MWR hires Moffitt to drive #00: Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Brett Moffitt will drive the No. 00 Toyota in 2011 as the team seeks its third consecutive K&N Pro Series East title. The 18-year-old native of Grimes, Iowa replaces Ryan Truex who'll race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011. Moffitt finished second to Truex in the 2010 standings. Moffitt also won the pole for both races at New Hampshire Speedway and finished second in the point standings to Truex. Moffitt started racing at age 11 and after three years in karts he became the youngest race winner at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway winning the 2007 edition of the Harris Clash. He finished second in the 2008 ASA Late Model North Series winning five races and Rookie of the Year honors. Moffitt made his NASCAR debut in 2009 winning the pole in his first East race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway for Andy Santerre Motorsports. He finished third in the standings winning a race at Dover and South Boston and two poles before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2010. Moffitt joins crew chief Mike Greci who'll bid for his fifth East Series title. Greci won titles with Truex in 2009 and 2010 and with Mike Stefanik in 1997 and 1998.(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(12-09-2010)

Darren Hagen joins Venturini Motorsports ARCA Driver Development Program: USAC star Darren Hagen joins forces with Venturini Motorsports for the 2011-2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards seasons. No secret to racing insiders, Darren has already attracted the attention of many top NASCAR teams. Achieving high levels of success throughout his career, Hagen now turns to Venturini Motorsports for further development and the platform to showcase his talent and put him in position to achieve his professional goals. The 2011 season will be a transition year for Darren as he’s currently slated to run in selective 2011 ARCA Racing Series events. Hagen and Venturini Motorsports are working diligently to secure primary sponsorship in order to maximize his exposure during the upcoming season and beyond. Although Darren’s focus is to compete full-time in the ARCA Racing Series, he will continue his USAC efforts until the right opportunity to advance presents itself.(Venturini Motorsports.com)(12-09-2010)

Chase Elliott wins Snowflake 100: Some of the toughest challenges in auto racing can come in the technical inspection shed, and at no place is that more true than Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. But on Saturday night, Chase Elliott and the Aaron’s Dream Team prevailed on the track and in inspection to win the Snowflake 100, a companion event to the prestigious Snowball Derby. Elliott’s Ford passed pre-race inspection, but after scraping the track through Turn Two on his qualifying lap, his front valence didn’t meet specifications, so he had to run a last-chance race to make the starting field for the 100-lap Snowflake. No problem there though, as Elliott won the prelim to start 31st in the feature. He proceeded to motor through the field and with 15 laps to go; he took the lead for good. And after a careful post-race inspection by track official Ricky Brooks, Elliott was confirmed the winner of the Alan Turner Snowflake 100.(Chase Elliott PR)(12-6-2010)

Gresham planning some trucks in 2011: As for [Max] Gresham's plans next year...there is a reason the team is pinching its pennies and not spreading itself thin on short track races. Tony Gresham says that they are looking at trying to put Max in a Camping World Truck at least for a limited schedule and also to run more ARCA races. Max affirms what his dad says, but also confirms that they are looking at trying to run even higher up the NASCAR ladder next year. "For me next year, we're planning on running a couple of Truck races, hopefully some ARCA stuff, and maybe a couple of Nationwide races. We'd love to stay with the Joe Gibbs Racing department for us to get the learning curve down." Regardless of the series he runs, Gresham knows any experience is paramount to his future success. "We really want to get the big track experience, like Michigan, Daytona, and Atlanta - all those big tracks. Just gain some laps, log some laps - get seat time and learn the most I can."(wsbradio.com)(11-24-2010)

