on:

    Ron Fellows – 11

    P.J. Jones – 13

    Patrick Carpentier – 14

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 14

    Boris Said – 50

    Jeff Burton – 63

    Kevin Harvick – 74

    Tony Stewart – 86

    Jamie McMurray – 147

    Carl Edwards – 150

    Kurt Busch – 159

    Juan Montoya (race winner) – 201

    Marcos Ambrose – 218

    See full rundown and more at CawsnJaws.com.(8-9-2010)


  • Kahne to Red Bull in 2011? Red Bull Racing has emerged as the likely place for Kasey Kahne in the 2011 Sprint Cup season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. Under a proposed arrangement, Kahne would drive one of Red Bull Racing’s Toyota’s next season as he waits to take over Hendrick’s #5 Chevy in 2012, sources close to the situation confirmed Sunday. Mark Martin, as he has maintained since news of Kahne’s signing by Hendrick became public in April, would drive the #5 next season, his last with Hendrick. Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing’s general manager, would neither confirm nor deny his organization has been in discussions with Hendrick Motorsports to have Kahne drive a Red Bull car next season. Sources maintained that the deal to put Kahne at Red Bill has not been completed, but insisted that it is the most viable option for the 30-year-old driver from Enumclaw, Wash. An HMS spokesman declined to comment on the Kahne-to-Red Bill scenario after Sunday’s race. Kahne’s agent did not respond to a request for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(8-9-2010)


  • RGM and BAM split: Hearing that the deal with Robby Gordon Motorsports and Beth Ann Morganthau / BAM Racing is no longer in place, and that RGM is in the process of taking legal action against BAM and former sponsor Warner Bros for lack of payment and breach of contract.(8-9-2010)


  • Conway’s job in danger? Kevin Conway’s days might be numbered at Front Row Motorsports. It sounds like the team has grown tired of Conway’s poor performance, and this group will struggle mightily to make races if the #34 falls out of the top 35 in owners points. They are currently 35th in the standings, only 182 points ahead of 36th. A few more bad finishes, and Conway will be on the outside looking in. To this point in the season, Conway has had a guaranteed starting position in every race, due to some fancy number wrangling by owner Bob Jenkins. With one team already outside the top 35 however, thanks to the tire debacle at Pocono earlier in the year, Jenkins can’t afford to have another team fall out. Word is that Extenze would continue sponsoring the team, but another yet-to-be-named driver would be brought in.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-9-2010)


  • Latest 2011 schedule speculation: With the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule set to be released in the next couple of weeks, it is expected Chicagoland will open the Chase For The Sprint Cup, Auto Club Speedway apparently will lose one of its Cup races to Kansas and Kentucky will have a Saturday night date in July, according to sources who are familiar with the tentative schedule. Kansas will have a date in June for its regular-season Sprint Cup event. According to sources familiar with the tentative schedule:

    • New Hampshire, which has been the weekend prior to the Independence Day race at Daytona, will have its first date go to mid-July. Kansas could go in that June slot or possibly a week earlier on Father’s Day weekend with Infineon a week later. Kansas also could go in the first week of June and the Pocono race could be moved to later in the month.

    • There is a shuffle of dates in the first seven weeks with Phoenix moving to the second race of the schedule and Auto Club Speedway going to the last weekend in March between Bristol and Martinsville.

    • The other regular-season shuffles come mostly in June with the addition of Kansas and then July. Getting Chicagoland’s July date the week after Daytona will be Kentucky, which will have a Saturday night Cup race July 9 as part of a Nationwide-Cup weekend. It was previously announced Atlanta would lose its March date, and that race is going to Kentucky, which has a news conference set for Tuesday.

    • The rest of the schedule should be pretty much the same, except with Chicagoland opening the Chase in mid-September, followed by New Hampshire and Dover and then Kansas – the three tracks that have opened the Chase in recent years. Chicagoland has a news conference scheduled for Monday to formally announce its getting the first race of the Chase.(Scene Daily), for more info on how the schedule is shaping up, see my 2001 Sprint Cup schedule page.(8-9-2010)

  • Michigan State University’s Izzo named honorary pace car driver for CARFAX 400: In his 15 years with the Spartans, Tom Izzo has done just about everything: four-time national coach of the year, six NCAA Final Four appearances and one basketball national championship. Now he can add pace car driver to his resume. The Michigan State University men’s basketball coach will drive the pace car for the CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns Aug. 15. Izzo has led MSU to six Final Four appearances in the last 12 seasons, becoming the only team to accomplish that feat between 1999 and 2010 and just the fourth school in college basketball history to do it in any 12-year span, including just the third since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.(MIS)(8-9-2010)


    News from August 8, 2010


  • Montoya wins at Watkins Glen: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya won the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International for his first win of 2010 and the second of his career. His first win was 113 races ago at Infineon in 2007. #2-Busch finished second followed by: #47-Ambrose, #43-Allmendinger, #99-Edwards, #1-McMurray, #14-Stewart, #18-Busch, #31-Buton, and #24-Gordon. #29-Harvick lost 4 points on his lead to 189 points over #24-Jeff Gordon.
    There were 10 lead changes among 5 drivers and 5 cautions for 13 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 90,000. Last year’s race was rain delayed until Monday in front of a crowd of 85,000.

    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Watkins Glen Race Results/Awards page.(8-8-2010)

  • Race Fast Facts – Watkins Glen:

    Juan Pablo Montoya won the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen (25th Running), his second victory in 131 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

    This is his first victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2010.

    Montoya’s last win came on June 24, 2007 at Infineon Raceway. He breaks a 113-race winless drought.

    This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in four races at Watkins Glen International.

    Kurt Busch (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in ten races at Watkins Glen International. It is his best career finish at a road course. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2010.

    Marcos Ambrose (third) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Watkins Glen International.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-8-2010)

  • 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:

    [after Watkins Glen, race 22 of 36]:

    rank, car#, driver, points, behind

    1) #29-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 3210

    2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3025, -185

    3) #31-Jeff Burton, 2895, -315

    4) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 2892, -318

    5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 2882, -328

    6) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2872, -338

    7) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 2866, -344

    8) #14-Tony Stewart, 28659, -345

    9) #99-Carl Edwards, 2821, -389

    10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 2806, -404, +175

    11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2743, -467, +112

    12) #5-Mark Martin, 2641, -569, 10 ahead of 13th

    Chase for the Sprint Cup – Contenders:

    13) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2631, -579, 10 points out of the chase

    14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2547, -652, -83

    15) #1-McMurray [2 wins], 2547, -663, -94

    16) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2520, -690, -121

    17) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2508, -702, -133

    2009 Chase Drivers not in top 16

    21) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya [1 win], 2436, -774, -205

    36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]

    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(8-8-2010)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Michigan:

    No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #26 team moved to 36th and the #38 back to 37th. The points spread from 35th to 36th is now at 182.

    33) #37-Kvapil/Front Row: 1656, +189

    34) #7-Robby Gordon/RGM, 1652, +185

    35) #34-Conway/Front Row: 1649, 182 points ahead of 36th

    these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

    36) #26-Stremme/Latitude43: 1467, -182 points out of the top 35

    37) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 1452, -197

    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-8-2010)

  • Penalty Report – Watkins Glen:

    Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty

    #12 Pre-Race to the rear, engine change

    #18 Pre-Race to the rear, pitting too soon

    #55 15 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, pass thru

    #12 42 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #37 43 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, tail end

    #09 66 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #83 66 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end – to the garage

    #20 67 Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap

    #48 70 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end

    #11 70 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end – to the garage

    #7 84 Safety violation – heavy smoke, pit

    (NASCAR Statistics)(8-8-2010)

  • Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Watkins Glen: (and their finish)

    Caution 1: #37-Kvapil, 30th

    Caution 2: #19-Sadler, 29th

    Caution 3: #34-Conway, 31st

    Caution 4: #33-Bowyer, 32nd

    Caution 5: #33-Bowyer (2), 32nd

    (8-8-2010)

  • Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Watkins Glen (or seemed to)?

    none

    (only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(8-8-2010)


  • Roush hopes to make it to Michigan: Angelique Chengelis reported on ESPN’s NASCAR Now Sunday morning that team owner Jack Roush is hoping to be at the Michigan race next weekend. He continues to recover from his airplace accident at the Mayo Clinic and his attendance at the track will depend on his progress this week.(8-8-2010)


  • Lastest on Vickers: Brian Vickers continues to tell those close to him he intends to come back next season. The 26-year-old driver has been out of the seat since May. [Red Bull GM Jay] Frye says Vickers will have his three-month check-up in the next few weeks but “his job right now is to get better.”(Fox Sports)(8-8-2010)

