FROM THE MARBLES *new sports blog
In this sticky u can post whatever u want . Any kind of Nascar gossip, facts and whatever. just add your part... Lets go green , green green.
POINT STANDINGS ..6.21
1 Tony Stewart 2189 ---
2 Jeff Gordon 2142 47
3 Jimmie Johnson 2047 142
4 Kurt Busch 1961 228
5 Ryan Newman 1934 255
6 Carl Edwards 1927 262
7 Greg Biffle 1913 276
8 Mark Martin 1868 321
9 Kyle Busch 1860 329
10 Denny Hamlin 1849 340
11 Matt Kenseth 1848 341
12 Jeff Burton 1810 379
*** Chase for the Sprint Cup Cutoff ***
13 David Reutimann 1807 382
14 Juan Pablo Montoya 1767 422
15 Kasey Kahne 1719 470
1 Tony Stewart 2189 ---
2 Jeff Gordon 2142 47
3 Jimmie Johnson 2047 142
4 Kurt Busch 1961 228
5 Ryan Newman 1934 255
6 Carl Edwards 1927 262
7 Greg Biffle 1913 276
8 Mark Martin 1868 321
9 Kyle Busch 1860 329
10 Denny Hamlin 1849 340
11 Matt Kenseth 1848 341
12 Jeff Burton 1810 379
*** Chase for the Sprint Cup Cutoff ***
13 David Reutimann 1807 382
14 Juan Pablo Montoya 1767 422
15 Kasey Kahne 1719 470
5 months ago
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WATCH THE KASEY VIDEO
5 months ago
NOT EVER 2 OLD TP DRIVE A FAST CAR
81-year-old NASCAR driver will outdrive you punk kids any day
By Jay Busbee
All the talk these days is about how amazing it is that half-century-old Mark Martin is winning races. To which I say, pshaw! There's a driver out there who was winning races years before Martin was even born, and he's getting back on the track. Hide the women and children, Hershel McGriff is back!
McGriff, a NASCAR on-and-offer for most of his life, won 4 races in 85 Sprint Cup-level starts, and ran all over the country in every series you could imagine, and some you probably don't even want to know about. He raced in 27 seasons over more than 40 years, occasionally pausing his career for family or other reasons. When he stepped away from NASCAR He now manages a copper mine near Tucson, Arizona, but since sitting behind a desk doesn't give you the same juice as sitting behind a wheel, he's still got a competitive urge flowing.
And this weekend, he's heading back to the track. He'll be running Saturday in the Bennett Lane Winery 200 at Infineon [UPDATE: No he won't. See below], running against kids who are younger than his socks. His goals are to qualify in the top 15 and finish in the top 10, and for a guy who still gets his car up to 160 on the rural roads near his home, why not?
Folks, I'm ready to declare it: Hershel McGriff is the coolest old dude alive. Everybody should have a grandpa that takes them out driving in the triple digits.
Hershel didn't qualify; he had the 39th fastest car, and while 40 cars get in, four provisionals were accepted ahead of him. Dagnabit!
McGriff takes the wheel again at age 81
5 months ago
Uh Oh .. We may not see ,much more of the trucks and mayb Nationwide they r in trouble
Toyota to leave Nationwide and Truck Series? UPDATE: Toyota appears ready to withdraw its financial support of NASCAR Truck and Nationwide teams, though continuing engineering support, in the wake of General Motors' decision to join Ford and Chrysler in withdrawing all but engineering support for those two NASCAR tours. There has been no specific comment on that yet from Toyota executives.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-22-2009)
UPDATE: Word in the Infineon Raceway garage over the week was that Toyota has decided to follow its three corporate rivals and pull all but engineering and technical support and parts supplies from the two NASCAR tours. Lee White, head of Toyota' racing development operations: "Toyota and TRD have been in the process for over a year, of adapting our series support for the Truck/Nationwide programs to be appropriate to the value of each series. Our process in the future will not be determined by other manufacturer's actions but by the value delivered by each series. At this point there is no plan to change our involvement for the remainder of this season. As always we will re evaluate each series over the winter and could make appropriate adjustments."
