Motorsports FanHouse

Timing Crucial in Danica Patrick Move

Holly Cain — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Danica Patrick

INDIANAPOLIS -- The timing of the latest round of Danica Patrick-to-NASCAR reports isn't lost on those in the IndyCar world, where Thursday's major announcement that IZOD will be the IndyCar Series' first title sponsor in a decade has been forced to share headlines with its most famous driver's likely part-time foray into stock cars.

Recently crowned 2009 IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti -- a former Andretti Green Racing teammate of Patrick's -- said Thursday he's still confident she's staying in IndyCar next season.

"I believe she'll be back in IndyCar next year and that will help her with her goal of winning the Indianapolis 500,'' Franchitti told FanHouse. "If she does drive in NASCAR, I think it will be difficult to do both.''

And like many others in open-wheel circles, he also questioned the suspect timing of this week's reports about Patrick moving to NASCAR.

"There seems to be a certain game being played - not by her or her people - to drip feed these stories to the media,'' Franchitti said.

While Patrick, 27, and her agents at IMG have refused to confirm any news about 2010, multiple IndyCar sources confirmed Thursday that she's already signed a deal to be back in IndyCar full-time at Andretti Green Racing while also making a few stock car starts next season. Sponsorship commitments and leadership changes at AGR have prevented any type of formal announcement yet.

IZOD IndyCar Series officials refused to let recent speculation distract from Thursday's IndyCar news at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - a sponsorship deal IndyCar Series President of Competition Division Brian Barnhart referred to as the most significant development in the sport.

"We're comfortable and happy with where we are as a sport and the momentum we are building,'' Barnhart said. "We're hoping she'll be a big part of it.''

Barnhart's counterpart in the Commercial Division, Terry Angstadt said the constant rumors don't even phase the company.

"I don't think it hurts us one bit if she does some NASCAR races,'' Angstadt said. "It think it may actually raise the interest level, knowing that her full time interest is still being an IndyCar driver.''

For her part, Patrick isn't providing any details - in fact she refused to even take questions about it at the IRL season finale in Homestead last month - but a part-time job for her in NASCAR has been the worst-kept secret in North Carolina.

For more than a month there have been reports that Patrick was negotiating with JR Motorsports. This week, ESPN reported she is close to finalizing a deal with plans to drive a dozen or so NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team after making her stock car debut in the ARCA Series opener at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Over the last few months Patrick has met with several NASCAR teams. Stewart-Haas Racing owner-driver Tony Stewart - himself a former IRL champion - met with her and told reporters he was certain Patrick would compete in NASCAR at some level in 2010, but has repeatedly denied it will be for him.

Owner Michael Waltrip has publicly offered to broker a deal for Patrick too, but the likely scenario seems to involve Hendrick Motorsports equipment - which is what JR Motorsports uses.

Sources told FanHouse two weeks ago that a deal was once nearly completed for Patrick to drive trucks and Nationwide Series cars for Kevin Harvick under the tutelage of Harvick and Stewart, but it fell through over a sponsorship issue.

GoDaddy.com sponsors both Patrick and Earnhardt so it would be a plausible scenario to team up open-wheel's most famous driver with NASCAR's most-famous driver in what would be a marketing nirvana.

Both drivers are winless this year. But Patrick, whose victory in the 2008 IRL race in Japan made her the first woman to win a major professional race, was the top-finishing American in the IndyCar Series championship with a career best fifth place.

Earnhardt, on the other hand, has struggled mightily in his second season with Hendrick Motorsports. He's recorded only five top-10 finishes, had a mid-season crew chief change, and is on pace for his worst ever championship ranking (currently 23rd) while his three teammates are first, second and third in the standings.

While the rumors and non-sourced reports are picking up pace as the season winds down, Patrick has repeatedly insisted she would prefer to make any formal announcements about her plans in the winter off-season - perhaps late November.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=540718&pid=540717&uts=1257479997

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Danica Patrick Snapshots

Danica Patrick is IndyCar's most recognizable star, but also its most scrutinized one. The intense 27-year-old driver admitted she's consciously worked on controlling her emotions and "come into things with a different attitude." Click through to see more photos of Danica.

Chris OMeara, AP

Danica Patrick Snapshots

Chris OMeara, AP

Patrick poses for a portrait at Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., in 2008.

Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

Patrick attends the unveiling of Sports Illustrated's 2008 Swimsuit Issue in New York City.

Jamie McCarthy, WireImage.com

Patrick flashes a smile in pit lane at the Phoenix International Raceway in 2005.

Robert Laberge, Getty Images

Patrick walks the runway at the 10th Annual Gridiron Glamour show benefiting the HollyRod Foundation and SARRC in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2008.

Michael Buckner, Getty Images

Patrick poses for a portrait at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., in 2007.

Robert Laberge, Getty Images

Danica Patrick makes an appearance at Spike TV's 2003 GQ Men of the Year Awards in New York City.

Jim Spellman, WireImage.com

Patrick gets serious at the Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Va., in 2005.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

Danica Patrick arrives at the ESPY Awards in 2003.

Mark Mainz, Getty Images

Patrick is seen during a photo session prior to the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

Stan Honda, AFP / Getty Images

Timing Crucial in Danica Patrick Move originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Danica Patrick Refuses to Answer Questions on Future

Holly Cain — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, IRL

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Danica Patrick climbed out of her race car Friday afternoon, all smiles about a solid seventh-place qualifying effort for Saturday's IndyCar season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and liking her chances about a career-best ranking (fifth) in the standings.

She joked with reporters about missing her public relations spokeswoman and spoke earnestly of her Andretti Green Racing team's pressing need to find more speed.

Just don't ask her about the big elephant on pit road -- her contract status and whether she plans to give NASCAR a go.

When asked simply if she had hoped to be able to announce something by now, Patrick pointed her finger and said, "Why do you gotta end it like that?'' abruptly turned her back on the group of a half-dozen reporters and stormed away.

The interviews were over. The speculation will continue.

Ironically, while Patrick, 27, may not choose to speak about her future this weekend -- the last race of the IndyCar schedule -- others are saying a lot. More than 3,000 miles away at California Speedway her future was still generating buzz in the NASCAR garage.

The rumors grow each week -- some more wild than others, like a recent report that Patrick was demanding $8 million for eight stock car starts.

There have been other more plausible possibilities.

Two-time NASCAR champ Tony Stewart has had several discussions with Patrick about her career and "guaranteed" the NASCAR press that Patrick will be in some sort of a stock car next season.

Multiple reports from the IndyCar side promise she has re-signed with Andretti Green for an additional three seasons, but even that hasn't been formally announced.

This week NASCAR Sprint Cup driver/owner Michael Waltrip threw his hat in the ring, saying he'd love to speak with Patrick about fielding a car for her.

And NASCAR champion car owner Rick Hendrick told the the Los Angeles Times that Patrick "would help our sport" should she come to NASCAR. He was receptive to possibly fielding a car or truck for Patrick in a few races -- perhaps in conjunction with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports team in the Nationwide Series. But, Hendrick said, he had not had any formal talks with Patrick.

