Stout in the #01 at Dover: JC Stout, who regularly competes in the Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis, will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Kertus Davis, who normally drives the #01 Chevy for JD Motorsports, will be Stout’s teammate on the track Saturday in JD Motorsports’ #0 race truck as Stout pilots the #01.(JC Stout PR)(5-30-2008)
Kittleson to Drive for Mac Hill: Mac Hill Motorsports announced they have hired Travis Kittleson to run at least three Nationwide Series events for the team. Kittleson will race at Nashville Superspeedway, O’Reilly Raceway Park and The Milwaukee Mile, with the possibility of an expanded schedule if sponsorship is found.(R/T Racing/51 Sports PR)(5-29-2008)
Some Nationwide Season Stats Heading to Dover:
• 107 drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one race this season. • There have been five different pole winners in 2008: Tony Stewart (two), Kyle Busch (two), Brian Vickers (two), Colin Braun (one), Kasey Kahne (one) and Carl Edwards (one).
• Qualifying was canceled at California, Atlanta, Bristol and Texas.
• 38 drivers have posted at least one top-10 start this season, led by Clint Bowyer with 12.
• 102 drivers have qualified for at least one NASCAR Nationwide Series race this season.
• 39 drivers have registered at least one top-10 finish in 2008, led by Clint Bowyer with nine.
• Five races have been extended by green-white-checkered finishes in 2008.
• 40 drivers have led at least one lap this season.
• Kyle Busch has led 718 laps in 2008 – more than any other driver.
• There have been 209 on-track penalties issued this season.
• Toyota leads in the manufacturers’ point standings with 95 points. Chevrolet is in second with 82. Ford has 63 points while Dodge has 46.
• Toyota has eight victories, Chevrolet three and Ford one.
(NASCAR PR)(5-29-2008)
Joe Gibbs Driven Hot Rod Oil on the #18: Since its inception in November 2004, Joe Gibbs Driven, the automotive aftermarket division of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), has created of some of the top oil products in racing. A little over three years later, Joe Gibbs Driven expands it motorsports reach with the launch of Joe Gibbs Driven Hot Rod Oil. Designed specifically for hot rod and street rod applications, Joe Gibbs Driven Hot Rod Oil was born from the company’s successful formulation of high-performance racing oils and lubricants – products developed by JGR’s three-time Sprint Cup Series championship-winning engine builder Mark Cronquist and used by JGR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams. Denny Hamlin will carry the colors of the new Joe Gibbs Driven Hot Rod Oil in Saturday’s Heluva Good!200 Nationwide Series race at Dover(Joe Gibbs Driven PR)(5-29-2008)
Acredale Sponsoring Jay Robinson Racing at Dover: Acredale Vending co. will rerturn to Jay Robinson racing this weekend at Dover as an associate sponsor on the #4 & #28 cars.(Acredale PR)(5-29-2008)
Eury Sr., Two JR Motorsports Crew Members Fined, Penalized For Actions At Lowe’s: UPDATE: NASCAR announced that Tony Eury Sr., crew chief for the #88 Chevy driven by Brad Keselowski, has been fined and placed on probation as have two members of the JR Motorsports team that were involved in a post-race altercation in the pit road impound area following the Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 24.
Eury Sr. was fined $1,000 and placed on probation until June 25, 2008 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-4A (the crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his or her driver, car owner and team members) of the 2008 Nationwide Series Rule Book.
Additionally, JR Motorsports crew member Michael Sandlin will serve a one-race suspension from the Nationwide Series and is suspended from NASCAR until June 4, 2008. He has been placed on probation until October 15, 2008 and also has been fined $1,500 for violating Section 12-4-A. Sandlin failed to follow a directive from a NASCAR official and had inappropriate contact with a NASCAR official during the post-race altercation.
