JR Motorsports

Speedco joins the No. 88 late model team and 21-year-old driver Josh Berry. Berry was recently named the 2011 recipient of the Speed51.com / AR Bodies Late Model Most Popular Driver award, a competition which encompassed multiple late model drivers across the United States and Canada. His on-track performance last year netted one win, nine top fives, and 16 top-10 finishes.

Speedco is also returning for its second season sponsoring L.W. Miller in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. In addition to his driving duties, Miller will serve as crew chief and team manager for the No. 88 late model team this season.

“Having Speedco join JR Motorsports in support of all our racing programs is a privilege,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “Our company is greatly appreciative of their involvement. Speedco has been a phenomenal supporter of local racing, and now we’re proud to showcase their brand at both the local and national level.”

In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Speedco receives b-post placement on the No. 5, 7 and 88 Chevrolets. The cars will be piloted by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, respectively. Patrick and Whitt are competing for the series championship, while Earnhardt Jr. will race sporadically throughout the season starting at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to continue working with Speedco and look forward to building a relationship with everyone at JR Motorsports and our Speedco late model driver Josh Berry,” said Darin Odle, director of motorsports for Speedco. “I especially want to thank my good friend, L.W. Miller, for helping put our program together for 2012.”

ABOUT SPEEDCO

Speedco Truck Lube and Tire is a provider of on-highway truck lubrication and routine tire services to commercial truck owner-operators and fleets. Speedco is owned by Bridgestone Bandag, LLC, which has an 87.5 percent interest in Speedco, Inc. Bridgestone Bandag, LLC is part of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), an operating unit of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. BBTS provides new Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton brand medium and heavy duty truck tires, and Bandag brand retreading materials and equipment to more than 2,500 dealers, truck stops and franchised Bandag retreaders throughout the U.S. and Canada.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s nine-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series where the team owns 10 victories. To learn more about the organization and its stable of drivers which include Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, visit www.JRMracing.com. The JR Motorsports facility also houses the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment and JRM Licensing.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Tommy Baldwin Racing Thumbnail Logo

Truex will make his first superspeedway start in the NNS season-opener. The 19-year-old racer made his NNS debut in 2010 at Gateway International Raceway and made 24 starts in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He compiled five top-10 finishes including a third-place finish at Kansas Speedway. Truex competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2009 and 2010 and won the championship both years with a top-10 average finish.

“I’m happy to be back in a racecar,” said Truex. “I was back and forth between teams last year, so it is nice to be in a car for the first race of this season. I’m excited about racing at a superspeedway. This is my first restrictor plate race and first start at Daytona. It’s something I’ve never done, but it looks like a lot of fun. Superspeedway racing is something I need to learn as I progress in my career. Hopefully, I can find myself a good partner to work with and have a good finish at the end.”

Santos has competed under the TBR Development banner since 2010. He competed in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) in 2010 and 2011 and won the championship in his first season in the series. The 26-year-old won the inaugural USAC National Pavement Sprint Car Series championship last season in a family-owned car. Santos made five starts in the NNS since 2007. His last start was at DIS February 2011 where he finished 17th in a JR Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet.

“I’m thrilled to compete in the Nationwide series again,” said Santos. “The Daytona race last year was a lot of fun. It was kind of a last minute deal, so I’m glad we’ll have some time to prepare for it this year. Tommy and Al have done a lot to help my career, and I appreciate them giving me this opportunity in the Nationwide Series.”

This season will mark TBR’s fourth season of competition. TBR began as a part-time one-car NSCS team in 2009 and developed into a top-35 team by 2011. In 2012, TBR plans to compete with two NSCS teams. The part time NNS team will expand on TBR’s driver development program in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The team would like to increase the number of races in both the NSCS and NNS schedules, provided more sponsorship can be found.

“We are really working hard to develop young talent,” explained owner Tommy Baldwin. “The Nationwide series is a great place for young drivers to learn the ropes and compete at the same tracks as the ‘Cup series. It is important to give these kids opportunities to showcase their talents for their future and for the future of TBR.”

TBR NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule:

· February 25th – Ryan Truex – Daytona International Speedway

· April 27th – Ryan Blaney – Richmond International Raceway

· May 11th – Ryan Blaney – Darlington Raceway

· June 29th – Ryan Blaney – Kentucky Speedway

· July 6th – Bobby Santos – Daytona International Speedway

· July 28th – Ryan Blaney – Indianapolis Motor Speedway

· August 24th – Ryan Blaney – Bristol Motor Speedway

· October 12th – Ryan Blaney – Charlotte Motor Speedway

About Tommy Baldwin Racing:

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin formed Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in 2009. Baldwin utilized a declining economy to open a NSCS team with a stringent budget. The team worked to build to full-time competition, and by the 2011 season, the team’s third season, TBR competed in every race and locked the No. 36 Chevrolet in the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points. Dave Blaney drove the No. 36 Chevrolet to TBR’s highest finish of third in the October 2011 event at Talladega Superspeedway. TBR also fielded a second car for select races in the past two seasons with multiple drivers.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the NSCS in 2012 with NASCAR veterans David Reutimann and Dave Blaney. The team will also compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Ryan Blaney, Bobby Santos and Ryan Truex.

