2016 NASCAR News Central

By Richard Tix

This year NASCAR Behind the Wall is adding an extra feature, a quick link to NASCAR News. I will continually track and update news on this main page. Sponsor news, contract talk, team talk, driver changes, driver news, and much more (Newest to oldest).


News Central
Sponsor News

• Dollar General to leave Matt Kenseth and JGR after 2016
• Kasey Kahne will be sponsored by Shark Week again at Sonoma
• Premium Motorsports/Reed Sorenson has added the World Record Striper Company for three races
• BUBBA burger Joins David Ragan for Sprint All-Star Race Weekend and Coca-Cola 600
• Driver to Fight Hunger joins Kasey Kahne.
• DiBenedetto gets sponsor for Richmond: E.J. Wade Construction
• WIX Filters Extends Partnership with Richard Childress Racing
• CARSTAR North America partners with Axalta, to be featured on #88 at Kansas
• Go Bowling to sponsor RPM and Brian Scott at Kansas
• Gilliland to race at Talladega
• ScienceLogic will sponsor Ryan Ellis for at least three races in the #93 BK Racing Camry
• Janssen Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation on the SHR #14 for Auto Club
• Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters to sponsor Cole Whitt in the #98 in 2016
• Schluter Systems will sponsor Matt DiBenedetto's in the  No. 83 Toyota Camry at PIR
• Snap Fitness will sponsor Landon Cassill again in 2016 (Photo's here)
• Speed Stick joins Premium Motorsports to sponsor Whitt
• SunnyD will sponsor Ricky Stenhouse Jr as a primary for five races in 2016
• Tweaker Energy Shots will be Premium Motorsports sponsor at Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Fr8Auctions sponsoring Cassill
• Sewanee University to sponsor DiBenedetto
• Aaron's to sponsor Clint Bowyer at Atlanta
• Roush Performance will be on the #16 at Atlanta
• Valvoline to sponsor Paul Menard for four races in 2016 (co-primary/hood sponsorship)
• Auto-Owners Insurance to sponsor Martin Truex Jr for three races in 2016
• Aarons signs on with Waltrip for Talledega (GEICO 500, May 1st)
• Snap Fitness will sponsor Landon Cassill again in 2016 for select races.
• RTIC Coolers to sponsor Cole Whitt, Premium Motorsports, in the #98 for the Daytona 500
• Credit One to sponsor Jamie McMurray for three races in 2016 (Photos here)
• Florida Lottery will sponsor Landon Cassill for the Daytona 500 and all of speedweeks.
• M&M's to run 75th anniversary scheme in 2016 (Photos on 2016 Paint Scheme Page)
• Reed Sorenson to be sponsored by CRC BRAKLEEN for the Daytona 500
• Jimmie Johnson's Lowes "Red Vest" Sponsored Car will be run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• BK Racing #26 to be sponsored by Stalk for the Daytona 500
• SunEnergy1 to sponsor Chase Elliott in 2016. More details to come when its official
• SKF will sponsor Brad Keselowski for the Sprint Unlimited
• Visine to sponsor Clint Bowyer for three races in 2016
• Sport Clips will sponsor Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards for two races each.
• Keen Parts/Corvetteparts.net will be back on the #32 again in 2016
• Sherwin Williams to stick with Jamie McMurray again in 2016
• CSX extends sponsorship with the #34 for 8 races in 2016. It's CSX's 4th consecutive season sponsoring in NASCAR for the #34.
• Tony Stewarts sponsorship with Bass Pro Shops is reduced after Truex news (9 races). Smoke to get 2-3 races as primary.
• Thrivent Financial will once again sponsor Michael McDowell. 15 races in 2016
• General Mills to sponsor Ty Dillon in the Daytona 500 (#95) (Photos here).
• Nexteer Automotive will be Associate Sponsor for Ty Dillon in the #95
• Smithfield will sponsor Aric Almirola for 31 races in 2016
• Love’s Travel Shops moves from the #38 to the #34 with Buescher for 18 races.
• Martin Truex Jr lands Bass Pro Shops as primary sponsor for 9 races in 2016.
• Greg Biffle adds a multi-race KFC sponsorship in 2016 (loses Ortho).
• Scott brings Shore Lodge sponsorship with him to RPM (Cup).

