April 23, 2013
- Hamlin hopes to return at Richmond UPDATE: Injured #11-Denny Hamlin told ESPN.com on Saturday there is a 50-50 chance he’ll return to his Sprint Cup car next weekend at Richmond. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver said it’s almost 100% he will at least start the May 5 race at Talladega. Hamlin was expected to miss six weeks after suffering a compression fracture in his lower back on the last lap of the March 24 race at Auto Club Speedway. That would have put his scheduled return at the May 11 race at Darlington. But Hamlin said if the follow-up scan of the fracture that will take place either late Tuesday or early Wednesday shows bone growth he will be in the car at his home track in Richmond if doctors give him clearance. “If everything works out, and if the scan looks the way I feel we’re going to be in good shape for Richmond,” Hamlin said after the final practice for Sunday’s race at Kansas. “I feel there’s been growth there. I feel I’ve gotten stronger. Everything is a lot better. Last week, I would have said probably not. But this week I feel a lot better.” Hamlin said there won’t be another scan for two weeks after this week’s. Even if he is not given clearance for Richmond, the plan is to start Talladega to collect driver points and give way to a backup driver after the first caution. Hamlin said there is no consideration for starting and then putting a backup driver in at Richmond because he would lose at least two laps making the exchange at the three-quarter mile track. Hamlin said he’s been off pain medicine for a week and a half, so that won’t be an issue with getting medical clearance. He is confident after looking at the crash data from Auto Club Speedway that it would be tough to duplicate what led to his injury.(full story at ESPN.com)(4-20-2013)
UPDATE: Denny Hamlin tweeted Tuesday evening, “No update tonight guys.”(4-23-2013) - Penske appeal to be heard May 1: Penske Racing’s appeal of penalties issued to reigning Sprint Cup champion #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano will be held on May 1. The appeal will be heard by three members selected from the National Stock Car Racing Commission. If the panel stands by NASCAR’s ruling, Penske Racing has the option to go to the final appeal stage in which chief appellate officer John Middlebrook makes the ruling after hearing from both sides. NASCAR has referred to the confiscated parts as unapproved because they were altered to move in a way that officials have told teams was off limits. Logano said during a Tuesday during a press event promoting the May 18 All-Star race and May 26 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway the teams are in the preliminary stages for preparing for what will happen if the suspensions stand. “We need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” he said. “We’ll bring in some extra people [at Richmond] to have some overlap on our team to prepare if the appeal doesn’t go the way we expect it to. We need to always do that.(ESPN)(4-23-2013)
- Dish Network to make bid for Sprint Nextel UPDATE2: Dish Network Corp, the No. 2 U.S. satellite television provider, offered to buy Sprint Nextel Corp for $25.5 billion in cash and stock, a move that could thwart the proposed acquisition of Sprint by Japan’s SoftBank Corp. Sprint shares soared 16.2 percent to their highest level since September 2008, leaving them well above the value of the Dish offer on Monday. Dish’s surprise bid is the latest development as the U.S. wireless business undergoes a wave of consolidation. Dish was already in the midst of an unsolicited offer for Clearwire Corp, the wireless company majority-owned by Sprint. Dish said it would pay $4.76 per share in cash and about 0.05953 shares in Dish stock for each Sprint share. The offer, which works out to $7 per share, represents a premium of roughly 12 percent to Sprint’s close on Friday. Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. mobile services provider, agreed in October to sell 70 percent of its shares to SoftBank for $20 billion. No date has been set yet for a vote on that deal. Sprint declined to comment on the Dish offer.(Reuters)(4-15-2013)
UPDATE: Sprint said it would evaluate the proposal but declined further comment. Some analysts said the Dish offer could lead to a bidding war with SoftBank. The combined entity would have 63.1 million retail subscribers and $50 billion in annual revenues, Dish said in a regulatory filing. The play for Sprint came together in the last few months as Dish started to think through all of its alternatives to gain even more spectrum, according to a source familiar with the matter. As much as Dish wants a wireless partner, analysts said Sprint also needs a deal to compete more effectively. Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said Sprint management likely prefers the SoftBank offer, given the Japanese company’s deeper background in the wireless market.(Money / MSN)(4-16-2013)
