Steven Wallace to make Cup debut UPDATE denied: During SPEED’s SPEED Report show, Bob Dillner reported that Rusty Wallace’s son, Steven, a regular in the Nationwide Series, will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut at Richmond International Raceway on May 1st. Steven will run a car from Rusty’s team, Rusty Wallace Inc. and plans to attempt four other Sprint Cup races in 2010, no word on those venues.(SPEED)(2-28-2010) UPDATE – Denied: per Greg Wallace of Rusty Wallace Inc/ Rusty Wallace Racing: “At Rusty Wallace Racing, we continually evaluate opportunities that align with our strategic objectives, including a future involvement in the Sprint Cup Series at some point. However, there are currently no plans for RWR to field a Sprint Cup entry in 2010. As for Steve Wallace, our focus remains on making Steve and the #66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry consistent contenders for the 2010 Nationwide Series championship.”(RWR)(3-1-2010)
Townley cited for alcohol possession: Nationwide Series driver #21-John Wes Townley has been cited for underage possession of alcohol. Townley, who is 20, was cited Thursday. He apologized to NASCAR and his Richard Childress Racing team in a statement issued late in Saturday’s race by his race team. “I made a big mistake and feel terrible about it,” he said. “I have learned a valuable lesson and will do everything I can to make it up to those I have let down.” Car owner Richard Childress said Townley made an error in judgment that will be handled internally at RCR. “Drivers are human and make mistakes like everyone else. However, we do not condone his behavior,” Childress said.(ESPN.com)(2-27-2010)
Sam’s Town extends Las Vegas race sponsorship: The NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will continue to be sponsored by Boyd Gaming and its Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, officials of the sponsoring hotel and the speedway announced. The race name remains the Sam’s Town 300, which has been the name since the 1998 event. Only Food City has been on Bristol’s fall Nationwide Series race longer. Sam’s Town joined with Las Vegas Motor Speedway following the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series event in 1997. Since that time, crowds have increased steadily and the event has often drawn a crowd in excess of 100,000 fans.(LVMS PR)(2-27-2010)
CarLocate extends #02 sponsorship: CarLocate.com, a nationwide new and used car search Web site, today that it has extended sponsorship of the Corrie Stott Racing team through the end of March 2010. CarLocate.com will be primary sponsor of Corrie Stott Racing’s #02 Chevy for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 in Las Vegas on Feb. 27, 2010, and the Scotts Turf Builder 300 in Bristol, Tenn., on March 20, 2010. CarLocate.com also sponsored the #02 car from Corrie Stott Racing for the first two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2010: the DRIVE4COPD 300 in Daytona, Fla., and the Stater Bros. 300 in Fontana, Calif.(Corrie Stott PR)(2-26-2010)
Roush rookies win cooking challenge: Roush Fenway Racing drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun teamed to win the Fifth Annual Raybestos Rookie Cooking Challenge Thursday afternoon at ESPN Zone Las Vegas. Both drivers compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Stenhouse Jr. and Braun prepared a tasty dish of macaroni and cheese. Other drivers competing in the event were Kevin Conway, Terry Cook, Brian Scott and James Buescher. The event was judged by members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. “I do a lot of restaurant cooking,” Stenhouse Jr. said when asked about his culinary skills. “I usually go out and pay somebody else to do it but our macaroni and cheese looked pretty good. We’ve got a lot of good race fans a lot of good fans out here.” Teammate Braun added that the contest was a challenging but enjoyable experience. “I had a lot of fun cooking,” Braun said. “This was quite a challenge. I think this was harder than anything we do in a race car.” All drivers who participated in the cooking competition were assisted by members of the ESPN Zone Culinary Team, led by chef Chris Gagen. Each child from the Boys and Girls Clubs sampled the dishes prepared by the drivers and their applause determined the overall winner. Following the contest, drivers and kids played games in ESPN Zone’s interactive Sports Arena.(Raybestos)(2-26-2010)
Steve Wallace could run some truck races for Ballew: Waltrip, who is scheduled to run only select Cup events in 2010 with the Michael Waltrip Racing team he co-owns with Rob Kauffman, has been in discussions with team owner Billy Ballew about a full-time ride in the Camping World Truck Series, Ballew said in a phone interview with www.SceneDaily.com on Monday morning. Waltrip, however, sounded less intent on a full Truck season when asked about his plans Monday afternoon. “He’s working on sponsorship, and if it comes through, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll run a couple races for him,” the two-time Daytona 500 champion said of Ballew. Ballew expects an announcement about Waltrip’s future with BMM by Jan. 15 and is still in the process of securing funding for Waltrip and a second driver, Aric Almirola. Ballew said that Steve Wallace, who is slated to return to Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series, is also “still in the mix” for a part-time Truck ride for BMM.(SceneDaily.com)(1-4-2010) UPDATE: Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace and officials of Billy Ballew Motorsports announced that Wallace will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of BBM’s #15 Toyota in the March 6 Atlanta 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wallace’s #15 Tundra will feature primary sponsorship from traditional BBM partner, Red Top Auto Auctions. The venerable Kevin “Cowboy” Starland will serve as crew chief for Wallace in the event.(RWI PR)(2-26-2010)
Congrats to Brendan and Tatum Gaughan: Brendan Gaughan told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he and wife Tatum are expecting their first child in late September or October.(2-25-2010)
#23 team crew member suspended: UPDATE: Kenneth Luna, a crew member for the #23 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On Feb. 24, Luna was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)(2-25-2010) UPDATE: NASCAR has indefinitely suspended Kenneth Luna, crew member for R3 Motorsports, for violating their substance policies. Luna was the team’s gas runner and second–can man on race day and has various shop duties during the week, as well. “This in an unfortunate instance and we hate to see something like this happen to Kenneth and our team,” said Robert Richardson, Sr., owner of R3 Motorsports. “We fully support and stand side-by-side with NASCAR’s substance violation policies and will continue to follow their guidelines in this area. This isolated incident will be dealt with and handled by NASCAR and our race team.”(R3 Motorsports PR)(2-25-2010)
CarLocate extends #02 sponsorship: CarLocate.com, a nationwide new and used car search Web site, today that it has extended sponsorship of the Corrie Stott Racing team through the end of March 2010. CarLocate.com will be primary sponsor of Corrie Stott Racing’s #02 Chevy for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 in Las Vegas on Feb. 27, 2010, and the Scotts Turf Builder 300 in Bristol, Tenn., on March 20, 2010. CarLocate.com also sponsored the #02 car from Corrie Stott Racing for the first two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2010: the DRIVE4COPD 300 in Daytona, Fla., and the Stater Bros. 300 in Fontana, Calif.(Corrie Stott PR)(2-26-2010)
Roush rookies win cooking challenge: Roush Fenway Racing drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun teamed to win the Fifth Annual Raybestos Rookie Cooking Challenge Thursday afternoon at ESPN Zone Las Vegas. Both drivers compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Stenhouse Jr. and Braun prepared a tasty dish of macaroni and cheese. Other drivers competing in the event were Kevin Conway, Terry Cook, Brian Scott and James Buescher. The event was judged by members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. “I do a lot of restaurant cooking,” Stenhouse Jr. said when asked about his culinary skills. “I usually go out and pay somebody else to do it but our macaroni and cheese looked pretty good. We’ve got a lot of good race fans a lot of good fans out here.” Teammate Braun added that the contest was a challenging but enjoyable experience. “I had a lot of fun cooking,” Braun said. “This was quite a challenge. I think this was harder than anything we do in a race car.” All drivers who participated in the cooking competition were assisted by members of the ESPN Zone Culinary Team, led by chef Chris Gagen. Each child from the Boys and Girls Clubs sampled the dishes prepared by the drivers and their applause determined the overall winner. Following the contest, drivers and kids played games in ESPN Zone’s interactive Sports Arena.(Raybestos)(2-26-2010)
Steve Wallace could run some truck races for Ballew: Waltrip, who is scheduled to run only select Cup events in 2010 with the Michael Waltrip Racing team he co-owns with Rob Kauffman, has been in discussions with team owner Billy Ballew about a full-time ride in the Camping World Truck Series, Ballew said in a phone interview with www.SceneDaily.com on Monday morning. Waltrip, however, sounded less intent on a full Truck season when asked about his plans Monday afternoon. “He’s working on sponsorship, and if it comes through, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll run a couple races for him,” the two-time Daytona 500 champion said of Ballew. Ballew expects an announcement about Waltrip’s future with BMM by Jan. 15 and is still in the process of securing funding for Waltrip and a second driver, Aric Almirola. Ballew said that Steve Wallace, who is slated to return to Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series, is also “still in the mix” for a part-time Truck ride for BMM.(SceneDaily.com)(1-4-2010) UPDATE: Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace and officials of Billy Ballew Motorsports announced that Wallace will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of BBM’s #15 Toyota in the March 6 Atlanta 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wallace’s #15 Tundra will feature primary sponsorship from traditional BBM partner, Red Top Auto Auctions. The venerable Kevin “Cowboy” Starland will serve as crew chief for Wallace in the event.(RWI PR)(2-26-2010)
Congrats to Brendan and Tatum Gaughan: Brendan Gaughan told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he and wife Tatum are expecting their first child in late September or October.(2-25-2010)
