Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: Featured Stories

Featured stories from SpeedwayMedia.com

  • From Testing to Teammates and Team Changes, Tony Stewart Excited for 2012

    From Testing to Teammates and Team Changes, Tony Stewart Excited for 2012

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”232″][/media-credit]Tony Stewart doesn’t appear ready to descend from cloud nine, where’s he’s been since winning his third career Sprint Cup Series championship in dramatic fashion last November in Homestead.

    Thursday Stewart was among 31 other teams who got a taste of the first on-track action of the year as they began testing for next months Daytona 500. It was there Stewart said he’s really excited about the upcoming NASCAR season because of the many new things ahead for Stewart-Haas Racing.

    “Obviously the end of the year last year was – still almost like a fairy-tale for us, storybook ending,” said Stewart. “But this is our biggest race of the year. It starts today. Well, it started the day after Homestead actually for the crew guys and today is the first day that we get an idea of the rewards for their hard work and see these cars on the racetrack and see what kind of speed they have.”

    Normally a driver to find other things to do with his time instead of test, Stewart acknowledged that he was having fun. Not as much though as the individuals who put their blood, sweat and tears into building brand new racecars. Testing days are their days, when the hard work during the offseason from crew chiefs, car chiefs and engineers is put into motion.

    “Our sport is unique obviously having our biggest race the first race of the year,” Stewart said. “But it’s very fitting at the same time because this race, we have more time during the off season to prepare for this race then we do the others. You bring cars here that you have the extra time to just make them that little bit nicer than you normally have time to do.”

    The work Stewart put into the off season as a team owner he hopes will do its part in winning their first Daytona 500. The Indiana native has won everything in NASCAR except its biggest race. He’s won everything there is to win at Daytona – three July classics, three Budweiser Shootouts, one Gatorade Duel race and six Nationwide Series races – but not February’s Great American Race.

    When the green flag drops on February 26 it’ll be the 14th attempt for Stewart. Now though, coming off another huge accomplishment he’s looking toward racing momentum (he won in other racing series during the off season) as well as a few key pieces at SHR to lead him into Daytona’s hallowed ground.

    First comes new teammate in superstar Danica Patrick. Another drafting partner, one he worked very well with in July during the NNS race, will be there to lend a helping hand to both Stewart and Ryan Newman during Speedweeks. Patrick will attempt to run in the 500 and other Cup races during the 2012 season.

    And while Stewart is certainly happy for Patrick, he’s even happier about who her crew chief will be. Some of the biggest news since Homestead has been the personnel changes around the garage. From drivers to spotters and crew chiefs, this was one of the busiest off seasons in recent memory.

    First, Stewart hired Steve Addington as his crew chief; with the man he won the title with in 2011, Darian Grubb, moving to Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin. As if in return, Greg Zipadelli moves to SHR as their competition director, leaving behind JGR where he and where once upon a time he and Stewart worked together.

    Twelve years ago it was Stewart and Zippy, as he’s known, rolling into the garages at Daytona ready to set the racing world on fire. They won two championships together and over 35 races before Stewart left JGR and formed his own team. Zippy stayed behind but now feels the time is right to make a change and reunite with Stewart.

    According to Stewart it made sense to have Zippy in both roles, competition director and part-time crew chief. His experience with young and often inexperienced drivers will play a major role for Patrick in her learning process. It’s the best of both worlds for SHR.

    It’s also the best certainly for Stewart. During their tenure together the two were very close, fighting like brothers during the bad times and succeeding in big ways during the good times. The two are perfect for each and the reunion has everyone excited, but none more than Stewart to have his best friend back on his side.

    “You know, it’s nice having Zippy back,” Stewart said. “I got to work with him for ten years, so seeing him at the track here today was the first big reminder of kind of going back to what it was like to start with him in ’99. I know we’re excited to have him back and we’re not working in the same capacity together that we did for ten years, but he’s right there next door and it feels like home again. So I’m pretty excited about it.”

  • Jamie McMurray gets a new sponsor for the new season

    Jamie McMurray gets a new sponsor for the new season

    Belkin, a technology provider based out of California, announced Tuesday that they’re entering the motorsports world and will serve as a secondary sponsor on Jamie McMurray’s No. 1 Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet.

    [media-credit name=”Earnhardt Ganassi Racing” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]The company has revealed a brand new identity and logo on a specially-designed car during the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that the 2010 Daytona 500 winner will drive this season.

    Belkin will also serve as primary sponsor on McMurray’s car during the April 1st race at Martinsville Speedway.

    “We are excited to join Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Jamie McMurray as a sponsor for the upcoming 2012 NASCAR season”, said the CEO and founder of Belkin, Chet Pipkin. “With tens of millions of fans and legions of devotees and viewers, NASCAR is a sport of the people, so it seems like a natural fit for a company that prides itself on taking inspiration from real people and creating products that enhance the role of technology in people’s lives.”

    Here is what Steve Lauletta, the president of EGR, offered on the new partnership:

    “Earnhardt Ganassi welcomes Belkin as a new partner of our team, the No. 1 Chevrolet and Jamie McMurray. We hope this relationship will help generate awareness and brand loyalty for Belkin, among our large number of devoted race fans.  Belkin’s commitment to innovative design, quality and performance speaks to racing fans and is a natural tie-in with our mission at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.”

