Lepage, Front Row Motorsports file suit against Specialty Racing: Frontstretch.com has learned that Kevin Lepage and Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins have filed a lawsuit against Specialty Racing, LLC, freezing the assets of the company while attempting to acquire its owner points, equipment, and money they claim they’re owed.
The basis of the suit began in late May, when Specialty Racing informed Lepage that they did not have sufficient funds to run the Nationwide event in Dover, Delaware. In response, Lepage informed Specialty Racing about a proposal that would allow Bob Jenkins from Front Row Motorsports to supply a car, transporter, and engine to run under the #61 banner that weekend. The lawsuit states that after speaking to a NASCAR official, Specialty Racing co-owner Charles Shoffner learned that in order for his team to earn owner’s points in a Nationwide event, they would have to supply the employees, equipment, transporter, and cars for the entire weekend. Therefore, his team could not earn points under Lepage’s proposal.
But even with that limitation, Shoffner states that starting at the June Nashville event and concluding at Daytona, Jenkins did provide equipment to use while Specialty Racing incurred the team expenses. However, when approached in July about signing an agreement that would allow owner’s points to be transferred to Front Row Motorsports, Shoffner declined until the paperwork was reviewed by counsel and NASCAR. Jenkins and Lepage then responded by filing the lawsuit at the end of this month. (Frontstretch Newsletter)(7-31-2008)
Ranger in the #22 at Montreal: Andrew Ranger will drive in the Nationwide Series race this weekend. Ranger, who will also drive in the NASCAR Canada series, will pilot the #22 of Fitz Motosports. The #22 was driven by Patrick Carpentier last year in Montreal.(Translated from RDS.ca by Google Translate)(7-31-2008)
Montreal Rookie Notes: Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Gale scored a sixth-place finish, his best in 21 Nationwide Series starts and second top-10 in 10 starts this season. He became the sixth consecutive Raybestos Rookie to post a top-10 at O’Reilly Raceway Park and claimed top rookie honors for the fourth time in 2008.
Gale started third in the race, his best qualifying effort in his Nationwide Series career. He led the race once for one lap and became the first Raybestos Rookie to lead at O’Reilly Raceway Park since Kyle Busch in 2004. Gale led for the first time this season and claimed WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors.
Landon Cassill scored a seventh-place finish in the Kroger 200, his fourth top-10 in 12 starts this season and third consecutive.
Bryan Clauson has an 17-point lead (147-130) over Landon Cassill in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal, Canada.(Raybestos PR)(7-30-2008)
Boris Said running next 2 Nationwide races: Boris Said’s part-time NASCAR schedule gets busy in the next two weeks, beginning with Saturday’s Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Canadian road race will be the second Nationwide event of the season for Said, who will drive the #25 No Fear Energy/Advance Auto Parts Ford under the Team Rensi Motorsports banner. Known for his road racing prowess, Said will also compete the following week in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at the Watkins Glen International road course.(DMF Communications PR)(7-30-2008)
Johnson to run Nationwide race at Watkins Glen: Jimmie Johnson will compete in the Nationwide Series road race at Watkins Glen, NY on Aug. 9, driving a #48 Chevy fielded by JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide team.(ESPN.com)(7-29-2008)
Phantom EFX sponsoring the #28 in Montreal: Phantom EFX, producers of the award-winning Reel Deal line of casino and card interactive computer games, will serve as the primary sponsor on Kenny Wallace’s Jay Robinson Racing #28 Chevy this weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The U.S. Border Patrol will be an associate sponsor on the #28 and will return to their full-time primary duties next weekend at Watkins Glen.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(7-29-2008)
5-Hour Energy sponsoring Steve Wallace:MORE Living Essentials, LLC and Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC announced today that LE, through its 5-Hour Energy brand, will serve as primary sponsor of RWR’s #66 Chevy and driver Steve Wallace, in four 2008 Nationwide Series events. Additionally, the parties announced that 5-Hour Energy will serve as an associate sponsor of RWR’s #64 entry, wheeled by David Stremme, in those four races. The Team 5-Hour Energy Rusty Wallace Racing Chevy will be piloted by Steve Wallace in the Montreal, Bristol, Richmond and Charlotte rounds of the 2008 Nationwide Series.(RWI PR)(7-25-2008) UPDATE: Two NFL stars and a NASCAR driver mark the foray of 5-Hour Energy into sports marketing. What makes these deals unique is – it was the company who was pitched endorsement deals by their soon-to-be pitchmen. “We weren’t looking for sports marketing opportunities at all,” said Carl Sperber, Living Essentials Marketing Director. “Then over the course of two weeks we received three calls from agents saying their clients use 5-Hour Energy and want to know if there is a way we could work together.” Pro Bowl wide receiver Braylon Edwards of the Cleveland Browns, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Champion defensive end Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants, and NASCAR driver Steven Wallace, along with his father, NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, will appear as spokesmen promoting the two-ounce energy shot they are all big fans of.(5-Hour PR)(7-29-2008)
Garcia making second attempt of the year: Alex Garcia, driver of the #98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevy, will be making his second start of the 2008 season when his team hits the track at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Garcia’s first start of the season was in Mexico City. For the second time this season, the #98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevy will be carrying the logos of The Wayúu Tayá Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by actress and model Patricia Velásquez, which assists the Latin American indigenous people, focusing primarily on those in Venezuela. Garcia, originally from Caracas, became involved with the organization in 2007 after he became the first Venezuelan to race is NASCAR. In appreciation of the fans in Montreal, the 98 will be sporting a Quebec flag and a very special message on the rear deck lid: “Merci Fans!”(Transnet Racing PR)(7-29-2008)
Racing Resources Says…
Kyle Busch won the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. He scored his 17th career win in his 128th career start in the series. Busch scored his sixth win of the 2008 season, his last win came at Chicagoland in his last start. Busch scored his 15th NASCAR National Series win in 49 races this season. Busch scored his second win at ORP in his fourth start, his last win came in 2004. Busch led 197 of the 200 laps in the race, the most laps led by a driver at ORP in 27 races there.
Busch has now led over 2,500 laps in the three NASCAR National Series. He has led the most laps in nine series races this season, and has gone on to win five of them. Busch started second in the race, making it the 21st time in 27 races that the ORP race winner has started in the top 10.
Joe Gibbs Racing scored its 14th win of the 2008 season, setting a new record for most wins by a team in a single season in the series.
Colin Braun, who finished second, posted his best career finish.
Mike Bliss, who finished third, was running 31st on Lap 26.
Josh Wise, who finished fifth, and Cale Gale, who finished sixth, also posted career-best finishes.
