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Front Row Motorsports driver John Andretti, who sees his No. 34 team locked into the Top 35, after it bought the Chip Ganassi’s No. 41 owner’s points from last season, says that the team plans to run the entire Sprint Cup schedule, though he will miss two races in May because of the Indy 500. No replacement driver has been named.
On the flipside of the equation sits Roush Fenway Racing, which will be forced to downsize from five to four teams after this season. A published report this week states that the team that may have to go is the No. 26 of driver Jamie McMurray.
Though no corroborating statements were in that report, McMurray’s team has under-performed since his arrival in 2006 and was rumored to be the odd one out last season. Roush Fenway drivers have not had much to add, when asked about the situation, though No. 6 driver David Ragan did say in Atlanta that the likely solution would be a switch of owners on paper, which means that nothing would really change. A likely scenario has Roush Fenway satellite team Yates Racing absorbing one of the teams, meaning it will move locations, but have similar equipment.
France steps down as ISC CEO
Jim France, only the third ever CEO in the 50-plus year history of International Speedway Corporation, is stepping down effective June 1. His niece Lesa France Kennedy, brother of NASCAR chairman Brian France and current ISC president, will succeed him. Jim France is the son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and brother of his successor, Bill France Jr. The Frances Sr. and Jr. were the first two ISC CEOs. Jim France will remain the chairman of ISC’s board and ISC executive vice president John Saunders will replace Kennedy as ISC president. ISC reported significantly lower profits for the first quarter of 2009, but the cause of France’s stepping down has not been published.
Morgan-McClure to make return at Talladega
Longtime NASCAR team Morgan-McClure Motorsports will try and make a triumphant return at Talladega Superspeedway later this month. MMM officials announced this week that Eric McClure, son of owner Larry McClure, will attempt the race in the No. 4 Chevy. Hefty, a longtime Eric McClure sponsor, and WalMart will sponsor the entry. MMM suspended operations before the beginning of last season, because of a lack of sponsorship. The last time the No. 4 was on the track was a qualifying attempt made for the 2007 race at Homestead, where Todd Bodine missed the show. Ward Burton piloted the entry for most of the season, failing to qualify for more than half of the races. Larry McClure soon found himself in tax trouble with the Federal Government, adding to the organizations memories. Over a span of 25 NASCAR seasons, MMM amassed 14 wins and even won back to back Daytona 500s in 1994 and 1995 with Sterling Marlin. The team has won four times at Talladega – twice with Marlin and twice with Ernie Irvan.
RWR may go Cup racing next season
Add Rusty Wallace Racing may be moving its operations up a rung beginning next season, according to owner Rusty Wallace. Wallace says that he is considering moving his team to the Sprint Cup Series if all the right pieces are put into place. Wallace added earlier this week that his team would have to have an alliance with a current Cup team, if it was going to make the jump. Currently, RWR receives engines from Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies and Wallace says he has been in discussions with Childress already about Cup support. Wallace also adds that his plan, if he is going to promote his operation, is to have both Nationwide Series drivers Brendan Gaughan and son, Steven Wallace, move to Cup, as well. Neither driver has won before in the Nationwide Series.
Entry lists look different for Cup and Nationwide in Phoenix this week
Several different teams are attempting Saturday’s Cup race in Phoenix, likely because the series is running in its first race at a track less than 1.5 miles long at west this season. Brandon Ash in the No. 02 Dodge and Trevor Boys in the No. 06 Dodge will drive self-owned entries and are making their first attempts of the season. Black Jack Racing and the No. 51 Dodge with driver Dexter Bean, 0 for 3 in attempts this season, try for the fourth time in Phoenix. Sterling Marlin suits up in the No. 09 Dodge this week with Phoenix Racing and Tony Raines returns to the Cup Series, though attempting the race with a different team, the No. 73 Dodge, owned by Barry Haefele. Other teams that have been running the full schedule but are outside the Top 35 remain on-track in Phoenix. The No. 78 of Furniture Row Racing and driver Regan Smith are also attempting their fourth race of the year – they have made all four. One team noticeably absent is the No. 8 EGR Chevy and driver Aric Almirola, which is on hiatus until sponsorship can be found.
In the Nationwide Series, Mark Green returns to JD Motorsports’ No. 0 Chevy, but the big story is Austin Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, making his first start of the season. He will pilot the No. 2 unsponsored RCR Chevy. Dave Blaney, PRISM Motorsports’ Cup driver, will drive the team’s Nationwide Series No. 90 entry in place of regular driver Johnny Chapman. John Borneman III is bringing his self-owned No. 83 Ford to Phoenix and Paul Menard attempts his 2nd race of the year in the No. 98 Yates Racing Ford. Daryl Harr drives for Rick Ware Racing this week in the No. 31 Chevy.
Ragan and Townley run decently in Nashville; Butler sees bad break
Music City was good to Unadilla’s David Ragan, who kept his No. 6 Discount Tire Ford in contention for much of Saturday’s Nationwide Series race in Nashville. He finished 7th and sits 3rd in points, though he does not plan on running the full schedule.
John Wes Townley kept his No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford on the lead lap and finished 18th in the Nashville 300, but he still sits outside the Top 30 in owner’s points, meaning he will have to time his way into Friday night’s race in Phoenix.
Ken Butler III ran into some troubles, mainly the wall, during last week’s race, sending the No. 23 Aaron’s Chevy to a disappointing 37th place finish. He is splitting time with Robert Richardson in the car, but remains in the driver’s seat this week.
Listen to Doug on Captain Herb Emory’s racing show, The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120, this Saturday from 2-4 p.m. on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online at wsbradio.com. You can also hear Doug as a pit road reporter for the Georgia Asphalt Series. Listen live at 8 p.m. Friday at lanierspeedway.com/gas.html.