  • Being a Cup start-and-park is more lucrative than being a Nationwide competitor

    Being a Cup start-and-park is more lucrative than being a Nationwide competitor

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”213″][/media-credit]One might think I would be down right disappointed in Joe Nemechek. Front Row Joe once was a racer, but has since become a start-and-park owner, a man who was at the line for 36 races this past season. In those 36 races, he finished 39th or worse 33 times. Only thrice did he manage to not be among the final four, those heart stopping moments coming during the summer race at Daytona (30th), Indianapolis (38th), and the fall race at Loudon (36th). From Front Row to No Go Joe, but it is not his fault. Sure, as a driver/owner these past three seasons he has been among the Top 30 just three times in 97 starts with only a 14th place finish at Talladega in 2009 worth spit, but how can you blame the man?

    Usually, a fellow would find himself sitting in the minors until he was ready for prime time. The organization would slowly grow, mature, and gather together the pieces necessary to make a go of it in the show. Then again, anyone remember the XFL? While the stats show Joe has averaged a 40th place finish over those 97 races, there is one important statistic we need to consider. Over that time, his Cup operation has earned him more than $7.8-million, almost $2.9-million in 2011 alone. Starting and parking has its rewards. He made just over $2-million in 85 events racing Nationwide in three seasons. Hell, Carl Edwards won the most last year in that circuit, and that barely topped $1.2-million. You might be starting to see that Mrs. Nemechek raised no dummies.

    If you can take on-track prize money by starting and parking in Cup that amounts to more than twice what Nationwide’s leading money winner can claim, this becomes a no brainer. The sacrifices of driver Joe sure is helping the bottom line of team owner Joe. If he can save on tires, fuel, a crew, engine work, and expensive body repair, then all the better. I’m sure Joe Nemechek has dreams, maybe one day being able to run with the big boys. He might dream of actually going out to race, to run for points, maybe being the king of hill one day. For now, though, I think Joe is content in being able to continue making a living in the sport he loves, and doing so in the most intelligent manner he can.

    I think the whole concept of start-and-go entries cheapens the sport in the same way that passing replacement players off as the real deal cheapens other sports. I think those not ready for prime time should run at a level they can compete at. I think that is how things should work from a fan’s point of view. However, Joe Nemechek would be an idiot to follow that line of logic when, as a businessman, he can make a hell of a lot more doing exactly what he is doing.

    I’m not convinced those who start-and-park ever reach a level where they can actually compete. A few may have started underfunded, but I can’t think of one that started races only to park it a few laps in that ever became competitive. Yes, as a fan, the start-and-park cars out there are merely irrelevant window dressing at best, or clutter at worst. However, if Joe Nemechek can pick up a couple of million in sponsorship, more than match that in race earnings while keeping his expenses low, a fellow might just earn enough bucks by following his example. It might not exactly be racing, but you can’t fault Joe Nemechek, and those like him, for taking advantage of NASCAR’s rules, or a lack of them, in order to make a living.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: IT’S BEEN A BRUTAL SILLY SEASON FOR DAVID RAGAN

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: IT’S BEEN A BRUTAL SILLY SEASON FOR DAVID RAGAN

    NASCAR’s 2011 version of silly season turned out to be as intense as the resolution of its Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship. Since early summer we have experienced the annual fun of tracking the garage rumors as we tried to determine which driver was going to land in what seat not to mention which crew chiefs were going to land on top of what pit box. Even the corporate sponsors for these racing teams often took center stage during silly season. Making it even more interesting is the fact that, as we get closer to the start of a new season, the 2011 silly season festival still hasn’t been officially resolved yet.

    Throughout all of the numerous silly season scenarios, the name David Ragan seemed to surface in nearly every one of them. That was because of harsh economics that in turn led to major sponsorship problems. It also forced Roush Fenway Racing to make the difficult decision of trimming their operation from four to three teams. In short: Ragan found himself looking for a ride late in the year.

    Everyone was expecting a long awaited break out season for Ragan in 2011. There was a brief point in time when it appeared he was going to do just that. He scored his first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup win last July at Daytona and there was even a brief period when he was considered to be a contender for the one of the wild card berths for the 2011 Chase line up. Unfortunately up and down performance levels, combined with bouts of bad racing luck, kicked in again. After completing his fifth full season in Cup racing, Ragan finished 2011  with one win, four top five finishes, eight top tens and 23d in the points.

    However, as late summer turned into early fall, Ragan found himself with a huge problem regarding his future with Roush Fenway Racing. There were rampant silly season rumors that said his long time primary sponsor, United Parcel Service, would not be returning with the team. In September, Ragan was told by Roush Fenway Racing that he was free to consider other offers.

    These rumors became reality in late October when United Parcel Service officially announced that it had renewed its contract as the official logistics partner of NASCAR but would be severely curtailing its role as a primary team sponsor. Granted it requires a huge sum of money to be the official anything of NASCAR, but in this case it’s a very lucrative deal for UPS. They provide a pick up and delivery service for race team at the tracks. In fact, on any given race weekend, the UPS center is often the busy part of any NASCAR garage.

