Patrick locked into Daytona 500

It looks like the newest member of the Sprint Cup series will indeed compete in the Great American race, without qualifying. With the help of Stewart - Haas Racing and Tommy Balwin Racing, Danica Patrick will be able to have a spot at Daytona in her No. 10 GoDaddy Chevy. TBR is locked into the first 5 events of the season. Danica will not have to qualify, but other TBR driver Dave Blaney will need to get into the race on speed. Blaney's chances for qualifying into the race are great. He started from the back of the pack last season and was able to race to the front. Also, his best finish last year was 3rd at Talladega. Restrictor-plate tracks are a strong point for TBR.
Patrick herself does extremely well at the super speedways earning her best NASCAR career finish in the Nationwide series at Daytona with a 10th-place finish. Danica has no risk of destroying her much anticipating Sprint Cup debut come the end of February. SHR has not been able to speak out about the arrangement, but Tommy Baldwin has done appearances on the topic over the past few days. 

Keselowski -- Head driver at Penske

Many wouldn't have thought Brad Keselowski would be in the position he is now. A few short years ago he was a young, rookie driver that left people wondering, "Who is this guy?" Not many NASCAR fans knew his name. He started out with disaster in 2011, crashing in the first few races. After a horrific crash while testing at Road Atlanta that left him with a broken ankle everyone thought his season hopes were crushed. The first race after the testing crash and he wins the race. His 2011 season turned around in the blink of an eye. Winning races and even making it into the Chase.

When Kurt Busch ended his relationship with Penske Racing during the silly season it left Keselowski without a teammate. A.J. Allmendinger soon replaced Kurt in the 22 car and Keselowski became the, I guess you could say, veteran driver. Brad has a lot more leadership qualities than you may think.

Thursday during media day at Penske Racing Keselowski proved that he knows what he is talking about. He explained the sponsorship commitments for 2012 and directed photographers and writers to where to go for one-on-one interviews. He modestly said he is not the leader of the team, but can be an important part in the team's success. He also did not exclude new teammate A.J. Allmendinger.
"I have a commanding presence? I'd say Roger's the leader," Keselowski said. "Leadership in racing is tied directly to success. It's my goal to be a co-leader of this team with [new teammate A.J. Allmendinger] or whoever my teammates are. It's very important for us to both be leading and steering the ship."

Penske has noticed Keselowski's ability to lead a team and thinks he is the key to a Sprint Cup Championship this season.
"When I met with Brad the year before he came to drive for us, he came to the shop and said, 'Look, I'd love to come to your organization someday and help you build the best team in the business,'" Penske said. Keselowski is an obvious option for Roger Penske and he believes he has what it takes to be a part of the business side of things.
Roger Penske said Brad was a part of hiring A.J. He also has been a big part in getting other people into the organization. He will get on the phone and tell people how great the team is. Keselowki has helped Penske Racing in many ways over the time he has been there.

Brad Keselowski is not ready to believe that a 2-car team cannot run for the Championship. Yes, Hendrick is one of the most dominate team in NASCAR with 4 cars, but Penske can be just as competitive with 2. He feels no disadvantage from a 4-car team and believes 2-car teams are just as fast and aggressive on the track. Brad says that surrounding yourself with people who tell the truth will make you a better competitor and he says he doesn't necessarily tell people what they want to hear. Penske can already tell Keselowski will go far and can see him developing into a star the sport will remember for a long time.

Childress will run No. 33 for 5 races

Big news was announced at RCR during media week. Richard Childress announced that the 4th car at RCR will run for the first 5 races during the 2012 season. The 33 car was shut down at the end of the 2011 season. Sponsorship pulled back and RCR decided to not run the car. Clint Bowyer was let go and he snatched a ride at Michael Waltrip Racing, replacing David Reutimann, for 2012. The car will not be permanently shut down though. But, who will drive the No. 33 car? Nationwide Championship runner-up Elliott Sadler will pilot the car for the Daytona 500 along with running a full-time Nationwide schedule for RCR. Brendan Gaughan will run at Phoenix, Las Vegas, Bristol and Fontana and also compete in 10 Nationwide and 8 Truck Series races. General Mills, former primary sponsor for Bowyer and the 33, will sponsor Sadler in the Daytona 500. South Point casino, owned by the Gaughan family, will sponsor the other 4 races with Brendan. Kevin Harvick's former crew chief Gil Martin will be the crew chief for both drivers.

