• Race: Saturday, October 17, 2009 in Concord, NC

• Title Sponsor: Bank of America

• Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:41pm/et

• NASCAR Countdown: ABC - 7:25pm/et

• Television Race Coverage: ABC, 7:00pm/et

• TV Announcers: Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree, Dr. Jerry Punch
  Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake, Vince Welch
  Studio: Allen Bestwick, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace

• SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 5:00pm/et with John Roberts, Jimmy Spencer, Kenny Wallace

• Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
  Sunday, October 18 at 3:15am/et on ESPN2
  Sunday, October 18 at 1:00pm/et on ESPN Classic
  Wednesday, October 21 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

• TV Listings, Links and Info:
  Jayski's TV Listings Page
  NASCAR on TV
  Race Fan TV

• This Week - Performance Racing Network (PRN) and XM Sirius Satellite

  • goprn.com

  • sirius.com

• Practices:
  Thurday, October 15, 3:00 - 4:30 pm/et, TV-SPEED
  Friday, October 16, 5:00 - 5:45 pm/et, TV-SPEED
  

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Friday, October 16, 6:20 - 7:20pm/et, TV-ESPN2

• Qualifying Draw: Thursday, October 15, 2:00pm/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Thursday, October 15 at 7:10pm/et, TV-ESPN2, no re-air scheduled;
  AND live via radio at PRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio Channel 128.

• Johnson wins at Lowe's: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his 6th win of the season and 46th of his career. Johnson is the first driver in the 6 year history of the Chase to win 3 of the first 5 Chase races. Johnson has now won 17 of 55 Chase races, Biffle and Edwards are 2nd best with 6 wins each during the Chase. #17-Kenseth finished 2nd, followed by #9-Kahne, #24-Gordon, #20-Logano, #33-Bowyer, #07-Mears, #18-Busch, #1-Truex Jr. and #2-Busch. Other chasers: #39-Newman 11th; #14-Stewart 13th, #16-Biffle 16th; #5-Martin 17th. Four Chases had very a rough night with #11-Hamlin losing an engine, finishing 42nd; #99-Edwards losing an engine and finishing 39th; #42-Montoya smacking the wall and limping to a 35th finish and #83-Vickers finishing 34th and is now a whopping 485 points out of the lead.
  There were 10 cautions for 42 caution laps and there were 24 lead changes among 9 drivers.
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  ESPN2: Sunday, October 18 at 3:15am/et
  ESPN Classic: Sunday, October 18 at 1:00pm/et
  SPEED, Wednesday, October 21 at 12:00pm/et.
  For race results, awards and more, see my Lowe's Motor Speedway Race Results Page.(10-17-2009)

• Notes/Facts after Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  * Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This marked the sixth victory by Johnson at Lowe's, tying him with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for the most by any driver at that racetrack. Johnson did it in 17 races while Waltrip took 34 and Allison took 36 races.
  * This was the 22nd straight Chase race won by a Chase driver.
  * This marked Johnson's third win in the first five races in the 2009 Chase. Johnson has won at least one race in every year of the Chase: 2004 (four wins), 2005 (two), 2006 (one), 2007 (four) and 2008 (three). He is the only driver to score three wins in the first five Chase races.
  * Johnson scored his 46th career victory in his 286th start. Johnson moved into a tie for 13th with Buck Baker on NASCAR's all-time wins list. It was Johnson's eighth career victory from the pole.
  * Johnson holds the points lead by 90 over second-place Mark Martin. This is the largest points lead with five races to go -- the previous was 69 by Johnson in 2008. The largest points lead overcome with five to go was 146 in 2006 by Johnson.
  * Johnson scored his sixth victory in 2009, the most by any driver this season. This is the eighth consecutive season that Johnson has won a race (2002-2009).
  * Johnson scored his first top-5 finish in his past six races at Lowe's.
  * Hendrick Motorsports scored its series-leading 16th victory at Lowe's, the most by any team. Johnson scored the 12th win for Hendrick this season.
  * Johnson led five times for a race-high 92 laps, including the final 14. He extended a 16-race streak of leading a lap at Lowe's. With his lead in Saturday's race, Johnson has led in 42 of the 55 Chase races. He has led in 26 of 31 races this season, a series best.
  * Johnson's worst finish in the past 31 Chase races (since Lowe's in October 2006) is 15th (Texas and Homestead in 2008).
  * Matt Kenseth (second) scored his third top-10 finish in his past four races at Lowe's.
  * Kasey Kahne (third) extended a five-race streak of top-10 finishes at Lowe's.
  * Jeff Gordon (fourth) scored his fourth top-10 finish in the past five races at Lowe's. He extended a five-race streak of top-15 finishes at the track.
  * Rookie Joey Logano (fifth) was the highest-finishing rookie.
  * Kyle Busch (eighth) extended a five-race streak of top-10 finishes at Lowe's.
  * Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) posted his first top-10 finish in his past 20 races.
  * Tony Stewart (13th) has been running at the finish in the past 54 races, the longest current streak.
  * Kevin Harvick finished 18th in his 275th consecutive series start at Lowe's. This was Harvick's 317th career start.
  * Martin (17th) ended a streak of seven straight top-10 finishes. He extended a six-race streak of lead-lap finishes at Lowe's.
  * Bobby Labonte finished 31st in his 575th consecutive start, the second-longest current streak behind Jeff Gordon. This was Labonte's 577th career start.
  * Juan Pablo Montoya (35th) posted his fifth finish of 28th or worse in six races at Lowe's. Montoya dropped from third to sixth in points.
  * Denny Hamlin (42nd) was the lowest-finishing Chase driver.(ESPN)(10-20-2009)

• Where the 2009 Chase Drivers finished at Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  (by the drivers Chase standing at start of race)
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, won the race
  2) #5-Mark Martin, 17th
  3) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 35th
  4) #14-Tony Stewart, 13th
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4th
  6) #2-Kurt Busch, 10th
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 16th
  8) #99-Carl Edwards, 39th/engine
  9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 42nd/engine
  10) #39-Ryan Newman, 11th
  11) #9-Kasey Kahne, 3rd
  12) #83-Brian Vickers, 34th.(10-17-2009)

• UNOFFICIAL Sprint Cup CHASE Standings
  [after LMS, Chase race 5 of 10; Season race 31 of 36]:
  pos, car#, driver, points, behind, [wins], race finish
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5923, finished 1st
  2) #5-Mark Martin [5 wins], 5833, -90, 17th
  3) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 5788, -135, 4th
  4) #14-Tony Stewart [4 wins], 5768, -155, 13th
  5) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win], 5746, -177, 10th
  6) #42-Juan Montoya 5728, -195, 35th
  7) #16-Greg Biffle 5655, -268, 16th
  8) #39-Ryan Newman 5635, -288, 11th
  9) #9-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 5592, -331, 3rd
  10) #99-Carl Edwards 5582, -341, 39th
  11) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 5551, -372, 42nd
  12) #83-Brian Vickers [1 win], 5438, -485, 34th
  For drivers points standings, see the Drivers Points Standings page.(10-17-2009)

• UNOFFICIAL Sprint Cup CLASSIC - the OLD way - Driver Points Standings
  [after Lowe's, race 31 of 36]:
  pos, car#, driver, points, behind
  1). #14-Tony Stewart, 4544
  2). #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4427, -117
  3). #24-Jeff Gordon 4405, -139
  4). #5-Mark Martin, 4084, -460
  5). #2-Kurt Busch, 4058, -486
  6). #11-Denny Hamlin, 4022, -522
  7). #42-Juan Montoya, 3979, -565
  8) #39-Ryan Newman, 3907, -637
  9). #16-Greg Biffle, 3904, -640
  10). #99-Carl Edwards, 3862, -682
  11). #9-Kasey Kahne, 3852, -692
  14). #17-Matt Kenseth, 3774, -770
  13). #18-Kyle Busch, 3755, -789
  14). #33-Clint Bowyer, 3699, -845
  15). #00-David Reutimann, 3644, -900
  16). #83-Brian Vickers, 3631, -913
  (10-17-2009)

• Race Fast Facts - Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  #48-Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America, his 46th victory in 286 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his sixth victory and 20th top-10 finish in 2009.
  This is his sixth victory and 13th top-10 finish in 17 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. He ties Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for most all-time at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
  With the victory, Johnson moves into a tie with Buck Baker for 13th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins list.
  #17-Matt Kenseth (second) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 21 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2009.
  #9-Kasey Kahne (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 12 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
  #20-Joey Logano (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
  Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 90 points over #5-Mark Martin.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-17-2009)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Martinsville Speedway:
  No changes, but the spread between 35th and 36th now down to 98 points (was 122)
  34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 2441, +213
  35) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 2326, 98 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
  36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 2228, 98 points out of 35th
  (no other teams are within 500 owners points of 35th)
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owners points standings, see my Owners Points Standings.(10-17-2009)

