April 4, 2014
- Coverage of Group Qualifying for the Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 3:10pm/et.
There will be three group sessions since it is a 1.5 mile track. For the new group qualifying rules, see my Qualifying Rules Page.
Television (TV): FS2, 3:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled
- Qualifying Order for the Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed. This is the order drivers can go through inspection.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #88-Earnhardt Jr.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #21-Bayne.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw about an hour before the first practice.
See the complete list on the Texas Qualifying Page.(4-4-2014)
- Friday practice for the Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is over, after 120 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#48-Johnson 193.237
#16-Biffle 192.055
#31-Newman 191.564
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 191.327
#55-Vickers 190.934
slowest: #44-Yeley 179.480 & #30-Kligerman 183.243
Notes: #34-Ragan got loose after having fuel pressure issues and spun into the infield grass, tearing up the nose of the car and said he will go to a backup car. #41-Busch lost a left rear tire late in practice and slammed the wall, he will go to a backup car.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average and more on the Texas Practice 1 Speeds page.(4-4-2014)
- Brother’s Back-to-back wins: With #41-Kurt Busch’s win at Martinsville on March 30,2014 and #18-Kyle Busch’s win a week before at Auto Club Speedway, the Busch brothers have now won back-to-back races six times, the most by any brother duo in NASCAR history:
Back-To-Back Victories
Kurt, Kyle Busch – 6
Tim, Fonty Flock – 3
Bobby, Donnie Allison – 2
Tim, Bob Flock – 2
Bobby, Terry Labonte – 2
Brett, Geoff Bodine – 1
Bob, Fonty Flock – 1
Donald, Herb Thomas – 1.
- Cassill gets a sponsor of Texas: Hillman Racing announced that Gallery Furniture will be the primary sponsor of the #40 Chevy driven by Landon Cassill this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.Gallery Furniture – featuring solid wood, upholstery, and furniture made in America, superb customer care, and same-day delivery service in the Houston Metropolitan Area – will mark its first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship with Cassill behind the wheel of the #40 Gallery Furniture Chevrolet in Sunday’s Duck Commander 500. Gallery Furniture owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, a prominent figure in the Houston community, created a marketing stir with his recent Super Bowl promotion, in which he offered customers who bought at least $6,000 worth of furniture the chance to receive a full refund if the Seattle Seahawks won. More than 1,000 customers scored free furniture valued at $7 million through the wildly successful promotion. Known for its ever-increasing selection of “Made in America” furniture, Gallery Furniture is marking its first foray into NASCAR sponsorship with Hillman Racing as a marketing vehicle to reach the 75 million NASCAR fans as well as thousands of fans in The Metroplex attending the men’s NCAA Final Four basketball tournament.(Mike Hillman Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #40 Team Schemes page.(4-4-2014)
- NASCAR puts pressure of preserving tires on teams: NASCAR will not regulate tire pressures at Texas Motor Speedway, and if drivers have tire failures during Sunday’s race officials believe they won’t be able to blame Goodyear. Hoping to give more control over setups and strategy to race teams, NASCAR is refusing to get involved in monitoring whether teams choose to follow recommendations set each week by Goodyear. There were multiple tire issues at California two weeks ago, and many drivers tried to blame the product Goodyear brought to the track. NASCAR insisted the issues were self-inflicted and a product of teams going far beyond the air pressure limits recommended by the manufacturer. With a handful of drivers predicting similar problems this weekend at Texas, NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said each team controls its own fate. “We want to be open enough to give the teams opportunity to adjust and have different setups out there and be more aggressive or less aggressive whenever they sit fit,” Pemberton said Thursday. “We want the teams to be able to push the limit, and that’s what we expect out of them. If a guy has a tire issue that is self-inflicted and gets out of the car and blames Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., that’s a bad deal. That basically is what some of them tried to do at California.” Goodyear each week presents teams minimum pounds per square inch pressure recommendations based on both testing and data from previous tires. NASCAR has maintained the majority of failures at California occurred when teams decided to go below the recommended pressure. Goodyear this week presented teams a chart of recommended inflation pressures and times before a possible failure based on testing data. Pemberton said it is up to the teams to walk the fine line of pushing the limits Goodyear gives them in an effort to rise in what’s shaping up to be a very competitive season.(Associated Press)(4-4-2014)
