Posted on by Team Release

CONCORD, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports executive vice president and general manager Doug Duchardt will leave the organization later this summer. He will remain in his role through the end of June.

Duchardt, 53, came to Hendrick Motorsports in January 2005 as vice president of development, a position in which he oversaw race car design, engineering and production. In July 2013, he was elevated to the newly created role of general manager, directing all racing operations for the team.

“Being a member of this family of talented people for more than 12 years has been an unparalleled privilege,” said Duchardt, who previously was director of North American motor sports initiatives for General Motors. “It was a difficult decision to make, but I feel this is the right time in my life to pursue other goals. I’m incredibly thankful to Rick (Hendrick) and all of my teammates for a truly rewarding experience and for the countless relationships that will continue on.”

In Duchardt’s 12 full seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization’s chassis and engines won a record six consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championships and nine of the last 11. He oversaw the successful conversion to the Chevrolet R-07 engine in 2007, the incorporation of electronic fuel injection in 2012 and Hendrick Motorsports’ role as lead development team for the Generation-6 Chevrolet SS race car, which debuted in 2013.

“Doug joined us during a difficult time in our history and helped provide stability and leadership,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “I’ll always be grateful to him for accepting that challenge and for his ongoing dedication and countless contributions. We all wish him the very best in his future endeavors, which will most certainly be successful. He’s a special friend and person.”

Duchardt’s responsibilities will be assigned to multiple team members, including Hendrick Motorsports president Marshall Carlson, chief financial officer Scott Lampe and vice president of competition Ken Howes. The organization does not plan to fill the general manager role.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

The Coca-Cola 600 was a tough act to follow, but Dover had challenges of its own — namely a concrete monster mascot (no, not “Concrete Carl”) whose diet apparently consists of right-front tires from Ford Fusions.

THUMBS UP to Kyle Larson for finishing second again — the fifth time in 13 races this season and the 11th time in his young career. Just think if he’d won in each of those runner-up races this season, he’d already have six race wins.

It nearly happened at Dover for Larson, who likely had the race won if it weren’t for a late-race caution bunching up the field.

In typical Kyle Larson fashion, he’ll get his racing fix throughout the week.

 

A bonus thumbs-up to the newly budding on-track rivalry between Larson and Martin Truex Jr., who swapped the lead and paint numerous times throughout the afternoon Sunday.

THUMBS DOWN to buying something nice but only getting to wear it once.

We’ve all been there. You buy some nice, new clothing for a special event; you look great, it fits perfectly, it’s comfortable, and you want to wear it all the time. You don’t mind spending a little extra because you deserve something nice, darn it! But, as fate has it, something happens. Maybe you lose the clothing. Or pack on weight eating too much Grotto’s Pizza. Or can’t wear it to two consecutive weddings.

Or, you’re Jimmie Johnson, and only get to wear your custom-designed Cale Yarborough 83 Wins helmet once — because you won your 83rd race in your first outing with the helmet.

 

Jimmie Johnson had BEAMdesigns create a special helmet as the seven-time champ chased tying NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough’s 83 victories – the sixth best all-time.

Johnson, of course, ended up winning at Dover, tying Yarborough’s record in his special helmet’s first outing.

No word on whether he’ll continue wearing the helmet honoring his hero, or if he’ll eye a higher spot on the all-time wins list.

It’s still a bummer when you only get to wear something once.

THUMBS UP to Ross Chastain for running well in his Cup debut and for running “the triple.”

It’s quite rare for a driver not aligned with a bigger team to run all three races in a single weekend, but Chastain did it at Dover – complete with his debut in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

He may have ruffled a few feathers along the way — including XFINITY Series regular Brendan Gaughan, who didn’t compete in the Cup Series Sunday — but there’s something to be said about bringing home a top 20, a) in a car that isn’t typically considered a 20th-place car, b) in your Cup Series debut, c) at a track that’s so tough that 12 cars failed to finish due to crash damage Sunday, and d) after completing two prior races at the same track the previous two days. Worthy of a thumbs up.

