June 2010 Nationwide Series Archive

• Harry Potter on the #20 at Chicago: #20-Joey Logano will run a special Lego Harry Potter scheme in the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. See an image of the car on the #20 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(6-30-2010)

• Sellers penalized for unapprove fuel: NASCAR announced that penalties have been issued to the crew chief, owner and driver for the #25 NASCAR Nationwide Series team due to rule violations found on June 26 during post-qualifying inspection at last weekend’s event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In addition to having the qualifying time disallowed for the #25 car, crew chief Paul Richmond has been fined $10,000 and suspended for the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series events, suspended from NASCAR until July 28, 2010, and placed on probation until Dec. 31, for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-15 (NASCAR reserves the right to have all cars use the same brand of fuel in a given event) and 20A-15.2C (the gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers, or other oxygenates and it must not be blended with aniline or its derivatives, nitro compounds or other nitrogen-containing compounds) of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book. Team owner Bert Sellers Jr. was penalized with the loss of 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while driver Peyton Sellers also was docked 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points.(NASCAR PR)(6-30-2010)
• Blackwell Angus Beef on the #6 at Daytona: Stenhouse and Roush Fenway Racing will debut the #6 Ford Mustang which will carry the colors of new sponsor, Blackwell Angus Beef on Friday at DIS. CitiFinancial is the primary sponsor for 20 races in 2010 for Stenhouse.(Roush Fenway PR)(6-30-2010)
• Westerman returns to Key Motorsports: Westerman Companies, continuing it’s partnership with Key Motorsports that began in the NASCAR Truck Series several seasons ago, is supporting the team’s COT effort at Daytona this weekend, where a newly built #40 takes to the high banks of the 2.5-mile superspeedway. (Key Motorsports PR)(6-30-2010)

• NAPA sponsoring Ryan Truex’s Nationwide debut: Michael Waltrip Racing announced that NAPA Auto Parts will sponsor defending K&N Pro Series East champion and current points leader Ryan Truex, when he makes his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Gateway International Raceway on July 17. He’ll pilot the #00 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota at the St. Louis track with his East series crew chief Mike Greci helping to guide his way. Truex will race in five additonal Nationwide races in 2010.(MWR PR), see a graphic of the car on the #00 Nationwide Series team paint scheme page.(6-30-2010)
• Daytona Rookie Notes:
  • Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Braun posted a 12th-place finish and grabbed top rookie for the third consecutive race and for the fifth time in 2010.
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at New Hampshire, holding the top spot once for one lap. Stenhouse Jr. posted a 16th-place finish on the lead lap.
  • Brian Scott leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 34 points (167-133) in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Justin Allgaier was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 July race at Daytona, scoring an eighth-place finish.
  • Johnny Sauter owns the best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in eight July races at Daytona, placing sixth in 2002.
  • Top-10 finishes by Raybestos Rookies at Daytona (eight races): 2002: Johnny Sauter, sixth; 2006: John Andretti, 10th; 2009: Justin Allgaier, eighth
  • Bryan Clauson (2008) is the only Raybestos Rookie pole winner in eight previous July races at Daytona.
  • Raybestos Rookies that have led a lap in the July race at Daytona: 2002: Johnny Sauter (once for one lap); 2005: Denny Hamlin (once for five laps); 2007: Robert Richardson Jr. (once for one lap)
  (Raybestos/Camp & Assoc. PR)(6-30-2010)

• G&K Services sponsoring Mike Wallace at Daytona: Mike Wallace and the JD Motorsports #01 NASCAR Nationwide Series announce their new primary sponsor for the first Nationwide New Car race at Daytona; G&K Services will move from a season-long Associate to the Title area on the 2010 Impala. The entire JDMotorsports team has benefitted from their G&K-provided uniform program. G&K is a market leader in branded identity apparel programs and facility services. For more than 100 years, G&K has been committed to providing customers with superior customer service. G&K Services has more than 170,000 customers from almost every industry across the U.S. and Canada.(JD Motorsports PR)(6-29-2010)

• Efland working with Americans Honoring Americans: Danny Efland Racing and Americans Honoring Americans announce that they will continue their relationship for the July 2nd Daytona Nationwide Series race. Americans Honoring Americans is a Delaware based foundation that provides a racing experience for America’s wounded war veterans by placing them as honorary crewmen with NASCAR teams. As the nation celebrates July 4th, NASCAR is honoring America’s armed forces. Danny Efland will host the veteran as part of the pit crew for the #07 Proactiv Chevy.(Efland PR)(6-29-2010)
• New Hampshire TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Saturday, June 26, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,652,287 viewers. The New Hampshire race was airing on cable for the first time since ESPN’s return to NASCAR in 2007. It aired on ABC each of the past three years. The race aired against the USA’s FIFA World Cup game on Saturday. That game set a record as the most-watched FIFA World Cup game among households and viewers. The 2.5 hour match window averaged an 8.2 rating, 9,455,000 households, and 14,863,000 viewers, based on fast nationals.(ESPN)(6-29-2010)

• Two new sponsors for JR Motorsports at Daytona: JRM welcomes its newest partner, WOW! Foods to the #7 Chevy this weekend. WOW! Foods, based out of Hickory, N.C., offers a variety of food items that are available through the convenience store, club store and vending industries. Their first line of products all carries the Dale Earnhardt Jr. signature on the package.
  AND: Daytona will be the first of 10 races sponsor Grand Touring Vodka is on board the #88 Chevy. Greg Sacks will make GT’s debut this weekend and the Vodka company will be featured on the 88 Chevy for races at O’Reilly Raceway Park, Watkins Glen, Michigan, Richmond, Kansas, California, Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead. Aside from Daytona, Elliott Sadler will drive all but the Watkins Glen race for GT Vodka. Road-race veteran Ron Fellows will return to the seat of the #88 for the race at The Glen.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-29-2010)
• Numblets sponsoring Mark Green: Numblets.com will be the title sponsor on Jay Robinson’s Racing #49 driven by Mark Green this weekend. Being a new company, Numblets.com is excited to be a part of the tradition of NASCAR and Daytona.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(6-29-2010)
• Busch nominated for ESPY; Danica to be a presenter: The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be well-represented at the ESPYs, ESPN’s 18th annual awards show where winners in various categories are voted upon by fans. Reigning series champion and this year’s wins leader, with six — Kyle Busch (#18 NOS Toyota) — has been nominated in the “Best Driver” category. Danica Patrick, who has competed in four NASCAR Nationwide Series races for JR Motorsports this year and will drive in 10 more before the season is over, will serve as a presenter for the second consecutive year. In addition to Busch’s nomination, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been nominated in the “Best Male Athlete” category, while Johnson, and four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. join Busch as nominees in the “Best Driver” category. The ESPYs will be televised from the Nokia Theater at L.A. LIVE on ESPN on Wednesday, July 14 beginning at 9 p.m. ET.(NASCAR PR)(6-29-2010)
• Nationwide Series New Car Makes Historic Debut At Daytona: During the first on-track test for the new car at Richmond International Raceway in 2007, NASCAR Nationwide Series director Joe Balash was told he looked like a “proud papa.” Now, his look can best be described as watching one of his kids graduate from college and preparing to head out on their own. “We’re all anxiously anticipating a great first event,” Balash said of the historic official points race for the new car, Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. “We’ve had numerous tests on various-sized tracks. We’ve had a lot of great participation from the teams and manufacturers. That tells us the project is headed in the right direction.” The debut also will show off some iconic models as Dodge brings its Challenger and Ford will showcase its Mustang. Chevrolet introduces a new model to the series with its Impala while Toyota’s standard Camry model has a sporty new look.“With our first race at Daytona, we’re starting with a track that the owners — the ‘shareholders’ of our series, if you will — selected,” Balash said. “They gave us the direction of what four events to start with this year.” The new car also will be on track later this season at Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 14), at Richmond (Sept. 10) and at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 15) before being fully integrated in 2011, starting at Daytona next February.(NASCAR PR), see more on the News & Notes section of the Daytona race page.(6-28-2010)

• Schrader driving for RAB at Daytona: Kenny Schrader will make his debut with RAB Racing in the #09 Ford in Friday night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. A fan favorite, Schrader, 55, has led 519 laps in 57 combined starts at Daytona in NASCAR’s three national series. His Daytona stat line among the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NACAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at DIS: 19 top fives, 58 top 10s and six poles. Schrader has 940 starts in NASCAR’s top three series, including 115 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He last ran in the series in 2006, which also was his most recent NNS race at Daytona. In 10 NASCAR Nationwide starts at Daytona, Schrader has two top fives, four top 10s and two poles.(NASCAR PR)(6-28-2010)
• Racing Resources Says…
  • Kyle Busch won the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was his 36th series win in his 186th start, tying Kevin Harvick for second on the all-time wins list.
  • Busch’s 8,117 career laps led set a record, breaking Mark Martin’s mark by 35 laps.
  • Busch posted his series-best sixth win of 2010. He has won his past three Nationwide starts. It was his second win at New Hampshire in his fifth start there. He became the first driver to win more than one race at New Hampshire in 24 races.
  • Busch led 125 of the 200 laps, the most he has ever led at New Hampshire. His 980 laps led in 2010 lead all drivers.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 50th series win, with 24 being won by Kyle Busch, and its eighth win of 2010, leading all teams. JGR has won on the past three Nationwide races at New Hampshire.
  • Toyota posted its third Nationwide New Hampshire win and eighth victory in 2010, leading all teams.
  • Brad Keselowski (second) got his 15th straight top-10 finish, extending his points lead to 247 over Carl Edwards.
  • Edwards (third) posted top-three finishes in the past four races.
  • Joey Logano (fourth) got his 10th top-10 finish in 11 starts this season.
  • Trevor Bayne (fifth) got his career-best finish.
  • Colin Braun (12th) was the best-finishing rookie of the year contender; he has finished in the top 12 in his past four starts.
  • Danica Patrick (30th) made her fourth Nationwide start.
  (ESPN.com)(6-28-2010)
• Ford giving incentive to drivers to win at Daytona: The Mustang debut in NASCAR has been anxiously anticipated ever since Ford announced the iconic pony car would be competing on the track last summer. Now, to help celebrate that debut, Ford Racing is giving its drivers even more incentive to be the first Mustang winner, and take their place in Mustang racing history. Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports, announced that any Ford driver who wins Friday night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Daytona International Speedway will receive their own 2011 5.0-liter Mustang GT production vehicle.(Ford PR)(6-28-2010)

