Category: NASCAR Cup Series

MICHAEL WALTRIP, Co-OWNER, MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING

ON THE NEW NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES POINT SYSTEM:

“As a racecar driver I’ve known for a long time that if you finish 11^th you’re going to get 60 more points than if you finish 30^th. But I know that, and not very many other people know that. Now anyone can understand that if you finish 10^th and someone else finishes 20^th you’re only going to get 10 more points than him and so it will just make the fans more engaged.

“I think we not only need to look at the points’ system but beyond that. Look at the tracks to make sure that people understand where pit road speed starts. You know if you look at the Dallas Cowboys new stadium that’s the new standard. That’s where the bar is set with those big video screens and all sorts of technology. That’s where we need to head with our race tracks. We don’t need a cone set up at the end of pit road saying that’s where pit road speed begins, we need it either shot across digitally or it needs to be a big sign saying ‘enter here – speed limit 45.’ We need to show that so a fan in the stands can see those things. I think that is the direction we’re going and this is just the first little step.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, DRIVER No. 00 AARON’S DREAM MACHINE TOYOTA

ON CHANGES TO THE SPRINT CUP SERIES POINT SYSTEM:

“It is what it is. I think in the end, especially toward the end of the year, when you’re trying to figure out who gets in and who doesn’t it should make things a little easier for everyone to understand. The old way was pretty complicated for not only the fans, but for some of us as far as trying to figure some of that stuff out – maybe more complicated than it needed to be. I think it’s a good move to try and simplify things. I don’t see any down side to it.

“Really, I don’t think it’s something that I’m going to put a lot of thought into. I know that if I’m winning races or finishing in the top five and maintaining a high level of consistency it’s all going to work itself out and I’ll be where I need to be in points when the time comes. That may be trying to over-simply it, but I don’t spend a lot of time looking at where I’m at in the standings now … that’s just how it is. If it’s better for the fans and better for the sport I’m racing as hard and as fast as I can every week to get everything I can out of the race car and get the best  finish I can – that’s not going to change.”

ON CHANGES TO THE CHASE SYSTEM:

“If it helps me get in (to the Chase) I’m all for it. (laughs). I look at some of the guys last year that qualified for the Chase – they had great seasons and deserved to be there because they consistently finished toward the front and got a lot of points, but a little more emphasis on winning is okay by me. Then some guys, like me, ran into problems early in the season that cost us a shot at the Chase. We ran up front our fair share too and feel we were just as good as a lot of the Chase teams throughout the year – and we won a race. I think there was four of us that won races but were on the outside looking in when the Chase came around. The new system seems to reward both consistency and wins – that’s a good thing.”  

MARTIN TRUEX JR., DRIVER No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA

ON CHANGES TO THE SPRINT CUP SERIES POINT SYSTEM:

“I think the main goal is to make sure everyone understands the points system better. It will be easier to follow for the fans, the television announcers and anyone involved in the sport. The way it worked before, if you were watching or following a Chase race, they had to have a ticker on the screen to show the points because no one could figure it out. It was complicated. Depending on positions, there could be three points or five points separating positions.

“The decision to change it was based on simplicity. I think it is a great thing. The fans can understand and if they are watching the stands or on television, if their driver passes someone, they know how many points the pass is worth. I like it because it will engage the fans more because it is much easier to understand what is going on. It’s a simpler system. It’s easier to understand and it’s a great thing for all of us in NASCAR.

“For broadcasters, they can understand quickly how each position is going to impact the overall scheme of things and put on an even better show.

“Like I said, I think it is a good thing to keep it simple. Based on the model I have been shown, it’s not really going to change anything. The guys who run the best are still going to have the most amount of points. “

RODNEY CHILDERS, CREW CHIEF No. 00 AARON’S DREAM MACHINE TOYOTA

ON THE NEW NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES POINT SYSTEM:

“I think the new system will be easier for the fans. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve watched this stuff my whole life and I’ve never understood it. I can’t tell you how it works and I’ve never understood it – all I know is how many points we’re out and this and that. I look at the points report after a race to see where we are, but that’s about the extent of it.