• Penalty Report - Lowe's:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  #21, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail End, Transmission
  #98, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail End, Transmission
  #29, 11, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #77, 11, Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area, Tail End
  #25, 36, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
  #55, 93, Rolling a tire(s) beyond the center of pit road, Pass Thru
  #18, 119, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #44, 121, Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
  #42, 165, Car/Truck must enter pit road single file, Tail End
  #83, 165, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #99, 166, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #7, 245, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru
  #08, 247, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru
  #71, 313, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  (NASCAR Statistics)(10-17-2009)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Lowe's: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: no driver down a lap
  Caution 2: no driver down a lap
  Caution 3: no driver down a lap
  Caution 4: #7-Gordon, 30th
  Caution 5: ?
  Caution 6: #02-Gilliland, 25th
  Caution 7: #12-Stremme, 19th
  Caution 8: #5-Martin, 17th
  Caution 9: #6-Ragan, 20th
  Caution 10: #43-Sorenson, 21st
  (10-17-2009)

• Pit Stall Selections - Lowe's Motor Speedway: The selections of pit stalls for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #48-Johnson chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Outside pole sitter #5-Martin took pit stall 15, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].
  #9-Kahne, who starts 3rd took the 22nd pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #71-Bliss, who starts 7th.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Lowe's Motor Speedway Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-16-2009)

• Race Coverage of the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2009.
  Television (TV): ABC at 7:25 pm/et; pre-race show at 7:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:41pm/et
  Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  ESPN2: Sunday, October 18 at 3:15am/et
  ESPN Classic: Sunday, October 18 at 1:00pm/et
  SPEED, Wednesday, October 21 at 12:00pm/et

• Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page

• NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule for Cup, Nationwide: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

• NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton explains new restart rules: NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton gave an explanation Friday of the new double-file restart rules. Here are excerpts of the conversation with the media and his answers to some questions ask.
  SD: What is the procedure for double-file restarts?
  Pemberton: “When the caution comes out, the field will be frozen as it is today. The free-pass car will be identified as it is today and it will be the same format. As the cars are gathered behind the pace car, the pit road is opened for leaders, the second time by it will be open for the lap-down cars, and that is how it is today. And when we come to the one [lap]-to-go [until the green drops], the cars that have elected not to pit that are lap-down cars that will be in front of the lead-lap cars that have pitted, will be waved around to join the field at the tail end. The lineup will be on the double-file restart, lead-lap cars to the front, lap-down cars, … then it will be the free-pass car, then it will be the cars that have been waved around and then it will be the penalty cars.
  SD: If a guy on the lead lap opts not to pit, he’s the leader?
  Pemberton: Correct. Still P1 [the leader].
  SD: Is there an option for the lead car to select which lane?
  Pemberton: When we give the 1-to-go, the leader throughout the entire race will get lane choice, high or low. He has to make that choice when we come to the 1-to-go at the stripe. One other thing we have added is the free pass will take place from start to finish throughout the entire race.
  SD: If a car on the lead lap pits a second time with the lap-down cars, does he restart with the lap-down cars?
  Pemberton: He will start in his respective track position how he came off of pit road. If you have a lead-lap car who makes multiple pit stops to work on his car, he is not in that lead-lap group that pitted that first-time by. He’ll be scored where he comes off pit road [with lapped cars]
  SD: The lap-down cars that don’t pit and the get the wave around the leader, do they get to come all the way around to rear of the field?
  Pemberton: That’s correct but they will not be able to hit pit road for tires and fuel. Pit road won’t be closed but they will forfeit their wave-around status if they hit pit road for tires and fuel.
  SD: At tracks like Martinsville and Bristol and you’re waiting for the 1-to-go, are you anticipating that the wave around could be hard to be completed?
  Pemberton: There could be issues. Every track has its different set of challenges. We’ll have to address those when we get to them. The whole field will be double file so they won’t be as strung out.
  SD: If multiple lead-lap cars stay out, do the lap-down cars that don’t pit still get waved around?
  Pemberton: The only way you can be waved around is if you are between the leader and the pace car. As pit stops take place, you need to be in front of the lead-lap cars. You get waved around regardless if you’re one or two or three laps down [or more].
  SD: Are you going to use double-file restarts throughout the race for every race?
  Pemberton: Yes.
  SD: It was said that Trucks and Nationwide will use it later this year? Any timetable?
  Pemberton: It’s just later. We need to work through some of these details here. We’ve got three races in three different states [this weekend]. We want to make sure we concentrate on this [in Cup] and get everything as right as we can.(SceneDaily)(6-7-2009)

• NASCAR Announces “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style”: NASCAR announced a change to its race format with the addition of “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style” throughout each race. Beginning with this weekend at Pocono Raceway, the first- and second-place drivers will line up side-by-side as the green flag flies for each restart. “We’ve heard the fans loud and clear: ‘double-file restarts – shootout style’ are coming to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans.”
  NASCAR recently used the “double-file” format for its non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which produced an unpredictable finish. The format will be adapted for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the near future. Under the previous format, cars on the lead lap would restart in a single-file line while cars that had been lapped would start in a line next to them. Under the new format, the race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane. The second-place driver would then restart next to the leader. Regardless of where the leader starts, drivers in odd number positions (3rd, 5th, 7th places, etc.) will restart on the inside lane, while drivers in even number positions (4th, 6th, 8th places, etc.) will restart on the outside. All restarts will use the same format regardless of the number of laps remaining in the race.
  The first-place driver will continue to control the timing of restarts in a designated zone on the track. Likewise, cars are to stay in line until they reach the start/finish line. The first eligible car a lap or more down will continue to earn one lap back following a caution, which is known as the “free pass.” However, a new element beginning this week will be that the “free pass” will remain in effect the entire race [before it was all race until 10 or less laps to go, then none was awarded]. Lapped cars choosing to remain on the track will be “waved around” the caution car and will restart the race in respective track position, thus picking up a lap to the leader provided the leader also pits. This will also remove lapped cars from behind the pace car, allowing the leaders to take the green without interference [so the leader will not restart in the middle of the pack].(NASCAR)(6-4-2009) Comment here

• Lowe's Motor Speedway Pit Stall Selections

• Happy Hour practice: for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is over, the top five:
  #48-Johnson 185.478
  #5-Martin 184.849
  #11-Hamlin 184.685
  #7-Gordon 184.237
  #18-Busch 183.937
  slowest: #08-Labonte 179.420 and #13-Papis 179.808
  See practice speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Lowe's Practice Speeds Page.(10-16-2009)

• 1st Friday practice: for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is over, the top five are:
  #48-Johnson 187.162
  #5-Martin 185.790
  #16-Biffle 185.242
  #17-Kenseth 184.805
  #11-Hamlin 184.786
  slowest: #13-Papis 179.485 and #08-Labonte 179.503
  See practice speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Lowe's Practice Speeds Page.(10-16-2009)

• Johnson on pole at Lowe's: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway with a lap of 192.376mph for his 3rd pole of the season and 22nd career pole. #5-Martin is 2nd fastest followed by #9-Kahne, #17-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #39-Newman, #71-Bliss, #25-Keselowski, #24-Gordon and #18-Busch.
  The eight non Top-35 drivers who made the race: #71-Bliss, #25-Keselowski, #02-Gilliland, #82-Speed, #87-Nemechek, #21-Elliott, #13-Papis and #08-Terry Labonte who used a past champions provisional to make the race.
  The four drivers who failed to qualify: #36-McDowell, #09-Marlin, #66-Blaney and #37-Kvapil.
  See the starting lineup, qualifying results, order, pole progression and more on my Lowe's Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results/Order page.(10-15-2009)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America with a lap of 28.070 seconds, 192.376 mph.
  This is his 22nd pole in 286 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his third pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2009.
  Johnson broke the record for fastest qualifying lap in the new car. The previous fastest qualifying lap in the new car was run by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2008 (190.907 mph).
  This is his third pole in 17 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
  #5-Mark Martin (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2009 and his 28th in 50 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
  #9-Kasey Kahne (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. It is his 17th in 31 races this season.
  #20-Joey Logano (12th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-15-2009)

• Where the 2009 Chase Drivers start at Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  (by the drivers Chase standing)
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, starts 1st on the pole
  2) #5-Mark Martin, 2nd
  3) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 18th
  4) #14-Tony Stewart, 5th
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 9th
  6) #2-Kurt Busch, 15th
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 23rd
  8) #99-Carl Edwards, 28th
  9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 17th
  10) #39-Ryan Newman, 6th
  11) #9-Kasey Kahne, 3rd
  12) #83-Brian Vickers, 30th.(10-15-2009)

• REVISED Coverage of Qualifying for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2009 approx 9:05pm/et.
  TV: ESPN2 - 9:00pm/et
  Radio: PRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled

• Thursday practice: for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway FINALLY was run after being delayed due to rain all day and is now over, practice ran about 45 minutes, the top five:
  #48-Johnson 192.486
  #5-Martin 191.401
  #33-Bowyer 191.035
  #16-Biffle 190.840
  #14-Stewart 190.611
  slowest: #09-Marlin 181.129 and #08-Labonte 185.027
  incidents: #83-Vickers couldn't get his car to start early in the practice but finally got it running. #42-Montoya ran into the rear of #31-Burton, doing some damage to the nose of the car. #09-Marlin lost an engine, was smoking and on the apron before takling the car to the garage.
  See practice speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Lowe's Practice Speeds Page.(10-15-2009)

• Where did the non top-35 drivers practice on Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #71-Mike Bliss, 7th fastest overall
  #25-Brad Keselowski, 12th
  #82-Scott Speed, 25th
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 27th
  #02-David Gilliland, 32nd
  #66-Dave Blaney, 34th
  #37-Travis Kvapil, 39th
  #08-Terry Labonte [PC1], 46th, would use past champ prov
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #21-Bill Elliott [PC2], 40th
  #36-Micheal McDowell, 42nd
  #13-Max Papis, 43rd
  #09-Sterling Marlin, 47th lost engine
  See practice speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Lowe's Practice Speeds Page.(10-15-2009)

• Qualifying Order for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
  The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #47-Ambrose.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #17-Kenseth.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #37-Kvapil with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #21-Elliott.
  See the full qualifying order on the Lowe's Qualifying Page.(10-15-2009)

• Rain at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Rain in the Charlotte area since Wednesday morning and continuing into Thursday has delayed all track activities so far at Lowe's Motor Speedway today. Nationwide Series practice was scrubbed, Sprint Cup Series practice for the NASCAR Banking 500 was scheduled to start at 3:00pm/et [and run to 4:30pm/et] and is under a rain delay. Rain has ended as of 4:20pm/et and some areas of the track is looking dry. NASCAR's John Darby was interviewed and says they are pressing on and hope to gets the Sprint Cup cars on the track by 6:00pm/et for some practice. There is a 70% chance of rain Thursday evening. Sprint Cup Series qualifying is scheduled for 7:10pm/et [ESPN2]. For some weather links, see my LMS Race Info page - weather links section.
  Revised Sched According to NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp, Sprint Cup practice will begin once the track is dry and will continue until 7:00pm/et. Nationwide Series practice will take place from 7:05-8:30pm/et, followed by Sprint Cup qualifying at 8:40pm/et (SPEED). NASCAR Now reports ESPN2 will cover all the practices and the Sprint Cup qualifying live. If qualifying gets rained out, the four drivers/teams who miss the race are: #36-McDowell, #37-Kvapil, #13-Papis and #02-Gilliland.(10-15-2009)

• The Entry List for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of 2009 owners points:
  #02-David Gilliland (none/0)
  #08-Terry Labonte [past champ 1996](51/6)
  #09-Sterling Marlin (2009 Race Winner as owner)(38th in owners pts/30 attempts)
  #13-Max Papis (44/16)
  #21-Bill Elliott [past champ 1988](44/10)
  #25-Brad Keselowski (46/7)
  #36-Michael McDowell (42/30)
  #37-Travis Kvapil (45/22)
  #66-Dave Blaney (41/30)
  #71-Mike Bliss (37/30)
  #82-Scott Speed (36/30)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (39/30)
  withdrew:
  #64-Mike Wallace (49/17)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 09,25,08,21,71,82,87,66
  missing the race would be [4]: #'s 36,37,13,02
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Lowe's Entry List.(10-12/14-2009)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Lowe's Motor Speedway:
  No changes, but the spread between 35th and 36th now up to 122 points (was 111)
  34) #7-Gordon/Robby Gordon: 2368, +219
  35) #34-Andretti/Earnhardt Ganassi: 2271, 122 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
  36) #82-Speed/Red Bull: 2149, 122 points out of 35th
  (no other teams are within 500 owners points of 35th)
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owners points standings, see my Owners Points Standings.(10-11-2009)

• What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page

• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: NASCAR announced in January that starting with the Cup race at California, teams outside the top 35 in owners points will be allowed to qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The Nationwide and Truck Series used this procedure at Daytona. Sprint Cup didn't use the new procedure at Daytona due to the unique/somewhat complicated qualifying session/races there. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

• How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers).

• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: See my 2009 Past Champions Provisional Page for more

• 2008 October Pole Sitter: None due to inclement weather

• 2009 May Pole Sitter: #39-Ryan Newman, 188.475mph, finished 2nd

• Track Qualifying Record: #38-Elliott Sadler, Oct 2005, 193.216mph

• Event Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, May 2005, 192.988mph

• Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 2 months, 6 days, 10/10/1993

• Oldest Pole Winner: Bobby Allison, 49 years, 10 months, 8 days, 10/11/1987

• 2008 October Race Winner: #31-Jeff Burton, 133.699mph, started 4th

• 2009 May Race Winner: #00-David Reutimann, 120.899mph, started 21st

• Track Race Record 500 miles: Jeff Gordon, Oct 1999, 160.306mph

• Track Race Record 600 miles: Bobby Labonte, May 1995, 151.952mph

• Slowest Race Record: Junior Johnson, 107.752mph, 1960

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Jimmie Johnson, May 2003, started 37th

• Oldest Winner: Cale Yarborough, 46 years, 6 months, 9 days, 10/6/1985

• Youngest Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 9 months, 25 days, 5/29/1994

• Most Wins: 6 - Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison; Current driver: 5, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon

• Most Poles: 14 - David Pearson; Current driver: 7, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman

• Most Top 5s: 23 - Bobby Allison and Richard Petty

• Most Top 10s: 31 - Richard Petty

• Most Laps Led [500 mile race]: 328, Ernie Irvan, 10/10/1993

• Most Laps Led [600 mile race]: 335, Jim Paschal, 5/28/1967

• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 335, Jim Paschal, 5/28/1967

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 3, Joe Weatherly, 5/21/1961

• Most Leaders: 21, 5/29/2005
  
  

• Most Lead Changes: 59 - 5/27/1979
  
  

• Fewest Leaders: 3, 5/21/1961
  
  

• Fewest Lead Changes: 2 - 5/21/1961
  
  

• Most Cautions: 22, 5/29/2005
  
  

• Most Caution Laps: 113, 5/25/1980
  
  

• Fewest Cautions: 0 - 5/21/1961
  
  

• Fewest Caution Laps: 0, 5/21/1961
  
  

• Most Finishers on a lead lap: 25, 10/15/2005
  
  

• Most Finishers on a lead lap: 26, 5/25/2009 [227 of 400 laps completed]
  
  

• Most Running at the Finish: 39, 10/11/2003
  
  

• Most Running at the Finish: 42 [of 43], 5/25/2009 [227 of 400 laps completed]
  
  

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 10 - 5/21/1961
  
  

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 36 - Chevy
  
  

• Races won from starting pos 1: 13 [12.9%]
  

• Races won from starting pos 2: 15
  
• Races won from starting pos 3: 13
  
• Races won from starting pos 4: 9
  
• Races won from starting pos 5: 8
  
• Races won from starting pos 6: 5
  
• Races won from starting pos 7: 6
  
• Races won from starting pos 8: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 9: 5
  
• Races won from starting pos 10: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 12: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 13: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 14: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 15: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 16: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 17: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 18: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 20: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 21: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 22: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 25: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 37: 1
  
• Races won from the top 5: 58 of 101 - 57.4%
  
• Races won from the top 10: 78 of 101 - 77.2%

• At Lowe’s Motor Speedway::
  • Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway, as Lowe’s Motor Speedway was then known, in 1959.
  
  • The track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960.
  
  • The first NASCAR Nationwide Series race was May 29, 1982.
  
  • The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
  
  • The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999.
  
  • The first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at LMS was on May 16, 2003.
  
  • The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
  
  • There have been 101 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
  
  • 37 drivers have posted poles, led by David Pearson with 14.
  
  • Fireball Roberts won the pole for the first race, in 1960.
  
  • David Pearson posted 11 straight poles at Lowe’s from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
  
  • Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in poles, with eight.
  
  • Jeff Gordon won five straight poles for the spring races between 1994 and 1998.
  
  • 42 drivers have won races, led by Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip with six each. David Reutimann became a first-time series winner in May after winning the Coca-Cola 600.
  
  • Joe Lee Johnson won the first race, in 1960.
  
  • Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson lead all active drivers in victories, each with five.
  
  • There have been 13 back-to-back victories, including three in-a-row by Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (both in 2004 and 2005).
  
  • A sweep has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
  
  • 13 races have been won from the pole, the last by Jimmie Johnson in the 2004 Coca-Cola 600.
  
  • Jimmie Johnson won the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 from the 37th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
  
  • Jimmie Johnson is the only driver with more than one LMS race to average top 10 finishes (9.1). He comes just short of the all-time best average finish there, held by Rex White (9.0).
  
  • A number of active drivers earned their first win at LMS: Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears and David Reutimann.
  
  • There have been 509 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in North Carolina.
  