Elliott Sadler

This will be Elliott Sadler's first Sprint Cup start since the end of 2010. He was runner-up for the Daytona 500 in 2002 for the Wood Brothers. A fourth driver will be crucial at Daytona giving the team an even number for drafting. Sadler will join teammates Paul Menard, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton.

Brenden Gaughan

Gaughan previously ran a full-time Cup schedule for Penske back in 2004, but has only entered into one race since then. "That's the second chance you normally don't get. I had a great opportunity before, and it didn't work out for us. But to be able to come back with the caliber of Richard Childress Racing is really an opportunity -- I'm kind of pinching myself saying it really came true." said Gaughan on coming back to the Cup series.

Mike Dillon, RCR vice president of competition, said that General Mills came back asking to run the Daytona 500. He said that the No. 33 car is locked into the first 5 races, but could add to that schedule as sponsorship comes.
"Right now we're focused on the five races we have, the sponsorship we have," he said. "Obviously if we had more sponsorship come in, would we run the car further? We most definitely would take a look at that and just see what all it could entail. If it was enough to do it, probably. We don't want to go at it halfway. We want to go at it with a winning effort, and as long as we we're able to do that, yes, we'd probably add [to] it.


Source; NASCAR.com;

Danica Patrick out of Indy 500, into Coke 600

Danica Patrick has been in the media for the past few months ever since she announced she would be switching from IndyCar to NASCAR. She has had a wild and exciting transition from open-wheel to stock cars. Here is a look back at Danica's career in IndyCar and NASCAR.

The GoDaddy driver has raced in IndyCar since 2005 starting out at Rahal Letterman Racing. She became the 4th woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and was just shy of a pole position. Even though she qualified 4th for the 500 it was the highest starting position for a woman driver. In 2007 she signed with Andretti Green Racing and finished 3rd in the Indy 500, highest finish by a woman driver, behind Helio Castroneves and Dan Wheldon. She won her first IndyCar race in 2008 at Twin Ring Moteg for the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race. By 2010 she was continuing to drive for Andretti at the newly named Andretti Motorsports. She also had a limited schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide series at JR Motorsports. Her first NASCAR race was an ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway in 2010. She finished in 6th place. On February 13, 2010 she competed in her first NASCAR Nationwide race at Daytona. She qualified 15th, but finished 35th after she was caught in a 12-car accident. She made history again in 2011 when she finished 4th in the Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series Race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2011 Patrick announced she would be leaving IndyCar to join the NASCAR racing family. On July 7, 2011, Patrick finished 10th in the Subway Jalapeño 250 Nationwide series race at Daytona. She led 13 laps before crashing in a multi-car incident coming to the checkered flag. Danica has showcased amazing talent throughout her racing career in both IndyCar and NASCAR.
Patrick announced at Texas Motor Speedway that she will race a limited Sprint Cup schedule for Stewart-Haas Racing in the #10 car. She will race a full-time Nationwide schedule for JR Motorsports in the #7 car. Both will be sponsored by GoDaddy.com. Greg Zipadelli will be her crew chief for Sprint Cup and Tony Erwin Jr. will crew chief her Nationwide car.

Danica recently announced that she will be in Charlotte come Memorial Day weekend, not Indianapolis. Instead of competing in the Indy 500, a race she has competed in since 2005, she will race the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Business was not able to be worked out for her to compete in the 500. There was no deal to be made for the former IndyCar driver.

"I'm going to do the Coke 600 this year, I'm not doing the Indy 500," Patrick said. "I hope to do it in the future, and maybe it'll be a double. But at this time, after a lot of conversations, it's just going to be the Coke 600."

