Contract Status: Sponsor: ?; Driver: 2005+
- SKF to RCR? UPDATE: hearing longtime #99 Roush Racing Asscoiate sponsor, SKF, will move over to the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy that Jeff Burton will drive in 2005 and the other RCR teams [#07, #29]. Burton had driven the #99 Ford since its inception.(12-5-2004)
UPDATE: SKF announced the expansion of its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup involvement, signing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). With the start of the 2005 NASCAR season, SKF will hold sponsorship
positions on the #07 of Dave Blaney, the #29 of Kevin Harvick and the #31 of Jeff Burton. Additionally, the agreement includes a
technical partnership between RCR and SKF engineers. Both parties will communicate worldwide to develop new technologies focused toward building on RCR’s racing performance, as well as new products intended to increase the safety and performance of consumer vehicles. For the past seven seasons, SKF has utilized its NASCAR involvement to promote its products, services and industry activities. SKF actively communicates the messages of the Be Car Care Aware Campaign and the Right to Repair Act through its NASCAR relationships.(SKF PR) and a note on the SKF site.(12-6-2004)
- OFFICIAL: Jack Daniel's to RCR, #30 becomes #07, Blaney to Drive: The Jack Daniel Distillery [jackdaniels.com] ]announced today it has entered into a partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the primary sponsor of the #07 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with veteran driver Dave Blaney and crew chief Philippe Lopez. “We are thrilled to be making this announcement and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with RCR,” said Mike Keyes, senior vice president of Brown-Forman Beverages and global general manger for Jack Daniel’s. “Richard Childress is a legend in NASCAR racing and we believe that this is the beginning of an excellent partnership. Putting together two iconic brands like Jack Daniel’s and RCR opens up a wealth of opportunities and we couldn’t be more excited for our consumers, fans and everyone who loves this sport.”
The company applauded NASCAR’s decision to allow distilled spirits sponsorships next year in the NEXTEL Cup. Keyes noted that the company’s marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns have always been grounded in responsibility and that will continue with the RCR sponsorship. “This sponsorship makes sense from a business standpoint – and it also makes sense from a responsibility standpoint,” continued Keyes. “We will be promoting our key message, “Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly” on a recurring basis and, like everything we do, our marketing will be directed to adult audiences of legal drinking age.”
Blaney, the 1995 World of Outlaws sprint car champion, is a veteran of 163 NEXTEL Cup Series starts since 1992. The 42-year-old Hartford, Ohio native began his tenure with RCR in June at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, taking over the reigns of the No. 30 Chevrolet. He was instrumental in advancing the program to a new plateau and was immediately on Childress’ short list to be the team’s full-time pilot in 2005. “I couldn’t be more excited about representing the Jack Daniel’s brand for RCR next season,” said Blaney. “Promoting responsibility and moderation are hallmarks of Jack Daniel’s and those are exactly the messages we want to convey -- not only to Jack Daniel’s consumers but to NASCAR fans all over the world. We have a great platform in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series to continue this very important message of responsibility. We’ve got a great team in place with Philippe leading the way. We’re looking forward to running up front right out of the box with the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet at Daytona in February.”
Childress is a nine-time NASCAR championship team owner with more than 125 victories. RCR was the first NASCAR organization to win championships in the NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Truck Series. In 2005, RCR will continue to field three teams in NASCAR’s top division with Blaney wheeling the #07 Jack Daniel’s entry, Kevin Harvick driving the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet and Jeff Burton moving to the #31 Cingular Wireless Monte Carlo. “We’re thrilled to enter into such a landmark agreement with Jack Daniel’s,” commented Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. “The folks at Jack Daniel’s have prided themselves on excellence since 1866. What’s most impressive to me is that the company not only strives to put a superior product into the hands of its consumers, but they advance a positive and responsible message to the public. We’re going to focus on the same goals. RCR will provide outstanding equipment on the race track and promote responsibility at the same time.” The #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet will make its debut Feb., 20, 2005, at Daytona International Speedway.
About the Jack Daniel Distillery: Officially registered with the U.S. government in 1866, the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, Proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Based in Lynchburg (pop. 361), Tennessee, the Jack Daniel Distillery is the maker of world-famous Jack Daniel Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Jack Daniel’s encourages its friends to drink responsibly.(Richard Childress Racing Site), note: been asked, yes the #07 will be able to utilize the #30 Owners Points for the first 4-5 races in 2005.(12-3-2004)
- Sounds like Blaney to RCR UPDATE 3 Friday Announcement and IMAGEs: just an update on the Blaney/Lopez/Jack Daniel's to RCR for the past - there is a ton]......
