Contracts: Sponsor: 2009; Driver: 2008+
- Lopez and HOF Racing part ways? hearing that #96 Hall of Fame Racing and Competition Director [and former crew chief], Philippe Lopez parted ways on Tuesday.(5-8-2008) Comment here
- Diamondbacks logo on the #96: That weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, J.J. Yeley's #96 Camry will sport an Arizona Diamondbacks 10th anniversary logo. Hall of Fame owners are Diamondbacks chief executive officer Jeff Moorad and chief operating officer Tom Garfinkel.(USA Today)(4-3-2008)
- TI DLP to re-sign with HOF Racing, Staubach retiring UPDATE: DLP HDTV is expected to sign a contract extension through 2009 to continue as the primary sponsor of the #96 car. Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman became minority owners in Hall of Fame Racing, a Sprint Cup organization, when a group led by Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel bought controlling interest late last season. Aikman plans to invest in the team and attend some races every year. Staubach said he's ready to retire from racing, probably after this season. "It's not a goal of mine to continue," said Staubach, who made it clear he likes the new management of Hall of Fame Racing. "They've given me an opportunity to stay involved, but I told them I've got a lot going on. I don't like to be partly involved in things." Aikman also has other business interests, including his job as analyst for Fox's No. 1 announcing team. He said his role this Cup season isn't much different than what it was the first two years of the team's existence. Aikman was a majority owner, but Bill Saunders ran the daily operations. Now Garfinkel handles much of that role. Aikman will also be around at least through 2009 because he trusts and respects Moorad, Aikman's agent and longtime friend. Aikman said he's proud of what the one-car team has done. But to consistently finish in the top 20, it needs to get a second car and more resources. Moorad and Garfinkel plan to provide that. The second car could run as early as next season [supposedly with Brad Coleman as the driver].(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2008)
UPDATE: DLP HDTV officials announced that they will extend their sponsorship of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota driven by J.J. Yeley in the Sprint Cup Series. DLP HDTV, which has been the primary sponsor on the #96 car since its inception in 2006, will remain in that role through the 2009 season. "We've been extremely pleased with our sponsorship of the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota," said Dave Duncan, sponsorship marketing manager, DLP Products, Texas Instruments.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(4-2-2008) Comment here
- Changes at the #96? UPDATE 3 Boyer Named Crew Chief: hearing there could be a crew chief change coming at the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team...Slugger Labbe could be coming over from the now idle #27 Bill Davis Racing team. Brandon Thomas is the current crew chief for J.J. Yeley at Hall of Fame Racing. There tend to be some changed during the first of weekend every season.(3-16-2008)
UPDATE: been told thatLabbe was seen at Bristol in a Bill Davis Racing sweatshirt and been told by BDR rep that Labbe is still with BDR and will help out the #22 CAT team in testing the next couple weeks.(3-17-2008)
UPDATE 2: Richard “Slugger” Labbe, who was crew chief of the #27 Bill Davis Racing car, has parted ways with the team, a BDR spokesman confirmed Monday.(SceneDaily)(3-18-2008)
UPDATE 3: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced that Steve Boyer will serve as crew chief for driver J.J. Yeley and the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry beginning with the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend March 29-30 at Martinsville. Boyer, who has worked within the engineering department at HoFR since December 2007, takes over for Brandon Thomas, who had served as crew chief since October 2006. Boyer is no stranger to the top of the pit box, as he was Sterling Marlin’s crew chief at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for the last six races of the 2004 Sprint Cup Series season and the entire 2005 campaign.(HOF PR)(3-18-2008)
- Sadler's and Yeley enter Horsepower Series UPDATE: Elliott and Hermie Sadler, and J.J. Yeley will join a cast of eight stock car personalities [five to be named later] as they will team with Power Golf Professionals Sean Fister, Brooks Baldwin, Danny Luirette, Kevin Bullard, Vince Howell, Scott Ionno, JD Murkerson, and Carl Wolter in the 2008 HorsePower Tee Shot Tour. The Horsepower Tee Shot Tour (HTST) will include six events being played under the lights during race weeks next season. The scoring format will not only reward length off the tee, but accuracy as well. SPEED TV will be airing all the HTST events during the summer and early fall of 2008. Jeff Hammond is the spokesman for the HTST and NASCAR on FOX broadcaster. In addition to the “Power Golf” competition, each stop on the Tour also will include a golf trick-shot exhibition, fan participation and a charity event to benefit the Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp.(HTST PR)(12-30-2007)
UPDATE: HorsePower Sports Marketing (HSM), the sanctioning body of the 2008 Horsepower Tee Shot Tour (HTST), proudly welcomes Brian Vickers, its fifth stock car personality, to the upcoming 2008 HTST season. The six "Power Golf" events constituting the HTST take place during Sprint Cup race weeks at select venues in close proximity to the race tracks between May and October. All events are scheduled to air on SPEED.(SPEED PR)(3-11-2008), for the tour schedule and more info, see hpteeshottour.com.
