Friday Richmond Notebook:
After a week-off to celebrate Easter, NASCAR returns to action this weekend at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Much like we’ve seen the entire season, there’s plenty of storylines, news and nuggets. This week has been no exception and here’s just some of the rumblings coming from the circuit.
2014-2015 NASCAR Next Class Announced: On Friday afternoon, Jill Gregory, NASCAR vice president of industry services helped introduce the 2014-2015 NASCAR Next Class, which features 12 drivers who are believed to future stars in NASCAR’s top-three national divisions on a full-time basis.
The team of 12 was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives and veteran racers. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and possess the potential to realize that goal.
The class featured some returning members, while welcoming some freshman faces: Cole Custer, Ruben Garcia Jr., Gray Gaulding, Ryan Gifford, Austin Hill, Erik Jones, Jesse Little, Dylan Lumpton, Brandon McReynolds, Ryan Preece, Ben Rhodes and Kenzie Ruston.
Gaulding, Gifford, Preece, Rhodes and Ruston and are all returning members to the program. Gifford, a full-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competitor for Rev Racing is the senior member of the group at the age of 25.
The NASCAR Next program has proven to work and it will continue to work as long as rides and sponsorships are available. This program formed in 2011 and has already seen some of its graduates endure success including: Chase Elliott, Ben Kennedy, Kyle Larson Dylan Kwasniewski and Darrell Wallace Jr.
Seven of the 12 NASCAR Next drivers will be competing in Friday night’s Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race.
Brian Scott Preparing For Return To Double Duty:Boise, Idaho native Brian Scott will complete in his final two scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races next weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway followed up by the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May.
Scott will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet SS, which is a joint affiliation with Richard Childress Racing and Circle Sport Racing. Shore Lodge will be the primary marketing partner for the Aaron’s 499 and Coca-Cola 600.
“I like getting in the Cup car and getting the experience,” Scott said. “I feel it has helped me on the Nationwide Series side due to more horsepower and more competition. I think it helps my confidence in the Nationwide Series car.”
Without a doubt, Scott’s focus is making the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series a full-time priority and the two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner hinted that the opportunity could come as soon as 2015.
“When I came into NASCAR and throughout my career, my goal has been to get to Sprint Cup,” he sounded. “I’d like to be in the Sprint Cup Series next year but obviously we need to perform in the Nationwide Series and in the Sprint Cup Series. So hopefully we can have some good runs and get some more opportunities.”
Scott also won his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole on Friday afternoon driving the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro. The 26-year old is piloting the same car he finished second with at RIR last fall after dominating the race and leading, but losing the race to a controversial late-race caution and jagged restart.
Parker Kligerman Makes Appearance At Richmond International Raceway: Despite having his world turned upside down this week with the folding of SWAN Racing, Parker Kligerman showed up at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway to do some networking and fulfill some “contract obligations.”
Kligerman, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie lost his ride Wednesday when SWAN Racing owner Brandon Davis announced that they had liquidated some of their assets and sold their owner point’s from Kligerman’s No. 30 to Xxxtreme Motorsport and owner John Cohen with driver J.J. Yeley.
With a bleak future, Kligerman was upbeat when speaking to CATCHFENCE.com Friday afternoon. “There’s nothing you can do about it, it is what it is,” he said. “You just have to stay positive.”
When asked about any potential offers, Kligerman said, “I’ve been working hard to get back in the No. 7 for some races and I was approached for a Nationwide team today (Friday).” The No. 7 entry is owned by Tom DeLoach under the Red Horse Racing banner, which Kligerman spawned his only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win in October 2012 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Brian
Ickler is currently driving the No. 7 for the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team, but he only has sponsorship for the first 10 races of the year.
Kligerman, a former Penske Racing development driver set no time-table for his return to any of NASCAR’s top-three platform.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