The most likely scenario is that Patrick will continue to do a full IndyCar Series schedule in 2010 while testing in a stock car and perhaps making a few starts in the developmental Nationwide, ARCA or Camping World Truck series as her open-wheel schedule permits.

"It boils down to seat time,'' three-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said Friday from California.
"Hit walls, tear up equipment, make mistakes. You have to go through that. You cannot shortcut that aspect. You have to go through those experiences to learn."
-- Jimmie Johnson
"Just not to be in a hurry, drive anything with a body on it: ARCA, Truck, Nationwide, Cup. It is tough because she is obviously going to have a big spotlight on her.

"Hit walls, tear up equipment, make mistakes. You have to go through that. You cannot shortcut that aspect. It doesn't matter if you are Juan Pablo who has been an F-1 driver coming in, or a guy coming from a local short track. You have to go through those experiences to learn."

Patrick is the first woman to win an IndyCar race (Japan, 2008) and the first to lead laps in the Indianapolis 500. She has always said it is her dream to win the Indy 500 and so it makes sense that she capitalize on those odds with a strong team like AGR.

Despite the fact AGR may endure its first winless season, Patrick has been the class of the non-Penske, non-Ganassi field. Her fifth-place rank in the standings entering Saturday's race is the best for any American driver in the series as well as tops in her five-year career.

Her peak in the open-wheel ranks also coincides with major marketing success. She is one of the most recognizable athletes in the country - a huge commercial and sponsorship hit - and that makes her attractive to America's most popular form of racing: NASCAR. And vice versa.

Interestingly, while it would seem like a good idea to try both forms of motorsport to ease her way into an eventual NASCAR ride, former open-wheel champion Juan Pablo Montoya cautioned against such an approach on Friday.

"I wouldn't be driving both cars to be honest,'' said Montoya, the 2000 Indy 500 winner and who is currently ranked third in the Sprint Cup championship battle.

"I wouldn't do it because they drive so different. You're going to get comfortable in one thing, and then you're going to make it to the other thing, and every time it's going to be like night and day. When I drive the 24 Hours (Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona) and I get to Daytona it feels really weird, and I've been driving stock cars for three years now.

"I do two test days and the race and come back for the (Daytona) 500 and it feels really weird to drive again. So, I wouldn't."

Patrick has been getting lots of advice - some solicited, some not - but until she's ready to announce her plans the Danica sweepstakes will get more frenzied. The speculation will continue, the rumors will grow. The good news for Patrick, is that people care enough to ask the questions.

Notes and Quotes

The three IndyCar championship contenders dominated the practice speed charts and equaled the feat during qualifying.

Dario Franchitti cut his Target Ganassi teammate and championship leader Scott Dixon's advantage to four points by winning the pole position in the No. 10 Target car. Dixon will start alongside Franchitti, and Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe, who is eight points behind Dixon, will start third.

"Obviously we're pretty happy with what we managed to achieve there. Tomorrow the hard work begins,'' said Franchitti, who is trying to win his second consecutive IRL title, sandwiched around a brief foray into NASCAR. The Scottish native won the IndyCar Series championship in 2007, then left open-wheel for NASCAR last season, before returning back to the IRL circuit this year.

Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves had to use a back-up car for qualifying after crashing between Turns 1 and 2 during the afternoon practice session. Castroneves said the left rear suspension collapsed: "When you have three wheels, normally, it doesn't do well.''

Castroneves, who earned his third Indy 500 win this year, rallied to qualify 11th in the backup.

Danica Patrick Refuses to Answer Questions on Future originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Reports: Danica Patrick Signs 3-Year IndyCar Extension

Holly Cain — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:36:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, IRL

Danica Patrick has signed a multi-year deal to stay in the IndyCar Series, according to a pair of published reports on Friday.

According to the Indianapolis Star and SI.com, Patrick signed a three-year contract extension with Andretti Green Racing (AGR). Patrick, nor the team, have confirmed the deal. There is nothing on her personal website addressing the situation.

"I think we'd all welcome her (to NASCAR), but I'm really happy for Michael (cousin Michael Andretti) and for his team,'' said NASCAR driver John Andretti. "That is great for them and maybe Danica can still try some of this stuff too and see what she thinks."

Patrick told reporters last month that she was close to re-upping with AGR and that any formal announcements about her future were weeks away. Most expect a press conference around the Oct. 10 IndyCar season finale in Homestead, Fla.

But there has been a lot of speculation about Patrick's future because she has so openly entertained moving from open-wheel ranks to stock cars. Talk of a full-time move has been replaced with a more realistic approach -- a part-time schedule in addition to vying for an IndyCar championship.

She visited with several NASCAR teams this summer, most notably Stewart-Haas Racing, whose owner, former IndyCar Series and two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, essentially "guaranteed" Patrick would be trying out a stock car at some point. He said last weekend at New Hampshire that he has never made an offer to field a car for her, however.

The most likely options are for Patrick to make a few starts in the ARCA, Camping World Trucks and/or Nationwide series, perhaps after this year's IndyCar Series finishes up and again next year as her open-wheel schedule permits.

John Andretti, a former IndyCar Series regular who raced in this year's Indianapolis 500, recommended that Patrick start off in the Nationwide cars and that laps on the 1.5-mile tracks might be best for her early development.

"I think if she were to try some stock car stuff, you need to take out your ego and emotion -- and that's for anyone making the transition,'' Andretti said Friday.

"You need to say to yourself, 'Just because I'm an elite open-wheel driver doesn't mean I'm going to be good in stock cars.' You need to get experience.

"It doesn't matter what she eventually decides to do -- there will still be a lot of attention on her. You want to build in some success.''

Patrick, who became the first woman to win an IndyCar race last year, is currently ranked fifth in the championship -- the highest ranked American driver in the series -- with one race remaining.

A three-year commitment for Patrick to remain in IndyCar would be a major coup for that sanctioning body in a time when major open-wheel stars have been lured to NASCAR, which offers fatter paychecks and immense popularity. It would also afford Patrick the opportunity to truly undergo some sort of development program in stock cars that would better position her for success should she move there full-time.

Reports: Danica Patrick Signs 3-Year IndyCar Extension originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Danica Should Break Up Old Boys Club

David Whitley — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:42:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors

A woman driver's place is in the kitchen of the RV. Except for Danica Patrick, who is allowed to appear silhouetted on the mudflaps of my pickup truck.

If you agree, you should hope Patrick joins NASCAR next season.

If you disagree, you should hope Patrick joins NASCAR next season.

If you saw 59,000 empty seats at Daytona International Speedway last week, you know why.

NASCAR needs a turbo boost, and nobody has turbos like Patrick. Her mere presence arouses a passion no other sports figure can touch.

"I just don't think it's a sport for women," Richard Petty famously said. "It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity. It gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough."

The King is right. Patrick has as much chance of winning next year's Daytona 500 as he does of winning Miss USA. But watching her try would be a can't-miss story.

Or would you prefer more news about Jeremy Mayfield's (alleged) meth habit?