  • Michigan to open up Nationwide Series practice to fans: With the new NASCAR Nationwide Series car making its debut at Michigan International Speedway next weekend, the speedway has decided to open the race track to the public for the new car’s practice sessions on Thursday, August 12. Best of all, it’s free. The practice sessions will be held from 9 a.m.-Noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The sessions will test the cars in preparation for the Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 race on Saturday, August 14 at MIS. Fans will be able to view the new car practicing from the Turn 1 grandstands located next to the speedway’s Administration Building. Parking for the practice will be in Lot 10 and accessible off the US-12 entrance to the track. All fans must enter the grandstands through Gate 17 near the water tower. Gate 17 will open at 9 a.m. Trams will be operational during the practice for guests who are camping on speedway property that day. Trams stops will be located outside of Turn 2, Turns 3-4.(MIS)(8-8-2010)


    News from August 7, 2010



  • Stewart flips in World of Outlaws race: Tony Stewart heads into Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International with three races already under his belt this week. He wound up on his top in one of them. Stewart, who fields open-wheel teams in the World of Outlaws Series, was not injured Friday night after flipping his car while competing in an event at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, N.Y. “We’re good,” Stewart said after qualifying his Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy sixth at Watkins Glen on Saturday. “It cost us a race car last night.” Stewart said the only thing hurt was “just my pride.(Scene Daily)(8-7-2010)

  • Race Coverage of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is scheduled for Sunday, August 8, 2010.

    Television (TV): ESPN at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:18pm/et

    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

    ESPN2, Monday, August 9 at 2:30am/et;

    SPEED, Wednesday, August 11 at 12:00pm/et

  • Pit Stall Selections – Watkins Glen: The selections of pit stalls for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International have been made. Pole sitter #99-Edwards chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].

    Outside pole sitter #1-McMurray took pit stall 38, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].

    #42-Montoya, who starts 3rd took the 37th pit stall, the first stall with an opening behind it.

    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #88-Earnhardt, Jr., who starts 40th.

    To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(8-7-2010)

  • Edwards wins pole at Watkins Glen: #99-Carl Edwards won the Coors Pole for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International with a speed of 124.432mph for his 1st pole of 2010 and 5th of his career. #1-McMurray will start 2nd followed by
    #42-Montoya, #42-Allmendinger, #2-Bucsh, #14-Stewart, #16-Biffle, #82-Speed, #48-Johnson, & #18-Busch.

    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #26-Carpentier, #36-Fellows, #55-McDowell, #13-Papis, #09-Labonte, #87-Nemechek, #07-Jones, and #38-Gilliland.

    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #46-Yeley, #66-Blaney, #35-Ave.

    See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Watkins Glen Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(8-7-2010)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts – Watkins Glen:

    Carl Edwards won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen (25th Running) with a lap of 70.882 seconds, 124.432 mph.

    This is his fifth pole in 215 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

    This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2010. Edwards’ last pole came in August of 2008 at Bristol, 69 races ago.

    This is his first pole in six races at Watkins Glen International. His previous best start was third in 2008.

    This race has been won from the pole nine times, most recently by Kyle Busch in 2008.

    Jamie McMurray (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2010 and his first in eight races at Watkins Glen International.

    Juan Pablo Montoya (third) posted his second top-10 start at Watkins Glen International. It is his 13th in 22 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-7-2010)

  • Latest on Budweiser to RCR: Sources tell [ESPN’s Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol’ boy, red label demographic. I’m told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February — beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company’s new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)

  • Watkins Glen increases recycling efforts: Watkins Glen International has partnered with TOMRA to help provide bottle and can returns for recycling all over the racing facility for the 2010 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, August 5-8. The Corning West High Marching Band is returning for the weekend to once again raise money through recycling to help fund their New Years’ Day trip to London, England. The Corning Painted Post “Band Aides” will be handing out information about the WGI recycling program throughout the race weekend.

    TOMRA is a leading global provider of advanced solutions enabling recovery and recycling of materials. The international resource recycling company works out of Connecticut and is working with WGI to assist with the legendary road course’s recycling efforts during the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen event weekend.

    The official recycling company of WGI, Swarthout, will once again be working diligently to promote the track’s Go Green efforts to reduce the event’s foot print on the enviro
    nment. Swarthout will have their five cent redemption center running from 10am to 8pm Thursday through Sunday.

    Tickets for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series and Crown Royal 200 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series races, August 5-8, are still on-sale. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com.(WGI)(8-6-2010)


    News from August 6, 2010



  • Hamlin on Twitter less after fine: #11-Denny Hamlin admits he’s not commenting as often on Twitter after being fined an undisclosed amount by NASCAR recently for comments series officials felt were hurtful to the sport. Said Hamlin: “I’d say half of the time I was on (Twitter discussing NASCAR stuff and whatnot. They really don’t want me going there, so I’m not going to go there. It’s just one of those things. I’m still part of that stuff, but obviously with getting a fine and everything, you’ve got to be a little bit more careful.”(Hampton Roads)(8-6-2010)


  • 2011 Schedule released Aug. 18? Latest schedule rumors: UPDATE: Multiple sources have told SPEED.com that Chicagoland Speedway will host the opening race to the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, with New Hampshire Motor Speedway moving back to the second Chase race. Contacted for comment, Chicagoland officials neither confirmed nor denied its 2011 slot in the Chase. Elsewhere, the other dominoes have begun to fall for the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule, which sources tell SPEED.com will be released Aug. 18. Atlanta officials confirmed Thursday what had long been rumored – that it will host just one NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend next year. Kentucky Speedway officials, meanwhile, have a press conference scheduled next week to announce that they will host a Cup race for the first time next season, likely getting a July date at the expense of Atlanta. Of course, Atlanta’s traditional first race date is in March, indicating that there will be quite a bit of schedule juggling to come. But if Chicagoland’s race moves to September and the Chase, that would free up a mid-July date for Kentucky to host its Cup race. Atlanta losing a date is a done deal. Kentucky Speedway picking up one is also a done deal. Kansas Speedway is nearly certain to get a second date, likely at the expense of Auto Club Speedway in Southern California, or perhaps Martinsville Speedway. Among the other possibilities for 2011:

    • At least one of Texas’s two races would be run at night. Texas will make its announcement Aug. 17 at the House of Blues in Dallas. A media release issued Thursday said the track would “reveal dramatic changes,” and that France would be in attendance for the event.

    • Phoenix would have an earlier slot on the schedule, perhaps moving up to as early as the second race of the year. Contacted by SPEED.com.

    • A spokesperson for Dover confirmed that that track will have two Cup races next year, although no dates were announced.

    • Although Las Vegas Motor Speedway has lobbied hard for a second date, specifically to host the season-ending race, the 2011 Sprint Cup season is expected to once again conclude at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(SPEEDtv)(8-6-2010)

    UPDATE: Auto Club Speedway will lose its slot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup next season, sources have confirmed to SPEED.com. This year, ACS is race No. 4 in the Chase as well as host of the second race of NASCAR’s regular season in February. But next year, the track will have only one race, with Phoenix International Raceway taking the week following the Daytona 500 and ACS moving sometime later in the season, possibly in March or April.(SPEEDtv)(8-6-2010)

  • Happy Hour practice for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is over, the fastest,slowest, notes:

    #16-Biffle 124.065

    #42-Montoya 123.807

    #47-Ambrose 123.755

    #2-Busch 123.614

    #29-Harvick 123.607

    slowest: #35-Ave 118.620 & #34-Conway 116.202

    incident:
    #98-Menard got into the back of #17-Kenseth in turn 7, but Kenseth didn’t hit anything. Scott Pruett ran a few laps in the #24 in case Gordon would have to leave this weekend for the birth of his second child.

    See fastest laps, ave speed, most laps run on my Watkins Glen Practice Speeds Page.(8-6-2010)

  • Watkins Glen practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

    if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

    #13-Max Papis, 16th

    #36-Ron Fellows, 20th

    #09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 26th

    #55-Michael McDowell, 27th

    #26-Patrick Carpentier, 28th

    #46-J.J. Yeley, 31st

    #87-Joe Nemechek, 38th

    #38-David Gilliland, 40th

    these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

    #66-Dave Blaney, 41st

    #07-P.J. Jones, 44th

    #35-Tony Ave, 45th

    [PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

  • First Friday practice for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is over, the fastest, slowest, notes:

    #16-Biffle 122.152

    #11-Hamlin 122.022

    #98-Menard 121.882

    #31-Burton 121.843

    #2-Busch 121.682

    slowest: #35-Ave 116.493 & #34-Conway 114.791

    incident: 5 minutes in, #48-Johnson spun off turn 5 and made slight contact with the interior wall. Just a little splitter damage that the team will repair. #39-Newman spun but did not hit anything. #07-Jones had the car shut off late in the session and stall on the track. #12-Keselowski blew an engine at the end of the session.

