Gibbs deal was a Toyota lifeline for Bell

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | 12 hours ago

Christopher Bell returning to Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry next season might have seemed like a no-brainer to many outsiders. But Bell said there was a time when he was “pretty scared” that he wasn’t going to be able to continue to his relationship with Toyota.

Leavine Family Racing realized a few weeks ago that its Cup team was becoming financially unviable, and on August 4, Bob Leavine announced the sale of his operation. By Thursday, Joe Gibbs Racing and Erik Jones had confirmed that they’ll split after this season, and yesterday, Bell was named the next driver of the No. 20 Toyota.

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Jones had felt he was making good progress in negotiating an extension, and Bell admitted that the situation is somewhat uncomfortable. While he’s happy to have a job, he acknowledged that Toyota has been just as big of a supporter of Jones as they have him, and Bell didn’t envy the position Gibbs found itself in.

“I don’t think any of us – myself, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota – expected the whole LFR deal to go down like it did, so I think that put everybody in a little bit of a box,” said Bell. “But there was a time period a couple of weeks ago that I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to continue my Toyota Racing relationship and I was pretty scared by that, just because they’ve been the centerpiece of basically my career, whether that’s NASCAR racing or dirt racing.

“I didn’t want that to end. I am extremely grateful I get to continue that relationship and continue to drive Camrys on Sundays and race with TRD… for years to come.”

Leavine has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs. In his rookie Cup Series season, Bell is working with crew chief Jason Ratcliff, with whom he was paired while racing for Gibbs in the Xfinity Series. Since signing Bell to a development deal, Toyota has mapped out his path forward and took the dirt racer into pavement racing where he became a Truck Series champion, a contender in the Xfinity Series, and brokered the deal for Bell to get into the Leavine car.

Toyota intended to build a long-term relationship with the Leavine team, and for Bell to be in the car for a few seasons. When the future of Leavine became clear, Bell became worried because he only saw two options.

“It’s either the 20 car, or I’m done with Toyota,” said Bell. “There’s no other option. It was very scary. I didn’t want that to end, and for me, a little bit it was like if I can’t be with Toyota, is my NASCAR career going to be over because they’re the ones who got me basically everything? I knew that once LFR shut down that there was only one place for me to go, and the 20 has a great driver in it right now, so how is that going to work? How am I going to go to JGR when they’re full?

“My homecoming was at the expense of another driver, which is unfortunate, but I’m grateful for the opportunity. Hopefully, I can prove to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing I’m capable of being in the 20 car for the rest of my career.”

Bell has five top-10 finishes this year and is 19th in the standings.

 

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215 sharesBy Marshall Pruett | November 10, 2020 5:22 AM

When Helio Castroneves strapped into a Team Penske CART IndyCar chassis for the first time on December 8, 1999, he had no idea that first test outing would develop into a relationship destined to last 20 years and produce unimaginable success.

Across the 7,342 days, which began at Homestead-Miami Raceway, and will see his time as a Penske driver come to an end at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday night in Sebring, Castroneves became a household name, a legend of the Indianapolis 500, and the most tenured driver to grace The Captain’s team.

“Well, as this last race becomes closer, a lot of things are going through my mind,” the Brazilian told RACER. “The love of the sport is still here. It’s hard to stop thinking about it, and what’s next for me in IndyCar. But no question, I was actually trying to figure out what it will be like without Team Penske in my life. Like, I know I have a lot of my things in the shop. And I don’t even know, do they ship it to me now? Do I go there and put it in boxes? I asked TC (Team Penske president Tim Cindric) what to do, and he’s like, ‘I don’t know!’ It was so funny. But change is here for, the both of us, and we’ll figure it out.”

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When he wakes up Sunday morning, and starts Day 1 as the newest employee of Meyer Shank Racing’s NTT IndyCar Series team, Castroneves says he’ll look back on the relationships built at Team Penske as the testimonies of value that came from spending nearly half his life within Penske’s family.

“I made a lot of friends in the race team — in the racing world, obviously — but in this team particular made a lot of friends and that will never change, no matter where I will be,” he added. “I’ll always have those special friends, and Roger Penske is one of them. Most of all, I consider him a huge friend, a huge counselor, a guidance person that you can always count on, and TC as well. So, very grateful — can’t thank enough Team Penske for everything they did to make me who I am, to mold me, to teach me, to help me and to give me the tools to do what I love most, which is race.”