  • 414 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as North Carolina; 342 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
  
  • There have been 42 race winners from North Carolina in NASCAR’s three national series; 28 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#02-David Gilliland	Farm Bureau Insurance	#02 Team Schemes Page
#1-Martin Truex Jr.	Guitar Hero DJ Hero	#1 Team Schemes Page
#5-Mark Martin	Kelloggs Pop Tarts/Carquest	#5 Team Schemes Page
#7-Robby Gordon	Freightliner	#7 Team Schemes Page
#11-Dennhy Hamlin	FedEx Office	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Old Spice/Office Depot	#14 Team Schemes Page
#16-Greg Biffle	3M/IDG	#16 Team Schemes Page
#17-Matt Kenseth	Carhartt	#17 Team Schemes Page
#18-Kyle Busch	M&M's / Susan G. Komen	#18 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Stanley Tools / Susan G. Komen	#19 Team Schemes Page
#21-Bill Elliott	Warriors in Pink	#21 Team Schemes Page
#24-Jeff Gordon	Transformers II / Megatron	#24 Team Schemes Page
#26-Jamie McMurray	Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea	#26 Team Schemes Page
#33-Clint Bowyer	General Mills Monsters Cereal	#33 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	Transformers II / Optimus Prime	#39 Team Schemes Page
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya	Lysol	#42 Team Schemes Page
#43-Reed Sorenson	Super 8 Motel	#43 Team Schemes Page
#44-A.J. Allmendinger	Best Buy	#44 Team Schemes Page
#47-Marcos Ambrose	Clorox	#47 Team Schemes Page
#55-Michael Waltrip	NAPA / Susan G. Komen	#55 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.	AMP Energy Drink/MtnDew	#88 Team Schemes Page
#96-Bobby Labonte	Ask.com/Search for the Cure	#96 Team Schemes Page
#98-Paul Menard	Johns Manville/Menards	#98 Team Schemes Page
#99-Carl Edwards	Aflac - Silver	#99 Team Schemes Page





• Pop Tarts for Martin at LMS: For the third time this season, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's most popular morning food product, will be on the hood of the #5 Chevy during this weekend's events at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In its most recent race, the Pop-Tarts/Carquest Chevy finished second in Martin's 1,000th Sprint Cup start at Bristol. Pop-Tarts will return to the hood for the final time this season at Talladega Superspeedway in two weeks. No driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup history has won more October races at Lowe's Motor Speedway than Mark Martin. If the #5 team can reach Victory Lane on Saturday, he would break a three-way tie with Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough to become the only driver with four October wins. Martin also would join teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon as the only active drivers with five victories at the intermediate oval. This weekend, Carquest and the #5 team will welcome honorary crew members Matt Krueger and Lyle Wuestenberg. Wuestenberg partnered with Carquest last November to help grant Krueger's dream. The 19-year-old Krueger, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, got the chance to drive his personal 1999 Chevy Camaro around Lowe's Motor Speedway.(HMS), see images of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(10-16-2009)

• Freightliner to sponsor Robby at LMS: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced that Freightliner Trucks will serve as the primary sponsor of the #7 Camry at the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 17, 2009. This recent announcement is another chapter in the ongoing relationship between Robby Gordon Motorsports and Freightliner Trucks which began three years ago. Earlier this year, the companies started working together to produce three custom-made "fast assistance" vehicles that will be used during the 2010 Dakar Rally in South America. These custom built vehicles feature a 580 horsepower engine and 48 inch tires. Additionally, Eaton and the Charlotte Truck Center will serve as associate sponsors of the #7 for the Charlotte race. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America (RGM), see images of the scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(10-16-2009)

• DJ Hero featured on Truex's #1 car: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that it has partnered with Activision Publishing, Inc. and its long-time sponsor Target to feature the highly anticipated, critically acclaimed new interactive music experience, DJ Hero, on Martin Truex Jr.'s #1 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 17. At the race, Target invites race fans to take DJ Hero for a spin 10 days before its launch at the Target DJ Hero station located on "The Fan Midway" across the street from Lowe's Motor Speedway. Truex Jr. will test his DJ Hero mixing and scratching skills at the Target DJ Hero station on Saturday, October 17 from 3:30 – 4:00pm/et. The station, decorated to give fans a true party feel, welcomes race fans to enter and test their skills on numerous DJ Hero kiosks. For more information about DJ Hero, visit www.djhero.com (EGR), see images of the scheme on my #1 Team Schemes page.(10-16-2009)

• Newman, #39 Team to Represent 'Good' in Good vs. Evil Clash: This weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the #39 Stewart Hass Racing Chevy of Ryan Newman will feature a special paint scheme to celebrate the upcoming debut on Oct. 20 of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on DVD and Blu-ray. Newman's #39 will feature images of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the peace-loving Autobots. And he won't be the only Transformer on the racetrack. Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevy will sport graphics of Megatron, the malevolent leader of the Decepticons. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen captivated audiences to earn over $830 million at the box office and become the No. 1 movie of the year in North America (SHR), see an image of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page and for more info on the ESPN's "Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen" Contest, see my Racing Contest page.(10-15-2009)

• Transformers scheme for Gordon:
  In Saturday night’s NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon will drive a specially painted #24 DuPont Chevy promoting the October 20 debut of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on DVD and Blu-ray. Megatron, the malevolent leader of the Decepticons, will be featured on the Hendrick Motorsports Impala SS.(HMS), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(10-14-2009)

• Pink scheme for the #96 Ask.com car: When NASCAR comes home to Charlotte on Oct. 17 for the NASCAR Banking 500, Bobby Labonte will have more people on his tail than any other driver on the track – literally. More than 13,000 names of people affected by breast cancer will be featured on the rear of Labonte’s pink #96 Ford as part of a breast cancer awareness program with his sponsor Ask.com. The search engine transformed its homepage into a one-day memorial for those affected by breast cancer on Oct. 1 to celebrate the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its national partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Each Tribute made that day will be incorporated into the #96 paint scheme. Labonte, who will sport a firesuit and helmet inspired by the pink colors of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, appreciated his sponsors’ efforts. Ask.com, the Official Search Engine of NASCAR, recently announced a national multi-faceted partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure which included a pledge to invest $1 million to the organization. Throughout October, race fans can continue to participate in the Ask.com Search for the Cure program at www.Ask.com/cure. By downloading the special Komen search “skin” and answering questions about breast health, Ask.com will continue to make donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on behalf of users.(Ask.com/Taylor), see the scheme on my #96 Team Scheme page.(10-13-2009)

• Monsters scheme coming for Bowyer UPDATE: #33-Clint Bowyer is scheduled to run a special General Mills Monsters Cereal / Halloween paint scheme on October 17th at Lowes Motor Speedway.(7-23-2009)
  UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer is getting in the spirit of Halloween early this year thanks to the help of fans who cast tens of thousands of votes for which spooky firesuit the Emporia, Kan., native would wear for the October 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 500-mile race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Fans were allowed to cast their votes on one of four firesuit designs – one each featuring Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry or a suit that featured all three classic General Mills Monsters cereal characters - once a day, every day at www.Millsberry.com/vote. Voting commenced September 10 and ended September 16. When the votes were tallied, it was the Count Chocula firesuit that was declared the winner. In addition to wearing the winning “costume,” Bowyer will drive a special black and purple Scary Fast #33 Count Chocula Chevy that features the three monsters characters. Count Chocula was the first of a new line of monster cereals that debuted in March of 1971. Not only was it the first cereal of the new line, it quickly became the most popular. The Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry characters will be making appearances at Lowe's Motor Speedway through the entire race weekend. Count Chocula is scheduled to accompany Bowyer to driver introductions prior to the start of the 500-mile event. Boxes of Bowyer and Childress-signed Monsters cereal will be given out to the first 333 fans who buy $33 worth of Cheerios Racing merchandise from Bowyer’s at-track merchandise hauler at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(RCR), see the scheme on my #33 Team Scheme page.(10-13-2009)

• Sadler back in pink at LMS: For the second consecutive year, Elliott Sadler and the #19 Stanley Dodge are changing their look with a pink paint scheme for the NASCAR Banking 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Oct. 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The pink paint scheme is in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Sadler on Racing for the Cure: "My Mom has always been by my side and my biggest fan. Last year when she walked out to the starting grid in Charlotte and took a picture with me in my pink Stanley/Susan G. Komen for the Cure firesuit in front of my pink #19 Dodge she told me it was one of the most special moments of her life. That entire weekend was extremely special to me. The folks at Susan G. Komen for the Cure came out to our Stanley hospitality and did one of the most interesting hospitality experiences I've ever been a part of — it started by asking who in the crowd has ever had a family member or friend diagnosed with cancer and within three questions everyone in the tent was standing up. It just goes to show you how many people have been touched by not only breast cancer, but cancer of any kind. Everyone knows someone close to them that's had to battle cancer." Sadler's mother, Bell, was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 30, 2007. Susan G. Komen representatives met with Mrs. Sadler at the fall Charlotte race in 2007 to let her know what to expect in her battle with breast cancer. Mrs. Sadler's breast cancer has been in remission for more than a year. The #19 Stanley/Susan G. Komen for the Cure Dodge features breast cancer survivor Brandy Hickman's name on the TV panel. Brandy Hickman is the winner of the Stanley "Lady in Pink" essay contest. Mrs. Hickman's winning essay is posted at stanleymotorsports.com. Stanley is donating a minimum of $50,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure to support the breast cancer movement. Richard Petty is wearing a brown Charlie 1 Horse hat with pink highlights throughout the Charlotte race weekend in support of breast cancer awareness. Sadler's #19 Dodge always features two ribbons next to his name above the driver's side door—a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon in honor of his mother and a puzzle piece autism ribbon in honor of his niece.(RPM)(10-13-2009)

