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Jack Roush to visit Richard Petty Motorsports, Erik Darnell could be without a ride in 2010, Phantom caution issue raised by Kahne… read about this and more in today’s Stock Car Gazette.
And now for something completely different… I wonder why we don’t say “Wednesday” as it’s spelled? It would come out “Wed-nes-day”, instead of “Winds-day”. That’s just another one of those peculiarities of the English language, I suppose. |
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T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E
by MotorSportsNews.Net
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E d i t o r ‘ s * N o t e s
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I wonder why we don’t say “Wednesday” as it’s spelled? It would come out “Wed-nes-day”, instead of “Winds-day”. That’s just another one of those peculiarities of the English language, I suppose.
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Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!
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TV Times – Mark Martin as Cup Champion Would Be A Storybook Ending to 2009
by Lou Modestino
Jimmy Johnson rebounded to take the Chase To The Cup point lead following his win at Fontana. Read more at motorsportsnews.net/archives/4147
More at motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/tv-times
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N A S C A R * S P R I N T * C U P * S E R I E S
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The NASCAR Banking 500 takes the green flag Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ABC TV with radio coverage provided by Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Ch. 128. Qualifying is slated for Thursday, October 15 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 with radio coverage on PRN Radio and Sirius XM Radio Ch. 128.
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Courtesy of Insider Racing News
Gordon’s Crew Best On Pit Road
Jeff Gordon’s crew took top honors in Sunday’s (Oct. 11) NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Fontana, Calif., claiming the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award, which pays $5,000 each week to the winning team. It was the fourth Tissot win of the season for the No. 24 crew, which moved into sole possession of second place in the pit road standings. Gordon’s DuPont Chevy Impala SS spent the least amount of time on pit road at Auto Club Speedway (295.170 seconds). The outstanding effort lifted Gordon to a second-place finish in the Pepsi 500.
Grubb Named Best Crew Chief
Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy driven by Tony Stewart, has, for the second week in a row and the fourth time this year, been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. After running up front most of the day, Stewart was caught speeding down pit road with less than 100 laps to go, causing him to go a lap down. A debris caution on lap 186 allowed Stewart to stay out, putting him back on the lead lap in 24th. While the race leaders came in with 25 laps to go, Grubb chose to keep his driver out in an effort to gain track position. With Steward in the lead, Grubb called him to pit road on lap 234 for service. Stewart fought to work his way back into the top-10, eventually finishing fifth.
Crowd Estimates Vary Greatly
Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker brushed off attendance concerns and praised the quality of racing at her track during an open interview session at Sunday’s Pepsi 500. The interview, which took place before the race was complete, touched on several topics, including what appeared to be a sparse crowd. Zucker declined to speculate on the number of fans in attendance for the facility’s first race ever in the Chase For The Sprint Cup but acknowledged the track expected its numbers to be “pretty flat” from the Labor Day weekend race last year. — “I leave [the estimates] in your hands,” Zucker said, referring to the group of reporters surrounding her. “You guys always do a pretty good job with estimates. I know you will all call me crazy…, but underneath the grandstands is packed; the fan zone is packed – there are a ton of people here. All of our lower-level seats are sold out. Anyone who called to try to purchase a seat knows that.” — NASCAR’s official estimate was 70,000, though most media estimates were between 45,000-60,000.
Overnight Ratings 3.0
ABC’s broadcast of Sunday’s Pepsi 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Auto Club Speedway in California earned a 3.0 overnight Nielsen Media Research rating from the nation’s largest television markets, Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reports. The figure isn’t directly comparable a 2008 event since the Cup series raced at Charlotte on the same weekend last year, earning a 3.5 overnight rating, but it was the highest overnight rating for any of the first four races this season in the Chase For The Sprint Cup. ABC had earned 2.5 overnight for the Chase kickoff in New Hampshire, 2.7 for Dover and 2.6 for Kansas. Auto Club Speedway was hosting a Chase race for the first time by virtue of a date swap with Atlanta.