Castroneves has one significant piece of unfinished business to tend to at Sebring. He’s a rare bird as a three-time Indy 500 winner, but when it comes to titles, those four runner-up finishes in IndyCar speak to an absence of championships on his pro racing record. Holding the lead in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship DPi class with teammate Ricky Taylor has Castroneves in position to go out in grand style, provided Sebring grants his wish.
Castroneves and Ricky Taylor have formed an effective partnership, but have one big item still on their to-do list. Motorsport Images

For Taylor, the 2017 IMSA DPi champion, bidding farewell to Castroneves, at Acura Team Penske’s final IMSA race, by capturing the major championship that has proven elusive for the 45-year-old, is the priority.

“He’s been such a great teammate and I’ve learned so much from him,” Taylor said. “I know how much it would mean to him if we can win the championship, and honestly, it’s all I want to do for him in the last race of the year, which is also our last time together — at least for now — as teammates.”

As all the life and career changes contained within Day 7,342 draws near and readies to become Castroneves’ reality, the core of the man — a racer — is laid bare.

“Winning the championship, that would be a great bookend story,” he said. “I just want to race and win. It’s not complicated at all. And to know how Ricky is thinking about me, it shows the class that he has. I learned so much with him in sports cars; it’s his world, and I have all this experience in IndyCar, but all of a sudden, I’m starting all over again, and having him as a guy that I can lean on and learn from, it’s been the best. It was just a great combination. So I really enjoy working with a champion like Ricky, and likewise, I want to end this partnership with high notes. Being champions with Ricky, that would be amazing. But then again, if not, I made a good friend for life, too, and that’s one of the most important things to have.”

“I made a lot of friends in the race team — in the racing world, obviously — but in this team particular made a lot of friends and that will never change, no matter where I will be,” he added. “I’ll always have those special friends, and Roger Penske is one of them. Most of all, I consider him a huge friend, a huge counselor, a guidance person that you can always count on, and TC as well. So, very grateful — can’t thank enough Team Penske for everything they did to make me who I am, to mold me, to teach me, to help me and to give me the tools to do what I love most, which is race.”

“I want to congratulate Helio on the opportunity with Meyer Shank Racing for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season,” Roger Penske said. “Helio has been such an important part of Team Penske for over two decades and he is certainly one of the greatest drivers in the history of our team. I am excited for him that he will get the opportunity to return to IndyCar next season and it is great for our series and our fans because Helio’s personality and passion will continue to help drive our sport forward. Before we get to next season, we still have some goals to accomplish with Helio in 2020. He will be racing for the IMSA championship this weekend at Sebring with the Acura Team Penske No. 7 team and we hope we can celebrate one more time with him in Victory Circle.”

Helio Castroneves, Sebring, Team Penske, IMSA, WeatherTech Sportscar Championship

 

NASCAR silly season update for Oct 9

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | October 9, 2020 10:26 AM

The pace of the dominoes falling in silly season has started to pick up with news from multiple teams this week.

Daniel Suarez has found a new home in Trackhouse Racing Team, while Alex Bowman will have a new number by slotting into the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for Jimmie Johnson. Bowman will also remain paired with crew chief Greg Ives, but have no fear, Cliff Daniels, the current No. 48 crew chief, will still be a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports next season.

The team Daniels leads is to be determined, though. William Byron needs a crew chief with Chad Knaus set to take on a managerial role next season. There is also the matter of what for right now is the No. 88 team needing a driver.

Indications are that Kyle Larson is going to be named its driver. While Larson has still not asked NASCAR for reinstatement from his indefinite suspension, he is looking to come back to the sport. His name is routinely connected to Rick Hendrick’s organization.

Chase Briscoe is likely the next man up at Stewart-Haas Racing after Clint Bowyer announced late Thursday night he was headed into broadcasting. Briscoe has more than proven his worth in the Xfinity Series for SHR and has a contract with Ford for next season. Barring any last-minute hiccups, it should be a matter of when the announcement comes.

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There is plenty more to sort through.