#23 team crew member suspended: UPDATE: Kenneth Luna, a crew member for the #23 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On Feb. 24, Luna was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)(2-25-2010) UPDATE: NASCAR has indefinitely suspended Kenneth Luna, crew member for R3 Motorsports, for violating their substance policies. Luna was the team’s gas runner and second–can man on race day and has various shop duties during the week, as well. “This in an unfortunate instance and we hate to see something like this happen to Kenneth and our team,” said Robert Richardson, Sr., owner of R3 Motorsports. “We fully support and stand side-by-side with NASCAR’s substance violation policies and will continue to follow their guidelines in this area. This isolated incident will be dealt with and handled by NASCAR and our race team.”(R3 Motorsports PR)(2-25-2010)
Monte Carlo sponsors MacDonald: UPDATE:Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino will sponsor the #81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge and driver Michael McDowell in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. See an image of the car on the #81 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(2-24-2010) UPDATE: Monte Carlo Resort & Casino announced that it has entered into a one-race primary sponsorship agreement with MacDonald Motorsports and driver Michael McDowell for this weekend’s 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300. The Four Diamond resort will be the preferred Las Vegas partner for McDowell, the driver of the #81 Dodge, and his crew throughout the weekend.(MMI PR)(2-25-2010)
Hendrick Cars back on the #88: For the second consecutive week, the #88 Chevy will feature HendrickCars.com on its hood and quarter panels. HendrickCars.com allows consumers to view up to 5,000 cars online from franchised dealerships with manufacturer certified used cars. The website offers up to 60 photos of each vehicle from award winning dealerships, and free CARFAX reports.(JR Motorsports PR)(2-24-2010)
Interstate Batteries on the #20 with Hamlin: With only a handful of NASCAR Nationwide Series commitments on his slate for 2010, Denny Hamlin’s mantra for the season can be summed up quite simply: “Quality, not quantity.” Hamlin will make his first Nationwide Series start of the year when he straps himself into the #20 Interstate Batteries Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(True Speed Communications/JGR PR)(2-24-2010)
Operation Helmet on the #18 at Vegas: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs/Operation Helmet Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished second in the 2007 Nationwide Series race, but has crashed out of the last two races at Las Vegas. While Busch looks to find victory lane, his car will also sport the logo of Operation Helmet, a 100 percent volunteer, non-partisan charitable organization headquartered in Montgomery, Texas, that provides helmet upgrade kits free of charge to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Helmet, which was also on the #18 during several races during 2009, is led by Dr. Bob Meadors, whose tireless efforts have led to more than 47,000 helmet upgrade kits being distributed to U.S. military personnel since 2004. The upgrade kits prevent traumatic head and brain injuries to soldiers by focusing on three core elements – protection, comfort and stability. Shock-absorbing pads keep the helmet from slapping the skull when hit with a blast or other impact, thereby decreasing the chances of brain injuries. Most importantly, the upgrade kit allows a helmet to stay on a soldier’s head longer, more often and in one place.(JGR PR)(2-24-2010)
Carrot Top joins the #01 team at Vegas: Legendary comedian Carrot Top will be the “Crew Manager” for Mike Wallace in the Monster Diesel #01 Nationwide Series Chevy at Las Vegas. The combination of Carrot Top and Monster Diesel should add even more boost to the team at Las Vegas. Carrot Top is seeking help from his fans to provide new props for his LUXOR Las Vegas act.(J-D Motorsports PR)(2-24-2010)
Marc Davis to run at Las Vegas? UPDATE NO: [NASCAR Insiders] are hearing that 19 year old driver Marc Davis will return to the Nationwide Series next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Sam’s Town 300. He will be behind the wheel of the #58 Macys.com Cavi Chevy for XXXtreme Motorsport.(NASCAR Insiders)(2-18-2010) UPDATE: The Las Vegas entry list for the Nationwide Series this week has Marc Davis as one of the entries. But he is not going to Vegas. He’s not ready. He’s probably ready from a mental standpoint despite the death of his mentor – his father, Harry Davis – last month. He’s just not ready with cars that he feels are capable of a strong showing. Among the things his father had stressed for this year was to run well at the races he can afford to run and not stretch his wallet or his equipment too thin. Harry Davis, 62, died Jan. 21 when a blood clot that followed a hip replacement resulted in a heart attack.(Scene Daily)(2-24-2010)
Milestone starts for Mike & Steve Wallace: Racing is a numbers game for the Wallace family, led by the five members who have competed in NASCAR’s national series. Rusty Wallace started 706 races (winning 55) in that series in addition to running in 42 NASCAR Nationwide Series events. His brother, Kenny Wallace (#28 Federated Auto Parts Chevy), winner of nine NASCAR Nationwide races, will make his 456th series start Saturday at Las Vegas. Chrissy Wallace made her NASCAR Nationwide debut two weeks ago at Daytona International Speedway. Also at Las Vegas, two more Wallaces move the beads on the family racing abacus. Mike Wallace (#01 Chevy) will make his 350th NASCAR Nationwide start to supplement his four series victories. He was able to race with his daughter, Chrissy, a second time in national series competition at Daytona. The father-daughter duo also had done so last October at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Steve Wallace (#66 5-Hour Energy Toyota) will prepare for his 125th series start.(NASCAR PR)(2-23-2010)
California TV ratings down: ESPN2’s live telecast of the Feb. 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.7, down from the 1.9 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2. The telecast averaged 2,282,563 viewers and was seen in an average of 1,716,372 households. After two races, ESPN2’s NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage is averaging a 2.5 rating, an increase of 19 percent over last year’s 2.1 average for two races.(ESPN)(2-23-2010)
Blickensderfer takes over as Edwards’ crew chief: Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Drew Blickensderfer will take over as crew chief on the #60 Nationwide team with driver Carl Edwards effective immediately. Mike Kelley, who had served in that position, will assume the role of competition director for Roush Fenway’s Nationwide Series effort, and Mike Beam will move into the role of speedway specialist in the research and development department for all of Roush Fenway Racing. The move will reunite Blickensderfer – who worked last season as the crew chief of the No. 17 Sprint Cup team – and Edwards in the Nationwide Series. The duo teamed for 19 races in 2008, running to seven wins, two poles and a second-place series’ points finish, while closing the season with nine consecutive top-five runs. Kelley, who was the car chief for the #97 team’s Sprint Cup Championship run in 2004, has worked as a crew chief in Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program since 2006, leading drivers Todd Kluever, David Ragan and Edwards. He will be responsible for car builds in Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program. Beam, a 30-year NASCAR veteran, has served at Roush Fenway as a crew chief in the Camping World Truck Series, and most recently as director of competition for Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program. He will work closely with Jimmy Fennig in Concord, working in research and development, with a focus on the superspeedway program.(Roush Fenway PR)(2-23-2010)
California Paint schemes: Added 49 images, one of every car at the track in California, to the 2010 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(2-22-2010)
Sad News: John Simmons: John Edward Simmons, Jr., 79, of Statesville, passed away Friday, February 19, 2010 following a lengthy illness. John is the father of General Manager Ed Simmons of the #58 Nationwide Team XXXtreme Motorsport. Mr. Simmons was born January 8, 1931 in Iredell County and was the son of the late John E. Simmons, Sr. and Alda Josey Simmons. He was a graduate of Scotts High School, class of 1949 and served in U.S. Navy during the Korean War. On June 25, 1955, he was married to Margaret Sherrill Simmons, who survives of the home. He was a supervisor for Kewaunee Scientific for over 32 years and was a member of the Statesville Moose Lodge, where he was twice elected Governor. In addition to his wife of 54 years, Mr. Simmons is survived by one son, John “Ed” Simmons, III of Statesville, one daughter, Doris S. Harrington of Statesville, three granddaughters, Montana Star, Sherrill Hedrick, Stephanie Harrington, four grandsons, James Aaron Moore, Matthew Moore, Jonathon Adams, Josh Myers and one sister, Margaret S. Cloer. Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by one daughter, Susan Myers and one granddaughter, Angela Jarvis. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2010 in the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Boyer officiating. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.(2-22-2010)
Roush Fenway still looking for sponsorship: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun are committed to race full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2010 but this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will mark the first time both cars appear white. Stenhouse pilots the #6 CitiFinancial Ford and Braun the #16 Con-way Freight Ford but both sponsors are signed on for half a season.(Roush Fenway PR)(2-22-2010)
ESPN Monday Rundown:
Kyle Busch won the Stater Bros. 300 at Auto Club Speedway. It was his 31st series victory in his 175th career start, tying him with Jack Ingram for third all-time. It was his 63rd career NASCAR win across all three major series.
It was Busch’s third Nationwide win at California, where he’s won three of the last four.
Busch led twice for four laps, the fewest by a California race winner. The previous record was 11 by Hank Parker Jr. in 2001.
It was the 43rd win for Joe Gibbs Racing, which has won 38 races since 2007. It was JGR’s fifth straight win at ACS.
Gibbs drivers led 134 of the 152 laps Saturday. JGR drivers have led 643 of the 754 laps raced at California in the past five races.
Carl Edwards finished fourth after two penalties for speeding on pit road.
Joey Logano (fifth) led a career-high 130 laps, only the second time he’s led more than 100 laps. The 130 laps is the most led by a nonwinner at ACS.
Steve Wallace (sixth) recorded his fourth straight top-10 finish, the best streak of his career.
Brian Scott (10th) was the best of the five rookie of the year contenders in the race.
Six of the last seven races at California have been won from the front row.
Six drivers made their first Nationwide start at California, including Danica Patrick (31st).
The top 10 consisted of five Toyotas, one Chevrolet, two Fords and two Dodges.
The race was slowed by caution four times for 18 laps.
