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Category: XFINITY Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series news and information

  • TURNER MOTORSPORTS ACQUIRES BRAUN RACING

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team set to take over operation of four-car NASCAR Nationwide Series team

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 24, 2010) – Turner Motorsports, currently a two-team operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), announced today that they are acquiring select assets of Braun Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) team and will immediately take over operation of the organization.

    Braun Racing fields four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – the No. 32, No. 38, No. 10 and No. 11 cars with a driver line-up that includes Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson, Jason Leffler, David Reutimann, Brian Scott, Tayler Malsam and Jacques Villeneuve.  These four teams will join forces with the existing Turner Motorsports’ NCWTS entries – the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Ricky Carmichael, and the No. 31 Wolf Pack Rentals Chevrolet Silverado, driven by James Buescher.

    With the acquisition of Braun Racing, Turner Motorsports will field six teams in two of NASCAR’s top-three premier series. Plans for the 2011 racing season include three NNS teams and three NCWTS teams. The NNS driver line up for Turner Motorsports will be announced in October. As for the NCWTS teams, James Buescher will once again pilot the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado with Ricky Carmichael also returning to drive the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado. The team will operate out of Braun Racing’s current 88,000 square-foot facility in Mooresville, NC.  Todd Braun, Doug Stringer and Harry Scott, Jr. will continue to be an integral part of Turner Motorsports. 

    “We are really excited about expanding Turner Motorsports into to the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” says Steve Turner, owner of Turner Motorsports, LLC. “We have been looking at ways to grow our team structure to provide additional sponsorship opportunities for our partners and to create new opportunities for our drivers. It became apparent that we could accomplish those goals by making a deal with Todd Braun and purchasing select assets of Braun Racing. We also hope that this purchase will allow us to continue to grow very positive relationships with the existing sponsors as well as the tremendous list of marketing partners that have supported Braun Racing over the years including Dollar General, Great Clips, AccuDoc Solutions, Iron Horse Jeans, BigSpot.com, ABF and Fraternal Order of Eagles. Braun Racing has put together a great group of drivers, crew chiefs and employees and they have put very competitive teams on the track. We look to help them get even more competitive as we move forward.”

    “We are dedicated to making our Nationwide teams ultra-competitive,” Turner added. “With the introduction of the Nationwide Series’ ‘new car,’ we know that success will require a significant upgrade in infrastructure, technology and financial commitment. Going head to head in this series with teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Penkse Racing, we know that it will take a total commitment and we are prepared to make that commitment. Everyone at Braun Racing has done a really good job of building a solid program and we look to expand on that. Our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program has been up and running for about a year now and we have made great strides with that program. Our goal for next year is to compete for dual championships in both series.”

    Braun Racing’s No. 32 car is currently sixth in NNS owner point standings, only 167 points out of the top-five. The No. 10 car is 17th, the No. 38 sits 19th and the No. 11 rounds out the top-20 in owner points with its driver, Brian Scott, currently leading the NNS rookie-of-the-year standings. The team was created in 2002, running races in the ARCA Racing Series.  The following year, they made their entrance into the NASCAR Nationwide Series and have since grown into one of the most successful independent teams in the series, producing four wins with drivers Jamie McMurray, Jason Leffler, Dave Blaney and Kyle Busch.

    Turner Motorsports has experienced its own success in a short amount of time with drivers, James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael.  So far this season, Carmichael is credited with two top-five and five top-10 finishes, while Buescher has produced five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, Buescher posted a career-best finish of second.

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    About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, was established in 1999 and is currently in the midst of its inaugural full season of NASCAR competition. Co-owned by Texas natives Steve and Sandra Turner, the racing organization is operated out of a 30,000 square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., which houses two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet entries piloted by James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael. In addition, Turner Motorsports fields part-time entries in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, with Carmichael behind the wheel and a full-time USARacing Pro Cup Series team with driver Logan Ruffin.

     

    About Braun Racing:  Braun Racing is a leading team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series that was handpicked four years ago by Toyota to help lead their entrance into the series.  The team is proud to have claimed Toyota’s first Nationwide Series pole on February 24, 2007 at California Speedway and their first win at O’Reilly Raceway Park on July 28, 2007.  Founded by team owner Todd Braun in 2002, the team is in its eighth season of competition in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and is expanding into a four-car operation in 2010 with an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, David Reutimann, Brian Scott and Tayler Malsam.  Braun Racing’s marketing partners includes Great Clips, Dollar General, Beringer Vineyards, AccuDoc Solutions, Fraternal Order of Eagles, ABF, Iron Horse Jeans, Bigspot.com, Northeastern Supply, SEM and Safety-Kleen.

  • Marc Davis, Chase Elliott and Johanna Long: NASCAR’s Newest Talent Triumvirate

    Marc Davis, Chase Elliott and Johanna Long: NASCAR’s Newest Talent Triumvirate

    While the trio of Cup drivers atop the newly revised point standings, including Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, battle it out for this year’s NASCAR championship, three new, young drivers, Marc Davis, Johanna Long and Chase Elliott, are well on their way to becoming the sport’s newest talent triumvirate.

    These three upstarts are taking the sport by storm, each excelling in various racing series throughout the country this weekend. With their skills and talents, as well as their family ties, they may just become NASCAR’s newest talent trio, poised to take the next step up the racing ladder.

    Marc Davis, son of the late Harry Davis, will be making his Nationwide debut this weekend at the Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware. Davis, at age 20, will return to the track with R3 Motorsports and will pilot the No. 23 WHUR 96.3 FM sponsored Chevrolet.

    This past year has been a tumultuous one for Davis. The death of his father not only hit him hard personally, but he also inherited the management of his family’s race team, now named Marc Davis Motorsports.

