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Jason Bowles | ARCA Racing Series Advance

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Official Release
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Jason Bowles will take to the track for his ARCA Racing Series debut this week at Daytona International Speedway. The Ontario, Calif., native will pilot the No. 6 Rusty Wallace Racing Experience Toyota Camry for Eddie Sharp Racing.
 

Toyota All-Star Showdown Champion: Bowles started the 2011 racing season with a win in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway.  The race for the victory came down to the last restart, where Bowles lined up second with seven laps remaining in the 225-lap race. Holding off NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion DJ Kennington, Bowles had a great jump on the restart and took the checkered flag for the championship victory.
 
ARCA Racing Series Debut: Bowles will make his entrance into the ARCA Racing Series at DIS. The event, which will also be Bowles’ first event at DIS, will not be his first time on the newly-paved track. Bowles and the ESR team tested at the 2.5-mile speedway in January to prepare for the event.
 
Team ESR: Bowles will reunite with Eddie Sharp Racing for the ARCA Racing Series event. Last season, Bowles piloted the No. 46 ESR Toyota Tundra at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
 
Experience: Bowles is coming off a busy 2010 season. He competed in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N West Series. The driver competed in the K&N West Series full-time from 2007-2009 with nine wins, 10 poles, 26 top-fives, 32 top-10s, 2007 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Sunoco Rookie of the Year and the 2009 Championship. Bowles also made history in 2009 with an average finish of 4.2, the best in series history since 1995 for drivers with 13 or more starts. Bowles began racing go-karts in 1994 and gained experience driving in the Cooper Tires Zetec Championship and Grand-Am Cup ST class. Bowles soon transitioned from open-wheel racing to stock cars and competed in late models and the NASCAR K&N West Series.
 
Rusty Wallace Racing Experience: The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience operates a one-of-a-kind racing school at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The school utilizes NASCAR COT Sprint Cup cars and Triad Racing Technologies Sprint Cup engines incorporates a spotter-driver system instead of the traditional lead-follow format of other schools. The authentic racing experience takes the driver to his or her limits at speeds over 175 mph. For more information, check out www.racewithrusty.com
 
Follow the Action:  Get live updates from the track throughout the weekend at www.facebook.com/teamesrand www.twitter.com/TeamESR. Follow Jason at www.twitter.com/bowlesjason.
 
Tune-In: The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will be broadcast live on SPEED at 4:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 12, 2011. Fans can also catch the audio broadcast locally on WNDB 1150 AM in Daytona Beach, Fla. Live scoring, timing and audio will also be available on ARCARacing.com throughout the week.
 

Bowles on Racing at Daytona:
“I’m really looking forward to carrying momentum from the Toyota All-Star Showdown victory to Daytona with Eddie Sharp Racing and the No. 6 team. The test went really well in Daytona and gave me the chance to test out the draft, which I hadn’t experienced at a superspeedway.”
 
On the Biggest Challenge of Racing at Daytona;
“The biggest challenge is going to be the draft – getting someone you work really well with out there and making sure that you are in the right place at the right time, especially at the end of the race. Superspeedway racing is like a chess match, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Dover International Speedway moves NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying to Saturdays in 2011

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Official Release
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Darrell Basham Has a Little Help and High Hopes at Daytona

By
Official Release
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Overcomes odds with a little help from his friends to get to Daytona

MOORESVILLE, N.C.  (February 7, 2011) – Darrell Basham has been a fixture in the ARCA Racing series presented by Menards garage since 1972, but after he lost almost everything in a mid-November race shop fire, Basham thought his racing career had come to a heartbreaking halt.  When Basham rolls into Daytona’s famed 2.5-mile Superspeedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, Feb. 12, it will be thanks to the help and hearts of the ARCA community.

While Basham was away, his race shop erupted in flames, burning to the ground.  Losing almost everything, he was faced with the harsh reality that his 30-year racing career, could be coming to an end. Doubtful for the future, Basham’s faith was restored when he received an unexpected phone call from a fellow member of the ARCA family.  

“My building burnt down over the weekend,” explained Basham. “That Monday, Monday morning, Andy (Belmont) called me and said, ‘We’re going to get you to Daytona, trust me. We’re going to get you to Daytona. I’ve already talked to Nick Ramey (Roush/Yates Engines) about you.'”

