JR Motorsports fills empty NNS seat at RIR with family

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Jeffrey Earnhardt – photo by Sandi Goodall / Racingal.com

JR Motorsports has announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt, nephew to team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fourth-generation racer to make first start for family-owned team, will drive the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the April 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. The announcement was made on JRM 360, a weekly video series housed on the team’s official website, JRMracing.com.

“Richmond happens to be one of the few races that neither Kasey Kahne nor Brad Sweet are scheduled to drive the No. 5 car because it’s not a Great Clips-sponsored race. Dale and I were discussing our options for that weekend,” stated Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “It was his idea to put Jeffrey in the car and let him drive our equipment. I loved the idea, and everyone in the company – as soon as they heard it – did too. It’s only a one-race deal but something that could really help Jeffrey if he does well.”

Watch announcement

Jefferey Earnhardt on the response from fans: “My phone has been blowing up. The response has been incredible. I received a lot of text messages and tweets from people in NASCAR, and the fans have been great. Between my grandfather, my dad, and Dale Jr., there is such a huge fan base that is very supportive of my family. I just appreciate the opportunity. I can’t wait. I wish the Richmond race weekend was tomorrow.”

NOTES

Jeffrey Earnhardt is only the second fourth-generation racer to compete in NASCAR’s top touring divisions. Adam Petty was the first.

The 23-year-old Earnhardt is son to Kerry Earnhardt (NASCAR racer from 1998-2009), grandson to seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1975-2001), and great-grandson to 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt (1956-64).

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in 14 career Nationwide Series races. He made his first start on Aug. 8, 2009, at Watkins Glen International.

Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in four of five Nationwide Series races in 2013 for Archie St. Hilaire and Go Green Racing. He recorded a season-best 20th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2.

This will mark Jeffrey Earnhardt’s first-ever race with JR Motorsports.

Jeffrey Earnhardt’s racing résumé also includes 10 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, all of which came in 2010 and 2011.

Richmond International Raceway has been a hotbed for Earnhardt success. Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each have six wins at the three-quarter-mile facility. (Dale Sr.: CUP – Feb. 24, 1985; NNS – Sept. 6, 1986; CUP – March 8, 1987; CUP – Sept. 13, 1987; CUP – Sept. 9, 1990; CUP – Feb. 24, 1991). Dale Jr.: NNS – Sept. 11, 1998; NNS – Sept. 10, 1999; CUP – March 6, 2000; NNS – Sept. 6, 2002; CUP – March 15, 2004; CUP – May 6, 2006).

The No. 5 Chevrolet is typically occupied by Kasey Kahne or Brad Sweet as part of a 28-race Great Clips-sponsored package. Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver to race the No. 5 this year (Phoenix on March 2).

JR Motorsports PR

Update from RPM on Michael Annett

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Karen Pistone

CONCORD, N.C. (March 1, 2013) – After a successful surgery to repair a fractured and dislocated sternum, Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett has been released from the hospital in Charlotte, N.C. He is now resting at his home.

The news is encouraging and is ahead of schedule. Doctors expect a two month recovery time, but Annett has responded quickly to all treatment so far and is hopeful to return sooner.

Richard Petty Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR’s ‘First Lady’ Danica Patrick wins Coors Light Pole Award for Daytona 500

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Credit: 282786Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The front row for the Daytona 500 is now set.

Danica Patrick can now be labeled (literally) as the “Fastest Woman in Town” undoubtedly. Before Patrick’s record-setting pole run of 196.434 mph (45.817 seconds) Sunday afternoon, the highest DAYTONA 500 start by a female was 18th by Janet Guthrie in 1980.

This is Patrick’s second NASCAR pole, also winning the Coors Light Pole for the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona last season. The only other female to win a NASCAR national series pole was Shawna Robinson in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994.

Danica Patrick made her own “HERstory” by winning the Coors Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Patrick will be starting upfront with Jeff Gordon, winning the outside pole position for the start of the Daytona 500. Gordon stated that he can be labeled the “Fastest Guy in Town.”

Already a NASCAR record holder, Patrick set the mark of best finish by a female driver in when she finished fourth in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. She finished overall 10th in the final 2012 NASCAR Nationwide points standings, the top finish by a female in NASCAR national series history.

Patrick is in her first year in the Stewart-Haas Racing stable as teammate to Ryan Newman and teammate & car owner, Tony Stewart. SHR will head into the Duels on Thursday in position(s) Pole (Patrick), 4th (Newman) and 5th (Stewart).

Patrick, who is running for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in 2002. She continues to make HERstory in the future with being the first female to compete in the Sprint Unlimited in 2014.

DUEL at DAYTONA

Qualifying position determines which Duel the driver will race in. Those cars who earned ODD-NUMBERED positions from today’s Daytona 500 qualifying will be assigned to the FIRST Duel race. Those cars which earned the EVEN NUMBERED positions from qualifying will compete in the SECOND Duel race.