"As far as the business side of things, it didn't work out," Patrick said. "Again, I'm hopeful to do it again in the future, but for this year, it just didn't happen."

I hope to see Danica race open-wheel again and I think she should definitely race in that series again even if it is only the Indy 500. I also hope to see her succeed in stock cars and I believe she will do well as she starts a new chapter in her life, pursuing her NASCAR career.

Top 5: 2012 Championship Predictions

Well, it's almost that time of year again --- and I'm not talking about the Superbowl. The Daytona 500 in a mere 37 days away (not that I am counting or anything.) I thought since the new season is starting up that I would share my 2012 Sprint Cup Championship thoughts. I know it may be hard to top the end of 2011 with the remarkable season ending tie between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, but I feel that 2012 will be one of the best seasons in NASCAR. Here is who I think 2012 will crown it's champion.

  

1. Carl Edwards    
 After a disappointing ending to 2011 Carl kept it all together and showed the most class any driver has in this sport. Carl's personality will light up the room, or pit road I guess. Carl has so much talent in a race car and I predict he will win many championships in years to come, he is a true champion. With a new primary sponsor, Fastenal, I think Carl will win many races and have a shot at winning the Sprint Cup. He is the master at consistency and after last year's performance I think this is Carl's year. They say that the runner-up doesn't have a successful year the next season, but I think Carl has got what it takes to win.

2. Kasey Kahne     
I know, you may be thinking "Kasey?" Well, he did only win 1 race in 2011, but after all he is beginning a new season with a new team. May I add that it's the best team in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports. The 2011 Kahne we saw wasn't all he has to offer. Red Bull was caught in the middle of shutting down the team in NASCAR and the equipment wasn't anything compared to the Hendrick machine Kahne will drive in 2012. I know Kasey has a lot of talent and he just needs the right cars to show it off. I think Kasey Kahne has what it takes to be a Chase contender. Maybe I am rushing it and should give him a year at Hendrick to figure it all out, but Kasey has what it takes to win a lot of races.

 3. Jimmie Johnson     
Yes, he is a 5-time champion and I don't think it's the end of his reign yet. He and Chad Knaus have chemistry like no other driver-crew chief relationship. They shocked fans last season when there were not performing like they usually do, winning races and leading the point standings. Jimmie Johnson only won one race in 2011, the first time in his career. The woes of 2011 will not stop the 48 team from being competitive in 2012. They are going to turn around and come out stronger for 2012 and maybe win a sixth championship.

4. Kevin Harvick  
The Closer will definitely be "closing" in on the championship in 2012. Ok, that was corny, but I do believe Harvick won't give up until he is holding up that Sprint Cup at the season finale. Harvick is long over-due for a first championship. He wins enough races, but can never reach the top of the points chart. After selling Kevin Harvick Inc. a weight is lifted off his shoulders and he can focus 100% on the Cup series. This is going to be a good year for the 29 team and Harvick will be right up there come Homestead. 

5. Denny Hamlin     
Let's put 2010 behind us and focus on 2012. Denny may have lost the championship in '10, but that was 2 years ago. Hamlin has grown as a driver and has had a year to recover. After having the glory taken away from him by Johnson, Hamlin will come back in 2012 and dominate. JGR suffered with blown engines and bad luck last season and all that will be resolved in 2012 and all 3 will have successful years. Denny was so close in 2010 and I think 2012 will be the year he finally is competitive enough to race for the trophy.




Mentionable contenders:

Kyle Busch: He had a rough season full of set-backs. Penalties and what not. Kyle focuses on the Nationwide and Truck series' so much that he can't always focus on Cup each weekend. But, he has tremendous talent that allows him to win races and possibly win a championship, but I feel like there will be bumps in the road to the championship
  
Tony Stewart: He won the 2011 championship, but can he repeat it? Stewart had an awful beginning to 2011, but was able to turn that around as we all know. I know he will win races in 2012 for sure, but maybe not a back-to-back championship. We may see Stewart-Haas Racing win another Sprint Cup, but give them a year or two.

