NASCAR Losing Sprint as Title Sponsor in 2016

((ht: nascar.com))

We aren't sure what to make of this one. NASCAR, once the darling of all major sports due to it's meteoric growth in the 1990's and 2000's has lost it's main sponsor.

Sprint Wireless has announced they will no longer sponsor Stock Car racing's most prestigious level of racing after the end of the 2016 season.

They've been a part of NASCAR's "Sprint Cup Title" since 2004 through the "Nextel" brand which Sprint purchased the following year.

Read more from NASCAR their own selves RIGHT HERE

NASCAR has struggled to keep momentum the past few season, in part due to it's somewhat confusing "Chase for the Championship". They did garner some attention this year due to the dramatics of it's finish--for which reviews were generally good.

As for the TV ratings, they aren't what they were. Yes, the sport still draws pretty well in certain areas, such as the Southeast, but like other sports when football begins, the ratings drop. It will be interesting as racing transitions to new TV partners this year, to see where things go.

But again, the big question here is this: Where does this leaves NASCAR in their search for a title sponsor? It is an expensive proposition even for the largest of corporations. Sprint has struggled mightily to keep up with the Verizon's and AT&T's of the world which leads to the obvious question. ATT had tried to make inroads in NASCAR just a few years ago.

We're guessing the racing bigwigs would happily welcome them...and their money beginning in 2017.

Ryan Newman's Race Team Does Hype Video for Sprint Cup Final

((ht: foxsports.com))

Nice...haven't seen a lot of hype videos in the NASCAR world. Maybe they are catching on to this whole social media thing.

Or maybe not.

Anyway, check out this cool video done for Ryan Newman by the folks at his Richard Childress Racing team.

Newman is one of the 4 drivers left in the Elimination challenge. We'll find out who wins the whole shebangie this weekend when the Chase makes it's final stop at Homestead.

All Newman has to do....finish ahead of Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick. He doesn't have to win the race, just has to beat all 3 of the other guys to the finish line.

May the best driver win...

((NOTE---We have no idea why this was produced in the ancient 4x3 video format instead of HD, it's not like Childress can't afford the whole modern technology thing))

NASCAR Fun: Hamlin Throws Car Part at Harvick After Crash

Oh those angry boys of NASCAR...

Saturday night at Bristol showed yet again why race car drivers need to learn somehow to control their tempers.

Racing under the lights with the lead, Denny Hamlin slowed slightly coming off a corner. Kevin Harvick, just behind Hamlin tries to get behind him, but misjudges Hamlin's move, hits the back of Hamlin's car and sends him spinning.

Hamlin's car tags Dale Earnhardt Jr, taking out his door and side panels and for a brief moment, chaos ensues.

Hamlin eventually gets out of the car and in a fit of anger, grabs the Hans device (neck restraint) and throws it at Harvick's car when it passes by again under caution.

It didn't do any damage, but the point being, why throw something at him? And then the post wreck interview?

Yeah, we get it, racing is intense and nobody wants to back down. But when you are driving that fast in a tight pack of cars, accidents happen.  They always will.

For what it's worth, Joey Logano would go on to take the checkered flag and get the win.

Video of the crash, Hamlin's interview and shot of him throwing stuff at Harvick are all on this clip from NASCAR.com:

Tony Stewart Won't Race This Weekend Either

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Suffice to say the past two weeks have not been kind to NASCAR team owner and driver Tony Stewart.

By now, most of you know about the incident at a central New York dirt track Saturday night that cost promising driver Kevin Ward Jr his life after getting tangled with Stewart's car.

After initially saying he wanted to race in the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen the next day, Stewart relented and handed over the #14 Stewart-Haas racing car to Reagan Smith.

Thursday afternoon, Stewart's race team released a statement saying Tony would not race in the upcoming race in Michigan. They did not elaborate other than to say that veteran driver Jeff Burton would drive his car on Sunday.

