Logano gets first win at home track June 30, 2009
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The hybrid pace car wasn't the only Toyota saving fuel at the end of Sunday's rain-shortened Cup race. Joey Logano's No. 20 team gambled on fuel and made it to the rain to get his first Cup victory.
It wasn’t the sort of dominating win one might expect from the kid dubbed “Sliced Bread,” but nevertheless, NASCAR has entered the era of Joey Logano, Sprint Cup Series winner.
Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli, who guided Tony Stewart to his two Cup Series championships and 33 wins from atop the No. 20 pit box, kept Logano out as rest of the field pitted under green and rain neared New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Ryan Newman, the only other rookie to ever win at the 1-mile track, also stayed out, leading the race, but was forced to his pit on lap 264 when his Chevrolet ran out of gas.
When the caution waved for rain on lap 268, Logano’s Toyota was out front. As the rains intensified, the field was brought down pit road, and the scheduled 301-lap race was called on lap 273. (more…)
Sonoma race notebook June 24, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farSome thoughts and observations from the Toyota/SaveMart 350:
The race was the first true test of NASCAR’s new double-file restart rule, and it passed with flying colors. The racing was more exciting than what we’ve seen in previous road races, and over the last five restarts, as many as four cars had a shot at taking the lead. More importantly, drivers were able to get through the field safely and there were no cautions resulting from bad restarts. (more…)
Kahne and The King, back in Victory Lane June 24, 2009
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Richard Petty, left, and Kasey Kahne celebrate the team's win at Infineon Raceway.
If there’s a team in the NASCAR Cup garage that needs a boost, it’s Richard Petty Motorsports.
The team, which grew out of a merger between the racing operations of Petty Enterprises and Gillett-Evernham Motorsports earlier this year, has been hit especially hard in the economic downturn.
The organization finds itself in a financial dispute with manufacturer Chrysler, has laid off employees and cut salaries. After a strong showing at the Daytona 500, the four-car team has fallen off, and has been slow to develop the new Dodge engine package this year. (more…)
RPM: No Dodge NNS support opens door for Kahne, Sadler to drive Toyotas June 16, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentRichard Petty Motorsports drivers will drive Toyotas later this year because Dodge does not provide manufacturer support in the Nationwide Series, according to a representative from the team. (more…)
Martin wins third of the year with MIS fuel strategy June 16, 2009
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Mark Martin celebrates his win at Michigan International Speedway
Mark Martin has made a career out of being a smart racecar driver. He stays out of trouble on the track, only pushes the car when he needs to, and somehow is always at the front of the field when the checkered flag waves. He doesn’t always win, but he brings the car home in one piece and consistently keeps his name near the top of the series points leader board.
This hasn’t made Martin a flashy driver, and after finishing second in the Cup Series points standings four times in his more than 20 years of NASCAR racing, the popular driver sometimes seems like he’s always a bridesmaid and never the bride. (more…)
Braun Racing confirms Kahne, Sadler will drive Toyotas June 12, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe No. 43 made famous by Richard Petty will be on the side of a Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series later this year.
Richard Petty Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne and Elliot Sadler will drive Toyota Camrys in five Nationwide Series events later this year, a public relations official from Braun Racing confirmed Friday. (more…)
Is Richard Petty Motorsports manufacturer shopping? June 9, 2009
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Kasey Kahne will drive a No. 9 Fritos car at the Atlanta Nationwide race in September. This picture shows the car as a Dodge Charger, but with Toyota's Braun Racing fielding the car, will Kahne be in a Camry?
After laying off nine employees and reducing salaries Monday, Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday its drivers will race in five Nationwide events for Braun Racing later this season.
Why are these two items related? To begin with, RPM made the lay offs and salary reductions because its manufacturer Dodge and parent company Chrysler are being reorganized in bankruptcy court. As a result, Chrysler has not maintained its financial obligations to the team.
Braun Racing fields Toyotas from Toyota Racing Development with a slew of drivers including Brian Scott, Jason Leffler and Burney Lamar, as well as Toyota Cup Series drivers Brian Vickers and David Reutimann. The team has previously fielded cars for Joe Gibbs Toyota drivers Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. (more…)
Tony Stewart – owner, driver, winner June 8, 2009
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Tony Stewrat, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono 500 on June 7, 2009 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Tony Stewart told his crew at the end of the Pocono 500, “You guys are making me look like a genius.” And while he may be not giving himself enough of the credit, Stewart’s decision to leave his championship-winning team at Joe Gibbs Racing is looking pretty smart right now.
Stewart used every trick up his sleeve to stretch his fuel to last 41 laps, letting off the accelerator early and coasting down the long straightaways and turns of the Pocono triangle. He built a six-second lead on eventual second place winner Carl Edwards, but gave most of that up in the waning laps. Edwards, who was saving fuel as well, couldn’t catch up and Stewart won his first points race as an owner/driver.
The No. 14 team was to start on the pole by virtue of leading the points when qualifying was rained out. But Stewart wrecked the primary car during happy hour practice and started from the rear of the field. (more…)
Double-file restarts debut at Pocono June 8, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentNASCAR’s new double-file restart rule got the preliminary thumbs-up from the people it affects the most – the drivers.
Race winner Tony Stewart said debuting the new rule at Pocono was a good decision because the 2.5-mile track has plenty of room for the drivers to figure out the procedures.
“It was nice knowing that everybody you were around was for position,” Stewart said. “You know, this was a perfect place to try. It next week at Michigan is going to be another great place to go through that. I think Bristol or Martinsville would be a tough weekend to try to debut this system.” (more…)
Texas Thoughts June 8, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentTexas Thoughts
Another Bombardier Learjet 550k race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway is in the books. As the IndyCar Series moves on to Iowa, and race fans get ready for the November race weekend at TMS, here are some closing thoughts: (more…)