NASCAR changing qualifying procedures: Beginning this weekend, there will be a revision to the qualifying procedures for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Qualifying order will still be determined based upon practice speeds – from slowest to fastest – but will no longer be separated between those teams that are locked into the race and those teams that must qualifying on speed.(NASCAR)(5-31-2011)
Pastrana-Waltrip Racing scaling back schedule after Chicago: Pastrana-Waltrip Racing said that sponsorship support will dictate its participation in the remaining 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The #99 PWR team will race at Chicagoland Speedway with rookie Ryan Truex on Saturday night before limiting its schedule for the remainder of the season. Blake Bechtel, PWR co-owner and executive vice president, said the team prefers to race full-time but only has contractual commitments for eight of the final 20 races. The first of seven scheduled races with action sports legend Travis Pastrana is July 30 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Patrick Carpentier will race the #99 at Montreal on Aug. 20. “This isn’t a performance decision, it is an economic decision,” said Bechtel, who co-owns PWR with his father Gary Bechtel, Michael Waltrip Racing and Travis Pastrana. “We started the year with a 10-race commitment to Ryan Truex, a seven race commitment to Travis and the race in Montreal with Patrick. We believed we could fill in the open races but it is now time to make the very difficult decision to limit the liabilities. We have a great partner with Michael Waltrip Racing and our employees will be redeployed in other areas of the company while PWR is not racing. The other silver lining is that we know we are going to race in 2012 with Travis, so this is a transitional period.(Pastrana Waltrip Racing)(5-31-2011)
Bayne will return for Chicago Nationwide race: Trevor Bayne will make his ninth start of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Chicagoland Speedway in the STP 300. Bayne: “I’m looking forward to concentrating on our Nationwide program this weekend at Chicago. I am thankful to be able to get back into a race car and I am going to savor this moment forever. We as race car drivers are so blessed to be doing this for a living and I think we take that for granted sometimes. I am ready to get back to work and compete at the highest level. Our Nationwide program has been unstoppable as of late and I want to contribute to that success as much as I can. Chris Andrews and the guys give me awesome race cars to drive, so there is no doubt in my mind that we can win this thing on Saturday night.”(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-31-2011)
Tagliani driving for Penske at Montreal: Hot Wheels announced that it will be the primary sponsor of Canadian racing superstar, Alex Tagliani as he races in three Canadian NASCAR events this summer as part of the Canadian Tire 2011 NASCAR Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Tagliani will be showing off his “hot wheels”, literally, this summer in his one-of-a-kind #12 Hot Wheels car, customized with a unique and edgy branded design. For the NASCAR nationwide race taking place August 20, Tagliani’s custom Dodge Hot Wheels® #12 NASCAR is a newly designed black car weighing in at 3,500 lbs. The Dodge dealers of Québec have secured the Nationwide series #12 Penske/Dodge Challenger for Tagliani. The car will be branded with the iconic flames of the Hot Wheels brand toy cars, vehicles that helped fuel Tagliani’s love for car racing as a young boy.(GCI Group PR)(5-31-2011)
Nuts Off extends sponsorship with Rick Ware Racing: Rick Ware Racing announced that Nuts Off has extended its sponsorship package with the organization to include Timmy Hill’s #15 Ford for this weekend’s running of the STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Jeffrey Earnhardt and Timmy Hill both carried the Nuts Off logo’s last weekend at Charlotte in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event. After a strong outing by both, Nuts Off will carry its sponsorship to Chicago and beyond.(Rick Ware Racing)(5-31-2011)
STP featured on Turner cars at Chicago: Turner Motorsports announced that they are joining forces with STP this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, on a weekend in which the iconic brand is serving as title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. The STP logo, which has long been a presence in the sport, will be prominently featured on each of the team’s four entries in Saturday’s STP 300 – the #38 of Jason Leffler, the #32 of Reed Sorenson, the #31 of Justin Allgaier and the #30 to be driven by Mikey Kile.(Turner Motorsports)(5-31-2011)
Deltran Corporation sponsoring Kile: Turner Motorsports announced the addition of Deltran Corporation to the sponsorship line-up of its #30 Chevy. Mikey Kile will pilot the Battery Tender/Muc-Off Impala in multiple Nationwide Series events, beginning this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. For this weekend’s STP 300, the Battery Tender Chevy will feature Sears Auto Centers. Battery Tender will celebrate its debut in Sears Auto Centers in conjunction with Father’s Day weekend later in June. Kile joined Turner Motorsports’ all-star driver line-up in April, making his debut at Nashville Superspeedway. He is scheduled to make at least six more starts in 2011 for the powerhouse team. (Turner Motorsports)(5-31-2011)
Tissot sponsoring Patrick at Chicago: Tissot, a manufacturer of Swiss watches since 1853, announced that it will be the primary sponsor on Danica Patrick’s #7 Chevy in Saturday night’s Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Driving the#7 Tissot Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Patrick will make her return to NASCAR competition after competing in the first four Nationwide Series races of the 2011 season. She is in her second year as a part-time NASCAR driver and is scheduled to enter 12 Nationwide races this season.(DMF Communications)(5-30-2011)
Chad Finley to attempt Natiowide debut at Michigan: Chad Finley, a veteran of the ARCA Racing Series, the ASA, and the CRA Late Model Series, is scheduled to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut June 18 at his home track, Michigan International Speedway. In an ironic twist when Chad gets behind the wheel of the Team Rensi Motorsports #25 Ford Mustang on Father’s Day weekend, he will follow in his father Jeff’s footsteps. The elder Finley also made his first NASCAR Nationwide Series debut with Ed Rensi and Team Rensi Motorsports at the season opener in Daytona in 1999, finishing 13th. While it will be his first-ever NASCAR race, Finley has raced at MIS before, earning a seventh-place ARCA finish there last year. “It’s home and we felt like it would be a really good place to start,” stated Chad. Sponsoring the Team Rensi Ford Mustang will be longtime Chad Finley Racing partner, Auto Value.(HighSide Media)(5-29-2011)
Danica considering full time NASCAR in 2012: UPDATES: Danica Patrick and her management team are working on a plan that would bring her full-time to NASCAR in 2012, sources said Tuesday. Patrick hopes to finalize a deal soon that would have her race full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next season. She would also race a few Sprint Cup events in 2012 before going full-time to Cup in 2013. The plan includes Patrick continuing to compete in the Indianapolis 500 next year. Which team she will race for and how the details will work out are still being finalized, sources said. GoDaddy.com, which sponsors her Indy car and the car she drives in the Nationwide Series, is expected to stay with her if she moves to NASCAR full-time. Her contracts with Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series and JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series end after this year. Patrick said last week at Indianapolis that she hasn’t made any decisions about her future.(ESPN.com)(5-24-2011) UPDATE: Tony Stewart says he’d be interested in signing Danica Patrick if she moves to NASCAR’s top series. Stewart is the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and is always looking for opportunties to grow the team from two to four cars. He’s given Patrick advice during her trial period in NASCAR, and moving full-time from IndyCar is a possibility when her contract ends later this year. Stewart said Wednesday he’s not had talks with Patrick about driving for SHR. He also said he would not field a Nationwide Series team for Patrick.(Associated Press) AND Danica Patrick on Wednesday said there was “no truth” to an ESPN report that her and her management team were working on plans for a fulltime NASCAR schedule in 2012. SI.com’s Bruce Martin, in a previously-scheduled interview with Patrick on Wednesday in Indianapolis, asked her for her reaction to the report. Here was Patrick’s complete response: “I’m watching TV and see it scroll across the bottom of the screen. I don’t know where it came from but it’s all speculation. Anybody can speculate that and write that. I don’t know where it came from but there is no truth to it; it’s just speculation,” she said. “It’s no different than it was last month or even last year. There is nothing new in it.”(Charlotte Observer)(5-25-2011) UPDATE 2: Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of Danica Patrick sponsor GoDaddy.com, said Sunday he expects her to make the move full-time to NASCAR next season. “She hasn’t told me she will, but I believe she will and we’ll be ready,” Parsons said. “Here’s the fact: She loves [NASCAR], it’s much more exciting than IndyCar, with all due respect, and the TV audience for NASCAR is off the hook.” Parsons was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday to watch Patrick compete in the event. Patrick is working on a plan to race full-time in the Nationwide Series is 2012 and move to Sprint Cup in 2013, sources confirmed earlier this week. “She came up to me right after she did her first NASCAR race [the 2010 Nationwide race at Daytona],” Parson said. “She said to me, ‘I absolutely loved it. This is what I was born to do.’ ” Parsons emphasized he is behind her whatever decision she makes. “As long as I can stroke the check,” he said. “I tell you what, she doesn’t exactly work for minimum wage. I usually don’t get into that too much until the decision’s been made. But I’ve told her I would sponsor her if she started ice skating.”(ESPN.com)(5-29-2011)