Carl Edwards, who finished 11th, was three laps down on Lap 135. He restarted 24th on Lap 173 after receiving the lucky dog pass to get back on the lead lap.
Brad Keselowski, who finished 19th, ended a nine-race streak of top-10 finishes.
Toyota posted its 15th win of the 2008 season and second at ORP; Toyota scored its first win in the series in this race last year when Jason Leffler won.
Points leader Clint Bowyer finished 18th, ending a streak of 11 straight top-10 finishes.
The race featured four lead changes among three drivers.
The race had seven cautions for 35 laps.
The highest finishing rookie of the year contender was Cale Gale, who finished sixth.
The top 10 consisted of two Toyotas, two Fords, five Chevrolets and a Dodge.(ESPN.com)(7-28-2008)
Hornaday in the #33 at Montreal: Montreal marks the second Nationwide Series start for Ron Hornaday this season. Earlier this year he drove the #33 Camping World Chevy at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Hornaday started the race 15th, but following a blown tire late in the race, he finished the in the 32nd position.(KHI PR)(7-28-2008)
Nationwide Series Live from Montreal on ESPN2: The Nationwide Series goes north of the border this weekend for its second annual event in Montreal at the famed Circuit Giles Villenueve, and ESPN2 will have live coverage on Saturday, Aug. 2, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD, and is simulcast on ESPNMobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Lead announcer for ESPN2 will be Marty Reid, with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Randy LaJoie. Jack Arute, Mike Massaro and Vince Welch will report from the pits. Massaro also hosts NASCAR Countdown.ESPN2 also airs coverage of qualifying for the event at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and coverage of final practice on Friday at 2 p.m.(ESPN PR)(7-28-2008)
#88 Hauler Robbed at ORP: JR Motorsports #88 hauler was broken into and robbed during the Race at ORP this past weekend. Among the missing items: 3 driver uniforms, 1 pair of driver shoes, Phone, Brad Keselowski’s hardcard and passpost and over $600 cash from various team members wallets. Anyone with info relating to this matter or its prosecution will be rewarded appropriately.(7-28-2008)
Nationwide Series will not return to Mexico: NASCAR officials confirmed what most of us had already suspected – that the Nationwide Series won’t return to the road course in Mexico City in 2009. Attendance over the four years at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez had been on the decline, but that wasn’t the reason given for the change. The date may shift to the recently opened Iowa Speedway, which already hosts the IRL, ARCA and lower-level NASCAR events.(Yahoo Sports)(7-27-2008)
Chevy to submit new Nationwide engine for approval in August: Shane Martin, Chevy’s program manager for the Nationwide Series, said at O’Reilly Raceway Park that Chevy plans to submit its next-generation R07 engine next month for approval to run in the Nationwide Series in 2009. Martin said Chevy will submit the engine the second week in August, two weeks before the deadline to have it approved for next season. The R07, which is currently used in the Sprint Cup Series, would have similar internal design as the Toyota engine, which last week was hit with a ruling designed to limit horsepower.(SceneDaily.com)(7-27-2008)
Franchitti to run limited schedule the rest of the season: Dario Franchitti is set to remain in NASCAR with Chip Ganassi Racing for the remainder of the year and will compete in a limited number of races, primarily in the Nationwide Series, following the closure of his Sprint Cup series team last month. Autosport.com has learned that Franchitti is set to stay focused on NASCAR for now after pondering the options he was offered by Chip Ganassi, following their meeting two weeks ago at Chicagoland Speedway. The Scot plans to compete in seven Nationwide Series races, alternating with fellow rookie Bryan Clauson at the wheel of the #40 Fastenal Dodge.(Autosport.com)(7-25-2008)
Stremme and Villeneuve test at Carolina Motorsports Park: Carolina Motorsports Park had a two team Nationwide test on July 22 & 23 with David Stremme with D’Hondt Motorsports and Jacques Villeneuve with Braun Racing.(Carolina Motorsports Park PR)(7-24-2008)
Penske Sponsoring Stremme: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC and Penske Racing announced that Penske Truck Rental will serve as primary sponsor of Rusty Wallace Racing’s #64 entry, piloted by David Stremme, in this weekend’s Nationwide Series event at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Additionally, the parties announced an arrangement, under which, various Penske-affiliated brands will serve as primary sponsor of the Stremme-wheeled #64 in three additional events during 2008. In addition to this weekend’s event, Stremme’s car will carry Penske-affiliated colors in the August races at Michigan, California and Bristol.(RWI PR)(7-24-2008)
Toyota disappointed with rule change: Toyota Racing Development President Lee White said he was “extremely disappointed” in NASCAR’s decision to alter the spacer applied to Toyota’s Nationwide Series engine, which will result in lost horsepower. “In our opinion, there is no technical justification to penalize the Toyota engine utilized in the Nationwide Series,” White said in a statement released Wednesday evening. “The success of the Toyota Camry this year in the Nationwide Series is the result of hard work and achievement by all of our race teams … working in conjunction with [Toyota Racing Development].” White said the manufacturer will work with its teams to make sure they remain competitive despite the setback. He warned that NASCAR’s decision “could be more far-reaching than simply mandating Toyota adjust its Nationwide engine.” “The real impact will be felt by the Toyota teams as they adjust to the change, work to remain competitive for the remainder of this season and attempt to line up their sponsorships for next year,” he said.(SceneDaily.com)(7-23-2008)
Walter out at JR Motorsports? UPDATE: hearing that Chad Walter, Crew Chief of the #5 Chevy in the Nationwide Series has been terminated at JR Motorsports.(7-23-2008) UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced today that Cam Strader will assume crew chief duties for the #5 Nationwide Series team starting this weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park. He replaces Chad Walter, who has resigned. Strader, car chief for the team since 2006, will serve in an interim capacity until a permanent replacement has been determined.(JR Motorsports PR)(7-23-2008)
NASCAR to dyno engines: UPDATE 4: New NASCAR Rule NASCAR is taking a look at all the manufacturers engines and has pulled engines from nine cars following the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland. The engines will be put on the dyno machines back at the R&D Center in Charlotte to check the horsepower from all manufacturers.(7-12-2008) UPDATE: NASCAR officials took 10 engines from Nationwide Series cars amid clamor from non-Toyota teams claiming they need help engine-wise to compete with the Toyotas. It was the third time this year that NASCAR has taken engines for evaluation. It did so at Atlanta in March and Milwaukee two weeks ago. Toyota has won 14 races in the series this year, while Chevy has won four and Ford has won two. “We’re continuing our study on our competitive analysis and trying to balance the competition in the garage, which we’re kind of tasked to do,” Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said following the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. “There’s a lot of rumor in the garage where things are at, and that’s why we want to make sure that we get the actual data.” Among the possible things NASCAR could do is change the spacer that limits air flow in the engine. NASCAR began using the spacer this year. Balash said it would take about three or four days for NASCAR to run all the engines on its engine dynamometers. “We have a lot of things that are available to us,” Balash said. “Based upon where the numbers shake out is what we would select. [Changing] spacers is one of the options. There’s three or four different ways you can use spacers. “But we have to get to the numbers first and see what’s before we would even speculate what we would do, if we would do anything.”