    However it was the second half of that UPS press release that hurt David Ragan’s cause. Company officials announced they would not be returning as his primary sponsor and opted, instead, to become an associate sponsor for Carl Edwards’ Roush Fenway Ford.

    At this point you really have to give the Roush Fenway Racing marketing department an A for the effort that went into finding a replacement sponsor for Ragan’s team. Sadly, the nation’s state of harsh economics simply wouldn’t allow that to happen. Roush Fenway officially released Ragan in early December and announced it would become a three team operation for the 2012 season.

    Now an official member of the 2011 NASCAR silly season, the rumor mill quickly swept up Ragan and stated he was the front runner to take over the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet owned by James Finch. While this operation doesn’t have the resources of a Roush Fenway ride, it certainly is considered to be in the upper echelon of the so called second tier teams in Sprint Cup racing.

    Despite the presence of some very positive talks between the owner and the driver, a very benevolent Finch realized that the talent of a David Ragan could find himself being offered a better deal. The two men reportedly shook hands, on the possibility of working together, but didn’t actually sign a contract. It was a move that would loom very large during silly season.

    However the highly unique 2011 silly season hadn’t even hit its stride yet. The first surprising development landed on December 6th following the stunning announcement that said Kurt Busch and team owner Roger Penske had “mutually agreed to part ways.” That meant the high caliber #22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge seat was now open. Despite a lengthy period of disagreeable behavior, it was still only natural that the silly season cycle would immediately place Busch, a former series champion and frequent race winner, at the top of the list.

    Meanwhile the silly season hit hard at Richard Petty Motorsports in the middle of December. Their contract with long time sponsor Best Buy Stores was up for renewal and the garage rumors said their renewal was based on the subsequent replacement of driver A  J  Allmendinger.

    At this point David Ragan had engaged in possible contract talks with the aforementioned James Finch as well as Penske Racing and now Richard Petty Motorsports. He was now in a professional holding pattern waiting to see which move Kurt Busch was going to make.

    The silly season dominoes began falling hard and quick on December 21st. First off it was confirmed that Allmendinger had been officially released by Richard Petty Motorsports. A matter of hours later, Roger Penske surprised us all by announcing that he had signed Allmendinger as the new driver of the #22 Dodge. The following day Busch surprised us with the announcement that he was now the new driver of the James Finch ride.

    Meanwhile, with the Penske ride now taken along with his original back up plan with Finch also claimed, Ragan’s name instantly rose to the top of the list to take over the empty seat at Richard Petty Motorsports. But there was yet another problem with this potential move. It seems that Best Buy Stores opted to move their sponsorship money over to Roush Fenway Racing’s #17 and #99 Fords driven by Ragan’s former team mates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. For the second time in approximately six months, Ragan again found his Sprint Cup future clouded by sponsorship issues.

    Just when we all thought that all of these point-counter points were heading to some form of logical conclusion, the silly season sweepstakes started awarding prizes again. Once again the ensuing announcements turned out to be at the expense of David Ragan. During the final week of 2011 word got out that driver Aric Almirola was being considered for the Richard Petty ride. This was confirmed during the first week of January. The announcement also named Smithfield Foods and the U.S. Air Force as sponsors.

    Aric Almirola spent the 2011 season in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series driving the J R Motorsports’ #88 Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Realizing that an upper tier Nationwide Series ride was far better than the prospect of of third tier Cup ride, Ragan’s name soon became attached as a primary candidate to take over the J R Motorsports seat. But, believe it or not, Ragan got bit by the cruelty of silly season again when the team announced that it had signed up and coming driver Cole Whitt to take over the ride.

    No doubt about it, it’s been a brutal silly season for David Ragan. While the immediate prospects for the 2012 racing season are not very clear, it certainly doesn’t mean Ragan’s Sprint Cup career is over. He’s already proven that he’s a very talented driver and, off the track, a very good ambassador for any sponsor that chooses to be associated with him. Good things will turn up for this driver. It’s just a question of when.

  • Sorry about that breast thing, Kasey

    Sorry about that breast thing, Kasey

    Now that the Christmas season, and all the family functions and edible delights, are behind us, I thought it time to begin the process of trimming down. As you might have guessed, I am beginning with my fingers as they dance upon the keyboard. Yah, feel the burn.!

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]I read that Kasey Kahne wrote how disgusted he was at a public display of breastfeeding. I accept his apology and, for my part, I promise not to ever do it again. I feel like such a boob.

    Tony Stewart is no doubt enjoying things, with a third NASCAR title put away. I understand he was disgusted after watching A Christmas Carol, thinking that after his experiences on Christmas Eve old Ebenezer Scrooge turned soft regarding the hired help. In fact, Tony Scrooge would have fired Bob Cratchit before the closing credits.

    If I were a rich man, I would hire Kurt Busch as my driver. Of course, I would insist he wear the chauffeur’s cap, polish the auto on a regular basis, and keep his mouth shut unless he is spoken to. As I am not a rich man, I still could use a good man to help carry out the garbage and wash the dishes around here. Then again, maybe he never did those chores, which might help explain a few things.

    My brother-in-law is one heck of a cook. He even got a new smoker at Christmas to go with his grill. I was wondering, if he tossed a shrimp on the barbie might that tempt Marcos Ambrose to drop by?

    I just realized that Jimmie Johnson and I have something in common. Apparently, neither of us won the NASCAR Sprint Cup title in 2011. I am actually seeking a new favorite with whom I do have a lot in common, such as a driver who is old, fat, short, and bald. Well, Ken Schrader, three out of four ain’t bad.

    With Danica Patrick joining the NASCAR ranks full-time in 2012, my hopes of being the next sex symbol of the sport dimmed even more. However, if they ever give the nod to Greg Biffle or Jimmy Spencer, I know my turn is just around the corner.

    Over the holidays, Dale Earnhardt Jr got to drive out onto the football field to make the opening coin toss at the Gator Bowl. Now, tell me the truth. Somewhere in the deep recesses of your soul there was a immature bit of you wishing he would make a few burnout donuts as he left. Admit it.

    I know there are a bunch of drivers without rides. As I’ve told my sons, there is one way around that. A bus pass. I also know better than to ask Rusty Wallace for a job. I shouldn’t pick on him, as I can’t get a ride for my sons just yet, either.

    After catching the news from the Dakar Rally, I think I’ve discovered why Robby Gordon has not had greater success in NASCAR. Take away the walls, the stands, and the track and he is a changed man. Just point out toward the desert and tell him to “go that-a-way”, and he is off in a cloud of dust.

    The countdown continues to the start of the new season. It is called the NFL playoffs. When they play the Super Bowl, we have only three weeks left until the Daytona 500. Three weeks? I get the reasoning for pushing the race back a week, but I don’t watch basketball and my hockey team is not going to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season. What’s a fellow to do?

    Well, February does feature the opening of the season for the Chinese Super League of soccer. I know what you are thinking. I also wonder if Guangzhou Evergrande will be able to defend their title. Thankfully, ARCA races at Daytona on Saturday, February 18th on SPEED. I’m starting to feel better now.

  • Aric Almirola says He’s Better than Ever and Ready for Cup Return

    Aric Almirola says He’s Better than Ever and Ready for Cup Return

    [media-credit name=”Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”244″][/media-credit]The last time that Aric Almirola had a Sprint Cup Series ride things went far from planned. The year was 2008 and Almirola had just signed with then Dale Earnhardt Inc. to share seat time with Mark Martin before eventually inheriting the ride full-time.

    That time never came since prior to the 2009 season Almirola was informed that the team was being shut down, lack of sponsorship the cause. He landed back in the Camping World Truck Series then signed a multi-year deal with JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, the goal to win races and championships but that too didn’t go as planned.

    In a good way however, because Almirola is now headed back to the Cup Series, looking for a second chance and a way to make things right. Wednesday afternoon he was officially announced as the new driver of Richard Petty Motorsports’ iconic No. 43 which had been vacated by AJ Allmendinger.

    “I’m very, very excited about this opportunity to not only drive the historic and iconic 43 car, but to work with all the people here at Richard Petty Motorsports,” said Almirola.

    “I had the privilege last year of sitting on the couch on Sundays and watching the races and I saw how competitive their racecars were on a weekly basis and that was a big factor in making the decision to come over here. Their competition on the race track was very, very high and that gives me an opportunity to get in a race car that I know is very competitive and where I’ve just got to go out and do my job and the results will come.”

    A great opportunity for him but one that brings sadness because of the team he has to leave behind, JRM. This time last year he was talking about the contract that he had signed with them. Talking about how he wasn’t looking to jump back into the Cup Series too quick for fear of repeating what happened the last time.

    This ride though, fits him better. While he admits he didn’t have the type of season with JRM that he anticipated – he did finish top five in points but failed to win a race – he grew as a driver. When he shows up in Daytona next month with his new it will be with a new attitude and a new sense of security behind the wheel.

    “This is a great opportunity for me. You take the last couple of years, I felt like a few years ago I had the opportunity to go Cup racing but it wasn’t at this level,” Almirola said. “There were a lot of moving parts going on and it didn’t end up working out but I went back to Truck racing and ran very competitive in the Truck Series and won two races and finished second in points, and then that same year was the year I go to run five race in the 9 car and ran rather well for being my first time at a lot of those race tracks in a Cup car.”

    According to RPM CEO Brian Moffitt it was the potential their organization saw in Almirola that put him on the top of the list when it came to finding a driver. The only thing they needed to figure out was sponsorship, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Everyone else involved, from Richard Petty himself to crew chief Greg Erwin, wanted Almirola from the get-go.

    They looked past drivers like David Ragan and Brian Vickers, who have more Cup experience than Almirola. As well as wins on their resume. But it was the Florida native who continued to impress them throughout the 2011 season in the NNS, not making it surprising that they’re all aiming for the top in 2012.

    “Our expectations and what we plan on moving forward with is top 20 and making the Chase this year,” said Moffitt of what RPM would like to see this year. “We set out goals last year with Marcos [Ambrose] and AJ to be in the top 20 and hopefully one of them make the Chase or top 15 and we actually hit that goal, and we expect the same with Aric and Marcos going into this year.”

    On the other hand, this will be the first time that Almirola has run a full schedule in the Cup Series. He’s going to be a rookie all over again with “some growing pains” he says and plenty of learning ahead of him. They key though is to finish where the cars and the driver is capable of finishing. The points will take care of themselves after that, as long as Almirola is doing the job he and RPM feel he’s ready to do.

    “I’ve always put more pressure on myself than anybody else has ever put on me,” said Almirola. “I’ve a very, very competitive person. I don’t like to lose a board game against my wife. I don’t like to lose playing cards and I don’t like to lose on the racetrack. My competitive spirit comes out when I’m on the racetrack and I don’t like to underperform by any means, so I put more pressure on myself than anybody else can put on me.”

    Now, Almirola uses that pressure as motivation as finally moves forward to where he wants to be. Reflecting though on where he’s been and could have stayed. Comfortable and competitive with JRM, lucky to have landed on his feet after years of moving from team to team, series to series and wondering if he’d ever get another shot.

    Back when he aimed for a car to be just his own, not one he shared with another driver. One that even while dominating races he was pulled out of in favor of a Cup driver. He was the next Joey Logano before Logano was even on the NASCAR map. Then fate got in the way, only to deliver him the driver seat of one of the most prestigious rides in racing.

    He knows what he said a year ago, he knows that things won’t be easy. Then again, nothing about Almirola’s career has been easy. Except he isn’t about to let his dream get away because he wouldn’t take a chance and go make a career for himself.

    “Every race car driver wants to race in the Cup Series,” said Almirola. “That’s just the fact of the matter. Nobody wants to compete at a lower level. Everybody wants to compete at the highest level that they can possibly compete at and I’m the same way. I got offered the opportunity to compete at the highest level in NASCAR with a great team that has very competitive equipment, so that made the decision a lot easier. Obviously, there are probably opportunities out there that I would have gladly stayed at [JRM], but this opportunity with this competitive equipment and this group of people was too hard to turn down.”

  • Cole Whitt the Next Driver Getting His Shot with JR Motorsports

    [media-credit id=62 align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]JR Motorsports has become pretty good at picking winners and Wednesday afternoon they signed a driver who they believe will be their next one in the Nationwide Series.

    Twenty-year-old California native Cole Whitt was announced as the new driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet, replacing Aric Almirola. Sponsorship is expected to come from Hellmanns, Taxslayer and Degree.

    Whitt, who will compete for Rookie of the Year honors, finished ninth in points last year in the Camping World Truck Series. He failed to win a race but still impressed many, gained a large following and caught car owner’s attention.

    That included the sports most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. He watched as Whitt led the CWTS points early in the season with his Turn One Racing team, becoming the first rookie and youngest driver to ever do so, and contended for wins. He too saw that Whitt had potential to rise through the NASCAR ranks. Now he’s giving him one of the best rides in the series.

    “Cole is the guy we wanted, and we’re lucky to get him,” said Earnhardt Jr. “He’s got raw, untapped talent, but we are most impressed with his ambition. I sought advice and input from people I respect in the industry, and the overwhelming consensus was that Cole has the potential to do great things in this sport.”

    Earnhardt Jr. and JRM would know. They’ve launched the careers of Martin Truex Jr., who won back-to-back titles in 2004-2005, as well as that of Brad Keselowski. In 2008-2009 Keselowski won six races and contended for the championship, finishing third in points both seasons.

    Truex and Keselowski are now Sprint Cup Series drivers and winners. Once given a chance by Earnhardt Jr. and JRM and now living their dreams. Almirola, who now moves back to the Cup Series, says having drivers progress through JRM gives the company credibility.

    Whitt is now the next in line to reap the rewards of being handpicked to fill their seat. His teammate will be superstar Danica Patrick who is also embarking on her first full season in the NNS.

    “This is a big opportunity for me, and I’m happy to be a part of the JR Motorsports team,” said Whitt. “I’m grateful to Dale, Kelley and everyone at JR Motorsports for giving me this chance. It’s an honor to work with the Eurys, and I will do everything in my power to put this No. 88 team where it belongs in victory lane.”

    With Whitt behind the wheel and Tony Eury Sr. atop the pit box, the 88 team isn’t expected to miss a beat. During Christmas when Whitt was visiting family in California he received the call from Earnhardt Jr. about meeting about his future and working with the Eurys.

    Eagerness and excitement soared through Whitt, who has only competed in three NNS races to date. His only concern was finding a plane ride back home, he did and now he has a new racing home.

    In a video posted to the JRM website where Whitt introduced himself to fans, he spoke about his excitement working with the Eurys, who he says he’ll learn a lot from. Then said the team will go testing first thing next week and it’ll be the first time that Whitt says he meets Patrick.

    “I’ve already spent a pretty good amount of time with the Eurys, they’ve both been good to me and looking forward to working with them,” said Whitt. “Especially Pops, pretty excited he’s going to crew chief the car, he’s got a tremendous background with how long he’s been in the sport.”

    Whitt and company will make their debut in the season opening Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona on February 25.

  • Common Sense Rules for NASCAR

    Common Sense Rules for NASCAR

    CIA Stock Photo

    I was reading a NASCAR news story the other day and thinking to myself, ‘What ever happened to common sense?’ And then it occurred to me that the term common sense is an oxymoron.

    Having the sense to do or say the right thing has become a characteristic that is rare in today’s society. NASCAR is a perfect example of this.

    Common sense and truisms are closely linked so I thought I would share some of these truths as guidelines for the common sense impaired.

    A closed mouth gathers no foot. This one is simple. Think before you speak (or tweet) and avoid those embarrassing headlines (Kasey Kahne-Breastgate).

    Be careful who you step on while climbing the ladder of success; you’re liable to meet them on the way down. Kurt Busch

    Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Just ask Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman or Brad Keselowski-Secret fine recipients.

    Expect the unexpected. Trevor Bayne wins the 2011 Daytona 500.

    Good things come in small packages. Mark Martin

    Hope springs eternal. Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans

    Money talks. “It doesn’t matter if you have the most wins, pole positions, a championship or talent. If you have the money, you get a job.”  Mike Skinner

    Keep your hands to yourself. “Hold my watch.” Richard Childress

    Nobody loves a winner who wins all the time. – Jimmie Johnson

    Close, but no cigar. Carl Edwards

    Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. – Tony Stewart

    If in doubt, remember this. There is nothing so small it can’t be blown out of proportion.

    Mike Skinner quote courtesy of Angie Skinner-SiriusXM NASCAR Radio via Facebook

  • Predictions for the 2012 NASCAR Season

    Predictions for the 2012 NASCAR Season

    With the turning of the calendar it brings a New Year and NASCAR season. Preseason testing at Daytona is just weeks away, meaning every team has begun to tact up a list of goals they’d like to have accomplished by Homestead in November.

    The end of the preseason also means a new list of predictions has to be made. Everything from champions to surprises and attitudes are up for grabs. But with how crazy and unpredictable the 2011 season ending up being, 2012 has a lot to live up to.

    Here are a few preseason predictions that will make it happen.

    The 500 Club Will Welcome a New Member

    Not since Jeff Gordon in 2005 has the Daytona 500 been won by a driver who has previously won it before. Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne have won the last five races, the win the first for each.

    In 2012 that trend will continue. While Daytona and Talladega have always been a crapshoot with any driver able to win, the Daytona 500 is where dreams come true. Kurt Busch is still looking for his first official restrictor plate win and would love to bring his new team, Phoenix Racing, their second career victory in the sports biggest event.

    But the spotlight will be on the Stewart-Haas duo of defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick. Stewart, who has won everything else there is in NASCAR, is still looking for his first Daytona 500 win. This February he’ll try for the 14th time.

    And Patrick, she might just shock the world should she win the event. The 500 will be her first of 10 Cup races she’ll attempt to run this season. When she does, Stewart will field her cars and should the two work as well as they did last July in Daytona during the Nationwide Series event, they’ll be the ones to beat.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Dale Earnhardt Jr. Will be Dale Earnhardt Jr. Again

    Remember when he won six races in one season? When he made the Chase, finished top five in points and looked to be headed toward his first championship? Maybe not since the last few years it’s been the complete opposite.

    In 2004 however, Earnhardt Jr. was one of the hottest drivers on the circuit when he won six races and contended every weekend at every type of track. Following his spurt of resurgence in 2011 with new crew chief Steve Letarte things can only get better for the No. 88 National Guard / AMP Energy team.

    Will they win six races, probably not. But should they get back to running how they did the first half of 2011 while continuing to improve, Earnhardt Jr. will grace the winners circle a few times in 2012 and be back in the Chase again. After he again sits on the front row of the Daytona 500 for the third straight year.

    Experiencing the Championship Hangover

    No, not for Tony Stewart but the man he took the 2011 Sprint Cup Series title from, Carl Edwards. Everything went right for Edwards last year, except for one little race that really mattered the most.

    He won a race, led the points for majority of the season and looked like and lived up to the expectations of the man to beat. Then Stewart entered the picture once the Chase started and now Edwards falls into the clutches of the curse of second place.

    Denny Hamlin experienced it this year after he won eight races in 2010 and lost the championship in the final race of the season. Hamlin won once and finished ninth in points and while it doesn’t sound too bad, Hamlin’s performance was far from standard.

    Before Hamlin it was Mark Martin. He won five races in 2009 and came within a Jimmie Johnson of finally winning his first Cup title. A year later no wins and no Chase for Martin who’s struggled since and now heads for Michael Waltrip Racing on a limited schedule.

    Ironically before Martin it was Edwards in 2008 who won eight races and finished second to Johnson in the title hunt. Edwards then failed to win in 2009 and finished outside the top 10 in points.

    While he has a much stronger team this time around, there’s just something about having your hands on the championship only to have it taken away, that carries over and affects a driver the following season. Look for Edwards to try and keep last year’s disappointment out of mind but to no avail.

    A Slice of Humble Pie

    Kurt Busch says he wants to get back to having fun in the racecar and work on his image. No better way to do that then focusing on just winning with Phoenix Racing.

    Busch has the chance to get back to basics in 2012 should he decide to check the box next to the Nationwide Series and contend for points driving for brother Kyle’s team. He’ll drive a full-year with Phoenix using Hendrick equipment, but the team will not be what he’s used to competing with.

    By taking away the pressure of competing for the Cup title, Busch can have fun in the NNS. He’ll always be high strung and competitive, wanting to win races as much as the next driver, but there’s something that tells me trying to do so with Phoenix and KBM could be just what Busch needs to get back in the right mind frame.

    I expect to see a different Kurt Busch by the end of 2012. One that will still get upset when things go wrong but not the one that everyone saw in 2011. Who knows, should he take this route he might strengthen his bond with his brother while adding a NNS title to his resume.

    Girl Power

    Danica Patrick is finally here, well full-time. Following a two-year partial schedule with JR Motorsports the GoDaddy girl is here to stay. She’ll run a full-season with JRM and run a limited schedule with Stewart-Haas Racing.

    She finished 26th in points in 2011 after only running 12 races but she had three top 10 finishes and one top five. That was a fourth place at Las Vegas early in the season. So, what to expect in 2012 with a full-year under her belt?

    I’m going with a top five points finish. It’s going out on a limb but not all predictions can be played close to the vest. Patrick has continued to show improvement and ability in NASCAR and seems to fit in very well in the Nationwide Series (NNS).

    Heading back to tracks for the second and third times will also he of help, along with the continued guidance of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. She most likely won’t win a race but don’t count her out of being a contender and stealing some headlines this season.

    The Dinger Becomes a Winner

    There have been a lot of off-season moves the last few weeks but AJ Allmendinger might be the biggest winner. When Kurt Busch announced his departure from Penske leaving the No. 22 open there was speculation about who would be its next driver.

    Allmendinger wasn’t even in the picture until the day of the announcement. He goes from Richard Petty Motorsports to Penske and a car that won races and contended for the championship in 2011. This can only lead to big things for Allmendinger, who has always been able to make the most of what he’s got in his brief NASCAR career.

    In 2012 that hard work is going to pay off, he should and I expect will be a contender. In fact, look for Allmendinger to finally capture his first career win, maybe even at Dover where he’s been so strong the last few years. And if all goes well, he’ll be putting up a fight for a Chase spot.

    A Chase Win Finally Comes

    Kyle Busch has made five Chase appearances since he entered the Sprint Cup Series in 2005. That would be 50 Chase races for the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team.

    Incredibly Busch is 0-49 in those races (he was parked in Texas this past November), he has yet to win in the Chase. In 2011 he came close, running second to Matt Kenseth at Charlotte in an event they both dominated. That seems to be the trend for Busch in the Chase, close but not close enough.

    This coming season there will be bigger and better things for Busch. However, and it’s a big however toward this prediction, it will only happen if he doesn’t run in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series (NNS). Or at least if he cuts down his schedule more than it already is.

    I’ve repeatedly said that if Busch was focused solely on the Cup Series he would a true force to be reckoned with. He’s dominated the regular season numerous times only to fall flat in the Chase when the pressure is on. Not so this year if Busch is committed and focused, not running back and forth between garages and states.

    This will be the year of Kyle Busch, not just in the first 26 races but also through the Chase. He’s my championship pick.

    Stenhouse Jr. Does It Again

    The 2012 plans of Roush Fenway Racing and Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. aren’t known yet, the company still working on putting deals together to keep him in the No. 6.

    The hope of all involved being that Stenhouse can come back to defend the title he won in 2011 after an impressive comeback campaign. He’s the future of the sport and seat time is of value and there isn’t a whole lot to choose from should a deal with RFR fall through.

    Let’s stay on a positive note though, Stenhouse will be back in 2012 and he’ll again go at it with the best in the NNS. He’ll beat the Cup stars of Brad Keselowski and teammate Carl Edwards on his way to multiple wins – more than the two he had in 2011 – and his second title.

    This time around Stenhouse will be even stronger. His team will be even better and more prepared and they’ll become the first back-to-back NNS champions since Martin Truex Jr. in 2004 and 2005 and like Truex they too will then move to the Cup Series.

    Bridesmaid No More

    Even though Johnny Sauter did everything he could to win the championship in the season finale at Homestead, it wasn’t enough. But in 2012 with champion Austin Dillon moving to the NNS and with Sauter’s ThorSport team now with the backing of Toyota, Sauter will be your new champ.

    Had it not been for bad luck, changing lanes in Texas to lose the win, some bad breaks, having an axle break with 20 laps to go while pitting after dominating Kentucky, Sauter might be going for back-to-back titles. Instead he’s eager to get started on the New Year with his belief that his team are the favorites.

    It will continue his rise in the series where he now has four career wins in 86 starts. His last two points finishes of third in 2010 and second last season make Sauter one of the stars of the series. This will be the year that Sauter breaks through to become its biggest star.

    Happy New Year NASCAR fans, here’s to one with plenty of excitement and history in the making.

  • Year in Review: 10-Years Ago Tragedy Strikes And We Lose Dale Earnhardt Sr.

    Year in Review: 10-Years Ago Tragedy Strikes And We Lose Dale Earnhardt Sr.

    Throughout the years, the world of sports and entertainment has seen its share of fallen heroes, those who in one way or another touched the lives of those around them. Whether in person or watching on our television sets, these legends were the backbone of the culture in which we grew up. Many times, we watched them while thinking what it would be like to walk in their shoes.

