Nationwide New Car test on Monday: The first superspeedway test for the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car will be held Monday, November 2 from 11am-5pm at Talladega Superspeedway. The new car previously tested in 2008 at Richmond International Raceway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #12Justin Allgaier (Dodge); #16-Colin Braun (Ford); #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Ford); #29-Jeff Burton (Chevy); #33-Kevin Harvick (Chevy); #88-Kelly Bires (Chevy); #99-Trevor Bayne (Toyota).(NASCAR PR)(10-31-2009)
Toytoa COT: have an image of the Toyota Camry COT posted on the Toyota COT schemes page.(10-31-2009)
Dodge introduces Challenger to Nationwide Series; Penske announces 2010 plans: Dodge Motorsports revealed the Dodge Challenger as the “New Car” for the Nationwide Series and announced an expansion of its partnership with Penske Racing beginning in 2010. Dodge will provide support for Penske Racing’s two-car operation in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in addition to Penske’s three teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Penske Racing will field two teams, both running the full-season schedule. The Dodge Challenger will be used at the four “New Car” races. Joining #12-Justin Allgaier will be Brad Keselowski in the #22 Discount Tire Dodge. He also will compete in the Dodge Challenger for the four designated races and in a Charger for the remainder of the schedule.(Dodge PR), see an image of the car on the 2010 #12 team paint scheme page. Penske also announced that they will field a part time team next season for ARCA driver Parker Kligerman.(10-30-2009)
Chevy COT: A couple images of the Chevy Impala COT have also been posted on the Chevy COT schemes page.(10-30-2009)
Dover Motorsports shuts down Memphis track: Dover Motorsports, Inc. announced that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010. As previously announced, the Memphis facility had been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf Coast was unable to secure financing. “This was a difficult decision for us, but one that ultimately was dictated by economics,” said Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports. “We greatly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Memphis employees and their efforts to make Memphis such a great destination for the racing community – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies. For all concerned, including the Memphis community, it is truly sad to see Memphis Motorsports Park taken off the racing schedule. NASCAR has approved the realignment of our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events from Memphis Motorsports Park to our Nashville and Gateway facilities.” The realigned events and dates are as follows:
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Nashville Superspeedway, April 2, 2010, (together with NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 3, 2010)
NASCAR Nationwide Series, Gateway International Raceway, October 23, 2010.(Dover Motorsports PR)(10-30-2009)
Fugle takes over as Annett’s crew chief: While Germain Racing General Manager Mike Hillman Sr. has been noted as Crew Chief of the #15 Nationwide Series entry since April, Ryan “Rudy” Fugle now resumes the leadership role as Crew Chief of the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry driven by rookie driver Michael Annett. Fugle is no stranger to the Nationwide Series, the Germain Racing organization or the #15 Nationwide Series team. Fugle has three years of experience working in NASCAR’s second ranked series. He first entered the series as an engineer and shock specialist for Robert Yates Racing’s Nationwide Series team until the organization ended its Nationwide Series program in 2007, which brought Fugle to Germain Racing along with many of his former RYR teammates to work on the #15 car.(Germain Racing PR)(10-30-2009)
Changes possible at RWI? UPDATE: hearing that David Stremme could be looking to run at least a handful of races in 2010 with Rusty Wallace, Inc. and could bring some sponsorship. The #66-Steve Wallace team has sponsorship for 2010 from 5-Hour Energy, but the #62 is looking for additional money. No word on the status of driver Brendan Gaughan, but he has expressed an interest in staying full time in the Nationwide Series next season with RWI.(10-29-2009) UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Thursday that while his sponsorship situation for 2010 is uncertain, but that he expects to return to Rusty Wallace, Inc. Steve (Wallace) has sponsors signed full-time for next year, but I don’t,” he said. “We have a couple of races with the South Point Hotel and Casino, and a couple with Loan Max. We’re working on the rest of schedule and all of RWI’s marketing resources are going toward that. Rusty and I have always been straightforward with each other. I hadn’t heard the Stremme rumor, but the bottom line is that we need sponsorship. Until we find that, I can’t tell you for surw what’s going to happen, but I’m certainly not calling any race teams saying, `I need a ride for next year.’ My whole goal is to come back and race for RWI.”(Sirius NASCAR Radio)(10-30-2009)
Memphis TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park earned a final household coverage rating of 0.9, averaging 1,161,156 viewers. No direct comparisons can be made to the 2008 race as the event was simulcast on both ESPN Classic and SPEED.(ESPN PR)(10-29-2009)
Buescher in the #1 for next 2 races: Camping World Truck Series competitor James Buescher and Phoenix Racing announce the 19-year-old Texas native will pilot the #1 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Chevy in the next two Nationwide Series races, to be held at Texas and Phoenix. In addition, Buescher will participate in the NNS Car of Tomorrow test session at Talladega Superspeedway this Monday, November 2nd, driving the new Chevy for team owner James Finch.(Buescher PR)(10-29-2009)
Townley to RCR? UPDATE: catchfence.com has learned that current RAB Racing with Brack Maggard driver John Wes Townley could be headed to Richard Childress Racing for the full 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season behind the wheel of a Zaxby’s-sponsored Chevy. Townley currently is in his first full-season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competiton driving the #09 Zaxby’s Ford.(Catchfence)(10-28-2009) UPDATE: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard announced today that John Wes Townley, driver of the No. 09 Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and sponsor, Zaxby’s, will be moving on following the conclusion of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. “The rumors are true,” stated Robby Benton, RAB Racing Co-Owner/General Manager. “I have been informed that both Zaxby’s and driver John Wes Townley will be moving on. I’m sure they will make an announcement regarding their new home in the coming weeks,” continued Benton, “I will leave that news for them to announce. The Townley’s are great people and Zaxby’s has been an outstanding partner over the past two years. We are grateful for the relationship we have had with them and wish both John Wes and Zaxby’s the best of luck in their future endeavors.” As for RAB Racing, “We are currently entertaining other opportunities for 2010 as we would like to remain a fulltime competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” stated Benton. (RAB Racing PR)(10-29-2009)
Roush swaps crew chiefs: Roush Fenway Racing announced that they have made a crew chief change among their #6 and #60 Nationwide teams. For the final three races of the 2009 season, Mike Kelley will assume crew chief duties with the #60 team and Carl Edwards while Dan Stillman moves to the #6 team with David Ragan and Erik Darnell. The change is effective immediately and was made in an effort to strengthen both teams moving into the 2010 season.(Roush Fenway PR)(10-28-2009)
Steve Wallace fined: NASCAR announced today that Steve Wallace, driver of the #66 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been fined and penalized due to rule violations that occurred immediately following this past weekend’s event at Memphis Motorsports Park. Wallace has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009, for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Hitting another competitor’s car on pit road after the completion of the race) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(10-28-2009)
Memphis Penalties Announced: NASCAR announced that two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during this past weekend’s event at Memphis Motorsports Park. Jay Robinson, owner and crew chief of the #49 Chevy driven by Mark Green, has been fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12-4B (Washers used to conceal slotted holes in the lower A-frame spring bucket) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Robinson also was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Green was docked 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points. Chris Rice, crew chief of the #70 Chevy driven by Shelby Howard, has been fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009 after he also was found to be in violation of Section 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-12-4B. Team owner Mary Louise Miller was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Howard forfeited 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points. The infractions were discovered on Oct. 23 during opening-day inspection.(NASCAR PR)(10-28-2009)
Dodge to debut new car: This week at Talladega, Dodge will unveil its new car model, the Challenger, on Friday, Oct. 29. On Saturday, Oct. 30, the new car models from all four manufacturers will be on display outside the Media Center at Talladega.(NASCAR PR)(10-27-2009)
At least 6 teams for COT test: At least six cars are expected for the test of NASCAR’s new Nationwide Series car next Monday at Talladega Superspeedway. Each manufacturer will be represented. Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton and JR Motorsports’ Kelly Bires will drive Chevys, Roush Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun will be in Fords, Penske Racing’s Justin Allgaier will be in a Dodge and Michael Waltrip Racing’s Trevor Bayne will represent Toyota. The one-day test Monday will last about six hours.(SceneDaily)(10-27-2009)
WWE schemes for Logano and Busch: Monday night on WWE Raw, #18-Kyle Busch and #20-Joey Logano debuted special WWE paint schemes they will each drive at the upcoming Nationwide Series race at Texas. The images are posted on the 2009 Nationwide paint scheme pages.(10-27-2009)
Lepage Looking: Derrike Cope has made the decision to not run his cars the final three Nationwide races of the season. Kevin Lepage is now looking for a ride for the remainder of the season.(10-27-2009)
Paint Schemes: added 22 images from the Lowe’s Motors Speedway race and 45 cars from Memphis Motorsports Park to the 2009 Nationwide paint schemes pages.(10-26-2009)
Eury Jr. expects to stay as #88 crew chief: Tony Eury Sr. says he’ll continue as a crew chief at JR Motorsports in 2010, even as driver Brad Keselowski leaves the NASCAR Nationwide Series team for Penske Racing. Eury Sr. also serves as competition director for JRM and had to be convinced to serve as a crew chief by team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “I guess I’m going to be,” Eury Sr. said of next season. “I can’t say 100 percent. We really don’t know what all is going on with our program yet. We do know the #88’s going to run full time. We possibly could have two full-time cars. We could even have a third car run part time.” Kelly Bires is taking Keselowski’s place and will likely drive the #88 with Eury Sr. as crew chief. But Eury Sr. said the team has talked to a lot of drivers about the team’s second car, the #5 entry, for next season.(SceneDaily)(10-26-2009)
Memphis News & Notes:
* Brad Keselowski won the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 at the Memphis Motorsports Park. It was his sixth win in his 101st career start and his fourth victory in 2009.
