Kyle Busch talks NASCAR Trucks

   While Kyle Busch will run from 13 to 15 Nationwide Series races this season, he will no longer complete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - the first time he hasn't made a series start since the 2003 season.

   During Monday's first day of the Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Busch talked more in-depth about the decision not to compete in the series and how it may affect his quest to win 200 races in NASCAR's three national series.

   Q: Do you see any situations where you may start competing in the NCWTS again in the future?

   Busch: “To me, I think we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Truthfully, I don’t have to run Truck races. My fans love it and I love racing Truck races for them, but, like I said, I would love to see Kyle Busch Motorsports be able to sustain itself on its own and not have to have me in the seat every single week in a Truck race or Nationwide Series race.”

   Q: Does this make your 200 wins goal more difficult and eliminate something you find fun?

   Busch: “We’ll see. There’s no telling. Certainly, I wish that we could win eight races a year in Cup and eight races a year in Nationwide and right there you’re at 16 wins a year, so that’s not that bad. Granted, you run Truck races you can probably win five or six, so that puts you at 21 or 22 races a year. The focal point now is -- and has been -- although I want the 200 wins someday, the focal point needs to be on the Cup deal and trying to win a championship there, of course, and put my primary focus into that.”

   Q: Is the goal of cutting the NCWTS races to be stronger in the Chase?
   Busch: “Certainly, it all relates to one another. It’s all circumstantial upon something else. I think running less races is also a conditioning tool. I’ve been working really hard in the off-season in doing some things and running less races will also help that, but just being more focused and just trying to operate more on a level field with Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and how much he works and how hard he works and I’ve got to do the same.”

   Q: Do you think cutting back on your Nationwide and Truck schedule will be beneficial?
   Busch: “It’s certainly a possibility, but you know in 2008 and 2009 I ran the most races that I’ve ever run in a season and didn’t have any issues. Things went pretty well those couple of years. I think it’s been most frustrating for me because I’m getting more and more into my Cup Series career and I have yet to win a championship. For me, you get down to the end of the season and the first 26 races go well and then you start the Chase and you kind of fumble a little bit and you’re chasing a ball sometimes. We still had a shot -- we were running fourth or fifth in points at Talladega and then got crashed out there. Then we’re fifth in points or something like that in Martinsville and we get crashed out there. Your whole season’s shot. It’s not like one week’s gone -- like you didn’t win that race or something. You’ve got to wait all the way until next February to start a whole new year in order to get down to November. Think about it -- when you throw a whole year of your life away, it’s like, ‘Damn, this sucks.”

Ryan Newman adds a sponsor

   Stewart-Haas Racing has added another primary sponsor for its No. 39 Chevrolet team in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Ryan Newman.
 
   Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the United States, has reached a multi-year agreement to serve as primary sponsor on Newman's car for two races and as associate sponsor for all remaining races, sources confirmed on Sunday.

   The addition of Aspen Dental is the third new sponsor SHR has landed for its No. 39 car for 2012. Only six races remain to be sold on the car. The Nos. 14 and 10 teams of 2011 Cup champion Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick, respectively, are sold out.
   
   Since Stewart joined the organization as co-owner and driver beginning with the 2009 season, this is the best position SHR has been in with primary sponsorship entering a season.

2012 Miss Sprint Cup lineup unveiled

   The 2012 Miss Sprint Cup lineup was unveiled during Saturday's NASCAR Preview. Sprint announced returning members Kim Coon (Orlando, Fla.) and Jaclyn Roney (Ann Arbor, Mich.) have been joined by newcomer Kristen Beat of El Cajon, Calif.
  

    “The Miss Sprint Cup platform has evolved to become an integral part of our NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship,” said Tim Considine, director of sports marketing at Sprint. “We’ve found three incredibly intelligent, talented young women who love the sport, technology and directly interacting with NASCAR fans. With more than 1 million followers on Facebook and Twitter and crowds of fans lining up each weekend for pictures and autographs, the platform’s celebrity has exceeded our wildest expectations.”

   Miss Sprint Cup represents the Sprint brand around the track and in Victory Lane wherever the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competes. The three representatives also serve as the fans’ “friend on the inside,” delivering via Facebook and Twitter behind-the-scenes updates, pictures and video, while highlighting Sprint products and offers.

   To follow Miss Sprint Cup, visit:

   Facebook.com/MissSprintCup
   Twitter.com/MissSprintCup

Ryan Blaney lands a NASCAR ride

   Ryan Blaney, the 18-year-old son of NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney, has signed with Tommy Baldwin Racing to run a combination schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide and K&N Pro series schedule in 2012.