Belmont, who knows all about keeping racing in the family, has two of his sons getting in on the act this weekend at DIS. Andrew and Kyle Belmont will be teaming up together to tackle crew chief and car chief responsibilities for the No. 34 Industrial Depot Ford.  

“Whatever he (Belmont) can help me with I’ll take his advice, he’s a good racer,” said Basham. “I really like Andy as a person, and I love his kids. He’s got the best kids that ever lived. They’re great.”  

Running a superspeedway car given to him by Andy Belmont Racing equipped with an engine Roush/Yates Engines donated, Basham comes to Daytona with renewed spirit and high hopes for a good finish.

 “I’m excited about this- this is better equipment than I have ever owned. We have a Roush/ Yates engine, which are some of the best out there. I have some pretty high expectations with this car, and I think I am going to be able to pass some cars this year.”

 

Darrell Basham and the No. 34 Industrial Tools Ford Fast Facts:
Basham at Daytona: DarrellBasham has made 10 starts at Daytona International Speedway throughout his ARCA Racing Series career.  To date, The Henryville, Ind. native has two ninth-place finishes at DIS (1976, 2009).

 

A Family Affair: Continuing the tradition of Belmont’s family-run team, Andrew and Kyle Belmont will be splitting crew chief and car chief duties on the No. 34 Industrial Deport Ford for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. At only 18 and 16 years old, Andrew and Kyle are sure to be the youngest crew chief/car chief combo in the garage but certainly not the most inexperienced. 

This Week’s Ford:  Darrell Basham will be piloting the car named “Christi”. It was formerly a Yates car that was purchased from Christi Passmore. This car has been driven in the ARCA series by Brett Butler and Andy Belmont. The body was a lift- off body from Wood Brothers/JTG Daugherty racing.

 

Industrial Depot On Board: Basham will sport Industrial Depot on his Ford at Daytona International Speedway.  Industrial Depot and Andy Belmont Racing have had a long-standing relationship, but this will be the first time they are on the hood of an ABR car as primary sponsor. 

Autographs:  Fans will have the chance to meet Darrell Basham and all of their favorite ARCA Racing Series drivers on Saturday, February 12 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. EST during an all-access open garage.
Follow Andy Belmont Racing: Follow Andy Belmont Racing at the track or in the race shop by logging on to facebook.com/Andy-Belmont-Racing/250609156945. Follow every race weekend for live updates and photos from the track and throughout the race. 

Tune In: The green flag will drop for the start of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at 4:30 p.m. EST. ARCARacing.com will have live audio and timing and scoring coverage with SPEED carrying the live race broadcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Basham Explains: It was a group effort to get to Daytona:

“My building burnt down over the weekend. That Monday, Monday morning Andy called me and said ‘We’re going to get you to Daytona, trust me. We’re going to get you to Daytona. I’ve already talked to Nick Ramey about you.’ I was really, really down. And I just said Andy, let’s just see what happens and he said look, let me make this offer to you. I’ve got a car and I’ve already talked to Nick, he’s going to work on a motor and maybe we can get it and maybe we can’t. So, that made me feel some better but he can’t do that. How are you going to get all this together? I needed transmissions and gears and he did it. It’s beyond me that anyone would have enough goodness in their heart to do this. Andy and Nick together made this happen. I sure hope I don’t tear his whole car up.”

 

Kyle Belmont, Crew Chief/ Car Chief, on goals for the No. 34 for Daytona:

“We hope to keep him out of trouble. We already have a game plan set up for how the race is going to go and what we are doing for practice and because it is Daytona you kind of just run what you got.”

###
 
About Andy Belmont Racing:

Andy Belmont Racing (andybelmont.com) currently fields race cars in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.  ABR race cars have been winning races and championships for nearly 35 years.  Currently, the team fields a full-time ARCA Racing series for two-time ARCA winner and NASCAR standout Chad McCumbee in the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion, John Ferrier in the CGS Imaging Ford and Darrell Basham in the Industrial Depot 34 Ford Fusion.

About Industrial Depot: 

Open since 1973, The Industrial Depot is dedicated to providing all fastener, hardware and shop supply needs.  For more information on the Industrial Depot and Andy Belmont’s race team, please visit:  http://theindustrialdepot.com.

