Congrats: Kleenex Racing tire carrier Butch Waugh’s wife Amy gave birth to daughter Keeley Ruth Waugh at 8:57 CT Saturday morning. Keeley was a week early and Butch was in Dover for the race. He flew out this morning and landed in Nashville at 8:00 am and made it to the hospital just as the doctor was walking in.(5-30-2009)
Caisse to drive for Childress: Richard Childress Racing has signed Sean Caisse to drive its #2 Chevy SS in a limited number of NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2009 and a more expanded program in 2010. The 23-year-old driver from Pelham, N.H., is scheduled to make his RCR Nationwide Series debut next month at Nashville Superspeedway. Caisse will drive the #2 Chevy at the June 6 Federated Auto Parts 300 and a yet-to-be-determined number of other Nationwide Series races this season before a more expanded program in 2010.(RCR PR)(5-29-2009)
JD Motorsports announces Dover sponsors: The #01 Johnny Davis Motorsports team with Danny O’Quinn Jr. announced The Arthritis Foundation, Signs By Tomorrow of Dover and the Dover Chamber of Commerce will be associate sponsors for the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover Speedway.(Hufco Promotion / Johnny Davis Motorsports PR)(5-29-2009)
Continental Fire & Safety sponsoring Raines at Dover: Continental Fire & Safety will be an associate sponsor on FRM’s #34 Sprint Cup entry and the primary sponsor on FRM’s #34 Nationwide entry at Dover International Speedway for the upcoming race weekend. The Continental Fire & Safety #34 Chevy in the Nationwide series will be piloted by Tony Raines who is currently 15th in driver points.(Front Row Motorsports PR)(5-29-2009)
Hillary Duff named grand marshal at Kentucky: Actress, singer-songwriter and philanthropist Hilary Duff will encourage Kentucky Speedway fans to donate new and used backpacks to the “Blessings in a Backpack” charity when she serves as grand marshal of the June 13 NASCAR Nationwide Series “Meijer 300 Presented by Ritz.” Ms. Duff is a national spokeswoman for the charity which supplements food donations for kindergarten through fifth grade students enrolled in Title 1 public schools that qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program. Backpacks are filled with staple items children take home for weekends. Race day backpack donations will directly benefit Kentucky students and will be accepted at the Meijer display near the speedway main gate.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-28-2009)
Bobby Hamilton, Jr in the #81 at Dover: Macdonald Motorsports announced that Bobby Hamilton Jr. will be behind the wheel of the #81 AA Auto Warranty Dodge at the “Monster Mile” this weekend. Hamilton, who will be making his first start of the 2009 season, looks forward to helping MacDonald Motorsports get back to the Top 20 in owners points. AA Auto Warranty.com is an online broker for vehicle service contracts, based in Newark, Delaware.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(5-27-2009)
Racing Resources Says
* Mike Bliss won the Nationwide Series CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which had a delayed start due to a late afternoon rain shower and finished with more rain on Lap 170 of 200. Bliss started from the rear. The last driver to win from the rear after an engine change at Lowe’s was Jeff Burton in October 2007. The last driver to win from the rear of any race was Carl Edwards at Memphis last October for a driver change.
* Bliss posted his second series victory in his 154th career start. He became the eighth series winner in 2009. His first series victory came at Lowe’s in October 2004. This was his second victory in nine races at Lowe’s. He led three times for 21 laps, including the final four.
* This was the 12th victory for Phoenix Racing. Phoenix Racing’s last win came at Milwaukee in June 2005, when Johnny Sauter won when the race was shortened after 200 of the 250 scheduled laps. Bliss is the sixth different driver to win for Phoenix Racing.
* The last rain-shortened race was at Montreal last August, won by Ron Fellows.
* Chevy posted its third win in 11 races in 2009. Ford and Toyota each have four wins this season.
* Kyle Busch, the points leader by 37 entering the race over Carl Edwards, finished third. Despite his second-place qualifying effort, Busch started at the rear of the field because of an engine change. He now leads the points by 73 over Edwards, who finished 10th. Busch scored his 22nd top-three finish in his last 41 series races.
* Edwards has finished second, third and 10th in the past three series races.
* Brendan Gaughan (finished second) posted his career-best finish. He was the highest-finishing rookie of the year contender of the seven rookies in the race.
* Jason Leffler (sixth) has scored 10 straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at California in February. Leffler has finished in the top 10 in the past six series races, extending a streak that began at Nashville.
* Brad Keselowski (eighth) extended a streak of eight consecutive top-15 finishes that began at Bristol. Keselowski was in his third car of the weekend after crashing two cars in practice. Keselowski finished 22nd, 27th and 27th in the first three races of the season before posting his first top-15 finish of the season.