    “It’s been an interesting year so far,” Davis said with some sadness in his voice. “This is what my dad and I worked for; to achieve my dream of having a successful and competitive NASCAR career.”

    Davis, a former Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, has most recently been behind the wheel in the inaugural Free State 500 in South Africa. He competed in that American Speed Association Race in January, scoring a top five finish as he took the checkered flag in the third position.

    When his father passed away, Davis was thrust from the driver’s seat into the command position with the race team that now bears his name, becoming one of the youngest team owners in the sport. Davis also is one of the few minority team owners, a mantle that he wears proudly, serving as a role model for others of diverse backgrounds in racing.

    The young driver caught the eye of R3 Motorsports team owner Robert Richardson, Sr. after a previous good run at Dover International Speedway. While other drivers, including Coleman Pressley, Alex Kennedy and Johnny Sauter, have driven the No. 23, Richardson knew that Davis was the driver for the final Nationwide race at Dover this year.

    “We saw how well Marc has done at Dover in the past,” Richardson said. “When this opportunity came up, we knew it would be good for everyone.”

    Davis acknowledges that Dover has been a good track for him, running the 2007 and 2008 East Series races there. “It’s a good place for us,” Davis said. “It suits my driving style a lot. I’m pretty confident that we’ll have a good run.”

    While Davis is thrilled to return to the track, he will no doubt do so with a heavy heart. But the young man also feels that he will be driving the challenging concrete track with an angel on his shoulder.

    “Every race this year has been dedicated to him,” Davis said of his father. “I know that he’d be proud of what we’re doing now.”

    Another up and coming driver, Chase Elliott, has family that is proud of him as well, namely his father Bill Elliott and his late grandfather George Elliott. Chase, the 14 year old son of ‘Awesome’ Bill, ran this past weekend at Gresham Motorsports Park, a track that his grandfather helped run, and led every lap of the 100 lap George Elliott Memorial.

    While Chase Elliott never got to experience his grandfather’s racing passion firsthand as he was only three years old when his Papa George passed away, he knew of the stories his father told him, particularly of his grandfather’s devotion to the Ford brand.

    “I just remember Papa George’s strong conviction for being a Ford Driver,” Elliott said. “And there was one special little red airplane that he gave me that the propeller would crank up and spin.”

    The race was also special for Chase’s father Bill, who had once worked at that race track selling hot dogs and tickets. That was also the site of Bill Elliott’s first major stock car win in the mid-1970’s when he was making his own way up the NASCAR ladder.

    “It was a special evening for me because Daddy’s sister Ethel and his first cousin Thelma were able to come,” Bill Elliott said. “They were able to see Chase race and win for the first time.”

    Chase Elliott, now part of the Red Bull team family, has been taking the south by storm, following in the footsteps of his father. He had a top five finish at Bristol and won at the first race of the newly re-opened North Wilkesboro track. Elliott will next compete in the championship finale this weekend at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

    The final member of the up and coming NASCAR triumvirate is Johanna Long, an 18 year old racer who has just announced that she will be dipping her toes more deeply into the Truck Series waters. Long plans to run at the Truck race this weekend with a new team, Panhandle Motorsports, making its debut at Las Vegas this weekend.

    Although Long has four starts in the Truck Series, three with Billy Ballew Motorsports, this will be her inaugural run with her new family team and her first time ever foray into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Long has two top 20 finishes in her Truck career so far and is hoping to continue learning more and gaining valuable seat time.

    “I’m looking forward to getting to know the track at Las Vegas,” Long said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to run with my family’s team, but our ultimate goal is to have the track performance over time to become a driver for another competitive team. Every race I enter, I learn, but I also get a chance to hone my skills to keep moving forward with my driving.”

    Long also has a long racing resume, tearing up the track in late models and serving as the youngest and first woman to claim the Pro Late Model title at Five Flags Speedway, taking that honor at the tender age of 15. With 19 starts so far in 2010 in various series, she has scored five top-five finishes and ten top-10 finishes.

    Just like Davis and Elliott, Long has also followed in her family’s racing footsteps. In her case, she has modeled her career after her father Donald, who raced with great success in the All Pro Series in the southeast.

    While these three racers have strong family ties in common, the tie that binds them most as they compete in various venues this weekend is their desire to learn so they can continue to hone their crafts and move forward in their racing careers.

    Johanna Long sums it up best. “I have a lot to learn,” Long said. “Every step that you go up, you have to learn a lot more. I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can and learn as much as I can.”

    With that learning attitude at the forefront, all three drivers, Davis, Elliott and Long, will no doubt continue their climb up the racing career ladder. These drivers’ ultimate hopes, however, will be to become NASCAR’s next talent triumvirate, ultimately competing for the sport’s highest honor, the Cup championship.

  • Dodge Motorsports NNS Race Advance – Dover 200 – Dover International Speedway

    Dodge Motorsports NNS Race Advance – Dover 200
    Dover International Speedway
    Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010
    www.media.chrysler.com
    www.twitter.com/teamdodge

    DODGE NUGGETS
    • Dodge’s Justin Allgaier is fourth in the series point standings, best among
    full-time, Nationwide-only drivers.  Allgaier leads fellow Nationwide-only
    driver Trevor Bayne, currently ranked seventh, by 401 points.
    • With 27 races completed in the 2010 season, Penske Racing’s two NASCAR
    Nationwide Series Dodge entries have recorded six poles, five wins along with
    25 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes. 
    • Dodge is seeking its first NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

    JUSTIN ALLGAIER – No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge
    Highlights:
    • Earned his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory earlier this year at
    Bristol Motor Speedway, leading a 1-2 finish for Penske Racing and Dodge. 
    • Allgaier has one win along with six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in 26
    Nationwide races in 2010. 
    • He is currently fourth in the season point standings, best among full-time
    Nationwide Series-only drivers.
    • Qualified 29th and finished 16th at the spring event at Dover.
    • Average finish in three Nationwide starts at Dover is 17th.
    •  Won the 2008 ARCA championship.
    • Was the 2009 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.