Greg Biffle Shootout Notes and Quotes

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Official Release
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Biffle on the Shootout:   This is about the most excited I can remember being about the start of a season. We had a good test at Daytona last month and we’re looking forward to seeing what we’ve got in the draft. The Shootout is a big deal if for no other reason than it is the first race of the season.  It’s not a points race, so we can go out there and just have fun with it.  It’s always good to get the extra laps and be able to experiment with a few things during practice and even the during the Shootout. I think we’re all just looking forward to getting back to racing.”

Erwin on the Shootout:  “It’s obviously very advantageous to be in the Shootout to get the extra track time for the Daytona 500.  If you can go down there and run well in the Shootout, that can be a big morale booster for next week.  It just really gives everyone on the team including the driver a chance to kind of work the bugs out before we get into a points race.  We didn’t get to do a lot of drafting at the test, so the Shootout will give us a better indication of how our cars will perform in traffic.  We believe the new nose we have for this season will be beneficial but it will be great to test that in race conditions before the 500.”       Daytona Notes

  • •  Biffle’s average finish in the Shootout is 14th from an average starting position of 11th.
  • •  In the 2010 Shootout Biffle ran in the top 10 for most of the race but spun shortly after the drop of the green flag on a green/white/checker finish while challenging Kevin Harvick for the lead.
  • •  This weekend will mark Biffle’s fifth consecutive Shootout start.
  • •  Mike Lingerfelt will be joining the 3M Pit Bulls for the 2011 season in the front tire changer position. Todd Zeigler, who has been a tire changer with Roush Fenway since 1998, opted to take on a non-travel role with the team.
  • •  The 3M Pit Bulls hero card is scheduled to be available in Daytona.  It will feature the Pit Bulls in the Roush Fenway Racing pit crew training facility.
  • •  Fans wishing to follow the 3M team through the 2011 season on Twitter can find them @163MTEAM.
  • •  Biffle will be featured in another season of “Breakfast with the Biff” during the “NASCAR Now” raceday coverage on ESPN2.  The show generally airs on raceday from 9:00 am – 10:00 am ET.
  • •  The No. 16 Ford will feature the new 2011 3M paint scheme throughout speedweeks.  The paint scheme first ran at the All-Star race in 2010 and received such positive reviews that it is now the primary scheme for the 2011 season.
  • •  Visit www.shop3M.com to learn more about all of the innovative products 3M has to offer.

AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY HAS THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT THAT BOTH OF YOU WILL LOVE

By
Official Release
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SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2011) – It’s a Valentine’s Day gift that both of you will love, spending time together at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 27.

Whether you and your loved one are sitting side by side watching 43 of the world’s best drivers battle for a trip to Gatorade Victory Lane; taking a stroll down pit road where race teams are getting ready for the big race; positioned front and center of the pre-race stage for driver introductions or listening to your favorite drivers talk with their crew chiefs on the scanner. It will be a memorable experience that you’ll have together.

The Valentine’s Day ticket package is an incredible deal for just $99 (a $200 value) and includes:

. Pair of tickets to the Auto Club 400 (rows 11-14) on Sunday, March 27

. Pair of pre-race Pit Passes

. Scanner Rental with a pair of headphones

In addition to the Valentine’s Day ticket package, Auto Club Speedway offers free parking and allows fans to bring in their own food, making race weekend an incredible value full of fun and entertainment.

The Valentine’s Day ticket package is available now through February 28, 2011, while supplies last. So don’t let this package get away. For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.

Gus Dean Leaning On Veteran Support For New Smyrna Battle

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Official Release
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (February 9, 2011) – – Gus Dean may not be a familiar face when racing begins this Friday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway for the 45th Annual World Series. However, Dean will be surrounded by plenty of experience and knowledge, which should accelerate his learning curve and put him in contention in some of the tightest short track racing in the world over a period of nine days.

  Dean, a promising driver from Bluffton, South Carolina will be guided by USARacing Series Pro Cup veteran A.J. Frank, who for the last six months or so has managed the role as team manager at the shop and crew chief and driver coach at the race track. While Dean hasn’t competed in Annual World Series before, the rookie is taking his lack of experience in stride knowing that he has the comfort in one of the most respected short track racers in the Southeast.