Fall Charlotte race becomes Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage: Dollar General and Charlotte Motor Speedway are renaming the Oct. 14 Nationwide Series race the Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage. The newly-named race will sport a pink theme to raise awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s leading breast cancer awareness and research organization. The race will also honor 300 breast cancer survivors in the “ring of survivors.” Fans at the Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage will notice a colorful change at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A special pink race logo will grace the frontstretch grass for the Friday evening race. In addition, the speedway will incorporate the pink motif on the official Toyota Camry pace car, tickets and event branding. Dollar General will exchange its traditional yellow for pink on its race cars at the Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage. The Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage will also honor breast cancer survivors. Susan G. Komen will identify local survivors who will receive a special invitation to attend the race, along with a guest.(CMS PR)(5-28-2011)
Ware Racing inks deal with Arena Football League’s New Orleans Voodoo: The New Orleans VooDoo, the Arena Football League (AFL), and Rick Ware Racing announced a partnership for the balance of the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series. The “New Orleans VooDoo Car” will appear in upcoming Nationwide Series races at Road America in Wisconsin on June 25th, and again at Daytona July 1. Additionally, its driver at Daytona – Jeffrey Earnhardt – will be at the New Orleans Arena Friday, June 3rd along with the “New Orleans VooDoo Car” for the pre-game Fan Fest, and will serve as honorary captain for the game. The nationally televised NFL Network Arena Football “Game of the Week” will feature the top ranked Jacksonville Sharks against the New Orleans VooDoo, who are making their third home appearance of the season on the NFL Network.(Rick Ware Racing)(5-28-2011)
Stewart back with KHI at Daytona: Tony Stewart will return to Kevin Harvick, Inc. at Daytona International Speedway for the Subway Jalapeno 250 on July 1. He will drive the #9 TapouT Chevy. See an image of the car on my #9 team paint schemes page.(5-27-2011)
Wise tests at Gresham: NASCAR teams have been keeping the track hot all week long at Gresham Motorsports Park. On Tuesday, Josh Wise made a visit to GMP in the #7 JR Motorsports Nationwide car. (GMP)(5-27-2011)
Metro Ministries returning to the #52 for the Top Gear 300: Because of last month’s successful pledge lap race event, Means Motorsports announced the Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to serving inner-city children throughout New York City and other urban centers around the world, will be featured on their Chevrolet entry for Charlotte. For almost 30 years, Founder and Senior Pastor Bill Wilson has worked to rescue hurting children and offer a message of salvation and love. The program encourages them to stay in school and away from gangs and other destructive or criminal behaviors so common in inner-city environments. Metro Ministries is currently the world’s largest Sunday School serving more than 42,000 children with services, weekly visits, and Sponsorship programs. USA Co-op will also be an associate sponsor for the Nationwide event at Charlotte.(Means Motorsports) (5-27-2011)
“Honoring Our Heroes” at RIR:Lionel NASCAR Collectables, in partnership with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, unveiled a multi-car, on-track program which pays tribute to the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and helps raise funds to build homes for the only three surviving quadruple amputees of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – United States Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco, United States Marine Corps Corporal Todd Nicely and United States Marine Corps Corporal John Peck.
As part of the “Honoring Our Heroes” program, NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, David Gilliland, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart will drive special patriotic paint schemes which feature the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation logo during the September race weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2001 by the family of Stephen Siller an FDNY firefighter. Siller was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got the call about the attack on the World Trade Center. When he couldn’t drive his truck through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Siller donned 75 pounds of firefighting gear and ran through the tunnel to the towers to help rescue his fellow Americans. Siller lost his life as a result of his heroic actions.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each “Honoring Our Heroes” die-cast and associated merchandise will be donated to The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which has earmarked these funds for the construction of customized “smart” homes for wounded United States servicemen Marrocco, Nicely and Peck.
To bring even more attention to the Foundation’s charitable efforts, David Gilliland will run the #34 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports on Sept. 10. Front Row Motorsports has donated Gilliland’s entire paint scheme to honor the legacy of Stephen Siller and to help increase awareness of the Foundation’s efforts to help the heroes of the U.S. military.
Danica Patrick will drive a special version of the #7 Go Daddy Get Your.Net Chevrolet for JR Motorsports during the Sept. 9 Nationwide Series race at Richmond. Patrick’s car will feature a star-covered design and a black paint scheme. “Each star on the Go Daddy #7 Chevrolet represents a soul lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack,” said Go Daddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons. “We will always remember 9/11. I’m glad to see NASCAR supporting this extraordinary tribute!”
During the Sprint Cup Series race on Sept. 10, Greg Biffle will drive the #16 3M Ford Fusion, Jamie McMurray will drive the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet and Tony Stewart will drive the #14 Office Depot Chevrolet all in patriotic paint schemes.
Following the events at Richmond, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will take part in the 2011 Tunnel to Towers Run on Sept. 25. Tunnel to Towers is an annual run in Manhattan hosted by the Foundation in which thousands of runners and walkers retrace the steps of Stephen Siller, honor his legacy and remember the fallen of Sept. 11, 2001. This year for the first time, Tunnel to Towers Runs will be held in cities nationwide on 9/11 as a way to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.(Lionel NASCAR Collectables), see images of the Cup schemes on the #1 Team Schemes page, #14 Team Schemes page, #16 Team Schemes page and #34 Team Schemes page. See an image of the #7 Nationwide car on the #7 Team Schemes Page(5-27-2011)
Iowa TV Ratings: ABC’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, May 22, earned a final national rating of 1.6, averaging 2,548,000 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company.The race was a first-time event so there is no direct comparison to ratings from previous seasons.(ESPN)(5-26-2011)
Dash 4 Cash program continues: NASCAR and Nationwide Insurance announced a revised version of the successful NASCAR Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” program for the 2011 season. Introduced in 2009 by Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR, “Dash 4 Cash” is a one-of-a-kind bonus program that rewards the highest-finishing eligible driver in designated races with a $100,000 bonus above and beyond the race purse; a 300% payout increase per race from previous years. The program’s four-race format remains the same. The bonus-paying races start with the July 1 race at Daytona International Speedway, followed by Iowa Speedway on Aug. 6, Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 9 and culminate at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 14. Two key revisions to the “Dash 4 Cash” program this year will benefit the drivers competing for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. First, only the top four drivers in the series points standings heading into Daytona’s summer race will be eligible for the $100,000 bonus. That means ultra-competitive racing among the top-10 drivers in the standings at Road America on June 25 which will set the stage for those who will make up the eligibility list at Daytona. The highest-finishing eligible driver at Daytona will receive the first “Dash 4 Cash” payout and automatically qualifies for the next event at Iowa. The three highest-finishing drivers to collect NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points at Daytona also qualify for the bonus at Iowa. That same qualifying procedure will be in place for the remaining two events at Richmond and Charlotte. Another twist: Should any eligible driver win the three “Dash 4 Cash” payouts leading up to Charlotte and then win the Charlotte race, Nationwide Insurance will award an additional $600,000 in Victory Lane, bringing the total “Dash 4 Cash” bonus to $1 million.(NASCAR)(5-26-2011)
Bayne says cause of illness unknown: #16-Trevor Bayne says he’s had to accept that doctors don’t know what caused the symptoms that have kept him out of racing for five weeks. Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic undergoing treatment for what doctors have called an inflammatory condition. The week was spent testing Bayne to see what was causing double vision and fatigue. Bayne says the doctors ruled out many ailments, but have been unable to tell him what caused his symptoms. The 20-year-old Bayne said he’s been symptom-free for a week. Roush Fenway Racing officials are holding him out of racing this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway as a precaution.(Associated Press)(5-26-2011)
Efland returns to the #39: Danny Efland returns to the C3i Sports – Go Green Ford Mustang in the Top Gear 300 race at Charlotte on Saturday, May 28th. After successful runs at Darlington and Dover’s Monster Mile in the Go Green car Danny said he was very happy to be asked to drive their car again. With C3i Sports returning as the sponsor everybody looks for a successful finish in Saturday’s Nationwide event. Danny will also team with Community 2 Community at Charlotte to raise money for the relief effort for recent tornado victims.(Danny Efland PR)(5-26-2011)
