Additional tire tests are currently on the books for Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, according to Goodyear officials.
Both tests are scheduled to take place after the completion of the 2015 season. The Homestead test is on tap for Dec. 14-15 and the Las Vegas test is slated for Jan. 12-13, 2016.
Two final previously scheduled ’15 tests will see Goodyear and teams travel to Phoenix International Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway next month. The AMS test replaces a test originally scheduled for Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
Whether an open team test will be included at Atlanta has yet to be determined. A single-day test has followed most of the Goodyear tire tests conducted this season.
Because next season’s Atlanta race likely would once again be held early in the season, there is a limited the window of opportunity for potential testing at the 1.5-mile track. NASCAR officials have yet to announce the 2016 race schedule for the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series.
“Atlanta is a recent addition,” Stu Grant, Goodyear’s General Manager for Global Race Tires, told NASCAR.com this past weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. “We’ve talked to NASCAR about ‘hey do you want to make an open test for that? It’s most likely that we’ll end up with a different tire for the Atlanta race for 2016. … We want to test the 2016 rules package and you guys may want to have an open test.'”
Grant said to his knowledge, an open team test following the Atlanta tire test had not been confirmed.
Teams participating in the Goodyear tire tests at Homestead and Las Vegas have not been announced.
Because Goodyear tested with the low downforce configuration being considered for 2016 at Darlington (South Carolina) Raceway, and teams raced with a similar package there earlier this month, Grant said it would be unlikely that Goodyear would return to Darlington for testing next year.
“But we always have to leave that open just to kind of see how things evolve,” he said. “Because the reality is in this sport you have a rules package and the car configuration and a tire setup, right? You run it and it may look good at the first event of the season; by the time you get to the second event, the cars may be a half a second faster. Things change. So I guess I’d say we’ll have to see how ’16 plays out and see if there is a significant change in how the teams are approaching the car setups and things like that.”
NASCAR has also yet to announce its 2016 rules package, but is scheduled to meet with teams and others within the industry this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Under this year’s National Series Unified Testing policy, teams are no longer allowed to conduct private tests. The bulk of the on-track testing has come during scheduled Goodyear evaluations as well as open team tests held the following day.
Because of a new rules package in use for ’15, and the additional work toward development of the ’16 package, Goodyear conducted more tests than normal this year, but Grant said he expects the company’s ’16 testing program to be more line with previous seasons.
“So you can probably figure that Goodyear is probably going to test about 10 times in 2016 and if NASCAR has the same policy in 2016 then that’s what (teams are) looking at,” he said. “But I don’t know if things are going to change … or not. We don’t know what the race schedule is so consequently we haven’t really laid out a test program. I’m not sure where NASCAR is going to land on that open testing side.”
Overall, Grant said, the move to a lower downforce package has provided Goodyear a broader range of possibilities from which to work.
“It’s nice to design a tire for the low downforce package because when you take the aero off and the driver and the car is relying more on the tire for grip in the corner, it makes the tire more a part of the package,” he said. “We’re not just designing for wear and heat and durability to handle the load … it gives us a lot more freedom, a lot bigger window to design a tire in.”
Live Viewing of Final Inspection at NASCAR R&D
Fans can now watch teams as their cars go through final post-race inspection at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center each Tuesday, thanks to live streaming of the process each week on NASCAR.com.
First- and second-place finishers from the previous weekend’s Sprint Cup Series race, as well as a random selection, are taken back to the center each week for a more detailed inspection.
To watch the process, which begins promptly at 8 a.m. ET, fans can go to https://www.nascar.com/inspection.html.
CONCORD, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports is in the midst of playoff season and enjoying the success of three of its drivers who are competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. And although one of NASCAR’s most successful racing teams is focused on finishing off the 2015 season with another championship, they are also working on building a brighter future for years to come.
The Hendrick organization hosted its first Signing Day for its developmental pit crew program Wednesday at its lavish No. 48 and 88 shop. Their introduction came against the backdrop of the shop’s banners and trophies, honoring achievements set by the teams of Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and more.
The seven men who participated in Signing Day are all former collegiate athletes and were chosen out of over 150 candidates for the annual recruitment process. The newcomers hope to pursue awards of their own, similar to the ones they are constantly surrounded by and to become a part of the company’s lucrative 31-year history.
Andy Papathanassiou, Director of Human Performance at Hendrick, opened the ceremony saying, “It’s the people (here) that make the difference. And if you treat your people well they’re going to want to perform not only for themselves but for you and for the company and for the team, and not only is that the best solution, it’s the only solution to truly become a champion and to keep that championship mentality going.”