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Courtesy of Jayski
LMS Rookie Notes/Facts: #20-Joey Logano was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the October 11 Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. Logano posted a 14th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the 21st time this season. Logano leads #82-Scott Speed by 23 points (219-196) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the October 17 NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Kasey Kahne holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos Rookie in the NASCAR Banking 500 (since 1975). Kahne led the 2004 race four times for 207 of the 334 laps. Since 1975, only two Raybestos Rookies have won pole positions for the fall race at Charlotte: Jeff Gordon (1993) and Ward Burton (1994). Since 1975, only two Raybestos Rookies have scored a top-five finish in the fall race at Charlotte: Ron Bouchard (fifth in 1981) and Jeff Gordon (fifth in 1993). The most recent Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Patrick Carpentier. Carpentier captured the top starting spot for the 2008 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (50 races). Denny Hamlin holds the record for most earnings by a Raybestos Rookie ($6.6 million in 2006).(Camp & Assoc./Raybestos)
Sad News – ‘Big Jim’ Makar: Jim Makar passed away Tuesday, October 13th. ‘Big Jim’ is the father of Jimmy Makar, 2000 Sprint Cup Champion Crew Chief [Bobby Labonte at Joe Gibbs Racing where Jimmy still works] and one-time landlord for Jayski [in 2004]. Makar also owned cars that raced in nine then Winston Cup races in 1977-1978, including Morgan Shepherd, who posted a finish of 10th at Dover in May 1977. Condolences to family and friends and wife Marilyn.(10-14-2009)
Roush to visit RPM: Jack Roush is scheduled to take a tour of the Richard Petty Motorsports facility on Wednesday. Other managers from Roush Fenway Racing will join Rosuh on the tour of the Statesville, N.C., shop. There have been ongoing talks since before September of a merger between Yates Racing, a sister organization of Roush Fenway, and RPM. Regardless of whether RPM merges with Yates, majority team owner George Gillett has said his team will be running Fords in 2010. Given that Roush is the principal supplier of Ford engines, RPM will be working directly with RFR in one form or another.(FoxSports), see an image of a real #9 Budweiser Ford for 2010 on my #9 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2009)
jayski.com/schemes/2010/9cup.htm
NASCAR’s First Father-Daughter Duo To Compete At Talladega: For the first time in NASCAR’s history, a father-daughter duo will race in a national series event. Mike Wallace and his 21-year-old daughter, Chrissy Wallace, are slated to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 31. Mike Wallace will pilot the #48 Chevy for Andy Hillenburg. He has 113 series starts with four wins and finished fifth last season in the NCWTS race at Talladega. Chrissy will be behind the wheel of an entry for Rick Ware Racing. She is without a guaranteed starting position in the field and must earn a spot in qualifying. The younger Wallace made her series debut at Martinsville Speedway in 2008. She finished ninth in the ARCA Re/MAX Series race at Talladega last year. Though this will mark the first time for a father-daughter duo, father-son combinations have appeared across NASCAR’s national racing series all throughout its 61-year history. Lee and Richard Petty; Richard and Kyle Petty; Bobby and Davey Allison; Buck and Buddy Baker; Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are just a few. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Mike and Dustin Skinner, the late Bobby Hamilton and Bobby Hamilton Jr., and Ron Hornaday Jr. and Ronnie Hornaday have raced each other.(NASCAR)(10-14-2009)
Transformers scheme for Gordon: In Saturday night’s NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon will drive a specially painted #24 DuPont Chevy promoting the October 20 debut of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on DVD and Blu-ray. Megatron, the malevolent leader of the Decepticons, will be featured on the Hendrick Motorsports Impala SS.(HMS), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2009)
jayski.com/schemes/2009/24cup.htm
Darnell could be without a ride in 2010; Roush leaves Trucks: 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 #96 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.” Darnell has two victories in the Truck series with the team after winning the competition known as “Driver X: Race for the Ride” that was broadcast on the Discovery Channel. He has two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 13 Nationwide starts this year. “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)
AND In moving Colin Braun into the Nationwide Series with sponsor Con-way, Roush Fenway won’t have a presence in the Camping World Truck Series next season. Roush said the circuit was worthwhile but not cost effective because of manufacturer involvement.(USA Today)(10-14-2009)
