By admin | July 1, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen has granted Jeremy Mayfield’s request for a preliminary injunction, a decision that forced NASCAR – at least for now — to lift his indefinite suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, reportedly methamphetamines.
That ruling does not necessarily mean that Mayfield will take part in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. NASCAR is entitled to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., though spokesman Ramsey Poston said NASCAR does not plan to appeal, and will abide by the judge’s ruling.
The sanctioning body had argued that Mayfield is not guaranteed the right to compete as a driver, pointing out that Mayfield Motorsports has fielded cars for driver J.J. Yeley in Mayfield’s absence. In their words, “While (Mayfield has) not suffered, and will not suffer, any harm that could not be compensated through a monetary award, reversing the suspension would create a real and serious risk of injury or death to others.”
NASCAR also raised the spectre of Mayfield’s fellow drivers refusing to compete if he is on the track. “If other drivers refuse to race, it will harm the relationships that NASCAR has developed with its drivers, fans, sponsors and broadcasters over the last sixty years.”
In his ruling, Judge Mullen said, “The harm to Mayfield substantially outweighs harm to NASCAR.” He also ruled that Mayfield is subject to whatever drug testing NASCAR deems fit.
NASCAR’s Poston said Mayfield will be tested on a regular basis.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | July 1, 2009
Submitted by DaleJarrett4Ever
Could it be that Mayfield did take methamphetamines? Jeremy just doesn’t fit the profile for someone that would take those types of drugs. There is a lot of speculation on the validity of NASCAR’s drug testing and that is what Mayfield’s attorney is trying to prove.
To be honest in what I have been reading throughout the internet, it just doesn’t look good for Mayfield. It is a shame that this has happened to him especially after he formed his own team and now is having to lay off personnel and borrow money from outside sources such as his family.
Mayfield will be the example that NASCAR will use in the future about how tough their drug testing is and their zero tolerance policy and the consequences of such acts but that all depends if the judge rules in favor of NASCAR.
I am curious to hear what you think about this whole situation.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
Maybe my thinking is off here. I know, that is rare, but I am wondering why Danica Patrick is expected to either run INDY or NASCAR? Why not do both?
And that really goes for any driver in any different series.
If she has an interest in NASCAR, why not sign another 2 or 3 year contract with who ever she wants in INDY but on some from weekends come over and give a couple NASCAR races a try during that 2 or 3 year period. She could do some Camping World Truck Series races and maybe a lot of Nationwide races to get use to the car differences.
Then on the last year of he of the INDY contract concentrate more on getting into some Sprint Cup races along with doing some Nationwide races. All in an effort to get use to the differences in the cars.
I bet I know why. I expect her to fail miserably if she comes to NASCAR racing. I don’t want to be mean about that, that is just how I feel. I honestly believe she will be running in the back of the pack 90% of the time. Even after she has a couple years under her belt full-time to get use to the cars.
So, if she were to move she would want the most money and glamor as possible right now. If she did some races here and there for a couple of years and it showed how bad she was, then when it came time for a full ride she probably wouldn’t bring in as much money as she could right now to just jump over.
I believe that I have read that Danica Patrick wants to go straight to the Sprint Cup Series if she were to make the change. She would also want to go to a big name team. How many big teams have an opening for her. I read one article that said there was rumors of kicking Dale Earnhardt Jr. out of Hendrick and giving her a spot. I have read that Hendrick could place her with Stewart-Haas Racing. Doesn’t Tony Stewart have a saying in that?
How about not kicking Jr out of Hendrick, but helping Jr move his Nationwide team up to the cup level with Brad Keselowski. Making room for her at Hendrick. And Hendrick would have yet another team out there with big names.
I would think that the idea of having Danica Patrick on your team would be intriguing for a car owner. A lot of that intrigue would be centered around dollar signs obviously with the sponsorship that she could probably bring in.
Jack Roush has admitted that he has tossed around the idea of bringing Danica aboard. He thinks she is a great driver and at the top of the list of female drivers. But he is not willing to just sign her and through he into a Sprint Cup ride. She would have to do a couple of years in the Nationwide Series.
And apparently the Ford representatives have echoed the same thing.
I think that this would probably be a pretty popular consensus between owners and manufactures. Smaller teams would probably kill to have her regardless of how she may do. But it also does not sound like she wants to go to any smaller outfits.
With all that, I don’t think she is coming over to the series full-time anytime soon.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
The Board of Directors of Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday that a new management team comprised of veteran IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus will head the Hulman-George companies
effective July 1. They will replace Tony George, who will no longer serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hulman-George companies but will remain a board member of the Hulman-George companies.
“Our board had asked Tony to structure our executive staff to create efficiencies in our business structure and to concentrate his leadership efforts in the Indy Racing League,” said IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George. “He has decided that with the recent unification of open-wheel racing and the experienced management team IMS has cultivated over the years, now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share.
“Tony will remain on the Board of Directors of all of our companies, and he will continue to work with the entire board to advance the interests of all of companies. Our family and the entire racing community are grateful to Tony for the leadership and direction he has provided since 1990. We are pleased that he will continue to be an important part of the Indy Racing League as a team owner and as a member of our Board of Directors, and we wish him every success.”
Today’s announcement mirrored a report filed by SPEED TV’s Robin Miller two weeks ago; a report that was strongly denied by all parties.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
ESPN.com is reporting today that tests performed by an independent laboratory support the original findings that led to Jeremy Mayfield’s indefinite suspension from NASCAR.
The name of the individual and the specific test results were blacked out in court documents, but a spokesman for NASCAR confirmed to ESPN that the findings were identical. Medtox Laboratories tested Mayfield’s “A” and “B” samples last week, and discovered the same banned substance originally found by Aegis Laboratories, which oversees NASCAR’s drug testing program.
Attorneys for both Mayfield and NASCAR testified in court two weeks ago that the substance in question is amphetamines.
Mayfield’s attorneys contend that a second, independent lab should have been used to test Mayfield’s “B” sample in the first place, and that the sample was compromised when opened for testing by Aegis Labs. A hearing is set for tomorrow in U.S. District Court, as Mayfield seeks a temporary restraining order that would allow him to compete in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Truex To Finish `09 With MWR: Despite published reports claiming that Martin Truex Jr. could move to Michael Waltrip Racing’s #55 Toyota as soon as next month’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sirius Speedway has learned that Truex will remain with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for the remainder of the season.
Sources close to the situation say that while an agreement to move Truex to the Waltrip camp for the final few races of the season could still come to fruition, contractual and sponsorship issues will almost certainly keep Truex in the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the rest of the year.
Waltrip, meanwhile, is expected to finish the 2009 campaign in his familiar NAPA Toyota. Sources say that Truex will steer a new, NAPA-backed #56 Camry in 2010, with Waltrip running a limited schedule of 10-12 races (including the season-opener at Daytona) in a companion #55.
Michael Waltrip Racing is expected to announce the moves in a press conference scheduled for July 7.
NASCAR Claiming Milwaukee Vendor Revenue: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that Wisconsin Motorsports, promoter of the Milwaukee Mile, owes NASCAR nearly $1.9 million dollars for the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck races held there this month.
Claude Napier, head of Wisconsin Motorsports, signed an agreement the day before the races were scheduled to take place, stating that he was unable to pay NASCAR’s sanction fee for the events, and agreeing that all revenue from the races would go directly to NASCAR. An attorney for NASCAR subsequently sent a letter to the track’s vendors, concessionaires and program sellers, instructing them to forward the money they owe Wisconsin Motorsports to NASCAR, instead.
NASCAR has reportedly paid all of its teams for the two events.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
Martin Truex, Jr., is expected to announce next week that he will leave Earhhardt-Ganassi Racing to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Even if Truex bolts, however, EGR President Steve Lauletta said this week that he expects his major sponsor — Bass Pro Shops — to remain with the team.
Lauletta confirmed that EGR has not re-signed Truex for 2010, but declined to comment on whether Aric Almirola or another driver would replace Truex at the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet.
Denials Aplenty: Hendrick Motorsports has strongly denied an internet report claiming that Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will be farmed out to a new JR Motorsports Sprint Cup team next season to make room for Danica Patrick.
The mikemulhern.net website reported yesterday that the battle for Patrick’s services has boiled down to Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing, with Hendrick “now the heavy favorite to sign Patrick.” Mulhern reported that the Patrick-Hendrick negotiations are “very close to being a ‘done deal,’” and that Patrick could take Earnhardt’s spot at Hendrick Motorsports, with Junior moving to a new JR Motorsports Cup operation.
