Kenseth To Leave Roush Fenway Racing; JGR Could Be Next Stop

Matt Kenseth’s long and successful run with Roush Fenway Racing will end at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Kenseth won the 2012 Daytona 500 for RFR

Team owner Jack Roush confirmed today that the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will leave the team at season’s end, after competing for RFR since his rookie Sprint Cup season in 2000. He will be replaced by 2011 NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

“I’d like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” said Roush today. “Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.

“We’re fortunate that we were able to tap into Matt’s potential and bring him on board many years ago, and I’m proud that together we were able to combine the tools and the resources of Roush Fenway with his talent and determination to forge a partnership that yielded a championship at the Cup level and all of his 22 Cup victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. The No. 17 is positioned extremely well this season, and I’m committed to providing the team the best resources to continue their run for the 2012 championship. I have no doubt that Matt will do his part.”

Sources say Kenseth will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season. JGR President JD Gibbs sidestepped questions about the deal last weekend in Sonoma, Cal., saying, "I'm not allowed to talk.” Kenseth told reporters, “I'd like to have something to tell you, but I don't have anything to talk about right now. Until I have something to announce, I don't talk about it."

Speculation centers around Kenseth replacing Joey Logano at the wheel of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota next season. Sources say Logano could remain with the team to drive a new, fourth JGR sprint Cup entry, with sponsorship to be determined.

Team owner Jack Roush

His departure will clear the way for Stenhouse, who won the NASAR Nationwide Series championship a year ago and is a strong contender for the 2012 title. Roush said, "“Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has more than proved his abilities on the race track. We feel that he is not only a key piece of our team’s future, but a key piece of the future of the sport. Roush Fenway is an organization with a wonderful past and present, as well as an extremely promising future, and I can’t think of a better candidate than Ricky to usher in the next era of success for the team.”

Kenseth has 22 Sprint Cup Series wins with Roush Fenway Racing, along with 26 victories in the Nationwide ranks. He won the Daytona in both 2009 and 2012, and claimed the 2003 Cup championship with the team. All but one of the Wisconsin native’s 452 career starts have been in Roush Fenway Racing equipment, and RFR general manager Robbie Reiser, who served Kenseth’s crew chief for many years, spoke fondly of his former driver.

“Matt and I broke into this sport together, learned the ropes and were able to bring home a championship,” said Reiser. “Over the 20 years we have worked with each other, Matt has been a fierce competitor and become a close friend, not only to me, but as a mentor to young drivers like Ricky. I wish Matt nothing but the best for the next phase of his career, and know that we’ll remain close.”

The team has struggled to find sponsorship for Kenseth in recent seasons, with Jack Roush funding the car out of his own pocket for a number of races in both 2011 and 2012. Kenseth is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point leader.

Photo Credits: timesdispatch.com, Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Bodine "Onion Slice Open" Set For August 2

Todd Bodine always feels at home when visiting Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. The two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion grew up in the nearby New York/Pennsylvania border towns and today calls the Wilkes-Barre area home.



"It's in the hole! It's in the hole!"

Three years ago, he started the “Onion Slice Open” charity golf tournament at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course in Mountaintop, PA on Thursday, Aug. 2. The event takes place the week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 and companion Pocono Mountains 125 Camping World Truck Series event, and Bodine has announced that this year’s 3^rd Annual Onion Slice Open will again raise funds for pediatric patients suffering from traumatic brain injury at John Heinz Rehabilitation Center.

“The Onion Slice Open continues to benefit pediatric patients suffering from brain trauma and brain disease at John Heinz Medical Center,” said Bodine. “This year, we’re proud to announce that the Northeast Pennsylvania Toyota dealers are sponsoring this year’s tournament, as well as our No. 11 Toyota Tundra for the Pocono Mountains 125. It’s an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and promote the great Toyota dealers in the area.”

Fans can look forward to seeing Bodine at a number of Northeast Pennsylvania Toyota dealers, including Williams Toyota of Sayre, Halterman’s Toyota of East Stroudsburg, Independence Toyota in Hazelton, Motorworld Toyota in Wilkes-Barre, Fairfield Toyota of Muncy and Aubrey Alexander Toyota of Sellingsgrove. The exact schedule of appearances will be posted at a later date.