(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-2008) UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series diretor Joe Balash said Friday at Gateway International Raceway that NASCAR is still pouring over data culled from dynomometer tests on 10 engines pulled from cars after last week’s race at Chicagoland Speedway. “That’s a lot of data to go through,” Balash said. “We’re disseminating the data to the teams right now, but as much information as we’ve gathered over 10 engines, it’s going to take us awhile to have our engineers go through and look at all the data before any decisions are made.” Balash wouldn’t say if NASCAR had found any patterns in the data and said the sanctioning body also needs to compare the latest data with dyno runs earlier this year after the Atlanta and Milwaukee races. (SceneDaily.com)(7-19-2008) UPDATE 3: NASCAR tried to even out the competition in the Nationwide Series on Wednesday by ordering all teams using Toyota motors to squeeze down their horsepower before this weekend’s race in Indianapolis. NASCAR recently sent 10 different motors for testing, and found that David Reutimann’s Toyota was the best with an estimated 3 percent horsepower advantage over the competition.(Associated Press)(7-23-2008) UPDATE 4: NASCAR issued a technical bulletin Tuesday amending the Nationwide Series Rule Book. Effective as of July 23, 2008, section 20A – 5.10.4 is amended as follows:
“At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing less than 4.470 inches must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.125-inch diameter holes. At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.100-inch diameter holes. Unless otherwise authorized, the carburetor restrictor will be issued by NASCAR.”
“Eventually, all teams that upgrade to new engine packages will be subject to this rule modification,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Over the years in our sport, we’ve taken steps on numerous occasions to help maintain a level playing field among our competitors and we will continue to do so.”(NASCAR PR)(7-23-2008)
Congrats to Shawn Parker and Deborah Renshaw: The Baker Curb race team is proud to announce the newest addition to its racing family. Crew Chief Shawn Parker and his wife Deborah Renshaw-Parker welcomed new daughter Julianne at 7:58 am on Tuesday, July 22 at the Bowling Green Medical Center. Julianne joins brother Jagger, age four, on the racing sidelines of the Nationwide circuit. Father Shawn is the crew chief on the #27 Kleenex Ford team headquartered in Nashville. Mother Deborah is a former ARCA and Craftsman Truck Series driver.(Baker Curb PR)(7-23-2008)
Howard running both Trucks & NNS at ORP: This weekend at ORP will mark a homecoming of sorts for Shelby Howard, driver of the #13 FarmPaint.com Chevy. Howard is a native of Greenwood, Indiana, just a short-track lap from venerable ORP, site of Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series Power Stroke Diesel 200. Howard will be pulling welcome double-duty at ORP, as he will also pilot the #13 Bobcat/FarmPaint.com Chevy in Saturday’s Nationwide Series Kroger 200.(ThorSport Racing PR)(7-23-2008)
Keselowski to honor USS Indianapolis Survivors: #88-Brad Keselowski and Navy Fleet Honorees from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) will honor survivors and lost-at-sea family members from USS Indianapolis (CA 35) in a 4 p.m. ceremony Friday, July 25 at the USS Indianapolis Museum located inside the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. The survivors and family members from USS Indianapolis will also be recognized with a special decal on the #88 Navy Chevy this weekend at ORP as July 30 will mark the 63rd anniversary of the USS Indianapolis sinking, just days after the top-secret delivery of the key components of the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy.”(JR Motorsports PR)(7-23-2008)
Special Scheme for Coleman at ORP: Brad Coleman will receive a helping hand from 27 special children and their parents from Riley Hospital for Children during the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 26. Primary sponsor of the No. #Ford, Kimberly-Clark, has created a unique initiative to help celebrate a 10-year partnership between Kroger and Riley Hospital for Children where handprints will represent 27 patients and their parents on Coleman’s #27 Ford.(Kimberly-Clark/Taylor PR), see an image of the car on my #27 team paint scheme page.(7-23-2008)
Camping World CEO named to lead Milwaukee Mile: Less than two weeks after a state audit raised concerns about the Milwaukee Mile, racetrack investors on Tuesday named a new leader with motorsports experience to replace chairman Craig Stoehr. The new man is Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World/Freedom Roads. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., Camping World is the nation’s largest RV and outdoor retailer. Lemonis is a native of Miami, Fla., and is a graduate of Marquette University. He said he wanted to expand the speedway from a motorsports venue to an entertainment venue. He will retain his position at Camping World. Legislative Audit Bureau said State Fair Park will have to incur about $1.1 million annually in debt service payments beginning this year that were supposed to be covered by Milwaukee Mile Holdings LLC when it took over as promoter in December 2005. Those costs were shifted back to the park in contract revisions that cut the amount the promoter had to pay in licensing fees. Stoehr and his investors took over the track in 2005 in return for an option to develop a hotel, restaurant and retail complex on land adjacent to the speedway. That development never materialized.(Journal Sentinel)(7-23-2008)
Braun Racing Testing at Carolina Motorsports Park: Jacques Villenueve and Justin Marks tested Tuesday for Braun Racing at Carolina Motorsports Park.(Carolina Motorsports Park PR)(7-22-2008)
ML Motorsports planning special guest at ORP: As if racing in its home state wasn’t special enough for #70-ML Motorsports, the Warsaw, Indiana-based stock car team will have an honorary Crew Member for this weekend’s Nationwide Series race at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. A.J. Stringer was released from Riley Children’s Hospital on Monday, July 21st and will be at the race providing his doctors give him the go ahead on Thursday. A.J., the son of Tom and Deb Stinger, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in December of 2007. Since his diagnosis, A.J. has been undergoing treatments at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. This week, A.J. will be finishing up the series of devastating treatments and begin the maintenance portion of the treatment.(ML Motorsports PR)(7-22-2008)
Braun to make double-duty first starts at ORP: Colin Braun will make a first time start in both the Nationwide and Truck Series at O’Reilly Raceway Park this weekend. Braun will be driving the #6-Con-way Freight Ford on Friday night, and on Saturday will attempt to qualify for the Nationwide race in the #16 CitiFinancial Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(7-22-2008)
Racing Resources Says:
* Carl Edwards won the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. It was his second Gateway win (2006) in his fifth race there. Edwards has four top-10 results in his five Gateway races, and four top-six finishes in his past four races there. Edwards became the fourth driver to have two victories in 12 Gateway events. It was his second win in 2008, and both have come in the past five races.