* Keselowski won the Nationwide Series Dash for the Cash Championship; he won all $150,000 of the awards.
* Keselowski restarted 32nd on Lap 42 after giving up the third position to pit for a tire rub. He has finished in the top 10 in the last 14 races.
* Keselowski led three times for 34 laps.
* JR Motorsports won its fourth race of 2009 and first at Memphis.
* Chevrolet won its seventh race at Memphis and 10th of 2009.
* The race ended under green-white-checker conditions for the ninth time in 2009 and the sixth straight time at Memphis.
* The race featured 13 lead changes, tying the track record set in 2002, and eight leaders, setting a track record.
* Kyle Busch finished second for the 11th time in 2009, a series record for the most second-place finishes in a season.
* Jason Leffler (third) had his first top-5 finish since taking third at Iowa in August.
* Mike Bliss (fourth) led the most laps in the race (four times for 85 laps) and scored his third top-5 finish in three starts in the No. 11 car.
* Brendan Gaughan (fifth) was the best-finishing rookie.
* Carl Edwards (sixth) is now 215 points behind the points leader, Busch, falling another 20 points.
* Scott Wimmer (seventh) had his third top-10 finish of 2009.
* Steven Leicht (ninth) recovered from an early lap incident that put him 32nd on Lap 21.
* The top 10 consisted of five Chevrolets, four Toyotas and one Ford.
(ESPN.com)(10-26-2009)
MPD voting ends Saturday: This is the last week for fans to vote for their favorites for 2009 Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The deadline for on-line voting on NASCAR.com is Saturday, Oct. 31. Voting has already been completed in five of the NASCAR’s six touring series. Fans can vote for their favorite driver once per day until the voting ends. Thus far, more than 125,000 total votes have been cast among all eight series.(NASCAR PR)(10-26-2009)
Latest on McClure: Due to the severity of the accident at Memphis, #24-Eric McClure was taken to the infield care center for a possible injury to his left foot. He was then taken to a local hospital for an x-ray that showed no broken bones, only a bone bruise and ankle sprain. The driver will follow up with his regular doctor before returning to the track at Texas Motor Speedway.(McClure PR)(10-25-2009)
Tagliani to run Texas race: Translated by google from RDS.ca: The Canadian driver Alex Tagliani will participate in the race for the Nationwide Series Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7. On his blog on the website Autonet.ca, Tagliani says he will drive the same Dodge car that allowed him to participate in the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on 29 and 30 August. “It was a nice surprise for me when the team of #81-Randy McDonald asked me to participate in the race in Texas. In Montreal, I got a good result with the car and hopefully do the same in Texas.” Tagliani, who has never raced at Texas Motor Speedway stock car, is excited for this new challenge. “I am pleased to have this opportunity and gain more experience in my career without too much pressure.”(RDS.ca)(10-25-2009)
Toyota clinches manufacturer’s chamipnship: When Kyle Busch’s Camry crossed the finish line second in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park, it enabled Toyota to clinch its second consecutive NNS manufacturer’s championship in just its third year of series competition. This marks the fifth time that Toyota has earned a NASCAR manufacturer’s title since its NASCAR entry in 2004. Last year, Toyota captured its first NNS title, and in each of the past three years (2006, 2007 and 2008) Toyota has won the manufacturer’s championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). The performance of six full-time teams fielding eight Camrys — Braun Racing, CJM Racing, Germain Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing — all contributed to the 2009 title earning Toyota the Bill France Performance Cup. Camry Nationwide Series drivers have combined to produce 13 victories, 62 top-five finishes, 114 top- 10 results and 12 pole positions in the first 32 events of the 2009 season. (Toyota PR)(10-24-2009)
2010 plans for Raines and Wallace not set: #34-Tony Raines and #28-Kenny Wallace still have unknown plans for next season. Speaking during a press conference at Memphis Friday morning, Raines jokingly said team owner Bob Jenkins was the kind of owner that would make a decision a couple weeks before Daytona, so plans for next year were not settled. Kenny Wallace stated that this year’s sponsor, the U.S. Border Patrol did not commit to this years sponsorship until December 23 of last year so it will be a while before anything is know about them. He said that team owner Jay Robinson told him the team would go to Daytona, with or without sponsorship.(10-23-2009)
Wimmer goes pink at Memphis: UPDATE: In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Scott Wimmer will drive a pink themed #40 Stoprepairbills.com Chevy at the Kroger On The Track For The Cure 250. Wimmer takes special interest in his paint scheme and the message it spreads throughout the NASCAR community. Breast cancer awareness is a cause near and dear to his heart as Scott’s mother and sister have both battled breast cancer.(Wimmer PR), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint scheme page.(10-22-2009) UPDATE: StopRepairBills.com has changed its paint scheme for the Memphis race to support “Breast Cancer Awareness month.” StopRepairBills.com feels the need to send a message to families that have felt the devastating effects of cancer, support the cause, and give them hope. “The #40 car will carry the Passion for Pink “StopRepairBills.com” paint scheme for Memphis to reinforce the message of getting a free mammogram… it’s simple, easy and free in many markets” stated Curtis Key, owner of Key Motorsports. StopRepairBills.com will also carry a special paint scheme for the Texas race related to the cause to show gratitude to the special people in Dallas. (StopRepairBills.com PR)(10-23-2009)
FedEx for Busch in Memphis: #18-Kyle Busch will run a special FedEx scheme this weekend in Memphis. See an image of the car on the #18 paint schemes page..(10-23-2009)
Campe out; Eury Jr. in at JR Motorsports: JR Motorsports announced it has mutually agreed to release Brian Campe from his contractual duties as crew chief of the #5 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, effective immediately. Tony Eury Jr. will serve as the team’s crew chief this weekend in the Kroger “On Track For The Cure” 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park.(JR Motorsports PR)(10-22-2009)
Construct Corps on the #10 at Memphis: Construct Corps is an international construction staffing and recruiting company that specializes in providing quality skilled workers and construction management personnel to commercial, industrial and residential contractors. They will be the primary sponsor of #10-Justin Marks at Memphis.(Braun Racing PR)(10-22-2009)