• Warriors in Pink on the #21 at Lowes: Ford Motor Company, with the help of Wood Brothers Racing, is giving new meaning to "racing for the cure." The Wood Brothers Racing #21 Ford driven by Bill Elliott will feature a special Ford Motor Company Warriors in Pink paint scheme in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The new paint scheme will debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on October 17. Elliott will also be wearing a specially-designed Ford Warriors in Pink fire suit and helmet during the race that will be auctioned off online after the Race. One hundred percent of auction proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.(Ford PR), see an image of the scheme on my #21 Team Schemes page.(10-10-2009)

• NAPA Team goes pink: NAPA and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization, is kicking off a unique initiative designed to raise $250,000 by highlighting the importance of preventive maintenance for both the body and the vehicle. The partnership includes a number of initiatives designed to help raise awareness. Consumers that spend $25 or more at participating NAPA AUTO PARTS Stores or NAPA AutoCare Centers during October receive a free NAPA/Susan G. Komen for the Cure travel mug. NAPA Racing’s Michael Waltrip will join the cause by wearing a pink Susan G. Komen for the Cure hat at the NASCAR tracks this month. He’ll also spread the word during his media appearances and on his Twitter and Facebook pages. Then on October 17, he’ll drive the #55 NAPA/Susan G. Komen Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Approximately 87% of donations, like the one from NAPA, go directly toward Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s promise to end breast cancer forever by funding live-saving research and community outreach projects.(MWR), see an image of the scheme on my #55 Team Schemes page.(10-6-2009)

• Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea to sponsor McMurray at LMS: Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea announced that it will be coming along for the ride at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on October 17 as primary sponsor of the #26 Roush Fenway Ford driven by Jamie McMurray. In the process, the brand also becomes the first vodka to sponsor a car since NASCAR lifted its ban on spirits sponsors beginning with the 2005 season. [Note: Diageo's flavored malt beverage Smirnoff ICE sponsored #17-Kenseth and #97 Busch in 2004-2005 part time, the drink uses the Smirnoff name but contains no vodka]. “In its first ever major sponsorship, Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea is thrilled to utilize NASCAR as a platform to extend its Southern ideals and traditions to the millions of fans who follow the sport,” said Judd Zusel, Director of Innovation, Diageo [also the maker of Crown Royal]. “Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea sees a clear opportunity to elevate the brand even further by connecting with adult consumers that have an undying passion for the sport they love, and encourage them to enjoy our sweet tea vodka responsibly throughout the weekend’s race festivities.” Mr. Jeremiah Weed, legendary patron father of Jeremiah Weed Bourbon Liqueur, first made this announcement from his home in Weed, Kentucky, and declared that it was now, more than ever, the right time to rally behind America’s fastest sport and all of its avid fans. “Jeremiah Weed was born in the south and to thank some of the brand’s favorite people for embracing the product, we thought Charlotte would be the perfect place to make our NASCAR debut,” said Weed. “We look forward to providing fans a reason to celebrate responsibly all weekend, and will do everything we can to ensure that we are toasting Jamie when hopefully he puts the #26 car in Victory Lane.” Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea first introduced itself to the sport earlier this year when it offered to become the official sponsor of air in the stock car tires. To guarantee fans enjoy the race in true southern style, Jeremiah Weed will announce additional details regarding the sponsorship of the #26 Ford leading up to the race weekend. Additional updates from Mr. Weed can be found on the Jeremiah Weed website.(Diageo), see images of scheme on my #26 Team Schemes page.(10-5-2009)

• Gordon & Newman to run Transformer schemes: an advertisement on ESPN's NASCAR page details a sweepstakes: The ESPN/Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Sweepstakes, to promote the release of the Transformers II DVD in which it mentions that #24-Jeff Gordon (Megatron) and #39-Ryan Newman (Optimus Prime), are scheduled to run Tranformers II paint schemes in the Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Oct 11th. See the more info about the contest at espn.com and see images of the schemes on my #24 Team Schemes and #39 Team Schemes pages.(10-3-2009)

• Gilliland To Race for Farm Bureau Insurance:: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced that David Gilliland will drive the #02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota in three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, starting October 17 in Charlotte, and continuing with the November 8 race at Texas and the November 22 season finale at Homestead. Wally Brown, JGR’s R &D/Test Team crew chief, will serve as crew chief for each of the three races. Earlier this year, Farm Bureau Insurance announced that they would sponsor six races in 2009 with Joe Gibbs Racing. Two of those races have been run in the #11 Toyota, driven by Denny Hamlin at Darlington and Atlanta. Farm Bureau Insurance will also appear on the #20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano on October 25 in Martinsville. "Thus far, it’s been an exhilarating partnership between Farm Bureau Insurance and Joe Gibbs Racing. We're excited to welcome David Gilliland to our Farm Bureau Insurance family. David and crew chief Wally Brown are both talented and established NASCAR sportsman, and I know both will represent our agents and customers flawlessly the remainder of 2009,” said Bubby Trosclair, Vice President of Agency for Farm Bureau Insurance. Brown has been with JGR for three years, and currently serves as the crew chief for JGR’s R&D/Test team. He served as crew chief last year for the #02 Home Depot Toyota in Texas, the site of Joey Logano’s first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and has filled in as crew chief for JGR’s Nationwide Series program.(Farm Bureau Insurance Racing)(9-29-2009)

• Special scheme for Waltrip at LMS: #55 Michael Waltrip is scheduled to run a NAPA / Susan G. Komen Special scheme at Lowes Motor Speedway in October. See an image of the scheme on the #55 Team Schemes page.(6-18-2009)

• Special scheme for Kyle Busch at LMS: #18 Kyle Busch is scheduled to run a M&M's / Susan G. Komen pink scheme at Lowes Motor Speedway in October. See an image of the scheme on the #18 Team Schemes page.(6-18-2009)

• Carhartt returns to the #17: The #17 Ford Fusion of Matt Kenseth will again carry Carhartt paint scheme this weekend at Michigan. Kenseth took the checkered flag at California in the last Carhartt race. Carhartt will serve as the primary two more times this season at New Hampshire in Sept. and Charlotte in Oct.(RFR), see images of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(6-10-2009)

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery

• Track Specs:
  Superspeedway: 1.5-mile quad oval
  Race Length: 334 laps, 501 miles
  Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 5 degrees
  Straights: Frontstretch - 1952.8 feet; Backstretch - 1360 feet
  Grandstand Seating: 171,000
  Pit Road Speed: 45mph
  Pace Car Speed: 55mph
  Opened: 1960
  
  Carry-In Items
  Coolers: Allowed (14"x14"x14" limit).
  Glass containers: Not allowed.
  Alcoholic beverages: Allowed.
  Cameras/recording devices: Allowed

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Teresa Earnhardt, Brian France
  Command to start engines: Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Teresa Earnhardt, Brian France
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
  Invocation: former NFL coach Joe Gibbs
  National Anthem: North Carolina A&T State University marching band
  Military Flyover: C-17 and a KC-135, Altus AFB, OK
  

• For the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page

• Track Website: lowesmotorspeedway.com

• ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Lowe's Motor Speedway

• October 2008: see my Lowe's Race Info page

• May 2009: see the Lowe's Race Info page

• In the Charlotte for the races? some cool places to check out I [Jayski] have been to an enjoyed since moving to the Charlotte Area in January 2004:
  Memory Lane Museum on Hwy 150 W in Mooresville, NC,
  North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame Lakeside Park, Mooresville
  For somerthing different: the Carolina Renaissance Festival is a blast, fun stuff and lots of good eats
  TO EAT: Lancaster's Bar-B=Que is a large place with a lot of NASCAR stuff all over the walls and Poppas Dogs has a racing theme and good dogs. Other places I enjoyed: Jeffrey's and Soiree [high end place] both im Mooresville. In Huntersville: Mickey & Mooches
  SHOPS: and to check out some team shops, see my Team Address page, on that page there are a few links for Race Shop Tours [click here].
  Or drive up I-85 and head to [Richard] Childress Vineyards.
  in Concord, check out Quaker Steak and Lube for some good wings and food
  and check out the Sam Bass Gallery, right near Lowe's Motor Speedway.
  (this is not an ad and not looking for suggestions, just some things to helps folks in town)