* The victory was the third for Ford this season; Edwards has two and Matt Kenseth has one.
* Edwards recorded his 15th series win in his 127th race. He led the most laps, 79, including the final 49.
* Pole winner Jamie McMurray finished 27th.
* Joey Logano finished second, his fourth top-six finish in five series races. He led 42 laps.
* Jason Keller finished third, his best finish since 2004 at Chicagoland when he finished second.
* Jason Leffler finished fourth, equaling his season-best at Talladega.
* Brad Keselowski finished fifth for his ninth straight top-10 finish.
* Points leader Clint Bowyer finished eighth, his 11th straight top-10 result and 18th in 21 races in 2008. Bowyer retained the points lead for the 16th straight race. Keselowski gained 13 points on Bowyer to close to within 170 points.
* James Buescher started at the rear but finished seventh, his first series top-10 in just his fourth race.(ESPN.com)(7-22-2008)
Rookie Notes for ORP:
Landon Cassill was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway . Cassill scored a sixth-place finish, his second consecutive top-10 and third in 17 Nationwide Series starts. He grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time in 11 starts this season.
Bryan Clauson has an 18-point lead (139-121) over Dario Franchitti in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the July Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
A Raybestos Rookie has won two pole positions in the Nationwide Series this season. Clauson grabbed the top starting spot for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona while Cassill claimed the top starting position at the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire.
Brad Keselowski was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park, scoring a 10th-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(7-22-2008)
Stewart could run some NNS races for JR Motorsports in 09: From Tony Stewart Live Monday night:
On the possibility of running in Nationwide Series races in 2009: Question: “Will you be running in any Nationwide races in 2009 and, if so, for whom will you be driving?” Stewart: “I’m sure that we’ll be running some. I don’t know exactly who it’s going to be for yet. Obviously, with the support we get from Hendrick Motorsports there’s a possibility that we could maybe run a JR Motorsports car or possibly the #5 car in the Nationwide Series some races but haven’t got that far yet. Still trying to get everything organized and get acclimated to the new race team over there and still doing my full time job with the Home Depot team at Joe Gibbs Racing this summer. I’m sure we’ll run some next year. Just don’t know how many and what car we’re going to be in yet.”(Sirius NASCAR Radio)(7-22-2008)
Testing at Carolina Motorsports Park: David Reutimann and Mike Wallace are both testing Nationwide Series Cars Monday at Carolina Motorsports Park. Reutimann is in the # 99 Toyota with NAPA Sponsorship and Mike Wallace is in the #7 GEICO sponsored Toyota.(Carolina Motorsports Park PR)(7-21-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Indy on ESPN: ESPN continues its season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series with a live, prime-time telecast of the event from O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 26, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast from the 0.686-mile track also airs in high definition on ESPN HD, and is simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPNMobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Marty Reid will be ESPN’s lead announcer, joined in the booth for analysis by Randy LaJoie. Jack Arute, Dave Burns and Vince Welch will report from the pits. Reid also hosts NASCAR Countdown. Nationwide Series driver Jason Leffler, winner of last year’s event at ORP, joins the ESPN team as In-Race Reporter and will talk to LaJoie on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods. ESPN2 also airs coverage of qualifying for the event at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and coverage of final practice on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN PR)(7-21-2008)
Kenny gets a new crew chief: Dr. Jerry Punch reported during Nationwide qualifying on ESPN2, that Kenneth Campbell is now serving as #28-Kenny Wallace’s crew chief. He replaced Rick Gay.(7-19-2008)
Nationwide COT on hold: UPDATE: Yahoo! Sports has learned that NASCAR officials have notified team owners in the Nationwide Series that they will delay the introduction of the next generation Nationwide Series race car by one year. According to NASCAR spokesperson Ramsey Poston, the reason for the change is because testing and development is still needed before the car is approved for competition. The underlying reason for the decision however, is that the economic impact of having to build new cars at this time would be a hardship for all of the independent teams of the Nationwide Series. The decision was, in part, based on NASCAR officials meeting individually with smaller team owners to gauge their reaction. An official announcement is expected in two weeks.(Yahoo Sports)(7-4-2008) UPDATE: Wind-tunnel testing on NASCAR’s car of tomorrow for the Nationwide Series is heading into its final stages, as two manufacturers have been certified aerodynamically, series director Joe Balash said Friday at Gateway International Raceway. The Dodge and Ford versions of the COT have met NASCAR’s wind-tunnel targets, while the Chevy and Toyota still have work to do. “We’re taking Chevy and Toyota back to the wind tunnel,” Balash said. “We still have a little more tweaking to do to hit the target numbers that we have out there.” Balash said NASCAR still hopes to introduce the new car in late 2009, but that could change, depending on what team owners in the series want. Many owners have indicated they would like the car to be rolled out in 2010.(SceneDaily.com)(7-19-2008)
Cassill to start for RMM in Indianapolis: During the qualifying broadcast on SPEED/TV, Ray Dunlap announced that Landon Cassill will be the driver of the #81-Randy Moss Motorsports Chevy for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on July 25th.(7-19-2008)
Austin Dillion to Nationwide? RaceTalkRadio.com has learned that Austin Dillon, Grandson of NASCAR owner Richard Childress, will be competing for rookie of the year in the Nationwide Series in 2009. Austin Dillon leads the points in the NASCAR Camping World Series Eastern division and drives the #3 car in that series. Dillon is expected to compete in several Nationwide Series races later this season.(RaceTalkRadio.com)(7-18-2008)
Garcia Testing: Alex Garcia is testing Thursday at Carolina Motorsports Park, driving the #98 for Transnet Racing.(Carolina Motorsports Park)(7-17-2008)
Villeneuve could run for Robby: UDPATE 3: Robby Gordon is in talks with Jacques Villeneuve and Barry Green, for Villeneuve to run for Robby Gordon Motorsports in the Nationwide Montreal race on August 2nd and possibly a Sprint Cup ride in 2009. “I will send a car Nationwide Series in Montreal, no matter what happens,” said Gordon. Much of the Nationwide deal and Cup ride deal depends if Villeneuve and Green can bring a sponsor along with the deal.(rough tranlation from Le Journal de Montreal/Canoe Sports)(7-7-2008) UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve still has not confirmed his presence at the Montreal event. Barry Green stated, “We are aware that time is pressing. I still believe that Jacques will be on the track in Montreal.” Green and Villeneuve are talking to Robby Gordon, Todd Braun and James Finch. Green added that the Fitz Motorsports, with whom Patrick Carpentier made his debut last year, was also a possibility.(translated from Canoe Sports via Google Translate)(7-12-2008) UPDATE 2: Jacques Villeneuve is expected to announce a one-off ride with the Braun Racing team for August’s Nationwide Series race in Montreal in a press conference Thursday. The 1997 Formula One world champion will drive the #32 Toyota that NASCAR star Kyle Busch piloted to victory in Charlotte earlier this season. Villeneuve will be one of three drivers for Braun at the Circuit-Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.(Globe and Mail)(7-17-2008) UPDATE 3: Braun Racing announces that former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will drive its #32 Toyota in the second annual Nationwide Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada on August 1-2, 2008.(Braun Racing PR)(7-17-2008)