Carter leaves #61 team: UPDATE: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Matt Carter says he has left Specialty Racing after becoming frustrated with the direction of the team. Carter replaced Brandon Whitt in the team’s #61 Ford in June and raced in 15 events for the team. He was credited with a 29th-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last weekend, though he said Chase Miller finished the race. “We’re done,” Carter said in a telephone interview. “Things have been going downhill real fast the past couple of weeks. [Team co-owner] Doug Taylor told me he just can’t keep trying to race like he’s been doing. He just wants to go start-and-park these last four races with somebody else driving.” Carter said he wasn’t offered the chance to start and park, and he said he “wasn’t really interested in doing it anyway.” “I told him that,” Carter said. “It’s just gotten real bad there. I want to race, but I don’t want to keep doing like we’ve been doing.” Carter said the car was handling so poorly at Charlotte last Friday that he thought something was mechanically wrong. Carter said he pulled the car in the garage and intended to work on it, but Taylor didn’t allow it. Carter said he has talked to some other owners about driving, but he knows he’s in a tough position. “I just don’t have any money to bring to a team,” Carter said. “I’m working with some people, trying to find some. Hopefully, something will work out.”(Scene Daily)(10-20-2009) UPDATE: Now, the relationship between Carter and Taylor appears broken beyond repair. When asked further about the driver’s departure, Taylor noted it was not simply a matter of him deciding to leave, claiming he “didn’t hear from Matt all weekend.” “My partner (co-owner Charlie Shoffner) told him [Matt] to give me a call,” he said. “But during the race, one of our crew texted Charlie that Matt had just pulled in the garage and I told him not to. Charlie told Matt from what he saw on TV, ‘it looks like you quit.’ Matt told Charlie he wasn’t quitting, that he didn’t want to quit, but Charlie told him ‘you need to take that up with Doug.’ You know, you park the car and get out of it, and refuse to get back in, it’s pretty much like you’re quitting. And I hadn’t heard from Matt by Sunday evening, so…” According to Taylor, hiring Carter also put a string on his budget, as attempts to buy better equipment for the rookie didn’t lead to better results. As a result, he feels the most prudent financial decision going forward is to start and park for the final four races while using them as glorified test sessions to improve.(Frontstretch Newsletter)(10-22-2009)
#16 team fined for engine violation: UPDATE: NASCAR announced that the crew chief, owner and driver of the #16 NASCAR Nationwide Series team have been fined and penalized for violations involving sealed engine rules. Crew chief Eddie Pardue has been fined $30,000 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (Race equipment that has been previously sealed by NASCAR for use in an event) and sub-section 8-6 (Failure to submit the sealed engine from the race winner for inspection; removal of the seal from the winning engine without authorization from NASCAR) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Team owner Jack Roush was penalized with the loss of 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while driver Matt Kenseth also was docked 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points.(NASCAR PR)(10-21-2009) UPDATE: Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said the engine at issue was from the race-winning car in May at Darlington. The engine was sealed after the victory and then used again at Nashville in June and was sealed again for use at one more race. The team (or Roush Yates Engines) then took apart the engine because of a clerical error, cut the seals and took the engine apart, and once it was realized that a mistake was made, Roush Fenway contacted NASCAR officials, Balash said. The race-winning engine was never torn down by NASCAR officials, Balash said, resulting in the penalty.(SceneDaily)(10-21-2009)
Kittleson leaves #31 team: Travis Kittleson announced that he has parted ways with Rick Ware Racing effective immediately. The Merritt Island, Florida native competed in five races in the #31 Chevry of RWR this season with disappointing results. “This has been a very frustrating year in many aspects for me,” said Kittleson. “I really marked this season as an important one for my career and I was looking for an opportunity to go out there and really make a statement. Needless to say that did not happen and I have put myself in this situation.” Kittleson, the 2003 ASA Rookie of the Year, also announces that his longtime sponsor of 10 years – Bob Steele Chevrolet – will not be returning next season.(Integrity Sports Marketing/Kittleson PR)(10-21-2009)
Lofton to standby for Kenseth: hearing that ARCA Champion Justin Lofton will standby to race for #16-Matt Kenseth this weekend at Memphis if needed. Ricky Stenhouse will practice and qualify for Kenseth, but Lofton would be put in the car for the race so that Stenhouse can retain his rookie eligibility for next year.(10-21-2009)
RCR Crew Chief Reorganization: Following this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, Todd Berrier will take over the crew chief duties of the #31 Caterpillar team with driver Jeff Burton while Doug Randolph assumes Berrier’s duties on the #07 Jack Daniel’s team with driver Casey Mears. Starting this week at Memphis Motorsports Park, Dan Deeringhoff will replace Randolph in his return to the #29 Holiday Inn team with drivers Burton, Clint Bowyer and Stephen Leicht in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(RCR PR)(10-21-2009)
Memphis Rookie Notes:
• Justin Allgaier was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Allgaier scored a 12th-place finish and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the tenth time this season and for the second time in the last three races.
• At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in 25 of 31 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.
• Allgaier leads Brendan Gaughan by 18 points (226-208) entering the Kroger 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park.
• Three Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Allgaier is fifth followed by Gaughan (ninth) and Michael McDowell (tenth). Michael Annett is 11th in the standings, seven points behind 10th-place McDowell.
• Cale Gale was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Kroger 250, scoring an 11th-place finish.
• A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in nine of the 10 previous races at Memphis.
• Kevin Harvick is the only Raybestos Rookie to win the Sam’s Town 250. Harvick captured the 2000 race by .475 seconds over Elton Sawyer. • Marcos Ambrose is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the 10 previous races at Memphis. Ambrose grabbed the top starting position for the 2007 Kroger 250.
(Raybestos / Camp & Assoc PR)(10-21-2009)
Milestone starts at Memphis: This weekend, two drivers will reach milestones, while another is seeking one. #28-Kenny Wallace will make his 450th series start, while #11-Mike Bliss is making the 175th start of his career.(NASCAR PR)(10-20-2009)
Toyota can clinch manufacturers championship: Toyota can clinch its second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series manufacturer championship Saturday, needing only to finish better than fourth among manufacturers, or have Chevy finish anywhere but first.(NASCAR PR)(10-20-2009)
Testing at Fairgounds Speedway: A pair of NASCAR Nationwide teams, #70-ML Motorsports and Braun Racing [#10, 32, 38], will be testing Wednesday at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville.(Middle Tennessee Racing Scene)(10-20-2009)
Lowe’s TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live coverage of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the same track earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,711,780 viewers and up from the 1.1 for last year’s rain-delayed race that also aired on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(10-20-2009)
DiBenedetto making NNS debut; gets sponsor for 3 2010 races: Joe Gibbs Racing’s latest young talent, Matt DiBenedetto, will make his debut in in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this Saturday when he pilots the #20 Pizza Ranch Toyota at Memphis Motorsports Park. Pizza Ranch announced this week that they have signed on to sponsor four NASCAR Nationwide Series races with Joe Gibbs Racing and DiBenedetto beginning this week with the race in Memphis. In addition, Pizza Ranch and DiBenedetto will team up at three Nationwide races in 2010 including Milwaukee, Gateway, and Iowa.(JGR PR)(10-20-2009)
Lowe’s Notes and Facts:
* Kyle Busch won the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch posted his 28th career victory in his 169th start.