    BRAD KESELOWSKI – No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge
    Highlights:
    • Currently leads the Nationwide Series standings by 373 points over Carl
    Edwards.  He has led the standings since his win at Talladega in April.
    • At the spring race at Dover, Keselowski qualified third and led three laps
    en route to a seventh-place finish.
    • In seven career Nationwide starts at Dover, Keselowski has one win, three
    top-five and six top-10 finishes.
    • Earned back-to-back wins at Talladega and Richmond and has four wins in
    2010.
    • His 2010 Nationwide Series totals, in addition to four wins, include 19
    top-five and 21 top-10 finishes.  He has only one finish outside the top 15
    (Chicago – 21st).
    • Has a NASCAR record 94 consecutive Nationwide Series races without a DNF
    (Did Not Finish).

    DID YOU KNOW
    Dodge’s Brad Keselowski leads Carl Edwards by 373 points in the Nationwide
    Series standings.  The largest deficit overcome with eight races remaining in
    the series is 320 points (Larry Pearson – 1986). 

    DODGE NATIONWIDE QUOTES
    “Dover is a great race track.  It’s a concrete surface, which is something
    that has obviously been very kind to us here lately.  It’s a fast track, and
    every time you drive off into the corners, it’s equivalent to the height of a
    one or two-story building.  It’s a place where you’re never able to relax.
    Even the straightaways are very demanding at Dover.”
    Justin Allgaier, No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger

    “Dover and Bristol are alike and different in several ways. They are alike in
    the sense that they both have elevation changes, and both are concrete tracks
    and have a lot of banking.  Probably the biggest difference between the two is
    the way that they take rubber.  They take rubber so differently that it
    changes the groove throughout the race. Dover is also a bit faster and the
    track is a bit rougher than Bristol, especially since it was resurfaced not
    long ago.”
    Brad Keselowski, No. 22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge Charger

    “Dover is an awesome race track, but it can give you fits.  It’s really
    demanding on your equipment.  They call it the ‘Monster Mile’ for a reason.
    In Brad, we have a driver that loves the challenge of racing at Dover, so if I
    do my job and give him a capable car, I’m confident he can win again.”
    Paul Wolfe, crew chief, No. 22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge Charger

  • Trevor Bayne, No. 99 OUT! Pet Care Toyota Dover Preview

    CORNELIUS, N.C. — Every time Trevor Bayne climbs into the No. 99 OUT! Pet Care Toyota he wonders if this will be the weekend he notches his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory. He’s been getting closer and closer. The 19-year-old, Knoxville, Tenn., finished a career-best third in the series’ most recent race in Richmond. He’s scored the fifth most points of any driver and most points of a Nationwide Series only driver in the last 10 races. This weekend the Diamond-Waltrip Racing driver races at Dover International Speedway. Bayne is seventh in the standings with only eight races left in the 2010 season.

    TREVOR BAYNE QUOTES

    SEVENTH PLACE IN STANDINGS: “It’s cool to work our way up to seventh after the rough start we had in February. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We started the season off with a 41st-place finish at Daytona and just struggled until about May. Before that we struggled to get the finishes we deserved. Now, I think we’ve figured out how to run in the top five each week and finish. Our next step is to figure out that little bit extra to win a race. Hopefully, we’ll do that this weekend in Dover and get us closer to the top five in the standings.”

    BAYNE ON DOVER: “I like racing at Dover a lot. I don’t have a ton of experience there but I do have some track time. I finished 29th there in May and I ran an East race there once. For us to be successful this weekend we have to be able to get to the throttle hard and fast up off the corners. I remember in the East Series cars we were almost wide open during qualifying and the Nationwide cars aren’t that far off. One thing Martin (Truex Jr.) told me was to make sure you get to the throttle wide open. If you have to get to the gas easy and wait on the car a little off the corners you will get your butt kicked at Dover.”

    NOTES OF INTEREST

    · Bayne will participate in an autograph session on Saturday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Dover International Speedway FanZone.

    · Gary and Blake Bechtel along with Michael Waltrip Racing own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields Toyota Camrys out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C. The Bechtels have owned cars in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series since 1990. The Morgan Hill, California residents’ teams have visited victory lane 10 times in the Nationwide Series.

    · Bayne owns only one Nationwide Series start on the one-mile concrete oval in Dover. On May 15, he started 23rd and raced well before a late race incident left him with a 29th-place finish. Bayne started third and finished 21st in the Sept. 19, 2008 NASCAR K&N Pro Cup East Series race at Dover.

    · Bayne is the second highest series-only regular in the driver point standings.

    · Only Bayne, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, and Sam Ard have notched three consecutive Nationwide poles. Bayne won poles at St. Louis, Indianapolis and Iowa in July.

    · Bayne owns 42 NNS starts. He has four poles (Indianapolis –2009, 2010, Gateway—2010 and Iowa 2010), five top-fives and 10 top-10s and has led 129 laps. His best finish (third) came at Gateway International Raceway on July 17 and at Richmond International Raceway on September 10.