The STARTING POSITIONS for each Duel race will also be based on today’s qualifying times.

REMINDER: The Pole & outside Pole positions are locked in for the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING RESULTS

Brad Keselowski Racing fielding two trucks full-time in 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) announced today via Twitter that the team owned by the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) champion will field two full-time entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) for the 2013 season in Ford trucks.

Michigan-based Cooper Standard, a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry, will serve as the primary partner on the No. 29 Ford for the entire 2013 season with driver Ryan Blaney. With his first victory as a Penske Racing development driver at Iowa Speedway in September, Blaney became the youngest winner in NCWTS history.

The second entry – the No. 19 BKR Ford entry will feature various Cequent Group brands and products throughout the season including Draw-Tite, Reese Towpower, Reese Towpower Carbon Forged, Bulldog, and Harper for 15 races as a split between two companies, Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products. The Cequent Group are leading designers, manufacturers, and marketers of a broad range of vehicle and trailer products among other automotive products.

The No. 19 BKR Ford, led by new crew chief Chad Kendrick, will have multiple drivers as it competes for the 2013 NCWTS owners’ championship. Keselowski and his NSCS Penske Racing teammate, Joey Logano, are scheduled to run multiple races. Blaney’s father, NSCS veteran and World of Outlaws champion Dave Blaney, will race the No. 19 in the NCWTS’ first ever dirt race at Eldora Speedway on July 24th.

BKR also welcomes Florida native Ross Chastain to its stable of drivers for 15 races in the No. 19 Ford. Chastain will drive the Melon 1 primary partnership colors to the No. 19 Truck for five (5) of his 15 races with BKR.

The specific races for Keselowski, Logano, and Chastain will be announced at a later date. Blaney and Chastain will represent BKR on the track for the 2013 season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 22nd.

Source: Twitter @Keselowski, BKR Press Release

New ownership team enters NASCAR full-time in 2013

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Karen Pistone

A new NASCAR team, Swan Racing, will take the track at Daytona International Speedway in February 2013. Led by NASCAR’s newest team owner, Brandon Davis, Swan Racing will compete fulltime in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, racing the No. 30 Toyota driven by David Stremme.

Davis, CEO of independent oil and gas company Swan Energy Inc., and a dirt-modified driver in the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) purchased the assets of Inception Racing earlier this year.

Davis has tapped Steve Hmiel to be Swan Racing’s director of competition. Hmiel is a veteran of the NASCAR garage area with over 35 years of experience as a crew chief, car chief and competition director.

Hmiel broke into NASCAR with Petty Enterprises, helping Richard Petty win championships in 1975 and 1979. In 1984, he was the crew chief for Terry Labonte’s championship. As Mark Martin’s crew chief from 1992 – 1996, Hmiel won 13 races for Roush Racing. In 2005, Hmiel was Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s crew chief for a brief period and won that year at Chicagoland Speedway. Most recently Hmiel was competition director at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

Swan Racing is located in Mooresville, N.C., and will get its horsepower from Triad Racing Technologies, a top engine builder.

Swan Energy will be the primary sponsor on the No. 30 Toyota. Discussions with additional sponsors are underway and further sponsor announcements are expected early in 2013.

Danica Patrick announces divorce on Facebook

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Danica Patrick at media conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Photo by Sandi Goodall/Racingal.com

Guess the seven year itch was more like a rash…. real bad.

Message from Danica Patrick to her fans:

“I am sad to inform my fans that after 7 years, Paul and I have decided to amicably end our marriage. This isn’t easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that’s how we will remain moving forward.”

Danica Patrick FB Page

NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Driver Stats – KANSAS SPEEDWAY

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Chase Race #: 6 of 10
Season Race #: 32 of 36
Track Size: 1.5-mile
Variable Banking/Turns: 17-20 degrees
Variable Banking/Frontstretch: 9-11 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Greg Biffle, Ford (174.887 mph, 30.877 sec., 10-07-11)

2011 race winner: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet (137.181 mph, 2:58:27, 10-09-11)

Track qualifying record: Matt Kenseth, Ford (180.856 mph, 29.858 sec., 10-08-05)

Track race record: Denny Hamlin, Toyota (144.122 mph, 02:46:44, 4-22-12)

During the 2012 season, between the April race and this weekend’s event the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners and on the frontstretch.

KANSAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

1 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.3
2012 Rundown
· Five wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.5
· Led 18 races for 642 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 10.2 in five races
· Average Running Position of 12.7, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best

2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.1
2012 Rundown
· Three wins, 16 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.4
· Led 22 races for 1,314 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 7.9 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 6.8, second-best
· Series-best Driver Rating of 120.7
· Series-high 373 Fastest Laps Run
· 645 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 162.892 mph
· 2,145 Laps in the Top 15 (91.2%), second-most
· Series-high 425 Quality Passes

3 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.0
2012 Rundown
· Five wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.9
· Led 22 races for 1,168 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 14.1 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 14.4, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.9, 11th-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 614 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.921 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,589 Laps in the Top 15 (67.6%), eighth-most
· 342 Quality Passes, seventh-most

4 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Benefiting Avon Foundation for Women Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.0
2012 Rundown
· Three wins, eight top fives, 19 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.2
· Led 11 races for 229 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average finish of 15.0 in eight races
· Average Running Position of 17.3, 16th-best
· Driver Rating of 85.7, 15th-best

5 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.8
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 13.4
· Led 9 races for 262 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, four top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.1 in 10 races
· Average Running Position of 15.1, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.9, 13th-best
· 87 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 670 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.746 mph, 12th-fastest
· 1,391 Laps in the Top 15 (59.2%), 11th-most
· 286 Quality Passes, 11th-most

6 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/Sherwin Williams Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.7
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 9.9
· Led 16 races for 721 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 8.0 in 12 races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 6.7
· Driver Rating of 116.3, second-best
· 194 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 601 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.622 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 2,208 Laps in the Top 15 (93.9%)
· 406 Quality Passes, second-most

7 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.7
2012 Rundown
· Six top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.3
· Led 11 races for 423 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, one top 10
· Average finish of 23.3 in eight races
· Average Running Position of 14.3, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.4, 12th-best
· 102 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.933 mph, seventh-fastest

8 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.6
2012 Rundown
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.5
· Led 14 races for 420 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 12.2 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 9.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 102.9, third-best
· 137 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.254 mph, fourth-fastest
· 1,857 Laps in the Top 15 (79.0%), fourth-most
· 374 Quality Passes, fourth-most

9 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.8
2012 Rundown
· One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.4
· Led 20 races for 460 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 11.1 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 8.8, third-best
· Driver Rating of 102.2, fifth-best
· 99 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.353 mph, third-fastest
· 2,105 Laps in the Top 15 (89.5%), third-most
· 390 Quality Passes, third-most

10 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.9
2012 Rundown
· Four top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1
· Led 8 races for 241 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, six top 10s
· Average finish of 13.0 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 12.8, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.1, seventh-best
· 79 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· Series-high 721 Green Flag Passes
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.894 mph, ninth-fastest
· 1,591 Laps in the Top 15 (67.7%), seventh-most
· 331 Quality Passes, eighth-most

11 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Zest Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.2
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.3
· Led 19 races for 398 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.9 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 10.6, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 102.4, fourth-best
· 119 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.030 mph, fifth-fastest
· 1,852 Laps in the Top 15 (78.8%), fifth-most

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 following race 31 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Brad Keselowski	2,214	5	0	1	98.3
2. Jimmie Johnson	2,207	3	2	2	109.1
3. Denny Hamlin	2,199	5	3	3	103.0
4. Clint Bowyer	2,186	3	0	5	94.0
5. Kasey Kahne	2,179	2	3	4	94.8
6. Greg Biffle	2,171	2	3	9	101.7
7. Martin Truex Jr.	2,165	0	1	8	96.7
8. Tony Stewart	2,164	3	1	7	87.6
9. Jeff Gordon	2,164	1	2	6	96.8
10. Kevin Harvick	2,158	0	0	10	91.9
11. Matt Kenseth	2,147	2	1	12	100.2
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2,128	1	1	11	97.6

Notebook

· There have been 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas since the track opened in 2001.

· All of the races have been scheduled for 267 laps.

· 10 drivers have competed in all 13 races at Kansas. Mark Martin has completed the most laps at Kansas with 3,388.

· Jeff Gordon won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races.

· Jason Leffler won the first pole in September 2001.

· 10 different drivers have won poles, led by Jimmie Johnson with three.

· Nine different drivers have posted victories, led by Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (each with two).

· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with four, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with three.

· Seven of the 13 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Two drivers have won from the pole: Joe Nemechek in 2004 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008.

· The furthest back in the field that a race winner started was 25th, by Brad Keselowski last season.

· Two active drivers with more than one start have averaged a top-10 finish: Jimmie Johnson (7.9) and Greg Biffle (8.0).

· Nine of the 13 races that ended under green had a margin of victory under one second. The 2007 race ended under caution.

· The 2009 Chase race holds the record for most lead changes (26) among the most leaders (14) in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Kansas Speedway.

· Jimmie Johnson has led the most laps (503) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, followed by Greg Biffle with 346 laps led.

· Denny Hamlin made his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway on 10/09/2005.

