Prepare your vehicle for winter before it arrives (NASCAR.com)
December 23, 2009
As temperatures begin to drop, much of the nation is gearing up for the winter months ahead. Now is the time to protect your vehicle against the potential damaging effects of ice, snow, sleet and rain.
Cold weather makes existing problems worse, so whether you've been putting off a major repair or just need a bit of seasonal service, prepare for winter's chill now to save time, money and hassle down the road.
To keep your car running smoothly during the cold months ahead, check the following areas to make sure they are in good condition and working properly:
Now is the time to get the par… NASCAR.com – Dec 23, 10:19 am EST NASCAR Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
• Tires: Tire pressure drops along with the outdoor temperature, so check often for proper inflation. Get a wheel alignment to optimize steering on slick surfaces, rotate the tires for maximum life and performance and replace them immediately if the tread is excessively worn. Consider special tires if snow and ice are a problem in your area.
• Oil and filter: Drivers in cold climates may notice a change in vehicle performance, so check your owner's manual for the recommended viscosity of oil that's appropriate for winter temperatures. Using the correct grade and a fresh filter will lead to better fuel efficiency, easier cold starts and a more efficient, longer running engine.
• Antifreeze: The number one cause of engine-related breakdowns is cooling system failure. The best way to prevent this is to have your antifreeze flushed with a good chemical cleaner and filled with at least a 50/50 mix every two years. In very cold climates, adjusting the ratio of antifreeze to water is necessary for peak performance.
• Windshield Wipers: A blast of wintry weather will quickly wear down and crack blades, so stash an extra set in the trunk for emergencies or switch to special snow blades during the winter months. Keep the windshield washer reservoir filled with freeze-resistant wiper fluid so you always have a clear view of the road and nearby traffic.
• Battery: Batteries lose cranking power as the thermometer dips, so if yours is more than three years old, have it checked by a qualified technician to ensure it's in good working order and will continue to provide dependable starts and optimal performance. For routine care, scrape away corrosion from posts, clean the surfaces and tighten cable connections.
• Brakes: Worn brakes are dangerous in normal driving conditions, but they can create an especially hazardous situation on snow and ice. If you experience dragging, squealing, pulling, grinding or a pulsating brake pedal, have the system checked by a professional before you encounter nasty weather.
• Emergency kit: Keep your vehicle stocked with simple emergency supplies in the event you do get stalled or have an accident. In addition to a good spare tire (properly inflated) and a working jack, your trunk should include some or all of the following items: blanket, boots and gloves, ice scraper, jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlight, flares, cell phone, basic tools, kitty litter, bottled water and high-energy snacks.
The holiday months can be stressful enough without mixing in the challenges of car trouble. To avoid unexpected automotive problems this winter, take your car in for a checkup. Take appropriate steps now to prepare your vehicle for poor weather conditions before they arrive. Visit www.oreillyauto.com for more car care tips and solutions.
Schumacher to return to F1 with Mercedes (PA SportsTicker)
December 23, 2009
BERLIN(AP) —Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is coming out of retirement to drive for Mercedes in 2010.
The 40-year-old German driver, who retired three years ago, confirmed his comeback on Wednesday.
“Three years of absence gave back all the energy that I’m feeling right now,” Schumacher said in a telephone conference. “I feel ready for some serious stuff.
“I believe I can be absolutely competetive,” he said.
Schumacher had planned a short-term comeback with Ferrari last season to fill in for the injured Felipe Massa, but he had to call that off due to a neck injury from a motorcycle accident.
“The neck is no further issue,” Schumacher said Wednesday.
Schumacher will partner with Nico Rosberg in an all-German team for the 2010 season.
Happy Hour: Patrick-JRM still in spotlight (Yahoo! Sports)
December 22, 2009
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I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. And for those who just have to get your Happy Hour fix, I’m taking next week off. I’ll be back with you after the new year.
