Racin' Today

Waltrip Takes First Laps At Sebring

Jim Pedley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:41:09 +0000

RacinToday.com NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip’s foray into sports car racing continues this week when he tested at Sebring for next month’s annual 12-hour race. Waltrip, who drove his first laps at Sebring on Thursday morning. The two-time Daytona 500 winner is eyeing his first start at the track following the second day of the annual Sebring Winter [...]

First Passes Of 2012 Are In Books

Info Manager — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:11:06 +0000

The first round of qualifying in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series was held on Thursday and making the fastest passes were Morgan Lucas in Top Fuel, Jack Beckman in Funny Car and Mike Edwards in Pro Stock. The first event of the season is the 52nd O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. Lucas’ [...]

NHRA Kicks Off 2012 At Pomona This Weekend

Jim Pedley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:14:18 +0000

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com The 2012 NHRA Full Thottle Drag Racing Series season gets under way today with the start of the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. New faces have arrived, old faces have disappeared and other old faces have re-appeared. The most diverse series in all of auto racing will [...]

JD Motorsports Adds Second NNS Car

Info Manager — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:32 +0000

RacinToday.com JD Motorsports announced Wednesday that it will field a second car for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Johnny Davis, owner of JD Motorsports, will field the No. 4 Chevrolet to double their efforts on the track this season. Mike Wallace will continue to drive the No. 01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports on a full-time basis with [...]

It’s Big-Jump Time for Top Fueler al Balooshi

Jim Pedley — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:37:41 +0000

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com Three years ago, when it was first suggested to Khalid alBalooshi that he should be sitting in a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA by good friend and team-owner His Highness Sheik Khalid al Thani, it all ended with a laugh. The second time that suggestion was made, it ended [...]

INDYCAR Rolls Out Its New Rulebook

Info Manager — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:31:30 +0000

RacinToday.com Sporting and technical regulations that comprise the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook were distributed electronically to teams by INDYCAR on Tuesday. INDYCAR President of Competition and IZOD IndyCar Series Race Director Beaux Barfield said the goal was to re-format the 2012 rulebook for ease of use in conjunction with the debut of the Dallara DW12 chassis [...]

Pedley: Kahne Set To Begin A Season Of Stability

Jim Pedley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:57:34 +0000

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Kasey Kahne is the quiet type. In tone and in volume. So it can be tough to get a solid read on his exact excitement levels when it comes to, well, basically, anything. It was that way a couple of days ago as he stood in [...]

Dyson Accepts Invite To Race At Le Mans

Info Manager — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:22:16 +0000

RacinToday.com Dyson Racing has accepted two automatic entry invitations for this year’s 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16th and 17th. The team will enter two new Lola B12/60 coupes in the race, powered by upgraded versions of the same AER-built Mazda engines that took the team to the American Le Mans [...]

Baldwin Hires Pemberton

Info Manager — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:03:40 +0000

RacinToday.com Tommy Baldwin Racing hired Ryan Pemberton to lead the No. 36 Sprint Cup team as crew chief for Dave Blaney. Pemberton spent the last three years as screw chief for the No. 83 car at now-defunct Red Bull Racing. He has been a crew chief since 1997. The No. 36 team’s 2012 schedule is still being finalized [...]

Bowyer Feels Moving To MWR Is A Safe Bet

Jim Pedley — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:31:58 +0000

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Clint Bowyer thought it hilarious that the great blackjack hands he was pulling at a Kansas City casino last Thursday were somehow succumbing to even better hands on the part of the dealer. He did, after all, walk away from the table at the end of the day with a nifty [...]

Woody: Danica Wriggles Way Into Daytona 500

Larry Woody — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:27:21 +0000

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say that I’m glad Danica Patrick will be racing in this month’s Daytona 500. I’ve always admired Danica’s sass, spunk and spirit, and following her endeavors will make the races she runs considerably more interesting. Having said that, however, the way she got an automatic starting spot without having [...]

France Kennedy, ISC Bring Hollywood To Kansas

Jim Pedley — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:20:28 +0000

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A freakily rare February lightening storm crawled into Kansas City on Friday morning. The big kind. The kind that kicks the danger factor of rush-hour traffic up to absurd. The kind that can worry pilots and close airports. Not the kind, however, that was going to turn [...]

Sports Car Notes: Marino Franchitti In Delta Wing

Jim Pedley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:54:55 +0000

RacinToday.com Sports Car Racing Notes: Scottish sportscar ace Marino Franchitti has been selected as the first driver for the unique DeltaWing program that will debut at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Franchitti’s name was revealed today at the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) press conference that announced the entries for this year’s twice round-the-clock endurance classic. Launched [...]

Testing Of DSR’s Top Fuel Canopy Is Under Way

Jim Pedley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:45:37 +0000

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com The Top Fuel-car canopy being developed by Don Schumacher Racing will be at this weekend’s Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., but it will not be on the DSR cars. That’s unfortunate, driver Tony Schumacher said Wednesday. “I want (it) to be in that car right away,” Schumacher said. The canopy, designed to protect [...]

NHRA Names New Chief Starter

Info Manager — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:03:17 +0000

RacinToday.com Mark Lyle, long-time starter in NHRA’s Division 6 and a certified team member of the NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA, has been named official NHRA Chief Starter, one of drag racing’s most storied positions. There have only been two chief starters in the sport’s 60-plus year history, Buster Couch (1955-1996) and Rick Stewart (1996-2011). Beginning [...]