Corey LaJoie: Earlier this year, LaJoie stole a few headlines when it was revealed that he had given Rick Hendrick a handwritten letter throwing his hat in the ring for a ride at the championship organization. LaJoie knew he was a longshot for the No. 48 Chevrolet or any seat at Hendrick, but figured it didn’t hurt to put himself out there. The good news is that LaJoie’s next destination could be known soon, and it might not be in just one car. LaJoie said earlier this week on his “Sunday Money” podcast he has a few things in the works and should sign something this week.

“Ultimately, it ends up how much money you have and how much can come to fruition,” said LaJoie. “Something on the Cup side looks pretty good, and then something on the Xfinity side looks really good. Do a little bit of a mix of both. That could be exciting; I need a little bit of a confidence boost, to be honest with you, because it’s been a while since I’ve been in anything competitive.”

Go Fas Racing: The team LaJoie leaves has been pretty quiet about its ’21 plans, but there had been some serious movement recently. Word is, team owner Archie St. Hilaire was hoping to have things for next season buttoned up by Oct. 1 before things got complicated again. Kaz Grala was one name connected to the No. 32 Ford, but Grala apparently came up short on the necessary funding, and the search for a new driver continues.

Spire Motorsports: The team remains committed to running two cars next year, expanding from the one Spire has now. Justin Haley is one name mentioned as a possible driver.

Gaunt Brothers Racing: With the departure of Daniel Suarez, the No. 96 Toyota needs a new driver. Gaunt Brothers is building for the long term after jumping into competing full-time in the Cup Series for the first time this season. One would think the goal here is for Gaunt to lock up a driver for the foreseeable future that will also be part of the Next Gen process.
The next occupant of the famed No. 43 ranks among the top 2021 NASCAR riddles still to be solved. John Harrelson/Motorsport Images

Richard Petty Motorsports: There are many unanswered questions around what is going to happen with the famed Petty team. All indications are that the No. 43 will be on track next season, but what will it look like? Suarez was a potential candidate, but signed with Justin Marks instead.

Other drivers are still available like Erik Jones, LaJoie, Ty Dillon, or any driver from another series looking to make the jump into Cup. Darrell Wallace Jr. leaving the team did little to help clear up the picture, and rumors continue about a possible change in manufacturer and alliances. It is unclear how serious those possibilities are.

Petty has likely been a place that Ty Dillon has visited, as Dillon is talking to anyone and everyone. Dillon recently acknowledged he doesn’t bring enough money to start a third team at Richard Childress Racing, which his grandfather owns. But perhaps Childress could help Dillon land somewhere else. And Dillon isn’t opposed to going to another series to find a ride.

It’s a bit surprising that Erik Jones has nothing announced yet and missed out on a top ride at places like Hendrick and Chip Ganassi. As such, his name has been connected to JTG Daugherty Racing, and that is because the driver of the No. 37 for JTG, Ryan Preece, is also waiting to hear what his ’21 plans are.

And lastly, one of the most exciting silly season moves was Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan making it official that they will field a team next year. Darrell Wallace Jr. is the driver, but nothing else is known.

Team personnel still need to be organized and revealed, and we also await where the race shop will be located, car number and even the team name. A sponsor rollout is still to come, too. While it’s not been announced and no one is willing to talk about it just yet, it’s a safe assumption that the team will run Toyotas and likely be connected to Joe Gibbs Racing somehow.

 

DiBenedetto extends with Wood Brothers; Cindric to get ride in ’22

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | October 8, 2020 7:47 AM

Matt DiBenedetto will have one more year in the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford before being on the job hunt once again.

Wood Brothers made it official Thursday morning that DiBenedetto will return to the team in 2021. It has been a successful season for both sides, with DiBenedetto qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the first time in his career while Wood Brothers made their second appearance.

“It’s such an honor to be able to continue to drive for Wood Brothers Racing and have another year to grow with this organization,” said DiBenedetto. “I am excited to learn from our 2020 notebook, and I’m confident that with a full season under our belt and working together as a team, we will produce even better results. I also want to thank Ford Performance and Team Penske for their efforts in making this happen.

“These types of decisions take a lot of time — as we all know, there are a lot of factors in play. All three groups want to make the best decisions for everyone involved, and I’m appreciative to have the opportunity to continue to compete for such a legendary race team.”

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Through 31 races, DiBenedetto has earned a single-season high eight top-10 finishes. Through his playoff appearance, DiBenedetto is guaranteed to earn a career-best finish in the point standings. He is 15th going into Sunday’s race at the Charlotte Roval.