“We’ve worked with Independence Toyota in Hazelton for the past couple of years and I’m very excited to visit Williams, Halterman’s, Motorworld, Fairfield and Aubrey Alexander’s," said Bodine, a 22-time winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. "I’ve driven a Toyota on the race track and at home for six years, and I’m happy to help the Northeast Pennsylvania Toyota dealers bring that experience to their customers.

“I wanted the Onion Slice Open to be an event that people could enjoy at a variety of levels, while raising funding for the John Heinz Medical Center,” he said. “It has become just that, and I know that’s why the Northeast Pennsylvania Toyota dealers came on board with both the tournament and the race truck. We are raising money and awareness to help families in the Northeast Pennsylvania area,” explained Bodine, whose tournament offers fans opportunities to golf for as little as $100 as an “Onion Peel” sponsor.

Last year’s Onion Slice Open had 214 players and raised a total of $103,000. To donate to John Heinz Rehabilitation Center via the 3^rd Annual Onion Slice Open presented by the Northeast Toyota Dealers, or to sign up to play, email Janet@teamonion.com.

Kurt Got It Right This Weekend

Kurt Busch got it right this weekend; both on and off the race track.

The supremely talented former Sprint Cup Series champion turned in a pair of virtuoso performances at Road America and Sonoma, following each outing with a sincere, controlled and enjoyable round of post-race commentary.

After a 2,178-mile commute from Sonoma, Calif., Busch arrived at Road America in time for a single, pre-qualifying Pace Car lap of the 4.049-mile road course. He qualified 22^nd, then reported issues with the car’s transmission that dropped him to the tail of the starting grid after a replacement transmission was installed. He joked of learning more about the track while waving to fans during a pre-race ride-around in the back of a pickup truck, and once the green flag flew, Busch put that newfound knowledge to work. From a last-place starting spot, he passed 13 cars in the opening lap alone. He overcame a pit road miscue that left his tank only partially filled with fuel, and rebounded from damage sustained when Miguel Paludo overshot a turn and used Busch’s left-front fender as an inadvertent guard rail.

At day’s end, Busch wheeled brother Kyle’s Monster Energy Toyota Camry under the checkered flag in eighth-place, prompting expressions of awe from even his most ardent detractors.

"We didn't have enough for them today," said a satisfied, smiling Busch to his crew, before transferring to a helicopter to begin his return trip to Sonoma.

Sunday, Busch was a force to be reckoned with in James Finch’s unsponsored No. 51 Chevrolet, jousting with eventual winner Clint Bowyer for the lead in the late going, despite a broken panhard bar mount that cause him to struggle in the turns. Despite losing the race – and the runner-up spot to Tony Stewart – Busch spoke proudly of his effort afterward.



Kurt was a force at Sonoma.



"When you're on a third of the budget and you almost bring it to Victory Lane, you can't say that one guy does it," said Busch. "It takes a full team effort. I really wanted to deliver for my guys today, and being that close and making one mistake, it's a tough game.

"Having a wounded car like that, I had to yield to Tony,” he admitted. “I didn't want to get up into the loose gravel and lose a bunch of spots. So it's a great day for Phoenix Racing and James Finch, who gave me this opportunity.”

Busch revealed he had to coax Finch into racing at Sonoma at all, saying, “(James was) like, `The hell with that road racing stuff, I ain't even going out to California.’ So it's great to surprise him with a nice Top-3 finish out here."

"I'm a little choked up," he admitted. "These guys work so hard building these cars. Over the years, James Finch has only specialized in superspeedway cars. Now we’re building mile-and-a-half cars, short track cars and they pieced this road race car together Monday at midnight. And here we are. We had a shot at winning.”

Busch said his successful weekend gives him confidence that he can turn his season around and conquer the personal demons that have dogged him in the past.

"If I can get my head on straight here -- and after the race -- then I'm able to race every weekend and go for victories.”

Photo Credits: Sportsillustrated.cnn.com, nascarmedia.com

Villeneuve Becoming A Pariah In Nationwide Garage

Jacques Villeneuve continues to push hard for a shot at a NASCAR career. Saturday at Road America, he pushed too hard. 