NASCAR is denying another Mulhern report claiming that the sanctioning body is considering dramatic cuts in next year’s Camping World Truck Series schedule, and could abolish the series outright. NASCAR Vice President Steve O’Donnell reportedly addressed those rumors in the pre-race drivers’ meeting at Memphis Motorsports Park, assuring teams that NASCAR has no plans to scale-back or eliminate the series in 2010. He said he expects to see new owners, drivers and tracks on the series next season.
Milwaukee Mile Short On Cash: Updating a story we first reported last week, the Milwaukee Mile still owes NASCAR money from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races held there two weekends ago.
Wisconsin Motorsports head Claude Napier declined to talk specifically about the situation this week, but acknowledged that the legendary speedway will lose money this year. In his words, “I don’t want to get into specifics about what we owe and what we don’t owe. We are working very closely with NASCAR and in particular we are working on the future.”
NASCAR has reportedly paid its teams for the two events, and is working closely with the track to resolve the issue. Spokesmen for the IRL IndyCar Series have refused to say whether their teams have been paid for an event there the same weekend.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
Rain Falls Too Late for Newman at New Hampshire
Haas Automation/U.S. Army Driver Runs Out of Fuel, Finishes 29th
Ryan Newman and the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army team had the right strategy to win Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, but in the end it was not meant to be as Newman ran out of fuel while leading the race nine laps shy of the rain-shortened finish.
“I told the guys on the radio when it’s not your day, it’s not your day,” Newman said. “We had a good strategy thanks to a couple of incidents we had on the racetrack, but for some reason, we didn’t have the mileage that last run. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. We could have been leading at the end. The bottom line is we didn’t have the fuel mileage on that last run, ran out of fuel and lost a couple of laps on pit road. It was unfortunate.”
Newman endured a myriad of problems throughout the day at Loudon. With qualifying having been rained out on Friday, the driver of the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS started sixth based on owner points, per the NASCAR rulebook. Although Newman was able to maintain his spot in the top-10, he reported to crew chief Tony Gibson that his car was way too loose. The team elected not to pit during a rash of early cautions and waited until NASCAR’s competition caution at lap 45. At that time, Newman pitted for four tires, fuel and track bar and wedge adjustments. He restarted in 25th-place.
Just a handful of laps into the run, Newman complained that the car was still too loose, which was causing him to lose ground coming off of turn four and on the straightaways. He pitted under the green flag at lap 121 for another round of chassis adjustments, four tires and fuel and returned to the track in 26th-place.
Handling issues continued to plague Newman’s efforts on the track, and at each opportunity, the pit crew made a variety of adjustments in hopes of aiding the car. Then on lap 174, Newman was caught up in a multi-car accident, which resulted in minor damage to the No. 39 Chevy’s left front fender directly behind the tire and the left rear quarter-panel. Newman also told the crew that he thought the hit had affected the car’s front-end geometry. Under the caution flag, Newman came down pit road to repair the left-side damage and for a shock adjustment, as well as four fresh tires. He returned to the track in 26th place.
Just laps later as the race restarted, Newman was the victim of another incident which shoved him into the turn two wall, damaging the right side of the racecar. Newman pitted under the caution at lap 183 for four fresh tires, fuel and additional repairs to the damaged right and left sides of the racecar.
The team’s pit stop to fix the damage put Newman on a different fuel strategy than his counterparts. While the leaders had to pit under the green flag, Newman moved up the leaderboard and eventually took over the top spot at lap 247 as rain began closing in on the racetrack. Newman led 17 laps, but the strategy failed as he ran out of fuel on lap 263, right as the first raindrops began to fall over the 1.058-mile oval. Newman was forced to give up the lead to eventual race-winner Joey Logano.
Newman’s car slowly entered pit road at lap 264. The team added fuel and elected to change only right side tires in hopes of not losing too many spots or going a lap down. However, the No. 39 Chevy stalled and Newman’s crew had to push it down the length of pit road before it finally re-fired.
Newman lost three laps in the pits, and only laps later at lap 273, the race was called due to heavy rain. Newman finished 29th.
Newman’s Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) teammate and owner, Tony Stewart, finished fifth and continues to lead the two-car SHR contingent in the championship point race as he remains atop standings with a 69-point over his nearest pursuer, Jeff Gordon. Newman dropped one spot to seventh in the standings, 397 points out of first.
Logano’s win in the rain-shortened event was his first career Sprint Cup victory, and at 19 years, one month and four days, he became the youngest winner in Sprint Cup history.
Gordon finished second to cut 15 points from Stewart’s lead in the championship standings. Kurt Busch followed in third, while David Reutimann and Stewart rounded out the top-five. Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were 11 caution periods for 47 laps, with nine drivers failing to finish the race.
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the July 4 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
-credit: shr
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 30, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
I am not really going to discuss if Jeremy Mayfield is guilty or not. Everyone has their opinions on that just as I do. I think the process may be a little screwy and if Jeremy wants to fight then he should.
Plus right now we have a whole lot of “they said I said”.
Interestingly enough it seems that NASCAR has the second sample of Jeremy Mayfields tested by another party and entered those results into the court case. In the case Jeremy is attempting to get his indefinite suspension lifted. Jeremy and his lawyers don’t really seem to be contesting the results, but instead the manner in which the testing was handled.
But, that’s not what caught my eye today. This is what I read in an article that I think came from the associated press.
It makes one wonder if the more sensible route would have been quietly serving his NASCAR suspension and then attempting a career-saving comeback. Of course, participating in NASCAR’s “path to reinstatement” would have been akin to admitting guilt, something Mayfield has adamantly opposed since his suspension.
While it is hard to argue with that logic especially since it appears Mayfield is now (or has been) in some financial trouble. This all this taken care of as quick as possible and be done with it, guilty or innocent.
But let’s say he is not guilty. Can you imagine getting punished for something you did not do. How hard would you fight? And being a competitor in any sport with that drive to win would only compound it.
I think I have deserved every speeding I have ever received. I know if I knew in my heart that I was not speeding for one of those tickets, no matter how pointless it would be, I would be standing in front of the judge contesting it. Loosing money from work that day and probably court fees. I would fight all that I could if I knew I was innocent, even though it would probably make a lot more sense to pay the $100 and move on with my life.
I don’t think I have had a speeding ticket in years by the way.
Now lets say he is guilty. In this case it would make a ton more sense to take the slap on the wrist, do the rehabilitation and get reinstated. But still being competitive and maybe not the brightest light bulb in the box, it is understandable to want to get your name cleared.
If he is guilty that means that he more than likely he knew he was wrong in the beginning when he said it was combination of Calriton and an over the counter drug. And once you start in with a lie like that there is not much turning back.
The exception of course would be that the norm for these days is ….be bad, tell the truth, ask for forgiveness and everyone loves you.
That may be a little harder in this situation when we are talking about a team and a driver that has not performed all that well and probably lacking a serious fan base.
Of course, come out of this beating big bad NASCAR and he could possibly pick up some fans.
Jeremy Mayfield has himself in a bind now. Of course he could still throw in the towel I suppose, but he would loose a lot of face doing that. If he keeps fighting and looses (that will probably be the outcome) at least he can forever deny he did anything wrong….for whatever that’s worth.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
No, I did not state that wrong. Joey Logano got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Logano was able to beat out Ryan Newman in fuel mileage while waiting for the rain to start falling. Just laps before the rain and caution Newman was leading and ran out of gas giving the lead to Joey Logano.
Yeah, it was awesome. You know, we pretty much we didn’t take off as good as we needed to. I think it’s just me still lost out there trying to figure out where I needed to be. We overcame a lot.
We had a left rear cut down right before we made that last long green flag run and just trying to overcome that. When that happened, I thought we were done. I was like, the day just went bad, just try to finish it off and get as best finish we can and we made the right move at the end. He went for it and I was just lucky enough to be in the seat.
This allows Joey Logano to hold the title of “Youngest Sprint Cup Winner Ever”. Congrats.
Now, most everyone should know that Joey has not had the stellar season that I think the media prepped him up for. Regardless of how it comes about though, a win is a win. And when it’s your first in a series, you’ll take it no matter how you can get it.
Prior to today’s race Logano’s best finish in the Sprint Cup Series this year was 9th, three times.
Joey does take a 3 points position jump to 21st. Maybe this win will kick start him to good finish for the season.
The “Big One” at New Hampshire was something else really. On a restart on lap 175 Dale Earnhardt Jr. who was running 3rd at that point spun his tires. Martin Truex Jr. had to get out of the gas a little to avoid Jr. Truex got back in the gas and bumped Earnhardt Jr a little causing Truex to float down the track a little and slow down a hair.
