April 11, 2013
- Thursday’s second test session at Texas Motor Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#16-Biffle 192.864
#78-Busch 192.369
#18-Busch 191.639
#29-Harvick 191.625
#24-Gordon 191.442
slowest: #98-McDowell 181.947 & #32-Hill 181.038. 43 drivers were on track.
notes: there is no TV or online coverage of today’s sessions.
See fastest speeds, laps run and more on the NRA 500 Test 2 Speeds page (pdf).(4-11-2013) - Thursday’s first test session at Texas Motor Speedway is over after 120 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#78-Busch 191.225
#16-Biffle 191.049
#48-Johnson 190.255
#55-Martin 189.860
#9-Ambrose 189.773
slowest: #35-Wise 182.531 & #32-Hill 181.886. 41 drivers were on track during the test.
notes: there is no TV or online coverage of today’s sessions.
See fastest speeds, laps run and more on the NRA 500 Test 1 Speeds page (pdf).(4-11-2013) - Nemechek gets Texas sponsor: Advanced Technology International (ATI), the leading manufacturer in gun stocks and firearm accessories, announced that it will be Joe Nemechek’s primary sponsor under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup NRA 500. Nemechek’s #87 NEMCO-JRR Racing Toyota will be wrapped in a black and red ATI paint scheme that features unique design elements taken from ATI’s trademark branding. With the NRA as the new title sponsor of the 500 mile Texas race, as well as the 2013 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits being held in nearby Houston, the fit seemed natural for ATI.(NEMCO-JRR), see an image of the car on the #87 team paint schemes page.(4-11-2013)
- 300 Cup starts for Kyle Busch: At just 27 years of age, it’s difficult to believe Kyle Busch is considered by many to be a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran. But as the Sprint Cup competitors head to Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth this Saturday night for the NRA 500, the driver of the # 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing is showing veteran-like numbers to prove it, especially since the Texas start will be his 300th in NASCAR’s top series. Along with his number of starts, the number in the career wins column also serves to belie Busch’s age. His 25th Sprint Cup win three weekends ago at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. – ties him with JGR teammate Matt Kenseth, along with Jim Paschal and Joe Weatherly, for 24th in all-time Sprint Cup victories. Also with the Fontana win, Busch became just the third driver to score 25 victories in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series (25 Sprint Cup, 54 Nationwide). Mark Martin (40 Sprint Cup, 49 Nationwide) and Kenseth (25 Sprint Cup, 26 Nationwide) are the only other drivers to do so. In Busch’s 299 previous starts, he’s also has notched an impressive 97 top-five finishes and 144 top-10s. Not too shabby for just 300 career starts.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(4-11-2013)
- Bell Helicopters sponsoring McMurray: Bell Helicopter will be featured as the primary sponsor on the #1 Chevy SS this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Founded in 1935 as Bell Aircraft Corporation, Bell Helicopter sets the pace for the industry and expands the scope of vertical lift. An industry leader with unmatched name recognition, Bell Helicopter was the first to obtain certification for a commercial helicopter. Over its rich history, Bell Helicopter has delivered more than 35,000 aircraft to customers around the world. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Bell Helicopter has additional plants in Amarillo, Texas and Mirabel, Canada, with key logistics supply and service centers in Europe, Canada, and Singapore as well as in the United States.(Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)(4-11-2013)
- Kenseth to sub for Hamlin at Short Track Showdown: #11-Denny Hamlin has a substitute driver for his April 25 Short Track Showdown charity race at Richmond: his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate #20-Matt Kenseth. Kenseth will drive a Late Model in Hamlin’s place for the annual event that pits NASCAR drivers against some top local short-track talent. “Obviously, it kills me to not be able to race in the Short Track Showdown,” Hamlin said. “I grew up racing these cars against some of the best in the area, and it’s always fun to come back and do it again, but my injury won’t allow that this year.”(USA Today), for more info, see Jayski’s NASCAR Charities page.(4-11-2013)
- Liberty Tire Recycling Joins NASCAR Green: As part of NASCAR Race to Green, a month-long, industry-wide effort to reduce the sport’s carbon footprint, NASCAR and Liberty Tire Recycling announced a new partnership that designates the tire recycling services provider as the Official Tire Recycler of NASCAR Green. NASCAR has the largest recycling program in sports, including a comprehensive effort that accounts for approximately 120,000 Goodyear tires recycled across NASCAR’s top three national series each year. Liberty Tire Recycling will join other Official NASCAR Green partners, which comprise a comprehensive recycling program, including Coca-Cola, MillerCoors, Creative Recycling, Goodyear, Safety-Kleen, and Sprint. In conjunction with the NASCAR Green Clean Air Tree Planting Program Delivered by UPS, an initiative that will neutralize the carbon emissions of all of the racing in NASCAR’s three national series, Liberty Tire Recycling will provide GroundSmart Mulch that will enhance the landscaping of trees that are donated to areas of need throughout the country. The rubber mulch lasts longer than its wood mulch counterpart and prevents soil from washing away. Additionally, Liberty Tire Recycling products, such as rubberized asphalt will be used to repave racetracks and parking lots at NASCAR Home Track racetracks across the country.(NASCAR)(4-11-2013)
- Texas Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series run the same tire codes at Texas this weekend . . . these teams have run this left-side tire code (D-4392) at Texas in both 2011 and 2012 . . . this right side tire code is new to teams in these two series, though it has been run by teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Texas for the past two seasons . . . compared to what Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams have run at this track recently, this right-side tire has a tougher compound for better wear . . . Goodyear held a test with the Gen-6 car at Texas on October 9-10, 2012 . . . teams and drivers participating in that test were No. 16 Roush Fenway Ford with Greg Biffle, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Kyle Busch, No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with Paul Menard and No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with Juan Pablo Montoya . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire codes, pressures, set limits and more on the Texas Race Info page – Goodyear section.(4-5-2013)
