Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Daytona on ESPN2: ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series with a live, prime-time telecast of the 250-mile race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Friday, July 4, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast from the 2.5-mile superspeedway also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD. Dr. Jerry Punch will be ESPN2s lead announcer, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio. NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Mike Wallace joins ESPNs coverage team as In-Race Reporter. Wallace will talk to Jarrett on the races pace laps and during caution periods. ESPN2 also airs coverage of qualifying for the event at 1 p.m. on Friday, and coverage of final practice on Thursday, July 3, at 5:30 p.m.(6-30-2008)
RFD-TV on the #37 at Daytona: RFD-TV will rev up its first NASCAR-oriented marketing campaign when it begins sponsoring a car on the Nationwide circuit next weekend. The network, which targets its programming at rural America, in association with Baker Curb Racing will sponsor car #37, driven by Brad Baker, at the Winn Dixie 250 from Daytona Speedway. Officials say the sponsorship is aimed at further raising the profile of RFD and RFD HD and their availability to all cable operators. In addition to showcasing the network’s logo, the car will sport the names of series Crook & Chase, Ralph Emery Live and the Imus in the Morning simulcast. Additionally, the race car will trumpet Music & Motors, which will meld Nashville music with NASCAR features when it debuts in September.(Multichannel News), see an image of the car on my #37 Team Paint Schemes Page.(6-30-2008)
Sad News: 85 year-old Bob Germain, Sr., well-known Chairman of the Board of Germain Motor Company died peacefully at home while sleeping on Friday. As recently as this week, Bob was active at his office in Germain Lincoln-Mercury of Naples, where he worked every day. For many years he has been the dealership’s on-camera spokesman, and was integrally involved in the advertising for his dealerships. In Saturday’s Truck Series race at Memphis, the Germain Racing Toyota Tundra teams honored Bob, as the #9 Crocs/Construct Corps and #30 Lumber Liquidators Tundras’ carried Bob Germain, Sr. decals and the crew members wore navy and gold ribbons, University of Michigan colors. The #7 GEICO Toyota Camry team will honor Bob at their upcoming race, Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. A viewing will be held on Monday, June 30th from 6pm-8pm at the Naples Memorial Funeral home at 525 111th Avenue North. The service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 1st at 1am. For friends and family in Ohio, a reception will be held on Wednesday, July 2nd from 5-9pm at the Columbus Country Club on East Broad Street. The Germain family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Germain’s name be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Naples.(Germain Racing PR)(6-30-2008)
Sad News: Jason Arden: MORE: Jason Arden, a crew member for #30-Stanton Barrett, was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday night in the Charlotte area.(6-28-2008) UDPATE: Barrett and the rest of his #30 Ski Motorsports team were rocked Thursday with the news that car chief Jason Arden had been killed in an early-morning automobile accident near Mooresville, N.C. Although details of the accident were not available Saturday, a team representative indicated that the 28-year-old from Gurnee, Ill., overcorrected after running off the road and slammed into a ditch. But there was no doubting the impact the news had on mechanics and crewmen in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup garage areas.(NASCAR.com)(6-28-2008)
Kennington Pulling International Double Duty: UPDATE: DJ Kennington, driver of the Mahindra Tractors, N.P.P., #81 Dodge in the Nationwide Series, will be pulling double duty this weekend, but none like any other driver. As many drivers attempt double duty (driving in the Nationwide Series and Nextel/Sprint Cup Series) in the same weekend, no one else does it having to pass through customs. “This is one of the toughest doubles to pull this season”, claims St Thomas Ontario, Canada native, Kennington. “The race in the Nationwide Series is in Loudon, New Hampshire at 3:00pm and the Canadian Tire Series is at Barrie Speedway at 8:00pm. All I have to do is cross over a big pond, right?” Kennington will attempt the International Double Duty again next week as well. The second race of the Canadian Tire Series at St. Eustache’ was postponed to July 5th. “Daytona on the 4th and St Eustache’ on the 5th, now that’s a haul.” The “haul” Kennington is referring to is the 1,407 mile trek from one series to another.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(6-25-2008) UPDATE: DJ Kennington’s dream of double duty will regretfully not happen this weekend. “It’s tough! We had everything in place but a phone call last night changed a flight by 40 minutes to have this thing shattered”, stated Kennington. “We just dont have the money for private planes and helicopters and if there is just one glitch in commercial, it effects us alot. Never thought that 40 minutes of my life was so valuable.” Kennington will compete at Barrie Speedway at 8:00pm where he won both races last season in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Car owner Randy MacDonald will be behind the wheel of the Mahindra Tractors 81 Dodge at New Hamphire.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(6-27-2008)
DEI Nationwide Team in 2009: UPDATE: Bob Diller interviewed DEI development drivers Trevor Bayne and Jeffrey Earnhardt during Speed Channel’s coverage of Nationwide Series practice. They announced that DEI would run a full time Nationwide team next year for the two of them. In addition, Earnhardt will run some some Nationwide races later this year.(6-27-2008)
JR Motorsorts could move to Cup UPDATES: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. from a weekly top 12 drivers press conference:
THE OWNERSHIP THING, WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE RACING WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI, ARE THERE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH YOUR MIND AND ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT HIM OR ABOUT THE RACE? “Well, I get mad when he messes up and I see him in a wreck or something. But normally I just hope he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing and running good and having a good night. But his night doesn’t go right or something happens to the car, it’s sort of bums you out a little bit and it’s hard to revert back to concentrating on what you’re trying to do with your car.”
IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU’LL MOVE UP TO THE CUP LEVEL WITH THAT TEAM ANYTIME? “I used to say no way, no way. But it’s almost as expensive to run in the Nationwide Series. And their going to bring a CoT in and we won’t be able to race in the Nationwide Series with the CoT probably. That’ll just be too expensive to switch all that over.”
WOULD YOU DO IT AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR? “Yeah, maybe. If the right opportunity comes along with the right sponsorship and driver, we’d love to do it. And it would cost the same amount of money to do that, as it is to run the Nationwide Series. It’s harder to get sponsorships. And the CoT program is going to be too expensive for me to justify creating a whole new program with CoT stuff, so I’d just as soon go into the Cup Series or get out of the Nationwide Series altogether.”
COULD YOU GET MARTIN TRUEX JR. IN THAT CAR? “No. Why would he want to come drive for me? He’s in good stuff now and he’s going to have great opportunities from other people. And I would never do that to him (laughter). For the first year coming out of the box, man we’ll struggle like hell. Come on, man. He’s going to have deals offered to him by these great companies around here and from DEI. I’ll be at the bottom of that list, right there with Haas and a couple of other people (laughter). I don’t know with Tony (Stewart) if he goes over there (Haas), he might be able to talk Martin into it. But I don’t know man. I mean no way would I even do that to Martin, even if he wanted to.”(GM Racing PR)(5-17-2008) UPDATE – Stewart? Tony Stewart, who is exploring options outside of Joe Gibbs Racing, reportedly could be a partner with JR Motorsports. But Stewart’s contract doesn’t expire until after the 2009 season and team president J.D. Gibbs has said he will hold Stewart to it. “I don’t know with Tony. If he goes over there [Haas CNC], he might be able to talk Martin into it. But I don’t know. I mean no way would I even do that to Martin, even if he wanted to.” Stewart has acknowledged that Haas CNC is one of several organizations to have offered part ownership as an incentive to join the team. JR Motorsports merged with the Nationwide program at Hendrick Motorsports this year after Earnhardt went to drive for HMS. The engines and chassis already are supplied by Hendrick and that could continue with a move to the Cup series.(ESPN.com)(5-19-2008) UPDATE 2: Last month Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned the possibility of moving his JR Motorsports Nationwide Series program up to the Sprint Cup Series. But since mentioning the possibility of moving his team up to the Cup level, Earnhardt has been asked seemingly weekly if its something he’s really pondering. Earnhardt basically told reporters Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway that he’s had enough of the questions. Asked where things stand with the possibility of moving his team up Earnhardt said: “I ain’t got much to say about it. We’re pretty happy running in the Nationwide Series. The car is running good and I’d like to keep that the way it is.” Earnhardt though seemed to lose his patience later in the group interview session when he was asked again about maybe moving his team. “I shouldn’t have said that man because I should have just kept that to myself because I really don’t want to talk about it in the press,” Earnhardt said. “That’s personal to me, what I do with my business and I’m damn sure ain’t going to air my timeline out over to the media. If we feel like we want to do that, we’ll do it. And we’ll let you know and that will be that. I don’t want to answer questions about it every week because it’s really not that big of an issue. My team is doing great. I’d be foolish to make too many changes right now. It would be smart to keep things how they are while they’re working.” (Hartford Courant)(6-27-2008)
Sad News: Linda Braun: Yesterday afternoon Braun Racing lost one of its most beloved members of its team. Linda Braun, lovingly known as Mama B, mother of Nationwide Series owner, Todd Braun, passed away suddenly of natural causes in her hometown of Winamac, Indiana. As a tribute to “Mama B” both Braun Racing entries, the #38 Toyota driven by Jason Leffler and the #32 to be driven by Denny Hamlin, will go entirely black, void of all sponsor decals, in Saturday afternoon’s Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway.(Braun Racing PR)(6-26-2008)
Brad Daugherty starting truck team in ’09? UPDATE JTG Racing…to CUP?: After discussion surrounding the recent announcement of Randy Moss’ possible entry in the Truck Series [supposedly the Morgan-Dollar team] during ESPN’s NASCAR Now television broadcast on Wednesday night, analyst Brad Daugherty announced he too is going racing in 2009 with his own Craftsman Truck Series team. [No details given.](The Daly Planet)(5-1-2008) UPDATE: As part of an article about Kelly Bires, ESPN’s Mark Ashenfelter reports…It’s been a hectic year for JTG, which ended its relationship with Wood Brothers Racing on the competition side prior to the season. Since the year started, teammate Marcos Ambrose has swapped crew chiefs and the team has, at least temporarily, closed its Craftsman Truck Series team. And Brad Daugherty, a former team owner turned broadcaster, has bought into the team. [JTG Racing fields the #47 and 59 Nationwide teams and had fielded the #20-truck which has since ceased operations. [No word on if/when truck team will return to the Truck Series]. For complete article visit: ESPN.com.(6-24-2008) UPDATE 2: 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)
MC2 Energy Drink Racing and Garrett Liberty to run 7 Nationwide Races: MC2 Energy Drink Racing announced that it will field a Nationwide Series entry at seven events [ORP, Richmond, Kansas, Lowe’s Memphis, Texas, and Homestead]. The company signed driver Garrett Liberty to a contract to drive the MC2 Energy Drink Racing Dodge with MC2 Energy Drink as the Primary Sponsor. Team president Ronald Serota stated, “We are pleased to be able to give the team time to gel this season by running Garrett in these seven events. We will run a fulltime Nationwide Series program in 2009 with two entries, and we have a variety of outstanding primary and associate sponsorship opportunities available.”(MC2/NOVUS Enterprises PR), MC2 was the sponsor of the #81 team for a handful of events earlier in the year.(6-25-2008)
New Hampshire Rookie Notes: Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Camping World RV Rental 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. Gale scored a 12th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season.