Dave Blaney is expected to be named as the fulltime driver for Richard Childress' third racing team during the events surrounding the awards banquet. Speculation is that Jack Daniels will sponsor the team and that Philippe Lopez will serve as crew chief.
The news couldn't come at a better time for the Hartford [OH] native and Badger High School graduate. Blaney is coming off a season in which he wasn't able to land a fulltime ride. He had a few rides for Bill Davis Racing's #23 team early in the season, and he landed a spot on RCR's #30 AOL team for a few races. With sponsorship money hard to come by and Blaney at the age of 42, it appeared he might not get another chance at NASCAR's elite circuit. "It crossed my mind,'' he said. "But I really thought the way things were going that I would get a chance to get with a good team and have a chance to continue on with my career.'' Childress, who also owns teams for drivers #29-Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon [and Jeff Burton, Gordon is no longer at RCR in 2005], has reportedly long been impressed with Blaney's driving skills. Blaney likes what Childress has to offer in terms of support. "It's not like we knew each other (well),'' Blaney said. "I knew him and had respect for what he's done. He's a really good guy. He's hard working. He's got his stuff together. He knows what he's doing and can make things happen.'' Childress called on Blaney midway through the season when rookie Johnny Sauter was dropped from the AOL car. Blaney thought there was a chance that the deal might have secured him a ride for the remainder of the season, but he was replaced after Jeff Burton was released from Jack Roush Racing. "It was kind of a race-to-race thing,'' Blaney said. "He (Childress) told me up front that they were trying to sign Jeff Burton, so it wasn't a shock to me. When he told me I didn't think it would happen because I didn't think Roush would let Jeff Burton go. But what are you going to tell Richard Childress, no, I don't want to drive your car?"(in part from the Tribune Chronicle)(11-28-2004)
UPDATE: hearing the announcement will be Friday [NOT Saturday] morning [12-3] in New York City.(11-30-2004)
UPDATE 2: the Sponsor/Driver/Crew Chief announcement and car unveiling will be on Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 at 11:00am/et in NYC.(12-1-2004)
UPDATE 3: scored an image of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy, see my #07 Paint Scheme page.(12-2-2004)
AND added more images of different schemes of the #07 to the #07 Paint Scheme page.(12-3-2004)
- Childress Announcement? in NYC? UPDATE 2 GM Goodwrench reassessing?: hearing that an announcement scheduled at RCR's on Wednesday to announce Dave Blaney/Jack Daniels/Phillipe Lopez deal.(11-17-2004)
AND? have heard Nothing about an announcement.(11-18-2004)
UPDATE: had heard that the announcement would be on Saturday morning at Homestead, but now hearing the announcement will now be made in New York City the week of the Nextel Cup banquet [Dec 3rd on TNT].(11-19-2004)
UPDATE 2: Richard Childress' sponsorship announcements will apparently be postponed until NASCAR's postseason New York City awards banquet. Childress is expected to announce Jack Daniel's as a sponsor, with Dave Blaney as the driver. And Childress is expected to announce renewal of the long-running Goodwrench sponsorship. However, there has been speculation recently that General Motors has been reassessing its Goodwrench sponsorship because Childress' operation hasn't delivered socko returns over the past few years. But GM's Doug Duchardt said his company understands the ups and downs of racing: "This business is cyclical. One thing I see is that there has been some stability since Jeff Burton has come. We've seen them start to run better. How many times have we seen Robby Gordon in the top-five and Kevin Harvick, only to have some issues? "I expect Richard to get back. Kevin was fifth last year in points. So those guys have the potential to do it; they just have to get back on their game."(Winston Salem Journal)(11-21-2004)
- Lopez to Gibbs? BDR? RCR? UPDATE 3: Philippe Lopez, a crew chief who has been working in research and development at Joe Gibbs Racing [JGR] since August, was missing in action at Phoenix. Several possible scenarios were presented by garage sources: Lopez was offered the crew chief job on Gibbs' #18 (Bobby Labonte) but turned it down, Lopez has discussed the #22 (Scott Wimmer) crew chief job with Bill Davis Racing, and Lopez could be reunited with Dave Blaney at Richard Childress Racing. "It's a possibility," Richard Childress says.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-8-2004)
UPDATE: been told that Lopez has left JGR, no word on any more info.(11-9-2004)
UPDATE 2: hearing Lopez is the leading canidate to go to the #22 team, not sure what current crew chief, Frank Stoddard would do, another position with BDR or go to another team.(11-10-2004)
AND: also hearing that Lopez will be the crew chief for Dave Blaney at RCR in the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy.(that is one diecast I will buy)(11-11-2004)
UPDATE 3: Philippe Lopez is expected to start work at Richard Childress Racing this week. An announcement that Lopez will be crew chief for the #30 Chevrolet in 2005, reuniting him with Dave Blaney, could come at Homestead. The #30 crew will rejoin RCR crew chief Kevin Hamlin next season on Jeff Burton's #31 car, so Lopez can pick much of his staff.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-15-2004)
