Kvapil full time in Cup with Front Row

Travis Kvapil told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Wednesday that he will run the full 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for Front Row Motorsports. Steven Lane will serve as crewchief on the car "expected to be the #34" with a new manufacturer to be announced in the near future. The team ran primarily Chevrolet livery a year ago, with Dodges entered in selected events. "It will be a full-time, two- car operation next season," said Kvapil, "but I can't really say anything more until all the details are finalized. That's all for the team to announce." Sources tell Sirius Speedway that former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kevin Conway will fill the seat of the second Front Row Motorsports entry, with sponsorship from Extenze Men's Health Supplement. (Sirius-Speedway)

Movie being made about stock car racing

If you happened to drive by North Wilkesboro Speedway on Thursday [Dec 17th] afternoon, you may have heard the rumble of a flathead Ford making a few laps around the historic five-eighths mile circuit. It was all part of a music video shot at the track for a new song by recording artist Matt Dylan and members of the Midnight Steel Band titled "Carolina Moonshine." The music video is part of a larger production, a movie called "Red Dirt Rising." The movie is based on the book "Red Dirt Tracks," a work of historical fiction by Gail Gurley. The film is centered on the life of Jimmie Lewallen, as well as fellow drivers Bill Blair and Fred Harb, all of whom raced and ran moonshine. Set during the 1940s, the film is meant to accurately portray the life and times of those involved with stock car racing before NASCAR was a household name. "Red Dirt Rising" is scheduled for official release on Jan. 13 at Johnny and June's Saloon in Winston-Salem, NC. Two of the big players behind the production of "Red Dirt Rising" are Gary Lewallen and Bill Blair Jr. Lewallen and Blair are the sons of drivers portrayed in the film, the late Jimmie Lewallen and Bill Blair. Blair, who volunteered his flathead 1939 Ford for the music video, hopes that the movie paints an accurate picture of what life was like for drivers back in those days. Proceeds from both the film and the soundtrack will be put toward the Racing Legends Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization for which Lewallen took the chair after his father died in 1995. The shoot was closed to the public. NASCAR legend Junior Johnson and son Robert also appeared in the video shoot. More info about the movie at reddirtrising.com. More info about North Wilkesboro Speedway at savethespeedway.net and historicnws.com. (Wilkes Journal Patriot)

Robby Gordon ready for Dakar Rally

Just days until the start of the highly anticipated 2010 Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon and Team Hummer are preparing to head south to Argentina. The HummerS are flying like always, except they are soaring above the clouds at 40,000 feet. The #302 of Robby Gordon and #326 of Carlo de Gavardo left the team’s race shop in California on Saturday, December 19th to be transported to Argentina via airfreight while the team’s support vehicles left the shop in late November to be shipped to Argentina by sea freight. With the support vehicles and the Vanguard Hummer shipping in early November, it allowed the team to focus on the final details of the Monster / Toyo Tires Hummer and the build of the Chile Hummer for arguably the most grueling event in motorsports. Following Gordon’s first-in-class finish and third-place overall result in 2009, Gordon is more determined than ever to compete for the overall victory in his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Hummer H3 in the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally. 2010 will mark Gordon’s sixth appearance in the rally endurance race, and just the fifth appearance for Team Hummer.
Traditionally run throughout Europe and Africa, the 2010 Dakar Rally will take place in South America for just the second time in the rally’s 32-year history. Competitors will race on a 5,592-mile (9,000 kilometer) course while navigating across some of the world’s highest sand dunes and mountains. The event kicks off on January 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Competitors race over the Andes Mountains, across the Pampas plains and through the merciless Atacama Desert. After 14 strenuous stages, the competitors will return to Buenos Aires as they race to the finish. At the completion of the event, the heroes of the competition will celebrate in the village of San Carlos de Bolivar before returning to Buenos Aires for an even bigger celebration on January 17. Race Coverage of the Dakar Rally will be covered at robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com, dakar.com and Twitter. Versus will provide coverage throughout the United States. A 30-minute daily program featuring highlights from that day’s racing will be aired on Versus daily at 3:30pm with a replay airing later in the day. The show is set to air daily from January 3rd through January 18th, check your local listing for exact show times. A 60-minute recap show featuring all fourteen stages will air on Versus on Sunday, January 24th at 3:00pm. (RGM)