Jordan Allen, another JR Motorsports crew member, also has been placed on probation until October 15, 2008 and fined $1,500 for being in violation of Section 12-4-A. Allen also failed to follow a directive from a NASCAR official and had inappropriate contact with a NASCAR official during the post-race altercation.(NASCAR PR)(5-28-2008) UPDATE: JR Motorsports will not appeal the penalties NASCAR issued the team following a pit-road melee following the May 24 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. A team spokesman said Thursday that the NASCAR Nationwide Series organization would not appeal the penalties.(SceneDaily.com)(5-29-2008)
Franchitti will run Nationwide Race at Dover: After taking the last few weeks off from racing to allow time for his ankle to heal, Dario Franchitti will climb back behind the wheel of the #40 Fastenal Dodge Saturday, May 31, to compete in the 14th Nationwide Series race of the 2008 season. Franchitti has been on the mend since he fractured his left ankle in the NNS race at Talladega Superspeedway in late April. He participated in the NSCS test session at Pocono earlier this week, but this Saturday will mark his first official racing effort since Talladega.(CGRFS PR)(5-28-2008)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Dover: Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Gale was credited with a 30th-place finish and claimed top rookie honors for the third time this season.
A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in three of the last five races.
Dario Franchitti holds a six-point lead (89-83) over Bryan Clauson in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover. Franchitti has led the Raybestos Rookie standings for the past 11 consecutive races.
Marcos Ambrose was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Heluva Good! 200, claiming a sixth-place finish. Ambrose became the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 at Dover since Reed Sorenson placed second in 2005.(Raybestos PR)(5-28-2008)
Wimmer Staring Six Race Stretch: Scott Wimmer takes over driving duties of the Holiday Inn Chevy for the next six NNS races. The stretch spans from Dover to Daytona on July 4. This weekend’s race is the seventh of 23 that the Wausau, Wis., native is scheduled to run.(RCR PR)(5-27-2008)
Nationwide Series Hits the Monster Mile Live on ESPN2: ESPN2s season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series continues with a live telecast of the event at Dover International Speedway Saturday, May 31, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast at the track known as The Monster Mile is presented by DAP. 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 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. Former Nationwide Series champion Greg Biffle joins ESPNs coverage team as In-Race Reporter. Biffle will talk to Wallace on the races pace laps as well as under caution periods. ESPN2 also airs live coverage of the final practice for the event Friday, May 30, at 2 p.m., as well as qualifying on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.(ESPN PR)(5-26-2008)
Clauson in the #81 at Dover: The MacDonald Motorsports team remained locked in the owner points [after Lowe’s], guaranting a starting position for Dover next week. “We should be really good at Dover”, stated owner Randy MacDonald. “Bryan Clauson from Ganassi Racing will be behind the wheel of our #81 Vector Security Dodge that will bear a new paint scheme for the event.”(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(5-26-2008)
Braun Considering Sale of Team: A week after one Nationwide Series owner said he was considering leaving the series, another said his could leave, too. Todd Braun said the high cost of switching to the car of tomorrow could prove too much to his independent team [#10, #32, & #38]. That’s what JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last week. Earnhardt Jr. said he is considering moving his team to the Sprint Cup Series because of the added cost of switching to the COT. Braun said he evaluates the economic viability of his Braun Racing team every year, looking for ways to increase resources. Braun has merged with other teams in the past and could do so again. Or he could sell part or all of his three-car team. Braun said “selling, merging, whatever it might be, is definitely in the forefront of everybody’s minds” in the Nationwide garage. Braun said that even as his team has grown through mergers, he said Braun Racing is “farther away from the bigger organizations on the other side of the garage, and that makes it harder for us to see the long-term viability without more resources brought into the team.”(SceneDaily.com)(5-25-2008)
Leffer Planning to Drive for Haas CNC in Dover Cup Race: Jason Leffler said Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that the “tentative plan” is for him to drive Haas CNC Racing’s #70 Sprint Cup Chevrolet at Dover International Speedway next weekend. Leffler drives Braun Racing’s #38 Toyota in the Nationwide Series but has gotten permission to drive in Cup. Leffler said he tested for Haas CNC at Nashville Superspeedway recently, the first time he’s driven NASCAR’s new model car. Leffler will also test the #70 at Pocono Raceway next weekend, he said.(SceneDaily.com)(5-24-2008)
