Posted on by Zack Albert

Driver thought commercial was funny, didn’t mean to offend anyone

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Danica Patrick said Thursday she was "definitely disappointed" that a commercial for her sponsor, GoDaddy, did not air as planned during the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.
 
Patrick, appearing at the annual NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, was included in an ad that raised the hackles of animal rights activists, upset over a puppy being sold online. When GoDaddy board director Blake Irving decided to pull the commercial from the broadcast, it kept Patrick from padding her record of appearances in Super Bowl commercials (13).

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

"I wasn’t in the Super Bowl for a commercial, but I was in a Super Bowl commercial," Patrick said. "It just didn’t run."
 
Patrick also scuttled the notion that GoDaddy intentionally created a controversial commercial in order to draw attention to the company.
 
"GoDaddy had every intention to run that commercial, and I feel like I heard from a lot of people that it was choreographed and it was planned," Patrick said." I think that’s so funny. We thought it was a really funny, slightly left-side joke, but it really was not intentional.
 
"So was I surprised? I don’t think anything in this culture surprises me any more. People have opinions about everything, and especially when you get into that world of animal rights, tree rights or whatever rights. They all have an opinion."
 
The Arizona-based Internet domain registrar said when it withdrew the commercial that the puppy, named Buddy, came from a "reputable and loving breeder." But GoDaddy found one notable side benefit from filming the ad — the company wound up adopting the commercial’s star pooch with the job title of Chief Companion Officer.
 
"I think that Blake handled it as great as he could have," Patrick said of the company’s board director. "I feel like he made the most of the moment and showed the character of GoDaddy and of himself and said fine, we’re not here to rock the boat, we’re not here to make people angry and we’ll pull the commercial and run something else."
 
Though Patrick co-starred with Buddy, the dog she shares with boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. still has her heart. The miniature Siberian Husky — named Dallas Stenhouse, with just fewer than 4,500 followers on Twitter — came from a breeder in Asheville, North Carolina, a fact that Patrick offered a faux apology for Thursday.
 
"I looked hard to find my dog online. Sorry. I did," she said. "I love my dog and I take great care of her. I was up at 1:45 in the morning taking her for a walk in the dark last night because she had to go out. She found a good home, so how bad can it really be? The Internet is a source for information. It was really hard to find a miniature Siberian Husky, but we found one."

Posted on by Nascar

No. 48 driver tells story of how instrumental Gordon was in his early career

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As Jimmie Johnson continues his pursuit of a seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, teammate Jeff Gordon renews his own pursuit for a fifth championship.
 
The biggest difference, outside the career totals, is that Johnson, at 39, has time on his side.
 
Gordon, at 43, does not. But not because of his age, as his highly competitive 2014 effort proved. While his career could be extended by several years, Gordon announced last month that that would not be the case. The 2015 season will be his last.

MORE: Full coverage of Gordon’s final full-time season

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

"I look at my own arc in life and in motorsports," Johnson said Thursday during the annual NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, "and the fact that he gave me my chance, created a team for me to go racing, and then what has happened from there.
 
"You won’t see another competitor out there singing his praises, I think, like me."
 
Before Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick offered Gordon a piece of a new Sprint Cup team that would debut in 2001, there was no No. 48 team at HMS. Johnson, a former off-road racer, was a level below Sprint Cup, looking for a break.
 
Gordon, already a three-time champion, was a fellow racer from the west coast, one of the first to successfully make the crossover from open wheel sprints to the heavier stock cars. He might not have known who Johnson was, but Johnson surely knew of Gordon’s exploits.
 
"I doubt he’ll remember and we never had a chance to formally meet," Johnson said, but at test sessions, I guess in ’99 and even in 2000 when he was running some (XFINITY) stuff … every now and then the 24 car would be there and I would always try to linger by his pit and try to introduce myself to him, and it never worked out."
 
Eventually, Johnson said he took matter into his own hands. His team at the time, owned by William Herzog, was exiting the series and he needed career advice.

RELATED: Johnson reflects on Chase format a year later
 
At Michigan in the summer of 2000, he got more than that.
 
