Looking Ahead To The 500 (23 Days)

HacheMan · Jan 21, 2010

Looking Ahead: 23 to the 500
During the off-season, Anthony Ballantoni and Rotoworld.com keep you up-to-date on what's happening with NASCAR. Looking Ahead gives a snapshot of driver moves, new teams, new sponsors and other general NASCAR news. With 23 days to go until the 2010 season-opening Daytona 500, here are some recent updates.

Cup team updates:

- Four NASCAR veterans – Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Sam Hornish Jr., and Martin Truex Jr. – assisted Goodyear with testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Jan. 12) where Martin posted the fastest lap with a time 29.938 (185.183). Martin's time of 29.938 seconds was faster than Truex, Jr.'s qualifying lap of 30.106 (184.149 mph) for September's Pep Boys Auto 500. He nearly matched his pole-winning performance for last March's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he posted a 29.640 (187.045).
- Richard Childress Racing has extended its partnership agreement with BB&T Corporation to be primary sponsor for eight races and the all-star race and a major associate sponsor of Clint Bowyer's No. 33 Chevrolet Impala for the remaining 28 races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
- Dollar General will serve as primary sponsor for five races throughout the 2010 season, including Daytona (February), Atlanta (March), Chicagoland (July), Indianapolis (July) and Charlotte (October) on the Braun Racing No. 32 Toyota. Reed Sorenson, who drives the No. 32 Dollar General Camry on a limited basis in the Nationwide Series, has been named as the driver.
- Air Force officials begin the 10th year of sponsorship in the NASCAR Cup Series by renewing the partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2010 season. For this year's sponsorship, representatives of Richard Petty Motorsports have chosen the No. 19 car driven by Elliott Sadler, a top-25 finisher in the (Sprint) Cup series, to represent the Air Force. As an associate sponsor, the Air Force will feature the dark blue paint scheme on the No. 19 car in five of 37 NASCAR races this season.
- Four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was named the National Motorsports Press Association Richard Petty Driver of the Year. Johnson accepted the award from Petty during the NMPA's annual convention. The award added to a long list of honors this year for Johnson, who last month was named Male Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.
-NASCAR has not yet given Kevin Conway approval to race a Cup car at Daytona International Speedway since he has no restrictor-plate starts in any of the three NASCAR national touring series and none in the Automobile Racing Club of America.
- Joe Gibbs and his son, JGR president J.D. Gibbs, announced that they had signed Kyle Busch to a long-term contract extension. No one was saying exactly how long the deal is, but J.D. Gibbs confirmed it was a "multi-year deal for less than seven and more than three" years, leading everyone to believe it would keep the band together for at least the next four years and possibly six.
- BAM Racing announced that David Gilliland will drive the No. 49 Warner Music Nashville/Larry the Cable Guy Toyota Camry at the 2010 Daytona 500. Gilliland has 118 starts in the Sprint Cup Series and has completed 29,875 laps. Throughout his career, superspeedways have proven to be one of the most competitive and successful track formations for Gilliland.
- Front Row Motorsports announced that they will enter a third full-time Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team will enter the No.. 38 Ford for drivers David Gilliland and Robert Richardson Jr. Gilliland will drive the Ford Fusion for the majority of the season with Taco Bell colors. Richardson Jr. will race the No. 38 Mahindra USA Tractors Ford in the Daytona 500, the Aaron's 499 in April at Talladega Superspeedway and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July.
- Wood Brothers Racing will once again run a part-time Sprint Cup schedule with driver Bill Elliott. Elliott, the 1988 Cup champion, will enter the same 12 events as 2008 when the team cut back to a partial schedule. Elliott's No. 21 Ford will have primary sponsorship from Motorcraft and Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers in all 12 events.
- Keyed-Up Motorsports named Casey Mears as driver of the No. 90 Chevy Impala. Mears has competed at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level since 2003 and finished the 2009 season at Richard Childress Racing. He is the nephew of four time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and the son of Indy and off-road veteran Roger Mears. Crew chief for the new team will be Doug Richert.

Nationwide Series updates:

- Baker Curb Racing hired Brad Parrott to be the crew chief on the team's No. 27 Red Man Moist Snuff Ford Fusion which will be driven by Greg Biffle in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season. The announcement reunites Parrott and Biffle, who in 2004 as a driver/crew chief tandem finished third in the Nationwide Series point standings, collecting five wins, two poles and 21 top-10 finishes in 34 races.
- MacDonald Motorsports has signed Michael McDowell to pilot the No. 81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge in the NNS for 2010. McDowell, who finished 13th in the NNS standings in 2009, has permanently joined a transformed MacDonald Motorsports effort that features a new race shop, new race cars, a new crew chief. Patrick Donahue, a face familiar to McDowell, will take the reigns as crew chief of the No. 81 Dodge. Donahue was the crew chief for McDowell in the ARCA Series in 2007 when McDowell scored Rookie of the Year honors on the heels of a four-win, nine-pole season.
- Paul Menard, who will be driving for Richard Petty Motorsports on the Sprint Cup side in 2010, will be behind the wheel for the full 2010 Nationwide Series schedule in a Roush Fenway Racing entry. This will mark Menard's first full-time Nationwide season since 2006. He will join fellow-two series full-timer Edwards and Nationwide Rookie of the Year candidates Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Roush Fenway Nationwide Series stable.
- CitiFinancial to sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 6 Ford Fusion for 18 races in 2010. It will be the associate sponsor for the remaining events on the schedule.
- Bill Wilburn, who has been a Cup crew chief at Penske Racing, Yates Racing and Petty Enterprises, has been named crew chief of the Nationwide Series car driven by Braun Racing's Brian Scott this year. Most recently, Wilburn was crew chief for Ricky Carmichael at Kevin Harvick Inc.
- James Buescher will compete full-time for Phoenix Racing, piloting the No. 1 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Chevrolet in the NNS. In addition to the 35-race schedule for NASCAR's second-tier series, Buescher will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports, LLC in a minimum of 19 Truck Series events.
- Ruby Tuesday will serve as primary sponsor for six races on the No. 22 Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski. The specific races have yet to be determined, but the No. 22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge is expected to make its debut as primary sponsor at the Richmond International Raceway race on April 30. Ruby Tuesday will be an associate sponsor of the team for the remaining 2010 Nationwide Series races.

Camping World Truck Series updates:

- Champion crew chief Trip Bruce has joined Stringer Motorsports to lead Brad Sweet in the Truck Series for the 2010 season. In 2004, Bruce got his first job as a crew chief when he joined Ultra Motorsports to lead their No. 2 entry in the Truck Series. Under Bruce's leadership, the team posted one pole and three wins with Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.
- SS Green Light Racing announced that veteran NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jason White will pilot the team's No. 23 Dodge Ram for the full 2010 NCWTS season beginning at Daytona International Speedway on February 12th. Long-time supporter GunBroker.com will sponsor White. The No. 23 team will run primarily Dodge trucks throughout the 2010 season.
- Kyle Busch Motorsports hired Eric Phillips and Dan Stillman as crew chiefs for KBM's two entries in the Camping World Truck Series. Phillips will head up the No. 18 Toyota, which will be driven by team owner Kyle Busch and Brian Ickler. Stillman will serve as crew chief on the No. 56 Toyota, which will be driven full-time by 20-year-old Tayler Malsam.
- Ray Hackett Racing signed Travis Sharpe as crew chief and manager of the team's #76 Ford F-150. Sharpe is a veteran of the truck series and has spent the last few years building his own race team (Racing Dynamiks) into a successful business. The team also welcomed Sears Sand and Gravel of Gloucester, VA as primary sponsor for the season opening Daytona race on February 12th. Ray Hackett Racing currently plans to run the entire season if funding continues to fall in place with driver Ryan Hackett behind the wheel of the #76.

Previously reported Sprint Cup updates(01-10-10):
- Front Row Motorsports will run under the Ford Motorsports banner in 2010 with Travis Kvapil driving the No. 34 with Steven Lane as his crew chief.
- Kevin Conway will pilot the Front Row Motorsports No. 37 Ford in 2010 with a crew chief to be named later.
- Furniture Row Racing filled three key positions as it prepares to run a full Cup schedule in 2010 with driver Regan Smith. Ryan Coniam (crew chief), Mark McArdle (director of competition) and Pete Rondeau (car chief) the No. 78 Chevrolet Impala.
- NASCAR Truck Series Veteran Driver Terry Cook will be driving in the Sprint Cup Series this season in the No. 46 Whitney Motorsports Dodge.
- Aric Almirola is in the No. 09 Phoenix Racing car in 2010. Almirola said he also plans to run a Billy Ballew Motorsports truck in select races this year.

Previously reported Sprint Cup updates(12-27-09):
- Jimmie Johnson, the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles, was honored as the Male Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press. Johnson is the first race car driver to be named the AP's Athlete of the Year in its 78-year history.
- Penske Racing announced that Steve Addington will head up the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge team with driver Kurt Busch.
Previously reported Sprint Cup updates(12-12-09):
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was awarded his seventh consecutive NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award.
- Mike Bliss will pilot the No. 36 race car for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2010.
- Slugger Labbe will be the crew chief for Paul Menard and the #98 Menard's Ford in 2010.
- Doug Randolph will take the reins as the new crew chief for Bobby Labonte and the No. 71 Sprint Cup Series team.
Previously reported Sprint Cup updates(11-29-09):
- Martin Truex, Jr. will drive the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 56 NAPA Toyota; Waltrip will run a limited schedule in 2010 and drive the No. 55 Toyota.
-Earnhardt Ganassi Racing hired Jamie McMurray to drive the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet for the 2010 NSCS season.
- Donnie Wingo named crew chief of the No. 6 UPS team with driver David Ragan.

This is the tentative Sprint Cup lineup for 2010 so far:
<TABLE border=2 bgColor=#eff2f7><TBODY><TR><TH colSpan=6>2010 Sprint Cup Lineup - Full-time teams(Tentative)</TH><TR><TD>Car <TD>Driver <TD>Sponsor <TD>Make <TD>Owner</TD></TR><TR><TD>00 <TD>David Reutimann <TD>Aaron's <TD>Toyota <TD>Michael Waltrip</TD></TR></TR><TR><TD>09 <TD>Aric Almirola <TD>?? <TD>?? <TD>Phoenix Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>1 <TD>Jamie McMurray <TD>Bass Pro Shops <TD>Chevr <TD>Earnhardt Ganassi</TD></TR><TR><TD>2 <TD>Kurt Busch <TD>Miller Lite <TD>Dodge <TD>Penske Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>5 <TD>Mark Martin <TD>GoDaddy.com <TD>Chevr <TD>Hendrick</TD></TR><TR><TD>6 <TD>David Ragan <TD>UPS <TD>Ford <TD>Roush Fenway</TD></TR><TR><TD>7 <TD>Robby Gordon <TD>?? <TD>Toyota <TD>RG Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>9 <TD>Kasey Kahne <TD>Budweiser <TD>Ford <TD>Richard Petty</TD></TR><TR><TD>11 <TD>Denny Hamlin <TD>FedEx <TD>Toyota <TD>Joe Gibbs</TD></TR><TR><TD>12 <TD>Brad Keselowski <TD>Verizon <TD>Dodge <TD>Penske Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>14 <TD>Tony Stewart <TD>Office Depot <TD>Chevr <TD>Stewart Haas</TD></TR><TR><TD>16 <TD>Greg Biffle <TD>3M/DISH <TD>Ford <TD>Roush Fenway</TD></TR><TR><TD>17 <TD>Matt Kenseth <TD>Crown Royal <TD>Ford <TD>Roush Fenway</TD></TR><TR><TD>18 <TD>Kyle Busch <TD>M&M's <TD>Toyota <TD>Joe Gibbs</TD></TR><TR><TD>19 <TD>Elliott Sadler <TD>Stanley Tools <TD>Ford <TD>Richard Petty</TD></TR><TR><TD>20 <TD>Joey Logano <TD>Home Depot <TD>Toyota <TD>Joe Gibbs</TD></TR><TR><TD>24 <TD>Jeff Gordon <TD>DuPont <TD>Chevr <TD>Hendrick</TD></TR><TR><TD>26 <TD>?? <TD>?? <TD>Ford <TD>Latitude 43</TD></TR><TR><TD>29 <TD>Kevin Harvick <TD>Shell/Pennzoil <TD>Chevr <TD>Richard Childress</TD></TR><TR><TD>31 <TD>Jeff Burton <TD>Caterpillar <TD>Chevr <TD>Richard Childress</TD></TR><TR><TD>33 <TD>Clint Bowyer <TD>Cheerios/BB&T <TD>Chevr <TD>Richard Childress</TD></TR><TR><TD>34 <TD>Travis Kvapil <TD>?? <TD>Ford <TD>Front Row Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>36 <TD>Mike Bliss <TD>Wave Energy Drink <TD>Chevr <TD>Tommy Baldwin Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>37 <TD>Kevin Conway <TD>ExTenZe <TD>Ford <TD>Front Row Motorsports</TD></TR></TR><TR><TD>38 <TD>Robert Richardson Jr. <TD>Mahindra USA Tractors <TD>Ford <TD>Front Row Motorsports</TD></TR></TR><TR><TD>38 <TD>David Gilliland <TD>Taco Bell <TD>Ford <TD>Front Row Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>39 <TD>Ryan Newman <TD>U.S. Army <TD>Chevr <TD>Stewart Haas</TD></TR><TR><TD>42 <TD>Juan Pablo Montoya <TD>?? <TD>Chevr <TD>Earnhardt Ganassi</TD></TR><TR><TD>43 <TD>AJ Allmendinger <TD>Best Buy <TD>Ford <TD>Richard Petty</TD></TR><TR><TD>46 <TD>Terry Cook <TD>?? <TD>Dodge <TD>Whitney Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>47 <TD>Marcos Ambrose <TD>Little Debbies <TD>Toyota <TD>JTG Daugherty</TD></TR><TR><TD>48 <TD>Jimmie Johnson <TD>Lowe's <TD>Chevr <TD>Hendrick</TD></TR><TR><TD>56 <TD>Martin Truex Jr. <TD>NAPA <TD>Toyota <TD>Michael Waltrip</TD></TR><TR><TD>66 <TD>?? <TD>?? <TD>Toyota <TD>Prism Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>71 <TD>Bobby Labonte <TD>TaxSlayer.com <TD>?? <TD>TRG Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>77 <TD>Sam Hornish Jr. <TD>Mobil 1 <TD>Dodge <TD>Penske Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>78 <TD>Regan Smith <TD>Furniture Row <TD>Chevr <TD>Furniture Row Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>82 <TD>Scott Speed <TD>Red Bull <TD>Toyota <TD>Red Bull</TD></TR><TR><TD>83 <TD>Brian Vickers <TD>Red Bull Energy Drink <TD>Toyota <TD>Red Bull</TD></TR><TR><TD>87 <TD>Joe Nemechek <TD>?? <TD>Toyota <TD>NEMCO Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>88 <TD>Dale Earnhardt Jr. <TD>AMP Energy Drink <TD>Chevr <TD>Hendrick</TD></TR><TR><TD>90 <TD>Casey Mears <TD>?? <TD>Chevrolet <TD>Keyed Up Motorsports</TD></TR><TR><TD>98 <TD>Paul Menard <TD>Menards <TD>Ford <TD>Richard Petty</TD></TR><TR><TD>99 <TD>Carl Edwards <TD>Aflac <TD>Ford <TD>Roush Fenway</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE border=2 bgColor=#eff2f7><TBODY><TR><TH colSpan=6>2010 Sprint Cup Lineup - Part-time Teams(Tentative)</TH><TR><TD>Car <TD>Driver <TD>Sponsor <TD>Make <TD>Owner</TD></TR><TR><TD>13 <TD>Max Papis <TD>GEICO <TD>Toyota <TD>Germain Racing</TD></TR></TR><TR><TD>21 <TD>Bill Elliott <TD>Motorcraft <TD>Ford <TD>Wood Brothers</TD></TR><TR><TD>49 <TD>David Gilliland <TD>Warner Brothers <TD>Toyota <TD>BAM Racing</TD></TR><TR><TD>51 <TD>Michael Waltrip <TD>NAPA <TD>Toyota <TD>Michael Waltrip</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

T-CANE · Jan 22, 2010

Hache, i go almost every year, great fun at speedweeks!!

ATP · Jan 24, 2010

wish there was some kind of yearly contest here, im in one in town where u pick one driver per race and cant duplicate the driver rest of season and whereever he finishes thats the pts u get carried into next week

Looking Ahead To The 500 (23 Days)

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