2013 Nascar Silly Season

[MJ_N_09]

We have another road course in place of Montreal on the schedule:

Nationwide going to Mid-Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is expected to play host to a NASCAR Nationwide Series race for the first time next August. The formal announcement will come at a press conference [Tuesday] morning at the Nationwide Insurance headquarters in downtown Columbus. A spokesman for Mid-Ohio had no comment ... when asked about the race. It appears the 2.25-mile road course of Mid-Ohio was the choice of NASCAR to replace the Nationwide Series road race previously held in Montreal. Nationwide is considered the No.2 series behind Sprint Cup in the NASCAR hierarchy. But several Sprint Cup stars race in the Nationwide Series from time to time, and there is a good chance that could be the case for the Mid-Ohio race. Based on when the Montreal race was run this year, it is expected to be held the same weekend as the Sprint Cup race at Michigan. Drivers will be able to make what would be a shortish commute by helicopter. As for Mid-Ohio, it also will be hosting its annual IndyCar race the first weekend of August, meaning it could stage two major events within two weeks of each other.(Columbus Dispatch)(11-12-2012)

Now THAT, is a very convenient schedule!!

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

For Ambrose, it's been a complete mess with the crew chiefs...I think he went through 3 within a few weeks. Luke Lambert will be his CC in 2013.

Jayski has a copy and paste issue in his comments on the #9 for next year.

whats happening to Drew Blickensderfer next year, he isn't mentioned anywhere else on that page? surely he didn't move over just for 3 races?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

We have another road course in place of Montreal on the schedule:

Now THAT, is a very convenient schedule!!

Stockcars at Mid-Ohio should be a good show.

[JHamilton]

It's kind of confirmed that the trucks will race at Eldora next year.

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/tr...camping-world/

[MJ_N_09]

The car that Jr will run at Homestead will also be the paintscheme for 2013.

Jimmy Fennig to CC Carl Edwards and Stenhouse's CC will be Scott Graves upon his full time move to Cup.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

It's kind of confirmed that the trucks will race at Eldora next year.

Whatever next? A Sprint Cup Friday night feature on a figure-of-eight circuit?

[MJ_N_09]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

Jayski has a copy and paste issue in his comments on the #9 for next year.

whats happening to Drew Blickensderfer next year, he isn't mentioned anywhere else on that page? surely he didn't move over just for 3 races?

Was only for 3 races indeed. I got no idea what happens to him now...maybe Overseeing Pastrana next season?

[Axeman444]

why leave RCR for 3 races? not the best career move

[MJ_N_09]

Who knows? He may have simply not liked things there. Maybe could be moving over to their NNS effort....

Also, RCR suffers another loss, as Harvick's sponsors follow him to SHR.

[MJ_N_09]

Here we go, Ambrose and Almirola finally resigned to RPM. Penske has their plans set completely now with Hornish back in the NNS #12 and #12 Cup car Part time. Ryan Blaney expected to be in the Truck...wait...that means if that's happening, it would be in the BKR #19 or 29...so the team was either operated in conjunction with Penske, or Penske takes full control of Brad Keselowski's truck team. Also some NNS races too for him.

[Clive Brown]

I don't understand what JGR is up to. For the past couple of seasons, they've generally run their Cup drivers in the Nationwide cars, occasionally running other drivers for driver development purposes. Now, they've signed both Brian Vickers and Elliott Sadler to full-time rides. Both can of course run for the driver's Championship, but why such a change of policy? It may be that the situation has been influenced by Sadler bringing his sponsor from this year with him, but I'm surprised that Gibbs is not running a development driver (such as Darrell Wallace Jr.) in one car, unless they run a third car part-time, as they did this season with the #20 car. Presumably, any third car might also be used on occasions by one of the three Cup drivers, and maybe Kyle Busch will also have some outings in his own KBM car.

Can any shed any further light on what at first sight seems to be a drastic change of emphasis?

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Who knows? He may have simply not liked things there. Maybe could be moving over to their NNS effort....

Also, RCR suffers another loss, as Harvick's sponsors follow him to SHR.

they mentioned Drew being at RPM next year in the pre race at Homestead. Now i'm confused...

