Kyle Busch Speaks to Media for First Time Since Crash

Kyle Busch walked, gingerly, to a director's chair Wednesday afternoon in making his first media appearance since his severe crash nearly two months ago at Daytona International Raceway, a step slower than he used to be, but counting himself fortunate to be walking at all.

"I'm thankful that it wasn't worse than what it was," Busch said more than once during his 55-minute session, grateful to be in improving health.

Busch, speaking at the headquarters of his Joe Gibbs Racing team, held his first news conference since suffering multiple leg fractures in a crash Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway in the season-opening race for the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Despite his frustration at being out of action and lacking a firm timetable for a return to the seat of his No. 18 Toyota, Busch was in lifted spirits as he continues to make strides in his rehabilitation.

"First and foremost, I've got to please my doctors, and they say my recovery is going faster than they expected," Busch said. "They won't release me a timetable. It's week by week and what I can show them I can do." (NASCAR.com)

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Erik Jones Meets Joe Gibbs About Filling In For Injured Kyle Busch

Erik Jones has emerged as the leading candidate to replace injured Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR Talk has learned.

Jones, who drives for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series and is under contract with JGR, met Monday morning with team owner Joe Gibbs to discuss taking over the ride. Busch is out indefinitely after suffering a compound fracture in his right leg in an Xfinity Series crash Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. JGR could make an announcement on an interim driver as early as Monday afternoon.

The team is expected to receive approval from NASCAR to put Jones in a Sprint Cup car. He wasn’t approved for the Daytona 500 as NASCAR typically doesn’t allow drivers to make their Cup debut in a restrictor-plate race at Daytona or Talladega Superspeedway without having raced at a lower-tier event at those tracks. (NASCAR Talk)

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Joe Gibbs: No Timetable For Kyle Busch's Return

Joe Gibbs Racing has not put a timetable on the return of driver Kyle Busch, who suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg and a broken left foot in a crash Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Busch is already lobbying to come back as soon as possible, team owner Joe Gibbs said, but the number of months he misses will be determined after he returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, and visits OrthoCarolina Dr. Robert Anderson, who performed surgery on Busch's left foot in the offseason and serves as the team doctor for the Carolina Panthers.

Gibbs said Busch, who had surgery on his leg Saturday night, will return to North Carolina as soon as he feels well enough to fly home.

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Matt Crafton to Sub For Injured Kyle Busch in Daytona 500

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), sustained a compound fracture of the right lower leg in an accident during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Additionally, Busch suffered a mid-foot fracture of his left foot in the accident.

Busch was transported to a local hospital for treatment immediately following the accident and is currently undergoing surgery on his right leg.

Busch’s injuries will sideline him for an undetermined period of time. Veteran Matt Crafton will serve as the interim driver for Busch’s No. 18 Toyota during Sunday’s 57th Daytona 500. An interim driver has not been determined for the following race March 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, or for any future races.

/// Joe Gibbs Racing

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Kyle Busch Injured in Daytona Crash; Status for Daytona 500 Unknown

A massive wreck with nine laps to go in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway collected 10 cars and injured Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch.

The incident occurred as the field exited the tri-oval in a big pack and the No. 20 Toyota of Erik Jones turned toward the infield before snapping back up the track and into oncoming traffic.

Running right behind Jones, Busch's No. 54 Toyota shot down the track at full speed and hit the inside wall head-on. Busch was able to climb out of the car, but was immediately attended to by medical workers. The Sprint Cup Series regular was loaded onto a stretcher, with the focus on his right leg.

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JGR's Appeal to be Heard May 8th

The National Stock Car Racing panel will hear on May 8 the Joe Gibbs Racing appeal of penalties on Matt Kenseth's Sprint Cup team.

Crew chief Jason Ratcliff, who was suspended for six weeks after Kenseth's winning car failed secondary post-race inspection following the April 21 Kansas race, will remain with the team at least through this weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway.

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Toyota Takes Blame for Kenseth's Engine Violation

The illegal connecting rod in Matt Kenseth’s race-winning engine that led to harsh penalties for Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing Wednesday came from a vendor and slipped through the quality control process, a Toyota Racing Development official said.

Kenseth was docked 50 points and crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $200,000 and suspended for seven races because a connecting rod in the team’s engine was too light. Team owner Joe Gibbs also had his NASCAR license suspended and the team was docked 50 owner points.

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Matt Kenseth's Winning Car Fails Postrace Inspection

NASCAR is weighing possible penalties for Matt Kenseth after the engine from his winning car in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway failed a secondary postrace inspection, sources told ESPN.com.

Kenseth's car passed an initial postrace inspection, but the engine was brought back to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation -- as it always is with the winning car -- where it failed.

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Mark Martin Will Only Replace Denny Hamlin at Martinsville

Joe Gibbs Racing was premature to announce that Mark Martin would replace Denny Hamlin while he recovers from a compression fracture in his lower back.

Martin, who drives a part-time Sprint Cup schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing, will drive only at Martinsville on April 7 in JGR's No. 11 Sprint Cup Toyota. Hamlin is expected to need six weeks to recover from the injury, suffered in a last-lap crash last weekend at Auto Club Speedway.

Brian Vickers, who drives a full-time Nationwide Series schedule for JGR, will assume Hamlin's schedule starting April 13 at Texas Motor Speedway. Hamlin is likely to return for the May 11 race at Darlington but could be back a week earlier at Talladega.

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Mark Martin Will Drive Denny Hamlin's No. 11 Car

Veteran Mark Martin will drive the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Sprint Cup car while Denny Hamlin recovers from a back injury, the team announced Thursday.

His first race will be April 7 at Martinsville Speedway.

Michael Waltrip Racing agreed to let the 54-year-old Martin out of driving the No. 55 Toyota at Texas, Kansas and Richmond. Martin will be replaced in those races by Brian Vickers, who already was running nine races in the No. 55 this season, including Martinsville.

"We've been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver," JGR president J.D. Gibbs said. "A lot goes into a decision like this, but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out.

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J.D. Gibbs: Logano Didn't Try to Hurt Hamlin

The president of Joe Gibbs Racing does not believe Joey Logano's motive was to keep Denny Hamlin from winning when the two wrecked on the last lap of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at California's Auto Club Speedway.

J.D. Gibbs also doesn't believe Logano knew Hamlin was injured -- as Logano has confirmed -- when he said his former JGR teammate got what he deserved in the wreck.

Hamlin crashed into a concrete retaining wall and suffered a compression fracture in his lower back that is expected to sideline him for at least the next five races, beginning with the April 7 event at Martinsville.

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Mark Martin Likely to Sub for Injured Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing is looking at several driver scenarios, including fellow Toyota driver Mark Martin, to replace Denny Hamlin while he recovers from a back injury.

Multiple sources told ESPN.com that one scenario JGR has considered is Martin driving all five races in the No. 11 car while Hamlin is out. Brian Vickers would pick up Martin's schedule in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 that includes Texas, Kansas and Richmond. Michael Waltrip is in the 55 at Talladega.

Another scenario, according to sources, is that Vickers would pick up Hamlin's schedule for four races after next week at Martinsville, where he is scheduled to drive the No. 55 for Martin. Martin or Elliott Sadler would drive at Martinsville.

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Sport Clips Renews Sponsorship Deal with Joe Gibbs Racing

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today the renewal of Sport Clips Haircuts as the primary sponsor for a total of nine races during the 2013 NASCAR season – the most in the Texas-based hair care franchise’s five-year history with JGR. “We have a strong partner and true brand-ambassador in Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Gordon Logan, Sport Clips Founder and CEO. “Through the years, it has been exciting to see racing fans become our clients, and our clients become racing fans, through this partnership and love of the sport.”

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Home Depot's Husky to be Primary Sponsor on the No. 20 in 2013

The Home Depot announces it will utilize the home improvement store’s proprietary tool brand, Husky, as the primary sponsor for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota in each of its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the 2013 season.

Through this partnership The Home Depot looks to reward its customers through Husky Days of Giving, a Facebook contest offering the chance to win great Husky products daily as well as a grand prize to be awarded at the end of the promotion.

Husky will be the primary sponsor on JGR’s No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry in 20 races during the 2013 season and The Home Depot will remain the associate sponsor when Dollar General serves as the car’s primary sponsor.


/// PR

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Charlotte Motor Speedway Testing Open to Fans

Several NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will test their new 2013 cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 12. As part of a special off-season treat, race fans are invited to view the two-day test session from the grandstands, free of charge.

“This will be the first time most fans will have the opportunity to see the new 2013 cars and we are excited to give them a sneak peek,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The teams will be working hard next week to figure these cars out in preparation for the biggest back-to-back weekends in motorsports here at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.”