Budweiser Shootout eligibility rules change for 2010

NASCAR announced a revision to the 2010 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona format that provides fans with a strong lineup of drivers highlighted by last year’s top performers and a collection of previous winners at the sport’s most-storied race track. The 32nd annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 6 with green flag set for 8:10pm/et. The new criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons:

• The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
• Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
• Past Budweiser Shootout champions
• Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champions
• The reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year

“We’re always looking at ways to make this event bigger and better for our fans and we believe the new format for the Budweiser Shootout puts together an exceptionally strong lineup of our top drivers,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “In our discussions with the track, we thought by placing an additional emphasis on the drivers who had performed well at Daytona over the years would create an even more compelling element for the fans to get excited about at the beginning of the season.” The race distance will continue to be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit and change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 4 on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4. The Budweiser Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors – was first held in 1979, originally known as the Busch Clash. Kevin Harvick won last year’s event. Tickets for all 2010 Speedweeks events are now available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout include:

2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #5-Mark Martin, #24-Jeff Gordon, #2-Kurt Busch, #11-Denny Hamlin, #14-Tony Stewart, #16-Greg Biffle, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #39-Ryan Newman, #9-Kasey Kahne, #99-Carl Edwards & #83-Brian Vickers

Others (criteria filled in parentheses)
#1-Jamie McMurray (Coke Zero 400)
#17-Matt Kenseth (Series champion, Daytona 500)
#18-Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400)
#20-Joey Logano (Rookie of the Year)
#21-Bill Elliott (champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
#29-Kevin Harvick (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
#31-Jeff Burton (Coke Zero 400)
#55-Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
#71-Bobby Labonte (Series champion)
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
#34?-John Andretti (Coke Zero 400)
#75?-Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride
Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride
Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400) - no current ride
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride. (NASCAR)

Nationwide Series going to Road America

Despite the demise of the Milwaukee Mile, NASCAR still plans to come to Wisconsin in 2010. Elkhart Lake's Road America -- arguably the best road course in the country -- will host the Nationwide Series on June 19, the date that had been held for the Mile. That will make for a road-racing doubleheader weekend for NASCAR, with the Sprint Cup Series in Sonoma, Calif. Stock cars aren't entirely new to RA. Tim Flock won in NASCAR's premier division in its only appearance in 1956. Lower divisions have competed at the track, including the defunct NASCAR Midwest Series in 2001, a race won by current Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver Paul Menard. NASCAR announced that it will continue its 17-year streak of racing on a national-series level in Wisconsin with the addition of the historic Road America course to its 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The Road America 200 at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn track located in Elkhart Lake, Wis., replaces the event previously scheduled at the Milwaukee Mile and will be run on Saturday, June 19. (NASCAR PR)

Tire test at Auto Club in the books

Security at Auto Club Speedway was very tight Tuesday and Wednesday as Goodyear conducted two days of tire testing at the Fontana, CA track. Unlike other tire tests in recent year, the track was off-limits to all (especially the media) from 9:00am until the 4:30pm conclusion. At other tests, drivers often have time for noon interviews, but not this week. One team from each of the four manufacturers participated in the tests. #9-Kasey Kahne was in a RPM Ford for the first time while #12-Brad Keselowski made his first runs in a Penske Racing Dodge. Joe Gibbs Racing's #20-Joey Logano represented Toyota while Richard Childress Racing driver #31-Jeff Burton was in a Chevy. It was difficult to distinguish one model from another as all were in primer gray. Tire testing can be a tedious exercise, but Burton certainly didn't have that attitude. He ran 500 miles on Tuesday and was prepared to run an equal number the following day, a few laps at a time. "We're hoping to help Goodyear get a better tire for Fontana," Burton said. "That's goal No. 1. Hopefully that's something we can learn. We really don't learn much about the race track because Goodyear doesn't want us to change the cars as they are studying the tires. I like testing, it's a real opportunity to learn, a real opportunity to try a lot of stuff. And for the driver, it's an opportunity to also try lots of different things." Since NASCAR implemented its testing ban following the 2008 season, tire tests are the only ones conducted at tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule. (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