    [media-credit name=”By Darryl Moran” align=”alignright” width=”274″][/media-credit]At times, we tried to fulfill our own dreams by mimicking what it was that made them famous. Life has always been about the journey, with the focus being on reaching the final destination knowing that we gave it our best. From time to time, each of one us have experienced life’s many crises from the different changing events and transitions, all unpredictable moments arriving and intruding into our “well groomed” lives.

    We didn’t ask for this interference, and sometimes we find ourselves wondering why it has arrived, bringing with it havoc and confusion. Along with the havoc and confusion, there is one hell of an adventure that is waiting to explode right before our very eyes. The journey that Dale Earnhardt Sr. embarked on is one that, even today, is still one the most talked about subjects whenever the word NASCAR is mentioned.

    Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. was born April 29, 1951. A NASCAR legend to some, but yet to his family, he was a son, father, brother, and also a husband. Earnhardt was the epitome of what NASCAR racing is all about, and whether you loved him or hated him, the legacy he left behind continues to be the topic of discussion when the season begins at Daytona. With a twinkle in his eye, and a devilish grin on his face, Earnhardt pushed and shoved his way into NASCAR super-stardom.

    Call it what you want—passion, infatuation, enthusiasm, or just a plain and simple love for the sport. Our modern dictionary is full of words that can be used to describe the enormous impact—good or bad—that this one driver alone has had in the NASCAR series. His highly aggressive driving style made him a fan favorite, which was how he earned his nicknames, “Old Iron Head,” “The Man in Black,” and of course the most famous of all, “The Intimidator.”

    Excellence and dedication on and off the track were two of his biggest strengths, along with the zeal to be the best driver. He was tenacious when it came to accomplishing the goals that he set before himself, and very seldom did he ever fall short of achieving what most other drivers could only dream of. NASCAR to him was a way of life, as well as a world that he would dominate in his own special way.

    Never has a driver come from such a simple lifestyle to steal hearts—as well as crush a few—on his way to becoming one the sport’s most recognizable figures. His popularity wasn’t constrained to just motorsports alone, and his reputation took him beyond the NASCAR walls and into the limelight of everyday sports. Earnhardt was born a legend, and to this day his name is mentioned amongst some of the greatest sports stars from around the world.

    Throughout his storybook career, he took every advantage, as well as the gifts that were given to him, in order to give back to the sport and the fans who gave him so much. Earnhardt’s love for the sport allowed him to become one of NASCAR’s most popular ambassadors, even to the point that fans from across the country are always trying to compare him to the next up and coming star.

    Earnhardt not only believed in himself, but he also believed in his own abilities by taking many chances other drivers would frown upon. The Intimidator’s greatness was portrayed in those who chose him as their own hero, even though there were fans who couldn’t find it in their hearts to overlook his aggressive driving style. Either way, “The Intimidator” continued to take NASCAR by storm, while catapulting the sport into the homes of motorsports fanatics around the country, because of his uncompromising driving abilities, which were admired by those who witnessed them.

    The word “quit” was never found in his vocabulary, nor could anyone quench the fire that burned deep within his heart to always be the best. Many drivers who come through the series leave some sort of footprint for the next generation driver to follow. These special sets of prints have yet to be followed though because of the legacy hidden deep within the soles, which Earnhardt’s accomplishments made him one of NASCAR’s most decorated drivers. All you had to do is put an ear to them, and almost magically you could listen to history being spoken in a small, still voice.

    On a warm, sunlit day back on Feb. 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr. would buckle himself into his famous black, grey, and red No. 3 Goodwrench sponsored Chevrolet, just as he had done many times during his 22-year legendary career. Earnhardt had the look of a proud father, knowing that his son Dale Jr. would also be in the starting field. The elder Earnhardt’s life had really taken a turn for the better; The Intimidator was ready to make history, but not the kind that he and Teresa ever thought imaginable.

    This would be the last of their customary kiss before each race, because her life too would be changed forever before the end of the day. The green flag waved to start the 43rd running of the Great American race, along with being the biggest audience to ever see a NASCAR race, the fans would also witness one of the biggest blows to a modern day sports hero.

    Who could ever forget the words of Mike Helton: “This has to be one of the toughest announcements that I have personally had to make. After the accident in turn four of the Daytona 500, we have lost Dale Earnhardt.” He was gone in the twinkling of an eye doing what he loved best, driving a race car. We all waited for him to walk away and wave to the crowd that he was alright, but instead to the shock of all who witnessed it, this was one that not even “The Intimidator” and “The Man in Black” would be able to survive.

    Daytona had taken the sport’s biggest hero, on the first race of what was to be the beginning of NASCAR finally making it to the national spotlight. I guess God had better plans for him, or maybe he just wanted Dale all to himself. Earnhardt would go down as one of Daytona’s biggest heroes, while being honored with a statue out front holding his most prized possession.

    His infamous black and red paint scheme with the white No. 3 is still to this day, one of the most famous cars in all of NASCAR history. Death is eminent in any sport, especially when you take into consideration how dangerous NASCAR racing is, because of the high speeds these 3,500-pound cars travel. When the Grim Reaper comes knocking at your door, there is no escaping his deadly grip, since he has no respect for who is next on the list.

    Earnhardt never reached his final destination; instead he continued his journey looking down from the heavens above. Legends never rest in peace, instead they keep giving as long as the fans are willing to remember.