Landon Cassill claimed the third starting position in time trials at Milwaukee, his best start in 14 Nationwide Series races. Cassill has qualified in the top-10 in each of his last four races.
Bryan Clauson holds an 18-point lead (118-100) over Dario Franchitti in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Camping World RV Sales 200, claiming an 18th-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(6-25-2008)
Under Armour Sponsoring Edwards at New Hampshire: Under Armour Inc. is starting its engines, with its first sponsorship of a NASCAR racing vehicle this weekend. The Baltimore-based performance apparel company will paste its logo next to a Boston Red Sox mark on NASCAR driver Carl Edwards’ #60 car this weekend at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Under Armour is a corporate partner of the Red Sox, which enabled the company to team up with Roush Fenway Racing on the NASCAR sponsorship. Edwards is also an Under Armour endorser and was featured in the company’s 60-second Super Bowl ad in February. AAA Southern New England, also a Red Sox sponsor, is partnering with the team to sponsor David Ragan’s #6 Ford.(Baltimre Business Journal)(6-25-2008)
Steve Letarte Joins ESPN NASCAR Team at New Hampshire: Steve Letarte, crew chief of the #24 DuPont Chevy driven by Jeff Gordon in the Sprint Cup Series, will join ESPN’s NASCAR team for coverage of Saturday’s Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Letarte will report from the ESPN Tech Center as a fill-in for ESPN analyst and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Tim Brewer, who has the weekend off.(ESPN PR)(6-24-2008)
Carpentier skipping Pocono Cup race to focus on Montreal: UPDATE SUBWAY to sponsor: Patrick Carpentier will concentrate on racing in the Nationwide Series race at Montreal on August 2. The Sprint Cup Series will be in Pocono the same weekend and Gillett Evernham Motorsports has asked Carpentier to leave his seat in the # 10 Dodge for the race in order to ensure the best possible finish in Montreal. The replacement for Carpentier has not yet been determined, but Bill Elliott could be considered.(Translated thru Google from Canoe Sports)(6-22-2008) UPDATE: Gillett Evernham Motorsports has announced that SUBWAY restaurants will sponsor Patrick Carpentier’s #9 Dodge in the Aug. 2 Nationwide race at Montreal. Tom Reddin, CEO of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, said Carpentier will focus solely on the Montreal race during the weekend instead of racing in both Montreal and the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono the same weekend. Reddin said the new relationship with SUBWAY restaurants is part of the team’s overall plan to build a solid foundation for the future.(Gillett Evernham Motorsports PR)(6-24-2008)
21 races at NHMS without repeat winner: Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, five drivers have the chance to break the track’s string of 21 races without a repeat winner. That’s the longest streak among active tracks in NASCAR’s national series and each member of the quintet has some recent momentum that might spur him on to becoming the first to pull the “double.” The 5 drivers are #60-Carl Edwards, #33-Kevin Harvick, #11-Jason Keller, #25-Bobby Hamlilton, Jr., and #28-Kenny Wallace.(NASCAR PR)(6-24-2008)
Loganao gets the week off: Joey Logano is not entered in Saturday’s NNS race at New Hampshire. Tony Stewart is in Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 Toyota, a decision made at the start of the year based on Stewart’s Old Spice sponsorship. Kyle Busch will be in the team’s #18 entry, while Denny Hamlin will be in Braun Racing’s #32. Logano is also slated to miss the races at Daytona (where he’s yet to be approved to race by NASCAR) and at Chicagoland. Logano will return to the #20 Camry at Gateway.(ESPN.com)(6-24-2008)
Racing Resources says…
*Carl Edwards won the Camping World RV Rental 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. It was his 14th career win in 123 Nationwide Series races. Edwards’ last win came at Nashville in June 2007, a 36-race stretch. He became the 10th different winner of 2008.
*Edwards is listed as starting 11th on the grid up but actually started the race 39th since Erik Darnell qualified the car. Edwards’ win came in his first race with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. Edwards became the 17th different Milwaukee race winner in 18 NNS races there.
*Edwards gave Roush Fenway Racing its second win of the 2008 season; its first win came at Atlanta with Matt Kenseth. Edwards gave Ford its second win of 2008 and the manufacturer its sixth win at Milwaukee in the NNS. He led the race twice for 27 laps, including the final 25 laps.
*Joey Logano, who finished second, scored his third top-10 finish in his fourth career race.
*Points leader Clint Bowyer finished third, posting his series leading 14th top-10 finish of 2008.
*Pole winner Brad Keselowski finished the race seventh after leading the most laps for the first time in his 52-race career. He led 145 of the first 171 laps.
*The top-10 finishers consisted of six Chevrolets, two Fords and two Toyotas. Bryan Clauson, who finished 20th, was the highest-finishing Dodge.
