McClure to Tri-Star?: UPDATES: The Long John Silver’s logos over at Tri-Star Motorsports have been dropped for a reason: former owner Bob Jenkins is no longer involved with the program. A source says the sponsorship money came to an end at Bristol in August, with Mark Smith operating the two-car Nationwide team out of his own pocket ever since. Next season, FRM has no plans to reenter the sport’s second-tier division, leaving Tri-Star working to find backing for its Chevys. #34-Jason Keller and #35-Tony Raines have driven the majority of races this season, but with neither driver bringing funding to the program the future for both is unknown.(Frontstretch Newsletter)(11-20-2010) UPDATE: am told the organization has a driver and sponsor signed for one of their teams in 2011, and a deal pending for the second car.(11-21-2010) UPDATE 2: hearing that Eric McClure will take the Hefy sponsorship to Tri-Star. An announcement could be made within a couple weeks when all details are worked out.(11-29-2010) UPDATE 3: After a two-year partnership, Eric McClure and his Hefty sponsorship will not be returning to Team Rensi Motorsports for the 2011 Nationwide Series season. Speaking to Frontstretch, McClure noted that economic realities and differences in priorities ultimately led the two parties to a crossroads during the summer, where the Rensi camp informed McClure that he would not be retained by the team for the 2011 season. Said McClure, “They [Rensi] said from an economic standpoint, our sponsorship parameters did not meet what they felt they needed to run a program with me.” McClure and his marketing team have been shopping the Hefty sponsorship since being informed by Rensi that they would not be returning, and have had interest from a number of teams in the Nationwide Series garage. The team will be making an official announcement in the coming weeks.(Frontstretch)(11-30-2010) UPDATE 4: Eric McClure confirmed to Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will move from Team Rensi Racing to Tri-Star Motorsports for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series, with sponsorship from Hefty. “It does look like that’s where we’re going to go,” said McClure. “We are going to move over to TriStar Motorsports. Things have kind of skyrocketed in the last 24 hours, and it looks like we’re going to be able to get the deal done.” He said conversations are underway with 2010 Tri-Star drivers Jason Keller and Tony Raines about ways for them to remain involved, adding, “It’s a great opportunity for me to go over there and learn from two veterans.”(Sirius Speedway)(11-30-2010)
Mark Martin to run limited schedule with Turner? Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Mark Martin will run a limited schedule in both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ in 2011 with Turner Motorsports. Reliable sources say that Martin will run an undetermined number of Nationwide and Truck races with Turner next season, with specific dates to be determined once sponsorship and scheduling conflicts are determined. Turner Motorsports is actively seeking sponsorship for the effort, but a spokesperson for the team denied any knowledge of the deal when contacted earlier today. Martin’s representatives also declined to comment on the story. Martin is the all-time NASCAR Nationwide Series win leader with 48 career victories, just five more than a fast-closing Busch. He also has seven career Truck Series wins.(Sirius Speedway)(11-30-2010)
Wolfe moves to Cup with Keselowski: Just a few weeks after helping Penske Racing win its first NASCAR championship, Paul Wolfe has been selected to serve as crew chief for one of the most iconic teams in motorsports. Wolfe, who led Penske Racing’s #22 car team to the 2010 Nationwide Series title, has been named crew chief of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge team for 2011. Wolfe will continue to work with Brad Keselowski, who will take over as driver of the #2 Dodge beginning next season. In their first season working together, Keselowski and Wolfe proved to be a dynamic combination in 2010. The duo produced six wins and five poles on their way to winning the Nationwide Series championship. The No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team also established a new series single-season record with 26 top-five finishes and the team completed all but one lap of competition throughout the 2010 season. (Penske Racing)(11-30-2010)
R3 Motorsports looks forward to 2011: R3 Motorsports has their sights set on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season with optimism, sponsorship opportunities and driver options. Concluding the 2010 season with a top-20 finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway, R3 Motorsports solidified their place in the top-30 Owner’s Points. Heading into 2011 ranked 27th, that guarantees them a guaranteed start in the first five races next year. In 2010, the team set new marks by tallying three top-15 and nine top-20 finishes and registered only three DNF’s through 35 events. These achievements were earned by utilizing six different drivers who had funding for multiple races, but not a full season. For next season, the team is looking to secure driver deals like that again for open races on the schedule. With those guaranteed starts, the team is seeking marketing partners who would capitalize on the exposure that comes with a new season, as well. “We had a pretty good year considering we had limited funding,” said Robert Richardson, Sr., owner of R3 Motorsports. “Despite that, we went to the track with everything needed to compete in every event from green to checkers. We’re planning on doing that again in 2011, too, with Robert Jr. and other drivers in the seat.(R3 Motorsports)(11-28-2010)
Gresham could run some Nationwide races: As for Max Gresham’s plans next year…there is a reason the team is pinching its pennies and not spreading itself thin on short track races. Tony Gresham says that they are looking at trying to put Max in a Camping World Truck at least for a limited schedule and also to run more ARCA races. Max affirms what his dad says, but also confirms that they are looking at trying to run even higher up the NASCAR ladder next year. “For me next year, we’re planning on running a couple of Truck races, hopefully some ARCA stuff, and maybe a couple of Nationwide races. We’d love to stay with the Joe Gibbs Racing department for us to get the learning curve down.” Regardless of the series he runs, Gresham knows any experience is paramount to his future success. “We really want to get the big track experience, like Michigan, Daytona, and Atlanta – all those big tracks. Just gain some laps, log some laps – get seat time and learn the most I can.”(WSB Radio)(11-24-2010)
NASCAR expected to let Cup drivers run all NNS races: UPDATES: NASCAR is very close to making a decision on what level Sprint Cup regulars will be able to participate in the Nationwide Series next year with a formal announcement said to be one or two weeks away. Speculation is the plan will allow Cup drivers to compete in an unlimited number of Nationwide events but not be eligible for the championship. Drivers planning on competing full-time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules will need to declare which of the two titles they will compete for in 2011. The championship parameters appear to have the inside track over limiting the number of Nationwide starts Cup regulars are allowed to make each season, which would hinder teams trying to find sponsors and funding – an easier task with high-profile and established names as a marketing resource. Track operators, many of whom have been adamant about the value of having Cup drivers in Nationwide fields as a means of selling tickets, also would benefit from an unlimited start policy.(CBS Sports)(11-6-2010) UPDATE: Nationwide Series changes that will limit Cup drivers from winning the championship (but perhaps not from participating full time) will be revealed in January. “We want to see the Nationwide Series have its own identity, very similar to what college football does for the NFL,” NASCAR CEO Brian France says. “We don’t want to see Sunday and Saturday just completely homogenized. So we want to see Cup involvement absolutely. Fans want to see that. We also want to make sure the Nationwide Series is helping us find stars that stay there for a little while.”(USA Today)(11-19-2010) UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series teams expect that NASCAR will allow Sprint Cup drivers to compete in as many Nationwide races as they want next year, but that they will not earn points toward the series championship. NASCAR has not announced the change, but Nationwide owners believe that when a driver applies for his NASCAR license prior to the season, the driver must declare whether he is racing for points in Cup, Nationwide or the Truck Series. “I don’t think the Cup guys are going to be getting points at all if they’re running the Nationwide Series,” team owner Rusty Wallace said last week. “Once they get their license, they’re going to have to commit, do you want your points in the Nationwide Series, do you want your points in the Truck Series or do you want your points in the Cup Series? That’s just a guess.” It’s a guess confirmed by other Nationwide team owners and the most likely scenario, according to NASCAR sources. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said an announcement would be made in January about the exact changes.(Scene Daily)(11-24-2010)
Roush has some sponsorship for Stenhouse: Sources say RFR has put together about half of a season for Ricky Stenhouse for next year. And don’t be surprised if Ross Kenseth, son of champion Matt Kenseth, makes his NASCAR debut in 2011.(Fox Sports)(11-23-2010)
Homestead TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,920,301 viewers. The rating was up from the 1.3 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2 and helped ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series to end the season with a three percent increase over its average rating from last year.(ESPN)(11-23-2010)
Key Motorsports preparing for 2011: Key Motorsports team owner Curtis Key has continued to prepare the team for the 2011 season after beginning a long term plan in August to add depth to the Nationwide Series program he has built from the ground up. With 10 new COT cars ready to race and two more under construction, Key Motorsports continues to focus on its future success in the top levels of NASCAR racing. “Our program will accelerate next year,” added Showalter. “We are way ahead of where we were at this time last season as far as preparation goes. We are going to the chassis dyno again next week and we have some new engines on the way, we will be ready when Daytona rolls around in February.”(Key Motorsports)(11-23-2010)
Nationwide and CWTS champions honored: For the first time in NASCAR national series history, four championships in two different series were awarded simultaneously.