* Busch took sole possession of fourth on NASCAR’s Nationwide Series all-time wins list. It was his seventh win in 2009, the most among all drivers.
* Busch won his fifth race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in his 13th start. His five wins there are the most he has at any track. Busch has won three of the past four races at Lowe’s.
* Busch won his seventh series race in 2009, ending an 11-race winless streak. His last win came at Gateway in July.
* Race winner Busch led three times for 137 laps, including the final 55. He has led 2,429 laps of the 5,861 laps raced (41 percent) in 2009.
* Joe Gibbs Racing won its 12th race of 2009, the most of all teams. It was JGR’s third win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
* Toyota won its third race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and its 13th in 2009.
* Mike Bliss (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 2009. He finished first and second at Lowe’s in 2009.
* Dave Blaney (third) posted his first top-10 finish in four races in 2009.
* Busch gained 40 points on second-place Carl Edwards (who finished fifth) and is now 195 points ahead of Edwards.
* Brian Vickers (fourth) posted his fourth straight top-5 finish at Lowe’s.
* Edwards (fifth) posted his eighth straight top-10 finish.
* Brad Keselowski (sixth) posted his 13th consecutive top-10 finish.
* Justin Allgaier (12th) was the highest-finishing Rookie of the Year contender.
* The top 10 consisted of five Toyotas, four Chevrolets and one Ford. Justin Allgaier (12th) was the highest-finishing Dodge.
(Racing Resources/ESPN)(10-12-2009)
JR Motorsports’ Richard Boswell making NNS debut at Memphis: JR Motorsports announced it will enter its #5 Chevy in the Oct. 24 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park to give its late model driver of three years, Richard Boswell, the opportunity to make his Nationwide Series debut. Boswell’s car will be sponsored by RCCA, which is owned and operated by Motorsports Authentics. RCCA is the premier club for motorsports fans and collectors and exclusive supplier of RCCA Elite diecasts.(JR Motorsports PR)(10-15-2009) IMAGE: see a picture of the car on the #5 paint schemes page.(10-19-2009)
New sponsor for Mike Wallace at Memphis: UPDATE: The #01 team will unveil a new primary sponsor and paint scheme at Memphis.(J-D Motorsports PR)(10-19-2009) UPDATE: JD Motorsports and the #01 NASCAR Nationwide Series Team with Driver Mike Wallace announce NOLAND Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WinWholesale, Inc., has extended its marketing partnership by adding the last four events of the 2009 season.(J-D Motorsports PR)(10-19-2009)
Kelly Bires returns to the #33: This weekend the NASCAR Nationwide Series will roll into Memphis for the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park where Kelly Bires will make his final start of the season for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the #33 Copart Chevy.(KHI PR)(10-19-2009)
Ladon Cassill to drive at Memphis: UPDATE: 2008 ROTY winner Landon Cassill will be piloting the Phoenix Racing Team #1 Miccosukee Resort Gaming Chevy, owned by James Finch in the “Kroger on Track for the Cure 250” at Memphis Motorsports Park.(LandonCassill.com)(10-7-2009) UPDATE: It’s been 11 months since his last appearance in a NASCAR series, but Landon Cassill will finally start to put a frustrating season behind him next week when he returns to the Nationwide Series at Memphis. Cassill will drive Phoenix Racing’s #1 car at Memphis, marking the first start for the defending Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year since the Phoenix race last November. So will he race full-time next year, perhaps with Phoenix? Cassill said he was “working on things” but offered no details. “It’s just a unique time with the economy,” he said. “Nobody’s out there to hold me back from any opportunity. I know [Hendrick is] working on creating some opportunities within. Hopefully some things will come up.” Phoenix Racing owner James Finch uses Hendrick engines, has a relationship with Hendrick and needed a driver for Memphis, which is how Cassill’s chance to drive came about.(SceneDaily)(10-16-2009)
California TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Fontana on Saturday, Oct. 10, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, averaging 1,406,452 viewers. The race was run Labor Day weekend in 2008 and also earned a 1.1 rating on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(10-16-2009)
Tekken 6 on the #20: Tekken 6, the latest installment of Namco Bandai’s Tekken series, will adorn the #20 Toyota this weekend along with GameStop. (JGR PR), see an image of the car on the #20 team paint scheme page.(10-13-2009)
Special Scheme on the #23: Look for #23-Ken Butler III in the Aaron’s Outdoors Mossy Oak camouflage colors this weekend. This will be the second time the paint scheme will be run in NASCAR competition. David Reutimann piloted this paint scheme in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September and it will be run in one more race later this year.(R3 Motorsports PR), see an graphic of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(10-14-2009)
New Paint Scheme for #24 team at Dollar General 300: The #24 Ford will look a little different this weekend as it will not carry the familiar orange and yellow Hefty Odor Block™ colors. Instead, it will be black and silver as Hefty brand promotes its Steel Sak waste bag.(McClure PR), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(10-14-2009)
Lowes Raybestos Rookie Notes:
• Michael Annett was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Copart 300 at Auto Club Speedway. Annett grabbed a sixth-place finish, his best in 31 NASCAR Nationwide Series races and his fourth top-10 this season. He claimed top rookie honors for the fifth time in 2009.
• Brendan Gaughan claimed a seventh-place finish at Auto Club Speedway, his seventh top-10 of the season. • At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in 25 of 30 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.
• Justin Allgaier leads Gaughan by 17 points (224-207) entering the October 16 Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s (Concord, N.C.) Motor Speedway. • Three Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Allgaier is fifth followed by Gaughan (ninth) and Michael McDowell (tenth).
• Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 Dollar General 300 at Charlotte, logging a 30th-place finish.
