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  • Countdown to Daytona: 85

    Countdown to Daytona: 85

    With just 85 more days to Daytona, the focus can be on none other than Jeff Gordon’s 85th historic win this season. With his 85th victory, Gordon moved from being tied with Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip to sole position in third on the all-time career win list.

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]Gordon also joined even more elite company, now behind Richard Petty, with 200 career victories, and David Pearson, with 105 career wins. The Hendrick Motorsports driver earned his 85th win at the track where he made his Cup debut in 1992.

    The historic 85th win also came with some drama as weather wreaked havoc with the AdvocCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway that weekend this season. Gordon scored the historic 85th after a two-day rain delay and by surviving a race delayed by several showers, as well as several late-race wrecks.

    In fact, Gordon’s historic win came in an historic race, as the AdvoCare 500 was only the second Cup race since 1978 to run on a Tuesday. The race was originally scheduled for Sunday evening, but Tropical Storm Lee forced the two-day rain delay.

    While Gordon led 146 of the 325 laps during the Tuesday race and was out front for the final 38 laps, the finish was more than challenging. And it was none other than his teammate, nemesis and five-time champ Jimmie Johnson battling him for the race win at the end.

    Gordon was so intent on holding off Johnson to win the race, that he totally lost track of his historic 85th.

    “I totally forgot about that,” Gordon said in Victory Lane on receiving a special plaque from NASCAR saluting his 85th win. “Eighty-five, wow. That is unbelievable.”

    “We really used the car up at the end,” Gordon continued. “I was slipping and sliding. It was a lot of fun racing with Jimmie (Johnson).”

    While securing his 85th, Gordon was also at that time primarily focused on making the Chase for the Championship and a run at his own fifth title. With his 85th victory and third win of the 2011 season, he also scored sole possession for the fifth spot in the point standings.

    “I’m just blown away by the kind of day we had; the kind of year we’re having,” Gordon said. “I just feel rejuvenated in such a big way.”

    Gordon’s crew chief Alan Gustafson shared his driver’s sentiments, but also admitted that he had been worried going into the 1.5 mile Atlanta race track.

    “This was one of the race tracks that we felt like, to be an elite team and contend for the championship, we’ll have to do well on these styles of tracks,” Gustafson said. “There were times when I felt like we were going to win the race and times that we were 10th and it look like it was going to rain out.”

    “That’s all Jeff Gordon right there,” Gustafson said of his driver and his historic 85th win.

    There was other drama on the race track that might have impacted Gordon’s historic 85th win, however, the driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger managed to stay out of the fray. Involved in ‘Boys have at it, Atlanta style’ were Juan Pablo Montoya and Clint Bowyer, the former sending the latter into the wall, damaging his Chase hopes.

    After that encounter, Bowyer had a few choice names for JPM, as well as saying it was impossible to race around him.

    “We’re out here racing for a spot in the Chase,” Bowyer said. “He’s racing for nothing.”

    In addition to dodging the wrecks at race end, Gordon also had to survive a very close finish to score his 85th career victory. He won by just about half a second, 0.598 seconds to be exact, over his teammate Jimmie Johnson, who at the end of this race took over the top spot in the Chase standings.

    Johnson was running so fast at the end trying to catch Gordon that he literally was sideways coming to the checkered flag.

    “I’m so glad I grew up racing on dirt,” Johnson said. “I could have spun out four or five times at the end. To race that hard, that sideways at 180 mph, lap after lap, is a good time.”

    “That was fun,” Gordon said of his Atlanta win and his 85th career victory. “We’ve been able to send a message of how strong this team is and just how good our race cars are.”

  • ‘Fearless Freddy’ Belongs in NASCAR’s Hall

    ‘Fearless Freddy’ Belongs in NASCAR’s Hall

    It came as an email from Ford’s PR guy, Dan Zacharias, Friday evening. Former NASCAR driver Fred Lorenzen is going to be honored by the Illinois General Assembly at Chicagoland Speedway on December 7, 2011. It is the start of a push by many to get Lorenzen into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It brought back lots of memories. It made me smile.

    [media-credit name=”NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”235″][/media-credit]The first race I ever attended, way back in 1964, was won by Lorenzen at Martinsville Speedway. For the major part of his career, he drove the No. 28 Ford out of the Holman-Moody shops to tremendous success. He won 26 races in his career, always running a limited schedule. The record shows that the 26 wins came in only 158 races, less than five seasons in today’s world. He was the first driver to win at NASCAR’s original super speedways (Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Rockingham. From 1961-1967, he won a quarter of the races he ran, which brings me to the point of this article.

    As I watched the festivities at Las Vegas tonight, and I’ve mentioned this in articles before, all the emphasis these days is on the season championship. It’s been bastardized by the Chase which allows a driver to have a horrible year and still win a championship by concentrating on the last ten races, but I’ve worn that opinion out over the years, but “Fearless Freddy” never ran the whole schedule. Much like David Pearson and Cale Yarborough in his later years, he ran selected races and was pretty successful in the races he ran. And they were stars. Not anymore. The television guys give us a running update on who is leading the points from Daytona on while always reminding us who is in the lead. Never mind who won the race, it’s the championship that counts.