UPDATE 2: Sprint Nextel has formed a committee of independent directors to review a $25.5 billion buyout offer from Dish Network. The committee has retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch to act as its financial adviser and will provide an assessment to the full board, the company said Monday. Dish said Monday that it’s pleased with the news. Dish Network Corp., the third-largest U.S. pay TV provider, made an unsolicited offer for Sprint Nextel Corp. earlier this month. Dish is attempting to block the sale of 70 percent of Sprint to Softbank Corp. of Japan, a deal which Sprint agreed to in October. Sprint, based in Overland Park, Kan., is the third-largest U.S. cellphone company.(AP/ABC)(4-23-2013 - Ragan to drive a train; have special scheme at RIR: David Ragan will take a break from the #34 Ford to get behind the controls of one of the most advanced CSX locomotives at 3 pm on Tuesday, April 23, at the Moncrief Rail Yard (Jacksonville, FL). There he will learn more about train operations and to promote the “Play it Safe” campaign, which encourages safety among pedestrians and motorists around railroad tracks. In other events during the day, Ragan will put the CSX primary race car, which is painted with the “Play It Safe” scheme, on display at 11:30am at CSX Headquarters at 500 Water Street. From 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, he will sign autographs for CSX employees. On April 26, fans attending the Richmond International Speedway Race Weekend will get the opportunity to sign a pledge to exercise caution around railroad tracks on the actual hood of the CSX “Play It Safe” #34 Ford, which will race in the April 27 Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond, VA.
“We plan to give David a tour of one of our latest locomotives and show him how it operates. The tour will include the perspective from the engineer’s seat, and a briefing on how CSX – the largest railroad in the East – delivers freight safely and reliably,” says Gary Sease, Corporate Communications Director. Ragan, who is also a spokesman about the dangers of distracted driving, welcomed the opportunity to be part of another safety message. “It can take the average freight train traveling at 55 mph up to a mile to stop,” Ragan said. “To put the problem in perspective, every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train.”
“We’re proud to partner with the team that has been most associated with driver safety,” says Sease. “David is a great spokesperson, and we hope his passion for this issue will translate into increased awareness about safety.” As the primary sponsor for the Richmond race, CSX will use the entire car to promote safety. In addition to the hood of signed safety pledges, the #34 Ford will feature the “I brake for trains” bumper sticker, both quarter panels and the hood will display the “Play It Safe” campaign tagline and other messages. Ragan is utilizing social media and encourages his fans to help promote the message with the #PlayItSafe hashtag as it will be seen on his car. In addition to NASCAR, the “Play It Safe” campaign targets college students on campuses intersected by railroad tracks and includes billboards placed strategically near rail crossings, online advertising, social media and other communications that urge caution.(Front Row Motorsports), see a bunch of images of the car on the #34 Team Schemes page.(4-23-2013) - Brian Keselowski teams up with Go Green Racing for Richmond: Archie St Hilaire (Go Green Racing) announced today that his team would be making their first attempt of the season next Saturday night at the Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond. St Hilaire also confirmed that he was joining forces with Brian Keselowski Motorsports (BKM) and Kelly Owen who have been working together this year in an effort to best utilize their resources with the new Gen 6 car with hopes of expanding their options for running the entire race when they compete. The group has plans for at least 10 more events this season. The team plans to run a mixtures of Toyota or Ford. Brian Keselowski will drive the #52 Toyota at Richmond, his father Bob is listed as the owner and the engine package from Triad. Ben Leslie will be working with the team as the crew chief.(Go Green Racing)(4-23-2013)
- Richmond Stats and Facts:
· Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953 won by Lee Petty.
· The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.
· The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.
· The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.
· The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.
· The track was re-measured to .542-mile in 1970.
· The track was rebuilt as a three-quarter-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.
· The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.
· The first season with both races as night races was 1999.
· There have been 113 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway, one NSCS event from 1953-1958 and two races per year since 1959.
· 467 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond; 304 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with 63. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 55 starts; followed by Mark Martin with 54.
· Buck Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Richmond in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.