Cowboys & Aliens on the #01 Chevy: JD Motorsports has partnered with Cowboys & Aliens, the upcoming action-thriller from director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) that stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde, in theaters July 29. For the first time in NASCAR history, a film will serve as a primary sponsor of a car for multiple races, and as many as 60,000 fans will have the chance to have their pictures displayed on the Cowboys & Aliens-themed car. The new partnership, which runs for 10 weeks, kicks off at the Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, where the #01 Cowboys & Aliens Chevy, driven by NASCAR veteran Mike Wallace, will be unveiled. The car’s paint scheme features a mysterious lone cowboy, portrayed in the film by Daniel Craig, and action scenes from the event film. As a unique promotional tie-in, NASCAR and film fans will have the opportunity to be included on the car by having their submitted photos incorporated into the design as a mosaic. The mosaic version of the #01 Cowboys & Aliens car will be revealed for the first time at the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona on July 1, 2011. As part of the promotion, fans may also enter for a chance to win a trip to the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona to see their picture on the car in person. Any fan who has been selected to have his or her photo on the car may visit www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com to see a 3D rendition of the car and search for their photo by name.(JD Motorsports), see an image of the car on my #01 team paint schemes page.(5-25-2011)
SEM Products sponsoring Allgaier: Turner Motorsports welcomes SEM Products, who will serve as the primary sponsor for the #31 Chevy at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. SEM Products is a leading manufacturer of innovative products developed to meet and exceed the needs of today’s automotive and aerospace repair and finishing industry.(Turner Motorsports)(5-25-2011)
VooDoo Ride on the #7 at Charlotte: Josh Wise’s #7 Chevy will feature the VooDoo Ride paint scheme this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The black scheme showcases VooDoo Ride’s chilling skull logo on its hood and quarter panels. VooDoo Ride is a car care and lifestyle company co-founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2007. It produces a vast array of car care products, including all surface speed detailer (named Mojo), high-gloss tire finish (Hypd), synthetic liquid polish (Silq), wheel and tire cleaner (Shoq), car wash soap (Juju), scratch remover (Hexx) and micro fiber cloths (Jakd).(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(-2011)
Danica considering full time NASCAR in 2012: Danica Patrick and her management team are working on a plan that would bring her full-time to NASCAR in 2012, sources said Tuesday. Patrick hopes to finalize a deal soon that would have her race full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series next season. She would also race a few Sprint Cup events in 2012 before going full-time to Cup in 2013. The plan includes Patrick continuing to compete in the Indianapolis 500 next year. Which team she will race for and how the details will work out are still being finalized, sources said. GoDaddy.com, which sponsors her Indy car and the car she drives in the Nationwide Series, is expected to stay with her if she moves to NASCAR full-time. Her contracts with Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series and JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series end after this year. Patrick said last week at Indianapolis that she hasn’t made any decisions about her future.(ESPN.com)(5-24-2011) UPDATE: Tony Stewart says he’d be interested in signing Danica Patrick if she moves to NASCAR’s top series. Stewart is the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and is always looking for opportunties to grow the team from two to four cars. He’s given Patrick advice during her trial period in NASCAR, and moving full-time from IndyCar is a possibility when her contract ends later this year. Stewart said Wednesday he’s not had talks with Patrick about driving for SHR. He also said he would not field a Nationwide Series team for Patrick.(Associated Press) AND Danica Patrick on Wednesday said there was “no truth” to an ESPN report that her and her management team were working on plans for a fulltime NASCAR schedule in 2012. SI.com’s Bruce Martin, in a previously-scheduled interview with Patrick on Wednesday in Indianapolis, asked her for her reaction to the report. Here was Patrick’s complete response: “I’m watching TV and see it scroll across the bottom of the screen. I don’t know where it came from but it’s all speculation. Anybody can speculate that and write that. I don’t know where it came from but there is no truth to it; it’s just speculation,” she said. “It’s no different than it was last month or even last year. There is nothing new in it.”(Charlotte Observer)(5-25-2011)
Bayne expected to return at Chicago: Trevor Bayne will make his NASCAR return next week in the Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. As a precautionary measure, Roush Fenway Racing and Wood Brothers Racing have decided to withhold Bayne from NASCAR competition this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but subject to any unforeseen changes, the 20-year old driver is expected to fully resume his regular racing schedule beginning at Chicagoland in the #16 Roush Fenway entry. He will make his next Sprint Cup start in the #21 Wood Brothers Ford two weeks later at Michigan (June 18.) “By all standards Trevor had a great week,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “His symptoms have completely subsided. He tested at Virginia International Raceway on Tuesday, had one of the fastest Nationwide Series cars on the race track and his team was extremely pleased with his progress. As a result, we plan to have him back in competition next week in Chicago, and have consulted with his doctors at the Mayo Clinic and the NASCAR medical staff about that timetable. “Of course, Trevor is a competitor and he wanted to be back on the race track this weekend,” added Newmark. “However, we feel it is in his best interest for us to exercise an abundance of caution with this matter and withhold him from racing this weekend; especially considering the length of the races and the fact that Trevor is just starting to get back into his daily routine. Although Trevor would have preferred to compete in all 900 miles this weekend, he respects and understands our decision and will shift his considerable focus to his return at Chicagoland next weekend.” (Roush Fenway Racing)(5-25-2011)
FanRebate.com joins Ware as associate: Rick Ware Racing announced FanRebate.com has joined the organization as an associate sponsor on the #41 Chevy Impala driven by Jeffrey Earnhardt at the Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. FanRebate.com is an exciting new service that helps race fans discover and share great deals on race tickets, collectible merchandise and local food/lodging offers during race weekends via daily updates. FanRebate.com will be featured on the C-Post of the #41 Pepsi Max/Nuts Off/Fastwax Chevy.(RWR)(5-25-2011)
Bliss gets Charlotte Sponsor: TriStar Motorsports announced a one-race partnership with Miller Welders, who’s famous tagline, “The Power of Blue”, refers to the iconic color of the machinery. Miller Welders will serve as primary sponsor of the #19 Chevy with driver Mike Bliss in the Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2011. This partnership will mark Miller Welders’ first NASCAR primary sponsorship endeavor. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin and founded in 1929, Miller Welders has grown from a one-man operation to the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding and cutting equipment. Keeping the people as its primary focus and valuing things as integrity, commitment, loyalty, and teamwork, Miller Welders continues to maintain its global leadership, setting the industry standard for reliability, quality, and responsiveness.(TMI), see an image of the car on my #19 team paint schemes page.(5-25-2011)
150 starts for McClure: This weekend #14-Eric McClure will compete in his 150th career Nationwide Series race and his seventh at the one-and-a-half-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.(TMI)(5-25-2011)
Kahne in the #30 at Charlotte: This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kasey Kahne will make his debut in the #30 Rexall Chevy. Kahne’s Turner Motorsports teammate, Reed Sorenson, has made two starts this season in the Rexall Impala with 11th and 14th-place finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway, respectively.(Turner Motorsports)(5-25-2011)
Villeneuve to test with Penske: UPDATE: Jacques Villeneuve will return to form for the NASCAR Nationwide the best possible manner: by testing in NASCAR Nationwide Series. From what RueFrontenac.com has learned the driver is currently in the workshops of Penske Racing in Mooresville, in the Charlotte area, in order to locate its headquarters and to custom tailor the cockpit of one of Dodge Challenger team. The team is preparing a test day on the road course Road Atlanta on Wednesday. Brad Keselowski will test at the wheel of his #22 Dodge while Villeneuve could drive the Challenger usually entrusted to Sam Hornish Jr., one adorned with the #12 made famous by Villeneuve’s father. Nothing is assured for Montreal, Road America or at Watkins Glen.(translated from Rue Fontenac)(5-17-2011) UPDATE: One of the most accomplished racers in recent history will join Penske Racing for two upcoming road course races on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Former world champion driver Jacques Villeneuve will compete behind the wheel of the #22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series races at Road America (June 25) and Montreal (August 20). Villeneuve will fill in for reigning Nationwide Series champion, Brad Keselowski, at the two events, which will be run on non-companion race weekends with the NASCAR Cup Series.(Penske PR)(5-24-2011)