- Penske joins Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame: Roger Penske couldn’t be in Fort Worth to accept credit for his induction to the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. Instead, he sent word that his place belongs to the employees of Team Penske, the racing operation that has won 23 national championships. “I know what Roger would say,” said right-hand man Walt Czarneck, executive vice president of Penske Corporation. “He’d say, ‘I’m the face of our company, but it’s really the people of our organization who deserve this. They’re the ones who have the desire, who have the commitment, who are proud of the organization. That’s why we’ve been able to achieve what we have.’ ” Penske became the 16th member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame and the third car owner inducted in the past five years, joining fellow NASCAR owners Jack Roush (2012) and Joe Gibbs (2009). Also honored Thursday night was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was presented the Major Gen. Thomas Sadler Award for humanitarianism. His appearance in Roanoke last fall helped raise more than $30,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities, the charity arm of Texas Motor Speedway. Others receiving awards were Kyle Busch, who was named the TMS racer of the year; three-time Indianapolis 500 champ Dario Franchitti, who received the O. Bruton Smith Legend Award to recognize a career cut short by injury; and James Buescher, who earned the Sportsmanship Award for his work in recovery efforts in Moore, Okla.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(4-4-2014)
- Six races, six different pole winners in 2014: #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole at Martinsville, making it six different pole winners in the first six races. That hasn’t happened since 1998. Qualifying at Texas is scheduled for Saturday, April 5th at 3:00pm/et on FoxSports2.(4-4-2014)
- Twelve Cup Team lose practice time at Texas: Twelve NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will be penalized 15 minutes of practice time Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. The penalties are for being late to qualifying inspection line last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The teams penalized are: #20-Matt Kenseth, #99-Carl Edwards, #42-Kyle Larson, #15-Clint Bowyer, #31-Ryan Newman, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #40-Landon Cassill, #26-Cole Whitt, #7-Michael Annett, #78-Martin Truex Jr., #36-Reed Sorenson and #30-Parker Kligerman. Cup teams have 1 hour, 50 minutes of practice Friday, beginning at 6:00pm/et (FS1). The clock on these 15-minute penalties begin when the cars are ready for practice. The penalty for each team doesn’t begin until the car is ready for practice.(MRN)(4-4-2014)
- March of Dimes scheme for Hamlin at Texas: To help raise awareness for the March of Dimes and March for Babies walks around the country, Denny Hamlin and Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tight end Jason Witten will host the March of Dimes national ambassador family for a VIP experience during the race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. For the seventh-consecutive NASCAR season, FedEx is working with the March of Dimes for a special #11 FedEx Office/March of Dimes paint scheme, in an effort to help give every baby a healthy start in life. Aidan Lamothe is the 2014 March of Dimes National Ambassador. Born 12 weeks premature, Aidan weighed just 3 pounds and spent 7 weeks in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). With the help of the March of Dimes, he is now a healthy 6-year-old.(FedExRacing), see images of the scheme on the #11 Team Schemes page.(4-4-2014)
- Willie’s Duck Diner featrued on Bowyers car at Texas: Duck Commander, founded in 1972 by Phil Robertson, builds custom duck calls for hunters. His son Willie, along with his family, expanded the business. Several of those ventures, including Duck Commander, are featured on Bowyer’s #15 Willie’s Duck Diner Toyota at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Located in West Monroe, La., the diner boasts a family-style atmosphere and features several recipes made famous by Robertson’s mom, Miss Kay. Buck Commander, a lifestyle experience for whitetail deer hunters, was started by Robertson with Major League Baseball’s Adam LaRoche, Ryan Langerhans and Tombo Martin as well as country music stars Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. Duck & Dressing is a lifestyle boutique run by Robertson’s wife, Korie, and daughter Rebecca, located in Monroe, La. Willie’s Duck Diner, located in West Monroe, La., offers a friendly, family-style dining experience. Serving some of Miss Kay’s delicious recipes including her famous meatloaf and pecan pie, the diner offers a wide variety of menu options that are sure to please. Duck Commander is a family-owned and operated business started by Phil Robertson based in Monroe, La. Duck Commander started making duck calls in 1972 and has since expanded to include numerous other products and brands including the No. 1 rated cable show “Duck Dynasty” on A&E. Buck Commander is a lifestyle hunting brand consisting of Major League Baseball’s Adam LaRoche , Ryan Langerhans & Tombo Martin; country music stars Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean as well as Willie Robertson. The group focuses on the camaraderie and lifestyle associated with hunting with family and friends. Duck & Dressing is a lifestyle boutique owned by Korie and Rebecca Robertson in Monroe, La. The store offers simple, edgy, southern chic clothing (MWR), see images of the scheme on the #15 Team Schemes page.(4-4-2014)
