silly season Tag

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CONCORD, N.C. – After announcing a multiyear extension to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick used much of his media session on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway to set the record straight about rumors that had run amok since the announcement earlier this season that SHR would switch from Chevrolet to Ford in 2017. Harvick said there wasn’t a shred of truth to reports he had been contacted by Hendrick Motorsports to replace Kasey Kahne in the No.Read More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor It wasn’t that long ago that Jeb Burton was mentioned in the same conversation as drivers like Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and others as being considered one of the brightest rising stars in the sport. Burton, the son of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, exploded onto the NASCAR National Series scene with a tremendous 2013 season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Burton collected a victory at Texas Motor Speedway, to go along with an impressive seven pole positions en route to aRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor Just days away from qualifying for the 2016 Daytona 500, the entry list continues to grow. David Gilliland and Reed Sorenson, who appeared to be out of luck on having a car to drive in The Great American Race, have found rides just before the clock struck midnight on Speedweeks 2016. Sorenson will pilot the No. 40 for Hillman Racing, which sold assets to Premium Motorsports in the off season. Now the team appears ready to make a run at the Daytona 500 with a newRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that they’ve added 19-year-old Matt Tifft to drive their No. 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series car for 13 races in 2016. “I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2016 season. I feel after our run last year at Kentucky that this is a great fit for me with an outstanding and well-respected organization, and I look forward to a very exciting and successful year driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry,” Tifft said in aRead More

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor The recent rumors of Pastor Maldonado leaving Lotus/Renault have been confirmed today. The Grand Prix winner made the announcement via social media with the following statement: “Today with the utmost humility I inform you that I will not be present at the starting grid for the 2016 F1 season. Thanks for all your messages of support, passion and concern for my future.” It has yet to be confirmed if ex-McLaren man Kevin Magnussen will replace him, but sources expect a Magnussen announcement alongside Renault’s launch of theirRead More

Sauber played its hand in the 2016 driver market today by announcing contract extensions with both Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. This comes after intense speculation over Nasr’s 2016 seat. The Brazilian had been rumored for a ride at Williams to replace the seemingly Ferrari bound Valtteri Bottas. It also seeks to bring much needed stability to Sauber after several seasons where they had a revolving door of drivers coming and going – culminating in the controversial lawsuit brought to the team by former driver Geido Van der Garde earlierRead More