May 2, 2015
- Gordon wins Talladega pole: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light pole for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 194.793mph for his 3rd pole of 2015, 4th at Talladega and 80th of his career. Gordon has won 20 races from the pole.
#5-Kahne is on the outside pole followed by #21-Blaney, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #48-Johnson, #14-Stewart, #27-Menard, #20-Kenseth, #18-Ragan, #15-Bowyer, #13-Mears and #9-Hornish Jr.
Missing the race were: #26-Burton and #95-McDowell.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results, pole progression, qualifying order and more on Jayski.com’s Talladega Qualifying Page.(5-2-2015) - Qualifying Fast Facts – Talladega:
#24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 46th Annual GEICO 500 with a lap of 49.160 seconds, 194.793 mph.
This is his 80th pole in 771 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and sixth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his fourth pole in 45 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#5-Kasey Kahne (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2015 and his sixth in 23 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#21-Ryan Blaney(i) (third) posted his second top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his first in four races this season.
#83-Matt DiBenedetto (43rd) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-2-2015) - Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
Pole sitter #24-Gordon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole winners].
Outside pole sitter #5-Kahne took pit stall 17, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#21-Blaney, who starts 3rd took the 39th pit stall, the 3rd stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-2-2015) - BK Racing Launches Eight-Week American Salute Campaign: BK Racing announced that the team will participate in an eight-week American Salute Campaign, starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina May 24th. JJ Yeley, driver of the #23 Toyota, will run a special “We Salute You” scheme in honor of our fallen military Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans can give $10 through the BK Racing website, and submit a fallen service member’s name, and the name will appear on the hood and rear quarter panels of the #23 Toyota for the Coca-Cola 600. In addition, BK Racing will donate a portion of the proceeds back to Hope For The Warriors, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans and military families.
“I am honored to be able to salute our men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, through NASCAR and our organization,” said team owner Ron Devine. “I believe it’s important to remember our military and their families. It’s also great to be able to partner with an organization like Hope For The Warriors, who provide support and resources for our active military. I encourage everyone to get online, submit names, and help us say ‘Thank You’ to our servicemen and women.”
“The names that BK Racing will be display on JJ Yeley’s car are the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They are the men and women whose names stay in our hearts and minds everyday, and especially in the month of May,” said Travis Hanson, Hope For The Warriors, Senior Director of Sports and Recreation. “Hope For The Warriors is thankful to NASCAR fans for the honor and recognition they give to our service members, veterans and the sacrifice of our military families.”
Visit the BK Racing website to submit names for the American Salute Campaign. BK Racing is honored to give back to our men and women who continue to serve this country and protect the freedom of this beautiful country, the United States of America. Stay up to date with news and information about the team through the BK Racing website, www.bkracing.com, or through social media on Twitter and Facebook.(BK Racing), see an image of the scheme Yeley will run on the #23 Team Schemes page.(5-2-2015) - Havick feels Sprint Cup schedule is Stagnant: #4-Kevin Harvick, met with members of the media at Talladega Superspeedway and discussed his thoughts on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule:
Q) THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MADE ABOUT DECLINING ATTENDANCE AND FAN SUPPORT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW NASCAR CAN GROW THE FAN BASE?
Harvick: “I mean the last three races that we went to last year were sold out. I don’t know that is a 100 percent true statement. I think it just depends on where you go and what you do. Now, if you want to talk about growing the sport I believe that some venues need one race. I believe that the schedule needs to be mixed up. People like things that change they don’t like stagnant things. In my opinion the most stagnant thing in our sport is our schedule and our venues that we go to. You can beat a dead horse as much as you want, but it doesn’t come back to life. And sometimes you just have to change things up to keep the excitement and enthusiasm in the sport. I think our schedule is definitely the weak link along with some of the venues that we go to. That is my opinion.”
Q) IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE WHAT THREE OR FOUR PLACES WOULD YOU ADD TO THE SCHEDULE?