That's been the big story around the pits this year. If it wasn't Mayfield suspension, it was the economy crashing at every turn, TV ratings and attendance plummeting or cookie-cutter races brought on by those infernal Cars of Tomorrow.

That's why NASCAR closed the backstretch grandstand at the Coke Zero 400 last Saturday night. Even slashed ticket prices couldn't keep the stands from looking like a WNBA game had been scheduled.

If there was a quick fix, it would be Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Man with the Golden Name is having a worse year than GM, however, and there is no bailout in sight.

None of which means NASCAR is in danger of going the way of Arena Football. But the good times are no longer rolling.

Sounds like a job for Superwoman.

Calling Patrick that makes racing fans cringe, mainly because the only thing she's been super at is selling herself. But she's not completely Anna Kournikova in a helmet.

Beneath those vampy GoDaddy.com commercials is a legitimate enough driver. Patrick is currently fifth in IRL standings, and you can't get there on looks alone.

With her contract expiring this year, Patrick's agents at IMG are pondering her next move. IMG rarely leaves a penny unturned, and NASCAR would give their 27-year-old client far more exposure than the IRL.

Advertising Age estimates Patrick would bring $50 million in new sponsors to NASCAR. That seems a bit high unless she races topless, an idea I wouldn't put past the marketing department at IMG.

Danica Patrick Snapshots

Chris OMeara, AP

Patrick poses for a portrait at Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., in 2008.

Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

Patrick attends the unveiling of Sports Illustrated's 2008 Swimsuit Issue in New York City.

Jamie McCarthy, WireImage.com

Patrick flashes a smile in pit lane at the Phoenix International Raceway in 2005.

Robert Laberge, Getty Images

Patrick walks the runway at the 10th Annual Gridiron Glamour show benefiting the HollyRod Foundation and SARRC in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2008.

Michael Buckner, Getty Images

Patrick poses for a portrait at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., in 2007.

Robert Laberge, Getty Images

Danica Patrick makes an appearance at Spike TV's 2003 GQ Men of the Year Awards in New York City.

Jim Spellman, WireImage.com

Patrick gets serious at the Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Va., in 2005.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

Danica Patrick arrives at the ESPY Awards in 2003.

Mark Mainz, Getty Images

Patrick is seen during a photo session prior to the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

Stan Honda, AFP / Getty Images

Patrick's best driving move would be to run the truck series or Nationwide races for a couple of years. And to start lifting weights. The cars are twice as heavy and the season is twice as long as she is used to, and better drivers than Patrick have struggled making the switch from open-wheel racers to NASCAR clunkers.

Then again, Sam Hornish Jr. also never posed two straight years for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. That Vixen Driver routine isn't going to work when her chassis starts to sag, and Patrick knows she needs to expose herself while the exposing is good.

And can you think of a more intriguing party for a woman to crash than NASCAR? Attendance would jump appreciably just from the number of sociologists wanting to observe her entry into a world that prides itself on its moonshining roots.

I realize that's stereotyping the Good Old Boys, but white males who spend their vacations parked in the Talladega infield are not a politically protected species. Besides, I've been in enough infields to know nobody spends the down time between races reading Betty Friedan.

That said, NASCAR fans probably aren't any more misogynistic than any other group of sports fans. It's just that NFL fans will never have to seriously ponder the prospect of a woman leading the league in sacks.

You just know other drivers would be itching to trade paint with her. It would be an updated weekly version of The Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

NASCAR boss Brian France should make recruiting Patrick his mission in life for the next few months.

If she flops, it would be the biggest kick for male chauvinism since the Masters defeated Martha Burk. If she has any success, it would be a rallying point for half the world's population.

Either way, what does NASCAR have to lose except an increasingly empty feeling?

Danica Should Break Up Old Boys Club originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Montoya to Danica: NASCAR Is 'Going to Take Time'

Holly Cain — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR Rumors, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, IRL

With the Danica Patrick sweepstakes beginning to gain momentum, at least one potential teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya has some words of advice and caution for the IndyCar driver should she make the move to NASCAR.

"Danica, I think she's got the talent and everything, but I don't think she knows what she's getting into," said Montoya, a former Indy car champ and Formula One winner who now drives for Chip Ganassi in the Sprint Cup Series.

"They're [stock cars] so different to drive. It's not the same feeling. ... If she comes I'm sure she can do it, but it doesn't matter if you come to a winning team or anything, it's going to take time."

Montoya's Ganassi team has emerged as a front runner in signing Patrick, whose IndyCar Series contract with Andretti Green Racing is up at the end of the season.

Patrick has said she'll listen to all offers -- from remaining in the IndyCar Series to giving NASCAR a try. Her name has even been floated as a potential candidate for the American Formula One team that will debut next season.

Since Chip Ganassi fields cars in both the IndyCar Series and NASCAR he presents a unique and strong option for Patrick. She is currently ranked fifth in the IndyCar Series championship and has said she wants nothing more than to win the Indianapolis 500 -- where she finished a career best third this May.

What makes the Ganassi connection appealing is the chance to drive for a championship IndyCar team that also offers the potential for a foray into NASCAR. She could get her feet wet in stock cars without a full commitment -- with the possibility of making a more permanent move later.

A spokesman for the Target-Ganassi team conceded that his team and anyone else that can afford Patrick has probably spoken with her or her management team at this point. She said right now her agents are gathering information and she doesn't expect to announce her future plans until after the IndyCar Series season wraps up in October.

Obviously Patrick is using the potential of move to NASCAR as a bargaining chip, but she does seem sincere in welcoming a new challenge. More to the point, she'd like to be a part of America's most popular racing series.

It would be a career builder in theory. The reality, however, is a trickier proposition as Montoya alluded to Friday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Current Sprint Cup Series championship leader Tony Stewart is the only driver to win a championship in IndyCar and in NASCAR's marquee Cup Series. Former Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. has struggled in two years of Cup racing but has shown improvement in the last few months.

Scott Speed, who like Montoya, came to stock cars directly from Formula One, has struggled in his rookie year, even failing to qualify for one of the Cup Series' two road course races last week at Sonoma, Calif.

Montoya is enjoying his best effort in three NASCAR seasons, cracking into the playoff top-12 this week with 10 races remaining before the Chase for the Championship begins.

"When I came here, my expectations were not that high," said Montoya, who is ranked 12th entering Sunday's race.

"I knew it was going to take time. When I came to Ganassi the team was running OK but it wasn't a great team so we've done a lot of work over the last couple of years to get where we are.

"You've got to have time with the car and you've got to get used to the feeling that you've got to go fast when the car doesn't feel right. I've finally got to a point where I go every week and I'm not surprised, it doesn't feel weird. ... and that takes a long time."

And as for the tired, question-for-the-ages, Montoya doesn't think Patrick being a woman has anything to do with competition at all -- not even in NASCAR which hasn't had a woman racing full time in the Cup Series in years.

"I think out there on the track when you have a helmet on, it doesn't matter who you are,'' Montoya said. "It is what it is. I think she'll probably get very welcomed by everybody if she decides to come. She's going to have good weeks, bad weeks you know.

