Off Season News

I know I said that I was going to take the month of January off, but you have no idea how crazy I’ve been going not being able to write.

Many things have been going on since the checkered flag waved at Homestead and Jimmie Johnson was crowned your Five-Time Consecutive Champion.  New rules, drivers back, a new driver and marriages are just among a few changes.

Let’s start off with drivers returning.  As most of you know, Brian Vickers, who was out for the last twenty-five races last year due to blood clots in his leg and lungs, will be racing again this year!  Vickers was testing at Walt Disney World Speedway Monday, which was the first time he was in a test session since last year.  Next person to fall into the ‘drivers returning’ category is J.J. Yeley.  J.J. has recently signed a contract to drive the number 46 Chevrolet for new team, Whitney Motorsports, for the full 2011 Cup Season. 

Another major story that everyone just found out about yesterday is that during the 2011 Season, you will have to check off a box on your license.  What for? The drivers now have to decide what series they want their points to be counted in.  For example, Brad Keselowski, who ran the Cup and Nationwide Series last year full time for each, will have to decide if he wants to run for the Cup Championship or the Nationwide Championship this year, since he can only be in contention for one.

 

You read the ‘new driver’ above and were somewhat confused unless you are a fan of Trevor Bayne.  That’s right, Trevor Bayne, the soon-to-be twenty-year-old will be racing in the first five races in the Cup Series starting with the Daytona 500 for Wood Brothers Racing in the #21 Ford.  Trevor was released from his Nationwide contract with Michael Waltrip in September and signed with Roush Fenway soon after that, not missing a race.  However, Trevor will be racing for the Nationwide Championship in 2011 in the #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford with crew chief Chris Andrews.  You should definitely keep an eye out for him next season!

Now, for the miscellaneous topics that didn’t fit into either of those categories… almost all NASCAR fans on Twitter and Facebook were talking about Kyle Busch’s wedding to Samantha Sarcinella.   ‘Ashley, why are you including this in your blog?’ is probably what you’re thinking, well, since it was news for the off-season, I’m including it in this post!  Autoclub Speedway has also made a major change.  They decided to make the 500 mile race, into a 400 mile race.  Last little topic to touch base on, Regan Smith, who drives the #78 Furniture Row car will have his Pit Crew being trained by the Stewart Haas Pit Crew guys for the 2011 Season.

Have a great rest of the Off-Season!