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  • NASCAR Nationwide Series May Be The One to Watch in 2012

    NASCAR Nationwide Series May Be The One to Watch in 2012

    Sandwiched between the top-tier NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the rough and tumble Camping World Truck Series is the middle child, the Nationwide Series. But for the upcoming 2012 season, this may indeed be the preferred series to watch for the NASCAR fandom.

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”218″][/media-credit]One of the biggest new stories in the Nationwide Series is of course that of Danica Patrick running her first full-time gig in NASCAR since her abdication from the world of open wheel racing. For her first Nationwide run, the marketing diva will be continuing her association with JR Motorsports with Tony Eury, Jr. as her crew chief.

    “I’m going into this season with a little bit more of a ‘I’m going to do it’ attitude,” Patrick said. “I’ve got a lot to learn and I know that.”

    “I’m going to make lots of mistakes I’m sure,” Patrick continued. “But I’m mentally wrapping my head around not just learning but being successful and running well and getting to Victory Lane and thinking about that so my thoughts translate to the real world and really happen.”

    Patrick also fully intends to run for the Nationwide championship and even her crew chief believes that is possible. Eury’s goal is to get his driver into the top ten in points after the first ten races of the season, positioning her to make a run at the title.

    “She’s gone to a lot of these tracks,” Eury Jr. said. “Before she wasn’t running for points.”

    “This year, she’s here for the reason to win the championship,” Eury Jr. continued. “So, she’s not going to be that person that kind of lays over.”

    In addition to seeing the new aggression of Patrick on the Nationwide as she attacks her first ever full-time stint, two other super aggressive drivers, in fact brothers, are planning to share a Nationwide gig in 2012.

    Big brother Kurt Busch will be sharing a 2012 Nationwide seat with little brother and team owner Kyle for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

    Monster Energy, leaving prior driver Ricky Carmichael high and dry, will sponsor the Busch brothers in their No. 54 Monster Energy Camry. Kyle will drive the season opener at Daytona and the following four races and then split the ride with his brother Kurt.

    While not competing with Patrick for the Nationwide championship, since both Busch brothers are also racing in the Cup Series, the duo fully intends to complete for the 2012 Nationwide Owner’s Championship.

    “We’ve had a lot of talks about how this whole deal is going to work out, what we’re both looking to get out of this and what a great opportunity this is to race in the Nationwide Series,” Kyle Busch said. “Kurt’s never done a full Nationwide deal; he’s always had the itch but never really cared about it.”

    While Danica Patrick and the Busch brothers have something to prove in the Nationwide Series, a driver whose Nationwide debut has been delayed also has to prove he can get back behind the wheel of a race car.

    Travis Pastrana, who was scheduled to come to the Nationwide world last year but could not due to a serious injury sustained during the X Games competition, plans to run seven Nationwide races, starting with Richmond.

    “I feel really good,” Pastrana said during the NASCAR Preview 2012. “The therapy the last two weeks has made huge improvements.”

    “We’ll start out with seven Nationwide races and that’s kind of a let’s see how we do, let’s see what we need more work on,” Pastrana continued. “If we’re running OK or if I can get sponsorship to keep running wherever we’re running, we’re going to keep trying to get seat time.”

    “I basically have to prove I can get in a car.”

    As opposed to Pastrana with something to prove, one driver who has already proven that he can drive a race car will be back to defend his Nationwide title. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will indeed return to the Series, driving full-time again for Roush Fenway Racing.

    “They’re working on sponsorship for it right now, so everything is good,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “It sounds like we’re going to be able to go and defend our title again.”

    Stenhouse Jr. won the Nationwide title by just 45 points over Kevin Harvick Inc. driver Elliott Sadler. And for this upcoming year, Stenhouse Jr. is certainly hoping that the championship competition will not be quite as close.

    “I think we will do little things at the beginning of the year different,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “So, hopefully the points chase isn’t so close all year. That drives you nuts.”

    Speaking of Elliott Sadler, or ‘Ricky Bobby’ as he is affectionately known, he will indeed be back to challenge the other Ricky, Stenhouse that is, for the Nationwide Series championship. Since Sadler’s former team is no longer, ‘Ricky Bobby’ will be driving the No. 2 OneMain Financial for Richard Childress Racing.

    “It is such a great opportunity to compete for such an accomplished organization like Richard Childress Racing,” Sadler said. “To have an organization like OneMain Financial support me on and off the track again this year really makes me eager to get back to the track to compete for the Nationwide Series championship.”

    “We came up short last year, but I know we have all the parts in place to win this year with this RCR team.”