It was the first top-20 finish for Premium Motorsports outside of Talladega or Daytona …

… and probably the best run for a watermelon-themed car ever.

 

THUMBS DOWN to race Grand Marshal and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay hating on Wawa.

 

It was great to get a visit from the host of the new food-themed show “The F Word,” known for talking to chefs like a heated driver talks to a crew chief. But there’s a slight problem.

I can understand his hate on Dale Jr.’s famous banana-mayonnaise sandwich, but criticism of local favorite mini-market Wawa — a staple for fans on the road during this Dover-Pocono 1-2 punch — is going too far. Wawa is delicious and deserves no shade.

They’ve got the Turkey Gobbler, for goodness’ sake!

Sure, Ramsay’s a well-accomplished chef and he’s known for his outspoken criticism of food that’s not great — but you Don’t. Bash. Wawa. Ever.

(Fun bonus fact: Wawa often appears on NASCAR teams’ cars during races in the Northeast!)

 

THE BIGGEST THUMBS UP OF THE WEEK goes to Brad Keselowski — for no reason in particular — just because he needs something good to happen to him after the last two races.

For the second week in a row, he came out on the wrong end of a crash in the very early going of the race, due to no fault of his own.

First, last week in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte …

… and most recently, on a restart just shy of 70 laps into the race at Dover, when Kurt Busch got out of shape, collecting Keselowski’s Ford.

He’s only completed 94 out of the past 1,000 miles.

Somebody give the man a hug and tell him everything’s going to be OK.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Drivers of the No. 43 in NASCAR history

The text messages began pouring in as soon as word got out.

“My phone has been exploding,” Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. said.

Good news travels fast. And for Wallace, Monday’s announcement that he will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Pocono Raceway definitely qualified as good news.

Wallace, 23, will take over the legendary No. 43 fielded by Richard Petty Motorsports while the organization’s primary driver, Aric Almirola, continues to recover from a back injury suffered last month.

“The 43 is the most iconic number in NASCAR,” Wallace told NASCAR.com. “That’s huge. It’s something that represents 200 wins. Richard Petty, the King himself, I’ll be driving for him … there are just a lot of factors going into this weekend that make it that much sweeter. And really that much more bad-ass to be driving for him.”

Wallace will pull double duty at Pocono, competing in the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series on Saturday as well as Sunday’s Monster Energy Series race (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

A graduate of NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity program and former driver for Rev Racing, Wallace became just the fourth African American to compete full time in one of NASCAR’s three national series when he drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2013-14.

He became only the second to score a win in one of the three series when he won at Martinsville Speedway in ’13. By the end of the following season, he had four more victories and an opportunity to join RFR.

NASCAR Hall of Fame member Wendell Scott is the only other African American to record a win. Scott competed as an independent during the 1960s and early ’70s. He earned his only win in 1964 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida.

Bill Lester made 142 career Truck Series starts from 2000-07, as well as two Cup Series starts (2006) and one XFINITY Series start (1999); Willy T. Ribbs made three Monster Energy Cup Series starts in 1986 and raced fulltime in the Camping World Truck Series in 2001 for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

MORE: Wallace tabbed as replacement | Roush on XFINITY program

Wallace has three starts at Pocono, a three-turn, 2.5-mile track. He posted top-10 results in two Camping World Trucks Series starts and finished 16th in the XFINITY Series race there in 2016 with Roush.

“We’re going to make it a good place (to make my debut),” Wallace said, adding that he’s already spent time in the simulator at the Ford Performance Technical Center to prepare. “It’s one of those places that definitely is circled and highlighted. I definitely need a little more work for myself … it’s the most rhythm track that you go to and I struggle with that. You slip up once and your mind loses a little bit of focus.”

Almirola suffered a fracture of the T5 vertebra when he was involved in a three-car crash at Kansas Speedway last month. He is expected to be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks.