- Looks like Dave, Jack and #07.....and Philippe? Richard Childress is expected to announce a Jack Daniel's sponsorship, to replace AOL, for his third team, for which Dave Blaney is expected to drive.(Winston Salem Journal) and the number switched from #30 to #07 and [see next blurb] Philippe Lopez as crew chief.(11-11-2004)
- Special Scheme for the #30 at Phoenix: the #30 AOL Chevrolet will sport special black-and-blue paint scheme as part of the AOL "Pick the Paint" Sweepstakes. AOL members chose from three different Sam Bass designed AOL paint schemes. A grand prize winner was chosen from the group who picked the winning paint scheme. Ron MacDonald, of Scottsdale, Ariz., won an autographed original Sam Bass print of the winning paint scheme along with a VIP weekend for him and a guest at PIR consisting of all accommodations and a meet and greet with Jeff Burton.(RCR PR)(11-3-2004)
- No announcement on RCR 3rd team until Homestead: Richard Childress said he would field three cars for the fourth consecutive season. An announcement on the third car's sponsor and driver could come at the season finale in Homestead, Fla. AOL isn't expected to remain with the {#30 to be #7?] team.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-31-2004)
- RC to announce most of 2005 plans at AMS UPDATE 3 Surprise...Burton to the #31: Richard Childress said he'll lay out most of his 2005 season plans on Friday in a press conference in Atlanta, and yesterday he declined to confirm - but wouldn't deny - widespread speculation that he would name Dave Blaney as his new driver, replacing Robby Gordon, and Jack Daniels as a new sponsor, replacing AOL. Childress also had little to say, either way, about rampant rumors he planned to swap crews among his teams [see below or my #30 Team page or #31 Team page for the past news/rumors/links]. "All those announcements are in the coming," Childress said. Jack Daniels is owned by the Louisville, Ky., business Brown-Forman, which did $578 million in sales last year.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-25-2004)
UPDATE: An announcement on who will be the driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet in 2005 will be made this Friday, Oct. 29, at 2:00pm/et in the infield media center of Atlanta Motor Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-26-2004)
UPDATE 2: the RCR press conference is now listed at 8:45am/et on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Been told Blaney will be named driver, not sure if the 'team swap' will be announced or anything on the sponsor [AOL? Motorola? Jack Daniel's]..yet.(10-28-2004)
UPDATE 3, It's Official Burton to the #31: Jeff Burton will finish the season behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #30 AOL Chevy and then move to its #31 Cingular Wireless team for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Cingular Wireless has also extended it contract with RCR through 2007. The Atlanta-based telecommunications leader has sponsored the team since 2002. “I’m excited about driving for Cingular Wireless and continuing on with RCR,” Burton said. “In the short time I’ve driven for Richard, it’s already been proven that we can be successful. I’ve had a tremendous amount of fun and I am looking forward to greater things. It is my intention to get RCR and Cingular Wireless in position to contend for a championship. Cingular Wireless is a household name and it’s an honor to represent a company that has such a quality product and is so supportive of motorsports.” Burton will replace Robby Gordon in the #31 Chevrolet. It was announced earlier this week that Gordon and RCR were parting ways at the end of the season, with Gordon stepping up to the ranks of NASCAR Cup Series ownership in 2005. RCR will announce the remainder of its 2005 plans in upcoming weeks [like the #30 team, driver and sponsor](RCR Site)(10-30-2004)
- AOL done with NASCAR? UPDATE 4 RCR to Jack Daniel's #7? or #07?: Garage insiders indicate that America Online may want to scale back their involvement in the sport next season. Currently, they sponsor the #30 Chevy of Jeff Burton.(Motorsports.com)(9-11-2004)
UPDATE: Car owner Richard Childress is expected to sign a sponsorship renewal with AOL, according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-18-2004)
AND/OR? Richard Childress is negotiating with AOL, sponsor of his #30 car [Jeff Burton], but says he has a backup plan if that sponsorship falls through.(FoxSports/Sporting News)
OR? Motorsport.com is reporting that AOL is leaving the sport of NASCAR next season to become the title sponsor of another stock car racing series. While they will remain in the sport on a lesser basis than the head sponsor of the #30 Richard Childress Racing Chevy, RCR has been shopping for a new sponsor. Word is that they found one this week and are good to go for next season.(9-20-2004)
UPDATE 2 AOL OUT: hearing AOL will NOT be back with the #30 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevy in 2004 and is leaving the sport, supposedly AOL does not see NASCAR as a viable tool in their marketing/business plan.(10-21-2004)