- Hall of Fame Racing Forms Board of Advisors: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced today the formation of a Board of Advisors to serve as conduits for excellence in business practices and driving more value for sponsors. Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel own Hall of Fame Racing and field the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for driver J.J. Yeley. "The concept of an Advisory Board for a race team is something that we believe can help us in the development and execution of our plan for successful growth," Garfinkel said. "In an effort to add more value to sponsors and operate with transparency about how their investments in our team are deployed, we've invited executive leadership from our sponsors to participate on the Board as well."
"This is a virtual dream team of successful business leaders and entrepreneurs who will assist us in our quest for building a great organization," Moorad said. "Their vast experience and unparalleled integrity will be invaluable to us and our partners as we move forward."
The Board of Advisors will consist of: Bob Damon, President of Korn/Ferry International; Tom Davin, CEO of Panda Restaurants Inc.; Mike Gray, most recently President and CEO of Sweet Life Enterprises; Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Bob Piccinini, Chairman and CEO of Save Mart Supermarkets; Stephen Prough,
retired Chairman and CEO of Long Beach Acceptance Corporation; Conrad Wetterau, President and CEO of Quality Beverage Inc., Mark Wetterau, Chairman and CEO of Golden State Foods.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(2-13-2008)
- Hall of Fame Team members suit up, play ball on MLB field: t's not unusual for a softball game to break out during a company picnic. But when management also owns a Major League Baseball team, you can count on your corporate outing to be a little different.Consider the case of Hall of Fame Racing's little get-together last month at Phoenix, hosted by new team owners Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel. The team gathered at Chase Field on Saturday evening, expecting to take a routine photo. Instead, they were ushered into the visitor's clubhouse, where each locker contained a Arizona Diamondbacks uniform, complete with each team member's name on the back. nd that was only the beginning of what turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for the crew of the #96 car, as they not only got to experience what it feels like to be on the field at a major-league stadium, but to play a four-inning game -- including a public address announcer, scoreboard and video highlights.(NASCAR.com)(12-12-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing to Partner with Toyota Hall of Fame Racing (HoFR) officials announced today at Phoenix International Raceway that the team will partner with Toyota and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. J.J. Yeley will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry in 2008 for HoFR, and the team will continue their strategic alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) - leasing engines and receiving manufacturing support from JGR. "I've had the good fortune of working with Toyota in the past. Toyota
is an industry leading company and an exceptional partner who is committed to winning," said Tom Garfinkel, owner of HoFR. "We're also thrilled to continue our relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing - a first-class organization who has been supportive of us from day one." Yeley's first appearance in a Toyota in Sprint Cup competition will come in the Feb. 9 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Yeley earned his way into the non-points paying event via his first career Cup pole on June 15, 2007 at Michigan International Speedway.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(11-9-2007)
- Looks like HOF Racing going to Toyota UPDATE: Expect an announcement from Hall of Fame Racing in the next seven to 10 days that it is switching to Toyota for 2008, sources said. HOF is a satellite outfit to Joe Gibbs Racing, which already has confirmed that it will move next year. The team will add a second full-time Spring Cup car in 2009 for 19-year-old phenom Brad Coleman. J.J. Yeley will drive for HOF next season, with Coleman doing as many as seven Cup races in 2008.(Ford Racing)(11-3-2007)
UPDATE: Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel, the new majority owners of Hall of Fame Racing, said they'll make a decision within a few weeks on an engine manufacturer. Hall of Fame has always used Chevy engines, but it has also maintained a working agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing, which will switch to Toyota next season. "If we continue the Gibbs alliance, certainly it would be Toyota," Garfinkel said. "That would be our preference. But we're investigating all opportunities." Moorad and Garfinkel, who are members of the Arizona Diamondbacks' ownership group, took over Hall of Fame in September from the original group headed by former Cowboys star quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.(Dallas Morning News)(11-5-2007)