GameStop Sponsoring Logano: Joe Gibbs Racing officials announced that GameStop, the world’s largest video game retailer, will sponsor Joey Logano in his Nationwide Series debut May 31 at Dover. The Grapevine, Texas-based company will continue to serve as Logano’s primary sponsor on the #20 Toyota during the series’ next race June 7 at Nashville and again Sept. 7 at Richmond while providing associate sponsorship for the remainder of Logano’s 18-race Nationwide Series schedule.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(5-24-2008)
Marines Logo on the #25: Team Marines Racing holds a special place in its heart for The United States Marine Corps. The relationship began when the United States Marine Corp Recruiting Command used the #25 Team Rensi Motorsports Ford as a chief recruiting tool via a marketing partnership. From that long partnership, the team met many Marines and learned more about their traditions and work to keep our country safe.When the marketing relationship ended in November 2006, Team Rensi Motorsports elected to continue to honor the Marine Corps by displaying the Eagle, Globe and Anchor logo on all their race cars. On this special Memorial Day Weekend, that famous logo will receive an even larger space on the Ford driven by former Team Marines driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr.(Team Rensi PR)(5-24-2008)
Logano affirms commitment to Joe Gibbs Racing: Now that he’s turned 18, Joey Logano is literally in charge of his future. Contracts signed by minors typically are difficult to enforce, so Logano and Joe Gibbs Racing likely will enter into an agreement soon to secure Logano’s future, JGR President J.D. Gibbs said Saturday. “Right now, the contract is with his parents, and what you have to do now is go back and we’ll have to re-do a contract with him,” Gibbs said. “We’re definitely going to do that. It’s going to be a long-term deal. Right now, he has three or four years left on it.” Logano’s father, Tom, signed a guarantee with JGR in 2005 that if Joey left the team when he turned 18, Tom would repay JGR for the money invested in his son.(SceneDaily.com)(5-24-2008)
Josh Wise to Drive for Fitz at Lowe’s: UPDATE: Josh Wise makes his second Nationwide Series career start this weekend in the #22 Supercuts entry fielded by Fitz Motorsports at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Saturday night.(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(5-21-2008) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip said his team has big plans for development driver Josh Wise, who is making his second Nationwide Series start this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Wise is competing for Fitz Motorsports at Charlotte, though Waltrip hopes to have him in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota full time in 2009. “We have a lot of plans for Josh,” Waltrip said Friday. “He’s a great young man, very successful in his open wheel-days. He tests everywhere, so he’s constantly on the track, and he’s doing behind the scenes what Joey Logano is doing in public because of his age and the success that he’s had.’(SceneDaily.com)(5-23-2008)
Kyle Busch to Drive for D’Hondt at Watkins Glen: UPDATE: D’Hondt Motorsports, announced that they will field Nationwide Series Toyotas for Kyle Busch to compete in the Zippo 200 August 9th, at Watkins Glen International. On the heels of winning the season’s first Nationwide Series’ road course event in the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Toyota at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, earlier this year, Busch will return to Watkins Glen International and look to make it two in a row in the DMS # 92 Camry.(D’Hondt Motorsports PR)(5-16-2008) UPDATE: D’Hondt Motorsports, LLC announced that Zippo Manufacturing Company, promoting their line of hot new Zippo BLU lighters, will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Busch in the #92 Toyota Camry in the “Zippo 200” August 9th at Watkins Glen International.(D’Hondt Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my #92 Paint Schemes Page.(5-23-2008)
Race Fumes on the #84 This Weekend: Race Fumes announced that they have teamed up with fellow Mooresville, North Carolina Nationwide Series team Elite 2 Racing and its driver [Carl Long] as a sponsor on the team’s #84 Chevy for Saturday night’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Race Fumes PR)(5-22-2008)
Three Cars for JR Motorsports at Lowe’s: For the first time in JR Motorsports history the team will field three Chevys in Nationwide Series competition in Saturday’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Brad Keselowski will drive the #88 Navy Salute the Troops Chevy, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be a the wheel of the #83 Navy Dale Jr. Division Chevy, and making his JR Motorsports debut, Jimmie Johnson will drive the #5 Lowe’s Chevy.(JR Motorsports PR)(5-21-2008)
Miller Debuting GEM #19 at Lowe’s: Chase Miller is still grinning after his first career Nationwide Series top-10 finish two weeks ago. The 21-year-old Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver plans to repeat that performance at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. Miller’s eighth-place finish at Darlington came in just his ninth-career start, and third of 2008. This weekend, the Canton, Ga. native’s #19 Dodge Charger carries Verizon Wireless/Motorola sponsorship. Miller and the Kevin Kidd-led team posted the second-fastest time during the recent NNS test at LMS. And, GEM teammate Kasey Kahne won the All-Star Race while his other teammate, Elliott Sadler, earned the Showdown pole. Kidd, who normally serves as Team Engineer on the #19 Dodge for Elliott Sadler, will be pulling double duty this weekend as Miller’s Team Director.(GEM PR)(5-21-2008)