(Raybestos / Camp & Assoc PR)(10-14-2009)
Darnell future uncertain: Erik Darnell, Roush Fenway Racing’s last “Driver X,” appears to be without a ride in the organization for 2010. Darnell won the team’s “Gong Show” competition in 2004, earning a seat in what was is now known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But after running three full seasons in Trucks, Darnell was moved to part-time duty in the Nationwide Series for 2009. Darnell, who also has run a handful of Sprint Cup races for Roush Fenway affiliate Hall of Fame Racing this season, may not have a seat with the team next year. “We’re open with Erik,” Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush said Tuesday. “We’re open to do something with Erik, and I’d very much like to. But right now, I don’t have a sponsor to stand in line that has singled out Erik. I’m just not certain.” “It’ll be a great sadness if we’re not able to continue to build his career,” Roush said, “but I’m not sure it’s going to be possible.”(SceneDaily)(10-13-2009)
Congrats: The #24 Hefty Racing Nationwide Series team congratulates their front tire carrier, John Bousselot, and his wife, Melissa, on the birth of their daughter Karsyn Brynn Bousselot. Karsyn was born on Monday, October 12, weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well.(10-13-2009)
Roush to unveil Nationwide Mustang COT: UPDATE Image: The first computer rendering released earlier this year caused quite a stir. Now, race fans who have been anxious to see what it will really look like will finally get their chance as Ford and Roush Fenway Racing unveil the new 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Mustang on Tuesday, Oct. 13.This is the first public unveiling of the new 2010 Nationwide Mustang, and the first time media and public will see the car that will compete in limited races next year.(NASCAR PR), see the rendering on the Ford COT schemes page.(10-7-2009) UPDATE: Three major events were rolled into one today as Ford teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing and Con-way Freight to unveil the #16 Con-way Freight Mustang with driver Colin Braun at Roush Fenway Racing headquarters in Concord, N.C. Ford announced in July that Mustang, the iconic pony car that has raced for all 45 years of its existence, would compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in July 2010 when a limited rollout of NASCAR’s new car begins at Daytona International Speedway. Today marked the first time the NASCAR Mustang was seen in public. Braun will make the move from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he was the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, to a full-time Nationwide program next season, along with Con-way Freight, which has been his sponsor for the last two years. Roush Fenway and Con-way Freight recently agreed on a contract extension to remain as a primary sponsor for 18 Nationwide races within the organization.(Ford PR) IMAGE: see an image of the car on the #16 2010 paint scheme page.(10-13-2009)
Crew Member suspended: UPDATE: Robert Good, a crew member for the #26 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Good violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 7-5 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book. Good’s violation came on Oct. 9. (NASCAR PR)(10-13-2009) UPDATE: Statement from the team: K-Automotive race team was given notice by NASCAR officials that one of its crew members was found in violation of the substance abuse policy during a random test at this past weekend’s Nationwide series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California. K-Automotive has a no tolerance policy with all full and part time crew members in regards to substance abuse and fully supports the decision by NASCAR. The crew member in this situation has been suspended by NASCAR and has been put on temporary suspension with the team as well. K-Automotive is a family run operation and our crew members are treated as extended family members. We believe that this was an isolated incident and simply a misjudgment on the part of the crew member and support them. We wish all of our team member’s success and well being and will always be there to support any of them in times of need.(K Automaotive PR)(10-13-2009)
Tekken 6 on the #20: Tekken 6, the latest installment of Namco Bandai’s Tekken series, will adorn the #20 Toyota this weekend along with GameStop. (JGR PR)(10-13-2009)
100 starts for Keselowski: This weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, #88-Brad Keselowski will make is 100th NASCAR Nationwide Series start, most of which have come with JR Motorsports. Keselowski has amassed five wins, 30 top-fives, 49 top-10s, and three pole awards since making his Nationwide debut on Sept. 2, 2006 at Auto Club Speedway.(JR Motorsports PR)(10-13-2009)
Baker Curb and Nashville Predators form parternship: With the announcement of a partnership between the Nashville Predators and Baker Curb Racing, the two fastest games in town have joined forces to provide local companies with regional and national exposure. Initially, this partnership will focus on sales and marketing, but may further expand to include other initiatives in the future. With the Nashville Predators and Baker Curb working together, their partnership will create avenues for businesses to reach audiences year round on both a local and a national scale.(Baker Curb PR)(10-13-2009)
Anderson’s Maple Syrup returns to #49: After a successful debut as primary sponsor of the Jay Robinson Racing #49 car earlier this year at the Milwaukee Mile, Cumberland, Wisconsin-based Anderson’s Maple Syrup will return as the primary sponsor for #49, driven by Mark Green in the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ October 16 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The family-owned company will also be an associate sponsor on the team’s #28 car, driven by Nationwide Series winning driver Kenny Wallace.(Jay Robinson PR)(10-13-2009)
Lumber Liquidators on the #15: As a longtime partner with Germain Racing, Lumber Liquidators has jumped on board with the #15 team and Michael Annett for the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300. Previously sponsoring Annett’s teammate Todd Bodine in the Truck Series from 2006 until 2008, Lumber Liquidators will sponsor the #15 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Camry at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in addition to four races for Bodine in the #30 in the Truck Series. Team sponsor Pilot Travel Centers will sport their logo as an associate sponsor on the rear quarter panels of the No. 15.(Germain Racing PR)(10-13-2009)
SunDrop back with the #01: Mike Wallace will once again have SunDrop Soda and Choice Beverage USA as his primary sponsor at Lowes Motor Speedway. Nu-Tone HVAC is an Associate Sponsor.(J-D Motorsports PR)(10-13-2009)
Auto Club Notes and Facts:
* Joey Logano won the Copart 300 at Auto Club Speedway. It was Logano’s sixth Nationwide win in his 38th start and his first at California in his third start there.
* Logano won his fifth race of 2009, ranking second among all drivers to Kyle Busch with six.
* Logano won the race from the pole for the third time.
* Logano has won in three of his past five starts.
* Logano led three times for 20 laps, including the last seven.
* Joe Gibbs Racing won its 11th race of 2009, the most of all teams. It was JGR’s fourth victory at Fontana, all in the past four races there.
* Toyota won its fourth race at Auto Club Speedway and its 12th of 2009.
* The 10 cautions set a track record; the old record of eight happened three times.
* The race ended under green-white-checkered conditions for the eighth time in 2009 and the first time at Auto Club Speedway.
* On Lap 39, points leader Kyle Busch was replaced in the car by Denny Hamlin. Busch had led 36 of the first 38 laps of the race. Hamlin was battling for the lead with 10 laps to go when he was involved in an accident with Greg Biffle. Hamlin finished 31st, while Biffle finished 14th.
* Brian Vickers (second) posted his best Auto Club Speedway finish in his sixth start.
* Carl Edwards (third) posted his 20th top-5 finish of 2009. He gained 90 points on points leader Busch and is now 155 behind.
* Brad Keselowski (fifth) posted his eighth consecutive top-5 finish.
* Michael Annett (sixth) was the best-finishing rookie of the year contender for the fifth time this season.
* The top 10 consisted of three Toyotas, four Chevrolets and three Fords. Mike Bliss (13th) was the best-finishing Dodge.
