Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Roush Fenway Racing http://lead-lap.com Mon, 20 May 2013 05:51:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Bayne May Run Full Time In Cup In 2014 http://lead-lap.com/2013/01/25/bayne-may-run-full-time-in-cup-in-2014/ http://lead-lap.com/2013/01/25/bayne-may-run-full-time-in-cup-in-2014/#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:15:55 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=9109 Trevor BayneRoush Fenway Racing hopes to run Trevor Bayne in a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride in 2014. Bayne has run part-time in the series since 2011, when he won the Daytona 500 with Wood Brothers Racing in the iconic No. 21 Ford.

In 2013, Bayne will run another part-time Cup schedule with WBR, and a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with RFR.

Team owner Jack Roush says that the team still needs to work out the finances and sponsorship issues.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2013/01/25/bayne-may-run-full-time-in-cup-in-2014/feed/ 0 Penske Hires Erwin To Serve As Hornish’s Crew Chief http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/21/penske-hires-erwin-to-serve-as-hornishs-crew-chief/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/21/penske-hires-erwin-to-serve-as-hornishs-crew-chief/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:31:27 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8987 Penske Racing has signed veteran crew chief Greg Erwin to serve as crew chief for Sam Hornish Jr and the No. 12 Nationwide Series team. Erwin most recently served as crew chief for Richard Petty Motorsports’ No. 43 team.

Hornish finished fourth in the Nationwide Series standings, with 10 top 5 s and 22 top 10s.

Erwin also led Greg Biffle to five wins at Roush Fenway Racing, and three consecutive Chase berths before being replaced at RFR.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/21/penske-hires-erwin-to-serve-as-hornishs-crew-chief/feed/ 0 Roush Fenway Racing Announces Crew Chief Changes http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/15/roush-fenway-racing-announces-crew-chief-changes/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/15/roush-fenway-racing-announces-crew-chief-changes/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:22:29 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8919 Jack RoushRoush Fenway Racing has announced that Jimmy Fennig will become crew chief of the No. 99 Ford, driven by Carl Edwards, in 2013. Scott Graves will become crew chief of the No. 17 Ford, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Team owner Jack Roush said:

We are excited about this change on both fronts. Pairing two highly successful veterans like Carl and Jimmy should be quite a matchup and it is our expectation based on what Jimmy has been able to accomplish with many high profile drivers, that it will provide the spark to get the #99 program and Carl back into championship form. However, we are particularly excited about teaming up Scott Graves and Ricky. Through his extensive research and development work, Scott has an excellent understanding of the new 2013 body style. In his short time as a crew chief he has demonstrated a cunning knack as a leader on the pit box and he is going to be a great match for Ricky as he makes his move upwards into the Sprint Cup ranks.

Fennig will replace Chad Norris, who took over the reigns when Bob Osborne stepped down due to health issues. Norris will move to the No. 60 Nationwide Series team.

Graves has been working as Carl Edwards’ team engineer.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/15/roush-fenway-racing-announces-crew-chief-changes/feed/ 0 Roush Fenway Racing Close To A Deal With Pastrana http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/06/roush-fenway-racing-close-to-a-deal-with-pastrana/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/06/roush-fenway-racing-close-to-a-deal-with-pastrana/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:39:04 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8860 Frontstretch is reporting that Roush Fenway Racing is finalizing a deal to put X-Games star Travis Pastrana into one of its Fords in the Nationwide Series full time in 2013. The car will feature the No. 99.

Pastrana has already sold about half of the season in sponsorship, but rumor has it that RFR would run Pastrana regardless of sponsorship.

There has been no word on what companies are interested in sponsoring him, but Boost Mobile has sponsorship him in the Nationwide Series thus far. Red Bull has also sponsored him in other forms of motorsports.

Pastrana will join Trevor Bayne at RFR. Bayne will pilot an RFR Ford in the Nationwide Series as well.

Pastrana drove for RFR in the Richmond Nationwide Series race. He finished 17th.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/11/06/roush-fenway-racing-close-to-a-deal-with-pastrana/feed/ 0 It’s Official: Kenseth To Join JGR In 2013 http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/its-official-kenseth-to-join-jgr-in-2013/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/its-official-kenseth-to-join-jgr-in-2013/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:31:43 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8417 Matt Kenseth during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 12, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas.It’s official. Matt Kenseth will join Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013, the team announced. Kenseth will drive the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota next season, replacing Joey Logano.

Logano is expected to announce that he will be moving to the No. 22 Penske Racing Ford in 2013.

Kenseth announced in June that he would be leaving Roush Fenway Racing, the team for which he raced with his entire Sprint Cup career. While he didn’t give any indication as to where he was headed, rumors start circulating that he was headed to Joe Gibbs Racing.

Ironically enough, in the middle of last season, Joe Gibbs Racing was rumored to be pursuing Carl Edwards, who ultimately re-signed with RFR. At the time, JGR was said to have offered Edwards an $8 million base salary and a $10 million signing bonus, which was unprecedented. Edwards recently indicated that he will drive for RFR in 2013, though some speculate that he has an “out” in his contract that he could exercise if he fails to make the Chase.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/its-official-kenseth-to-join-jgr-in-2013/feed/ 0 It’s Official: Logano To Join Penske Racing In 2013 http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/source-logano-to-join-penske-racing-in-2013/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/source-logano-to-join-penske-racing-in-2013/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:59:41 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8411 Joey Logano sits in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot Toyota. [Update at bottom of story]

Joey Logano has reached a deal to drive Penske Racing’s No. 22 Sprint Cup Series entry in 2013, according to ESPN.com, which is citing an unnamed source.

