NASCAR: General News and Discussion

[bradk12fan]

Altanta Motor Speedway loses a race weekend:

Atlanta announces one race for 2011: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced the facility's 2011 event schedule will include one NASCAR racing weekend on September 2-4. One of the original NASCAR superspeedways, the track has hosted two of NASCAR's premier event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sunday night, Sept. 5. "Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," said speedway president, Ed Clark. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."(AMS)(8-5-2010)

Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

A lot of news and rumors in Nascar today......

Menard to RCR?:

UPDATE: Frontstretch is reporting #98-Paul Menard has agreed in principle to move to Richard Childress Racing for 2011. Sponsorship would continue to come from his father's company, Menards, with a car number and crew chief to be announced. No word on an official announcement yet from either side, but the team would expand to four cars while retaining their current driver lineup of #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick, and #33-Clint Bowyer.(Frontstretch)(8-5-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reachs start achievement

Earnhardt, Jr. making 500th NASCAR start: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevy, will make his 500th start in a NASCAR-sanctioned points-paying event this weekend. Earnhardt will be making his 385th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when he lines up Sunday at Watkins Glen International. He also has tallied 115 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(Hendrick PR)(8-5-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

Paul Menard to the #32?

UPDATE 2: Paul Menard appears to be closing in on a deal that will lock him into the fourth Sprint Cup car at Richard Childress Racing. Multiple sources have told FOXSports.com that Menard would drive the full Cup season at RCR, potentially in the #32 car, and pilot the #33 Chevy part-time in the Nationwide Series under the Kevin Harvick Inc. banner. When asked about his future Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Menard didn't deny he was considering his options. "We have to cover our bases," Menard said. "But we haven't done anything yet."(Fox Sports)(8-6-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

Budweiser to RCR?:

Latest on Budweiser to RCR: Sources tell [ESPN's Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol' boy, red label demographic. I'm told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February -- beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company's new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

And Marcos Ambrose became the 2nd person to ever win 3 races at Watkins Glen International in a row, matching 2-time Cup Series Champion Terry Labonte.

Also, despite all of the safety improvements Watkins Glen made last year, the drivers discovered one spot that the track has overlooked:

[bpratt]

And Marcos Ambrose became the 2nd person to ever win 3 races at Watkins Glen International in a row, matching 2-time Cup Series Champion Terry Labonte.

Also, despite all of the safety improvements Watkins Glen made last year, the drivers discovered one spot that the track has overlooked:

Well done Marcos on a three-peat.

Not actually seeing the telecast live, I am a bit unsure as to why they needed to go to a 'brown' flag  to stop the whole show, instead of simply running under pace car whilst the clean up is in process ???

[Mothers Worry]

Wow! Good one Marcos!

[bradk12fan]

Well done Marcos on a three-peat.

Not actually seeing the telecast live, I am a bit unsure as to why they needed to go to a 'brown' flag  to stop the whole show, instead of simply running under pace car whilst the clean up is in process ???

Well, the reason why they threw the  instead of the  is that in order to take the #34 car of Tony Raines off of the #6 car of Billy Johnson, they needed to use multiple tow trucks, and with this pile-up occurring at the entrance to the esses, it effectively blocked the track. Also, Justin Allgaier, who drove away from the crash, was leaking fluids all over the track.

[bpratt]

Not actually seeing the telecast live, I am a bit unsure as to why they needed to go to a 'brown' flag  to stop the whole show, instead of simply running under pace car whilst the clean up is in process ???

Well, the reason why they threw the  instead of the  is that in order to take the #34 car of Tony Raines off of the #6 car of Billy Johnson, they needed to use multiple tow trucks, and with this pile-up occurring at the entrance to the esses, it effectively blocked the track. Also, Justin Allgaier, who drove away from the crash, was leaking fluids all over the track.

Thanks for the additional details that the 5 seconds of highlights won't show you on TV.