5 months ago
more news on mayb's
RCR to scale back to two teams? UPDATE - Statement: There is speculation that Chevy team owner Richard Childress may have to cut back to a two-car operation next season, if the Shell [#29-Harvick] and Jack Daniels [#07-Casey Mears] sponsorships are not renewed. Childress says he intends to have four Cup teams again next year, but conceded sponsorship issues remain to be resolved. Childress, through the Winston-Salem law firm Womble, Carlyle, has filed legal papers over what he says is GM's non-payment of a bill of $2,538,750. Childress insists he's not suing GM over its failure to make that payment due June 15th. That bill would apparently be a scheduled quarterly payment, part of a $10 million a year Chevrolet sponsorship for Childress' four-team operation.(mikemulhern.net)(6-22-2009) UPDATE: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing regarding allegations that RCR has filed a lawsuit against General Motors: “I would like to set the record straight that RCR has NOT filed a lawsuit against General Motors and I do not appreciate anyone suggesting otherwise. As is standard practice in bankruptcy proceedings, RCR has made a filing which is common among creditors in these situations. As previously stated as recently as this past weekend in Sonoma, RCR is proud to be associated with General Motors and we are working closely with them during these difficult economic times.
RCR to scale back to two teams? UPDATE - Statement: There is speculation that Chevy team owner Richard Childress may have to cut back to a two-car operation next season, if the Shell [#29-Harvick] and Jack Daniels [#07-Casey Mears] sponsorships are not renewed. Childress says he intends to have four Cup teams again next year, but conceded sponsorship issues remain to be resolved. Childress, through the Winston-Salem law firm Womble, Carlyle, has filed legal papers over what he says is GM's non-payment of a bill of $2,538,750. Childress insists he's not suing GM over its failure to make that payment due June 15th. That bill would apparently be a scheduled quarterly payment, part of a $10 million a year Chevrolet sponsorship for Childress' four-team operation.(mikemulhern.net)(6-22-2009) UPDATE: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing regarding allegations that RCR has filed a lawsuit against General Motors: “I would like to set the record straight that RCR has NOT filed a lawsuit against General Motors and I do not appreciate anyone suggesting otherwise. As is standard practice in bankruptcy proceedings, RCR has made a filing which is common among creditors in these situations. As previously stated as recently as this past weekend in Sonoma, RCR is proud to be associated with General Motors and we are working closely with them during these difficult economic times.
5 months ago
Hello all its Tuesday... Here is what is going on toward the CHASE.
New Hampshire first of 10 in the Race to the Chase
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ten tracks, 10 excitement-filled weekends of intense, side-by-side competition.
The 2009 edition begins with Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (TNT, 1:30 p.m.), the first of a 10-event span culminating Sept. 12 at Richmond, when the field will be set for the Chase.
As championship dreams heat up along with the weather, consider what the next 10 weeks could reveal:
• Will three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title?
• Will two-time series champion Tony Stewart claim his third crown in this his first year as an owner/driver?
• Will four-time series champion Jeff Gordon continue his resurgence in 2009 and win his fifth championship, moving him closer to the all-time series record of seven titles shared by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt?
• Will Kyle Busch, considered to be one of the most-talented young drivers in the sport, break through and win his first career championship?
Race to the Chase
2009 Schedule
Race Date Site
17. June 28 New Hampshire
18. July 4 Daytona
19. July 11 Chicago
20. July 26 Indianapolis
21. Aug. 2 Pocono
22. Aug. 9 Watkins Glen
23. Aug. 16 Michigan
24. Aug. 22 Bristol
25. Sept. 6 Atlanta
26. Sept. 12 Richmond
• Will the resilient 50-year-old Mark Martin snare that elusive championship after coming so close, so many times?
• Can Johnson and Matt Kenseth qualify for their sixth consecutive Chase -- becoming the only drivers to do so?
• Will Juan Montoya make the Chase after coming over to NASCAR three years ago following a successful career in open-wheel racing?
• Will David Reutimann be a surprise qualifier for the Chase after experiencing some struggles in his first two seasons driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
The Race to the Chase presents 10 different challenges -- plus the lure of traditional summer clashes on Daytona's high-banked tri-oval; Indianapolis' tricky turns; Watkins Glen's demanding road course, the August mixing-bowl atmosphere under Bristol's lights and a new addition to this stretch of races -- the lightning-fast surface at Atlanta. And, for the third consecutive year, teams begin both the Race to the Chase and the Chase at New Hampshire's Magic Mile.
During these next 10 races, the quest for bonus points becomes even more important to those drivers who strive to make the Chase. Seeding for the Chase will be done via the number of wins accumulated through the first 26 races. The Chase-eligible driver with the most wins will begin the Chase as the top seed. Drivers will be seeded 2-12 using their to-date win totals as the determining factor.