"It's her problem not mine."

Latest Danica Patrick Photos

Danica Patrick talks with Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, before the IndyCar Series' Iowa Corn Indy 250 auto race Sunday, June 21, 2009, at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Franchitti won the race, Patrick finished in ninth, and Helio Castroneves, left, of Brazil, finished in seventh. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 21: Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 Team Penske Dallara Honda, leads Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, during the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 21, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Helio Castroneves;Danica Patrick

Getty Images

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 21: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, during the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 21, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 21: Helio Castroneves, driver of the #63 Team Penske Dallara Honda, leads Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, during the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 21, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Helio Castroneves;Danica Patrick

Getty Images

Actress Ashley Judd, left, hugs Danica Patrick, right, before qualifying laps for the IndyCar Series' Iowa Corn Indy 250 auto race Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 20: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Boost Mobile Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 20, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 20: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 20, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton,Iowa. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

Danica Patrick, of Roscoe, Ill., drives her car during practice for the IndyCar Series' Iowa Corn Indy 250 auto race Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

NEWTON, IA - JUNE 20: Danica Patrick climbs aboard the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL Indycar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 20, 2009 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton,Iowa. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

Montoya to Danica: NASCAR Is 'Going to Take Time' originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Danica Patrick Focuses on Racing While Agents Listen to Offers

Holly Cain — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, IRL

The first two weeks of Danica Patrick's free-agency sweepstakes have been low profile and subtle -- a stark contrast to the driver's normal mode of operation since becoming one of the most talked about racers in America.

After saying she'd entertain NASCAR job offers along with any good options to keep her in the IndyCar Series, Patrick said Tuesday she was not sure if any NASCAR teams had contacted her uber-agency IMG with employment offers yet.

"That's not for me to handle," said Patrick, who is in the last year of a contract with Andretti Green Racing.

"That's what I leave up to my agents. And as they tell me -- which is the best thing -- all I have to do is go there and perform and they'll take care of the rest, so that's what I'm going to do."

Patrick reiterated that she's open to a career shift to stock cars but intimated it would have to start with a top tier NASCAR team.

"For me, the most important thing is performing and having the ability and having the resources to get there faster," Patrick said. "So, yeah, when it's a top team calling, it makes it more attractive."

Patrick is enjoying her most consistent season to date in IndyCar, with a string of four consecutive top-five finishes coming on a variety of race circuits. Her third place finish in the Indianapolis 500 was the best ever for a woman and her highest finish of the season. She sits fifth in the championship standings as the series begins a four-week run of races this week at Iowa Speedway.

And yet as Patrick seems to be hitting her stride in the open-wheel ranks, speculation that she'll move to NASCAR has followed her everywhere. And she hasn't exactly tried to squash it.

Latest Danica Patrick Photos

FILE - In this photo taken on June 28, 2008, Danica Patrick stands with her pit crew during pre race ceremonies for the SunTrust Indy Challenge Race at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. Patrick looks toward the upcoming IRL race at Richmond International Raceway amid talk she's the latest open-wheel racer being courted to make the jump to NASCAR. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

FILE - In this May 10, 2008, file photo, driver Danica Patrick, right, is congratulated by teammate Marco Andretti after her qualifying run on the first day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Andretti Green teammates Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti say there are no hard feelings between them despite rumors to the contrary. During a break in IndyCar testing Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Watkins Glen International, both said any hard feelings over their battle in the closing laps of Saturday night's race at Texas Motor Speedway were forgotten. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman, File)

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 06: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Dallara Honda, walks through the stands prior to the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

Danica Patrick stands by her car as she prepares for the start of the IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550 auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

FT. WORTH , TX - JUNE 05: Danica Patrick drives her #7 Boost Mobile Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during qualifying for the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 5, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 05: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Dallara Honda, stands on pit road during qualifying for the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 5, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images

"As drivers we like to challenge ourselves,'' said Patrick, who's lone IndyCar race victory came last year in Japan. "If we've done something well, can we do the next thing well?

"NASCAR has so many viewers and so many partners. There are just lots of options both inside and outside the car. It looks like fun. There are 40-odd guys that do it every year, I'm not sure how many the number is this year. But obviously, it's a good time.

"Oval racing is always fun. ... It's kind of like the Indy 500 every weekend. That's a lot of fun as a driver to be a part of something important and something people want to watch."

For now Patrick insists IMG, which is run by former NASCAR executive George Pyne, is in data collection mode and that she'll evaluate all her options at the end of the season. For legal reasons, she may not even be able to announce next year's plans until her current contract with AGR ends this season.

"At the end of the day, I want to do well this year. I want to win as many races as I can, so I don't want to do anything that would take away from that being able to happen.. ... To be open about anything to that point would be foolish. That's for after the season and we'll worry about it then, and deal with that then."

The opportunity to win is what Patrick insists is driving her decision on a new contract. But she also, understandably, wants to seize personal marketing opportunities for what she calls her "brand" -- something she describes as such:

"My brand is determined, feminine and hopefully -- I feel awkward talking about myself like this -- but it's something beautiful, something fast, something interesting and exciting, something inspiring and something iconic and something that's doing things that have never been done before."

Danica Patrick Focuses on Racing While Agents Listen to Offers originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report: Meth Triggered Mayfield Ban

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors

The ongoing fight between Sprint Cup Series driver Jeremy Mayfield and NASCAR over his drug suspension has spilled into lawsuits from both sides.

Mayfield, you may remember, was suspended May 10 after testing positive for a banned substance during a random screening the prior weekend in Richmond. Since then, Mayfield has launched a public relations campaign in an effort to get reinstated. If the latest news is true, then it becomes crystal clear why Mayfield got in trouble in the first place.

A report on ESPN.com cites two sources with the damning word that Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine in Richmond.

Along with the allegation that Mayfield had tested positive for meth, the article lays out a timeline to show how we, assuming the report is true, got to this point.

Mayfield had filed for a temporary restraining order, asking to be allowed to compete while his case with NASCAR was ongoing. Judge Forrest Bridges denied the request. During the hearing, NASCAR attorney Paul Hendrick described the unidentified drug as a "dangerous, illegal banned substance."

On May 15, NASCAR chairman Brian France used the words "serious infraction" in describing the failed drug test and said that the third drug came from within the categories of "performance-enhancing or recreational."

In a countersuit filed by NASCAR in U.S. District Court on June 5, NASCAR cited the side effects of the redacted drug as "excessive aggression or exaggerated self-confidence as well as numerous other physical and mental side-effects detrimental to the health and safety of a stock car driver."

Mayfield's attorneys have been contending that this was a false positive, perhaps the result of Mayfield taking different prescription drugs. Naturally, they're also calling out AEGIS Sciences, the company that NASCAR is working with on their drug-testing.

This case has been the subject of some interesting debate on NASCAR television programming. Some, like Stewart/Haas driver Ryan Newman, have come out and said that NASCAR needs to be more open about their policy. However, it's unlikely that word of an alleged positive test for methamphetamine -- one of the most dangerous drugs out there -- is going to garner a lot of support in the garage for Mayfield.

