All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Wood Brothers have fielded entries in the NASCAR’s top series since 1950 and after a decade of competing part-time, the oldest team in the garage will compete for all 36 races in 2016 Ryan Blaney behind the wheel. The last time Wood Brothers Racing fielded a full-time entry was 2006. “We are beyond excited to make this announcement about going back to full time competition,” said Eddie Wood, team co-owner, at a press conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. “It has been somethingRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Williams F1 team has decided to drop its appeal on Felipe Massa’s disqualification from the Brazilian Grand Prix. Massa finished eighth in his home race, but had the result thrown out by the FIA after his tires were found to be over the maximum temperature allowed on the grid. “Following detailed consideration the team has concluded that despite not agreeing with the exclusion and believing it has sufficient evidence with which to successfully contest the ruling, it will not formally appeal the decision as aRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Wurz has turned down the opportunity to become Manor F1’s team principal, according to reports. The former F1 driver was approached by owner Stephen Fitzpatrick about the role following the announcement that team boss John Booth and sporting director Graeme Lowdon will depart Manor after this season. Wurz recently announced his retirement from racing, a career that will end after this weekend’s World Endurance Championship round in Bahrain. “After a period of consideration, I have informed Stephen Fitzpatrick that I have taken the decision notRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Christina Nielsen will pilot the No. 63 Ferrari 488 GT3 for Scuderia Corsa in the GT Daytona class for the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, confirming her switch from TGR-AMR North America. Nielsen finished second in this season’s GT-Daytona championship and also grabbed Rookie of the Year honors in Pirelli World Challenge. The young Dane signed a multi-year deal with Scuderia Corsa and is the latest in what has been a busy offseason in GT that has seen several drivers change teams and classes. “I’m very honoredRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief TAG Heuer, the Swiss watch maker, will end its 30-year relationship with McLaren at the end of this season and will join rival Red Bull Racing in 2016. The brand has had a history with McLaren since 1985, with former TAG Heuer CEO Mansour Ojjeh having been involved two years prior. “Yes, we just signed with Red Bull Racing in F1 for next season,” current TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver told Swiss magazine L’Hebdo, when asked about reports that it would depart from McLaren for Red Bull.Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Rebellion Racing’s Nick Heidfeld will miss this weekend’s World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain due to an injury. The former F1 driver took to social media, announcing on twitter that he will not be taking up his seat in the lead Rebellion R-One AER in the LMP1 privateer class as a result of damage to hand ligaments sustained in the second round of the Formula E Championship in Malaysia earlier this month. Heidfeld was previously set to return to the Rebellion Racing line-up alongside Nicolas ProstRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Joe Gibbs Racing announced that it has finalized a multi-year extension with Mars, Inc. to remain as the primary sponsor on the No. 18 Toyota driven by Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Several Mars brands, such as Snickers, Skittles, Double Mint, Pedigree and M&M will be featured on Busch’s Toyota. The combination of JGR and Mars have grabbed 29 wins, 142 top 10’s and 15 poles since the two began its relationship in 2008. “Representing Mars, Inc’s family of brands on the No.Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The FIA has found the tire temperature on the Williams machine driven by Felipe Massa to be over the maximum allowed ahead of the start of the race and as a result have thrown the Brazilian out of his home grand prix. The team plans to appeal the decision. The exclusion will take away Massa’s eighth-place finish and push Romain Grosjean to eighth, Max Verstappen to ninth and Pastor Maldonado to tenth. The Mercedes-powered Williams was found to have a right rear tire temperature measured atRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Alex Bowman has signed a deal with JR Motorsports to pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet in the XFINITY Series for the 2016 season. Bowman, 22, is currently running in his second full season at NASCAR’s top level in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Tommy Baldwin Jr. The Tuscon, Arizona native ran two races with JR Motorsports last season, finishing 12th at Charlotte and 17th at Phoenix. Bowman also jumped on with JR Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series, finishing 11thRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief After being announced as the replacement driver for a suspended Matt Kenseth, rookie Erik Jones finished 12th at Texas, but eyes the ultimate upset with a win in the desert as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Phoenix. Jones, currently the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship leader, has sat on the front row in both NCWTS starts (second in 2013, pole in 2014) and grabbed victory in each. Phoenix was the site of his first Truck Series victory and it came in just hisRead More