For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit tommybaldwinracing.com or follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/TBR.HBR, and Twitter, twitter.com/TBR_Racing.

Bristol Motor Speedway Logo

Breaking a long-standing tradition of eschewing green, once a much-maligned hue in the NASCAR garage, the World’s Fastest Half-Mile is embracing the color, right along with Patrick who will be driving a special St. Patrick’s Day paint scheme in the 300-lapper that day.

Patrick pilots the shamrock covered GoDaddy.com ride for JR Motorsports and makes her second start at BMS. As part of the celebration, fans can purchase a special ticket package for the race which also gives them access to a question and answer session with Patrick at Bristol on the morning of March 17. Fans will also receive a limited edition Danica / St. Patrick’s Day event t-shirt, featuring the shamrock-themed No. 7 GoDaddy.com car. In addition, one lucky fan who purchases the package wins two hot passes and the opportunity to view the race from Patrick’s pit box.

Beginning today fans may visit a special website, www.DanicaGoesGreenAtBristol.com, which will keep them up to date with all the current news surrounding Patrick, tickets and the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at BMS.

Danica Patrick - Photo Credit: Jason Smith / Getty Images for NASCAR

Go Daddy is the world’s largest provider of Web hosting*, domain name registrations and net new SSL Certificates. “If you thought the Go Daddy No. 7 was bright green before, wait until you see our St. Patrick’s Day No. 7,” said Go Daddy Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Barb Rechterman. “This is going to be a NASCAR style St. Patrick’s Day at Bristol!”

The St. Patrick’s Day celebration at BMS will be hosted by George Wendt, known for his 11-year role of the beer-drinking Norm Peterson on the television series Cheers.

A post-race pit party also is on tap in the hospitality area with live music. In addition, the creek that runs through the property at Bristol Motor Speedway will be dyed green for the race and the lights that illuminate the stadium at night all will be green.

BMS general manager Jerry Caldwell believes “Going Green with Danica” is the perfect way to celebrate not just St. Patrick’s Day, but also one of the most successful Nationwide races in the sport.

“With the holiday falling on our race weekend, it’s a no-brainer that we marry it with one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers at one of the series’ biggest races,” he said. “We have all kinds of fun things happening that day and Danica has certainly embraced it with the special paint scheme and the ticket package for fans, which is pretty cool.

“Like everyone else, we’ve been going green environmentally for a while, but now we’re taking it to another level with our St. Patrick’s Day bash. The fans will definitely see plenty of green while they’re here – and, as always, they’ll have the time of their lives while watching some spectacular racing.”

The Patrick ticket package is available for $67 and includes a limited edition t-shirt, a $10 coupon to the JR Nation retail store at JR Motorsports, admittance to the question and answer session and the opportunity to be upgraded with pit passes courtesy of Bristol Motor Speedway. Children’s ticket packages also will be available for $37.50 and will include a child’s sized t-shirt.

Included in the price of a Nationwide Series race day ticket at BMS also is the K&N Pro Series 125 which will take place after the Nationwide race.

BMS season tickets, which include the Food City 500 (March 18) and IRWIN Tools Night Race (Aug. 25) Sprint Cup races, as well as the Nationwide events and the K&N race, also are on sale. Pricing for all four races begins at just $175 in the Wallace Tower.

A March race weekend package also is available starting at $99 that includes the Food City 500 and the Nationwide/K&N Pro Series East events. A package in the Wallace Tower for both Sprint Cup races also is now available for $99, while packages for fans 15 and younger are available for the March races at half price. Lower row seating for the Food City 500 is available, with tickets starting at $65.

Tickets may be purchased by calling toll free at 1-866-415-4158, 423-BRISTOL or by visiting www.bristoltix.com.

- Bristol Motor Speedway Press Release

JR Motorsports

Which nation might that be? None other than, “Junior Nation.”

The legions of fans of popular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his JR Motorsports Late Model team helped propel 21-year-old Tennessee native and JR Motorsports Late Model Stock Car driver Josh Berry to the title of the 2011 Speed51.com/AR Bodies Late Model Most Popular Driver.

“That’s awesome to be the Most Popular Driver and I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Berry, who was a weekly competitor at Virginia’s Motor Mile Speedway in 2011. “It’s really exciting. I don’t think I’m necessarily one of the most recognized of all the drivers out there; maybe this will help that.

“Really though, all the credit goes to JR Motorsports and being tied to Dale Jr. Our company really prides itself on its social media and I think that played a big role in getting all the votes. It’s become such a huge part of sponsorship and interacting with fans. Having that kind of exposure and pull is a big plus, not only for my sponsors we have already, but the sponsor we have coming on board for next year, Speedco Truck Lube. One of their big selling points with us was our social media exposure.”

As the winner of the Late Model Most Popular Driver voting, Berry will receive a new “A” Package ABC-style Late Model body from AR Bodies. Jerry Criswell and his staff of the Tennessee-based AR Bodies team will also extend their prize give-aways to the second and third-place drivers.