Villeneuve made no friends Saturday.

Villeneuve’s racing resume is impeccable. The son of Formula One great Gilles Villeneuve, Jacques is himself a former F1 World Driving Champion, as well as the 1995 Indy Car World Series Champion and 1995 winner of the Indianapolis 500. Despite those lofty accomplishments, however, Villeneuve has failed to generate sustained interest in NASCAR. He has just three career starts in the headline Sprint Cup Series, with a top finish of 21^st. More recently, he has made sporadic road course starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Braun Racing (now Turner Motorsports) and Penske Racing, often contending for wins despite a series of late-race, banzai charges that have earned him the ire of  his fellow competitors.  

Villeneuve’s “bull in a china shop” reputation was reinforced again Saturday, when the Penske Racing driver turned point leader Elliott Sadler head-on into the wall with 11 laps remaining, then punted Danica Patrick out of fourth place on the final lap, leaving Patrick 12^th at the drop of the checkered flag. 

“I just saw it right there on the screen,” said a steaming Patrick after the race. “Y’all can make a decision for yourself what you think happened there.” 

Eury: "He's not a real race car driver..."

Crew chief Tony Eury, Jr., was more outspoken, confronting Villeneuve after the race, calling the Canadian driver “an a—hole” and asking, “why do you have to come here and run over people? 

Villeneuve blamed the incident on dirty tires, saying, “I wasn't fighting with Danica, I was fighting with Max Papis. Just before the braking, I guess he was wanting to cross over and go to the inside of Danica. He probably didn't know I was there, so it pushed me in the grass. You don't slow down that much in the grass, so by that time I was on the race track again, I was going a little bit faster than Danica. That's all."

"He doesn't have the respect for what his name should mean," said an angry Eury afterward. “With a name like that and the history his family has, for him to come here and not have any respect for anybody, he's not a real race car driver in my book.

"It's got nothing to do with (Danica)," Eury said. "Every time (Villeneuve) is behind you, you wonder if you're about to get run over. Today happened to be our day." 

Saturday’s race marked the second consecutive controversial outing for Villeneuve at Road America. Last year, he finished third after overcharging Turn One on a late-race restart, putting all four wheels in the dirt in an ill-advised move that wrecked both Papis and Brian Scott. Many observers questioned then whether Villeneuve’s hunger for a full-time NASCAR ride had clouded his judgement. Saturday, other Nationwide Series drivers echoed Eury’s post-race comments, saying the former F1 champion takes unnecessary chances, pushes his equipment past its limits and lacks respect for his fellow drivers. 

“He wants what he wants, and he doesn’t care how he gets it,” said one series regular, speaking on the condition of anonymity.  “He’ll drive through the grass to gain a spot, then use you as a guardrail to make it through the corner. He has all the talent in the world, but nobody is comfortable racing with him.” 

At age 41, time is running short for Villeneuve to make his mark as anything more than a spot-reliever in NASCAR. His talent is beyond dispute, but his lack of respect on the race course has made him a pariah among his fellow drivers. 

“Where Jacques Villeneuve goes, there tend to be cars that have problems,” said Patrick Saturday. “Whether it's his fault, the other cars' fault or whether it's just stock car racing at the end of the race... you guys can make a decision on what happened there at the end."

 Photo Credits: yallaf1.com, espn.com

Road America Roster Contains New Names

As usual, Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin will feature a number of names not usually seen on the series roster.



Villeneuve set for Road America

Jacques Villeneuve will drive for Penske Racing this weekend, and also at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 18. The former World Driving Champion will wheel Penske’s #22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger for the second-consecutive season. He finished third at both Road America and Montreal last season, matching his career best finish. He has been to Victory Lane at Road America in the past winning the CART Series events there in 1994 and 1995.

Ron Fellows is set to take the wheel of the JR Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet in all three Nationwide Series road course events this season. Fellows is a former winner for the team, after emerging victorious in August of 2008 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He has four career Nationwide Series wins in all -- three of them coming at Watkins Glen – and finished second at Road America last year.  He will once again be paired with veteran crew chief Tony Eury Sr.

