Yoshiki Takata's NASCAR Career - (2004-???)

[Samster]

Thought I'd try one of these career threads. This one following rich Japanese paydriver, Yoshiki Takata's attempt at breaking into NASCAR, backed by his namesake company, Takata Racing Products whom are sponsoring Takata for that very reason, because he's their namesake. Takata spent 2003 running full time in the ARCA Re-Max Series, one of the main feeder series into the main NASCAR divisions during which he finished 18th in points despite making it to the finish in less than half of the races. Nevertheless he was recently granted approval for all NASCAR sanctioned tracks (rumour has it that this was with the help of a few bribes) and is currently in talks with several of the lesser known teams from the Busch Series, NASCAR's second division, for the 2004 season.

So as with my A1GP games this will be run with NR2003 with me driving as Takata. Another feature I'll have for this is that the entry list for each race will be exactly the same with the exception of no full time Cup drivers in the Busch Series due to a new ruling by NASCAR. I'll also exclude the obvious 'start and park' teams.

Finally this concept's biggest appeal, I'm absolutely terrible at NR2003 so reject galore will be garenteed especially on the bigger oval tracks.

So would this interest people? I'll probably start this in about a week or so, alternating between running this and the A1GP series, so one race of NASCAR, then one of A1GP etc.

[Samster]

Yoshiki Takata has signed to drive the #0 car for Johnny Davis Motorsports for the full 2004 season. Livery to be revealed soon.

Full Time Team Entry List for the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series.

Hendrick Motorsports
#5 Kyle Busch b. 1985

Promising youngster Kyle Busch will run his first full season in NASCAR after running a handful of races for NEMCO in 2003.

Roush Racing
#60 Carl Edwards b. 1979

Roush originally wanted Greg Biffle to return to the #60 and attempt to become the first driver to run full-time in both Cup and Busch. NASCAR got wind of this and divided to put their foot down once and for all on the 'Buschwackers' situation and decided to ban all full time Cup drivers from racing in the Busch series. Instead Carl Edwards will run for Rookie of the Year instead of the Craftsman Truck Series as intended.

Joe Gibbs Racing
#18 J.J. Yeley b. 1976
#20 Mike Bliss b. 1965

Mike Bliss returns for a second season with Joe Gibbs' Busch squad. He will be joined by rookie J.J. Yeley, a former IRL series driver.

Richard Childress Racing
#2 Ron Hornaday Jr. b. 1958
#21 Clint Bowyer b. 1979

Veteran Hornaday will remain with RCR for one more season and will be joined by another rookie, Clint Bowyer.

Chance 2 (DEI)
#8 Martin Truex Jr. b. 1980

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team will run in the Busch series full time for the first time, (basically it's Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s Busch Series team). Martin Truex Jr. will also be running his first full season though he isn't eligible for Rookie of the Year having ran too many races last season.

Haas CNC Racing
#00 Jason Leffler b. 1975

Leffler returns to competing full time in the Busch Series after joined Haas' new Busch series team at the end of last season.

Bill Davis Racing
#23 Kenny Wallace b. 1963

Bill Davis Racing will move down it's second Cup team to Busch along with Kenny Wallace and his sponsor, Stacker 2.

PPC Racing
#22 Jason Keller b. 1970

PPC Racing scale back to one car after Scott Riggs' graduation to the Cup series, Keller remains but will switch numbers from #57 to #22.

Brewco Motorsports
#27 Mike Skinner b. 1957
#37 David Green b. 1958

2003 runner up, David Green will remain with Brewco, he was to be joined by Johnny Sauter only for that to be messed up by the Non Cup drivers rule. Instead Mike Skinner will run what is currently a race by race deal in the races that don't conflict with his Truck series schedule.

Team Rensi
#25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. b. 1978

Hamilton Jr. will remain with Rensi with whom he was rapid with towards the end of 2003.

Akins Motorsports
#38 Bill Elliott b. 1955

Having retired from full time Cup racing after 2003, Bill Elliott will run certain races for the Evernham backed Akins Motorsports. It is rumoured that Dave Blaney will also run a few races for this team. This is also another team affected by the new anti Cup drivers ruling as they were to run Kasey Kahne full time.

Braun Racing
#32 David Stremme b. 1977

Braun will run full time for the first time this season with second year driver, David Stremme.

Phoenix Racing
#1 Johnny Benson Jr. b. 1963

Another former Cup driver moving down in Benson, the 1995 Busch series champion.

JTG Racing
#47 Robert Pressley b. 1959
#59 Stacy Compton b. 1967

JTG will expand to two cars for the first time as Compton is joined by Pressley.

FitzBradshaw Racing
#12 Tim Fedewa b. 1967
#14 Casey Atwood b. 1980

Both Busch series veteran Fedewa and Cup series reject Atwood joined the team halfway through 2003 and will run full time this season.

Rest of the list in next post.

[Samster]

Lewis Motorsports
#46 Ashton Lewis b. 1972

Lewis will run another season with his family run team.