· 51 drivers have Coors Light poles at Richmond, led by Richard Petty and Bobby Allison with eight each. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with five each.
· Seven drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond. Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive poles at Richmond with five (1972 – 1974).
· 47 different drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, led by Richard Petty with 13. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with four.
· Petty Enterprises has the most wins at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 10 and Joe Gibbs Racing with nine.
· Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 35 victories; followed by Ford with 28 wins.
· 22 of the 113 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from the Coors Light pole. Only three active drivers have been able to accomplish the feat: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007) and Kyle Busch (2010).
· The pole starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing the most winners than any other starting position at Richmond (22).
· 35 of the 113 (30.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond have been won from the front row: 22 from the pole and 13 from second-place.
· 90 of the 113 (79.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 11 of the 113 (9.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond International Raceway was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the spring of 2008.
· Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for thelead in runner-up finishes at Richmond with nine each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34. Mark Martin leads all active drivers with 18; followed by Jeff Gordon with 16.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 44. Mark Martin leads all active drivers with 30; followed by Terry Labonte with 28.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond International Raceway with a 7.925.
· Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond International Raceway with a 5.438.
· Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Richmond: Kyle Busch (5.4), Denny Hamlin (8.0) and Clint Bowyer (9.5).
· There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Richmond International Raceway: spring of 2008 (400/410).
· Only four of the 113 races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1962, spring of 1977, spring of 1982 and spring of 2003.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway six times; most recently fall of 2008.
· Kevin Harvick has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond without posting a DNF (24).
· Bobby Labonte (9/11/1993) and Brian Vickers (5/15/2004) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Richmond.
· Tony Stewart (9/11/1999) and Kasey Kahne (5/14/2005) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup wins at Richmond.
· Eight drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond International Raceway. Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive wins from the fall of 1970 – 1973. Terry Labonte (1994-1995) and Jimmie Johnson (2007 sweep) are the only two active drivers with consecutive wins at Richmond.
· All of the 16 active NASCAR Sprint Cup winners at Richmond International Raceway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart won at Richmond in their second appearance.
· Terry Labonte competed at Richmond International Raceway 32 times before winning in 1994; the longest span of any of the 16 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Terry Labonte (32), Joe Nemechek (18), Kevin Harvick (11) and Jimmie Johnson (10) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Richmond International Raceway.
· Bobby Labonte leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 40.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway was the Sept. 12, 1998 race won by Jeff Burton with an MOV of 0.051 of a second.
· Janet Guthrie is the only female driver to have competed at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(twice) – (2/27/1977) starting 13th and finishing 12th; 9/11/1977 – starting 14th and finishing 12th.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Richmond with 1,415 laps led in 40 starts.(NASCAR)(4-23-2013) - Thorn to attempt Nationwide debut: Derek Thorn will celebrate his 27th birthday by doing something he’s never done before: drive a Nationwide Series car. Thorn, who turns 27 on Thursday, will be behind the wheel of the the #52 Camaro owned by Jimmy Means as practice gets under way at Richmond International Raceway (a track he’s never driven on) for Friday night’s Toyota Care 250 at the three-quarter mile track. Thorn, who moved to Bakersfield in 2009, is one of the top drivers on the West Coast. He won six Spears SRL Southwest Tour races and the championship last season and won two races and finished third in points on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West circuit. He is 2-for-2 in SRL races this season and finished fourth in his lone K&N West start. This will be Thorn’s biggest challenge yet for a variety of reasons, including the limitations of Means’ low budget team. “It’s kind of a Hail Mary,” Thorn said of his chances. “But Jimmy’s been around a long time and they do a damn good job for what they’ve got. The car they’re taking to Richmond is a good one. A lot of it is up to me. I haven’t tested or ran these cars before and I’ve never been on Goodyear (radial tires) before. It will be up to me getting up to speed right away so I can give them good feedback.”(Bakersfield Californian)(4-23-2013)
