Almquist, Wolfe Fined For Rule Violations At Watkins Glen
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that Kirk Almquist, crew chief for the No. 9 Dodge driven by Patrick Carpentier and Paul Wolfe, crew chief for the No. 22 Dodge driven by Ryan Newman, have been fined due to rule violations during the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Watkins Glen International.
Almquist was fined $5,000 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to
NASCAR rules) and 20A-5.10.1B(6) (combined thickness of the throttle shaft and throttle plate was less than the specified thickness of 0.197 inches) of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Rule Book.
Wolfe was fined $1,000 for violating Section 12-4-A, 12-4-Q and 20A-16.5.1B (fuel line,from the fuel cell to the filter, xceeded the maximum specified size).
Both infractions were discovered during opening-day inspection on Aug. 8.
Montréal Nascar Nationwide
31 juillet 2008
Cette 2ième course Nascar Nationwide à Montréal nous fait déja
vibrer. Peut être pas encore avec la magnitude de la 'semaine du F1' mais ce petit train s'en vient...
Hier l'atmosphère était relaxe et c'était plutôt une journée Nascar PR. :-)
Ron Fellows (gauche) et Scott Wimmer (droite) ont parlés aux médias de la course samedi sur le circuit Gilles Villeneuve et ensuite, c'était le défi. Une petite course avec les boyz de la presse Canadienne surtout...
(Photo: NASCAR Relations Publique)
du Haut au Bas: Ron Fellows (No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet), Bertrand Godin (porte-parole pour le Cicuit Gilles Villenueve et NAPA Auto Parts 200), Scott Wimmer (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet) se préparent a une course go-karts au Action 500 à Montréal. (Photo: NASCAR Relations Publique)
Les Boyz, partez vos engins!
Et le Fuge qui ne manques jamais l'opportunité... :-)
Scott Wimmer (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet) parle avec Dominic Fugère du Journal de Montréal (Photo: NASCAR Relations Publique)
29 juillet 2008
Cette année, on attend la course Napa Auto Parts 200 Nationwide avec impatience. Les ventes de billets vont très bien et maintenant on souhaite du beau temps vendredi et samedi.
Il aura plus de presse et couverture que l'an passé mais surtout Nascar sera impressioné des fans de chez nous... les meilleurs du monde!
Oh, Canada! NASCAR Nationwide Series Heads To Montreal
Nascar News
The NASCAR Nationwide Series prepares for its second consecutive trip to Montreal's famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – where this year the son of the road course's namesake will participate in the event.
Jacques Villeneuve leads a contingent of eight Canadians – including Patrick Carpentier (Quebec), Ron Fellows (Ontario) and DJ Kennington (Ontario) – who will race in front of their passionate fans. Carpentier is foregoing his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride in Pocono for Gillett Evernham Motorsports in order to concentrate on the Montreal event.
Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Terry Labonte – whose family tree extends to Montreal and was the test driver for the series in May 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – will drive for Carpentier in Pocono.
Last year's race was one of the most exiting in each of NASCAR's national series in 2007. Kevin Harvick won the inaugural event. Robby Gordon was involved in a scrape with then-leader Marcos Ambrose with two laps to go, resulting in Gordon capturing the lead. Or so he believed. He wasn't the winner, though he celebrated along with Harvick on the frontstretch.
Also performing a celebratory burnout along with Harvick and Gordon was Carpentier, the Quebec native who finished second after winning his first career pole in NASCAR competition earlier in the day. Harvick isn't back to defend his race win and Gordon is racing in Pocono only. Ambrose returns with an eye on his first series victory.
Race Dotted With International Flair
Five countries will be represented in Saturday's event: Canada with eight drivers; the United States with 32; one from Australia (Marcos Ambrose), one from Venezuela (Alex Garcia) and one from Italy (Max Papis).
Papis, who finished third last year, will take over for David Stremme in the No. 66 Rusty Wallace Racing entry. Papis is one of many road-course "ringers" in the race, including Boris Said (No. 25 Ford for Bobby Hamilton Jr.), Ron Fellows (No. 5 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports); Scott Pruett (No. 40 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge) and Scott Gaylord (No. 52 Jimmy Means Racing Ford). Also Justin Marks looks to make his series debut for Braun Racing. Marks is another road-course specialist who competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and won his first pole at Texas in June.
Top Two In Standings Are Rookies At Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The great equalizer may be experience on this course and one driver who won't turn his first lap until the race itself is standings leader Clint Bowyer. He is the only one of the five double-duty drivers in the race who will compete in the weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in Pocono during the weekend who did not run at Montreal last year. Stephen Leicht, who finished fifth in this race last year, will practice and qualify the car for Bowyer.
Second-place Brad Keselowski watched this race one year ago while Andy Pilgrim brought home a 15th-place finish for JR Motorsports. Third-place Carl Edwards, who is coming on of late with two wins and three top fives in his last six races, trails Keselowski by only seven points behind Keselowski. Edwards, the defending series champion, competed in this event last year.
