2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 63rd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 40th modern-era Cup series season.
==Teams and drivers==
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	98 	Shane Hmiel 	 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	1 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Kevin Manion 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	3 	Kevin Harvick 	Gil Martin 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	30 	Clint Bowyer 	Todd Berrier 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	31 	Jeff Burton 	Shane Wilson 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Regan Smith 	Pete Rondeau 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Jerry Nadeau 	Lance McGrew 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Alan Gustafson 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Landon Cassill 	 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brad Keselowski 	Steve Letarte 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing 	51 	Bill Elliott 	Nick Harrison 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing 	51 	Boris Said 	Nick Harrison 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Phoenix Racing 	51 	Mike Bliss 	Nick Harrison 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Boston Reid 	 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	14 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	39 	Ryan Newman 	Tony Gibson 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	61 	Mark Martin 	Darian Grubb 	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Dave Blaney 	Kevin Buskirk
Joe Williams
Philippe Lopez	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Ron Fellows 	Kevin Buskirk
Joe Williams
Philippe Lopez	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Mike Skinner 	Kevin Buskirk
Joe Williams
Philippe Lopez	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Geoff Bodine 	Kevin Buskirk
Joe Williams
Philippe Lopez	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	71 	Andy Lally 	Jay Guy
Paul Clapprood
Doug Richert	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	71 	Hermie Sadler 	Jay Guy
Paul Clapprood
Doug Richert	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	71 	Mike Bliss 	Jay Guy
Paul Clapprood
Doug Richert	2009 Impala SS
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	James Kulwicki 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Bobby Labonte 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Jamie McMurray 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Bryan Clauson 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	52 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne 	Kenny Francis 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Casey Atwood 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Wally Rogers 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	02 	Kurt Busch 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	2 	Blaise Alexander 	Paul Wolfe 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	12 	Paul Menard 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	42 	Aric Almirola 	Mike Shiplett 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	Todd Parrott 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Chad McCumbee 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	Greg Erwin 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	107	Robby Gordon 	Steven Lane
Samuel Stanley	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	107	Johnny Sauter 	Steven Lane
Samuel Stanley	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	107	Reed Sorenson 	Steven Lane
Samuel Stanley	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	146	J. J. Yeley 	Tony Furr 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	146	Bill Elliott 	Tony Furr 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	146	Andy Pilgrim 	Tony Furr 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	146	Erik Darnell 	Tony Furr 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	146	Brian Simo 	Tony Furr 	2010 Charger
Ford 	DGB-Medallion Racing 	09 	A.J. Allmendinger 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Terry Labonte 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Mike Skinner 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Ken Schrader 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Mike Bliss 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Patrick Carpentier 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Jason White 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	Andrew Ranger 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	65 	T. J. Bell 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	34 	David Gilliland 	Peter Sospenzo 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	Travis Kvapil 	Bill Henderson
Derrick Finley
Jay Guy	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	Tony Ave 	Bill Henderson
Derrick Finley
Jay Guy	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	J. J. Yeley 	Bill Henderson
Derrick Finley
Jay Guy	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	Terry Labonte 	Bill Henderson
Derrick Finley
Jay Guy	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Rodney Orr 	 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Fenway Racing 	6 	David Ragan 	Drew Blickensderfer	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Fenway Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	Greg Erwin
