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Week of 1/22/06
Kenseth locked in at Roush Racing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 27, 2006
MATT KENSETH FIRMLY IN PLACE AT ROUSH RACING
CONCORD, N.C. - Matt Kenseth has signed a multi-year contract with Roush Racing to continue to drive the No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion.
The 2003 NEXTEL Cup Series champion, Kenseth helped win Roush Racing's first NEXTEL Cup Championship and has made the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup each of the two years since the format was created. Kenseth and Roush Racing's relationship dates back to 1999. Since then they have together collected 10 wins, three poles, 51 top-five finishes, and 99 top-10 finishes in NASCAR's top division.
"We are very pleased that Matt extended his contract with Roush Racing last fall," said Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing. "Matt is one of the most talented drivers in the garage and he'll always hold a special place in our organization, having helped to bring us our first Cup championship in 2003. It's very assuring knowing that he will be staying on with us and I know that the first goal on his agenda is to take that championship trophy back." January 27, 2006
#21 Busch Car runs full season with Harvick and Burton
The #21 RCR Busch Series car will be sponsored by The United States Coast Guard this season with Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton sharing the driving duties. Harvick will run 30 races, and Burton will handle the remaining 5, and will make a run at the owners championship.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 26, 2006) – Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced today the United States Coast Guard will be the primary sponsor of its No. 21 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS driven by Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season.
Harvick will compete in 30 races while Burton will compete in the remaining five events, including the Feb. 18 Hershey’s Kissables 300 at Daytona International Speedway. In 2005, Harvick grabbed four wins, two poles, 14 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 21 starts. Burton earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes in only five appearances. Combined, these two NASCAR superstars have 376 NASCAR Busch Series starts, 37 wins, 23 poles, 129 top-five and 198 top-10 finishes
Shane Wilson will be the crew chief of the No. 21 Coast Guard team. The South Royalton, Vt., native has more than 20 years of motorsports experience, most recently in a two-year stint at Penske Racing as crew chief for its No. 77 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team. Prior to that, he spent three years with Orleans Racing as crew chief for driver Brendan Gaughan, winning two NASCAR Grand National Division West Series championships in 2000-2001 and finishing fourth in the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings. Wilson began his racing career at 17 when he owned a Street Stock team, winning a local tracks championship with driver Brian Kenyon.
"I'm really excited about RCR being associated with one of the United States' armed forces," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "The Coast Guard does a lot for homeland security, protecting our ports and the thousands of miles of coastline. They have a long and proud history and are a vital part of the defense of our country. I'm personally excited about it because I know the program they've put together to achieve their goals fits perfectly with our drivers (Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton) as their representatives. I believe in our military and to be able to represent the men and women of the Coast Guard is an honor for me and everyone at RCR." January 27, 2006
Texas - Goodyear tests for Bobby and Jr.
Bobby Labonte in his new Petty Dodge, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent some time at the track testing for Goodyear Tires. Since NASCAR now limits the number of tests and on what tracks, these outside tests are certainly an advantage to those invited. January 27, 2006
Mears 'veteran' now
Casey Mears will run 10 Busch Series races this year for Chip Ganassi Racing. The #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge will see Busch action in both races at California, Texas, Charlotte, and Atlanta, plus Chicago, and Michigan. With all the changes at Chip Ganassi Racing, Casey finds himself as the most experienced driver with the team. January 27, 2006
Rusty heads to TV booth
Rusty Wallace has been hired by ESPN and ABC to head up into the broadcast booth as their lead auto racing analyst mostly covering NASCAR races. He's the first to sign on as the networks gear up to cover the 2007 season and beyond. To get his feet wet, he'll be covering the IRL series this year, including the Indianapolis 500. January 25, 2006
Lowes to resurface...again
Lowes Motor Speedway will begin a $3 million resurfacing project next month to try and fix the problems from last year. You'll remember there were 22 caution in the Coke 600, and 15 more yellow's in the second race at Lowes. The track should be ready around March 27th, plenty of time for teams and Goodyear to check out the new surface. January 25, 2006
Texas testing gives advantage
Bobby Labonte in his new Petty Dodge, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent some time at the track testing for Goodyear Tires. Since NASCAR now limits the number of tests and on what tracks, these outside tests are certainly an advantage to those invited. January 25, 2006
3 Toyota teams in 2007
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 24, 2006) - One veteran race team with close to 20 years of stock car experience, another with an owner who has been driving race cars for more than 20 years, and a third totally new team will all be running the Toyota Camry in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull will all utilize the "Most Popular Car in America" when the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season kicks-off next February with the Daytona 500, Toyota and teams announced today.