No NASCAR races at Milwaukee Mile in 2010

The Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continually operating motor speedway in the country, won't be hosting a national race in 2010. That was the word late Wednesday from Wisconsin State Fair Park officials, who said there would be no NASCAR or Indy Racing League racing next year at the famed Mile. "I'm sorry for this," was the message Susan Crane, chairwoman of the State Fair Park Board, said she wanted to tell race fans. "We tried to do everything we could to secure racing. But we're not giving up." The announcement is a blow to motorsports fans in the region and a blow to community pride. Both Crane and Craig Barkelar, the fair's interim executive director, said they hoped to bring national racing back to the Mile in 2011. Crane and Barkelar said that, after Wisconsin Motorsports, the race promoter that staged races last summer, went out of business, they tried to negotiate with four different promoters. State Fair officials said they hoped to generate some revenue next year with car clubs, driving schools and some tire and car testing. There is also the hope of staging some regional races next year. NASCAR had scheduled two races for next June: the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck series. NASCAR now is backing away, though the race body has not yet made that official. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Addington to Penske in 2010

Steve Addington will head up the #2 Miller Lite Dodge team beginning in 2010. The 45-year-old Addington, who was crew chief for 12 NASCAR Cup Series victories over the last two seasons, will team up with driver Kurt Busch and the Miller Lite squad that is coming off a strong fourth-place finish in the 2009 series championship standings. "Steve Addington has a proven track record of success in NASCAR and we are excited to welcome him to Penske Racing," said Roger Penske. "By adding Steve to the winning Miller Lite team and working closely with Kurt, we believe we have the combination in place to compete for a championship as we head into the 2010 season." (Penske Racing PR)

Wallace forms alliance with Gibbs

Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing announced the formation of a technical alliance between the two teams, under which JGR will provide RWR with technical support for the development of NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry race cars. In the last two Nationwide Series seasons, RWR has fielded a pair of Chevy Impalas and in 2009 was the only team with multiple drivers among the top-ten in the year-end driver standings. For the 2010 season, the team will campaign factory-backed Toyota Camrys, with engines provided by Triad Racing Development. Stated RWR team owner, Rusty Wallace, “We’re excited about working with J.D. (Gibbs) and his guys; they’ve built a very solid Nationwide Series program over the past several seasons. Between all of the support that we’re receiving from Toyota and this new partnership, I feel that 2010 will be a strong year for our team.” Regarding the partnership, JGR President J.D. Gibbs noted, “We’re looking forward to working with Rusty and his team at RWR. We’re excited to have them join the Toyota camp next year in the Nationwide Series and we look forward to providing assistance to their program as well.” (RWR PR)

Kyle Busch Motorsports full-time in 2010

In a press conference held live on SPEED, Kyle Busch announced today that he will enter two Toyota Tundras full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2010. Busch will pilot the #18 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Toyota Tundra whenever the Camping World Truck Series runs in companion with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. For the non-companion races, the #18 Tundra will be driven by 24-year-old Brian Ickler. Running the full schedule for KBM will be 20-year-old Tayler Malsam in the #56 Toyota Tundra. Busch recently purchased the assets of Xpress Motorsports, the Camping World Truck Series team that won in June at Dover International Speedway and finished the 2009 season among the top-10 in points. KBM will operate from the Xpress Motorsports shop in Mooresville, N.C., until its new shop, also in Mooresville and currently under construction, is completed. Overseeing the three-driver, two-Truck outfit will be Rick Ren, who will serve as the team's director of competition. The 52-year-old from Tilton, Ill., is a NASCAR veteran who won two Camping World Truck Series championships as crew chief for Ron Hornaday Jr., (2007 and 2009) while at Kevin Harvick Inc.During the interview, Busch also noted that KBM is also trying to pull enough sponsorship together to bring Champion Johnny Benson into the mix and make it a three-truck operation. (Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)

Ethanol by 2011?