   Ryan will drive the No. 36 Chevrolet in six Nationwide races, with his debut set for the April 27 race at Richmond, Va. He will also run six K&N Pro series races with his family-owned DB Racing, beginning March 17 at Bristol, Tenn.

   Blaney made three starts in the K&N Pro series last year, winning in his third start at Phoenix International Raceway. He also won the 2011 PASS South Championship and found success in ARCA, where he finished in the top-10 in both two starts.

   “We were really competitive in the K&N Series last year, and I think we will be even more competitive this year. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to win all six races," Blaney said. "We will have good equipment racing with TBR. It will be great to race with and learn from the Nationwide guys. To be able to race on bigger tracks will be a good learning experience too."

   “We are really looking forward to restarting our Nationwide program as we have had much success in the past in that series,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Watching Ryan the last few years, we are excited to get to the track and see him perform. As we look to the future, this Nationwide program is a stepping-stone for the Cup program, and we are excited to start with Ryan.”

   Ryan Blaney will join his dad, Dave Blaney, with TBR this season. The elder Blaney drove the No. 36 Chevrolet last season in the Sprint Cup Series, which included a third-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

   “I’m proud that Ryan is making the next step in his racing career,” Dave Blaney said. “I think it is a great opportunity for him to run with TBR and still run some races in the K&N Series. He has learned very quickly in every series he has driven, so I am anticipating what competing in the Nationwide series brings."
  
   Ryan Blaney’s Racing Schedule:
   · March 17^th – NKNSE – Bristol Motor Speedway
   · April 26^th – NKNSE – Richmond International Raceway
   · April 27^th – NNS – Richmond International Raceway
   · May 11^th – NNS – Darlington Raceway
   · May 19^th – NKNPSE – Iowa Speedway
   · June 29^th – NNS – Kentucky Speedway
   · July 28^th – NNS – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
   · August 3^rd – NKNPSE – Iowa Speedway
   · August 24^th – NNS – Bristol Motor Speedway
   · September 28^th – NKNPSE – Dover International Speedway
   · October 12^th – NNS – Charlotte Motor Speedway
   · November 10^th – NKNPSW – Phoenix International Raceway

Looking for a job in NASCAR?

   This press release came in today about jobs with a NASCAR team:

   TMG Offering Motorsports Opportunities In Preparation of 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Season

    Mooresville, NC (January 17, 2012) The Motorsports Group (TMG), located at 222 Pitt Road in Mooresville, North Carolina, announced Tuesday the availability of several positions as the team prepares for the rapidly approaching 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.

   The four-car operation will race in all thirty-three scheduled events with drivers Josh Wise, Chase Miller, Erik Darnell and Scott Speed piloting Chevrolet Impala’s.

   Veteran NASCAR crew chief Gary Showalter is overseeing day to day activities of the organization and is seeking qualified mechanics, fabricators and truck drivers who are ready to start work immediately. Showalter says the company will hire at least 10 additional people during the next few days.

   “We have about five more weeks before we leave for Daytona with quite a bit still to be accomplished,” said Showalter. “TMG has a great opportunity for 10 to 15 serious people who want to make a difference this year. It is a good thing to be able to offer these positions in this economy and we look forward to working with the highest quality individuals we can find.”

   Showalter requests any interested parties to send a current resume via fax 704-663-2929.

NASCAR history lives at the Hall

   On Saturday, the four floors of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., will come to life with more than a dozen legends recalling their memories to guests in a casual, up-close-and-personal Evening of Living History. 

   The event is free with a general admission ticket to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will feature Inductees Bobby Allison, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough. They will be joined by NASCAR notables Donnie Allison, Jeff Hammond, Tom Higgins, Bondy Long and Leonard Wood.

    “As the NASCAR Preview Presented by Sprint winds down Saturday, we invite fans to stop by the Hall for a memorable nightcap,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “We have an impressive lineup of NASCAR legends stationed at various exhibits throughout the building to interact with guests. I personally can’t wait to hear the Allisons and Cale Yarborough rehash the 1979 Daytona 500, and I know others are looking forward to free samples of Junior Johnson’s famous brew -- his newer, legal kind.”