* The top 10 consisted of four Chevys, two Fords and four Toyotas.(ESPN.com)(5-27-2009)
Newman making JR Motorsports debut: Ryan Newman makes his JR Motorsports debut this weekend at Dover in the #5 Fastenal Chevy. This is the first of four races that Newman will compete for JR Motorsports. His remaining events include Chicagoland Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. The #5 Fastenal Chevy will be off for the next two races at Nashville and Kentucky, before returning to action at the Milwaukee Mile with Scott Wimmer.(JR Motorsports PR)(5-27-2009)
Marc Davis joins Braun Racing for 6 races: Braun Racing announced that 18-year-old, Marc Davis, will pilot its #10 Toyota for six upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series races including this Saturday’s Heluva Good! 200 at Dover International Speedway. The #10 will carry sponsorship from WHUR-FM Radio (96.3) and The Word Network. Plans call for Davis to drive the #10 Toyota in six Nationwide Series races, including events at: Dover, Nashville, Kentucky, Milwaukee, Gateway and ORP.(Braun Racing PR)(5-27-2009)
Kevin Conway in the #87 for 5 races: Kevin Conway is headed back to the track. His never give up drive to compete, combined with a great talent and a marketing degree have served him well, yet again. Kevin will pilot the #87 NEMCO Motorsports Toyota beginning with the “Heluva Good! 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 30th. Conway says, “as it stands, we are going to do Dover, Nashville, Kentucky, Gateway International Raceway and ORP for NEMCO Motorsports with primary sponsor Extenze and associate sponsor Alteril.(Catchfence.com)(5-27-2009)
Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q sponsoring Coleman in 2 races: Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q is spicing up the track for Joe Gibbs Racing and their Nationwide driver, #20-Brad Coleman, this summer. Rudy’s will launch their entry into the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the first time on June 6 at Nashville, followed by the Father’s Day weekend race at Milwaukee on June 20. The commitment also includes associate sponsorship on Coleman’s car for additional races throughout the summer.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR)(5-27-2009)
Rookie Notes for Dover:
Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Gaughan scored a second-place finish, his best in 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series races, and became just the fourth Raybestos Rookie to scored a top-five in the spring race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (21 races). He claimed his first top-five and fourth top-10 finish this season and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time in 2009. Gaughan led the race twice for four laps and was the only Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in the event.
At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in the last NINE consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Gaughan leads Justin Allgaier by three points (115-112) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover International Speedway.
Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings: Gaughan (eighth) and Allgaier (10th).
Dario Franchitti was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Heluva Good! 200 at Dover, scoring a 15th-place finish.(Camp & Assoc / Raybestos PR)(5-26-2009)
200th for Leffler: #38-Jason Leffler will make his 200th career Nationwide Series start this weekend at Dover International Speedway. The Long Beach, Calif.-native made his series debut in 1999 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Leffler spent several years racing partial schedules in all three of NASCAR’s top series before joining Braun Racing mid-way through the 2005 season. En route to his 200th start, Leffler has two wins (Nashville Superspeedway in 2004 and Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2007), 29 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes, eight poles and 563 laps led.(Braun Racing PR)(5-26-2009)
Congrats: Ken Butler III, driver of the #23 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevy, and wife, Jaime, welcomed their daughter into the world on Saturday, May 23 at 2:32 p.m. weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz. This was the beginning of a big weekend for the Butler’s as Ken Butler, COO of Aaron’s, became a grandparent for the first time and his company went to Victory Lane for the first time in a Sprint Cup Series race with David Reutimann winning the Coca Cola 600 in the #00 Aaron’s Toyota.(5-26-2009)
Nationwide Series on ABC from Dover: The NASCAR Nationwide Series makes its first appearance of the 2009 season at Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend, and ABC will have a live, high definition telecast from the 1-mile track on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. ET as the series races for 200 miles on the track known as the “Monster Mile.” ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC. The race re-airs Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. on ESPN Classic. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN on ABC’s coverage from Dover, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, with Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage. Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by Jarrett and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.(ESPN PR)(5-25-2009)
DEI planning return to Nationwide Series with Jeffrey Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has a piece of both an engine business and a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. But there’s nothing on the race track that DEI can truly call its own. But there are plans for DEI to get back to racing. The first step in that plan is for 19-year-old Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt and son of Kerry Earnhardt, to attempt to make his Nationwide Series debut in the May 30 race at Dover International Speedway in a DEI-prepared car. He will have to qualify on speed in the Rick Ware Racing entry, and the goal is to eventually put the Earnhardt name back on the track full time with Jeffrey Earnhardt in a DEI entry with DEI-built cars, said DEI Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeffrey Steiner.(Scene Daily)(5-25-2009)
Copart extends KHI sponsorship: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced Copart, Inc., an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than 1 million cars per year, will expand its sponsorship with KHI to include seven races on the #33 Nationwide Series entry. Copart will serve as the primary sponsor in these races for three different KHI Nationwide drivers including Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, and Kelly Bires.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR), see the list of sponsored races on the 2009 Nationwide Team Chart.(5-25-2009)
NASCAR keeps four cars after Charlotte race: NASCAR held four Nationwide Series cars after the Carquest Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night in an effort to keep aerodynamic improvements in check. Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said Sunday that NASCAR wanted to make sure the teams stay within the box that the sanctioning body wants them in. One car from each manufacturer was rechecked: #29-Jeff Burton’s Richard Childress Racing Chevy, #98-Paul Menard’s Yates Racing Ford, #32-Brian Vickers’ Braun Racing Toyota and #12-Justin Allgaier’s Penske Racing Dodge. The cars all passed inspection, so there were no issues with any of the bodies.(Scene Daily)(5-24-2009)