Roush doesn’t think Danica’s part time plan will work: Roush Fenway Racing offered Danica Patrick, whose introduction to NASCAR was a Ford Racing test several years ago, an opportunity to run NASCAR when her Indy Racing League contract was up three years ago and have entertained her as a guest at Sprint Cup races. But co-owner Jack Roush isn’t interested in Patrick if she remains in IndyCar which apparently is a condition for any NASCAR team interested in signing her. “She’d like to drive her IRL car and on off weekends come drive a Nationwide or Sprint (Cup) car, and that’s not going to work,” Roush said Tuesday at RFR headquarters. “Those of us who understand how difficult this business is know that. This is really, really, really, really hard to do. She may be able to do it or she may not. I hope that she can, but she certainly won’t be able to do it with distractions or a minimized effort. If she wants to do this, she’d need to come in with all her heart and soul and commitment and make that determination of what was possible. I’m not sure it’s possible. It’s potentially possible, but I’m stopped short of saying it’s likely that she can do this, based on what she’s done. She’s talked to us a couple of different times, and there was no timetable on getting back to us. I told her if she wanted to do this, she should do a Nationwide or truck program first with great enthusiasm and then she should reconsider and take stock of things and decide what the timetable should be for a full Cup program. As long as she’s got an interest in running the IRL with priority in her schedule, she doesn’t have the time for a concerted effort. And without that, she will not be successful.”(USA Today)(10-14-2009)
ESPNews to air NASCAR Hall of Fame announcement: ESPNEWS will have live coverage on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 4:00pm/et as the first five inductees into the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are announced. NASCAR Chairman Brian France will reveal the names of the first five in a news conference at the Charlotte Convention Center adjacent to the site of the under-construction Hall of Fame. NASCAR Now host Mike Massaro will host the telecast with ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty. Following the news conference, more reports and analysis of the announcement will air on NASCAR Now at 5:00pm/et on ESPN2.(10-13-2009)
Testing at the Rock: Some Sprint Cup tested at Rockingham Speedway’s Little Rock Tuesday, including: #33-Clint Boyer, #29-Kevin Harvick, #2-Kurt Busch, #12-David Stremme, #77-Sam Hornish, #96-Bobby Labonte, #98-Paul Menard, #6-David Ragan, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #26-Jamie McMurry, #16-Greg Biffle and some other drivers. Testing on the “Big Rock” one mile track was the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ddoge with unknown driver and two Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide cars driven by Ricky Stenhouse, Jr and Colin Baun.(10-13-2009)
Bliss returns to the #71: Mike Bliss and TRG Motorsports are ready to tackle the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to be run Saturday night, October 17. Bliss will pilot the TRG Motorsports #71 TaxSlayer.com Chevy for the second time this season, the first was at Richmond [in Sept, started and finished]. Bliss qualified seventh [in the #09 Dodge] at Lowe’s in the May race and won the Nationwide event on the same weekend. “We will be running the same car that we ran last weekend at California,” TRG Motorsports team principal Kevin Buckler said. “That is a good thing. The car was fast in California and the guys had a good setup on it, even though we could not afford to run the complete race. We did have the opportunity to prove the setup which we hope will be a key to first qualifying strong and then running good in the race. Once again we will have a strong contingent of TaxSlayer.com folks at the track and we hope to give them a good showing.”(TRG Motorsports)(10-13-2009)
Phantom caution issue raised by Kahne: The [phantom debris] issue has come roaring back behind #9-Kasey Kahne’s accusation that NASCAR threw a bogus caution Sunday to bunch up the field and avoid a boring runaway win by Jimmie Johnson at Auto Club Speedway. Kahne was likely headed to a top-10 finish when he was wrecked on a restart with 12 laps to go. Kurt Busch started the accident when he bounced off the wall and into Kahne. The contact sent Kahne into Greg Biffle, and both cars spun through the grass with enough damage to ruin their race. “It’s disappointing that we had a bad race because of a caution to put a show on for the fans. That’s a good part of the sport – we have to keep the fans excited – but sometimes it ruins people’s days,” said Kahne. There’s one small problem with Kahne’s contention. There was clearly debris on the track. “There was debris on the track, it was talked about on the (NASCAR) radio, it was identified as something being there and the caution was thrown,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Monday. And if NASCAR had been wrong, and there was nothing on the track? Oh well. “NASCAR is always going to put the safety of the competitors first, and when it comes to identifying something on the track, we’re always going to err on the side of caution,” Poston said. And that’s what will forever keep this issue alive. Because sometimes there may not be debris on the track, competitors and fans will always form their own opinions on NASCAR’s intent at the time of the caution.(Associated Press)(10-13-2009)
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Courtesy of Racin’ Today
Pedley: First Hall Vote To Be Relatively Painless – www.racintoday.com/archives/10997
Gossage Is Back But With New Priorities – www.racintoday.com/archives/11007
Woody: Is Happy Hour Coming To An End In NASCAR? – www.racintoday.com/archives/11024
Woody: This Earnhardt Jr. Thing Is A Head-Scratcher – www.racintoday.com/archives/10989
Ingram: NASCAR Realizes It’s A Fiddle, Not A Violin – www.racintoday.com/archives/10958
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Courtesy of www.Valvoline.com
Yes, He REALLY Said That
Denny Hamlin, on his hopes for a Chase championship. “The winds have slowed down a little bit. It’s no longer a hurricane, it’s just a tropical storm right now.”
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P R E S S * R E L E A S E S
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AUTOGRAPH SESSION: Ryan Newman will be on-site at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday from 1:15 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Hungry-Man display located outside the frontstretch of the speedway signing autographs. Stop by for a Hungry-Man sampling and a Newman autograph.
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Jeff Burton to Make 850th Career NASCAR Start at Charlotte
WELCOME, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2009) – Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton will reach another career milestone when he makes his 850th career NASCAR start in Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, driving the No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Impala SS.
Since his NASCAR debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on March 13, 1988, Burton has made 541 Sprint Cup Series starts, 304 Nationwide Series starts and four Camping World Truck Series starts. He will tie Bill Elliott with 850 NASCAR starts for 11th on the all-time NASCAR starts list, trailing Kyle Petty in 10th with 885 collective starts. Two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway, the South Boston, Va., native became the 26th driver to make 540 starts in NASCAR’s premier division and is one of only 12 drivers to have competed in 300-plus Nationwide Series events.
“It’s hard to imagine I’ll be making my 850th NASCAR start,” stated Burton. “I’m not one to count how many starts I have made but I can certainly say that I have a lot more starts in my future. Competing in NASCAR’s top levels of racing is something I have dreamed of since I was five years old. Thirty-seven years later, I still have a passion for what I do and I look forward to capturing more trophies and, hopefully, a championship along the way.”
Burton, who pilots the No. 31 Caterpillar Impala SS in the Sprint Cup Series, has captured 21 victories in NASCAR’s senior circuit that ties him with Bobby Labonte, Benny Parsons and Jack Smith for 28th on the all-time series wins list. He is also tied with Kyle Busch for fourth on the Nationwide Series all-time wins list with 27.
Over the course of 849 NASCAR starts, the 2007 NASCAR Illustrated Person of the Year has accumulated 48 wins, 17 poles, 209 top-five and 372 top-10 finishes. Additionally, he helped capture RCR’s 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner’s championship and has finished in the top 10 of the Sprint Cup Series point standings in eight of the 15 years he has run the series full time.
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Labonte Told to Watch His Bumper at Lowe’s Motor Speedway
When NASCAR comes home to Charlotte on Oct. 17 for the NASCAR Banking 500, Bobby Labonte will have more people on his tail than any other driver on the track – literally. More than 13,000 names of people affected by breast cancer will be featured on the rear of Labonte’s pink No. 96 as part of a breast cancer awareness program with his sponsor Ask.com. The search engine transformed its homepage into a one-day memorial for those affected by breast cancer on Oct. 1 to celebrate the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its national partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cureâ. Each Tribute made that day will be incorporated into the #96 paint scheme.
Labonte, who will sport a firesuit and helmet inspired by the pink colors of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, appreciated his sponsors’ efforts.
“It’s great that a company like Ask.com is using their presence to get the word out about breast cancer,” said Labonte. “I’m happy to represent a company that aligns itself with worthy causes like Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ask.com did a great job allowing people a way to honor and remember loved ones affected by breast cancer because it does affect everyone.”
Ask.com, the Official Search Engine of NASCAR, recently announced a national multi-faceted partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure which included a pledge to invest $1 million to the organization. Throughout October, race fans can continue to participate in the Ask.com Search for the Cure program at www.Ask.com/cure. By downloading the special Komen search “skin” and answering questions about breast health, Ask.com will continue to make donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on behalf of users.
Other drivers with breast cancer awareness paint schemes include Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch and Bill Elliott.
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Meet the Driver … Clint Bowyer will sign autographs at the Cheerios/Hamburger Helper souvenir trailer located in Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s display area on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis early that morning and will be limited in number due to time constraints.
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N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S
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The Dollar General 300 will be televised live on ESPN2 on Friday, October 16 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast on PRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 31st event of the 2009 NNS season will air on the same day beginning at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. PRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast live updates of time trials.
