2011 Silly Season

[MJ_N_09]

Hmm.....Nationwide with short fields too?

Mac Hill Motorsports closing: #56-Kevin Lepage and Mac Hill Motorsports will be leading the charge of Nationwide teams Monday closing their doors. LePage, who start-and-parked in all but one race this season, confirmed the move while lamenting the possibility of short fields in the sport's second-tier division in 2011. "NASCAR seems to think there's going to be 45 cars at every race," he said. "But I don't see how that's possible...with the purse cuts and the [additional expenses of] the CoT." The Vermont native, a former driver on the Cup side for such powerhouses as Roush Racing, feels strongly that smaller teams like Mac Hill are getting squeezed out by the sport's recent changes. Claiming there's only a handful of companies to go around, the down economy combined with declining attendance has taken a toll on teams now unable to survive the fight with other top-tier Truck, Nationwide, and even Cup operations for the smaller, $2-$3 million-a-year sponsors. "NASCAR has a $100 million profit every year," he claimed. "You'd think they'd put some of it back in their race teams."(Frontstretch)(11-20-2010)

[rustyfan]

Hendrick Motorsports just shuffled some crew chiefs around in preparation for the 2011 season:

Originally Posted by NASCAR.com

Earnhardt's crew chief, Lance McGrew, moves over to the No. 5 team of Mark Martin; Steve Letarte moves from Jeff Gordon's No. 24 team to Earnhardt's No. 88 team; and Alan Gustafson becomes Gordon's crew chief after two years with Martin.

Also:

Originally Posted by NASCAR.com

In addition to the personnel moves, the cars of Gordon and Martin will be fielded out of the same facility, now known as the 5/24 shop. Earnhardt and Johnson will be in the 48/88 shop. Previously the 24 and 48 cars were built in the same building, and the 5 and 88 were together.

Source: http://www.nascar.com/news/101123/he...aps/index.html

[gomick]

No change for the #48 crew chief then - wonder why!

[MJ_N_09]

MAF can now confirm the #09:

Phoenix Racing plans to return: Earlier this season, word in the garage was that #09-Phoenix Racing owner James Finch was looking to sell his Nationwide Series racing operation. But Friday at Homestead, the veteran Florida car owner said he'd have both cars in Daytona for Speedweeks 2011. "I didn't have any sponsorship for the Nationwide car so I cut it [schedule] back and run more Cup races," Finch said. "And next year I'll run it part-time if I can find some sponsorship -- I'm going to keep it all in place, definitely run Daytona and all the plate races -- about a half-dozen." Finch said he hadn't yet spoken to new parent Ryan Newman, who most recently drove his car. In the past three seasons, in 92 Nationwide starts, Finch has a win -- with Mike Bliss at Charlotte in 2009 -- eight top-five and 35 top-10 finishes. "I'm planning on running all the Cup races, probably with a mix of drivers there, again," Finch said. "We're going to run the first five [races] and try to get into the top 35 [in the owners' points]. We're talking to some sponsors, but we haven't got anything confirmed yet -- but I know we'll be at Daytona."(NASCAR.com)(11-23-2010)

And, only a few schemes so far available for Nationwide so far: http://jayski.com/schemes/2011nationwide.htm

[MJ_N_09]

For Fieldy:

After the Owners Points from the #19 went to the #21, expect the Wood Bros to return to the full schedule. Bill Elliott is probably returning, likely splitting time with a rookie, possibly Trevor Bayne.

Nationwide:

3 full time teams for Roush with Stenhouse, Baynem and again.....Edwards. Also, Eric McClure may lack talent, but he brings sponsorship to the table as he joins the Tri-Star team next year, Leaving Rensi Motorsports.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

For Fieldy:

After the Owners Points from the #19 went to the #21, expect the Wood Bros to return to the full schedule. Bill Elliott is probably returning, likely splitting time with a rookie, possibly Trevor Bayne.

Good for the Wood Brothers. I hope they find some pace; Trevor seems to have some up his sleeve.

I am ready to see Chase Elliott in the top flight series.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Good for the Wood Brothers. I hope they find some pace; Trevor seems to have some up his sleeve.

I am ready to see Chase Elliott in the top flight series.

He's only 14...you'll be waiting a while.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Matt

He's only 14...you'll be waiting a while.

You are correct...and less than four years is an eternity.

[MJ_N_09]

Truthfully, I'm not sure if the Wood Brothers will go fulltime, but I am really hoping they are.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

For Fieldy:

After the Owners Points from the #19 went to the #21, expect the Wood Bros to return to the full schedule. Bill Elliott is probably returning, likely splitting time with a rookie, possibly Trevor Bayne.

Hope it becomes reality.

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Nationwide:

3 full time teams for Roush with Stenhouse, Baynem and again.....Edwards. Also, Eric McClure may lack talent, but he brings sponsorship to the table as he joins the Tri-Star team next year, Leaving Rensi Motorsports.

Colin Braun is dropped by Roush?

[MJ_N_09]

Would be a shame if he was. I mean, come on. Edwards has been Buschwacking long enough, so it isn't exactly fair.

[FIRE]

Scott Speed will not race a Red Bull stock car in 2011.

[MJ_N_09]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Colin Braun is dropped by Roush?

A Jayski Nationwide post today says, "yes". He is off to look for another team.

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Scott Speed will not race a Red Bull stock car in 2011.

I'm assuming this is because of Vickers' return and Kahne taking over the other wagon?

[MJ_N_09]

Basically.

[gomick]

Thought Braun was in the poo with Roush mid-year when he keep crashing... Speed, no suprise there at Red Bull. Whats the news on Brian Vickers?

[MJ_N_09]

Since Speed is being released, obviously Vickers is coming back to the 83.

As for another ex. open wheeler. Penske is trying to put something together for Hornish so he can continue in cup.

[MJ_N_09]

Poor Robby. Making bad deals with bad people this year. He is suing Extenze for lack of payment. Noone's ever gonna hire this guy again, and rightly so.

#7-Robby Gordon claims he was used and abused by the people who make Extenze -- claiming he put their logo on a car he owned ... but didn't paying him. Gordon claims Extenze agreed pay if Gordon -- who owns a race car team -- would splash the logo on a car operated by his driver Kevin Conway at NASCAR events in October and November. But when Conway was in danger of falling out of the top 35 in onwers points -- Robby asked the Extenze people if he could personally drive the Extenze car instead. In his lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Gordon claims the Extenze people initially agreed to the deal ... so he made the switch. It was only after the races, Gordon claims, that Extenze refused to pay him citing breach of contract because he got in the driver's seat instead of Kevin. Gordon wants Extenze to pay him at least $690,000 to settle (paraphrased from TMZ.com)(12-4-2010)

And finally, David Stremme planning to start his own Nationwide team. Good luck to him.

[gomick]

Extenze would have been better off putting there sponsorship on a Nationwide car with Conway - for less $$$?

[gomick]

When does testing start?

[MJ_N_09]

January....unless it's still banned.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by gomick

When does testing start?

Just heard that they will be Goodyear tire testing at Daytona on the newly paved surface sometime next week. Only about a dozen teams are planning on going. JJ, Harvick and Hamlin NOT among those dozen.

[MJ_N_09]

Keyed Up Motorsports to return: Keyed Up Motorsports plans to attempt and run the first five races of the 2011 season with driver Scott Riggs in the #90 Chevy with Earnhardt Childress engines. Doug Richert will return as the crew chief.(Keyed Up Motorsports)(12-9-2010)

[FIRE]

Not a surprise:

Former Red Bull driver Scott Speed has filed a lawsuit for US $6.5 million against Red Bull's NASCAR team after being released from his contract last month.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88665

[gomick]

He's not happy with the way they gave him the boot - why wouldnt they tell him face to face?
Noticed the Nationwide series calender has only 33 races in 2011?