Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Chairman and CEO still feels good about decision to add 13th driver to Chase

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France covered a wide variety of topics in his appearance on MRN’s "NASCAR Live," answering questions from host Eli Gold as well as callers’ questions.

France covered topics ranging from his decision to add Jeff Gordon as the 13th driver in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup to his thoughts on the return of the No. 3 car to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action and the type of racing the sport is striving for.

On the decision to add Gordon as the 13th driver to the Chase just days before the 10-race playoff got underway:

"If you know in your gut that something’s really right, and you have an opportunity to correct it — and in this particular situation I did — we did and you just take the criticism, that’s understandable. … It’s very unusual for us to do something like that, but these were very unusual circumstances. I felt compelled to do the right thing, and I really feel, still, good about that decision."

When asked later if he felt the Chase should expand to 13 drivers every season, France answered, "We feel really good with 12."

On whether a format change could happen down the line:

“We’re working on the format of the future. Whatever that might be. Maybe it’s a little different, maybe it’s more than a little but we’re looking at different things.”

France added, “we are not satisfied that we have the exact balance with winning, consistency, points, running for a championship. We think we can make some tweaks that continue to incentivize risk-taking and racing harder and so on.

“We’ll undoubtedly be coming with things that put the incentive on winning races and competing at the highest level.”

During Champion’s Week in December, France said that NASCAR was examining possible changes to the qualifying format.

On whether Jimmie Johnson‘s run of success is good for NASCAR:

"Historically, dynasties in sports have always been revered and favored and admired. On the other hand, having different people winning at different times is also helpful and impactful," France said.

“When you’re the best at something, and you dominate, it’s up to the other teams and drivers to knock him off, and they have not been able to do that. He’s just dominant."

France likened Johnson’s run to the University of Alabama’s recent run of college football success and how a dominance like that adds "intrigue."

On his thoughts about Richard Childress bringing the No. 3 car back for the 2014 Cup season with Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon:

"I like it. I wondered when it was going to happen and if it was going to happen," France said.

"What Richard (Childress) has said, is that he wanted to make sure it was the right circumstance, not just bring it back because he could. But because it was right and felt right. … The way they’ve done it, keeping it in the family, it’s really a neat thing and I’m looking forward to watching the ‘3’ out there in 2014."

On what he hopes to get out of the recent test at Charlotte (Preseason Thunder begins Thursday at Daytona):

"We are very committed to getting rules packages that create more side-by-side racing. That’s the hallmark of what we do. That’s what we wake up every morning trying to do. And I’m confident that we’ll make the racing, which is already very good by the way, statistically better than it ever was," France said.

"The standards are high, and we’re going to meet those standards and create the best racing in the world. And that’s our job."

Earlier in the chat, France mentioned that at "the heart of what we do is to make sure we have a fair and balanced set of rules that creates the tight racing that we all like. The lead changes, the dramatic finishes and all the rest."

Listen to the full interview here on MRN.com.


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Posted on by Staff Report

Two days of testing for Sprint Cup Series begin on Thursday at Daytona

RELATED: Complete Preseason Thunder schedule

Preseason Thunder gets underway on Thursday with the first of two days of testing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers at Daytona International Speedway.

Team Penske, Richard Childress Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are among the organizations participating in the two days of Sprint Cup testing.

Tony Stewart will not be testing for Stewart-Haas Racing in the No. 14 Chevrolet as he continues to recover from a broken right leg. Mark Martin will test the car for him at Daytona.

Brian Vickers will also not be at Preseason Thunder. Vickers had his 2013 season cut short when a blood clot was found in his right leg. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver’s No. 55 Toyota will be tested by team co-owner Michael Waltrip.

Justin Allgaier and Bobby Labonte will be testing for Phoenix Racing. Labonte will be driving for Phoenix Racing in the Daytona 500.

Ryan Truex and Alex Bowman will be testing for BK Racing. The organization recently parted ways with David Reutimann.

Among the organizations to not take part in Preseason Thunder: JTG Daugherty Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Phil Parsons Racing.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have their sessions on Saturday and Sunday and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will have its sessions on Monday and Tuesday.

Below is the full roster of drivers participating in the two days of Sprint Cup Series testing.

