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- JGR NEWS -
Nov 19, 2012 - Engine Failure Ends Neises' Race:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Was it the two week impoundment, or did several teams just have their number come up? All that is known for sure is that Robby Neises blew his motor yesterday in the 10th Helloween 500 by ECT, and he still finished 16th out of 27 entrants. Neises was able to make 88 laps in his "Kaitlyn the Puppetmaster", Ford F-Series before he broke his camshaft. All three JGR affiliated teams, Rob's 54, the 38 of JT Mayhew, and the 55, relief driven by Kevin Kabatoff, aka, -ECT-Midnight had motor issues, even though ECT called the other 2 "accidents". Both wrecked after undisclosed motor issues. In related news, the 51, a Chevy team, owned and driven by -ECT-TJ, who supplied JGR their engines also broke a camshaft, 24 laps earlier then Neises.
It won't be known till the motor is totally disassembled, but speculation is the high rpms, with the grip could of played into the motor issues. 10 drivers lost their motors in the race yesterday.
Neises was drafting in a pack, just outside the Top 10 when the motor blew. Neises qualified 13th for the race, and spent most of his race in the Top 10.
The hauler wasn't even loaded before an admin meeting was called about a North-South race, and the Blizzard at The Beach race, another annual ECT race, usually ran before Christmas.
May 13, 2012 - JGR Announces Kabatoff to Pilot 55:
Dateline: Manasas, VA
JGR announced last night at Texas Motor Speedway that efforts to find or contact Bud Boykin were unsuccessful, so the team will put Kevin Kabatoff, from British Columbia, Canada in the 55 Ford truck Sunday at the Helloween 500 race. Kabatoff, also known as -ECT-MidKnight is a successful driver in many series at ECT, OGR, and FTR.
JGR Owner, Robby Neises said, "Mid is a smart, successful driver, and JGR is glad to have him in the 55 in the Helloween race."
Nov 5, 2012 - Helloween 500 Postponed:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Pouring rain caused the postponement of ECT's 10th Helloween 500, slated to of be ran at Talladega yesterday. The effect of Hurricane Sandy was the culprit.
The race has been rescheduled for in two weeks, on the 18th. In related news, ECT has moved the broadcast of the race from RLM TV to OLR TV. The race is scheduled to go on the air around 6pm eastern time.
Driver of the number 55 truck, Bud Boykin did not make it to Talladega, and there has been no word where Boykin may be. This has happened before, and JGR owner Robby Neises said a replacement driver will be found to drive the 55.
May 9, 2012 - Some Worry About Neises:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Some fans, and members of the media have openly spoke about concerns about JGR team owner/driver Robby Neies. This after mistakes made Monday at the ECT Monday Night Aero Thunder Series race at Charlotte, and a sub-par performance last night in the Uneedapart.com Truck Superspeedway series at ECT.
In Monday's race, Neies slid his AMTRAK Mustang through his pit into race leader -ECT-TJ's pit. Neises was already a lap down, and TJ and Neises worked together to try and catch the leader who got an 11 second lead on the duo due to Neises' flub. In last nights race, Neises only lead a couple laps, and that was accomplished when he stayed out. He was quickly passed by the field on the restart. Neises was never a factor in the race, and just ran around the back of the field, finishing 11th.
Though no one would speak on the record, news is Neises will have another surgery, this one on his cervical area of his spine. Neises' 6th spinal surgery. Some wonder if that and other personal issues are the cause for his recent performance issues.
Saturday, he fell asleep in his motel room and missed the FTR Sprint Cup race.
May 7, 2012 - Neises Finishes 11th at Talladega:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Robby Neises returned to racing yesterday in OGR Midway Cup Series action at Talladega Superspeedway. Neises sounded and looked rested and alert prior to getting into his JGR/US NAVY Dodge Charger, speaking with fans and signing autographs.
Neises did seem to be a bit off, as he didn't lead any laps and finished 11th, a lap down.
Priot to the race, Neises apologized to the fans for yesterday. He said he was in such extreme pain after the OGR Nationwide race, that he went back to the hotel to rest, and fell asleep.
May 6, 2012 - Neises Found Asleep in Recliner:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
James Gang Racing released a statement this morning stating that team owner and driver Robby Neises was found overnight asleep in a recliner. Neises, who has his own car on the JGR Special evidently did not return there after the OGR Nationwide Race Saturday Afternoon. No one thought to look in his motel room.