Now let’s get to the final mailbag of 2009:
Danica vs. The World
More From Jay Hart Happy Hour: Danica drives a polarizing express Dec 15, 2009 Danica, NASCAR benefit from merger Dec 8, 2009
I would love to be concentrating on the possibilities for Penske Racing this coming season, with 3 Chase capable teams and one proven champion but, like the rest of the NASCAR fan world, every conversation seems to be orbiting the #7 JRM car and its driver. I think a credible showing by Ms. Patrick will be good for JRM, good for Ms. Patrick and good for NASCAR overall but an age old concern raises its head here:
Join Happy Hour Got a question or comment for Yahoo! Sports NASCAR editor Jay Hart? Want to be a part of Happy Hour? Email Jay
The wife and I are Chrissy Wallace fans and were more than a little disappointed to watch her sponsorship dry up and blow away, leaving her a dabbler in racing when she shows the earmarks to be a credible competitor. While Chrissy is not an unattractive young woman, she is not likely to pursue a fall-back career in modeling, she is a talented driver, not a fashion plate.
Has our beloved sport become so media driven that it’s not enough to be good (if you are a woman) but you have to have runway model looks too? Is this the smoking gun behind the difficulty for women making in-roads into racing?
It’s hard enough to find top driving talent in either sex, but women have the added disadvantage of having to look good while performing. Good thing that doesn’t follow for men or Greg Biffle would be sweeping one of Jack’s shops instead of being a perennial contender. (Sorry Greg, it’s a big bus and someone had to go under it.)
Keith FosbergMartinsburg, W.V.
While I do think some underestimate Danica’s ability, there’s no question that her star quality (which, like it or not, is tethered to her looks) has availed her the opportunity to hop into a premier Nationwide Series ride without ever having driven a stock car. Know what I call this Keith? Life. Some things just aren’t fair.
But give Danica credit. She didn’t just show up a star. She’s built her brand into what it is today, and not all of it is held up on a foundation of good looks. There is quite a bit of talent there, too.
I’d like to add one more thing: So far, Danica has handled this NASCAR situation perfectly. She’s coming in humbled, she’s willing to start in the minor leagues and she’s not making any grand predictions on when she’ll take the Cup world by storm. She even came right out and said why she probably won’t make her NASCAR debut at Daytona: Because she doesn’t want to race against 30 Cup drivers.
As for Penske Racing, I’m sold on Kurt Busch, not so much on Sam Hornish Jr. or even Brad Keselowski, whose best results (Nationwide or Cup) have come in cars supported by Hendrick Motorsports. For me, he still needs to prove he can be competitive without a Hendrick engine under the hood.
Jay, unlike most comments about your Danica column, I respect your honest opinion. With such sugar-coated NASCAR reporters, these days it’s hard to find a decent, real human being on the other side of the screen.
Clearly, Danica doesn’t have the best track record – no pun intended – since all 5 years she’s been racing she’s won a mere one time; however, it’s incredibly obvious open wheelers and stock cars are from two different hemispheres.
Who knows? Maybe she’ll rock and be the next Jimmie Johnson! Or she’ll be the next Franchitti and be on her way back to open-wheelers faster than she can say “NASCAR”. Either way, I personally think no one should be sweating this situation. She could either be great, or terrible and until February, we’ll never know. Let’s just enjoy the break, eh?
Erica White
One of the things I find most interesting about Jimmie Johnson is how he’s quick to point out that he’s “finally found something [he’s] good at” – his words, not mine. Remember, he had very little success in what was then called the Busch Series.
Maybe open-wheel cars aren’t Danica’s thing. Maybe she’ll find more success in a stock car, just as Johnson did when he moved up to the Cup Series. And let’s give her more time than just February before we determine if she’s terrible or not.
I started as a big Danica fan when she first entered open wheel competition but I have since fallen off of the band wagon for the following reason: she is a great driver but a fair to poor racer.
Mario Andretti once said “lots of people want to go fast, only a few want to RACE”. If you look at Danica’s starting position in most of the races she qualifies well, drops some spots in the first few laps, then hangs around to finish reasonably well. This is very good for the team as the car usually comes back in one piece and she garners a handful of points so that, at the end of the season, she looks pretty good. Look at the lap charts.
I would love to be wrong and have her prove to me what a racer she is in NASCAR as the tin-top series puts more of a premium on hard-nosed racing than the middle of the field in IRL. That is not a knock on IRL as the front of the field is truly battling fiercely.
