April 18, 2011
- Talladega overnight TV Ratings: NASCAR on FOX delivered a 4.6/11 on Sunday for racing from Talladega, FOX’s best NASCAR rating in six weeks dating back to a 5.3/11 for the Las Vegas race on March 6. Yesterday’s 4.6/11 is down -6% compared to last year’s 4.9/11 when the race aired a week later. The race peaked at a 5.9/13 from 4:30-4:45pm.
For the season-to-date, NASCAR On FOX is averaging a 4.9/11, +2% better than last year’s 4.8/10. Because last year’s Talladega race was run a week later, that 2010 rating is not yet included in the year-ago average. One factor in yesterday’s NASCAR decline was lower ratings in Charlotte and Raleigh, cornerstone NASCAR markets that were severely impacted by a violent storm this weekend. Viewing in Raleigh was down -28% (5.8 vs. 8.1) while Charlotte was down -20% (10.3 vs. 12.9). See 2011 ratings and comparison chart on the 2011 TV Ratings page.(4-18-2011) - With Biffle signed, Roush will now focus on Edwards: With #16-Greg Biffle now signed to a new three-year contract, Roush Fenway Racing will turn its focus to retaining Sprint Cup points leader #99-Carl Edwards. Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark said on Sunday he is cautiously optimistic a deal can be reached with Edwards, the biggest free agent on the NASCAR market. He hopes the deal can be reached before mid-summer. Edwards is free to talk to other teams. Sources said he has visited with Joe Gibbs Racing, which would have to expand to a fourth team to accommodate such an addition. But most in the garage believe Edwards will re-sign with Roush Fenway, the team he has driven for since his Sprint Cup career began in 2004. Biffle is among those who are confident that Edwards will remain his teammate.(ESPN.com)(4-18-2011)
- Two records tied at Talladega: Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway tied two Sprint Cup Series records – number of lead changes and closest margin of victory. There were 88 lead changes at the start/finish line, tying an all-time NASCAR record set in last season’s April event at Talladega. The final lead change occurred on the last lap – eight of the last 12 Talladega races featured a last-lap lead change. Jimmie Johnson edged Clint Bowyer by .002 seconds, which matches the closest margin of victory since the inception of electronic scoring in May 1993. That mark was originally set at Darlington Raceway on March 16, 2003, with Ricky Craven beating Kurt Busch. Since 1993, every race at Talladega finishing under green – 29 in all – has had a MOV under .400 seconds. Passing numbers – for the lead and otherwise – also were high. There were 159 green flag passes for the lead all around the race track, with a total of 11,025 green flag passes throughout the field.(NASCAR)(4-18-2011)
- Miller Lite Ultimate Tailgate Returns to Richmond: Miller Lite is bringing the ultimate tailgate party to fans at Richmond International Raceway prior to the Saturday, April 30 Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The Miller Lite Ultimate Tailgate features live music, tailgate games and great tasting Miller Lite and smoked barbecue on sale. Located near the Midway on the Amphitheater Hill, the Miller Lite Ultimate Tailgate is the place to be for fans 21 years of age and older before the green flag drops Saturday night, April 30. This festive and enjoyable destination is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a southern rock band performing from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., corn hole tournaments, a Miller Lite show car and mechanical bull riding.(RIR)(4-18-2001)
- Michigan launches scoreboard opportunities for fans: Show that special someone you care with a personalized birthday message on the Michigan International Speedway scoreboard this summer. MIS is excited to announce its new scoreboard message capabilities, allowing fans a chance to see their birthday message on the scoreboard during race days. For a $25 donation to MIS Cares, fans can have a special message posted on the scoreboard for the entire crowd to see. This new race weekend feature is intended to be a fun and exciting way for fans to celebrate their special birthday event at MIS this June or August. Messages will be shown prior to pre-race ceremonies throughout the weekend. All personalized messages will be a maximum of 50 characters and are limited to the first 25 sold for each weekend. The deadline to make a purchase for the June race weekend is May 15, 2011. The deadline for the August race weekend will be July 15, 2011. For more information or to purchase a scoreboard message please visit www.mispeedway.com/scoreboardmessages.(Michigan Speedway)(4-18-2011)
- Logano driving at Nashville: Due to a lack of sponsorship, the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and driver Joey Logano were not originally scheduled to run this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. However, a number of factors following this past Saturday’s event at Talladega Superspeedway changed that. First, with Logano’s second-place finish at Talladega, the #20 JGR team extended its points lead in the Nationwide Series Owner’s standings to 13 points over its JGR teammates, the #18 team. Second, a new sponsor jumped on board Sunday evening to make the trip possible. Harvest Investments, LLC & Harvest-Properties.com have signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing for a one-race sponsorship to allow the #20 team and Logano to head to Nashville to continue the strong start to the season and continue the chance to run for the Nationwide Series Owner’s Championship, which Joe Gibbs Racing has won three years in a row. The team was originally scheduled to run the first seven races, with Nashville being the first without sponsorship and not on the schedule. Now, with Nashville back on the schedule, the team will run through Dover. As of now, the team doesn’t have sponsorship for Iowa, but is still looking for interested companies.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(4-18-2011)
- SPEED marks 200th NCWTS broadcast at Nashville: SPEED celebrates its 200th NASCAR Camping Truck Series race broadcast Friday, April 22 at Nashville Superspeedway (live at 8 p.m. ET; NCWTS Setup with Krista Voda at 7:30 p.m. ET). The network, the exclusive television home of the Truck Series, took the reins for the first time in February 2003 at Daytona International Speedway and has been at the helm ever since. When SPEED arrived on the scene at Daytona, Rick Allen called the action alongside former sports car driver Dorsey Schroeder and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship crew chief Barry Dodson, with reporter Ray Dunlap and former NASCAR driver Phil Parsons reporting from pit road. That cast has remained largely intact over the years, now consisting of Allen and Parsons alongside NASCAR team owner/driver Michael Waltrip in the booth, with Dunlap and NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler patrolling the pits and Krista Voda hosting NCWTS Setup, the series’ popular pre-race show.(SPEEDtv.com)(4-18-2011)
