Source WWW.JAYSKI.COM
- Earnhardt Jr. will not race at Charlotte or Kansas: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not compete in the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway after being diagnosed with a concussion following the Oct. 7 race at Talladega. Earnhardt, driver of the #88 Chevys for Hendrick Motorsports, was diagnosed Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte. Regan Smith will be the team’s substitute driver at Charlotte and Kansas.(Hendrick Motorsports), Earnhardt’s streak of consecutive starts in the Cup series will end at 461.
Press Conference at 11:00am/et ESPN, SPEED and NASCAR.com are scheduled to carry a Dale Earnhardt Jr. / Hendrick Motorsports news conference live at 11:00am/et.(10-11-2012)
- Allmendinger to run the #51 at Charlotte: AJ Allmendinger will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Regan Smith, who will drive the #88 AMP/National Guard Chevy for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Earnhardt announced today that he will be sidelined for the next two races after suffering a concussion in a final-lap crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
“I hadn’t even planned on going to the track this weekend,” said Allmendinger today. “I went to the gym this morning, without my phone. When I got back at 9:00, it was blown up with calls and text messages. I got a voice mail from (Phoenix Racing general manager) Steve Barkdoll saying, `Can you get to the track as soon as possible? We kinda need a driver.'” For Allmendinger, Saturday night’s race will mark his first Sprint Cup Series start since being suspended by NASCAR on July 7 after failing a random substance abuse test. “This is obviously not the way I wanted this to happen,” said Allmendinger. “I don’t ever want to see anyone get hurt, much less a guy like Dale who’s in the running for the championship. I don’t have details on what will happen going forward, I’m just driving to the track to get fitted into a race car. I’m sure it’s going to be a little hectic today, trying to get comfortable in the car after not driving anything for so long, but I’m appreciative for the opportunity. I’m happy to have a ride for the weekend, and I’m going to do my best to get a good finish Saturday night for James Finch and Phoenix Racing.”(Godfather Motorsports)(10-11-2012)Kurt Busch Ready for Furniture Row Racing Debut: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch will make his Furniture Row Racing debut in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The agreement with the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing calls for Busch to drive the team’s #78 Chevy in the final six Sprint Cup races of 2012 and during the 2013 campaign. “This weekend begins a new chapter in my racing career and also a new chapter for Furniture Row Racing,” said Busch, who captured the NASCAR title in 2004, the first year of the Chase. “The excitement level about driving the #78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet is at a high pitch and I can’t wait to get started.ccThis is a team that is committed and it’s also a team with plenty of potential. The guys are ready, I’m ready and we all look forward to having a positive debut. Our goal is not only to get ready for 2013, but also be competitive in the final six races. But first things first. We will need to work out the kinks as we attempt to get more speed out of the car. I look forward to working with crew chief Todd Berrier, he is a veteran in the Cup garage who has enjoyed success.”(Furniture Row Racing PR)(10-11-2012)