UPDATE 3 - Jack Daniel's and #7: Rumor is that the #30 Chevy will change sponsors and car number next season. Plausible sponsor: Jack Daniels. New car number: 7 - for 'Old Lucky 7'.(Motorsport.com), actually, being a Jack Daniel's buff myself [see Kurt's old Jack Decanter's site], it is not 'Old Lucky 7', Jack Daniel's is known for the #7 and is called 'Old No. 7 Brand' why? no one knows for sure why Jack Daniels named it Old No. 7 [per the Jack Daniels site].(10-23-2004)
UPDATE 4: Car owner Richard Childress is ready to make some announcements about his roster for 2005, and it looks as if he'll have a new car number for one of his teams, 07, to go with new sponsor Jack Daniels. That sponsor could replace AOL. If so, Jeff Burton might wind up in Childress' Cingular-sponsored car.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-24-2004)
- Another RCR Swap in the works? UPDATE 3: hearing that Richard Childress Racing could swap entrie teams again, with the current #30 driver, Jeff Burton and crew going to the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy, currently driven by Robby Gordon. Cingular Wireless can stay in the sport, only if they stay on the #31 Chevy with RCR. The crew of the #31 could go to the #30 with either Gordon [unlikely] or another driver [Ricky Craven? Dave Blaney?], have hear that AOL may or may not be back in 2005, but Richard Childress has said before, if AOL opts not to to return, he has another option for a sponsor.
AND Richard Childress said that he would be making announcements soon, possibly by the end of October. In the Nextel Cup Series, RCR has Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton signed with multi-year deals, but Childress will have to make the decision whether to retain Robby Gordon. Childress is also working to make sure AOL returns as Burton's sponsor in 2005. "We're probably going to make those announcements around Atlanta or a little after," Childress said. "We pretty much have everything in place. You know, we are going to make adjustments all throughout or organization. We're going to make a few adjustments, everything from Cup to Busch."(NASCAR.com)(10-8-2004)
AND II: hearing if AOL doesn't come back to the #30 car, the sponsor could be Motorola.(10-9-2004)
UPDATE: Several Nextel Cup teams – Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing among them – are primed to sign sponsorship deals with hard-liquor companies, including Diageo and Jack Daniels.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-15-2004)
UPDATE 2: Expect Richard Childress to make more changes before the start of the 2005 season. An announcement the last week of October at Atlanta should clarify the situation, at least partially. Jeff Burton could move from the #30 car to the #31.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(10-18-2004)
UPDATE 3: Garage buzz indicates that Dave Blaney may fill the seat of the No. 30 when Jeff Burton moves to the #31 at the end of the season. The #30 crew is expected to follow Burton to the 31 ride.(Motorsport.com)(10-23-2004)
- NASCAR to Allow Hard Liquior Sponsors? UPDATE 2: With both NBC and Fox having apparently approved hard-liquor sponsorship of a Nextel Cup car, the ball is in NASCAR's court in the debate over whether to allow Diageo, makers of Crown Royal and other alcoholic beverages, to sponsor a car on the Nextel Cup tour next season, and sources say NASCAR has decided to allow the company to sponsor a Cup car. NASCAR vetoed Jack Roush's [#99] sponsorship plans earlier this season. For much of the year the debate has been in the network offices of Fox and NBC, where executives have been against allowing TV ads for products like Crown Royal, even while allowing their cable subsidiaries to accept such ads. The Fox Speed channel is carrying the Crown Royal-sponsored IROC series. But ABC's decision to allow Jim Beam sponsorship during the Indianapolis 500 apparently broke the long-time network ban, and Fox and NBC are willing to let Nextel Cup teams carry such sponsorships too - once NASCAR executives work out their own details - according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)
AND rumors are circulating that if NASCAR allows hard liquior as a sponsor in the Cup Series, they may raise the minimum age requirement to 21. If so, would that stop Kyle Busch's possible move to the Cup Series in 2005? Brian Vickers couldn't race in the Crown Royal IROC Series and the Bud Pole stickers on the #25 [and Busch's #84 Cup car] says 'Pole Awards' with an Anheuser-Busch logo, NOT "Budweiser Pole Award".(9-18-2004)
UPDATE: NASCAR has considered changing the minimum age to compete in the Nextel Cup Series to 21, but NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said he "doesn't know of any plan to do that." Speculation is that the change could come if NASCAR allows hard liquor companies to sponsor teams.