Stewart has drawn a lot of heat on social media and other places for what appears to be a limited response to a horrible accident/mistake. No charges have been filed and we'd be surprised if eventually they were.

But that should not absolve the millionaire multiple times over Stewart from trying to something to help. As far as anyone knows--and we hope we are wrong, Stewart has avoided the public at all costs and has thus far not reached out to the Ward family.

Stewart will eventually get back behind the wheel and investigators in Ontario County, New York will eventually finish their investigation. And no matter the outcome, we suspect someone is not going to be happy with the results.

Fox Sports gives us the video update:

Mark Martin Picks Up Tony Stewart's Ride

Injured car owner/driver Tony Stewart finally found someone to finish out his 2013 Sprint Cup season.

Monday afternoon, it was announced that veteran driver Mark Martin will bring the #14 Chevy home for the next 13 races. Newcomer Austin Dillon will driver the car for one race--at Talladega.

You'll recall Stewart broke his leg in 2 places in an August 5th short track race in Iowa. He was on the fringe of qualifying for the Sprint Cup Championship, which takes place during the last 12 races of the year. Those points stay with the car. And with the #14 car in 13th place, it's quite possible Martin could still get the car into the Chase.

Martin, who had been scheduled to drive the #55 for Michael Waltrip for 10 races, got a release from owner Michael Waltrip to move over and pick up Stewart. Brian Vickers, who will take over the #55 full-time next season, will finish those races.

ICYMI: Tony Stewart Hurt in Crash May Be Done for 2013 (Video)

Good thing Tony Stewart's other job is car owner instead of just car driver.

"Smoke's" 2013 chances at winning the Sprint Cup are all but gone after Stewart broke his leg in 2-places during a dirt track crash Monday night at the Southern Iowa Motor Speedway.

Reports say Stewart broke his fibula and tibia on his right leg, which will make it extraordinarily difficult for him to drive, since all the pedals in a race car (or any car) are on the right side.

The crash happened just 5 laps from the finish of a 40 lap race and in the aftermath, Tony Stewart was rushed to a Des Moines Hospital where he immediately underwent surgery.

Stewart, who is 11th in this weeks Sprint Cup standings has already had his team release a statement that his car won't race in this weeks race at Watkins Glen. The guess is, his season is done, it's just a matter of whether the team and owner (Stewart) decides it's worth having someone else climb into his car to ride it out.

Here's video of said crash:


PM UPDATE: Looks like Max Papis will be filling in for Stewart at Watkins Glen. He tested at Road Atlanta as an ice breaker and, apparently, passed the SHR test...

Dick Trickle Takes His Own Life

We don't know if we'd call former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle a legend, but he was well known within the sport.

And at the age of 71, Trickle took his own life Thursday afternoon in Lincoln County, North Carolina, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Trickle never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race and arguably he would be considered the forerunner of what are now considered "Field Fillers" or what we call "Racing Jobbers". He did win the sports "Rookie of the Year" title in 1989.

That's where our path briefly crossed Trickle's when we were early in our career as a Producer/Photographer. We did a  1989 feature story on him while at the Martinsville Speedway and he was gracious, funny, self-depracating and very aware of his place in the sport.

And no, he was not--at least that anyone will admit...the insipiration for the Cole Trickle character in the movie "Days of Thunder".

OSG Sports passes its condolences to the Trickle family and the sport of NASCAR, one of the good guys is now gone.

Here's some video of Trickle from what now is considered a bygone era, 1990, with Trickle lighting up a cigarette while in the middle of a race:

Changing Places: Kenseth, Logano switch teams

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Matt Kenseth/Ctsy: MattKenseth.com

Well, NASCAR's version of the Carousel has begun, only a little bit earlier than normal.

Matt Kenseth made it official today and was announced, well actually, presented as the newest driver for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Kenseth is leaving long-time partner Roush-Fenway racing after 15-years. And he will be replacing former Wunderkind Joey Logano in the #20 car.

