California Penalties Announced: NASCAR announced today that four penalties have been issued to two NASCAR Busch Series teams, as a result of rules violations this past weekend at California Speedway. Three penalties were assessed to the #17 Ford team for violations of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules), and 20A-12.1B (2) (unapproved rear jacking bolts, incorrect thread count) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. Crew chief Chad Norris was fined $10,000; driver Matt Kenseth was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; and car owner Jack Roush was penalized 25 owner championship points. These rules violations were discovered during opening day inspection. Dave Fuge Jr., crew chief for the #34 Chevrolet driven by Todd Bodine, has been fined $2,500 for violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q, and 12-4-CC (unapproved rear end gear ratio). These violations were also discovered during opening day inspection.(NASCAR PR)(2-28-2006)
Goeters to Drive for Jay Robinson: Jorge Goeters, who will compete this weekend in the Telcel-Motorola 200 with Brewco Motorsports, said Tuesday that he will drive the rest of the season with Jay Robinson Racing. (NASCAR Scene Daily)(2-28-2005)
Roush Hauler Involved in Fatal Wreck: A Roush Racing hauler was involved in a fatal collision with a car going the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Phoenix, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Sunday morning. Neither of the two Roush hauler drivers was seriously injured, Smith said. “A car that had no lights on was driving the wrong way on the expressway outside of Phoenix and ran head-on into our #60 hauler,” Smith said. “Someone was killed in the car.” The hauler was on the way to Laredo to switch out cars with another Roush hauler carrying road-course cars for the March 5 race at Mexico City.(NASCAR Scene Daily)(2-26-2006)
Keith Coleman Racing Picks up Sponsors for California: This weekend in California, the #23 Keith Coleman Racing Chevrolet, piloted by rookie Chris Wimmer, will feature Race2Learn, a California-based educational materials company and the return of LoveFifi, an online intimate apparel company also based in California.(Keith Coleman Racing PR)(2-25-2006)
Hmiel Suspended Indefinitely: Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from competition indefinitely by NASCAR after failing a third substance abuse test. “Shane failed to fulfill the prescribed rehabilitation program scheduled by NASCAR,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. “As a result, Shane has forfeited his opportunity to compete in any NASCAR-sanctioned events.” Hmiel, the 26-year-old son of longtime crew chief and team official Steve Hmiel, was first suspended in September 2003 after failing a test. He completed a required rehabilitation program and was reinstated for NASCAR competition in February 2004. But he was suspended again last June after failing a second substance abuse test. NASCAR had laid out a road map for Hmiel’s possible reinstatement in 2007 that included medical and psychological reviews and frequent testing. NASCAR said Hmiel failed one of those tests.(ESPN/AP)(2-24-2006)
Transamerica to Sponsor O’Quinn in California: Roush Racing’s #50 Busch series entry will be painted a little differently this weekend, as Danny O’Quinn Jr.’s Ford Fusion will have Transamerica on board for the Stater Brothers 300 at the California Speedway. (Roush PR)(2-24-2006)
Penske Truck Leasing to Sponsor Kurt Busch: Penske is now the primary sponsor of car #39 driven by former Kurt Busch. The car will appear in six NASCAR Busch Series events in 2006. [The races are reportedly spring Texas, spring Phoenix, spring Lowe’s, Daytona, Chicago, and Michigan.](Penske Truck Leasing PR)(2-24-2006)
Parrott working with Gilliand: Bill Wilburn and Brad Parrott, a pair of former Cup crew chiefs, are working with Busch Series newcomer David Gilliland. Wilburn is crew chief for the Clay Andrews Racing team, while Parrott is working as a consultant until he finds a more permanent job.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-24-2006)
Kennon no longer with Akins: Gere Kennon is no longer with the #38 Akins Motorsports team. He is being replaced on an interim basis by Ken Davis.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-24-2006)