(ESPN.com)(2-22-2010)
Riggs returning to the #09: The NASCAR Nationwide Series will remain on the west coast for one more week as they make the 235-mile trek to Las Vegas for the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, February 27th. Riggs, who will be making his 11th start at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, will be back behind the wheel of the #09 Ford.(RAB PR)(2-22-2010)
Planet Hollywood sponosoring Raines at Vegas: Tri-Star Motorsports will partner with Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas to make the resort and casino the primary sponsor of Tony Raines’ #34 Chevy for this weekend’s Sam’s Town 300. Fans will see the Planet Hollywood logo on the hood and rear quarter panels of the Tri-Star Chevy during Saturday’s race at the 1.5-mile speedway in the Nevada desert. In a city already known for its entertainment and excitement, the sponsorship will put Planet Hollywood in the middle of fast-paced racing action and front and center for the millions of race fans in NASCAR’s viewing audience.(Tri-Star Motorsports PR)(2-22-2010)
Shepherd to run fan car at Bristol: Due to the success of his first Fans for Faith entry and the response from fans across the nation, #89-Morgan Shepherd will field another fan-sponsored car at Bristol Motor Speedway next month. Shepherd said fans can get their names on the car 1.25 inches high and 5 inches long for just $100 per name. At Daytona, nearly 50 individuals, companies, churches and others participated in the program. “We had a lot of fans say that they wished we would do it every race,” Shepherd said. “We aren’t going to do that, but we will pick some special races from time to time where fans can get their name on the car.”(Faith Motorsports PR)(2-21-2010)
D’Hondt Motorsports and Randy Humphrey team up: Eddie D’Hondt and the folks at D’Hondt Motorsports, LLC and Randy Humphrey, have mutually teamed up to form; D’Hondt Humphrey Motorsports, LLC (DHM). The group will debut the # 90 and # 91 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams at the Auto Club Speedway, February 20th. Danny O’Quinn will pilot the #90 and Stephen Leicht the # 91. The team plans on competing in 29 of the 35 race NASCAR Nationwide Series 2010 schedule and looks to build the program to full time competition in 2011.(D’Hondt Humphrey PR)(2-20-2010)
Blue Ox back on the #28 at California: Jay Robinson Racing and Blue Ox Products jointly announced that Blue Ox Products will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the #28 driven by Kenny Wallace, in the Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Coming off a 16th place finish in Daytona, a great start and some very valuable exposure, Blue Ox will adorn the hood, deck lid and the T.V. panel for Saturday’s NNS race in Fontana. Blue Ox, of Pender, Neb., is a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicle and towing industry supplies and accessories.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(2-20-2010)
Kate Walsh named Grand Marshal at California: Auto Club Speedway announced that actress Kate Walsh will serve as Grand Marshal for the Stater Bros. 300 on Saturday, Feb. 20. As Grand Marshal, Walsh, who stars as Addison Montgomery on “Private Practice” which airs Thursdays nights at 10:00 p.m. on ABC, will give the most famous command in racing, “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” to start Auto Club Speedway’s Stater Bros. 300 NNS race underway on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT.(ACS PR)(2-19-2010)
Mike Wallace picks up sponsor: Interviewed on Sirius NASCAR’s The Morning Drive, #01-Mike Wallace announced that the team has picked up a two race sponsorship deal from Monster Diesel. This weekend’s race at Auto Club Speedway will be the first race.(2-18-2010)
Marc Davis to run at Las Vegas? [NASCAR Insiders] are hearing that 19 year old driver Marc Davis will return to the Nationwide Series next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Sam’s Town 300. He will be behind the wheel of the #58 Macys.com Cavi Chevy for XXXtreme Motorsport.(NASCAR Insiders)(2-18-2010)
Z-Line on the #18 at California: This week, Kyle Busch returns to Fontana for Saturday’s Stater Bros. 300 Nationwide Series event – the first of the season for Z-Line Designs as a primary sponsor for Busch and the #18 Toyota. The San Ramon, Calif.-based designer and import manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture will look to pick up right where it left off in 2009. Busch drove the Z-Line Designs Toyota to the 2009 Nationwide Series title and has recorded nine wins in the last two seasons with Z-Line Designs as a primary sponsor. Joining Z-Line Designs on the #18 machine at Fontana will be Staples, the world’s largest office products company. With $23 billion in sales, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.(JGR PR)(2-17-2010)
Bad Boy Buggies And Buck Commander back on #40: Bad Boy Buggies, the Mississippi based manufacturer of the world’s first dual motor, all electric 4 wheel drive vehicle, will along with associate Buck Commander again be featured on the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy with driver Mike Bliss in Saturday’s Stater Brothers 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at California’s Auto Club Speedway. Bad Boy Buggies and Buck Commander teamed up to sponsor Key Motorsports in the season opener last week at Daytona.(Key Motorsports PR)(2-17-2010)
Darnell on standby for Edwards: #60-Carl Edwards breathed a sigh of relief Sunday, with his future daughter giving him the wonderful Valentine’s Day present of staying inside his wife’s belly. The hope is wife Kate delivers the baby sometime this week; if not, Erik Darnell has been hired as a backup in California and Las Vegas should Carl have to jump on a plane and head home.(Frontstretch)(2-17-2010)
Hendrick Cars on the #88: The #88 Chevy of Kelly Bires will feature HendrickCars.com on its hood and quarter panels at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. HendrickCars.com allows consumers to view up to 5,000 cars online from franchised dealerships with manufacturer certified used cars.(JR Motorsports PR)(2-16-2010)
Mario on the #20 in California: The #20 GameStop Toyota will carry the colors of Nintendo’s Mario Kart for the Wii gaming system in Saturday’s Stater Bros. 300 at Auto Club Speedway.(MCG Sports PR)(2-16-2010)
Copart debuts on the #60: The #60 of Carl Edwards will carry the Copart colors Saturday, the first of 16 races for Copart as the primary sponsor.(Roush Fenway PR), see an image of the car on the #60 paint schemes page.(2-16-2010)
ESPN2’s Daytona Telecast Sets Nationwide Series Cable Viewership Record: With an average of more than 4.2 million people watching, ESPN2’s live telecast of the Nationwide Series season-opening race from Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13 has set a record as the most-viewed Nationwide Series race ever on cable. The race telecast, which featured the NASCAR debut of open wheel racing star Danica Patrick, earned a fast national household coverage rating of 3.2, averaging 4,271,365 viewers in 3,170,109 households. The viewership numbers eclipse the previous Nationwide Series cable records of 3,954,798 viewers and 2,946,951 households set by TNT for its telecast of the 2006 Daytona race. Data shows that viewers stayed with the telecast even after Patrick was eliminated in a multi-car crash just past the halfway point of the race. ESPN2 peaked with a 3.5 household coverage rating for the last 20 minutes of the race as Tony Stewart held off a pack of drivers to take victory. “While Danica certainly helped bring people to the telecast, she wasn’t the only factor,” said Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. “Great Daytona Nationwide racing action kept viewers through to the checkered flag.” ESPN2’s 3.2 rating for Daytona was up 33 percent from the 2.4 rating for last year’s Daytona race and 28 percent higher than the 2.5 rating for the 2008 race, previously the network’s highest rating ever for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race.(ESPN PR)(2-16-2010)
JR Motorsports Announces Partnership with Suave Men: JR Motorsports announced the addition of Suave Men to its sponsor lineup for 2010, further extending its partnership with Unilever, the brand’s parent company. Suave Men, personal care products designed for men, will serve as primary sponsor of the JR Motorsports #88 Chevy at Nashville Superspeedway on April 3rd and Chicagoland Speedway on July 9th with driver Kelly Bires. Additionally, the brand’s logo will receive associate sponsor placement on driver uniforms throughout the season.(JR Motorsports PR)(2-16-2010)
#28 team looking for California sponsor: UPDATE: #28-Kenny Wallace tweeted Saturday morning, “We have no sponsor for the NNS race in California…We will put your name on the Quarter Panel for $7,200. That’s 4 sets of tires. I will have to run used tires if we don’t get Sponsor.” The team has a one race deal with Blue Ox at Daytona and Federated Auto Parts on the car for 8 races later in the year.(2-13-2010) UPDATE:Zimmzang signed on as the new primary sponsor of Kenny Wallace’s #28 car at Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Zimmzang, an innovative printing and advertising company founded by CEO Steve Burke and his father, Rich, will have its name prominently featured on the #28 car driven by Wallace, one of NASCAR’s most popular and dynamic racers.(Zimmzang PR)(2-16-2010) AND: Steve Burke from Zimmzang.com will be the special guest on the DOIN’ DONUTS radio show Wednesday night on RaceTalkRadio.com as part of their “Sponsor Spotlight” segment focusing on and thanking companies for supporting NASCAR racing. The show airs from 830pmET til 11pm ET.(RTR PR)(2-16-2010)
ESPN Monday Rundown:
Tony Stewart won the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. It was his ninth series victory in his 90th career start. It was his sixth career restrictor-plate victory, tying Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for most all time. It also was his fifth Nationwide win at Daytona, all in February, tying Dale Earnhardt Jr. Only Dale Earnhardt has more February Nationwide wins at Daytona with seven. Stewart has won seven of his past 12 series starts.
Stewart led four times for 38 of the 120 laps raced, most by any driver.
Chevy posted its 25th series victory in 37 Daytona races.
This marked Stewart’s 15th overall Daytona win.
Kevin Harvick Inc. posted its third series win at Daytona.
Carl Edwards (second) has finished third or better in the past three races at Daytona.
Harvick (third) posted his 11th top-5 finish in 16 Daytona races.
Justin Allgaier (fourth) posted his career-best finish.
Brian Vickers (fifth) has scored top-10 finishes in his past three races at Daytona.
James Buescher (eighth) was the highest-finishing rookie among the four rookies in the race. He started 11th.
Danica Patrick (35th) and Chrissy Wallace (43rd) became the 13th and 14th female drivers to compete in the Nationwide since the series was formed in 1982.
