Who's doing what at Penske Racing until June

   Due to the recent penalties announced by NASCAR regarding the No. 2 and 22 Penske Racing teams, Penske Racing has made the following roster adjustments for the Darlington and Charlotte races.

 

 Team Manager: Mike Nelson, currently Vice President of Operations, will fulfill this role

 No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion:

   Crew Chief: Kevin Buskirk

   - Buskirk, a former driver and crew chief, joined Penske racing prior to the 2012 season. He currently manages the test teams for Penske Racing.
   Race Engineer: Jonathan Hassler
   -  Hassler, served as the lead engineer for the No. 22 Sprint Cup Series team last season and helped the No. 22 Nationwide Series team earn six victories in 2011.
   Car Chief: Nick Hensley
   - Hensley, has worked with Penske Racing since 2007 and has worked with the No. 2 team since the 2011 season.
  

No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion:
   Crew Chief: Steve Reis
   - Reis, who normally serves as one of the team’s engineers, has been with Penske Racing since 2009 and has been with the No. 22 team since 2011. Before, he served as the race engineer on the No. 77 Penske Racing Sprint Cup team
   Race Engineer: Ben Atkins
   - Atkins is an engineer with Penske Racing and worked with Todd Gordon during the 2011 season.
   Car Chief: Jeffery Thousand
   - Thousand, who has been with Penske Racing for close to twenty years, served as the car chief for the No. 22 through last season.

    Note: Greg Erwin, Sam Hornish Jr.’s crew chief in the Nationwide Series, will sit atop the pit box on race day for the Shell-Pennzoil team and serve as a race strategist. Erwin will continue in his role as Sam Hornish’ s crew chief in the Nationwide Series.

Appeals Panel reduces Joe Gibbs Racing penalties

National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement

 (May 8, 2013)

   The National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

   The penalties concern Sections 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event; and 20-5.5.3E: Only solid magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted. Connecting rod failed to meet minimum connecting rod weight.

   The penalties stemmed from a post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

   The original penalties assessed to the No. 20 team were:

   · Crew chief Jason Ratcliff: Fined $200,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship point events (a period of time that also includes the non-points Sprint All-Star Race)

   · Car owner Joe Gibbs: Loss of 50 championship car owner points; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate car owner points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a car owner wild card position; had the owner’s license for the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car suspended until the completion of the next six championship point events, therefore being ineligible to receive championship car owner points during that period of time.
  
   · Driver Matt Kenseth: Loss of 50 championship driver points; the Coors Light Pole award from April 19 at Kansas Speedway will not be allowed for eligibility into the 2014 Sprint Unlimited; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate driver points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a driver wild card position.

   · Manufacturer: The loss of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series manufacturer championship points.

   The Appellants appealed all penalties listed above. The Appellants also requested and were granted a deferral of the suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened.

   Upon hearing the testimony, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to amend the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The amendments are as follows:

   · Crew chief Jason Ratcliff: The $200,000 fine remains intact; NASCAR suspension now covers one championship points event. In addition, he will be placed on NASCAR probation until the completion of the next three championship points events following his reinstatement;

   · Car owner Joe Gibbs: Loss of championship owner points has been reduced to 12. All other components of his penalty were rescinded;

   · Driver Matt Kenseth; Loss of championship driver points has been reduced to 12. All other components of his penalty were rescinded;

   · Manufacturer: The loss of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series manufacturer championship points has been increased to seven.

   Denis Mcglynn
   Jack Housby
   Mark Arute

   Shawn Rogers – Appellate Administrator and non-voting member

Plan to party at the Coca-Cola 600

   Reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski will join Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, legends Bobby and Donnie Allison and team owner Joe Gibbs at an infield Pit Party sponsored by the NASCAR Hall of Fame at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26.

   The Hall’s Pit Party will take place on pit road from 12:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. before the season’s longest race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The party will feature driver appearances, live music from national recording artist Benton Blount, concessions, racing displays and more. Access to the Pit Party is included with the purchase of a pit pass or a driver introduction pass.

   In addition to the fan forums, the party will feature vintage military vehicles and displays from the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

   Pit passes are $100 for adults, $50 for children 14-18 and free for kids 13 and under with a paying adult. Driver introduction passes are $150 for adults and $75 for kids 13 and under. Pit passes must be purchased in addition to a race ticket. Call (800) 455-3267 for more information.

Brad Keselowski's apology to David Ragan and his fans

   Open Letter On Sunday's Race At Talladega

   May 07, 2013 | by Brad Keselowski

   I finally had a chance to digest what happened at the end of the Cup race at Talladega on Sunday. I owe David Ragan and his fans an apology. I placed blame on David Ragan for the restart lineup confusion when it wasn’t his fault.

   I was very passionate about the finish because I thought we had a chance to win the race if I restarted the race in the 10th position instead of ninth. Passion is a very important characteristic to a champion driver. That passion is not something I will apologize for. The outside line – the 10th spot, in particular – was a huge advantage over the 9th position. David executed that positioning perfectly for the win.