Report: Meth Triggered Mayfield Ban originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Calls for NASCAR to Reveal Mayfield's Drug Violation Not Neccessary

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:12:00 EST

Filed under: Ryan Newman, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup

Ryan Newman jumped on the bandwagon Thursday night asking for NASCAR to become a tell-all of Jeremy Mayfield's apparent drug use.

"I think everyone wants a list right now," said Newman of NASCAR's banned substances. "The whole system would be fixed if they just tell us what Jeremy did."

Sadly, Newman couldn't be more wrong because such a list wouldn't 'fix' a problem and the precedent set by both NASCAR and other major sports leagues has said that revealing an accused user's drug of choice is not an option.

I get where Newman and the rest of the NASCAR drivers and media members on the tell-all brigade this week are coming from. It's scary to think that one week a guy like Jeremy Mayfield, who from all previous accounts was a just a guy trying to scrap his way back into the Sprint Cup Series, can be sidelined in such a shocking way.

They feel like a bit of the rug has been swiped from under their feet and that more drivers are next on the list.

"To be honest with you, I'm a little scared," Newman said. "I'm afraid to take Nyquil. If I get a cold I don't know what to take. To me this is extremely gray, extremely vague."

Frankly, it's all a bit of an overreaction.

I'd be willing to bet that NASCAR, and more narrowly their contracted drug testing company Aegis Sciences Corporation, know that the ill effects of placing a driver on suspension after a positive test are staunch and steep, and that a mistake in the process leaves them wide open for a large lawsuit.

The only real reason drivers are scared is because Mayfield has disputed the results in the media as a combination of drugs for allergies. There wasn't an admission or arrest, as was the case in the last high-profile drug case in the sport with the admitted heroin use of former driver Aaron Fike.

But you've got to take into account that NASCAR tested Mayfield once, revealed to him that he had failed the test, and allowed him to submit another sample. Both showed the same substances when tested by Aegis and obviously left little doubt in the eyes of both companies to take such drastic and newsworthy action.

You think NASCAR likes having its name connected to drug abuse? Surely not.

Reports are a little conflicting on how exactly teams were notified at the beginning of the season on which drugs to avoid. Some have said only a list was published for crew members and others have said NASCAR handed out a 300-page brick with the illicit substances. Lists, however, don't stop abusers.

Regardless, confusion on what exactly is illegal doesn't mean NASCAR should reveal what Mayfield was busted for.

Do we know what Manny Ramirez took exactly to earn a 50-game suspension in baseball? Nope. And what about the other crew members this season -- including one fired from Mayfield's team earlier this year -- who have been busted for failed drug tests?

No information was released at all, begging the question as to why Jeremy Mayfield's status would be any different.

And who knows, perhaps an issue involving medical privacy law might be a big factor in revealing what substance earned Mayfield the boot.

We're now 11 races in to the Sprint Cup season and just one driver has found the ill end of the new drug testing policy that started back in February. Hundreds, if not thousands, of tests have been run with just a handful coming up on the wrong side of the indicator strip.

The biggest issue here isn't what Mayfield took or the witchhunt going on to find out, but rather that NASCAR's drug policy seems to be working, even if a little more clarity for the comfort of drivers is needed.

Calls for NASCAR to Reveal Mayfield's Drug Violation Not Neccessary originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 15 May 2009 11:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bruton Smith's Logic for Moving NASCAR Finale Not Enough

Holly Cain — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR Tracks

Whether you always agree with Bruton Smith or not, you've got to appreciate the way he keeps NASCAR's power brokers honest and on their toes.

This week the outspoken and oft-controversial Smith suggested that NASCAR move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway back to Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the champion was crowned through 2001.

Of course Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) owns and operates the speedways in Atlanta; Texas; Las Vegas; Sonoma, Calif.; Bristol; and Charlotte; so he is always trying to drum up new business. And often his ideas make sense, like the idea that Las Vegas should have a second date.

But the Associated Press quoted Smith as asking this week: "Why have the last race of the season at some godforsaken area just north of Cuba?"

And he'll need a better argument than that.

The Homestead area - located South of Miami at the gateway to the Florida Keys - may not be home to the "traditional" NASCAR fan base - but the traditional NASCAR fan base has certainly come to attend this race.
It is also a big hit for locals, which include a strong Latin fan base that NASCAR has pursued.

The track has worked hard to make the race a huge event in the area. You can count on good weather even in mid-November and it's a destination visit that attracts fans and sponsors.

The races have been good, the championships interesting.

Smith argues that Atlanta would offer a larger grandstand and easier travel - great points - but Championship Weekend is supposed to be something even more. Something out of the ordinary.

Homestead has always delivered on that. The biggest knock is the late afternoon start times and that has nothing to do with the facility and everything to do with television.

"I love what Bruton brings to the sport," four-time champion Jeff Gordon said. "He always gives you good material to write. ... and he builds beautiful facilities.

"But I do think Homestead is the place to wind down our season. I love that track. I love the area."

Bruton Smith's Logic for Moving NASCAR Finale Not Enough originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

No More Pit Stops? NASCAR Truck Series Still Looking to Cut Costs

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST

Filed under: Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR Testing, Camping World Truck Series

In what has to be one of the more unusual -- or, at least, unexpected -- way to save costs for NASCAR's third-tier Camping World Truck Series, one driver acknowledged competitive pit stops might be gone for 2009.

According to an article over at SceneDaily, NASCAR is expected to announce a few more initiatives this week in a bid to help Truck teams stay solvent among one of the toughest sponsorship climates the sport has ever seen.

Pit stops, three-time Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday Jr., says, might be one of the key elements on NASCAR's cost containment chopping block, though the sanctioning body has yet to acknowledge such a possibility.

For Hornaday -- one of the Truck Series' original drivers from its inaugural 1995 season -- axing pit stops not only could save teams a chunk of money, but it's a move that should have been done long ago.

"They should have done it a long time ago," Hornaday said. "You could have the best truck out there, and if you didn't pay that guy a little bit more money or get the best guy or steal him from somebody else, you're going to come out of the pits sixth or seventh and have a chance of not winning the race."

Hornaday's point is that as the NASCAR world has flourished in the past two decades, superior pit crew members have become essential to competetive teams thanks to the incredible difference that a tenth of a second -- much less two or three seconds -- can make in the outcome of a race. And thanks to NASCAR operating as a sport with independent contractors, a crew member has no obligation to remain at one team and instead can head to where the pay is the highest.

Obviously, it stops couldn't be deleted entirely from any race program due to race lengths, but I'd imagine such a process would include yellow flag stops that allow a driver to return to the race in the same spot granted they are under some sort of time limit. Green flag pit stops, though, seem a little tougher to negotiate.

Going without pit stops or some other modification to the basic NASCAR race dynamic isn't completely new for the Truck Series. From the Series' start in 1995 until 1998, the series had an intermission or half time break in its races and prohibited tire changes except when tire wear was a factor.