    See fastest laps, ave speed, most laps run on my Watkins Glen Practice Speeds Page.(8-6-2010)

  • Watkins Glen practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:

    if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:

    #36-Ron Fellows, 9th

    #26-Patrick Carpentier, 13th

    #13-Max Papis, 24th

    #55-Michael McDowell, 26th

    #87-Joe Nemechek, 31st

    #09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 36th

    #66-Dave Blaney, 40th

    #38-David Gilliland, 41st

    these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:

    #46-J.J. Yeley, 42nd

    #07-P.J. Jones, 43rd

    #35-Tony Ave, 45th

    [PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

  • Qualifying Order for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.

    The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #71-Lally.

    The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #88-Earnhardt, Jr.

    The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #87-Nemechek with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #13-Papis.

    See the full qualifying order on the Watkins Glen Qualifying Page.(8-6-2010)


  • Allmendinger staying at RPM: UPDATE: Free-agent Sprint Cup Series driver #43-AJ Allmendinger will stay put after signing a contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports, Sporting News has learned. The contract, signed Tuesday, is a multiyear deal, according to sources close to the situation. The team is optimistic about the prospect of re-signing Allmendinger’s sponsor, Best Buy, though sponsorship was not settled before Tuesday’s contract signing. A formal announcement will take place Friday at Watkins Glen International. The driver of the #43 RPM Ford is 22nd in the series standings. Now that Allmendinger has decided to remain in the organization’s flagship car, RPM will work toward filling the remaining slots on the team. Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler have announced plans to depart at the end of the season. Marcos Ambrose, who will leave the #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team at season’s end, is a leading candidate to fill the seat of one of the RPM Fords. Paul Menard, who drives the #98 RPM Ford, has not announced plans for next year but has talked to other teams, including Richard Childress Racing, according to multiple sources.(Sporting News)(8-4-2010)

    UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that driver AJ Allmendinger has signed a multiyear contract extension with the organization. Allmendinger will remain behind the wheel of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford in the Sprint Cup Series. “I am really excited about my future here with Richard Petty Motorsports,” said Allmendinger. “It’s been such an honor to be behind the wheel of The King’s #43 car. I am happy to be able to continue to be his driver and feel for the first time in my NASCAR career I have the chance to build on something. Everyone at RPM and Ford Racing has worked hard to be successful this year and I know we’re right on the verge of big things.”(RPM)(8-6-2010)

  • 4th team for RCR? Menard? UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing is looking at possible expansion to four teams in the Sprint Cup Series in 2011 and is in the process of finalizing a deal to run next year’s Nationwide Series program through Kevin Harvick Inc. Team owner Richard Childress said an announcement on the deal with KHI should be made soon. The plan is for RCR to supply engines to KHI for the Nationwide program and for RCR to field two teams in the Truck Series where Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon, drives the #3. RCR Cup drivers Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick would run KHI cars when in the Nationwide Series.
    Childress would not comment on speculation that Paul Menard, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, would be his fourth driver. But he did say that a fourth team is a possibility. “We’re looking at it,” Childress said Sunday at Pocono Raceway. RCR had four teams in 2009, but returned to three this season after sponsorship for the fourth team and Casey Mears could not be found. Menard would bring the family business, Menard’s, with him as a sponsor if he made the move. RPM does not have a deal with Menard for 2011, but has been in talks with Marcos Ambrose to drive either the #9 being vacated by Kasey Kahne or #19 currently driven by Elliott Sadler. Team officials are optimistic that AJ Allmendinger will be back in the #43 next season even though Allmendinger has talked to other teams.(ESPN)(8-1-2010)

    UPDATE: Frontstretch is reporting #98-Paul Menard has agreed in principle to move to Richard Childress Racing for 2011. Sponsorship would continue to come from his father’s company, Menards, with a car number and crew chief to be announced. No word on an official announcement yet from either side, but the team would expand to four cars while retaining their current driver lineup of #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick, and #33-Clint Bowyer.(Frontstretch)(8-5-2010)

    UPDATE 2: Paul Menard appears to be closing in on a deal that will lock him into the fourth Sprint Cup car at Richard Childress Racing. Multiple sources have told FOXSports.com that Menard would drive the full Cup season at RCR, potentially in the #32 car, and pilot the #33 Chevy part-time in the Nationwide Series under the Kevin Harvick Inc. banner. When asked about his future Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Menard didn’t deny he was considering his options. “We have to cover our bases,” Menard said. “But we haven’t done anything yet.”(Fox Sports)(8-6-2010)


  • International Trucks returns to the #46: International Trucks back on board at The Glen: International Truck, a Navistar Company, is back on board with Whitney Motorsports for the second time in the 2010 season. International was also on board the #46 Dodge at the first road course race of the season at Infineon.(Whitney Motorsports)(8-6-2010)

  • Watkins Glen Tire Notes / Facts: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire code at Watkins Glen this weekend . . . Goodyear’s road course set-up calls for teams to run the same tire code on all four tire positions . . . this is the first time NASCAR teams will run this particular code (D-4402) . . . this tire came out of a Goodyear tire test at Watkins Glen on June 1-2 . . . Sprint Cup drivers participating in that test were Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon . . . compared to what was run at Watkins Glen last year, this tire features a new compound and construction that will help give the cars more grip . . . while there is no provision in the NASCAR rules for Sprint Cup teams to run in rainy conditions, Goodyear has brought 600 wet weather tires for use by Nationwide teams . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Watkins Glen.(Goodyear), see full notes, tires pressures and codes on the Watkins Glen Race Info page.(8-6–2010)



  • Some Chassis selections for Watkins Glen:

    #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the #1 McDonald’ Chevy team will bring chassis #1012 to Watkins Glen. This chassis was tested two weeks ago at Road Atlanta and will mark its first race.

    #2-Kurt Busch: Crew chief Steve Addington and the “Blue Deuce” crew are racing their “PRS-722” Miller Lite “Vortex” Dodge in this weekend’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen’ at Watkins Glen International. The team debuted this car at Infineon Raceway on June 20. Busch started third and was running fifth with four laps remaining when an incident with Jeff Gordon sent him to pit road under the green because of a flat tire. That resulted in a disappointing 32nd-place finish. “The car was completely reworked after the Sonoma race and we tested with it a couple of weeks back (on July 26) at Road Atlanta,” said Busch of the 2.54-mile road course located in Braselton, Georgia.

    #5-Mark Martin: Crew Chief Alan Gustafson chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis #5-608 for Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen. This is the same chassis that Martin drove to a 14th-place finish at Infineon Raceway in June.

    #6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-660 Last ran Sonoma – finished 25th; Backup: RK-627 Last ran Watkins Glen ‘09 – finished 24th. The University Center (SLIC – 1421) in the Northeast District has been selected as the UPS Maximum Center for the August 8 Watkins Glen International Speedway Race. The University Center will have its identification number on Ragan’s car as a result of maintaining 100% effectiveness to plan on the Balanced Scorecard for multiple elements in the month of May. With these results, the University Center truly proves to be best in class.

    #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-723 during Sunday’s second road course race of the season at Watkins Glen International (WGI). This chassis last competed at Infineon Raceway in June.

    #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-546 made its debut in June 2009 at Infineon Raceway, where Stewart used it to qualify fourth and lead twice for 11 laps before finishing second. Prior to Sonoma, Chassis No. 14-546 tested at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). In preparation for its second career start in August at Watkins Glen, the car was brought back to VIR for a single-day test on July 27. The time at VIR paid off, as Stewart used Chassis No. 14-546 to qualify 13th
    and then lead twice for a race-high 34 laps to record his fifth Sprint Cup win at Watkins Glen. Chassis No. 14-546 tested again at VIR on May 11 in preparation for its return to Sonoma this past June. There, it qualified seventh and finished a respectable ninth. It returns to action this weekend at Watkins Glen where it will attempt to defend its victory from a year ago.

    #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-663 (Last raced at Sonoma).

    #18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 240: This chassis made its debut in June 2009 at Infineon Raceway. Busch qualified second and led 10 laps, but brake issues led to contact with another car. As a result, Busch went a lap down but rallied to post a 22nd-place finish. The #18 team brought this chassis to the other road course race in 2009 – Watkins Glen International – where Busch started eighth and finished a solid fourth. This chassis made its way back to Sonoma in June, where Busch qualified 27th and got caught up in a multi-car accident on lap 10, resulting in extended time in the garage for repairs to the front end of his #18. The result was a disappointing 39th-place finish.

