Ontario Short Tracks to Daytona High Banks, Andrew Gresel ready for ARCA race
From the Ontario, Canada short tracks to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, Andrew Gresel is looking for success this February in Daytona. The second generation driver has teamed up with Wes Gonder Racing to run the ARCA Series Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on February 16th.
For Gresel, it’s all about qualifying well.
“Qualifying is a big day,” he said. You want to qualify good there; you don’t want to start mid-pack. If we have to, that’s just something we’ll have to deal with this. But qualifying is a major thing that we’ll have to deal with.”
Running a race at Daytona was a goal that Gresel had and the pieces came together with Wes Gonder Racing through success at New Smyrna Speedway during their Florida Speedweeks event.
“We have been running New Smyrna Speedway the last couple down years down near Daytona and we’ve had quite a bit luck down there, ran good down south,” Gresel said.
Gresel hit the high banks of Daytona in December as part of ARCA’s pre-season testing, which marked a considerable jump up from the 1/3 to ¼ mile short tracks in Ontario.
“Hitting the track for the first time was very intimidating at Daytona,” he said. “Just being in the racecar and hitting the corners at a high speed around 180 mph, super fast and just the corners themselves are real intimidating.”
The 2011 Delaware Speedway Champion got started in racing as a teenager, helping his dad at Sauble Speedway with a pure stock.
“It wasn’t too long after that I had my own car and we were racing against each other,” he said.
Since then, Gresel has become a major threat to win across the province and is a two-time winner of the Beat the Heat 150 at Sauble and won the Great Canadian 200 at Delaware Speedway in 2011.
Beyond running the ARCA race this February, the plan right now for Gresel is keep their open late model program going, traveling to the different invitationals across Ontario. However, if they are also looking to sell the car.
“I’ve got the car – new body going on the car, everything like that,” he said. “Just getting it ready for anybody that is looking for a good car that can go out and win races.”
If they can sell the car, Gresel says the team is looking to step up their program by either running a super late or maybe some more ARCA races.
With regards to long term goals, Gresel says that it’s hard to say where he’ll be in five years.
“I just got to do everything I can do to improve myself and to make my way up to a bigger series,” he added.
To put together a huge program, it does take a lot of support from a lot of people.
“I would like to thank, right off the bat, my dad for supporting us – Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park is his company,” Gresel said. “Without him, we wouldn’t be racing at all. I’d like to thank him and his company. London Recreational, they’re helping us out quite a bit with this ARCA deal. Stewarts Farm Equipment. I also want to thank all my sponsors that help me out on the late model, all my sponsors that helped me out all year so CUSW, McRobert Fuels, Overland Heating and Cooling and Spira Fire Protection. I just like to thank everybody that helps us out.”
Beyond the sponsors mentioned, they are also receiving support for the race from Marvin Freiburger and & Sons, Andy Schmidt, Shear Metal Products and SpeedwayPhotos.ca.
The team is always interested in adding more sponsorship. Any interested sponsors can contact his promoter Joe Chisholm at motorpromotions@gmail.com.
2013 Sprint Cup Team Preview: Penske Racing
We’re down to our final 2013 Sprint Cup team preview today and we’ll be previewing the efforts of the 2012 championship team of Penske Racing, which will be fielding Ford Fusions for 2012 Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Penske made the announcement to move over to Ford in 2012 after failing to come to an agreement with Dodge, which left the sport after the 2012 season.
Brad Keselowski
After a 2012 season that included five wins and a championship battle that saw Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe go head to head against five time champion Jimmie Johnson and win the championship, the #2 Miller Lite team heads into the 2013 season looking to repeat as champions. However, for Keselowski to accomplish that, his team will have to adjust to running in the Ford camp and the new Gen6 car. With the team now getting engines from Roush-Yates engines instead of producing their own in house, that is another hurdle Keselowski will have to clear if he hopes to repeat. Considering the depth and knowledge at Penske Racing, clearing those hurdles to win races and make the Chase, as well as contending for the championship once again should be no problem for this team.
Joey Logano
After winning one race at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012, Logano moves over to Penske Racing in 2013 to take over the #22 that was driven by AJ Allmendinger and Sam Hornish Jr in 2012. The young Logano is sure to thrive at Penske Racing under the leadership of team owner Roger Penske and being able to learn from 2012 champion, Keselowski. Logano will be sponsored by Pennzoil for the majority of the season and by new sponsor Hertz Rent-a Car, which will be featured on Logano’s car for the fall Charlotte race. Logano will be teamed up with crew chief Todd Gordon and barring any extended growing pains in establishing chemistry between the two, should be able to get this #22 car to Victory Lane and will be among the favorites to make the Chase.
The 2013 Sprint Media Tour: Optimism All Around
The 2013 Sprint Media Tour is complete and the new NASCAR season is just around the corner.