    Speaking of Richard Childress Racing, that team will be putting a member of the family, grandson Austin Dillon, on the Nationwide Series track this year. Dillon, last year’s 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, will be driving the very storied No. 3 Chevy as his Nationwide ride, competing for another honor, the Nationwide Rookie of the Year.

    “I’m looking forward to the challenge of moving with Danny Stockman (crew chief) and the guys to the NASCAR Nationwide Series with the No. 3,” Dillon said. “Our goal next year is to win races and compete for Rookie of the Year honors.”

    Finally, there are two veterans worth mentioning as very good reasons to watch the 2012 Nationwide Series.

    First is Morgan Shepherd, who at the sweet age of 70 years, will be driving in his 45th season in the Nationwide Series. Shepherd, competing with plenty of faith, hopes to better his best ever 21st place in the Nationwide point standings in 2011.

    The other veteran who is always worth watching in the Nationwide Series is Kenny Wallace, affectionately known as the ‘Herminator’. Wallace will be back with RAB Racing, behind the wheel of the No. 09 American Ethanol Toyota Camry.

    “Corn farmers are excited to continue our relationship with RAB Racing and Kenny Wallace in 2012,” Garry Niemeyer, National Corn Growers Association President, said. “Kenny is a fan favorite and one of the most visible drivers in the sport.”

    So, from the veterans, like Morgan Shepherd and Kenny Wallace, to the newbies, like Danica Patrick and Travis Pastrana, the Nationwide Series does indeed seem to be the one to watch in 2012.

    Fans can catch all the action of the Nationwide Series, beginning with the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 25th, 2012.

  • Today’s Stars and Yesterday’s Legends Join together at the NASCAR Preview 2012

    Today’s Stars and Yesterday’s Legends Join together at the NASCAR Preview 2012

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]NASCAR Preview 2012 was all about the fans and the fans came by the thousands.  Many camped out overnight in front of the Charlotte Convention Center, even standing in the pouring rain, in anticipation of the event.  This may sound crazy to some but I can only imagine the stories told and the new friends made while they waited patiently for the doors to open.

    Sam Alverson of Jacksonville, Fla. had the distinction of being the first fan through the door after standing in line for 26 hours.

    They came from all over the country carrying pictures and diecast cars to get autographs and a picture taken with their favorite NASCAR drivers.  Over 60 drivers from all three national divisions were there to accommodate them.

    A few of the drivers even hung out after their autograph sessions and spent a few minutes talking with their fans.

    A friend told me about one small girl that she saw carrying a tire through the long lines for autographs. She would carry it for a few feet, set it down for a quick rest and repeat the process again and again. Her father asked his young daughter if she wanted him to carry it for a while but she loudly told him, “No, I can do it.”

    You can’t help but smile at the dedication and loyalty of NASCAR fans.

    The day was filled with non-stop action including driver interviews on stage, sponsor exhibits and car displays. There were plenty of places to rest and get a bite to eat plus you could buy the newest items honoring Friday night’s class of inductees.  It may have been rainy and dreary outside but inside the fans were having the times of their lives.

    The preview also honored the legends of the sport.

    The day began with a free breakfast with Junior Johnson featuring his famous breakfast items. You could also get a picture and an autograph with the 2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee.

    Throughout the day you could take a NASCAR Hall of Fame tour that included a meet and greet with legends Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.

    Finally the day ended with an “Evening of Living History.” These storytelling sessions took place at different areas in the Hall of Fame and were led by Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Glen Wood and Dale Inman who were joined by friends and family on stage.

    Several of these were held at the same time so I chose to attend the one led by Junior Johnson.  It was held in front of his moonshine still and guests were encouraged to sample some of Johnson’s ‘Midnight Moon Moonshine.’ Although I didn’t indulge, the ‘Apple Pie’ flavor seemed to be the crowd favorite.

    Johnson was joined by NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley and writer Tom Higgins.

    This turned out to be the highlight of my day so I’ve included one of several stories that left me with a smile on my face as I headed home Saturday evening.

    Higgins opened things up with what he called his favorite “Junior moonshine story.”

    It was back in the 1950s when Junior and Gwyn Staley, a good friend, headed up to Virginia to take two loads of moonshine to some thirsty sailors. They had to keep moving their stash to keep ahead of the revenuers so they had to drive across the Brushy Mountains to a hiding place near Taylorsville, N.C.

    When they got there, they loaded up their hauler cars and were on the way back to Wilkes County to gas up the cars.

    “They were coming across the mountain and saw where a car had slid off the road. Steam was coming out of it and two dazed men were walking around the car. So Junior who is a very kind man, generous and a Good Samaritan, stopped, although he had liquor in the car. He went up to this car that had turned over and lo and behold there was the high sheriff of Wilkes County and his chief deputy.” said Higgins.