    Lorenzen has been on the ballot twice before without much interest from voters. That’s a shame. Probably part of it is because Lorenzen retired in 1967 at the tender age of 33. He came back in the early 70’s to run for Paul Goldsmith and the Wood Brothers, but left the sport in 1972 for good. Most of today’s enthusiasts probably don’t remember him, but I do. This event’s main purpose is to once again introduce one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers to voters. Unfortunately, the decision by the hall to allow only a limited number of inductees each year might spell doom for drivers like Lorenzen. The practice of only allowing a limited number of not only drivers, but car owners, crew chiefs, broadcasters, and officials, there is a good chance that guys like Fred will forever be overlooked. How can Lorenzen be chosen over today’s feel good guys like Rick Hendrick? It’s a flawed system that needs to be changed, but I’m afraid I am in the minority in this attitude.

    Today, Fred Lorenzen is in a nursing home suffering from dementia. It would be wonderful to see him get in the hall before he dies. The same could be said for Chris Economaki and many others. The trouble is that the current policies will make it impossible for many of the heroes of the sport to ever get in the hall. Those without a championship need not apply. I find that horrible.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 86 (and 97)

    Countdown to Daytona: 86 (and 97)

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”aligncenter” width=”405″][/media-credit]As we continue the countdown to Daytona, we’ll look at the brief history of number 86, and then take a look at a second number—97—that didn’t get covered due to it being a higher number.

    The number 86 has seen little use in comparison to some others—making just 320 appearances since 1949. The number 86 was first used in the 1949 race at Langhorne Speedway. Featuring 45 cars on a 1 mile dirt track, Harvey Hillgas, in his only Sprint Cup start raced his ’49 Ford to a 25th place finish.

    As the theme has been the last few days, Buck Baker was the first to win (and only) driver to win using the number 86. That win came in 1961 at Hartsville Speedway, a .333 mile dirt track in Hartsville, South Carolina.

    Other drivers using the number 86 included son Buddy, Neil “Soapy” Castles, Tiny Lund, John Sears, and road racer Elliott-Forbes Robinson. The last time the number 86 saw use was 1993 by West coast driver Rich Woodland Jr., who entered the 1993 Slick 50 500 at Phoenix. The number has sat dormant since then.  In total the number 86 has one win, 6 poles, 31 top-five and 78 top-ten finishes.

    In comparison, the number 97 has had more than double the starts at 684. Drivers have sat on the pole eight times with this car number and accounted for 17 victories, 74 top-five finishes and 182 in the top ten.

    The most successful driver of no. 97 is undoubtedly Kurt Busch. In the midst of a strong 2000 campaign in the Camping World Truck Series, Busch replaced a struggling Chad Little for the final seven races of the 2000 season in preparation for a run at Rookie of the Year honors in 2001. Busch would finish runner-up to Kevin Harvick in that category, in a somewhat disappointing season that resulted in just six top-ten finishes.

    However, Busch returned with thunder in 2002, winning four races and placing third in the season-end tally; a 24 position improvement from the previous year. Busch won a total of 14 races and the 2004 championship for owner Jack Roush.

    Bill Amick, a driver from Oregon was the first driver to win in car no. 97, beating 30 other drivers to win a 199-lap affair at Sacramento’s Capital Speedway in 1957. That win would be Amick’s only victory in NASCAR’s top series. Amick found his greatest success winning the 1965 championship in what was then the Pacific Coast Grand National Series; a series that evolved into the K&N Pro Series West division.

    The only other driver to win in car no. 97 is a name many don’t immediately associate with NASCAR—Parnelli Jones. Jones won a total of four races in just 34 starts at NASCAR’s highest level, including two driving car 97. One of the victories was a brutal 500-lap (shortened to 487 due to rain) affair at the legendary Ascot Park in 1958; the other at the California State Fairgrounds a year prior. Jones would go on to win the 1963 Indianapolis 500 as a driver, as well as the 1970 and 1971 races with Al Unser as the driver. Amick and Jones were both initial inductees into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002.

    Other notable drivers of no. 97 include Chad Little, the current competition director of NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Series, long-term independent Henley Gray, Red Farmer, Geoffrey Bodine, and 1990 Nationwide champion Chuck Bown.

    Bodine’s (and substitute driver Tommy Ellis) stint in number 97 came about when his Junior Johnson car was found to have an oversized engine in the 1991 All-Star race. NASCAR slapped the team with a four-race suspension, including crew chief Tim Brewer. To keep his drivers eligible, Johnson changed the car number to 97 and listed his wife Flossie as the car owner.

    The most recent driver is Kevin Conway, who made three starts (and four laps) for owner Joe Nemechek at the plate tracks this season.

  • The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Year in Quotes Review

    The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Year in Quotes Review

    In what has become tradition the last few years, a time to reflect on the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season is upon us. While many do their “Best and Worst” or “Top Moments” from a season now complete, I’ve enjoyed reliving races through the drivers.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”256″][/media-credit]This season a new champion was crown, the youngest in series history. Rivalries were born between new drivers while others were refueled. New faces graced victory lane as old faces attempted to keep some of the spotlight stolen by the younger stars. It was a season filled with drama, passion and history.

