KANSAS CITY, KS. – Team Rensi Motorsports is looking for sponsorship for both of their Fords for the 2008 season. President Ronnie Russell said Saturday that the team will not operate next season unless sponsorship is found before the season finale in Homestead.
“Today we don’t have anything. We do have a reasonable commitment from a huge company that we feel good with on Bobby (Hamilton, Jr.)’s car. We feel very good about it but we do not have anything signed,” Russell said.
Prior to the start in Kansas Russell confirmed without hesitation that Hamilton, who is currently sixth in the overall driver standings, will be the driver of the No. 35 barring the sponsorship but as for current driver Richard Johns in the No. 25, that is yet to be determined, based on the funding.
“McDonalds is leaving. FreeCreditReport is leaving. From what we understand with McDonalds is they have always wanted Kasey Kahne. FreeCreditReport, there has been rumblings that they want Greg Biffle. Our sport is being run by about 12 Cup guys, over there and over here. Those 12 guys can’t do all of it. Even when you have 27 Cup guys running, people in the seats don’t come to see 27 Cup guys. They come to see five or six of them. We all know that. All you have to do is look at t-shirt sales,” he explains of the team’s forced financial troubles.
“We get things to where potential sponsors say ‘ We will never see it on TV.’ They won’t show a Busch guy on TV. That affects our sponsorship. We’re 42 points out of fifth place in this series. You would think that you would get something. You never get talked about. It’s like you don’t even exist.”
“I’m trying to work with every angle I can. I’m working with certain celebrities to maybe bring somebody in. If you don’t have a Cup guy you need a celebrity as an owner. You are trying to get in front of people and get talked about.”
DARLINGTON, S.C. -- The old became new again in Darlington for Jason Keller. Reuniting with some of his former ppc Racing crew members, Keller and the newly revamped CJM Racing team scored two minor victories over the weekend in their Busch Series debut. The first was to make the 200-mile event. One team would miss the field and with no points, attempts, or any other means to rely on other than speed, Keller’s No. 11 Chevrolet had to get into the field on time. And it did.
After starting 35th Keller worked his way through the field and at one point flirted with the top 10 running as high as 12th. Less than 10 laps from the finish Keller was 13th but lost the spot to David Ragan in the closing laps. Still, a 14th isn’t too shabby for a team – that just weeks ago wasn’t even planning on debuting for another three weeks.
Already established in the series, Keller transitioned to ppc Racing in 1998 and there he stayed until 2004. During their time together the team finished runner-up in the Championship twice.
RICHMOND, Va. -- Clint Bowyer won the race off pit road with about 28 laps to go Friday night and easily went on to his fifth career Busch Series victory (watch video). Matt Kenseth dominated much of the latter part of the race, but pitted along with the other leaders after the final caution flew on Lap 223. Kenseth came out fifth, behind Bowyer and Jeff Burton, after a mishap with the jack on Kenseth's right side. Burton was third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.
Scott Wimmer was the top "Busch Guy" with a tenth place finish for Richard Childress Racing as a late replacement for Timothy Peters. Regan Smith was the second True Busch Racer with his 15th place finish for Ginn Racing. Shane Huffman in the No. 88 U.S. Navy Chevrolet was third in 18th while Jon Wood and Bobby Hamilton Jr. were fourth and fifth in 21st and 22nd respectively.
Matt Kenseth ended Carl Edward's two-race Busch winning streak by pulling his car out of a spin without hitting the wall early in the race, then overtaking Denny Hamlin with nine laps left. Hamlin finished second and Edwards finished third extending his points lead.
“I heard something break, I guess it was the tire popping,” Kenseth said. “My first thought was, ‘I hope I don’t hit anything.’ Because of all the dumb stuff I’ve done before, I guess, I was able to figure out how not to hit the wall. …It was a lot of luck, too.” Kenseth’s spin did bring out a yellow, but his crew fixed the car and Kenseth got his lap back on a subsequent caution. Casey Mears wound up fourth. Rookie David Ragan, who started on the pole, finished fifth.
The Busch class win went to Paul Menard who finished ninth overall. Menard needs to stick with the Busch Series as it appears to suit his skill level well. Second in class was Jason Leffler in the great Clips car. Leffler finished 13th overall.
Bobby Hamilton Jr. finished third in class in his No. 35 McDonald's Ford Fusion and 14th overall. More importantly he made good on his promise made two weeks ago to be the top "Busch Guy" in two weeks. He leads the Busch Class standings in first place and is seventh in the Busch Series Standings overall. He is only 14 points behind Kenseth for sixth overall and will now put Matt right in his sites.
Mike Wallace finished fourth in class and 15th overall in his No. 7 Geico Ford Fusion. While Brad Coleman enjoyed a good day with a fifth place class finish and 16th overall.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
After starting 35th Keller worked his way through the field and at one point flirted with the top 10 running as high as 12th. Less than 10 laps from the finish Keller was 13th but lost the spot to David Ragan in the closing laps. Still, a 14th isn’t too shabby for a team – that just weeks ago wasn’t even planning on debuting for another three weeks.