Koch promoting breast cancer awareness at Charlotte: IMAGE Blake Koch is showing that real men wear pink as he hits the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28th in the Daystar #81 car that will don a special “race day” paint job. In partnership with Susan G. Komen, the all pink car will race to raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a deadly disease affecting thousands of women each year. For Koch, this is a cause that hits close to home. His mother, Angie, is a cancer survivor who recently shared her story for the first time with Daystar’s viewing audience. In conjunction with the event, Daystar Racing will be giving away pink awareness bracelets on race day as well as a limited copy of the inspiring single from Joni Lamb and the Daystar Singers and Band entitled “The Journey.” The group has dedicated the single to those battling life-changing illnesses, such as Breast Cancer, as an encouragement that they are not alone in this fight. The song will appear on the group’s latest project “Set Free,” which will release nationwide May 31st. (MacDonald Motorsports)(5-24-2011) IMAGE: see an image of the car on the #81 team paint schemes page.(5-25-2011)
Funny Dan the Race Car Man returns to the #23: Robert Richardson, Jr. will have Funny Dan the Race Car Man on board when he takes on the 1.5-mile oval of Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday afternoon in the #23 Dodge of R3 Motorsports. Richardson is coming off solid finishes of 20th (Richmond) and 22nd (Iowa) which have helped lock the team into the all-important Owner’s Points battle for a guaranteed starting position in each race. Coming to the familiar grounds of Charlotte this weekend can only bolster what they’ve been able to achieve in recent weeks. For the second time in three races, the newest children’s book from Headline Kids and the NASCAR Library Collection, Funny Dan the Race Car Man will adorn the No. 23 Dodge’s hood and TV panel. The book was written by Tim Packman, Communications Director for the team, and is the story of how one can be a winner by just doing what they love in life – even if they don’t always finish first.(R3 Motorsports)(5-24-2011)
Annett gets new crew chief: In an effort to improve on-track performance, Rusty Wallace Racing announced several changes within its competition department. Headlining them is the addition of veteran Rick Viers as Crew Chief for the #62 Toyota, currently piloted by Michael Annett. An eight-time Nationwide Series winner, Viers comes to RWR after serving as Crew Chief for Roush-Fenway Racing’s #16 entry last season. Prior to his stint with Roush, Viers led the #27 Baker Curb team and driver Greg Biffle. In line with the addition of Viers, former #62 Crew Chief, Jason Overstreet, will now assume the role of Car Chief for RWR’s #64 Toyota, piloted by David Reutimann and Jason Bowles. Overstreet will provide strong leadership and stability to the part-time effort. Both changes will go into effect immediately.(Rusty Wallace Racing)(5-23-2011)
Fastenal sponsoring all Roush cars at Charlotte: If the Fastenal Ford Mustang seems to be all over the track during the May 28 Nationwide Series race, that’s because it will be – or rather, THEY will be. In a rarity for NASCAR, Fastenal, a regular primary on Carl Edwards’ #60, will sponsor all three Roush Fenway Fords in this week’s Nationwide race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fastenal’s blue and white colors will be featured on three of the fastest cars in the series. The all-star lineup includes the #60 Fastenal Ford Mustang driven by series champion Carl Edwards, who’s already chalked up three Nationwide Series victories this season; the #6 Ford Fastenal Mustang of 2010 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who earned his first career NASCAR win last week in Iowa; and the #16 Fastenal Ford Mustang, scheduled to be driven by 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-23-2011)
MAKE Motorsports to attempt Daytona race: UPDATE: MAKE Motorsports is set to field an entry for the Nationwide Series race this summer at Daytona, team ownership tells Frontstretch. The team’s truck driver, TJ Bell, is currently slated to drive the car. No word on additional races or a car number, though the organization is planning to expand it’s #50 team’s Truck Series slate later this season, starting with the night race at Bristol.(Frontstretch)(5-22-2011) UPDATE: At this time MAKE Motorsports has no confirmed plans to compete in any NASCAR Nationwide Series events. The team will continue to focus their efforts in the Camping World Truck Series with driver T.J. Bell and sponsors Liberty Tire Recycling and Pinnacle Rubber Mulch. As always the team continues to look for avenues for growth, and racing a Nationwide event at Daytona is a goal, but at this time remains focused with their current efforts in the truck series.(MAKE Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(5-23-2011)
MAKE Motorsports to attempt Daytona race: MAKE Motorsports is set to field an entry for the Nationwide Series race this summer at Daytona, team ownership tells Frontstretch. The team’s truck driver, TJ Bell, is currently slated to drive the car. No word on additional races or a car number, though the organization is planning to expand it’s #50 team’s Truck Series slate later this season, starting with the night race at Bristol.(Frontstretch)(5-22-2011)
Raikkonen could run Charlotte Nationwide race: UPDATE: Kyle Busch fessed up. His comments earlier Friday weren’t the whole truth, when he said he wouldn’t field a Nationwide car for Kimi Raikkonen next week. “I don’t own it,” Busch said with a sly smile after winning Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte. Who does own it, Busch wouldn’t reveal, after admitting the car was a Toyota. “You’ll find out next week,” he said. In his first news conference with NASCAR reporters, Raikkonen mentioned that he expected to drive in the Nationwide race at Charlotte. When asked about it, Busch was circumspect. “We don’t have a Nationwide Series license [at Kyle Busch Motorsports], and our crew guys aren’t licensed for the Nationwide Series or anything,” Busch said. “It would have to be with somebody else.” Clever, but the not whole story, as it turned out. Accordingly, you can expect to see Raikkonen behind the wheel of a Toyota on May 28 — in a car to be named later.(Sporting News/NASCAR.com)(5-21-2011) UPDATE: The pieces to the Kimi Raikkonen Nationwide Series puzzle are coming together. FOXSports.com has learned that the car is being assembled by Kyle Busch Motorsports but the owner points will come from Joe Nemechek’s #87 entry, registered under NEMCO Motorsports, which is currently 19th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings. The crew will come from NEMCO with additional support from KBM employees. NEMCO will provide transporter, equipment and back up car for the race. Raikkonen finished 15th in his NASCAR Camping World Truck debut. The 2007 Formula One champion was approved to compete in next Saturday’s Nationwide Series race prior to Friday night’s event.(Fox Sports)(5-21-2011)
Means Motorsports announces Iowa sponsors: Westworld Computers will be on the hood of the #52 as title sponsor for Sunday’s NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa Motor Speedway. Canadian native, Daryl Harr, will make his 3rd NASCAR Nationwide start of the season with his Westworld Computer Chevy entry. The #52 is looking to rebound from an early issue with a right front tire at Dover last week that put them into the wall on lap 19. Means Motorsports sets just outside the locked in positions in points, and hopes to make a mid season push and break into the top 30 in the Nationwide series by Daytona in July. Cline Tool will also be an associate sponsor for the John Deere Dealers 250. The Newton, Iowa based firm, services manufacturing facilities in the greater Midwest providing cutting tools, abrasives, along with hand and power tools.(Means Motorsports)(5-20-2011)
Whitt could run some Nationwide races: UPDATE: Red Bull Racing is looking at different Nationwide Series options to expedite Cole Whitt’s learning curve. RBR general manager Jay Frye said the 19-year-old phenom from Alpine, Calif., could run in two to 10 races this season, “depending on timing.” Frye added that Red Bull could run a third Cup car for Whitt, but it would be “very late in the season.” Whitt ran the final two Nationwide Series races for Red Bull last year and finished 15th and 17th at Phoenix and Homestead, respectively. RBR has an existing relationship with fellow Toyota organization Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR supplied Nationwide cars for Scott Speed. Frye is expected to meet with MWR to see what possibilities exist for Whitt.(Fox Sports)(5-15-2011) UPDATE: Red Bull Racing Team and Pastrana-Waltrip Racing have joined forces to put Cole Whitt in PWR’s #99 Toyota for the May 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old Whitt will make his third Nationwide start in the Top Gear 300, having competed in two events late last season.(Red Bull Racing)(5-20-2011)
Jeffrey Earnhardt driving at Charlotte: UPDATE: From Jeffrey Earnhardt’s Facebook page, “May 28th we’ll be racing the Nationwide race in Charlotte with Rick Ware Racing.”(5-7-2011) UPDATE: Jeffrey Earnhardt’s 2011 season started with a top 10 finish at Daytona in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. That effort was followed up with several strong outings in the truck races. When the trucks sponsor changed teams, Jeffrey and Rick Ware solidified their partnership and went to work to prepare for the future. That future begins on May 28th at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Nationwide Series Top Gear 300 at 2:30pm, televised live on ABC. “We are looking forward to having Jeffrey in the #41 at Charlotte in the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” stated owner Rick Ware. “The past month has been extremely exciting at RWR with Jeffrey making the jump to the Nationwide Series. He will be joining the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point leader, Timmy Hill and the future looks really bright for our organization.”(RWR)(5-20-2011)
Multiple sponsors for RAB at Iowa: In a show of support and to celebrate Kenny Wallace’s memorable day, the #09 RAB Racing Toyota will be adorned by a conglomeration of sponsors. American Ethanol will be joined by two additional partners, Iowa Corn and Big River Resources, as co-primary race sponsors. Additionally, the G-OIL brand from Green Earth Technologies will be back for a second week to serve as an associate race sponsor along with the Best Western Plus Marquis Des Moines Airport Hotel, which will serve as the official RAB Racing hotel while the team makes its first of two trips to Iowa during the 2011 NNS season.(RAB Racing)(5-19-2011)