Patty Moise leads all women with 133 series starts.
The top 10 consisted of four Toyotas, three Chevrolets, two Fords and one Dodge.
Edwards was the the highest-finishing Ford.
Allgaier (fourth) was the highest-finishing Dodge.
Vickers (fifth) was the highest-finishing Toyota.
The first Nationwide race was run 28 years ago this date (1982) and won by Dale Earnhardt.
(ESPN.com)(2-15-2010)
Rheem on the #33 at Auto Club Speedway: Kevin Harvick will pilot the #33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Rheem Tankless Water Heaters Chevy at Auto Club Speedway. Rheem Manufacturing returns to Kevin Harvick Inc. for their third season as a primary sponsor of the #33 KHI Chevy. In addition to the primary sponsorship, Rheem also serves as an associate sponsor for the entire season on both the #33 Nationwide Series car and on KHI’s #33 2009 Truck Series championship team with Ron Hornaday. (KHI PR)(2-15-2010)
Earnhardt Jr could run more Nationwide races: Satuday was not a good day for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team. First, teammate Danica Patrick was collected in a crash and could not continue after she clipped a car and heavily damaged the right front of the car. Then later, as Dale Jr. was running among the leaders, he was clipped and sent on his roof. The car was destroyed. So, JR Motorsports lost one car and had a second damaged quite a bit. Recall, this is a team struggling to find sponsorship for a full year effort and now this happens to the team. “We tore up a really, really good race car,” Dale Jr. said. “I’m sure it’s dead. We built that one, we can build another one. The thing about it for us, to be honest is, we do our (accounting) books by the month and kind of know where we are financially and we were looking for about $400,000 between now and the end of the season, trying to work that in somehow and find that or cut that somewhere and we just knocked ourselves back a few steps because we tore up that car completey and I don’t know about (Patrick’s car). It was an expensive day for us.” I [Dustin Long] then asked Dale Jr. that, based on his marketability, he’ll have to run more Nationwide races later this season. “I only have two marked right now,” Dale Jr. “I’m willing to drive up to four or five. We have had that on the table for several months to offer to anyone that is interested in coming to our company. I’m ready to go. We’re already working on a couple of them deals, we should be fine.”(Hampton Roads)(2-14-2010)
Roush/Menard buy way into Daytona race: As water came pouring down on a freezing Friday at Daytona, Paul Menard was faced with a cold reality all his own. 49th in the qualifying draw, a rainout would mean an automatic DNQ for him under the NASCAR rulebook, shattering dreams of a title in the sport’s second-tier series before they even got off the ground. It was a bad break that would leave the best of men searching for answers. Turns out they were right inside his wallet all along. Menard’s #98 sneaked into the grid Friday not on speed, but through cold, hard cash, with car owner Jack Roush buying off five teams ahead of him to jump up to the 43rd starting spot. The move was an unprecedented display of money and power in the Nationwide Series, with Roush infusing several underfunded operations with engineering support, extra equipment, or simply a handwritten check to ensure Menard’s presence on the grid. Technically, this convoluted system will go down as a long list of withdrawals, moving the #98 up the ladder until it became eligible to start the race. Originally, with NASCAR’s decision to use qualifying draw to fill out the final 10 spots in the field, Menard’s number (49) left him ranked behind four cars who didn’t qualify under other circumstances: the #52 of Donnie Neuenberger, the #96 of Dennis Setzer, the #49 of Mark Green, and the #42 of Parker Kligerman. For Menard to make the race, all had to pull out along with the #97 of Jeff Fuller, whose 32nd best position in the qualifying draw left him safely in the field in 34th. Needless to say, the financial maneuvering opened eyes in the Nationwide garage. While no team would confirm the amount given to them by Roush, last place Saturday will win $45,585 – meaning there needed to be serious financial incentive for teams to bend. Add up the numbers, and you’re faced with a number approaching $225,000 in “support” promised in order for Roush to get his way. Read more at Fronstretch.com.(2-13-2010) UPDATE: Kligerman told reporters that his team backed out in favor of Menard, with the compensation including help in future races. The payout for today’s race shows the last-place team earning more than $45,000, so it adds up that some six-figure money changed hands. But in NASCAR, that’s apparently OK, according to NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston. “What happened there didn’t involve us,” Poston said, adding that “It’s a pretty unique situation.”(Racin’ Today)(2-13-2010)
Clements in the #0 with Boudreaux Butt Past sponsorship: UPDATE: Jeremy Clements Racing has added a new sponsor for the first three races of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide season. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, who sponsored Clements in the ARCA Remax Series, will team up with the 25 year-old driver once again. Also coming back on board this season is the Saxon Group. Look for Jeremy in the yellow #0 Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Chevy at the season opener in Daytona.(Clements PR)(1-28-2010) UPDATE: Clements planned to run in the first three to five races this season but said those plans may have just changed [by missing Daytona]. “We were planning to go to California and (Las) Vegas, but now we’re going to look into that,” Clements said. “We spent big money to get down here and not even get to try. It cost us a big payday and really just not fair.”(Spartanburg Herald)(2-13-2010)
Corrie Stott picks up Daytona sponsor: UPDATE: Corrie Stott Racing announced that CarLocate.com will adorn the hood of its #02 Chevy for several NASCAR Nationwide Series races, including Daytona International Speedway, California Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Piloting the car for the DRIVE4COPD 300 will be sophomore driver Danny Efland who displayed tremendous signs of improvement toward the end of his rookie season. Andy Ponstein who has netted two top five finishes in the ARCA series will then take over the wheel for the balance of the 2010 season.(Corrie Stott Racing PR)(2-12-2010) UPDATE: Corrie Stott Racing also announced that Performance Beverage Group, Inc makers of 9 Iron Sports Hydration Beverage will be riding along with the #02 Chevy SS for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.(Corrie Stott Racing PR)(2-12-2010)
Key Motorsports gets Daytona sponsor: Key Motorsports announced Bad Boy Buggies and Buck Commander have teamed up to sponsor the #40 Chevy and driver Mike Bliss for Saturday’s Drive4COPD NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Bad Boy Buggies, a Mississippi-based company, sponsored Bobby Labonte and the RCR Nationwide Series team in the 2009 season opener at Daytona.(Key Motorsports PR)(2-11-2010)
NASCAR may tweak green-white-checker rule: UPDATE: NASCAR told all three series in Wednesday morning’s safety meeting that the sanctioning body is looking at redefining the green-white-checker rule to finish races. In the past, when a caution occurred in the closing laps of a race, the field made one attempt at a green-white-checkered flag finish. Under the new rule, NASCAR will make sure the track is clean, run multiple green laps before waving the white and finally the checkered flag. Robin Pemberton, Vice President of Competition for NASCAR, used the analogy of Saturday night’s multi-car wreck [in the Bud Shootout] in Turn 3 where the leaders came around to the white flag and Kevin Harvick led the field around to the track for the final lap. Pemberton said, “At least with the new rule they’re going to race (one full lap of green) and then go on the white if we do this.” The rule could go into effect for all three series as early as Thursday’s qualifying races for the Daytona 500.(FoxSports)(2-10-2010) UPDATE: NASCAR told drivers before Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying races that it will have up to three green-white-checkered restarts if the first and second attempts don’t make it through the first lap without a caution. A green-white-checkered finish signifies two laps will be run. NASCAR throws a green flag and the cars race a lap until the white flag — signifying the final lap of a race — is shown and then the drivers race that final lap to the checkered-flag finish. The new rule will be used in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series. In the past, drivers have had only one shot at a green-white-checkered finish. At many tracks, particularly superspeedways Daytona and Talladega, a caution often comes out before the conclusion. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the new rule will hopefully allow more races to finish under green.(ESPN.com)(2-11-2010)
Too much Danica on TV coverage? NASCAR on ESPN analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree, lap-by-lap announcer Marty Reid and ESPN vice president, motorsports, Rich Feinberg participated in a news conference Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. Live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opening race at Daytona airs Saturday, Feb. 13, beginning at noon ET with NASCAR Countdown. How do you balance the telecast on Saturday to not have too much Danica? Rich Feinberg “We actually talked about that in our staff meeting this morning. First of all, I watched the ARCA race, and I thought SPEED’s presentation was very balanced. I enjoyed it. There was a lot of Danica, but the reality is that was why I personally turned on the race, so it gave me what I was looking for. As big a story as that is, there are a lot of other stories here. First and foremost, it’s about racing in Daytona. It’s the biggest race for a lot of people. You win at Daytona and things change for you. And that’s going to be our primary thing. After that, the next biggest story, and quite frankly opportunity for all of us, is Danica. It’s our strong belief that there will be people that turn on Saturday’s Nationwide telecast that perhaps don’t watch a lot of Nationwide races or NASCAR at all, because of the interest in her. We want to serve that curiosity. We want to serve that interest because our belief is if they like what they see, and we provide them what they’re interested in, they may come back next week, and next week, and watch Fox’ Daytona 500 coverage, and read more stories. The more people that watch, the more successful the entire sport is. It’s a balance thing but we also view it as an opportunity.”(ESPN), see full transcript at espnmediazone.com.(2-11-2010)