Erik KarlssonAustin, Texas
Do you think the drivers currently on the circuit will treat Danica differently than they would any other NASCAR rookie?
I ask this for two reasons: one, because she is a woman, and that simple fact has seemed to provoke a lot of feeling from your readers both pro and con. It’s reasonable to assume that the other drivers on the circuit are likely to be as polarized privately, regardless of what they say publicly.
Secondly, because her professional background is strictly open wheel, do you think she’ll be given a little less respect on the course as a result of it, irrespective of her gender?
Both of those factors could have a large impact on Danica’s success or the lack of it, even though it will ultimately be her driving ability (or the lack of it) that will determine the course of her career.
Cindy HoffmanGreenfield, Ind.
I don’t think Danica’s gender or racing background will matter one bit when it come to respect from her peers. Will they be leery of her because of her rookie status? Sure, but that’s how it is with all rookies. They will figure out pretty quickly how she handles herself on the track and will then race her accordingly, just as they do their male peers.
My biggest question isn’t whether they’ll show her enough respect, but rather the opposite. If she decides to be tough, say in a Brad Keselowski sort of way (though I highly doubt this will be the case), will drivers be willing to show her some tough love, the way Denny Hamlin did Keselowski in the Nationwide finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway?
I think you were too nice about Danica. If I had her looks and my talent I would have a ride in some form of professional racing. I will give her credit for the way she blasted Robbie Gordon a few years ago about eating less cheeseburgers instead of complaining about a weight advantage, but as far as her having the talent to drive a stock car, I don’t think so.
Sam Hornish is 100 times the Indy car driver that she is, and he struggles to save face in a stockcar.
To the person that used Tony Stewart as an example, Tony is a rare breed that could haul ass in anything with wheels; hell, I bet he could win the Kentucky Derby on a donkey if they put a steering wheel on it.
Chris SmithCoalinga, Calif.
Hilarious. And a word of advice to anyone driving on I-5 toward Coalinga – roll your windows up and/or make sure your air conditioner is flipped to re-circulate mode before you get there. They have the biggest cattle farm I’ve ever seen, and, well, you get the picture.
This and that …
Hey Jay. The argument about JJ vs. the rest of the greats is a bit like Lance Armstrong vs. Eddy Merckx. Lance won 7 Tours de France and is certainly the best Tour rider ever. But Eddy won 300+ races at almost a 33% rate – but only 5 Tours. The bottom line is that they are both great – but so different that it’s hard to compare them. Just as the eras of Cale and Dale and Jeff and J are so different. Why does one have to be “Best”?
Paraphrasing Tom Robbins: Fairness isn’t judging different things by the same criteria, but by judging different things by different criteria – as the relevant criteria have most likely changed in the meantime.
Matt HoolehanChicago
My buddy James (who you may have read over at From the Marbles) introduced me to Tom Robbins way back, but I could never get into him. That said, what a brilliant quote.
As for why we debate such things as who is better – we have to keep ourselves entertained somehow between Miami and Daytona, don’t we?
Jay, Now that they have the rule that owners may only have four teams, what gives with the Hendricks? J.J., Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Dale Jr., that’s his four. Now with his co-ownership with Jr. Motorsports, that makes another half team, and if they have one more car running, that will be the same as another half team. Something dose not smell right to me.
Richard DankertKlamath Falls, Ore.
JR Motorsports runs exclusively in the Nationwide Series, so there is no conflict here, Richard.
The bigger question going forward for NASCAR is how to treat organizations and their satellite teams. Seems like it’s OK right now for an organization to have one satellite team. But if Dale Earnhardt Jr. decides to move his team up to Cup, does NASCAR allow Hendrick to be affiliated? If so, what’s to stop Hendrick from amassing an arsenal of satellite teams that dominates the Cup landscape?
Last call …
So, instead of penis enlargement commercials we will now be seeing Tampax ads on NASCAR?
RichardCuatro Rosa, Mexico
Jay Hart is the NASCAR editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jay a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
Motorsports Authentics looks to avoid bankruptcy (NASCAR.com)
December 22, 2009
In an all-out effort to avoid bankruptcy, the joint owners of Motorsports Authentics are attempting to reorganize the troubled licensed merchandise company and settle the millions of dollars it owes several NASCAR teams.
