Here it is, a week or so early: the latest Danica Patrick Super Bowl ad, this one featuring the Pussycat Dolls. Ads are going for $3.5 million for 30 seconds during the game, scheduled for next Sunday on NBC. Danica has now appeared in 10 Super Bowl ads, which makes her the all-time Super Bowl champion, and … you’re not even reading this any more, are you?
Most pressure put on Truex comes from inside
January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Patience is running thin at Michael Waltrip Racing. The owner wants to see improvement. The sponsor wants to see improvement. But perhaps the least patient man in the entire organization is the guy behind the wheel of the No. 56.
Babies! Crew chiefs! Promises! A roundup of news from Media Week
January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
NASCAR Media Week concluded Thursday, and while there wasn’t a whole lot of earthshattering news, there’s plenty that will have an effect on NASCAR in the 2012 season and beyond. If you missed any of it, clip and save this handy post.
• NASCAR ended its policy of secret fines. We’d tell you what we think about that policy in general, but we don’t want to get publicly fined.
• Ford rolled out the 2013 Fusion, which got everyone excited for 2013 before 2012 even begins.
• Kevin Harvick and wife Delana will be adding a new member to their race team. Bad news: their first child is going to have to qualify on speed.
• Danica Patrick will be passing up the Indy 500 to run the Coke 600, more evidence of the total career makeover she’s undergoing.
• Bill Elliott will return to the Sprint Cup series, driving a Wal-Mart car at the July Daytona race.
• And another Elliott, Elliott Sadler, will be driving in the Sprint Cup series once again, running for Richard Childress Racing in the Daytona 500.
• Chip Ganassi declared his team’s 2011 performance “pathetic.” Ouch.
• Richard Petty Motorsports will be forming a Nationwide team for Michael Annett.
• And in sad news, Pocono owner Doc Mattioli passed away. Condolences to his family and friends.
Babies! Crew chiefs! Promises! A roundup of news from Media Week
Pocono Raceway founder and visionary Mattioli dies
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Pocono Raceway founder and chairman of the board, passed away Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, surrounded by his family, following a lengthy illness. He was 86.
France, NASCAR seek to carry momentum into 2012
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The bottom line in the state of the sport address delivered Thursday by NASCAR officials: 2011 was such a great year that the big challenge is building on the momentum it generated in 2012 without changing too much.
Bill Elliott driving a Wal-Mart car at Daytona is pretty much the most NASCAR thing ever
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Bit of a splash from the final day of NASCAR Media Day on Thursday, as Bill Elliott announced he’ll return to the Sprint Cup series for one race: the July Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. He’ll be driving the car you see above, the No. 50 Wal-Mart Chevy Impala, for Turner Motorsports. He’ll also be [...]
[Continue reading…]Elliott Sadler to drive for Childress in Daytona 500
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Elliott Sadler will be back in the Sprint Cup Series for the Daytona 500. Sadler, who is driving a full Nationwide Series schedule for Richard Childress Racing, will drive the No. 33 for the team on February 26 with sponsorship from General Mills and Kroger. “It’s great to be back in the Daytona 500,” Sadler [...]
[Continue reading…]Drivers applaud NASCAR’s abandonment of secret fines
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
NASCAR’s decision to forgo undisclosed fines and make such penalties public was met with early enthusiasm from drivers in the Sprint Cup Series. Drivers applaud NASCAR’s abandonment of secret fines
[Continue reading…]Pocono Raceway founder and patron Mattioli dies
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Pocono Raceway founder and chairman of the board, passed away Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, surrounded by his family, following a lengthy illness. He was 86. Pocono Raceway founder and patron Mattioli dies
[Continue reading…]Keselowski takes the helm at Penske Racing
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Elliott Sadler to drive fourth Childress car at Daytona
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Elliott Sadler will be back in the Sprint Cup Series for the Daytona 500. Sadler, who is driving a full Nationwide Series schedule for Richard Childress Racing, will drive the No. 33 for the team on February 26 with sponsorship from General Mills and Kroger. “It’s great to be back in the Daytona 500,” Sadler [...]
[Continue reading…]Happy Hour: Where will Brian Vickers end up?
January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com (note new address) or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face. NASCAR is in the middle of its media week, and look, [...]
[Continue reading…]Yeley, Furr reunited at first-year Cup team Robinson-Blakeney
January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Newly established Sprint Cup team Robinson-Blakeney Racing has tabbed J.J. Yeley to drive its No. 49 Toyota for the 2012 season. In addition, Yeley will be reunited with crew chief Tony Furr, who has been hired to coordinate and direct the upstart endeavor. Yeley, Furr reunited at first-year Cup team Robinson-Blakeney
[Continue reading…]