    Evening of Living History schedule:

   4-8 p.m. cash bar and food stations open
   5-6 p.m. First Session
   Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough at the 1979 Daytona 500 exhibit, Level 4
   Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond near the Mountain Dew No. 11 in the Great Hall, Level 2
   Ned Jarrett and Bondy Long in the Hall of Honor, Level 3
   6:15 – 7:15 p.m. Second Session
   Junior Johnson and Tom Higgins at the Moonshine Still exhibit, Level 4
   Glen Wood and Leonard Wood near the No. 21 Ford in the Great Hall, Level 2
   Dale Inman and Bud Moore near the Inspection exhibit, Level 3
  
   The Evening of Living History will conclude a full day of activities inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame including breakfast with Junior Johnson (7 a.m.), a Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty new conference (1 p.m.), hourly guided tours of the Hall of Fame and Inductee meet and greets (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The Hall will be open for general admission guests 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

    NASCAR Acceleration Weekend is highlighted by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2012 Inductees Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough Friday, Jan. 20. On Saturday, Jan. 21 NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint will offer a festival-like experience for fans that features driver autograph and question-and-answer sessions, show car appearances, simulators, games and more. The weekend activities will conclude with the unveiling of the Class of 2012 Inductee Tribute exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 22.

   Combo tickets for NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint start at $20. For tickets and updates about NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, guests can visit www.nascaracceleration2012.com.

Front Row sets NASCAR driver lineup

    Front Row Motorsports made the following announcement on Monday:

   Front Row Motorsports will follow up its best season in the team's young history by bolstering its line-up for 2012, adding race winner David Ragan to drive the No. 34 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Front Row veteran David Gilliland will build off an impressive 2011 season, returning to the team behind the wheel of the team's second entry, the No. 38 Ford Fusion.

   Ragan joins Front Row after completing a 2011 season that delivered his first Cup win (Daytona International Speedway in July), two poles, and four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. The 26-year-old Unadilla, Ga., native is already a NASCAR veteran, first joining the national stock-car ranks at the age of 18 and quickly ascending to premier-level Sprint Cup racing. His No. 34 team is locked in to the starting line-up entering the 2012 season, including a guaranteed starting spot in the prestigious Daytona 500 next month.

   "Front Row has made great progress in the last few years, and I look forward to helping them advance to the next level," Ragan said. "I think the team appreciates what I can bring to the table, and I think it's a good opportunity for both of us. I've also enjoyed a long relationship with Ford and I'm glad that I'll get to keep working with them."

   Gilliland returns for his third season with Front Row and his seventh in the Cup series. The 35-year-old Riverside, Calif., native will return to the No. 38, the number he drove as a Sprint Cup rookie as well as the car he drove in his first season with Front Row. The No. 38 team is also locked in to the field entering 2012. Last season, Gilliland raced his way to a third-place finish in the Daytona 500 to start off an impressive 2011 run, in which he proved to be a force on superspeedways and road courses.

   "We've gotten better year to year and even week to week in the time I've been with Front Row, so I'm excited to be back for a third year and to have David (Ragan) as a teammate," Gilliland said. "It's good to be back in the '38' car, too. It was my dad's number, and I've also had some pretty good days at the racetrack with that number on the door."

   Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, enters its fourth full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. The team turned in its best results in its young history in 2011, earning one top-5, two top-10, three top-15 and five top-20 finishes in 2011, including the history-best third at Daytona.

   "I am committed to building a competitive race team by employing the same fundamental business principles that have worked for my other successful endeavors, and it all begins with the people," Jenkins said. "We took some pretty big steps in our race program last year and adding David Ragan is another giant step in the right direction.

   "When you look at some of the large, storied teams in NASCAR that have been running for decades, we're still pretty young by comparison," Jenkins continued. "But I like the upgrades we're making and the improvements we're seeing, and I am confident we will be able to compete with them on a consistent basis in the not-too-distant future. Ragan is a proven competitor and race winner, Gilliland had a really solid season for us last year, Roush Yates engines are the best in the sport, and Ford continues to provide invaluable support, so I feel like 2012 is really going to be our year to step up to the next level. Plus, I now have two Davids to engage Goliath, and we know how that day ended."

    Sponsorship for the Front Row Motorsports entries is being finalized and will be announced soon.

   "We've worked hard to build an organization that can deliver compelling value propositions for our partners, and we can win immediately on that front given our size, efficiencies and cost structures," said Jerry Freeze, Front Row Motorsports' General Manager. "Fortunately, a few leading corporate partners have taken notice and others are conducting their due diligence. That's very encouraging and bodes well for our future."