A NASCAR official said that the series could use a corn-based ethanol blend by 2011. Steve Phelps, NASCAR's chief marketing officer, made the comment during a panel discussion at the North America Motor Sports Business Forum this week. "I'm not definitively going to say that for 2011 we're going to have ethanol," Phelps said after the panel meeting. "It's something that we're looking at now." After the session, Phelps detailed what has been done in regard to ethanol. "Our guys are testing it at this particular point and trying to determine whether that's right for our series," he said. "They're on the engines now. What does it do to different parts? How does the engine run? Does it run cooler, does it run hotter - those types of things. We would certainly not institute a rule change or a fuel change that would affect the racing at all." Such a timetable could work well. There are indications that NASCAR could switch from carburetors to fuel injection in 2011, and that could be a good time to make the switch. (Hampton Roads)

Danica's first Nationwide race at Fontana?

After Danica Patrick announced she would supplement her IndyCar Series career by racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, informed sources said she will make her NASCAR debut at Auto Club Speedway in February. According to sources who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to officially speak on the matter, Patrick will race for JR Motorsports at the Feb. 20 Nationwide Staters Bros. 300 at the Fontana track. Her full Nationwide schedule is expected to be released in a news conference next week. "We have not heard anything," said David Talley, director of communications for the speedway. "I know our race fits into the window of racing before and after the IndyCar Series. If Patrick does race stock cars at Auto Club Speedway, it will mark her second appearance on the 2-mile speedway. In her rookie IndyCar season in 2005, she finished 18th in the Toyota Indy 400 after qualifying fourth. (Los Angeles Daily News)

More races could be shown online?

There's a chance you could be watching more races online this season. Right now, the only races you can watch online are the six TNT races since Turner owns all the online rights for the broadcasts. Thus, ESPN, Fox and ABC can't show any race live online. You can watch the TNT races on NASCAR.com's Race Buddy program, which last year featured live shots from four different vantage points. This year, you might get to see more NASCAR races online, so when the race goes to commercial on TV, you wouldn't have to miss anything. Here's what Lenny Daniels, Chief Operating Officer for Turner Sports told [Dustin Long] about the future of having more races shown online: "We are going to attempt to work out a deal with Fox and ESPN. It's an intersectional rights, is what it is. When Turner has all the rights (TV and Internet), we can show it any way we want. If you're ESPN, you don't want us doing anything during that live race window. That's what they bought. That's what they own. So we have to figure out a business plan to work with them and try to get a deal done. Believe me, we would love to have Race Buddy year-round and I think NASCAR would too but it all comes down to the business model. When I [Dustin Long] asked him if it was unlikely that more races would be shown online in 2010, Daniels said: "I wouldn't say that. We're trying. I don't think you're going to see it across the board for every race. We'll definitely do it for our races. We'll work with Fox. We came close to Fox last year on a few things (doing versions of Race Buddy)." (Hampton Roads)

RCR plans to run #07 at Daytona

Richard Childress Racing will run a fourth car in the 2010 Daytona 500, the #07 Chevy that finished 21st in the 2009 Cup owners' standings with driver Casey Mears, a team spokesman said on Wednesday. But beyond that, the car's schedule will be determined by sponsorship, the lack of which put Mears on the job market at the end of 2009. Mears will drive the car at Daytona, where it's a guaranteed starter in the lucrative season opener, "unless he gets another full-time ride," the RCR source said. If Mears isn't available, another driver would be selected. The car's crew chief is also to be determined after Doug Randolph, who was Mears' crew chief at the end of the season, this week began working as Bobby Labonte's chief mechanic at TRG Motorsports. The source said that RCR is in "serious talks with a number of potential sponsors and we're still aiming towards fielding that car full-time in 2010." With sponsor Jack Daniel's having left Richard Childress Racing at the end of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, a small number of layoffs have begun at the team's Welcome, N.C., shops. A team representative said that "fewer than a dozen" employees had been let go this week in advance of the #07 possibly being shut down for 2010. That decision has not been made yet, with team owner Richard Childress previously saying that he could wait as long as mid-January before making a definitive commitment on the team's plans for next season. As it stands now, the team has decided nothing for certain beyond entering the Daytona 500 next February. Also up in the air is the question of who will drive the car, if it does find sponsorship. Casey Mears was the pilot of the #07 this season, but was released at the end of the year. If he doesn't find another ride before Daytona, he could be back with the team, according to an RCR source. Mears also has been linked to a possible drive with the #09 Miccosukee Resorts-sponsored entry of Florida team owner James Finch. (SPEEDtv)