At that point Kyle Busch moved up the track just a hair to get on the high side of Truex. Kyle effectively attempting 3 wide really. At that point Martin Truex Jr. moves back up the track to his position having expected Kyle Busch to have let off the gas a little and not be right there.
By coming up the track Truex’s rear quarter panel met Kyle’s front quarter panel sending Martin Truex Jr into a spin that ulitmately got 8 cars involved. That’s just the cars that were right there I believe. Ryan Newman was towards the rear of the field while the accident was happening up front. It caused him to get collected up as well with some minor front end damage.
“I was just staying in line doing what I could to get going, and obviously you can’t pass before the start/finish line. And I guess Kyle just decided he didn’t want to lift, so I was just an innocent victim [Sunday],” said Martin Truex Jr., who got the worst of an accident that defined the Sprint Cup event until rookie Joey Logano won in the rain. “Someone spun the tires, and our lane didn’t go. Kyle just lost his head, like he usually does when something bad happens. He decided he wasn’t going to lift, he was going to turn me on the straightaway for no good reason at all. We have a tore up race car.”
“When I was in the care center, I saw the replay and it looked like the 18 was just completely impatient,” said Brian Vickers, also involved in the crash. “Very normal. Just hooked [Truex] in the right rear and turned him in front of the field. If you wreck somebody on the straightaway, you kind of should be black-flagged for it, but that’s NASCAR’s call, not my call. That’s the second week in a row that stupidity has cost us a race, and it’s frustrating. I guess everybody just learns to expect Kyle doing something stupid. Stupid is forever.”
This accident prompted the questioning of the double file restart. They were posing the question to Jeff Burton. The negative was obviously being highlighted about the double file restarts. Burton handled the questioning superb stating that it was basically just racing and stating something to the fact that no matter what there are going to be situations.
Today’s points didn’t change much. The first 5 positions didn’t change. Tony Stewart is still leading in the points with Jeff Gordon 69 points back and then Carl Edwards a whopping 367 points away from first.
Joey Logano was the biggest points jumper of the day with his 3 positions.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
Ron Hornaday and Kyle Busch both win today…again.
Ron Hornaday won today at Memphis Motorsports Park in the Camping World Truck Series. This will be Hornaday’s 3rd win the Truck Series this year with back to back wins after winning last week at the Milwaukee Mile. He had similar performances at both tracks with the same truck.
“It’s a pretty dominant truck, for some reason,” Hornaday said. “I don’t know what we’re doing to it, but we’re going to go back and copy it somehow.”
Hornaday started the race in the pole position and led 175 or the 201 laps today. Last week he led 180 laps of the 2oo lap race.
Kyle Busch grabbed his 5th checked flag of the year in the Nationwide Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway today after passing teammate Joey Logano for the lead with 36 laps to go. Logano led 108 of the 200 lap race.
“We just kept adjusting on our car all day,” said Busch, who had led the most laps in the last eight Nationwide races while winning only two of them. “Normally, when we’re out front, we don’t adjust on it. Today we didn’t have the winning car, we made the winning car.
[Crew chief] Jason [Ratcliff] and myself, we talked this past week about what we need in order to get better, in order to take this team to Victory Lane instead of finishing second week in and week out. This is a good step in the right direction.”
Kyle is referring to his last 2 races at the Kentucky Speedway and the Milwaukee Mile where he finished second. As well as Nashville Superspeedway and probably Lowes Motor Speedway where he finished 3rd.
But come on, this is his 5th win this year in the Nationwide Series.
Both Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday are leading the points standings in the Nationwide and Truck series respectively.
Hornaday should now have a 76 point lead over second place Matt Crafton. 149 points separate Ron Hornaday and 4th place Todd Bodine with Mike Skinner sitting in 3rd.
While Ron Hornaday may have a little cushion to work with the Truck Series points, Kyle Busch has put a 162 points gap between him and the 2nd place position held by Carl Edwards in the Nationwide Series after today’s race. The next driver back in the points in 3rd is Brad Keselowski a whopping 243 points back from Kyle Busch.
CHAMPIONSHIP ?
I think both of these guys will get the championship at the end of the year. While Kyle’s current points standings makes him seem like a stronger “for sure thing”, my gut is telling me that Carl Edwards can catch him!?! Carl missed the Nationwide Championship by 21 points last year, I think he is thirsty. Of course he did just win the championship back in 2007.
Ron Hornaday missed the Championship by a mere 7 points last year to Johnny Benson and won it in 2007.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
Ryan Newman had rough race today. Finishing 29th and 2 laps down at New Hampshire Motor Speedway today. The good news is that Newman only dropped 1 position in the points position to 7th. 19 points ahead of Kyle Busch and only 5 points behind Denny Hamlin.
Joey Logano was today’s winner.
Towards the end of today’s rain shortened race (with 28 laps remaining) Newman was out front and leading for about 17 laps.
Newman and his crew were waiting for the rain to come in. Right about the time Tony Gibson told Newman “6 more laps until we pit”, Newman responded by telling Gibson he was out of gas and coming.
Newman entered pit road, took tires and fuel. He could not get the car restarted. Newman ended up falling 2 laps down at this point.
When the car finally got re-fired and Newman got back on the track, mother natures assault of rain started falling and the caution came out.
Newman was only a few laps short on fuel to get the job done.
“We had a good strategy, but for some reason, we didn’t the mileage that run there. Coulda, woulda, shoulda, we could have been leading at the end. The bottom line is we didn’t have the fuel mileage on that last run, ran out of fuel and lost a couple of laps on pit road. It was unfortunate. We had planned on doing two tires and at least get some track position back. It just didn’t work. I told the guys on the radio when it’s not your day, it’s not your day. It didn’t work.”
HOW MUCH DO YOU WISH THIS RAIN WOULD HAVE COME OUT ABOUT 10 LAPS EARLIER? “Very much so but you never know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if we’re going to get to go back racing again but either way we gave it our all in the Haas Automation Chevrolet. We just came up short. We ran out of fuel there. Not really sure why. We shouldn’t have ran out of fuel based on the numbers. We’ll go back and refigure out what we didn’t figure out and see what we can do to try to do this all over again and win.”
The rest of Newman’s day had gone about the same way. He quickly feel off from the top 10 with an ill handling car.
Around half way Newman got involved in the New Hampshire “Big One” getting a little damage after getting hit, well bumped into.
Then on the restart from the “The Big One” Newman ended up in the wall possibly as a result of Joey Logano’s car breaking.
One thing is for sure. If you were watching the radar while Newman was out front your were on the edge of your seat.
Tony Gibson was beating himself up on the radio wondering where the fuel calculations had gone wrong.
I have a little opinion about that. Newman’s car was basically involved in 2 accidents. Newman at one point reported that the car’s tow was a little off. At another point he said it was hard to tell exactly what it was, but that the car was “bent”.
I am sure that issues like that can have a big effect the fuel mileage….maybe about 6 laps worth. Newman also said he was running as hard as possible.
I don’t think there is any need to blame Gibson here. Newman’s car was hurt pretty bad.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
Ryan Newman finished 2nd in his first Winged-Midget race on Friday night in the Northeast Midget Association (NEMA) race at Lee Speedway in Lee, N.H.
Newman was racing in the #39 (how fitting) Helping Hands of America/Hot Pepper Promotions car.
Newman led 25 laps of the race but at the end he could not hold of his hard charging Bertrand Motorsports teammate, Randy Cabral.
“We were probably one adjustment away from winning the race tonight,” Newman said. “We just didn’t have the car quite right. I had my hands full there at the end of the race. I was just trying to do everything that I could, but I couldn’t catch up to Randy. I have to thank Tim Bertrand and everyone over there for letting me race the car, and I want to congratulate them on finishing one-two tonight. I really had a lot of fun tonight,” Newman said. “It’s cool to go out to these tracks like Lee, race in the different cars and see the fans.”
Newman, who grew up racing Quarter-Midgets and Midgets, in the Midwest before making the jump to stock cars and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but Friday day night was the first time he had piloted a Winged-Midget.
WHELEN MODIFIED
Today Ryan Newman raced in the Whelen Modified race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the New England 100.
While I don’t have a lot of the details about Newman’s performance, I know he finished 34th. Newmanl ed 13 laps and swapped the lead back-and-forth with Szegedy in the early going but Newman packed it up after a spinning out on lap 64.
Ryan Newman started 6th in the #7 Aggressive Hydraulics Chevrolet.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
All I know for right now is that Ryan Newman finished 2nd in tonight’s race at Lee USA Speedway. That is all I know or at least all I think I know.
Tomorrow night (Saturday night) Ryan Newman will be making an appearance in the Whelen Modified race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Newman will be starting 6th in his Aggressive Hydraulics Chevrolet.
