More on Pony Cars in the Nationwide Series: A source at Ford Motor Company says the motorsports division expects the Ford Mustang to replace the Fusion in the Busch series. “We’re expecting to run the Mustang in 2009,” the source said. It’s the first confirmation from a manufacturer what I first reported in early 2006 – that the cars in the Busch series, which will be called the Nationwide series in 2008 and beyond – may soon be substantially different from the cars in the top-tier Nextel Cup series. NASCAR is expected to require the Busch cars to be built to a safety specification similar to the Nextel Cup “Car of Tomorrow,” which becomes the standard car after the Daytona 500 in February. If a makeover will be required anyway for the 2009 season, logic suggests that would be a good time for a nameplate change, as well. That said, it may not be a done deal. Reportedly Chevyt is balking at running the Camaro in the NASCAR series. Rumors suggest that Dodge is considering a Busch series version of the Challenger. Also, the move to “pony car” coupes could cause a problem for Toyota. The Camry Solara, a two-door sedan version of the top-selling car in the United States, may disappear after the 2008 model year. If the move to the Mustang, et al, is to be made for 2009, that announcement would be expected soon after the first of next year.(Orlando Sentinel)(11-30-2005)
Farm Bureau to Sponsor Gibbs: MORE: Joe Gibbs Racing announced it has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Southern Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Jackson, Mississippi for the 2008 racing season. Farm Bureau Insurance will make its initial entrance into NASCAR as a primary sponsor of the #18 Nationwide Series team. The Farm Bureau Insurance #18 car will make its debut at Atlanta followed by events at Darlington, Kentucky, Daytona, Richmond and Texas. The driver lineup will consist of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.(MCG Sports PR)(11-23-2007) AND: As soon as officials at Joe Gibbs Racing heard the rumor that Nationwide was looking at doing something in NASCAR, JGR made NASCAR aware of its relationship with Farm Bureau. They explained the relationship and showed NASCAR signed copies of the agreement. NASCAR alerted Nationwide, and Nationwide and NASCAR have been very willing to work through this preexisting contract. JGR cannot renew the Farm Bureau sponsorship in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beyond 2008, but they can move the sponsorship to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(JGR team spokesman)(11-29-2007)
Armando Fitz Support Changes to Busch Qualifying for Cup Drivers: Fitz supports any kind of change if it served to let the Nationwide Series develop its own identity. “I definitely think it’s necessary and I would support it,” Fitz declared. “Kevin Harvick is third in points and he’s run 22 or 24 of 33 races. Here’s what NASCAR has to decide. What is the Nationwide Series? They have to decide what its purpose is. Is it to develop drivers and crew chiefs and pit crew guys? Are we going to have our own identity or are we just going to be a mini Cup Series? Here’s Fitz’s proposal. If you look at it from the perspective of the privateer teams, it makes sense, and it even makes sense if you look at it from a track promoter’s standpoint. “If you have 20 Cup guys in the race, don’t let them have a guaranteed starting spot,” Fitz began. “They should be racing for those last 13 spots, not Eric McClure, not Kyle Krisiloff … not the guys who have been there all year long. If you have 15 Nationwide guys against 20 Cup guys, that’s not going to make a difference, but Jeff Burton should have to be out-qualifying Harvick and David Ragan and Edwards. He shouldn’t have to be out-qualifying Eric McClure and Kyle Krisiloff. If you have 13 Cup guys in the race, do you think that’s going to make a difference in the attendance? If they get the points, I do think it is an issue when you have Harvick third in points when he’s only running 24 races. That person should have to earn his way in. He should be out-qualifying his peers, not the guys who have been there all year.”(NASCAR.com)(11-28-2007)
Cale Gale Competing in Snowball Derby: Cale Gale, driver for Kevin Harvick Inc., will be driving in the 40th Annual Snowball Derby and the Snowflake 100. Cale Gale is also helping to promote “Communities Caring for Kids Christmas” at the Snowball Derby this weekend. (Gale PR)(11-28-2007)
#14 Team Closing? hearing that the #14 team has announced the closing of their operations effective Friday, due to no sponsorship. The team competed the full season with Kyle Krisiloff driving. Wallgreens joined them as a sponsor in June.(11-28-2007)
Bobby Labonte to Drive for Childress in Nationwide Series: Richard Childress Racing has signed Bobby Labonte to a part-time schedule driving its #21 Chevy in the 2008 Nationwide Series. Labonte champion will compete in 15 races.(RCR PR)(11-27-2007)
