Season preview: Matt Crafton

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Zack Albert

Can veteran make it three straight NCWTS championships in a row?

Team: ThorSport Racing No. 88 Toyota

Rank in final 2014 standings: First

Wins: Two (Martinsville Speedway in March and Texas Motor Speedway in June)

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Strides: Matt Crafton found paydirt early in the season, crossing off a career goal with his first-ever victory in 25 tries at Martinsville Speedway. Four races later, he scored a dominant triumph at Texas Motor Speedway, covering the field in both horsepower and fuel economy for win No. 5 in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career.

Though his 2014 season lacked the stellar start from the previous year, when he opened with top-10s in the first 16 races, Crafton was more frequently found in the top five, where he finished a career-best 13 times. Moreover, his closing kick — eight top-fives in the last 11 races — helped him re-take the points lead in September and hold it down the stretch.

Though he kept mum about his title hopes over the season’s latter stages, Crafton was finally able to let loose after a ninth-place finish in the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale clinched his second straight championship, the first repeat in series history.

"I think I’m the luckiest man on earth without a doubt," Crafton said. "I get paid to do what I love to do. I mean, there’s not a whole lot of people that can say that. Every day I wake up, I feel very blessed."

Setbacks: Though Crafton’s No. 88 ThorSport entry, helmed by crew chief Carl Joiner Jr., was among the most bulletproof trucks in the garage for most of the season, the path to the championship came with some bumps. His Texas victory was bookended by the season’s only two DNFs, a pair of crashes that sidelined him in May at Dover and in June at Gateway. Crafton also placed outside the top-10 in both restrictor-plate races (Daytona, Talladega).

But Crafton seemed just as irked — if not more — at the races that came oh-so-close to landing him in Victory Lane. With five runner-up finishes and four more third-place efforts over the course of the year, some sore feelings lingered about what could have been.

"I made a promise to Junior that — this last winter that we were going to go out and lead more laps and win more races. And like I said, we led a ton more laps and we won two races and definitely had the capability to win more if we didn’t have the bad luck that we had there in the middle part of the season. It’s a damn shame because I feel like we should have at least won five races without a doubt."

Quoteworthy: "There’s been spots and points of brilliance and we’re going to get to the top of this hill, and I knew we would eventually, but there was definitely a lot of times there was a lot of aggravation and stuff that we had to go through to get here, to get the perseverance to get here. That makes it that much sweeter."

What’s next: Why mess with success? Crafton will be back with ThorSport, working again with Joiner atop the pit box and with the familiar day-glo yellow colors of sponsor Menard’s on the No. 88.

The pressure now rests on Crafton’s chances of securing a three-peat in one of NASCAR’s most competitive and balanced series. Only two drivers in NASCAR’s top division have ever accomplished such a streak — Cale Yarborough, who is already in the NASCAR Hall of Fame; and Jimmie Johnson, a first-ballot lock for enshrinement.

"I feel very good about going into 2015 and maybe making it three in a row," Crafton said after hoisting the championship trophy at Homestead. "That would be — there’s no doubt that we can. I’ve said it’s all about these guys that build these trucks up in Sandusky, Ohio, and having the owners that give us all the tools, Duke and Rhonda Thorson."

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Nascar

There were temptations to leave, but Jeff Gordon always knew he’d stay

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are many remarkable aspects to Jeff Gordon‘s career in NASCAR. That he has competed for the same team owner throughout his stay is only one of them.

Gordon announced Thursday that the 2015 season would be his last. It will be the 23rd year of full-time competition as driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet.

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During that time, he has won four championships and 92 races, totals that very few others have achieved.

Thursday, team owner Rick Hendrick told NASCAR.com that there was only one occasion when he was concerned he might lose the services of his talented driver.

"The only time that I thought that could happen was when (former crew chief) Ray (Evernham) did his (Dodge) deal," Hendrick said. "I talked to Jeff and he said, ‘No, I want to be with you.’ That was the one that I was sweating because they had been together. Between Chrysler and everybody involved, they made it really attractive to him."

No surprise there. From 1995-99, the duo of Gordon and Evernham was nearly unstoppable, winning three NASCAR premier series titles and 47 races. Beating the No. 24 was considered an achievement in itself.

But by the end of that final year, Evernham had already departed, choosing instead to become a team owner and to help usher Dodge back into the sport.

Would the run of success and the potential for a huge financial gain be enough to turn Gordon’s head?

"That’s when we said we’d do the lifetime deal," Hendrick said. "We put it to bed and never had to worry about it again."

In October of ’99, HMS announced it had signed Gordon to a lifetime contract while making him an equity partner in his No. 24 Chevrolet team.

"I can’t say that I was ever serious about it," Gordon said of the opportunity to leave Hendrick. "There were a lot of things going on at that time. I was getting asked to do some Formula One racing, some Indy Car racing.

