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Sprint Cup
CUP: Monday Media Tour Notebook
Tony Stewart is getting in shape for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season...
Tony Stewart stands in the garage are prior to testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 22, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)
With the NASCAR Media Tour starting today in Concord, N.C., SPEED.com will keep an updated notebook of news items for each of the four days of the event. Check back for frequent updates.
SHR LENDING HAND — Stewart-Haas Competition Director Bobby Hutchens said Monday that he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from Furniture Row Racing, the Denver-based team that SHR will provide crew services for in 2011.
“We did the No. 71 car with TRG Motorsports last year and had a really good year with them,” said Hutchens. “We’re very fortunate, I think to sign up with Furniture Row Motorsports and Regan (Smith, driver) and those guys. We picked that program up a lot in the offseason and right now I’m hoping — and what I’ve seen in back — they’re right in tune with our other two pit crews.”
Hutchens said that running a third crew out of the shop, helps SHR as much as it does Furniture Row. “That’s going to mean a lot, I think,” said Hutchens. “It helps push our other two pit crews, knowing we’ve got guys here who can get the job done. It gives us backup support and allows us to hire some young kids that want to get into the sport, that want to be a gas man or a tire changer. I can work them in as backup guys for all three teams.”
Some other SHR tidbits: Team owner Tony Stewart has actually gone on a fitness regimen, and appeared to be in the best shape he’s been in for quite some time. Stewart credited Mark Martin with inspiring him to get in better shape, though he acknowledged he’s hardly in the same league with Stewart.
“It’s not having a diet, it’s not necessarily working out, but it’s changing your lifestyle and getting in that mode of just doing your routine different,” said Stewart.
Last but not least, NASCAR officials were scheduled to meet with SHR at 5 p.m. Monday as part of their “town hall” meetings to discuss the 2011 rules package.
EGR ROARS BACK — It wasn’t long ago when the very existence of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates seemed questionable. But in 2010, both EGR drivers — Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoyawon a total of four NASCAR Sprint Cup races and seven poles. More importantly, perhaps, the team returned all of its primary sponsors and key associates, and added a couple of new sponsors in LiftMaster and Widia. EGR and sponsor Energizer will also do a flashlight promotion at the Sprint All-Star Race in May, attempting to make the Guiness Book of World Records for most flashlights lit at one time.
Team co-owner Chip Ganassi said Monday that attracting and retaining sponsors requires both on-track performance and building and maintaining strong relationships with the companies.
“You’ve got to have them all,” said Ganassi. “You’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders.”
CONWAY IN AT NEMCO — Kevin Conway will drive a second NEMCO Motorsports Toyota during Daytona Speedweeks. Conway, the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year, will race the No. 97 Toyota in the Feb. 12 Budweiser Shootout and will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 as well.
“Getting to run in the Bud Shootout and attempt to make the Daytona 500 has been a life long dream of mine and I am pleased to get this opportunity to do so with Nemco Motorsports,” said Conway. “ExtenZe and I initially worked with Joe back in 2009 running a few races in the Nationwide Series and we are excited to get back to where it all started. We worked well together in the Nationwide Series and look forward to building upon that success at Daytona Speedweeks this year and hopefully beyond.”
“Nemco Motorsports is happy to make this announcement today and we are looking forward to kicking the 2011 season off with Kevin Conway and ExtenZe Racing,” said Nemechek.
RPM’S SPONSORS SET — Richard Petty Motorsports announced its 2011 sponsor lineup Monday morning. Stanley and DEWALT will serve as the two primary sponsors for the No. 9 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose, who is new to the team this season. Ambrose’s crew chief will be veteran Todd Parrott.
Best Buy will return to sponsor the No. 43 Ford and driver AJ Allmendinger for 24 races. Leading that team will be Mike Shiplett, who has worked with Allmendinger for several years at RPM. Valvoline, U.S. Air Force, WIX Filters, Reynolds and Paralyzed Veterans of America will round out the sponsorship package on car for the 2011 season.
DARNELL RECOGNIZED — Veteran NASCAR public relations representative Denny Darnell was awarded the Ken Patterson Helping Others Award by the National Motorsports Press Association. Presented annually since 2004, the award is named after the former director of public relations for Talladega Superspeedway and presented in conjunction with the track. It recognizes a public relations representative in the motorsports industry who has exhibited the kind, generous qualities always demonstrated by Patterson, who died April 2, 2004, from complications of myelo dysplasia syndrome.
Darnell is the communications leader for the Dodge Motorsports trackside NASCAR program and is a long-time veteran of the sport. Entering his 37th year in motorsports, he has worked in the media, in track administration and on the public relations side of racing. He was the director of communications for the National Hot Rod Association and the director of communications for Sports Marketing Enterprises, in charge of all sponsorships under the R.J. Reynolds banner, before moving to the Dodge program.