Setzer in the #28 at Iowa: MAXelence adds Iowa as another primary race with Jay Robinson Racing and The #28 Team. The difference this week will be Dennis Setzer will be driving the #28 MAXelence Race Car.(Jay Robinson Racing)(5-19-2011)
Bayne expected to return this weekend: UPDATES: NO: Trevor Bayne is edging closer to making his NASCAR return this weekend. “It’s our firm expectation that he will compete this weekend,” said a source from Roush Fenway Racing.Bayne, 20, underwent two days of testing at the Mayo Clinic and was scheduled to return Tuesday night from Minnesota. Bayne will test at an undisclosed track Wednesday and will meet with NASCAR physicians before returning to action this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in his Sprint All-Star Race debut. Bayne is also expected to compete at Iowa Speedway on Sunday.(Fox Sports)(5-17-2011) UPDATE: Roush Fenway and the Wood Brothers have decided to withhold Trevor Bayne from NASCAR competition this weekend, including Sunday’s Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway and Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Although we would like for Trevor to be on the track this weekend, we want to make sure that he is fully back to prime condition before he goes out to compete with the best drivers in the world,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “He has been undergoing tests and out of his routine for almost a month now. With that disruption in his schedule, he has not been able to take part in our daily training activities and he’s going to need a little more time to get acclimated to the strenuous demands of a NASCAR racing schedule,” added Newmark. “Obviously we would love to have him back out on the track, but we are not prepared to do that until we are sure that he’s 100 percent. His symptoms have improved tremendously, but we’re still not all the way back to where we want to be.” Neither the Roush Fenway #16 Nationwide Series entry, nor the Wood Brothers #21 Sprint Cup entry, will participate in the NASCAR races this weekend. The Wood Brothers, however, do intend to participate in the Pit Crew Challenge this evening. (Roush Fenway Racing)(5-19-2011) UPDATE: The undisclosed illness that has sidelined Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne with blurred vision and other symptoms for more than three weeks will keep him from driving in Saturday’s All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bayne tested Wednesday at Rockingham Speedway for Roush Fenway Racing, which owns Bayne’s contract and fields him in the #16 Ford in the Nationwide Series. RFR officials said Bayne, who qualified for the All-Star race by winning the Sprint Cup opener at Daytona in the #21 he drives on a limited basis for the Wood Brothers, did not appear at full strength after more than three weeks of non-activity while undergoing tests. Bayne’s Nationwide car did not make the trip to Iowa for Sunday’s race and will not be entered with any driver. The Wood Brothers will not replace Bayne in the All-Star race even though they have that option. Bayne has been having symptoms of blurred vision, pain in his left shoulder and elbow, fatigue and periods of feeling nauseous since early last month. Although the symptoms had subsided enough that it was initially thought Bayne could compete in the All-Star race, it was decided after Wednesday’s test he probably needed another week to recuperate and gain back his full strength.(ESPN)(5-20-2011)
Cope twins to attempt Iowa race: UPDATE: – After rewriting the NASCAR history books last year, the Cope Twins – Angela and Amber – plan to add another chapter by becoming the first twins to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race – on Sunday, May 22, at Iowa Speedway. The duet, which made history last season by becoming the first twins to ever race against each other in one of NASCAR’s top three divisions by competing in a Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville last October, make their return to NASCAR at the beautiful 7/8-mile tri-oval in Newton, IA, just 30 miles east off Des Moines, IA. The twins, nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 Champion Derrike Cope, will be driving for a new team in Keystone Motorsports. Amber will pilot a #93 Ford while Angela will behind the wheel of a #94 Chevy. The team plans to also run the Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway in July, with hopes of competing in more races later in 2011. Odyssey batteries, which served as a major sponsor for their history making run at Martinsville, is back again as a co-primary on both cars to support the 27-year-olds from Puyallup, Washington, in their Nationwide Series debut.(HB&M Sports)(5-10-2011) UPDATE: Angela will reportedly be in the #44 for Tri-Star Motorsports while Amber will drive the #93 as previously announced.(5-18-2011)
Dover TV Ratings: UPDATE: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, May 14, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.5 (1.3 U.S. rating), averaging 1,820,000 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The U.S. rating was the same as the race telecast earned last year when it aired on ABC.(ESPN)(5-17-2011) UPDATE: A correction by the Nielsen Company has raised the TV ratings for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race held on Saturday, May 14, at Dover International Speedway. The race aired live on ESPN. The correction raises the national household coverage rating to a 1.7 (1.5 U.S. rating), higher than the 1.3 U.S. rating originally announced. The 1.5 U.S. rating is higher than the 1.3 rating for last year’s race that aired on ABC.The ratings were corrected due to the rain delay that occurred during the race.(ESPN)(5-18-2011)
Bayne expected to return this weekend: Trevor Bayne is edging closer to making his NASCAR return this weekend. “It’s our firm expectation that he will compete this weekend,” said a source from Roush Fenway Racing.Bayne, 20, underwent two days of testing at the Mayo Clinic and was scheduled to return Tuesday night from Minnesota. Bayne will test at an undisclosed track Wednesday and will meet with NASCAR physicians before returning to action this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in his Sprint All-Star Race debut. Bayne is also expected to compete at Iowa Speedway on Sunday. (Fox Sports)(5-17-2011)
500th Nationwide start for Kenny Wallace: This weekend, Kenny Wallace, a NASCAR mainstay on and off the track, will reach a milestone only one other person has achieved – and, possibly, no one will ever accomplish again: 500 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. And, coincidentally, he’ll do it at his brother Rusty Wallace’s track – Iowa Speedway. Wallace’s storied career started with an 11th-place finish at Martinsville in 1988 driving for Dale Earnhardt and 22 years later is enjoying one of the most successful seasons of his career. Wallace is a nine-time NASCAR Nationwide race-winner and has nine poles, 64 top fives and 162 top-10 finishes. Overall in his NASCAR national series career, he’s made 854 combined starts. He joins Jason Keller as part of the 500-start club in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “I’m really honored to make my 500th start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” Kenny Wallace said. “When I was a kid growing up in St. Louis, I dreamed of racing in NASCAR. But to make 855 combined starts in this great sport, including NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Camping World Trucks, I am forever thankful to all the teams that hired me and to all the fans who have supported me. But without my brother Rusty, I would have never made it to this point.” Wallace is off to one of the best starts of his series career in his first season with RAB Racing. He posted his third top-10 finish of the season last Saturday at Dover and comes to Iowa ranked seventh in the driver standings 62 points behind series standings leader Elliott Sadler. His Driver Rating is 77.9 and Average Running Position is 16.4. The series has competed twice at Iowa Speedway, Wallace has made both series starts, and his average finish is 14.0.(NASCAR)(5-17-2011)
300th start for Shepherd: #89-Morgan Shepherd, 69, can start his 300th NASCAR Nationwide Series race this weekend at Iowa but will have to qualify on time.(NASCAR)(5-17-2011)
Villeneuve to test with Penske: Jacques Villeneuve will return to form for the NASCAR Nationwide the best possible manner: by testing in NASCAR Nationwide Series. From what RueFrontenac.com has learned the driver is currently in the workshops of Penske Racing in Mooresville, in the Charlotte area, in order to locate its headquarters and to custom tailor the cockpit of one of Dodge Challenger team. The team is preparing a test day on the road course Road Atlanta on Wednesday. Brad Keselowski will test at the wheel of his #22 Dodge while Villeneuve could drive the Challenger usually entrusted to Sam Hornish Jr., one adorned with the #12 made famous by Villeneuve’s father. Nothing is assured for Montreal, Road America or at Watkins Glen.(translated from Rue Fontenac)(5-17-2011)
Carpentier driving for Pastrana Waltrip at Montreal: Pastrana-Waltrip Racing and NAPA announced that Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier will race the #99 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota in the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 presented by Dodge, NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal on Aug. 20. The Joliette (Quebec) native won the pole for this race in 2007 and posted second-place finishes in 2007 and 2008. The 2009 and 2010 Montreal races saw Carpentier as one of the fastest on the track before mechanical issues ended his races early. Carpentier owns 14 Nationwide and 39 Sprint Cup starts after winning five races in CART in a stellar open wheel career. He has quite a history on the Montreal track finishing first and third in Formula Atlantic races and posting two third-place finishes in CART.(Pastrana-Waltrip Racing)(5-17-2011)
