____________________________________________________________ T H E * S T O C K * C A R * G A Z E T T E by MotorSportsNews.Net Do you know for sure? motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure ____________________________________________________________ The Stock Car Gazette is sponsored by: Hasco Collectibles 701 Mantooth Ave. Lufkin, TX 75904 hascodiecastcars/ [email protected] 2013 PRE-ORDERS: Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 National Guard Pink Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 Race2Achieve Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 Mt. Dew Talladega Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 AMP Energy Gold NEWEST 1/24th 2013 CARS IN STOCK: Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 National Guard Man Of Steel Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 AMP Energy Active Orange Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 National Guard Camo Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 7-11 AMP Energy Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 National Guard Youth Foundation Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 Natl Guard and Diet Mt. Dew Dale Jr. 1/24th 2013 Release 2012 Paint The 88 2014 PRE-ORDERS Coming Next Week Huge Discounts On Older Model Year Cars, AND Ground Flat Rate Shipping Is Still Available Hasco Collectibles Div. Hasco Services, LLC 701 Mantooth Ave. Lufkin, TX 75904 hascodiecastcars/ [email protected] ___________________________________________________________ E d i t o r s * N o t e s ___________________________________________________________ Silly season hit yesterday, if I have counted right there should be about 5 more announcements to come and should be done for the most part by the December 9th test in Charlotte. So keep reading for the latest news. ___________________________________________________________ Stock Car Gazette Columnists Speak Out! ___________________________________________________________ Stock Car Gazette motorsportsnews.net/archives/8253 Track Trash – Homestead Winner(s) by Racing Maniac #*#*#* Stock Car Gazette motorsportsnews.net/archives/8256 Six Sprint Cups in Eight Years Is Amazing! by Chuck Abrams ___________________________________________________________ N A S C A R * S P R I N T * C U P * S E R I E S ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Catchfence Stewart-Haas Racing Announces Reorganization of Competition Department - See more at: catchfence/#sthash.C1ZBtZX8.dpuf Roush Fenway Reorganizes Crew Chief Lineup; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Mike Kelley to Reunite in Sprint Cup Series - See more at: catchfence/#sthash.C1ZBtZX8.dpuf OneMain Financial® Continues Partnership With Joe Gibbs Racing and Driver Elliott Sadler In 2014 - See more at: catchfence/#sthash.C1ZBtZX8.dpuf ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of FrontStretch Jimmie Johnson Becomes First Athlete to Co-Host SportsCenter Winning six Sprint Cup titles can open a lot of doors, and in Jimmie Johnson’s case, he was given the honor of co-hosting SportsCenter alongside anchors John Anderson and Lindsay Czarniak on Tuesday. Johnson is the first athlete in the 34-year history of ESPN’s flagship television program to serve as a host. He follows in the footsteps of actors Billy Crystal and Ken Jeong, both of whom were granted this same rare opportunity in 2012. “I don’t know if SportsCenter knows what they are getting themselves into,” Johnson commented beforehand. “It’s probably a good thing I’m there pretty much all day preparing.” Johnson also admitted that Billy Crystal and Ken Jeong left ‘tough shoes to fill’. When the show began, however, he appeared as comfortable as he did in lane Sunday night, and even joked with Anderson and Czarniak on occasion. He even responded to comments made by Donovan McNabb after the former NFL quarterback said that NASCAR drivers aren’t real athletes. “We’re always looking for opportunities to change it up and give SportsCenter viewers a different take on the day’s news, have some fun and do some memorable television,” said Jack Obringer, SportsCenter senior coordinating producer. “And having a six-time champion like Jimmie Johnson on your set is pretty cool.” Performing the tasks assigned to a regular SportsCenter host such as presenting the day’s sports highlights and conducting interviews with World Series champion Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Bob Stoops ended a slate of broadcast appearances for Johnson that included Monday night’s Late Show with David Letterman and Tuesday morning’s LIVE! with Kelly and Michael. Tony Stewart Teams Up with Crew Chief Chad Johnston It hasn’t been all rest and relaxation for Tony Stewart as he continues to heal from multiple surgeries performed on a fractured right fibula and tibia. Stewart-Haas Racing’s announcement that former Michael Waltrip Racing crew chief Chad Johnston will replace Steve Addington as the crew chief of