(NASCAR Scene Print Edition)(9-25-2004)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is set to rescind its ban on hard-liquor sponsorships beginning next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The move should bring an influx of new sponsorship money into the sport. Several Nextel Cup teams – Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing among them – are primed to sign sponsorship deals with hard-liquor companies, including Diageo and Jack Daniels [Jayski says YES!], sources said. On Friday, NASCAR officials insisted they had not made a final decision. "We are currently evaluating the policy we have in place regarding liquor sponsors but no official decision has been made at this time in regard to any changes," NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said. NASCAR has allowed beer companies to sponsor cars and its Busch series has been sponsored by Anheuser-Busch since 1982. In recent years also has allowed hard liquor companies to advertise their malt beverage products. For instance, Smirnoff vodka is not allowed, but Smirnoff Ice is allowed as an associate sponsor on Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford. Several other racing series already allow hard liquor advertising. Crown Royal began sponsoring the International Race of Champions series this season. NASCAR will likely provide several guidelines overseeing the marketing of the hard liquor sponsorships, but is not expected to alter its 18-year-old minimum age requirement for its three national series – Craftsman Trucks, Busch and Cup, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-15-2004)
- Burton tests at Caraway: Jeff Burton and the #30 AOL Race Team tested Caraway Speedway (Asheboro, N.C.) Tuesday, Oct. 5 in preparation for the upcoming Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-8-2004)
- AOL Scheme at RIR: Jeff Burton’s #30 AOL Chevrolet will exchange its normal blue and yellow paint scheme this weekend at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) for a psychedelic blue and black design as part of Chevrolet’s Rock & Roll 400 promotion. Country music band “Big & Rich” will adorn the hood and quarter panels of the car for the Saturday night event. Big & Rich has been nominated for two Country Music Association awards for Best New Group of the Year and Duo of the Year. Their album “Horse of a Different Colour” currently sits atop the Billboard Country Charts.(RCR PR)(9-9-2004)
- NASCAR Teams Using Facilities at ORNL to Increase Performance: More and more, NASCAR teams seeking a racing edge are making pit stops at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Temperature Materials Laboratory [ornl.gov / Oak Ridge, TN] for high-tech tips to better performance. "ORNL facilities that are used to test and develop transportation and materials technologies are gaining popularity among the NASCAR set," HTML Director Arvid Pasto said. "HTML provides a means for racing teams to study ways to enhance a car's ability to race at high speeds." Pasto said the HTML helps solve problems in advanced energy conversion systems -- such as race cars -- to make them more efficient and reliable. Engineers with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) of Welcome, N.C., which includes three cars [#'s 29,30,31] on the Nextel Cup circuit and two more in the Busch series, said they have been able to improve performances of their cars during the first half of the 2004 season based in part on research conducted last fall at the HTML.(more at azom.com.(9-1-2004)
- RC Mum on 2005 plans, but says RCR is set: #29, #30, #31 Team Owner Richad Childress says "everything is set" for next season with his three teams "but I'm not announcing anything on my sponsors until late October or December, later this year." There has been intense speculation that AOL may not return as sponsor for the team Jeff Burton drives for, and there is also speculation that the future of the Cingular sponsorship depends on Robby Gordon being firmly in the top 20 by some unspecified September deadline. However, there is also speculation that Gordon may be leaving Childress.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-23-2004)
- Two RCR sponsor's contract up at end of 2004; Cingular stays with RCR or is out of NASCAR: it's not a lock that the team [RCR - Richard Childress Racing] will have three primary sponsors next season; RCR's contract with the #30 car's sponsor, America Online, is up for renegotiation. Cingular sponsors the #31 car currently being driven by Robby Gordon. And if they want to stay in NASCAR as a sponsor, the 31 car is their only option. NASCAR's sponsorship contract with Nextel prohibits competing telecommunications companies from sponsoring cars. Previously existing sponsorships such as Cingular's were grandfathered in, but the sponsor may not leave to sponsor another car. Cingular has been extremely supportive of Gordon — but if AOL leaves, will Childress try to get Cingular to take Burton instead?(USA Today)(8-17-2004)
- Burton to the #31 in 2005? Insiders say that Jeff Burton could be in [Robby] Gordon's Cingular-sponsored #31-car next season. Gordon might have to sell himself to a potential new sponsor if AOL doesn't remain with Childress. Or Gordon might have to sell himself to AOL, a sponsor that is still looking for some solid results after a year and a half with Childress. In a curious twist, Cingular officials, according to sources, are pegging their contract renegotiations on whether or not Gordon makes the top 20 - if he makes the top 20, they renew, and if he doesn't, they don't. That's odd, because if Cingular doesn't renew with Childress, then it's out of NASCAR entirely [because of Nextel and the grandfather clause for Cingular and Alltel].(WInston Salem Journal)(8-15-2004)