After a week of some news, interviews, and a lot of talk, the NASCAR world has a few weeks to digest everything from the tour until the cars officially take to the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway for Budweiser Speedweeks.
In all the chaos that existed throughout the week, a common denominator was present: positivity.
Yes, there is always optimism throughout the media tour each year. Every driver and team goes into the season with a positive attitude and everyone believes they have a shot at winning races and making the Chase. The amount of times the word “excited” is used throughout the media tour is typically comical. However, this exuberance is not what stood out.
The positivity which existed throughout the week was not just based on a team’s ability to perform well in the new season. It was the positive attitude towards that state of the sport that really meant something.
After years of declining ratings, decreasing attendance, and an overall negative feeling about the sport’s direction, the criticism of NASCAR seemed to be replaced by a more cheerful outlook – or at least hope.
NASCAR’s new Gen-6 racecar has most of the drivers’ support. Many believe the racing will improve as a result of the new racecar and the sanctioning body is more focused than ever to reach this goal. The economy is turning around slightly and sponsorship renewals and additions seem to be occurring more often. Fan interest and anticipation is at one of the highest points in the sport’s history. The industry appears to be pulling in one direction, working together to provide a better product for fans all around.
From the effort to improve racing on the track to NASCAR’s reach to fans on the internet – NASCAR launched its new digital platform earlier in the month – aspects of this sport are changing. It appears these changes are for the better.
It just all seems good right now.
Yes, this can always change – especially in the heart of the season. However, there is no denying that the 2013 season is already off to a great start – even if the green flag has not even dropped yet.
Sprint Media Tour – Day Four – Ford, Roush-Fenway, and Joe Gibbs Racing
The final day of the Sprint Media Tour had it all—announcements, fireworks, and humor at Joe Gibbs Racing. The first stop was the Ford breakfast where all the Ford teams with the notable exception of Roush-Fenway were represented. After a short introduction, drivers were given designated places for interviews. Drivers and officials from Richard Petty Motorsports, Front Row Motorsports, Germain Racing, and Wood Brothers Racing were in attendance along with Ford’s Edsel Ford and Jamie Allison.
The only major announcement was that Smithfield Foods had announced an expansion of its partnership with RPM. This extension will include being primary sponsor on the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion in 25 events during the 2013 season. Those brands include Eckrich, Farmland, Gwaltney, and Smithfield and all will appear on the car. Aric Amirola will continue to drive the No. 43 as announced earlier. Smithfield Packing will be the sponsor at Daytona in February.
Next, the media headed to Uptown Charlotte to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the Roush-Fenway presentation. The 2013 drivers were announced and included Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in Sprint Cup. Trevor Bayne will pilot the No. 6 Mustang in the Nationwide Series while Travis Pastrana will drive the No. 60 Mustang.
Pastrana said he was humbled to be with Roush-Fenway.
“I’ve always wanted to be with a team that has won championships and knew what takes to win. I’m there now,” Pastrana said. “I’m in awe of that No. 60 Ford and all the success it has had.”
Robbie Reiser was promoted from General Manager to Vice President of Competition. “That’s the job he was doing anyway,” Roush said. Roger Penske said Wednesday night that their main contact with RFR was Reiser, but Roush said that “they have a dramatically different car than our car. The underbody and the suspension do not relate.”
Roush said he was looking to add a fourth team as soon as possible. The driver of that car would be Trevor Bayne. Regardless, Bayne said to this writer, “All I have so far is the Nationwide Series and Cup with the Wood Brothers. I hope someday to run Cup. That’s what I want.”
Roush said they were able to renew nine sponsorships even with the tough economic times. When asked about the No. 17 to be driven by Stenhouse, he commented that there was sponsorship available to run the entire season there.
The most spectacular end to the visit was when all the Ford Cup cars paraded around Uptown Charlotte in their new 2013 Fusion race cars. Biffle, Edwards, and Stenhouse from RFR, Ambrose and Almirola from RPM, Keselowski and Logano from Penske, Casey Mears from Germain Racing, and David Ragan and David Gilliland from Front Row Motorsports took a wild run through the streets of the Queen City with a police escort. During the run, the drivers had fun with the photographer’s F-150 truck just ahead of the cars, nearly touching the truck at times.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Keselowski. “I hope we didn’t get into trouble and we might have.” When told that he had scared the photographers, Keselowski said, “That’s what we intended to do.” The cars made the trip around two city blocks and came back to the plaza of the Hall of Fame for pictures with drivers and car owners, as well as Edsel Ford.