Teams Lining Up Replacement Drivers for Nashville Weekend: Several Nationwide Series teams are lining up backup drivers for the upcoming Sprint Cup/Nationwide non-companion weekend June 6-8. The Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway will be held June 7 at 7:30 p.m. EDT, four hours after qualifying is to be held. Sprint Cup practice at Pocono ends at 12:20 p.m., cutting it close for Cup drivers who want to fly to Nashville. Also, Cup qualifying is at 3:40 p.m. June 6, with two Nationwide practices that day, at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Jason Hedlesky will fill in for Carl Edwards in Roush Fenway Racing’s #60 at Nashville, though whether Edwards will fly back and forth has yet to be decided, the team said. Auggie Vidovich is the backup for Edwards’ teammate, #6-David Ragan, though Ragan will try to make it to Nashville in time for qualifying. Greg Biffle won’t fly into Nashville for practice June 6, but since the #16 Ford needs to make the race via qualifying, Biffle will try to make it for time trials. His backup is Casey Atwood. Josh Wise is the backup driver for #99-David Reutimann. Backup plans for Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer and Braun Racing’s Kyle Busch are unknown, both teams said. Busch is trying to run all three NASCAR national series race that weekend, so he won’t be in Nashville on June 6.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2008)
Forest City Owls Baseball on the #52 at Lowes: Forest City Owls and Jimmy Means Racing announce a partnership for this Saturday’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Forest City will be the primary sponsor for the #52 [Brad Teague] car in the race that is a part of the Nationwide Series. The Owls logo will be prominently displayed on the front hood of the race car. Not only will the logo gain exposure at the speedway, but it will gain national exposure because the race will be televised nationally on ESPN 2 at 7 p.m. eastern. Jimmy Means Racing is based out of Forest City and the Owls felt it would benefit both sides.(Forest City Owls PR)(5-20-2008)
Herd Racing Joins Day Enterprises for Select Races: Herd Racing LLC, a Nationwide Series team based in West Virginia, has announced that it will pool its resources for the 2008 race season with Day Enterprises in an effort to introduce fans of Marshall University to racing. The team will enter its Dodge Charger race car featuring driver Brett Rowe in this weekend’s Carquest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The car will carry the #05 and will feature sponsors from both Herd Racing and Day Enterprises, the teams announced. “We found the sponsorship hunt to be much tougher than we anticipated it would be,” said Herd Racing President Dana Tomes. “Brett was already driving for Day Enterprises and he has a good relationship there so it just makes sense for both teams to work together this year.” Tomes said Herd Racing continues to seek sponsorship in hopes of running full time in one of NASCAR’s three touring series next season, but a shaky economy has left those plans unclear. The team had originally planned on running 8-10 Nationwide Series events this year in preparation for a full 2009 race schedule.(Herd Racing PR)(5-20-2008)
Sponsors Team Up for “Be Water Smart” Campaign: On Thursday May 22nd the Scotts Company, sponsor of the #60 Nationwide entry driven by Carl Edwards for 12 races this season, along with Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful (KAB) are launching a community outreach initiative, Water Smart, which advocates a better way to use the water nature provides us. The NASCAR sponsors have teamed together to educate homeowners on the importance of water conversation. Many residents of the Charlotte area have been affected by last year’s drought and the message is still very relevant throughout the city. The team will be distributing door hangers to Concord, North Carolina residents from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. with the “Be Water Smart” message.(Roush Fenway PR)(5-20-2008)
Harvick Gives Shepherd Car for Lowe’s; Jarrett Buying Tires: One racer giving to his fellow competitor has been part of the family atmosphere of NASCAR racing for 60 years. But the actions of Kevin and DeLana Harvick at this weekend’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 exemplify helping your fellow man. Kevin and DeLana have donated a Nationwide Series race car to fellow competitor #89-Morgan Shepherd in an effort to keep the 66-year young “old-school” racer on the track a while longer. Not to be out-done, retiring racing legend Dale Jarrett said he will help keep Shepherd’s efforts going strong by footing the bill for his Goodyear Racing Eagles this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Faith Motorsports PR)(5-20-2008)
Baker in #81 for Kennington at Lowe’s: Brad Baker will once again drive a Vector Security sponsored car for MacDonald Motorsports at Charlotte this weekend in the Carquest Auto Parts 300. Baker will be filling in for DJ Kennington. Kennington, coming off a career high 20th place finish at Darlington two weeks ago, is competing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series as well this year. Kennington will return to the #81 Dodge at Nashville on June 7th.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(5-20-2008)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Lowe’s Motor Speedway:Chase Miller was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. Miller scored an eighth-place finish, his best in nine career Nationwide Series starts. He became the first Raybestos Rookie to score a top-10 at Darlington since Denny Hamlin placed seventh in 2005. Miller claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time in 2008.