“It’ll be easier for the fans and easier for the teams. It will definitely get easier when you get down to the Chase and you’re looking at what you have to do to get in. It’s going to put some value into winning races I think. You’re going to have to be able to win races in order to get in.”

“Everybody’s playing with the same point system, so either you’re team is good enough to do it or it’s not. It’s up to us to make sure that we do our jobs. As long as we’re all racing with the same point system it shouldn’t matter how they do it.”

TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Notes & Quotes — Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team (RBRT) Media Tour Event — January 25, 2011

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team What are your goals this year with your teammate Brian Vickers? “Just working together, he (Brian Vickers) wants to.  I want to.  Our teams (have goals), and to me it’s a good relationship and it should be all season long.  I think we can both get a lot out of it.  That’s the goal of having teammates.  I think it’s going to be good.”

Will this be a hard year for your knowing you will only be with the team for one season? “It’s different than some situations — or than most situations — but it’s what we have.  Red Bull was really excited about it.  I was really excited about it.  Kenny Francis (crew chief) and the team — to me it’s a good thing.  I think it’s going to be just fine.  One year, we’ll do all we can to do it right and have a great season and go from there.  You never know what’s going to happen in racing.  You never know what’s going to happen at the end of the season.  It’s kind of always up in the air, but I would say that we can do a lot this year and really have a great year.”

How happy are you to have this ride with the current economic struggles in NASCAR? “I’m really happy.  Something would’ve happened for sure this year.  Mr. (Rick) Hendrick was behind it and told me it would (work).  So, that’s basically why I made the decision I did for kind of the next five years.  When he told me (about) Red Bull, I was like, they weren’t having a good season.  It wasn’t much of a year for them, but I know what they have here and what they do.  I know a lot of the people, so I got excited pretty quick.  Once I started going over there, even prior to drivi ng for them, and just knowing what was going on, talking to some of the guys, I was like, ‘Man, this is actually going to be a really good spot for me.’   So, it’s been exciting.  I think we can do a lot in this one season, as a team and as a company together.”

Do you think the type of drama that happened last season helps NASCAR? “I don’t think it hurts.  There’s 43 guys that want to win the race and if something happens — somebody gets used up or done wrong, then they’re definitely going to have an issue  with that.  I was able to watch a lot of it and I kind of laughed at a lot of it and thought it was pretty good.  I think I was maybe in one myself and it was pretty easy going and kind of over.  There was definitely some good ones.  There was some exciting stuff that went on that isn’t bad.  It’s just showing the drive and things that each one of these drivers and teams have to win races.”

Does the one-year deal with Red Bull give you more incentive to be successful? “It definitely makes you want it pretty bad.  I think I will as long as I’m in racing.  I’ve always wanted to just do everything I can to win and this is one of those years where you go into it really confident because of the off-season and because of the way that Red Bull is preparing for this season.  I’m really excited.  I think we can do a lot.  I think we can run strong and have a lot of fun at the same time.  I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to get started.”

Do you think there needs to be more attention focused on the drivers instead of on the race cars? “I think things are actually — the car itself to me is a blast to drive.  It’s created a ton of great racing over the last few years, especially this last year.  I thought it was some of the best racing that I’ve been a part of since I’ve been in NASCAR.  I like what we have.  I like how it keeps getting better, and to me it’s a great car.  I think there’s a lot of personalities in NASCAR , from the drivers and things that are pretty good.  I don’t know exactly what to do there, but I think that the car itself — I love what I do.  I think it’s some great racing.”

