Thursday, December 30, 2010

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Dec 30, 2010, 12:04:34 PM12/30/10
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T H E  *  S T O C K  *  C A R  *  G A Z E T T E

   by http://MotorSportsNews.Net

 

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     E d i t o r ' s  *  N o t e s

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Surprise, I hadn’t planned on an issue till next week but came home early to beat the storm.  My in box was full with NASCAR stuff so I’ll just pass along.

Hope everyone had a great and safe holiday. For those on the east coast I hope your life has gotten back to some normality.

 

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    Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out!

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http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/5662
TV Times: Check Out “Dirt Knights” on VERSUS Starting Jan. 2
by Lou Modestino

No doubt that the History Channel made an unmistakable error when they scratched the tapes of “Madhouse” two winters ago. The weekly series had documented some pretty wild action on the paved track, in the pits and in the grandstands of the Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.

Now the VERSUS Channel has stepped up to the plate with “Dirt Knights” (get it?), and time will soon tell if it’ll live up to the excitement of ”Madhouse”. The first episode is scheduled to be aired on VERSUS this Sunday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m. Eastern.

“Dirt Knights” claims to celebrate the full throttle life of six dirt track racers competing for the USMTS National Championship.

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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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Courtesy of www.Catchfence.com

Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 One Of Season’s Most Memorable Races

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (December 29, 2010) – Denny Hamlin’s late-race charge to the front in last spring’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway kept fans on their feet and competitors shaking their heads in disbelief. Nine months later, the race and Hamlin’s performance are still drawing rave reviews. Tuesday the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 was named one of the five most memorable races of the year by NASCAR.com as part of a year-end series of stories. In case anyone has forgotten, Hamlin was leading the race with 10 laps to go when Jeff Burton’s blown tire brought out a caution. Hamlin gave up the lead for fresh tires and most thought his ...

http://www.catchfence.com/2010/sprintcup/12/29/goodys-fast-pain-relief-500-one-of-seasons-most-memorable-races/

 

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Courtesy of www.FrontStretch.com

Newmark Named President of Roush Fenway Racing

 

Last Monday, Roush Fenway Racing announced that Steve Newmark has been named the new President of Roush Fenway Racing.  Newmark will replace Geoff Smith, who had served in the position since 1997.  Smith is retiring at the end of the year.

 

Newmark, a recent hire by the organization after he spent time as a shareholder at the law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, brings a new vision to the operations of a race team. Despite only a year of official business experience in Sprint Cup, he feels ready for the challenge this promotion brings.

 

"It is truly a privilege to be afforded the opportunity to lead one of the most successful organizations in professional sports," Newmark said.  "At the same time, the position carries a great deal of responsibility to the drivers, employees and fans to continue the tradition of excellence established by Jack Roush and Geoff Smith.  Fortunately, I believe we have one of the deepest organizations in professional sports, and are well prepared to remain a leader in NASCAR.  Despite the recent challenges in the motorsports industry, I really like the tools that we have to work with and believe strongly in our assets, both on a competition and sales and marketing level. Particularly with how we finished the 2010 season, I know everyone in this organization, including myself, is excited to get started on 2011."

 

Team owner Jack Roush is pleased to have Newmark in charge of the operation.

 

"We are excited about Steve coming on board as our president," Roush said.  "Steve has a solid background working in all areas of sports and brings new ideas and insight into our organization. He has been part of the Roush Fenway family for many years, beginning as outside counsel and then as head of our business operations this year."

 

Newmark's time as part of the Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson law firm gave him plenty of experience in sports marketing and contracts.  He was intricately involved in the deal that saw the Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) form a joint venture with Roush Racing to form Roush Fenway Racing in 2007.  He inherits a Sprint Cup operation with steady sponsorship for four full-time teams, but also takes control of a Nationwide Series outfit that's struggling to compete financially. Roush plans on campaigning three cars full-time in 2011, but has only a half-season deal with Fastenal for Carl Edwards' No. 60 and little to no sponsorship on the No. 6 of Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and the No. 16 of Trevor Bayne.

 

Kenny Wallace to RAB Racing for 2011

 

On Tuesday, Kenny Wallace announced via his Twitter feed that he has signed with RAB Racing to drive their No. 09 for the full 2011 Nationwide Series season.  The team will field Toyota Camrys full-time after a switch from Ford late last season and will receive some factory support from Toyota.

 

Wallace is coming off a substandard 2010 in which his No. 28 for Jay Robinson Racing was not very competitive on-track, scoring a best finish of just 11th in 35 starts.  The team lost their primary sponsor from 2009 (the U.S. Border Patrol) and had to make do with a series of small, one-time deals and less money.  Those financial problems took their toll; for races that the team could not attract sponsorship, the team raced with used tires and lowered allotments, losing the basic tools needed to stay competitive.  In an attempt to prevent such a circumstance from repeating in 2011, Wallace spent much of the last month obtaining sponsorship on his own in order to make himself more marketable to a potential team.

 

"I’ve been nervous since the final 2010 Nationwide Series race at Homestead trying to find the right fit for next year, and now I can finally sleep at night," Wallace said in an RAB Racing press release.  "My goal was to find a team with whom I could be competitive and I believe I have found that with RAB Racing, I’m ready to go for 2011.  I have known Robby [Benton] and watched him grow his team for the past few years.  The relationship with Toyota Racing Development (TRD) is huge and will allow me to be able to work with at least three other Toyota teams, including my brother Rusty [Wallace] and gain valuable information that will help us with the Nationwide program at RAB Racing next year."

 

Team owner Robby Benton is pleased to have Wallace on board for the 2011 season.

 

"Our alliance with Toyota, the relationship we have with TRD and now adding Kenny to the mix, will bring some depth to our program," Benton said.  "It also helps tremendously having a driver with Kenny’s notoriety.  People love him and hopefully we’ll be able to reinvigorate his fan base."

 

Wallace has been able to obtain sponsorship for 16 races from a variety of sponsors.  These include Federated Auto Parts, an existing personal sponsor of Kenny's that was on his No. 28 for eight races last season.  The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) will be on the car, along with Family Farmers, described as a coalition of corn and soybean farmers.  The team is still searching for additional sponsors to cover the remaining 18 races, but team owner Robby Benton believes that filling the remaining open slots should not be too much of a problem.

The move was first reported by Jeff Gluck at SB Nation shortly before the official announcement. Wallace will replace Brian Scott at RAB, who will drive a new third entry (No. 11) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Billy Ballew Motorsports Merges with Vision Aviation Racing

 

On Wednesday, Billy Ballew Motorsports announced that they have merged their operations with Vision Aviation Racing, a team that fielded Super Late Models and K&N Pro Series West cars during the 2010 season.  As a result of the merger, the team is expecting to continue fielding their Nos. 15 and 51 Toyota Tundras.  Ballew will stay on with the team in an ownership role.

Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis, drivers who drove for VAR out west in 2010, will drive for the team at some point during the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season.  However, it is unclear which driver will be in which truck.  Also, no sponsorship was announced.  The No. 15 had been forced to cut back to a part-time schedule due to a lack of funding midseason, while Graceway Pharmaceuticals pulled out late in the year due to financial issues.

 

After running third in the owner standings to Kyle Busch and Germain Racing, Ballew is saddened that he could not continue in the Camping World Truck Series without outside assistance. However, he's pleased to partner up with a successful West Coast operation that gives him an option to continue into the future.

"Partnering with a winning and committed team like Vision Aviation Racing was a great way to keep the Billy Ballew Motorsports brand alive in the series," Ballew said.  "We’ve worked diligently since the season ended with Tom Davis and his organization to make this happen.  Vision Aviation Racing is well positioned to be a top contender and continue the winning tradition of Billy Ballew Motorsports."

 

Vision Aviation Racing formerly operated Kyle Busch's late model team prior to Busch breaking off and forming his own Camping World Truck Series operation.  In that time, they racked up 16 victories at various short tracks all over the Western United States

 

 

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Courtesy of Google Alerts

 CUP: Hamlin Made Good On His Word As A Title Contender
SPEEDtv.com
After he won the season-ending race at Homestead in 2009, Denny Hamlin said he would contend for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2010. ...

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-denny-hamlin-made-good-on-his-word-as-a-nascar-title-contender/

Notebook: T. Gordon named Keselowski's N'wide crew chief
SportingNews.com
Suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield, as expected, will appeal a judge's decision that ruled in favor of NASCAR in his lawsuit over a May 1, 2009, ...

http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2010-12-27/notebook-t-gordon-named-keselowskis-nwide-crew-chief

Free Contests Newsletter! Sign Up
About - News & Issues
By Sandra Grauschopf, About.com Guide If you love NASCAR, be sure to enter Sunoco's Fuel to Win Sweepstakes, which is giving you the chance to win a trip to ...

http://contests.about.com/b/2010/12/26/see-a-daytona-500-nascar-race-with-sunocos-sweepstakes.htm

NNS: A Tale Of Two Champions
Fox News
For Keselowski, it was his first NASCAR championship in any series and, believe it or not, the first for team owner Roger Penske, who ran his first NASCAR ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/12/26/nns-tale-champions/

Area drivers learn there's no rest for fast lane's weary
Houston Chronicle
By RUSS GOODALL David Starr, a NASCAR truck series veteran, has yet to finalize a deal to drive next season. In the highest level of motorsports, ...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/7357018.html

Native son Waltrip plans to go for 400-mile Kentucky Cup
Cincinnati.com
By Kevin Kelly • kke...@enquirer.com • December 29, 2010 The Bluegrass State will be represented when NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing at Kentucky Speedway ...

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101229/SPT/12290355/1062/Native-son-Waltrip-plans-to-go-for-400-mile-Kentucky-Cup

The five funniest moments of NASCAR's 2010 season
Scene Daily (blog)
I asked my NASCAR Twitter friends what they felt was the funniest moment of the 2010 season. Being such a memorable year, there were plenty of options to ...

http://www.scenedaily.com/blogs/carolynbrewster/The-five-funniest-moments-of-NASCARs-2010-season.html

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Jimmie Johnson and The Top 20 Stories Of 2010
Bleacher Report
48 Chevy being showered with confetti, with shocking victories and feuds signaling a new era in NASCAR's senior circuit. In chronological order, here are ...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/555207-nascar-sprint-cup-jimmie-johnson-and-the-top-20-stories-of-2010

Top 5: Overlooked stories in 2010
Nascar
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM As 2010 comes to a close, NASCAR.COM looks back at the season that was and forward at the season that's looming on the horizon ...

http://www.nascar.com/news/101227/most-overlooked-stories/

NNS: Earnhardt?s Victory Top Moment
Fox News
Kyle Busch dominated the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series landscape, winning a record 13 races and breaking his own prior mark by scoring 24 race victories in ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/12/28/nns-earnhardts-victory-moment/

NASCAR 2010: Who doesn't love love?
Examiner.com
Let's face it, the 2010 NASCAR season was easily one of the best on record; and the stats back that up. There were more passes, fewer cautions and even ...

http://www.examiner.com/nascar-in-national/nascar-2010-who-doesn-t-love-love

Max Gresham Teams With Davis Motorsports for NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown ...
WhoWon.com
Max Gresham today announced he will compete in the 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown – NASCAR's top short-track racing showcase – at Toyota Speedway at ...

http://www.whowon.com/sresults.asp?SanctionID=230&StoryID=301844

Montoya Is Happy in NASCAR
Coffetoday
Montoya said he is happy in NASCAR racing as it has been more fun than the F1. The Colombian driver said he was tired of the F1, he left four years ago, ...

http://www.coffetoday.com/montoya-is-happy-in-nascar/906994/

NASCAR Naysayers and The New Year
Bleacher Report
There is a plethora of people who espouse the decline of NASCAR by blaming Jimmie Johnson, the economy, the NASCAR Chase and on and on. ...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/556013-nascar-naysayers-and-the-new-year

NASCAR TV start times look like they will remain the same in 2011
News & Observer
By Jim Utter - jut...@charlotteobserver.com The TV start times for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, at least those on the Fox Network anyways, look like they ...

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/28/886097/nascar-tv-start-times-look-like.html

CUP: RPM Lives To Race Another Day
Fox News
One of NASCAR most revered names was also a key player in the sport's most embarrassing story of 2010. Richard Petty Motorsports, the team fronted by ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/12/28/cup-rpm-lives-race-day/

Ingram: Some Pretty Damned Impressive Statistics
RacinToday.com
Mark McCardle, director of competition at Furniture Row Racing. – Jonathan Ingram can be reached at jin...@racintoday.com.

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/23620

NASCAR Year In Review: Earnhardt Disturbed With Waltrip After Twitter Incident
Bleacher Report
Social networking in NASCAR hit a new all-time high when the Twitter craze became contagious, and it was clearly visible by all the drivers and teams who ...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/556958-nascar-year-in-review-earnhardt-disturbed-with-waltrip-after-twitter-incident

CUP: Dakar Rally Opens Busy 2011 For Robby Gordon
Fox News
“We won a championship last year in off-road and still did the stock-car races. We're going to do what makes sense for us.” He said he is 90 percent sure he ...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/12/29/cup-dakar-rally-opens-busy-robby-gordon/

 

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Courtesy of Insider Racing News

  http://www.insiderracingnews.com

       Rusty Wallace Racing Hires Doug Randolph To Crew Chief No. 66

Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) announced today that NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series veteran, Doug Randolph, has been named crew chief for driver Steve Wallace and RWR's No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota, in their charge for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. Randolph joins RWR following stints as crew chief at such organizations as Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and Petty Enterprises. In his most recent Nationwide Series crew chief role, Randolph led Childress's No. 29 team and driver Clint Bowyer to wins at Daytona and Dover in 2009. Noted RWR General Manager Larry Carter, "We're very excited to add Doug Randolph to our organization. I've known Doug for a while and he's a really talented guy. He brings a lot of valuable experience to our team, including a lot of experience with the Car of Tomorrow. We're all looking forward to working with him."