NSCS DAYTONA TEST      JANUARY 9-10, 2014
Car # Team Driver
1 Ganassi Jamie McMurray
2 Penske Brad Keselowski, Rusty Wallace
3 RCR Austin Dillon
4 SHR Kevin Harvick
5 HMS Kasey Kahne
7 TBR Michael Annett
9 RPM Marcos Ambrose
10 SHR Danica Patrick
11 JGR Denny Hamlin
13 Germain Casey Mears
14 SHR Mark Martin
15 MWR Clint Bowyer
16 RFR Greg Biffle
17 RFR Ricky Stenhouse
18 JGR Kyle Busch
20 JGR Matt Kenseth
21 WBR Trevor Bayne
22 Penske Joey Logano
24 HMS Jeff Gordon
26 Swan Cole Whitt
27 RCR Paul Menard, Matt Crafton
30 Swan Parker Kligerman
31 RCR Ryan Newman
32 FAS Reed Sorenson
33 RCR Brian Scott
40 Hillman Landon Cassill
41 SHR Kurt Busch
42 Ganassi Kyle Larson
43 RPM Aric Almirola
48 HMS Jimmie Johnson
51 Phoenix Justin Allgaier
52 Phoenix Bobby Labonte
55 MWR Michael Waltrip
77 R Humphrey Dave Blaney
83 BKR Alex Bowman
87 Nemco Joe Nemechek
88 HMS Dale Earnhardt, Jr
93 BKR Ryan Truex
95 Leavine Michael McDowell
99 RFR Carl Edwards
152 in 2013 B Keselowski Brian Keselowski
        
47    JTG – not testing
78    Furniture Row – not testing
34, 35, 36, 38    Front Row – not testing
98    Phil Parsons – not testing

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Team also announces car numbers for Whitt, Kligerman

Swan Racing announced crew chiefs and car numbers for its 2014 Sprint Cup Series entries Tuesday, with Cole Whitt driving the No. 26 Toyota Camry and Parker Kligerman driving the No. 30 Toyota Camry.

The 22-year-old Whitt will team up with crew chief Randy Cox, who was Whitt’s crew chief for 12 Nationwide Series races last season in which the duo scored four top-10 finishes. They also matched up for Whitt’s two Cup attempts in 2011. Whitt brings a total of 14 premier series starts over the past three seasons with him into 2014.

Veteran Steven "Bones" Lane will serve as the crew chief Kligerman’s No. 30 ride after sitting atop the box for 34 races last year for both Front Row Motorsports and Swan Racing. He and Kligerman teamed up for two of those races, including the season finale at Homestead.

"Things are shaping up for the team," said Swan Racing general manager Bray Pemberton in a team release.  "We expect to make more announcements in the near future about new partners and sponsors."

Both drivers will compete for the Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

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Richard Childress Racing to field four entries at Daytona

Nationwide Series regular Brian Scott will enter the Daytona 500 in a No. 33 Sprint Cup Series car fielded by Richard Childress Racing, the team announced Tuesday.

Scott’s entry will give RCR four entries for the Great American Race, joining those of Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon and Paul Menard. Nick Harrison will serve as crew chief for the No. 33 car, and Shore Lodge — which also backs Scott’s No. 2 entry on the Nationwide tour — will serve as sponsor.

Scott, who turns 26 on Sunday, placed seventh last season in the final Nationwide standings for RCR, with a best finish of second at Indianapolis and Richmond. He has made one previous Sprint Cup start, last fall at Charlotte, finishing 27th in the No. 33 car. The Idaho native will also run the full Nationwide slate for RCR again this season.

The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 23.

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Previously suspended crew chief has completed NASCAR Road to Recovery program

NASCAR reinstated crew chief Todd Parrott on Tuesday after successful completion of the NASCAR Road to Recovery program, nearly three months after his indefinite suspension for a substance abuse violation.

Parrott, most recently the crew chief of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford driven by Aric Almirola, was suspended Oct. 17 after a positive test during events last fall at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Petty organization terminated Parrott shortly thereafter.

Five days after the suspension was announced, Parrott spoke about the violation on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, offering an apology and saying his use of the undisclosed substance was an isolated incident. He also disclosed to the satellite radio channel that he had contacted John Bobo, NASCAR senior director of racing operations and substance abuse program, to begin the Road to Recovery process.