MA's 50-50 owners, International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc., have been in constant contact with the top teams since the end of the season, with one of NASCAR's top executives, senior vice president Paul Brooks, acting as a mediator.
It's uncertain exactly how much MA owes the teams, but its contracts with the best-selling organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. guarantee each of them close to $3 million annually, industry insiders say. MA, which has lost money in three of its four years in existence, has been paying a portion of those guarantees, about a third to half, based on their merchandise sales.
Officials from ISC and SMI declined comment, citing the continuing nature of the negotiations. But team officials characterize the talks as frustrating because there remains no clear merchandise plan for the sport and the season-opening Daytona 500 is less than two months away. MA is responsible for most of the sport's trackside retail activity and much of its licensed merchandise, although that model could change as part of the company's restructuring.
Several team officials have cited differences between ISC and SMI for restricting the process.
"Until MA has its internal differences sorted out, it's difficult to predict what is going to happen," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Fenway Racing. "The two owners have to be able to agree on a course of action. The whole process is moving slower than we'd like, and really until the two owners' interests are aligned, it's going to be an awkward situation for the teams."
Another team executive characterized talks as "stuck in neutral. There's not a clear solution, but everybody's still at the table, still committed to working this out."
Most team officials say they're willing to forgive some of the debt from MA, but they need a clearer understanding of the plan going forward before agreeing to a settlement.
One scenario has the teams taking a stake in a new die-cast entity that would be spun off by MA, but the details of who would run the company and how the revenue would be shared are complicated, which makes it difficult to generate a unanimous vote from the teams.
It's not clear precisely where ISC and SMI differ because team executives won't divulge negotiation specifics, but the die-cast entity is one of several new scenarios that have emerged, each of which would take MA and NASCAR merchandising in a new direction. Another option is for MA to declare bankruptcy, which is still on the table but considered a last resort.
MA was created in 2005 from about $245 million worth of acquisitions by ISC and SMI, but its value has decreased below $40 million, based on the most recent earnings reports, and is likely worth even less today.
"MA has been going through the process of establishing its core competencies and we're waiting to see what their future looks like," said John Bickford, general manager of Hendrick-Gordon Licensing, which represents drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, three of the sport's top sellers.
"We understand there are some big decisions that have to be made, but before you can start forgiving debt, you need to know what the plan is."
Plagued by declining sales, annual losses and heavy management turnover, a new-look MA would likely stick to what it does best—trackside retail—while spinning off the die-cast car division, according to team and league officials involved in the talks. Stakes in ownership of the die-cast entity could be taken by the teams, or a third party could be brought in to run the company.
Revenue from the new die-cast entity would be used to repay the teams a settled amount, plus interest.
Joe Mattes, vice president of licensing and marketing for the sport's top seller, Dale Earnhardt Jr., said the reorganization of MA is likely the genesis for NASCAR Properties, a centralized licensing agency that would represent each of NASCAR's team rights, as well as the league's rights. A unified licensing body would be similar to those like NFL Properties and NBA Properties in other leagues.
"We're looking at a reshuffling of the deck," Mattes said. "We've needed something that can be a catalyst to effect positive change and move us as an industry in a better direction."
Mattes, Bickford, Roush Fenway's Smith, DEI's Jeff Steiner and other executives from the teams have been influential in the process, along with Brooks and Blake Davidson from NASCAR's licensing division.
"We're taking the approach of how do 'we' solve it, not how do 'they' solve it," Bickford said.
MA generated more than $200 million in revenue in 2008, the only year it has turned a profit, but MA's revenue this year will be a little more than $100 million, industry insiders say. The die-cast division accounts for a little less than half of the company's revenue.
Jim Morris has been running MA as the general manager with direction from MA's board, which includes Roger VanDerSnick and John Saunders from ISC and Marcus Smith and Don Hawk from SMI.
Road America takes over Milwaukee Nationwide race
December 21, 2009
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP)—NASCAR’s Nationwide series will stay in Wisconsin next year, shifting its race next year to Road America from the financially troubled Milwaukee Mile.
