A brand new Cup team has been formed.

[Sgt Slaughter]

A brand new Cup team has been formed:

Nationwide owner Jay Robinson forms Cup team: Nationwide Series veteran team owner Jay Robinson will enter into his 12th year in the series and has partnered with Troy Blakeney of Houston, Texas to form Robinson-Blakeney Racing, LLC and will field a Sprint Cup Series car with Toyota as its manufacturer. The new team intends to run full time in both series this year. "I am very excited about our new venture into the Cup series", said team owner Jay Robinson" We have all of the cars and equipment in place. We will be running engines prepared by Race Engines Plus and are hoping to hire a driver very soon." The #28 Nationwide car will continue into the 2012 Season with a variety of drivers throughout the season. Jeff Spraker and his Spraker Racing Enterprises group has been hired to head up the Nationwide efforts. Troy Blakeney, with offices in Houston and Fort Worth, Texas is relatively new to the sport and brings a wealth of business knowledge and experience which will certainly prove to be an asset in the venture. Robinson-Blakeney Racing will run Toyotas from their Monroe N. C. based. The team will soon be announcing their drivers, crew chiefs and sponsorships.(Robinson-Blakeney Racing)(1-16-2011)

 

[Gwen Cole]

Wow.

 

[amidst tundra]

I'll look forward to seeing Jay's cars making 5-10 laps a weekend at the Cup level

 

[RaceMan]

Wonder if they bought RBRT

 

[MnM1400]

I, I can see the future, I foresee yet another start-and-park team, taking up space in the garage, parking it after 10 laps, not even planning on running the full race at daytona...
*sigh*:-/

 

[Dr. Kstar]

Yet another start-and-park team trying to move up the ranks even though they couldn't land a sponsor in a lower division. Yeah, that's a great idea. (y) Lol
Seriously though, I hope they can pick up a sponsor, I think it's great when a start-and-park team can start doing well.

 

[SimDesigners]

Considering you make more starting and parking on the Cup level vs. winning a Nationwide race... this might not be such a dumb idea after all.

 

[David24]

Considering you make more starting and parking on the Cup level vs. winning a Nationwide race... this might not be such a dumb idea after all.

Exactly what I was thinking. Who knows...they could end up on the level TBR is currently on or even better.

 

[K.Chuck]

Maybe a place for Vickers?

 

[Relly]

Who runs more laps this year....this team, HP or NEMCO?

Might put my dollars on Front Row Joe....

 

[Phantomguy24]

Speaking of making more start and parking than winning nationwide, I can see it work out that they start and park in cup, and use the funds to help with their nationwide program.

 

[Markfan]

Considering you make more starting and parking on the Cup level vs. winning a Nationwide race... this might not be such a dumb idea after all.

Have the purses really dropped off that much in the NWS? I knew that it had to be getting low, but I had assumed that the Sprint Cup series and Nationwide were decreasing their purses at a nearly equal rate.

 

[4WideRacing]

Glad to see another team but hopefully they wouldn't S&P all the time.

 

[SimDesigners]

Have the purses really dropped off that much in the NWS? I knew that it had to be getting low, but I had assumed that the Sprint Cup series and Nationwide were decreasing their purses at a nearly equal rate.

To use the season ending Homestead race as an example:

NNS: 1st place - Brad Keslowski - $75,450
NSC: 43rd place - Michael McDowell - $62,429

Note that McDowell's 43rd place payout would have been more than 4th place earned in the NNS race. Meanwhile, Morgan Shepherd (who finished 43rd) in the NNS race earned $19,974 for his efforts. Scott Speed, who finished 41st only received $13,625.

So for the effort of moving up, you land about 50-60k more.

 

[MattSRD28]

Oh please God let them not race the #28...

 

[WinstonCup426]

Oh please God let them not race the #28...

That.

 

[B.McKeever]

I see Robinson running the # 49 Toyota.

"A large portion of the Cup purses comes from television rights. The television package is worth approximately $560-$570 million this year, with 10 percent going to NASCAR, 65 percent going to the tracks and 25 percent going to the teams through the purse.

When the eight-year television contract started in 2007, Cup purses received 93.75 percent of the television money, Nationwide got 5.75 percent and trucks got 0.5 percent, according to documents filed by Dover Motorsports. Figures for other years were not available but the allocation is not believed to have changed dramatically."

So last season, 2011, they cut the purses by up to 20% on some races. Just imagine getting $10,000 to start instead of the $12,000 you got the year before.

 

[4WideRacing]

Oh please God let them not race the #28...

Then you should like to see this.

Newly established Sprint Cup team Robinson-Blakeney Racing has tabbed J.J. Yeley to drive its No. 49 Toyota for the 2012 season. In addition, Yeley will be reunited with crew chief Tony Furr, who has been hired to coordinate and direct the upstart endeavor.

"I am energized and looking forward to working with [owner and manager] Jay Robinson and our team beginning at Daytona in the Duel 150 race and building success all the way to Homestead," said Yeley, who has 11 top-10 finishes in his Cup career. "I have enjoyed a good working relationship in the past with Tony Furr as my crew chief and am happy to be partnered with him again on this team."

Furr brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and has the tools available to formulate a competitive effort at Robinson-Blakeney Racing.

"I am excited to again be working with a talented driver like J.J., as well as the rest of the team and owners at Robinson-Blakeney Racing," Furr said.

In addition to its first year in Cup, Robinson-Blakeney Racing returns for its 12th season of competition in the Nationwide Series in the No. 28 car.

"We are preparing the team for a very successful 2012 season and we are very pleased to announce our partnerships with Tony and J.J.", Robinson said.

I see Robinson running the # 49 Toyota.

I don't know how you knew/guessed it but you were right! I hope they last longer than BAM racing when they came back as the #49 Toyota.

 

[B.McKeever]

Jay Robinson Racing in Nationwide ran the # 49 as their full team originally. Then used the # 28, # 4, # 48 in addition to the # 49. Also have used the # 39. I just assumed that Yates is remembered for the # 28 and Robinson probably didn't apply for it out of respect.

Good guess, eh?