Brad Keselowski and Todd Bodine officially were crowned the 2010 driver champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel this evening.
Keselowski was honored with his first NASCAR national series title as champion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Bodine received his second championship ring in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, joining Ron Hornaday Jr. (four) and Jack Sprague (two) as the only drivers in the series with multiple titles.
Also, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota captured a record-tying third consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championship, while the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota won the owner crown in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a first-year team.
The champions were joined on stage by the drivers who finished in positions 2-5 in the final standings, along with each series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
After a fan vote on NASCAR.com, each series’ Most Popular Driver also was revealed. Keselowski and Narain Karthikeyan were chosen by the fans in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. Keselowski took home the award for the third consecutive year, tying him with Kenny Wallace for the most awards in that category.
Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier and Paul Menard finished second through fifth and were honored along with Keselowski in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Aric Almirola, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Austin Dillon were second through fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, and joined Bodine on stage.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. earned the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Dillon claimed the honor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Stenhouse is the fifth rookie winner for Jack Roush.
SPEED personalities Rick Allen and Krista Voda served as hosts of the event. The NASCAR Nationwide Series/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet will air on Dec. 3 from 7-9 p.m. ET on SPEED, prior to the live telecast of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony from Las Vegas. (NASCAR)(11-22-2010)
Mac Hill Motorsports closing: UPDATE: #56-Kevin Lepage and Mac Hill Motorsports will be leading the charge of Nationwide teams Monday closing their doors. LePage, who start-and-parked in all but one race this season, confirmed the move while lamenting the possibility of short fields in the sport’s second-tier division in 2011. The Vermont native, a former driver on the Cup side for such powerhouses as Roush Racing, feels smaller teams like Mac Hill are getting squeezed out. The down economy combined with declining attendance has taken a toll on teams now unable to survive the fight with other top-tier Truck, Nationwide, and even Cup operations for the smaller, $2-$3 million-a-year sponsors.(Frontstretch)(11-20-2010) UPDATE: am told that MacHill will continue to operate but does not intend to continue in the Nationwide Series. Driver Kevin Lepage has some sponsorship and is talking to some teams about 2011.(11-22-2010)
Future of Tri-Star in doubt: UPDATE: The Long John Silver’s logos over at Tri-Star Motorsports have been dropped for a reason: former owner Bob Jenkins is no longer involved with the program. A source says the sponsorship money came to an end at Bristol in August, with Mark Smith operating the two-car Nationwide team out of his own pocket ever since. Next season, FRM has no plans to reenter the sport’s second-tier division, leaving Tri-Star working to find backing for its Chevys. #34-Jason Keller and #35-Tony Raines have driven the majority of races this season, but with neither driver bringing funding to the program the future for both is unknown.(Frontstretch Newsletter)(11-20-2010) UPDATE: am told the organization has a driver and sponsor signed for one of their teams in 2011, and a deal pending for the second car.(11-21-2010)
Brian Keselowski unsure of 2011 plans: #26-Brian Keselowski is also among those car owners in flux, although he’s highly optimistic the K-Automotive team will be back in some shape or form in 2011. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he joked. “But it’ll be something!” The team is working on acquiring a Nationwide CoT for next season, but hasn’t yet decided whether they’ll try more Cup races after making a handful of attempts this Fall. As with most teams this time of year, sponsorship is needed to ensure their short-term stability in the sport.(Frontstretch)(11-20-2010)
Kenny driving some races for Rusty? UPDATE: SPEED’s Larry McReynolds mentioned during Nationwide Series qualifying at Homestead that Kenny Wallace hopes to run a limited schedule next season for his brother, Rusty Wallace.(11-20-2010) UPDATE: Kenny Wallace tweeted Saturday night, “I want to say THANK YOU to JRR, I drove for Jay 3 years in the NNS and we were good for each other..Its time for me to move on!…”.(11-20-2010)
Gaughan open to NNS races next year: Brendan Gaughan wasn’t about to shut the door on the Nationwide Series. He finished eighth in the season finale Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “If the Germains want to run some Nationwide stuff at the beginning of the year because they have the equipment and they’re locked in — yeah, I’d love to go race some races for them,” Gaughan said. “If Rusty called me and said one of these sponsors just had to have me, I’d be honored to jump in with Rusty if he’d still have me. “If anyone calls me and they’ve got good stuff and they want to race Cup, or anywhere, I’ve never said I won’t race.”(NASCAR.com)(11-20-2010)
Stenhouse Jr. wins Raybestos Rookie of the Year: #6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. scored a fourth-place finish tonight at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his third top-five and eighth top-10. He was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race and collected top rookie honors for the 13th time in 2010. Stenhouse Jr. overcame the largest point deficit (35 points) in Raybestos Rookie history across all three NASCAR national series to earn top rookie honors. Since 2001, Roush Fenway Racing has won five Raybestos Rookie of the Year titles in the NASCAR Nationwide Series: 2010: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; 2007: David Ragan; 2006: Danny O’Quinn Jr.; 2005: Carl Edwards; 2001: Greg Biffle.(Raybestos / Camp & Assoc.)(11-20-2010)
Future of Tri-Star in doubt: The Long John Silver’s logos over at Tri-Star Motorsports have been dropped for a reason: former owner Bob Jenkins is no longer involved with the program. A source says the sponsorship money came to an end at Bristol in August, with Mark Smith operating the two-car Nationwide team out of his own pocket ever since. Next season, FRM has no plans to reenter the sport’s second-tier division, leaving Tri-Star working to find backing for its Chevys. #34-Jason Keller and #35-Tony Raines have driven the majority of races this season, but with neither driver bringing funding to the program the future for both is unknown.(Frontstretch Newsletter)(11-20-2010)
B.R.A.K.E.S. and EAA Young Eagles on the #87 at Homestead: Joe Nemechek and NEMCO Motorsports are showing support for B.R.A.K.E.S., and the nonprofit’s mission of promoting safe teen driving, this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The charity’s logo will be featured on both the #87 HeatRedefined.com Sprint Cup Series Toyota and the #87 HostGator.com Nationwide Series car. B.R.A.K.E.S., which stands for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe, was started in 2008 by NHRA drag racer Doug Herbert when he lost his two sons in a tragic car accident. The charity aims to prevent teen driving injuries and deaths by training and educating teen drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving. AND The EAA Young Eagles program, which is already the largest youth aviation education program in history, is reaching an even higher profile this weekend as a featured sponsor on Joe Nemechek’s entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at Homestead Motor Speedway near Miami. The NEMCO Motorsports entries in the season-ending Ford 300 Nationwide Series race and the Ford 400 Sprint Cup series event carry the logo of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s youth program, which has introduced aviation through free flights for more than 1.6 million young people since its founding in 1992. The sponsorship was donated by Nemechek for the annual “Gathering of Eagles” fundraiser auction during the EAA AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, Wis., last July. Florida businessman and EAA supporter Bill Bachschmidt won the bidding and donated the race sponsorship to Young Eagles.(NEMCO)(11-19-2010)
G&K Services returns to the #01: G& K Services will sponsor Mike Wallace and the J-D Motorsports #01 NASCAR Nationwide Series team at Homestead. G&K Services will move from a season-long Associate to the Title area on the 2010 Chevy. Suncore Industries will return for the second week in a row as an associate.(JD Motorsports)(11-19-2010)