Nemechek picks up sponsorship for Lowe’s race: NEMCO Motorsports, owner of Joe Nemechek’s #87 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, announced the race team has secured primary sponsorship from LubePro’s for tonight’s CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte. LubePro’s is celebrating its 30th anniversary as the pioneer of the fast and professional oil change. The Cherry Valley, Ill. quick lube company has more than 30 locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Tennessee. Nemechek’s Nationwide entry at Lowe’s will also showcase two associate sponsors — Motorsportcruise.com and Huckleberry’s BBQ.(NEMCO PR)(5-23-2009)
Lepage in the #52: UPDATE: Kevin Lepage will be driving the #52 Chevy for Jimmy Means at Lowes Motor Speedway for several races to follow.(Lepage PR)(5-17-2009) UPDATE: Kevin Lepage said Saturday he will drive for Means Racing for the remainder of the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Lepage has driven in two races this year for Means’ team, which is outside the top 30 in owners points and thus isn’t locked in to each race. Lepage is a veteram driver with 249 Nationwide starts and 201 starts in the Cup series.(Scene Daily)(5-23-2009)
Vidovich to be Edwards’ backup driver: Auggie Vidovich will serve as Carl Edwards’ backup driver for the NASCAR Nationwide Series races that conflict with Edwards’ Sprint Cup duties, a Roush Fenway Racing spokesman said Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The first of those races will be at Nashville Superspeedway in two weeks. The Nashville race is run on the same weekend as the Cup at Pocono Raceway. Edwards plans to race in the Nationwide events, but Vidovich will practice and qualify the Roush Fenway Ford when Edwards is unable to make it. A backup for the other Cup driver running the full Nationwide schedule, Kyle Busch, has yet to be determined. Steve deSouza, who runs Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide teams, said the team still needed to talk to Busch about his choices.(Scene Daily)(5-23-2009)
Teams in all three series to sport Autism Speaks logo during race weekend at Dover: Since the title of the Sunday, May 31, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway was announced, the NASCAR community has come together to offer their support for a great cause. Drivers and teams in all three of NASCAR’s national series have answered the call to sport the Autism Speaks blue puzzle piece logo on their vehicles as a sign of support for the nation’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. Participating drivers and teams from the Nationwide Series include:
Michael Annett, #15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota
Eric McClure, #24 Hefty Odor Block Ford
Kenny Wallace, #28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevy
Clint Bowyer, #29 Holiday Inn Chevy
Kertus Davis, #49 Get More Vacations.com Chevy
Morgan Shepherd, #89 Eldora Speedway/Prelude to the Dream Chevy
(Dover Raceway PR)(5-22-2009)
Caisse to drive for Childress at Nashville: Sean Caisse will drive a Richard Childress Racing entry in the June 6 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, an RCR spokesman confirmed. The 23-year-old Caisse, who won the Automobile Racing Club of America race earlier this season at Rockingham, N.C., has been signed as an RCR development driver and will run more races throughout the year.(Scene Daily)(5-21-2009)
Northern Tool + Equipment sponsoring Milwaukee race: The biggest motorsports weekend in Wisconsin will culminate with the NorthernTool.com 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at The Milwaukee Mile on Saturday night, June 20, it was announced by officials of the historic speedway. Minnesota-based Northern Tool + Equipment has a Wisconsin store in Milwaukee just a six minute drive from The Mile. This entitlement will work hand-in-glove with raising awareness for the 28 year-old company’s current involvement in NASCAR.(Milwaukee Mile PR)(5-21-2009)
Sundrop on the #01 at Nashville: JD Motorsports has announced that the green #01 Sun Drop Chevy will run again in Nashville at the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, TN, on June 6th, 2009. The Sun Drop Bottlers of Tennessee have partnered with Choice USA Beverage INC, located in Lowell, NC, to continue the momentum created from the spring Charlotte race announcement.(Hufco Promotion/Johnny Davis PR)(5-21-2009)
Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. / MDA scheme for Keller at Dover: When the Nationwide Series rolls into Dover, veteran driver Jason Keller will make his 469 career start and the #27 Kleenex Ford will sport a uniquely-designed paint scheme. The new paint scheme will help K-C’s Montvale, N.J. based retail partner, The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. (A&P), celebrate its 150th anniversary and support the grocer’s more than 20-year partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The hood of the race car will don the A&P anniversary logo with the tag line “A partnership built to last.” Special drawings created by more than a dozen children from the MDA also will be incorporated into the design of the car.(Taylor PR) see an image of the car on the #27 paint scheme page.(5-21-2009)
Detroit Red Wings on the #26 at Lowes: K-Automotive has release images of the limited graphic car for the Lowes Motor Speedway race this weekend in Charlotte NC. Through a joint effort by the Detroit Red Wings, #26-Brian Keselowski will be running Detroit Red Wings and Hockeytown Graphics at Lowes Motor Speedway this weekend. K-Automotive, with its operations based in Pinckney, MI and having strong Motor City roots decided to show its Detroit Red Wing pride with the Red Wings jersey inspired graphic scheme.(Driven Agency PR), see an image of the car on the #26 paint scheme page(5-21-2009)
Lia in the #07 in place of Carpentier: SK Motorsports has shifted from Patrick Carpentier to driver Donny Lia for this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after sponsorship fell through and the team opted not to have Carpentier fly in from Canada. Lia will drive in this weekend’s race, and David Green, who has been driving for the team, will remain with the group in a management role. “We have been very fortunate and grateful to have David Green start the season with us and bring us to where we are today,” team owner Peter Szekeres said. “David has a future with the team and will be fulfilling several roles for SKM.” The owner added that the team will continue to seek sponsorship for Carpentier.(Scene Daily)(5-21-2009)
Carolina Speed on the #11 at Lowes: Professional indoor football meets NASCAR racing this weekend as CJM Racing and the Carolina Speed have partnered together for the upcoming Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Charlotte based professional indoor football team will be displayed as an associate sponsor on the #11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota with driver Scott Lagasse Jr.(CJM PR)(5-21-2009)
KHI adds Fitzpatrick for remainder of season: Kevin Harvick Inc. has announced that J.R. Fitzpatrick will compete for the team in selected events in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series throughout the remainder of the 2009 season. The Cambridge, Ontario, Canada native will pilot a KHI entry in eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, beginning with the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 29In addition, Fitzpatrick will compete in two NASCAR Nationwide Series events in a KHI entry, the first being at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International Raceway August 8 and the second at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada August 30. (Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(5-21-2009)