"I know it’s not going to be pretty, it’s not going to be fun," Parrott told SiriusXM on Oct. 22, regarding the reinstatement program. "It’s tough on my family, my kids, my wife, mom, dad, my brother, everybody involved. But I’m going to do everything I can do to prove to everybody that I’m a whole lot better person than this."

Each person who enters the Road to Recovery program must complete a personally tailored plan before they can return to competition.

Parrott, who helped guide Dale Jarrett to two Daytona 500 wins and the 1999 title in NASCAR’s premier series, had been with the Petty team since the summer of 2010. His biggest successes with RPM were being atop the pit box for both of Marcos Ambrose‘s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories at Watkins Glen International.

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Posted on by Zack Albert

Track dryer can successfully condition track before events

Before every race, NASCAR drivers and crew members go through a certain amount of conditioning to close up any potential gaps in performance. In a novel turn last season, tracks began to undergo their own form of pre-race conditioning.
 
To carry the analogy one step further, drivers and crew members have personal trainers and fitness coaches in their corner for motivation. Tracks? They have Air Titan.

"You’ll see the difference — there’ll be a noticeable difference on the track."

— Jerry Kaproth, NASCAR’s manager of race track infrastructure

The bonus facet of NASCAR’s evolutionary track-drying system came to light last season as an additional form of track preparation. The asphalt conditioning process and the next phase of the Air Titan dryer were focal points of the three-day NASCAR Track Services Summit, which wrapped up Tuesday in Concord, N.C.
 
Jerry Kaproth, NASCAR’s manager of race track infrastructure, said the feedback from pre-race conditioning in the handful of applications last season has been overwhelmingly positive. He recounted that after the process was complete at Phoenix International Raceway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick approached NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby to say they could feel the difference.
 
"They said, ‘whatever you did, we could see it right away,’ " Kaproth recalled.
 
NASCAR.com rode along with the lead truck of the Air Titan convoy before season-ending events in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway to gain more insight into the track conditioning system. The low-speed ride failed to register on the truck’s speedometer, but was nevertheless instrumental in getting the 1.5-mile speedway in peak condition to crown champions in NASCAR’s three national divisions.
 
In basic terms, the process uses the Air Titan’s normal setup, but a water truck rides in front, wetting the track. The water loosens any debris or residue on the surface, helping the Air Titan’s powerful vacuum to clean the track.
 
The resulting combination of dirt, sand, debris and water gradually fills the Air Titan’s collection tanks with what Kaproth calls a broth-like mixture. Kaproth said his team sent samples of the mix to the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University for analysis to get a better handle on the process.
 
"It came back slag aggregate, meaning it does have some asphalt component but it’s just junk that sits on top of the road that is loose already," Kaproth said. "We’re just cleaning out the pores. Now that we know what it is, we just have a vacuum sweeper pick it up and dump it on the apron."
 
The system is more effective than in previous years, where a jet dryer would simply blow off the track. The new process has helped the track surface take rubber faster, causing an uptick in early practice speeds.
 
"It looks likes where we’ve done (conditioning), they’ve been running faster quicker," Kaproth said. "Instead of taking that first practice session to fiddle around, they’re coming right at it."
 
At Homestead, Air Titan driver Rob Angle led the conditioning charge on the eve of on-track activity. Though his speed never reached more than 5 mph, his task required continual radio communication with the other vehicles around him — the water truck and the tractor-trailer carrying the collection tanks.
 
A video camera facing backward helped Angle guide the white Ford pickup, working his way down in 9-foot swipes from the top groove against the outside retaining wall toward the inside of the track, much like a Zamboni would clear an ice rink. The difference was that the truck’s windshield wipers were in continual motion to combat the excess spray from the water vacuum, forcing Angle to use visual cues — asphalt seams or painted lines on the track — to navigate the circuit.
 
Other visual cues make it clear that the process is working. Before and after pictures of the track reveal a much lighter shade of asphalt after the cleaning. Even more noticeable is the grime that accumulates on the Air Titan truck’s white paint.
 