A.J Allmendinger:
I though 2011 was going to be the year A.J. won his first race, but it never happened. 2012 is offering so much for the former Champ Car driver. A new team with a new crew chief. After Kurt Busch left Penske, A.J right away hired to fill the empty spot at the famous team owned by Roger Penske. Hats off to A.J. I know he will succeed in 2012.

Write it down in your calenders, February 26th starts the 2012 season! I can't wait to see if anyone can top last year's Daytona 500 and who the first-time winners will be. Who will be in victory lane come November? We'll have to wait and see.
So long friends, I'll see you in Daytona!

Busch Brothers to share Nationwide ride

Kyle Busch's Nationwide and Truck team, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today that Monster Energy will sponsor the No. 54 car at KBM. The multi-year agreement with Monster will be a primary sponsor for the year. The Busch brothers, Kyle and Kurt, will split the number of races. Kyle will race the season-opener at Daytona and 4 races through Fontana before Kurt will start to split the schedule. Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will lead the No. 54 team throughout the whole season.

Kyle Busch is the defending leading for most Nationwide wins with 51. He passed Mark Martin's record of 50 during the 2011 season. With 222 starts and 2 owner's championships in the series Kyle's newborn team should have high advantages.

Kurt Busch has 12 starts in the series with 3 wins. He will get extra seat time in the Nationwide series competing in select races for his Sprint Cup team Phoenix Racing. His most recent win at Watkins Glen last season.

Mike Beam, crew chief for the KBM duo has won several races in this career in the 3 different touring series'. At a young age he became a successful contributor to many high level communities including Petty Enterprises and Roush Fenway Racing. He currently has 10 wins, 32 top-fives, 37 top-10s and eight poles in 48 starts as crew chief. His most recent championship came in 2011 winning an owners' championship with Roush.

"I am excited to join the KBM team and to have Monster Energy as our sponsor," Beam said. "Kyle and Kurt are two of the best drivers in NASCAR. To contend for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series owners' championship with Monster Energy and to have all of the elements in place that make a great team, you can not help being excited to be a part of this."

Photo courtesy; Kyle Busch FB Page

Ryan Blaney joins dad at Tommy Baldwin Racing

Ryan Blaney, son of Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney, will get behind the wheel of the #36 SealWrap Repair Tape Chevy car in the Nationwide series for 6 races. His debut race will be at Richmond on April 27th. He will also compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro series this season in the family-owned No. 10 car with the same sponsor, SealWrap. Last season Blaney made 3 starts in the Pro East & West series winning his first NASCAR victory in this 3rd start at Phoenix. He also won the 2011 PASS South Championship and did well in the ARCA series.

Ryan Blaney said it's a great opportunity to advance in his career. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to run a mix of K&N and Nationwide races this season," Blaney said. "We were really competitive in the K&N Series last year, and I think we will be even more competitive this year. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to win all six races. We will have good equipment racing with TBR. It will be great to race with and learn from the Nationwide guys. To be able to race on bigger tracks will be a good learning experience, too. I'm grateful that SealWrap is supporting my progression in NASCAR and really excited to work with them throughout the season."

Ryan's 2012 Nationwide schedule:
Richmond (April 27)
Darlington (May 11)
Kentucky (June 29)
Indianapolis (July 28)
Bristol (Aug. 24)
Charlotte (Oct. 12).

Pro Series Schedule:
Bristol (March 17)
Richmond (April 26)
Iowa (May 19 and Aug. 3)
Dover (Sept. 28)
Phoenix (Nov. 10).


Source ; NASCAR.com

David Ragan lands a Cup ride

David Ragan got his first taste of victory in the Cup series last season, winning the famous Coca-Cola 600 at Daytona International Speedway. He got his well deserved win after a devastating Daytona 500 when he got black flagged, leading the last few laps of the race. Trevor Bayne went on to win a surprising 500. Ragan was never able to put that behind him. Then, when July came around he finally got his first Cup win.

The season didn't continue in victory bliss. He was told that his primary sponsor UPS wouldn't be returning to the #6 Ford in 2012. He soon found himself without sponsorship with one of the biggest teams in NASCAR, Roush Fenway Racing. The team continued to look for sponsorship before Daytona testing.