   I know first-hand what it’s like to take a lower-budget team victory lane. My comments were never to detract from their victory. They were only to express my opinion that I thought we had been wronged.

   Basically what happened is that, when the yellow came out at lap 184 the lineup was supposed to be Scott Speed, myself and David. We were actually lined up David, Scott and me because we were unsure what the lineup was. NASCAR did not change this before opening pit road so by procedure we were lined up in the proper positions. NASCAR made a last-minute lineup change that we missed as we were getting ready to go back to green. David attempted to make it right by letting me go at the start/finish line with one to go. I thought he was attempting to change the pylon because the order is supposed to be set before pit road opens.

   With the multi-car wreck, the rain and the impending darkness it is easy to see how NASCAR could have made that mistake.

   It was a confusing time for all of us. I want to send a sincere congratulation out to David Ragan and everyone at Front Row Motorsports. It was a very cool win for our sport.

   - Brad

   UPDATE: David Ragan provided the following comment to The Observer: "I spoke with Brad today and we're cool with everything. I knew I was in the right position Sunday. I'm glad Brad sees everything the same way now."

Denny Hamlin talks about his first race back

 

  It didn't go quite as planned, but Denny Hamlin did his part in making his brief return to the Sprint Cup Series in Sunday's race at Talladega. Hamlin started the race and got out of his No. 11 Toyota at the first caution, giving way to driver Brian Vickers. Vickers, however, was caught up in a multi-car accident shortly thereafter. Hamlin talked about his first race back since injuring his back in March.

   Q: How was it out on the race track?
   Hamlin: "It was good. I got to thank all of the drivers -- (Juan Pablo) Montoya and (Tony) Stewart and Michael (Waltrip) and (Ricky) Stenhouse that really sacrificed the first part of the race for me and I can't thank them enough. It means a lot as a driver to have your peers that have got your back like that."

   Q: How did the driver exchange go for you and Brian Vickers?
   Hamlin: "The exchange went great. Really, that was about as smooth as it's went for us.  Obviously we've had a few repetitions at it. That was about the quickest that I was able to get out so everything went well. I had a checklist in the car with things that I needed to do before I got out to switch over for the next driver. Everything really went seamless and painless."

   Q: How do you feel physically?
   Hamlin: "I feel good. Every week I feel a lot better and really this is the best I've felt physically in, gosh, months since I felt this good.  So, I'm definitely looking forward to going back to full competition next week."

   Q: Were you worried about when the caution was going to come?
   Hamlin: "I didn't mind that part of it.  Even if we had to pit for fuel we would've gone ahead and done that and just waited for the first caution whether it had been lap 20 or 120, we were going to do it at a caution. Luckily we wanted to be five to six seconds behind the pack and we were.  Everything kind of worked out ideally how you would want it to."

   Q: Were you anxious getting back in the car today?
   Hamlin: "Yeah, for me the toughest part of every weekend has been watching the cars go off the starting grid and on to the race track for the green flag.  I didn't have to endure that pain this time around, but it is just tough now just having to watch especially this type of racing where it's so circumstantial."

   Q: How did the deal with Tony Stewart come about?
   Hamlin: "Tony (Stewart) actually approached me at my charity event last weekend (in Richmond) and said I want to work with you depending on what your plan is for Talladega.  Me and Tony for whatever reason when we stopped becoming teammates, we started becoming teammates. We've been closer off the race track and on the race track now that he's with Stewart-Haas than ever when we were with (Joe) Gibbs (Racing). We've got a great relationship and he's had my back really for the last three years."

   Q: Was it hard knowing you were going to have to drop back and then get out of the car?
   Hamlin: "I was enjoying it more than anything because it gave me something to do today.  I knew in my head that I wasn't going to be competing today. I wasn't going to be in the middle of the pack trying to make passes. It was all about just going through the motions and getting the process of making a comeback -- getting that started. This is the first week of a comeback.  This is going to be the start of everything so anything that Brian (Vickers) gets us for points today is strictly a bonus and we're going to start next week in Darlington with our hairs on fire."

This song will get you ready for the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race

   Yatta Da Kaptain, better known in NASCAR as Kenyatta Houston, a tire changer for Kurt Busch's No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team, created this song in honor of this month's NASCAR Sprint All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

   To hear more of Houston's music, go here.

Denny Hamlin cleared to return to racing this weekend

   Press release from Joe Gibbs Racing:

   JOE GIBBS RACING DRIVER DENNY HAMLIN RECEIVES MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO RESUME RACING ACTIVITY

    Huntersville, NC (May 2, 2013) - Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has received medical clearance to return to on-track activity beginning with this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota.

    Hamlin was injured during an accident at Auto Club Speedway and has missed the past four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races while recovering.

    Exact plans for this weekend will be determined by the team at Talladega.