The team statement said Neises was okay, and said stress and medication for his spinal injury contributed to Neises passing out in the motel room. A team member found Neises asleep at 2 am. No one had thought to look there because Neises would usually rest in his private car on the teams train, the JGR Special.
Breaking News
May 5, 2012 - Neises Misses Race:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
The number 54 JGR Ford Fusion was pulled off the grid yesterday at Talladega when Neises did not show up for the race. It was the first race for Neises at FTR since the meltdown at Richmond that caused AMTRAK to take their name off the car.
Per the league rules, the team was allowed to put the car on the grid, even though Neises missed qualifying, happy hour, and the drivers meeting. When Neises did not show up prior to engine firing, the team was forced to remove the car from the grid and take provisional points. This with the consequences of being parked at Richmond has caused Neises to drop from 3rd place in points.
No one seemed to know where the team owner/driver was. Neises had taken second place earlier in the day in the OGR Nationwide race.
May 4, 2012 - AMTRAK to Re-Evaluate Sponsorship After Meltdown:
Dateline: Wichita, KS
It was released today by team sources that AMTRAK has asked to be taken of the number 54 Ford Fusion driven by JGR team owner Robby Neises in the FastTrax Racing Sprint Cup Series. The release says it will only affect that car and series.
AMTRAK released a blurb that it would re-evaluate its sponsorship of Neises only in the FTR Spring Cup Series. The re-eval will be done quickly, but with diligence.
All of this stems from a meltdown Neises had last weekend at Richmond. The punishment came down yesterday, and it includes a very strict probation for the remainder of the season. Neises was unavailable for comment. Team sources said that the team will remove the AMTRAK decals for the race at Talladega. No replacement sponsor was named.
May 2, 2012 - Team Name to Remain the Same:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
With all the rumors swirling around Robby Neises and James Gang Racing, Neises sat down with reporters yesterday afternoon before the OGR B.A.R.E. Truck Series race at Talladega. Neises said JGR will remain the teams name, and reminded the reporters that JGR has fielded different makes for Neises and other JGR drivers in the past. He said he has taken a silent partner. The team will be making some changes. Including the amount of, and where Neises races. The biggest change is the switch to Dodge in OGR League racing. The US NAVY will be the primary for the remainder of the Nationwide series, Midway Cup Series, and B.A.R.E. Truck series. Navy will also be the primary on the Dodge Ram in the FTRL Wednesday series after Neises' two-race suspension for causing two cautions at Rockingham is over.
April 20, 2012 - Cash Straped, Neises Sells His Services:
Dateline: Wichita, KS
Robby Neises personally, and therefore, James Gang Racing, are out of money. The lack of funds, is causing cutbacks in racing, and, forcing Neises to sell his driving services and points to keep racing.
The first example of this will be this Sunday, in OGR's Midway Cup Series. Neises and his 54 are 4th in points going into the race at Kansas. The Augusta Model Railroad Club is sponsoring a Dodge Charger to run at least this week for Neises.
No word who Neises is driving for, the car is still listed as a JGR entry. The same group will field Dodge Challengers driven by Neises in OGR's Grand National Series. The US NAVY is penciled in for next weekend at Richmond, and the following at Talladega.
A source in the JGR camp says its a win-win for Neises and JGR. The Midway Cup Series cars are being built by the JGR shops, so that means more jobs for JGR and south central Kansas. There have been no word about any other series or leagues Neises races in. Rumor has it that he will cut down on racing during the summer months.
March 30, 2012 - Special Scheme on 54 This Weekend:
Dateline: Brooklyn, MI
Robby Neises announced prior to setup for the ECT Multi-League Series race today at Michigan International that his number 54 Ford Fusions will carry a special scheme Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is his youngest son's 9th Birthday. Neises announced that Happy 9th Birthday Cole/Bakugon would be the special sponsors.
Neises said the pink and white Happy Birthday Kaitlyn will be on the car in mid -May as she turns 11. Neises announced he will jump into a second pink car in November for his oldest's daughter Ashley's 15th birthday.
March 17, 2012 - JGR Announces Changes in Car Building:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
James Gang Racing Owner/driver, Robby Neises, met with reporters yesterday prior to the last exhibition race for the ECT Multi-League Series. He announced that JGR would be making changes in the car building area. QQQQ Racing from Florida had almost exclusively built all the cars driven by Robby Neises and Bud Boykin over the last couple years. Neises said the car building would be handled by various builders going forward, including QQQQ Racing. Included in the change, is the hiring of more in-house fabricators at JGR. Z3 and JD Wiley Racing are also slated to build cars.