Davis Motorsports Being Auctioned Off: UPDATE:Gavel Auction will be selling the #0 team of Johnny Davis Motorsports on December 1 at 11:00 am/et.(11-26-2007)
B>UPDATE: Johnny Davis confirmed on Tuesday that the team is selling off the majority of their stable in order to have enough money to run the first five events of 2008. Davis said that the #01 team is still in association with Dwayne Leik and that they will keep at least three cars in order to start the season. The team is searching for sponsorship for the 2008 season in order to compete beyond the first handful of events.(TheHotLap.com)(11-27-2007)
Wallace and Fitz? hearing Kenny Wallace is working with Fitz Racing to field a 2nd Nationwide Series team/car for Wallace, if a sponsor can be found.(11-26-2007)
NASCAR Sets Date & Location for Busch Banquet: The Busch Series Awards Banquet will take place on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Portofino Bay is located near the new NASCAR Sports Grille at City Walk, within the Universal Orlando complex.(NASCAR PR)(5-22-2007) TV Coverage: ESPN2 will show the banquet on Tuesday, December 11 from 7:00-8:00pm/et.(11-23-2007)
Steve Wallace Looking Forward to Snowball Derby: Next weekend, Steve Wallace will seek to add another Snowball Derby title to his resume, from behind the wheel of the #66 Richie Wauters Racing entry. Together, the Wallace-Wauters duo has been the most formidable combination in recent Derby history; over the past three years, they have combined for one win and two second-place finishes in Pensacola. Wallace’s finishing average of 1.67 during that span is the best of all drivers whom have competed in all three events.(RWI PR)(11-23-2007)
Ambrose Driving 12 Cup Races in 2008: Wood Brothers Racing and JTG Racing announced that McKee Foods Little Debbie Snack Cakes brand will be returning as a primary sponsor in a newly-signed two-year deal. Little Debbie will serve as the primary sponsor for 18 Sprint Cup events in the 2008 season and again in the 2009 season. Up-and-coming Busch Series superstar Marcos Ambrose will take over as the face of the company’s NASCAR efforts in twelve of the eighteen races, beginning in Sonoma, CA in June, 2008.(Wood Brothers Racing PR)(11-20-2007)
Ragan Clinches Rookie of the Year: UPDATE: Ragan racked up four top-five and nine top-10 finishes on his way to claiming Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. He was Raybestos Rookie of the Race 11 times in 35 races.(Raybestos PR)(11-17-2007) UPDATE: David Ragan is the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Busch Series. Ragan edged Marcos Ambrose by 27 points (272-245) for the honor. Ragan finished the season with two poles, four top-five and nine top-10 finishes. His best finish of the season was a third-place effort in the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis. Ragan was fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.(Raybestos PR)(11-20-2007)
Fastenal to Ganassi? UPDATE 2: hearing that Fastenal will sponsor the Nationwide series car for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates with Dario Franchitti driving.(11-17- 2007) UPDATE: hearing that Fastenal Company [which formerly sponsored the #18 Bobby Hamliton Racing CTS team] has signed a deal to sponsor Dario Franchitti and the #40 Dodge in the 2008 Nationwide Series. Fastenal will also sponsor Reed Sorenson in a few select Sprint Cup racess in 2008.(11-20-2007) UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced that Fastenal Company, a leading global industrial and construction supply distributor, has signed a multi-year deal with the team to sponsor driver Dario Franchitti and the #40 Dodge Charger in the 2008 Nationwide Series. The program will feature Franchitti as the car’s primary driver and also include select races with his CGRFS Sprint Cup Series teammate Reed Sorenson behind the wheel.(Fastenal PR)(11-20-2007)
JR Motorsports Announcement Friday: UPDATE, IMAGE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will announce the driver and sponsor lineup for the JR Motorsports #88 Chevy and unveil the team’s paint scheme for the 2008 Nationwide Series season Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(JR Motorsports PR)(11-15-2007) UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced that the U.S. Nav has re-signed with the team to field the #88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevy in the Nationwide Series with driver Brad Keselowski through 2008. The team also unveiled a new “Dress White” paint scheme for the Navy Chevy.(JR Motorsports PR)(11-16-2007) IMAGE: See an image of the car on the 2008 Nationwide Paint Schemes page.(11-17-2007)