"Because of the three championships out of four years, I was really, like Ray, being very sought after. I remember (Chip) Ganassi reached out to me, Jerry Jones reached out to me at one point when they were talking about starting a team. … And I didn’t even really speak to them seriously. I said, ‘No, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.’ "

"But I do remember having some serious conversations with Jacques Villeneuve’s group, the BAR Team, about doing Formula One. The problem was, it wasn’t just to go do Formula One. It was you’ve got to go do Indy Cars, go do a lot of testing, and then maybe, maybe you might have a shot. It was just too many steps backward to move forward. Things were going too well at Hendrick Motorsports.

"I knew where I wanted to be. I knew if I wanted to be successful, Hendrick Motorsports was the place for me."

Eventually, Gordon did find himself in a Formula One car, although the opportunity was a one-day promotional ride swap with Juan Pablo Montoya in 2003 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And just last month, Gordon was given the steering wheel from that particular F1 car as a Christmas gift.

Two years after Evernham’s departure, Gordon won his fourth title, this time with crew chief Robbie Loomis. It was, he said, "one of the most rewarding years I’ve ever had."

With six victories and 24 top-10 finishes, he ended the 2001 season with a whopping 344-point advantage over runner-up Tony Stewart.

"When I talk to Ray — I think he understands it when I tell him this because we’re good friends still — to be able to win that championship with Robby Loomis, without Ray, in 2001 was very rewarding to me," he said. "You go through a time where people go, ‘Oh, well it’s Ray,’ ‘it’s the car,’ it’s this or that and you want to get credit for it. While I got a lot of the credit (before), I got a lot more after winning that championship in 2001."

Gordon has won races with all five crew chiefs that have called the shots for the No. 24 team, from Evernham to Brian Whitesell (who filled in as interim crew chief after Evernham’s departure), Loomis, Steve Letarte and current crew chief Alan Gustafson.

"I think if you’re a good race car driver, you should be able to work with other crew chiefs," Gordon said, "As long as you have good equipment.

"A good crew chief can make a difference in how you get through the race, prepare for the race and the difference between maybe winning and finishing second. But your equipment, that’s what gets you into that position. There are teams out there, it doesn’t matter how good their crew chief or driver is, they’re not going to be any better than 15th."

Forty-five of his wins and one championship came with someone other than Evernham in his corner. But Gordon said had the two worked through their issues of ’99, it’s likely more success would have followed.

"He was getting all the offers and I was making the decision to stay at Hendrick or go with him — I knew it wasn’t going to happen because it was a great opportunity for him … we could have won more races and championships even though we weren’t getting along that great that year," he said. "We were butting heads a little bit."

Gordon’s success with a variety of crew chiefs underscores his talent as well as his ability to adjust to the situation.

"That says that Jeff is adaptable and he’s very unselfish," Hendrick said. "He carried the team a lot. He made the team look better than they were. Then when we got the team as good as he was, he’d shine.

"He’s not a complainer and he’s willing to do whatever he needs to do. That’s the part I guess I admire so much about him. … He’s a team player. It’s hard to find (someone) that has all of the traits that he’s got — his loyalty, his honesty, his integrity … it spoils you."

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Fraser Nye

What he told his team and what’s next for him? Maybe broadcasting

MORE: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France statement on Gordon | Gordon hub page
RELATED: Drivers react to Gordon’s announcement | Fans share favorite Gordon memories

The end began with a tweet seen ’round the motorsports world and had ramifications well beyond.

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As Jeff Gordon‘s 23rd season at Hendrick Motorsports starts, the four-time NASCAR premier series champion broke the news to the organization that 2015 would be his final full-time Sprint Cup season as a driver.

Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

"I went off the cuff and from my heart," Gordon said Friday on "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "I didn’t have anything written down so I don’t know if I can remember all of it, but that was a tough moment.

"When you’re looking at the folks that worked so hard for you for all these years, that you’ve known for so many years, you go into that battle with on the race track every weekend and to tell them that this is going to be your final year was tough, very tough emotionally. I definitely had a lot going through my mind yesterday as I was telling my family and they’re like my extended family over there."

As an equity owner, Gordon plans to stay involved with the team for whom he’s won 92 races when his driving career is over. While he’s looking forward to the next chapter, his talk only inspired his No. 24 team to make Gordon’s drive for five championships a reality in his final season.

"Afterwards, (crew chief) Alan Gustafson and I had a conversation, and we were both really fired up because he was like, ‘man, what you just did just motivated this team to do even more than we were already doing to go have a great year,’ and that made me feel really good."

More than words, though, Gordon’s actions in the shop throughout his career created the strong connection that he and the Hendrick employees felt on Thursday.

"I didn’t have to say anything," Gordon said. "They saw my face and the look in my eyes, how much racing has meant to me and how much Hendrick Motorsports has meant to me and how much those people that I was talking to on my team, how much it’s meant to me."

As he has in recent years, Gordon continues refrain from using the word "retirement." That’s especially true now as he transitions away from being behind the wheel.

"I’ve earned that ability to be able to go to that next stage and enjoy whatever it is that I’m doing, but I’m realistic to know that it is going to be a lot of work," Gordon said. "And that’s why I don’t use the "r" word. I’m not retiring because I’m actually going to start working."

One job that he said he was open to considering was a television analyst.