    #19-Elliott Sadler: The #19 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford team has prepared chassis #243 for this weekend’s event. This is the same car the team ran earlier this season at Infineon Raceway where Sadler drove 17th.

    #20-Joey Logano: The #20 Home Depot Team is taking chassis #234 this weekend for the race on the 2.45-mile road course. Logano drove this chassis at Sonoma earlier this season to a 33rd-place finish and in both road-course races in 2009 (19th at Infineon and 16th at Watkins Glen). The back-up chassis is #180 which has never competed but served as the back-up car last year.

    #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 321 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a completely brand new chassis, and its first laps on the track will be opening practice on Friday.

    #31-Jeff Burton: will race chassis No. 245 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new in 2009 as a #07 racer, this machine was put through two short track tests and then shelved before being converted to a road course #31 racer. It was put through its first competition at Infineon Raceway in June where the South Boston, Va., native finished 27th after being spun off course with less than five laps remaining.

    #33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot Chassis No. 300 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is the same Chevy Bowyer raced at Infineon Raceway in June. He started 22nd and raced his way into the top 10 before late-race contact, a broken part and a flat rear tire resulted in a less-than-desired 31st-place finish.

    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team will bring Chassis #1014 to Watkins Glen International this weekend. This will be the first time the chassis will be used in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition this season. The Target team tested this chassis at Virginia International Raceway in June.

    #43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 Richard Petty Motorsports team led by crew chief Mike Shiplett has prepared chassis #257 for this weekend’s event at Watkins Glen International. The team last utilized this chassis for the event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., where Allmendinger qualified 15th and drove to a 13th-place finish.

    #48-Jimmie Johnson: last piloted primary chassis No. 543 to his first road course victory by winning the Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in June. Back up chassis No. 442 was last driven to a seventh-place finish at Watkins Glen in August 2008.

    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-514. Earnhardt last raced this car to an 11th-place finish at Infineon Raceway in June.

    #98-Paul Menard: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 RPM crew have prepared chassis #254 for this weekend’s event. This is the same car the team ran at the road course in Sonoma, Calif. earlier this season.

    #99-Carl Edwards: The #99 team will bring chassis RK-656 to Watkins Glen this weekend. Edwards raced this chassis at Sonoma in June where he finished 29th. He also ran it at both road course races in 2009.(from team PR’s/sites if reported)(8-5-2010)

  • McDonald’s and Watkins Glen renew partnership: McDonald’s and Watkins Glen International have renewed their partnership for the next three years which is great news for families. Not only does McDonald’s remain the official drive-thru restaurant of WGI but the family-friendly atmosphere of the McDonald’s Family Zone will continue to provide fun for children of all ages. The McDonald’s Family Grandstand offers a smoke and alcohol-free area for families to watch all of the racing action at an affordable price and the McDonald’s Kid Zone is home to games, inflatables, McDonald’s characters, and driver question and answer sessions. The kid zone will be open 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 6, and Saturday, August 7, and then 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 8. While the McDonald’s Family Grandstand is sold-out the Kids Zone that is adjacent to that grandstand is still open and for free for any ticket holder. Fans can purchase tickets or learn more about the race weekend by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com.(WGI)(8-6-2010)


    News from August 5, 2010


  • 4th team for RCR? Menard? UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing is looking at possible expansion to four teams in the Sprint Cup Series in 2011 and is in the process of finalizing a deal to run next year’s Nationwide Series program through Kevin Harvick Inc. Team owner Richard Childress said an announcement on the deal with KHI should be made soon. The plan is for RCR to supply engines to KHI for the Nationwide program and for RCR to field two teams in the Truck Series where Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon, drives the #3. RCR Cup drivers Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick would run KHI cars when in the Nationwide Series.
    Childress would not comment on speculation that Paul Menard, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, would be his fourth driver. But he did say that a fourth team is a possibility. “We’re looking at it,” Childress said Sunday at Pocono Raceway. RCR had four teams in 2009, but returned to three this season after sponsorship for the fourth team and Casey Mears could not be found. Menard would bring the family business, Menard’s, with him as a sponsor if he made the move. RPM does not have a deal with Menard for 2011, but has been in talks with Marcos Ambrose to drive either the #9 being vacated by Kasey Kahne or #19 currently driven by Elliott Sadler. Team officials are optimistic that AJ Allmendinger will be back in the #43 next season even though Allmendinger has talked to other teams.(ESPN)(8-1-2010)

    UPDATE: Frontstretch is reporting #98-Paul Menard has agreed in principle to move to Richard Childress Racing for 2011. Sponsorship would continue to come from his father’s company, Menards, with a car number and crew chief to be announced. No word on an official announcement yet from either side, but the team would expand to four cars while retaining their current driver lineup of #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick, and #33-Clint Bowyer.(Frontstretch)(8-5-2010)

  • Atlanta announces one race for 2011: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced the facility’s 2011 event schedule will include one NASCAR racing weekend on September 2-4. One of the original NASCAR superspeedways, the track has hosted two of NASCAR’s premier event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sunday night, Sept. 5. “Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years,” said speedway president, Ed Clark. “While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come.”(AMS)(8-5-2010)


  • Admission revenue down at SMI: Admissions revenue at Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks has dropped 16.7 percent for the first half of 2010, the company reported Wednesday. Of the drop, 44 percent is attributed to lower ticket prices and 56 to decreased attendance for the events. SMI tracks had 14 Sprint Cup and Nationwide races from January-June 2010, the same number as 2009. SMI President Marcus Smith said that ticket sales have increased over the three weeks leading up to events, but several SMI races were impacted by inclement weather. That was especially true at Texas Motor Speedway, where the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup races were postponed by rain until Monday, according to the SMI news release. The ticket sales for Charlotte Motor Speedway also were down possibly because of its postponed race from a year ago. Typically, a rainout will cost the company one or two cents per share, said SMI Chief Financial Officer Bill Brooks. That would translate to approximately $420,000-$840,000. As far as the overall balance sheet, SMI showed a net profit of nearly $32 million in the first half of 2010, compared with a loss of $3.1 million last year, which included a loss of $55.6 million from the devaluation of Motorsports Authentics in the first six months of 2009. SMI showed a net profit of $77.9 million in the first half of 2008.(Scene Daily)(8-5-2010)


  • Ambrose not ruling out return to Australia: Marcos Ambrose hopes that his career path continues to include NASCAR, though he says he’s truly not ruling out a return to racing in Australia. Ambrose, in his fifth season of NASCAR competition and second full season at the Sprint Cup level, recently announced that he will part ways with his JTG Daugherty Racing team at the end of this season. The former V8 Supercar champion says that he recognizes that he took a risk in making that move – especially considering his role with that team was both sponsored and covered by a contract through next season. Still, he says that there seems to be a bit of buzz in Australia about any potential for a return. “I’ve spoken to a few people down there, and all have been well received, and it’s actually been in the papers and on national television over the last few days, you know, obviously not ruling out the possibilities of me returning and where I would potentially go,” Ambrose said during a national teleconference Tuesday. “But my heart is in NASCAR to be honest with you. I’ve got unfinished business at this level of racing. I feel like I’ve become part of the sport but I haven’t become a contender on a weekly basis, and I feel like I’m really — if I left now, I would feel like I’ve got unfinished business.(Fox Sports)(8-5-2010)


  • Lally returns to #71 at Watkins Glen: TRG team driver Andy Lally will be at the controls of the #71 Adobe Road/TRG Motorsports Chevy for the Sprint Cup Series Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen race. Lally, an accomplished road racer, is currently dividing his time between four series’. He is third in points in the Grand-Am Rolex Series GT class with TRG, he is leading the points in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTC class with TRG, and drives in the Grand-Am Continental Sports Car Challenge Series. This weekend Lally will be looking to defend his Watkins Glen Rolex Series Six Hour win from June as well as improve, significantly, on his 27th place, after being caught up in someone else’s accident, finish in last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The Northport, New York native made his first Sprint Cup Series start last year at The Glen.(TRG PR)(8-5-2010)


  • 350 Cup starts for Kurt Busch: Sunday’s battle at Watkins Glen International will mark Miller Lite Dodge driver #2-Kurt Busch’s 350th career start in Sprint Cup Series competition. In his 349 races entering this weekend’s milestone event, Busch has won 22 (6.3%) races and the 2004 series championship. Along the way, he has recorded 78 top-five finishes (22.3%) and 148 top-10 finishes (42.4%). He has claimed 12 pole positions and led 6,342 of the 97,865 laps (6.5%) he has logged. He has been running at the finish in 309 (88.5%) of the races and finished on the lead lap in 213 (61.0%) of them. Over the period dating back to Sept. 24, 2000, Busch has a 16.0 average start and a 17.2 average finish.(Tom Roberts PR)(8-5-2010)