[bradk12fan]

NASCAR takes lugnuts from #47 team? [NASCAR Insiders] heard NASCAR took a box of lugnuts from Marcos Ambrose's Nationwide Series team during the race. Word is that they were illegal in some way. Don't be surprised if the team is penalized this week. Don't expect NASCAR will take the win away however.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-9-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

A lot of news and rumors today in Nascar:

#15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra shutting down?

Billy Ballew Motorsports #15 temporarily suspends operations: A team representative for Billy Ballew Motorsports has informed us that due to lack of funding for the upcoming races at both Darlington and Bristol, the team has temporarily suspended operations. The #15-truck has been on track for every race since 2004, and the hope is to return to the track as soon as funding is found. The team is aggressively looking to put together sponsorship for as many races as possible for the remainder of the 2010 season, including working with Johanna Long as well as other drivers toward that effort. The goal for Billy Ballew Motorsports is to gain funding for the #15-truck and return following Bristol, while at the same time, keeping the focus on the #51-Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota, with driver Aric Almirola, as they pursue the 2010 Truck Series Championship.(Nancy/Jayski.com)(8-9-2010)

Kasey Kahne to Red Bull Racing in 2010?:

Kahne to Red Bull in 2011? Red Bull Racing has emerged as the likely place for Kasey Kahne in the 2011 Sprint Cup season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. Under a proposed arrangement, Kahne would drive one of Red Bull Racing's Toyota's next season as he waits to take over Hendrick's #5 Chevy in 2012, sources close to the situation confirmed Sunday. Mark Martin, as he has maintained since news of Kahne's signing by Hendrick became public in April, would drive the #5 next season, his last with Hendrick. Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing's general manager, would neither confirm nor deny his organization has been in discussions with Hendrick Motorsports to have Kahne drive a Red Bull car next season. Sources maintained that the deal to put Kahne at Red Bill has not been completed, but insisted that it is the most viable option for the 30-year-old driver from Enumclaw, Wash. An HMS spokesman declined to comment on the Kahne-to-Red Bill scenario after Sunday's race. Kahne's agent did not respond to a request for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(8-9-2010)

Robby Gordon splits from BAM Racing, sues:

RGM and BAM split: Hearing that the deal with Robby Gordon Motorsports and Beth Ann Morganthau / BAM Racing is no longer in place, and that RGM is in the process of taking legal action against BAM and former sponsor Warner Bros for lack of payment and breach of contract.(8-9-2010)

Casey Mears to replace Max Papis, Papis to run Truck Series full-time in 2011:

Mears replacing Papis? UPDATE: As for Casey Mears, a source close to his situation said that he likely will replace Max Papis in the Germain Racing #13 car no later than the Atlanta race at the end of the month. He will drive for the team, which has a half-season sponsorship from GEICO, in 2011 as well. The team, which has gone to every race this year but not run the full event at venues where it is unsponsored, needs sponsorship for 18 races in 2011.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)
UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has confirmed that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal will be completed and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. The car will "start and park" at both Michigan and Bristol with drivers TBA, before Mears takes over at Atlanta. He will also drive the car in the full 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Papis, meanwhile, will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable.(Sirius Speedway)(8-9-2010)

Kevin Conway's ride at Front Row Motorsports in Jeopardy?:

Conway's job in danger? DENIED; Kevin Conway's days might be numbered at Front Row Motorsports. It sounds like the team has grown tired of Conway's poor performance, and this group will struggle mightily to make races if the #34 falls out of the top 35 in owners points. They are currently 35th in the standings, only 182 points ahead of 36th. A few more bad finishes, and Conway will be on the outside looking in. To this point in the season, Conway has had a guaranteed starting position in every race, due to some fancy number wrangling by owner Bob Jenkins. With one team already outside the top 35 however, thanks to the tire debacle at Pocono earlier in the year, Jenkins can't afford to have another team fall out. Word is that Extenze would continue sponsoring the team, but another yet-to-be-named driver would be brought in.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-9-2010)
UPDATE: Comments from ExtenZe Racing regarding recent Internet rumors about Kevin Conway:"Contrary to some Internet reports out there that recently surfaced after the NASCAR race weekend concluded at Watkins Glen, ExtenZe and Alteril are 100% committed to Kevin Conway and the sport of NASCAR," said Robert Wilhovsky, Director of Motorsports Marketing. "While we are currently evaluating our options for 2011, Kevin Conway has been and will continue to be the foundation of our NASCAR program in the years ahead.(ExtenZe PR)(8-9-2010)

