May 2, 2014
- Coverage of Qualifying for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 1:10pm/et.
Television (TV): FOX, 1:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Sunday, May 4 at 10:00am/et on FS1 - FOX moves Talladega qualifying to FOX: NASCAR ramped up its pre-race excitement level for the 2014 season, making qualifying more relevant and much more entertaining by introducing a highly competitive “knockout” system, beginning with 43-plus race cars on the track at the same time at tracks 1.25 miles or longer. NASCAR on FOX, which covers the first 13 NASCAR Sprint Cups Series of the season, is showing its enthusiasm for the new system, moving the (Saturday) May 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying at unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway from FOX Sports 2 to FOX, marking the first time a non-Daytona qualifying session has aired on FOX. “This move is a direct result of the double-digit ratings gains NASCAR’s new knockout qualifying format is delivering every weekend,” said Bill Wanger, EVP of Programming, Research & Content Strategy. “We are thrilled to be able to highlight this new format on FOX, and what more exciting place to do that than Talladega Superspeedway.” The new qualifying system, which moves away from single-car qualifying and is supported by double-digit, year-to-year ratings growth, allows for all cars to qualify collectively for up to 25 minutes, with the top 24 based on fastest laps advancing for a subsequent 10-minute session. The top 12 from that group advance to the final, five-minute round. The 90-minute Talladega qualifying session begins on FOX on Saturday, May 3 at 1:30 pm/et(FOX).
NOTE so far FoxSports has aired qualifying time delayed, 5-10 minutes behind live qualifying. Results will be posted LIVE on Jayski.com, and Jayski’s Twitter & Facebook…so spoiler alert….(5-2-2014) - Qualifying Order for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #7-Annett.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #55-Vickers.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice and is drawn to determine how the drivers will go on the track at the start of qualifying and go thru inspection.
See the full qualifying order on the Talladega Qualifying Page.(5-2-2014) - Happy Hour practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#21-Bayne 199.015
#99-Edwards 198.965
#14-Stewart 198.912
#18-Busch 198.516
#41-Busch 198.413
slowest: #22-Logano 162.275 (ran a few slow laps) & #87-Nemechek 179.926
27 of the 47 cars ran a lap, 20 cars didn’t practice.
notes: Most of the speeds were in the draft, since qualifying will be in a group on Saturday at 1:00pm/et (on FOX). Many drivers/cars will not run this practice and protect the car for qualifying.
See the fastest speeds, 10-lap consecutive lap average and laps run on the Talladega Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf).(5-2-2014) - First Friday practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#78-Truex Jr. 200.721
#51-Allgaier 200.666
#34-Ragan 200.599
#9-Ambrose 200.540
#42-Larson 200.372
slowest: #44-Yeley 187.331 & #32-Labonte 188.493
notes: Most of the speeds were in the draft, since qualifying will be in a group on Saturday at 1:00pm/et (on FOX). #9-Ambrose lost a right front tire during practice, but stopped on the apron and only had slight damage on the car. In the unlikely event that qualifying is rained out (no rain in forecast), this practice would set the starting lineup.
See the fastest speeds and laps run on the Talladega Practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-2-2014) - Nationwide Insurance to sponsor Earnhardt Jr.: The #88 Hendrick Motorsports team will “Join the Nation” in 2015 thanks to a new three-year partnership that will pair Nationwide Insurance, a leading insurance and financial services organization, with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As the exclusive insurance and retirement planning sponsor of Earnhardt’s #88 Chevy, Nationwide Insurance will be a primary partner for 12 Sprint Cup races in 2015 and 13 events in both 2016 and 2017. The company also will be an associate-level sponsor of the #88 race cars throughout all three seasons.
“The Earnhardt family has trusted Nationwide for their insurance needs for more than 35 years, and Dale Jr. has a positive impact on our brand’s reputation and brings pride to Nationwide members and our associates,” said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance. “Expanding that relationship to incorporate the prestigious operations at Hendrick Motorsports and collaborating with Rick Hendrick and his team is a great fit for Nationwide Insurance.”
Hendrick Motorsports will work with Nationwide Insurance to support consumer, business and employee offerings in the auto, home, life and classic car insurance and retirement categories. NASCAR fans can immediately benefit through insurance discounts offered via the free JR Nation fan club. Membership is available by visiting www.jrnation.com.
“Nationwide is always top of mind when you think of companies that truly leverage the power of NASCAR,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We’re proud to welcome them to the #88 team and grow their relationship with Dale Jr. Working together, we’ll build another program that moves the needle for their business. The opportunities are endless.”