Chase Elliott wins Winchester 400: The 2010 racing season has seen 14-year-old Chase Elliott accomplish some amazing feats, among them winning the reopening race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, sweeping Late Model championships at Five Flags Speedway and Mobile International Speedway, impressive runner-up runs in the All-American 400 at Nashville and the USAR Pro Cup race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and racing wheel-to-wheel with Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch in several events. But his performance on Sunday at the historic Winchester Speedway topped them all. In front of a packed grandstand, Elliott drove like a veteran in becoming the youngest winner ever of a race that has a previous winners list that reads like a Who's Who of American stock car racing. He joins great drivers like Bob Senneker, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Mike Eddie, Butch Miller and Kyle Busch in winning on a high-banked track that challenges even the most seasoned drivers.(Chase Elliott PR)(10-18-2010)

D4D combine set for Virginia's Motor Mile Speedway: Thirty-Five drivers from 18 states, Mexico and Puerto Rico are prepared to showcase their skills at the seventh annual Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco Sunday through Tuesday at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA. The drivers, ranging in age from 16 to 26, hope to earn a spot on the Revolution Racing team that will again field teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Drivers on the 2010 Revolution Racing team enjoyed the best on-track season in the history of the Drive for Diversity program, earning four victories, 42 top-five finishes and 80 top 10s in 141 starts. Included in that number were impressive results in the highly competitive NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Ryan Gifford, Sergio Pena and Darrell Wallace Jr. each competed in all 10 Series races, while Mackena Bell (six races), Michael Cherry (three races) and Mark Davis (one race) each took turns driving the fourth Revolution Racing car. These four teams scored two wins, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s. The drivers attending the Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco will be evaluated on multiple fronts during the Combine including on-track performance, marketing and media aptitude, physical fitness, personality and more. Following the three-day assessment, the results will be evaluated by a committee that will select participants for the 2011 season. Grandstands at Motor Mile Speedway will be open to the public Monday and Tuesday with on-track testing scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participating Drivers:
* Jorge Arteaga – Agualcalientes, Mexico, Age 24
* Kelsey Bauer – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, 21
* Mackena Bell – Carson City, Nevada, 20
* Juan Carlos Blum – Miami, Florida, 16
* Brandy Bower – Marysville, Ohio, 23
* Jessica Brunelli – Haywood, California, 17
* Katrina Canney – Charlotte, North Carolina, 20
* Cole Carbrera – Exeter, California, 16
* Michael Cherry – Valrico, Florida, 21
* Enrique Contreras – Mexico, 18
* Heather DesRochers – Granby, Massachusetts, 21
* Brittany Finley – Ardmore, Alabama, 24
* Cassie Gannis – Phoenix, Arizona, 19
* Trey Gibson – Easley, South Carolina, 18
* Ryan Gifford – Winchester, Tennessee, 21
* Katie Hagar – Damariscotta, Maine, 24
* Sloan Henderson – Franklin, Ohio, 17
* Rebecca Kasten – Mequon, Wisconsin, 20
* Ali Kern – Fremont, Ohio, 17
* Julia Landauer – New York, New York, 18
* Amanda Lynch – Greenville, South Carolina, 21
* Clinton Mills – Indian Trail, North Carolina, 23
* Dallas Montes – Bakersfield, California, 16
* Jeff Oleen – Bethesda, Maryland, 20
* Tayla Orleans – Randleman, North Carolina, 17
* Bryan Ortiz – Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 21
* Sergio Pena – Winchester, Virginia, 17
* Matthew Piercy – Conover, North Carolina, 16
* Troy Rave – Westby, Wisconsin, 21
* Ryan Reed – Bakersfield, California, 16
* Jason Romero – Cameron Park, California, 26
* Dylan Smith – Randolph, Vermont, 17
* Lacey Tuttle – Elmwood, Nebraska, 21
* Darrell Wallace Jr. – Concord, N.C., 17
* Kristen Wallace – Jasper, Georgia, 17(DriveforDiversity.com)(10-15-2010)