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
SHR LENDING HAND — Stewart-Haas Competition Director Bobby Hutchens said Monday that he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from Furniture Row Racing, the Denver-based team that SHR will provide crew services for in 2011.
“We did the No. 71 car with TRG Motorsports last year and had a really good year with them,” said Hutchens. “We’re very fortunate, I think to sign up with Furniture Row Motorsports and Regan (Smith, driver) and those guys. We picked that program up a lot in the offseason and right now I’m hoping — and what I’ve seen in back — they’re right in tune with our other two pit crews.”
Hutchens said that running a third crew out of the shop, helps SHR as much as it does Furniture Row. “That’s going to mean a lot, I think,” said Hutchens. “It helps push our other two pit crews, knowing we’ve got guys here who can get the job done. It gives us backup support and allows us to hire some young kids that want to get into the sport, that want to be a gas man or a tire changer. I can work them in as backup guys for all three teams.”
Some other SHR tidbits: Team owner Tony Stewart has actually gone on a fitness regimen, and appeared to be in the best shape he’s been in for quite some time. Stewart credited Mark Martin with inspiring him to get in better shape, though he acknowledged he’s hardly in the same league with Stewart.
“It’s not having a diet, it’s not necessarily working out, but it’s changing your lifestyle and getting in that mode of just doing your routine different,” said Stewart.
Last but not least, NASCAR officials were scheduled to meet with SHR at 5 p.m. Monday as part of their “town hall” meetings to discuss the 2011 rules package.
EGR ROARS BACK — It wasn’t long ago when the very existence of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates seemed questionable. But in 2010, both EGR drivers — Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoyawon a total of four NASCAR Sprint Cup races and seven poles. More importantly, perhaps, the team returned all of its primary sponsors and key associates, and added a couple of new sponsors in LiftMaster and Widia. EGR and sponsor Energizer will also do a flashlight promotion at the Sprint All-Star Race in May, attempting to make the Guiness Book of World Records for most flashlights lit at one time.
Team co-owner Chip Ganassi said Monday that attracting and retaining sponsors requires both on-track performance and building and maintaining strong relationships with the companies.
“You’ve got to have them all,” said Ganassi. “You’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders.”
CONWAY IN AT NEMCO — Kevin Conway will drive a second NEMCO Motorsports Toyota during Daytona Speedweeks. Conway, the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year, will race the No. 97 Toyota in the Feb. 12 Budweiser Shootout and will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 as well.
“Getting to run in the Bud Shootout and attempt to make the Daytona 500 has been a life long dream of mine and I am pleased to get this opportunity to do so with Nemco Motorsports,” said Conway. “ExtenZe and I initially worked with Joe back in 2009 running a few races in the Nationwide Series and we are excited to get back to where it all started. We worked well together in the Nationwide Series and look forward to building upon that success at Daytona Speedweeks this year and hopefully beyond.”
“Nemco Motorsports is happy to make this announcement today and we are looking forward to kicking the 2011 season off with Kevin Conway and ExtenZe Racing,” said Nemechek.
RPM’S SPONSORS SET — Richard Petty Motorsports announced its 2011 sponsor lineup Monday morning. Stanley and DEWALT will serve as the two primary sponsors for the No. 9 Ford driven by Marcos Ambrose, who is new to the team this season. Ambrose’s crew chief will be veteran Todd Parrott.
Best Buy will return to sponsor the No. 43 Ford and driver AJ Allmendinger for 24 races. Leading that team will be Mike Shiplett, who has worked with Allmendinger for several years at RPM. Valvoline, U.S. Air Force, WIX Filters, Reynolds and Paralyzed Veterans of America will round out the sponsorship package on car for the 2011 season.
DARNELL RECOGNIZED — Veteran NASCAR public relations representative Denny Darnell was awarded the Ken Patterson Helping Others Award by the National Motorsports Press Association. Presented annually since 2004, the award is named after the former director of public relations for Talladega Superspeedway and presented in conjunction with the track. It recognizes a public relations representative in the motorsports industry who has exhibited the kind, generous qualities always demonstrated by Patterson, who died April 2, 2004, from complications of myelo dysplasia syndrome.
Darnell is the communications leader for the Dodge Motorsports trackside NASCAR program and is a long-time veteran of the sport. Entering his 37th year in motorsports, he has worked in the media, in track administration and on the public relations side of racing. He was the director of communications for the National Hot Rod Association and the director of communications for Sports Marketing Enterprises, in charge of all sponsorships under the R.J. Reynolds banner, before moving to the Dodge program.
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
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