Georgia Super and Pro Late Model racer and 19-time winner in 2011, Bubba Pollard finished second in the voting, roughly 1,000 votes behind Berry. Michigan’s Erik Jones, the 2011 JEGS / CRA All-Stars Tour Champion, finished third in the voting. Both drivers will be recognized with a $500 product certificate from AR Bodies.

“ARbodies is proud to once again have the opportunity to award a new body to the nation’s Most Popular Driver,” said Jerry Criswell of AR Bodies. “Congratulations to Josh Berry and the entire JR Motorsports team on their successes both on and off the track. Bubba Pollard and Erik Jones have also had a great year of racing and we would like to congratulate them on their first and second runner-up finishes in the Most Popular Driver voting. In recognition of their achievements, ARbodies has decided to award each with a $500 off a ‘M’ Package certificate.”

Driving for JR Motorsports in 2011 after befriending Earnhardt, Jr. on the racing simulation iRacing, Berry picked up his first win of his young Late Model Stock Car career in April. He continued strong showings in the tough NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division all season while racing against veteran and championship-winning drivers every Saturday night at Motor Mile. When he ventured out and into one of Late Model racing’s most prestigious events, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway (VA), Berry continued turning heads with an impressive qualifying effort. The achievements on track this season, plus a savvy social media presence and affiliation with one of the sport’s most popular figures all helped Berry earn the MPD title.

“When we went into 2011, we had two goals: to win my first race and just to prove myself every week,” said Berry. “I had a new crew chief, L.W. Miller, and we had people come in for a whole transformation with the Late Model team. It was a big year for us, so to come out and win that early was a big shot in the arm. It proved that we’re there and we turned some stuff around. Towards the end of the year, we still ran well and in the top-five, but we still improved every week.

“We went to the big race of the year at Martinsville and qualified ninth out of 80 cars. That was pretty good to end my first full year of Late Models and my first time at Martinsville. I’m still pretty inexperienced in Late Models compared to a lot of people I’m racing against. L.W. helped me with that because he’s so experienced. He could help me understand that I’m racing against a ton of talent. When I’m racing against a Philip Morris or a Frank Deiny, Jr. or even a Lee Pulliam like we did every week at Motor Mile, I’m racing against years and years of experience in those type of cars.”

In 2012, armed with a new AR Bodies body on his number-72 Late Model, Berry will look to continue to rack up the impressive statistics at Motor Mile.

“We’ll change our colors a little bit with Speedco on board for this season,” said Berry. “We’ll run full-time at Motor Mile and we’re definitely looking at opportunities to hopefully branch out a little bit and get me some more experience. That’s all dependent on sponsorship and how we can work it out. We want to wait on the right opportunity for that, for sure. So for now, we’ll do full-time at Motor Mile and some of the big shows here and there.”

Wisconsin Super Late Model racer Blake Brown was fourth in the voting, while Ohio’s Tyler Strickland was fifth.

AR Bodies has become an innovative leader in the ABC body field, which was developed several years ago to help create a uniform set of body rules for Late Model series and tracks throughout the country, while also offering the bodies at an economical price for racers.

For more information on AR Bodies, visit them online at www.arbodies.com and follow them on Twitter, @arbodies.

Since 2001, Speed51.com has been the home for short track news, behind-the-scenes stories and in-depth race coverage and radio broadcasts of series all around the country, from ARCA and NASCAR’s Touring Divisions, to the Super Late Model and Modified series and much more. Speed 51 Radio is also the exclusive production team for NASCAR Home Tracks Radio.

For more information on Speed51.com and the rest of the 51 Companies, contact Matt Kentfield at 51 Sports at (704) 785-4013 and visit Speed51.com. Speed51.com is on Twitter at @speed51dotcom and on Facebook by searching Speed51.com.

- 51 Sports Press Release

JR Motorsports

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.

“Cole is the guy we wanted, and we’re lucky to get him,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’s got raw, untapped talent, but we are most impressed with his ambition. I sought advice and input from people I respect in the industry, and the overwhelming consensus was that Cole has the potential to do great things in this sport.”

The signing of Whitt completes the 2012 driver line-up for JR Motorsports, which will compete in Nationwide Series competition with Whitt in the No. 88 Chevrolet, Danica Patrick in the No. 7 Chevrolet, and Earnhardt Jr. in select races in the No. 5 Chevrolet. All three drivers will compete in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

“This is a big opportunity for me, and I’m happy to be a part of the JR Motorsports team,” said Whitt, who was introduced to employees Wednesday morning. “I’m grateful to Dale, Kelley and everyone at JR Motorsports for giving me this chance. It’s an honor to work with the Eurys, and I will do everything in my power to put this No. 88 team where it belongs in Victory Lane.”

Whitt got his start racing karts and saw immediate success with eight International Karting Federation championships and two World Karting Association grand national championships. He was the Hoosier Sprint Car Rookie of the Year in 2006 and earned 34 top-10 finishes in 60 USAC starts in 2007 before winning the championship in 2008. Whitt advanced to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010, promptly notching two poles and finishing fourth in points in his first year.