Latest on Brewco: After selling the majority of his team to Gary Baker, former owner of Bristol Motor Speedway and father of driver Brad Baker, Clarence Brewer has sold his remaining stake in the team to Baker and Mike Curb, who has long been involved in NASCAR. Next season the team will be moving to Nashville, TN and run under the name of Baker-Curb Racing. Brad Coleman will drive the #27 Kleenex Ford for the team while the #37, confirms crew chief Newt Moore, is still searching for a driver and sponsor.(The Hot Lap)(11-17-2007)
Johnny Sauter to Nationwide Series; Mike Wallace to New Team: UPDATE: The Miccosukee Tribe will back Finch’s Nationwide team for the third consecutive season. “The Indians are going to sponsor our #1 car [in the 2008 Nationwide Series] and at this point, Johnny Sauter is going to drive one of our [Nationwide] cars full time. If we’ve got enough sponsorship, Sterling [Marlin] and Johnny will drive full time; and if not, Sterling’s gonna drive part-time in our second car.” [Crew Chief Mark] Reno said the second Nationwide Series car would use the #4 branding that Finch had previously used with Jeff Purvis, as the team opted to let Mike Wallace take the #7 he used this season in a Finch car with GEICO sponsorship to another team, while Phoenix would keep the owner points the car accrued.(NASCAR.com)(11-12-2007) UPDATE: Larry McReynolds stated during Busch qualifying that Mike Wallace was taking the GEICO sponsorship to Germain Racing for the Nationwide Series next year. The team will use the owner points from Robert Yates Racing’s #90 team, which is shutting down at the end of the season, but Wallace will continue to drive the #7.(11-17-2007)
Jim Beam Renews with Robby Gordon: Jim Beam announced today that it will continue its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) as a primary sponsor of the #7 Ford driven by Robby Gordon during the 2008 Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series season. Jim Beam will sponsor 13 Sprint Cup Series and two Nationwide Series races in 2008.(Robby Gordon Motorsports PR)(11-16-2007)
Kertus Davis to Honor A-T Children’s Project: Kertus Davis announced he will carry the A-T Children’s Project message on the #01 Chevy at Homestead. The A-T Children’s Project is a nonprofit organization that funds biomedical research, scientific conferences, and a clinical center for children with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a rare genetic disease that has no cure. A-T causes the relentless loss of muscle control due to brain cell death; like four diseases in one, A-T combines symptoms of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and cancer. Children with A-T have vibrant minds trapped inside of deteriorating bodies.(Kertus Davis / CAR PR USA PR)(11-15-2007)
Carpentier Running #19 for GEM at Homestead: This will be Carpentier’s first start in a Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge in the Busch Series. He has tallied impressive numbers in only two starts in the Busch Series. His average finish is 10.5 along with an average start of 11.0. Carpentier will run a part time schedule in the Busch [Nationwide] Series next season.(GEM PR), see an image of the car on the Busch Paint Schemes page.(11-14-2007)
Mears Working with Gustafson at Homestead: Casey Mears and his 2008 Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Alan Gustafson, will work together for the first time under race conditions in Saturday’s Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami. Gustafson will call the shots as race strategist throughout the 200-lap event.(Hendrick PR)(11-14-2007)
Kenseth’s Car Too High in Post Race Inspection: UPDATE: A broken left front spring caused the #17 Roush Racing Ford driven by Matt Kenseth to be too high in the right rear during postrace inspection following the Arizona.Travel 200 Busch Series race Saturday at Phoenix. Kenseth finished second in the race. His team faces possible points and monetary penalties from being outside the NASCAR specifications. NASCAR likely will announce any penalties Tuesday.(SceneDaily.com)(11-11-2007) UPDATE: NASCAR announced that Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for the #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth in the Busch Series, was fined $10,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A–12.8.1D (after competition, the right rear quarter panel height exceeded the maximum of 36 ½ inches) of the 2007 Busch Series Rule Book. Additionally, Kenseth was penalized with the loss of 25 championship driver points and team owner Jack Roush was penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points due to the same violations. The infractions were discovered during post-race inspection on Nov. 10 at Phoenix.(NASCAR PR)(11-13-2007)
Congrats: Kevin Hamlin and his wife Mandi welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on November 12th at Northeast Medical Center in Concord, NC. Grace Christine was born at 3:37pm and weighed in at 7lbs – 14oz. Both mom and baby are doing wonderful.(KevinHamlin.com)(11-13-2007)
Childress Will Clinch Owners Championship: The #29 team will claim the NBS owners’ championship this weekend by simply starting the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This will be RCR’s fourth NBS owners’ championship.(RCR PR)(11-13-2007)
Rookie Notes for Homestead: Marcos Ambrose was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200 at Phoenix. Ambrose scored a 15th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the sixth time this season. David Ragan leads Ambrose by 30 points (234-204) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 198 points behind fourth-place Kevin Harvick and 145 ahead of sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ambrose is eighth in the standings, 100 points behind seventh-place Stephen Leicht and 27 ahead of ninth-place Greg Biffle.(Raybestos PR)(11-13-2007)
NASCAR Announces Memphis Penalties; Tester Suspended: UPDATE: Appeal Denied NASCAR announced that Greg Tester, crew chief of the #71 Chevy in the Busch Series, has been suspended until Dec. 31 and fined $15,000 due to rule violations this past weekend at Memphis. Tester was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-12.3A (unapproved shock absorber piston) and 20A-12.3B(7) (shock absorber base valves will not be permitted) of the 2007 Busch Series Rule Book. Additionally, Ron Young, driver of the #71 Chevy, was penalized with the loss of 50 Busch Series driver championship points while Jerry Young, owner of the #71 Chevy, was docked 50 Busch Series owner championship points. The infractions were found during post-race inspection on Oct. 27. Also Tommy Perkins, crew chief of the #05 Chevy driven by Brett Rowe, was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,000 after violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.A (mounting points on the axle housing were not evenly spaced).(NASCAR PR)(10-31-2007) UPDATE: “I’d like to apologize to NASCAR, the team, to the competitors and the fans for the misunderstanding that took place in Memphis,” said Tester who was the Crew Chief for the #71 Chevy driven by Ron Young at Memphis. “Our shocks were found illegal which was not intentional by me, the team, or our shock builder, Kenny Hendrick of SS Suspension. “I rented three sets of shocks from Kenny; two for a Craftsman Truck Series team I am working with and one for Ron’s team,” he explained. “Back at Darlington, we were getting the Busch car ready for practice and I realized that I had left the shocks in my car. I ran out and grabbed the set that was labeled 7NB which I thought meant “set seven, non-base valve” (shocks that are legal in Busch Series competition). We ran Darlington with those shocks and those shocks stayed on the car for Memphis. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until post-race tear down that it came to light that “NB” stood for “new style base valve” which indicated that components within the shock were only legal for competition in NASCAR Nextel Cup or Craftsman Truck Series competition. It was an honest mistake,” said Tester. “I’m not in a position to even stretch the gray areas with the teams I’m working with. One of the toughest aspects of what I am doing is keeping up with ever changing rules and making sure their cars are by the book. They can’t afford full time crew chiefs but they all are trying to just get that chance to be noticed by a bigger team or a sponsor that would allow them to achieve bigger goals.” Tester plans to appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission.(Tester PR)(11-2-2007) UDPATE 2: On November 13, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Gregory Tester, crew chief for the #71 car concerning a penalty issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on October 27, 2007 for a Busch Series event at Memphis. The Appellant did not contest the legality of the violations, but appealed the severity of the penalty, arguing the mounting of the shocks on the car was an inadvertent mistake. In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors: The violation was clear cut, whether intentional or not; The Appellant was on probation for an earlier rule violation at the time of the infraction; The penalty was consistent with other penalties issued in the NASCAR Busch Series for similar shock absorber violations. Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalty assessed by NASCAR.(NASCAR PR)(11-13-2007)
Busch Series Action Live on ESPN2 Saturday from Miami: On Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway. The telecast of the Ford 300 begins at 4 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. Dr. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown.(ESPN PR)(11-12-2007)
Where is Steve Grissom? Steve Grissom isn’t exactly looking for a ride in any of NASCAR’s top three divisions, but that’s not to say that he would turn one down. Instead, these days, Grissom is more focused on the burgeoning racing career of his son, Kyle. The 18-year-old raced this year at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway, where he won one race with fellow second- and third-generation drivers Chrissie Wallace (daughter of Mike) and Coleman Pressley (son of Robert and grandson of Bob) coming in second and third, respectively. The Alabama native misses driving, misses racing. When you’re a racer, that’s what you do. You race. Grissom did run this year’s Busch Series season opener at Daytona. Past that, he’s devoted to getting Kyle on track, both literally and figuratively. He’s not actively pursuing another ride for himself, but if the right deal came along, at just 44, he’d definitely be interested. That’s the way life works. The way family works. “You always keep your ear to the ground,” Grissom said. “I’ve got a lot of friends in all three garage areas, so you kinda keep up with what’s going on. But knocking on doors, making phone calls … I’ve done all that stuff. Now I’m focused on Kyle.”(NASCAR.com)(11-9-2007)
AZPARTSMASTER.com Associate Sponsor of Fitz at Phoenix: AZPARTSMASTER.com announces it’s relationship with Fitz Motorsports as an associate sponsor on their #22 Supercuts Dodge in this weekend’s running of the Arizona Travel 200 at the Phoenix International Raceway. AZ PARTSMASTER.com supplies Nationally Building Maintenance and Renovation Products to the Homeowner, Hotels and Resorts, Multi-Family Housing and Commercial Properties thru its website.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(11-8-2007)
JR Motorsports, Hendrick Face Penalties for Lug Nuts: UPDATE: NASCAR likely will levy additional penalties to the JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports teams sent to the back at the start of the Busch Series race Saturday for lug nuts that did not meet specifications at Texas Motor Speedway. The #88 team with driver Brad Keselowski and the #24 team with driver Casey Mears had to replace all of the lug nuts on the tires on the car as well as the on the tires in the pits after NASCAR had an issue with them. “We had some lug nuts that had a thread turned out of them, just trying to make pit stops faster,” said JR Motorsports director of competition Tony Eury Sr. “We’ve got a Busch crew here against all these Cup crews it’s hard to compete against them. We just stepped over the line a little bit trying to be even.”(SceneDaily.com)(11-3-2007) UPDATE: NASCAR announced that Chad Walter, crew chief of the #24 Chevy driven by Casey Mears, and Tony Eury Sr., crew chief of the #88 Chevy driven by Brad Keselowski in the Busch Series, have been fined and penalized due to rule violations at Texas Motor Speedway. Both crew chiefs were fined $10,000 and placed on probation until December 31, 2007, for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A – 10.7F: (lug nuts were not fully threaded; threads had been removed) of the 2007 Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during pre-race inspection on November 3.(NASCAR PR)(11-7-2007)
Jimmy John’s Sponsoring RWI in 2008: Officials of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and Rusty Wallace Racing announced an agreement which will see Jimmy John’s serve as the primary sponsor of the team’s #66 Nationwide Series entry, driven by Steve Wallace, in ten 2008 Nationwide Series events. Additionally, Jimmy John’s will serve as an associate sponsor on the #66 for the full 2008 season, as well as on the team’s #64 entry, for ten races in 2008.(RWI PR)(11-7-2007)
Theriault Looking for NASCAR Ride: After two seasons with Team GLOCK Racing, Michelle Theriault has decided the time is right to make a change. The 21-year-old Bristol, Conn. native announced that she has left the team and is actively pursuing opportunities in NASCAR and ARCA for the 2008 season.(Michelle Theriault PR)(11-7-2007)
CJM Will Run at Least First 10 Races in 2008: CJM Racing made their debut into the Busch Series just six months ago and has made a name for themselves. The team, who previously ran a limited Nextel Cup schedule in 2006, has become a competitive force in the NBS and are looking forward to continuing with that success in 2008. Owners, Tony and Bryan Mullet, have confirmed that the team will commit to the first 10 races in the 2008 Nationwide Series. With the first ten races set in stone, the team hopes that a successful search for sponsorship partners in the off-season will result in a full-time 2008 program.(CJM Racing PR)(11-7-2007)
KHI and the VFW? hearing that the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will be the sponsor in 2008 for four races on the Kevin Harvick Inc #2 Craftsman Truck Series Chevy and also for four races on the #77 KHI Nationwide Series Chevy and be an associate sponsor for 28 races, with Camping World as the primary. Supposedly the scheme is a blue and red scheme, with the VFW Cross of Malta design. Jack Sprague is scheduled to drive the #2 Truck, no word on the #33 driver. The first scheduled race for the sponsorship is at Daytona in July on the Nationwide car.(11-7-2007)
Allmendinger in the #41 at Phoenix: A.J. Allmendinger is returning to the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) lineup this weekend at Phoenix to pilot the #41 Imation Dodge in the Arizona Travel 200.(CGRFS PR)(11-7-2007)
Shepherd to Honor Supporter at Phoenix: Morgan Shepherd and Faith Motorsports will honor the memory of the late JoAnne Buschmann of Colorado this weekend during the Phoenix 200 Busch Series race. Shepherd met Buschmann at a Winston Cup race in 1997 when he was visiting with fans in the grandstands a day prior to a race at Phoenix. As Shepherd began to leave the track the following evening he recalls JoAnne running up to him with a smile. “She gave me a check for $500 for my charity. The day before I had given her a copy of our brochure when I met her and she wanted to help our charity before we left Phoenix,” Shepherd said. Shepherd and the Buschmann family kept in contact over the years as the family continued to be faithful supporters of Shepherd’s charity. In 2000, JoAnne Buschmann died of cancer, but Shepherd said the legacy she left is what has stuck with him over the past seven seasons. “When JoAnne died she asked that instead of flowers that people send money to our charity,” Shepherd said. “Every year since that time, and sometimes more than every year, we still get checks from her husband John as a memorial to JoAnne.” The Faith Motorsports #89 Dodge will carry as special memorial to JoAnne Buschmann on both rear quarter panels of the car during this weekend’s event at Phoenix as a memorial to JoAnne and a thank you to her family.(Faith Motorsports PR)(11-6-2007)
Coleman Driving Last Race for Gibbs at Phoenix: The familiar black #18 Carino’s Italian Grill Chevy will take to the track for the final time this season as rookie Busch Series driver Brad Coleman completes his 17 race schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Arizona Travel 200 this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.(Coleman PR)(11-6-2007)
Raybestos Rookie Notes for Phoenix: Brad Keselowski was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas. Keselowski scored a sixth-place finish, his best in 32 Busch Series races. He collected his second consecutive top-10 finish and fifth of the 2007 season. Keselowski grabbed top Raybestos Rookie honors for the fifth time in 25 races. David Ragan leads Marcos Ambrose by 31 points (233-202) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200 at Phoenix. Ragan is fifth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is 137 points behind fourth-place Kevin Harvick and 142 ahead of sixth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ambrose is ninth in the standings, 31 points behind eighth-place Greg Biffle and 37 ahead of 10th-place Mike Wallace.(Raybestos PR)(11-6-2007)
Special Decal for JR Motorsports at Phoenix: On Veterans Day weekend the JR Motorsports #88 Navy team will honor the casualties and survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor with a special Pearl Harbor Survivors Association decal on the Chevy. On Dec. 7, 1941, 2,390 U.S. personnel were killed and 1,178 U.S. personnel were wounded in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The association was formed in 1958 with the goal to “Remember Pearl Harbor – Keep America Alert.”(JR Motorsports PR)(11-5-2007)
Special Logos For Rensi at Phoenix: The NASCAR family is a very public supporter of our troops and for the race on November 10th at Phoenix International Raceway in observance of Veterans Day, Team Rensi Motorsports’ two Busch Series Teams will adorn a special logo for a non-profit organization, Freedom Is Not Free, aimed at “aiding wounded service members, their families and the families of the fatally wounded”.(Team Rensi PR)(11-5-2007)
Busch Series Action Live on ESPN2 Saturday from Phoenix: On Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live racing from Phoenix International Raceway. The telecast of the 200-mile race begins at 4 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. Dr. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown. Dale Jarrett will join Bestwick in the ESPN Pit Studio along with Brad Daugherty.(ESPN PR)(11-5-2007)
Hornaday in the #77 at Phoenix: Ron Hornaday will make his fifth and final start in the Busch Series this season for Kevin Harvick Inc. driving the #77 Dollar General stores Chevy.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR)(11-5-2007)