- e-Swisher expands sponsorship of Sorenson: e-Swisher has reached an agreement to extend their partnership with The Motorsports Group to be primary sponsor of the #40 Chevy Camaro driven by Reed Sorenson in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, beginning with the Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25. e-Swisher previously partnered with TMG and Sorenson at the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.(TMG PR)(4-23-2013)
- Kenny Wallace making 2013 debut at Richmond: Richmond International Raceway will see a familiar face Friday night for the Toyota Care 250, the return of Kenny Wallace in the #29 RAB Racing Toyota Care Camry. “The Action Track” is one of Wallace’s favorite tracks on the circuit and marks his first start of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide season. He has found victory lane three times, including 18 top 10 finishes and 432 laps lead, with an astonishing 0 DNF’s spanning 24 years racing at Richmond. “I’am just so excited to be returning to the NASCAR Nationwide series this weekend at a race track that I love in Richmond International Raceway, with a sponsor that has been with me for years in Toyota and Toyota Care, and with an amazing race team in RAB Racing. Richmond will be the first of many races with RAB Racing this season, and its great to run for Robby Benton again, who will actually be my crew chief this weekend. I truly can’t wait to get out on the track Thursday and start practicing and get back to stock car racing, we’ve had such a great year going so far with my JEGS dirt team, but there’s no feeling like short track racing under the lights at Richmond International Raceway.”(RAB Racing), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(4-23-2013)
- Tire testing planned for Eldora: 311 Speedway announced on their Facebook page that they will be hosting a Goodyear tire test with Camping World Truck Series teams on Wednesday, April 24. 311 is a half-mile dirt track. Goodyear and the participating teams will return to dirt when the Truck Series takes to the half-mile Eldora Speedway in July. 311 Speedway did not say which teams, or how many, are testing. The session is open to the public.(4-23-2013)
- Talladega Fans can access tickets using smartphones: It just got even easier for fans to purchase tickets to NASCAR’s most exciting and unpredictable venue – Talladega Superspeedway. It’s now literally at a consumer’s fingertips. To directly gain access to Aaron’s Dream Weekend, May 3-5 – which is less than two weeks away – fans can now use their smartphones. The new mobile-friendly fan experience, created by Moovweb, gives users quick and easy access to purchase event tickets as well as other opportunities such as the Talladega Experience – NASCAR’s ultimate hospitality venue – and much more. Simply log onto talladegasuperspeedway.com on the mobile device and select the “Buy Tickets” link.(TSS)(4-23-2013)
- “Drive the Track Day” on Saturday, April 27 at Atlanta: Fans looking to gain access not normally afforded to the casual customer can do so when they take their own vehicle on the famed high banks of the 1.54-mile speedway, as well as enjoy a full Legends racing program, on Saturday, April 27 as part of the speedway’s “Drive the Track Day.” Beginning at 10:00 am, those that have purchased a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 on Sunday, Sept. 1 will be able to take a few hot laps around the speedway. Tickets will be available for purchase at the AMS Ticket Office, and those that have already purchased their AdvoCare 500 ticket can stop by the Ticket Office to pick up their pass to ride the track. A $30 donation to the Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will also grant access to the on-track portion of the day. To learn more about Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Drive the Track Day,” and for more information on AdvoCare 500 tickets, starting at just $39, visit atlantamotorspeedway.com or call the AMS Ticket Office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX or (770) 946-4211.(AMS)(4-23-2103)
- Darlington Raceway’s “Race Into Reading” Program: Elementary students in the Darlington County School District (DCSD) read more than 9,200 books in five weeks, as part of Darlington Raceway’s “Race Into Reading” Program. Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School in Society Hill won the competition, averaging 12 books per student. St. John’s Elementary School came in second, averaging 4.7 books per student and West Hartsville Elementary came in third, averaging 3.9 books per student. Designed as a way to celebrate “March is Reading Month” and to get children excited about reading, the “Race Into Reading” program challenged first through fifth graders across the county to read as many books as possible. The students from the top three reading schools received a visit from NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Parker Kligerman, driver of the #77 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, and the Nationwide Series showcar today as part of their reward for reading the most books. The program kicked off on March 1 with all Darlington County School District elementary students receiving a Darlington Raceway bookmark, reading reminder bracelet, and a youth admission ticket to Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday, May 10.(Darlington Raceway)(4-23-2013)
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