2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 39th 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 	 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	1 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Kevin Manion 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	3 	Kevin Harvick 	Gil Martin 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	30 	Clint Bowyer 	Todd Berrier 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	31 	Jeff Burton 	Shane Wilson 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt Childress Racing 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Regan Smith 	Ryan Coniam
Pete Rondeau	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Jerry Nadeau 	Alan Gustafson 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Steve Letarte 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Landon Cassill (R) 	 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brad Keselowski (R)	 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Boston Reid 	 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	14 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	39 	Ryan Newman 	Tony Gibson 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	61 	Mark Martin 	Darian Grubb 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Mike Bliss 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Johnny Sauter 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Casey Mears 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Geoff Bodine 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Brian Simo 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Steve Park 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Ron Fellows 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	Dave Blaney 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	36 	J. J. Yeley 	 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Andy Lally 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Mike Bliss 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Landon Cassill 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Tony Raines 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Hermie Sadler 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Chad McCumbee 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	TRG Motorsports 	107	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Whitney Motorsports 	46 	Michael McDowell 	Jeremy Lafaver 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	46 	Terry Cook (R) 	Jeremy Lafaver 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	46 	J. J. Yeley 	Jeremy Lafaver 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	James Kulwicki (R) 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Bobby Labonte 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Jamie McMurray 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Bryan Clauson (R) 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	52 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Casey Atwood 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Wally Rogers 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Championship Racing 	2 	Kurt Busch 	Steve Addington 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Championship Racing 	12 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Jay Guy 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Penske Championship Racing 	77 	Blaise Alexander 	Travis Geisler 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	42 	Aric Almirola (R) 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Chad McCumbee 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Robby Gordon Motorsports 	170	Robby Gordon 	Ian Watt
Samuel Stanley 
Gene Nead
Steve Lane	2010 Charger
Ford 	DGB-Medallion Racing 	09 	A.J. Allmendinger 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	34 	Kevin Conway (R) 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	137	Travis Kvapil 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	138	Dave Blaney 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	Boris Said 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	David Stremme 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	Patrick Carpentier 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	Jeff Green 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	Ken Schrader 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	Bill Elliott 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Latitude 43 Motorsports 	126	J. J. Yeley 	Frank Stoddard 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Rodney Orr 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	David Ragan 	Jimmy Fennig 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	Greg Erwin 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	26 	Kevin Grubb 	Donnie Wingo 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Matt Kenseth 	Drew Blickensderfer	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Carl Edwards 	Bob Osborne 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	90 	Davey Allison 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Bill Elliott 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	08 	Paul Menard 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	38 	David Gilliland 	 	2010 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	88 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2010 Fusion
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2008 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Louise Kennedy 	 	2008 Grand Prix
Toyota 	Germain Racing 	13 	Max Papis 	Bootie Barker 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Germain Racing 	13 	Casey Mears 	Bootie Barker 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin 	Mike Ford 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Kyle Busch 	Dave Rogers 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Joey Logano 	 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	JTG Daugherty Racing
Michael Waltrip Racing	47 	Marcos Ambrose 	Frank Kerr 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	David Reutimann 	Rodney Childers 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	56 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Pat Tryson 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Dave Blaney 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Michael McDowell 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Scott Riggs 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Johnny Sauter 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Ted Musgrave 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Jason Leffler 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	66 	Mike Bliss 	 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	NEMCO Motorsports 	87 	Joe Nemechek 	Phillipe Lopez 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Red Bull Racing Team 	182	Scott Speed 	Jimmy Elledge 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Red Bull Racing Team 	183	Brian Vickers 	Ryan Pemberton 	2010 Camry
