http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/ Aussie Nascar Tours Articles http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10043 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10043  #51-Michael Waltrip wants to make the 2011 Daytona 500 his last competitive event in the Sprint Cup series. "I want the Daytona 500 to be my last race,'' said the owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, who won this event in 2001 and 2003. "I just [don't] want this one to be it. So we'll work on trying to figure out if we can talk someone into sponsoring me for 2011. Twenty-five is a nice even number. Well, not an even... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10042 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10042 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- On Sunday night, in the aftermath of one of the most bizarre, and at the same time most thrilling Daytona 500s in years, Michael Waltrip's self-owned race car had barely stopped rolling and he was out of the car -- and the Sprint Cup garage area. It looked like the act of a man who knew he'd be back, and not just as the owner of a couple Sprint Cup teams, co-owner of a Nationwide team fielding one of the hottest young... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10041 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10041 Marcos Ambrose has been robbed of any chance of a top finish at the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida today. Ambrose started from 18th position aboard his #47 Kroger entry from JTG Daugherty Racing, beginning his second full season at the top level of NASCAR, the Sprint Cup Series. The opening stages were encouraging for the Australian, who was running a solid pace in the lead bunch around the 2.5-mile... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10018 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10018 #1-Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500, his fourth victory in 259 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.  There were 21 different leaders, most ever at Daytona. There were 52 lead changes, third-most ever at Daytona. McMurray led two laps, the fewest ever by a Daytona 500 winner.  This is McMurray's second victory and fourth top-10 finish in 15 races at Daytona International Speedway.  His first Daytona victory came in... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9804 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9804 Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that NASCAR could mandate a larger restrictor plate for this year's running of the Daytona 500. Sprint Cup Series racers were required to run a 31/32" plate at Daytona and Talladega last season, but multiple sources who attended a meeting with NASCAR today say the sanctioning body may allow a bigger plate this season in an effort to boost horsepower, torque and... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9803 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9803 Today JTG Daugherty Racing team officials are proud to announce Bush Brothers and Company’s Bush’s Baked Beans brand will be a primary sponsor of Marcos Ambrose and the #47 Toyota team for five primary races and will also serve as an associate sponsor during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. “We are proud to enter our ninth season as partners with JTG Daugherty Racing and thrilled to have Marcos as our... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9802 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9802  Vermont businessman Bill Jenkins [owners of Latitude 43, a cleaning products company] has purchased the #26 number from Roush Fenway Racing. The transaction includes racing equipment plus 2009 owner points, meaning that the new team will automatically qualify for the first five NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2010. A driver and sponsor have not yet been named for the new team, which will be known as Latitude 43 Motor Sports. http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9801 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9801 JTG Daugherty Racing officials announced today that The Kroger Company, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer and world’s largest florist, will be the primary sponsor for Marcos Ambrose and the #47 Toyota Camry team during the world-famous 52nd running of the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida on February 14. This year, NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious race happens to fall on... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9798 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9798  Last year's winners, the number 1-Land Motorsport-Porsche (Gabriel Abergel/Xavier Pompidou/Carsten Tilke/Otto Klohs) was sidelined as well after Tilke had over-revved the engine. Almost at the same time, the number 148-AF Corse Ferrari (Robert Kaufmann/Michael Waltrip/Marcos Ambrose/Rui Aguas/Niki Cadei) became involved in a collision with another car. NASCAR- star Michael Waltrip, who drove his first-ever 24-hour race in Dubai,... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9797 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9797  RESTRICTOR PLATE, YELLOW LINE ADJUSTMENTS BEING DISCUSSED CONCORD, N.C. -- The surprises pretty much appear to already have been spoiled, so to speak. By the time the Cup preseason media tour comes to a close Thursday afternoon at the NASCAR Research and Development Center, the expected announcements about upcoming rules changes and the reassignment of Cup Series director John Darby to a management/oversight position will be... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9726 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9726 The 2010 Speedweeks schedule has been released for the two weeks leading up to the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14 at Daytona: Thursday, Feb. 4 5 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.           Budweiser Shootout practice 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.     Budweiser Shootout final practice Friday, Feb. 5 2:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.      Sprint Cup Series practice 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9725 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9725  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Wednesday 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 on Feb. 6. Green flag is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. The new criteria are based upon the... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9724 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9724  Marcos Ambrose will race in the Dubai 24 Hour sportscar race at the Dubai Autodrome on January 14-16 early next year. Ambrose will drive the #148 Ferrari F430 GT2 of the AF Corse team, partnered by Rob Kaufman, Michael Waltrip, Rui Aguas and Niki Cadei. AF Corse team owner Kaufman is also a co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, with which Ambrose’s team JTG Daugherty Racing has a close technical alliance. http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9326 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9326 Marcos Ambrose has, for a fleeting moment, starred in the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida today. But overall it was a disappointing end to a great season for Ambrose, with mechanical gremlins ruining his race. Ambrose started from third position at the 1.5-mile speedway aboard his #47 Little Debbie-backed entry of JTG Daugherty Racing. Ambrose showed great speed early and on lap 10 he passed... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9325 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9325 Chad Knaus is the only crew chief ever to win more than two consecutive Sprint Cup titles (he now has four in a row), and his championship total (also four) ties him for second with Kirk Shelmerdine among crew chiefs in NASCAR history. Only Dale Inman (eight titles) has more. http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9324 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9324 Kellogg's will sponsor Carl Edwards next season following a 16-season stint with Hendrick Motorsports [on the #5 and #44 cars]. Kellogg's will be the primary sponsor for two races on the #99 Ford and an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9323 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9323 Sebastian Vettel believes Formula 1 can learn something from NASCAR after making a visit to the Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead. The world championship runner up made his first visit to a NASCAR race courtesy of Red Bull, and got to spend some time with the team's drivers and learn about the series and its appeal in America. Vettel said F1 should take note of the spectacle NASCAR provides for its fans. "Here in NASCAR you... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9322 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9322 Several sources, including a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief and a manufacturer's representative, have confirmed that the sanctioning body intends to replace carburetors with fuel injection on Sprint Cup engines in 2011. The move has been discussed for several years, but in a meeting between NASCAR representatives and representatives of the manufacturers held after the Talladega race, the plan was reportedly presented to those in attendance. http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9321 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9321 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that they will add Jamie McMurray as a teammate of #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, to drive the #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. McMurray will return to Ganassi whom he raced for from 2002-2005. Bass Pro Shops will once again return for their fifth season as one of the primary partners on the #1 Chevy. The Jamie McMurray Foundation (JMF), created in... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9255 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9255 Danica Patrick has won just 1 of 81 IRL races (1.23%). But Dale Earnhardt Jr. has Patrick easily beat on that winning percentage. "Little E" has won 1 of the last 129 Sprint Cup races (0.77%) and he's 0 for the last 51. Yet, Earnhardt seems to be humming along in the business world. This week, Nationwide announced this week it was renewing its deal with him and we just got the NASCAR.com SuperStore sales rankings and guess... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9254 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9254 Marcos Ambrose has collected a solid 22nd place finish despite suffering from an engine problem in the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina today. Ambrose maintains his 17th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, having held that position for 10 consecutive weeks. Ambrose looked on track for a standout result, having qualified in 13th position and posted the seventh fastest time... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9253 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9253  NASCAR announced the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame today (Wednesday, October 14, 2009) that includes: Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee along with 29 others representing NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, major race track ownership groups, retired drivers, owners and crew chiefs along... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9252 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9252 Marcos Ambrose will be a part of a short-track tussle as the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series enters its final stages in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia this weekend. Ambrose will return to the scene of his NASCAR debut at the short oval, which is characterised by slow speeds and plenty of on track ‘biff and barge’ through the low-banked corners. It was at the half-mile oval in 2006 that... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9251 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9251  Those drivers looking for rides in 2010 #07-Casey Mears, #96/71-Bobby Labonte, #43-Reed Sorenson and #12-David Stremme qualified sixth, eighth, ninth and 11th, respectively at Martinsville. How their futures pan out could depend on the status of Jamie McMurray, who remains the top candidate for the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi ride. Mears could stay put in the #07 if sponsorship can be found. Labonte is a strong candidate for one of the... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9250 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9250  Marcos Ambrose has finished 27th in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia today. Ambrose endured fading brakes and a spin with Matt Kenseth during the 500-lap race, staged on the small half-mile Martinsville oval. It was an up and down weekend for Ambrose on the timesheets, who was eighth fastest in the sole practice session held (Saturday’s sessions were rained out) but qualifying down in 34th... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9249 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9249 JTG Daugherty Racing has extended its technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing for another season, JTG Daugherty co-owner Tad Geschickter confirmed Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. The two organizations began a technical alliance this year with the JTG Daugherty crew working out of the MWR shop. MWR builds the cars, and then the JTG Daugherty team works on them there. Officials from both teams have been saying for weeks that they... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9248 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9248 JTG Daugherty Racing has extended its technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing for another season, JTG Daugherty co-owner Tad Geschickter confirmed Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. The two organizations began a technical alliance this year with the JTG Daugherty crew working out of the MWR shop. MWR builds the cars, and then the JTG Daugherty team works on them there. Officials from both teams have been saying for weeks that they... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9247 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9247 Marcos Ambrose has been taken out in a spectacular crash in the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama today. Ambrose was running in the pack with three laps remaining when a ‘concertina effect’ resulted in the outside line crashing out. The bumping and tight pack racing that is common in restrictor plate racing on superspeedways unfortunately resulted in a sickening crash for Ryan Newman in a wreck that... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9246 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9246 Michael Waltrip Racing officials say the team is serious about the upcoming NASCAR test for former Toyota F1 driver Jarno Trulli. Trulli will be driving a Sprint Cup series Toyota Camry on November 16th & 17th at the half-mile New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, a test that he has stressed he will be doing just for fun. Mika Salo, also a former Toyota driver in the team's debut season in Formula 1, will be joining him. Team owner... http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9245 http://www.aussienascartours.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9245  Marcos Ambrose has left Texas Motor Speedway pondering what could have been after running out of fuel while in second place on the second-to-last lap of the Dickies 500 in Fort Worth, Texas today. Ambrose was one of the fastest cars all day in the 334-lap race held on the fast 1.5-mile oval aboard his #47 Little Debbie-backed entry from JTG Daugherty Racing. In the final stages of the race Ambrose, who ran in the top 10 for the...