Seen and Heard: Day 1 at the Sprint Media Tour at CMS

Lotsa stuff going on at Media Tour Day 1 (or as we like to call it, The Fortnight).

Kyle Busch won't drive any NASCAR Camping World Truck events this season (gee, wonder why?), just the partial Nationwide schedule he set up earlier this month with brother Kurt.

TWEET SWEETs

Darian Grubb says the biggest surprise since moving to JGR is the technology support "they have way beyond what I'm used to" --Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

@KyleBusch says its more fun to bring the media "paintballing" than subjecting fans to that --Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

First thing Joe Gibbs said was 3 of his biggest sponsors re-signed. Asked who they are, he won't say. Curious. --SPEED.com’s Tom Jensen (@tomjensen100)

Mark Robinson, Joey Logano's former spotter, will spot for Danica Patrick in the Daytona 500. TJ Major will continue to spot in Nationwide Series -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

Mentioning the Brickyard? That sounds like a great idea for a 10th race says @DanicaPatrick -- Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer)

Expectations

Tony Stewart said that Danica Patrick would not be judged on finishing position, but on what she's learned during a season where her every move will be scrutinized.

“It’s been that way since she started driving Nationwide,” said Stewart. “I think that’s why I keep trying to emphasize to everybody that we’re not judged her success off where her finishing position is at the end of the day. There’s a lot more to getting ready to being a full-time Cup driver than where your finish is in these 10 races. There’s the knowledge and experience that she’s going to get, hopefully, through those races that matters more to me then her finishing position.”

Ryan Newman said that if he and bossman Stewart were architects, Smoke "built the statue of Liberty” while his No. 39 team “built Frosty the Snowman.”

“We didn’t try to build Frosty the Snowman, we tried to build the Eiffel Tower. We tried to build something big and great, it just didn’t happen. Sometimes you get off.”

News on Danica and Daytoeal brewing between SHR and Tommy Baldwin Racing that will see the No. 10 in the Great American Race with Patrick at the wheel.

Greg Zipadelli, Competition Director at SHR and interim crew chief for Patrick’s No. 10 team, hinted that a deal is in the works to provide the superstar driver “insurance” and lock her in the field for the Great American Race.

“We’re close to having a deal, but we’re not talking about it yet. There’s a few little details that aren’t quite there,” Zipadelli said. “We’re working on something to guarantee her in the 500, which is music to my ears and the rest of the guys and everybody else in the sport. I think it’s a very positive thing to have her in. (GoDaddy.com) is a great sponsor, she has a big fan following – and that’s what this sport is about, the fans.”

Tony Gibson is about the only guy that could say this about Tony Stewart.He referred to Stewart as "an old redneck guy that just loves to race"

Other Newman news has the addition of Aspen Dental as a primary for two races and an associate in the rest. That money, it was supposed, was earmarked for Steven Wallace at his dad's team, which recently shut its doors.