NASCAR Names National Series Prize Money & Decal Program Sponsors: As NASCAR teams make final preparations to begin the 2010 race season, NASCAR announced the lineup of 2010 NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program sponsors for all three national series. The NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program, commonly referred to as the Contingency Program, is administered by the Charlotte, N.C.-based NASCAR Automotive Group. The program strives to build strong relationships with high-quality, performance-driven brands that are leaders in their respective categories and award money to NASCAR teams via per-race and year-end awards. Competitors become eligible for prize money by displaying sponsor decals on the front fender of their race vehicles. In some instances, use of a sponsor’s product is also required. The 2010 Nationwide series sponsor lineup: 3M, ARP Fasteners, Auto Meter, Coach-Net RV Services, Competition Cams, Coors Light, Craftsman, Edelbrock, Featherlite, Goodyear, JE Pistons, JEG’s, K&N, MAHLE Clevite, Mechanix Wear, Mobil 1, MOOG Chassis Parts, MSD Ignition, Penske Shocks, Raybestos, Simpson, Sunoco, and WIX Filters (NASCAR PR)(2-10-2010)
Gerhart/Schacht looking at additional races: #5-Bobby Gerhart is planning to run all the Nationwide Series plate races this year, with opportunities being explored for the team do a handful of other NNS races as well.(Frontstretch.com)(2-10-2010)
Sauter running Nationwide? UPDATE 2: A local [Destin, FL] company will be sponsoring a team in the NASCAR nationwide series this season. Amenity Services Incorporated out of Destin is sponsoring driver Johnny Sauter. Sauter and his crew were in town Feb.4 meeting fans, signing autographs and showing off the Chevy Impala that debuts in the [DRIVE4COPD] 300 at the Daytona International Speedway next Saturday, the 13th. Amenity Services is promoting its nationwide website, getmorevacations.com and sweepstakes giveaway on the body of the car.(WJHG.com), no mention of the team, last year getmorevacations.com was on the #49 of Jay Robinson Racing for much of the season.(02-08-2010) UPDATE: Sauter is entered in the #48 Chevy, owned by Darrell Blanton.(02-08-2010) UPDATE 2: “Blanton Motorsports, Inc. and GetMoreVacations.com is proud to have Johnny Sauter as our driver for Daytona. We appreciate Johnny’s truck team, Thorsport Racing, allowing him to run this one race for us. Blanton Motorsports, Inc. and GetMoreVacations.com had hoped to race at the California event but, with a small team, we do not have our intermediate car finished for that race. Our team has been working around the clock to get our speedway car ready for Daytona but we are very optimistic about being ready to compete at Las Vegas. As for the rest of the year’s schedule, we are evaluating our options as we progress through the season. Our intention is to compete primarily at the tracks based in the Southeast. We are currently talking with several drivers about driving the 48 car for the balance of the season but nothing has been finalized as of this moment.(GetMoreVacations.com PR)(2-10-2010), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(2-10-2010)
Riggs driving for RAB at Daytona: UPDATE: RAB Racing announced that Scott Riggs will pilot the #09 Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13th. “We are thrilled to have Scott in our car at Daytona,” stated Robby Benton, Co-owner and General Manager of RAB Racing with Brack Maggard. “Scott’s experience in all three levels of competition in this sport and the solid foundation of this team will produce a great combination for success. We’re on track to deliver great results for the 2010 season opener at Daytona and hope to build the partnership between RAB Racing and Scott Riggs to run a full 2010 schedule.”(RAB Racing PR)(1-25-2010) UPDATE: Scott Riggs will make his debut with RAB Racing during the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona. Riggs is only scheduled to run the first race with hopes of finding funding to run a full-schedule in 2010. The #09 Ford has traded in its yellow and blue paint scheme and is now sporting a black and yellow scheme. RAB Racing’s very own, Ashley Parlett designed the new look. Ben Gable, a 30 year old Mooresville, NC native, will be taking over as crew chief on the #09 Ford for the 2010 season (RAB PR)(2-8-2010) UPDATE 2: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard announced during NASCAR Race Hub on Tuesday that Scott Riggs will be back behind the wheel of the #09 Ford at Auto Club Speedway for the Stater Bros. 300 on Saturday, February 20, 2010.(RAB Racing PR)(2-10-2010)
Daytona Rookie Notes:
• Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, scoring a 14th-place finish.
• Four Raybestos Rookies have scored top-five finishes in the DRIVE4COPD 300: 2000: Jay Sauter, fourth; 2000: Kevin Harvick, fifth; 2002: Shane Hmiel, fifth; 2006: Burney Lamar, second
• Only two Raybestos Rookies have won the pole for the DRIVE4COPD 300 since the program was created in 1989: Kenny Wallace (1989) and David Green (1991). Wallace’s pole run came in the first race in the history of the program.
• Ron Hornaday Jr. holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the February race at Daytona (twice for 43 laps in 2000).
• The record for most Raybestos Rookies to finish on the lead lap in the DRIVE4COPD 300 is six in 2001. All six Raybestos Rookie drivers entered in the race completed the full distance (120 laps, 300 miles).(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc. PR)(2-10-2010)
NASCAR may tweak green-white-checker rule: NASCAR told all three series in Wednesday morning’s safety meeting that the sanctioning body is looking at redefining the green-white-checker rule to finish races. In the past, when a caution occurred in the closing laps of a race, the field made one attempt at a green-white-checkered flag finish. Under the new rule, NASCAR will make sure the track is clean, run multiple green laps before waving the white and finally the checkered flag. Robin Pemberton, Vice President of Competition for NASCAR, used the analogy of Saturday night’s multi-car wreck [in the Bud Shootout] in Turn 3 where the leaders came around to the white flag and Kevin Harvick led the field around to the track for the final lap. Pemberton said, “At least with the new rule they’re going to race (one full lap of green) and then go on the white if we do this.” The rule could go into effect for all three series as early as Thursday’s qualifying races for the Daytona 500.(FoxSports)(2-10-2010)
Hot Wheels sponsoring Danica at Michigan: Hot Wheels has just announced a partnership to sponsor one of the hottest racers in NASCAR — Danica Patrick. With that partnership, Patrick joined the Hot Wheels design team to create the “Danicar” — the first celebrity-designed Hot Wheels vehicle! The announcement to partner with JR Motorsports racing team and its newest driver, Danica Patrick, was made at the Daytona International Speedway as she enters the NASCAR racing circuit in 2010. Hot Wheels will sponsor Patrick’s car during the Nationwide Series season, including primary sponsor placement in the August 14th race at Michigan International Speedway. At the announcement, Patrick unveiled graphic renderings of the custom die-cast vehicle she co-designed with the Hot Wheels team at the Mattel Design Center in El Segundo, Calif. Patrick’s “Danicar” will be made in the traditional 1:64 scale and will be available at retailers across the U.S. beginning in October 2010.(Hot Wheels PR)(2-10-2010)
Viers named crew chief at Baker Curb: Baker Curb Racing has hired veteran crew chief Rick Viers to call the shots on Greg Biffle’s #27 Red Man Moist Snuff Ford. Viers will assume duties February 10th when the Nationwide Series garage opens at 6:00 a.m. Viers most recently worked at JD Motorsports in 2009 as a crew chief for Mike Wallace and Danny O’Quinn. He served as NASCAR Sprint Cup series crew chief on AJ Allmendinger’s #84 at Red Bull Racing in 2007 and 2008. Viers has 8 career victories as a Nationwide Series crew chief calling the shots for notable drivers Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Ron Hornaday and Johnny Sauter.(Baker Curb PR)(2-9-2010)
StopRepairBills.com joins Braun Racing: UPDATE: Braun Racing announced that StopRepairBills.com will adorn the hood of its #11 Toyota Camry for two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, including those at Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year contender Brian Scott will drive the StopRepairBills.com Toyota Camry.(Braun Racing PR)(2-8-2010) UPDATE: StopRepairBills.com, the St. Peters, MO based seller of extended auto service contracts, will sponsor NASCAR driver Brian Scott during this year’s racing season, according to Braun Racing, the owner of Scott’s #11 Toyota. StopRepairBills.com was another name for National Dealers Warranty, one of 11 St. Louis area service-contract brokers being sued by Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster for deceptive practices and consumer fraud. Late last year, National Dealers Warranty merged with another firm, Auto Warranty Protection Services. St. Charles County businessman Rudge Gilman was president of both companies, and he is heading the combined firm, called NRRM. It will continue to do business as StopRepairBills.com, according to state business filings. There’s nothing new about service-contract firms here sponsoring NASCAR drivers. Last year, StopRepairBills.com sponsored NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer for 12 races. Wentzville-based US Fidelis, which claimed to be the country’s top seller of extended service contracts until it collapsed in December, last year sponsored the NASCAR team operated by St. Louis native Rusty Wallace.(St. Louis Post Dispatch)(2-9-2010)
D.H. Griffin sponsoringl McDowell at Daytona: D.H. Griffin Companies will adorn the hood and quarter panels of Michael McDowell’s #81 Dodge Charger for this Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, the 2010 season-opener for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. McDowell is excited to see his new team take on a primary sponsor for the series’ biggest race of the season. D.H. Griffin Companies, whose services include construction, demolition, contracting, infrastructure, and wrecking, is in its second season as a sponsor partner with MacDonald Motorsports.(MMI PR)(2-9-2010)
Nemechek gets Daytona sponsor: NEMCO Motorsports announced D.A.B. Constructors, Inc. as primary sponsor of driver Joe Nemechek’s #87 Nationwide Series entry for this Saturday’s Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. D.A.B. Constructors, Inc. located in central Florida, is a service-oriented construction company with high standards for excellency. In 2009, D.A.B. supported Nemechek in an associate sponsor role and felt compelled to step up their sponsorship to help the Lakeland, FL native again this season.(NEMCO PR)(2-9-2010)
Richardson looking to Daytona: After months of preparation, perspiration and planning, the NASCAR Nationwide Series begins this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Robert Richardson, Jr. and the #23 Mahindra Tractors USA Chevy team are looking to capitalize on their hard work in the off-season with a good showing in the season opener. With no primary sponsorship in place after Daytona, they know a great result on the track could attract the needed marketing partners to make for a more successful season. But, that still didn’t stop them from donating some lower quarter panel space on the car to raise awareness for a good cause. The team will carry a logo of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children on car to raise awareness.(R3 Motorsports PR)(2-9-2010)