The twisting road course in central Wisconsin will host a Nationwide race on Saturday, June 19.
That replaces the Milwaukee Mile, which will not host major racing events in 2010. The Wisconsin State Fair Park board of directors, which oversees the Milwaukee track, has been unable to make a deal with a new promoter but still hopes to bring major events back there in 2011.
NASCAR’s Johnson wins male athlete of the year
December 21, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—There was little recognition outside the racing worldwhen Jimmie Johnson won his first NASCAR championship.
Same with his second, and again with his third.
But four consecutive championships? That’s a different story.
Johnson, the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles,received mainstream recognition Monday when he was honored as the Male Athleteof the Year by members of The Associated Press.
Johnson received 42 votes from editors at U.S. newspapers which are membersof the AP. Tennis star Roger Federer (30 votes) and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt(29) were the only other athletes with totals in the double- digits.
Although Tiger Woods was named Athlete of the Decade, he received only ninevotes for Athlete of the Year. He was tied with Kobe Bryant and Albert Pujols.
For Johnson, the first race car driver to be named the AP’s Athlete of theYear in its 78-year history, the award is the validation he’s been waiting forsince he began his historic run in 2006.
“We’d been wondering the last few years, ‘When is this going to hit?”’ hesaid. “It seems like the answer is now. The wave is finally peaking, and wedon’t know where it’s going to take us. The fourth-straight title takes it outof our sport and makes it a point of discussion—like, wow, a race car driverwon this thing.”
The 34-year-old Californian again schooled the competition, winning four ofhis seven races this season when the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship beganin September. Two-time champion Tony Stewart dominated the “regular season,”but it was Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team that turned it upwhen the stakes were highest.
“I’m pretty sure that dude’s Superman,” said teammate Mark Martin, whofinished second in the NASCAR standings, 141 points behind Johnson.
Petronas to be Mercedes GP’s title sponsor
December 21, 2009
OXFORD, England (AP)—Mercedes GP has signed a long-term agreement withMalaysia’s national oil company Petronas to become the title sponsor of theFormula One team.
Financial details or the length of the deal were not disclosed in theannouncement Monday.
The new Silver Arrows and Petronas branding will appear on the Mercedes carwhen it makes its track debut at Valencia on Feb. 1 for the first of thepreseason tests.
Petronas also sponsors the Malaysian Grand Prix, which is schedule for April4 at the Sepang International Circuit.
Mercedes-Benz has returned to F1 racing under its own name for the firsttime in 55 years by buying Brawn GP, which won the drivers’ and constructors’championship last season.
Course planner says deal in place for Rome GP (PA SportsTicker)
December 20, 2009
ROME(AP) —Italian organizers say a deal has been signed with Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone to stage a Rome Grand Prix on the streets of Italy’s capital.
Course planner Maurizio Flammini told Sky Italia on Sunday that an agreement with Ecclestone “has already been done and signed” but did not say when the first Rome GP might be held. The 2010 F1 calendar has already been set.
City authorities have been making plans for the race for more than a year and intend to use the city streets as a course, in similar fashion as the popular races in Monaco and Valencia.
If the Rome GP becomes a reality, it would mean a second annual stop in Italy on the F1 calendar.
The Monza circuit near Milan has hosted the Italian Grand Prix since 1922.
Danica Patrick gets taste of NASCAR at Daytona (PA SportsTicker)
December 19, 2009
By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.(AP)—Once IndyCar star Danica Patrick figured out how to get in and out of the stock car, the rest of her testing session at Daytona International Speedway went without any problems.
Her five laps around NASCAR’s most famous track Friday felt “a little slow” – no surprise since those IndyCars go about 50 mph faster – and her test was considerably smoother than the storied superspeedway.
Her main concern?
“I felt most disoriented with how the heck I am supposed to get my stuff on?” she said following a rain-shortened ARCA test. “I can’t get in the car with all that stuff and I can’t buckle my belts and I can’t do it with my helmet on. So I get in the car and I have to tuck my hair down the back of the suit and I can’t do it because I am strapped in and I am just awfully confused, so I decided I needed everything on but my helmet and then get in the car.
