April 28, 2011
- Eric McClure, family survive tornado: Nationwide Series driver Eric McClure survived the “most helpless and scary” moment of his life Wednesday night when one of the deadly tornadoes that have wreaked havoc on the South ripped through his home in Abbington, Va. “It looks like a war zone, a mine field,” said McClure, who spent about four hours huddled under a basement staircase with his wife, three children and two dogs. “It’s a debris field as far as you can see. It’s shocking. We have never experienced anything like that before,” he said. While the house sustained major damage, McClure and his family survived the ordeal without injury. So far, 16 fatalities have been reported in Glade Springs, about eight miles from McClure’s home. As of Thursday, 210 deaths had been reported throughout the South, with 131 reported in Alabama.(see full David Newton article at ESPN.com)(4-28-2011)
- Bayne Undergoing Medical Tests; Will Not Race in Richmond: Roush Fenway’s [and Wood Brothers Racing’s #21] Trevor Bayne has been hospitalized and is undergoing tests for symptoms that are thought to be related to the insect bite he sustained earlier this month. “Trevor was not feeling well early this week and he is currently being evaluated for lingering symptoms that may be related to his previous insect bite,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “Unfortunately Trevor will not be available to drive the #16 Ford for us this weekend in the Nationwide race at Richmond [Bayne was not scheduled to run the Sprint Cup race as the #21 Wood Brother’s team runs a limited schedule]. As of now, our plans are to use a substitute driver from the Roush Fenway family of drivers in place of Trevor at Friday night’s race. Obviously Trevor wanted to be in Richmond and he’s upset about not being able to compete. However, his health is our top priority and we insisted that he have these tests to get to the bottom of his symptoms. We will work to provide you with further updates as they become available.” The 20-year old driver was treated and released earlier this month after a reaction from an apparent insect bite on his left elbow that he suffered earlier that week while at home in North Carolina.(Roush Fenway Racing)(4-28-2011)
- Crew chief swap at Gibbs? DENIED: supposedly a crew chief swap has been discussed and is imminent between the #11 and #20 Joe Gibbs Racing teams. The swap would send #11-Denny Hamlin’s crew chief Mike Ford to #20-Joey Logano with Logano’s crew chief Greg Zippadelli to the #11 garage.
2011 has been a dismal year for Hamlin having scored just one top-10 finish through the first eight-races of the season. Logano is 66-points out of a playoff spot in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. Expect to see the change within the next few weeks if not sooner.(Captain Thunder)(4-27-2011)
UPDATE: JGR spokesman says that reports of crew chief shuffle for Hamlin and Logano are false.(Bob Pockrass/SceneDaily Twitter)(4-28-2011) - The Entry List for the Crown Royal Presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway is posted, 44 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
NOTE: the #21 is NOT entered, so the #71 moves into a guaranteed starting spot.
Not in top 35 of owners points:
#30-David Stremme (0/0)
#36-Dave Blaney (37/8)
#37-Tony Raines (38/8)
#38-Travis Kvapil (39/8)
#46-J.J. Yeley (41/8)
#60-Mike Skinner (45/8)
#66-Michael McDowell (41/8)
#87-Joe Nemechek (43/8)
#92-Brian Keselwoski (46/4)
In the event that all practices and qualifying are all rained out or cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 36,37,38,46,66,87,60,92
missing the race would be [1]: #’s 30
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Richmond Entry List.(4-25/28-2011) - Richard and Judy Childress Receive Awards for Charity Work: Richard Childress received two awards for his charitable work in early April – one for his support of our troops from the Armed Forces Foundation and one for his family’s work with the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. While in Washington, D.C. for the seventh annual Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala, Mr. Childress took the opportunity to visit several injured soldiers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md. Most of the soldiers suffered from traumatic blast injuries and recently received the Purple Heart. At the gala later that evening, Mr. Childress received the Bill and Beverly Young Humanitarian of the Year Award. He has visited U.S. military troops across the nation, as well as in other countries, including Iraq, Bosnia, and Spain.
