March 23, 2012
- Hamlin wins pole at Auto Club: #11-Denny Hamlin won the pole for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 186.403mph for his 1st pole of 2012, 10th career pole, and 2nd pole at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin is the fifth different pole sitter in the first five races of the season.
#18-Busch was 2nd fastest followed by #55-Martin, #5-Kahne, #16-Biffle, #39-Newman, #29-Harvick, #20-Logano, #14-Stewart and #48-Johnson.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #30-Stremme, #26-Wise, #98-McDowell, #36-Blaney, #23-Riggs, #49-Yeley, #19-Bliss and #74-Sorenson.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #7-Gordon, #87-Nemechek & #37-Hill.
See qualifying results, pole pregression, starting lineup on my Qualifying Results / Starting Lineup or the starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(3-23-2012)
- Qualifying Fast Facts – Auto Club Speedway:
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual Auto Club 400 with a lap of 38.626 seconds, 186.403 mph.
This is his 10th pole in 228 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2012. He qualifies for next year’s Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
This is his second pole in 12 races at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin’s previous Sprint Cup pole here came on Oct. 11, 2009.
#18-Kyle Busch (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2012 and his eighth in 15 races at Auto Club Speedway.
#55-Mark Martin (third) posted his 11th top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second in four races this season.
#26-Josh Wise (30th) was the fastest qualifying rookie. (NASCAR Statistics)(3-23-2012)
- Coverage of Qualifying for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Friday, March 23, 2012 at 7:10pm/et.
Television (TV): SPEED, 7:00pm/et
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: 10:30pm/et
- Qualifying Order for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed, so 3 will go home.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #37-Hill, slowest in practice.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #15-Bowyer, who was fastest in first practice.
Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on the Auto Club Qualifying Page.(3-23-2012)
- Friday practice for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over. After scheduled minutes, the top five fastest, slowest, notes:
#15-Bowyer 185.109
#55-Martin 184.322
#5-Kahne 183.946
#2-Keselowski 183.290
#11-Hamlin 183.187
slowest: #7-Gordon & #37-Hill
This practice sets qualifying order, scheduled for 7:10pm/et on SPEED. #37-Hill goes out first and #15-Bowyer goes our 46th/last.
See fastest speeds. laps run and more on the Auto Club Practice 1 Speeds (pdf), no average speeds am NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(3-23-2012)
- Go-or-Go Homers practice for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway.
the practice rank for the go-or-go homers (drivers not in the top 35 of 2011 owners points)
These drivers would make the race if things stay the same:
#30-David Stremme, 28th fastest overall
#26-Josh Wise#, 31st
#49-J.J. Yeley, 32nd
#98-Michael McDowell, 35th
#36-Dave Blaney, 39th
#87-Joe Nemechek, 40th
#23-Scott Riggs, 41st
#74-Reed Sorenson, 42nd
These drivers would miss the race if things stay the same:
#19-Mike Bliss, 44th
#7-Robby Gordon, 45th
#37-Timmy Hill#, 46th/last
(3-23-2012)
- NASCAR President defends appeals process: NASCAR president Mike Helton said he believes in the sport’s rules inspectors and the overall appeals process, despite the decision Tuesday that overturned most of the penalties imposed on Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Chevy from a body-alignment issue at Daytona last month. “We think the decision made this week supports the inspection process with the elements of the penalty that were upheld,” Helton said Friday at Auto Club Speedway. “It indicates they did their job correctly.” NASCAR originally penalized the #48 team 25 points and suspended both crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec for six races, along with fining Knaus $100,000. Before the car went on the track at Daytona, inspectors said the C-posts (on each side of the rear window) were not within the tolerances of the rule book, but the car was not measured on the templates. Both Knaus and Malec were allowed to continue working races while the penalty was appealed by Hendrick Motorsports. A three-man appeals panel held up the penalties two weeks ago, but most of the penalties were rescinded Tuesday by chief appellate officer John Middlebrook, a former GM executive who has the final say in the appeals process. The points and the suspensions were eliminated by Middlebrook, but the fine was upheld. Helton said the fact that the fine was upheld proves that NASCAR inspectors discovered a violation. “Elements of the penalty were upheld based on parts of the car that did not conform to the rules,” Helton said. “The debate was how we reacted to it. That’s as much a bureaucratic decision as it is a competition decision.” Middlebrook has not spoken publicly about his reasons for greatly reducing the penalty. The surprising decision by Middlebrook has caused some people to wonder if changes are needed in the inspection or appeals process, but Helton said NASCAR has no plans to do so.(ESPN)(3-23-2012)
