The Final Lap – NASCAR News, Radio, Podcast

JR Motorsports Tabs Cole Whitt For No. 88 Chevy in 2012

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 4, 2012) – JR Motorsports’ flagship team will compete for a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship with one of the sport’s up-and-coming stars, as Cole Whitt has been tabbed to drive the company’s flagship No. 88 Chevrolet in 2012, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced today.

Whitt, a 20-year-old native of Alpine, Calif., will also compete for Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year honors. He comes to JR Motorsports from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he finished ninth in last year’s championship standings with one pole, two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. To date he is the youngest driver ever to win the USAC (United States Auto Club) National Midget championship, as his title-winning effort in 2008 put him alongside esteemed former USAC national champions such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

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PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA

IT’S OFFICIAL: GO DADDY GIRL GOING “FULL THROTTLE” INTO NASCAR!
2012 Plan includes Full Nationwide Schedule & Select Sprint Cup Races in the Go Daddy Car

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 25, 2011) — Putting the pedal to the media metal, and with Go Daddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons at her side … Danica revealed her racing future today.

“We can finally put the rumors to rest — I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year,” Danica told a crowded news conference at Go Daddy’s Scottsdale headquarters a few minutes ago. “I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season.”

For the NASCAR Nationwide Series races, she’ll drive with her current stock car team, JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Danica will be with Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Both series will be financially fueled by Go Daddy, her long-time sponsor who first signed the Go Daddy Girl in 2006.

“I am very fortunate to have a forward-thinking, powerhouse sponsor like Go Daddy,” Danica said. “Go Daddy is definitely committed and focused, which is why they are at the top of their industry.”

“I have so much respect for Danica, and not just because she looks stunning in her Go Daddy firesuit,” Parsons said. “She’s got it all … she’s a competitor, she’s focused, she’s a risk taker, she’s tenacious, she’s got business savvy and look at what she’s already accomplished before ever driving a full NASCAR schedule.”

Danica finished fourth in the Nationwide Series this year in Las Vegas, which ranks as the best-ever result for a female driver in any of NASCAR’s top three national touring series.

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LIVE REPORT (THIS REPORT HAS NOW CLOSED)

Times are eastern

-11:58am Lovely hold music is playing

-Noon Things are starting

-12:02p Hold music went from elevator to Katy Perry

-Now ESPN coverage of Danica at Daytona

-12:04p GoDaddy commercial, Danica has been introduced

-12:05p Danica announces full time with GoDaddy in Nationwide Series driving for JR Motorsports #7 car in 2012

-12:06p Danica announces partial Sprint Cup Series schedule with Stewart Haas Racing in 2012

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Jimmie Johnson To Drive JRM Entry In NNS Race At Watkins Glen

Sneak peak of No. 7 Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine Chevrolet available at www.facebook.com/JimmieJohnsonRacingGame

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2011) – If Jimmie Johnson will race anything with an engine, driving one that could carry him to victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International is a no-brainer. JR Motorsports announced today that Johnson will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet in the Aug. 13 road-course event at Watkins Glen in promotion of his soon-to-be-launched video game Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine. Published by Autumn Games and developed by Isopod Labs, Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine is scheduled for an October 2011 release on all three major home consoles.

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