- So what happens to Burton's Busch plans? from a GM PR, asking Jeff Burton, who is leaving Rosuh Racing for RCR starting at Michigan, about his Busch plans, his quote: " I do have some Busch starts coming up and I have no idea what we are doing about that. I know that sounds silly. We didn't even talk about it. There was so much going on that Geoff Smith and I didn't have a conversation about the Busch thing. Actually coming up here last night I said 'hey what about the Busch car?' We only had three or four races left. I really and truly don't know what we'll do there."(GM PR), have heard that but that Mark Martin will drive the #9 Cottman Ford at Dover and Atlanta.(8-14-2004)
- Burton and RCR? UPDATE 2 OUT and to RCR: The Jeff Burton to Richard Childress Racing rumor has cropped up again, with Burton supposedly signing with RCR on Tuesday, however, sources tell me there is nothing to report on this and that Burton and the #99 team remain committed to finding a sponsor and one could come as soon as Bristol.(8-11-2004)
UPDATE: this rumor has been heating up all day, nothing confirmed, but hearing Burton has left the #99 team and said his goodbyes and that Roush CTS driver, Carl Edwards, would be in the #99 Ford, not if that would be at Watkins Glen or the following week, or what Roush would do about the #99 Truck Team IF this is true.
UPDATE 2 - Burton OUT: Jeff Burton will drive his final race in the #99 Fords owned by Roush Racing this weekend at Watkins Glen International, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An official announcement could come as early as later this afternoon. Burton, 37, will be replaced in that car by Carl Edwards, who has been driving for a Jack Roush-owned team on the NASCAR Truck Series, beginning with next weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway. Burton's future could very well lie with Richard Childress Racing. Last year, with sponsorship uncertainty clouding the future of the #99 team, Burton talked with Childress about driving the #30 Chevrolets sponsored by America Online. Just before the NASCAR awards banquet in New York, however, Burton was assured by Roush officials that the #99 team would run a complete Cup schedule in 2005. So Burton remained with the team for which he has driven since 1996 and won 17 Nextel Cup events. Burton's car has had sponsors on the car for several races this year, but has not been able to find a sponsor for the entire season. A potential long-term deal with a company that makes Crown Royal whiskey was nixed by NASCAR in late June.(ThatsRacin.com)
BURTON TO RCR: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has signed Jeff Burton to a multi-year agreement to drive its #30 America Online Chevrolet beginning at next week's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. "Jeff will bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the America Online team and all of RCR," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "I know back in 1998 and 1999, Dale Earnhardt talked to Jeff quite a bit about driving the #3 car when he retired. Then Kevin [Harvick] came along and the plan shifted toward him but Jeff was one of the few people we kept an eye on to be in our organization. I've really watched Jeff's talent and his ability to race for a championship," added Childress. "He is a driver who knows how to get the job done and we're going to give him what it takes to be a championship contender." Childress and Burton will hold a media conference in the Watkins Glen International infield media center Friday, Aug. 13, at 10:00am/et.
"I have always had the utmost respect for Richard Childress, and we're both dedicated to winning and running up front every week," said
Burton. "This opportunity gives me a fresh start with a proven organization that is committed to success both on and off the track. I look forward to getting back into Victory Lane with RCR and I will work extremely hard to carry on the winning tradition. Since 1996, I have enjoyed some of the greatest days of my life with the #99 Roush Racing team," continued Burton. "I will forever be grateful to Jack Roush, my driving teammates and my crew. I wish only the best for the entire organization."(RCR PR)(8-12-2004)
EDWARDS to Cup, still run CTS: Roush Racing announced today that Carl Edwards, age 24, will enter the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition as the driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford for the remainder of the 2004 season commencing in Michigan at the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday, August 22. Edwards, currently third in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, will continue to drive the #99 Superchips F-150 in the remaining Truck Series races.(Roush Racing PR), no word if Edward's will run for 2004 Rookie of the Year honors.(8-12-2004)