"I love the sport," Gordon said. "I’m very passionate about it. I love to critique it, and I think that I could do a good job. I don’t think it’s an easy job, to be honest. I have a lot of respect for those like yourself that do it from radio or television.

"I would entertain it. I don’t know if it’s at the top of my list right now, and I think it’s because throughout this year, one of things that I’m going to have to get acclimated to is actually having a real job."

Later in the conversation, Gordon said he would appreciate the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in a new job behind the mic.

"If I go into broadcasting, I’m going to be very thankful of this new points system because of the excitement and entertainment that it brings," Gordon said.

Gordon’s final season begins a new era of television for NASCAR as FOX and NBC will televise NASCAR’s national series for the next 10 years.

Take a look at video of Gordon talking to the team on Thursday.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Negri turns fast lap for team that includes Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger

Photo: Courtesy of IMSA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A brand-new car, a brand-new engine — that’s typically not the prescription for a pole-winning run for a 24-hour race. But Michael Shank Racing defied the odds, as driver Oswaldo Negri Jr. dominated Prototype qualifying on Thursday for the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona with a blistering lap of 1 minute, 39.194 seconds, and 129.201 mph.

This early success for the MSR No. 60 Ligier JS P2 car, powered by a Honda engine, could be bad news for the competition, but there could be even worse news: "We’re still learning the car," Negri said. If they can eliminate a little understeer, he said, he thinks they’ll be even faster.

In second was IndyCar regular Scott Dixon in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Riley DP, powered by a Ford EcoBoost engine, followed by the No. 01 Ganassi team car driven by Scott Pruett. In fourth was the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP — the defending champion of the race, as well as the 2014 series champion — followed by the innovative No. 0 DeltaWing. The top seven cars were within eight-tenths of a second in lap times.

Despite the pole run, Negri, who also scored a Rolex 24 pole in 2008, was realistic: Qualifying first for a 24-hour race gives you "bragging rights," he said, "but the real deal is being there at the end on Sunday." After all, "We’re all dancing to the same music — we just danced a little bit faster than anyone else." Negri will share the car with co-drivers John Pew, Matt McMurry and NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger.

In Prototype Challenge (PC), a late-session dash put Johnny Mowlem and the No. 16 BAR1 Motorsports entry on the class pole with a lap of 1:42.318 at 125.257 mph. Close behind is the No. 54 CORE autosport car, with the No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen car in third. All PC cars use ORECA FLM09 chassis, with Chevrolet engines. Mowlem said the Continental tires the class uses improve as you drive, "and most of us were at our quickest on the last lap" of the qualifying session. He will split driving duties with Tomy Drissi, Tom Papadopoulos, Brian Alder and Martin Plowman.

In the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class, Oliver Gavin placed the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R solidly on the pole with a lap of 1:43.488 at 123.840 mph, a new class record. Unlike many of the other team cars, the two Corvettes — the other being the No. 3, driven by Jan Magnussen — teamed up and often ran close together to take advantage of the draft, so familiar at Daytona to NASCAR fans. "There was a good bit of teamwork" that went into the fastest lap, Gavin said. He will share the car with Tommy Milner and IndyCar’s Simon Pagenaud.

Second in GTLM was Gianmaria Bruni in the No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia of AF Corse, followed by Pedro Lamy in the Gulf-sponsored No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage V8.

And in GT Daytona, the largest of the four classes, James Davison saved his best for the session’s last lap, running a 1:47.272 circuit around the 3.56-mile track, at 119.472 mph.

His No. 007 TRG-Aston Martin Racing Vantage V12, which he shares with Christina Nielsen, Brandon Davis and Christoffer Nygaard, will line up ahead of the No. 33 Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper SRT qualified by Jeroen Bleekemolen, and in third, the No. 28 Konrad Motorsport Porsche 911 GT America qualified by Christopher Zoechling.

Aston Martin driver Davison was genuinely surprised at qualifying first — simulation runs had suggested they were slightly off the pace. "I’m blown away at ending up on the pole," Davison added, despite winning his fifth consecutive pole in the class.

Davison summed up race strategy for his team and, for that matter, every team: "It’s all about having nothing going wrong."

With a stout field of 53 entries, and an unsure weather forecast for the weekend, "having nothing go wrong" might be a tall order.

Broadcast coverage of the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona begins at 2 p.m. Saturday on the FOX Network. At 4 p.m., it moves to FOX Sports 2, and at 8 p.m., back to FOX Sports 1. From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., it will be broadcast live in IMSA.com, before returning to FOX Sports 1 Sunday morning at 7 a.m., where coverage will continue for the remainder of the race, concluding at 2:30 p.m. All times are Eastern. For additional information, log onto IMSA.com.

‘Super Sub’ Leads Continental Tire Challenge ST Qualifying

The last time Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge team owner and co-driver Jeff Mosing missed a race, it was a painful occasion: Back spasms kept him out of the cockpit at last year’s event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Still, he and his teammate, Eric Foss, went on to win the season championship.

For the first race of the 2015 season, Mosing is again among the missing, but this time, it’s a happier occasion: Fill-in driver Justin Piscitell said Mosing’s wife is pregnant, and due to give birth right about the time the green flag drops on Friday’s BMW Performance 200.