WATCH: Kansas crash sidelines Almirola

Regan Smith, a one-time winner in the Monster Energy Series, filled in for Almirola for three races — both the Monster Energy Open, a last-chance qualifying race for the series’ All-Star Race, and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, as well as last weekend’s race at Dover. He was running inside the top 15 late in the Dover race when a tire issue sent the No. 43 into the wall.

Wallace said he has realistic expectations for his time in the car.

“It’s not like I’m trying to go out there and set the world on fire and win practice … it’s not like the Late Model days, not like ‘OK we’re showing up here and we’re about to whoop everybody’s butt,’ ” he said. “For me it’s do the best I can, figure out how everybody in the Cup Series is working, figure out all the ins and outs of it, go out there and give everybody on the 43 car the finish they deserve.

“If we’re a 15th-place car … it’s my job to go out there and get 14th. My job isn’t to get 19th. Not step on anybody’s toes, just go out there and have a good, solid weekend.”

He’s gotten pointers from fellow drivers in the past, and hopes they’ll be just as forthcoming now that he’s competing in the Monster Energy Series. He’s raced with drivers such as Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott as each advanced through the various NASCAR series, and has competed against several of the Cup regulars on occasion in the XFINITY and Truck Series.

“Definitely lean on (Kevin) Harvick,” Wallace said of the ’14 Monster Energy Cup Series champion. “He’s definitely helped out in the past when times were tough.”

Seven-time series champ Jimmie Johnson has offered advice as well. “Every time I fire a text to him he’s always right there to respond,” Wallace said of the Hendrick Motorsports driver. “I hope it’s not like, ‘Alright now you’re in the big leagues we’re not helping you anymore.’

“I’m going to take what the weekend will give. If it’s destined that I’ll finish 35th and that’s all we’ve got, then hey that’s 35th. But if it’s 15th or 20th, that’s a really good day for me. To go out there and run (that) in my first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, it’s going to take a lot and going to be special to do that.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

DOVER, Del. — The hardest decision most 8-year-olds have to make on any given day is how to spend recess.

A few years ago Jenna Dumanski faced the choice of whether or not she’d be the one to donate a life-saving bone marrow transplant to her 8-month-old brother, Tommy, who had been diagnosed with a rare hereditary immunodeficiency disease.

Jenna knew what she had to do, and didn’t look back.

“Tommy had CGD (chronic granulomatous disease) and he needed a donor because he was really sick,” she told NASCAR.com Sunday at Dover International Speedway, site of the AAA 400 Drive for Autism Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. “We got tested and I was a 10 out of 10 match for him so I donated it. (I knew) if I didn’t, he would be really sick and he could possibly die.”

Medlineplus.gov defines CGD as an “inherited disorder in which certain immune system cells do not function properly. This leads to repeated and severe infection.”

The source also says long-term antibiotic treatments may help reduce the infections, but early death can occur from repeated lung infections.

The Dumanskis needed to move swiftly, and decisively in Tommy’s case.

“(The doctors) wanted us to wait a year so his body could go through the chemo(therapy),” Jenna’s mom, Jeannette, explained, “but his mutation was so severe that they said his next infection probably was going to be fatal.

“We gave (Jenna) the option. … We said, ‘You choose. We’re not going to make you do this.’ There’s people in the donor pool who also could’ve (been a match). Two days after that, she came to us and said she wants to be the one to save him.”

Fast forward to 2017, and both Jenna and Tommy are healthy and thriving thanks to Jenna’s selfless act of courage, though the former just went through a bout of meningitis, herself, that unfortunately got in the way of a Daytona 500 trip.

“Right now, knock on wood, but Tommy’s good,” said Jeannette. “He’s an active, 3-year-old boy, thanks to his superhero.”

Jenna’s looking forward to showing Tommy her passion — NASCAR — someday. It’s a relatively new one for her, but one she’s grown obsessed with immediately.

“I watched a race at my friend’s house and he had the Daytona 500 on and after I left I went home and asked my dad if we could watch it,” said Jenna. “I didn’t even realize there was going to be another race because I didn’t know too much about it. I’ve watched every single race since.

