CATCHFENCE.com’s Darlington notebook features news and notes from Friday’s action for the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles Southern 500.
Earnhardt and Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) met with the media on Friday morning at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and said that he’s been keeping an eye on nephew Jeffrey Earnhardt, whose been driving for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in 2014. Jr. noted that he was looking forward to hanging with his kin on Sunday at his home and the relationship between the two has never been stronger.
The other Earnhardt agrees.
Jeffrey Earnhardt (@JEarnhrdt1) said that his relationship with NASCAR’s most popular driver has strengthen over the last year, dating back to when he drove for JR Motorsports at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway last April.
“It started at Richmond and only continued to get better,” said Earnhardt. “It means a lot. Our relationship is stronger than ever right now.”
While Jr. would like to put the son of former NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt in one of his vehicles again with the proper backing, Jeffrey Earnhardt said he isn’t sure he would accept the offer.
“Yeah, they have a lot of great equipment over there, but I made a commitment to Johnny (Davis, co-owner of JD Motorsports with Gary Keller). He’s been there for me and allowed me to race, even when he didn’t have sponsorship. I can’t forget the people that help me. We’re getting this team better and I don’t want to disappoint him by jumping ship.”
Not only has the relationship allowed the family bond to fuse even more, but the door opened on the racing front to allow JD Motorsports to get technical assistance from JR Motorsports.
“It helps,” Jeffrey Earnhardt said. “If we’re struggling, I can talk to Dale and make sure it’s okay to get some help from them. It’s made us better for sure. I can’t complain about anything right now.”
Bodine Makes Nationwide Return; Viva Motorsports Lays Out Plans: It’s been a hot topic this week at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway as 50-year old NASCAR veteran Todd Bodine (@Team_Onion) will start his first Nationwide Series race since the 2011 season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Despite two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, Bodine has been on the sidelines thus far in 2014 due to lack of sponsorship. If sponsorship was able to materialize, the Chemung, New York native has outlets to return to the track, including Turner Scott Motorsports, his most recent start in the NCWTS at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway last August.
Friday night, Bodine will drive the sponsorless No. 55 Chevrolet Camaro for Viva Motorsports, whose in their first race in a collaborative effort with SS Green Light Racing owned by veteran racer Bobby Dotter.
Bodine struggled in the two practice sessions at Darlington on Thursday and will start 28th for the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200. The Chevrolet Camaro that the 15-time Nationwide winner is piloting is a former Turner Scott Motorsports chassis. SSGLR purchased three Camaros in total from TSM.
As for Viva Motorsports, they will continue their effort with SSGLR for the next event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on April 25 with Jimmy Weller (@JWellerRacing) behind the wheel. Jamie Dick (@JamieDickRacing), who ran the first six races for Viva Motorsports will return at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway respectively, before handing the reins back to Dotter at Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Saturday, May 31.
Ellis Close To New Deal: Road Racing standout Ryan Ellis (@RyanEllisRacing) is close to putting a new deal together with a NASCAR Nationwide Series team that will keep him at the track on a consistent basis, but also planted in Mooresville, North Carolina. In February, Ellis abruptly moved from just outside Washington, D.C. to make his NASCAR dreams come true. He started out the year with an agreement with SR2 Motorsports, but that organization recently unexpectedly suspended operations putting him in limbo.
Ellis does have an agreement to run with FDNY Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May, as well as Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway respectively. His new deal could be fused together by Richmond in two weeks.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