*The race featured 12 lead changes among nine drivers and nine cautions for 34 laps.(ESPN.com)(6-24-2008)
Jarrett Returns to Booth as Nationwide Series Live from New Hampshire on ABC: Dale Jarrett returns to the TV booth Saturday, June 28, as ESPN on ABC presents live coverage of the Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The telecast begins at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown and the green flag flies at 3:15 p.m. The telecast from the 1.058-mile track also airs in high definition on ABC HD. Jarrett retired from driving earlier this year and will be the lead analyst for ESPN’s coverage of 17 Sprint Cup races starting in late July. He also has been working telecasts of selected Nationwide Series races this season. Jarrett and lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch will be joined in the booth for analysis by Ray Evernham. Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while reports from Tim Brewer will originate from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Jarrett and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.(ESPN PR)(6-23-2008)
Lamar Expects more races in the #37: Driver Burney Lamar said he will continue to drive Baker Curb Racing’s unsponsored #37 Ford in the Nationwide Series as long as the team wants him. Lamar, a former Kevin Harvick Inc. development driver, has been in the car eight times this year, with a best finish of 18th at Nashville. Lamar lives in the Nashville area, which is Baker Curb’s headquarters. “As of right now, I’m going to be in this thing as much as possible,” Lamar said. “I don’t think we’re going to go to Daytona, but as of right now, I think I’ll be in the 37 as much as possible.”(SceneDaily.com)(6-22-2008)
Two races added to Colin Braun’s schedule: Craftsman Truck Series regular Colin Braun was supposed to drive in only two Nationwide Series races this year, but he had three events added to his schedule. In addition to the Camping World RV Rental 250 Saturday night at The Milwaukee Mile, Braun said he was going to drive Roush Fenway Racing’s #16 Ford at Daytona and at O’Reilly Raceway Park.(SceneDaily.com)(6-22-2008)
Johnson in the #4 at Milwaukee: Jerick Johnson and the American Legion will be teaming up with JVC and The Turning Wheel RV Center for Saturday night’s Nationwide Series race at the Milwaukee Mile. Johnson will be driving Jay Robinson Racing’s #4 Chevy.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(6-20-2008)
Tracy to Run CTS Race for Germain; Bodine would like to run Nationwide next year: A few weeks ago, Paul Tracy tested Todd Bodine’s truck at Chicagoland Speedway and impressed Bob Germain enough to get a one-off deal. Tracy will drive the Germain Racing Toyota on September 20 at Las Vegas. “Paul did a nice job so we got a little bit if support and decided it would be fun to run him in his hometown,” said Germain, who along with his two brothers owns 19 car dealerships in Ohio and Florida. “We’re going to run Chrissie full-time in the trucks next year and we’ve got another year for sure with Mike (sponsored by Geico),” said Germain. “I know Todd would like to run the Nationwide series and we’ve got about a dozen different possibilities we’ll be looking at. “And running Paul full-time in the trucks is one of those.”(Robin Miller- SPEED/TV)(6-19-2008)
Keselowski Visits USS Laboon: #88-Brad Keselowski spent Monday aboard the USS Laboon off the coast of Norfolk, Va. While aboard, he visited sailors stationed on the Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer, briefly drove the ship, signed autographs and toured the vessel. The USS Laboon was the Fleet Honoree for the Navy team in March at Bristol Motor Speedway.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-18-2008)
Subsitute Drivers for Milwaukee: In addition to Robert Pressley for #59-Marcos Ambrose, substitute drivers who are scheduled to practice and qualify this weekend include: Stephen Leicht for #2-Clint Bowyer; Jason Hedlesky for #60-Carl Edwards; Auggie Vidovich for #6-David Ragan and Mike Skinner for #99-David Reutimann.(NASCAR PR)(6-18-2008)
Edwards Gets a New Crew Chief: Roush Fenway Racing announced that effective immediately, Drew Blickensderfer will assume crew chief duties with the #60 Nationwide entry with driver Carl Edwards. Pierre Kuettel assumes crew chief duties with the #17 Nationwide entry to be driven by Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray.(Roush Fenway PR)(6-17-2008)
Double Duty for Braun as Well: Colin Braun will be a busy man this weekend at The Milwaukee Mile. For the first time in his young NASCAR career, Braun will pull a double-header, driving both the #6 Con-way Freight Ford in Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race and the #16 CitiFinancial Ford in Saturday’s Nationwide Series event.(Roush Fenway PR)(6-17-2008)
Double Duty for Cassill: #5-Landon Cassill will make his fifth start in the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday when he suits up for the 200-mile event at Milwaukee. He will pilot the #46 Chevy for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. Cassill has one top-10 finish in the Truck Series, which he recorded in May at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-17-2008)
Milwaukee Rookie Notes: Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky. Clauson scored a fifth-place finish, his best effort in 16 Nationwide Series starts. He claimed his first top-five and second top-10 in 11 starts this season and grabbed top rookie honors for the third time in 2008.
Bryan Clauson holds an 18-point lead (118-100) over Dario Franchitti in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Camping World RV Rental 250 at The Milwaukee Mile.
Brad Coleman was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Camping World RV Rental 250. Coleman scored a fourth-place finish, the first by a Raybestos Rookie since David Stremme placed third in 2003.
Only one Raybestos Rookie has won at Milwaukee: Greg Biffle in 2001. Biffle won by a whopping 13.302 seconds. He led the race twice for a total of 19 laps.