“I was leaning towards (Kevin) Harvick to be my favorite driver and then at Phoenix (Raceway) he did really well. He was good and I just really liked him. Now, I’m obsessed with NASCAR. I have NASCAR bed sheets, I have a NASCAR wall, just tons and tons of NASCAR stuff.”

Jenna — who in due time will learn the Stewart-Haas Racing driver is just about always good at Phoenix — and Harvick managed to meet at Dover in 2016, and the Milltown, New Jersey, resident was so excited she “couldn’t even talk.”

The family has been going to races at Dover and Pocono Raceway for a few years now and Jenna — who hopes to be a NASCAR driver herself one day — has made plans for a trip to another race track via one interesting math project.

“She just did this massive report for her math class,” Jeannette said, “Where they could go anywhere in the world, but you had to write out all of your expenses. She could’ve picked Bora Bora or Bermuda, but she wanted to go to Charlotte.”

Specifically, to the Coca-Cola 600.

(Spoiler alert: Austin Dillon wins the math project running of the race, too.)

“I wanted to go to Concord, North Carolina,” said Jenna. “We had to come up with different excursions and how to pay for your trip, so the first day I had us going to the NASCAR race at Charlotte, the second day we would go to the Stewart-Haas Racing headquarters because I really want to go there. Then we went to Hendrick Motorsports, because my dad really likes them and I kind of like that team. The fourth day we went to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the fifth day we went to Lake Norman just to hang out.

“One of my favorite things in the whole world is NASCAR. Being on a NASCAR trip would be amazing.”

Someday Jenna will make it down to Charlotte.

And she’ll have Tommy right alongside her.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Photos of every Kasey Kahne victory

For most other drivers, the tweet likely would not have been a big deal. But Kasey Kahne isn’t super active on social media, so his seemingly out-of-nowhere post Monday evening on Twitter seemed important.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver hasn’t been in Victory Lane since 2014 (Atlanta), and he has not made the postseason since that same season. Currently he’s 20th in points after Sunday’s 17th-place finish at Dover.

But the tweet to his fanbase should bring a measure of hope to all of the Kahne-iacs — the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet appears to be as locked in as ever, and ready to keep fighting.

Perhaps that elusive win will follow.

Posted on by Team Release

RELATED: Darrell Wallace Jr. to drive No. 43 RPM Ford

CONCORD, N.C. — Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Bubba Wallace will transition from its No. 6 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) Ford Mustang to the iconic No. 43 Ford Fusion of Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) where the 23-year-old will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at Pocono Raceway.

“We are very proud of Bubba and his development at Roush Fenway Racing,” said team president Steve Newmark. “We believe that Bubba has tremendous potential and will continue to excel in NASCAR’s top series. He has been a great representative of our organization both on and off the track and we’ve enjoyed being part of his growth as a driver. Our entire team is excited to see him take the next step in his career and make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 43.

“The transition shows the strong collaboration we currently have in the Ford stable,” added Newmark. “We believe this will be a great opportunity for both Bubba and RPM, and will continue to strengthen the overall Ford program.”

With Wallace’s focus on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Roush Fenway Racing will suspend efforts on the No. 6 NXS team after this weekend’s event in Pocono. Roush Fenway and Wallace will continue to evaluate additional potential opportunities for Wallace to run in NXS races. Wallace has driven for Roush Fenway in the NXS for the past two and a half seasons, scoring a career-high finish of second at Dover last spring.

 

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Drivers of the 43 throughout history | Inside look: Petty Hall of Fame exhibit

Darrell Wallace Jr., who began his NASCAR racing career as part of the sanctioning body’s Drive for Diversity program, will fill in for an injured Aric Almirola in the iconic No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Wallace, 23, will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend when the series travels to Pocono Raceway for Sunday’s Axalta Presents the Pocono 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

According to the team, he will serve as the organization’s interim driver until Almirola’s return.

“Driving the famed 43 car is an unbelievable opportunity for any race car driver,” Wallace said. “With all that Richard Petty has contributed to the sport, I’m honored to start my first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event with this team. I’m incredibly grateful that Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports and Smithfield have the confidence in me to help fill the seat until Aric fully recovers, which is the most important piece of this. Moving up to the Monster Energy Series is a tremendous challenge, but I am ready to represent this organization, help the 43 team get the best results possible and prove that I belong at this level.”