Bill Davis Racing has been a regular competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1993, while Michael Waltrip Racing has primarily been involved in the Busch Series. Team Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, although the company has been heavily involved in worldwide motorsports.
In addition to Red Bull, other primary sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Caterpillar has been associated with Bill Davis Racing for nine years and NAPA has had a relationship with Michael Waltrip for five years.
"Based on our motorsports experience, we know the importance of working with experienced teams and partners," said Jim Aust, vice president of Toyota Motorsports and president and CEO of TRD, U.S.A. "We have developed excellent relationships with Bill Davis and the Waltrip family --- and look forward to developing a similar relationship with the Red Bull team as Toyota joins one of the world's most competitive racing series."
Toyota began competing in NASCAR in the 2000 Goody's Dash Series and for the past two years has been a participant in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In addition to the NEXTEL Cup Series, Toyota will enter the Busch Series next season and continue to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series.
"Next year -- 2007 -- marks Toyota's 50th anniversary in America and seeing a Toyota Camry -- America's best-selling car -- in the NEXTEL Cup Series will be a great way to celebrate this milestone," said Kim McCullough, TMS corporate manager, marketing communications. "The response to Toyota's involvement in the Craftsman Truck Series has been very positive, and we look forward to building on that acceptance at the next levels -- in both NEXTEL Cup and Busch racing."
The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in America for four straight years and eight of the past nine years. Assembled at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky. plant, more than six million Camry models have been sold in the United States since its debut 23 years ago. The all-new 2007 Camry, a complete redesign from previous models, was recently introduced at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.
Bill Davis has been involved in NASCAR competition for 18 years. During his tenure as a NASCAR team owner, the Arkansas-native has worked with some of the sport's top drivers and claimed numerous honors, including the 1991 Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year award with driver Jeff Gordon, and a 2002 Daytona 500 win with driver Ward Burton. Bill Davis Racing has 18 victories, 38 poles, 104 top-five finishes and 257 top-10 finishes as a NASCAR team owner.
In 2004, Bill Davis Racing partnered with Toyota to field three Tundras in the Craftsman Truck Series. In two seasons participating in the NCTS, the Bill Davis Racing drivers have combined for two wins, 11 poles, 22 top-five finishes and 41 top-10 finishes. The team will again field three Tundras in the series in 2006.
Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, formed his own race team nearly a decade ago in Sherrills Ford, N.C. Established primarily as a Busch Series team -- where Waltrip would collect four wins and six poles -- the organization began fielding cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on a limited basis over the past few years. In order to better prepare for the expansion of his team, Waltrip announced plans last August to develop, design and create 'Waltrip Racing World' -- an interactive, high-tech race shop that will feature more than 125,000 square-feet of shop space, buildings and housing when completed.
Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, N.C., and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt will serve as the team's general manager. Although Red Bull is new to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition, the world's leading energy drink company has been increasingly involved in global motorsports over the last decade. Red Bull owns and operates two Formula One teams -- Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso -- plus is an active supporter of action and adventure sports, music and culture, along with motorsports.
In 2004, Toyota became a regular competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) -the first new manufacturer in elite NASCAR competition in more than 50 years. In its inaugural NCTS season, a Toyota Tundra recorded four wins, five pole positions and 25 top-five finishes.
During last year's Craftsman Truck Series campaign, four Toyota drivers -- Todd Bodine (five), Mike Skinner (two), David Reutimann (two) and Brandon Whitt (one) -- combined for nine Tundra wins and Toyota drivers recorded 13 poles. This season, Toyota will again field five teams and nine drivers in the NCTS, including defending series champion Ted Musgrave.
Toyota made its initial move into the NASCAR ranks in 2000 with the introduction of a V6-powered Celica in the Goody's Dash Series. In three years in the Dash Series, Robert Huffman won 10 races and earned Toyota it's first-ever NASCAR championship when he claimed the 2003 driver's title.