[bradk12fan]

It's not even 11:30 a.m. on the East Coast of the , and there's already a lot of news:

Official, Kasey Kahne to Red Bull Racing in 2010:

UPDATE 2 Kasey Kahne will drive a Red Bull Racing Team Toyota in 2011, the team announced. "We were fortunate to have the opportunity to hire a very talented driver for the 2011 season and we took it," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team Vice President and General Manager. "This is a unique situation that doesn't happen every day. Kasey is a perfect fit for our company, team and Red Bull." "This opportunity places me with an established, competitive team that has proven they can win races and make the Chase," Kahne said. "I have great respect for Red Bull, so to have the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011 is a great fit for me, both personally and professionally. It feels good to be able to finally put this to rest and focus my energy on finishing the season strong for the 9 team and our sponsors." "This obviously all happened very quickly," Frye added. "Over the next month, we will finalize the specific team details."(Red Bull Racing PR)(8-10-2010)
UPDATE 3: Statement from Rick Hendrick: "Kasey is going to a competitive organization that made the Chase last season and has great leadership and resources," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Of everything we looked at, he and I agree it's the best opportunity for him to be successful in 2011, which was always our number-one priority. The process went on longer than any of us anticipated, but I'm glad that we took our time to make sure it was right. And although I'm not looking forward to racing against him next year, I'm comfortable knowing this is the best situation for Kasey." As announced in April, veteran Mark Martin will continue to drive Hendrick Motorsports' #5 Chevys in 2011. "We're looking forward to another year with Mark Martin, one of the true class acts in racing, driving for Hendrick Motorsports," Hendrick said. "There aren't many things in this world I'd rather do than win a championship with him, and that will be our goal with the #5 team for the rest of this year and in 2011."(Hendrick PR)(8-10-2010)

Kansas Speedway gains a race:

Kansas announces two race dates for 2011: Kansas Speedway and International Speedway Corporation announced that NASCAR has approved ISC's request for realignment and beginning in 2011, Kansas Speedway will host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend will be held June 4-5 and the second event weekend will be the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Oct. 8-9.(Kansas Speedway)(8-10-2010)

Phoenix International Raceway announces 2011 race dates:

Phoenix announces 2011 race dates: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that the track has been awarded two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends in 2011, marking seven consecutive seasons for PIR to host a pair of nationally-televised event weekends featuring the brightest stars in NASCAR. Phoenix will maintain two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends in the face of widespread schedule realignment that saw multiple race dates moved amongst multiple facilities. As part of the NASCAR's schedule realignment, Phoenix International Raceway's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will move from April to February 27 - just one week after NASCAR's largest event, the Daytona 500. PIR will look to capitalize on the season-opening excitement of Daytona with a new Sunday day-race format, allowing fans to take in the 500 km race in Phoenix with a more traditional local start time of 1 p.m. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will be televised nationally on FOX. Phoenix will continue to host the semi-final race in NASCAR's playoffs - the Chase for the Sprint Cup - on November 13. The Kobalt Tools 500, a race in which fans have come to expect heavy championship implications, also starts at 1 p.m. locally and will be televised nationally on ESPN. NASCAR will conclude its season the following week at Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida.(PIR)(8-10-2010)

Auto Club Speedway (California) will lose 1 race:

Auto Club Speedway will have one race for 2011: Auto Club Speedway will host one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend - March 25-27 - returning to its traditional spot on the schedule beginning in 2011. Speedway officials also continue to work in earnest to add events to the Speedway's race schedule in an effort to diversify on-track activity for the 2011 year. "Moving our Auto Club 500 event from February to March provides us the opportunity to show off the area's beautiful 'Chamber of Commerce' weather," said Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker. "Our staff and the thousands of Southern California loyal race fans look forward to the return of NASCAR's most talented drivers in both the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series as well as Southern California's own four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.(ACS)(8-10-2010)

