Officials from Hendrick Motorsports and Farmers Insurance jointly announced that the insurance giant will sponsor the team’s #5 Chevrolet beginning next season. The contract calls for Farmers Insurance to back the team in 22 races a season for the next three years. The paint scheme for the car will be unveiled at a later date.
"It's extremely positive when a company of this caliber sees the value of NASCAR and immediately wants to do more. Farmers will have an excellent spokesperson in Kasey, and we're committed to putting him in a position to win races and championships. Our organization is proud to extend this partnership, and we look forward to a very bright future with everyone at Farmers,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports.
”I've had a chance to meet the Farmers people, and they're doing some exciting new things from a marketing standpoint. I'm looking forward to being a part of their team and helping grow the Farmers brand. To have this kind of support, and to have it come together so early, is such a boost for all of us," said driver Kasey Kahne.
I believe that hiring Kasey was a smart move for Hendrick Motorsports. It gives the team a young driver who still has a lot of years left to be competitive and a future title contender down the road. This was also a very good move for Kasey because it gives him some stability with a powerhouse team. With Hendrick, I believe that Kahne can finally put the last few years behind him and enjoy driving and winning again. What is your opinion of this story?
Friday, June 17, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
DILLON TO RUN FALL CUP RACE AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY
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| Austin Dillon's Kansas Sprint Cup Car Photo Credit: Richard Childress Racing |
I believe that it is going to be great to see what Austin can in a Cup car. He has shown that he is a serious contender for the Truck title this season and adding at least one Cup race will only get him more experience on the race track. Austin Dillon will be a driver that will be a force to be reckoned with when he makes the move to the Sprint Cup series in the years ahead. What are your thoughts on Austin’s pending debut?
Saturday, February 26, 2011
GERMAIN, CASSILL TEAM UP FOR 2011 SEASON
Germain Racing has announced that they have signed Landon Cassill to drive for the team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Cassill, who has both Cup and Nationwide experience, will be embarking on his first full-time Cup season at the wheel of the #60 Toyota. Sponsorship for the team will come from ALL SPORT Body Quencher and Big Red. Cassill will join Casey Mears as the second driver of Germain Racing’s Cup team.
I think that Landon Cassill really deserves this opportunity. He has had the chance to race with Phoenix Racing in the Cup series before, but never on a full-time basis. Cassill has shown that he is can be a quick study and a great driver if a team gives him competitive equipment. It’s going to take a little bit of time to get used to his new ride, but I think he will be racking up respectable finishes real soon.
I think that Landon Cassill really deserves this opportunity. He has had the chance to race with Phoenix Racing in the Cup series before, but never on a full-time basis. Cassill has shown that he is can be a quick study and a great driver if a team gives him competitive equipment. It’s going to take a little bit of time to get used to his new ride, but I think he will be racking up respectable finishes real soon.
Monday, January 31, 2011
NASCAR ANNOUNCES NEW POINT SYSTEM
During the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, it was announced by NASCAR’s Brian France that the sanctioning body will adopt a new point system in 2011. The system will be used in all three national series. Beginning this season, a winning driver will receive 43 points. Each subsequent position will drop by one point. For example if a driver finishes second in the Cup or Nationwide series, they will receive 42 points and so on, right down to one point for last place. There will also be a 3 point bonus for winning the race and 1 point each for leading a lap and leading the most laps. When calculated, this makes it possible to receive up to 48 points during a weekend. The Camping World truck Series has a smaller field of 36 trucks, so the last place finisher will receive 8 points.
There will continue to be 12 drivers eligible for the Sprint Cup title with one small wrinkle. After race 26, the top 10 drivers will qualify for the chase. The final two positions will be given to the drivers that won the most races in the 26 races but only if they have managed to fall out of the top 10 and are still inside the top 20. If the drivers are already locked into the chase, then the drivers that are 11th and 12th in the standings will take up the final two positions.
Seeding of the drivers will remain the same; however, each race win will only be worth 3 points instead of 10 points like in past years. Drivers that are eligible for the last two spots will not have their wins count in the seeding process. I can’t wait to see this new point system implemented. I think that it will make it a lot easier for NASCAR’s fans to understand how drivers earn points. What do you think of the new point system?
There will continue to be 12 drivers eligible for the Sprint Cup title with one small wrinkle. After race 26, the top 10 drivers will qualify for the chase. The final two positions will be given to the drivers that won the most races in the 26 races but only if they have managed to fall out of the top 10 and are still inside the top 20. If the drivers are already locked into the chase, then the drivers that are 11th and 12th in the standings will take up the final two positions.