  • Toyota NASCAR Notes & Quotes II Dover-Las Vegas

    TOYOTA TALK: Kyle Confident at Monster Mile Hamlin Hopes for Solid Finish at Dover Almirola Optimistic Heading West

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 10 wins, 31 top-five results, 61 top-10 finishes and five poles after 27 of 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races … Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will each make their 100th NSCS starts in a Camry at Dover … Hamlin and Busch are currently competing in the ‘Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship’ playoff … Hamlin is first and Busch is fourth in the Chase standings … Camry driver Martin Truex Jr. is from Mayetta, N.J. … Truex hosted the third-annual Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Golf Tournament presented by NAPA on Wednesday at Sea Oaks Country Club in Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J. … Ty Norris, vice president and general manager at Michael Waltrip Racing, grew up in Smyrna, Del., and graduated from Delaware State University … ‘Sponsafier 2’ voting runs through Sept. 23.

    KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Why do you enjoy racing at Dover? “I like Dover. It’s a place where I really like to go. I run well there in the trucks, the Nationwide cars, the Cup cars. It’s a hard place to get around. It’s a little bit treacherous and kind of tricky sometimes, especially the way the rubber is there and the way Goodyear brings tires in. We won there in the spring. I feel like we can go back there and kind of repeat that performance. We ran top-five most of the day and then made some really good changes towards the end of the race and got there to try to compete for the win and we beat Jimmie (Johnson) on pit road. There again, you can have a mistake on pit road, on the last pit stop during a green flag stop or something. There’s so many different ways to lose these races that you have to keep your head on.”

    DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Does your second-place finish at New Hampshire give you confidence going to Dover? “It gives me somewhat of a buffer at Dover. We all know how Dover is for me. We’ve just got to minimize a bad day again at Dover. That’s our goal. You’ve got to set a number that you’re satisfied with, and try to reach that goal at Dover. The good news is we finished fourth there in the spring, which is a heck of a lot better than 22nd and two laps down last year in the Chase race (at Dover). Just if we can get past Dover, we’ve got a lot of really good tracks for us.” What makes this year the best year for you to win the championship? “I think the biggest thing is we’re competitive everywhere — competitive as in we can win races everywhere. We’ve shown we can win races and that means we’ve been up front a lot during the course of this season. For as many wins as we’ve had, we’ve had second and third-place finishes as well. That means we’ve been up front a lot during the season and that’s what it’s going to take to win the championship — a low average finish and making sure you have everything in line and prepared in case something does happen. Even if you have a bad race or two, if you consistently run in the top two to three positions every week and put yourself out there to possibly win a lot of races, I think you’ll be a contender.”

    DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Do you like racing at Dover? “I like Bristol a lot and Dover is a stretched out Bristol. It’s a cool race track. I enjoy going there. I wish there were more race tracks on the circuit like that. It’s fun and it’s fast and we usually get around pretty good there. I think we’ll be decent heading there and hopefully have a good run.”

    MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Do you enjoy racing at Dover with it being close to your hometown in New Jersey? “It’s a track that has been very good to me and my family. I won races there in both the Nationwide and Cup Series events. Back in May, I won the pole with my NAPA team and that was pretty cool. Now we want to get our first win there as a new team. Since the first time I took a lap on it, I have loved the place. When you find a track like that, it usually makes it easier to be good there. I like the fact that the concrete is very unforgiving. The speeds are high and the banking makes it intimidating. It’s pretty fast. I find it to be a track that you really have to attack, but at the same time, respect that it is very unforgiving. You have to be willing to put it right there on the edge and have the discipline not to cross over it.”

    NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 13 wins, 56 top-five results, 113 top-10 finishes and 13 poles after 27 of 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races … Reed Sorenson has recorded 15 top-10 finishes in 20 NNS starts this season, including six of his last eight starts … Toyota currently holds a 35-point advantage over Chevrolet in the NNS manufacturer point standings.

    JASON LEFFLER, No. 38 Great Clips Toyota Camry, Braun Racing Are you looking forward to racing at Dover? “The Dover race is always an exciting one. Everyone compares it to a Bristol on steroids and that’s a pretty good description for it. There’s a good reason they call it the ‘Monster Mile.’ For a one-mile track, it’s really fast. It’s also pretty narrow, so there’s not a whole lot of room to negotiate through the turns. Being able to charge hard into the corners so you can keep up your momentum on the straightaways is really important. This has been a good track to me over the years. My first NASCAR win came at Dover in 2003 when I was racing in the Truck Series.”

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Tundra drivers have combined for 12 wins, 45 top-five results, 93 top-10 finishes and nine poles after 19 of 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races … Todd Bodine (first), Aric Almirola (second), Timothy Peters (fourth), Mike Skinner (eighth) and David Starr (ninth) are in the top-10 in the NCWTS point standings with six races remaining … Tundra drivers have recorded three wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Bodine (2005) and Skinner (2006 and 2008) … Toyota currently holds a 16-point advantage over Chevrolet in the NCWTS manufacturer point standings … Red Horse Racing drivers and crew members will visit Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas on Friday to meet the Red Horse Squadron (RHUSAF).

    TODD BODINE, No. 30 Germain.com Toyota Tundra, Germain Racing Are you points racing at this point of the season or are you racing for wins? “We go out to win, that’s what we come for. When you get in a situation when you don’t have a truck that’s going to win, then you have to points race. Then you have to do the best you can staying out of trouble to get the most positions you can, and not make mistakes. That’s what we have to do the rest of the year.”

    ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 51 Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports How much do you enjoy racing at Las Vegas? “The track is a lot of fun to race on. It’s really fast, has a lot of grip and it is pretty rough making you able to pass. You can move around too and run the top or the middle. Some people run the bottom, but it just depends on how you are handling. The track allowed us to put on a great race last year. We got a top-10 result and I’m optimistic that we can beat that this year. I’m looking forward to going back there with some of the notes from last season to apply to the Graceway Pharmaceuticals Tundra. We’re really looking for wins.”