A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in eight of the last nine Nationwide Series races at Milwaukee, including the last three consecutive.(Raybestos PR)(6-17-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Milwaukee on ESPN2: The Milwaukee Mile is one of Americas legendary racetracks, and ESPN2s season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series continues with a live, prime-time telecast of the Camping World RV Rental 250 at Milwaukee on Saturday, June 21, beginning at 8 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The green flag flies at 8:45 p.m. and the telecast also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN MobileTV. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2s coverage, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.(ESPN PR)(6-16-2008)
400 Starts for Kenny: #28-Kenny Wallace will make his 400th Nationwide Series start (and the 753rd of his NASCAR career) this weekend at Milwaukee.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(6-16-2008)
Former official sues NASCAR over harassment claims: UPDATE 3: A former racing official is suing NASCAR, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Mauricia Grant worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until she was fired last October. Grant, who is black, alleges she was referred to as “Nappy Headed Mo” and “Queen Sheba,” by white co-workers. She also claims she often was told she worked on “colored people time,” and was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan. The lawsuit, which seeks $250 million, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.(Associated Press)(6-10-2008) UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France says a former official who’s suing the organization never reported discrimination or harassment claims to her supervisors. Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR on Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination. France said Wednesday the detailed filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims. “The disappointing thing is she makes a lot of claims, none of them reported,” he said.(Associated Press)(6-11-2008) UPDATE 2: Two officials named in a $225 million racial discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit against NASCAR have been placed on administrative leave for violating company policy, The Associated Press has learned. The officials, who were not immediately identified, were sent home from Kentucky Speedway on Friday evening, a person familiar with the NASCAR investigation told the AP. NASCAR sent a team of investigators from its human resources and legal offices to Kentucky this weekend to interview those named in the suit. Of 27 interviews conducted away from the track Thursday and Friday, two officials were found to have engaged in behavior that violated NASCAR policy. Their leave is indefinite, but paid. Named in the suit are [Nationwide Series Director Joe] Balash, assistant series director Mike Dolan, two supervisors, NASCAR’s senior manager for business relations, the human resources director and 17 officials who were Grant’s co-workers. The two employees placed on leave Friday were among those 17 officials. Balash, Dolan and the two supervisors remained on site in Kentucky for Saturday night’s Nationwide Series race.(Associated Press)(6-13-2008) UPDATE 3: Two suspended officials are the same two accused of exposing themselves to a former co-worker who has filed a $225 million lawsuit against NASCAR alleging racial discrimination and sexual harassment, the Associated Press has learned. Tim Knox and Bud Moore have been placed on indefinite administrative paid leave. NASCAR did not give a reason for the men’s suspension, but Grant’s suit accuses both men of exposing themselves to her.(Associated Press)(6-14-2008)
Kyle Busch not going to Milwaukee: MORE: Kyle Busch, interviewed by ESPN2 after wrecking in the Nationwide race at Kentucky, said he would not compete in the Milwaukee Nationwide race next weekend.(6-14-2008) UPDATE: Kyle Busch said on TNT’s pre-race show he won’t race a Nationwide car next weekend in Milwaukee. The Cup series is in Sonoma, Calif., and getting back and forth is taxing on drivers. Busch also mentioned he won’t compete in the Nationwide event at Memphis, which is the same October weekend the Cup series is in Atlanta. Busch said he’s cutting back his schedule slightly because he’s too far back to win the Nationwide title, so there’s no need to make such trips.(Roanoke Times)(6-16-2008)
Team Rensi Honoring Scleroderma Foundation at Milwaukee: The Scleroderma Foundation, an associate sponsor of the Team Rensi Motorsports/Smithfield #25 Ford during 2008, will be honored by the entire team during the weekend of the Milwaukee 250 at the Milwaukee Mile on June 21st. June has been designated as National Scleroderma Awareness Month. During the weekend of the Milwaukee 250, team members will wear Scleroderma hats and Scleroderma/Team Rensi Motorsports/Smithfield t-shirts. Additionally, the Scleroderma flag will be displayed on top of the team hauler and pit box and scleroderma brochures will be available to all those wishing to learn more about this devastating disease. Lastly, a larger logo will be prominent on the #25 RensiMotorsport/Smithfield Ford.(Team Rensi PR)(6-16-2008)
Logano could run some Cup races later in the year: Joey Logano, who in only his third Nationwide Series start won on Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, likely will compete in a few Sprint Cup races for Joe Gibbs Racing before the end of the season. “We would like to get him in some Cup stuff towards the end of the year,” team owner Joe Gibbs said before Sunday’s Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. “We want to make sure it’s the good stuff and the right way.”(ESPN.com)(6-15-2008)
Mike Wallace says GEICO has decided 2010 plans: Mike Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that sponsor GEICO has indicated what it wants to do after next season, and it appears it won’t be sponsoring Wallace. GEICO, an insurance company, is not allowed in the Nationwide Series in 2010 as part of a non-competing sponsor agreement with the series sponsor. Nationwide began sponsoring NASCAR’s #2 series this year. “We have an indication of what they’re going to do,” Wallace said of NASCAR. “Who really knows? I’ll just leave it at that.” GEICO has been one of the most visible sponsors in the series, with its popular commercials featuring fictional Wallace relative Lauren Wallace. NASCAR has told GEICO it could remain as a team sponsor in the Sprint Cup or Craftsman Truck series, but Wallace indicated that didn’t seem likely. “In my case, for me to continue to race in years to come, I’ve got to go find another sponsor,” Wallace said.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008) NOTE: GEICO is allowed to stay in the Nationwide Series in 2009 if they remain with Wallace and Germain Racing. GEICO does have the option to move to another series at any point if they choose. The story at SceneDaily.com has been updated accordingly.(6-14-2008)