Have you talked with Brian Vickers about what he’s gone through to be able to come back to NASCAR? “I’ve known Brian (Vickers) for a long time.  I wouldn’t say we’re best friends or anything, but we’ve definitely been friends for a long time.   Myself, I take off a month and a half during the offseason and I can’t wait to get back in the car.  I do and I’m so excited for a couple days to just be back in a race car and get to feel it, whether it’s any type of car and especially our Sprint Cup cars.  To me, I couldn’t imagine being out for eight months at this time of your career.  I’m not sure how old he is, but whatever he is, that’s a great time in his career and where he ’s at in racing.  I think it would be really difficult to be out, but at the same time things happen, you get it fixed up and you go on.  And, that’s what he’s done.  I think he’s got to be relieved and just excited as can be to be back in the car.  I’m looking forward to working with him and having a great season together.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team (continued) Was it a coincidence that you drafted quite a bit with the Hendrick teams at the Daytona test? “The reason that happened is there were four guys who wanted to draft.  It was me and Brian (Vickers) and Jimmie (Johnson) and (Dale Earnhardt) Junior that first day.  So, we kind of all worked together and drafted together and it worked out pretty well.   Those are two good cars to kind of surround yourself with and see where you compared with those guys.  It was good for us.  As far as working together, I think Red Bull and Toyota do their thing and Hendrick and Chevrolet do theirs.  This year I’m working with Red Bull and Toyota.”

Do you have a different approach this year knowing you will only be with Red Bull for one season? “It really doesn’t change because the way I look at it is I always want to make the Chase.  You have to make the Chase.  That’s what everybody is here for.  You have to win races, that’s why we do it is to win.  That’s why we drive and race.  And the only way to do that is to be consistent in this sport and that’s something where I feel like I’ve failed over the years.  I’ve had years where I haven’t been very consistent, I’ve had years where we’ve been a lot better and that’s something that I need to get a lot better at.  To me, if I want to win races and make the Chase I need to be consistent.  That’s something I need to do this year, I need to do next year and on and on.  That’s the only way to make it happen in NASCAR.”

Why did you start racing with Red Bull toward the end of the 2010 season? “As much as anything, I liked kind of just changing and starting out with a team and getting used to their ways a little bit.  I think that was definitely good.  I think it was good for myself to get away from where I was.  It needed to happen sooner than later.  I think it was good for RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports) to get me out of there.  They were happy about it and I was happy about it and we’ve went on.  I’m actually really happy with where I’m at, and since Kenny Francis (crew chief) and some of the guys that I’ve worked with in the past have came over to Red Bull, I just feel really confident and really under control.  I know exactly what is going on.  I feel like that’s a good thing and it’s going to be really beneficial for all of us this year to have Kenny and a lot of the guys that came.”

What would it mean for you to win the Daytona 500 in this car? “It would be great to win at Daytona.  I got a little bit of a taste of it by winning a 150 (qualifying race) there.  And, we ran pretty strong there all of the races last year, it seemed like.  I feel confident running well at Daytona and the 4 has been impressive at times there so hopefully we can just have a really good Speed Weeks, be upfront in everything we do and start the season off right.  That’s all we can ask for, that’s what we’re going for.”

What were you and Brian Vickers able to learn at the Daytona test last week? “There was a lot you could learn with that two-car deal.  The pack was too small to really learn a lot as far as the drafting side goes with the bigger pack.  Nobody ever wanted to draft — or not enough cars at once so that made it tough.  I think myself and Brian (Vickers) started it and then everybody else by the end of the testing were really focusing on the two-car stuff and making changes and figuring out how you work together and how that works.  I think it was really good.  You’re going to need that as far as the way that the track is now.  I don’t think you’ll need it as much as what we did at the test.  With the big pack, you’ll need it at times and it’s good to know how it works and how you can make it work better.”

Are you at a point in your career where you feel like it’s time to have more success on the race track? “I’ve been at that point, really.  I feel like it should happen.  I don’t feel like I have near enough wins.  I don’t have near enough poles.  I haven’t made the Chase enough.  Everything about what I’ve done I don’t feel like I’ve done near enough.  I’m a pretty competitive person when it comes to racing and a lot of things off the track.  I want to do it right.  I want to figure out how to win more and contend a lot more often.”

Are you disappointed you will only be with the Red Bull brand for a year? “You never know how long it will be as far as my relationship with Red Bull.  Hopefully it’s a lot longer than one year.  Like I said, I like what we have going on and hopefully we can do good things together this year and make it a longer deal.  If it’s only one year, it’s one year and I’m going to do everything I can to win races and do it right.”