- Coleman Signs with Hall of Fame Racing: Rookie driver Brad Coleman, only a few short weeks after signing for a full-time ride with Brewco Motorsports in the Busch Series, has turned around and signed another contract to go Sprint Cup racing in 2008 with Hall of Fame Racing. The 19-year-old Texas native has agreed to become a full-time test driver for the team and run at least seven Cup races at the end of the 2008 season; meaning Hall of Fame will add a second car along side the #96 piloted by J.J. Yeley. Following proper development, Coleman will pilot the Cup ride at Hall of Fame Racing full time in 2009, although a sponsor and number for the entry has yet to be determined.(NASCAR.com)(11-2-2007)
- Gibbs expects Hall of Fame to remain affiliated, join Toyota: Hall of Fame Racing officials have not informed Joe Gibbs Racing whether the team will remain affiliated with JGR and move to Toyota next season, but JGR has no indication that it won't. Hall of Fame Racing buys chassis, bodies and engines from JGR, which announced last month that it was switching to Toyota. Hall of Fame has yet to make a final decision, according to the team. "The conversations we've had so far would indicate they will be back with us," JGR Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I'm expecting them to be there. I think they are still looking at some different options, but from what I understand, we're probably going to be where they will end up."(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
- Yeley to test at Atlanta in the #96: on Monday and Tuesday next week, J.J. Yeley will work toward getting 2008 off to a good start by testing the #96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet for Hall of Fame Racing (HoFR) at Atlanta. Yeley will drive for HoFR beginning in 2008 and will test for the team during NASCAR’s two-day open test at Atlanta with the Car of Tomorrow (CoT). Teley tested the #96 recently at Kentucky Speedway.(JGR PR), Kyle Busch will test the #18 car for JGR, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will test for Hendrick Motorsports, could see other dirvers in their 2008 rides in the Atlanta COT test.(10-25-2008)
- Hall of Fame Undecided on Manufacturer: #96-Hall of Fame Racing is still trying to decide on a manufacturer next year, according to new team co-owner Tom Garfinkel. Garfinkel said discussions continue with Toyota so that his team could continue its alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. "We don't have a manufacturer yet at this point," Garfinkel said Sunday at Kansas Speedway. "We should know in the next week or two. We're working on it. ... We expect to be with Gibbs and we're hopeful that we get everything worked out in the next week.(SceneDaily.com)(10-1-2007)
- Raines Looking, maybe other NASCAR series: Hall of Fame Racing driver Tony Raines, who will not drive the #96 next season as J.J. Yeley takes over, said he knows the chances of earning a Cup ride in 2008 are slim. He hopes to drive in one of NASCAR's other series. "I'm disappointed, but I understand the decision," said Raines, who ran into Jeff Green on the eighth lap of Saturday's race and finished 35th. "When you don't have the results that are expected, changes are made. It's tough, but that's what happens."(Dallas Morning News)(9-10-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing to name 2008 driver today....Yeley UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing hold a Driver Announcement for #96 Nextel Cup Series Team on Tuesday afternoon at their shop in Huntersville, NC. This press conference is CLOSED to the public.(PR)
AND hearing that J.J. Yeley will be named the driver.(9-4-2007)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing has signed J.J. Yeley to drive for the #96 team in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2008. Yeley's debut in the #96 DLP HDTV car [rumored to be Toyota in 2008, now a Chevy] will come in February's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. His entry into the prestigious event came via his first career pole at Michigan International Speedway this past June. "In 23 years of being involved in professional sports, I have worked with many great athletes," said Jeff Moorad, owner of Hall of Fame
Racing. "J.J Yeley's determination to succeed reminds me of many of the championship athletes that I have been around in my career. He is hungry and determined to win races and championships and to do it with class. We look forward to J.J. being an integral part of Hall of Fame Racing and to winning with him going forward." Yeley comes to Hall of Fame Racing from Joe Gibbs Racing, the team for which he drove full-time in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2006. Yeley will take over for Tony Raines, current driver of the #96
DLP HDTV Chevy, following the conclusion of the 2007 season. "After meeting with Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel it was easy to see why both of them have been so successful with the Arizona Diamondbacks and their other past ventures," said Yeley, whose contract with Hall of Fame Racing runs through the 2010 season. "Both of them are very determined
to be successful. They know you can't just come in and throw money at the team and expect to win races. The benefit of this team is that there's already a great history and foundation in place with equipment from Joe Gibbs Racing, which is equal to the best equipment in the sport. All those things added up to make me feel that Hall of Fame Racing and DLP will be the best fit for me."