Waltrip's 2010 plans

What will Michael Waltrip be doing in 2010? Waltrip said that as of now he thinks he'll only run four Cup races next year...all four restrictor-plate races (unless more sponsorship is found). As for Nationwide? "I'd like to run some Nationwide races, I'd like to run some Truck races, so I'm still just seeing what's out there,'' he said. "I'll do anything, I just want to race every now and then'' and then he laughed. Good news for Mikey fans, he says he'll be back on Speed's broadcast of the Truck races next year. (Hampton Roads)

Official: Danica to #7 Nationwide ride

At last, the long-awaited announcement is official – Go Daddy is taking Danica Patrick to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010. Danica will drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in a partial Nationwide schedule next season, plus one ARCA race. The Go Daddy Girl will be racing as a member of the JR Motorsports (JRM) team owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick, Kelley Earnhardt and Tony Eury, Jr. through 2011. “It’s been a long time coming, but the stars finally aligned for me with Go Daddy and JRM,” Danica said just before making her announcement. “I have always said I love to drive, and if I could make it work to race in both IndyCar and NASCAR – with the right sponsor, like GoDaddy.com and the right team, like JRM – then I’d love to drive in NASCAR!”Go Daddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons introduced Danica today as she made it official with the unveiling of her new stock car in front of fans and media outside Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The Go Daddy Girl had just wrapped up her latest Go Daddy Super Bowl shoot for the world’s top domain name registrar and Web hosting provider. She’s also planning to attend Go Daddy’s annual holiday party to be held Saturday at the ballpark.“As Danica said, the stars aligned,” said Parsons. “We’re thrilled to expand our long-standing relationship with Danica into NASCAR. This is not only big news for NASCAR fans; it has all the ingredients for some major GoDaddy-esque marketing magic.”Parsons and the Go Daddy Girl driver were flanked by the brand new bright green No. 7 GoDaddy.com Nationwide Chevrolet and the equally distinctive 2010 IndyCar at today’s news conference. Go Daddy is leveraging its existing relationship with Earnhardt, Jr. who has also driven for Go Daddy in the Nationwide Series and will continue to work as a Go Daddy spokesperson. Dale, Jr.’s sister, Kelley, is VP and GM for JRM and was at today’s news conference. She expressed her excitement to have a woman join the team. She also pointed to JRM’s experience as a key asset in Danica’s foray into NASCAR. “One of the things JRM has to offer is proven NASCAR experience,” said Earnhardt. “This is a team sport, and our team will help Danica get up to speed quickly. She’s slated to begin working with our crew starting with the upcoming ARCA tests.”The move to put IndyCar’s Most Popular Driver, and overall media magnet, into a Nationwide car is expected to give NASCAR a much needed boost considering its goal to maintain the sport’s enormous fan base. In a recent news conference, NASCAR’s CEO Brian France was asked about Danica joining NASCAR. France said, “She has a lot of talent and would be good for NASCAR…I’ve told her that directly.”Danica’s NASCAR races would take place before, after and in between her IndyCar schedule. Michael Andretti, owner of Danica’s IndyCar team, Andretti Autosport, addressed that issue. “Danica and I are both working hard for a win at the Indianapolis 500 – keeping the race schedules separate will help keep her focused,” Andretti said.The world will surely be watching when Danica drives her bright green GoDaddy.com car in her first-ever stock car race, an ARCA event in Daytona, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6 – the day before the Super Bowl. Danica’s latest Go Daddy commercials are set to debut during the Super Bowl. It was also announced that Tony Eury, Jr. would be her crew chief. (GoDaddy.com PR)