They were not able to find the sponsorship they needed to be competative at the Cup level. He was let go by Jack Roush and was left without a ride.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took over the 6 car for Daytona testing and will pilot it in the Daytona 500, leaving Ragan out of the famous season-opening race in 2012.

When all hope was lost for the Georgian, he announced Monday that he will drive for Front Row Motorsports in the 2012 season. He will drive the #34 car, previously driven by David Gilliland. Ragan will replace Gilliland's former team mate Travid Kvapil. Gilliland will switch numbers and drive the No. 38. Ragan will be in the Daytona 500 this year, but with a different number painted on the side of his Ford. Starting a brand new year, with a brand new team.

Carl Edwards will not be in Nationwide this season

Carl Edwards dominated the Nationwide series in 2011. We won almost every race in that division last season. After NASCAR changed the rules for 2011 and drivers were not able to compete for 2 championships in different series' Edwards' goal for 2011 was diminished. He continued in the Nationwide series anyways and went to have a very successful year. Carl recently said a few things about his schedule in 2012.

"The way we're approaching this season is, I'm not committing to any races right now," Edwards said. "And as the season goes, if I decide I'm just a nervous ball of energy on Saturdays and I can't function without going and racing -- because that might be the case -- then we'll work to try to go [Nationwide] racing. I'm hoping this lets me focus more on the Cup car, lets me be a better Cup racer by maybe having more time during the race weekend to maybe hone the setups in."

After Carl's disappointing end to 2011 losing what would have been his first championship in a tiebreaker to 3-time champ Tony Stewart he wants to make up for it in 2012.  But, the season finale wasn't all bad, he was able to win the owner's championship for Roush.
He says that with his lighter schedule he will be able to spend time with his family and we able to relax more. He is a race car driver though and if he gets anxious to race on Saturdays he may pick up where he left off in the Nationwide series.

There are definitely perks to racing in both series'.
"Truly I learned so many things in that Nationwide car that it's a real toss up whether or not it'll help the [Cup] performance on Sunday," Edwards said. "I've made some big mistakes on Saturday that helped me not to make them on Sunday."
Whatever you decide Carl, your fans will continue to support you wherever you go.

Carl Edwards' Nashville win in the N'wide series 2011

Daytona Testing Results Day 1

Daytona Testing Results Day 2

Daytona Testing Results Day 3

Rusty Wallace closes team's doors

Rusty Wallace made one of the most difficult decisions any owner could make last Friday. Rusty Wallace Racing has shut its doors. The 2-car Nationwide team ran out of money and lost their biggest sponsor. 5-hour Energy will move to higher ranks in the Cup series for Michael Waltrip Racing on Clint Bowyer's 15 car next season. RWR team business members are staying to look for sponsorship possibilities. Michael Annett was let go to look for any rides with his family sponsor Pilot Flying J. Steve Wallace, son of Rusty Wallace, is being assisted by the team to find a ride. Although they are not racing in 2012 doesn't mean they are gone for good. They plan to take a break and refocus for future seasons.
Rusty Wallace said in a statement, "One of the hardest parts of this decision was knowing the impact that it would have on our employees and their families. It's just the unfortunate reality that our sport is facing right now. We wish all of our employees the very best in the future."
RWR isn't the only team to suffer a sponsorship, Roush Fenway lost UPS as a sponsor for the No. 6 car of David Ragan and Red Bull pulled out as a sponsor and a team.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to run Daytona 500

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a tough year in 2010 when he was benched by Jack Roush for his lousy performance. 2011 offered much more for the 24-year-old driver from Mississippi. He won a total of 2 Nationwide races and won the 2011 Nationwide Series Championship in the No. 6 car.
Stenhouse Jr. is going to be competing in to Daytona 500 this February. Although the car lacks a sponsor Ricky Stenhouse will be making his 2nd Sprint Cup start in the No. 6 car. David Ragan, driver of the #6 car, lost UPS as a sponsorship at the end of last season and will not claim the ride this year.
Stenhouse Jr. will participate in the Daytona testing next week along with the other Sprint Cup drivers and Roush teammate Trevor Bayne. Ironically Bayne won the Daytona 500 this year during his 2nd Sprint Cup start and this year it will be Ricky Stenhouse's 2nd Cup start. Maybe we will be seeing the No. 6 car in victory lane?