"You can see all the dirt on the vehicle," Angle said. "(At Phoenix) when we went out, the truck was white like this one here. When we came back, it was as black as that track. It was pretty nasty."
 
Not every track will get the conditioning treatment in 2014; Kaproth said each race is considered on a case-by-case basis. But the next evolution of the Air Titan system may make the process much more efficient as the season progresses. Kaproth said a new, self-contained "Air Titan 2.0" could be ready by spring. He also said that his team has worked with innovation partner Sportvision to map out preferred grooves in past races. Using those coordinates, Kaproth’s infrastructure team can tailor-condition tracks with the goal of widening the racing line and facilitating side-by-side racing.
 
The technology has come a long way from the days when the only track sweeping was done with brooms.
 
"We have all the parts and pieces," Kaproth said. "You’ll see the difference — there’ll be a noticeable difference on the track."

 

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Season will once again open with Daytona 500 on FOX

RELATED: Full 2014 Sprint Cup schedule

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officially gets underway with the 56th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The season will once again culminate with the final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule will consist of 36 points races as well as two additional weekends featuring non-points events. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races can be seen on either FOX (first 13 events), TNT (next six events) or ESPN/ABC (final 17 events). All races are broadcast by either Motor Racing Network, Performance Racing Network or Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network; all races will also air on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel 90.

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Two events will see significant start time changes: the spring race at Texas Motor Speedway will shift to Sunday, April 6 and begin at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The Kansas Speedway spring event on Saturday, May 10 will be under the lights for the first time, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Sprint Unlimited, which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET, and two Daytona 500 qualifying races, which will take place in primetime for the first time at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 20, will once again highlight the non-points races at the start of the season. Both events will air on FOX Sports 1. The third non-points event will be the annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will also be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday night, May 17.

Start times for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will remain the same, with five of the first seven races beginning at 2 p.m. ET and the last three races beginning at 3 p.m. ET. The Bank of America 500 from Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only night race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and will air on ABC on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET. All remaining Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races will air on ESPN.

The full telecast schedule is below, and subject to change:

* designates a non-points race
All times listed are Eastern

Date Race/Facility Net.work TV Startt Startrt Radio
15-Feb *DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (SPRINT UNLIMITED) FS1 8:00PM 8:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
16-Feb *DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING) FOX 1:00PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
20-Feb *DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (DUELS) FS1 6:30PM 7:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
23-Feb DAYTONA 500 FOX 12:00PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
2-Mar PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY FOX 2:30PM 3:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
9-Mar LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOX 2:30PM 3:00PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
16-Mar BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOX 12:30PM 1:00PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
23-Mar AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY FOX 2:30PM 3:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
30-Mar MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY FOX 12:30PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
6-Apr TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOX 2:30PM 3:00PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
12-Apr DARLINGTON RACEWAY FOX 6:00PM 6:30PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
26-Apr RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY FOX 6:30PM 7:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
4-May TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY FOX 12:30PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
10-May KANSAS SPEEDWAY FOX 7:00PM 7:30PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
17-May *CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY (NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE) FS1 7:00PM TBD  MRN/SIRIUSXM
25-May CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOX 5:30PM 6:00PM  PRN/SIRIUSXM
1-Jun DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FOX 12:30PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
8-Jun POCONO RACEWAY TNT 12:00PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
15-Jun MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY TNT 12:00PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
22-Jun SONOMA RACEWAY TNT 2:00PM 3:00PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
28-Jun KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY TNT 6:30PM 7:30PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
5-Jul DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY TNT 6:30PM 7:30PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
13-Jul NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY TNT 12:00PM 1:00PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
27-Jul INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY ESPN 12:00PM 1:00PM  IMS/SIRIUSXM
3-Aug POCONO RACEWAY ESPN 12:00PM 1:00PM  MRN/SIRIUSXM
10-Aug WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL ESPN 12:00PM 1:00PM  MRN/SIRIUSXM
17-Aug MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY ESPN 12:00PM 1:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
23-Aug BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY ABC 7:00PM 7:30PM  PRN/SIRIUSXM
31-Aug ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY ESPN 7:00PM 7:30PM PRN/SIRIUSXM
6-Sep RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY ABC 7:00PM 7:30PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
14-Sep CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 2:00PM  MRN/SIRIUSXM
21-Sep NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 2:00PM  PRN/SIRIUSXM
28-Sep DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 2:00PM  MRN/SIRIUSXM
5-Oct KANSAS SPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 2:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
11-Oct CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY ABC 7:00PM 7:30PM  PRN/SIRIUSXM
19-Oct TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 2:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
26-Oct MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY ESPN 1:00PM 1:30PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
2-Nov TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY ESPN 2:00PM 3:00PM  PRN/SIRIUSXM
9-Nov PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY ESPN 2:00PM 3:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM
16-Nov HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY ESPN 2:00PM 3:00PM MRN/SIRIUSXM