doorstopnation.com on the #34 & #35: The #34 and #35 Tri-Motorsports cars will have sponsorship from doorstopnation.com at Daytona. The Doorstop Nation was founded in 2005 by self professed doctor of doorstopology Joe Laracuente.(doorstopnation.com PR)(2-9-2010)
Kahne returns to the #38: In this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opener, Kasey Kahne will return to the seat of the #38 Great Clips Camry after a five year hiatus. Kahne drove the #38 Great Clips machine from 2003-2005, before becoming a rising star in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kahne will drive the #38 Camry in eight races throughout 2010 while Jason Leffler completes the remaining balance of races.(Braun Racing PR)(2-9-2010)
BioShock scheme for Logano: The #20 GameStop Toyota will carry the colors of BioShock 2 at Daytona. BioShock 2, a first-person shooter from Take 2 Games, hits GameStop stores and GameStop.com this week.(JGR /GameStop PR)(2-9-2010)
Stewart making only planned start of 2010 at Daytona: After 41 career NASCAR Nationwide Series starts stretched out over five seasons, Tony Stewart finally scored his first Nationwide Series victory when he won the 2005 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway driving for an upstart Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI). The win was also the first for the team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and wife DeLana. Flash forward to the 2010 Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona where Stewart is back driving for KHI in the #4 Oreo/Ritz Chevy in what will be his one and only planned Nationwide Series appearance of the year. (True Speed Communications / Stewart PR), see an image of the car on the #4 Nationwide Series paint scheme page.(2-8-2010)
Sauter running Nationwide? UPDATE: A local [Destin, FL] company will be sponsoring a team in the NASCAR nationwide series this season. Amenity Services Incorporated out of Destin is sponsoring driver Johnny Sauter. Sauter and his crew were in town Feb.4 meeting fans, signing autographs and showing off the Chevy Impala that debuts in the [DRIVE4COPD] 300 at the Daytona International Speedway next Saturday, the 13th. Amenity Services is promoting its nationwide website, getmorevacations.com and sweepstakes giveaway on the body of the car.(WJHG.com), no mention of the team, last year getmorevacations.com was on the #49 of Jay Robinson Racing for much of the season.(02-08-2010) UPDATE: Sauter is entered in the #48 Chevy, owned by Darrell Blanton.(02-08-2010)
Nemechek planning on full Nationwide season:Joe Nemechek plans to run the entire Nationwide and Sprint Cup schedules, and so far, his plan got off to a good start. Nemechek made the Daytona 500 field, which can go a long way for a Nemco Motorsports operation looking for sponsorship. “We’re basically racing off the purse, the money that we win,” Nemechek said. “That’s what pays the bills. If you don’t get in the show, you still have huge expenses you have to pay for. We’ve got a lot of good things going on with potential sponsors and potential marketing folks that can help us.”(Scene Daily)(2-8-2010)
Riggs driving for RAB at Daytona: UPDATE: RAB Racing announced that Scott Riggs will pilot the #09 Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13th. “We are thrilled to have Scott in our car at Daytona,” stated Robby Benton, Co-owner and General Manager of RAB Racing with Brack Maggard. “Scott’s experience in all three levels of competition in this sport and the solid foundation of this team will produce a great combination for success. We’re on track to deliver great results for the 2010 season opener at Daytona and hope to build the partnership between RAB Racing and Scott Riggs to run a full 2010 schedule.”(RAB Racing PR)(1-25-2010) UPDATE: Scott Riggs will make his debut with RAB Racing during the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona. Riggs is only scheduled to run the first race with hopes of finding funding to run a full-schedule in 2010. The #09 Ford has traded in its yellow and blue paint scheme and is now sporting a black and yellow scheme. RAB Racing’s very own, Ashley Parlett designed the new look. Ben Gable, a 30 year old Mooresville, NC native, will be taking over as crew chief on the #09 Ford for the 2010 season (RAB PR)(2-8-2010)
Wise joins Specialty Racing: Josh Wise, a former champion in the USAC National Sprint Car Series and the USAC National Midget Series, has signed with NASCAR Nationwide Series team Specialty Racing. He will compete in all 35 races behind the wheel of the team’s #61 Ford Fusion.(MMI PR)(2-8-2010)
ESPN’s NASCAR Coverage to Rock with Comic Book Heroes: Comic Book Heroes’ (CBH) new single “Move Out of the Way” off their “Take A Seat” EP has been chosen by ESPN as the featured song for the network’s coverage of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The season opens at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 13, at noon ET on ESPN2. To kick off their new relationship with ESPN, CBH filmed a video for “Move Out of the Way,” portions of which will be used throughout the season during ESPN’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race telecasts. A new music video for the teen rock band’s first single, “Catch Me If You Can,” and six original songs from CBH also will be included in promotions for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage. Throughout the 10-month NASCAR Nationwide Series season, CBH’s music, videos and promotions will be featured in 35 races televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.(ESPN PR)(2-7-2010)
ML Motorsports owner donates to Haiti relief efforts: Add ML Motorsports owner Mary Louise Miller to the list of NASCAR folks lending aid to the earthquake victims in Haiti. ML Motorsports runs the #70, Foretravel Motorcoach / BIOMET Chevy in the Nationwide Series with driver Shelby Howard. Miller, who with her husband Dane founded BIOMET, a leading manufacturer of Orthopedic devices based in Warsaw, In. last month donated more than a half million dollars of equipment to the relief effort, stepped up to the plate once again this week. BIOMET quietly made the donation a couple of weeks ago, learned of an effort by Sister Laureen Painter, Vice President of St. Joseph Hospital Foundation in nearby South Bend to gather local doctors to go to Haiti to lend aid. Working with Friendship Flights Inc, based at the Goshen, In airport, BIOMET, Tuesday donated the company’s Citation Excel Jet to fly the medical volunteers to Haiti.(ML Motorsports PR)(2-8-2010)
GameStop renews with JGR: GameStop Corporation, the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, has extended its sponsorship with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) through the 2010 NASCAR season. Joey Logano will pilot the #20 GameStop Toyota in 21 Nationwide Series events, beginning with the season-opening race at the Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13, 2010.(JGR PR)(2-8-2010)
StopRepairBills.com joins Braun Racing: Braun Racing announced that StopRepairBills.com will adorn the hood of its #11 Toyota Camry for two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, including those at Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year contender Brian Scott will drive the StopRepairBills.com Toyota Camry.(Braun Racing PR)(2-8-2010)
Danica will decide on Daytona Nationwide race on Monday: UPDATE: Yes Danica Patrick says she’ll announce Monday whether she will enter next Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, but her crew chief doesn’t want to wait. “My vote will be ‘go,’ ” Tony Eury Jr. said after the IndyCar Series star finished sixth in her stock-car debut Saturday night in the ARCA series. “I’m all for it. I want her to get as much seat time as she can.” Eury said he and team co-owner Rick Hendrick originally were skeptical about Patrick competing in the Nationwide race at Daytona because there are so many Sprint Cup drivers in the field. But, Eury said, the way Patrick rallied from a spinout that left her in last place with fewer than 30 laps remaining was impressive. Eury added that his father, Tony Eury Sr., stayed in Mooresville, N.C., to finish working on the Nationwide car if Patrick opts to race. (ESPN.com)(2-6-2010) UPDATE: Danica Patrick will enter Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com on Sunday. The IndyCar Series star who is beginning the transition to NASCAR made the decision after finishing sixth in Saturday’s ARCA debut at DIS. An official announcement will be made on Monday. Patrick will be guaranteed a spot in the field using the points Brad Keselowski accumulated in the #88 for JR Motorsports last season [actually the team will use points from the CJR Racing #11 car]. Patrick’s biggest reservation about Daytona was keeping JR Motorsports teammate Kelly Bires out of the event and perhaps costing a driver competing for the championship valuable points if she makes a mistake.(ESPN.com)(2-7-2010) UPDATE: Danica Patrick will make her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevy this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced. Patrick, Earnhardt, and team officials convened Sunday following the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) event at Daytona, in which Patrick raced to a sixth-place finish in her stock-car debut. The decision for Patrick to compete in the Daytona Nationwide Series event is supported by sponsor GoDaddy.com and JRM co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Eury Jr., and Rick Hendrick.(JR Motorsports PR)(2-8-2010)
Lepage with MacHill at Daytona: IMAGE Mac Hill Motorsports and Revolucion World Wide established the Revolucion Nationwide team to run at Daytona. The parternship was struck when Revolucion CEO Derek Broes and driver Kevin Lepage [met].(Revolucion PR), no details on any number of races.(2-6-2010) IMAGES: See a couple graphics of the cars on the #56 team paint schemes page.(2-8-2010)
Rick Ware announces driver lineup: IMAGES In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, veteran #31-Stanton Barrett joins #41-Chrissy Wallace for Daytona. Barrett returns to the NASCAR Nationwide Series after competing in both NASCAR and the Indy Racing League in 2009. Wallace will make her debut at the high banks of Daytona and looks to make her stand as the best newcomer in the sport. DJ Kennington, who finished second in the point standings of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series the past three seasons, will run several races for RWR before heading back to Canada in pursuit of the Championship that has eluded him. Also returning to the Nationwide Series will be Tim Andrews, who showed great promise in 2009 with the organization and will once again have guidance from his father Paul Andrews, the former Championship Crew Chief. Wiley veteran Donnie Neuenberger will run select races in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, and Brian Rose will make his return to the NASCAR circuit with a combination of Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events for RWR in 2010.(RWR PR)(2-5-2010) IMAGES: See images of the #31 and #41 that will be driven at Daytona on the 2010 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(2-7-2010)