NASCAR expected to let Cup drivers run all NNS races: NASCAR is very close to making a decision on what level Sprint Cup regulars will be able to participate in the Nationwide Series next year with a formal announcement said to be one or two weeks away. Speculation is the plan will allow Cup drivers to compete in an unlimited number of Nationwide events but not be eligible for the championship. Drivers planning on competing full-time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules will need to declare which of the two titles they will compete for in 2011. The championship parameters appear to have the inside track over limiting the number of Nationwide starts Cup regulars are allowed to make each season, which would hinder teams trying to find sponsors and funding – an easier task with high-profile and established names as a marketing resource. Track operators, many of whom have been adamant about the value of having Cup drivers in Nationwide fields as a means of selling tickets, also would benefit from an unlimited start policy.(CBS Sports)(11-6-2010) UPDATE: Nationwide Series changes that will limit Cup drivers from winning the championship (but perhaps not from participating full time) will be revealed in January. “We want to see the Nationwide Series have its own identity, very similar to what college football does for the NFL,” NASCAR CEO Brian France says. “We don’t want to see Sunday and Saturday just completely homogenized. So we want to see Cup involvement absolutely. Fans want to see that. We also want to make sure the Nationwide Series is helping us find stars that stay there for a little while.”(USA Today)(11-19-2010)
Wallace could make Cup debut at Daytona: Steven Wallace is hoping to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut at the 2011 Daytona 500. His owner/father Rusty Wallace said, “I’m trying really hard. If I can align with someone who already has points, I’ll do it.” Wallace, 27, currently competes full time for Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He is ninth in the series standings right now. Wallace debuted in the series in 2005 and began racing full time there in 2007.(Fox Sports)(11-19-2010)
Mattioli drving for Baker Curb at Homestead: UPDATE: Baker Curb Racing announced that they have signed 21-year old Chase Mattioli to pilot the #27 Ford in the Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 20th. CollegeComplete.com will be the primary sponsor on Mattioli’s #27 for the race, which will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Mattioli, a junior at New York’s Fordham University, will be the spokesperson for CollegeComplete.com as they enter the incredibly popular motorsports arena. The Pennsylvania native has one previous Nationwide Series start, a 32nd-place finish in the 2009 Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Since 2008, he has made one start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, six starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series and 21 starts in the ARCA Racing Series.(Baker Curb)(11-11-2010) UPDATE: Baker Curb Racing announced that two additional sponsors have been secured for Chase Mattioli’s #27 Ford for the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The new sponsors are; Toe 2 Toe, an extreme sports and lifestyle clothing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. and Z Award Online Study Programs, a Yabutz online education series designed specifically for suppliers, race teams and retailers, those directly engaged in the motorsports industry to better understand and exploit the benefits of online marketing. These two sponsors join College Complete.com, GreenTree Environmental Consultants along with Chase Mattioli’s longtime supporters Advance Payment Services, Howard University’s WHUR 96.3 FM and Papillon & Moyer Construction. Chase’s will be also caring good wishes for his friend Eve Haim.(Baker Curb)(11-19-2010)
Gaughan returning to RWI? UPDATE: Annett to the #62: According to a Twitter post by Brendan Gaughan, he will return to the #62 Rusty Wallace team next year, “Yes, i will be in the 62 South Point Toyota [next season]”.(11-17-2010) UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Brendan Gaughan will compete on the Camping World Truck Series next season, running for the series championship in a new #62 Toyota Tundra fielded by Germain Racing and sponsored by the South Point Resort and Casino. Multiple sources confirmed that the deal was completed earlier this week, with an announcement expected as soon as this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rumors have circulated concerning a possible return by Gaughan to the Truck Series, and the Las Vegas native commented on those reports in a Twitter posting earlier this week saying, “I will drive the #62 South Point Toyota next season.” He has eight career NCWTS wins; six of them coming during a 2003 season that saw him finish fourth in points behind champion Travis Kvapil. Gaughan has spent the last two seasons with Rusty Wallace Racing on the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and currently ranks 11h in points with three Top-5 and eight Top-10 finishes in 34 starts. He will run next season as a teammate to newly crowned NCWTS champion Todd Bodine. In a related story, sources say Michael Annett will take his Pilot Travel Centers sponsorship from the #15 Germain Racing Toyota to replace Gaughan at Rusty Wallace Racing next season, with an announcement to come within the next few days. (Sirius Speedway)(11-19-2010) UPDATE: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) announced that Iowa native, Michael Annett, will take the helm of the team’s #62 Toyota Camry in a full-season bid for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. Pilot Travel Centers, a long-time Annett backer, will serve as primary sponsor of Annett’s #62 Toyota for his 2011 campaign. Annett, a 24-year old native of Des Moines, Iowa, will be embarking upon his third full Nationwide Series season in 2011. Considered one of the sports’ most promising up and coming drivers, Annett finished among the top-10 in the Nationwide Series driver standings during his 2009 rookie season. He also has two ARCA Racing Series wins to his credit, including a victory in the series’ most prestigious event at Daytona in 2008.(RWR)(11-19-2010)
Copart not returning to #60 team: Carl Edwards plans to compete full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011 for the seventh consecutive year, and Roush Fenway Racing is seeking a half-season sponsorship on the #60 Ford Mustang to help secure funding for the entire season. Fastenal will continue its relationship with Edwards and RFR for 15 of the 34 Nationwide Series races. This season, Fastenal and Copart combined to sponsor the No. 60 car where positive results were achieved on and off the track.(Roush Fenway)(11-18-2010)
Salute the Troops on #62: This weekend, Rusty Wallace Racing and team sponsors 5-Hour Energy, Avery Graphics and South Point Hotel & Casino will proudly launch a salute to America’s men and women in uniform, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale in Homestead, FL. As part of Avery Graphics’ “Supercast My Ride” design contest, the #66 5-Hour Energy car, driven by Steve Wallace, will feature a special digitally-printed vinyl wrap, titled “Salute the Troops.” The scheme, designed by contest winner Daniel Wayne Logue of Lincoln, NE, is fashioned to appear like a World War II-era fighter, complete with nose art and the teeth made famous by Claire Lee Chennault’s “Flying Tigers.” (RWI), see an image of the car on the #66 team paint schemes page.(11-18-2010)
Sad News: Brenda Lockman: Brenda Lockman a NASCAR scorer for 42 years passed away in her sleep Tuesday after a short battle with cancer. She is the daughter of Margaret and the late Joe Epton. She is survived by her husband of 42 years Fred Lockman, eight children, 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Services will be held 2:00 pm Saturday at Poplar Spring Baptist Church, 790 Hwy 117 in Moore, SC. Viewing will be held Friday from 6-8 pm at Dunbar Funeral home. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Building fund of Poplar Springs Baptist Church or the Shriners of Greenville, SC. Brenda had a long history with NASCAR. Her father was there when NASCAR was started and became its Chief scorer. Brenda scored her first race when she was just six years old. She scored for many teams and drivers in the Craftsman Truck and Nationwide Series eventually retiring from Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 as the scorer for the 18 team. Her husband, Fred was an Official for NASCAR.(11-17-2010)