Harvick: “I know the first place I would go is Iowa. I think that everybody wants to see more short tracks and more venues. I think road racing – we have a couple of road races on the schedule and most every team has two road race cars and spends a lot of money on their road race program. Adding a road race here or there would definitely be something that I would vote for just for the fact internationally road racing is very recognizable to race fans. Whether it be Formula 1 or any other form of racing there are not many ovals. You could take your pick on road courses, Montreal (Canada) does a great job, you could go to Laguna Seca (California), you could go anywhere in the world and race on a road course. There are lots of good venues. I would have to really think about the rest of the question. I have always been a fan of let’s go to the banquet and roll the pills around of race tracks across the country and have a wild card race every year. Go to the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Mile and really you could go to test these venues and see how the markets react. And see the reaction you get from the market, even if you only have 30 or 40 thousand people in the grandstands if you put on a good event for TV and do the things that it takes to have a unique event that is really what people want. They want unique things.”(Team Chevy)(5-2-2015) - Talladega Superspeedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – poles:
· Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph. Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
· 38 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega, led by Bill Elliott with eight. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with three.
· 10 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 – 1987).
· 13 of the 91 (14.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole. Jeff Gordon (2007) is the only active driver to be able to accomplish the feat.
· The outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega.
· 33 of the 91 (36.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
· 63 of the 91 (69.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 8 of the 91 (8.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the spring of 2000.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway five times; most recently fall of 2013.
(NASCAR)(5-2-2015) - Outback Steakhouse makes 2015 debut on the #4: Outback Steakhouse has celebrated #4-Kevin Harvick’s eight top-10 finishes thus far in 2015 by giving its customers a free Bloomin’ Onion on Bloomin’ Mondays – the Monday immediately following each top-10 finish. Harvick would like to continue those Bloomin’ celebrations this weekend by scoring another top-10 by way of his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race win of 2015 and the second of his career at Talladega Superspeedway. In fact, if Harvick is able to score his ninth top-10 of the season this weekend, Outback Steakhouse will give away its 1 millionth Bloomin’ Onion as part of its Bloomin’ Monday promotion. Outback Steakhouse is the primary sponsor of the #4 Chevy at Talladega, the first of three races in 2015. The other races scheduled are Sonoma in June and Martinsville in October.(SHR), see images of the car/scheme on the #4 Team Scheme page.(5-2-2015)
- Leavine Family Racing announces summer camp: Leavine Family Racing announced its inaugural session of CAMP 95, a summer camp program designed to provide high school students with a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR racing industry. The camp will provide students with a chance to explore the many different careers available in racing, from engineering and building race cars to marketing and sponsorship roles. “An important part of our Leavine Family Racing team is focusing on the racing community and our local community,” said Bob Leavine, team owner. “I am thrilled to give back to the community by using the organization as a way to provide these students with a look at some different career opportunities available to them.” CAMP 95 is designed to help the team foster valuable connections with the younger generation of race fans. Leavine Family Racing looks to provide students with career advice and guidance during a period of time where they are expected to make life-changing decisions. With an inside look at the race team, Leavine Family Racing hopes the campers participating will recognize career options that they may not have previously thought of. The one-day camp will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at the race team’s headquarters in Concord, N.C. The day will include a shop tour with crew chief, Wally Rogers, who will explain the team’s start in NASCAR and the competition side of racing. Students will also gain insight into the engineering and technology side of the sport, as well as marketing and sponsorship roles found at every race team. Several key members of the NASCAR industry will also visit the campers. These speakers will share their experiences on how they got started in NASCAR and provide advice to the students as they begin to plan their careers. Students interested in CAMP 95 can find applications at www.lfr95.com. Applications are due by May 25 and only 30 campers will be selected to participate. These campers will be notified of their acceptance via email by June 1.(LFR)(5-2-2015)
- Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on NBCSN TONIGHT: The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, presented by FedEx, will air as a primetime, one-hour special on NBCSN this Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 pm/et. Providing commentary and analysis are Rick Allen, Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. NBCSN will re-air the Showdown broadcast on May 7 at 12:00 am/et, following NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Tucson coverage, and again on May 9 at 12:30 am/et, following NHL playoffs coverage. The Showdown special features top NASCAR drivers competing against the best regional Late Model drivers. The 2015 field includes Hamlin and fellow NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and David Ragan, plus Virginia natives Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton, Curtis Markham and Hermie Sadler. Previous Showdown winners representing the Late Model lineup are 2014 winner Matt Bowling, a Whelen All-American Series driver, and 2010 winner C.E. Falk. Both are the only non-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers to win the event. Proceeds from the 200-lap Showdown go to support the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which has donated $150,000 in grants to help fund the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited Therapeutics Development Center at VCU.(DHF)(5-2-2015)
- Gov. Pat McCrory Proclaims May Motorsports Month In North Carolina: Each May, the spotlight shines on Charlotte Motor Speedway during the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder, and Gov. Pat McCrory joined speedway officials Friday to officially proclaim May is Motorsports Month in North Carolina and recognize the speedway’s impact on tourism, the economy and jobs across the region. The biggest back-to-back weekends in motorsports, highlighted by the 30th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 and the 56th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, will generate an estimated economic impact of $230 million to the Charlotte region and support an estimated 4,200 jobs. Annually, the speedway contributes more than $451 million in economic impact and supports more than 8,000 jobs across the region, part of a $6 billion annual economic impact by motorsports statewide. As part of the kickoff event, McCrory presented a proclamation noting that May is Motorsports Month in North Carolina and encouraged fans to celebrate the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the motorsports heritage of the state.
“This was a big dream that became a big reality,” McCrory said, applauding speedway founder Bruton Smith’s vision for the facility. “I’m so proud that we’re the center of NASCAR. This is all about jobs and having fun. That’s what racing is all about – great entertainment and bringing jobs to North Carolina. This is the centerpiece of racing throughout the world and we’re proud to be part of it.” In a sign of the significant impact motorsports has on the state, McCrory was joined at the kickoff event by Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary John Skavarla and dozens more state and local officials and business leaders. Following the program, McCrory and several of the other leaders “got to work” painting the start/finish line to represent the thousands of jobs supported by the speedway’s May events.
Fans from all 50 states, 15 foreign countries and more than 3,200 cities around the world will descend upon Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, with millions of additional fans tuning in to NASCAR broadcasts aired in more than 175 countries worldwide. “May 1st is like Christmas for us here at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway. “We had no idea what my dad, Bruton Smith, was thinking when he came out here and started digging some dirt to build Charlotte Motor Speedway. I’m not sure he knew how big this would be, but 56 years later, here we are ready to complete the 30th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 56th annual Coca-Cola 600.
The $99 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend pass includes frontstretch tickets for the N.C. Education Lottery Camping World Truck Series race and Sprint Showdown on Friday, May 15; plus the no-speed-limit NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race qualifying, a rocking pre-race concert with country mega-group Little Big Town, presented by Rayovac, and capped off with a blockbuster shootout for $1 million at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 16.