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Courtesy of www.FrontStretch.com
Today’s Top News
by Phil Allaway
Ford Unveils Nationwide COT Mustang
On Tuesday, Ford’s new CoT race car for the Nationwide Series was officially shown to the public for the first time at Roush Fenway Racing headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. The Mustang CoT will be run at four Nationwide races in the 2010 season, starting at Daytona in July. The other tracks that the car will race at include Richmond, Charlotte (the two tracks at which the car tested last year), and Michigan.
The car, featuring the colors of Con-Way Freight (more on this below) showed off the relatively sharp lines, the new style splitter (without adjustment braces) and the new rear spoiler in what’s looking like a far hipper version than the first-generation CoT currently running in the Cup Series.
“This truly marks the start of the next era of Mustang racing,” Brian Wolfe, Director of Ford North America Motorsports said in the official release. “We fully expect this [car]… to start to enjoy the kind of success so many other Mustang racing programs have enjoyed throughout the last four decades.”
The Ford Mustang has a long history in motorsports, although not much of this history is in stock cars. Instead, the Mustang has a long history in sports car racing in series like the SCCA Trans-Am Series and in IMSA. In addition, Mustang bodies are used on Funny Cars in the NHRA. The model’s history in NASCAR, however, is limited to series like the Grand American Series in the early 1970s. Bobby Allison was driving a Mustang when he won a Grand National race at Bowman-Gray Stadium in 1971, a victory that is now disputed in his official overall win count.
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can see a picture of the car here: motorsportsnews.net/archives/4149
NNS No. 26 Crew Member Suspended
On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that Robert Good, a crew member on the No. 26 K Automotive team in the Nationwide Series, has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. According to NASCAR’s press release, Good was tested on October 9th, which was last Friday while at Auto Club Speedway. Good was judged to have violated Section 12-1 (the catch all “Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing”) and Section 7-5 (violation of the substance abuse policy) by NASCAR in their release.
K Automotive Racing, which owns the No. 26 team, has released a statement in which they announced the temporary suspension of Good from the team in addition to NASCAR’s suspension. In the statement, K Automotive states that they have “…no tolerance with all full and part-time crew members in regards to substance abuse, and fully supports the decision by NASCAR.” The statement continued on to say that “…they will always be there to support any of [our team members] in times of need.”
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Courtesy of Jayski
New Paint Scheme for 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)
jayski.com/schemes/2009/nationwide/24nationwide.htm
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)
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can see a picture of the car here: motorsportsnews.net/archives/4149
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)
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C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S
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Courtesy of www.FrontStretch.com
Today’s Top News
by Phil Allaway
Roush Fenway to End Camping World Truck Series Involvement
Also tucked into the unveiling of the Mustang CoT was an announcement from Roush Fenway Racing that they would no longer field their No. 6 truck in the Camping World Truck Series. Instead, driver Colin Braun and sponsor Con-Way Freight will move to the Nationwide Series for the 2010 season. Con-Way will sponsor the No. 16 Ford for 18 races. Braun will run for Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year against his teammate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who drove the No. 16 in a few races this season and will drive the No. 6 next season.
“I’m so happy that Con-way Freight decided to move up with me to the Nationwide Series for 2010,” Braun said on Tuesday. “They have been a great sponsor for the past two years in the Truck Series, so it means a lot to me that they will continue to support me in the future.”
Con-Way Freight has sponsored Colin Braun in 45 races in the Camping World Truck Series. In those 45 races, Braun has collected one victory (Michigan in June), nine top 5s, and 19 top 10s. He has also won three pole positions.
