Official NASCAR 2014 Moves And Updates

[superjames1992]

Quote: Originally Posted by Happy29

Comcast Xfinity and NASCAR will announce next week a 10 year partnership. Comcast Xfinity will become the title series of what is now the NASCAR Nationwide series. The new series title will now be the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Ew. Terrible name.

[Happy29]

NASCAR Offers Stewart A Chase Exemption


NASCAR President Mike Helton confirmed today that the sanctioning body will extend an exemption to Stewart, allowing him to race for the title despite sitting out the last three races following an incident in a Sprint Car race that took the life of driver Kevin Ward, Jr.

NASCAR President Mike Helton explained that decision today, saying, “This has been a very unique set of circumstances to Tony and to our sport. As the league, it's our responsibility to try to make decisions that are correct and right.

“Sometimes we evaluate circumstances that are given us and then make those decisions as correctly as we can.”

Helton declined to provide specifics on what medical and/or psychological treatment Stewart may have received in the last three weeks, saying the sanctioning body relied on “third-party experts to assure us that a NASCAR driver or a NASCAR member is ready to return. All those forms of processes were met and we cleared him based on those third-party inputs from experts.”

He also said the sanctioning body is unlikely to assess any penalty or sanction based on the findings of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Ontario County (NY) Sheriff’s office, saying, “our effort, our scope of responsibility and authority is limited to the NASCAR community.”

[Proof21]

Great finish to the Truck race today...we need more road races..makes for good TV.

[BurghFan]

Marcos Ambrose to Leave RPM in 2015

Quote:

JOLIET, Ill. –- Richard Petty Motorsports officials have announced that driver Marcos Ambrose will not return as driver of the team's No. 9 Ford in 2015. Ambrose, a native of Launceston, Tasmania and a two-time winner in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, had said earlier this season that he had not decided if he would remain in the U.S. to continue his racing career. "Marcos will always be a part of our extended racing family, team co-owner Richard Petty said. "He came over to the United States with his family and dedicated his time here to giving it the best he had each week. "I couldn't ask anything more from Marcos and his commitment on and off the track to our race team and our partners. Away from the track, he's a family person first. That's something I respect and we'll miss Marcos, (his wife) Sonja and their children."

[DazzaDogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by BurghFan

Marcos Ambrose to Leave RPM in 2015

He's going back to V8 Supercars, and joining the new Team Penske-Dick Johnson Racing combination.

[Happy29]

NASCAR Announces 2015 Sprint Cup Rules

NASCAR has announced a series of updates to its national series rules packages for 2015.

The sanctioning body said the rules were formulated with the goals of enriched competition, improved safety, reduced cost, enhanced product relevance and environmental (green) improvements in mind.

Most notable on the list of changes are a NASCAR-mandated ban on all team-initiated private testing, along with the deletion of NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway. The only testing allowed next season will be sessions conducted by NASCAR or Goodyear. Any team caught testing on its own will receive a P6 penalty, the highest on NASCAR's new punishment scale. It carries a loss of 150 points, a minimum $150,000 fine and a six-week suspension for the crew chief and other crew members.

"It will be a huge penalty if anyone is caught," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's executive vice president and chief racing development officer. O'Donnell said NASCAR believes teams will police the testing themselves and report any organization that breaks the ban.

The three-day annual Daytona 500 test each January was as much about promoting the season-opening race as it was for teams to shake off any cobwebs from the offseason. O'Donnell said that time will now be used to send drivers on a cross-country promotional tour similar to the "Chase Across North America" that NASCAR used this month with its 16 Chase championship drivers assigned to visit various race markets.

Scrapping the Daytona test was initiated by NASCAR, O'Donnell said, and not a concession to the newly formed Race Team Alliance, the group of team owners that is pushing for better efficiencies and reduced costs for competition.

"It's NASCAR driven," O'Donnell said. "It's with collaboration. It's working with the entire industry."

Qualifying formats have been updated for all tracks. On short and intermediate tracks, qualifying will consist of three rounds: 15 minutes, 10 minutes and five minutes, with short breaks between rounds.

On superspeedways, the field will be split in “A” and “B” qualifying groups, with each group receiving a pair of five-minute qualifying rounds, with breaks between rounds. For the first time in history, the season-opening Daytona 500 will also feature a group qualifying format.

On road courses, qualifying will consist of two rounds: 25 minutes and 10 minutes, with a break between rounds.

Changes to the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rules package include:

§ Reduction of horsepower to 725 via tapered spacer.
§ Roller valve lifters to replace flat valve lifter.
§ Lower rear differential gear ratios targeting 9,000 RPM.
§ Rear spoiler adjustment from 7.25 inches to 6 inches.
§ Optional driver adjustable track bar.
§ 38-inch wide radiator pan.
§ 50-pound reduction in minimum vehicle weight from 3,300 to 3,250 pounds (w/o driver) via ballast reduction.

In addition, rain tires will be utilized when necessary in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road course events, along with mandatory windshield wipers, defogger and rear flashing rain light. These changes bring the series in line with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

New officiating processes for 2015 include a data log and capture system for pre-race inspections, along with automated pit road officiating at race events

NASCAR also announced newly approved brake calipers for 2015, as well as a new parts approval process. The sanctioning body will also offer an electronic rule book next season.


They tried scrapping preseason thunder a few years back I hated it then I hate it now. I have no problem with the lowering of horsepower it isn't going to drop the speeds enough for the spectator to notice and I believe that it will lead to even more competitive racing.

[BurghFan]

RPM Tabs Hornish for Sprint Cup Ride

Quote:

Richard Petty Motorsports announced Wednesday it has tabbed veteran Sam Hornish Jr. to succeed Marcos Ambrose as driver of its No. 9 Ford Fusion for the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season. The pairing brings together the 2006 Indianapolis 500 champ Hornish with one of stock car racing's legends and lands the former open-wheel champion his first full-time ride at the Sprint Cup Series level since 2010.

[Happy29]

Watkins Glen Set For 2015 Repave

Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup announced today that the historic track will conduct a repaving project in the summer of 2015; its first resurfacing since 1998.

The repave will begin with “The Boot” in July, followed by the short course immediately following the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in August. The repave is slated for completion in advance of the 2016 race season.

“This is a significant project for Watkins Glen International, our competitors, fans and track rental customers,” Printup stated. “The repave is a tremendous undertaking and next summer is the right time to begin this historic project and prepare The Glen for the future.”

Asphalt specialists and engineers conducted a thorough evaluation of The Glen’s entire circuit and recommended the current timeline. Further details and project specifics will be released at a later date.


As a result of the repave, the Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Welliver will take place July 24-26. Information regarding renewals and ticket sales will be shared with customers in the coming weeks.

Fans will be able to witness the project from the Fans R1st Viewing Area in the Argetsinger Grandstand. That area will continue to be free and open to the public through the end of October. Fans will also be able to follow the progress of the project via Facebook, Twitter and online at www.TheGlen.com.