Turner Motorsports will field four Nationwide Series Chevrolets this weekend for series regular Justin Algaier, along with Open Wheel standout Brad Sweet and Brazilian drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo.  Paludo, a two-time champion of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge in his native Brasil, will make his first career NNS start in the No. 32 Chevrolet Impala.

Piquet will drive the No. 30 Chevrolet in his third career NNS start. The former Formula One star made his Nationwide debut at Watkins Glen in 2010, earning a seventh-place finish, his best NNS result to date.

Nelson Piquet, Jr.

Victor Gonzalez Jr. will make his debut for RAB Racing with Brack Maggard this weekend, driving the Delta Commercial/IMCA Toyota Camry. The race marks his second career start at Road America, and his sixth Nationwide Series race.

Alex Kennedy will team with NEMCO Motorsports and Sacred Power Motorsports for the Sargento 200 at Road America this weekend. He made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Road America in 2010 and posted the 15th fastest time in his first Nationwide Series qualifying effort. His career best finish of 16th came later that year at Watkins Glen.

And finally, Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series regular Matt Bell makes his Nationwide debut this weekend in the #4 Extreme Bidder Chevrolet fielded by  JD Motorsports with Gary Keller. Bell won last year's companion event at Road America driving a Chevrolet Camaro, and will do double duty Saturday, running both the Continental Tire and NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

Photo Credit: dailymail.co

Bringing the 2013 NASCAR Fusion To Life; A Truly Graphic Experience

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but when the Design Center at Ford Motor Company went about the task of making the 2013 NASCAR Fusion look like its production counterpart, everyone looked at it the same way.

“The reviews on this car were a bit more accelerated,” said Garen Nicoghosian, design manager for specialty vehicles, who headed up the project. “We had to go through this with a lot faster pace than a production car because typically it takes us over a year-and-a-half to two years to get through the design phase of a production car.”

“This one was quite a bit quicker than that because obviously, you have to make it to Daytona in 2013. It was a more cut-and-dried project, but it went through the same people and approval process. We looked at it in the courtyard and we looked at it on the computer. Our design scrutiny was strong on this car and we did what we could within the realm of the project.”

While brand identity has been the main focal point of the new generation stock car for NASCAR’s top series, when the topic of unveiling the car to the public came up, another issue arose – what was the paint scheme going to look like?

For a fresh perspective, designer Jennifer Seely was tabbed with devising something that would accentuate the Fusion body style.

“When I think of NASCAR I think of big, bold colors, and busy graphics almost to the point of visual overload,” she said. “I wanted to design something fresh, something that would stand out amongst the visual noise, so I took the completely opposite approach and designed with minimalism in mind.

The 2013 Fusion On Track

“My graphic style is usually best described as `less is more.’ When Garen presented the Fusion project to me, my first instinct was to emphasize the body design and the actual fluid lines that he created. I think he did a spectacular job with the car, so it was easy to follow the fluid body of the vehicle. Every single graphic on the car has meaning and the intent is to further enhance the lines and framework that he’s created, so we worked together to try to achieve that goal.”

While to some it may look like just a bunch of random lines and stripes, there was a great deal of time and research that went into the final version. Seely went through hundreds of photos and looked at all of the historic cars that make up Ford Racing’s 111-year history.

“I think a lot of the influences that I found came from research, watching older movies, and looking at older generations of the Mustang and even Henry Ford’s first race car in 1901,” recalled Seely. “Also drawing from what luxury Formula One race cars are looking like today. So a blend of old and new influences, while letting the incredible design of the current body shine through. One of the unmistakable elements is the double offset stripes that run along the top of the car. This feature kind of gives the car a European twist.”

Seely was also responsible for creating the design for the race suits worn by Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the reveal presentation in Charlotte.

“The suit design was heavily influenced first and foremost by the vehicle graphics. I personally was influenced by the 1960’s film Le Mans, which made a lasting impression with its 60’s minimalism and primary color palette resulting in an unmistakable graphic statement.”

The result has been a one-of-a-kind paint scheme that made an immediate impact within the Ford Racing community.