the No. 14 next season was just one of multiple personnel changes that took effect within the organization on Tuesday. Johnston joins SHR after requesting his release as the crew chief for Martin Truex, Jr. because of his connection in the cheating scandal that nearly manipulated the driver lineup for this year’s Chase. The man he’s replacing, Addington, departs after failing to live up to the expectations set by former Stewart crew chief Darian Grubb. Stewart recorded four wins over the past two seasons under Addington but ultimately hasn’t performed to the level of his 2011 championship run. SHR also announced that former competition director Greg Zipadelli has been moved to a new position, vice president of competition, responsible for managing each of the organization’s four teams. Additionally, Matt Borland was named vice president of engineering, moving from a position as the crew chief for Ryan Newman’s No. 39 team. Former race engineer Daniel Knost has been promoted to crew chief and will work with Kurt Busch. Busch’s number for the 2014 campaign will be 41 and the Chevrolet will be sponsored by Haas Automation. “Our greatest asset at Stewart-Haas Racing is our people,” Stewart said. “Obviously, there is a lot of change happening for 2014 as we grow to four teams and bring in Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch. “With our new management structure and the crew chiefs we have in place, were well positioned to handle whatever challenges come our way. Collectively, we have the experience and wherewithal necessary for each of our teams to perform at the highest level possible.” The latest set of moves comes after SHR announced that Rodney Childers would serve as crew chief for Harvick and the No. 4 team in August. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Reunites with Crew Chief Mike Kelley Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will be reunited with former crew chief Mike Kelley next season, Roush Fenway Racing announced on Tuesday. Kelley and Stenhouse combined for Nationwide Series championships in 2011 and 2012. He replaces Scott Graves, who moves to Roush’s NNS team driven by Trevor Bayne. “Its really exciting to team back up with Mike,” said Stenhouse. “Obviously we have a great chemistry and we have had a great deal of success in the past. Scott (Graves) did a great job of guiding us through our rookie season this year and we look forward to continuing that growth next season.” News N Notes: - While no official statement has been released by either NASCAR or Richard Childress Racing regarding the cause of the No. 27 Chevrolet’s fiery explosion on Lap 232 of the Ford EcoBoost 400, former crew chief *Chris Andrews* seems to have already found a solution. Andrews stated that rubber from an earlier blown tire became entwined with the axle and caught fire because of heat from the brake rotors during an interview with FOX Sports’ Matt Clarke on NASCAR Race Hubs Teardown. - Penske Racing officially cut ties with Sam Hornish, Jr. after the driver narrowly lost the Nationwide Series title in the season finale at Homestead-Miami. The announcement came following speculation that Hornish would be departing the organization because of its move to one NNS team in 2014. ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Google Alerts Jimmie Johnson finally responds to Donovan McNabb USA TODAY HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- So, hes the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, being hailed by others as one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- stock-car driver of ... usatoday/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/17/jimmie-johnson-is-an-athlete-donovan-mcnabb/3623169/ The 10 biggest surprises from the 2013 NASCAR season AutoWeek LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC - Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin both had seasons to forget. Check out the rest of the list to see NASCARs other big surprises. autoweek/article/20131119/NASCAR01/131119781 Bests and worsts of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season SI The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season began with a boring, single-file parade in the Daytona 500 and ended with the numbing repetition of Jimmie Johnsons ... sportsillustrated.cnn/racing/news/20131119/best-worst-2013-nascar-season/ Ryan: NASCAR missed its most mischievous in 2013 USA TODAY It gets pretty stale without me, Stewart joked after the Ford EcoBoost 400 in an interview on SiriusXM Satellite Radios NASCAR channel. The absence of ... usatoday/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/18/2013-chase-missed-tony-stewart-brad-keselowski-denny-hamlin/3633537/ NASCARs Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. get new crew chiefs SI CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart got a new crew chief Tuesday as both Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Fenway Racing ... sportsillustrated.cnn/racing/news/20131119/nascar-tony-stewart-ricky-stenhouse-new-crew-chiefs.ap/ From Five-Time To Six-Time ESPN Jimmie Johnson spent the past three years answering questions about his quest for a six-pack -- a six-pack of NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, that is. espn.go/rpm/nascar/notebook/_/page/20131118MondayRundown/nascar-number-six-counting-jimmie-johnson-monday-rundown Roush, SHR make personnel changes FOXSports Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart got a new crew chief Tuesday as both Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Fenway Racing reorganized their ... msn.foxsports/nascar/story/stewart-haas-racing-roush-fenway-racing-announce-personnel-changes-111913#!opMkr Steve Addington out as Tony Stewarts crew chief USA TODAY Tony Stewart has a new crew chief. Again. Just two years after Stewart fired Darian Grubb following his 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship, Stewart replaced ... usatoday/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/19/tony-stewart-steve-addington-new-crew-chief/3642895/ 2013 NASCAR Lefty Awards All Left Turns Much to the relief of Jimmie Johnson haters and Denny Hamlin, the 2013 NASCAR season is over. Before a little winter siesta and the plotting for 2014 season .. allleftturns/2013-nascar-lefty-awards/ The greatness of Jimmie Johnson ESPN MIAMI -- Interact with Jimmie Johnson, even in passing, and youll notice almost immediately that his greatness should not be measured in wins or . espn.go/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/9999795/nascar-greatness-jimmie-johnson ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Jayski jayski How does Johnson stack up against Petty and Earnhardt? #48-Jimmie Johnsons sixth championship came in his 12th full season; Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt won theirs in their 15th full season (full season meaning they started at least half of the races). Earnhardts seventh title came in his 16th season, Pettys in his 19th, meaning Johnson has plenty of time left to match and surpass the record. Petty and Johnson were 38 years of age when they won their sixth championship, Earnhardt was 42.(more stats at ESPN)(11-20-2013) Homestead TV Ratings: ESPNs live telecast of the Ford EcoBoost 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 17, the final race of the season, earned a 3.1 U.S. household rating, averaging 5,118,577 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The rating and audience were up from last years race, which earned a 3.0 U.S. household rating and averaged 4,769,427 viewers. Greensboro, N.C., was the highest-rated market in the nation with a 10.3 rating for the race telecast, followed by Greenville, S.C., at 8.6 and Norfolk, Va., at 6.9. Charlotte, N.C., was fourth at 6.7 and Knoxville, Tenn., fifth at 6.3. The rest of the top 10 markets were Nashville, Tenn., and Orlando, Fla., at 6.2, Indianapolis at 5.8, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 5.4 and Richmond, Va., at 5.2. NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings information for Homestead event not available yet.(ESPN) See past races for 2013 and 5-year comparison chart on the 2013 NASCAR TV Ratings page.(11-20-2013) The King to be a guest of President Obama today: This Wednesday, Richard Petty will be a guest of President and Mrs. Obama at a dinner at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The dinner is in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Petty was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1992 by President George Bush. He was the first motorsports athlete to be given the award. Petty will attend the black-tie dinner with his daughter, Lisa, and be joined by other recipients of the highest civilian Award in the United States. Petty keeps his Medal on display at the Richard Petty Museum which will open back in its original location, Level Cross, N.C. in early 2014 on the site of the former Petty Enterprises. Petty views receiving the Medal of one his proudest accomplishments, Its an Award that I really cherish, maybe the most of all, says Petty. Im honored to be a recipient and look forward to attending this dinner with the President and other recipients this Wednesday. This month, the #43 STP Pontiac that Petty raced to his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Victory in front of President Reagan at the Daytona International Speedway, was featured by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 101 Objects That Made America.