    But as fun as it was, it’s now officially over. Another chapter has been written in CWTS history. Here’s one last look at what kept everyone on the edge of their seat for 25 races this season.

    Daytona: “I came here to celebrate his life. I didn’t come here to celebrate a win.” — Michael Waltrip

    Ten years to the day that he won his first career race in the 2001 Daytona 500, the same day the NASCAR world lost Dale Earnhardt, Waltrip again went to victory lane for the first time. But it was in a No. 15 CWTS truck after beating Elliott Sadler on a last lap slingshot off turn four. Waltrip had entered all events at Speedweeks with the No. 15 and Napa as his sponsor to honor his former friend and boss.

    Phoenix: “It’s the difference between a Corvette and an Impala — maybe a Volt … That’s that electric car.” — Clint Bowyer

    Following his second place finish to Kyle Busch the Kevin Harvick Inc. driver spoke about his frustration with restarts and driving a vehicle that was much different than his Sprint Cup car. Bowyer said his mistakes played a key in missing out on victory and that he felt his truck didn’t have enough RPM has it could have.

    Darlington: “I am so happy for Darlington Raceway. Look at the crowd we got …” — Todd Bodine

    Since returning to the schedule in 2010 after a six year absence, Darlington instantly became a must-see event for race fans. Being a standalone weekend on the calendar many saw some of the best racing of the year at the track ‘Too Tough to Tame.” This past year former champion Bodine repeatedly expressed the strong state of the sport while acknowledging that Darlington was doing a fantastic job attracting a crowd on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the race has again been taken off the schedule.

    Martinsville: “The only thing that was missing today was leather interior.” — Johnny Sauter

    It took a late restart and then a bump-and-run but Sauter finally won at Martinsville. In doing so he beat one of the best in the business, Kyle Busch, whom he muscled his way inside of with less than two laps to go. Sauter praised his team for the hard work and a truck that he couldn’t have been happier with.

    Nashville: “Hell of a wheelman, that old man still gets after it.” — Kyle Busch

    After beating the veteran of the CWTS, Ron Hornaday, Busch acknowledged a great race the two had put on. Hornaday had passed Busch with less than 10 laps to go, but the No. 18 was not to be denied that night and returned the favor for good just laps later to seal his second win of the year and at Nashville. The good relationship between Busch and Hornaday wouldn’t last long in 2011.

    Dover: “Running second to Kyle’s almost like winning now-a-days.” — Cole Whitt

    For as strong as Whitt and the No. 60 Red Bull team ran in the early part of 2011 they were never able to seal the deal. At Dover he fell short to Busch who was able to get around him thanks to a late race restart. Afterwards the rookie tried to look for a way to put it in perspective.

    Charlotte: “I had an angel running with me that last run with Zahra Baker.” — Kyle Busch

    For the grief that Busch takes about his on and off-track antics, on a Friday night in Charlotte he had many in tears. Knowing that he didn’t have the fastest truck to win the race, as well as having spun out during the event, Busch wasn’t about to go down easily. With the name of murder victim Zahra Baker on the side of his truck he dug down deep to take the checkered flag in her memory.

    Kansas: It fried my rear end.” — Todd Bodine

    There comes a time when every driver will be at odds with their machine. Not just with its handling but with the toll it takes on their body. At Kansas the interior of Bodine’s truck wasn’t equipped to handle the heat well as his behind became quite uncomfortable. Even with a fire lit underneath it though, it wasn’t enough to propel him to victory.

    Texas: “God Bless America.” — Johnny Sauter

    Very rarely does the driver who finishes under the checkered flag first not win the race. In Texas Sauter beat Hornaday but was black flagged for changing lanes before the start/finish line on the green-white-checkered finish. When reporters caught up with him after he exited his truck, Sauter didn’t have much to say about the situation.

    Kentucky: “It’s crazy what we’ve been able to do.” — Parker Kligerman

    Rookie Parker Kligerman was a new face who nearly found victory lane in 2011. He had back-to-back second place finishes at Texas and Kentucky, where he praised his small team for their big accomplishments. Kligerman revealed the big goals the team had and said he knew they were going to win a race. Unfortunately they never did but finished 11th in points.

    Iowa: “They moved a race shop and built the truck, they went to victory.” — Matt Crafton

    It was a long time coming for Crafton and his No. 88 Menards team but they finally earned their second career victory by holding off the dominate Austin Dillon. It came at the conclusion of a busy week for the ThorSport organization who had just relocated into their new shop in Sandusky, Ohio while also preparing for the race weekend.

    Nashville: “It’s just so great to have a win. When you get a win, everything just seems to be a lot easier.” — Austin Dillon

    Victory was also a long time coming for Dillon who had let many slip through his fingers early in 2011. The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team came to Nashville with one goal in mind: winning a custom guitar from Sam Bass. Starting on the pole and leading the most laps, Dillon’s victory kickstarted his championship campaign into the summer.

