Monday, February 29, 2016
For Roush Fenway Racing, The Early Returns Are Encouraging
After a number of sub-par seasons, Roush Fenway Racing is off to a solid
start in 2016, giving longtime fans of the Ford team something to cheer about for
the first time in recent memory.
RFR started the weekend strong at Atlanta
Motor Speedway, practicing well and qualifying all three of its cars in the
Top-15 for the first time since Michigan
in the fall of 2014. Trevor Bayne led the way with a third-place qualifying
run, followed by teammates Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in fifth and Greg Biffle 14th.
Stenhouse then overcame a late pit-road
tangle with Michael McDowell to claim a 10th-place finish in
Sunday’s Fold of Honors QuikTrip 500, with Biffle
and Bayne trailing in 13th and 22nd place, respectively. For
a team that hasn’t put three cars in
the Top-15 since the 2014 Bristol night race, Sunday’s verdict was clearly a
step in the right direction; not to mention a much-needed morale boost.
“Our
Ford EcoBoost Fusion was like I hoped it would be,” said a smiling Stenhouse after
the race. “Practice felt good and I was hoping that was going to correlate
over to the race. We were exactly where we thought we would be. We weren’t
real good for the first 10 laps of a run, but really good at the end of the
run. I’m happy with all the hard work that these guys put in.
“It’s
only one weekend,” he cautioned. “I hope to get consistent with that and I’m
looking forward to going to Vegas next week.”
Bayne
said Sunday’s results were not a complete surprise, pointing to a pair of encouraging
runs last season with NASCAR’s new, low-downforce aerodynamic package.
“We
saw that we had speed last year at Kentucky and Darlington,” Bayne said. “I was
hoping for a Top-15 day. That’s what we’re working toward and that’s our goal
every week – to run Top-15 until we can run Top-10 every week -- be consistent
and don’t make mistakes.
“Our car had
good speed, but it was just difficult to get through the center of the corner.
I’m really proud of my guys’ effort on this AdvoCare Ford. We had a great
qualifying effort and made a lot of gains from where we were to now. I’m
looking forward to seeing what we can do in Vegas.
“It’s
not just a one-race, fluke deal,” he promised. “I think we’ve got some speed in
our cars. It comes from a lot of effort and getting through the hard times.
We’ll have hard times to come, everybody does. But I think we can fight through
it as a group.”
Bayne
said those outside the organization don’t understand the effort involved in
digging out of a competitive hole.
“People
aren’t on the ground going through it with you,” he said. “They just see your
results and want to beat you down and say, ‘What’s going on?’ They think you
just kick back on the couch and hang out and go to the race track and run 29th.
That’s not what we do.”
Jack
Roush’s boys have not graced a Sprint Cup Series Victory Lane since Carl
Edwards prevailed on the road course at Sonoma Raceway in 2014. Last year, the
team failed to place a driver in the Chase for the first time in their history.
And while there’s still plenty of work to do before a return to the Glory Days,
Sunday’s performance indicates that there just might be a silver lining behind
RFR’s cloud, after all.
With two races complete in the 2016 season, Stenhouse stands 13th
in the championship standings. Biffle is 24th, with Bayne 27th.
Those aren’t vintage RFR numbers, and no one inside the team’s Concord, NC headquarters is
even remotely satisfied. But for an organization that has spent most of the
last two seasons slumped against the competitive ropes with its collective nose
bloodied, it’s an encouraging start.
“One
of the things that has been preached to us from Kevin Kidd, Robbie Reiser and
Jack Roush is execution,” said Bayne Sunday. “They say our cars are going to
get better. We’re going to work through it, we’re going to get our cars faster.
And when those times come, we have to be able to execute.
“I
feel like we did that today.”