(RPM/Breaking Limits)(11-20-2013) Johnson comments on McNabbs statement: On Friday, while discussing the most dominant athletes in sports, Donovan McNabb said NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson wasnt an athlete. He sits in a car and he drives, McNabb told Fox Sports. Thats not athletic. What athletically is he doing? McNabb went on to rank Johnson third on his all-time list, behind Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. On Sunday night - after winning his sixth NASCAR championship in 8 years - Johnson addressed the situation in a Fox Sports interview. Yes, I am an athlete, and so is every other driver in one of these race cars, said Johnson. Even Tony Stewart. The Stewart reference was, of course, a joke. But Johnson found nothing funny about McNabbs comments. I think it came from an uneducated frame of mind because he hasnt been to a race, Johnson said. I did find it interesting that if Im not athletic Im still third on his list. So evidently I fall into athleticism somewhere.(Philadelphia Daily News)(11-20-2013) NASCAR Names Kenny Mitchell Managing Director Of Brand And Consumer Marketing: NASCAR announced today that Kenny Mitchell has been named Managing Director of Brand and Consumer Marketing, responsible for leading and implementing the companys overall brand direction and overseeing the strategic growth plans for several critical segments, including youth, millennial and multicultural. Mitchell will start on Monday, Dec. 2, and be based out of NASCARs headquarters in Daytona Beach. Mitchell is the next step in the evolution of NASCARs marketing function reporting to Vice President of Marketing Kim Brink. He will be responsible for developing and executing the annual NASCAR marketing plan and overseeing the companys media strategies and planning in close collaboration with other NASCAR departments. Additionally, he will work on advancing the Industry Action Plan strategies aimed at growing and diversifying the sports fan base. Mitchell joins NASCAR from Dew Tour, a Division of Alli and The NBC Sports Group.(NASCAR)(11-20-2013) Allgaier and Addington to team up in 2014? UPDATE2 - Stewart Haas Crew Chief lineup: hearing the Justin Allgaier will move up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to run full time in the #51 Chevy owned by Harry Scott and run for 2014 Rookie of the Year. Been told that Steve Addington will move from the #14 Stewart Haas Racing team and be Allgaiers crew chief. Current #1 crew chief, Kevin Manion will likely move from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to be the Competition Director at Turner Scott Motorsports.(11-11-2013) UPDATE: Chad Johnston has signed on as the new crew chief for Tony Stewart and the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing team. Hell begin his new position in December. Its a great opportunity for me to be put with someone like Tony Stewart who is a proven winner, a proven champion, Johnston said. Obviously, the expectations are high so Im looking forward to prove what I can do and prove that I deserve this position. The second-generation racer most recently worked for Michael Waltrip Racing as Martin Truex Jr.s crew chief. Johnston replaces Steve Addington on the #14 Chevy; Addington had been the crew chief for the past two seasons. Addington is expected to go to Phoenix Racing as crew chief in 2014. Johnston joins fellow SHR newcomer Rodney Childers, who worked with Johnston at MWR and Evernham prior to accepting the crew chief position on the #4 Chevy with Kevin Harvick.(FoxSports)(11-19-2013) UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing has reorganized its competition department as the championship-winning race team expands to field four cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2014. The changes are as follows: Greg Zipadelli has been named vice president of competition where he will manage all four Sprint Cup teams, with each crew chief reporting to him. Matt Borland has been named vice president of engineering. In this role, Borland will oversee all of the teams technical initiatives and various research and development projects. He will also transition from being an active crew chief to that of a mentor, specifically in regard to the crew chief position on the #41 Haas Automation team of driver Kurt Busch. Daniel Knost has been promoted from race engineer on the #39 team to crew chief for the #41 Haas Automation team with Busch. Knost joined SHR in 2008 when it was Haas-CNC Racing after earning master of science and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Knost graduated from North Carolina State University in Raleigh with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 2001. Chad Johnston has been named crew chief for the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 team of three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. Johnston comes to SHR from Michael Waltrip Racing where since June 2011 he was the crew chief for the #56 team and driver Martin Truex Jr. Johnston joined MWR in 2010 as a race engineer. Johnston replaces Steve Addington, who has left SHR to pursue other opportunities. Rodney Childers will be the crew chief for the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy Johns team of driver Kevin Harvick. Childers joined SHR in late October from MWR, where since 2009 he was a crew chief, first with the #00 team of driver David Reutimann (2009-2011) and later with the #55 team of drivers Brian Vickers, Mark Martin and Waltrip (2012-2013). Tony Gibson remains as crew chief for the No. 10 GoDaddy team of Patrick.