But there is a reason why Piscitell, of Patterson, New York, is earning a reputation as being a "super sub" in the sports car series: He put the Murillo Racing Porsche Cayman on the pole for the 31-car Street Tuner class during qualifying Thursday.

"The car felt great," he said. His qualifying lap, he said, benefitted from the draft off of cars in front of him. His lap of 2 minutes, 5.454 seconds (102.157 mph) was just ahead of the second-place BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i of Jason Briedis and James Clay, with a 2:05.462 (102.150 mph) lap. In third was another Porsche Cayman, the No. 18 RSI entry driven by Jon Miller and Adam Isman with a lap of 2:05.482 at 102.134 mph.

In the faster Grand Sport (GS) class, Ford Mustang specialist Scott Maxwell put the Multimatic Ford Mustang Boss 302R on the pole, his ninth, with a fast lap of 1:56.520 (109.990 mph) around the 3.56-mile road course. Maxwell said he didn’t need the draft to set fast time — "I went out by myself," he said, because in the end, relying on the draft can help you – or hurt you.

Second was the Rum Bum Porsche 911 of Matt Plumb and his brother Hugh, with a lap of 1:56.779 at 109.746 mph. Third was the Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R of Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell, which was the fastest car in the second practice session Wednesday. They came up a little short with a lap of 1:56.941 (109.594 mph). Twenty-two cars in the GS class took time.

The season-opening, 150-minute BMW Performance 200 starts at 1:45 p.m. on Friday.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Company becomes ‘Official Power Tools of NASCAR, IMSA’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in reliable and innovative power tools, today announced a multi-year partnership designating Ingersoll Rand as the "Official Power Tools of NASCAR." An innovator in tool technology, Ingersoll Rand products have been a staple in NASCAR garages for more than 50 years.

The multi-faceted agreement also designates Ingersoll Rand as an Official Partner of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and as a contingency sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series.

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"Ingersoll Rand has been rooted in racing for decades and this renewed relationship celebrates the tireless work of pit crew mechanics and passionate race fans across all levels of racing," said John Evans, president of power tools at Ingersoll Rand. "We know how important tool performance is in racing — if your tools perform, your vehicle performs. We are now putting high-performance Ingersoll Rand tools into the hands of the best auto technicians in the world while engaging fans who have a passion for cars."

NASCAR technicians are recognized as being among the most qualified in the automotive industry, and they demand high performance tools. According to a recent study commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Research Now, more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals (i.e. technicians, service managers, etc.) are NASCAR fans. The same study also revealed that more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals associate NASCAR products with high performance.

As part of this integrated partnership, Ingersoll Rand will be at the track each weekend providing expert tool support, service, new tool demonstrations for pit crews and will offer fans the opportunity to try tools first hand. Additionally, Ingersoll Rand will launch its Home Tracks Text-to-Win contest for fans at tracks throughout the season. Fans will have opportunities to win an Ingersoll Rand prize pack and meet-and-greets with pit crews and other high-profile racing and automotive personalities.

"Ingersoll Rand, a global brand that has a rich history in NASCAR, understands how to utilize our sport to effectively connect with the racing community," said Jim O’Connell, chief sales officer, NASCAR. "The new partnership reinforces their desire to engage fans across all levels of our sport and we are proud to welcome them to our family of Official NASCAR Partners."

The NASCAR contingency programs foster strong relationships between competitors and the high-quality, performance-driven brands in the program, by providing prize money for each race and at the end of each racing season. Competitors become eligible for the money by displaying partner decals on their race vehicles. As a sponsor of the contingency program, Ingersoll Rand will celebrate and reward the work of pit crew mechanics each week during the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and at select Home Tracks throughout the year with prize money and tools.

Posted on January 22, 2015November 28, 2017 by Staff Report

Get the latest news on the four-time champion

Gordon announces that 2015 will be final full-time season

Jeff Gordon announces on Jan. 22 that 2015 will be his final full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. The four-time champion has driven his entire premier series career with Hendrick Motorsports. | Read more | Gordon, Hendrick reflect on decision

See the top 24 moments in Gordon’s career

With one more full-time season, Jeff Gordon has a chance to add to his impressive racing resume. We examine the top 24 moments in the career of the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet to this point. | View Gordon’s top moments

Bruce: If this is it, Gordon is going out on top

With 92 wins, four championships and plenty of other accomplishments in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon is a shoo-in to be a first ballot NASCAR Hall of Famer, writes Kenny Bruce. | Read more

Drivers react to Gordon’s announcement

From his Hendrick teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson to Clint Bowyer to many more, drivers and others share reactions to Jeff Gordon‘s news. | Read more | Hamlin shows off Gordon Fan Club membership card

Fans share favorite memories

NASCAR fans from all over are sharing their favorite Jeff Gordon memories with the hashtag #JGFinalLap. | Read more

Statement from Brian France

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France calls Jeff Gordon someone who "transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race." | Read the full statement