Kertus Davis Leaves #0 Team: UPDATE: Kertus Davis and JD Motorsports teams have mutually agreed to part ways. “JD Motorsports has made great gains this year and look forward in researching the market of Sponsors, Business Partners and Drivers with Sponsors. We offer a new shop location, a stable of racecars, equipment and show cars, plus the many years of NASCAR competition experience with owner Johnny Davis to interested parties/investors and have just introduced a www.sponsordavis.com marketing program.” Interested drivers, investors and sponsors may contact Johnny Davis or Lori Morgan.(Hufco Pro-Motion PR)(6-10-2008) UPDATE: Kertus Davis has left his dad’s Davis Motorsports Nationwide Series team and will drive the next three races in the series for Jay Robinson Racing, Kertus said Friday at Kentucky Speedway. Kertus Davis didn’t want to comment further on the split, but Johnny Davis said it was simply time for both to go their own ways.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
Pressley to Fill in for Ambrose at Milwaukee: Marcos Ambrose said Robert Pressley would practice and qualify Ambrose’s #59 JTG Racing Nationwide Series Ford at the Milwaukee Mile next weekend should Ambrose qualify for the Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway. Ambrose will attempt to make the Toyota/Save Mart 350 in the Wood Brothers’ #21 Sprint Cup Ford.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
#61 Team Shutting Down? UPDATE 2: If #61/Specialty Racing [Kevin Lepage] does not aquire sponsorship by next week they will not continue to race and Dover will be their last race of the season.(The Hot Lap)(5-31-2008) UPDATE: Cone Solvents will be the primary sponsor of the #61 Front Row Motorsports entry driven by Kevin Lepage at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. Cone Solvents, Inc. is a growing chemical distributor that is headquartered in Nashville, TN.(Front Row Motorsports PR) Note: The #61 team has run so far this season as Specialty Racing. It’s unknown if the swtich to Front Row Motorsports will continue.(6-5-2008) UPDATE 2: Driver Kevin Lepage said Saturday he hopes a deal between Front Row Motorsports and Specialty Racing could be worked out soon to allow him to continue to drive in the Nationwide Series. Officials from both teams are negotiating a deal where Front Row would take over Specialty’s points and car number, with Lepage driving Chevys built by Front Row.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
More on the Nationwide COT: UPDATE: “We are working very hard on the COT,” [Nationwide Series Director Joe] Balash explains. “We’ll utilize the NASCAR 110-inch wheelbase certified chassis, and it will be interchangeable between the Sprint Cup and Nationwide garages. [But] we’re going to do something unique with the bodies to give the Series its own look as opposed to the past.” The last point is a reminder of the dangers posed by creating a Nationwide car too much like their Sprint Cup cousins; and when you talk to Balash, you sense his focus at ensuring the next generation of Nationwide vehicles create a unique driving style all their own. “We want [the new car] to drive somewhere between a Truck and Cup car,” he says. “And we’ve been working with drag and downforce to be somewhere in between. We want the car to drive a little easier than a Sprint Cup car; [and while] there are some components of the body that are the same, we’ve relocated them. For example, we’ve moved the rear deck lid forward, and the same distance we moved it forward, we’ve moved the front of the body forward, helping the car turn just a little bit better in the corner. It’s been great to see from concept to the car in the wind tunnel.” When that concept becomes reality, the timeframe is still very much TBD. “My hope is to introduce the new car next year,” says the series director. “We’re looking at an August timeframe based on the conversations we’ve had with owners and others in the garage.”(Frontstretch.com)(5-2-2008) UPDATE: Nationwide Series car of tomorrow may have made its last wind tunnel test for the four manufacturers’ identity pieces, series director Joe Balash indicated Friday at Kentucky Speedway. Balash said NASCAR and representatives from Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Toyota participated in a wind-tunnel test Wednesday, and NASCAR engineers are analyzing the data. The wind tunnel work was performed on the NASCAR-built car, with each manufacturer adding its own pieces to the nose and tail. Once the aerodynamic package of the car is finalized, NASCAR will test it on the track later this year. NASCAR hopes to unveil the car for competition next year, perhaps as early as August. But several team owners have balked at that idea, hoping NASCAR pushes its introduction back to 2010.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2008)
Kentucky Race Another Sellout: More than 66,000 grandstand tickets for the June 14 Nationwide Series “Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo” at Kentucky Speedway are sold out. The Nationwide Series will race in front of its eighth straight capacity crowd at the track at 8:30 p.m., Saturday. The seven-year attendance average for the annual Kentucky Speedway event is 70,952. Three thousand standing room only tickets went on sale at the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center beginning at 9:00 a.m. Friday. Sales will continue at the speedway main entrance Friday afternoon. Standing room viewing areas will be behind Grandstands 1 and 6. Tickets will be $40.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-13-2008)
Mike Wallace Wants to Race Daughter in Nationwide Race: Mike Wallace hatched a plan recently where he could race against daughter Chrissy in the Nationwide Series later this year. There would be four members of the Wallace family in the to-be-determined race, including Mike’s brother, Kenny, and Mike’s nephew, Steve. But because GEICO would be Chrissy’s sponsor – in addition to its role as Mike’s sponsor – the deal was struck down. “That got nixed [Thursday] by NASCAR, saying, ‘We’re not going to let it happen. You can’t have a second car,’” Mike Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway. “That hurt, because it wasn’t a sponsor-driven situation. It was just, ‘I want to race against my daughter.’” Wallace said the four-Wallace race could still happen should another sponsor for Chrissy be found.(SceneDaily.com)(6-13-2008)
Leicht Looking for Full Time Ride: Two years ago, David Gilliland turned his one and only victory in what is now known as NASCAR’s Nationwide Series – at Kentucky Speedway – into a full-time ride with a Cup team. Last year, Stephen Leicht turned his one and only victory in NASCAR’s No. 2 series – at Kentucky Speedway – into … well, nothing. Leicht returns to Kentucky this weekend without a full-time ride in any series and with barely a ride at all. By the time December rolled around, Leicht was still without a job for 2008. Finally, he hooked up with Richard Childress Racing to share the team’s ultra-successful #21 Chevy with Cup veteran Bobby Labonte. The problem was, the #21 didn’t have a sponsor. And it still doesn’t. Leicht will drive in Kentucky, but only as a fill-in for Clint Bowyer in RCR’s #2 entry in practice. Leicht said he and Childress have been talking to other Chevy teams about getting Leicht in a car, but so far there have been no takers. Meanwhile, he’ll try to help Bowyer and the #2 win this weekend.(SceneDaily.com)(6-12-2008)
