Statement from Jack Roush

   Oct. 25, 2011- Statement from Jack Roush, co-owner Roush Fenway Racing regarding Sunday’s Sprint Cup Race at Talladega:

 

   “At Roush Fenway Racing we expect our individual drivers to make decisions that put themselves in the best position to win each and every race. That is a philosophy that we have lived by for over two decades, and one that we will continue to abide by going forward.

   "Of course, as in any team, we would prefer for our drivers to work together when possible. However, to be clear, we did not micromanage or dictate to any of our drivers, nor any other Ford drivers, how to race with other drivers at Talladega last Sunday. There are unique codes that all drivers establish and have to live by on the track. How they manage their code is up to our drivers as individuals. This weekend, there were no team orders, from myself or anyone at Roush Fenway, given to any of our drivers as to whom they could or could not choose to run with or assist, nor did I give similar directions or suggestion to any of the other Ford drivers.

   “I’ve spoken with Trevor (Bayne) and understand that he was put in a situation requiring a split-second decision on the track and in his response to questions justifying his actions afterwards, where it was almost certain that not everyone was going to be satisfied. Trevor is extremely talented, but it is still very early in his career. Over time he will grow to understand that in such a high-paced, competitive and hostile environment it is unlikely that all of his decisions will make everyone happy. I’m confident in his decision making, his ability and actions on the track, and I'm excited as we continue to move forward with his development."

NASCAR goes window shopping

      NASCAR on Friday confiscated the front windshields on three Sprint Cup Series teams fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing - the No. 00 driven by David Reutimann, the No. 47 driven by Bobby Labonte and the No. 56 driven by Martin Truex Jr.

   The windshields were taken for having unapproved modifications and were on display Friday outside the Cup series hauler.

   NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said additional penalties were expected and will be announced next week.

Labonte to remain with JTG Daugherty

   Former Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will return for a second season with JTG Daugherty in 2012 driving for the No. 47 team, The Observer has learned. An official announcement of Labonte's return is scheduled for Sunday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

   At that time, JTG Daugherty will also announce with what organization it plans to team with in 2012 to field its No. 47 team. JTG Daugherty has been running its team out of Michael Waltrip Racing.

   In his first season with JTG Daugherty, Labonte is currently 29th in the series standings with one top-five and two top-10 finishes. Labonte won the 2000 season title and has 21 career Cup wins. His most recently victory came in the 2003 season.

  

Go racing for Dan Wheldon

   Dan Wheldon Memorial Grand Prix

 

   The entire racing community was sadden by the tragic death of Dan Wheldon at the Las Vegas 300 IndyCar race on Oct. 16. This hit at Pole Position Raceway very hard since Wheldon was competing in a car owned by Sam Schmidt, one of the many professional racers behind the Pole Position Raceway chain of indoor kart tracks. Wheldon was also at our Vegas track just days before the accident to participate in a fundraiser to support Graham Rahal's Race For Research project.

 

   To honor the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Pole Position Raceway is hosting the Dan Wheldon Memorial Grand Prix on Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. at all six of our tracks, and it's open to the public. Cost for this event is $60 per racer, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Wheldon family to assist with the education of their two young children.

 

   The Grand Prix format features a practice, timed qualifier, and a head-to-head main event. Advanced registration is recommended and can be done by calling the tracks at the following numbers:

   Corona, CA 951/817-5032

   Las Vegas, NV 702/227-7223
   Murrieta, CA 951/461-1600
   New York / Jersey City 201/333-7223

   Oklahoma City, OK 405/942-2292

   Summerlin, NV 702/227-7223
  
   For more information check out www.PolePositionRaceway.com

2012 NASCAR Nationwide schedule

The entire 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule


February 25 Daytona International Speedway
March 3 Phoenix International Raceway
March 10 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 17 Bristol Motor Speedway
March 24 Auto Club Speedway
April 13 Texas Motor Speedway
April 27 Richmond International Raceway
May 5 Talladega Superspeedway
May 11 Darlington Raceway
May 20 Iowa Speedway
May 26 Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 2 Dover International Speedway
June 16 Michigan International Speedway
June 23 Road America
June 29 Kentucky Speedway
July 6 Daytona International Speedway
July 14 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 22 Chicagoland Speedway
July 28 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 4 Iowa Speedway
August 11 Watkins Glen International
August 18 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
August 24 Bristol Motor Speedway
September 1 Atlanta Motor Speedway
September 7 Richmond International Raceway
September 15 Chicagoland Speedway
September 22 Kentucky Speedway
September 29 Dover International Speedway
October 12 Charlotte Motor Speedway
October 20 Kansas Speedway
November 3 Texas Motor Speedway
November 10 Phoenix International Raceway
November 17 Homestead-Miami Speedway

IndyCar sets Wheldon service

    INDYCAR will hold a public memorial service to celebrate the life of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

   Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, sustained unsurvivable injuries in a racing accident Oct. 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He is survived by his wife, Susie, and two young sons. Wheldon was 33.

   The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund has been established for the financial security of Wheldon's family. The public can make contributions to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund starting today at the following address:

   Fifth Third Private Bank
   Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
   251 North Illinois St.
   Suite 1000
   Indianapolis, IN 46204

   More details on how to contribute will be available in the coming days.
   A memorial site, which includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances and a career photo retrospective, can be found at http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com.

IndyCar begins investigation into crash

   The IndyCar Series has started a "full investigation" into the death of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, who was killed in a violent 15-car car wreck Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

   On Tuesday, the IndyCar Series provided the following statement to The Observer in response to a request for comment for an article that ran in Tuesday's paper.

   Here is the statement in its entirety:

   "The entire INDYCAR family is saddened by Dan Wheldon’s tragic death, and our thoughts continue to be, first and foremost, with Dan’s wife, Susie, and his entire family at this incredibly difficult time.

   "The safety of our drivers, their crews, INDYCAR staff, racetrack staff and spectators is always our paramount concern. As part of our standard safety protocol, a full investigation has been launched by INDYCAR, with assistance from the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) and Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA),the national and international governing organization, to determine the factors involved in this accident.

   "We hope to have preliminary findings to report within the next several weeks. In the meantime, it would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigative team has had the opportunity to conclude its work."