NASCAR Cup Series

After unveiling the new NASCAR Fusion to the throng of NASCAR media members in attendance at the Ford Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, Wednesday afternoon, Ford Executive Raj Nair and Dave Pericak took questions from the group.

The Roush Fenway Racing lineup up XFINITY and Sprint Cup drivers, along with famed owner Jack Roush, participated in Ford Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, part of the 2016 NASCAR Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that Albertsons Companies and Shore Lodge will partner with the No. 44 team and driver Brian Scott. Scott, an Idaho native, will be making his team debut in February's season opener Daytona 500 and will compete for Rookie of the Year. Albertsons Companies and Shore Lodge, both Idaho-based companies, will adorn the hood of the No. 44 Ford for 16 races and have associate placement for the remaining 20 races.

In a sport where business relationships are pivotal to being competitive, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) has shown great success, and with that, continue to improve on track. After a successful off-season on the business front, RPM heads into 2016 with a solid foundation while pursuing additional opportunities. The Mooresville, N.C.-based team renewed or expanded all of their current partnerships while adding new partners to their team.

Ford Wednesday at the 2016 NASCAR Media Tour kicked off with the Richard Petty Motorsports contingent meeting with those in attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Theatre. Brian Moffitt, Sammy Johns and drivers Aric Almirola and Brian Scott all gave their outlook on the upcoming season.

Roush Fenway Racing has announced a multi-race partnership with KFC as a primary partner for Greg Biffle and his No. 16 Sprint Cup Series team during the 2016 season. The partnership will kick off at Daytona Speedweeks and include primary placement in the famed Daytona 500 and Sprint Unlimited All-Star events at Daytona International Speedway.

It was Toyota day in the Media Tour. Joe Gibbs Racing, along with its first championship earned by Kyle Busch, comes into 2016 fairly intact from the success of 2015. Only a personnel change here and there are different from a four-car team that won 12 races.

NASCAR made some significant changes to its two minor national series in announcements made on the opening day of the 2016 Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. The announcement made by NASCAR Chairman Brian France had been rumored for months, but France made it official.

The first team to take the stage at the 34th annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom on Tuesday was Joe Gibbs Racing. And with 14 wins among four drivers, including the Championship Race season finale that crowned Kyle Busch as the Sprint Cup Series champion, Joe Gibbs Racing is coming off arguably the best season in its history.

Time is ticking down on major sports shortest off-season. A day short of three months is all that separates the last race at Homestead to the action coming up at Daytona. That is like Major League Baseball wrapping up the World Series in October, only to return in January.