• Outshyne on the #28 at Datyona: MillStar Entertainment Group, the management group of the 2009 Carolina Music Awards “Band of the Year” Outshyne, announced that the bands new CD will be on Kenny Wallace’s NASCAR Nationwide Series car at Daytona for the July 2nd race. The #28 Jay Robinson Racing Chevy will be carrying the Outshyne’s (Country Boy In Me) CD Cover on the hood and Outshynemusic.com on the quarter-panels. Outshyne’s sponsorship and web-site will be presented by Medstar Ambulance Services of Florence, SC, Lyman Family Dentist of Lyman, SC, Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet of Greenville, SC, Federated Auto Parts, Destination Daytona & Quaker Steak & Lube. These presenting sponsors logos will be carried on the car as well.(Jay Robinson Racing PR)(6-28-2010)

• Two Great Clips Cars at Daytona: You may think you’re seeing double this weekend when two Great Clips Camrys take to the track for Friday night’s Nationwide Series race under the lights of the famed Daytona International Speedway. In addition to the black #38 Great Clips Toyota driven by Jason Leffler each weekend, Braun Racing’s #11 entry, driven by Brian Scott, will feature a matching Great Clips paint scheme. (Braun Racing PR)(6-28-2010)
• McClure ready for 12th start: The Daytona event will mark McClure’s 125th career start if he can earn one of the 43 starting positions. For the third consecutive year, Waverly Property Group has be associated with McClure and the #24 Hefty Racing™ team. Serving as an associate sponsor in the past, WPG will be co-primary for the summer event at DIS.(McClure PR)(6-28-2010)

• HostGator.com sponsoring Nemechek: HostGator.com, a leader in web site hosting services, has announced a sponsorship with Joe Nemechek in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Daytona International Speedway for the July 4th weekend. HostGator.com will become the main sponsor of the #87 car piloted by Joe Nemechek of Nemco Motorsorts in time for the Coke Zero 400. The sponsorship also extends to Nemechek’s Nationwide Car for its upcoming races at Chicagoland Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, and O’Reilly Raceway Park.(NEMCO PR)(6-28-2010)

• No more #3 for Dale Jr? On Friday evening, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will slide through the window and into the seat of the #3 Wrangler Chevy for 300 miles of Nationwide Series racing at Daytona International Speedway. Until that moment, he cannot know how that car number on his door, and that blue and yellow paint before him on the hood, and memories of his father’s win-at-all-costs attitude while driving them may affect him. Especially at that track. But he is fairly certain about one thing: July 2, 2010 will be the last time he drives a race car with the #3 on the door. “I just want to go to the racetrack and run it once before I retire, and this will probably be it,” he said. “After this, I’ll probably never drive a car with a 3 on it again. I can pretty much say I’m 99 percent sure that will never happen again.”(ESPN.com)(6-26-2010)

• Sellers plans more races: #25-Peyton Sellers is attempting to make his first Nationwide Series race of the season [at New Hampshire] even though most of the media attention will be on Danica Patrick, who is taking a brief respite from the IZOD IndyCar Series in her return to stock-car racing. The race begins the remainder of Sellers’ Nationwide Series schedule that is short-track based and runs at tracks where the current car will be run. The Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow (COT) will make its debut at Daytona International Speedway on July 2 and then be used in select races for the remainder of the season. If all goes according to plan at New Hampshire, the team will still tentatively go forward with its once a month schedule — which consists primarily with short tracks. The chance to beat and bang is greater at those tracks, but it goes with Sellers’ background of short-track racing.(Danville Register)(6-26-2010)

• Jennifer Jo Cobb to drive for Baker Curb: Officials from Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and Baker Curb Racing announced they will partner for the four 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events featuring the new car this season. Jennifer Jo Cobb will drive the #27 Driven Ford Mustang at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, Richmond International Raceway on September 10 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 15. A TBD driver will drive the No. 27 Mustang at Michigan International Speedway on August 14, while Cobb competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Darlington Raceway. JJCR and BCR decided that it was in each team’s best interest to combine their resources for the events featuring the next generation race car. With each organization being a smaller, independent race team, JJCR and BCR aim to make a concerted effort as NASCAR transitions to its latest vehicle.(Breaking Limits PR)(6-25-2010)
• Pardue is Leffler’s crew chief this week: Veteran crew chief, Eddie Pardue, will call the shots for Leffler and the #38 team this weekend at NHIS. Pardue has spent the last ten years at Roush Racing where he has moved quickly through the ranks and has served as a crew chief since 2006 for the team’s Nationwide Series program.(Braun Racing PR)(6-24-2010)

• Baker Curb partners with FFA: Baker Curb Racing announced the addition of the National FFA Organization (FFA) as a corporate partner. The partnership will launch this weekend with the FFA emblem adorning the quarter panels of Justin Lofton’s #27 Ford in the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In addition to this weekend’s race, FFA will be featured on Baker Curb Racing’s Ford Fusions for several races throughout the remainder of the 2010 season and during the 2011 season.(Baker Curb PR), see an image of the car on the #27 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(6-23-2010)

• Carpentier to run Montreal race: Rue Frontenac received confirmation that the NAPA 200 NASCAR Nationwide series will turn into a duel of the automotive parts retailers. Patrick Carpentier will drive a Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing with NAPA sponsorship. He will face a Ron Fellows driven Chevy from JR Motorsports with sponsorship from Canadian Tire, a NAPA archrival. Cal Wells, vice president of Michael Waltrip Racing, said Carpentier will be in one of his cars for the second consecutive year. “We decided with the help of NAPA, to prepare a second car in NASCAR Nationwide only for Patrick. Trevor Bayne will be in our regular car, since he is fighting for the championship, but Patrick runs so well in Montreal that would have been foolish to do without his talent. ” And Carpentier will benefit more from the fact that the Sprint Cup takes a break that race weeked. Bootie Barker will be Carpentier’s crew chief. (Rue Frontenac) translated using Google Translate.(5-19-2010)
  UPDATE: Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier will race the #00 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal on Aug. 29. The Joliette (Quebec) native won the pole for this race in 2007, finished second in 2007 and 2008, and looked to be the fastest car on the track in 2009 before mechanical failure resulted in a 38th-place finish.(MWR PR)(6-23-2010)
• #52 team to attempt New Hampshire: This weekend Chris Lawson returns behind the wheel of the #52 Means Racing Chevy for Saturday’s New England 200 at New Hampshire Speedway. On June 5th Lawson made his second Nationwide Series start at Nashville Superspeedway. After picking up time and speed from his practice efforts, Lawson qualified 31st for the race out-qualifying and sending home some very strong teams. The Means Racing team will have to out-qualify one car to make the Nationwide race at Loudon as there are 44 cars in the preliminary entry list.(Lawson PR)(6-23-2010)
• #34 crew chief fined: NASCAR announced that Scott Eggleston, crew chief of the #34 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been fined $5,000 as a result of rule violations during this past weekend’s event at Road America. The #34 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-5.10.1B(6): (combined thickness of throttle shaft and throttle plate was less than specified thickness) of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book. The infractions were discovered during opening-day inspection on June 18.(NASCAR PR)(6-23-2010)
• New Hampshire Rookie Notes:
  • Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Bucyrus 200 at Road America. Braun posted an 11th-place finish and grabbed top rookie for the fourth time in 2010.
  • Brian Scott leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 34 points (158-123) in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  • Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 New England 200, claiming a ninth-place finish.
  • Michael Annett was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the 2009 race. Annett led once for one lap and became the first freshman driver to lead a lap at New Hampshire since 2002.
  • Landon Cassill (2008) and Shane Hmiel (2002) are the only Raybestos Rookie pole winners since the NASCAR Nationwide Series began competing at the 1.058-mile speedway in 1990 (23 races).
  • The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at New Hampshire is second-place by Steve Park in 1997. Park finished .106 seconds behind race winner Mike McLaughlin.
  • Only once in 23 previous races at New Hampshire have two Raybestos Rookies finished inside the top-five at New Hampshire: Carl Edwards (second) and Denny Hamlin (third) in 2005.
  (Raybestos / Camp & Assoc)(6-23-2010)
• LaJoie suspended by NASCAR: UPDATE 2: Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he is guilty of violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. LaJoie won the then-NASCAR Busch Series championship in both 1996 and 1997, and has recently worked as an analyst for both ESPN and Sirius NASCAR Radio, in addition to manufacturing racing seats for his company, The Joie Of Seating. He said he expects an announcement from NASCAR within the hour, confirming his suspension, but wanted to “get out in front of it” by speaking out now. “I screwed up,” said LaJoie in an exclusive Sirius Speedway interview. “NASCAR tested me Day when I wanted go spot for someone at Nashville. I already have two NASCAR licenses, but they said I needed a spotter’s license, and that included taking a drug test. I took the test, and got a call a few days later saying I had tested positive for marijuana.” LaJoie called the incident “a one-time, isolated situation,” saying he smoked marijuana just once, immediately following the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I volunteer my time driving a golf cart taking people back and forth,” he said. “I dropped one group off in the campground after the race, and there was a pretty good party going on. I did something I shouldn’t have done, and while I sure wish I had picked up a different bunch, I don’t blame any of them. I blame myself. You can’t fix stupid.” LaJoie said he will do whatever NASCAR requires in order to be reinstated. “I have already spoken to my own drug abuse counselor, and I am waiting for a call back from NASCAR’s doctor,” he said. “I’ll go wherever they tell me to go, and I’ll do what they tell me to do.”(6-22-2010)
  UPDATE: Randy LaJoie, a crew member for the #18 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On June 11, LaJoie was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. (NASCAR PR)(6-22-2010)
  UPDATE 2: NASCAR and ESPN have each suspended racing analyst and former driver Randy LaJoie indefinitely for violating its substance-abuse policy. In an interview Tuesday on SIRIUS XM Radio, LaJoie said he smoked marijuana once in May. LaJoie was tested by NASCAR because he wanted to become a spotter for one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide Series teams. He has not competed at any of NASCAR’s top three national levels since 2006 and has been an analyst for NASCAR the past several years. “I take full responsibility for my actions and respect NASCAR’s decision,” LaJoie said in a statement. “I wish to apologize to my wife and family first, to NASCAR, to my fans and to the various media companies which I work including ESPN, Sirius Radio, Speed Channel and Performance Racing Network. I have this day sought to enroll in a substance abuse program. My use of marijuana was an isolated incident following the Coca Cola 600. “I plan to follow the recommendations of the substance abuse counselor and suggestions of NASCAR and hope that someday I can prove to NASCAR and all the people with whom I associate that I have taken such steps to see that instances such as this do not reoccur.” LaJoie raced in 44 races over 12 years in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series. His success was in the Nationwide Series, where he won 15 races over 19 seasons and two Nationwide Series championships.(ESPN).(6-22-2010)

• Bass Pro on the #21 at New Hampshire: The nation’s #1 outdoor retail leader, Bass Pro Shops, will sponsor Richard Childress Racing’s #21 Chevy, with driver Austin Dillon, in the June 26 New England 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. A long-time motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops is also a primary sponsor of RCR’s #3 Chevy in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(RCR PR)(6-22-2010)
• Road American TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, averaging 1,293,910 viewers. The Bucyrus 200 was run on Saturday, June 19.(ESPN PR)(6-22-2010)
• Snap On to sponsor Gaughan at Bristol: As part of its sponsorship of the Rusty Wallace Racing Nationwide Series team, Snap-on will be the primary sponsor of the #62 Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota for the NASCAR Nationwide race on August 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Brendan Gaughan will drive the Snap-on car in the race.(Maximum Marketing/Snap On PR), see an image of the car on the #62 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(6-22-2010)
• Go Green Racing, Lewandoski enter New Hampshire: Go Green Racing, in a partnership with new NASCAR Nationwide Series organization Team Kapusta Racing and driver Charles Lewandoski, announced today that Lewandoski will pilot the #39 NortheastMarineElectronics.com Ford in the New England 200 Nationwide Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 26th . The New England 200 event partners several New England entities, including team owner and Maine native Archie St. Hilaire and Connecticut driver Charles Lewandoski, with the Watertown, Connecticut-based NortheastMarineElectronics.com for the first time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(Go Green Racing PR)(6-21-2010)
• Racing Resources Says…
  • Carl Edwards earned his 26th Nationwide Series win in his 191st start by taking the checkered flag in the inaugural series race at Road America. He led 35 of the 50 laps raced. It was his first win of 2010, with his previous win at Phoenix last November.
  • Edwards’ first win of the season in the past three years (2008, 2009, 2010) was in the state of Wisconsin. This was his fifth Nationwide Series win from the pole and his second series road course victory in his 13th start. He has now won the past two Nationwide Series road course races after winning at Montreal last season.
  • The most consecutive Nationwide Series road course victories is three by Terry Labonte between 1994 and 1996 at Watkins Glen.
  • Edwards led more laps Saturday than he had in his previous 12 series road course starts combined.
  • Edwards’ victory was the 109th series win for Roush Fenway Racing. This was RFR’s first win of 2010 in any national touring series. It was the 172nd series victory for Ford, but also the first of 2010 in any national touring series.
  • Ron Fellows (finished second) has finished in the top five in eight of his 16 Nationwide Series starts, all on road courses.
  • Brendan Gaughan (third) had his best finish of the 2010 season.
  • Brad Keselowski (fourth) has finished in the top 10 in the past 14 races — this was his best series road course finish in seven starts. Keselowski has a 237 point lead over Edwards in the standings.
  • Owen Kelly (fifth) made his series debut.
  • JR Fitzpatrick (seventh) rebounded from a spin on Lap 21 to get his career-best finish.
  • Colin Braun (11th) was the best-finishing Rookie of the Year contender.
  • Jacques Villeneuve (25th) was second with two laps to go before experiencing an engine problem.(ESPN.com)(6-21-2010)
• Efland gets Daytona sponsor: Danny Efland announced that he would be running the Daytona Nationwide race on July 2nd in the Proactiv Chevy. Danny who owns the DER Team, said “it is great to have Proactiv on board for the race and I hope to have a good showing in NASCAR’S first race for the Nationwide series debut of the ‘car of tomorrow’. Proactiv is my first national sponsor. Their products are geared to the new generation of NASCAR fans.”(Efland PR)(6-20-2010)

• McClure to miss Road America? UPDATE 2: per Eric McClure’s facebook page – “A little unexpected (minor) surgery in the AM..status in question for road america”. McClure drives the #24 Chevy for Ed Rensi. No word who the team would use as a driver if McClure is unable to race at Road America.(6-15-2010)
  UPDATE: Eric McClure had a minor tear in a muscle that had been a previous issue. The procedure went well today and he has been cleared to race. The plan is for McClure to at least start the race with the hopes of remaining in the car through the duration. If he is unable to go the distance, Chris Cook will be on stand by.(6-15-2010)
  UPDATE: According to a team representative, Chirs Cook will take over the #24 Hefty Ford for Eric McClure during the first caution at Road America on Saturday.(6-18-2010)

• Nationwide races for Conway? From an interview the Kevin Conway: “We’re going to have a Nationwide car later in the year, and I can’t wait to get in it because I’ve learned so much. Not so much in terms of the feel of the car, but in terms of racing. The guys in the Cup Series race really hard every single lap.”(Frontstretch), no details mentioned on the car or team.(6-18-2010)
• Key Motorsports gets sponsor for Road America: Key Motorsports announced Thursday morning a last minute arrangement with Sheboygan Chevrolet to partner with the #40 Chevy team for Saturday’s Bucyrus 200, the NASCAR Nationwide Series inaugural event at Road America. The Sheboygan Chevy #40 with driver Mike Bliss arrived in Wisconsin with a guaranteed starting position as a result of their current status in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings. Currently occupying 22nd, Bliss and crew chief Gary Showalter are looking for a strong performance at Road America that will add to the teams recent momentum with a steady gain in points.(Key Motorsports), see an image of the scheme on the #40 Team Schemes page.(6-18-2010)
• Three drivers doing the double: From Thursday night through Sunday night, #60-Carl Edwards, #98-Paul Menard and #22-Brad Keselowski will log some 5,800 miles in the air to practice, qualify and race their Nationwide cars at Road America and their Sprint Cup cars in Infineon Raceway. They’ll also give up track time for both events. The three participated in the 5 ½-hour test session Thursday in preparation for the inaugural Bucyrus 200 at Road America. But they’ll miss practice Friday while in Sonoma and miss final practice there Saturday to qualify and race at Road America. Whereas in the recent past, double-duty drivers went from Sonoma to the Milwaukee Mile on this weekend, now at least they’ll be driving the same style of racetrack at each venue. “Every time we go to Sonoma, that’s our first road course of the year,” Menard said. “For us to be spending all day here logging laps, I think it’s going to help us for Sonoma and for missing on Saturday. “Obviously there’s nothing like being on track on Saturday afternoon, but me, I’ve got Bill Elliott in my car out there for Saturday, and I can’t think of a better guy.” Kurt Busch will practice in Keselowski’s car as well as his own Saturday in Sonoma, and the early plan for Edwards’ car is to leave it in the garage. Former Indy-car driver Michel Jourdain Jr. will practice Friday for Menard at Road America, where Roush Fenway Racing teammate Erik Darnell will fill in for Edwards and Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman will drive Keselowski’s car. The drivers’ odyssey began Wednesday, when they came to Wisconsin. Edwards flew his own plane and then took it to California, where it will remain until he goes home from there. He’ll do the Friday night / Saturday night commute with Menard aboard the Citation X owned by Menard’s father, home-improvement magnate John Menard, the fastest non-military plane available.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-18-2010)

• Sargento to sponsor #21 car at Road America: Sargento Foods Inc. will serve as primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing’s #21 Chevy driven by Tim George Jr. in Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America . Sargento, a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients and sauces, will have primary branding on the #21 Sargento Chevy for the race, while Zaxby’s, the Southeast favorite for chicken fingers and Buffalo wings, will serve as an associate sponsor. Sargento Foods Inc. has demonstrated its passion for cheese and cheese-based solutions throughout its history. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Sargento is a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients and sauces.(RCR)(6-17-2010)

