Poor Season Causes Personnel Shake Up At Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing
[media-credit id=22 align=”alignright” width=”195″]
[/media-credit]Immediately after he was introduced, Chip Ganassi, owner and president of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, took the podium and politely welcomed attending members of the media.
EGR was the first of several race teams to be visited by the media on day two of the Sprint Cup Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Once Ganassi issued his welcome, he went straight to business.
“Hopefully this is the last time I have to say we finished 21st and 27th in the points, and talk about such a performance.”
Going into 2011, neither Jamie McMurray nor Juan Pablo Montoya could continue the momentum and success they had in 2010.
“Last season was frustrating,” said McMurray. “It made us appreciate what we had in 2010.”
McMurray continued that it was difficult pinpointing exactly what was hindering their performance.
“Nothing changed from 2010 to 2011. We just didn’t have the success. If we knew what the problems were, we would have fixed them.”
Ganassi must have felt the elusive problems were insurmountable and couldn’t be corrected with the current personnel at EGR. During the off season a decision was made to change the majority of those personnel.
“People around the car were a problem,” said Sabates. “We made personnel changes over the off season to help this. We have made mistakes in the past by keeping people too long.”
Ganassi said the organization needed a shake up because recent performance was pathetic for a team of their abilities and resources.
“We live in an information age”, said Ganassi. “I don’t need just information, I need CORRECT information.”
Given the years of economic woes and the continued attrition of competing race teams and employees, the quality of available talent should have been abundant for EGR’s personnel transitions.
ARCA: Venturini Motorsports Signs Nelson Canache Jr.
Venturini Motorsports announced today that they’ve signed Nelson Canache Jr. to drive for them full-time in 2012.
“The ARCA Racing Series gives me the best opportunity to make the transition into stock car racing and prepare me for NASCAR trucks or Nationwide racing in the future,” the Caracas native said. “Venturini’s reputation and the success they’ve had working with many drivers was a major factor in my decision to join the team and the series.”
Canache Jr. is a two-time champion in the Venezuelan Super Touring GT Class Series and is hoping that Venturini’s competition director Billy Venturini can help him make the transition to big time stock car racing.
“It’s an honor to represent my country and build more awareness to U.S. stock car racing,” he said. “I feel I have the support of everyone back home and look forward to making them proud.
“It’s going to be a challenge but working with the best team gives me the confidence I need to succeed at this level and prepare myself for the future. I have limited oval racing experience; every week will be a challenge and test me physically and mentally. Driving for Venturini gives me the best chance to learn and show people here in the States my skills.”
To prepare for this season with Venturini, Canache spent last year racing in the Sea Leon Super Cup in Mexico and the NASCAR Whelen All American Series with Lee Faulk Racing.
Canache’s ARCA debut will come with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday February 18th at Daytona International Speedway. Canache was part of the test in December, which saw him post the seventh quickest time at 186.676mph. His teammate Alex Bowman led the speeds with a speed of 188.336mph with their other three teammates joining them in the top seven.
“There’s no question ARCA and NASCAR have attracted world class talent to our sport,” Billy Venturini said. “Nelson has proven himself as an international driver and comes to our team with tremendous talent and determination to succeed at this level in a relatively unknown series. He’s a true professional and student of his craft; he’s eager to learn and unwilling to fall back on past accomplishments. I expect him to fit into our program well and compete strongly against his competition.”
Venturini Motorsports has had international flair before as in 2011, four of the drivers that drove their car were from outside the US. This list includes Steve Arpin (Canada), Miguel Paludo (Brazil), George Miedecke (Austrailia) and Alistair Jackson (Ireland). They’ve helped propel both Arpin and Paludo to the NASCAR national level.
NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart Kicks Off 2012 Sprint Cup Media Tour
[/media-credit]It was just 65 days ago when Tony Stewart secured his third Sprint Cup Championship with a walk off victory at Miami Homestead Speedway.
Starting with the season opening Daytona 500, defense of that championship begins in just three short weeks.
Sandwiched in between those two events is the Sprint Cup Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Strolling to the stage with “How You Like Me Now” playing over the public address system, Tony Stewart kicked off the 2012 Media Tour. He was joined by Ryan Newman, Matt Borland, Tony Gibson, and new comers Danica Patrick, Steve Addington, and Greg Zipadelli.
The biggest news coming from SHR is the 10 race deal with Patrick and Go Daddy as the primary sponsor.
During the media break out sessions, Stewart talked about the growth of his young company.
“I am really proud of the success we have had. It’s amazing how far we have come in such a short amount of time.”
Missing from the SHR superstar lineup was former crew chief Darian Grubb. Stewart stated he was happy Grubb quickly landed somewhere successful. He also made it clear his decision to part ways with Grubb, and hire Steve Addington, was made long before the season ending championship.
It was revealed that during the chase, Stewart kept in touch with Addington via text messaging, including sending an encouraging text to Addington after the final race of the season.
When asked about his new driver, Danica Patrick, Stewart continued his praise and offered a bold prediction.
“Danica is talented and very confident. It is quite possible she could win the Daytona 500. A rookie won it last year, why can’t it happen again?”
Fielding questions from media members on the other side of the room, Patrick echoed some of Stewart’s thoughts.
“My inexperience at Daytona should not be a factor,” said Patrick. “The only thing I really had to work on is the bump drafting. There wasn’t bump drafting in Indy racing, so it took me some time to get used to it in Sprint Cup.”
Stewart and Patrick worked on bump drafting during a recent testing session at Daytona International Speedway. During the three days of testing, both drivers ran multiple laps in single car formations and nose-to-tail formation; taking turns pushing each other around the speedway.