- 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 Texas on the Texas Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
- Smith fastest in first practice: #7-Regan Smith was fastest during opening practice at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.056mph. #3-Austin Dillon was second, followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #33-Kevin Harvick, #12-Sam Hornish, Jr., #20-Brian Vickers, #18-Matt Kenseth, #99-Alex Bowman, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #5-Kasey Kahne. 43 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Texas Motor practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(4-12-2013)
- Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive for JR Motorsports at Richmond UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced via the latest JRM 360 episode, that Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive the #5 Chevy at Richmond International Raceway on April 26.(4-4-2013)
UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced a one-race sponsorship agreement with CorvetteParts.net for Jeffrey Earnhardt’s #5 Chevy in the April 26 race at Richmond International Raceway. CorvetteParts.net is a subset of Keen Parts Inc., a leading supplier of Corvette restoration parts. JR Motorsports announced on April 4 that Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 23-year-old nephew of team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., would fill the seat of the No. 5 Chevrolet at Richmond. JR Motorsports announced an associate partnership with Keen Parts Inc. earlier this year. Owned by Tom and Teresa Keen and based out of Cleves, Ohio, Keen Parts specializes in Corvette restoration parts ranging from vintage 1953 models to customized accessories for today’s Corvettes. The company’s current inventory boasts more than 18,000 parts and accessories.(JR Motorsports)(4-11-2013) - Bandit Chippers to Race with Kligerman, Camp Horsin’ Around: Bandit Industries will return to Texas Motor Speedway with Parker Kligerman in the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Friday for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, sharing sponsorship of the Kyle Busch Motorsports #77 Toyota with Camp Horsin’ Around – a camp for children with health issues located in rural Kentucky. Bandit Industries is a leading global manufacturer for wood chippers and other wood processing equipment. Bandit has been a regular sponsor in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series since 2010. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on April 12 will be Bandit’s third NASCAR Nationwide Series race of 2013.(Bandit Chippers)(4-11-2013)
- Talladega Superspeedway Jeff Gordon Day – Thursday only: There is nothing more exciting than attending a NASCAR race at the sport’s Most Competitive Track – Talladega Superspeedway. Now, fans have even more reason to purchase tickets to the Aaron’s 499 in May – to help the most promising pediatric cancer research and programs that will improve patients’ quality of life as part of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. This Thursday, April 11 – One Day Only – for every frontstretch grandstand ticket sold to the Aaron’s 499, $24 will be donated to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. Talladega Superspeedway’s “Jeff Gordon Day” – Thursday, April 11 – has arrived. Beginning Thursday, April 11, from 9 am until 5 p.m. EDT, fans can secure tickets at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or by calling 877-Go2-DEGA. A $24 donation will be made to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation for tickets purchased in the following grandstands: Gadsden; Lincoln; Anniston and Anniston Tower; O.V. Hill North and South; O.V. Hill Tower, Tri-Oval and Tower Extension; Birmingham and Birmingham Tower; Moss-Thornton and Moss-Thornton Tower; and Talladega and Talladega Tower. The $24 donation is for the Sunday, May 5, 2013, Aaron’s 499 event only.(TSS)(4-11-2013)
- Shawn Michaels to drive pace car at Texas: After a career of driving opponents to the mat in professional wrestling rings with his signature “Sweet Chin Music” finishing move, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will now grab the wheel of the “No Limits” Wild Asphalt Circus Chevrolet Camaro Official Pace Car and lead the 43-car field to the green flag for Saturday evening’s NRA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Considered one of the most gifted sports entertainers of all time prior to retiring in 2010, Michaels now gets the rare opportunity as a celebrity to pace the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the start of the NRA 500 in the Official Pace Car. NASCAR has granted Texas Motor Speedway special permission to allow Michaels to drive the car pending a mandatory on-track orientation prior to race. Michaels is just the third celebrity in the history of Texas Motor Speedway to earn the honor, following movie star Vince Vaughn (2007 Dickies 500) and former Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson (2010 AAA Texas 500). Former Dallas Stars great Mike Modano also was bestowed the honor, but had his moment washed out for the April race in 2010 when the Samsung Mobile 500 was postponed until Monday due to rain.(TMS)(4-11-2013)
- Darlington Raceway could keep tax money if seats are widened: A bill that could allow Darlington Raceway to watch out for both its fans’ bottoms and the track’s bottom line is headed to the South Carolina Senate. The Senate Finance Committee passed a proposal Tuesday that would allow the track to keep its 5 percent tax on tickets even if the speedway’s capacity falls below 60,000 – in the event bigger seats are one day needed to accommodate fans. Darlington Raceway currently seats 62,000. But track president Chris Browning says the speedway is considering widening its 18-inch wide seats as an amenity for the crowds. “One of the things a lot of stadiums are doing is widening seats to make fans more comfortable,” he explained. But he said reducing seating capacity because of bigger seats has tax implications. The bill before lawmakers would delete the reference to the track’s 60,000 fans while allowing it to keep the tax proceeds as a NASCAR sanctioned motor speedway that plays host to at least one race a year of the preeminent NASCAR racing series.(Associated Press/Augusta Chronicle)(4-11-2013)
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