CJM forms technical alliance with Gibbs: #11-CJM Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing announced a newly formed alliance under which CJM Racing will receive technical support as well as information pertaining to research and development in the Nationwide Series. CJM Racing will continue to run Chevys for the remainder of the 2008 Nationwide Series season and will transition to a TRD supported team in 2009. The team will be powered with Toyota engines while continuing to build chassis in-house.(CJM Racing PR)(7-16-2008)
Wolfe Back at Fitz: Hearing Crew Chief Paul Wolfe has left Braun Racing to return to Fitz Motorsports to work with Josh Wise.(7-16-2008) UPDATE: Paul Wolfe is back at Fitz Motorsports to work with Josh Wise. Wolfe brought car chief Jerry Kelly back with him as well. They are actually working for Michael Waltrip Racing and will run some races in a Toyota. Todd Lohse will serve as Leffler’s Crew Chief at Braun.(7-16-2008)
Tow Truck in a Box Sponsoring GEM at Watkins Glen: Gillett Evernham Motorsports has a new sponsor for #10-Patrick Carpentier. “Tow Truck in a Box” will appear as the sponsor during 2 Sprint Cup races and 1 Nationwidse race. Micahel Mann, CEO of Porter Prescott (manufacturer of Tow Truck in a Box) was at Chicagland Speedway to sign the agreement. Tow Truck in a Box will appear on the car at Michigan and Talladega in the Nextel Cup Series and the Nationwide Watkins Glen race.(translated from Canoe Sports via Google Translate)(7-14-2008)
Huffman in the #81 at Gateway: UPDATE 2: USAR Pro Hooters Cup Champion Shane Huffman will drive in place of #81-DJ Kennington, this weekend in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Kennington who is the full-time driver of the Mahindra Tractors Dodge has a major conflict in his racing schedule. DJ has a race on the West Coast of Canada at the same moment as the start of the Gateway event.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(7-14-2008) UPDATE: The tema has retracted the announcement. A driver announcement will be made Wednesday.(7-14-2008) UPDATE 2: Shane Huffman WILL be in the #81 at Gateway.(7-15-2008)
Dodge Dealers on the #9 at Gateway: The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers decals will adorn the #9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by Chase Miller in Saturday’s Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Speedway. This race marks the fourth time since 2007 the colors of the Dodge Dealers appear on #9 with Miller behind the wheel.(Gillett Evernham Motorsports PR)(7-15-2008)
Gateway Rookie Notes:
… Landon Cassill was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Cassill scored a 10th-place finish, his second top-10 in 16 Nationwide Series starts. He grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in 10 starts this season. Cassill was the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 at Chicagoland since 2005.
… Bryan Clauson has an 18-point lead (139-121) over Dario Franchitti in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the 19 Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway.
… A Raybestos Rookie has won two pole positions in the Nationwide Series this season. Clauson grabbed the top starting spot for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona while Cassill claimed the top starting position at the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire.
… David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway, grabbing a fifth-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(7-15-2008)
Marks to Make Nationwide Debut at Montreal: Braun Racing announced the addition of Justin Marks to the driver line-up of the #10 Camry. The Rocklin, California native will pilot the #10 Future Electronics Camry in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada in August. This will mark his first career Nationwide Series start. Marks will share driving duties of the #10 with Brian Vickers.(Braun Racing PR)(7-15-2008)
Ren interim crew chief for Harvick at Chicagoland: UPDATE 2: Rogers out During the Nationwide Series qualifying session on ESPN, it was noted that Rick Ren is acting as interim crew chief for the #33-KHI Chevy with driver, Kevin Harvick for the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway [Ren is currently crew chief for #33-Ron Hornaday Jr. in the Truck Series]. No word on the status of Wally Rogers but it was mentioned that there would be a personnel change this week at Kevin Harvick Inc.(7-11-2008) UPDATE: During prerace activities on ESPN, Kevin Harvick said that Wally Rogers has been let go as crew chief for the #33 Nationwide team; felt the needed consistency was not there for the team. Rick Ren will handle one more race in NNS. After that, other team members will take over for a couple of weeks while the situation is evaluated and a decision is made.(7-11-2008) UPDATE 2 Rick Ren served as Kevin Harvick’s crew chief on the Kevin Harvick Inc. #33 entry at Chicagoland, but Ren’s commitment is in trying to defend his Craftsman Truck Series title with KHI driver Ron Hornaday Jr. Ren was replacing Wally Rogers, whom Harvick let go in his search of more consistency within the team. With Ren and Hornaday at Kentucky Speedway this weekend, Jason Meeks will make the decisions for driver Cale Gale.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008)
JTG Racing…to CUP? UPDATE 3: hearing JTG Racing could move up to Sprint Cup in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose driving and the team could switch from Ford to Chevy, no idea if Daugherty would be part of this deal. Other rumors have Ambrose going to the #21 of the Wood Brothers in 2009, that team would remain a Ford. Ambrose is schedule to run eight races this season in the #21 and four in the #47 Ford fielded by JTG Racing.(6-25-2008) UPDATE: JTG Racing owner Tad Geschickter said Friday he hopes to move Marcos Ambrose to the Sprint Cup Series next season, in addition to having Nationwide and truck series teams in 2009. The Australian Ambrose, in his second season in NASCAR’s No. 2 series, made his Cup debut at Infineon Raceway last month for Wood Brothers Racing. Ambrose is slated to drive four Cup races later this year under the JTG banner. JTG currently fields two cars in the Nationwide Series, for Ambrose and Kelly Bires. Geschickter said Bires would stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009, with Coleman Pressley to drive for the team in the truck series. The team currently fields Fords but Geschickter said the manufacturer the team will be affiliated with next year is open.(SceneDaily.com)(7-5-2008) UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series racer Marcos Ambrose will become a full-time Sprint Cup driver next season, thanks to a new partnership former NBA player Brad Daugherty has with JTG Racing. Daugherty, now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, has become a part-owner of JTG Racing. The team will be renamed JTG Daugherty Racing. It will continue to field two Nationwide Series entries, but add a full-time Sprint Cup entry next year with Ambrose at the wheel. “I have a tremendous passion for racing,” Daugherty said Tuesday. “This gives me another avenue to be involved in the sport. It’s a big stake to do this at he Cup level, and I hope it opens doors in the sport for other minorities and women.” Little Debbie snack cakes will sponsor the car, which will use #47.(ESPN.com)(7-15-2008) UPDATE 3: [Daugherty] said he hopes to announce soon plans for another Nationwide team for the 2009 season with a young local driver. That is expected to be Coleman Pressley, 19, an Asheville native and JTG Racing employee who drives in the NASCAR Whelen Series. Pressley is the son of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley and grandson of legendary local driver Bob Pressley.(Asheville Citizen-Times)(7-15-2008)
Racing Resources Says…
* Kyle Busch won the Dollar General 300 powered by Coca Cola at Chicagoland Speedway. Busch scored his 16th series victory in his 127th career start. He scored his fifth win in 19 starts in 2008. Busch led 101 of the 200 laps in the race. He led the most laps for the eighth time in 2008. Busch has led the most laps in five of the six 1.5-mile races; he has won three of them (Texas, Lowe’s and Chicagoland).