- Blaney in the #30 for the rest of the season: Dave Blaney will drive Richard Childress Racing's #30 AOL Chevrolet for the rest of the 2004 Nextel Cup season, Childress said Saturday at Pocono Raceway. "We wanted to get somebody in here to get this car stable and to get this team running, week in and week out," Childress said. "Right now we've pretty much got Dave for the rest of the year." Childress' decision to maintain Blaney in his third car put a conversation at New Hampshire between Childress and Busch North Series driver Dale Quarterley on hold. After Childress decided to use Blaney in the #30 in June, he ran West Coast NASCAR Touring Division driver Jim Inglebright at the Infineon Raceway road course. Quarterley, who last Saturday made Busch North history by becoming the first driver to win races on a speedway, short track and road course, was seeking a Nextel Cup road course [Watkins Glen] opportunity when he visited Childress. "Dale is somebody we would definitely have wanted to give a shot to, if we weren't going to keep Dave in the car," Childress said. "I've been impressed with what's he's been able to get done."(NASCAR.com)(8-1-2004)
- Sauter back to Cup for RCR? but not #30: Richard Childress says it's possible Johnny Sauter will return in an RCR Cup car at Richmond in September, but it won't be the #30 AOL Chevrolet. Sauter was released from that ride in June because of a lack of success.(Foxsports/Sporting News)(7-26-2004)
- Black AOL car: Instead of the regular AOL blue and gold paint scheme, Dave Blaney's #30 Chevrolet will carry an AOL for Broadband special design in black and gold to run under the lights at Daytona for the Pepsi 400.(RCR PR)(7-1-2004)
- Tracy was offered a RCR ride at Sonoma but...: Robin Miller mentioned on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain and in an article at the Speed Channel site: Paul Tracy could have been making his Nextel Cup debut this weekend at Sonoma, Calif. but was denied permission by his Champ Car owner Gerald Forsythe. "Richard Childress offered me a ride last month but Gerry and Kevin (Kalkhoven, OWRS ower) thought it would confuse people and they would think I was going to NASCAR," said the 2003 CART champion. "I think it would have been good for Champ Car." Forsythe and Kalkhoven may understand business but they need a PR class because they blew an excellent opportunity to get some free exposure to a group of race fans that don't know Champ Car exists.(Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel)(6-23-2004)
- Sauter to run his own car in Cup with RCR engines: The Johnny Sauter saga is taking another strange turn. While car owner Richard Childress has put Dave Blaney in the #30 cars that Sauter has been driving on the Cup tour, Childress is keeping Sauter under contract and will provide engines and backing for Sauter to run his own cars later this summer. So Sauter will get a novel chance to show he can make it in this sport in the coming weeks by designing his own Cup cars with buddy Joe Shear. Cary Agajanian, Sauter's agent and one of this sport's noted attorneys says that it's a good break for Sauter: "Johnny will run a few races, under no pressure, with a car the way he wants it built. When Johnny won ... last year at Richmond in the Busch series, it was in a car built by Joe and Johnny themselves. And these cars will be the same thing - these two guys will be able to build their own cars for Cup, it's a most amazing thing." Agajanian said that it will be a joint venture by Childress and the Sauter-Agajanian team. "And then we'll see what happens for next year," Agajanian says.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-21-2004)
- Davis not happy with Blaney leaving: Car owner Bill Davis was not pleased at Blaney's decision to join Childress. Davis said he had a verbal agreement with Blaney to field a car for him here and at other tracks this season.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-19-2004)
- #30 driver at Michigan? UPDATE it's Blaney: The question of who runs for him [in the #30 AOL Chevy] at Michigan, [team owenr Richard] Childress said, will likely be decided Monday or Tuesday. Sauter is 28th in the standings entering today's Pocono 500. For the moment "I don't know," Childress said of his Michigan driver. "Right now Johnny Sauter is hired to drive the car, and he doesn't have (competing) commitments. But...."(Winston Salem Journal), see past rumors [from April] below.(6-13-2004)
UPDATE [from June 11th - see quote: With Dave Blaney stepping in for Johnny Sauter for this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., there is speculation that Sauter is on his way out of the #30 car with Richard Childress Racing. The official word is travel commitments would not allow Sauter to make it back and forth between this weekend's Busch Series race in Gladeville, Tenn., where he is competing, and Pocono. Sauter did not return a phone message, but his father, Jim Sauter, said a permanent driver change could be on the way based on discussions with his son. "I think it's more than (travel)," Jim Sauter said. "That's just as far as they're concerned, a way of getting around it with the media. If Childress was going to keep him around, he would have left him in there. It doesn't look good."(Wisconsin State Journal), the entry lists for MIS have Sauter listed in the #30.(6-15-2004)