The Coca-Cola 600 weekend package includes tickets to see the stars of NASCAR hit the track to lay down the fastest lap during LiftMaster Pole Night on Thursday, May 21; a Saturday afternoon showdown as the NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers battle it out in the Hisense 300 on May 23; and culminates with the historic 56th running of one of NASCAR’s most prestigious events, the Cola-Cola 600, complete with a pre-race concert by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer group ZZ Top on Sunday, May 24, all for just $99. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(5-2-2015) - Crew members taken to hospital following Talladega wreck: The biggest of the wrecks left two crew members on the #98 Biagi DenBeste Racing team were taken to the infield care center Saturday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway after a 10-car wreck sent cars spinning down pit road. During the incident, Brendan Gaughan’s #62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet slid down pit road, hitting the inside wall one pit stall before the #98 team’s stall. According to FOX Sports 1 reporter Alan Cavanna, a team representative said the crew members were alert when taken to the infield care center. Team owner Bill DenBeste told Cavanna the crew members were behind the wall when Gaughan’s car hit. When the car made contact, it knocked tires off the pit wall and knocked over the crew members. One crew member was treated and released from the infield care center, while the second was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The incident came on Lap 74 when a large group of cars tried to peel off and pit under green flag conditions. As the front runners slowed and pull down, Daniel Suarez was hit from behind by Ryan Sieg. The contact triggered the wreck and sent cars spinning and sliding down pit road and across the track.(FOX Sports)(5-2-2015)
- Logano wins XFINITY race at Talladega: #22-Joey Logano won the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. #2-Brian Scott finished second, followed by#33-Austin Dillon, #28-JJ Yeley, #52-Joey Gase. #60-Chris Buescher, #1-Elliott Sadler, #3-Ty Dillon, #98-Aric Almirola, and #7-Regan Smith.
There were 6 cautions for 31 laps and 23 lead changes among 11 leaders.
Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf).(5-24-2015) - Talladega XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Joey Logano(i) won the 24th Annual Winn Dixie 300, his 24th victory in 140 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his third victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2015.This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brian Scott (second) posted his second top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
Austin Dillon(i) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Peyton Sellers (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Ty Dillon leads the point standings by 9 points over Chris Buescher.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-2-2015) - XFINITY Driver standings following Talladega:
1) #3-Ty Dillon, 330
2) #60-Chris Buescher, 321, -9
3) #9-Chase Elliott, 293, -37
4) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 293, -37
5) #7-Regan Smith, 287, -43
6) #2-Brian Scott, 286, -44
7) #1-Elliott Sadler, 282, -48
8) #16-Ryan Reed, 255, -75
9) #18-Daniel Suarez, 254, -76
10) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 249, -81
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(5-2-2015) - Dillon on XFINITY pole at Talladega: #33-Austin Dillon won the Coors Light pole for the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 180.540mph. #3-Ty Dillon will start second. The rest of the top 10: #2-Brian Scott, #20-Erik Jones, #54-Boris Said, #18-Daniel Suarez, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #16-Ryan Reed, and #1-Elliott Sadler.
Did Not Qualify: #35-Chris Cockrum; #74-Mike Harmon; #85-Bobby Gerhart; #70-Derrike Cope; #15-Carlos Contreras. The starting lineup is posted on the Talladega starting lineup page (pdf).(5-2-2015) - TriStar, Zike Bikes partner: TriStar Motorsports is proud to announce their partnership with Zike Bikes for the 2015 season. Zike Bikes will be featured on the deck-lid of Cale Conley’s #14 Toyota Camry during the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Whether you are exploring the great outdoors or commuting to school or the office on your new Zike, ziking is the revolutionary new method of fun transportation. Ziking provides hours and miles of enjoyment, a total-body workout and green transportation at the same time.(TriStar Motorsports)(5-2-2015)
- Daytona Rising May Project Update: Daytona International Speedway recently began installing 10,000 wider, more comfortable seats near the east end of the Speedway as part of the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. These new and improved seats will be available during the upcoming Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola on July 3-5 along with an additional 40,000 new seats near the west end of the Speedway. The installation follows another recent construction milestone: the removal of the final piece of the Sprint Tower. Looking ahead, the Speedway will prepare to install the last piece of structural steel for the new frontstretch grandstand.
Additional upcoming construction activities include:
· Ongoing elevator installation
· Continuing miscellaneous framing and concrete installation
· Foam panel installation in various injectors/entrances
Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting DAYTONARising.com.(DIS)(5-2-2015)
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