Virginia’s Best Water joins Key Motorsports: Virginia’s Best Water and Key Motorsports officials announced the brand will be the “Official Bottled Water of Key Motorsports” for the fourth consecutive racing season. Building on a relationship that began in 2007, Virginia’s Best Water parent company, Wholesome Foods, Inc., will supply bottled water for the Key Motorsports team at all 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2010 as well as at selected show car appearances throughout the United States.(Key Motorsports PR)(2-6-2010)
Rick Ware announces sponsors: Rick Ware Racing announced that EZ-Slider has committed to sponsoring Donnie Neuenberger for the 2010 season—four in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and five in the Camping World Truck Series. EZ-Slider produces cylinder sleeves for automotive, truck, and agricultural applications. AND RGS Labs International Inc., makers of FW1 Waterless Wash and Wax, announced once again that they will be sponsoring Rick Ware Racing (RWR) in 2010. FW1 will appear on all entries for Rick Ware Racing in 2010, including the NASCAR Nationwide, NASCAR Camping World Truck, Whelen Modified and AMA Arenacross Series’.(RWR PR)(2-6-2010)
Lepage with MacHill at Daytona: Mac Hill Motorsports and Revolucion World Wide established the Revolucion Nationwide team to run at Daytona. The parternship was struck when Revolucion CEO Derek Broes and driver Kevin Lepage [met].(Revolucion PR), no details on any number of races.(2-6-2010)
Lagasse to drive for Baker Curb? UPDATE 2 full-time: The Baker Curb Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team will field a second car for driver Scott Lagasse Jr. beginning at Daytona International Speedway next weekend. The organization will field the #37 Ford for Lagasse, according to a well-placed source. The source could not be identified because the team has not made the official announcement. Baker Curb was said to be holding off on making the announcement until hearing from a prospective sponsor. The deal could be made public this week. Another source said Jeff White, who was with the team as an engineer, will serve as Lagasse’s crew chief.(NNS Racing)(2-3-2010) UPDATE: Baker Curb Racing announced today that the team has reached an agreement with Scott Lagasse Jr. to drive the team’s #43 Ford in the Nationwide Series this season. Lagasse Jr. will team up with Greg Biffle at BCR and will make his debut in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday, February 13th. DrGmall.com will be the primary sponsor on the car for Daytona and will be a sponsor for several races throughout the 2010 season. Additional sponsorship for multiple races has been secured and will be announced at a later date. Jeff White has been named the crew chief on Lagasse Jr’s No. 43 drgmall.com(Baker Curb PR), see an image of the car on the #43 paint schemes page.(2-5-2010) UPDATE 2: Scott Lagasse Jr. had two choices after being fired a year ago from CJM Racing: Give up or get even. He got even. The driver from St. Augustine was selected to drive the No. 43 Ford for Baker Curb Racing in the Nationwide Series, starting with next Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300. Although more than a dozen drivers from the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series remain unemployed, Lagasse was selected to compete in all 35 races.(Jacksonville Union Times), with Lagasse running full time, the #43 team will likely use points from the #27 team last year to be locked into the field. Greg Biffle would be eligible for the past champions provisional in the #27.(2-6-2010)
Rick Ware announces driver lineup: In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, veteran #31-Stanton Barrett joins #41-Chrissy Wallace for Daytona. Barrett returns to the NASCAR Nationwide Series after competing in both NASCAR and the Indy Racing League in 2009. Wallace will make her debut at the high banks of Daytona and looks to make her stand as the best newcomer in the sport. DJ Kennington, who finished second in the point standings of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series the past three seasons, will run several races for RWR before heading back to Canada in pursuit of the Championship that has eluded him. Also returning to the Nationwide Series will be Tim Andrews, who showed great promise in 2009 with the organization and will once again have guidance from his father Paul Andrews, the former Championship Crew Chief. Wiley veteran Donnie Neuenberger will run select races in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, and Brian Rose will make his return to the NASCAR circuit with a combination of Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events for RWR in 2010.(RWR PR)(2-5-2010)
Meijer renews with Kentucky Speedway: Kentucky Speedway will continue its solid event sponsorship record with partners Meijer, Ford Racing, the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety during its 2010 race season. Meijer will be an event title sponsor for an eighth consecutive season when the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits June 12 for the “Meijer 300 presented by Ritz” and will continue to serve as the Official Supercenter of Kentucky Speedway.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(2-5-2010)
Chrissy Wallace in the #41 at Daytona: Chrissy Wallace will be making her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th in the Camping World 300 in the #41 Fuel Doctor Chevy with Rick Ware Racing (RWR). Wallace debuted with RWR in the NASCAR Camping World Series at Talladega last October. She finished 13th and looks forward to the new challenge. Once again marking the first time in history that a Father-Daughter will compete against each other in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Chrissy will join her father on the track to top last season’s performance at Talladega in the Camping World Truck race in 2009. With so many storylines during the opening week of the NASCAR season, nothing could be more intriguing than four family members competing against each other in the same event. Father Mike Wallace will be in the #01, Uncle Kenny Wallace in the #28, cousin Stephen Wallace in the #66 and Chrissy in the #41.(Ware Racing PR)(2-5-2010)
Blue Ox on the #28 at Daytona: Jay Robinson Racing and Blue Ox Products jointly announced that Blue Ox Products will serve as the primary sponsor of the #28 driven by Kenny Wallace, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday February 13 as part of NASCAR’s 2010 opening weekend in Daytona. Blue Ox, of Pender, Neb., is a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicle and towing industry supplies and accessories.(Jay Robinson Racing PR), see an image of the car on the #28 paint schemes page.(2-5-2010)
Danica uncertain about Daytona Nationwide race: UPDATE: Danica Patrick could win her stock car debut at Saturday’s ARCA race at Daytona and still decide to bypass the Nationwide Series opener there a week later. “(Finishing high) doesn’t mean that I’m ready for that race,” the IndyCar star said Wednesday. “Maybe I didn’t get put in very many tough situations.” Patrick joked that she was giving herself “a get out of jail free card.” She won’t commit to any particular yardstick of what it would take to convince her to make her NASCAR debut in the second-tier series Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. “That way, whatever I decide, nobody can argue with me,” Patrick said. Where she finishes is less important than which new challenges she faces – and how she handles them. Otherwise, Patrick will make her debut the following week in Fontana, Calif.(Associated Press)(2-3-2010) UPDATE: Danica Patrick says she won’t announce a decision until Monday concerning whether she will make her NASCAR debut in the Nationwide Series season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 on Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick is competing in the Automobile Racing Club of America event Saturday at DIS and after her performance there, she will decide whether she will drive the JR Motorsports #7 car for the Nationwide event at Daytona or make her debut in the Feb. 20 race at Auto Club Speedway in California. She wants to see how she does and how comfortable she is in the car during the ARCA event.(Scene Daily)(2-4-2010)
Miccosukee sponsorship leaving the sport?: UPDATE: Sponsorship from Miccosukee Indian Gaming in all three of NASCAR’s national series – Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks – could be terminated as a result of an early February vote by the Indian tribe. The tribe, which runs Miccosukee Resort and Gaming located in Miami and along the southeastern edge of the Florida Everglades, elected a new chairman, Colley Billie, on Jan. 5 who campaigned on promoting a new and “proactive” economic development platform. Several sources confirmed the tribe plans a Feb. 4 vote to decide whether it will continue its sponsorship in NASCAR, which includes Cup [#09-Almirola] and Nationwide teams [#1-James Buescher] to be fielded in 2010 by team owner James Finch and a Truck team [#18] owned and driven by Kyle Busch. The chances the NASCAR sponsorships will continue are considered slim, sources said.(Charlotte Observer)(1-26-2010) UPDATE: James Finch learned late Thursday afternoon that Miccosukee Resort and Gaming will no longer sponsor his Phoenix Racing teams. Finch had a contract for the full Nationwide Series schedule and 18 Sprint Cup races but when the Chairman of the Miccosukee tribe Billy Cypress lost the last election, Phoenix Racing became sponsor-less for Daytona and beyond.(Fox Sports)(2-4-2010)
MotorsportsRetro.com sponsoring Herd at Daytona: MotorsportsRetro.com, the world’s largest internet shopping site for retro racing apparel, has joined Herd Racing as primary sponsor of the team’s #75 entry in the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway next weekend. MotorsportsRetro.com, based in Cincinnati, OH, will also become the official provider of team clothing and will create a line of Herd Racing apparel which fans can purchase online through the company.(Herd PR), see an image of the car on the #75 paint schemes page.(2-4-2010)
Beringer returns to Braun Racing: Braun Racing announces the return of Beringer Vineyards to their sponsor line-up for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The California-based, Beringer Vineyards, which is returning to Braun Racing for its fourth year, will serve as a primary sponsor of the team’s #10 entry for three races in 2010. Veteran driver, David Reutimann, will once again pilot the #10 Beringer Vineyards Toyota Camry in those three events, which include Auto Club Speedway in February, Texas Motor Speedway in April and Chicagoland Speedway in July.(Braun Racing PR)(2-4-2010)
Brian Scott to have wrist surgery: #11-Brian Scott tweeted Thursday morning that “my broken wrist… quit healing and I have to have surgery. Will have to have it done after Vegas.” He originally broke his wrist in the Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan last June.(2-4-2010)
Kyle Busch will not run full Nationwide schedule: Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch said he won’t run the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 as team president J.D. Gibbs vetoed Busch’s hopes of going for a second consecutive title. Before the 2009 awards ceremony last November in Miami, Busch said he hoped to talk Gibbs into letting him add enough races to his schedule to contend for the championship. But at NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, Busch said that’s not likely to happen. “I think it’s pretty much decided now that we’re running the 25-26 (Nationwide) races,” Busch said Thursday. “Of course, we’re running the full Sprint Cup Series schedule and about 15 truck races.”(NNS Racing)(2-4-2010)