Along with Leicht, the other all-important substitute drivers are: Auggie Vidovich for David Ragan; Colin Braun for Greg Biffle; Erik Darnell for Edwards and Chris Cook for David Reutimann. Braun, 19, has extensive road-course experience and captured his first career pole in NASCAR competition in Mexico City in April. Last week at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Braun won the pole and finished third.
Different Type Of Double-Duty For Kennington
DJ Kennington is a double-duty driver of another type in NASCAR. Driving full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year for MacDonald Motorsports (owned by another Canadian, Terry MacDonald), Kennington, 31, is also vying for the title in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and travels in similar fashion to his events when they compete on the same weekends as NASCAR Nationwide Series / NASCAR Sprint Cup Series double-duty drivers. He's third in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series standings and ranks 24th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. This weekend's trip for both races will be the easiest of the season for the former hockey goalie who was on the 1994 NHL Draft Roster before an injury ended one sports dream.
Rising Series Talent Will Be On Display In Canada
Although not competing in the race, Colin Braun is just one of a group of young drivers who are gaining respect – and top results – in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Joey Logano, 18, will make his road course debut in Montreal. Logano has two wins, two poles and three top-five and five top-10 finishes in only six series starts. Steve Wallace, 20, finished 10th in Mexico City earlier this year and was 10th at ORP last weekend.
Brad Coleman, 20, has struggled somewhat this season after moving from Joe Gibbs Racing to Baker Curb Racing, but he's a solid 16th in the standings and is a sleeper in this event. Like Braun – with whom he shares the world record for youngest team in the Rolex 24 in GT Class – he gained his experience in road-course racing.
Landon Cassill, 19, who will drive for James Finch in Montreal instead of his usual role for JR Motorsports, has been one of the most improved drivers in the series. Over the last seven races, he earned his first career pole and four top-10 finishes (including the last three races).
Gentlemen, start your engines!
July 23, 2008
RULE AMENDMENT BRINGS NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES ENGINES IN LINE
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 23, 2008) – NASCAR issued a technical bulletin Tuesday amending the NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book. Effective as of July 23, 2008, section 20A – 5.10.4 is amended as follows:
“At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing less than 4.470 inches must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.125-inch diameter holes. At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.100-inch diameter holes. Unless otherwise authorized, the carburetor restrictor will be issued by NASCAR.”
“Eventually, all teams that upgrade to new engine packages will be subject to this rule modification,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Over the years in our sport, we’ve taken steps on numerous occasions to help maintain a level playing field among our competitors and we will continue to do so.”
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July 17, 2008
Press Release Nascar
Driver Jacques Villeneuve gets Braun Racing ride
MOORESVILLE, NC (July 17, 2008) – Braun Racing is pleased to announce that former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will drive its No. 32 Toyota Camry in the second annual NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada on August 1-2, 2008. The addition of Villeneuve to the field at the world renowned road course named after his father, Gilles Villeneuve, a legendary Formula 1 racer, adds a special hometown feeling to the event that already includes an array of Canadian drivers.
Though this event will mark his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the track which carries his namesake, the road course phenomenon has a tremendous amount of experience on the 2.709-mile road course. In a career that has spanned for more than two decades, Villeneuve has experienced success that can be rivaled by very few. He has captured world championships in both the CART and Formula 1 Series and is logged in the record books as winner of the 1995 Indianapolis 500. To win championships in both the CART and Formula 1 on top of a win in the famed Indy 500 is a feat that has only been accomplished by two other drivers.
“We’re excited for the race fans in Montreal that Jacques Villeneuve will participate in this event,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s Vice President of Racing Operations. “His addition increases the competitiveness of the field and brings another Canadian driver to the mix.”
For Villeneuve’s part, he looks forward to aligning himself with a team as competitive as Braun Racing. ”It’s always fun to have the opportunity to race for such a competitive team as Braun Racing with great people that show confidence in you. It also adds to my pleasure to be in a car that hosted great pilots such as Kyle Bush and Denny Hamlin.”
Braun Racing team owner, Todd Braun, feels that the addition of Villeneuve to his team’s efforts in Montreal will give them an extra advantage from a competitive standpoint.
“Jacques has had an incredible career,” said Braun. “The type of experience he can bring to our entire organization and road course program is invaluable. We look forward to working with him and to taking advantage of the experience and knowledge he brings with him.”
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Week 19
July 2, 2008 PM Back at Daytona
Season In Review – Week 19:
A Look At The 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 2, 2008)
– There have been 10 different race winners in 2008 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series: Tony Stewart (five), Kyle Busch (four), Denny Hamlin (two), Mark Martin (one), Matt Kenseth (one), Clint Bowyer (one), Scott Wimmer (one) and Carl Edwards (one) along with first-timers Brad Keselowski (one) and Joey Logano (one).
First Time Around
Joey Logano posted his first career pole in qualifying for Nashville. Brad Keselowski followed by winning his first career race. It was the 29th time in series history that a first-time pole and first-time race winner occurred in the same event. Only five of those 29 times did the same driver post both a first pole and first win in the same race.