Sutton's Winner's Circle talent search launches UPDATE 2 Kelley awarded spot in Shoot-Out: The national NASCAR focused driver talent search conducted by Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle launches today. Top young drivers will be selected to participate in driver try outs at the 2010 Shoot-Out in October. The Shoot-Out application process is open to all drivers 11 to 20 years of age, with race winning backgrounds in race cars and/or youth racing series, such as: Kart Racing, Legends, Dwarf Cars, Quarter Midgets, Mini/Micro-Sprints and Dirt Karts. The Shoot-Out process is designed to identify talented, young, up and coming drivers from across the United States and Canada with the potential and commitment to achieve a driving career in NASCAR. RSWC is currently accepting resumes through September 20th, 2010. RSWC expects to narrow down the resumes received to approximately 40 drivers to test. The Shoot-Out is conducted in October, in three types of race cars, on a California paved short oval track. Young winning drivers ages 11 to 20, and their parents, are encouraged to get all the information and answers to common questions from the web-site, then submit their resume in time to be considered.(Winners-Circle-Racing.com)(8-25-2010)
UPDATE: K&N Filters announces a program to provide up to 18 young racers sponsorships from $5,000 to $25,000 for the 2011 racing season. K&N Filters has a long heritage of providing ongoing support for grassroots racing across America. K&N Filter's involvement in motorsports ranges from lawn mower racing to the top tiers of NASCAR. With the news of these sponsorships to be awarded, RSWC has extended the deadline for drivers to submit resumes to October 25th, 2010. RSWC expects to receive more than the 700 resumes that they have in the past, and narrow it down to approximately 40 drivers to test. The Shoot-Out is conducted in October and November, in three types of race cars, on a California paved short oval track.(Ron Sutton's Winners Circle Racing PR)(9-28-2010)
UPDATE 2: 18 year-old karting standout Bobby Kelley has been awarded the first of six free spots in the 2010 Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle Shoot-Out, thanks to sponsors K&N Filters. Kelley was awarded the spot in the Shoot-Out on the strength of eight wins in karts throughout 2010. Among Kelley's accomplishments is winning the ProKart Challenge West Coast Shootout in Tag Sr. and winning the IKF Grand National Championships for Tag Sr. Kelley has accumulated many more karting championships and wins throughout his career. Kelley's association with Position One Motorsports landed him an opportunity to compete in three races on the half-mile Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Competing in the S2 Sportsman Late Model division, Kelley three starts were highlighted by seventh and second place finishes.(Ron Sutton's Winners Circle Racing PR)(10-13-2010)

Ty Dillon wins ARCA season finale: Ty Dillon returned Richard Childress Racing to victory lane at Rockingham Speedway Saturday, winning the American 200 presented by Black's Tire & Auto Service, while Patrick Sheltra claimed his first-ever championship in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and MENARDS. Dillon, the grandson of NASCAR team owner and former driver Richard Childress and the son of former NASCAR driver Mike Dillon, qualified sixth but led only once during the event. Swindell, who started on the pole, took charge for the first 52 laps. Steve Arpin, who eventually finished 12th, then set the pace for eight laps before Sheltra led a circuit on the 1-mile track. Justin led 25 laps before Sheltra resumed the lead on lap 87. The Indiantown, Fla., native appeared headed for victory, leading 73 laps, before Dillon's powerful Earnhardt-Childress Racing engine boosted him past Sheltra and into the lead on lap 160 of the 200-lap race. Over the next 41 laps, Dillon stretched his lead to claim an easy victory. Dillon, who played with “little box cars” in the Rockingham grandstands as a child, said he plans to compete for the ARCA championship in 2011.(Rockingham Raceway PR)(10-11-2010)

JGR's Moffitt ends 2010 with a win at Dover: Brett Moffitt, driver of the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Game Plan for Life Toyota, ended his 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East campaign with a spectacular win on Friday at the Sunoco 150 at Dover International Speedway (DIS) in Dover, DE. The win was Moffitt's second of the 2010 season, and his second consecutive win at DIS, making him the first driver ever to become a repeat winner in the East series at Dover, where the series has run for the past 10 years. The win moved Moffitt to second place in the overall 2010 Championship Point Standings.(Brett Moffitt Racing PR)(10-5-2010)