Striving for five

Fresh off a four-win season that saw him nearly make the Championship 4, Jeff Gordon is geared up to go after his fifth title. | Read Gordon’s season preview | Recap his 2014 season

Loyal to Hendrick

Jeff Gordon had opportunities to jump ship from Hendrick Motorsports, including one with Formula One, but Kenny Bruce finds out why Gordon stayed true to HMS through his entire career. | Read more

A Man in Full

When Jeff Gordon had to tell daughter Ella Sofia about his decision, he wasn’t expecting the look on her face. Read what happened next as Gordon reacted as a father would. | Read more

Best paint schemes

Take a trip down Memory Lane and see some of the best paint schemes in Jeff Gordon‘s illustrious career. Find out if your favorite is among our picks for the best. | Read more | See Gordon’s 3M paint scheme for 2015

Inside the big reveal

Jeff Gordon discusses what it was like to tell his co-workers at Hendrick Motorsports about his decision to make 2015 his final full-time season, and hints at his future plans. | Read more

Gordon to join FOX Sports as NASCAR analyst

After the dust from his final season announcement settled, Gordon also let the public know that we’ll be seeing his face, along with Brad Keselowski‘s and Kevin Harvick‘s in the FOX Sports broadcast booth in 2015. | Read more | Gordon reveals TV plan to ‘Friends’

Bowyer on Gordon: ‘It’s kind of like a divorce’

Clint Bowyer offers his take on Jeff Gordon‘s final full-time season and how their relationship has changed since their run-in at Phoenix in 2012. | Read more

Gordon news catches Stewart off-guard

Three-time champion Tony Stewart said he was sad by the news that Jeff Gordon‘s final season competing for a championship will be 2015. His long-time rival share his thoughts on the news. | Read more | Gordon open to Eldora offer

Letarte, Burton weigh in on Gordon

NBC Sports’ NASCAR analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte weigh-in on the Jeff Gordon news. Letarte was Gordon’s crew chief for several seasons at hendrick Motorsports. | See what they said

Elliott to drive No. 24 car in 2016

Defending XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott will be stepping up to the Sprint Cup Series on a full-time basis in 2016, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, made famous by Jeff Gordon. | Read more | Learn how the torch was passed | Elliott not looking to ‘fill somebody’s shoes’

Gordon: Elliott is the ‘total package’

Jeff Gordon has high praise for the driver that will take over the No. 24 car in 2016, Chase Elliott. See what the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers had to say about the addition. | Read more | Gordon says No. 24 team in good hands with Elliott | Bruce: Hendrick shows no hesitation | Next episode of 24

What should Gordon do in 2016?

With Jeff Gordon set to end his full-time racing career in 2015, what should the four-time champion do for a next chapter. We examine 10 possibilities based on his hobbies. | Read more

Knaus: I wanted to be Gordon’s crew chief

Chad Knaus has had plenty of success as Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief and he first tasted success as one of Jeff Gordon’s "Rainbow Warriors’ pit crew. But there was one position, Knaus always wanted to fulfill. | Read more

Gordon hints at return of famous paint scheme

In his final full-time season, might we see the return of the famous rainbow paint scheme that Jeff Gordon ran years ago? The four-time champion ofeers some hope on that front on Twitter. | Read more

Gustafson: Gordon’ deserves to go out on top’

Jeff Gordon’s current crew chief Alan Gustafson will love nothing more than to see his driver go out on top in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. | Read more

Johnson sings Gordon’s praises like no other

Jimmie Johnson shares a story of how Jeff Gordon has impacted his career in NASCAR. The six-time champion credits his teammate with being instrumental in his early days. | Read more

Gordon looks to make most of final full-time season

Jeff Gordon discusses his final full-time season during the media day at Daytona International Speedway. | Watch | Drivers look back on Gordon’s impact

Gordon wins Daytona 500 pole

Jeff Gordon opened his final full-time season in a big way with the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500. | Read more

Gordon reflects on final Daytona 500

Jeff Gordon looked strong early and led the most laps in the race, but a late wreck left him with a finish that was not indicative of his performance. The four-time series champion weighed in on his final Daytona 500. | Read more | Gordon’s Daytona 500 timeline

Early deficit for Gordon after Atlanta wreck

For the second straight race, a wreck ended Jeff Gordon’s day early. Find out what he had to say after a 41st-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. | Read more | Gordon hits another wall without SAFER barrier

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Staff Report

Driver will be behind the wheel of the No. 02 Chevrolet

Young’s Motorsports announced that Tyler Young will return for his second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2015.

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The 24-year-old driver will pilot the family-owned team’s No. 02 Chevrolet, aiming to build off a 13th-place finish in the 2014 standings in his rookie year. Young will once again work with veteran crew chief Bryan Berry on the team owned by his father, Randy Young.

"I learned a lot in my rookie season," said the younger Young. "More than half of the tracks we raced at, I was seeing for the first time when I got there. This year, I’m looking forward to getting back to those tracks, building on what we learned last year, and contending for that first top-10 finish."

Young said the team will use engines from Pro Motor Engines and will have an over-the-wall crew from Stewart-Haas Racing‘s developmental pit crew team next season.

