May 4, 2016
- NASCAR says as many as ten companies in the mix to be premier series title sponsor:NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps was on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday (5-4-2016) with Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers and talked at length about the search for a title sponsor [to replace Sprint, which is leaving at the end of 2016 season], what the sport is looking for, says they have “8 or 10” companies that are kind of in the mix and says the timing for the announcement will probably be around September/October 2016 (listen at SirisXM NASCAR Radio / Soundcloud)(5-4-2016)
- Allmendinger’s Darlington throwback scheme revealed AJ Allmendinger and JTG Daugherty Racing’s family of brands revealed their Darlington Raceway Bojangles’ Southern 500 throwback paint scheme, raced by Topeka, Kan.-native Bruce Hill in the 1970s (1974-1977). The throwback #47 Kroger/Kingsford Chevrolet SS maintains its continuity with the red, white and blue theme.
“It is an honor quite honestly,” Bruce Hill said. “Being remembered for something is always an honor especially as big as the sport has gotten. I thought it was kind of neat when they decided to do the throwback schemes at Darlington Raceway. I had good memories of Darlington. It was a track that you either loved or hated and that probably hasn’t changed over the years. I loved the track because it was slick and I ran better on a slick racetrack because it was all about getting your car to handle. I always loved Darlington and you always love a track you have good luck at. I think my second top-five finish came at Darlington. I’m just happy for the recognition and I really look forward to meeting AJ and everyone at JTG Daugherty Racing and all the brands.”
Hill raced in NASCAR’s premiere series for seven seasons, meeting Darlington Raceway’s requirement for paint schemes to fall somewhere into the 1975-84 era. His first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (formerly NASCAR Winston Cup) start was November 24th 1974 at Ontario Motor Speedway (Ontario, Calif.) where he finished 13th in what would be his only race that year in the division. However, Hill’s presence became known in 1975 when he recorded three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes earning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing 16th in the driver points standings after completing 26 events. Hill, who was born July 9th, 1949, competed in a total of 100 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, led nine laps, posted three top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. He also competed in ARCA and the NASCAR West Series during his racing career and was the 1967 International Kart Federation (IKF) national champion. Today, he still resides in Kansas and works with a different form of horsepower.(JTG Daugherty Racing) see an image of the car on the #47 team paint schemes page.(5-4-2016) - Talladega post-race warnings: Three teams were issued warnings following the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:
#44-Scott, failed LASER inspection twice, written warning;
#98-Whitt failed template inspection twice, written warning;
#48-Johnson, failed template inspection three times, written warning, loss of 15 min. practice time.
All infractions were found in pre-race inspection.
See the Talladega Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(5-4-2016) - Gase returning to the #32 at Kansas: For the third time in 11 races, Joey Gase will take the green flag for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action. This time, the 23-year-old will take to the 1.5-mile track of Kansas Speedway for Saturday night’s GoBowling.com 400, returning to the #32 Ford. The first two races of 2016 for Gase came on the shorter tracks of Phoenix International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway where he finished 32nd and 36th for Go FAS Racing. Unlike most tracks on the Cup circuit, Gase will be back in his homeland in the Midwest as he hails from Cedar Rapids, Iowa – about five hours north of Kansas Speedway. “I can’t thank Go FAS Racing enough for choosing to put me in the seat and all of our great partners for teaming up with us this weekend,” said Gase. Joining Joey and the Go Fas Racing team will be Sparks Energy, who also sponsored Gase last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway during the Sparks 300, Heavy Quip Inc., and Midwest Transplant Network.(Joey Gase Racing)(5-4-2016)
- Earnhardt Jr. won’t race “Amelia” again: Earnhardt’s favorite car, which he drove to wins at both Talladega and Daytona in 2015, will rest on his property in the woods with a collection of torn-up race cars he has collected from his team and others over the years. Earnhardt said Tuesday that the car, which he also drove to finishes of second and third in the other two points events, was damaged beyond repair in two accidents on Sunday at Talladega. “Amelia’s done,” Earnhardt said of the car, which he named after Amelia Earhart. As far as the wrecks Sunday, Earnhardt said the threat of rain throughout the race forced drivers to race with greater intensity and that that likely added to the number of crashes. He said drivers are not in an uproar over two cars getting upside-down. “One thing I think is true is none of us know what we would do to change it, and I don’t think anybody in the sport does,” Earnhardt said. “We’ve altered the package over the years a hundred different teams and never really seen a big, big difference in the type of racing we see there.”(ESPN.com)(5-4-2016)