  “I’m very blessed to have A.J. not only as my crew chief and driver coach but as my friend,” said Dean, who first started racing at the tender age of six. “He is such a joy to be around and really has made me become aware of my surroundings inside and outside of a race car. I feel very comfortable going to New Smyrna this week knowing that he’s on my side.”   Indeed, comfortable is a word that the former Allison Legacy Series (ALS) pilot can grasp. With nine tenacious nights ahead of him in all forms of short track racing, Dean plans to earn his respect while not forgetting the real reason that his Gus Dean Racing (GDR) team made the trip to the Sunshine State.

  “We are going to New Smyrna with the intentions that we can run strong and (hopefully) be a factor,” added Dean, who in 2007 earned American Kart Racing Association’s Junior II National Points Series Championship. “We’re sticking to our guns of knowing that if we can keep our nose clean and stay out of trouble, we should be able to improve over the course of the next week or so and let everyone know that we were there at least.”

  Frank praised his young driver’s ambition to get the job done behind the wheel. “Gus is a very smart and dedicated young man,” sounded Frank, who plans to return to racing himself in the USARacing Pro Cup Series in 2011. “He has that “want” when it comes to being a race car driver. Patience will probably be the most annoying word he will hear at New Smyrna, but there is a method to that madness. Keeping our car together will allow us to race more; thus giving Gus the seat time he needs.”   Frank, the Bluffton, South Carolina added, “Realistically, I think we can go run in the top-10 every night and surely you would like to think you can get a top-five or two and maybe even sneak in a win. These races won’t be a piece of cake though. They are short and very demanding races. Gus will learn a lot that will not only help him for the rest of his trip at New Smyrna but for the rest of the racing season as well.”

  In his lone short track venture at Concord (N.C.) Speedway last year, Dean entered the garage showing he meant business. Quickly gaining speed and comfort with the treacherous short track, Dean qualified his machine an impressive eighth and was running in the top six before the engine seized, yielding a disappointing finish.

  In the loosest sense of the word, Dean is hoping to make up for that lost momentum at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

  “I know I would not be racing without the help of support of our sponsors,” the youngster said. “Whirlpool Cooling and Heating, MODOC Research Group and The CornerStone Grill have been huge supporters of this team and have allowed us the opportunity to go to New Smyrna and try and turn some heads. My goal is to try and bring them home a finish (no matter where that may be) that they will be satisfied with.”

  Ironically, Dean will be carrying the No. 56, the same signage for Frank in the USARacing Pro Cup Series. “The 56 was available and I respect A.J. a lot, so I’m running the number in his honor,” insisted Dean. “He has been a part of our family for a long time now. My family helped support his dirt racing career in the late 1990s and now he’s giving back by helping me. The circle in a racing family doesn’t get any better than this!”

  In addition to Late Model competition at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, Dean and Co. will run in the PASS South Series and other Super Late Model (SLM) events across the Southeast all year long.

  For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com.   For additional input on Whirlpool Cooling and Heating, please logon to WhirlpoolHVAC.com.

A points system an Alabama mathematician can work out

By
Ron Thornton
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It has been an interesting off-season in NASCAR, and I’m not just talking about the snow in Dallas. We learned things, like the best mathematicians hail from such places as Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and the Carolinas. For more than 30 years, afficionados in those locales have been able to figure out the sport’s points system, but it was deemed too tough for the newbees to master.

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”189″][/media-credit]So, that brings us to the latest revamp of the way NASCAR determines its season champions. One point to the 43rd placed entry, 43 points for the winner, a 3 point victor bonus, a point for leading a lap, and one more for leading the most. I’m guessing that should be easy enough for those beleaguered Princeton and Harvard types to decipher.

The top ten make the Chase, have their points rejigged to 2000 to put them out of reach of the mere mortals, with three bonus points for each win up to that point. Among those sitting 11th to 20th, the most wins combined with the most points determines two more wildcard Chasers. If that proves too much for a potential fan to figure out, might I suggest soccer as a sport of choice. I mean, all one needs to is a field, a ball, and two pairs of rubber boots to play and the point count is usually so low anybody can calculate the winner.