- Harvick to be inducted into ACS’s Walk of Fame: As the 2011 Auto Club 400 race winner, Harvick will be inducted into the Auto Club Speedway Walk of Fame on Saturday, Mar. 24 at 11:30 am/pet. The Bakersfield, Calif., native will receive a bronze plaque from track president Gillian Zucker, which will be placed in a cemented area along with his footprint, handprint and signature. The induction will be held in the Auto Club Speedway FanZone, located outside gate 12 and is open to the public (RCR).(3-23-2012)
- Kahne makes Quaker State debut at ACS: Kasey Kahne will drive the #5 Quaker State Chevy for the first time this season during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Quaker State has partnered with Hendrick Motorsports for 17 years and played a role in nine Sprint Cup Series championships and 151 race victories with the organization. The #5 also will carry the Quaker State colors at Charlotte in May, Kentucky in June and Richmond in September (HMS)(3-22-2012)
- Allstate joins EGR: Allstate will be the co-primary sponsor on the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. The Allstate Corporation is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer.(EGR)(3-22-2012)
- Wood Brothers donate winning car to museum: Eddie Wood and Len Wood of the famed Wood Brothers Racing team, donated Trevor Bayne’s 2011 Daytona 500 winning Ford Fusion to The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Mich., on Thursday. The car, exactly as it was after Bayne won at Daytona International Speedway and still covered in celebratory confetti, Gatorade and Coca-Cola will be housed in the museum’s Driving America exhibit, next to Henry Ford’s 1901 Sweepstakes and Jimmy Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis 500 winning Lotus-Ford. The Wood Brothers and Trevor Bayne will attempt to win at Michigan International Speedway this summer during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on June 17 and the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 19. Visit MISpeedway.com or call 800-354-1010 for tickets.(see an image at mispeedway.com)(3-23-2012)
- Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post these] and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Auto Club Speedway on the Auto Club Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
- Rusty Wallace returns to the track: Retired NASCAR driver and ESPN broadcaster Rusty Wallace, is scheduled to compete in the June 12th Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at The Milwaukee Mile. The race honors the late Lettow, a former standout ASA crew chief who mentored many young drivers. The event will benefit the MACC Fund, dedicated to childhood cancer and blood disorder research (RWR). More info on the Drivers Appearances page.(3-23-2012)
- CMS to build six mini-suites overlooking pit road: Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials will announce today the construction of six mini-suites overlooking pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 15-person outdoor suites, built about 11 feet above the NASCAR pit crew boxes, will be at the center of pit road, on the track’s “50-yard line,” according to CMS Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Dan Farrell. The suites with roof cover are tied to three-year deals at a cost of $45,000 annually. In return, suite holders will receive 15 tickets to eight NASCAR events every year. Catering provided by track concessionaire Levy Restaurants is a separate fee. To date, SMI has sold four of the six suites, including three to JR Motorsports, UPS and 3M. SMI has a contract pending for a fourth pit road suite and track officials are confident the remaining two units will be sold by May 19, the date of the Sprint All-Star Race, Farrell said. As part of the pit road suite package, suite holders get exclusive access to the new Winners Circle Lounge behind the structure. The lounge, formerly the Sunoco Gas Station, will have a bar, a meeting room, televisions and restrooms.(SceneDaily / Sports Business Daily)(3-23-2012)