"When you leave an organization like Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the top teams in NASCAR, you want to try to make the right step to be more successful," said Yeley, who finished a career-best second in May at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I've never had to make a decision this difficult in my life, but I'm confident that Hall of Fame Racing will be competitive week-in and week out and build the future team around me as their driver. The affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the great people in Phoenix was just an added bonus that makes it the perfect fit for me."
"We are very much looking forward to J.J. representing DLP and our retail partners," said Dave Duncan, sponsorship marketing manager for DLP Products and Texas Instruments. "We've had a relationship with J.J. the past two seasons as an associate sponsor on the #18 car and look forward to working with him in the future."
Yeley replaces Tony Raines, who has driven for Hall of Fame Racing the past two seasons and will drive the final 11 races in 2007. "I very much enjoyed working with everyone at Hall of Fame Racing and DLP," Raines said. "I can't thank them enough for everything they did for me and both companies are class organizations. We had some success, especially in the Car of Tomorrow (COT) races and I look forward to running the final 11 races, including the five COT races. We're going to do our best to finish out strong before we go our separate ways. I wish them the best of luck in 2008 and beyond."(True Speed Communication/Hall of Fame Racing PR)(9-4-2007)
- Baseball Execs Buy Majority of Hall of Fame Racing: UPDATE; Two executives with the Arizona Diamondbacks have purchased majority interest in the team owned by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Jeff Moorad, chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks, and Tom Garfinkel, the chief operating officer, will be introduced as the controlling owners of Hall of Fame Racing Sunday at California Speedway, two people familiar with the deal told the AP. The original ownership group, including Aikman and Staubach, will remain involved as minority owners. But Moorad, who is part of the Diamondbacks ownership group, and Garfinkel will have controlling interest. Garfinkel has vast racing experience through his previous role as executive vice president of Chip Ganassi Racing. Moorad founded his own management company in 1983, and has represented athletes such as Manny Ramirez, Will Clark, Steve Young, Warren Moon, and Aikman. It was that previous relationship with Aikman that led the executives to Hall of Fame Racing when they began looking for a team to purchase. Hall of Fame Racing has a close alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, and that's not expected to change with the sale. Gibbs currently fields Chevy, but is expected to announce next week that it is switching to Toyota. Although aspects of the Hall of Fame sale are still being discussed, sources told the AP the team will use the same manufacturer that Gibbs does next season.(USA Today/Associated Press)(9-2-2007)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing will continue its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and follow its switch from Chevy to Toyota in 2008, the teams announced. HFR general partner Bill Saunders and Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs announced the partnership extension. JGR is expected to announce Wednesday its move to Toyota. JGR supplies engines, chassis and bodies to HFR in a lease agreement. Tony Raines is the driver of HFR's car, which is sponsored by DLP/Texas Instruments. [new owner Tom] Garfinkel said no decision has been made on whether Raines will return next season. DLP is in the second year of a three-year deal with the team and will continue next season as the primary sponsor.(ESPN.com)(9-3-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing Undecided on Manufacturer: #96-Hall of Fame Racing general manager Philippe Lopez said the team hasn't decided which manufacturer it will partner with next season. If Hall of Fame Racing doesn't go to Toyota, it would look at other Chevy teams like Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. Lopez said his team has talked to both owners about that possibility. Lopez said Hall of Fame Racing is in the second year of a three-year deal with Gibbs, but that they can opt out of the contract if Gibbs switches manufacturers.(Dallas Morning News)(9-1-2007)
- Different look for the #66 in September, Green wins wager: The #66 Haas CNC Racing Chevy is sporting a different look this weekend. Beginning at California Speedway and continuing through the September 16th race at New Hampshire International Speedway, the #66, driven by Jeff Green, will carry a special Best Buy "HD Done Right" paint design. Best Buy, the primary sponsor of the #66 Haas CNC Racing Chevy in a number of events this season, is promoting its expertise in the area of high-definition (HD) televisions and home theaters with the pledge, "HD Done Right." The pledge, along with the yellow Best Buy tag logo, will appear on the hood of the #66 entry. In addition, the car will be painted a lighter shade of blue than what is usually seen on the Best Buy-sponsored entry, and will display special graphics on the car's sides and quarter panels, along with the logos of Samsung HDTV, Comcast and Garmin, associate sponsors of the #66 Best Buy machine. When Jeff Green drove his #66 Samsung HDTV / Best Buy Chevy past Tony Raines' #96 DLP HDTV Chevy on the final lap at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Green gained more than just a position - he also won a friendly wager. Green and Raines agreed that whichever driver finished lower in the Bristol race must wear a hat advertising the other driver's team and sponsor this weekend at California Speedway. Green's last lap pass means Raines will sport a #66 Best Buy racing hat for the Labor Day weekend event. In addition to occupying the primary sponsor position on the #66 Chevy, the yellow Best Buy tag logo will also be displayed on the quarter panels of Raines' #96 DLP HDTV Chevyat California Speedway.(GMR Marketing PR)(8-29-2007)
- Green and Raines wager on Bristol finish: #96-Tony Raines and #66-Jeff Green have agreed to a friendly wager regarding the outcome of Saturday night's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. While no cash will change hands, the driver that loses the bet will have to do what most competitors consider the unthinkable - wear another race
team's colors at the track. If Raines' #96 DLP HDTV Chevy finishes better than Green's #66 Samsung HDTV/Best Buy Chevy, Green has agreed to wear a #96 DLP
HDTV racing hat next weekend at California Speedway. In return, if Green posts the better finish, Raines will sport a #66 Best Buy racing hat for the Labor Day weekend race.(GMR Marketing/Best Buy)(8-25-2007)
- Hall of Fame to Toyota if Gibbs goes; Raines could be back: Hall of Fame Racing managing partner Bill Saunders said the goal of his team remains to finish the season in the top 20 in owner points. The #96 DLP HDTV Chevy is 26th in the standings after driver Tony Raines finished 15th at Pocono last weekend. Saunders denied an Internet report this week that Hall of Fame Racing was talking to Richard Childress Racing about using their engines next season. "We're with Joe Gibbs Racing, and I don't know where any of that came from," he said. Saunders said if Joe Gibbs Racing decides to switch from Chevy to Toyota, Hall of Fame Racing would do the same as a satellite Gibbs team. Saunders also said that it's written into Raines' contract that if he finishes in the top 20 in points, he's guaranteed a spot behind the wheel next season. If he doesn't, Saunders said, the team will assess his performance and make a decision on 2008 after the season.(Dallas Morning News)(8-11-2007)
- More on Gibbs to Toyota..done deal? HOF to RCR engines? UPDATE 3 denied: hearing the decision has been made and that Joe Gibbs Racing [#11, #18, #20] will switch from Chevrolet to Toyota in 2008 and the announcement should come in early September.(8-6-2007)
UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing still hasn’t announced whether it will switch to Toyotas next year, but the buzz is that it will. Some clues? Tony Stewart’s souvenir trailers were selling merchandise at 50% off regular price last week at the Brickyard, Stewart’s home track and a place where the Hoosier native is wildly popular. Also, a source at Richard Childress Racing said it has been approached by Hall of Fame Racing, a satellite Gibbs team, about buying engines from the newly merged RCR-Dale Earnhardt Inc., engine operation in 2008. Presumably, HOF is hedging its bets, if it ends up not being part of a Gibbs move to Toyota.(Ford Racing)(8-6-2007)