YOU CAN CATCH THE LAP BY LAP PLAY OF THE RACE!!
Just head to this link here – http://localracing.nascar.com/node/2966 and catch the lap-by-lap of the race. I hoping to catch it, but no promises. Lots of projects to do this weekend!
Kasey Kahne will also be racing in Saturday’s race.
I believe last fall was Newman’s first appearance in this series. In that race Newman qualified for the pole position. READ HERE about that. Newman led 28 laps of that race but was involved in an accident late in the race an only completed 86 (I think) laps in that race.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
Due to rain once again Ryan Newman was not able to try and add on to his total pole positions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The good news is that based on owner points Newman will be able start 6th Sunday afternoon.
The weather forecast for the rest of the weekend is pretty bleak as well. Hopefully that race will run on Sunday.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 28, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 24, 2009) — For avid outdoorsman Ryan Newman, fresh air, a lake and a fishing rod is all he needs to relax and reenergize. That’s why Newman counts the natural surroundings of New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon as one of his favorite stops on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.
For Newman the competitive racecar driver, a trip to New Hampshire could be just what he needs to rejuvenate himself and reinvigorate his No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) team. Newman and the team have shown their prowess at three other short tracks this season, and the 1.058-mile New Hampshire flat track is yet another place where the team looks forward to exhibiting its strong short-track program once more.
Earlier this season, it was the short-track races that breathed life into Newman and his No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army team. A trip to the half-mile Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway ovals yielded the team’s first two top-10 finishes of the 2009 season with seventh- and sixth-place finishes, respectively. Then, the race at the three-quarter-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway resulted in a fourth-place effort and was one of a string of four consecutive top-five finishes for Newman.
With the team currently sitting sixth in points, Newman hopes that the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 will be the starting point for yet another string of top-10 finishes as NASCAR embarks on the 10-week “Race to the Chase” at New Hampshire this weekend.
New Hampshire has been a special track for Newman in his career. In 14 starts at Loudon, Newman has four poles, five top-five, nine top-10 finishes and two very big wins.
In September 2002, the rookie Sprint Cup driver scored his first point-paying victory at the flat track. The South Bend, Ind., native started from the pole position and dominated the rain-shortened race, leading 143 of 207 laps.
The win was proof that the young driver who had climbed through the open-wheel ranks and was known for turning a quick lap in qualifying had what it took to win in NASCAR’s elite series. The victory was emotional for both Newman and his family, who had worked and sacrificed for years so that Newman could follow his dream into NASCAR. It was the first of 13 Sprint Cup wins for Newman, and his first of two at New Hampshire.
His second victory at the track came in September 2005. That victory renewed Newman’s hopes for a championship run. Newman, who had barely squeaked into the first Chase for the Championship, used pit strategy to gain the lead late in the race after starting 13th. In the final laps, he dueled with now team owner and teammate Tony Stewart for the lead. With two laps remaining, Newman passed Stewart and held on to take the win.
Now, Newman is in search of another special weekend at New Hampshire. After scoring six consecutive top-10 finishes, the No. 39 team has finished 23rd and 17th in the past two races (Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., respectively).
As he returns to a track where he has celebrated triumphs in his career, Newman hopes his No. 39 team’s earlier short-track success will carry over to this weekend’s race at the 1.058-mile oval. Newman hopes to revive his team’s solid runs and begin yet another string of top-10 finishes, but more than that, he would like for New Hampshire to be the locale for another Newman milestone — his first win for SHR.
RYAN NEWMAN, Driver of the No. 39 Haas Automation /U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
What do you remember about your first win, which came at New Hampshire in 2002?
“We had won the All-Star Race at Charlotte in May that year. I was a rookie, so that was a big deal, but we were still looking for our first point-paying win. We finally got it in New Hampshire in September, and it was a rain-shortened race. That’s one part of racing. They never put it (rain-shortened) on the trophy. They do put it in the record books, but the trophy is what we take home. You won the race. It doesn’t say how many laps it was. It doesn’t say who finished second. It just says that you were the best on that day. There are different ways to win a race, but there are a few things that help you get that first win. You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time. You’ve got to use strategy. You’ve got to have a fast racecar. You’ve got to do all those things right, or close to right.”
What are your thoughts on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?
“New Hampshire is really unique. I feel like they have made some great improvements to the racetrack in the past. They have added some banking and they have added some racetrack for us to use, so in my opinion, the racing is the best that it has ever been there. It used to be a one-groove racetrack, but that has changed thanks to the improvements they have made. I think, more than anything, this is a track-position race because it’s a flat track. And the double-file restarts will make the race even more interesting. It’s a fun place to race and, obviously, it has been very special to me because it was where I got my first point-paying win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. And I think I battled pretty hard with Tony (Stewart) to win the race back in 2005, too.
“The Haas Automation team has really excelled on the short tracks this season, and New Hampshire is another one where I think we should have success. We got top-10s at Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond, and I feel like we would have had a better finish at Phoenix had we not had the radio complications that we did. These last two races (Michigan and Infineon) haven’t been the finishes we wanted, but I think we will be able to get back on track and get another solid top-10 finish at New Hampshire this weekend. I’ve had a lot of success at New Hampshire in both qualifying and the race, and I’m hoping to continue that trend with my Stewart-Haas team. I’m really confident this is going to be a good weekend for the No. 39 team.
“For me, personally, I like the area just as much as I do the racetrack. It’s just a fun place to hang out. We’ve always enjoyed Lake Winnipesaukee and there is some great fishing in the area, too. So, I have a good time whenever I go to New Hampshire.”
A lot of people believe that you and the No. 39 team are knocking on victory’s door. They are saying that you are one of the next teams to get a win. Does the pressure grow as races go by and a driver hasn’t won, yet?
“I think you are fooling yourself if you say there isn’t any pressure to win and that it doesn’t grow, at times. Yes, in my opinion the pressure grows, but to me it isn’t bad. It isn’t destructive pressure for you or the team. It’s just internal pressure to keep trying to achieve that goal. It’s not like you can try any harder to get the job done. You’re doing that each and every lap, each and every week. From a team standpoint, you try and fix what maybe needs to be fixed, whether it’s a pit stop that’s hurting them, whether it’s the car and they’re not leading laps, or whether it is strategy and not putting themselves in the position to win. It’s not a trial and error process. It’s a methodical answer that you’re trying to achieve based upon what you’re lacking.
“I agree that our team is knocking on the door of winning. And like I have told the team several times, if we keep doing what we’re doing and putting ourselves in the position to win, then we will get what we want. The past two races (Michigan and Sonoma) haven’t been our best races. We’ve had some problems, but we have been able to recover from any issues that we had during the race and get a decent finish in the end, when we could have come out much worse than what we did. That’s what’s important when we are looking at the big picture and having a chance to make the Chase for the Championship. That’s something I’m proud of with this team. Yes, we want to win, and I believe we will. ”
You have a very busy weekend on tap. You are racing a Winged-Midget at Lee Speedway in Lee, N.H., on Friday night, and then you are competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday. Talk a little about your extra-curricular racing this weekend in New Hampshire.
“To me, this weekend is something I have really been looking forward to. People always say that racers will race anything, anytime. And I guess that’s true. I have never driven a Winged-Midget, and it’s been a while since I have been in a Midget, so I’m looking forward to the race at Lee (N.H.) Speedway. The car is very similar to what I drove back in my USAC days, and the owner, Tim Bertrand, called me the other day and told me the car was a rocket ship. So, I guess that means the pressure is on. It will be fun to get back to my roots and some short-track, Friday-night racing, and I’m sure it will be a challenge because I’m competing with some really good drivers.
“As far as the Modified race, I got my first chance in the car last year at New Hampshire, and we were able to get the pole. We had a great run going in the race. We led laps and then had a problem early with a flat tire, but we moved back up toward the front of the field. Unfortunately, we got caught up in an on-track accident and didn’t get the finish we had hoped to get. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hopefully, we can change that this time around. I had always wanted to race a Modified, and when Bono (Kevin Manion) and Gary (Putnam) gave me the chance in their car, I jumped at the opportunity. We were able to bring Aggressive Hydraulics on board for a few races this season, and we won in our first outing with them at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway during Speedweeks. It was a really exciting race and a very close finish at the end. I was honored to come out of there with the win, considering the great Modified drivers we were battling in the final laps. Any racer will tell you that, when they get the chance to race, they are going to, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the Modified at New Hampshire this weekend. I have good equipment, and I have some more experience in the car, so I am excited about Saturday’s race.”
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 25, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
Six races under out belts so far this year. I got to looking at who has won races, who hasn’t, who is performing well and who is not. There are a couple of things that really stick out for me that are probably no-brainer’s.