Teams expected to participate in the test include Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing and Wood Brothers Racing. Testing will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch at noon.

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Joe Gibbs Racing Nearing Contract Extension With Toyota

Per ESPN.com, Joe Gibbs Racing plans to sign a long-term extension with Toyota within the next month, ending any speculation it could move to Dodge.

"We're working on that," JGR president J.D. Gibbs told ESPN.com on Sunday after Denny Hamlin's victory at Kansas Speedway. "We'll be with Toyota for a long time to come."

Dodge has been looking for a team to anchor its 2013 program since Penske Racing announced earlier this year it would leave the manufacturer for Ford next season.

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Ryan Truex to run seven races for Joe Gibbs Racing in Nationwide

Will Pilot Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota In Seven Races

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 13, 2012) – After a successful entry into NASCAR at Daytona, Grime Boss, a new brand from Nice Pak will sponsor the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) No. 18 Toyota driven by Ryan Truex for seven NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races during the 2012 season beginning with this weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Having Grime Boss on the car at Daytona was awesome,” said Truex. “Now they are committing to sponsoring me for an additional seven races with Joe Gibbs Racing. I’m appreciative of the opportunity that Tommy Baldwin Racing gave me at Daytona, without them, this would not have happened.  I’m also thrilled to get back behind the wheel with JGR and will do my absolute best to put the Grime Boss Toyota in Victory Lane.”

“Nice-Pak is proud to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing and excited to support Ryan Truex for seven NNS races in 2012,” said Tom Hernquist, President of Nice-Pak.  “We believe that Ryan has a tremendous future in racing, and we know that with JGR’s premier racing organization he will run at the front in 2012. Grime Boss is a new heavy duty wet wipe that will clean all the toughest messes, yet they are gentle and moisturizing for  hands.  We know that NASCAR fans will love them!”

Ryan Truex came up through the NASCAR ranks with impressive results,  winning back-to-back NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championships in 2009 and 2010. The 2009 campaign also earned him Rookie of the Year honors and gave Michael Waltrip Racing its first NASCAR championship. Truex became the second driver in series history to win both honors in the same year; Joey Logano was the other. In 2011, NASCAR honored Truex as one of the “Top-10 Drivers of the First 25 Years of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.” He was the youngest racer to make the list.

Truex, younger brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex, Jr., spent the first half of the 2011 NNS season in the No. 99 car for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing, earning a top-20 finish in eight of the ten races. He jumped at the chance to race the No. 20 Toyota for the Joe Gibbs Racing stable starting in September of last season. He finished in the top-15 in all six of his races with JGR, including four top-10 finishes., Ryan captured the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award in all six of those races.

“Ryan was impressive in the races he drove for us last year and it’s exciting to be able to partner with Nice-Pak to get him back behind the wheel again this season,” said J.D. Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We think Ryan has a bright future in the sport and I know all of our guys in our Nationwide shop are working hard to give him every opportunity to put the Grime Boss Toyota in victory lane.”

In addition to Bristol this weekend, Truex is slated to run the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on May 5 inTalladega, September 15 in Chicago and November 10 in Phoenix.  He will also run the No. 18 JGR Nationwide Series entry in Dover on June 2, New Hampshire on July 14, and Watkins Glen on August 11.

For more information on Ryan Truex, follow him on Facebook.com/RyanTruex and Twitter, @Ryan_Truex.Follow Joe Gibbs Racing  on  Twitter at @joegibbsracing.

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Joe Gibbs Racing renews partnership with Oakley

Huntersville, NC (March xx, 2012) – Joe Gibbs Racing today announced that Oakley, one of the leading sports brands in the world, has renewed its partnership as the official eyewear supplier for the organization.
Oakley, who has been a partner with Joe Gibbs Racing for 15 years, will continue to supply the pit crews for all of its NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, as well as its Motocross operations and team executives, including team owner Joe Gibbs.

“Oakley has been a great partner of Joe Gibbs Racing and JGRMX for a long time now and we appreciate their support of our crews,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Everyone knows in NASCAR and Motocross you need great equipment to succeed and with long hot days in the sun and heat at the track, the right eyewear is essential for all our team members at the track. Oakley has always delivered an exceptional product. They also have shown the ability to customize to our needs, including incorporating my prescription into my glasses.”

/// Oakley PR

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