A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in three of the last four races.
Dario Franchitti holds a 16-point lead (89-73) over Bryan Clauson in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Franchitti has led the Raybestos® Rookie standings for the past 10 consecutive races.
A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in three of the past four spring races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch won the 2004 CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 and is the only Raybestos Rookie driver to win the spring [Nationwide] Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway since the rookie program was created in 1989 (19 races). Busch also led the most laps in the race (three times for 93 laps).(Raybestos PR)(5-20-2008)
Childress would like to see Nationwide/CTS Race at Iowa: Team owner Richard Childress heaped praise on Iowa Speedway Sunday before the U.S. Cellular 200. He also hinted he may go to bat for the facility with NASCAR officials regarding the possible future procurement of a Craftsman Truck Series and/or Nationwide Series event. “We would put a lot better race on here with the (Sprint) Cup (Series) cars than we do on some of the other race tracks,” said Childress, who’s current crop of Cup drivers includes Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton. “I think it would be a great track for the (Nationwide) cars. I was here last year watching the (Camping World Series) race and it was a great race. You can race from the top to the bottom, so it really works good.”(Des Moines Register)(5-19-08)
JR Motorsorts could move to Cup UPDATE Stewart involved?: #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)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Charlotte: ESPN2s season-long coverage of the Nationwide Series continues with a live, prime-time telecast of the 300-mile event at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday night, May 24, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast 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, 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. Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins the ESPN coverage team as In-Race Reporter, talking to Wallace on the races pace laps and during caution periods.(ESPN PR)(5-19-2008)
R3 Motorsports to make Nationwide Series debut this weekend: A new Nationwide Series team debuts in this weekend’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway: R3 Motorsports. R3 Motorsports, owned by Robert Richardson Sr., competed in the Craftsman Truck Series a few years ago with Robert Richardson Jr. as driver. Other than the team’s hauler driver, however, the Richardsons are all that remains from the original R3 team. R3 Motorsports will compete in at least eight races this season, Richardson Jr. said recently. The team bought cars from JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Rob Fuller will serve as crew chief for the #23 Chevy.(SceneDaily.com)(5-19-2008)
Gale Making Debut at Lowe’s; VFW on the #77: Cale Gale will be making his first Nationwide Series appearance at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Saturday for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300. Earlier this season Gale tested at the track and worked with team co-owner Kevin Harvick to gain valuable insight and much needed seat time. Gale will represent Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) this weekend when they make their first appearance as the primary on the #77 KHI Chev.. This isn’t the first time Gale has worn the colors of VFW. Gale’s T-ball team was also sponsored by VFW and his grandfather is a proud member of the organization.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR)(5-19-2008)
RCR Cutting Back #21 Schedule: Nationwide Series Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has suspended fielding the #21 Chevy for any non- sponsored races for the remainder of the 2008 season according to an RCR spokesperson. Currently the #21 team has 9 starts out of 12 NNS race events this year and sits 26th in the owners points as of Darlington. The #21 drivers seat has been shared by Bobby Labonte and Stephen Leicht so far this season with no word on which driver might continue to drive for the #21 team pending any sponsorship deals. No further information is available at this time. (TheHotLap.com)(5-15-2008)
Logano Tests at Rockingham: Less than two weeks after winning the Carolina 500, Joey Logano returned to the Rockingham Speedway – this time driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota testing for his upcoming debut in the Nationwide Series. Logano spent all day in his #20 Nationwide Series Toyota – a car that he has not yet raced but at a track where he dominated the field during his ARCA debut just last week.(Rockingham Speedway PR)(5-14-2008)
NASCAR Schedules Year End Banquets: NASCAR announced today the lineup for its three top series’ 2008 postseason awards shows, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony’s return to the Waldorf=Astoria hotel in New York City.