    By this time, everyone in the room was hanging on every word.

    “They had liquor on their breath and lipstick on their collars and they’d been somewhere they shouldn’t have been.  The sheriff looked up and said thank God it’s you Junior. You’ve got to get us back to the courthouse or they’ll throw me out of office.” Higgins continued.  “Junior said, Hell sheriff I can’t take you to the courthouse I got a load of liquor in my car. The sheriff said, Junior if you’ll get me out of this I promise I’ll never chase you again and I’ll never let any of my deputies chase you.”

    Johnson agreed to take the sheriff back.  So they rearranged the cases of liquor in the car to make seats and they took the high sheriff and the deputy back to Wilkesboro.

    Higgins ended the story by saying, “Junior still sees the sheriff from time to time on the streets of North Wilkesboro and he tries to evade Junior but Junior won’t let him.”

    “He’ll grin at him, wink and say, Sheriff, you been across the mountain lately?”

    Kelley asked if the sheriff had been true to his word. Johnson just laughed and said, “After that, he didn’t even want to talk to me.”

  • Quotes from NASCAR preview 2012

    Quotes from NASCAR preview 2012

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Saturday marks the second day of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend in Charlotte North Carolina.

    Thousands of dedicated race fans traveled to the Charlotte convention center for NASCAR Preview 2012. They waited in long lines starting as early as Friday morning. Lines that were full of energy and excitement to enter the convention center doors and meet their favorite drivers. The well organized event also came complete with displays of show cars, games and race simulators. You even got to meet the new Miss Sprint Cup, Kristen Beat, who hails from El Cajon, CA (Jimmie Johnson’s hometown). She joins Kim Coon and Jaclyn Roney in representing the Sprint brand in Victory Lane and around the tracks where NASCAR competes.

    Drivers from all three major series showed up to the annual event to talk racing, meet with fans and sign autographs starting early on Saturday morning.

    Lots of pictures were taken, hands shaken and words spoken. Here are a few snippets from some of the drivers:

    MARK MARTIN:

    On how long he will be racing: “As long as I want to.”

    DALE EARNHARDT JR:

    “I just kind of sat around the house… I’ve been playing Battlefield 3 mainly. That’s about all I’ve been doin’.

    “I hope we don’t have to do that stuff this year (the tandem racing). It’s hard having to be in a relationship the whole race. That’s basically what it’s like. I look out for number one all the time. It gets me in trouble. On and off the track.”

    JIMMIE JOHNSON:

    “We’ll go out there and do what we can to beat Tony. What he did at the end of the year, and the show that he an Carl put on, I know people are still talking about it and I can’t get it out of my mind…”

    KYLE BUSCH:

    “We’re gonna get along really well (him and brother, Kurt). ‘Cause I’m his boss. And I did tell him he can call me ‘dude’ but only a few times. So, I think it’ll be alright.”

    MATT KENSETH:

    “Why (did I get rid of the beard)? Cause I look silly. Well, I still look silly but, I looked sillier.”

    BRAD KESELOWSKI:

    “I think we’re going to get a strong dose of both (tandem and pack racing). I’m really excited about what we’re going to see when we go down to Daytona this year. I think it’s going to be one of the best Daytona 500’s ever.”

    DANICA PATRICK:

    “I started racing when I was 10 years old, it was all boys and it’s still pretty much all boys. So no, I was never made to feel different or out of place by my parents. They just always empowered me to be as good as I could possibly be and to keep working hard. And not to be the best girl but to be the best driver.”

    CLINT BOWYER:

    “Actually, I almost messed up . I was doing an interview over there and I almost said, I was like, ‘The 5 Hour Chev—. I mean, Toyota.’ It’s going to be different. There’s a lot of new.”

    MARK MARTIN:

    “If it doesn’t have wheels on it, I’m not a fan.”

    JEFF BURTON:

    “Matt (Kenseth) was makin’ fun of me this winter cause like, two weeks into the deal, I’m like, ‘Man, I’m ready- I need to go do something now.’ My wife wanted me out of the house… And I’m ready to go back racin’.”

  • Carl Edwards Will Sign Autographes at Canadian Motorsports Expo

    Carl Edwards Will Sign Autographes at Canadian Motorsports Expo

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]After finishing second in last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, Carl Edwards will be coming to Canada for the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday February 11th. Edwards will be signing autographs and taking part in an hour Q&A session with the fans.

