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.”
Jeff Gordon still having back problems: #24-Jeff Gordon says he has decided not to have a second procedure to deal with an achy back and instead will try to deal with the pain. Gordon said Saturday during qualifying for Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that the first procedure didn’t help much and he doesn’t see the point in having another injection of anti-inflammatory medication. Gordon has been dealing with a sore back for several months but ruled out surgery because it was too invasive. Instead he will continue to focus on a series of stretching exercises and physical training in hopes the condition will improve.
Could this lead to a early retirement for the nascar champ?
UPDATE: With #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth and #16-Greg Biffle all signed to long term contracts, multiple sources say that #6-David Ragan will be the fourth driver at the team next year. “Absolutely, I can confirm that David Ragan will be driving for UPS in the #6 Roush Fenway car,” said Zak Brown, CEO of Just Marketing International, which handles the UPS marketing account. According to NASCAR rules, RFR has to downsize from five to four teams by the end of this year. #26-Jamie McMurray, the fifth driver at RFR, is likely headed across the street from the Roush shop to Yates Racing, which is a satellite organization of RFR. However, another option appears to be a reunion with former boss Chip Ganassi.
Ganassi plans to fill #1 ride: Chip Ganassi, co-owner of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, on replacing Martin Truex Jr., who is leaving the #1 Bass Pro Chevy for Michael Waltrip Racing next year: “We’re going to fill it. Everything’s fine. I’m not going out of business. We’re going to have two cars (next year). You guys always ask silly questions. I wish I had great answers for you. I’m unable to make things up. All I can tell you is we’re fine. We’re talking to a few guys, and I’ll tell you in due time.. .. I’m a bit of a gambler in that sense. I don’t feel the need to announce my plans July 1 like a lot of people do. I’m not going to be dragged into that. We’re going to make the best decision at the right time. We’re on my calendar. I’m not on anybody else’s calendar
Earnhardt Jr. fighting stomach virus: #88-But Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t let two days of fever, IVs and nausea keep him out of Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We didn’t have to dial 911,” Earnhardt said after qualifying third on Saturday. “I had a stomach virus pop up late Thursday night and was throwing up and all that good stuff all the way up until 5 o’clock in the morning [Friday]. I came here and got a couple of IVs early in the afternoon. I broke my fever about 8 o’clock yesterday morning. The fever came back last night but I broke it again. I’ve just been sweating a lot and probably will get some more fluids this afternoon after practice.” Earnhardt still will have Brad Keselowski, who drives for him in the Nationwide Series, on hand as a backup driver. Keselowski, who was scheduled to take a couple of practice laps in Earnhardt’s Cup car, is competing at nearby O’Reilly Raceway Park in Saturday night’s Nationwide race. “I doubt we’ll need it,” Earnhardt said. “I did that basically to be safe. The only thing I have to worry about is being hydrated from here on out. I feel tons better. That stomach virus was the worst thing I experienced in my life. I used to think sore throats were the worst aggravatingest thing. I’m not a very big fan of stomach viruses now.
Goodyear, drivers happy with Indy tire: Any lingering concerns about tires again making a mockery of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard were put to rest Friday during two hour-long practice sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Goodyear was embarrassed a year ago when rapid tire wear produced a race run in short stints between mandatory cautions that resulted in a race-record 52 of 160 laps under caution. After seven visits to the Speedway for more than 13,000 miles of testing, Goodyear saw the results it was hoping for Friday. Goodyear’s Greg Stucker admitted to a “few butterflies” as the day began, but they quickly flew away as it became clear NASCAR’s 16th visit to the Speedway would not be a repeat of the 15th. “Everything we’ve seen we’re very happy with,” said Stucker, expressing complete confidence that Sunday’s race will go off without a hitch. “There was a little apprehension, but it settled when we saw the track rubber in so quickly.
UPDATE: Don’t believe the latest that has Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates partnering with Joe Gibbs Racing, making Juan Pablo Montoya JGR’s fourth driver with Target as the sponsor. Not that there hasn’t been some conversation looking at that as a possible marriage. There are conversations between almost every organization about almost everything these days. But this one hasn’t been talked about enough to warrant it as a substantial rumor. It likely never will be. Ganassi is under the umbrella of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with its partnership with DEI, and he’s happy with that relationship. “We have an affiliation now,” he said Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We have an affiliation with Earnhardt with EGR [and] with Childress [Richard Childress Racing]. I’m very happy with that. Knock on wood. We’ve had no issues. The idea of what we put together at the end of the season last year, it’s been mission accomplished.
Ganassi: Danica should stay in the IRL: Chip Ganassi doesn’t believe Danica Patrick should leave the IndyCar Series after this season to pursue a full-time ride in NASCAR. “Her IndyCar career, she’s about to make a step in that career if she decides to stay there,” Ganassi said before Friday’s Sprint Cup practice for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “She’s got one more step to make, and that’s it. As much as I love what’s going on here this weekend, my counsel to her is she’s pretty close to making that last step in IndyCar racing and she could easily do that in the next three or four or five years and still be able to do this.” Ganassi owns five teams between the IndyCar and Sprint Cup series, having won the Indianapolis 500 three times. He acknowledged talking to Patrick — whose contract with Andretti Green expires after this season — about driving for him in IndyCar. “If she wanted to do NASCAR on a full-time basis I would suggest there are better places for her to go and do it with [than Earnhardt Ganassi Racing],” said Ganassi, who is returning to the track for the first time in a month after undergoing eye surgery. “I don’t think our team is in position to do that.” There has been speculation that Patrick could compete in a handful of Nationwide or Cup events after the IndyCar season. EGR does not have a full-time Nationwide program, which many believe Patrick must compete in for a year or two before making the move to Cup. Ganassi characterized his talks with Patrick, who finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 two months ago, as being on the pace lap level. “She’s on the market right now and she’s ready to make the next step in her career, wherever that takes her,” he said. “I wish I could tell you I’m a lot further down the road on that. The fact of the matter is, like most of the other teams, we’re in the top of the first inning on that.”