  • Earnhardt, Jr. making 500th NASCAR start: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevy, will make his 500th start in a NASCAR-sanctioned points-paying event this weekend. Earnhardt will be making his 385th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when he lines up Sunday at Watkins Glen International. He also has tallied 115 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(Hendrick PR)(8-5-2010)

  • Lake Speed honored: Each year the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame adds a new class of athletes to its elite club. The same happened on Friday night – except that this group of inductees came in more shapes and sizes than any other: a race car driver, a burly defensive end, a defensive back, a recreational runner, a boxer and a tennis star. “It is the most diverse class in Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame history,” said Michael Rubenstein, the Hall of Fame’s executive director. “Without question, it is.” Six Magnolia State legends joined the state’s noble group on Friday night in the BancorpSouth Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Induction Banquet at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Jackson. The Hall’s 49th class included the first race car driver (Lake Speed), the first recreational runner (the late Bob Coleman) and the second boxer (the late Henry Armstrong). Ken Toler, ranked No. 1 in the state in tennis for 40 consecutive years, is just the ninth tennis player to be inducted in a class that pushes the Hall over the 260-member threshold. Wrapping up the inductions were Allen Brown, a former Ole Miss defensive end who won two Super Bowl rings with the Packers, and the late Frank Dowsing, one of the first two black football players to play at Mississippi State. Brown and Dowsing increased the Hall’s football members to 126, nearly half of the membership. And when you think of race car driving? “You don’t think of the Hall of Fame,” said Speed, who won more than $5 million during an 18-year NASCAR career. “I always tell people that Mississippi is a unique place,” he said, “and if you haven’t spent time there, you wouldn’t understand.”(Clarion Ledger)(8-5-2010)

  • Richmond International Raceway announces Air Guard 400: In a historic skydiving stunt into Richmond International Raceway, track president Doug Fritz and Air Guard representative MSgt Matt Leas announced the Air Guard will hold the race entitlement for the September 11, 2010 Sprint Cup Series race at America’s Premier Short Track. With the help of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Stremme, the trio unveiled the new Air Guard 400 race logo for the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend, September 10 – 11. The Air Guard allows Americans to serve part-time, providing flexibility to live life on their terms while serving their community and country with honor and pride.(RIR)(8-5-2010)

  • Emory Healthcare Named Title Sponsor for Atlanta Sprint Cup Series Event: Emory Healthcare has been named the title sponsor for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Sept. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race, which will be named the “Emory Healthcare 500.” The multiple-year contract calls for Emory Healthcare to sponsor the Speedway’s 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event and become the official health care provider of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Emory Healthcare is the largest and most comprehensive health system in Georgia.(AMS)(8-5-2010)


    News from August 4, 2010



  • Fellows driving for Baldwin at Watkins Glen: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that former Corvette Racing veteran Ron Fellows will drive the #36 Chevy this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Fellows, who has earned three top-5 Sprint Cup finishes and three Nationwide victories at Watkins Glen, is one of the best road-course racers in the sport.(Tommy Balwin Racing)(8-4-2010)


  • Allmendinger staying at RPM: Free-agent Sprint Cup Series driver #43-AJ Allmendinger will stay put after signing a contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports, Sporting News has learned. The contract, signed Tuesday, is a multiyear deal, according to sources close to the situation. The team is optimistic about the prospect of re-signing Allmendinger’s sponsor, Best Buy, though sponsorship was not settled before Tuesday’s contract signing. A formal announcement will take place Friday at Watkins Glen International. The driver of the #43 RPM Ford is 22nd in the series standings. Now that Allmendinger has decided to remain in the organization’s flagship car, RPM will work toward filling the remaining slots on the team. Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler have announced plans to depart at the end of the season. Marcos Ambrose, who will leave the #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team at season’s end, is a leading candidate to fill the seat of one of the RPM Fords. Paul Menard, who drives the #98 RPM Ford, has not announced plans for next year but has talked to other teams, including Richard Childress Racing, according to multiple sources.(Sporting News)(8-4-2010)


  • Sadler’s crash hardest recorded by NASCAR: #19-Elliott Sadler says NASCAR officials told him his head-on collision with the inside retaining wall at Pocono Racing on Sunday was the hardest recorded in the history of the sport. NASCAR did not give Sadler the number of G-forces recorded by the black box device and the governing body typically does not release that information. “We do not share those numbers except with the team and the folks at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska,” NASCAR said in a statement. “They want to meet with me this weekend,” Sadler said on Tuesday. “But we were told this morning that it was the hardest one they have in their data in history.”That means harder than Kyle Petty’s 2003 crash at Bristol which, according to published reports, was the hardest at the time at more than 80 Gs (80 times the force of gravity). Other hard hits that NASCAR publicly has claimed among the hardest include Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2003 crash at Talladega, David Reutimann’s 2007 crash at California and Jeff Gordon’s 2008 crash at Las Vegas.(ESPN.com)(8-4-2010)


  • Said doesn’t expect to be back in the #26: Boris Said says he does not expect to drive the #26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Fords again this season. Said will drive the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota in Sunday’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, and told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody, “There’s no real polite way to say this, but (team owner) Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money. I got a better offer from Red Bull, so I took it.” Asked if he expects to have any relationship with Latitude 43 Motorsports going forward, Said replied, “(Jenkins) hasn’t returned my phone calls all week, so I guess not. It’s a bad deal for me, but it’s a great deal for David Stremme. He’s a good racer and a nice guy, so I hope it works out for him.”(Sirius Speedway)(8-4-2010)


  • Career start #350 for Kurt Busch: Sunday’s battle at Watkins Glen International will mark Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch’s 350th career start in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Kurt Busch also celebrates his 32nd birthday today. In his 349 races entering this weekend’s milestone event, Busch has won 22 (6.3%) races and the 2004 series championship. Along the way, he has recorded 78 top-five finishes (22.3%) and 148 top-10 finishes (42.4%). He has claimed 12 pole positions and led 6,342 of the 97,865 laps (6.5%) he has logged. He has been running at the finish in 309 (88.5%) of the races and finished on the lead lap in 213 (61.0%) of them. Over the period dating back to Sept. 24, 2000, Busch has a 16.0 average start and a 17.2 average finish.(TRPR)(8-4-2010)


  • 500th NASCAR start for Dale Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his 500th start in a NASCAR-sanctioned points-paying event this weekend. Earnhardt will be making his 385th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when he lines up Sunday at Watkins Glen International. He also has tallied 115 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Earnhardt Jr., who will turn 36 on Oct. 10, has four more combined Cup and Nationwide victories than his father scored by his 36th birthday. With eight more scheduled Cup starts before he turns 36, Earnhardt Jr. already has 18 Cup wins and 23 Nationwide Series victories for a total of 41. Earnhardt Sr. scored 37 total wins (26 in the Cup Series and 11 in Nationwide) by his 36th birthday, which fell April 29, 1987 [Earnhardt Sr. has two Sprint Cup championships by his 36th birthday and would win another one in 1987].(HMS)(8-4-2010)


  • Eight drivers who won in 2009, still winless in 2010: Eight drivers have been shut out of winning a Sprint Cup race in 2010 after winning at least one race in 2009: #14-Tony Stewart has an 11 season streak, last winning a Sprint Cup race at Kansas in October 2009; #9-Kasey Kahne last won in Atlanta in September 2009, winning at least a race on the last two season. Drivers who have one-season winning streaks on the line, winning in 2009 after being winless in 2008: #17-Matt Kenseth (Daytona, February 2009); #24-Jeff Gordon (Texas, April 2009); #12-Brad Keselowski (Talladega, April 2009); #5-Mark Martin (New Hampshire, September 2009); #20-Joey Logano (New Hampshire, June 2009); #83-Brian Vickers (Michigan, August 2009 but is out for the rest of 2010). Six drivers were shut out of winning a Sprint Cup race in 2009 after winning at least one race in 2008. See my All-Time Winners, Active Winners and other winner records on my Winners page.(8-4-2010)

  • Chase Notes & Stats after race #21: There’s lot of laps left and hazards at places like Watkins Glen this week and Bristol down the road, but for now, the real battle to watch is #33-Clint Bowyer vs. #5-Mark Martin for the 12th and final spot in the 2010 Chase. Martin made up some ground at Pocono, finishing 7th to Bowyer’s 15th, and gaining 28 points. Now, only 34 points separate the two going to the Glen. Talk about a difference a year makes. Richard Childress Racing, skunked in the Chase last year, has all three cars in the Top 12 as of now, and those three have improved their positions a combined 36 spots over this time last year (Harvick +21, Burton +12, Bowyer +3). With five races to go, three drivers were over 100 points out of the Chase and made it: in 2005 Matt Kenseth was 168 pts out; in 2004, Mark Martin was 123 pts out; and in 2009, Vickers was 104 pts out.

