Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/officially-official-danica-patrick-joining-nascar-nationwide-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/officially-official-danica-patrick-joining-nascar-nationwide-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/officially-official-danica-patrick-joining-nascar-nationwide-se/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Danica Patrick No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

The "Will she, won't she" debate is over - Danica Patrick is headed for closed-wheel racing in 2010. Patrick will race a partial schedule in next year's National Nationwide series in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, and she will also participate in one ARCA race. As a driver on the No. 7 team, she will be signed through 2011 to the JR Motorsports team that's owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick, Kelley Earnhardt and Tony Eury, Jr. through 2011.

This bit of news is not to say that Danica is eschewing her open-wheel career - she will also continue to race her similarly day-glo green Andretti Autosport IndyCar, also in full GoDaddy.com regalia. The NASCAR events that she will race in will be interlaced with her IndyCar schedule, before, during, and after the open-wheel season.

Danica's first stock car race will be a February 6 ARCA race in Daytona, the day before the Super Bowl. As usual, her primary sponsors will feature Patrick in a slate of new commercials during the big NFL game, and we're willing to bet that they'll have a bit of NASCAR flavor. High-res gallery of her new ride below, official press release after the jump.


Gallery: Danica Patrick NASCAR


[Source: GoDaddy.com]

Continue reading Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010

Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARCADanicaDanica PatrickDanicaPatrickEarnhardtfemale racerFemaleRacerGo DaddyGoDaddyGodaddy.comhendrickhendrick motorsportsHendrickMotorsportsIndy carIndyCarNASCARnationwideNationwide seriesNationwideSeriesstock carstock car racingstock carsStockCarStockCarRacingStockCarsSuper BowlSuper bowl commercialsSuperBowlSuperBowlCommercialsTue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Callaway building Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniv. 2010 Camaro SS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/callaway-building-hendrick-motorsports-25th-anniv-2010-camaro-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/callaway-building-hendrick-motorsports-25th-anniv-2010-camaro-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/callaway-building-hendrick-motorsports-25th-anniv-2010-camaro-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary Callaway Camaro - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We've already added plenty of Camaros to our must-see list at SEMA, including variations from Hurst, Lingenfelter, and Yenko. Now we can add one more to our schedule -- this Callaway-built Camaro commissioned by Hendrick Motorsports for their 25th anniversary. An appropriate production run of 25 is planned after the show, with each car commanding a $76,181 price tag.

What does the price of two fully loaded SS Camaros get you? Lots of carbon fiber, for starters. The front splitter, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, rocker panels, and hood inserts are all made from the lightweight material. The exterior also gets a see-through ZR1-style hood that shows off the Eaton TVS supercharger sitting atop the V8 directly beneath. In addition to the blower, the Hendrick Camaro enhances its performance credentials with an upgraded exhaust system, short-throw shifter, and Eibach suspension components.

While the price tag might seem a little high for what you get, we're guessing there are at least 25 crazed Hendrick Motorsports fans that will splash the cash for this expensive but exclusive collector's item. The cars can be purchased through Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet in San Diego, CA or one the three Hendrick Chevrolet dealerships.


Gallery: 2010 Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary Callaway Camaro



[Source: CamaroBlog.com]

Callaway building Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniv. 2010 Camaro SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The scalpel of bankruptcy that is slicing off GM's sponsorship activities hasn't touched NASCAR's top tier Sprint Cup series, but the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series' have been trimmed. NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kevin Harvick have teams running in the lower two series, and have been told by GM that they will lose funding.

Harvick runs three trucks in the Camping World Truck Series and hasn't commented on what GM's move will bring. Earnhardt, with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, fields two cars in the Nationwide series and a team spokeswoman said "we are fully capable of adjusting our business model to this change" to continue racing.

For now, Chevrolet has no plans to pull out of NASCAR entirely and the Sprint Cup remains immune to the cost cutting. As the red carpet event, everybody knows the fans want to see Chevrolet doing the ovals, and we imagine there will be quite a few other painful measures taken before the Bowtie would bow out of oval racing.

[Source: AP via Google News]

GM to make "NASCAR-wide" funding cuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the darling of NASCAR, but the motorsport's most popular driver was completely winless for the last 76 races until this past weekend when the Intimidator's son won the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Junior won the race in an odd way, literally coasting across the finish line on an empty tank of gas under a caution flag after Patrick Carpenter spun out on lap 203. The race had been extended to overtime after Sam Hornish Jr. spun on Lap 200, and had it not been for the caution Carpenter created three laps later, Junior would likely would've ran out of gas before the finish. Rather than do burnouts afterwards on the track, Earnhardt's #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy had to be pushed to Victory Ciricle. The win not only ended Junior's drought, but also gave his new employer, Rick Hendrick, his second win of the season. Many thought this might be Junior's year after he handily won the Bud Shootout ahead of the Daytona 500. That was his first race as a member of Hendrick Motorsports and didn't count for points, but the rest of the season has not gone his way until this past weekend.

[Source: NASCAR]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins in Michigan, ends 76-race losing streak originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those wondering what Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving next year when he begins a five-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports have an answer. Earnhardt Jr. will leave his famous No. 8 car sponsored by Budweiser behind and pick up the No. 88 next season. His main sponsor will now be Mountain Dew, along with Amp Energy drink and the National Guard, while Budweiser will be jumping ship to sponsor Kasey Kahne's car for Evernham Motorsports.

Though many wanted to see Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 follow him to Hendrick Motorsports, DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, also Earnhardt Jr.'s step-mom, wouldn't give it up. The No. 88 has historical significance for the Earnhardt family too, though, as Jr.'s grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, drove the No. 88 Oldsmobile back in 1957. The No. 88 was donated to Earnhardt Jr. in a selfless act by Robert Yates Racing, who asked NASCAR to transfer the retired number to Earnhardt Jr.'s new ride to keep the legacy alive.

[Source: blogs.courant.com]

Earnhardt Jr. will do the Dew in No. 88 next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the most coveted free agent in sports when he announced last month his departure from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Today Junior announced at a press conference that he has signed a 5-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports, the current team to beat in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with 10 wins in the last 14 races. Hendrick, however, was very fortunate that one of its four current drivers, Kyle Busch, asked to be released from his contract with the team, which opened up a spot to sign Junior. The young Earnhardt will get his wish to continue driving Chevys, though his sponsorship, paint scheme and number are yet to be determined.

Follow the link to SpeedTV for a full report on Junior's move, and check out our gallery of the press conference below

[Source: SpeedTV, Photos - Grant Halverson/Getty]

Gallery: Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs 5-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR may be saying goodbye to the Monte Carlo. Although it has been the most successful car in Nextel Cup racing history, GM has apparently gotten approval from NASCAR to replace it. According to a report in the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR has given General Motors permission to drop the Monte Carlo SS, and replace it with the Impala SS. This despite the fact that the Monte Carlo has the most Cup wins of any model in history with 400. Sources told the Observer a Hendrick Motorsports built Impala SS by will be unveiled at the official announcement Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Impala actually won the Cup way back in 1960 and 1961, but the Monte Carlo took over the NASCAR duties for Chevy after its debut in 1969. The Monte didn't actually race until 1971, but it captured the pole for its first race at the 1971 World 600 at what is now Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new Impala SS will run in 16 Nextel Cup races next year, according to the Observer. It will be used as Chevrolet's version of NASCAR's "car of tomorrow." In races where they aren't using the "car of tomorrow," Chevy teams will still use the Monte Carlo.

[Source: ESPN via GM Inside News]

Impala chosen for NASCAR Cup races, Monte Carlo snubbed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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