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58-year-old will test Dale Jr.’s Nationwide car at Preseason Thunder

RELATED: Complete Preseason Thunder schedule

When Chase Elliott slides behind the wheel for his first NASCAR Nationwide Series test this weekend, he knows his legendary father will be right there behind him — perhaps even literally, since they’ll both be on the race track.

The 18-year-old Elliott, who Monday was named the new driver of a NAPA Auto Parts-backed No. 9 car at JR Motorsports, now heads to Daytona International Speedway for the Nationwide Series portion of Preseason Thunder on Saturday and Sunday. Elliott will be one of three JRM drivers at the test, joining teammate Regan Smith and his dad Bill, who will shake down a car for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"That’ll be cool," said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM’s vice president. To say the least — the younger Elliott may have won a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, but to date he’s never driven a Nationwide car. When he does for the first time Saturday, he’ll have the sport’s 1988 premier series champion right there to lend advice.

"It’s going to be a lot of fun," the younger Elliott said. "I know it’s just a test, but I think it’s going to be a pretty cool experience for both of us."

Chase’s car at JRM will bear the same No. 9 his dad used for much of his career, including his championship campaign. Earnhardt Jr. will take part in the Sprint Cup portion of Preseason Thunder slated for Thursday and Friday, but schedule conflicts will prevent the 11-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award from taking part in the Nationwide test.

No worries — a 16-time Most Popular Driver winner was willing to fill in. Bill Elliott’s most recent national series start in NASCAR was the Sprint Cup race at Daytona in the summer of 2012. His last Nationwide race was in 2005. How did JRM convince him to test the car?

"I’m pretty sure we just asked him," Miller said. "In all seriousness, you know racers, they don’t ever lose the desire to get out of a race car. With the Cup guys testing down there this week and Dale’s schedule … I don’t think the actual driver has to be in the car. … I think it’s just a matter of going and shaking down the cars and working on a few things here and there."

Added Chase: "It was going to be a little bit of a hassle for (Earnhardt Jr.) to be there, and my dad’s name came up, and (we) asked him if he would do it, and he thought that would be kind of cool."

The elder Elliott certainly knows his way around restrictor-plate tracks, having won six premier series races combined on NASCAR’s biggest venues, including the Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987. But for the 58-year-old future Hall of Famer, this week’s test is likely a one-time event.

"The Nationwide Series actually doesn’t do a lot of testing, so we don’t have the opportunity to ask a lot of people to test," Miller said. "Just being that this is restrictor‑plate testing, Bill is a great choice to do that for us. We’ll definitely call him again if we need him, but I don’t see any major plans or whatnot just based on our limited testing resources there."

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Teenager had one victory in just nine Camping World Truck Series starts in 2013

SHOP: Chase Elliott No. 9 NAPA merchandise

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always been an admirer of Bill Elliott. Now NASCAR’s most popular driver will field a NASCAR Nationwide Series entry for the son of the driver long known as "Awesome Bill," using the same car number made famous by the 1988 premier series champion.

JR Motorsports announced Monday that 18-year-old Chase Elliott, already a race winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, would compete full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2014 in a No. 9 car backed by NAPA Auto Parts. Greg Ives, who guided JRM driver Regan Smith to a pair of victories last year, will work as crew chief. Elliott is a Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver, and JRM is co-owned by Rick Hendrick.

"I just couldn’t be any more excited and any more fortunate," Elliott said. "I feel it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and this is my chance to do what I love to do and make the most of it."