Young has 33 career starts in the Camping World Truck Series. His career-best finish of 11th place came at Chicagoland Speedway last September.

The Camping World Truck Series is scheduled to begin Feb. 20 with the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) at Daytona International Speedway.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Staff Report

Unparalleled tool technology innovator joins family of official NASCAR partners

RELATED: NASCAR Official Release

From the high-pressure stakes in the garage to split-second decisions on pit road, NASCAR teams are driven by the most skilled pit crew members and technicians in the motorsports industry. Today, the unveiling of a new partnership will welcome a staple in the garage for more than 50 years to the family of Official NASCAR Partners.

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NASCAR and Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in reliable and innovative power tools, announced a multi-year partnership designating Ingersoll Rand as the "Official Power Tools of NASCAR." The agreement also designates Ingersoll Rand as an Official Partner of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and as a contingency sponsor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series.

Ingersoll Rand’s power tools revolutionized NASCAR pit stop tire changes at their introduction to the sport in 1959, and the company quickly became a familiar sight in the garage selling and servicing the tools for peak performance.

"We know how important tool performance is in racing – if your tools perform, your vehicle performs. We are now putting high -performance Ingersoll Rand tools into the hands of the best auto technicians in the world while engaging fans who have a passion for cars."

In 1995, Ingersoll Rand was made famous in the garage when Jeff Gordon and then crew chief Ray Evernham’s "Rainbow Warriors" pit crew had a series of unmatched victories, rooted in spectacular pit road performances.

Evernham helped Ingersoll Rand in 1998 introduce the latest generation of pit stop tire changing tools, the Thunder Gun, to teams seeking more power, speed and durability under pressure, which is still used today and offers the highest performance.

As part of Ingersoll Rand’s official partnership with NASCAR, the company will be at the track each weekend providing expert tool support, service, new tool demonstrations for pit crews and will offer fans the opportunity to try tools first hand. Additionally, Ingersoll Rand will launch its Home Tracks Text-to-Win contest for fans at tracks throughout the season. Fans will have opportunities to win Ingersoll Rand prize packs and meet-and-greets with pit crews and other high-profile racing personalities.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Zack Albert

Veteran has 92 career wins, four premier series titles

MORE: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France statement on Gordon | Gordon hub page
RELATED: Drivers react to Gordon’s announcement | Fans share favorite Gordon memories

Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday morning that this will be Jeff Gordon‘s final season competing for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

The four-time champion announced the news to his No. 24 team Thursday, saying he hesitated using the word "retirement" as he enters his 23rd and final full-time season.

Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

"As a race car driver, much of what I’ve done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions," Gordon said in a release provided by the team. "I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I’ve decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I won’t use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there’s always the possibility I’ll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that."

Gordon, 43, signed a lifetime contract in 1999 with team owner Rick Hendrick, who first brought him into stock-car racing’s big leagues at the end of the 1992 season. He scored four victories in last season’s resurgent campaign, bringing his career victory total to 92, third-most on NASCAR’s all-time list. The rest of his stellar portfolio — including three Daytona 500 wins and a record five Brickyard 400 victories — boasts all the credentials for automatic first-ballot induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

In a statement, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said, "Jeff Gordon transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race. We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season. His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today’s announcement is a bittersweet one. I’ll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, I thank Jeff for his years of dedication and genuine love for this sport, and wish him the very best in his final season."

Gordon had joked ahead of the 2014 season that he would retire on the spot if he were to claim his fifth title, but his rejuvenating run deep into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs seemed to quell any retirement buzz. On Thursday, Gordon said that while his driving days may be coming to a close, he’ll continue to stay active in the sport.

"I don’t foresee a day when I’ll ever step away from racing," said Gordon, who is a part-owner of Hendrick’s No. 48 team driven by teammate Jimmie Johnson. "I’m a fan of all forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product, and I’m passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, I’m a partner with Rick (Hendrick) and will remain heavily involved with the company for many years to come.

"It means so much to have the chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the incredible team that’s stood behind me every step of the way."

Gordon first caught Hendrick’s eye in what is now the NASCAR XFINITY Series in March 1992 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the veteran team owner marveling about the young driver’s car control, even as he seemed on the brink of losing control. Eight months later, Gordon made his debut for Hendrick at the same Georgia track in what signaled a passing of the torch in the NASCAR driver ranks. King Richard Petty said farewell in his final NASCAR start, and Gordon — who cut his teeth through the sprint-car circuit — said hello to the world of stock-car racing, paving the way for what became a dynasty for the rest of the decade.

"There’s simply no way to quantify Jeff’s impact," Hendrick said in the team release. "He’s one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. There’s been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me. I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years together as friends and business partners."

Gordon’s decision creates a high-profile vacancy for 2016 on one of the sport’s most powerful teams. The most likely candidate to replace the four-time champ is reigning XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott, the 19-year-old wunderkind who remains under contract to Hendrick as he campaigns full-time for JR Motorsports, co-owned by Hendrick teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt and Hendrick both indicated last year that Elliott was primed to make his first steps into the Sprint Cup Series in 2015, with the possibility of a full-time ride the following season.