(SHR)(11-19-2013) Changes at Roush Fenway Racing? UPDATE: hearing that Mike Kelley will replace Scott Graves as Ricky Stenhouse Jr.s crew chief on the #17 Cup team in 2014 and Graves will move to Roush Fenway Racings Nationwide team with driver Trevor Bayne. Current Roush Fenway Racing General Manager, Robbie Reiser will move to RFRs Competition Director position.(11-11-2013) UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced it is reorganizing its crew chief lineup in 2014. Mike Kelley, who has served as the crew chief on the #6 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for the past four seasons, will move to the Sprint Cup Series, where he will reunite with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. Its really exciting to team back up with Mike, said Stenhouse, the 2013 Sprint Cup rookie of the year and two-time NASCAR champion. Obviously we have a great chemistry and we have had a great deal of success in the past. Scott (Graves) did a great job of guiding us through our rookie season this year and we look forward to continuing that growth next season. Kelley and Stenhouse partnered to win NNS championships in 2011 and 2012. Veteran crew chief Chad Norris will take the helm of the #6 AdvoCare team with Trevor Bayne, which will look to be a front-runner for the 2014 NNS title. Scott Graves, who helped lead Stenhouse to the 2013 Sprint Cup rookie of the year award as the crew chief of the #17 NSCS team, will crew chief former ARCA Champion Chris Buescher in the historic #60 car. Seth Barbour, who was impressive in his performance with Buescher and Ryan Reed in 2013, will sit atop the #16 NNS Ford full time with Reed in 2014. On the Cup side, legendary crew chief Jimmy Fennig will again lead the #99 Fastenal team with Carl Edwards and Matt Puccia will once again team with Greg Biffle and the #16 3M team.(Roush Fenway)(11-19-2013) Hendrick Motorsports 2013 Championship Notes: *When referencing major American professional sports, the following have been factored in: Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League and the National Hockey League. SIX-PACK: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowes Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports, extended his lead among active drivers and inched closer to catching Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. after earning his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title with a ninth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Petty and Earnhardt have seven titles apiece, followed by Johnson with six. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon ranks fourth all-time with four. 11TH TITLE FOR HENDRICK: Johnsons 2013 Sprint Cup title is the 11th for Hendrick Motorsports and car owner Rick Hendrick. Hendrick is the all-time leader in Sprint Cup owner championships and remains the only owner to win titles with three different drivers: Johnson (6), Gordon (4) and Terry Labonte. ALL-TIME CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 2013 Sprint Cup car owner championship is the 14th for Hendrick Motorsports across NASCARs three national series, extending the teams all-time record. Richard Childress Racing ranks second among owners with 12 combined titles. In the car owner category, Hendrick Motorsports has won 11 titles in the Sprint Cup Series and three in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Hendrick Motorsports also has won a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship, which came in 2003. NEVER STOP IMPROVING: Lowes has been the primary sponsor for Johnson since the #48 teams inception in 2001. Since then, the home improvement retailer has been on board for all six Sprint Cup championships, 66 victories and numerous milestones, including two wins in the Daytona 500 and four in the Brickyard 400. Hendrick Motorsports relationship with Lowes is one of the longest-running driver-team-sponsor partnerships in NASCAR. KNAUS SETS THE STANDARD: With six career Sprint Cup championships, crew chief Chad Knaus ranks second all-time behind only Hall of Famer Dale Inman, who has eight Cup titles as a crew chief. Knaus holds the distinction of being the only crew chief to win more than two Sprint Cup titles in a row, a feat he accomplished when he coached the #48 team to five straight from 2006-2010. KNAUS CAREER: Knaus has led the #48 team since Johnsons rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series in 2002. In that 12-year span, he has helped Johnson achieve six titles and an average finish of 2.4 in the championship standings. The duo never has finished lower than sixth in Cup points. YOUNGEST TO SIX: At 38 years and 61 days old, Johnson is the youngest driver (by 83 days) to win six Sprint Cup championships. At 38 years and 144 days old, Petty