[m00neelee]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

they mentioned Drew being at RPM next year in the pre race at Homestead. Now i'm confused...

I think this was just a copy/paste error at Jayski. From what I could see the 29 RCR team comment was copied over to the 9 RPM team comment. Confusion reigned from there.

As it stands Drew Blickensderfer left RCR and moved to RPM and will remain until the end of the 2013 season. He was replaced by Luke Lambert for the 2013 season with Shane Wilson filling in for the last three races of 2012.

[MJ_N_09]

Thanks for the corrections. Really appreciate it.

[HJJ]

2012 Chase For the Cup TV Ratings: After an uptick last year, NASCAR's Chase For the Cup fell back to record-low levels. The 2012 Chase For the Cup averaged a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.2 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, down 13% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (3.1, 4.763M), and flat in ratings and down 7% in viewership from 2010 (2.7, 4.494M). The 2.7 rating is tied with 2010 as the lowest ever for the Chase For the Cup (dates back to 2004). Complete historical viewership for the Chase was not available, but it is likely that this year's edition ranks as the least-viewed ever. Of the nine Chase races that can be compared to last year, eight had a decline in ratings and all nine had declines in viewership. Year-to-year comparisons were not available for the season-opener from Chicago, as last year's version of the race was rained out. Compared to the equivalent 2010 race, however, the Chicago opener was also down. The highest rating of the Chase was a 3.2 for the Talladega and Charlotte races. Talladega ranked as the most-viewed race, with 5.113 million viewers. The Loudon and Dover races were the lowest rated of the season, each earning an all-time Chase record low 2.2. The Loudon was as the least-viewed of the season, with 3.517 million viewers.(Sports Media Watch)(11-22-2012)

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[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

I don't understand what JGR is up to. For the past couple of seasons, they've generally run their Cup drivers in the Nationwide cars, occasionally running other drivers for driver development purposes. Now, they've signed both Brian Vickers and Elliott Sadler to full-time rides. Both can of course run for the driver's Championship, but why such a change of policy? It may be that the situation has been influenced by Sadler bringing his sponsor from this year with him, but I'm surprised that Gibbs is not running a development driver (such as Darrell Wallace Jr.) in one car, unless they run a third car part-time, as they did this season with the #20 car. Presumably, any third car might also be used on occasions by one of the three Cup drivers, and maybe Kyle Busch will also have some outings in his own KBM car.

Can any shed any further light on what at first sight seems to be a drastic change of emphasis?

Sponsors want well known drivers who are delivering results?

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

I don't understand what JGR is up to. For the past couple of seasons, they've generally run their Cup drivers in the Nationwide cars, occasionally running other drivers for driver development purposes. Now, they've signed both Brian Vickers and Elliott Sadler to full-time rides. Both can of course run for the driver's Championship, but why such a change of policy? It may be that the situation has been influenced by Sadler bringing his sponsor from this year with him, but I'm surprised that Gibbs is not running a development driver (such as Darrell Wallace Jr.) in one car, unless they run a third car part-time, as they did this season with the #20 car. Presumably, any third car might also be used on occasions by one of the three Cup drivers, and maybe Kyle Busch will also have some outings in his own KBM car.

Can any shed any further light on what at first sight seems to be a drastic change of emphasis?

You answered your own question about the third car (#18 now) with Wallace, Kyle Busch, Kenseth, Hamlin, etc. Parker Kligerman will drive for KBM next year.

The Sadler deal makes some sense. Scott was never sponsored by Dollar General; he bought the ride, and JGR put Dollar General branding on it "free" to entice them to expand Cup involvement with Logano. When Scott left, they needed sponsorship, and Sadler brings that to the #11.

How they got Dollar General to commit to Vickers in the #20, I'm not really sure.

Everyone complains about Cup drivers running NNS, but I've always complained more about guys coming there to "rejuvenate" their careers. We saw how well that worked for Jason Leffler, who was probably worse the second time around in Cup than he had been as a rookie. All the sponsored rides that don't go to Cup drivers go to washouts because they're "safer" choices with more name recognition.