- Texas’ The Arbor Car Wash and Lube Joins Germain Racing at Texas: Heading into the Lone Star State, Germain Racing, announced that Texas’ owned The Arbor Car Wash and Lube will be an associate sponsor on the #13 GEICO Chevy SS driven by Casey Mears for the 2014 “Duck Commander 500” at Texas Motor Speedway. The Arbor Car Wash and Lube is a leader in offering Castrol Oil changes and car washes in the Austin, TX, area. They have highly trained professionals that will assist you in choosing the correct oil for your vehicle. The Arbor Car Wash and Lube offers all Castrol products including Castrol Edge, GTX SynBlend, GTX High Mileage, and GTX. They also carry a full line of air filters and wiper blades as well as numerous options in car washes. After finishing 24th in Martinsville, VA, last week, Germain Racing driver Casey Mears and owner Bob Germain Jr. are tied for 20th in the Sprint Cup Series points standings after six races in the 2014 season.(Germain Racing)(4-4-2014)
- Time Warner returns to sponsor Kahne: Time Warner Cable will adorn the hood of Kasey Kahne’s #Chevy this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, and will be the primary sponsor on the car for three more Sprint Cup Series races this year: All-Star Race in Charlotte in May, Indianapolis in July 27 and New Hampshire in Sept. 21.(HMS), see an image of the scheme on the #5 Team Schemes page.(4-4-2014)
- Penske says team still interested in expansion into V8 Supercars, Ambrose?: Roger Penske has reiterated his interest in a future V8 Supercars involvement, and says that sports cars could also be on his team’s horizon. Penske has been linked to a possible V8 team since late last year, when both he and Team Penske president Tim Cindric made a number of trips to Australia to meet with V8 Supercars officials and representatives of teams including Dick Johnson Racing and Ford Performance Racing. The team is already heavily invested in stock cars (NASCAR) and IndyCar, and Penske said that he has very clear ideas about what forms any future expansion would take. “I think that if we did anything [new] at some point, we’d like to get into the sports car side,” he said. “Once we understand the rules that would be something we’d like to do. But with supporting Brad [Keselowski] on the Truck side, with Nationwide, and with IndyCar, I think we’re full. We’re potentially looking at Australia. As soon as you talk to them that’s the first thing they want to know: ‘Are you interested in V8 Supercars?’ So that might be something we do at some point.” While it has been reported that a Penske V8 entry could be up and running as early as next year, Penske stopped short of nominating a timeframe. “We’re just looking at it,” he said. “Tim went to a couple of races, and I’ve talked to people. It’s early.” Penske said that one of his current concerns were the changes taking place in the Australian automotive landscape, where all three of the major manufacturers that currently build cars there have announced plans to close or reduce their operations. Those closures, coupled with the Australian market’s growing preference for smaller-engined vehicles, could have future ramifications for the V8 Supercars series. Penske is hoping that it could also create an opportunity that he can capitalize upon. “The issue that you have is that the manufacturers are pulling out of manufacturing in Australia – Holden is coming out, Ford is coming out, Toyota is coming out,” Penske said. “And now, V8s aren’t what people are buying – people are buying turbocharged, direct-injected 1.8 liters or 2.0 liters. And you’ve got Mercedes in [V8 Supercars] now, Volvo is in, Nissan is in, so it’s starting to open up. So it will be interesting to see whether there is an opportunity for us with some manufacturer.” Marcos Ambrose, who won two V8 titles with Stone Brothers Racing before switching to NASCAR, has been linked to Penske’s V8 plans.(Racer)(4-4-2014)
- Elliott wins Nationwide race at Texas: #9-Chase Elliott won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 1st career win in just his 6th career start. He becomes the youngest race winner at Texas Motor Speedway and the second youngest in series history (to Joey Logano) at 18 years, 4 months, 8 days. #54-Kyle Busch finished second followed by#42-Kyle Larson, #5-Kevin Harvick, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #20-Matt Kenseth, #7-Regan Smith, #22-Ryan Blaney, #3-Ty Dillon, and #11-Elliott Sadler
There were 5 cautions for 26 laps and 14 lead changes among 9 leaders. Complete results are on the Texas race results page (pdf).
