Stewart still considering a third team: #14-Tony Stewart met with members of the media, part of the transcript:
STEWART – WHERE ARE YOU ABOUT ADDING A THIRD TEAM TO STEWART-HAAS RACING: “We are definitely open to it for sure. We are interested for sure. We feel like it is a matter of timing, it is everything. I don’t know that something would happen for next year. I think we are getting close to the stage of the season where it may get too late to have that opportunity to add a third car for next year. It is something that at least as a company we feel comfortable with and feel like with the right opportunity, that it is definitely possible.”
Archive for July, 2009
Danica Patrick
Jul 31
Patrick in no hurry to rush decision on future: Danica Patrick is in no hurry to make a decision about her racing future. The IndyCar star is in the final year of her contract with the Andretti-Green Racing team. She has been considering a jump to stock cars and recently toured several NASCAR shops in North Carolina. Chip Ganassi owns NASCAR and IndyCar teams. He said last week Patrick should stay in the open-wheel series because she’s close to making the last step toward a championship. Patrick says she’s not surprised by Ganassi’s position, but that won’t affect her decision.
Lowe’s speedway gone?
Jul 31
Lowe’s tells speedway it won’t renew deal: Lowe’s has decided not to renew its naming-rights deal at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after this year, ending an 11-year relationship that began as the first racetrack naming-rights sponsorship. After more than a year of renewal talks, the home improvement retailer informed Speedway Motorsports Inc., the track’s parent company, of its decision within the last two weeks, industry sources said. The initial 10-year, $35 million deal ran through 2008 and last year the two sides agreed on a one-year extension through 2009 when they could not finalize a long-term deal. Talks continued this year, but the two sides have not been able to reach an agreement. Sources said it’s not inconceivable for Lowe’s to change its mind, given that five months remain on the current deal and the unpredictable nature of the economy, but such a change of heart is considered unlikely. Barring a late agreement with Lowe’s or the signing of a new corporate partner, the track is expected to go back to its former name, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in 2010. Industry sources say that SMI initially came to the table asking for close to $9 million annually, and while that number dropped over the course of their discussions, the two sides could not come together. There were other factors. Lowe’s must also consider its future with driver Jimmie Johnson, who has won three straight Cup championships and stands as the sport’s most dominant figure. The Lowe’s deal with Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports expires at the end of 2010 and those renewal talks are expected to begin later this year. Industry sources say that Lowe’s will be expected to pay a hefty increase to maintain its position as the only primary sponsor on Johnson’s #48 car, which is uncommon in this time of co-primary and “tri-mary” sponsorships on a car. The most expensive sponsorships go for the mid-$20 million range annually. Lowe’s also is navigating the recession, which has struck the home improvement and building sector especially hard. Lowe’s earnings fell 22% in 2008 and 60% in the final quarter of the year.
RPM
Jul 29
RPM downsizing? Sorenson out? UPDATE: Rumors persist that Richard Petty Motorsports will shrink to three cars in the next few weeks, with A.J. Allmendinger moving to the #43 Dodge, replacing Reed Sorenson, and the #44 team being shut down.(Ford Racing)(7-29-2009)
UPDATE: An internet report claiming that Reed Sorenson will be released by Richard Petty Motorsports as part of a downsizing of the team’s Sprint Cup roster appears to be premature. The Ford Racing website reported on rumors that Sorenson will be replaced by former Champ Car star A.J. Allmendinger when Allmendinger’s #44 Dodge is mothballed within the next few weeks. However, a source close to the team - speaking on the condition of anonymity - said today that while the move is being discussed, Sorenson’s release is not yet a done deal. “No one is sure that it’s going to happen,” said the source, “but it’s definitely being talked about. The team is working on the details right now.” If RPM does indeed decide to trim its roster from four cars to three, Allmendinger’s current sponsors would transfer to the #43 Dodge.
Mayffield sued by stepmother
Jul 29
Mayfield sued by stepmother: Lisa Mayfield is seeking damages against her stepson, suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield, for public comments he made in regard to his civil case against NASCAR, according to court documents. Lisa Mayfield is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $10,000, punitive damages in excess of $10,000 and any other “relief as the court may deem just and proper.” The complaint was filed Wednesday in the Iredell County Civil court in Statesville.
ESPN.com
Mayfield vs. NASCAR Trial date - Sept 2010: Jeremy Mayfield’s lawsuit against NASCAR has been set to be heard in a trial jury beginning on Sept. 13, 2010, according to court documents filed on Tuesday. The date was ordered by U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen. Mayfield was suspended by NASCAR on May 9 after testing positive for methamphetamines, a violation of the substance abuse policy. The suspension was lifted by Mullen in June, but reinstated by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals last week. Mayfield contends he did not take methamphetamines and is seeking to be fully reinstated. He also is seeking damages. In its most recent filing seeking that the suspension be permanent as long as the case is pending, NASCAR said it has several witnesses willing to testify that Mayfield took methamphetamines. Attorneys already have filed an affidavit from Mayfield’s stepmother saying Mayfield has taken amphetamines since 1998.