Stewart-Haas Racing
I think my biggest overall surprise of the year is how well Stewart-Haas Racing Is doing. Tony Stewart being the team owner and a driver has been sitting at the top of the points for a couple of weeks now in his first year as owner/driver. Hats off to him. He is doing great and already has 2 wins (1 points win) under his belt. I think that is pretty incredible.
And being a big Ryan Newman fan you have to applaud that team as well. Ryan moved over to Stewart-Haas Racing after leaving Penske. So far it seems like it was the right decision. Newman is currently sitting 6th in the points.
I think that whole operation is my biggest surprise of the year. Maybe more so being a Ryan Newman fan, I don’t know. I just expected it to be a little bit bumpy of a season for that whole team and that has not really been the case. Newman did start off rough, but made up ground fast.
I know Ryan and Tony have it in them, I just wasn’t expecting it this year.
Kurt Busch
Huge turn around for Kurt Busch this season so far. He finished 18th in the points last year. Back to Ryan Newman, I figured Kurt would be running for Penske as soon as possible as well. Now I am not so sure. He is running great this year with 1 win, 4 top 5’s and 8 top 10’s.
Once again, I know Kurt has it in him, just didn’t think we would see him rebound until he left Penske.
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch sitting 9th in the points surprises me. He dominated last year then blew it in the Chase. He is 9th in points with 3 wins, 4 top 5’s and 5 top 10’s. In the last 6 races he has finished 31st, 6th, 23rd, 22nd, 13th and 22nd. Right before that string was his latest win this year.
I figured we would be seeing Kyle up front all year again. And while being inside the top 12 (or top 10) is great, he is -402 points outside of 1st.
And in the big picture that isn’t really going to matter to much because he will have the bonus points of those 3 wins applied to his chase points. So all in all, at this point, he probably isn’t to bad for the chase.
BUT, he is only 48 points away from dropping out of the top 12.
GUYS WITH MULTIPLE WINS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOP 12
I don’t know why, but I find it kind of fascinating and probably irrelevent that all the drivers with multiple wins are sitting at the bottom of the top 12 with the exception of Jimmie Johnson (2 wins) who is in 3rd.
The single race winners (that are in the top 12) are at the top of the list. Tony Stewart (1st) - 1 win. Jeff Gordon (2nd) 1 win and Kurt Busch (4th) with 1 win.
Multiple race winners sitting at the bottom of the top 12 are Mark Martin (11th) - 3 wins, Matt Kenseth (10th) - 2 wins, Kyle Busch (9th) - 3 wins.
ROOKIE PERFORMANCE
Dismal to say the least. I don’t want to hear about a “learning curve” or anything like that. I want a rookie to come into Sprint Cup Series and blow everyones (drivers and fans) doors right off the hinges.
Joey Logano was suppose to be that kid. We were disappointed. He is up to 24th in the points which is a lot better off from where he started.
In fact Logano is really the one we can talk about. He is the only that has completed all 16 races.
Scott Speed is also someone that I had hoped to get behind. He is in 35th and has only completed 15 races.
I wouldn’t mind seeing either of these guys succeed and they probably will. But I just love seeing a rookie come onto the scene and dominate. We have been missing that I think.
Richard Childress Racing
What happened over there? Jeff Burton is 15th in points followed by Clint Bowyer in 16th, Casey Mears in 21st and then we drop down to 25th to find Kevin Harvick.
These guys (not including Mears) were all in the chase last year. They still could be…but…..Harvick would really have to make up some ground.
Just some items that have caught my interest. Maybe no surprise to others.
What are some of your biggest surprises of the year in the NASCAR world? Good or bad!
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 24, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
The ongoing discussion regarding Richard Petty Motorsports and its manufacturer affiliations has produced no shorage of headlines in the last 72 hours. Reports have been made, confirmed, denied and contradicted, leaving fans with little choice but to decided who they want to believe, and forget the rest.
If nothing else, the story provides an interesting look at how things happen behind the scenes in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.
I told you Monday that there was a strong possibility of Richard Petty Motorsports fielding Toyota Camrys for driver Kasey Kahne, as soon as mid-August. Despite being confirmed by multiple sources within the organization, the story was immediately and categorically denied by RPM.
Yesterday, team co-owner Richard Petty joined us on Sirius Speedway, and was asked whether the team had plans to field Toyotas later this year. He answered, “I don’t really know. I don’t think anybody knows right now exactly where we’re sitting, what we’re gonna do, (or) what’s gonna happen three weeks from now, let alone the beginning of next year.”
Just hours earlier, Richard Petty Motorsports spokesman Drew Brown responded to the same question by saying, “Richard Petty Motorsports has no plans to switch manufacturers in 2009 with any of our Cup cars. Our people plan to keep winning races with Dodge like they did Sunday and later this year put Dodges in the Chase.”
Is it any wonder that media outlets contradict each other? And is it any wonder that fans are confused about who -– and what — to believe?
For the record, I have no problem being called on the carpet by a race team for reporting something they don’t want reported. Public relations representatives are under no obligation to tell the truth to the media. They can tell us the whole truth, a half-truth or an outright lie, as the case requires. In fact, there are times where they have to lie to us, in the best interest of their team.
Anyone who does a job like mine for any length of time has been called a damned liar – in so many words – on Monday, only to be proven correct a few days later when the official press conference takes place. It’s part of the job, and people generally don’t take it personally.
I certainly don’t.
As of now, nobody knows whether Kasey Kahne will drive a Toyota this season or not. I don’t know, you don’t know… King Richard himself says he doesn’t know! I guess we’ll just wait and see. Despite all the denials, however, it is clear that the possibility has been discussed at the highest levels of Richard Petty Motorsports.
Take all the hubbub and confusion of the last few days, file it away and remember it the next time you’re faced with wildly conflicting media reports on a major NASCAR story. At times like this, the bottom line is simple. Reporters have a job to do, and PR people have a job to do. Sometimes, those jobs put us at loggerheads.
It happens.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 24, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
Richard Petty left little doubt yesterday that discussions have taken place about converting at least part of the Richard Petty Motorsports stable to Toyota power.
In an exclusive Sirius Speedway interview, the seven-time Sprint Cup Series champion was asked about reports that his team will field Toyotas for driver Kasey Kahne as soon as mid-August. “It’s all swirling around,” said Petty. “I don’t really know, and I don’t think anybody knows right now exactly where we’re sitting, what we’re gonna do, (or) what’s gonna happen… three weeks from now, let alone the beginning of next year.
“We’re like everybody else,” he said. “We’re trying to put ourselves together with our sponsor deals, make sure we’ve got (the money) to be able to go. Then we’re going to look at whatever we think is going to be best for Richard Petty Motorsports in the short run and the long run.
“After being here for 50 or 60 years, I’m not looking for a quick fix,” said Petty. “We’re trying to put stuff together so that we can go on down the road next year, the year after next (and) the year after that.”
“We’re open about anything right now. So we’re going to put everything on the table and… hope we make the right decisions on where we go.”
Asked about his longtime loyalty to the Dodge brand, Petty replied that loyalty is a two-way street.
“You’ve got to look at it from the standpoint of; can Dodge be loyal to us now that the government owns Chrysler? I don’t know if the people (in Washington) are race fans. If they are, then that’s going to be great. But if they’re not, it affects so many people. There’s so much going on out there — under the table or under the ground — that we don’t know about. So what Dodge does next year — or Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota or whoever — we’re just going to have to wait and let the dust settle. Then we’re going to run in there and pick up the best thing we can.”
Petty admitted that discussions have taken place about the challenges of fielding two different brands of race car out of the same shop.
“I’ve asked the same question,” he laughed. “Really, I have. I said, ‘What if?’ And I think that’s what we’re gonna have to do. We’re gonna have to say, ‘What if?’ and see…(what it would take) to be able to do something like that.”
Petty said he sees at least one major roadblock to the two-manufacturer system: the engine shop.
“The cars have got the same wheels, same brakes, same chassis snd same basic body, so all that stuff would be easy. The big deal is how could you do the motor situation? That would be the big question mark. I don’t know if it’s ever been done, but if it could be done, we could probably do it.”
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 24, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
It’s a full-time job keeping up with the behind-the-scenes maneuvering at Richard Petty Motorsports these days.
As we first reported yesterday, sources inside the walls at RPM say plans have been made to field Toyota Camrys for Kasey Kahne beginning in mid-August, as soon as team officials finalize a financial settlement package with Dodge. Those negotiations have reportedly taken a sudden turn in recent days, though, with the possibility now existing for Kahne and his RPM teammates to remain in the Dodge camp, after all.