    TOYOTA DRIVER ROSTER — Dover International Speedway/Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series David Reutimann, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Camry Robby Gordon, No. 7 SpeedFactory.TV Camry Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Express Camry Casey Mears, No. 13 GEICO Camry Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Camry Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Camry Marcos Ambrose, No. 47 Bush’s Baked Beans/Scott Camry Mike Bliss, No. 55 Prism Motorsports Camry Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry Josh Wise, No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Camry Scott Riggs, No. 66 Prism Motorsports Camry Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Camry Reed Sorenson, No. 83 Red Bull Camry Joe Nemechek, No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Camry NASCAR Nationwide Series Josh Wise, No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Camry Brian Scott, No. 11 BigSpot.com Camry Michael Annett, No. 15 Germain.com Camry Kyle Busch, No. 18 NOS Camry Joey Logano, No. 20 GameStop Camry Reed Sorenson, No. 32 Dollar General Camry Jason Leffler, No. 38 Great Clips Camry Kevin Lepage, No. 56 RaceDaySponsor.com Camry Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 Snap On Camry Steve Wallace, No. 66 5 Hour Energy Camry Trevor Bayne, No. 99 Out! Pet Care Camry NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mike Skinner, No. 5 International Trucks/Monaco RV Tundra Justin Lofton, No. 7 VisitPit.com Tundra Jason Bowles, No. 9 Germain Racing Tundra Nelson Piquet, No. 15 Qualcomm Tundra Timothy Peters, No. 17 Red Horse Racing Tundra Brian Ickler, No. 18 Toyota Tundra Johanna Long, No. 20 Panhandle Grading & Paving Tundra Tayler Malsam, No. 25 Exide Tundra Todd Bodine, No. 30 Germain.com Tundra Aric Almirola, No. 51 Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Tundra Narain Karthikeyan, No. 60 SafeAuto Insurance Toyota Justin Hobgood, No. 77 Tundra David Starr, No. 81 Stratosphere Tundra Donny Lia, No. 90 Stringer Motorsports Tundra

  • Brian Scott Quick Facts : Dover International Raceway : Dover 200

    BRIAN SCOTT QUICK FACTS

    Dover International Raceway

    Dover 200

    September 25, 2010

    – Scott will make his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Dover International Raceway

    — Scott posted a 17th-place start and 9th-place finish in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Raceway.

    – Dover is the site of Scott’s first NASCAR win in the Camping World Truck Series (2009)

    – This weekend’s Dover 200 will mark the fifth time that Scott will drive the BigSpot.com Toyota Camry this season.

    – Scott currently leads Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings by three points (198-195) over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

    – Scott leads all other rookies in laps completed. (92.1%)

    Scott talks Dover

    “Dover obviously has a special place in my heart just because I scored my first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win there. Aerodynamics come into play at Dover a lot more than people think. Dover is like Bristol in a sense that, not only is it concrete, but it’s all about being in the right position at the right time. You really have to save your tires at Dover as the track really chews them up. Handling is important at any racetrack, but at Dover, you’re in the corner so much the without decent handling, you’re in for a long day.”

    Scott on his first NASCAR win

    “That was a big momentous day for me. It changed the course of my future a good bit and gave me the confidence I need to go back to Dover, knowing I can win. We had a great setup and qualified really well which I think is important at Dover. You have to be very conscious of track position. Our truck was really good off the corners and it gave us an advantage over the other trucks. Coming across the line was real vindicating for our team. It was a team that was homegrown and had been through a lot. To win there was really special.”

    Scott on BigSpot.com

    “Companies can really learn from BigSpot.com’s presence in motorsports. In their limited schedule of only five races this season, they have really engaged the fans with their online presence through BigSpotRacing.com and their twitter entity @BigSpotDotCom. They have done everything from giving away BigSpot.com racing swag to race tickets to those that follow them on twitter. They have done a great job building a lot of excitement around the times they are on the No. 11 car. They’ve worked very hard on getting the maximum amount of exposure out of their races. The fans have really responded and connected well with the company though their motorsports program at Braun Racing and I’m excited to have them back on the car for the next two weeks.”

    Equipment Information

    The No. 11 BigSpot.com team is bringing chassis No. BR27 for this weekend’s Dover 200. Scott piloted BR27 inside the top-10 at Bristol earlier this summer before an accident ended his day with less than 10 laps to go.

  • Carl Edwards, Copart No. 60 NNS – Dover Advance

    Carl Edwards – NNS ADVANCE

    Team: No. 60 Copart.com Ford

    Crew Chief: Mike Beam

    Chassis: RK-674

    QUOTES

    Carl Edwards on racing at Dover International Speedway:

    “Dover has been a very good track for us in the Nationwide Series. It’s perfectly suited for these cars and my driving style. I really enjoy racing there and I’m proud to have Copart on board. It should be just a fun race, I really love racing the Nationwide Series cars in Dover.”

    Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Dover International Speedway:

    “We have a really solid team in the Nationwide Series that I’ve been a part of this season as director of competition. I’m ready to hit the ground running in my new role as crew chief. I’ve been fortunate enough to be associated with teams in the past that have earned victories in the Cup Series and Truck series at Dover. Being that it is one of my favorite race tracks, I’m ready to get in victory lane.”

    FAST FACTS

    -FLASHBACK…Two weeks ago in Richmond, Edwards finished 10th after qualifying fourth.

    -CARL EDWARDS will make his 12th Nationwide Series start at Dover International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. In May, Edwards finished 11th after qualifying fourth.

    -FOR THE RECORD… Edwards’ average start in Dover is 5.4 and his average finish is 9.4. He has one Nationwide victory at Dover along with two pole awards.

    -THE CAR…The No. 60 team will take chassis – RK 674 to Dover. This is the same chassis that was used in Both 2010 races at Bristol and the spring race in Dover.

    -ON THE TRACK…This weekend Copart.com will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 60. To sell your cars fast, visit the Online Vehicle Auction at Copart.com.

    -IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES…Roush Fenway Racing has three wins, 16 top-five and 26 top-10s in 50 Nationwide Series starts at Dover International Speedway.

    2010 No. 60 Racing Team

    Name Hometown

    Mike Beam Hickory, NC

    Seth Barbour Chattanooga, TN

    Heath Landis Forest City, NC

    EC Nichols Detroit, TX

    Brett Ragan Unadilla, GA

    Kenny DeGuisto Garland, TX

    Jay Maybry Camp Bello, SC

    Bennie Stevens Hampton, TN

    Justin Edgell Salisbury, NC

    Troy Cupples Normal, IL

    Jason Hedlesky Clinton, MI

    Tom Hatcher Middleburg, FL

    Frank Brassfield Fort Walton Beach, FL

    Jeremy Neeley Trenton, GA

    Michael Smith Hiddenite, NC

    Dale Hoffman Allentown, PA

    Jon Moore Gainesville, GA

    Darren Beach New Franklin, MO

  • Paul Menard – Nationwide Dover Advance

    PAUL MENARD

    Race: Dover 200 presented by CiCi’s Pizza at Dover International Speedway

    Team: No. 98 CertainTeed Windows/Menards Ford Fusion

    Crew Chief: Matt Puccia

    Chassis: RK-699 Last ran at Iowa, July 2010, finished 16th

    Broadcast Information: Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010- 3:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN2 and 3:00 p.m. on MRN radio affiliates and Sirius channel 128

    FAST FACTS

    • PAUL MENARD will make his 28th start of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Dover International Speedway in the Dover 200 presented by CiCi’s Pizza.

    • MENARD at Dover International Speedway …In eight starts Menard has two top-10 finishes.

    • LAPS…Menard has completed 98.9% of the laps he has attempted in NNS competition in 2010.

    • ON THE TRACK…The No. 98 team will carry the CertainTeed Windows/Menards paint scheme on its Ford Fusion in this weekend’s Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway.

    QUOTES

    Paul Menard on racing at Dover International Speedway: “Dover is a challenging race track that can get the best of many good drivers. The driver controls a lot in determining the outcome of a race. Our CertainTeed Windows/Menards crew has worked really hard in preparing a fast racecar, so I am looking forward to putting my skills to the test this weekend.”

    Crew chief Matt Puccia on racing at Dover International Speedway: “Dover is mean race track that requires a solid game plan to be successful. The high speeds and banking create an exciting racing atmosphere. We are looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to bring our CertainTeed Windows/Menards Ford Fusion to the party.”

    STATS

    MENARD’S NNS RESULTS AT DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY:

    Race Start Finish Laps Status

    2004-MBNA 200 30 21 199/200 Running

    2004-Stacker 200 16 15 199/200 Running

    2005-MBNA racepoints 200 25 28 195/200 Running

    2005-Dover 200 13 10 200/200 Running

    2006-Stonebridgeracing.com 200 8 35 155/200 Crash

    2006-Dover 200 5 37 162/202 Crash

    2009-Heluva Good! 200 10 6 200/200 Running

    2010 – Heluva Good! 200 24 28 198/205 Crash

    Starts Laps

    8 1508 of 1607 (93.8%)

    Average Start Laps Led

    16.4 0

    Average Finish

    22.5

    MENARD’S 2010 NNS RESULTS…

    Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Laps Laps Led Avg. St. Avg. Fn. Rank

    27 0 4 14 4881 17 14.1 12.6 5

    • REWIND, RICHMOND, Va. – Paul Menard rolled off the grid in the 10th position on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. Menard began moving up through the field saying that his Richmond/Menards Ford Mustang was free in the corners, tight in the center and free off but it was manageable. The veteran driver ran as high as sixth by lap 50 and continued to be in the top ten for the first 110 laps. Menard made a green flag pit stop on lap 111 and returned to the track in the 18th position. The wheelman methodically worked his Ford Mustang back in the top 10 and took the checkered flag in the eight position.

    • MENARDS ON THE TRACK… In addition to their partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and the No. 98 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Series team, Menards is also affiliated with the racing ventures: Matt Crafton and Frank Kimmel, as well as the No. 98 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Mustang entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

    • ABOUT MENARDS … Menards is well-known throughout the Midwest for its complete selection of high-quality, name brand merchandise, tools for any job, and state-of-the-art in-store computers to help guests design their special projects. Menards carries the materials and tools for all of your home improvement projects from just needing a light bulb to building a new house! Plus, many Menards stores also carry name brand appliances, pet products, lawn and garden supplies, and even groceries as your one-stop shopping experience. As always, Menards is known for its excellent guest service and the place to “Save Big Money.” There is something for everyone at Menards from the beginning do-it-yourselfer to the experienced contractor. For more information and to find a store near you, please visit www.menards.com. For more Menards Racing info, please visit www.menardsracing.com.