OTHER NEWS: JR Motorsports has hired Bruce Cook as crew chief for the No. 5 team, which will run primarily with Earnhardt Jr. in select races. Cook comes to JR Motorsports from Kevin Harvick, Inc., where he served as crew chief in 2011 in the Camping World Truck Series, predominately for the No. 2 KHI Chevrolet, which won the owner’s championship. With Cook atop the pit box, his team scored six wins, 19 top-fives and 22 top-10s. Cook was also the winning crew chief of the Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona in 2011 with driver Tony Stewart.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s nine-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series where the team owns 10 victories. To learn more about the organization and its stable of drivers which include Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, visit www.JRMracing.com. The JR Motorsports facility also houses the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment and JRM Licensing.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

David Ragan

It seemed that Ragan had been in the hunt for a job with Penske Racing after the mutual seperation with the organization and Kurt Busch earlier in December. Though David Ragan, David Reutimann, and Brian Vickers were considered the top drivers still without rides for the 2012 season, Penske Racing decided to hire A.J. ALlmendinger. Allmendinger had been with Richard Petty Motorsports, but there was no sponsor for his No. 43 after Best Buy moved over to Roush-Fenway Racing. With no sponsor on the hood, Allmendinger looked elsewhere.

The open position with RPM is rumored to be going to Aric Almirola, a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. Though no sponsor has been officially announce, it is believed that the organization would announce the sponsor and the driver at the same time. If Almirola is leaving the Nationwide Series, then a spot at JR Motorsports will be open. Reports are the seat filling is between Ragan and Cole Whitt, a former Red Bull Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck series driver. With so few opportunies, Ragan is hoping that he will land in the drivers seat.

- Stock Car Spin

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Ford 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 4 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet

“Homestead is a track that’s a lot of fun to race on. It has progressive banking through the corners. That’s why you see drivers go into the corner and move around a lot. Anytime you go somewhere that you can move around, it’s good. As a racecar driver, you want options on where you can run.

“I’m looking forward to a bit of a break following Homestead. But at the same time, when you’re running well and things are going your way, you can’t wait to get back to the racetrack. So at times, the few weeks we have off seem a lot longer.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

“I remember the car feeling really loose most of the time last year at Homestead. It’s a challenging track, even in IndyCar. I think we wasted a lot of good time during practice, because I was unfamiliar with how to drive the corners. Aric (Almirola, teammate) told me, ‘you’ve got to drive it in the corner, and you’ve got to get it on the right front.’ The corners are very tight compared to a lot of other mile-and-a-halfs. Toward the end of practice we got it better.

“I went into qualifying and surprised myself by qualifying fifth. I feel like I’m getting into the swing of qualifying a little bit more. More than anything, it will be nice to start off the weekend driving the track as it needs to be driven so we can work on the car, as opposed to figuring it out during the last part of practice.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

PATRICK SEES IMPROVEMENT THROUGH SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN – Danica Patrick will put an end to an eventful and noteworthy sophomore season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 11 starts this year, Patrick earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes. Her fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway rewrote the history books, making Patrick the highest finishing female in any NASCAR national touring series race. The effort bested the 62-year-old record of Sara Christian, who finished fifth at Heidlberg, Pa. on Oct. 2, 1949 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Patrick also has led a career-high 14 laps, 13 of which came in a dramatic finish at Daytona in July when she took the lead with two laps to go. Her victory chances were ruined by a multi-car accident within sight of the checkered flag. Patrick’s average finish this year is 16.1 as compared to 28.0 in her 13-race rookie season in 2010.

PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 10:45 a.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 18 in the Homestead-Miami Speedway media center deadline room.

MILE-AND-A-HALF STRENGTH – Patrick has not finished outside the top-15 in the four 1.5-mile races she’s competed in this season (Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas and Texas). The 29-year-old holds one top-five and two top-10s with an average finish of 10.0 at those facilities.

PATRICK AT HOMESTEAD – Patrick’s second-best qualifying effort of her short career came at Homestead last year with a fifth-place start. The mark was eclipsed only by a fourth-place starting spot at Daytona in February. She also led the first laps of her Nationwide Series career at Homestead in 2010, leading once for four laps.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise. The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points.

ALMIROLA WRAPS UP FIRST FULL SEASON WITH JRM – Despite owning 72 starts in Nationwide Series competition over the span of five years, the Homestead event concludes Almirola’s first full season with JR Motorsports. His season totals feature one pole (Phoenix 11/12), seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including a string of nine top-10s in a 10-week mid-summer stretch. Almirola has led 101 laps in 2011. He led 66 last week at Phoenix International Raceway. He has earned an average finish of 12.2. He enters the weekend fourth in championship points, trailing third-place Justin Allgaier by 15 points. The No. 88 Chevrolet is ninth in owner points.