“Matt has been able to find success this year under very difficult circumstances,” said team president and co-owner Eddie Wood. “Since he joined our team, he only had limited time working with our group due to the pandemic. While it’s been an entirely new organization, he found a way to consistently run upfront and make the playoffs. We have learned a lot together this year, and we look forward to continuing to build with Matt in 2021.”
The Penske connection will carry Austin Cindric into the Wood Brothers Ford in 2022. Motorsport Images

However, DiBenedetto also knows that 2021 will be his last season with the team.

Team Penske, the alliance partner of Wood Brothers Racing, followed the DiBenedetto news by announcing that Austin Cindric will take over the No. 21 car in 2022. Next year, Cindric will remain a full-time championship competitor in the Xfinity Series while making select Cup Series starts.

“As we continue to position our team for future success, it is important to make sure Austin continues his development in the Xfinity Series with Team Penske,” said team boss Roger Penske. “Austin has made great strides in recent years, and he has become a consistent winner and a true championship contender this season. He will continue his natural progression and get some Cup Series experience in 2021. That will help him prepare for a full season in 2022 with the new Next Gen car, racing the No. 21 Ford Mustang for Wood Brothers Racing.”

Cindric has five wins in the Xfinity Series this season and also won the regular-season championship. He is in a good position to advance into the Round of 8 of the playoffs after Saturday’s race at the Charlotte Roval.

“This is a big step forward in my career long-term, and I am humbled and motivated by the opportunity and the confidence that Team Penske, Ford Performance, the Wood Brothers, and all of our partners have expressed in my abilities and my development as a driver,” said Cindric. “Every race car driver wants to advance in his career, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than on a clear path with Team Penske that will eventually lead to a full-time opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“I’m really excited for this next chapter in my development to continue working towards competing and trying to win at the highest level. Another season of experience in the Xfinity Series will be beneficial, and I’m looking forward to competing in some Cup Series races in 2021 to prepare for a full season in 2022.”

Austin Cindric, Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing, Cup Series, NASCAR

 

Not as good as I once was...but I can be as good ONCE as I ever was!

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emailBy Marshall Pruett | June 3, 2021 1:12 PM ET

This year’s Indy 500 was one for the ages. There’s a lot to get through in our post-race column that wasn’t covered in the various stories that landed on RACER.com right after Helio Castroneves’ win, so let’s start with:

THE EXPENDABLES

If we’re talking expendables and retreads, the guy who just won the Indianapolis 500 lost his job in November after 20 years with the same company, and was replaced by a newer model. And the guy who conjured exceptional speed for Helio Castroneves, who spent the last few seasons being moved around from one underperforming driver to another, fell out of favor as a full-time race engineer with the main team.

So together, first with Castroneves being signed to a six-race deal alongside Jack Harvey at Meyer Shank Racing, and second, with Andretti Autosport’s Mark Bryant dispatched to MSR’s extra part-time car, it would be fair to say the Brazilian and New Zealander duo weren’t exactly in high demand. Which makes the outcome of the 105th Indy 500, with the driver Team Penske no longer wanted, and the supremely talented race engineer bumped to end of the depth chart, one hell of a redemption story.

Look elsewhere on the timing stand, and former Chip Ganassi Racing lead mechanic Adam Rovazzini was the strategist for Castroneves on the No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Across the pit crew, series veteran Didier Francesia returned and was rewarded mightily; Dario Franchitti’s former CGR mechanic Kevin O’Donnell moved across for MSR’s sports car program a few years ago and knocked out quick pit stops, and more talent– young and old – were part of this unique squad.

As Shank revealed after the race, only two full-time employees have been assigned to the No. 06 program; the rest were brought in on short-term contracts or borrowed from MSR’s IMSA program.

One of the full-timers was Helio’s chief mechanic, Matt Swan, who we wrote about earlier in the month, who joined MSR after 19 years and 11 months with Ganassi, and was reunited with his old driver after the two grew close in 1999 at the former Hogan Racing CART IndyCar team.

For Swan, who’d hoped to put his days as a mechanic behind him with the new opportunity as MSR’s shop manager, coming out of pit crew retirement paid off as he earned his first win – ever – as an IndyCar crew chief, at the biggest race in the world.

“I just want to get Helio his fourth Indy win,” Swan said of the motivation behind reuniting with his old pal Castroneves, and it’s exactly what they achieved.

You can’t make this stuff up.

DREAM THEATER

Sticking with MSR, there was only one dream victory that stood out among the 33 entries, and it was Castroneves becoming a four-timer. A win by Alex Palou, Simon Pagenaud, Pato O’Ward, and many others would have been amazing for their fans and boosted their national profiles, but Mr. Dancing with the Stars was the lone driver in the field with a name and recognition that reaches out of the Midwest and connects with both coasts.
Indy could have produced any number of deserving winners, but only one with coast-to-coast name recognition. Motorsport Images

HOW ABOUT ALEX?

The kid from Spain with no knowledge of ovals prior to 2020 has been a revelation since arriving from the Japanese Super Formula series.

Alex Palou made it into the Fast Nine as a rookie with Dale Coyne Racing, did so again as a sophomore with Chip Ganassi Racing, then raced his way to lead the second highest-number of laps – 35 – on the way to finishing second and salvaging the Indy 500 for the CGR team.

I read some comments after the race that spoke to Palou’s inexperience and how that might have cost him the race in the final laps. While true, I think the bigger picture is being missed by some who’ve failed to realize he’s become a reliable performer on ovals this year with finishes of fourth, second and second so far.

And with the championship lead in hand after Indy, and nine of the 10 remaining races playing out on his home turf with road and street courses, we have a genuine championship threat on our hands.

I WOULDA’ WON

The 105th Indy 500 was not only the fastest 500 on record, but I’m also positive a new record was set after the race for the number of drivers claiming they were going to win, if only the race was X laps longer or shorter. My favorite was a headline on a press release that read “Felix Rosenqvist eight laps from winning the Indy 500.”

Now, there’s no doubt the AMSP driver was doing well after pitting on lap 158 and stretching his fuel load to lap 193, and by being off-sequence, he was able to lead from lap 180-192 as everyone else had pitted. But it might be a bit rich, however, to suggest victory was in sight if it weren’t for those pesky extra 20 miles that needed to be covered…

AGE APPROPRIATE

If we go by age, the top 10 at the Indy 500 was completed by an old guy, young guy, oldish guy, young guy, old guy, young guy, young guy, really young guy, old guy, and the oldest guy.

The average age of the five old guys was 42.8 with a combined age of 214. The average for the five young guys was 22.8 with a combined age of 114, or 100 years younger than the veterans in the top 10.

The old guys vs young guys theme we spoke about prior to the season continues to dominate the year. And it’s awesome.

 

Austin Cindric to replace Keselowski in Penske’s No. 2

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | July 15, 2021 9:12 AM ET

Team Penske confirmed Thursday that Brad Keselowski will move on from the organization, announcing that Austin Cindric will drive the No. 2 Ford Mustang beginning in 2022.

Cindric was previously announced as the next driver for Wood Brothers Racing. However, rumors began to surface in the last few months that former series champion Keselowski was set to depart Penske for Roush Fenway Racing. Cindric, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, has been running a limited schedule this season with Penske in preparation of his full-time move into the series.

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“Austin is a champion and has proven his abilities both on and off the track,” said team owner Roger Penske. “The Cup Series is a big step for any rookie, but making this move now, in conjunction with the introduction of the new Next Gen car, makes sense. He has gained valuable experience this year competing in a handful of races at the Cup level, and he has shown that he belongs out there.”

Cindric joins Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in the Team Penske stable.

Discount Tire will remain a team sponsor on both the No. 2 for Cindric and the No. 12 for Blaney. The remainder of Cindric’s partner line-up will be announced at a later date.

“Throughout my NASCAR career, I’ve grown a lot as a driver and an individual,” said Cindric. “There are so many individuals within the walls of Team Penske that have elevated me to a level that matches this opportunity. The support towards my development from Roger, Team Penske, and all of our partners has been the leading factor towards race wins and a championship.

“The No. 2 car is iconic to this sport and is a number that represents the foundation of this team. It is a great honor and a great responsibility to continue that role. As 2022 gets closer, I am excited to embrace that. Until then, my focus remains on winning another Xfinity Series championship.”

Cindric has won 12 races for Team Penske in 118 races in the Xfinity Series. He has finished no worse than eighth in the point standings, including winning the championship last season, and is the current point leader with a series-leading four wins.

 

Conflicting emotions for DiBenedetto over Wood Brothers decision

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | July 15, 2021 1:30 PM ET

In a nine-minute video posted on his social media channels, Matt DiBenedetto said “there is a greater plan” for him after being informed he’s being replaced at Wood Brothers Racing next season.

“I didn’t really sleep well last night and woke up this morning, and it’s OK to have human emotion, and I’m not going to lie to you, it’s OK to be pissed off, angry, and bitter, and all the above,” DiBenedetto said. “It just is what it is. We’re humans; we’re not perfect. That doesn’t change my faith and knowing there’s a plan for all this. But it doesn’t make it not suck, because it does suck.

“So, yeah, that is what it is. Why would I say that I’m upset and it sucks? Well, obviously, I don’t know what I’m doing next year.”

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Burton set for Wood Brothers Ford

Harrison Burton will take the No. 21 Ford Mustang seat next season. It was initially set to be Austin Cindric, which was announced last year and gave DiBenedetto time to figure out his future. But things became fluid and more complicated when rumors began that Brad Keselowski was going to leave Team Penske, the alliance partner of the Wood Brothers.

Cindric now goes to Team Penske, and the Wood Brothers are starting fresh with a rookie in Burton. DiBenedetto has driven for the Wood Brothers for two seasons.

DiBenedetto asked his fans not to attack Wood Brothers Racing, who he considers family. He was informed of the decision Wednesday night and admitted he did not think it was worth asking for a reason behind the driver change.

“Why would I have these emotions? Because I was so freaking lucky and still am to be driving the 21 car,” DiBenedetto continued. “Love it, and I want to get that 100th win for them bad. But this 21 team has also been broken for a while; tried to give the benefit of the doubt, work through it, give all your effort to it, try and make it work and make it click, and it wasn’t, and I’ve said it for a long time: Our team wasn’t clicking. That’s no disrespect to anyone, no particular person. It just wasn’t working. Weren’t executing.

“I’ll be the first to say before everybody, performance wasn’t where it needed to be. We’d have some speed and some good runs and finish second, and this and that, have speed, but it just wasn’t clicking. It’s like a relationship with your wife or your friends or family, relationship with your team. It wasn’t there; it wasn’t working.
While recent personnel changes appear to have helped DiBenedetto and the Wood Brothers team, the driver admits the shake-up came too late. John Harrelson/Motorsport Images

“It took too long, and we finally shook things up. I care about people a lot, sometimes to a fault, and let me tell you … your biggest regret in life will be wasting time. Time is the one thing you can’t get back in life. That’s kind of what’s biting me right now. We wasted some time, and I’ll take some of the blame for it; it’s not just one particular person. … We let our team be broken for too long.”

Wood Brothers changed crew chiefs for DiBenedetto going into the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway last month. The team’s performance has started to pick up, and DiBenedetto finished in the top 10 the last two weeks at Road America and Atlanta.

As the video continued, DiBenedetto admitted to expressing his frustration and “I’m getting the (expletive) end of the deal.

“Again, I’m not angry at anyone in particular. What I’m trying to say is, it doesn’t make the situation not suck.”
Not the news we want and not the video I enjoyed making but here it is https://t.co/Ab6ik1bCuj

— Matt DiBenedetto (@mattdracing)

Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing, NASCAR

 

Penske confirms Keselowski exit

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | July 15, 2021 4:30 PM ET

Team Penske confirmed Brad Keselowski’s impending departure on Thursday, which was something Roger Penske wasn’t expecting he’d have to do.

“We were not expecting, quite honestly, that we would not be able to put a deal together with Brad,” Penske said.

But the former series champion is likely headed to Roush Fenway Racing, where he’ll have an ownership stake in the team. The wait continues for official confirmation.

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Burton set for Wood Brothers Ford

Ownership was the sticking point between Penske and Keselowski, who had been in negotiation for Keselowski to remain in the No. 2 Ford Mustang, which he’s driven since 2011. Thirty-four of Keselowski’s 35 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series have come with Penske, and they also won the 2010 Xfinity Series championship and the 2012 Cup Series championship.

“We’d expected to get Brad in another two or three years based on the term that he probably wanted to race,” Penske said. “Unfortunately, and good for him quite honestly, he wanted to have ownership, and the way we’re structured, that just wasn’t available at Team Penske.