    “I’m looking forward to coming to Toronto on Saturday, February 11 to meet Canadian racing fans at the Canadian Motorsports Expo,” Edwards said. “I was in kind of a rush the last time I was in Canada, last August. We were doing double-duty that weekend, shuttling back and forth between the Michigan Cup race and the Nationwide race in Montreal. This time, it’ll be nice to chat with the fans in a more relaxed setting.”

    Edwards finished second in standings after Tony Stewart won the tie-breaker as he had won more races than Edwards in 2011. The championship battle last year between Edwards and Tony Stewart stands as the closest championship battle in NASCAR’s history. Edwards is also one of the drivers to win a race on Canadian soil as he won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

    The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsports News will be taking place at the International Centre from February 10th to February 12th.

    “We’re very pleased to announce that Carl Edwards will be our headline celebrity at this year’s Canadian Motorsports Expo,” CME’s David Weber said. “Heading into this year’s show, virtually all of our exhibitor space has been sold and we’ve gotten a lot of great support from some of the country’s top companies, racing series, tracks, manufacturers and retailers. This year’s CME is going to be the best ever, and we’re extremely excited that Carl Edwards is going to be part of it.”

    The three-day event is meant to highlight the best of Canadian motorsports, while giving the fans a chance to meet racing superstars. Along with Edwards’ appearance, there will be a CASCAR reunion held on February 12th and the Inside Track Reader’s Choice Awards will be given out on February 10th.

    Watch the CME’s website (www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com) for details on Carl Edwards’ appearance, including confirmed times and the autograph session, and for more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo.

  • Attack of the inanimate objects

    Attack of the inanimate objects

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”248″][/media-credit]Contrary to popular belief, the NASCAR hauler, safer barrier and Sprint Cup are actually alive and well. The Twitter accounts for these objects are anyway. These are just a few of the NASCAR-related inanimate objects that have sprung up on Twitter causing a whirlwind of humor and sarcasm in their wake. Who knew a wall or a line could talk (or tweet)?

    Some of these accounts are quite comical whereas some are more laid back. Some follow back, some don’t.  But whoever came up with the idea to create these accounts is pretty clever or just has way too much time on his or her hands. Either way, I like it and follow many of them. And if you’re wondering, no I’m not the voice behind any of them.

    I’ve been on Twitter for quite some time now and to my knowledge, it was @TheMiniChad (who was previously named @mini_chad) who paved the way for the other inanimate objects to come out and and play.

    If you’re not familiar with Twitter, the “Chad” part of the screen name is for Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus. The Mini Chad is a (small, not life sized) card board cut out of Knaus that helps the guys in the garage and seems to be quite the ladies man. He (it) also posts a lot of information on the Lowe’s 48 team. All in all, a great follow if you’re a fan of Jimmie Johnson’s. He even has a website if you’re interested: http://theminichad.com/

    Another one of the first inanimate accounts (again, that I know of) is @JacquesDebris. And he’s quite a character, let me tell you. Just by looking at that mustache, you already know he’s up to something. He’s always there to help out during the NASCAR races when an extra kick is needed. I always just tell him to “Free The Debris!”

    Here, I have compiled a list of the inanimate objects on Twitter for you to follow (if you wish). And that is including some drivers body parts as well. If there are any I may have missed (and I’m sure there are), please feel free to add them in the comment section below.

    @TheMiniChad
    @JacquesDebris
    @TheOrangeCone
    @TheSAFERbarrier
    @The_GreenFlag
    @FlagCaution
    @DaleJr_Beard
    @TheNASCARHauler
    @CarlEdwrdsteeth
    @TheYellowLine_
    @SouvenirProgram
    @Sir_NASCARNAGE
    @TheYellowLugNut
    @GoodYear_Tire_
    @The_Sprint_Cup
    @NascarPaceCar
    @DaCheckeredFlag
    @Da_Black_Flag
    @The_Fuel_Cell
    @KevinsForeHead
    @FLAG_STAND
    @InfieldGrass
    @StartFinishLine
    @TheCatchFence
    @HotPitPass
    @NASCAROuterWall
    @NASCARRainDelay
    @JJsBeard
    @DaCautionFlag
    @NASCARJetDryer
    @FlagStand
    @acheckeredflag
    @48Horseshoe

    Follow me on Twitter as well: @MelissaM88

  • David Ragan’s Season of Change On and Off the Track

    [media-credit id=40 align=”alignright” width=”239″][/media-credit]When the checkered flag dropped at Homestead officially closing the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the season of change for David Ragan began on, as well as off, the track.

    The biggest change for Ragan was learning that his sponsor was leaving, jeopardizing his continuing relationship with Roush Fenway Racing.