Though his days of full-time competition in the No. 24 Chevrolet are drawing to a close, Gordon said his desire for a fifth crown hasn’t waned.

"I’ll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet," Gordon said. "I’m going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship."

International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy credited Gordon with raising the sport’s popularity. In a statement she said, "Jeff Gordon‘s significance to our sport cannot be overstated. He is an incredible competitor, and a favorite of millions of fans. His contributions throughout his career to NASCAR have elevated our sport’s popularity worldwide. On behalf of the France family and ISC, I thank him for those contributions and wish him the best as he embarks on this next chapter of his career – and his life. We all look forward to watching him take the green flag for his last full-time season, beginning with the DAYTONA 500."

That was far from the only statement of support and appreciation of Gordon.

Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, said the organization was proud of its association with Gordon.

"Jeff Gordon is an incredible competitor, leader and ambassador for Chevrolet and motorsports. He has contributed so much – not only on the track with his 92 wins and four championships, but also away from the track as a businessman, with the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, and more importantly, as a husband and father. He is a champion, and he has been a great friend. We are proud of our relationship with Jeff, and, just like all of his fans, we look forward to watching him compete for one more championship. We wish Jeff and his family — Ingrid, Ella and Leo — all of the best."

Gordon began his motorsports career at the early age of 5 in quarter-midget cars, progressing up the ladder of open-wheel racing on dirt and asphalt. As a teenager, he moved with his family from his Vallejo, California, hometown to Indiana in an effort to further his sprint-car career. After notching championships in two U.S. Auto Club divisions, he got his first taste of the XFINITY Series with one race for car owner Hugh Connerty in 1990 before going full-time with team owner Bill Davis the following year.

Gordon’s solid first season was merely a prelude to his eye-popping 1992 campaign, where he steered Davis’ No. 1 Baby Ruth-sponsored Ford to three wins and 11 pole positions. From there, his stock-car career gained momentum and cemented his future as a star when he joined Hendrick’s operation.

Gordon’s rise also marked a career-changing move for a young mechanic named Ray Evernham, a former modified driver from New Jersey who was paired to be his crew chief on the start-up No. 24 team. Evernham helped transform the makeup of the modern pit crew, bringing in a group of professional athletes to service the car, forging what would become known as the "Rainbow Warriors" in a nod to the DuPont-sponsored team’s colorful paint scheme.

Gordon endured a rough-and-tumble rookie season, going winless with a high number of early exits — 11 DNFs — that left him 14th in the final 1993 standings. In 1994, he broke through for his first premier series triumph in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sparking a tearful celebration in Victory Lane. His other win that season came in the inaugural stock-car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

From there, the floodgates opened for a dominant rest of the decade. From 1995 to 2001, Gordon landed all four of his championships — including three in a four-year span from ’95 to ’98. Over the same seven-year stretch, Gordon amassed 56 victories — including two Daytona 500 wins — and established himself as one of the sport’s elite drivers. Even with just five full seasons under his belt, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers before the 1998 season.

Though Gordon picked up a new generation of fans enamored with his on-track success and matinee-idol good looks, some of the older guard of fans were slow to warm to the hotshot from the Midwest. Seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt widened the divide by playfully tweaking Gordon with the nickname of "Wonder Boy." Gordon tweaked right back, toasting his first championship with milk instead of champagne at Earnhardt’s suggestion, creating a competitive relationship borne of mutual respect.

While Gordon’s racing prowess made him a fan favorite, his comfort level in front of the camera brought him and the sport in front of new audiences. His roles as an adept TV host and guest, plus guest appearances on television series and feature films helped make him a household name among non-racing fans.

Gordon’s second decade in the sport continued his roll with major victories, including the 2005 Daytona 500, but his bids for a fifth championship came up just short. He finished second to Johnson in 2007 and wound up third on two other occasions. Last year, Gordon maintained that he was still seeking his first Sprint Cup championship, since his four titles came during the later years of the series’ sponsorship by R.J. Reynolds.

While his goals for 2015 are for nothing short of a championship, Gordon is also poised to break the sport’s all-time longevity streak. He is scheduled to tie the all-time record of 788 consecutive starts set by Ricky Rudd next season at Chicagoland Speedway, site of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs opener on Sept. 20. Gordon would break the mark the following weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Gordon’s staying power has been largely free of medical issues, though the streak faced a threat last season. Gordon — who underwent a procedure to help relieve chronic back pain in May 2009 — battled through a flare-up ahead of the 2014 Coca-Cola 600, completing all 600 miles in NASCAR’s longest race a day after sitting out practice because of the ailment.

The healing powers of four wins last season, though, had Gordon enthused about keeping his career going.

"I just feel so competitive out there, and that makes me feel young again," Gordon said after posting his fifth Indy victory last July. "When the cars are that good, my back just doesn’t seem to hurt as much … Man, if 43 is like this, I can’t wait for 50."