"The only opportunities I had involved switching manufacturers … and I knew Jeff left Bill Davis and Ford and went to Rick Hendrick and Chevy and I thought he had like the magic answer, so I introduced myself at the drivers’ meeting, asked him for a few minutes of time," Johnson said. "He brought me back to the transporter, we talked briefly before the start of the race, and after I told him my situation, he gave me some advice, and then said, ‘you’re not going to believe this, but we’re talking about starting a fourth team, and your name is the only name that’s been brought up.’
 
"So just in a 30‑minute window of time, what all went on, starting out trying to work up the nerve to introduce myself to him, looking for some advice, and then practically leaving with the job was just insane. It was the wildest 30 minutes of my life."
 
But it’s not only the impact on his own career, Johnson said, that stands out. Gordon opened the door for NASCAR on a number of levels on and off the race track.

RELATED: Find out how Kahne learned of Gordon’s decision
 
"I think now since we know it’s his final year, we’re all looking back and having some ‘aha’ moments,” Johnson said.
 
"He really was instrumental, in my opinion, in helping car owners and sponsors realize that there are drivers far and wide that can come in and be competitive, and he opened the door for (Tony) Stewart, and Stewart opened the door further for myself and Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse. Now we have more drivers from the state of California than any other state; it’s wild to think in NASCAR that that’s the case, and I think Jeff is responsible for that trend happening.
 
"You look at when Jeff and Dale Earnhardt and their competitive nature in our sport, kind of falling into mainstream media at that point — we needed a clean‑cut, well‑spoken person to kind of carry the sport. Jeff was that guy. His dominance helped our sport."

Posted on by Nascar

Sprint Cup managing director Richard Buck on issues that were addressed

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR officials did a bit of fine-tuning of their own Thursday, issuing a bulletin that involves, among other items, qualifying procedures and unapproved adjustments just one day before NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will take to the track for the first time this season.
 
In some instances, it’s more a matter of having something that’s already understood by teams simply spelled out in the rule book.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

"Based on … feedback for qualifying, as an example, we just defined the expectations, what’s expected of the drivers," said Richard Buck, managing director for the Sprint Cup Series.
 
"The rules for each track are specific for the blend line, pit road speed, the commitment line and then (we) defined joining the pack again, getting up to speed. You’ve got to do it in an appropriate manner."
 
Any perceived attempts to gain an advantage or slow another car’s or cars’ progress would not be treated lightly.
 
"It’s a judgmental (penalty)," Buck said. "If we see it, and it’s egregious then we may take the time away, and we may park the car for the qualifying session. We are mainly looking to make sure that it’s done in the fashion that we all know it should be and that it’s a safe ingress and egress from the pack."
 
The sanctioning body also re-visited the issue of teams altering or manipulating vertical rocker panel extensions, commonly known as side skirts. It was announced earlier this season that the practice, which became commonplace last season, would no longer be allowed. However, the specifics of penalties involving any such alterations were clearly spelled out.
 
The bulletin addresses all unapproved body modifications.

RELATED: Bulletin addresses qualifying, skirt penalties
 
"We added another bracket to the left-hand side (of) the body to help stabilize the bodywork in front of the rear wheel," Buck said. But if we find any manipulation of the body, whether it’s the side skirts or front fenders or the roof pushed down, whatever it is … if we can identify that there’s been modifications to the car during the event, we’ll bring that car down (pit road)."
 
If such a modification occurs while the race is under caution, the driver will be required to return to pit road and the team must repair the area in question to the satisfaction of race officials.
 
"(The driver) will rejoin the field at the tail with the other penalty cars that must take the green on the track and then come down and do a green-flag pass through unimpeded by another yellow," Buck said.
 
"On a green-flag situation, we will call the car down pit road under green. They’ve got to repair it and then they can go back out so that’s essentially the repair and the green-flag pass through."
 
Sprint Cup Series teams make their first appearance on the race track Friday as practice for Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway get underway. The season’s first points race, the Daytona 500, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22 on FOX.
 
"The most important thing for us," Buck said, "is to make sure it’s a level playing field for everybody, so if somebody is manipulating the car in any way, we now have language in there that allows us to address it firmly and fairly for everybody."

Posted on by Nascar

Brothers make side trips to Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Nationals

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR season hasn’t officially begun — Thursday’s annual media day here is a non-points function — but Austin Dillon already has a win and two top-five finishes.
 