UPDATE 2: JGR will jump from Chevrolet to the Toyota camp beginning in 2008, joining Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull on the list of teams running Toyota Camrys. Neither Busch nor JGR have made any official comment on the move, but Gibbs officials have already informed Hall of Fame Racing that they will not continue to provide the team with engines next season, prompting Hall Of Fame to contact Richard Childress Racing about a similar engine-supply deal for 2008.(Motorsports Soapbox)(8-6-2007)
UPDATE 3: Hall of Fame Racing officials have not been told by Joe Gibbs Racing that JGR will not provide the HOF with engines next season, nor have HOF officials contacted RCR.(8-6-2007)
- Rush Hour 3 Scheme on the #96 at Pocono: DLP HDTV is teaming up with New Line Cinema to support the upcoming action comedy, Rush Hour 3, in a promotional partnership that includes in-theater, online and a NASCAR overlay. Rush Hour 3, starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan and directed by Brett Ratner, will be featured on Tony Raines' #96 DLP HDTV Chevy during the Aug. 5 Pennsylvania 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Rush Hour 3 opens in theaters Aug. 10. The movie will be shown across the world in a digital format on DLP Cinema projectors. DLP leads the cinema movement from film to digital movies with over 4,000 screens powered by DLP technology.(HOF Racing PR)(8-2-2007)
- Many Unknowns for Hall of Fame Racing in 2008: Hall of Fame Racing is unsure whether driver #96-Tony Raines will be retained for next year, whether the team will campaign one or two Nextel Cup cars or which manufacturer those cars will come from, Chevrolet or Toyota. Much of what the team ultimatey does in 2008 hinges on what Joe Gibbs Racing, who builds motors for the team, decides to do. "We haven't made any decisions about anything at this point," said Bill Saunders, co-owner and general partner of the team. "We're a satellite Gibbs operation, and I would say if they made a decision … to go with… we go, too. If they stay with GM, we stay, too. That's all I can really say." So with HOF dependant on Gibbs, it can't decide on a manufacturer until Gibbs does. As for the rest of HOF's plans, the only constant appears to be the return of DLP as a sponsor for a third season in 2008. But whether Raines, who is 32nd in driver points, stays on board or whether the team runs a second car are decisions that are in the future. "We're still hoping for the second car. We're still talking to several groups," Saunders said. "Those conversations are going to have to come to an end pretty quick or you can't field a second car. As far as Tony goes, we have a contract with Tony for next year. It all depends on how we do for the remainder of this season, how DLP treats us. We're happy with what Tony's done for us. We've had some unfortunate stuff happen to us, which is no fault of Tony's and no fault of the team's."(SPEEDtv.com)(7-14-2007)
- Fellows to race at Watkins Glen: Toronto's Ron Fellows finished second Sunday driving the #16 Cadillac CTS-V in the SCCA Speed GT Challenge series at the Grand Prix of Toronto. For the next six weeks Fellows will be on a tour preparing for and racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup and NASCAR Busch Series. Fellows will race the #33 Kevin Harvick Incorporated Chevy first at the NBS NAPA Auto Parts 200 Aug. 3-4 at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and again at Watkins Glen International a week later. Fellows will do double duty at the Glen where he will drive the #96 DLP Hall of Fame Chevrolet in the Cup race Aug. 12. Before embarking on that journey he will be doing some testing with both Harvick and DLP -- probably at Virginia International Raceway -- in preparation for his NASCAR venture. "After (yesterday) it's all NASCAR," Fellows said. "I am really looking forward to the Montreal race. I think those (NBS) cars are going to be a hoot to drive at that track." He has won on the Formula One Montreal track before in a Camaro in the old GM Racing Series. Fellows also has three Busch race wins and a pair of Craftsman Truck Series wins on his resume.(Toronto Sun)(7-10-2007)
- Career start #100 for Raines: The Pepsi 400 will mark #96-Tony Raines' 100th career Nextel Cup Series start and his fourth career Nextel Cup start at Daytona.(HOF Racing PR)(7-4-2007)
- HOF plans 2nd team in 2008 UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing [#96 Tony Raines] co-owner, Troy Aikman, said Tuesday on ESPN2's NASCAR Now, that the team plans to have a 2nd car in 2008 and that they need the 2nd team to get to the next level.(6-6-2007)