Crosby to Drive for Cicci: Kim Crosby of Slidell, La., will join the team as soon as sponsorship contracts are finalized, Cicci said Wednesday by phone from his Mooresville, N.C., shop. “We’re not sure what her potential is because she has never been in any top-notch equipment,” Cicci said. “We’ve got to see what we have and try to make the best of it.” Crosby was with the team at Daytona and even helped the crew by serving as the rear tire carrier for Tracy. (Elmira Star-Gazette via BGNRacing.com)(2-23-2006)
Pardo to Drive for Cicci at Mexico: Mexican driver Carlos Pardo will drive Frank Cicci’s #34 Chevrolet in Mexico City, with sponsorship from Telcel. Paul Tracy was originally slated to drive the car in Mexico, but sponsorship issues put Pardo in the car.(NASCAR Scene)(2-23-2006)
NASCAR to slow pit stops in Busch, Truck Series: In an effort to increase parity in the Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR has made a move to try to slow pit stops. Busch Series director Joe Balash said NASCAR has decreased the diameter of the fuel-dump cans team use to fill fuel tanks. The smaller cans mean fuel travels more slowly into the cars, a rate of about one second slower, Balash said. Teams use two cans to fill the 22-gallon fuel cells, which means a full pit stop will take about two seconds longer.(NASCAR Scene)(2-23-2006)
Arizona Office of Tourism to Sponsor Fall Phoenix Race: The Arizona Office of Tourism is hoping to use the popularity of NASCAR to help the state become an appealing destination to the sport’s legion of well-traveled fans. The organization is joining forces with Phoenix International Raceway to present the Arizona Travel 200 NASCAR Busch Series race. AOT Director Margie Emmermann is expected to announce the partnership at a press conference Feb. 25 at the California Speedway. The AOT-sponsored race, to be held Nov. 11, is the third of four races during the November NASCAR weekend at PIR.(Phoenix Business Journal)(2-22-2006)
AAA Mid-Atlantic Inc. Returns to Sponsor Hamlin in 2006: AAA Mid-Atlantic Inc. announced today that it has returned as Associate Sponsor of the #20 NASCAR Busch Series Chevrolet driven by Denny Hamlin. This marks the 2nd year that the AAA Mid-Atlantic Division will support Hamlin in his Busch Series efforts.(Rockwell Automation PR)(2-22-2006)
#05 Team Penalized: NASCAR announced today that Tommy Perkins, crew chief of the No. 05 Chevrolet driven by Chad Chaffin in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been penalized due to rules violations at Daytona International Speedway. Perkins was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: 20A – 13B: steering idler arm not solid) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection on Feb. 14.(NASCAR PR)(2-22-06)
Day to serve as Newman’s Crew Chief in California: Kent Day will be the interim crew chief of the #39 Mobil 1 Dodge this weekend. Day is Penske Racing South’s Chief Engineer.(Penske Racing PR)(2-22-06)
Goeters to Drive for Brewco in Mexico: Jorge Goeters is set to drive the #66 Scotiabank Xtreme Gel Ford Fusion for Brewco Motorsports in the Telcel-Motorola 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 5th. Goeters returns to Brewco Motorsports and the Mexico City event for the second year after capturing the pole for the 2005 race.(Brewco PR)(2-21-2006)
Ranchwood Homes to Sponsor Gilliland at California: David Gilliland and the #84 Ranchwood Homes Chevrolet team head to California Speedway for Saturday’s Stater. Bros. 300. Ranchwood Homes has signed as a one-race sponsor for this weekend’s event for Clay Andrews Racing. Ranchwood Homes is a homebuilder of new homes and new home communities in the California Central Valley and California East Bay.(MCG PR)(2-21-2006)
ABF Freight to Sponsor Braun?: UPDATE Hearing ABF Freight will sign with #32 Braun Racing as either a primary or asscoiate sponsor with in the next few days.(2-11-2006) UPDTE: ABF Freight System, Inc., has signed a limited primary sponsorship with Braun Racing for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series. The Nicorette 300 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18th will mark the inaugural appearance of the #32 ABF U-Pack Moving® Chevrolet driven by Jason Leffler. In addition, ABF® will be an associate sponsor for the remaining 2006 season.(Braun PR)(2-21-2006)