* The victory by the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing car was the fourth of the 2008 season; the car has won four of its 10 starts. JGR scored its 13th win of the season, tying the record for most wins by a team in a single season. The record was set last year by Richard Childress Racing.
* Toyota posted its 14th win of the 2008 season. Toyota posted its sixth 1-2 finish of the 2008 season and second consecutive. Toyota drivers led 184 of the 200 laps in the race. Four of the top five finishers were Toyotas.
* The average speed for the race set a new track record at 144.446 mph. It broke the old track record of 135.661 mph.
* The three cautions for 15 laps also set a new track record for fewest number of cautions and caution laps. The old record for number of cautions was six (twice — most recently in July 2007). The old record for caution laps was 46, set in July 2001.
* Denny Hamlin, who finished second, started 43rd in the race after starting at the rear of the field due to an unapproved adjustment prior to the race.
* Clint Bowyer, who finished seventh, posted his series-leading 17th top-10 finish of the season.
* Landon Cassill, who finished 10th, was the highest-finishing rookie of the year contender.
* The top 10 consisted of five Toyotas, four Chevys and one Ford. Elliott Sadler, who finished 21st, was the highest-finishing Dodge.(ESPN.com)(7-14-2008)
Bliss Testing: #1-Mike Bliss and Phoenix Racing are testing Monday on the road course at Carolina Motorsports Park.(Carolina Motorsports Park PR)(7-14-2008)
How dominant is Joe Gibbs Racing this year in Nationwide?
.. JGR Toyotas led 101 of 200 laps in the Dollar General 300.
.. JGR Toyotas have won 13 of 20 Nationwide Series races this season. (12 of those wins have been with Sprint Cup drivers behind the wheel)
.. JGR Toyotas have led 48.8 percent (1,744 of 3,644) of the laps run in the Nationwide Series this season.(Frontstretch.com)(7-14-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from St. Louis on ESPN2: ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series with a live, prime-time telecast of the event from Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on Saturday, July 19, beginning at 9 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast from the 1.25-mile track also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD, and is simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPNMobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Dr. Jerry Punch will be ESPN2’s lead announcer, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while D.J. Copp, a member of Bobby Labonte’s NASCAR pit crew and a frequent contributor to ESPN’s NASCAR Now, will fill in for analyst Tim Brewer in the ESPN Tech Center. Punch also hosts NASCAR Countdown. Nationwide Series driver Landon Cassill joins the ESPN team as In-Race Reporter and will talk to Jarrett on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods. ESPN2 also airs coverage of qualifying for the event at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and coverage of final practice on Friday, July 18, at 7 p.m.(ESPN PR)(7-14-2008)
NASCAR confiscates Edwards’ brake calipers: NASCAR confiscated the brake calipers from the Roush Fenway Racing car of Carl Edwards following the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway. The calipers were not on NASCAR’s list of approved parts, a NASCAR spokesman said late Friday night. Edwards finished 16th.(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-2008)
Navy gone? UPDATE 2: hearing the U.S Navy will not return to sponsor the #88 JR Motorsports Chevy of Brad Keselowski in 2009, no word if they will leave the sport or hook up with another Nationwide team or move up to the Sprint Cup Series.(7-8- 2008) UPDATE: Add Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the growing list of car owners searching for sponsorship. The Navy is leaving the #88 Chevy in the Nationwide Series at the end of the season, forcing Earnhardt to search for funding for the flagship car at JR Motorsports. “We were informed last week that our sponsorship with the U.S. Navy will not renew at the end of the year,” team spokesman Mike Davis said Tuesday. “It’s been an exceptional partnership since 2005, and we look forward to a strong finish to the season as Brad Keselowski and the #88 Navy team contends for a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.”(Associated Press/Yahoo Sports)(7-8-2008) UPDATE 2: Navy officials have decided to pull the plug on their support for a NASCAR racing team after seven seasons and concentrate instead on other types of advertising products. The decision on whether to go ahead with another year of the $7.5 million sponsorship was due on July 1. [Spokesman for the Navy’s chief of personnel in Arlington, Va. Capt. Jack] Hanzlick … says the move does not impact the Navy’s other contract with Earnhardt, a separate $800,000 deal in which the driver made fleet and other appearances for the Navy and agreed to “sponsor” a recruit division at Great Lakes that will form up in August and go through training with Earnhardt paying periodic visits to the recruits as they become sailors. In addition to Earnhardt’s own fee, the Navy also paid $1.7 million in advertising placement costs to help get the word out.(Navy Times)(7-12-2008)
Sorenson in the #40 at Gateway? Ganassi officials have told Gateway Raceway that Reed Sorenson is going to be in the #40 Fastenal Dodge next weekend to defend last year’s race win.(Gateway Raceway PR)(7-11-2008)
Comcast on the #38 at Chicago: Comcast will adorn the #38 Great Clips Toyota this weekend. Comcast Corporation is the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million high-speed Internet customers, and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.(Braun Racing PR)(7-9-2008)
Logano Could Replace Stewart next season: Joey Logano acknowledged on Wednesday that he is a candidate to replace Tony Stewart in the #20 Sprint Cup car at Joe Gibbs Racing next season. “It has been brought up a few times,” Logano said as he arrived at JGR for a morning workout. Logano wasn’t shocked to hear that Stewart will be released from his final year at JGR next season to pursue other opportunities. Stewart was scheduled to tell his team on Wednesday that this will be his last season, then announce on Thursday in Chicago that he has bought into Haas CNC Racing and will drive for that team with another driver — Ryan Newman, according to sources, is all but a done deal — next year. Stewart will unveil his new car with Office Depot as the primary sponsor at a news conference in Indianapolis in two weeks, sources said. Logano, 18, said he will focus the rest of this season on his Nationwide Series ride and hope to get into a few Cup races before the end of the year to prepare him for next season.(ESPN.com)(7-9-2008)
Chicagoland Rookie Notes:
Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona. Clauson scored a 19th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season.