  ---

• Grand Marshals: for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America - Participating as Grand Marshals for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race are Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Teresa Earnhardt (representing the Earnhardt family) and Brian France (representing the France family for Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr) as Hall of Fame indcutee's.(LMS)(10-17-2009)

• National Anthem for Cup race at LMS: The Blue and Gold Marching Machine from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro will perform the national anthem prior to the NASCAR Banking 500. Formed in 1918, the band is 180 members strong and also has a dance/twirl team, the Golden Delight. In addition to North Carolina A&T, East Rowan High School's marching band will perform at The Avenue of Flags at the speedway's main entrance from 2 - 4 p.m. Saturday.For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or go online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-16-2009)

• Sam Bass NASCAR Banking 500 Program Cover : Renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass has prepared a cover for the NASCAR Banking 500 souvenir program that encapsulates the Homecoming - NASCAR style theme. The painting entitled, "The Homecoming Game," captures the intensity of a gridiron-style face-off at the 50-yard line as top competitors prepare for NASCAR's version of an October homecoming during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The drivers form a tunnel through which the cars must pass in order to reach their destination, the Lowe's Motor Speedway finish line. Bass has created the cover artwork for each Lowe's Motor Speedway race week souvenir program since May 1985.(LMS)(10-16-2009)

• Nationwide Insurance provides Shuttle Service during Race Weekend: Seven Nationwide On Your Side Ride trams have been added to the eight currently being used to shuttle race fans around the premises of Lowe's Motor Speedway. A number of tram stops are located throughout the facility, including Gates 2, 3, 4, 7/8, 12, 18, 26 and 30. The trams run in a clockwise direction on the perimeter road between stop-off points and operate from noon each day until the start of the action on the track. Along with the 15 trams, Nationwide has also provided 60 golf carts to be used at the speedway this weekend. The golf carts are available for all race fans, especially the elderly, physically challenged and families with children. Fans can stop by the Nationwide Race Information Stations outside Gates 3, 4, 8, 18 and 31 to arrange a ride on a golf cart.(LMS)(10-16-2009)

• New CATS Route to Provide Easy Access to Speedway: The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), the City of Concord and Lowe's Motor Speedway have partnered to bring citizens Saturday bus service from Center City Charlotte to Lowe's Motor Speedway. Starting from the Charlotte Transportation Center, fans can take the 79X Concord Mills Express to beat the traffic and enjoy Saturday's NASCAR Banking 500 for just $6 roundtrip. To learn more about the 79X Concord Mills Express and CATS services, call (704) 336-RIDE (7433) or visit www.ridetransit.org.(LMS)(10-16-2009)

• Pre-Race Festivities Include an Old-Fashioned Homecoming: Pre-race festivities for Saturday night's NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America at Lowe's Motor Speedway are highlighted by an old-fashioned Homecoming - NASCAR Style - as drivers and teams return to their home track after five months on the road. The homecoming celebration includes seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Richard Petty serving as the homecoming king and the presentation of a homecoming queen still to be announced from an online fan vote. Fans will be greeted by cheerleaders from area high schools that participated in the speedway's "fund-racing" program and several musical performances are also on tap. MercyMe, TobyMac, Robert Pierre and Fee will perform during a pre-race concert and Eric Church will take to the stage during CollegeFest. Candy Coburn will sing "God Bless America" and the North Carolina A&T State University marching band will entertain fans and perform the national anthem. Several affordable ticket packages are still available for Saturday night's NASCAR Banking 500. Individual tickets start at $49 and frontstretch tickets are available for $69. For information, contact the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-14-2009)

• Race schedule for LMS Saturday night: Spectator gates open Saturday at 2:00 pm/et. An approximate timeline of selected events leading up to the start of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America follows:
  2:00 pm/et: A pre-race concert, featuring MercyMe, TobyMac, Fee and Robert Pierre, takes place on the apron inside Turn 4. The 3-hour concert offers race fans the opportunity to stand on the historical race track prior to the start of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America.
  4:00 pm/et: A native of Granite Falls, N.C., country music singer Eric Church celebrates Homecoming - NASCAR Style - with a performance as part of CollegeFest. The inaugural CollegeFest takes place in the grass lot behind the Diamond Tower grandstand in Turn 2.
  6:00 pm/et: Performance by the North Carolina A&T State University marching band on the speedway's frontstretch.
  6:35 pm/et: Adding to the homecoming festivities, cheerleaders from several area high schools that participated in Lowe's Motor Speedway's "fund-racing" program will be introduced during pre-race ceremonies. Among the high schools expected to be represented are East Mecklenburg, West Mecklenburg, Butler, Hopewell, Northwest Cabarrus and the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology.
  6:46 pm/et: Rising country music star Candy Coburn sings "God Bless America."
  6:48 pm/et: The pre-race flyover features a C-17 and a KC-135 from Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. The two planes will perform a simulated refueling over the speedway. This is the first time the maneuver has been performed at a sporting event.
  6:48:30 pm/et: Official welcome by Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway.
  6:49 pm/et: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Robert Yates receives the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award. Instituted several years ago by legendary car owner and mechanic Smokey Yunick who passed away May 11, 2001, the award annually recognizes an individual whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry.
  6:50 pm/et: Introduction of special guests including Charles Bowman, president, Bank of America North Carolina; Honorary Starter NASCAR Banking customer Phil Bickley; Honorary Race Director Hala Moddelmog, CEO of the Susan G. Komen Foundation; Fan Homecoming Queen (to be announced); NASCAR Banking 500 Homecoming King Richard Petty and Grand Marshal (to be announced).
  6:55 pm/et: NASCAR Banking 500 driver introductions along with the presentation of NASCAR special awards. Drivers will exit the frontstretch stage and ride around the speedway in Toyota trucks. Drivers will return to the frontstretch where their cars will be staged on the track.
  7:25 pm/et: Presentation of colors by Air Force ROTC Detachment 592 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  7:25:30 pm/et: Invocation given by NASCAR team owner and former NFL coach Joe Gibbs.
  7:26 pm/et: National anthem performed by the North Carolina A&T State University marching band.
  7:33 pm/et: "Gentleman Start Your Engines" command given by Grand Marshal (to be announced).
  7:41 pm/et: Start of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America.(LMS)

• Scouts in Free on Friday at LMS: Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troop members will be special guests at the Dollar General 300 on Friday. All uniformed scouts and uniformed scout leaders will receive a free ticket for admittance to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Gates 30 and 31. Each additional family member must purchase a ticket at a special rate. Scout group leaders can contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS for more details.(LMS)(10-14-2009)

• Carolina CollegeFest Takes Tailgating to the Extreme at LMS: College students can now enjoy homecoming NASCAR style with the ultimate pre-race party for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Saturday, Oct. 17., at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Carolina CollegeFest offers students more bang for their buck than ever before with more than five hours of live music, cornhole tournaments, gift packs, prize giveaways throughout the day and a reserved seat for the NASCAR Banking 500, all for the low price of $49 each. Five bands will perform throughout the afternoon with Tim Hollohan, the lead singer for Sullivan's Roof, taking the stage first at 10 a.m. Hollohan is the founding member of Sullivan's Roof, a five-piece rock and roll band out of Greenville and Columbia, S.C., which is in the process of producing its debut album. Following Hollohan on stage will be Nashville's up-and-coming country music sensations Craig Boyd and Southland. Described as the "Motley Crue of Country," Southland has delivered their country/rock sound to thousands by touring extensively throughout the United States, playing more than 200 dates in 2008 and pushing for 250 in 2009. Not only does the $49 ticket grant admission to Carolina CollegeFest, but it also reserves a seat to the NASCAR Banking 500, the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. To purchase tickets to Carolina CollegeFest contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-11-2009)

• LMS's Victory Lane Club Offers Fans Good Value: The best value in motorsports has a new name. Lowe's Motor Speedway's Victory Lane Club offers fans three incredible NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events along with unprecedented additional value and behind the scenes access. Fans can become Victory Lane Club members by purchasing reserved seats for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America for a combined price starting at only $123. Victory Lane Club members can also take advantage of Lowe's Motor Speedway's increasingly popular, customized, interest-free payment plan, and for as low as $19.60 down, they can reserve their 2010 seats today. To become a member of the Victory Lane Club, call the Lowe's Motor Speedway's ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS and speak directly to a ticket representative. To purchase tickets contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office by phone or go online to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-10-2009)

• Fan to be Crowned Homecoming Queen at LMS: To celebrate homecoming, NASCAR style, at the NASCAR Banking 500, Lowe's Motor Speedway will crown one fan as the official Homecoming Queen for the race. In partnership with radio station WKKT FM, 96.9 The Kat, the speedway is holding an online contest to select one lucky lady to wear the crown. The grand prize winner will receive a VIP race package and participate in pre-race ceremonies. Women are invited to log onto Lowe's Motor Speedway's Web site for information on how to register for the contest. Affordable ticket packages are still available to the Dollar General 300 on Friday, Oct. 16, and the NASCAR Banking 500 on Saturday, Oct. 17. To purchase tickets, fans should call the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-9-2009)