2011 Chase to begin in Chicago:

Chicago to host first Chase race in 2011: Chicagoland Speedway will celebrate its 10th year of operation in undisputed style  square in the national media spotlight as the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Chicagoland Speedway's NASCAR weekend, historically held in early July, will now take place in the fall  Sept. 16-18, 2011. The move places Chicago front and center as the world's best drivers compete for the most coveted championship in professional motorsports. Next year also marks the return of Pole Day, the qualifying day popular among families with young children. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday of race weekend. The Nationwide Series will compete on Saturday, with the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup during the day scheduled on Sunday.(Chicagoland PR)(8-9-2010)

[bradk12fan]

David Stremme quits Latitude 43 Motorsports:

Stremme leaves #26 team: David Stremme has quit his ride with Latitude 43 Motorsports, alleging that team owner Bill Jenkins has failed to meet his financial obligations and is doing little to help the team improve. We've been trying to put that program together," said Stremme. "We always had to do more with less, but in the last month and a half, ownership hasn't really wanted to make things better. Bill Jenkins has not been willing to make the correct decisions, and it has affected the performance of the team. We've barely been making it to track the last few weeks. At Pocono, we didn't even know if we were going to have tires to race on. "I went to Bill and said `If things aren't going to change, I don't think I want to stay involved.' We discussed a timeline for him to find another driver and agreed that we would look at things again after Bristol. But he immediately started calling around trying to replace me. He apparently wanted to find someone else right now, and that's fine. It's his choice." Jenkins admitted his first-year team has struggled to find sponsorship this season, saying, "We are in a funding fight every day, and we haven't been able to fund the team at the level David expected. We've had some good things happen, and some bad things. We had to pull a sponsor off the car two weeks ago (GTW GPS) after a conflict emerged between their products and Sprint. We were counting on them to help get us over the hump, but those are the bumps in the road that you hit." Last week, former Latitude 43 Motorsports driver Boris Said revealed that he is unhappy with the way he was treated by Jenkins. "There's no real polite way to say this, but Bill Jenkins owes me a bunch of money," he said. Asked if he expects to have any relationship with the team going forward, Said replied, "(Jenkins) hasn't returned my phone calls, so I guess not. It's a bad deal for me." Asked if he is owed money by Latitude 43, Stremme said, "There are obligations to both me and the team that have not been met, and that was a big part of my decision to leave. I don't want to be involved with something like that. I dealt with (Jenkins) with respect, and was straightforward with him at all times. I didn't get that in return."(Sirius Speedway)(8-10-2010)

[bradk12fan]

Kentucky Speedway finally receives a Cup race:

Kentucky Speedway to host Cup race: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith announced that Kentucky Speedway will play host to its inaugural 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 9, 2011. The Sparta, Ky., venue will become the 23rd motorsports facility on the 36-race Sprint Cup Series schedule and the first facility to be added to the national tour since Chicagoland Speedway made its debut July 15, 2001 and Kansas Speedway staged its first series race on Sept. 29, 2001.(Kentucky PR)(8-10-2010)

DRM & Aramendia part ways:

DRM & Aramendia part ways: Daisy Ramirez Motorsports has mutually agreed to part ways with Driver Joe Aramendia the Texas short track ace. DRM locked in the top 25 in points is evaluating driver options for the upcoming events at Darlington and Bristol and beyond. Part time DRM driver Carl Long is attempting the COT Nationwide race at Michigan.(Daisy Ramirez Motorsports)(8-10-2010)

I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that Aramendia purposely crashed #12 Mario Gosslin, who was on the lead lap, when he (Aramendia) was 4 laps down 

[bradk12fan]

It's official, Menard to RCR:

Menard moving to Richard Childress Racing: Richard Childress Racing and Menards, the third-largest home improvement company in the United States, have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR's fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard. "Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR. Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We're also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history." Further announcements about the program will be forthcoming.(RCR)(8-11-2010)