UPDATE 2 - Blaney In; Sauter still with RCR: Dave Blaney has been named to take over driving duties of Richard Childress Racing's #30 AOL Chevy, replacing rookie Johnny Sauter. Blaney, who is in his seventh season in the Nextel Cup Series, has logged 155 career races with his first start coming at North Carolina Speedway in 1992. Most recently, Blaney drove a limited Cup schedule for Bill Davis Racing, making eight starts during the 2004 season. "This sport has gotten so tough and complicated, sometimes tough decisions have to be made," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "Our sport is driven by business decisions and that is what this driver change is, a business decision. Blaney has a strong, consistent driving style that will fit well with the No. 30 team. As a veteran racer, Dave will work well with our crew chief Kevin Hamlin to get the America Online Chevy up front." Blaney, 41, of Hartford, Ohio, currently lives in High Point, N.C. with his wife Lisa and their three children. The 1995 World of Outlaws champion, along with his family, owns Sharon (Ind.) Speedway. "I am really honored to be driving for Richard Childress," Blaney said. "I look forward to getting back to racing every weekend and can't think of a better opportunity for me than with a great team like RCR and a great sponsor like America Online." Sauter will remain under contract with RCR and drive additional Nextel Cup Series events throughout the 2004 season, to be named at a later date. "I still feel very strongly about Johnny's ability as a young driver," said Childress. "That is why I wanted to keep him under contract with RCR to run the additional Cup races for us this season and help us with testing." Sauter said he will use the change to focus on his Busch ride with Brewco Motorsports [#27]. "I am happy about remaining under contract with RCR to do some testing as well as running a limited number of Cup races," he said. As announced last week, road course specialist Jim Inglebright will drive the #30 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 27.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-16-2004)
- Sauter out of the #30? UPDATE 5 just too early? maybe for good?: hearing that Johnny Sauter, driver of the #30 RCR team has parted ways with RCR - Richard Childress Racing? IF TRUE - Two drivers being rumored are Tony Raines, part-time in the #74 Busch ride and Dave Blaney, part-time in the #23 Dodge in Cup and part-time in the #31 Ford in Busch.
UPDATE: looks like my sources were incorrect as RCR has denied that Sauter has been released and will still drive the #30 AOL Chevy.
UPDATE 2: MRN Radio's Sirius Speedway (Sirius Satellite Radio) is reporting that Johnny Sauter has not been released by Richard Childress Racing. Spokesperson Lisa Cox said that team owner Richard Childress has been in Alaska on a hunting trip since Monday, and that Sauter remains the driver of the #30 AOL Chevrolet.
PLUS another clue I should had heeded: Sauter and the team tested the last few days in Martinsville.
UPDATE 3: PRN's Garage Pass radio show talked to Johnny Sauter today and he said: "There's absolutely no truth to it. Richard (Childress) hasn't said one word to me. As a matter of fact we had a conversation this weekend that said I was his driver no matter what happens and we're gonna continue to race. I'm not gonna worry about it. I've been the topic of rumors before I guess, and my relationship with Richard and everybody at RCR and AOL is as strong as ever and I just can't wait to get back racing. There's always rumor mills in this wonderful world of racing and I guess if they're talking about you at least they know you're alive." NOTE: Childress is in Alaska hunting polar bears.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-8-2004)
UPDATE 4 - maybe the rumor was 2 months too soon? ....Now Sauter's future with [Richard] Childress is a topic of much discussion, and Childress isn't quelling any rumors. In the span of just a few days, Childress has decided to sub a veteran road racer ]P.J. Jones] for Sauter at Sonoma later this month and to sub veteran Dave Blaney for him this week for the Pocono 500. In both cases, Childress said, Sauter's Busch commitments have caused conflicts that precipitated the changes. But yesterday, Childress, asked directly about Sauter's future with the team, sidestepped the question. "Right now Dave Blaney is in the car for Pocono, and we'll see how that goes," Childress said. "This sport has gotten so tough and complicated, and tough decisions have to be made. Today the sport is driven a lot by business decisions." Asked if Sauter would be back in the car at Michigan International Speeway for the June 20 race there, Childress demurred. Sauter couldn't be reached for comment.(Winston Salem Journal)....oops.(6-10-2004)
UPDATE 5 and even more: The early story line here [Pocono] this weekend centers on Richard Childress, who may be shopping for a new driver. Childress is doing nothing to dispel speculation that Johnny Sauter may be replaced. Dave Blaney will have Sauter's ride here for qualifying this afternoon for Sunday's Pocono 500; Jim Inglebright will have the Childress ride at Sears Point. Childress hasn't said who will be in the car next week at Michigan. Sauter hasn't said much about the situation.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-11-2004)
- Blaney to run the #30 at Pocono: Due to conflicts with Johnny Sauter’s racing schedules, Dave Blaney will drive Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #30 America Online Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the June 13 Pocono 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. “There were conflicts with Johnny’s schedules in trying to run both the Busch and Cup series’, so we decided it would be best to put Dave in the car for Pocono,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR.(RCR PR)(6-8-2004)
