FROM Jayski: Andrews and crew fired from #79 team: According to several posts to Twitter by Tim Andrews, it appears he and much of the crew has been fired from the #79 2nd Chance team. "After the team and I loaded the hauler after the weekend [owner Rick Russell] fired us all and told us to find our own way home..." (6-5-2011)

I see that Rick Russell is still an asshole...

After loading up the car into the team hauler Crew Chief Kevin Eagle informed Russell that he would be parting ways with 2nd Chance once they got back to the Charlotte area. Upon hearing the news Russell accused the whole team of leaving and instead of allowing Eagle explain that he would be the only one leaving the team Russell fired everyone associated with the No. 79, including it’s driver Tim Andrews. A source close to the team said that Russell had been aware that Eagle would eventually be leaving the team and had already started looking for his replacement.

During the altercation at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday night, Russell locked up the van the team uses to drive from their home base to the track and would not allow the team to retrieve their belongings. Although no weapons were drawn the source said that Russell did make mention of a weapon and threaten the team. It was only after NASCAR officials were notified of the incident and police were called that they were allowed to get their stuff. Russell refused to allow them to drive the van back to Charlotte and left the team at the track to find their own way home.

Thankfully other NASCAR teams were there to help the former No. 79 team by taking them to airport where they were able to rent a van for the long trip home.

On his twitter account (formerly TimAndrews79, now Tim_Andrews_) Andrews said Sunday morning, “Yes he has struck again. After the team and I loaded the hauler after the weekend he fired us all and told us to find our own way home...”

Andrews went onto say, “It is amazing how you work for someone make them look like a hero help them to get where they are and they completely shit on u"

Childress was fined 150k for his punches. according to espn text. FUCK NASCAR. All that free publicity for nothing......FUCK

If I had the money that Childress has, I would have gladly paid $150k to sock Kyle in the face a few times.

Secret fine issued to Newman? NASCAR officials wouldn't say Monday whether Ryan Newman secretly was fined $50,000 for allegedly punching Juan Pablo Montoya during a meeting last month at Darlington. The two drivers were summoned to NASCAR's at-track office on May 6 to discuss their ongoing feud, and NASCAR said afterward that the meeting "did not go as well as we had hoped it would." Commenting on a meeting inside the hauler was unprecedented for NASCAR, which promised a further review of the incident. No fines were ever announced, and NASCAR said the issue was closed. But rumors of the penalty began to leak on Monday in response to NASCAR fining owner Richard Childress $150,000 for attacking Kyle Busch after Saturday's trucks race at Kansas Speedway. Newman, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp also refused to comment on whether Newman was fined. If true, it's the second time NASCAR secretly has fined Newman. He was fined in April 2010 for comments he made about the style of racing at Talladega. It was not made public until the AP learned last July that Denny Hamlin had been secretly fined $50,000 for criticizing NASCAR on Twitter. Newman then admitted he, too, had been fined.

Punching people in the face after a race is so... NASCAR. IndyCar FTW.

Farmers Insurance to sponsor Kahne in 2012: Beginning in 2012, Farmers Insurance will be the majority sponsor of the #5 Chevy fielded by Hendrick Motorsports and driven by 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner Kasey Kahne. Covering the 2012, 2013 and 2014 racing seasons, the agreement secures primary paint schemes for Farmers Insurance in 22 Sprint Cup Series events annually and prominent brand placement in all non-primary races. A new #5 Farmers Insurance Chevy car design will be unveiled at a later date