Of course, the trucks primarily raced on short tracks during that time and have since grown to include Daytona and a plethora of other 1.5-mile and 2-mile speedways.

Taking away pit stops would be quite a drastic change for the series and I'm not completely sure the idea -- while a good one for personnel cost-savings -- would be good for the overall entertainment. Additionally, such a move would lead to a lot of Truck Series crew members either with lower wages or without a job due to their lack of requirements for a team to win.

Perhaps, NASCAR should look into a more devoted short track schedule for the Truck Series because in doing so, teams would have less money dedicated to expensive aerodynamic and downforce work that the bigger tracks necessitate for a high level of competition.

It should, without a doubt, be interesting what NASCAR comes up with for the Trucks in the coming days.

No More Pit Stops? NASCAR Truck Series Still Looking to Cut Costs originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Welcome to NASCAR's Silliest Season

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: A.J. Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler, Petty Enterprises, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports

Did you really think the NASCAR world could keep quiet during this offseason?

First, we had Elliott Sadler being canned from his then Gillett-Evernham Motorsports ride just months after signing a multi-year contract extension. A.J. Allmendinger, they said, was taking over the ride.

Then, Richard Petty and the oh-so-struggling Petty Enterprises worked out a merger with GEM, a fellow Dodge team to create a still unnamed four-car team that includes the famed No. 43. Somehow, such a merger was a positive move for Sadler, as he was reinstated to the ride he had originally been taken out of.

Perhaps the newly-formed team didn't want to deal with a near-certain lawsuit Sadler was going to throw their way?

With Sadler back in, the Petty merger complete, Allmendinger signed up to run a handful of races based on sponsorship for the team, the NASCAR world appeared to slow.

Slow, at least, until the former Petty Enterprises driver (effective December, that is) Bobby Labonte was seen popping up in and around Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing -- propelling rumors that he'd be taking over the No. 8 car based on bringing a solid sponsorship package with him.

(Note: Been under a rock the last few months? Here's some info about that whole DEI not being DEI anymore deal.)

So, it seemed, Labonte was to be in at the No. 8, according to the Coke website, Super 8 hotels was on-board.
Aric Almirola, slated originally to drive No. 8, was now thrown to the backburner without sponsorship for a fourth car at EGR.

But, as they say, not so fast.

Tuesday, rumors bubbled up that Labonte had signed a contract with Yates Racing after the team merged with Hall of Fame Racing. Wednesday, such rumors were confirmed with a press release indicating Labonte will now drive the No. 96 Ford sponsored by Ask.com

Over at ThatsRacin, indications were that Labonte had a lunch meeting scheduled with EGR, but called just before to say that he had signed with Yates/Hall of Fame -- meaning Almirola was back in the No. 8.

Looking back at all of this, can you imagine how crazy preseason Daytona testing (it would have finished Wednesday) would have been with this driver carousel?

Welcome to NASCAR's Silliest Season originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Reports Say NASCAR's Elliott Sadler Shuffled from GEM in Favor of A.J. Allmendinger

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: A.J. Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler, NASCAR Rumors

We knew that Gillett-Evernham Motorsports wasn't so full of Evernham anymore, and we also knew that the Dodge Sprint Cup team was looking to sign recently-dropped Red Bull Racing driverA.J. Allmendinger despite lacking a sponsorship.

Well, reports say that all of that is coming true, but with one incredible twist:

Elliott Sader, who has driven the No. 19 for two years and is under contract for more, is being replaced by Allmendinger.

Say whaaa?

The NASCAR Scene and ESPN are both reporting this matter "according to sources close to the team" and Allmendinger's business managar Tara Ragan has confirmed he is in the final negotiations of signing a contract with the team.

There's no specific confirmation, however, that Allmendinger will replace Sadler. Regardless, such a move -- or a rumor of such a move -- is highly surprising.

Sadler has a contract with the team through 2010 and has become a solid face of the Best Buy sponsorship in NASCAR. His name hasn't been anywhere the rumor mill of losing a ride for 2009, though his season standing of 24th in 2008 doesn't exactly state a great case for him to avoid the driver circus.

Allmendinger was dropped from Red Bull Racing after showing marked improvement throughout the course of his second NASCAR season in lieu of the arrival of Scott Speed to the team. He certainly has the talent the perform in NASCAR and I've made several pleas for this driver to stay around the sport.

Still, this rumor was a big shocker for me, and I don't know if I agree with booting Sadler from No. 19 car. What about you? Would this be a legitimate driver change?

Reports Say NASCAR's Elliott Sadler Shuffled from GEM in Favor of A.J. Allmendinger originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Gibbs: We Still Love the Young, Struggling Joey Logano

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing

Let's face it, the kid many in the NASCAR garage have referred to as sliced bread -- here's an explanation of the reference -- hasn't exactly been a great beacon of Sprint Cup championship hope for Joe Gibbs Racing in his first three races.

In other words, 18-year-old Joey Logano is really a real person, and, no, he's not going to single-handedly Kyle Busch-ize the 2009 NASCAR season (and probably doesn't want to after we've seen what happens to Busch when the pressure is on).

Logano, who made his first NASCAR start at Dover in June's Nationwide Series race, won his first race rather quickly at Kentucky Speedway. Then, Tony Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing effective the end of 2008 and opened a seat for the 2000-version of Boy Wonder to take the reigns of a championship NASCAR team before he's even old enough to sip the champagne.

It left me with a negative feeling about the kid who has seemed to have been served NASCAR as a whole on a silver platter, but those feelings were soon washed away when his Sprint Cup debut didn't trivialize the entire sport. In three races, he's had an average finish of 37th and word says he was slower than NASCAR's minimum speed at Texas last week, though he was allowed to continue.

As always in NASCAR, the bad finishes have allowed the rumor-mongers to creep in, saying Logano might be replaced in 2009 by Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s Martin Truex Jr.

Well, such a rumor summoned J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR and son of team owner Joe Gibbs, to the track in Phoenix on Saturday to offer up the truth on the Logano situation. So, J.D., is Joey a no-go for the No. 20 in 2008?

Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs reiterated on Saturday that Joey Logano will drive the No. 20 Toyota in 2009.

"Everything he's done up to now he's done exceptionally well," Gibbs said. "When you get to this level, everybody is really good. [...]

"We threatened him within an inch of his life - just finish the race," Gibbs joked. "It's just going to take time."

That whole "threaten" joke might not have really been so after readers during our live blog at Texas talked about a high amount of whining across the Logano radio for the way his Toyota was handling. Needless to say, it was a long day for Wonder Bread.

Welcome to NASCAR, Mr. Logano.

Gibbs: We Still Love the Young, Struggling Joey Logano originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report Predicts Huge Job Losses in NASCAR

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup

It's not too difficult to get the fact that the world as a whole is entering a pretty tough time financially. And when these things happen, some of the first industries to take a hit include entertainment and sports, thanks to people being more fiscally responsible.

