MWR & BOWYER AGREE TO SEPARATE AT SEASON’S END ORGANIZATION WILL NOT FIELD FULL-TIME CARS IN 2016

CORNELIUS, N.C. - Michael Waltrip Racing and Clint Bowyer have mutually agreed to separate at the conclusion of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Bowyer, currently 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase standings, will be free to pursue other career options in 2016 and beyond. MWR will continue to field the No. 15 and No. 55 Toyotas for the remainder of the 2015 season. Kauffman said MWR will not field a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup entry in 2016. 

 ROB KAUFFMAN: “MWR will race hard and compete for the remainder of the 2015 season. This decision was made after weighing several different options and scenarios. “I felt it was important to make an announcement as soon as we had clarity, so that is what we are doing today. I want to thank all of our staff, partners, sponsors and fans for all their effort and support over the years. “Clint Bowyer has done a lot for MWR since joining us in 2012 and we appreciate the energy and effort he has given the organization. After many discussions, Clint and I agreed we would go our separate ways at the end of the season and I wish him well in whatever direction he pursues.” 

 CLINT BOWYER: “I want to thank Michael, Rob and everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing that made these past four years special. After extensive discussions with Rob and MWR, we came to the point that we mutually agreed our paths in the future just didn’t align but I think we all agreed on the next steps in a very professional manner. I am looking forward to what future opportunities may come but for now we have a championship to pursue in 2015 and we owe it to every one of our sponsors, partners, employees and fans to deliver on and off the track.” 

 MICHAEL WALTRIP: “Rob joined MWR in 2007 and has helped give us the resources to build a competitive race team, and in 2012, Clint Bowyer took us to the doorstep of a championship. From where MWR started behind my house in Sherrill’s Ford to winning Sprint Cup races, poles and earning Chase berths, I am proud of what we accomplished. “My family has been a part of NASCAR for almost five decades and I plan on being a part of it for years to come. I would not have had the opportunity to start this journey without so many great partners, sponsors and employees and I want to thank each of them for making Michael Waltrip Racing a reality.”(MWR)

Danica Patrick press conference Tuesday

Stewart-Haas Racing has scheduled a press conference regarding Danica Patrick for Tuesday at 11:00am/et. Fox Sports' Tom Jensen tweeted, "Sources tell @NASCARONFOX she'll have a sponsor who is new to sport"and the "new sponsor could be for as many as 30 races, per sources.".
The press conference will be live streamed on NASCAR.com.

Stewart makes donation to Iowa family

A NASCAR superstar is helping out a grieving Iowa family after learning about a tragic accident that claimed the lives of three Iowa brothers last week. Jamie, Carson, and Christian Singletary were killed in an accident near New Sharon in Mahaska County last Thursday, when their vehicle collided with a truck. Several fundraising efforts have been set up to help the boys' family, like a GoFundMe page, a U.S. Bank account, and a community spaghetti supper. Now, they're also getting help from NASCAR legend Tony Stewart. Ralphi Munson's chance encounter with Stewart in the parking lot of the old Pamida in Knoxville Tuesday night led to a compassionate donation from the driver. Munson, a friend of the Singletary family, was planning to sell off four totes of racing memorabilia she has collected since 1982 and give the proceeds to the family. She says she was meeting a friend she plans to help during the Knoxville Nationals this week, showing some of the race programs in the totes and talking about what the money will be used for when Tony Stewart approached her and gave her $700 for the memorabilia. Munson says Stewart told her, "I overheard everything and I want to do this for the kids." Munson joked with him that the price didn't include the totes and she'd need those back. That's when Stewart called over to a friend and told him to bring more money. The total donation ended up being $1,400.(WHO-TV)

Pure Michigan 400 Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, August 14
11:00 AM, NSCS Michigan Practice, NBCSN
1:30 PM, NCWTS Michigan Final Practice, FS1
1:30 PM, NXS Mid-Ohio Practice, NBCSN
5:00 PM, NSCS Michigan Qualifying, NBCSN

Saturday, August 15
8:30 AM, NSCS Michigan Final Practice, CNBC
9:30 AM, NCWTS Michigan Qualifying, FS1
11:30 AM, NSCS Michigan Final Practice, CNBC
1:00 PM, NCWTS Michigan Race, FS1
3:30 PM, NXS Mid-Ohi Race, NBCSN

Sunday, August 16
2:30 PM, NSCS Michigan Race, NBCSN

NASCAR May Run The Boot in Future Races

NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development officer Steve O'Donnell stated on Sunday and reiterated on Tuesday on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio that NASCAR has been in talks with Watkins Glen International in regards to running the boot section of track. The boot is a section on track used by the Tudor Sportscar Series and various other series that run at WGI. It would extend the length of the track by almost 1 mile. With the repave project the bumpy boot section of track can now be reconsidered for NASCAR's use. O'Donnell also stated that it is not something that would occur in 2016, but that if NASCAR, WGI & NBC determine it will provide a better experience that they are open to running the full course in the future.