Braun unsure of 2011 plans: UPDATE: NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie #16-Colin Braun is unsure what his sophomore year in the series and his fifth year overall in NASCAR will look like. The 22-year-old Texan tells WSB that his plans with Roush Fenway Racing for next season are not limited to any series, as there are rumors floating around that Roush may be looking to restart a program in the Camping World Truck Series. “I’m not really sure exactly what the situation is exactly with the Truck program,” Braun said. “Obviously, it’d be pretty cool if they get back into the Truck Series – that’d be pretty awesome. It’s fun to race there.” Braun’s future in the Nationwide Series, or any NASCAR series, likely very much depends on the commitment that sponsor Con-way Freight, who sponsored Braun for two seasons in the Truck Series and has been aboard the #16 Ford for 18 races this season (16 of which with Braun as the driver), can out forth for 2011. Right now, those plans are very much in the air, but Braun says that Roush Fenway is working hard to not only re-sign Con-way Freight, but also any other potential backers for the team. (WSB Radio)(10-22-2010) UPDATE: Colin Braun told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he is approaching the date when Roush Fenway Racing will be contractually obligated to either offer him a ride for 2011 or allow him to begin talking with other teams. If RFR is not able to make him an offer, he will have to begin the all-too familiar process of searching for a new job. “It all comes down to relationships and who you know (in the garage),” he said. “The toughest part of the deal is that you can’t talk to anyone when you’re under contract. It’s tough, but since I was racing quarter midgets at five years old, I’ve never had a super clear picture of what I was doing the next year. I’m used to the uncertainty.”(Sirius Speedway)(11-17-2010)
BeAStockCarDriver.com back on the #34: TriStar Motorsports heads to Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend for the season finale for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. BeAStockCarDriver.com also returns for the final race of the season as it will ride along with Tony Raines and the #34 Chevy in the running of the 200 lap finale at the 1.5-mile South Florida track.(Intergrity Sports Marketing)(11-17-2010)
Keselowski planning another full season of Nationwide: From Brad’s diary at Sports Illustrated: Q: Do you plan to your defend your title in 2011 if NASCAR will allow you to? A: Yes. Absolutely. We’re moving full speed ahead as if everything is remaining the same.(Sports Illustrated)(11-17-2010)
Mastiff Games and Wiley X on the #20: Two companies, Mastiff Games and Wiley X, will share time with GameStop on Joey Logano’s #20 this weekend at Homestead. Mastiff Games is a developer and publisher of video games and a licensee of Sony Computer Entertainment, Microsoft and Nintendo of America. They take a great deal of pride in producing some of the very best localizations in the video games industry, together with original products. Some of Mastiff Games’ most popular titles include Remington Great American Bird Hunt, Remington Super Slam Hunting North America and Reload. Also on the car is Wiley X. Wiley X Eyewear is a leading provider of protective eyewear and ballistic products for the U.S. military, outdoor sports enthusiasts and the safety and shooting industries. Wiley X continues to be well represented by top drivers who depend on the company’s superior optical clarity and High-Velocity Protection technology. In fact, Wiley X is the only premium sunglass manufacturer that has official ANSIZ87.1-2003 high velocity and high mass impact standards certification on its entire product line.(JGR)(11-17-2010)
Gaughan returning to RWI: According to a Twitter post by Brendan Gaughan, he will return to the #62 Rusty Wallace team next year, “Yes, i will be in the 62 SouthPoint Toyota [next season]”.(11-17-2010)
Westerman returns to the #40 team: Westerman Companies returns with driver Mike Bliss and the Key Motorsports team for Saturday’s 300-mile race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, an annual event that traditionally concludes the NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Bliss and crew chief Gary Showalter are going to South Florida with the goal of improving on their 12th-place run at Phoenix last week and an eye on the Nationwide owner standings where Key Motorsports is currently ranked 21st, only 32 points out of the top-20.(Key Motorsports)(11-17-2010)
Homestead Rookie Notes:
• Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the WYPALL 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, scoring a seventh-place finish. Braun grabbed top rookie honors for the ninth time this season and claimed his fifth top-10 of the season.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. scored a ninth-place finish at Phoenix, his seventh top-10 in 2010. Stenhouse Jr. leads Brian Scott by eight points (214-206) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the November 20 Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
• Scott is 14th in the series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.
• Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 Ford 300, collecting an 11th-place finish.
• The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in the Ford 300 is third by Kyle Busch (2004) and Greg Biffle (2001).(Raybestos / Camp & Assoc.)(11-17-2010)
Memphis Motorsports Park to be sold to highest bidder: Dover Motorsports, Inc., the owner of Memphis Motorsports Park, has retained Morris Auction Group to conduct the sale of the Memphis Motorsports Park at auction, which will take place Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 at 10 a.m. The live auction will be held on site at the former NASCAR and NHRA racing facility, 5500 Victory Lane, Memphis, Tenn., which is located just off Fite Road in north Memphis. The auction is open to the public and bidder’s registration will begin at 8 a.m. The auction will include the entire racing facility including the racetrack, drag strip, road course, all equipment, tools, furniture and other personalty. The real estate will be offered in two tracts. Tract 1 contains approximately 115 acres and the ¾ mile, oval, former NASCAR racetrack. Tract 2 contains approximately 227 acres and the former NHRA drag strip and road course. Bidders may bid on Tract 1, Tract 2 or both. The auction’s personal property includes Kawasaki Mules, tractors, restaurant equipment, vehicles, office furniture, shop tools and equipment, and much more. All items will be available to preview prior to the auction on Monday, Dec. 13 from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.(Dover Motorsports PR)(11-16-2010)
Busch looking to lock up Natinowide owners championship: Back-to-back series championships may not necessarily elevate a racing team to dynasty status, but a strong case can be made if the number reaches three in a row. Kyle Busch and the #18 Z-Line Designs/BJ’s Wholesale Club Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing are one race away from clinching JGR’s third consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series owner’s championship as they head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Saturday’s season-ending Ford 300. After an all-time Nationwide Series-record 12 victories among its 21 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes through the season’s first 34 events, the No. 18 JGR Toyota heads to Homestead with a 41-point lead in the owner’s championship over the second-place #22 Penske Racing Dodge of Penske Racing. Brad Keselowski, who drives the #22 Dodge full-time, clinched the driver’s title two weekends ago at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, but Busch and JGR are looking for a three-peat in the owner’s race on the 1.5-mile oval on Saturday.(JGR)(11-16-2010)
Allgaier, Verizon relationship with Penske ends at Homestead: The season-ending 300-miler will mark the end of an era as Justin Allgaier makes his final start for Penske Racing, and team sponsor Verizon makes its final appearance on the #12 NNS entry. Over the course of their two-year relationship, Allgaier, Verizon and Penske Racing accumulated three poles, one win, 11 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes in 69 races. (Penske Racing)(11-16-2010)
Phoenix News & Facts:
• Carl Edwards won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday.
• It was Edwards’ 29th series win in his 210th start and his second in a row after winning last week at Texas, the fourth time he has won back-to-back races. It was his fourth series Phoenix win in his 12th start and all four wins at Phoenix have come in November. It was his fourth series win of 2010. He also also won at Road America, Gateway and Texas. He led three times for 153 laps, including the final 56.
• This was the 112th series win for Roush Fenway Racing and the eighth series Phoenix win, the most of all teams. RFR has won four of the past five races at Phoenix. It was Ford’s 10th series Phoenix win and fifth victory of 2010.
• Kevin Harvick (finished second) has finished second in the past three races at Phoenix.
• Joey Logano (third) earned his 23rd top-10 finish in his 24th start of the season.
• Brad Keselowski (fourth) got his 25th top-5 finish in 2010, tying Kyle Busch (2009) for the most in a season. He will set a new series record for the most top-5 finishes in a season with one at Homestead.
• Reed Sorenson (fifth) earned his 21st top-10 finish in 27 starts this season.
• Colin Braun (seventh) tied his best finish this season.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (ninth) was the best-finishing rookie of the year contender for the 13th time in 2010.