    So looks like some drivers still have a shot: Martin is 13th, 34 pts out; Earnhardt Jr. is 14th, 129 pts out; Newman is 15th, 138 pts out; Kahne is 16th, 168 pts out; #1-McMurray is 17th, 172 out.

    For season-to-season comparison after 21 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Pocono page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-4-2010)

  • Schrader Named to Staff of Richard Petty’s Driver Search II: One of the most respected and well-liked racers in the NASCAR garage has joined the team of instructors for Richard Petty’s Driver Search II. Ken Schrader, a veteran of nearly 30 seasons in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will bring his diverse racing experience to the one-of-a kind training camp and competition which will take place September 13th-16th, 2010 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Speedway in North Carolina, and the road course at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC. Schrader, who is among a small group of racers with wins in NASCAR’s top three divisions, will join road course expert Marcos Ambrose and the Driver Search instruction staff for the unique training camp and competition designed specifically for aspiring race car drivers looking for an opportunity to advance their careers. The “Top Driver” of Richard Petty’s Driver Search II will be awarded the chance to compete in the “American 200” ARCA Racing Series event on October 9th at historic Rockingham Speedway in an effort fully supported by Petty Holdings. Dillon Moltz, the “Top Driver” of the inaugural Driver Search, finished 20th in the ARCA series “Weis Market 125” at Pocono Speedway this past Saturday in the #41 (Richard Petty’s Driver Search)(8-4-2010)

  • Biffle’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Pocono: The #16 pit crew, which played a vital role in Greg Biffle’s Sprint Cup victory Sunday at Pocono Raceway, won the weekly Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. It was the first Tissot win of the 2010 season for the #16 crew, which captured the 2009 Tissot season championship with six wins. The quick two-tire pit stop by the #16 crew in the closing stages of Sunday’s Sunoco Pennsylvania 500 helped Biffle score the first win of the season for Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle dedicated the win to team owner Jack Roush who is recovering from an airplane crash. Biffle’s #16 3M Ford Fusion spent the least amount on pit road during the 200-lap, 500-mile race. Coming in second was Carl Edwards’ #99 Aflac Ford Fusion and third was Tony Stewart’s #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy.

    The #16 over-the-wall crew consists of: Todd Zeigler (front-tire changer), Collin Pasi (front-tire carrier), Kyle Power (rear-tire changer), Kevin McDowell (rear-tire carrier), Rodney Fetters (jackman), Billy Manchester (gasman), Ryan Dextraze (catch can) and Chris Elliott (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Greg Erwin and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.

    Greg Gordon’s #24 DuPont crew leads in the Tissot standings with four victories. Jamie McMurray’s #1 Bass Pro Shops/McDonald’s crew is second with three wins. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. See standings and past news on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(8-4-2010)

  • IMS could take Nationwide race from ORP: Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s answer to dwindling interest in NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 apparently includes acquiring the Nationwide Series race held at O’Reilly Raceway Park. IMS chief executive officer Jeff Belskus confirmed interest in hosting stock car racing’s No. 2 series, which has been at ORP for 28 years. It draws an annual crowd of 30,000 the night before the 400. “Our partners have mentioned it to us,” Belskus said Thursday. “We are looking for ways to invest in the Brickyard 400.” Acquiring rights to the Nationwide race would bring a cash infusion to IMS, which saw attendance for last weekend’s race plummet. The television revenue from hosting a Nationwide race is worth about $500,000, or about half of what’s needed to offset the sanctioning fee. Increasing the IMS ticket price for Saturday — currently $15 — likely would cover much of the rest of the cost, but the real advantage is a bolstering of the weekend schedule. This year, IMS had two hourlong practices Friday, followed by qualifying and two practices Saturday. With Nationwide involved, IMS could showcase nearly non-stop track activity both days, which would be good for suite sales and hospitality. A Nationwide race likely would be run Saturday afternoon at a distance of 200 or 300 miles. Former IMS boss Tony George always resisted the temptation to go after the Nationwide race because he wanted to be a good neighbor to ORP and its owner, NHRA. The other conflict was the Brickyard’s sponsor. Allstate, a rival insurance giant, paid upward of $2 million a year over a four-year contract. It isn’t clear what ORP, which also has a Camping World Truck Series race, would do if it loses Nationwide to IMS. Belskus said a decision by his organization and NASCAR “hasn’t been made yet,” and it’s possible Nationwide could run an additional race at ORP on a different weekend.(Indianapolis Star)(7-30-2010)

    UPDATE: The NASCAR Nationwide Series is staying at O’Reilly Raceway Park, its home for 28 years. Late Monday, NASCAR informed the NHRA, which owns ORP, the 2011 race would not be moved to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which in the wake of attendance drops is looking to beef up its schedule on Brickyard 400 weekend. “It’s very good news,” ORP spokesman Scott Smith said. “A lot of people were very much wanting to see it stay here.”(Indianapolis Star)(8-4-2010)


    News from August 3, 2010



  • Pocono TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1, was the highest-rated and most-viewed NASCAR Sprint Cup race on cable so far this season, according to the Nielsen Company. The race earned a final national household coverage rating of 4.4, averaging 6,202,469 viewers. Last year’s event at Pocono was rained out and held on a Monday [but the ratings and viewership are same as 2008].

    ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday night, July 31, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,815,043 viewers. The rating was up from a 1.3 for last year’s race that was run during daylight hours and aired on ESPN.Four of the last five NASCAR Nationwide Series races have seen ratings growth over the corresponding event of a year ago.(ESPN), see race-by-race and last 4 season comparison on my 2010 TV Ratings page.(8-3-2010)

  • Pocono Facts and Notes:

    • Greg Biffle won the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. It was his 15th Cup series victory in his 279th start. The win ended a 64-race winless streak, the longest of his career.

    • Biffle scored his first top-10 finish in his past nine Pocono races.

    • Biffle led three times for 28 laps, including the final 21.

    • Roush Fenway Racing posted its 117th series win and its first victory in 2010.

    • The top 10 comprised six Chevrolets, two Fords and two Toyotas.

    • Ford posted its first win in 2010. It was Ford’s first non-restrictor-plate win since California in February 2009.• Tony Stewart (second) scored his fifth straight top-10 finish at Pocono, the longest current streak. It was Stewart’s 150th career top-5 finish.

    • Carl Edwards (third) extended a four-race streak of top-10 finishes that began at Daytona.

    • Points leader Kevin Harvick (fourth) has a 189-point lead over second-place Jeff Gordon.

    • Denny Hamlin (fifth) scored his eighth top-10 finish in 10 Pocono races. He had the 350th team top-5 for Joe Gibbs Racing.

    • Jeff Burton (eighth) extended a five-race streak of top-15 finishes that began at New Hampshire.

    • Ryan Newman (12th) has finished 14th or better in his past five Pocono races.

    • Kyle Busch (23rd) has scored just one top-10 finish in his past seven Pocono races.

    • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (27th) has scored just two top-10 finishes in his past 13 Pocono races

    • Dave Blaney finished 42nd in his 350th series start.(ESPN)(8-3-2010)


  • Junior & Shaq To Kick Off Season Two of “Shaq Vs.” Tuesday Night:The season premiere of ABC’s primetime television series Shaq Vs. will feature Dale Earnhardt Jr. – NASCAR’s most popular driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races – in a one-on-one stock car race against 7-foot-1, 325-pound Shaquille O’Neal. The program will air this Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 9:00 pm/et on ABC. (Check local listings for further details.) In the television series, O’Neal matches his skill and athletic ability against the best athletes, entertainers, and pop culture stars in the country by competing in their respective realms. Tuesday night’s premiere will pit O’Neal against Earnhardt Jr. in a stock car race as well as champion speller Kavya Shivashankar in a spelling bee.(JR Motorsports)(8-3-2010)

  • Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart has committed to racing his sprint car at Kasey Kahne’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet “Battle at the Grove” charity dirt track race this Thursday, August 5 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. More info on my Racing Charities page.