earned his sixth title in 1975, a little more than two months after Johnson was born. Earnhardt was 42 when he won his sixth title in 1993. HALL OF FAME VOTE: Johnson will be the first active athlete to have a say in his sports Hall of Fame voting process. He will cast a ballot for the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame class thanks to a new provision that includes the reigning Sprint Cup champion in the process. CUP VICTORIES: Hendrick Motorsports has tallied 218 Cup victories in 30 seasons, a figure that leads all teams in the modern era and ranks second all-time behind Petty Enterprises (268 wins). This season, Hendrick Motorsports posted nine victories with the new Generation-6 Chevrolet SS race car. COMPARISONS: In the major American professional sports leagues, Hendrick Motorsports 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships are tied for seventh all-time behind the New York Yankees (27 World Series titles), Montreal Canadiens (24 Stanley Cup titles), Boston Celtics (17 NBA titles), Los Angeles Lakers (16 NBA titles), Toronto Maple Leafs (13 Stanley Cup titles) and Green Bay Packers (13 NFL championships). Hendrick Motorsports is tied with the Detroit Red Wings (11 Stanley Cup titles) and St. Louis Cardinals (11 World Series titles). CHAMPIONSHIP STREAKS: Prior to Johnsons run of five consecutive Sprint Cup titles from 2006-2010, Hendrick Motorsports scored four in a row from 1995-1998 with Gordon (1995, 1997 and 1998) and Labonte (1996). No other organization has won more than three Sprint Cup championships in consecutive seasons. WINNING PERCENTAGE: Hendrick Motorsports is the most efficient team in major American professional sports, earning 11 titles since its inception in 1984 for a 36.7 all-time title-winning percentage. The Boston Celtics rank second with 17 NBA titles in 67 seasons (25.37 percent), while the Montreal Canadiens are third with 24 Stanley Cup titles in 95 seasons (25.26 percent). The New York Yankees rank fourth with 27 World Series championships in 113 seasons (23.89 percent). Hendrick Motorsports has won 11 of the last 19 Sprint Cup championships (1995-2013), putting the teams title-winning percentage during that span at 57.9. SINCE 1984: No other major American professional sports team has earned more championships than Hendrick Motorsports since 1984, the organizations inaugural season. In that time, the Los Angeles Lakers have earned eight NBA championships and the Chicago Bulls have recorded six. Both the New York Yankees and Edmonton Oilers have tallied five titles apiece since 1984. ROAD WARRIOR: Apart from Johnson and Knaus, car chief Ron Malec is the only member of the #48 Lowes team who has been on the road crew for all six championships. Malec started working as a mechanic with Johnson in the ASA Series in the late 1990s. When Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports, Malec also came on board. As car chief, he manages the crew members who work on the car both at the shop in Concord, N.C., and during the race weekend. He is responsible for the preparation of the race car and seeing it through technical inspection. STILL ROLLING: Hendrick Motorsports never has run a Sprint Cup campaign without winning a pole position, recording at least one in 30 consecutive seasons (1984-2013). The team scored seven in 2013, including three from Johnson, two from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and two from Gordon. WIN STREAK: Hendrick Motorsports has posted at least one Cup-level win in 28 straight seasons, the longest active streak in NASCAR. The streak began Feb. 16, 1986, when Geoff Bodine won Hendrick Motorsports first Daytona 500. ANOTHER ONE FOR CHEVY: Chevrolet captured its 37th Sprint Cup manufacturers championship and 11th straight this season after winning 15 races. Johnson led all Chevy drivers this year with six victories, including the 2013 Daytona 500, as he helped the manufacturer record its first title with the Chevrolet SS race car that debuted this season. Kasey Kahne contributed two victories to the total, while Gordon recorded one. YEAR IN REVIEW: For the second straight season, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers were contenders in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The organization posted nine victories and seven pole positions as its drivers finished inside the top 12 in the championship hunt. Johnson finished first, followed by Earnhardt (fifth), Gordon (sixth) and Kahne (12th). 30TH ANNIVERSARY: Next season, Hendrick Motorsports will celebrate its 30th anniversary in NASCAR. The organization began in 1984 with five employees and 5,000 square feet of work space. It has grown to more than 500 employees with a 430,000-square-foot facility that sits on 140 acres. See notes and slideshow at hendrickmotorsports.