(Racing Resources/ESPN)(10-12-2009)
Kahne in the #43 at Lowe’s: Kasey Kahne will drive a special #43 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Toyota Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The car will be a Braun Racing car. See an image of the car on my #43 team paint schemes page.(10-12-2009)
Logano’s father in trouble with NASCAR? UPDATES: #20-Joey Logano’s father, Tom, reportedly had his hard card pulled by NASCAR following the race. Tom Logano confronted Greg Biffle on pit road about the contact between Biffle and Logano during the race and got into a verbal confrontation.(10-10-2009) UPDATE: NASCAR officials pulled Joey Logano’s father’s credential after he confronted Greg Biffle on Saturday following the Nationwide Series race. A NASCAR spokesman said Tom Logano walked up to Biffle’s car on pit road and had a verbal altercation with the driver. Biffle and Joey Logano tangled earlier in the race, with Biffle putting Logano’s #20 Toyota into the wall, a move Biffle hinted at over the radio beforehand. Joey Logano came back to win the race while Biffle finished 14th.Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said he had no immediate knowledge of the event. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Tom Logano was meeting with officials to talk about the incident.(Associated Press)(10-10-2009) UPDATE 2: Tom Logano was back at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday to watch his son race in the Pepsi 500 a day after having his credential pulled following a run-in with driver Greg Biffle. Tom Logano was able to attend the race after applying for a single-event pass. He had the pass tucked into his shirt pocket while talking to Joey shortly before the race but had no comment on the incident as he made his way to a viewing box above pit road. Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said Tom Logano was apologetic while talking to team officials. “There was an issue on pit road and NASCAR addressed it,” Gibbs said. “He went and talked to the guy at NASCAR (Joe Balash) yesterday. When I talked to him, he was contrite and apologetic and he said he messed up on it.”(Associated Press)(1012-2009)
Joanides driving for Ware at Memphis: Nick Joanides, a driver from Woodland Hills, CA will race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Memphis Motorsports Park on Oct. 24. The NASCAR Super Late Model and Late Model champion at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale will drive for Rick Ware Racing and his Circle K Racing team for one race.(Haddock in the Paddock)(10-11-2009)
NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule for Cup, Nationwide: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn’t pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the “wave around” the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)
Waltrip wants full Nationwide schedule in 2010: Michael Waltrip told ESPN.com Saturday that his 2010 Sprint Cup schedule remains uncertain, and is contingent on sponsorship. His hope? To run the full Nationwide Series schedule. “Ideally, for me, would be to get the type of sponsor that I could run the full Nationwide [schedule],” he said. “That’s what I’d love to do. Then I’m here at the races, here on Sundays, can be a team owner but still get to race.”(ESPN.com)(10-10-2009)
Bayne working on full-time ride for 2010: Trevor Bayne is scheduled to compete in two of this year’s final five Nationwide Series races. He’ll return to the wheel of MRW’s #99 Camry in Texas and Phoenix next month. But with guidance from former NASCAR team owner Gary Bechtel, it’s a pretty good bet that Bayne will wind up in a competitive ride on a full-time basis in the Nationwide Series in 2010. “Anything’s a possibility right now,” said Bayne, when asked if he’ll wind up in the #11 or No. 99 next season. “We’re definitely working toward every opportunity to see what the best thing is.(Racin’ Today)(10-10-2009)
NASCAR Announces Plans for COT: NASCAR announced its plans for the introduction of the new car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The new car will compete in four points races during the 2010 season beginning with the July 2 race at Daytona International Speedway followed by the Aug. 14 event at Michigan International Speedway, the Sept. 10 race at Richmond International Raceway and at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Oct. 15. Full integration of the new car into the NASCAR Nationwide schedule is targeted for the 2011 season. The 2010 roll-out schedule follows a meeting in late July with series team owners and crew chiefs with NASCAR officials at the Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. “There was a lot of good dialogue shared with the teams during that meeting,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition. “We’ve taken the time to review the information that was shared in the meeting and develop a schedule that we believe will provide the teams with the best possible opportunity to prepare for the rollout of the new car. “This four-race schedule gives the teams experience on a wide variety of ovals, in addition to a superspeedway.” “This is another major step as we continue to give the series a unique look and enhance the competitive racing we already have on the track,” said Joe Balash, NASCAR Nationwide Series director.(NASCAR PR)(10-9-2009)
Clements works deal with J-D Motorsports: A deal recently brokered between JD Motorsports and Jeremy Clements’ race team saw Clements run the #0 at Kansas, and will see him do the same at ACS this Saturday. Clements has told Frontstretch that JD Motorsports is paying entry fees for the team and has essentially worked out a deal for the #50 squad to run their number, allowing JD to keep the #0’s status as a full-time contestant of the NNS slate. The deal is for select races, not for the rest of 2009, but Clements will run at Lowe’s Motor Speedway next week. Fontana was not a race that Clements and his team had planned to run originally, but the team figured “hell, we’re halfway out there already, might as well go on out” according to the driver. Clements has told Frontstretch that the team plans to contest the full 300 miles on Saturday.(Frontstretch)(10-9-2009)
Copart sponsoring Edwards in 2010: Copart and Roush Fenway Racing announced that they have entered into an agreement for Copart to sponsor Carl Edwards and the #60 Ford. Copart, a leading online vehicle auction, will appear as the primary sponsor on the #60 for 16 races beginning in 2010 and will appear as an associate sponsor on the Ford entry for the remaining races.(Roush Fenway PR)(10-9-2009)
Brütal Legend on the #20: UPDATE Brütal Legend, an action-adventure game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, will adorn the #20 Toyota this weekend along with GameStop.(JGR PR)(10-6-2009) UPDATE: see an image of the car on the #20 team paint schemes page.(10-9-2009)
Danica asking for $8 million? Is Danica Patrick asking for $8 million to run eight Nationwide Series races in 2010? The simple answer: Nobody has confirmed that to ESPN.com. If that is the case, unless GoDaddy.com or another sponsor is willing to step up to the plate at a time when most sponsors are stepping away, the IndyCar Series star may have a tough time finalizing a deal. There are teams that run an entire Nationwide schedule on $8 million.(read more at ESPN Insider)(10-9-2009)
Kansas TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, down from the 1.3 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2. Saturday’s telecast averaged 1,545,275 viewers. The Kansas race was the first Nationwide Series event to be down in ratings after five consecutive races on ESPN2 to be up from last year’s race or corresponding weekend.(ESPN PR)(10-8-2009)
California Raybestos Rookie Notes:
• Justin Allgaier was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Allgaier scored a sixth-place finish, his 12th top-10 finish of the season and took top rookie honors for the ninth time in 2009.
• At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 finish in 24 of 29 NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season.
• Justin Allgaier leads Brendan Gaughan by 22 points (223-201) entering the COPART 300 at Auto Club Speedway.
• Three Raybestos Rookies are in the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Allgaier is fifth followed by Gaughan (ninth) and Michael McDowell (tenth).
• Two Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions during the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season: Gaughan and Erik Darnell.
• Bryan Clauson was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 COPART 300, claiming an 18th-place finish.
• Carl Edwards won the 2005 COPART 300 at Auto Club Speedway, crossing the finish line 1.710 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Greg Biffle. Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to finish in the top-five in five fall races at the 2.0-mile speedway.
• The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole at Auto Club Speedway is Steve Park in 1997, the first race ever at Auto Club Speedway.
• A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 in three of the five fall races at Auto Club Speedway.
• The best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie in five fall races at Auto Club Speedway is third by Reed Sorenson in 2005.