    Lucas Oil: “I’m very impatient and I had a lot of great people around me to say, ‘Hey, keep your cool.’ And here we are, we preserved.” — Timothy Peters

    When things aren’t going well it’s easy to get down on yourself as Peters did in the early part of 2011. The team struggled to bring home the finishes they deserved but knew it would turn around eventually. Just a week after talking about how great they are and how much he appreciates them, Peter’s pit crew helped him recovered from a blown tire to capture victory in Indianapolis.

    Pocono: “You hate losing to him, but you hate losing to anybody.” — James Buescher

    Many drivers will admit that it is fun racing with the Sprint Cup Series drivers of Harvick, Busch and others. But when it comes to seeing them win, while beating you, it’s not as fun. In Pocono Buescher lost his shot at victory when both Harvick and Busch bested him at the end of the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125.

    Michigan: “It’s not Sunday, but any trophy you can bring home is a good thing.” — Kevin Harvick

    On the flip side, it’s only about fun for the Cup drivers. Unable to run for the driver’s championship because of the preseason rule change, Cup drivers want nothing but wins on Friday and Saturday’s. Wins that go a long way for Harvick and company who fought and won the owner’s championship in 2011.

    Bristol: “You can’t fix a crybaby and he’s just a crybaby.” — Kevin Harvick

    There’s no other track that is better suited for scores to be settled and rivalries to be ignited than Bristol. But it wasn’t Harvick and Busch going at it, instead it was Busch and Elliott Sadler who tangled and hurt each others feelings. Sadler said Busch wrecked himself while Busch said Sadler was following the orders of team owner Harvick, who won while they feuded. However Sadler wasn’t driving for KHI that night.

    Atlanta: “See that trophy? We stole it tonight.” — Ron Hornaday

    The 2011 season will be one of ‘what could have been’ for Hornaday who seemed to have troubles drawn to him. From the beginning he found himself in a deep championship hole, that he nearly climbed out of, thanks to a lucky break in Texas and a fuel mileage gamble in Atlanta, the sites of his first two wins. Hornaday had just enough in the tank to make it to the finish line ahead of a hard charging Clint Bowyer.

    Chicago: “Everybody has different slangs. Some are speaking more redneck languages than others. I’m still learning the language.” — Nelson Piquet Jr.

    One of the fresh faces in the series was Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr., who drove for KHI. A few times it looked like he was going to bust down the door and win a race but came up just a little bit short at tracks like Nashville and Chicago. It was here where he was working with a new spotter in his ear and while they finished third, Piquet said it takes time to become familiar with another voice.

    Loudon: “Honestly, it was like a parade. It was a terrible race and everybody was following everybody around and hard to pass.” — Kevin Harvick

    It’s rare for the CWTS to have a bad race or one that was just stunk up by a driver. Yet at Loudon Kyle Busch led all but 10 laps on his way to another victory and third place finisher Harvick didn’t hide the fact that he was upset with the racing conditions, which produced the race that many saw and were unhappy with.

    Kentucky: “We gave ’em hell at the end but the old man whipped my tail.” — Austin Dillon

    No other driver went on a hot streak at the end of the 2011 season like Ron Hornaday. Unless you count Tony Stewart in the Sprint Cup Series. Hornaday kept on winning and running in the top five to climb his way back in the championship fight. At Kentucky his team used pit strategy to get ahead of a fast Dillon late in the race. The win was the 50th of Hornaday’s career.

    Las Vegas: “I finally won in Vegas.” — Ron Hornaday

    A week later it was more of the same. This time though it was Hornaday dominating the day for his first win in Sin City. He brought him to within 21 points of the championship and helped KHI extend their owner points lead. But Vegas would be the site of Hornaday’s last 2011 victory.

    Talladega: “It’s been a long time since I won a race, nobody knows how much this means to me.” — Mike Wallace

    With the seat open in the No. 33 for the Talladega event, KHI called Mike Wallace to fill the void. Teaming with Hornaday and perfecting the two-car tandem drafting, the pair were never far from the front of the field on raceday. In the end Hornaday pushed Wallace to his fifth career victory and his first NASCAR win since 2004. An emotional Wallace soaked in the moment in victory lane when he could have been on vacation with his wife for their anniversary.

    Martinsville: “There’s no cure for stupid.” — Todd Bodine

    The best and worst in drivers can and most likely will be brought out at Martinsville. This season it was between Germain teammates Bodine and Max Papis who got together on pit road then continued on the track. Bodine didn’t like Papis crowding him on pit road, where crew members are in danger, and when he felt that Papis was brake checking him, he spun him out. Later that night on Twitter Papis responded by saying he wasn’t going to pull over for Bodine and that it was “BS” to be wrecked by a teammate.

    Texas: “I didn’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed. He did.” — Ron Hornaday

    As previously mentioned, the good relationship between Hornaday and Busch didn’t last long. The two found each other on numerous occasions in 2011 and it never ended well. In Texas while racing side-by-side just 16 laps into the race, it appeared Hornaday got loose while trying to navigate around a slower truck and ran up the track into Busch. The two hit the wall and when the caution came out Busch blatantly wrecked Hornaday. It started a verbal war of words between KHI and Busch, who was parked for the remainder of the weekend and who would not be in another 2011 CWTS race.