• Stillman to crew chief the #10:Dan Stillman to Serve as Crew Chief on the #10 at Road America and NHMS… Stillman, who worked with Tayler Malsam at Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) as crew chief on his Camping World Truck Series entry, will serve as crew chief on an interim basis while crew chief Stewart Cooper serves a NASCAR assessed penalty. Prior to his time spent at KBM, Stillman served as crew chief on Carl Edwards’s #60 Nationwide Series entry in 2009 racking up 7 poles and 5 wins before being swapped to the team’s #6 entry. The veteran crew chief has also spent time at Dale Earnhardt Inc., Michael Walthrip Racing, and Kevin Harvick Inc.(Braun Racing)(6-17-2010)

• State Water Heaters, Victor Gonzalez Jr. Join Forces : State Water Heaters announced that they will sponsor Victor Gonzalez Jr. and his #05 Chevy for the Bucyrus 200 at Road America this weekend. “At State Water Heaters, we realize that we have customers from every walk of life,” David Chisolm, Brand Manager for State Water Heaters stated. “Our partnership with Victor gives our Hispanic customers a close personal connection to someone from their community and lifestyle.”
  “State Water Heaters has a solid history in NASCAR,” Gonzalez Jr. added. “This year marks their fifth consecutive season as a primary sponsor in one of NASCAR’s two top series. They have also shown a strong effort to reach out to the Hispanic community. I’m truly excited to have the opportunity to drive the State Waters Heaters Chevrolet this weekend in the first-ever NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America. It’s going to be an historic weekend, and I’m proud to be partnered with a great brand like State.”(PR)(6-16-2010)

• Kentucky TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, June 12, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, an increase of 16% over the 1.2 rating for last year’s race that aired on ESPN2. The telecast averaged 1,680,722 viewers.(ESPN)(6-16-2010)

• Sponsor named for Kenny Wallace at Road America: Kenny Wallace will have one “pure ride” for Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Wallace will be driving the #28 Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup Chevy at the famous 4 mile long road racing circuit. The Cumberland, Wis., producer of quality pure maple syrup products will be making its second start of 2010 on the #28 Jay Robinson Racing Chevy. “Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup has brought me some good finishes over the past year,” said Wallace, who steered his Anderson’s sponsored Chevrolet to an 11th place finish at Talladega. “I’m excited to have them back on our car in their home state,” added Wallace. For over 80 years, Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup has provided Midwestern grocery stores, bakeries, butcher shops, and specialty shops with quality maple syrup.(JRR) see images of the scheme on the #28 Team Schemes page.(6-16-2010)

• JRM Inks 5-Race Sponsorship with Realtree; Sadler to run 10 races: Delta Apparel has agreed to a partnership with JR Motorsports to promote the Realtree Outfitters licensed brand, which will receive primary placement on the #88 Chevy for five NASCAR Nationwide Series events this year, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced. Realtree, the camouflage brand made famous by its long-running outdoor-themed television programming, recently signed Delta Apparel to an exclusive apparel and headwear licensing deal with its Realtree Outfitters brand. One of the five races – the Aug. 20th event at Bristol Motor Speedway – will feature team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel of the #88 Realtree Outfitters Chevy. Two other events – the June 26th race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Sept. 25th race at Dover International Raceway – will introduce Elliott Sadler as the driver. Sadler has signed a 10-race driving agreement with JR Motorsports to drive the #88. The complete schedule for Delta Apparel/Realtree Outfitters-sponsored races includes New Hampshire Motor Speedway (June 26), Iowa Speedway (July 31), Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 20), Dover International Speedway (Sept. 25), and Gateway International Raceway (Oct. 23). Drivers for Iowa and Gateway are still to be determined. Sadler’s debut for JR Motorsports at New Hampshire will kick off a 10-race schedule for the Emporia, Va.-native in the team’s flagship #88. His two races for Realtree Outfitters will be met with eight more for sponsor Grand Touring Vodka. Those tracks include O’Reilly Raceway Park (July 24), Michigan (Aug. 14), Richmond (Sept. 10), Kansas (Oct. 2), Auto Club Speedway (Oct. 9), Texas (Nov. 6), Phoenix (Nov. 13), and Homestead-Miami (Nov. 20).(JR Motorsports)(6-16-2010)

• Jacques Villeneuve returns to Braun Racing: Jacques Villeneuve is back in the #32 Dollar General Toyota as the Nationwide Series makes its inaugural visit to Elkhart Lake’s, Road America! This will not be the Canadian’s first visit to the 4.048-mile road course. He competed there in the CART IndyCar Series in 1994 and 1995, winning both events and starting from the pole position in 1995. This weekend marks Villeneuve’s third career Nationwide Series start and his first on American soil! His previous two starts were at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal (2008 & 2009). He has one top-five finish and has completed 124 of 124 laps (100%) with four laps led. His career best start of fifth came in August, 2008 and his best finish of fourth in August, 2009. His NASCAR experience also includes two starts in the Cup Series and seven in the Truck Series. Villeneuve won the Formula One World Championship (1997), the CART Championship (1995) and the 1995 Indianapolis 500. He is only the third driver to accomplish this feat (Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi).(Braun Racing)(6-16-2010)

• Changes at RCR’s #21 team: Richard Childress Racing is consolidating the #21 Nationwide Series team following the restructuring of the Zaxby’s sponsorship. The organization released crew chief Dan Deeringhoff, car chief Tony Hamm and engineer Paul Flury this week as the company reorganizes its Nationwide program. Tim George Jr. will race the car this weekend at Elkhart Lake with veteran crew chief Gere Kennon at the helm. Austin Dillon, who won his first career truck pole at Michigan and finished fifth, will drive the car at New Hampshire with his truck crew chief Danny Stockman calling the shots. Clint Bowyer returns to the seat for Daytona.(Fox Sports)(6-16-2010)

• McCkure to miss Road America? UPDATE: per Eric McClure’s facebook page – “A little unexpected (minor) surgery in the AM..status in question for road america”. McClure drives the #24 Chevy for Ed Rensi. No word who the team would use as a driver if McClure is unable to race at Road America.(6-15-2010)
  UPDATE: Eric McClure had a minor tear in a muscle that had been a previous issue. The procedure went well today and he has been cleared to race. The plan is for McClure to at least start the race with the hopes of remaining in the car through the duration. If he is unable to go the distance, Chris Cook will be on stand by.(6-15-2010)

• Crew Chief changes for the #16 team UPDATE3: Ben Leslie has been named interim crew chief for the Roush Fenway Racing #16 Nationwide Series team, a team spokesman has confirmed. He replaces Eddie Pardue. Leslie, who started the year as crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., had more recently been overseeing the Nationwide program for Roush Fenway. Pardue, a Nationwide Series crew chief for more than four years and an employee at Roush Fenway for seven, is no longer with the organization.(Scene Daily)(5-27-2010)
  UPDATE: Roush Fenway crew chief Eddie Pardue was fired last week after his crew’s involvement in a fight at a Daytona strip club. Multiple sources confirmed Nationwide Series veteran Pardue was released once management learned of the incident, which occurred in the middle of a Nationwide Car of Tomorrow test at Daytona. Sources say the crew for his #16 Roush Fenway Ford went to the club one night during the test, where a physical altercation with several patrons ensued. No charges were filed, but once word spread of the fight an undisclosed number of crewmen were fired, along with Pardue despite him not being in attendance at the club. One source suggested Roush was making an example with his dismissal in the wake of a miserable season during which their Cup and Nationwide teams have gone winless. Pardue had been a Roush employee for seven years and a Nationwide crew chief for the past four.(Frontstretch)(6-5-2010)
  UPDATE 2: Rick Viers will be the new crew chief for the #16 Nationwide Series car, effective immediately. Roush sources say that the veteran crew chief will add stability to the #16 program, which currently has a rotating set of drivers. Viers was most recently with Baker Curb Racing, working primarily with Greg Biffle — who is a part of Roush’s Cup program. Viers was also a crew chief for Red Bull Racing at the Sprint Cup level, but enjoyed his most success with Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide program.(FoxSports)(6-11-2010)
  UPDATE 3: Roush Fenway Racing has named Rick Viers as the crew chief of its #16 Nationwide team. Viers assumes the duty immediately and will lead the team this weekend at Road America. Viers most recently served as crew chief for Baker Curb Racing and the #27 Ford. He worked with JD Motorsports in 2009 and was the crew chief of the #84 Sprint Cup Series entry in 2007 and ’08. He has also worked as a Nationwide Series crew chief for Richard Childress Racing. A native of Pylersville, Md., Viers boasts eight career victories as a Nationwide Series crew chief, and has worked with drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Ron Hornaday. In 14 races with Baker Curb this season, Viers guided the team to eight top-10 finishes, and the team finished inside the top 10 in seven of its 10 starts with Roush Fenway Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle in the #27 car. Colin Braun will be at the wheel of the #16 Ford this weekend. Braun, who finished 10th last weekend at Kentucky, has split time in the #16 with fellow rookie Brian Ickler.(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-15-2010)