Logano is being replaced by Matt Kenseth, who will take over driving duties of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth, who is leaving Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 17 team at season’s end, will be replaced by Nationwide Series defending champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

JGR had hoped to re-sign Logano and keep him in a fourth Cup entry, but that was dependent on sponsorship and it appears that nothing ever materialized.

Sam Hornish has been driving Penske’s No. 22 since AJ Allmendinger was suspended and subsequently released for failing a random drug test.

Update: It’s official: Penske Racing has announced that Joey Logano will drive the team’s No. 22 Ford in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Logano agreed to a “multi-year” deal with Penske.

Logano said:

I am very excited to join Penske Racing and begin the next phase of my career. I am looking forward to the opportunity as it will be an honor to drive for Roger Penske and race for wins and championships. I am also proud to represent Shell-Pennzoil as they are a respected global brand that does a great job of activating in the sport on and off the track.

Penske Racing President Tim Cindric added:

Joey Logano is a very talented driver who has already achieved a lot of success at a young age. Joey is a great fit for our organization and we look forward to building on his success as he takes his place behind the wheel of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/04/source-logano-to-join-penske-racing-in-2013/feed/ 5 Pastrana To Drive For RFR In Richmond N’Wide Race http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/03/pastrana-to-drive-for-rfr-in-richmond-nwide-race/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/03/pastrana-to-drive-for-rfr-in-richmond-nwide-race/#comments Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:55:54 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8448 X-Games and Rally Cross champion Travis Pastrana will drive Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Nationwide Series entry in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway.

Pastrana said:

It’s a truly awesome opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Roush Fenway No. 60 Ford Mustang. Roush Fenway Racing has a strong background as the most successful team in the history of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and I’m pleased to be driving for a legend like Jack Roush this weekend at Richmond.

Pastrana has made eight Nationwide Series starts with Pastrana Waltrip Racing, and made his debut at Richmond earlier this season. He was slated to make his debut in 2011, but those plans changed when he suffered injuries at the X-Games in July after crashing during an attempt to win the Best Trick event.

Pastrana has three top 20 finishes in his eight starts, with his best finish being 13th in the Indian 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/09/03/pastrana-to-drive-for-rfr-in-richmond-nwide-race/feed/ 0 Kenseth To Join Joe Gibbs Racing In 2013? http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/kenseth-to-join-joe-gibbs-racing-in-2013/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/kenseth-to-join-joe-gibbs-racing-in-2013/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:17:34 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8382 Matt Kenseth after qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. Joe Gibbs Racing is expected to announce that Matt Kenseth will take over driving duties of the No. 20 JGR Sprint Cup Toyota in 2013, with primary sponsorship coming from Home Depot. Kenseth will replace Joey Logano, whom the team hopes to keep in a fourth car next season, depending on sponsorship, according to ESPN.com.

Logano is said to be a candidate for the No. 22 Penske Racing Cup entry.

Logano indicated that he wouldn’t be interested in taking a part time Cup opportunity. He also said that a full time Nationwide Series ride with JGR is an option.

Kenseth announced he would be leaving Roush Fenway Racing back in June. Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr has been announced as Kenseth’s replacement at RFR, making the move to the Cup series in 2013.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/kenseth-to-join-joe-gibbs-racing-in-2013/feed/ 1 Edwards Says He Is Not Candidate For Penske’s No. 22 http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/edwards-says-he-is-not-candidate-for-penskes-no-22/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/edwards-says-he-is-not-candidate-for-penskes-no-22/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:35:07 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8376 During a teleconference this week with reporters, Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards squashed rumors that he was considering a move to Penske Racing’s No. 22 Sprint Cup Series team next season.

Edwards has been linked to the ride in rumors that indicate that he has an “out” in his contract with RFR if he failed to make the Chase.

Edwards addressed those rumors saying:

But truly, I can tell you this, I will be driving the No. 99 Fastenal Ford next year. I’ve never explored the option of driving the No. 22 car. That’s why it took me so long to mention to you guys, I thought that was so silly that it had traction, but I guess it had.

Penske is switching to Ford next season, which seemed to fuel the rumors.

There is also a rumor circulating that Shell will move from the No. 22 car to Edwards’ No. 99 and RFR. Edwards addressed that as well:

I’ve never spoken with anyone at Shell. No one has brought that up. … But right now the way I understand it, full disclosure, I know nothing more than I am driving the Fastenal Ford Fusion for Jack Roush next year, the No. 99.

Penske Racing is looking for a driver for its No. 22 car after AJ Allmendinger was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for failing a drug test. He was later released by Penske. The team hopes to name a driver by Sept. 16th, the start of the Chase.

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]]> http://lead-lap.com/2012/08/30/edwards-says-he-is-not-candidate-for-penskes-no-22/feed/ 1 Jayski: Busch Headed To New Andretti Team? http://lead-lap.com/2012/07/17/jayski-busch-to-new-andretti-team/ http://lead-lap.com/2012/07/17/jayski-busch-to-new-andretti-team/#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:29:59 +0000 Michael J Smith http://lead-lap.com/?p=8176 Jayski reports that he is hearing that Kurt Busch could end up driving for the new Sprint Cup Series team Michael Andretti is said to be forming. No word on a potential sponsor.

Andretti is rumored to have purchased the Dodge engine program from Penske Racing. Matt Kenseth has also been linked to the ride since he announced he was leading Roush Fenway Racing at season’s end, though many suspect he is headed to Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Camry.

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