NASCAR: General News and Discussion

[bradk12fan]

Owen Kelly finished 5th in his NASCAR debut with Baker-Curb Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.

Wow! Impressive.........

I think that he would've easily finished 2nd if there were 2 or 3 more laps. Carl Edwards, not only won, but dominated the race, his car was about 3 seconds faster than the rest of the field for the majority of the race.

[bradk12fan]

Owen Kelly finished 5th in his NASCAR debut with Baker-Curb Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.

Wow! Impressive.........

I think that he would've easily finished 2nd if there were 2 or 3 more laps. Carl Edwards, not only won, but dominated the race, his car was about 3 seconds faster than the rest of the field for the majority of the race.

And I forgot to mention this earlier, but, I also have to say that Owen Kelly's pit crew did one hell of a job. The crew chief was not only calling the shots, but was also playing the role of the jackman, and going over the wall and jacking up the car.

[bradk12fan]

Ambrose to run Montreal race again: Marcos Ambrose, whose disappointments at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve have been well chronicled, will try once again to win the Nationwide Series race on the road course in Montreal this year. Ambrose will drive a #47 JTG Daugherty Racing car Aug. 28-29 in the NAPA Auto Parts 200. (Scene Daily)(7-4-2010)

from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/nationwide/news/story?id=5398731

I don't know how many of you watch the lower-tier Nationwide and Truck Series, or how often, but for those of you who do, you know about the issue of Cup drivers coming down and running in the Nationwide series either full/part-time schedules, in which only 1 Nationwide regular, Justin Allgaier, has won a race this season. In an article on www.espn.com they interviewed several drivers regarding this very issue. Here's what Sprint Cup Series regular, and the winner of the most races in the Cup Series in 2008, Carl Edwards, had to say:

Edwards said he began running Nationwide races when he was driving in the truck series, and now considers himself a Nationwide driver going for sponsorship deals in the Cup series.

In my opinion, it feels like Carl was putting Jack Roush (his team owner), and Aflac (his sponsor for all but 2 of the races in the Cup Series this year), Claritan (sp?) (his sponsor for the other 2 races), and Ford Racing down. I don't see how he's racing for sponsorship in the Cup Series where in 2008, they signed a 4-year deal (starting in 2009) with Aflac to sponsor his car. I'm surprised that this comment actually hasn't been mentioned by many people anywhere....

What do you think about it?

[SLE355]

Sounds like Edwards trying to come up with an answer that no one can really argue with.

It does keep his name in the spotlight when you consider he's hardly been in contention in the Cup series this year.

[bradk12fan]

Well, Nascar's 'Silly Season' is ramping up with rumors about everything from schedule changes next year, to a change in the Chase format, to who will be driving where, so I guess it was a matter of time until rumors started about who Marcos Ambrose will be driving for next season:

Other teams interested in Ambrose? At least two rival team owners are taking a look at #47-Marcos Ambrose for 2011, if the always-smiling Aussie/Tasmanian racer decides to move on. Ambrose' 2009 rookie NASCAR season was so spectacular, with several near-wins. But he has struggled through the past few months, to put it mildly. And that lost victory at Sonoma last month was all the more biting.MikeMulhern.net)(7-26-2010)

from Jayski.com

Among the teams that I've heard that might be vying for Marcos are Red Bull Racing (as a possible replacement for Brian Vickers if he can't return, or in a 3rd car), and Richard Petty Motorsports which is trying to resign 2 of it's 4 drivers (Kasey Kahne already announced that he won't return next year, and Elliott Sadler said that he most likely will not return next year either)

Also, in the rumor mill earlier this year were rumors of Nascar setting of racing series in more foreign countries (currently has racing series in the US, Canada, and Mexico). The countries involved in the rumors are England, France, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and Australia. Another rumor involved Nascar running some of it's Cup Series races overseas, in countries like Australia, England, and Japan. Whether or not any of these rumors are true, I don't know, but the last time rumors like this started springing up, Nascar Mexico was created, and Nascar bought out Cascar (Canada's version of Nascar).

[SLE355]

from Jayski.com

Among the teams that I've heard that might be vying for Marcos are Red Bull Racing (as a possible replacement for Brian Vickers if he can't return, or in a 3rd car), and Richard Petty Motorsports which is trying to resign 2 of it's 4 drivers (Kasey Kahne already announced that he won't return next year, and Elliott Sadler said that he most likely will not return next year either)

 Another rumor involved Nascar running some of it's Cup Series races overseas, in countries like Australia, England, and Japan. Whether or not any of these rumors are true, I don't know, but the last time rumors like this started springing up, Nascar Mexico was created, and Nascar bought out Cascar (Canada's version of Nascar).

Would be interesting to see if he would go elsewhere. RPM might be a good option? MWR have been getting better though.

My dream come true, Sprint Cup race at the Thunderdome, farrrrrrrk!!!!!!!!!!

