This year's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29. The event was originally set for Oct. 13. The date change was made due to the cancellation of the IndyCar event scheduled for Oct. 14. "Running the race on Oct. 13 would have necessitated a daytime event in order not to go head-to-head with the Saturday-night Sprint Cup race in Charlotte on the same day," said LVMS President Chris Powell. "The date switch allows us to run the event under the lights, and that allows more people to attend the race. We appreciate NASCAR's working with us to make this change." The start time for the Sept. 29 event is to be determined, but the event will run in the evening hours. The date change also returns the event to its more traditional late September slot on the series schedule.
During an emotional induction ceremony Friday night at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a pair of three-time champion drivers, racing's quintessential crew chief, a founding father of the sport and the hands-down best modified driver who ever lived all took their rightful places among NASCAR's elite. The third class of five NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees evidences no fall-off in quality from the two classes that preceded it in 2010 and 2011. In fact, some would argue that the 2012 inductees all boast credentials worthy of consideration for an earlier welcome to the Hall.
Darrell Waltrip, for instance, won three Sprint Cup titles and is tied for fourth on the career win list with 84 victories.
Cale Yarborough, the only driver to win three straight Cup titles before Jimmie Johnson equaled and then eclipsed the feat in the first decade of the 21st century, is sixth in all-time wins with 83.
As far as championships are concerned, Dale Inman is the most prolific winner among NASCAR crew chiefs, having accumulated seven Cup titles during his pioneering run at Petty Enterprises and a series-record eighth with driver Terry Labonte and owner Billy Hagan in 1984.
Glen Wood, who with brother Leonard Wood founded the most enduring team in the sport's history, was an innovator who nurtured the careers of a litany of elite drivers, most notable among them Hall of Famers Yarborough and David Pearson.
Richie Evans, a nine-time modified champion, simply was without peer. The "Rapid Roman" clinched his first NASCAR National Modified title in 1973. On Oct. 24, 1985, a week after securing his ninth modified championship, Evans was killed in a crash during practice at Martinsville Speedway. He was 44.
Turn One Racing announced that they will field a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in 2012, starting with the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 4th. The team is building on the experience earned over the last three years of competition in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where the team earned a ninth place finish in the 2011 standings with driver Cole Whitt. "This is a great opportunity for Turn One Racing," said Team Owner, Stacy Compton. "It has always been our objective to grow the team and this is just the next step in that plan. We have a great group of partners behind us and feel like we are taking all the right steps to build a very competitive Sprint Cup team." Compton's team has purchased cars from Richard Childress Racing and plans are in the works to race eight to ten events in their freshman year..."We have partnered with one of our long-time supporters to run a handful of races this year. We're also working on additional sponsorship that would enable us to run more races throughout the year." Compton confirmed Friday that he has formed an alliance with Richard Childress Racing that could result in a minimum eight-race schedule. "I know we're going to run Kentucky," Compton said. "We're going to run Indianapolis, for sure at this point. And we've got our eye on Texas as well." Compton has been in communication with RCR general manager Mike Dillon in his efforts to create a Cup program, with the idea of starting small and growing as sponsorship money becomes available. Compton's goal at this point is to concentrate on short tracks -- namely Martinsville, Bristol, Richmond and Dover. Compton said at least one sponsor is on board with the project, but he declined to identify it at this point. "It's a partner that we've had in the past and has supported me for many years," Compton said. "They want to make sure they get their ducks in a row first before we make any announcements on it." If more sponsorship can be obtained -- and Compton indicated there were talks under way -- the team could run as many as 15 races. So who will be behind the wheel? Compton said that's still to be determined....The team is also in the process of putting together a full season program for the No. 60 truck. The driver, crew chief, and sponsor lineup for both teams will be announced at a later date. According to the #46-Whitney Motorsports facebook page, "Whitney Motorsports has joined forces with Phil Parsons Racing to field a Sprint Cup car for Michael McDowell, we are remaining with Ford and are hoping for a great season and some sponsorship to join us here in 2012."
Andretti Autosport was far more prepared for the exodus of driver Danica Patrick than most anyone expected. At a preseason IndyCar test at Sebring International Raceway on Tuesday, team owner Michael Andretti said Patrick, as required by the terms of her final contract with his team, informed him early last year that she would not return. "January of '11 she had to let us know what she was doing for '12," Andretti said. "We purposely put it in the contract so in case she decided to leave, we had time. I'm glad we did that." Patrick signed a two-year deal with Andretti Autosport in 2009. It contained a mutual option for 2012. She asserted throughout the summer, with cover from Andretti, that her business team was exploring "all options," including returning to Andretti and IndyCar.