New Hampshire first of 10 in the Race to the Chase
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ten tracks, 10 excitement-filled weekends of intense, side-by-side competition.
The 2009 edition begins with Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (TNT, 1:30 p.m.), the first of a 10-event span culminating Sept. 12 at Richmond, when the field will be set for the Chase.
As championship dreams heat up along with the weather, consider what the next 10 weeks could reveal:
• Will three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title?
• Will two-time series champion Tony Stewart claim his third crown in this his first year as an owner/driver?
• Will four-time series champion Jeff Gordon continue his resurgence in 2009 and win his fifth championship, moving him closer to the all-time series record of seven titles shared by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt?
• Will Kyle Busch, considered to be one of the most-talented young drivers in the sport, break through and win his first career championship?
Race to the Chase
2009 Schedule
Race Date Site
17. June 28 New Hampshire
18. July 4 Daytona
19. July 11 Chicago
20. July 26 Indianapolis
21. Aug. 2 Pocono
22. Aug. 9 Watkins Glen
23. Aug. 16 Michigan
24. Aug. 22 Bristol
25. Sept. 6 Atlanta
26. Sept. 12 Richmond
• Will the resilient 50-year-old Mark Martin snare that elusive championship after coming so close, so many times?
• Can Johnson and Matt Kenseth qualify for their sixth consecutive Chase -- becoming the only drivers to do so?
• Will Juan Montoya make the Chase after coming over to NASCAR three years ago following a successful career in open-wheel racing?
• Will David Reutimann be a surprise qualifier for the Chase after experiencing some struggles in his first two seasons driving for Michael Waltrip Racing?
The Race to the Chase presents 10 different challenges -- plus the lure of traditional summer clashes on Daytona's high-banked tri-oval; Indianapolis' tricky turns; Watkins Glen's demanding road course, the August mixing-bowl atmosphere under Bristol's lights and a new addition to this stretch of races -- the lightning-fast surface at Atlanta. And, for the third consecutive year, teams begin both the Race to the Chase and the Chase at New Hampshire's Magic Mile.
During these next 10 races, the quest for bonus points becomes even more important to those drivers who strive to make the Chase. Seeding for the Chase will be done via the number of wins accumulated through the first 26 races. The Chase-eligible driver with the most wins will begin the Chase as the top seed. Drivers will be seeded 2-12 using their to-date win totals as the determining factor.
5 months ago
More around the horn.
ONE OF SIX: Mark Martin has taken runner-up honors three times at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but has yet to reach Victory Lane there. The 1.058-mile track is one of just six active venues where Martin has not posted a win in his 27-year NASCAR career.
GREAT DEBUT: In his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at NHMS, Martin earned the pole position and led 29 laps before finishing second to long-time racing friend Rusty Wallace. In his 24 Cup starts at the Loudon, N.H., racetrack, Martin has two pole positions, eight top-five finishes and 13 top-10s. He has completed all but 19 laps he's attempted at NHMS in his career.
LOOP STATISTICS: Martin, who hasn't competed at NHMS since 2006, ranks inside the top 10 in two loop statistic categories. Martin has the ninth-highest average running position (12.628) and the 10th-highest driver rating (92.1).
THE NO. 5 TEAM: Crew chief Alan Gustafson led the No. 5 Chevy crew to Hendrick Motorsports' most recent win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16, 2006. The team qualified fourth and led 107 laps en route to the win. In its eight NHMS starts under Gustafson, the No. 5 Chevrolet has posted 229 laps led, three top-five finishes and four top-10s, including a seventh-place result in this race last year.
NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: Four drivers have earned Sprint Cup victories over the age of 50, however, only two have earned multiples. Martin's three wins this season rank second only to Harry Gant, who earned eight victories after his 50th birthday.
IN THE TOP 12: Martin and the No. 5 team remain in the top 12 in the Sprint Cup standings. Martin is ranked 11th, 12 points ahead of 13th.
CHASSIS CHOICE: Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-538 for Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This is the same car that Martin drove to Victory Lane at Phoenix International Raceway in April.
HENDRICK AT NEW HAMPSHIRE: In 28 Cup events (98 starts) at New Hampshire, Hendrick Motorsports has scored six wins, 26 top-five finishes and 42 top-10s. The organization has recorded at least one top-five finish in 18 of these events and posted a top-10 result in all but two.