Is it strange for you to have gone through all of the manufacturers in the series? “It all changes a little bit.  I noticed how many cars are on the road and you look at what’s out there.  To myself, I liked the Dodge stuff, I liked the Ford stuff, I like the Toyota and then I’m going to enjoy the Chevrolet.  I’ve never kind of been part of that.   Where I’m at, I’ve got to get a little bit of each one of them and I think it’s actually kind of neat for myself.  Yeah, I enjoy vehicles and I enjoy cars.  I’m with Toyota now.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team (continued) What made you change to the 4 car? “They’ve been 82, 84 and 83 and I didn’t really want to be any of those numbers so I asked if I could be — when I go and race my Sprint car I’m number 4.  We have our own kind of numbers — the 4, the 9, the 91 and the 49 — all our numbers kind of match and look similar that we did.  I just asked them if they cared if I was 4, nobody is and kind of ran our design and everything.  They were actually perfectly fine with it.  I think it looks really good on the car.  It looked great on the race track.  It looks good on everything they’ve done with the 4 so far.  I’m glad that Red Bull was behind it and it’s pretty cool.”

Are your knees completely recovered from your off-season surgeries? “Yeah, probably not basketball because I can’t really twist a lot yet and maybe come down wrong.  As far as running, I’m running every day.  I’m biking every day.  I’ve been biking for about a month, but running didn’t start until last week.  I feel pretty good.   I’m already running on the treadmill at 8.0 so that’s pretty decent.  The knees aren’t too bad if you can do that.  They don’t affect me. I didn’t even feel them sitting in the race car.  They feel better now than they felt at the end of last year.  I’m actually pretty happy with it.”

What did you actually have done to your knees? “From what I understand, we’re all born with Plica.  We’re all born with it and most of it goes away and mine didn’t.  Mine actually kind of got bigger and filled up my joints so it was rubbing on my joints and rubbing on your kneecap and things like that.  So, it was kind of a pain.  Then, I tore my meniscus in my right knee so they had to fix that also so that was a pain all of last year.  I did that in March of last year, so I just kind of lived with it all year and got lucky that something didn’t happen there because it could’ve been much worse.”

What does the Red Bull Racing Team have to offer you during this one year, before you move on? “I feel like they can give me — I think the biggest thing is the stability, the drive of winning, the excitement of all the employees and just how everybody wants to run good.  Everybody wants to make themselves better.  We want to do it for Red Bull.  To me, it’s just a good attitude.  I think a lot of it has to do with attitude and that’s what I feel they’re giving me as much as anything — a great opportunity.”

How does your crew chief Kenny Francis fit in at Red Bull? “Well, he’s (Kenny Francis, crew chief) is not going to change, so that doesn’t really matter.  He just does his thing.  He’s a great guy.  He’ll sit there and if you can get him to open up and talk about things, he’s a really good guy.  I’ve learned a lot and really like Kenny.  But he’s probably not the edgiest guy around.  That’s fine, I think it’s great.  He doesn’t change, I can tell you that.  It doesn’t matter who is talking to him or what time of day or when it is, he’s that same person.  There’s nothing wrong with that.”

TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Notes & Quotes — Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team (RBRT) Media Tour Event — January 25, 2011

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing What was involved to get you back in a race car? “It was obviously a long process.  Not only finding out what happened and trying to figure out what’s the problem, how do we solve it, where do we start — you know, going down the list.  Going through the surgeries, having the heart surgery was not a small thing.  The doctor said, ‘You need to have heart surgery.’  It’s like, ‘Whoa.’  Making that decision, going through that process and then training again and getting back into the routine and getting prepared for the season.  Going back to my first test at Disney was a really big moment.  Being back in a car and not knowing — there was a point in time in my life when I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to race again.”

How tough is it to watch racing from the sidelines? “I find racing very entertaining.  I love to watch racing as long as I’m not supposed to be in the race.  I love watching the Truck races every weekend and the Nationwide races and I always loved watching the Cup races growing up.  Watching a Cup race that you’re supposed to be in from the sidelines, sucks.  It’s horrible.  I’ve used this quote several times and I want to give the guy credit that said it first because it’s true, but he said it the best, Dale Earnhardt said one time when he was out of the car that it was like watching his wife cheat on him.  That’s pretty much what it felt like sitting on top of that box, I know exactly what he went through.  I’ve talked to some other guys that have been out of the car before.  I talked to Kyle Petty a little bit about it, he was out for a period of time.  It’s painful to sit there and try to watch your car.  That’s why I didn’t go to a lot of the races.  Some of it was because I wanted to do things in my life that I’ve always wanted to do, but a lot of it was that when I was there, I was just miserable.  That was a large part of it.”