===Limited schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Model
Chevrolet 	Keyed Up Motorsports 	190	Casey Mears 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Keyed Up Motorsports 	190	Scott Riggs 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	4 	Kevin Lepage 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Norm Benning Racing 	57 	Norm Benning 	2008 Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet 	Stavola Labonte Racing 	10 	Terry Labonte 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Stavola Labonte Racing 	10 	Bobby Labonte 	2010 Impala
Chevrolet 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	35 	Johnny Sauter 	2009 Impala SS
Chevrolet 	Tri-Star Motorsports 	35 	Tony Ave 	2010 Impala
Dodge 	Ash Motorsports 	02 	Brandon Ash 	2009 Charger
Dodge 	BAM Motorsports 	49 	David Gilliland 	2009 Charger
Dodge 	K-Automotive Motorsports 	92 	Mike Wallace 	2008 Charger
Dodge 	K-Automotive Motorsports 	92 	Brian Keselowski 	2008 Charger
Dodge 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	27 	Todd Bodine 	2008 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	2010 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	81 	J.J. Yeley 	2007 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	81 	Scott Riggs 	2007 Charger
Dodge 	Whitney Motorsports 	81 	Terry Labonte 	2007 Charger
Ford 	Gunselman Motorsports 	64 	Tony Raines 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Gunselman Motorsports 	64 	Todd Bodine 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Gunselman Motorsports 	64 	Josh Wise 	2009 Fusion
Ford 	Gunselman Motorsports 	64 	Jeff Green 	2009 Fusion
Toyota 	Braun Racing 	132	Reed Sorenson 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Braun Racing 	132	Mike Bliss 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Braun Racing 	132	Jacques Villeneuve	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Braun Racing 	132	Jason Leffler 	2009 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	17 	Michael Waltrip 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	55 	Michael Waltrip 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Michael Waltrip 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Michael McDowell 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Dave Blaney 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Mike Bliss 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Terry Labonte 	2010 Camry
Toyota 	Prism Motorsports 	55 	Terry Cook (R) 	2010 Camry
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Toyota/Save Mart 350 	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma 	January 31 	Fox
 	Budweiser Shootout 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 6 	CBS
 	Gatorade Duels 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 11 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 14 	CBS
3 	Subway 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	February 21 	Fox
4 	Shelby American 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	February 28 	Fox
5 	Kobalt Tools 500 (Atlanta) 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 7 	Fox
6 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex 	March 14 	Fox
7 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 21 	Fox
8 	Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	March 29 	Fox
9 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	April 4 	Fox
10 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	April 11 	Fox
11 	Texas 400 	Texas World Speedway, College Station 	April 18 	Fox
12 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	April 25 	Fox
13 	Crown Royal presents the Heath Calhoun 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	May 1 	Fox
14 	Auto Club 500 	Auto Club Speedway, Fontana 	May 9 	Fox
15 	Bud Light 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	May 16 	Fox
 	Sprint Showdown 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 22 	Speed
 	Sprint All-Star Race 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 22 	Speed
16 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 30 	CBS
17 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 6 	TBS
18 	Motorcraft 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 13 	TBS
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 20 	TBS
20 	Lenox Industrial Tools 301 	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon 	June 27 	TBS
21 	Coke Zero 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 3 	CBS
22 	LifeLock.com 400 	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero 	July 11 	TBS
23 	Music City USA 420 	Music City Motorplex, Nashville 	July 18 	TBS
24 	Brickyard 400 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	July 25 	ABC
25 	Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	August 1 	ESPN
26 	Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 8 	ESPN
27 	Carfax 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 15 	ESPN
28 	Irwin Tools Night Race 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 21 	ABC
29 	Showtime Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 5 	ABC
30 	Air Guard 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 11	ABC
31 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 19	ESPN
32 	AAA 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	September 26	ESPN
33 	Price Chopper 400 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 3 	ESPN
34 	Emory Healthcare 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	October 10 	ABC
35 	Bank of America 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 16 	ABC
36 	TUMS Fast Relief 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	October 24 	ESPN
37 	AMP Energy Juice 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 31 	ABC
38 	ACDelco 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	November 7 	ESPN
39 	Kobalt Tools 500 (Phoenix) 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 14 	ESPN
40 	Ford 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 21 	ESPN
41 	iPad 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 28 	ABC
42 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 5 	ABC
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	December 12 	ABC
=== Calendar Changes ===
* For the 2010 season, all races adopted standardized start times; east coast day races began at 1:00 p.m. ET, west coast day races began at 12:00 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. ET), and most night races began at 7:30 p.m. ET; race times were chosen with the west coast in mind, as many fans complained about having to wake up before the sun was up for east coast races. These changes were intended to alleviate fan confusion over the inconsistent scheduling practices of previous seasons, allow teams a "shorter" race day due to the earlier start times, and to provide more "flexibility" in the event of rain delays. The Coca-Cola 600 maintained its traditional early-evening start time, while the Coke Zero 400 was delayed due to weather.