McDowell making JGR debut: Michael McDowell is no newcomer to the NASCAR world, but Sunday’s event at Iowa Speedway will mark his first for Joe Gibbs Racing. McDowell will pilot the #18 Pizza Ranch Toyota at Iowa, taking the wheel of one of the best cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a car that has already collected five wins in 2011 with Kyle Busch behind the wheel and a car that is the two-time defending Nationwide Series Owner’s Championship ride. McDowell has 72 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with a career-best finish of sixth coming in the third race of the 2009 season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. McDowell is also a veteran of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he’s made 61 career starts. McDowell also has experience in the ARCA Racing Series (finished second in points and crowed Rookie of the Year in 2007), Champ Car, Star Mazda, Daytona Prototype and various other road racing series.Pizza Ranch, the largest regional pizza restaurant chain in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, will return as sponsor of the #18 Toyota this weekend at Iowa Speedway.(JGR)(5-17-2011)
Herring driving for Gibbs at Iowa: Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Drew Herring will pilot the #20 Sport Clips Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Iowa this Sunday, May 22. Herring, 23, has made four career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with all four outings coming last season. His career-best finish came at Iowa Speedway in 2010 when he finished on the lead lap and posted a 15th-place finish.(JGR)(5-16-2011)
Martinez to make Nationwide debut at Iowa: Luis Martinez Jr will be one of the hardest working and busiest drivers roaming the garage area at Iowa Speedway this Saturday. Not only is the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West sophomore entered in the fifth annual NASCAR K&N Pro Series East/West combination race, but he will also be qualifying for the next day’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race, when he teams up with Go Green Racing in his debut at the John Deere Dealers 250 presented by Pioneer. Martinez’s debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series aboard the #39 King Taco Ford is an exciting step in the young racer’s career. The opportunity to race with Go Green Racing came as a result of a discussion with Clinton Cram, who served as Martinez’s Sunrise Ford teammate Rod Johnson Jr’s Crew Chief. Cram also serves as Go Green Racing’s crew chief. (Martinez PR)(5-16-2011)
Fraternal Order of Eagles sponsoring #30 for 2 races: Turner Motorsports announced that longtime marketing partner, Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE), will take center stage as primary sponsor of the team’s #30 Chevy in two upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series events. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series young-gun, James Buescher, will pilot the Fraternal Order of Eagles Impala, extending his limited NNS schedule, to include both the May event at Iowa Speedway and the July event at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis.(Turner Motorsports)(5-16-2011)
KHI crew member taken to hospital: UPDATE: Glen Wheeler, a member of the #33 Kevin Harvick Inc. team, will be kept overnight at a local Dover hospital for further observation after sustaining left leg injuries by debris from the accident at the conclusion of the Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway. Wheeler was evaluated in the infield care center before being transported to the area hospital for additional evaluation.(KHI)(5-15-2011) UPDATE: Glen Wheeler, a mechanic for Kevin Harvick Inc. injured by a flying rear spring during Saturday’s last lap wreck in the Nationwide Series race at Dover, returned home with the team on Sunday, team owner Kevin Harvick said. Wheeler was on pit road when Joey Logano spun under hard racing with race winner Carl Edwards. KHI driver Clint Bowyer was collected in the wreck and slammed the wall separating pit road from the racing surface. Wheeler, whose left leg was injured by the debris from the wreck, was kept overnight in a local hospital with severe swelling in the leg. “We’ll take him home with us today, and we’ll have him evaluated,” Harvick said Sunday before the Sprint Cup Series race. “It’s really sore.”(Sporting News)(5-15-2011)
Wimmer driving for ML Motorsports at Iowa: ML Motorsports will be running the #70 Foretravel Chevy at the May 22 event at Iowa Speedway with Scott Wimmer behind the wheel. Wimmer brings plenty of experience to ML Motorsports with 215 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Wimmer has six wins, 29 top five and 74 top ten finishes to his credit in the Nationwide Series and currently stands 20th in driver points. Wimmer will also pilot the #70 Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway on June 4th. The #70 Chevy also will carry sponsorship from Chase Suites which is conveniently located in the heart of West Des Moines in Clive, Iowa. Foretravel Motorcoach will continue to serve as primary sponsor in the two upcoming events at Iowa Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway.(ML Motorsports) NOTE: Wimmer has been driving for Key Motorsports, but that team has been scaling back due to a lack of sponsorship.(5-15-2011)
Whitt could run some Nationwide races: Red Bull Racing is looking at different Nationwide Series options to expedite Cole Whitt’s learning curve. RBR general manager Jay Frye said the 19-year-old phenom from Alpine, Calif., could run in two to 10 races this season, “depending on timing.” Frye added that Red Bull could run a third Cup car for Whitt, but it would be “very late in the season.” Whitt ran the final two Nationwide Series races for Red Bull last year and finished 15th and 17th at Phoenix and Homestead, respectively. RBR has an existing relationship with fellow Toyota organization Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR supplied Nationwide cars for Scott Speed. Frye is expected to meet with MWR to see what possibilities exist for Whitt.(Fox Sports)(5-15-2011)
Trevor Bayne to test drive: Trevor Bayne will test drive this week in the hope he can return to racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bayne missed his third straight race weekend at Dover International Speedway. Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic undergoing treatment for what doctors have called an inflammatory condition. He was released last week. Team owner Jack Roush said Saturday that Bayne’s blurred vision is “by and large” gone. Bayne will drive test laps at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia. If Bayne feels comfortable, he could be cleared to return. Bayne could race in next week’s All-Star race for the Wood Brothers, and return to his Nationwide ride in the May 22 event at Iowa.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-15-2011)
OneMain to sponsor fall Dover race: CitiFinancial – soon to be OneMain Financial – announced that it will be the title sponsor of the Nationwide Series race to be held at Dover International Speedway on October 1. “The OneMain Financial 200” will be held at The Monster Mile, as the track is otherwise known, and is one of the key races down the stretch of the NNS season leading to the championship. This sponsorship will be an integral part of the re-branding initiative as US CitiFinancial branches begin operating as OneMain Financial this summer. When CitiFinancial becomes OneMain Financial, customers and NASCAR fans alike can continue to depend on the same local service and support for their borrowing needs.(OneMain PR)(5-13-2011)
G-OIL sponsoring Kenny Wallace: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard announced that it has partnered with Green Earth Technologies, an American-based company specializing in “green” automotive products for a multi-race partnership featuring its G-OIL brand beginning this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Continuing to support NASCAR’s “green” initiative, RAB Racing will showcase G-OIL on the #09 Toyota driven by Kenny Wallace for four NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2011. Green Earth Technologies (GET) and its G-OIL brand join other environmentally-friendly companies working with RAB Racing this season, including American Ethanol, E15 Green Sunoco fuels, the National Corn Growers Association, and Family Farmers. The #09 Toyota Camry will carry the G-OIL livery at Dover International Speedway on May 14, Daytona International Speedway on July 1, Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 3 and Texas Motor Speedway on November 5.(RAB Racing)(5-12-2011)
Stenhouse racing for flood relief: – Roush Fenway Racing and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., are teaming up this weekend at Dover to bring attention to relief efforts for those affected by the recent flooding of the Mississippi River. Stenhouse, a native of Olive Branch, Miss., will carry Mississippi Flood Relief messaging on the #6 Ford Mustang in Saturday’s 5-hour ENERGY 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in an effort to raise awareness and generate support for those adversely affected by the flood damage. While spending a few days at home following the recent NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Stenhouse personally saw the flood damage up close.(Roush Fenway), see an image of the car on my #6 team paint schemes page.(5-12-2011)
MAC Tools on the #18 at Dover: Kyle Busch will be looking to make history Saturday afternoon when he takes to the track in the #18 MAC Tools Toyota at Dover International Speedway seeking to tie Mark Martin for the most career wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The #18 Toyota will have MAC Tools as the primary sponsor this Saturday. Mac Tools is a leader in professional automotive and industrial tools and solutions.(JGR)(5-12-2011)
R3 Motorsports partners with Cornell Racing: R3 Motorsports announced they have partnered with Cornell Racing as an Associate Sponsor for three NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season. This partnership will feature the Cornell Racing logo on the #23 Dodge of R3 Motorsports for those races and a collaborative effort to capitalize on some commonalities between the team and university. The partnership also makes R3 Motorsports a Title Sponsor for Cornell Racing’s efforts as they go for an unprecedented 10th world championship in Formula SAE this week at Michigan International Speedway. Formula SAE is an international competition for students to design, manufacture and contend with their car. (Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-12-2011)
MAXelence returns to #28 team: MAXelencecontinues their partnership with Jay Robinson Racing and the #28 Car. This is MAXelence’s 3rd of the 12 primary sponsored races in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Season. MAXelence is not another energy or sports beverage. MAXelence gives the body what it needs to produce energy & stamina naturally, and to recover from stress, exertion & fatigue. (Jay Robinson Racing)(5-12-2011)
