NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Media Tour Day 2 updates

Published Jan. 24, 2012 2:09 p.m. ET

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FOXSports.com keeps you up to speed from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the most recent postings added to the top:

Monday notes: Danica, Gibbs, Waltrip all talk on Day 1

Ford Racing

New look: Ford unveiled the 2013 Ford Fusion. The Sprint Cup version of the car was worked on by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car.

”We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR.” stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to reengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.” FULL STORY

Roush Fenway Racing

Stepping up: Will this be Greg Biffle’s year?

The Roush Fenway Racing driver brings a revamped team to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. He will enjoy his first full season with crew chief Matt Puccia and bring a new over-the-wall pit crew.

As the organization shifts from four teams to three this season because of a lack of sponsorship, Biffle’s effort will be an enhanced one. Last year, both teammates Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth were in the heart of the championship race until late in the season and Edwards lost the title in a tiebreaker. REA WHITE HAS THE FULL STORY

Missing in action: Two of Roush Fenway Racing's three full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers were missing from the visit with the team Tuesday. Carl Edwards was out of the country while Matt Kenseth missed for personal reasons.

Tweet along: The best from the social-media world coming out of Media Tour:

RFR's Robbie Reiser on the new Cup car: what you see in the showroom is what you're going to see on the ractrack. This car has character. -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

Having won at #nascar's top level, @Tbayne21 (Trevor Bayne) says "we're hungry. We got a taste of victory and we want to go after it. -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

What a record. Jack Roush has 299 wins (in 24 years). Of the 46 drivers he has had, 17 have won races. -- Rea White (@Rea_White)

Roush president Steve Newmark say he learned a "hard and pointed lesson" in his first year on the job: every point counts. -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

At Roush media lunch, they are using past win trophies as centerpieces - I bet Hendrick does this with his NASCAR championships #hehasplenty -- Jorge Mondaca (@JorgeMondacaFOX)

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

Top priority: Earnhardt Ganassi team co-owner Felix Sabates is never one to hold back his opinion.

And when asked about diversity in NASCAR, he didn't.

On promoting diversity with Juan Pablo Montoya: "That's not our responsibility that's NASCAR's. Our responsibility is to put competitive cars on the track."

-- Lee Spencer

Ch ch changes ...: Change is good — or at least so goes the motto at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing this season.

It's one that is being embraced by Juan Pablo Montoya as he tries to return to the elite ranks and challenge for a spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup.

After an offseason filled with internal personnel moves — a run actually started in September with the hiring of John Probst as technical director and followed by the exodus of longtime managers Steve Hmiel and Tony Glover and the addition of former Roush Fenway Racing general manager Max Jones — Montoya is looking for an improvement in performance. REA WHITE HAS THE FULL STORY

Hear here: From the mouth of team co-owner Chip Ganassi:

"It’s easy to look good on paper and it’s easy to look good going into the season, that’s why they have races – you can see exactly where you are. I look forward to that. I like the attitude and I like what I’ve seen so far. I like the direction and I like the pace. If that’s any indication of how we look on the track as opposed to on paper, I’m encouraged."

"We had a lot of people that were with us a long time – and that’s always a tough decision to let people go that were with you for a long time or people that you are close to. That was difficult. In terms of the people that came along and were available to us, I felt that these were young people that need a shot, and they are going to get that shot here."

"I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. Having discussed our 2011 position in the points plenty of times – and I hope it’s the last time I say that – there’s obviously lots of room for improvement. Dare I say, the only way to go from where we are is up so it shouldn’t be that hard."

(About his years in NASCAR) "We’ve had ups, we’ve had downs and fortunately I think the high points far outweigh the low points. It’s still a work in progress, but I think we’ve returned some good value to the people who have been involved with us in that time period. I think it’s about time to put some numbers up."

-- Jorge Mondaca

Tweet longer: The best from the social-media world coming out of Media Tour:

Chip Ganassi: “We were 21st and 27th in the points and that’s pathetic for a team with our ability and our resources.” -- Rea White (@Rea_White)

The potential last season for @jpmontoya was great - until @RIRInsider (Richmond) "May was terrible. There were a lot of distractions," Montoya said. -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

Felix Sabates: “Last year was not the kind of year that we expected, but that’s behind us.” -- Rea White (@Rea_White)

At fall @NHMS (New Hampshire race) @jamiemcmurray will drive the Liftmaster Chevrolet, another move in the evolution of multi-layer primary sponsorship -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announces they have sold out sponsorship for both of their cars in 2012 -- Jorge Mondaca (@JorgeMondacaFOX)

Notes

A little bit of country: From the mouth (well, twitter) of country music superstar Blake Shelton:

Blake Shelton is gonna rock the house at the May 19 #NASCAR #Sprint All-Star Race at @CLTMotorSpdwy! #mediatour -Team BS

What's on tap today?

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: This is a pivotal season for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. After a tremendous 2010, last year was mediocre at best. Both teams (Juan Pablo Montoya, pictured in the No. 42, and Jamie McMurray) were winless and neither cracked the top 20 in the points standings. EGR hired engineer John Probst as technical director in September and former Roush general manager Max Jones in December. EGR cleaned house at the end of the season, dismissing veteran managers Steve Hmiel and Tony Glover, as well as all but three members of the No. 42 team after a 21st-place finish (McMurray was 27th). Crew chief Chris Heroy brought his engineering skills — and part of his Hendrick posse — to EGR in an effort to bring Montoya up to speed.

Ford Racing: Can Roush Fenway Racing pick up where it left off? Can Carl Edwards find happiness remaining in the No. 99 car? And what’s on the menu for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. beyond Daytona? Something better be or the hottest young prospect sans Cup ride will be looking. Only three teams remain at RFR — a company that boasted 14 fully sponsored programs in 2007. Roush has streamlined his company and will park the flagship No. 6 beyond Daytona. But what could prove even more damaging to RFR on a competition level is the number of displaced employees that will take trade secrets with them to other organizations.

Similar to RFR, Richard Petty Motorsports will have to watch its pennies moving forward. Certainly, not renewing Robbie Loomis will save the organization seven figures. Brian Moffitt, the self-appointed CEO and Petty’s son-in-law, will continue to oversee the business side of the operation while Sammy Johns and Dr. Eric Warren are more than capable of taking over Loomis’ previous duties without breaking a sweat.

2013 preview: Ford will be the first manufacturer to unveil its 2013 prototype of the Fusion (here, Greg Biffle drives the 2011 model). This will provide an up-close and personal look at what fans can expect to see in the newest evolution of stock cars. Toyota is expected to debut its new vehicle during Speedweeks while Dodge and Chevrolet are TBD.

-- Lee Spencer