Young drivers making their moves

Jordan Anderson and Jake Crum, a couple of 17-year-old drivers, are taking big steps in their racing careers.

Anderson, who is from Forest Acres, S.C., is scheduled to make his first 2009 start at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia this weekend, has an endorsement deal with The Wheeler Company. That company is one founded by former Speedway Motorsports Inc. president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.

“I know what it takes to succeed in the world of NASCAR, and believe Jordan has what it takes to make it to the Cup Series by his 21st birthday, which is our goal,” Wheeler said. “He is the complete package: driving ability, maturity, determination, personality and character...and he does it all from getting his own sponsorships to towing his own car.”

Wheeler has worked unofficially with Anderson for more than four years. Anderson won the pro car division at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Summer Shootout in 2007 and 2008.

“I am humbled that Mr. Wheeler and his team have such faith and interest in my development and success,” Anderson said.

Crum, meanwhile, has signed a letter of intent with Venturini Motorsports as a developmental driver in the Automobile Racing Club of America series. Crum is the defending UARA Stars series champion.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to join Billy Venturini and everyone else at Venturini Motorsports,” Crum said. “The Venturini’s have been around the sport and the series for a long time. I know their experience makes them a strong team and I am looking forward to being able to race for them.”

Nationwide team fined: The No. 72 Nationwide Series team was penalized by NASCAR for violations found in the fuel sample taken from its car after qualifying at Bristol.

Crew chief Andy Punch was fined $10,000, suspended from April 4 through April 29 (four races) and was is on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Benny Gordon lost 50 driver points and team owner Frank Varishchetti was docked 50 owner points.

The team was found in violation of section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules), 20A-15 (NASCAR reserves the right to have all cars use the same brand of fuel in a given event) and 20A-15.2C (the gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers, or other oxygenates and it must not be blended with aniline or its derivatives, nitro compounds or other nitrogen-containing compounds) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.

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