In case you are wondering, according to my calculator, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick would have tied for the most points in the Chase using the new system, with Johnson getting the nod based on wins. You can’t get much closer than that. In a perfect world, wins should be worth more, but fans would quit watching if the final events merely led to a coronation. Too bad they can’t promote each race based on its own merits, but this is not a perfect world.

In a perfect world, Tony Stewart could take a working holiday to Australian and not get into a dust up. A flying helmet followed by some flying fists highlighted a trip that apparently also involved some actual racing, but no one is too interested in that aspect of the story. If that did not provide enough gossip, then surely the court ruling that makes the details of the Brian and Megan France divorce public should. Hey, it is not that I don’t love hearing things that are none of my damn business. I mean, I am human after all.

Crew Chief Frank Stoddard has a new racing team. That should give us another contender for that single point for each race, provided they qualify, before parking due to handling or vibration issues, or just not having enough money to buy tires or fuel to run an entire event. At least we won’t see anymore catch cans leaving the pits, as the new fuelling system eliminates that can and the guy holding it. No doubt another example of technology eliminating American jobs.

We hear Mark Martin will keep racing beyond 2011 and his tenure with Hendrick. Hopefully he really will get a chance to actually race, and not be just a part of the not-ready-for-prime timers. You just don’t tie a race horse, even an aging one, up to a beer wagon.

Sometimes the champagne set isn’t worth getting tied up with. Richard Petty Motorsports lives again, but no thanks to former partner George Gillett. After taking over Ray Evernham’s operation, merging it with Petty’s, Gillett is now long gone. It only took him three years to hit the bricks in NASCAR, only four years before losing his Liverpool soccer ownership, and just over nine before walking away from the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens. Anyone else notice a trend here?

Yet, some things last. Like a big track at Daytona, engines roaring to life, and a multitude of drivers, owners, crews, sponsors, and fans getting together to open yet another NASCAR season. The track is the same, but new asphalt now covers it which should make things very interesting when action resumes in a few short days.

There are questions that we seek answers to. Is Jimmie Johnson going to raise the hardware again come November, or is it Jeff Gordon’s turn for five. Maybe Tony Stewart, or a Busch brother has a date with destiny, or a fairy tale finish for Mark Martin? Will we see a return of Dale Earnhardt Jr to prominence? Will we notice a difference in the cars with a more streamlined splitter and factory inspired noses? One thing is for certain, with the curtain dropped on football and baseball still a few months away, the time for the cars to return has returned. You don’t have to be an Alabama mathematician to figure out that this is a good thing.

Daytona’s Magical Aura: The Michael Waltrip Story

By
SM Staff
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Daytona has always had this magical aura with stories surrounding the Daytona 500 that everybody loves to tell over and over. As we near closer to the Daytona 500, here is a look back through some of the highlighted moments in Daytona 500 history.

[media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”255″][/media-credit]Michael Waltrip’s Daytona stories extends to include several chapters, each containing their own special aura.

Waltrip’s journey of Daytona goes back to the 2001 Daytona 500, which was his first start with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Waltrip had been racing in the Sprint Cup Series since 1985 for various teams, though had yet to find himself in victory lane. He had finished in the top 10, the top five and even finished top 10 in points, though never found himself in victory lane. The 2001 season was set to mark a change of this via Waltrip being given a chance to drive a third car for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated by his best friend Dale Earnhardt.

The entire 2001 Daytona 500 played out as a dream to Waltrip (of course till the last lap crash) as he was up front throughout the race, in contention ready to take the win. When it came to the final lap, there he led the race, followed by his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., set to win and complete the dream. With his brother Darrell Waltrip’s voice calling the final lap, excited spewed over the top as DW called in it dramatic fashion as Michael finally broke his 467 race winless streak.

Of course, the entire mood of the day changed to the complete opposite as on the final lap, Waltrip’s car owner Dale Earnhardt crashed in turn three and died. The entire excitement that Waltrip felt in victory lane disappeared as now the NASCAR Nation went into mourning.

Though, with the Daytona’s Magical means, the story can never end there. When it came to NASCAR’s return to Daytona in July of 2001, everybody knew it’d be an emotional time via February’s events. Instead of tears of sadness, it became tears of joys as Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the win with Waltrip second. The outpouring of emotions afterwards on Daytona’s infield grass allowed Waltrip to finally be able to celebrate and pull some weight off the shoulders via another win at Daytona for the team.