Seeding of the drivers will remain the same; however, each race win will only be worth 3 points instead of 10 points like in past years. Drivers that are eligible for the last two spots will not have their wins count in the seeding process. I can’t wait to see this new point system implemented. I think that it will make it a lot easier for NASCAR’s fans to understand how drivers earn points. What do you think of the new point system?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ELLIOTT SIGNS TO DRIVE #09 IN 2011
For the first time in his long career, Bill Elliott will become an official member of the Chevrolet family. Phoenix Racing has announced that Elliott will pilot the team’s #09 Chevrolet in a minimum of 18 Sprint Cup races throughout the 2011 season. The schedule of planned races has not yet been released, but the team has said that if they can get the sponsorship needed to run the full schedule, then they will race every week.
In order to run the Sprint Cup schedule, the team has announced they will only run the three Nationwide restrictor plate races in Daytona and Talladega. The team will continue to use Hendrick engines and chassis. Nick Harris will serve as Elliott’s crew chief. Send me your thoughts on this story.
In order to run the Sprint Cup schedule, the team has announced they will only run the three Nationwide restrictor plate races in Daytona and Talladega. The team will continue to use Hendrick engines and chassis. Nick Harris will serve as Elliott’s crew chief. Send me your thoughts on this story.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
BAYNE GOES NATIONWIDE & CUP RACING IN 2011
When Trevor Bayne came on the NASCAR scene a few years ago, many people had no idea who he was. The only thing that people knew was that he was an 18-year-old looking to make his way into one of NASCAR’s top three divisions. He has done that and so much more since joining the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2009.
Michael Waltrip Racing signed Bayne to a contract to drive the team’s #99 Toyota for the rest of 2009 and all of 2010. It took Trevor a few months to get going with his new team, but once the team chemistry was figured out, there was no stopping the team from running in the top-5 almost every week. With his consistently strong runs, many people in the garage area started to take notice of Bayne’s driving talent and they knew that he would be in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series before long.
Michael Waltrip Racing had planned to run Trevor in a few Cup races in 2011, but because they couldn’t find a sponsor for his Nationwide team for the season, the team and Bayne came to a mutual agreement that would allow each party to get out of their respective contracts. Within days of leaving the #99 team, Roush Fenway Racing came calling to inquire about Bayne’s availability to drive one of their cars. Bayne would sign a contract with Roush to drive the #17 Nationwide vehicle for the rest of 2010 and a full-schedule in 2011. Bayne will team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carl Edwards as the third driver in the team’s Nationwide Series stable of drivers. That, however, is not where this story ends.
Ford and Roush Fenway wanted to see what the 19-year-old could do in a Cup car because they feel like he could be the face Roush Fenway Racing in the future. The only problem was that Roush couldn’t run more than four full-time teams on the Cup level so they had to find another Ford team that would be wiling to let Bayne wheel their car for a weekend. It took some time to figure out all the details, but in the end, Bayne would get a chance to drive the #21 in the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in the fall of 2010.
There was a lot of pressure on Bayne to perform during his first race, but he was able to strap on the helmet and let the nerves subside. He worked his way up through the field and came home with a respectable 17th place effort. Many people thought it was a great run for such a young driver, but they didn’t know when his next Cup Series race would take place. Bayne went into the off-season not knowing what his schedule in NASCAR’s top division would look like for the new season.
This week, Wood Brothers Racing announced that it had come to terms with Trevor Bayne to drive the #21 car in the first five Cup races of 2011, beginning at Daytona. If the team can get enough funding, Trevor may run in as many as 17 events throughout the season. Wood Brothers Racing has always been a legendary team and if you are asked to drive their car, then you jump at the opportunity. Drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Morgan Shepherd, Kyle Petty and Ricky Rudd have all had a chance to wheel the #21 at some point throughout their careers.
I couldn’t think of a better way to start your career. Bill Elliott will be working with the team as a consultant, so Trevor will already have someone in his corner who knows what being a Cup Series driver is all about. I think that being in the Cup car for a few races will help make Trevor an even better Nationwide driver because he will get to have more practice time at a track because of being in a Cup car. Trevor Bayne is a rising star in the world of NASCAR and you better believe that I am looking forward to seeing what he accomplish in the Nationwide and Cup Series in the years to come.
Michael Waltrip Racing signed Bayne to a contract to drive the team’s #99 Toyota for the rest of 2009 and all of 2010. It took Trevor a few months to get going with his new team, but once the team chemistry was figured out, there was no stopping the team from running in the top-5 almost every week. With his consistently strong runs, many people in the garage area started to take notice of Bayne’s driving talent and they knew that he would be in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series before long.
Michael Waltrip Racing had planned to run Trevor in a few Cup races in 2011, but because they couldn’t find a sponsor for his Nationwide team for the season, the team and Bayne came to a mutual agreement that would allow each party to get out of their respective contracts. Within days of leaving the #99 team, Roush Fenway Racing came calling to inquire about Bayne’s availability to drive one of their cars. Bayne would sign a contract with Roush to drive the #17 Nationwide vehicle for the rest of 2010 and a full-schedule in 2011. Bayne will team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carl Edwards as the third driver in the team’s Nationwide Series stable of drivers. That, however, is not where this story ends.