Stremme looking to firm up 2010 plans

NASCAR driver David Stremme said Friday he's still working to firm up his 2010 plans. "We're still talking to quite a bit of people," said Stremme, who lost his Sprint Cup ride with Penske Racing in late October. Stremme's biggest Late Model victory came a year ago when he won the Winchester 400. "This is a big race," Stremme said. "I won the Winchester 400 last year. I definitely want to win this one. It's a big short track race. You just got to look at the names on the trophy and that tells what it is. This is a pretty stout field. It's probably the toughest field I've seen in a long time." (Racin' Today)

Kyle Busch Wins 42nd Annual Snowball Derby

Kyle Busch has won the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. Busch started third in the 300-lap race and took the lead late from 2005 Snowball Derby winner Eddie Mercer to collect the $22,500 winner's check. Mercer held on to finish second with NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Steven Wallace placing third. Two-time Snowball Derby winner Bobby Gill came from last place at the start to place fourth at the finish. John Bolen overcame an early wreck to finish fifth. This is the fourth major Super Late Model event that Busch has won this season. He also won Speedfest at Lanier Speedway (GA), the Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway (IN) and the Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway (IN) in his free time from his NASCAR obligations. This event concludes the racing season at Five Flags Speedway for 2009. The track will open its 2010 season with the TBARA Winged Sprint Cars on March 19th. (51 Sports)

Petty-Yates Merger a done deal?

Richard Petty Motorsports officially became a Ford operation on Thursday. The merger deal was signed between principals from RPM and Yates Racing and the appropriate paperwork was filed with Ford Motor Company. Richard Petty Motorsports brings three additional teams to the table, the #9, #19 and #43. Ford officials have said repeatedly what a coup it was to gain #9-Kasey Kahne, who finished 10th in the Sprint Cup point standings, into the fold as well as 28-year-old #43-AJ Allmendinger. #19-Elliott Sadler will also join the driver roster which included #98-Paul Menard from the former Yates organization. RPM is currently operating out of Statesville, N.C. The former Yates Racing buildings in Concord, N.C. are currently being remodeled to accommodate all four teams. That move is scheduled for Speedweeks in February.(FoxSports)

Bliss to the #36 in 2010

Mike Bliss will pilot the #36 Wave Energy Drink race car for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2010 and Michael McDowell will continue his marketing relationship with the sponsor. After careful consideration, Baldwin chose Mike Bliss to lead his 2010 program. “Mike brings a lot of experience to the table and next year, we’re stepping everything up,” said Baldwin. “He gives us the best chance to qualify for the Daytona 500 and get ourselves in the top-35 in points after the first five events of the 2010 season. I’m very excited to have him on board along with our sponsor, Wave Energy Drink,” he added. Driver Michael McDowell, who closed out the 2009 season for Tommy Baldwin Racing, will still play a vital part of sponsor Wave Energy Drink’s future marketing plans. McDowell is slated to drive in several select Sprint Cup events in a Wave Energy Drink-sponsored car in 2010. With the driver lineup and sponsor representation secured for next year, Baldwin is revved up about the future of his race team and relationship with sponsor, Wave Energy Drink. “We’ve got a great deal of energy coming together at the right time,” said Baldwin. “Our plan is to keep Bliss and McDowell involved in our racing program and as brand ambassadors for Wave Energy Drink. Both of these guys are very talented both on the racetrack and off the track. Now we’ll be able to take this program to the next level with our own version of the ‘Mike and Mike Show’,” he added. (Wave Energy Drink site)

Steve Addington moving on

Former Kyle Busch crew chief Steve Addington supposedly cleaned out his office and said his goodbyes on Monday after six seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. Addington has been rumored to be a candidate at Penske Racing for #2-Kurt Busch and Richard Petty Motorsports for #19-Elliott Sadler. Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said the organization hoped to decide on a new crew chief for Kurt Busch within the next two weeks. He confirmed that Steve Addington, former crew chief for Busch's younger brother, Kyle, is among the final "two or three" candidates. Penske is mulling at least two internal candidates as a replacement for Pat Tryson, who is leaving to run Martin Truex Jr.'s program at Michael Waltrip Racing. (Sports Illustrated)