Powering all of Toyota's American racing programs is TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, Calif., and High Point, N.C. A subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., TRD serves as the North American racing arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota's factory racing engines. In addition, TRD is also the source of high-performance aftermarket products for both street performance and grassroots racing Toyotas. From the race track to the aftermarket product segment, TRD plays a key role in providing Toyota with an enhanced performance image.
Toyota has eight manufacturing facilities in the United States -- a total of 14 plants in North America. With a strong manufacturing presence in the country, it's no surprise that more than half the Toyota vehicles sold in the United States are built here -- using many American-sourced parts. Toyota's overall commitment translates into manufacturing plants, sales and marketing operations, and research and design facilities throughout the United States, where Toyota directly employs more than 32,000. Since 1986, the company has built more than 12 million cars and trucks in the U.S. January 25, 2006
Newman to drive in IROC
Ryan Newman steps in for Carl Edwards in the IROC series this year due to a scheduling conflict. Carl is running the full Busch and Cup Series again this year, the Atlanta weekend in October is a problem for Edwards since the Busch race is in Memphis. January 25, 2006
Stewart visits the White House
Tony Stewart visited the White House yesterday complete with his #20 Home Depot Chevrolet parked out front. Tony presented a custom fire suit to President Bush with his name on the back, and took photos along with Joe Gibbs, crew chief Greg Zipadelli and NASCAR CEO Brian France. January 25, 2006
Toyota goes Busch, Cup in 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2006) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and Toyota announced today the manufacturer’s plans to expand its NASCAR program by competing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series starting in 2007, fielding the Toyota Camry model.
The expansion will follow three years of Toyota competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and will result in all three of NASCAR’s national series having four manufacturers competing, as Toyota will join Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.
“NASCAR welcomes Toyota to the greatest auto racing in the world,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France, who made the announcement on today at NASCAR’S Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.
"Toyota’s entry into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series is good for drivers, teams and the fans. This move provides for even more intense competition on the track between drivers and manufacturers, which will provide more excitement and fan interest. Toyota’s entry also provides more options for drivers and teams, which will increase the competition between manufacturers.”
“It’s a great pleasure to announce Toyota’s entry into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NASCAR Busch Series with the Toyota Camry,” said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president and chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
“Next year – 2007 – will be a special year for Toyota in more ways than one. Toyota will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the United States, and we will be joining the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, America’s premier racing series. Toyota has been an important part of the U.S. motorsports community for almost 25 years. We’ve competed and won in different series and on tracks across America. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in a variety of different series. But, if you want to compete against the best in America, that means NASCAR.
“We look forward to February of 2007 when the green flag waves to start the Daytona 500 and the starting lineup features the Toyota Camry.”
Illingworth, who joined France in making the announcement, said more information – regarding possible sponsor and driver lineups – will be released Tuesday night, during a media gathering at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord.
This year, Toyota is celebrating its 24th year of participation in American professional auto racing. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in IMSA, CART, IRL and off-road racing. They have won such historic events as the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Baja 1000 and the Indianapolis 500.
Toyota moved into NASCAR in 2000, fielding the Celica model in the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series. The following season, Robert Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR victory, at Kentucky Speedway. In 2003, Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR championship by capturing the NASCAR Goody’s Dash title.
In 2004, Toyota entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with the Tundra – in the process becoming the first new manufacturer in one of NASCAR’s top series in more than 50 years. In two seasons of NASCAR Craftsman Truck competition, Tundra drivers have recorded 13 victories and 18 poles.
Toyota, which has been doing business in America since 1957, now has eight plants in the United States – 14 if you count all of North America. Toyota will build approximately 1.6 million vehicles this year, including production at its new Tundra pickup plant in Texas. Toyota and its dealers now directly employ approximately 142,000 Americans.
Since 1986, Toyota has built more than 12 million vehicles in the United States. More than 6.5 million Camrys have been sold in the United States and it has been the best-selling car in America for eight of the past nine years. Camrys are built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Ky. January 23, 2006
Waltrip fields own Cup car
Michael Waltrip announced the formation of Waltrip-Jasper Racing Company that will now field the #55 Napa Dodge this season in the Cup Series. Bill Davis Racing will still provide the cars, engines, and staff for the team. January 22, 2006
Unleaded fuel coming in 2008
On Friday, NASCAR announced a new unleaded fuel has been developed and will start using it for the 2008 season. They have used leaded racing fuel which is bad for the environment and air quality, but have now found a suitable fuel replacement for their high demand engines. January 22, 2006
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