MARK MARTIN, DRIVER, NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET (ON WHY HE HASN'T COMPETED AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN TWO YEARS.): "It just wasn't one of the races at the top of my list to do. When I was looking at scaling back (in 2007 and 2008), that was one of the places that was not up there to keep on my schedule. I've had some good runs at New Hampshire. It's just a big short track. Definitely with the way our cars have been at Phoenix and Martinsville (Va.) and Richmond (Va.), we should be good. I wish I was already up there."
MARTIN (ON THE SIMILARITIES, IF ANY, BETWEEN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND PHOENIX.): "I think some of the stuff from Phoenix does transfer. Then, some of the team's knowledge from the last two years at short tracks will definitely transfer, too. We'll use a little of what we know from Martinsville as well. You kinda mix all of that stuff up and put it all together. Add in the past two years with this car at New Hampshire with our performances at Martinsville and Phoenix -- we should start really close off the truck on Friday. New Hampshire is one of the final tracks we go to that we haven't been at yet, but I think we'll be close based on our performances at other short tracks so far this year."
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET (ON HIS 2006 VICTORY AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.): "That was a really good day for this race team. We had a very strong Chevrolet. We qualified up front and stayed up front all day long. We led a lot of laps. We made our last stop with about 80 laps to go. We led the entire last run and at the end the caution came out creating a green-white-checkered finish. Instead of red-flagging or going green, NASCAR kept running caution laps. That made us really close on gas, but we had enough to make it."
SOME NATIONWIDE NEWS
Independent teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series are not only holding their own this year; some are expanding.
For example, Mike Bliss (No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet), who won earlier this year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, is the biggest mover in the driver standings this week from ninth to sixth and has his Phoenix Racing team 11th in the owner standings.
Jason Keller, the series’ all-time leader in starts (he’ll rack up No. 472 this weekend), is ninth in the driver rankings, while his Baker Curb Racing organization is 14th in the car owner standings.
This weekend at New Hampshire, J-D Motorsports, which has run three cars twice this year — at Talladega in April and last week at The Milwaukee Mile — unveils what owner Johnny Davis hopes to have as his set trio of drivers for the bulk of the remaining season.
Danny O’Quinn Jr., the 2006 series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, drives the flagship No. 01 Chevrolet. Davis’ son, Kertus, returned to the team last week at Milwaukee after a one-year hiatus to manage and drive the No. 04 Chevrolet.
Last week, veteran Mike Wallace — who has driven twice for J-DM this year (Daytona and Talladega) was announced as the driver of the No. 0 Chevy beginning this weekend at New Hampshire and also for the July 3 event at Daytona. More races are expected to be scheduled for Wallace under the J-DM umbrella.
ONE OF SIX: Mark Martin has taken runner-up honors three times at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but has yet to reach Victory Lane there. The 1.058-mile track is one of just six active venues where Martin has not posted a win in his 27-year NASCAR career.
GREAT DEBUT: In his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at NHMS, Martin earned the pole position and led 29 laps before finishing second to long-time racing friend Rusty Wallace. In his 24 Cup starts at the Loudon, N.H., racetrack, Martin has two pole positions, eight top-five finishes and 13 top-10s. He has completed all but 19 laps he's attempted at NHMS in his career.
LOOP STATISTICS: Martin, who hasn't competed at NHMS since 2006, ranks inside the top 10 in two loop statistic categories. Martin has the ninth-highest average running position (12.628) and the 10th-highest driver rating (92.1).
THE NO. 5 TEAM: Crew chief Alan Gustafson led the No. 5 Chevy crew to Hendrick Motorsports' most recent win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16, 2006. The team qualified fourth and led 107 laps en route to the win. In its eight NHMS starts under Gustafson, the No. 5 Chevrolet has posted 229 laps led, three top-five finishes and four top-10s, including a seventh-place result in this race last year.
NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: Four drivers have earned Sprint Cup victories over the age of 50, however, only two have earned multiples. Martin's three wins this season rank second only to Harry Gant, who earned eight victories after his 50th birthday.
IN THE TOP 12: Martin and the No. 5 team remain in the top 12 in the Sprint Cup standings. Martin is ranked 11th, 12 points ahead of 13th.
CHASSIS CHOICE: Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-538 for Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This is the same car that Martin drove to Victory Lane at Phoenix International Raceway in April.