A few days later, the Winston-Salem branch of the Exchange/SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) organization awarded Richard and his wife, Judy Childress, with the 2011 Founders Award for their exceptional commitment to the health and well being of children. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill presented the award to Mrs. Childress and cited the Childresses’ work helping children since launching the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in July 2008. The Institute is working to save the lives of children who experience serious injuries and help them recover quickly through research, education and prevention. April is Child Abuse Prevention month.(RCR)(4-28-2011) - The Numbers for the Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400:
1 – fewest cautions for a Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway (three times, most recent, 3/1/70)
1 – fewest cars on lead lap at finish (22 times, most recent 10/12/75)
2 – fewest leaders (six times, most recent 2/23/75)
2 – fewest lead changes (seven times, most recent 2/23/75)
4 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
4 – fewest laps led by race winner (2/23/86)
6 – fewest caution laps (6/5/60)
12 – most leaders (four times, most recent 5/6/07)
13 – most wins by driver (Richard Petty)
15 – most cautions (twice, most recent 5/2/09)
22 – wins from the pole; 35 from the front row (109 races)
25 – most lead changes (twice, most recent 3/3/96)
32 – most cars on lead lap at finish (9/7/08)
47 – different pole winners in 109 races
48 – different race winners
43 – most running at finish (9/7/08)
90-120 minutes – amount of time it takes to dry the .75-mile track after a significant rainfall
123 – most caution laps (two times, most recent 9/8/74)
488 – most laps led by race winner (9/13/70 – Richard Petty – 500-lap race)
1946 – Ted Horn won the first race on half-mile dirt track (10/12/46) in open-wheel car
1953 – Lee Petty won the first NASCAR Grand National Division, now Sprint Cup, race on the half-mile dirt track (4/19/53).
1955 – Paul Sawyer and driver Joe Weatherly purchased the track
1964 – race run under temporary lights (3/10/64)
1968 – last race on dirt track won by David Pearson (3/24/68)
1968 – first race on paved track won by Richard Petty (9/8/68)
1969 — track remeasured from .625-mile to .5625-mile; remeasured from .5625-mile to .5-mile; remeasured again from .5-mile to .542-mile prior to the first race of 1970
1988 – track reconfigured to its current .75-mile layout
1991 – permanent lighting added prior to fall event won by Harry Gant (9/7/91)
1999 – International Speedway Corporation (ISC) acquires track
Richmond Int’l Raceway has had several names since it opened in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track:
• Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds (1946-1955)
• Virginia State Fairgrounds (1964-1968)
• Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (1969-1988)
• Richmond International Raceway (1988-present)
2011 Caution Update
4 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
16 – most cautions this season (Daytona)
67 – number of cautions in the first eight races of 2011; 37 for accidents
331 of 2,509 – number of laps under caution in 2011
445.593 of 3,163.080 – miles under caution in the first eight races.(Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports)(4-28-2011) - Inception Motorports to debut at Richmond: in late March 2011, it was announced that David Stremme would return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) this season and join forces with the newly-formed Inception Motorsports. Stremme will debut the #30 Inception Chevrolet at Richmond in the Crown Royal presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400. Echostar is on the hood. See an image of the car on my #30 Team Schemes page.(4-28-2011)
- Stewart to visit Wounded Warriors: Office Depot announced that #14-Tony Stewart will make a special visit to U.S Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Thursday, April 28. Stewart will visit with Wounded Warriors and hold a private autograph session for service members during the Quantico ServMart Customer Appreciation Day celebration event taking place on base at Barnett Field. A replica of Stewart’s #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 show car will also be on-site. Stewart’s appearance at the base is in conjunction with Quantico’s Third Annual Customer Appreciation Day. This event is sponsored in part by the General Services Administration and its vendors, including Office Depot. Marine Corps Base Quantico’s mission is to optimize readiness by providing operation and training support, infrastructure and community services (Office Depot)(4-28-2011)
- North Carolina Senate picks stock car racing as state sport: The North Carolina Senate has voted to establish stock car racing as the official state sport. The Senate voted 46-3 on Wednesday to crank up the legislation and drive it toward the House after it sat in a committee for nearly two weeks. Republican Sen. Tom Apodaca of Henderson County said lawmakers put the brakes on rival efforts to name the college basketball played at Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the state sport.
North Carolina is home to more than 90% of NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and to Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Associated Press)(4-28-2011) - Competition Update:
The record for lead changes at Richmond is 25, set twice, most recently in 1996. With four of the eight races having the lead change record either broken or tied, Richmond’s mark might be doomed.
