Nationwide Series News (1612)
NASCAR Nationwide Series News
National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement
Written by Steven B. Wilson
On May 24, 2013, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team.
The penalties concern Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Involved in an altercation with another competitor after the race had concluded.
The penalties stemmed from a post-race incident following the April 26 race at Richmond International Raceway.
The original penalties assessed to the No. 2 team were:
- · Crew members Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce were both fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series events. They were also both placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.
The Appellants appealed all penalties listed above. The Appellants also requested and were granted a deferral of the suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened.
Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The suspensions of the two crew members in question will take effect beginning with the May 31 event at Dover International Speedway.
The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.
Dick Berggren
Ed Clark
Doug Fritz
Shawn Rogers – Appellate Administrator and non-voting member
NASCAR PR
The past two years Elliott Sadler has come so close to capturing the NASCAR Nationwide Series title, only to finish runner-up to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
With Stenhouse now competing full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, conventional wisdom would say it is Sadler's crown to lose this year. And, he just might if he's not able to carve out more top-five finishes with a win sprinkled in here and there.
It's not that he's having a bad season; it's just not a blow-the-doors-off-the-competition, stop-the-presses kind of year many expected. When Sadler and the rest of his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team start Saturday afternoon's History 300 (2:45 p.m. ET, ABC) at Charlotte, he'll be third in the standings, 42 points behind leader Regan Smith.
In nine races this season, he has three top fives and five top 10s, including a runner-up finish in the most recent race at Darlington. His team's strong performance at the South Carolina track should provide them a boost of confidence as they prepare for a stretch of 21 consecutive weeks in which the NASCAR Nationwide drivers will be on track.
"This OneMain Financial team has a lot of momentum coming off our second-place finish at Darlington Raceway," said Sadler.
He has made 12 series starts at Charlotte with a driver rating of 93.8, but has never been to Victory Lane. His last three races here have resulted in a fourth, fifth and third, to go along with a second-place finish that come in 2005. In all, he has four top fives and five top 10s with one pole.
So, he's due to take the next step and claim the checkered flag.
Although Sadler will primarily be focused on getting his car to Victory Lane, he is quick to point out the importance of the weekend.
"The teams and the track do such a good job of inviting military members and their families, and celebrating the troops abroad all weekend long," said Sadler. "It's a great weekend as an American and as a race fan to remember what our military does to keep us safe."
John Wes Townley Returns to NASCAR Nationwide Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Venturini Motorsports
Written by Steven B. Wilson
Fresh off his career best finish (8th), in last weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, John Wes Townley will return to the same track Saturday afternoon hoping to better his efforts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) History 300, driving his No.25 Zaxbys - Venturini Motorsports (VMS) Toyota.
Townley, who has emerged in 2013 with escalated focus and determination, has been busy on the race track running a full time NCWTS schedule with Red Horse Racing along with partial schedules in the ARCA Racing Series and NNS with VMS.
Townley and his VMS team will be making their second NNS start together this weekend at Charlotte with crew chief, Dan Deeringhoff atop the pit box assuming responsibilities. In their NNS debut earlier this year at Bristol Motor Speedway, John Wes Townley drove his Zaxby’s Toyota to a respectable 17th place finish after starting in the 34th position.
Earlier this year John Wes drove to his first victory in the ARCA Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
The NNS History 300 will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm EST live on ABC Television.
John Wes Townley will also be making an appearance prior to the NNS History 300 during the Food Lion Speed Street in Uptown Charlotte. Townley will be signing autographs on Friday, May 24th from 2-3pm at the Creative Loafing Display.
Venturini Motorsports PR
Jason White and SR2 Motorsports Welcome Hometown Sponsors for Charlotte
Written by Steven B. Wilson
It is always an exciting time for NASCAR drivers and teams to stay at home and race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. For Jason White and his SR2 Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series team it is even a little more special. White welcomes hometown sponsors JW Demolition and Bubble Charlotte as they adorn the SR2 Motorsports No. 24 Toyota for the running of the History 300 at the 1.5 mile track in Concord, North Carolina.
