Lead Lap's NASCAR News » JTG Daugherty

JTG Daugherty Racing Announces Plans For 2012

Michael J Smith — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:10:30 +0000

JTG Daughtery Racing owners Tad and Jodi Geschickter and Brad Daugherty announced that Bobby Labonte would return to the team in 2012 to drive the No. 47 JTG Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series.

Frank Kerr, the team’s current crew chief, will move to the role of shop forman, while Todd Berrier will become the team’s crew chief and general manager in 2012.

Berrier said:

I’m looking forward to this new opportunity with JTG Daugherty Racing and working with Bobby.

Larte Zatta, of TRD, will join the team as director of engineering.

JTG also announced that Kingsford Charcoal, Busch’s Baked Beans, the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Hidden Valley, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauces & Marinades, and Glad will return as sponsors for the team.

It was initially reported that Michael Waltrip Racing would end its technical alliance with JTG, to make room for the addition of Clint Bowyer. It was later reported, however, that JTG and MWR are likely to maintain their alliance.

While the two teams are still reportedly still allies, JTG will move from MWR’s shop to its own shop. As part of the original alliance, MWR provided cars and crew to JTG, and housed the cars in its shop. It appears that JTG will now support their own cars in their own shop.

Almirola To Richard Petty Motorsports In 2011?

Michael J Smith — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:14:10 +0000

The NASCAR Insiders are reporting that Aric Almirola’s name has been mentioned as a potential candidate for one of Richard Petty Motorsports’ Fords next season.

AJ Allmendinger recently re-signed with the team. But, other than that, RPM has no drivers under contract for next season. Elliott Sadler announced he’d be leaving the team at season’s end. Kasey Kahne is leaving the team at season’s end, as he is slated to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. And, Paul Menard is said to be headed to Richard Childress Racing next season.

Marcos Ambrose has been rumored to be a candidate to fill Kahne’s vacant seat at RPM, but he could also end up in the seat vacated by Kahne. Ambrose announced he’d be leaving JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the season. Bobby Labonte may replace Ambrose in JTG’s No. 47.

Crewman Who Caused Caution Suspended Four Races

Michael J Smith — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:07:44 +0000

During last weekend’s Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jimmy Watts, gasman for JTG Daugherty Racing’s No. 47 Toyota, driven by Marcos Ambrose, ran after a tire that rolled onto the infield grass. He got about 70 feet from the track, forcing NASCAR to throw a caution.

As a result, several cars were pinned one or two laps down because the field was in the middle of green flag pit stops.

Watts was suspended for the remainder of the race.

On Tuesday, NASCAR added four races to the penatly under the rule that crewmembers must not go on the track for any reason while the cars are running under green, or red flag conditions unless directed by a NASCAR official.

Watts also received probation for the rest of the year.

Crew chief Frank Kerr has also been placed on probation until the end of the year under the NASCAR rule that states that a crew cheif assumes responsibility for actions of the team.

JTG Daughtery indicated that it will not appeal the suspension, and is looking to put the whole incident behind it.