Carolyn Brewster: A NASCAR race or a Broadway musical? A fair compromise
I’ve always viewed NASCAR as a sport, a past time, an obsession. But never have I thought of it as a bargaining chip until I met Nancy recently.
Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing honored for helping victims of earthquake in Haiti
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have been recognized for their efforts earlier this year in aiding victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti that destroyed the country’s capitol of Port-au-Prince.
Pro Cup driver Drew Herring to make Nationwide Series debut at Iowa for Baker Curb Racing
Drew Herring, who at 23 years old is coming off a third-place finish in the USAR Pro Cup Series last year, will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend in the U.S. Cellular 200 at Iowa Speedway.
Herring will drive the No. 27 Baker Curb Racing car, which had been driven primarily by Greg Biffle earlier in the season and is 10th in the owner standings. The organization had its best finish of the 2009 season at Iowa when Jason Keller finished sixth.
Indy drops ticket prices for 2011 Brickyard 400 as attendance continues to decline
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which according to NASCAR estimates has seen its attendance decline by nearly half in the last three years, announced that it would lower ticket prices on select seats for the 2011 Brickyard 400.
Owners meet to discuss cost-containment issues
A group of NASCAR team owners met at Hendrick Motorsports on Tuesday night to talk about cost-cutting measures and the sport in general. The meeting was an extension of discussions among NASCAR and team owners on ways to improve the economic stability of the sport as well as to grow the sport’s audience.
Gateway won’t ask for any NASCAR races beginning in 2011
Gateway International Raceway will not play host to any NASCAR events in 2011, parent company Dover Motorsports Inc. announced Wednesday. The 1.25-mile track, which seats 54,000 and sits just outside St. Louis, has two Nationwide Series and one Camping World Truck Series events on its 2010 schedule. The Oct. 23 Nationwide race will be the last NASCAR event at the track.
Jack Roush remains hospitalized with facial injuries after plane crash
Jack Roush remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition following his plane crash Tuesday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., according to a team statement. The 68-year-old Roush, the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, was piloting the plane when it crashed on landing, with the plane splitting near the fuselage.
Kenny Bruce: A fine mess for NASCAR without full disclosure
News that NASCAR has allegedly fined at least two drivers for derogatory comments, without disclosing the names of the competitors or the alleged incidents that brought about the fines, is a black mark against the sanctioning body and the sport itself.
Bobby Labonte signs with JTG Daugherty Racing for 2011 Sprint Cup season
Bobby Labonte will replace Marcos Ambrose in the JTG Daugherty Racing No. 47 car in 2011, the team announced today.
Young drivers Steve Arpin, Josh Wise return to JR Motorsports for Nationwide race at Iowa
With another non-companion event this weekend for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, JR Motorsports is taking another look at two young drivers.
Josh Wise will be back in the No. 7 JRM car at Iowa Speedway, while Steve Arpin will be in the No. 88 car. Both drivers are considered candidates for a full-time ride with the No. 88 team next year.
Former Kyle Busch spotter Jeff Dickerson to spot for Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports
Former Kyle Busch spotter Jeff Dickerson will replace Shannon McGlamery as spotter for four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway, a Hendrick Motorsports spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
‘Undefeated’ Kasey Kahne excited about driving in Pocono truck race for Kyle Busch
When Kyle Busch discovered that he couldn’t race in the inaugural Camping World Truck Series event at Pocono Raceway this weekend, he knew exactly who he wanted driving his truck.
Kasey Kahne will drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Pocono Saturday afternoon while Busch drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway Saturday night.
Marshall Carlson promoted to president at Hendrick Motorsports
Marshall Carlson has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Hendrick Motorsports.
Rusty Wallace to host roast of team owner Richard Childress at Iowa Speedway
Former NASCAR Cup champion Rusty Wallace will host a roast honoring longtime NASCAR team owner Richard Childress Thursday at Iowa Speedway, site of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
Jack Roush bloodied but OK after plane crash in Wisconsin
A plane registered to Roush Fenway Racing was split in half Tuesday at the airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The Raytheon Premier jet pancaked on to the runway and broke in half and no flames or smoke were seen, according to the aviation news website AVweb.com.
Bobby Labonte leading candidate to fill empty seat at JTG Daugherty Racing
Bobby Labonte is the leading candidate to drive the No. 47 car for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2011, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday.
Red Bull Racing crew chief fined $25,000 for unattached weight
Red Bull Racing crew chief Jimmy Elledge was fined $25,000 for a piece of weight that fell off the No. 83 car of Reed Sorenson during practice Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR announced Tuesday.
JR Motorsports penalized 25 points, Tony Eury Sr. fined $10,000 for unapproved shock
JR Motorsports has been penalized for a left front shock that wouldn’t rebound on the third-place car of Aric Almirola following the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger 200 on Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
Marcos Ambrose says it was time to make the change
Marcos Ambrose left many opportunities in Australia five years ago to pursue his NASCAR dream, one that he wasn’t sure how it would pan out.
Now, after 67 career Sprint Cup starts and two Nationwide Series victories, Ambrose is again making a move without a definite place to go.
Ambrose is leaving JTG Daugherty Racing after the 2010 season, a ride that he could have had next year with sponsors already in place.
James Finch looking for sponsors, has had no discussions with Rick Hendrick about Kasey Kahne
Phoenix Racing owner James Finch plans to continue his racing operations and has not talked to Rick Hendrick about putting Kasey Kahne in one of his cars in 2011, Finch said in a statement released by the team.
Marcos Ambrose to leave JTG Daugherty Racing after 2010 season
Marcos Ambrose has decided to leave JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the season, the team announced today.
Brickyard ratings drop 13 percent; Nationwide ratings improve 21 percent
Ratings for the Brickyard 400 dropped 13 percent while ratings for the Nationwide Series Kroger 200 improved 21 percent, ESPN announced Tuesday.
Consistent Kevin Harvick back on top of SceneDaily.com rankings
Consistency still reigns in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, and nobody’s better proof of that than Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick. Harvick nearly got a second Brickyard 400 win on Sunday, and his series’ leading 14th top-10 finish to move back atop this week’s SceneDaily.com driver rankings.
Jeff Owens: Jamie McMurray has finally established himself as a legitimate superstar
When Jamie McMurray won at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2002, it was so shocking that it was difficult to get a feel for what it meant and just who this sudden star really was. Was McMurray the sport’s next big star? Or had he stumbled onto one of those magical moments that mysteriously produce a monumental upset? Despite the stunning victory, which came while McMurray was filling in for the injured Sterling Marlin, the jury was still out on the young driver.
Sadler, Hamlin and Kahne entered in Pocono truck race
The inaugural Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway has drawn 35 entries, according to the list released Monday by NASCAR. Entries can be submitted until Friday as there are spots open for 36 trucks.
Nationwide Series race at Iowa attracts 47 entries
The U.S. Cellular 200 has attracted 47 entries for the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Iowa Speedway. According to the entry list, at least eight drivers are expected to commute from Pocono Raceway, the site of the Cup race. Those will be series points leader Brad Keselowski (Penske Racing), Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing), Paul Menard (Roush Fenway), Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing), Reed Sorenson (Braun Racing), Kevin Harvick (Kevin Harvick Inc.), Michael McDowell (MacDonald Motorsports) and Joe Nemechek (Nemco Motorsports). Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer is on the entry list, but he is not expected to compete in the race.
Pocono entry list has 45 drivers; Bobby Labonte back in TRG car
There are 45 drivers entered for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Bobby Labonte is back in the TRG Motorsports No. 71 ride that he left last month as the team has secured sponsorship from TaxSlayer.com for this race.
NASCAR won’t confirm nor deny report on fines of drivers critical of sport
NASCAR would neither confirm nor deny an Associated Press report Monday that it has fined two drivers for comments critical of the sanctioning body. The fines, which were as much as $50,000 according to the AP, are not common in NASCAR, which typically allows its drivers to speak their minds.
FEUD OF THE WEEK: Jamie McMurray vs. Jack Roush
But McMurray has to be feeling a bit vindicated over winning NASCAR’s two biggest races a year after being released by Roush.
And Roush has to be asking himself what might have been and wondering why he couldn’t give McMurray what he needed to reach his full potential with his organization.
MONDAY MORNING CREW CHIEF: Indy win validates Jamie McMurray’s move to Earnhardt Ganassi more than Daytona 500 triumph
Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 in February, and that was a great start to his second go-around driving for team owner Chip Ganassi.
But with his victory Sunday in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, McMurray proved that he can not only win at restrictor-plate tracks and but in unrestricted races as well. His last win on a regular, unrestricted NASCAR oval came at Charlotte in 2002 in his second career Cup race.
Aric Almirola would like to drive for JR Motorsports next season after third-place run at ORP
INDIANAPOLIS – JR Motorsports competition director Tony Eury Sr. has said that even though Aric Almirola drove the team’s No. 88 Nationwide Series car Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park, the likelihood of him being in the car next season is not high because Eury Sr. thinks Almirola could find his way back to the Sprint Cup Series next.
But after his third-place performance in the Kroger 200 Saturday, Almirola said Eury Sr. should think of him when deciding who to put in the No. 88 car next year.
Red Bull Racing to make decision soon on Scott Speed’s future with team
INDIANAPOLIS – Red Bull Racing plans to announce in the next month whether driver Scott Speed will return to the team next year, Red Bull general manager Jay Frye confirmed Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Runnerup Kevin Harvick leads strong performance at Indy for Richard Childress Racing
INDIANAPOLIS - Runnerup Kevin Harvick had the top Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the Brickyard 400, but his RCR teammates weren’t far behind.
All three RCR drivers finished in the top six at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Clint Bowyer in fourth and Jeff Burton placing sixth.
Greg Biffle has to settle for third at Indy after pit strategy backfires
Despite having one of the best cars – if not the best – in the Brickyard 400, Greg Biffle had to settle for third.
Coming into the final pit stops of the race on lap 139, Biffle had proven just how good his car was. He had led twice for 38 laps and seemed to be the only driver capable of running with Juan Pablo Montoya, who dominated the race until a late wreck knocked him out of the race.
Kyle Busch rallies from first-lap spin for first top-10 in six races
INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Busch spun on the first lap of the Brickyard 400 Sunday and had to use track position to work his way back through the field at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
WINNERS & LOSERS: Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson top list of big losers at Indy
There were some really big winners Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and some really big losers.
Ironically, the two biggest in each category are on the same team – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
Juan Pablo Montoya suffers another heartbreaking loss in Brickyard 400
INDIANAPOLIS – Juan Pablo Montoya was a bit frantic as he restarted seventh with 18 laps remaining in the Brickyard 400 Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Montoya had led 86 laps but the choice to take four tires while others took two on the final round of pit stops resulted in him restarting seventh. Having run first or second virtually the entire race, Montoya wasn’t used to running in traffic.
Late wreck costs Dale Earnhardt Jr. decent finish, drops him to 14th in points
INDIANAPOLIS – Dale Earnhardt Jr. got caught up in Juan Pablo Montoya late spin at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday and saw a potential top-10 finish turn into a 27th-place result in the Brickyard 400.
NASCAR officials still debating changes to Chase, leaning toward eliminating drivers
INDIANAPOLIS – NASCAR officials are still debating several changes to the Chase For The Sprint Cup format for next year but are leaning toward a system that would eliminate drivers from the playoffs, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Sunday.
Jamie McMurray wins Brickyard 400 to give team owner Chip Ganassi rare 'triple crown'
INDIANAPOLIS – Jamie McMurray backed up his surprising Daytona 500 victory by winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, giving team owner Chip Ganassi a rare triple crown in American Motorsports.
Ganassi, co-owner of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, has won the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 this year. Dario Franchitti won the Indy 500 for Ganassi in May.
Rick Hendrick says Mark Martin will return to No. 5 car in 2011 – for now
INDIANAPOLIS – Rick Hendrick is leaving all options open for driver Kasey Kahne in 2011, but says his plan – right now – is for Mark Martin to return to the No. 5 car next year.
Martin has insisted that he will be back in the No. 5 car next year but garage speculation continues that Kahne, who is signed with Hendrick to replace Martin in 2012, could take over that ride after this season. Being in limbo has not frustrated Kahne as much as Martin, who has grown weary of the speculation and been adamant that he will return to the team next year.
Big changes likely for 2011 Sprint Cup schedule, NASCAR Chairman Brian France says
INDIANAPOLIS – Brian France says he expects “some pretty impactful changes” to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, but did not say whether those changes included a possible Cup date for Kentucky Speedway or which of the 22 current Cup tracks might shift dates.
Drivers a little more clear on ‘boys have at it’ parameters following Keselowski, Edwards penalties
INDIANAPOLIS – Now that NASCAR has punished Carl Edwards and given a stern hand-smacking to Brad Keselowski, Sprint Cup drivers might have a better idea of where the lines of payback are, but there will be no certainty of what’s acceptable under the “boys, have at it” policy and what’s worthy of a penalty when the Brickyard 400 goes green Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
NASCAR confiscates JR Motorsports shock
INDIANAPOLIS – NASCAR Nationwide Series officials confiscated the left front shock of the third-place JR Motorsports No. 88 car driven by Aric Almirola following the Kroger 200 on Saturday night at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards have clean night in first race since tangle
INDIANAPOLIS – Well, there was no Carl Edwards-Brad Keselowski Round 3 on Saturday night. A week after their well-publicized run-in at Gateway International Raceway, Edwards and Keselowski raced each other cleanly Saturday night in the Nationwide Series race at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
Mark Martin hopes third-quickest qualifying lap leads to progress on race day
INDIANAPOLIS – Mark Martin backed up a third-place Brickyard 400 qualifying effort with the fifth-best lap on the speed chart during final practice Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For a guy who has one top-10 finish in his last 10 races, it is a sign that things might be starting to turn around for the Hendrick Motorsports team as it heads into the 160-lap race Sunday.
Kyle Busch holds off Carl Edwards to win Nationwide race at ORP
INDIANAPOLIS – This time, there was no controversial finish. For the second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Carl Edwards went side-by-side for the lead on the final lap. But Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Kyle Busch held Edwards off to win the Kroger 200 at the 0.686-mile track.
Trevor Bayne wins pole for Nationwide race at ORP
INDIANAPOLIS – Trevor Bayne turned a lap of 110.117 mph to win the pole for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger 200 on Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park. The Diamond-Waltrip Racing driver will be joined on the front row by Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace (109.497).
Martin Truex Jr. leads happy hour
Michael Waltrip Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. ended the day atop the speed chart, leading the final 60-minute practice session for Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ryan Newman’s wife pregnant with couple’s first child
The baby news in the Sprint Cup garage continues … Ryan Newman confirmed that his wife, Krissie, is pregnant with the couple’s first child.
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