- Double-duty for Sadler; first time at Nashville; new sponsor: UPDATE Bully Hill Vineyards onboard for two: Elliott Sadler heads into this weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway without a single lap on the 1.333-mile concrete oval, but he will exit the weekend with two races at the track under his belt. Sadler will participate in both the Truck Series and Nationwide Series races this weekend, both of which will be his first race at the track in each respective series. Bully Hill Vineyards will make their Kevin Harvick Inc. debut this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway on the No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado, where the Western New York winery will also serve as entitlement sponsor of the Truck Series race, the Bully Hill Vineyards 200. The No. 21, a fourth entry for KHI, will feature the winery’s Sweet Walter Red variety, described as a “grapey,” rich and smooth red wine, great for after dinner sipping and conversation.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-18-2011)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced today that Bully Hill Vineyards is the newest sponsor to join the organization in 2011. The Western New York vineyard has come on board for two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, both with NASCAR veteran Elliott Sadler behind the wheel. Bully Hill Vineyards will make their KHI debut this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, and will make its second primary sponsor appearance of the season on the No. 2 truck when the Truck Series returns to Nashville on July 22nd. In both events, the Bully Hill Vineyards machine will be driven by 16-year NASCAR veteran Sadler.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-18-2011) - Congrats to Rick & Sarah Gay: Congratulations go out to Rick and Sarah Gay on the birth of their little girl Ava Grace. Rick is the crew chief for the No. 7 Stemco/Duroline Toyota Tundra driven by Miguel Paludo. Ava Grace Gay arrived on April 13th at 5:33pm. Mom and baby are doing well.
- Paludo making first NNS start: Native Brazilian Miguel Paludo will make his first Truck Series start at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. With each race that passes in 2011, Paludo continues to make improvements. A few weeks ago at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the 26-year-old driver led his first laps in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition, a total of five. Paludo currently sits 10th in the Truck Series point standings. Following his 12th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway. Paludo has moved into second in the rookie point standings behind leader Cole Whitt.(Red Horse Racing PR)(4-18-2011)
- Gale set to drive KHI’s #2 at Nashville: The No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado, fielded by Kevin Harvick Inc., will be back on-track with Cale Gale behind the wheel. Gale has yet to make at Truck Series start at the superspeedway, but that doesn’t mean he’s a rookie to the track. Over the last five years, Gale has gathered six career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the 1.33-mile facility. It has been more than two years since Gale has competed at the concrete track in Music City, U.S.A. Rheem Manufacturing Company is the primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and is a primary sponsor of the No. 2 Truck for select events in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-18-2011)
- Mike Curb celebrates 500th start with Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & ThorSport Racing: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s Centennial Celebration, Curb Records and ThorSport Racing will celebrate Mike Curb’s historic 500th NASCAR start at Nashville Superspeedway’s Bully Hill Vineyards 200 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Johnny Sauter, driver of the No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb Records Chevrolet Silverado and recent winner at Martinsville Speedway, will pilot the entry as he also celebrates a long-standing relationship with Curb as a sponsor throughout his career. Sauter is also the driver points leader going into the race. The Ronald Reagan Centennial is a historic, year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th birthday of the 40th President of the United States of America. A series of substantive and celebratory events, partnerships and initiatives sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation are planned throughout 2011. Rodney Atkins, recording artist for Curb Records, will also be at the celebration as he debuts his brand new single, “Take A Back Road”. The new single will appear on Rodney’s new album scheduled for the Fall of 2011.(ThorSport Racing PR) [Images of the #13-SafeAuto/Curb/Atkins ThorSport Racing Chevrolet are posted on the #13 NCWTS Paint Schemes page.](4-18-2011)
- Steak-umm returns as Hornaday sponsor at NSS: Ron Hornaday found his way around the 1.333-mile track of Nashville Superspeedway and took the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet to victory lane in August 2009. The four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion will be heading to Nashville hoping to cross the finish line first for the second time in his career during the 150 lap Bull Hill Vineyards 200 on Friday night. After facing the wrath of Daytona International Speedway and finishing 28th following a wreck on lap 76, the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado will once again display the Steak-umm colors as the primary sponsor for the four-time champion. This is the second of three primary races on the No. 33 truck. The “Philly Cheese Steak” brand will return to the track later this season at Martinsville Speedway in October where Ron Hornaday will look to defend his win from October 2010.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-18-2011)
- Nashville another 1st for Piquet: Nelson Piquet Jr, driving the #8 Qualcomm/Autrac Chevrolet for KHI, will head to Music City this weekend for his first experience at the 1.333-mile Nashville Superspeedway. For the fourth-consecutive race this season, Piquet Jr. will encounter a track in which he has not raced at before. The D-shaped track will also provide Piquet Jr. his first opportunity to compete on a concrete surface. Even with a break in the Truck Series schedule, Piquet Jr. did not take a break from racing. On April 9-10, Piquet Jr. participated in the Pan American Rotax Series East Division at Homestead Karting in Homestead, Fla. The Brazilian driver competed in the first championship weekend with the Tony Kart team in the Max division. Piquet Jr. used his past experience in karting to bring home two podium finishes in the two rounds, third and second.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-18-2011
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