Conway, ExtenZe out at Front Row Motorsports

Tony Raines to pilot No. 34 car without sponsor at Michigan this weekend

Statesville, N.C. (August 13, 2010) – Kevin Conway, the leading 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year driver, and ExtenZe Racing announced they are suspending their program with Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing (FRM) effective immediately.

In 21 starts this year for FRM, Conway captured 21 straight Rookie of the Race awards while padding a 153-point lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. He also gave FRM its best finish in the team’s history since its inception back in 2005 when he finished 14^th at Daytona International Speedway on July 3. Kevin has consistently finished right in line with his veteran teammates David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil in each race he has competed in this year.


He also became the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25 since Jamie McMurray did so twice for 22 laps back in 2003.

“First, I want to thank Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing and Ford for giving me an opportunity to drive for them this year,” said Conway. “It has been a really big learning year for me and I certainly couldn’t have made it this far without Front Row, support from Ford, and the veteran leadership of my crew chief Peter Sospenzo and my teammates David (Gilliland) and Travis (Kvapil).

“It was exciting for me to be able to give Front Row their best finish in the team’s history and it’s unfortunate that we can’t work it out to remain in the car for the immediate future. From here, I am looking forward to what lies ahead for myself and ExtenZe Racing for the remainder of 2010 and beyond,” added Conway.

“As was released earlier this week, ExtenZe and Alteril are 100 percent committed to Kevin Conway and the sport of NASCAR,” said Robert Wilhovsky, director of motorsports marketing. “While we are currently evaluating our options for the rest of 2010 and next year, Conway has been and will continue to be the foundation of our NASCAR program in the years ahead.

“We knew this was going to be a big learning year for him and it has been incredible what he has been able to accomplish with very limited resources finishing right there with his much more experienced and veteran teammates each and every week while competing on many of the tracks for the first time in any type of race car.

“It has been exciting to watch Kevin develop this year as a driver and we are very excited to be a part of his quest to become the 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kevin has a big future with us and in NASCAR and we look forward to what lies ahead,” added Wilhovsky.

Release and photo courtesy of ExtenZe Racing

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Front Row Motorsports Appeals Penalties

On June 22, 2010, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of Front Row Motorsports regarding the #38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. The appeal concerned two penalties issued by NASCAR stemming from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2010. 

The penalties concern Section 12-1 of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing”; Section 12-4-J: “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR Rules”; and Section 20-10.7J: “Unapproved modification to valve stem hardware.”


Originally, a total of 5 penalties were assessed for the infractions, including a deduction of 150 NSCS owner points for Doug Yates; a deduction of 150 NSCS driver points for Travis Kvapil; and a $100,000 fine, 12-race suspension, and probation for crew chief Steven Lane.

Subsequently, those 3 penalties were withdrawn from the appeal, and the crew chief has begun serving his suspension.

The two remaining penalties were appealed:

• suspension from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing events; suspension from NASCAR until Sept 15, 2010, and probation until December 31, 2010 for crew member, Richard Bourgeois (car chief)
• suspension from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing events; suspension from NASCAR until Sept 15, 2010, and probation until December 31, 2010 for crew member, Michael Harrold (tire specialist)

The Appellants requested and were granted a deferral of these suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened.

The Appellants and team representative argued that, unbeknownst to the team management or the Appellants, valve stem caps designed to bleed air were developed by rogue elements of the team; that for some reason this hardware was mistakenly brought to the Pocono event on the team hauler; and that the caps were then accidentally placed on the race car just prior to the start of the race.

A small hole had been drilled in the top of each of the valve stem caps in question, and a foam material had been added to the interior of each cap. These valve stem caps were located on the left front and both rear tires of the race car upon discovery.

The Panel did not find the Appellants explanation to be plausible. The Panel found the penalties to be correct for the nature of the infraction.

Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. 

The periods of suspension shall be adjusted from the date of the hearing.

The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock
Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.

Leo Mehl
Waddell Wilson
Humpy Wheeler
George Silbermann - Appellate Administrator and non-voting member

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Front Row Motorsports Names Crew Chief for Michigan

Statesville, N.C. (June 10, 2010) – Front Row Motorsports named Brian Burns interim crew chief for the No. 38 team for the race weekend at Michigan International Speedway. He has served as the team’s engineer since the beginning of the 2009 season. Burns takes the place of Steven Lane, who is serving a NASCAR-imposed suspension for rule infractions at last weekend’s Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 9, 2010) – NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 38 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions committed during last Sunday’s event at Pocono Raceway.

The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-10.7J (unapproved modification to valve stem hardware) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book.

As a result, crew chief Steve Lane has been fined $100,000, suspended for the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Richard Bourgeois and tire specialist Michael Harrold have also been suspended from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Driver Travis Kvapil and owner Doug Yates have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and 150 owner points, respectively.

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