Read the story from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

Kenseth will be part of a 3-car team featuring him, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Yes, he's still in the running for this years Sprint Cup title with Roush and will be running out the season in his all-too familiar #17 car.

As for the other change, the 22-year old Logano moves to Penske Racing after beginning his career with Gibbs. And yes, we'll say it, "Ironically" he'll be driving the #22 car in the 2013 season.

Read more from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

Interesting, isn't it NASCAR fans?

We've always known that racing has had a tradition of off-season driver switches, but they usually happen much closer to the end of the season and usually involves drivers not competing for the cup. And while Logano may not make the Top 12 this year, Kenseth has a pretty good shot at it.

So, as usual, prepare for changes. Probably the hardest will be getting used to Kenseth in the #20 car, but like everything else, we'll get used to it.

Because we love video here at OSG Sports, we'll remind you of Kenseth's latest claim to fame; that of target for Tony Stewart's race helmet just two weeks ago.

Kyle Busch benched for Texas race weekend

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It's not very often that you can talk about a NASCAR driver being suspended for an entire racing weekend. Particularly if it is a well-known Sprint Cup Competitor who is a part of the vaunted "Chase for the Cup".

That is exactly what NASCAR has decided to do with the oft troubled Kyle Busch after Busch deliberately wrecked driver Ron Hornaday during Friday nights Craftsman Truck race.

Read more from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

Busch, who qualified 2nd in Saturday's Nationwide race and 17th in Sunday's Sprint Cup race, will serve what NASCAR calls an "Unprecedented" suspension.

Michael McDowell will drive Busch's car for the Sprint Race, Joe Gibbs Racing will pick a driver to race on Saturday.

Quite honestly, this move is somewhat overdue and will just further enhance Busch's "Bad-Boy" image. We don't necessarily think this is just a "Meanstreak" as much as it is an "Anger-Management" issue.

You might also remember Busch got in some trouble and had his drivers license suspended in North Carolina after being pulled over for driving 125 in a 45 mph zone.

Here's your video of Friday's incident: (thanks Nascar.com)--

Dancia Patrick to race in Daytona 500

Your newest Sprint Cup racer

((ht: nascar.com))

Well, that didn't take long. Shortly after the end of this years troubled Indy Car season, the circuits most popular...or at least best known driver has all but made her jump to NASCAR permanent.

Stewart-Haas racing announced today that Danica Patrick will pilot their #10 car in the Super Bowl of Auto Racing in February...the Daytona 500. She will compete in at least 8 more Sprint Cup races along with a full 33 race season on the Nationwide circuit.

Read the entire story from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

This isn't much of a surprise. Everyone knew it would just be a matter of time before Patrick made the full jump to Stock-Car racing. She had a somewhat difficult season this past year racing for Andretti Motorsports Indy Car team and expressed a lot of anxiety over the recent fatal crash involving Dan Wheldon.

We don't know if...or how successful Patrick will be running with the bigger cars. She had a modest amount of success in early 2011 running a few Nationwide events. She didn't win any, but showed according to observers, the ability to handle it.

Undoubtedly, this will be  a big, big story leading into next years NASCAR season and considering the egos involved, it should be really, really interesting to watch and see how it plays out.

Here's some video of your newest Sprint Cup contender:

Tony Stewart wins your Monday afternoon NASCAR event

And yes, if you are a NASCAR driver and made it to the Chase for the Sprint Cup, winning the 1st week of the chase isn't a bad thing.

Tony Stewart held off Kevin Harvick to win yet another rain-delayed NASCAR race. The Geico 400 was supposed to be run on Sunday afternoon. Instead it started Monday...at noon.

Stewart almost didn't win, getting passed by Martin Truex Jr, in the waning laps of the race, but Truex didn't have enough fuel to finish.

For Tony, it was his 40th career win and it moved him from 9th, all the way to 2nd place in the Chase, he's chasing the guy who was chasing him at the end today, Kevin Harvick.


Your highlights, from NASCAR.com: