'I'm Jimmie Johnson the NASCAR driver NOT Jimmy Johnson the coach'

   Check out this new video from Fox Sports, in which six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson 'joins' the cast of 'NFL on FOX' to promote this year's Daytona 500. 

   But he's not who they think he is! 

  

NASCAR tweaks group qualifying rules for Xfinity and Truck series at Daytona

  

   NASCAR has made some modifications to its group qualifying procedures and will utilize it for qualifying this week for the Xfinity and Truck series race at Daytona International Speedway.

   The changes come after several drivers complained about the process used in Sunday's Daytona 500 qualifying session. The changes, however, do not alter the format but help prevent the gamesmanship by teams that was causing a bottleneck on pit road during each round.

   As part of the changes, the fields will be broken into four groups in Round 1 by random draw. Each round will last just two minutes and 30 seconds (they were five minutes), barely long enough for teams to leave pit road and complete a qualifying attempt.

   Before the start, teams must start nose-first in their pit stall and will line up single-file on pit road for the start of the session. Once a car moves, it must go and complete its qualifying attempt or it will have its time disallowed.

   In Round 2, there will be two groups of 12, split by odd and even ranked cars and lined up fastest to slowest. In Round 3, the top 12 cars will compete for the pole in one, 2 1/2 minute session.

   "We continue to work in collaboration with the industry to implement the most exciting and competitive qualifying format, especially as it relates to superspeedways," said NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell.

   "We will continue to review the qualifying format for future superspeedway events."

De-icing help is on the way from Charlotte Motor Speedway

   Charlotte Motor Speedway mobilized three jet dryers to nearby Concord Regional Airport to help with drying the runway. 

   That also will help local NASCAR teams traveling to Daytona Beach, Fla., for this week's race and related activities.

   More than a dozen flights with more than 700 racing personnel are scheduled to depart in the next couple days for the season-opening NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway, officials said.

   - Adam Bell

CHOPPER: @CltMotorSpdwy jet dryers working hard to dry out @ConcordAirprtNC for #NASCAR teams http://t.co/nCIyw0crqK pic.twitter.com/gGs7TKxwhP
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) February 17, 2015

Patricia Driscoll granted protective order against NASCAR driver Kurt Busch

   Patricia Driscoll has been granted a protective order by a Kent County (Del.) Family Court judge, ordering NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch to stay away and not communicate with his ex-girlfriend.

   In the order, a copy of which has been obtained by The Observer, the court makes the following declaration:

   "The Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the Respondent has committed an act or repeated acts of domestic violence against the Petitioner."

   Among the restrictions placed on Busch by the order:

   - Busch cannot threaten, molest, attack, harass or commit any other act of abuse against Driscoll and any minor children in her household.

   - Busch cannot come with 100 yards of Driscoll's person, residence or workplace. At NASCAR races, Busch must maintain a "practicable distance" from Driscoll if both are in attendance.

   - Busch cannot attempt to contact Driscoll in any way.

   - Busch must be evaluated for "mental health problems" and follow any recommendations by the evaluator.

   Busch's attorney, Rusty Hardin, provided the following statement to The Observer: 

   “Though we are not surprised by the Commissioner’s ruling, in light of the restrictions on the evidence he considered, we are deeply disappointed because we believe the evidence of Ms. Driscoll’s total lack of believability was overwhelming. It is important to note that the Commissioner’s ruling is a civil family court matter and totally unconnected to any criminal investigation or finding.

   “Regardless of the Commissioner’s finding, we know that Kurt never committed an act of family violence. The evidence was un-contradicted that Ms. Driscoll committed the criminal offense of trespass when she entered his motor home at night, while he was sleeping, uninvited, without permission,  and refused to leave when he repeatedly asked her to get out. Mr. Busch’s conduct was totally reasonable and legal under the circumstances. He never intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused her any injury. 

   “We intend to appeal the Commissioner’s ruling and will seek to persuade the family court judge hearing the appeal to consider new and previously unknown evidence from various people that have come forward since the conclusion of the hearing before the Commissioner.  We have provided this additional evidence challenging Ms. Driscoll’s testimony and credibility to the Attorney General’s office for their criminal investigation, and we hope to persuade the family court judge to consider the same evidence.”

   NASCAR officials did not have an immediate response by expected to release a statement sometime on Monday. 

   The order from the family court was issued Monday and a notice that supplemental details and the opinion supporting Commissioner David Jones's order would be released Friday, two days before Busch is scheduled to compete in the 2015 season-opening Daytona 500.

   Driscoll filed a domestic assault claim Nov. 5 against Busch at the Dover (Del.) Police Department, nearly six weeks after the time of the incident, which allegedly took place during the September NASCAR race weekend in Dover.

   Dover police concluded that investigation just before Christmas and forwarded the case file to the Delaware attorney general's office, which has yet to decide whether to file charges. Driscoll also filed for the protective order in November.

   The hearing, however, lasted four days over two months before the decision was finally issued on Monday. Driscoll testified in the protective order hearing that Busch had slammed her head three times against the wall of his motor home on Sept. 26 after she visited him at his motorhome in Dover. Busch denied the allegations.

Candlelight tribute for the late Dale Earnhardt set for Wednesday at DEI

   On Wednesday, race fans can honor the life of the late Dale Earnhardt during the annual candlelight tribute, which has been held on the grounds of Dale Earnhardt Inc. every year since 2001 in coordination with the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.

   The seven-time champion of NASCAR's biggest series died in a last-lap wreck in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2001.

   From 6 to 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, DEI will be closed and illuminated with candles, and a Guest Book will be available for signing and sharing special memories of Earnhardt. The showroom and store will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

   For more information on the work of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation, go here. 

Clint Bowyer goes off on NASCAR about Daytona group qualifying

   Q.  What do you see and what were you thinking when you were behind the 44?

   CLINT BOWYER:  I wasn't behind the 44.  He came flying around, come up on the apron, jumps in front of me, then runs over the 51, stacks us all up and then I run into him.  It's idiotic to be out here doing this anyway.  There's no sense in being able to try to put on some cute show for whatever the hell this is.  Then you have a guy out there doing this in desperation. 

   There's no reason to be out here.  These guys have spent six months working on these cars, busting their butts on these cars. But it ain't his fault.  It's NASCAR's fault for putting us out in the middle of this crap for nothing. 

   We used to come down here and worry about who would set on the front pole in the biggest race of the year.  Now all we do is come down here and worry about how a start‑and‑park like this out of desperation is going to knock us out of the Daytona 500. 

   We've been in meetings for 45 minutes just trying to figure out what in the hell everybody is going to do just so we can make the race.  It's stupid.  There's no sense in doing this.

What Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano each said about their post-race face-off

   After the checkered flag waved in Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano began slamming into each other as they headed down pit road. Once there, they engaged in a sometimes-heated conversation which otherwise ended without incident. 

   Here is what each driver said about what prompted the run-in:

   Harvick: “He just drove us straight in the fence. Everybody is trying to be aggressive, but you still have to know when and where you can do things. You can’t just drive somebody in the fence. I’m just disappointed for my guys on my Jimmy John’s team just for the fact that they worked hard to get their car back where it needed to be. And then just one of those deals where you just know that is going to work. Whether it is an all-star race or not, it doesn’t really matter, you can’t just take your head off and throw it on the floor board and not use your brain.” 

   (What was particularly frustrating?)  “There was no frustration it was good hard speedway racing, but he (Joey Logano) hooked me halfway down the backstretch and then just literally drove me in the corner until I hit the fence. I have had a few issues with him on the speedways. You can’t just take your head off and detach it and throw it on the floor board and not use your brain. It’s an all-star race, but you still have to have some common sense.” 

   (Will this carry over at all?) “No, like I told him (Joey Logano) last year that kind of stuff catches up with you. It caught up with him last year and you can only do things like that so long before it catches up with you.”

   Logano:  “That is Kevin (Harvick) just being an instigator just like everywhere else. It is a new year and the same stuff. I was trying to help really, to be honest with you, we had a run and I was pushing. I was doing the same thing with the No. 78 all night and it was working. We got in the corner and he got tight and he got into the fence. I was trying to help. He just doesn’t understand I was trying to help. I understand his frustration but I was trying to help out and get to the front and try to win this thing. There are no points or anything like that so you go for the win.” 

   (What was your side of things on pit road?) “I was truly trying to help. It is just the same old stuff with him. I was trying to work my way back up there and had a good run on the backstretch pushing him and when he got in the corner his car got tight. I know he has a lot of damage on his car too and that could have been why too. I was doing it with the 78 all day and keeping ourselves up there. Unfortunately he hit the fence. It wasn’t on purpose, I was trying to get to the front. All-Star races like this mean nothing unless you win so you go for it.”