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
NASCAR Hall Of Fame Announces 2017 Nominees
Legendary engine builders, crew chiefs,
owners, drivers and the most recognizable voice in motorsports. The talents,
eras and levels may differ, but all share a common thread. They shaped NASCAR,
and on Wednesday, they were recognized as nominees for the highest honor the
sport bestows – enshrinement into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
NASCAR today announced the 20 nominees for
the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017, as well as the five nominees for the
Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Included among the list
are five first-time nominees, all legends who made excellence a habit through
their various contributions to the sport.
Among them are record-holding four-time
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.; the man with the
most car owner wins in NASCAR national series history with 322, Jack Roush;
former all-time consecutive starts leader Ricky Rudd; legendary motorsports
broadcasting pioneer Ken Squier; and three-time premier series champion engine
builder and three-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief Waddell Wilson. For a
full list of nominees, please see below.
The nominees were selected by a nominating
committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of
Fame, track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks and the
media. The committee’s votes were tabulated by accounting firm Ernst &
Young.
From the list of 20 NASCAR Hall of Fame
nominees, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting
Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com. Voting Day for the
2017 class will be Wednesday, May 25.
Added to this year’s list of Landmark Award
nominees is Janet Guthrie – the first female driver to compete in a NASCAR
premier series superspeedway race. The four returning nominees for the Landmark
Award are H. Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Squier (more on each
below). Potential Landmark Award recipients include competitors or those
working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race
team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport
through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners remain eligible
for NHOF enshrinement.
The 20 nominees for induction into the NASCAR
Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically, are:
Buddy Baker,won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the
Daytona 500 and Southern 500.
Red Byron,
first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949.
Richard Childress,
11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Ray Evernham,
three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Ray Fox,legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner.
Rick Hendrick,
14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Ron Hornaday Jr.,
four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.
Harry Hyde,
1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Alan Kulwicki,
1992 NASCAR premier series champion.
Mark Martin,
96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competition.
Hershel McGriff,
1986 NASCAR west series champion.
Raymond Parks,
NASCAR’s first champion car owner.
Benny Parsons,
1973 NASCAR premier series champion.
Larry Phillips,
only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion.
Jack Roush,
five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Ricky Rudd,
won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400.
Ken Squier,
legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of
Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
Mike Stefanik,
winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships.
Waddell Wilson,
won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder.
Robert Yates,
won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner.
In addition, the five nominees for the
Landmark Award, listed alphabetically, are:
H. Clay Earles,
founder of Martinsville Speedway.
Janet Guthrie,
the first female to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway race.
Raymond Parks,
NASCAR’s first champion car owner.
Ralph Seagraves, formed
groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Company.
Ken Squier,
legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of
Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
In order to be eligible for the Hall, drivers
must have competed in NASCAR for at least 10 years and been retired for two
years. Previously, eligible drivers must have been retired for three years. Drivers
who have competed for a minimum of 10 years and reached their 55th birthday on
or before Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year are immediately
eligible for the NHOF. Any driver who has competed for 30 or more years in
NASCAR competition by Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year is
automatically eligible, regardless of age. Drivers may continue to compete
after reaching any of the aforementioned milestones without compromising
eligibility for nomination or induction.
For
non-drivers, individuals must have worked at least 10 years in the NASCAR
industry. Individuals may also be considered who made significant achievements
in the sport, but left the sport early due to extenuating circumstances.Stewart: Desire For Autonomy Spurred 2017 Manufacturer Change
Tony Stewart addressed the media earlier
today to discuss Stewart Haas Racing’s surprising decision to change
manufacturers in 2017, jumping from Chevrolet to Ford.
Stewart said today’s announcement began “as
casual conversation in passing, and then got more serious. The more we talked
to the group at Ford, the more we realized that our passion and desire to win
races and championships and their approach (are) very much in line.”
He said the time has come for SHR to become
more autonomous, doing more of its own work instead of relying on technological
partners.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to be
as self-sufficient as we can,” he said. “We’re going to be adding a lot of
personnel to our organization -- doing our own chassis program -- and we’re
excited about it. It’s not just changing OEMs, it’s a great opportunity
for us to get out of the shadows and, to some degree, get off the coattails (of
Hendrick Motorsports)… and get out on our own. I think that’s something
everybody here at SHR is really excited about, and proud that we’re finally in
a position to… branch out in this way.”