300 starts for Burton: #29-Jeff Burton will make his 300th career NNS start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend. His first start in the series came at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on March, 13, 1988. Since then, he has earned 27 victories, 88 top-five and 147 top-10 finishes and has led 4109 laps in the NNS.(RCR PR)(5-20-2009)
Prelude to the Dream on the #89 at Lowe’s and Dover: Morgan Shepherd’s #89 Chevy will feature HBO’s June 3 Prelude to the Dream pay-per-view event during this weekend‘s festivities at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and again next weekend at Dover, Faith Motorsports announced.Shepherd’s Nationwide Series entry, which carries associate sponsorship each week from Eldora Speedway, the location of the famous dirt track racing event, will showcase the pay-per-view dirt track race on the rear quarter panels both weekends.(Faith Motorsports PR)(5-20-2009)
ConstructionJobs.com Signs Partnership with JTG Daugherty Racing: ConstructionJobs.com and JTG Daugherty Racing announced a long-term marketing partnership designed to help NASCAR fans learn more about the construction employment marketplace. ConstructionJobs.com will be the primary sponsor of Michael McDowell’s NNS #47 car in the upcoming Dover, Nashville and Milwaukee races and an associate sponsor on Marcos Ambrose’s NSCS #47 car at the Monster Mile in Dover, DE on May 30th.(JTG Daugherty Racing PR)(5-20-2009)
The Word Network sponsorsing Marc Davis: Marc Davis Motorsports announced that The Word Network will serve as the primary sponsor of their #36 Toyota and driver Marc Davis for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday. The Word Network previously supported Davis as an associate sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Bristol and Richmond earlier this season. The Word Network is a cable and satellite television channel that reaches 65 million households in the United States and is available in over 200 countries around the world. The Word Network has established itself as a mainstream media broadcaster for African American ministries and gospel music. Their channel offers value positive religious family programming embraced by a broad demographic range.(Word Network PR)(5-19-2009)
Keller to make hospital visits in Charlotte: Jason Keller will be visiting, distributing gift bags and signing autographs for patients at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte NC from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20th. The #27 Kleenex Racing Ford will also be on display so that patients and their families can get an up-close-and-personal look at an authentic racecar. At 2:15 a check presentation will take place from the proceeds of a promotion in which ten cents of every Kimberly-Clark product purchased at Harris Teeter from May 6th through May 19th was donated to Levine. In addition, the Kleenex Racing Ford that Keller will drive in the Carquest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday May 23rd will feature the Levine Children’s Hospital Logo on the right rear quarter panel.(Baker Curb PR)(5-19-2009)
Carolina Hurricanes on the #81 at Lowe’s: MacDonald Motorsports announced that Kevin Hamlin will again be at the wheel of the #81 D.H. Griffin Dodge for the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday. In addition, the team will show their support for local NHL favorite, the Carolina Hurricanes as they begin the Eastern Conference playoff round against Pittsburgh. The MacDonald Motorsports entry will also add the Heart of a Champion Foundation logo to the #81 Dodge. The Heart of a Champion Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers educators an innovative and effective approach to developing character in the lives of their students.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(5-19-2009)
Rookie Notes: Lowe’s Motor Speedway:
Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. Darnell scored a fourth-place finish, his best effort in three NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. He claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time this season and scored his first career top-five finish.
Justin Allgaier claimed a fifth-place finish at Darlington, his second top-five and fifth top-10 of the 2009 season.
At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in the last eight consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Allgaier has a seven-point lead (102-95) over Brendan Gaughan in the Raybestos Rookie standings (102-95) entering the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings: Scott Lagasse Jr. (eighth) and Allgaier (ninth).
Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, scoring a 30th-place finish.(Camp & Assoc / Raybestos PR)(5-19-2009)
Nationwide and Kyle Petty raise awareness of distracted driving: Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR star Kyle Petty are joining forces to raise awareness of DWD – driving while distracted. The national campaign, in conjunction with Nationwide’s sponsorship of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, kicks off this week with a satellite media tour from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and an event at New Technology High School at Garinger in Charlotte, NC. In his role as spokesperson for the Nationwide DWD campaign, Petty will serve as host for many of the high school events planned throughout the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.(Nationwide PR)(5-18-2009)
DiBenedetto to make Nationwide debut at Memphis: Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Matt DiBenedetto is scheduled to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park in October. DiBenedetto, who last month won the NASCAR Camping World Series East race at Tri-County (N.C.) Motor Speedway in just his second start in the series, turns 18 in July.(Scene Daily)(5-18-2009)
Nationwide Series Racing Under the Lights at Charlotte: The NASCAR Nationwide Series makes its first appearance of the 2009 season at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte this weekend, and ESPN2 will have a live, high definition telecast from the 1.5-mile track on Saturday night, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET, as the series races for 300 miles in prime time. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC. The race re-airs Sunday, May 24, at noon on ESPN Classic. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, with reports by Tim Brewer from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage. Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by Jarrett and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio. Following the race, ESPN2 will air the ESPN Original Movie 3 at 10:30 p.m. The 2004 movie, starring Barry Pepper and J.K. Simmons, chronicles the life and career of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt.(ESPN PR)(5-18-2009)
VFW on the #33 at Lowe’s: Scheduled to run two races as the primary sponsor on the #33 KHI Chevy in the Nationwide Series, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will be represented this Memorial Day weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with Harvick behind the wheel. VFW will return to the car at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 3rd and can also be seen throughout the season on the #33 Chevy Silverado driven by three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday. (KNI PR)(5-18-2009)