• :O’Connell Set to Drive the #43 at Road America Baker Curb Racing announced that they will partner with O’Connell Racing a southern California based road racing team, and driver Kevin O’Connell for the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Road America this weekend. The Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards is the first national NASCAR racing event at the Wisconsin track since the 1950’s. The #43 team was a late addition to the Baker Cur Racing stable but the group has gelled in recent weeks showing their potential on the track. Lagasse Jr. was fast in practice and qualifying the last two weekends and ran in the top 10 for a majority of last week’s Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. After running sixth, a faulty jack on two pit stops placed him deep in the field, but he drove his way back into the top 10 late in the race before a low right tire slowed his progress.(Baker Curb Racing)(6-15-2010)
• 42 team shut down? DENIED: hearing that the #42 Team 42 team has shut down and all employees have been let go. The team has run a partial schedule this year with Parker Kligerman.(6-10-2010)

  UPDATE: Reliable sources at Team #42 Racing deny the report that the #42 team is closing. While team management has made the decision to release key crew members, the team is currently being restructured. The hiring of new employees has taken place and plans to compete in the second half of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Season are being solidified.(6-15-2010)

• McCkure to miss Road America?: per Eric McClure’s facebook page – “A little unexpected (minor) surgery in the AM..status in question for road america”. McClure drives the #24 Chevy for Ed Rensi. No word who the team would use as a driver if McClure is unable to race at Road America.(6-15-2010)

• Patrick Long to wheel the #90 at Road America: D’Hondt Humphrey Motorsports announced that Patrick Long, with sponsorship from System High Corporation, Universal Industrial Sales, Inc and AASCO Motorsports, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the D’Hondt Humphrey Motorsports #90 Toyota Camry at the June 19th, Road America Nationwide Series event. Long, who currently drives for the “Flying Lizard” Motorsports team, is an official factory Porsche driver and an accomplished road course racer. He currently leads the 2010 point standings in the GT Class of the American Le Mans Series with wins at Long Beach and Laguna Seca. While no stranger to racing at Road America – with sportscar wins there in 2005 and 2006 – he’s also no stranger to stock cars and NASCAR racing with solid runs vying for the win on the last lap at both [K&N Pro Series East & West] Infineon and Watkins Glen last year and wins at the ARCA Series’ inaugural race at the New Jersey Motorsports Park and the Camping World West race at Mile Motorsports Park.(D’Hondt Humphrey Motorsports)(6-15-2010)
• Alex Kennedy to make debut with R3 Motorsports at Road America: Alex Kennedy, 18 years of age, will be making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the #23 HelpTruckers.com Chevy this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The team had a successful test session at Carolina Motorsports Park last week which showed he was ready to race. The recent graduate of Aztec (N.M.) High School has been working towards this moment for quite awhile. He recently won the 2009 Road Course World Finals in the Pro Legends Division at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished 10th in the K&N East Series last year with one top-five and three top-10s to his credit. Kennedy is also a National Ambassador for the Dream Factory, Inc. an organization that supports Drive for Dreams. This initiative grants wishes for children who are suffering from chronic illness or disorders. The Dream Factory, Inc. logo will be displayed on the #23 Chevy’s lower quarter panels. R3 Motorsports will utilize Chassis No. 39 which Kennedy used at the CMS test last week. Last year, J.F. Dumoulin drove the car to a seventh-place finish at Montreal. Since then, the car has gone through only slight modifications to enhance its performance. In addition to his wins at both Infineon Raceway and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Legends cars, Kennedy has other road course experience. He finished 10th at Lime Rock Raceway Park in 2008 and fourth there last year in K&N East Series competition. He finished eighth at Watkins Glen International last year in the same division. In 2008, he finished 11th at Infineon Raceway in the K&N West Series.(R3 Motorsports)(6-14-2010)
• “Dash for Cash”: Saturday night’s Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway is the second of four Nationwide Insurance “Dash 4 Cash” bonus events that pays an extra $25,000 to the race winner. Kevin Harvick captured a $25,000 bonus from Nationwide Insurance by winning at Nashville Superspeedway in April. There’s a good chance the bonus will be distributed again this weekend. Two-time defending race champion Joey Logano is the only driver ineligible for this weekend’s bonus bucks. But 42 other drivers are chomping at the bit to pick up the extra cash. “That bonus is really something,” veteran driver Jason Leffler said Friday afternoon prior to opening practice. “But a win is a win. That’s the most important thing. An extra $25,000 adds a lot to the pot. I’m pretty excited it.”Coming here to Kentucky, it’s an awesome track. They fill the stands and people are enthusiast about their NASCAR racing. We’ll put a good show on for them (Saturday night), for sure.” The other two “Dash 4 Cash” bonus races are the Nationwide Series events at Iowa Speedway in July and Texas Motor Speedway in November.(Racin’ Today)(6-12-2010)

• J-D Motorsports gets a sponsor for Kentucky: Mike Wallace and J-D Motorsports iannounced that CBTS (Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions) will be the primary sponsor of the #01 J-D Motorsports Chevy for the Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway.(-D Motorsports)(6-11-2010)

• #27 gets assoc. sponsor for Kentucky: Beverage Plus announced the associate marketing sponsorship by Beverage Plus, producer of the MC2 Energy Drink, of an important motorsport sponsorship this weekend at the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. MC2 Energy Drink will be the accosiate sponsor of the #27 Baker Curb Racing Ford driven by Scott Wimmer.(Beverage Plus PR)(6-11-2010)

• Tom Gill Chevrolet to sponsor #28 Jay Robinson Racing: Tom Gill Chevrolet has joined forces with Jay Robinson Racing and Kenny Wallace as the primary sponsor of The #28 Chevrolet for The MEIJER 300 at The Kentucky Speedway on June 12, 2010 in The NASCAR Nationwide Series. Tom Gill Chevrolet located in Florence, Kentucky is proud to be the premier dealership in the area. From the moment you walk into their showroom, you’ll know their commitment to Customer Service is second to none. They strive to make your experience with Tom Gill Chevrolet a good one – for the life of your vehicle. Whether you need to Purchase, Finance, or Service a New or Pre-Owned Chevrolets, you won’t find a better experience in the Greater Cincinnati Area! Owner of the #28 Team Jay Robinson says, “We are absolutely thrilled to have Tom Gill Chevrolet as a primary sponsor of Kenny & the #28 Team. In the early years of NASCAR, Dealership sponsorships were a common occurrence. The brand loyal NASCAR Fans would support the dealers that actually put the race cars on the track. As sponsorship costs increased dealer sponsorships no longer existed. I really hope the Chevrolet Fans will take notice of what Tom Gill has done here. Tom Gill Chevrolet now joins an elite club of historic dealerships that not only sell Chevrolets but also race Chevrolets in NASCAR.” More information about Tom Gill Chevrolet or to see the vehicles they have please visit their website at www.tomgill.com or visit their showroom located 7830 Commerce Drive Florence, Kentucky 41042.(JRR)(6-11-2010)

• Australian driver to make NASCAR debut: Australian Owen Kelly is scheduled to make his NASCAR debut when he races for Baker Curb Racing in the Bucyrus 200 at the Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in the United States on June 17-19 next week. Kelly will make his first NASCAR start in the second-tier Nationwide Series at the impressive Road America circuit, a fast and undulating track regarded at the North American equivalent of Australia’s Mount Panorama circuit in the town of Bathurst, New South Wales. The 33-year-old will drive the #27 Ford Fusion of Baker Curb Racing in the 50-lap event. Kelly becomes the ninth Australian to race in a NASCAR championship division and follows in the footsteps of fellow Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose, who has used his similar background in karting, Formula Ford and V8 Supercars to great effect to claim two Nationwide Series wins at the Watkins Glen road course since moving to NASCAR in 2006. Kelly has raced for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s JR Motorsports late model team in both 2008 and 2009, collecting race victories as he learned oval track racing after growing up in Australia on road course circuits. Originally from the town of Devonport in Tasmania, Kelly will also race V8 Supercars later this year for Jack Daniel’s Racing in the endurance events at the Phillip Island and Bathurst circuits, where the longer races require two drivers per car.(BAM Media)(6-11-2010)

• Crew Chief changes for the #16 team UPDATE2: Ben Leslie has been named interim crew chief for the Roush Fenway Racing #16 Nationwide Series team, a team spokesman has confirmed. He replaces Eddie Pardue. Leslie, who started the year as crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., had more recently been overseeing the Nationwide program for Roush Fenway. Pardue, a Nationwide Series crew chief for more than four years and an employee at Roush Fenway for seven, is no longer with the organization.(Scene Daily)(5-27-2010)
  UPDATE: Roush Fenway crew chief Eddie Pardue was fired last week after his crew’s involvement in a fight at a Daytona strip club. Multiple sources confirmed Nationwide Series veteran Pardue was released once management learned of the incident, which occurred in the middle of a Nationwide Car of Tomorrow test at Daytona. Sources say the crew for his #16 Roush Fenway Ford went to the club one night during the test, where a physical altercation with several patrons ensued. No charges were filed, but once word spread of the fight an undisclosed number of crewmen were fired, along with Pardue despite him not being in attendance at the club. One source suggested Roush was making an example with his dismissal in the wake of a miserable season during which their Cup and Nationwide teams have gone winless. Pardue had been a Roush employee for seven years and a Nationwide crew chief for the past four.(Frontstretch)(6-5-2010)
  UPDATE 2: Rick Viers will be the new crew chief for the #16 Nationwide Series car, effective immediately. Roush sources say that the veteran crew chief will add stability to the #16 program, which currently has a rotating set of drivers. Viers was most recently with Baker Curb Racing, working primarily with Greg Biffle — who is a part of Roush’s Cup program. Viers was also a crew chief for Red Bull Racing at the Sprint Cup level, but enjoyed his most success with Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide program.(FoxSports)(6-11-2010)