- Special Drive to End Hunger Ticket at Darlington Raceway: Race fans who are interested in supporting #24-Jeff Gordon in AARP’s and AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger campaign and in turn receive a special opportunity to participate in a 15-minute question and answer session with the popular driver, Darlington Raceway has just the ticket. Darlington Raceway is offering a special AARP Drive to End Hunger ticket package for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Bojangles’ Southern 500 race on Saturday, May 12. For a special price of $124, each package will include a ticket to the Bojangles’ Southern 500, hospitality in the Drive to End Hunger tent, which includes food and beverage, and the opportunity to participate in the 15-minute Q&A; session with Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Packages can be purchased by visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com/drivetoendhunger or by calling 866-459-7223. Darlington and Americrown will donate to local food banks on behalf of Drive to End Hunger. AARP Foundation will work with Harvest Hope to receive the donations, which are expected to include bread, produce and other food items.(Darlington Raceway)(3-23-2012)
- Nu-Way Industries back in control of Irwindale Speedway : The first hurdle for racing to return to Irwindale Speedway has been cleared. Track owner Nu-Way Industries, Inc. has regained control of the track, considered by many the best short track in America, after a decision in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Jason Rund, the Chapter 7 trustee for Irwindale Speedway, LLC, ended the 33-year lease late last week. That frees Nu-Way to determine what it will do with the property, which includes state-of-the-art half- and third-mile gradually banked ovals and an eighth-mile drag strip. The lease was to expire on July 9, 2029. L.A. Racing, which operates a racing school on the property and is not affiliated with Irwindale Speedway, LLC, has continued running its classes and programs since track general manager Bob DeFazio filed bankruptcy papers on Feb. 13. “We’re just trying to feel our way through,” Nu-Way’s Jay Garrett said. “We weren’t able to do too much because the property was tied up with the bankruptcy. We can go ahead now.” Garrett said that the pair have received hundreds of phone calls from parties interested in buying the property or entering into a new lease. “(Racing) will take a little longer to get re-geared back up,” Garrett said. “But there are a couple of leading candidates. We’ll have to see what it has to take to put it together.”(more info at the Pasadena Star News)(3-23-2012)
- Rusty Wallace returns to the track: Retired NASCAR driver and ESPN broadcaster Rusty Wallace, is scheduled to compete in the June 12th Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at The Milwaukee Mile. The race honors the late Lettow, a former standout ASA crew chief who mentored many young drivers. The event will benefit the MACC Fund, dedicated to childhood cancer and blood disorder research (RWR). More info on the Drivers Appearances page.(3-23-2012)
- NASCAR places Townley on probation for remainder of year: UPDATE: Townley to return at Martinsville: NASCAR announced today that it has placed John Wes Townley, driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, on probation until Dec. 31, 2012. Townley violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation occurred Feb. 7. In addition to the steps already underway by his team RAB Racing, Townley will be evaluated by a certified substance abuse professional at NASCAR’s discretion and will be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)(3-22-2012)
UPDATE: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard announced today that John Wes Townley will return to the driver’s seat of their #09 Toyota Tundra in next weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway. Townley, 22, served an internally imposed one-race suspension following a violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation occurred on Feb. 7. “We have stood by our commitment to John Wes Townley, and supported him as he has worked through fulfilling what sanctions we’ve placed on him internally, as well as the process that NASCAR has instituted that allows him first, to return to the seat of our Toyota Tundra, and second, to compete on a weekly basis,” said Robby Benton, owner of RAB Racing with Brack Maggard. “It was an unfortunate situation that occurred, and a mistake was made. We now look towards the future and building on a lesson learned. We will work closely with NASCAR and their programs as he returns to full-time competition in the Camping World Truck Series.” “I want to send my deepest apologies to NASCAR, RAB Racing, my fans, sponsors, family, and friends,” said Townley. “I made a terrible mistake, but I am now ready, having a renewed relationship with God in my life, to move forward making better decisions. Martinsville will be the start of a new chapter in my life, in more ways than one. My future actions will demonstrate where my heart is, and that I am on a mission.”(RAB Racing PR)(3-23-2012)
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