(Camp & Assoc. / Raybestos PR)(10-8-2009)
Roush to unveil Nationwide Mustang COT: The first computer rendering released earlier this year caused quite a stir. Now, race fans who have been anxious to see what it will really look like will finally get their chance as Ford and Roush Fenway Racing unveil the new 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Mustang on Tuesday, Oct. 13.This is the first public unveiling of the new 2010 Nationwide Mustang, and the first time media and public will see the car that will compete in limited races next year.(NASCAR PR), see the rendering on the Ford COT schemes page.(10-7-2009)
Ladon Cassill to drive at Memphis: 2008 ROTY winner Landon Cassill will be piloting the Phoenix Racing Team #1 Miccosukee Resort Gaming Chevy, owned by James Finch in the “Kroger on Track for the Cure 250” at Memphis Motorsports Park.(LandonCassill.com)(10-7-2009)
Brian Scott back to the #10 at California: Brian Scott returns to the seat of the Braun Racing’s #10 Toyota, which will once again carry AccuDoc Solutions as primary sponsor, this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.(Braun Racing PR)(10-7-2009)
Barrett looking to return to IndyCar in 2010: Don’t let Stanton Barrett’s absence from the IndyCar Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway fool you. He jumped into IndyCar with both feet in 2009 and plans to stay. Barrett wanted to start his fifth race of the season in the No. 98 Team 3G car this weekend. But, due to a lack of complete funding, the team turned to other drivers with sponsors for Homestead and other 2009 events that Barrett did not compete in. He is now looking ahead to the 2010 season, when he plans to be back in the IndyCar Series. “Right now, I’m working to see which races I can run next year,” Barrett said. “I had a blast in the races I ran this year and I learned a lot. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel again and with as competitive equipment as possible.”(Breaking Limits PR)(10-7-2009)
HelpFindKyle.com on #31 at Lowes: When the Nationwide Series takes the Green Flag on October 16th, the lights of Lowes Motor Speedway and the cameras of ESPN2 will once again put the case of missing Charlotte-native Kyle Fleischman in the national spotlight. Thanks in part to a special collaboration between Liberty Port and Rick Ware Racing; the #31 car will feature www.HelpFindKyle.com and the Kyle Fleischman Foundation (KFF) as primary sponsor with father-son tandem Tim and Paul Andrews as driver/crew chief. Many in the community may recall the case of Kyle Fleischman who disappeared on November 9th, 2007 in the Uptown Charlotte area. The case has drawn national attention as it marked the first time Facebook was used to find a missing person with a following of over 50,000 members. Kyle’s case has also aired twice on Americas Most Wanted due to the mysterious circumstance of his disappearance. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have announced a reward of $50 000 for information involving the case.(Rick Ware Racing PR)(10-7-2009)
Congrats: Congrats to NASCAR official Lance Wells and wife, Sara. Sara gave birth to their first child on Sept. 25, 2009 at 2:54 pm. Faith Keeley Wells and mom are doing very well.(10-7-2009)
Brütal Legend on the #20: Brütal Legend, an action-adventure game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, will adorn the #20 Toyota this weekend along with GameStop.(JGR PR)(10-6-2009)
Cassadee Pope signing National Anthem at California: Singer/songwriter Cassadee Pope, of pop band Hey Monday fame, will perform the National Anthem prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, the Copart 300 at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 10. Along with band members Mike Gentile, Alex Lipshaw, Jersey Moriarty and Elliott James, lead vocalist Pope, with her piercing vocals, recently finished up a headlining tour in the UK.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(10-6-2009)
300 starts for Bowyer: #29-Clint Bowyer will make his 300th career NASCAR start (includes NASCAR’s top-three national series) in Saturday’s 300-mile NNS event at Fontana. Since joining RCR in 2004, the Emporia, Kan., native has earned one NNS championship, along with 11 career NASCAR wins; two in the Sprint Cup Series, eight in the NNS and one in the Camping World Truck Series.(RCR PR)(10-6-2009)
Braun Going Pink at Lowes: Braun Racing announced that their entire organization will “go pink” for the upcoming Dollar General 300 in support of Dollar General-sponsored, IndyCar Series driver Sarah Fisher, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Brian Vickers and Reed Sorenson will trade in their traditional black and yellow #32 and #10 Dollar General Toyotas for a special pink paint scheme in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on October 16. Braun Racing teammate, Jason Leffler, and his primary sponsor, Great Clips, will also support the cause with a specially designed pink #38 Camry. Primary sponsor, Dollar General, and Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR), are supporting the fight against breast cancer by going pink at the previous week’s IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 10. Fisher will be racing in a pink Dollar General car as part of her “On Track for a Cause” initiative.(Braun Racing PR)(10-6-2009)
Congrats: RAB Racing announces a new member of the team; Carsyn Abigayle Cavitt. She is the brand new baby girl of Jacquelyn Briscoe, the team’s VP of Business Operations, and Getty Cavitt born on Tuesday, October 6th. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 8oz and 21 inches.(RAB Racing)(10-6-2009)
Barrett back in the #31 at California: Stanton Barrett will pilot the #31 Rick Ware Racing car at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Oct. 10. The #31 will carry associate sponsorship from Bantam Books’ Family Affair, a newly released novel by Caprice Crane. Crane is a published novelist, screenwriter and TV writer. She currently writes for the re-launched TV show “Melrose Place” and has also written for “90210.” She is the daughter of legendary actress Tina Louise, best known as Ginger on “Gilligan’s Island.” “Melrose Place” star Shaun Sipos, who plays David Breck on the CW drama series, will attend the race as a guest of the #31 team. California-based Interush, a long-time supporter of Barrett, returns as an associate sponsor of the #31.(Stanton Barrett PR)(10-6-2009)
Wimmer in the #40 for rest of year: Scott Wimmer returns to the #40 StopRepairBills.com Chevy this weekend, and will remain behind the wheel of the Key Motorsports machine for the rest of the season. The Copart 300 at Auto Club Speedway will be Wimmer’s 22nd race of the year with Key Motorsports.(Key Motorsports PR)(10-6-2009)
Danica talking to Hendrick about NASCAR ride: UPDATE: Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., may soon be involved in a limited NASCAR arrangement, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick confirmed to SI.com. The other side of the Patrick puzzle may soon fall into place as Hendrick said Sunday afternoon that Patrick’s agent at IMG has met with the team about a limited schedule of ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide Series races to go along with the IndyCar Series contract she signed to remain at Andretti Green Racing. According to Hendrick, the plan would be to put Patrick in the JR Motorsports team that is owned by Hendrick driver Earnhardt, Jr. with sponsorship from GoDaddy.com. “We have no deal but she has spoke with Kelley Earnhardt [Dale Jr’s sister who handles that teams business affairs] about a limited number of NASCAR races in that car,” Hendrick told SI.com. “I have had some conversation and Kelley Earnhardt has had some conversation with that but Kelly is heading that up. GoDaddy.com would be involved because of Danica’s involvement with Danica and with JR Motorsports. Kelley talked to her in the last week. We are looking at how it matches up with her IndyCar schedule. We are interested and think it would be neat but it has to work out for both sides.” Patrick signed a three-year IndyCar Series contract with team owner Michael Andretti two weeks ago but has remained quiet on that subject because of sponsor demands who want to have a major press conference to announce the signing. According to IndyCar Series sources, one of Patrick’s sponsor contracts in IndyCar is about to expire so that announcement will not be made until the sponsor is ready to make the announcement. “She has signed the contract, they just want to make sure the sponsor is ready to make the announcement,” said an IndyCar Series official Saturday afternoon. While details of Patrick’s new contract have not been disclosed, Andretti indicated there are limits to how much racing she can do outside of IndyCar. Andretti wants his high-paid driver to focus on what he signed her to do — try to become the first female driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series title. So if Patrick signs with JR Motorsports or another team, look for her to run in fewer than 10 stock car events next season. In fact, five races next season would probably be a nice, logical step for her before she attempts to increase that schedule in 2011, if she likes the progress she is making.(SI.com)(10-5-2009) UPDATE: The darling of the IndyCar Series and NASCAR’s most popular driver could be joining forces in 2010. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the president of JR Motorsports that is co-owned by Sprint Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr., said on Monday she is exploring options that could put Danica Patrick in a limited number of Nationwide Series races next year. “There is a natural fit at JRM with Dale Jr. and Danica both serving as spokespersons for GoDaddy.com,” Elledge said. “As a female managing one of the top Nationwide Series teams in the sport, I would be excited to have Danica within the JR Motorsports fold if she decides to enter the world of NASCAR.” Elledge said Patrick would split time with Earnhardt and several other drivers in the No. 5. Kelly Bires recently was signed to replace Brad Keselowski in the No. 88 car next season. “Kelly bires will run 88 full time,” Elledge said in a text. “So she will be part time in 2nd car.”(ESPN.com)(10-5-2009)
John C. Reilly named California Grand Marshal: Auto Club Speedway announced that Academy Award and multi-Golden Globe Award-nominated actor John C. Reilly will serve as Grand Marshal for the Copart 300 – NNS race at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, October 10 at 1:30 p.m. PDT. Soon after Reilly gives the most famous command in racing “Gentlemen start your engines”, race fans can catch Reilly in his upcoming fantasy adventure film the Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, in theatres October 23. Being no stranger to NASCAR, race fans will remember Reilly in Days of Thunder and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Most recently on the big screen, Reilly reunited with Will Ferrell in the comedy Step Brothers. Other film credits for Reilly include Academy Award®-winning films Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(10-5-2009)
Last 2009 race for Biffle: Greg Biffle will make his 14th and final NASCAR Nationwide Series start of 2009 this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Biffle has two wins, four top-five and nine top-10 finishes this year in the #16 CitiFinancial Ford.(Roush Fenway PR)(10-5-2009)
Bayne returns to the #11: Trevor Bayne returns to the #11 RIDEMAKERZ Toyota at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., this weekend. The Fontana race will be Bayne’s second in the #11 RIDEMAKERZ Toyota. He drove to a seventh-place finish in his debut effort with CJM last month at Richmond International Raceway.(CJM Racing PR)(10-5-2009)
Notes and Facts from Kansas:
Joey Logano won the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. It was his fifth victory, his 37th start and his fourth win in 2009.