Nobody seems to know exactly what turned the tide back in Dodge’s favor. Speculation ranges from a juicy incentive package offered by Dodge, to a bit of hardball by the automaker holding RPM to its existing contracts. The “juicy incentive” option is highly unlikely considering Chrysler’s recent bankruptcy filing, and Dodge previously allowed Chip Ganassi Racing to move to the Chevrolet camp after its merger with Dale Earnhardt. Inc., despite an existing contract.
The most likely explanation for RPM’s sudden about-face is Richard Petty’s personal loyalty to Dodge. Sources say that Reed Sorenson’s #43 would have remained a Dodge even after Kahne’s manufacturer switch, forcing RPM to construct two different makes of cars under the same roof. While such an undertaking is less daunting today than in the past — due to common body templates and chassis — the logistics are still considerable.
King Richard may not be the sole decision-maker for his team anymore, but his influence within the walls of RPM is still considerable. Sources say his insistence on remaining (at least partially) a Dodge Boy played a major role in this week’s reversal.
In the end, after a serious flirtation with Toyota – the second in as many years for team co-owner George Gillett – it now appears that Richard Petty Motorsports may remain in the Dodge camp, after all.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
Sirius Speedway has learned that Richard Petty Motorsports will begin fielding Toyotas for driver Kasey Kahne in mid-August, with at least part of the team remaining in Dodge livery for the time being.
Published reports this week claimed the team will begin fielding Toyotas for Kahne at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11, but an RPM source speaking on the condition of anonymity tells Sirius Speedway that the change will not happen until team officials are able to hammer out a financial settlement with their current manufacturer. RPM co-owner Richard Petty confirmed recently that there has been a dramatic reduction in manufacturer support to the team as a result of Chrysler’s recent bankruptcy reorganization, a fact confirmed by multiple sources.
“Dodge owes the team a ton of money, and they’re trying to negotiate some kind of settlement right now,” said one source. “Until that’s done, the team cannot make a move. Once the settlement is signed, you’ll see Kasey Kahne in a Toyota.”
RPM’s familiar #43 – driven by Reed Sorenson – will remain in Dodge livery for the foreseeable future. “Richard Petty is extremely loyal to Dodge, and the #43 will remain a Dodge,” said the source. “RPM has enough parts and pieces to put new, Dodge R6 engines in one car, and it will be the #43.”
A decision on future manufacturer affiliations for the #19 and #44 cars — driven by Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger – is pending, and could depend on whether a favorable settlement can be reached between RPM and Dodge. There has been no comment from officials for either Dodge or Toyota, Richard Petty will join us Tuesday to discuss the reports.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
We got back very late Saturday night from our vacation. We spent most of Sunday unpacking and getting things around the house down (including mowing down the forest of a yard we had at that point). So, my attention was not fully on race Sunday.
You will find below the press release.
What I do know is that Ryan Newman finished 17th. That was after having to make up ground after being spun out late in the race. At that point his car started getting away from him becoming very loose. So he was stuck there in 17th. He actually lost a couple of places falling back to 17th.
Not a bad points race for Newman though. While he fell from 5th in points down to 6th he is only about 5 points behind Carl Edwards. That is about as close to maintaining as you can get while falling back a little.
Let’s chalk it up to road course racing and “stuff” happens. He had a good car most of the day from what I could tell, that late race caution just hurt him. I do think he was also pretty loose most of the day, but I could be wrong.
He is 318 points behind the championship points leader / teammate / owner Tony Stewart. Stewart held on to his points lead and lengthened the gap to Jeff Gordon this weekend with his 2nd place finish.
PRESS RELEASE
Ryan Newman and his No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet team were victims of a late-race spin which slowed down the team’s march to a top-10 finish in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Newman finished 17th in his eighth start at the 1.99-mile road course.
“Unfortunately, the 77 car (Sam Hornish Jr.) just got in the back of me and just flat spun me around,” Newman said. “It didn’t do any damage to the car, but it left us with a lot of ground to make up there at the end. We gave it our best, but I just got too loose there in the closing laps, which cost us a few positions.
“Our Haas Automation Chevy wasn’t the best car out there today, but I think it was better than our finish shows.”
Newman, who qualified seventh for the first road course race of the season, battled a loose-handling racecar for much of the day. He was able to run as high as second-place early in the race despite telling his team that the series of left-right-left twisting turns known as the esses were “killing” his momentum. On the team’s first pit stop which occurred under the green flag at lap 32, the pit crew made a track bar and air pressure adjustment to aid Newman’s handling problems.
He returned to the track in 37th-place and although the adjustments helped somewhat, Newman continued to complain of the loose-handling condition. Because of the issue, the team elected to pit under caution at lap 52 for fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Newman continued to climb the leader board and following his final stop on lap 74, appeared to be on his way to a top-10 finish before the lap 81 contact with Hornish dashed those hopes.
By the time Newman re-fired his No. 39 Chevrolet Impala SS and returned to the track, he had fallen to 36th-place in the running order with 32 laps remaining in the race.
A caution flag at lap 83 gave Newman and his team the opportunity to pit for four fresh tires following the on-track incident. Following the caution flag, a more determined Newman returned to the track to regain his lost spots. He battled and rooted his way into the top-15, avoiding numerous spins and slower cars ahead of him. By lap 103, Newman was sitting in 12th-place, however, his ever-present loose-handling condition prevented him from holding on to the position and he fell to 17th.
“Ryan drove his butt off today,” said Tony Gibson, crew chief for the No. 39 Chevrolet. “We came back from 36th-place there after the spin and had that last caution not come out, I think we would have had a top-15 finish. In the big picture, things turned out a lot better than what they could have.”
Newman’s Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) teammate, Tony Stewart, finished second and continues to lead the SHR lineup in the championship point race, as his runner-up finish extended his championship points lead to 84 markers over second-place Jeff Gordon. Newman dropped one spot to sixth in the standings, 318 points back of Stewart.
Kasey Kahne won the Toyota/Save Mart 350k to score his 10th career victory, his first of 2009 and his first-ever road course win.
Stewart was .748 of a second behind Kahne, while Marcos Ambrose, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five. Juan Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Gordon and Elliott Sadler comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were seven caution periods for 20 laps, with five drivers failing to finish the 113-lap race, which was extended three laps due to a green/white/checkered finish.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
We returned from our vacation Saturday night, or maybe it was early Sunday morning. We had a great time in Virginia with my wife and I taking 3 days by ourselves to go to Virginia Beach with out the kids. They stayed with my parents. Overall a fantastic vacation.
So Sunday was mostly spend getting unpacked and settled back in. Yard work needed to be done and that took quite awhile. We seem to have a toad up rising as there are probably thousands just in out neighborhood. Little baby toads jumping all over the yard.
My point? Well, while I had the race on the TV and paid attention as much as possible we were pretty busy around the house so the race did not receive my up most attention.
But Kasey Kahne was the winner and that gave The King Richard Petty his first win as a team owner. Huge congratulation’s to Kahne and the King for the win at Infineon for the Toyota/SaveMart 350.
This was Kasey’s first win in over a year and should move him up in the points 2 positions to 13th. He is only 3 points outside the top 12 now.
I was reading that Tony Stewart was pressuring Kasey Kahne at the end of the race. I didn’t really see it that way. Granted if Kahne would have bobbled a little Smoke may have been able to get around him. But I don’t think Stewart was really any match for Kahne at the end of the race.
Other than than I have started liking road courses more and more as I get more into NASCAR. At first I thought they were plain ol’ boring, but I can really appreciate all the effort that goes into them now.
And let’s face it, I thought yesterdays race was pretty exciting. At least the parts that I was able to catch.
This was the first road course race with double file restarts. During these restarts it was very important to be out front so you didn’t get caught up in the demolition derby that was happening behind you.
“The restarts were just wild,” Jamie McMurray said. “Everybody runs into each other and doesn’t really race. They just drive over their head, so it was frustrating. It was exciting, I’m sure, for the fans — but the guys just don’t pass right. They just run into each other.”
“It was intense. They were a riot,” Boris Said said of the restarts after finishing 24th. “It was just chaos — a free-for-all. Unfortunately, I don’t know who tagged me on the last one in Turn 7, but they spun me around and I had to let the whole pack go by. We were done then.”
Overall on other tracks the drivers don’t seem to mind the double file restarts. But I think they were all dreading it for the road course which is understandable. Restarting like that and hitting those corners on a road course is a lot different than oval course.
That being said, I think the fans loved it unless of course you driver was a victim of it. And overall I don’t think there were that many issues on the restarts. There were some yes, but it could have been a lot more.