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Courtesy of Jayski
Roush Fenway leaving series in 2010: The team with the most victories in what is now known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series won’t be around for the 2010 season. Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush said Tuesday his team, which has 50 victories in the series, will not return next year. “I don’t see a presence in the Truck series for Roush Fenway for 2010,” Roush said. The organization’s lone Truck team will follow driver Colin Braun to the Nationwide Series next year, and Roush won’t replace it.(SceneDaily.com)(10-13-2009)
During the webcast unveiling the new Ford Mustang to be used in the Nationwide Series starting in 2010, Jack Roush & representatives from Con-way officially announced that Con-way Freight will be sponsoring Colin Braun in the Nationwide series in 2010. 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 Racing PR)(10-13-2009)
Sellers to run Martinsville truck race: UPDATE 2 if Premier uses #17, Peters to run #1: Nearing the end of his first year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Peyton Sellers is going to bring it home – literally. Sellers will run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway on October 24th. The Danville, Virginia native will take to the half-mile track behind the wheel of the Premier Racing Toyota – [# TBA]. Premier Racing has brought on an experienced truck series crew chief for the race in Jason Overstreet, and the team will test this week at Rockingham Speedway. Final sponsorship support for the Martinsville race is still pending. (Peyton Sellers PR)(10-12-2009)
UPDATE: Premier Racing representatives have confirmed that Peyton Sellers will be in the #17-Toyota at Martinsville replacing Timothy Peters. [status of Peters & Red Horse Racing?].(10-12-2009)
UPDATE 2: Timothy Peters Will be running at Martinsville. The team is entered as # 117. If Premier Motorsports uses the #17 as planned, Peters will be running the #1-Toyota.(Red Horse Racing PR)(10-13-2009)
Brazilian natives, Nelson Piquet, Jr. and Vitor Meira will test a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra at Little Rock for Red Horse Racing. The one day test scheduled for Monday, October 12th, will be the first time behind the wheel of a stock car for Formula 1 driver, Nelson Piquet, and IndyCar Series driver, Vitor Meira. Red Horse Racing will field two Toyota Tundras (both displaying #1) for Piquet and Meira to test on the short track at Rockingham Speedway. Red Horse Drivers Timothy Peters and TJ Bell will also be on hand to help the open wheel drivers acclimate to their first stock car test. Both Piquet and Meira plan to use this test with Red Horse Racing to evaluate a future career among the NASCAR ranks. Both extremely successful in their respective series, Piquet and Meira look forward to a new challenge. Pacific Mobile will be a sponsor of the test as they are also evaluating NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Racing.(Red Horse Racing PR)(10-5-2009)
UPDATE 3: Vitor Meira wishes to make it clear that he is not contemplating a move to NASCAR now. “I plan to run in the IndyCar Series as long as it possible to do so,” said Meira. “I love racing the Indy cars and I hope to do it for as long as I am able. The opportunity to test a truck along with Nelson Piquet Jr. came up and it sounded like fun. I thought I might be able to give Nelson some pointers on running an oval because this will be his first time on an oval track. Before I agreed to do it, I asked both A.J. and Larry Foyt about it, and they gave their permission. It doesn’t mean I’m looking to go NASCAR racing now because my priority is racing with A.J.’s team in the IndyCar Series. I’ve really enjoyed working with A.J., Larry, our sponsor ABC Supply and Honda Racing this year and I want to continue to work with them as long as they want me. And we have some unfinished business at Indy.”(Victor Meira PR)(10-6-2009)
UPDATE 4: The event was rained out today with only a few laps run by before the damping short track at Rockingham sent it back to the hauler. The test has been re-scheduled to run at The Motor Mile Speedway tomorrow (Tuesday Oct, 13) and will also include diversity development drivers Laura Hayes and Natalie Sather.[Image of the #1-GoPacificMobile.com Toyota is posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.](Pacific Group PR)(10-12-2009)
www.jayski.com/schemes/2009trucks.htm
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A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)
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Courtesy of ARCA
2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Produces Third-Closest Championship Points Margin in History
Justin Lofton and Parker Kligerman concluded the 2009 race season at Rockingham Speedway this weekend, where Lofton was able to clinch his career first ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship by a margin of five points, the equivalent of one finishing position or one lap led.
www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=8955
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C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S
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I.N. Sider tries to travel the road to reason in the new Behind [Closed] Garage Doors column, now posted at www.Valvoline.com.
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/101309.html
Logano and Logano vs. Greg Biffle
by Allen Madding
The Nascar Insiders
Juan Pablo Montoya And A Lesson In How Not To Behave During A Press Conference
… you may have seen me point this out over the weekend (NASCAR Scene writer Jeff Gluck beat me to the punch with a post about this incident on his blog). During the regular press availability for the Chase contenders this weekend Juan Pablo Montoya got a surprise scolding from a reporter.
feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/YZobHIRHzls/
Like father, like daughter
by Amanda Vincent
www.examiner.com/x-11775-Louisville-NASCAR-Examiner~y2009m10d13-Like-father-like-daugher
Insider Racing News
insiderracingnews.com/Writers/CA/101409.html
Why Johnson Should Not Win The Cup Championship
by Chuck Abrams
Are We There Yet: NASCAR Banking 500 @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway
www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=508
Cheers and Jeers: Invisi-Debris Rules the Day
By Carol Einarsson | 10/13/2009
An excerpt:
CHEERS to starting with an interview with Mark Martin, but whose idea was it to put him squarely in front of that giant Target banner?