[bradk12fan]

Robby Gordon Motorsports apparently is also vying for Marcos Ambrose, and his sponsors have said that they would follow Ambrose where ever he goes

[bradk12fan]

Well, it's official, after 5 years, and 2 Nationwide Series victories at Watkins Glen International Speedway, Marcos Ambrose and JTG-Daugherty Racing have agreed to part ways at the end of the 2010 season.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/07/27/mambrose.jtg.daugherty.part.ways/index.html

[Muzza]

Say's he hasn't ruled out coming back to Aus

[Mothers Worry]

Say's he hasn't ruled out coming back to Aus

Dang. I wonder if he will end up back in V8SC?

[bradk12fan]

From what I heard, Marcos Ambrose is most likely going to replace Kasey Kahne (who's going to Hendrick Motorsports) in the #9 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports next year, and that the deal might be announced as soon as tomorrow.

[SLE355]

From what I heard, Marcos Ambrose is most likely going to replace Kasey Kahne (who's going to Hendrick Motorsports) in the #9 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports next year, and that the deal might be announced as soon as tomorrow.

Damn i was in shock when i read he was leaving this morning! I hope your right about him going to RPM, that would be awesome. Where do you get this info??

[Mothers Worry]

Brad mate; thanks for the updates. You really are Mr. NASCAR around here at AMF.

Our US of A source rocks!

[bradk12fan]

Brad mate; thanks for the updates. You really are Mr. NASCAR around here at AMF.

Our US of A source rocks!

No problem, and I guess it doesn't hurt that I live about 2 miles from several teams, , and that I know certain people since I used to race Legend cars, banderlaros, and go-karts (I'm taking a long break from racing for college).

[bradk12fan]

Ok, it looks like Marcos will end up in one of 2 places:

UPDATE Ambrose to the #9?: Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Marcos Ambrose will replace Kasey Kahne in the #9 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports next season. Ambrose said he has no "Plan B" in place for 2011 and could even return to his native Australia if another Sprint Cup opportunity does not surface. Highly placed sources tell Sirius Speedway that a deal with RPM is "95% done," though there is no definitive word on who might sponsor the effort. Ford Racing Marketing Manager Tim Duerr declined to comment specifically on the report today, but said the automaker has longstanding ties with Ambrose. "Marcos started with Ford and Ford brought him to NASCAR," said Duerr. "He bleeds Ford blue, and we would love to see him back in a Ford next season. I don't think that Marcos has a signed Sprint Cup ride for next season at present. It all depends on him, a sponsor and a team putting something together, but I am optimistic that we will see Marcos back in a Ford next season." A spokesman for Richard Petty Motorsports declined to comment today, calling the report "speculation."(Sirius Speedway)(7-28-2010)

And that the 2000 Nascar Winston Cup Series Champion, Bobby Labonte is the leading candidate to replace Marcos Ambrose in the #47 Toyota for JTG Daugherty Racing:

Labonte to the #47?: Bobby Labonte is the leading candidate to drive the #47 Toyota for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2011, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday. JTG Daugherty Racing will be the sixth team in four years for Labonte, who left Petty Enterprises after the 2008 season. In 2009, he drove for Hall of Fame Racing in a #96 Ford fielded by Yates Racing for much of the year but found himself out of a ride late in the season. He drove the remaining races for #71 TRG Motorsports and started 2010 with that organization. He left that seat in June when the team began having to park early in events because of a lack of funding. He has driven for Robby Gordon Motorsports and Phoenix Racing in the months since then and will be back in a TRG car this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The 2000 Cup champion, Labonte has 602 career Cup starts with 21 victories. The 46-year-old Labonte will replace Marcos Ambrose, who announced Tuesday he was parting ways with the team after the 2010 season. A Bobby Labonte spokesman declined to comment.(SceneDaily)(7-28-2010)

both are from Jayski.com

[bradk12fan]

Ok, and update from earlier, JTG Daugherty Racing has officially announced that past champion Bobby Labonte will take over the #47 Toyota full-time in 2011:

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/07/28/blabonte.jtg.daugherty.racing/index.html

[Muzza]

Brad,

This is how far out of touch our reporters are here in Aus when it comes to Motorsport; This morning's radio (2GB bout 5am) was saying that he is coming back to the V8SC's......

I rather think your report is far more accurate when it comes to this...just goes to show the kind of stuff we have to put up with.

[bradk12fan]

Brad,

This is how far out of touch our reporters are here in Aus when it comes to Motorsport; This morning's radio (2GB bout 5am) was saying that he is coming back to the V8SC's......

I rather think your report is far more accurate when it comes to this...just goes to show the kind of stuff we have to put up with.

Uh huh, sometimes I wonder if reporters actually listen to everything you're saying, instead of hearing what they want to hear.

Marcos did say that he wasn't ruling out a return to V8SCs in Australia, but he is looking at 3 different teams in NASCAR 1st, primarily Richard Petty Motorsports, but he currently has no Plan B.

[Muzza]

Uh huh, sometimes I wonder if reporters actually listen to everything you're saying, instead of hearing what they want to hear.

Two words, Nail and Head