There will be several driver changes this weekend due to the absence of the injured driver Kyle Busch.
David Ragan will drive No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) M&Ms Crispy Toyota. According to the team’s press release, Ragan “will pilot the No. 18 M&M’s Crispy Toyota for at least the next several weeks.” Ragan has run eight full seasons in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 291 career starts and two career wins. “We are fortunate to be able to have someone of David’s caliber behind the wheel while Kyle recovers.” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Driver Joe Nemechek will drive the No. 34. Since Ragan became the temporary driver of the No. 18, Nemechek will pilot the No. 34 car on Sunday at Atlanta for Front Row Motorsports.
Also according to the JGR statement, Erik Jones will drive the No. 54 Xfinity Series car for Kyle Busch. “Erik is a big part of our future at JGR,” said Joe Gibbs, “and we will be increasing his schedule in the XFINITY Series beginning this weekend in Atlanta and seeking the earliest opportunity to provide him Cup experience.” Jones currently runs a full season in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports and a partial Xfinity schedule for JGR in the No. 20.
Too little, too late?
Since Kyle Busch broke his right leg and left foot after a crash into an inside concrete retaining wall at Daytona International Speedway, the spotlight has returned to safety. The wall that Busch crashed into did not have a Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier, more commonly known as a SAFER barrier.
International Speedway Corp. (ISC) President John Saunders said, “Beginning with our two superspeedway motorsports entertainment facilities, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, ISC is developing a significant plan for the installation of additional impact-absorbing technologies including but not limited to SAFER barriers (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction).”
Daytona president Joie Chitwood III vowed to cover every inch of the speedway with SAFER barriers.
ISC will also immediately review Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, as both tracks host NASCAR races in March. “As we finalize our plans, we will communicate them to the drivers and necessary stakeholders ahead of our races at each ISC facility.”
XFINITY drivers dash for cash again in 2015
Three new tracks headline the “Dash 4 Cash” program as it returns for the seventh consecutive year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the “Dash 4 Cash” qualifier, which will determine the four eligible drivers that will then compete for one of four $100,000 payouts. The top-four finishers in the Charlotte race who are eligible to receive NASCAR XFINITY Series championship driver points will qualify for the first Dash 4 Cash (D4C) race at Dover.
The four D4C events will include Dover on May 30, Indianapolis on July 25, Bristol on August 21 and Darlington on September 5.
“Written Warning”…..what the..
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 10 team has been issued a Written Warning for a rules infraction discovered during opening day inspection Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. It was for a “Unapproved left-side driver heat shield; the outer exterior exhaust heat shield panel must follow the horizontal surface plane of the left side floorboard forward section to the bottom edge of the left side toe board.”
But there was no warning for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series No. 20 and No. 29 teams. Both teams have been penalized for rules infractions discovered during post-race inspection Feb. 20 at Daytona International Speedway. Crew chiefs Doug Howe (No. 20) and Chad Kendrick (No. 29) have been fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through the end of the calendar year. Both teams have also been docked 10 Championship Driver and Owner Points.
Tune in this weekend:
This weeks’ NASCAR Schedule for Atlanta Motor Speedway can be found here.