www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=507
Live Blogging Hall Of Fame TV Coverage
Here we go with a big day of NASCAR TV from both ESPN and SPEED. Here are some interesting updates on the schedule of events.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/10/live-blogging-hall-of-fame-tv-coverage.html
Unique Challenge Awaits SPEED And ESPN
There are just not that many new things out there for NASCAR’s TV partners to cover.
dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2009/10/unique-challenge-awaits-speed-and-espn.html
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T V * L I S T I N G S
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Courtesy of Race Fan TV
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
10:00A-11:00 SPEED Building the NASCAR Hall of Fame, N
11:00A-12:00n SPEED NASCAR Hall of Fame Vote, L
3:00P-4:00 SPEED NASCAR Hall of Fame Announcement Preview, L
4:00P-6:00 SPEED NASCAR Hall of Fame Announcement, L
5:00P-5:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
3:00P-4:30 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L
5:00P-6:00 SPEED NASCAR Whelen Modified Series New Hampshire 100, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sept 19/09, HD, N
5:30P-6:00 espn2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
6:00P-7:00 espn2 NASCAR Nationwide Series FINAL PRACTICE, Dollar General 300, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, NC, HD, L
7:00P-9:00 espn2/TSN2 NASCAR Sprint Cup QUALIFYING, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
1:00P-2:30 SPEED FIA Formula One PRACTICE, Grande Premio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix), Sao Paulo, Brazil, L
3:00P-5:00 espn2/TSN NASCAR Nationwide Series QUALIFYING, Dollar General 300, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, NC, HD, L
5:00P-6:00 SPEED NASCAR Sprint Cup PRACTICE, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L
6:00P-6:30 espn2 NASCAR Now, HD, L
6:30P-7:30 espn2 NASCAR Sprint Cup FINAL PRACTICE, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L
7:30P-8:00 espn2/TSN2 NASCAR Nationwide Series COUNTDOWN, Dollar General 300, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, NC, HD, L
8:00P-11:30 espn2/TSN2 NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, NC, HD, L (expect green at 8:16P)
8:00P-9:00 SPEED MONTEREY HISTORIC AUTOMOBILE RACES, featured marque is Porsche, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, Aug 14-16/09, HD, N
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
10:00A-11:00 espn2 NASCAR Now, pre-race, HD, L
12:55P-2:00 TSN FIA Formula One QUALIFYING, Grande Premio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix), Sao Paulo, Brazil, 16:9, L
1:00P-2:30 SPEED FIA Formula One QUALIFYING, Grande Premio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix), Sao Paulo, Brazil, L (may be blacked out in Canada)
2:00P-3:00 TSN NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Z-Line Designs Furniture 250, Kawartha Speedway, Fraserville, ON, Sept 26/09, HD, N
5:00P-7:00 SPEED NASCAR RaceDay, preview of today’s Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, HD, L
7:00P-7:25 ABC/TSN NASCAR Sprint Cup COUNTDOWN, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L
7:25P-11:30 ABC/TSN NASCAR Sprint Cup Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC, CA, HD, L (expect green at 7:41P)
9:00P-11:00 SPEED Knoxville Nationals Late Model Races, Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, IA, Oct 1-3/09, N
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
12:15A-1:15 espn2 NASCAR Now, post-race, HD, L
11:30A-2:00P SPEED FIA Formula One Grande Premio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix), Sao Paulo, Brazil, L (may be blacked out in Canada)
11:55A-2:00 TSN FIA Formula One Grande Premio Do Brasil (Brazilian Grand Prix), Sao Paulo, Brazil, 16:9, L
5:00P-6:00 SPEED FIM 250 World Championship Iveco Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island Raceway, Victoria, Australia, HD, SDD, N
6:00P-7:00 SPEED FIM MotoGP World Championship, Iveco Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island Raceway, Victoria, Australia, HD, SDD, N
7:00P-8:00 SPEED The SPEED Report, HD, N
8:00P-9:00 HD Theater World Rally Championship, 2009 FxPro Cyprus Rally, Mar 13-15/09, HD, N
8:00P-9:00 SPEED NASCAR Victory Lane, Banking 500, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Oct 18/09, HD, N
9:00P-10:00 SPEED Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, HD, L
We do not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, www.speedtv.com/schedule/
Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!
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Used Honda Civic