Elliott has shown tremendous potential in a very short time, winning once last season on the ARCA circuit in addition to his victory in the Truck Series. His first NASCAR win came in 2012 in the K&N Pro East at Iowa and he’s been a participant in the NASCAR Next program the last two years.

This past September at age 17, Elliott edged Ty Dillon in a controversial finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park to become the youngest winner in Truck Series history. That mark was eventually eclipsed by Erik Jones, who is six months younger than Elliott and won the Truck Series event last November at Phoenix.

And yet despite those on-track exploits, Elliott’s 2014 plans remained uncertain after his truck’s sponsor, Aaron’s, announced in August an agreement to back Brian Vickers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michael Waltrip Racing for this coming season. NAPA, which will back Elliott’s Nationwide car, had been a MWR sponsor until leaving the team following the race manipulation scandal last September at Richmond.

"Chase Elliott is a young and talented future star in the sport," said Dan Askey, president of NAPA, "and will represent NAPA well both on and off the track."

For Elliott, Monday’s announcement brought an end to some sleepless nights.

"I wasn’t real sure where I was going to end up," he said. "Having support and having people to back you and a sponsor is the thing that allows people to have opportunities. For me, at the end of last year, (with) Aaron’s announcing what they were going to do, I wasn’t real sure about my future. Fortunately, NAPA kind of came along and showed some interest, and we were able to get some things worked out, and thankfully that’s where we’re at today."

Elliott said he met with NAPA officials along with Hendrick and JRM vice president Kelley Earnhardt Miller. The company will now embark on its 19th season as a sponsor in NASCAR, and Elliott will head to Daytona International Speedway for this week’s preseason test session. In the months of uncertainly, Elliott said he was never tempted to explore options outside the Hendrick umbrella.

"It was really never a consideration," he said. "I felt like my best bet to have any kind of future in racing was to be where I was at. When I was at the point of not knowing what I was going to do, I was content to stay patient. I felt like if I just sat tight there, and just did what I needed to do and made the most of the races I did do, if I wasn’t doing much next year, if that had been the case, that’s all I can do. I feel like I’m at the best place I could possibly be. My personal opinion, I don’t feel like I could be aligned with a better group of people. So hopefully this is where I can stay for my career."

Elliott turned 18 this past Nov. 28, making him eligible for competition in the Nationwide Series. His car number, 9, is the one his father Bill used for much of his career at NASCAR’s top level, including the 1988 campaign when he won the championship.

"No doubt, the historical element of this is pretty cool," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Bill Elliott is certainly one of the greats. I’ve always looked up to him. He had some great battles with my dad. Certainly, The Winston in 1987 is an all-time favorite. It was probably some of the hardest racing you’ll see, and it’s fun to watch even today. I think there are a lot of Elliott fans and Earnhardt fans that will take interest in Chase’s career and support him 100 percent."

Elliott will be part of a JRM team that will field two full-time Nationwide entries for 2014, joined by Smith and his new crew chief Ryan Pemberton. There will also be two part-time teams, a No. 5 with driver Kevin Harvick and crew chief Ernie Cope, and a No. 88 with Earnhardt. Miller called it "the strongest lineup we’ve put on the track since we started racing full-time in 2006."

For Elliott, it will bring a transition — this week’s test at Daytona will mark the first time he’s ever driven a Nationwide car. And with just nine Truck Series starts to his name, he’ll be seeing many national series tracks for the first time. He does have the luxury of having tested Sprint Cup cars a few times, and said he and Ives have other Nationwide tests planned beyond Daytona before the season begins.

"Going to these new places, there’s going to be a learning curve," Elliott said. "Learning these race cars is going to be new. Running a full year and having this opportunity — it’s all new. It’s all new to me. It’s definitely not going to be easy, nobody said it’s going to be. You’re racing with the best of the best on a lot of weekends, and it’s going to be a tough year, but it’s going to be a lot of fun."

Still, Earnhardt is bullish on his new driver.

"Chase has been extremely successful, and I think the Nationwide Series is only a short step for him," he said. "With the infrastructure we have at JR Motorsports and our close-working partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, we have every opportunity to continue Chase’s development as a driver while contending for a championship. He’s that good."