Wallace earns K&N East Rookie Honors: NASCAR announced today that Darrell Wallace Jr. has earned 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Wallace compiled five top fives and seven top 10s in 10 races and finished third in the overall season standings. His rookie campaign was highlighted by wins at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway and Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway. The Greenville win in his series debut marked the first victory in the 24-year history of the K&N Pro Series East for an African-American driver. Wallace edged Red Bull Racing development driver Cole Whitt in one of the closest Sunoco Rookie of the Year competitions in series history. A Mobile, Ala., driver who will not turn 17 until early October, Wallace drove for Revolution Racing in 2010 as part of Drive for Diversity. Wallace joins drivers such as Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Ryan Truex that have won Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in recent seasons in the K&N Pro Series East. As a 2010 race winner, Wallace has a guaranteed starting position in January’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown in Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.). The 2010 K&N Pro Series East season concluded on Sept. 24 when Brett Moffitt won the Sunoco 150 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Truex earned his second consecutive championship.(NASCAR.com)(10-2-2010)

Ty Dillon wins Kansas ARCA race: Ty Dillon surged past Steve Arpin with five laps remaining in the Kansas Lottery 150 to win his first ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards race in just his second career start. In achieving victory, Dillon became the 14th different winner and the 12th different first-time winner in the series this season. The 18-year-old Dillon, a grandson of legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, started fourth and kept the No. 41 Karl Chevrolet/Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet among the leaders throughout the race's early stages. The race was not Dillon's first taste of success at the ARCA level, but surely his sweetest. In July, Dillon finished second after winning the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell at Iowa Speedway.(ARCARacing.com)(10-1-2010)

Chase Elliott -- Blizzard, Miller Lite & Sunoco Gulf Coast Champion: Considering his sponsor and his successes, Chase Elliott’s year of racing on the short tracks of the Gulf Coast region might best be described as an “Aaron’s Dream Season.” On Friday at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., Elliott wrapped up the track’s Blizzard Series in fitting fashion by defeating the always tough Augie Grill to win the series-ending race. Then on Saturday at Mobile International Speedway, his eighth-place finish, while not up to his usual standards, was good enough to secure that track’s Miller Lite Series title and give him the Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship that goes to the driver who performs best in the series of races at Five Flags and Mobile. He became the first, and at 14 the youngest driver, to sweep the three titles.(Chase Elliott PR)(9-27-2010)

JGR's Moffitt wins at Dover; MWR's Ryan Truex wins second straight Championship: For the second straight year, Ryan Truex celebrated winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in Dover, Del., at the NASCAR track closest to his home in Stafford Township, N.J. Truex, 18, needed only to start Friday's East series finale to clinch the title, and he ended up finishing third. It was his seventh top-five finish of the 10-race season. Brett Moffitt won the race. Popular Nationwide series rookie Danica Patrick finished sixth in her first East series race of the season. Truex is not done, though. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver plans to compete in four more races this season in the Nationwide Series before moving up to that circuit full-time next year.(pressofAtlanticCity.com)(9-25-2010)

Chase Elliott wins at Gresham: There are few things in life that would have pleased George Elliott more than to have his family gather at Gresham Motorsports Park to see one of his grandsons win a race and win it in a Ford. So Saturday night at Gresham, a track that George Elliott once helped run, was an extra special evening for the Elliott clan as more than 30 friends and family gathering on the 12th anniversary of his passing to watch Chase Elliott lead all 100 laps of the first annual George Elliott Memorial. George Elliott, the family patriarch, was the driving force behind his sons Ernie, Dan and Bill and their successful careers in NASCAR racing. Chase Elliott never really got to see his grandfather's passion for racing and for Fords. His Papa George passed away before he turned three years old. But his memory has been kept alive in the young racer's heart. "I just remember Papa George's strong conviction for being a Ford driver," Chase Elliott, now 14, said. "And there was one special little red airplane that he gave me that the propeller would crank up and spin.(Chase Elliott PR)(9-21-2010)