Matt Puccia	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Fenway Racing 	66 	Matt Kenseth 	Jimmy Fennig 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Fenway Racing 	99 	Carl Edwards 	Bob Osborne 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	90 	Davey Allison 	 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Trevor Bayne (R) 	Donnie Wingo 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	88 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	96 	Scott Speed 	 	2011 Fusion
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2011 G6
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Louise Kennedy 	 	2011 G6
Toyota 	Germain Racing 	13 	Casey Mears 	Bootie Barker 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	HP Racing 	166	Michael McDowell 	Gene Nead 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	HP Racing 	166	Todd Bodine 	Gene Nead 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	HP Racing 	166	Josh Wise 	Gene Nead 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin 	Mike Ford 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Kyle Busch 	Dave Rogers 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Michael McDowell 	Dave Rogers 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Joey Logano 	 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	JTG Daugherty Racing 	47 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Frank Kerr
Brian Burns	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	David Reutimann 	Rodney Childers
Bobby Kennedy	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	55 	Brian Vickers 	Pat Tryson
Chad Johnston
Scott Miller	2011 Camry
Toyota 	NEMCO Motorsports 	87 	Joe Nemechek 	Philippe Lopez
Steven Gray
Bill Wilburn	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Red Bull Racing 	4 	Kevin Grubb 	 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Red Bull Racing 	183	Stephen Leicht (R) 	Ryan Pemberton 	2011 Camry
Ford
Chevrolet	Front Row Motorsports 	137	Robert Richardson Jr.	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2011 Fusion
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Tony Raines 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Chris Cook 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Jeff Green 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Erik Darnell 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Josh Wise 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
Ford
Chevrolet	Max Q Motorsports 	137	Mike Skinner 	Greg Conner
Mike Abner	2010 Impala
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Inception Motorsports 	130	David Stremme 	Steven Lane 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	LTD Powersports, LLC. 	150	T.J. Bell 	Jeff McClure 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	135	Steve Park 	Kevin Buskirk
Tommy Baldwin Jr.
Joe Cipriano	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	135	Geoff Bodine 	Kevin Buskirk
Tommy Baldwin Jr.
Joe Cipriano	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	135	Dave Blaney 	Kevin Buskirk
Tommy Baldwin Jr.
Joe Cipriano	2011 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	135	Stephen Leicht 	Kevin Buskirk
Tommy Baldwin Jr.
Joe Cipriano	2011 Impala
Dodge 	Curb-Agajanian Performance Group	198	Austin Dillon 	Danny Stockman Jr.	2009 Charger
Dodge 	K-Automotive Motorsports 	92 	Brian Keselowski	Bob Keselowski 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	K-Automotive Motorsports 	92 	Dennis Setzer 	Bob Keselowski 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	K-Automotive Motorsports 	92 	Scott Riggs 	Bob Keselowski 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Max Q Motorsports 	64 	Derrike Cope 	Dave Fuge 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	R3 Motorsports 	123	Scott Riggs 	Greg Conner 	2008 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	77 	P.J. Jones 	Patrick Donahue 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	77 	Robby Gordon 	Patrick Donahue 	2011 Charger
Dodge 	Stratus Racing Group 	75 	Derrike Cope 	Dave Fuge 	2010 Stratus
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	81 	Scott Riggs 	Butch Lamoreux
Mike Abner	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	81 	Brian Simo 	Butch Lamoreux
Mike Abner	2010 Charger
Ford 	FAS Lane Racing 	123	Terry Labonte 	Frank Stoddard 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	155	Jeff Green 	Derrick Finley 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	155	J.J. Yeley 	Derrick Finley 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	155	Travis Kvapil 	Derrick Finley 	2011 Fusion
Ford 	Leavine Family Racing 	95 	David Starr 	Wally Rogers 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	TRG Motorsports 	77 	Andy Lally 	Todd Anderson 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	TRG Motorsports 	77 	T.J. Bell 	Barry Boeckenstedt	2010 Fusion
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	17 	Michael Waltrip 	Bobby Kennedy 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	NEMCO Motorsports 	97 	Kevin Conway 	Mike Boerschinger
Scott Eggleston	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Red Bull Racing Team 	84 	Cole Whitt 	Randy Cox 	2011 Camry
Toyota 	Rusty Wallace Racing 	77 	Steve Wallace 	Larry Carter 	2011 Camry
Chevrolet
Toyota	Germain Racing 	160	Todd Bodine 	Buddy Sisco
Mike Abner
Tom Ackerman	2010 Impala
2011 Camry
Chevrolet
Toyota	Germain Racing 	160	Landon Cassill 	Buddy Sisco