Clauson won his first pole in 13 Nationwide Series starts at Daytona. He became the first Raybestos Rookie to win a pole in seven July Nationwide Series races at Daytona.
A Raybestos Rookie has won two consecutive pole positions in the Nationwide Series. Clauson joins Landon Cassill, who grabbed the top starting position at the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire.
Clauson holds a 28-point lead (139-111) over Dario Franchitti in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Brad Keselowski was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Dollar General 300, claiming an 14th-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(7-8-2008)
Franchitti May Run Remainder of Nationwide Season: UPDATE: [Chip Ganassi’s] got sponsorship on his Nationwide Series car, and has offered Franchitti that seat going forward. Ganassi also has successful teams in the IRL and Grand Am Series. Franchitti wasn’t sure Wednesday what he’ll do next. “Let’s see what the future holds. I really just need to sit with Chip and see where his head is,” he said. “But NASCAR is where I want to be. I want to be successful here and I certainly don’t want it to end like this. I made a big commitment coming over here and I’d like to get in an opportunity to be successful.” Franchitti said he’ll skip Saturday night’s race in Daytona and, after briefly considering returning to England to watch the British Grand Prix, decided to stay at his Nashville, Tenn., home this weekend clearing his head.(Associated Press)(7-2-2008) UPDATE: Dario Franchitti has replaced Bryan Clauson on the Chicago entry list.(7-8-2008)
50th Nationwide start for Robby Gordon: Robby Gordon will make his 50th Nationwide Series start this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway for the Dollar General 300, driving the #55 Mapei/Menards Dodge.(Robby Gordon Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my #55 Team paint schemes page.(7-8-2008)
Kimberly-Clark Renews with Baker Curb: Kimberly-Clark, the longest continuous primary sponsor in the Nationwide Series at 14 years, has re-signed to sponsor Baker Curb Racing for two more seasons, according to the team. Baker Curb Racing (formerly Brewco Motorsports) sits 24th and 34th in owner’s points with drivers Brad Coleman and Brad Baker. Kimberly-Clark sponsors the #27 Scott Bath Tissue Ford of Coleman, whose best finish this year was ninth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(USA Today)(7-8-2008)
Racing Resources Says…
Denny Hamlin won the Winn Dixie 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. He scored his eighth career victory in his 103rd series race. Hamlin’s last win came at Dover in May. He has finished first or second in his last five Nationwide starts. Hamlin became the 16th different winner in 34 series races at Daytona. Hamlin led three times for 29 laps, including the final 16. He led the most laps.
Hamlin’s win marked the 12th series victory for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008.
The most wins by a series team in a single season is 13 by Richard Childress Racing in 2007.
Hamlin scored the 13th series victory for Toyota in 2008. Chevrolet has four wins and Ford has two. Dodge still seeks its first of the season.
Toyota scored their second victory at Daytona, sweeping both races in 2008. Tony Stewart won at Daytona in February.
The #20 has won all three restrictor-plate races this season.
Kyle Busch (second) scored his third top-5 finish in 10 races at Daytona.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) has scored top-10 finishes in all three series restrictor-plate races this season.
Points leader Clint Bowyer finished fourth, posting his series leading 16th top-10 finish of 2008 and ninth in a row.
Bowyer remained the points leader for the 14th straight race (since Nashville) by 202 points over second-place Brad Keselowski. This is the largest points margin of the season.
Rookie Pole winner Bryan Clauson finished 19th.
The top-10 finishers consisted of six Chevrolets, two Toyotas and one Ford and one Dodge.
The race featured 17 lead changes among 10 drivers.
The race featured just three cautions for 10 laps, tying the record for the fewest at Daytona for the fifth time. It is also the fewest this season.
The race featured the seventh green-white-checkered finish in 2008.(ESPN.com)(7-7-2008)
Whitt Replaces Lepage at Specialty Racing: Specialty Racing has signed Brandon Whitt to pilot their #61 Nationwide Series entry for the balance of the 2008 racing season. Whitt will make his Nationwide Series debut at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.(BrandonWhitt.com)(7-7-2008)
Testing at Carolina Motorsports Park: Today Patrick Carpantier is testing the Gillette Evernham #9 Subway Nationwide car. along with #31-Kenny Hendrick and #30-Stan Barrett at Carolina Motorsports Park in South Carolina.(7-7-2008)
100 Wins for Joe Gibbs Racing: Denny Hamlin’s win in Friday night’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway accounted for more than just his eighth career Nationwide Series victory and his third of the season. It marked Joe Gibbs Racing’s (JGR) 100th professional NASCAR victory.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(7-5-2008)
NASCAR admits Edwards put in wrong place in race: For the second time in recent weeks, NASCAR officials admitted to lining up drivers in the wrong order on a final restart. In Friday night’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards was lined up fourth for the green-white-checkered restart that followed a late-race accident. Then NASCAR officials ordered him to forfeit a position to Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer prior to the green flag. The team was arguing the call when the Winn-Dixie 250 was restarted. With chaos and confusion already surrounding the team, Edwards tried to block Mike Bliss on that restart, got into the side of him and slid off the track for a final finish of 11th. he problem started with the wreck that caused that final caution. Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said that in avoiding the crashing car of Colin Braun, Edwards’ car went into a position where it wasn’t picked up by the scoring loop. “The 60 car, when the incident occurred, had to come way below the yellow line to avoid the incident and he was below where the scoring loops were,” Balash said. “When we back to the freeze the field position, we went back to the last hit on the loops.” The system places the car at the last crossed loop, so since it couldn’t find Edwards’ car, it reverted to the previous loop when he was actually behind Bowyer. He had passed Bowyer between the two loops. To figure it out, NASCAR needed to review video of the incident, which it did after the race.(SceneDaily.com)(7-5-2008)