• Lowe's Motor Speedway Creates Fan Guide to Fun: To enhance the fan experience during race week, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials have created a Fan Guide to Fun for the NASCAR Banking 500 Week of events that culminates with the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Fan Guide to Fun provides comprehensive information on race week driver appearances, concerts, sponsor displays, pre-race infield activities and much more. The guide is available online at lowesmotorspeedway.com and will be available at the track welcome center and information booths during NASCAR Banking 500 Week. The Fan Guide to Fun is just the latest in a series of Fans First initiatives aimed at giving fans the best experience possible at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Other elements in place for fans include interest-free payment plans, reduced hotel room rates, a special 99-Cents Value Menu and other experiences that engage fans throughout the event week. Affordable ticket packages are still available to the Dollar General 300 on Friday, Oct. 16, and the NASCAR Banking 500 on Saturday, Oct. 17. To purchase tickets, fans should call the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or visit lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-6-2009)

• Charlotte-Area Hotels Offer Reduced Race Week Room Rates: In a continuing Fans First initiative, regional tourism bureaus and officials at Lowe's Motor Speedway have worked with area hotel operators to secure lower room rates for race fans attending the Dollar General 300 on Friday, Oct. 16, and the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Saturday, Oct. 17. Nearly 90 hotels within approximately one hour of the 1.5-mile superspeedway have agreed to reduce their race week room rates by 15% and waive their minimum stay requirements. The full list of participating hotels is available online for fans to reference at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/hotels. The speedway's ticket services representatives also have the full listing of hotels and can advise fans that call 1-800-455-FANS. In order to obtain the discounted rate, race fans must call the hotels directly and request the Speedway Special when making reservations. n addition to the lower hotel rates, cost savings extend to the speedway as well. The CVS Family Four Pack, which includes four race tickets to the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America, four hot dogs, four Coca-Cola soft drinks and a coupon for a free two-liter of Coke Zero, is available for just $39.75 a person. Similarly, the Dollar General 300 Family Four Pack includes four race tickets, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola soft drinks for the low price of $14.75 a person.
  Race fans are reminded that Lowe's Motor Speedway offers 164 acres of free parking and numerous affordable camping options are also available. Coolers, limited to 14 inches in any direction, are also permitted in the grandstands. Race events in October include the World of Outlaws Topless Showdown on Wednesday, October 14; the Bojangles' Pole Night qualifying on Thursday night, October 15; Dollar General 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, October 16; and the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Saturday night, October 17. To take advantage of these savings, fans should call the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS)(10-5-2009)

• High School Homecoming Partnership to Provide Fund-Raising Opportunities at LMS: Lowe's Motor Speedway is giving area high schools the horsepower to fight budget crunches through an innovative homecoming partnership program surrounding the Oct. 17 running of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America. "Most people experience their first homecoming in high school," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "But when the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams come back to race in Charlotte after five months on the road, the NASCAR Banking 500 is truly an October homecoming-NASCAR style. This new program engages the area schools that serve the families of the NASCAR community. It connects the schools with our NASCAR homecoming, and it provides them with several ways to raise money in the midst of budget cuts."
  Through the homecoming partnership, speedway officials have invited 40 public high schools from six area school systems in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Rowan counties to participate in the speedway's "Fund-Racing" program. School fund-raising groups such as booster clubs and parent-teacher organizations will receive $10 for each ticket they sell to the NASCAR Banking 500. Each school will have a convenient way to process sales transactions through the speedway's Web site at lowesmotorspeedway.com/schools. Lowe's Motor Speedway will contribute $1,000 to each participating high school in the program and also donate a VIP race package for two from The Speedway Club for the school to use as a raffle prize. In addition, Bank of America, the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Banking 500, will match the $1,000 contribution from the speedway to each participating school.
  The area high school that sells the most tickets will receive a 64-person luxury suite to the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race for even more fund-raising raffle opportunities during the school year. The speedway has also invited area high school bands and cheerleading squads to perform as part of the NASCAR Banking 500 pre-race show on Saturday night, Oct. 17. Information on the speedway's school Fund-Racing program can be obtained online at lowesmotorspeedway.com/schools or by calling Lowe's Motor Speedway at (704) 455-3294.(LMS)(9-30-2009)

• Eric Church performing concert at NASCAR Banking 500: Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Eric Church will perform as part of pre-race festivities for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Oct. 17. To help celebrate homecoming NASCAR style, Church will return to his home state to perform a concert outside of the Turn 2 Diamond Tower Terrace on Saturday afternoon before the race. Admission to the concert is free with the purchase of a NASCAR Banking 500 ticket. To purchase individual tickets to the NASCAR Banking 500 or the Carolina CollegeFest package, fans should contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or buy online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(9-25-2009)

• Bruton Smith sues Concord, Cabarrus County: Marcus Smith, the son of Lowe’s Motor Speedway mogul Bruton Smith defends the lawsuit filed by his father against the city of Concord and Cabarrus County. The suit claims the city and county failed to pay $80 million dollars for roadway and other improvements around the speedway and the ZMax dragstrip. “We’ve been here for 50 years,” Marcus Smith, the President of Speedway Motorsports Inc. said. “It’s the investment in the infrastructure around the speedway is what we are looking for and what the initial bargain was with the city and county.” Bruton Smith had threatened to pack up the track and move it out of Concord if he did not get some financial help with road improvements. The suit claims letters and agreements were drawn up by the local government promising the money. However, Cabarrus County Commissioner Coy Privette says while others in government may have made promises, “the Cabarrus County Commissioners have never acted officially on any proposal to give him a dime.” At an outdoor concert tonight in Concord, residents said they could not see giving Smith any more money. “No, he doesn’t deserve that,” said Barbara Fink. “I think he has had more than his share,” she added. The city and county now have 30 days to respond to the allegations in the suit. Bruton Smith was out of town and could not be reached for comment on the suit.(WCNC.com)(9-18-2009)

• Lowe’s will not renew naming rights with speedway UPDATE confirmed: Lowe’s has decided not to renew its naming-rights deal at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after this year, ending an 11-year relationship that began as the first racetrack naming-rights sponsorship. After more than a year of renewal talks, the home improvement retailer informed Speedway Motorsports Inc., the track’s parent company, of its decision within the last two weeks, industry sources said. The initial 10-year, $35 million deal ran through 2008 and last year the two sides agreed on a one-year extension through 2009 when they could not finalize a long-term deal. Talks continued this year, but the two sides have not been able to reach an agreement. Barring a late agreement with Lowe’s or the signing of a new corporate partner, the track is expected to go back to its former name, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in 2010. The Lowe’s deal with Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports expires at the end of 2010 and those renewal talks are expected to begin later this year.(Sports Business Journal)(7-31-2009)
  UPDATE: Lowe’s confirmed today the company will not renew its naming rights sponsorship of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, a track owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), when its contract expires at the end of the year. Both companies continue to be in discussions about potential future marketing opportunities. “When Lowe’s entered into this marketing relationship in 1999, it was during the time of our company’s rapid national expansion, and Lowe’s Motor Speedway gave us the platform to introduce the Lowe’s brand to millions of NASCAR fans and consumers across the country,” explained Robert J. Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing and advertising. “We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with SMI over the years. However marketing strategies change, and it was time after 11 years to direct our marketing resources in other areas.”
  “Lowe’s has been a tremendous partner for Speedway Motorsports and their corporate involvement has strengthened our sport for NASCAR fans,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “We look forward to moving in new directions to help them accomplish their marketing goals in 2010 and beyond."(Lowe's PR)(8-6-2009)