Another thing Papathanassiou highlighted was that the seven chosen are “not just here because they are big, strong guys … they’re here for the way they think.” And they all come from diverse backgrounds, most of which have little to do with NASCAR.
Mike McClure, a former WWE prospect, was an All-American wrestler at Michigan State University and, too, an All-American in academics. McClure was at Michigan International Speedway for a race where he was recruited for the program.
After receiving debilitating injuries in his journey to become a professional wrestler, McClure pursued the opportunity with Hendrick and is now working on honing his craft as a fueler and jackman.
“Even on day one, I could tell they were genuine and they cared about the people here,” explained McClure.
Another recruit, Rod Cox, too, had “briefly seen NASCAR on TV,” but knew he found his passion during his training at Hendrick.
Cox, who played football at North Carolina State University and earned a degree in civil engineering, was convinced to join the organization after Coach Keith Flynn, Developmental Pit Crew Director, spoke to his football coach.
“I met Coach Flynn and he was the greatest guy I had ever met,” said Cox, an aspiring tire changer. “Everyone around here loves their job. I wake up in the morning like ‘Man, I can’t wait to go practice and do my drills and lift weights and just enjoy everyone here.’ “
At the end of the event, Papathanassiou told NASCAR.com about how he is excited about the future and looking forward to the next chapter at Hendrick, with a new driver joining its Sprint Cup roster in Chase Elliott.
“I think what’s next for us is … we will have to redefine ourselves as a company. It’s very exciting, especially with a guy like Chase Elliott. We could be on another 20-year run … another 20-year dominance.”
Talladega Superspeedway announced title sponsorship Wednesday for its Oct. 25 race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.
The 2.66-mile track and Camping World/Good Sam CEO Marcus Lemonis jointly announced that the sixth of 10 postseason races would be known as the CampingWorld.com 500. The deal revives an entitlement sponsorship that lasted from 2011-13 for the facility’s October event.
“We are glad to be back with Talladega Superspeedway, the most competitive track in all of NASCAR,” Lemonis said. “Not only will the CampingWorld.com 500 be one of the most exciting races of the season, it also gives us the platform to expose race fans to our broad selection of camping and tailgating products. Our company has a great appreciation of what Talladega is in the world of sports.”
Track chairman Grant Lynch said the partnership was a natural extension, owing to Talladega’s selected areas of free camping, which Lynch claims are the only such plots on the Sprint Cup circuit.
“The CampingWorld.com 500 will be extra special this year since it is the third and final race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup‘s Contender Round in which the field of 12 drivers who have a shot at the title will be dwindled down to eight at the race’s conclusion,” Lynch said. “It’s going to be a great weekend.”
Brad Keselowski won last year’s October race at Talladega, converting in a must-win situation to avoid elimination.
One week after coming up a single position short at Darlington, Ray Alfalla (Slip Angle Motorsports) turned-in a dominating performance at Chicagoland Speedway to score his third victory of the 2015 NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series powered by iRacing. Alfalla started fourth and quickly showed his would be the car to beat, pacing the field for a race-high 117 of 167 laps. Aero Precision‘s Taylor Hurst finished second, 3.79s behind the winner. Bryan Blackford was third, followed by Michael Conti (Drill Aisle), who battled from thirty-third on the grid, and Chris Overland (Last Row Motorsports).
The biggest winner of all, however, finished a lowly 29th. That would be Kenny Humpe (The TEAM) who came into the race with a virtually insurmountable lead in the points and went on to clinch the 2015 NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series championship and the $10,000 grand prize. Humpe’s race started strong with a third place run in qualifying and, while it was clear he did not have the speed to run with Alfalla, a top five seemed realistic. That all changed on Lap 101 when Humpe got loose and hit the wall off Turn Two, triggering a crash that also involved Allen Boes and Justin Bolton. Despite his damage, Humpe soldered on to the finish and wrapped-up the championship a week early.
Alfalla did all he could do to extend the championship battle to the final race of the season. He led for much of the evening and found himself out front when the fifth and final yellow flag flew with 44 laps remaining. With tires at a premium, all lead lap cars headed to the pits for fresh rubber, final adjustments and fuel to the finish. Alfalla won the race off pit road but came under attack from Hurst and Tyler Hudson (One Up Motorsports) shortly after the restart. Four laps later, Hudson took advantage of a minor mistake by Alfalla and grabbed the lead with Hurst in tow.