Cope twins to attempt Iowa race: – After rewriting the NASCAR history books last year, the Cope Twins – Angela and Amber – plan to add another chapter by becoming the first twins to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race – on Sunday, May 22, at Iowa Speedway. The duet, which made history last season by becoming the first twins to ever race against each other in one of NASCAR’s top three divisions by competing in a Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville last October, make their return to NASCAR at the beautiful 7/8-mile tri-oval in Newton, IA, just 30 miles east off Des Moines, IA. The twins, nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 Champion Derrike Cope, will be driving for a new team in Keystone Motorsports. Amber will pilot a #93 Ford while Angela will behind the wheel of a #94 Chevy. The team plans to also run the Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway in July, with hopes of competing in more races later in 2011. Odyssey batteries, which served as a major sponsor for their history making run at Martinsville, is back again as a co-primary on both cars to support the 27-year-olds from Puyallup, Washington, in their Nationwide Series debut.(HB&M Sports)(5-10-2011)
Swindell in for Bayne at Dover: UPDATE: According to a Twitter message by NASCAR, #16-Trevor Bayne will not race this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Kevin Swindell will be in the car while Bayne sits out “at least another week”.(5-12-2011) UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing will hold Trevor Bayne out of this week’s Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway. Fellow Tennessee native Kevin Swindell will fill in for Bayne in the #16 Roush Fenway Mustang this weekend in the Nationwide Series race. “Trevor’s symptoms have subsided and we are very encouraged by his progress,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “Still, we are going to exercise an element of caution with his return to the track and keep him out of competition for at least another week. Trevor is itching to get back out on the race track, and, although it’s hard to keep someone with his passion away, we feel it is in his best interest to hold off for another week. As of now, we, along with the Wood Brothers, are planning for Trevor to return next week and compete in the Sprint Cup All-Star event in Charlotte and the Nationwide Series race in Iowa.” (Roush Fenway)(5-12-2011)
Rusty Wallace Racing tests at GMP: Toyota cars and trucks everywhere! For the past two days Toyota race teams have kept the track hot at Gresham Motorsports Park. NASCAR Nationwide Drivers, Steve Wallace and Michael Annett tested at GMP mainly to make adjustments to the cars. “This is a great track and it’s so smooth,” said Nationwide driver, Michael Annett. “We can’t really test for a certain track here but it is a good place for us to ‘A and B’ a lot of things.”(GMP)(5-10-2011)
150th start for Keselowski: This weekend’s NNS race at Dover will mark the 150th series start for #22-Brad Keselowski. In the previous 149 starts, Keselowski has accumulated 12 wins. 64 top-five finishes, 89 top-10 results and eight pole awards.(Penske Racing)(5-10-2011)
Darlington TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway on Friday night, May 6, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.0 (0.9 U.S. rating), averaging 1,351,148 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 1.1 for last year’s event that also aired on ESPN2. For the season, NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings across ESPN networks are up 15 percent from this point last season.(ESPN)(5-10-2011)
JR Motorsports Honors U.S. Armed Forces with #7 “We Salute You” Chevy at Dover: On Sept. 11, 2001, our country awakened to an unfathomable reality that tugged at the core of its values. Nearly a decade later, the resolve and relentlessness of the United States Armed Forces took back some of what was lost that day, and while the war on terror continues, so too does the unconditional service of America’s bravest men and women. JR Motorsports, along with the NASCAR community, will salute the courageous men and women of the United States Armed Forces with a tribute paint scheme of pride, patriotism and gratitude on the #7 Chevy this weekend at Dover International Speedway. The aptly named “We Salute You” JR Motorsports Chevy will be piloted by Josh Wise, a 28-year-old native of Riverside, Calif., in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event on May 14. The car speaks for all Americans with a patriotic design that pays tribute to the strength and resolve of the greatest military on earth. “USA” is emblazoned in strong, bold letters across the hood and rear decklid of the #7 Chevy. Etched on the TV panel are the words “God Bless America”. The phrase “We Salute You” is featured on the quarter panels, with The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation logo gracing the lower side panels. In continuation of JRM’s message of appreciation, Aric Almirola’s #88 Degree Men Chevy will also feature the “We Salute You” logo on its lower side panels for the Dover event. (JR Mtorsports), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(5-10-2011)
Alex Kennedy to drive #23: UPDATE: Alex Kennedy will drive the St. Baldrick’s Foundation “Racing to Conquer Kids’ Cancer” #23 Dodge next week at Dover International Speedway on May 14th for R3 Motorsports. Alex will also drive the #23 at Road America, Watkins Glen, and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. More races will be added to the “Racing to Conquer Kids’ Cancer” campaign if additional marketing partners are signed. Aztec, New Mexico’s Alex Kennedy made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last season with a career best 16th place finish at Watkins Glen. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation hosts “Shave Events” where volunteers raise money by shaving their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer. The organization has raised over $23 Million in 2011 and pays out more in grants for kids cancer research than any organization other than the Federal Government. (Race Talk Radio)(5-6-2011) UPDATE: Alex “Kid” Kennedy will drive the #23 Funny Dan Race Car Man/St. Baldrick’s Dodge for R3 Motorsports this weekend in Dover. This will be his second NNS start of the season and eighth of his career. He has three previous starts on the Monster Mile in the NASCAR K&N East Pro Series qualifying in the top-20 for all three, one was a top-10. The sponsorship for the weekend is a combination of the new children’s book, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man,” and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The book was released last week and was written by Tim Packman, the team’s Communications Director, is part of the NASCAR Library Collection and was published by Headline Kids, the 2010 Independent Publisher of the Year. According to sources at NASCAR Publishing, this is the first time one of their books has been featured on the hood of car. It was Kennedy’s idea to put the book on the hood to help raise more awareness for St. Baldrick’s. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. They raise funds and awareness by participants raising money to shave their heads as a sign of their support. Kennedy is their official spokesperson in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(R3 Motorsports)(5-10-2011)
Another race for Speed: UPDATE: According to a post on his Facebook page, “Scott will now race another NASCAR Nationwide race for KHI… May 22nd at Iowa”.(4-25-2011) UPDATE: With Scott Speed’s deal to run the Indianapolis 500, he will not drive in the May Iowa race. Austin Dillon will be in the car instead.(5-10-2011)
Sandvik Coromant sponsoring Scott at Chicago: Sandvik Coromant will sponsor the number 11 car at the upcoming Nationwide Series STP 300 race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on June 4, 2011. Sandvik Coromant has been an exclusive technical sponsor to Joe Gibbs Racing since 2006, and provides tooling and metal cutting products and the expert services necessary to manufacture thousands of race car and engine components.(Sandvik PR)(5-9-2011)
Alliance Truck Parts Acquires Naming Rights for Nationwide Race at Michigan: Alliance Truck Parts, a leading provider of replacement parts for the commercial transportation industry, has signed a 3-year naming rights deal with Michigan International Speedway for the Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250. This year’s race will be held on Saturday, June 18. NASCAR racing is not new to Alliance Truck Parts. The organization’s Alliance Truck Parts Racing also sponsors the NASCAR Nationwide Series #12 Dodge Challenger driven by Sam Hornish Jr.(Michigan Speedway)(5-9-2011)
Penske Racing Presents Ruby Tuesday with 2010 Sponsor Championship Trophy: On Friday evening, prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway, Penske Racing formally presented Mark Young, Chief Marketing Officer for Ruby Tuesday Inc., with the 2010 NNS Sponsor Championship Trophy. Young accepted the trophy on behalf of the over 35,000 Ruby Tuesday employees worldwide. Ruby Tuesday adorned the #22 Dodge for six races during the 2010 season. In their first event together, at Richmond International Raceway, Keselowski gave Ruby Tuesday their first NASCAR victory with a dominating performance at the .75-mile track. (Penske PR)(5-9-2011)
Jeffrey Earnhardt driving at Charlotte: From Jeffrey Earnhardt’s Facebook page, “May 28th we’ll be racing the Nationwide race in Charlotte with Rick Ware Racing.”(5-7-2011)
Alex Kennedy to drive #23: Alex Kennedy will drive the St. Baldrick’s Foundation “Racing to Conquer Kids’ Cancer” #23 Dodge next week at Dover International Speedway on May 14th for R3 Motorsports. Alex will also drive the #23 at Road America, Watkins Glen, and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. More races will be added to the “Racing to Conquer Kids’ Cancer” campaign if additional marketing partners are signed. Aztec, New Mexico’s Alex Kennedy made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last season with a career best 16th place finish at Watkins Glen. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation hosts “Shave Events” where volunteers raise money by shaving their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer. The organization has raised over $23 Million in 2011 and pays out more in grants for kids cancer research than any organization other than the Federal Government. (Race Talk Radio)(5-6-2011)
