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Does NASCAR Need a Drivers Union Like IndyCar and Formula One?

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

by Holly Cain

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No way. Won’t happen. No need.

That’s the prevailing consensus on whether NASCAR drivers will ever create the type of drivers organization formalized in the IZOD IndyCar Series a couple weeks ago and that has long existed in Formula One and even the National Hot Rod Association.

There have been concerted efforts over the years by some of NASCAR’s biggest names, like Richard Petty, and even a rarely-talked-about effort in 1997 by the late seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt, but nothing sustainable. More often, it was a hush-hush, backroom suggestion that a committee or association was even necessary. The idea of anything resembling a union, pure blasphemy.

And that’s from current and former drivers, not just the sanctioning body.

“It’s pretty simple, NASCAR is the destination of choice for almost every driver in the world so if you don’t like it, there’s someone that will be right there on your heels ready to take your place,” driver Carl Edwards said this week. “Maybe that’s why they (NASCAR) have been able to do their own thing for so long.”

Or as 1989 champion Rusty Wallace puts it, “Having some sort of committee like that would just screw everything up.”

 

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The NASCAR Week That Was: Aug. 15-21

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

It was back to the world’s fastest half mile this weekend as NASCAR inches closer to the start of the chase for the championship. It was more Silly Season news that led the headlines this week. Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday Marcos Ambrose would be the driver of the #9 in 2011. Ambrose will be sponsored by Stanley Tools. And Richard Childress Racing announced Budweiser would sponsor Kevin Harvick in 2011. Budweiser takes over, partially, from the departing Shell/Pennzoil. And finally Brian Vickers announced on Saturday he has been cleared to race in 2011. Vickers has been sidelined since May because of blood clots. This is the NASCAR week that was, August 15 to 21, 2010.

Ballew an example of succeeding against the odds

NASCAR’s Star Mangled Banner

NASCAR fans unhappy…But why?

Q&A: Brian France ponders changes

Almirola’s rise gains steam

Vintage Insiders

Not Every Crew Guy Is Making $100k A Year

The Other Side of the Garage

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Ray Evernham Moves On As Old Team Disappears

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

by Holly Cain

Filed under: ,

As announcements came down the last two weeks detailing the future of driver Kasey Kahne and revealing the direction of Richard Petty Motorsports, it felt like a long good-bye was at last complete — the days when Richard Petty Motorsports was Evernham Motorsports done and gone.

But the NASCAR team’s original namesake, Ray Evernham, told FanHouse.com Wednesday he’s not really sentimental about the complete metamorphosis of the one-time championship contending operation he built from scratch.

“Obviously there’s a certain sentimental value looking at what we had all hoped it would become and knowing that it didn’t,” Evernham said. “The reality is the (George) Gillett family now owns the majority interest and has had control for years. It’s no different than if you sell your house or your car.”

“It’s not the path I would have taken, but they own the controlling interests and the path they take is theirs,” he said.

“Eventually the Ray Evernham DNA will be completely removed.”

 

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Marcos Ambrose Signs With Richard Petty Motorsports

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

by Holly Cain

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As speculated, Australian driver Marcos Ambrose has officially signed a multi-year contract to drive the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Ford in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2011.

In its announcement Tuesday, the team also confirmed that Stanley Black & Decker will now be the primary sponsor of the car next year, replacing Budweiser, which goes to Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 Chevrolet.

The move will reunite Ambrose with Ford Motor Company, which played a key role in bringing the former Australian V8 Supercar champ to America in 2006. He will replace Kasey Kahne, who revealed last week he is moving to Red Bull Racing for 2011 before joining the Hendrick Motorsports organization for 2012.

“It’s a journey that I’m on — this NASCAR journey — (and) I’m very excited to be able to stay in the sport,” Ambrose said during a press conference at Stanley’s world headquarters in Connecticut.

Also, RPM announced last week that former open-wheeler A.J. Allmendinger will remain driver of the team’s No. 43 Ford next season. Paul Menard will move from RPM to Richard Childress Racing in 2012, and it remains unclear where the RPM team’s other driver, Elliott Sadler, will end up next season. Stanley has been a long-time sponsor of Sadler’s No. 19 Ford at RPM.

 

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The NASCAR Week That Was: Aug. 8-14

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

NASCAR makes its second trip to Michigan this weekend as the Silly Season kicked into high gear. Hendrick Motorsports and Kasey Kahne led the news this week as they announced Red Bull Racing would be Kahne’s home for 2011. What car Kahne will be in, and who his teammates will be is not clear. In other news Richard Childress Racing announced this week Paul Menard would join the organization as its fourth team in 2011. Menard joins the team after spending two seasons with Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. And finally Extenze Racing and Kevin Conway announced a ‘hiatus’ from NASCAR on Friday. It’s unclear if and when the team would return. This is the NASCAR week that was August 8 to 14, 2010.

Bold moves for NASCAR

Those Footstops Might Sound Familiar

It’s official: Kahne to Red Bull for next year

Jerry Carroll’s dream now big reality with Sprint Cup race

Flow of talent between USAC, NASCAR has slowed

Vintage Insiders

Is EGR Really All That Unstable

The Off Track Businesses of NASCAR’s Drivers

**Remember if you have a NASCAR blog or website and would like a recent article you wrote featured in this section email me and you could be part of next week’s NASCAR Week That Was. Please only send stuff you have written.**

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