Alfalla, knowing he had the best long-run car, was content to bide his time in third. Sure enough, it only took nine laps for Alfalla to catch and re-pass Hurst to move back into second. Hudson too began to struggle and he met the same fate as Hurst three laps later. Once back in clean air, Alfalla checked-out on the rest of the field, never being challenged the rest of the way.
The race started with a long green flag run and as the track took rubber and tires wore, some sim racers and cars reacted more positively than others did. Conti flew through the back half of the field after missing qualifying while Corey Vincent (Premere Motorsports Group) and Nick Ottinger (Gale Force Racing) both struggled with ill-handling cars and fell back. Vincent recovered for a ninth place result but Ottinger’s luck ran out when he met the Turn Four wall, ending his night in 39th position.
While Humpe took the title, Alfalla locked-up second place in the points, extending a remarkable five-year streak of finishing either first or second in the championship. However, the fight for third is far from over with PJ Stergios currently occupying the final podium spot with Blackford (-17 points) and Overland (-18 points) in pursuit.
Just one race remains in the 2015 NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series, the traditional season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. With Humpe and Alfalla both locked into their championship positions, it would be no surprise to see both drivers go all-out for one more win to cap off the season. In addition, the battle for third is tight enough that it would not be surprising to see either Blackford or Overland try to play strategy to overtake Stergios. Who will end the season on a high note and who will be left staring at a long off-season? To find the results to all these stories and more be sure to catch the series finale in two weeks’ time on iRacingLive!
TaxSlayer.com, a primary sponsor of the No. 7 JR Motorsports team with driver Regan Smith, will expand its involvement with the NASCAR XFINITY Series organization in 2016 while also beginning a new relationship with the Hendrick Motorsports Sprint Cup Series group.
TaxSlayer.com, which has been affiliated with JRM since 2010, will serve as the primary sponsor for a total of 10 races in 2016, appearing on the No. 7 Chevrolet of Smith as well as the No. 88 entry that has been fielded for various drivers this season.
The company will serve as the primary sponsor of Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Sprint Cup entry for one race in 2016, as well as an associate throughout the year.
“TaxSlayer is one of our longest-tenured sponsors,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a release announcing the sponsorship. “… I’m extremely loyal to them. I hope the fans are, too. We’ve done great things together and I’m really looking forward to racing a TaxSlayer car in Sprint Cup next year.”
JRM fields three entries in the XFINTY Series. In addition to Smith’s No. 7 and the No. 88 entry, the organization includes defending series champion Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet.
“It has been a privilege to be associated with Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports for so long,” Jimmy Rhodes, TaxSlayer.com President and CEO, said. “And we’re excited to add a new chapter with Hendrick Motorsports next season.
“We have found an immense loyalty among NASCAR fans, but especially with Dale Jr.’s fans. We want to continue growing this partnership.”
Smith, a winner at Mid-Ohio earlier this year, is fourth in points as the XFINITY Series prepares to head to Kentucky Speedway for Saturday night’s running of the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (8 p.m., NBCSN).
MORE: Official NASCAR release | Bowyer drops to 16th after penalty
NASCAR announced P2 penalties for race-winner Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Daniel Suarez on Wednesday for infractions during Saturday night’s XFINITY Series’ Furious 7 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.
RELATED: Race-winner Busch’s No. 54 fails post-race inspection
After earning his series-leading 74th XFINITY victory, Busch’s winning No. 54 Toyota failed post-race inspection. NASCAR officials found the car to be too low, failing to meet minimum height requirements on all four corners (Sections 12.1, 20.17.3.2.1. b & c, 20.17.3.2.2.b & c, 12.5.3.2.1.f, 12.5.3.2.2.a.b & d of the NASCAR rule book). In response, crew chief Chris Gayle was fined $12,500 and placed on probation through Dec. 31 2015. Car owner J.D. Gibbs was docked 10 series championship owner points.
The No. 18 team, whose car is wheeled by Suarez, was penalized for modifications to the right side vertical extension panel (side skirt) following pre-race inspection (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book). As a result, No. 18 crew chief Eric P. Phillips and crew member John Egbert Jr. have been placed on probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
While the sanctioning body annulled governing ride-height heights for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series prior to the 2014 season, the regulations remain intact for the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series.
The Sprint Cup Series teams of Danica Patrick and Chase Contender Clint Bowyer were also penalized following Sunday’s Cup event at Chicagoland. The No. 15 team was given a P4 penalty, while the No. 10 team was handed a P2.
Tony Gibson, crew chief for the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet driven by championship contender Kurt Busch, is recovering from an emergency appendectomy in advance of this weekend’s on-track activity at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Gibson, 50, posted Wednesday on Facebook that he returned home Tuesday night and was recuperating after undergoing the procedure.
“Just really sore today,” Gibson wrote after giving thanks for the well-wishes he’d received. “Who needs an appendix anyway????”
He later tweeted Thursday that he would be at the track, then noted Friday morning that Busch sent his plane back to North Carolina to get the crew chief to New Hampshire.
I will be in Loudon this weekend! Can’t get rid of me that easily �� https://t.co/AVlJFpGVvn
— Tony Gibson (@TonyOldman41) September 24, 2015
Thanks @KurtBusch for sending ur plane back to Concord,NC to pick me up!! An extra day at home to heal helped wonders… ✈️ Loudon bound ✌��️
— Tony Gibson (@TonyOldman41) September 25, 2015
A Stewart-Haas Racing representative said that team engineer John Klausmeier would serve as interim crew chief and that Greg Zipadelli, the organization’s vice president of competition, would have “an increased presence with the No. 41 team.”
Gibson joined forces with Busch starting with the last three races of 2014, Busch’s first year with Stewart-Haas. The duo produced two victories in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ regular season this year.
Busch opened the Chase last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway with a third-place finish, surrendering the lead to eventual winner Denny Hamlin on the race’s final restart. The result placed Busch fifth in the 16-driver Chase standings.
Action sports star Travis Pastrana is returning to NASCAR, if only for one race.
Pastrana announced from his Instagram account that he will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 3. The 31-year-old extreme sports standout is scheduled to drive the NTS Motorsports No. 31 Chevrolet, said team competition director Chris Rice.
“Couldn’t be more excited right now,” Pastrana said on Instagram before thanking the truck’s sponsors — GunBroker.com, Never Too Hungover and Lazy F Ranch. The event will be just the second-ever truck appearance for Pastrana, who also entered the series’ 2012 race at Las Vegas.
The bulk of Pastrana’s NASCAR experience came in 2013 in his lone full season in what is now the XFINITY Series, driving the No. 60 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. Pastrana claimed one Coors Light Pole Award (Talladega in May), but wound up 14th in the final standings after crashing out of six of the campaign’s 33 races.
Pastrana announced on Facebook just days before the 2013 season finale that he would not return the following season, citing frustrating results, a lack of sponsorship and his desire to spend more time with his wife and then-infant daughter.
Since exiting NASCAR full-time, Pastrana has competed in RallyCross and off-road racing, in addition to his career as a motocross stunt performer.
RELATED: Bowyer drops to 16th in Chase standings after penalty
RELATED: Busch, Suarez also penalized
Daytona Beach, Florida (September 23, 2015) — Two NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and two NASCAR XFINITY Series teams have been penalized following last week’s events at Chicagoland Speedway.
The No. 10 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-qualifying inspection on Sept. 18. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book). The right side quarter panel behind the rear wheel/tire was modified during pre-qualifying inspection. Crew chief Daniel Knost has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015. Car chief Pete White has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
The No. 15 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred on opening day inspection on Sept.18. This is a P4 level penalty (Section 12.1, 20. 14.c, 20.14.2.1.k, 12.5.3.4.d, 12.5.3.4.1.d & f, 12.5.3.4.2 of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Billy W. Scott has been fined $75,000, suspended for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for six months following the issue of suspension. Driver Clint Bowyer has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver points. Car owner Rob Kauffman has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Owner points. NASCAR has requested to the Appeals Administrator of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel that the appeals process described in the rule book be expedited.
NASCAR XFINITY Series
No. 18 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-race on Sept. 19. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book). The right side vertical extension panel (side skirt) was modified after pre-race inspection. Crew chief Eric P. Phillips has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015. Crew member John P. Egbert Jr. has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
The No. 54 car failed heights during post-race inspection on Sept. 19. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1, 20.17.3.2.1. b & c, 20.17.3.2.2.b & c, 12.5.3.2.1.f, 12.5.3.2.2.a.b & d of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Christopher W. Gayle has been fined $12,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015. Car owner J. D. Gibbs has been penalized 10 series championship owner points.
Chat with fans during the action at New Hampshire and Kentucky