Metro Ministries to be featured on the #52 at Darlington: Means Motorsports announced the Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to serving inner-city children throughout New York City and other urban centers around the world, will be the primary sponsor on their Chevy entry for the Royal Purple 200. For almost 30 years, Founder and Senior Pastor Bill Wilson has worked to rescue hurting children and offer a message of salvation and love. The program encourages them to stay in school and away from gangs and other destructive or criminal behaviors so common in inner-city environments. Metro Ministries is currently the world’s largest Sunday School serving more than 42,000 children with Sunday School services.( Means Motorsports) (5-4-2011)
Raybestos sponsoring Hamlin at Darlington: After a very successful weekend in Richmond for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization, its #20 Nationwide team has been busy preparing a new racecar for Denny Hamlin to drive at this Friday’s Royal Purple 200 NASCAR Nationwide race at Darlington Raceway: the first-ever Raybestos/WIX primary sponsored entry. Hamlin took the checkered flag in the Nationwide race this past weekend, and has won the past THREE straight Nationwide events at Darlington. He hopes to continue his winning ways this weekend at Darlington, in a car both equipped with — and sponsored by — long-time JGR team technical partners, Raybestos Brakes and WIX Filters. Both brands represent divisions of parent company Affinia Group, a global leader in automotive aftermarket parts.(JRG), see an image of the car on my #20 team paint schemes page.(5-5-2011)
Bayne doubtful for Darlington: UPDATES: Roush Fenway Racing driver Trevor Bayne remains hospitalized in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and likely will remain out of the driver’s seat for at least another week. Hospitalized last week for fatigue, nausea and blurred vision, Bayne missed the Nationwide Series race at Richmond last week. He likely will miss this weekend’s race at Darlington although a final decision might not be made until Thursday, a Roush Fenway Racing spokesman said Wednesday. His replacement would be Chris Buescher.(Scene Daily)(5-4-2011) UPDATE: Chris Buescher likely will replace Trevor Bayne in the Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide Series car for the second straight race as the Daytona 500 winner remains hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, sources told ESPN.com Wednesday. Despite numerous rumors about Bayne’s condition — which at times has included a rash as well as swelling and numbness in his left arm — several sources said doctors have not made a final diagnosis and would not speculate on whether this could be career-threatening. But sources said it is highly unlikely Bayne will be in the car for Friday night’s Nationwide race at Darlington Raceway. A final decision on whether to put Buescher in the car is expected to be made Thursday.(ESPN.com)(5-4-2011) UPDATE 2: Roush Fenway Racing’s Trevor Bayne has been released from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. after being admitted last week for testing and evaluation. The 20-year old Daytona 500 winner will continue to be monitored closely by the Mayo Clinic team. He is expected to return to his NASCAR racing duties with both Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series and the Wood Brothers in the Sprint Cup Series this season. He will not, however, be in the #16 Roush Fenway Nationwide Series entry this weekend at Darlington Raceway. No timeframe has been set for Bayne’s return at this point. “Trevor Bayne was seen by a team of Mayo Clinic specialists where he underwent a series of tests and consultations over the last week,” said Mayo Clinic neurologist Brian Crum, M.D. “He was admitted after suffering from nausea, fatigue and vision impairment. Since his admission, the nausea and fatigue have abated, and the vision impairment continues to be treated with medication, and is showing significant improvement. “This symptom appears to be the result of an inflammatory condition. Further assessments will be made over the next couple of weeks. His condition is not life threatening or career-ending. We expect he will continue to improve, though the timeframe for his return to racing is unknown at this point. He will continue to be followed closely by his Mayo Clinic team.” Chris Buescher, who drove the #16 Roush Fenway NNS entry last week at Richmond, will again fill in for Bayne this weekend at Darlington. Team officials are unsure of Bayne’s status for next week’s Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway but are hopeful for his return for that race.(Roush Fenway Racing) (5-5-2011)
JD Motorsports to field 2 cars; Hylton to break record for oldest driver: JD Motorsports has announced the entry of a second car in Darlington. The car will carry the #0 and be piloted by legendary Cup, Nationwide, and current ARCA driver, James Hylton. At 76 years of age, James will break a record Friday night when he takes the green flag as being the oldest driver to ever start a race in the Nationwide Series. The record has hailed since 2008, the 73 year old driver who drove for Johnny Davis was none other than James Hylton. The #0 G&K Services Chevy will sport the familiar orange G&K paint scheme. Mike Wallace will also represent G&K Services in Darlington for the 6th time this season. Mike’s #01 G&K Services Chevy will bare the alternate G&K Services paint scheme that was run for the first time last week in Richmond.(JD Motorsports)(5-5-2011)
MAXelence returns to the #28 team: MAXelence continues their partnership with Jay Robinson Racing and the #28 Car. This is MAXelence’s 2nd of the 12 primary sponsored races in the 2011 Nationwide Series Season. Derrike Cope will be behind the wheel and occupies the 19th position in the 2011 Championship Standings.(Jay Robinson Racing)(5-5-2011)
Lilly Trucking returns to #15 team: Rick Ware Racing will have Lilly Trucking of Virginia back on the #15 of Timmy Hill for this weekend, as the team heads to Darlington Raceway for the Royal Purple 200 Friday night.(Rick Ware Racing)(5-4-2011)
Fleur De Lis Motorsports names Darlington sponsor: Fleur De Lis Motorsports announced that Craigs Used Cars has joined their family of sponsors at Darlington Raceway for the running of the Royal Purple 200 Friday night. Craigs Used Cars, based on Florence, South Carolina will grace the hood of the #68 Chevy (Fleur De Lis Motorsports)(5-4-2011)
Young Plantations on #41 at Darlington: Florence, South Carolina’s, Young Plantation has joined the Rick Ware organization on the #41 Ford of Carl Long at Darlington Raceway. Young Plantation’s logo will also be featured on the #15 of Sunoco Rookie of the Year point leader, Timmy Hill on the lower quarter panels of his Lilly Trucking Ford. (Rick Ware Racing)(5-4-2011)
Richmond TV Ratings: SPEED coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series from Richmond scored a final Nielsen Household Rating of 1.08 (848,000 households), up 6 percent from last year’s 1.02. Race coverage ratings peaked at 1.37 (1,080,000 households) and led SPEED to its strongest Friday night prime time performance since February.(SPEED)(5-3-2011)
Annett’s DWI case postponed again: Rusty Wallace Racing driver Michael Annett, who faces charges of driving while impaired, has had his case postponed to July 22, according to the Iredell (N.C.) County clerk of court office. A hearing in the case was scheduled for April 29, and this was Annett’s second continuance, which is not unusual for the North Carolina court system. According to a police report, Annett had a 0.32 blood alcohol content following a Feb. 6 accident in which Annett hit another car. (Scene Daily)(5-2-2011)
Riggs to drive for Richardson at Darlington: Scott Riggs will drive the #23 Wildlife Conservation Society Dodge for R3 Motorsports in Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway. While the “track too tough to tame” might be a daunting task to some drivers, Riggs actually looks forward to taking on the 1.366 egg-shaped oval whenever he gets the chance. No stranger to the NASCAR circuit, Riggs is a race winner in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series ranks. This weekend, he’s going to utilize that experience and knowledge towards a solid finish in the #23 Dodge for R3 Motorsports.(R3 Motorsports)(5-2-2011)
Efland to return to Go Green: Nationwide driver Danny Efland announced that he will be racing at Darlington in the NASCAR Nationwide event on Friday May 6th. Danny has been asked to drive the Go Green Racing #39 Ford. Sponsoring the effort will be C3i Sports of Columbia, South Carolina together with a soon to be announced associate sponsor. (Efland PR)(5-2-2011)
Bayne undergoing tests; will not race at Richmond: UPDATES: Roush Fenway’s Trevor Bayne has been hospitalized and is undergoing tests for symptoms that are thought to be related to the insect bite he sustained earlier this month. “Trevor was not feeling well early this week and he is currently being evaluated for lingering symptoms that may be related to his previous insect bite,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “Unfortunately Trevor will not be available to drive the #16 Ford for us this weekend in the Nationwide race at Richmond. As of now, our plans are to use a substitute driver from the Roush Fenway family of drivers in place of Trevor at Friday night’s race. Obviously Trevor wanted to be in Richmond and he’s upset about not being able to compete. However, his health is our top priority and we insisted that he have these tests to get to the botto of his symptoms,” added Newmark. “We will work to provide you with further updates as they become available.”(RFR)(4-28-2011) UPDATE: Chris Buescher will drive the #16 Ford in place of Bayne at Richmond.(4-28-2011) UPDATE 2: Bayne no longer believes an insect bite is behind the symptoms that have landed him in the hospital. “Still at the hospital!” Bayne posted on Twitter on Saturday night. “Don’t think its related to the bite … But we’ll see!” Roush Fenway Racing announced Thursday that Bayne had been hospitalized to be tested for symptoms that were believed to be from an insect bite in early April. Team owner Jack Roush told the Motor Racing Network that Bayne has been hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic. The team has released very few details about the 20-year-old, and has not said how long he’s been hospitalized (Associated Press)(5-1-2011)