· Jimmie Johnson posted the highest NSCS Driver Rating performance at Kansas Speedway in this event last season with a 149.2. A perfect Driver Rating (150.0) performance in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway has yet to be achieved.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas Speedway winner: Ryan Newman (10/05/2003 – 25 years, 9 months, 27 days). Oldest NSCS Kansas Speedway winner: Mark Martin (10/09/2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winner: Jason Leffler (9/30/2001 – 26 years, 0 months, 14 days). Oldest NSCS Kansas Speedway pole winner: Mark Martin (10/04/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).

Source: NASCAR Media

NASCAR driver autograph sessions / appearances – DOVER (Monster Mile)

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Saturday, September 29
Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler & Richard Childress
10:30 — 10:45am
scheduled to participate in a free question-and-answer session for fans during the “OneMain Financial Open Track” session at Dover International Speedway. Ticket holders for that day’s “OneMain Financial 200″ NASCAR Nationwide Series race will have the chance to enter the track at Gate 18 and roam the frontstretch of the Monster Mile from 10:00 – 11:30am. Fans must present their tickets upon entry and exit, as they will be scanned to permit re-entrance for the qualifying sessions and race later in the day. Coolers are not permitted on the track.

Sunday, September 30
Clint Bowyer
10:30am
Sprint Experience at Dover International Speedway
The Sprint Experience display is located behind Gates 4 & 5, across from the Monster Monument.

Jimmie Johnson
11:15am
Free Q&A session at the Monster Monument at Dover International Speedway.

Bobby Labonte
9:55am
Sprint Experience at Dover International Speedway
The Sprint Experience display is located behind Gates 4 & 5, across from the Monster Monument.

Mark Martin
10:00 – 10:15am
Scheduled to appear at the AAA display located in the FanZone at Dover International Speedway.
Located outside of Turn 4 near the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza.

Juan Pablo Montoya
10:45am
Free Q&A session at the Team Chevy display located in the FanZone at Dover International Speedway.

#42 Sprint Cup Over-the-Wall Pitcrew
10:30am
Team Chevy display located in the FanZone at Dover International Speedway

Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth & Danica Patrick
11:00am
Dover International Speedway Monster Mile Club
The Monster Mile Club opens at 8:00am with a continental breakfast. Trackside Access begins at 8:30am with the hosted question-and-answer session with Newman following later in the morning. An all-you-can-eat lunch will be served from 11:00am until the start of the “AAA 400″ NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 2:00pm/et, at which point the Monster Mile Club will close. Ticket holders can add this hospitality option to their tickets for just $99. For tickets or more information, visit the Dover International Speedway.

David Ragan
11:00am
scheduled to sign autographs at his merchandise hauler located in the midway at Dover International Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr.
10:15 – 10:30am
AAA display located in the FanZone at Dover International Speedway Located outside of Turn 4 near the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza.

Regan Smith, Furniture Row & Kurt Busch, Phoenix Racing to part ways after ‘Dega

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Karen Pistone

It was reported yesterday that Regan Smith’s final race of the season in the Furniture Row Racing #78 will be at Talladega.

Kurt Busch’s last race with Phoenix Racing will be Talladega.

Kurt Busch’s first race with Furniture Row Racing could be at Charlotte in two weeks to get a head start for the 2013 season.

It’s like playing musical chairs, only, it to be drivers seats, at Phoenix Racing….

James Finch is looking at drivers with potential to fill the seat, and who also could bring on sponsorship. Those in the running: A.J. Allmendinger, Regan Smith, James Buescher & Justin Allgaier.

Wait a sec – James Buescher? Hasn’t he raced for Phoenix Racing before?

Yes, as a matter of fact, he has.

James Buescher, 2010. Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images

As history has it, Buescher was announced as the NNS 2010 driver for Phoenix Racing. To prepare for the season, he ran two races in the #1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet, finishing 11th at Texas and 13th at Phoenix. A week prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, Phoenix Racing lost their main sponsor when Miccosukee announced it was dropping its sponsorship of all NASCAR teams, effective immediately. On May 12, 2010, Buescher and Phoenix Racing never seemed to have found the right chemistry and the two decided to part ways, which was, again, effective immediately. That’s when Buescher went to wheel for Turner Motorsports’ in the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado Camping World Truck Series, and, who at the time, was engaged to Turner’s daughter.

Maybe absence grew the heart fonder and they found, at least, a little bit of chemistry now?

Other drivers who have ties with or have driven for James Finch:

James Buescher (Nationwide Series)
Brad Keselowski (Satellite driver contracted through Hendrick Motorsports for seat time & won at ‘Dega).
Mike Bliss (#09 Cup Series; Released & then re-hired)
Aric Almirola (hired, but never drove for #09 Cup team)
Ryan Newman (Nationwide Series at Dover with a 2nd place finish).
Kurt Busch (Partial 2012 season in the #51)

We’ll just have to wait and see WHO comes out – I mean INTO – this next. Never gets boring at Phoenix Racing.

Racingal.com

A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

Category Archives: Driver