• Steve Wallace (10th) got his second straight top-10 finish after 10 finishes outside the top 10 (ESPN.com)(11-16-2010)
Phoenix TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Phoenix earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,597,174 viewers. The rating was up from a 1.1 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.(ESPN)(11-16-2010)
Numblets on the #28 at Homestead:Numblets.com again will be aboard Jay Robinson’s #28 driven by Kenny Wallace for the final race of the year at Homestead. Numblets make a great holiday gift for all female race fans and female fans of any sport.(Jay Robinson Racing)(11-16-2010)
Richardson back in the #23: R3 Motorsports is going to end the season like they started with Robert Richardson, Jr. in the No. 23 North Texas Pipe Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. This will be Richardson’s first start at the 1.5-mile oval in South Florida since 2007. Locked into the top-30 in Owner’s Points for the start of the 2011 season allows R3 Motorsports the opportunity to concentrate on one thing – go race. And, have fun doing it, too.(R3 Motorsports)(11-16-2010)
Hornish running Homestead Nationwide race: Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the #26 Alliance Parts Dodge, will mark his return to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition this weekend in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hornish last raced in the NNS Series in 2008, when he made a total of eight starts and earned an average starting position of 19.4 with a best start of eighth (Watkins Glen International), and an average finish of 21.2 with a best finish of 11th (Darlington Raceway). From 2006 to 2008, Hornish made a total of 19 Nationwide Series starts scoring five top-15 finishes. Hornish also captured one top-five, three top-10 and seven top-15 starting positions while competing in a limited NNS schedule over the three-year period. The #26 Dodge will feature primary sponsor Alliance Parts for Saturday’s 300-mile race at HMS. Alliance Parts is a brand of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of Class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates.(Penske PR)(11-16-2010)
Bill Goldberg named grand marshal for Homestead race: Professional wrestling star Bill Goldberg will serve as Honorary Race Chairman for Saturday night’s Nationwide Series Championship-finale Ford 300. A former NFL player who went on to become a wrestling megastar, Goldberg also appeared on ?Celebrity Apprentice. Goldberg has been rated by Sporting News one of the 100 most powerful people in the sports industry. ?With a resume that includes NCAA football, the NFL, the wrestling ring, and Hollywood films and television, Goldberg is a Champion entertainer—and that fits right in with the entertainment that fans can expect at Ford Championship Weekend.(HMS)(11-16-2010)
No #89 team at Homestead: For the first time in a few years the #89 Faith Motorsports Chevy will not be attepting this weekend’s Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Team owner Morgan Shepherd said Monday that by missing the races at Texas and Phoenix the past two weekends the #89 program just doesn’t have the funding to make an attempt at Homestead this weekend. “Had we made Phoenix we were going to have Brett drive again this week at Homestead, but we just aren’t in any shape financially to try to field two cars this week,” Shepherd said. The team will focus on trying to keep the #21 Shepherd Racing Ventures entry in the Top 25 in owner points to secure a good starting position for the team in next year’s first five races.(Faith Motorsports)(11-15-2010)
Go Green gets Homestead sponsor: UPDATE: Go Green Racing will return to the track at Homestead with Sean Caisse back behind the wheel and sponsorship from Tork Performance.(PR) See an image of the car on the #39 team paint schemes page.(10-31-2010) UPDATE: SCA, a global hygiene company, and its Tork brand of Performance Wipers, announced plans to team up with NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Sean Caisse for the upcoming Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20. As a member of the Go Green Racing team, NASCAR’s Premier Development Team in the K&N Pro East Series and the Nationwide Series, Caisse will navigate the #39 car promoting Tork Performance, the brand’s innovative line of wiper dispensers. The new generation of dispensers meet customers’ needs for a hygienic work environment, while cutting down on product waste.SCA launched Tork Perfomance in September of 2010 to help control wiper consumption, thus decreasing refill and disposal costs. The dispensers are ideal for kitchen and food preparation environments, industrial facilities and hygiene sensitive areas, helping to prevent cross-contamination.(Go Green PR)(11-15-2010)
Iron Horse Jeans on the #28: Jay Robinson Racing and Iron Horse Jeans announced that Iron Horse Jeans will serve as the primary sponsor on JRR’s #28 Chevy driven by Kenny Wallace and the #70 Chevy driven by Mark Green for the Nationwide Series WYPALL 200 in Phoenix. Associate partners joining Iron Horse Jeans on both JRR cars include Vintage Denim Depot, Western Shooting Horse, Nobizplan and Arabian Horse Association. Iron Horse Jeans will be concluding its 2010 Nationwide season with Jay Robinson Racing. Iron Horse Jeans has been an active sponsor of Nationwide this season and made its first debut with driver Tayler Malsam.(Jay Robinson Racing)(11-13-2010)
Jasper sponsoring Pressley: Once again, the folks at Jasper Engines & Transmissions have proven they know a good thing when they see it. For the fourth time this season, they have come on board the #23 Chevy of R3 Motorsports with Coleman Pressley behind the wheel. Early on Saturday morning, the #23 crew could be seen applying the iconic Jasper logos to their Chevrolet for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway as the sun rose over the one-mile oval. Jasper has a long association with the Pressley family having sponsored his dad, Robert, in the #77 car for many years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(R3 Motorsports)(11-13-2010)
Armour Vienna Sausage will return to KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc. has a lucky charm with the Armour Vienna Sausage paint scheme. KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick has driven in three Nationwide Series events where the Armour Vienna Sausage paint scheme has adorned the sides of the #33 KHI Chevy. Harvick has visited victory lane with the Armour Vienna Sausage paint scheme all three times. Harvick and Armour raced to victory at Nashville Superspeedway and Richmond International Raceway in 2010 and also partnered for Harvick’s history-making win in 2009 at Bristol Motor Speedway when he recorded his first-career victory in a KHI-owned Nationwide Series entry. Most recently Armour Vienna Sausages rode along for another historical win as four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday won his first-career Truck Series victory at Martinsville Speedway in October 2010. The “lucky charm” paint scheme will return to KHI in 2011 to serve as primary sponsor for four race events in both the Truck and Nationwide Series. The Armour Vienna Sausage colors will be represented in Truck Series events at Darlington Raceway on the #2 Truck and Atlanta Motor Speedway on the #33 Truck. Armour Vienna Sausage will have representation in the Nationwide Series at Talladega Superspeedway with driver Kevin Harvick and Bristol Motor Speedway with driver Elliott Sadler. Armour Vienna Sausage will also serve as an associate sponsor on the #33 KHI Nationwide Series and the #33 Truck Series entries when they are not the primary sponsor.(KHI)(11-12-2010)
Nationwide deal for Stremme? Speaking to the “Inside Alabama Racing” radio program broadcast on Mobile, AL’s WSNP Sports Radio 105.5 FM [Wednesday night], David Stremme said he is really close to signing a sponsor for 2011 that would be a full time Nationwide ride.(11-12-2010)
Travis Pastrana heading to NASCAR? UPDATE: many reports out there that Travis Pastrana will leave Subaru Rally Team USA and head to NASCAR, supposedly siging with Michael Waltrip Racing / Diamond Waltrip Racing, supposedly running either the NASCAR K&N Racing Series or Nationwide Series in 2011. Supposedly Pastrana posted an image on his Twitter [but has since removed it] and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday. A few sites reporting this ‘news’ include: CBS Sports, NASCAR Examiner, AutoBlog.com [with an image of the car], SpeedFreaks and AutoWeekRacing.(11-10-2010) UPDATE: Travis Pastrana is coming to NASCAR in 2011. After mining gold medals in the X Games, shattering jump records on both motorcycles and automobiles and starring as a cultural icon for the action sports world, the star of MTV’s “Nitro Circus” is ready to turn his attention to America’s most popular form of motorsports – NASCAR. Michael Waltrip Racing, Gary and Blake Bechtel and Pastrana announced the creation of Pastrana-Waltrip Racing that will field cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2011. Pastrana-Waltrip Racing will focus on creating programs that expose the action sports world’s fans and participants to NASCAR and develop youth marketing initiatives designed to create greater awareness of both sports. Initial plans are for Pastrana to compete in seven NASCAR Nationwide races in 2011 and twenty races in 2012.(PanstranaWaltrip.com)(11-11-2010) UPDATE 2: The car’s number has not yet been determined. Waltrip owns the #99, and Pastrana’s longtime racing number is 199. Exactly which event he debuts in Nationwide is yet to be determined, but sources said the hope is Phoenix International Raceway in February. Before he can compete, Pastrana must go through NASCAR’s approval process. NASCAR officials said Thursday that Pastrana is not yet approved for NASCAR competition. Basically, that means submitting a resume to NASCAR, which then determines whether the driver is capable of NASCAR competition. Red Bull, a longtime partner of Pastrana’s in myriad racing exploits, will remain a personal sponsor but will not be the primary sponsor on his NASCAR machines.(ESPN.com)(11-11-2010)
Sacred Power sponsoring Kennedy at Phoenix: New Mexico will be represented two-fold at the Phoenix International Raceway on November 13 with the help of New Mexico native Alex Kennedy behind the wheel of a Sacred Power-sponsored racecar. Kennedy, who is sponsored by the Native American-owned solar company based in Albuquerque, NM, will be competing in the second-to-final race of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Sacred Power, which made an entrance into the NASCAR scene as the first solar energy company to sponsor a top series team, will be represented on the #27 Ford. The company previously served as an Associate Sponsor at the NASCAR Sprint Cup in February 2010.(Sacred Power PR), see an image of the car on the #27 Nationwide team paint schemes page.(11-11-2010)
Mike Wallace gets Phoenix sponsor: Mike Wallace and J-D Motorsports would like to welcome our newest sponsor Suncore Industries. Suncore is all about Air Suspensions. Suncore Industries will become the primary sponsor for the #01 Chevy of Mike Wallace at Phoenix, AZ this Saturday. (JD Motorsports)(11-11-2010)
Mattioli drving for Baker Curb at Homestead: Baker Curb Racing announced that they have signed 21-year old Chase Mattioli to pilot the #27 Ford in the Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 20th. CollegeComplete.com will be the primary sponsor on Mattioli’s #27 for the race, which will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Mattioli, a junior at New York’s Fordham University, will be the spokesperson for CollegeComplete.com as they enter the incredibly popular motorsports arena. The Pennsylvania native has one previous Nationwide Series start, a 32nd-place finish in the 2009 Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Since 2008, he has made one start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, six starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series and 21 starts in the ARCA Racing Series.(Baker Curb)(11-11-2010)
Alliance Parts sponsoring Gaughan: Alliance Parts will be the primary sponsor of Brendan Gaughan’s #62 team this weekend. Alliance Parts is a brand of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of Class 4-8 vehicles. The brand offers a range of new and remanufactured reliable parts and accessories at an affordable price to the commercial transportation industry.(RWI)(11-11-2010)
Phoenix Rookie Notes:
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, scoring an 11th-place finish. Stenhouse Jr. grabbed top rookie honors for the 12th time this season.