“When we saw what the car looked like after being painted and decaled we couldn’t believe our eyes,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “The styling and integration of past Ford vehicles is very evident, so we decided that whenever we unveil a new race car, regardless of series, it will have this design scheme because it’s something unique to Ford.”

NASCAR Announces 2012 Banquet Details

NASCAR announced today that the Charlotte (NC) Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame will once again host the 2012 postseason championship celebrations for the NASCAR regional and touring series.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards will be held Friday, Dec. 7 and the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards for its seven touring series will be Saturday, Dec. 8.

“These two events mark the celebration of the best short-track drivers from throughout NASCAR – a spotlight on the sport’s top young talent and hometown heroes,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of regional and touring series. “And we’re excited to return to Charlotte to honor those drivers.”

In addition, NASCARHomeTracks.com will stream both nights live. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards will be simulcast in English and Spanish, while the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards will be simulcast in English, Spanish and French.

The NASCAR Night of Champions Awards will celebrate the best of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Mexico-based NASCAR Toyota Series, and, for the first time, the Euro-Racecar Series, a NASCAR touring series based in Europe.

YOU Could Announce At Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway will host the UNOH Battle at the Beach on Feb. 18-19 during Budweiser Speedweeks 2013, and will select a local short track public address announcer to join the announcing team for the inaugural event at the “World Center of Racing.”

Daytona International Speedway is inviting short track fans around the country to nominate their local short track talent to be one of the announcers for the UNOH Battle At The Beach, which will feature two days of racing headlined by three non-points special events for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified tours and the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

Nominators need to provide their information, contact information for the announcer being nominated and a reason for the nomination. They will also need to indicate the race(s) that this person announced at or will announce at in 2012, a link to the announcer’s bio, and at least one of the following: video file of the announcer, link to video of the announcer, link to a podcast or audio recording of the announcer, or a photo with MP3 file of the person being nominated.

All entries must be received by Monday, July 2. For an announcer to qualify, they must announce for at least one race in 2012 in the following series: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division 1, NASCAR Toyota Series, Euro Racecar NASCAR Touring Series, NASCAR K&N Pro West Series, NASCAR K&N Pro East Series, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Series or NASCAR Whelen Modified Series.

Nominations will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists who will be asked to submit a video audition tape. A committee of judges will select the top five announcers based on the video submissions and nominations to be the finalists. Race fans will be given the opportunity to vote online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com between Aug. 10 and Sept. 30 for their favorite of the five nominees to be part of the UNOH Battle at the Beach announcing team. The winner will be announced at the annual NASCAR awards banquet in December.

COMMENTARY: Sprint Cup Title Chase Beginning To Shape Up

There’s a lot to like about the current state of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship battle. 

Two elite teams: Roush Fenway Racing vs. Hendrick Motorsports. 

Two former Sprint Cup Series champions: Matt Kenseth vs. Jimmie Johnson. 

Two hungry, would-be titlists: Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 

Two motivated manufacturers: Ford vs. Chevrolet. 

Just 11 races remain until the lineup for NASCAR’s post season Chase is finalized at Richmond International Raceway, and as they did exactly 12 months ago, the storylines at the top of the championship standings are beginning to heat up. 

Kenseth, the 2003 series champion and this year’s Daytona 500 winner, carries a four-point lead over Earnhardt into Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. Kenseth’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate, Greg Biffle, has led the standings himself for most of the season, and is close behind in third place. Johnson, a five-time series champion and already a  two-time winner in 2012, is closing fast in fourth. 

All four drivers claimed Top-5 finishing positions last week in Michigan, and hope to maintain their respective momentum on the California road course this weekend. Kenseth, Earnhardt and Biffle would appear to have the tougher challenges of the group, having never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road race. Johnson, a top-notch road racer, is a former winner at Sonoma, having claimed the checkered flag there in 2010. 

As a team, Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations with six victories at Sonoma. Roush Fenway Racing has just a single win on the 1.99-mile layout; Mark Martin’s 1997 score.  

While Chevrolet leads all manufacturers at Sonoma with 10 victories, only one of those wins has come since 2006. Ford’s last Sonoma win came courtesy of now-retired Ricky Rudd, back in 2002.  

This weekend’s race has all the makings of a hum-dinger, especially if a handful of drivers decide to turn Sonoma into the OK Corral for the second year in a row. In recent seasons, Sonoma and Watkins Glen have supplanted Bristol and Martinsville as NASCAR’s preferred venues for settling old scores and grudges. 

A little of that Sunday would go a long way toward stoking the fires of fan interest, as well.

Matt Bell Set For Nationwide Series Debut

Matt Bell

Matt Bell, a regular on the Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend driving for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. 

Bell, a native of San Francisco, Calif., won last year’s companion event at Road America driving a Chevrolet Camaro. In his NASCAR debut, he’ll be wheeling a Nationwide Series Chevrolet Impala on Saturday afternoon.

He began his professional racing career in 2008 and has gone on to capture four victories in CTSCCS competition. He knows the challenge ahead of him is a big one, but insists it is one he respects. 

“I’m excited to be making my NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at a track I have had success at, and am quite comfortable with,” said Bell. “Those points, along with the great equipment JD Motorsports has provided me, will go a long way in making this weekend a very successful debut. And I will have a teammate in veteran Mike Wallace. I know he had a great run here last year, so I’ll be looking to learn from him as much as possible. 

 “I am extremely grateful and thankful for everyone at JD Motorsports and P1 Groupe for putting this opportunity together for me this weekend,” he said. “I'm very excited and even a bit nervous. I've been told the Camaro Grand Sport car is probably the best prerequisite race car to driving a stock car, so I'm not worried about the learning curve. It's just the fact this deal came together quite quickly and it'll be trial by fire for me.

“You can't grow up in this country without falling in love with the sound of a stock car,” he said. “I'll be one of the lucky few to hear it from the cockpit. Nothing beats a giant V8 engine, big tires and all-steel body construction. I can't wait to try (NASCAR) out. It just screams ‘America.’”

Tomy Drissi To Steer TBR #10 In Sonoma

Tomy Drissi To TBR

Trans Am champion Tomy Drissi will fill the seat in Tommy Baldwin Racing’s the No. 10 Ice Age: Continental Drift Chevrolet this weekend in Somona, Calif.

Drissi also has experience in American Lemans and the Speed World Challenge Series competition. He claimed 1999 Trans Am Rookie of the Year honors, and was that circuit’s champion and Most Improved Driver in 2000. He collected one win, four Top-5 and seven Top-10 finishes in seven Trans Am starts last season. He has three career starts on the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with a best finish of 18^th for McDonald Motorsports at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villenueve in 2010.

“I am humbled to be able to drive with TBR in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and represent Ice Age: Continental Drift,” explained Drissi. “It is an honor to mix both of my worlds on America’s biggest racing stage and to be racing the same number as Danica Patrick did in the Daytona 500 and other races this year. Our goal this weekend is to get a solid finish for TBR and some good exposure for Ice Age.”

TBR has three previous road course starts in the Sprint Cup Series. Ron Fellows posted the team’s best finish of 30^th at Watkins Glen in 2011. TBR will have two entries in the race, with Drissi in the No. 10 Ice Age: Continental Drift Chevrolet and Dave Blaney in the No. 36 Chevrolet.

“We are thrilled to have Tomy in the car,” said team owner Baldwin. “He is a good road course driver and a fun guy to be around. It’s awesome to have Ice Age on the car. My kids and I have really enjoyed the first three movies and are excited to catch the fourth on July 13!”

Ice Age: Continental Drift, the fourth installment of the Ice Age series, will be released in theaters July 13 and be available in 3D.

Cassill Tests Sonoma... From North Carolina

BK Racing driver Landon Cassill tested on the road course in Sonoma, Calif., this week, without ever leaving his North Carolina home. 

Landon Cassill

Cassill has turned laps on the winding, 1.99-mile road course without ever touching the asphalt, using iRacing technology. He has relied heavily on the racing simulation to prepare for his first start in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and hopes the experience will allow him and the No. 83 Burger King/Dr Pepper team to hit the ground running. 

“(iRacing) really helped me get familiar with the track, said Cassill. “I have a much better idea of what to expect now. I know all of the twists and turns and I have a feel for where my braking and acceleration points will be. There's no substitute for the real thing, but iRacing is pretty close.” 

Cassill has yet to make a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on a road course, but he has run three road course races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. His best finish came at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2008, where he started 19th and finished 14th. 

After two consecutive DNFs, the No. 83 team rebounded at Michigan last Sunday with a Top-20 performance, starting 32nd and finishing 18th. It was Cassill’s second-best finish at the track, and he said he hopes he and the BK Racing team can keep that momentum rolling this weekend. 

"This will be my first start at Sonoma. I'm really excited about it. I've never tested there or raced in any other series there, so this is truly a fresh start for me. I've raced at Montreal, Mexico and Watkins Glen in the Nationwide Series. They're completely different than Sonoma, but I learned some road racing fundamentals that will definitely help out this weekend. A lot of the techniques will apply and come in handy this weekend.” 

Cassill said last week’s steady run provided a much-needed morale boost.  

"After two rough weeks, Michigan was just what we needed,” he said. “It was great to see our team rebound and have such a good race. Everyone was pumped up and feeling good. It's amazing what a solid finish can do for the morale of the team. I'm really proud of our team and I'm hoping that we keep up the momentum at Sonoma."

Photo Credit: nascarmedia.com

Ambrose Racing For $1 Million Bonus Sunday

Richard Petty Motorsports driver Marcos Ambrose has his eye on Victory Lane and an extra $1 million in Sonoma. Ambrose and his Stanley team will be "Racing for a Miracle" this weekend at the 1.99-mile road course. If the driver of the No. 9 Ford can capture his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, sponsor Stanley will donate $1 million to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through the Ace Hardware Foundation to benefit sick and injured children. 



Ambrose has motivation to win at Sonoma

"The Racing for a Miracle" initiative is a multi-faceted program created by long-time RPM partner Stanley, the Ace Hardware Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to benefit ill children by raising funds for the hospitals that provide their care. In addition to the possible $1 million donation, Stanley has already pledged $100,000 to the program and has donated over $500,000 since the inception of this partnership.  

"I'm really looking forward to going to Sonoma and racing for $1 million to help benefit sick and injured children through 'The Racing for a Miracle' program," said Ambrose. "I'm very fortunate to have such a great sponsor in Stanley, who has partnered with the Ace Hardware Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to make this special program a reality. It's going to be an extraordinary week for my whole Stanley crew. I can't wait to get it started."  

As part of the special week of events, Ambrose, crew chief Todd Parrott and members of the No. 9 Stanley pit crew will visit the UC Davis Children's Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, June 21. While at the hospital, Ambrose and crew will spend time with the patients and their family members. In addition, the No. 9 pit crew will perform pit stop demonstrations, participate in remote control car races, go "tape measure fishing" and other fun, kid-friendly activities. 

On Friday, Ambrose and representatives from Stanley will present the $100,000 donation to the Ace Hardware Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Victory Lane at Sonoma. Following the check presentation, Ambrose, with the assistance of four current and former UC Davis Children's Hospital patients, will unveil a special paint scheme that will run this weekend on the No. 9 Ford Fusion. These four very special children will also serve as "Honorary Crew Members" of the No. 9 team throughout the weekend. 

"Our special pit crew guests are going to be my four good luck charms to help me end up in Victory Lane on Sunday," explained the driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford. "My team and I are honored to be able to host these children and show them what racing is all about. It's just great to be a part of such a special program. It means the world to my crew and I to see the smiles that will be on these kids’ faces throughout the weekend." 

The special paint scheme will include the names of the four "Honorary Crew Members," as well as one child from each U.S. state and Washington D.C. Each name featured on the car is a current or former Children's Miracle Network Hospitals patientwho has met their unique medical challenge with courage.

For more information on the "Racing for a Miracle" program, including more ways to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, visitwww.stanleymotorsports.com.

Sonoma Could Shuffle Sprint Cup Standings

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series makes its annual trip to Wine Country this week, racing on the road course in Sonoma, California. The championship picture has begun to heat up in recent weeks, with Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle playing hot potato with the points lead, while maintaining a small edge over fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. This weekend’s race could shuffle the deck dramatically. 

Ambrose: Red hot and rolling.

Whenever NASCAR competes on a road course, Marcos Ambrose is on the short list of contenders for Victory Lane. The former Aussie V8 Supercar champion has arguably established himself as the best right-turn artist in NASCAR, with three Top-10 finishes (and two Top-5s) in four career Sonoma starts. He heads to California on the highest roll of his brief NASCAR career, with finishes of 13^th or better in four of his last five races. Should he capture his second career Sprint Cup Series win Sunday, sponsor Stanley Tools will donate $1 million to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through the Ace Hardware Foundation to benefit sick and injured children. Currently 17^th in championship points, Ambrose’s best bet for a spot in the 2012 Chase is as a Wildcard entrant. To accomplish that, he needs to win races. With a string of fast race cars in recent weeks and a load of momentum on his side, Sonoma offers a golden opportunity for him to do just that.

Jimmie Johnson continues his midseason surge, with four Top-5 finishes and a pair of wins in the last five races. After suffering through an early season run of bad luck, “Five Time” has just one finish outside the Top-12 in his last 14 starts; a 35^th at Talladega. A former winner at Sonoma and one of the more accomplished road racers in NASCAR, Johnson has Top-10 finishes in five of his 10 Sonoma starts. However, he also has a pair of 30-something finishes there.  



Gordon needs a win at Sonoma

Jeff Gordon showed signs of life last weekend in Michigan, recording a solid, sixth-place finish. His considerable road course talents need to continue that rebound this week. He has recorded an amazing 12 Top-5 finishes in 19 career Sonoma starts, with five wins. He hasn’t carried a checkered flag there since 2006, but a runner-up finish to Kurt Busch last year proved he hasn’t lost his touch. Currently 20^th in points, Gordon’s only hope for a Chase berth is to win at least two – and likely three – of the next 11 races. A win Sunday will keep hope alive for a while long. Anything less may be too much to overcome. 

A second-place finish at Michigan Sunday helped Tony Stewart stabilize his spot in the Sprint Cup Series Top-10. Currently eighth in points, Stewart returns to a Sonoma track that has been good to him in the past. The defending series champion is a two-time Sonoma winner, racing to Victory Lane there in 2001 and 2005. He was a contender for the checkered flag last year, as well, before an “If they block, they are going to get dumped” incident with Brian Vickers ruined the day for both competitors. If he can keep his temper in check, “Smoke” will be a threat again Sunday. 

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. leads all drivers with 12 Top-10 finishes this season, culminating in Sunday’s win at Michigan International Speedway. He’ll be hard pressed to record another Top-10 at Sonoma, however. Earnhardt has traditionally not fared well on road courses, and an average Sonoma finish of 22.2 makes him a dark horse bet – at best --for Victory Lane this weekend.  

Kenseth (R) has struggled on road courses

Matt Kenseth maintains the Sprint Cup Series championship points lead by just four points over Earnhardt. The former series champion has made the most of his trademark consistency this season, recording nine Top-10 finishes in the last 10 races. The last time he finished outside the Top-10 was an 11^th at Richmond on April 28^th, but like Earnhardt, Kenseth struggles mightily on road courses. In 12 career Sonoma starts, he has just one Top-10 finish, and an average showing of 22.5.  

Third place point man Greg Biffle’s road course record is surprisingly strong. In nine career Sonoma starts, he has two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes, with a career-best showing of four back in 2006. While The Biff may not be a bona fide threat to win Sunday, a Top-5 finish could push him back in front of Kenseth and Earnhardt for the Sprint Cup points lead.  

If you’re looking for a dark horse pick, AJ Allmendinger’s background in karting and Open Wheel racing includes a heavy regimen of road course experience. He could dearly use a top finish – or even a win – to resurrect what has been a miserable first half-season with Penske Racing, and his 24^th-place points standings means he and crew chief Todd Gordon will gamble to win. The California native’s best career Sonoma finish – a seventh – came last year, and he has improved in each of his four outings on his home state road course.

Photo Credits: usatoday.com, foxsports.com