"Everyone at SR2 Motorsports is honored to receive the support from great hometown companies like JW Demolition and Bubble Charlotte," stated White. "We had a great Top-10 finish with Will and the JW Demolition folks at Talladega and Bubble Charlotte just had their Grand Opening last weekend at their downtown location."
In business since 2000, JW Demolition is a licensed demolition and hazardous materials remediation contractor serving commercial and industrial clients in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic States, and Mid-West. Their experience and safety record in both areas makes them uniquely qualified to take the lead in plant decommissioning and commercial redevelopment.
Step out of the ordinary and into sophistication at Bubble Charlotte, a premium establishment in downtown Charlotte that stimulates the senses. Bubble Charlotte serves an extensive list of unique cocktails, spirits and select wines that compliment chef-driven small plates, crafted for a mature palate. Strict attention to detail is evident throughout, with exceptional service and hospitality provided at all times. Rich surroundings and stunning décor create an ambiance fitting for a casual evening after work or night out on the town. Bubble Charlotte is social sophistication.
"This SR2 Motorsports team has worked extremely hard to grow to this point and the addition of quality sponsors like this is a testament to all of that work," added Jason. "We look forward to a great race in front of our hometown fans and putting together another solid finish for our sponsors."
ISM PR
RAB Racing, Alex Bowman in NASCAR Race at Charlotte to Be Sponsored by Microsoft
Written by Steven B. Wilson
RAB Racing with Brack Maggard and driver Alex Bowman announced today that they are teaming with Microsoft Corp. for the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Since its premiere at Daytona International Speedway in February, Toyota teams - including RAB Racing - have been utilizing its line-of-business Windows 8 Trackside app to enhance their performance on and off the racetrack. Developed by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and running on the Surface Pro, RAB Racing is able to monitor real-time performance data, conveniently and portably. Because of its ability to share data with the crew instantaneously, the application has quickly become a staple of the team's strategy.
"I'm very proud to be able to represent a company like Microsoft and great products like Windows 8 and the Surface Pro," said owner Robby Benton. "Microsoft products have been a part of everyday life at RAB Racing since day one, so being able to represent them in NASCAR is a great opportunity. The Windows based application that TRD developed with Microsoft has helped our race team tremendously and made us more efficient utilizing the technology."
TRD selected the Surface Pro because of its touch-screen and lightweight features, making it easy for crew members to utilize its powerful computing features. Additionally, Surface's durable VaporMg chassis allows it to withstand the hazardous conditions of the racetrack.
"I love the Windows 8 Trackside app; it's made a world of a difference and boosted our performance in 2013," said Chris Rice, pit crew chief for #99 Alex Bowman. "There's a long list of features that have made all of our lives easier, from the track map, to the live timing and scoring - I can even make all my setup notes in the application and eliminate that big bulky binder with hundreds of pages that I carried from track to track. Probably my favorite feature on the device is how each one of my guys can share information back and forth without ever passing a note or talking to each other. And I can instantly see all the information from my engineers, read tire temperatures all instantly. The Windows 8 Trackside app really saved us a lot of time which translates into more time on track and less in the garage.
RAB Racing PR
Kyle Larson NNS Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Written by Steven B. Wilson
Home Field Advantage...The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) heads home to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first of two visits to the local facility in 2013. Larson has never made a lap at the 1.5-mile quad oval, but he'll have plenty of time to learn before taking the green flag. The weekend begins with a four-hour test session on Wednesday, followed by two additional practices on Thursday afternoon.
This Week's Camaro...This weekend, the No. 32 team will unload chassis TSM-402 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. TSM-402 is a brand new chassis, which will be making its on-track debut in the History 300.
Larson In HD...Turner Scott Motorsports welcomes aboard VIZIO, Inc. and Hulu Plus for this weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. VIZIO, America's #1 Large Size HDTV company, is committed to delivering the best entertainment experience with its full range of consumer electronics that combine innovative technology with clean and modern design, backed by an award-winning U.S.-based customer support team that has made VIZIO a fan favorite.
Hulu Plus offers current season and classic TV shows such as Family Guy, Modern Family, The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and Community and hundreds more through connected devices, including internet-connected VIZIO HDTVs and Blu-ray players, for $7.99 per month.
Previous Race Recap... Larson brought home a top-10 finish at Darlington Raceway, his fourth of the 2013 season. In his first ever tangle with 'The Lady in Black,' Larson scored his career-best NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start before bringing home a sixth-place finish in the Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero 200.
Watch and Listen...The History 300 can be seen live on Saturday, May 25 on ABC. Race coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The event can also be heard live on PRN Radio as well as SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 90.
Kyle Larson on Charlotte Motor Speedway
"I feel good going into this week's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway because of the momentum we're carrying with us from Darlington. We had a good race, without any incidents or goofy stuff, and it's exactly what the No. 32 team needed. We just needed to earn the finish we deserved. I haven't had much luck at the mile-and-a-half tracks so far this year, but the intermediates are where Turner Scott Motorsports really excels. It would be great to get our first win in Charlotte 'at home' with our entire shop and their families cheering us on."
TSM PR
Justin Allgaier NNS Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Written by Steven B. Wilson
Back Home in Charlotte...Following a one-week hiatus, the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) returns for the 10th race of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) on Saturday afternoon. Justin Allgaier has nine previous starts at CMS, including his NNS debut, with a best finish of third. Track activity for the NNS teams begins on Wednesday at CMS with a four-hour test session. Regular weekend practice begins on Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Darlington Recap...Allgaier qualified fifth at Darlington Raceway in the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro. He was the highest qualifying Chevrolet in the 40-car NNS field. After spending most of Friday night in the top-10 at Darlington Raceway, Allgaier brought his car home in the 10th position. With the 10th-place finish, Allgaier is currently fourth in the NNS Driver Point Standings.
This Week's Camaro...This weekend the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet team will utilize chassis TSM-401. TSM-401 is brand new out of the Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) stable.
Watch and Listen...Race coverage forThe History 300 at CMS can be seen live on Saturday, May 25 on ABC at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The event can be heard live on PRN Radio at 2:30 p.m. EDT, and also on SiriusXM Radio, channel 90.
Testing...On Tuesday, May 28 Allgaier and his Turner Scott Motorsports teammates will head to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. The team is road course testing in preparation for the upcoming races at Road America, Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio.
Crew chief Scott Zipadelli on Charlotte Motor Speedway:
"We are taking chassis No. 401 to Charlotte [Motor Speedway], which is the latest chassis design to come out of the TSM shop. We will use Wednesday as a test day and have a large test plan in place to try several different things. On Thursday, we will take our best setup from Wednesday and put it in the car and work on balance for the race."
Justin Allgaier on Charlotte Motor Speedway:
"Charlotte [Motor Speedway] is extremely fun to drive. The track is very wide and we are able to run two and three-wide without a problem. It puts on a great race for the fans. It's also a home race for several of the team and crew members. We put a lot of effort into Charlotte like we do any other week, but winning there would be huge. I rank it right up there with winning at Daytona [International Speedway]."
TSM PR
Nelson Piquet NNS Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Written by Steven B. Wilson
This Week's Camaro...The No. 30 WORX team will have chassis TSM-319 for this Saturday afternoon's race at CMS. TSM-319 was previously used by Piquet Jr. at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, where he earned finishes of 16th and 18th, respectively.
Darlington Recap...Making his first career NNS start at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago, Piquet Jr. looked for a solid finish in the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200. Piquet Jr. and his No. 30 WORX Yard Tools team started the weekend by qualifying 21st at the 1.366-mile oval. Piquet Jr. was able to work his way through traffic and bring home the WORX Yard Tools Chevrolet Camaro with a 16th-place finish.
Familiar Face...For the eighth time this year, Piquet Jr. will once again display the No. 30 WORX colors on Saturday afternoon at CMS. Established in 1994, WORX Yard Tools USA, based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the fastest growing companies serving the global power equipment market today. A diversified manufacturer and marketer of a complete range of electric-powered lawn and garden equipment and related products, WORX has over 4000 employees worldwide. The WORX line-up includes innovative grass trimmers, chainsaws, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, blowers and more. All WORX products are emission-free and feature intuitive functions, tool-less adjustments and best-of-industry ergonomics. You can find WORX yard tools at retailers such as Lowe's, Walmart, Sears, Amazon.com and local lawn & garden dealers. More information is available on the company's website, at www.WORX.com.
Watch and Listen...The History 300 can be seen live on Saturday, May 25 on ABC. Race coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The event can also be heard live on PRN Radio as well as SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 90.
Got Questions?...Come see Piquet Jr. participate in a Q&A session at the WORX Yard Tools display located in the fan zone on Saturday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Nelson Piquet Jr. on his return to Charlotte:
Bayne to give away Pillow Pets to Lucky Fans at RFR Fan Day
Written by Steven B. Wilson
Trevor Bayne is just hours from handing away some of the most coveted toys in Roush Fenway Racing’s (RFR) sponsorship history -- Pillow Pets. The driver of the No. 6 Ford Mustang will celebrate the team’s newest partner by giving away free ‘Patriotic’ themed Pillow Pets to each fan in his autograph line this Thursday during RFR’s “Driven to Engage” Spring Fan Day.
The bi-annual event is a chance for thousands of RFR fans to meet their favorite drivers, collect autographs and mingle with other fans. This year, the first 100 people to get a ticket for Bayne’s autograph line will be rewarded with a free Pillow Pet. Tickets will be handed out at the front entrance to the Roush Fenway museum, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23rd . Bayne’s autograph session begins at 10:00 a.m.
Pillow Pets will make its debut as a primary partner on Bayne’s No. 6 Ford Mustang this weekend at Charlotte. In addition the company has partnered with Charlotte Motor Speedway to give out 2,000 Patriotic themed Pillow Pets to the families of military men and women who have recently served overseas.
Fans can stick around afterward to meet other drivers, learn more about several of Roush Fenway Racing’s partners, see Bayne grilling hamburgers at the Cargill Beef display and take part in social media based ‘scavenger’ hunts.
Who: Trevor Bayne and 100 fans
What: Receive a free Patriotic Pillow Pet
Where: RFR Fan Day
4600 Roush Place.
Concord, NC 28027
When: Thursday, May 23rd. Tickets will be handed out to the first 100 people in line at 8:00 a.m. Autograph session begins at 10:00 a.m.
RFR PR
Parker Kligerman Looking to Continue KBM's History of Success at Charlotte
Written by Steven B. Wilson
As the NASCAR Nationwide Series prepares for this week's History 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (CMS),Parker Kligerman and his No. 77 Toyota Racing team will be looking to continue the history of success that Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has quickly established at its home track. Including last Friday night's win with owner-driver Kyle Busch behind the wheel of the No. 51 ToyotaCare Tundra, KBM has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories in four events at the 1.5-mile Quad-oval and also posted top-five finishes in both starts at CMS during its inaugural Nationwide Series campaign last season.
Building upon success is something that Kligerman and his Toyota Racing team are familiar with, having carried the momentum from the late-season success that KBM's Nationwide Series program achieved in 2012 into the early stages of this season. Through nine races this season the No. 77 team is slightly ahead of where team owner Busch and elder brother Kurt had the program at the same point last year. The 22-year-old has his team 10th in the owner's championship standings, compiling an average finish of 12.3 with two top-five and four top-10 finishes. Nine races into its inaugural campaign, the No. 54 team was 11th in owner's points, posting an average finish of 12.7 with one win, two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
Charlotte was one of the best tracks for KBM's Nationwide Series program last season, with owner-driver Busch posting a pair of top-five finishes, including a third-place finish in the May event last year with same primary chassis that this year's team will unload Wednesday. Kligerman, who has three career starts at "The Beast of the Southeast," qualified eighth for an underfunded Nationwide Series operation in the 2010 spring event, but was relegated to a 43rd-place finish after being involved in a lap-four accident. The talented youngster posted finishes of 11th or better in each of his Truck Series starts, including an eighth-place finish in the 2011 event.
As part of NASCAR's American Salute, the No. 77 Toyota Camry will be sporting a special "Stars and Stripes" paint scheme for Saturday's 200-lap event. Kligerman will be looking to continue KBM's history of success at Charlotte and be the 'star' of the History 300 by crossing the 'stripe' at the front of the field.
KBM PR