Armstrong wins ARCA Fall Classic at Salem: Penske Racing Development Driver, Dakoda Armstrong weaved his way through heavy traffic late in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic 200 at Salem Speedway, holding off Joey Coulter all the way through the final laps to secure his second victory in ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards competition. Armstrong, a native of Indianapolis suburb New Castle, became the third driver with multiple wins in 2010, and the first to win in his home state this season. The 19-year-old Armstrong (No. 22 Ferrellgas/Syngenta Seeds Dodge) finished 0.831 second ahead of Coulter (No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel/Darrell Gwynn Foundation/Tempest Cycles Chevrolet) to match his result at Talladega Superspeedway in April.(Dakoda Armstrong PR)(9-21-2010)

Chase Elliott wins at reopened North Wilkesboro: People always seem to remember who won the first race at a race track. It was Lee Petty at Daytona, Joe Lee Johnson at Charlotte, Fireball Roberts at Atlanta, Johnny Mantz at Darlington. It likely will be the same way when it comes to the reopening of North Wilkesboro Speedway. Chase Elliott will be the name forever associated with the reopening of the beloved speedway, which lay dormant for nearly 14 years before a group of local people saved the historic speedway and put it back to use. Chase Elliott, now 14, was a week shy of one year old when Jeff Gordon won the final NASCAR race at the speedway back in 1996, a race his father also competed in. There's another connection too. Bill Elliott's Sprint Cup crew chief David Hyder won the last Late Model race at Wilkesboro before it was closed. Bill Elliott won three poles at the speedway and had run strong many times but never claimed a victory. But the Elliott family connection to North Wilkesboro is now held mostly by Chase, who scored his big win in front of an estimated crowd of 9,000, a very strong turnout for a Late Model race. Elliott will compete in the USAR Pro Cup Series event at North Wilkesboro on Oct. 3, 2010, September 11th Elliott will race in the USAR Championship Series race No. 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Chase Elliott PR)(9-7-2010)

NASCAR's "Changing Lanes" premiers Sept 1st on BET: The show is billed as an opportunity to change the face of NASCAR. Ten blacks, Hispanics and women, all living in one house, competing for a job as a driver in a sport that has been dominated for 60 years by white males. That competition will play out this fall in Changing Lanes, a documentary series produced by the NASCAR Media Group that will be televised on BET beginning Wednesday. BET has purchased 10 episodes of the one-hour show, which debuts this week. Changing Lanes examines the challenges of making it as a driver, with one of them being eliminated each week until there’s a lone survivor. Internal conversations at NASCAR Media Group about Drive for Diversity programming led to discussions with Max Siegel, CEO of Revolution Racing, the NASCAR-supported team that’s trying to launch driving careers for diversity candidates. NASCAR helps fund the drivers until they reach the Camping World Truck, Nationwide or Sprint Cup levels, but stops there because of the potential for conflict of interest. Siegel, a former Sony executive who formerly ran Dale Earnhardt Inc., used his connections from the music and media world to take the idea of Changing Lanes to Scott Mills, president and chief operating officer of BET. Turned out that Mills is a huge NASCAR fan and he paved the way for the show on his network. Paul Brooks, the media group’s president and a NASCAR senior vice president, said: “This is part of our guarantee that the sport is open and welcome to all. BET reaches an audience that’s very important for us and gives the sport a chance to grow.”(Sporting News)(8-31-2010)