Johnson to run Rolex 24

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will kick off his 2010 racing season at Daytona International Speedway in the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31, the prestigious twice-around-the-clock challenge and the ultimate test of driver and machine. For the third straight year, Johnson will co-drive the # 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing entry - the 2009 Rolex Series Daytona Prototype champions - with the team's lead drivers Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty as well as open-wheel veteran Jimmy Vasser. The 2010 Rolex 24 will be Johnson's fifth appearance in the grueling race that kicks off the season for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask #16. Johnson has a best finish of second in both the 2005 and 2008 Rolex 24s. (Daytona Speedway PR)

Andretti uncertain of 2010 plans

Veteran barnstormer John Andretti said he is virtually certain to make another attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in May but said the demands of a NASCAR schedule have brought him to a crossroads in his 22-year career. Andretti, the 46-year-old nephew of legend Mario Andretti, competed in 34 Sprint Cup events, finishing 36th in points, in 2009. He placed 19th for Richard Petty Motorsports in his 10th Indy 500. "I'm kind of at a stage in my life where I want to enjoy everything, my family," said Andretti, who has won national series races in stock, sports, open wheel and drag racing cars. "This last year has been pretty taxing on me because I am gone all the time. So I need to really dig deep to see if I want to do it again. I enjoy the team I am with, I like the owner, and that's really what got me to do this [in 2009]. The Indianapolis 500, I would say just go ahead and write that in, but I don't know if I can go on the road and do 34 races. I am not young, but I am compared to Mark Martin, and I enjoy doing it, so it's tough." (Sports Illustrated)

Tire test at Auto Club

Goodyear has a tire test scheduled for Dec. 15-16 at Auto Club Speedway in California. #9-Kasey Kahne (Ford) is expected to attend along with the #12-Brad Keselowski (Dodge). #20-Joey Logano (Toyota) and #31-Jeff Burton (Chevy). (FoxSports)

Kansas Speedway casino project approved

Kansas Entertainment, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture of Penn Hollywood Kansas, Inc, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Kansas Speedway Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation ("ISC"), was selected on Tuesday by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board to develop and operate a Hollywood-themed entertainment destination facility overlooking Turn 2 at Kansas Speedway in the North East Gaming Zone in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Based on its selection, and subject to background investigations and licensing by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission which are expected to be completed in early 2010, Kansas Entertainment would begin construction of the Hollywood-themed and branded entertainment destination facility in the second half of 2010 with a planned opening in the first quarter of 2012.The initial phase of the new facility, budgeted at $386 million, would include a 100,000-square-foot casino floor with capacity for 2,300 slot machines and 86 table games, a high-energy lounge and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Additional project phases including a hotel, expanded gaming space, a spa, convention center and entertainment retail district, have been master planned and will be developed based on market demand. Penn National Gaming and International Speedway Corporation will equally share the full development cost and future cash requirements which are expected to approximate $290 million and be comprised of project financing, gaming equipment lease financing and owner equity contributions. (Kansas Speedway)

J.C. France denied license

The grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, charged with drunken driving and possession of crack cocaine two months ago, was denied in his attempt to get his driver's license back, court records show. Jamison Colfax "J.C." France, 43, Daytona Beach, petitioned the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to have his driving privileges restored. The state agency denied France's request. France has asked a circuit judge to review his case and reverse the decision of the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, France's attorney, Michael Politis, said Tuesday. Circuit Judge Richard S. Graham reviewed the petition and has asked France for further proof why he should overrule the state agency's decision, his judicial assistant said. France and his roommate, Russell Richmond, 40, were arrested and charged with DUI and possession of crack cocaine in October. Daytona Beach police said they stopped France after he and Richmond were seen racing each other over the Seabreeze Bridge. Court documents show France has a plea hearing scheduled Jan. 14. France is a race car driver on the Grand-Am circuit, which was founded by his father, Jim France. J.C. France immediately was suspended from racing Grand-Am after the arrest. (Daytona Beach News Journal)

Carquest on #5 in 2010

Carquest Auto Parts, who recently extended its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 Chevy driven by Mark Martin through the 2011 NASCAR season for 8 races a season as primary sponsor, is scheduled to run their colors in 2010 at: Martinsville in March, Charlotte in May, New Hampshire in June, Daytona in July, Bristol in August, Atlanta in September, California in October and Texas in November. (Jayski.com)