April 13, 2014
- Someday Darlington race could return to Labor Day weekend: NASCAR president Mike Helton was asked Saturday if Darlington would ever get the Labor Day weekend back. While Helton wouldn’t completely rule out a return, he didn’t really think it was a possibility at this time. The track hosted racing on Labor Day weekend from 1950-2003. Darlington eventually lost one of its races and its lone date was held on Mother’s Day starting in 2005. This year, the track’s date was moved to April. “You never know. There were a lot of stories that came from Labor Day races here at the Southern 500. The badge around here was based on Labor Day weekends,” Helton said. “So all I could tell you is you never know. I have seen a lot of things in this sport that I was surprised by … and that led me to believe that the future of the sport can have things happen that people say won’t happen again. So you never know.” Darlington president Chip Wile said he is happy with the track’s date but wouldn’t object to a move back to Labor Day. “With the date change, we’ve actually seen an increase in some segments that NASCAR has been focused on,” he said. “So we are committed to our race date, but we welcome any conversation.”(Morning News)(4-13-2014)
- Keselowski part of “Watch Dogs”: #2-Brad Keselowski’s secret life will be exposed – at least as a character in the new video game, “Watch Dogs.” The 2012 Sprint Cup champion has partnered with game-maker Ubisoft for “Watch Dogs,” which will be released next month. Keselowski is described in the game as one of many people in the virtual city of Chicago that players can interact with. It promises that players will find what “secrets lurk deep within a NASCAR champ’s history.” The description says players can use main character Aiden Pearce’s ability to hack into Keselowski’s profile to unlock what is there.(Associated Press)(4-13-2014)
- Darlington Raceway announces plans to honor its history and shape its future: It all started in the fall of 1949, when a crisp breeze toyed with the loose soil of an old cotton field on the west side of rural Darlington, South Carolina. Harold Brasington saw more than just dirt dancing around that patch of land. He saw the future. He saw Darlington Raceway. Today, Darlington Raceway is a place of history, where fans reminisce about the past, while creating lasting memories of the present. Where NASCAR legends were born and the youth of NASCAR dream about making their mark on the famed walls of The Lady in Black. Celebrating its roots and looking forward to the future of NASCAR at Darlington Raceway, track president Chip Wile unveiled plans Saturday to honor the track’s history and shape its future, as his team turns its attention to 2015. “As the drivers, teams, fans and media leave here this weekend thinking about who visited Gatorade Victory Lane, focusing on the next race and looking towards the 2014 Championship, we’re thinking about the future of Darlington Raceway, as we celebrate our past,” said Wile. Darlington Raceway’s place in history sets it apart from all other tracks. It’s hallowed ground, where drivers dreams were shattered and new fans were born. It continues to make its mark on drivers and fans with the great racing of today and the nostalgia of the past. “Our history defines us,” added Wile. “Without history we wouldn’t know where we’ve come from or where we’re going. NASCAR legends and loyal fans have all played a role in defining Darlington Raceway. Together, we’re celebrating where we came from and where we’re going.”
As part of the celebration, five-time Darlington Raceway winner and 1988 NASCAR Champion, Bill Elliott, as well as his son, Chase, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a member of the NASCAR Next program, one of the sport’s rising stars and the youngest winner at Darlington Raceway, will serve as the “face” of the 2015 platform. The father-son duo joined Wile to give media and fans in attendance a glimpse of what’s to come, which includes a “throwback” ticket design for the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500 and a Classic product line with merchandise through the decades that will be available for fans to purchase.
The track “Too Tough to Tame” will unveil elements of the 2015 platform throughout the season, as it celebrates the past and embraces the future as one of NASCAR’s most famed tracks. “We’re excited about what the future holds for Darlington Raceway,” continued Wile. “We have the most passionate, loyal fans in all of motorsports and we look forward to the role that they will play as we celebrate our past, present and future.” Fans are encouraged to join in the celebration as Darlington Raceway plans for the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500. “Tell us your Darlington story,” said Wile. “If you have ideas about how Darlington Raceway and NASCAR can celebrate our history and embrace our future, please let us know.” Fans can share their stories and submit celebration ideas at [email protected]. Keep up with all the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(4-13-2014) - Duck Commander 500 a huge hit at TMS: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Properties introduced a new line of merchandise with Duck Commander making its debut as title sponsor of Texas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race last week and the result was one of the highest grossing race weekend’s in the speedway’s 18-year history. Speedway World, Texas Motor Speedway’s souvenir store located on property, reported its best race week sales total since 2000 and SMIP enjoyed its best overall event sales total since April’s Samsung Mobile 500 in April of 2009. A Duck Commander 500 trailer, specially designed and wrapped for this event, was located at Texas Motor Speedway’s main gate entrance and accounted for 14.6% of the total sales. Also, online sales were more than 900% higher than a typical NASCAR race weekend. The revenue total, which was not disclosed by SMIP, was an 81% increase from last year’s April NASCAR Sprint Cup Series NRA 500 doubleheader weekend that enjoyed significant growth in comparison to previous years. That increase was buoyed by an 87% increase in grandstand and merchandise trailer sales. The best-selling items were the Duck Commander 500 camouflage caps, camo t-shirts, total print t-shirts, feather flag, legacy t-shirt, splash-down t-shirt, koozie and bandana. Duck Commander, which grew to fame with the masses through the Robertson family exploits on A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” hit reality television show, is in the first year of a three-year entitlement sponsorship with Texas Motor Speedway for its annual spring NASCAR doubleheader weekend. Fans interested in purchasing Duck Commander 500 merchandise can go to www.GoSpeedwayWorld.com or visit the Duck Commander merchandise trailer in the midway during the June 5-7 Firestone 600 INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader and the Oct. 30-Nov. 2 AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway.(TMS)(4-13-2014)
Main Page | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997