RCR's Ty Dillon picks up first career win at Gresham: Ty Dillon captured his first win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with a victory in the American Fence Association 150 presented by Mayfield Ice Creamier at Gresham Motorsports Park on Saturday. Dillon, an 18-year-old series rookie and grandson of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner Richard Childress, inherited the top spot when the two race leaders got together late in the event and then held on to win the action-filled race that concluded with a yellow-checkered finish. With his win in the No. 3 Waffle House/Mom ‘N’ Pop’s Chevrolet, Dillon secured a spot in the pretigious postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. He came into the event with five top 10s in eight career NKNPS East starts. His best career finish of second came at Iowa Speedway in the East/West combination race where he also led the first laps of his career. Dillon's brother, Austin, was the 2008 NKNPS East Sunoco Rookie of the Year. The next event on tap for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will be the New Hampshire 125 at New Hampshire Motors Speedway on Friday, Sept. 17. The event, the next-to-last race of the 2010 season, marks the second of two appearances for the series at the 1.058-mile oval in Loudon, N.H.(NASCAR.com)(8-29-2010)

Chase Elliott wins at Montgomery: Chase Elliott and his Aaron's Dream Machine crew overcame the crash of their hauler en route to the track and a late-race spin to win the fifth running of the Show Me The Money series at Montgomery Motor Speedway. Elliott qualified on the pole and drew a three for the invert, putting Kyle Benjamin on the pole with Bubba Pollard alongside. Elliott's next race will be on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Concord (N.C.) Motor Speedway in the first of five USARacing series championship events in his new Red Bull paint scheme.(Bill Elliott Racing PR)(8-24-2010)

DD driver Harraka to make Nationwide debut at Montreal: Paulie Harraka will make his Nationwide Series debut with Nemco Motorsports next weekend at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Harraka, who finished third in the NASCAR K&N Pro West Series this season, will drive the #87 Exide Batteries Chevy alongside team owner Joe Nemechek. "I'm stoked," Harraka said. "I love road-course racing. It fits me so well. For Joe to give me this opportunity is just awesome. I'm sure it won't sink in until I actually get to the racetrack." Harraka began his career in go-karts at age 7. In 2000, he became the youngest WKA Triple Crown winner after winning his fourth national title. Harraka, who is of Syrian decent, was chosen for the Drive for Diversity program in 2007 and became the first D4D candidate to win a track championship one year later at All-American Speedway (Calif.). In three seasons on the K&N Pro tour, Harraka has amassed three victories in 25 starts . all while attending Duke University, where he will be a junior this fall. Nemco tested Harraka, 20, this past week at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C. Nemechek says he's had his eye on Harraka for a while.(Fox Sports)(8-21-2010)

Chase Elliott wins at Mobile: Like teammate Casey Roderick, Chase Elliott had some adversity to overcome with this past weekend's racing activities, but he and the Aaron's Dream Machine Team did just that and capped off their weekend with a win at Mobile International Speedway. Elliott also came away with the points lead in both the Pensacola and Mobile series that make up the Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship heading into the last race weekend of the summer on Sept. 24-25.(Chase Elliott PR)(8-17-2010)

Roderick wins Garden State ARCA 150: Eighteen-year-old Casey Roderick added his name to the long list of this season's first-time winners in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, winning the Garden State ARCA 150 presented by American Red Cross by 2.889 seconds over Joey Coulter. Roderick (#51 Bill Elliott Driver Development Dodge) initially moved from the 34th starting position to ninth by Lap 6 and fifth on Lap 15, and held off Joey Coulter to lead the race's final seven laps for his first victory in four series starts. Roderick, who had never visited New Jersey Motorsports Park, suffered an expired engine after just three laps in Saturday's opening practice, and then did not have the chance to qualify in Menards Pole Qualifying that afternoon. His opening lap on the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway was just his fourth complete lap at the facility.(ARCA Racing PR)(8-16-2010)

Revolution Racing's Wallace earns second East Series win: Darrell Wallace Jr. made a three-wide pass for the lead with two laps to go and held on for the victory Friday in the K&N Pro Series 125 at Lee USA Speedway. It was the second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win of the season for the 16-year-old Revolution Racing driver from Mobile, Ala. Wallace started behind Ryan Truex and Eddie MacDonald on the race's final restart. Truex and MacDonald had swapped the lead four times over the previous 35 laps, and appeared setting up for a final dash to the checkers for the win. But it was Wallace who had drove up through the field after getting tangled up in an early race incident and wound up stealing the spotlight. He dove inside the side-by-side leaders going into Turn 3, and emerged with the lead coming out of Turn 4 for his second win of the season.(Revolution Racing PR)(8-2-2010)