Logano scored his first win at Kansas in his second start there. He became the ninth different winner in nine races at Kansas.
Joe Gibbs Racing scored its 38th series victory and 10th of 2009.
Toyota scored its 11th win of 2009.
Logano led once for four laps.
Kyle Busch (second) scored his 15th top-2 finish of 2009. It marked the fifth 1-2 finish in 2009 for Gibbs.
On Lap 94, Busch broke the record for most laps led in a single season. The previous record was held by Sam Ard, who led 2,127 laps in 1984. Busch has led 2,226 laps in 2009 with six races to go. Busch led five times Saturday for 173 laps, the most laps led in a race for the 13th time in 2009. He has won only four times when leading the most laps.
Busch has a 249-point lead over second-place Carl Edwards and a 307-point lead over third-place Brad Keselowski.
Keselowski scored his 11th straight top-10 finish, extending a streak that began at Gateway. He has scored top-5 finishes in the past seven races. Keselowski has been running at the finish in his past 61 series races, the longest current streak. His most recent DNF came for an accident at Las Vegas in March 2008, when he finished 23rd.
Parker Kligerman finished 16th in his series debut after winning the pole. He led the first seven laps.
Justin Allgaier (sixth) was the highest-finishing rookie of the year contender.
The top 10 consisted of three Chevrolets, four Toyotas, two Fords and one Dodge.(ESPN.com)(10-5-2009)
Edwards goes pink: UPDATE: Carl Edwards, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will drive a “pinked-out” version of his #60 Save-A-Lot Ford in Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway. Save-A-Lot food stores, in partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has pledged $100,000 to aid in the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness through the millions of NASCAR fans at the track and watching the race on television. (Kansas City Star)(10-1-2009) UPDATE: Save-A-Lot food stores announced that it is joining the fight against breast cancer by partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization, for the remainder of 2009. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Save-A-Lot food stores will unveil a “pinked out” version of their #60 Save-A-Lot Ford to be driven by Carl Edwards in this Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway. Through its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Save-A-Lot has pledged $100,000 to aid in the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness through the millions of NASCAR fans at the track and watching from home. The partnership is part of Save-A-Lot’s corporate commitment and dedication to serving the underserved through dedicating resources to customers living every day while managing a variety of disease states. Save-A-Lot looks to finish their season strong with the Komen-themed paint scheme this weekend at Kansas Speedway and at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday, October 24. (Save-A-Lot/Wunderman PR), see a couple images on the #60 Paint Schemes page.(10-2-2009)
Kelly Osbourne waving green flag at California: Auto Club Speedway announced that Dancing with the Stars celebrity contestant Kelly Osbourne will serve as Honorary Starter for the Copart 300, NNS race on Saturday, Oct. 10. From the top of the flag stand on the Speedway’s start/finish line, Osbourne will wave the Green Flag to get the Copart 300 underway.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(10-2-2009)
New crew chief for Annett? Ryan Fugle is listed as the crew chief for the Germain Racing #15 team this weekend at Kansas. Mike Hillman Jr had been serving as crew chief.(10-2-2009)
Kennedy planning some 2010 race: Alex Kennedy, on the cusp of the two most prestigious auto series in the United States, finished 10th in the NASCAR Camping World Series East this year. He expects to run a few races on the Nationwide Series next year after he turns 18 on Feb. 2 and becomes eligible. Kennedy is set to race in the Nationwide on Aug. 29 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. It’s a road course, and Kennedy won 11 world, national and state championships on such courses as a young driver, capitalizing on his adaptability and confounding ability to read a track better than other drivers. He also may test Porsche’s Rolex Series and sprinkle some Camping World Series races when it visits at larger tracks.(Farmington Daily News)(10-2-2009)
Sponsor for Mike Wallace at Kansas: Mike Wallace will drive the Village West Liquors #01 Chevy at The NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.(J-D Motorsports PR)(10-2-2009)
Batycki leaves Gateway Raceway: Gateway International Raceway Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki says he has left Dover Motorsports Inc., the parent company of the track. Gateway, located in Madison, Ill., near St. Louis, Mo., hosts races in NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. “It just came to a conclusion that I didn’t fit Dover’s management style,” Batycki said, “and we’ve parted ways.” Batycki was hired in December 2006 after serving as team president for the now-defunct Biagi DenBeste Racing team in what was then known as the Busch Series.(Scene Daily)(10-2-2009)
Trace Atkins signing National Anthem at Lowes: The NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 on Friday, Oct. 16, will start with a memorable performance of the national anthem by country music star Trace Adkins. Adkins will perform live on the pre-race stage before the engines start roaring at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(LMS PR)(10-1-2009)
Dover TV Ratings: ESPN2’s live telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, up from the 1.1 rating earned for last year’s race. It was the fifth consecutive Nationwide Series race on ESPN2 to be up from last year’s race or corresponding weekend. The Dover telecast averaged 1,459,145 viewers.(ESPN PR)(10-1-2009)
Nationwide races for Kligerman? UPDATE 2: IMAGE: [The NASCAR Insiders] are hearing that Penske Racing developmental driver Parker Kligerman, who currently co-leads the ARCA RE/MAX Series points, may run a few Nationwide Series races towards the end of the season. Penske will supposedly field a second car for Kligerman alongside current NNS driver Justin Allgaier. No word yet on which specific races Kligerman may run.(NASCAR Insiders)(9-16-2009) UPDATE: Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman will make his Nationwide Series debut at Kansas Speedway next month. Kligerman will drive the #22 Penske Racing entry, a team that will lay the groundwork for Brad Keselowski’s full-time squad in 2010. “There are a lot of talented people out there and we are looking at all of our options,” said Jonathan Gibson, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Penske Racing. “For a while now, we have been working to assemble a championship caliber Nationwide organization for both of our cars in 2010. Justin has had a terrific season this year and our intention is to hit the ground running with both of our teams in 2010.” Kligerman, who turned 19 last month, is currently tied for the lead with Justin Lofton in the ARCA Re/Max Series championship. He tops the leaderboard with seven wins to his credit earned on both asphalt and dirt.(Fox Sports)(9-18-2009) UPDATE: Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend, competing in the #22 Penske Truck Rental Dodge in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Kligerman will also race for the team in the Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 21.(Penske PR)(9-28-2009) IMAGE: See a picture of the car on the #22 Paint Schemes page.(10-1-2009)
Conway making debut with #26 team: Kevin Conway will have a fresh start at Kansas Speedway this weekend as he is making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut with a new #26 ExtenZe Racing team. Conway races to Kansas with a new team, new crew chief [Jefferson Hodges] and high expectations for this weekend. ExtenZe and Conway will be paired together for the remainder of the 2009 NNS season and for the full 2010 NNS Schedule. (Conway PR)(10-1-2009)