* The Best Buy 400 was moved before the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.
* The TranSouth Financial 400 and Texas 400 switched their dates.
==Technical changes==
The only change to the cars from 2009 to 2010 was Chevrolet dropping the "SS" moniker from the Impala, though 2009 Chevys still had the "SS" suffix to allow NASCAR to identify older cars. Following the government bailout, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Toyota resumed financial support to its teams.
==Rule changes==
It was announced in January as part of the annual preseason media tour in Charlotte that, after years of restrictions, drivers would be let loose as it were, popularly referred to as "Boys, Have At It". Rules were altered to allow for "bump drafting", especially at Daytona and Talladega. Starting with the Shelby American, NASCAR extended its post-race inspections to include the first car out of the race that was not involved in a wreck; in other words, the first start and park.
== Broadcasting ==
=== United States ===
Fox Sports, their corporate sibling Speed, TNT, and ESPN/ABC are in the fourth year of a seven-year television contract scheduled to expire after the 2014 season. Showtime aired a highlights show for the first time.
==== Fox ====
Fox Sports broadcast the first 13 races, excluding the Budweiser Shootout, the 52nd Daytona 500, and the Coca-Cola 600, all of which were broadcast on CBS. With Dover moving to mid-May, Fox ended their coverage with the Sprint All-Star Race. The Sprint All-Star Race XXVI along with practice sessions, and all qualifying and practice sessions were all broadcast on Speed. The network's Gopher Cam mascot, Digger, returned for on-screen displays.
==== TBS ====
Time Warner's Turner Sports division (through TBS) broadcast the next six races, excluding the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, which was broadcast by CBS. TBS's coverage began with the June Pocono race and ended with Chicago. Qualifying and practice sessions remained on Speed.
==== ESPN/ABC ====
ESPN and ABC carried the remaining races under the SpeedWorld and Wide World of Sports brands, respectively, beginning with the Brickyard 400.
Most qualifying sessions will air on ESPN2, practice sessions and some qualifying will be shared by SPEED and ESPN2. Qualifying for the Pep Boys Auto 500 and AMP Energy 500 air on Speed because they were Saturday afternoon sessions during the college football season.
==== CBS ====
CBS carried the Daytona 500 and its supporting races (including the Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duels, as well as the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races), as well as the Coca-Cola 600 and Coke Zero 400.
==== Showtime ====
CBS-owned pay cable premium service Showtime carried a weekly one-hour highlight show titled Inside NASCAR every Wednesday at 10 pm ET/PT, with the series premiere on February 10. Chris Myers, who also hosts FOX's NASCAR coverage, will serve as host, joined by SPEED's Randy Pemberton & Michael Waltrip, and ESPN's Brad Daugherty, with the shows taping at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Studio 43. 38 episodes are planned, covering the season.
==== Radio ====
On radio, Sirius XM Radio carried all races in the series. Terrestrial radio rights are being handled as follows:
* Motor Racing Network carried races at tracks owned by their corporate sibling, International Speedway Corporation as well as the races at Dover and Pocono and the All-Star Race at Charlotte;
* Speedway Motorsports, Inc.-owned Performance Racing Network carried events from those SMI tracks, and will jointly produced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.
=== Other North American channels ===
In Canada, TSN and TSN 2 will have full coverage for the 2010 season.
=== International ===
In Australia, Fox Sports showed all Sprint Cup races live across their networks. Network Ten also showed races on its digital sports multichannel, ONE.
In Portugal, all races from the 2010 season were telecast on SportTv 3, while in Sweden, Viasat Motor televised the races.
In nearby Finland, Nelonen Sport Pro telecasted the season's events.
In Spain, Teledeporte telecasted six races of the season.
In Latin America, Speed Channel broadcast all Sprint Cup races and Nationwide races live.
In France, ABMoteurs broadcast all Sprint Cup races live.
In the United Kingdom, it was originally thought that Sky Sports had not secured the rights to the series for 2010. However, this changed in early February as Sky announced that they will show live coverage of the Daytona 500, with an hour-long highlights package for the rest of the races, on the Monday following each race. The remainder of the season, starting with the Shelby American, were shown on Open Access 3.
== Cars Used in 2010 ==
WORK-IN-PROGRESS