ALMIROLA AT HOMESTEAD – Almirola has seven starts at Homestead across NASCAR’s top-three series, earning two top-five and two top-10 finishes. His best finish of fourth came during the Sprint Cup Series season finale last year. Almirola’s best finish in Nationwide Series competition is 18th.

QUALIFYING EFFORTS – JR Motorsports competed in its first Nationwide Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2005 with driver Mark McFarland. Statistically it is one of the organization’s best qualifying tracks. In nine starts there a JRM Chevrolet has qualified in top-10 six times.

ALMIROLA’S APPEARANCES IN HOMESTEAD – Almirola will attend the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Championship Drive event on Thursday, Nov. 17th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST located at Lummus Park, Miami Beach, Fla. Almirola, a Florida native, will be featured in a fan Q & A and then will sign autographs. On Saturday, Nov. 19 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST, Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR Nationwide Series Logo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2011) –

The No. 7 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. The infraction occurred during the race on Nov. 12.

As a result of the violations, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until March 28, 2012.

- NASCAR, Press Release

2011 NNS Aric Almirola - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

This was Almirola’s first series pole of the 2011 season, his fifth series career pole and his first series pole at Phoenix International Raceway.

Starting second on the outside pole with a qualifying lap speed of 132.905 mph, will be Carl Edwards, followed by Trevor Bayne (132.758 mph) who will start from third, Clint Bowyer (132.734) starting fourth and Sam Hornish Jr. (132.358) starting from the fifth position.

Rounding out the top-ten starting positions will be Elliott Sadler (132.270) starting sixth, Justin Allgaier (132.265) seventh, Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Ryan Truex (132.008) eighth, Joey Logano (131.974) ninth and Brad Keselowski (131.965) will start from tenth.

Failing to make the starting lineup were the #13 driven by Jennifer Jo Cobb; the #75 driven by Carl Long; the #42 driven by Josh Wise and the #02 driven by Daryl Harr.

The WYPALL 200 is scheduled to get underway later this afternoon at approximately 3:50 PM (ET) with ESPN2 beginning their (pre-race) television coverage at 3:00 PM (ET).

2011 NNS WYPALL 200 Starting Lineup

(i) Ineligible for Points in this Series
# Denote Rookie
* Required to Qualify on Time

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Wypall 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)

TRACK – Phoenix International Raceway (1-mile tri-oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 3 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 Suave Men Chevrolet

“Phoenix is going be a challenge, but it’s going to be a challenge for everybody. We’re going to show up to a new racetrack. It’s newly repaved and reconfigured. They’ve made a lot of adjustments to the racing surface. I’m sure it’s going to be exciting for the drivers and for the fans.

“The plan for our 88 team is just to continue to improve over these final two races. It would be great to finish in the top-three in points, but right now the team’s focus is to get better. We’re not happy running where we’ve been running the past couple weeks. It’s important to this entire Suave Men team to finish the season on a strong note in preparation for 2012.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

“I’ve said all along how much fun it is to drive in NASCAR. I have the most fun racing these cars and I have high hopes heading into this race. We’ve ran well at mile-and-a-halfs this year, but short track racing is a different animal. I need to make sure that I still keep expectation levels in check, so I’m not disappointed. This isn’t a time for me to start creating false expectations for myself and feeling like I haven’t lived up to it. This is the time to continue on the path I’ve been going and to set goals for myself.

“Phoenix is a little bit different for everybody now. For me, it’s probably not the worst thing in the world that everyone will have to start relearning the track. It will be my third time there. That’s always a comforting feeling. I think the short track stuff is coming along. I feel like I’ve had the most trouble with it, and struggled with it. I think it’s gone a lot better this year.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

SHORT TRACK MUSCLE – Almirola flexed his short track muscle this season in the form of three top-five and six top-10 finishes at the 10 short track races to date. He is averaging a finish of 9.9 in those events. In short track races from July through September this season (Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Iowa Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway), Almirola never finished worse than seventh.

ALMIROLA AT PHOENIX – In four Nationwide Series starts at the facility, Almirola’s best finish is sixth, coming last fall in the No. 88 Chevrolet. He also owns three starts in the Camping World Truck Series, securing two top-five finishes and leading 52 laps in those events.

PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 1 p.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 11 in the Phoenix International Raceway media center deadline room.

PATRICK AND SHORT TRACKS – Patrick owns two starts at Phoenix, finishing a best of 17th in this season’s spring event, marking the best short track finish of her Nationwide Series career. Her sixth-place effort at Dover International Speedway in the fall of 2010 became her top stock car finish at a short track. Additionally, she finished 15th in her only start at Phoenix in the IndyCar Series.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise. The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points, sitting 36 points outside the top-10.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS - The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. The No. 88 Chevrolet is tied for eighth in owner points. Almirola is currently tied for third in championship points with Justin Allgaier. The pair sits 82 points behind second place, Elliott Sadler.

ALMIROLA AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Fans will have three opportunities to meet JR Motorsports driver Aric Almirola this weekend at Phoenix.

· Wed. Nov. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Almirola will sign autographs at the Bashas’ grocery store #120 located 7586 W. Thunderbird Road in Peoria, Ariz.