POINTS
Tony Stewart’s 2nd place finish has helped him to maintain the top spot in the points. He was also able to put a little more distance on Jeff Gordon by expanding his lead to 84 points, almost a 40 point increase from last week.
Gordon finished 9th.
Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards flopped the 5th and 6th points positions. Ryan Newman had a rough day and finished 17th while Carl Edwards got a 13th place finish. Only 5 points separate these 2.
Mark Martin fell 3 positions to 11th after having a very bad day and finishing 35th.
New to the top 12 this week is Juan Pablo Montoya who jumped up 2 positions to 12th after finishing 6th. Kasey Kahne is knocking on his door just 3 points behind in 13th.
When one person enters the top 12 that means one person leaves the top 12. After finishing 34th Jeff Burton fell 3 positions to 15th 6 points behind David Reutimann.
The top 12 is a pretty tight points race. Looking at positions 4th through 12th it is only a 167 point difference.
From 1st to 12th is a 447 point difference.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 21, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
RYAN NEWMAN
‘And Son, Don’t Forget To Kiss Your Racecar Good Night’
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 16, 2009) — Ryan Newman can’t remember a day when his father hasn’t been in his ear advising him on his next move — in life and on the racetrack.
The story goes that when Ryan was born in 1977, proud papa, Greg Newman, announced right then and there in the delivery room that Ryan would be a racecar driver. So, at 4½ years of age, Ryan had a Quarter Midget and began going in circles, his dad overseeing him each and every lap.
Back then, Greg coached a young Ryan. Greg taught his son where to hit his mark in the corner of each turn by sticking his foot out in the path of the racecar. Greg would tell his young son to literally hit his foot. Repeating that exercise time and again would make Ryan faster and sharper on the racetrack.
Greg worked long hours at his auto body repair business to make money so that Ryan could race each weekend. And when Greg wasn’t at the body shop working, the father and son would spend their evening out in the garage, tinkering on the cars, getting them just right for the upcoming weekend’s race. And before turning off the light each night, Greg would tell Ryan: “Don’t forget to kiss your racecar good night.”
It was a figure of speech, of course. Ryan didn’t really kiss his racecar good night, but it was a lesson that the son still carries with him today. Show respect and it is returned. Greg wanted Ryan to show appreciation and respect for his racecar and for all the hard work that the two of them and countless others had put into their dream.
And it truly is their dream.
Greg has been with his son every step of the way. From Quarter Midgets to full-size Midgets to Sprint Cars and, now, stock cars, Dad has served as mechanic, crew chief, pit crew member and spotter. It hasn’t always meant smiling faces and high fives, Ryan says. In fact, there was a time when Ryan took the radio away from his father because Ryan didn’t want Greg to talk to him during the race.
But now, Ryan relies on that familiar voice to talk him through each lap, every weekend of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Since 2006, Greg has served as Ryan’s Sprint Cup spotter. After all, who could know Ryan’s racing style better than the man who first strapped him behind the wheel of a car? Who could understand what Ryan needs to hear and what he needs help “seeing” better than the man who taught him how to turn lap after lap?
The two have an interesting dynamic that Ryan considers an advantage because no one knows him better than his father. The pair has experienced the highest of highs — a trip to victory lane at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the 50th Running of the Daytona 500 in 2008 — which both called a “dream come true.”
Both still have goals to achieve. Since joining the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army team at Stewart-Haas Racing this season, the team has posted impressive results: five top-five and eight top-10 finishes in the first 15 races of the Sprint Cup season. The new team has also climbed to fifth in points.
The next goal is a trip to victory lane. In Ryan’s mind, there is no better time than the present. Ryan has five top-10 finishes in seven starts at the 1.99-mile Infineon Raceway road course in Sonoma, Calif. He has completed every lap (772) since his rookie campaign in 2002, and even has a runner-up finish at the road course (2006).
So don’t be surprised to see Ryan “kiss” his No. 39 Chevrolet before he leaves the track on Saturday night. He wants to give his dad the perfect gift at Sunday’s Toyota/SaveMart 350k race, which just happens to be Father’s Day. There’s no better way for Ryan to thank his dad for guiding him through life — and traffic.
RYAN NEWMAN, Driver of the No. 39 Haas Automation /U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
You won on Father’s Day back in 2004 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Talk about what that meant to you and your dad.
“That was a very special day. At the time, my dad worked with the team in the pits. I told him, ‘I’m only going to try to get you one thing today and that’s a win.’ I didn’t get him a card or anything else. I just went out there and drove as hard as I could and we were fortunate enough to get a win. Afterward, I came over the radio and told him, ‘There’s your Father’s Day present,’ and he came over the radio and said ‘That’s all I wanted.’ Obviously, it was no small task, but it was very special for us.”
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to its first road course race of the season. What are your thoughts on Infineon Raceway and road course racing?
“It’s the first time we get to run a road course and, typically, there’s a different type of cream that rises to the top there. I enjoy it. I enjoy hustling the racecar around the track, and Infineon’s a good road course. Personally, I enjoy Watkins Glen a bit more, but I enjoy them both and I look forward to racing out there. It’s a big track position race, and fuel mileage has become a big part of the racing there. But it’s the same for everybody.
“I think the addition of the double-file restarts this weekend will definitely make the race interesting, especially at the end of the race. We’ve always had double-file starts at the beginning of the race, but people are careful then because they want to finish the first lap. I think it will be opening a new can of worms when we get to Sonoma for those late-race restarts. It’s going to be exciting.”
Do you approach a road course race differently than other races on the circuit? How is a road course race different for the driver?
“Not really. We just did two days of testing at Virginia International Raceway last week so, aside from me getting used to shift patterns in the car and how the Hendrick chassis flexes versus what I have used in the past, that’s been pretty much it. Once we get there, we attack it and do our thing like we do any other race weekend.
“Road course racing is physically demanding and mentally, as well. It’s really a lot of fun to hustle the car around the racetrack. It’s definitely challenging. Just doing what you can to save fuel on a road course, which is one of the hardest things you can ever do inside a racecar, in my opinion. It’s a big track-position game, and if you qualify well, you have a chance to race well. If you don’t, your challenge will be to make a bunch of passes and race hard all day.”
This Sunday is Father’s Day. It has been well-documented that your father, Greg Newman, has been instrumental in your racing career. He began helping you from the time you were 4½, and he still serves as your spotter today on the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet. Can you talk a little about that?
“My dad spots for me, so I get to listen to him and he gets to listen to me talking about the race. He’s been around my racing career the entire time, and he knows how I typically drive and he knows a lot about racing. He’s been a fan his whole life. Having him as my spotter is definitely an advantage for me, and it’s pretty unique to have my father as my spotter. He’s been spotting for me in the Cup Series since 2006 and he spotted my Nationwide races for me in 2005. I tell everyone that it has been a series of high-fives and arguments ever since he started spotting for me. We’ve gotten into it on the radio a few times. I will give it to him, but he’ll turn around and give it right back to me. In reality, it just makes sense to have him as my spotter because he knows me and my racing style better than anyone else. He’s been with me for every step of my career since I was 4½ and just starting to race Quarter Midgets. He showed me how to hit my marks when I was just a kid by sticking his foot out in the middle of the corner and telling me to turn there. My dad understands how I drive and what I need to help me get better on the track. He knows what I need to hear. It’s a very special relationship, and I’m glad that he is able to be at the racetrack with me each weekend.”
Talk about your relationship with your dad, racing, and what a win at Sonoma on Father’s Day would mean.
“I think the easiest way to say it is that I wouldn’t be here racing today without my dad and everything he did to further my racing career. My dad, my mom, my sister — they all made sacrifices and everyone chipped in so that I could race. My dad had an auto repair shop, so he was busy making money so that we could go race. When he wasn’t working at the auto repair shop, he was busy with me, working in the garage on my car, or we were traveling back and forth to and from the racetrack.
“I think everyone has heard the story, now, that when I was born my dad looked at me and said ‘We have ourselves a racecar driver.’ My dad got me my first Quarter Midget, and I started racing at 4½. But this wasn’t something he pushed me to do. My dad had wanted to be a racecar driver, but he couldn’t. Then, when I came along, he let me race. My dad actually tried to take racing away at one point to see if that’s what I really wanted to do, and it was. He wanted to make sure that it wasn’t something he was pushing me to do, that it’s what I wanted as much as him, and I did. In fact, I think he would tell you that I wasn’t too happy when he tried to take racing away from me. I appreciate that, in hindsight.