What type of racing do you expect from the Daytona 500? “I would say to win the race.  In all honesty, I think it’s going to be a pretty awesome race.  I really can tell you — and I think that’s a good thing, as a driver who has actually been there and tested and has been drafting and done the whole experience, I cannot tell you how that race is going to finish.  I don’t know.  I would like to say that it was going to be a two car kind of break away, but maybe not.  The pack is always going to be on your heels.  Even as fast as we were going in groups of two, it seemed like whoever was behind always had an advantage in the draft in your slip stream.  During the switch, they would always catch you.  Whether it was another group of two or whether it was a bigger group of cars.  It’s going to be one of the most exciting races that I think we’ve seen there and I say that because there’s a dynamic playing out right now with the cars and the way the drivers are drafting with them.  The two guys taking off and then two more guys catching them.  We had a couple times down there in testing when it was Kasey (Kahne) and I versus two of the Hendrick cars.  There was a point where we had a 20 car length lead and they caught us in a lap and passed us.  Then we got back together and caught them from 10 car lengths and passed them.   How is that going to play out at the end of the race?  I don’t know.  How is it going to play out when you have a pack of 30 cars running you down too?  Those are a lot of factors that I think are going to make this a very unique Daytona from what we’ve seen in the past.  Even compared to Talladega.”

Do you view racing from a different perspective after having to sit out some races last year? “Yeah.  Taking some time away — I love racing, I love what I do.  I’ve been very fortunate to do it for a long time.  No matter how much you love something, it’s human nature to lose sight of that sometimes and to get tired of things and grow old of things.   Being able to step back and lose what you love most really makes you appreciate it.  I think that’s going to show up on the race track, in my driving, my determination and my focus in a lot of things.”

What kind of teammate do you expect Kasey Kahne to be this season? “We don’t want to judge it before it starts or put the cart before the horse, but I expect it to go really well.  Kasey (Kahne) and I — have we had our run-ins?  Yeah, of course, but they’re far and few between.  We got along as opponents so I can’t imagine we’re not going to get along as teammates.  His experience level is going to bring a lot to the table.  That’s something Red Bull hasn’t had.  I’m not going to get into whether or not he’s a better, more successful, less successful driver — that really doesn’t matter.   The point is that Scott (Speed) brought his own talents, but he didn’t have experience.  You can’t just make that, you can’t just create that.  It just takes time and that’s something Kasey does have.  Kasey has experience and depth in the sport.  I can lean on him, he can lean on me.  When he starts talking about something he’s tried at a particular track or a car setup or something that’s bothering him in the car — he has the experience to back it up.  That’s something that we haven’t had at Red Bull.  No fault to AJ (Allmendinger) or Scott or to any of the guys that drove my car last year.  Kasey has a depth and experience that they didn’t and I think that’s going to help Red Bull.  It’s going to help the whole organization grow and grow stronger and better.”

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing (continued) How far has Red Bull come since starting in 2007? “How much we’ve grown from the beginning is immeasurable.  When I was hired at Red Bull as the first driver, gosh, I was like maybe the fifth or sixth employee.  Literally I walked in the shop and it was just me and a handful of other guys.  It’s incredible to watch the team go through everything it’s gone through and grow as much as it has.  The evolution from a handful of guys all the way to the company that it is now.  There’s been a lot of change.  There’s a group of guys that are still there – the core group that have been there since the beginning, but there’s a lot of guys that have come and gone.  That’s expected in a new organization.   You create an organization and you create a culture — some guys are going to fit in it and some guys aren’t.  Doesn’t mean they’re bad or good, they just need to fit the right piece for the right puzzle and I think over the years I’ve seen the company and the culture – we kind of went one direction and then we changed and now we’re going back in the original direction that we went from a cultural standpoint.  I think all those are good changes.  We’ve learned a lot from that as a group and through that process people have come and gone.  Where we’re at right now, I really believe is as good as we’ve ever been as an organization.  From a direction, a culture, a structure, a passion, a drive — I think the enthusiasm within the team on both cars within the race shop in the highest it’s ever been.  Having two experienced guys that can lean on each other is the best it’s ever been.  Honestly, I’m really excited about 2011 and the growth I’ve seen through the years.”