Mike Abner
Tom Ackerman	2010 Impala
2011 Camry
Chevrolet
Toyota	Germain Racing 	160	Mike Skinner 	Buddy Sisco
Mike Abner
Tom Ackerman	2010 Impala
2011 Camry
Chevrolet
Toyota	Germain Racing 	160	Dave Blaney 	Buddy Sisco
Mike Abner
Tom Ackerman	2010 Impala
2011 Camry
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Toyota/Save Mart 350 	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma 	January 30 	Fox
 	Budweiser Shootout 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12 	CBS
 	Gatorade Duel 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 17 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 20 	CBS
3 	Miller High Life 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	February 27 	Fox
4 	Kobalt Tools 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 6 	Fox
5 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 13 	Fox
6 	Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 20 	Fox
7 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 27 	Fox
8 	Goody's Fast Relief 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	April 3 	Fox
9 	Samsung Mobile 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 9 	Fox
10 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	April 17 	Fox
11 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	April 24 	Fox
12 	Crown Royal presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	April 30 	Fox
13 	Auto Club 400 	Auto Club Speedway, Fontana 	May 8 	Fox
14 	FedEx 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	May 15 	Fox
 	Sprint Showdown 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 21 	Speed
 	Sprint All-Star Race XXVII 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 21 	Speed
15 	Coca-Cola 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 29 	CBS
16 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	June 5 	Fox
17 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West allis 	June 12 	TBS
18 	Motorcraft 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 19 	TBS
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 26 	TBS
20 	Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 2 	CBS
21 	Quaker State 400 	Kentucky Speedway, Sparta 	July 9 	TBS
22 	Lenox Industrial Tools 301 	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon 	July 17 	TBS
23 	Music City USA 420 	Music City Motorplex, Nasvhille 	July 24 	TBS
24 	Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	July 31 	ABC
25 	Good Sam RV Insurance 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	August 7 	ESPN
26 	Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 15 	ESPN
27 	Pure Michigan 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 21 	ESPN
28 	Irwin Tools Night Race 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 27 	ABC
29 	Showtime Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 4 	ABC
30 	Wonderful Pistachios 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 10	ESPN
31 	GEICO 400 	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet 	September 19	ESPN
32 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 25	ESPN
33 	AAA 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	October 2 	ESPN
34 	Hollywood Casino 400 	Kansas Motor Speedway, Kansas City 	October 9 	ESPN
35 	Bank of America 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 15 	ABC
36 	Good Sam Club 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 23 	ABC
37 	Iowa Corn 400 	Iowa Speedway, Newton 	October 30 	ESPN
38 	AdvoCare 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	November 6 	ABC
39 	Kobalt Tools 500 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 13 	ESPN
40 	Ford 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 20 	ESPN
41 	Facebook 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 27 	ABC
42 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 4 	ESPN
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	December 11 	ABC
=== Calendar changes ===
For the 2011 season, NASCAR made several major changes to the schedule. One change was that the Kobalt Tools 500, held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, was discontinued. The Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway, was reduced to 400 miles making the name Auto Club 400. More changes to the schedule included North WIlkesboro Speedway regaining its spring date (the First Union 400), which was run on June 5, 2011, and Kentucky Speedway hosted its first Sprint Cup Series race, the Quaker State 400 on July 9, 2011. Finally, Martinsville's traditional fall date was replaced by Iowa Speedway.
==Changes==
===Rule changes===
After the 2010 season, the catch can man, who caught excess fuel during pit stops and adjusts the track bar, is no longer needed, because of the addition of a self-venting fuel can. On January 11, 2011, NASCAR reported drivers can only be able to compete for the championship in one of NASCAR's three national racing series, which means the drivers who race in multiple series, most notably in the Cup and Nationwide Series, are able to compete in the races, but not for the championship.
The rule does not affect the exemption rule, as exemptions are determined by the top 35 in NASCAR car owner points. Drivers ineligible for Sprint Cup driver points earned Sprint Cup owner points for their team.
===Other changes===
The fuel for all major series in NASCAR changed from Sunoco unleaded to an ethanol blend called 'Sunoco Green E15'.
== Cars Used in 2011 ==
WORK-IN-PROGRESS