We've already seen NASCAR ticket sales dropping pretty incredibly over the past few weeks -- last weekend's race at Atlanta was a glaring reminder -- and the next shoe to fall in the NASCAR economic climate appears to be sponsorship of race teams.

So teams, faced with the idea of racing in the near future with decreased funding, are apparently looking at making drastic cuts to the number of employees in the race shops. And when I say drastic, I'm not kidding.

From CBS:

Several sources have reported as many as 750 to 1,000 employees from various Sprint Cup, Nationwide and truck series teams will be released the Monday after the Homestead weekend season finales. DEI, faced with the prospect of shrinking from four to one full-time team in 2009, is poised to lay off as many 100 people if necessary. And according to Felix Sabates, part owner of Chip Ganassi's NASCAR operation, seven or eight teams from this year's Cup roster won't be in business in 2009.

Yikes.

Now before we start shouting for a NASCAR bailout package from Congress (you know some of those nimrods on Capitol Hill would seriously consider it), I'll admit that those numbers could easily be inflated because they are more hearsay guesses than actual rubber-to-the-road numbers.

But still, take half of the number granted there, and you're looking at 500 people in the NASCAR industry without a job and four teams (and 4-8 drivers, likely) that will be wiped off the NASCAR map.

Times are certainly not good for NASCAR teams -- we can assume the sanctioning body will be able to ride this wave out -- and it very well might be time for some drastic decisions on the short-term future of the sport.

Fox Sports' Lee Spencer pitched earlier in the week for NASCAR to shorten up the schedule to 25 races with a 5-race Chase that ends at Daytona in September, and I couldn't really fault her for it.

Sure, it's great to have NASCAR for nearly an entire calendar year (Feb. to Nov.) but the costs associated with that for teams who are building cars, testing cars, sending teams to the race track and all of the other miscellaneous costs really, truly add up.

I wouldn't be against the idea of a shorter season (it makes every race a little more intense and would lead to an immediate hacksaw effect of some tracks that certainly don't need two dates in a season), and I truly wouldn't be too upset if NASCAR decided to switch it up.

Another rumor tossed around a few weeks back -- which NASCAR flatly denied -- was that the sport would cut back on the number of starting spots in each race, but I'm not exactly sure how that would save money, other than to lessen the number of officials at a race track and spread the post-race payout to less teams.

NASCAR certainly faces some interesting questions before we hit Daytona in 2009, and I won't be shocked if the sport tries to shore up some losses for the teams with drastic moves.

Report Predicts Huge Job Losses in NASCAR originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

It's Over: No Minced Words for Carpentier

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:03:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports

Reed Sorenson made his way to Gillette-Evernham Motorsports earlier this week, transferring across Sprint Cup team lines from Chip Ganassi Racing.

And as he did so, rookie Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier in first year with GEM's No. 10 car could read the writing on the wall.

Simply, the team was placing him on the back burner of its sponsorship search -- meaning he more than likely won't be in a sponsored car if he decides to stick with the GEM team in 2009 because the emphasis will now be on Sorenson.

And when he was asked about Friday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway, he didn't exactly toe the company line:

"They hired Reed Sorenson for next year, so it's over," Carpentier says. "They're working on a fourth team and looking for sponsorship, but you know how that goes."

So Carpentier says he's a free agent. "I'm talking with other teams to see what's out there," the Montreal native says.

I'd classify what was said by Carpentier as another round of those "you can't blame him"-type comments.

He's been vocal for many weeks now about how GEM hasn't let him know about his future while other drivers snap up other rides, and to have the team string him along like that just frankly can't feel good and doesn't come across as professional.

The stats for Carpentier aren't exactly compelling him in to another ride or sponsorship in 2009, but one has to remember that his first stock car experience came just over a year ago in a road course race in Montreal.

Carpentier has a great personality and does have driving talent, and any team that decides to let him refine himself as a stock car driver could be very well-served -- if only to allow Carpentier to rub his talent in GEM's face.

It's Over: No Minced Words for Carpentier originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report: Gibbs Racing Grants Tony Stewart His Release After 2008

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR Sponsors

Tony Stewart will pick up the tempo and take it on home under the hood of Joe Gibbs Racing for the final time this season, as it has been reported that the he will gain his release from his long time racing team and, in all likelihood, take off on his own.

While exploring his options, Stewart was most intrigued in potential ownership opportunities and he's had an offer on the table since April to purchase the fledgling two-car team of Haas-CNC Racing. By owning his own team, Stewart believed he could ensure a spot for himself in NASCAR long after his driving days.

But he first had to gain his release, something owner Joe Gibbs and team president J.D. Gibbs had insisted they would not agree to.

When it became clear Stewart wanted out, the Gibbs' finally relented and will apparently sign off on his early departure Wednesday. The team is expected to replace the 37-year-old Stewart, one of NASCAR's most celebrated drivers, with 18-year-old phenom Joey Logano with Home Depot staying on board as the sponsor.

It's believed that the move would free up Stewart to invest in Haas-CNC. It's also believed that Ryan Newman could join Stewart on his new team, and that he would "gut" the current staffing of the company and bring in his own people.

Stewart and Gibbs Racing have been back and forth regarding contract negotiations, but apparently the outspoken driver stood firm enough to eventually gain his release. The most obvious benefit, as noted, to Stewart getting all entrepreneurial on his next go round, is that he stands to already have a large foot in the door when he decides to step away from the wheel and move into the administrative end of racing.

Of course, all of this is expressly contingent on the announcement that will come tomorrow, and even then, Stewart will still be a "free agent" following the season until he makes his specific plans known. Although based on the report that ESPN issued in the early Wednesday a.m. hours, it is almost a certainty that Stewart joins forces with Haas.

On Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway, Stewart will formally announce a move to Haas/CNC Racing as co-owner and driver, sources close to Stewart said. Haas/CNC, which currently fields the Nos. 66 and 70 Chevrolets, will be renamed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009.

Sources close to both sides told ESPN.com the deal will make Stewart the highest-paid driver in NASCAR.

Sources also said the Stewart Haas cars will carry different numbers. The No. 14, made famous in IndyCar racing by Stewart's hero, A.J. Foyt, is available, but sources would neither confirm nor deny that as his choice.

Sources said Stewart will own a 50 percent stake in the organization, but his financial investment in attaining it was not disclosed.

So, if you believe "sources" (and why not, right?) then this deal is as good as done. But, as we've seen over the past 12 hours, things can change pretty quickly in the world of athletic contract negotiations. Still, the noise that Stewart has made over the past few months -- and the freedom a 50% stake in a smaller company would afford him -- make this seem like a pretty logical next step.

Report: Gibbs Racing Grants Tony Stewart His Release After 2008 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

$225 Million Suit Should Open Some Eyes

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series

If NASCAR's effort to be more diverse needed a boost, well, it just got 225 million more reasons to switch into high gear.

As I'm sure you've seen everywhere -- heck, this made front page on nearly every news web site -- NASCAR is being sued by a former official claiming discrimination, sexual harassment, and other things. The official, who is black, worked for NASCAR in the Nationwide Series side of things for a couple of years before being terminated in 2007.