What was your feeling when you first climbed back in the driver’s seat of your race car? “I savored it — it felt good.  I guess you don’t really know what to expect, you’re not really sure which direction to go, what emotions to feel.  When you get back in the car, you’re not sure what’s going to happen.  My gut always told me that I would get right back in it and it would be just like an old pair of shoes or riding a bicycle, but everyone starts asking you, ‘It’s been eight months, do you remember how to drive?’  It’s not that you really start believing it, but you start wondering what that experience is really going to be like.  But when I got back in that car, the belts fit, I remember how to put them on – nobody had to tell me how.   In so many ways, I think I truly appreciated it more, but at the same time it was almost like I hadn’t even been gone.  It just felt so comfortable, it felt so good, it felt so normal to be back in that seat.  I got in, climbed in the car, the belts still fit, the helmet fit and I put it all on and went racing.  Just got back on the race track and it was a very special moment.”

Do you want the illness to be forgotten so your career is not defined by it for years to come? “I don’t really care — I just want to win a championship.  I do believe that the experience has made me a better person and therefore I think that translates on the race track.  The person you are and the personality that you have is always going to translate in your driving style.  I want to use this experience as an opportunity to reach people whether it’s clot awareness or different things.  Do I want to be defined by it?  No, but ultimately you’re defined by your actions, you’re defined by what happens to you, you’re defined by a lot of things.  This is going to be one of them and I accept that.  After Daytona, I want to be talking about winning the race not about clots.  But I understand that who I am and what I do and what I’ve gone through, it ’s always going to be a part of my life.”

What did you learn at the Daytona test? “We learned that you could still hold it wide open.  There’s going to be drafting and it’s going to be an exciting race.  We did learn a lot of things that I think are going to help us as a team, but a lot of guys learned a lot of things.  We got faster while we were there, but so did other guys.  I don’t know if I could tell you how the race is going to be.  It’s going to be one of the most exciting Daytona 500s for me from the driver’s seat and I’m sure it’s going to be the same for the fans.  The track surface is part of it, the cars with the new noses is part of it.  I think the evolution of drafting.  Could our old cars have done what we do now, the way we draft in pairs and really pick up a lot of speed?  Yeah, maybe they could have and we just never tried it.  We didn’t really push that boundary.  Maybe the new car is a part of that.  The surface is definitely a part of it at Daytona.  Why you didn’t see more of it at Talladega I don’t know.  I think you’re going to see a lot of it at this race, but you’re still going to see a big pack.   You’re still going to see three wide.  How the two car breakaways are going to play into that — I don’t know, but it’s going to be exciting to find out.”

Did you ever consider retiring from racing? “Absolutely.  Listen there was a point in time where it wasn’t really up to me.  We weren’t sure what caused it, what happened, am I coming off blood thinners, am I not?  Medically we had to answer a lot of those questions.  There was a lot of time there where I wasn’t sure if it was even in my hands.  Once it was in my hands, I still had a decision to make.  If I decided to come back racing, was I going to be thinking about a blood clot every lap?  Was I going to be able to focus on my job?  Was I still going to love it?  Was it time to move on to something else in my life?  I had a hard decision to make and there were a lot of things that had to be weighed.”