(11-19-2013) ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Racin Today racintoday Schrader’s Take On His Sport: Just Race, Baby racintoday/archives/44309 ___________________________________________________________ P R E S S * R E L E A S E S ___________________________________________________________ NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champions Celebrate In South Beach Dillon, Crafton, Penske Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Larson & Blaney Honored DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2013) – Two champions, two organizations and two heralded rookies are sharing the South Beach spotlight tonight, at the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards, held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel’s Americana Ballroom. Austin Dillon and Matt Crafton headline the evening as both will be presented with championships rings and trophies for their respective NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships. Dillon is only the third driver in NASCAR history to win the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck championships, joining Greg Biffle and Johnny Benson. Dillon’s championship campaign comes one year after winning the NNS’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, duplicating his success in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In his 13th fulltime season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Crafton was a model of consistency, posting 19 top-10 finishes in 22 races, including 16 consecutive to start the season. The veteran won the spring Kansas race and finished on the lead lap in every event. Penske Racing’s No. 22 Ford Mustang narrowly edged out the No. 54 entry of Joe Gibbs Racing by one point in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owners’ championship battle. The No. 22 visited Victory Lane under the control of four different drivers: Brad Keselowski (six times), Joey Logano (three), AJ Allmendinger (two) and Ryan Blaney (one). The owners’ championship race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series came down to the last laps of the season with the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota claiming the title based on wins over the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota. Both cars finished the season tied in points, but the Kyle Busch Motorsports entry had six wins to the No. 88’s one. On Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Larson, 21, became the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate and Asian-American driver to capture Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in any of NASCAR’s three national series. The previous night, 19-year-old Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award on the strength of one win and 13 top 10s during the 2013 campaign. Sam Hornish Jr., Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier were second through fifth in the championship standings and will be honored along with Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Ty Dillon, James Buescher, Johnny Sauter and Jeb Burton were second through fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final points and joined Crafton on stage. In addition to the aforementioned honors, each series’ Most Popular Driver was announced after a fan vote on NASCAR. Regan Smith and Ty Dillon received the distinction in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. FOX Sports’ Rick Allen and Krista Voda will host the event, which will air at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, on FOX Sports 1. Rock band Parachute will provide entertainment during the show. #*#* Crew Member Suspended Due To Violation Of NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2013) – Curtis Martin Jr., a crew member in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy. On Nov. 12, Martin was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book. ___________________________________________________________ N A S C A R * N A T I O N W I D E * S E R I E S ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Jayski jayski Changes at Roush Fenway Racing? UPDATE: hearing that Mike Kelley will replace Scott Graves as Ricky Stenhouse Jr.s crew chief on the #17 Cup team in 2014 and Graves will move to Roush Fenway Racings Nationwide team with driver Trevor Bayne. Current Roush Fenway Racing General Manager, Robbie Reiser will move to RFRs Competition Director position.(11-11-2013) UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced it is reorganizing its crew chief lineup in 2014. Mike Kelley, who has served as the crew chief on the #6 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for the past four seasons, will move to the Sprint Cup Series, where he will reunite with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the #17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. Veteran crew chief Chad Norris will take the helm of the #6 AdvoCare team with Trevor Bayne, which will look to be a front-runner for the 2014 NNS title. Norris boasts an extensive resume as a crew chief, having worked with legendary drivers such as Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Darrel Waltrip and Carl Edwards. Norris led Bayne to his first career NNS win at Texas in 2011. Scott Graves, who helped lead Stenhouse to the 2013 Sprint Cup rookie of the year award as the crew chief of the #17 NSCS team, will crew chief former ARCA Champion Chris Buescher in the historic #60 car. Seth Barbour, who was impressive in his performance with Buescher and Ryan Reed in 2013, will sit atop the #16 NNS Ford full time with Reed in 2014.