HENDRICK AT NEW HAMPSHIRE: In 28 Cup events (98 starts) at New Hampshire, Hendrick Motorsports has scored six wins, 26 top-five finishes and 42 top-10s. The organization has recorded at least one top-five finish in 18 of these events and posted a top-10 result in all but two.
MARK MARTIN, DRIVER, NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET (ON WHY HE HASN'T COMPETED AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN TWO YEARS.): "It just wasn't one of the races at the top of my list to do. When I was looking at scaling back (in 2007 and 2008), that was one of the places that was not up there to keep on my schedule. I've had some good runs at New Hampshire. It's just a big short track. Definitely with the way our cars have been at Phoenix and Martinsville (Va.) and Richmond (Va.), we should be good. I wish I was already up there."
MARTIN (ON THE SIMILARITIES, IF ANY, BETWEEN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND PHOENIX.): "I think some of the stuff from Phoenix does transfer. Then, some of the team's knowledge from the last two years at short tracks will definitely transfer, too. We'll use a little of what we know from Martinsville as well. You kinda mix all of that stuff up and put it all together. Add in the past two years with this car at New Hampshire with our performances at Martinsville and Phoenix -- we should start really close off the truck on Friday. New Hampshire is one of the final tracks we go to that we haven't been at yet, but I think we'll be close based on our performances at other short tracks so far this year."
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET (ON HIS 2006 VICTORY AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.): "That was a really good day for this race team. We had a very strong Chevrolet. We qualified up front and stayed up front all day long. We led a lot of laps. We made our last stop with about 80 laps to go. We led the entire last run and at the end the caution came out creating a green-white-checkered finish. Instead of red-flagging or going green, NASCAR kept running caution laps. That made us really close on gas, but we had enough to make it."
SOME NATIONWIDE NEWS
Independent teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series are not only holding their own this year; some are expanding.
For example, Mike Bliss (No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet), who won earlier this year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, is the biggest mover in the driver standings this week from ninth to sixth and has his Phoenix Racing team 11th in the owner standings.
Jason Keller, the series’ all-time leader in starts (he’ll rack up No. 472 this weekend), is ninth in the driver rankings, while his Baker Curb Racing organization is 14th in the car owner standings.
This weekend at New Hampshire, J-D Motorsports, which has run three cars twice this year — at Talladega in April and last week at The Milwaukee Mile — unveils what owner Johnny Davis hopes to have as his set trio of drivers for the bulk of the remaining season.
Danny O’Quinn Jr., the 2006 series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, drives the flagship No. 01 Chevrolet. Davis’ son, Kertus, returned to the team last week at Milwaukee after a one-year hiatus to manage and drive the No. 04 Chevrolet.
Last week, veteran Mike Wallace — who has driven twice for J-DM this year (Daytona and Talladega) was announced as the driver of the No. 0 Chevy beginning this weekend at New Hampshire and also for the July 3 event at Daytona. More races are expected to be scheduled for Wallace under the J-DM umbrella.
5 months ago
NEWS FROM THIS WEEK
# Former NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner Steve Park will join ESPN NASCAR analysts Brad Daugherty and Tim Brewer as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on ESPN2. The program airs Tuesday, June 30, at midnight ET (late Monday night). Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
# Shell to Hendrick? Rick Hendrick may be in the running for the lucrative Shell-Pennzoil sponsorship for 2010, according to sources in the NASCAR garage. Car owner Richard Childress is in the third season of Shell sponsorship, but he has said little about the contract or any negotiations. Hendrick has had a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Quaker State, which is owned by Shell. If Shell were to move from the Childress camp to the Hendrick camp, it would apparently go on Mark Martin's car. NASCAR executives are expected to discuss the full range of sponsorship issues with key car owners and drivers in next week's planned annual post-Daytona 400 'seminar.' That private retreat each July was started by the late Bill France Jr., to get an inside look at the state of the sport from the owners' perspective.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-28-2009) Comment here
# Danica Patrick to Hendrick? Dale Jr. to..... If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)(6-28-2009) Comment here
# JTG/Daugherty not shopping team: JTG/Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter categorically denied that the organization is shopping for a new arrangement for Marcos Ambrose. Ambrose's #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team currently operates out of Michael Waltrip Racing. Geschickter said Saturday at NHMS that the arrangement with Waltrip is a one-year deal with an option but emphasized that he isn't looking to move his operation. Rumors had linked JTG/Daugherty with both a possible fourth car at Joe Gibbs Racing or a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing. "We're not shopping," Geschickter said. About reports that sponsor Little Debbie Snacks recently had increased its financial commitment to the team, Geschickter said, "I'm not allowed to talk about the terms of the contract, but they're very happy with our program."(Sporting News)
AND: JTG Daugherty Racing doesn’t have enough sponsorship to continue running Michael McDowell beyond next week’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, team co-owner Tad Geschickter said Saturday. The team has sponsorship for Marcos Ambrose for the two Nationwide road-course events later this season but beyond that, Geschickter is not sure how many races the #47 car will run over the second half of the season. Tom’s snack company has sponsored the car for much of the first half of the season. Geschickter said the organization is concentrating on its Sprint Cup effort with driver Ambrose. The team is imbedded with Michael Waltrip Racing as part of a technical alliance. Whether that MWR relationship continues remains to be seen. “As far as what we’re doing next year, we haven’t started discussions with them yet,” Geschickter said. “We’ll have to renegotiate for the next year. … They’ve done a really good job. The secret’s been that we have integrated our people into their shop.”