Tracy to Drive #4 GEICO Dodge in Mexico City: Paul Tracy will accompany GEICO’s gecko to Mexico City on March 5, 2006, when the #4 Biagi Bros. Racing entry and the NASCAR Busch Series take to the 2.518-mile road course. Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car Series Champion, has spent many Champ Car afternoons racing in Mexico City since the series first debuted there in 2002, winning the event in 2003 and coming home third in 2005.(Player Management International PR)(2-21-2006)
Barr-Nunn Transportation to Sponsor O’Quinn: Barr-Nunn Transportation, Inc. and Barr-Nunn Logistics announced today they will partner with Roush Racing to sponsor Danny O’Quinn, Jr. and his #50 NASCAR Busch Series entry. Barr-Nunn will serve as primary sponsor for two races on the Ford Fusions and as an associate sponsor throughout the season. Barr-Nunn will be primary sponsor on the #50 Ford Fusion at Bristol Motor Speedway in March and Dover International Speedway in September, while their associate deal will make them ever-present on the fleet of #50 World Financial Group/Stonebridge Life Insurance Fords. (Barr-Nunn PR via BGNRacing.com)(2-20-2006)
Cicci to Use Driver by Committe in 2006: UPDATE 2: Facing tougher competition, Frank Cicci Jr. will count on a restructuring of his team to help compete at a higher level in NASCAR’s Busch Series in 2006. To help reach [the next] level, Cicci hired Dave Fuge Jr., a two-time champion crew chief in the Craftsman Truck Series, as his new crew chief. The team has also switched engine builders, leaving Pro Motors for Carl Wegner of Wisconsin. Cicci will employ a driver-by-committee lineup this year. Champ Car star Paul Tracy, Chemung native Todd Bodine and two or three other drivers will share the #34 Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly Chevrolet in 2006. Cicci said the team, which is still without a primary sponsor, will compete in all 35 Busch events. Cicci said he’s also working on deals to bring in a woman driver and a young male driver but did not want to mention their names.”We’re working sponsors and we’ve presented those drivers,” Cicci said. “They’ll all split the driving in the 34. We plan to make all the races. That’s our focus.”(Elmira [NY] Star-Gazette)(2-9-2006) UPDATE: It was mentioned on Speed Channel’s Busch Qualifying coverage that Todd Bodine is expected to run 30 races in the 34 for Frank Cicci Racing. He will be in the car for all the races Tracy doesn’t run.(Speed TV Coverage)(2-17-2006) UPDATE 2:Car owner Frank Cicci says Speed’s reports of Bodine were incorrect. “Todd is concentrating on running for the championship in the Truck Series. Todd is just going to run select races for us starting in California. The number of races he will be running for us throughout the year is yet to be determined.”(BGNRacing.com)(02-19-2006)
Marines Generals to Join Team Rensi in Daytona: Team Marines Racing NASCAR Busch Series driver Ashton Lewis, Jr. will welcome three Marine Corps generals to Saturday’s Hershey’s Kissables 300. The distinguished group of leaders will spend the afternoon with the #25 Team Marines Racing Team owned by Team Rensi Motorsports. Included in the group will be Major General Walter E. Gaskin, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Brigadier General Richard T. Tryon, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot / Eastern Recruiting Region, and Brigadier General John M. Paxton, Jr., Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot / San Diego and Western Recruiting Region.(TeamRensi PR)(2-18-2006)
John Andretti to Run for ROTY?: UPDATE: Despite his more than three hundred starts in a Nextel Cup racecar, Andretti is a “rookie” to the Busch Series. Andretti has turned in his paperwork to run for the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year honors in the 2006 season. (ppc PR)(2-13-2006) UPDATE: NASCAR has approved Andretti’s request and he will run for Rookie of the Year honors in 2006.(2-17-2006)