- Special look for Earnhardt, Jr at Kentucky: Earlier Tuesday morning, Kasey Kahne revealed a brand new paint scheme for the #5 Chevrolet SS. Tuesday afternoon, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. got in on the action. The driver of the #88 Chevrolet SS unveiled a new scheme of his own — this one for the race at Kentucky Speedway. The #88 will feature Nationwide Childrens Hospital.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #88 team paint schemes page.(5-4-2016)
- Arrest warrant issued for driver that injured Kenseth’s spotter and family: An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Dale Kellison after he failed to appear in court Tuesday in Randolph County, North Carolina, for charges related to his Dec. 17 crash with Chris Osborne, spotter for Matt Kenseth and Daniel Suarez, near Sophia, North Carolina. N.C. Highway Patrol cited Kellison with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, and having an open container in his vehicle after his car crossed the center line and slammed into Osborne’s car, injuring Osborne, his wife and son. Kellison’s car was traveling an estimated 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. Kellison’s license had included a restriction that he not drive with any alcohol in his system because of a DWI conviction in 2008. He previously failed to show for a court appearance in January and an arrest warrant was issued then.(NBC Sports)(5-4-2016)
- Kansas Track Notes & History:
� Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
� The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N; Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
� The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon (110.576 mph, 3:37:19).
� During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
(NASCAR) - Talladega post-race warnings: Several XFINITY teams have been issued warnings following the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway:
#0-Smithley, #4-Chastain, #18-Tifft, #43-Burton, #70-Cope, #85-Gerhart: Failed LASER inspection twice, written warning
#3-Ty Dillon, failed LASER inspection three times, written warning, loss of 15 min. practice time
All infractions were found in pre-race inspection.
See the Talladega Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(5-4-2016) - Ollie’s Bargain Outlet sponsoring Dover XFINITY race: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet will be the entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash race on Saturday, May 14, Dover International Speedway. The “Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 200” NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash race will be the third of four Dash 4 Cash events on the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule this season. Starting at 2 p.m. on May 14, two 40-lap Heat events will be run, followed by a 120-lap Main event. In addition to sponsoring the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 200, Ollie’s is also one of several supporters of the Monster Mile’s Autism Awareness Day at the Races program, which provides children and families on the autism spectrum with a sensory-friendly environment to watch the “AAA 400 Drive for Autism” on Sunday, May 15. Ollie’s will be contributing toys, games, lounge items and more to the popular program. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has 208 retail locations in the eastern United States, including one store in Dover, Del.(Dover Speedway)(5-4-2016)
- Frankie Ballard performing at Kentucky: Country music star Frankie Ballard will entertain race fans with a special performance on Kentucky Speedway’s infield Kroger pre-race stage prior to the July 9 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts. The singer/songwriter’s third studio album El Rio is scheduled to be released June 10. An album he describes as being “a spiritual journey.” Fans are able to hear his newest single “El Camino” described by many as an upbeat and light song with a summertime vibe. The Warner Bros. Records Nashville artist has teamed up with Grammy award-winner Chris Stapleton, Kip Moore, Jaren Johnston, The Warren Brothers and well-known songwriter Craig Wiseman for “Cigarette,” “Sweet Time,” “Waste Some of Mine,” and “Little Bit of Both.” El Rio follows his Sunshine & Whiskey album which produced three consecutive No. 1 singles – “Sunshine & Whiskey,” “Helluva Life,” and “Young & Crazy.” Ballard’s signature rock sounds can be heard at 5:15pm., prior to the Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts race where race tickets are as low as $59.(Kentucky Speedway)(5-4-2016)
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