UPDATE: Bill Saunders, managing partner of Hall of Fame Racing, said he's pleased with how [driver Tony] Raines has performed, but that he won't decide whether Raines will return for 2008 until after the season. "As of right now, we're still committed to Tony, but there's a lot of this season to go," Saunders said. "We've got to make sure he continues to perform and that the team continues to perform." Saunders said the team has talked to different people and is hopeful it could have a second team for 2008, but no deal is imminent.(in part from the Dallas Morning News)(6-21-2007)
- Fellows in the #96 at Infineon: Ron Fellows: Fellows has won at Infineon Raceway a number of times in his familiar Corvette in the American Le Mans Series, but his best NASCAR finish in Sonoma is seventh (2003). Supposedly Fellows will replace Tony Raines in the #96 HOF Racing/DLP Chevy.(6-17-2007)
UPDATE: Veteran road racing driver Ron Fellows will pilot the #96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet in the upcoming Nextel Cup Series road course events at Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.) and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Bill Saunders, general and managing partner of Hall of Fame Racing announced June 19. Fellows will take over for Tony Raines, who has driven the #96 car in all Nextel Cup events in 2007. "Tony has done a great job for Hall of Fame Racing and DLP this year," Saunders said. "We're very happy with what he's done so far this season and look forward to getting better throughout the summer and the fall. I've known Ron for many, many years and he is a tremendous road racer and we're thrilled to have him drive the DLP car at Infineon and Watkins Glen. We look forward to great things from him. We're also really appreciative of Tony being a true team player. As a former driver I know how hard it is to sit out a race, so for Tony to
put the team in front of himself speaks volumes about what kind of a class act he is."
Fellows, 47, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has a road racing resume second to none. He won 19 races in 95 starts in SCCA Trans-Am
competition before becoming the primary development driver for General Motors' Corvette C5-R program. That association produced victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and virtually every road racing circuit in North America.
"I'm very excited to get the opportunity to drive the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy for Hall of Fame Racing," Fellows said. "They've done a
tremendous job in just a year and a half of being in Nextel Cup and I hope to give them two great results at Infineon and Watkins Glen. I've
known Bill (Saunders) for many years and I really appreciate him, DLP and Tony giving me this opportunity. I had a chance to test with the DLP team last month at Virginia International Raceway, I got a chance to know Brandon (Thomas, crew chief) and the team. It was my first time in the Car of Tomorrow and it was a pretty good test. Hall of Fame Racing is a solid organization and I'm looking forward to racing with them."(Hall of Fame Racing/True Speed Communication PR)(6-19-2007)
- Chevy unveils paint schemes to commemorate 50 Years of the '57 Chevy: One of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history reaches a notable milestone this year, a milestone which NASCAR, Chevy and Motorsports Authentics proudly celebrate. The 1957 Chevrolet, a car which turns 50 years old this year, will be commemorated at August 19’s 3M Performance 400 Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway by at least 11 Team Chevy drivers. Unveiled by Jimmie Johnson at MIS today, a Monte Carlo SS race car featuring decals with cues from the iconic 1957 design is similar to the ones Johnson and other Team Chevy drivers will race during the August event. On August 18, ’57 Chevys along with many other historic vehicles will hit the streets during Metro Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise. That same weekend, Team Chevy Nextel Cup Series drivers #4-Ward Burton, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #14-Sterling Marlin, #01-Mark Martin, #15-Paul Menard, #96-Tony Raines, #1-Martin Truex, Jr., #78-Kenny Wallace and #18-J.J. Yeley will take to the track at MIS with their cars wearing special ’57 Chevy paint schemes. To commemorate this special event, Motorsports Authentics will replicate their cars with die-cast models and offer apparel and novelty items related to the event.