However, Waltrip wasn’t done there. He wanted his own win at Daytona to celebrate as his own. That came in 2003 when Waltrip won the Daytona 500 for a second time, able to celebrate under the rain drops that had fallen to call the race early. Finally, Waltrip got to experience his own Daytona celebration without any distractors.

Waltrip ran for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated from 2001 to 2005, before being release due to a string of events that led to poor results. In his time with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Waltrip got two other wins besides his Daytona 500 victories – 2002 Summer Daytona July race and 2003 Fall Talladega race. Waltrip spent the 2006 season at Bill Davis Racing, where he found his confidence sink lower in his ability of a driver with more poor finishes.

“Confidence is more important in this sport than people realize,” Waltrip wrote in NASCAR Illustrated’s February issue. “I lost mine when I moved to Bill Davis Racing in 2006 after a great year at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2005. We didn’t run well right from the start. It beat me down to the point where it basically ended my career.”

Waltrip went and raced for himself for a few years, before hanging up the helmet and taking on the ownership role. Waltrip also has found himself in a position that works better for a man of his personality with working in the booth during the Camping World Truck Series races with Rick Allen and Phil Parsons.

For the 2011 Daytona 500, Waltrip will try to add another chapter to his Daytona story as he runs a paint scheme paying tribute to Dale Earnhardt.

“This is a very special day,” Waltrip said during the media tour. “Ten years ago I won the 500 in my first race with NAPA and we know February 18, 2001 is a day that NASCAR fans will never forget. What looked to be a storybook ending turned to tragedy seconds later.  To mark the 10th anniversary of that race and my 25th consecutive 500 will be quite emotional for me and fans alike.”

Also to go with the 10th anniversary, Waltrip has released a book that tells the events that happened on February 18th and other challenges in his life in his perspective in his new book In the Blink of an Eye, which went on sale Feb. 1st.

“I’ve spent much of last year writing the book,” Waltrip said. “It forced me to put into words a lot of emotions from that weekend and how we and the whole NASCAR world dealt with the loss of Dale. When I got my first copy the other day I told people that I felt like I had given birth. The book has become a part of me and I know fans are going to love it.”

The color will be black and blue, following along the lines of the yellow and blue paint scheme that Waltrip drove for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

“Hard to believe 10 years have passed since that fateful day in 2001 when we celebrated Michael’s Daytona 500 win and unfortunately mourned the loss of our friend, Dale Earnhardt,” Bob Susor, NAPA President, said. “We could not think of a better way to honor our friend Dale as well as mark this milestone in Michael’s career than to bring the NAPA No. 15 back to the Daytona 500 with a special paint scheme. We are hopeful fans, family and friends enjoy the tribute to both Michael and Dale.”

Regardless of how the 2011 chapter plays out, Waltrip’s story will always remain in the Daytona history books forever and touches the magical aura of Daytona.

Time for a No Tolerance

By
SM Staff
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A DUI is one of the worst offenses a NASCAR driver can have. Drivers who are suppose to set an example on how to drive correctly and safely, driving under the influence and risking people’s lives. Add that to a fan base that doesn’t see brushes with the law much, a DUI is unacceptable.

[media-credit name=”michaelannett.com” align=”alignright” width=”181″][/media-credit]The latest ordeal of a DUI in NASCAR belongs to 24 year old Michael Annett, who currently races in the Nationwide Series for Rusty Wallace Inc. Annett was pulled over early Sunday morning with a blood alcohol content of .32, four times the legal limit. This is one of a few incidents NASCAR drivers have had with drinking and driving.

Though never convicted of any wrong doing, Michael Waltrip found himself in two situations in the last 4 years. The most recent one said that Waltrip blew a .06, under the legal limit after Waltrip collided with a motorcycle at an intersection. The other incident however, ended up with Waltrip wrecking his SUV early in the morning and walking home in his socks. When police found Waltrip in his home the next morning, he blew a .06, under the legal limit. Both incidents saw no action taken by NASCAR.

AJ Allmendinger was stopped for a DWI. Allmendinger who blew .08. Allmendinger was placed on probation by the sport until Dec. 31. 