He said Ford offered SHR the opportunity to begin
charting its own course, while also providing an impressive amount of
technological support.
“It was the resources…we would have access to
(that) really intrigued us,” he said. “The one thing that really caught
our attention was how dedicated they are and the amount of resources they’re
willing to put forth to help us all accomplish the goal (we all) want to
accomplish. That was very impressive. The technology layer is
huge. They’re giving us something that we really need right now, something
that’s going to help us down the road.
“The sport evolves so fast,” he said. “If
you’re going to put yourself in a position to be at the top of the field each
week, there are things you have to do on your own. I think we’ve learned a
lot with our partnership with Hendrick, and have valued that. But when (former
Hendrick engineer-turned Stewart Haas Technical Director) Rex Stump came into
our organization, that gave us a lot of confidence… that we could do it on our
own. Everyone in upper management agreed that this was the right thing for
our company. None of this was done on a coin toss. We put over six
months of thought into it and after that we realized that we feel very
comfortable with this decision to branch out.”
Stewart stressed that he harbors no
dissatisfaction with Chevrolet, but “when we got in conversations with the Ford
group, it just really seemed like a partnership that made a lot of sense.
The longer the conversations went, the more excited both sides were about
making this a reality.”
The three-time Sprint Cup Series champion said
he informed Rick Hendrick before the start of the season that a manufacturer
change was likely in 2017.
“At the beginning of the year, we reached out
to Rick and let him know that we were probably going to make a change. We
weren’t 100-percent decided yet, but we were 99.9 percent there. We wanted
to be fair to Rick. That was something that was important to us, to make
sure that we reached out to him and let him know about this before he heard it
from anyone else.
“We’ve had a great relationship with Hendrick
Motorsports,” said Stewart. “Rick was a big part of helping me meet Gene Haas
and Joe Custer, and helping me become part of the Stewart-Haas family. We’ve
had a great relationship with their motor program, the chassis program and the
technical side, and we’re grateful for the partnership we’ve had with them. Obviously,
it will change in some respects for 2016 with this news. But we believe we’ll
still have a really good working relationship for another year.”
Stewart said he does not expect any
competitive issues during the changeover to Ford, adding, “We’re early enough
in the season that it will give us some time later in the year to really get
working on this project. I don’t feel like it’s going to be a step
backward. We’ve got Greg Zipadelli, we have Rex Stump who came from
Hendrick. I feel like we’re pretty stacked on personnel and quality people
that can make sure when we make this move that we’re as prepared as
possible. I don’t anticipate any setbacks.
“I
feel like when we come out of the box next year, we’re going to have our ducks
in a row. There could be growing pains, but I’m pretty confident… that
we’re going be as prepared as we can be going into next season.”
COMMENTARY: Stewart Haas Manufacturer Change Is About More Than Money
For Haas and Stewart, it's all about winning.
Stewart
Haas Racing dropped a major competitive bombshell today, announcing that they
will jump from the Chevrolet camp to Ford next season, inking a multi-year deal
to place drivers Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick at
the wheel of Ford Fusions in 2017 and beyond.
Today’s
announcement was the biggest manufacturer move since Joe Gibbs Racing bolted
from Chevrolet to Toyota in 2008; bigger even than Team Penske’s decision to
leave Dodge for Ford in 2013.
Stewart
Haas has been a Chevrolet team since Gene Haas founded his fledgling Cup Series
team in 2002. Chevy loyalist Rick Hendrick reportedly helped broker the deal
that brought Tony Stewart to SHR as part-owner in 2009, triggering a competitive
ascent that culminated in a pair of Sprint Cup Series championships with
Stewart (2011) and Kevin Harvick (2014).
Hendrick
Motorsports has provided chassis and engines to SHR for the last eight seasons,
sharing information and technology freely with their bowtie brethren.