  • Nashville Will Not Follow Gateway Out The Door: Dover Motorsports has canceled next year’s NASCAR races at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, after closing the company’s Memphis track last year – a dismal reminder about the sport’s financial state of affairs. However, another Dover track, Nashville Superspeedway, is making plans for the 2011 season and track spokesman Cliff Hawks maintains a positive outlook. “We’re in talks with some potential new sponsors for next year, including one possible five-year deal,’ said Hawks, the track’s vice president and general manager. As for the grim Gateway news: “It’s tough to see a sister track not be on the schedule next year, but it will have no impact on our operation,” Hawks said. “I remain very optimistic about our track’s future.” When Dover closed its Memphis track the Superspeedway inherited its NASCAR Camping World Series race. However, Hawks said his track will receive none of the three lost Gateway events – two Nationwide Series races and a truck race. Where those races will end up – or even if they will be on the schedule – has not has not been determined. “We already have our schedule planned for 2011 – two Nationwide Series races and two Camping World Series races,” Hawks said. “The only thing that we haven’t finalized is our hope that we can run two doubleheader weekends next year. Earlier this season ran a Nationwide/truck series doubleheader and the response was very positive. We’re got our fingers crossed that we can run two such doubleheaders next season.”(Racin’ Today)(8-3-2010)

  • New Ticket Prices for 2011 Brickyard 400: A new, two-tiered ticket pricing program is creating even more value and a wider variety of options for fans attending the 2011 Brickyard 400. Prices have been cut in selected rows of specific grandstands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series mid-summer classic. Race Day general admission ticket prices also have been reduced. “This new ticket pricing program will make the Brickyard 400 more accessible to more fans while also providing more choices for value-conscious consumers,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO. “The combination of more affordable ticket prices, exciting racing from the stars of NASCAR and the great new fan experiences we created in 2010, such as the Brickyard Beach Bash and Family Fun Area, should produce a very memorable Brickyard 400 in the final year of our Centennial Era.”

    Brickyard 400 Race Day ticket prices have been cut in the lower rows of the Southeast Vista, Southwest Vista, Northeast Vista and H Stand grandstands. Prices in those rows range from $50-65, a reduction of $20 over 2010 prices. Brickyard 400 Race Day general admission tickets, which debuted in 2010 at $40, are available for 2011 at the reduced price of $30 in advance, $35 on Race Day.
    Prices for selected premium seats were increased slightly as part of the new program. Visit indianapolismotorspeedway.com for more details or http://www.imstix.com to reorder or apply for 2011 Brickyard 400 tickets. The 2011 Brickyard 400 is scheduled for Sunday, July 24, 2011, subject to any changes on the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.(IMS)(8-3-2010)

  • Ford Fiesta debuts at MIS as pace car in August: Ford’s new 2011 Fiesta will set the pace for the CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 15. The new Fiesta pace car was officially unveiled last Wednesday at The Henry Ford Museum by #17-Matt Kenseth and Jamie Allison, director of Ford North America Motorsports, in a media event to promote the upcoming race. “When we got a chance to drive the Fiesta in June before the first Michigan race, I was really impressed with it,” Kenseth said. “It’s a fun car to drive, with great handling, and you can’t beat the fuel economy or technology. I can’t wait to see how it looks on the track. I hope I get a real close view of it at the race, because that will mean we’re running at the front.” A Ford also led the pace laps at Michigan International Speedway for the first time with a Mustang in June. The all-new Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, fuel-efficient engine, high-quality materials, and a number of features and technologies not found on competitive vehicles. Designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable, Fiesta delivers best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, convenience and connectivity, and an expressive color palette. The available, all-new North American industry-exclusive PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission combines the responsive performance and fuel economy of a manual with the convenience of a traditional automatic in one advanced, dual dry-clutch package. Fiesta delivers a number of standard and available features that increase convenience and add connectivity. Among them is Ford SYNC, integrating a driver’s mobile phone with Fiesta’s onboard, voice-activated communications and entertainment system. Tickets for the Nationwide Series CARFAX 400 start at $25 for adults with kids 12 and under free. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2010 events at MIS.(MIS and RFR)(8-3-2010)



    News from August 2, 2010



  • Update on Jack Roush’s Condition: Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises, was upgraded to fair condition Sunday evening at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He will continue to be treated at Mayo Clinic for facial injuries sustained in a plane accident last week in Oshkosh, Wisc. There has been no timetable set for his release from the hospital. Fans wishing to send cards can direct them to Jack Roush’s attention at: Roush Fenway Racing, 4600 Roush Place, Concord, N.C. 28027.(Roush Fenway Racing)(8-2-2010)


  • Jack Roush Statement about Biffle’s win: “It’s a proud day for Ford, Greg Biffle, Greg Erwin, 3M, the Pit Bulls, and all of the wonderful sponsors who have stood by us these last few months. I’m comforted in having Robbie Reiser at the helm in my absence and know that things are in good hands, but this couldn’t have happened without the support of Ford and all of their technical assistance they provide, and, of course Doug Yates and his collaboration with Ford on the new FR9 engine can’t be overstated. They’ve done a wonderful job and this is just the beginning of the rewards that have resulted from all of their hard work.”(Roush Fenway Racing)(8-2-2010)

  • Race and Commercial Breakdown of Pennsylvania 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. ESPN was the broadcast team for this event. Please note that in addition to the commercials and promos listed below there is always a sponsor’s logo that changes throughout the race in the corner of the screen beside the race ticker.

    Total number of commercials: 131

    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 76

    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 26

    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM

    End time to record race/commercial periods: 6:27 PM

    Total minutes: 327

    Minutes of race broadcast: 215

    Minutes of commercials: 54

    Minutes of rain delays/red flag: 58

    Number of missed restarts: 0

    Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0

    Number of times fans were asked to change the channel during the race broadcast: 1 from ESPN 2 to ESPN

    Number of fake math professors in a video clip explaining the meaning of Tri-Oval to his fake students: 1

    See more, past races and links to full reports on my 2010 TV Commercials page.(8-2-2010)


  • A.J. got in to Sadler: During a wreck that started when #48-Jimmie Johnson tapped #2-Kurt Busch on Lap 165 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, smoke clouded up the straightaway before turn 2. Unable to see through the smoke, teammate #43-A.J. Allmendinger hit the back of #19-Elliott Sadler, sending him on a wild ride that ended with a hit so hard the engine of his car was torn apart and thrown towards the racetrack. “It knocked the breath out of me pretty good, but it’s definitely the hardest hit I’ve ever had in a race car,” Sadler said. “These new cars are built to be safer and if I can get out of that and walk [away from] that, I think it did its job.”

    “Everyone was checking up in front of me and there was tons of smoke. I had nowhere to go,” Allmendinger said after the race. “I really hate it for Elliott and those guys. You hate to see anyone wreck, especially as hard of a hit as that. I’m really glad he’s OK.”(Sports Illustrated)(8-2-2010)

  • NASCAR Number – 2,154: days between Elliott Sadler’s victory Saturday in the Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono and his previous NASCAR victory in the Cup race at Fontana on Sept. 5, 2004.(Sporting News)(8-2-2010)

  • Bo Bice to perform National Anthem at Watkins Glen: National recording artist and former American Idol star Bo Bice will be on-hand to sing the American National Anthem leading up to the fall of the green flag of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen just after 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 8. Bice will not only sing the American National anthem but will also perform a “surprise” concert during the weekend and take part in a Q&A with fans in The Bog Hospitality. The “surprise” concert will be a rare first at historic Watkins Glen International. The “surprise” is that the time, date, and location will not be officially released prior to the event weekend. Tickets for the entire 2010 season including the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, August 5-8, and Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 2-4, weekends are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com.(WGI)(8-2-2010)

  • Looks like Kentucky will get a Cup race: Kentucky Speedway will get a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2011, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR’s top series in early July. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. A news conference is scheduled at the track Aug. 10. Kentucky already hosts NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series events, as well as an IndyCar race. Plans are already in place to expand seating from 65,000 to around 100,000. SMI will likely have to move a race from one of its other tracks to Kentucky. Smith has consistently played coy about his intentions, but during a Cup visit to New Hampshire in June, he didn’t exactly endorse the prospect of continuing to have two Cup races a year in New England. While the second race traditionally kicks off the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, the June race could easily be bumped off the schedule. NASCAR is expected to announce its 2011 schedule by Labor Day.(Associated Press)(8-2-2010)



    News from August 1, 2010


  • Biffle wins at Pocono: #16-Greg Biffle won the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for his 1st win of 2010, ending a 64 race winless streak, Ford’s first win of 2010 [Talladega in Nov 2009 was the last win] and 15th of his career and the 117th win for Roush Fenway Racing, which has now won at least one race year for 14 straight seasons, since 1997. Pole sitter #14-Stewart finished second followed by: #99-Edwards, #29-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon, #5-Martin, #31-Burton, #56-Truex Jr. and #48-Johnson. #29-Harvick increased his lead to 189 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. The race started about 25 minutes late due to a rain shower. There was a red flag on lap 164 when #48-Johnson got in to #2-Busch, sending Busch into an unprotected [No SAFER] guardrail, and even worse was #19-Sadler went head on into another unprotected area, which tore the engine out of the car. Sadler was shook up but was released from the infield care center and says he is ok, just sore. Then the race was red flagged a tad longer for rain, but was able to restart and finish the race. There were 19 lead changes among 9 drivers and 5 cautions for 31 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 100,000, up from last year which was 80,000 on a Monday after the race was rained out on Sunday last August, which had 105,000 in attendance,

    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski’s Pocono Race Results/Awards page.(8-1-2010)

  • Race Fast Facts – Pocono:

    #16-Greg Biffle won the The Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 (37th Running), his 15th victory in 279 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

    This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2010. Biffle breaks a 64-race winless streak. His last victory came on Sept. 21, 2008 at Dover International Speedway.