    And although Ragan was mentioned as the prime candidate for several open seats during ‘silly season’, his future in the sport was not secured until this week when it was announced he would pilot the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports.

    “My heart was at Roush Fenway Racing all year, hoping to continue,” Ragan said. “But we just couldn’t make that happen.”

    “When we got back from Homestead, a lot of the guys were taking other opportunities and they laid off some employees,” Ragan continued. “So, I could see the writing on the wall that it just wasn’t going to happen.”

    “The Front Row guys have always had a relationship with the Ford Racing team so with me being in the Ford camp, I knew some of them,” Ragan said. “I understood their goals and as a young team, I could see a lot of potential.”

    “I had a few other opportunities on the table but those opportunities did not materialize,” Ragan continued. “So, I just stayed in touch with them.”

    “In order to stay in the Sprint Cup Series and in order to stay in a Ford, it was important to sign with them for the year.”

    While Ragan’s world changed dramatically, the young Cup driver acknowledged that the world, including the NASCAR community, has also dramatically changed. This is particularly true as it applies to NASCAR corporate sponsorship.

    “In this day and age in the NASCAR world, you have to have some connections in the corporate community to help bring some revenue to the team,” Ragan said. “I worked as much on that side of the coin as with the teams and owners.”

    “I’ve brought a lot of contacts to the team that I’ve made in the sport,” Ragan continued. “It’s something that collectively we’re going to work on.”

    Ragan also anticipates another change, that of moving from one of the sport’s bigger teams to a smaller team primarily funded by the team owner. Yet he acknowledges that moving from a large to a more intimate team also has its advantages.

    “Front Row has primarily been funded from the car owner, Bob Jenkin’s, side to keep it going,” Ragan said. “So, that’s going to be a big change.”

    “But you’ve got a group of guys working together to run the two cars and that’s going to be better because you feel more of a personal relationship with the team,” Ragan continued. “I think there’s a lot of room to grow the Front Row team.”

    “The landscape is certainly changing and the gaps between the haves and the have nots is closing up a little tighter each day.”

    Another major change on the track for Ragan will be dealing with the new fuel injection in the race cars. Although he did not participate in the recent Daytona testing, Ragan feels confident that he will be able to easily cope with these changes.

    “From a driver’s standpoint, there’s really not much difference,” Ragan said. “The cars drive and respond in pretty much the same way.”

    “I’ve driven quite a bit of the fuel injection stuff over the past year doing testing for the Roush Yates engine department,” Ragan continued. “That’s something that will help the Front Row Motorsports team and we will utilize our Ford partnership.”

    Ragan is also focused on coping with another major change on the track, that of getting to know a whole new team, owner and crew chief. And he also is in the getting acquainted stage with new teammate David Gilliland.

    “I’m spending as much time as possible at the race shop, meeting the guys and learning their system,” Ragan said. “We’re starting to talk schedule and traveling and then we’ll get down to business, with set ups and cars.”

    “My teammate David Gilliland ran third in the Daytona 500 and me winning the race in July, I feel like we should have a good pairing for the race,” Ragan continued. “David is a good speedway racer so it should be fun to plan out our strategy.”

    “I think things are going well and it will help us that we’re in the Bud Shoot Out,” Ragan said. “That will help break the ice for the Daytona 500.”

    Ragan is, however, expecting one major change, particularly at Daytona. He is predicting that tandem racing for the entire race may be a thing of the past and the pack may indeed be back.

    “I expect a combination of both tandem and pack racing,” Ragan said. “The engine has been restricted so much that you just can’t have the tandem racing all race long.”

    “I think you’ll see spurts of it all race long but the meat of it will most likely be pack racing with guys conserving cars to be there at the end.”

    With the many changes on the track for David Ragan, he added one more change to his repertoire. This change, however, applied more to his off track activities than his racing career.

    Ragan proposed to his long-time girlfriend Jacquelyn Ann Butler. They are planning for their wedding in December of this year.

    “I wasn’t quite brave enough to ask her at a sporting event on the jumbotron before 50,000 people,” Ragan said. “Her and I went off for a little weekend and I was fairly traditional.”

    “I got down on one knee and the good news is that she said yes,” Ragan continued. “I wasn’t going to get up until she did say yes. That was good and I was glad to have her not expecting it.”

    One thing that has not changed in Ragan’s life is his devotion to his work as a Shriner. The other is his love for racing super late models.

    “I’m still doing a lot of work with Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, getting our dates planned out for the Shrine Bowl at Carolina Speedway,” Ragan said. “And I’m going to race my super late model car a few times in January and run the first CRA race of the season in Georgia at Speedfest.”

    “So, I’m looking forward to getting back on the track with that and then Daytona will be here before you know it.”

    So, what has Ragan learned through the many changes in his life on and off the track?

    “It makes you appreciate your program and your job when you have a full-time sponsor when you know your plans going into the off season and during the holidays,” Ragan said. “But this sport is so tough and there’s a lot of great drivers and teams and things are changing.  The world we live in is changing and the sport is too.”

    “We just look forward to a great opportunity at Front Row,” Ragan continued. “They have a great deal of potential and we look forward to taking the team to the next level.”

  • Zippy’s Charity Ride Includes Cup Champion Stewart

    Zippy’s Charity Ride Includes Cup Champion Stewart

    [media-credit id=22 align=”alignright” width=”205″][/media-credit]In just a couple weeks time the Zippy’s Crusade for Kids Annual Charity Snowmobile Ride will take place in Inlet N.Y.  With over a foot of new snow in the area things are looking up for great riding conditions. Former NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief Greg Zippadelli and his wife Nan are working hard to make this year’s ride one of the best. “This is our sixth year of doing the ride,” Greg said when asked how long the ride has been happening.  This year’s event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday January 27 & 28. The Zippadeli’s said in a statement, “The 2011 Zippy’s Crusade For Kids event allowed us to donate much needed funds to some great organizations and families, including the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the National Transplant Assistance fund, Motor Racing Outreach and the Children’s Homes of Iredell County.”

    The fun part for participants in the event is the extensive list of celebrities that will be participating and the activities already planned. On Friday there’s a meet and greet, mingling and reception on tap. Saturday there’s breakfast (or brunch), then the actual snowmobile ride itself. The plan is for a snowmobile ride broken into groups for everyone that wants to ride sleds in the scenic Adirondack Mountains.  As far as personalities there’s the Zippadelli’s (both Greg and his wife Nan will be there), plus Greg’s younger brother Scott, who was the crew chief for Kenny Wallace in 2011. There’s also Tony Stewart, the 2011 Sprint Cup champion who will be participating as well as his new crew chief Steve Addington and members of the No. 14 Stewart-Hass Sprint Cup car team. Donny Schatz, driver of Tony Stewart Racing’s sprint car team will also be there.

    The emcees are also some pretty well known people from the NASCAR  world and include, Steve Post from MRN radio, Wendy Venturinni from SPEED TV (and a Better Half Racer) and Matt Yokum.  All of these personalities have been involved in the Crusade for some time now.

    “Zippy’s Crusade for Kids is first and foremost a great cause because of all the lives they have touched with the money raised,” The Postman, Steve Post said. He also noted just how much fun it was to participate saying,  “Beyond that it’s just a great time.”

    Post makes no bones about how he feels about this event. He said, “I have made friendships that will last a lifetime at this event, people who have a hobby of snowmobiling are just good people, who love their riding and love having a good time around it. The people in that region absolutely roll out the red carpet and make us feel right at home while there.”

    Post said,  “One of the things that amazes me is the way the schedule plays out, race fans will get to spend a lot of time with Tony Stewart, Greg Zipadelli, Steve Addington, Donny Schatz, Matt Yocum and the other crew guys that participate in the ride.”  Post concluded by saying, “This is the one ‘must do’ event on my calendar each year and I can’t wait to get up there for some more fun.”

    How did the Zippadelli’s decide that the event should be held in Old Forge N.Y. area? Greg said, “The reason why I do it there is I used to spend a lot of time up there as a younger guy with Mike McLaughlin.” McLaughlin, the former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and Zippadelli worked together when McLaughlin drove a modified that Zippadelli was a crew member of.  “I met my wife there,” he continued. “It’s a great area. We still have a lot of ties in the area.  We made a lot of friends there. They help and support us with everything they got. In fact, without them we couldn’t get it done. We really call on a lot of our friends up there to help us get this done and they work their guts out getting it done.”

    About the event Zippadelli said, “It’s a two day event for sponsors and ticket holders. Friday night is a closed deal, you’ll be able to mingle and hang out with everyone. It’s a real up close and personal experience. You’ll be able to interact with everyone there. We do that on purpose and it’s a reason that people have been coming all six years that we’ve been doing this. I wish you could speak to the folks that go.”

    Zippadelli was recently named the competition director of Stewart-Haas Racing a position that wasn’t filled during the past season after they released Bobby Hutchens.    Zippadelli and Stewart won two Sprint Cup championships when Zippadelli was Stewart’s crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing.