“It sounds silly, right? It’s logistics, but they’re logistics I am not used to. I am used to being fully dressed and then getting in the car.”
If that turns out to be her biggest problem, then her NASCAR future might be brighter than the fluorescent, green-and-orange paint job on her No. 7 Chevrolet.
Patrick started the day with a van ride around the track, getting a much better feel for the 2 1/2-mile tri-oval than she ever got testing IndyCars on Daytona’s road course or racing in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2006 and 2009.
Rain delayed the start of the session, and Patrick had dozens of photographers and reporters following her every move through the garage.
“It was a bit of a circus out there,” she said. “I’m not unfamiliar with having people around, although it does seem a little funny when there is not much else going on. I definitely feel very singled out. I’m lucky for that, so it definitely felt like there is a lot of interest.
Even competitors were taking pictures during the drivers meeting.
“I definitely felt the lenses of cameras all morning,” she said.
Patrick took part in a private test session in Orlando last week, driving ARCA and Nationwide cars, so this wasn’t her first laps in a stock car.
They were her most anticipated. How would she handle the hefty cars on a bumpy track? How would she communicate with crew members? Would she stall leaving pit road, spin coming out of a turn or scrape the wall? Some of the concerns seemed justified when she admitted afterward that she didn’t even know the track was 2 1/2 miles around.
But there were few hiccups.
“The car is different,” she said. “It definitely moves around quite a bit. It was getting some action in the rear on the bumps. It was getting a little bit loose, but I kept my foot in it and I tried not to chase it too much with the steering. Didn’t want to have an accident, but I felt all right. It was fun. I trusted the car. I trusted the preparation of it. I trusted the guys.”
Patrick was one of a record nine women at the first day of the three-day test. Part-time IndyCar driver Milka Duno, twins Amber and Angela Cope, Alli Owens and Leilani Munter were among the others. But none of them received the attention Patrick got.
Even NASCAR president Mike Helton showed up to watch the sport’s newest star.
“I don’t know I can relate it to anything I can remember,” Helton said. “Obviously, there was anticipation when Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. and Matt Kenseth moved from the Nationwide Series to the Cup Series and there was anticipation when Tony Stewart decided to switch from open wheels to our type of racing, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything quite like this.”
Patrick will make her stock car debut in the ARCA race at Daytona in February. She plans to drive a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series in 2010 and hasn’t ruled out making her NASCAR debut at Daytona.
Her hesitation?
“Just don’t know enough right now,” she said. “It’s quite an arena to run my first Nationwide. With 30 Cup guys out there, it’s going to be really, really challenging.”
Although crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said Thursday that Patrick is capable of top-15 finishes every week, she stopped short of placing any lofty expectations on herself, especially after just a few laps.
“I would have to say that putting a number on it at all is a bold move,” Patrick said. “I don’t ever do that, really. I never really say I think I should run third today or 13th. I never say any number whatsoever because you just don’t know. I never want to be held accountable or judged by you based on what I say. I never give a number. All I can say is I hope to go out there and win every single race, and we’ll see what happens from there.”
Helton called Patrick’s arrival positive, adding that “it doesn’t hurt us to have good story lines, and this is certainly a good story line.”
But can she live up to the expectations?
“I don’t know,” Helton said. “I sure hope so, and I hope everybody’s expectations can be reasonable. That’s important. She’s obviously got her own goals and expectations. … It’s important for the rest of us to be reasonable with ours.”
CJM Racing ceases operations in Nationwide Series
December 18, 2009
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP)—CJM Racing, which had 12 top-10 finishes in the Nationwide Series last season, has suspended operations.
Team owners Tony and Bryan Mullet say they will not race in 2010, saying it is “really hard for us to see this great group of people move in other directions.”
Denny Hamlin and Scott Lagasse Jr. drove the No. 11 Toyota for CJM last season. They combined for five top-five finishes and two second-place showings.
CJM formed in 2006 and raced the Sprint Cup series. After running a limited Cup schedule, the team dropped to Nationwide in mid-2007. CJM ran a full Nationwide schedule in 2008 and finished 17th in owner points. The team switched to Toyotas in 2009, formed a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and finished 15th in points.
