Todd Parrott returns as Sprint Cup crew chief

Veteran crew chief Todd Parrott will return atop the pit box this weekend.

Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing announced Wednesday afternoon that Parrott would serve as the crew chief for its No. 95 Chevrolet for the remainder of the season.

As a crew chief in the Sprint Cup series, Parrott guided drivers to 31 victories, 144 top fives and 230 top 10s. He was the crew chief for Dale Jarrett’s 1999 championship.
Before the 2015 season, Parrott had been hired as the Xfinity Series competition director at Richard Childress Racing, which has an alliance with Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing
Here’s the release from the No. 95 team:

Team leadership at Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing has announced that Todd Parrott will assume crew chief duties for the No. 95 entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the remainder of the 2016 season.  Dave Winston will move to a race engineer role within the organization.

“Todd brings a depth of knowledge to our team and I’m excited to have him on top of the pit box at all of our races for the remainder of 2016,” said Jeremy Lange, VP of CSLFR.  “Todd has been calling the races while Ty Dillon has been in the car and we’re pleased to be able to continue our alliance with Richard Childress Racing and use their resources to help our growing team.”

Parrott has more than 20 years of experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage and won a championship with driver Dale Jarrett in 1999.

NASCAR America:Scan All from Dover

After a hectic weekend, NASCAR America gives you all access to the Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover in Scan All. Relive the race through the best radio communication from the race.

Lesson learned: Joey Logano admits he should have called Matt Kenseth last year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly a year after a retribution-seeking Matt Kenseth sent Joey Logano’s championship hopes crashing into a wall, Logano admits he would have changed one thing about what happened between the two drivers.

He would have called Kenseth.

A year ago, Kenseth spun after contact from Logano in the final laps at Kansas during the Chase as they raced for the win. Logano celebrated. Kenseth seethed.

Kenseth said that day that Logano’s decision “strategically” wasn’t the best. Logano called it hard racing, noting how Kenseth blocked him.

But any comments they made were done through the media. Logano admitted he wasn’t sure what good a call would do, fearing Kenseth was “going to be more mad (and) I could make this worse.’’

So Logano never called, never texted and never reached out to Kenseth, who stewed and made his move three weeks later at Martinsville.

Already upset after contact with Logano’s teammate, Brad Keselowski, Kenseth later turned his wrecked car into Logano’s. Kenseth’s move took Logano out of the lead, costing Logano a possible win and advancement to the championship round. Logano’s Chase ended in that round.

Tuesday, Logano talked about that incident and what he’s learned since.

“I think you grow from every situation you’re put in,’’ he said at a media event promoting Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “In all honesty, what would I do different? I probably would have picked up the phone. Maybe we would have disagreed then and nothing changed, but at least I called. I didn’t know what I was going to say, and I didn’t think it was anything he wanted to hear.’’

Logano said his attitude also has changed in recent years.

He admits his attitude used to be more like “I’m here to win, and I don’t care if someone doesn’t like me.’’

That was evident in previous confrontations with Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin.

That’s not how Logano views things now.

“I over-communicate more,’’ Logano said. “If someone gave me extra room on the race track one day, I make sure they know, thank you.’’

Logano said he texted Stewart a thank you note after Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway. Stewart’s pit stall was in front of Logano. Because Logano was in front of Stewart throughout the race, Logano would exit his stall when Stewart was still in his under caution. Logano said Stewart gave Logano “plenty of room” to exit his stall.

Logano also become more friendly to other drivers, particularly younger drivers in the series.

“It has been fun to build those relationships up and create those friendships,’’ he said. “It’s easier now because a lot of the guys are my age. You have a lot in common. You’re able to talk to them about stuff that is not racing, which is kind of fun.’’

Logano admits they’re still competitors and things can happen between them but he now better knows how to diffuse a tense situation and prevent it from escalating.

Jeb Burton back in No. 98 for Xfinity Series race at Charlotte

Jeb Burton will compete in his 14th Xfinity Series race of the year this weekend in the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Burton, the son of former Sprint Cup driver Ward Burton, will make his third start in the No. 98 Ford Mustang of Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Burton drove the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports in the first 11 races of the year. For Biagi-DenBeste Racing he has started at Indianapolis and Richmond, with a best finish of 12th at Indy.

“Our goal this weekend is to maintain good track position and get another top-10 finish,” Burton said in a press release. “I’m ready to be back racing and bring home a top finish for the whole organization.”

Biagi-DenBeste Racing has one win this year. Aric Almirola took the No. 98 to victory lane in the July race at Daytona International Speedway for the team’s second win in the Xfinity Series in 210 starts.

Burton will be making just his 16th career Xfinity start. His last start for Richard Petty Motorsports came in the May race at Charlotte, where he finished 11th.

Odds to win 2016 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

Martin Truex Jr. led 392 of 400 laps at Charlotte in May.
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016 - 7:10 PM ET

Martin TRUEX JR 4/1
Kevin HARVICK 5/1
Jimmie JOHNSON 6/1
Kyle BUSCH 7/1
Brad KESELOWSKI 8/1
Denny HAMLIN 8/1
Carl EDWARDS 10/1
Matt KENSETH 10/1
Joey LOGANO 12/1
Chase ELLIOTT 12/1
Kyle LARSON 15/1
Kurt BUSCH 25/1
Austin DILLON 50/1
Kasey KAHNE 50/1
Alex BOWMAN 100/1
Ryan NEWMAN 100/1
Jamie McMURRAY 100/1
Ryan BLANEY 100/1
Tony STEWART 100/1
Greg BIFFLE 200/1
Ricky STENHOUSE JR 200/1
AJ ALLMENDINGER 300/1
Paul MENARD 300/1
Trevor BAYNE 300/1
Chris BUESCHER 1000/1
Clint BOWYER 1000/1
Danica PATRICK 1000/1
Aric ALMIROLA 1000/1
Casey MEARS 1000/1
FIELD 1000/1

Updated odds to win 2016 Sprint Cup heading into Charlotte

 

The two long shots to win Sprint Cup: Kurt Busch and Austin Dillon

WESTGATE LAS VEGAS SUPERBOOK

ODDS TO WIN 2016 SPRINT CUP

Kevin HARVICK 4/1

Joey LOGANO 10/1

Kyle BUSCH 7/1

Jimmie JOHNSON 6/1

Brad KESELOWSKI 8/1

Matt KENSETH 12/1

Carl EDWARDS 10/1

Denny HAMLIN 12/1

Kurt BUSCH 25/1

Martin TRUEX JR 9/2

Chase ELLIOTT 15/1

Austin DILLON 60/1

Sprint Cup teams taking part in two-day tire test at Martinsville

NASCAR and Goodyear are conducting a two-day test at Martinsville Speedway beginning today.

The teams of Chip Ganassi Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Furniture Row Racing will participate with one team each.

The teams involved in the test:

Jamie McMurray – Chip Ganassi Racing

Paul Menard – Richard Childress Racing

Greg Biffle – Roush Fenway Racing

Martin Truex Jr. – Furniture Row Racing.

Martinsville will host the first race of the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 30.

The third round will take the Chase field from eight to four drivers for the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.