    Zippadelli said, “The way I looked at this it’s a great opportunity with a great organization. Tony took a big chance with what he did (leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and starting his own team) and it worked for him by making his move.”  Zippadelli looked at the move as a great opportunity, “For me, it was time to make a change.  Right now I am getting used to everything as we’re real busy getting ready for the test in Daytona in a few weeks.  It’s a great way me for to start working with these guys.”

    For more information about the event, attendees and the schedule go to www. crusadeforkids.com


  • David Ragan to drive for Front Row Motorsports

    David Ragan to drive for Front Row Motorsports

    [media-credit name=”Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images North America” align=”alignright” width=”230″][/media-credit]David Ragan is no longer standing in NASCAR’s unemployment line.

    It has been reported by The Charlotte Observer’s Jim Utter that Ragan has signed on to drive for Front Row Motorsports full time in 2012. Front Row Motorsports is owned by restaurant entrepreneur  Bob Jenkins (not the ESPN commentator), who took full ownership of the team from Jimmy Means in 2005.  The team had just two top-10 finishes by David Gilliland last season. One being a third place finish in the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. Also driving full time for the team last season was Travis Kvapil who didn’t fair as well. His highest finish during the 2011 season was a 16th place finish at Martinsville in October.

    The Unadilla, GA native moves on from Roush Fenway Racing’s 6 car with one Sprint Cup Series win coming at Daytona last July.  Ragan lost his ride with the team due to the cut back of primary sponsor UPS and was released to find another full time ride in the series.

    Among the remaining unemployed Sprint Cup drivers are Brian Vickers, Landon Cassill and J.J. Yeley. It is unclear whether or not David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil will keep their rides with Front Row Motorsports this season.

    Sources have said to expect an official announcement of the new deal early this week.

  • NASCAR Notebook – Silly Season is Apparently Over

    NASCAR Notebook – Silly Season is Apparently Over

    It looks like the Daytona Pre-Season Thunder event pushed teams to make decisions on 2012. If you remember, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Kurt Busch, and Clint Bowyer were dismissed or left their rides following the 2011 season. One by one, they found employment, but the changes were substantial.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”253″][/media-credit]1. When sponsorship couldn’t be found for the Roush-Fenway No. 6 after the 2011 season, Roush released David Ragan from his contract. Ragan finally found a ride in one of the Front Row Motorsports Fords this weekend, as I predicted. It was also announced that Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will be in the Daytona 500 in this car for seems to be a one-shot effort.

    2. After being released from the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 car, David Reutimann finally found a ride with Tommy Baldwin Racing for a limited number of races. Reutimann will be replaced by Mark Martin and owner Michael Waltrip in what will become the No.55.

    3. The No. 5 ride vacated by Martin will be filled with Kasey Kahne at Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne had driven the No. 4 Red Bull Toyota in 2011 after leaving Richard Petty Motorsports late in 2010.

    4. After Kurt Busch and Roger Penske agreed to part ways, and after much speculation on who would drive the No. 22 Dodge, A.J. Allmendinger was hired on what many consider to be a one-year contract.

    5. When Allmendinger was given his release from the No, 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford when main sponsor Best Buy left for Roush-Fenway, it was rumored that Kurt Busch would get that ride. Unfortunately, sponsors didn’t feel comfortable with Busch, so Aric Almirola got the ride and got the bonus of Smithfield Foods as a sponsor.

    6. When Clint Bowyer and Richard Childress couldn’t come to terms or a sponsor could not be found, Bowyer left the No. 33 Chevy for Michael Waltrip racing with NAPA as sponsor and using the No. 15. The No. 33, much like the No. 6 at Roush-Fenway, was retired.

    7. Kurt Busch ended up at Phoenix Racing with the No. 51 Chevrolet, which is considered an arm of Hendrick Motorsports. No sponsor has been announced.

    8. Scott Speed found a ride in the No. 95 Bob Leavine Ford for an unannounced number of races, a place Speed raced last year for a few races.

    9. Sadly, TRG Racing, the home of rookie of the year Andy Lally, has apparently closed shop to concentrate on other forms of racing

    Whew, is that ever a mouthful. In the more than 15 years I have been covering the Sprint Cup Series, I cannot remember any more changes. Most of it is a symptom of a not-yet-recovered economy. Things will get better in time. It will be interesting to see how the move to MWR Toyotas treats Martin and Bowyer, how Stenhouse performs in the No. 6 at Daytona, a race that car has been very competitive in, if Kahne can avoid the slump of the No. 5 at Hendrick, how A.J. does in the Penske organization, whether or not Aric Almirola can lead the Pettys back to victory circle, and finally what Kurt Busch will do in James Buescher’s cars. I can’t wait

    ********

    After all the stuff we’ve heard (and stuff is very appropriate in this context) over the years, we were led to believe that some insurance god somewhere had mandated that under no circumstances could cars run faster than 200 mph at Daytona, and something awful would happen if that were the case. Well in Daytona testing this week, even though single car speeds were well below that, 200 mph was fairly common in drafting. NASCAR went to a bigger plate on Friday, and the result was Kurt Busch topping 206 mph, and went back to the smaller plate on Saturday. The result was still speeds in excess of 200 mph, so I guess we can expect some tweaks before next month if the 200 mph insurance mandated limit is still in effect. Or was it ever? Kurt Busch said this week that was common in the two car drafts. I have no idea, but the last two days saw more pack racing.