JD Wiley Racing's first delivery will hit the track this Monday. "JD was the only builder doing the new Ford Mustang, and he proved it a competitive chasis," Neises said. Neises' number 54 Mustang will carry primary sponsorship from AMTRAK, the 55 of Boykin will carry Coleman Outdoor products as its.
JGR is expecting several Ford Fusion chassis from Z3 Racing for FTR and OGR league racing. The cars for ECT's Multi-League Series will be built in-house.
February 20, 2012 - Neises Wraps up Speedweeks Run-up to Daytona:
Dateline: Daytona Beach, FL
Robby Neises took a heck of a wild ride last night as he ended the first week of the 2012 Regular Season. He blew a motor Tuesday in the UNeedapart.com SS Truck series, Saturday he finished last in short-track action at South Georgia Motorsports Park in the QQQQ Racing Nationwide series, followed by a 10th place, DNF that evening in the FTR Sprint Cup Shootout back at Daytona. Sunday seen Neises return to the Ron Jon Surf Shop Ford Fusion in OGR's Midway CUp Series.
Neises was leading the race with one to go, before someone took out his pusher coming out of turn 2. Neises was holding on to second by a thread before the 29 Bud Chevy got some help and he pulled along side Neises' 54 Ford. A car was sitting at the start/finish line, and Neises was unable to miss it. Neises was sent into the outside wall, where the number 4 scooped Neises onto his side, where Neises skidded on his door about 500 or so feet before doing two barrel rolls, ending up on the cars roof. A battered Neises was extracted before the car was righted back on its wheels. Neises was taken to the Infield Care Center and was later treated and released with a very sore back.
What the (bleep) was that car sitting on the track for !" Neises asked when shown a video of the wreck. Neises said he thinks he woulda won the race if his pusher wasn't wrecked, and he may of held second if not for the idiot sitting on the track. Neises was sped away on his golf cart before he said anything more.
In a different subject: Neises' JGR's Monday Aerowars series will kick off this evening here at Daytona. Neises will field a Pontiac Grand Prix in the series, with sponsorship by the series, ECT, and AMTRAK.
February 14, 2012 - Neises, ECT Announce New Endeavor:
Dateline: Daytona Beach, FL
Robby Neises and Pete Sindone of East Coast Thunder Race League announced that Robby Neises would run a new/returning series at ECT. JGR's Monday Aerowars will start February 20th, here at the high-banks of Daytona. The series is a return of the aero88 mod to Mondays at ECT. The series folded last series when the admin left.
This series will be a mix of previous series' tracks and a preview of next series' tracks. The plan is to run the 1988 Winston Cup series next series. Many tracks have to be tested to make the '88 season platform work smoothly. The series will return to fixed setups, and have more 1-mile tracks than any other.
Robby Neises said, "I was worried we weren't gonna make it happen, but we did at the last minute. That's why I will self-sponsor the series this series."
February 3, 2012 - Neises Announces Sponsors for 2012:
Dateline: Wichita, KS
Robby Neises announced that AMTRAK, America's Railroad has signed a one-year deal to sponsor a great deal of JGR's racing endeavors for the 2012 season. It will be the primary on Neises' 54 Ford Fusions in the FTR Sprint Cup Series for a majority of the races. It will also be the primary for at least the Chase races in OGR's Midway Cup Series. AMTRAK will also be an associate on many other cars in other series for JGR.
January 28, 2012 - Neises Brings QQQQ Racing SS Series Championship Home:
Dateline: Daytona Beach, FL
Robby Neises used a little bit of luck, and patience to win his first ever ECT Online Championship last night. The Championship is Neises' first ever outright online Championship, second online, and 32nd individual Championship in his 16+ year career.
It was looking grim for Neises going into last weeks race at Talladega. Neises trailed ECT-Q by 4 points. ECT-Q did not make the race last week, and Neises finished third. He went into last nights race up 28 points, after biding his time and finishing second to Q, Neises took the Championship by 24 points.
"I was worried before last weeks race, but the team stood by me as we climbed back into contention after a rough first half of the season. The crew, the guys back in Kansas, my kids, they won me this Championship!", Neises said during the post race interview. "Robby only had one victory in the series, but got the best finish he could every race," crew chief Lugg Nutz said.