• Lowe’s tells speedway it won’t renew deal UPDATE 2 maybe? Lowe’s has decided not to renew its naming-rights deal at Lowe’s Motor Speedway after this year, ending an 11-year relationship that began as the first racetrack naming-rights sponsorship. After more than a year of renewal talks, the home improvement retailer informed Speedway Motorsports Inc., the track’s parent company, of its decision within the last two weeks, industry sources said. The initial 10-year, $35 million deal ran through 2008 and last year the two sides agreed on a one-year extension through 2009 when they could not finalize a long-term deal. Talks continued this year, but the two sides have not been able to reach an agreement. Sources said it’s not inconceivable for Lowe’s to change its mind, given that five months remain on the current deal and the unpredictable nature of the economy, but such a change of heart is considered unlikely. Barring a late agreement with Lowe’s or the signing of a new corporate partner, the track is expected to go back to its former name, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in 2010. Industry sources say that SMI initially came to the table asking for close to $9 million annually, and while that number dropped over the course of their discussions, the two sides could not come together. There were other factors. Lowe’s must also consider its future with driver Jimmie Johnson, who has won three straight Cup championships and stands as the sport’s most dominant figure. The Lowe’s deal with Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports expires at the end of 2010 and those renewal talks are expected to begin later this year. Industry sources say that Lowe’s will be expected to pay a hefty increase to maintain its position as the only primary sponsor on Johnson’s #48 car, which is uncommon in this time of co-primary and “tri-mary” sponsorships on a car. The most expensive sponsorships go for the mid-$20 million range annually. Lowe’s also is navigating the recession, which has struck the home improvement and building sector especially hard. Lowe’s earnings fell 22% in 2008 and 60% in the final quarter of the year.(Sports Business Journal)(7-31-2009)
  UPDATE: Officials from Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Lowe's insist they are still talking in the wake of a report that the home improvement chain is ending its sponsorship of SMI's flagship track. SMI president and CEO Marcus Smith said both sides are still negotiating and that he remains confident a deal will be completed soon. "We're still working on and discussing the components of another extension to continue our relationship," Smith said. "Those components have not been finalized, but the process is moving along." Lowe's spokeswoman Chris Ahern said there was "nothing to report" about the nature of the company's talks with the track. SMI owner Bruton Smith, in Kentucky for this weekend's IndyCar race at Kentucky Speedway -- which is owned by SMI -- could not be reached for comment.(Associated Press)(8-1-2009)
  UPDATE 2: Lowe's appears to be on its way out as the title sponsor of Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s Charlotte-area track. SMI owner Bruton Smith said Saturday he expects the home improvement chain to end its 11-year sponsorship of the 1.5-mile oval at the end of the season. "I think we'll miss them," Smith said. "Sometimes you're negotiating and maybe you ask too much but I don't know," Smith said. Smith directed questions on the details to his son, SMI president and CEO Marcus Smith. Bruton Smith expects the track to work to find a new title sponsor if Lowe's leaves. If a new sponsor can't be found, the track's name will revert back to Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I think race fans will like that better," Smith said. "We caught heck over that. We shouldn't have. It was a good business decision."(ESPN/AP)(8-2-2009)

• $19.60 Holds Any Ticket for Fall Events at Lowe's Motor Speedway: In honor of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 50 years of racing, fans can now reserve any ticket for the NASCAR Banking 500 Week, NHRA Nationals and the World of Outlaws World Finals for only $19.60 by calling the speedway's ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS. The significance in $19.60 is from the speedway's maiden year, 1960, which not only marked the first Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, but the first fall race as well, when Alfred "Speedy" Thompson drove the #21 Wood Brothers Ford to Victory Lane in the inaugural National 400. Now, for only $19.60, fans can reserve their seat for the speedway's 50th fall race, the Oct. 17 NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America. In order to reserve seats for any of these events for only $19.60, fans must call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS and speak directly to a Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket agent to set up their customized payment plan. Tickets for all upcoming events at Lowe's Motor Speedway can be purchased online at lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway's ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(LMS)(7-24-2009)

• Council OKs Metrolina race track: Charlotte City Council approved a rezoning Monday that will allow a developer to build a $50 million race track and amateur sports complex on the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo grounds in north Charlotte. Plans for the project, called the Metrolina Speed and Sports Center, include a 40,000-square-foot facility with rooftop skateboard park, a 200-room hotel and a banked race track. The popular flea market would stay on the site. Developer Simon Weber expects the project to create 150 jobs, and he said Monday he plans to open the complex in May 2010, when the uptown NASCAR Hall of Fame opens. City Council voted unanimously to rezone the 135.3-acre Metrolina property. Weber is also planning a 100-foot buffer between the outdoor facilities and property lines and a 3.2-acre community garden to soften noise for the nearest neighbors.(Charlotte Observer)(6-23-2009)

• Fan sues Lowe’s Motor Speedway: A spectator in the stands hit by a flying car shock absorber during a race in May 2006 in what is now the Nationwide Series has filed suit against Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Robert James Kaine claims a piece of metallic debris “sliced open [his] right thigh area just above the knee” late in the event, according to the complaint filed in North Carolina Superior Court in Concord, N.C. Kaine, who resides in Canada, claims his injuries are permanent. There were no further details of the injuries suffered by what Kaine identifies as a part of a shock. Kaine claims that the injuries were caused by the negligence of LMS because of inadequate fencing.(SceneDaily)(6-11-2009)

• Race park planned for Metrolina in Charlotte: An investment group wants to revitalize the race track at the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo in northern Charlotte and make it the centerpiece of a $50 million amateur sports and tourism destination. Speedway Investment Group, based in Mooresville, NC., said Monday that the Metrolina Speed and Sport Center could generate 150 jobs in the Derita community. Simon Weber, president, said the group plans to buy 40 of Metrolina's 146 acres and complete the initial phase by April 2010, to coincide with the opening of NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte. The initial phase would include a 40,000-square-foot building with retail and a rooftop skateboard park. The property also would include a progressively banked asphalt track, a karting facility and a “drifting” course on which drivers oversteer to cause cars to lose traction and skid. Weber said the sports complex would accommodate racing configurations from go-karts to late-model stock cars. It would include outdoor and indoor radio-controlled car tracks, grandstands and 4,000 parking spaces. Tim Newman, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, said the project could complement the NASCAR hall by “celebrating parts of racing that are difficult to celebrate now.” Weber said Monday that he is using institutional funding to help finance the development, which he says would celebrate Metrolina's history, embrace green technology and attract national and international sports competitions. The deal is contingent on a rezoning by the Charlotte City Council. A public hearing and vote is planned for June 15. In the 1960s, Metrolina operated as Speedworld and was also known as the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway. The 0.6-mile clay track was paved briefly in the 1970s and ran NASCAR-sponsored races promoted by Ned Jarrett. It was returned to dirt and operated off and on until the mid-1990s.(Charlotte Observer)(6-3-2009)
  
  

• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Lowe's Motor Speedway

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side – 1,525, Right-side – 1,525;
Nationwide: Left-side – 575; Right-side – 575

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4248; Right-side -- D-4234

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.4 in.; Right-side -- 88.3 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 55 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 54 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: Teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will be running the same combination of left- and right-side tires at Charlotte this weekend . . . this is the same tire combination that NASCAR teams ran at Charlotte this past May . . . this is the only track at which teams will run this left-side tire code (D-4248), though they did run this right-side code (D-4234) at Las Vegas earlier this season . . . Goodyear did conduct one tire test at Charlotte this year, that being before the May races . . . Sprint Cup drivers participating in that March 17-18 test were Marcos Ambrose (Toyota), Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet), Kasey Kahne (Dodge) and Paul Menard (Ford) . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

• 100th start at LMS for the Wood Brothers: Fall racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway has come a long way since the inaugural fall race on October 16, 1960. The Wood Brothers won the first fall Charlotte race with Speedy Thompson behind the wheel of the #21 Ford. This will be the Wood Brothers 100th start on the 1.5 mile quad-oval having compiled a record of 6 wins, 24 top fives, 38 top tens and 20 poles. Driver Bill Elliott has competed in 59 races at the famed speedway earning 2 wins, 11 top fives, 22 top tens and 4 poles. The #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion will be sporting a special "Warriors in Pink" paint scheme in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Bill Elliott will be wearing a "Warriors in Pink" fire suit and helmet that will be available through an online auction - all proceeds benefiting "Susan G. Komen for the Cure."(Wood Brothers Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #21 Team Schemes page.(10-15-2009)

• Burton to make 850th start: Richard Childress Racing's Jeff Burton will reach another career milestone when he makes his 850th career NASCAR start in Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, driving the #29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevy. Since his NASCAR debut at Martinsville Speedway on March 13, 1988, Burton has made 541 Sprint Cup Series starts, 304 Nationwide Series starts and four Camping World Truck Series starts. He will tie Bill Elliott with 850 NASCAR starts for 11th on the all-time NASCAR starts list, trailing Kyle Petty in 10th with 885 collective starts. Two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway, the South Boston, Va., native became the 26th driver to make 540 starts in NASCAR's premier division and is one of only 12 drivers to have competed in 300-plus Nationwide Series events.(RCR)(10-13-2009)

• Bliss returns to the #71: Mike Bliss and TRG Motorsports are ready to tackle the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America at Lowe's Motor Speedway to be run Saturday night, October 17. Bliss will pilot the TRG Motorsports #71 TaxSlayer.com Chevy for the second time this season, the first was at Richmond [in Sept, started and finished]. Bliss qualified seventh [in the #09 Dodge] at Lowe's in the May race and won the Nationwide event on the same weekend. "We will be running the same car that we ran last weekend at California," TRG Motorsports team principal Kevin Buckler said. "That is a good thing. The car was fast in California and the guys had a good setup on it, even though we could not afford to run the complete race. We did have the opportunity to prove the setup which we hope will be a key to first qualifying strong and then running good in the race. Once again we will have a strong contingent of TaxSlayer.com folks at the track and we hope to give them a good showing."(TRG Motorsports)(10-13-2009)

• See the 2009 Team Chart and 2010 Team Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.