Rocket Start
Joey Logano posted his second series pole and then won at Kentucky – posting his first career win in just his third NASCAR Nationwide Series race. He became the 19th driver to score his first victory within his first three series races.
Eight of the other 18 drivers posted their first series win in 1982, the first year for the series and 14 did so within the first three years of the series. Logano joined Derrike Cope (1994 – third race), Ron Fellows (1998 – second race) and Kurt Busch (2006 - first race) as the only drivers to achieve their first win within their first three races since 1987.
Series Record
Denny Hamlin won at Richmond, scoring the fifth consecutive victory for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was the first time in the history of the NASCAR Nationwide Series that an owner posted five straight wins. Three different drivers registered victories for JGR – Kyle Busch (Texas and Phoenix in the No. 18 and Mexico in the No. 20), Tony Stewart (Talladega in the No. 20) and Hamlin (in the No. 20). Stewart extended the Gibbs streak to six races with his victory at Darlington (the fourth straight for the No. 20).
Roush Fenway Racing recorded four consecutive victories in 2000 (Rockingham through Darlington) with Mark Martin winning Rockingham, Atlanta and Darlington (in the No. 60) and Jeff Burton winning Las Vegas (in the No. 9).
NASCAR Nationwide Series – Season In Review
Dominance Rebirth
Tony Stewart has won five of the seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races that he has participated in this season. Success in a partial season is not a new concept in the series. Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin both had very successful partial seasons over the years.
Earnhardt won five of the 11 series races he participated in during 1986; three of seven in 1991 and two of four in 1993. Martin won seven of 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series races that he ran in 1993, six of 14 in both 1996 and 1999 and has one victory in his two races this season.
2008 Season Highlights
• Tony Stewart won the season-opening race at Daytona then repeated his trip to Victory Lane in the second race (California). It was just the third time in NASCAR Nationwide Series history a driver had won the first two races of the season (Dale Earnhardt in 1986 and Chad Little in 1995).
• Mark Martin won the third race of the season (Las Vegas) – ending Stewart’s bid to become the first driver to win the first three races of a season in NASCAR Nationwide Series history.
• Matt Kenseth posted the first victory for Ford in 2008 with his win at Atlanta – making three different manufacturers to win in the first four races.
• Clint Bowyer won at Bristol, becoming the 10th consecutive different race winner at the Tennessee short track.
• Kyle Busch posted his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of 2008 with his win at Texas. Busch has won in all three of NASCAR’s national series this season, making this the fourth consecutive season he has done so. Only two other drivers have accomplished the feat and both did so only once.
– Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Terry Labonte in 1995.
• Kyle Busch became the second repeat winner with his victory at Phoenix. Like Tony Stewart, Busch’s wins came in consecutive races.
• Kyle Busch posted his third consecutive victory of 2008 with his win at Mexico City. Busch’s victories all came on different type tracks.
• Tony Stewart won his second restrictor-plate race with his victory at Talladega.
• Tony Stewart won his fourth race of the season and the sixth consecutive for Joe Gibbs Racing with his win at Darlington – his first there in any NASCAR series.
• Kyle Busch became the second four-time winner of the season with his victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
• Denny Hamlin became the third multiple-race winner with his victory in the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover – the second of his season.
• Brad Keselowski became the first driver to post his career first victory in 2008 with his win at
Nashville.
• Joey Logano won at Kentucky and became the second first-time winner in as many races.
• Carl Edwards edged Clint Bowyer to win at Milwaukee, posting his first victory since Nashville in
June 2007.
NASCAR Nationwide Series – Season In Review Qualifying
•116 drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one race this season.
• There have been seven different pole winners in 2008: Tony Stewart (two), Kyle Busch (two), BrianVickers (two), Carl Edwards (two), Joey Logano (two), Colin Braun (one), Kasey Kahne (one), Brad Keselowski (one) and Landon Cassill (one).
• There have been four first-time pole winners this season: Colin Braun (Mexico City), Joey Logano (Nashville-2), Brad Keselowski (Milwaukee) and Landon Cassill (New Hampshire).
• Qualifying was canceled at California, Atlanta, Bristol and Texas.
• 42 drivers have posted at least one top-10 start this season, led by Clint Bowyer with 15.
The Races
• 110 drivers have qualified for at least one NASCAR Nationwide Series race this season.
• 41 drivers have registered at least one top-10 finish in 2008, led by Clint Bowyer with 15.
• Five races have been extended by green-white-checkered finishes in 2008.
• One race has been shortened in 2008: Bristol (171 Laps).
• Kyle Busch has won four races this season – in three different cars, for two different owners. Jamie McMurray won three races in 2004 – each for a different car owner.
First-Timers
Start
James Buescher (Phoenix)
Kevin O’Connell (Mexico City)
Ryan Hackett (Richmond)
Joey Logano (Dover)
Pole
Colin Braun (Mexico City)
Joey Logano (Nashville)
Brad Keselowski (Milwaukee)
Landon Cassill (New Hampshire)