• George to make NNS debut at Road America: Richard Childress Racing Development driver Tim George Jr. will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut driving RCR’s #21 Chevrolet Impala in the June 19 Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The New York City native races fulltime in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards driving the #31 RCR Development Chevrolet Monte Carlo. George has extensive road racing experience in the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series, Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series and the Skip Barber R/T Formula Dodge Regional Race Series. In 2008, George was named the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series Rookie of the Year.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(6-10-2010)
• Iron Horse Jeans sponsoring Malsam: Braun Racing announced that California-based denim company, Iron Horse Jeans, will serve as primary sponsor of the #10 Toyota Camry this weekend at Kentucky Speedway with rookie driver Tayler Malsam. Malsam, a Seattle, Wash-native, made his debut with Braun Racing in the #10 entry last weekend at Nashville, bringing home an impressive 11th-place finish in his first ever Nationwide Series start. The 21-year-old, who was 11th in the Camping World Truck Series point standings when he made the move up to the Nationwide Series, is looking forward to representing the company both on and off the track.(Braun Racing PR)(6-10-2010)
• Kelly in the #27 at Road America? UPDATE: hearing that Owen Kelly will drive the #27 for Baker Curb at Road America. Kelly is a former JR Motorsports late model driver, and former V8 Supercar driver.(6-10-2010)
  UPDATE: Australian Owen Kelly will make his NASCAR debut when he races for Baker Curb Racing in the Bucyrus 200 at the Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in the United States on June 17-19 next week. Kelly will make his first NASCAR start in the second-tier Nationwide Series at the impressive Road America circuit, a fast and undulating track regarded at the North American equivalent of Australia’s Mount Panorama circuit in the town of Bathurst, New South Wales. The 33-year-old will drive the #27 Ford of Baker Curb Racing in the 50-lap event, with Sprint Cup star Greg Biffle having driven the car in 10 of the 13 Nationwide Series race held so far this season.(Kelly / BAM Media PR)(6-10-2010)

• 42 team shut down? hearing that the #42 Team 42 team has shut down and all employees have been let go. The team has run a partial schedule this year with Parker Kligerman.(6-10-2010)

• RAB announces road course drivers: RAB Racing announces their 2010 line-up for the upcoming three NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI), Watkins Glen International and Circuit Giles Villeneuve. NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie, Robb Brent, will make his series debut in the inaugural event at Road America on June 19 while road course racing ace, Boris Said, will be back behind the wheel of the #09 Ford for Watkins Glen on August 7 and Circuit Giles Villeneuve on August 29.(RAB Racing PR)(6-9-2010)

• Possible penalty for Braun Racing: UPDATES: NASCAR officials say Braun Racing faces a potential penalty for an “unapproved transfer of tires” during the Federated Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. NASCAR said the transfer was between the #10 Toyota driven by Tayler Malsam and the #38 driven by Jason Leffler. Leffler blew an engine and finished 34th after 85 laps, while Malsam finished 11th, completing all 225 laps. No other details of the infraction were immediately available.(NNS Racing)(6-6-2010)
  UPDATE: NASCAR has penalized the #10 and #38 teams that compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series as a result of rule violations during the June 5 race at Nashville Superspeedway. Both teams were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); 20A-10.8.2E (teams will not be permitted to use tires or wheels from another team unless approved by the series director) and 20A-10.8.2L (identification numbers have been changed on previously approved tires) of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book. As a result, Stuart Cooper, crew chief of the #10 car and Sean Whisenhunt, tire specialist on the #10, along with Trip Bruce, crew chief for the #38 car and Kevin Bellicourt, tire specialist for the #38, all have been suspended from the next two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, suspended from NASCAR until June 23 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Bruce and Cooper also were each fined $25,000. Tayler Malsam, driver of the #10 car, and Jason Leffler, driver of the #38, each were penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide championship driver points for violating Sections 12-1, 12-4-J, 20A-10.8.2E and 20A-10.8.2L. Additionally, the owners of the #10 and #38 cars, Todd Braun and Ralph Braun, respectively, each were penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide championship owner points also for violating Sections 12-1, 12-4-J, 20A-10.8.2E and 20A-10.8.2L.(NASCAR PR)(6-9-2010)
  Team Statement: Todd Braun statement regarding penalties for the #38 and #10 teams following Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway: “Though we feel the penalties levied against Braun Racing for infractions at Nashville Superspeedway against the #38 and #10 teams are harsh under the circumstances, we understand NASCAR’s need to be consistent in making sure teams adhere to the rule book in order to promote a level playing field,” says Braun. “This situation is the result of miscommunication between team personnel and we will need to further evaluate the circumstances and work to improve our procedures to ensure this does not happen again.” (Braun PR)(6-9-2010)
• Fanhouse.com on the #60 at Kentucky: The #60 Ford Fusion of Carl Edwards will carry the colors of FanHouse.com, AOL’s flagship sports site.(RoushFenway PR)(6-9-2010)
• Kentucky Rookie Notes:
  • Brian Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott was credited with a 28th-place finish and collected top rookie honors for the seventh time this season.
  • Scott leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 24 points (138-114) in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 12 Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
  • Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 Meijer 300, scoring a fourth-place finish.
  • A Raybestos Rookie has won three of the nine NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Kentucky Speedway: 2004: Kyle Busch, 2005: Carl Edwards, 2006: David Gilliland
  • Carl Edwards holds the Nationwide Series track record in qualifying at Kentucky. Edwards won the pole for the 2005 event as a Raybestos® Rookie with a record lap of 29.787 seconds, 181.287 mph.
  • Edwards and Scott Riggs are the only Raybestos Rookies to win pole positions in nine Nationwide Series races at Kentucky. Riggs took the top starting position in 2002.
  (Camp & Assoc. / Raybestos PR)(6-9-2010)

• Carl Long to drive for new team: Craig Partee announced that Fleur-de-lis Motorsports will make their NASCAR debut at Daytona International Speedway in July. The newly-formed Nationwide Series Team will compete in the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at DIS on July 2nd. Partee, owner of Fleur-de-lis Construction in Seneca Falls, New York, has an extensive background in motorsports and looks forward to the debut of the #68 Chevy at Daytona. Plans are for Fleur-de-lis Motorsports to compete at Michigan, Richmond and Charlotte in addition to the Daytona race. All four races will be Nationwide Series COT (Car of Tomorrow) events. In 2011, Fleur-de-lis Motorsports plans to run the complete NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Carl Long has been named the driver and Morris Van Vleet will serve as Crew Chief for Fleur-de-lis Motorsports. The team will be based in Van Vleet’s Mooresville, North Carolina shop and be powered by Automotive Specialists Racing Engines.(Fleur-de-lis Motorsports)(6-8-2010)
• Nashville TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, June 5, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.3, the same rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2. Saturday’s telecast averaged 1,645,658 viewers. For the season, ESPN2’s NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage is up four percent in ratings average from last year.(ESPN)(6-8-2010)

• Stenhouse replaced at Kentucky? UPDATE 3: hearing that Ricky Stenhouse will be replaced in the #6 at Kentucky by Brian Icker. Stenhouse has been required to qualify on time since Phoenix, and DNQ’d last week after wrecking during qualifying.(6-8-2010)
  UPDATE: According to NASCAR’s entry list, Icker will be the driver of the #6 this weekend.(6-8-2010)
  UPDATE 2: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. could be cut back to a part-time schedule, or even be removed from the ride entirely.(6-8-2010)
  UPDATE 3: Roush Fenway Racing has now confirmed that Brian Ickler will be in the #6 this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, with Stenhouse returning at Road America on June 19. A spokesperson for the team said that Stenhouse remains a part of the team’s driver lineup.(Sirius Speedway)(6-8-2010)
• Cash America sponsoring #05 for select races: Cash America International, Inc. announced a multi-race motorsports marketing program – a relationship where Cash America will participate in each of NASCAR’s top three nationally touring series. Cash America will be the primary sponsor of a Sprint Cup Series team and a Nationwide Series team for upcoming events at Daytona, Indianapolis, Phoenix and Homestead. Cash America will also sponsor a Camping World Truck Series team for events in Nashville and Phoenix. For the final ten weeks of the season, Cash America will be a presenting sponsor for the syndicated motorsports news program RACEWEEK during its Southeastern broadcasts, focusing on coverage of the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Cash America will sponsor the Whitney Motorsports #46 Dodge driven by J.J. Yeley in the Sprint Cup Series. Cash America will sponsor the Day Enterprises #05 Chevy in the Nationwide Series and the Randy Moss Motorsports #81 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series; both entries will be driven by David Starr.(Cash America/Integrity Sports Management PR), hearing that the deal is for Nationwide Series races at Daytona, ORP, Phoenix, and Homestead.(6-8-2010)
• Mario on the #20 at Kentucky: Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be the featured video game on the #20 GameStop Toyota during the Meijer 300. Released on May 23, Super Mario Galaxy 2 enhances the action with an array of new power-ups, gravity-defying levels and inventive game options. For the first time in this series, players can hop on the back of Mario’s pal, Yoshi, who aids him on his quest in select stages.(JGR PR)(6-8-2010)
• Racing Resources Says:
  • Brad Keselowski won the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. It was his ninth series victory in his 117th race. He is the first repeat race winner in past seven Nashville races. It was his second Nashville victory in 11 races there. He is just the third driver to post a repeat victory at Nashville.
  • Keselowski posted his third victory of 2010. He has scored top-10 finishes in the past 12 Nationwide races.
  • Keselowski led four times for 97 laps, including the final 22. He has led in 11 of the 13 series races in 2010.
  • Penske Racing posted its 13th series victory and fourth in 2010, three by Keselowski.
  • Dodge posted its fourth win in 2010. Toyota has six; Chevrolet has three; and Ford is winless.
  • The top 10 consisted of four Toyotas, two Chevrolets, two Dodges and two Fords.
  • Keselowski led the most laps for the sixth time in his career. He has a 196-point lead over second-place Kyle Busch, who did not race.
  • Kevin Harvick, who did not compete, dropped from third to fourth in points; Harvick is 289 points behind Keselowski.
  • Carl Edwards (second) scored his 10th finish of sixth or better in 11 Nashville races.
  • Paul Menard (third) scored his best finish in 2010 and best Nashville finish in eight races.
  • Justin Allgaier (fourth) led 58 laps, the most he has led in a Nationwide race.
  • Mike Bliss (fifth) posted his best finish in 2010 and third top-10 finish in the past four Nashville races.
  • Brad Coleman, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished sixth.
  • Tayler Malsam, drivng for Braun Racing, finished 11th in his first Nashville race (started at the rear).
  • Josh Wise, driving for JR Motorsports, finished 16th.ESPN.com)(6-7-2010)
• Paint Schemes: add 42 images from Nashville to the 2010 Nationwide Series paint schemes pages.(6-7-2010)
• Green back in the #40 at Kentucky: Jeff Green will return to the seat of the #40 Westerman Chevy for the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway.(Key Motorsports PR)(6-7-2010)
• Caisse returning to #09 at Kentucky: Up next for RAB Racing is the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, June 12. Sean Caisse, who has two starts at Kentucky Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series including one pole and a second place finish in 2008, will be back behind the wheel of the #09 Ford making his debut at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(RAB Racing PR)(6-6-2010)