Along with her 10 race deal at Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick is also running a full Nationwide schedule in 2012 for JR Motorsports.
She reflected on her exit from Indy car racing, and hinted at a possible return in the future.
“I am relieved I can now focus on just NASCAR,” said Patrick. “I will miss Indy, but I am not going to rule out a return in the future.”
Patrick said she doesn’t expect instant success in NASCAR’s top level and would be happy with mediocre results as long as she’s learning something along the way.
“If I finish five laps down, it’s ok. As long as I learn something, improve, or get something from the race, its ok.”
Danica Patrick’s first race of the season will be the Nationwide race at Daytona in February. Tony Stewart, last year’s winner, is also entered in the same race.
Hottest 30 over the past 10 as we begin a new season
[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”225″]
[/media-credit]With the roar of the engines having returned to Daytona, a new season is about to dawn upon us. We have a new, albeit recycled, champion, more Danica to watch for, a return of the kid to defend his Daytona title in a few weeks, and the results of a musical chair silly season. While 40 teams hope to run full-time, a few of them won’t matter much as we get into the season.
We get to look forward to discovering what Mark Martin has left in the tank as he returns to part-time status. We will get to watch for growth in the few races Danica Patrick, Trevor Bayne, and Austin Dillon will run this year. We should soon find out if Aric Amirola is actually ready for prime time as he takes over in the famed #43. However, the 2012 champ will probably come from the list of the hottest 30 drivers coming out of the final ten events of 2011.
Pos – Driver – Points/Past 10 – (Top Tens)
1. Tony Stewart – 403 pts – (5 wins -6 Top Fives -9 Top Tens)
Considering what happened to the last crew chief, maybe it’s best they win early and often.
2. Carl Edwards – 400 pts – (0-7-9)
Consistency apparently trumps wins 4 out of ten times…but not 5.
3. Kasey Kahne – 368 pts – (1-5-7)
And just like that, Kasey becomes the hottest Hendrick driver entering the new season.
4. Kevin Harvick – 333 pts – (0-2-6)
Even after selling truck team, can DeLana keep her fire suit? Please.
5. Clint Bowyer – 328 pts – (1-1-7)
And just like that, Clint becomes the hottest Waltrip driver entering the new season.
6. Matt Kenseth – 324 pts – (1-5-6)
2003 champ has finished in the Top 15 in each of the past dozen years.
7, Brad Keselowski – 319 pts – (0-4-4)
Soon to be 27 year old seems to have arrived, and Roger Penske couldn’t be happier.
8. Jeff Burton – 317 pts – (0-2-4)
The finish was alright, but the season was his worst since 1995.
9. Jimmie Johnson – 301 pts – (1-3-4)
Compared to the previous five years, thought the Las Vegas table service sucked in 2011.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr – 290 pts – (0-1-3)
I wonder what he needs in 2012? Oh, yah, wins, starting in February.
11. Greg Biffle – 284 pts – (0-2-3)
Can always be found among the Top 20, but now has to reach for the top dozen to attain goals.
12. Denny Hamlin – 284 pts – (0-1-4)
Could have been a contender, but after Chicago and New Hampshire was left a pretender.
13. A.J. Allmendinger – 282 pts – (0-0-4)
It is a dog gone pity Petty lost him to Penske, as they will soon discover.
14. Ryan Newman – 281 pts – (0-1-4)
Does Aspen Dental sponsorship give him another reason to smile?
15. Paul Menard – 280 pts – (0-0-1)
Daddy’s money is still important, but easily coming off his best season.
16. Jeff Gordon – 278 pts – (0-3-4)
He and Kasey will have competition this year from Danica as NASCAR’s prettiest driver.
17. Brian Vickers – 275 pts – (0-2-2)
At 28, even this non-Vickers fan thinks it’s a bit too early to put this fellow out to pasture.
18. Marcos Ambrose – 263 pts – (0-1-4)
Won at the Glen, and now needs to be the Petty standard bearer in 2012.
19. Kurt Busch – 259 pts – (1-1-2)
That champion’s provisional could turn out to be rather handy this season.
20. Juan Pablo Montoya – 253 pts – (0-0-1)
The time is now, needs to step up his game as he enters his sixth full Cup season.
21. Martin Truex Jr – 247 pts – (0-1-4)
If he can regain his old form, this could be a good year to be Michael Waltrip.
22. Mark Martin – 247 pts – (0-0-2)
Sharing the #55 with his new boss, but will he also share his rocking chair with Mikey?
23. Kyle Busch – 234 pts – (0-1-2)
Apparently feels about trucks driven by Ron Hornaday the same way I feel about Smart cars.
24. Regan Smith – 231 pts – (0-0-1)
Furniture Row and Smith claimed their first win, the 2011 Southern 500, and first 5 Top Tens.
25. Joey Logano – 231 pts – (0-0-0)
He can do it, but now it is up to new Crew Chief Jason Ratcliff to help.
26. David Ragan – 229 pts – (0-0-1)
And just like that, David becomes the hottest Front Row driver entering the new season.
27. David Reutimann – 201 pts – (0-0-1)
And just like that, this David becomes the hottest Tommy Baldwin driver…and that is sad.
28. Jamie McMurray – 185 pts – (0-0-0)
Proof positive that the end of 2011 was a bloody disaster.
29. Dave Blaney – 159 pts – (0-0-1)
Anyone expect a breakout year by either Baldwin team? Anyone?
30. Casey Mears – 154 pts – (0-0-0)
I’m not superstitious, but that #13 just seems to be tempting fate.