(GM Racing PR), see an image of the #48 Scheme on my #48 Team Schemes page.(6-16-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing still wants 2nd car sponsor: Troy Aikman, co-owner of #96 Hall of Fame Racing, said his team continues to seek sponsorship to add a second Nextel Cup team. "We would very much like to have multiple cars," Aikman said. "We understand that's the best way for us to be able to compete and the level we'd like to. It's the best way for us to operate the team more efficiently economically." Aikman said he doesn't know when they'd need sponsorship in place to run the second car in 2008. He said they were able to compete in the 2006 Daytona 500 after Texas Instruments came in six months earlier. "The sooner the better," Aikman said. "But I do think we have the infrastructure in place and, of course, with our alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, that allows us to move things quicker than what some other single-car teams could once they got a second car."(Dallas Morning News)(4-16-2007)
- Aikman can't figure out NASCAR's infractions: Troy Aikman [owner of #96-Tony Raines/Hall of Fame Racing] said the most surprising thing he's learned since getting into NASCAR in 2006 is how series officials handle penalties. "I still haven't been able to quite figure out how NASCAR decides on their degrees of punishment," he said. "How those are handed down. I don't want to use the word inconsistency." Aikman cited his team's first race from 2006, when it was docked 25 points and fined $25,000 for using an illegal carburetor in qualifying at the Daytona 500. At the same race, Jimmie Johnson's team set up the car so it could change height during qualifying. No points were deducted, but the team lost its crew chief for four races. "I think for the most part," Aikman said, "how things are handled and how punishment is given out [in the NFL] is pretty consistent from one case to the next, and I don't know that is the case in NASCAR."(Dallas Morning News)(4-16-2007)
- Special Helmet Scheme for Raines: #96-Tony Raines will wear a special military-themed helmet today [in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway] that was painted by artist David Arrigo. The helmet was to be auctioned off Saturday night at the Speedway Children's Charity Auction at TMS. The winner will get the helmet after Raines wears it today. Raines, Arrigo and Hall of Fame Racing owners Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach will sign it. Staubach graduated from the Navel Academy, and Raines' father was in the Air Force.(Dallas Morning News)(4-15-2007)
- Raines and Montoya clear the air on wreck: Tony Raines, driver of the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy for Hall of Fame Racing, talked with Juan Pablo Montoya between practice sessions. Raines was looking at a possible top-10 finish at Martinsville until Montoya swerved inside of Raines and sent him into the wall on lap 377 of 500. "I thought we needed to talk about it and find out why it happened to put it behind us so it won't happen again," Raines said. "I shared my point of view and he shared his. I didn't want things to build because sometimes a bunch of little things turns into a big thing." Raines ended up 20th. Montoya was not available for comment.(Dallas Morning News)(4-14-2007)
- Raines tests at Caraway: #96-Tony Raines and the Hall of Fame Racing Team headed to Caraway on Tuesday, March 27, to shake down the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy Impala SS [COT] in preparation for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Both tracks are similar in layout, and Raines is hoping the one-day test session will lead to a productive weekend at Martinsville. Officials from DLP HDTV donated 80 tickets for this weekends Goody's Cool Orange 500 to members of the Virginia Army National Guard and their families.(HOF Racing)(3-29-2007)
- #96 to run Shrek III scheme: Tony Raines is scheduled to run a Shrek III [movie] on the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy at Richmond in May.(HOF Racing) See an image of the car on my #96 Team Schemes page.(2-22-2007)
- Raines tests first COT for HOF Racing: Tony Raines and the Hall of Fame Racing team tested the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy "Car of Tomorrow" (COT) on Feb. 20 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, NC. Itmarked the first test with the COT for Hall of Fame Racing and the first time Raines has driven the car.(True Speed Communication/HOF Racing PR)(2-21-2007)
