Today’s NASCAR Nuggets from the Net will focus on more silly season news to keep race fans up-to-date with the latest and greatest information available. 

There’s also, an interesting nugget about a new primetime reality TV show, showcasing a high level NASCAR exec, premiering this spring.

And of course any other interesting NASCAR news as it becomes available throughout the day.

Also just a reminder that fans can follow Daytona’s Preseason Thunder testing, today and throughout the weekend, online at SPEEDtv.com from 9am-noon ET and at the SPEED channel on TV from 1-5pm ET.

Earnhardt Continues Partnership with Uponor, Appearing at International Builders Show

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt is looking to 2013 as a big year. In addition to continuing his sponsorship with Uponor for at least six more races, he is also going for the Rookie of the Year title.

Earnhardt will drive the #79 Go Gree Racing Ford Mustang for the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, which kicks off the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season Feb 23 on ESPN.

Earnhardt began his partnership with Uponor last year with several races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series along with appearances at some local industry trade shows. This year, Earnhardt will be making an appearance with his race car at the Uponor booth (C5907) at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas on Jan 22 and 23 from 2 to 4pm.

Earnhardt can also be heard every Wednesday at 9pm on SiriusXM NASCAR radio with Claire B. Lang. Brand Management for Uponor, Inc – PR

Arrowhead Signs with Turner Scott Motorsports

Jeb Burton will pilot the No. 4 Arrowhead Machine during the 2013 season

Turner Scott Motorsports is pleased to announce the addition of Arrowhead to the sponsorship lineup for the 2013 NASCAR season. Arrowhead will adorn the No. 4 Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) during Jeb Burton’s 2013 campaign. The next generation of the Burton racing family will work with veteran crew chief Mike Hillman Jr for his first full-time NCWTS season, as Burton will be vying for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

Arrowhead is a new venture and is set to debut at the TPE tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada the end of this month. Arrowhead is a disposable electronic cigarette that hails from the folks at Sequoyah Brands located in South Boston, VA. Turner Scott Motorsports – PR

Eric McClure Returns to TriStar Motorsports for 2013 Season

Team McClure, Inc and TriStar Motorsports NC, LLC announced January 9th that Eric McClure will return to the TriStar organization for the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season, driving the familiar orange and blue No. 14 Toyota Camry in all 33 scheduled events.  McClure, 34, made his NNS debut in 2003 and will make his 200th start at the season-opener on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Daytona International Speedway. In his two years with TriStar Motorsports, McClure has recorded one top-15, eight top-20, and 30 top-25 finishes. Additionally, he earned a career-best season-ending points finish of 16th following the 2012 season.

McClure’s long-time partner in NASCAR competition, Reynolds Consumer Products (RCP), is also returning for the 2013 season. With its Hefty and Reynolds brands, RCP will continue to serve as primary sponsor in all 33 scheduled events. In their eighth consecutive year as sponsor, the Hefty brand not only remains as one of the longest-running sponsors in the Nationwide series, but the partnership with McClure also boasts one of the longest active driver-sponsor combinations.

NASCAR veteran Wes Ward will continue to lead McClure and the Hefty Reynolds Racing team during the 2013 season. This will mark Ward’s 23rd year of NASCAR competition and his second with the 34-year-old driver. TMI/Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Racing – PR

Drivers to split Cup schedule in 51

Regan Smith and AJ Allmendinger will split the 2013 Sprint Cup schedule in the No. 51 at Phoenix Racing, general manager Steve Barkdoll said on Tuesday.

Smith, who has a fulltime ride in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, will open the Cup season for Phoenix (Racing) in the Daytona 500. He also will compete in the July Daytona race, both Talladega races and possibly four to six more events.

Allmendinger, who drove four races for Phoenix Racing last season after being released from Penske Racing following a suspension for violating NASCARs substance abuse policy, will run the rest of the schedule beginning with the second race at Phoenix.

Barkdoll said the plan is to drive the full season between the drivers, with the understanding Allmendinger would become the fulltime driver after Daytona if a sponsor stepped forward for the entire season. espn.go.com

Guy Roofing to Sponsor Phoenix Racing at Daytona

Will be on Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series cars at historic track

Phoenix Racing announced Jan 9th that Guy Roofing Inc will sponsor its No. 1 Chevrolet in the Drive4COPD 300 on Saturday, February 23 and its No. 51 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 24. The events at the historic, high-banked 2.5-mile oval will mark the organization’s first NASCAR sponsorship endeavors.

Guy Roofing is a national full service residential, commercial, and industrial roofing contractor headquartered in Spartansburg, SC. They provide services in the 48 contiguous states. It is a family-owned corporation celebrating over 40 years in business. PhoenixRacingInc.com

“Rising Star” Grant Galloway Eyes NASCAR in 2013

Like many others, Grant Galloway grew up with dreams of someday racing at the top levels of NASCAR. The 18-year old Indiana native is getting close to achieving his dream with his sights set on competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013.

“I know it all sounds too familiar, but I grew up watching NASCAR and I set a goal that one day I would be competing at that level,” stated Grant. “It has been amazing to see how God has opened doors for me and I am getting closer to living that dream. I have ad a few really good tests in a truck and we are working hard to get the necessary sponsorship to be able to put everything together. I am approved for Martinsville and if all goes as planned we’ll make our debut there in April.”

Galloway, a current student at Christian based Grace College in Indiana, began racing quarter midgets at the age of nine. After accumulating 45 feature wins and multiple track championships, Grant worked his way up to compete in the National Midget Series as one of the youngest competitors. His success led him to a spot in the Richard Petty Driver Search in 2010 where he was ultimately hired as driver for Richard Petty Driving Experience. This experience allowed him to advance to become a test driver for Dodge SRT program.

To prepare for his advancement to the next level of NASCAR, Grant has participated in two test sessions with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team SS GreenLight Racing. The Bobby Dotter led organization fields the No. 07 and No. 08 entries in the series.

“We tested Grant on two different occasions on different tracks and everyone on our team was impressed with his abilities,” stated Dotter. “We have grown SS GreenLight Racing into a place where young drivers come to begin their careers and Grant ranks up there with the best of them. We look forward to the opportunity to work with him in 2013 and expect some great things from this young driver.”

Efforts are underway to solidify the necessary sponsorship to compete at Martinsville and beyond in the 2013 season. The young charismatic driver presents a faith-based background which provides a breath of fresh air in today’s world. Integrity Sports Marketing – PR

CNBC Greenlights Two More Reality Series As Part of Primetime Rebrand

CNBC announced Monday that it has greenlighted two new reality series that will be part of its primetime rebrand, CNBC Prime. The series, announced at (The Television Critics Association) TCA, by president and CEO Michael Hoffman and SVP Primetime Alternative Programming Jim Ackerman, are the untitled Family Business Project and The Big Fix  – working title. Both series will premier in the spring. Hoffman said CNBC is moving into reality TV to beef up CNBC’s primetime lineup. “Not too long ago, CNBC’s primetime was the land of misfit toys, it really bore no connection to the core brand, which was a daytime brand,” he said. “That has all changed.”

In each episode of the hour long untitled family business project, from Embassy Row and executive produced by Michael Davies, viewers will meet three family businesses that “have the drive, ambition and desire to succeed, what they don’t have is cash,” They will compete for money and the studio audience will decide who gets it – the $50,000 prize. The Big Fix, from THE Company and executive produced by Justin W. Hochberg and Charlie Ebersol, will follow Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, as he helps rebuild businesses that are in series trouble.  Each show focuses on one company over eight episodes that exec will invest $2 million. Ackerman said CNBC thought the concept would be more compelling if it involved “someone who has skin in the game.” Deadline.com

Tim Tebow, Richard Petty restore NFL star’s college car 

Tim Tebow has hired a pretty famous person to restore his old college car – The King, Richard Petty.

So the New York Jets quarterback and the NASCAR legend are now partners of sorts. Sporting News