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by m00neelee

I think this was just a copy/paste error at Jayski. From what I could see the 29 RCR team comment was copied over to the 9 RPM team comment. Confusion reigned from there.

As it stands Drew Blickensderfer left RCR and moved to RPM and will remain until the end of the 2013 season. He was replaced by Luke Lambert for the 2013 season with Shane Wilson filling in for the last three races of 2012.

hmmm thought so. This makes much more sense

[Clive Brown]

Just to complete the circle, it seems that Brian Scott may be going to RCR to drive the #2 NNS car. So effectively, Sadler and Scott have swapped seats/car numbers.

If this does happen, it will be interesting to see just what sponsor branding the #2 bears, and how the ride is funded; I would find it hard to believe that Scott has got the ride on merit.

As for Parker Kligerman, will he be driving a truck for KBM, or the NNS #54? If the latter, is this a full-time ride, or will Kyle and/or Kurt be driving selected NNS races?

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

As for Parker Kligerman, will he be driving a truck for KBM, or the NNS #54? If the latter, is this a full-time ride, or will Kyle and/or Kurt be driving selected NNS races?

Aah.... Jayski says full-time in NNS. Presumably this will be in the #54.

It'll be interesting to see if KBM does occasionally run a second car for either Busch brother.

Another question concerning JGR's NNS teams for 2013; why is the #20 now going to be the Dollar General car, whereas it was the #11 in 2012? Equally, why is the #18 rather than the #20 now to be the part-time car?

[Jacques Rabbit]

Dollar General wanted to be #20 in both Cup and NNS. With Busch likely to run for JGR in NNS next year, the #18 as his makes sense, too.

As for Brian Scott, I assume it will be a Shore Lodge special or, like his Dollar General car, just feature some generic RCR partners getting "gift" sponsorships (have to start making them happy with Harvick taking Budweiser and Jimmy John's to SHR). Scott, Dillon, and Danica might be the most bizarre team I've ever seen.

[MJ_N_09]

Since were on the NNS topic. Here's a few things that haven't been mentioned yet, courtesy of our favorite Silly Season site.

1) Turner Motorsports: 2 year deal signed for Jeb Burton, Ward's son, part time. He is however, also running 2 year year fulltime truck deal for this same team. James Buescher could stay in trucks, or move up to the NNS full time for them.

2) JR Motorsports: We know about Regan Smith in the #5, but sadly, as it looks, they might NOT run Cole Whitt at all, despite the plan for 2 full time teams along the 3rd partial ride for Jr. himself.

Trucks:

Red Horse Racing: Bodine out of a ride, as the #11 is yanked from running, keeping Timothy Peters #17 and signing......John Wes Townley and his long time sponsor of Zaxby's to the team for the other team. That's how much a sponsor is worth for teams to accept someone as untalented as him, with a DWI record to boot.

Thorsport: Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton back, no changes.

Kyle Busch Motorsports: 2, possibly 3 teams with sponsorship. The flagship #18 likely comes back with rotating drivers, with Joey Coulter driving the 2nd truck. The 3rd truck could go to Ross Kenseth, Matt's son, if they can land a sponsor.


Aside from that, there are very little details regarding any other truck team at this time. Nelson Piquet is reportedly trying to move to the Nationwide series though.

[gomick]

I thought Piquet was in Nationwide - hope he moves up!

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

and signing......John Wes Townley and his long time sponsor of Zaxby's to the team for the other team. That's how much a sponsor is worth for teams to accept someone as untalented as him, with a DWI record to boot.

Well, his dad is one of the co-founder's of Zaxby's. As long as your daddy believes in you and can write checks, you can have a ride.

[Jacques Rabbit]

Townley only had two crash-related DNFs in 2012. Bodine must have had more than that. Townley's check more than covers two. Bodine's check bounces (like the driver off of walls). I know Todd's a past champion, but the focus has been on Buescher, Dillon, Peters, Kligerman, Sauter, Piquet, Lofton, etc. to the point that you only notice him when he's blaming someone else for his own screw-up. Not sure I feel particularly bad about Red Horse doing this.