Coleman Signs with Hall of Fame Racing: While a string of Cup veterans are standing in NASCAR’s unemployment line, praying for a ride next season, rookie Brad Coleman has two. Only a few short weeks after signing for a full-time ride with Brewco Motorsports in the Busch Series, Coleman has turned around and signed another contract to go Cup racing in 2008 with Hall of Fame Racing. The 19-year-old Texas native has agreed to become a full-time test driver for the team and run at least seven Cup races at the end of the 2008 season; meaning Hall of Fame will add a second car along side the #96 piloted by J.J. Yeley. Following proper development, Coleman will pilot the Cup ride at Hall of Fame Racing full time in 2009, although a sponsor and number for the entry has yet to be determined.(NASCAR.com)(11-2-2007)
McClure Joins Front Row Motorsports for 2008: Front Row Motorsports, which has competed full-time in the Sprint Cup Series for the past three years, will have a full-time entry in the Nationwide Series with a new driver and new sponsor for the 2008 season. Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports, announced that Eric McClure would be joining the FRM organization for the 2008 Nationwide Series season. McClure will pilot a FRM Chevy for a minimum of 32 scheduled Nationwide Series events and at least two Sprint Cup Series events, including an attempt at the season-opening Daytona 500. Additionally, the Hefty Brand will continue its relationship with McClure for the third consecutive season, serving as primary sponsor for the 34 events in 2008.(McClure PR)(11-2-2007)
NASCAR Announces Memphis Penalties; Tester Suspended: UPDATE: NASCAR announced that Greg Tester, crew chief of the #71 Chevy in the Busch Series, has been suspended until Dec. 31 and fined $15,000 due to rule violations this past weekend at Memphis. Tester was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-12.3A (unapproved shock absorber piston) and 20A-12.3B(7) (shock absorber base valves will not be permitted) of the 2007 Busch Series Rule Book. Additionally, Ron Young, driver of the #71 Chevy, was penalized with the loss of 50 Busch Series driver championship points while Jerry Young, owner of the #71 Chevy, was docked 50 Busch Series owner championship points. The infractions were found during post-race inspection on Oct. 27. Also Tommy Perkins, crew chief of the #05 Chevy driven by Brett Rowe, was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,000 after violating Sections 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-12.A (mounting points on the axle housing were not evenly spaced).(NASCAR PR)(10-31-2007) UPDATE: “I’d like to apologize to NASCAR, the team, to the competitors and the fans for the misunderstanding that took place in Memphis,” said Tester who was the Crew Chief for the #71 Chevy driven by Ron Young at Memphis. “Our shocks were found illegal which was not intentional by me, the team, or our shock builder, Kenny Hendrick of SS Suspension. “I rented three sets of shocks from Kenny; two for a Craftsman Truck Series team I am working with and one for Ron’s team,” he explained. “Back at Darlington, we were getting the Busch car ready for practice and I realized that I had left the shocks in my car. I ran out and grabbed the set that was labeled 7NB which I thought meant “set seven, non-base valve” (shocks that are legal in Busch Series competition). We ran Darlington with those shocks and those shocks stayed on the car for Memphis. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until post-race tear down that it came to light that “NB” stood for “new style base valve” which indicated that components within the shock were only legal for competition in NASCAR Nextel Cup or Craftsman Truck Series competition. It was an honest mistake,” said Tester. “I’m not in a position to even stretch the gray areas with the teams I’m working with. One of the toughest aspects of what I am doing is keeping up with ever changing rules and making sure their cars are by the book. They can’t afford full time crew chiefs but they all are trying to just get that chance to be noticed by a bigger team or a sponsor that would allow them to achieve bigger goals.” Tester plans to appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission.(Tester PR)(11-2-2007)
Goody’s Cool Orange for Stewart: To celebrate the newest flavor in fast pain relief, two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart will debut the #18 Goody’s Cool Orange Chevy in the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas. Earlier this season in the Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Stewart drove the #20 Goody’s Cool Orange Chevy to a 10th place finish.(Goody’s/Lighthouse Marketing PR), see an image of the #20 car on the Busch Series Paint Schemes page.(11-1-2007)