Penske Racing Names Todd Gordon Nationwide Crew Chief

Penske Racing has announced that experienced crew chief Todd Gordon has been named as the crew chief for the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship-winning No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team for 2011. Gordon, who most recently served as race engineer for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in the Nationwide Series, will take over the team that earned Penske Racing’s first NASCAR championship last season with driver Brad Keselowski claiming six wins, five poles and a series single-season record 26 top-five finishes. Gordon will be paired with Keselowski as the No. 22 team will once again pursue the Nationwide Series title in 2011.

Gordon, who graduated from Clemson University with a mechanical engineering degree, has served as a crew chief several times throughout his 12-year career in racing. Prior to working with Diamond-Waltrip Racing, he was crew chief at Baker Curb Racing in the Nationwide Series and he also helped build the CJM Racing Nationwide Series program from the ground up, serving as both team manager and crew chief. This will also mark Gordon’s second stint as crew chief of the No. 22 NNS car as he actually led the “double deuce” team when it was part of PPC Racing in 2006. Paul Wolfe, who helped lead the No. 22 team to the NNS championship this season, was named recently as crew chief of Penske Racing’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011, which created the opportunity for Gordon.

Billy Ballew Motorsports Merges With Vision Aviation Racing

Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM) announced today that the team has merged with Vision Aviation Racing (VAR) to continue to field the No. 15 and No. 51 entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The announcement was made today by Ballew and Vision Aviation Racing General Manager Tom Davis. The team will compete under the Vision Aviation Racing banner and race with the same winning equipment and resources Billy Ballew Motorsports is known for. Ballew will keep an ownership stake in the team. Up-and-coming drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis, who both competed in the Super Late Model and K&N Pro Series West divisions in 2010 for VAR, will make their Truck Series debut in 2011. The team will remain supported by Toyota. Vision Aviation Racing, already a winning team on the West Coast, will carry on the tradition of Billy Ballew Motorsports, which just completed a history-best season with two wins and a second-place finish in the drivers' championship by Aric Almirola. The team is also known for teaming with Kyle Busch to collect 16 wins before Busch started his own operation. The team merger is still in process with key personnel yet to be finalized. The team will compete out of VAR's Mooresville facility, located directly across from the former Billy Ballew Motorsports location.

Jennifer Jo Cobb Will Appear On "Anderson Cooper 360"

NASCAR driver and team owner Jennifer Jo Cobb taped a segment on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" this week in which she discussed extreme living with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The interview was recorded in New York City on Dec. 21 and is tentatively scheduled to air Dec. 28. Cobb finished 17th in the Camping World Truck Series points standings, making her the highest-finishing female in history in one of NASCAR's top-three national touring series.(scenedaily.com)

Kentucky Speedway Gets State Incentives

The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has approved incentives for Kentucky Speedway, which is scheduled to hold a NASCAR Sprint Cup race July 9. The approval means the speedway will be eligible for as much as $20.5 million in performance-based rebates during a 10-year period, based on an investment of $82 million, according to a news release Monday. The incentive allows the applicant to recover as much as 25 percent of development costs through the recovery of sales tax generated at the racetrack. “This NASCAR event at the Kentucky Speedway is estimated to have an annual $150 million economic impact on Kentucky,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in the release.(bizjournals.com)

Roush Fenway Racing Names New President

Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Steve Newmark has been named president of its multi-car racing organization. Newmark will succeed Geoff Smith in the position; Smith is retiring at the end of December after serving in the role for the previous 13 years. Newmark, who previously was a shareholder at the law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, joined the organization as senior vice president of business operations in April. He brings an innovative skill set and fresh approach, highlighted by extensive NASCAR and outside sports and entertainment experience, to the position. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, and University of Virginia School of Law, Newmark had worked as outside counsel to Roush Fenway since the early 2000s and was involved in the creation of the joint venture between Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group in 2007 and the sale of its merchandising division in 2006. His background includes vast experience in sports and entertainment, mergers and acquisitions, technology and e-commerce and venture capital transactions. Newmark has significant experience in the motorsports industry and has represented a broad spectrum of teams, drivers and sponsors at various levels of NASCAR since 1998. In addition, he has been involved in a number of high profile transactions in collegiate sports, including representation of the NCAA in its recent television deal with CBS and Turner for the NCAA basketball tournament, as well as representation of the Southeastern Conference in its multi-media deals with ESPN, CBS and its other media partners.

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Courtesy of Jayski

  http://www.jayski.com

  • Montoya has no plans to leave NASCAR: After rising to prominence in CART and Indy cars and then Formula 1 prior to his switch to NASCAR, many have speculated that #42-Juan Pablo Montoya would return to open-wheel cars eventually. But the Colombian says that he has no plans to leave his current stock car gig with Chip Ganassi Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. "Some people tell me I should go back to F1, but I'm happy," the 35-year-old told the Spanish language website prensa.com. "I think it is clear that there is no chance of going the other way. At this moment I am happy, my sponsor is happy and Chip Ganassi is happy and that's all I care about." Montoya added that NASCAR is "more fun" than F1, due to the latter's ongoing problems with a lack of passing. I saw the (Abu Dhabi) finale this year and it's like it has been all the time one car is a second faster than another but he cannot pass," he noted. "They say the problem is the tracks but, honestly, F1 has always been the same."(Racer)(12-30-2010)
  • more 2011 images added: #16 3M & #16 Red Cross, #42 Target and #88 AMP / Mountain Dew to the Paint Scheme Gallery
  • Yeley back to Whitney Motorsports in 2011: J.J. Yeley will be running the #46 for us [Whitney Motorsports] next year full time in a Chevy.(Whitney Motorsports Facebook)(12-29-2010)
  • Allmendinger/McMurray karting it at Daytona: The new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season hasn't even started yet and AJ Allmendinger is already turning competitive laps at Daytona International Speedway. For the second straight year, Allmendinger is participating in Daytona KartWeek, which showcases hundreds of karters from across the country in World Karting Association races. "We've had three off weekends now so I'm bored," said Allmendinger, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports. "I had to get away from the house. It's time to go racing. As soon as Christmas is over, it's time to go racing." Allmendinger didn't enjoy last year's Daytona KartWeek as much as he wanted. He struggled on the track and packed up early and headed back home to North Carolina. This year, he comes ready for what is a competitive field that also includes 2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray.(DIS)(12-29-2010)
  • New producer for ESPN broadcasts: supposedly James Shiftan will step into the ESPN race producer role vacated with the removal of Neil Goldberg last season. Shiftan took a leave of absence from NASCAR last year, leaving Coordinating Producer Jill Fredrickson to produce the final races.(Daly Planet)(12-29-2010)
  • Race Track Holiday Lights: more info for events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. All three are decoration their tracks with Holiday lights and events, more infor for each at:
    bristolmotorspeedway.com [thru Jan 8th]
    VisitCarolinaChristmas.com [thru Jan 2nd]
    (NOTE: went to the CMS show on 12/20 and it was awesome, really enjoyed it, saw Sam Bass and had some good eatin')
    lvms.com [thru Jan 2nd]
  • New record in 2010: Fifty-Five drivers led at least one lap this season in the Sprint Cup Series, a record. The previous high mark was 51, in both 2005 and 2007.(RacinToday)(12-28-2010)
  • Hamlin gives away a trip on Twitter: #11-Denny Hamlin, normally a prolific Twitterer, went silent for weeks after the end of the season. But when he began re-engaging his 40,000-plus followers early in December, he came through big. Earlier in December, he casually mentioned that he'd be giving away an amazing gift on Christmas Day. All you had to do was answer a single question. Answer the question, and you get an all-expenses-paid trip anywhere you like. Hamlin used the hashtag #11in11 to sort the answers, and the game was so popular on Christmas Day that the tag was the No. 3 trending topic on Twitter. The winner was Jennifer Meyering, who was the 11th person to guess the correct answer of 364. According to her Twitter feed, she'll be heading to the Brickyard 400, where she'll presumably meet Santa Hamlin.(Yahoo)(12-28-2010)
  • Top-20 Total Laps Run:
    1 Richard Petty, 307,836
    2 Ricky Rudd, 259,746
    3 Terry Labonte, 250,858
    4 Darrell Waltrip, 237,773
    5 Bill Elliott, 237,304
    6 Kyle Petty, 232,922
    7 Dave Marcis, 231,337
    8 Mark Martin, 229,954
    9 Michael Waltrip, 213,419
    10 Ken Schrader, 211,057
    11 Sterling Marlin, 209,071
    12 Rusty Wallace, 204,818 13 Dale Earnhardt, 202,888
    14 Bobby Allison, 197,438
    15 Dale Jarrett, 185,948
    16 Jeff Gordon, 177,462
    17 Bobby Labonte, 174,395
    18 Jeff Burton, 164,803
    19 James Hylton, 160,762
    20 Geoff Bodine, 158,418
    (    Racing Reference)(12-28-2010)
  • Mayfield will appeal drug case: Suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield, as expected, will appeal a judge's decision that ruled in favor of NASCAR in his lawsuit over a May 1, 2009, drug test that he says was a false positive for methamphetamines. Mayfield filed the notice of appeal last Thursday in federal court and has 40 days to file the actual argument for his appeal. Depending on how quickly briefs are filed in the case, a hearing could come in May in Richmond, Va., but more than likely it will come no earlier than September. U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen ruled Mayfield had given up his right to sue through various waivers he had signed to compete in NASCAR and questioned whether Mayfield had the evidence to support his claims that NASCAR erred in ruling he tested positive for methamphetamines.(Sporting News)(12-28-2010)

2010 Season Winnings

Rank

Driver

Race
Winnings

Special
Awards

NASCAR/Sprint

Season Total

1

Jimmie Johnson

$7,264,781

$350,000

$5,778,405

$13,393,186

2

Denny Hamlin

$5,856,553

$175,000

$2,605,220

$8,636,773

3

Kevin Harvick

$6,812,584

$280,000

$2,134,247

$9,226,831

4

Carl Edwards

$5,716,357

 

$1,641,592

$7,357,949

5

Matt Kenseth

$5,621,481

$105,000

$1,444,601

$7,171,082

6

Greg Biffle

$4,966,012

 

$1,313,274

$6,279,286

7

Tony Stewart

$5,664,253

 

$1,181,946

$6,846,199

8

Kyle Busch

$6,291,686

 

$1,155,681

$7,447,367

9

Jeff Gordon

$5,703,706

 

$1,129,416

$6,833,122

10

Clint Bowyer

$4,700,629

 

$1,103,150

$5,803,779

11

Kurt Busch

$6,732,738

$100,000

$787,964

$7,620,702

12

Jeff Burton

$5,178,400

 

$682,902

$5,861,302

13

Mark Martin

$4,481,763

 

$656,000

$5,137,763

14

Jamie McMurray

$6,858,689

$113,100

$629,760

$7,601,549

15

Ryan Newman

$5,001,864

 

$603,520

$5,605,384

16

Joey Logano

$5,151,406

 

$577,280

$5,728,686

17

Juan Pablo Montoya

$5,088,406

 

$551,040

$5,639,446

18

David Reutimann

$5,090,837

 

$524,800

$5,615,637

19

AJ Allmendinger

$4,761,572

 

$498,560

$5,260,132

20

Kasey Kahne (A&B)

$5,289,135

 

$362,804

$5,651,939

21

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

$4,572,928

 

$367,360

$4,940,288

22

Martin Truex Jr.

$3,742,689

 

$236,160

$3,978,849

23

Paul Menard

$3,599,779

 

$223,040

$3,822,819

24

David Ragan

$3,597,379

 

$209,920

$3,807,299

25

Brad Keselowski

$4,252,011

 

$98,400

$4,350,411

 

Kevin Conway

$2,547,868

$116,000

 

$2,663,868

 

Casey Mears (A)

$1,871,549

 

$10,933

$1,882,482

 

Reed Sorenson (A)

$1,891,733

 

$35,533

$1,927,266

 

Brian Vickers (A)

$1,579,832

 

$30,067

$1,609,899

 

Aric Almirola (B)

$980,996

 

$18,222

$999,218

 

Boris Said (A)

$739,493

 

$2,733

$742,226

 

Mattias Ekstrom (A)

$226,671

 

$5,467

$232,138


  • (A) ran races in the #83 Red Bull Toyota
    (B) ran races in the #9 Richard Petty Racing Ford.(12-26-2010)
  • Post Season Awards
    TOTAL AWARDED $1,239,100
  • Jimmie Johnson
    Goodyear Gatorback Belts Fastest Lap Award $100,000
    MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year Award $100,000
    Sunoco Diamond Performance Award $100,000
    Goodyear Tires Award $50,000
    TOTAL $350,000
  • Kevin Harvick
    O'Reilly Auto Parts People, Service & Performance Award $105,000
    DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Year Award $100,000
    MOOG Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Year Award $75,000
    TOTAL $280,000
  • Denny Hamlin
    Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award $100,000
    WIX Filters Lap Leader Award $75,000
    TOTAL $175,000
  • Kevin Conway
    Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award $116,000
    TOTAL $116,000
  • Matt Kenseth
    Tissot Pit Road Precision Award $105,000
    TOTAL $105,000
  • Kurt Busch
    Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Year Award $100,000
    TOTAL $100,000
  • Jamie McMurray
    Coors Light Pole Award $113,100
    TOTAL $113,100.(NASCAR)(12-26-2010)
  • Congrats: Congratulations to SPEED's Wendy Venturini and her husband Jarrad Egert, who works for Joe Gibbs Racing, on the birth of their son Caleb James on Dec. 22 at 10:58pm/et. Mom & baby doing fine.(12-24-2010)
  • HANS device tested for astronauts: What do HANS device inventor Dr. Robert Hubbard, NASA and NASCAR have in common? All three are collaborating in an effort to improve crash restraints for astronauts. The first series of crash sled tests was recently undertaken at Wright Patterson Air Force Base using a dummy fitted with a prototype restraint for use during NASA launches and landings. Dustin Gohmert of the Crew and Thermal Systems Division of NASA directed the tests. The new head restraint resulted from a collaboration first undertaken in 2008 at Texas Motor Speedway, where officials from NASA's Johnson Space Center and Hubbard met with NASCAR officials to discuss the use of the sanctioning body's data base for assessing crash injury dynamics. NASCAR subsequently provided data taken from recorders in race vehicles, which facilitates the development of injury criteria for astronauts by using computer modeling in conjunction with the real world experience from NASCAR competition. The prototype HANS-type head restraint for astronauts is comprised of a round collar and yoke made from carbon fiber. The helmet and neck ring of the space suit fit to the round collar and yoke, a single unit to be held in place by an astronaut's shoulder belts.(NASCAR)(12-24-2010)
  • Bayne in the #21 at Daytona testing, Bill Elliott? UPDATE: Trevor Bayne will be working with Wood Brothers Racing. He made one start for the legendary team last year, starting 28th and finishing 17th at the Texas Motor Speedway. "Anything that's brand new is exciting," said car owner Eddie Wood. "It's special for us because our dad drove on the new pavement in 1959 when the track was built and here we are all these years later running at Daytona with a 2011 Ford Fusion and the same number 21." Bill Elliott will move from the Wood Brothers to the #09 Chevy at Phoenix Racing.(Augusta Chronicle), this was before testing at Daytona last week, Elliott did not test the #09 at Daytona but will run the #09 in the first five races for Phoenix Racing in an effort to get the team in the top 35 of owners points.(12-20-2010)
    UPDATE denied? James Finch [Phoenix Racing] says he has no plans to put Bill Elliott in his #09 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy for the opening five races of the 2011 season. Published reports claimed Elliott would drive for Finch's Phoenix Racing Team at the start of the season, in an effort to earn the operation a spot in the Top 35 in owners' points. But Finch told Sirius-Speedway.com that he knew nothing of the deal until reading about it online earlier this week (Sirius Speedway)(12-22-2010)
    AND Wood Brothers Racing will continue its long NASCAR odyssey in 2011 when it begins its 58th year of competition. As it has for the past few seasons, in an effort to get the most out of performance and sponsorship, it will race on a limited schedule out of its shops in Harrisburg, N.C., with veteran driver and 1988 champion Bill Elliott wheeling its Fords.(    Motorsports Unplugged)(12-22-2010)
  • Front Row looking for a crew chief UPDATE: hearing Front Row Motorsports #34 crew chief Brian Burns has left the team, no word on who will replace Burns as Travis Kvapil's crew chief in 2011 but the team is supposedly looking for a crew chief. Hearing plans are to run Kvapil full time in the #34 Ford and David Gilliland full time in the #38 [using #37 owners points] with the #37 Ford being run part time [using #38 owners ppoints, which are not in the top 35 for the first 5 races].(12-20-2010)

UPDATE: statement by Brian Burns, former Front Row Motorsports crew chief: "I have decided to pursue other opportunities in racing. I would like to thank Bob Jenkins (team owner) and the rest of the organization for the last two years, and wish them the best of luck in the future."(12-22-2010)

  • Robby Gordon readies for Dakar Rally: 2011 marks the 33rd running of the international test of endurance and determination known as the Dakar Rally, which for the third consecutive year will take place in the South American countries of Argentina and Chile after security threats in Mauritania in 2008 caused the ASO, the race organizers, to move the race from Africa. With more than 9,500 km (5,903 miles) to be completed from January 1st to 16th, 2011, the Dakar Rally is easily the "world's most grueling race." Based on fourteen stages, known as "specials", the winner of the rally is the team with the shortest elapsed time over the fifteen day event. The terrain that competitors traverse is extremely difficult. Most of the competitive specials are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks among other elements. To be successful at the Dakar Rally, a team must possess three things: state of the art equipment, first rate driving and navigational skills, and true determination and perseverance. The slightest mistake by man or equipment can cost a team valuable seconds in their effort to achieve the ultimate objective: winning the Dakar Rally.
    Known as one of the best off-road racers in the world, Robby Gordon will be participating in his seventh Dakar Rally and piloting the #303 Speed Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer. Gordon will depend on his navigator, Kellon Walsh, to maneuver through the ever changing terrain of the cross country race. Team Hummer will be fielding two entries in the rally-raid. A formal announcement regarding the second HUMMER entry will follow early next week.(see more info and ways to follow Gordon at     Planetrobby.com)(12-22-2010)
  • Waltrip's 2011 Racing Plans: Michael Waltrip will join MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman behind the wheel of a Ferrari sports car in Portugal, Dubai and probably several other tracks across the globe in 2011. Waltrip will also run a Sprint Cup car for another shot at the Daytona 500, the new race at Kentucky Speedway and possibly a few more races along the way.(see more of Waltrip's 2011 plans at MWR)(12-21-2010)

 

 

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Courtesy of Racin' Today

  http://www.racintoday.com

Harris: 2010 Was A Year Of Hype And Have At It

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/23634

Independent Action: RAB Takes Big Step Forward

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/23641

Bromberg: Five Old Acquaintance Not Forgot

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/23628

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     P R E S S  *  R E L E A S E S

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Two-Time Winner Wallace Headed To Showdown

K&N Pro Series East Rookie Of The Year To Participate In NASCAR’s Short-Track Showcase

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 29, 2010) – The first race winner of the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East campaign is also one of the first to commit to the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown as Revolution Racing’s Darrell Wallace Jr. will head to Southern California in January.

 

Wallace, from Mobile, Ala., won in his K&N Pro Series East debut at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway to secure a guaranteed starting position in NASCAR’s premier short-track event, which will be held on Jan. 28-29 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

 

“I’m really excited,” Wallace said of participating in the Showdown. “Last year I had to sit up in the stands and watch my teammate Sergio [Pena] go out there and pretty much dominate, going at it with Joey Logano. So now, being able to be a part of it is going to be pretty cool.”

 

In addition to the triumph in his K&N Pro Series East debut, which made him the youngest race winner and first African-American victor in series history, Wallace also took the checkered flag at Lee (USA) Speedway in 2010. Wallace, who turned 17 years old following the season, registered seven top 10s in 10 races in the Revolution Racing No. 6 and finished third in the championship standings. The performance earned him Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

 

“I believe it went extremely well,” Wallace said of his first season. “It blew all of our minds with the first win. We expected a top-five or top-10 finish, but definitely not the win. Being able to pick up the second win at Lee was pretty awesome.

 

“I wish we could have come up with some more [wins], but that’s alright. We came up a little short in the championship run, but I was able to hang on for the Rookie of the Year title, so that’s pretty cool.”

 

In Irwindale, Wallace will look to become just the second driver to win the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown following his rookie season. The defending NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winner Logano, who like Wallace competed in the K&N Pro Series East as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, previously took the checkers as a rookie in 2007.

 

A year ago Wallace competed in a run-off at Toyota Speedway with his three Revolution Racing teammates in spec race cars similar to a Late Model for a chance to qualify for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Pena earned the spot, but it did provide Wallace with some practical experience on the half mile track, something he would not have otherwise.

 

“At least I won’t be going to the track cold, I do have some laps under my belt,” Wallace said. “I’ll be somewhat ready, but those cars were totally different from the East cars. It will kind of take me a little bit to get used to it, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

 

In addition to the secured starting spots for race winners of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West from the 2010 season, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown also provides secured spots for the 2010 champions of NASCAR’s developmental series. The 225-lap main event is broken up into three sections – two 100-lap segments preceding a 25-lap dash to the finish.

 

The schedule also includes a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race and a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race. The top five NASCAR state champions in attendance will have secured starting spots in the Late Model race. New to this year, the 25-car fields for each of those races will be set by a pair of heat races – 25 laps for the Super Late Models and 20 laps for the Late Models.

 

Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED.

 

We are "William's Garden Ministries" : A non-profit organization offering facilities for services centered around children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Our goal is to help to unlock the hidden potential in children with Autism, and to promote awareness about ASD's.

All tax deductable donations and contributions welcome!

 

For more information please go to www.williamsgarden2010.com 

 

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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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Courtesy of Jayski

  http://www.jayski.com

  •  Doug Randolph named crew chief for Wallace: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing announced that Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series veteran, Doug Randolph, has been named crew chief for driver Steve Wallace and RWR's #66 5-Hour Energy Toyota, in their charge for the 2011 Nationwide Series Championship. Randolph joins RWR following stints as crew chief at such organizations as Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and Petty Enterprises. In his most recent Nationwide Series crew chief role, Randolph led Childress's #29 team and driver Clint Bowyer to wins at Daytona and Dover in 2009.(RWR)(12-28-2010)
  • Gordon to be Keselowski's crew chief? UPDATE: Looks like Todd Gordon, who spent this season as race-day engineer for Diamond-Waltrip Racing's Nationwide team, will become the new crew chief for Penske Racing's #22-Brad Keselowski in the Nationwide Series. Gordon joined Diamond-Waltrip in January. Keselowski is fresh off winning the series championship with help from an astounding 26 top-five finishes in 35 races. His crew chief in the series this season, Paul Wolfe, moves to Keselowski's Sprint Cup team in 2011.(Charlotte Observer)(12-22-2010)
    UPDATE: Penske Racing has announced that experienced crew chief Todd Gordon has been named as the crew chief for the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series championship-winning #22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team for 2011. Gordon, who graduated from Clemson University with a mechanical engineering degree, has served as a crew chief several times throughout his 12-year career in racing. Prior to working with Diamond-Waltrip Racing, he was crew chief at Baker Curb Racing in the Nationwide Series and he also helped build the CJM Racing Nationwide Series program from the ground up, serving as both team manager and crew chief. This will also mark Gordon's second stint as crew chief of the #22 NNS car as he actually led the "double deuce" team when it was part of PPC Racing in 2006.(    Penske Racing PR)(12-27-2010)
  • Mike Wallace will return to #01 team: Mike Wallace and team owner Johnny Davis have already agreed upon one thing as they ready for the 2011 Nationwide Series season they have what it takes to be successful. They have the equipment, crew, intelligence, talent and tenacity on the team. Davis, sole owner of the team, isn't your typical NASCAR owner. You will hardly ever find him standing around the hauler on race weekends. The only thing they are lacking is the proper funding and marketing partners to make it happen.(JD Motorsports)(12-24-2010)
  • Frank Wilson to run some Nationwide races: ARCA veteran Frank Wilson, Jr, of Belmont, WV will team with Fast Track Racing and championship driver and car owner Andy Hillenburg for the 2011 Nationwide Series season. Wilson is a 3-time winner in ARCA's Truck Series division along with having two top 20 finishes in a limited schedule in 2010 in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard's. Not only will Hillenburg field race cars for Wilson, they have also formed an alliance in the area of driver development. Team Wilson's driver development can consist of as little as a one-week driving school to a three-to-five year driver development plan ranging from ARCA to NASCAR.(Fast Track Racing)(12-23-2010)
  • Roush Fenway moving Nationwide teams; needs sponsors: Even while Roush Fenway Racing attempts to find the sponsorship that will enable it to maintain three full-season Nationwide Series programs, Jack Roush's motorsports conglomerate is moving its second-tier racing operation from a leased property in Mooresville, N.C., to a building within its own complex at the Concord (N.C.) Regional Airport. Roush Fenway will maintain the lease on the Mooresville facility but is moving its three remaining Nationwide teams to Concord in hopes of fostering a more beneficial information exchange, similar to what the RFR Cup teams enjoyed with RPM, as three Roush Fenway's teams made the 2010 Chase. Former series champion Carl Edwards, who plans to once again run full schedules in both Cup and Nationwide, will continue working with crew chief Mike Beam. However, only about half the 34-race schedule is covered. Fastenal and Copart co-branded the #60 car last season, but only Fastenal remains. The sponsors that covered partial schedules for both the #6 Ford, which was primarily driven by 2010 Nationwide rookie of the year Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the #16, which was mostly wheeled last year by 2008 Truck rookie of the year Colin Braun but this year will be driven by Trevor Bayne, are gone. Neither car currently has any sponsorship.(NASCAR.com)(12-23-2010)
  • Go Green Racing locked into first 5 races: Go Green Racing announced they have negotiated an agreement with a top 30 Nationwide Series team to transfer points to the #39 team, locking them into the first 5 races of 2011. The agreement is subject to approval by NASCAR but is expected to be allowed. "Our first plan was to run a limited schedule of one race a month in 2011 until this opportunity arose and we have now upgraded the plan to go as far as we can in 2011." said Go Green President Archie St. Hilaire. "We will be interviewing qualified drivers in the coming weeks and plan on announcing the driver and sponsor of the team by January 15."(Go Green Racing)(12-22-2010)
  • Kenny Wallace to RAB UPDATE:: Kenny Wallace will announce he is driving a full season for the RAB Racing team in the Nationwide Series, a source close to the team told SB Nation. Wallace had pledged to do everything he could to race in 2011, and he appears to have achieved that goal with RAB. Sponsors (including UNOH, Federated Auto Parts and a corn/soy bean farmer coalition) have signed on for 16 races, and RAB owner Robby Benton has committed to run Wallace in the remaining events, the source said. The union between Wallace and RAB stands to be beneficial to both parties. Wallace gets to race for a team seemingly on the rise after last season's win with Boris Said at Montreal and an offseason switch to Toyota; RAB gets some much-needed familiarity in its seat after piecing together a schedule that included 14 different drivers last season. In addition to Wallace, the team plans to field a second entry for Said in the three road course races (Montreal, Watkins Glen and Road America).(SB Nation)(12-21-2010)
    UPDATE: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard and veteran driver Kenny Wallace are teaming up to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011. Wallace, who has over 20 years of experience in stock car racing, will make his debut for RAB Racing driving the #09 Toyota Camry beginning on Saturday, February 19, 2011, in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Currently, RAB Racing has 16 races with primary sponsorship, beginning with the University of Northwestern Ohio at Daytona International Speedway in February. Additional sponsors include Federated Auto Parts and Family Farmers, a coalition of corn and soybean farmers. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the remaining 18 events.(    RAB Racing)(

 

 

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Courtesy of The Hot Lap

  http://www.TheHotLap.com

 

Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) announced today that NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series veteran, Doug Randolph, has been named crew chief for driver Steve Wallace and RWR's No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota, in their charge for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. Randolph joins RWR following stints as crew chief at such organizations as Richard Childress Racing, E... more.

The new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season hasn’t even started yet and AJ Allmendinger is already turning competitive laps at Daytona International Speedway. For the second straight year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star is participating in Daytona KartWeek, which showcases hundreds of karters from across the country in World Karting Association races. “We’ve had three off weekends now s... more.

Coming off of a Truck Series championship in 2000 and en route to Nationwide rookie of the year honors in 2001, Greg Biffle knew it was time to get comfortable in North Carolina. The Washington state native searched for and found a place where he could get away from the hustle and bustle of life as a NASCAR star. That place is the Triple B Ranch. Nestled in the foothills of North Carolina... more.

RAB Racing with Brack Maggard and veteran driver Kenny Wallace are teaming up to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011. Wallace, who has over 20 years of experience in stock car racing, will make his debut for RAB Racing driving the No.09 Toyota Camry beginning on Saturday, February 19, 2011, in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.    Wallace, a native of St.... more.

Penske Racing has announced that experienced crew chief Todd Gordon has been named as the crew chief for the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship-winning No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge team for 2011. Gordon, who most recently served as race engineer for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in the Nationwide Series, will take over the team that earned Penske Racing’s first NASCAR c... more.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame took a large step on Tuesday afternoon toward cutting nearly one-third of its current operating budget. That move follows earlier discussions of a reduction in the 20% range to help cope with rising deficits and slow ticket sales. Instead, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the operator of the hall of fame, is opting for what it bills as a worst-case scenario. Th... more.

Mike Wallace and team owner Johnny Davis have already agreed upon one thing as they ready for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season – they have what it takes to be successful. They have the equipment, crew, intelligence, talent and tenacity on the team. Davis, sole owner of the team, isn’t your typical NASCAR owner. You will hardly ever find him standing around the hauler on race weekend... more.

GO GREEN RACING TODAY ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT WITH A TOP NATIONWIDE TEAM TO TRANSFER POINTS TO THE 39 TEAM LOCKING THEM INTO THE FIRST FIVE RACES OF THE 2011 SEASON. THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO NASCAR APPROVAL WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED AND AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE IN EARLY JANUARY. "WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THE FIRST FIVE RACES OF T... more.

When Kevin Harvick says Martinsville Speedway is his “home track,” he means it. And he isn’t just talking about what happens on the race track. Harvick donated more than 200 toys and $500 worth of gift cards Monday to be distributed to needy youngsters in Martinsville and Henry County for Christmas. Harvick and his wife DeLana live about 35 miles south of Martinsville Speedway and for

 

___________________________________________________________

 

     C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S

___________________________________________________________

 

Courtesy of Jayski

  http://www.jayski.com

 

  •   Starr still looking to finalize 2011 deal: [David] Starr is a NASCAR truck series veteran, but after finishing the 2010 season in 10th place he has yet to finalize a deal to drive next season. Starr has a deal with Zachry to continue to be his primary sponsor, but he is still looking for a place for both to land in 2011. "This time of year is very critical and important, trying to get everything situated so the team can hire and update some equipment," Starr said. "You are trying to get all your sponsors lined up and situated so that you can enhance your racing team. And that is what we are doing right now." After starting last season with Randy Moss Motorsports, Starr made a jump midyear to SS Green Light Racing and didn't miss a beat. He maintained his spot at 10th in the points standings the rest of the season. Now Starr is hopeful the work he and the team put in together over those last races of 2010 can become a full-time commitment for 2011. "We plan on doing that (running fulltime for SS Green Light Racing next season)," Starr said. "We are working on it now. We are just wanting to make sure that the race team has enough funding to be able to do that. But right now, that is what our plans are."(Houston Chronicle)(12-29-2010)
  • Roush returning to trucks? Rave as driver? Been hearing unconfirmed rumors for some time that Roush Fenway Racing would be returning to the Truck Series. On a recent news broadcast from local La Crosse, Wisconsin TV station WKBT it was reported that Troy Rave, a Black River Falls native and Ho-Chunk Nation tribal member, recently crowned the 2010 Kwik Trip Late Model Rookie of the Year, at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, had signed a one-year deal with Roush Fenway Racing to drive in the Camping World Truck Series. Troy Rave recently posted the following on 4Racers.com [search Troy Rave] to clarify: "Just to get everyone caught up on whats going on. Rumors have been going around and I just want to clear things up. Yes Roush-Fenway has contacted me and my father about running trucks in 2011. Several proposals have been put on the table by Roush concerning what i'll be running in 2011. Trucks are being discussed and so is ARCA. NOTHING has been signed yet as far as contracts are concerned. We are still only in negotiation phase with our major sponsor Roush and myself. Roush will be here on Monday, and come monday or tuesday night we willl have a better understanding and more accurate information for you all!"(12-26-2010)
  • Vision Aviation Racing headed to trucks; two teams? UPDATE 3 Billy Ballew Motorsports merges with VAR; more info: Hearing that Las Vegas based Vision Aviation Racing, who in 2010 finished first and second in the Super Late Model division at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA, will run two Toyota Tundras with drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis in 2011. Running Daytona is still up in the air as both drivers need approval from NASCAR, and it is also not confirmed if the teams will be full-time or run a partial schedule. Also hearing that the team purchased a shop in North Carolina and that they are getting trucks from KBM.(12-6-2010)
    UPDATE: Billy Ballew Motorsports announced today that the team has merged with Vision Aviation Racing to continue to field the No. 15 and No. 51 entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The announcement was made today by Ballew and Vision Aviation Racing General Manager Tom Davis. The team will compete under the Vision Aviation Racing banner and race with the same winning equipment and resources Billy Ballew Motorsports is known for. Ballew will keep an ownership stake in the team. Up-and-coming drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis, who both competed in the Super Late Model and K&N Pro Series West divisions in 2010 for VAR, will make their Truck Series debut in 2011. The team will remain supported by Toyota. Vision Aviation Racing, already a winning team on the West Coast, will carry on the tradition of Billy Ballew Motorsports, which just completed a history-best season with two wins and a second-place finish in the drivers' championship by Aric Almirola. The team is also known for teaming with Kyle Busch to collect 16 wins before Busch started his own operation. The team merger is still in process with key personnel yet to be finalized. The team will compete out of VAR's Mooresville facility, located directly across from the former Billy Ballew Motorsports location.(    VAR/BBM PR)(12-22-2010)
    UPDATE 2: Billy Ballew told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will play a major role in the operation of the newly merged Vision Aviation Racing. "I'm going to be very involved in the operation for at least the next 12 months," said Ballew. "I am also exploring a couple of options in the Sprint Cup Series for next year. I'm not going away." Ballew said his 2010 sponsorship struggles played a major role in his decision to merge operations. "I needed help," he said. "From a financial standpoint, I couldn't continue to do it on my own. (A merger) seemed to be the best way to ensure that we continue on in the Truck Series. The biggest part of the puzzle was finalized last night, and we'll take care of the minor details after the holidays."(    Sirius-Speedway.com)(12-22-2010)
    UPDATE 3: A VAR representative informed us the team will run at least one full-time truck and a 2nd part-time truck; possibly full-time if funding allows. At Daytona there will be one truck for sure; driver yet to be named. Also, both drivers have to get approval from NASCAR to run the series.(Jayski/Nancy)(12-

 

 

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     A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America)

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Courtesy of ARCA

  http://www.arcaracing.com

Behind the Scenes with Messina in Pasadena

(PASADENA, Calif. - December 29, 2010) - With Messina Wildlife Management taking a cruise down Colorado Boulevard and kicking off 2011 in style in Saturday's Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, construction of the key ARCA Racing Series sponsor's parade float has been progressing for months.

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=10334

 

 

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     N A S C A R * C A N A D I A N * T I R E * S E R I E S

     http://localracing.nascar.com/news/6

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 2010 Review: Canadian Tire Series Wrap-Up

Shon Sbarra, NASCAR

As the year 2010 comes to a close, a final adieu must be bid to the fourth season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1. The year was highlighted by DJ Kennington’s long overdue first championship, but now it's time to close the book on the year passed.

http://hometracks.nascar.com/story/2010_Canadian_Tire_Series_Wrap_Up

 

 

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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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 Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/DD/123010.html

Are Radical Measures Needed To Save NASCAR?

By Doug Demmons

Randolph joins RWR

http://www.mtrmedia.com/nationwideseries/2010/12/randolph-joins-rwr.html

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/CA/122910.html

Commenting on the Year-End Mailbag

By Chuck Abrams

Gordon named Nationwide crew chief at Penske

http://www.mtrmedia.com/nationwideseries/2010/12/gordon-named-nationwide-crew-chief-at-penske.html

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/122810.html

Racer Profile: George Lunsford Alsobrook

By Allen Madding

 

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/MP/122710.html

Expectations are high for the Daytona 500

By Matthew Pizzolato

Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RG/122410.html

David Poole, Through Katy's Eyes - Part One

By Rebecca Gladden

 Insider Racing News

http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/DD/122310.html

It's Still Possible to Make a Small Fortune in Auto Racing

By Doug Demmons

 

Final 2010 Rankings: Which 12 Drivers Got The Most Crowd Noise This Year?

http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2010/12/29/1902176/nascar-news-rankings-driver-noise-dale-earnhardt-jr-jimmie-johnson-kyle-busch-tony-stewart

Cheers and Jeers: A Little of This; A Little of That

http://www.racejournalonline.com/index.php?page=read&article=715

Mike Smith: StockcarToon

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/sports/stockcartoon/

 

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     T V  *  L I S T I N G S

___________________________________________________________

 

Courtesy of Race Fan TV

  http://www.racefantv.com/

 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2011 (NEW YEAR’S DAY

11:30A-12:00n

TSN

2010 Canadian Rally Championship: 2010 Year In Review - 2011 Preview, HD, N

5:30P-6:00

RDS

Les Championnats Canadiens de Rallye: Tall Pines (Ontario), Nov 19-20/10, HD, N

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2011

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011

12:00n-1:00P

SPEED

British Touring Car Championship, Round 5, Croft, England, June 20/10, N

1:00P-2:00

SPEED

German Touring Cars (DTM), Round 5, Nürburgring, Germany, Aug 8/10, N

2:00P-3:00

SPEED

FIA World Touring Car Championship, Rounds 9 & 10, Autodromo International do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal, July 4/10, N

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2011

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2011

9:00P-10:00

SPEED

2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood estate, Chichester, England, July 2-4/10, N

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

11:00A-12:00n

SPEED

British Touring Car Championship, Round 6, Snetterton, England, Aug 8/10, N

12:00n -1:00P

SPEED

German Touring Cars (DTM), Round 6, Zandvoort, Netherlands, Aug 22/10, N

1:00P-2:00

SPEED

FIA World Touring Car Championship, Rounds 11 & 12, Brands Hatch, England, July 18/10, N

10:00P-1:30

SPEED

AMA Monster Energy Supercross Special, Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA, HD, L

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

11:00A-12:00

SPEED

FIA GT1 World Championship, 2010 year in review, N

12:00n-1:00P

SPEED

2010 Porsche Super Cup, Rounds 1 to 5 (Bahrain, Barcelona, Monaco, Valencia, Silverstone), N

1:00P-2:00

SPEED

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing, Round 15 - Pro 2 Unlimited & Pro Lite Unlimited, Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, AZ, Dec 11/10, (15029), HD, N

7:00P-8:00

SPEED

The SPEED Report, HD, L

 

 

 

We do not list all the programming offered by SPEED; for complete listings go to their website, http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/

 

Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!

___________________________________________________________

 

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