Bobby Labonte Racing's Pearson wins four in a row: The #44 Lucas Oil Dodge team and Earl Pearson Jr. continued to dominate the Lucas Oil Series on Friday night at Tri-City Speedway with a fourth consecutive victory. With a third-place finish on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway, Pearson has moved up the championship points ladder only 65 points out of second place. Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) will hit the road this week for three events starting Tuesday at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway, Thursday at Utica-Rome Speedway in West Winfield, N.Y., and finishing up the month of July on Saturday night at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. Each of the three events will present a $10,000 purse to the one who lands in Victory lane.(Bobby Labonte Racing PR)(7-26-2010)

Ty Dillon to make ARCA debut in Iowa: One year ago, Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing's #31 Chevrolet to a second-place finish in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards at Iowa Speedway, working his way through the field after starting 30th with a provisional. Saturday's Prairie Meadows 200 marks RCR's second ARCA Racing Series appearance at Iowa Speedway, but this time around, the 41-year-old racing organization will have two drivers competing for the win. In addition to fulltime series competitor Tim George Jr., Ty Dillon will make his ARCA Racing Series debut this weekend. Dillon will pilot chassis No. 166 from the Richard Childress Racing ARCA Racing Series stable in this weekend's Prairie Meadows 200. This is the same chassis that Ty's brother, Austin Dillon, drove to a second-place finish in the 2009 edition of the Prairie Meadows 200 ARCA Racing Series race. Ty, the youngest grandson of Richard Childress, is no stranger to the .875-mile Iowa Speedway or the sport of auto racing. He currently competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division and is a regular on the dirt and asphalt late model circuit in the Southeastern United States, driving for Team Dillon Racing.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(7-7-2010)

Ryan Truex making Nationwide debut at Gateway: Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that NAPA AUTO PARTS will sponsor defending K&N Pro Series East champion and current points leader Ryan Truex, when he makes his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Gateway International Raceway on July 17. He'll pilot the No. 00 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota at the St. Louis track with his East series crew chief Mike Greci helping to guide his way. Truex will race in five additional Nationwide races in 2010. MWR plans to run Ryan Truex in six NASCAR Nationwide Series events this season and is seeking sponsorship support. On the schedule are Michigan, Richmond, Kansas, Charlotte and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Plans are also in the works to run Truex fulltime in the Nationwide Series in 2011, if sponsorship can be secured. Ryan Truex leads the K&N Pro Series East point standings by 33 markers over Darrell Wallace Jr. On Saturday the series races at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., where Truex is the defending race winner.(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(6-30-2010)

Humpy's Heroes postponed due to economy: Humpy's Heroes, a driver development program designed to guide a young driver's potential path to superstardom in auto racing, has been postponed until 2011 due to the struggling economy. H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler - a legendary Hall of Fame promoter, former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway and co-author of the book "Growing Up NASCAR" - said racing's economy was still suffering and it needed another year to recover. "The purpose of the Humpy's Heroes program is to take advanced young drivers and get them ready to move into ARCA, Truck, etc.," Wheeler said. "With the economy curtailing most of the development programs of the top teams, we feel it would be ill-advised to have the program this year. We want to make sure there is fertile ground for these young drivers when they finish the program. It is the worst time for moving into the major circuits that I have seen in my 50 years in the sport unless you have tons of money and that is not what this program is about. Hopefully, we will see improvement next year and we will then resume the effort." Begun last year, Humpy's Heroes consists of one-on-one development and grooming of young drivers for entrance into the world of NASCAR's top three series. A three-month program, Wheeler, who has mentored several top drivers early in their career, including seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, oversees each participant's progression. Drivers interested in becoming a Humpy's Hero in 2011 may apply beginning in January 2011. The Humpy's Heroes staff is working to develop a payment plan that will allow participants the opportunity to secure their place in the 2011 program. Participants will be able to make monthly or quarterly payments prior to the start of the program in May of next year. Details and a list of benefits for those who choose to take advantage of the payment plan will be added to the Website at www.HumpysHeroes.com as soon as they are finalized. An application also may be downloaded from the Website.(Humpy' Heroes PR)(6-15-2010)