Nadeau Joins Clay Andrews Racing as Consultant: Jerry Nadeau is making his return to NASCAR racing. Nadeau will be a consultant for the newly-formed Clay Andrews Racing and driver David Gilliland in the NASCAR Busch Series. Nadeau begins immediately as the team prepares for their 2006 season debut at the California Speedway in the Stater Bros. 300.(Clay Andrews PR)(2-17-2006)
Bar-S Foods to Sponsor RWI: RWI Racing, LLC is pleased to announce the extension of their partnership with BAR-S Foods; an Arizona based processed meat production company. The sponsorship will don the #64 Top-Flite Dodge for the entire 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Season.(RWI PR)(2-16-2006)
Hines to the #14: UPDATE: Tracy Hines was one of the rookie featured drivers on Speed’s NBS 24/7 show Monday night. Hines will be in the #14 Dodge this season. FBR will be using Evernham engines for both teams. Eddie Buffington will the crew chief of the #14.(2-14-2006) UPDATE: Tracy Hines will share driving duties in the #14 Dodge Charger with Carlos Contreras during the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series.(FBR PR)(2-15-2006)
Mears to run 10 Busch Races: UPDATE: Casey Mears will run 10 races in the Busch Series this year in cars prepared in-house by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Mears will race in two events at California, Texas and Charlotte, the spring Busch race at Phoenix and single Busch races at Atlanta, Chicagoland and Michigan. (ThatsRacin/David Poole)(1-26-2006) UPDATE: Casey Mears will make his return to the NASCAR Busch Series in a Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Dodge Charger for nine events during the 2006 NASCAR season. Mears will carry the number and logo of his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car, #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, for the selected companion races. (Ganassi PR)(2-14-2006)
New Past Champion Rule in Busch?: UPDATE: Been told that NASCAR will make an interesting rule change in the Busch Series this season. The past champion provisional can now only be used by a driver/team once every eight races. Supposedly this will impact no other series besides NBS. An announcement is forthcoming, possibly this week. (BGNRacing.com)(1-23-2006) UPDATE: NASCAR has adjusted its rule regarding use of a past champion’s provisional in the Busch Series. A past champion can only use that provisional once every eight races instead of having an unlimited number as in the past. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-13-2006)
Kauffman to Run Daytona ARCA as a Test: UPDATE: Joel Kauffman, driver of the #12 SuperCuts Dodge for FitzBradshaw Racing, will forgo testing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Earlier this month, NASCAR officials informed FitzBradshaw Racing that Kauffman would have to run the ARCA Re/Max race at Daytona in February in order to get approval for superspeedway racing. The Rookie-of-the-Year candidate will also use the ARCA race as his test. (FBR PR)(1-19-2006) UPDATE: Foregoing the original plans for Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Joel Kauffman to run the ARCA Re/MAX Series event in Daytona, a collective decision was made to kick off the 2006 Busch Series season in the Stater Bros. 300 in Fontana. David Reutimann will take the controls of the Supercuts Dodge in the Hershey’s Kissables 300 at Daytona. He regularly drives for Darrell Waltrip’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. This year, Michael Waltrip Racing has formed an alliance with FitzBradshaw in the Busch Series. Reutimann is slated to drive several Busch races for Michael Waltrip Racing later in the season.(FBR PR)(2-13-06)
Aaron Fike to run full season?: UPDATEAaron Fike will run the first 25 races of the season and hopes to complete the schedule in the Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #43 Dodge this year. (NASCAR Scene)(1-26-2006) UPDATE: Aaron Fike is slated to be behind the wheel of the #43 Curb-Agajanian Dodge for all 35 NASCAR Busch Series events in 2006, with Joe Shear, Jr., handling crew chief duties and Evernham Engines providing the horsepower for the first time, it was announced today by Curb Agajanian Performance Group.(CAPG PR)(2-11-2006)
New gig for Dennison: Jeff Dennison, former employee at Williams Company of America has a new position at Moore Consulting Group. He will be handling the public relations for #84 Clay Andrews Racing and driver David Gilliland in the Busch Series.(2-10-2006)
Evernham Announcement UPDATE 2: not sure what this is about…yet, but on Friday, Feb. 10th at Daytona, Evernham Motorsports [#9,#10,#19] will announce plans for the Ingersoll- Rand Dodge Charger and its 2006 Road Racing Program, driver to be announced.(2-9-2006) UPDATE: rumors have the driver being either Ward Burton or Boris Said, could be a Busch Series deal.(2-9-2006) UPDATE 2: Evernham Motorsports and Ingersoll Rand announced the expansion of their partnership to include sponsorship of an Evernham Motorsports road course development program for the 2006 season. The new program extends the long-standing relationship that Ray Evernham, President and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, has enjoyed with Ingersoll Rand, and allows the organization to further develop its road course performance by tapping road racing veteran Boris Said to serve not only as a driver, but also as a coach. “Our goal is to build a championship race team and to do that you have to run well on the road courses,” Evernham said. “You can’t take a mulligan at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen. “Boris presented us with an excellent opportunity to improve our road course program by having him work with our teams on the cars as well as with our drivers. He has years of road course racing experience and has had success in NASCAR on the road courses.” Said will pilot the#9 Ingersoll Rand Dodge Charger in the Busch Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 5. He also will act as a technical consultant on the development of road course cars and serve as a driver coach to the Evernham Motorsports stable of drivers. Ingersoll Rand also will serve as the primary sponsor on a fourth entry in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for Evernham Motorsports at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 13. The driver of the #98 Ingersoll Rand Dodge Charger will be announced at a later date. In addition to the designation as the Official Air Tools and Compressors of Evernham Motorsports, Ingersoll Rand also will be the title sponsor of the Pit Training Facility at Evernham Motorsports and will be an associate sponsor of the #9 Ultimate Chargers Dodge Charger in the Busch Series for the duration of the season. Ingersoll Rand’s other five strategic brands, Bobcat, ClubCar, Schlage, Hussmann and ThermoKing will also be showcased as part of the primary sponsorship. As part of its sponsorship program, Ingersoll Rand will be offering its customers special offers and products like the Street Legal Thundergun air impact wrench that offers the durability and performance NASCAR pit crews rely on to turn 14-second, four-tire replacement pit stops. For more information about Ingersoll Rand, visit www.ingersollrand.com.(ClearBlue PR)(2-10-2006)
Experian to Sponsor Roush Busch Teams: Experian Consumer Direct today announced that it will be a major associate sponsor of the Roush Racing team in the NASCAR Busch Series for the 2006 racing season. Team racecars will feature the company’s Web site, FreeCreditReport.com.(Experian PR)(2-9-2006)
David Green Undecided on Future Plans: When Kimberly-Clark announced in November of 2005 that it would sponsor David Green’s #27 Brewco Motorsports Ford for two more season in the Busch Series, many assumed that meant Green would retire at the end of the 2007 season. But no one bothered to ask Green about his retirement plans. The former Busch Series champion said retiring at the end of ’07 could happen, but nothing is official.(NASCAR Scene)(2-9-2006)
Braun to Run Partial Schedule? Braun Racing may not be able to run all 35 races this season because of a lack of sponsorship, owner Todd Braun said. Braun is committed to the first five races of the season and has sponsorship for several races later in the year. (NASCAR Scene) No word on whether or not the merger with Akins will impact the team’s plans.(2-9-2006)