Biagi Bros Racing
#4 Mike Wallace b. 1959

Mike Wallace returns to the Biagi Bros team.

NEMCO Motorsports
#87 David Reutimann b. 1970

Reutimann will run part time for Joe Nemechek's Busch Series team alongside a full time Truck schedule, the rest of the races will likely be filled up by Hendrick development drivers.

BACE Motorsports
#74 Damon Lusk b. 1977

A former Cup team moving down to the Busch Series due to a lack of funding. They will run the inexperienced Damon Lusk.

Petree Motorsports
#33 Paul Menard b. 1980

Another former Cup team, Paul Menard bags this ride for his rookie season thanks largely to daddy's money.

SCORE Motorsports
#02 Hermie Sadler b. 1969

Hermie Sadler will enter his own private team in the Busch Series for the first time, a full time effort alongside his part time Cup team.

DCT Motorsports
#36 Steve Grissom b. 1963

1993 champion, Steve Grissom will move to DCT who are running their first full time season.

Jay Robinson Racing

#39 Andy Ponstein b. 1976
#49 Mark Green b. 1959

Unbelievably the hapless Jay Robinson team found themselves run foul of the no Cuppers rule as original driver, Derrike Cope will run full time in Cup. He will be replaced by Mark Green who joins rookie Ponstein. Robby Benton will run Daytona in the #39 however as Ponstein isn't approved for the restrictor plate tracks (Daytona/Talladega).

Johnny Davis Motorsports
#0 Yoshiki Takata b. 1978
#10 Jason Schuler b. 1972

Expanding to two cars for the first time thanks to Takata's Japanese backers. They will be hoping the extra funding helps their performance.

MacDonald Motorsports
#72 Larry Gunselman b. 1960

Canadian run team will enter Gunselman on a race by race deal, one of NASCAR's greatest rejects.

Mixon Motorsports
#24 Mike Harmon b. 1958

Hapless Mike Harmon continues for another season with Mixon.

Moy Racing
#77 Donnie Neuenberger b. 1962

Neuenberger will run for Rookie of the Year with this tiny team.

Day Enterprises
#16 Justin Ashburn b. 1981

Ashburn will take over the #16 for his first full season.

Ortec Racing
#96 Gus Wasson b. 1974

Wasson will attempt his first full season though he won't be eligible for Rookie of the Year.

Rick Ware Racing
#51 Shane Sieg b.1982
#57 Stan Boyd b. 1970

Arguably the most hopeless of 2004's full time entrants running a pair of rookies. Kevin Conway will sub for Sieg in the #51 at Daytona as Sieg was so rejectful that he wasn't approved for restrictor tracks.

Rookie of the Year Contenders.
#0 Yoshiki Takata
#5 Kyle Busch
#18 J.J. Yeley
#21 Clint Bowyer
#33 Paul Menard
#39 Andy Ponstein
#51 Shane Sieg
#57 Stan Boyd
#60 Carl Edwards
#77 Donnie Neuenberger

[Samster]

Johnny Davis Motorsport have revealed Yoshiki Takata's paint scheme for the season.

[Samster]

Road Courses will return to the Busch Series schedule this season making a 36 race season. Same schedule as in real life just with these two road courses added in.

Schedule
1. Daytona
2. Rockingham
3. Las Vegas
4. Darlington
5. Bristol
6. Texas
7. Nashville
8. Talladega
9. California
10. Gateway
11. Richmond
12. Nazareth
13. Charlotte
14. Dover
15. Nashville
16. Kentucky
17. Milwaukee
18. Daytona
19. Chicargoland
20. Sonoma
21. New Hampshire
22. Pikes Peak
23. Indy Raceway Park
24. Watkins Glenn
25. Michigan
26. Bristol
27. California
28. Richmond
29. Dover
30. Kansas
31. Charlotte
32. Memphis
33. Atlanta
34. Phoenix
35. Darlington
36. Homestead

[Samster]

New qualifying rules will be introduced for 2004. The top 30 teams from last season will be garenteed to start for the first five races with the rest having to go through Pre-Qualifying. Then this will be reset each race with the current top 30.

Here's the list for now.

Locked in on 2003 performance.
1. #21 Richard Childress Racing
2. #5 Hendrick Motorsports
3. #37 Brewco Motorsports
4. #2 Richard Childress Racing
5. #25 Team Rensi
6. #22 PPC Racing
7. #1 Phoenix Racing
8. #38 Akins Motorsport
9. #23 Bill Davis Racing
10. #20 Joe Gibbs Racing
11. #59 JTG Motorsport
12. #46 Lewis Motorsports
13. #4 Biagi Bros Racing
14. #18 Joe Gibbs Racing
15. #12 Fitz Bradshaw Racing
16. #27 Brewco Motorsports
17. #77 Moy Racing
18. #49 Jay Robinson Racing
19. #0 Johnny Davis Motorsport
20. #16 Day Enterprises
21. #24 Mixon Motorsport
22. #39 Jay Robinson Racing