Now here is Michael Annett, a 24 year old driver whose career has had its ups and downs. He moved from Germain Racing to Rusty Wallace Incorporated for the 2011 season. Annett situation is very similar to something NASCAR has seen before.

For folks who remember, 1990 was a devastating year for the sport. That’s when rising star 21 year old Rob Moroso was killed in a similar situation to Annett’s. Moroso was killed when his motorcycle veered into oncoming traffic. Both Moroso and the victim in the other car were killed due to the incident. The autopsy revealed that Moroso’s BAC was .22, which at the time was two times over the legal limit of .10. Moroso’s story is a perfect example of a promising young life and career thrown away by stupidity.

NASCAR has a zero tolerance for drugs, now it’s time for a zero tolerance with DUI’s. NASCAR is one of the few sports left without the problems of their players getting in trouble with the law. Baseball, football and basketball have all had their troubles with players breaking the law; no one wants to see NASCAR get like that.

It’s time for NASCAR to nip this in the bud. Stop putting it in the owner’s hands to suspend drivers. Suspending Michael Annett would be good for him and the sport. It’s time for John Darby and Robin Pemberton to step up and do the right thing.

A no tolerance is called for. Not only would the sport benefit from it, but it would make everyone stop doing it. In the NFL, if you are out at a bar and you feel like you have had too much to drink you can call a number and the league will send a limo to pick you up and bring you back to the hotel room. If a player is found guilty of DUI they receive a four to six game suspension. Why should NASCAR be any different?

I am not even asking for that. Annett easily could have called a cab on his way home Sunday. Instead, he did the careless act. Annett wasn’t only careless for himself and the other drivers on the road, but careless to his fans, family and the sport all together.

It’s time for these drivers to grow up and realize how good they have it. Some make millions to drive a car everyweek. This writer and a lot of readers alike, would kill to have that chance. Acts like that show they don’t care.

Rusty Wallace is in a touch situation. Pilot Travel Centers is Annett’s main sponsor for 2011, a company that has supported Annett throughout his career. If Rusty Wallace suspends the driver he may not have sponsorship for his second car something that may kill a small owner like Wallace.

NASCAR can do it though. Dave Moody has said it best “NASCAR can do whatever they want.” Thank you!  It’s time for John Darby, Robin Pemberton, Mike Helton and Brian France to step up to the table and show that there is integrity in this sport and acts like that will not be tolerated, before we have another Rob Moroso incident to deal with.

FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS – BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

By
Official Release
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RACE INFO:

Event: Budweiser Shootout

Date/Time: Feb. 12 at 8:10 p.m. ET

2010 winner: Kevin Harvick

2010 draw winner: Carl Edwards

Distance: 75 laps/187.5 miles

Track Length: 2.5 miles

Banking: 31 degrees

Track Shape: Tri Oval

EXPRESS NOTES: 

Hamlin in the Budweiser Shootout:  Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway will mark Denny Hamlin’s sixth start in the non-points, pre-season exhibition event.  Hamlin earned a lifetime invitation into the race with a Bud Shootout victory in his very first try as a rookie in 2006.  The Chesterfield, Va., native captured a pole at Phoenix in 2005 — a year he made just seven Cup starts — to gain entry into the 2006 Shootout under the old format, an opportunity he took full advantage of.  Driver eligibility for 2011 is based on Chase participants from 2010, past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, former Bud Shootout winners, points race winners at Daytona and Sprint Cup Series ‘Rookie of the Year’ winners from the previous 10 seasons.  As the 2006 Bud Shootout winner, 2006 ‘Rookie of the Year’ and a 2010 Chase participant, Hamlin is more than qualified to compete Saturday night. Hamlin finished fifth in the 2010 Shootout, behind winner Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch.  It marked his best finish in the event since his 2006 victory. Starting order for Saturday’s event will be determined by a blind draw Friday night, with Hamlin’s best “qualifying effort” of fifth coming in 2009.  He started 24th one year ago.  Hamlin has led a total of 20 laps in Bud Shootout competition — 16 in 2006 and four in 2009.