• Possible penalty for Braun Racing: NASCAR officials say Braun Racing faces a potential penalty for an “unapproved transfer of tires” during the Federated Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. NASCAR said the transfer was between the #10 Toyota driven by Tayler Malsam and the #38 driven by Jason Leffler. Leffler blew an engine and finished 34th after 85 laps, while Malsam finished 11th, completing all 225 laps. No other details of the infraction were immediately available.(NNS Racing)(6-6-2010)

• Phoenix Racing’s remaining schedule not set: #1-Phoenix Racing team manager Marc Reno hurried out of the Pocono Raceway garage area Friday afternoon when owner James Finch’s Sprint Cup driver this weekend, Terry Cook, failed to qualify for Sunday’s Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500. But going to Nashville Superspeedway for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 300 to watch Finch’s Nationwide Series operation isn’t an option. For the first time since Daytona in 2007 a Phoenix Racing car won’t be on the grid for a Nationwide race. In fact, Finch will drastically cut his 2010 Nationwide schedule. Reno said that the only two races Finch plans to run this summer are with the Nationwide new car, at Daytona (July) and Michigan (August), they hope with Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman. Finch’s future may include selling his Nationwide operation — though he seems as committed as he ever was to the series, having five Nationwide new cars in his fleet. “I think the press picked up on it when he was trying to sell the [Nationwide] team to [Steve] Turner [Buescher’s future father-in-law],” Reno said. “I think it just snowballed, they asked James questions and he just gave them a cute answer. There’s not a big line there to buy [the Nationwide team] but [Finch] honestly just wants to cut back that [Nationwide] deal because that division is getting so bad. “The purses are horrible. We run second at Dover and made $30,000, then ran 30 laps in the Cup race and made $75,000. Something’s not right on all that — and if you don’t have a Cup driver, you can’t compete. And you can’t get one to drive all the races since they’re all tied up. James literally told me last week if Newman would drive them all, he’d run them all. So our schedule with that [Nationwide] car is pretty much whatever Newman wants to run — and if it’s not him it would pretty much have to be someone of his quality.”(NASCAR.com)(6-6-2010)

• Allgaier running Prelude to the Dream: Justin Allgaier, driver of the Penske Racing #12 Verizon Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will return to his dirt racing roots this Wednesday night, June 9, when he will compete in the sixth-annual Gillette Fusion ProGlide Prelude to the Dream at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Allgaier, who began his racing career on dirt at the age of five, will join stars from NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, Rally Car and motocross as they battle not only for bragging rights, but also for charity. Allgaier will team with A.J. Allmendinger, Ron Capps, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Kenny Wallace and team captain Clint Bowyer to raise money for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. Allgaier will partner with car owner Dewaine Hottinger, who has owned and driven cars for some 16 years in and around Arkansas. His #65 Rocket Chassis will be wrapped with Allgaier’s familiar #12 Verizon scheme for the event.(Penske PR)(6-5-2010)
• Gerhardt planning NNS race at Daytona: Bobby Gerhart, who qualified ninth at Pocono in his first ARCA race attempt since winning the season-opener at Daytona, told Frontstretch that his team is attempting to prepare a Nationwide Series COT car in time for the NNS race at Daytona in July. He’s also looking to dip into the Truck Series, searching for a ride at the Pocono event later that month.(Frontstretch)(6-5-2010)

• Leslie takes over as crew chief for #16 team: UPDATE: Ben Leslie has been named interim crew chief for the Roush Fenway Racing #16 Nationwide Series team, a team spokesman has confirmed. He replaces Eddie Pardue. Leslie, who started the year as crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., had more recently been overseeing the Nationwide program for Roush Fenway. Pardue, a Nationwide Series crew chief for more than four years and an employee at Roush Fenway for seven, is no longer with the organization.(Scene Daily) (5-27-2010)
  UPDATE: Roush Fenway crew chief Eddie Pardue was fired last week after his crew’s involvement in a fight at a Daytona strip club. Multiple sources confirmed Nationwide Series veteran Pardue was released once management learned of the incident, which occurred in the middle of a Nationwide Car of Tomorrow test at Daytona. Sources say the crew for his #16 Roush Fenway Ford went to the club one night during the test, where a physical altercation with several patrons ensued. No charges were filed, but once word spread of the fight an undisclosed number of crewmen were fired, along with Pardue despite him not being in attendance at the club. One source suggested Roush was making an example with his dismissal in the wake of a miserable season during which their Cup and Nationwide teams have gone winless. Pardue had been a Roush employee for seven years and a Nationwide crew chief for the past four.(Frontstretch)(6-5-2010)
• MC2 sponsoring Baker Curb at Nashville: Beverage Plus, producer of the MC2 Energy Drink, announces an associate marketing sponsorship for this weekend at the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. Appearing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series are MC2 Energy Drink sponsored stock cars #27 Ford driven by Scott Wimmer, and #43 Ford driven by Scott Lagasse Jr. Beverage Plus is promoting its new products, which include three flavors of its caffeine free / sugar free herbal energy drink and two ounce shots. Beverage Plus joins the #27 primary sponsor G2 Gemini Custom Apparel, a Minnesota-based company, in helping team owner Baker Curb Racing achieve success on the concrete track this weekend.(MC2 PR)(6-4-2010)
• Goodall Homes sponsoring Day Enterprise at Nashville: Goodall Homes will be teaming up with 31-W Insulation to sponsor the #05 Day Enterprise Racing Chevy for the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Nashville SuperSpeedWay June 5th , 2010. Goodall Homes and Communities has been building affordable new homes and condominiums in Middle Tennessee for over 26 years. During that time, they have developed over 21 single-family home, condominium and 55 or Better residential communities in the Nashville metro area.(Day Enterprise PR), see an image of the car on my #05 team paint schemes page.(6-3-2010)
• G2 Gemini Custom Apparel sponsoring the #27: Baker Curb Racing announced that G2 Gemini Custom Apparel will be a primary sponsor on Scott Wimmer’s #27 Ford for Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. The Minnesota-based company provides custom apparel for worldwide customers in several industries, including; fishing, bowling and shooting.(Baker-Curb PR)(6-3-2010)
• Interstate Batteries renews with JGR: Interstate Batteries announced today that it has reached an agreement on a long-term extension of its sponsorship package with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), which paves the way for one of NASCAR’s longest-standing partnerships to surpass the 20-year milestone. The sponsorship will continue to include six races as primary sponsor of the #18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Camry driven by Kyle Busch, as well as one NASCAR Nationwide Series event each season. In addition to the seven total primary sponsorships, Interstate will continue to have promotional rights with all of JGR’s drivers, specifically, Busch’s teammates, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, under their Team Interstate platform.(JGR PR)(6-3-2010)
• DiBenedetto making season debut at Nashville: Matt DiBenedetto will make his 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway behind the wheel of the #20 Muscle Milk Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. It will mark the first time DiBenedetto has gone behind the wheel for JGR since making his series debut last fall in Memphis. This will mark the first time that Muscle Milk will appear on a JGR Nationwide Series entry. Muscle Milk is the title sponsor for JGRMX, Joe Gibbs Racing’s motocross operation and provides both the motocross athletes and JGR Pit Crew members with nutritional products. (JGR PR)(6-3-2010)
• Jeff Green returns to the #40: Jeff Green will drive the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy for the second time this season after running the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega on April 24, 2010 for car owner Curtis Key. Green started from the 42nd position and moved through the field to run with the leaders for much of the Talladega event, finishing a respectable 16th. While The Fiddler’s Inn returns to Key Motorsports as an associate sponsor for Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300, the #40 team offers a bargain to interested primary sponsors.(Key Motorsports PR)(6-3-2010)
• Vince Welch to Make Debut as Racing Lap-by-Lap Announcer: Vince Welch, who has been a pit reporter in ESPN and ABC’s auto racing coverage since 1999, will make his debut in the anchor seat this weekend when the network televises the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Nashville (TN) Superspeedway. Welch, who lives in the Indianapolis area, will call the race from the booth with analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. The race telecast, which airs on ESPN2, begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Welch also will call ESPN2’s coverage of a practice session on Friday night and qualifying on Saturday afternoon. While he has never called a race as the lead announcer, Welch has experience as a TV sports play-by-play announcer, including 15 years with the Ball State University Sports Network, which broadcasts BSU basketball games throughout the Midwest. And in a previous position with WNDY-TV in Indianapolis, an independent station that focused on live sports event coverage, he did play-by-play for a variety of levels of football, basketball, baseball and tennis and won a regional Emmy in 1992 for sports programming. He has been involved with coverage of the IndyCar Series, on both TV and radio, since its formation in 1996. Welch has also been a pit reporter for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage since 2007. In addition to his motorsports duties for ESPN, Welch also has worked as a college football sideline reporter for the network. Welch, formerly the sports director for WIBC Radio in Indianapolis, has been in broadcasting for more than 20 years. His career began in 1986 at WKBV radio in Richmond, Ind., and then he went into television in 1990 at CBS affiliate WISH-TV in Indianapolis as a sports anchor/reporter. Welch is an Indianapolis native and Ball State graduate. He also will call three other NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season for ESPN.(ESPN PR)(6-2-2010)
• Villeneuve drving 2 road course races for Braun: Braun Racing announced that former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will drive the #32 Dollar General Toyota in the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series’ inaugural event at Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin) and at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. Both tracks hold special meaning to Villeneuve. He earned his first career CART Series win at Elkhart Lake and the return to Montreal will mark his third career Nationwide Series start at the world-renowned road course named after his father, Gilles Villeneuve, also a legendary F1 racer. Last season in Montreal, Villeneuve qualified Braun Racing’s #32 Toyota Camry in the sixth position. Despite heavy rain conditions that enveloped the area for the second consecutive year, the highly skilled driver brought home a fourth-place finish.(Braun Racing PR)(6-2-2010)
• Lee Brice on the #88 at Nashville: The #88 Chevy will sport a special Whisky River paint scheme featuring country music sensation Lee Brice heading into Nashville this weekend. Brice is preparing for the release of his major-label debut, Love Like Crazy, next week, and is schedule to perform in concert at Whisky River Jacksonville on Wednesday, July 28.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-2-2010)
• Nashville Rookie Notes:
  • Brian Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the TECH-NET Auto Service 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Scott was credited with a 33rd-place finish and claimed top rookie honors for the sixth time this season.
  • Scott leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 14 points (127-113) in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.
  • Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2010 Nashville 300, scoring a 15th-place finish.
  • Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 Federated Auto Parts 300, claiming an eighth-place finish.
  • In 18 previous Nationwide Series races at Nashville, three Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions, two coming in the spring race: 2002: Shane Hmiel (Nationwide 300); 2005: Reed Sorenson (Nationwide 300); 2006: Todd Kluever (Federated Auto Parts 300)
  • A Raybestos Rookie has won three Nationwide Series races at Nashville Superspeedway, all coming in the Nashville 300 (spring race): 2001: Greg Biffle, 2002: Scott Riggs, 2005: Reed Sorenson
  • Reed Sorenson holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in a Nationwide Series race at Nashville. Sorenson led three times for 197 laps in the 2005 Nashville 300.(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc. PR)(6-2-2010)