Las Vegas Testing: UPDATES: There were no official test speeds recorded on Monday and the test session was incident free. 46 Busch Series drivers are testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Feb. 6-8 as part of the Busch Series edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder Las Vegas. The public is invited to watch the test sessions free of charge each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.(LVMS PR)(2-6-2006) TUESDAY UPDATE: Stephen Leicht, a rookie driving for Robert Yates Racing, was involved in the only incident of the day [Tuesday]. He spun coming off of turn three and made contact with the outside wall. Leicht was able to drive his car back to the garage area. No testing speed were available.(LVMS PR)(2-7-2006) WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Steve Park was involved in the day’s only incident. He spun exiting turn 2 but did not make contact. There were no official testing speeds for the three-day session.(LVMS PR)(2-8-2006)
O’Quinn to Run Daytona ARCA Race: NASCAR Busch Series driver Danny O’Quinn, Jr. will run in the ARCA Re/Max Series race at Daytona as a joint venture with Roush Racing and Roulo Brothers Racing. O’Quinn will run the Daytona ARCA 200 in a #39 World Financial Group Ford Taurus fielded by Roulo Brothers Racing. The Ford is one from the Roush Racing stable and is one of Mark Martin’s former Bud Shootout cars. O’Quinn will run the ARCA race in order to get additional seat time at the 2.5 mile track and more experience in the draft, as he prepares for next weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series Hershey’s Kissables 300.(Roush PR)(2-8-2006)
Old Spice to Sponsor Stewart in 8 Busch Races: Old Spice announces its increased presence in NASCAR. Tony Stewart, who has been sponsored by Old Spice for the past six seasons in the Nextel Cup Series, will be driving the brand’s Busch Series stock car in 2006. The #33 Old Spice Chevrolet Monte Carlo will appear in eight races and make its Busch Series debut in the Hershey’s Kissables 300 at Daytona.(Kevin Harvick Inc)(2-8-2006)
Akins and Braun to Merge: Todd Braun and Doug Stringer, owners of Braun Racing and Akins Motorsports respectively, are proud to announce a merger of their two teams, forming Braun-Akins Racing. Braun-Akins Racing intends on fielding two NASCAR Busch Series entries for the 2006 season with drivers, Jason Leffler and AJ Foyt IV. (Braun-Akins Racing PR)(2-8-2006)
Lamar to Run Daytona ARCA Race: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) have teamed to field Burney Lamar in the #31 Chevrolet for the upcoming ARCA 200 event at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 11. The race, which will mark Lamar’s second ARCA RE/MAX Series start, will help him prepare for the Busch Series season opener at Daytona a week later.(KHI PR)(2-7-2006)
Team Johnson Planning Partial Schedule: Team Johnson Motorsports continues to plan a limited Busch and ARCA schedule in 2006. The team has partnered with the American Legion to help fund the team through the sale of racing merchandise to American Legion members.(Team Johnson Motorsports)(2-7-2006)
O’Quinn to Run Full Season: UPDATE A Roush Racing official confirmed that Danny O’Quinn will compete full time in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006 for the team. O’Quinn, 20, competed in “Roush Racing: Driver X” – the team’s search for a driver for its Craftsman Truck Series team – but has landed in Roush’s #50 Ford in the Busch Series. Drew Blickensderfer, a rear tire changer and mechanic on Mark Martin’s #6 Cup car last year, will be the crew chief. World Financial Group will be the sponsor.(NASCAR Scene)(1-19-2006) UPDATE: Drew Blickensderfer, who has spent the last three years at Roush Racing as a rear-tire changer and car chief with Mark Martin, will be crew chief on the #50 World Financial Group/Stonebridge Life Insurance Company Ford Fusion for Roush Racing.(Roush PR)(2-7-2006)
Henkel to Sponsor Edwards: Henkel of America, Inc. announced today that it has signed a sponsorship agreement with Roush Racing and driver Carl Edwards in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006. Several Henkel brands will participate in the sponsorship of Edwards’ #60 car, including Dial®, Renuzit®, Dep® Sport, Combat®, Loctite®, Duck®, and Polyseamseal®. Henkel will be a primary sponsor for 14 races and a major associate sponsor for the remaining 21 races in the 2006 season.(Henkel PR)(2-7-2006)