  • Joey Logano / No. 20 GameStop Toyota Preview – Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway

    No. 20 GameStop Toyota News, Notes & Paint Scheme:

    · BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED: Joey Logano and the No. 20 GameStop Toyota team will head back to Dover International Speedway this coming weekend for the Dover 200. But the Dover event isn’t just like any other race on the schedule. In fact, Dover holds a special place in the heart of Logano and the No. 20 team. Back in 2008, it was at Dover that Logano made his first-career NASCAR Nationwide Series start, driving the No. 20 GameStop Toyota. In that event, Logano shocked and surprised many, starting ninth and finishing in sixth place, completing all 200 laps. Since that time, Logano has competed at Dover in the Nationwide Series two other times. Last season, Logano won the pole and finished second after leading 87 laps at the “Monster Mile.”

    · PRACTICE MAKE PERFECT: The No. 20 team will be hitting a different track of sorts in the coming weeks. The team will test the “new” NASCAR Nationwide Series car at Rockingham Speedway in the coming weeks, in preparation for the upcoming Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That event will mark the fourth of four events on the 2010 series schedule that will utilize the Nationwide Series “new car.” The “new car” will run the full schedule in 2011.

    · KIDD DETERMINED: Although this will be Joey’s first race at Dover with Kevin Kidd as his crew chief, it isn’t Kidd’s first foray at the “Monster Mile.” Kidd has been to Dover a number of times in the past with several other teams that he has helped over the years. Kidd also took the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team to Dover earlier this year with Denny Hamlin behind the wheel. In that race, Hamlin qualified second and led 11 laps before getting involved in an accident late in the running and settling for a 12th place finish. Kidd said he is determined to win the race this weekend and knock the monkey of the No. 20 team’s back.

    · CONCRETE CHASSIS!: The No. 20 GameStop/Joe Gibbs Racing team will take chassis #2083 as the primary car this weekend in Dover. The car has become the king of concrete, with two other races this year, both coming at the high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway. Logano has also used this same chassis at Bristol in 2009, as well as the event at Texas Motor Speedway, the only asphalt track the chassis has competed on.

    · STAT OF THE WEEK: 17. Logano has raced his way to 17 top 10 finishes in just 18 events in 2010 while driving the No. 20 GameStop Toyota. That marks a career-high of top 10 finishes in a season for the 20-year-old. Logano scored 14 top 10 finishes in just 19 starts in the 2008 season, while in 2009, Logano earned 16 top 10s in 22 starts.

    · FEATURED ON THE No. 20: GameStop store #6247, based in Waterloo, Iowa, will be the featured store on the lower rear quarter panel of the No. 20 GameStop Toyota this weekend in Dover.

    Logano’s Season-To-Date NASCAR Nationwide Series Stats:

    Starts

    Wins

    Top 5

    Top 10

    Poles

    Laps Led

    Earnings

    Avg. Start

    Avg. Finish

    18

    1

    9

    17

    4

    546

    $659,005

    5.5

    5.3

    Logano’s Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Stats:

    Starts

    Wins

    Top 5

    Top 10

    Poles

    Laps Led

    Earnings

    Avg. Start

    Avg. Finish

    59

    7

    27

    47

    11

    1278

    $2,255,984

    7.7

    7.5

    Logano’s Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Stats at Dover International Speedway:

    Starts

    Wins

    Top 5

    Top 10

    Poles

    Laps Led

    Earnings

    Avg. Start

    Avg. Finish

    3

    0

    1

    2

    1

    87

    $85,961

    6.3

    7.3

    Joey Logano Quotes:

    “I’m ready to get back in the No. 20 GameStop Toyota, and I’m glad it’s going to be at Dover. The last time we were at the track, I was on the pole and we had a shot to win the race, but we got caught up behind our teammate Kyle Busch on the final restart when he had a tire going down and that let the guy in third pass both of us. It was a race that we should have won, but we had to settle for second.

    “I think we are going to be really good this weekend. I know (Crew Chief) Kevin (Kidd) has been working really hard to improve our cars and get us better on the short runs. That is what has hurt us this year. If we had a little bit better of a car on the short runs, I think we would have three or four wins this year. But I know the guys are working hard on it and we will get better. When I talked with Kevin this week, he said he is determined. He is tired of finishing second, third, fourth and never winning the races. So I feel pretty good going into this weekend that we have a real shot at it.”

    Kevin Kidd Quotes:

    “I’m coming into this weekend determined to win this race. I always go into the weekend looking to be competitive and put ourselves and Joey in a position at the end with a shot to win the race, but this weekend, I’m determined to win this thing no matter what it takes. We’ve been close all year long. There should be at least three or four wins under our belt, and we just can’t close the deal. We know Joey is giving it his all, and the guys on the team are doing everything they can. We just need to put it all together, and that is what I’m ready to do in Dover.

    “Dover is a tricky track. Some of it drives like a short track, some of it drives like a speedway. That means you’ve got to really watch your setup and make the right adjustments depending on what part of the track needs improving. We had a great car at Dover earlier this year with Denny (Hamlin), and I learned a lot from that race. I think that will make going back this weekend even more beneficial to us, because I can take what we learned and start from there. Denny could have won that race, and I think Joey’s got as good of chance this weekend as anyone. And we could all use another trip to Victory Lane.”