The Championship is the second ECT Championship for JGR. Last Series, ECT-Blaster, Bud Boykin took home the trophy in the Uneedapart.com SS Truck Series. When asked about the Championships, Neises said, "We're superspeedway racers, Bud and Me. But in the future, we're gonna also work on our short track and intermediate program for the 2012 Sprint Cup and ECT seasons."
Besides the 32 individual Championships, Neises has four team Championships from the heyday of offline racing.
January 20, 2012 - Neises Releases 2012 Schedule:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Robby Neises owner/driver of James Gang Racing, held his pre-season press conference on the JGR Special race train yesterday on his off day. He said his 2012 schedule isn't complete, but it's nearly there.
Here's a look at his schedule as he released it: Sunday: Full schedule, Midway Cup Series at OGR
Monday: Lead Admin and driver of JGR's Monday Aerowars at ECT
Tuesday: Full Schedule, Uneedapart.com SS Trucks, at ECT
Wednesday: Part-time schedule, SK modifieds at ECT
Thursday: Part-time schedule, 358 modifieds and 55 modifieds at ECT
Friday: Full schedule, QQQQ Racing SS Series at ECT
Saturday: Full schedule, Sprint Cup Series at FTR. Partial schedule NW11 series at ECT.
Neises said he will not be sponsoring the Saturday Nationwide11 series through his JGR Video Production division. He said he still might sponsor a series at ECT, but wouldn't elaborate.
Next week is the last week of ECT's Series 17, and Neises plans to wrap it up with a series ending "ECT! The Show". Neises said after ECT's final week, in which he plans to run every race that week, he will still have two weeks left in the Trucks at FTR, and a few more races at OGR in their Team Series.
Neises didn't mention what car make he would be driving in 2012, and his winter racing would not be any help. He has ran Toyota's in trucks at FTR and Nationwide cars at OGR, and a Dodge in the DEI 500 fiasco. Only in the truck series is the car prepared and pitted by JGR.
Also conspiculously absent was the naming of sponsors for the different rides. Usually, Neises will have all his ECT rides sponsored by the same sponsor. For the last two ECR series, the Bahamian Travel & Tourism Ministry has sponsored JGR and Neises with their "Go Bahamas" schemes and program. Neises had a plethera of sponsors in the FTR Cup series, Skittles has been the primary sponsor during the winter trucks, and AMTRAK for the DEI 500.
January 2, 2012 - Neises Out 1st in DEI 500:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Robby Neises was visibly upset as his number 07 AMTRAK, Dodge Charger was pushed into the garage area after a motor let go. "12 lousy laps, it makes me sick," Neises said, then he sped off in his golf cart back to the security of the motorcoach area. The finish, 37th, was the worse for Neises in several years.
Neither JGR crew chief Lugg Nutz, or any of the Penske South Racing engineer crew would speculate what the problem was that would make an engine grenade 12 laps into a 166 lap event. Nutz did say, "I don't know, and I didn't like how this all went down, a crew chief should have access to all data about the car!" The Penske group loaded the Charger into their hauler and holed up in it. Later one did come back out and say that a full investigation will be launched into what happened.
No mention if they would let anyone know those findings, including JGR crew chief Lugg Nutz. Nutz has been with Neises and JGR since Robby got into sim racing back in August of 1995.
Breaking News
January 1, 2012 - Neises Qualified for DEI 500:
Dateline: Talladega, AL
Robby Neises finished 6th in the Last Chance Qualifier Race earlier this morning, putting him into the DEI 500 later today. Neises stayed out of trouble, and the electrical gremlins from the last race stayed away. The 07 AMTRAK Dodge Charger was immediately taken to the garage from post-race tech inspection so changes could be made for the race. The Penske South Racing engineers alongside the JGR pit crew had the car ready for pre-race inspection in less than 45 minutes.
After the race, a press member visited with Neises. "I wanna thank Penske South and my pit crew for being here today, getting the AMTRAK Charger into the main event." Neises said he was offered buy ins to the televised 500 mile race at Talladega, but the team and his family agreed that they would only race their way in.
January 1, 2012 - Happy New Year from JGR:
Dateline: Wichita, KS
Robby Neises, the staff, and families of James Gang Racing wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2012.
Neises did not have an announcement on 2012, but a consist of new ex-AMTRAK Superliner car was seen on the siding at the JGR compound.
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