Trevor Bayne with Wood Brothers for 2012!

Trevor Bayne will continue to drive the #21 car for Woods Brothers Racing. At 20 years-old he won the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, in the 21 Woods Brothers car last season (2011). He will drive select races in the Cup series for the Wood Brothers and continue to drive for a championship in the Nationwide series for RFR. He got his first Nationwide win at Texas in 2011 in the #16 Roush Fenway Ford.

Cole Whitt replaces Almirola at JRM

20-year-old Cole Whitt is just getting his name out there. Whitt is moving from Trucks to Nationwide next season. The former Red Bull driver has been offered a position at JR Motorsports in the 88 car. Almirola, who recently signed with RPM, drove the 88 in the Nationwide series, finishing 4th in the Championship standings, in 2011. Cole Whitt will also be eligible for the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year award in 2012. In 2011 Whitt earned one pole, 2 top-fives and 11 top-10's. He is considered the sport's next rising star.
“He’s got raw, untapped talent, but we are most impressed with his ambition. I sought advice and input from people I respect in the industry, and the overwhelming consensus was that Cole has the potential to do great things in this sport." says team co-owner and Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. 
Cole Whitt will be teammates with Danica Patrick, starting her first full-time NASCAR season next year in to No. 7 car, and Dale Earnhardt Jr who will drive "select races" in the No. 5. All 3 cars will race at Daytona on Feb. 25th.

Aric Almirola into the No. 43

We all thought it would be David Ragan in the seat of the No. 43 come Daytona testing, but that's not the case. JPM Nationwide driver Aric Almirola announced that he will be driving the legendary 43 car in 2012 on Wednesday. With 73 starts and 1 win in the Nationwide series he is moving up the ranks. He has 35 starts in the Cup series and he is ecstatic to drive the famous 43 car.
"One of the things I am most excited about is to have the chance to drive a car as iconic as the No. 43," Almirola said. "There is so much history surrounding that number and to have my name above the door will be really special for me."
 RPM is on the verge of becoming a Chase contending team in the series and Almirola will continue that stride to the top. How cool would it be for Richard Petty to win another championship with his team?  Almirola will be teamed with crew chief Greg Erwin.
Aric Almirola started at Joe Gibbs Racing as a member of the Reggie White Drive for Diversity program. In 2005 he had his debut in the Truck Series and drove for JGR's Nationwide team in 2006. He also drove a part-time schedule in Cup for Dale Earnhardt Inc. before moving back to Trucks in 2008. He has drove for JRM in Nationwide since then.
Even though I am disappointed not seeing David Ragan drive the 43 for RPM I think Aric Almirola is a good match for the team. He has a ton of experience and I think he is a possible winner (perhaps a Chase contender) in the Cup series.

David Reutimann joins Tommy Baldwin Racing

David Reutimann, former MWR driver of the #00 car, joined Tommy Baldwin Racing for the 2012 season. Dave Blaney drives for Tommy Baldwin too and did a good job in 2011 to be consistent and try to drive to the front. Tommy Baldwin himself will be Reutimann's crew chief for 2012.
Reutimann was recently released from Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of the 2011 NASCAR season. Reutimann has 2 Sprint Cup victories. He is also talking about doing some races in the Camping World Truck Series. There are no details on this yet.
Unfortunately Golden Corral dropped out on sponsorship for Dave Blaney leaving both Reutimann and Blaney without sponsors. Daytona testing starts on the 12th of January through the 14th.


"Tommy would be a success no matter what he chose to do, but he's a racer. Some team owners would race and make money, but a racer comes up with money so he can go race, and that's Tommy Baldwin. He wants to come up with the money so he can go and be competitive, and to me that's the definition of a racer." - David Reutimann