Race                            Series          Date                    Start           Finish          Laps    __________________

Budweiser Shootout              Non-Points      Feb. 6, 2010            24              5               75/75

Budweiser Shootout              Non-Points      Feb. 10, 2009           5               13              75/75

Budweiser Shootout              Non-Points      Feb. 9, 2008            12              9               70/70

Budweiser Shootout              Non-Points      Feb. 18, 2007           21              17              70/70

Budweiser Shootout              Non-Points      Feb. 12, 2006           15              1               72/72______________________

Averages                                                                15.4            9               100%    

FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway: 2274 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 323-7840

2011 FedEx Racing Press Kit – Available for Download:  Please visit www.fedexracing.com/presskit for the 2011 FedEx Racing press materials, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Mike Ford and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, program statistics and 2011 crew roster.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT:

What are your thoughts heading into the Budweiser Shootout?

“The Shootout is a fun event and it’s a race that we all want to win. It’s unique because you aren’t worrying about points, about how it’s going to affect your season. You’ll probably see guys try things in the Shootout that you won’t see in the 500 but it’s a short race and the format means that there is nothing to lose at the end. I think that’s what the fans like about this race.   We just go out there and race.”

What is your outlook for the 2011 season?

“I’m ready to go.  I feel as confident as we’ve ever been.  Every year we’ve steadily made a progression towards the top and obviously had a career year last year.  We know we can do it and we can win at all different kinds of race tracks.  For me, I think we have everything in place.  I’m keeping all of my key personnel from what we had last year.  No changes there.  Pit crew is the same.  The driver will be a little bit better.  Everything is in place to hopefully pull out a first one.”

Are you the driver to unseat Jimmie Johnson this year?

“I hope so. This is almost a free year for me. A lot of people are going to expect us to have a bad year coming off such a good year, because the expectations were so high last year.  We came through and succeeded in winning a bunch of races like we said we were.  We were championship contenders — almost won the championship.  And this year, a lot of people expect a letdown year because it’s happened to guys before. For me, I know my passion for racing, and it’s impossible for me to fail in that aspect. Unless something crazy happens, we’re going to be right back in the same position this year as what we were last year.” 

How do you feel about the new points system?

“I think (NASCAR) hit it right on the head.  I really don’t think they could’ve made it any simpler for the new race fan coming into the sport or the driver that knows he’s 10 points behind.  He’s got to pass 10 cars.  It makes things so much simpler and for me it’s well understood.  I think it’s going to reward those guys that go out and win during the regular season.  It’s going to give you three bonus points.  That’s three spots — that’s like 15 points going into the Chase versus last year’s 10.  It’s going to pay to win races nowadays.”

Does the new points system change your strategy?

“I think you’re going to have to run it the exact same way. The only difference is that wins are obviously going to pay more points. I like it. Of course, we won a lot of races last year. If we don’t win any going into the Chase this year, I’m not going to like it that much, but it should pay the guy that wins. You should see a battle — a guy that’s giving it all he’s got running second trying to win the race. I think NASCAR set that up for us, teed it up for us, and now it’s up to us to go out there and put on the show.”

How do you put last year behind you to focus on 2011?

“Nothing fuels me more than losing. We’re all competitors and each one of us knows that when you finish second, it’s fuel. It doesn’t matter what sport I’m in — if I lose, I’m going to work to try to be better at it. For racing, it’s my number one passion and my number one focus to try to be the best at. We’ve gotten close to the top, we just need one more position. And I consider anything less than a championship a failure. A lot of guys will say that, but for me, finishing second in points, there’s no other room to go up other than winning a championship. Taking a step back is finishing any worse than I did last year.”

2011 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER:

Crew Chief:  Mike Ford – Morristown, Tenn.                      Front Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C.

Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, N.Y.                      Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.

Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, N.Y.                        Rear Tire Changer: Jonathan Sherman – Monroe, La.

Shocks: Drew Bible – Coldwater, Mich.                           Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C.

Tire Specialist: Patrick Mullen – Brick, N.J.                   Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio

Engine Tuner: Chris Woodward – Franklin, N.H.                   Gas Man: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C.

Mechanic: Rick Bray – Placerville, Calif.                               Pit Crew Coordinator:  Paul Alepa – Vienna, Va.

Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, N.Y.                       JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C.

Spotter: Curtis Markham – Fredericksburg, Va.                  

Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.     

Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.

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