Brian Vickers has lost his crew chief before he started the fulltime ride

   When Brian Vickers was recently announced as the fulltime driver of Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 Toyota for the 2014 season, one of things he said he looked forward to was working more with the team's crew chief, Rodney Childers. The past two seasons, Vickers has shared the No. 55 ride with veteran Mark Martin.

   As it turns out, Vickers won't be working with Childers beyond this season.

   MWR officials confirmed Friday that Childers would not be returning to the organization next season and Vickers would get a new crew chief.

   Sources say Childers is headed to Stewart-Haas Racing where he will be paired next season with new driver Kevin Harvick. An SHR official said no new crew chiefs had been hired for 2014 but the organization thinks highly of Childers and he is on the "short list" of candidates.

   Friday at Bristol, Childress said his future location wasn't "100 percent done" but he would not be back at MWR.

   "I think everybody has a good idea what it is," Childers said of his new job. "There was not one big thing that stood out. MWR has been great for five years.

   "I've thought about this for a long time. I just woke up one day and this is what my heart told me to do. Hopefully, it all works out." 

  

Who says drivers like Kyle Busch are bad for NASCAR's lower series?

   Who says Sprint Cup Series drivers like Kyle Busch are bad for NASCAR's lower series like Nationwide and Trucks?

    Not track owners. 

   Not fans of those drivers who get to see them compete in other NASCAR events at a lower cost than in Cup races.

   Not NASCAR itself, which actually promotes their appearances.

   Oh, fans who don't like Busch ... and the media.

   Well, it's a wonder the whole idea wasn't quashed a long time ago then.

   Take a good, long look at where the comments originate about whether Cup drivers should be allowed to compete in NASCAR's lower levels (and forget for a moment they have been allowed to do so since NASCAR's inception).

   The complaints come from fans, almost universally not from the driver involved in the discussion. And the questions come from media, who ask because of the complaints directed at them by fans, almost universally not from the driver involved in the discussion.

   After Busch received yet another question about his participation in a Truck race following his win Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, I asked him a serious question. In the course of his career, has any driver in any series other than Cup ever said anything to him complaining of his participation in that series?

   Here is his entire response (It's not a surprise for those who actually listen to what Nationwide and Truck drivers say week in and week out):

   "Probably a couple times I've had them say it jokingly. They would see me walking in the gate or something like that and walk in with me and say something like, 'Aw damn, you're here again,' or something like that. Other than that, no. Seriously, when I talk to any of the guys -- Matt Crafton and I, we're pretty close friends, probably the closest friend I have in NASCAR. After every practice we're like teammates. I'm trying to help him with his truck and with what those guys are doing and seeing if we can't help them achieve their ultimate goal of winning a championship this year," he said.

   "I think that when you have people that are true to you and respect you for who you are then you want to help those guys, but everybody else that isn't that way you don't give two craps about."

   Follow up question: "So, for all practical purposes, the complaints you hear are not from other drivers?"

   Busch: "Right. It's fans or from the media."

   Shocking.

NASCAR suspends Sprint Cup Series team pit crew member

   NASCAR announced on Tuesday it has indefinitely suspended Eric Maycroft, the front tire changer on Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr.'s pit crew, for violation of its substance abuse policy.

    Maycroft is expected to be replaced by Terry Spalding. Truex's No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing team remains in contention for a spot in the 12-driver Chase for the Cup.

   “Michael Waltrip Racing fully supports NASCAR's substance abuse policies and those who complete the Road to Recovery program," the team said in a statement. "MWR’s zero tolerance policy has resulted in the immediate termination of the employee.”

Ryan Truex to make Sprint Cup Series debut at Bristol

   Richard Petty Motorsports development driver Ryan Truex will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway during Saturday night's Irwin Night Race.

   Truex will drive the No. 51 entry for Phoenix Racing. Truex signed a multi-year development deal with RPM earlier this year and the team is currently working to secure sponsorship funding. 

   The Mayetta, New Jersey native has two Nationwide series starts at Bristol and most recently posted a top-10 finish in the spring event in 2012. In his career, Truex made 35 Nationwide, three Truck and 22 K&N East starts. He won the K&N Series East Championship back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.

   "I'm excited to make my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Bristol," said Truex. "It has been tough waiting on the sidelines while I healed from my collarbone injury, but now I am ready to go and make my Sprint Cup Series debut. It's pretty awesome that it's coming at Bristol at the night race."

   Team owner Richard Petty is also anxious to see the 21-year-old make his Cup debut.
 