Gordon’s celebrations last year took on greater meaning as his 7-year-old daughter, Ella, and 4-year-old son, Leo, were regular visitors to Victory Lane with their father and proud mom Ingrid Vandebosch. While Gordon’s title aspirations took deep root, he reflected on how important it was for his children and wife to experience a championship, a motivator that sharpened his career goals.

As Gordon welcomed his growth as a family man as he headed toward the twilight of his racing career, he also transitioned into the role of philanthropist. Since establishing the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation in 1999, his reach has included the opening of a children’s hospital in Concord, North Carolina in 2006, and his co-founding of the Athletes for Hope non-profit organization the following year.

Gordon said last month at the end of NASCAR Champions’ Week festivities that he never intended to retire after the 2014 season if he’d claimed championship No. 5. Now with one final full season, Gordon — who offered grateful words to the NASCAR industry and fans Thursday morning — has a chance to drive into the next chapter of his life with a championship ring for the thumb.

"To everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family, members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank you," Gordon said.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Zack Albert

Can JGR driver build off last season’s run to the Championship 4?

Team: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota

Rank in final 2014 standings: Third

Wins: One (Talladega Superspeedway in May)

Year in photos: Recap Hamlin’s 2014 season

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Strides: Denny Hamlin carried momentum from his victory in the 2013 season finale into Speedweeks, winning the Sprint Unlimited exhibition and one of the two Budweiser Duel qualifying races ahead of the Daytona 500. He finished just short of winning the Great American Race with a runner-up finish, but applied the No. 11 team’s knack for restrictor-plate tracks to post his first career victory at Talladega Superspeedway, clinching a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.

Once in the postseason, Hamlin was able to advance through all three rounds of the Chase’s new format, landing one of four title-eligible spots in the Sprint Cup Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He led 50 laps but wound up seventh in the finale — third among the championship quartet — when a gamble on pit strategy unraveled in the late stages.

"We gave it our best run," Hamlin said. "I mean, we put together really our best race all year, that final race, and gave those guys a run when we really hadn’t had the speed to race with them all year. We gave it an effort and just came up short. Really proud of what we were able to accomplish this year, even though it was somewhat of a down year for our team."

Setbacks: A freak eye injury in March forced Hamlin to seek medical care at Auto Club Speedway for the second straight year on race day. In 2013, a tangle with Joey Logano left Hamlin with a broken back that sidelined him for four races and part of a fifth; in 2014, a sliver of metal in his left eye forced him out, just an hour before the green flag. A medical exemption by NASCAR officials allowed him to remain Chase-eligible as long as he met all other criteria.

The new Chase qualification rules also benefited Hamlin later in the season, but the No. 11 team still felt heavy repercussions in the process. After a post-race technical infraction was found at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR issued stiff penalties by stripping the team of 75 points, suspending crew chief Darian Grubb for six races and fining him $125,000.

Injuries and penalties notwithstanding, Hamlin said after the season that he drove most of the year facing a performance deficit compared to his front-running rivals. With Joe Gibbs Racing expanding to a four-team operation with the addition of Carl Edwards to the 2015 driver roster, Hamlin said he hopes the benefits of additional information sharing can help get the organization over the hump.

"You’ve just got to get better in all aspects, and I think we’ve always just been kind of that next-tier team, realistically," Hamlin said. "We can compete for race wins, week in and week out, but the championships have escaped us through mechanical stuff, which we’ve worked out, or this year it was just our cars weren’t fast enough to compete with those guys. However, we gave ourselves a great chance that last race to really sneak a championship away from ’em, but overall we’ve just got to get better in more areas, and I think going to the fourth team will allow us to do that."

Quoteworthy: "A lot of ups and downs — it’s been a tough year to start the year missing a race. We didn’t have the tools to win a lot of races throughout the year, but we got better and we got better when it really counted. It wasn’t for a lack of effort. Everyone gave 100 percent to give me the best car they could this weekend. It just wasn’t enough to beat those guys." — Hamlin, moments after finishing seventh in the championship race at Homestead-Miami.

What’s next: Hamlin’s three-year run with Grubb drew to a close after a dramatic shake-up to JGR’s crew chief lineup in the offseason. The new assignments for 2015 mean that Hamlin will pair with Dave Rogers, who served as crew chief for Kyle Busch on the No. 18 Toyota team in Sprint Cup since 2010.

What won’t change is the team’s ultra-fast pit crew, often credited as one of the sport’s best. Rogers and Hamlin have worked together with success in what is now called the NASCAR XFINITY Series (seven wins together), and Rogers’ tenure with Busch produced 13 Sprint Cup wins over a five-year stretch.

Hamlin’s 2014 finish was the third near-miss in his quest for a career-defining breakthrough championship at NASCAR’s highest level. Though times are changing at JGR with its expansion and juggling of crew chiefs, Hamlin brings high hopes that the new combination with Rogers will bear fruit in 2015.

"He’s well-regarded within our sport amongst other crew chiefs and I know what he can do," Hamlin said. "He’s been with the No. 11 FedEx team before. This is his second time around, but me and him have never worked together in the Cup Series. I have driven his cars during tests and been really fast and comfortable with them, so I’m very excited about what we can do."