# Former NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner Steve Park will join ESPN NASCAR analysts Brad Daugherty and Tim Brewer as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on ESPN2. The program airs Tuesday, June 30, at midnight ET (late Monday night). Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
# Shell to Hendrick? Rick Hendrick may be in the running for the lucrative Shell-Pennzoil sponsorship for 2010, according to sources in the NASCAR garage. Car owner Richard Childress is in the third season of Shell sponsorship, but he has said little about the contract or any negotiations. Hendrick has had a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Quaker State, which is owned by Shell. If Shell were to move from the Childress camp to the Hendrick camp, it would apparently go on Mark Martin's car. NASCAR executives are expected to discuss the full range of sponsorship issues with key car owners and drivers in next week's planned annual post-Daytona 400 'seminar.' That private retreat each July was started by the late Bill France Jr., to get an inside look at the state of the sport from the owners' perspective.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-28-2009) Comment here
# Danica Patrick to Hendrick? Dale Jr. to..... If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)(6-28-2009) Comment here
# JTG/Daugherty not shopping team: JTG/Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter categorically denied that the organization is shopping for a new arrangement for Marcos Ambrose. Ambrose's #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team currently operates out of Michael Waltrip Racing. Geschickter said Saturday at NHMS that the arrangement with Waltrip is a one-year deal with an option but emphasized that he isn't looking to move his operation. Rumors had linked JTG/Daugherty with both a possible fourth car at Joe Gibbs Racing or a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing. "We're not shopping," Geschickter said. About reports that sponsor Little Debbie Snacks recently had increased its financial commitment to the team, Geschickter said, "I'm not allowed to talk about the terms of the contract, but they're very happy with our program."(Sporting News)
AND: JTG Daugherty Racing doesn’t have enough sponsorship to continue running Michael McDowell beyond next week’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, team co-owner Tad Geschickter said Saturday. The team has sponsorship for Marcos Ambrose for the two Nationwide road-course events later this season but beyond that, Geschickter is not sure how many races the #47 car will run over the second half of the season. Tom’s snack company has sponsored the car for much of the first half of the season. Geschickter said the organization is concentrating on its Sprint Cup effort with driver Ambrose. The team is imbedded with Michael Waltrip Racing as part of a technical alliance. Whether that MWR relationship continues remains to be seen. “As far as what we’re doing next year, we haven’t started discussions with them yet,” Geschickter said. “We’ll have to renegotiate for the next year. … They’ve done a really good job. The secret’s been that we have integrated our people into their shop.”
5 months ago
NEWEST STORIES FROM AROUND THE HORN...
LOUDON, N.H. - With just three days before the Sprint Cup haulers unload for next weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, there's not a lot of time to unweave the tangled tales that were told in New Hampshire.
So let's start with the biggies ...
The Danica factor
We've all heard the rumors about the IndyCar Series darling flirting with NASCAR. One report even went so far as to saying that the Andretti-Green racer was set to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Sprint Cup machine — a rumor which was denied by Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex this weekend.
But that doesn't mean that conversations between George Pyne, former NASCAR VP and current president of talent agency IMG which represents Patrick, and Rick Hendrick haven't occurred. However, any notion of Patrick jumping straight from open wheel to Cup competition is absurd.
Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, admits he's "interested" in Patrick but says he has not spoken to her personally regarding an opening at his team — although he isn't sure whether anyone else in the company had broached the subject with the driver. He believes Patrick is "probably at the head of the line of ladies that could make it in this sport" and that "she's skilled enough," but she would have to be willing to race a couple of seasons in the Nationwide Series before being prepared to take on the Cup tour. Similar sentiments have been expressed by Ford's marketing reps.
Pyne is expected to be at the track next month so hopefully we'll all find out whether Patrick truly has any interest in stock cars or if this is just a ploy to incite a bidding war between Andretti-Green Racing and rival IRL team owner Chip Ganassi.
What's going on with the Truck Series?
Around the track
* Spencer: Logano's win has little title impact
This is a very delicate subject for NASCAR, which has gained notoriety with the number of start and parks increasing while attendance levels dwindle.
However, despite reports from independent blogger Mike Mulhern, NASCAR Vice President of Communications Jim Hunter says emphatically that there is no validity to a story circulating that the series will shut down.
"There's no truth to it whatsoever," Hunter said. "It's total B.S. The demise of the truck series is the figment of one person's imagination. (Mulhern) has a history of fabricating false stories and this is another example of it.
"We're very aware that (the Camping World Truck Series) is affected the hardest during this economic recession. We're currently looking at options. We've never given up on a series and we're not going to start now."
That said, NASCAR is looking at options to reduce costs such as decreasing the schedule, increasing the number of single-day dates and bringing back the half-time pit stops that could eliminate the traveling crews to five or six members.
One possible solution that is off the table is the use of crate engines. NASCAR VP of Competition Robin Pemberton said they are not a viable option because "they're not durable to last much beyond one race" which would raise costs, not lower them. Pemberton feels the sanctioning body has made "good gains with new rules and regulations" and the series "still makes sense."
The Michael Waltrip Chronicles
The company line at Michael Waltrip Racing is that despite the expected announcement on July 7 that Martin Truex Jr. will join the fold (we're hearing in the No. 56 Toyota), he will not drive the car until next season. And Waltrip will likely continue to run a limited 10 to 12 race schedule in the No. 55 car in 2010.
But the consensus in the garage is that Truex could be in a MWR car as early as the Chicagoland Cup race in two weeks.
A press release from NAPA announcing Waltrip's brother Darrell (also a NASCAR on FOX analyst) as an honorary pit crew member for this weekend Coke Zero 400 has only fueled the speculation that it will be Michael's last race.
For now, I have to rely on MWR Vice President and GM Ty Norris and COO Cal Wells' words that the teams will remain status quo for 2009.
Whatever the case, there is a short list of five crew chiefs to lead the Truex team in 2010 — and they are all heavy hitters.
Now on the David Reutimann front. Reutimann was in a playful mood prior to Sunday's Cup race. Now we know why. He was thrilled to be away from a road course and back to short-track style racing. Reutimann's fourth-place finish on Sunday cut his Chase Zone deficit to a mere 12 points.
Norris said if there was an award for the most improved driver, he believes Reutimann would win hands down.
"I feel like we've been fortunate to polish the diamond because it was rough when he first started in the truck series," Norris said.
The 39-year-old, third generation driver is currently 14th in the point standings in just his second full-time season on the Cup tour. Reutimann's contract is also up at the end of the season, however, MWR has a one-year option available. The company has until Sept. 1 to tie up loose ends, but Wells would like to have everything shored up in the next few weeks.
Reutimann has become a hero for journeymen racers. Not many drivers get an opportunity past the age of 35 to join the Sprint Cup ranks and Reutimann has made the most of it.
Briefly ...
Jack Roush has not made a decision regarding the fifth car at Roush Fenway Racing. According to a NASCAR mandate, RFR has until the end of this season to reduce its operation to four cars. On Sunday Roush said the resolution will be "strictly a deal of making the best sponsor/driver alignments."
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing president Steve Lauletta says he expects to have Aric Almirola back in the No. 8 Chevrolet by mid-August if sponsorship can be secured. Lauletta echoed MWR's sentiments that Truex will not be departing from the No. 1 Chevrolet before season's end
I'm out
ChevyJr.
LOUDON, N.H. - With just three days before the Sprint Cup haulers unload for next weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, there's not a lot of time to unweave the tangled tales that were told in New Hampshire.
So let's start with the biggies ...
The Danica factor
We've all heard the rumors about the IndyCar Series darling flirting with NASCAR. One report even went so far as to saying that the Andretti-Green racer was set to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Sprint Cup machine — a rumor which was denied by Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex this weekend.