Some other notes of interest…
• There have been seven different winners in the first eight races, most since 2003.
• There has been an average of 14.6 leaders per race, most through eight races in series history.
• There has been an average of 38.5 lead changes per race, most through eight races in series history.
• There has been an average of 4,511 green flag passes all around the track per race, most through eight races since the inception of Loop Data in 2005.
• There has been an average of 54 green flag passes for the lead all around the track per race, most through eight races since 2005.(NASCAR)(4-28-2011) - Richmond Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Richmond this weekend . . . teams in both of these series ran this same combination of left- and right-side tires at Phoenix earlier this season. . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear tire test at Richmond last October 12-13. . . drivers participating in that test were Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton and Regan Smith . . . compared to what was run at Richmond last season, this left-side tire features a slight construction change, while this right-side tire features a softer compound . . . both changes are designed to give the cars more grip . . . NASCAR teams will also race on this same tire set-up at New Hampshire this season . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Richmond. The estimated pit window is every 95-100 laps, based on fuel mileage (Goodyear), see pressures, number of tires, tire codes and more on my Richmond Race Info page – Goodyear Section.(4-28-2011)
- Donate and Drive ‘DEGA, to Aid in Alabama Disaster Relief: Talladega Superspeedway announced plans to aid the American Red Cross in relief efforts from the devastation of yesterday’s storms that tore through Alabama with a $100,000 commitment. Race fans can do their part as well and get a chance at tackling the high-banks of Talladega in turn. For a $50 donation to the American Red Cross race fans will be able to drive their personal vehicle around the high-banks of Talladega Superspeedway, May 6 -8. Cash and check donations will be accepted at the gate of Talladega Superspeedway with all proceeds going to the Alabama chapter of the American Red Cross. More info at talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS) and to donate to the Red Cross to help anyone involved in the storms, go to redcross.org.(4-28-2011)
- Sprint Cup Qualifying Will Move To Saturday at Martinsville: A schedule tweak in the spring Sprint Cup schedule at Martinsville Speedway will also be used for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend Oct. 28-30. Qualifying for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be held on Saturday, October 29 along with time trials for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Until last spring Sprint Cup qualifying had been held on Friday. Friday will still be a vital part of race weekend with practice session for both the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series set for Friday, October 28. There will be almost six hours of track time between the two divisions on Friday. “We weren’t sure what to expect when we made the switch for our spring events, but we got a really positive response from fans,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “From the feedback we got, it seems like most fans enjoy being able to see Cup and Truck qualifying and the Truck race on Saturday. It gives so many more people the opportunity to see qualifying that hadn’t been able to attend in the past because they couldn’t get Friday off from work.” Tickets for all three days of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets for Friday’s practice session are $10. Tickets for Saturday’s Kroger 200 are $30 in advance and $35 the day of while tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 start at just $25.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-28-2011)
- VA Governor proclaims April 2011 as Virginia Motorsports Month: Joined by Richmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz and Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell today declared April 2011 as Virginia Motorsports Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In his recognition, Gov. McDonnell cites Virginia’s rich motorsports history and serving as home to more than 20 local speedways, raceways and motorsports parks, including Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway – both of which host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events annually. Virginia is the only state to currently host four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each year. Virginia has also produced many contributors to NASCAR history, including Wendell Scott, the first African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, and two current Sprint Cup drivers—Jeff Burton and Denny Hamlin. Additionally, Wood Brothers Racing – the latest winner of the Daytona 500 – was founded in Virginia and was based in the Commonwealth for 53 years. It is the oldest continuously operating NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. In total, the NASCAR weekends at both Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway generate annual economic benefit of $584 million for the Commonwealth.
The governor’s proclamation comes during race week at Richmond International Raceway, which begins Thursday with a doubleheader featuring the Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, followed by the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown. Tickets for Thursday are $25; children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult. The weekend continues Friday when the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns for the BUBBA burger 250 race “under the lights.” Friday’s ticket includes Wawa Pole Qualifying and practice for the Sprint Cup Series, as well as NBC12 Pole Qualifying and practice for the Nationwide Series. Advance tickets start at $30; children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult.
On Saturday, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars hit the track as Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 “under the lights.” Advance tickets for Saturday start at $45. All tickets can be purchased online at www.rir.com or by calling 866-455-7223.(RIR)(4-28-2011)
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