(4-4-2014)
- Nationwide Texas Race Fast Facts:
Chase Elliott won the 18th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, his first victory in six NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Chase Elliott is the second-youngest winner in series history, at 18 years, 4 months and 8 days.
Kyle Busch(i) (second) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 17 races at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2014.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Chase Elliott (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chase Elliott leads the point standings by 2 points over Regan Smith.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-4-2014)
- Nationwide Driver standings following Texas:
1) #9-Chase Elliott#, 224
2) #7-Regan Smith, 222 -2
3) #3-Ty Dillon#, 214 -10
4) #11-Elliott Sadler, 208 -16
5) #6-Trevor Bayne, 206 -18 -2
6) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 193 -31
7) #11-Brian Scott, 192 -32
8) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski#, 179 -45
9) #99-James Buescher, 176 -48
10) #16-Ryan Reed#, 141 -83
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(4-4-2014)
- Nationwide Owner Standings following Texas are posted (pdf).(4-4-2014)
- Team have problems with inspection: Four drivers, including Thursday’s practice leader #3-Ty Dillon, continually failed pre-qualifying inspection and did not get on track for the first 25-minute group session. #54-Kyle Busch, #42-Kyle Larson and #60-Chris Buescher also did not log a qualifying lap in advance of Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300. Those four drivers will start 36-39th in the field. NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton said 17 teams with the same issue initially failed pre-race inspection. “Basically, it was mostly the camber and tow issues on the rear-end housing,” Pemberton said. “The majority of those teams had the same issues (Thursday) during their inspection for practice.”(NASCAR.com)(4-4-2014)
- Kevin Harvick on Nationwide pole at Texas: #5-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light Pole for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 184.963mph. #2-Matt Kenseth will start second followed by: #7-Regan Smith, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #11-Elliott Sadler, #9-Chase Elliott, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #6-Trevor Bayne, #22-Ryan Blaney, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #99-James Buescher, and #44-David Starr.
Harvick was also fastest in the first qualifying session at 184.900mph and the second at 185.605mph.
Did Not Qualify: none
The starting lineup is posted on the Texas starting lineup page (pdf).(4-4-2014)
- Texas Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
Kevin Harvick(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 18th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 with a lap of 29.195 seconds, 184.963 mph.
This is his 25th pole in 305 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and fourth top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in 16 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Matt Kenseth(i) (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2014 and his 10th in 18 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Regan Smith (third) posted his third top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his fourth in six races this season.
Chase Elliott (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-4-2014)
- Guinness Book of World Records to certify “Bigg Hoss TV’ as worlds largest LED video board:One may assume that Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage’s claim of having the world’s largest, high-definition LED video board may be hyperbole, but the Guinness Book of World Records is going to set the record straight. During Sunday’s pre-race festivities for the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Guinness Book of World Records adjudicator Philip Robertson will be on hand to present Texas Motor Speedway with a certificate officially certifying “Big Hoss TV” as the world’s largest, high-definition LED video board. “Big Hoss TV” will officially make its debut and be certified at 12:16 p.m. CT during the pre-race activities on the frontstretch stage leading into the 2 p.m. start of the Duck Commander 500. The Panasonic-built video board, which is located in the center of the backstretch grandstand area, will feature a staggering 20,633.64 square feet of HD display – roughly a half acre -with overall dimensions of 218 feet wide by 94½ feet tall. The actual height of the structure will rise to nearly 125 feet above ground level with its support structures and weigh more than 108 tons. The display showcases 281 trillion different colors, 4.8 million pixels and 14 million LED lamps.
Frontstretch tickets are still available for fans wanting to catch a glimpse of “Big Hoss TV” during the Duck Commander 500 weekend. Tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race and Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup Series race are available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(4-4-2014)
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