“I’ve always enjoyed working with Nationwide and really believe in their products and services,” said Earnhardt, who Nationwide Insurance has featured in national advertising since 2009. “It’ll be fun to work with them in a new way, and I know everyone on the team is looking forward to the partnership. They’ve invested in our sport and built a strong reputation with NASCAR fans, and this opens up doors to do even more great things.”(HMS)
AND Hendrick Motorsports teammate #5-Kasey Kahne is sponsored by Farmers Insurance. Hendrick Motorsports issued a statement regarding Farmers’ status: “Our team has a terrific relationship with the people at Farmers Insurance, and we’re having positive discussions about the future. The announcement regarding the #88 team does not impact our ability to continue the partnership beyond 2014.”(MRN)(5-2-2014) - Nine race fans settle over Speedway accident: Nine fans injured when a race car flew into a safety fence and sprayed debris in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway last year have reached a settlement with the track. International Speedway Corp. will not release the amount of the settlement with the nine claimants represented by the Morgan & Morgan law firm, said Lenny Santiago, ISC senior director of public relations. Santiago declined to reveal details in the interest of the privacy of the fans involved. “I can say that we have reached settlements with several claimants related to the incident, but, as has been our practice throughout, we are not going to discuss any of the details,” Santiago said. At least 28 spectators were injured including 14 who were taken to local hospitals when Kyle Larson’s car crashed into the fence and sprayed a tire and other debris into the grandstands during the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 on Feb. 23, 2013. Andrew Felix, an attorney with Morgan & Morgan, said the settlement covered all of the people represented by the personal injury firm, but he also declined to reveal the amount or any other details.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(5-2-2014)
- Different look for the #48 at Dega: Jimmie Johnson will drive the #48-Lowe’s/Valspar Reserve Chevy in this weekend’s race. Valspar Reserve, available exclusively at Lowe’s starting May 1, is a new interior and exterior paint with HydroChroma Technology that is stain resistant and fade resistant – so the colors you love stay the colors you love.(HMS), see images of the car on the #48 Team Schemes page.(5-2-2014)
- Career start #300 for Hamlin: #11-Denny Hamlin will make his 300th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on Sunday at Talladega. In the first 299, Hamlin has 23 wins, which ranks tied for 30th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins list.(NASCAR)(5-2-2014)
- McClure Returns to #35 Ford with Front Row Motorsports: Eric McClure, driver of the #35 Hefty Ultimate/Reynolds Wrap Ford, comments on returning to Front Row Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway: “I am very appreciative of the opportunity Bob (Jenkins) and Front Row Motorsports have given me to drive the #35 car at Talladega. After having a fast car at Daytona (International Speedway in February), the disappointment of missing that race still lingers a bit for me. I am optimistic we can make the show at Talladega and have the chance to compete for a great finish.” McClure has two Sprint Cup starts at Talladega (2004, 2006)(Front Row Motorsports)(5-2-2014)
- Bass Pro Shops on the #3 Talladega: Austin Dillon and his team will sport the colors of the nation’s #1 outdoor retailer, Bass Pro Shops, on the #3 Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega. A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops’ association with Dillon dates back to 2010 when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon’s first foray into full-time NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series. The Bass Pro Shops/Dillon duo earned the Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2011 and Bass Pro Shops was also partners with Dillon and RCR in the Nationwide Series, where Dillon earned the 2012 title. Bass Pro Shops, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 85 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 116 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world (RCR). See images of the scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page.(5-2-2014)
- Take 5 to ride again with #13 Talladega: The #13 GEICO Chevy driven by Casey Mears will again feature associate sponsor Take 5, Home of the 5-Minute Oil Change. This time, Take 5 will ride along for the high speed thrills of the “Aaron’s 499” at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, May 4th. Take 5 is celebrating “30 Years of the Fastest Oil Change on the Planet” and what better way to celebrate than by taking a trip to Talladega? Take 5 Oil Change opened it’s sponsorship of the #13 GEICO Chevy SS driven by Casey Mears last weekend at Richmond.(Germain Racing)(5-2-2014)
- Talladega Notes & Facts – Friday – drivers:
· Dave Marcis leads the series in starts at Talladega with 61. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 42 starts; followed by Joe Nemechek with 38.
· Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series’ most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 15.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.
· Nine drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four straight from the fall of 2001 – 2003.
· 11 of the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Talladega Superspeedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Brad Keselowski is the only active series driver to win at Talladega in his first appearance.
· Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the fall of 2012; the longest span of any the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 14.200.
· Joe Nemechek leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 38.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 843 laps led in 42 starts.
· Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(5-2-2014) - DAYTONA Rising May Project Update: Construction activities for the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project are heating up. In less than 12 months, Daytona International Speedway has installed 7,000 tons of steel and poured over 13,000 cubic yards of concrete to develop the world’s first motorsports stadium. Less than one week ago, the first escalator was raised and installed on the West end of the frontstretch as part of the new vertical transportation. Additionally, the Speedway continued steel and metal stud installation during the last month of construction.
Upcoming construction activities include:
· Continue installing stairs and escalators at West and East ends of the project
· Completion of elevator shaft in Injector 1 and 5 will occur in early to mid May
· Ongoing steel installation in Injectors 2, 3 and 4
· Interior build out of restrooms, merchandise areas, concession stands and neighborhood bar in Injector 1
· Service level masonry work in all areas is in progress
· Continuing Installation of litter shield, seating treads and risers in Injector 1
· Underground cable pulling for the stadium’s new power system to feed the new stadium is in progress
Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting www.daytonarising.com.(DIS)(5-2-2014) - Sad News – Wayne Rust: Wayne Edward Rust, 70, of Georgetown, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Beebe Healthcare, Lewes, DE. Rust worked as a civil engineer for DelDOT for 33 years, retiring in 1990. He also worked for Sunoco at NASCAR for 26 years. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Georgetown Little League, P.O. Box 105, Georgetown, DE 19947, or S.P.C.A. Sussex County, 22918 S. DuPont Hwy., Georgetown, DE 19947.(Cape Gazette)(5-2-2014)
- Rocky Ridge Custom Trucks joins Elliott: Rocky Ridge Custom Trucks has signed a full-year sponsorship agreement with JR Motorsports and will receive associate branding on Chase Elliott’s #9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy starting this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Based out of Franklin Springs, Ga., Rocky Ridge Custom Trucks is a family-owned and operated special vehicle manufacturer (SVM) for General Motors specializing in truck conversions and upgrades. Elliott enters this weekend’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega as the Nationwide Series points leader.(JRM)(5-2-2014)
- Nationwide not returning? In its final year as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s No. 2 series, Nationwide will spend at least as much money on NASCAR next year as it does this year as it transfers its marketing focus to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Nationwide will sponsor Earnhardt for 12 Cup races in 2015 and 13 races in each of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Since 2009, Nationwide has had a personal services deal with Earnhardt. Nationwide felt it had to establish itself as a NASCAR sponsor through its series sponsorship before moving on to more of a Cup focus starting in 2015.(Sporting News)(5-2-2014)
- Smoke -N- Sear joins Nemechek for Talladega: NEMCO Motorsports today announced England’s Stove Works, Inc.’s new Smoke -N-Sear product line will take the primary sponsorship role on Joe Nemechek’s #87 Toyota Camry for this Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. The company formally introduced its newest product line, ‘Smoke -N- Sear’ in March of this year in order to highlight its latest product offerings, which include a pellet grill/smoker, as well as accessories such as cooking pellets, a branded grill cover, and rub and sauce products. The grill, which is based on a patented design, actually has a direct cooking area on one side (over a cast grate) and an indirect cooking area on the other side (over nickel plated grates). This makes the product a grill and a smoker, and even leaves room near the top for convection-heated warming racks. It is also one-of-a-kind in that it has been safety tested to UL 2728. With 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at the 2.66-mile oval, Nemechek boasts two wins, five poles, seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes. With a strong showing at the season’s first restrictor plate race in Daytona, Nemechek looks for a solid run in his Smoke -N- Sear Camry.(NEMCO)(5-2-2014)
- Hornish on pole at Talladega: #54-Sam Hornish, Jr. won the Coors Light Pole for the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 186.783mph. #11-Elliott Sadler will start second followed by : #20-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #16-Ryan Reed, #43-Dakoda Armstrong, #22-Ryan Blaney, #3-Ty Dillon, #60-Chris Buescher, #99-James Buescher, and #2-Brian Scott.
Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #20-Darrell Wallace, Jr.
#62-Brendan Gaughan was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 191.058mph
Did Not Qualify: #70-Derrike Cope and #58-Chad Boat. The starting lineup is posted on the Talladega starting lineup page (pdf).(5-2-2014) - Talladega Qualifying Notes:
Sam Hornish Jr won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 23rd Annual Aaron’s 312 with a lap of 51.268 seconds, 186.783 mph.
This is his sixth pole in 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2014. His last pole came at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2013.
This is his first pole in four races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Elliott Sadler (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2014 and his fifth in six races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Darrell Wallace Jr (third) posted his first top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his first in one races this season.
Ryan Reed (fourth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-2-2014)
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