Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming

Miccosukee Ends Phoenix Sponsorship

Michael J Smith — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:52:27 +0000

Miccosukee Resorts & Gaming will no longer sponsor Phoenix Racing’s No. 09. Miccosukee committed to sponsor the Phoenix Racing’s No. 1 Nationwide entry for the entire season, and the No. 09 Sprint Cup entry for 18 races. Chairman of the Miccosukee tribe, Billy Cypress, lost the his bid for reelection. The new chairman ended the sponsorship. Phoenix has very little recourse, despite having a contract. Owner James Finch could appeal to the tribual council, but that isn’t likely to make any difference.

Kyle Busch Purchases Truck Series Team

Michael J Smith — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:26:21 +0000

Kyle Busch announced today that he is becomming a Camping World Truck Series team owner with the purchase of the assets of Xpress Motorsports.

Xpress’ driver, Brian Scott, is leaving the team to compete for Braun Racing in the Nationwide Series next season.

The newly formed Kyle Busch Motorsports is planning on fielding multiple Toyotas in the series. Busch, who drove part time for Billy Ballew Motorsports last season, winning seven races, will drive for his own team with Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts as a full-time sponsor. He will share that ride with Brian Ickler. Tayler Malsam will also drive a second KBM Toyota full time.

Busch would also like to field a Toyota for Johnny Benson, if sponsorship can be secured. Exide Batteries was rumored as a potential sponsor. In 2008, Benson won the Camping World Truck Series championship, but he did not compete in the full 2009 season, as sponsorship for his truck could not be found.

Busch said:

My single biggest reason for doing this was just the pure love for the sport and enjoyment of being where I’m at and having the opportunity to help the young drivers and hopefully to get Johnny in a truck. … When I feel like this program develops into something that it’s really proud of, that I’m really proud of, then maybe it’ll be a Nationwide program that comes next.

Rick Ren, who recently left Kevin Harvick Inc, will serve as director of competition at KBM. He and Busch are working to hire crew chiefs for their teams next season.

KBM is currently fields Late Models, and is building a new facility to house the truck team. In the meantime, the truck team will work out of Xpress’ facility, which is located in Mooresville, NC. The team hopes to move into the new building by April 1.

Keselowski To Run 10 Races For Phoenix Racing

Michael J Smith — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:44:48 +0000

After deciding to run the full Sprint Cup season in 2009, Phoenix Racing has announced that Brad Keselowski will drive 10 races in the No. 09 Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming Chevy.

Keselowski will also run seven races in the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. By running 17 races, if Keselowski runs the full 2010 Sprint Cup season, he will not be elligible for Rookie of the Year.

The rest of the races will be run by Sterlin Marlin, Mike Bliss, and Ken Schrader in Dodges.