Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.
Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, will pilot Swan Racing's No. 30 in the Feb. 24 Daytona 500, reuniting him with former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. The race marks Swan Racing's Sprint Cup Series debut since announcing its new ownership last month.
"I am thrilled to drive the No. 30 Toyota for Swan Racing and the chance to win a third Daytona 500," said Waltrip about the one-race deal. "Reuniting with Tony Jr. and Steve Hmiel brings back a lot of good memories and is going to create new ones."
Waltrip will step in for the team's regular driver, David Stremme.
"Michael is a familiar face for a lot of us here at Swan Racing," said Eury. "We know each other's habits, wants and needs on the track. We're going to Daytona to compete and hopefully we'll make a mark for Swan Racing."
X Games star Travis Pastrana is used to scary stunts but even he may not have been prepared for his unofficial indoctrination into Roush Fenway Racing. Pastrana, who will drive fulltime in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season for RFR, took a plane ride with team co-owner Jack Roush.
RFR put together a video of the ride. Check it out.
Sprint has partnered with Daytona International Speedway to sponsor The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona, the fan-favorite non-points event formerly known as the Budweiser Shootout that traditionally kicks off the stock car portion of Speedweeks 2013 and the NASCAR season.
The race will once again be held under the lights on Saturday night, Feb. 16 (FOX 8 p.m. ET) but will feature several new elements that will make this event even more of a fan favorite. Fans in attendance will be eligible to receive special upgraded race experiences from Sprint including roles as Grand Marshal, Honorary Starter, and trophy presenter. Fans can also help deliver the trophy to Gatorade Victory Lane or participate in driver introductions during pre-race ceremonies.
“Sprint is entering its 10th season as title sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said Steve Gaffney, vice president of marketing for Sprint. “From the outset, we promised unprecedented access for race fans, and each year we challenge ourselves to honor that commitment in innovative ways. Thanks to the strength of our partnership with NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway, we have designed The Sprint Unlimited so that fans play a major role in all aspects of the event. It is the ideal way to start this milestone season, and we look forward to sharing all of the details later this month.”
As announced earlier last year, the format for selecting the field of drivers in the invitation-only event will return to its roots for 2013. The eligible field of drivers will consist of pole winners from the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and past winners of race who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season.
Check out this video clip from a TV show called "I Get That A Lot," in which four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon is attempting to sell customers Quaker Oil - customers who don't believe they are talking to the real Gordon.
Michael Waltrip Racing co-owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman, MWR NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer and road racing veteran Rui Aguas are entering the Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
The AF Waltrip entry is a joint project of the Italian championship sports car team AF Corse and MWR. AF Waltrip has fielded Ferraris for Waltrip and Kauffman at sports car races since 2010.
Bowyer is the newest member of the AF Waltrip driver lineup that has included Travis Pastrana and Brian Vickers in previous races.
“I’m not really sure what I got myself into,” said Bowyer who won three races and finished second in the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. “Rob asked me to race and I said I would do it. Everyone has told me how much fun this race is. So, I’m ready. Running 24 hours is a long time, but we will give it our best shot.”
Action sports legend Travis Pastrana will make the move to fulltime NASCAR racing in 2013, driving Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford in the Nationwide Series.
“I am extremely excited about making the move into fulltime NASCAR competition in 2013 and equally thrilled to have the opportunity to make that move with Jack Roush and the team at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Pastrana, a four-time rally champion, motocross champion and multiple X Games gold medal winner.
“I am very serious about making this move, running competitively and ultimately winning races in NASCAR,” added Pastrana.
Pastrana has made nine career Nationwide starts, including one for RFR last September at Richmond, where he qualified a career-high fifth and ran top-10 for much of the race en route to a 17th-place finish.
Pastrana will team up with veteran NASCAR crew chief Chad Norris and will be partnered with a variety of sponsors during the season.
“Travis is a champion,” said RFR co-owner Jack Roush. “It takes a great deal of drive and determination to reach that level of greatness in any field. He is serious about this move to NASCAR and we are committed to doing everything we can to see his career develop in NASCAR."
Kasey Kahne will run a number of races in NASCAR's Nationwide Series this season with JR Motorsports, multiple sources confirmed to the Observer and ThatsRacin.com
An official announcement of Kahne's addition to JRM's Nationwide program could come as early as Wednesday, sources said.
Kahne is expected to run up to 15 races with JRM in 2013, splitting time with Brad Sweet in the. It was unclear which car number the duo would use. The two drivers split a season in 2012 in the No. 38 Chevrolet at Turner Motorsports.
Great Clips, which sponsored Kahne and Sweet at Turner in 2012, is expected to move with the drivers to JRM. Great Clips has sponsored Kahne since 2003 and already announced plans to sponsor him in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013 at Hendrick Motorsports.