“It was a great learning experience for me, growing up with my dad, being around cars, around racecars, working on racecars together. I’m extremely grateful for all the things that he’s taught me. And I’m grateful that he is part of my team every weekend. We’ve had our ups and downs, just like any father and son. We’ve also had some pretty incredible experiences together. Having him at the racetrack is something that is very special to me. Having him spot for me when I won the Daytona 500 last season, hearing the excitement in his voice, listening to him get choked up and then hugging him in victory lane. That was something not many people have. That was our dream coming full circle. I would like to be able to give him another great memory this weekend.”
TONY GIBSON, Crew Chief of the No. 39 Haas Automation /U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
What are the challenges of a road course for you as a crew chief and for the team?
“The biggest thing with road course racing now is making sure to maintain the brakes and your fuel mileage. Some guys will pit as soon as they can make it the entire race so that, when it all cycles around, they will be out front. So fuel mileage is critical. You just want to have the best strategy when it comes down to it. The car has to handle all the turns well, but we’ve seen that’s just not as important as the fuel mileage.”
How does testing Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for a couple of days help the team prepare for this race?
“We tested for two days at VIR. We tested the big course one day and then tested the shorter course the second day. We can use a few of the turns at the road course to help at Sonoma, but we basically use the test to check out the brakes, the shifter and just to make sure that Ryan is comfortable in the car. There are a couple of corners at VIR that we could compare to turns at Sonoma. So, we obviously tried out some changes to the car to see what might help us with different issues. We’ll go to Sonoma with a few ideas, and hopefully what we learned will end up helping us out there.”
Ryan’s father has been instrumental in his racing career from the beginning, and he is still very involved with it as the spotter for the No. 39 team each weekend. How has your father, Bo Gibson, been an influence on your racing career?
“My dad is the reason I got into racing. He raced my whole life, both of my brothers drove, and my dad taught us all everything we needed to know to get started in racing. Dad got us all started. There were a lot of sacrifices on his part, moneywise and timewise, to get us in the sport. Everything I am experiencing now and have experienced in this sport is thanks to him. It would be awesome for me to be able to get a win for him on Father’s Day. I know that it would be a big deal for Ryan and his dad, Greg. And it would mean just as much to me if that is something we could get done this weekend.”
The No. 39 had a streak of six consecutive top-10s prior to Michigan, and the team is currently fifth in the point standings. With all that, the team has been the talk of the garage. To what do you attribute the success of this No. 39 team?
“In my opinion, the biggest thing is just how this team works together. Our motto from the beginning has been to never give up. This past weekend, we weren’t good at all, but we didn’t give up. We made a lot of changes to the car during the race, and we put ourselves back in the position where we could be in good shape. If another caution would have fallen, we would have gotten back on the lead lap. At the end, we had a fast car, so I think we could have gotten a better finish than where we ended up. It wasn’t a great finish for us, but we still finished in front of a few others and ended up not losing as many points as we could have. The key was we didn’t give up and that was something I was proud of. As a team, we just have to keep plugging away. We’re not going to have a top-five or top-10 every week. There are going to be days like we had in Michigan. We just have to try to take advantage of the opportunities that we do get and build the points when we can. I’m just really proud of what we have done, and I’m confident we’re going to keep it up.”
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 16, 2009
Submitted by The Motorsports Soapbox
NASCAR filed a motion in federal court yesterday, claiming that an expert witness cited by Jeremy Mayfield falsified his credentials.
Mayfield’s attorneys used the statements of Dr. Harvey MacFenerstein to argue that their client should be immediately reinstated for competition, but NASCAR alleged yesterday that MacFenerstein misrepresented his medical degrees, certifications and other qualifications in that May 29 affidavit.
In the filing, MacFenerstein claimed to have received a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from Midwestern State University of Texas, an MD in clinical pathology from CETED University in Mexico and certification as a Medical Review Officer from two different clinical agencies.
NASCAR refuted each of those claims, after a search of Midwestern State’s records produced no documentation that MacFenerstein had ever received a degree from the university. In fact, a spokesperson for the university registrar’s office offered sworn testimony that “a Harvey Mac Fenerstein briefly attended … some classes” during just one semester in 1976.
NASCAR has asked that Mayfield’s legal team be sanctioned for failing to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” into MacFenerstein’s qualifications. Mayfield’s lead attorney, Bill Diehl, has until July 6 to respond to the latest allegations.
Carroll Still Won’t Quit: Former Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll says he expects the appeal of his antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR to continue for at least another month, if not longer.
New owner Bruton Smith has repeated asked Carroll to drop his appeal, opening the door for NASCAR to grant him a Sprint Cup Series race at the track next season. But Carroll and his group have refused to do so, and Smith said Saturday that he is not optimistic about his chance for a race in 2010.
If Carroll and company win their appeal, the case would go to trial, potentially delaying the process for years.
Scott Will Race Hurt: Camping World Truck Series driver Brian Scott suffered a broken right wrist in a Lap 8 crash at Michigan International Speedway Saturday.
Despite that injury, Scott plans to compete in Friday night’s Copart 200 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Scott said he was injured when the steering wheel wrenched from his hand on impact, adding that he knew he was hurt almost immediately. He called the crash, “the hardest hit of my career,” but said he will travekl to the Milwaukee Mile this week and “make the most of the situation.”
Double Duty For Shrub: Kyle Busch and Scott Speed will drive for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Series Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona on July 4.
The pair will make their Grand-Am debuts in the #02 Lexus Riley; a team car to the #01 fielded for defending Series champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas. The race will take the green flag at 2 p.m. ET, with Busch then taking part in the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race later that evening.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
By admin | June 15, 2009
Submitted by Ryan Newman News and Information
I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I AM ON VACATION STARTING HALF WAY THROUGH LAST WEEK AND ENDING THIS COMING WEEKEND. SO INFORMATION FROM THIS SITE WILL BE SLOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE. POSTING THIS REAL QUICK FROM A HOTEL ROOM IN VIRGINIA BEACH!
I did see some of the race on Sunday, not much though.
Ryan Newman finished 23rd and fell to 5th in the points. 1 position down from where he was.
Tony Stewart finished 7th and remains first in the points race.
Below is the press release.
Lack of Grip Drops Newman to 23rd-Place Finish in Michigan
BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 14, 2009) — Ryan Newman finished a disappointing 23rd in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.
“This was by no means the result we anticipated coming into this race,” said Newman, who saw his streak of six straight top 10s snapped.”We basically struggled with handling issues all weekend and no matter what changes we made, the car never stuck. It was wicked loose for the majority of the race.”
The result was the team’s worst result since finishing 22nd in Atlanta in early March. In the 10 races between Atlanta and Michigan, Newman’s U.S. Army/Haas Automation team posted eight top 10s and five top fives.
“It was just one of those days when nothing seemed to work,” added Newman. “This team is capable of running up front every week. Like our soldiers, we’ll never quit, we’ll just fight harder.”
The good news for the No. 39 Stewart Haas team is that Sunday’s sub par performance only dropped Newman one spot in the Sprint Cup driver point standings. He is currently in fifth place.
“We really wanted to come out and give our sponsor — the U.S. Army — a special birthday present today,” said Newman. “There were a lot of Soldiers here today and we had a fun cake-cutting ceremony before the race to celebrate the Army’s 234th birthday.”
Newman and crew chief Tony Gibson knew the Army car had handling issues following Saturday’s two practice sessions, which prompted a number of setup changes to the Chevy Impala SS.
“We were looking for a better setup, but it didn’t materialize,” explained Newman. “The bottom line is that we didn’t have it together today. We made a number of changes during the race, including a right-rear spring. That wasn’t the ideal thing to do, but it was a good change and we did run a little better after that.”
Though he was struggling on the ultra-fast two-mile oval, Newman still felt he could pull off a top-15 or possibly top-10 finish, but he needed a caution in the late stages of the race.
Following a caution on Lap 151 of 200, Newman’s car became the first one a lap down and in position for the “Lucky Dog” free pass. But the remainder of the race was caution-free, which prevented Newman from returning to the lead lap.
“A caution would have put us back on the lead lap and I am confident that we would have gained in track position,” noted Newman. “We were running better lap times at the end than some of the lead-lap cars. We could have a made a nice move, but the yellow flag wasn’t there when we needed it.”
Newman’s teammate, Tony Stewart, finished seventh and remains first in the driver point standings.
Winning the race on fuel mileage was Mark Martin. Rounding out the top five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.
The next race for the No. 39 Stewart-Haas team is Sunday (June 21) at the Infineon Raceway road course in Sonoma, Calif.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Martin Truex, Jr., is expected to announce next week that he will leave Earhhardt-Ganassi Racing to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Even if Truex bolts, however, EGR President Steve Lauletta said this week that he expects his major sponsor — Bass Pro Shops — to remain with the team.
