Dale Earnhardt Jr. has turned to a familiar face and proven winner to help lead the competition efforts of his race team, announcing today that his uncle and longtime NASCAR crew chief, Tony Eury Sr., has been named Director of Competition at JR Motorsports. Eury Sr. will oversee competition and technical support for all of JR Motorsports, which includes a full-time NASCAR Busch Series program, a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series entry, and three late model teams. His new role at JRM will begin immediately, as he will work closely with crew chief Wes Ward, motorsports director Steve Crisp, and driver Shane Huffman in preparation for Saturday’s Camping World 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Tony Ponturo, the vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch, minces no words when talking about how badly Budweiser wants to remain as sponsor for the cars driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“Every day I wake up that’s what I’m working toward,” Ponturo said this week at The Associated Press Sports Editors annual convention in St. Louis.
“When you have the most popular driver for the past four years, that’s something that we helped build. If, and underline the if, that ends up being impossible, we’ll talk about Plan B.”
Ponturo told that the company would sponsor one driver and one car going forward, seemingly rejecting the notion that it might move the Budweiser brand with Earnhardt Jr. and sponsor another car with another brand at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Mike Bliss has resigned from BAM Racing, according to a team release. Team officials say that Chad Chaffin will drive the No. 49 Dodge this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway and in two weeks at Chicagoland Speedway. Bliss resigned after the team failed to qualify for several races.
Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick is deciding whether to appeal NASCAR’s penalties and suspensions of crew chiefs Chad Knaus and Steve Letarte. “We are disappointed in NASCAR’s decision and feel the penalties are excessive,” Hendrick said. “Right now, all of our options are being evaluated, including out personnel situation and a possible appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission.”
NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the No. 24 and No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports teams that compete in the Nextel Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found this past weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Both cars - the No. 24 driven by Jeff Gordon and the No. 48 driven by Jimmie Johnson - were found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); 20-2.1E (parts or components of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted); and 20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during the initial inspection process last Friday.
Continue reading NASCAR Hands Down Penalties To Gordon And Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports will not be able to purchase the No. 8 from Dale Earnhardt Inc., nor is DEI allowed to sell it to Hendrick or any other team. “NASCAR owns the numbers and licenses them to teams on an annual basis.” If a team chooses to relinquish the number, the number returns to NASCAR and it will assign it to a team requesting it. Asked if a team could make a financial arrangement to encourage another team to give up the use of a number, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said NASCAR would discourage such deals.
This seems a bit strange on NASCAR’s part. Wasn’t there talk of Richard Childress Racing selling Dale Earnhardt’s No 3 to Dale Earnhardt, Inc after he passed away? Also, didn’t Dale Earnhardt buy the No 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to drive? NASCAR seems a little suspect in making that statement.
Aric Almirola, who was credited with the Milwaukee Busch Series race win Saturday night, is rumored to be joining Ginn Racing in 2008 as a protege to Mark Martin. Supposedly the plan is for Almirola to run part-time Cup, Busch and Trucks in 2008 and take over the No. 01 Chevy full-time in 2009.
Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said Sunday that a published report the team has a “done deal” to switch to Toyota in 2008 is “just not true.” Gibbs said the three-car team is in negotiations with General Motors about next year’s contract to remain with Chevrolet. Gibbs also said the team has talked with Tony Stewart about extending the driver’s contract.
Car owner Rick Hendrick has let it be known to officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. that he’d like to purchase the No. 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he begins driving for his organization in 2008. “I’m not sure what their position is or what they want for it,” Hendrick said Saturday. Earnhardt said last week he would like to stay in the No. 8 if a deal can be reached with DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, who has the rights to the number [NASCAR owns the number and leases them to a team to use and market] and his long-time sponsor, Budweiser. Hendrick doesn’t expect any sort of announcement for at least a few weeks.
Robby Gordon said that he’s moving closer to adding a second team for 2008. ‘When we have runs like this, it entices people to come and look at our organization,” said Gordon after qualifying second for the Save Mart 350. “We’re a single-car effort, but we can compete with these guys. We proved that, when for the last three weeks, we’ve been a top-15 car every week. And if we can run in the top 15, the door’s going to open up and we’ll find ourselves in victory lane.” Gordon also said he expects to move into his new headquarters for Robby Gordon Motorsports in late September.