New or returning teams selected to fill the rest of the top 30.
23. #8 Chance 2 Motorsports
24. #60 Roush Racing
25. #00 Haas CNC Racing
26. #32 Braun Racing
27. #47 JTG Motorsport
28. #14 Fitz Bradshaw Racing
29. #87 NEMCO Motorsport
30. #74 BACE Motorsports

Full time teams which must Pre-Qualify.
31. #33 Andy Petree Racing
32. #02 SCORE Motorsports
33. #36 DCT Motorsports
34. #10 Johnny Davis Motorsport
35. #72 MacDonald Motorsport
36. #96 Ortec Racing
37. #51 Rick Ware Racing
38. #57 Rick Ware Racing

So Takata is garenteed a place in the first 5 races, a great relief for his sponsors.

[Samster]

Daytona Entry List

1. #0 Yoshiki Takata (JDM)
2. #1 Johnny Benson Jr. (Phoenix)
3. #2 Ron Hornaday Jr. (RCR)
4. #4 Mike Wallace (Biagi)
5. #5 Kyle Busch (Hendrick)
6. #6 Paul Wolfe (Baldwin)
7. #8 Martin Truex Jr. (Chance 2)
8. #9 Jon Wood (Roush)
9. #10 Jason Schuler (JDM)
10. #12 Tim Fedewa (FitzBradshaw)
11. #14 Casey Atwood (FitzBradshaw)
12. #16 Justin Ashburn (Day)
13. #18 J.J. Yeley (Gibbs)
14. #20 Mike Bliss (Gibbs)
15. #21 Clint Bowyer (RCR)
16. #22 Jason Keller (PPC)
17. #23 Kenny Wallace (BDR)
18. #24 Mike Harmon (Mixon)
19. #25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. (Rensi)
20. #27 Mike Skinner (Brewco)
21. #28 Kim Crosby (Crosby)
22. #32 David Stremme (Braun)
23. #33 Paul Menard (Petree)
24. #36 Steve Grissom (DCT)
25. #37 David Green (Brewco)
26. #38 Bill Elliott (Akins)
27. #39 Robby Benton (Robinson)
28. #43 Josh Richeson (Curb)
29. #46 Ashton Lewis (Lewis)
30. #47 Robert Pressley (JTG)
31. #49 Mark Green (Robinson)
32. #51 Kevin Conway (Ware)
33. #56 Regan Smith (McHill)
34. #57 Stan Boyd (Ware)
35. #59 Stacy Compton (JTG)
36. #60 Carl Edwards (Roush)
37. #62 Larry Hollenbeck (SWAT)
38. #67 C.W. Smith (Smith)
39. #68 Rick Markle (Markle)
40. #72 Larry Gunselman (MacDonald)
41. #74 Damon Lusk (BACE)
42. #77 Donnie Neuenberger (Moy)
43. #84 Norm Benning (Benning)
44. #87 David Reutimann (NEMCO)
45. #88 Wally Dallenbach (NEMCO)
46. #91 Stanton Barrett (Barrett)
47. #95 David Keith (Earl Sadler)
48. #96 Gus Wasson (ORTEC)
49. #99 Kerry Earnhardt (Waltrip)
50. #00 Jason Leffler (Haas)
51. #02 Hermie Sadler (SCORE)
52. #05 Brian Conz (Conz)

Must Go Through Pre-Qualifying

[dr-baker]

Road Courses will return to the Busch Series schedule this season making a 36 race season. Same schedule as in real life just with these two road courses added in.

Schedule

2. Rockingham
5. Bristol
11. Richmond
14. Dover
26. Bristol
28. Richmond
29. Dover

Nice to see some British rounds in there. Douglas Mann wishes he got to visit Europe for his NASCAR races. I think that is what prompted him to eventually quit for the F1RWRS series...

[WaffleCat]

Road Courses will return to the Busch Series schedule this season making a 36 race season. Same schedule as in real life just with these two road courses added in.

Schedule

2. Rockingham
5. Bristol
11. Richmond
14. Dover
26. Bristol
28. Richmond
29. Dover

Nice to see some British rounds in there. Douglas Mann wishes he got to visit Europe for his NASCAR races. I think that is what prompted him to eventually quit for the F1RWRS series...

All of them are actually US cities,just names borrowed over from the UK.

[dr-baker]

Road Courses will return to the Busch Series schedule this season making a 36 race season. Same schedule as in real life just with these two road courses added in.

Schedule

2. Rockingham
5. Bristol
11. Richmond
14. Dover
26. Bristol
28. Richmond
29. Dover

Nice to see some British rounds in there. Douglas Mann wishes he got to visit Europe for his NASCAR races. I think that is what prompted him to eventually quit for the F1RWRS series...

All of them are actually US cities,just names borrowed over from the UK.

I knew that, hence the wink.