    *********

    I cannot imagine how it feels to be David Ragan and David Reutimann these days. Ragan was in the car that Mark Martin almost won numerous championships in, and was featured in UPS commercials the last few years. Now, he’s been relegated to running in a car that, well, hasn’t been all that competitive. Reutimann is in the same position. Both have won races in better equipment, but their chances, except at Daytona or Talladega, are slim (anyone can win there). It also points to the big gap in the haves and have-nots.

  • Carl Edwards: ‘I Really Wish We Could Talk About This Year’

    Carl Edwards: ‘I Really Wish We Could Talk About This Year’

    [media-credit id=2 align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]Don’t ask Carl Edwards about what happened to he and his No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing team last season. He’s done talking about it, ready to focus on 2012 instead of dwelling on what went wrong or what they could have done differently last year.

    He’s done talking about it because he says once he parked his plane at the airport a few days ago and walked through the gates at Daytona to start testing, his mindset switched to what he needs to do now. The confidence and excitement that he felt when arriving are more than he’s ever felt before.

    But it isn’t so easy to just let go of what the NASCAR world witnessed. From Daytona to Homestead it seems that even after doing everything he could he was always one position short of where he needed to be. That included the Daytona 500, which Edwards has yet to win.

    “Well, it would be huge,” said Edwards if he were to win it next month. “That would be an understatement. That is an understatement. Last year we were so close following Trevor [Bayne] across the start-finish line. I learned a lot. I feel like our restrictor plate program is better. I feel that Greg [Biffle, teammate] and I have grown together to be able to do well at these races. It’s the Daytona 500 and I’m very, very excited about it.”

    Some might find it ironic that Edwards started and ended last season by finishing second, losing two important things in the process. As Bayne went onto win the biggest race of the year, and his career, which was just two races old at that point, Edwards headed back home and gave himself a headache by wondering what he should have done differently to get around Bayne.

    In fact, he even called the race winner to ask. Not being able to let it go until he had a solid answer about how he let the Daytona 500 slip away. Bayne though, didn’t have answer, telling Edwards he couldn’t say whether he should have went high or low. So Edwards left Daytona and moved toward trying to win the championship, which he came up short on too.

    Those disappointments have left him. Making many appearances during the off-season he says that the common theme that he’s seen is how excited everyone is about the new season and new opportunities. It’s neat he says, to be apart of something that has a whole group genuinely excited and pumped up about 2012.

    That includes crew chief Bob Osborne, who seemed to take last year’s ending the hardest. He didn’t attend Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, instead staying home to work and better the team. Edwards saw what Osborne was going through and says the whole team experienced it with him before putting it on a shelf and moving on.

    “If we weren’t upset about it, if it wasn’t something that made you just want to – or that frustrated you, then you’re probably not in the right sport,” said Edwards. “But I believe, I’d like to believe that we’re wise enough to not let that get the best of us, to just go out and perform and do the best we can. That’s competition. That’s life. You’ve just got to keep on going and do the best you can.”

    They’ve internalized, compartmentalized and put the 2011 book on a shelf. The slate is clean and the year is fresh and it only matters what they do now. Except Edwards and his team all too well that the odds might be stacked against them. Because they’ve been in this position before, trying to come back from disappointment only to never see their expectations come close to being met.

    “I think I’m one of the ones that kind of started that deal in 2008 and 2009,” Edwards believes of the second place curse as it’s being called. “We’ve lived that. It’s really painful. I hope that kinds of takes us out of that – keeps us from repeating that statistic. I hope that experience that we had before in 2009 will keep us from doing it again.

    “But this sport is tough. Your success last year does not guarantee you anything right now. That’s just the way this sport is. We’ve made the mistake of resting on our laurels and saying we’re good, let’s focus on a coupe little things. But you can’t do that. You’ve got to keep looking at every little thing.”

    It’s why Edwards and his Fastenal team will again be ones to watch as they look to right the wrongs of the Daytona 500 and Chase from last season.