• Stenhouse Jr. Brian Scott by six points (211-205) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the WYPALL 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
• Raybestos Rookie James Buescher won the pole at Texas, his second pole in 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series races and his first in 2010. He became the first Raybestos Rookie to win a pole since Justin Allgaier captured the top starting position for the 2009 Kroger 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park, a span of 36 races. Buescher claimed his first pole in three races at Texas.
• Two Raybestos Rookies led at Texas: Stenhouse Jr. (once for 27 laps) and Buescher (once for four laps).
• Scott is 14th in the series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.
• Justin Allgaier was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 WYPALL 200, posting a 16th-place finish.(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc.)(11-11-2010)
100 races without DNF for Keselowski: By taking the checkered flag in the last Nationwide Series race at TMS, #22-Brad Keselowski extended his NASCAR record with his 100th consecutive Nationwide Series race without a DNF (Did Not Finish). (Penske Racing)(11-0-2010)
Texas TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas on Saturday, Nov. 6, earned a 1.1 final national household coverage rating, up from a 0.9 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.(ESPN)(11-9-2010)
Great Clips returns to 2 cars: James Buescher will pilot the #11 Great Clips Toyota Camry this weekend at PIR. He will join Turner Motorsports teammate, Jason Leffler, in sporting the colors of the longest-running primary sponsor in the Nationwide Series. This is not the first time the 20-year-old has wheeled a Camry for Great Clips at PIR, he made his first NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start at the track in 2008 in the #32 Great Clips Toyota. Great Clips will also adorn the hood of his #31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) entry, along with the #90 entry of Brad Sweet, for Friday night’s NCWTS race.(Turner Motorsports)(11-9-2010)
Afterglow controllers on the #20: Each and every week, the #20 GameStop Toyota carries a special look, most of the time featuring looks of the hottest games on the market. This week, the #20 will have a special “glow” to it. Performance Designed Products (PDP) and its AFTERGLOW line of gaming system controllers will adorn the #20 GameStop Toyota at Phoenix International Raceway. PDP’s AFTERGLOW line of controllers features an array of LED lights that shine through the clear casing and can be turned on and off, or set to light up when the controller vibrates. PDP’s AFTERGLOW line includes controllers for the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. PDP’s AFTERGLOW product line has met with critical acclaim since the products’ launch in May of 2010.(JGR)(11-9-2010)
Texas News & Facts:
• Carl Edwards won the Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, his 28th series win in his 209th start. It was his first series Texas win in his 12th start, and he became the 10th driver to win a series race at Texas. It was his fourth NASCAR Texas win (three in Sprint Cup), and his third series win of 2010 after winning at Road America and Gateway. He led three times for 59 laps, including the final 15 after leading only 11 laps in his previous 11 series starts at Texas combined.
• It was the 111th series win for Roush Fenway Racing, and its fifth series Texas win, tied with Joe Gibbs Racing for the most of all teams. It was RFR’s third series win of 2010 and its 13th NASCAR win at Texas. It was Ford’s sixth series Texas win and fourth victory of 2010.
• Kyle Busch (finished second) led the most laps for the sixth consecutive race at Texas; he had won the last five series Texas races.
• Brad Keselowski (third) clinched the 2010 series Championship and the first championship for Penske Racing. Keselowski will set a series record for the most top-5 finishes in a season if he can finish in the top five in the last two races of the season.
• Joey Logano (fourth) earned 22nd top-10 finish in his 23rd start of the season.
• Reed Sorenson (seventh) rebounded from a speeding penalty on pit road.
• Paul Menard (ninth) rebounded from an uncontrolled-tire penalty during a pit stop during the race’s first caution.
• Steve Wallace (10th) got his first top-10 finish in the last 11 races.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (11th) was the best finishing rookie of the year contender for the 12th time in 2010.