    Homestead-Miami: “You can’t go out of the Truck Series any better than this.” — Austin Dillon

    In just his second full season the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet driver won his first CWTS championship. But Dillon won’t be back in 2012 to defend his title as he and his team move to the Nationwide Series, where he feels he can win the title there. In Homestead Dillon finished a solid 10th to claim the title while rival Johnny Sauter won the event to close out the season.

    Be sure to check back in for the reviews of the 2011 Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. 

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: MATT KENSETH’S SENSE OF HUMOR IS ALIVE AND WELL

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: MATT KENSETH’S SENSE OF HUMOR IS ALIVE AND WELL

    When Matt Kenseth launched his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, back in 2003, he made quick work of establishing a fan base. He also made quick work of creating a successful tenure as the driver of the #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Kenseth’s Sprint Cup career is loaded with highlights including a series championship along with 21 Cup wins and a very healthy career average finish ratio of 14.6.

    However, somehow during all these years Kenseth got branded, by both the fans and members of the racing media, as being humorless. He was described as coming off very stiff during interviews. It was almost as if he kept reminding himself that he was representing Roush Fenway Racing, his sponsors and the Ford Motor Company so he had to choose his words very carefully. There were even some who harshly said that this driver was boring.

    Kenseth proved them all wrong this past Wednesday in Las Vegas. While participating in a special appearance for NASCAR Champion’s Week, Kenseth ripped off some low key, but very funny, one liners that left a large crowd of fans in stitches.

    The event was part of the “Fanfest” held on Fremont Street, the section of Las Vegas often referred to as “Old Town.” All 12 drivers from NASCAR’s 2011 Chase were on the stage, paired off in two man teams, to participate in an unusual rendition

    [media-credit id=26 align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]of the television show “The Newlywed Game.” Making the game even more special was the fact that the event’s emcee was Bob Eubanks, the original host of the classic television game show, who presented the panelists with NASCAR themed questions.

    One of the questions was: “who would you like most to bump out of the way on the last lap to win a race?” Most of the drivers picked Brian Vickers. That’s when Kenseth informed Eubanks that it was a trick question adding “because Brian Vickers would never be leading on the last lap.” The fan’s response was instant.

    Kenseth’s game partner was Carl Edwards, his Roush Fenway Racing team mate. Eubanks asked Kenseth “what is the one thing about your partner that women would be turned off by.” With a smile on his face, Kenseth replied “Carl likes to look at himself more than he likes to look at her.” Again, instant reaction from the drivers and the fans. Even Edwards thought it was funny.

    But the really funny line from Kenseth came when Eubanks asked the drivers “if you had a daughter, which NASCAR driver would you absolutely forbid her to date?” Several pointed at Denny Hamlin. The names of Brian Vickers and Tony Stewart were also mentioned. However Kenseth, without so much as batting an eye, replied “Danica.”

    You just have to love a line like that. It’s also proof that Matt Kenseth’s sense of humor is alive and well.

  • Coutndown to Daytona: 87

    Coutndown to Daytona: 87

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″][/media-credit]While the drivers and teams continuing celebrating in Las Vegas, we continue counting down to the 2012 Daytona 500, which is just 87 days away.

    NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Buck Baker was the first driver to use no. 87; using it in NASCAR’s very first race in 1949 at the .750 mile Charlotte Speedway. Baker finished 11th in that race for a payday of $50. Baker used the number in 419 of his 635 starts and accounts for 26 of the 27 wins with the number. The other driver to win using no. 87 is Jim Paschal. Buddy Baker, one of Buck’s sons would use it in 38 starts. Buck would later use the number for son Randy, who made a handful of appearances in the 1980s and 1990s.

    Only nine drivers have made five or more starts in car #87

    Baker would later launch the Buck Baker Racing School in 1980, whose students include Sprint Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, along with Ryan Newman.

    Beginning in 1993, the number became associated with Joe Nemechek, and has been ever since. Nemechek’s first start came in the initial Sprint Cup race at Loudon; a race he was joined in by fellow Nationwide competitor Jeff Burton. Both would move up to the Cup ranks the following season.

    After a one year stint with Larry Hedrick in 1994, Nemechek returned to driving his own cars in 1995 with sponsorship from Burger King. This arrangement lasted for two seasons before he left to drive for Felix Sabates.

    Nemechek ran the number a few times in the late-90s for road course ringer Ron Fellows. Fellows rang up an impressive runner-up finish to Jeff Gordon in the 1999 Frontier @ the Glen.

    In 2009, Nemechek returned to running his own cars; the majority of the time, unsponsored. On a limited budget, Nemechek was the only team outside the top 35 in points to qualify for every race in the 2011 season.

    The number 87 has made a total of 713 starts. In those starts, no. 87 has netted 27 wins, 26 poles, 186 top-five and 285 top-ten finishes.

  • Joe Denette Hits Lottery Again with New Driver Ron Hornaday and New Home at KHI Shop

    Joe Denette Hits Lottery Again with New Driver Ron Hornaday and New Home at KHI Shop

    Last year, Joe Denette started a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with his winnings from the Mega Millions Virginia Lottery drawing.