Shane Hmiel to Run USAC: Chris Paulsen, President & Owner C&R Racing, Inc., announced today that Shane Hmiel will drive the C&R house car for the 2006 USAC Silver Crown Series Presented by K&N Engineering.(RacingOne.com)(2-6-2006)
Spencer Clark to Run at Las Vegas: Spencer Clark has turned thousands of laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But until Monday afternoon, all of those laps had been confined to the 3/8-mile Bullring and the road courses. Monday, the 18-year old Clark got his first taste of the 1.5-mile superspeedway as he took some test laps in preparation for his NASCAR Busch Series debut in the March 11 Sam’s Town 300. (Las Vegas Motor Speedway PR)(2-6-2006)
McMurray and Wallace to Split Driving Duties in RWI #64: The 2006 Top-Flite NASCAR Busch Series schedule will include both NEXTEL Cup veteran, Jamie McMurray and rookie Steve Wallace driving the #64 Top-Flite Dodge in a full Busch Series season. McMurray is scheduled to run 22 races in the #64 Top-Flite Dodge at all Cup/Busch companion races. While, Steve Wallace will run 13 races in the NASCAR Busch Series, beginning at Bristol in March. In addition to the 13 Busch races, Wallace is also slated to run seven ARAC races this year, further preparing him for a full NASCAR Busch Series schedule in 2007.(RWI PR)(2-6-2006)
Schrader and Waltrip to run #66 in Busch: UPDATE: the Yardman.com site has a NASCAR Racing section, listing Ken Schrader and Michael Waltrip as drivers of the #66 Yardman Ford for Brewco Motorsposrts in the Busch Series, no races listed.(Yardman.com)(2-2-2006) UPDATE: Yard-Man by MTD is teaming up with veteran drivers Michael Waltrip and Kenny Schrader to become a primary sponsor of the Brewco Motorsports #66 Ford in the 2006 Busch series. Yard-Man, a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden tractors and walk-behind mowers, will have a primary role in 15 races, including Daytona, Bristol and Talladega. The #66 Yard-Man Ford makes its debut at Daytona on February 18, with Schrader behind the wheel. Throughout the remainder of the season Waltrip and Schrader will share driving responsibilities. (Yard-Man PR via BGNRacing.com)(2-5-2006)
Federated Auto Parts Announces 2006 Plans: In 2006, Federated is teaming with Ken Schrader, Boris Said, Brewco Motorsports and the Nashville SuperSpeedway. Federated will continue its relationship with veteran NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and the Ken Schrader Racing Team. Road-racing champion Boris Said will continue his role as Federated Car Care spokesperson and carry the Federated logo in an array of motorsports venues during 2006. Also in 2006, Federated will continue its long association with the Nashville SuperSpeedway as Federated will serve as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series race which will be held on Saturday, June 10th. Federated is expanding its partnership with Brewco Motorsports during the 2006 season. Federated will be a full-time associate sponsor on both the #27 and #66 Brewco Motorsports NASCAR Busch Series entries in 2006. Federated will also serve as the primary sponsor for David Green and the #27 team during the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 10. (FederatedAutoParts.com)(2-4-2006)
Busch Series Testing at Las Vegas Next Week: UPDATE At least 13 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series regulars are scheduled to participate in the Busch Series edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder Las Vegas. NASCAR stars Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick and Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch are among the full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup stars that will be part of the 32 drivers who are scheduled to test Feb. 6-8 to prepare for the March 11 Sam’s Town 300. The Busch Series is limited to five tests throughout the 2006 season, which adds to the importance of the Las Vegas test. Here is a list of the drivers scheduled to test: Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 6-7: Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Stacy Compton, Carl Edwards, David Green, Mark Green, Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Todd Kluever, Burney Lamar, Ashton Lewis Jr., Matt McCall, Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, Danny O’Quinn, Paul Tracy, Johnny Sauter, Ken Schrader, Regan Smith, Reed Sorenson, Chris Wimmer, Jon Wood and J.J. Yeley. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 7-8: John Andretti, David Gilliland, Denny Hamlin, Steve Park, and Kenny Wallace. Wednesday, Feb. 8: Steve Wallace.(Las Vegas Motor Speedway PR)(2-2-2006) UPDATE: The following additions have been made to the list of drivers testing: Monday, Feb.6: Spencer Clark, Monday and Tuesday, Feb 6-7: Tracy Hines, Joel Kaufmann, Jason Keller, Jason Leffler, Stephen Leicht, Kevin Lepage, Mark McFarland, Joe Nemechek, Jay Sauter, Tim Sauter, Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 7-8: Michael Waltrip. Matt McMall has been removed from the schedule. (LVMS PR)(2-3-2006)
Park has a ride? UPDATE 2: hearing Steve Park will drive a limited number of Busch Series races in 2006, possibly with the #31 Whelen Racing team.(1-31-2006) UPDATE: From the Steve Park site “I’m thrilled to announce that I will be back in the #31 Whelen Engineering Monte Carlo for 10 select races during the 2006 Busch season. Everyone at Whelen & Marsh Racing has always been so good to me and I am so excited to be back behind the wheel of the Whelen machine.”(2-1-2006) UPDATE 2: Steve Park will be driving the Marsh Racing # 31 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Whelen Engineering in 10 select races during the 2006 season. “It is like a family member coming back home” said Phil Kurze, Whelen’s Director of Motorsports. Kurze went on to say that “The kickoff race will be Las Vegas and we will probably be racing in both Richmond events, Darlington, New Hampshire, both Dover races, the October race at Lowe’s and finish the season with Texas and Homestead. If Steve is able to secure a Craftsman Truck ride we will make some adjustments to our schedule to accommodate his obligations.” (Whelen PR)(2-6-2006)
Pennzoil / Roush Announce 2006 Schedule: The 2006 Pennzoil Busch Series schedule will include both Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth driving the new Pennzoil Ford Fusion in a combined total of nine Busch Series races. Kenseth, who is committed to a total of seven races, will pilot the Pennzoil Ford Fusion at Fontana in the spring, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Charlotte in the fall, Texas in the fall, Phoenix in the fall and Homestead. Martin will be taking over at Texas in the spring as well as Chicago.(Roush PR)(2-2-2006)
Almirola to Run 7 Races: Aric Almirola will run 7 races for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Busch Series team in 2006, but the schedule has yet to be set.(NASCAR Scene)(2-2-2006)
Toyota’s Plans for the Busch Series are Low-Key: Toyota’s entrance into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series were both made with a lot of fanfare, but the Japanese automaker isn’t making a lot of noise about its Busch Series plans. “The company doesn’t really have a particular interest in Busch,” Toyota Racing Development Senior Vice President and General Manager Lee White said. An announcement of [Toyota’s] Busch Series teams should be made in the coming months. “It’ll probably be 5 or 6 cars over the next couple years that will end up running in the Busch Series as Toyotas.”(NASCAR Scene)(2-2-2006)
Kenny Wallace gets St. Louis Radio Show: UPDATE: Kenny will have another activity to keep him busy this year. “Starting 2/17 at 7 o’clock (PM) Central Time in St. Louis I’ll be on the Kenny Wallace show for KMOX radio,” Kenny tells us. “That is one of the largest AM stations in the United States, in 44 states. This is a radio station I grew up with my whole life listening to. It’s real good talk and sports radio I’m excited about it. I’ll broadcast from my motorhome on Friday nights. Rusty or some other special guests will do the show when racing in the Busch Series on Friday nights.” (KennyWallace.com)(1-6-2006) UPDATE: KMOX announced today that Kenny Wallace, one of the most popular drivers on the NASCAR circuit, will host a special edition of the “Chrysler Jeep Sports Open Line” on KMOX throughout the stock car racing season. The program will air Friday nights at 7:00pm central time from February 17 through November 17, 2006.(KMOX PR)(2-1-2006)