Nascar nationwide COT
Jul 29
NASCAR to run Nationwide COT at Daytona in July; Ford to run Mustang; Image posted: It appears the Nationwide Series version of the Car of Tomorrow will not make its debut until next July at Daytona. NASCAR had hoped to roll out the new car for the series next February, however after meeting Tuesday with Nationwide Series owners at NASCAR’s Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, team owner Rusty Wallace said it was a timing issue. The former Sprint Cup Series champion said, “Most of the teams were concerned about how soon the car would come out and how much would it cost. As the meeting went on it became apparent it won’t come out in Daytona (February) as thought…it’s just too soon.” Wallace felt the majority of the owners thought the car should roll out next July at Daytona and probably no road courses will be involved in 2010. The delay is all about money. “The economy is really killing us right now,” said Wallace. “A lot of it is about cash flow too….it’s all about bringing this thing out at the right time where the teams can afford it and we’ve got time to be prepared.” Wallace suspects the new car could be raced on speedways like Phoenix or Charlotte, however NASCAR has yet to decide where testing will take place. Meanwhile, team owner Kevin Harvick came away from the meeting with a positive feeling. Harvick said, “I think they were open and listened to everyone’s opinion. Obviously NASCAR is in a spot where they have to make a decision for a multitude of scenarios and situations and try to make the best decision for the sport. Obviously from a safety standpoint I think the new cars are good and listening to some of the cup owners talk about what the car has done for them, once they zeroed in on where they needed to be with chassis and things like that, it sounds like the production process is a little bit bette, a little more streamlined than it was before. It’s going to take some time to put that process in place but it looks like they’ve thought it through and we’ll see where it goes.
AND: Mustang is already the most successful single nameplate brand in professional racing history, but it hasn’t competed in NASCAR until now. Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports, made the announcement today that Mustang will debut as part of NASCAR’s “new car” limited rollout in the 2010 Nationwide Series. Ford Racing has gone through the official NASCAR submission and approval process for the new car, and, once templates are finalized, production of Mustang parts will start so teams can build the first cars for testing later this fall., see an image of the car on the 2010 Ford COT page.
AND: Ford Racing Communications Manager Kevin Kennedy told Sirius Speedway Tuesday that the new NASCAR Mustang will be more stock-appearing than the Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, adding that the appearance of the car was at the top of FoMoCo’s wish list. While declining to comment on the direction Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota might make with their versions of the new Nationwide car, Kennedy confirmed that NASCAR would like to make the series a pony-car/musclecar-based platform.
UPDATE: Statement from Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President, Competition: “We had a very productive meeting this morning (Tuesday, July 28) with the team owners from the NASCAR Nationwide Series about the rollout schedule for that series’ new race car. “In the days ahead, we will digest what was discussed today and make a final decision on the rollout for next season with full anticipation of integrating the new car for the entire 2011 schedule.”
McMurray told he is free to ‘look around’ for a ride; to #1 car? Roush Fenway Racing has informed #26=Jamie McMurray he is free to talk to other organizations about next season, team president Geoff Smith said on Sunday. But Smith said that is not an indication Roush doesn’t want the driver of the #26 Ford associated with the organization in 2010. Smith said Roush is willing to move any of its five drivers with sponsorship to partner Yates Racing next season if that would maintain the current Ford stable. He said most of the drivers are willing to do that, understanding they will be in same equipment with the same technology. The problem is convincing sponsors to move to what is perceived as the “B” team. UPS, for example, is committed to keeping David Ragan at Roush. “It’s not moving apples to apples,” Smith said from the garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
NASCAR has mandated that Roush be at the four-car cap by 2010. Roush currently has five drivers, McMurray, Ragan, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. Although Edwards, Kenseth and Biffle signed extensions last season, Smith is not opposed to moving one if that keeps all within the Roush/Yates umbrella. “We would be open to any combination to keep them,” he said. McMurray is considered the most likely to be moved because his contract expires after this season. Smith said it did not make sense in this economic climate to re-sign him to a long-term deal without sponsorship commitment. Crown Royal, which sponsors a portion of races on McMurray’s car, has two years left on its contract. Smith didn’t rule out that could be moved to Kenseth’s car if necessary.
Roush announced earlier this week that DeWalt, Kenseth’s long-term sponsor, will not return in 2010. Smith said sponsorship for that car would be cleared up soon. McMurray avoided conversations with the media on Friday and Saturday. He reportedly has been contacted by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as a candidate to fill the spot being vacated by Martin Truex Jr. in the #1 Chevy.
ESPN
Bush- Johnson make up,
Jul 25
Busch – Johnson make up: #2-Kurt Busch has an excuse for why it took so long for he and #48-Jimmie Johnson to patch things up after a dustup at Chicago two weeks ago: bad cell service. Busch said Friday he hadn’t had a chance before Friday to respond to a text message from Johnson offering to talk after a late-race clash between the two drivers sent Busch to a 17th-place finish at Chicago and left him fuming. The two finally chatted Friday before practice for Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Busch said the two would’ve talked sooner but blamed the lack of communication on a busy schedule
Martin makes histoy at Indy
Jul 25
Martin makes history at the Brickyard: #5-Mark Martin’s lap of 49.436 seconds, 182.054mph for the Allstate 400 made Martin the oldest pole winner of a major event in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history. Martin’s age of 50 years, 197 days old eclipses the previous record set by Cliff Bergere, who was 49 years, 175 days old when he won the pole for the 1946 Indianapolis 500. The previous Allstate 400 at the Brickyard record was set by Jimmy Spencer, when he won the pole at age 44 years, 171 days in 2001. “I like making history; that’s cool,” Martin said. “Yesterday was a lot of fun for me. We struggled through race trim practice and then we went into Q (qualifying) trim and we made improvements. We made three qualifying runs, the last one was about 10 minutes left of practice, (and) we went to the top of the board. You should have seen the light in all my guys’ faces.”