(Roush Fenway Racing)(11-19-2013) ___________________________________________________________ C A M P I N G * W O R L D * T R U C K * S E R I E S ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Jayski jayski Crew member suspended: Curtis Martin Jr., a crew member in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning bodys Substance Abuse Policy. On Nov. 12, Martin was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book.(NASCAR)(11-19-2013) ___________________________________________________________ A R C A (Automobile Racing Club of America) ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of ARCA arcaracing Visit to the USS Alabama will once again kick off ARCA-Mobile 200 race weekend (MOBILE, Ala. – November 19, 2013) – ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards drivers and teams will make their first official stop of the 2014 ARCA Mobile 200 race weekend at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. arcaracing/news.php?contentid=16798 ___________________________________________________________ C O L U M N S / C O M M E N T A R I E S __Cheers and Jeers: Bittersweet Goodbyes and a Familiar Champion Wrap Up 2013 racejournalonline/index.php?page=read&article=1136 _ Tony Stewarts get new crew chief sbnation/nascar/2013/11/19/5122886/tony-stewart-crew-chief-chad-johnston-stewart-haas-racing-steve-addington Is Johnson the greatest NASCAR driver of all-time? sbnation/nascar/2013/11/19/5121718/nascar-jimmie-johnson-greatest-nascar-driver-all-time ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ T V * L I S T I N G S ___________________________________________________________ Courtesy of Jayski jayski/news/pages/story/_/page/NASCAR-Television-Listings 19 Tues 4:00 PM 5:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 21 Thurs 12:00 PM 1:00 PM NASCAR K&N Pro Series Phoenix FS1 11 20 Wed 4:00 PM 5:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 21 Thurs 4:00 PM 5:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 22 Fri 4:00 PM 5:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 24 Sun 8:00 PM 10:00 PM NASCAR Awards Ceremony: NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series FS1 11 25 Mon 4:00 PM 5:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 26 Tues 12:00 PM 1:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 27 Wed 12:00 PM 1:00 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 28 Thurs 11:30 AM 12:30 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 11 29 Fri 12:00 PM 12:30 PM NASCAR Race Hub FS1 12 6 Fri 9:00 PM 12:00 AM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet FS2 12 8 Sun 12:00 PM 3:00 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet FS1 Always CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS! ___________________________________________________________ The Stock Car Gazette Copyright 2002-2010 by MotorSportsNews.Net All Rights Reserved DONATIONS https://paypal/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6356277 Find us on Twitter twitter/motorsportsnews SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION groups.google/group/StockCarGazette Miss an edition of the Stock Car Gazette? Visit the E-ZINE ARCHIVE: motorsportsnews.net/archives/category/stock-car-gazette/ IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE: The Stock Car Gazette mailing list is maintained completely by MotorSportsNews.Net. Therefore, we can tell you we have not and will not ever share your e-mail address with anyone for any reason. IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE: ALL broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, WWW or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, is STRICTLY PROHIBITED without PRIOR written permission from the editor. However, you MAY manually forward an issue by e-mail to your friends IF 1.) The text is forwarded IN ITS ENTIRETY including all subscription and web page information, and 2.) NO FEE is charged. We ALWAYS appreciate readers who report violations of the copyright to [email protected]. IMPORTANT PERSONAL NOTICE: Do you know for sure? You can. motorsportsnews.net/you-can-know-for-sure ___________________________________________________________ CONTACT INFORMATION Mike Irwin, Owner/Webmaster E-mail: [email protected] MotorSportsNews.Net 859-750-1973 ___________________________________________________________
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:39:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015