The final stop on the Tour was Joe Gibbs Racing where the driver lineup of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Brian Vickers were introduced. Elliott Sadler was testing and couldn’t attend. It was a light-hearted affair with Kenseth and Busch throwing jabs at each other. At one point, Kenseth told the crowd that Busch had told him not to be disappointed in their restrictor plate performance because it wasn’t too good. Kenseth was fast off the truck at Daytona. Later on Busch proclaimed his desire to be a Sprint Cup Champion, and hoped to challenge Hamlin in that race in 2013. Gibbs said, “What about that guy,” pointing at Kenseth. “He already has his,” Busch said.
Gibbs announced a multi-year extension with Busch.
“I’ve always wanted to be here,” Busch said. I love Joe Gibbs and J.D. and he work so well together, Busch said. “That’s not always the case with a father and son as I can tell you about my father and me.” When asked if he wanted to end his career at Gibbs, Busch said he would never say never, but for now, it’s a perfect fit for him.
It was also announced that Busch would once again be driving in 25 Nationwide Series races for JGR. He will drive the No.94 Toyota Camry along with Matt Kenseth.
Sprint Media Day Day Three – Penske Racing
The last stop on Day Three of the Sprint Media Tour found the media heading to Mooresville, North Carolina, to visit Penske racing. Fresh off a Sprint Cup Championship with Brad Keselowski winning the prize, things were still being improved and changed in the organization.
It was announced that Pennzoil had extended its sponsorship on the No. 22 car and other Penske vehicles for the “long term.” No duration was mentioned, but Roger Penske’s body language seemed to indicate that it was longer than the normal two or three years.
The driver lineup was introduced to all in attendance, which included Jamie Allison, Ford’s racing czar and Edsel Ford. Penske drivers for 2013 include 2012 Sprint Cup Champion Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Ryan Blaney. Keselowski will pilot the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford while Joey Logano will drive the No. 22 Pennzoil Ford in Sprint Cup. In addition, Logano and Blaney will run the full season in the Nationwide Series in Ford Mustangs. Penske also announced a new sponsor, Hertz. Hertz will be a co-primary sponsor on the #22 in fall Charlotte Cup race, and possibly others. Greg Erwin will be Sam Hornish’s crew chief in the Nationwide Series.
Penske executive Walt Czarnecki says the transition to Ford has been seamless. “It’s like we never left,” he said. Team owner Roger Penske said the goal was a manufacturer’s championship for Ford and the organization was endorsing the “One Ford” concept. “We’re excited about working with Doug Yates and his marvelous engines and Jack Roush for his knowledge of what makes a Ford go,” Penske said
Penske said that he had talked to Ryan Newman about running a third car in 2013 before he reached agreement with Stewart-Haas Racing, but sponsorship money was not there for the third car. “Right now, Sam (Hornish) is in line for the third car when it happens.”
The enthusiasm for Ford’s newest team was shown as Allison, Ford, and other executives were in attendance and in good spirits at the dinner. All the new cars were on site, including the bright yellow Hertz car to be on the track in October.
2013 Sprint Cup Team Preview: Michael Waltrip Racing
Today our 2013 Sprint Cup team previews focus on Michael Waltrip Racing, the organization that finished 2nd in points in 2012. Michael Waltrip Racing will field three entries in 2013, the #15 for Clint Bowyer, #56 for Martin Truex Jr, and the #55 will feature a combination of drivers including Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, and Michael Waltrip.
Clint Bowyer
In his first year with Michael Waltrip Racing, Clint Bowyer surprised everyone with a 2nd place points finish in 2012. Many thought there would be an adjustment period for Bowyer and crew chief Brian Pattie, but the team ran strong all year, accumulating 3 wins. If not for getting caught up in the last lap melee at Talladega and getting intentionally wrecked by Jeff Gordon at Phoenix, Bowyer most likely would have been in the running for the Sprint Cup championship at Homestead. With sponsorship from 5 Hour Energy and Peak Antifreeze, Bowyer and Pattie will team up once again in 2013 and if the debut season for the duo is any indication, this team should have no problem winning races and making the Chase in 2013 and could be a strong contender for the 2013 title.
Martin Truex Jr
The 2012 season for Martin Truex Jr was one in which Truex was competitive week in and week out and came close many times to winning a race, but came up just short every time. The consistent run landed Truex in the Chase and he finished the year in 11th place. Truex and crew chief Chad Johnston will team up once again in 2013 and with the chemistry building between the two, look for Truex to finally get that monkey off his back and get back to victory lane for the first time since 2007 and most likely make it back into the Chase as well.
#55 Team
Although no one driver drove the #55 full time in 2012, the trio of drivers that split up the schedule (Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, and Michael Waltrip) had a good enough performance between the three to land the #55 car at 15th in the owners points in 2012. The three drivers will once again split time in the #55 in 2013, with Martin running 26 races, Vickers running 9 races and team owner Waltrip running the two restrictor plate races at Talladega and the July Daytona race. With the talent in the seat of the #55 car, it definitely would not be a surprise to see this team in Victory Lane at least once this year