“When you think about Brad, what he’s done for us (in) Xfinity and Cup, he’s got over 75 race wins, he’s the leader in the clubhouse from a team perspective. Our first Xfinity championship, the NASCAR championship, and then where he’s run in the playoffs here lately, couldn’t be a better guy. I have a lot to thank him for. I can always say he was a consistent performer, a very winning operation guy with our team. Brought a lot to it. He was a student of the sport, and we’re sorry to see him go, but on the other hand, we’ve got a season to finish out. This was not a disagreement or anything else, this was a business decision that was made on both sides fairly and squarely, and quite honestly, Brad will be a friend of the family and a friend of the team forever.”

Keselowski’s desire to have an ownership stake in the Penske organization was not an unexpected development. Penske acknowledged he and Keselowski had discussed it over the years.

“But the way we’re structured at Penske Corp. and the subsidiaries that we have, it wouldn’t work out, and he understood that,” Penske said. “I think that as we came to the end of our contract at the end of last year, obviously he looked to see what was there, I’m sure.

“Basically, the final meeting we had, he said that he had an opportunity that would give him ownership, and I said that we wouldn’t have that available. It was amicable all the way. It still is. Brad has done a hell of a job for us, and I think that he’ll bring a lot of value to Roush Yates in the future.”

Initial discussion between the two began in late 2020 and then picked back up after the holidays. Penske said Keselowski was “open at that point” with no deal in place, and they were thinking about a three-year extension. Penske also noted that the last time Keselowski’s contract was being worked on, he was offered a two-year deal, and Keselowski took one year. That new agreement was announced in August.

“So, this wasn’t a shotgun situation,” said Penske. “It was well-planned, well managed, and we came to the decision.”

In a statement posted on social media, Keselowski reflected on his time with Penske and said it “was a difficult” decision to part ways. Keselowski also said he is eager to share “what’s next for me soon.”
pic.twitter.com/XO32CqJvzS

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski)

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, NASCAR

 

Andretti confirms Hunter-Reay's departure at season's end

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emailBy Marshall Pruett | September 14, 2021 1:57 PM ET

Andretti Autosport has taken the final step in preparing the way for a change of driver in its No. 28 Honda by confirming that Ryan Hunter-Reay will depart the team after the Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach. As RACER has written throughout the summer, the team was working to secure the services of Romain Grosjean, who will take over the No. 28 entry next season.

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For Hunter-Reay, the relationship with Andretti started out as a lifeline that was extended after a tumultuous time in the late 2000s saw the American shuffled from Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Vision Racing, and A.J. Foyt Racing in a span of two seasons.

With a fresh start at Andretti Autosport in 2010, Hunter-Reay won on his fourth start in the No. 28 car and added 14 more, along with capturing the 2012 IndyCar Series championship and the 2014 Indianapolis 500 across 125 starts to date.

Hunter-Reay will have two races left to close his 12th season with the team on a high note. In a year that’s been fraught with misfortune, a fourth-place run at Nashville stands as his best finish.

Leading options for Hunter-Reay in 2022 appear to be at Ed Carpenter Racing as a possible road and street course partner for Carpenter in the No. 20, and his name has also been mentioned as a driver of interest at RLL – with whom he won at Watkins Glen in 2008 – in the No. 45 Honda, which is expected to become a full-time entry next season.

Outside of IndyCar, Hunter-Reay has been actively seeking opportunities in IMSA where he won most recently to close 2020 as part of the Mazda Motorsports DPi trio that captured the 12 Hours of Sebring.
What started as 3 races grew to over a decade of success. Over the next 2 weeks, @RyanHunterReay will turn his last laps as our #INDYCAR teammate. Thank you, RHR, for 15 wins, an Indy 500 victory & Series title. Always a champion, always a friend.

🎥: https://t.co/YhvhHZwgZy pic.twitter.com/2vFeuTAU83

— Andretti Autosport / #AllAndretti (@FollowAndretti)

Andretti Autosport, Ryan Hunter-Reay, IndyCar

 

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How do Formula 1 Teams Make Money?

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The Racing Pilot
38.9K subscribersMoney rules Formula 1. And the teams must need A LOT of it to have success. But how do Formula 1 teams make money? And do they even make a profit at all? And is the whole financial format of F1 going to change with the budget cap? Stick around as I dive into all the various costs and incomes of an F1 team and look at whether Formula 1 teams actually make money...