• The race ended under a green-white-checker finish for the second time at Texas and the 10th time in 2010. (ESPN)(11-8-2010)
Coleman Pressley returns to the #23: For the second-last NASCAR Nationwide Series race of the year, Coleman Pressley will once again drive the #23 Chevy for R3 Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway. To date, the 22-year old third-generation NASCAR driver has made four previous NNS starts with R3 and two with another team. This, however, will be his first start at the one-mile oval of PIR with its flat turns and tricky layout. In addition to another start with the team, R3 Motorsports is also utilizing this race to showcase Pressley for potential 2011 marketing partners the team has been in discussion with recently. That, and it will add one more track of experience for the young drivers growing resume.(R3 Motorsports)(11-6-2010)
NASCAR expected to let Cup drivers run all NNS races: NASCAR is very close to making a decision on what level Sprint Cup regulars will be able to participate in the Nationwide Series next year with a formal announcement said to be one or two weeks away. Speculation is the plan will allow Cup drivers to compete in an unlimited number of Nationwide events but not be eligible for the championship. Drivers planning on competing full-time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide schedules will need to declare which of the two titles they will compete for in 2011. The championship parameters appear to have the inside track over limiting the number of Nationwide starts Cup regulars are allowed to make each season, which would hinder teams trying to find sponsors and funding – an easier task with high-profile and established names as a marketing resource. Track operators, many of whom have been adamant about the value of having Cup drivers in Nationwide fields as a means of selling tickets, also would benefit from an unlimited start policy.(CBS Sports)(11-6-2010)
Joe Gibbs Racing to announce Nationwide plans on Saturday: UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing will make an announcement regarding its NASCAR Nationwide Series program at 10 a.m.on the morning of Saturday, November 6 in the Deadline Room of the Texas Motor Speedway media center. J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, will make the announcement immediately following the Nationwide Series driver/crew chief meeting.(JGR)(11-4-2010) UPDATE: At Texas Motor Speedway in November, J.D. Gibbs announced the addition of a third NASCAR Nationwide Series team that will compete full-time during the 2011 season. Brian Scott, the talented young driver known for his successful seasons in the Truck and Nationwide Series will pilot the car. He will drive a full season along side Joey Logano and Kyle Busch (who will run schedules similar to those they ran in 2010). Brian’s car number and crew chief will be announced in the near future, with his crew chief expected to be an in-house hire.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(11-6-2010)
Annett will return in 2011: Michael Annett confirmed Friday that he intends to return to Nationwide Series racing in 2011, and that longtime sponsor Pilot Travel Centers will be returning to back him in their current capacity next season. Annett, who has spent the last two seasons driving for Germain Racing, said that while he is not sure what team he will be driving for next year, that he fully intends to remain in the Nationwide Series until he enjoys enough sustained success to justify a move to the next level. Annett is currently 12th in Nationwide Series points this season, with two top-10 finishes to his credit.(Frontstretch)(11-6-2010)
Borneman gets Phoenix sponsor: Borneman Motorsports and Nicky Rottens Bar & Burger Joint, a well known San Diego sports bar in the Gaslamp quarters will team up as the primary sponsor for double duties in Phoenix. Johnny Borneman will pilot the #83 car in the WYPALL 200 Nationwide Series race on Saturday, November 13th and the #8 car in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on Saturday, following the Nationwide race. Nicky Rottens Bar & Burger Joint is a family owned restaurant that strives to offer guests American tradition with high quality products such as Grade A -cornfed Midwestern beef and fresh organic vegetables sliced fresh each day, at the best prices while providing superior service with a classy yet fun atmosphere.(Borneman Motorsports), see a layout of the car on the #83 Nationwide team paint schemes page.(11-5-2010)
G&K Rejoins #01 team for Texas:G&K Services has once again jumped in to sponsor Mike Wallace and the J-D Motorsports #01 Team for the Texas Nationwide Race. G&K Services is a North American market leader in branded identity apparel programs and facility services. G & K Services has supported #01 Team throughout the 2010 season with team uniforms and shop services as well as providing the sponsor support necessary to keep Mike Wallace in or near the top 15 in Nationwide driver points.(JD Motorsports)(11-5-2010)
Sadler to KHI: UPDATE: Elliott Sadler will drive full-time in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 2011 for Kevin Harvick Inc. Sadler, who currently drives for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup series, was completing a deal Thursday night which will allow him to compete for the Nationwide championship next season in a Chevy fielded by KHI, sources said. KHI has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway to announce a “2011 program.” KHI was already planning to field its #33 Chevy Nationwide team again in 2011, with team co-owner Kevin Harvick driving a large number of the races, as well as Richard Childress Racing drivers Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard and Austin Dillon.(Charlotte Observer)(11-4-2010) UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced an expansion of its Nationwide Series program with partner CitiFinancial and driver Elliott Sadler. CitiFinancial and Kevin Harvick Inc. have solidified a multi-year deal to compete full time in the Nationwide Series and run select events in the Camping World Truck Series. The partnership will begin on the track during Championship Week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Sadler will run the #2 CitiFinancial Chevy in the Truck Series event. In 2011, CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor for 29 Nationwide Series races with Sadler, and one Nationwide race with Kevin Harvick. This partnership marks both a new beginning for each of the three parties involved, as well as an opportunity to build on past experiences. CitiFinancial, which has maintained a strong presence in the sport since 2004, announced earlier this year that it will be changing its name and will use this sponsorship as a key platform to launch that new brand. KHI is excited to build on its successes in the Nationwide Series and run for a championship in 2011. Sadler will start the next chapter of his 15-year career by reuniting with a former sponsor as he looks to add to his career win total of nine in the top three NASCAR series.(KHI)(11-5-2010)
Turner announcing 2011 plans on Friday: UPDATES: Turner Motorsports will announce 2011 plans for both its NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Series programs on Friday, November 5 at 2:30pm CT. The announcement will include driver and sponsor line-up as well as manufacturer and engine supplier details.(Turner Motorsports PR)(11-2-2010) UPDATE: Justin Allgaier has reached an agreement to drive in the Nationwide Series for Turner Motorsports, according to a source close to the situation. Turner Motorsports, formerly Braun Racing, has scheduled a news conference for Friday at Texas Motor Speedway to announce its 2011 driver, sponsor and manufacturer lineup. Turner will field three Nationwide teams and three Truck Series teams next year, with Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher already announced as Truck Series drivers. Allgaier, the 2009 Nationwide rookie of the year, currently is the highest ranked non-Sprint Cup driver in the Nationwide Series. He’s in fourth place, driving the #12 car for Penske Racing. Team owner Roger Penske said in June he planned to do everything to keep Allgaier, but with sponsor Verizon disappearing from his car, the driver was given permission to look for another ride.(ESPN.com)(11-4-2010) UPDATE: Turner Motorsports’ driver lineup for 2001 includes the return of a number of familiar faces such as Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson, Jason Leffler, James Buescher, Ricky Carmichael and USAC superstar, Brad Sweet. The team has also added Justin Allgaier, who will pilot the #31 Chevy for both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The team will field three full-time entries in both the NCWTS and NNS. Additionally, Turner Motorsports announces that they will continue their relationship with General Motors and the Chevy brand. The organization has created alliances with General Motors powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, who will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. The Nationwide driver/ sponsor lineup is: #30 Chevy – Drivers: Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Jason Leffler; Sponsors: Rotation of sponsors including Monster Energy, Wolfpack Energy Services, Great Clips, Rexall, AccuDoc Solutions, BigSpot.com, ABF Freight and FOE; #31 Chevy – Driver: Justin Allgaier – Primary Sponsor: TBD; #32 Chevy – Driver: Reed Sorenson – Primary Sponsor: Dollar General; #38 Chevy – Drivers: Kasey Kahne and Jason Leffler – Primary Sponsor: Great Clips.(Turner Motorsports)(11-5-2010)
Kligerman returns to the #42: Parker Kligerman is back in the number 42 Dodge sponsored by GetMoreVacations.com and Bandit Chippers this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the first appearance for the 20-year old rookie driver at the 1. 5 mile Texas track. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge is Saturday at Noon EST on ESPN2. GetMoreVacations.com was launched in April of 2008 by Amenity Services, Inc. (ASI). ASI is the nation’s leading provider of free to guest amenity programs to vacation rental property management companies. GetMoreVacations.com has participating properties in Alabama, California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.(Get More Vacations PR), see an image of the car on the #42 Nationwide team paint schemes page.(11-5-2010)
“Garage Mahal” on the #38: This weekend, the #38 Great Clips Camry will feature a special paint scheme featuring DIY network’s popular show “Garage Mahal.” Hosted by actor and professional wrestler, Bill Goldberg, “Garage Mahal” is a show about remodeling and tricking out garages to a whole new level. Great Clips drivers, Kasey Kahne and Jason Leffler, will be featured in an episode of the show in which they assist in presenting a Charlotte-area couple with a Great Clips Racing-themed garage. The show is scheduled to air on Friday, Dec. 3 at 9:30 p.m. EST, exclusively on DIY Network.(Braun Racing)(11-5-2010)