Wheel Bearing Causes Fire on #59 Hauler: PHOTOS / UPDATE: The back of the #59 hauler caught fire on the way back to North Carolina from New Hampshire due to an over heated wheel bearing. Most of the damage was contained to the back of the hauler. Most of the equipment survived, except for smoke and water damage. The team is scrambling to retrieve everything from the damaged hauler and get their plans together for Daytona.(6-30-2008) PHOTOS: See some images of the hauler by clicking here.(7-1-2008) UPDATE: The fire that struck JTG Racing’s #59 Nationwide Series hauler has likely ruined two of Marcos Ambrose’s race cars, team owner Tad Geschickter said Friday. “We’re going to clean them up and see what’s left of them,” Geschickter said. “But they look like pretty much a write-off.” The team used its Craftsman Truck Series hauler for Ambrose’s cars this weekend and scrambled to replace parts lost in the fire. The team lost a shock dynomometer, as well as shocks and springs and other equipment. Geschickter said the team is working with its insurance company to determine the value of what was lost.(SceneDaily.com)(7-4-2008)
Neuenberger Picks Up Sponsor: UPDATE: The associate sponsorship Quaker City Castings has with #52-Donnie Neuenberger Racing will be elevated to a primary sponsorship starting with the July Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Neuenberger expects to make at least four more starts this year at Michigan, Dover, Homestead, and possibly at Texas or the fall race at Bristol. “It looks like we’ll definitely be able to run four races,” he said of the primary sponsorship provided by Quaker City Castings.(Salem News)(6-20-2008) UPDATE: Donnie Neuenberger and Quaker City Castings announce a three (3) race deal beginning with the Nationwide series July 4th race in Daytona. Neuenberger announces the three race deal which includes Daytona, Michigan, and Homestead competing in the Nationwide Series #52 with Means Motorsports and Jimmy Means.(DGN Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #52 Nationwide Series Team Paint Scheme page.(7-3-2008)
hhgregg on the #4 at Daytona: hhgregg will join Jay Robinson Racing partners JVC Everio and Turning Wheel RV in sponsoring the Nationwide Series #4 Chevy driven by Derrike Cope in Friday night’s race at Daytona.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(7-3-2008)
Give Kids the World Scheme for Stewart at Michigan: Tony Stewart has sometimes referred to himself as a 14-year-old trapped in a 37-year-old’s body. At the Aug. 16 Nationwide Series race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Stewart’s #20 Old Spice Toyota will reflect that line of thought. Replacing the traditional candy apple red colors of primary sponsor Old Spice on Stewart’s signature #20 machine will be a kaleidoscope of colors care of 14-year-old Emily Marsala. The special paint scheme will commemorate Old Spice’s support of Kissimmee, Fla.-based Give Kids The World, as well as the support of Give Kids The World from Old Spice’s parent company – Procter & Gamble (P&G).(Joe Gibbs Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #20 Nationwide Series Team Paint Scheme page.(7-3-2008)
Hylton to Drive at Daytona: UPDATE: James Hylton was selected to drive the Johnny Davis Racing Chevy in the Nationwide Series Winn-Dixie 250.(Hylton PR)(7-2-2008) UPDATE: Hylton will be in the #01 and the team plans to run the entire race.(7-2-2008)
Testing at Carolina Motorsports Park: Ron Fellows, with a JR Motorsports team, was doing a private test at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC on June 30 & July 1.(7-2-2008)
NASCAR Fines Walter for Violation at New Hampshire: NASCAR announced today that Chad Walter, crew chief for the #5 Chevy driven by Landon Cassill, has been fined due to a rule violation during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28. Walter was fined $10,000 and remains on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 due to violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing: use of improper language by the crew chief during a televised interview of the race) of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Walter originally was placed on probation in February, because of rule violations at the season-opening event, at Daytona International Speedway. Additionally, Rick Hendrick, owner of the #5, was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner points while Cassill was docked 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver points.(NASCAR PR)(7-2-2008)
Kerry Earnhardt to Drive for DEI at Daytona: For the first time in his career, Kerry Earnhardt, the son of seven-time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt, will drive a Dale Earnhardt Inc. entry in a NASCAR race. Earnhardt will pilot the #8 Bass Pro Shops Chevy in the July 4 Daytona 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.(DEI PR)(7-1-2008)
Racing Resources says…
…Tony Stewart won the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, scoring his seventh career victory in his 84th Nationwide Series race. Stewart’s previous series victory came at Darlington in May. Stewart has won his past three series starts, starting at Talladega. He started the race from eighth, then led twice for 75 laps, including the final 65. He became the 22nd different race winner in 22 series races at New Hampshire.
…This marked the 11th victory for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008.
…Stewart scored the 12th series victory for Toyota in 2008. Chevy has four wins, and Ford has two. Dodge still is seeking its first of the season. Toyota scored its first victory at New Hampshire.
…Toyota finished 1-2-3 (Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch), posting the first Toyota 1-2-3 finish in the series.
…Busch has led more than 2,000 laps in NASCAR’s three national series. He has led 869 laps in Cup, 934 laps in Nationwide and 304 laps in Trucks.
…Hamlin scored his fourth top-5 finish in four races at New Hampshire.
…Points leader Clint Bowyer finished ninth, posting his series-leading 15th top-10 finish of 2008 and eighth in a row.
…Bowyer remained the points leader for the 13th straight race (since Nashville) by 182 over second-place David Reutimann.
…Rookie pole winner Landon Cassill finished 34th after dropping to the rear for an engine change.
…The top 10 finishers consisted of four Chevys, four Toyotas and two Fords. Dario Franchitti (13th) was the highest finishing Dodge.
…The race featured 11 lead changes among five drivers.
…The race featured five cautions for 22 laps.(ESPN.com)(7-1-2008)
Daytona Rookie Notes:
Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Franchitti scored a 13th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the seventh time in 2008. He scored his best Nationwide Series finish since he placed 11th at Phoenix.
Raybestos Rookie Landon Cassill won the pole position at New Hampshire, his first pole in 15 Nationwide Series starts. Cassill has qualified eighth or better in his last five starts. He joins Shane Hmiel (2002) as the only Raybestos Rookies to win a pole at New Hampshire.
Bryan Clauson holds a 17-point lead (128-111) over Franchitti in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Kyle Krisiloff was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Winn-Dixie 250, scoring a 20th-place finish.
Johnny Sauter owns the best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in six July races at Daytona, scoring a sixth-place finish in 2002.(Raybestos PR)(7-1-2008)