    No. 20 GameStop Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

    Crew Chief – Kevin Kidd Car Chief – Tony Hamm Engine Builder – Mark Cronquist

    Lead Engineer – Mike Lorusso Engine Specialist – Dan Bajek Spotter – Mark Robertson

    Jackman – TJ Ford Front Tire Changer – Terry Spalding Front Tire Carrier – Aaron Shields

    Gas Man – Chris Webb Rear Tire Changer – Chris McMullen Rear Tire Carrier – Matt Tyrell

    Catch Can – Brian Larson Truck Driver – Charles Sampson Tire Specialist – Ryan Martin

    Shock Specialist – Joel Weidman Mechanics – Matt Aschbrenner & Ben Chase

  • JR Motorsports — NNS Dover II Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW

    No. 88 Realtree Outfitters Chevrolet/No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet

    EVENT – Dover 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)

    TRACK – Dover International Speedway (1-mile concrete oval)

    DATE – Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010

    TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 3 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 3 p.m. EST)

    Elliott Sadler

    No. 88 Realtree Outfitters Chevrolet

    “It’s hard to believe we’re only eight races away from the end of the Nationwide Series season. I’ve had a blast racing here at JRM. It’s quickly winding down, and that gives you fewer and fewer chances to win races. I can’t tell you how exciting it would be to get a win for Dale Jr. and the 88 Realtree Outfitters team. Dale and I have been friends for a long a time, and I’d love to get Bill Jordan a win, too. It would be a pretty special victory lane if we were able to win this weekend at Dover.

    “I haven’t raced a Nationwide car at Dover in a while, but fortunately it’s a place that hasn’t changed much at all. You’ll hear Dover compared to Bristol, but on a larger scale and that’s true to a point. They’re both concrete, but at Dover you really drop off into the corner. It’s very unique in that aspect. The corners are really long, so you want your car to rotate really well. You’ve got to be 100 percent focused each and every lap. Dover is a place where the slightest mistake could end your day in a heartbeat.”

    Danica Patrick

    No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet

    “Dover will be a tough one for us this weekend. Again, this is a building year for me. It’s important we take the Go Daddy car out there and finish the race. That’s the biggest goal. I know I’m in for a challenge at Dover, there is no denying that. From what (crew chief) Tony (Eury) Jr. tells me, it’s a place that more than lives up to it nickname.

    “I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories about that place. I’m looking forward to my first trip there, but I am a bit nervous. We have a number of things I do in preparation for tracks I’ve never raced at before. I’ve spent the weeks leading up to the race looking at a lot of video from past races there. I’m excited to run the Pro Series race, too. It’s something that I have to do. We can’t expect success in the Nationwide car if we’re not willing to put the time in on the racetrack. With only one practice in the Nationwide Series this weekend, running the Pro Series makes a lot of sense.”

    Tony Eury Jr.

    Crew Chief No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet

    “Our whole Go Daddy team has been taking it one step at a time this year. Being a rookie in this series is very difficult, especially considering Danica’s open-wheel background and lack of stock car experience. At this point, we want to go out there and finish the race at Dover. I’m not going to speculate and say, hey, we need a top-20 finish to make it a good weekend. That would be nice, but we’re also realistic. It’s her first race there, and we can’t expect that. Finishing the race and bringing the Go Daddy car home with the fenders on it would be a solid weekend for us.”

    JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

    DOUBLE DUTY FOR DP – Patrick will participate in Friday’s K & N Pro East Series race, the Sunoco 150, prior to the Dover 200 Nationwide Series event on Saturday. Patrick will drive the No. 83 JRM Chevrolet in preparation for her NNS debut at the facility.

    88 TEAM VS. THE MONSTER – The No. 88 Realtree Outfitters team led by crew chief Tony Eury Sr., has finished inside the top-10 in the last seven races at the Monster Mile. The streak dates back three years to the fall of 2007. In that time the team has an average finish of 4.4, and earned one win, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

    SADLER AT DOVER – Sadler owns five career starts in the Nationwide Series at Dover. He earned two top-10 finishes and has led one lap at the facility. This weekend will be Sadler’s first NNS race at Dover since driving for Gary Bechtel in 1998.

    DANICA’S SEASON – Dover is Patrick’s seventh NNS race behind the wheel of the No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet. She earned the best finish of her rookie year when she finished 24th at Chicagoland Speedway on July 9.

    SADLER WITH JRM – With Sadler piloting the No. 88 Realtree Outfitters Chevrolet, the team has an average finish of 11.0 in his three races at New Hampshire, Michigan and Richmond. Sadler has led laps in each of his three starts with JRM, pacing the field for a total of 26.

    PATRICK’S FINAL SIX – Patrick will return to the NNS in two weeks for the final six races of the 2010 season. She’ll compete at Auto Club Speedway (Oct. 9), Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 15), Gateway International Raceway (Oct. 23), Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 6), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 20). It will mark the first time Patrick races in more than three consecutive events for JRM.

    SADLER’S 2010 ACHIEVMENTS – In four Nationwide Series starts this season, Sadler earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes with one pole. He’s led 54 laps on the season and accumulated an average finish of 9.0.

    TEAM POINTS POSITION – The No. 88 Realtree Outfitters team is ranked seventh in the 2010 owner points after Richmond. The No. 7 team gained three positions and is 14th in owner points, its highest rank of the season.

    CRUISIN’ WITH DALE JR. – The Dale Jr. Foundation has announced that bids are now open for the Foundation Fast Laps, which offers a limited number of ride alongs with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday, Oct. 18th, 2010. Fans have their choice of either bidding on a ride through the NASCAR.com auctions page, or purchasing one through The Dale Jr. Foundation website. Winners are entitled to many extras, including two pre-race pit passes, and two grandstand seats for the Bank of America 500, and a walk-through tour of Dale Jr.’s Hendrick Motorsports hauler. Proceeds will benefit the Blessings in a Backpack program, which fills backpacks with food for underprivileged children. The auction page can be found here, and to purchase a ride visit http://www.thedalejrfoundation.org/_10_08_17.html

    FREE JR NATION CREW FAN CLUB – Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports are welcoming race fans to join the JR Nation Crew Fan Club for free. The exclusive fan club offers fans an online hub with chat rooms, forums, and blogs from JRM personalities. Join today for your chance to win an autographed fire suit courtesy of Hellmann’s®. For more information, visit www.jrnation.com.