In the lawsuit, she claims many things with direct accusations of actions or words said by named series officials while heading to race tracks and while working in the garage and pit area. Nationwide Series director Joe Balash was even named in the documents.

NASCAR responded Wednesday with CEO Brian France saying that Mauricia Grant -- the official -- never reported the claims to the appropriate avenues in NASCAR management.

I'd say at this point NASCAR's reputation has taken a nice blow in the past few days. Of course, that's the way the American legal system works: the plaintiff makes the first sensational arguments in the media and then the defense is left to defend itself via a public relations statement.

Regardless, I'd be willing to bet that a few of the specific charges are true against NASCAR. If so, France truly needs to stick to his guns and enforce that "zero-tolerance" policy he talked of in his response from the lowest minion in the NASCAR ranks to the top official -- including Balash if he was involved.

One of the biggest battles that NASCAR still faces in the eyes of the non-racing American public is the perception of the "good 'ol boy" club and refusal to truly make the sport wide open to anyone.

Sure, there's been somewhat of an effort made, but when mainstream America is reading about incredible tales of discrimination and sexism, it makes it harder for them to tune in and digest for 500 miles on Sunday.

$225 Million Suit Should Open Some Eyes originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Rumors Link Stewart, Earnhardt Jr. in Cup

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Lowes Motor Speedway, NASCAR Gossip, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup

It wouldn't really be a NASCAR season without Dale Earnhardt Jr. at least grabbing a part of the headline spotlight, would it?

The folks over at the Charlotte Observer (arguably the sport's best coverage in my book) seem to be getting wind of Junior starting to work with Tony Stewart about a ride with JR Motorsports at the Sprint Cup level. From the story:

Several sources have confirmed to The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com that JR Motorsports, which currently fields two Nationwide series teams and is owned by Earnhardt Jr., is also an option.

Under this scenario, JR Motorsports would field at least two Cup teams and likely abandon its Nationwide program or scale it down significantly, sources said. JR Motorsports already receives chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports and could continue that relationship on the Cup side.

Stewart first started to make news a few weeks ago when he announced that all options are on the table after his contract ends with Joe Gibbs Racing -- the only team Stewart has ever raced for in Sprint Cup -- after 2009.

Of course, it's widely known that Stewart and Earnhardt Jr. are very good friends, so this connection seems to make sense on that level. The fact that Dale Earnhardt Jr. told the media last week in his interviews that he's looking at moving JR Motorsports to the Cup level only tosses gallons of fuel on to this fire.

So let's put this together. Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving for Hendrick, while he owns a JR Motorsports Sprint Cup operation.

The shades of how his father, Dale Earnhardt, ran such an operation (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) while racing for Richard Childress Racing did the same thing can't be overlooked.

And for Stewart the JR Motorsports option seems like it would be much, much more successful in the long-run than Haas-CNC Racing.

Rumors Link Stewart, Earnhardt Jr. in Cup originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 19 May 2008 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

COT of Tomorrow Goes Nationwide Mid-2009

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Media Watch, NASCAR Rumors, Nationwide Series

The plan for the integration of the Car of Tomorrow into the Nationwide Series was announced over the weekend at Mexico City.

The transition will begin mid-2009, said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton:

"It will probably be in the middle of next year sometime," Pemberton said. "We will try to do something that's more user-friendly than the roll-out schedule that they had in the Cup Series.

"We probably will go later in the year but more races in a row. We haven't determined that but we'll look at sometime after mid-year."

Once it starts, it likely will be a clean break with the new car used in all events except for road courses where NASCAR will revert back to the old car, Pemberton said.

Apparently, NASCAR is partially delaying the project as well because the manufacturers are trying to add as much flavor to their respective car design, with NASCAR trying to find aerodynamic balances.

NASCAR has also said that the Nationwide version will carry a spoiler on the rear decklid instead of the Sprint Cup wing.

You've got to believe this transition will only speed the process of eliminating small time teams from the second-tier NASCAR series, despite being a cost-saving initiative for down the road.

(Note: I'm not sure why Kyle Busch swigging a beverage has anything to do with Nationwide Series body styles, but I'm certain its the best picture from the Mexico race weekend.)

COT of Tomorrow Goes Nationwide Mid-2009 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR's Rain Dance? Fine With Me

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Gossip, NASCAR Rumors, Sprint Cup

I know I was one of those NASCAR fans that stayed up far too late into the night (and early morning) in anticipation of Auto Club 500 being wrapped up in the wee hours of morning, eastern time, on Sunday.

I know I was ticked that after staying up until 2am/ET to hear FOX's Chris Myers tell us that the race had been officially called and would resume some 11 hours later.

After all, the rain had stopped hours earlier, and generally a race track could be dry and raceable within that time.

But it wasn't because water continued to seep through the track and dew was collecting. And that really set a lot of fans off.

They've complained that NASCAR screwed them by making them stay up late (on the east coast) for a race that could have potentially ended when New Yorkers were waking up for coffee. The ones in the stands in California thought they had been strung along for far too long, and booed the decision.

But really, what more can you expect? I can't blame NASCAR in this decision because I've been in the stands at a race track when NASCAR jumped the gun too quickly under a rain delay.

The 2003 Coca-Cola 600 turned out to be the Coca-Cola 414 after a rain delay appeared to be too much for NASCAR. They claimed they couldn't dry the track quick enough and that there was more rain moving in.

Of course, as we left the speedway, there was nothing but starry skies and the rain didn't come again until early the next morning. To make things more disappointing, the 1997 event faced two rain delays -- including one after the halfway mark -- and NASCAR kept racing until well-past 1am/ET.

We saw a race that night because NASCAR stuck it out, and boy was it worth it.

So how can fans be so hard on NASCAR this time around? NASCAR played the waiting game for so long for a couple of reasons: the rain the was done, the track was drying, there were fans in the stands, and it was the west coast.

Throw in the Auto Club Speedway's lights and that sounds like a perfect scenario to get a race in given that teams had to report to Las Vegas by Thursday evening for the next weekend's race. And no -- that's not a direct trip.

Fans will complain that the TV audience would have been horrible had the race started at 2am/ET and that most of the world would miss it. That's a fair argument, but it frankly doesn't matter.

There were human beings sitting in the stands who planned to see a race on Sunday, not Monday in California and that had waited for the series to get the track dry. So what if the race last until 2am/PT time? The fans would have seen a show and then went to work on Monday morning with little to no sleep, admiring NASCAR's dedication to get the race in.

Instead, any fans that wanted to come had to take a day off.

Complain all you want about having to stay up late, or whatever excuse you can come up with, but the truth is, NASCAR did the right thing.

The way I see it? It was truly a chance NASCAR was willing to take in its bid to get back to the basics. The fans in California wanted a race on Sunday, so NASCAR tried its darndest. When it didn't work out, they pulled the plug -- and I'd rather see that pulled on the long end of time than the short end.

For that, NASCAR, a job well done.

NASCAR's Rain Dance? Fine With Me originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments