How the 2012 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup will start next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway:
1. Denny Hamlin, 2012 points
2. Jimmie Johnson, 2009 points
3. Tony Stewart, 2009 points
4. Brad Keselowski, 2009 points
5. Greg Biffle, 2006 points
6. Clint Bowyer, 2006 points
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2003 points
8. Matt Kenseth, 2003 points
9. Kevin Harvick, 2000 points
10. Martin Truex Jr., 2000 points
11. Kasey Kahne, 2000 points
12. Jeff Gordon, 2000 points
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
JR Motorsports looking for new competition director
JR Motorsports, a Nationwide Series team co-owned by Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., is looking for a new director of competition after its current director, Tony "Pops" Eury Sr., had "amicably" parted ways with the organization.
Eury, Earnhardt's uncle, is a winner of 55 NASCAR races in both the Nationwide and Cup Series as a crew chief. He has 28 years in the NASCAR industry, the last five of which were served as competition director and crew chief for JR Motorsports. The company has amassed all nine of its victories under Eury’s watch. JR Motorsports’ last victory came on Sept. 4, 2010, with driver Jamie McMurray.
“The conversation Tony Sr. and I had was one of the most difficult I’ve ever been a part of,” said Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “I believe Tony Sr.’s passion for the sport is exceeded only by his yearning to excel in it, and that itself became the issue that both he and I struggled with.
"At JR Motorsports we do this to win races and compete for championships, and lately we have not met that standard. Being the competitor that Tony Sr. is, I know that bothers him more than anyone.”
Eury, Earnhardt's uncle, is a winner of 55 NASCAR races in both the Nationwide and Cup Series as a crew chief. He has 28 years in the NASCAR industry, the last five of which were served as competition director and crew chief for JR Motorsports. The company has amassed all nine of its victories under Eury’s watch. JR Motorsports’ last victory came on Sept. 4, 2010, with driver Jamie McMurray.
“The conversation Tony Sr. and I had was one of the most difficult I’ve ever been a part of,” said Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “I believe Tony Sr.’s passion for the sport is exceeded only by his yearning to excel in it, and that itself became the issue that both he and I struggled with.
"At JR Motorsports we do this to win races and compete for championships, and lately we have not met that standard. Being the competitor that Tony Sr. is, I know that bothers him more than anyone.”
Eury Sr.’s son, Tony
Eury Jr., remains crew chief for JR Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet and co-owner of
the company with Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt-Miller. Danica Patrick is running a fulltime schedule in the No. 7 this season.
“I want what’s best for Dale Jr., Kelley, Tony Jr., and all those
employees. I really do,” said Eury Sr. “We accomplished a lot in a short time,
and nobody is prouder of that than I am. I’m not sure what’s next for me, and
I’m not sure I’m in a hurry to find out.”
Earnhardt said he didn't know anyone who had impacted his NASCAR career more than Eury Sr.
“I know my dad ultimately put
me in the Nationwide Series car back in the ’90s, but Tony Sr. was the one who
convinced him to do it," Earnhardt said. "He was with me through two Nationwide Series
championships and five full seasons as a Cup driver.
"We won a lot of races
together, and as much as he impacted my career as a race car driver, he means
more to me on a personal level. He’s done a lot for this organization, and I
thank him for it.”
UPDATE
After he won the pole for Saturday night's Cup race, Earnhardt Jr. offered some additional comments on Eury Sr.'s departure from JR Motorsports:
"It was tough. It was a difficult decision we had to make. You know, as a company we felt like we wanted to make some changes. The environment for our Nationwide team and I'm sure for a lot of Nationwide teams, is so different that what we have in the Cup series. In the Cup series, you have commitments that stretch over years and you can map a future further ahead than 12 months. In the Nationwide series, a lot of our programs are structured over single years and you re-up each year. Every year you don't really don't know what February will look like sponsor-wise, whether you're going to have one fulltime sponsor for a team or you're going to have three or four to outfit a car. During this time we felt we wanted to make some changes and try to improve our company and our teams. We needed to do something directional that was different than what we were doing. This is one piece of that," he said.
"I think there will be some more things we will do to try to be a better race team for next year and there's a lot of moving parts and missing pieces that have we've got to fill in like sponsorship and so forth to give us a better idea of the direction we want to go. You can't sit and say, 'Man we're going to run three cars next year' without three cars being fully funded. You can't just make that decision. You have to wait until all the things play themselves our and people make their commitments to you.
"Even in the last three or four years that series has become more of a challenge. We want to be there and I believe in what we do in that series. I enjoy our efforts there. The change with Pops was really difficult because he's mean so much to me in my career and to me as a person. At the same time, we want to try to see if we can change our performance level and change a bit of the culture in the shop and see if that helps."
UPDATE
After he won the pole for Saturday night's Cup race, Earnhardt Jr. offered some additional comments on Eury Sr.'s departure from JR Motorsports:
"It was tough. It was a difficult decision we had to make. You know, as a company we felt like we wanted to make some changes. The environment for our Nationwide team and I'm sure for a lot of Nationwide teams, is so different that what we have in the Cup series. In the Cup series, you have commitments that stretch over years and you can map a future further ahead than 12 months. In the Nationwide series, a lot of our programs are structured over single years and you re-up each year. Every year you don't really don't know what February will look like sponsor-wise, whether you're going to have one fulltime sponsor for a team or you're going to have three or four to outfit a car. During this time we felt we wanted to make some changes and try to improve our company and our teams. We needed to do something directional that was different than what we were doing. This is one piece of that," he said.
"I think there will be some more things we will do to try to be a better race team for next year and there's a lot of moving parts and missing pieces that have we've got to fill in like sponsorship and so forth to give us a better idea of the direction we want to go. You can't sit and say, 'Man we're going to run three cars next year' without three cars being fully funded. You can't just make that decision. You have to wait until all the things play themselves our and people make their commitments to you.
"Even in the last three or four years that series has become more of a challenge. We want to be there and I believe in what we do in that series. I enjoy our efforts there. The change with Pops was really difficult because he's mean so much to me in my career and to me as a person. At the same time, we want to try to see if we can change our performance level and change a bit of the culture in the shop and see if that helps."
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Newman agrees to 1-year deal with SHR
Ryan Newman has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.
The extension will ensure Newman is the driver of SHR's No. 39 Chevrolet through the end of the 2013 season, two sources confirmed on Wednesday night. Newman and SHR have been involved in negotiations for several weeks.
Both Newman and team co-owner Tony Stewart have said repeatedly in recent weeks they were close on a deal. An official announcement from the team could come as soon as this weekend, sources said.
A request for comment by SHR officials wasn't immediately returned.
Newman, 34, has 16 wins in his 11-plus seasons in the Sprint Cup Series, including one this year at Martinsville, Va. He has finished a career-best sixth in points three times, most recently in 2005.
The extension will ensure Newman is the driver of SHR's No. 39 Chevrolet through the end of the 2013 season, two sources confirmed on Wednesday night. Newman and SHR have been involved in negotiations for several weeks.
Both Newman and team co-owner Tony Stewart have said repeatedly in recent weeks they were close on a deal. An official announcement from the team could come as soon as this weekend, sources said.
A request for comment by SHR officials wasn't immediately returned.
Newman, 34, has 16 wins in his 11-plus seasons in the Sprint Cup Series, including one this year at Martinsville, Va. He has finished a career-best sixth in points three times, most recently in 2005.
Ford Racing statement on Joey Logano's move to Penske
Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing, statement on Penske Racing announcement of Joey Logano coming to the No. 22 Fusion beginning in 2013:
"We welcome Joey to the Penske Racing Ford program next season," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. "Joey is a proven winner in NASCAR, and we think he, along with Brad, will give the Penske Racing-Ford team a strong 1-2 punch to win races and help us win the manufacturers' championship.
"Joey now adds to our young lineup of Ford NASCAR drivers for the future, complementing the veteran, championship-battle tested drivers we have in our program right now. It's a great mix of Ford Racing drivers that we believe give us a strong outreach to the passionate fan base and a great opportunity to win NASCAR championships for many years to come."
"We welcome Joey to the Penske Racing Ford program next season," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. "Joey is a proven winner in NASCAR, and we think he, along with Brad, will give the Penske Racing-Ford team a strong 1-2 punch to win races and help us win the manufacturers' championship.
"Joey now adds to our young lineup of Ford NASCAR drivers for the future, complementing the veteran, championship-battle tested drivers we have in our program right now. It's a great mix of Ford Racing drivers that we believe give us a strong outreach to the passionate fan base and a great opportunity to win NASCAR championships for many years to come."
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Penske Racing makes it official: Joey Logano in the No. 22
Official press release from Penske Racing:
Penske Racing announced today that Joey Logano will join the team in 2013. He will drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Penske Racing announced today that Joey Logano will join the team in 2013. He will drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
“I am very excited to join Penske Racing and begin the next phase of my career,” said Logano. “I am looking forward to the opportunity as it will be an honor to drive for Roger Penske and race for wins and championships. I am also proud to represent Shell-Pennzoil as they are a respected global brand that does a great job of activating in the sport on and off the track."
In addition to his pair of victories, four poles and 16 top-five finishes in his young Cup Series career, Logano has also produced 15 wins and 19 poles in five seasons competing part time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
“Joey Logano is a very talented driver who has already achieved a lot of success at a young age,” said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing. “Joey is a great fit for our organization and we look forward to building on his success as he takes his place behind the wheel of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford.”
With an impressive track record of winning from an early age, Logano has established himself as one of NASCAR’s fastest rising stars. He started racing quarter midgets at the age of six and won his first championship just one year later. After rising up quickly through the racing ranks, Logano became the youngest winner in Nationwide Series history when he won at Kentucky Speedway at the age of 18 in 2008. Just one year later he won at New Hampshire to become the youngest winner ever in Cup Series competition. Logano went on to be named 2009 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year, setting the stage for a bright future in the sport.
“We welcome Joey Logano to the Shell-Pennzoil team, and we know he will do a great job representing our brands and Penske Racing in 2013 and beyond,” said Lisa Davis, president, Shell Lubricants Americas. “Joey is clearly a special talent on the race track, and we look forward to working with him off the track as well.”
Logano will join Brad Keselowski, a three-time race winner and championship contender in 2012, and the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford team to form a potent combination for Penske Racing in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Joey Logano to join Penske Racing
Joey Logano, who earned his second career Sprint Cup Series victory this season and leads all drivers in the Nationwide Series with six wins, will join Penske Racing as the driver of the No. 22 Ford next season, The Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.
Logano, 22, has spent his entire NASCAR career with Joe Gibbs Racing, but JGR did not have a fulltime Cup ride available for him in 2013. Logano's move comes just as JGR is set to officially announce on Tuesday that former Cup champion Matt Kenseth is joining the organization in 2013.
An official announcement of Logano's move to Penske could come as early as Tuesday as well, multiple sources confirmed.
A request for comment from Penske Racing was not immediately returned.
Sam Hornish Jr. now drives the No. 22 Dodge for Penske on a temporary basis after former driver A.J. Allmendinger was released by the team after being indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for failing a random drug test. Logano would be the fourth driver in the No. 22 in less than two seasons.
Logano is still technically in the hunt for one of the two wild card berths in the Chase this season. He has one win this season, at Pocono, and a second victory Saturday night at Richmond, Va., could qualify him for the Chase for the first time.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Harvick happy to have crew chief back
Kevin Harvick finished third in the Sprint Cup Series the past two seasons so it was sort of a surprise when his crew chief, Gil Martin, was replaced in the offseason by Shane Wilson.
While Harvick has run well enough this season to cement a berth in the Chase, he has yet to reach Victory Lane this season. In recent months, Harvick and Wilson's relationship appeared to deteriorate and two weeks ago Wilson was replaced by - surprise - Martin.
The move was said to be on an interim basis, but in the two races since Martin's returned Harvick has finished 15th at Bristol, Tenn., and fifth Sunday night at Atlanta. Sunday night, Harvick led laps for the first time since the June race at Dover Del.
After Sunday night's race, Harvick expressed his appreciation for Martin's return.
"I just have to thank Gil for coming back with everything we put him through, it wasn't a great situation," Harvick said after the race. "It takes a big man to do what he did and things are going in the right direction.
"I feel like we hadn't missed a beat. It took a lot of conversations and things to try to convince him to come back and do it. Obviously, for myself I learned a big lesson and it takes a big man to do what he did."
While Harvick has run well enough this season to cement a berth in the Chase, he has yet to reach Victory Lane this season. In recent months, Harvick and Wilson's relationship appeared to deteriorate and two weeks ago Wilson was replaced by - surprise - Martin.
The move was said to be on an interim basis, but in the two races since Martin's returned Harvick has finished 15th at Bristol, Tenn., and fifth Sunday night at Atlanta. Sunday night, Harvick led laps for the first time since the June race at Dover Del.
After Sunday night's race, Harvick expressed his appreciation for Martin's return.
"I just have to thank Gil for coming back with everything we put him through, it wasn't a great situation," Harvick said after the race. "It takes a big man to do what he did and things are going in the right direction.
"I feel like we hadn't missed a beat. It took a lot of conversations and things to try to convince him to come back and do it. Obviously, for myself I learned a big lesson and it takes a big man to do what he did."
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