Team/Driver News

• HMS, SHR, and RCR News
• Kevin Harvick signs 5 year extension with SHR (SHR)
• Chase Elliott won All Star Fan vote, Danica Patrick second (HMS/SHR)
• Tony Stewart to return at Richmond. Start Dega but Ty will take over (SHR)
• Ty Dillon in the #14 for Bristol Motor Speedway (SHR)
• Vickers in the #14 for Texas Motor Speedway (SHR)
• Vickers in the #14 for Martinsville Speedway (SHR)
• Jimmie Johnson wins at Auto Club (HMS)
• Vickers in the #14 at Auto Club Speedway (SHR)
• Kevin Harvick wins at Phoenix (SHR)
• Ty Dillon back in the #14 for Phoenix. (SHR)
• Hendrick plane makes emergency landing in Memphis (HMS)
• Jimmie Johnson wins Atlanta (HMS)
• SHR switching from Chevy to Ford in 2017.
• Ty Dillon to run the #14 for SHR at Atlanta Motor Speedway (SHR)
• #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Jackman undergoes off season surgery, will miss the start season. (SHR)
• #4 and #14 fail post qualifying inspection for Daytona 500. Sent to back of Can-Am Duel
• Chase Elliott wins 2016 Daytona 500 Pole (HMS)
• #14 car will still be eligible for the Sprint Unlimited even though Tony Stewart will not drive in it. (SHR)
• Brian Vickers to run the #14 for Stewart in the Daytona 500. Rumored that Ty Dillon will run some other races after. Official announcement Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET (SHR)
• Tony Stewarts replacement to be named Friday 11:30 a.m. ET (SHR)
• 19 and 41 purchase Charter from folded MWR teams. (SHR)
• Tony Stewart will miss the Daytona 500 due to injury (burst fracture of his L1 vertebra). Out indefinitely. (SHR)
• Tony Stewart was hospitalized for a back injury after an ATV accident. (SHR)
• Circle Sports and RCR create technical alliance for 2016. (RCR)
• Tony Stewart to retire at the end of 2016 (SHR)
• Penske, RFR, Wood Brothers, and RPM News
• Penske is still planning on adding Ryan Blaney with a third Penske car eventually (Penske)
• Penkse and SHR will work close in 2017
• Brad Keselowski wins at Las Vegas (Penske)
• Wood Brothers leaves Race Team Alliance 
• Chris Buescher joins Front Row Motorsports to drive #34. Alliance with RFR.
• Brian Wilson (Penske) promoted to CC of the #22 Xfinity car. (Penske)
• Brian Scott and RPM transition the #9 into the #44. (RPM)
• JGR and FRR News
• Furniture Row drops penalty appeal. Will serve at Phoenix (FRR)
• #78 crew chief (Cole Pearn) suspended a race after AMS; team will appeal (FRR)
• #78 crew chief placed on probation for roof flap violation after Daytona (FRR)
• Denny Hamlin wins the 2016 Daytona 500 (JGR)
• 19 and 41 purchase Charter from folded MWR teams. (JGR)
• Kenseth's spotter not healed enough to be at Daytona 500. Most likely will miss the race (JGR)
• Other Team/Driver News
• Ryan Ellis to drive the #93 for BK Racing in at least three races 
• Joey Gase in the #32 for GoFast at Martinsville
• Jeffery Earnhardt in the #32 fo GoFast at Auto Club
• Joey Gase in the #32 for GoFast at Phoenix
• AJ Allmendinger to have sticker honoring Bernie Stowe at Daytona. Sticker reads: "In Loving Memory of Bernie Stowe."
• FRM to field car (third car) for David Gilliland at the Daytona 500. The #35 car (FRM)
• Reed Sorenson to run for Hillman Racing (#40) at Daytona (Hillman)
• Premium to lease Charter to HScott for the #46 (Michael Annett)
• BK Racing to run a fourth car at Daytona. Robert Richardson Jr to drive the #26. (BK Racing)
• Front Row Racing still thinking of expanding to a second team in 2017 (FRM)
• BK Racing will field three teams for the Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip in the #83 and Matt DiBenedetto in the #93. Matt will be back in the #83 the following week. They also will field the #23 for David Ragan. (BK Racing)
• Premium Motorsports signs Cole Whitt to driver the #98 in 2016 (Premium)
• Dave Winston named Crew Chief of the #95 for Circle Sports/Leavine. 
• David Ragan will drive the #23 for BK Racing in 2016 (Premium)
• Matt DiBenedetto will remain in the #83 for BK Racing (BK Racing)
• Regan Smith to drive the #7 for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2016. The #7 keeps Nikko RC and Road Rippers as majority sponsors.
• Tommy Baldwin Racing parts ways with Alex Bowman for 2016 season.
• Circle Sports and RCR create technical alliance for 2016.
• Ty Dillon to run 5 races in the #95 for Circle Racing. McDowell will run the rest of the schedule.
• Donnie Wingo to be CC for Landon Cassill in 2016.
• David Ragan to drive the #23 for BK Racing in 2016.
• Landon Cassill Joins Front Row Motorsports to drive the #38 (FRM)
• Chris Buescher joins Front Row Motorsports to drive #34. Alliance with RFR. (FRM)
• Leavine Family Racing becomes Circle Sport Racing.
• Clint Bowyer will drive the #15 for HScott Motorsports, not the #51
• Other NASCAR News
• Dave Blaney injured at Eldora
• All-Star Race format changes announced (Here)
• 41 cars entered at Richmond. First time over 40 since Daytona 500
• Pocono tire test 4/19 and 4/20
• Roger Penske to drive Indy 500 pace car
• Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett named Kansas Grand Marshal
• Peyton Manning named Bristol race official
• Rumors swirl about a new manufacture in NASCAR. No real meat to the rumor yet.
• Andy Grammar will be the All Star Race pre concert
• Earnhardt Jr. to donate brain for concussion research
• Hillman suing Circle Sport over charter
• Lee Brice performing pre-race concert at Charlotte
• Hendrick plane makes emergency landing in Memphis
• Phoenix extends partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts
• Roush Yates already prepping for Stewart-Haas addition
• Only 39 cars of 40 entered for Atlanta (Entry List here)
• Eddie Money to play pre-race concert at Kansas
• Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch were added to the driver council. 
• Ken Griffey Jr (MLB HoF) named honorary Daytona 500 Starter
• Credit One becomes official credit card of NASCAR
• Wrestler John Cena Named Honorary Pace Car Driver
• New competition rules were announced including "Overtime Line." Qualifying, points, and G-W-C changed (more here)
• Charter System added for the new season. More details here (NASCAR Implements Charter System)
• Charter system expected to be announced 2/9/16
• Ford and Ford Racing release a new Ford Fusion for 2016 (2017 for actual manufactured street car)