Ford and Roush Fenway wanted to see what the 19-year-old could do in a Cup car because they feel like he could be the face Roush Fenway Racing in the future. The only problem was that Roush couldn’t run more than four full-time teams on the Cup level so they had to find another Ford team that would be wiling to let Bayne wheel their car for a weekend. It took some time to figure out all the details, but in the end, Bayne would get a chance to drive the #21 in the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in the fall of 2010.
There was a lot of pressure on Bayne to perform during his first race, but he was able to strap on the helmet and let the nerves subside. He worked his way up through the field and came home with a respectable 17th place effort. Many people thought it was a great run for such a young driver, but they didn’t know when his next Cup Series race would take place. Bayne went into the off-season not knowing what his schedule in NASCAR’s top division would look like for the new season.
This week, Wood Brothers Racing announced that it had come to terms with Trevor Bayne to drive the #21 car in the first five Cup races of 2011, beginning at Daytona. If the team can get enough funding, Trevor may run in as many as 17 events throughout the season. Wood Brothers Racing has always been a legendary team and if you are asked to drive their car, then you jump at the opportunity. Drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Morgan Shepherd, Kyle Petty and Ricky Rudd have all had a chance to wheel the #21 at some point throughout their careers.
I couldn’t think of a better way to start your career. Bill Elliott will be working with the team as a consultant, so Trevor will already have someone in his corner who knows what being a Cup Series driver is all about. I think that being in the Cup car for a few races will help make Trevor an even better Nationwide driver because he will get to have more practice time at a track because of being in a Cup car. Trevor Bayne is a rising star in the world of NASCAR and you better believe that I am looking forward to seeing what he accomplish in the Nationwide and Cup Series in the years to come.
Friday, January 7, 2011
GERMAIN SIGNS LOFTON FOR 2011 TRUCK SEASON
Germain Racing has announced that they have signed Justin Lofton to drive for the team in 2011. Lofton will pilot the #77 Toyota in a full season bid for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title and will join Todd Bodine, Max Papis and Brendan Gaughan as the team’s 2011 stable of drivers. A crew chief for the effort has not been announced.
Lofton, who left Red Horse Racing at the end of last season, had indicated that he would scale back to a part-time schedule next season if he couldn’t find the funding to compete full-time. However, when Germain Racing contacted Lofton and wanted him to drive their truck, it was an opportunity that Lofton couldn’t pass up.
“I am very excited to be teaming up with Germain Racing. Fresh off of their 2010 championship, it was clear to me that Germain was the best place for me,” Lofton said.
Personally, I feel that Justin will do great in Germain equipment. He has shown that if you give him competitive trucks, he can run at or near the front of the field during an event. Not only will Justin learn a lot from his new teammates, but he may also teach them a thing or two when he is out on the track. To me, Germain Racing made a smart move in signing Lofton because I think Justin is a driver that could be a leader for the team in the coming years. Send me your thoughts on this topic.
Lofton, who left Red Horse Racing at the end of last season, had indicated that he would scale back to a part-time schedule next season if he couldn’t find the funding to compete full-time. However, when Germain Racing contacted Lofton and wanted him to drive their truck, it was an opportunity that Lofton couldn’t pass up.
“I am very excited to be teaming up with Germain Racing. Fresh off of their 2010 championship, it was clear to me that Germain was the best place for me,” Lofton said.
Personally, I feel that Justin will do great in Germain equipment. He has shown that if you give him competitive trucks, he can run at or near the front of the field during an event. Not only will Justin learn a lot from his new teammates, but he may also teach them a thing or two when he is out on the track. To me, Germain Racing made a smart move in signing Lofton because I think Justin is a driver that could be a leader for the team in the coming years. Send me your thoughts on this topic.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
BEST BUY, PETTY TO CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP
Officials of Best Buy and Richard Petty Motorsports have announced that the electronics retailer will continue to sponsor the team in 2011. Best Buy will be the primary sponsor of the #43 for 24 races during the season and will be an associate sponsor for the remaining events on the schedule. Best Buy will also sponsor the team in NASCAR’s two non-points events. A.J. Allmendinger returns for his second season behind the wheel of the #43. Best Buy will also be a full-time associate sponsor on the team’s #9 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose.
COBB TEAMS UP FOR FIVE NATIONWIDE EVENTS IN 2011
Jennifer Jo Cobb and 2nd Chance Motorsports have announced plans to run a #79 Ford Mustang in the season’s first five Nationwide Series races, beginning in Daytona. If the team is in the top 30 in points after race number five and can find adequate funding, then the partnership could be extended to include more races throughout the season. Crew chief Steve Kuykendall will lead the team and Cobb will lend out her Truck Series pit crew. No sponsor has been named for the team’s effort.
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