STP on the #59: Saturday’s race starts a special five-race program to feature STP’s oil and engine treatments products. STP, like Kingsford, has been a longstanding partner in NASCAR – STP started with Richard Petty in 1972; Kingsford has been with JTG Racing since 1998. Both Kingsford and STP are owned by The Clorox Sales Company. Ambrose also will carry the STP colors in races at The Milwaukee Mile, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Montreal and Watkins Glen International.(JTG Racing PR)(6-12-2008)
Cope Making First Start at Kentucky: You’d be hard-pressed to find a race track in which Derrike Cope hasn’t raced at. After all, he’s one of the more experienced drivers in the garage area, with extensive seat time in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. But there’s one track Cope hasn’t competed at – Kentucky. He does have experience at the track from various testing sessions. However, he’ll get an entirely new look in the heat of battle as Cope and the #4-JVC Everio team trek to Kentucky for Saturday night’s race.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(6-11-2008)
Teams Line Up Backup Drivers for Kentucky: Several Nationwide Series teams have lined up backup drivers to fill in during some practice sessions for this weekend’s Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway for sessions when their regular drivers have Sprint Cup commitments at Michigan International Speedway. Stephen Leicht is filling in for points leader Clint Bowyer in Richard Childress Racing’s #2 Chevy, with Jeremy Clements practicing and qualifying Joe Gibbs Racing’s #18 Toyota for Kyle Busch. Busch is the only driver not expected in time for Nationwide qualifying Saturday. Other backup drivers are Jason Hedlesky (in Carl Edwards’ #60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford), Chad Blount (in Jason Leffler’s #38 Braun Racing Toyota), Auggie Vidovich (in David Ragan’s #6 Roush Fenway Ford) and Josh Wise (in David Reutimann’s #99 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota). Wise is expected to drive the #99 in Friday’s first practice before turning to the #22 Fitz Motorsports Dodge the rest of the weekend. Reutimann is slated to drive the #99 in final practice and in qualifying.(SceneDaily.com)(6-11-2008)
Keselowski Making 50th Nationwide Start: Fresh off their first-ever Nationwide Series win, Brad Keselowski and the #88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevy team are headed to Kentucky Speedway for Saturday’s Meijer 300. The race will be Keselowski’s first Nationwide race at the 1.5-mile track, but he has two previous Truck Series starts at Kentucky. Keselowski will make his 50th career start in the Nationwide Series in Saturday’s Meijer 300.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-10-2008)
Camping World on Bowyer’s Car at Kentucky: For the fifth time this season, Bowyer’s #2 Chevy will showcase a blue and gold Camping World paint scheme.(RCR PR)(6-10-2008)
Kentucky Rookie Notes: Landon Cassill was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Cassill scored a ninth-place finish, his first top-10 in 12 Nationwide Series starts and claimed top rookie honors for the first time this season. He led the race once for 10 laps, the first time he has led in six starts this season, and was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the event.
Bryan Clauson holds a one-point lead (101-100) over Dario Franchitti in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
Brad Coleman was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Coleman claimed a second-place finish, 2.011 seconds behind race winner Stephen Leicht and led the race three times for 36 laps.
A Raybestos Rookie has won three of the last four NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Kentucky Speedway: 2004: Kyle Busch; 2005: Carl Edwards; 2006: David Gilliland.(Raybestos PR)(6-10-2008)
Camping World Sponsoring Milwaukee Races: Camping World and the Milwaukee Mile have entered into a deal for title sponsorship of the Mile’s NASCAR weekend from 2008 through 2010, the track announced Monday. The June 20 Craftsman Truck Series race will be called the “Camping World RV Sales 200” and the June 21 Nationwide Series race the “Camping World RV Rental 250.”(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-9-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Kentucky on ESPN2: ESPN2s season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series continues with a live telecast of the event at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, June 14, beginning at 8 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The race also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN MobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Marty Reid will be the lead announcer for ESPN2s coverage, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio. Fresh from his breakthrough win in last weeks event in Nashville, Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski joins ESPNs coverage team as In-Race Reporter. Keselowski will talk to Wallace on the races pace laps and during caution periods. ESPN2 also airs coverage of final practice for the event Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m., and qualifying on Saturday at 5 p.m.(ESPN PR)(6-9-2008)
McGill Motorsports Selling Equipment:Gavel Auction will conduct the McGill Motorsports Team Auction on Tuesday, July 8 at 212 Performance Road in Mooresville. McGill Motorsports ran the #36 for several years before a lack of sponsorship forced them out of business during the off season.(6-8-2008)
Carl Long Serving as McClure’s Crew Chief: Part-time driver Carl Long will serve as crew chief for Front Row Motorsports’ #24 team and driver Eric McClure, beginning with this weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway. Long has driven in 43 NASCAR national series races in his career, including two in the Nationwide Series this year. Long replaces Cal Boprey, who has left Front Row, a spokesperson confirmed Friday.(SceneDaily.com)(6-6-2008)
Teams Line up Sustitute Drivers for Nashville:
* Willie Allen, who drives for fellow Nashville native Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s Sadler-Hamilton Racing team, will serve as the substitute driver for #32-Kyle Busch at Nashville.
* Casey Atwood will serve in that capacity this weekend at his home track; the Nashville native will substitute for #16-Greg Biffle.
* Stephen Leicht for #2-Clint Bowyer. Leicht won his first career series race last year at Kentucky and finished seventh in the final standings.
* Jason Hedlesky for #60-Carl Edwards. Hedelsky normally serves as Edwards’ spotter.