Sadler to KHI: Elliott Sadler will drive full-time in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 2011 for Kevin Harvick Inc. Sadler, who currently drives for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup series, was completing a deal Thursday night which will allow him to compete for the Nationwide championship next season in a Chevy fielded by KHI, sources said. KHI has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway to announce a “2011 program.” KHI was already planning to field its #33 Chevy Nationwide team again in 2011, with team co-owner Kevin Harvick driving a large number of the races, as well as Richard Childress Racing drivers Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard and Austin Dillon.(Charlotte Observer)(11-4-2010)
Joe Gibbs Racing to announce Nationwide plans on Saturday: Joe Gibbs Racing will make an announcement regarding its NASCAR Nationwide Series program at 10 a.m.on the morning of Saturday, November 6 in the Deadline Room of the Texas Motor Speedway media center. J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, will make the announcement immediately following the Nationwide Series driver/crew chief meeting.(JGR)(11-4-2010)
Turner announcing 2011 plans on Friday: UPDATE: Allgaier? Turner Motorsports will announce 2011 plans for both its NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Series programs on Friday, November 5 at 2:30pm CT. The announcement will include driver and sponsor line-up as well as manufacturer and engine supplier details.(Turner Motorsports PR)(11-2-2010) UPDATE: Justin Allgaier has reached an agreement to drive in the Nationwide Series for Turner Motorsports, according to a source close to the situation. Turner Motorsports, formerly Braun Racing, has scheduled a news conference for Friday at Texas Motor Speedway to announce its 2011 driver, sponsor and manufacturer lineup. Turner will field three Nationwide teams and three Truck Series teams next year, with Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher already announced as Truck Series drivers. Allgaier, the 2009 Nationwide rookie of the year, currently is the highest ranked non-Sprint Cup driver in the Nationwide Series. He’s in fourth place, driving the #12 car for Penske Racing. Team owner Roger Penske said in June he planned to do everything to keep Allgaier, but with sponsor Verizon disappearing from his car, the driver was given permission to look for another ride.(ESPN.com)(11-4-2010)
Carmichael doing double duty: For the first time in his NASCAR career, #10-Ricky Carmichael will do “double duty” this weekend by running in both the NCTWS and NNS races at Texas Motor Speedway. He will make his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series start in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge.(Turner Motorsports)(11-4-2010)
Aspen Dental sponsoring Gaughan at Homestead: Rusty Wallace has landed a new sponsor for Nationwide driver Brendan Gaughan for the final race of the season at Homestead. The agreement is with Aspen Dental of Syracuse for Gaughan’s #62 Toyota. Aspen Dental marketing director Mike Petrosillo says the company looked at a lot of race teams before deciding on Wallace. The company hopes to extend the sponsorship through next year with a goal of reaching the Cup level if and when Wallace makes the jump. Half of Gaughan’s races are sponsored by a casino and the other half by various outfits. Aspen Dental has 255 dental practices in 21 states.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(11-3-2010)
KIDSEmbrace returns to the #31: Rick Ware Racing and KIDSEmbrace, a cutting edge manufacturer of children and toddler automobile safety seats look to capture magic once again with Stanton Barrett, this time at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in his #31 Chevy. The last time Barrett and sponsor KIDSEmbrace were together was the May event at Darlington where the Hollywood stuntman led a handful of laps before falling to a 14th place finish at a track known for its brutality on race cars and competitors. KIDSEmbrace has taken their commitment to NASCAR and safety a step further and their first edition seat is a Dale Earnhardt Jr., National Guard seat, featuring the same uniform that Dale wears himself once he is strapped into race.(Rick Ware Racing)(11-3-2010)
Gran Turismo on the #20 at Texas: The #20 GameStop Toyota will feature the look of the newest game in one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, Gran Turismo 5, this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Developed exclusively for PS3 by Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 5 brings the world’s most realistic and comprehensive driving experience to fans in one of the most highly anticipated games of all time. Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) features more than 1,000 licensed cars from the world’s top manufacturers and more than 20 tracks with more than 70 variations, including famous world circuits, city courses, and other environments. Every conceivable type of motorsports genre is included in GT5, including drifting, rally car racing, go-karts and even, for the first time in the franchise’s history, fully-licensed NASCAR racing. In addition to all of the stars of the Sprint Cup Series, fans who preorder GT5 from GameStop will be able to download Joey’s #20 GameStop Toyota with the GT5 paint scheme to utilize in the game.(JGR)(11-3-2010)
ML Motorsports looking forward to Texas: Shelby Howard and his ML Motorsports team are heading to Texas Motor Speedway – home track of sponsor, Foretravel Motorcoach. Howard and the ML Motorsports team have stepped up their NASCAR Nationwide program over the past year. The team has had the support of two long time sponsors, Biomet, founded by Dane Miller (Mary Louise’s husband) and Foretravel Motorcoach of Nacogdoches, Texas. Last November, the World Craniofacial Foundation joined Foretravel on the car and the logo will again be on Howard’s #70 Chevy.(ML Motorsports)(11-3-2010)
Gateway Raceway closes: Dover Motorsports, Inc. announced that it was ceasing all operations at Gateway International Raceway. The company previously announced that it would not seek to run any NASCAR Series events at the facility in 2011. The track ran its final NASCAR Nationwide Series event on October 23, 2010. Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports, stated: “Gateway is a tremendous facility in a great racing community, but we are simply unable to operate it with an acceptable return. We truly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Gateway employees and their efforts to make Gateway such a great destination for all those passionate about our sport – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies.” The majority of the track is leased from third parties. The company owns approximately 150 acres of the facility and has been in discussions with several interested purchasers. (Gateway Raceway)(11-3-2010)
Heil Trailers sponsoring Key Motorsports at Texas: Key Motorsports announced Heil Trailer International, a world leader in the manufacturing of specialty transport trailers, will partner with the #40 team and veteran NASCAR driver Mike Bliss for Saturday’s 300-mile Nationwide Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. Bliss saddles up in the car the independent organization used last month in California to earn a ninth place finish, the Heil Trailer Chevy features a new SB-2 engine this weekend in Texas.(Key Motorsports), see a graphic of the car on the #40 Nationwide team paint schemes page.(11-3-2010)
Texas Rookie Notes:
• Brian Scott was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 5-hour Energy 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Scott scored a 14th-place finish and claimed top rookie honors for the 11th time this season.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads Scott by five points (209-204 in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Scott is 14th in the series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie.
• Brendan Gaughan was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2009 O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge, scoring a 16th-place finish.
• A Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in three of the five fall races at Texas: 2005: Carl Edwards, third; 2005: Reed Sorenson, fourth; 2006: Todd Kluever, 10th; 2007: Brad Keselowski, sixth
• The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in five fall races at Texas is third by Carl Edwards (2005).(Raybestos/Camp & Assoc PR)(11-3-2010)
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund on the #27: Baker Curb Racing and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund are partnering to raise awareness for the law enforcement community and those who have died in the line of duty with a special paint scheme on Alex Kennedy’s #27 Ford for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday. The Memorial Fund logo will adorn both the hood and lower quarter panels of the team’s #27 Ford and the organization’s URL, LawMemorial.org, will appear on the upper quarter panels, decklid and television panel.(Baker Curb), see a graphic of the car on my #27 Nationwide Series paint schemes page.(11-2-2010)
Darnell in the #16 at Texas: While it’s hard to believe, as his series career has spanned three seasons, Erik Darnell will make his first Nationwide Series start this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Darnell has previously scored one top-10 finish in six Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway. This weekend is Darnell’s final start of 2010 with the #16 team. In his two previous starts (Richmond II, Dover II) Darnell’s best finish was a 14th-place effort at Dover International Speedway in September. Colin Braun will be back behind the wheel of the #16 Con-way Freight Ford for the final two events of the 2010 season.(Roush Fenway)(11-2-2010)
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse on the #24: For the third consecutive season, the famed Cattlemen’s Steakhouse of Forth Worth, Texas will partner with the Hefty Racing team. Their logo will be placed on deck lid of the #24 Ford during all track activities beginning on Friday, November 5.(McClure PR)(11-2-2010)
Sad News – Clyde Purvis:Clyde J. Purvis, 77, Clarksville, died Sunday, October 31, 2010, at Veterans Hospital, Nashville, TN. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hilldale Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Robertson, Rev. Terry Brown, and Rev. Steve Freeman officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with a Masonic service to follow and from 11 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the church. Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born November 30, 1932 in Wheeler County, Georgia, son of the late Stanley Jackson Purvis and Ather Frances Locke Purvis. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Stanley Talmedge Purvis and David Ned Purvis and a sister, Rachel Culverhouse. Mr. Purvis was owner of Phoenix Auto Sales. He was a veteran of the US Army. Survivors include his wife Barbara Purvis; son, Jeff Purvis (Margo), Clarksville; three daughters, Elaine Wilkinson (James), Clarksville; Jamie Graham (Timmy), Springfield, TN; and Elise Brown (Kevin), Clarksville.(11-2-2010)