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing (continued) What has the support from competitors been like throughout this process? “There’s definitely situations with guys that have changed.  Some of the guys that were the most there for me were the obvious ones and the guys that I am the closest to outside of racing — Casey (Mears), Jimmie (Johnson), Jeff (Gordon).  There were some guys there that checked in on me every once in a while and were very supportive — Tony Stewart was one of the first guys to check in with me via text or phone.  When I was at the race track he would always say something.  He was the first guy to stick his head in my window at Daytona.  Tony obviously has his rough side and his moments and I wish he would show more — it doesn’t come out as much as it used to.  I kind of liked it.  He’s a teddy bear inside.  He always has been to me.  He was great and I’m just giving you one example because I don’t want to go through all of them.  Him for instance, that meant a lot to me on a personal level.  It really did.  It really showed me a side to Tony that I’d seen some, but not directed towards me.  It was Sonoma when he and I got into it and that was awesome.  I think it cost him some money.  Back then I used to love to push his buttons and I was good at it.  Tony and I have become really close over the years and have a mutual respect.  Him and I race well together now and probably as good as I’ve raced with anybody on the race track.  Really hard when it’s time to be hard, but not when it’s not.  I think that’s a good example of what he did and how his little comments here and there meant a lot to me.  I still want to beat him and I think he knows that.  He expects that and that’s what he respects.  He’s not going to feel bad for me either.  He’s going to race me just as hard if not harder than he ever has and I like that — that’s what I love about our sport.  That’s what I want.   I want to race these guys with respect and I want to race them hard, but when we all go home we’re all people.  We’re a community, we’re a team and the NASCAR community as a whole has been very supportive through this.  People talk about that a lot, but it’s truly there.  I think you really see it when things are bad.  How much everybody really supports you and are understanding.  I would even say that to all you guys here and all the media in general.  A lot of the familiar faces that are there week in and week out.  You guys were great — you could have been in my business and asking just inappropriate questions, but you weren’t.  I understand you have a job to do and I think I talked about that in some of my press conferences.  I wanted to give you guys as much as I could, but in return I asked that you give me my space and you did and I really appreciate that.  I think that’s part of our community.  You don’t get that in a lot of other places.  I talked to some of my friends that are athletes in other sports — they don’t get that, they don’t get that at all.  They don’t have the accessibility on the front end.  That’s why I tried to give you guys as much as I could.  That’s always meant a lot to me and I really appreciate it.  I think that’s another example of what you’re talking about with the community coming together whether it’s your peers as drivers or the media or the fans or the teams or whatever.  When Sunday rolls around I still want to win.”

Champion NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, ESPN’s lead studio analyst for auto racing, has reached a new contract extension to remain with ESPN through the 2014 season, it was announced by Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.

“Rusty Wallace is a NASCAR legend,” Williamson said. “We’re very happy that he will continue to share his knowledge and experience with our viewers for the remainder of our current relationship with NASCAR. It’s a very strong property and we look forward to the next four years.”

Wallace joined ESPN after retiring from driving following the 2005 NASCAR season. A 55-time winner in NASCAR’s top series and the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Wallace is lead analyst for ESPN’s NASCAR studio programs, including NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now. Wallace also contributes NASCAR analysis to SportsCenter, First Take and ESPNEWS and calls selected NASCAR Nationwide Series races from the booth. He spent the 2006 season as an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the IndyCar Series before moving to NASCAR in 2007 as the stock car racing series returned to ESPN.  

“ESPN has given me the opportunity to do a lot of great things,” said Wallace. “I got to call two Indianapolis 500s, call a lot of races from the booth and be on SportsCenter. Now I’m at home in the pit studio and I love working with Allen Bestwick and Brad Daugherty and all of the people at ESPN. I’m glad to be able to be a part of it for the next four years.”

Wallace, whose 706th career start ended his 2005 season-long “Last Call” tour, led nearly 20,000 laps in his 25-year career. The 1984 Rookie of the Year ended his 22nd consecutive full-time Sprint Cup season eighth in the standings, the 17^th time he finished among the top 10. At the time of his retirement, Wallace ranked as one of the top five money winners in NASCAR history, with nearly $50 million in career winnings.

In his last year on the NASCAR circuit, every race facility honored Wallace and nine race tracks now on the NASCAR schedule offered permanent dedications. More than a dozen state, city, and county seats of government declared race day as an officially recognized Rusty Wallace Day. In addition, bestowed upon Wallace were Delaware’s Order of the First State and North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honors in those states.

In 1998, NASCAR named the St. Louis area native one of its 50 greatest drivers of all time and he is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame. Wallace is owner of RWI Racing, which fields a NASCAR Nationwide Series car driven by his son, Steve Wallace. In addition, he helped design Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

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About NASCAR on ESPN:

ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All television programming is produced in high definition. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

Two-time Daytona 500 champion part of the Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For Michael Waltrip, there’s no better way to spend the morning of the Daytona 500 – NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious race of the year – than interacting with his fans and enjoying cupcakes and Coca-Cola products.

As the two-time Daytona 500 champion approaches his 25^th start in the 53^rd running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the popular NASCAR driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing will partner with Daytona International Speedway for the second straight year on a special ticket package – the Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer.

Included in the ticket package, available for $129, is:

• A Superstretch Daytona 500 ticket
• Fan forum with Waltrip the morning of the Daytona 500
• Celebration with Waltrip featuring cupcakes and Coca-Cola products
• Gift bag that includes items from Michael Waltrip Racing partners
• Commemorative item signed by Waltrip for each ticket holder

Waltrip holds a couple of significant distinctions in the storied history of the Daytona 500. Along with his older brother Darrell, the Waltrips are the only brother combination to have ever won the Daytona 500 and Michael is also one of only eight multi-time winners.

“The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest sporting events in the world,” said Waltrip whose book “In the Blink of Eye” chronicling his 2001 Daytona 500 victory hits the shelves Feb. 1. “It’s an honor to be called a two-time Daytona 500 champion. My goal is 2011 is to be a three-time winner.”

The Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer is available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/mwr or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/DISUpdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

Primary sponsor for six races, associate sponsor for balance of season

WELCOME, N.C. (January 25, 2011) — Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and Richard Childress Racing have reached a multi-year partnership agreement for the franchised sandwich shop restaurant chain to be the primary sponsor for six races and an associate sponsor for the balance of the season for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick.

The announcement was made today at the RCR facility as part of the 29^th annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

The partnership is a continuation of an established relationship between Jimmy John’s Franchise, LLC, RCR and Kevin Harvick, Incorporated. Jimmy John’s, based in Champaign, Ill., was a primary sponsor of KHI’s No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series program the past two seasons and was an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2010. Founded in 1983, Jimmy John’s has grown to more than 1,000 stores in 39 states throughout the U.S.

“Jimmy John’s is looking forward to moving it’s sponsorship up to the Cup level. To partner with Richard at this level is a freakin’ hoot, and to be a partner with Harvick is about as good as it gets. I’m excited and so is my 55,000 strong sandwich making employee team! We’re stoked.” said Jimmy John Liautaud, founder and CEO of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches.

The 2011 season will be Harvick’s 11^th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Bakersfield, Calif., native was the point leader for 20 weeks in 2010, including the final 16 weeks leading into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He entered the season finale with an opportunity to win the championship and finished third in the point standings on the strength of three victories and 26 top-10 finishes. He also won the Budweiser Shootout for the second consecutive year.

“I have really enjoyed my relationship with Jimmy John’s over the last couple of years at KHI, and I’m happy that we can continue working together on the Cup side,” said Harvick.  “They have a reputation for being ‘freaky fast’ in their business, and I’d like to continue that motto on the track this year.”

RCR placed all three of its teams in the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2011 and will return to a four-team program this season. Paul Menard joins Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer as the drivers vying to bring RCR its seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. RCR will also field two entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with drivers Austin Dillon and Joey Coulter, Jr., as well as Tim George, Jr., and Ty Dillon in the ARCA Racing Series.

“Jimmy John’s prides itself on providing a quality product fast which is exactly what RCR likes to provide its race fans on the track,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “RCR is proud to have Jimmy John’s join our growing list of partners who are the best in their respective fields, and we look forward to providing them with a quality product on the race track and in the marketplace.”

About Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in a converted garage in Charleston, Ill. Since its inception, the company has grown to over 1,000 corporate and franchised locations in 39 states throughout the U.S. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution. For more information, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.

About Richard Childress Racing 2011

Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 190 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. For more information, visit www.rcrracing.com.