The Dec. 5 Waldorf event will continue a tradition begun in 1981 for NASCAR’s premier series. The event will be held in the Waldorf’s Grand Ballroom. Television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
This lineup is a change from recent seasons, when the Nationwide Series was the finale. This year, that event will preface the New York show.
The rundown follows:
• Nov. 17: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; Seminole Hard Rock; Hollywood, Fla.
• Nov. 22: NASCAR Nationwide Series; Portofino Bay Hotel; Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 5: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; Waldorf=Astoria; New York.(NASCAR PR)(5-9-2008)
Changes at JR Motorsports: Marty Smith reported during ESPN2’s Darlington pre race coverage that JR Motorsports’ Director of Motorsports Steve Crisp was leaving the team the pursue a passion with hot rod cars. He will be replaced by Gus Larkin, the current head of Sponsor Relations, who will become the Team Manager.(ESPN TV Coverage)(5-9-2008)
Shepherd Honoring Mothers at Darlington: In a fitting tribute to mothers around the world, Morgan Shepherd’s #89 Racing With Jesus Dodge will honor and remember all mothers this Mother’s Day weekend. Shepherd’s Dodge Charger will carry a large red banner on its rear quarter panels in Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race which reads “Happy Mother’s Day” and will also display the names of his late mother, Bettie Poovey; his mother-in-law, Betty Jones; Tony Stewart’s mom, Pam Boas; Kevin Harvick’s mom; JoNell Harvick; and Matt Yocum’s mother, Mary Yocum, as a small Mother’s Day tribute.(Faith Motorsports PR)(5-7-2008)
MC2 Energy Drink Back on the #81 at Darlington: Beverage Plus Inc. has aligned itself with MacDonald Motorsports at the Nationwide Series race in Darlington. The company also sponsored the team’s #81 Dodge, driven by D.J. Kennington, at Mexico.(MacDonald Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on my #81 Team Paint Schemes page.(5-7-2008)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Darlington: Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond. Clauson scored a 21st-place finish and claimed top Raybestos Rookie honors for the second time in 2008.
Dario Franchitti holds a 26-point lead (89-63) over Clauson in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington.
Franchitti has led the Raybestos® Rookie standings for the past nine consecutive races.
David Ragan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Diamond Hill Plywood 200, collecting a 13th-place finish.