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: lotterypost.com” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]But this year, Denette feels like he has hit the lottery all over again by securing veteran and championship Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday, as well as the shop formerly operated by the winners of the 2011 Owner’s Championship, Kevin and DeLana Harvick.

    “I think this is one of the best scenarios I could ask for,” Denette said. “I got one of the best drivers out there in my opinion. I lucked out on this one.”

    Denette said the deal with Hornaday came about over a simple dinner together.

    “Hermie Sadler, my business manager in racing, came to me with a proposal because Hermie and Kevin (Harvick) are pretty good friends,” Denette said. “They started talking back and forth and he started talking to Ron.”

    “We sat down for dinner one night and by the time we were done with dinner, we had a deal struck.”

    While Denette knew of Hornaday’s championship resume, including 51 victories, 27 poles, and 146 top-five finishes, he was most impressed with the veteran driver’s heart and passion for the sport. He also was taken with his new driver’s desire to keep winning.

    “His passion and his desire to keep winning impressed me most,” Denette said. “His goal is to win a fifth championship. When he left the table, he asked me what I expected from hi and I said just to give it your all and compete.”

    “I told him, I want you to win your fifth championship with Joe Denette Motorsports.”

    Hornaday, a 14-year veteran of the Truck Series, shared Denette’s excitement for his new ride, especially with the closure of his former team, KHI Motorsports.

    “I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with JDM next season,” Hornaday said. “This is a young team and they have put a lot of the right people in place to win races and compete for a championship in 2012.”

    “I’m honored to continue my relationship with Chevrolet and I’m looking forward to a successful 2012 season.”

    Another important part of Hornaday’s team that will be come to Joe Denette Motorsports is crew chief Jeff Hensley. And, according to Denette, one of the best holdovers from the KHI days is that the team will actually be running out of the former race team’s shop.

    “We hired Jeff a week or two before we hired Ron,” Denette said. “We’re actually going to be running out of Kevin’s old shop.”

    “I feel like I’m taking over where Kevin left off.”

    While Denette confirmed that he will definitely be running one truck full-time, as he did last season in his rookie year, he also revealed that he may be running a second truck, perhaps even on a full-time basis.

    “Right now we are running the No. 9 truck with Ron driving and several races throughout the season, we planned on running a second truck,” Denette said. “But from what my understanding is Hermie (Sadler) is already striking some deals where I feel like we’re going to have two trucks on the track this whole season.”

    “I’m not 100% sure but I know for a fact that Elliott Sadler will be driving a few races this year and I also believe that Kevin (Harvick) wants to run a few Truck races for me this year.”

    “In essence, he’ll be driving his old stuff, so I figure it’s a win/win situation.”

    As with many NASCAR teams currently, Denette continues to be in the hunt for sponsors at all levels for his race trucks.

    “We’re still working on sponsors,” Denette said. “Right now, I’m still open for sponsorship.”

    “If someone wants to come up with some money and wants their company or logo on the side of my truck or on the hood of the truck, I’d gladly take it,” Denette continued. “I’ll put anybody on the truck that wants out there.”

    In addition to sponsorship dollars, however, what Denette is dreaming about most is getting that first ever race win next year with his new team and driver.

    “The first win, there will be nothing like it,” Denette said. “That’s what I came into the sport to do.”

    “I want to win,” Denette continued. “I want to win a driver’s championship. I want to win an owner’s championship. I want a NASCAR trophy of my own.”

    This week, Denette is going to finish up the 2011 season by heading to Las Vegas for NASCAR Championship week, taking the opportunity to check out that NASCAR trophy that he is so hoping to win next year.

    And, yes, Denette will not only be heading to the championship banquet but also hoping that he will get lucky at some of the black jack tables in the casinos as well.

    “I actually purchased a table at the banquet and have a group of six people coming with me,” Denette said. “We will have Hermie Sadler and his wife and some people who won a contest through the Virginia Lottery.”

    “It’s pretty cool. When you meet the drivers in person, it’s cool,” Denette continued. “You can sit down and talk to them. I played black jack last year with Kenny Wallace and Kurt Busch.”

    The biggest lesson that Denette has learned in his rookie year is that racing is indeed all about the people in the sport, especially having the right people in the right places to win. And, through it all, Denette’s passion for the sport, especially the Truck Series, has remained strong, if not increasing even further.

    “I love the sport even more now,” Denette said. “I have more access to come up to the drivers and talk to the drivers and shoot the breeze. I run across these guys all the time and I’m still amazed at what they do.”

    “Just go to a Truck race,” Denette said. “It’s unreal. Any day, any time, anybody can be a winner there.”

    “I’ve got a passion for trucks,” Denette continued. “To see them racing, it’s pretty cool.”

    “The Truck Series is the grass roots of NASCAR,” Denette said. “It’s how the sport started.”

    “And the best part is that anybody can come to the track and win.”

  • Countdown to Daytona: 88

    Countdown to Daytona: 88

    The number 88 has an impressive history in NASCAR and a who’s-who list of drivers and owners whose cars have been adorned with the number.