But that doesn't mean that conversations between George Pyne, former NASCAR VP and current president of talent agency IMG which represents Patrick, and Rick Hendrick haven't occurred. However, any notion of Patrick jumping straight from open wheel to Cup competition is absurd.
Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, admits he's "interested" in Patrick but says he has not spoken to her personally regarding an opening at his team — although he isn't sure whether anyone else in the company had broached the subject with the driver. He believes Patrick is "probably at the head of the line of ladies that could make it in this sport" and that "she's skilled enough," but she would have to be willing to race a couple of seasons in the Nationwide Series before being prepared to take on the Cup tour. Similar sentiments have been expressed by Ford's marketing reps.
Pyne is expected to be at the track next month so hopefully we'll all find out whether Patrick truly has any interest in stock cars or if this is just a ploy to incite a bidding war between Andretti-Green Racing and rival IRL team owner Chip Ganassi.
What's going on with the Truck Series?
Around the track
* Spencer: Logano's win has little title impact
This is a very delicate subject for NASCAR, which has gained notoriety with the number of start and parks increasing while attendance levels dwindle.
However, despite reports from independent blogger Mike Mulhern, NASCAR Vice President of Communications Jim Hunter says emphatically that there is no validity to a story circulating that the series will shut down.
"There's no truth to it whatsoever," Hunter said. "It's total B.S. The demise of the truck series is the figment of one person's imagination. (Mulhern) has a history of fabricating false stories and this is another example of it.
"We're very aware that (the Camping World Truck Series) is affected the hardest during this economic recession. We're currently looking at options. We've never given up on a series and we're not going to start now."
That said, NASCAR is looking at options to reduce costs such as decreasing the schedule, increasing the number of single-day dates and bringing back the half-time pit stops that could eliminate the traveling crews to five or six members.
One possible solution that is off the table is the use of crate engines. NASCAR VP of Competition Robin Pemberton said they are not a viable option because "they're not durable to last much beyond one race" which would raise costs, not lower them. Pemberton feels the sanctioning body has made "good gains with new rules and regulations" and the series "still makes sense."
The Michael Waltrip Chronicles
The company line at Michael Waltrip Racing is that despite the expected announcement on July 7 that Martin Truex Jr. will join the fold (we're hearing in the No. 56 Toyota), he will not drive the car until next season. And Waltrip will likely continue to run a limited 10 to 12 race schedule in the No. 55 car in 2010.
But the consensus in the garage is that Truex could be in a MWR car as early as the Chicagoland Cup race in two weeks.
A press release from NAPA announcing Waltrip's brother Darrell (also a NASCAR on FOX analyst) as an honorary pit crew member for this weekend Coke Zero 400 has only fueled the speculation that it will be Michael's last race.
For now, I have to rely on MWR Vice President and GM Ty Norris and COO Cal Wells' words that the teams will remain status quo for 2009.
Whatever the case, there is a short list of five crew chiefs to lead the Truex team in 2010 — and they are all heavy hitters.
Now on the David Reutimann front. Reutimann was in a playful mood prior to Sunday's Cup race. Now we know why. He was thrilled to be away from a road course and back to short-track style racing. Reutimann's fourth-place finish on Sunday cut his Chase Zone deficit to a mere 12 points.
Norris said if there was an award for the most improved driver, he believes Reutimann would win hands down.
"I feel like we've been fortunate to polish the diamond because it was rough when he first started in the truck series," Norris said.
The 39-year-old, third generation driver is currently 14th in the point standings in just his second full-time season on the Cup tour. Reutimann's contract is also up at the end of the season, however, MWR has a one-year option available. The company has until Sept. 1 to tie up loose ends, but Wells would like to have everything shored up in the next few weeks.
Reutimann has become a hero for journeymen racers. Not many drivers get an opportunity past the age of 35 to join the Sprint Cup ranks and Reutimann has made the most of it.
Briefly ...
Jack Roush has not made a decision regarding the fifth car at Roush Fenway Racing. According to a NASCAR mandate, RFR has until the end of this season to reduce its operation to four cars. On Sunday Roush said the resolution will be "strictly a deal of making the best sponsor/driver alignments."
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing president Steve Lauletta says he expects to have Aric Almirola back in the No. 8 Chevrolet by mid-August if sponsorship can be secured. Lauletta echoed MWR's sentiments that Truex will not be departing from the No. 1 Chevrolet before season's end
I'm out
ChevyJr.
5 months ago