Ford,
meanwhile, has been shut-out of NASCAR’s championship picture since 2003 and 2004,
when Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch claimed back-to-back titles for Roush Fenway
Racing. Both Kenseth and Busch ultimately chose to leave RFR and Ford for
greener pastures, after the team plummeted in the championship standings and
proved incapable of quickly righting the competitive ship. Kenseth now drives
Toyotas for Gibbs, while Busch -- ironically -- plies his trade for Stewart
Haas.
Ford
has advanced just one driver -- Team Penske’s Joey Logano in 2014 -- to NASCAR’s
Homestead Final Four. Clearly, the Blue Oval was in need of a quick, competitive
pick-me-up. Stewart Haas Racing will provide that help, in spades.
“We have said very clearly that we are not in NASCAR just
to race, but to win races and championships,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director
of Ford Performance today. “We believe the addition of Stewart-Haas
Racing in 2017 will give our program a major boost in terms of being in
contention for both drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships every year.
“We
believe that our NASCAR engineering experience and tools match up very well
with the expertise and personnel that Stewart-Haas Racing has in house right
now, and that we will both benefit from this partnership going forward.”
Stewart
Haas Racing’s unexpected turn reportedly includes a substantial outlay of cash
by Ford, along with promises of long-term technological support. And while
money does indeed make the world go `round, SHR – like Ford -- is in business
to win races and championships.
Stewart
– previously a Chevy man to the core -- will wear Ford’s Blue Oval in 2017,
charting new manufacturer waters for the first time since his awkward,
Toyota-powered final season at JGR. Harvick will drive something other than a
Chevrolet for the first time, as well. Their partnership with Hendrick
Motorsports -- so successful for so long – will be left by the wayside in favor
of a powerhouse new deal that is as promising as it is surprising.
For
those long-term loyalties to be cast aside, Stewart, Gene Hass, Harvick and the
rest of Stewart Haas Racing clearly believe that their race team will be better
under the Ford banner than it has been in the Chevrolet camp.
At
the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.
SHOCKER: Stewart Haas Racing To Ford In 2017
Ford
Performance announced today that Stewart-Haas Racing will switch to Ford as its
manufacturer, beginning with the 2017 NASCAR season.
The
multiyear agreement will put Stewart-Haas Racing’s four drivers in Ford Fusions
beginning with Speedweeks 2017 at Daytona, with Ford engines prepared by Roush
Yates Engines.
“We
are thrilled to be able to add a championship-level team like Stewart-Haas
Racing to our Ford NASCAR program,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president and
Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Company. “Tony Stewart and Gene Haas have
the same passion for winning that we do, and bring a strong stable of drivers
and personnel that fit into what we’re trying to do in the sport.”
“We
have said very clearly that we are not in NASCAR just to race, but to win races
and championships,” said Dave Pericak, global director for Ford Performance.
“We believe the addition of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017 will give our program a
major boost in terms of being in contention for both drivers’ and
manufacturers’ championships every year.
“We
believe that our NASCAR engineering experience and tools match up very well
with the expertise and personnel that Stewart-Haas Racing has in house right
now, and that we will both benefit from this partnership going forward.”
Stewart-Haas
Racing will join a Ford NASCAR lineup for 2017 that includes Team Penske, Roush
Fenway Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Front Row
Motorsports. Roush Yates Engines is Ford’s technical partner for NASCAR race
engines.
Stewart-Haas
Racing will continue its relationships with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports through
the end of the 2016 season.
Tony
Stewart and Gene Haas will remain co-owners of Stewart-Haas Racing, with Clint
Bowyer set to replace Stewart as driver of the No. 14 car in 2017. Stewart will
retire as a NASCAR driver following the 2016 season.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Marks Makes 2016 Truck Debut At Atlanta
Justin Marks will return
to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this weekend at Atlanta Motor
Speedway. Saturday will mark his first race for Braun Motorsports, a
Mooresville, N.C. based team that made its NCWTS debut last season.
This weekend will also
be the first race that Marks partners with new sponsor Katerra. Katerra, a
high-tech construction company, is based in Menlo Park, Calif., just a few
hours from Marks' hometown of Rocklin.
Marks made his NCWTS debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October
2007. He has three total starts at the 1.5-mile oval, earning a best starting
position of 11th and a best finish of 14th. He will first take to the track in
the No. 32 Katerra Toyota Tundra for practice on Friday at 10:00 a.m. EST.
Ty Dillon In For Stewart In Three Of Next Four Races
Ty
Dillon will drive the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet this weekend at
Atlanta Motor Speedway, as well as at Phoenix and Auto Club Speedways.
Brian
Vickers, who finished 26th in relief of the inured Tony Stewart last
weekend in the season-opening Daytona 500, will return to the driver’s seat in
two weeks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Stewart
has yet to announce a timetable for his return from a fractured lumbar vertebra
suffered in a Jan. 31 ATV accident. He said Sunday that he will see his doctor
again in late March to determine how his healing has progressed. SHR has yet to
name replacement drivers past the end of March.
Dillon finished 25th in the Daytona 500, driving for CircleSport/Leavine Family Racing.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
RPM, Empire Racing Group Partner On New Truck Entry
Austin Hill
Richard Petty
Motorsports has announced a driver development partnership with Empire Racing
Group for the 2016 season. Empire Racing Group will field a truck in the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with the iconic, stylized No. 43. The
truck will carry sponsorship from Petty's Garage in Friday night’s NextEra
Energy Resources 250 in Daytona. Austin Hill will be the first driver to
pilot the No. 43 truck and a roster of various drivers will fill out the
remainder of the schedule.
The team will be
led by Empire Racing Group Crew Chief Michael Cheek. The 2016 season will
be the 20th anniversary of Cheek's first run with the No. 43 truck. After
leading the team as crew chief for driver Rich Bickle as part of the Petty
Enterprises stable, the Petty family and Cheek will once again team up to put the
truck on track.
"I am excited
to once again partner with Richard Petty and his organization to race in the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," said Cheek. "Together, we have
the opportunity to put great drivers in this truck and keep our machine at the
front of the field. We have a lot of great things planned for this
season, and we're excited to see where this program will take both race
teams."
The No. 43, made
famous by "The King" Richard Petty, will adorn the side of the truck
in the same style as it has appeared on the historic and current Richard Petty
Motorsports race cars. This will be the first partnership in the Truck
Series for Richard Petty Motorsports.
"This is a
great opportunity for Richard Petty Motorsports to develop up-and-coming
drivers who will become the future of our sport," said Brian Moffitt,
Chief Executive Officer of Richard Petty Motorsports. "It will be great to
see the No. 43 return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and
to have Petty's Garage as the primary sponsor of the race at Daytona. The
2016 season is sure to produce great results for both Richard Petty Motorsports
and Empire Racing Group."
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Safelite AutoGlass Backs Abreu's Truck Series Effort
Safelite AutoGlass has signed with ThorSport Racing to serve as
primary sponsor of the No. 98 Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu during his
rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2016.
Abreu, the 2014
USAC National Midget champion, Sprint Car standout and back-to-back Chili Bowl
Nationals winner, recently announced he would join the Sandusky, Ohio based
team this season, piloting the No. 98 Toyota Tundra in search of Sunoco Rookie
of the Year honors and the 2016 series championship.
"To be able
to partner with a company like Safelite for my first full-time season in the
Truck Series is an honor," said Abreu. "Safelite was on my midget for
this year's Chili Bowl Nationals, and we had some success finding Victory Lane.
I hope to be able to continue that success with them this season, as I compete for
wins, Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the 2016 championship."
Founded at a
single location in Wichita, Kansas in 1947, Safelite AutoGlass has grown into
the largest auto glass specialist in the United States, employing more than
12,000 people in all 50 states.
"We're
honored to support Rico in his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series, said Renee Cacchillo, Senior Vice President of Customer, Brand &
Technology. "Safelite AutoGlass is focused on service and quality, so this
is an opportunity to align with another greatly admired brand that shares our
passion for customer delight."
"As an
Ohio-based team, we are very pleased and honored to be partnering with a highly
respected and recognized brand," said Matt LaNeve, VP of Sales and
Marketing at ThorSport Racing. "Although Safelite has a national presence,
their home, much like ours, is in Ohio, and everyone at ThorSport Racing is
honored to have them as part of our team in 2016. Through this partnership,
Safelite will be exposed to the millions of loyal NASCAR fans across the
country, and we are honored to help them continue to build on their nationally
recognized brand at the motorsports level."
Safelite AutoGlass will
make their debut with Abreu in Friday night’s season-opening NextEra Energy
Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. All the action will be
televised live on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 at
7:30 p.m. ET
Monday, February 15, 2016
Jeb Burton To RPM XFINITY Team
Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that NASCAR driver Jeb
Burton will compete full time in the NASCAR XFNITY Series for the 2016 season.
Burton will debut the No. 43 Ford Mustang this Saturday in the XFINITY Series
season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Burton comes from a long family line of racing in NASCAR's premier
series. Burton's father, Ward, is a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and
Daytona 500 Champion, and Burton's uncle, Jeff, is also a former NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series driver and current NBC Sports broadcaster. Along with his family's
racing background, Burton brings four years of NASCAR experience to Richard
Petty Motorsports. He competed full time in the Camping World Truck Series in
2013 and 2014, earning one win, seven Top-Five finishes and 20 Top-10 finishes
in 50 starts. In the Sprint Cup Series, he competed for BK Racing in 2015 with
28 starts.
"I'm really excited to be competing full time in the XFINITY
Series for Richard Petty Motorsports this season," Burton said. "When
you think NASCAR, you think Richard Petty, and I'm really looking forward to
continuing their winning tradition and contributing to the legacy that is
Richard Petty."
Veteran Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, will be
atop the pit box for Burton in the 2016 season. Blickensderfer joined Richard
Petty Motorsports in 2013, serving as the crew chief for NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series drivers Marcos Ambrose and Sam Hornish Jr. Blickensderfer also worked
with Richard Childress Racing and Roush Fenway Racing, winning twice with Matt
Kenseth including the Daytona 500 and once with David Ragan.
"We have worked with Jeb on a few opportunities over the past
couple of years, and they just didn't fall into place," commented Brian
Moffitt, Chief Executive Officer at Richard Petty Motorsports. "We feel
Jeb is an extremely talented young driver, and I'm happy we have him in our
organization. He's proven he can win races and compete at a high level in the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and we believe he can do the same in the
NASCAR XFINITY Series."
Jeb Burton and the No. 43 Ford Mustang will hit the track on
Friday, February 19 for practice in preparation for the NASCAR XFINITY Series
season opener at Daytona International Speedway. A sponsorship announcement is
expected to be made prior to Friday's first practice session.
COMMENTARY: Don't Worry About The Wood Brothers
Leonard and Glen Wood, NASCAR pioneers
Wood
Brothers Racing is as much a part of the NASCAR landscape as gasoline fumes,
trophy queens and the checkered flag. The Stuart, Va.-based Woods pre-dated the
arrival of NASCAR, fielding potent modified racers for elder brother Glen Wood,
wrenched by younger brother Leonard.
Their
legendary partnership with driver David Pearson produced nearly 100 wins, and
their lifetime driver roster reads like a Who’s Who of NASCAR racing. Pearson,
Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly, Marvin Panch, Cale Yarborough,
Donnie Allison, AJ Foyt, Neil Bonnett and Buddy Baker all spent quality time at
the wheel of their No. 21 Fords over the years, making Wood Brothers Racing
the equivalent of NASCAR royalty.
At
90 and 81 years of age, respectively, Glen and Leonard Wood shoulder a lighter load these days,
leaving the day-to-day operation of Wood Brothers Racing to the second and
third generations of their racing family.
Faltering
sponsorship has forced the team to compete only part-time in recent seasons,
but when they do race, they race competitively. They won their fifth Daytona
500 with rookie Trevor Bayne in 2011, and they’re back with another freshman
driver – third-generation wheel man Ryan Blaney – in 2016. Unfortunately, the
Woods returned to Daytona Beach this week with a decided handicap. That part-time status resulted in them being left off the list of Sprint Cup Series
charter holders; an omission that will require them to race their way into the
final four spots of the field for the next nine years, while teams with a small
percentage of their tenure enjoy guaranteed starter status.
Ryan Blaney
NASCAR’s
decision to leave WBR off the charter list has been controversial, to say the
least. While their omission is perhaps justifiable by the sheer numbers, NASCAR
Nation has been vociferous in its belief that something should have been done to
guarantee the Woods a place at the table on race day .
I’ll
leave that debate to others, focusing instead on the competitive challenges
that now face NASCAR’s longest-tenured team.
Yes,
Wood Brothers Racing must qualify for every race from now on, just as they have
for most of the past decade. To do so, they need only to be one of the four
fastest “open” teams in time-trial qualifying. Only eight “open” teams turned
out to seek a spot in NASCAR’s richest race this week, and fewer still are expected
to compete on a weekly basis, going forward. Many of those teams are small,
understaffed and unsponsored, struggling to gain a foothold in the
sport. With all due respect, those teams present little threat to an operation
like the Woods, which enjoys enthusiastic monetary and technological support from
both Ford Performance and Team Penske, as well as full sponsorship.
Evidence
of that support came in the final two minutes of Saturday’s final practice,
when Blaney rolled onto the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway tri-oval in hot pursuit of Team
Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. On a day when no one else tempted
fate with multi-car drafts, Blaney, Keselowski and Logano joined forces and
sped to the very top of the speed charts, giving the Wood Brothers an iron-clad
insurance policy in the event of inclement weather on qualifying day.
The tradition continues in 2016
“We
had a plan,” admitted Blaney to Motorsports.com
afterward. “That was kind of the plan, to line up there at the end.”
Their backup plan was ultimately not needed, as Blaney qualified solidly in seventh place
yesterday. It showed, however, just how far Team Penske and Ford are willing to
go to ensure the Woods a spot on race day. Blaney will start fourth in Thursday’s
first Can-Am Duel 150 qualifying race, but no matter where he finishes, a spot
in the Great American Race is assured.
“It
is nice to be locked into the race,” he said. “The biggest relief for us is to
know you are locked in and good to race in the 500. That lets us go race on
Thursday… instead of playing it conservative. It’s a load off our shoulders,
for sure.”
Wood
Brothers Racing is going to be fine for the remainder of Speedweeks. They’ll be
fine next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the week after that in Las Vegas. Barring a complete rainout of practice and qualifying in one of those events, there is virtually no way for a team as good, as fast,
as experienced and as well-supported as the Woods to miss the cut. And once we roll
into Phoenix International Raceway for the Good Sam 500 on March 13, Wood
Brothers Racing will be high enough in the owner’s standings that even a deluge
of biblical proportions can do them no harm.
"It's
all going to work out," said team co-owner Eddie Wood this week. "I
promise. It's going to be OK."
Being
shunned for a charter was disappointing for the Woods Brothers and their legions of
fans. But it is absolutely not the kiss of death. Wood Brothers Racing will
persevere as it always has, overcoming whatever obstacles are placed in its
path and proving – once again – why it remains one of NASCAR’s elite
organizations.
“This one is for our fans… the people that have
supported us over the past week and over the past seven decades,” said Eddie
Wood. “We’ve never taken the support of our fans for
granted, and we’re elated to be able to give them reason to celebrate this
week.”
“It’s been awkward for us the past few days, and I’m sure it’s been that way for our fans, as well. Now we can all focus on something positive, a great run in the Daytona 500.”
“It’s been awkward for us the past few days, and I’m sure it’s been that way for our fans, as well. Now we can all focus on something positive, a great run in the Daytona 500.”
Friday, February 12, 2016
WWE's Cena To Drive Daytona 500 Pace Car
WWE Superstar and actor
John Cena will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the 58th annual
DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at Daytona
International Speedway. Cena will pace the 43-car field to the green flag in a
Toyota Camry.
Cena, a 15-time WWE World
Heavyweight Champion, has been at the forefront of WWE’s programming for more
than a decade, and most recently starred on the big screen in the Golden
Globe-nominated “Trainwreck,” as well as “Sisters” with Tina Fey and Amy
Poehler. He next will host FOX’s upcoming reality competition series AMERICAN
GRIT, in which contestants work together to complete a variety of
military-grade and survival-themed challenges. The series premieres Thursday,
April 14 at 9 PM ET on FOX.
“John Cena is one of the
most iconic WWE Superstars in history, a great actor and philanthropist,”
Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “We welcome
him back to the ‘World Center of Racing’ and our new motorsports stadium, this
time to pace the field for ‘The Great American Race.’”
In addition to his
celebrity accolades, Cena is a wish ambassador for Make-A-Wish, having granted
more than 500 wishes; more than any other celebrity or athlete in the history
of the organization. Make-A-Wish has recognized Cena’s unwavering dedication to
children with life-threatening medical conditions with their highest honor, the
Chris Greicius Award.
HScott Executes Short-Term Charter Lease
HScott Motorsports has
reached agreement with Premium Motorsports for use of its Charter in 2016, to
run the No. 46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet driven by Michael Annett. This
agreement has been accepted and approved by NASCAR.
"The No. 46 Pilot
Flying J Chevrolet driven by Michael Annett will be locked into the field for
the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2016 thanks to an agreement HScott Motorsports
reached with Premium Motorsports for a short term transfer of its
Charter," said team owner Harry Scott, Jr. "I want to thank Jay
Robinson, owner of Premium Motorsports, for his collaborative approach and
belief in HScott Motorsports."
Earlier this week
NASCAR and team owners came to a historic agreement for a NASCAR Charter
System. Under the agreement HScott Motorsports was granted one Charter.
That Charter will be used to field the No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Chevrolet driven by
Clint Bowyer. The new system allows Charters to be transferred on a short term
basis.
"The new Charter License structure is the result of
monumental and unprecedented cooperation between NASCAR and the teams that will
further advance the sport into the foreseeable future," said Scott.
"The Charter System provides equity and certainty necessary for owners to
build a successful business plan and maintain the health of their investment
that will benefit fans and sponsors.
CONFIRMED: Vickers To Drive #14 Chevy At Daytona
SHR Comp. Dir. Greg Zipadelli, Brian Vickers,
Executive VP Brett Frood
and crew chief Mike Bugarevitch
Stewart-Haas Racing confirmed today what GodfatherMotorsports.com
first reported on Wednesday, that Brian Vickers will serve as interim driver of the
No. 14 Chevrolet SS for all the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events during
Speedweeks 2016 at Daytona International Speedway. Executive VP Brett Frood
and crew chief Mike Bugarevitch
Vickers will begin practicing the No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet today,
as he and the team prepare for Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited. On Sunday,
Vickers will pilot the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in qualifying
for the Daytona 500, before racing again on Thursday in the Can-Am Duel,
culminating in nerxt Sunday’s 58th running of the Daytona 500.
Vickers is a three-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series and was
the 2003 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. His best Sprint Cup finish at Daytona
is a second-place result in the 2014 Coke Zero 400. His first career Sprint Cup
victory came in 2006 at Talladega Superspeedway, the sister track to Daytona.
The 2016 Daytona 500 will mark Vickers’ ninth start in the Great American Race.
An interim driver for the No. 14 team in the races following
Daytona has not been determined.
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