Mark Martin no longer working with Roush Fenway Racing as NASCAR driver coach

   NASCAR veteran Mark Martin confirmed through messages to his followers on Twitter that he is no longer working as a driver development coach for Roush Fenway Racing.

   Martin spent the vast majority of his NASCAR career with the organization, and won 35 of his 40 career wins in the Sprint Cup Series with the team co-owned by Jack Roush.

  On Friday and Saturday, Martin replied, "No," when asked by fans if he would be working with Roush's group of younger drivers during the 2015 season. Last July, RFR announced Martin had returned to the organization as a driver development coach. 

   Also Saturday morning, Martin was asked by a fan for an explanation of what happened at Roush. Here was his reply:

I didn't want to go to the races. I've done enough of that for now. Except for dirt track. RT @dustincary: @markmartin what happen at Roush?
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) February 7, 2015

   A spokesman for RFR confirmed Saturday that Martin would no longer be involved in the driver coach role with the organization.

   In recent weeks Martin announced he, along with dirt track veteran Scott Bloomquist, would field a pair of entries this season in the Lucas Oil Late Model championship. Bloomquist and upstart Jared Landers will drive for the team.

Did you know that NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson was also a scientist?

   With the help of NASCAR driver-turned-“scientist” Jimmie Johnson, Valvoline has launched its latest product development, Full Synthetic High Mileage motor oil with MaxLife technology.

   Valvoline teamed up with the six-time Sprint Cup champion and his No. 48 Chevrolet to bring the product’s benefits to life with an entertaining spot featuring none other than “Jimmie the Scientist.” 

   Check it out.

Brad Keselowski to join growing list of NASCAR driver dads

   Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, announced in his blog on Wednesday that he and his girlfriend, Paige White, are expecting their first child, a girl.

   Keselowski, 30, is the latest NASCAR driver to become a father. Cup driver Kyle Busch and his wife, Samantha, are expecting a baby boy in May. Driver Kyle Larson and his girlfriend, Katelyn Sweet, welcomed a son, Owen, in December.

   In his blog, Keselowski asked that fans and media respect the privacy of his family.

   "I’m a public figure, and that’s what I’ve signed up for. But the baby girl we’re having hasn’t signed up for any of that. So if you can keep the focus on me, that would mean a lot to us," he wrote.

   You can read Keselowski's blog in its entirety here.

NASCAR issues a handful of rule updates before Daytona

   NASCAR issued a handful of rules updates in its rulebook on Monday as the sport prepares for the kickoff of the 2015 season. Among the changes issued:

•    Only drivers licensed and approved for competition in the Sprint Cup Series will be eligible to participate in NASCAR-approved tire manufacturer tests.

•     The tire test at Atlanta, originally scheduled for March 2-3, has been canceled. The open test for teams remains on Thursday, Feb. 26.

•    Any crew member that interferes with another crew's pit stop, whether it causes the other team to incur a penalty or not, may be penalized.

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick to be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame

   Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and the Hendrick Automotive Group, is among three new inductees to the National Corvette Museum's Corvette Hall of Fame. 

   Herb Fishel will be inducted in the category of racing; Hendrick in the Enthusiast category; and Russ McLean in the category of GM/Chevrolet. The honor is bestowed by the museum for contributions to the past, present and future of Corvette.

   The 2015 Corvette Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame during a ceremony class will be inducted on Friday, Sept. 4, during the museum's 21st anniversary celebration.

   “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be selected for the Corvette Hall of Fame. My love for Corvettes goes back to when I was a teenager, and it was the love for the car that got me into racing and the automobile business," Hendrick said. "To be honored at a place where so many of the Corvette greats are honored - it’s just humbling. I never dreamed that I’d be recognized in such a way.”

   Hendrick owns a large collection of Corvettes that includes many of the first and lasts in models and generations. His most recent addition is the VIN 1 Z06 Stingray Corvette that he paid $1 million for at auction in support of the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Statement by IndyCar Series on cancellation of its 2015 season opener in Brazil

STATEMENT FROM INDYCAR ON BRASÍLIA EVENT

   INDIANAPOLIS - Today's announcement by BAND that the March 8 INDYCAR race in Brasília was cancelled was both unexpected and disappointing. INDYCAR had received every indication that the race was already a success: Two-thirds of the seats available for the event had already been sold; a title sponsor for the event (ITAIPAVA) was announced yesterday; hospitality was sold out; and track construction was progressing and scheduled to be complete in time for the event. 

 

   Although we have not received formal confirmation from our partners in Brazil regarding the cancellation, economically INDYCAR is protected and the paddock is protected from such action.

Chase Elliott to take over Jeff Gordon's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride beginning in 2016

Team release

   CONCORD - Chase Elliott, who became the youngest national series champion in NASCAR history last season, will join Hendrick Motorsports as a full-time Sprint Cup driver beginning in 2016. Elliott’s No. 24 Chevrolet SS team will be led by crew chief Alan Gustafson, who has earned 19 wins, 18 pole positions, 98 top-five finishes and 165 top-10s at the elite Cup level.

   “Chase brings the kind of intangibles that make him the total package as a driver,” said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who announced the news this morning during the team’s season kickoff employee event. “Not only is he a special talent inside the race car, but there’s a natural combination of competitiveness, work ethic and smarts that you rarely see. Chase’s personality and demeanor make him popular with fans, teammates and sponsors. He’s a great fit for our organization on many levels, and we feel he and Alan will be a successful combination. There’s a lot to be excited about.”

   In preparation for 2016, Elliott, 19, will make his Sprint Cup debut later this year as part of a five-race schedule with primary sponsorship from NAPA AUTO PARTS. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native will be paired with veteran crew chief Kenny Francis during the limited campaign.

   Driving the No. 25 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS fielded by Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott will be entered in 2015 Cup events March 29 at Martinsville Speedway, April 25 at Richmond International Raceway, May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, July 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway.

   “Chase has been a fantastic ambassador for NAPA,” said Gaylord Spencer, senior vice president of marketing for NAPA AUTO PARTS, which also is primary sponsor of Elliott’s JR Motorsports team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. “As he embarks on this important next step in his career, we’re proud to support him across both series in 2015 and look forward to an exciting year on and off the track. The NAPA Family is behind Chase 100 percent.”

   At the age of 18 years, 11 months and 18 days, Elliott became the youngest champion in any NASCAR national touring series when he won the 2014 XFINITY Series title. The first racer in NASCAR history to win a championship and rookie of the year honors in the same season, he also was voted by fans as the series’ most popular driver.

   Elliott’s 2014 season included three wins, two pole positions and 26 top-10 finishes in 33 races. His first victory (Texas Motor Speedway) came in his sixth career series start and made him the second-youngest winner in XFINITY Series history (behind Joey Logano). He completed 99.6 percent of the 6,063 total laps run and became the first driver since 2010 to clinch the championship before the season finale.

   Elliott and father Bill are only the fifth father-son duo to win NASCAR national series championships. They are members of an elite group that includes Lee and Richard Petty, Ned and Dale Jarrett, David and Larry Pearson, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bill Elliott, the 1988 Sprint Cup Series champion, will be enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame tomorrow evening.

   “So many people have been behind me, and the first thing I want to do is thank them,” said Chase Elliott, who will run the full 2015 XFINITY Series schedule as the defending champion. “My parents especially have believed in me every step of the way, and I know this wouldn’t be possible without all the sacrifices they’ve made to focus on my racing career. This is such a big week for our family.

   “I’m also extremely grateful to Mr. Hendrick and my teammates at both Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports for believing in me. NAPA has been a huge supporter, and I’m honored to represent them on and off the track. Of course the fans have been amazing to me, and I’m so appreciative of that. I know how rare this opportunity is and will work as hard as I can to make everyone proud.”

   Hendrick Motorsports will announce sponsorship for Elliott’s 2016 Sprint Cup season at a later date.