Subway, Coca-Cola to sponsor July Daytona race: Subway and Coca-Cola will team up to sponsor the 250-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday night, July 3 at Daytona International Speedway, Track President Robin Braig announced. The 100-lap event will be known as the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola.(Daytona Speedway PR)(5-16-2009)
JC Stout and team plan Lowe’s debut: JC Stout and the volunteers of the Stellar-Quest Racing Team will be making their team debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the upcoming Charlotte, NC race in their #19 Chevy. They bought the car this winter from Rusty Wallace Racing and have been saving their money until licenses, tires and the entry fee costs could be paid.(Stout PR)(5-16-2009)
Sad News: Wayne Patterson: Jimmie Wayne Patterson, 60, of Jetersville, VA was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Nottoway County early Thursday. At 12:42 a.m., Virginia State Police Trooper J.D. Moses was called to the scene at the intersection of Rt. 360 and Rt. 615. Mr. Patterson was driving his 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, traveling westbound on Rt. 360 when it ran off the left side of the road. Mr. Patterson overcorrected, which caused the vehicle to overturn. Mr. Patterson was not wearing a safety belt and was thrown from the pickup truck. He died at the scene. Mr. Patterson was once a driver in the Nationwide (Busch at the time of his racing) Racing Series. During his racing career he ran in a total of 39 races over a span of eight years, from 1982-1990. Mr. Patterson finished in the top five once, and in the top 10 on seven occasions during this time. In his racing career, he received a total of $27,195 earnings and raced at several tracks including Daytona, Richmond, North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, Martinsville and Dover. He also raced in weekly racing series at Southside Speedway and South Boston.(Amelia Bulletin Monitor), Patterson’s car owner during much of his career was Bill Grubb, father of Wayne and Kevin Grubb.(5-14-2009)
Carpentier back in the #07 at Lowes: SK Motorsports says Patrick Carpentier will return to the seat of the team’s Toyota for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 23. Carpentier, who finished 17th in his first start for the team last weekend at Darlington, was tabbed as a last-minute replacement for David Green in that race.(Scene Daily)(5-14-2009)
Gale to drive in Canadian Tire Series: Canadian NASCAR fans won’t have to cross any international borders to watch Kevin Harvick Inc.’s (KHI) exciting young driver, Cale Gale, this season as Farwell Racing Inc (FRI) announced that Gale will drive the all new #13 Rheem Chevy for much of the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season. The 24-year-old driver, named after NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough, from Mobile, Ala. is currently under contract with KHI and spends time behind the wheel of KHI’s #33 Rheem Chevy. “Cale is a very talented young driver who needs seat time,” said Kevin Harvick, KHI co-owner and Sprint Cup driver, “when FRI approached us with the opportunity for Cale to drive for them, we saw it as a win, win.” Gale is unable to commit to FRI’s entire 2009 schedule and will miss FRI’s season opener at Delaware Speedway on June 6 as he is already committed to drive the #33 Rheem Chevy for KHI in the Nationwide Series race the same day in Nashville, Tenn.(Farwell Racing PR)(5-14-2009)
Spraker named crew chief for Davis: #36-Marc Davis Motorsports has named Jeff Spraker crew chief for NNS driver Marc Davis starting with the Charlotte race.(Davis PR)(5-13-2009)
#91 team Crew chief fined: NASCAR announced that Michael Allen, crew chief for the #91 Chevy driven by Terry Cook in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been fined due to rule violations during this past Friday’s event at Darlington Raceway. Allen was fined $2,500 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-1 (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12.1A(10) (jacking bolt must be made of solid magnetic steel: hollow bolt) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. The infractions were discovered on May 7 during opening-day inspection.(NASCAR PR)(5-13-2009)
Darlington TV Ratings down: ESPN2’s live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Friday night, May 8, earned a final household coverage rating of 1.1, down from the 1.6 rating the race earned on ESPN2 in both 2008 and 2007. For seven NASCAR Nationwide Series telecasts this season, ESPN2 is averaging 1.6.(ESPN PR)(5-12-2009)
RCR shifts Nationwide Crew Chiefs: Richard Childress Racing has made changes to the crew chief positions of the #29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express team and #2 Chevy team. Doug Randolph will assume the crew chief duties for RCR’s #29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevy while Dan Deeringhoff, who led Clint Bowyer to the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, will move over to head up Austin Dillon’s driver development program. Former crew chief, Rich Lavalette, will serve as Dillon’s car chief under Deeringhoff.(RCR PR)(5-12-2009)
Braun to discuss Nationwide COT with NASCAR: Braun Racing owner Todd Braun told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway that he will meet with NASCAR officials Tuesday to discuss the sanctioning body’s proposed new race car. “NASCAR called me last week, wanting to sit down and get my thoughts on the new car,” he said. Asked if he would favor a 2010 implementation for the new car, Braun said, “Yes, if (NASCAR) tells me today that they’re going to do it. They cannot wait another two months to decide, and once they decide to do it, they can’t change their minds.”(5-11-2009)
Racing Resources Says…
* Matt Kenseth won the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. It was his 25th victory in his 235th series start.
* Kenseth took over sole possession of fifth on the series all-time win list. He became just the fifth driver to score 25 Nationwide victories, joining Mark Martin (141 starts), Kevin Harvick (163 starts), Jack Ingram (116 starts) and Jeff Burton (276 starts).
* Kenseth scored his third victory in 15 races at Darlington. He became the seventh Nationwide winner in 2009; his last win came at Atlanta in March 2008.
* Roush Fenway Racing posted its 102nd series victory, the most of all teams. RFR scored its 15th series victory at Darlington and fourth of 2009; the 16 car has scored three of RFR’s four victories in 2009.
* Of the competing manufacturers at Darlington, Ford has 16 wins, Chevrolet has 15, Dodge and Toyota each have one. Ford posted its fourth win in 10 races in 2009. Toyota also has four.
* Kenseth led one time for four laps.
* Kyle Busch finished 16th. He now leads the points by 37 over Carl Edwards, who finished third. Busch had scored top-10 finishes in the past six races, ending a streak that began at Bristol.
* Jason Leffler (second) has scored nine straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at California in February.
* Eric Darnell (fourth) was the highest-finishing rookie contender.
* Brad Keselowski (11th) ended a streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes that began at Texas.
* Joey Logano (12th) ended a streak of four consecutive top-10 finishes that began at Nashville.
* This was the second green-white-checkered finish at Darlington. There was a green-white-checkered finish in this race one year ago.
* The top 10 consisted of four Chevrolets, three Fords, two Toyotas and one Dodge.(ESPN.com)(5-11-2009)
Nationwide crew member suspended: UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the #41 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Tony Martin, a licensed crew member with the #34 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Ben Williams, a licensed crew member with the #16 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, have been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. All three were found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)(5-9-2009) UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing says Ben Williams, who was suspended by NASCAR last week for violating its substance-abuse policy, has resigned and is no longer with the team. Williams served as gas man on Roush Fenway’s #16 NASCAR Nationwide Series team, but a team spokesperson said he has resigned. The team had no other comment.(Scene Daily)(5-11-2009)
Carpentier hoping for more races: Patrick Carpentier was back in a NASCAR stock car this weekend, and he hopes he can return for some more races. Carpentier was a last-minute replacement for David Green in SK Motorsports’ #07 Nationwide Series Toyota at Darlington Raceway, making his first start of 2009. He does have at least one more race scheduled, at Montreal for Michael Waltrip Racing. Carpentier said he’s talking to some other Nationwide teams, including the first-year SK Motorsports team. “We’re talking, we’re pushing. And we’re talking to a couple more teams also,” he said. “We’ll see, but just being here and being in a car – finally – always helps.”(Scene Daily)(5-9-2009)
Busch, Ard meet in Darlington: Kyle Busch got to visit with a fellow Nationwide Series record holder Saturday at Darlington Raceway. And Jo Ard finally got to tell the NASCAR star how much he’s meant to her husband of 48 years, former Natiowide driver Sam Ard. “Thank you so much,” Jo said, hugging Busch when the Ards met him by his motorhome before the Southern 500. After Busch tied Ard’s 1983 series mark with 10 victories in a season last November, the 24-year-old Sprint Cup driver donated $100,000 to help the struggling Ard and his family. The 69-year-old Ard has Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He sat quietly in his wheelchair for most of the 15-minute visit.(Associated Press)(5-9-2009)
RWI benches Gaughan’s pit crew: Rusty Wallace said Friday at Darlington Raceway that his Rusty Wallace Racing Nationwide Series team will sit its pit crew for driver Brendan Gaughan this weekend. Pitting Gaughan’s #62 Chevy in Friday night’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 will be Richard Childress Racing’s #33 Sprint Cup pit crew, Wallace said. “We’ve had so much problems with our team [that] this particular race, Brendan Gaughan’s team, I said, ‘You guys are having so much problems that we’re going to have a timeout for one week. We’re going to have practice for the next two weeks,’” Wallace said. “I lost confidence in what we were getting done.”(Scene Daily)(5-8-2009)
Fuller in the #23 for Richardon: R3 Motorsports is placing veteran driver Jeff Fuller behind the wheel of their #23 Chevy for tonight’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway. Fuller will replace Robert Richardson, Jr. for tonight’s 200-lap event. Richardson, who shares the ride with Ken Butler III, experienced exactly why the historic oval is called the track “too tough to tame” during the morning practice session. The decision was mutually reached by all parties of R3 Motorsports for the betterment of the team.(R3 Motorsports PR)(5-8-2009)
Baker Curb Remembering Grubb: Baker Curb Racing will pay to the late Kevin Grubb with a special decal with his initials on the #27 Kleenex Racing Ford Fusion tonight at Darlington. Grubb drove in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Brewco Motorsports, which was purchased by Baker Curb at the end of the 2007 season, from 1999 to 2001. Grubb’s brother Wayne, also a former Nationwide Series driver, is a mechanic at Baker Curb Racing.(Baker Curb Racing PR)(5-8-2009)
Blacks Tire on the #01: JD Motorsports #01 with Danny O’Quinn Jr. adds another sponsor for the Darlington Raceway Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Friday Night — Black’s Tire & Auto Service, North Carolina and South Carolina’s Premier Tire Dealer.(Hufco Promotion / Johnny Davis PR)(5-7-2009)
Hamlin in the #81 at Darlington: MacDonald Motorsports announced that Kevin Hamlin will drive the #81 D.H. Griffin Dodge for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway.(MacDonald Motorsports PR)(5-7-2009)
Fastenal back on the #5: For the first time since its JRM debut at Texas Motor Speedway in early April, Fastenal will be the primary scheme on the #5 Chevy this weekend for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200. This marks the second of its 14 races with JR Motorsports in a sponsorship deal that was announced in January. Scott Wimmer will make his JR Motorsports debut this weekend in the No. 5 Fastenal Chevy at Darlington Raceway.(Fastenal PR)(5-7-2009)
Former NASCAR Driver Kevin Grubb found dead: UPDATE: Suspended Nationwide Series driver Kevin Grubb was found dead on Wednesday in a Richmond, Va., area hotel. He was 31. Henrico Co. Lt. Richard Cosby said Grubb was discovered at the Alpine Motel just outside of Richmond at 11:30 a.m. The cause of death has not been released pending the notification of next to kin, but Cosby said no foul play was suspected. Grubb was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR on Sept. 11, 2006 after his second violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. Grubb, the younger brother of former NASCAR driver Wayne Grubb, began his Nationwide career in 1997 with four starts for Grubb Motorsports. He ran in 16 Nationwide events for his father’s team in 1998 with a top finish of second at Dover. Grubb drove for Brewco Motorsports from 1999 through 2001, collecting 18 top 10s. After several failed seasons with two other teams he was scheduled to drive for Team Rensi Motorsports in 2004, but failed a substance abuse test in March and was suspended. The suspension in 2006 came after Grubb refused to take a drug test following a second-lap crash at Richmond. Failure to take the tests is considered an automatic failed test. The next day Grubb claimed that he declined the test because of a concussion suffered during the accident and offered to take a test at that time. He reportedly claimed no memory of the refusal due to the head injury. Grubb was a native of Mechanicsville, Va., a suburb of Richmond.(ESPN)(5-7-2009) UPDATE: A medical examiner investigating the death of former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb says Grubb died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are expected to release more information on his death in the day ahead.(NBC12 News)(5-7-2009)