· Sat. Nov. 12 from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. local time he’ll sign autographs at the Bashas’ grocery store at Phoenix International Raceway (located in the Cotton 2 RV section right outside Gate 4 and Gate 3).

· Sat. Nov. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. local time, Almirola will sign autograph at the JR Nation merchandise hauler located the fan concourse area.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Danica Patrick - Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Nov. 4, 2011)

Patrick will make her first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in the season-opening Daytona 500 followed by a the Southern 500 at Darlington. The challenge of racing on arguably the toughest track on the NASCAR circuit is not lost on Patrick.

“Darlington’s going to be an awful lot of fun,” said Patrick. “The expectation levels will be low, which is probably a good thing.”

“To be honest, from my perspective, I did not want to start my year in a Cup car – for the races I was going to do – at someplace like Darlington,” continued Patrick. “Everybody’s going to be watching, especially at my first Cup race. And there’s going to be more news about it, so I didn’t want Darlington to be my first one.”

“We are excited to be part of Danica’s limited NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule in 2012,” said Darlington Raceway President, Chris Browning. “She is a very talented driver and having her in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at Darlington will make for a very exciting weekend for our fans.”

Patrick is not the first female competitor to take to the famed 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. Janet Guthrie was the first female to compete at Darlington Raceway logging a 16th-place finish in the 1977 Southern 500. More recently, Shawna Robinson competed in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in March of 1992 finishing 42nd.

In 115 starts in the IZOD IndyCar Series Patrick has recorded one win and seven podium-finishes. Patrick made her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 2010 and has posted three top-10, and one top-five finish in 22 starts.

You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.

Darlington Raceway, or the track Too Tough To Tame as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Gatorade Victory Lane. On Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12, 2012, NASCAR’s biggest stars return to battle the track Too Tough To Tame in the Sprint Cup Series Southern 500® and Nationwide Series Darlington 200.

Tickets for events at Darlington can be purchased by calling the Darlington Racewayticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.

- Darlington Raceway, Press Release

JR Motorsports

EVENT – O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 12:55 p.m. EST) / PRN (broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet

“The racing surface at Texas is totally different from the spring to the fall race. When you go there in November the track seems to have a lot more grip and it’s really fast. As a race team, just the fact that we have gotten so many top-five and top-10s this summer, it changes our confidence a lot. We’re building momentum. At the beginning of the year we were showing up at the racetrack hoping to run up front. Now we show up knowing we can get a top-five if we do everything right. Keeping momentum on your side is very important.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com / DanWheldonMemorial.com Chevrolet

“It’s exciting to be heading into these final weeks of the season. Consistency is a big key to success and being in the Go Daddy car for the last three races is a good thing. It will help me get comfortable with the car and the more time I can spend with my crew leading up to next season the better.”

Comments on wearing a special Dan Wheldon Tribute Helmet this weekend:

“I am humbled and proud to be wearing a special paint-out of my helmet in honor of Dan this weekend at Texas. This helmet will be auctioned off after the race with all proceeds, along with my prize money from this race, going to the Dan Wheldon Foundation. Dan was a good friend, and I will miss his great personality and positive attitude. I hope everyone will join me in supporting Susie and their two young boys at DanWheldonMemorial.com.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

DANICA PATRICK TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF DAN WHELDON – Danica Patrick and GoDaddy.com will honor the memory of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, through a memorial paint scheme on the No. 7 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 7 hood will showcase Wheldon’s “Lionheart” logo in bold letters across a black hood. Underscoring the black letters are the words “Dan Wheldon: 1978 – 2011”. DanWheldonMemorial.com will also be featured on the TV panel of the No. 7.

WHELDON TRIBUTE HELMET – Throughout the Texas race weekend, Danica Patrick will wear a special tribute helmet in remembrance of her friend Dan Wheldon. The race-used helmet will be auctioned off via the Dan Wheldon Memorial auction in the coming weeks. Visit DanWheldonMemorial.com for more information.

DANICA PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 12:15 p.m. CT in the Texas Motor Speedway media center deadline room. She will be addressing the media on the special Dan Wheldon memorial paint scheme that will appear on both the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet and on her helmet.

PATRICK AT TEXAS – Patrick finished 22nd in her lone stock car start at Texas in the fall of 2010. In eight starts there in the IndyCar Series she earned two podium finishes (3rd in 2007 and 2nd in 2010) and an average finish of 8.8.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points, sitting 32 points outside the top-10. Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise.

SEASON TOTALS FOR PATRICK – On the year, Patrick has one top-five and three top-10 finishes. She has led 14 laps and earned an average finish of 16.1. Patrick holds three top-15 finishes in her last five starts.

PATRICK AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Patrick will sign autographs at the GoDaddy.com merchandise hauler (limited to 100 wristbands), located in the fan concourse area, on Friday, Nov. 4, from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.

JR MOTORSPORTS IN THE LONE STAR STATE – The bulk of the team’s success at Texas has come in the fall race at the 1.5-mile facility. Since 2006, the organization notched two top-five and four top-10 finishes in seven starts at Texas during the month of November.

QUALITY PASSER – From NASCAR Statistical Services, Almirola is ranked first in the quality passes category at Texas Motor Speedway. A quality pass is defined as passing a car running in the top 15 while under green-flag conditions. The Tampa, Fla. native holds 69 total quality passes, averaging 34.5 per race.

ALMIROLA AT TEXAS – Almirola has two starts at Texas Motor Speedway with a best finish of 12th in the Nationwide Series. He owns eight starts there in Camping World Truck Series competition with one top-10 finish, and two starts at the Sprint Cup Series level.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Almirola is currently ranked third in championship points (72 points behind second-place Elliott Sadler and four points ahead of fourth-place Justin Allgaier), with the No. 88 Chevrolet eighth in owner points.

ALMIROLA AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

TaxSlayer.com

Two of the 14 races will be with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a third JR Motorsports entry. He will drive TaxSlayer.com television ad campaigns that emphasize the affordability and efficiency in TaxSlayer.com, president Jimmy Rhodes. “Fans are extremely loyal to Dale Jr. and his business interests, and we were able to use his immense reach and influence to market our product effectively. We are looking forward to continuing the momentum in 2012.”

Aric Almirola will complete the 14-race slate by driving a TaxSlayer.com, -sponsored No. 88 Chevrolet in 12 races. Almirola is currently fourth in the Nationwide Series point standings with four races to go. He enters the Dollar General 300 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway 10 points behind third-place Reed Sorenson.

“In just a short amount of time we’ve built something pretty special with TaxSlayer,” said Earnhardt Jr. “They’ve become a cornerstone partner of JR Motorsports and a valuable ingredient to this race team. I think both sides saw tremendous benefits to this association in 2011, and the best part is we’re just getting started.”

TaxSlayer debuted with JR Motorsports on Feb. 26 at Phoenix International Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. drove TaxSlayer to a third-place finish at Bristol on March 19, and Almirola put the TaxSlayer Chevrolet on the pole for the June 4 race at Chicagoland Speedway en route to a fourth-place finish.

TaxSlayer is based in Evans, Ga., and provides forms, calculations, and communication links to allow customers an easy avenue to filing tax returns electronically for only $9.95.

Also at today’s press conference, TaxSlayer.com, announced a title sponsorship of the Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway. The awards are given out each January to individual winners in five journalism categories. TaxSlayer.com will make a $1,000 scholarship contribution in their name to a charity of their choice.

About JR Motorsports:

JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s eight-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The JR Motorsports facilities are based out of Mooresville, N.C., and include the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment, and JRM Licensing. For more information on JR Motorsports, visit www.JRMracing.com.

About TaxSlayer.com:

TaxSlayer.com is an established firm with a solid reputation and over 40 years in the Tax Preparation business. TaxSlayer has the full expertise of a professional tax service behind it. TaxSlayer.com is an online tax preparation and e-file service providing free services to the active Military Duty Personnel. TaxSlayer’s focus is on supporting young adults offering affordable and reliable tax services in a digital environment conducive to young active lifestyle. TaxSlayer is proud to assist you in preparing and e-Filing your taxes.

For information on the TaxSlayer Racing , go to www.taxslayerracing.com or on twitter @taxslayerracing

For more information about TaxSlayer.com, go to www.TaxSlayer.com or on facebook www.facebook.com/taxslayer1 or on twitter @taxslayer

- JR Motorsports Press Release

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad oval)

DATE – Friday, Oct. 14, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begin at 7:30 p.m. EST) / PRN (broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 AdvoCare Chevrolet

“The Charlotte race in May was a good one for us. Our car was pretty fast. We had to battle back from a lap down after a loose wheel made us pit under green, and we still came out with a top-10 finish. Track position is everything there. Plus, it will be our third race there with the new car. Heading back to tracks for a second, and even third time with more notes on the new car definitely has its advantages. It seems like our program has been steadily improving when we make multiple stops at these tracks.

“Running at night at Charlotte, all the grip will come back once the track cools down. Turns one and two are really fast. Probably one of the fastest corners we go through on any racetrack. You can drive in hard and carry a lot of speed through there.”

Josh Wise

No. 7 TaxSlayer.com / The Navy SEAL Foundation Chevrolet

“It’s going to be a lot fun working with the guys on this TaxSlayer.com team again. They’re a fun bunch. They know how to work hard and get the job done, but Tony Eury Jr. makes it an enjoyable process.

“We really want to end the season on a good note. This will be my last race in the 7 car this year. And Charlotte is the type of race where there is a ton of excitement leading up to it. You always want to put on a good show for your sponsors, family and friends. We didn’t have the race we wanted there in the spring, but this team has learned a lot about its intermediate program since then.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

JRM FAN AUTOGRAPH SESSION SET FOR OCT. 14 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will headline the JR Motorsports autograph session this Friday, Oct. 14 from 1 – 2 p.m. EST at the JRM shop in Mooresville, N.C. (See complete schedule below). The first 150 fans to bring non-perishable food items or a new pet item to JRM on Thurs., Oct. 13 beginning at 9 a.m. EST will obtain a wristband that will guarantee access to the Earnhardt Jr. autograph line. Additionally, the first 50 fans to bring a new pet item or non-perishable food items to the JR Nation merchandise trailer at Charlotte Motor Speedway beginning at 2 p.m. EST on Thurs., Oct. 13 will also receive a wristband. Prior to Earnhardt Jr.’s autograph session, JRM drivers Aric Almirola and Josh Wise, along with Kelley Earnhardt, L.W. Miller (Southern Modified driver) and Josh Berry (JRM late model driver) will sign autographs for the first 200 fans from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST.

AUTOGRAPH SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 14

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Aric Almirola, Josh Wise, Kelley Earnhardt, L.W. Miller and Josh Berry

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wristband required)

TAXSLAYER SALUTES THE NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION – For this weekend’s race,TaxSlayer is giving up the hood of its No. 7 Chevrolet to honor fallen Navy SEALs with the logo of the Navy SEAL Foundation. The mission of the Navy SEAL Foundation is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. TaxSlayer.com is a proud supporter of the United States Armed Forces. All active-duty men and women in the U.S. military can prepare and file Federal and State tax returns free of charge with TaxSlayer.com. To make a donation or to learn more visit http://nswfoundation.org

ALMIROLA VISITS HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – On Monday, Oct. 10, Almirola visited Harmony Elementary School in Harmony, N.C as part of Unilever and Dollar General’s “Reading puts you on the track to Victory” literacy program. Almirola met with Mrs. Prichard’s kindergarten class and read Dr. Seuss’ “There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!” to the students. The class earned the privilege by having the highest average number of minutes read for the classes participating in the program.

WISE STATS IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES – This weekend will mark Wise’s 75th start in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition. He holds four starts at Charlotte. This season, Wise has tallied one top-five and three top-10 finishes, all with JR Motorsports, in 28 starts.

WISE WITH JRM – The Riverside, Calif. native made his first start with the team at Nashville Superspeedway in June of 2010. In his 22 races with the organization, he scored one top-five and five top-10 finishes. Wise’s fourth-place effort at Iowa Speedway with JRM earlier this summer equaled his NNS career-best finish.

LOOP DATA – According to NASCAR’s loop data, Almirola is tied for fourth in the closers category, which calculates positions improved in the last 10 percent of laps in each race over the past six years at Charlotte. The native of Tampa, Fla. is also ranked 10th in the quality passes category, which constitutes passing a car running in the top 15 while under a green flag.

JRM’S INTERMEDIATE PROGRAM – JR Motorsports owns four top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 1.5-mile races this season. Drivers Almirola, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Wise have all contributed to the tally.

ALMIROLA AT CHARLOTTE – Almirola owns one top-five and three top-10s in six NNS starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He finished ninth in the No. 88 Chevrolet with JRM this spring. He also has two top-10 finishes in two starts in the Camping World Truck Series.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-10s in the last 14 races. Almirola is currently ranked fourth in championship points (10 points behind third-place Reed Sorenson), with the No. 88 Chevrolet eighth in owner points.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 12th position in owner points. Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Wise.

ALMIROLA AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Friday, Oct. 14, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. local time.

JR NATION GREAT GIVEAWAY – The promotion that has awarded prizes to lucky fan club members each day for 50 days ends this week! All fans must do is log on to www.jrnation.com and click on the register now banner. In addition to the daily prizes, JR Nation is offering a grand prize of an $888 gift card for use in the JR Nation online store. 10 second-place winners will receive an $88 gift card also for use in the JR Nation online store. Daily prizes include autographed memorabilia from Aric Almirola, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Josh Wise.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Aric Almirola (L) and Brian Scott (R) exchange words on pit road following the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway (Photo Credit: Jeff Gluck / SB Nation)

After Almirola finished 12th and Scott finished 17th, the drivers confronted one another on pit road and Scott could be heard vowing payback on Almirola. Their dispute dates back to an incident last month at Richmond, and it continued on Saturday with more hard racing.

Scott, still steamed after Almirola wrecked him at Richmond International Raceway, raced the JR Motorsports driver hard and (according to Almirola) tried to spin him early in Saturday’s Kansas race. So when Almirola caught Scott later in the race, he returned the favor.

“He thinks I wrecked him on purpose at Richmond and he still hasn’t gotten over it,” Almirola said. “… That’s what he’s mad about – he’s mad I don’t give him any room on the racetrack. He races way over his head.”

Almirola then took a shot at Scott’s buy-a-ride background. Scott comes from a wealthy family that has been able to fund his racing efforts.

“He’s very fortunate his dad has a lot of money and spends a lot of money on his racing,” Almirola said. “That’s a big factor in what he’s got going on.”

Scott fired back with a tweet referencing Almirola’s roots, which came in Joe Gibbs Racing’s diversity program.

@bscottracing: Hmm if I’m lucky that my family has money then he is lucky for having the Drive 4 Diversity program. Doesn’t matter 2 me how u get ur break.

- SB Nation