Dillon, along with younger brother Ty, has been competing each night at nearby Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, Florida) in the DIRTcar Nationals. The multi-night event highlights dirt-track competition in UMP Modified entries.

"We started off Tuesday night … with a win and that was pretty awesome," Dillon said. "Looking forward to finishing out the week there; we’ve already had a little bit of success — finished first (Tuesday) and third (Wednesday)."
 
With his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series duties yet to begin — practice for those in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited begins Friday — Dillon said he’s hopeful he can squeeze in several more nights of racing on the dirt track.
 
"I’ll be back out there tonight and hopefully tomorrow night after (Unlimited) practice; then take Saturday off, go back Sunday, Monday and Tuesday," he said.
 
"Every year we come down here and run the dirt Modifieds, after we’re done we put them on the shelf for the year."
 
That doesn’t end his dirt-track effort, however. Dillon also runs a dirt Late Model several times throughout the year.
 
"I just love getting to the dirt track whenever I can," he said.
 
Dillon, a former XFINITY Series champion, is beginning his second full season in the Sprint Cup Series as driver of the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet. He finished 20th in points last year, with one top-five and four top-10s.
 
He is the defending pole winner for the season-opening Daytona 500.
 
Competing outside NASCAR has not been an issue thus far, he said.
 
"No one has said anything. The only guy that could make that call (is) my grandfather (team owner Richard Childress), and he enjoys watching us race on dirt," Dillon said.

MORE: Dillon looks to apply rookie season lessons

Posted on by

‘Racebuddy’ kicks off at 2015 Sprint Unlimited race

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2015) – As part of its landmark 10-year media partnership with FOX Sports, NASCAR® will give fans aiming to kick their viewing experience into high gear access to RaceBuddyTM – a digital video complement to the race broadcast – throughout the entire 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM season for the first time. Offering viewers multiple live in-car HD camera angles to choose between, RaceBuddy puts fans in control of the action on their computer, tablet or mobile device.

RaceBuddy launches the 2015 season with the Sprint Unlimited on Saturday, February 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be available for the first time ever during the DAYTONA 500® on Sunday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET, both of which are broadcast live on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. In addition to every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, fans will also have access to RaceBuddy for most NASCAR XFINITY SeriesTM races in 2015. NASCAR XFINITY Series on RaceBuddy is presented exclusively by XFINITY®. 

In addition to the multiple live in-car HD camera views, RaceBuddy – available for free at NASCAR.com® and to subscribers of the NASCAR Mobile AppTM – offers a live leaderboard, real-time race data and live chat capabilities, making it the ultimate complement to FOX and NBC race broadcasts. Fans can access RaceBuddy at www.nascar.com/racebuddy.   

"RaceBuddy is a great example of the unique content and user experiences available to fans across our digital properties," said Colin Smith, vice president of NASCAR Digital Media. "Expanding RaceBuddy’s availability to include the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is just one of many enhancements fans can expect at NASCAR.com and on the NASCAR mobile apps in 2015."

The 2015 season marks the third full year of NASCAR managing its digital rights in-house. The implementation and improvement of products such as RaceBuddy, along with an increase of exclusive and live content, led to NASCAR digital platform’s landmark year in 2014. NASCAR.com, NASCAR mobile web and the NASCAR Mobile App tallied over one billion aggregate page views in 2014, a 45 percent year-over-year increase in engagement on the platform, according to data from Adobe Omniture SiteCatalyst.

"The partnership between FOX Sports and NASCAR.com is a natural collaboration between two of the top brands in the sport,” said Pete Vlastelica, FOX Sports EVP, Digital. “It matches the official league Web site with the definitive and long-standing NASCAR broadcast partner to offer fans an even richer online video experience for our races on FOX Sports."

The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season will kick off with the 57th running of the DAYTONA 500® on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Daytona International Speedway®. The Great American Race® will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com and FOX Sports GO, the app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content.

Posted on by Staff Report

Rookie received Earnhardt Jr.’s endorsement in 2014

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

RSS Racing announced Wednesday that Ryan Sieg will build on his strong Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign in 2014 and run full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2015.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

Uncle Bob’s Self Storage will be the team’s primary sponsor for 16 races, beginning with the Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. Sieg had two two-10 finishes at the World Center of Racing in 2014.

"I am excited to be back with the NASCAR XFINITY Series full-time in the No. 39 and thankful to have Uncle Bob’s Self Storage backing me," Sieg said. "We feel like we can compete for a spot inside the top 10 in driver points and continue to grow RSS Racing to the next level."

Sieg finished 16th in driver points and his single-car team was 18th in owner points, finishing outside the top 25 in only six races. Veteran crew chief Kevin "Cowboy" Starland will be back with Sieg in 2015.

"This is going to a banner year for Ryan and the entire team," car owner Rod Sieg said in a team release. "It is wonderful going into the season knowing we have a fantastic partner like Uncle Bob’s Self Storage. We want to make them proud."

The team’s partner will serve as an associate sponsor for the remaining 17 races.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2015 with Ryan and the entire RSS team," Uncle Bob’s CEO David Rogers said. "Our partnership in 2014 at Mid-Ohio was a success, and we’re looking forward to what this next step with Ryan and the NASCAR community will bring. All of our 1,200 Uncle Bob’s Self Storage employees are delighted to be a part of NASCAR’s large fan base."

Sieg’s third-place finish last July at Daytona caught the eye of two-time Daytona 500 winner and XFINITY Series team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I’m real proud of Ryan," Earnhardt said. "I watched him at Dover when I was on top of Regan’s pit box and he impressed the hell out of me. I hadn’t really paid a ton of attention to him prior to that, but I know those guys were just kind of running on a shoestring (budget).

"He had a couple runs during the race at Dover that were better than anybody outside the top five for sure. He kind of hung around and raced with guys in some equipment far better than his. It’s great to see him run well. He does a lot with very little. It’s good to see."

Posted on by Staff Report

Executive realignment announced by board of directors

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

Speedway Motorsports Inc. board of directors named O. Bruton Smith to the post of executive chairman and Marcus Smith as chief executive officer on Wednesday.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Bruton Smith, SMI’s chairman and CEO since the company went public in 1995, will report to the board of directors and work closely with the board and new CEO on strategic direction, coordinate activities of the board and communicate with key stakeholders.

Marcus Smith, the company’s president and COO since 2008, will work closely with the executive chairman on day-to-day operations and provide leadership and strategic direction while also communicating with key stakeholders. He will continue to sever as SMI president and president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The realignment, approved by the board of directors on Wednesday, is effective immediately.

Posted on by Staff Report

Two-year entitlement deal includes official track partner status

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

Phoenix International Raceway announced Wednesday that Axalta Coating Systems will be the title sponsor of next month’s XFINITY Series race. The Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 will be held March 14 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

It’s the company’s second race entitlement partnership in as many months. It previously announced it would be the title sponsor for Pocono Raceway’s June 7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400. Axalta Coating Systems also will become the official automotive and industrial paint of Phoenix.

"We’re proud to welcome Axalta to the PIR family and to partner with them on our spring NASCAR XFINITY Series race," track president Bryan Sperber said. "Axalta has a long and proud history in our sport, both in terms of visible support such as their sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s iconic No. 24 racecar and behind the scenes with a number of race teams and track facilities. Axalta is a brand that many race fans already know and support, and we are excited to help them continue to reach new audiences."
 
The leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, Axalta is also the official paint supplier of Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing. The company’s primer base coat is also used for JR Motorsports XFINITY cars, Kyle Busch Motorsports XFINITY cars and Kasey Kahne’s dirt track sprint car.
 
"We are thrilled to be a sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix International Raceway," Nigel Budden, Axalta Vice President and head of its North America business, said. "We are expanding our motorsports involvement to include this race entitlement. This will be a joint partnership effort with our Refinish and Industrial businesses. We are revved up for March and look forward to the excitement and enthusiasm that will heat up the Valley of the Sun."

Posted on by Staff Report

Returns at Atlanta in No. 90 Chevrolet Camaro for King Autosports

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

Jimmy Weller will drive a four-race schedule in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 28.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

The Hubbard, Ohio native will drive the No. 90 Geneva-Liberty Steel / My Video Library / Weller-Hughes General Contracting & Developing Chevrolet Camaro for King Autosports.

Weller, who made his series debut last April at Richmond International Raceway, has 15 Camping World Truck Series starts with a best finish of ninth in last year’s season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

"I’m really excited to be back in the NASCAR XFINITY Series this season," Weller said. "It’s been a lot of fun to race with Bobby Dotter, and I’m really proud to join him and his partners at King Autosports as the driver of the No. 90 Chevrolet Camaro for four races this season. I have great partners in Geneva-Liberty Steel, My Video Library and Weller-Hughes General Contracting & Developing, and I’m happy that each of them will be joining our effort on the track again this year."

The 29-year-old will return to Richmond and also run races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway while seeking sponsorship to run more events.

"We’re very happy to have Jimmy at King Autosports," team partner Bobby Dotter said. "We had a great season working together last year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and I’m excited to help him continue on his career path in the XFINITY Series in 2015."

Posted on by Zack Albert

McMurray, crew chief McCall find similarities that bring the two together

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Vote: Ultimate Daytona Challenge

The offseason focus for many NASCAR teams in the market for a new driver/crew chief combination is finding the right match in terms of communication. If the level of politeness is any gauge, Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet team has hit its marks.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Jamie McMurray and new crew chief Matt McCall have been charged with continuing the organization’s momentum from last year, but with the aim of becoming a more regular visitor to Victory Lane. McMurray, known as a past winner of many of stock-car racing’s crown jewel races, will get his first chance at it this week when cars finally return to the track at Daytona International Speedway.

Though they have only been paired for a matter of weeks, the two Macs have already established a level of mutual respect, borne from simply minding their manners. 

"I love that he says, ‘yes, sir,’ to anyone younger or older than him, it doesn’t matter," McMurray said during last month’s Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. "I do the same thing. I don’t know, I try to be as respectful as I can to everybody and think that’s what really going to make Matt and I a good match is that we both think the same way." 

McMurray, 38, and the 33-year-old McCall are close enough in age that formal niceties for one’s elders can be dispensed, but McCall says the reflex has plenty to do with their upbringing. 

"Obviously, we have a lot of similar background in the way we were brought up, being respectful and ‘Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am’ … that type of stuff," McCall said. "So it’s been interesting conversation. Both of us are saying ‘sir’ to each other, and it’s a little bit strange, but we laugh about it. I think it’s been an easy transition as far as getting to know each other."

Being mannerly might not necessarily translate on the race track — "move over, please" rarely works — but McCall’s background as a former racer has helped instill confidence in McMurray. McCall dabbled with a handful of starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and what is now the XFINITY Series, but excelled at the local and regional touring level, eventually landing as a developmental driver for the former Yates Racing team. 

McCall will be in McMurray’s ear for the first time this weekend when he dons the headset as Speedweeks open in earnest at Daytona, but a special connection between racers already exists.

"The fact he was a driver, I can’t wait to see how he relates to what I’m saying," McMurray said. "I love when I’m talking to him and I talk about something I experienced at a track and he starts shaking his head yes. I’m like, ‘Yep, you already know where I’m going with this.’ I can’t wait to experience that, but I haven’t gotten to yet." 

McCall most recently served as lead engineer for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 team and Sprint Cup Series runner-up Ryan Newman, but his departure to the Ganassi organization was contested in court by his former team. McCall said during the media tour that, "that’s all behind us and we’re moving forward now."

Indeed, the two sides staved off legal wrangling with a settlement late last month, removing any cloud over McCall’s development for 2015.

"That was sort of an overblown issue. I don’t know why that became news all of a sudden, but it did," Chip Ganassi said. "We’re happy to have him, Matt’s a great guy and we look forward to a big future here on the team." 

Though he’s a relative newcomer, McCall is keenly aware of the speed that Ganassi’s cars showed as the year progressed — for both McMurray and his teammate, Sunoco Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson. The challenge of maintaining last season’s energy gets its first big test on NASCAR’s biggest stage, the Daytona 500 (Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET, FOX).

McMurray captured the Harley J. Earl Trophy by winning The Great American Race in 2010, cementing a reputation as a "big game hunter," according to Ganassi, for his performance in racing’s most prestigious events. With more trophies out there for the taking, McCall hopes to serve as a capable guide.

"I keep going back to last year, but obviously, Chip Ganassi Racing was making strides in competitiveness and I think that just lit more fire under him," McCall said. "He’s always had that drive, but his drive is really strong right now. He’s looking forward to the season."

MORE: Matt McCall named crew chief for Jamie McMurray