Giles takes over as crew chief of #23 team: R3 Motorsports has added veteran engineer and crew chief Walter Giles to their #23 Chevy team. Giles will begin his crew chief duties immediately with Robert Richardson, Jr. in the car at Darlington Raceway this weekend. Giles, a native of Australia, comes from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., where he was the Head of Race Engineering, and Robby Gordon Motorsports, where he was the engineer and crew chief. Prior to his coming on board with R3 Motorsports, Giles was helping Tommy Baldwin Racing on an interim basis.(R3 Motorsports PR)(5-6-2009)
MC2 joins Johnny Davis at Darlington: MC2 Energy Drink, Beverage Plus Inc, have agreed on a one race partnership with the #01 Johnny Davis Motorsports team and Danny O’Quinn for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on May 8, 2009, in Darlington, SC.(Hufco Promotion / Johnny Davis PR)(5-6-2009)
Carpentier replacing David Green at Darlington? Patrick Carpentier will make a return to driving a car from the NASCAR Nationwide Series Friday [at the] Diamond Plywood 250 at Darlington Raceway. The race takes place Friday evening and Carpentier will drive #07…Carpentiers agent confirmed the news. The last-minute agreement is valid for one race, but Carpentier thinks it could have the opportunity to compete in other events with the team.(translated from RSS.ca via Google Translate)(5-6-2009)
#77 crew member suspended: UPDATE: Richard Gray, a licensed crew member for the #77 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On April 30, Gray was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)(5-5-2009) UPDATE: Cardinal Motorsports maintains a zero tolerance policy, and the crew member in question has been released from the #77 Nationwide Series team. It is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved, and has been addressed expeditiously so that the team can return its focus to performance on the track. Cardinal Motorsports respects and appreciates NASCAR’s action in this matter.(Cardinal Motorsports PR)(5-5-2009)
Richmond TV ratings equal with last year: ESPN2’s telecast of the Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Richmond International Raceway on May 1 earned a final household coverage rating of 1.2, even with the rating earned when the race aired on ESPN2 in 2007. Last year’s race was simulcast on ESPN Classic and SPEED. The race averaged 1,554,436 viewers. ESPN2 is averaging a 1.7 rating through six NASCAR Nationwide Series telecasts, slightly down from the 1.9 average through this same point last year but above the 1.5 average for the full 2008 season.(ESPN PR)(5-5-2009)
Jeff Green in the #40 at Darlington: With Scott Wimmer stepping out of the #40 StopRepairBills.com Chevy to fulfill driving obligations with another team [the #5 for JR Motorsports], Jeff Green will be sliding behind the wheel of the Key Motorsports NNS entry this weekend at Darlington. This is not Jeff’s first foray in Key equipment: Jeff competed in three Nationwide events last season for Curtis Key, posting a best finish of 28th.(Key Motorsports PR)(5-5-2009)
5000 miles for Keller: #27-Jason Keller is not only the “Iron Man” of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but also is earning that nickname at his home track, Darlington Raceway. The Greenville, S.C., native is the series’ all-time leader in starts (465) and Friday night, he’ll attempt to add to his resume and become the first NASCAR Nationwide driver to reach the 5,000-mile plateau at Darlington. That accomplishment would supplement another mark he holds there – the most NASCAR Nationwide Series laps completed (3,598).(NASCAR PR)(5-5-2009)
Sponsorship announcement for Johnny Davis Motorsports: UPDATE 2: Johnny Davis Motorsports will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 5 to announce a new team sponsor.(Hufco Promotion / Johnny Davis PR), been told that the sponsor is Sundrop Soda for a number of races.(5-3-2009) UPDATE: With a tractor-trailer bearing the Sun-Drop name and livery in the background, JD Motorsports officials announced Tuesday that the citrus beverage will sponsor the team’s #01 Chevy and driver Danny O’Quinn in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway later this month. More races are planned on the “multirace” sponsorship but were not announced. Choice Beverage USA President Jay Falls said the races would likely be in the Southeast, in Sun-Drop’s distribution areas.(Scene Daily)(5-5-2009) UPDATE 2: It has taken more than 10 plus years but Sun Drop Citrus Soda and it’s franchise bottler Choice USA Beverage Inc, are back in racing. On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, it will become official; Sun Drop and JD Motorsports will announce its plans to team together in a multi race partnership that will start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, for the Carquest Auto Parts 300. Other races are TBD at this time but will fall in the Sun Drop footprint.(Hufco Promotion / Johnny Davis PR), see an image of the car on the #01 Paint Scheme page.(5-5-2009)
Darlington Rookie Notes:
Michael McDowell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond. McDowell scored an eighth-place finish, his second top-10 in 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. He claimed top rookie honors for the third time this season.
At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in the last seven consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Two Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in Nationwide Series points: McDowell (eighth) and Scott Lagasse Jr. (ninth), who are separated by just 23 points.
McDowell has a two-point lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings (88-86) over Justin Allgaier, Brendan Gaughan and Scott Lagasse Jr. entering the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway.
Chase Miller was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Diamond Hill Plywood 200, scoring an eighth-place finish.
The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at Darlington is third-place by Todd Bodine in the 1991 fall race.
The most recent Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five finish at Darlington is Johnny Benson, who placed fourth in the 1994 fall race.
Kyle Busch is the most recent Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Darlington, holding the top spot once for 12 laps in 2004 Bi-Lo 200 (fall race).
(Camp & Assoc / Raybestos PR)(5-5-2009)
Racing Resources Says…
Kyle Busch won the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. It was Busch’s 24th Nationwide Series victory in his 147th start. It was his 49th NASCAR victory. He ranks 14th in all-time NASCAR wins across all series.