TV start times announced: Telecast times for the 2010 NASCAR season have been released, and as previously announced, the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule features earlier, consistent start times throughout the year. Points races in the Eastern and Central regions of the country will begin at 1 p.m. ET, West Coast events will begin at 3 p.m. ET, and night races will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. The 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season will be telecast on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. ABC will have four events, ESPN will have nine and ESPN2 will have 22. ESPN2 opens the season with the DRIVE4COPD 300 at 1:15 p.m. ET on Feb. 13 at Daytona. ESPN2 also will telecast the season-finale Ford 300 on Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami (4:30 p.m. ET).(NASCAR PR), for the complete 2010 Nationwide schedule plus start times, see my 2010 Natiowide Series schedule page.(2-4-2010)
Danica uncertain about Daytona Nationwide race: Danica Patrick could win her stock car debut at Saturday’s ARCA race at Daytona and still decide to bypass the Nationwide Series opener there a week later. “(Finishing high) doesn’t mean that I’m ready for that race,” the IndyCar star said Wednesday. “Maybe I didn’t get put in very many tough situations.” Patrick joked that she was giving herself “a get out of jail free card.” She won’t commit to any particular yardstick of what it would take to convince her to make her NASCAR debut in the second-tier series Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. “That way, whatever I decide, nobody can argue with me,” Patrick said. Where she finishes is less important than which new challenges she faces – and how she handles them. Otherwise, Patrick will make her debut the following week in Fontana, Calif.(Associated Press)(2-3-2010)
Lagasse to drive for Baker Curb? The Baker Curb Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team will field a second car for driver Scott Lagasse Jr. beginning at Daytona International Speedway next weekend. The organization will field the #37 Ford for Lagasse, according to a well-placed source. The source could not be identified because the team has not made the official announcement. Baker Curb was said to be holding off on making the announcement until hearing from a prospective sponsor. The deal could be made public this week. Another source said Jeff White, who was with the team as an engineer, will serve as Lagasse’s crew chief.(NNS Racing)(2-3-2010)
Buescher to run ARCA race for Phoenix: Phoenix Racing has entered James Buescher, the 2009 winner of the Daytona Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, in the 2010 ARCA season opener. Phoenix has its own rich history in Daytona that includes three wins in the ARCA series opener at the home of stock car racing. The James Finch owned team also has three ARCA Series Superspeedway Championships. Buescher also joins PRI in the Nationwide Series fulltime for the 2010 season.(Phoenix Racing PR)(2-3-2010)
Daytona Race named DRIVE4COPD 300 The prestigious NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener, the 120-lap, 300-mile event scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 13, will be known as the DRIVE4COPD 300, Daytona International Speedway Track President Robin Braig announced. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious, progressive disease – which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both – that robs people of their ability to breathe and kills more Americans each year than breast cancer and diabetes combined. The DRIVE4COPD race entitlement is part of a broader nationwide health initiative to bring more awareness to the disease, led by founding sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with partnering organizations including the COPD Foundation, American Lung Association and NASCAR. Serving as the Grand Marshals for the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race will be the four celebrity campaign ambassadors – Emmy-nominated actor Jim Belushi, Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner, Grammy Award-winning country music star Patty Loveless and former Pro Football Star Michael Strahan – who will all give the command, “Drivers start your engines.”(Daytona PR)(2-3-2010)
Keller driving for TriStar this season: UPDATE 3: Jason Keller has had a steering wheel in his lap for as long as he can remember. For the past several months, however, that steering wheel has been attached to a forklift. “I’ve been working for my dad’s business, driving a forklift all winter,” said Keller, a NASCAR regular for the past 17 seasons. “It has actually been a very pleasant winter.” But as winter gives way to spring, Keller’s thoughts again are turning to racing. The Greenville stock car driver announced Friday an agreement with TriStar Motorsports of Mooresville, N.C., to drive the team’s #19 Chevy on the Nationwide Series this season. TriStar team owner Mark Smith, who said “our intention is to run the whole season (schedule),” has been out of the ownership business since 1997, but before that his team featured drivers such as Bobby Hamilton and Loy Allen Jr., in the 1990s. Smith has focused on building engines in recent years, most notably ones used by Ron Hornaday Jr. en route to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title last season.(The State)(1-30-2010) UPDATE: hearing that the TriStar team will run two cars this year, with the other being last year’s Front Row Motorsports #34 team with Tony Raines.(1-30-2010) UDPATE 2: The team has decided to run Jason Keller in the #35 and will keep the #34 car number unchanged.(2-2-2010) UPDATE 3: Keller announced late last week he had agreed to drive for the team owned by Mark Smith, a noted engine builder and owner of Pro Motors Engines. Keller said his crew chief will be Bryan Berry, who had success with Brendan Gaughan in 2009. But Keller acknowledged that it will be an uphill climb. The team was still hiring crew members and trying to acquire cars, and the season is 10 days away. Plus, Smith formed a partnership with Front Row Motorsports to run the #34 Chevy driven by Tony Raines out of his shops in Denver, N.C., making it an all-out scramble to get ready for the season. Keller said he originally was going to drive the #19 – Smith’s former number in the Cup series – but NASCAR told them another team has that number. Keller could end up in the #35, but there are plenty of other issues facing the team, for sure. Keller will have to make the first five races of the season via qualifying because a deal to get points from another team likely won’t be made.(NNS Racing)(2-3-2010)
Parrott is Gaughan’s new crew chief: UPDATE: Rusty Wallace announced on ESPN2’s NASCAR Now that Brad Parrott will be Brendan Gaughan’s crew chief for the #62 Toyota in 2010. Parrott was recently announced as crew chief for Greg Biffle at Baker-Curb Racing.(2-2-2010) UPDATE: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing announced that standout veteran crew chief, Brad Parrott, will lead Brendan Gaughan and RWR’s #62 team in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Parrott, a winner of nearly 20 races in the Nationwide Series since 2002, brings a wealth of veteran knowledge to RWR, having served as crew chief for drivers such as Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett, Juan Pablo Montoya and others. Parrott’s first experience with Rusty Wallace came when he served as tire specialist for Wallace and the famed #2 car at Penske Racing in the early 1990’s. Further, RWR officials announced that Parrott’s father—and Wallace’s crew chief at Penske Racing during the 1993 and 1994 seasons—Buddy Parrott, will serve as spotter for Gaughan and the #62 Toyota Camry in select 2010 Nationwide Series events.(RWI PR)(2-3-2010)
Florida Senate Candidate sponsoring Wallace at Daytona: U.S. Senate Candidate Kendrick Meek will be the lead sponsor of Mike Wallace’s #01 race car at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Race in Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 13, 2010. A longtime NASCAR supporter, Kendrick Meek attended NASCAR’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2007, and he also attended the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of 2009 at the same track.(Meek PR)(2-2-2010)
ABF to sponsor Leffler in 7 races: Braun Racing announced that their marketing partner of four years, ABF, is expanding their current racing program and will serve as primary sponsor of the #10 Toyota for seven races in 2010. Jason Leffler will pilot the #10 ABF Camry in the following races: Daytona (February 13), Bristol (March 20), Darlington (May 7), Dover (May 15), Charlotte (May 29), Atlanta (September 4), and Homestead-Miami (November 20). ABF has been a partner of Braun Racing’s since 2006, serving as an associate sponsor on the #38 Toyota and as primary sponsor of the #10 Toyota on occasion.(Braun Racing)(2-2-2010)
Bliss will drive for Key Motorsports in first 3 races: Mike Bliss will return to the seat of the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy to kick off the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Key Motorsports officials announced. Bliss is locked in the seat of the #40 for the first three events of the Nationwide Series schedule, the Camping World 300 at Daytona February 13th, the Stater Brothers 300 at Auto Club Speedway February 20th and the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas on February 27th. Both Key Motorsports and Bliss are hopeful sponsorship will allow for Bliss to remain in the car for the full 35 race schedule. The 2002 NASCAR Truck Series champion is no stranger to Key Motorsports equipment, having driven for the team in three of the past four seasons in both the Truck Series as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(2-1-2010)
Alex Garcia planning to run road course races: Alex Garcia was supposed to be a full-time Nationwide Series competitor in 2008, only to find himself one of countless drivers and teams whose plans were shuttered due to reductions in sponsor dollars. Since failing to qualify for the NNS race at Watkins Glen in August of that year, he and his #98 car have been absent from NASCAR. But he never left the sport. Instead, the only Venezuelan to ever start a NASCAR race has been working the PR trails, trying to find the sponsorship that has been so fleeting. Now, as 2010 rolls around, Garcia is refocusing his efforts not as a driver, but as an owner seeking to facilitate driver development for Latin Americans who now are considering stock cars as a potential career path. With the focus of many foreign drivers tackling the road courses as an introduction to stock car racing, Garcia’s team is preparing accordingly. “We’re finishing up our road race car [and] on the Nationwide Series side we’ll definitely be there for the road course races,” states Garcia. “We’re not ready to make the jump to full-time. We’ve got some interest in some races, the road races happen to be the first ones. We’re [also] building a car for the ARCA race, and we hope to test at Palm Beach on February 8.”(Frontstretch Newsletter)(2-1-2010)