Kyle Busch is the most recent Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Darlington. He held the top spot once for 12 laps in the November 2004 Bi-Lo 200.(Raybestos PR)(5-7-2008)
Verizon Debuting on the #9 at Darlington: Chase Miller will be making his ninth career start this weekend at Darlington Raceway, but first with Verizon Wireless Motorola on the #9 Gillett Evernham Dodge. Miller has never seen the newly repaved track “Too Tough to Tame” in person.(Gilett Evernham Motorsports PR)(5-6-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Darlington: Long one of NASCAR’s most treacherous tracks because of its unique, egg-shaped layout, Darlington Raceway will be even more daunting for Nationwide Series drivers this weekend as they race under the lights on a new coating of pavement that has turned the track into an ultra-fast circuit. ESPN2 will have live, prime-time coverage of the Nationwide Series at Darlington presented by The Coleman Company Friday night, May 9, beginning at 7 p.m. with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast also airs in high definition on ESPN2 HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s 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. Matt Kenseth will join the ESPN coverage team as In-Race Reporter, talking to Wallace on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods.(ESPN PR)(5-5-2008)
KHI Crew Pitted Shepherd at Richmond: Often when you hear “double duty” in NASCAR, it’s referring to the driver’s running in two of NASCAR’s elite series in the same weekend, usually the Nationwide and Cup Series. In Richmond, this term took on a new meaning for the #33 team. Not only did the team pit for Harvick, but several members of the #33 team also helped pit #89-Morgan Shepherd’s car. With Shepherd off the lead lap, providing no conflict with the team’s main focus, the KHI crew was able to assist on Shepherd’s car.(KHI PR)(5-5-2008)
Gunselman Released: Larry Gunselman said Friday that he did his best to slow his car down and avoid hitting Dario Franchitti in the door last week in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway that broke Franchitti’s left ankle. Gunselman was driving for MSRP Motorsports, a team that is more or less starting and parking this year. He said he was released from the team after the accident. Although he was released from the infield care center following the wreck, Gunselman said he started feeling nauseated and was taken to a hospital for observation. He had a CAT-scan and X-rays to his elbow and was released. He said he is still sore from the wreck. Gunselman was replaced at Richmond by Kenny Hendrick.(SceneDaily.com)(5-3-2008)
Blue Angels on the #88 at Richmond: IMAGE In honor of the U.S. Navy’s elite flight demonstration team, Brad Keselowski will drive the #88 Navy Blue Angels Chevy in Saturday’s Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Speedway. Instead of the usual “Dress White” paint scheme the Navy Chevy has sported throughout the 2008 season, the #88 will be blue and gold, just like the Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Hornets.(JR Motorsports PR)(4-30-2008) IMAGE: See an image of the car on my #88 Team Paint Scheme page.(5-2-2008)
Nationwide Series Live in Prime Time from Richmond: UPDATE 2: Moved to ESPN Classic & Speed: NASCAR drivers and fans consider Richmond International Raceway one of the most competitive tracks in the sport, and racing on the .750-mile track takes on even more excitement at night under the lights. ESPN2 will have a live, prime-time telecast as the Nationwide Series races at Richmond Friday night, May 2, beginning at 7 p.m. with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast also will air in high definition on ESPN2 HD. Marty Reid will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s 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.(ESPN PR)(4-28-2008) UPDATE: Friday night’s ESPN production of the Nationwide Series race from Richmond has been moved to ESPN Classic and also will be simulcast on ESPN360.com and SPEED. The telecast begins at 7 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The change was made to accommodate NBA playoff game six between Washington and Cleveland. Additionally, for fans without ESPN Classic, a special encore presentation of the race from start to finish will air that evening following the NBA game beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.(EPSN PR)(5-1-2008) UPDATE 2: Here is the revised broadcast plan for the race:
* The live telecast of the race in its originally scheduled time slot (7–10:00 p.m. ET) will air simultaneously on both SPEED and ESPN Classic.
* ESPN2 will join the race live immediately following the Cavaliers – Wizards game and will also re-air the race in its entirety immediately following the conclusion of the race broadcast.
* Both NASCAR.com and ESPN.com will stream the race live.
* ESPN and SPEED will begin on-air promotion today (Thursday, May 1).
* SPEED’s live coverage from Richmond begins at 1:00 p.m. ET with NASCAR LIVE and will continue straight through the live broadcast of the race until 10:00 p.m. ET.(NASCAR PR)(5-1-2008)
Peanut Shop of Williamsburg Sponsorsing Rensi at Richmond: Team Rensi Motorsports driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr. hopes to prove false the old racing superstition of peanuts leading to bad luck in a NASCAR race. The #25 Peanut Shop of Williamsburg Ford will take the green flag on Friday night in the Lipton Team 250 at Richmond International Raceway.(Team Rensi PR)(5-1-2008)