Busch tied Tommy Houston and Matt Kenseth for fifth on NASCAR’s Nationwide all-time wins list. It was his third victory in 11 races at Richmond.
Busch posted his sixth straight top-10 finish, extending a streak that began at Bristol.
Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 32nd series victory overall and fourth Nationwide win in 2009. It was JGR’s second win at Richmond. Denny Hamlin won this race in 2008.
Toyota scored its second victory at Richmond. Chevy leads all manufacturers with 19 wins, followed by Ford with 14. A Dodge has never won a Nationwide race at Richmond.
Busch led four times for a race-leading 115 laps, including the final 22.
Busch leads the Nationwide standings by 82 points over Carl Edwards, who finished second.
Edwards scored his fourth second-place finish this season but has yet to win in 2009. His last NNS win came at Homestead in November 2008.
Brad Keselowski (fourth) posted his fifth consecutive top-10 finish, extending a streak that began at Texas.
Joey Logano (sixth) posted his fourth consecutive top-10 finish, extending a streak that began at Nashville.
Mark Martin finished seventh in his only scheduled appearance in the series in 2009.
Michael McDowell (eighth) was the highest-finishing rookie contender of the 10 participating in this race.
Jason Leffler (10th) has scored eight straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at California.
The top 10 consisted of three Chevys, three Ford and four Toyotas. The highest-finishing Dodge was the No. 26 of Brian Keselowski (21st).(ESPN.com)(5-4-2009)
Nationwide Series Racing Under the Lights at Darlington: The NASCAR Nationwide Series makes its only appearance of the 2009 season at historic Darlington Raceway this weekend, and ESPN2 will have a live, high definition telecast from the 1.366-mile track on Friday night, May 8, at 7 p.m. ET, as the series races in prime time. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC. The race re-airs Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m. on ESPN Classic. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage from Darlington, 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 Craftsman Tech Garage. Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN pit studio.(ESPN PR)(5-4-2009)
250 starts for Shepherd: Ageless NASCAR racing veteran #89-Morgan Shepherd will attempt to make his 250th start in the Nationwide Series this weekend in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. Shepherd, who has a combined 811 starts in NASCAR’s three upper race divisions, has recorded 15 wins in the Nationwide Series, as well as 44 Top 5 finishes and 67 Top 10 runs.(Faith Motorsports PR)(5-4-2009)
“Helping Others” campaign for Smith-Ganassi Racing with Evander Holyfield: IMAGE Smith-Ganassi Racing with Evander Holyfield announced today they will be sporting a very colorful tie-dye paint scheme to raise awareness of Bluegrass musician Barney Barnwell’s plight at Darlington Raceway during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, May 8. Barnwell is well-known Bluegrass musician and singer with the Plum Hollow Band, who has fallen on hard times after being diagnosed with throat cancer. “The current conditions for soliciting marketing partners for the race team is certainly difficult,” said Eddie Smith, team owner. “Given the current economic conditions, we made the decision to try to get the word out about others who need assistance while we continue to work toward securing marketing partners for the race team”. Barney and his wife, Debby, will be at the race in Darlington with team principal and four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and West Coast “Custom Car Builder” Bo Huff.(Smith-Ganassi Racing PR)(5-3-2009) UDPATE: see an image of the car on the #42 Paint schemes page.(5-4-2009)
Acredale Vending sponsoring Jay Robinson: Acredale Vending & Coffee service will once again be supporting Jay Robinson Racing at RIR for the Nationwide race this weekend. They will be on both the #28 & #49 cars. Business owner Scott Abshire also serves as a pit crew member for J.R.R.(Acredale PR)(5-1-2009)
NASCAR takes 6 Nationwide engines after Richmond race: NASCAR took six engines from Nationwide Series teams to test on the dynamometer, series director Joe Balash said Friday night following the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Engines represented six engine builders as they were taken from the cars of #20-Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing), #38-Jason Leffler (Triad Racing Technologies), #29-Jeff Burton (Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies), #88-Brad Keselowski (Hendrick), #12-Justin Allgaier (Penske) and #16-Matt Kenseth (Roush-Yates). NASCAR occasionally takes engines to test horsepower and see if any rule changes need to be made. Balash said the group tested four restrictor-plate engines last week after Talladega. Those tested engines came from the cars of #81-D.J. Kennington (Ernie Elliott engines), #60-Carl Edwards (Roush-Yates), #33-Kevin Harvick (Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies) and #20-Joey Logano (JGR). Balash said he was pleased with the results of that test.(Scene Daily)(5-1-2009)
Carfax to sponsor Michigan race again: Carfax will return to Michigan International Speedway (MIS) as title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 race for the fourth straight year. This year’s event takes place on Aug. 15 at the Brooklyn, Mich., racetrack. Carfax continues its support of the home of the American automobile and its ongoing investment in Michigan-based sports.(Michigan Speedway PR)(5-1-2009)
Benny Gordon to race 9/11 tribute car at fall Richmond race: Americans have remembered Sept. 11 in years past by planting trees, raising flags and saying prayers at makeshift memorials. This year, NASCAR driver #72-Benny Gordon is going to the racetrack – in a custom-designed, Sept. 11 memorial car inscribed with the message, “Always Remember.” Gordon, co-owner of the North South Motorsports team, is racing a blue, black and white 2009 Ford fusion in a 43-car field at a NASCAR Nationwide Series race this Sept. 11 in Virginia at Richmond International Speedway. His Dubois, Pa., team – not far from the site of the memorial for United 93, one of four hijacked jetliners that crashed – wanted to raise awareness for the 9/11 memorial under construction at the World Trade Center site, which Gordon visited earlier this year.(Associated Press)(5-1-2009)
