NASCAR Today

Scott Riggs will drive the No. 36 Toyota for the 2009 NASCAR season for Tommy Baldwin Racing the team announced Monday.

Riggs, who recently left Haas CNC Racing, will start his sixth season in Cup Series competition.
 
Riggs came into NASCAR in the Truck Series in 2000. In 2002, Riggs won Nationwide Series rookie of the year honors after winning two events and earning eight top-five finishes, 16 top-10s and five poles in 24 starts. Since making his Cup debut in 2004, Riggs has earned four top-five finishes, 16 top-10s and three poles in 167 starts.

The ‘09 season finds the 38-year-old native of Bahama, N.C., eager to embark on a new chapter of his racing career, driving for the newly formed TBR. Tommy Baldwin, who will hold the title of both owner and crew chief, announced the formation of his new race team earlier this month.

“I look forward to working with Tommy,” Riggs said. “I think we can work together to build something really strong. I feel fortunate to work with someone like Tommy who has so much experience.”

TBR plans on competing in the Daytona 500 in February with plans to run a full schedule in the Cup Series.

“Having Scott Riggs on board is a huge stepping stone for Tommy Baldwin Racing,” Baldwin said. “He’s a top-caliber driver and I look forward to seeing the success we can have together.”

As of Monday, no sponsor has been named for the No. 36 Toyota.

(By Greg Engle, NASCAR Today)

NASCAR has instituted a suspension on testing at its sanctioned tracks.

This move has forced drivers to look elsewhere to get laps in. One of those is Greg Biffle who drives for Roush-Fenway Racing. Biffle tested last week at Texas World Speedway a 2-mile superspeedway located in College Station.

Biffle talked about the test this past weekend at Daytona International speedway.

 “Very fast,” Biffle said. “A little bit bumpy, which is to be expected of a racetrack that the pavement is that old.  But just very fast place.  It’s kind of a fun racetrack.”

“But our cars today are probably pretty dang fast for a racetrack like that, fastest I’ve been in a race car before, 218 miles an hour yesterday at Texas World Speedway.  That’s getting her done, if you want to say,” he added.  “195 mile an hour average, so it was a pretty fast place.”

But many teams are admitting that one thing that’s hampering them is the lack of tires. Goodyear normally supplies the tires to teams that will be used to race at the track they test at. However with the restrictions in place teams aren’t testing at tracks they will race on and to some there’s just no point to it.

“You know, I am in agreement that in desperate times, in difficult times, you have to make difficult decisions,” said driver Jeff Burton.  “But we don’t have a testing ban; we have a testing restriction.  You know, so teams are still testing.”

“Rockingham is a place that a lot of people have paid attention to, the short track and the big track; Texas World has made an announcement a couple weeks ago they were going to update their facility to try to make it so people could use it,” he added. “And if those things happen, people will use them.  I don’t fault a car owner for doing that.  The rule doesn’t say you can’t do it, so the rule doesn’t say you can’t do it, if you think it’s going to make you better, that’s what you need to do.”

CONCORD, N.C.  - Brad Keselowski will kick off his 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule by attempting to qualify for the March 1 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports this week finalized the Shelby 427 and six other Sprint Cup events for the 24-year-old driver.

It was announced Jan. 7 that Keselowski, a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., will attempt a seven-race Sprint Cup schedule this season for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolets. The effort will be led by veteran crew chief Lance McGrew.

“It’s exciting to have everything finalized and ready to go for 2009,” said Keselowski, who also will compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. “We’re going to some tracks where I’m pretty confident, and we’re going to some places where I really need the additional seat time.

“I’m especially excited about going to Michigan. The track isn’t far from Rochester Hills, and it’s going to be really cool to race in front of all my family and friends. All the tracks we’re going to are great, but that one will definitely be a highlight for me.

“It’s a nice mix of races and a great opportunity for the whole GoDaddy.com team.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI’S 2009 SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE:
March 1, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
April 5, Texas Motor Speedway
May 9, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
May 31, Dover (Del.) International Speedway
July 11, Chicagoland Speedway
Aug. 16, Michigan International Speedway
Oct. 4, Kansas Speedway

Danny O’Quinn Jr. the 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year will return to full time Nationwide Series competition in 2009 behind the wheel of the No. 0 Chevy for Johnny Davis Motorsports.

O’Quinn competed for Roush Racing in 2006 securing the rookie of the year title, scoring one five and five top-10 finishes in 33 out of 35 races.  Because of a lack of sponsorship however, he ran only 10 races during 2007 season and five in 2008.

“I want my fans and supporters to know that the commitment of Johnny Davis for the Zero car in 2009 is superb,” O’Quinn said.  “I feel like I can bring a wealth of experience to this truly independent team.”  The 23 years old continued; “I have been blessed with great opportunities in NASCAR.”

The team is currently without sponsorship for the season but team owner Johnny Davis is moving ahead saying he is adding to his organization in anticipation of increased levels of sponsorship.

“The only thing that hasn’t changed around here is the blank spaces on the quarter panels,” Davis said.  “We’ve got an expanded bunch of dedicated experienced employees, new equipment, a new attitude, and a well-equipped 32,000 square foot shop.”

In fact despite the lack of sponsorship, the organization is actually advertising for employees.

“Like everyone else we need marketing partners and sponsors,” Davis said.  “We feel like with Danny aboard for the year, and all the new and better equipment we have, that we can say to someone interested in the Nationwide Series that JDM is the place to be.  We are going to surprise a lot of people.  We are going to race and race hard.”

Davis seeks resumes and applications for car chief, fabricator, general mechanics and shop personnel.  Applicants can fax to 864-488-1276.

Tim McCreadie a former developmental driver for Richard Childress Racing is hospitalized after a violent crash while competing in the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa Oklahoma.

The accident happened Wednesday night while McCreadie, the 2006 Chili Bowl winner, was leading the night’s first “A” Qualifier at the indoor Tulsa Expo Raceway facility when the rear axle snapped in his midget car and sent the vehicle into a vicious flip over the catch fence at the fifth-of-a-mile dirt track.

McCreadie, 34, was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Tulsa where he was diagnosed with a fractured T3 vertebra.

According to USAC officials, McCreadie is expected to be released within a few days and taken to Indianapolis to be seen by doctor Terry Trammell, an Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating racers.

McCreadie was a developmental driver for Richard Childress Racing in 2007, when he competed in some NASCAR sponsored divisional races, including six Nationwide Series races.

Because McCreadie lacks his own health insurance, USAC officials and Chili Bowl promoters have offered to help manage the many offers from the racing community to assist with his medical and recovery expenses. Donations should be made payable to: USAC c/o Tim McCreadie Support Fund, USAC, 4910 West 16th St., Speedway, Ind., 46224.