 

WATCH: See the wreck that injured Almirola

The Mobile, Alabama, native has 83 career starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, and a best finish of second, in 2016 at Dover International Speedway. He’s driven in the series for Roush Fenway Racing since 2015.

He is fourth in points following an eighth-place finish this past weekend, also at Dover, in the No. 6 Ford for RFR.

Wallace began his NASCAR career in 2010 competing with Rev Racing in the K&N Pro Series East as a member of the D4D program. He won six times in the series and made his XFINITY Series debut in 2012 for Joe Gibbs Racing as part of that organization’s driver development program. He made six starts with JGR through 2014, with a best finish of seventh.

While competing part time for JGR, Wallace raced full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2013-14.

He became the first African American since NASCAR Hall of Fame member Wendell Scott to win a race in one of NASCAR’s three national series when he won at Martinsville in 2013 in the Truck Series. The following year, he won four more times in the series — at Gateway, Eldora, Martinsville and Homestead.

Scott competed as an independent during the 1960s and early ’70s. He earned his only win in 1964 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.

Willy T. Ribbs made three Monster Energy Cup Series starts in 1986 and competed full-time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2001 for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

Bill Lester made 142 career Truck Series starts from 2000-07, as well as two Cup Series starts (2006) and one XFINITY Series start (1999).

Wallace is the second driver to fill in on an interim basis for RPM following the injury to Almirola last month at Kansas Speedway. Almirola suffered a fracture to the T5 vertebra when he was involved in a three-car crash during the Go Bowling 400. He is expected to be out eight to 12 weeks.

Regan Smith stepped in for Almirola at Charlotte in the Monster Energy Open, a qualifying race for the series’ annual All-Star Race, as well as the Coca-Cola 600. He finished fourth in the Open and 22nd in the 600.

This past weekend at Dover, Smith, again in the 43, was running 14th when a tire problem caused his car to shoot up the track and bounce off the wall to bring out a late caution. He finished 34th.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports), David Ragan (Front Row Motorsports) and Daniel Suarez (Joe Gibbs Racing) are scheduled to take part in a two-day Goodyear tire test Tuesday and Wednesday, June 6-7, at Chicagoland Speedway.

The development test is for the ’17 tire that will be used when the series kicks off this year’s playoffs at the 1.5-mile track Sept. 17.

Admission to the test is free for fans who have purchased tickets to the Tales of the Turtles 400. A $10 donation to Racing Advocates for Community Enrichment (R.A.C.E.) will admit those who have yet to purchase race tickets.

Additional Goodyear tire tests are scheduled for Michigan and Darlington next month.

Posted on by Staff Report

Jimmie Johnson’s celebration of iconic win No. 83 was cut a tad short, as the seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion spent the morning after his victory having a minor outpatient procedure to remove Basal Cell Carcinoma from his shoulder.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is considered the most frequently occurring form of all cancers with more than 4 million cases a year in the United States, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. However, as evidenced by Johnson’s tweet, it is very treatable and rarely spreads beyond its initial site.

A representative from Hendrick Motorsports confirmed that Johnson is doing very well and the procedure will not affect his driving. Nonetheless, it didn’t make for as epic of a win celebration the night prior as Johnson may have hoped.


Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR fans, get ready to drive down the Las Vegas Strip in style. That’s because Chevrolet, Sherwin-Williams and NASCAR are teaming up for the “Paint Your Way into a New Chevrolet” sweepstakes. The Grand Prize winner will take home a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado and a trip for two to Champions Week in Las Vegas thanks to these official partners.

The sweepstakes opens in early June and runs until Oct. 24, and here’s the kicker: The Grand Prize could include additional items depending on the number of entries. The more people you tell about the sweepstakes, the sweeter the pot becomes.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit www.winyourchevy.com and enter for your chance to win.