D4D driver Cherry wins first late-model race: Michael Cherry won his first career late model race at Tri-County Motor Speedway Friday night, becoming the first African American to win a late model race at the 0.4-mile speedway. Cherry won the pole and led all 35 laps of the race en route to his first career NASCAR Whelen All-American Series victory. The Valrico, Fla., native started on the pole in the @2 MBC Group Late Model for both segments of the Twin 35 event after posting qualifying laps of 16.284 and 16.287 seconds. The win also marks the first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series win for Revolution Racing, a team that has been making history all season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Darrell Wallace Jr., became the youngest driver and first African American winner in series history with his win at Greenville Pickens Speedway earlier this year. Last weekend, Ryan Gifford became the first African American pole winner in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history. It is also the first win for crew chief Brandon "Chuck" Butler. Revolution Racing looks to continue its winning ways tonight at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Cherry, Kasten and teammate Megan Reitenour will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division.(Revolution Racing PR)(6-13-2010)

Drivers wanted for 2011 Drive for Diversity Initiative: The 909 Group, which manages the Drive for Diversity initiative, is now accepting applications from experienced drivers for the 2011 race season. This will mark the eighth season for NASCAR's leading driver development program, which provides opportunities for minority and female drivers to compete in one of NASCAR's premier developmental series. Interested minority and female drivers are invited to submit their applications to The 909 Group. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in the 2010 Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco. The event will be hosted by The 909 Group in October 2010. Drivers invited to the Combine will showcase their skills before a panel of motorsports experts in an effort to earn an opportunity to compete with the Drive for Diversity initiative for the 2011 season. Drivers who have demonstrated their skill and have experience in grassroots racing will be considered. The Drive for Diversity program is in its seventh season and is NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative. The program adopted a new academy-style training program in 2010, with greater focus on driver testing and training. The new model has already yielded impressive results, with Drive for Diversity competitor Darrell Wallace, Jr., becoming the youngest driver and first African American to win a race in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history. Ryan Gifford also made history for the Drive for Diversity program, becoming the first African American to win a pole in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Interested drivers should visit DriveforDiversity.com to download a program application.(909 Group PR)(6-11-2010)

JGR development driver Moffitt scores Martinsville victory: After dominating performances in each of the past four events, Brett Moffitt, Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, finally celebrated in Victory Lane on Sunday in Martinsville, VA. Moffitt also had dominant cars in the previous three races, leading a race-high 36 laps in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix, running in second during the East Series race at South Boston, VA., and leading 54 laps in the East-West shoot out at Iowa Speedway, only to be taken out of contention by cars behind him each time. Luck finally turned his way on Sunday, with some help from Mother Nature during the rain-shortened UNOH Performance 200 at the Martinsville Speedway. Looking ahead, Moffitt and the JGR team will travel to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH, for the New England 125 on Friday, June 25, 2010. After Loudon, the next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event will be on Sunday, July 4th, at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT.(Brett Moffitt Racing PR)(6-10-2010)

George to make NNS debut at Road America: Richard Childress Racing Development driver Tim George Jr. will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut driving RCR's #21 Chevrolet Impala in the June 19 Bucyrus 200 presented by Menards at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The New York City native races fulltime in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards driving the #31 RCR Development Chevrolet Monte Carlo. George has extensive road racing experience in the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series, Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series and the Skip Barber R/T Formula Dodge Regional Race Series. In 2008, George was named the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series Rookie of the Year.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(6-10-2010)