* Josh Wise for #99-David Reutimann. Wise is a developmental driver for Michael Waltrip Racing and has three series starts for Fitz Motorsports, two this year.
* Auggie Vidovich for #6-David Ragan. Vidovich ran in 21 series races in 2006; his second series start came in this race where he started 15th.
* Chad Blount for #38-Jason Leffler. Leffler will attempt to qualify at Pocono; his last Sprint Cup race was in 2005 at Indianapolis.(NASCAR PR)(6-4-2008)
Ambrose tests at VIR with Wood Bros: Australian NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose has completed his first test with Wood Brothers Racing in preparation for his Sprint Cup debut at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California in three weeks time. Ambrose drove the famous #21 Wood Brothers Ford in an open test at Virginia International Raceway which was attended by the majority of the Sprint Cup field. Ambrose completed 38 laps for a total of about 85 miles (136kms) and was conservatively in the top five cars at the end of the day, which was not officially recorded or timed. Ambrose will make his debut in NASCAR’s top ranks in a Little Debbie-backed Wood Brothers Ford Fusion at Sonoma on June 22. He will then run a further seven events for Wood Brothers at New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Michigan, California, Dover, Texas and Phoenix. Ambrose will also drive four Sprint Cup events for JTG Racing, the first of which will be at Indianapolis in August. He will also run at Kansas, Atlanta and Homestead for that team.(BAM Media PR)(6-4-2008)
Jason Aldean on the #11: – The #11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Chevyt will have a new look heading into Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. Award-winning country music artist Jason Aldean and his new album “Relentless” will be displayed on the hood of the #11 entry for Saturday evening’s Federated Auto Parts 300.(CJM PR), see an image of the car on my #11 Paint Schemes page.(6-3-2008)
ML Motorsports Starting Stretch of Races: Over the next two months Team #70 and Mark Green will be more like a full-time team, as they are scheduled to run seven of the next eight Nationwide Series races. The team will kick off their busy June and July this weekend when they try and qualify for Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300 presented by Dollar General at Nashville Superspeedway. Other scheduled stops for Green and Team #70 during June and July include Kentucky, Milwaukee, Daytona, Chicagoland, Gateway and O’Reilly Raceway Park.(ML Motorsports PR)(6-3-2008)
Leffler Back in the #70 Sprint Cup Car at Pocono: In addition to Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, Jason Leffler will attempt to qualify for the Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday in the #70 Haas CNC Racing entry.(Braun Racing PR)(6-3-2008)
Nashville Rookie Notes: Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover. Franchitti scored a 15th-place finish on the lead lap and claimed top rookie honors for the sixth time this season.
Franchitti holds an eight-point lead (100-92) over Bryan Clauson in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.
David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville, scoring a seventh-place finish.
Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 22 Pepsi 300 at Nashville, claiming an eighth-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(6-3-2008)
Mahindra Sponsoring MacDonald Motorsports for Rest of Season: MacDonald Motorsports announced that Mahindra Tractors will be on board of the #81 Nationwide Series Dodge driven by DJ Kennington for the remainder of the 2008 season. Mahindra has agreed to sponsor the remaining open races. They will be on the car starting at Nashville Superspeedway thru the Camping World 300 at the Auto Club Speedway on August 30th in California and then returning on the car for their homecoming race, the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1st.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(6-3-2008)
Ambrose eyeing Cup: Marcos Ambrose was encouraged, but also somewhat realistic following his recent Sprint Cup test at Pocono International Raceway. The Tuesday-Wednesday test marked his first time in a Cup car [actually Ambrose practiced a 2nd Robby Gordon car at Watkins Glen in 2007 before qualifying was rained out] and his first time at the three-sided, 2.5-mile track in the mountains of northeast Pennsylvania. “It went OK, pretty good,” the 31-year-old Australian said Saturday at Dover International Speedway. “But it was a difficult place to get in a Cup car for the first time. I went there to get in laps and get a feel for that kind of [Cup] car. We ran in the middle of the pack most of the day. Another few tenths [of a second] would have been nice, but, still, I learned a lot about these Cup cars. The adjustment [from Nationwide to Cup COT car] is as tough as everyone said it would be. And Pocono is about as hard a track to learn as I’ve ever seen. I know we have plenty of work to do, but we got better as we went along and got a good feel for where we are.” Ambrose will run a handful of Cup races this season, some in the Wood Brothers’ #21 Ford and some with #47 Ford-based JTG Racing. He’ll run Sonoma and Watkins Glen for the Woods, plus a race in Michigan and one in Loudon [New Hampshire]. “I can’t remember the others he’ll do for us,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said Saturday. “It’s on a calendar somewhere at the shop. I’m sure of those four, but there are maybe three or four more he’ll do for us.” Ambrose also will do at least Indianapolis, Kansas, Atlanta, and Homestead in the #47 Fusion of JTG Racing.(Ford Racing)(6-2-2008)
Gale in the #33 for next 3 Races: Cale Gale will take over the driver’s seat of the #33 KHI Chevy for the next three Nationwide Series events, starting next week at Nashville Superspeedway.(KHI PR)(6-2-2008)
Nationwide Series Live from Nashville on ESPN2 ESPN2s season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series continues with a live telecast of the event at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, June 7, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast is presented by Craftsman. The race also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com, ESPN MobileTV and ESPN Deportes. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2s coverage, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown with analysis by Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio. Nationwide Series driver Mike Bliss joins ESPNs coverage team as In-Race Reporter. Bliss will talk to Wallace on the races pace laps as well as during caution periods. ESPN2 also airs live coverage of practice for the event Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m., and qualifying on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.(ESPN PR)(6-2-2008)