   "It will be a big night for Ryan," said Petty. "He is a talented driver, and we look forward to his future with our team. We are working hard to find funding support to give him more opportunities behind the wheel."

How the NFL could put a damper on NASCAR fans in Charlotte

   NASCAR fans in seven affected markets will watch ABC’s telecast of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on alternate channels through arrangements made by their local ABC affiliates.

 

   ABC affiliates in Buffalo, Charlotte, and Rochester, N.Y., will join either "NASCAR Countdown" or the race telecast in progress following the conclusion of a 4:30 p.m. ET NFL preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.

 

Obituary and funeral arrangements for Floyd R. Ganassi

Floyd R. Ganassi (1926-2013)

On Monday, August 19, 2013, Floyd R. Ganassi slipped away from his loved ones quietly and peacefully reuniting with his beloved wife Marie Moia Ganassi whom he married in 1957.  He leaves behind an incredible story of a life well lived and a legacy of family, friendships, mentoring, business leadership and philanthropy in the communities he touched. 

He was born the fourth of six children to Paul Ganassi and Dora Moire in Blythedale, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1926.  He was preceded in death by his brothers Mario, Eugene, Ronald and his sister Norma (Oldham).  He is survived by his brother Victor (Louise). He led his life with a combination of risk, persistence and loyalty to those who were fortunate enough to work with him.

Father of Annette D. Ganassi (Greg Terpin) and Floyd R. Ganassi, Jr., a.k.a. Chip Ganassi; grandfather of Tessa Ganassi; he is also survived by nieces, nephews, many loving family members and friends.

Floyd was a self-employed investor who began his career as a paper boy.  After attending McKeesport High School in 1944 he joined the U.S. Army where he eventually achieved the rank of Corporal in the 3^rd Armored Division where he was responsible for driving a tank. Upon honorable discharge from the U.S. Army he was employed in Sacramento, California by United Airlines as a baggage handler.  Returning to McKeesport in 1947 he was employed as an appliance salesman.  His entrepreneurial spirit would not allow that job to continue and in 1950 he started Westmoreland Paving which he would eventually sell in the mid-1970s.   In 1966 he purchased Davison Sand and Gravel where for approximately 20 years he was the President.  Davison Sand and Gravel was a critical company in the Renaissance II rebirth of Pittsburgh supplying quantities of sand, gravel and stone from New Kensington for projects as large as the construction of the US Steel Building.  After selling Davison he formed the FRG Group located in the RIDC Park North where he would continue to work for the remainder of his life.  His ability to find value where others may have given up led him to business ventures ranging from telecommunications to manufacturing.

His investments and business acumen had a profound influence on companies including Applied Test Systems, Funding Systems, Pittsburgh International Teleport, Iron and Glass Bank and Presidents Casino.                                      

His philanthropy included serving on boards for MIMS, Passavant Hospital, the Birmingham Foundation (Chairman), the Ganassi Foundation, Family House, Duquesne University, Board of Visitors of the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and the Civic Light Opera.  In terms of his charitable work perhaps he was best known for involvement in the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Automobile Association where he proudly served as its Chairman for several years. 

He was an active member of the Allegheny Club, the Pittsburgh Field Club and the Duquesne Club.

Friends will be received at JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC., 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street www.freyvogelfuneralhome.com on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral Service to be held Thursday, August 22 in Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m.

 

Who does Mark Martin compare Tony Stewart to?

   NASCAR veteran Mark Martin was officially announced as Tony Stewart's substitute driver for the remainder of the 2013 season at Stewart-Haas Racing. When asked to talk about the opportunity to fill in for Stewart, Martin had this to say about the three-time Sprint Cup Series champion and what other racing legend Martin believes Stewart is similar to:

    "Well, I'm incredibly honored. Sometimes I have a hard time understanding how Tony could possibly feel that way toward me when the guy is so amazing, the modern‑day A.J. Foyt. When I was growing up, A.J. drove anything and everything and was fast and won in everything he drove.  And Tony is the guy today that really does that and is successful at it," Martin said.

   "So it's hard for me to comprehend that, but he's made great friends ‑‑ we've been good friends for quite some time with amazing respect, mutual respect.  It's an honor to be in the situation where we're able to do this. I'm really, really sorry that it comes at the expense of Tony getting hurt.  But one thing I do want to say that is really important here is the amazing amount of cooperation that it took to get this deal done by so many parties, and I haven't seen this much cooperation in the past, and I think it was largely in part for the incredible amount of respect that everyone has in the sport for Tony Stewart."