Ryan Truex lands Nationwide ride

   Ryan Truex will have an opportunity to return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, as he will drive six races in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Toyota beginning with the Sept. 3 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Observer has learned.

   Truex, the 19-year-old younger brother of Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr., competed in 10 races this season with Michael Waltrip Racing until a lack of sponsorship sidelined him.

   In addition to Atlanta, Ryan Truex will also drive the No. 20 for JGR in Nationwide races at Richmond, Va.; Chicagoland; Dover, Del.; Kansas and Phoenix.

   In 17 career Nationwide starts, Truex has one top-10 finish, an eighth at Richmond earlier this season. He won the 2009 and 2010 K&N Pro Series East championships driving for MWR.

Mary Hendrick, mother of HMS owner Rick Hendrick, died Monday

   Mary Hendrick, mother of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, passed away Monday afternoon at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Mrs. Hendrick, a native of Palmer Springs, Va., was 88.

 

   Fondly referred to as “Miss Mary,” Mrs. Hendrick was the car owner of the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 2005 to 2007.

 

   In 2008, she became the owner of the No. 5 Chevrolet. She won seven races as a car owner, with Mark Martin notably recording five of those wins during the 2009 season. That year, Martin drove the No. 5 Chevrolet to a runner-up finish in the championship standings, giving Mrs. Hendrick her best season as a car owner.

 

   In June 2004, then-N.C. Gov. Mike Easley presented Joe and Mary Hendrick with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine -- the state of North Carolina’s highest honor bestowed on a citizen for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization.

 

   The family requests privacy at this time as arrangements are being finalized. Details will be released when available.

Pocono revised ticket/schedule plan

Dear Race Fans,

Due to today’s postponement of the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series) & Pennsylvania 125 (ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards) races, Pocono Raceway will exchange a Saturday General Admission grandstand ticket for a $25.00 credit towards the purchase of any Sunday Grandstand ticket OR a similar Saturday Grandstand ticket in 2012. Pocono Raceway will also exchange a Saturday Terrace Club ticket for a $75.00 credit towards the purchase of any Sunday ticket valued at $75.00 or more. Fans can exchange their tickets by visiting the Gate # 8 ticket booth behind the Grandstands, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

If the Pre-Race Pits are not open due to competition on the track, Pre-Race Pit /Paddock Pass will be honored for Pre-Race Pit/Paddock admission for either NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway in 2012

Here is Sunday’s revised schedule of events is as follows:

5:00 a.m. – Parking Lots Open
8:00 a.m. – Grandstand Gates Open
9:00 a.m. – Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125 (Truck Series) race
TBD – Pennsylvania 125 (ARCA) race to immediately follow conclusion of Truck Series event
12:00 p.m. – Salute to the Armed Forces Pre-Race Festivities Begin
12:30 p.m. – Sprint Cup Series Driver Introductions
1:00 p.m. – Good Sam RV Insurance 500 (Cup Series) race

Pastrana postpones NASCAR debut

   Travis Pastrana will not make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut until the 2012 season due to injuries suffered during the 17^th annual X Games last week, the driver announced on Saturday.

   The 11-time X Games gold medalist broke his right ankle and foot while attempting a Rodeo 720 with a back flip during the Best Trick competition in Los Angeles, forcing him to miss his scheduled Nationwide debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last Saturday.

   The injuries required surgery, which were completed by Dr. Tom Dennis at Riva Road Surgical Center in Annapolis, Md., Wednesday evening. Dr. Dennis said the operation was a success and Pastrana should make a full recovery. Pastrana most follow a strict healing process which will require him to be immobilized in traction for at least one month and unable to apply weight on his right leg for another month.

   “To give my ankle and foot time to heal properly we have decided to wait until 2012 to make my NASCAR debut,” Pastrana said. “I probably could have been ready for the final couple of races in 2011, but it just makes more sense to start fresh in 2012.

   "We are already starting to talk about testing and what I need to do to prepare for next season. My sincere apologies go out to my NASCAR team, fans and sponsors for this delay. Thanks for all of the support. This will be a fun ride … eventually.”

Keselowski to miss Nationwide race

   Due to injuries sustained in an accident on Wednesday while testing at Road Atlanta, Brad Keselowski will not drive in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa.

   The following is statement from Penske Racing about its plans for the weekend:

   "Due to Brad Keselowski's accident while testing at Road Atlanta yesterday, he will not participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race this weekend at Iowa Speedway. Parker Kligerman will practice the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger on Friday, while Sam Hornish Jr. will qualify and race the car on Saturday. Penske Racing will continue to evaluate Brad's condition. Further information will be provided as it becomes known."

Carl Edwards decision is like the U.S. reaching its debt ceiling?

   Leave it to Greg Biffle to present a real-world analogy to a NASCAR issue.

   On Friday, Biffle was asked how he thought team owner Jack Roush would respond if teammate Carl Edwards announced he was leaving the organization at the end of the year but still had some racing left with the team.

   Biffle's reply: "It’s obvious that it’s coming to a head, kind of like whether we’re gonna approve the debt ceiling or not. At some point he’s gonna have to say that I’m not coming back. He’s not gonna be able to wait until Homestead, we all know that, so Carl is a big boy, he’s a man and he has to make his own decisions.

   "Eventually, he’s gonna have to make a decision and it’ll be best for everybody so, one, we can plan for sponsorships and drivers and teams and people. There are a lot of people’s jobs on the line – if we’re gonna be three teams or four teams – so the sooner the better. I understand contract negotiations take a long time and there is a lot to them, but truly if you know or you’ve made a decision, then it’s time to give everybody enough opportunity to make their decision on the back side of that.”

   Biffle admitted he has been in a similar position in his career with Roush on contract talks but always felt he left everyone know as soon as he reached a decision.

   "It’s tough, but one thing I always did is when I knew what I was doing, then I said, ‘This is what I’m gonna do,' " he said. "You can’t have a deal done or plan to have a deal done and not let everybody know, so that it’s fair for everyone to go make a plan on what’s next.” 

Pastrana NASCAR debut gets scrubbed

   INDIANAPOLIS - The much-hyped “Pastranathon” - Travis Pastrana’s whirlwind weekend of competing in the X Games and making his debut Saturday in the NASCAR Nationwide series - has been put on hiatus. 

   While competing in the best trick event Thursday night in the X Games in Los Angeles, Pastrana fractured his right foot and ankle when his attempt at completing a “720” went awry and he crashed on landing.

   The trick features two backflips on a motorcycle and one spin.

   ESPN, which is broadcasting the X Games, reported Pastrana will require surgery for his injuries.

    Early Friday, the Pastrana Waltrip Racing team withdrew its entry from Saturday night’s Kroger 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Ind. Pastrana’s next scheduled Nationwide race is Sept. 9 at Richmond, Va.

   In a statement to ESPN early Friday morning after having X-rays at a Los Angeles hospital, Pastrana said, “I am sorry this happened and will be back in action as soon as I can. I look forward to Pastranathon 2012 at X Games 18.”