    [media-credit name=”Ted Van Pelt” align=”alignright” width=”241″][/media-credit]As was the case with no. 89, car no. 88 made its debut at Langhorne in 1949 with Pepper Cunningham of Trenton, New Jersey behind the wheel. Cunningham finished 33rd in his debut after wrecking his ’49 Lincoln. Cunningham would only compete in nine other races (he failed to start a 10th), and just one other using number 88. That start would result in his career best finish of sixth, coming at Langhorne.

    The first win for car no. 88 came in 1954. Tim Flock would have had that honor, but his ’54 Oldsmobile was disqualified, handing the win to Lee Petty. Buck Baker would win later that season at Wilson Speedway in Wilson, North Carolina for the first of 66 wins for no. 88. Baker would win two other times using no. 88—later in 1954 at Morristown Speedway in New Jersey and five years later at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Other notable drivers using the number include Neil “Soapy” Castles, Fireball Roberts (just two races), Tiny Lund, and Banjo Matthews.

    In 1973, a little-known team called DiGard showed up at Dover with driver Donnie Allison. Comprised of Bill Gardner and Mike DiProspero, the team finished a disappointing 38th after the engine failed after just 18 laps. However, the stage was set for a run that spanned 14 years.

    Allison ran the first two seasons for DiGard and 10 races in 1975. After the Pocono race, DiGard dropped Allison for a cocky young kid named Darrell Waltrip. Outside of five races for Bud Moore, Waltrip had driven his own equipment in every other start, winning once at the old Nashville Fairgrounds. Waltrip won once in 1975 for DiGard at Richmond; the first for no. 88 in 16 years.

    Gatorade joined the team the following season for a five-year run with Waltrip in which he won 25 more races. It was during his time in car no. 88 that Waltrip earned his now-famous moniker of “Jaws”, a name given to him by rival driver Cale Yarborough.

    Waltrip bought out his contract in 1980 to drive for Junior Johnson, a move that was unheard of at the time. DiGard would replace Waltrip with Ricky Rudd. Rudd didn’t win in his one season with DiGard and he left for Richard Childress Racing.

    Bobby Allison replaced Rudd in 1982 and responded with eight wins, 20 top-ten finishes, and a runner-up finish in the points. Miller replaced Gatorade for ’83 and DiGard switched their number to 22. Gatorade and the number 88 moved to Cliff Stewart’s Pontiacs and driver Geoff Bodine. When Bodine left for Hendrick Motorsports the following season, Stewart signed Rusty Wallace, who won the ASA championship in 1983. Wallace won Rookie of the Year in 1984, besting a class including Phil Parsons, Greg Sacks, Doug Heveron, and Clark Dwyer.  In 1985, Gatorade left and was replaced by Alugard Antifreeze.

    [media-credit name=”Ted Van Pelt” align=”alignright” width=”239″][/media-credit]Buddy Baker took over car no. 88 in a car co-owned by himself and Danny Schiff. According to Sports Illustrated, Schiff was the CEO of Bull Frog Knits, a children’s apparel company. Baker had first used the number in 1959 in a race at the Southern States Fairgrounds; dad Buck used no. 87.  The partnership lasted four seasons, with Baker driving the majority. Morgan Shepherd filled in for Baker in 1988, along with Rick Mast, who made his Sprint Cup debut in the car.Greg Sacks started 1989 in Bakers’ Crisco-backed machine, but was replaced by Berwick, Pennsylvania’s Jimmy Spencer. Spencer earned three top-ten finishes in the ride. Following the 1989 season, the team closed its doors.

    The number 88 saw sporadic use the next five seasons; Larry Pearson used the number in a one-off in 1990. Baker used the no. 88 twice more in 1991 and Jeff Fuller made his debut using the number in 1992.

    Robert Yates, who had built engines for DiGard resurrected the number 88 in 1995 for Ernie Irvan’s triumphant return from a traumatic head injury—an injury Irvan had sustained the previous year at Michigan International Speedway. Given just a 10% chance to survive, Irvan overcame the odds and was back in a Sprint Cup car just 14 months later. Irvan finished sixth in his return, besting teammate Dale Jarrett by one position. The following season, Irvan returned to the 28 car and Jarrett was moved to the 88 with new sponsor Ford Quality Care.

    In his first race, Jarrett won the 1996 Daytona 500, beginning an association with the number that spanned 11 years. In those 11 years, Jarrett won a total of 28 races and the 2000 championship. Jarrett’s final win came in car no. 88 at Talladega in 2005, beating Tony Stewart back to the flag. After Jarrett left for Michael Waltrip Racing, his vacancy filled with Ricky Rudd.

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    Rudd retired after the 2007 season, and Yates retired the number after the 2007 season, giving it to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt’s grandfather Ralph had used the number 50 years prior.

    Earnhardt’s well-documented drought has been in car no. 88; his last win coming in June 2008 at Michigan.In total, the number 88 has netted 55 poles, 66 wins, and 568 top-ten finishes in its 1,419 starts; which ranks seventh overall.

  • Sprint Cup: Crew Chief Changes for 2012

    Sprint Cup: Crew Chief Changes for 2012

    Shane Wilson has been named the crew chief of the No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s team with driver Kevin Harvick for the 2012 season. Wilson has previously been with the No. 33 team of Clint Bowyer for the past three seasons. Gill Martin, who has been with the No. 29 team since May 2009, has been named director of team operations.

    Wilson and Harvick have worked together in 2006 to earn 10 wins, 24 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes in the Nationwide series en-route to winning the championship. The team had an 824-point margin of victory, creating a new series record.

    Steve Addington, the No. 22 crew chief for the 2011 season, is taking his talent to the No. 14 team of Tony Stewart for the 2012 season.  Addington has served as crew chief for Bobby Labonte (2005), J.J. Yeley (2006-2007), Kyle Busch (2008-race No. 33 of 2009) and Kurt Busch (2010-2011) during his Sprint Cup career.  Twelve wins were scored with Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing and four wins with Brother Kurt during while working with Penske Racing. 

    It came as a bit of a shock when Stewart’s crew chief Darian Grubb announced at Homestead that he was released from the team at the end of the 2011 season.  The news of him leaving Stewart-Haas came shortly after he led the team to winning the Championship.  As of now, Grubb has not announced what team he will be with next year.

    The garage rumors say that he may rejoin his former co-workers at Hendrick Motorsports, possibly as a crew chief for one of the team’s four cars. Team owner Rick Hendrick told reporters during a teleconference Monday morning that his crew chief lineup is set for 2012. However, Hendrick did admit to making Grubb another offer to rejoin the team.

    Rumors have been confirmed this week that Drew Blickensderfer will join Richard Childress Racing next year to crew chief the No. 31 team with driver Jeff Burton.  Luke Lambert, interim crew chief during the closing weeks of the 2011 season, will remain at RCR in a yet-to-be announced position.

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    Blickensderfer is leaving Roush Fenway racing after nearly ten years with the team, most recently as the crew chief of the No. 6 team with driver David Ragan.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 89

    Countdown to Daytona: 89

    89 days remain until they fire the engines at Daytona, so the focus today is on a number that has seen scarce use compared to others in NASCAR’s top series. Car no. 89 has only been used in 266 races. By comparison, number 43 has been used 1,809 times and the second-most frequently used number, 11 have started 1,735 Sprint Cup races.

    Shepherd Racing Venture/Rick Adkins

    Al Keller led things off at the treacherous Langhorn Speedway in 1949; NASCAR’s fourth ever race. Keller drove his ’49 Ford to an eighth place finish after starting 22nd. Keller made a total of 29 Sprint Cup starts, but only used the number 89 two other times. A host of NASCAR legends used the number 89, including 1952 champion Tim Flock, Buck Baker, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, and the first African American driver to win a race, Wendell Scott.

    Buck Baker was the first to win in car 89; that win came in 1952 at Columbia Speedway in Columbia, South Carolina. Baker also won in car no. 89 three years later at the .750 mile Charlotte Speedway. Baker made a total of 635 starts, winning 46 races and two championships. Baker will be featured in the coming days in upcoming articles.

    The number 89 has two notable wins. The first was when Buddy Shuman won the only points-paying Cup race to date outside the United States later in 1952. That win came at Stamford Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Shuman’s victory was his only win in 29 starts. NASCAR hasn’t journeyed outside the country since for a points race.

    The other notable victory came for driver Joe Lee Johnson, winner of the first World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Johnson bested Johnny Beauchamp by four laps to take the victory and a $27,150 payday. Adjusted for inflation, that figure would be $197,599.65.

    Beginning in 1983, the no. 89 became most associated with the Mueller Brothers Racing Team and their Evinrude Outboards backed cars. Based out of Wisconsin, the Mueller Brothers used drivers from the Midwest, many from the ASA ranks. Their first driver was Dean Roper, a three-time USAC national stock car champion.  Jim Sauter, father of Jay, Johnny, and Tim drove the majority of the races from 1985-1993, with Rodney Combs driving the car in 1989. Sauter had limited success in the partial schedule the Meuller Bros. ran; his best finish was a 10th in the wreck-strewn 1987 Oakwood Homes 500.

    Female driver Patty Moise made her first Sprint Cup start in 1987 in a car prepared by Marc Reno and Ernie Irvan at Watkins Glen. Moise crashed her no. 89 butter-flavored Crisco machine and made just four more Cup starts before transferring over to the Nationwide Series.

    The Mueller Bros. last start came in 1993 at Michigan. They tried to run a partial schedule in 1994 with Sauter, but failed to qualify for a race that year. The Mueller Bros. returned for a partial schedule in 1996 in the Camping World Truck Series, but used the numbers 4 and 42. Their two drivers were current Roush-Fenway racing GM Robby Reiser and 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart.

    Aside from a one-off by Dennis Setzer in 1998 at Talladega, the only other driver to use no. 89 in the last decade is the venerable Morgan Shepherd. Shepherd made 32 starts from 2002-2006 before moving his team to the Nationwide Series, where he continues to use the number to this day.

    In total, car no. 89 has scored a total of three poles, four wins, 18 top-fives and 58 top tens.