    This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 16 races at Pocono Raceway. His only top-five finish here, a fourth, came in August 2004.

    #14-Tony Stewart (second) posted his 18th top-10 finish in 24 races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2010.

    #99-Carl Edwards (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 12 races at Pocono Raceway.

    #34-Kevin Conway (31st) was the highest finishing rookie.

    #29-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 189 points over #24-Jeff Gordon.(NASCAR Statistics)(8-1-2010)

  • 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:

    [after Watkins Glen, race 21 of 36]:

    rank, car#, driver, points, behind

    1) #29-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 3080

    2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2891, -189

    3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2820, -260

    4) #48Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 2803, -277

    5) #31-Jeff Burton, 2757, -323

    6) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 2724, -356

    7) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 2722, -358

    8) #14-Tony Stewart, 2719, -361

    9) #17-Matt Kenseth, 2682, -398

    10) #99-Carl Edwards, 2666, -414, +136

    11) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2652, -428, +122

    12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2564, -516, 34 ahead of 13th

    Chase for the Sprint Cup – Contenders:

    13) #5-Mark Martin, 2530, -550, 34 points out of the chase

    14) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2435, -645, -129

    15) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2426, -654, -138

    16) #9-Kasey Kahne, 2396, -684, -168

    2009 Chase Drivers not in top 16

    21) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 2241, -839, -323

    36) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158 [out season with illness]

    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski’s Drivers Points Standings page.(8-1-2010)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Watkins Glen:

    No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #26 team falls to 37th and #38 up to 36th. The points spread from 35th to 36th is well over a race now, at 199

    33) #37-Kvapil/Front Row: 1583, +213

    34) #34-Conway/Front Row: 1579, +209

    35) #71-TBA/TRG, 1569, 199 points ahead of 36th

    these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:

    36) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 1370, 199 points out of the top 35

    37) #26-Stremme/Latitude43: 1367, -202

    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.

    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(8-1-2010)

  • Rain at Pocono: it has been raining off and on in Long Pond, PA, location for Pocono Raceway, where the Sunono Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Spriont Cup Series race is scheduled today with a green flag around 1:18pm/et on ESPN. Forcast for the day is Scattered showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday doesn’t look much better. See more weather info and links on my Pocono Race Info page – Weather section.(8-1-2010)

  • NOTE: pre-race show is on ESPN2, NOT ESPN, at 12:00pm/et; with the race on ESPN at 1:00pm/et.

  • Race Coverage of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is scheduled for Sunday, August 1, 2010.

    Television (TV): ESPN at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et on ESPN2; green flag approx 1:18pm/et

    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128

    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:

    ESPN2, Monday, August 2 at 2:30am/et;

    SPEED, Wednesday, August 4 at 12:00pm/et


  • 4th team for RCR? Menard?: Richard Childress Racing is looking at possible expansion to four teams in the Sprint Cup Series in 2011 and is in the process of finalizing a deal to run next year’s Nationwide Series program through Kevin Harvick Inc. Team owner Richard Childress said an announcement on the deal with KHI should be made soon. The plan is for RCR to supply engines to KHI for the Nationwide program and for RCR to field two teams in the Truck Series where Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon, drives the #3. RCR Cup drivers Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick would run KHI cars when in the Nationwide Series.
    Childress would not comment on speculation that Paul Menard, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, would be his fourth driver. But he did say that a fourth team is a possibility. “We’re looking at it,” Childress said Sunday at Pocono Raceway. RCR had four teams in 2009, but returned to three this season after sponsorship for the fourth team and Casey Mears could not be found. Menard would bring the family business, Menard’s, with him as a sponsor if he made the move. RPM does not have a deal with Menard for 2011, but has been in talks with Marcos Ambrose to drive either the #9 being vacated by Kasey Kahne or #19 currently driven by Elliott Sadler. Team officials are optimistic that AJ Allmendinger will be back in the #43 next season even though Allmendinger has talked to other teams.(ESPN)(8-1-2010)


  • Roush has more surgery; no word when back to the track: Multi-team owner Jack Roush had another surgery Saturday and a time frame for him to return to the race track has not been determined, Roush Fenway Racing General Manager Robbie Reiser said Sunday. Roush was involved in a plane crash Tuesday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The Roush Fenway Racing co-owner was able to walk away from the crash but pictures showed a bloodied face. Reiser said he was unsure of the full extent of the injuries. Roush, 68, is being treated for facial injuries at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., according to the team. “I know there was a surgery done yesterday, but most of it is an evaluation of what they’re going to do and I think you’ll see a lot of updates coming this week,” Reiser said prior to the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. “It’s going to be a while [before he returns]. They’ve got some work to do there. They haven’t really discussed that with us right now.” Reiser’s role will increase some with Roush in the hospital. Roush typically visits the race shop each Tuesday and then is at the track on the weekend. “Jack’s a big part of our company and has been for a long, long time,” Reiser said. “Whenever something like this happens, everybody has to pick up a little bit and help along. Jack has always taken care of a lot of stuff we have had at the race track, so I am here for him not being here.” Roush called Reiser on Friday and they talked about the organization’s performance – as it still looks for that first Cup win of the season.(more at SceneDaily)(8-1-2010)


  • Terry Labonte to run some races: Two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte is expected to run three races this season for former owner Billy Stavola [was #8 Stovola Brothers from 1984-1998 with four Sprint Cup Series wins in 524 races]. Labonte will drive the #10 Chevy at Richmond, Charlotte and Texas. Cars and engines will be provided by Richard Childress Racing.(FoxSports), no word on a sponsor or crew chief. A website for the team was found, but with little information at stavolalabonteracing.com.(8-1-2010)


  • Special paint for Hornish at Pocono: Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the Penske Racing #77 PPG Dodge Charger, will sport a special paint scheme on his car this weekend at Pocono Raceway featuring PPG Automotive Refinish and PPG Olympic Paint. The #77 Dodge is also utilizing PPG’s environmentally friendly Envirobase High Performance waterborne paint. This is the same paint scheme that Hornish ran last August at Pocono where he secured a NASCAR career-best finish of fourth place.(Penske Racing), see the scheme form 2009 on ther #77 Team Schemes page.(8-1-2010)


  • Special guest in Sadler’s pits: Richard Petty Motorsports and the #19 Air Force team of Elliott Sadler will have a special VIP guest this weekend. General Roger A. Brady is Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein; and Director, Joint Air Power Competency Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He is responsible for Air Force activities, conducted through 3rd Air Force, in an area of operations covering almost one-fifth of the globe. This area includes 51 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with a total population reaching nearly one billion people speaking more than 80 languages. He also has administrative control of 17th Air Force, providing support, logistics and resources to the U.S. Africa Command.(RPM)(8-1-2010)


  • Pocono Rookie Notes: #34-Kevin Conway led the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway once for one lap and is the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Indianapolis since 2003 when Jamie McMurray led twice for 22 laps. Conway was sidelined by engine failure and credited with a 34th-place finish. Denny Hamlin won both races at Pocono Raceway in 2006 as a Raybestos Rookie and is the only Raybestos Rookie to sweep both events at the 2.5-mile track since the facility began hosting two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 1982. Hamlin also won both poles at Pocono in 2006. Scott Speed was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 Pennsylvania 500, scoring a 23rd-place finish (Raybestos), see full rookie notes, history, streaks and standings on my 2010 Rookies page.(8-1-2010)

  • Pocono may give up race date, in a few years: Pocono Raceway co-owner Dr. Joseph Mattioli told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Thursday that he might be willing to give up one of his track’s two race dates, but not in the near future. In recent comments to Yahoo! Sports reporter Brant James, Mattioli implied that two races were now too many for some tracks, including Pocono. However, he said he will retain his two Sprint Cup Series dates until at least 2013, when new NASCAR television contracts take effect. Asked if Pocono will be part of a rumored 2001 schedule shakeup, Mattioli replied, “absolutely not.”(Sirius Speedway)(8-1-2010)