These days, he’s also relieved. Elliott said he was working in the family’s race shop with his dad a few weeks ago when his mother told them the phone call had just come informing them the Nationwide deal had been sealed.

"You really don’t know that everything’s going to come together until something’s signed," he said. "But really, just a few weeks ago, we just found out that everything was a go and everything was going to move forward. I’ve been anxiously awaiting today, and Daytona as well."

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Posted on by Holly Cain

First start with Joe Gibbs Racing will be in May at Talladega

After months of uncertainty tempered with high hopes and firm expectations, Sam Hornish Jr. was finally able to divulge his 2014 NASCAR plans on Monday — a seven-race deal to drive the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota in the Nationwide Series.

The significance of the news isn’t just the extension of the three-time IndyCar champion’s stock car career, but that last year’s Nationwide runner-up was able to move from one premier team — Penske Racing — to another in JGR. And what that may speak to for the future.

"When you look at where I’ve been for the past 10 years and who I’ve been associated with there’s only a handful of people you can put in a category with Roger Penske and obviously, Joe [Gibbs], with his faith, and everything that’s represented at Joe Gibbs Racing, I’m super excited to be a part of that organization," Hornish told NASCAR.com on Monday.

"Obviously, I’m still trying to figure out how to get more racing in, but the races I’m scheduled to do will be in top-notch equipment and hopefully give them an opportunity to try to win the owners’ championship this year.

Hornish, 34, who will share driving duties with Kyle Busch, makes his JGR debut in the May 3 race at Talladega, Ala. then is scheduled to compete in both Iowa Speedway events, at Chicagoland and Kentucky Speedway and road course races at Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) and Hornish’s hometown Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

In an interesting twist of fate, both Hornish and the No. 54 Toyota he will steer, finished runner-up in the 2013 Nationwide driver and owners’ championships, respectively, — a motivating factor not lost on Hornish. 

"We talked about it and we both missed it by less than four points combined so we’re going to go out there and try to do it together this time," said Hornish who lost the driving title to Austin Dillon by three points. The No. 22 Penske Ford (which was driven by several drivers) beat Gibbs’ No. 54 by a single point in the owners’ title race. Hornish was one of only three full-time Nationwide drivers to win (Las Vegas) and his 16 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes were both series best.

Hornish acknowledges that competing against Penske may seem a little strange initially considering he spent the last 10 years with the legendary car owner, winning the 2006 Indy 500 and an IndyCar title together before moving to stock cars full-time in 2008.

What started as a part-time opportunity in NASCAR with Penske flourished with several Sprint Cup seasons (2008-2010) and then full-time Nationwide runs in 2012-2013, so Hornish is hopeful that he will be with Gibbs for the long haul as well.

"As far as what the future holds we don’t know," Hornish said. "This is what we are committed to at this point and we’ll kind of see where it goes. From what they’ve told me, they’d like to — at some point in time — use me in a bigger role.

"This is, for a lack of a better expression, ‘the first date.’ My focus this year is to do the best I can in the 54 and for Monster Energy and the races I’ll fill in for Kyle. Outside of that, the great thing about being with a company like Joe Gibbs Racing is that they’ve got a lot going on, you never know how things will play out."

And Hornish speaks from experience. 

"A couple years ago I was in this same situation where I was supposed to do a few races (for Penske) and what was supposed to be seven turned into 14 and that turned into a full-time ride," Hornish said.

"I’m not saying any of that is going to happen, but I think that’s one of the things that allowed me to be calm about what has been going on, to try and wait and make sure I was in the right stuff.

"Because when you do get those opportunities you try to work your butt off and make the most of them. There’s a lot of times when you can get the right things to happen and put yourself in the right position for success.

"All that being said," Hornish continued. "I’m still so appreciative to Roger and everybody at Penske Racing for giving me the opportunity they have. Even though the defining aspect of it didn’t work out the way we wanted at the end of last year to move forward, another door opened and if they hadn’t been committed to me this door may not have opened.

"You know, as much as anything, what’s important is having good people around you, and that’s why I felt it necessary to try to continue surrounding myself with good people like this."

MORE:

READ: Year in Review
driver profiles

READ: A season defined
by a night in Richmond

READ: Top 10 on-track
moves of 2013

WATCH: Handing out the
2013 Loopie Awards