• Fellows driving for JRM: When the JR Motorsports flagship #88 team travels to NASCAR Nationwide Series road-course events at Road America and Watkins Glen International later this season, it will have one of the best road-course drivers in the sport behind the wheel and two brand new sponsorship partners on its hood. AER Manufacturing will sponsor the #88 Chevy driven by decorated road racer Ron Fellows in the June 19 race at Road America. Fellows has driven for JR Motorsports three times before, winning at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on Aug. 2, 2008. AER Manufacturing has been a world leader in engine remanufacturing for the past 60 years, and has supported Fellows in the Trans Am Series, NASCAR and the American Le Mans Series since 1990. Grand Touring Vodka, which announced a new partnership with JR Motorsports earlier this month, will be Fellows’ primary sponsor in the Aug. 7 race at Watkins Glen International. It will mark the third of 10 sponsored races for Grand Touring Vodka in 2010, as the vodka brand will be on the #88 at Daytona International Speedway (July 2) and O’Reilly Raceway Park (July 24).(JR Motorsports PR)(6-1-2010)
• Allgaier testing: UPDATE: hearing that Justin Allgaier is testing today at Carolina Motorsports Park in the #12 Verizon Dodge.(6-1-2010)
  UPDATE: Allgaier and the Verizon crew spent Tuesday, June 1 and Wednesday, June 2 testing at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C. in preparation for the upcoming Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. on June 19.(Penske PR)(6-1-2010)

• Caisse driving for RAB: NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie driver, Sean Caisse, will pilot RAB Racing’s #09 Ford in Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 5. The 24-year-old Pelham, NH native made his third start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2009 piloting the #2 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing and will be making his second start at the 1.333-mile D-shaped oval this weekend in NASCAR’s second tier division. (RAB Racing)(6-1-2010)
• Dollar General on the #11 at Nashville: The #11 Camry, driven by Rookie of the Year candidate Brian Scott, will join Reed Sorenson and the #32 team in sporting the Dollar General colors this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. The #11 Toyota will carry the logo for Dollar General’s Literacy Rocks Sweepstakes.(Braun Racing PR)(6-1-2010)

• Jarit Johnson in the #87 at Nashville: Jarit Johnson Racing and NEMCO Motorsports announced that driver Jarit Johnson will pilot the #87 Chevy in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday June 5th. It will be Johnson’s fourth Nationwide Series start and first ever at the Nashville track. Johnson and NEMCO have sponsorship opportunities still available for the event and hope to secure more funding. For now the team plans to run as much of the race as possible under their current limited budget.(Johnson PR)(6-1-2010)
• Sad News – Richard Jackson: Former NASCAR team owner Richard Jackson passed away Monday evening. Jackson, who fielded cars from 1975 to 2001 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, was 74. Richard Jackson was born on March 31, 1937 in Asheville, NC. Racing and race cars were always a passion of Richard’s, and he and brother Leo Jackson Jr. built their first racer when Richard was 18. They raced the car through the mid-1950’s at the McCormick Field baseball stadium in Asheville, NC. In the fall of 1974, brothers Richard, and Leo Jr., formed Precision Products Racing. The team competed in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division, which later became the NASCAR Busch Series, and then the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team’s first season of racing was in 1975 with driver Bob Pressley (father of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley and grandfather to NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Coleman Pressley) behind the wheel. The team won its first race, and went on to win an astounding 34 of 53 races that season. Drivers Tommy Ellis and Dave Marcis also drove for the PPR Late Model Sportsman Team. In 1981 Precision Products Racing made its NASCAR Winston Cup debut at Darlington Raceway with driver Dave Marcis, and sponsorship from Asheville businessman Paul Young. At the start of the 1985 Winston Cup Season, Richard and Leo Jr. acquired the U.S. Tobacco team and sponsorship, competing in Winston Cup with a two car team driven by brothers Phil and Benny Parsons. In 1988, the team scored its first Winston Cup victory, with driver Phil Parsons taking the #55 Copenhagen Oldsmobile to victory lane in the Winston 500 at Talladega. In 1990, Jackson went on to form his own team, Richard Jackson Motorsports. The 1994 season was highlighted when Jackson and driver Rick Mast won the pole position for the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Drivers for the Richard Jackson Motorsports team include two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte, Rick Mast, Morgan Shepard, Jerry Nadeau, and Lance Hooper. In 1995, Jackson was the recipient of the Bobby Isaac Memorial Award, given to Richard in recognition of his contributions to short track racing.
  Richard Jackson is survived by his wife Karen of 53 years, brother Leo Jackson Jr., sisters Patricia Marshall and Gail Morgan, daughter Lisa Jackson, and grandchildren Jackson T. Young (21) and Emily S. Young (18).
  A Celebration of Life for Richard Jackson will be held on Wednesday evening, June 2nd at Abernethy United Methodist Church, 1418 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC. Friends of Richard Jackson and the Jackson family will be received beginning at 6pm, and the service will begin at 7:00pm. Funeral arrangements will be assisted by Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue. The Jackson family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina, 1293 Hendersonville Road, #1, Asheville, NC 28803, phone number (828) 274-9474, or to the Abernethy United Methodist Church Children and Youth Fund 1418 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806, phone number (828) 254-2612. See more on my Sad News page or at Groce Funeral Home)(6-1-2010)
• Malsam moving from CTWS to Braun Racing: Kyle Busch Motorsports is designed to give up-and-coming drivers a chance to advance through the ladder system of NASCAR’s top-three national touring divisions. Thus far, its mission has been accomplished as KBM officials announced that Tayler Malsam will depart the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team to accept a ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving the #10 Braun Racing Toyota beginning with the June 5 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. “We’re looking forward to adding Tayler to our No. 10 Toyota starting at Nashville,” said Todd Braun, owner of Braun Racing. “Kyle has done a great job of giving talented young drivers a chance to race and also advance up through the NASCAR system. We think Tayler has shown a lot of potential and we appreciate Kyle allowing us to give him a shot to move up to the Nationwide Series. We’re confident Tayler will bring home solid finishes for our team.”(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(6-1-2010)